Small Business Association of Michigan Bolsters Board of Directors with New Chair, Addition of Three Small Business Owners

Lansing, MI – The Small Business Association of Michigan has named three additional small business owners to lead the organization as part of its Board of Directors and welcomed its first-ever Board Chair from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula: Gina Jacquart Thorsen, CEO of Stormy Kromer in Ironwood.

“Being the first SBAM Board Chair from the U.P. is special – not because this role is about one region, but because our work is about ensuring every small business has a voice, regardless of its size, industry or region,” said Gina Jacquart Thorsen, CEO of Stormy Kromer and new Board Chair of SBAM. “Small businesses do not all look the same, but the people running them often carry the same mix of creativity and tenacity when it comes to tough decisions. I’m proud to help represent these voices and ensure each is heard as we work together to shape a stronger small business ecosystem throughout Michigan.”

New Board Members for the 2026-2027 term include:

“Our Board of Directors continues to diversify in industries as well as geography, which strengthens the foundation of our work to advocate for Michigan’s smallest operators,” said SBAM President and CEO Brian Calley. “These leaders have taken an incredibly active role in their pursuit of solutions to expand opportunities for Michigan’s nearly one million small businesses, and their strong advocacy will help create the conditions to spur growth across our communities.”

The new board appointments took effect on July 1, 2026. A current list of the full SBAM Board of Directors can be found on its website.

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