Celebrating 70 Years of Achievement with President and CEO Bill Coderre

The following is an excerpt from remarks by Bill Coderre, President and CEO of Junior Achievement of the Michigan Great Lakes, at the 2026 Independent Bank JA West Michigan Business Hall of Fame.

Today, we celebrate 70 years of Junior Achievement in West Michigan.

As I reflect on this milestone, I can’t help but wonder what Ed Frey and the leaders from the 13 founding organizations across Grand Rapids, including BISSELL, would think if they could see us today. We have come a long way since these groups came together to launch Junior Achievement in our community in 1956.

That first year, Junior Achievement served just 381 students. This year, we will reach more than 65,000 students across 54 counties. I believe they would be amazed by the growth. But I also believe they would recognize something even more important: our mission has remained remarkably consistent.

While much has changed over the last seven decades, much has stayed the same. Our commitment to serving all students remains unwavering. We continue to equip young people with the skill set and mindset needed to build thriving careers, strong families, and vibrant communities. We continue to teach the principles of free enterprise, financial literacy, work readiness, entrepreneurship, and the value of personal responsibility. These lessons are just as relevant today as they were 70 years ago.

The world our students are entering, however, is changing faster than ever before. Many of today’s students will work in jobs that do not yet exist. Technology continues to reshape industries, redefine career pathways, and accelerate the pace of change. In this environment, specific technical skills may come and go, but transferable skills will always matter.

That is why Junior Achievement is increasingly focused on helping students develop capabilities that can serve them throughout their lives, regardless of how the economy evolves.

Skills such as:

• Critical thinking and problem-solving.
• Communication and presentation skills.
• Collaboration and teamwork.
• Adaptability and resilience.
• Creativity and innovation.
• Financial decision-making.
• Leadership and accountability.
• Professionalism and work ethic.

Whether a student becomes a skilled tradesperson, entrepreneur, healthcare professional, engineer, teacher, or works in a field that has not yet been invented, these are the skills that enable success.

And so, as we celebrate our past, we must also ask: what’s next for Junior Achievement? The answer is both simple and ambitious. We will continue expanding our reach so that every student, regardless of background or zip code, has access to opportunities that help them realize their potential. We will continue strengthening partnerships with business and community leaders who bring real-world experience into the classroom. We will continue innovating our programs to prepare students for the changing world of work. And we will continue inspiring young people to dream boldly, think entrepreneurially, manage their finances wisely, and contribute meaningfully to their communities.

Seventy years ago, a group of visionary leaders invested in 250 students because they believed in the potential of young people. Today, we honor that legacy by investing in more than 65,000 students each year. The numbers have grown. The world has changed. But the belief that started Junior Achievement in West Michigan remains the same:

When we equip young people with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to succeed, we strengthen the future of our entire community.

Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey over the last 70 years. And thank you for helping us shape the next 70 years of impact.

The best chapters of Junior Achievement of the Michigan Great Lakes are still ahead of us.