Southwest Michigan Gets a Good One

Southwest Michigan First, Southwest Michigan's lead economic development agency, has announced the selection of Corpus Christi President and CEO Ronald Kitchens as the organization's new CEO.

"Ron has tremendous passion for economic development and has a demonstrated track record for bringing jobs to Corpus Christi," said William D. Johnston, SMF's board chair and the president of Greenleaf Companies. "Our entire board is very excited to have him join our organization."

Among his many successes during a five-year tenure in Corpus Christi, Kitchens attracted 99 companies to the region, generated 34,000 new jobs and drew $4.7 billion in new commercial development to that community. In 2004, Site Selection Magazine ranked Corpus Christi fourth in the nation for highest level of new investment, behind New York City, Chicago and Detroit.

I saw Ron recently in Phoenix. Best of luck with the new job. SW Michigan has landed a very able replacement for Barry Broome, who recently took over the CEO job at the Greater Phoenix Economic Council.

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