Birgit Klohs, president and CEO of The Right Place, can add another award to her mantle.

Klohs was named the 2017 Business Person of the Year by the Economic Club of Grand Rapids this spring.

She was presented the award at the Economic Club’s annual dinner on Monday night.

The award honors West Michigan executives who have made significant community contributions, are supportive of the local business community and have been recognized as a leader both in the business world and the community.

Klohs was recognized for her 30 years of leading the Grand Rapids-based economic development nonprofit.

Under her leadership at The Right Place, the organization has helped create and retain more than 44,000 jobs and helped bring in more than $4.7 billion in new investment into the region.

Klohs is also involved in a number of local and statewide boards and in 2014, was named by Gov. Rick Snyder to serve on the International Crossing Authority to facilitate the construction of the Gordie Howe Bridge connecting Detroit and Windsor, Canada.

The previous five winners of the Economic Club’s Business Person of the Year include DP Fox Ventures President and CEO Dan DeVos, Wolverine Worldwide President and CEO Blake Krueger, Haworth Chairman Emeritus Dick Haworth, Amway Corporation’s Doug DeVos and Steve Van Andel and former Steelcase CEO Jim Hackett.