Michigan Business Network

Originally uploaded April 14, reloaded May 5, 2026. MBN was on the road to cover PitchMI's Finals competition on Tuesday, April 7. The MSU Research Foundation hosted the event at Grewal Hall in Lansing from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. PitchMI brought together four founders from Michigan-built startups spanning healthcare, AI, navigation technology, and sustainable tech. These finalists were selected l...

Originally uploaded April 14, reloaded May 5, 2026. MBN was on the road to cover PitchMI's Finals competition on Tuesday, April 7. The MSU Research Foundation hosted the event at Grewal Hall in Lansing from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. PitchMI brought together four founders from Michigan-built startups spanning healthcare, AI, navigation technology, and sustainable tech. These finalists were selected l...

Chris Holman welcomes Brad Zaun, Acting Regional Administrator, US SBA - Small Business Administration, headquartered in Chicago, IL. Who was traveling in Iowa that day. Welcome, Brad. Bring us up to speed on your business, political, and SBA career? SBA's National Small Business Week has been around for more than 60 years. Why does this recognition still matter, and what message does it send to e...

Chris Holman welcomes back Glenn Stevens, Jr., Executive Director of MichAuto and the Chief Automotive and Innovation Officer at the Detroit Regional Chamber, Detroit, MI. Welcome back, Glenn. A popular day in your annual cycle was earlier this week, recap how Automobility Day at the Capitol went? What are the top priorities emerging from the Automobility Policy Roadmap that business leaders shoul...

Chris welcomes Kelly Wolgamott | Vice President of Pure Michigan, Travel Michigan, Lansing, MI. Welcome Kelly. We've worked with you in various capacities for over a dozen years. Tell us about Travel Michigan? What’s driving the record growth in Great Lakes cruising for 2026, and is it sustainable long term? How can local businesses in port cities better prepare to capture more of that projected $...

Chris Holman welcomes back Natalie Chmiko, Incoming CEO, LSCP, Lake Superior Community Partnership, Marquette, MI. Welcome back, Natalie. Remind the Michigan business community what Lake Superior Community Partnership is and does? As you step into the CEO role, what are your top priorities for sustaining and growing Marquette County’s economic momentum? How will your experience at Michigan Economi...

Chris Holman welcomes Kevin Welch, Business Services Specialist, Michigan Works! West Central! Big Rapids, MI. Welcome Kevin, share with the Michigan business community about the service territory of Michigan Works! West Central? Tell us about the Impact Award winner Huntey’s Clubhouse? What were your takeaways from the recent Impact Awards? Talk about your Business Services role with the West Cen...

Chris Holman welcomes back Jay LaNew, Apprenticeship Success Coordinator and Business Services Officer, CAMW!, Capital Area Michigan Works!, Lansing, but serving Ingham, Eaton, and Clinton Counties. What is a Registered Apprenticeship? Why should an employer consider a Registered Apprenticeship? What is Race to Talent? Why should business owners attend? Is there anything else you’d like to share?...

Chris Holman welcomes Rodney Cole, President, DTE Foundation, Chelsea, MI, and also Crystal Houston, Executive Branch Director, Bethany Christian Services, East Lansing, MI. The DTE Foundation awarded $310,000 across 12 Michigan nonprofits through its inaugural Community Transformation Grant program, which drew over 115 submissions and exceeded its original $150,000 budget due to the strength of t...

Chris Holman welcomes Phil Roos, Director, EGLE, Lansing, MI. This episode of Michigan Business Beat features an interview with Phil Roos, Director of EGLE (Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy), who discusses the department's recent progress on sustainability under Governor Whitmer's leadership, including record numbers of contaminated site cleanups. A significant portion of the conversation focu...

Chris Holman welcomes Ken Estelle, CEO, Feeding America West Michigan, Kentwood, MI. This episode of Michigan Business Beat features an interview with Ken Estelle, CEO of Feeding America West Michigan, a food bank headquartered in Kentwood that serves 40 of Michigan's 83 counties — primarily rural areas on the west side of the Lower Peninsula and the entire Upper Peninsula. Estelle reports that th...

Chris Holman welcomes David Worthams, Director of Employment Policy, Michigan Manufacturers Association, Lansing, MI. This episode of the Michigan Business Beat features an interview with David Worthams, Director of Employment Policy for the Michigan Manufacturers Association (MMA), a statewide organization representing nearly 1,800 members — roughly 90% of which are small businesses with 50 or fe...

Originally uploaded April 17th, reloaded April 25th. Chris Holman welcomes back Mark McDaniel, President & CEO, Cinnaire, Lansing, MI. Welcome back, Mark. Remind the Michigan business community about Cinnaire? Could you circle back to how your philanthropy efforts went this year in supporting Haven House Pancake Palooza? We understand Cinnaire recently ranked #3 on The Nonprofit Times Best Nonprof...

Originally uploaded April 17th, reloaded April 24th. Chris Holman welcomes back Kim Bode, Dog rescuer, community advocate, and proud Michigan business owner, 8THIRTY FOUR Integrated Communications, Grand Rapids, MI. The Hard Cost of Soft Skills is an April 28th Event - get all the details at: https://8thirtyfour.com/event/the-skills-crisis/ Speakers Kim Bode, CEO of 8THIRTYFOUR Kevin Stotts, Presi...

Originally uploaded April 21st, reloaded April 24th. Chris Holman welcomes back Michael Price, STS/CTA, Executive Vice President, Destination Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor, MI. Welcome back, Mike. The Ann Arbor area has earned a 2026 Governor’s Award for Innovative Tourism Collaboration. Tell us about it? This project took more than a decade of collaboration. What made this public-private partnership succe...

Chris Holman welcomes back Tony Stamas, President and CEO, Midland Business Alliance, Midland, MI. Welcome back Tony, remind us of the scope and purpose of the Midland Business Alliance? How did the second half of 2025 go for the Midland Business Alliance? And what's on tap for 2026? Midland Business Alliance recently was among six prominent Michigan business groups join a nonpartisan coalition to...

Chris Holman welcomes back Laketa L. Henderson, SBA Michigan District Director, Detroit, MI. National Small Business Week is coming up—what’s the significance of these awards, and what do they say about Michigan’s small business landscape? You’ll be recognizing Michigan winners in early May—what can attendees expect from that event at Macomb Community College? You’re also participating in the Made...

Chris Holman welcomes Craig Wieland, Author, Mason, MI. Craig Wieland, a Mason, Michigan-based entrepreneur, discussed his journey from starting a small construction company with his father in 1981 to growing Wieland Constructors into the fourth-largest builder in Michigan by intentionally differentiating from dominant competitors like Christman, Granger, and Clark. After retiring two years ago, W...

Chris Holman welcomes Erica Luce, Manager of Adult Education, Michigan's Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, Lansing, MI. Erica Luce, Manager of Adult Education at Michigan's Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO), discussed how the department serves roughly 30,000 Michiganders annually through more than 100 adult education programs statewide, helping adults earn high school...

Chris Holman welcomes Carolyn Hurst, Executive Director, Ronald McDonald House of Mid-Michigan, Lansing, MI. The Ronald McDonald House of Mid-Michigan (RMHMM), located across from University of Michigan Health Sparrow in downtown Lansing, provides free lodging and amenities to families with children receiving medical treatment at local hospitals. Executive Director Carolyn Hurst discussed the "Bat...

Chris Holman welcomes Kevin Moran, President and Owner, Dream Machine LLC, South Lyon, MI. Kevin Moran, president and owner of Dream Machine LLC, joined Michigan Business Beat to discuss his entrepreneurial journey and two inventions he runs as lean, laptop-based businesses. His background spans engineering roles at Chrysler, working with 5-hour Energy founder Manoj Bhargava, and growing a radiati...

Chris Holman welcomes Trey Williams, CPA and Principal Director, Maner Costerisan, Lansing, MI. Trey Williams, CPA and Principal Director of Maner Costerisan — a full-service public accounting and business advisory firm headquartered in Lansing, Michigan since 1906 — appeared on Michigan Business Beat to discuss the firm's recent recognition. The company received four awards, including being named...

Chris Holman welcomes Meghan Ziehmer, Executive Director, Lansing Sports Commission, Lansing, MI. The Lansing Sports Commission, a division of Choose Lansing, serves as the region's sports tourism organization by soliciting, creating, and fully operating sporting events — distinguishing itself from typical destination marketing organizations by being hands-on with event logistics. Summer 2024 was...

Originally uploaded April 17th, reloaded April 24th. Chris Holman welcomes back Carrie Rosingana, CEO, CAMW! Capital Area Michigan Works! Lansing, MI, but serving Ingham, Eaton, and Clinton Counties. 1. Now that legislative Spring Break is over, the budget season soon begins in earnest. What's at the top of CAMW!'s wish list? 2. Why is CAMW! and the Michigan Works! Association prioritizing Medicai...

Chris Holman welcomes Jason Mellema, Superintendent. Ingham Intermediate School District, Mason, MI. View accompanying PDF: https://michiganbusinessnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/MBN-Interview-Jason-Mellema.pdf From a community and economic standpoint, what impact would a nearly $100 million investment in special education facilities have on the region? Why is now the right time to replace or upgr...