While the Flint & Genesee Group has rebranded and evolved over the years, one thing has stayed the same – the commitment of a group of investors known as the Regional Leadership Council, or RLC. Today, the RLC consists of more than 40 leading organizations that contribute $10,000 or more annually in support of the Flint & Genesee Group’s mission.
“The organizations represented in the council range from hospitals and higher education to locally owned and global companies,” said Tim Herman, CEO of the Flint & Genesee Group. “They share our vision of making Genesee County a top-five community in Michigan by 2040 and know that this kind of change requires long-term commitment and investment.”
According to Herman, the Group brings council members relevant information through an annual summit, exclusive communications, and opportunities to connect with each other. But ultimately, the benefit of being part of the RLC is more about transformational impact than it is about transactional value.
“We keep the RLC informed about significant projects impacting our community and, as a result, they’re often first in line to show their support,” said Kristina Johnston, chief operating officer of the Flint & Genesee Group. “Not only do they financially support our work but, through sharing their challenges and opportunities with us, they help influence the Group’s focus and inform our strategic plan.”
Herman and Johnston meet with each RLC investor individually over the course of the year and, almost without fail, find common themes they’re all experiencing: “They clue us in to key trends impacting our business community.”
For example, a few years ago, organizations were having a difficult time attracting talent to fill their open positions, while today, many face issues with retention. That’s prompted the Group to offer more trainings around topics including investing in employees and diversity, equity, and inclusion, Johnston says.
And the Group is always open to more insight. Organizations interested in joining the RLC can get started at FlintandGenesee.org/about.
According to Herman, an ideal RLC investor is someone who cares about this community, has the means and influence to contribute to it, and can help the Group identify where it needs to focus its efforts. Most importantly, “it’s someone who sees the big picture and is in it for the long haul.”
Regional Leadership Council
Ascension Genesys Health System
AT&T Michigan
Bishop International Airport Authority
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network
Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
Community Foundation of Greater Flint
Consumers Energy
Dee Cramer, Inc.
E & L Construction Group
Fessler & Bowman
Fifth Third Bank
Flatrock Inc.
Food Bank of Eastern Michigan
General Motors
The Genesee Group
Goyette Mechanical
GST Michigan Works! Inc.
Hamilton Community Health Network
HAP CareSource
Hubbard Supply Co.
The Huntington National Bank
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Hurley Medical Center
Kettering University
Koegel Meats
Landaal Packaging Systems
Lear Corporation
Lewis & Knopf CPAs, PC
Lurvey Construction
Management Diversified, Inc.
Mass Transportation Authority
McLaren-Flint
McLaren Flint Foundation
Mott Children’s Health Center
Mott Community College
NorthGate
Plante & Moran, PLLC
Premier Security Solutions
ROWE Professional Services
Ruth Mott Foundation
Serra Automotive
Skypoint Ventures
Sorensen Gross Company
University of Michigan-Flint
Weinstein Electric