Early Risers Breakfast Club of Grand Rapids

Over 80 years of friends, food, and eclectic presentations

Upcoming events

    • Wednesday, June 18, 2025
    • 7:00 AM - 8:30 AM
    • Big E's Sports Grille at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Grand Rapids Downtown, 710 Monroe Avenue NW, Grand Rapids 49503
    Register

    BREAKFAST CLUB OF GRAND RAPIDS

    Established 1936 – John A. Collins, President

    EMBASSY SUITES BY HILTON, GRAND RAPIDS DOWNTOWN

    Big E's Sports Grille

    710 Monroe Avenue NW, Grand Rapids

    WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2025 – 7:00 AM


    Congressional representatives play a critical role in shaping laws, policies, and government oversight. Their responsibilities include lawmaking, representation, government oversight, and constituent services. Their work directly impacts daily life, making them essential in maintaining a functional democracy.

    We’re pleased to welcome Khristian Silvis as our guest speaker. She is the District Director for Congresswoman Hillary Scholten. She will provide updates on Congresswoman Scholten’s efforts in Washington, D.C., and share how the Grand Rapids District Office serves and supports its constituents.

    Start your morning with great company, insightful discussion, and a deeper understanding of the work being done for our district.

    Invocation: Eric Nelson
    Introduction: Jeff Kissinger

    Congress

    1. "We the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution."
      ~ Abraham Lincoln
    2. "The only difference between death and taxes is that death doesn't get worse every time Congress meets" ~ Will Rogers
    3. "One of the most important checks Congress has on the executive branch is its ability to hold it accountable to the American people. It's so important, our Founders wrote it into Article I of our Constitution." ~ Nancy Mace

Past events

Wednesday, June 04, 2025 The Future of The Blandford Nature Center - Steve Wilson, President - Blandford Nature Center
Wednesday, May 21, 2025 Empowering Women in Developing Countries - Sarah Lilly, President of Lift Her Up Foundation
Wednesday, May 07, 2025 Redemption Through Education - Inmate Education Programs -- Dr. Jeff Polet, Director of the Ford Leadership Forum
Wednesday, April 23, 2025 The Unsung Heroes of the Merchant Marines -- Paul Chardoul, Professor Emeritus and CEO of the Breakfast Club
Wednesday, April 09, 2025 Japan in the 21st Century, Brian Hauenstein
Wednesday, March 26, 2025 BAMF Health Comprehensive Theranostics Center - Anthony Chang, PhD, Founder
Wednesday, March 12, 2025 Fire Triggers and Fire Safety -- George Orphan, Licensed Fire and Explosion Expert
Wednesday, February 26, 2025 Russia’s War on Ukraine, 2022-25 and the Prospects Ahead -- Professor Jason Duncan, Aquinas College
Wednesday, February 12, 2025 "Under the Shadow of the Moon - 60 Years of Shadow Chasing" - David DeBruyn, Chaffee Planetarium Director Emeritus
Wednesday, January 29, 2025 NATO in 2025 - Paul Chardoul, Professor Emeritus
Wednesday, January 15, 2025 Shaping Our Club's Future - Jeff Kissinger
Wednesday, December 18, 2024 Books are for Reading ...and Giving - Tim Smith, Operations Manager of Schuler Books
Wednesday, December 04, 2024 Courageous Communication - Robert Heath, CEO - Legacy Leadership
Wednesday, November 20, 2024 The Phenomenal Story of Seedlings Braille Books for Children -- Vincent Schumacher, Retired Attorney
Wednesday, November 06, 2024 The Impact of Climate Change on the Insurance Industry - Matt Wey, Managing Director at Marsh McLennan
Wednesday, October 23, 2024 The Top 10 Frequently Asked Questions About Medicare - Robin Shellenberger
Wednesday, October 09, 2024 Building Kingdom Communities - Clarkston Morgan, CEO of Ambassador Consultants
Wednesday, September 25, 2024 Making Sense of Government and Taxes - Peter MacGregor, Kent County Treasurer
Wednesday, September 11, 2024 A Look Into The Financial Future - Steven Doorn, Senior VP and CIO of Legacy Trust
Wednesday, August 28, 2024 What is Marketplace Chaplains? - Greg Boisture, Exec Dir. of Ops, West Michigan
Wednesday, August 14, 2024 Life-Changing Leadership Habits - Dr. Jeff Doolittle, Organizational Consultant & Author
Wednesday, July 31, 2024 The Challenge and Promise of American Higher Education, Dr. Jeff Polet, Director of the Ford Leadership Forum and former Hope College Professor
Wednesday, July 17, 2024 Rebuilding the Navy in 2025 - Paul Chardoul - Professor Emeritus, Naval Historian, and ERBC CEO
Wednesday, July 03, 2024 Michigan's First year of Automatic Expungement - John Cooper, Executive Director of Safe and Just Michigan
Wednesday, June 19, 2024 Market Update - Doug Cloutier, Financial Solutions Advisor & Alec Knorr, Fund Manager - Merrill Lynch
Wednesday, June 05, 2024 Staying Secure in the Digital Age - Lilia Herdegen, Lead Cybersecurity Analyst at GRCC
Wednesday, May 22, 2024 Youth Violence - Christopher Becker, Kent County Prosecuting Attorney
Wednesday, May 08, 2024 Senior Living Options in the 21st Century - Brian Hauenstein, Owner - Oasis Senior Advisors
Wednesday, April 24, 2024 Engagement, Empowerment, and the Bottom Line - Robert Heath, CEO Legacy Leadership and Consulting Group
Wednesday, April 10, 2024 Michigan Women Veterans Empowerment - Sgt. Stephanie Shannon (U.S. Army, Ret.), Founder / CEO
Wednesday, March 27, 2024 Fulfilling the Dream - Wayman Britt, Author and President of WBE Consultancy Services
Wednesday, March 13, 2024 Just Beautiful – RV Adventures - Dick McGarrity (Fellow BC'er)
Wednesday, February 28, 2024 What Does the Pipeline Bring? - Anna Mooney, Manager of Government Relations for Enbridge
Wednesday, February 14, 2024 Unpreparedness of the U.S. Navy 2024 - Paul Chardoul, Naval Historian and Geopolitician
Wednesday, January 31, 2024 Why Give Bikes Away? - Rick Armbruster, CEO of Upcyclebikes.org
Wednesday, January 17, 2024 The State of Policing in Grand Rapids - Eric Winstrom, Chief of Police
Wednesday, January 03, 2024 "Fix the Damn Roads!" John Richard, MDOT Communication Rep
Wednesday, December 20, 2023 Philosophical Reflections on Artificial Intelligence, Dr. David Vessey, GVSU
Wednesday, December 06, 2023 The Past, Present, and Future of Michigan Veterans Homes - Ryan Engle, Director - Development & Strategic Engagement
Wednesday, November 22, 2023 The Kennedy Assassination, 60 Years Later -- Jason Duncan, History Professor at Aquinas College
Wednesday, November 08, 2023 Experiencing Operation Iraqi Freedom and the Reconstruction of Iraq, Robert Heine, U.S. Army, MGEN (Ret)
Wednesday, October 25, 2023 Michigan Women Veterans Empowerment, Sgt. Stephanie Shannon US Army (RET) Founder/CEO
Wednesday, October 11, 2023 Alex Peric, CEO of Gerald Ford International Airport
Wednesday, September 27, 2023 "Parents, Children, and the First Amendment" Shelley Irwin, Host of WGVU Morning Show Daily
Wednesday, September 13, 2023 The Monopolization of Health Care - Lody Zwarensteyn, Retired President of Alliance for Health
Wednesday, August 30, 2023 Measuring Public Opinion - Stephanie Chardoul, Director of Operations at the Survey Research Center, THE University of Michigan
Wednesday, August 16, 2023 Janet Korn – Executive Vice President of Experiencegr
Wednesday, August 02, 2023 GRCC's Strategic Plan - Dr. Charles Lepper, President of Grand Rapids Community College
Wednesday, July 19, 2023 Thomas Haas, Former President of GVSU
Wednesday, June 21, 2023 The State of Recruiting in the U.S. Navy - Lt. Cmdr. Jessica Clark and Sr. Chief Saypan
Wednesday, June 07, 2023 The Great American Solar Eclipse of April 8, 2024 - Dave DeBruyn
Wednesday, May 31, 2023 Evaluate Embassy Suites by Hilton Grand Rapids Downtown
Wednesday, May 24, 2023 Elder Crime: What It Is and How To Prevent It - Christopher Becker, Kent County Prosecutor
Wednesday, May 10, 2023 The Great Pacific War? A Three Part Series - Part 3 of 3, Paul Chardoul
Wednesday, April 26, 2023 The Great Pacific War? A Three Part Series - Part 2 of 3, Paul Chardoul
Wednesday, April 12, 2023 The Great Pacific War? A Three Part Series - Part 1 of 3, Paul Chardoul
Wednesday, March 29, 2023 The Community Collaboration on Climate Change (C4), Ned Andree - Project Manager
Wednesday, March 15, 2023 Leading Without Authority: The Project Manager's Dilemma, Jeff Kissinger
Wednesday, March 01, 2023 Jace Bylenga, Michigan League of Conservation Voters
Wednesday, February 15, 2023 Miranda Krajniak - Director of Development, Opera Grand Rapids
Wednesday, February 01, 2023 David L. DeBruyn, Astronomer Par Excellence
Wednesday, January 18, 2023 North To Alaska, Richard McGarrity
Wednesday, January 04, 2023 What is Going On With COVID? Dr. Andrew Jameson, Infectious Disease Physician at Trinity Health
Wednesday, December 21, 2022 You're Fired! Working My Way Back Into the Workforce - Jeff Kissinger
Wednesday, December 07, 2022 A Historical Introduction of Unpreparedness in the Pacific - Paul Chardoul, Professor Emeritus
Wednesday, November 23, 2022 The First Thanksgiving, 1621 - Rev. Maurice A. Fetty
Wednesday, November 09, 2022 Geopolitical View of Energy Issues - Professor Emeritus and ERBC CEO, Paul Chardoul
Wednesday, October 26, 2022 What is Myasthenia Gravis? - James Booth Burr, Jr. Esq.
Wednesday, October 12, 2022 Bert Smith - Lacrosse Official, Trainer, and Mentor
Wednesday, September 28, 2022 Dr. Roger Ellis, Show Biz in greater Grand Rapids-- What's Happening?
Wednesday, September 14, 2022 Kent County Commissioner, Carol Hennessy
Wednesday, August 31, 2022 Canadian World-Class Theatre Fall, 2022, James Booth Burr, Jr. Esq.
Wednesday, August 17, 2022 The Future of The Breakfast Club
Wednesday, August 03, 2022 Ken Schepers, "Ten Ways to Offend Friends that You Have Recently Lost"
Wednesday, July 20, 2022 Mystery Speaker
Wednesday, July 06, 2022 James Booth Burr, Jr. Esq. - Opera in Grand Rapids
Wednesday, June 22, 2022 The Geopolitics of the Ukraine Invasion, Professor Paul Chardoul
Wednesday, June 08, 2022 Caroline Cook, Founder of Grand Rapids Running Tours
Wednesday, May 25, 2022 Jill Bont, Insurance Agent, The Mitten Insurance Agency
Wednesday, May 11, 2022 Kendrick Heinlein, Director of Contract Services for Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan
Wednesday, April 27, 2022 Barbara Roelofs, Heritage Hill Association
Wednesday, April 13, 2022 Domenic R. Federico, Owner of Good Friends Auto
Wednesday, March 30, 2022 Dave DeBruyn, Astronomer Par Excellent
Wednesday, March 16, 2022 Harry H. Jones - Scouts
Wednesday, March 02, 2022 Baird Hawkins, the Chairman of Festival of the Arts
Wednesday, February 16, 2022 Paul Farr, MD and Lody Zwarensteyn
Wednesday, February 02, 2022 Dr. James Smither - Professor of History and Director of the GVSU Veterans History Project
Wednesday, January 19, 2022 Paul Chardoul, Retired History Professor, GRCC and "Leader Two" of The Breakfast Club
Wednesday, January 05, 2022 Dr. James Smither - Professor of History and Director of the GVSU Veterans History Project
Wednesday, December 15, 2021 Harry Jones, Shriner Extraordinaire and BC Member
Wednesday, December 01, 2021 Honoring Pam McVeigh and the Breakfast Club's Next Steps
Wednesday, November 17, 2021 Joel Ruiter, Executive Director - Home Repair Services
Wednesday, November 03, 2021 Robert Barnes, President of Senior Neighbors
Wednesday, October 20, 2021 Eddie Tadlock, Asst. General Manager, ASM Global
Wednesday, October 06, 2021 Eric Nelson, Retired UPS Employee and Breakfast Club Member
Wednesday, September 22, 2021 The Mysterious Gent
Wednesday, September 08, 2021 Kristin Brenner, Versiti
Wednesday, August 25, 2021 Ron Zimmerman, Rank MI Vote
Wednesday, August 11, 2021 Roger Ellis, Retired GVSU Professor
Wednesday, July 28, 2021 Brandon D. Davis, Director of Oversight and Public Accountability at City of Grand Rapids
Wednesday, July 14, 2021 Edward (Jim) James, Real Estate Broker
Wednesday, June 30, 2021 Paul N. Chardoul, CEO of the Early Risers Breakfast Club
Wednesday, June 16, 2021 James Flickinger, Esq., Founder of Amazon Relief
Wednesday, June 02, 2021 James Gignac, Esq., Union of Concerned Scientists
Wednesday, May 19, 2021 James B. Flickinger, Esq.
Wednesday, May 05, 2021 Dr. Bill Pink, President, Grand Rapids Community College
Wednesday, April 21, 2021 Miranda Krajniak, UCIA Director
Wednesday, April 07, 2021 Lynne Brown-Tepper, Managing Director of the Circle Theatre
Wednesday, March 24, 2021 Land Ho! What's the Plan to Get Off Our COVID Lifeboat?
Wednesday, March 10, 2021 Andrew B. Birge, Esq, US Attorney for the Western District of Michigan
Wednesday, February 24, 2021 Redistricting Michigan's Voting Districts -- Speakers: Rita Turner-Sheerin (a psychologist) and Lisa Jevens (a retired journalist)
Wednesday, February 10, 2021 Joann Roehm (Director) and Ms. Wendt Wigger, Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids
Wednesday, January 27, 2021 Dr. Alan (Al) Steinman, GVSU’s Annis Water Resources Institute
Wednesday, January 13, 2021 Ericka Thompson (a.k.a., Kyd Kane), Poet Laureate of Grand Rapids
Wednesday, December 16, 2020 David DeBruyn, The Great Planetary Conjunction of December, 2020: The Star of Bethlehem Revisited
Wednesday, December 02, 2020 Ericka Thompson, Grand Rapids Poet Laureate
Wednesday, November 18, 2020 Robert Bartlett, President of the Michigan Colleges Alliance
Wednesday, November 04, 2020 Brent Holmes, Grace Tummel, and Jakob Bigard from The Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies
Wednesday, October 21, 2020 Anthony Torres, Program Director - Kent County Veterans Treatment Court
Wednesday, October 07, 2020 Michael Hyacinthe, Veteran Advocate for Habitat for Humanity
Wednesday, September 23, 2020 Emilee Syrewicze, Executive Director of Opera Grand Rapids
Wednesday, September 09, 2020 Latrisha Sosebee, Marketing Coordinator at The Dwelling Place
Wednesday, August 26, 2020 Tim Selgo, retired GVSU Athletic Director
Wednesday, August 12, 2020 Tasha Blackmon, CEO of Cherry Health
Wednesday, July 29, 2020 Levi Rickert, Editor in-Chief of the Tribal Business Journal, and author of “Native News on Line."
Wednesday, July 15, 2020 Michelle LaJoye-Young, Kent County Sheriff
Wednesday, July 01, 2020 David Kampfschulte, BC's Favorite Philosopher
Wednesday, June 17, 2020 Doug Cloutier, Financial Advisor with Raymond James & Associates
Wednesday, June 03, 2020 Dr. Adam London, Health Officer and Director of the Kent County Health Department
Wednesday, May 20, 2020 "A Growth Mindset," Robert Heath Sr., CEO of Legacy Leadership Consulting
Wednesday, May 06, 2020 Declutter and Free Yourself from Unnecessary Things - Jeff Kissinger
Wednesday, March 11, 2020 John D. Loeks, Loeks Theatre Companies
Wednesday, February 26, 2020 Tammy Squire, Director of Ele's Place | Julie De Jong, LMSW, Program Director
Wednesday, February 12, 2020 Pamela Hoekwater, Esq. – Executive Director of Legal Aid of Western Michigan
Wednesday, January 29, 2020 Lesley Yarhouse, Co-Executive Director of Urban Roots
Wednesday, January 15, 2020 Michael J. Van Denend, Executive Director of the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan
Wednesday, December 18, 2019 JoeAnne Peterson, Storyteller - “When Swedish Eyes are Shining”
Wednesday, December 04, 2019 Shane & Melany Metzger and Casey Cuperus - David's House Ministries
Wednesday, November 20, 2019 Debbi Coleman, Hope Network
Wednesday, October 09, 2019 Eric Payne, Grand Rapids Chief of Police
Wednesday, September 25, 2019 Ingrid Miller, Executive Director for Uptown Grand Rapids, Inc.
Wednesday, September 11, 2019 Shoran Nicole Reid Williams, Esq., Miller Johnson
Wednesday, August 28, 2019 Sara Lowe, the Executive Director of Emmanuel Hospice
Wednesday, August 14, 2019 Ingrid Miller, Executive Director for Uptown Grand Rapids, Inc.
Wednesday, July 31, 2019 Gleaves Whitney, Head of the Ralph Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies at GVSU
Wednesday, July 17, 2019 George McDaniel - Sight Seer Program Presentation
Wednesday, July 03, 2019 Lt. Col. Denny Gillem, U.S. Army (Ret.), Host of Frontlines of Freedom
Wednesday, June 19, 2019 Creating a Low Carbon Future
Wednesday, June 05, 2019 Steve Dyer, Marketing and Communications Director for The Potter's House
Wednesday, May 22, 2019 The Breakfast Club Launches into the 21st Century
Wednesday, May 08, 2019 Festival of the Arts is 50 Years Old
Wednesday, April 24, 2019 The New Scouts
Wednesday, February 13, 2019 What's Next for the Breakfast Club?
Wednesday, January 16, 2019 January 16, 2019 Breakfast - Stephanie Adams - Executive Director of Friends of Grand Rapids Parks
Wednesday, January 02, 2019 January 2, 2019 Breakfast - Richard "Dick" McGarrity
Wednesday, December 19, 2018 JoeAnne Peterson - Storyteller, Teacher, Actress, and Bon Vivant
Wednesday, December 05, 2018 James Booth Burr, Jr. - The Life of Martin Van Buren
Wednesday, November 21, 2018 Robb Munger, President and CEO of Exodus House
Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software