Place Marketing
Chicago, “The Windy City” … Detroit, “The Motor City” … New Orleans, “The Big Easy” … and list goes on.
What is Grand Rapids? What is West Michigan?
How a region or city is positioned, marketed, and branded dramatically affects attitudes toward that community and the ability to attract investment, businesses, talent and tourists. Bob Marcusse, a leading authority on Place Marketing, will demonstrate how Kansas City, once a struggling city divided across two states, is now one the country’s hotbeds for business growth, innovation, and tourism. Bob will share how he helped put the Kansas City area on the map by promoting the region to employers and residents.
Joining Bob, Birgit Klohs, President and CEO, The Right Place, will provide a brief overview of some of the current, similar initiatives happening in West Michigan.
So ask yourself these questions:
What can you and your company do to ensure that Grand Rapids and West Michigan become the place to be?
Is your company proud to be in West Michigan? If so, is Grand Rapids and West Michigan part of your company’s marketing initiatives?
The Kansas City Area Development Council, otherwise knows as ThinkKC, represents the economic interests of the Greater Kansas City region. With 30 years of development experience, Bob Marcusee, President and CEO, has spearheaded major growth initiatives for the KC region. He leads a team of 17 development professionals who represent 50 cities in 18 counties that comprise the KC metro (MO/KS) of 2 million residents. Bob has led the attraction of companies such as Transamerica Life (HQ), EDS, Harley-Davidson, Honeywell, Kansas Speedway, and Quintiles to KC. KCADC has been recognized one of the top 10 economic development groups for 2009.
Date: March 8, 2011
Time: 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Location: Kent Country Club
Cost: $25 for members; $40 for nonmembers; $15 for students
