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Southwest Michigan First Announces New CEO

KALAMAZOO, MI-After months of searching for a new leader, the Kalamazoo-based economic development agency names Ronald Kitchens as the new CEO. For the past five years, Kitchens served as president and CEO of a similar organization based in Corpus Christi, TX.

By Dan Heaton | Updated on May 09, 2005

KALAMAZOO, MI-The economic development agency that promotes the Southwest region of Michigan has a new CEO. Southwest Michigan First has hired Ronald Kitchens. For the past five years, Kitchens had served as president and CEO of a similar organization based in Corpus Christi, TX.

“Ron has tremendous passion for economic development and has a demonstrated track record for bringing jobs to Corpus Christi,” says William D. Johnston, SMF’s board chair and the president of Greenleaf Cos. “Our entire board is very excited to have him join ourorganization.”SMF began its national search for the top position in January when former SMF CEO Barry Broome announced that he had been recruited to serve as president and CEO of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council. When asked about a move to a seemingly smaller community, Kitchens said Southwest Michigan is actually larger than Corpus Christi and has the potential to lead a national trend toward regionalism in economic development.

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