Birgit Klohs awarded 2017 Business Person of the Year

The Economic Club of Grand Rapids has named Birgit Klohs, president and CEO of The Right Place Inc., its 2017 Business Person of the Year. Klohs received her award during the Economic Club’s 2017 Annual Dinner held on June 19^th.

The award honors leaders in West Michigan who have made significant community contributions, are supportive of the West Michigan business community, and are recognized as a business and community leader. Klohs was recognized for her 30 years of regional economic development leadership in West Michigan.

Since 1987, Klohs has led The Right Place, providing strategic leadership and a vision for economic growth in West Michigan. Under her three decades of leadership, The Right Place has created over 44,000 new and retained jobs and spurred over $4.7 billion in new investment.

In addition to her leadership role at The Right Place, Klohs is also involved in many local and statewide boards, believing a community’s quality of life is as important as its quality of commerce. In 2014, she was appointed by Governor Snyder to serve on the International Crossing Authority, which is a joint authority between the State of Michigan and the Country of Canada for the construction of the North American International Trade Crossing (Gordie Howe Bridge).

Past recipients of the Business Person of the Year award include:

• 1988 - Richard DeVos
• 1989 - L.V. Eberhard
• 1990 - Jay Van Andel
• 1991 - Peter Cook
• 1992 - Fred Meijer
• 1993 - Hy Berkowitz
• 1994 - John Canepa
• 1995 - Peter Secchia
• 1996 - Robert Hooker
• 1997 - Robert Woodrick
• 1998 - Robert C. Pew
• 1999 - Fred M. Keller
• 2000 - Earl D. Holton
• 2001 - Paul B. Gordon
• 2002 – Seymour & Stuart Padnos
• 2003 – David G. Frey
• 2004 – John C. Kennedy
• 2005 – George, John and Tom Jackoboice
• 2006 – Tim O’Donovan
• 2007 – Harvey Gainey Sr.
• 2008 – Craig Sturken
• 2009 – John Wheeler
• 2010 – Jim Dunlap
• 2011 – Bill Currie
• 2012 - Jim Hackett
• 2013 – Doug DeVos/Steve Van Andel
• 2014 – Dick Haworth
• 2015 – Blake Krueger
• 2016 – Dan DeVos