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SEASON 3, EPISODE 4 October 5, 2020

A Conversation with Jon Ippel, Executive Director, AmplifyGR

This [community development] work does not happen unless you're working in partnership. Being proximate and cultivating relationships is difficult to do when everyone is intentionally distancing from each other to support public health. Hear how Network Member AmplifyGR in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is cultivating relationships—even amidst crisis—with for nonprofit and for-profit organizations, aligning around a common purpose to create a healthier community.

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Guests

Jon Ippel

Executive Director, AmplifyGR

A Grand Rapids native, Jon Ippel serves as the Executive Director of Amplify GR. Jon comes to the organization with 15 years of community development experience. Prior to joining Amplify GR, he worked in local government in the areas of city administration, sustainability and community development. Jon feels passionately about the momentum in our city and is committed to ensuring more residents in our community benefit from community growth through a holistic approach focusing on education, housing, jobs and entrepreneurship, and community wellbeing.

Jon is proud of the partnerships Amplify GR has formed with neighbors, nonprofits and local businesses alike. These relationships afford Amplify GR the opportunity to provide additional resources to both residents and businesses in the community.

Narrator

Michelle Matthews

Senior Vice President, Purpose Built Communities

Michelle Matthews joined Purpose Built Communities in 2016 as Senior Vice President after leading her own consulting company, Matthews Consulting Group (MCG), for more than a decade. She is a trusted advisor with more than 30 years of experience in organizational development, change management and consulting. She is a recognized expert when it comes to developing strategies to improve business processes, maximize human capital and increase revenues.

This is Community is created in partnership with HL Strategy. Our executive producers are Eytan Davidson and HL Strategy (Howard Lalli, Sherry Crawley, and Patty Gregory.) Our producer, director, and editor is Matt Honkonen. Mixing, mastering and music is from Pitchwire.

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