GRBJ: John Kennedy IV named GR Business Journal Newsmaker finalist for Manufacturing
With 2019 about to slip into the rearview mirror, it’s time to reflect on the people and events that shaped West Michigan during the past 12 months.
The Grand Rapids Business Journal Newsmaker of the Year event is Jan. 29 at Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park. Tickets for the event, which begins at 7:30 a.m., are available online.
This year, the Journal’s reporters and editors met to discuss almost 250 potential nominees for the honor, finally agreeing on three finalists in each of the following 16 categories: Arts & Entertainment, Beverages, Economic Development, Education, Finance, Food, Health Care, Law, Manufacturing, Nonprofits/Philanthropy, Real Estate/Construction, Retail, Sports, Startups, Sustainability and Technology.
A winner from the three finalists in each of the 16 categories will be revealed at the event, followed by the announcement of the overall 2019 Newsmaker of the Year Award.
The people who made news in 2019 make for an impressive list of leading figures in the business community.
Last year, Tina Freese Decker, president and CEO of Spectrum Health, was honored for a bevy of acquisitions and new construction that grew the health system to more than 40 locations, 450 providers and 31,000 employees. Leading those efforts earned her the overall Newsmaker of the Year Award.
Most of this year’s nominees are familiar to West Michigan residents, especially those who read the Business Journal on a consistent basis, because they are the people who shaped local news in 2019…
