GLBM April 2018

APRIL 2018

2018

ENTREPRENEURIAL AWARDS An overview of the special night and a look into the many faces of entrepreneurship with this year’s award recipients IN THIS ISSUE • Michigan invests more than $2M in FIRST Robotics program • Inspiring positivity and community goodwill with ePIFanyNow™ • How modern technology is opening the door for farmers to produce more with less

APRIL 2018 ON THE COVER Michigan invests more than $2M in FIRST Robotics program................................................ 14 How modern technology is opening the door for farmers to produce more with less......................... 18 2018 Entrepreneurial Awards..................................................... 26 Inspiring positivity and community goodwill with ePIFanyNow™........................................................ 54

APRIL 2018

26 NEWS Michigan's Wine Industry Continues to Age Well .................................................................... 6 The Future of Michigan's Marijuana Industry ............................................................................ 8 Protecting Michigan's Future ............................................................................................................10 Moving and Growing .............................................................................................................................12 2018 State of the City: Lansing Today and Tomorrow .........................................................16

FEATURES

2018

ENTREPRENEURIAL AWARDS

2017 Greater Lansing Entrepreneurial Awards Special Section ..................................... 19

An overview of the special night and a look into the many faces of entrepreneurship with this year’s award recipients

The Inner Sanctum .................................................................................................................................. 50

IN THIS ISSUE • Michigan invests more than $2M in FIRST Robotics program • Inspiring positivity and community goodwill with ePIFanyNow™ • How modern technology is opening the door for farmers to produce more with less

Visual Breakdown .................................................................................................................................... 56 Legislative Corner ................................................................................................................................... 59 Business Calendar ................................................................................................................................... 60 Notable News ............................................................................................................................................ 62

Cover photography by Mary Gajda

Greater Lansing Business Monthly | Volume 31, Issue 4

group

Greater Lansing Business Monthly is published monthly by M3 Group at 221 West Saginaw Street, Lansing, MI 48933. Periodicals postage paid at Lansing, Michigan USPO. USPS number 020w807.

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Postmaster: Send address changes to The Greater Lansing Business Monthly, 221 West Saginaw Street, Lansing, MI 48933. Send additional subscription requests and address changes to The Greater Lansing Business Monthly, Inc., 221 West Saginaw Street, Lansing, MI 48933. Copyright © 2016 The Greater Lansing Business Monthly, Inc. All rights reserved.

Editorial Office: 221 West Saginaw Street, Lansing, MI 48933 lansingbusinessnews.com 2

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COMMENTARY

Publisher: Tiffany Dowling tiffany@m3group.biz Sales Manager: Jennifer Hodges jhodges@m3group.biz Editor: Kelly Mazurkiewicz kelly@m3group.biz Media Manager: Jill Bailey

ENTREPRENEURSHIP: HIGH RISK, FINDING THE REWARD If you want to understand the Lansing region, pay attention to the business community – more interestingly, the entrepreneurs. These are the people that believe so much in the area that they are willing to put it all on the line. It’s true. Entrepreneurs don’t explore the entire state, region or country to decide where to begin their businesses, even when they probably should.

Account Managers: Megan Fleming Manny Garcia Communications Director: Ami Iceman-Haueter Art Director: Mark Warner Publication Designer: Heather Thielking Graphic Designers: Jeanette Wummel Quandrel Ollie Cody Fell Photographer: Mary Gajda Web Manager: Skylar Kohagen Videographer: Michael Cagney Event Calendar Manager: Jaime Hardesty

GLBM Editorial Board: April Clobes — President and CEO, MSU Federal Credit Union Calvin Jones — Government Relations Director, Lansing Board of Water & Light Lisa Parker — Director of Alumni Career and Business Services, Michigan State University Alumni Association Deb Muchmore — Partner, Kandler Reed Khoury & Muchmore Tom Ruis — Vice President, Fifth Third Bank

These risk-takers value the community they reside in and strive to improve where they live.

Hopefully, they have done enough research to be sure there is a market for their products and services before they are off and running. Thinking back on my original business plan and the research we did, I wonder what I would have done if the information indicated Lansing was not a solid area for my type of business. Would I have taken the risk anyway or moved in a totally different direction? I probably would have moved forward. After all, without risk there’s no reward, right?

Through the process of the Entrepreneurial Awards, I’m able to hear the story behind each business. Every company has a path that led them to where they are today and are all worthy of recognition. As many of you know, it’s the small businesses that employ the vast amount of our community members; sometimes we get hung up in paying attention to larger businesses and how they’re doing. Of course, they’re important to the economy and their investment is vital to an integrated mix of businesses, but they are not the only measure of a region’s success.

Michigan has 765,487 small businesses according to current federal data. These companies have leaders who know the pain of investing in a project or direction only to see it fail, hiring employees that leave to a bigger company who can pay more, missing benchmarks that looked promising, needing loans to bridge a gap in sales, hunkering down during a recession and dealing with bureaucracy and red tape when time is of the essence. They also know the amazing feeling of building processes that work, seeing the light in an employee’s eyes when they believe in the vision of the company, hitting and exceeding sales goals, and inspiring a community.

The winners of this year’s program inspire me. Our entrepreneur of the year, Rick Preuss, and his family has created something special in Old Town. They are a destination organization that took time and energy to grow. If you haven’t visited their Preuss Pets location, you’re missing out.

Support the smaller, local businesses in our community. They have been supporting this region for many years. It’s a win-win.

Be dynamic in all you do,

Doug Klein — Executive Director, Mason Area Chamber of Commerce Mark Hooper — Partner, Andrews Hooper Pavlik Diontrae Hayes — Supervisor, Charter Township of Lansing

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Tiffany Dowling | Publisher

APRIL 2018

Hospice

Walk to Remember Sunday, May 20, 2018 Registration | 11:30 a.m.

Ceremony | 12:30 p.m.

Walk | 1 p.m.

Granger Meadows Park 1745 Granger Meadows Lane, Lansing MI 48906 Early Registration | $25

Day of Event Registration | $30

Memorial Picket | $100

Veteran Memorial Picket | $125

The Hospice Walk to Remember is a touching tribute to those who have ended life’s journey. Memorial pickets line the walking path, each displaying the name of a person someone has loved and lost.

Each and every picket serves as a lasting memorial to those we honor every year.

Please join us to remember and reflect.

SparrowFoundation.org/HospiceWalk Presented by

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MICHIGAN’S WINE INDUSTRY

CONTINUES TO AGE WELL

BY KALYNNE MCINTYRE

Often, Michigan is known for the Great Lakes, sand dunes and gorgeous summers. What may surprise some people is that it’s also becoming known for its wine. That’s right, the Mitten State is now being recognized as a top wine region in not just the country, but the world. In 2016, Wine Enthusiast Magazine rated Michigan as one of the world’s six up-and-coming wine regions.

Being the only U.S. state on the list not only made Michigan stand out, but it has been continuing to drive success for local wineries.

About 45 miles down the road from Lansing sits Sandhill Crane Vineyards, located right off Walz Road in Jackson, Mich. Owned and operated by Norman Moffatt and his family, Sandhill has been open since September 2003 and has been a local favorite from the start. “[Sandhill] started as a hobby of my dad's and opened with about seven wines on our tasting list,” said Heather Price, executive director of Sandhill Crane Vineyards. “We've grown a lot since then!”

Grown they have. What started as a small family hobby has now doubled in size, accommodating plenty of live events including weddings, showers, live music and more.

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“Probably our biggest step (both a peak and valley) was more than doubling the building in 2011,” said Price. “We added much more space in the cellar, as well as adding on what is now the cafe, banquet room, additional rest rooms and a wonderful deck.”

Today, the winery has more than 30 wines on their list, including best sellers like Blushing Crane and Rhapsody in Red. Besides being locally owned and operated, Sandhill prides itself on sourcing 100 percent of its fruit from Michigan. Their batches are often small, so their wine list is constantly changing. That includes their “Doing Good” wines, which help benefit the Haehnle Crane Sanctuary just down the road and where they got their namesake.

“From the beginning, we felt a connection to the Haehnle Sanctuary, just a few miles away,” said Price. “We were sharing cranes with them, after all. So, we decided to come up with a wine to help benefit the sanctuary (which is run by the Audubon Society). Since then we have offered a number of charity wines, which our customers love.”

Sandhill is just one of many thriving wineries in the Mitten State. According to the Michigan

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Grape and Wine Industry Council, Michigan had a total of 132 wineries in 2017; those wineries bottle more than 2.4 million gallons of wine per year. Two studies — one done by WineAmerica, a Washington, D.C.- based industry group, and another funded by the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development — have estimated that the wine industry will boost the state’s economy by roughly $5 billion.

The industry is also estimated to bolster the job market significantly. According to the WineAmerica report, more than 27,000 people work directly in the Michigan wine industry; an additional 6,867 people work in secondary areas like suppliers or vendors in goods and services.

When it comes to full-time positions, the report goes on to find that the average pay is $37,200, including wages and benefits, per year. In total, the report estimates that the wine industry touches more than 43,000 jobs and directly generates $2.1 billion in economic activity in Michigan overall.

Now that Michigan has been recognized as an up-and-coming wine territory, tourism continues to be a boon. According to the 2017 study funded by the Michigan Department of Agriculture &

Sandhill Crane Vineyards, located in Jackson, Mich.

Photo provided

Rural Development, “514,130 people made nearly 1.7 unique visits to Michigan’s wineries and vineyards.”

Going beyond just the dollars that tourists spend at wineries and vineyards on goods, events, food and more, the study also reported on the amount of money tourists spent on other parts of the state economy: an estimated $252.7 million. That money generates roughly 4,042 jobs — in another sense, $88.6 million in wages.

The amount of sheer growth Michigan’s wine industry has made during the past decade is

astonishing. In 2007, there were 49 wineries total. Since then, Michigan has seen a 169 percent increase in total wineries, with 83 percent of those locations having opened within the past 10 years. It’s showing no signs of stopping; according to a survey and statewide impact study done by John Dunham & Associates, 82 percent of survey respondents reported they have plans to increase production in 2018.

there are vineyards in every part of the state, including the Upper Peninsula.

In the past, Michigan has been primarily known for its manufacturing, relying heavily on the auto industry. But with these numbers, it’s undeniable that branching out into the wine industry has perhaps created a newly notable industry for Michigan.

Kalynne McIntyre is a blogger and marketer, currently living in Washington, D.C. She specializes in creative storytelling and digital marketing. More of her work can be found at kalynne.mcintyre.com.

Currently, the state of Michigan devotes 3,050 acres to just wine grapes. That amount of acreage is also expected to increase in the coming years. Most of Michigan’s wine grapes grow within 25 miles of Lake Michigan, but

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THE FUTURE OF MICHIGAN’S MARIJUANA INDUSTRY

BY KALYNNE MCINTYRE

More than 272,000 people hold a medical marijuana card in Michigan. That number is the second highest in the country, only passed

by California. With that size of a client base, many are looking to Michigan as an exciting new market for cannabis, especially now that the question of legalization is on the table.

organizations, including the ACLU of Michigan, the Drug Policy Alliance, the Marijuana Policy Project, the National Cannabis Industry Association, the National Patients’ Rights Association, Michigan NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) and MI Legalize.

In November 2017, the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol began a petition to ensure a spot for a legalization question on the impending general election ballot in November 2018, requiring a minimum of 252,523 signatures. They flew past that goal and submitted an estimated 363,000 signatures—a positive sign for the fate of legalizing marijuana.

If the initiative is passed this November, it would:

However, the fight this year won’t be easy. Many groups have already come out against the idea, some of which include the Committee to Keep Pot Out of Neighborhoods and Schools, and Healthy and Productive Michigan. The promarijuana campaign will also need heavy funding and strong backing from local organizations.

As of now, the supporting campaign is supported by several national and local advocacy 8

also shows that voter party affiliation plays an influential part: SUPPORT

OPPOSE

Strong Democrat

71.5%

24.3%

Lean Democrat

67.0%

24.9%

Independent

51.1%

41.3%

• License marijuana businesses that cultivate, process, test, transport and sell marijuana.

Lean Republican

44.7%

48.4%

• Legalize the cultivation of industrial hemp.

Strong Republican

43.5%

53.4%

• Legalize personal possession, cultivation and use of limited amounts of cannabis for adults 21 and older.

• Create proper testing and safety regulations for retail marijuana.

According to a recent poll of Michigan voters conducted by the Glengariff Group and commissioned by WDIV-TV and The Detroit News, 56.6 percent of voters say marijuana should be legalized in Michigan (36.7 percent oppose, and 6.7 percent are undecided). The poll

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PARTY

The other major influencing factor for voters is whether they’ve tried marijuana before. The vote was fairly split down the middle, with 47.5 percent having tried it previously and 48.8 percent saying that have not tried it at all.

Regulations signed into law by Gov. Rick Snyder back in December of 2016 will require a 3

NEWS

percent excise tax on dispensaries’ gross sales receipts. According to the Senate Fiscal Agency, this could mean a yield of $21.3 million dollars annually in revenue for the state*. If the Michigan market is like the Colorado market (including customer buying habits and prices), the agency also estimates that the Michigan marijuana market could be worth more than $700 million dollars.

There could be even more money to be made if marijuana retail sales are subject to Michigan’s sales tax (6 percent) — totaling out to $42.7 million, plus any state and local licensing fees. Another report from ArcView Market Research** suggests that Michigan has the potential to become the third-largest state medical marijuana market by 2020. The agency also estimates $556 million in projected sales for the year 2020, which would rank Michigan behind Colorado and California.

As of today, more than 240,000 patients with medical marijuana cards are served by some 40,000 state approved caregivers, who can legally grow no more than 12 plants per patient and can serve no more than five patients each. New proposed legislation will keep these regulations in place and will then create five categories of medical marijuana licenses for growers of up to 1,500 plants, transporters, seed-to-sale tracking, testing facilities and dispensaries.

However, to officially and legally open for business, license applicants must receive approval from their local communities.

Applications for licenses were made available on LARA’s website in December 2017. A $6,000 application fee must be paid to apply, and the application may be submitted through the mail, in-person at the department or online.

Applicants may file for Pre-Qualification or License Qualification.

A Pre-Qualification application means that the person applying hasn’t received approval from their local community on the location of their business, or that they have yet to secure a location. This allows LARA to keep things moving and to perform a background check while the applicant waits on approval of their location. A License Qualification application is for applicants who have already secured a location and approval from their local community for their business.

While the potential economic boon for marijuana legalization is hard to ignore, legalization is still very much up in the air. The next seven months before the general election in November later this year will be crucial in deciding Michigan’s future. *Based on the number of patients (204,000) registered in the 2016 fiscal year **ArcView Market Research analyzes cannabis industry trends and statistics through San Francisco-based The ArcView Group

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As legislation has started to be passed and come into effect in the state, the state Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) has been setting up the necessary infrastructure for additional licensing and regulation. The

department will be responsible for investigating all license applicants, helping to regulate the business and implement the seed to sale tracking system.

D COF

JOIN US FOR CONNECTIONS AND COFFEE Be an active member of Lansing’s dynamic business community. Meet people from diverse industries to add to your network, reconnect with friends and find local PRESENTED BY:

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group RSVP or sponsorship inquiries to melissa@m3group.biz

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NEWS

Snyder announces plan to double Michigan recycling in the next two years

2015

JUN.

Electronic recycling reporting system Re-TRAC established.

MAY.

OCT.

Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) presents proposed plan of action on recycling.

APR.

2014

FEB.

MI RECYCLING PLAN OF ACTION TIMELINE Recycling webinar held by state on the State of Recycling with 232 attendees.

Michigan Recycling Summit held.

2016

Recycling companies reaching 30 percent capacity recognized at Recycling Summit.

PROTECTING MICHIGAN’S FUTURE Michigan ramps up efforts to increase recycling rate

BY TERESA J. FRITH

The state of Michigan has long been touted as “Pure Michigan,” to attract tourists and visitors by sharing the beauty that is the Mitten State. Yet, with a recycling rate of 15 percent as compared with the national average of 35 percent, the state is ramping up its efforts to keep Michigan pure for future generations to enjoy.

Statistics show that Michigan ranked 41 out of the contiguous 48 states and is 26th in its rate of recycling efforts in 2012, and since that timeframe has been struggling to make an improvement in those numbers. Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder was quoted to say that the failure was “probably one of the most disappointing initiatives in my time as governor.”

Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Recycling and Waste Minimization Specialist Katie Venechuk recently pointed out that Michigan throws away about 49 billion cubic yards of trash annually. However, around 40 percent of that is likely recyclable with around 35 percent being compostable.

It's not like we haven't been trying to make improvements. As far back as 2012, Snyder proclaimed a statewide plan as part of his special message, “Ensuring Our Future: Energy and the Environment,” to help increase Michigan's recycling rate in several ways, such as providing better access to residential recycling. He also appointed a nine-person team as a Michigan Recycling Council to lead 10

the plan's implementation. The plan, according to Snyder, was to put the state on the right path to keep with Michigan's "strong tradition of protecting and enhancing its environment."

The plan had four main points: to measure the progress and find a better method of tracking recycling in the state; to set up public education and technical assistance for cities and communities; to provide more convenient access to a recycling program for communities; and to develop markets for the recycled products via financial incentives, such as grants.

Forty-five stakeholders, along with the DEQ, drafted the plan. Stakeholders included businesses such as landfill operators, waste haulers, grocery stores, recycling plants, manufacturers, bottling companies, etc. At the time, DEQ Director Dan Wyant touted the plan as a way to keep "Pure Michigan" pure.

The DEQ was charged with coming up with a statewide recycling plan and helping discussions with stakeholders to determine what types of things would help drive a successful program. It was agreed that the state needed to not only measure its recycling efforts, but it also must educate its citizens on why and how to do recycling, as well as give them a convenient place to do it, and to also grow markets for recycled materials.

Two years later, the newly formed plan was formally announced by the governor in April 2014. Appropriated by Snyder's fiscal year

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2015 budget, $1 million and a half-million in grants were provided to DEQ to support local recycling programs.

Since then, several other measures continue to be enacted or proposed to help boost the state's recycling rate. These include: • Senate Bill 507, which became law in March 2016, created a standardized system to report the amount of recycled material and provided for data collection to help the DEQ to create a baseline state recycling rate. It also requires yearly registration of the businesses that recycle specific kinds of material and measures how much materials were separated from home and business garbage.

• House Bill 5486: Michigan does quite well with bottle deposits, with statistics showing a 90-98 percent return rate.

Bottles make up 2 percent of the recyclable materials in the state, which also include plastic, metal, paper, glass and organic materials. In January 2018, Rep. Jon Hoadley (D-Kalamazoo) sponsored the bill that would modify the current beverage containers law, first enacted in 1976, to include bottled water and all types of beverages sold in metal, glass or plastic bottles, with the exception of milk products. The bill is currently with the Michigan House Natural Resources Committee.

• Dumping Fee: Earlier this year, Snyder proposed an increase in the present dumping fee at landfills from 36 cents a

Senate Bill 507, which provides a consistent way to gather information needed to calculate Michigan's recycling rate, passes the House and is approved by Snyder.

ton to $4.75, which would bring in nearly $80 million to help enhance the state's recycling efforts and waste management initiatives. Considering that some states in the Midwest charge up to $13 a ton, the proposed hike would not be unprecedented.

• House Bill 5485 was introduced in January 2018 by Rep. Abdullah Hammoud (D-Dearborn) that would help boost recycling efforts by requiring apartment buildings to provide recycling containers or services to their renters.

Additionally, according to Matt Fletcher, recycling and marketing development specialist at the DEQ, other things being considered to help boost recycling efforts include updating Michigan's solid waste laws, increasing efforts to get recycled materials turned into other reusable new products, emphasizing campaigns to educate people on why recycling is so important, ensuring the state lead the efforts by showing a good example and securing more long-term funding.

Some of the ways these efforts are being put into place are by encouraging more curbside recycling bins and recycling drop-off places in Michigan communities, educating local governments on best practices in managing waste materials and looking at the state's regulations and enforcement policies in order to ensure businesses follow the existing state mandates.

Why bother with recycling, especially since the cost to use landfills is not currently expensive and recycling itself is not free? The reality is, recycling is vital for several reasons besides dumping less trash into our ever-filling landfill spaces, which recent information says will be filled within the next 27 years.

According to data, it can do things such as provide new jobs in material processing fields, give the farmers a natural, non-toxic

2018

enhancer for the soil and supply the state with raw materials for local production of products made from recycled trash. And don't forget the fact that by recycling, we are making our state better for ourselves and future residents.

All in all, Michigan is striving to reach the goal of recycling 30 percent of recyclable materials by 2025. However, meeting this goal requires ongoing funding, participation and support. These issues and more will be discussed at the 36th annual conference at the

MAY

2017

Michigan Recycling Coalition launched new recycling website to promote awareness and participation in statewide recycling programs at recyclemichigan.org.

JAN.

MAR.

NEWS

Michigan Recycling Coalition is set to host 36th annual conference.

Rep. Jon Hoadley of Kalamazoo introduces House Bill 5486 to expand Michigan's current bottle deposit law to include all beverages packaged in metal, plastic or glass, except for milk. The bill has been referred to the Michigan House Natural Resources Committee.

Kalamazoo Radisson from May 15-17, which is hosted by the Michigan Recycling Coalition.

Teresa Frith is a Navy veteran now residing in Nashville, Mich.

She's been writing and editing as a freelancer since retiring from the Navy in 2011, where she was a military journalist. She holds a BA in English from Western Illinois University. Her hobbies include reading, writing and working to help stray and feral cats.

One community bank hits it out of the park.

Patrick Gillespie, President, Gillespie Group with Patty Barnas, Market President, Lansing, First National Bank of Michigan.

When the Gillespie Group developed the idea of The Outfield Lofts overlooking the home field of the Lansing Lugnuts, they turned to a bank that would share their dream and vision. “When looking for a bank to partner with for a new development, we prefer one that is also open minded and thinks creatively,” Patrick said, “First National Bank of Michigan dove right into the project to help make it a reality. We have a lengthy history with their bankers because they maintain connection and care about their partners - we are more than a name on a spread sheet.

First National Bank of Michigan are true business partners.”

Together, We are First.

LPO

330 Marshall St. Suite 200 | Lansing | 517.319.8000 L

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MOVING AND GROWING New plan points toward Michigan’s future

BY ANDREW DOMINO

Michigan deserves — and needs to be — known as more than the automotive state. There are several things business leaders and politicians can do to help move Michigan in that direction, according to analysts.

In March, Business Leaders for Michigan (BLM) — a think tank made up of CEOs from large Michigan businesses like Amway and Meijer, as well as schools like Wayne State University — released its 2018 “Plan for a Stronger Michigan” (strongermichigan.com). Together, the businesses represented by BLM make up about one-third of all Michigan employees.

The plan highlights six broad sectors, where the state is already effective and encourages leaders to build up those areas and prepare Michigan’s workforce for jobs. The plan’s areas are: mobility, moving from simply building cars to integrating them with software; engineering in high-tech industries like aerospace and medical devices; logistics, encouraging trade on the state’s roadways and rails and over the Great Lakes; life sciences, boosting not only health technology but pharmaceuticals and medical research; natural resources, including agriculture and water; and higher education, which can support all the other sectors mentioned in the plan.

“The plan is the answer to a few questions many business leaders ask, like, ’How do we build talent?’ and ’How do we attract more businesses?’” said Kelly Chesney, BLM vice president of marketing and communications.

Chesney mentioned they do consider issues like taxes and how Michigan’s business climate 12

compares to other states, but the key for the Stronger Michigan plan is to take what’s already good and work on ways to make it better.

“Flights, replacement hips — these used to be luxury items; now they’re standard things for a lot of people,” Trezise said.

“If Michigan was performing like a ‘Top Ten’ state today, there would be 34,000 more Michigan people working, and $9,500 more (in) income per person,” the plan states.

The technology that’s changing vehicles is affecting the agricultural industry too; farmers are using drones to track nutrient composition in their plants, and tractor-makers promote self-driving combines. In 2018, Michigan exported $2.8 billion in food and agricultural products to Canada, Mexico and Asia.

Trezise attributes that in part to an expanding global population looking for reliably safe, wholesome food as grown in the U.S.

MACHINES AND MEDICINE Chesney, along with BLM President and CEO Doug Rothwell, cited the American Center for Mobility in Ypsilanti as an example of how the auto industry can change into the mobility industry. The facility opened in December is a site for testing automated vehicles like self-driving cars in various road and weather conditions. There are fewer than a dozen sites of its kind around the U.S. In February, the American Center for Mobility started researching how automated vehicles could change driving-focused jobs like trucking and door-to-door delivery.

Bob Trezise, president and CEO of Lansing Economic Area Partnership, said high-tech manufacturing is growing in Lansing. Pratt & Whitney, an aircraft engine manufacturer, recently added about 700 jobs in the region, while medical device builder Tecomet’s expansion is expected to bring in more than 150 new jobs. Trezise attributes the growth to a few factors, including U.S. President Donald Trump’s announced tax cuts and “the world becoming more middle class.” There’s an interest in buying the items Lansing-area manufacturers are making.

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A 2017 University of Michigan (U-M) study includes logistics in its definition of the trade, transportation and utilities sector of the Michigan labor market. Researchers there expect businesses to add about 6,000 jobs in 2018 and the same in 2019, down from growth of 9,000 jobs a year or more in the near-decade following the Great Recession.

Most of those jobs will be in retail in the form of store clerks. It’s also the sector of industry expected to see the most growth between 2017 and 2019. The U-M study anticipates a decrease in jobs in the manufacturing field, as the auto industry changes to a mobilityfocused one, like what BLM is highlighting.

As medical device companies like Tecomet grow in Michigan, the life sciences field as a whole has increased its presence in the state, if not its profile. McLaren Health Care recently announced its $450 million new campus next to Michigan State University, for example. But a 2016 report by medical

NEWS

industry analysis firm MichBio finds the state is not yet “fertile ground for expanding the med-tech sector” due to “nonexistent efforts to market,” the industry and a shortage of skilled workers.

SCHOOLS AND ROADS MichBio isn’t the only group interested in improved education for workers in Michigan.

The BLM plan calls for a focus on math, literacy and science in kindergarten through high school, so students can be ready for college, technical school or the workforce. “(Students) need critical thinking and to have a specific technical skill,” Rothwell said.

“You need more of both to be successful.”

Rothwell also suggested the state’s colleges and universities do more to market themselves, encouraging more students to

introduction to the state.”

come to Michigan from other states or other countries — and stay here to work after graduation.

There’s one thing the state can work on right away to improve its chances in these growing business areas - Rothwell and Trezise both emphasized a need for improved infrastructure like functional roads and water quality. The report finds that, of the 50 states, Michigan ranks 38th for percentage of urban roads in poor condition and 45th for energy grid reliability. One idea is to encourage privatepublic partnerships, where private businesses contribute some of the funding for road improvement and other infrastructure work.

“It’s more than just filling in potholes,” Trezise said. “The quality of the state’s roads is a poor

Trezise added that everyone can contribute to supporting Michigan’s growing industries, even if they’re not in technology or medicine, by making sure there’s affordable housing in neighborhoods where employees will live.

“Having communities that are a better place to live is as important as having a good job,” Trezise said.

Andrew Domino writes about finance, culture and hobbies for publications in Lansing, across the U.S. and online. He was surprised to learn how often software is patched and resolves to back up his own computer more regularly. Andrew is also a freelance writer and blogger, bridging the gap between “nerds” and the rest of the world. You can see more of his writing at www.dominowriting.com.

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Team number 469 with robots scooping up wiffle balls to shoot them into goals Photo by Daniel Ernst

DEVELOPING MICHIGAN’S HIGH-TECH WORKFORCE Michigan grant inspires youth to consider career in STEAM

BY TERESA FRITH

The term "robot" conjures up various images, from a helpful device on an assembly line to the sophistication of robotic vacuum cleaners like the Roomba, or the heroic actions of robots like from the TV series “Lost in Space” from the 1960s, or “Star Wars” characters C-3PO and R2-D2. Robots are now intertwined in the fabric of our lives, and today's youth are eager to push the limits of what these machines can do.

Thanks to more than $2 million dollars in state grants from the Michigan Department of Education (MDE), hundreds of Michigan students are getting the chance to build and compete with their own robots. The grants are part of Gov. Rick Snyder’s plan to invest in the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Robotics, which Michigan has been funding since 2014.

According to Snyder, the FIRST program helps to prepare students for success in tomorrow's economy, and the grants help to ensure Michigan maintains the advanced talent development of its students in the future. Nearly 500 Michigan schools received the grants, which range from $100 to $9,000. Many area schools are on the grant awardee list; the full list of schools receiving grants can be seen on the MDE’s website at techplan.org/rdi/.

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One of the Michigan schools benefiting from FIRST Robotics participation is Maple Valley High School in Vermontville, Michigan. The high school created its first club in January 2018 and competed in the FIRST Robotics contest from March 1-3 at Kettering University.

The grant received by Maple Valley will fund robotics programs at not only the high school level, but the elementary and junior-high levels.

"Students here were interested in the program after hearing about it from students who had transferred into Maple Valley from other schools that already had the program," said Maple Valley robotics club co-advisor, Lance Beasley.

He explained that the students must learn to work together as a team while learning how each part of a robot works, how to build and code one, how to optimize it for the competition and then to plan appropriately in finishing in time for the competition.

Roger Curtis, co-chairperson of the FIRST Robotics World Championships Detroit Steering Committee, added that FIRST teaches students about various aspects of science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM), and helps them get interested in careers in those areas.

The program was also developed to help inspire

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students to build their self-confidence, as well as their communication and leadership skills.

FIRST Robotics competition teams learn to master many other skills and concepts, including: • Studying under professional engineers • Learning STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) skills • Learning how to operate specialized hardware, software and tools for building the robots • Designing and building their own robot and compete with it in special tournaments and championships • Developing skills in teamwork and interpersonal communication • Comprehending and practicing Gracious Professionalism™ • Qualifying for college scholarships In fact, research shows that students who have participated in FIRST Robotics are three times more likely to go into the engineering field and 87 percent more likely to take on more difficult math and science courses when they go to college. Other positive statistics include 88 percent becoming more interested

NEWS

to go on to well-paying career fields that help inspire the best of the best for their future and Michigan.

Winning teams at the local level will also get to participate in the championships, scheduled to take place April 25-28 in Detroit at Ford Field and the Cobo Center. About 60,000 kids and 700 teams are expected to compete in four levels of competition. Winners will compete in other championship events, such as the World Championships in St. Louis.

Robotics team 1025 working in their pit Photo by Daniel Ernst

in succeeding in school, 76 percent gaining better communication skills, 98 percent learning better problem-solving techniques, 95 percent learning how to manage their time better, 93 percent gaining conflict resolution skills and 92 percent wanting to go to college.

Formed in 1989, the FIRST program is seen to be especially empowering for female students, with those enrolled in the program showing a marked increase in their interest in STEAM careers. The Maple Valley Team

currently has one female on the team, Josey Terpening. She says she joined the club because it "looked cool," and she wanted to learn about motors, wires and how they go together to make something move.

Literacy in STEAM topics will help youth such as Terpening build the confidence and skills they need to be successful in a future society filled with even more technological wonders than we likely have today. Being involved in FIRST Robotics teams help students have the confidence and knowledge

Robots are already part of our daily lives, whether it be mechanical devices such as the Roomba that help make our lives easier or virtual robotic creations like Siri and Cortana, answering our questions right from our smartphones.

The field of robotics is expected to continue to grow in the future. Thanks to grants like this and organizations like FIRST, Michigan’s youth will not be left behind. Instead, they will grow up to help find the solutions to future problems, while using their skills to help create a brighter future across the globe.

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Andy Schor giving his first State of the City address Photo provided

who joined Schor on stage were Yvonne Caamal Canul, master of ceremonies for the night and superintendent at the Lansing School District; Captain Daryl Green of the Lansing Police Department; Rev. Deborah Holt-Foster, pastor at Mask Memorial CME Church; and seven out of eight Lansing City Council members.

“I am happy to say that the State of the City when we came into office has put us in position to capitalize on opportunities,” said Schor on the night of the address. “Lansing has been growing in many areas, and my administration comes in ready to take advantage of the foundation built ... and, I will repeat the message of our inauguration and the motto that we have been using daily in my office and administration: Lansing’s time is now!”

At the State of the City address, Schor’s administration was only in office for 37 days, but that was enough time for them to accomplish much, as well as continue to map out the envisioned steps that will bring Lansing’s strengths to the forefront, starting with not only enhancing relationships with the Lansing School District but neighborhoods themselves.

Schor’s first full day in office was spent in Old Town for the unveiling of Cesar Chavez Avenue —previously a portion of Grand River Avenue. And, his first executive order created the Department of Neighborhoods and Citizen Engagement, placing community capacity as a City centerpiece going forward.

“We are expecting great things for our Lansing neighborhoods. While we are helping our neighborhoods, we can’t forget that we need to attract and retain talent to these neighborhoods and to our commercial areas,” said Schor. “We must have excellent quality of life, fun things to do, retail and businesses where people can shop and great entertainment options.”

2018 STATE OF THE CITY: foundational and novel processes taking place in the realms of neighborhoods, youth engagement, sustained infrastructure, financial empowerment and more.

Andi Crawford, the Department of Neighborhoods and Citizen Engagement’s lead, will continue successes such as the Love Lansing Celebration, as well as take on programming from the Finance Department, which has reduced the debt of local participants by around $2.5 million within just two years.

Crawford’s team will also create innovative programs such as Serve Lansing, a community service initiative. Committee partners for the initiative include Michigan State University, United Way, Lansing Board of Water & Light and the American Red Cross.

There were many community members, educators and school board members, civic leaders and more in attendance. Some of which

The vitality of neighborhoods can often be found in its youth; in addition to promoting the resources already in Lansing to engage youth in

LANSING TODAY AND TOMORROW

BY KRISTOPHER JOHNSON

Since Lansing Mayor Andy Schor’s inauguration, his administration has hit the ground running to continue Lansing’s prosperity as a prime community to work, live and play.

Laying out his vision and core steps to a crowd of around 200, Schor gave his first State of the City address at Pattengill Academy on Feb. 7, 2018. In his strategic address, Schor pinpointed 16

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NEWS

intellectual and citizen-building capacities — such as Impression 5 Science Center, mentioned in the mayor’s address — Schor has also announced the coming of a summer Midnight Basketball program.

“Midnight basketball is a nationally proven concept that lifts youth through a structured athletic environment that emphasizes team work, camaraderie, discipline, interpersonal skills and attention to educational enrichment.

As part of this effort, we will have wraparound services to assist families that participate.

These services have been shown nationally to make this midnight basketball concept even more successful.”

Magnifying local neighborhoods and what makes Lansing great cannot be done without also taking care of those same assets. Regarding road maintenance, funding and safety, the City has begun its “Road Neighborhood Tour Map,” a series of road shows where the public can learn more about road funding and list their specific areas of concerns, by ward and through interactive activities. In coordination with Lansing Public Service Director Andy

Kilpatrick, Upcoming tour dates include April 10 at Sycamore Creek Church, May 1 at Schmidt Community Center and June 7 at Foster Community Center.

“We can’t fix every road in the city today, but we can inform our citizens of the work we’re doing so you know that we’re working hard for you as we continue to fix our aging infrastructure,” said Schor.

Other highlights of the 2018 State of the City included the establishment of a blue-ribbon commission for arts and culture, planned upgrades to the downtown riverfront, the organization of an upcoming regional summit and the reboot of the Financial Health Team, which has been tasked with developing several recommendations within the next six months.

“This important resource, originally put together

by Mayor Bernero in 2012, provides necessary experience and is a critical resource to address our future financial challenges … Lansing faces 680 million dollars in future unfunded pension and health care costs, according to the latest report,” said Schor. “While this bill doesn’t

come due for a number of years, we need solutions now.”

Lansing’s time may be now, but it didn’t come over night. Thanks to the foundations laid by former administrations, city staff and the empowering spirit of the Lansing community, Schor’s vision for the capital area is crystal clear in what it wants to accomplish and how to get there.

“The pieces are in place. We are united and moving together in a positive manner. We are ready to grow. We are ready to thrive. We are in concert with our neighbors in support of this great region. I am happy to report to you that the state of the city is in a good place, and we have plans to do so much more,” said Schor.

Kristopher Johnson is a Communications Specialist at M3 Group who earned his bachelor’s degree at Michigan State University in 2015. While currently residing in Lansing, Kristopher will always be a native of Detroit. He enjoys volunteering, listening to others and musing over contrasting insights. He is also fond of writing, keeping up with politics and watching too many story-driven anime.

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NEWS

CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY IS CHANGING AGRICULTURE

BY ANDREW DOMINO

Today’s farmers aren’t pitchfork-carrying men in overalls — they have technology to boost the yield of crops and streamline the amount of work they must do every day.

“Crop and soil scientists are still important, but we need software engineers,” said Joe Kelpinski, Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) manager.

MAEAP is a voluntary program for reducing farm pollution, with support from the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD).

Nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, are used to fertilize and maintain crops. But excess nutrients not absorbed by soil or plants are often washed away after rain or snowfall, and flow into lakes and rivers where they can harm aquatic life and affect drinking water supplies. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality has had regulations in place to limit pollution for decades, but it’s technology that’s helping to keep chemical levels in check now.

COMPUTERIZED CROPS Tractors have computerized monitors that can tell that nutrient levels are in small sections of soil, as little as just an acre or two. The monitors allow growers to be much more precise in how much fertilizer is spread on an area of land — factors, like the quality of the soil and the amount of water it receives, mean that some parts of a farmer’s field don’t need as much as other parts. That reduces the amount of excess that’s washed away. It’s also a cost-saving measure for the farmer, who no longer must blanket an entire field with the same amount of fertilizer.

While the monitors are keeping track of what’s being planted and the chemicals being applied to seeds, the farmer is busy keeping track of the fields themselves. Kelpinski said thanks to GPS systems and automatic steering built into tractors and other farm vehicles, there’s less 18

of a need for a farmer to concentrate on the relatively simple task of driving the tractor.

Drones loaded with sensors of their own are also hovering over farm fields. They’re bigger and more rugged than the toys available on store shelves. Drones can look outside the spectrum of light the human eye can see and scan a field for hazards like harmful insects, plant diseases and the ever-elusive balance of nutrients. Analysts expect the industry to grow steadily over the next decade, with the worldwide market expanding to $1 billion by 2024, according to researchers, Global Market Insights.

While drones and self-driving tractors are coming to Michigan farms now, the state is already leading the way on dozens of crops. MDARD estimates that farmers across the state produce more than 300 types of produce, from the apples, cherries and berries the state is known for to hops and chestnuts. It ranks first in the nation for blueberries, tart cherries, Niagara grapes and several kinds of dry beans and cut flowers.

As of 2017, the industry is estimated to contribute more than $100 billion to the state’s economy annually, though this includes not just farmers but food manufacturers, like dairies across the state processing milk and butter, and the breakfast cereal companies in Battle Creek and elsewhere.

FARMER TO FARMER

significant, though, is the average age of a farmer being 57.6 years old, up from 56.3 years old in the 2007 census.

That data may make the Michigan farm workforce look “grayer” than it really is, since it only looks at the primary operator of the farm, not other, likely younger family members, who may be helping grow crops and operate the high-tech equipment. Organizations in the state are working to combat the issue.

Michigan State University and land conservancies in six counties of the Traverse City region offer Farmer to Farmer (f2fmi.com), a website intended to connect landowners with prospective buyers. There’s a 43-acre vineyard available for $550,000, and properties of less than 5 acres where the price is negotiable. By comparison, the median lot size for a singlefamily home in Michigan is about .24 acres, according to the National Association of Home Builders. The USDA is also encouraging young farmers with a comprehensive learning tool online, newfarmers.usda.gov, with advice on everything from business plans to tax guidance.

No matter how much experience a farmer has, or what tools he or she is using, every year’s crops are vulnerable to external conditions like weather and commodity pricing, or how much investors are willing to pay for staples like corn and coffee.

There are more than 50,000 farms in the state, and they operate nearly 10 million acres of land according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). A census of farmers is completed by the USDA about every five years, with the last assessment completed in 2012. There are some 920,000 workers in the agriculture and food industry in the state, or about 22 percent of the entire workforce.

“If you and I have a farm, our wheat isn’t really any different, so we’re affected by price the same,” Kelpinski said. He cited corn as an example, which fell from a high of $7 a bushel in 2008 to 2010 to about $3 per bushel currently, thanks to higher global production and lower anticipated demand. And though the price of corn changes, the expenses for raising the crop don’t vary as often, resulting in slimmer profits for farmers.

Michigan farmers (“principal operators” in the language of the census) are about 86 percent male, and 99 percent are white. Perhaps most

“We have to feed 9 billion people on less and less land,” Kelpinski said. “It’s nothing like it was even 10 years ago.”

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2018 GREATER LANSING ENTREPRENEURIAL AWARDS SPECIAL SECTION

2018 GREATER LANSING ENTREPRENEURIAL AWARDS SPECIAL SECTION Greater Lansing Entrepreneurial Awards: Past Winners .............................22 24th Annual Greater Lansing Entrepreneurial Awards Showcase Local Business Success......................................................24 Entrepreneur of the Year ....................................................................................... 26 Greater Lansing Business of the Year .............................................................. 30 Emerging Entrepreneur .......................................................................................... 34 Entrepreneurial Spirit .............................................................................................. 36 Socially Responsible Entrepreneur ................................................................... 38 Leadership Award ..................................................................................................... 40 Greater Lansing Entrepreneurial Awards photos........................................42 Behind the Scenes: Jill Marlin of Peak Performance ................................................................................................ 46

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2018 GREATER LANSING ENTREPRENEURIAL AWARDS SPECIAL SECTION

Greater Lansing Entrepreneurial Awards

PAST WINNERS

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

NAME

22

POSITION

COMPANY

AWARD

LOCATION

Sam Short Aaron Matthews Alan Hooper Lynn Ross

Owner

Potent Potables Project

Emerging Entrepreneur

Lansing

Owner

Mother & Earth Baby Boutique

Socially Responsible Entrepreneur

Lansing

Dawn-Marie Joseph

Owner

Estate Planning & Preservation

Entrepreneurial Spirit

Williamston

Jill Marlan Pat Malby

Founder Chief Operating Officer

Peak Performance

Entrepreneur of the Year Business of the Year

Lansing Lansing

Jeffrey McWherter Keith Granger

Owner CEO

Gravity Works Design Granger

Lansing Lansing

Kellie Johnson Pat Gillespie Tom Kuschinski Nick Uppal Colin Cronin Raji Uppal

Owner Founder/President Co-Founder/President Co-Founder/ Corporate Treasurer Co-Owner/ Vice President Co-Owner/ Vice President

Kellie’s Consignments Gillespie Group DTN Management Co.

Emerging Entrepreneur Socially Responsible Entrepreneur Entrepreneurial Spirit Entrepreneur of the Year Business of the Year

Ian Richardson Don McNabb

Founder/CEO Founder/CEO

Doberman Technologies Triterra

Mason Lansing

Mike Maddox Ron Boji Jeff Kresnak

President and CEO President Owner

ASK Boji Group Superior Asphalt

Emerging Entrepeneur Socially Responsible Entrepreneur Entrepreneurial Spirit Entrepreneur of the Year Business of the Year

Crispin Velasquez Chris Johnson

President Founder/CEO

C&E Pipeline On Target Living

Lansing Bath

Ryan Lowe & Nikali Luke Mark Kraushaar & Leigh Kraushaar

Owners

Simplified Tax and Accounting Services Bell Title Company

Emerging Entrepreneur Socially Responsible Entrepreneur Entrepreneurial Spirit Entrepreneur of the Year

Okemos

Thomas Salisbury

President and Owner President and CEO

Stephen Russell

President

A/C Electrical Contractors

Rochelle Rizzi Peter W. Kramer

Owner President

Tiffany Klein Jack Davis

Owner Partner

On the Rise Law Entrepreneur

Lansing Lansing

Gary Seelye Claudia Deschaine

President Grants Manager

Rizzi Designs Kramer Management Group, Inc. La Fille Gallery Loomis, Ewert, Parsley, Davis & Gotting Seelye Group LTD Dart Foundation

Sales and Distribution Entrepreneur Information Technology Entrepreneur Construction Entrepreneur Marketing Entrepreneur Emerging Entrepreneur

Williamston

Lance Thompson

Reliable Aftermarket Parts, Inc. Baseline Data Services, LLC

Lansing Mason

D.L. Kesler

Owner

Service Entrepreneur Socially Responsible Organization Master Entrepreneur

Owners

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Dewpoint

D.L. & Sons Kesler Construction

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Okemos Lansing Lansing

Lansing Lansing Grand Rapids

Lansing

East Lansing Lansing Lansing Lansing

Bath

2018 GREATER LANSING ENTREPRENEURIAL AWARDS SPECIAL SECTION

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2018 GREATER LANSING ENTREPRENEURIAL AWARDS SPECIAL SECTION

Photo by Mary Gajda

24TH ANNUAL GREATER LANSING ENTREPRENEURIAL AWARDS SHOWCASE LOCAL BUSINESS SUCCESS

BY MELISSA DOWRICK

On Thursday, March 8, Greater Lansing Business Monthly hosted the 24th Annual Greater Lansing Entrepreneurial Awards.

Guests were welcomed at Eagle Eye Golf Clube for a networking cocktail hour followed by dinner in the Grand Garden room. Community members, business leaders, entrepreneurs and supporters were among the more than 400 guests who attended this year’s event.

Mingling in the crowd were many eager individuals excited for the evening to unfold. Exchanges of greetings, shaking of hands, congratulations to nominees and nervous laughter and smiles led up to the awards ceremony.

“This is one of my favorite nights of the year,” said Tiffany Dowling, president and CEO of M3 Group and publisher of Greater Lansing Business Monthly, to the crowd

during the awards. “It is my privilege to have an opportunity to showcase the amazing individuals taking risks every day and building businesses that grow our local economy.”

Each year, the judges are presented with a binder full of nominated business profiles, narratives and financial information, and are asked to choose a winner for six broad business categories. Qualifying nominees were presented to the judges to find a recipient for

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2018 GREATER LANSING ENTREPRENEURIAL AWARDS SPECIAL SECTION

Emerging Entrepreneur, Socially Responsible Entrepreneur, Entrepreneurial Spirit, Leadership Award, Entrepreneur of the Year and Greater Lansing Business of the Year.

“I believe that entrepreneurs help to shape the local community,” added Bob Hoffman, the evening’s co-host as well as manager of Public Relations at Wharton Center and co-host of FOX-47’s Morning Blend. “It takes businesses of all shapes and sizes to create a robust economy, and that would not be possible without our entrepreneurs.”

A new category was added this year. The Leadership Award is given to a leader in an established company; this could include presidents and CEOs, or an individual employee that exhibits strong leadership qualities.

Guest speaker Mark Winkelman, president of Better Made Snack Foods (Better Made), shared his own success story. He encouraged attendees to follow their passion and work together to move business forward. The journey of Better Made and his own personal journey inspired all those in the room that evening.

Among the speakers for the night was Debbie Petersmark of WILX-TV, who spoke as a representative for the judges and who spent time independently and collectively reviewing the material submitted by the nominees. In addition to Petersmark, this year’s judges included Don McNabb of Triterra, Melody Warzecha of Union Bank, Jeff Jackson of the MSU Federal Credit Union, Chris Thelen of Consumers Energy, Michael Debri of Huntington Bank, Scott Norman of Physicians Health Plan, Chris Waltz of Dart Container, Steve Piesko of Maner Costerisan, Bo Garcia of Lansing Community College, Lynn Henley of Rehmann, Patty Barnas of First National Bank of Michigan, Denise Graves of MEDC and the support of Auto-Owners Insurance. The winners were decided during a special judges meeting.

Greater Lansing Business Monthly announces this year’s award recipients: • Entrepreneur of the Year – Rick Preuss, Preuss Pets • Greater Lansing Business of the Year – Robert K. Schroeder and Karen J. Schroeder, Mayberry Homes • Emerging Entrepreneur – Lauren Palmer, Curvaceous Lingerie

• Entrepreneurial Spirit – Molly Chan, Alliance Payment Solutions, RPS, JoyRide Pedal Tours and Heat Salon and Blowdry Bar • Socially Responsible Entrepreneur – Jennifer Hinze, Polka Dots Boutique • Leadership Award – Barbara Krejcik, North Winds Heating & Cooling Inc. Businesses come in all shapes, sizes, missions and unique selling propositions. The one thing every business has in common is that it continues to be the lifeblood of the economy.

The Greater Lansing region is home to amazing companies with the spirit and drive to make a big impact, just like those honored at the annual Greater Lansing Entrepreneurial Awards dinner.

As the evening ended, many past honorees offered their congratulations to the new winners.

It is with the support of the community that these honorees will continue their success and go on to do great things.

Melissa Dowrick is a MSU graduate and M3 Group event planner. She is a wife, dog mom of two and a firsttime expecting mother. Her favorite season is fall and she loves fashion.

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2018 GREATER LANSING ENTREPRENEURIAL AWARDS SPECIAL SECTION

As the son of a pet shop owner in the small rural town of Cambridge Springs, Penn., Rick Preuss was the coolest kid he knew growing up. Who wouldn’t be envious of the kid with all of the pets? Little did he know, the company owned by his mother would one day be his and the compassion she had imbued him with would one day act as the foundation of a lifelong passion for animals and people unlike any other. It’s that very same gift that has come full circle as a defining attribute of this year’s Entrepreneur of the Year recipient.

ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR

Preuss Pets, which sits at the corner of North Cedar St. of Lansing’s Old Town district, is a regional customer service pioneer, industry leader and simply the embodiment of what’s possible when a genuine approach is taken to blending business and community. With an unrelenting commitment to being more than just a store, Preuss Pets is rather a community center for education and personal enrichment, above all else. In doing so, Preuss aims to redefine what expectations a consumer should have for Lansing businesses.

“We measure our success by the difference that we make. We could be a big box business that provides what people need and be a store with 5,000 square feet, or we can help people expand their expectations and horizons by leading them in a way they feel comfortable with," said Preuss. "If we don't take the lead, people won't realize the potential they have.

When our customers leave the store, they should feel enriched, and their relationship with their pet should be enriched – that's our mission. The big challenge is to do that while remaining economically stable."

Rick Pruess of Pruess Pets received the Entrepreneur of the Year Award at the 24th Annual Entrepreneurial Awards on March 8.

Photo by Mary Gajda

SUCCESS IS

MEASURED BY THE DIFFERENCE MADE

BY ADAM LANSDELL

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Owner Preuss and wife Debbie, live up to their tagline – A Pet Store With a Purpose and then some as they’ve worked diligently to create a company culture that reflects purpose in the community and a customer experience unlike any other. Here, revenue is an added bonus for the chance the Preuss’ and their staff members have to better the lives of their neighbors.

The local shop has impacted the Lansing region in a huge way, and many would label them as a guiding light in the Lansing community. As an early centerpiece of the Old Town region’s revitalization, moving to the area from it’s former South Lansing location in 2005, the company has set the tone for what’s possible when like-minded business owners and community leaders have a common vision. Their attitude toward business and creating unique connections is something any visitor will see reflected

2018 GREATER LANSING ENTREPRENEURIAL AWARDS SPECIAL SECTION

throughout each and every storefront, and something that brought Preuss to their current home.

“I think that notion of friendliness is what brought us here. It was so welcoming and the few businesses that were already down here had been so arm opening and accepting – it’s something I never would have expected to feel in our prior location in the suburbs of Lansing. But, man – the feeling matched up with who we are. We’re taking care of families and creating family relationships within our community. Here there aren’t dollars being pushed on per say; it's genuine."

However, it goes without saying that the success Preuss Pets has had in its Old Town home didn’t come easy. The idea was accepted with doubt, with many questions about why the business would uproot to start anew in a neighborhood that was seemingly forgotten and in ruin. Despite the noise, the Preuss family stuck to its guns, taking the ultimate risk as any good entrepreneur does.

Their spirit has resonated there ever since.

"WE MEASURE OUR SUCCESS BY THE DIFFERENCE THAT WE MAKE. WE COULD BE A BIG BOX BUSINESS THAT PROVIDES WHAT PEOPLE NEED AND BE A STORE WITH 5,000 SQUARE FEET, OR WE CAN HELP PEOPLE EXPAND THEIR EXPECTATIONS AND HORIZONS BY LEADING THEM IN A WAY THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH." “Humbly, we suggest other businesses like Elderly and October Moon as the area’s pioneers that took the biggest gamble,” said Preuss. “With that being said, the role we’ve played in this area’s revitalization is something I’m proud of and humbled by – to be recognized as an anchor to the East end that acts as sort of a welcoming entrance to the area. It’s cool and what better welcoming store can you have than a pet store?”

It's risks like these that have helped Preuss bring the store of his dreams to life. However, passion and risks must be met with experience and education. Preuss suggests that a winning formula isn't one built on hope. While it's

an absolute necessity, success doesn't just happen. Aside from his work as the owner and operator of Preuss Pets, Preuss has dedicated his life to the industry of pet care, specifically as an ichthyologist – a scientist that studies fish.

Preuss’s expertise is nationally recognized and has been shared through various roles with multiple associations, boards and events. These include the Marine Aquarium Conference of North America, the National Marine Educators Association, the Michigan Science Teachers Association and all major fish clubs across the state of Michigan. Preuss Pets’ staff also work to inform the public

CONGRATULATIONS NOMINEES & AWARD RECIPIENTS!

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SECOND LOCATION COMING SOON NEXT TO PLAYMAKERS East Side 2301 Grand River Avenue Okemos West Side 7402 Westshire Drive, Suite 105 Lansing

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Rick Preuss of Preuss Pets, with wife Debbie Preuss at the 24th Annual Entrepreneurial Awards on March 8.

Photo by Skylar Kohagen

staff via educational opportunities for youth, in-store learning events, community outreach efforts and even through a weekly talk radio show, “Mid-Michigan Pet Expert.” Preuss himself will be the first to tell you that it’s the efforts he’s made outside to become an educator that are most important to becoming a successful business owner.

been recognized for various regional and national awards, the owner still finds himself overwhelmed with appreciation whenever he receives a new accolade. However, this addition to the family’s mantel was made even sweeter when shared with friends. Despite time passing, Rick Preuss remains the coolest kid in town, with a pet shop worth being envious of.

“If it’s a business you’re not intimately familiar with you need to become comfortable with it. You need to know what it is - just as if you wanted to shadow or intern in a specific field. Become an assistant – find out what it’s about and if you want to become that,” said Preuss. “A pet store, for example, is a much different business than any other type of business, so you need to submerse yourself in it first to make sure you're comfortable with it.

It's important to try on the socks before lacing up the boots. Also, find people that you respect and look up to, people that can be mentors.

Without that, it's sort of like the difference between swimming and throwing your arms around while you sink.”

“Winning the award was a bit unexpected.

We were really surprised, and it was a lot of fun to see some friends in the Old Town area be included as well,” said Preuss. “I didn't know what to expect; there were a lot of nominees. As they were making the winners announcements, Debbie and I looked at each other right when they said ‘animals.’ It was a weird feeling, going up on that stage with so many respected businesses and owners in the room – it was a great honor.”

Treading water is one thing Preuss Pets is not doing – if anything, the company is swimming upstream with grace. Having previously

Adam Lansdell is a Grand Valley State University alumnus, and currently a Communications Specialist with M3 Group of Lansing.

With a passion for all things creative it comes as no surprise that he’s also a musician, movie buff and graphic designer. Adam spends his down time biking, and spending too much of his personal income on concert tickets or vinyl records.

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GREATER LANSING BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

Karen and Robert Schroeder, founders of Mayberry Homes, received the Lansing Business of the Year Award at the 24th Annual Entrepreneurial Awards on March 8.

Photo by Mary Gajda

TAKING THE

LEAP AND

SEEING IT

THROUGH

BY KRISTOPHER JOHNSON

When considering the recipient of the Business of the Year in the Greater Lansing area, judges search for a company that's roots go deeper than simple economic success or profit margins.

Entrepreneurship is most recognized in the ability to overcome what seems impossible, to develop accomplishments with tenacity and purpose. Mayberry Homes was named Business of the Year at the 2018 Entrepreneurial Awards, as they continue to transform the 30

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2018 GREATER LANSING ENTREPRENEURIAL AWARDS SPECIAL SECTION

one of worst states to be hit by the recession at the time. The economist’s response was one word: move.

IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, MAYBERRY HOMES HAS BEEN RANKED AMONG THE TOP 200 BUILDERS IN THE COUNTRY ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HOME BUILDERS (NAHB), BUILDING 150-200 HOUSES PER YEAR.

“That was a turning point for me. That was a turning point for Mayberry, and my husband was magnificent. He said, ‘We have to change our product and do it in 30 days.’ That was the only way we were able to stay afloat,” Karen said. “I am so incredibly grateful for the changes that we

meaning of home ownership and community in our local neighborhoods.

Founded by Karen and Robert Schroeder, Mayberry Homes is a family-oriented business that aims to ensure the home buying experience is rewarding and gratifying for those who take the leap. Robert came from a family homebuilding company, while Karen came from a background in housing sales and marketing. With their wealth of experiences, they found the early 2000s were the perfect time to pool their talents and hit the ground running.

“We felt like there was a bit of a gap in the housing product available for the Greater Lansing area. We felt something was missing, and we wanted to fill that with something a little cooler, something that could disrupt the marketplace a bit,” Karen said. “So, in 2002, we joined forces and opened Mayberry Homes.”

In the last five years, Mayberry Homes has been ranked among the top 200 builders in the country according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), building 150-200 houses per year. Between changing housing product to meet the market and acting as an employer, Karen credits business growth and future success with taking a careful look at what’s going on across the country and applying those strengths to the local marketplace.

Mayberry Homes isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, thanks in part to the tenacity of the company. Before the Great Recession in the late 2000s that critically affected the housing industry, Karen recalls the hustle to re-engineer products and zero in on first-time homebuyers, who were the only people who were likely to get a mortgage and have no prior house to sell.

At a 2007 meeting, Karen asked an NAHB economist what his best advice was for a Michigan-based company, in lieu of a chart at the time that showed the Great Lakes State as

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made because we did not have to lay off one employee. Bob and I took a huge step back, especially financially, but kept the company rolling. We did what we had to do and fought the big fight.”

Mayberry Homes continues to provide innovative community interactions. Through transformations in the way people integrate technology into their homes to promoting graciousness and collaboration that creates strong neighborhoods, the business couple certainly has their hands full at most times.

“There’s no balance as to what’s work and what’s life. We live, breathe, eat and sleep Mayberry Homes. Our workers are our family,” said Karen. “We think the same of our homeowners and think so highly of them; without them, we would not survive.”

Robert Schroeder accepted the Business of the Year Award on behalf of Mayberry Homes

Karen and Robert find winning the 2018 Greater Lansing Business of the Year Award to be incredibly humbling, as well as a testament that however they make it work; they are on the right path to go even further in their quest to engage communities and

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make the home buying experience a special one.

“I think people who are entrepreneurs, have (passion) in their blood. I couldn't imagine an entrepreneur staying in an eight to five job at a desk somewhere. We still have a life, but it circles back through Mayberry Homes,” said Karen. “Even when it comes to our immediate family, Christmases, Thanksgiving dinners — several of our kids work for us, relatives have and do work for us. Whatever we’re doing, it circles back and is a part of who we are. I think that just comes with the territory.”

Kristopher Johnson is a Communications Specialist at M3 Group who earned his bachelor’s degree at Michigan State University in 2015. While currently residing in Lansing, Kristopher will always be a native of Detroit. He enjoys volunteering, listening to others and musing over contrasting insights. He is also fond of writing, keeping up with politics and watching too many story-driven anime.

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EMERGING ENTREPRENEUR

OFFERING SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR EVERY WOMAN

BY KRISTINE RICHMOND

When you’re an entrepreneur, you have the passion and drive to write your own story. It’s not a question of why you should start your own business; it’s a question of what and when. Lauren Palmer, owner of Curvaceous Lingerie, may not have known she was destined for greatness, but something inside of her has propelled her forward. In fact, it took the unsuspecting, familiar voice of a friend to give her the idea that would kickstart her now successful and growing Old Town Lansing business.

“Lingerie wasn’t my idea originally. My friend and I were shopping in Cincinnati at a small boutique, and it took us over an hour,” explained Palmer. “My friend said to me, ‘You could do this,’ and I said, ‘Absolutely, I could do this.’ My background was actually bridal salon management and consultation, women’s

ready-to-wear purchasing and formal wear, merchandise management, etc. When I got home, I started writing my business plan.”

That pivotal moment was in April of 2012, but she’s spent most of her life working in the bridal and lingerie. Palmer’s first job as a bridal consultant at age 16 solidified her career path — It was back then that she knew she wanted to have her own store.

Palmer earned her bachelor’s degree in merchandising management from Michigan State University in 2005. She studied abroad in Russia and Poland in 2014, briefly comparing their retail industries. Then in 2008, she earned two yoga-teaching certifications and started a DBA as Sundog Yoga, acting as a teacher and therapist.

She was recruited as a business and product consultant in 2012 for a yoga and disc golf store

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in East Lansing (no longer in business) and witnessed the process of opening a retail location.

In November of 2012, Palmer opened Curvaceous Lingerie, operating as a mini boutique inside of the Okemos-based bridal salon, The Wedding Bell. In June of 2014, after outgrowing the existing space, she moved her business to Old Town. Curvaceous offers professional bra fittings in sizes varying between 28-48 bands and A-O cups. Inside of the bright violet pink boutique, shoppers will find delightful products from lingerie, shape wear, swimsuits, nursing and maternity, pajamas and more in sizes small-3x. Bridal and boudoir consultations are also available.

The company itself has seen its sales double from 2015 to 2017 and is up 857 percent since its first full year in business. The physical square footage

2018 GREATER LANSING ENTREPRENEURIAL AWARDS SPECIAL SECTION

of the store tripled with the Old Town move, and in 2016 another 350 square feet was added.

When asked what she most attributes to her success, Palmer said, “It’s offering a product that almost everyone needs in combination with very strong, positive messaging and product availability that can serve everyone. We treat all our customers as celebrations when they come in. We want them to have a fun, positive and uplifting experience.”

Palmer is thankful for the loyalty of her customers and the referrals they make.

“It can be a personal experience for our customers.

When they come in, they are nervous to come in for a bra fitting. For a lot of people, they are at the end of their rope and don’t know what else to do.

They’ve heard from their friends and coworkers that ‘it will be fine … they will take care of you.’”

Palmer has four employees on her team, including one manager and three support staffers, that take care of their customers. “It’s their lingerie store.

We’re here to empower every woman, to make her feel sexy and great about herself,” said Palmer.

In 2015, Palmer received the Ten Over the Next 10 Award given by the Lansing Chamber of

Commerce and Grand River Connection. She is a member of the ATHENA WIN women’s organization and co-chair of the Old Town Promotions Committee, as well as a new wife and a mother to an adorable little boy named Stanley.

Photo by Mary Gajda

In May of 2017, Palmer had the honor of participating in the Goldman Sachs program of 10,000 Small Businesses; an accelerated business course designed to boost business growth and aid in new growth opportunities. From this program, she created a new business plan to launch an online store (projected for 2019) focused on a new private label line, to be rolled out within the next couple of years.

When asked what winning the Emerging Entrepreneur Award meant to her, Palmer reflected, “It felt great! The Lansing community of entrepreneurs are a really special, supportive community — it felt like I was being given this award by my peers.”

Kristine Richmond is the Public Relations Specialist at M3 Group.

She specializes in helping clients tell their stories of changed lives, fiscal success, philanthropic support and more by creating engaging messages that grab customers’ attention and cause them to act.

Lauren Palmer, owner of Curvaceous Lingerie received the Emerging Entrepreneur Award at the 24th Annual Entrepreneurial Awards on March 8.

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ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT

LIFE IS SUPPOSED TO BE FUN, SO HAVE FUN WITH IT

BY ADAM LANSDELL

For entrepreneurs, success isn’t birthed from dollars, funding, donations or any other type of monetary guarantee. Those might be the fruit of your labor, tokens of earned admiration; but they’re not essentials. They are not the vision, the ethics or the tenacity that is the uniquely essential individual spirit. This year, the judges of the 2018 Greater Lansing Entrepreneurial Awards search for that gifted spirit ended with none other than Molly Chan, owner and CEO of three premier regional businesses; Alliance Payment Solutions (Alliance), HEAT and JoyRide Pedal Tours.

Despite an initial reluctance to step into the shoes of a business owner, following the passing of

husband Edward, who founded Alliance in 2003, Chan’s willingness to grow into the role has placed her comfortably at the helm of two additional businesses; each with personalities of theirs own.

While she can’t select a favorite amongst the three burgeoning entities, having claimed them as her “babies,” it’s safe to say that each has been raised by a mother that places pride in allowing each to come into their own.

We are true to that and it’s helped to guide us – we want to be on the edge of things and push ourselves instead of being comfortable in the middle. JoyRide and HEAT, specifically, were born from passion. I learned from my husband’s regrets – to have fun and live more. Life should be fun, and JoyRide and HEAT were started because I like to be creative and have fun and bring people joy, and both of these businesses accomplish that.”

“I think for all three of the businesses, we really strive to think outside the box. We have had growth, but I think it’s because we are innovative,” said Chan. “We have core values that we stick to and all of our decisions revolve around those.

However, as any parent is quick to realize, giving each of your children the freedom to be and do whatever they want needs to be paired with a few rules and guidelines. Without structure, spirit can be perceived as insanity. But, with an ethos to pair

you deserve the recognition.

PNC is proud to congratulate the 2018 Entrepreneurial Award recipients on an amazing achievement. You’ve shown us what’s possible through hard work and persistence.

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2018 GREATER LANSING ENTREPRENEURIAL AWARDS SPECIAL SECTION

with, spirit can become the core of one’s existence –symbiotically crafting the winning formula.

“I’m not afraid to take risks, but they need to be calculated, otherwise my entrepreneurial spirit might have me all across the board,” expressed Chan. “Your vision and beliefs are more important than a financial backing. Value being true to yourself and your vision. Sometimes, it’s hard, but you have to say no to clients and customers that don’t fit with your values. I’m not afraid to take a risk and I’m not afraid to fail. Sure, you may fall and come to a crawl, but the big difference is when you get back up, find your feet and redirect: I’m not afraid to make a wrong decision and redirect.”

Having initially been tasked with inhabiting a foreign role in a foreign, male-dominated industry, Chan was required to be forward, blunt and aggressive. While she doesn’t regret a thing, she acknowledges she may have made a few enemies in the process, however, making a seat for herself at the table has enabled her to make seats for other women - at the awards ceremony on March 8, this realization came full circle.

“It was a great honor to receive the Entrepreneurial Spirit Award. These accomplishments are the good that have come from the legacy left behind

by my husband,” said Chan. “I’ve persevered and succeeded. This award was also symbolic in that I received the award on International Women’s Day. I believe that once you break the glass ceiling it’s important to reach down and help others.

The more I succeed, the more I’m able to help others succeed.”

Photo by Mary Gajda

In the end, Chan believes that the key to success lies within yourself and those you allow to surround you. When met with kindness and respect, those that you lead will build trust in you even when you fail. However, sometimes you need to surround yourself with the unlikeliest of motivations, such as a prince to keep things fresh.

“You have to believe in yourself. I’m a big believer that you need to choose faith over fear,” said Chan. “Fear is only a speed bump that slows you down and make you take another look; but you need to be sure that you take challenges on and not be afraid to fail. I make my kids watch Will Smith’s online inspirational videos. He is a great motivator and has one motto, in particular, I believe is important live by, ‘Fail Fast and Fail Forward.’ You just have to go for it — don’t overthink it. We all fail sometimes, but we must remember that life is supposed to be fun, so you have to have fun with it.”

Molly Chan, owner and CEO of Alliance Payment Solutions (Alliance), HEAT and JoyRide Pedal Tours received the Entrepreneurial Spirit Award at the 24th Annual Entrepreneurial Awards on March 8.

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SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE ENTREPRENEUR

GOING THE EXTRA MILE IN RESEARCH TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

BY KRISTOPHER JOHNSON

When people think of the words “ethical” or “moral,” we may not always add where we spend our money as part of the equation. Through fashion and promoting ethically made products, one woman wants communities to start thinking about their decisions differently. While she doesn’t think of herself as a “social warrior” in day-today life, Jennifer Hinze is the recipient of this year’s Socially Responsible Entrepreneur Award because her actions, thoughtfulness and careful considerations speak for themselves. Located on Turner Street in Lansing, Hinze’s business, Polka Dots Boutique, takes fashion to the next level by promoting ethically sourced products.

“Some people only care about the price tag and whether that price tag is what they want to pay or not — they don’t think of where that shirt was

made or how that purse was manufactured. So, part of my work is getting that message out,” said Hinze.

Hinze was previously an administrator for nine years at a small law firm before opening her business. She always wanted to work for herself, however, at least before she turned 40. From that law background, she developed and enshrined a few skills that have extended to her entrepreneurial success: human resources, managing expenses and staff, etc.

“I had no retail background, so it wasn’t a natural thing for me, but I figured it out,” said Hinze.

“From my background, I knew I could run a business. It was more, ‘What do I want to put out there as far as retail?’”

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When a space opened for purchase, Hinze knew it was time to utilize those essential business talents in her favor. Clothes were always a passion of hers, but it was her research into how some of the nation’s favorite clothes are actually put together and by whom that helped strengthen her sense of doing good through the boutique.

“Realizing a person may make 3 cents on a shirt that sells for say $50 was heartbreaking. The majority doesn’t go to the person putting in the work, doing the same thing repeatedly, which is fine but ethically needs a more balanced pay to making a living,” Hinze said. “Some countries have such laws and regulations that there are even children making these.”

2018 GREATER LANSING ENTREPRENEURIAL AWARDS SPECIAL SECTION

Hinze became passionate about it the more she researched. While she does have strong opinions, she’s never considered herself much of an advocate. Through her initiative as an entrepreneur, however, she was able to create a mechanism to do her part toward the areas that touch her heart most, promoting clothing and other items that are ethically made.

In addition to her goal of transitioning Polka Dots to exclusively vetted and ethically made products, Hinze hopes to continue working with local organizations such as House of Promise. Her business goal is to donate 10 percent of her profits each year to a local nonprofit.

“There are a lot of companies that don’t want to explain their manufacturing, these are critical details and policies that aren’t always at the forefront or inquired about. So, I must still find that every single season. I don’t always like what I use for a season, but it’s going to continue to be my mission to never stop, so that every bit of what the store provides can one day be 100 percent ethically sourced and made.”

Hinze practices what she preaches, and this aspect of her is what she hopes will become a tangible example for her family to follow. Her own

children can be quite involved in assisting her store efforts in a way that simply wasn’t feasible when operating in a law firm.

Photo by Mary Gajda

“With owning my own store, I can involve my children in a way I couldn’t when I worked in law, where you don’t really want your kids exposed to all that line of work can entail. But now, they can come to work with me and help try on different things and help in ways that are flexible and warming as a family,” said Hinze.

Hinze encourages fellow entrepreneurs and business owners that it’s never too late to make their own impact in the world. She encourages that they start by looking at the preciousness in their lives and finding a need that should be filled — one they are passionate about.

“I think for a substantial portion of people, we can tend to take a lot of things for granted and be absorbed in our own little world. Not everybody is able to do that, but it’s not some divide between countries; it’s a human condition,” Hinze said.

“I think that’s what inspired me to go in this direction, that it could be my child or that a bad situation could be ours with a simple change of circumstance.’”

Jennifer Hinze, owner Polka Dots Boutique received the Socially Responsible Entrepreneur Award at the 24th Annual Entrepreneurial Awards on March 8.

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LEADERSHIP AWARDS

PUSHING PAST LIMITS TO PURSUE LEADERSHIP

BY KRISTINE RICHMOND

The Leadership Award was added to the growing list of prestigious awards presented during the Greater Lansing Entrepreneurial Awards on March 8. This year’s honoree is a forerunner having become one of the first women in her industry to lead Okemos-based, North Winds Heating & Cooling to the success it is today. Barbara Krejcik, president of North Winds Heating & Cooling (North Winds), never let the challenges she encountered on her journey prevent her from pursuing her passion.

taught me how to treat clients with genuine kindness and the importance of providing outstanding and timely service. I was hooked.

Deep down I was always going to be a nurturer, [since] good nurturers make good leaders. At that time, I saw how gratifying it can be to help people. No one wants to not have any heat or cooling, so when that situation happens, generally people are not happy. What my dad taught me early on is that we can make that experience better,” said Krejcik.

Krejcik grew up in the HVAC industry. At the age of 10, she began working alongside her father in the family business. It was during this time that her love for the industry and small business began.

During her high school and college years, while other kids were out having fun, Krejcik was learning the various aspects of running a small business. She struggled with seeing herself as a leader although she knew she’d be working with the company in some capacity, probably doing secretarial work like the few other women did in her industry. Yet with her

“I started my first day by answering the phone when I was home sick from school. My father

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personality and being as driven as she was, she wanted more. After high school, she went to college to pursue public relations at Michigan State University, but her life was about to change.

“My dad called me and said our CPA had passed away unexpectedly and he needed my help with the bookkeeping. At that point I wasn't sure I could take it on because this was a lot of responsibility,” said Krejcik. “I decided at that moment I was going to help him and learn the business well. Soon after that, I learned the financial part, which is a major component of the business. I started wearing more hats, almost like an office manager, overseeing some of the dispatching and things like that. I would still go to business and technical classes, and I would still be the only girl in the room. I thought to myself, 'Is this possible?'"

2018 GREATER LANSING ENTREPRENEURIAL AWARDS SPECIAL SECTION

It was not until quite a few years later, that another pivotal happened that would change the entire trajectory of her career.

"I was working with a business coach, who said to me, ‘You know you have a lot of leadership skills, have you thought about taking over the business?' I’d always thought of being a part of it, but I wasn’t sure if I was capable at that moment. What I loved about it was that he pushed me out of my comfort zone. He said, ‘I think the plan should be to work a couple of years in each position, so you all around know the entire company,’” said Krejcik.

Over the years, Krejcik served in many roles from dispatcher to service manager, bookkeeper, sales coordinator, sales consultant, human resources and office manager. In 2012, she transitioned to vice president and then took over for her father as president in 2016.

Krejcik attributes North Winds' growth and success to expanding on the most profitable products and services offered and focusing on presenting their clients with the most up-to-date, advanced HVAC technology. She continues to work on diversifying her team;

having hired and trained the only female HVAC advisor in her community. In an effort to replace an aging workforce, Krejcik created an in-house training program which actively recruits new talent and gives them the opportunity to train with their experienced staff. She has updated the company’s website, improved the logo, created a tagline and expanded their business model to include educating homeowners and business owners on the importance of maintaining a safe, comfortable and energy efficient HVAC system through community outreach and social media.

When asked what winning the Leadership Award meant to her, Krejcik said, “I was thrilled to receive the award especially because it was for leadership. It was especially gratifying because of the amazing company I was with - there were so many fabulous businesses and other leaders. There are so many aspects of business that are fabulous – when you are leading a company, you work hard every day to hone in on your leadership skills if you are a good leader. You always hope you are doing the right thing, but it's hard. To be recognized for something like that was really gratifying.”

Photo by Mary Gajda

Barbara Krejcik, president of North Winds Heating & Cooling (North Winds), received the Leadership Award at the 24th Annual Entrepreneurial Awards on March 8.

LOOKING OUT...

FOR OUR CLIENTS.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2018 AWARD RECIPIENTS!

BROWNFIELD DEVELOPMENT | ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING | NATURAL RESOURCES TRITERRA.US L

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Hosts, Tiffany Dowling, President and CEO of M3 Group and Bob Hoffman, Public Relations Manager of Wharton Center

Molly Chan, owner and CEO of Alliance Payment Solutions (Alliance), HEAT and JoyRide Pedal Tours

Alisa Hickox, MSU student

Barbara Krejcik, president of North Winds Heating & Cooling (North Winds)

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2018 GREATER LANSING ENTREPRENEURIAL AWARDS SPECIAL SECTION

GREATER LANSING

ENTREPRENEURIAL AWARDS

Lauren Palmer, owner of Curvaceous Lingerie

Businesses come in all shapes and sizes, with unique missions and selling propositions. The one thing every business has in common is their undeniable position as the lifeblood of local economy. Whether it’s a car dealership, an engineering firm, a bakery or anything in between; their work begins with an idea, passion and willingness to take a risk.

Companies in the greater Lansing region have the amazing spirit and determination to make a big impact. These characteristics hold true among the winners of the 2018 Greater Lansing Entrepreneurial Award Dinner.

Photos by Mary Gajda

Mark Winkelman, President of Better Made Snack Foods

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2018 GREATER LANSING ENTREPRENEURIAL AWARDS SPECIAL SECTION

Photos by Skylar Kohagen

Kellie Johnson, Stacey Newman, Susan Hengesbach and Bill Dubois

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2018 GREATER LANSING ENTREPRENEURIAL AWARDS SPECIAL SECTION

JILL MARLAN CEO and Founder of Peak Performance

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2018 GREATER LANSING ENTREPRENEURIAL AWARDS SPECIAL SECTION

Jill Marlan, CEO and founder of Peak Performance Physical Therapy of Lansing, was the 2017 Greater Lansing Monthly Entrepreneur of the Year. Marlan has been trained extensively in her field and is a distinguished, multiple award winner. A crowning accomplishment has been her role in the development of the “Translatoric Spinal Manipulation” textbook currently used in physical therapy doctoral educational programs. We decided to check in with Marlan a year after winning her award to see what has changed and get some advice for entrepreneurs.

WHAT HAS CHANGED IN THE YEAR SINCE YOU WON YOUR GLBM ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR AWARD?

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We are excited to be working with a wellknown company to assist in bringing some changes to the way medicine is delivered to our local area. Stay tuned for what’s to come over the next few months! Also, we

CONSIDER THIS OUR VERSION OF A HIGH FIVE, STANDING “O” AND CHEST BUMP ALL IN ONE. Huntington congratulates all of the 2018 Lansing Business Monthly Entrepreneur Awards recipients. Thank you for making our community that much stronger.

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"I WOULD SAY THAT THE CLIMB IS DIFFICULT, THAT IT’S A CHALLENGE, AND I DON’T KNOW IF IT EVER STOPS. BUT THERE IS A REASON YOU START A COMPANY; IT’S BECAUSE YOU HAVE A PASSION TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE." are adding a second location in Okemos that will be directly next to Playmakers.

WHAT WILL THAT FACILITY BE LIKE? We’re going to have about a 6,000 square foot facility. In some relationships, we’re going to collaborate with Playmakers regarding educational forums and different community events there. We’re going to share about a

1,500 square foot educational forum center there, which will be connected to their good form walking and running offices and training centers.

HOW GOING ON AT THE CURRENT FACILITY? This practice is continuing to grow. Some of our best referrals are from patients who have

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL AWARD RECIPIENTS AND NOMINEES!

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come here and experienced the difference of hands on physical therapy with therapeutic movement exercise. I think they feel this experience is superior to anywhere else they’ve ever been, and they send other people.

WHAT DO YOU THINK MAKES YOU A SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEUR? Hard work and grit; it’s not easy. It’s not that you are superhuman, but to me it’s really about persistence. There are many times it will be easy to quit. Maybe the average person would, but it’s that person that persists until they get the product that you want that becomes successful.

CAN YOU RELAX A LITTLE WHEN YOU’VE REACHED THAT POINT? I don’t think you are ever there. I think that is what makes entrepreneurs different. There are so many people out there whose lives we

2018 GREATER LANSING ENTREPRENEURIAL AWARDS SPECIAL SECTION

haven’t touched. They aren’t getting the care they need, they aren’t getting the compassion they need or hands-on treatment. I don’t know if I’ll ever think I’ve made it. I think if you feel like you’ve arrived, then it might be a problem.

WITH YOUR SCHEDULE, DO YOU GET TO HAVE ANY FUN? I think as an entrepreneur, your fun is your day-to-day – there are perks, there is flexibility with your hours being your own boss. But my work and my profession is all of me. There are some weeks I’m 100 percent in work, my husband, Russ, and my kids, Carson, 10, and Leighton ,8, are so supportive. If it wasn’t for them, I couldn’t be here. But there are times I need to be all in with my family.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE ENTREPRENEURS WHO ARE JUST STARTING TO BUILD THEIR BRANDS?

I would say that the climb is difficult, that it’s a challenge, and I don’t know if it ever stops.

But there is a reason you start a company; it’s because you have a passion to make a difference. Rely on that persistence and consistently go back to your mission. Never lose site of the mission as to why you started.

WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN FIVE YEARS? I have big dreams for the company. I’m a very logical dreamer. I try to back up my dreams with data. I make calculated risks. But the data for health care is startling in diagnostic medicine. Someone who is referred for an MRI, X-ray, CT or some sort of diagnostic testing for pain, is four times more likely to have an invasive procedure, such as surgery or injections. If someone is sent to physical therapy as opposed to diagnostic tests, their chances of surgery or invasive measures decreases drastically, and the end results of these studies after three years is the same.

If one referral is changed at the time of someone having pain, that can dramatically decrease costs across the country. So, to me, I have a bigger picture of what I call flipping the pyramid. Instead of someone coming in after having surgery or injections and pain meds — if we can flip this model and the case is first sent to a manual physical therapist, who is properly trained in evaluations and hands-on physical care, then we can give someone their life back.

So, my bigger picture perspective looks at if we can flip this pyramid, and if we can do it right.

Mary Gajda Mary Gajda a multimedia specialist at M3 Group. She is a wife, mom and photographer who loves music, Pinterest and all things chocolate.

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FEATURE

THE INNER SANCTUM

BY KEN GLICKMAN

In our second installment of the Inner Sanctum – a series devoted to the unique stories of executive leaders and their private offices – we’ve visited two distinct examples.

One is a well-known economic development organization, the Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP), located in REO Town, just south of downtown Lansing. It is a beautifully rehabbed building that was built in 1918.

The other is a successful, agricultural manufacturing company, Agroliquid, sprawled out amongst the corn fields near St. Johns.

The beautiful new building speaks to the mission and values of the company that inhabits it.

Like the previous leaders we interviewed, executives Bob Trezise and Troy Bancroft are proud of their spaces and how they exemplify what their organizations are all about.

LEAP is the economic development arm for the city of Lansing and the tri-county area.

They are in the business of “selling” the local area to developers and companies who want to expand or relocate to the Greater Lansing

region. They arrange financing, scout out the right properties and play matchmaker between the companies and local government leaders.

When you first walk into LEAP’s office, the “urban chic” image of the space is immediate.

The open staircase that leads you to the second floor shows off exposed air ducts, brick walls and original hardwood floors. It’s an accessible and friendly environment, right off the bat.

Trezise meets Greater Lansing Business Monthly’s Multimedia Specialist Mary Gajda and I in his office, but he never sits at his desk; he’s a man on the move, showing us what makes his office special as he sits on a couch at a coffee table.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT YOUR OFFICE? On a weekly basis we have clients and prospects in, from out of the area, to start a decision-making process as to whether to invest in our region. So, when they arrive in our office, they feel good right away. The office is looking like it belongs to a big city. It feels creative, it feels cool, it feels urban.

By the way, the building almost burned down 20 years ago. We know how to do it – to rebuild. They feel it. I don’t have to say it.

The office is a part of our mission and vision. It represents who we’ve become: a global, cool, cosmopolitan environment.

We like looking over our shoulders and seeing General Motors making Cadillacs, the bustling riverfront and REO town. The office is fantastic for that – and despite the urban environment, we have free on-site parking.

DID YOU HAVE A SAY IN THE DESIGN OF THE SPACE? The first thing we did was pull up the carpeting, which immediately transformed the office. The original wood floors are wonderful.

Then, we took down the cubicles we wanted an open space. I hired someone to coordinate the color for the office. We have over a dozen skylights which added sunlight to the office.

WHAT PERSONAL ITEMS TO YOU HAVE IN THE OFFICE? The BWL power station rebuilding into the Accident Fund downtown was the pinnacle of One of the several pictures on Trezise's wall of serenity Photo by Mary Gajda

Exposed air ducts, brick walls and original hardwood floors Photo by Mary Gajda

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ROBERT TREZISE

Trezise and his office with his MSU wall - mostly basketball displayed behind him Photo by Mary Gajda

my career, so I have picture of that. I love Led Zeppelin, so their picture is here.

The picture of the elephant was done by one of my daughters. I call that space my wall of serenity.

PRESIDENT AND CEO LEAP

to start the day. We’re proud of our office.

It’s not my personal office. It’s available to the whole staff. They hold many meetings in here, and I just move out to the bullpen. We

see it as a communal office. I never want to sit behind a desk.

I’m proud of the office, and it makes me proud of the region.

And of course, I have my MSU wall – mostly basketball.

There’s some original art by a wonderful artist, Mary Gilles. She has a gallery down the street. I find her work intriguing.

HOW DOES THIS OFFICE MAKE YOU A BETTER LEADER? Because every one of my employees loves arriving in our office every morning. The office itself makes them feel good. It’s us together with a renewed sense of pride every morning

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TROY BANCROFT PRESIDENT AND CEO AgroLiquid

AgroLiquid makes liquid fertilizer for a wide array of plants, and the company feels a fervent desire to promote the rural and agricultural life. They have operations throughout the U.S. as well as in Belize, Canada and Mexico.

Driving up to their newly built (2013) world headquarters, you feel lost in the open fields until, suddenly, the huge building rises from the earth. It’s modern with lots of glass, slanted roofs and creative design elements.

The lobby is large and open with plenty of activity – school kids, an oversized electric train, memorabilia of farms and country life. We are led to Bancroft’s office, a surprisingly small space nestled in the corner of the building’s second floor.

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Father-in-law had the desk custom built for him back in the mid-90s Photo by Mary Gajda

DID YOU HAVE A HAND IN DESIGNING THE OFFICE? I did not design the office. My son in business with me contacted six design firms who interviewed us. We told them what we wanted out of the building. We wanted to embrace and recognize the historic legacy of the agricultural past and look at the nuances of the future in the same way.

If you look at the building’s west side, looking east, it looks nostalgic like an old barn; if you look at the east side, looking west, it looks

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Sculputure of Eagle Scout Photo by Mary Gajda

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very progressive – glass and suggestions of the agriculture of tomorrow. That was intentional.

Our customers love it and the community uses it, too, for events. We must reserve our own rooms for our own use. We didn’t realize there was such a need. We’ve had everything in here from high school proms to funerals. We also have five hotel rooms, for employees who live out of state and coming back for training.

WHAT IS PERSONAL ABOUT THIS OFFICE FOR YOU? The furniture. My father-in-law and my partner started the company and, he had this

Building is modern with lots of glass, slanted roofs and creative design elements Photo by Mary Gajda

Troy Bancroft in the boardroom at the AgroLiquid headquarters Photo by Mary Gajda

FEATURE

(We leave Bancroft’s private office as he gives us a tour of this unusual building.)

I’m in the corner of the building near the board room. I have a lot of traffic by my office, but I know if someone wants to see me that it is very intentional. They have a reason to be there.

In the board room, the table is made from wood of a barn floor. A lot of the wood in the building is reclaimed from somewhere. We have 13 acres here.

We have an area called the IQ Hub, which is meant to teach the history of agricultural products. We get 12,000 students in here per year. Fewer people are farmers today so kids don’t know where their food comes from. The lights are made of tractor wheels. The tables are barn wood and the carpets are made with a corn design.

HOW DOES THIS OFFICE MAKE YOU A BETTER LEADER? I walk around the office every day and say hello to every employee. desk custom built for him back in the mid-90s.

It’s got a lot of hidden compartments just like he liked. It’s walnut. I’ve retained it as a remembrance of him.

It was just something that I’ve enjoyed, and I intend to pass it on to my successor who will hopefully be one of my three sons, who are in business with me.

My father-in-law died of cancer, and a few years later I nearly died of a bacterial infection. I was in San Antonio, Texas at the time. My family came down to see me and my three sons, a lot younger then, put their big-boy pants on and stepped up to the plate.

Obviously, I survived the scare, but my boys have a much higher level of engagement than they would have otherwise.

The five pillars of my life are faith, family, friends, fertilizer and philanthropy. I want to be recognized for my contributions.

As they say, we are too soon old, too late smart.

Ken Glickman has been a free lance writer for many years, writing for national magazines as well as music and theater pieces for the Lansing State Journal. Also, Ken has been Sr. Talent Manager for the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) and now runs his own executive search and coaching business, Glickman Associates. k.samuelglickman@gmail.com

A CUT ABOVE the competition.

All my sons are eagle scouts, and you see those awards on the top shelf. There’s a picture of a scout master directing younger scouts. I think of that as myself, reminding myself to mentor that person that passes on knowledge and leadership.

There are personal accolades and a picture of a building to remind me of a fund raiser we held for a neighbor who had ALS. We raised $40,000, and that reminds us that we must give back.

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Oversized electric train in lobby Photo by Mary Gajda

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Bob Hoffman, creater of ePIFanyNow Photo by Mary Gajda

EPIFANYNOW A kinder world and a brighter future

BY ARIK HARDIN

Let’s face it; the world is a dark place these days. From cyberbullying and racism to horribleglobal tragedies, it gets harder every day for people to look on the bright side and see kindness in the world. Thankfully, there is a group working to combat that negativity one small step at a time: ePIFanyNow. ePIFanyNow promotes acts of service and kindness within communities. Through simple actions like holding a door or letting someone skip in line, supporters of ePIFanyNow seek to create positive and transformational experiences that help spread kindness to their own communities and throughout the world.

The soul of ePIFanyNow was conceived during a stressful moment. While Bob Hoffman was out in the world one day, he reacted negatively to someone that he felt wasn’t paying attention.

He quickly realized, just perhaps, that he also wasn’t paying attention.

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Hoffman created the organization along with hundreds of volunteers to help make midMichigan and communities across the country kinder to each other and within themselves.

“I just felt like, at that time, the world needed some goodness,” said Hoffman. “And, I think it’s even more so today that we need to have positive things that we hear about. There’s a lot of positivity that goes on in the world. We just don’t hear about it.” ePIFanyNow also holds an annual event to celebrate the acts of kindness that participants share. This year’s event on May 6 will boast awards, food and discussions of how ePIFanyNow has inspired kindness.

First, volunteers will share their experiences of being intentionally kind to strangers. Whether they did something small like returning a cart at a grocery store or they did something

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massive like helping someone pay off a mortgage, every speaker will be celebrated for the work they have done over the past year to make communities friendlier. Those that wish to attend the event are asked to do their random acts of kindness prior to the event, so they can all share their experiences and see the impact of kindness on others.

After these discussions, the board will announce the winner of the annual Youth Passing It Forward (Y-PIF) award, which recognizes a young person who spends their free time giving back to the community.

Nominees for the Y-PIF award must have come up with an initiative that helps people in their communities. For example, the 2017 recipient, Kanin Thelen, was given the award after she started singing to raise money for those battling cancer. After she learned that her voice coach was battling the disease, she

FEATURE

started taking requests and sang songs either in person or on video for those that donated money to her teacher.

Thelen's generosity didn’t stop with her coach. She's continued to sing and help those around her, including donating money to a classmate with leukemia and singing to patients in the Children’s Center at Sparrow Hospital. Through her voice, Thelen has helped to change the lives of many.

Applications for the Y-PIF award will be open until Monday, April 9. In addition to the honor of the award and the recognition received at the event, the recipient will win a total of $1,000. Half of the prize money will go toward a cause of choice, either to continue funding efforts or as an opportunity to expand efforts. The other half will go to the child's school, and, along with their administration, the winner will get to brainstorm an initiative they will implement using the prize earnings. The kindness spread will not only be felt by the classmates, but by the community.

Aside from honoring youth, there are plans to present the ePIFanyNow Hero Award. The award, which was created to honor people with missions like ePIFanyNow, will be given in honor of the late Chris Rosati.

Rosati, who battled ALS for many years, devised a plan to steal a Krispy Kreme truck and give donuts to children in his community to spread joy and kindness. Thankfully, his plan did not happen exactly as planned, since Krispy Kreme donated a truck and 1,000 donuts. And his work did not stop.

Rosati soon started giving local schools Butterfly Grants, too; although small at $50, these grants allowed students to spread kindness among their peers. This initiative became so popular that it has since spread to dozens of schools across the country, allowing Rosati’s influence to affect not only his own community but the world at large.

Unfortunately, Rosati passed away from ALS last year; to honor his work, ePIFanyNow has created the Hero Award to thank him for making the world kinder. Rosati’s wife, Anna,

will be honored at the upcoming event, and she will give a speech on behalf of her late husband. The work that Rosati did with his last years of life will be felt for generations to come. ePIFanyNow is proud to celebrate his unwavering commitment to global kindness.

If you would like to get involved with a vital organization that is dedicated to kindness throughout the world, there a few things you can easily do: go to ePIFanyNow.org, and look at ideas for random acts of kindness that you can perform in your life; spread the word among friends and family, so that we can all work toward a kinder future; and join ePIFanyNow's event on May 6, which will be held from 1-3 p.m. at the MSU Federal Credit Union in East Lansing, Michigan. To RSVP for the event, visit ePIFanyNow.org.

Arik Hardin has a BA in English from Michigan State University. As he works towards a career in publishing, he spends his time reading voraciously, re-watching his favorite movies and cuddling his two beloved dogs.

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VISUAL BREAKDOWN

HABITS OF SUCCESSFUL

Entrepreneurs If you look at some of the most successful entrepreneurs to date, it is striking what they all have in common (outside of their obvious wealth).

WAKE UP EARLY Notable early risers include Walt Disney Company CEO Robert Iger and Apple CEO Tim Cook, who rolls out of bed before 4 a.m. every day to look through his mail, work out and drink coffee before his work day.

Robert Iger

FOLLOW A SCHEDULE 5 MIN BLOCKS

Elon Musk — founder and CEO of SpaceX and co-founder, CEO and product architect of Tesla — schedules his day in five minute blocks.

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Facebook Co-Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg is said to wear the same outfit every single day.

Mark Zuckerberg

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EXERCISE Virgin Group Founder Richard Branson wakes up early to swim, kite, surf or play tennis.

Richard Branson Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, does an hour of cardio six days per week.

Anna Wintour Vogue’s Editor-inChief Dame Anna Wintour, DBE, plays an hour of tennis almost every day.

VISUAL BREAKDOWN

READ

NETWORK Jeff Bezos

Oprah

Everyone loves an entrepreneurial success story á la Amazon’s Jeff Bezos or former Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Huffington Post Arianna Huffington. They would be the first to tell you that they didn't get where they are today without connecting and building their networks.

Oprah has long touted a book club

growthink.com reports

Bill Gates

79%

of the wealthy networks for five hours or more a month.

Bill Gates believes reading one book a week is doable.

HARD WORK AND DETERMINATION according to growthink.com

81%

of the wealthy take time to read daily.

63%

listen to audio books during commutes, workouts, etc.

Seeing famous names may make one assume that those names were born with silver spoons in their mouths, but many vehemently express they came from beyond humble beginnings and worked hard to develop their businesses and brands.

DONATE Successful people allot time to give back to the community through charities, volunteer agencies and donations.

After all, the reciprocal nature of the relationship between philanthropy and business means that doing good and doing well become one and the same.

Compiled by Mary Gajda | Graphics by Jeanette Wummel & Heather Thielking | Sources: Inc.com, entrepreneur.com, The Huffington Post, forbes.com, growthink.com, businessinsider.com

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Big names like Beyoncé, Tory Burch and Melinda Gates have given their time and efforts to causes important to them.

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INFRASTRUCTURE: A CRITICAL PIECE OF THE PUZZLE

BY STEVE JAPINGA

Congratulations to this year’s Greater Lansing Entrepreneurial Award recipients! Going into business is no easy task, and success is hard to achieve. Kudos on being recognized for your challenging work and accomplishments.

In the Greater Lansing region, the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce (LRCC) and Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP) continue to collaborate to create an environment where entrepreneurs and businesses can thrive.

The Chamber is proud to support entrepreneurs and new businesses through a variety of member benefits: Connecting and networking with fellow business owners at LRCC events; savings through the exclusive Member Benefit Programs; providing online B2B and B2C opportunities through the Lansing Marketplace; public policy support and guidance; and the Chamber University business education series, which tackles important business topics including cybersecurity, overtime rules, tax reform, social media marketing and creating a positive organizational culture, along with other issues facing today’s business owners. To learn more about member opportunities and benefits, visit lansingchamber.org.

Our partners at LEAP are a valuable resource for entrepreneurs, helping early startups

with business support and working to attract new businesses to the region. LEAP recently announced a new initiative, Fund Lansing, which uses the crowd-funding platform Kiva to leverage private loans and crowdfunding, and invests in our region’s entrepreneurial efforts. To learn more on this opportunity, visit purelansing.com/Fund-Lansing.

While it is important to create a positive ecosystem that will retain future entrepreneurs, allow current businesses to thrive and attract new businesses to the region, having the right infrastructure is a critical piece of the puzzle. Infrastructure, including roads and sidewalks, plays a significant role in attracting and retaining future talent — in the form of entrepreneurs and new businesses.

Everyone in Michigan is aware that our roads, sidewalks and bridges are in desperate need of repair and require long-term investment. As the LRCC government relations team researched road funding for our region (Clinton, Eaton and Ingham counties), it was discovered that Greater Lansing has been severely underfunded compared to other regions in the state. According to the Washington D.C.-based nonprofit TRIP, the tri-county region has $483 million in road projects that lack adequate funding.

The lack of road and infrastructure investment will limit our ability to enhance economic development opportunities and quality of life throughout our region. In response to this report, the Capitol Council of Governments (CAPCOG) — which consists of Clinton, Eaton and Ingham County Board of Commissioners, the Chamber and Michigan State University — has made it a priority to unite our region and focus efforts on working together to address challenges. One of the areas that CAPCOG will focus on is advocating for equitable state funding for roads and infrastructure for our region at the State Legislature.

For our region to be successful, we must continue to work across geographic and political boundary lines because collaboration is no longer optional; it is essential to our region’s growth.

Steve Japinga is Director of Government Relations for the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce. He is responsible for developing and managing the Chamber’s policy priorities as well as monitoring local, state, and federal issues that may impact the business community and the Greater Lansing region. He is a graduate of Michigan State University and lives in Lansing with his wife Katherine and dogs, Charlie and George.

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BUSINESS CALENDAR

APRIL 2018 APRIL 4

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APRIL 19

ENTREPRENEUR'S POCKET GUIDE: HOW TO CREATE AN APP WITH CHRIS FRITZ, EAST LANSING

ENTREPRENEUR'S POCKET GUIDE: SELLING ON AMAZON WITH NEIL KANE, EAST LANSING

LANSING LEADERSHIP FORUM, LANSING

Spartan Innovations has developed a new workshop series to help entrepreneurs follow the road to success. Learn the basics and overview of options for creating an app.

Chris Fritz will lead this workshop. For more information, visit spartaninnovations.org.

Spartan Innovations has developed a new workshop series to help entrepreneurs follow the road to success. Learn how to sell on Amazon.

Neil Kane, director of MSU Undergraduate Entrepreneurship, will lead this workshop. For more information, visit spartaninnovations.org.

APRIL 5 SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING FROM FACEBOOK WITH SPARTAN INNOVATIONS & GRAND CIRCUS, EAST LANSING Spartan Innovations is thrilled to partner with Grand Circus and Facebook to offer this fourweek Social Media Marketing Workshop. This workshop is free for everyone and open to the public at the MSU Innovation Center. Please note that attendees should be prepared and must attend each session. Sessions will be held on April 5, April 9, April 23 and April 26 from 5 to 9 p.m. For more information, visit spartaninnovations.org.

APRIL 10 THE PATH TO A BRILLIANT BUSINESS, LANSING Learn how to be rigorous and increase the number of leads you get from referral partners.

We teach fundamental insights and simple implementation tools that will enable you to get what you want more quickly with less pain and agony. For more information, visit eventbrite. com/e/the-path-to-a-brilliant-business-tickets43639816867?aff=es2.

APRIL 10

APRIL 12 PACE AWARDS 2018, LANSING The PACE Awards are mid-Michigan's highest honor of public relations activities and are awarded annually to practitioners who, in the judgment of their (out-of-state) peers, have successfully addressed a contemporary issue with exemplary professional skill, creativity and resourcefulness. Mark your calendars for the 2018 PACE Awards Ceremony held Thursday, April 12, at The Cadillac Room in REO Town.

The Gallery of Entries opens at 4:30 p.m. and the ceremony begins at 6 p.m. For more information, visit cmprsa.com.

APRIL 18 INNOVATE STATE WITH STEPHANIE MORLEY, EAST LANSING Stephanie L. Morley, DVM is the chief operations officer and vice president of product development with Zomedica, a veterinary health care solutions company. A trained veterinarian with instinctive business acumen, Dr. Morley is known as a transformational leader, experienced in building high-growth startups, viable business units and overseeing departments with 600 plus staff and annual budgets totaling $40 million in operating expenses. For more information, visit spartaninnovations.org.

SPORTS BUSINESS LUNCHEON ANDRE HUTSON, LANSING Join Andre Hutson, Founder/Partner, Conquest Fitness, and who was also on the 2000 Michigan State Men's Basketball NCAA National Championship Team, for the Sports Business Luncheon. Andre will be speaking on business after playing basketball for many years. Taking place at Eagle Eye Golf course from 11:30 to 1:30. For more information, visit michiganbusinessnetwork.com.

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APRIL 19 MSU INNOVATION CELEBRATION 2018, EAST LANSING The Innovation Celebration at Michigan State University showcases innovative technologies and startups developed in campus labs, classrooms and beyond. This event is open to all ages. For more information, visit innovationcenter.msu.edu/.

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Taking place in the Cadillac Room on Washington Avenue, The Lansing Leadership Forum is a workshop for leaders to improve on their leadership skills and increase the productivity of their teams.

For more information, contact brian. williamson@giantworldwide.com or tom.blaylock@giantworldwide.com.

APRIL 24 PROJECT MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONAL (PMP) BOOT CAMP, LANSING The PMP training course is designed to ensure that you pass the PMP exam on the first try. For more information about Project Management training courses, please e-mail support@eduscil.com or call (713) 955-5753.

APRIL 24 SPRING CLIENT MEETING, LANSING Topics for the meeting will include economic and investment updates, recent tax law changes, long-term care considerations and other financial planning topics. The meeting starts promptly at 11:00 a.m., with lunch to follow.

Friends and family members welcome! For more information, visit acadviser.com.

APRIL 28 LEAN IN LANSING, LANSING Lean in Lansing is a professional development and peer mentorship group for motivated women from the Greater Lansing area. A community of driven women empowering each other to grow in their leadership development.

For more information and to sign up for meeting notices visit leanincircles.org/circle/ lean-in-lansing.

APRIL 30 MICHIGAN EIBC 6TH ANNUAL MEMBER MEETING, LANSING This full-day conference - our most popular event of the year - provides attendees an opportunity to network, learn about innovations in advanced energy and get an overview on the latest policy developments. For more information, please contact Nicole Forward at nicole@mieibc.org.

BUSINESS CALENDAR

CHILDREN’S TRUST FUND OF MICHIGAN 16TH ANNUAL

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ANNUAL HGB HEART HEALTH LUNCH PRESENTATION CELEBRATES AMERICAN HEART MONTH

American Heart Month. To learn more about the hospitals or upcoming events, visit Sparrow (sparrow.org) or HGB (hgbhealth.com). Visit myalive.com for more information and directions to AL!VE.

Hayes Green Beach Memorial Hospital (HGB) hosted its fifth annual Heart Health Event in collaboration with Sparrow Health System to celebrate American Heart Month on Thursday, Feb. 15. Community members were invited to attend the free, interactive lunch-and-learn presentation at AL!VE in Charlotte, Mich. The panel presentation featured experts from midMichigan’s only intensive cardiac rehabilitation program, including Cardiologist James A. Schafer, M.D., FACC, of the Sparrow Thoracic and Cardiovascular Institute.

LANSING REGIONAL CHAMBER ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE, OUTSTANDING SMALL BUSINESS AND LEGACY AWARDS

The panel discussed the physical, nutritional and psychological factors that affect cardiovascular health, as well as preventive measures to reduce risks of heart disease.

During the month of February, HGB also displayed red lights at its main entrance, and AL!VE lit up its sculpture INSPIRE to honor

The Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce (LRCC) announced the recipients of three major awards, which were presented at an annual Dinner on Tuesday, Feb. 27. The 2018 award recipients include: • Jim Robinson, Community Service Award • Byrum Builders, Outstanding Small Business Award • Greater Lansing Association of Realtors®, Legacy Award

ATHENA WIN 2018 board of directors

ATHENA WIN ANNOUNCES 2018 BOARD MEMBERS ATHENA WIN is proud to announce their 2018 board of directors. Founded in Lansing under the original principles of ATHENA International to support, develop and honor women leaders, while inspiring and encouraging women to achieve their full potential, ATHENA WIN is a collaborative effort to provide a support system for professional women in the Greater Lansing area. ATHENA WIN focuses on offering information, support and opportunities to women in business, whether advice on getting started or assistance in stepping up to the next level.

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Front row, left to right: Debbie Horak, professional growth and development; Melissa Nay, past chair; Tansay Carter, Evening of Empowerment; Courtney Millbrook, Connections. Back row: Mandy Emmert, WIN admin; Hope Loveall, professional growth and development; Abby Daughterty, finance; Jennifer Bennett, marketing; Michelle Reynaert, membership; Jennifer Sturdy, chair; Jenn Dubey, Girls Night Out; Lynn Henley, secretary. Not Pictured: Mary Shinkle, membership.

MICHIGAN CERTIFIED DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION WELCOMES DUANE HUMMEL The Michigan Certified Development Corporation (MCDC) is pleased to announce the addition of Duane Hummel as underwriter. Hummel will work out of the East Lansing Corporate Headquarters.

His responsibilities will include financial analysis of loan applicants, eligibility determination, loan packaging and working with organizations to get loans approved.

Hummel comes to the MCDC from the JPMorgan Chase Bank where he served over 35 years, most recently as a business-banking relationship manager.

He received his bachelor's degree in business administration and management from the University of Michigan (Flint) and his Master of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University.

LANSING URGENT CARE ANNOUNCES ARRIVAL OF SEVENTH CLINIC

"Duane's background and experience make him an ideal fit for MCDC," said MCDC President Mark Williams. "His addition is a tremendous gain to our staff and for Michigan businesses."

In continued efforts to provide the best service, care and patient experience possible, Dr. Terry Matthews and Catherine Matthews officially announced the arrival of their newest Lansing Urgent Care facility located in Mason, Mich. This will be the seventh Lansing Urgent Care location, one of which includes the area's only 24/7 urgent care facility on Clippert Street, near the Frandor Shopping Center.

DEWPOINT WELCOMES NEW EMPLOYEES TO LANSING Dewpoint, a leading provider of technology consulting and implementation solutions, is pleased to welcome several new employees to Lansing and Grand Rapids: Robert Callejas Mike Deemer Darius Davis Kevin Wilmoth Dominick Henry Rick Clayton Michael Parker Bryan Morrison

Rebecca Hill Kevin Fitzgerald Benjamin Hook Jason Miller Matthew Drake Dewayne Gray Patrick Vondette

“Many of you know that every time we open another clinic, Catherine and I say, ‘That'll be the last one.’ We truly feel that every time.” states Dr. Matthews. “However, after a little time passes, the desire to create more jobs and provide our services to other communities we aren't regularly reaching tugs at us. Since 2006, we've been asked to bring urgent care services to Mason, so we’re really excited to serve that community while creating more job opportunities.”

Their seventh location will be located next to Snap Fitness in the Mason Plaza at 132 S. Cedar St., Ste. 3 in Mason. This facility will mirror

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craftsmen and women are among the best in the business, and this recognition – shared by every team member – feels like true validation of that conviction.”

all other Lansing Urgent Care offices, offering minor injury and illness health care services to surrounding communities. It will also feature on-site lab and x-ray services, on-site medications and their standard of compassionate, highlyskilled staff. Patients will also be able to use Lansing Urgent Care’s new online check-in feature available at LUC123.com.

CHRISTMAN CONSTRUCTORS INC. RECEIVES GOLDEN TROWEL AWARD Skilled trades contractor Christman Constructors Inc. (CCI), a subsidiary of the Christman family of companies (Christman), announced that it has earned the prestigious 2017 Golden Trowel Award for achieving the highest industry standards in concrete floor construction, including the setting of two different world records. The award was presented on Jan. 25, 2018 in Las Vegas by award sponsor, The Face® Companies (Face), at the international World of Concrete conference for concrete and masonry professionals. The award, given annually in recognition of the flattest and most level floor slabs produced in the world, represents work

Top row, left to right: Kris Snyder – Christman Constructors, Inc. (CCI) Concrete Finisher; Mike Cornell – CCI Finisher Superintendent; Chris Bailey – CCI Project Manager; Bottom row, left to right: Chad Pethers – CCI Concrete Finisher; Jay Allen – Allen Engineering Corporation; Anne Brown – Planning and Project Controls Manager; and Al Koveleski – CCI Field Technology and Quality Manager

performed at the Pfizer B541 Warehouse Expansion project in Kalamazoo, Mich.

“We are so proud of the world-class expertise and leadership within our skilled concrete team,” said Steve Roznowski, Christman;s president and CEO. “We have long believed these talented

The Golden Trowel Award was presented for performance on a large, defined-traffic floor.

Developed as a technology by Face beginning in 1982, the “F Number” digital technology used for measuring flatness and levelness on modern “superflat” concrete floors have since become the industry standard.

THE LANSING BRIDAL ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES 2017 BUSINESSES OF THE YEAR The Lansing Bridal Association recently announced their choices for Business of the Year in 14 categories, including Ceremony Location, Flowers, DJs, Wedding Planning, Photography and more. This is an acknowledgement of the astounding work of seasoned wedding professionals.

CATEGORIES AND WINNERS: Ceremony Location: Bridge Street Wedding Chapel

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Bridal Gowns: Pierre’s Bridal Prom & Tuxedo Menswear: Baryames Tuxedo Decoration/Rentals: Barbs Designs LLC Wedding Planning: Bashes by Barblie LLC Flowers: Smith Floral Banquet Centers: The Northfork Estate DJ/Live Music: Complete Weddings & Events Photography: Hawkins Photography Health/Beauty: Fahrenheit Massage Hotel: Quality Suites Officiants: Chaplain Dave Downing

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MANER COSTERISAN GROWS TALENT AND SERVICES WITH NEW HIRES Maner Costerisan, a full-service public accounting and business advisory firm, is excited

to announce the addition of three employees that grow the organization’s talent pool and client-based capabilities: Sarah Casby, recruiting and HR administrator; Jeff Allen, CPA, audit department senior manager; and Cole Williams, associate in the tax department.

“Sarah’s expertise in human resources and Cole’s addition to the tax department are valuable assets to our firm and clients.

We’re also delighted to welcome back Jeff, who began his career with us over a decade ago,” CASBY said Jeffrey Stevens, president of Maner Costerisan. “We value relationships as the drivers of clients’ successes — that begins and ends with our own people.”

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Allen, 33, was with Maner Costerisan for nine years before leaving to serve as a corporate controller for Centurion Medical Products.

Previously at the Rush University Medical ALLEN Center in Chicago, Casby, 33, has built a wealth of administrative experience since 2006. She received her MBA from Madonna University and her bachelor’s degree from Central Michigan University.

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Williams, 25, begins his career in Maner Costerisan’s tax department as an associate. Formerly with Fifth Third Bank, he graduated from Grand Valley State University in 2017 with a master’s degree WILLIAMS in accounting and completed his undergraduate studies at Michigan State University.

BERGMANN EARNS MDOTACEC PARTNERSHIP CHARTER AWARD The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the American Council of Engineering Companies of Michigan (ACEC/M) presented Bergmann with a 2018 MDOT-ACEC Partnership Charter Award at the MDOT-ACEC Partnership Conference in February. Bergmann, a

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national architecture, engineering and planning firm, was recognized for its role on the bridge portion of MDOT’s I-75 reconstruction project in Monroe County.

The project included reconstruction of 5.6 miles of I-75, along with bridge replacement and widening, culvert replacement and ramp reconstruction. The Bergmann team oversaw the reconstruction and rehabilitation of five structures on I-75 in Monroe County.

Hospital received a five-star award for the quality of care in its Inpatient Medical/Surgical Unit, while the Sparrow Clinton Hospital was honored with a four-star award for its Emergency Department. Five-star awards are given to those organizations who rank in the top 10 percent of PRC’s database of health care organizations. Four-star awards are given to those in the top 25 percent.

MSUFCU SECOND CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS PROJECT EARNS 2017 BUILD MICHIGAN AWARD Granger Construction of Lansing (Granger) was recognized by the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Michigan with the prestigious 2017

Bergmann was a co-winner of the Partnership Charter Award with HNTB, which led the project’s highway work. Both firms contracted directly with MDOT, which also received an award for its role in the project’s partnership.

AECOM and Somat Engineering were subcontractors to Bergmann for the bridge part of the project.

“We appreciate the opportunity to work with MDOT to deliver infrastructure improvement projects throughout the state of Michigan,” said Jeremy Hedden, Midwest Region infrastructure vice president at Bergmann. “This award is particularly meaningful because it recognizes the successful results from our collaboration with clients and partners.”

SPARROW FASTCARE, COMMUNITY HOSPITALS RECEIVE NATIONAL HONORS FOR PATIENT SATISFACTION Sparrow, its FastCare practices and its Carson City, Clinton and Ionia Community Hospitals have been honored with numerous awards, from a national organization that tracks top scores for patient satisfaction. The hospitals received the honors from Professional Research Consultants Inc. during the annual PRC Excellence in Healthcare Conference.

The PRC Excellence in Healthcare Awards are nationally recognized honors, presented to organizations and individuals who have achieved excellence in patient-satisfaction scores in the prior year. Overall, Sparrow Health System received 11 awards. They included the Top Performer Award to George Smith, M.D., at Sparrow Family Health Center Mason, and quality honors to Sparrow Rehabilitation Services in DeWitt. Also receiving awards for overall quality of care were Sparrow FastCare in DeWitt, Okemos and downtown Lansing.

The Sparrow Carson Hospital was honored with Five-Star Excellence Awards for Inpatient Services (two awards), the Emergency Department and IV Therapy. The Sparrow Ionia

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Build Michigan Award for the MSU Federal Credit Union (MSUFCU) Second Corporate Headquarters project in East Lansing. The award was presented during AGC’s annual meeting on Friday, Feb. 16 at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center. The Build Michigan Award recognizes the excellence of an entire project team throughout the state.

“It is a privilege to receive one of the most prominent awards in our industry,” said Granger

President and CEO Glenn Granger. “We are incredibly honored.”

As MSUFCU’s go-to construction manager, Granger was selected in a non-competitive negotiation to construct a second corporate headquarters on the company’s current campus.

The three-story, 186,350 square foot building will help meet the demands of the growing membership base and can house 564 employees over the next 10-12 years. The project was

completed in September 2017 using a variety of high-efficiency, environmentally-friendly and locally-sourced products.

“This project illustrates safety innovation, lean construction processes and outstanding success, based on the extraordinary teamwork of our project team,” said Jeff Tuley, Granger’s senior project manager. “The renovated facility, which features a high-profile radiused curtainwall and raised floor system, is designed to accommodate staffing changes as MSUFCU continues to grow. The innovative design mirrors MSUFCU’s vision to provide a forward-thinking experience for its clientele.”

Build Michigan Award entries are judged on: meeting the challenges of a difficult job, excellence in project management, innovation in construction techniques, sensitivity to the environment, responsiveness to client needs and the contractor’s contribution to the community.

CRITICAL VICTORIES’ JOHN COLLINS RELEASES NEW BOOK ON AMAZON: “HR MANAGEMENT IN THE FORENSIC SCIENCE LABORATORY” Published by Academic Press, “HR Management in the Forensic Science Laboratory - A 21st Century Approach to Effective Crime Lab Leadership,” is now available on Amazon. com. Written by John COLLINS Collins, SHRM-SCP, founder and CEO of Critical Victories, the 500-page volume guides administrators in sharpening their leadership methods in the high-stakes field of forensic science.

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According to the Department of Justice, forensic laboratories annually support over three million U.S. criminal cases. Labs become less responsive to the needs of law enforcement when they are not managed well, which slows down resolving a case or arresting a perpetrator. Collins’ book will help managers understand how the niche profession works even if they are from non-forensic backgrounds — transitioning scientists and executives alike into more efficient workplace leaders.

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“I've already been contacted by forensic laboratory administrators, in the U.S. and overseas, seeking information,” said Collins. “I

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expect that this book will … improve how they support and manage their forensic laboratories.”

Collins began his own forensic career in 1993 at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation after graduating from Michigan State University in 1992. His experiences have led to over a quarter century of service in criminal justice and human resources, including his former role as director of forensic science at the Michigan State Police.

For additional information on “HR Management in the Forensic Science Laboratory,” visit amazon.com. To learn more about how Collins’ coaching techniques and unique style help organizations achieve perfection under pressure, visit criticalvictories.com.

GREATER LANSING CVB AND SPORTS AUTHORITY ANNOUNCE RECORD BREAKING YEAR AND COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS The Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau (Greater Lansing CVB) held its annual

meeting on Feb. 22 and announced good news for the local economy and recognized numerous individuals with awards for their vision, dedication and loyalty to the Greater Lansing region.

The Greater Lansing region experienced a 1.72 percent increase in year-to-date area lodging occupancy, breaking last year’s record high for a new community record of 65.1 percent, according to Smith Travel Research (STR) data. Additionally, the Greater Lansing region experienced a 3 percent increase in Average Daily Rate (ADR), or average cost per available hotel room. In 2017, ADR was reported at $106.32 compared to $101.82 in 2016.

The numbers from 2017 show the fifth consecutive year that both overall demand for regional hotel rooms and the rate area lodging partners can charge for them, both went up; unequivocally the main indicator of a healthy hospitality and tourism market.

“We’ve enjoyed another record-breaking year in the area,” said Jack Schripsema, president

and CEO of the Greater Lansing CVB. “Last year’s benchmark success of just over one million hotel room nights consumed was surpassed by 5,000 additional rooms consumed in 2017. This record-breaking visitation should be celebrated by the entire Greater Lansing hospitality community.”

Greater Lansing CVB and the Greater Lansing Sports Authority (GLSA) also honored community partners with awards at the annual meeting. The Community Champions program was created to recognize residents for helping to secure/advocate for, group business in the Greater Lansing area. Those recognized as 2017 Community Champions were: Matea Čaluk, Brad Rowe, Amy McCausey, Waylon Sanford, Chris Bortnichak and Mia Keefer.

The GLSA was proud to recognize the Lansing Center as Sport Partner of the Year and Kelly Shaw as Volunteer of the Year. Greater Lansing CVB also recognized Joyce Grinczel, CTA, as the CTA Star of the Year and Julie Pingston, executive vice president and chief operations officer, for 25 years of service to the Bureau.

Tourism Ambassadors Program

Congratulations!

Greater Lansing Certified Tourism Ambassador Star of the Year

Joyce Grinczel, CTA Relocation Specialist Dart Container Corporation

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The Greater Lansing Convention & Visitors Bureau is pleased to announce the recipient of the 2017 Certified Tourism Ambassador Star of the Year Award is Joyce Grinczel, CTA. The Greater Lansing Certified Tourism Ambassadors are a talented collection of individuals dedicated to improving the visitor experience in Michigan’s Capital Region. Join their ranks today!

Find class registration information at lansing.org/cta.

APRIL 2018

NOTABLE NEWS

GREAT LAKES WINDOW CLEANING’S BARRY PEARSON TAKES THIRD PLACE IN INTERNATIONAL WINDOW CLEANING QUALITY CONTEST On Feb. 8, 2018, Barry Pearson took third place in the International Window Cleaning Association’s (IWCA) window cleaning medley contest, designed for contestants to demonstrate and be judged on the perfection PEARSON of their window cleaning technique on various types of windows.

The IWCA competitions draw contestants from all over the world and include the Guinness world record contest for fastest window cleaner in the world, alongside the highest quality window cleaner contest.

Pearson has been a window cleaner since 1997 and joined Great Lakes Window Cleaning in 2003 as a Residential Window Cleaning technician.

He was promoted to his current position as Commercial Window Cleaning Services manager in 2016.

“We could have opened our first shop anywhere — DeWitt, Okemos, Grand Ledge — but, we opened it here in Lansing,” Owner Ricardo Sanchez said. “Our father started this in Lansing 30 years ago. We chose our hometown — we believe in Lansing.”

Pearson has lived in Lansing since 2003 with his wife, Jessica; almost one-year old daughter, Sophie; and dog, Murphy.

Ricardo is joined by Ian Ortega. They are second-generation barbers, both following in the footsteps of their father, Fernando Sanchez, who started Masters Touch Hair Care on the north end of Lansing. Over time and dedication, his barber shop was transformed from humble beginnings to a social hub of the community. People would line up outside of the shop or wait in their cars to be next in line for the services of his artistic hands.

Great Lakes Window Cleaning, based in Lansing, has been serving area businesses and homeowners since 1980, and now services highrise and commercial clients across Michigan, along with homes and small businesses in the Lansing, Jackson and Brighton areas.

GRAND OPENING OF SECOND GEN MASTER’S TOUCH IN LANSING Master’s Touch Barber Parlor at 416 S. Cedar St., Ste. A in Lansing held their grand opening in February. Mayor Andy Schor conducted a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Friday, Feb. 16, followed by a formal grand opening.

“Today, we proudly bring you that same talent and passion he brought to Lansing for all those years,” Ricardo added.

NAI MID-MICHIGAN COMMERCIAL ANNOUNCE RECENT SALES NAI Mid-Michigan/TMN Commercial is pleased to announce the recent sale of:

• Prices starting at $50 per person with dinner • Full catering service included in ticket price • Cash bar available • Four-hour cruise time • We cruise March-November; winter events are available “a one-of-a-kind scenic location for business meetings, corporate exercises, board meetings and corporate retreats.”

517-627-2154 | WWW.MICHIGANPRINCESS.COM | INFO@MICHIGANPRINCESS.COM

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and focus groups to identify the top global brands.

NAI Mid-Michigan is an office of NAI Global.

purchased by a local consulting group that will occupy the building. Nick Vlahakis represented both the seller and purchaser in this transaction.

DEIDRE DAVIS OF MSUFCU HONORED WITH TOP MARKETING AWARD

• 6300 Trillium Drive in Mason, Mich. This 8,400 square-foot office/warehouse was purchased by a local investor. Nick Vlahakis represented the seller in this transaction.

HOBBS

BELL

• 4737 Marsh Road in Okemos, Mich. This unique 8,000 square-foot retail property was purchased by an out-of-area investor. Tom Burchman represented the seller and Jeff Shapiro represented the purchaser.

• NAI Mid-Michigan/TMN Commercial is pleased to welcome the addition of the following tenants in the Mason Retail Center on 132 S. Cedar St. in Mason, Mich.: Marco’s Pizza, Verizon Wireless and Lansing Urgent Care.

MARTENS

LUNDBERG

• 1110 Blake Ave. and 824 Edgemont Blvd.

Dave Robinson of NAI Mid-Michigan represented the seller in this multiproperty transaction.

• 8164 Executive Drive – Delta Township.

This 13,000 square-foot office building was

• NAI Mid-Michigan/TMN also welcomes our new arrivals: Caroline Hobbs, Graydon Bell, Jessie Martens and Tanner Lundberg.

NAI Global has also earned the fourth spot in the 2018 Lipsey Survey of Top 25 Commercial Real Estate Brands. The survey was conducted among 100,000 commercial real estate professionals using a combination of ballot voting, phone interviews

Deidre Davis, chief marketing officer of MSU Federal Credit Union (MSUFCU), received the 2018 Marketing Professional of the Year award from the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) Marketing & Business CLOBES AND DAVIS Development Council.

Davis was honored with this award during the recognition dinner and awards on March 13, 2018.

“This award is a testament to the creative talent, skill, and vision Deidre contributes to the success of the Credit Union,” said April Clobes, MSUFCU’s President/CEO. “Her marketing efforts and strategic foresight demonstrate her commitment to our members and community through the mission and core values.”

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G R E AT E R L A N S I N G B U S I N E S S M O N T H LY

APRIL 2018

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