Michigan Business Network

Jeffrey Mosher welcomes Brad Zaun, Acting Regional Great Lakes Administrator, US SBA - Small Business Administration. There were several questions he wanted to find out about from Brad in this conversation. The 2026 Supplier Matchmaking Expo is focused on connecting suppliers directly with major buyers. Why are events like this becoming increasingly important for small and midsize businesses trying to grow? This year’s expo includes one-on-one matchmaking meetings with corporate and government buyers. How can businesses best prepare to make the most of those conversations? The event emphasizes strengthening U.S. supply chains and “Made in America” partnerships. What opportunities does that create for Michigan manufacturers and suppliers specifically? Many smaller businesses may assume supplier expos are only for large manufacturers. What types of companies should really consider attending this event, and why? Beyond networking, what long-term business value can companies gain from participating in the

Chris Holman welcomes Ryan Hundt, CEO, Michigan Works! Association, Lansing, MI. Chris Holman of Michigan Business Beat interviews Ryan Hundt, CEO of the Michigan Works! Association, about the organization's upcoming 2025 Annual Conference in Kalamazoo — the first time the event has been held there since 2019. The conference features three keynote speakers covering AI and innovation, people-centered management, and Michigan labor market trends, with a reception planned at the Gilmore Car Museum. Hundt highlights the ongoing support of key sponsors including the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Consumers Energy Foundation, and NGen, noting their contributions are essential to putting on the event. He emphasizes that amid federal funding cuts and economic headwinds, the conference will focus on how workforce development organizations can collaborate more efficiently, expand apprenticeships, and better serve underserved populations to strengthen Michigan's economy. » Visit MBN website: www.michiganbusinessnetwork.com/

Chris Holman welcomes Roger Curtis, Executive Director, Youth Solutions, Benton Harbor, MI. Chris Holman of Michigan Business Beat interviews Roger Curtis, Executive Director of Youth Solutions, a Benton Harbor-based organization working at the intersection of education and workforce development to help young people across Michigan discover career pathways. Over 16 years, Youth Solutions has impacted more than 39,000 students through data-driven, curriculum-backed programs delivered by around 160 trained specialists, with a particular focus on at-risk and first-generation post-secondary youth. Curtis shares the breaking news that the Jobs for Michigan's Graduates program achieved a 100% graduation rate this year — a first in the organization's history. He also describes the Foundations program, which works to transform entire school cultures around career-focused education, noting that 82% of surveyed students said they'd be more engaged if they understood how their coursework connected to career pathways.

Chris Holman welcomes Tim Daman, President and CEO, Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce, Lansing, MI. Chris Holman of Michigan Business Beat interviews Tim Daman, President and CEO of the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce, about the highlights of their Lansing Economic Club season, which featured speakers including Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, a women's leadership panel, the Canadian Consul General, and MSU basketball figures Tom Izzo and Mike Garland. Daman outlines the upcoming fall lineup, including programs on NIL and college athletics, Fraunhofer's diamond coating technologies at MSU, regional economic growth, and a year-end financial forecast. He also reflects on the Chamber's broader mission, noting that post-COVID engagement is returning to pre-pandemic levels across events, leadership programs, and networking. On the national front, Daman highlights tariff uncertainty and the "Big Beautiful Bill" as top concerns, particularly its potential impact on higher education institutions like Michigan Stat

Chris Holman welcomes Erin Kaylor, President, Biggby Coffee, East Lansing, MI. Erin Kaylor, the newly appointed president of Biggby Coffee in East Lansing, spoke with Michigan Business Beat about her vision for the rapidly growing franchise, which recently expanded to 438 locations across 13 states. Drawing on two decades of experience at McDonald's, she plans to focus on unified brand messaging and supporting franchisee profitability through financial coaching and mentorship. Kaylor outlined a growth strategy centered on expanding southward and toward the coasts, while also maximizing sales within existing locations. She also highlighted Biggby's commitment to sourcing coffee sustainably by purchasing directly from small producers, and noted that co-founders Bob Fish and Mike McFall continue to play active roles in the company's mission and entrepreneurial culture. » Visit MBN website: www.michiganbusinessnetwork.com/ » Subscribe to MBN’s YouTube: www.youtube.com/@MichiganbusinessnetworkMBN » Like MBN: www

Chris Holman welcomes Ryan Hundt, CEO, Michigan Works Association, Lansing, MI. Ryan Hundt, CEO of the Michigan Works Association, joined Michigan Business Beat to discuss the organization's annual Impact Awards, held at Heritage Hall in Lansing, which celebrate standout success stories from across the Michigan Works network in all 83 counties. The event honored 16 winners — including businesses, job seekers, and community partners — and featured support from notable figures such as Senator Gary Peters, named the 2023 Legislator of the Year. Highlighted stories included Michigan Works West Central funding road patrol and paramedic training to bolster local public safety staffing, and West Michigan Works helping an individual named Shalondria Jackson overcome transportation and certification barriers to advance her healthcare career. Capital Area Michigan Works was also recognized for helping a refugee from Afghanistan — who had suffered significant personal tragedy — connect with the resources and employment

Chris Holman welcomes Kim Bode, Owner, 8THIRTYFOUR Integrated Communications, Grand Rapids, MI. Kim Bode, owner of 8THIRTYFOUR Integrated Communications in Grand Rapids, was recently honored as Women-Owned Small Business of the Year at the Michigan Celebrates Small Business Gala — her second recognition at the event, having also received a Michigan 50 Companies to Watch award in 2021. She founded the communications agency 17 years ago after noticing a lack of women in leadership roles in her field and deciding to forge her own path. Beyond running her agency, she is currently leading a Women's Entrepreneurial Fellowship through the Small Business Association of Michigan, focused on supporting second-stage women-owned businesses navigate the challenges of growth. She emphasized that second stage — when a business has employees and real growth costs — is often the hardest and least-supported phase, and she hopes to help other women-owned companies find the right resources to reach the next level. » Visit MBN

Chris Holman welcomes Paul King, President, ROI Insight, Grosse Pointe, MI. Paul King, president of ROI Insight in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, founded his market research firm in 2016 after a long career in marketing and PR, and now conducts a wide range of research projects — from pricing studies for new product launches to nonprofit research on youth organ donor registration. He has also expanded into measuring the effectiveness of social media advertising campaigns, driven by client demand. King has conducted the Michigan Future Business Index for roughly 15 years, and noted that Q4 2024 showed growing optimism among Michigan business owners about the state's economic direction following the election, though he anticipates the upcoming Q2 2025 survey may reflect significant shifts in sentiment. He also touched on how survey methodology has evolved considerably over time, moving away from landline phone calls toward a blended approach of online and phone surveys to reach respondents more effectively, though a

Chris Holman welcomes Pam Lippitt, Owner, Hill Street Group, Southfield, MI. Pam Lippitt, owner of Hill Street Group in Southfield, Michigan, specializes in strategic communications, helping teams and executives sharpen their messaging and public speaking skills — work she has built on a career-long philosophy that no one should take the stage without thorough preparation and practice. She recently launched a podcast focused on communication in the workplace, partnering with the Innovation Women network to amplify professional women's voices, with episodes already covering topics like balancing likability and respect at work. Lippitt is also addressing a gap she sees in recent college graduates, who lost critical in-person interaction time during the pandemic, by offering cohort classes focused on soft skills and professional communication during that pivotal first six months on the job. Additionally, she is involved with TechTown Detroit through its professional services network, advising entrepreneurs on c

Chris Holman welcomes Jason Cords, Executive Manager, Shaheen Chevrolet and Shaheen Cadillac, Lansing, MI. Jason Cords, Executive Manager of Shaheen Chevrolet and Shaheen Cadillac in Lansing, discussed the current state of the auto market on Michigan Business Beat, noting that while sales remain steady after 55 years in business, tariff uncertainty is beginning to thin the vehicle pipeline as GM shifts production — most notably moving Silverado manufacturing entirely to Fort Wayne, Indiana. Cords noted that parts costs are an emerging concern, with potential tariff impacts expected to be felt more significantly in the next quarter. On the product mix front, EV leases are performing well thanks to GM incentives, trucks remain consistently popular, and there are signs GM may be returning to a stronger hybrid focus after previously stepping back from it. Shaheen also operates a fleet of 77 parts and delivery trucks, remaining the top parts distributor in Michigan despite new GM program changes that took effect

Chris Holman welcomes John Walsh, President and CEO, Michigan Manufacturers Association (MMA), Lansing, MI. John Walsh, President and CEO of the Michigan Manufacturers Association (MMA), joined Michigan Business Beat to discuss several key initiatives, including a new series of executive roundtable meetings aimed at helping Michigan manufacturers explore and expand their participation in the defense and aerospace industry. MMA is also opening nominations for its Manufacturing Excellence Awards, including the publicly voted "Coolest Thing Made in Michigan," with the annual awards dinner set for November. Walsh highlighted the launch of a new Research and Development tax credit, backed by $100 million in funding and supported by bipartisan leadership and Governor Whitmer, with MMA providing a dedicated hub at MIMFG.org to help members prepare for the first round of applications in 2026. When asked about the biggest challenges facing members, Walsh cited ongoing talent shortages and significant uncertainty at b

Chris Holman welcomes Stephanie Beckhorn, Deputy Director of Employment and Training, Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO), Lansing, MI. Michigan ranks fourth in the nation for active registered apprenticeships despite being only tenth in population, according to Stephanie Beckhorn, Deputy Director of Employment and Training for the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO). The newly released 2025 Registered Apprenticeships in Michigan report highlights record numbers of new apprentices, with construction leading the way and growing participation in nontraditional fields like healthcare, public administration, and teaching. Governor Whitmer's FY2026 budget proposes a $19 million investment in registered apprenticeships, projected to support over 1,700 new apprentices and 130 businesses, with strong outcomes including median annual earnings exceeding $80,000 and a 94% employer retention rate one year after completion. LEO also recently launched the Michigan Statewide

Chris Holman welcomes Laurie Supinski, Director, Company Name, Grand Rapids, MI. Host Chris Holman speaks with Laurie Supinski, director of Start Garden, a Grand Rapids-based entrepreneurial support organization founded in 2012 with a mission to help early-stage entrepreneurs reach their first million dollars. Supinski describes their annual pitch competition, "the 100," in which entrants submit a 100-second video pitch; from nearly 600 submissions last year, 100 are selected, each receiving $1,000 and mentorship leading up to a September demo day where 10 finalists win an additional $20,000 grant. The event, held at 20 Monroe Live and open to the public, draws investors and community judges and showcases businesses across a wide range of industries, from tech startups to food and consumer products. Now in its seventh year, the competition has produced notable success stories, including Only Bean, now sold in Costco nationwide, and Protein Pints, carried in all Kroger and Meijer stores, demonstrating measura

Tuesday, May 19th, MBN was on the road to Turner Street, Old Town, North Lansing, MI. Capital Area Michigan Works! was hosting "Race To Talent". This video shares the program opening, after breakfast, and before breakout sessions. Race to Talent - this video included remarks from ● Tekea Norwood, Chief Operating Officer of CAMW! ● Julie Mann, Founder & CEO of Lead With Collective. ● Jay LaNew, Apprenticeship Success Coordinator and Business Services Officer, CAMW!, Capital Area Michigan Works! Apprenticeship Benefits: ● Registered Apprenticeships are federally recognized and standardized programs that support the training, productivity, and retention of skilled workers. ● Apprenticeships are a proven win-win training model with benefits for both employers and our region’s workforce. For example: ○ Apprenticeships offer a “learn and earn” model, allowing workers to contribute to the day-to-day operations of a company and earn a paycheck while they learn the necessary skills. ○ Apprenticeships lower turnove

Originally uploaded May 14th, reloaded May 19th. Chris Holman welcomes back Phil Roos, Director, EGLE (Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy), Lansing, MI. Michigan has experienced significant flooding in recent weeks, with more than 40 dams under stress at one point. Can you walk us through what EGLE has been seeing on the ground? Your teams have been working around the clock with local, state, and federal partners. What does that coordination look like in real time when communities may be at risk? The state invested $44.5 million into the Dam Risk Reduction Program, but those funds are now exhausted. What does that funding gap mean for ongoing safety and prevention efforts? There’s proposed legislation focused on strengthening dam safety. How would that change Michigan’s approach from responding to issues after they happen to preventing risks before they become emergencies? Michigan leaders push for dam safety regulation updates Proposed legislation would strengthen oversight, inc

Chris Holman welcomes Chris Rizik, Founder and CEO, Renaissance Venture Capital Fund, Ann Arbor, MI. Chris Rizik, founder and CEO of Renaissance Venture Capital Fund, joins Michigan Business Beat to discuss his firm's unique "fund of funds" model, which invests in venture capital funds nationwide and then works to attract those funds to invest in Michigan startups. He highlights the firm's signature "UnDemo Day" event — a speed-dating-style format connecting Michigan startups with out-of-state VCs through hundreds of pre-arranged one-on-one meetings, held virtually in the spring and in person at Ford Field each fall — which has helped channel roughly $3 billion in investment into Michigan companies. Rizik also pushes back on the old notion that most venture-backed startups are expected to fail, arguing that a well-matched ecosystem can produce a much higher success rate across a range of company sizes. He closes by sharing that he will receive the Venture Vanguard Award, the nation's top venture capital hono

Chris Holman welcomes Ara Topouzian, Executive Director, Michigan Venture Capital Association, Bloomfield Hills, MI. The Michigan Business Beat segment features host Chris Holman interviewing Ara Topouzian, Executive Director of the Michigan Venture Capital Association (MVCA), a 20-year-old trade association representing over 100 organizations and 300–350 individual members, including venture capital firms, angel investor groups, and university partners. Topouzian notes that despite general economic uncertainty, investment activity in Michigan remains strong, with AI emerging as a major focus area at the intersection of technology and venture capital. He also highlights the MVCA Academy and its Venture Fellows Program, which supports Michigan venture firms by subsidizing salaries for junior hires and providing networking and educational opportunities, now expanded to include interns and new hires beyond the formal fellows. Topouzian mentions an upcoming member-only networking event in Grand Rapids in June, o

Chris Holman welcomes Lisa Brown, SHRM-CP, VP, & Client Services, HR Collaborative, Grand Rapids, MI. Lisa Brown of HR Collaborative in Grand Rapids joined Michigan Business Beat to discuss the evolving role of human resources in today's business landscape. She emphasized that great HR has moved well beyond compliance and paperwork, now focusing on finding, keeping, and growing talent while serving as a strategic driver of business performance rather than just an overhead cost. Brown encouraged CEOs to treat HR as a core part of their growth strategy from the start, noting that building a strong people-focused culture early — before even writing a job description — is foundational to long-term success. Looking ahead, she highlighted the growing trend of fractional HR, where companies bring in specialized HR expertise on a part-time or project basis to address specific needs without the cost of a full-time hire. » Visit MBN website: www.michiganbusinessnetwork.com/ » Subscribe to MBN’s YouTube: www.youtube.c

Chris Holman welcomes Dr. Stephen Rapundalo, President and CEO, MichBio, Ann Arbor, MI. Dr. Stephen Rapundalo, President and CEO of MichBio, joined the Michigan Business Beat to discuss recent developments affecting Michigan's life sciences and biosciences industry. After a 15-year effort, Michigan reestablished a research and development tax credit, offering 10% for large companies and 15% for small businesses (250 employees or fewer), with an additional 5% available when R&D is outsourced to Michigan research universities — and importantly, the credit is refundable, providing cash back to pre-revenue companies. MichBio also led a delegation to Capitol Hill, meeting directly with seven or eight of Michigan's 15 members of Congress to discuss issues spanning tariffs and trade policy, NIH and FDA budget cuts, and business tax policy. Following the trip, MichBio surveyed its members to gauge the impact of these federal issues, and Rapundalo noted that companies began reporting immediate effects from tariff ann

Chris Holman welcomes Tim Fair, President and CEO, Clinton County Catalyst, St. Johns, MI. Clinton County Catalyst is a 20-plus-year-old economic development organization in Clinton County, Michigan, originally founded by the Clinton County Commissioners to support local business growth. Tim Fair, the current President and CEO, became involved after reconnecting with board members he already knew, and describes the organization's focus as bringing together businesses, municipalities, and educational institutions to strengthen the community. The group counts over 100 members, including AgroLiquid, Michigan Milk Producers, the Capital Region Airport, MSUFCU, and several local school districts and townships. About four years ago, the organization rebranded from the Clinton County Economic Alliance to Clinton County Catalyst to better reflect its mission. It hosts a variety of events throughout the year — including business roundtables, legislative meetings, member connections, an annual dinner, and a golf outin