What is GR+?
A Mastermind group of career focused professionals converging to form an alliance that serves as a high quality “think tank” and business development resource for its members. Simultaneously, we seek to be a resource to West Michigan based initiatives and organizations by providing objective, diversified economic development guidance. The group was formed in early 2013.
Who We Are:
We are young thought leaders who live and work in and around Grand Rapids.
Our Mission:
We are committed to providing trustworthy guidance to our peers who are members of Generation X, Y, and Z. Our primary goal is to be a collaborative resource for West Michigan based business owners, non-profit and for-profit corporations, and families in transition. Through these efforts, we will seek to organically grow and enhance productive business and philanthropic efforts in the West Michigan area.
Our Purpose:
Data shows that the coming decades will see a significant number of baby boomers retire, pass away, or sell controlling business interests. This will result in an unprecedented socio-economic shift as wealth transfer, business ownership, and philanthropic ability shifts to the younger generations. Importantly, the data also shows that younger generations are unprepared for this shift. Most members of Gen X, Y, and Z are not ready to lead their respective organizations.
The purpose of GR+ is to address and be a pivotal resource locally for the organizations in need of developing young talent AND to the future leaders of the upcoming generations.
We believe, that through our process, significant opportunities will arise to, as a cohesive group, further productive philanthropy and promote innovation in West Michigan. Therefore, GR+ will maintain peripheral goals of retaining and growing the following: awareness of education, wealth preservation, and civic and philanthropic tradition that has long been an important piece of West Michigan’s storied history.
How We Execute our Mission and Achieve our Purpose:
Members meet quarterly to receive counsel from guest speakers who spend time providing leadership and thought provoking ideas to the group.
The group simultaneously is constantly seeking out projects that allow members to get involved, provide guidance, and serve as an Advisory Board on matters where the perspective of a young, diversified group of professionals may be of value. To learn more about our Advisory Board role, please click here.
What GR+ is Not:
Specifically: 1) A Social Club 2) A Networking Group 3) A Civic Organization 4) A Philanthropic Organization
While these types of organizations are all great in their own right, we seek to achieve broader reaching goals that incorporate the positive aspects of each of these while simultaneously blazing our own trail.
