Michigan Business Network

Jeffrey Mosher welcomes back Teri Sand, Business Services Manager, Capital Area Michigan Works!

Topic: Employer of the Day events at Capital Area Michigan Works!

Questions:

What is Employer of the Day at Capital Area Michigan Works!?

What impact does an Employer of the Day have for employers?

What is the upcoming Employer of the Day Week?

How can employers learn more about hosting an Employer of the Day event at one of CAMW!'s American Job Centers?

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Jeffrey Mosher welcomes Amanda Smith, Executive Vice President, Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association, and Executive Director, MRLA Educational Foundation for the Michigan Works! Association Spotlight Interview of the Month.

Q: July is the heart of summer travel season in the Great Lake State and even though in some ways we are recovering from the pandemic, the hospitality industry, particularly in Michigan, continues to suffer. Can you share with our listeners what the Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association is currently seeing on this front?

Q: I understand the Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association recently started the Hospitality Training Institute of Michigan to offer training and certification for hospitality workers across the state. Can you tell us more about the Institute, why it is important, and how anyone who is interested in learning more can get more information?

Q: I know your Association also supports hospitality careers through your Educational Foundation. Can you tell us more about the Foundation; the programs you offer through it; and why it is important to the future of the hospitality industry in our state?

Q: I know that recently passed legislation allows for swim up bars in our state and for 17-year-olds being allowed to serve liquor. How do these changes impact the hospitality industry in Michigan?

Q: This is an important topic that I am sure our listeners would like to learn more about. I understand you are teaming up with the Michigan Works! Association to offer a free virtual panel discussion at 11 AM on July 21 about how the hospitality industry is surviving and thriving in trying times. Who will we be hearing from during that discussion and how can listeners get more information about the discussion so they can tune in?

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Vic Verchereau welcomes Habitat for Humanity Capital Region President & CEO, Brent Taylor who has joined the organization and launched an exciting new chapter for the mid-Michigan nonprofit.

Taylor has extensive business and nonprofit leadership experience, with a journey that has taken three decades across corporate, entrepreneurial, and nonprofit organizations. He served as the President & CEO at the Wyakin Foundation in Boise, Idaho for over five years before returning to his home state of Michigan.

"As a native of the Capital Region, I'm thrilled for the opportunity to lead an organization that is making a tangible difference and creating meaningful change in our communities. I'm privileged to be part of those efforts," said Taylor.

A professional with great insights in the business and Non-profit segments, he shares his ideas on building great talented teams and helping them to grow and succeed! This is a great interview with a bonafide leader, tune in and bring a note pad…. Brent has some great insight! This is a noteworthy edition of the Leadership Lowdown…listen in!

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Transform MI explores the question, “What would MI look like if we were to transform systems, policy, practice, and culture so that everyone wins”? Transform MI will look deep into topics of embodiment, boundaries, harm, creativity, and more with people who are working to reshape our world and MI. This is a podcast of possibilities.

For Episode 3's six segments Angela and Mordecai explore data on health outcomes and how the state is doing on maternal and early child health indicators. Hosts Angela Waters Austin and Sean Holland have a courageous conversation with Elon Geffrard Program Director for Birth Detroit. ([email protected] ) and Dominique Stepp, Director of Communications for One Love Global on the need and possibilities to move Michigan closer to the HOPE goal for healthy births and babies.

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Jeffrey Mosher speaks with Dr. Phil Knight, executive director, Food Bank Council of Michigan (FBCM). Dr. Knight was holding meetings with many at this year's Mackinac Policy Conference. And the were several reasons to speak with him. Ten, in fact!

Interviews on Mackinac Island regarding the critical role Michigan food banks played during the pandemic and why they believe it is in Michigan’s power to end food insecurity in the state.

This recorded interview served as the EDGE Partnerships MVP (Most Valuable Partner) interview for June 2022. This conversation occurred during the Detroit Chamber Mackinac Policy Conference on Thursday, June 2nd, at the lobby of the Chippewa Hotel / Pink Pony.

Here are those ten questions covered with Dr. Phil;

#1 With the unprecedented need during the pandemic, the state relied on FBCM and its members to address that need. FBCM did so by increasing distributions by 47%.

#2 The need continues but FBCM is more reactive to the economy as it witnesses a misalignment of resources and seek alignment of federal commodity programs for greater effectiveness to meet the community need.

#3 There is a $50 million line item for FBCM proposed by the governor, and $100 placeholders in both budgets. The ROI with food bank is exceptionally high, and Dr. Knight wants to discuss how these funds can set up FBCM for success in addressing food insecurity statewide.

#4 Why it matters: Food banks impact vital areas of Michigan’s economy, including healthcare outcomes, represents 1/6 of the U.S. economy and food banks save health dollars. Food banks impact educational outcomes. A recent headline said Michigan is one of the worst in the U.S. for 4th grade reading. FBCM can help and have proof it can do so. Investing in food security now helps ensure a solid, literate workforce tomorrow.

#5 FBCM is building a close loop referral system so when a person is screened for food insecurity, it can ensure he or she gets food no matter where the screening took place (e.g., doctor, clinic, school, etc.)

#6 Later this year, FBCM will begin the first-ever Michigan Hunger Study that will answer the who, where and why people are food insecure across the state. This will enable the food bank network to address disparities and make equity a value in its work.

#7 Of all the social detriments of health, food insecurity is the fastest and cheapest to solve.

#8 USDA food is at a five-year low, and food banks are falling back to pre-trade mitigation. The USDA typically provides Michigan food banks with 30% of the food distributed, and that number has dropped down to just 8%.

#9 SNAP emergency allotments will likely end later this year.

#10 An inflation rate of over 8% means the families served and food bank donations do not go as far in meeting the gap.

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Jeffrey Mosher speaks with Fred Molnar, Senior Vice President of Entrepreneurship & Innovation, MEDC, Lansing, and Detroit.

Fred, could you remind the Michigan business community about what your department with MEDC focuses on?

Pre-COVID we would run into you at events ranging from venture capital, start-up pitches, and many others, are you and your team getting back out across Michigan?

Each department plays a role in the overall value of MEDC, beyond what you've shared so far, why is it important for Michigan to stay focused on entrepreneurship and innovation?

As mentioned we are at the #MPC22, I understand that tomorrow, Thursday, morning, June 2nd, you will be participating in a session labeled Supporting Michigan’s Small Businesses | A Conversation on Supporting Michigan’s Small Businesses with Executive Vice President of Economic Development Incentives Michele Wildman, yourself and Aileen Cohen, Diversity, Equity & Inclusivity Officer. Can you go into some details of what that will entail?

As we wrap this up, what are your initial impressions of this year's conference?

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Jeffrey Mosher speaks with Aileen Cohen, Diversity, Equity & Inclusivity Officer MEDC, Lansing, MI, but serving statewide.

First Aileen could you share how MEDC or your role with them is addressing DEI?

MEDC sees a value in addressing this in coordination with their overall mission, that's great, can you speak a bit more to its value and place in economic development and keeping Michigan a great place to work?

As mentioned we are at the #MPC22, I understand that tomorrow, Thursday, morning, June 2nd, you will be participating in a session labeled Supporting Michigan’s Small Businesses | A Conversation on Supporting Michigan’s Small Businesses with Executive Vice President of Economic Development Incentives Michele Wildman, Senior Vice President of Entrepreneurship & Innovation Fred Molnar. Can you go into some details of what that will entail?

As we wrap this up what are your initial impressions of this year's conference?

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Jeffrey Mosher welcomes back Tom Stewart, Conquer Accelerator Program Director with Spartan Innovations, of East Lansing, but also serving Grand Rapids.

Their discussion covers Conquer Accelerator currently conducting the Seventh East Lansing Cohort, and the opportunity to apply during July 2022 for the next Cohort set for Grand Rapids.

Among the questions Jeffrey covers with Tom in this interview:

What is the Conquer Accelerator program?

How does a startup apply for the program?

Who is eligible?

What is the application process like?

Do you have any advice for startups who may be interested in applying?

What perks are available to Conquer Accelerator program participants?

What can you tell us about the current East Lansing cohort?

How long does your Grand Rapids cohort continue accepting applications?

Where can people go to learn more?

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Jeffrey Mosher welcomes back Tekea Norwood, Chief Operating Officer, and Equal Opportunity Officer, Capital Area Michigan Works!

Lansing, MI, but serving the tri-county area of Mid-Michigan Ingham Eaton and Clinton Counties.

Their topic of discussion for June 2022: Inclusive Workplaces

Jeffrey sought to find out:

What does it mean to have an inclusive workplace?

Why is it important for employers to value inclusivity?

How can employers make their workplaces more inclusive?

If employers are looking to make their workplaces more inclusive, where can they find resources to help?

Jeffrey Mosher welcomes back Cheryl Schuch, CEO of Family Promise of Grand Rapids.

For their discussion this time around the focus is on Family Promise of Grand Rapids celebrating 25 years of ending family homelessness.

They've assisted over 4,000 families since being founded.

For a lot of families, housing is the difference between life or death.

Tiffany Washington's son was in kidney failure, they needed to find stable housing to have him added to the transplant list.

Tiffany Washington’s family is one of many that Family Promise of Grand Rapids has helped over the past 25 years.

Each family is unique and has its own set of circumstances, but Family Promise’s team of dedicated staff members work hard to get families home.

Tiffany was able to get into an emergency shelter through the Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN) program, which helped her secure her two sons in school and find herself a job locally in Grand Rapids

Tiffany accomplished all this through the program within nine days of asking for help.

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