Small to remain through EXGR’s Centennial Celebration; national search for successor underway
Grand Rapids, Mich. – Experience Grand Rapids announced today that President & CEO Doug Small plans to retire in June 2027, following a 45-year career in destination marketing and hospitality, including nearly 20 years leading the organization. Small will remain in his role through the EXGR centennial celebration in June 2027 and will assist with the leadership transition.
“I am retiring after a long and deeply rewarding career, with the best years of it spent right here in Grand Rapids,” said Small. “I have had the privilege of leading this organization through a period of unprecedented growth, and I am incredibly proud of what the team at Experience Grand Rapids has built – for this organization, for our partners, and for our community.”
At the direction of EXGR Board Chair Ping Liang, the board will form a search committee that will work with an executive search firm to lead a national search process for his successor.
“Doug Small’s service to Experience Grand Rapids and to this community has been nothing short of exemplary,” said EXGR Board Chair Ping Liang. “His accomplishments speak for themselves – record growth in visitorship, a world-class destination, and an organization that is respected across the industry nationwide. We are grateful for everything he has given to this role and this city.
“As we begin the search for his successor, I am confident we will attract outstanding national candidates,” said Liang. “In no small part, that is because of what Doug helped build here at EXGR and in the broader community. This will be a much sought-after opportunity for highly qualified leaders from across the country.”
During Small’s tenure, EXGR has driven consistent growth in visitorship and hotel room sales, achieving record results nearly every year for the past 14 years, while generating billions of dollars in regional economic impact. He has been a visionary partner and influential leader in shaping Grand Rapids into a destination where people want to visit, work, build businesses, and live.
“One thing I take great pride in is the strong, talented, and creative team we’ve built at Experience Grand Rapids,” said Small. “This organization is in exceptional hands, and I have every confidence in this team’s ability to carry forward what we’ve built together and meet the exciting challenges ahead. I also want to recognize the incredible visitor destination that Grand Rapids has become, the unwavering community support we’ve had, and the strong partnerships that have made it all possible. None of this happens without extraordinary people working together.”
Small will remain as president and CEO through June 2027, when Experience Grand Rapids will mark its centennial anniversary at the annual Toast the Town celebration and formally pass leadership to his successor.
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