Tag Archives: Keith Morgan

Chamber celebrates local businesses as it has its first annual meeting in two years

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, , ,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

Weller Team accepts award for Manufacturer of the Year
Blue Frost IT accepts the Volunteer of the Year award.
ServicePro South and Northwest GR accepts the Service Business of the Year award.
Craig’s Cruiser’s Cait Black accepts the Retail Business of the Year award.
New Chamber President and CEO Keith Morgan with his wife.
Bob O’Callaghan accepts a proclamation in honor of his contributions from State Senator Mark Huizinga.

It was a night of celebration as the Wyoming Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce hosted its Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner, the first since COVID pandemic in 2020.

Along with celebrating the annual award recipients, the event, which this year was held at Crossroads Conference Center off of Clay Avenue, also gave members and local officials the opportunity to celebrate the contributions of President and CEO Bob Callaghan. In November, O’Callaghan announced his retirement from the chamber after working with Chamber for past 30-plus years, the last nine as its president and CEO.

 

“I can’t even guess how many feet of ribbon you have cut over the course of time, but I have been there for a lot of those ribbon cuttings and it is always important for new businesses to see that we are committed to them,” said Wyoming Mayor Jack Poll during a recent Government Matters, which is hosted by the Chamber and broadcast by WKTV.

“Thank you for all you have done to help the small business, the big businesses, businesses in general especially in these tough, tough times,” said Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley during the Government Matters meeting. “ We really appreciate all that you did.”

For his years of service, O’Callaghan was awarded with the Gerald E. Fessell Distinguished Service Award. O’Callaghan thanked everyone at the meeting, stating he has some wonderful memories and hopes to remain in touch with many who were in attendance at the meeting.

The Chamber’s new president and CEO, Keith Morgan, also spoke during the event. He talked about the challenges many have faced due to COVID and how the Chamber is beginning to look at what it offers and will be offering some new and exciting opportunities to members.

Award recipients

Receiving the Retail Business of Year Award was Craig’s Cruisers, located at 5730 Clyde Park Ave. SW. With around 120,000 square feet, Craig’s Cruisers is one of the largest indoor, and outdoor, recreation facilities in the area, offering go carts, mini golf, an indoor roller coaster, laser tag, and a wide selection of games. The facility also has a 700-capactiy seating restaurant, which is the largest seating capacity restaurant in Kent County.

Receiving the Manufacturer of the Year Award was Weller Truck Parks, 1500 Gezon Parkway SW, Wyoming. Weller Truck Parks is a re-manufacturer of heavy- and medium-duty drive tran components for the transportation industry. The company has been based in Wyoming since the 1970s and now has 36 locations distributing its products and employs around 1,000 people.

Receiving the Linda Harbor Service Business of the Year Award went to ServPro of South and Northwest Grand Rapids, which is based in Jenison. As sales rep Mike Nix puts it “Typically if you are calling us you are not having a very good day but we are here to make sure things are done right and on the first time.” ServPro of South and Northwest Grand Rapids is a full service restoration business. It offers fire and water cleanup, mold remediation, biohazard cleanup up as well as construction site services.

Volunteer of the Year Award went to Blue Frost IT. Owners Allen and Ashlynne Gilbert, said when they formed their IT company, they made the commitment to give back to their company and they wanted to see firsthand what their support was doing for the community they serve, often working hand-in-hand with the charitable organizations. Blue Frost IT has worked with UCOM and Family Network of Wyoming as well as served as ambassadors and on the foundation board for the Chamber.

This year’s Committee of the Year Award went to the Government Matters group. At the beginning of each month, the Government Mattes Committee brings together local government officials who discuss things taking place in the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood, on the state level and nationally as well. 

Wyoming-Kentwood Chamber hires entrepreneur, longtime volunteer as next president

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Local Business, , ,

By Sheila McGrath
WKTV Contributing Writer

Keith Morgan was recently named the new CEO and president of the Wyoming Kentwood Area Chamber of Comerce. (Photo by Indie City Photography)

The next leader of the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce is a businessman whose experience ranges from corporate management to starting a small business from scratch.

Keith Morgan, 46, will replace outgoing president and CEO Bob O’Callaghan, who is retiring effective Feb. 1.

 

“Our CEO Search Committee looked at over 80 applicants and Keith was the unanimous choice,” O’Callaghan said. “His knowledge of our Chamber and many years of business experience make him a natural. I am proud to turn the reins over to Keith.”

Stepping into the role in the midst of a pandemic, when the definition of “normal” is ever-shifting, Morgan said his goal for the chamber is to get back to basics.

“When I say back to basics, I’m talking about building a better tomorrow. There are going to be some changes we’re going to live with for a while. But business and commerce are always going to be with us,” he said. 

“As we move forward, how do we get back to the basics so we can begin to continue to create change on our own terms? The terms we’ve been given have been dealt to us at this point. Now, how do we begin to take the reins back and effect change?”

Morgan, an Indianapolis native, started volunteering for the Chamber about 10 years ago.

 

He originally came to West Michigan for a management position with AT&T. He got excellent training and experience running a sales division for AT&T, he said, but he got transferred around a lot, from Kentwood to Lansing to Wyoming. When AT&T wanted to transfer him yet again, he took the plunge and started his own janitorial business, All Clean Again.

“I always had ambitions to start a business and actually build something,” Morgan said.

 

Over several years, he grew the business from “cleaning the toilets myself” to employing a staff of about 20.

 

He had already started toying with the idea of selling his business when, as chair of the chamber board, he learned of O’Callaghan’s retirement plans. While actively involved in the search for a new president and CEO, the idea kept popping into his head that maybe he could take on the leadership role himself.

After talking with the chamber’s executive board members and local business leaders, and getting confirmation that they thought it would be a good idea, he made the difficult decision to sell his successful business and go in a new direction.

Keith Morgan officially takes the helm of the Wyoming Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce on Feb. 1. He will be overseeing the annual meeting on Jan. 28 where former Chamber President and CEO Bob O’Callghan will be honored. (Photo by Indie City Photography)

“I came up with this philosophy a few years ago: I’m not  going to continue to let life happen to me, I’m going to make life happen,” he said. “Being an entrepreneur, I got comfortable with risk. I was able to have enough success off the risks I had taken that I was a lot more comfortable with making that decision.”

With his corporate background, a master’s degree in business, and his experience being a small business owner, he thinks he can help chamber members with practical advice to help them be successful.

He also made a lot of connections in the area while owning his business, something crucial to his role at the Chamber of connecting businesses to other businesses.

Morgan will lead the Chamber’s annual meeting and awards dinner on Jan. 28, when O’Callaghan will be honored for his years of service.

“One of the things I am thankful for is that the current CEO and president has navigated the organization to where we are today. We have a good solid foundation,” Morgan said. 

Shopping on Small Business Saturday good for buyers, businesses, communities

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Going Local, Holidays, Local Business, , ,

 

Keith Morgan, owner of All Clean Again and Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce. (Supplied)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

 

Why shop local and shop small businesses, on Small Business Saturday and all year long? There are both sound statistics and personal stories to answer the question, according to Wyoming businessman Keith Morgan.

 

“As a small business owner and chamber leader I see the value of buying local from two different perspectives,” Morgan, owner of All Clean Again janitorial services and Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce board member, said to WKTV. “The business owner in me understands that buying locally helps build communities. When local communities support their local businesses, the dollars spent tend to stay in the community a lot longer. … In layman’s terms, a dollar spent local stays local.”

 

He pointed out multiple studies by the consulting firm Civic Economics which show the effects on dollars spent locally. One study showed each dollar spent at an independent business returns 3 times more money to the local economy than each dollar spent at a chain business — and almost 50 times more than buying from an online mega-retailer.

 

But he also says quality of service, and supporting one’s community, are reasons to shop locally.

 

“If quality and service is what you are looking for, it may be in your best interest to test the local business waters,” Morgan said. “When it comes to local business, almost all cases involve an owner who is dependent upon the success of their business to provide for their livelihood. This tends to get you a more attentive business individual, when shopping locally because you are vitally important to their business.”

 

Morgan points out that small businesses are also able to react to the customer more directly — when a decision is needed, the consumer wants an answer and resolution now, he said.

 

“When someone deals with a local business, they get the feeling of giving back to their community in a tangible way,” Morgan said. “Buyers who shop locally may likely be helping to support their neighbors put food on the table, helping send another’s children to the local community college, or helping provide yet another family the means to support the local mission that feeds the needy.”

 

Wyoming Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce recognizes businesses, volunteers at annual event

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, , , ,

By Bob O’Callagahn

Wyoming-Kentwood Chamber of Commerce

 

The Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce celebrated its 36th Annual Meeting & Awards Dinner Jan. 27 at Grand Rapids’ Crossroads Conference Center 6569 Clay Ave. SW.

 

Guests were welcomed by music from the East Kentwood High School Jazz Combo and a slide presentation with pictures from 2016 Chamber Events.

 

A strolling dinner and silent auction started the evening off. The nights program started with a welcome from President/CEO Bob O’Callaghan. O’Callaghan then introduced State Senators Tonya Schuitmaker, Peter MacGregor, and State Representative Tommy Brann. Mayor Stephen Kepley then updated the guests on activities in the City of Kentwood. City Councilmen Kent Vanderwood shared the accomplishments in the City of Wyoming in 2016.

 

The Awards portion of the Program started with Lacks Enterprises receiving the Manufacturer of the Year honors. Craig’s Cruisers was selected Retail Business of the Year. The final business award went to the Service Business of the Year Valorous Circle. Each award was preceded by a video of the winning business, prepared by WKTV.

 

The Daniel McLaren Committee of the Year Award went to the Annual Meeting Committee.

 

The Daniel Vandyke Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to Keith Morgan from All Clean Again.

 

The Chamber’s final award, The Gerald E. Fessell Distinguished Service Award went to Terry Merriman, owner of PCO Associates, and the 2015 and 2016 Chairman of the Board. The 2017 Board of Directors were introduced and the meeting adjourned.