May 13—Holland Area Chamber of Commerce Early Bird Breakfast meeting “The Impact of Global Trade on Your Business, Community and State,” presented by Liz Reilly, U.S. Chamber of Commerce. 7-8:30 a.m., Haworth Inn & Conference Center, 225 College Ave., Holland. Cost: $15/members; $25/nonmembers. RSVP: (616) 392-1838, events@hollandchamber.org, or www.hollandchamber.org.

May 13—Muskegon Area Chamber of Commerce Tech Talk “Lean – It’s Not Just For The Shop Floor Anymore,” with panel facilitated by Mitzi Taylor, Not So Basic Training. 8-9 a.m., GVSU MAREC building, 200 Viridian Drive. Cost: $10/members; $20/nonmembers. RSVP: (231) 722-3751 or ctyson@muskegon.org.

May 13, 20—The Employers’ Association two-day class “ISO 9001 – Internal Auditor Training,” presented by Management Solutions Group. 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., 5570 Executive Parkway SE. Cost: $400/members; $460/nonmembers (includes lunch). Information/registration: Pam Sheely, (616) 698-1167 or psheely@teagr.org.

May 14—Association for Human Resource Management annual conference with keynote speakers Matt Isbell, Skot Welch, Lou Rabaut and Amanda Fielder. 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., WMU Graduate Center, 200 Ionia Ave. SW. Registration: www.ahrm.net. Information: Jenny Redes, (616) 389-1246 or jredes@custom-profile.com; Patricia Litner, (616) 827-6523 or plitner@gqti.com.

May 14—Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce Member Orientation. Noon-1 p.m., Chamber offices, 111 Pearl St. NW. Cost: free. Information/registration: (616) 771-0303 or www.grandrapids.org.

May 14—Institute of Management Accountants Grand Rapids Chapter and Kalamazoo Chapter educational seminar featuring various keynote speakers with presentations focusing on Michigan business tax, lean accounting, fraud and people skills. The seminar provides eight CPE credit hours. 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Comfort Inn, 622 Allegan Highway, Plainwell. Information/registration: (616) 308-5433, www.imagr.org, or alea_va@earthlink.net.

May 14—Muskegon Area First Procurement Technical Assistance Center class “How to Become a Government Contractor,” presented by Pamela Poort. 8:30 a.m.-noon, Muskegon Community College, Stevenson Center, Room 1228, 221 S. Quarterline Road. Cost: $40/person. Information/registration: (231) 722-7700, psvander@wmis.net, spolacco@charter.net or mholmes@muskegon.org.

May 14—SCORE workshop “Overview to Planning & Starting Your Business.” 8:30-11:30 a.m., Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, 111 Pearl St. NW. Cost: $45/person. Information/registration: (616) 771-0305 or www.scoregr.org.

May 14—Silent Observer Annual Roast “It’s Judgment Day,” roasting Hon. Sara J. Smolenski. 6 p.m. appetizers, cash bar and silent auction; 7:15 p.m. dinner with roast to follow, Cascade Hills Country Club, 3725 Cascade Road SE. Cost: $100/person. Information/tickets: Chris Cameron, (616) 454-9110.

May 14—The Employers’ Association seminar “Documentation: Protecting Your Company’s Employment Decisions.” 8:30-10:30 a.m., 5570 Executive Parkway SE. Cost: $65/members; $90/nonmembers. Information/registration: Pam Sheely, (616) 698-1167 or psheely@teagr.org.

May 15—Michigan Works! annual “Spring Into Action” employer seminar with keynote speaker Dr. Michael Mercer, author and business psychologist, and breakout sessions for human resource professionals. 7:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., WMU Graduate Center, 200 Ionia Ave. SW. Free (breakfast and lunch included). Information/registration: Jeremy Bakken or Brian Burch, (616) 233-0500, jbakken@lambert-edwards.com, or bburch@lambert-edwards.com.

May 15—Muskegon Area Chamber of Commerce Leadership West Michigan Informational Breakfast, presented by Leadership West Michigan and the West Michigan Chamber Coalition. 7:30-8:45 a.m., JSJ Corp., 700 Robbins Road, Grand Haven. Information/registration: (231) 724-3176 or www.leadershipwestmichigan.org.

May 15—The Employers’ Association session “Turning a Negative Encounter Into a Positive,” presented by Lynne Goede. 8:30 a.m.-noon, 5570 Executive Parkway SE. Cost: $95/members; $135/nonmembers. Information/registration: Pam Sheely, (616) 698-1167 or psheely@teagr.org.

May 15, 22, 29—Ken Soper’s Work Search Roundtable, a career assurance and transition club. 8:30-10:30 a.m. Thursdays, Spring Arbor University, 1550 East Beltline Ave. SE, Executive East Building, Suite 245. Information/registration: Ken Soper, LifeSteward Group LLC, (616) 698-3125 or ken@kensoper.com.

May 19—Holland Area Chamber of Commerce Governmental Affairs Breakfast with elected state and federal legislators. 7:30-8:30 a.m., Raleigh Woods Catering & Conference Center, 12968 James St. Cost: $12/members; $20/nonmembers. RSVP: (616) 392-1838, events@hollandchamber.org, or www.hollandchamber.org.

May 19-21—Plexus Systems Inc. PowerPlex 2008 User Conference. May 19, 10 a.m. charity golf tournament, Thousand Oaks Golf Club, 4100 Thousand Oaks Drive SE; 6 p.m. registration and reception, JW Marriott Hotel, International Ballroom, 235 Louis St. NW. May 20, 7 a.m.-5 p.m. breakfast, general session, Plexus Online presentations and breakout sessions, JW Marriott; 6 p.m. dinner, Van Andel Museum Center, 272 Pearl St. NW. May 21, 7 a.m.-5 p.m., breakout sessions and keynote speakers, JW Marriott. Agenda/registration: www.plex.com/powerplex.

May 20—Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Small Business Celebration featuring presentation of the 2008 Small Business of the Year award and keynote from Gerri Willis of CNN. 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, Ambassador Ballroom, 187 Monroe Ave. NW. Cost: $50/members; $75/nonmembers; $700/corporate table of 10. Information/registration: (616) 771-0303 or www.grandrapids.org.

May 20—Holland Area Chamber of Commerce Hamilton Division Luncheon “Hamilton Public Schools – Vision and Funding,” featuring Jim Kos, superintendent, and Steve Aardema, business manager. Noon-1 p.m., Trestle Stop Restaurant, 3366 M-40, Hamilton. Cost: $8/person. RSVP: (616) 392-1838, events@hollandchamber.org, or www.hollandchamber.org.

May 20—Muskegon Area Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneur Award Luncheon. 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Muskegon Country Club, 2801 Lakeshore Drive. Cost: $30/members; $40/nonmembers; $110/seating for four; $220/corporate table of eight. RSVP: (231) 722-3751 or ctyson@muskegon.org.

May 20—Muskegon Inventors Network monthly meeting “Trade Show Updates.” 6-8 p.m., Muskegon Community College, Stevenson Center, Room 147, 221 S. Quarterline Road. Directions: (231) 773-9132. Reservations: (231) 865-7010.

May 21—Center for Community Leadership forum event “The JW Marriott Sister Cities Project,” featuring Susan Camp, president, Grand Rapids Sister Cities International; George Aquino, general manager, JW Marriott; and Dan Watts, photographer. 7:15-9 a.m., JW Marriott, 235 Louis St. NW. Cost: $10/trustees; $20/alumni; $30/nonmembers and guests. Information/RSVP: Sarah Abel, (616) 771-0334 or abels@grandrapids.org.

May 21—Performance Partners Consulting LLC seminar “The Six Pillars of Effective Leadership,” presented by Wayne Klausing. 9 a.m.-noon, Dominican Center, 2025 E. Fulton St. Cost: $99. Information/reservations: (616) 874-2071.

May 22—CPR and Data Domain seminar “Backup Solutions for a Virtual Server Environment.” 8-11:45 a.m., CPR at Watermark Tech Center, 1595 Galbraith Ave. SE. Free, registration required. Information/registration: Laura Barbrick, (616) 575-8500, ext. 1234, or www.cprgr.com.

May 22—West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Membership Meeting. 8 a.m., Davenport University, 415 E. Fulton St. Information/registration: (231) 755-3737, (616) 233-3475, mrincones@hccwm.org or www.hccwm.org.

May 28—Turnaround Management Association meeting featuring Dick DeVos, president, The Windquest Group, speaking on moving Michigan forward. 4:30-8 p.m., JW Marriott, Salon C, 235 Louis St. NW. Cost: $45/members; $65/nonmembers. Information/registration: Barbara Geisman, (517) 262-5803, bgeisman@okeefeandassociates.com, or (616) 233-8080.

Jun 3-4—Nancy Skinner and Associates of Varnum Consulting seminar “Speak Up & Be Effective - Advanced.” 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., 333 Bridge St. NW, Suite 1200. Information/registration: (616) 336-7089 or www.varnumconsulting.com.

Meetings & Conventions

May 12-16—Michigan Funeral Directors Association 2008 Annual Conference, Amway Grand Plaza/DeVos Place. Information: (616) 459-8287, ext. 3545, or jkorn@visitgrandrapids.org.

May 15-17—Michigan Credit Union League 2008 Annual Convention and Expo, Amway Grand Plaza/DeVos Place. Information: (616) 459-8287, ext. 3545, or jkorn@visitgrandrapids.org.

The Business Journal welcomes submissions to the calendar section. Send items to Calendar Editor, Grand Rapids Business Journal, 549 Ottawa Ave. NW, Grand Rapids MI 49503 or e-mail to bjcalendar@geminipub.com. Submissions must be received at least two weeks prior to the event. BJX