Michigan Business Network

Tony Conley welcomes back Doug Adler, AAMS®, WMS, a Senior Vice President of Investments at Adler Wealth Management of Raymond James & Associates, with a three-part interview. Doug strives to ensure that all of his clients receive the best possible experience throughout the financial planning process. With over 25 years of industry experience, Doug has been appointed as Managing Director while also being a Branch Manager.

Drawing on his many years of experience, he assists his clients with the unique financial challenges they face as they approach and during retirement. Focusing on overall financial management and the creation and protection of wealth, Doug assists business owners, managers, successful individuals and certain qualifying retirees with unique financial and retirement planning strategies. He is recognized as a skilled, reliable and caring financial professional. With his intelligent, discerning style, he is someone people are comfortable with and with whom they can share their concerns.

Doug has earned the Accredited Asset Management Specialist, AAMS®, and Wealth Management Specialist, WMS, designations. He also holds a Series 24 (General Securities Principal). Series 7 (General Securities Representative Exam), 9/10 (General Securities Sales Supervisor), 63 (Uniform Securities Agent State) and 65 (Investment Advisor Representative) securities licenses and has two bachelor’s degree in business from Central Michigan University where he played football on scholarship.

Doug and his wife, Rene’, have been blessed with three children; Sam, Danielle and Quinn. In his leisure time, Doug enjoys college sports, boating and time at the cottage.

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

Vic Verchereau welcomes Dr. Jihad Mustapha, who is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Advanced Cardiac & Vascular Centers.

This is one of the more amazing stories we have ever shared on the leadership Lowdown. This is inspiring! Jihad Mustapha, MD, FACC, FSCAI, has held many academic and professional titles throughout his career, but the one he’s most proud of is the simplest: “The Leg Saver.”

A board-certified interventional cardiologist, Dr. Jihad Mustapha developed the notion early in his practice that a device to unblock arteries leading to the heart might be used to perform the same thing for legs. Dr. Jihad Mustapha performed his first peripheral vascular limb-salvage treatment more than a dozen years ago, preventing the amputation of the leg of a 52-year-old woman suffering from severe peripheral artery disease, or PAD.

Today, Dr. Jihad Mustapha is recognized throughout the world as a pioneer for his groundbreaking work in critical limb ischemia, or CLI, which is marked by the severe obstruction of arteries drastically reducing blood flow to the extremities. Left untreated, CLI can result in amputations. He has authored numerous papers and teaches and speaks internationally on the topic.

Dr. Jihad Mustapha’s story is even more incredible considering that at just 15, he fled his war-torn homeland of Lebanon, landing alongside not a single friend or family member at JFK airport, with $80 to his name and little more than a single change of clothes.

By the next day – despite knowing no English – he was hawking umbrellas and flowers on the streets of New York. He enrolled in night school to learn the language, lived with a sister to save money, and eventually moved to Michigan, where he worked at a restaurant cleaning toilets and busing tables.

In time, Dr. Jihad Mustapha enrolled in college to become a physicist, but to honor the memory of a brother who died before realizing his own dream of becoming a doctor, switched gears and entered the pre-med program at Wayne State University. He later earned his medical degree from St. George University School of Medicine in Grenada. 

From the most humble and unlikely beginnings, this story is one of perseverance, courage and dedication to finding a pathway to extraordinary success. Dial up this edition of the Leadership Lowdown! You will be inspired!

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Tony Conley welcomes Kerry Ebersole Singh EVP, Chief Talent Solutions & Engagement Officer, for MEDC, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. Their discussions revolve around talent and solutions for that issue in Michigan.

CURRENT FOCUS

As the Chief Talent Solutions & Engagement Officer, Kerry leads MEDC’s strategic focus of developing high-wage skills growth by working with businesses, higher education institutions and communities to better attract, retain and cultivate the talent critical to growing the state’s economy.

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

Prior to serving at MEDC, Kerry was Director of the Office of Sixty by 30 in the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO), where she established the office. During her time as Director, Kerry launched two instrumental programs, Futures for Frontliners and MI Reconnect, which aim to create a more talented workforce by providing a tuition-free path for Michiganders pursuing in-demand certificates or associate degrees. In this capacity, she also served as the Chair of the MI STEM Council, designed to improve and promote innovation and collaboration in STEM education and prepare students for careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. She also served as the lead staff supporting the state’s Workforce Development Board, helping to create a comprehensive, accessible and successful workforce development system. In conjunction with Kerry's time at LEO, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in 2021 tapped her to lead the Protect Michigan Commission’s community engagement strategy, which aimed to educate residents on the safety and effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines. Before she returned to state government by leading the Be Counted 2020 Census effort on behalf of Gov. Whitmer, Kerry operated her own independent consulting firm, serving a variety of clients across business, nonprofit and philanthropic sectors. She has experience creating and developing strategy for a variety of national, state and local government programs and advocacy campaigns, as well as nonprofit social organizations and causes. Kerry began her career 25 years ago in Michigan’s competitive political and legislative arena. As a former chief of staff to Barbara Farrah, a legislative liaison for the Department of Information Technology and constituent relations staff in the House of Representatives, Kerry has proved time and again to be a multisector professional adept at leading solutions around critical issues facing Michigan.

EDUCATION/PERSONAL

Kerry is a graduate of Michigan State University, with a degree in political theory and constitutional democracy.

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

Tony Conley welcomes Michael Van Beek, who is director of research for the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. He joined the Mackinac Center in June 2009 as director of education policy. He has authored several studies for the Center as well as analysis and commentaries that have been published in The Wall Street Journal, National Review, The Hill, The Detroit News, the Detroit Free Press, and elsewhere.

Van Beek obtained his graduate degree in history from Purdue University and his undergraduate degree from Hope College.

He lives in Midland, Mich., with his wife and three children. His favorite color is orange.

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

Jeffrey Mosher welcomes back Alexander S. Rusek, Senior Attorney, Foster Swift Collins & Smith PC, Lansing, MI, to the 'Michigan Business Beat'.

An article he just did: Expungement Process for Convictions in Michigan | Six Steps to a Fresh Start: Foster Swift

What is “expunging” or “setting aside” a conviction?

Why is it important for an individual to have a criminal conviction expunged?

What kind of convictions are expungable and how can I find out if I am eligible to have a criminal conviction expunged?

What are some of the steps to the expungement process?

What resources are available and where can I find more information?

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Vic Verchereau welcomes Neal Check, who is the founder of SoundCheck Inc. Vic also welcomes Dawn Check, who is the business manager and integrator for SoundCheck Inc.

SoundCheck Inc. was founded by Neal Check after twenty-five years in the low voltage industry. The goal at SoundCheck is to make the confusing world of consumer electronics, easy to understand, and affordable to everyone. They specialize in seamless integration of audio, video, lighting, temperature, shading, and security. His wife Dawn plays a vital role as the business Manager and Integrator for the business. They both join the Leadership Lowdown and share the triumphs and challenges of building this dynamic organization.

Technology changes rapidly so it is important to consider a company that understands the constantly evolving world of consumer electronics and how to tailor installations to meet present and future needs. This innovative and cutting edge organization has some great experienced leaders at the helm and they share some amazing stories about their journey! Turn up this edition of the Leadership Lowdown!

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Jeffrey Mosher welcomes David Haddad Chair, MiFIA = Michigan Film Industry Association, David and the Association is the EDGE Partnerships November 2022 Spotlight Interview of the Month.

Where are you based out of, and please tell us about your mission?

Have you been able to serve as a strong collective voice to address common issues in business circles and government offices?

Speaking of government offices, the main reason we are having you on today is that we found out

The Bipartisan Michigan Film Incentive bills are now in House and Senate committees in Lansing, tell us about those?

How can your members and the broader concerned or connected business community help get the bills passed? How do they TAKE ACTION?

Is there a website?

They have legislation in the state House and Senate they hope to move after Election. Pro-jobs, pro-economy bills to create a film incentive in MI. 40+ other states have them, and MI is losing talent and money by not doing so yet/currently.

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Jeffrey Mosher welcomes Sarah Jennings, CPA, CFE, CAE, Principal, Director, Community Engagement Director, Maner Costerisan, Lansing, MI.

Sarah, please tell the Michigan business community about Maner Costerisan, including its footprint, services provided, industries served, etc.

What distinguishes Maner Costerisan from other Michigan-based accounting firms, particularly “The Big Four”?

As part of Maner Costerisan’s annual Day of Impact, Maner team members recently volunteered at the Lansing Area Food Bank, in Bath, MI. Tell us a little more about the annual Maner Costerisan Cares Day of Impact and why the firm does it every year.

Where else did Maner team members volunteer on Nov. 3? How were those nonprofits chosen? Do they vary from year to year?

Is this event, as well as the philanthropic component, part of your overall corporate culture?

What have been some recent highlights for Maner Costerisan? Is there anything the business community should know about before the end of this year?

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Tony Conley welcomes Todd McCracken, President, and CEO, NSBA, the National Small Business Association.

In this 3 part episode, Todd covers business issues that the NSBA is watching out for in Washington DC, He focuses on the Corporate Transparency Act.

Todd McCracken currently serves as President of NSBA, directing all activities of the advocacy-oriented association since 1997, previously serving as vice president of government affairs since he joined our staff in 1988.

Todd represents NSBA before the U.S. Congress and myriad other settings. As director of its government affairs arm, he plays a key role in developing NSBA’s policies on issues and the strategies in implementing them. Since coming to the association, Todd has testified before Congress numerous times about issues ranging from fundamental health care reform, to restructuring the tax code.

Todd also is a frequent commentator in the media, having appeared on CNN, CNBC, Fox News Channel, MSNBC, and NBC Nightly News as well as in the Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The New York Times, and myriad other publications on behalf of NSBA and its members.

A native of New Mexico, Todd is a graduate of Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, with a B.A. in Economics.

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

Jeffrey Mosher welcomes back Becky Puckett-Wood, Vice President, Corporate & Member Engagement, Inforum Michigan.

This time she's focused on Inforum's Capstone Event

• Inforum will host its annual Capstone dinner on Thursday, November 10th, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the JW Marriott.

• This year’s event will feature keynote speaker Michelle Li, award-winning anchor and reporter for NBC affiliate KSDK in St. Louis and co-founder of the Very Asian Foundation.

o Li has appeared on CNN, NBC, CBS, ABC, and in The Washington Post.

o In 2022, she was a guest on the “Ellen DeGeneres Show” after a viewer asked her to “keep her Korean to herself” which Li has since used as an opportunity to foster conversations around cultural diversity on a national level.

• Jennifer Pascua, Marketing Director at Broadway Grand Rapids, will moderate the discussion.

• Inforum’s annual Capstone event highlights female leaders and provides the opportunity to build and strengthen professional networks.

• Amway is Premier Sponsor for the event. Other supporters include Presenting Sponsor Meijer, Leadership Sponsors Spectrum Health and UPS, Supporting Sponsor Gentex Corporation, Business Booster Sponsor Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, DEI Sponsor Frey Foundation, Media Sponsor 8THIRTYFOUR Integrated Communications, and In-Kind Sponsor JW Marriott, Grand Rapids.

• Tickets are $75 for members, $100 for non-members and guests, and $1,300 for a table sponsorship. For more information or to register for the November 10th event, visit www.inforummichigan.org.

Covered in their discussion:

• What is the Inforum Capstone event? What can attendees expect?

• Who is the keynote speaker?

• Discuss the keynote speaker’s (Michelle Li) background and focus.

• Who are the Capstone event sponsors?

• Discuss ticket details.

• Discuss Inforum and its purpose.

• How does Inforum engage with its members and the community?

About Inforum: Inforum, with offices in Grand Rapids and Detroit, was founded in 1962 as the Women’s Economic Club and works to change the landscape of women’s leadership in Michigan by serving as a catalyst that removes barriers and increases opportunities for women. Through engaging programming, leadership development, and networking opportunities, Inforum creates a platform that helps women learn, lead, and make a difference in the community.