Battle Creek, Mich. – Battle Creek Unlimited (BCU) is pleased to announce the addition of Adam Reid as its newest team member.  Reid will be Manager, Special Projects & BC CAL KAL Inland Port Development Corporation.  Over the next six and a half months, Reid will work closely with Jan Frantz as she transitions to full retirement from her role with BC CAL KAL and Foreign – Trade Zone 43.  BC CAL KAL is a nonprofit corporation which markets and administers Foreign-Trade Zone 43, serving a 14-county area including Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Clinton, Hillsdale, Ionia, Kalamazoo, Jackson, Ottawa, St. Joseph and Van Buren counties. Foreign-Trade Zone 43 provides means for U.S.-based operations to compete favorably with global businesses by reducing, delaying or altogether eliminating U.S. Customs duties.  Reid will work along with the rest of the BCU team as they continue with innovative solutions to generate jobs and investment in Battle Creek.

Reid is a graduate from Western Michigan University’s (WMU) Lee Honors College with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations and Master of Business Administration from WMU’s Haworth College of Business.  Please join us in welcoming Adam Reid to Battle Creek and Battle Creek Unlimited.

About Battle Creek Unlimited
Battle Creek Unlimited is a private, non-profit corporation which serves as the economic development organization for the City of Battle Creek.  Battle Creek Unlimited facilitates generation of investments and job creation in our community.

Media Contacts:
Joe Sobieralski, BCU President & CEO
269-962-7526

Battle Creek, Mich. – Battle Creek Unlimited (BCU) is pleased to announce the addition of Robert Corder as its newest Vice President.  Corder’s work will encompass Attraction and Development.  He will work along with the rest of the BCU team as they continue with innovative solutions to generate jobs and investment in Battle Creek.

Corder has almost a decade of experience in economic development and foreign investment.  Most recently he served as the Business Development Project Coordinator at the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) based out of Chicago, Illinois.  During his tenure there, Corder successfully facilitated the market entry into Japan for more than 50 US companies.  Prior to his experience with JETRO, Corder was a compliance auditor.  This combined experience with his international economic development experience makes him an ideal addition to the team at BCU.

Corder graduated from American University with a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations.  Please join us in welcoming Robert Corder to Battle Creek and Battle Creek Unlimited.

About Battle Creek Unlimited
Battle Creek Unlimited is a private, non-profit corporation which serves as the economic development organization for theCity of Battle Creek.  Battle Creek Unlimited facilitates generation of investments and job creation in our community.

Media Contacts:
Joe Sobieralski, BCU President & CEO
269-962-7526

Battle Creek, Mich. – The Battle Creek Unlimited (BCU) Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Joe Sobieralski as its next President and CEO. Sobieralski joined BCU in December of 2015, as Vice President and was appointed Interim President & CEO in July 2016.  “We feel Joe has done a great job during his tenure as Interim President & CEO, he has demonstrated many of the qualities that the Board seeks in a President & CEO,” said John Gallagher, BCU Board Chair. “We feel those qualities are imperative to move the organization forward, build a dynamic team and to raise the bar on our economic development activities in Battle Creek.”

“Joe brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to Battle Creek and we have seen him in action over the past year and feel his energy and enthusiasm will help Battle Creek continue to be a global leader in the realm of economic development. His commitment to collaboration and partnership make him the ideal candidate to move BCU forward,” said Rebecca Fleury, City Manager for the City of Battle Creek.

Al Bobrofsky, Chair of the Battle Creek Tax Increment Finance Authority (BCTIFA), “The TIFA Board has had the pleasure of working with Joe for nearly a year and we are pleased to see his appointment.” “We look forward to working with the team at BCU under his leadership.”

“I am honored that the Board has given me the opportunity to lead BCU as it’s the next President & CEO. It’s exciting to have the opportunity to build upon decades of success and play a vital role on shaping the future direction of BCU,” said Joe Sobieralski, BCU President & CEO. “We have a lot of work ahead of us but I am confident that we are up to the challenge and will continue to cultivate economic development in Battle Creek by constructing a vibrant and energetic team and positioning our current dedicated staff to win.”

Sobieralski past economic development experience includes leadership positions with a variety of organizations and roles including Executive Director and City Manager.  Sobieralski has extensive experience working in Southwest Michigan, building public and private sector partnerships for the long-term benefit of the region.  Sobieralski holds a BA in Public Administration from Michigan State University and an MPA from Western Michigan University with a Local Government concentration. Sobieralski also earned credits in the leading industry designation for economic developers: Community Economic Development Certification (CEcD).

About Battle Creek Unlimited
Battle Creek Unlimited is a private, non-profit corporation which serves as the economic development organization for the City of Battle Creek.  Battle Creek Unlimited facilitates generation of investments and job creation in our community.

Media Contacts:
John Gallagher, BCU Board Chair
269-209-1564 jgallagher@GallagherUniform.com