Total Michigan

Here's the scenario: you quit your job for a new job. Only to find out your new job got canceled. With a wife and child at home, what would you do? Josh did something a wee bit crazy and decided to turn his childhood hobby into a business. A business that is now on Inc 5000 fastest growing companies. His incredible and inspirational story of how this happened is nothing short of amazing. Links: Jo...

Tulip Time Festival is here! And what better way to celebrate spring than to dance in wooden shoes and eat dutch food! The Tulip Time Festival is at it's 94th appearance and it has been flagged as one of the top events in all the United States. The people of Holland, Michigan really embraced their heritage to create a unique experience for all of those who attend. To guide us on this adventure is...

There is so much more to Holland, Michigan that just tulips. In this episode, Linda Hart, Executive Director of the Holland Convention and Visitor's Bureau guides us on a trip through the various festivals that take place throughout the year. Holland has a very diverse culture and their goal is to celebrate them all. Links: Discover Holland Tulip Time Juneteeth Pride Festival Latino Festival Celti...

Windmill Island Gardens really is the face of Holland, Michigan. Maintaining the centuries-old windmill to ensuring that the tulips and other plants always look pristine is the challenge for Matt Helmus and his team. In this episode, we talk about: The Different Events That Take Place in the Windmill Island Gardens Managing the Pressure and Expectations of the Windmill Island Gardens with Visitors...

Holland, Michigan is one of the top destinations along Michigan's West Coast. And there's no one to better represent them than Mayor Nathan Bocks. In this episode, we talk about what makes Holland great, the supportive community around this city, and what you can expect when you visit this great city. Links: City of Holland, Michigan Website Mayor Bocks Facebook Page Sign up for our free newslette...

The Flint Institute of Arts does a fantastic job of telling the story of history through the artifacts, paintings, tapestries and other objet des arts. Links: https://www.flintarts.org/ Join the Newsletter to get all kinds of free goodies: https://totalmichigan.com/join/

With Tourism, it's quite a challenge to get people to come to your city and spend their hard-earned money. But what about getting people just to come to the state? Dave Lorenz, Vice-President at Travel Michigan for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation faces that challenge every day. He and his team are responsible for the "Pure Michigan" tourism campaign that helps drive billions in reven...

Pop the Bubbly! 🍾 Hide Your Chocolate! 🍫 Episode 100 is here! Can you believe this? 100 Episodes ... 95 amazing stories! So what does the future hold for this show? What can you expect going forward? How can we reach even more people? I discuss all of that in this episode!

Glastender Incorporated is built on two core philosophies: innovation and quality. This shows not only in the products that Glastender manufactures but with the relationship that management has with the employees as well as the customers. This investment in relationships has allowed Glastender to succeed and establish itself as an industry leader. The "Go-To" for restaurant and bar hardware. With...

The museum for every car guy and car girl: the Gilmore Car Museum. Located outside of Battle Creek, Michigan, this rich and vibrant museum has something for everyone. And managing the over 400 cars at the museum is no easy feat. But with a passionate team, and avid car collectors, the museum manages the delicate ballet of vehicles throughout the seasons. With over 3,500 five-star reviews, it's eas...

I love skiing. And so do many other Michiganders. So having the chance to sit and talk with Pete Meyer, Co-Owner of Caberfae Peaks, was a real treat. Learning the history and philosophy behind this wonderful Michigan Ski Resort was a real blessing. I do believe that culture flows downhill. And listening to Pete, I now understand why Caberfae Peaks is such a wonderful place to enjoy the day! In thi...

Abby loves story. So much so that she now uses stories across all of Pet Angel Adoptions' social media platforms. The goals: find the perfect forever home for the cats in their no-kill shelter. And the innovation doesn't stop there. Because another goal is to make sure that the cats don't come back to the rescue. Pet Angel Adoption is a no-kill cat rescue located in Frankenmuth, Michigan. Connect...

Studies prove that success creates success . And nothing exemplifies this than the remarkable come-back story of downtown Flint, Michigan. Greg Fiedler shares the incredible journey from renovating one burned out building to revitalizing the entire downtown Flint Area. Links: Greater Flint Arts Council Website Downtown Flint Festival and Activities Website

It's not every day that an invention sparks an entire industry. But this is what Al Thieme did when multiple sclerosis robbed a beloved family member of her independence. Al decided to build something that gave it back to her. And his invention, and his company, now helps tens of thousands of people to regain their independence every single day. But their journey was not an easy one. In this episo...

I love the close connection that Michiganders feel with history. Our state seems to have been at the forefront of a lot of monumental decisions that took other states, and even the United States, decades to catch up. And through this lens, Matt VanAcker and his team at the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing Michigan present this history to hundreds of thousands of people every single year. In this...

You could say that Rhonda Alexia Webb was a born entrepreneur. Her mother, an entrepreneur, made a living by baking cakes for other people. It's no surprise that when Rhonda got ready to graduate high school, there were no programs that catered to the real path she wanted to take - entrepreneurship. Now Rhonda launched Kids Rule Now Inc, a program that teaches them valuable skills all kids should...

Sometimes it takes an outsider to ask the right questions to bring about massive change. That's exactly what John Shelton did. After decades of handling the Michigan winter months the same, John proposed an idea. An idea he had no idea would work. But the results transformed Frankenmuth's winter months from extremely slow to one of Michigan's Premiere Snow Festivals. That would be Zehnder's SnowFe...

Jodie Kieliszewski started Beelovely Botanicals for two reasons. To remain a stay at home mom. And also to supplement their family's income. Little did she know that her family hobby would explode into a thriving business that now employs her entire family. To see the show notes, visit us at: https://totalmichigan.com/beelovely-botanicals-with-jodie-kieliszewski/

Welcome to the new "Ordinary People; Extraordinary Things"! In this episode, Dorothy Zehnder from the Bavarian Inn Zehnder family shares how she and her husband Tiny persevered through tough times to take their little restaurant and turn it into one of Michigan's Top Tourist destinations. Get the Full Show Notes Here: https://totalmichigan.com/dorothy-zehnder-bavarian-inn/

It's been a great run. But the Call of Leadership is ending. Or is it? In this episode, I share some good things that have been happening behind the scenes. And how one simple lunch conversation changed the trajectory of my life and this show. If you want to stay "in the know", then get on our email newsletter. All the juicy gossip is happening there! Join the email newsletter: https://callofleade...

The Flint Institute of Art is one of those gems that truly shines in Michigan's Art World. With over 9,000 objects from around the world, Michigan can find it's place in a global context. How does Tracee and her team decide which objects go on display? What about getting traveling exhibitions in? And what is she doing to bring the community and the art world closer together? Links : Flint Institut...

Matt VanAcker and his team at Michigan State Capitol Tours somehow balance not only preserving history but also presenting it to millions of people every single year.  In this episode, Matt shares with us: Some of forward-thinking legislation that Michigan Enacted Before Any Other State How his team strives to provide everyone, independent of their political views, a wonderful experience at t...

I admit every time I hear about Flint, the news is never good. But it's easy to have bad news overshadow all of the great things that are happening in this city. What started as a project to save one building turned into a massive rebuilding effort to revitalize downtown Flint and turn it into a art and cultural center. Greg Fiedler, CEO of the Great Flint Arts Council shares with us what this inc...

I'm always inspired when I see people who want to make a difference in their community. While some dream of dot com success, others think about making our stomach's happy. Kennedy Krieger, owner of the Dig Cafe just outside of Frankenmuth, started about a year ago, this young entrepreneur is determined to make her business a success. Judging by the chocolate chip cookies, she's off to a great star...

How does a family business survive for 100 years?  That’s what we explore with Tyler Kluck of Kluck Nursery, just outside of Saginaw.  Most they deal with commercial contracts.  But every Christmas, over 5,500 people decorate their homes with Kluck Christmas Trees. In this episode, we talk about what it’s like to assume the mantle of a successful family business; what role does 100...