In this special on-location episode, guest host Rob Johnson takes us to the heart of downtown Brighton at the Smokin’ Rock-N-Blues Festival on September 5 and 6. Rob first sits down with Dorothy Harrison, Vice President and Commercial Loan Officer at Bank of Ann Arbor, to talk about the bank’s longtime commitment to the community. Dorothy shares her journey from First National Bank to Bank of Ann Arbor, her recent appointment to the Brighton Chamber board, and how the bank continues to support entrepreneurs with personalized, relationship-driven lending.
Then, the spotlight turns to two of Brighton’s youngest entrepreneurs: Ava, founder of Beaded by Ava, and Owen, creator of a handmade poster business. Both participated in the festival’s Kidpreneur showcase, sharing their passion for creativity, business, and making people smile. From Ava’s bead-decorated garden sticks to Owen’s best-selling “Sneaky Sasquatch” posters, these young creators proved that it’s never too early to follow your dreams. With big hearts, sharp ideas, and even sharper customer service, Ava and Owen remind us all that Brighton’s future is in good hands.
Chapters
00:00 Bank of Ann Arbor’s Community Role
02:45 Relational Banking for Entrepreneurs
07:47 Young Entrepreneur Ava: Beaded by Ava
13:31 Owen’s Poster Shop Venture
Show Links
Learn more about the Brighton Chamber by visiting our website.
Website: https://www.brightoncoc.org/
Guest Links
Ava's Etsy Shop:
https://beadedbyavaroseart.etsy.com/
Name: Dorothy Harrison
Title: VP of Commercial Lending
Company: Bank of Ann Arbor
Website: https://www.bankofannarbor.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bankofannarbor/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bankofannarbor/?hl=en
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bank-of-ann-arbor/