Nicole Noll-Williams CEO Capital Region Airport Authority, Lansing, MI, gathered a half-dozen CEOs to hold a longer-form discussion from Michigan Business Beat's traditional 6-7 minute form.

Shared here is a 26-minute discussion Chris Holman recently had with this dynamic set of CEOs who have stepped into their roles during the recent 20 months.

This group of six leaders had recently been gathered for the Lansing Chamber of Commerce Executive Welcome during early September 2021. It was the first in-person opportunity to welcome and congratulate several important regional leaders who accepted their positions at various stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Leaders being recognized include
Helen Johnson (Sparrow Eaton Hospital),
Cindy Kangas (Capital Area Manufacturing Council),
Michelle Lantz (Greater Lansing Food Bank),
Julie Pingston (Greater Lansing Convention & Visitors Bureau),
Carrie Rosingana (Capital Area Michigan Works!) and
Nicole Noll-Williams (Capital Region Airport Authority).

Enjoy the executive's conversation with Chris in the YouTube video shared below:

For Chris Holman's conversation here's what he mainly covers:

Congratulations, briefly speak to your organizations and the roles you've stepped into at points over the recent 19 months.

How has the challenge of leading during COVID19 gone?

Are there any other challenges that leading in 2021 brings?

Speak to the talent issue in the current employment climate. 

At the time of the September 8th welcome, the following information was shared by the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce:

(LANSING - MICHIGAN) – The Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce (LRCC) recognized six regional female leaders who are new to their positions since the start of the COVID-19
pandemic during an Executive Welcome program. The event took place on this morning, from 8 to 9:30 a.m., at the MSU Federal Credit Union Headquarters Community Room
located at 3777 West Road, East Lansing.

The Executive Welcome is the first in-person opportunity to welcome and congratulate several
important regional leaders who accepted their positions at various stages of the COVID-19
pandemic. Leaders being recognized include Helen Johnson (Sparrow Eaton Hospital), Cindy
Kangas (Capital Area Manufacturing Council), Michelle Lantz (Greater Lansing Food Bank),
Julie Pingston (Greater Lansing Convention & Visitors Bureau), Carrie Rosingana (Capital Area
Michigan Works!) and Nicole Noll-Williams (Capital Region Airport Authority). This is the first
time the LRCC Executive Welcome has recognized women leaders exclusively.

“We are particularly excited to recognize these leaders who represent the unprecedented growth in the number of outstanding women leaders in our region,” said Tim Daman, president and CEO, LRCC (left). “This particular group of leaders in particularly deserving of recognition in light of the circumstances under which they assumed their new position during a global pandemic. We are very proud of the work they are doing in their organizations and our region.”

The Executive Welcome will include remarks from all the leaders being recognized and provide
an opportunity for LRCC members to meet each leader and network with other people in the
business community. The Executive Welcome is sponsored by MSUFCU and Delta Dental. For
more information and registration, visit www.lansingchamber.org.

Background on the leaders being recognized at the LRCC Executive Welcome:

Helen Johnson, RN, MSN, NEA-BC, FACHE, is the president of Sparrow Eaton Hospital.
She joined Sparrow in January 2021 with over 30 years of progressive leadership experience,
having served in key roles at Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital, including chief nursing
officer, chief operating officer, and twice as interim president.

Helen began her career as an oncology nurse in Marquette, Mich. Subsequently, she led the
development of a Hospice program, launched dozens of telemedicine sites, and assisted in integrating a standalone community hospital into a $5-billion health system. She now leads
Sparrow Health System’s newest affiliate hospital, which has net annual revenue of $60 million,
a workforce of 450 caregivers, and rich 80-year history. She has received numerous accolades,
most notably the 2018 Healthcare Leadership Award from the Michigan Health & Hospital
Association. She has achieved Fellow status in the American College of Healthcare Executives
(FACHE) and is active in the organization’s Great Lakes Chapter.

Cindy Kangas is executive director of the Capital Area Manufacturing Council (CAMC). Cindy
brings a wide range of experience in development, marketing, and community relations to the
position. Cindy previously worked as director of development for Ele’s Place. She also served
as director of development and community relations for the Capital Area Humane Society. She
also served as community coordinator for Fox 47 WSYM-TV. A key near-term priority for Cindy
at CAMC will be to reach out to community stakeholders and explore partnerships that can help
bring more awareness to the challenges and opportunities manufacturers face while operating
here in the capital region.

Michelle Lantz, APR is the CEO of the Greater Lansing Food Bank, a seven-county food
distribution hub for 150 agencies and community partners and 110 community gardens. In 2020,
the GLFB provided 7.75 million meals to neighbors in need. Lantz previously held the position of
senior vice president of donor and public relations at Capital Area United Way and led its
fundraising and marketing efforts during two separate times in her career. Before owning a
public relations consultancy for 12 years, she was the director of communications for the
Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce. Michelle holds an accreditation in public relations
from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and served as the chair of numerous
national, regional, and local PRSA committees during her career.

Nicole Noll-Williams is the president and CEO of the Capital Region Airport Authority.
Previously, she spent almost three years as the Mid-Michigan regional director for U.S. Senator
Gary C. Peters and over 25 years in the aviation industry with experience in air service
development, airline management, and contract management. She was the director of marketing and passenger development for the Capital Region International Authority, responsible for development, marketing, advertising, and public relations efforts for the Capital Region International Airport and Mason Jewett Airport. Her efforts were vital in developing direct service to Washington D.C. and international markets, including Cancun and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, and Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Julie Pingston, CDME, CMP, CTA is the president and CEO for the Greater Lansing Convention
& Visitors Bureau (GLCVB). She has been with the organization for 28 years and became CEO in
March 2020. The mission of the GLCVB is to promote the Lansing region as a travel destination to impact the area’s economy. We typically welcome over 5.3 million visitors annually, generating over $682 million to the local economy. The GLCVB promotes meeting and sporting event planners and all types of travelers seeking to experience the diverse opportunities our community offers. Julie leads the team at the GLCVB toward the vision of inspiring our visitors and community partners to love Greater Lansing as much as we do. She serves on many local community boards and is a graduate of Alma College.

Carrie Rosingana is the CEO for Capital Area Michigan Works!, a workforce development
agency responsible for managing multi-million dollar federal and state grant programs within
Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham counties. She has worked in workforce development since 2007.
Carrie started her career as a career coach and case manager within the Capital Area Michigan
Works! system before joining the Capital Area Michigan Works! administrative team as their
quality assurance officer. Carrie was promoted to the chief compliance officer role and then
served as the chief operating officer and equal opportunity officer for five years prior to
becoming CEO in July 2020.

The Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce works relentlessly to help businesses connect,
grow, and thrive. No mid-Michigan business stands alone when they are a member of the
Chamber. For 120 years, the Lansing Chamber has served as the voice of the Greater Lansing
business community. More information about LRCC and its programs and services can be
found online at lansingchamber.org, Facebook, Instagram (@lansingregionalchamber), Twitter
(@lansingchamber) and LinkedIn.