Fourth Annual celebration of Conservation Champions

Friday, june 29, 2018 / 5:30 pM – 7:30 pM

Sponsorship generously provided by:

Denis Pierce

Elizabeth Welch and Brian Schwartz

Essence Restaurant Group

Goodrich Quality Theaters

Grand Valley Metro Council

Grand Valley State University

Irwin Seating Company

Jay and Nancy Barnhart

John and Kate McGarry

Mark LaChey and Bryan Hoffman

Meijer

Milton Roye and Gloria Lara

Public Sector Consultants

Steve and Alicia Pestka

West Michigan Sustainable Forum

WMEAC

Regardless of political party, Michiganders from all corners of our two peninsulas can agree that safe, affordable drinking water and pristine lakes, rivers and streams are of the utmost importance for our “Pure Michigan” way of life, public health and our state’s prosperity. Join us as we celebrate leaders who are blazing a trail, stewarding Michigan’s land, air and our precious water for generations to come.

Reserve your tickets by June 18th!

Become an event sponsor today!

Keynote Speaker

U.S. Senator Gary Peters

Gary Peters was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2014 but has spent much of his life representing the people of Michigan, serving in the U.S. House of Representatives, the Michigan State Senate, as Michigan’s Lottery Commissioner, and in the U.S. Navy Reserve. A strong voice for Michigan’s families and small businesses, Senator Peters knows that protecting Michigan’s land, air, and water is critical to making sure that our communities are healthy and that everyone has a fair chance to succeed.



Grand Rapids Art Museum

101 Monroe Center St NW Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Get Directions!

2018 Honorees

Business Leader of the Year

Larry Bell, Founder and President of Bell’s Brewery

This year our Business Leader of the Year is Larry Bell, Founder and President of Bell’s Brewery. In addition to being the godfather of Michigan microbrews, Larry has been an outspoken advocate for removing the Enbridge Line 5 pipeline, a 65-year-old oil and gas pipeline running through the Straits of Mackinac. Bell’s Brewery is located in Kalamazoo, which meant that Larry experienced the 2010 Enbridge oil disaster in the Kalamazoo River firsthand. That horror story had a deep impact on Larry and he’s been an increasingly bold advocate for our Great Lakes and drinking water ever since.

Advocate of the Year

Cody Angell, Founder of Demand Action

Our 2018 Advocate of the Year is Cody Angell, founder of Demand Action, a volunteer advocacy group designed to bring attention to PFAS and lead contamination issues. The work that Cody and his team is doing is not only important, it is critical, given that there are now 14 communities across Michigan where PFAS has contaminated drinking water supplies, including, Oscoda, Grayling, Alpena, Marquette, Plainfield Township, and Ann Arbor.

Questions or RSVP: Contact our events team at [email protected] or 734.222.9650

Photo Highlights from last year’s event: