Birgit Klohs is President of The Right Place, Inc., a position she has held since 1987. The Right Place, Inc. is the regional economic development organization for the retention, expansion and attraction of businesses to the Greater Grand Rapids area.
Klohs, a native of Germany, came to The Right Place, Inc. from Grand Valley State University (GVSU), where she was Assistant Director of the Office for Economic Expansion.
Prior to her association with GVSU, Klohs was with Prince Corporation in Holland, Michigan. Her professional economic development experience began in 1977 as an Industrial Consultant with the Economic Development Corporation of Berrien County, Michigan. Following her experience in Berrien County, she joined the Michigan Department of Commerce as an Account Executive for the West Michigan region.
Klohs is a graduate of Western Michigan University, where she earned her degree in Finance. She also is a graduate of the Economic Development Institute of the University of Oklahoma. She is a frequent speaker at national and international economic development seminars and conferences, having lectured in France, Great Britain, Germany, Sweden and Australia. Most recently she spoke in Melbourne, Australia at a conference on 21st century jobs.
Klohs is a member of the Michigan Economic Corporation Board, Grand Action Executive Committee, Kent County/Grand Rapids Convention Arena Authority, chair of the Local Development Finance Authority and serves of the board of directors of Spectrum Health, Macatawa Bank, Workforce Development, Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, and The Employers' Association. Most recently she served on the Western Michigan University Board of Trustees from 1997 to 2004 and the Grand Rapids Symphony Board of Directors from 1997 to 2007.
Klohs is a recipient of numerous awards including the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce Athena Award and Michigan Women's Foundation Women of Achievement and Courage Award in 2007 and was named One of the 50 Most Influential Women in West Michigan by the Grand Rapids Business Journal in 2006.