On today’s SBAM Weekly Podcast, Michael Rogers talks with Shannon Enders, founder of Lakeshore Employee Benefits in Norton Shores. He is a new member of the SBAM board of directors. “Typically, health insurance is the cornerstone [of benefits] and most employers do want to offer that, and need to, because they do need to attract and retain employees,” he says. “Rates are high, and we're going through another period of high increases throughout the state. But what's been interesting is the fear of not being able to attract or the fear of losing employees has been even bigger than the fear of taking a  premium increase. I do feel that that's starting to swing back. The employers are starting to get a little more of the upper hand.”

The Small Business Association of Michigan is the only statewide and state-based association that focuses solely on serving the needs of Michigan’s small business community. We have been successfully serving small businesses like yours in all 83 counties of Michigan since 1969. We’re located in Lansing, just one block from the Capitol.

Our mission is to help Michigan small businesses succeed by promoting entrepreneurship, leveraging buying power and engaging in political advocacy. When small businesses band together through the Small Business Association of Michigan, they achieve more than they could on their own. 

Our 32,000 members are as diverse as Michigan's economy. From accountants to appliance stores, manufacturers to medical, and restaurants to retailers, what unites the SBAM membership is the spirit of entrepreneurship…a spirit that drove you to start and continue to operate your own business because you believe you can do something better than anyone else is doing it!

(music licensed from www.jukedeck.com)