In the middle of daily readings on national business leaders and
historic social change agents, I often need to remember the great local heroes
surrounding me. Bing Goei is one of those hometown heroes that I admire
for his work and the tangible benefits it produces for people.
It is fitting that Bing is being honored by the American Red Cross
of West Michigan. He exemplifies the values of the American Red Cross
such as relief, healing, compassionate care and partnerships that helps
communities. As the founder and president of a project management firm
adhering to social responsibility, I count Bing as a model of how to advance
those values in the context of business.
For the community, customers, citizens and civic leaders Bing is
the CEO of Eastern Floral Company, Director of the Michigan Office for New
Americans, founder of the International Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence
(ICEE), Board of Director for the West Michigan Asian American Association and
former President of the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce. Bing
represents those great elements to me as well as friend, former client,
provider of my customer needs and inclusion ally. Here is how I want to
join the American Red Cross of West Michigan in saluting Bing and sharing my
appreciation of his passion for being a hero in providing:
Relief: Some in our community often encounter barriers keeping them
removed from equal access, power-sharing and resources. As I witnessed
from our time on the Varnum Law Diversity Advisory Council, his business
advocacy and other mutual endeavors, I have been emboldened by Bing’s work as a
tireless champion in eliminating exclusion. He has embraced risk and
innovation to replace exclusion with social and economic progress for people
regardless of their race, ethnicity or gender.
Healing and Compassionate Care: I salute Bing’s work on creating
an environment that welcomes immigrants and the talents they bring to
Michigan. Bing’s ethics and values for how we embrace strangers makes him
the perfect public representative of sound immigration policies amid public
discourse where solutions and ideas are not often compassionate,
solution-oriented or respectful of people.
On behalf of thousands of people looking to make a better life in
the West Michigan region, I wish Bing continued success in his work as Director
for the Office for New Americans and head of the ICEE to create the tone,
conditions and policies that are compassionate and affirming of new
arrivals.
Partnerships: Great heroes enter into the
battle of change work with humility, commitment and a skill to connect allies
together. Bing is being honored because from attracting young
professionals to West Michigan to supporting entrepreneurs via funding
opportunities, he forms partnerships between people of all backgrounds.
He is to be saluted because those partnerships have created economic security
and empowerment for the most vulnerable.
I salute and honor Bing Goei, our hometown hero.
Furthermore, I will continue to take inspiration from him.
Eric K. Foster is Principal of
Progress Strategies+, a project management consultancy. He created Progress Strategies+ to serve organizations,
corporations, non-profit groups and other clients in consulting and direct
project management in the areas of diversity and inclusion, grant writing and grant project management, public
policy and advocacy and corporate social responsibility. He is enjoying the month of April where people are being celebrated for their hard work of creating financial and social opportunities for communities, citizens and their customers.
