Michigan Reimagined

Downtown Lansing Inc. is dedicated to making Lansing a place where people want to be - by encouraging its businesses, neighborhoods, and stakeholders to build a dynamic culture known for its vibrancy, sustainable growth, and business friendly environment. In this epside, Chris is joined by Downtown Lansing's Executive Director, Cathleen Edgerly and it's Marketing and Design Specialist, Siso Dhladh...

Art plays a major role in driving vibrancy in Michigan, and subsequently attracting talent for the great jobs we have. In this episode, Chris is joined by Jeremy Hurt, co-founder for The Artist's Umbrella.

The City of Lansing has enjoyed impressive progress on its revitalization efforts. The Stadium District, Lansing’s East Side, and Waterfront among many other sites have seen major projects in recent years, demonstrating that “Lansing’s Time is Now”.

There is a tremendous amount of energy being deployed to incubate start-up companies. The most undeserved group in our business communities are our established small businesses and they too are getting more and more support from outsiders. Joining Chris to discuss the small business consulting world is the President of Supplemental CEO, Teena Rairigh.

Cyber-security, data breaches, identity theft and ransomware hackers are making the news at a frightening pace. As we review the headlines, most readers still don’t get it and even if they do, they don’t likely know how to change their behaviors. Here to unpack this daunting topic are three experts who have recently created a coalition for this cause called Defeat the Breach: Jeff Detlof, Presiden...

Michigan State University’s business start-up and support is second to none and we’ve highlighted their works a number of times on this show. In this episode, Chris is joined by Paul Jaques and Ken Szymusiak of The Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation to talk about their new roles within this ecosystem.

This show centers around the vibrancy and economic sustainability of #Michigan and if you’re going to do these things right, you have to understand how real estate works in your region. In this episode, Chris is joined by Van Martin, President and CEO of Martin Commercial Properties.

Excerpts of the Women's Center of Greater Lansing mission include: “A commitment to providing valuable, innovative resources and service” and “we want every woman who enters our center to develop intellectual, social, economic, and emotional strength”. In this episode, Chris is joined by Melina Brann, Executive Director of Women's Center of Greater Lansing, to discuss all this and more

Every now and then you'll stumble across a citizen doing something unique and special to drive the region’s vibrancy. In this episode, Chris showcases three such individuals who have joined forces for the public good, despite being competitors in the corporate world: Katie Krick, Liberty Mutual Insurance Agent Justine Bell, Commercial Lines Producer at Cedar River Insurance Agency, Inc. Kirk Byren...

Downtown Lansing Inc. is dedicated to making Lansing a place where people want to be - by encouraging its businesses, neighborhoods, and stakeholders to build a dynamic culture known for its vibrancy, sustainable growth, and business friendly environment. In this episode, Chris is joined by Executive Director, Cathleen Edgerly to unpack how Downtown Lansing Inc operates to achieve results.

The advent of on-line shopping has changed the way we purchase virtually everything we need, and the fate of retail shopping is being played out as we speak. However, there is a long standing advocacy group here in Michigan working hard to assist the merchants in our communities who are so vital to our economy. In this episode, Chris is joined by Meegan Holland, VP of Communications and Marketing...

This whole show revolves around highlighting people and organizations driving Michigan’s vibrancy and economic sustainability. The sum of these stories appears to be paying off. In this episode, Chris is joined by Vice President of Business Attraction at LEAP, Keith Lambert.

Lansing unveiled a major improvement to its riverfront in late August/early September 2019 - called Rotary Park. Here to discuss what’s been done, and what comes next is the Executive Vice President of the Capital Region Community Foundation, Laurie Baumer.

While Michigan has allowed medical Marijuana for year, and voted to allow recreational use in 2018, municipalities are navigating their way through ordinances to allow marijuana - both medical and recreational. Many say the economic impact is undeniable. Here to discuss how this industry is establishing itself in Michigan is the Executive Vice President of Government Affairs and Business Developme...

The Tri County Regional Planning Commission recently published its Transportation Improvement Plan, or TIP, and here to talk about it the Deputy Director of the Tri County Regional Planning Commission, Nicole Baumer.

Michigan puts a lot of resources into courting out-of-state and out-of-country companies to invest in Michigan. At the same time, the world is keenly aware of the need for renewable and efficient energy to fuel our lives. In this episode, I'm joined by Jim Grant, CEO of North America for Energy Developments Limited, to discuss all this and more!

A tremendous amount of effort has gone into improving the aesthetic of our communities AND the preparation of potential development sites that have known contamination. In this episode, I am joined by Dillon Rush, Tri-County Development and Placemaking Manager for LEAP, to discuss two separate initiatives to improve the vibrancy of the community.

Universities are primarily designed to give education to students and prepare them for careers after college. However, there is a huge subculture of innovation at many universities helping students and professors to create companies WHILE they’re in school. In this episode, I am joined by Aaryn Richard, Communications manager for the MSU Foundation and subsidiaries, AND Josh Cooper, CEO and founde...

Every year we run the holiday gauntlet which tends to begin with Halloween and end after New Years. Shopping is a large part of this season , and so is local music and art. In this episode, I am joined by Barb Whitney, Executive Director of the Lansing Art Gallery, to talk about a special event that mixes shopping and art!

The need for talent retention and attraction is well known, especially in Michigan where vibrancy and economic development is only limited by is desperate need for population growth. In this episode, I am joined by Chris Sell, Executive Director of Lansing 5:01, to talk about an interactive effort to retain the talent through a special seasonal event.

The traditional indoor mall phenomenon of the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s has been the focus of attention recently. The advent of e-commerce and online shopping has threatened these multi-acre, million square foot institutions often located in the heart of a community's central business district. In this episode, I'm joined by Stephon Lebovitz and Shawn Dunham to talk about an impressive milestone anniver...

Unemployment is low. Employers are desperate for talent. Michigan has mobilized numerous initiatives to retain talent. Well, we’re all aware that talent agencies exist, but do we really understand the role they play and how they can help the talent concerns in Michigan? In this episode, I am joined by Pamela Drake and Daniel Shinaver, co-owners of Drake-Shinaver Employment Services, to discuss the...

The phrase “starving artist” has been around a long time, and unless you’re an actual artist, this concept seems more like a metaphor than a reality. There is an impressive amount of effort being put into eradicating the phrase and helping art become a more mainstream and feasible career choice. In this episode, I am joined by Mike Marriott, Owner & Director of Opportunity Arts, to discuss a new-t...

STEAM education - Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math - is proving not to be just fashion, but rather incorporated in a wide variety of locales, including a growing wave of hands-on museums. Recently the Impression 5 Science Center in Lansing unveiled a new exhibit called SMASH. In this episode, I am joined by Executive Director, Erik Larson and Board of Directors member, Wendy Hamilto...

Raise your hand if your organization has a website. Ok, raise your hand if you KNOW that your website is optimized for accessibility as mandated by federal law? I imagine not so many. In this episode, I am joined by Ash Harris, the Managing Partner of Akea Accessibility Partners, to discuss what web accessibility is, and why many companies, nonprofits and municipalities are vulnerable to lawsuits...