Patricia Pomerleau Jim Hettinger

The Battle Creek Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that the May Eye Opener will welcome Patricia M. Pomerleau, CEO of CEOExpress Company and James F. Hettinger, President & CEO of Battle Creek Unlimited, Inc., where they will unveil a new Battle Creek Unlimited marketing web site.

As CEO and founder of CEOExpress Company, Patricia Pomerleau has developed a new concept in accessing information on the Internet. She is the creator and executive editor of CEOExpress, (www.ceoexpress.com) one of the most successful web sites for executives on the Internet. CEO Express was created in 1997 as a means of helping senior executives get the most out of the Internet. The site provides, in an intuitively organized fashion, links to a wide array of online resources designed to meet senior executives’ business and personal needs. CEOExpress has received numerous awards including being named a Forbes “Best of the Web” financial portal five times in a row. Pomerleau’s past expertise encompasses industries from finance and insurance to healthcare, where she is recognized as an authority on the impact of emerging technologies on the future of American healthcare. She has over 20 years of senior management experience in information-driven industries. Prior to founding CEOExpress Company, she served as executive vice president and chief operating officer of South Shore Hospital, Weymouth, MA. Previously, Pomerleau served in senior executive positions in hospitals and healthcare organizations throughout the Northeast. She is a member of the Georgetown University Board of Governors where she chairs the technology committee. Pomerleau holds an MS from Boston University and BS from Georgetown University.

James Hettinger earned a B.A. and M.A. in Political Science from Western Michigan University. He then went on to the University of Missouri to pursue a Doctorate in Public Administration.

While pursuing studies, Hettinger worked as a Local Government Specialist for the University of Missouri’s Governmental Affairs Program. He returned to the Battle Creek area in 1978 as the Marketing Director for Battle Creek Unlimited. In December of 1979, he was promoted to President and CEO of Battle Creek Unlimited.

Hettinger has written and published a book and numerous articles dealing with economic development. He is listed in the Who’s Who of the Oxford Elite Professionals and has made many presentations to national groups and conferences including the National Governors’ Association Center for Best practices and the International City Managers’ Association.

He has served on the transition teams of two Michigan Governors and was Governor Engler’s first Economic Developer of the Year in 1995.

He is an instructor for the International Economic Development Council and has served as an Adjunct Professor at Western Michigan University and Michigan State University.

The May Eye Opener, will take place Tuesday, May 6, 2008, at the Burnham Brook Center, 200 West Michigan Avenue, downtown Battle Creek, at 7:30 a.m. The monthly Business Expo will begin at 7:00 a.m.

During the May Eye Opener Breakfast Meeting, new members of the Battle Creek Area Chamber of Commerce will be introduced, upcoming Chamber events will be highlighted and drawings will be held for the Chamber 50/50 raffle and door prizes.

The program sponsor for the May Eye Opener Breakfast will be bcVentures. The food sponsor will be the Corporate and Community Services of Kellogg Community College with food being prepared and served by the Michigan Youth Challenge Academy. Audiovisual productions will be provided by G² (G-Squared) Productions. Access Vision will be filming the program, which will be aired on Channel 17 and simulcasting on Channel 917 (if viewers receive Comcast digital service). Further, the digital signal can also be found on new televisions who have a digital tuner at 82.7. The Program will be aired during the month of May.

If you are interested in showcasing your business at the Business Expo, please contact Deborah Owens for further information at 269.962.4076 or e-mail at dowens@battlecreek.org. Space is limited. There is no charge for Chamber members to participate.

We hope you will be able to join us on Tuesday, May 6th, at the Burnham Brook Center. There is no charge for Chamber members to attend.

©Copyright 2008
Battle Creek Area Chamber of Commerce