The voice for small business in Michigan is changing following a more than 20-year run for retiring CEO Rob Fowler. Fowler, who has headed up the Small Business Association of Michigan — SBAM — for more nearly two decades as CEO is retiring at the end of the year and the board has announced his replacement will be former Michigan Lt. Governor Brian Calley.
The SBAM Board of Directors this morning voted to appoint Brian Calley as their new President and CEO, effective January 1, 2022.
Lorri Rishar, SBAM board chair and CEO of Edge Partnerships, says, “SBAM is the voice for small businesses in our state,” and adds, “This is a testament to Rob and Brian’s efforts, working side by side for the good of all small businesses. The bipartisan support that SBAM provides its members is unmatched and has become essential to small businesses, especially as they navigate operations during the pandemic.”
Fowler joined SBAM in the year 2000 as the Vice President of Insurance Services and has served as President and CEO since 2003. Calley came on board as SBAM President in 2019 after serving as Michigan’s lieutenant governor.
Fowler says, “Serving Michigan’s small businesses for the past two decades has been my honor,” and adds, “While retirement is bittersweet, I’m extremely proud of what SBAM has become and the work we have achieved on behalf of small business owners. I have no doubt that SBAM’s influence and effectiveness will continue growing under Brian Calley’s leadership.”
Calley’s vision for SBAM builds on the association’s commitment to bipartisanship and inclusivity, as he tells us, “It has been a privilege to dedicate my career to the success of small businesses,” while adding, “I’m proud of how our team rose to the challenges of the pandemic and provided critical services to our members when they needed us most. I look forward to continuing this work at SBAM as President and CEO upon Rob’s retirement and appreciate the board’s confidence in me.”
The Small Business Association of Michigan is a bipartisan organization focused solely on serving the needs of Michigan’s small business community through advocacy, collaboration and buying power. Today they serve more than 28,000 members in all 83 counties of Michigan. SBAM is located in Lansing, just one block from the Capitol.
