Mitten Money

Imagine growing the value of your business or having your valuation needs answered by making one phone call. Would you do it? You’re probably thinking, how can that even happen?

When you call the right people with the right advice, a serendipitous process is started where you can see results. This is some of the special work that Jacob Helwick, Manager at Adamy Valuation, does on a daily basis. Over the past 40 years, Adamy has been serving business owners across the country with their valuation needs. The firm’s work speaks for itself, and it enables clients to make well-informed, sometimes life-altering decisions.

In this episode, Jacob and Will dive into Adamy’s valuation process, the firm’s value in engaging with business owners, and answer the question of ‘what is the current state of business within Michigan?’

Kim Norris and Todd Hall both work in senior leadership positions with Glastender, a family-owned foodservice equipment manufacturer. Kim is the VP of Administration and Todd is President. Their father Jon Hall invented the world’s first automatic rotary glasswasher called a “Glastender.” In this interview, you are sure to get the “entrepreneurial bug” and understand better why they believe the culture of an organization matters. Kim and Todd talk extensively about:

-       Their father’s love to invent, create, and improve everything he touches.

-       The holistic care Kim and Todd have for their employees

-       The challenges of operating a business during COVID times.

-       Their paths to joining the family business.

-       Donating their time, talent, and treasure to their community.

Jen Acosta is the founder and President of Jenifer Acosta Development. Building dynamic communities and creating a sense of place are just two of Jen’s favorite things. Combine them and add a dash of determination, and you have one of the region’s most sought-after “matchmakers” in real estate. Jen offers a thoughtful, hands-on approach to commercial and real estate development. She thrives on putting neighborly touches on each of her projects.

We cannot wait for you to learn from her. She’s a “goal-getter” that accomplished Jen Acosta Development’s 5-year plan in 1.5 years.  The best part - she’s humble, kind, wicked smart, generous, and willing to dig in to get the job done.

In this episode of Mitten Money, prepare to learn about:

• Jen’s path to commercial and real estate development.
• Missing middle house and why creating more of it matters.
• Jen’s current community development projects.
• What baking treat she is famously known for by her friends and family.

Jen is an amazingly brilliant entrepreneur with a sense of wonder and wired to collaborate. We hope you enjoy this inspiring episode that is sure to leave you wanting to tackle your next project with the same level of gusto and finesse.

Mitten Money features Michigan-based leaders from various industries and varying sizes. Host William Zank focuses on sharing business leaders' struggles and triumphs. Follow and subscribe.

Picture a mentor that has shaped you. What characteristics does this person embody? Your list of qualities likely includes maximizing your potential, being a great listener, developing your skills, and constantly improving their performance. We cannot wait for you to meet Wilbert Long, Jr., a mentor to many and now a mentor to our Mitten Money listeners.

Wilbert’s journey to mentorship and co-founding Strategic Supply Chain Solutions, LLC includes working in various industries around the country. In his 20’s he was in real estate, created a record label, and owned a mom-and-pop restaurant in Saginaw, MI, called the Melting Pot. Wilbert lovingly gives credit to his wife who juggled the real estate and restaurant business while he was working at GM. After these early years in business, most of Wilbert’s career was spent in Corporate American shaping supply chain management at BP, Alcoa, Aerospace Sector of Honeywell, and General Motors. Currently, he serves as the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Strategic Supply Chain Solutions, LLC, and is the owner of the Sawmill Golf Course in Saginaw, MI.

The Sawmill Golf Course is a premier course in Saginaw Township that Wilbert and his team have taken to a whole new level. “We wanted to demonstrate to our patrons that with the new ownership, we were willing to reinvest in the course. So in two years, we’ve purchased a new fleet of golf carts, refined and improved the facilities, and continually listened for what our members and guests say needs improving.” Wilbert gives credit to the wonderful staff for making the golf and dining experience exceptional for their guests.

You will pick up on Wilbert’s humble, calm nature and not be surprised to find out that he gets great joy in mentoring. “I'm always interested in listening and learning from others. I find joy in sharing what I can to help in developing others.” Wilbert has exceptional communication and leadership skills, and we cannot wait for you to receive this master class in management, life, and golf with Wilbert Long, Jr. Enjoy!

In today’s episode, we welcome Bob Sutherland, the owner of Cherry Republic. Established in 1989, Cherry Republic creates the most unique, fresh, and high-quality cherry creations in the world. Bob is an entrepreneur through and through. He’s resilient, creative, and generous. Bob shared about Cherry Republic’s origin story and started with, “we come from a very humble beginning. In 1989, I was selling t-shirts out of the back of my old, old rusty car. I even had chicken wire in the truck to keep the t-shirts in there.”

In 32 years, Cherry Republic has scaled to having 200+ locally-made cherry products, 6 locations, and 263 wholesale, retail locations. Through trial and error, resilience, and creative growth, Bob and his team have created two must-visit destinations in Northern Michigan.

We can’t wait for you to hear about:

• The origin story of Cherry Republic
• Why the company was designed to be unconventional.
• His pledged to give back to the outdoors.

Dear Listeners, May is Michigan Wine Month. Did you know the Michigan Wine Industry accounts for 47,299 jobs, $5.4 Billion in total economic impact, and $1.8 in employee wages?* Wow! Consumers are thirsty for wines grown amongst the Great Lakes. 

To celebrate Michigan Wine Month, our gift to you, dear listeners, is an interview with Luke and Faye Pickelman, lifelong Michiganders who left corporate American to pursue their dreams. Luke and Faye purchased land for a vineyard in 2011 and released their first vintage in 2016. The fruits of their labor is Soul Squeeze Cellars, a boutique winery located on Lake Leelanau. Soul Squeeze offers a wide variety of wines and ciders. At their in Northern Michigan, they provide a modern tasting room and education with each sip. 

Luke shares, “It was a dream of ours. When the opportunity arose to purchase our first tract of land, we jumped on it. We started farming while we were still working. I was driving back to Lansing every week as a lawyer for the first few years.” 

With them being new to the Michigan wine scene, we thought you find value in their story. We “squeezed” as much information as we could into this interview. Listeners will hear about: 

• The pride Luke and Faye take in educating tasting room guests on the farming process.
• Why they chose Lake Leelanau as their desired location.
• The “Soul Squeezing process” to create the brand Soul Squeeze Cellars.
• Following their dreams to create a new path for their family.

Faye shares with Will how she fell in love with the process of winemaking in Italy and attended the University of California, Davis, to further her education. “It’s almost a little miracle. The whole process from tending to the vines and the locations of the planting to enjoying that bottle of wine at your dinner time.” 

* Michigan Wine Collaborative

Since its humble beginnings in 1995, BIGGBY COFFEE has grown from one location in East Lansing, Michigan, to over 240 locations in 13 states. A fear that some have when scaling at this magnitude is maintaining consistent company culture.

Jeremy DeRuiter and Brieanne Roper are two dynamic, enthusiastic, and caring individuals leading the corporate culture initiatives at BIGGBY COFFEE. Jeremy and Brie ensure their company’s culture is known and embraced by thousands of employees. Employees at all levels can recite and, better yet, live out BIGGBY'S higher purpose to help people in building a life they love. 

In talking with Jeremy and Brie, you can feel their genuine desire and passion for supporting their employees and everyone they meet to take intentional steps to further build a life they love. Interestingly enough, both started at BIGGBY as part-time baristas and have since blossomed into pivotal leadership roles.

Enjoy this episode aimed at energizing entrepreneurs to reach for their goals and care for their people.

On today’s episode of Mitten Money, William Zank has a conversation with the current President of Hausbeck Pickles & Peppers. Founded almost 100 years ago, Hausbeck is very well known in the pickle industry, supplying many national restaurants, such as Subway and Burger King.

Tim has personally been involved in the pickle industry for thirty years, and on today's episode, he shares valuable insights about being a family business owner, creating Hausbeck’s higher purpose statement, and lessons he has learned about money.

Hausbeck has been family-owned since its inception in 1923. Did you know that family businesses frequently have stronger customer loyalty, and lower employee turnover? But family businesses can also have significant challenges, too. Tim shares, “I am known as ‘the bridge builder’ amongst our family members. I was willing to have hard conversations with my dad and siblings about creating our company’s purpose and building value for our employees.”

Tim even elaborates about a mistake he’s made. “I’m sad to admit it, but I used to think equipment, the best equipment, was our greatest asset. That’s not true. Our people are our greatest asset. And it took me a long time to learn that.”

If you’re a member of a family business, this podcast is for you. If you’re a pickle, pepper-loving person, this podcast is also for you (say that 5 times fast). With more than 100 team members they consider extended family, Hausbeck Pickles & Peppers is blazing the way to create high-quality products and a culture that employees embrace. We’d call that a win-win situation.

On today’s episode, Will chats with Joann Crary, President & CEO of Saginaw Future.  Established in 1992, Saginaw Future has provided economic development assistance in Saginaw County, generating over $7 billion in new investment.  Joann and her team proactively focus on attracting and retaining jobs in the region, increasing business investment, growing the tax base, and providing a positive environment for businesses to thrive.

We dive into the impact economic development can have in a local region, not only for existing businesses but its citizens as well. Joann shares, “We meet with about 250 C-level executives every year and talk about their plans for the future. That is meeting with the CEO, the COO, or the CFO. Our job is to listen to them and learn what barriers they have. We want to understand their barriers so we can assist in removing those barriers. For example, we want to help business owners identify new investments, and then provide a wide variety of financial incentives, identify available sites for building locations, and more.”

We think you will love Joann’s passion for creating a thriving economy. She highlights the work her team has done to advance economic growth. “We are problem solvers and work hard to reduce barriers for growth.” COVID has presented its challenges with business growth and development and there is no stopping the Saginaw Future team in their desire to help small businesses thrive and expand Saginaw’s overall economic impact.

Saginaw Future https://www.saginawfuture.com/

Tool to help small business reopen safely and thrive

Size up Small Businesses https://www.saginawfuture.com/doing-business/size-up-small-business

Detroit is best known as the birthplace of the modern automobile, Motown, and Coney Islands, but that’s not all the city’s given to the world. There is more to Detroit than meets the eye. The city is full of entrepreneurship, reimagining, and reinventing after the 2008 financial crisis. The purpose of this episode is to help leaders within their own organizations understand that there is potential to change the narrative, and the change starts with one person’s drive and desire to see that potential.

This week we welcome on the podcast, John Gallagher, an expert on all things Detroit. For more than three decades, John covered urban and economic events with Detroit Free Press. John is also an accomplished author, having written six books. His most recent book was released into the world on March 30, 2021. The Englishman and Detroit and tells the story of the resurgence of entrepreneurship in Detroit in the past 20 years. with details never before reported. 

On today's show, we talk about the process of writing a book, the biggest lesson that John learned from money, and the transformation Detroit has made to become a tech hub. Listeners will be introduced to Randal Charlton, a remarkable Brit who founded the Asterand bio-medical startup in Detroit in 2000 and went on to serve as director of TechTown. He was among the first to promote the idea that Detroit could rebuild its confidence through entrepreneurship. We hope this podcast inspires you to invent and re-emerge from any tragic event bigger and better than ever before.

The Englishman and Detroit: John Gallagher

https://www.amazon.com/Englishman-Detroit-John-Gallagher/dp/1950843386