Chris welcomes back Ryan Hundt, CEO, Michigan Works! Association, Lansing, MI.

When you look back at 2025, what are the top one or two accomplishments from the Michigan Works! Association and local Michigan Works! agencies that you are most proud of?

There has been a lot of conversation about potential state and federal budget delays and even shutdowns. How have those funding uncertainties affected your planning and your message to the public?

As you look ahead to 2026, what are the key priorities for the Michigan Works! Association, and what policy or funding decisions in Lansing and Washington would make the biggest difference for your network and the people you serve?

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Chris Holman welcomes back Mikhail Murshak, Senior Attorney, Foster Swift, Lansing, MI, 5 offices across Michigan

[welcome back for the wrap up of the IP discussion]

For businesses considering international expansion, what roles do patents, trademarks, and trade secrets play — and how can companies ensure their IP protections scale globally?

Given your dual role as a practicing attorney and adjunct professor of patent/trademark law, what advice would you give to business leaders about integrating IP education into corporate strategy and long-term growth planning?

Artificial Intelligence, "AI" where does that fit in to the IP discussion?

Heading into 2026 what should those with IP be sure to do? Does Foster Swift have reference resources to guide them?

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Chris welcomes Jonathan Marceau, Co-Founder, Elementary Educator. Synapse Creations - Spelling Safari, Brighton, MI.

Welcome Jonathan tell us about yourself and Spelling Safari?

What inspired you, after 20 years as an elementary educator, to spin off your classroom-spelling system into a fully-fledged ed-tech startup — and how does Spelling Safari reflect your original teaching philosophy?

Spelling Safari is described as “the first adaptive & mastery-based classroom app to individualize spelling for students and automate the process for educators.” What key features or design decisions differentiate your product from traditional spelling curricula?

On your website you note that students using Spelling Safari can make significant progress, and that the app saves educators more than 100 hours per year. What evidence or feedback shows that?

As Spelling Safari prepares for broader launch, what markets or segments do you see as the highest priority — and how do you plan to scale?

Looking ahead, what is your long-term vision for Synapse Creations and Spelling Safari?

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Chris Holman welcomes Paul Patrash, President and CEO of Elite Mold and Engineering, Shelby Twp., MI.

Welcome Paul, tell us about Elite Mold and Engineering?

With more than 40 years in Michigan manufacturing How have technologies like Carbon DLS additive manufacturing and Mantle metal 3D printing transformed your operations, and what advantages do they bring your customers today?

For manufacturers evaluating tooling or mold-making partners, what sets Elite’s precision, craftsmanship, and engineering approach apart from others in the industry?

How does Elite contribute to advancing the innovative manufacturing community ecosystem, and what role do you see your company playing in the state’s next decade of innovation?

Winning the Manufacturing Innovation Excellence Award reflects the work of your entire team. What aspects of Elite’s culture or workforce development efforts make innovation possible inside your organization?

Now that Elite Mold & Engineering has gone on to win the Manufacturing Innovation Excellence Award, how do you plan to leverage this recognition to expand capabilities, reach new customers, or accelerate future technology investments?

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The annual Manufacturing Excellence Awards is a celebration of the remarkable individuals, groundbreaking products and innovative organizations that are shaping the future of our industry.

Established to recognize what makes Michigan manufacturing the best in the world, this one-of-a-kind awards program reflects the strength, ingenuity and resilience of a sector that touches every aspect of our economy and daily lives. The Manufacturing Excellence Awards are a powerful reminder of the passion, dedication and impact our community delivers every day.

MMA’s program features eleven distinct awards, including the popular Coolest Thing Made in Michigan — a people’s choice favorite. The excitement of the summer Nomination Period builds momentum through a series of fall announcements and two rounds of voting, all of which will culminate in a prestigious evening of recognition — an unforgettable celebration that honors the heart and soul of Michigan manufacturing.

After more than 120 years since our founding, MMA remains steadfast in its mission to serve as a unifying champion for Michigan manufacturers. As a nonprofit representing the most diverse manufacturing hub in the world, we continue to lead with integrity and purpose — through legislative advocacy, workforce development, education, cost-saving programs and opportunities to connect and grow.

2025 Winners

The 2025 Award winners were honored in November at a well-attended ceremony.

John G. Thodis Michigan Manufacturer of the Year – Large Tier

Amsted Automotive (Saginaw)

John G. Thodis Michigan Manufacturer of the Year – Small Tier

Observable Space (Adrian)

Coolest Thing Made in Michigan

PF1000 Prime Focus System, Observable Space (Adrian)

Manufacturing Lifetime Achievement Award

William H. Dobbins, Caster Concepts (Albion)

Manufacturing Innovation Excellence

Elite Mold and Engineering (Shelby Township)

Manufacturing Talent Champion

Bekum America Apprenticeship Program (Williamston)

Manufacturing Woman of the Year

Laurie Harbour, Wipfli (Southfield)

Lisa Renee Conn, Llink Technologies (Brown City)

Manufacturing Community Impact

Goodwill Integrated Solutions (Dearborn)

Manufacturing Sustainability powered by Consumers Energy

Hemlock Semiconductor LLC (Hemlock)

Michigan Manufactured Export of the Year

One Way Clutch, Means Industries, an Amsted Automotive Company (Saginaw)

Manufacturing Emerging Leader

Olivia Ostrander, Powell Fabrication & Manufacturing LLC (St. Louis)

Zackery Bishop, 4 Flutes Machining (Vicksburg)

Chris Holman welcomes back Dr. Robert K. McMahan – President of Kettering University, Flint, MI.

This discussion covers Institutional momentum, rankings, talent pipeline, semiconductor strategy

Kettering’s model and focus

Kettering is a private, STEM-focused university in Flint, Michigan, with strengths in engineering, computer science, and business.

The University’s curriculum intentionally integrates rigorous classroom learning with a long-standing cooperative education (Co-op) model that alternates academic terms with full-time, paid industry placements.

National rankings and ROI

Launchpad Rankings named Kettering the No. 1 undergraduate institution in the country, citing its faculty teaching, experiential learning, and retention rates.

The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse rankings place Kettering in the top 10 nationally for Career Preparation and report a 99/100 score for graduates’ starting salaries, with a Top 20 national ranking for Best Graduate Salaries.

A Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce analysis ranks Kettering among the Top 25 private colleges in the U.S. for long-term return on investment, with a 40-year net present value of approximately $1.9 million, surpassing several better-known institutions.

Talent pipeline & employer network

Kettering partners with more than 570 employer organizations worldwide to deliver its Co-op model.

Students typically graduate with about 2.5 years of full-time, paid professional experience due to the alternating 11-week academic and Co-op terms.

Enrollment momentum (internal data – not externally sourced)

Internal enrollment reports (your brief: 246 → 293 → 380) show three consecutive years of undergraduate growth. I could not find this specific trend published externally; if you use it, it should be framed as “according to Kettering’s enrollment data” rather than as a cited external statistic.

Semiconductor & strategic positioning

In July 2025, the Higher Learning Commission approved Kettering’s Accelerated B.S. in Semiconductor Materials and Devices, described as the first accelerated semiconductor bachelor’s degree of its kind in the U.S.

The program is explicitly designed to address national semiconductor workforce needs and is aligned with Michigan’s talent-pipeline strategy, highlighted during Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s visit to Kettering’s GM Mobility Research Center, where she emphasized Michigan’s opportunity in the “race” to build semiconductor capacity.

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Vic Verchereau welcomes Ken Glickman, who is the President at Glickman Associates.

Ken Glickman has been a leader in the executive recruiting and consulting field for over thirty years. He has consulted with manufacturing companies, financial institutions, associations, non-profit organizations, technology firms, governmental agencies, and health care systems throughout Michigan and the United States. His insight as an executive and career coach is invaluable and sought by individuals and companies throughout the country.

In this edition of the Leadership Lowdown, Ken shares his thoughts on doing a "Career Tune-up". Join host Vic Verchereau in taking notes and getting the year started with a renewed passion for your future...after all, "the company owns the job, you own your career"!

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Chris Holman welcomes Jayme A. King, new Executive Director, Lansing Promise, Lansing, MI.

Welcome Jayme, please introduce yourself to our Michigan business community?

Lansing Promise recently launched a new strategic plan focused on postsecondary completion. From a business community perspective, how will increasing the number of credentialed and college-ready graduates strengthen the local workforce pipeline?

You bring deep experience in strategic planning, financial services, and technology. How will your business background influence operational efficiency, data use, and measurable outcomes at Lansing Promise?

Lansing Promise leverages private investment along with Promise Zone tax-capture funds. What role can employers and business leaders play in sustaining and expanding the scholarship and student-support model?

Many employers report challenges finding skilled talent. How does Lansing Promise help connect students to careers — including skilled trades, certificates, and high-demand industries — that directly support regional economic growth?

Community partnerships are central to your vision. What new or expanded collaborations do you hope to build with Lansing-area businesses to support mentoring, experiential learning, and employment pathways for Promise students?

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Chris Holman welcomes back Scott Weaver, President, and Co-Owner of Douglas J Companies, Okemos, East Lansing, across Michigan, Tennessee, Nebraska.

Welcome back Scott, last week we were discussing the Douglas J. Companies but had more to cover, remind us again about Douglas J.?

What trends in beauty, wellness, and education do you see shaping the next decade for Douglas J and the industry at large?

Any more expansions in the works, or is this a time of fortifying where you are?

It might not be top of mind with customers, but you frequently work with state government to address issues in your industry?

Coming off Giving Tuesday, remind us about some of the philanthropies Douglas J. Companies support?

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Chris Holman welcomes back Phil Roos, Director, EGLE, (Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy), Lansing, MI.

Welcome back, Director Roos, remind the Michigan business community about EGLE?

What is a brownfield site?

Why is brownfield redevelopment a priority for EGLE?

Who benefits from brownfield redevelopment?

Do you have any recent examples of successful redevelopments?

Tell me a little about this new legislation that's been introduced, how will it impact brownfield redevelopment?

The state has increased its funding for brownfields for fiscal year 26 - why and what do you hope to achieve this year?

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State invests $77 million in brownfield funding to help more Michigan communities revitalize contaminated sites

Dearborn event highlights brownfield redevelopment and the projects transforming neighborhoods across the state

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) Director Phil Roos joined Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud, Representative Alabas Farhat, and other state and local leaders today for a tour and roundtable in Dearborn to highlight how state investments in brownfield redevelopment are helping communities turn contaminated properties into places where people can live, work and thrive.

EGLE’s FY26 state budget includes $77.6 million for the Renew Michigan program, which supports brownfield redevelopment, contaminated site remediation and cleanup, solid waste management, recycling, and sustainability projects. Additionally, House Bills 5286 and 5287, sponsored by state Rep. Alabas Farhat (D-Dearborn), will make it easier for the state to allocate more brownfield redevelopment funding to communities that need it. This legislation would increase the cap on brownfield grant and loan awards from $1 million to $2 million per project.

“Brownfield redevelopment is about more than cleaning up contaminated land, it’s about giving communities the tools they need to grow stronger and more resilient,” said EGLE Director Phil Roos. “These projects create jobs, attract private investment, and make our cities safer and more sustainable for generations to come. With support from the Whitmer-Gilchrist Administration and our partners in the Legislature, EGLE is proud to help communities transform environmental challenges into economic opportunities.”

Farhat’s brownfield legislation would:

Double the cap on grant and loan awards from $1 million to $2 million per project — the first increase since the program began in 1998.

Remove the one-project-per-community limit, allowing communities with multiple contaminated sites to pursue more than one redevelopment per year.

Reduce cost-share barriers for local governments that own contaminated property, enabling more cleanup projects to move forward.

Modernize eligibility requirements for asbestos abatement, demolition and universal waste removal.

Clarify and simplify the application process, making it easier for local partners to access funding.

Michigan’s Brownfield Redevelopment Grant and Loan Program was established in 1988 and has since helped hundreds of communities clean up and repurpose contaminated properties. Since 2019, EGLE’s Brownfield Redevelopment Program has provided $184 million in incentives supporting 474 projects in more than 50 communities....

Chris Holman welcomes back Bob Hoffman, Speaker, Consultant, Success Coach, Thought Partner Services, Lansing, MI.

Welcome Bob, many across Michigan know you but you're embarking on a new role, tell us about Thought Partner Services?

A lot of workplaces are feeling stretched thin right now. How does Thought Partner Services help teams feel grounded again and show up with confidence, clarity, and real human connection?

You talk a lot about kindness as a strength in business. How does kindness actually move the needle for customer service, team morale, and the overall energy inside an organization?

Your workshops feel very different from traditional training. What makes your approach more engaging, more human, and more effective for companies who want real change, not just another meeting?

You work with leaders, frontline staff, and entire organizations. What are some of the positive shifts you’ve seen after Thought Partner Services steps in?

As companies look ahead, where do you see the biggest opportunities for leaders to grow, and how do you partner with them to create meaningful, lasting impact?

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