Experienced Speakers
If you’re interested in a speaker for an upcoming meeting, luncheon, retreat, etc. see below for a few of Experience Grand Rapids’ knowledgeable staff members. If you’d like to send an inquiry about a speaker, fill out the form at the bottom of this page and someone will promptly follow up with a response.
Doug Small
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Doug Small is the President and CEO of Experience Grand Rapids. Before moving to Grand Rapids for this position in 2008, he worked in Destination Marketing Executive roles in Denver, Syracuse, Palm Springs and Dayton. He is a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the West Michigan Hotel District Food & Beverage Industry Association and he has been recognized as one of the 200 Most Influential Leaders in West Michigan for several years’ running.
Doug currently serves on the board of directors of five organizations: Downtown Grand Rapids Inc., Gerald R. Ford International Authority, Michigan Hospitality and Tourism Alliance, Regional Air Alliance of West Michigan and West Michigan Sports Commission. He is knowledgeable in topics such as the economic impact of tourism and destination marketing and branding, and brings a wealth of experience and insight to issues impacting the convention sales and service sector.
Janet Korn
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Janet Korn is the Senior Vice President of Strategic Initiatives for Experience Grand Rapids, charged with keeping the organization on track to achieve goals developed by the EXGR board, staff and wider community. She is also responsible for organizational strategy and research, media and travel journalist outreach, community advocacy and statewide tourism collaborations. Janet’s efforts to position Grand Rapids/Kent County as a first-class travel destination have earned her the Pure Michigan Legacy Award and recognition as Communicator of the Year by the West Michigan Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America.
With a BA in Hospitality Business from Michigan State University, stints as a restaurant manager and adjunct instructor in Hospitality Education, and 20+ years of experience at EXGR, Janet brings insight and motivation to such topics as strategic planning, advocacy and outreach, marketing and communications, and the economic impact of tourism. She also sits on the Grand Rapids Whitewater board and can speak to the tourism aspects of the Grand River revitalization project.
Jordoun Eatman
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Jordoun is Vice President of Engagement & Inclusion for Experience Grand Rapids, developing DEI strategies and collaborating with industry partners to further our commitment to make tourism and tourism careers accessible to all. He came to EXGR in 2022 after serving the City of Grand Rapids in the Executive Office and the Office of Equity and Engagement, where he worked to promote community, workforce and supplier diversity for employees and residents.
A past member of the Grand Rapids Board of Education and a Crain’s Grand Rapids Business 40 Under 40 award recipient in 2022, Jordoun is an inspiring speaker on issues of diversity, equity, inclusion and workforce development.
Kate Lieto
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Kate Lieto is the Vice President of Marketing for Experience Grand Rapids, responsible for guiding and implementing our marketing strategy, and overseeing our growing marketing team. She holds an MBA degree from Western Michigan University and is a Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME), the tourism industry’s highest individual educational achievement.
Kate has served on numerous task forces and industry-related committees, including the Grand Rapids Chamber’s Leadership Grand Rapids Class of 2026. She has been instrumental in the effort to make Grand Rapids more welcoming for visitors with disabilities and currently sits on the board of directors for Disability Advocates of Kent County. A Michigan CVB Star of the Year (2016), a member of Destinations International’s 30 Under 30 Class of 2017 and a veteran of more than 200 media interviews, Kate is an experienced and engaging speaker on beer & craft beverage tourism, marketing, branding, hospitality, accessibility, creative inspiration and community collaboration.
If you are interested in requesting someone from Experience Grand Rapids, please submit the request through the following form.
