EVENTS
2007 | 2008 |
2009 | 2010 |
2011
Upcoming
Events
January 2012
BL²END 101
Tuesday, January 31
6:30 p.m.
Are you interested in learning how BL²END operates as a 100% volunteer organization with official 501c7 nonprofit status?
Would you like to learn more about the monthly event experiences BL²END creates for young professionals who desire to connect socially, develop professionally, and contribute to the community?
Does your business, corporation, or community organization desire to build a mutually beneficial partnership which will positively impact current employees, prospective employees, and the greater community?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, then we invite you to join us at BL²END 101 to learn more about...
- Organizational vision, mission, history and structure
- Opportunities to volunteer as a board or committee member
- Partnership opportunities with businesses, corporations, and community organizations
- ...and much, much more!
Our dedicated and passionate Board Members and Advisory Council Members are eager to connect with you at this unique event, and will be there to answer all of your questions about BL²END and how to beocme more engaged!
Register Here!
Lacks Cancer Center
Lacks Grand Conference Room
250 Cherry Street SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Early registration is encouraged, as space is limited.
Complimentary pizza and beverages will be provided for registered guests.
Parking: Parking is available in the main ramp located at 245 Cherry Street (in front of the main entrance of the Lacks Cancer Center) or the West lot. Parking will not be validated for this event. See map for directions and additional parking options.
Questions: Contact Mercedes Barragan, BL²END marketing and communications chair, with any questions at marketing@grblend.org
December 2011
BL²END Holiday Mixer and Clothing Drive at Romano's Macaroni Grill
5525 28th Street SE
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Undergarments were collected for Grand Rapids Public Schools
November 2011
Social Networking BL²ENDer and Community Outreach
at Ju Sushi Lounge
1144 E Paris Ave SE, Ste 9
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
October 2011
ANC Give! Creating a Culture of Giving
Hosted by DeVos
Place Convention Center/ Convention Arena Authority and sponsored by Grand
Rapids Community Foundation.
The event media sponsor was GRNow
303 Monroe Ave. NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
GIVE! Creating a Culture of
Giving conversation featured a panel of local charitable
organizations talking about how they saw young professionals
getting involved in the community. The goal of the event
was to create a conversation in which charitable organizations
could learn how young professionals view giving and how what opportunities exist for
and how to get more involved in our community.
Event Panelists Included:
A New Conversation Organization Partners
October 2011
Professional Development Event
Hosted and sponsored by Grand Rapids Community Foundation
185 Oakes St SW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Advice, Wisdom and
Insight in a Flash -- Speed Mentoring for Your Success, hosted and sponsored
by the Grand
Rapids Community Foundation focused on speed
mentoring featuring 15 diverse leaders in the community
representing a variety of fields including: business/corporate,
education, entrepreneurism, financial services, healthcare,
legal, philanthropy, and public service/government.
Mentoring Opportunity
Mentoring makes a difference for a young child. If you
are interested in mentoring opportunities, please see
the brochure below for more information. You may also
contact Ruth Bishop, Program Coordinator of the Grand
Rapids Community Foundation via email at rbishop@grfoundation.org.
September 2011
Social Networking BL²ENDer at CitySen Lounge
83 Monroe Center St. NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
August 2011
BL²END Five-Year Anniversary Gala
DeVos Place
Grand Rapids, MI
On Monday, August 15, 2011, BL²END
celebrated five years of Passion.
Leadership. Legacy. Five years of BL²END! The gala was made possible
by generous event and table partners, and brought nearly
600 guests together in celebration of the significant
milestone.
July 2011
Social Networking BL²ENDer at Peppino's
Grille & Pizzeria
Sports Lounge
1515 Eastport Drive SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49508
July 2011
Community Outreach
in partnership with ICCF
1148 Madison SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49507
June 2011
Community Outreach
in partnership with ICCF
The 700 block of Jefferson
Grand Rapids, MI
June 2011
Professional Development Event
Hosted and sponsored by Varnum
Bridgewater Place
333 Bridge Street NW
Grand Rapids, MI
What Makes You Tick and
What Ticks You Off?: Emotional
Intelligence and Conflict Resolutions Tips for your Success,
hosted by Varnum, featuring Tracey Brame, the Assistant
Dean at the Grand Rapids campus of Thomas
M. Cooley Law School, and Kenyatta Brame, Chief Administrative Officer
and Group Vice President of Cascade
Engineering. Kenyatta
and Tracey talked to participants about the importance
of emotional intelligence and conflict management in
the work place.
May 2011
Social Networking Event
Sponsored by
25 Kitchen+Bar
25 Kichen+Bar
Grand Rapids, MI
April 2011
Professional Development Event
Sponsored by Fifth Third Bank
Fifth Third Bank, University Club
Grand Rapids, MI
March 2011
Community Outreach
in partnership with LaughFest
Grand Rapids Community College, Ford Fieldhouse
Grand Rapids, MI
February 2011
Community Outreach
in partnership with Kids'
Food Basket
2055 Oak Industrial Drive, Suite C
Grand Rapids, MI
January 2011
Social Networking BL²ENDer at Twisted
Rooster
1600 East Beltline Avenue
Grand Rapids, MI
December 2010
Holiday Social Networking BL²ENDer
at JW Marriott Grand
Rapids in six.one.six Mixology lounge
235 Louis Campau NW
Grand Rapids, MI
November
2010
Professional Development
hosted and sponsored by Farmers/Foremost
Insurance.
Featuring Birgit Klohs, President & CEO,
of The
Right Place, Inc. Birgit has
over 20 years of experience in economic development,
and shared the personal, educational, professional and
community leadership experiences which shaped her journey
under the "Unconventional Leadership Experiences
and Opportunities" professional development theme
of 2010.
October 2010
A New Conversation: VOTE! Be the Change You Want to See
Sponsored by the Convention/Arena Authority (CAA) & SMG,
the second annual community conversation united five
partner organizations to build relationships, exchange
ideas and empower our community for success. Business
and community leaders, young professionals and college
students started a new conversation around education
and empowerment, while engaging in dialogue around
the issues affecting our community during the November
2010 political races.
A New Conversation
Partners
• Asian Professionals
Organization
• BL²END
• Grand Rapids Young Professionals
• West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of Greater
Grand Rapids
September 2010
BL²END 101
Participants learned about the history, organizational
structure, mission and vision of BL²END, and how
it operates as a 100% volunteer organization, with newly
acquired 501c7 nonprofit status. They also learned about
opportunities to volunteer and get more involved as a
participant, corporate partner and community organization,
and met board and advisory council members.
August 2010
Professional Development
hosted and sponsored by Varnum.
Featuring Kimberly Coffman, Manager, Supplier Diversity
at Herman
Miller, Inc. and Valencia Cooper, Executive
Business Consultant at Michigan
Minority Business Enterprise Center. Kimberly and
Valencia have extensive experience in supplier diversity,
and shared the educational, professional and community
leadership experiences which shaped their career path
under the "Unconventional
Leadership Experiences and Opportunities" professional
development theme of 2010.
June 2010
Community Outreach
in partnership with Blandford
Nature Center
May 2010
Professional Development
hosted by Grand
Valley State University, Inclusion and Equity Division
featuring Dr. Jeanne Arnold, Vice President, Inclusion
and Equity Division
Participants were engaged in an informal dialogue with
Jeanne Arnold, a professional with extensive experiences
in traditional social work and higher education environments.
Dr. Arnold shared her educational, professional and community
leadership experiences with participants under the "Unconventional
Leadership Experiences and Opportunities" professional
development theme of the year.
May 2010
Community Outreach
in partnership with Friends
of Grand Rapids Parks
April 2010
Social Networking BL²ENDer
Blue
Water Grill
5180 Northland Drive, Grand Rapids, MI
March 2010
Community Outreach
in partnership with Inner City Christian Federation (ICCF)
December 2009
Social Networking BL²ENDer at JW Marriott
Grand Rapids
six.one.six "Mixology" lounge
235 Louis Street NW, Grand Rapids, MI
November 2009
Professional Development
hosted by Cornerstone University
"Global Leadership Experiences & Opportunities"
featuring Sandra Upton, Ph.D., Dean, Business Programs, Professional and Graduate
Studies (PGS) Division. Participants were engaged in an insightful dialogue with
Dr. Sandra Upton, a professor, dean and organizational development consultant,
with extensive business and higher education leadership experience.
October 2009
Community Outreach
hosted by Mercantile Bank of Michigan
“Understanding your Credit and Buying your First Home”
featuring Andrew M. Baker, AVP, Mortgage Lender at Mercantile, and Takara Taylor,
BS, Licensed Realtor at Audu Real Estate
September 2009
Professional Development
hosted by Steelcase Inc.
"Global Leadership Experiences & Opportunities"
featuring Brian Cloyd, Vice President, Global Community Relations, Steelcase
Inc. Participants were engaged in a dialogue with Brian Cloyd, a Steelcase Inc.
executive with extensive corporate leadership experience, and learned more about
his background and global leadership experiences and opportunities available
today.
Photos courtesy of 1080
HD Productions.
August 2009
BL²END presents "A New Conversation"
sponsored by SMG and the Convention/Arena
Authority
featuring partner organizations including the
Asian Professionals Organization; Grand Rapids Young
Professionals; West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
and the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network
DeVos Place, 303 Monroe Avenue, Grand Rapids, MI
July 2009
Community Outreach event
in partnership with the Friends of Grand Rapids Parks
North Park Elementary School
3375 Cheney Avenue NE, Grand Rapids, MI
June 2009
Social Networking BL²ENDer at
Bistro Bella Vita
44 Grandville Avenue SW, Grand Rapids, MI
May 2009
Community Outreach
hosted and sponsored by Guiding Light Mission
255 South Division, Grand Rapids, MI
www.guidinglightmission.org
April 2009
True Colors® Personal Success Seminar at GRCC Tassell M-TEC Building
622 Godfrey SW, Grand Rapids, MI
featuring MarcQus Wright of Quality Collaborators
www.qualityteams.com
April
2009
Social Networking BL²ENDer at
Republic
45 South Division Avenue, Grand Rapids, MI
March
2009
Professional Development
hosted by Amway
"Global Leadership Experiences & Opportunities"
featuring Candace Matthews, Chief Marketing Officer, Amway. Participants
were engaged in an insightful dialogue with Candace Matthews, an Amway executive
with extensive corporate leadership experience, and learned more about her background
and global leadership experiences and opportunities available today.
February 2009
Social Networking with
The Grand Rapids Symphony
Symphony
with Soul concert, and
"post-concert" Celebration
of Soul reception
DeVos Performance Hall, 303 Monroe
Avenue NW, Grand Rapids, MI
January 2009
Social Networking BL²ENDer at
the JW Marriott Grand Rapids
six.one.six "Mixology" lounge
235 Louis Street NW, Grand Rapids, MI
December 2008
Social Networking BL²ENDer at
Churchill's Bar & Bistro
70 Ionia Ave SW, Grand Rapids, MI
November 2008
The "Young Professionals
Issues" Forum brought
together local community leaders and dynamic young professionals
from BL²END, the
Grand Rapids Young Professionals,
and the Center
for Community Leadership, a
resource of the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce,
to discuss topics critical to recruitment and retention
of young professionals, including employment, diversity,
entertainment, transportation, and downtown housing options.
Panel Members
- Mike Freed, CFO, Spectrum
Health
- George Heartwell, Mayor,
City of Grand Rapids
- Eli Lumpkins, Commissioner,
City of Grand Rapids
- Rich MacKeigan, General
Manager, SMG
- Suzanne Schulz, Planning
Director, City of Grand Rapids
Moderator
Eva Aguirre Cooper,
Communications Director, WOOD TV8/WOTV4/WXSP
October 2008
Professional
Development
sponsored by Cascade Engineering
"A New Day: The Changing
Face of Executive Leadership" Career
Panel, featured local executives of color who shared their
educational, professional, and community leadership experiences
responsible for shaping them into the influential leaders
they are today.
Panel Members
- Sonali Allen, Vice President
of Community Development, Mercantile Bank
- Kenyatta Brame, Senior
Vice President, Department of Business Services, Cascade
Engineering
- Floriza Genautis, CEO & Founder,
Management Business Solutions
- Mark Iverson, Director,
Organizational Integrity, Saint Mary's Health Care/Trinity
Health
- Karen Morris,Senior
Vice President, Human Resources and Government
Relations, Meijer, Inc.
- Patrick Miles, Jr.,
Member, Dickinson Wright PLLC
- Lauri Parks, City
Clerk, City of Grand Rapids
- Jonse Young, Donor
Services Director, Grand Rapids Community Foundation
Moderator
Shaquanda S. Gordon, PHR, Manager,
Human Resources - Eastern Region, Priority Health
September 2008
Social
Networking BL²ENDer at
McFadden's
58 Ionia Ave SW, Grand Rapids, MI
August 2008
Community Outreach
BL²END partnered with the
Inner City Christian Confederation (ICCF) to make a difference
in the lives of low-income families within our community.
July 2008
The Second Annual Minority Intern Skyline Reception took
place on the 17th floor of the Varnum, Riddering, Schmidt & Howlett
law firm located at Bridgewater Place, in downtown
Grand Rapids. The event was hosted by the Multiracial
Association of Professionals (MAP), a program
of the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, the Black
Professionals and Executives Network (BPEN), BL²END, and
the Asian Professionals Organization (APO).
June
2008
Professional Development
"Networking in the 21st Century"
Sponsored by Spectrum Health
Presenter: Jerry Conrad, MA,
DTM, CSP, CEO, S.G. Maverick, Inc.
May 2008
Social Networking BL²ENDer
Spectrum
Lanes
April 2008
Social Networking BL²ENDer at
Naya Bistro & Wine
Bar
1144 E Paris Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI
March 2008
Community Outreach
“The
Process: From a Student to a Professional” Panel,
in partnership with
Grand
Valley State University, Office of Multicultural Affairs
BL²END Panelists
Anissa Eddie, School Social
Worker, Cedar Springs Public Schools
Darquillius
Johnson, Graduate Assistant, Grand Valley State
University,
Office of Student Life
Cynthia Offutt, Human Resource
Manager, AIS Construction Equipment
Angela
Nelson, Contributions Specialist, Alticor, Inc.
Marnique
Harris, Student Outreach & Recruitment, Western
Michigan University College of Aviation
March 2008
Professional Development
"Young Professionals and Career"
Sponsored by Fifth Third Bank
Presenter: Christopher Macon, Professional
Development Consultant, Fifth Third Bank
January
2008
Social Networking BL²ENDer at
Churhills Bar & Bistro
70 Ionia Ave SW,
Grand Rapids, MI
November 2007
Social Networking BL²ENDer at
McFadden’s
58 Ionia Ave SW, Grand Rapids, MI
