Area economic development group Cornerstone Alliance has a new board chairperson. Pam Klyn was named Interim Chairperson of the organization’s board of directors, effective July 1. Klyn’s new role follows the retirement of longtime Cornerstone board chair John Janick.
“John’s impact over two decades—twelve of those years as Chairman—helped shape the foundation and forward momentum of this organization,” Klyn said in a statement. “As the sitting Vice Chair, this transition is a natural one, and we will convene our Nominating Committee later this year to select a permanent Chair for a two-year term.”
From 2012 to 2025, Janick served as the Chairman for the Cornerstone Alliance Board of Directors, and also as a member of the Executive Committee, Investor Relations Committee (IROC), and the Nominating Committee.
In addition to serving on Cornerstone Alliance’s executive committee, Klyn previously served as Executive Vice President, Corporate Relations and Sustainability prior to her retirement from Whirlpool Corporation at the end of 2024. Klyn currently serves on the Board of Directors for Patrick Industries, the External Advisory Board for the Dean of Engineering at Michigan Technological University, and the Board of Directors for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Southwest Michigan.
“Cornerstone Alliance is, and will continue to be, the driving force behind economic and community development in Berrien County. We are leading bold, transformative efforts that strengthen our local economy, attract and retain talent, and enhance quality of life. Our highly skilled and credentialed team is executing a strategic vision rooted in the principles of ‘live, work, and play,’ with initiatives designed to deliver long-term impact across the entire county,” said Klyn.
Asked about current challenges faced by the Southwest Michigan region and how Cornerstone will respond, Klyn pointed to the issue of housing. She calls the lack of “attainable workforce housing” one of the most urgent issues facing local communities.
“Under our new CEO, Marla Schneider, Cornerstone Alliance is meeting this challenge head-on. We have commissioned a comprehensive housing needs assessment that will be completed by December, and we are dedicating resources to launch a formal housing division within our organization. We believe that more workforce housing supports our core mission of sustainable, inclusive growth,” said Klyn.
“Equally important is our renewed focus on retaining and expanding the businesses that already call Berrien County home. We’ve added a Director of Economic Development position to the team, whose sole responsibility is to support and grow our local employers—because we believe the success of our region starts with investing in our own.”
Klyn also talked about riverfront development — continuing the work started at Riverview Drive near the Emma Jean Hull Flats, collaborating with developers interested in creating new parks, restaurants, housing and other amenities along the St. Joseph River.
“None of this can be achieved in a vacuum. Cornerstone Alliance values strong, collaborative relationships with our partners across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Together, we are shaping the future of Southwest Michigan, and Cornerstone is proud to lead that charge with unwavering commitment and strategic vision,” Klyn said.
Klyn’s naming to serve as interim chair comes during a time of recent change at the organization. In November 2024, the group named a new president and CEO, Marla Schneider, and just last week, Moody on the Market reported the departure of executive vice president, Christina Frank, who is leaving for a leadership role at the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend.
