The Small Business Association of Michigan's Small Business Weekly Podcast

On today's SBAM Weekly Podcast, Michael Rogers talks with Sue Justice, President and HR Business Partner for Emery HR, a VIP member of the Small Business Association of Michigan. She says a big challenge for small businesses is not only getting workers but keeping them. "I think it still is to a certain extent, once you find them, to getting them through the process that they stay, getting through the onboarding process, because I'm seeing now more turnover within that first 90 days," she says. "That still can be very costly for for an employer, because they're still recruiting, they're still hiring, they've got people to train, and then they lose a person, they have to start all over again."

The Small Business Association of Michigan is the only statewide and state-based association that focuses solely on serving the needs of Michigan's small business community. We have been successfully serving small businesses like yours in all 83 counties of Michigan since 1969. We're located in Lansing, just one block from the Capitol.

Our mission is to help Michigan small businesses succeed by promoting entrepreneurship, leveraging buying power and engaging in political advocacy. When small businesses band together through the Small Business Association of Michigan, they achieve more than they could on their own.

Our 31,000+ members are as diverse as Michigan's economy. From accountants to appliance stores, manufacturers to medical, and restaurants to retailers, what unites the SBAM membership is the spirit of entrepreneurship…a spirit that drove you to start and continue to operate your own business because you believe you can do something better than anyone else is doing it!

(music licensed from www.jukedeck.com)

On today's SBAM Weekly Podcast, Michael Rogers talks with Jenny Brown, a member of the Small Business Association of Michigan's board of directors and CEO of an innovative non-profit organization in Oakland County called Dutton Farm. "We work with job seekers that have developmental disabilities," she says. "We start with what's called a discovery process, giving them the opportunity to explore their gifts. What are they really good at? What is their stamina? What is their social emotional acuity? What do they really like to do? What makes them feel alive? So from there, we really are able to determine what skills need to be honed in where we can spend some time with additional training to upskill."

The Small Business Association of Michigan is the only statewide and state-based association that focuses solely on serving the needs of Michigan's small business community. We have been successfully serving small businesses like yours in all 83 counties of Michigan since 1969. We're located in Lansing, just one block from the Capitol.

Our mission is to help Michigan small businesses succeed by promoting entrepreneurship, leveraging buying power and engaging in political advocacy. When small businesses band together through the Small Business Association of Michigan, they achieve more than they could on their own.

Our 31,000+ members are as diverse as Michigan's economy. From accountants to appliance stores, manufacturers to medical, and restaurants to retailers, what unites the SBAM membership is the spirit of entrepreneurship…a spirit that drove you to start and continue to operate your own business because you believe you can do something better than anyone else is doing it!

(music licensed from www.jukedeck.com)

On today's SBAM Weekly Podcast, Michael Rogers talks with Nidhi Puri, president and CEO of engineering and construction management company Arbor Corporation, named a 2023 PTAC Best Small Business by Michigan Celebrates Small Business. "Most of our work is with the Department of Defense, we've gotten to work on some really great sustainability projects," she says "Another one I really love to talk about is with the National Park Service, and we did some flood mitigation for them to really kind of help protect the natural area, campsites and workers."

The Small Business Association of Michigan is the only statewide and state-based association that focuses solely on serving the needs of Michigan's small business community. We have been successfully serving small businesses like yours in all 83 counties of Michigan since 1969. We're located in Lansing, just one block from the Capitol.

Our mission is to help Michigan small businesses succeed by promoting entrepreneurship, leveraging buying power and engaging in political advocacy. When small businesses band together through the Small Business Association of Michigan, they achieve more than they could on their own.

Our 31,000+ members are as diverse as Michigan's economy. From accountants to appliance stores, manufacturers to medical, and restaurants to retailers, what unites the SBAM membership is the spirit of entrepreneurship…a spirit that drove you to start and continue to operate your own business because you believe you can do something better than anyone else is doing it!

(music licensed from www.jukedeck.com)

On today's SBAM Weekly Podcast, Michael Rogers talks with executive coach and leadership trainer Angela Morrill, a VIP member of the Small Business Association of Michigan. "A lot of people get into business because they're an expert in something," she says. "People shift from being the expert to now being not only the rainmaker, the one who brings in the business, but also the one who is motivating, or has the opportunity to motivate and inspire all of those people that are supporting them in their mission and the work that they do."

The Small Business Association of Michigan is the only statewide and state-based association that focuses solely on serving the needs of Michigan's small business community. We have been successfully serving small businesses like yours in all 83 counties of Michigan since 1969. We're located in Lansing, just one block from the Capitol.

Our mission is to help Michigan small businesses succeed by promoting entrepreneurship, leveraging buying power and engaging in political advocacy. When small businesses band together through the Small Business Association of Michigan, they achieve more than they could on their own.

Our 31,000+ members are as diverse as Michigan's economy. From accountants to appliance stores, manufacturers to medical, and restaurants to retailers, what unites the SBAM membership is the spirit of entrepreneurship…a spirit that drove you to start and continue to operate your own business because you believe you can do something better than anyone else is doing it!

(music licensed from www.jukedeck.com)

On today's SBAM Weekly Podcast, Michael Rogers talks with Jason Piasecki, CEO of Revel, a business marketing agency located in Muskegon. They are VIP members of the Small Business Association of Michigan. He says use of AI is an important B2B marketing trend. "There's lots of ways that businesses are using that, really looking to enhance their customer segmentation," he says. "How they dial into their customers and reach them with the right message, improving lead scoring if you're using it for sales, and it's a great tool for that, and also to automate repetitive tasks."

The Small Business Association of Michigan is the only statewide and state-based association that focuses solely on serving the needs of Michigan's small business community. We have been successfully serving small businesses like yours in all 83 counties of Michigan since 1969. We're located in Lansing, just one block from the Capitol.

Our mission is to help Michigan small businesses succeed by promoting entrepreneurship, leveraging buying power and engaging in political advocacy. When small businesses band together through the Small Business Association of Michigan, they achieve more than they could on their own.

Our 31,000+ members are as diverse as Michigan's economy. From accountants to appliance stores, manufacturers to medical, and restaurants to retailers, what unites the SBAM membership is the spirit of entrepreneurship…a spirit that drove you to start and continue to operate your own business because you believe you can do something better than anyone else is doing it!

(music licensed from www.jukedeck.com)

On today's SBAM Weekly Podcast, Michael Rogers talks with Eric Krohn, CEO and President of Cogent Hex, a member of the Michigan 50 Companies to Watch for 2023. "We're an automation company, and we love robots, obviously, but you know, robots don't solve every project," he says. "What it does do is it allows companies to hire higher-paying tech jobs. You may get rid of an operator position but it also adds a technician job or a maintenance job. So really, it's kind of a shift."

The Small Business Association of Michigan is the only statewide and state-based association that focuses solely on serving the needs of Michigan's small business community. We have been successfully serving small businesses like yours in all 83 counties of Michigan since 1969. We're located in Lansing, just one block from the Capitol.

Our mission is to help Michigan small businesses succeed by promoting entrepreneurship, leveraging buying power and engaging in political advocacy. When small businesses band together through the Small Business Association of Michigan, they achieve more than they could on their own.

Our 31,000+ members are as diverse as Michigan's economy. From accountants to appliance stores, manufacturers to medical, and restaurants to retailers, what unites the SBAM membership is the spirit of entrepreneurship…a spirit that drove you to start and continue to operate your own business because you believe you can do something better than anyone else is doing it!

(music licensed from www.jukedeck.com)

On today's SBAM Weekly Podcast, Michael Rogers talks with Amy Young, president of Destination Consultants in Grand Rapids, a member of this year's Michigan 50 Companies to Watch. "I see a lot of companies use events to build a positive company culture," she says. "I think more and more with people working maybe remote and not coming into the office, it's kind of hard to remind people of the company culture and to keep that on people's mind. So I'm seeing more and more town hall meetings, all kinds of activities that companies are organizing for their employees. I think it can help retain employees."

The Small Business Association of Michigan is the only statewide and state-based association that focuses solely on serving the needs of Michigan's small business community. We have been successfully serving small businesses like yours in all 83 counties of Michigan since 1969. We're located in Lansing, just one block from the Capitol.

Our mission is to help Michigan small businesses succeed by promoting entrepreneurship, leveraging buying power and engaging in political advocacy. When small businesses band together through the Small Business Association of Michigan, they achieve more than they could on their own.

Our 31,000+ members are as diverse as Michigan's economy. From accountants to appliance stores, manufacturers to medical, and restaurants to retailers, what unites the SBAM membership is the spirit of entrepreneurship…a spirit that drove you to start and continue to operate your own business because you believe you can do something better than anyone else is doing it!

(music licensed from www.jukedeck.com)

On today’s SBAM Weekly Podcast, Michael Rogers talks with Andrew Gauthier, Founder & Co-Owner of Groovy Donuts in mid-Michigan, named an SBDC Best Small Business (Capital Region) for 2023. He says that pandemic restrictions led to them changing hours in order to be more efficient. “Another thing we've done is enhanced our online experience for the customer,” Gauthier says. “So we really encourage pre-orders as a way of helping reduce waste and extra expenses, because habits have changed so much with what people do on a daily basis. And we have maintained our curbside pickup offering.”

The Small Business Association of Michigan is the only statewide and state-based association that focuses solely on serving the needs of Michigan’s small business community. We have been successfully serving small businesses like yours in all 83 counties of Michigan since 1969. We’re located in Lansing, just one block from the Capitol.

Our mission is to help Michigan small businesses succeed by promoting entrepreneurship, leveraging buying power and engaging in political advocacy. When small businesses band together through the Small Business Association of Michigan, they achieve more than they could on their own. 

Our 31,000+ members are as diverse as Michigan's economy. From accountants to appliance stores, manufacturers to medical, and restaurants to retailers, what unites the SBAM membership is the spirit of entrepreneurship…a spirit that drove you to start and continue to operate your own business because you believe you can do something better than anyone else is doing it!

(music licensed from www.jukedeck.com)

On today’s SBAM Weekly Podcast, Michael Rogers talks with Diana Nalett, founder & CEO of Boland Coaching & Consulting. She's a VIP member of the Small Business Association of Michigan. “Many times, organizations have their value system, and they're posted up on the wall, or they're coming up during appraisal times, but it's not necessarily lived out through their culture every day,” she says. “And so by bringing a coach it’s being able to teach on the values that the organization has defined.”

The Small Business Association of Michigan is the only statewide and state-based association that focuses solely on serving the needs of Michigan’s small business community. We have been successfully serving small businesses like yours in all 83 counties of Michigan since 1969. We’re located in Lansing, just one block from the Capitol.

Our mission is to help Michigan small businesses succeed by promoting entrepreneurship, leveraging buying power and engaging in political advocacy. When small businesses band together through the Small Business Association of Michigan, they achieve more than they could on their own. 

Our 31,000+ members are as diverse as Michigan's economy. From accountants to appliance stores, manufacturers to medical, and restaurants to retailers, what unites the SBAM membership is the spirit of entrepreneurship…a spirit that drove you to start and continue to operate your own business because you believe you can do something better than anyone else is doing it!

(music licensed from www.jukedeck.com)

On today’s SBAM Weekly Podcast, Michael Rogers talks with Rep. Greg VanWoerkom, who was recently named the Small Business Association of Michigan's 2023 Legislator of the Year. He says when it comes to growing Michigan’s population and workforce “you kind of have to focus on what is the category or demographic that you are seeking. And I think a lot of it is kind of that young family, you want those young people, those highly educated people moving back to Michigan, or even better, not leaving in the first place. We can't allow that brain drain to occur.”

The Small Business Association of Michigan is the only statewide and state-based association that focuses solely on serving the needs of Michigan’s small business community. We have been successfully serving small businesses like yours in all 83 counties of Michigan since 1969. We’re located in Lansing, just one block from the Capitol.

Our mission is to help Michigan small businesses succeed by promoting entrepreneurship, leveraging buying power and engaging in political advocacy. When small businesses band together through the Small Business Association of Michigan, they achieve more than they could on their own. 

Our 31,000+ members are as diverse as Michigan's economy. From accountants to appliance stores, manufacturers to medical, and restaurants to retailers, what unites the SBAM membership is the spirit of entrepreneurship…a spirit that drove you to start and continue to operate your own business because you believe you can do something better than anyone else is doing it!