Every small business employee has a unique hierarchy of competencies that can be the main contributors to their success. Training to these competencies is essential to helping them reach company goals, according to leadership consultant Tom Borg. Get more employee training and development advice when Tom Borg talks with Michael Rogers on SBAM’s Weekly Podcast.

Personal leadership skills are crucial to small business success. “Leadership to me is really setting that direction, it's making sure that the teams have the necessary tools, which is the training and the resources,” says Jim Coyle, Certified EOS Implementer and chief advisor at Nexus Business Solutions in Kalamazoo.

Learn more about Jim Coyle’s recipe for leadership success when he talks with Michael Rogers on SBAM’s Weekly Podcast.

How many entrepreneurs get the opportunity to work with their son to found a successful new firm? Tom Mathison and his son Evan launched Mathison|Mathison Architects in 2013 after they each had successful careers with other companies. Learn more about the rewards and challenges of running a family-owned business when Tom Mathison talks with Michael Rogers on SBAM’s Weekly Podcast.

Do you own your brand presence online, whether it’s Google or social media? “At the bare minimum, your website is kind of your real estate -- that's your stake in the ground,” says Jason Dodge, founder and chief strategist for BlackTruck Media + Marketing in Grand Rapids.

Hear Dodge’s state-of-the-art advice for making sure your small business can be found online when he talks with Michael Rogers on SBAM’s Weekly Podcast.

Credit unions have become an important source of funding for small businesses across Michigan. In this week’s podcast, Andrea Mosher, Senior Vice President of Credit Administration for SBAM VIP member Lake Trust Credit Union, talks with Michael Rogers about Lake Trust’s efforts to serve entrepreneurs, including details of their micro lending program for finance needs under $50,000.

Before becoming a small business owner, Jeff Padden, chairman of the board of directors of Public Policy Associates in Lansing, had a distinguished career in the state legislature. Learn more about Jeff Padden’s experiences at the intersection of entrepreneurship and public policy when he is interviewed by Michael Rogers for SBAM’s Small Business Weekly Podcast.

Staying healthy can be key to keeping your small business up and running. says Amy Ritsema, co-owner of OnSite Wellness in Grand Rapids. Learn more about how to implement wellness in your small business when Amy Ritsema is interviewed by Michael Rogers for SBAM’s Small Business Weekly Podcast.

What’s the biggest marketing challenge facing small business owners? The plethora of marketing options, according to Lisa Smith, owner of InVerve Marketing. “That marketing question ‘what marketing technology should we be using?’ has everything to do with how you're built as a company and how you want to use it to grow your company.”

Learn more about how to navigate marketing options when Lisa Smith is interviewed by Michael Rogers for SBAM’s Small Business Weekly Podcast.

Tom Cook is the founder, President and CEO of Team Facilities, Inc. He says the purpose of his firm is to remove facility issues, obstacles, and distractions to support the success and purpose of customers like businesses, schools, churches, credit unions, banks and retailers.

Learn more about modern facilities management when Tom Cook is interviewed by Michael Rogers for SBAM’s Small Business Weekly Podcast.

Jim Stowe is president of FreshHR and a VIP Member of SBAM. His firm guides business leaders to optimize their HR models, vendors and products. Learn more about alternatives for finding HR solutions when Jim Stowe is interviewed this week by Michael Rogers for SBAM’s Small Business Weekly Podcast.