Community

Steve Heacock to Tout West Michigan ‘Spirit of Collaboration’ at Noted International Development Conference

Steve Heacock, senior vice president of public affairs at Spectrum Health, is a speaker this week at the 2014 World Leisure Congress. The international event promotes the research and development of social, cultural, economic, and sustainable environments that contribute to the well-being of individuals, communities and nations.

Heacock is presenting on Friday, September 12 on the topic of “Grand Rapids: The Collaborative City,” with an emphasis on the development and growth of the city’s core including the Medical Mile, the heart of the region’s biomedical research and health care corridor.

His talk highlights the city’s legacy of entrepreneurialism, manufacturing and philanthropy. He also details the partnership between non-profit organizations such as Grand Action, the private sector and municipal government as an engine of economic change.

“The recent history of Grand Rapids is noteworthy for the active civic engagement of entrepreneurs and philanthropists who have devoted themselves to giving back to the community,” Heacock said. “The strategic development of the city’s core has been a collaborative effort involving municipal government, non-profits and a host of dedicated individuals.”

“Imagining Grand Rapids without the Van Andel Arena, Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, DeVos Place Convention Center and numerous other notable landmarks on our skyline is like imagining a different, less vibrant future for our city,” Heacock added.

Formed in 1952, the World Leisure Organization is an international non-profit, non-governmental association that convenes the World Leisure Congress every two years. The organization maintains NGO in Consultative Status with The United Nations. The 2014 Congress takes place September 7-12 in Mobile, Alabama, the first time the United States has hosted the event. Featured and keynote speakers include the 18th Surgeon General of the United States, Regina M. Benjamin, MD, and former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Heacock’s talk touches on several recent indicators of the city’s success, including:

  • Growth as a housing market for millennials (Top 10 according to the 2014 National Association of Realtors)
  • Job market (4.2% job growth, Fourth Best City for Finding Employment in 2013, according to Forbes)
  • Low crime rate (Second Most Secure Large City in 2013, according to Farmers Insurance)
  • Leader as an entrepreneurial hub (Number One for Starting a Business in 2014, according to WalletHub.com)
  • Quality of life (Second Best City for Raising a Family, according to Forbes.com; Top 10 Overall Best Places to Live, according to Wall Street Journal MarketWatch)
  • Emerging downtown (Top 15 Emerging Downtowns according to Forbes.com)

“Steve Heacock is a great spokesperson on the revitalization of downtown Grand Rapids and the story of the Medical Mile,” said Birgit Klohs, president and CEO of The Right Place, Inc., West Michigan’s regional economic development organization. “He played a key role in the development of the Van Andel Arena and DeVos Place, as well as the attraction of the MSU College of Human Medicine to Grand Rapids.”

At Spectrum Health, a not-for-profit, integrated health system based in West Michigan, Heacock leads system communications and marketing, public relations, government affairs and research to support the business strategy and goals of the organization. He also leads the effort to advance the vision, interest and visibility of Spectrum Health as a preferred destination for health and in fostering relationships with business groups and community agencies.

Heacock also serves as chief innovation officer and president of Spectrum Health Innovations, a wholly owned subsidiary of Spectrum Health, which develops products and services to improve patient experiences and outcomes.

Before joining Spectrum Health, Heacock was chief administrative officer and general counsel for Van Andel Institute, and chief legal officer and chief financial officer at Ideasphere, both located in Grand Rapids. He also served as vice president of development, general counsel and corporate secretary for Priority Health in Grand Rapids, and was a partner at Warner Norcross & Judd, a leading law firm in Grand Rapids.  Heacock is chair of The Grand Rapids–Kent County Convention/Arena Authority, which owns and operates the Van Andel Arena and the DeVos Place convention and entertainment center, and is the former chair of the Kent County Board of Commissioners.

Spectrum Health is a not-for-profit health system, based in West Michigan, offering a full continuum of care through the Spectrum Health Hospital Group, which is comprised of 11 hospitals including Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital; 170 ambulatory and service sites; 1,100 employed physicians and advanced practice providers including members of the Spectrum Health Medical Group; and Priority Health, a 590,000-member health plan. Spectrum Health is West Michigan’s largest employer with 21,400 employees. The organization provided $250 million in community benefit during its 2013 fiscal year. In 2014, Spectrum Health was named one of the nation’s 15 Top Health Systems® by Truven Health Analytics.