See for Yourself...
Because we know that seeing is believing, we have captured some very convincing people on tape as they talk about why they chose Southwest Michigan. Click the links below to view leaders from across the Kalamazoo Region speaking about the Kalamazoo Region, our business-friendly environment and, of course, Southwest Michigan First.

Windows Media Player is required. Download it free here!

Business Leaders
Bill Adams, Director of New Business Development, Flowserve Corporation
...on community collaboration
...on Southwest Michigan First

Robert Brown, President, Arcadia Capital Corporation
...on the accomplishments of Southwest Michigan First

Jerry Colca, President and Chief Scientific Officer, Metabolic Solutions Development Co.
...on life science expertise

Jay Goodwin, Chief Executive Officer, ADMETRx
...on starting a company in Southwest Michigan

Bob Humphrey, President, Humphrey Products Company
...on the Kalamazoo Promise

Michael Jandernoa, Principal, Bridge Street Capital Fund
...on the entrepreneurial spirit in the Kalamazoo Region

Richard Johnson, President, AvTech Laboratories, Inc.
...on the access to capital

Dean Knuth, President and Chief Executive Officer, Jasper Clinical Research & Development Inc.
...on the business environment

Doctors Sheldon Maltz and Gabe Pedraza, Bronson Healthcare Group
...on living and working in Kalamazoo

Donald Parfet, Managing Director, Apjohn Group
...on Southwest Michigan First

John Puisis, President and Chief Executive Officer, Tolera Therapeutics, Inc.
...on community support

Frank Sardone, Chief Executive Officer, Bronson Healthcare Group
...on living in Southwest Michigan
...on Southwest Michigan First

Chris Schauer, Chief Executive Officer, PharmOptima
...on starting a business in the Kalamazoo Region

Marilyn Schlack, President, Kalamazoo Valley Community College
...on Southwest Michigan First

Clark Smith, Chief Executive Officer, Proteos
...on the advantages of Southwest Michigan

Paul Spaude, President and Chief Executive Officer, Borgess Health Alliance
...on Southwest Michigan First

David Zimmermann, Chief Executive Officer, Kalexsyn, Inc.
...on Kalamazoo

Local Officials
Peter Battani, County Administrator, Kalamazoo County
...on local government

Hannah McKinney, Mayor, City of Kalamazoo
...on the role of Southwest Michigan First
...on public/private partnership
...on the Kalamazoo Promise

Peter Strazdas, Mayor, City of Portage
...on Southwest Michigan First
...on why he chose Southwest Michigan

Marsha Wells, Superintendant, Portage Public Schools
...on local collaboration

“The effervescently named Kalamazoo … appears, remarkably, to lead the nation in per-capita job creation.”
-- Mark Lange, The Christian Science Monitor, November 19, 2008

"As the nation continues to tackle longstanding challenges in the midst of an inhospitable financial climate, we laud trendsetting organizations like Southwest Michigan First for leading the charge."

-- Robin Roberts Krieger, International Economic Development Council Chair, October 2008

"...thanks to the hard work of many, especially Southwest Michigan First, the Kalamazoo area's economy is finally turning the corner."

-- Kalamazoo Gazette, September 26, 2008

"Educate and they will come."

-- Jeff Bennett,The Wall Street Journal, July 28, 2008

"Kalamazoo is shaking off some of Michigan's doldrums.  Congratulations to them."

-- The Grand Rapids Press, July 27, 2008
 

"The sun is shining in Kalamazoo."

-- Jenna Lee, Fox Business News, June 6, 2008

“Job creation here is a reason to celebrate.”
-- Kalamazoo Gazette, February 22, 2008

"The Midwest has indeed been rocked by the transformation of the industry, but there is more to manufacturing than heavy industry, and Kalamazoo is indicative of how the broader region is coping with the change: by luring high-tech, skilled, innovative manufacturing, and putting in place the resources to keep it. It's a trend going on throughout the country in areas that have been hit hard by the slowdown in labor-intensive manufacturing."
-- Tom Granahan, Editor-In-Chief, Manufacturing.net, December 14, 2006