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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 15, 2025
St. Joseph, MI – The Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber is proud to announce the keynote speaker for their annual Business Recognition Breakfast Awards Ceremony & Annual Meeting, presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Corewell Health, and Honor Credit Union on Friday, February 21st.
Returning, by popular demand, to keynote the breakfast is internationally acclaimed leadership speaker, Wall Street Journal bestselling author, and creator of the renowned TEDTalk “Everyday Leadership – The Lollipop Moment”, Drew Dudley.
In addition to Dudley’s brand-new keynote, attendees will hear a full Chamber update and the presentation of the 2025 Business Recognition Awards, which will once again be determined via live voting by attendees during the first half of the event.
“We are thrilled to welcome Drew Dudley back to Southwest Michigan for our 2025 Business Recognition Breakfast. His ability to inspire and challenge the way we think about leadership has left a lasting impact on our business community. This year’s keynote, filled with practical wisdom and actionable insights, promises to empower attendees to tackle real-life challenges with confidence and clarity,” says Arthur Havlicek, President & CEO of the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber. “At the Chamber, we remain committed to fostering leadership and celebrating the incredible contributions of our local businesses, and this event is the perfect way to kick off another year of impact and collaboration.”
Dudley is no stranger to Southwest Michigan having presented in October of 2023 on ‘Cultures of Leadership’ where he captivated everyone in attendance, and succeeded in changing the way the majority viewed their personal leadership style. During the 2024 Breakfast, Dudley engaged over 600 attendees by shifting his presentation to ‘The Leadership Test’ consisting of six (6) questions designed to drive engagement and empower employees to be more productive and impactful in all areas of their lives.
For 2025, Dudley’s keynote called “Edge of the Bed Advice”: Leadership Wisdom for Real Life, will focus on the key questions of, “What are the best insights you can share with me? What do I need to know? What wisdom has most contributed to your success and happiness?”
That is the “Edge of the Bed” Question, and for the last fifteen years Dudley has collected thousands of responses from leaders of all kinds: gold medalists to CEOs, custodians to Uber drivers, and toddlers to retirees. In this presentation Dudley will share the most insightful and practical of these insights, with an eye on providing proven strategies for overcoming the most common life and leadership challenges you face every day.
As the founder and chief catalyst of Day One Leadership, he has helped top organizations around the world increase their leadership capacity. With a mission to help people unlearn some dangerous lessons about leadership, his clients have included McDonald’s, American Express, JP Morgan Chase, the United Way, and more than 100 colleges and universities.
Dudley adds, “There’s an energy and vibrancy to the southwest Michigan business community that says a lot about the people who create that community. I’m excited to come back and share the best insights I’ve gathered from great minds around the world with the leaders committed to making Southwest Michigan a better place to live and work.”
Tickets for the 2025 Business Recognition Breakfast Annual Meeting & Awards Ceremony at the Lake Michigan College Mendel Center’s Grand Upton Hall are now on-sale online at bit.ly/BRBAwards2025. Early Bird pricing of $60 each or $500 for a table of 10 runs through January 31st. After that regular pricing of $65 each or a table of 10 for $550 will run through February 9th.
Award Categories include:
Business Focused:
- Best New Business
- Economic Impact Award
- Small Business of the Year Award
- Non-Profit Excellence Award
Community Focused:
- Community Placemaking - New for 2025
Individual Focused:
- Rising Star Award
- The Pat Moody Award
Award nominees will be announced January 24th. In keeping with tradition, the Chamber will also recognize one of their Ambassadors as their 2024 Ambassador of the Year.
Thank you to event sponsors:
Title: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Corewell Health, Honor Credit Union;
Presenting: Comcast Business, Horizon Bank, Four Winds Casinos, Sturgis Bank & Trust;
Media: Mid-West Family Southwest Michigan;
Supporting: Combined Insurance Agencies/Nulty Insurance, Hungerford CPAs + Advisors, Indiana Michigan Power an AEP Company, Kruggel Lawton CPAs;
Contributing: Andrews University School of Business Administration, South Shore Health & Racquet Club, and United Federal Credit Union.
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