FBA Announces the Leadership Class of 2023 

GRAND RAPIDS, MI / August 3 – Family Business Alliance is excited to announce the participants for Leading Forward, The Institute to Inspire and Develop Michigan’s Family Business Leaders.   Leading Forward is the only leadership program in West Michigan which connects family business leaders to learn and support one another on their leadership journey. The program invites family business leaders to hone their skills and overcome the unique challenges of family business leadership for the betterment of the family, the organization, and community.    “These leaders are challenged not only with economic and market disruptions, but also the responsibility of stewardship to the family enterprise. They take on the responsibility of actively guiding the family members, imparting their values in the family and organization, and re-igniting innovation and reinvention by seeking new opportunities in a world that was very much different from the prior generation. Their success is critical to the family business culture and continued economic impact of West Michigan,” stated Robin Burns, Director of Family Business Alliance.  Leading Forward offers interactive facilitated sessions and learning opportunities from other local businesses who will share their visions and beliefs about leadership. They will tackle leadership styles, team development, effective boards, innovation, and culture.  The five-month program that features five half-day in-person workshops and one-hour individual coaching sessions will begin on August 9, 2023. 

Introducing the first class of leaders:  

• Brandon Bissell, Imperial Clinical Research Services 
• Cameron Young, Behler – Young 
• Elizabeth Avra, Apek Holdings LLC 
• Geoff Miller, Grand Rapids Chair 
• Kelly Slikkers, Tiara Yachts 
• Robert Dunn, MountainAire Builders 
• Ross Haan, Impact Fab, Inc. 
• Steve Kloosterman, Westshore Electronics 
• Todd Van Haren, SecurAlarm 

About Family Business Alliance:  

Family Business Alliance, West Michigan’s only association of family business organization,  seeks to preserve our unique culture of family driven organizations. Established over 15 years ago by local leaders of family businesses, today we represent nearly 170 family run organizations with over 450 active representatives. Together we create connections, elevate leadership, and navigate governance to advance family business in the West Michigan Community.  For more information about Leading Forward or Family Business Alliance, contact Robin Burns at robin@fbagr.org  Written by Robin Burns