Mi Business Matters

Jim Holcomb, President & CEO of the Michigan Chamber, is joined by Greg McNeilly, CEO and President of the The Windquest Group and Author of "Red, White & Verse", to discuss the American spirit and outlook!

Jim Holcomb, President & CEO for the Michigan Chamber, is joined by Heather Grondin, the chief relations officer for the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, to discuss one of the largest infrastructure projects in the country right now – the new Gordie Howe International Bridge crossing at our Ontario/Michigan border in Detroit!

Becky Burtka of the Michigan Chamber/Michigan Chamber Foundation is joined by a couple of inspiring female entrepreneurs – Carrie Rathbun Hawks, president and owner of Rathbun Public Relations, and Michelle Gilbert, chief engine officer at Purple Engine Coaching & Consulting – to take a closer look at women’s leadership and the upcoming Michigan ATHENA 2024 Leadership Summit.

Jim Holcomb - President & CEO of the Michigan Chamber, is joined by Neil Bradley - Executive Vice President, Chief Policy Officer and Lead for Strategic Advocacy for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, to discuss free enterprise, the threats it faces, and what the business community can and must do about it!

Our Capital City landed on the "Judicial Hellholes" list this year for the first time ever.  Wendy Block, Senior VP of Business Advocacy for the Michigan Chamber, is joined by Lauren Sheets Jarrell, VP and General Counsel for The American Tort Reform Association to discuss why Lansing was put on the list and what we need to do to make sure it never happens again. She’s the lead analysist and autho...

Jim Holcomb, President & CEO of the Michigan Chamber, is joined by Hilary Crow, the VP for Civics at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, to discuss civic engagement and the business case for supporting it - a very important issue as our country struggles with fundamental civics knowledge and we enter a fast and furious election year.

Bob Thomas, Chief Operating Officer of the Michigan Chamber, leads the discussion of a special time of year and segment of industry that may be small in how they’re described, but one that truly makes a BIG impact every day: our state’s 900,000+ small businesses and National Small Business Month that kicked off May 1.  We’re going to celebrate these diverse entrepreneurs and dive into the changing...

Jim Holcomb, President and CEO of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, leads the discussion of an issue that may not be on your radar right now but one that can have far reaching impacts - and that's Ozone Attainment and National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)! Joining him in this discussion are: Mike Alaimo, Director of Environmental and Energy Affairs for the Michigan Chamber Kelly Karll, Ma...

As our state focuses on growing our population and enhancing our homegrown manufacturing and supply chain, how and how fast we can permit projects of all kinds makes a difference. Joining Jim Holcomb, President and CEO of the Michigan Chamber, for a roundtable discussion on this key topic are three very knowledgeable guests: Troy Cumings,Partner at Warner, Norcorss + Judd and the chair of the Mich...

Did you know that Michigan is home to one of the country’s most diverse agricultural states in the nation or that our food and agriculture industry is a huge economic driver too? Jim Holcomb, President & CEO of the Michigan Chamber, is joined by Carl Bednarski, President of Michigan Farm Bureau and Chuck Lippstreu , President of the MI Agri-Business Association to take a deeper dive into the i...

Amanda Toy, VP of membership and partnerships for the Michigan Chamber, hosts part 2 of the Michigan winter tourism industry and outlook discussion. Joining her in the conversation is Brad Keen, COO of Boyne Resorts, as they get you ready for the snow sports season!

Becky Burtka, the Michigan Chamber’s VP of Member Engagement, hosts a conversation about the fast-evolving talent and HR landscape, the biggest developments and trends affecting the workplace and the future of work, and an upcoming summit designed to help navigate it all. Joining her in this discussion are: Aaron Graves, Attorney, and Member & Chair of the Workplace Law Practice Group at Bodma...

Jim Holcomb, President & CEO of the Michigan Chamber, is joined by special guest and capitol insider Wendy Block, the Michigan Chamber’s Senior VP of Business Advocacy, to take a closer look at the Governor Whitmer’s 6th State of the State address before a joint session of the Michigan Legislature. What was in it? What wasn’t? And what does it all mean for Michigan’s business community?

Jim Holcomb, President & CEO of the Michigan Chamber, is joined by Detroit’s Mayor Mike Duggan as they highlight the past struggles and, more importantly, the tremendous resurgence of our state's largest city!

Amanda Toy, VP of Membership and Partnerships at the Michigan Chamber, is joined by Brittney Primeau, the Communications Director for Crystal Mountain - located in Northern Michigan's Benzie County. Tune in as they highlight and discuss Michigan’s tourism outlook now that the snowy winter season is upon us!

Jim Holcomb, President & CEO of the Michigan Chamber, leads the conversation about an issue that may often go under the radar, but is really important to how Michigan can clean up contaminated properties and brownfields across our cities and state. Joining him in this discussion are three special guests: Jono Klooster, Acting Economic Development Director for the City of Grand Rapids Troy Cumi...

As we wrap up November and Veterans Month, it’s an important time to reflect and honor the service of Michigan’s veterans as well as highlight their inherent skills and abilities they bring to our workforce and the ways our businesses can be veteran-friendly employers. Jim Holcomb, President & CEO of the Michigan Chamber, is joined by the newly appointed director of the Michigan Veterans Affai...

Jim Holcomb, President & CEO of the Michigan Chamber, is joined by Amy Rencher, Senior VP of Small Business Services for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and Lillian Werbin, the new Co-Owner and President of Elderly Instruments – who also happens to be this year’s America’s Top Small Business. Together, they discuss a segment of industry that may be small in how they’re described,...

Jim Holcomb, President & CEO of the Michigan Chamber, is joined by Becky Burtka, VP of member engagement for the MI Chamber and Tess Ulrey of the Boys and Girls Club of Southwest MI to discuss an exciting new initiative that’s coming to Michigan in 2024 – the National Civics Bee!

Jim Holcomb, President & CEO of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, is joined Mike Alaimo, Director of environmental and energy affairs for the Chamber, as well as Gary Melow, Director of Michigan Biomass and Caroline Liethen, Director of Environmental & Regulatory Policy for Michigan Manufacturers Association, to discuss Michigan's energy policy. We'll dive into what's happening right now a...

Jim Holcomb, President & CEO of the Michigan Chamber, dives into a brand-new report that studied a HUGE issue impacting Michigan’s workforce, employers and economy … a lack of access to affordable, quality childcare. A nearly $3 Billion impact annually. Joining him in the conversation are three special guests: Caitlin Codella Low, VP of Policy and Programs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Found...

Jim Holcomb, President & CEO of the Michigan Chamber, is joined by the Chamber's Senior VP, Wendy Block, and their Director of Environmental and Energy Affairs, Mike Alaimo, to discuss a host of potentially damaging state policy proposals under consideration and a new collaborative effort to help bring diverse job providers and organizations together to help convey the unintended consequences...

Jim Holcomb, President & CEO of the Michigan Chamber, discusses a big issue affecting the state’s cannabis industry – a lack of access to common banking and financial services that all other legal industries have. Joining him in the discussion are Mike Elias, Co-Founder and CEO of Common Citizen - a Michigan-based cannabis company and Leah Robinson, Director of Legislative Affairs and Leadersh...

Mike Alaimo, Director of Environmental and Energy Affairs at the Michigan Chamber, is joined by Mike Troupos, VP of Foresight Management - a Grand Rapids-based sustainability and energy management consultant, to discuss “sustainability” and what Michigan businesses need to know - including trends, pressures, expectations, opportunities and challenges!

Leah Robinson, Director of Legislative Affairs and Leadership Programming for the Michigan Chamber, is joined by Sarah Himes Greer of Public Sector Consultants to discuss the childcare landscape in Michigan – including its affordability, accessibility and its impact to our workforce and economy. It’s our foundation for a three-part series on this critical issue!