MI Best: An MLive Podcast

Today we talk to 'My Casual Mom', Brooke Cummings all about her building a new home journey with Eastbrook Homes. Though building felt like it would be overwhelming, they learned that for their life, remodeling and trying to buy an existing home were both too big undertakings. Eastbrook Homes made building a new home so easy, quick and customized that it was a no brainer.

Today we talk to Bo Brines of Little Forks Outfitters owner and MRA board chair. He walks us through how a 'hometown Midland boy' with a passion for music came to start a store specializing in fishing (fly fishing, 'hard core trout' fishing, and more) and general outdoor needs.

Today we talk to Nate Carver, Consumers Energy's Director of Project Management for Commercial and Industrial Businesses and Jill Diliberti from the Genesee County Intermediate School District. Since 2009 Consumers Energy Energy Efficiency programs has been helping businesses save billions of dollars - because they know that using less energy or changing the time of use means that they can use mor...

Today we talk with Wendy Traschen, Tournament Director for the Great Lakes Bay Dow Invitational - we dive into how one event drives major impact on the 4 counties in the great lakes bay area; over 12 million dollars of economic impact in 2021 alone. The invitational runs July 10-16 this year, and is unique as a team-play event. This year features 72 teams; 144 players.

Today we talk to Kathy Morin from the Cadillac CVB. The Cadillac CVB is a recipient of the Michigan Retailers Association's Buy Nearby Grant, and are excited to start using those funds to increase awareness and attendance to their Thursday night Upbeat Cadillac summer concert series, Cadillac After Hours Market, and the ongoing downtown Social District.

Today we talk to Consumers Energy's Executive Director Customer Operations, Brian Lewis, about how Consumers Energy can help Michiganders to use less energy to do the same amount of work, and how this can even lower energy costs while also helping to safeguard some of Michigan's unique natural resources.

Today we talk to Melissa and her student team at Alpena High School's The Campus Closet - a store within the school that has built up from a 'dreary closet' selling basic school supplies, to a fully functional retail establishment within a school. The students who manage and work at The Campus Closet are given the chance to take learnings from the Career and Technical program's marketing and busin...

On today’s episode of At Home with Eastbrook Homes, we talk with Joe Sambaer, VP and Senior Mortgage Banker at Dart Bank. We talk through the differences between the purchase market for existing homes versus new construction homes, how we got to this point in the real estate market and what are mortgage rates doing right now.

In this episode with the Michigan Retailers Association, we explore Das Gift Haus. How it came to be, what COVID was like for them and what can we expect this year? 

Today we head to Brighton, Mi to talk to Lisa Nelson, founder and owner of Hush Intimate Apparel - we walk through the good and sometimes daunting task of starting and owning a business, how she moved from the corporate world to entrepreneurship, and how that move opened up endless possibilities for her.

Today we talk again to Maureen Smith, Associate Broker for Eastbrook Homes. As the world, work and living continue to change, what she is seeing in relocation trends; what are some of the special draws to Holland (hello, heated sidewalks!); and how does Eastbrook help make the dream home ownership a reality

On today's episode we head to Munising to find out what is new at the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and in Munising, MI this year - the waterfalls will soon be flowing, Pictured Rocks Days, concerts in the park during June and July, all things outdoor adventure throughout summer, and right into the incredible local fall colors

Multiple guests from the Michigan Retailers Association join Eric for a discussion centered on customer service in retail — its evolution, what a day looks like, what makes good customer service, and more.

On today's episode, Eric talks with Lisa Gnass of Wren, a new home goods store in Dimondale, MI. Specializing in both vintage and new home decor, and jewlery. Lisa and Eric discuss everything from personalizing your space using historical items; how weekends spent antiquing and collecting resulted in a second career in retail and design; and what it takes to start a store mid-pandemic.

On today's episode of At Home with Eastbrook Homes, we talk to Christine Minzlaff, an online sales specialist for Eastbrook Homes. Christine helps home buyers when they send in questions online or on a call. We discuss what you should be thinking about as you look to build a home this year - monthly budgets, what type of home fits you, and what pre-approval steps you need to take.

In today's episode of At Home with Eastbrook Homes, we talk to Danny and Miles who are building a home with Eastbrook Homes. They chose their Eastbrook community because it was close to family and friends, in a fantastic school district, and they had the most home-build options with Eastbrook. Their home plan, the Violet plan from the Terrace Home series, uses space efficiently, giving them everyt...

On today's episode, the Michigan Retailers Association highlights The Found Gallery, in Ann Arbor. Eric talks with Mary Cambruzzi about what The Found Gallery does, its history and evolution, this year so far, and big wins from this past weekend.

On today’s podcast, Eric talks with Dr. Josh Suderman from the Javery Pain Institute about an all-too-common pain issue, sciatica. They discuss how this issue is diagnosed, how work from home combined with lessening of general medical care impacted the rates of sciatica issues, and how to address general chronic pain issues.

On today's episode, Eric talks with Brian Saha of The Pinconning Cheese Co. & Fudge Shoppe, about the upcoming holiday & entertaining season, how the pandemic saw new shoppers to their online business, and how Pinconning, MI became the 'cheese capital of Michigan'

On today's episode we talk with Consumers Energy President & CEO, Garrick Rochow. In 2018 Consumers Energy, made a major timeline change, taking 15 years off their own deadline in their Clean Energy initiative - they saw an opportunity to lead in the energy industry, increase energy reliability, increase cost savings for their customers, and working with coworkers and the communities to ensure the...

On today's episode we talk to Dr. Mark Bieszka from Muskegon Surgical Associates. From choosing general surgery as a 'focus' to medical burnout to colonoscopies and EGDs.

On today's episode, Eric talks with Allendale True Value's Chad Ayers about the last 18 months as a business owner, community member and Michigan Retailer Association member - especially the way he saw everyone step up to help each other at his store and in his community

In this episode, Tonya Berry Vice President of Gas Operations at Consumers Energy stops by to talk about clean natural gas. 

President and CEO of Junior Achievement Michigan Great Lakes, discusses the basic mission of Junior Achievement (financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship for school-aged kids) and their new Free Enterprise Center. Housing 3 experiential learning labs, this newly built center lets kids learn real-world experiences as citizens, consumers, and associates. Watch the video below to learn...

In this episode, Eric Hultgren talks with Deidre Weller about her store Thistle in Charlevoix, MI about how the Michigan Retailers Association has helped her grow especially in this past 18 months.