Conner Hicks, '15, was hired by the Grand Rapids-based West Michigan Sports Commission as its new national sales manager in November 2021. As a 2015 GVSU graduate with a bachelor's degree in hospitality management, Hicks spent the last three years as sales manager with Aimbridge Hospitality at the Holiday Inn Grand Rapids Airport, where he oversaw all group sales initiatives. Prior to that, Hicks was events sales manager at the former Crowne Plaza Grand Rapids Airport & Conference Center, event supervisor at Applause Catering + Events, and event coordinator at CityFlatsHotel - all in Grand Rapids. In his free time, Hicks volunteers with Special Olympics Michigan, which he has done for almost 10 years.