Founder Tricia Mulder of River City Grant Writing joins Brand in the Making to share how she helps nonprofits turn passion into sustainable impact.

She explains why structure, collaboration, and humility matter as much as heart — and how staying true to mission can make Michigan a home for everyone.
Chapters:
(00:00) Welcome + Meet Tricia Mulder of River City Grant Writing
 (02:10) From Finance to Nonprofits — Finding Purpose in Community
 (06:30) Starting River City Grant Writing After Career Change
 (10:45) Making Michigan a Home for Everyone
 (15:00) Mission-Driven Decision-Making for Clients
 (18:40) Nonprofits Built on Passion but Missing Structure
 (22:10) Common Startup Mistakes in Nonprofit Leadership
 (26:30) Collaboration vs. Competition in the Nonprofit Space
 (31:50) Real-World Stories of Partnership and Impact
 (37:20) Becoming “Grant Ready” and Building Trust with Funders
 (43:00) Why Ego Checks and Team Trust Matter
 (47:15) Advice for Nonprofit Founders and Leaders
 (49:00) Closing — Work Together, Not Against Each Other

🎧 A must-listen for nonprofit leaders and anyone building purpose-driven organizations.

Carla Flanders, founder of CMF Marketing and Events, shares her journey of entrepreneurship in West Michigan, from creating large-scale community events to launching her own children’s book. Carla talks about balancing visionary thinking with execution, the importance of trying new things, and the inspiration behind On the Day You Graduate. Plus, hear about her exciting upcoming project—Girlfriend’s Getaway.

Chapters:

(00:00) Introduction and Summer Life
(02:31) Journey to CMF Marketing and Events
(09:22) Life and Career in West Michigan
(16:50) Balancing Vision and Execution in Business
(22:43) Staying Grounded and Personal Rhythms
(28:05) Creative Inspiration from Travel
(32:48) Writing and Launching On the Day You Graduate
(41:36) Advice for Taking the Next Big Step
(48:10) Upcoming Events and Final Thoughts

Greg Austic and Dan TerAvest, co-founders of Our-Sci, share how they’re transforming agricultural research and technology by empowering communities instead of imposing top-down solutions. From handheld tools that measure food nutrition to software platforms that let farmers control their data, this episode explores regenerative agriculture, farmer-driven innovation, and the future of agtech that puts power back into the hands of those working the land.

Chapters:
(00:00) Welcome & Introduction to Our-Sci
(04:20) Mission-Driven Research and Community Empowerment
(10:15) The Rise and Plateau of Organic Farming
(16:40) From Lab Tools to Platforms for Farmers
(22:30) Soil Health, Crop Nutrition, and Big Data
(28:50) Challenges and Opportunities in AgTech
(34:20) Farmer Cooperatives and Future of DIY Technology
(40:15) Where to Learn More About Our-Sci

Anthony Bison, leadership and influence coach and owner of Anony's Asphalt, shares his journey of starting a business from less than $1,000, surviving early challenges, and growing into a leader who inspires others. From managing teams in the heat of asphalt work to building a lasting legacy of mentorship, Anthony reveals hard-won lessons on leadership, faith, and scaling a business beyond just "owning a job."

Chapters:
(00:00) Welcome & Anthony’s Background
(04:20) Leadership Lessons from the Job Site
(10:15) Early Challenges in Business
(16:40) Self-Leadership and Character Growth
(22:30) Scaling a Business Beyond Survival Mode
(28:50) Leaving a Legacy and Mentoring Future Leaders

Owen VanEck, CEO of ADAS Find, shares how his family’s long history in auto repair led him to create a platform that simplifies calibrations for modern vehicles. From estimator to ADAS technician to software founder, Owen reveals how he turned real industry frustrations into a fast-growing tech solution and what’s next for innovation in diagnostics.

Chapters:
(00:00) Welcome & Owen’s Background in Auto Repair
(03:20) From Estimator to ADAS Technician
(08:15) The Industry Problem That Sparked ADAS Find
(13:40) Building Software to Bridge Repair and Insurance Gaps
(18:55) Leadership Lessons from Early Challenges
(23:10) Future Innovations in Vehicle Diagnostics
(28:25) Family Roots in the Auto Industry
(32:15) Hobbies, Burgers, and Life Outside Work
(35:40) Where to Find Owen and ADAS Find

Jim Vinoski, longtime manufacturing leader and Forbes contributor, shares insights from 30+ years in the industry. From writing 300+ articles to running his own manufacturing podcast, Jim discusses the challenges of reshoring, Michigan’s role in tech and innovation, and why finance and supply chains need rethinking to revitalize American industry.

Chapters:
(00:00) Welcome & Jim’s Manufacturing Journey
(05:20) From Engineer to Forbes Contributor
(11:45) Starting a Manufacturing Podcast
(16:30) Challenges in Modern Manufacturing
(23:55) Michigan’s Legacy and Future in Innovation
(30:15) Untold Stories Like Zamboni’s Origins
(36:40) The Financial Barriers to Reshoring
(42:00) Where to Find Jim Online

Dan Mikita, founder of Devs Operative, joins us to discuss how enterprises can make AI practical and cost-efficient. From Kubernetes optimization to Intel’s surprising take on Nvidia’s dominance, Dan explains how local enterprises can build scalable AI platforms in-house—without breaking their data centers or budgets.

Chapters:
(00:00) Welcome & Dan’s Journey into Tech
(04:20) From Enterprise Software to Founding Devs Operative
(09:15) Understanding Kubernetes and Large-Scale Efficiency
(15:40) Why Most AI Projects Fail to Reach Production
(22:25) Intel vs Nvidia: The Real ROI in AI Chips
(29:10) Running AI Models In-House for Security and Speed
(35:45) Optimizing GPU Usage in Enterprise Data Centers
(41:20) AI for the Midwest: Scaling Without Overbuilding
(47:30) Where to Find Dan & Devs Operative Online

Shaw Cash of Insperity joins us to share his journey from retail and banking into HR and how he’s helping West Michigan businesses scale with people-first leadership. Sean explains why HR can’t wait until later, how outsourcing HR empowers rather than replaces in-house teams, and how Insperity helps small and mid-sized companies “punch above their weight” with Fortune 500-level benefits and support.

Chapters:
(00:00) Welcome & Early Career Journey
(05:45) From Retail Grind to Banking
(11:30) The Leap to Insperity
(17:50) Building Community Connections
(24:15) HR That Truly Makes a Difference
(32:40) Scaling HR Without Losing Culture
(40:20) Practicing a People-First Approach
(47:55) How Outsourcing Supports HR Teams
(54:30) Why HR Can’t Wait Until Later
(59:45) No Contracts, Earning Trust Monthly
(01:03:10) Where to Find Sean Online

Curt Kuiper and Rob Monacelli from HUMN dive into how businesses can use human-centered design and StoryBrand frameworks to create marketing strategies that truly connect with customers. They share how to shift from self-focused messaging to solving real customer problems, develop a strong brand script, and align marketing and sales for scalable growth.

Chapters:
(00:00) Introduction to Human-Centered Marketing
(03:45) Why Most Marketing Misses the Mark
(07:30) Focusing on Customer Problems, Not Solutions
(11:50) Brand Scripts and StoryBrand Explained
(17:20) Creating Authentic Brand Voice and Personality
(23:15) Building and Applying Scalable Marketing Plans
(30:10) Choosing the Right Channels for Your Audience
(35:45) Aligning Marketing with Sales for Better Insights
(41:00) First Steps to Human-Centered Design

Marissa Fellows, founder of Great Lakes Tinned Fish, shares how a date night sparked the idea for the Midwest’s first tinned fish company. From Lisbon inspiration to building a supply chain with no local canneries, Marissa’s journey is packed with creativity, tenacity, and unexpected mentorship that helped turn a dream into reality.

Chapters:
(00:00) Welcome & Marissa’s Origin Story
(03:40) The Date Night That Sparked a Business Idea
(08:15) Lisbon, Whimsy, and Writing the Business Plan
(13:25) The Tinned Fish Trend and Sardine Summer
(18:50) Key Partnerships and Mentorship from Charlotte Langley
(24:30) Challenges of Building a Hyperlocal Supply Chain
(29:55) Becoming a Creative CEO and What’s Next