5.18.17 – Elissa Hillary

Elissa Hillary is committed to working at the leading edge of values-based capitalism, building sustainable local economies that put people first.  As the President of Local First since 2007, she has brought together nearly a thousand businesses in West Michigan to collaborate in building a vibrant community that encourages sustainable business development.  As a consultant, speaker, and thought leader, she has stressed the significance of building social capital through the mutual investment of the local business, consumer, government, and philanthropic sectors.  Under these initiatives, West Michigan’s economy and brand has thrived, with nationally-recognized growth and the birth of new industries.

Elissa was named Grand Rapids Young Non-Profit Professionals Exemplary Executive in 2010, a BCorp Measure What Matters Champion in 2014, and has three times been named one of Grand Rapids Business Journal’s “Top 40 Under 40” business leader.  She is a 2011 Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE) Fellow and BCorp Ambassador.