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

On today's program, Michael Rogers talks with Michael Weinberger, owner of Proactive Technology Management. They are VIP members of the Small Business Association of Michigan. He discusses his company's 18-year history of serving small businesses with MSP support and full-stack software development, including AI and data analytics. Weinberger notes AI's potential to enhance business efficiency. "We are at an opportunity where AI is going to allow organizations to punch above their weight class," he says. "That is impactful on the small to medium size business community because it allows them to respond as if they are a larger enterprise than they are, whether it's proposal generation or streamlining processes to respond to client issues, whether it's their order to cash process in manufacturing, whether it's their reporting and aggregation in the private equity space in order to create reports. I think that AI is going to continue to allow us to do more with less, and it certainly has impacted how I run my business."

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 32,000 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 program, Michael Rogers talks with Jerad Rushlow, owner of Jarad Anthony Salon and an Elite Member of the Small Business Association of Michigan. Rushlo discusses his background in the beauty industry, explaining how his family started their business in the early 1970s and how he eventually separated and rebranded his own full-service salon and spa. "The key to success for us is, hands down, the customer service," he says. "You can go get a hair service anywhere, you can get your nails painted, you can get a pedicure wherever you want to go. But what are the extra things that a service provider is willing to do to gain your trust and gain that respect so you want to come back and see this person more often? So, we do a lot of little extra things in our business that attract people to come back a little more often. Here's a little bit of wine during your services that's complimentary, we have nice tea, we do hand massages when your color's processing – little things like that to just amplify the service."

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 32,000 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 program, Michael Rogers talks with Christina VanDam, owner of Zeal Aerial Fitness in Grand Rapids, winner of a 2025 Micro Business Award from Michigan Celebrates Small Business. She discusses her journey from being a public school teacher to founding an aerial fitness studio that offers classes in silks, hoop, hammock, bungee, pole and aerial yoga, catering to diverse age groups. "If you're going to the YMCA, you're running on a treadmill or lifting weights, and we're not that kind of place," she says. "You use your whole body for your workout. I think what a lot of people don't realize is that aerials burn quite a bit of calories. It is still quite a new, new thing in the fitness industry, but there have been studies done that say that doing an hour of aerial silks can be equivalent to doing a three mile run."

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 32,000 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 program, Michael Rogers talks with Mo Alakoli, CEO of PALLETCO. The company has been selected as a member of the Michigan 50 Companies to Watch by Michigan Celebrates Small Business. Founded in 2003, the company employs eco-friendly practices, ensuring pallets are repurposed for biofuel, animal bedding or mulch at the end of their life cycle. "We try to be as green as possible, given that we're a smaller, family owned company that has scaled a lot in the last five years, we're always trying to catch up to that green initiative," he says. "But a pallet is a very environmentally friendly product."

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 32,000 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 program, Michael Rogers talks with Hussein Mokahal, owner of LED LION in Westland, selected by Michigan Celebrates Small Business as a member of the Michigan 50 Companies to Watch for 2025. LED LION handles the foundational side of projects like underground utilities, concrete foundations and infrastructure work for public and private sectors, and 3D concrete printing for bridges and infrastructure. The company has partnered on significant projects like the 2024 NFL draft and has collaborated with Lawrence Tech University and the National Science Foundation. Hall advises small business owners to practice proactive property maintenance. "A lot of property owners wait until they start seeing cracks and leaks or drainage issues, and by then the fix is probably far more expensive, so simple, routine inspections, especially around drainage systems, concrete slabs and foundations can ultimately save thousands down the line," he says.

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 32,000 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 program, Michael Rogers talks with Evan Mathison, a member of the Small Business Association of Michigan board of directors and Founding Principal of Mathison | Mathison Architects, a design-focused architecture and interiors firm based in Grand Rapids. He and his father Tom founded the company in 2013. "I grew up here in the Grand Rapids area and went to undergrad here, then moved to New England for grad school, and stayed out there and worked for 10 years," he says. "I always knew that I wanted to move back and be a part of the growth of west Michigan. I knew I wanted to be close to family and be part of that growth trajectory. Our team also reinforces that story. You know, almost everyone on our team grew up in Michigan, moved somewhere else to go to school or work and then returned home with the goal of doing really high quality design work that they were a part of in other parts of the country and the world. And I really do believe that this kind of richness adds to the entrepreneurial spirit of Michigan, that desire for growth, desire for change and impact."

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 32,000 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 program, Michael Rogers talks with Dr. Lindsay Ruland, DVM, owner and chief of medicine at Emergency Veterinary Hospital in Ann Arbor. They were named to the list of Michigan 50 Companies to Watch for 2025. The hospital treats a wide range of animals and emphasizes compassionate care for both pets and their owners. Dr. Ruland highlighted the importance of proper care for exotic pets, the rise of pet insurance and the role of veterinarians in determining pet nutrition. The hospital recently expanded to three operating rooms and plans to add more specialists. They also focus on inspiring future veterinarians through community engagement. "We are very passionate about being part of our community, getting out in the community, speaking with kids, and hoping to inspire them to understand that veterinary medicine can be a tough job, but it is so deeply rewarding and very much worth it in the end. And so don't, don't let anyone tell you that you can't do it," she says.

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 32,000 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 program, Michael Rogers talks with Joe Bamberger, managing partner of Emerge, named this year to the list of Michigan 50 Companies to Watch. They help businesses retain talent by understanding what the next generation (Gen Z and Gen Alpha) wants in a workplace. Bamberger says the key is creating an environment where employees feel they are constantly developing professionally and making a meaningful contribution, which increases their likelihood of staying with a company. "It's a matter of growth, it's a matter of creating impact, right? And so if you can create an environment where your employees are consistently learning and growing and receiving more and varied opportunities, and that you're connecting them with a bigger mission or impact that they're able to achieve, that leads to a lot of retention," he says.

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 32,000 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 program, Michael Rogers talks with Heather Isch, President & Owner of LKF Marketing in Kalamazoo and a member of the SBAM board of directors. This year her firm was selected as a member of the Michigan 50 Companies to Watch. LKF Marketing has worked with hundreds of companies, big and small over the years, and in the interview Isch shares some of the entrepreneurial lessons from their work to help these firms be more successful. "I think one of the things that is hardest for entrepreneurs and especially founders is to get to the place where they're comfortable adding more leaders or managers, surrounding themselves with people who are smarter than them or more gifted in areas and really growing for the future," she says. "Sometimes it's hard to let go of what we've built, and in order to be successful, you have to expand on that knowledge and grow and also stay focused on really what your core vision and mission and values are. Sometimes it's very easy to get distracted by shiny things, and a lot of times that is what keeps us from growing."

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 32,000 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 program, Michael Rogers talks with Reena Naami, Owner and Founding CEO of the Spark Center for Autism, honored this year as a member of the prestigious Michigan 50 Companies to Watch. The center has grown from a two-person operation to nearly 50 employees, offering new programs like a summer learning program and internships. She highlighted the importance of inclusion and small adjustments for neurodiversity in workplaces. "It's really important to remember that inclusion and accessibility benefits everyone, and not just those who are meant to be the recipients of accommodations," she says. "So when we think about it as business owners and entrepreneurs, providing accommodations can actually have a really great return on investment across the board. And the other point is that adjustments and accommodations don't need to be on a huge scale or necessarily require a lot of work or even money. They can be small adjustments that can still make really large impacts."

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 32,000 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)