Inspire West Michigan
Claim This Podcastby inspirewestmichigan
Podcast Overview
<p><strong>Introducing Inspire West Michigan – A Podcast Series Celebrating Local Business Leadership.</strong></p> <p>Inspire West Michigan is a new podcast collaboration between Acorn Marketing, and the Grand Haven, Spring Lake & Ferrysburg Chamber of Commerce—created to elevate the voices of West Michigan’s business community.</p> <p>Hosted by Amy Atkinson, President & CEO of Acorn Marketing, Inspire West Michigan delivers authentic, behind-the-scenes conversations with the visionary presidents and CEOs shaping our region’s economy and community. With 30 years of leadership and marketing expertise, Amy brings a strategic, thoughtful perspective to each interview—uncovering stories that spark curiosity, connection, and inspiration.</p>
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
3/11/2026
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Recent Episodes
July 22, 2026
Tracy Riley - Her journey from serving in the U.S. Coast Guard to Executive Director of the Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival
Tracy RileyExecutive Director, Grand Haven Coast Guard FestivalCommander, U.S. Coast Guard (Retired) In this episode, host Amy Atkinson sits down with retired Coast Guard Commander Tracy Riley to explore her remarkable leadership journey—from unexpectedly joining the Coast Guard to leading search and rescue operations, mentoring future officers, and ultimately returning to Grand Haven to lead one of the nation's most celebrated Coast Guard traditions.Commander Tracy Riley, USCG (Ret.), serves as Executive Director of the Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival following a distinguished 28-year career in the United States Coast Guard. Beginning as an enlisted member in 1982, Tracy rose through the ranks to command Coast Guard stations, lead regional operations, and mentor future officers at Officer Candidate School. Throughout her career, she served in assignments across the country, including search and rescue, law enforcement, environmental response, personnel leadership at Coast Guard Headquarters, and Group Commander in Grand Haven. Along the way, she became known for her people-first leadership style, commitment to mentorship, and belief that great leaders explain the "why" behind every mission. After retiring from military service, Tracy eventually returned to Grand Haven—the community she knew would one day become home. Today, she leads one of Michigan's most beloved traditions, preserving more than a century of Coast Guard history while honoring the men and women who continue to serve our nation.
July 15, 2026
John Foss - Outstanding healthcare is about a shared commitment to serving the community.
John Foss Senior Vice President of Operations, Trinity Health Grand Haven & Shelby In this episode, host Amy Atkinson sits down with John Foss to discuss the leadership, culture, and collaboration behind Trinity Health Shelby Hospital's recognition as one of the Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals in the United States. John shares how teamwork, coordinated care, and a commitment to serving rural communities are helping deliver exceptional healthcare across Michigan's lakeshore region. 00:00 Introduction of John Foss – John details his operational leadership role spanning the Muskegon, Shelby, and Grand Haven medical campuses. 01:46 Joining the Army Out of High School – John shares why he enlisted to fund college and build personal accountability. 02:52 - Becoming a Combat Medic – How an automated test and an old video disc kicked off John's healthcare journey. 05:25 - Lessons in Empathy & Diversity – How basic training taught John to communicate across different backgrounds. 07:13 - Discovering the PA Profession – A chance encounter with a sign that introduced John to the physician assistant career track. 14:47 - Working in an HIV Clinic during the 1990s – A moving look at handling critical care and empathy during the Ryan White era. 18:46 - The Birth of the Hospitalist Movement – How John helped pioneer a groundbreaking model of centralized hospital care in West Michigan. 31:51 - Transitioning into Healthcare Administration – Pursuing an MBA to bridge the gap between business operations and clinical practice. 54:48 - Ready to Be the Most Important Person – A powerful leadership lesson on why every single hospital staff member has a day where they are the most critical piece of the puzzle. John Foss serves as Senior Vice President of Operations for Trinity Health, overseeing hospital operations across Grand Haven and Shelby. Throughout his career, John has been committed to building strong healthcare teams, improving patient experiences, and ensuring communities have access to exceptional care close to home. Under his leadership, Trinity Health Shelby Hospital was recognized as one of the Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals in the United States by the Chartis Center for Rural Health—an honor awarded to only two hospitals in Michigan. John credits the achievement not to facilities or technology alone, but to a culture built on teamwork, collaboration, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to patients. Passionate about connecting rural communities to comprehensive healthcare resources, John believes great leadership is about creating systems that allow exceptional people to do their best work while ensuring every patient receives seamless, high-quality care, regardless of which Trinity Health campus they visit.
July 1, 2026
Jennifer Owens - Her leadership journey from aspiring journalist to economic development leader.
Jennifer Owens set out to tell stories. Today, she’s helping write the next chapter of West Michigan’s economic future.
11 total episodes available
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Frequently asked questions
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- What is Inspire West Michigan?
<p><strong>Introducing Inspire West Michigan – A Podcast Series Celebrating Local Business Leadership.</strong></p> <p>Inspire West Michigan is a new podcast collaboration between Acorn Marketing, and the Grand Haven, Spring Lake & Ferrysburg Chamber of Commerce—created to elevate the voices of West Michigan’s business community.</p> <p>Hosted by Amy Atkinson, President & CEO of Acorn Marketing, Inspire West Michigan delivers authentic, behind-the-scenes conversations with the visionary presidents and CEOs shaping our region’s economy and community. With 30 years of leadership and marketing expertise, Amy brings a strategic, thoughtful perspective to each interview—uncovering stories that spark curiosity, connection, and inspiration.</p> - How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
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