Mi Business Matters

As we wrap up November and Veterans Month, it’s an important time to reflect and honor the service of Michigan’s veterans as well as highlight their inherent skills and abilities they bring to our workforce and the ways our businesses can be veteran-friendly employers.

Jim Holcomb, President & CEO of the Michigan Chamber, is joined by the newly appointed director of the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency, Brian Love. Brian is a Marine Corps veteran who began his new role on October 31!

Jim Holcomb, President & CEO of the Michigan Chamber, is joined by Amy Rencher, Senior VP of Small Business Services for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and Lillian Werbin, the new Co-Owner and President of Elderly Instruments – who also happens to be this year’s America’s Top Small Business. Together, they discuss a segment of industry that may be small in how they’re described, but one that truly makes a BIG impact every day in our state’s economy across every Michigan community for every Michigander - our state’s 900,000+ small businesses!

Jim Holcomb, President & CEO of the Michigan Chamber, is joined by Becky Burtka, VP of member engagement for the MI Chamber and Tess Ulrey of the Boys and Girls Club of Southwest MI to discuss an exciting new initiative that’s coming to Michigan in 2024 – the National Civics Bee!

Jim Holcomb, President & CEO of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, is joined Mike Alaimo, Director of environmental and energy affairs for the Chamber, as well as Gary Melow, Director of Michigan Biomass and Caroline Liethen, Director of Environmental & Regulatory Policy for Michigan Manufacturers Association, to discuss Michigan's energy policy. We'll dive into what's happening right now and what Michiganders should be aware of as well as the concerns with current proposals that could impact affordability, reliability, and feasability.

Jim Holcomb, President & CEO of the Michigan Chamber, dives into a brand-new report that studied a HUGE issue impacting Michigan’s workforce, employers and economy … a lack of access to affordable, quality childcare. A nearly $3 Billion impact annually. Joining him in the conversation are three special guests:

• Caitlin Codella Low, VP of Policy and Programs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation - where she specializes in early childhood and K-12 education as well as college and career readiness.
• Dr. Sacha Klein, Senior Director of Policy & Advocacy at the Early Childhood Investment Corporation - more commonly known as or ECIC - and a former professor and PhD in social work at Michigan State University.
• Leah Robinson, Director of Legislative Affairs and Leadership Programming at the Michigan Chamber - who is leading our work on this critical policy issue.

Jim Holcomb, President & CEO of the Michigan Chamber, is joined by the Chamber's Senior VP, Wendy Block, and their Director of Environmental and Energy Affairs, Mike Alaimo, to discuss a host of potentially damaging state policy proposals under consideration and a new collaborative effort to help bring diverse job providers and organizations together to help convey the unintended consequences of these efforts and ensure we’re growing our Great Lakes State.

Jim Holcomb, President & CEO of the Michigan Chamber, discusses a big issue affecting the state’s cannabis industry – a lack of access to common banking and financial services that all other legal industries have.

Joining him in the discussion are Mike Elias, Co-Founder and CEO of Common Citizen - a Michigan-based cannabis company and Leah Robinson, Director of Legislative Affairs and Leadership Programming at the Michigan Chamber - and lead on this particular policy issue!

Mike Alaimo, Director of Environmental and Energy Affairs at the Michigan Chamber, is joined by Mike Troupos, VP of Foresight Management - a Grand Rapids-based sustainability and energy management consultant, to discuss “sustainability” and what Michigan businesses need to know - including trends, pressures, expectations, opportunities and challenges!

Leah Robinson, Director of Legislative Affairs and Leadership Programming for the Michigan Chamber, is joined by Sarah Himes Greer of Public Sector Consultants to discuss the childcare landscape in Michigan – including its affordability, accessibility and its impact to our workforce and economy. It’s our foundation for a three-part series on this critical issue!

Wendy Block, the Michigan Chamber’s Senior Vice President of Business Advocacy, is joined by two in-the-know insurance industry resources to discuss a key pending legislative package that’s been labeled “bad faith."

They are:

• Erin McDonough, Executive Director of the Insurance Alliance of Michigan
• Mark Friedlander with the Insurance Information Institute