Get Involved in our Programs
Traverse Connect, formerly the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce, is a large and diverse organization with more than 2,000 individual investor members. Our business programming offers opportunities to grow as an emerging leader, provide community leadership resources or transform your organization.
Leadership Grand Traverse
Leadership Grand Traverse (LGT) is a community-based program that prepares participants for decision-making leadership roles in areas such as policy, program implementation, and development.
Leadership Roundtables
Leadership Roundtables provides a venue for presidents and CEOs to meet monthly with their own peer group in an atmosphere that fosters entrepreneurial thinking and encourages teamwork to accomplish individual goals.
Traverse City Young Professionals
The Traverse City Young Professionals program was created by Traverse Connect to empower and activate young professionals in the Grand Traverse region by providing a dynamic environment for networking and professional development.
Foundations of Leadership
Foundations of Leadership (FOL) is a community-based program that prepares people for roles in leadership which are authentic expressions of self. To know who we are as leaders is to know who we are called to serve. When these two aspects are aligned, organizational success and personal fulfillment ignite.
Women's Leadership Roundtables
Women bring unique talents and abilities to the workplace, although subtle biases continue to get in the way of even the most competent female leaders reaching their potential. In this cohort, our goal is to learn, explore, challenge, and empower through leadership development and problem-solving.
Let Her Speak
Let Her Speak is a seven-month-long training experience in 2024/2025 for female-identifying business leaders wanting to learn how to speak in their authentic voice, and have fun while doing it! The Let Her Speak application is now open!
Scholarships and Grant Support for Traverse Connect Professional Programs
Scholarships and financial support for many Traverse Connect programs are available:
Scholarship:
With thanks to the generous support of the Boundless Futures Foundation Traverse Connect is pleased to offer a 50% scholarship to female leaders entering one of these professional development programs (Women’s Leadership Cohort, Women’s Leadership Roundtable, Community Mentoring Program, and Let Her Speak), with an aim toward growing our women’s leadership programs and expanding participation. Each of these programs have been developed to support women at all stages of their careers, to grow as emerging leaders, develop their businesses, and to gain the skills needed to grow as community entrepreneurs.
Small Business Support Hub Grant Program from the Small Business Association of Michigan:
Qualifying as a Participant in the SBSH Grant Program is relatively easy. You do not need to be a member of the Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM) or any organization to qualify. Simply tell SBAM a little about your business and they will handle the rest. You will NOT be asked to submit such personal information as business financial reports, personal financial statements, or previous years’ tax returns. Once you complete the application the SBAM Foundation team will review your application and determine if you qualify to participate.
Once you are approved as a Participant in the SBSH Grant Program, you will be given full access to their entire catalog of free programming, courses, events, and support offered by some of the most effective subject matter experts in the state. These programs from Traverse Connect are included in the SBSH Grant Program course catalog:
- Community Mentoring
- Leadership Roundtables
- Women’s Leadership Cohort
- Let Her Speak
Simply search “Traverse Connect” on the SBAM Programs page to apply to one of these four Traverse Connect programs.