Last call to register for Thursday’s West Shore Business and Economic Summit

David VanderMolen

VICTORY TOWNSHIP — Area business leaders and professionals are encouraged to register for the West Shore Business and Economic Summit, scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 12, at West Shore Community College. The event will feature presentations on leadership, cybersecurity, workplace communication and a post-election legislative update from the Michigan Chamber of Commerce.

The annual summit begins at 1 p.m. at the college’s Center Stage Theater. Registration is available at ludington.org/summit.

The event is hosted by West Shore Community College in partnership with West Shore Bank, the Chamber Alliance of Mason County and the Manistee Area Chamber of Commerce.

One of the summit’s featured presentations will be a legislative update from Wendy Block of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce. Coming just nine days after the Nov. 3 general election, Block will provide insight into the political landscape in Lansing and discuss how election results and potential legislative priorities could impact businesses and communities throughout Michigan.

The summit will open with keynote speaker David VanderMolen, founder of Inspired 2 Change, who will discuss how effective listening can make individuals better leaders and strengthen workplace relationships.

VanderMolen has more than 35 years of experience in organizational development, leadership and communication. He spent nearly 14 years at Barry-Wehmiller, where he was a principal architect of the company’s leadership development program and its listening course.

In 2022, he founded Inspired 2 Change, an organization dedicated to helping individuals and businesses improve leadership and workplace culture. A west Michigan native, VanderMolen has made listening a central focus of his work, including his October 2026 TEDx Macatawa presentation, “Everyone’s Talking, Nobody’s Listening.”

VanderMolen will also lead a second session focusing on civility in communication, offering strategies for navigating difficult conversations while maintaining productive and engaged workplace teams.

Another featured session will address cybersecurity, an increasingly important concern for businesses of all sizes. A panel featuring representatives from health care, insurance, finance, education and the Small Business Development Center will discuss potential cybersecurity risks and practical ways to protect employees, customers and business operations.

“Events like the West Shore Business and Economic Summit create valuable opportunities for business leaders to step away from their day-to-day responsibilities, gain new perspectives and learn from one another,” said Brandy Miller, president and CEO of the Chamber Alliance of Mason County. “By bringing people together to share ideas and discuss the issues affecting our region, we can strengthen relationships and better position our businesses and communities for the future.”

The summit will conclude with a happy hour, providing attendees an opportunity to network with fellow business leaders and continue discussions about challenges and opportunities facing the region.

“A strong business community depends on collaboration, communication and staying informed,” said Carmen Kott, president and CEO of the Manistee Area Chamber of Commerce. “The summit brings together professionals from across our region to build connections, explore shared challenges and gain insights that can help their organizations succeed. These conversations are essential to supporting a thriving regional economy.”

Business owners, managers and professionals interested in attending are encouraged to register for Thursday’s event through the Chamber Alliance of Mason County at ludington.org/summit or the Manistee Area Chamber of Commerce at manisteechamber.com.

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