Annemarie Valdez named a top 200 Most Powerful Business Leaders in West Michigan

We are pleased to announce that our First Steps Kent President, Annemarie Valdez, has been acknowledged as one of the top 200 Most Powerful Business Leaders in West Michigan by the Grand Rapids Business Journal for the second year in a row!

“The Grand Rapids 200 represents the cream of the crop when it comes to leadership in West Michigan, writes Tim Gortsema, Editor of the Grand Rapids Business Journal. “These are the people making decisions every day that affect not only them and their business or organization but the entire business community.”

Annemarie has worked diligently to make our community a better place to live and work in, especially for families with young children. Since March 2020, she has helped coordinate a Child Care Crisis Response team, helped to be responsive as the President of First Steps Kent, and served the community as a funder supporting the early childhood work through the Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage.

Annemarie works to raise awareness of gaps that currently exist (think this is correct, gaps exist, but it’s tripping me up) in early childhood services. She effectively partners with stakeholders to help others understand the need for dedicated funding to support families with young children. Through the Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage and better coordination of the early childhood system in Kent County, families with young children can access needed services.

Download a copy of the Grand Rapids 200 here.