Chris Holman welcomes Erin Kaylor, President, Biggby Coffee, East Lansing, MI.

Erin Kaylor, the newly appointed president of Biggby Coffee in East Lansing, spoke with Michigan Business Beat about her vision for the rapidly growing franchise, which recently expanded to 438 locations across 13 states. Drawing on two decades of experience at McDonald's, she plans to focus on unified brand messaging and supporting franchisee profitability through financial coaching and mentorship. Kaylor outlined a growth strategy centered on expanding southward and toward the coasts, while also maximizing sales within existing locations. She also highlighted Biggby's commitment to sourcing coffee sustainably by purchasing directly from small producers, and noted that co-founders Bob Fish and Mike McFall continue to play active roles in the company's mission and entrepreneurial culture.

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

Ryan Hundt, CEO of the Michigan Works Association, joined Michigan Business Beat to discuss the organization's annual Impact Awards, held at Heritage Hall in Lansing, which celebrate standout success stories from across the Michigan Works network in all 83 counties. The event honored 16 winners — including businesses, job seekers, and community partners — and featured support from notable figures such as Senator Gary Peters, named the 2023 Legislator of the Year. Highlighted stories included Michigan Works West Central funding road patrol and paramedic training to bolster local public safety staffing, and West Michigan Works helping an individual named Shalondria Jackson overcome transportation and certification barriers to advance her healthcare career. Capital Area Michigan Works was also recognized for helping a refugee from Afghanistan — who had suffered significant personal tragedy — connect with the resources and employment support needed to rebuild his professional life in the U.S.

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Chris Holman welcomes Kim Bode, Owner, 8THIRTYFOUR Integrated Communications, Grand Rapids, MI.

Kim Bode, owner of 8THIRTYFOUR Integrated Communications in Grand Rapids, was recently honored as Women-Owned Small Business of the Year at the Michigan Celebrates Small Business Gala — her second recognition at the event, having also received a Michigan 50 Companies to Watch award in 2021. She founded the communications agency 17 years ago after noticing a lack of women in leadership roles in her field and deciding to forge her own path. Beyond running her agency, she is currently leading a Women's Entrepreneurial Fellowship through the Small Business Association of Michigan, focused on supporting second-stage women-owned businesses navigate the challenges of growth. She emphasized that second stage — when a business has employees and real growth costs — is often the hardest and least-supported phase, and she hopes to help other women-owned companies find the right resources to reach the next level.

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Chris Holman welcomes Paul King, President, ROI Insight, Grosse Pointe, MI.

Paul King, president of ROI Insight in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, founded his market research firm in 2016 after a long career in marketing and PR, and now conducts a wide range of research projects — from pricing studies for new product launches to nonprofit research on youth organ donor registration. He has also expanded into measuring the effectiveness of social media advertising campaigns, driven by client demand. King has conducted the Michigan Future Business Index for roughly 15 years, and noted that Q4 2024 showed growing optimism among Michigan business owners about the state's economic direction following the election, though he anticipates the upcoming Q2 2025 survey may reflect significant shifts in sentiment. He also touched on how survey methodology has evolved considerably over time, moving away from landline phone calls toward a blended approach of online and phone surveys to reach respondents more effectively, though at greater cost.

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Chris Holman welcomes Pam Lippitt, Owner, Hill Street Group, Southfield, MI.

Pam Lippitt, owner of Hill Street Group in Southfield, Michigan, specializes in strategic communications, helping teams and executives sharpen their messaging and public speaking skills — work she has built on a career-long philosophy that no one should take the stage without thorough preparation and practice. She recently launched a podcast focused on communication in the workplace, partnering with the Innovation Women network to amplify professional women's voices, with episodes already covering topics like balancing likability and respect at work. Lippitt is also addressing a gap she sees in recent college graduates, who lost critical in-person interaction time during the pandemic, by offering cohort classes focused on soft skills and professional communication during that pivotal first six months on the job. Additionally, she is involved with TechTown Detroit through its professional services network, advising entrepreneurs on communication as part of their broader business development. She also recently spoke at the Destination Michigan Sales and Service Summit, sharing her approach to turning networking contacts into a small number of meaningful, lasting connections.

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Chris Holman welcomes Jason Cords, Executive Manager, Shaheen Chevrolet and Shaheen Cadillac, Lansing, MI.

Jason Cords, Executive Manager of Shaheen Chevrolet and Shaheen Cadillac in Lansing, discussed the current state of the auto market on Michigan Business Beat, noting that while sales remain steady after 55 years in business, tariff uncertainty is beginning to thin the vehicle pipeline as GM shifts production — most notably moving Silverado manufacturing entirely to Fort Wayne, Indiana. Cords noted that parts costs are an emerging concern, with potential tariff impacts expected to be felt more significantly in the next quarter. On the product mix front, EV leases are performing well thanks to GM incentives, trucks remain consistently popular, and there are signs GM may be returning to a stronger hybrid focus after previously stepping back from it. Shaheen also operates a fleet of 77 parts and delivery trucks, remaining the top parts distributor in Michigan despite new GM program changes that took effect May 1st.

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Chris Holman welcomes John Walsh, President and CEO, Michigan Manufacturers Association (MMA), Lansing, MI.

John Walsh, President and CEO of the Michigan Manufacturers Association (MMA), joined Michigan Business Beat to discuss several key initiatives, including a new series of executive roundtable meetings aimed at helping Michigan manufacturers explore and expand their participation in the defense and aerospace industry. MMA is also opening nominations for its Manufacturing Excellence Awards, including the publicly voted "Coolest Thing Made in Michigan," with the annual awards dinner set for November. Walsh highlighted the launch of a new Research and Development tax credit, backed by $100 million in funding and supported by bipartisan leadership and Governor Whitmer, with MMA providing a dedicated hub at MIMFG.org to help members prepare for the first round of applications in 2026. When asked about the biggest challenges facing members, Walsh cited ongoing talent shortages and significant uncertainty at both the federal and state levels as the top concerns.

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Chris Holman welcomes Stephanie Beckhorn, Deputy Director of Employment and Training, Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO), Lansing, MI.

Michigan ranks fourth in the nation for active registered apprenticeships despite being only tenth in population, according to Stephanie Beckhorn, Deputy Director of Employment and Training for the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO). The newly released 2025 Registered Apprenticeships in Michigan report highlights record numbers of new apprentices, with construction leading the way and growing participation in nontraditional fields like healthcare, public administration, and teaching. Governor Whitmer's FY2026 budget proposes a $19 million investment in registered apprenticeships, projected to support over 1,700 new apprentices and 130 businesses, with strong outcomes including median annual earnings exceeding $80,000 and a 94% employer retention rate one year after completion. LEO also recently launched the Michigan Statewide Infrastructure Workforce Plan to align workforce development with over $16 billion in incoming federal infrastructure funding, with registered apprenticeships identified as a key pillar for completing those projects.

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Chris Holman welcomes Laurie Supinski, Director, Company Name, Grand Rapids, MI.

Host Chris Holman speaks with Laurie Supinski, director of Start Garden, a Grand Rapids-based entrepreneurial support organization founded in 2012 with a mission to help early-stage entrepreneurs reach their first million dollars. Supinski describes their annual pitch competition, "the 100," in which entrants submit a 100-second video pitch; from nearly 600 submissions last year, 100 are selected, each receiving $1,000 and mentorship leading up to a September demo day where 10 finalists win an additional $20,000 grant. The event, held at 20 Monroe Live and open to the public, draws investors and community judges and showcases businesses across a wide range of industries, from tech startups to food and consumer products. Now in its seventh year, the competition has produced notable success stories, including Only Bean, now sold in Costco nationwide, and Protein Pints, carried in all Kroger and Meijer stores, demonstrating measurable economic impact on the West Michigan community.

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Tuesday, May 19th, MBN was on the road to Turner Street, Old Town, North Lansing, MI. Capital Area Michigan Works! was hosting "Race To Talent".

This video shares the program opening, after breakfast, and before breakout sessions.

Race to Talent - this video included remarks from

● Tekea Norwood, Chief Operating Officer of CAMW!

● Julie Mann, Founder & CEO of Lead With Collective.

● Jay LaNew, Apprenticeship Success Coordinator and Business Services Officer, CAMW!, Capital Area Michigan Works!

Apprenticeship Benefits:

● Registered Apprenticeships are federally recognized and standardized programs that support the training, productivity, and retention of skilled workers.

● Apprenticeships are a proven win-win training model with benefits for both employers and our region’s workforce. For example:

○ Apprenticeships offer a “learn and earn” model, allowing workers to contribute to the day-to-day operations of a company and earn a paycheck while they learn the necessary skills.

○ Apprenticeships lower turnover rates and reduce hiring expenses by developing talent from within.

○ Over 90% of apprentices are still employed with a company one-year after completing their apprenticeship.

● While many people are familiar with apprenticeships in the construction and manufacturing sectors, almost any occupation is a good fit for apprenticeships, including IT, accounting, childcare, and customer service.

About Race to Talent: ● Race to Talent is for employers who want to grow, retain, and develop talent through registered apprenticeship programs.

● It is an outreach effort in partnership with the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity to increase the number of employers offering registered apprenticeship programs.

● During the event today, employers will hear from regional companies that have built successful apprenticeship programs in healthcare, manufacturing, HR, and more!

How CAMW! Supports Employers:

● Capital Area Michigan Works! can help employers create a custom registered apprenticeship program for their company's goals.

● We work directly with employers to ideate training opportunities and walk them through program requirements to build the best apprenticeship program for their team.

Get Involved:

● Employers interested in starting an apprenticeship program should contact CAMW!'s apprenticeship team at [email protected].

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