KALAMAZOO, MI – Jonas R. Peterson has been named as the new CEO of Southwest Michigan First, the regional economic development organization announced on Friday, October 22nd.
Peterson, the outgoing President and CEO of the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance, was named after a six month search through the organization. The search for a new leader began after the resignation of then-CEO and former Michigan House spokesman Lee Chatfield, who resigned less than two weeks after assuming the office.
Chatfield was hired in February, less than two months after the announced resignation of longtime leader Ron Kitchens, who headed the economic development organization for 15 years.
Related: What Is Southwest Michigan First and Why Did Kalamazoo Turn Down Lee Chatfield As Its Next CEO?
The suspension of Chatfield has generated much controversy when citizens and local officials responded by saying that the political views of the former state legislature were inconsistent with many communities and institutions in the area. Some of them, including the Kalamazoo City Commission, voted to withdraw funding unless Chatfield resigned or was fired.
In a news release on Friday, October 22nd, Southwest Michigan First stated that the guiding principles during the six month search were community engagement, inclusivity, and a commitment to improving economic development and employment opportunities.
“After a rigorous national search, Jonas Peterson rose to the top as the person who best embodies the skills, experience and traits identified by our community as critical to success in this position,” said Southwest Michigan First Board Member and Chairman of the CEO Search Committee Bill Parfet. “As President and CEO of the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance, he led the creation and explosive growth of today’s largest nonprofit economic development organization in Nevada and one of the most productive community and economic development organizations in the southwestern United States. ”
Peterson is credited with leading a team at LVGEA that helped over 250 companies create more than 29,000 high-wage jobs between 2012 and 2021. In doing so, SWMF representatives said that he had promoted local and national strategies for diversity, justice and inclusion while at the same time integrating diversity justice and inclusion in all LVGEA’s organizational work plans.
He also implemented next-gen strategies for talent development, targeted industry development and business attraction, retention and expansion while working with nationwide partners to move Nevada from 50th in per capita job creation in 2013 to first in the country before the Pandemic bring for release.
Bill Manns, Southwest Michigan First Board member and CEO search committee member, said Peterson’s credentials are second to none and right for the community.
“The board asked us to identify an exemplary list of candidates, and the southwest Michigan community stated in no uncertain terms that they were a visionary and inclusive leader with a proven history of economic development and partnering with business and government leaders and the community wished, “said Manns called. “Jonas exceeds all of these criteria.”
Related: Southwest Michigan First is preparing to interview CEO candidates after receiving over 130 resumes
The Board’s CEO Search Committee was appointed in April to search for Jorgenson Consulting, a leading national executive search firm specializing in business and community development. To guide its efforts, the search committee also conducted an extensive community survey, asking 655 respondents from 469 community organizations to contribute to uncover the key characteristics stakeholders believed the CEO should have. Attributes that rose to the top were:
- A strong understanding of the economic development ecosystem and how to work within a multi-jurisdiction region to boost trade.
- History of successful leadership that is visionary, diverse, integrative, accessible, fair and authentic.
- Ability to build and maintain trusting relationships with corporate executives, national and international site selections, elected officials, and community partners.
“I share Southwest Michigan First’s belief that a job is the most powerful force for change,” Peterson said in a statement. “This is the foundation of every business and talent acquisition, retention and development program I’ve led, and it’s more important than ever as we drive an inclusive economic recovery from the pandemic in southwest Michigan.
“I am honored to join the Southwest Michigan First team and look forward to promoting new partnerships across the region.”
Prior to joining LVGEA, Peterson was President and CEO of Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation for three years, leading the creation and operation of a public-private partnership to promote the economy in one of California’s fastest growing regions. Prior to that, he was the director of the Mohave County Community and Economic Development Department in Kingman, Arizona.
He holds a Master of Professional Studies in Community and Economic Development from Penn State University, a Master of Business Administration from North Dakota State University, a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Community and Economic Development from Penn State and a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics from the State of North Dakota.
He has also completed executive training programs at Stanford Graduate School of Business, Oxford University Saïd Business School and Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government. He is a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) by the International Economic Development Council and currently serves as the deputy chairman of the council.
According to his biography on the LVGEA website, Peterson has been actively involved in many Las Vegas community organizations and has served on the boards of the International Economic Development Council, WaterStart, Las Vegas HEALS, and the Anthem Community Church. He is married and has two children.
Peterson is scheduled to start at Southwest Michigan First on January 5th.
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