Originally uploaded October 1st, re-edited March 30th.

Chris Holman welcomes Zac Clark, General Manager, Lansing Lugnuts, Lansing, MI.

So Zach your season just wrapped up, how did it go, and remind the Michigan business community about your overall baseball affiliation as a minor league team?

What sort of economic impact for Mid-Michigan are we seeing from this season?

Can you speak to your ties with local companies like LAFCU, Jackson, and the associated philanthropy that comes out of this?

The ballpark doesn't go entirely unused from mid-September until next April, remind us of the multi-use for the complex/property?

Are there any sneak previews you can give for 2025?

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Chris Holman welcomes Erin Wright, Chief People Officer at Kinexus Group, Benton Harbor, MI.

There were several things Chris wanted to find out from Erin in this conversation:

I understand Kinexus Group helps individuals of all ages with a number of things and that you serve the business community around the state of Michigan. Do you mind telling me more about the family of organizations?

Are all five of your subsidiaries located in southwest Michigan?

What types of positions are you hiring for and where are they located?

What are some reasons why folks may be interested in applying at Kinexus Group or one of your other organizations?

That’s awesome! If I’m someone who is interested, where can I apply?

Anything else you’d like to add?

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Originally uploaded February 26th, re-edited March 27th.

Chris Holman welcomes Bill Burke, Author, Coach, Speaker, Former Michigan State University Quarterback.

There were several things Chris wanted to find out from Bill in this conversation:

Welcome Bill, tell us about your career and current ventures?

We understand you just wrote a book 'Victory Outside the Arena' tell us about that?

How does this align with your messages in coaching and doing keynotes?

You played under Nick Saban at Michigan State. How did Saban's coaching philosophy influence your approach to leadership and optimism in your post-football career?

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Vic Verchereau welcomes Dr. Eleanore Kue, who is the Founder of 100 Families Initiative.

Dr. Eleanore Kue is on a Journey and the destination is yet to be determined. She shares that she is "deeply passionate about bringing hope and healing to those in need." Born in Cameroon, Africa, she began her journey of service at a young age. She says, "I moved to France as a teenager to pursue my dream of becoming a physician and later came to the United States, where I’ve spent over three decades working tirelessly to serve the under-served."

Dr. Kue is bringing a new concept to the Mid Michigan area called 100 Families Initiative. 100 Families Initiative is a collaborative, community-driven effort dedicated to helping families move from crisis to stability. Rooted in faith and fueled by compassion, the initiative aims to address the root causes of poverty and provide families with the tools, resources, and support they need to thrive. By connecting families with churches, organizations, and advocates, the 100 Families Initiative empowers them to achieve holistic well-being.

Host Vic Verchereau, gathers the story of this great leader and gets the scoop on what is making a real change for families in crisis. Tune in to this edition of the Leadership Lowdown!

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Originally uploaded July 29th, fixed static glitches reuploaded April 11th.

Jeffrey Mosher welcomes back Nakia Mills, Director of Marketing

Better Business Bureau®, Serving Eastern Michigan & the Upper Peninsula in Southfield, Michigan.

Their discussion covered BBB Torch Awards

Our Torch Awards are coming up on October 23rd. Nominations will begin being accepted at the end of this month. The Better Business Bureau Torch Awards for Ethics recognize companies that display an outstanding level of ethics and integrity in all of their business dealings. Learn more at BBB.org/Detroit.

Value of Accreditation

We surveyed our Accredited Businesses and asked them to shed some light on the value of their BBB Accreditation. Thirteen thousand responded. These are some of the res:

Nearly 90% of responding Accredited Businesses said the BBB Seal adds value to their business.

Reputation, trust, and integrity are the top three driving forces behind BBB Accreditation. When asked about their top reasons for being BBB Accredited, businesses said they are Accredited because it quickly identifies their business as reputable, builds trust with customers, and demonstrates integrity in their business practices.

Accredited Businesses identified their top three business challenges this year as (1) managing increasing costs, (2) growing the business, (3) and hiring and retaining employees.

Visit BBB.org/BizHQ for helpful tops and resources to run s successful business.

Learn more about the survey results at BBB.org/VoA.

They also touched on some of the top scams affecting businesses:

Fortunately, knowledge is the best protection. If you own or work for a small business, stay informed about these common scams and report them if your business is targeted.

Common small business scams:

Business Email Compromise (“BEC”). Business email compromise fraud is an email phishing scam that typically targets people who pay bills in businesses, government, and nonprofit organizations.

In BEC fraud, the scammer poses as a vendor or other trusted source who emails an accountant or chief financial officer. The email asks them to wire money, buy gift cards or send personal information, often for a plausible reason.

Phony invoices. Businesses receive fake invoices demanding payment for products or services never ordered or received.

Learn about more scams targeting businesses at BBB.org/BizScams.

Originally uploaded April 4th, reloaded April 10th.

Jeffrey Mosher welcomes Pavan Muzumdar, CEO of Project DIAMOnD, by Automation Alley, Troy, MI, with Edward Moffett, creator of The Moon Ring, Rochester, MI.

Pavan remind the Michigan business community about Project DIAMOnD?

( a 3D initiative created by Automation Alley and funded by Oakland County, is helping businesses across various industries save thousands of dollars each year.

By providing access to cutting-edge 3D printing technology, the program enables businesses to reduce their reliance on overseas support and bring production in-house, ultimately keeping manufacturing in the USA. One great example of this is The Moon Ring, a popular gag gift that was featured on the Bachelorette.)

Ed, as the owner and creator of The Moon Ring, can you tell us a little bit about your product and tell us about the challenges your business faced prior to becoming a Project DIAMOnD participant?

Talking Points:

· Give high-level, quick explanation of the product/business

· Before receiving a free 3D printer through Project DIAMOnD, Alison Moffett and I were spending around $10,000-$15,000 annually importing plastic parts from overseas—many of which were difficult to source, and once sourced, were of low quality and often unusable.

· Mention any other challenges you faced prior to receiving the 3D printer from Project DIAMOnD

(Ed) How did you hear about Project DIAMOnD and become a participant? How has the program helped you and your business?

Talking Points:

· How you heard about Project DIAMOnD / how you became a participant

· As a PD participant, we received a free 3D printer, training and consultation allowing us to print the same parts in-house, with perfect results every time, saving us money and time.

· Talk about how much you’re saving, how you don’t have to worry about shipping costs from China, how your process is so much more reliable

· Mention the time-efficiency – how you can create about 30 products in an evening

· Talk about the results, how they come out perfect every time

Ed, now that you have a more time and cost-efficient process, walk us through how you create this product from the comfort of your own home using the 3D printer from Project DIAMOnD?

Talking Points:

· Mention printer type and how each plastic part is created/printed, your creation process

· Express gratitude and thanks for the Project DIAMOnD program

Now back to Pavan – Project DIAMOnD is committed to supporting local innovation and economic growth through its 3D printing network and training academy. Can you talk a little bit about how manufacturing outside the U.S. can increase the risk of IP theft as well as production cost?

Pavan – how is PD training helping to mitigate some of the problems companies are facing? Are there any other examples of participants who have seen success saving costs?

Pavan, what’s next for Project DIAMOnD? How can businesses get involved?

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Vic Verchereau welcomes Dara Mayhoe, who is an Entrepreneur, Motivational Speaker & Author.

Dara Mayhoe is a Lansing entrepreneur, an employer and an author with an inspiring story. Her book, “A Wonderful Change,” shares her life that started in poverty and real struggle. Writing the book she hoped would bring redemption and healing, but it has proven to be a story to inspire others and challenge the true vision of bringing hope to those who have struggled in their own life.

Mayhoe says, “After overcoming so much adversity in my life, I knew I had to share how God turned my life around. I was also encouraged to write a book by people who were always inspired by my testimony. Every time I would tell my life story people would always say, 'Oh, my goodness, you need to write a book!'"

In this edition of the Leadership Lowdown, Vic Verchereau sits down with Dara and hears all about her journey of hope and Finding Grace. Don't miss it!

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Originally Uploaded February 4th, reloaded April 6th

For Media Business Episode 83:

Tony Conley has a three-part conversation with Bob Trezise has been President & CEO of the Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP) since 2011, representing the Lansing, Michigan region (Clinton, Eaton and Ingham counties) with an MSA population of over half a million.

During Bob’s tenure with LEAP, the tri-county Lansing regional economy welcomed private sector investment projects totaling over $3 billion, along with more than 6,400 direct-private jobs. This economic development success grew LEAP into a nationally recognized top 20 economic development organization (Site Selection Magazine, 2021 MacConway Award Winner).

Beyond LEAP, Bob has been leading or guiding the city of Lansing’s economic development efforts since 2006, having served as president and CEO of the Lansing Economic Development Corporation (LEDC) from 2006-2011 and leading LEAP’s contract for economic development services with the city of Lansing since 2011. LEAP manages the city’s Brownfield Authority, Tax Increment Finance Authority, Corridor Improvement Authorities and LEDC programs and board of directors through this contract. Under Bob’s leadership and guidance, the city has experienced massive revitalization ranging in the billions of dollars, thousands of jobs created and eight straight years of population growth.

QUESTIONS:

How is the business climate in Mid-Michigan?

How is the Business climate in Michigan?

LEAP had a great year in 2024 when it came to project wins, tell us about it.

What project wins do you expect in 2025?

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Originally Uploaded January 29th, reloaded March 29th

For Media Business Episode 83:

Tony Conley has a three-part conversation with Nicole Noll-Williams, the President and CEO of the Capital Region Airport Authority.

In their conversation Tony covered several topics with Nicole:

-Breeze Airways, American, Delta Apple Vacation flights.

-TSA Pre-Check Enrollment

-The next Aviation Technology Graduation Class

-2025 new flying rules & regulations

-Winter & Spring Travel Tips

-New airport news

Nicole brings over 25 years of experience in the aviation industry to her leadership role at CRAA, with a background that includes air service development, airline management, and contract management. She also served nearly three years as the Mid-Michigan Regional Director for U.S. Senator Gary C. Peters.

In her previous role with the Airport Authority, she was the Director of Marketing and Passenger Development, where she spearheaded development, marketing, advertising, and public relations efforts. Her initiatives were instrumental in establishing direct flights to Washington D.C. and international destinations, including Cancun and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, and Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Quick recap

Tony and Nicole discussed various travel-related topics, including the addition of Breeze Airways and increased service by American Airlines, as well as the importance of the Real ID for air travel. They also touched on ongoing projects at the Lansing airport, including a road project, terminal redesign, and master plan for the airport's land, as well as a partnership with Beta Technologies for electric aircraft charging units. Lastly, they shared their experience with an electric plane simulator and discussed the potential benefits of electric aviation, with Nicole expressing her excitement about the Faa Reauthorization bill.

• Nicole to schedule TSA precheck enrollment events for late spring and fall.

• Airport authority to implement Real ID enforcement starting May 7, 2025.

Travel Updates and TSA Requirements

Tony and Nicole discussed various topics related to travel and the Lansing airport. They highlighted the addition of Breeze Airways, offering non-stop flights to Orlando and Fort Myers, and the upcoming flights to Cancun, Punta Cana, and Montego Bay by Apple Vacations.

Lansing Airport Projects and Electric Planes

Nicole discussed several ongoing projects at the Lansing airport, including a road project, a terminal redesign, and a master plan for the airport's 2,000 acres of land. She also mentioned the airport's partnership with Beta Technologies for the development of electric aircraft charging units, which will be installed at four Michigan airports, including Lansing.

Electric Plane Simulator and Travel Tips

Tony and Nicole discussed their experience with an electric plane simulator, highlighting its quiet operation and potential benefits for aviation. Nicole emphasized the importance of giving oneself extra time during winter and spring travel due to potential weather conditions and the need to check in online for baggage.

Thank you to Benjamin Robinson and Motor City Skyline's music

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Jeffrey Mosher welcomes back Shibani Putatunda, Economic Specialist, with the Michigan Center for Data and Analytics, within DTMB - the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget for the State of MI

What is going on in Michigan’s labor market this month?

How did Michigan’s labor market compare with the U.S. workforce in February?

What industries saw the greatest change in number of jobs in February?

What would you say is the key takeaway for Michigan’s labor market during February?

Where can we find more information on Michigan’s labor market?

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