Traverse City Business News - April 2025

MARK WANNER PLOWS AHEAD

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FOUNDATION LAUNCHES QUICK RESPONSE GRANTS

The Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation has launched Quick Response Grants, a new monthly funding opportunity that provides flexible, responsive grants to organizations in Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Leelanau counties and the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians. The grants are open to nonprofit, educational, governmental, and Tribal entities in the five-county region and are designed to support smaller dollar needs. Grant requests for up to $2,500 will be considered, and organizations can apply for up to $2,500 per request. Community Foundation staff will review and make grant decisions monthly, with grant awards planned to be paid out around the 15th of each month. Visit gtrcf.org/ grants/apply.html.

MASSAGE SCHOOL OPENS IN TC

SÕMA School of Therapeutic Massage, founded by licensed massage therapists Erica Bourdon of BodyWise and Kelsey Collins of Mod Bodywork, is now open. The school offers a 625-hour massage therapy program. It is located at 1030 Hastings St., Suite 107, in Traverse City. Learn more at somatc.com.

COMING SOON: STARTUP WEEK

Northern Michigan Startup Week (NMSW) 2025 returns April 14-17, bringing together entrepreneurs, investors and innovation leaders to celebrate and strengthen the region’s growing startup ecosystem. Now in its fourth year, this year’s event features programming designed to foster business development, expand the local talent pool, and encourage rural innovation. “Northern Michigan Startup Week is more than a week of events, it’s a local movement designed to foster a culture of innovation, entrepreneurship and economic diversification in the region,” said Bradley Matson, lead organizer. NMSW 2025 is presented through a collaborative effort by local and regional partners, including Northwest-

ern Michigan College, 20Fathoms and The Grove Incubator. Visit nmsw.co for more information and to register.

GRANT AWARD FOR DIGITAL EQUITY

Grow Benzie, a rural prosperity incuba tor in Benzie County, has been awarded $857,870 to support digital equity across a 10-county region in northern Michigan. Michigan’s Inclusive Training, Technol ogy, and Equity Network (MITTEN) grant program is a state initiative aimed at enhancing digital skills, device access and affordable broadband service across Michigan, with a focus on under-served areas. Grow Benzie will provide essential resources and skills to under-served communities throughout the following counties: Antrim, Benzie, Charlevoix, Em met, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Manistee, Missaukee, and Wexford.

NEW INITIATIVE SUPPORTS EV INDUSTRY

Northwest Michigan Works! in Traverse City is helping electric vehicle (EV) industry employers build a highly skilled workforce through a new workforce training initiative. The program offers employers in the EV industry – whether manufacturing EV components, building infrastructure or servicing electric vehicles – access to training reimbursements, employment services and support programs to upskill workers and fill critical roles in the growing EV sector. “This program is a win-win for Michigan businesses and workers,” said Rob Dickinson, business services regional director at Northwest Michigan Works! “By partnering with us, employers can strengthen their workforce, reduce training costs and ensure they have the talent needed to stay competitive in the EV industry.” Visit nwmiworks.org/ for more information.

Brick House Interactive, a family-owned interactive media production company with offices in northern Michigan and the Grand Rapids area, recently won two Gold ADDY awards and Best of Show at the 2025 West Michigan ADDY Awards. Hosted annually by the American Advertising Federation, the event recog-

BRICK HOUSE RECEIVES EXCELLENCE AWARDS

Atlanta - ATL

Boston - BOS

Charlotte - CLT

Chicago - ORD

Dallas/Fort Worth - DFW

Denver - DEN

Detroit - DTW

Fort Lauderdale - FLL

Houston - IAH

Minneapolis - MSP

Newark - EWR

New Haven - HVN

New York - LaGuardia - LGA

Orlando/Sanford - SFB

Philadelphia - PHL

Phoenix/Mesa - AZA

Punta Gorda - PGD

Tampa/St. Pete - PIE

Washington DC - Dulles - IAD

Washington DC - Reagan - DCA

Cherry Capital Airport

nizes and awards “the creative spirit of excellence in the art of advertising.” Brick House was recognized for its “FANUC America Happy Holidays 2024” submission, a 90-second animated holiday video produced for FANUC America Corporation, one of the world’s largest robotics manufacturers based in Rochester Hills. See the winning video at brickhouseinteractive.com.

GTRCF NAMES NEW LEADER

both the Spencers’ and Hartl’s practices and continues to serve his existing clients. Leslie MacKinnon leads client services.

LEARN ABOUT APPRENTICESHIPS: APRIL 30

The Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation recently announced Alison Metiva will succeed David Mengebier as president and CEO, effective January 2026. During her 19-year tenure with the foundation, Metiva has served in a variety of roles, including managing the organization’s grantmaking and scholarship programs, communications and marketing, donor stewardship and development, human resources, and budgeting. Most recently, Metiva has served for three years as the foundation’s chief operating officer, overseeing the organization’s day-to-day operations.

NEW: MARKETING ACADEMY FOR FOOD BUSINESSES

Taste the Local Difference in Traverse City recently launched the Local Food Marketing Academy, offering virtual marketing classes specifically designed for farm and food business owners. The academy covers all of the marketing necessities for a small business to thrive - from using an e-newsletter to build a community of customers, to identifying a clear brand voice that tells an authentic story. “We’ve taken our knowledge and expertise from two decades of working with farmers, market managers, brewers and chefs, and focused on what makes the most impact for our local food economy,” said CEO Tricia Phelps. More info at localfoodmarketing.com.

PERENNIAL WEALTH JOINS EQUITABLE

Perennial Wealth Management in Traverse City has joined Equitable’s wealth management business, Equitable Advisors. Mark and Jeff Spencer, who collectively have more than 50 years of experience and serve approximately $460 million in client assets as a multi-generational practice, will operate as Perennial Wealth Management with the move to Equitable Advisors. Jerome Hartl also moved his practice to Equitable Advisors. Hartl has nearly 30 years of experience and manages more than $45 million in client assets. Financial advisor Kirt Kilbourne helps oversee the operations for

Northwest Michigan Works! , a program of Networks Northwest in Traverse City, is hosting an apprenticeship Lunch, Learn and Launch workshop on Weds., Apr. 30, for businesses and organizations to learn about strategies to address workforce shortages, and the benefits of using an apprenticeship program. The session will include an overview of what U.S. Department of Labor registered apprenticeships are, a beginner’s guide for developing or growing a program, and how to use apprenticeships to fill workforce gaps. The event is free but registration is required by emailing apprenticeshipteam@networksnorthwest.org.

DOWNTOWN TC BUSINESS UPDATES

Hello Friends Boutique is taking over the space at 330 East Front St. in downtown Traverse City, most recently occupied by Zips Harley-Davidson. Owners Heather and Eddie Nickerson are targeting an early May opening of the size-inclusive women’s clothing retailer. The business started as a small online retailer in 2020. On the other end of Front Street, Lil Bo owner-operator Jenni Scott is launching a second restaurant next door this month. Scott - in partnership with several family members - purchased and opened Lil Bo in 2021 and then purchased the former Front Street Liquor store at 542 West Front Street last year. The new space allowed for expansion of Lil Bo’s kitchen and is also home to new breakfast and lunch spot, Sisters . Hours are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily. Finally, in the Warehouse District, Relish owner Tracey Lark recently announced the closure of her clothing store after 13 years in business.

MEIJER PLANNING NEW TRAVERSE CITY STORE

Meijer is planning to open its third store in Grand Traverse County, according to The Ticker . The store would be located at 4249 US-31 South next to Menards at Chums Corner, with a new signalized intersection proposed on US-31 a half mile from the main US31/M-37 light. Blair Township planning commissioners were slated to hold a special use/site plan review April 1 at Blair Township Hall. If approved, the application would go to the township board of trustees for approval on April 22. Meijer confirmed to The Ticker that the company is “interested in the site” and “currently working through municipal approvals” for a new store, but declined to comment further.

There’s nothing quite like buying a new home to make you rethink how projects – and businesses – come together. While re-reading “The E-Myth” by Michael Gerber during some quick “before move” updates, I found myself reflecting on its key insight: Every business owner juggles three distinct roles: the Entrepreneur, the Manager and the Technician.

As I found myself deep in the thick of this process, I started to notice these roles showing up – not just in business, but right in my own home improvement efforts. And let’s just say, I was quickly reminded of my own tendencies.

The Entrepreneur’s Vision

Like many entrepreneurs, I thrive on possibility. When we first looked at the house, I didn’t just see it for what it was, I saw what it could be. I envisioned an updated basement, the perfect space for entertaining, and a clean, modern aesthetic that matched our needs. This is what entrepreneurs do best: seeing opportunity before it exists.

In business, the entrepreneur is the big-picture thinker, the one with the bold ideas. But vision alone doesn’t get the work done. That’s where the manager comes in.

The

Manager’s Plan

Once we decided to move forward, my inner manager took over. Even with the help of an amazing contractor, I made sure potential issues were anticipated and avoided, ordered materials ahead of time to keep the project moving smoothly, and

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ENTREPRENEUR, MANAGER OR TECHNICIAN?

Understanding the three roles of every business owner

carefully analyzed whether certain updates made sense to tackle now or postpone for later.

Of course, I wasn’t the only manager in the house. My wife, who leans even more naturally into this role, had her own approach to keeping things on track. This led to some interesting conversations. Sometimes, we saw things the same way, other times we had to negotiate when to push forward and when to hold back. It was a reminder that even in business, having multiple strong managers can be an

stages, I was happy to be involved, choosing colors, brainstorming layout ideas and maybe even painting a few strokes.

But once the work got repetitive – endless painting, de-nailing old barn wood and lugging materials – I found myself looking for someone else to take over. That’s when I realized: while I love creating the vision (entrepreneur) and ensuring things get done right (manager), I am not a technician.

This is exactly what Gerber warns about in “The E-Myth.” Many small business

Which role do you naturally fall into? Are you stuck in one mode at the expense of the others? Understanding this balance could be the key to scaling your business, avoiding burnout, and ultimately creating something that lasts.

asset, but only if they learn how to work together and not step on each other’s toes. In business, the manager is essential: They are the one keeping everything organized, ensuring projects don’t go off the rails. But the manager isn’t usually the one picking up a hammer and getting their hands dirty. That’s where the technician comes in.

The Technician’s Execution (or, My Breaking Point)

And this is where things got interesting. The technician is the one who actually does the work. The technician is handson, focused on the details. In the early

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owners start as technicians. Maybe they’re great at baking, fixing cars, or designing websites, but they struggle to step into the manager and entrepreneur roles. Others, like me, might lean more into vision and organization but would rather delegate the hands-on tasks.

Why This Matters for Every Business Owner

The reason many businesses fail, as Gerber points out, is that the owner is often too much of one and not enough of the others. Maybe they had an entrepreneurial seizure (a moment of inspiration that led them to start a business) but

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lacked the skills to manage and execute. Or maybe they were an excellent technician but never learned how to scale beyond doing all the work themselves.

A successful business, much like a well-executed construction project, needs all three roles in balance. If you’re an entrepreneur, do you have the right systems and managers in place to make your vision a reality? If you’re a manager, do you know when to let go of control and trust your team? And if you’re a technician, are you willing to step back and think about the bigger picture?

Bringing It All Together

As we move into our new, updated home, I realize how much this applies to my own businesses and the nonprofit organizations I work with. I’ve learned to lean into my strengths while also recognizing where I need to delegate.

If you’re a business owner, take a moment to reflect: Which role do you naturally fall into? Are you stuck in one mode at the expense of the others?

Understanding this balance could be the key to scaling your business, avoiding burnout, and ultimately creating something that lasts.

And just like in construction, the best projects – and businesses – come together when the right people are in the right roles.

Sebastian Garbsch founded Formative Fitness after graduating from Ferris State University with his bachelor’s in business. He is the owner of Blue Goat Wine & Provisions and is currently serving as president of the Traverse City Philharmonic, as well as on the board of TC Tritons Rowing.

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FROM THE DESK OF...

Trevor Tkach, President and CEO of Traverse City Tourism

By Art Bukowski

Trevor Tkach is president and CEO of Traverse City Tourism (formerly known as the Traverse City Convention & Visitors Bureau.) In this role he runs the organiza-tion most responsible for promoting the region to potential visitors from across the country and around the world. We thank Trevor for taking the time to show us around his space. If you have an idea for a From The Desk Of feature, email Art Bukowski at abukowski@tcbusinessnews.com.

“To be a Traverse City native who’s had an opportunity to move home and do good by his community means a lot to me.”

1. This beautiful notebook was a gift from the Chinese consulate. They happened to be in Traverse City from Chicago and were just wandering around. They came up to get a better understanding of the region and they stopped in at the office. This type of drop-in is not uncommon. In a way, our office is like a consulate for the region.

2.  It says, “Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer.” It’s a good reminder of why we do what we do. What many people prioritize most are experiences, not things. It’s the time spent together in special places that matters the most. I just love the sentiment.

3. This clock honors my time as president of the Michigan Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus in 2022 and 2023. I was one of the few two-year presidents, and it was back-to-back years coming off of COVID, so it was sort of a rebuilding time. I’m proud of that time that I spent as the president. We achieved a lot in terms of major appropriations for post-COVID recovery.

4. This is a Montblanc pen that costs about $500. I wanted one since I was younger, but I’m a pretty frugal guy and couldn’t justify it. Then, I found this one at an estate sale for 45 bucks, so I couldn’t turn it down. Whenever

we have an important document contract or a big check, I pull it out.

5. This is a flag from Australia, which participated in our International Fireworks Championship. We’ve had that two years now and will have it again this year. It’s always exciting. There’s a new cast of characters from all over the globe each year, and it’s a fun way to celebrate fireworks and international travel.

6. I was honored as an outstanding alum of Northwestern Michigan College back in 2018. As a native growing up here, it was a great opportunity for affordable college right here in my hometown before moving on to a larger university.

7. Lauren, my oldest, did this painting a few years back. She’s 18 now, and I have two boys: Camden is 16 and Carson is about to turn 14. They’re my pride and joy.

8. Cherry certificate in window: I was a Cherry Prince in 1984 when I was in elementary school, and my mother saved the certificate. When I started working at the National Cherry Festival and then took over as executive director there, I had it framed on the wall. It’s a nice piece of memorabilia for me.

MARK WANNER PLOWS AHEAD:

The KRÄM Group could soon be one of the dominant names in northern Michigan trades

By Craig Manning

Mark Wanner isn’t your typical entrepreneur.

He grew up in the Amish community, has no formal business training, and says his education only “goes to the seventhand-a-half-grade.”

He’s a construction industry guy, but gambled his entire career to diversify into the car wash industry five years ago. And despite starting his business journey in Reed City 75 miles south of Traverse City, Wanner absolutely belongs on any list of up-and-coming business leaders in the Cherry Capital, thanks to his ambitious plans to buy and run no fewer than 50 companies throughout northern Michigan.

Wanner is likely best-known locally as the founder of KRÄM Construction & Design, a building company that specializes mostly in custom home projects. But he also owns a 60% stake in Traverse City’s Green Mitt, the “luxury” car wash built in 2020 on the site of the former Hooters restaurant in East Bay Township. Both businesses and several others are owned under the banner of The KRÄM Group, a parent company that Wanner plans to diversify in the years to come through an acquisitions-driven growth strategy.

An unusual path

Wanner has come a long way from his upbringing as part of an Amish household near Reed City. It’s because of that upbringing that Wanner never saw high school, let alone a college education.

“In Amish culture, they only go to the eighth grade; they don’t really go high school,” Wanner explained. “So, I really was kind of fed through that system, even though my family actually ended up leaving the Amish community when I was around seven. My dad, they excommunicated him for a religious belief that they didn’t agree with. But I still ended up being homeschooled for all of my schooling, and once I got through seventh grade, the attitude was, ‘Oh, you kind of know everything now; let’s go to work.’”

“Going to work” for Wanner, meant working for his father, who had recently bought a vinyl replacement window company. By the time he was 16, Wanner was running his own installation crews for that business. Then, in 2003, at the age of 20, he got married and started his own construction company.

For years, Wanner mostly took on small construction projects – a roofing job here, a pole barn there – and did the majority of the work by himself or with very small crews. He changed his approach in 2017, paving the way for what KRÄM Construction & Design is today.

“In 2017 I started realizing, ‘Oh, I’m still thinking in an old-fashioned way,’” Wanner said. “I saw that there was probably a whole other level to business that I

wasn’t pursuing. I didn’t really have any business training, and not a lot of people in my life were in business, so there was a lot I didn’t know.”

Wanner started growing his inner circle, hiring an assistant and bringing on a more solid construction crew. In 2020, he even hired a company called Unleash CEO to coach him through more formal best practices of running a business, from articulating a vision to adopting core company values.

In the years since, Wanner says he’s continued to be “extremely intentional” about learning as much as possible about the business world, whether through coaches, mentors, colleagues or books.

All that behind-the-scenes work has coincided with big changes to Wanner’s

public-facing business entities. In 2022, he hired an in-house architect and consolidated his two existing construction-related DBAs – Northern Castle Homes and Pole Barn

doing some 75% of its work in the Grand Traverse area, a high-demand, high-value market where Wanner soon hopes to establish a second KRÄM office.

“Long term, The KRÄM Group has a goal of owning 50 companies at some point. I don’t want to rush that growth, but my guess right now is that we will add two to three companies to our portfolio every year.”

–Mark Wanner, Owner, KRÄM Construction & Design

Living – as KRÄM Construction & Design. The rebrand, he says, has helped the company build a reputation as a highend custom home design-build company. Fast-forward to 2025 and the business is

Growth is the name of the game

“I’m never afraid to learn. I’m never afraid to fail,” Wanner said. “There’s either winning or learning, right?”

These days, that’s Wanner’s philosophy when it comes to business, which probably explains why he decided five years ago to add “car wash mogul” to his resume.

“I’m always looking for ideas and options, just kind of living that visionary side of life,” Wanner said. “I’d heard car washes do well, so I did a little research and found a company called Car Wash Pro Designers, out of Chicago, that advises clients on building those types of businesses. So, in 2019 I dove into that.”

Looking back, Wanner acknowledges that the project, even if everything had gone perfectly, would have been a risk. He had no personal knowledge of how to run a car wash, and the property he was eyeing in East Bay Township was one of multiple

Green Mitt car wash opened in 2021.

KRÄM’s Reed City remodel.

spring with a private round reserved just for you.

“I went to my wife and said, ‘The worst thing that could happen is we could lose everything.’”

–Mark Wanner, Owner, KRÄM Construction & Design

long-dormant remnants of the township’s once-thriving restaurant row. At the time, the Hooters, Schelde’s, and Ruby Tuesday were all closed down and vacant, still waiting for a revitalization that, half a decade later, is much further along.

Everything did not go perfectly. In March 2020, the economy cratered amidst the start of the coronavirus pandemic. The Green Mitt project, which was still in its early design phases and hadn’t even gone to the township for approval yet, was one of several local business openings stalled or otherwise affected by COVID-19.

Despite the uncertainty of that time, Wanner decided to stay the course, with full awareness that he might live to regret it.

“I went to my wife and said, ‘The worst thing that could happen is we could lose everything,’” he said.

Green Mitt opened in 2021, and for the first year, it did lose money – a lot of it. In its second year, it narrowly broke even. It wasn’t until year three that the car wash started making a solid profit. Now, Wanner says the business is on track for an “amazing” year four – so strong that “if we hit our projections and goals for the first two quarters of 2025, we definitely would be looking to open a second location.”

The acquisitions king?

A TC office for KRÄM Construction & Design and a second location for Green Mitt are just the tip of the iceberg for Wanner’s growth plans. Right now, The KRÄM Group is in the process of buying a tile and flooring business in Paris, Michigan, not far from Reed City.

Once purchased, that company will be “rebranded and updated,” as Aspen & Stone Interiors, becoming a “one-stop shop for all things interiors.” The business will serve KRÄM clients and other customers or builders with everything from flooring to countertops to cabinetry.

That acquisition will likely be the first of many: Per Wanner, the primary growth strategy for The KRÄM Group is to “buy out other small businesses” in northern Michigan and beyond, particularly those that touch the construction sector in some way. In particular, Wanner is interested in acquiring businesses that specialize in specific building trades, like plumbing or framing. Those types of acquisitions, he explains, would provide advantageous diversification for KRÄM’s core construction business with the added benefit of preserving institutional knowledge and customer loyalty in an ever-changing landscape of local businesses.

“We’re primarily looking for folks in the area that are operating good quality businesses, but maybe the owners are ready to retire,” Wanner said. “A lot of businesses just kind of fold and close, but they have a lot of life into them. With the right vision, they can be updated and refreshed. The KRÄM Group is a good wheel for that.”

In other words, The KRÄM Group could soon be one of the dominant names in northern Michigan trades.

“Long term, The KRÄM Group has a goal of owning 50 companies at some point,” Wanner said. “I don’t want to rush that growth, but my guess right now is that we will add two to three companies to our portfolio every year.”

“DOING THE RIGHT THING”

Momentum builds for green building components and systems

By Art Bukowski

“Green” building.

It’s a catch-all term that can apply to building materials, HVAC systems, electrical components and more, with the common goal of reduced environmental impact.

And while the somewhat nebulous term can be applied to a variety of technologies and initiatives, one thing is certain: Green features in both new builds and remodels are rapidly becoming more widespread as their costs come down and clients are increasingly driven by a desire to be environmentally conscious.

“If someone is going to build a facility, we almost always hear that they want to follow those green principles in design and technologies, that they want to be doing the right thing for the environment and utilization of natural resources,” said Paul Mahon, senior project manager at Grand Traverse Construction. “About 90% of the clients we work for (push for this).”

Green roofs on the Uptown project between State Street and the Boardman River in Traverse City.

The TCBN checked in with construction firms and specialty contractors to learn more about what’s trending on the green side of building and remodeling.

Cost considerations

Like virtually all technologies, costs come down as manufacturing scales up and efficiencies begin to compound. This is true with many green building components, fixtures and systems, which now present substantial energy savings (or other benefits) with considerably less sticker shock.

This is vitally important, as even the most ardent environmental advocates know that green solutions won’t become widespread unless they make sense in the budget.

Tim Pulliam is president and co-founder of Traverse City-based Keen Technical Solutions, which provides sustainable energy services. While he’s probably the most idealistic person you could find when it comes to green solutions, his conversations on these matters are grounded first and foremost in their financial practicalities.

“Our mission at Keen, and why we started, is to show that there’s good economic benefit to lightening our load on the environment,” he said. “That environmental pitch is important, but there still has to be

economics behind it … and virtually every solution we bring to a customer pencils out from a math standpoint.”

What’s more, Pulliam says, various green solutions are becoming increasingly attractive because long-term calculations show not only their inherent cost savings, but the downsides in cost, reliability and resiliency of sticking with traditional systems.

“The cost of doing all of these things has continued to come down, while at the same time the cost of not doing them continues to go up,” he said. “The two lines have crossed … and you’re getting left behind if you’re not doing it.”

A common example most people are familiar with is LED lighting, which is exponentially more efficient and long-lasting than traditional lighting. This technology used to be far more expensive than traditional lighting, but the cost gap has tightened significantly. This makes its use a no-brainer because of its long-term energy benefits, and it is now nearly ubiquitous in new builds and retrofits.

Nate Griswold is founder and owner of Inhabitect, a Leelanau County company that installs green roofs and other landscaping and ecological services. People used to want green roofs because they look nice and were something to talk about, he says, but there are now several

“If you put a dollar into gray infrastructure, sure, it will manage water all day long, but that’s the only benefit you’re getting out of it. If you put a dollar into green infrastructure, you’re managing your water, you’re creating habitat, you’re beautifying your area, you’re purifying the air.”

–Nate Griswold, President and Founder, Inhabitect

applications in which green roofs (and the ecological benefits they pack) are the same cost or even cheaper than the alternative.

This is especially true for situations in which new builds have to meet certain municipal requirements for stormwater management. A rainwater-absorbing green roof can be a cheaper option than burying retention tanks.

“There’s already a lot of (underground) infrastructure on the site. The sewer main, water lines all over the place, power, ethernet, fiber, and then the soil around all of those pieces of infrastructure is contaminated,” he said. “In those situations there is major expense (in installing tanks).”

Even when it isn’t cheaper up front, Griswold echoes Pulliam’s sentiments about taking a close look at the long-term costs. Well-managed green roofs protect a building from harsh UV exposure and can last longer than traditional roofs, he said. Plus, you simply get more out of your spend.

“If you put a dollar into gray infrastructure, sure, it will manage water all day long, but that’s the only benefit you’re getting out of it,” he said. “If you put a dollar into green infrastructure, you’re managing your water, you’re creating habitat, you’re beautifying your area, you’re purifying the air.”

While certain green building components themselves have gotten cheaper and more efficient, this phenomenon is far more noticeable with associated systems and technologies like solar panels, heat pumps, lighting and more.

“What we’re finding right now is that the life of a solar panel is longer, the weight of them is lighter and the costs have come down, so it’s a nice system to use,” said Jerry Tomczak, director of operations for the northwest Michigan office of Cunningham Limp, a construction management firm. “The breakeven is between six and seven years, which is great.”

Keen President Tim Pulliam by the state-of-the art heat pump installed in the company’s TC Millworks building.

Nate Griswold, founder and owner of Inhabitect.

“It’s really a supply and demand thing. There’s a demand for it, people are going to expect it, and we’re going to continue to find ways to do it better and cheaper.”

– Jerry Tomczak, Director of Operations, Cunningham-Limp (northwest Michigan office)

Increased reception

Decreased costs have certainly played a role in more widespread adoption of green technologies. But there’s also been increased social pressure for lower environmental impacts, and companies and organizations are responding.

What this means is that many green features are now just assumed from the start of most projects, Grand Traverse Construction’s Mahon says.

“In the last five or six years or so, architects and engineers are (more frequently) putting in those green technologies and those green principles right into the design,” he said. “They’re becoming more

Tomczak

commonplace and day-to-day.”

Griswold has been in the green roof world for more than two decades, and he says there’s been a seismic shift in the reception of those and other green infrastructure components.

“We’re finding more and more that you don’t need to explain the benefits of green roofs or green infrastructure as much to city engineers or developers. They’re coming to us, and they already know the benefits,” he said. “When I started 24 years ago, we had to do the hard sell. We had to prove it. And there was always an engineer or an architect that pushed back.”

Those in the industry expect the green

momentum to continue.

“It’s really a supply and demand thing,” Tomczak said. “There’s a demand for it, people are going to expect it, and we’re going to continue to find ways to do it better and cheaper.”

That said, Keen’s Pulliam hopes the industry will pick up the pace when it comes to embracing green technologies and practices. Some firms are good about it, he says, but many aren’t. The problem stems from nature of the industry itself, Pulliam says, which had been doing things a certain way for a very long time.

“The biggest barrier to adoption of green technologies or to using less re-

sources or to being more efficient is the contracting industry – the architects, the engineers, the contractors,” he said. “The rate of change (in that industry) is just so slow. And if something comes out that’s new, it’s risky. But you can’t keep telling your customers these things don’t work, because they really do.”

Those in the industry are bracing for change at the federal level after Donald Trump took office, with an expected reduction or outright elimination of tax credits or other incentives tied to green technologies. The impact might not be that drastic, they say, as these systems are rapidly becoming attractive enough to still be adopted without any incentives.

BATA headquarters

‘STILL A SELLER’S MARKET’

Housing woes likely not ending soon

By Ross Boissoneau

The local housing market is tight. Nothing new there: Between the surging popularity of short-term rentals, low interest rates and the onset of the pandemic, the competition for homes became fierce and prices surged. Builders couldn’t keep up, and it became a true seller’s market.

So, where do things stand now, and what might 2025 bring? Hint: Don’t expect to see a sudden increase in the number of homes for sale, or a sudden downturn in prices.

NMC Construction Management students in the “Build A Better House” class.

“It still is a seller’s market,” said Realtor Jon Zickert of Real Estate One.

Analysts point to the early 2000s as the starting point for today’s challenges. Easy access to money prompted many to purchase homes they had never before had access to.

“We had a trillion dollars more coming into the mortgage market in 2004, 2005 and 2006,” said University of Pennsylvania Professor Susan Wachter in an article on the Wharton School website. A professor of real estate and finance, she said increasing demand and access to credit led to price increases and home buyers purchasing homes that previously were out of their price range, without regard for their ability to repay.

Zickert agrees with that assessment.

“The housing bubble of the early 2000s was caused by lax lending standards and excess mortgage debt,” he said.

As the bills came due and people bailed on their homes and their mortgage payments, the housing bubble burst, causing a tsunami of destruction in the economy. It upended not only the real estate and construction industries, but led to the economic slump known as the Great Recession.

The result was few homes being built in Michigan from 2005-2010. Then, as the economy recovered, there were fewer existing homes available, and those left in the construction trades could not keep up with demand. People who wanted to purchase or upgrade found themselves battling one another for the limited number of homes available.

Many of those in construction and skilled trades moved into other industries, retired or even moved to another state with a better economic outlook.

“We can’t build enough to meet demand, and part of it is the dwindling number” of workers, said Lauren Tucker, executive director of the Home Builders Association of Northwest Michigan.

The problem was exacerbated during the pandemic, when people sought to leave congested cities to move to this area since they could work remotely. That plus low interest rates further strained the inventory of homes available for sale. As

supply decreased, prices increased, setting records almost monthly. Costs for building materials also increased, and many would-be buyers found themselves priced out of the market.

“It’s a place people want to live. There was a frenzy to buy,” said Zickert.

He believes those sales that took place would have happened in the normal course of business over a three- to fouryear period. Instead, they took place in three or four months. He said for many the pandemic induced them to do what they had always wanted to do or intended to do down the road.

“After vacation on the drive home people said, ‘What am I waiting for?’ Financially they could do it, but they were (previously) afraid to take the leap,” he said.

Zickert says the current market is also significantly impacted by the low interest rates many locked into previously. Those potential sellers do not want to give up on their low mortgage rates, so they are delaying moving, causing a shortage of homes for sale.

Which today leaves us exactly where? Still in a seller’s market, but with hope of stability on the horizon – though you may have to squint to see it. Zickert believes that over the next three to five years, those homeowners will eventually be selling, which will increase the number of homes for sale and move the market from what is now a seller’s market to a more balanced market, keeping home values stable.

For his part, Roger Schaub of Schaub Team Premier Realty pushes back on the idea that there aren’t a number of homes for sale. He says it all depends on the segment you look at.

“In 2018 pre-pandemic we sold 79 homes for $27 million. Last year we had 77 units for $71 million,” he said. “In 2018, the average (sale price) was $480,000. In 2024, it was $1,237,000.”

So in four years, he says not only did prices escalate, but sales of upper tier homes took off – at the expense of modestly priced homes.

“Workforce housing … is the biggest challenge,” he said, particularly in Leelanau County.

“Boomers will be selling, Gen X and Y will be moving to their next homes and Zs will be buying their first home. It will be very active.”

– Jon Zickert, Realtor, Real Estate One

How to catch up?

“There is no silver bullet,” admitted Tucker.

Instead, she points to a number of efforts geared toward increasing the number of those in the building trades in hopes of bringing in new blood. That includes construction programs at Northwestern Michigan College and the Career Tech Center, as well as offering membership in the HBAGTA at a reduced rate for younger people.

“You’ve got to start somewhere,” she said.

That includes working with NMC’s Construction Management class “Build A Better House,” where vendors and suppliers are invited to demonstrate real-life applications. HBA members are invited to attend and meet the students and learn alongside the class.

Builder Bill Clous offers what might seem a radical idea.

“What needs to change is the child labor laws,” said the owner and CEO of Eastwood Custom Homes. “When my brother and I were little kids, we were

taught power tools. We’re looking for kids to get into the industry, but until they’re 18 they can shovel or use a wheelbarrow, (just) manual labor. And they’re not strong enough yet.”

His point is well taken. When younger people interested in the trades are prohibited by law from engaging in anything other than manual labor, they may develop interests in other industries that provide more engaging opportunities.

Tucker concurs.

“We talk with legislators and the governor,” she said.

Developing skills and attention to detail when kids are younger will help keep them interested in an industry where they can make a good living.

Which can’t come too soon. Zickert says that demographic studies predict there will be more households who want to buy or sell than ever before.

“Boomers will be selling, Gen X and Y will be moving to their next homes and Zs will be buying their first home. It will be very active,” he said.

Tucker

Zickert

TROUBLE BREWING

Local construction numbers, plus controversial Trump policies, spell turbulence for residential development

By Craig Manning

Are things looking up, or about to crash off a cliff? When it comes to Michigan’s construction industry, it depends on how you read the tea leaves.

On the one hand, 2024 was a significant course correction over 2023 when it came to residential home construction in the state. In January, the Home Builders Association of Michigan (HBAM) reported that 15,137 single-family home permits had been issued in 2024, the highest number since 2021 and a 5% increase compared to 2023’s count of 14,413.

On the other hand, most industry experts are predicting trouble ahead. Writing for Professional Builder, the official publication of the National Association of Home Builders, Calum Mair warned that foreign trade tariffs recently imposed by President

DON’T STOP BELEAFING.

Donald Trump could “significantly raise construction input costs” and “have a noticeable impact on project budgets.” Mair is the commercial director of North American markets for FPD, described as “an aftermarket parts and components seller for construction, agricultural, and industrial machinery.”

“We have seen some information coming in related to what those tariffs could look like for our industry, but the thing at the end of the day – at least for now – is that even the experts don’t know,” said Lauren Tucker, executive director of the HBA of Northwest Michigan.

As Tucker sees it, there is really no modern corollary to the trade war that the Trump Administration seems hell-bent on waging with key partners like China, Canada, and Mexico. The result, she says, is that even the best forecasters in her industry “have no idea” what things will look like once the dust settles.

“There have been some numbers that have been tossed out, but right now, it’s still very hard to even make an educated guess on what that’s going to look like,” Tucker said of the tariffs. “We are definitely already seeing some suppliers that are taking the hard line and saying, ‘Prices are going up on March 1 or April 1,’ which is similar to what we saw during and post pandemic.”

Amidst this period of mixed-bag takeaways and calm-before-the-storm uncertainty, the TCBN crunched the numbers

and measured the winds to provide a clearer picture of the state of the construction industry at a crossroads.

The residential construction numbers

HBA Northwest Michigan represents eight counties in northern Michigan: Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Manistee, Missaukee, and Wexford. Due to inconsistent reporting across that territory, Tucker says she doesn’t have “exact numbers” for how many single-family home building permits were issued in the region in 2024.

Based on key indicators, though, Tucker estimates northwest Michigan was right in line with the state’s overall 5% uptick in single-family home construction last year, compared to 2023.

While growth is good, things have been anything but predictable. In the last six months, Tucker says, Grand Traverse County has ranged anywhere from 10 to 50 new construction permits per month. Some of those fluctuations have to do with seasonality: This January, for instance, Leelanau County tallied just seven new single-family home permits, compared to 18 in January of 2024.

“But last year, you have to remember that we hardly even had a freeze,” Tucker noted. “I don’t even think frost laws came on last year, and if they did, it was only for a really short window of time, and only in the northern parts of our territory.

Those mild winter conditions dramatically impacted the timelines of what could be built last winter, because they were still digging basements and foundations or pouring footings in the winter.”

Milder conditions affected the arc of home construction data for Michigan as a whole last year. Last February, HBAM reported that single-family home permits were up a whopping 38% compared to the year-to-date numbers for the same period in 2023. By July, permits were still outpacing 2023 by 22 percent, and HBAM was forecasting a banner year of growth. But things slowed down dramatically at the end of the summer and into the fall, hence the only 5% year-over-year growth.

HBAM CEO Bob Filka blamed the slowdown on “a number of government and utility-related delays.

“If we are going to meet the Governor’s housing and economic growth goals in our state, we need all the entities that touch and impact the residential building industry to row in the same direction,” Filka said in an October press release. “We need to see utility companies create a more efficient and timely process for connecting power to homes, we need local units of government to realize that delays in their process increase the cost of housing, and we need state departments (like EGLE) to find a way to streamline their process so approving permits that historically take 30 days to issue don’t take months.”

Tucker, who clocked a similar drop-off

in building pace in northern Michigan last fall, blames the situation on something else: the presidential election.

“We definitely saw a little bit of a slowdown in the September/October time period, and I’m sure that was related to the election coming,” Tucker said. “I think all businesses saw a little bit of a slowdown, frankly, because people were really feeling uncertain on what that was going to look like. Fast-forward to March and now you’re seeing people that want to get going on projects again, and they want to get going

Joseph Frazee, DO Neurology

Tucker

right now, before any potential impacts would change their course of action.”

The tariff numbers

One of the big headline items of the second Donald Trump presidency so far has been the subject of tariffs. As of the beginning of March, the U.S. is now levying 25% tariffs on all goods from Canada and Mexico, and has doubled its tariff on Chinese goods from 10% to 20%.

Though Tucker feels that the unprecedented nature of these tariffs make it difficult to predict what they will mean for the construction sector, some industry experts have made forecasts. One of those experts is Rob Dietz, NAHB’s chief economist, who predicted that the new tariffs will increase homebuilder costs from $7,500 to $10,000 for every house they build. The biggest culprit behind those increases? Lumber. According to Leading Builders of America, tariff impacts on lumber packages alone will add about $5,000 to the construction budget per home. That’s because Canada accounts for about a third of the lumber used in America’s home construction industry. And while builders will look for other supply chain options to reduce their costs, the sheer scope of that shift in demand likely means that those alternative options will get more expensive, too. Reporting on the matter in early March, NBC News noted that “domestic lumber producers are expected to raise their prices to match the imported supply.”

Notably, on March 1, Trump signed a new executive order “to immediately increase domestic timber production and streamline federal policies to enhance forest management, reduce wildfire risks, and decrease reliance on imported timber.” The NAHB and Leading Builders of America have both applauded that action, saying it should help to lessen the blow of tariff impacts on home construction. Tucker is also hopeful reform around domestic timber production will help matters – and not just for home construction itself.

end of last year were devastating. But if, if proper forest management is implemented, those risks are fewer, in addition to the benefit of bringing more product into the marketplace domestically.”

The housing numbers

Still, expanding domestic supply chains will take time, and in the interim, Tucker expects Michigan and other states near the Canadian border will bear some of the worst brunt of the new tariffs. For one thing, she notes that Michigan’s proximity to Canada means “we share a lot of resources” with our neighbors to the north.

For another, Michigan’s economy already lost a huge number of its workers during the last recession, shedding massive numbers of professionals across the skilled trades in particular. More than just adding to the cost of new home construction, Tucker worries the strain of tariffs and other Trump policies – including a crackdown on immigration – could cause another massive economic disruption here, and another exodus of workers to match.

NAHB chief economist Rob Dietz predicted that the new tariffs will increase homebuilder costs from $7,500 to $10,000 for every house they build.

“I think the big concern is: What will this do to our Michigan economy overall? What potential job losses will we have? Every state is going to experience crazy spikes in cost of wood and other materials, but we have fewer people employed in our state, and that’s the bad thing. That’s where Michigan might be hurt by tariffs more than any other state in that regard, especially given the huge back and forth our auto sector has had with Mexico and Canada. Michigan could really experience this in a different way, due to the goods that we produce and due to our close proximity.”

According to Crain’s Business Detroit, Michigan lost 800,000 jobs between 2000 and 2009, and was still 250,000 jobs shy of its pre-recession levels a decade after the 2008-2009 financial crisis. Those numbers bear out in the state’s home production statistics, which have never recovered from the Great Recession.

In 2023, a Housing Needs Assessment published by local nonprofit Housing North identified housing gaps of 8,813 rental units and 22,455 for-sale units across a five-year projection period of 2023 to 2027. Those numbers account for the entire 10-county region Housing North serves, which includes Antrim, Benzie, Charlevoix, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Manistee, Missaukee, and Wexford counties.

For just the eight counties HBA Northwest Michigan represents, the deficit was around 19,000 units, according to Tucker.

“And every year we add to that,” she said. “We’re just not building enough units to keep up. We’re probably adding at least 3,000 units [to that deficit] every year.”

The new presidential administration’s pledge to crack down on illegal immigration could exacerbate the issue further. So far, much of the reporting about that policy’s potential impact on northern Michigan has focused on agriculture – given that 62 percent of farmworkers in the U.S. are immigrants and 42 percent are undocumented, according to Department of Labor data. What Tucker thinks many locals don’t know, though, is how much the construction sector relies on foreign labor, too.

more affordable price points. The lack of balance between supply and demand then elevates pricing further, as does general inflation. Now, high tariffs and strict immigration policies could make it even more expensive for builders to bring new inventory online.

For reference, the average home sale price in Grand Traverse County last year was $529,468, according to MLS data source by local real estate firm Oltersdorf Realty. That’s an increase of 5.64% over 2023, when the average sale price tallied out to $501,215. Median numbers are up by even more – 6.04% year-over-year from $397,000 in 2023 to $421,000 in 2024. Look back to 2015 and the median sale price in Grand Traverse was still below $200,000.

“There’s been a decline in forestry and managing national forests – and I’m not talking about National Parks; I’m talking about National Forests, a completely different thing,” Tucker said. “If we go back to the practices of healthfully managing those forests, that could make a huge impact – especially if we are being forced to look to domestic product as a way to keep construction costs as low as possible. It’s also just good management. Looking at what happened in California, there’s been a huge ban on forest management there in the past, and the fires that took place the

“Most economists believe a state the size of Michigan should be building 25,000 new homes per year just to keep up with population shifts and the loss of aging housing stock,” the HBAM reported last year. “The last time production levels hit this mark was in 2006. Since then, Michigan has built 13,000 new homes a year on average.”

The numbers are mirrored in northern Michigan, which Tucker says helps explain why housing demand so dramatically outstrips supply in the region – and why prices are shooting through the roof.

“Growing up in Traverse City, I remember hearing about how the solution for the changing American farming family was immigrant labor, and the same holds true for construction,” Tucker said. “There just aren’t enough workers in the trades, and then you have folks that are moving into our country and into our communities that have those skills and can be put to work. I would say about 30% of the local construction workforce is immigrant labor, and that might even be a low number. And that 30% doesn’t necessarily discern between those that are legal immigrants and those that are here illegally.”

All these factors are combining to create a domino effect in northern Michigan around housing. Fewer construction workers to build houses has meant an ever-worsening housing gap, creating a situation where supply is consistently too low to satisfy demand – especially at

Tucker doesn’t see the situation easing without some substantial national and local reform. On the national level, she says a reconsideration of new tariff policies and a sweeping effort to create new pathways for citizenship could do a lot to alleviate the cost of doing business for builders in places like northern Michigan. Locally, she points to things like streamlining zoning and permitting to remove barriers to housing development, or ramping up public transportation between Traverse City and neighboring communities like Kingsley, Mancelona, or Kalkaska to retain valuable workers.

One bright spot for local construction? Local and statewide pushes to get more kids into the skilled trades seem to be paying dividends.

“We’ve seen a huge increase in this upcoming generation, in terms of individuals that are interested in creating things,” Tucker said. “Students aren’t necessarily automatically going to a four-year college anymore. Our immediate past chairman, my favorite quote from him, is that ‘Every person graduating high school should go into the skilled trades, and if they’re not good at it, then they can go to college.’ The trades offer incredibly lucrative and rewarding careers, and that don’t carry the huge debt load that often comes from going to college. I think we’re getting better at communicating that message.”

By Kevin Endres, columnist

Northwest Michigan, known for its picturesque landscapes, vibrant small-town communities, and growing tourism sector, has seen steady commercial development over the past decade. However, despite its economic potential, commercial real estate (CRE) in the region faces significant hurdles that impact investors, developers, and business owners alike. Challenges such as regulatory constraints, infrastructure limitations, tax burdens, and fluctuating incentives make navigating this market increasingly complex. Understanding these factors is crucial for stakeholders looking to expand or invest in commercial properties in the region.

Incentives: A Double-Edged Sword

Incentives play a crucial role in attracting investment into northwest Michigan’s commercial real estate market. Various tax credits, grants, and economic development programs help businesses offset costs, making it more appealing to build or expand in the region. Programs like the Michigan Economic Development Corporation grants, Opportunity Zone tax incentives, and local Downtown Development Authority incentives have been pivotal in fostering growth in areas like Traverse City, Petoskey and Manistee. However, access to these incentives is often limited by bureaucratic red tape and eligibility requirements that can be difficult to meet. Many developers find that while these programs exist, the approval process can be cumbersome, leading to delays and increased costs. Additionally, some incentives are tied to job creation or specific industries, leaving many CRE projects ineligible for financial assistance. The challenge remains in balancing government support for commercial development while ensuring accountability and fiscal responsibility.

Regulatory Hurdles: Zoning and Permitting Woes

Zoning and permitting regulations present another substantial challenge in northwest Michigan’s CRE market. Many municipalities have outdated zoning laws

LAWS, INFRASTRUCTURE AND TAXES:

The challenges facing commercial real estate

in Northwest Michigan

that do not align with modern commercial real estate needs, leading to difficulties in securing approvals for mixed-use developments, adaptive reuse projects or industrial expansions.

The permitting process is another significant roadblock. Developers often face extended wait times for approvals due to underfunded or overburdened local government agencies. This is particularly problematic for larger projects requiring environmental impact assessments, traffic studies or rezoning applications. In some cases, community opposition to new commercial developments – often fueled by concerns over congestion, aesthetics, or environmental preservation – can lead to further regulatory delays.

These regulatory hurdles not only slow down the development process but also increase project costs, making it difficult for small and mid-sized developers to compete in the market.

Infrastructure Challenges: Capacity and Availability

Infrastructure limitations also pose a serious concern for commercial real estate development in northwest Michigan. The region’s roadways, water supply, sewage systems and broadband connectivity have struggled to keep pace with growth, creating barriers for new developments.

In many areas, roads and highways lack the capacity to accommodate increasing commercial traffic, leading to congestion and logistical challenges for businesses relying on freight and delivery services. Similarly, older water and sewage systems in some townships require substantial upgrades to support commercial expansion. The cost of upgrading infrastructure often falls on developers, making projects less financially viable.

Addressing infrastructure deficiencies requires coordinated efforts between local governments, state agencies and private

investors. Without proactive investment in modernizing these systems, commercial real estate growth in the region will continue to face constraints.

The Impact of Taxes on Commercial Real Estate

Tax policies significantly influence the viability of commercial real estate investments in northwest Michigan. Property taxes, business taxes and transfer taxes can be considerable burdens for commercial property owners and tenants, especially in high-growth areas like Traverse City, Charlevoix and Petoskey.

Michigan’s property tax structure, which limits annual increases in assessments but allows for substantial reassessments upon property transfers (uncapping), can create unpredictability for investors. Business owners leasing commercial space often face high operational costs due to increasing property taxes, which can drive tenants to look for locations with more favorable tax structures.

Additionally, some municipalities impose local business taxes or special assessments to fund infrastructure improvements or downtown beautification projects. While these initiatives enhance the commercial environment, they also add financial strain on businesses, particularly small enterprises operating on thin margins.

Policymakers must balance the need for tax revenue with incentives that keep commercial real estate development attractive.

The Effect of Interest Rates on Commercial Real Estate

Rising interest rates have had a profound impact on the commercial real estate market in this region. The CRE Market in 2023 saw the brunt of this as interest rates climbed coming out of 2022, buyers and investors played the waiting game to purchase to see if rates would fall.

The total volume of CRE sold in Grand Traverse County in 2023 fell to $33 million, down from $59 million in 2022. As interest rates remain steady, the total volume of CRE sold picked back up in 2024 to a record $62 million.

Higher borrowing costs make it more expensive for investors and developers to finance new projects, leading to slowed growth and reduced transaction volumes. Many businesses seeking to lease commercial spaces are also feeling the pressure, as landlords pass down increased mortgage expenses through higher rental rates. Additionally, fluctuating interest rates create uncertainty, making it difficult for developers to plan long-term investments. With the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy shifts influencing credit availability, many stakeholders in the CRE sector must adapt their financial strategies to navigate these economic changes effectively.

Looking Ahead: Navigating the Challenges

Despite these challenges, demand remains strong and northwest Michigan remains a desirable location for commercial real estate investment, thanks to its strong tourism industry, growing population, and business-friendly initiatives. However, overcoming regulatory, infrastructure, and tax-related hurdles requires collaborative efforts between developers, policymakers, and local stakeholders.

By addressing these obstacles, northwest Michigan can create a more sustainable and attractive commercial real estate market that benefits investors, businesses, and local communities alike. The region’s economic growth depends on a balanced approach that encourages development while preserving its unique character and quality of life.

Kevin Endres, PE, SIOR, CCIM, is the owner/ broker of Three West Commercial.

RIVERWALK, STREETSCAPES AND SAFETY

By Harry Burkholder, columnist

This past November, Traverse City voters passed two ballot measures requiring that any creation, amendment or extension of a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) plan receive public approval through a vote.

This decision directly affects the Downtown Development Authority’s (DDA) efforts to extend TIF-97 – a plan that, if approved, would continue funding critical downtown infrastructure projects

and services.

Why

TIF-97 matters for downtown Traverse City

Without an extension, TIF-97 is set to expire in December 2027, giving the DDA just three more budget years to complete key capital improvement projects. Recognizing this limited timeline, the DDA launched a four-month discussion in September to determine which projects should be prioritized before the plan sunsets. Before diving into those priorities, it’s helpful to understand what TIF-97 has accomplished and the role tax increment financing has played in shaping Traverse City’s downtown.

TIF is a state-authorized funding tool used by the DDA to develop, construct and maintain critical public infrastructure and provide important services that support and promote economic development as well as place-making and cultural amenities throughout the downtown area. Under TIF, property tax generated within the district at the time of the TIF’s formation is set as the baseline. As development occurs within the TIF district over time, the property values increase, generating additional tax revenue. That additional revenue is then used by the DDA to finance public infrastructure

projects and services. Downtown Traverse City has two TIF districts, Old Town TIF and TIF-97.

Under TIF, the additional tax revenue collected within the district by the DDA is composed of tax revenue from the city and various regional taxing authorities, including Grand Traverse County, BATA and others. In practical terms, this means the city contributes 53 cents toward every TIF dollar, while the remaining 47 cents comes from the regional taxing authorities. TIF is the only municipal revenue-sharing tool available that uses funds from regional taxing jurisdictions to fund and maintain public infrastructure in the downtown that is utilized by thousands of residents and visitors from outside the city each day.

Over the last 40 years, the DDA has utilized TIF to fund numerous infrastructure projects that have contributed to the success and character of downtown. These projects include the Hardy Parking Deck, streetscaping enhancements (e.g., decorative sidewalks, crosswalks, trees, and bump-outs), as well as improvements to the Opera House and Clinch Park.

TIF has also supported the construc-

tion and renovation of intersections, streets and bridges. Beyond infrastructure, the DDA uses TIF to fund services that help maintain a clean, green, safe and accessible downtown. These include a dedicated downtown police officer, wayfinding signage, flower planters, trash removal, and regular street and sidewalk cleaning and repairs.

With the sunset of TIF-97 approaching, the DDA has spent the past several years leading a formal process to update and extend the plan, now called the Moving Downtown Forward TIF Plan.

If TIF-97 expires, Traverse City will lose regional tax revenue and assume full responsibility for funding downtown infrastructure improvements and services. Future projects, as well as necessary maintenance and upgrades to existing infrastructure, would have to be funded entirely through the city’s general fund. This shift would place the full financial burden on city taxpayers, rather than sharing costs regionally as is currently the case.

Recognizing the uncertainty surrounding the timing and outcome of the vote – as well as the limited time remaining before TIF-97 sunsets – the DDA launched

Downtown Riverwalk rendering

a four-month discussion in September to identify priority projects that it will work to complete before the plan expires. The DDA remains committed to advocating for the approval and extension of the TIF tool and is confident and optimistic about its ultimate passage.

Rotary Square

Over the past few years, Rotary Square has hosted a variety of public events, including the Michigan/Michigan State tailgate, a concert series with the Traverse City Philharmonic, and, most recently, the Sara Hardy Farmers Market. These activities have demonstrated the square’s value as a gathering space. Building on this momentum, the DDA recently launched Imagine Rotary Square, a community engagement and design initiative aimed at formalizing a long-term vision for the space. A conceptual design is expected to be completed this summer, with the initial phase of construction potentially beginning later this year.

Farmers Market Pavilion

Utilizing a conceptual design developed in 2018, the DDA plans to move forward with the schematic design and engineering phase, with an intent to construct the pavilion at the market’s

long-time home near the river. The design and engineering blueprints are expected to be completed this summer, with the initial phase of construction potentially beginning early next year.

Last month, the DDA approved the creation of a schematic design for the Riverwalk’s first phase. This phase will focus on the J. Smith Walkway pocket park, enhanced pedestrian amenities through

If TIF-97 expires, Traverse City will lose regional tax revenue and assume full responsibility for funding downtown infrastructure improvements and services.

Boardman/Ottaway Riverwalk (Phase One)

In 2018, the DDA launched a planning initiative to create a comprehensive vision for the 1.6 miles of the Lower Boardman/Ottaway River that winds through downtown Traverse City. This effort resulted in the adoption of the Unified Plan in 2021, which established a framework for significant pedestrian improvements, place-making enhancements, and habitat restoration efforts – supporting a long-held goal for downtown to “turn and embrace” the river. In 2022, the DDA developed a conceptual design for a Downtown Riverwalk.

the alley, and a new pedestrian bridge connecting to improvements on the river’s north side. The schematic design will also incorporate stormwater management and habitat restoration into the project.

East Front Street Streetscaping

East Front Street, between Boardman Avenue and Grandview Parkway, noticeably lacks key pedestrian-friendly features such as wider sidewalks, street trees, and decorative lighting. With the recent completion of the reconfigured intersection at Grandview Parkway, there is renewed momentum to enhance this important gateway into downtown. Streetscaping

improvements along this stretch would not only improve walkability and aesthetics but also create new opportunities for outdoor cafes and a more inviting and cohesive connection to the rest of downtown.

Two-Way State Street Circulation

In 2022, the DDA partnered with the city to launch a two-year pilot program converting State Street, Pine Street and Boardman Avenue to two-way traffic. Data collected over the past two years shows that the conversion has had a measurable impact. The average vehicle speed on State Street has decreased by two miles per hour, while instances of excessive speeding (over 35 mph) have been reduced by nearly half. These changes have contributed to a safer, more pedestrian-friendly downtown environment. The pilot program will continue for another year, after which the DDA and city will determine whether to make two-way circulation permanent or revert to one-way traffic.

Information on the Moving Downtown Forward TIF Plan and the TIF tool can be found at dda.downtowntc.com.

Harry Burkholder is the executive director of the Traverse City Downtown Development Authority. He previously served as the COO and formerly sat on the DDA board for nine years.

THE CONSTRUCTION REPORT

GREEN ACRES

Proposed eco-friendly housing development slated for old 50-acre coal ash disposal site

By Craig Manning

In 2005, Traverse City Light & Power (TCLP) decommissioned its old power plant on Grand Traverse Bay, making way for the building to be torn down and the property to be turned into what is known today as the Open Space.

Two decades later, TCLP is in the process of pulling off another land recycling project, and it’s linked to that same power plant. At the end of last year, board members for the utility voted to accept an $850,000 offer to sell a vacant 50-acre parcel known internally as the “fly ash property.” If all goes according to plan, the site will become the home to an ambitious new eco-friendly property development – one featuring playgrounds, public trails, community gardens, and dozens of residential units.

The story of the fly ash property

Located off Cedar Run Road in Garfield Charter Township, the property in question was once used as a disposal site for coal fly ash from TCLP’s old bayside power plant. Built in the late 1800s, that plant supplied Traverse City with its first electricity, starting off first as a steam-powered electric plant. It was later converted to a coal-fired plant, which stood until 2005.

According to a TCLP presentation from December’s meeting, efforts to cease using the coal fly ash property for waste disposal began all the way back in the mid-1990s, long before the power plant’s last days. The utility decommissioned the site in accordance with requirements from the Michigan Department of Environmen-

tal Quality – now the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) – including three years of “post-closure groundwater monitoring” from 1997 to 2000. The coal fly ash property has been dormant ever since.

If

proposals to that effect “did not receive responsive proposals,” per the utility.

Finally, last summer, TCLP declared the old fly ash property as “surplus” and put it up for sale on the open market.

After reviewing proposals, TCLP board

all goes according to plan, the site will become the home to an ambitious new eco-friendly property development – one featuring playgrounds, public trails, community gardens, and dozens of residential units.

In 2018, TCLP engaged the services of local engineering firm Gosling Czubak to “evaluate options for repurposing the property.” One challenge with redeveloping the land is that the former coal ash dumping pit occupies 10 acres of the 50-acre site and is sealed off at the surface and hemmed in by an underground lining keep the contaminants contained. The ground in those 10 acres cannot be penetrated or disturbed in any way.

Still, Gosling Czubak came up with multiple potential uses for the property. One idea was to install a new one-megawatt pad-mounted solar array that wouldn’t require penetrating beneath the surface of the ground. But the solar array was ultimately deemed unfeasible due to topographical challenges at the site, and talks around reutilizing the property fizzled out during the pandemic.

Later, community discussion pointed to the property potentially becoming a public park. But TCLP’s efforts last year to solicit

members voted to sell the property to LivWell Homes. The purchase agreement was approved in December, and the sale is currently pending.

The LivWell vision

Established in 2014 by founder Chad Kotlarz, LivWell Homes is a full-service design-build company that specializes in building “environmentally responsible and resource-efficient homes.” For the fly ash property, LivWell Homes is partnering with First Holding Management Company, a West Bloomfield-based LLC that “currently manages and owns over 1,700,000 square feet of commercial space and more than 1,700 apartment units and mobile home pads in Michigan.”

Presenting a vision for the Cedar Run Road property in December, Kotlarz classified the LivWell Homes plan as a “hybrid development” featuring an “organic arrangement of mixed unit types to preserve

natural resources and foster community engagement.” Specifically, the plan calls for a mix of attached townhome-style units – approximately 48 of them – as well as 25 single-family lots.

The dwellings themselves will have “eco-friendly, sustainable architecture which utilizes the latest in building technology.” Additionally, “significant portions of gross land” on the property will be “preserved for community centered green spaces and multi-use trails Intermingled playgrounds, dog parks, gazebos, picnic areas, and parking within the green space areas.” LivWell Homes also plans to prioritize “restoration of disturbed areas with native plantings/trees to enrich ecosystems and attract pollinators.”

In selling the property to LivWell Homes, TCLP is taking numerous steps to make sure the project is as green and sustainable as possible. For instance, the purchase contract stipulates that “any and all new buildings shall be fully electric in that electricity is used to power all its functions, including heating, cooling, cooking, and hot water, with no reliance on fossil fuels like natural gas or propane.” The utility has also shared that proceeds from the sale of the surplus property will “support TCLP’s climate action plan programs and initiatives,” including investments in renewable energy.

“We are excited to see this property put to use in a way that not only addresses the growing housing demand in our region but also honors our commitment to environmental stewardship,” TCLP Executive Director Brandie Ekren said in a TCLP press release in December. “This development aligns with our vision of balancing community growth with sustainability.”

Part of the fly ash property off Cedar Run Road.

The progress report

According to Kotlarz, LivWell Homes is currently hard at work with EGLE “because they’re the ones that are regulating that land and can determine what we can do there, as far as development and earth-moving are concerned.”

Currently, the majority of the parcel – and not just the capped fly ash pit – is subject to a restrictive covenant (RC). That RC will need to be lifted or modified before LivWell can proceed with construction.

“Following the placement of the fly ash cap, EGLE put that RC on the majority of the property because they wanted to enter into a dialog with any potential developers,” Kotlarz said. “We’re in the midst of that dialog now, and we’ve set forth a work proposal for testing on the property, with the goal of reducing the RC area.”

The fly ash pit and the area immediately surrounding it, Kotlarz says, will likely always remain under the RC. Right now, though, there’s still some question of whether other parts of the property were contaminated by the pollution, hence the need for soil testing.

“As far as I know, there was no testing done on any of this land after the cap was put in,” Kotlarz said. “So, we’re doing soil testing to determine if there is any notable contamination. We’re not concerned so much about water, because

we have municipal water out there. So, EGLE is going to maintain that we can’t do anything with wells, but we don’t want to do anything with wells. We want everything to be city water. That just leaves the soil testing.”

Assuming those test results come back favorable and EGLE consents to modifying the RC, the next step would be for LivWell Homes to work with Garfield Township to address zoning issues at the site.

Currently, the Cedar Run property is zoned agricultural. Kotlarz shared plans in December for LivWell to seek approval from Garfield Township for the site to become a planned urban residential district (PURD). PURD zoning offers “a degree of flexibility and creativity in the planning and design of residential development projects,” according to the township’s zoning ordinance, inviting “efficient, clustered development on portions of a site so that developers are better able to provide amenities and infrastructure improvements.”

All these steps are part of the due diligence phase for the land, which is still technically TCLP property in the interim. Kotlarz says the sale won’t proceed unless LivWell gets the PURD zoning from Garfield Township, which in turn can’t happen unless EGLE modifies the RC.

“So, both of those things have to happen for us to acquire the property,” he said.

In terms of timeline, Kotlarz expects all the testing will be done around mid-April, and is hopeful to get “permission from EGLE to develop the land” by mid-sping.

As for the PURD approval, Kotlarz says he’s already had meetings with Garfield Township to lay the groundwork, but notes that permitting is a lengthy process that could “could take six months.”

Once LivWell gets the green light to

build, Kotlarz says the plan is to build out the development in multiple sales.

“If we engage in pre-sales for some of these units, that would really help push the project forward,” Kotlarz told the TCBN. “But it will definitely take us several years to build the whole thing out. I would say three to five years would probably be a goal, depending on what kind of density we end up getting approved.”

LivWell Homes’ early plan for the property.

SECOND LIFE

Entrepreneurs find ‘green’ gold turning old materials into new products

By Kierstin Gunsberg

It’s not easy being green, but for businesses, it might just be the answer to staying competitive.

Data from consumer intelligence company Nielsen IQ projects that over the next five years that Gen Z’s buying power will grow to $12 trillion, making them a key up-and-coming buyer segment.

And, say those reports, sustainability is top-of-mind for this demographic, who will go out of their way to buy (and spend more on) products that support their ethical consumption values.

Jennifer Franzoni: Turning old quilts into fashion statements

In northern Michigan, three entrepreneurs are ahead of the curve, finding ways to repurpose old materials into new products and proving that eco-friendly practices can be both profitable and impactful.

“I would never take someone’s grandma’s quilt apart,” said Jennifer Franzoni, a Traverse City-based artist who transforms tattered textiles into roomy, hooded jack-

ets. The quilts that make it into her home studio are sourced from eBay and resellers and are known as “cutter quilts” – discard-

An oil painter and a hobby quilter for over two decades, Franzoni says she began making quilt jackets as a way to branch

“The best quilt jacket I produced was from a $30 torn-up quilt with newsprint inside. It ended up being the most amazing jacket. You’d never think something like that could come out of the garbage.”

– Jennifer Franzoni, Traverse City-based artist

ed blankets that are too worn to make a bed with.

“There’s holes, it’s falling apart, there’s bleach marks,” Franzoni explained.

Yet, between the imperfections, she finds usable fabric waiting for a second life.

Even the thread that Franzoni uses in her jackets is secondhand, often picked up from estate sales along with leftover bobbins and notions. Her most recent finished jacket binding was repurposed from a men’s shirt she found at Goodwill.

out from her oil painting work while staying true to her creative roots, adding that from first cut to final bind, each piece takes no more than four hours to create and sells for $250–$300.

Since selling her first jacket a year ago, she’s sold about 30 more, mostly through Instagram, where she connects with customers both in northern Michigan and across the country. Even as demand for fast fashion holds steady, big brands are catching on to what makers like Franzoni

have known all along – that fabrics like polyester and nylon wear out quickly, shed microplastics and are falling out of favor with consumers who are shifting towards all-natural fabrics like the cotton used in old quilts. That, she says, is a big reason why her jackets have been such a hit.

Despite her quick success, Franzoni is expanding carefully.

“I’m a little scared of growing too fast. I don’t want to pick up and be popular without having a product,” she said, pointing to her intent to produce mindfully sourced, handmade clothing as the antithesis to fast-fashion. It’s a movement known as “slow fashion” that aims, among other things, to reduce textile waste.

According to the EPA, textiles generate tens of millions of tons in waste, with much of it ending up in landfills. Or nearly, anyway, until makers like Franzoni step in to save them.

“I find some really interesting ones. The best quilt jacket I produced was from a $30 torn-up quilt with newsprint inside,” she said. “It ended up being the most amazing jacket. You’d never think something like that could come out of the garbage.”

Jennifer Franzoni transforms tattered textiles into hooded jackets.

Joe Harrison: Giving old wood a new life

When Joe Harrison set out to build a mother-in-law suite on his property in 2015, he had no idea the project would evolve into a full-fledged business. It all started when he tore down an old barn to collect wood for his project.

This was during HGTV’s “Fixer Upper” heyday, and the modern farmhouse aesthetic was taking center stage for home renovations and new builds.

As Harrison collected board after vintage board, he quickly found that he wasn’t the only one interested in genuine barn wood. So, he kept some of it for himself and sold the rest, slowing his con-

struction timeline while simultaneously ramping up his clientele.

“It took me about two years and about 12 buildings before I finally finished my project,” he said.

Today, Harrison owns Lake Ann Barnwood, a family-run business that repurposes barn wood into home décor and architectural elements which can be found at places like Traverse City’s Antiquities Warehouse, Source Julien, and Honor & Onekama Building Supply.

“We’re really proud to help relieve the carbon footprint of new wood and reuse whatever we can save,” Harrison said. “We do everything we can to keep any of the material out of landfills.”

While based in northern Michigan, Harrison partners with suppliers in Montana, Ohio, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania for wood types he can’t find Up North. Otherwise, he and his team travel all over the state to track down barn wood, which has to be 75 years or older to have the right look, among other criteria. Altogether, they dismantle about a dozen barns annually and offer full-service removal for property owners looking to clear old structures.

“A lot of times, people need it gone for insurance purposes... and they care enough to want to save the material and let it live another life,” said Harrison, adding that he’s aware that true reclaimed

Mike Brown

Owner, Burdco

Board Member, Traverse Connect

Tina Metropoulos, DO

Tobin Fraser, DO

Renee Tamlyn, DO

Bradley P. Goodwin, MD

Dan O’Brien

Burdco

wood has competition.

Polyurethane dupes made to look like the real thing are a popular and more affordable alternative to barn wood. But, for Harrison’s clients, there’s greater value in reusing materials that already exist.

Harrison also gets a kick out of thinking about the history held in the boards and beams.

“These boards have been in barns for 100, 150 years. The wood could tell a story. It’s amazing the things they’ve seen,” he said. From the color of the wood to the way the beams were originally cut, Harrison can even estimate when they were first harvested. “We’re looking at the past and the future every day with this stuff.”

THE DOCTORS ARE IN

Design and build an effective and welcoming space for an expanding medical practice.

Burdco created a soothing and efficient space for healthcare delivery and a pleasing environment for all our staff. Mike and his team stayed on budget and their timliness was more than impressive. We’re proud to welcome both patients and staff into our new facility.

–Bradley P. Goodwin, MD West Front Primary Care

Harrison and his crew.

Anyone near Pinterest a decade ago knows the hold that a pint of chalk paint and a worse-for-wear garage sale shelf had over the collective internet.

Back then, everyone was dabbling in DIY furniture flipping, and Crystal Merchant was no exception. A newly single mom at the time, Merchant turned to the hobby less for fun and more out of necessity as she looked to furnish her home on a tight budget.

Raised on thrift shopping, she picked up a desk on clearance for $1.99, painted it red, and the rest is history.

“Recycling and repurposing pieces became a joy,” she recalled.

Encouraged by friends and family who admired her work, Merchant, whose career first started in the world of banking, took the leap and bought several pieces at an estate sale with the intention of flipping them for profit.

Before she could even get them listed, a friend visited her home for dinner and left having purchased every single piece.

“She saw all the pieces and was like, ‘I must have them all,’” said Merchant. “And so I was like, ‘Oh my God, I think I just started a business.’”

For years, Merchant juggled her banking job with her furniture side hustle. But as the popularity of her pieces grew she realized that it was much more than a side hustle.

She’s since refinished more than 5,000 pieces, retired from banking, and launched a full-time business, The Curated Cottage. Today, 60% of her business comes from custom projects, with clients bringing sentimental table sets, desks and more for her to restore. The rest of her clients find her at her vendor space at the Emporium and on Etsy, where she reaches customers all over the country and where her finished pieces sell for upwards of $1,000.

“The pandemic actually grew my business by leaps and bounds into a six-figure income before I could blink an eyeball,” Merchant said, noting how during that time everyone was investing in their homes since they were there so much.

But long-term, Merchant believes the shift towards ethical consumption will continue to drive her success.

“Young people are having this revelation. They’re saying, ‘I reject consumerism. I want to pull pieces that mean something to me or put together secondhand items to create a home that’s focused on repurposing, reloving, and reusing,’” she said, optimistic that more people will choose sustainable alternatives over mass-produced furniture.

She also thinks she is going to see another boom.

“I don’t know if it’ll be as big as the pandemic boom, but I can see how people are shifting over the next five to 10 years to focus back on rejecting consumerism,” she said.

Crystal Merchant: Revamping thrifted furniture

Merchant in front of one of her pieces.

INDOOR AIR QUALITY

Who is DCL:

DCL designs, engineers, manufactures, and supports the world’s finest dustless loading systems for dry bulk materials.

OVERVIEW:

Keen has had the pleasure of working with DCL to help install a paint booth, and a fresh air strategy to ensure high quality painting and safe indoor air environment.

KEY Notes:

✓ Correct Building Pressure. ✓ Ensures Health and Safety of Occupants.

✓ Increase Employee Retention.

Inside the Paint Booth

OH, CHRISTMAS TREE

Inside Dutchman Tree Farms, the Midwest’s largest Christmas tree operation

By Art Bukowski

Dutchman Tree Farms is a big operation. How big?

The company sells between 600,000 and 900,000 Christmas trees each year, grown on a whopping 9,000 acres (that’s 14 square miles) around its headquarters in Missaukee County and spilling into several neighboring northern Michigan counties.

All told, the Manton-based business is likely the largest single Christmas tree operation east of the Mississippi River (North Carolina has many prolific producers, but very few that rival Dutchman’s scale) and is one of the top four or five in the entire country.

“We did (the math one time), and one out of every 26 homes in the whole nation with a live Christmas tree has a Dutchman tree,” said founder Steve Vanderweide. “I’m pretty proud of that.”

It’s hard work, out there on the land. It requires patience and perseverance. But those involved couldn’t be happier to be doing it.

“It’s really nice to think about how many touches you have in homes across the country during what is, for us, a very important holiday,” co-owner Chris Maciborski said. “We take a lot of pride in creating that beauty.”

A Dutch boy from Arlene

There was a time in the postwar years when Wexford and Missaukee counties produced more Christmas trees than any other counties in the United States. Several factors combined to make this possible, including the discovery that Scotch pines

grew very well in the region’s sandy soil and a lack of other dominant industries.

“Land was very, very cheap back then, and a seedling was maybe a nickel,” Vanderweide said. “The tree industry really blossomed, and back in those days every kid that went to school worked in Christmas trees. It was the only job there was.”

Vanderweide, a native of Arlene –halfway between Manton and Lake City – was one of those kids. After growing up and serving in the Vietnam war, he came back and tried to make a go of doing something other than Christmas trees in Grand Rapids. It didn’t last.

“I tried being a truck driver, I tried being a plumber. My brother was a plumber, and he owned his own company,” he said. “But I eventually said ‘I’m going home.’

Vanderweides felt like they were getting lost in the crowd. They were in a different spot every year, and Steve felt strongly that if they were going to succeed, they needed something memorable – they needed a brand.

One night, while in their motel room “in a shady part of town,” they put into motion a plan to rebrand on the spot before the next day’s market.

“We used to just call it Vanderweide Farms, but people were never going to remember that,” Vanderweide said. “So I went and got some plywood, and she got some white paint. We made (big cutouts of clogs) in our motel room that night, and Deb painted ‘Dutchman’ on it. From there, our business gained every year.”

Steve and Deb raised six girls, all two years apart, while they grew the business

“We did (the math one time), and one out of every 26 homes in the whole nation with a live Christmas tree has a Dutchman tree. I’m pretty proud of that.”

– Steve “The Dutchman” Vanderweide, Founder, Dutchman Tree Farms

I’d rather prune trees the rest of my life than be a plumber.”

He came back up “dead broke” with new wife Deb in tow and first began working for an old boss before starting out on his own. In those days many tree farmers brought shipments to large specialty markets to sell and promote themselves. Steve and Deb did just that for many years in Atlanta, Georgia, at the time one of the country’s industry hotspots. Things were mostly fine, but the

into one of the largest in the country over the next several decades. He cites three major events as key to that growth.

The first was a pioneering shift toward growing the now nationally dominant Frasier fir at scale – perhaps the first company in Michigan to do so. The second was a conscious shift toward wholesaling to big box outlets, which put Dutchman trees in front of millions of customers.

“We became the first tree company to develop a palletizer, which opened us up

to the chain store market – the Walmarts and so forth,” he said. “That was huge. The whole industry was changing, and I could see where it was going.”

The third was his continued acquisition of thousands of acres of land as the Christmas tree industry in northern Michigan contracted considerably and forced several other operations out of business.

“I picked up about 4,000 acres for $200 an acre (from an operation that was foreclosed on), but I had to go to some old Dutch friends who lent me the money at 19% interest,” he said. “I still have that note in my desk from when I paid 19% interest.”

The modern Dutchman

While Michigan as a state now ranks third behind Oregon and North Carolina in total Christmas tree production, Missaukee County is still the fifth ranked county in the entire nation due to Dutchman’s operations.

The business is now owned and run by Maciborski (Vanderweide’s son-inlaw) and Joel Hoekwater (Vanderweide’s nephew). Vanderweide has two other sons-in-laws who work there, along with one grandson (Maciborski’s son Elijah).

While there is some choose-and-cut offered, the business is almost entirely wholesale, with sales to Home Depot, Lowe’s, Ace Hardware and many smaller chains and other outlets primarily east of the Rocky Mountains. There’s been periods where they dabbled in direct-to-consumer online sales, including on Amazon, but that was for the birds.

“It’s difficult to sell that way. There’s a

lot of logistics that are involved,” Maciborski said. “It’s easier just to load them on semis.”

Dutchman offers more than Christmas trees. They sell seedlings, container-grown evergreen stock and balled-and-burlap trees for landscaping along with wreaths, roping and other Christmas greenery. All of this comes from almost 10 varieties of trees, something that gives Dutchman a competitive edge.

“We sell a much larger variety than most farms, and it’s because we’ve got unique growing conditions in Michigan that aren’t present in other areas that help us to do that,” Maciborski said. “Our sandy soil is evergreen friendly.”

The trees are grown from seed picked on designated seed lots, then nurtured in a massive three-acre greenhouse near Lake City. They are later planted in the field and carefully cared for. The complete process for the average size tree ranges up to 14 years, though the newly built greenhouse has shortened the cycle and strengthened their stock.

“We’ve sped up the process with this greenhouse and cut two years off the growing cycle,” Maciborski said. “And that’s been huge for us in terms of what the tree is capable of and what problems we can avoid.”

Once a tree is in the field, it can’t just be left there. It needs to shaped, irrigated (depending on the weather), managed for pests and much more. The shaping in particular is very labor intensive.

“To cultivate it en masse on acreage and to produce what the acreage will give you,

“I

you have to continually shape that tree so it doesn’t get too wide,” Maciborski said. “If you want the pyramidal shape, you have to shape it, and then you have to shear it.”

As with most other large agricultural operations in the Midwest, much of this work is done by migrant workers. The company has about 50 full-time local employees and several hundred additional visa workers in the busy season.

“That’s the hardest thing about the Christmas tree business is there’s so many touches, so labor’s always an issue,” Maciborski said. “You can’t do it without bringing in other people.”

Migrant work aside, Vanderweide’s descendants aren’t afraid of getting their own hands dirty. Elijah, like his dad and grandfather before him, grew up working in the fields with his friends. Maciborski is proud to see the pride taken by his son and countless others who all contribute to the final product in this way.

“A lot of times those kids are trimming trees that are two or three feet tall, and they’re setting the foundation for that tree, turning it into what it is when we sell it,” Maciborski said.

Maciborski and the rest of the Dutchman family enjoy the process from seed to sale.

“I really enjoy watching the crops grow,” he said. “When you drive into a harvest-ready Christmas tree field and you see the quality that’s out there, there’s a tremendous amount of satisfaction to see that process become complete knowing where it started.”

Vanderweide, who retired but is still

really enjoy watching the crops grow. When you drive into a harvest-ready Christmas tree field and you see the quality that’s out there, there’s a tremendous amount of satisfaction to see that process become complete knowing where it started.”

–Chris Maciborski,

Co-owner,

Dutchman Tree Farms

very much around the business, is proud of the next generations who are now shepherding the operation into the future.

“I told the boys when they took over the farm, ‘If you’re going to be successful in this business, you’ve got to be on top of this business. You’ve got to be leaders in this industry. You get on the national and state boards, you know where this industry is going before anyone else knows where it’s going,’’ Vanderweide said. “And they’ve done that. They’ve become leaders.”

Dutchman will even host this year’s National Christmas Tree Association annual convention in July, bringing scores of industry guests to northern Michigan.

Aside from their passion for the business, Vanderweide and Maciborski also hold deeply religious convictions that drive their work and lives.

“All of this belongs to God,” Vanderweide said. “We’re men of faith, and we’re just managing this for the Lord. Once you start making it yours, you’re in trouble.”

From Ford Field to the White House

Dutchman has had its share of trees in notable locations. It’s provided the massive tree in Campus Martius in the heart of downtown Detroit for many years, serving as the Christmas centerpiece for

the state’s largest city.

That’s not the only tree Dutchman is used to furnishing in Detroit. For several years they were responsible for a large tree in Ford Field, but that ended this past year after another company sold the organization on one of its products.

“We were really disappointed when they decided to put a fake tree up there,” Maciborski said. “They got popular, so this big artificial tree company went to them. It looks like crap.”

The Lions, Maciborski feels, are unlikely to get to the Super Bowl unless this egregious mistake is corrected.

“This definitely extended the curse,” he said.

And while Campus Martius and Ford Field are neat stories to tell, Vanderweide has one that’s even better. The state and national Christmas tree associations traditionally hold a nationwide contest, with the winner getting their tree to the leader of the free world.

“One of the greatest pinnacles (of my career) is that we got to furnish President (Ronald) Reagan with a Christmas tree,” he said. “We got to go to the White House with all of our kids, and we got to spend a whole week in Washington. They put us in VIP housing and we were on Good Morning America. It was an unbelievable experience.”

Steve and Deb Vanderweide

Chris and Elijah Maciborski

THE COST OF A COLD ONE

How local brewers are rethinking wastewater and sustainability

By Kierstin Gunsberg

If there are two things northern Michiganders can count on this summer, it’s a steady flow of craft beer and the start of some major wastewater infrastructure improvement projects. One of those might sound more exciting than the other (depending on who you ask), but they’re also more connected than most people realize.

Industries like food production, fashion and manufacturing have long strained the wastewater system – and beer-making is no exception, particularly for smaller breweries without dedicated treatment facilities.

“The biggest share of the waste of any brewery is liquid waste,” said John Niedermaier, president and brewmaster of Brewery Terra Firma in Traverse City.

Studies estimate that for every gallon of beer produced, anywhere from three to 10 gallons of wastewater are also produced.

That murky yellow byproduct, loaded with organic matter like hop resin and residual sugars, has a high biological oxygen demand, meaning it doesn’t break down easily.

“When you dump all of that down the drain, and you have multiple breweries on one wastewater system, it really adds a lot to the waste stream,” Niedermaier explained.

The more overall waste those systems have to process, the more repairs and

many of the hops and herbs used in its brews, earn a Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program certification. It’s a designation for farms committed to reducing their environmental impact, something Terra Firma does by rerouting

“Our goal is to be reusing (and) re-pitching our yeast. That also saves us on shipping and having to order new supplies as well.” – Nate Penney, Head Brewer, Kingsley Local Brewing

upgrades have to be done, which is a cost that ultimately falls on taxpayers.

For Niedermaier, who has spent the last 30 years in the brewing industry, that reality has never sat well.

“We’re making liquid salad, you know. It’s really just liquid compost,” he said.

“And there’s a lot of it.”

Enough, he realized, to put to good use.

That mindset helped Brewery Terra Firma, a 10-acre working farm that grows

its brew waste away from the wastewater stream and turning it into actual compost.

To start, Niedermaier keeps his brew ingredients simple and uses gentle cleaning solvents, since everything that hits the floor ultimately gets mixed into the brewery’s wastewater. With a special license from the state Department of Environmental Quality, Terra Firma collects its wastewater in a holding tank.

“Any of the liquids that hit the floor

in the brewery all go to an underground capture tank,” Niedermaier explained. Once the contents pass a regular analysis, “we pump that out into a tank in the back of a truck and apply it evenly through our planted areas.”

The process, known as fertigation, allows wastewater to both fertilize and irrigate crops simultaneously. Thanks to this system, the brewery has reclaimed over 500,000 gallons of water and reduced its environmental impact by quite literally reusing its ingredients to grow more ingredients.

Brewing smarter, not harder

Like Niedermaier, many Up North brewers are finding creative ways to balance their craft with conservation. For Nate Penney, head brewer at Kingsley Local Brewing and downtown Traverse City’s The Workshop, that starts with using less water in the first place. One of the best ways to do that is by reusing yeast from one batch to the next (so that brewers don’t end up using tons of extra water to flush it through the pipes) in a process

Brewer Marty Mack, Lake Ann Brewing.

called re-pitching.

“We’re not dumping yeast down the drain, or (at least) avoiding it as much as possible,” Penney said, noting that yeast disposal has its own environmental consequences. Beyond adding strain to wastewater systems, yeast can harm aquatic life if it reaches natural waterways.

Reusing yeast is a two-fold sustainability practice, benefiting both the environment and the brewery’s bottom line.

“Our goal is to be reusing (and) re-pitching our yeast,” Penney said. “That also saves us on shipping and having to order new supplies as well.”

But managing live yeast cultures isn’t as simple as recycling cans.

“It’s like micro-ranching,” he joked.

Not all breweries have the resources to do it, but for those that do, the savings add up, often $200 to $300 per batch.

The economics of sustainability

For Matt Therrien, owner of Benzie’s summer hot spot Lake Ann Brewing Company, sustainability and profitability go hand-in-hand.

“You cannot be environmentally sustainable if you’re not economically sustainable,” he explained.

Just like thrifting keeps textiles out of landfills while saving money, cutting costs in brewing often leads to a smaller environmental footprint.

than tossing out empties, and the brewery saved space by avoiding stockpiles of prepackaged beer.

“I said the best thing I can do for my employees is to stay in business and maintain profitability because whatever else happens, if we’re not profitable, we won’t have a job,” he said.

As many northern Michigan breweries pivoted from taproom service to take-home beer, Therrien opted for glass growlers and howlers instead of single-use cans. The move wasn’t just eco-friendly –it was practical. Customers could return with their glass containers for refills rather

“While it’s also the most environmentally friendly way to send beer out the door, it also offers the highest profitability because our existing bartenders are the ones filling those glass containers,” Therrien said. “I don’t have to bring on more paid labor to can beer. And it’s easier for us because we don’t have to stock our inventory with cans.”

And while Lake Ann Brewing relies on a septic system instead of a public sewer, water conservation is still top of mind

for Therrien. To cut water use, Therrien installed a heat exchanger to cool beer, essentially “borrowing” cold well water to absorb heat from the hot wort before returning it to the ground via a dry well. The process saves hundreds of gallons of water per batch, along with the costs that come with it.

Waste not, want not

Of course, not everything in brewing can be reused to brew more. Spent grain (the mealy byproduct left over after brewing) has little use in the brewery itself.

That lesson hit home when his brewery marked its five-year milestone during the pandemic.

Niedermaier at Brewery Terra Firma.

For every gallon of beer produced, one to two pounds of spent grain is left behind. But while brewers might not need it, local farmers do.

Therrien donates his spent grain to nearby cattle farmers, who use it as a nutrient-rich feed. It’s a win-win: the brewery doesn’t have to find ways to dispose of it, and farmers get a no-cost feed solution. Occasionally, Therrien even gets a fresh cut of beef in return. Plus, there’s an add-

ed incentive to move spent grain quickly –it starts to stink after just a few hours.

“It works well for everybody because they need it and we don’t want it,” he said.

Back at Brewery Terra Firma, spent grains have made their way to local bakers who use them in dog treats, pretzels, bread and bagels.

“We really love it when people use those byproducts,” said Niedermaier who recently invested $10,000 in a British

Thermal Unit recovery system.

The equipment is designed to capture excess heat from the brewing process and repurpose it to warm the brewery and taproom in the winter, reducing both energy use and energy bills. The benefits have already outweighed the cost.

“We’re close to having that paid off,” Niedermaier said. “I’m expecting Brewery Terra Firma to outlive me by a lot, so the cost was well worth it. Not to

mention you just feel better, and it’s a great selling point. People are really into sustainability now.”

As more consumers prioritize eco-conscious choices even when they’re imbibing, Niedermaier believes the brew industry will have to follow suit, especially as climate change threatens the agricultural practices it depends on.

“We really don’t have a choice,” he said. “We’ve got to be smarter.”

Farm equipment at Brewery Terra Firma.

Brewery Terra Firma

ON THE FRONT LINES

Conservation organizations save land, fight invasive species amid funding concerns

By Art Bukowski

Conservation of our region’s natural resources has long been a priority for local residents and various organizations, but these efforts have taken on increased importance as growth and development pressure in the region continue to climb.

The TCBN checked in with some the region’s major conservation organizations to see what’s new and what’s next.

About: The Watershed Center works to protect and restore rivers, creeks and other bodies of water in the Grand Traverse Bay watershed, which encompasses nearly 1,000 square miles of land and water across northwest Michigan.

Thoughts from: Christine Crissman, Executive Director

What was your organization’s biggest win in the past year?

In 2024, The Watershed Center celebrated 30 years of advocating for clean water in Grand Traverse Bay and acting to protect and preserve its watershed. As we looked back on our accomplishments, we recognized the significant impact our projects have had on the health of our waters. Over the last three decades, we have led dozens of on-the-ground projects bringing nearly $16 million to our region to implement our watershed protection plans. These projects annually prevent more than 2,250 tons of sediment, 1,625 pounds of phosphorous, 5,360 pounds of nitrogen, and 254 million gallons of stormwater from entering Grand Traverse Bay. We also recognized how much the community mindset around water has changed. We have witnessed a cultural shift throughout our watershed, spurred by our intentional advocacy and outreach efforts and accelerated by the observable and alarming impacts of climate change and development on our local ecosystems. It took time and dedication, but community members began to understand the interconnectedness of what happens on each beach, lake, and river throughout our region. This shift in our community’s attitude toward water protection is something worth celebrating.

What’s on the horizon this year in terms of exciting projects/programming?

We are excited about numerous projects we have in the works this year. We are furthering our Kids Creek Restoration Project by working with the City of Traverse City to replace an undersized culvert where 11th Street crosses Kids Creek. We are

also continuing several water quality monitoring efforts, including chloride monitoring in Kids Creek to determine the impact of deicing salts, temperature monitoring on Mitchell Creek to better understand the impacts of climate change and development patterns, and aquatic insect monitoring to determine stream health through our Adopt-A-Stream program.

We are also excited about several collaborations we continue to convene and support. We’re thrilled to be guiding the Boardman-Ottaway River Network as they develop a scorecard to determine the health of the river. We believe when we work together, we accomplish more, secure greater amounts of funding, and reinforce our shared vision of a healthy, prospering environment and community.

What are the most significant challenges that stand in your way as you continue to do your work?

Currently, the most significant challenge we face is the uncertainty surrounding federal funding. We have received nearly $15 million from federally authorized funds to implement large-scale projects that have had a profound impact on the health of our local waters. To put that in perspective, federal funds account for 96% of all grant funding we have received, and 90% of those funds go directly back into our community by hiring local contractors, supporting local businesses, and implementing vital projects.

Despite this uncertainty, our commitment remains unwavering. The watershed plans we coordinate – developed in collaboration with a broad network of partners – identify the most effective projects to protect our local waters. This strategic, science-based approach allows us to adapt to changing circumstances while staying focused on our mission. It won’t be easy, but we remain dedicated to protecting and advocating for Grand Traverse Bay and the waters that sustain our region.

The Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay

About: Using a variety of tools, GTRLC permanently protects natural, scenic and farm land from development in its five-county service area of Grand Traverse, Antrim, Benzie, Kalkaska and Manistee counties. Since its founding in 1991, the conservancy has protected more than 48,000 acres of land. While some of this protected land remains private, the conservancy has also created dozens of nature preserves and natural areas, many of which it stewards.

Thoughts from: Jennifer Jay, Director of Communications and Engagement

What was your organization’s biggest win in the past year?

We had less than six months to raise a jaw-dropping $19.5 million to secure the purchase of 35 acres of land in Elberta. The property features 578 feet of frontage on Lake Michigan and 3,120 feet on Betsie Bay. Sixteen acres will eventually become a public park and beach owned by the Village of Elberta, while 10 acres of steep, forested dune will be a nature sanctuary owned by GTRLC, and the remaining nine acres will be developed in alignment with the Village’s vision to provide much needed economic development. The long-awaited Beach-to-Beach trail, an extension of the Betsie Valley Trail, will now connect Frankfort to the Village of Elberta as a result of this protection effort. This was such a huge community effort, and hundreds and hundreds of people who love that area stepped in to make this dream a reality.

What’s on the horizon this year in terms of exciting projects or programming?

The Ridge, a 312-acre parcel in East Bay Township straddling two watersheds, is a really exciting project for us this year. If we are successful, it will be a nature preserve, open to the public for hiking and other passive recreation. The views from the top are absolutely amazing. You can see all the way to Sugarloaf in Leelanau County and, on a clear day, all the way to Charlevoix. It’s a spectacular visual reminder of our vast freshwater resources. Protecting that steep, forested slope from development is so important to protecting our water quality, and it provides excellent wildlife habitat. We will be leading a handful of guided hikes there this summer so that everyone can see this spectacular property and learn more about the effort to protect it for future generations.

What are the most significant challenges that stand in your way as you continue your work?

The freeze on certain federal grants will definitely impact our work in areas such as farmland protection and a host of vital stewardship practices. We are also concerned

The Agricultural Land Easement Program (ALE) has been

We are fortunate to have locally-funded millages in Peninsula and Acme Townships, but that is not the case in other parts of our service area. In order to maintain the pace of our land protection, and secure our region’s farms, private dollars will need to fill the gap.

about the loss of nonpoint source protection grant dollars from the Clean Water Act. GTRLC and the Leelanau Conservancy have worked collaboratively to receive many critical grants from that source to protect lands that directly affect our water quality.

frozen nationwide.

Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy

Thoughts from: Jennifer Jay, Director of Communications and Engagement

What was your organization’s biggest win in the past year?

About: Using a variety of tools, GTRLC permanently protects natural, scenic and farm land from development in its five-county service area of Grand Traverse, Antrim, Benzie, Kalkaska and Manistee counties. Since its founding in 1991, the conservancy has protected more than 48,000 acres of land. While some of this protected land remains private, the conservancy has also created dozens of nature preserves and natural areas, many of which it stewards.

We had less than six months to raise a jaw-dropping $19.5 million to secure the purchase of 35 acres of land in Elberta. The property features 578 feet of frontage on Lake Michigan and 3,120 feet on Betsie Bay. Sixteen acres will eventually become a public park and beach owned by the Village of Elberta, while 10 acres of steep, forested dune will be a nature sanctuary owned by GTRLC, and the remaining nine acres will be developed in alignment with the Village’s vision to provide much needed economic development. The long-awaited Beach-to-Beach trail, an extension of the Betsie Valley Trail, will now connect Frankfort to the Village of Elberta as a result of this protection effort. This was such a huge community effort, and hundreds and hundreds of people who love that area stepped in to make this dream a reality.

What’s on the horizon this year in terms of exciting projects or programming?

The Ridge, a 312-acre parcel in East Bay Township straddling two watersheds, is a really exciting project for us this year. If we are successful, it will be a nature preserve, open to the public for hiking and other passive recreation. The views from the top are absolutely amazing. You can see all the way to Sugarloaf in Leelanau County and, on a clear day, all the way to Charlevoix. It’s a spectacular visual reminder of our vast freshwater resources. Protecting that steep, forested slope from development is so important to protecting our water quality, and it provides excellent wildlife habitat. We will be leading a handful of guided hikes there this summer so that everyone can see this spectacular property and learn more about the effort to protect it for future generations.

About: Based out of the Boardman River Nature Center in Traverse City, the GTCD is a community-serving organization that “cares for the people and places that make Northwest Michigan so special.” It works to provide gateways to the natural world, restore natural areas, train future generations of conservation leaders and support sustainable, local agriculture.

Thoughts from: Irene Stibitz, Communications and Development Specialist

What was your organization’s biggest win in the past year?

What are the most significant challenges that stand in your way as you continue your work?

The freeze on certain federal grants will definitely impact our work in areas such as farmland protection and a host of vital stewardship practices. We are also concerned

At the Great Lakes Incubator Farm (GLIF), education for participants remained a cornerstone of the program in 2024, with over 20 workshops and two farm tours bringing participants together to learn from experts and each other. As a result, about an acre of crops were cultivated, with over 4,300 pounds of produce donated to Food Rescue and distributed to food pantries to help those in need.

This success matters because it offers hope amid pressing challenges. Farmland disappears at a rate of 2,000 acres per day, and with two-thirds of U.S. farmers over the age 55, the clock is ticking on passing essential knowledge to the next generation. GLIF aims to be part of the solution, equipping new farmers with skills, mentorship, and access to land and resources. By doing so, GLIF ensures that food systems remain local, resilient, and sustainable. For more information and to apply, visit natureiscalling.org/glif.

Separately, our Environmental Education programs welcomed over 12,000 participants in 2024. Of that number, 2,265 students visited GTCD for a Nature Education for Students and Teachers Field Trip program. Our Nature Day Camp program also hosted over 200 families for weekly, themed camps that boast 100% outdoor programming and featured experiences from local resource professionals.

What’s on the horizon this year in terms of exciting projects or programming?

GTCD will break ground on the Ottaway Crossing footbridge this coming year. Named the Ottaway Crossing to honor the river’s original name and the original stewards of the land, this 160-foot pedestrian bridge will span the Boardman-Ottaway River at the location of the former Sabin Dam, providing access from the Boardman River Nature Center on the river’s west side to miles of trails on the east, including the Traverse Area Recreation and Transportation Trails, Inc.’s (TART) Boardman-Ottaway River Trail that extends 24 miles into the river valley. This trail is part of a larger 41+ mile loop that connects the recently completed Boardman Lake Loop Trail, East Creek Reserve Trails, Brown Bridge Quiet Area, Muncie Lakes Pathway, North Country Trail, Vasa Pathway, and the TART. The project also provides the critical link to the Keystone Soccer Fields and the Great Lakes Incubator Farm.

What are the most significant challenges that stand in your way as you continue your work?

Fundraising. For over 80 years, GTCD has been caring for the people and places that make our region so special. Our staff works to keep our local farms sustainable, the Boardman-Ottaway River healthy, 2,500 acres of parkland safely accessible, and our community outdoors exploring and learning how to care for our natural world. Community support has made these accomplishments possible, but continued support is needed so that we can continue this vital work. Gifts allow us to create new trails within our managed parklands, offering fresh ways to experience local natural spaces. It will also help fund the construction of the Ottaway Crossing footbridge. Moreover, contributions sustain our year-round Environmental Education programs, designed to nurture a community of responsible environmental stewards. To make a donation, please visit natureiscalling.org/donate.

What was your organization’s biggest win in the past year?

about the loss of nonpoint source protection grant dollars from the Clean Water Act. GTRLC and the Leelanau Conservancy have worked collaboratively to receive many critical grants from that source to protect lands that directly affect our water quality. The Agricultural Land Easement Program (ALE) has been frozen nationwide. We are fortunate to have locally-funded millages in Peninsula and Acme Townships, but that is not the case in other parts of our service area. In order to maintain the pace of our land protection, and secure our region’s farms, private dollars will need to fill the gap.

The Northwest Michigan Invasive Species Network (ISN) has been partnering with GTRLC for the last eight years to remove invasive baby’s breath from Elberta Beach along Lake Michigan. When the project first started, baby’s breath was about the only plant growing on the beach, covering the dunes in overly sweet smelling, white-flowered shrubs. Utilizing volunteers and staff time, baby’s breath was dug from the ground, breaking off the plants above their extensive taproot and leaving them to decay on the sands. After eight years of this, we’ve made a noticeable difference! Beach grasses have begun to take over, federally threatened pitcher’s thistles are in full bloom, and eagles, monarch butterflies, and hognose snakes have been seen taking advantage of the managed area. Additionally, ISN began restoration efforts in 2024, planting hundreds of common milkweed plants, and transplanting beach grass from dense patches on the beach to encourage growth in areas where invasive species had hit the populations harder. ISN and GTRLC will be continuing these efforts this year, with three scheduled baby’s breath work bees throughout the summer, and an additional restoration day in September to continue restoring areas of the beach that need a little extra help!

What’s on the horizon this year in terms of exciting projects or programming?

ISN is excited to begin a few new projects this year! One longer-term project starting this year is in partnership with the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians (LRBOI) to manage invasive species in the Manistee River State Game Area, both to promote water and wetland health, and to protect and restore the culturally and ecologically important wild rice (manoomin). The beginnings of this work started last summer, when ISN’s survey crew conducted invasive species surveys along the Manistee River. This project is funded by a Sustain Our Great Lakes grant and the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. Additionally, ISN will be working with numerous organizations in our area to begin documenting native species populations and collecting native seed. These seeds are in great need by partners for restoration purposes. All of our collected seed will go back into the northwest Michigan area!

What are the most significant challenges that stand in your way as you continue your work?

One of the biggest challenges that ISN faces is funding. ISN is about 90% grant funded, with a range of state, federal, and private grants that fund all of our staff time and the majority of our projects. ISN applies for new grants on an on-going basis to help cover the costs of operations, but even with full grant funding, certain costs remain outside the scope of grants.

Basic necessities for nonprofits, such as office space, utilities, and the vehicles needed to implement our mission are often not grant funded. The cost of these expenses is especially impactful on ISN, because we are a new nonprofit, and are in the early stages of growing our network of supporters. Currently ISN is looking to purchase a truck for our treatment crew, who spend their summer driving ISN’s four-county service area to manage high priority invasive species on private and public lands.

Grand Traverse Conservation District

About: ISN works to prevent, remove and remediate damage from dozens of harmful invasive species in Benzie, Grand Traverse, Leelanau and Manistee counties. Thoughts from: Audrey Menninga, Director

Invasive Species Network

Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy

About: CRA, founded in 1968, serves 15 counties in northwest lower Michigan. The organization works with private landowners and public entities to restore and revitalize habitats throughout its service area, with particular expertise in river and stream restoration.

Thoughts from: Gavin MacDonald, Communications Manager

What was your organization’s biggest win in the past year?

CRA successfully navigated a leadership transition as Amy Beyer retired after 32 years of guiding the organization through transformative watershed projects across northwest Michigan. Stepping into the role, Suzie Knoll, CRA’s new executive director, hit the ground running, bringing years of leadership and management experience in the conservation sector. Most recently, Suzie led staff through a three-year business plan to identify opportunities for growth, forecast challenges and strengthen CRA’s long-term impact.

One of the most significant projects completed in 2024 was the transformation of Stony Creek—a comprehensive initiative involving dam removal, stream crossing replacement, stream corridor restoration, and improved recreational access in Oceana County. The restoration of Stony Creek stands as a testament to the power of collaboration, bringing together multiple agencies, community partners, and both public and private funding sources. The West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission (WMSRDC) played a key role in securing critical funding and leading the stream crossing replacement and dam removal, while CRA provided additional support and management for stream and habitat restoration. This project expanded CRA’s reach to 15 counties in northwest Michigan, further strengthening regional conservation efforts.

What’s on the horizon this year in terms of exciting projects or programming?

CRA’s projects are multi-year endeavors that require extensive planning, design, and implementation. While projects are at various stages, the recently completed threeyear plan will drive significant river restoration efforts, including the removal of eight dams, the installation of 45 new stream crossings, and 25 habitat improvement projects.

The first projects slated for completion in spring 2025 are three critical stream crossings on the Jordan River. These new channel-spanning timber bridges will eliminate fish passage barriers, reduce erosion, and decrease excess sedimentation, fully re-

About: Using a variety of tools, the Leelanau Conservancy permanently protects natural, scenic and farm land from development in Leelanau County. Since its founding in 1988, the conservancy has protected more than 18,000 acres of land. While some of this protected land remains private, the conservancy has also created many nature preserves and natural areas, many of which it stewards.

Thoughts from: Brighid Driscoll, Interim Communications Manager

What was your organization’s biggest win in the past year?

We got a lot done in 2024! Between protecting more farm and natural lands it’s hard to choose, but we’re proud to share two major accomplishments that directly benefit the environment and our community.

First, we successfully raised funds to expand the Kehl Lake Natural Area, adding additional acres to this vital conservation area. This expansion will help protect the surrounding habitat and maintain water quality in the lake. By protecting the land around Kehl Lake, we’re ensuring cleaner runoff, reducing erosion, and enhancing natural filtration, all of which contribute to healthy water for local wildlife and our community.

Additionally, we’re excited to introduce Phyl’s Forest, a new forested wetland preserve. This preserve also plays an important role in maintaining water quality. Wetlands are nature’s filters, trapping pollutants and improving water flow. Phyl’s Forest not only offers a peaceful space for visitors to connect with nature, but it also serves as a buffer for water systems in the region.

What’s on the horizon this year in terms of exciting projects or programming?

connecting the river’s mainstem. This collective effort will significantly enhance the Jordan River’s health and habitat. As the largest tributary to Lake Charlevoix, the Jordan is a designated Natural River and a Blue Ribbon trout stream in Michigan. Meanwhile, progress continues on the planning and design of major dam removals, including the Baldwin Dam and Boyne Falls Dam.

What are the most significant challenges that stand in your way as you continue your work?

While CRA’s work is not entirely federally funded, many projects in our workplan receive substantial support from federal agencies such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), USDA Forest Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

What’s at stake for CRA is $5.6 million to fund 29 road-stream crossing replacements and bridge work projects that were slated for construction in the near future. Unfortunately, two stream crossing replacements in the Cedar River watershed in Leelanau County, tied to the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) through the USDA’s NRCS, have already been delayed due to the funding freeze. Key supply ordering windows were missed because of payment uncertainty, pushing the projects back until further notice.

The biggest challenge remains the uncertainty of whether awarded grants will be honored and the broader outlook for these key agencies in the near future.

AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION & LAND USE

We’re always thinking about the trail user experience. Maintaining and improving trails so that folks can enjoy beautiful landscapes while preserving their natural integrity is a big way we connect the community to the outdoors. We’re also being proactive in the growing issue of invasive species, especially Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA), which threatens our forests. Through active management, we’re helping to protect native trees and ecosystems. And of course, we’re looking forward to protecting more land, from ecologically important natural lands to farmland that supports our local farmers and economy.

What are the most significant challenges that stand in your way as you continue your work?

One of the biggest challenges we face is the rising cost of land. As land prices continue to climb, it’s becoming more difficult to acquire and protect land before it’s developed or sold for other uses. It’s a constant race against time, and every land protection decision has to be carefully considered. Another challenge is the spread of invasive species. Whether they’re insects or plants, these pests threaten the health of our forests and disrupt local ecosystems. Managing invasives requires a lot of time, resources, and coordination, but it’s necessary for the long-term health of the land we’re working to protect. Despite these challenges, we’re committed to our mission and the Leelanau community.

Conservation Resource Alliance

Leelanau Conservancy

RECRUITING

IN DEMAND

What northern Michigan’s job seekers want in 2025

By Kierstin Gunsberg

Chris Rigan is a matchmaker of sorts.

As the founder of executive recruiting and HR consulting firm Adam Kay Group in Traverse City, he connects employers with the right talent for the job. And in his line of work, success is everything.

“I don’t get paid unless I make the right match, so it’s a straight commission, which can be challenging at times, but also a lot of fun,” he said.

Rigan’s job isn’t getting any less challenging. At the same time that employers are becoming more selective, so are candidates — and if companies want to stay competitive, they’ll need to pay attention to these top priorities job seekers are taking into their search.

Transparency in the hiring process

Some industries in northwest Mich-

igan are having better luck with hiring than others. Engineering and manufacturing roles are on the rise, but local recruits are limited.

“There’s not necessarily a pool of candidates for that,” said Rigan, explaining that he sometimes reaches beyond the area to find the talent that can fill those roles.

Even in these harder-to-fill fields, hiring has become a long and rigorous process across the board.

“A lot of companies go through three or four interviews before they make a decision,” Rigan explained. “They do a phone interview, then they do an in-person interview with the manager and HR, then they do another in-person interview with the team, and then if that goes well, they do an in-person interview with leadership.”

What used to take weeks now stretches over months. And, if it’s meant to draw out the best of the best, it might be

having the opposite effect because top candidates aren’t sitting around waiting to find out if they’ve made the cut.

That’s why Rigan urges companies to cut down the risk of losing that top candidate by clearly defining what they need in a hire and how long they expect the process of finding that person will take. Then share that information with candidates instead of being coy.

“It takes time (for employers) to find the right person, but when they do, they need to move forward and be very transparent about how the process works up-front instead of kind of ghosting the candidate,” he said.

And while some hiring managers feel that there’s minimal local interest, Rigan notes that job applicants are evenly split between locals and out-of-towners (many from downstate). That’s why for companies hoping to hire right here in northern Michigan, transparency is vital to

keeping candidates engaged before they accept another offer.

A flexible work model and career growth

The push to return to the office (RTO) may be gaining traction, but employees have made one thing clear: The traditional 9-to-5 desk job is fading fast, and workplace flexibility isn’t up for debate.

“A lot of companies that offered remote work during the pandemic are bringing people back in-house. Some of those people who had remote roles don’t want to return,” said Rigan. “So that limits the pool of people you can recruit from.”

Tech candidates, who were long told that it was a work-from-home industry, are especially unenthusiastic about the current RTO trend.

But even in places like the healthcare sector, where hands-on, in-person work

Chris Rigan

is almost always essential, flexibility still matters. Whether it’s adaptable scheduling or less rigid structures, employees are looking for ways to balance work and life without sacrificing career growth.

As both employers and job seekers adjust to the post-pandemic landscape, Rigan sees his clients landing on hybrid work as the happy medium, offering the structure companies want while giving employees the flexibility they need.

But not wanting to spend 40-plus hours a week in the office doesn’t mean candidates are looking to coast. According to Rigan, career growth is a top priority, with many job seekers focused on opportunities to build their skills and advance.

And for companies willing to meet them halfway, that’s a win-win.

An (after) work-life balance

For many job seekers, the draw of northern Michigan is as much about the lifestyle as it is about their careers. That’s especially true for the largest segment of workers, millennials, and their younger Gen Z counterparts, who will make up more than a quarter of the workforce in the coming years.

“A lot of younger families that live in bigger areas like Detroit, Grand Rapids, or even Flint and Saginaw that want to start a family are looking for good schools. And Traverse City has excellent schools. So, that’s always

helping (to recruit from out of the area),” Rigan explained. “We have top health care and a low crime rate. So, it’s pretty attractive for a young couple that wants to start a family to come here and move forward in their career and have a good work-life balance.”

But it’s not just about putting down roots, it’s also about having fun. From summer festivals and concerts to the food and

employers to keep up with the times, and technology is no exception. Rigan added that companies relying on outdated systems not only struggle to recruit but also risk higher turnover.

He’s seen firsthand how legacy systems – like older CAD design software – are becoming a deal-breaker for candidates who are trained on more

“A lot of companies that offered remote work during the pandemic are bringing people back in-house. Some of those people who had remote roles don’t want to return. So that limits the pool of people you can recruit from.”

– Chris Rigan, Founder, Adam Kay Group

wine scene and year-round outdoor recreation, young professionals are choosing this area in the hope that their off-the-clock life will be just as fulfilling as their career.

That’s where companies have an opportunity to really stand out. By fostering a culture that embraces the region’s lifestyle – think company-sponsored golf outings, after-hours pinball, or a day trip to the dunes – employers can create a workplace culture that not only attracts talent, but keeps it.

Modern tech

The picture is clear: Job seekers want

modern tools. For employers reluctant to upgrade their tech, Rigan points out that seasoned candidates who are familiar with older tools and software are still out there.

But for those hiring managers hoping to bring in someone with long-term potential and who doesn’t have retirement on the horizon, “it’s a little tricky,” said Rigan.

A livable wage and competitive benefits

While candidates are drawn to north -

ern Michigan by the opportunity to put down roots in one of the most sought-after areas of the Midwest, new talent needs to be able to afford to do just that. For many of them, childcare and housing expenses play a huge role in whether or not an offer is feasible.

So it’s no surprise that the number one thing job seekers up here are looking for is compensation, says Rigan. That means not just a livable wage, but a solid benefits package that includes medical, dental, and a 401(k).

“Every interview that I do before I present a candidate, I ask their three most important criteria to accept a new position. Ninety perfect of the time I get compensation,” he said.

Ultimately, the cost of offering competitive pay upfront might be what saves employers money in the long run by reducing turnover.

“Making candidates feel wanted when they first start the position helps them to be excited and get rolling,” said Rigan.

On the other hand, a new hire asking for $90,000 and being countered with $80,000 is likely to feel underappreciated over a difference that may seem small to the company but feels significant to the employee, he explains.

While that new hire might settle for the lower offer, “How long until they start looking again?” Rigan warned.

Miriam

Bareman,

Elmwood Primary Care

TRAVERSE CITY’S TALENT PORTAL

Five years of the Michigan’s Creative Coast initiative

By Craig Manning

Michigan’s Creative Coast, the job board launched by Traverse Connect in 2020, tallied about 900 job views in its first year. In 2024, the board generated over 41,000 job views, a 4,455% increase compared to four years earlier. Approximately 430 employers are signed up to use the job board, and many of them – including major players like Munson Healthcare, Hagerty, Northwestern Michigan College, Oryana Community Co-op, and the City of Traverse City itself – almost always have a job opening or two posted on the site.

For Abby Baudry, Traverse Connect’s communications and special projects manager – and the primary caretaker of the Michigan’s Creative Coast project – those numbers aren’t the only signs that the job board has been a success.

On the contrary, Baudry says Traverse Connect is seeing positive trends across the board for all the metrics it monitors in connection with the Creative Coast project, from a growth in the region’s “prime working age population” (those aged 35-49 years) to an uptick in local scientific, professional, technical and IT jobs.

How did we get here, and what does the

story of Michigan’s Creative Coast mean for northern Michigan’s working economy?

The TCBN took a closer look.

The roots of Michigan’s Creative Coast

In June 2020, Traverse Connect announced the launch of the Creative Coast Initiative, a collection of regional programs intended to “attract creative and innovative business, highlight existing creative and entrepreneurial culture, and attract and retain creative and cultural talent.”

In a press release announcing the initiative, President and CEO Warren

Call praised the Grand Traverse region’s “well-developed creative industry and arts sector” and expressed a desire to “lead the charge to enhance the creative community” in the region. Call described the Creative Coast project as an important way to drive growth to both the economy and the “cultural and artistic vibrancy” of the area.

The launch was made possible by the Creative Chamber Pilot Program, part of the Michigan Film & Digital Media Office, which itself is housed within the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). That pilot program sought to “address the industry segregation” between

local business communities and creative communities, with the belief that bringing the two together could create jobs, drive talent retention, and build “culturally friendly” communities where people want to “live, work, and play.”

Traverse City was one of five Michigan communities tapped to participate in the pilot, alongside Detroit, Washtenaw County, Grand Rapids and Marquette.

Creative Coast initially kicked off with a 12-part podcast, highlighting “creative entrepreneurs who have made Traverse City their home and who have brought with them exciting new ideas, interests, inspirations, and innovations.” The series spotlighted northern Michigan creatives like National Writers Series founders Doug and Anne Stanton, the leaders of the now-defunct Parallel 45 theater company, and musician Andrew Dost, formerly of the Grammy-winning rock band fun.

Other parts of the initiative included scholarships to get local creative professionals involved in Traverse Connect’s Leadership Grand Traverse Program; the development of a new “creative economy directory” highlighting “the wealth of creative professionals” living in the Grand Traverse region; and the launch of a Creative Coast website, including a job board spotlighting “lifestyle and career opportunities” in creative industries, traded industries, the tech sector, remote work and more.

Five years later, most of the pieces of the Creative Coast initiative have either fallen away or faded into memory, but the job board remains.

“Creating a regional job board was a key ask from the business community, back when we were building our strategic plan in 2019. We built what became the Michigan’s Creative Coast job board to serve several of those strategic plan goals,” Baudry said. “The top goals were growing the working-age population of the region, increasing technical and scientific careers, and decreasing the gap between our regional wages and the state wages.”

In order to drive those goals – especially around wages – Traverse Connect instituted one key rule for the job board: only jobs paying a minimum of $45,000 per year (if salaried) or $22 per hour (if hourly) could be advertised on the board.

“We see it as a way to not only help people find jobs and to elevate regional employers, but it also contributes to the overall growth of family-sustaining careers in the region, and to growing a more sustainable economy,” Baudry said. “(The job board) is changing the narrative that you must make career sacrifices to have the quality of life that’s unique to our area.”

Said another way, one mission of the Creative Coast job board is to eliminate the old Traverse City adage of “a view of the bay for half the pay” from the local lexicon.

“The top goals were growing the working-age population of the region, increasing technical and scientific careers, and decreasing the gap between our regional wages and the state wages.”

– Abby Baudry, Communications and Special Projects Manager, Traverse

“We don’t even say it anymore,” said Katherine DeGood, Traverse Connect’s director of marketing and communication, when asked about that once-popular shorthand for Traverse City’s lower-than-average wages.

The numbers

In March, Traverse Connect published its annual report for 2024, which included a check-in on the organization’s talent attraction and development efforts.

“The vision: By 2030, the Grand

Connect

DeGood

Baudry

Traverse region will be a diversified economic destination of choice powered by growth-oriented enterprises providing competitive total compensation to match our world-class quality of life,” the report states, adding that “three key metrics are trending positive” in comparison with 2030 goals.

Among those goals, Traverse Connect is seeking to boost the percentage of the local workforce that holds a bachelor’s degree or post-secondary certificate, as well as the size of the population in the “prime working age” demographic, which is defined as 35-39 years old. Both of those metrics are trending in the right direction: Based on the latest federal Census Bureau data, approximately 51% of local workers have bachelor’s degrees or post-secondary certificates, compared to Traverse Connect’s 2030 goal of 60%.

As for the prime working age population, Traverse Connect aimed to grow that demographic by 5% between 2020 and 2030, a goal that has already been achieved as of 2024.

The other key metric that is “trending positive,” per Traverse Connect, is annual GDP per employee, which the organization claims is a good indicator of whether businesses are “becoming more efficient and productive.” The 2024 report shows a GDP per employee of $73,767, compared to the 2030 goal of $84,000 – and up 15% from where it was in 2019.

Two other metrics have more room for improvement, per the latest Traverse Connect report. The first is the number of “scientific, professional, technical, and IT jobs” in the area, which is at 2,718, compared to a 2030 goal of 3,200. The second is where average wages land in the Grand Traverse area, compared to the Michigan state average. Local average wages are currently at about 86% of the statewide average, up from 82% when the Creative Coast project started.

“We actually just pulled some of the latest reporting, and the scientific/IT/technical jobs number is rebounding and pointed upward again, after it kind of leveled off last year,” DeGood noted. “That wasn’t in the annual report, because we were just reporting on 2024 and this rebound is more recent.”

Baudy believes the Michigan’s Creative Coast job board has been a huge factor in driving these positive metrics – particularly around bringing more workers to the region in the 35-39 demographic. Pre-2019, she says, the Grand Traverse area had shed about 10% of its workforce in that age range, hence the goal to get some of it back.

“Our goal was just to rebuild by 5% of that working demographic, but we’re already exceeding that goal, which we’re really happy about,” Baudry said.

Broadening the initiative

Of course, some tweaks have been necessary over the past five years to keep the

goals of the Creative Coast initiative on track for a changing world. One of the big ones was broadening the job board so that it wasn’t focused so heavily on traditional “creative” industries like arts and entertainment.

“We’ve grown to become sector-agnostic, so we serve all industries,” Baudry said. “But, we also say that people are creative in all industries. So, whether you’re a lawyer or an engineer or an artist, you’re creative in different ways. That’s why we kept the name, and I think people are familiarizing themselves with our philosophy there. They are coming to see Michigan’s Creative Coast as a place to find any type of job.”

Traverse Connect has also worked to add services to complement or supplement the job listings on the job board itself.

One example is the Northern Explorers program, an initiative where, once per year, Traverse Connect invites 10 individuals from outside the Grand Traverse region to attend local events, network with industry leaders, meet northern Michigan residents, and learn about the regional business scene. The idea is to identify professionals thinking about relocating to northern Michigan and help them find their footing here.

“We’ve had 42 participants total over the past four years, and we’ve now had 20 successful moves, so it’s a really good

success rate,” Baudry said of the Northern Explorers program.

One recent success story? Kate Gille, a 2024 Northern Explorer from Cincinnati, Ohio who last month accepted a job as the first-ever executive director for the Glen Lake Association in Leelanau County. Gille, who had fallen in love with northern Michigan during a summer working as a park ranger at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in 2018, credits the program with helping her find her way back to the region.

“I threw my hat in the ring, because it seemed like such a good opportunity to start networking,” Gille said of Northern Explorers. “I was accepted, and pretty immediately, I started growing my network – not just with the Traverse Connect folks, but with local business owners, nonprofit leaders, and all these people who wanted to help me succeed. I had all these people putting their feelers out and sending me opportunities. Not every lead was applicable, but it was really nice to have a group of local people helping me on my search.”

Next up for the Creative Coast project? Ramping up talent attraction efforts for internships.

“It’s important to businesses up here to be able to attract students to stay in the state and in our region, so working on that

is going to be a big priority on the horizon,” Baudry said.

Amidst inflation and rising cost of living, the wage minimums applied to the Michigan’s Creative Coast job board could also be due for a change in the months and years to come.

“There was a recent adjustment to the ALICE number,” DeGood said, referring to the United Way metric for “Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed.”

ALICE tracks households “that earn above the federal poverty level, but not enough to afford a bare-bones household budget.” Recent studies from United Way have shown that 38% of Michigan households fall into the ALICE category, on top of the state’s 13% federal poverty rate. Those numbers, DeGood noted, are likely an indicator that the local definition of what constitutes a “living wage” needs to change, and the Creative Coast job posting parameters with it.

“We will be reinvigorating and relaunching our talent committee with some new work soon, and I think the wage question will be a component of that,” DeGood said. “We’ll be working in tandem with experts in this area, particularly with the Traverse Area Human Resources Association, to explore that question. So, I hope that we can make some adjustments there soon.”

Some recent job postings on the Creative Coast board.

RECRUITING & HIRING

By Jennifer Ewing, columnist

Recruitment strategies in 2025 are evolving in ways that go beyond traditional methods, and even past newer trends like AI and video interviewing. Two trends gaining attention are the rehiring of former employees – known as “boomerang employees” – and “returnship” programs that help professionals re-enter the workforce after a career break.

Rehiring employees who previously left a company was once discouraged, with their leaving viewed as a sign of disloyalty or incompatibility. However, this perception is changing. Companies are now seeing the value in welcoming back former employees who return with new skills and experiences.

Boomerang employees already understand the company’s culture and operations, making their reintegration smoother. Whether they left to pursue further education, gain new job experiences, or for personal reasons, these employees often bring fresh perspectives that can enrich their teams. As a result, companies are realizing that bringing back past employees can improve team dynamics, enhance morale, and shorten onboarding times.

Returnship programs, in contrast, are structured opportunities aimed at professionals who have taken extended career breaks. These programs benefit both sides: Companies gain access to seasoned professionals, while participants receive updated training and mentorship to help ease their return to the workforce.

Returnships are especially helpful in tapping into talent pools that might otherwise be overlooked due to career gaps stemming from caregiving, further education or personal health matters.

Both boomerang employees and returnship participants bring a wealth of experience and skills that can benefit organizations. This aligns with a broader shift towards skills-based hiring, where companies prioritize specific abilities over traditional qualifications like degrees or job titles.

Whether candidates are returning employees, new hires from different industries, or professionals re-entering the workforce, their competencies take center

WELCOME BACK

Why companies are rehiring former employees and supporting career restarts

stage. Tools like skills assessments, project-based tasks and competency interviews help companies ensure they’re hiring based on actual capabilities rather than just resumes.

Another evolving aspect of recruitment is the use of employee advocacy. Companies are increasingly relying on current and former employees to act as ambassadors, sharing their positive experiences to attract new talent. Through referral programs, social media engagement, and personal testimonials, employees help shape the company’s reputation. When potential candidates hear from individuals who have worked at a company – especially those who chose to return after gaining experience elsewhere –it builds credibility and trust.

So, why are employees choosing to return to former employers? It’s often about more than just salary. Many are drawn back by enhanced benefits, more supportive leadership, or shifts in company culture. Some leave to broaden their skills and experiences, only to find that their previous employer has evolved in ways that better align with their career aspirations.

Whether it’s a revamped leadership team, improved growth opportunities, or a mission that now resonates more deeply, these factors make returning to a previous employer appealing. Additionally, employees may leave to acquire specialized skills that position them for more senior roles upon their return. Ultimately, returning to a former employer is increasingly viewed as a smart career move rather than a regression.

Companies are also rethinking how they engage with former employees through alumni networks. These networks aren’t just about staying connected; they’re becoming active tools for recruitment. Organizations are reaching out to past employees with targeted job opportunities, offering incentives to return, and even hosting events to maintain relationships. By keeping in touch with

Companies are realizing that bringing back past employees can improve team dynamics, enhance morale, and shorten onboarding times.

their alumni, companies create a pipeline of potential hires who are already familiar with the company’s values and operations. However, rehiring former employees isn’t without challenges. While boomerang employees bring valuable experience and can quickly adapt, their return might cause tension among current staff. Existing employees may question why someone who previously left is being welcomed back, especially if the returning employee is brought in

at a higher salary or in a more senior position. To navigate these issues, companies need to communicate clearly about the benefits of rehiring and how returning employees contribute to the organization’s goals.

On the legal side, companies need to be aware of changes like Michigan’s Earned Sick Time Act (ESTA). Employers may need to reinstate any unused, accrued sick time for boomerang employees rehired within six months of leaving. This means that if someone leaves your company and returns within that window, you may be required to restore their earned sick time and allow them to continue accruing more. Failing to comply with this, or other requirements, could lead to legal issues, making it essential for human resources teams to update policies and keep hiring managers informed.

In the end, recruitment in 2025 is about being flexible, inclusive, and open to the idea that career paths aren’t always linear. By welcoming back boomerang employees, offering returnship programs, focusing on skills-based hiring, and encouraging employee advocacy, companies can attract a diverse range of candidates. These strategies don’t just enhance recruitment – they help build a stronger, more adaptable workforce.

Jennifer Ewing is a partner with Human Resource Partners in Traverse City and works with employers on the people-side of business.

RECRUITING & HIRING

By Gretchen Swanson, columnist

In both my human resources career and personal work life experience, I’ve seen several hiring and recruiting fads come and go – undoubtedly, so have you. Do you remember those high-priced, pre-hire personality and aptitude tests that were all the rage, until multiple peer reviewed studies proved how fraught they were for bias? Beyond the bias, they simply weren’t reliable predictors of success for quality hiring and retention.

Setting aside trends in hiring, there is one universal truth I’ve reliably leaned on throughout my career which is central to achieving a quality outcome: Hire for cultural fit.

Like a classic garment made of quality materials, this method never goes out of style. From an employer’s lens, cultural fit can mean myriad things, but generally speaking it refers to the core values of an organization. It is key to “why” they exist as an organization and even more importantly it is “how” they do that work.

We’ve all met that impressive Dr. Jekyll who we couldn’t send the job offer to fast enough, only to be shocked when Mr. Hyde arrived for work. Almost immediately you started planning for their imminent exit ... but not before you saw the look in your team’s eyes as you lost their trust.

How can you avoid making a bad hire? Dive into what “fit” means to you. It all comes down to the alignment of a potential candidate with your work-related values. It is important to focus on the aspects of someone’s work that contribute to their feelings of career fulfillment while working for your organization. If we focus on personality and aptitude, those criteria may not reflect the true measurements of success at your organization.

As a result, your hire might unintentionally become a Mr. Hyde, as they didn’t have the true picture of what the work culture was like when they joined your team and find themselves unhappy almost immediately. Be honest and be candid about your company culture so you don’t get stuck with an ill-fitting team member! If you aren’t honest, you could end up spending more time and more money with turnover when you, or they, swiftly

A PERFECT FIT

Like classic fashion, well-designed hiring never goes out of style

“Setting aside trends in hiring, there is one universal truth I’ve reliably leaned on throughout my career which is central to achieving a quality outcome: Hire for cultural fit.”

find the need to make a change.

Using the lens of cultural fit lets you take a tailored approach. Before you post the next job, take the time to refresh your careers page and job descriptions and really invest the time to tailor how you sell your organization to applicants. This is the time to think through your organization’s true work values.

A bad fit is uncomfortable for everyone, so have your team help you. Engage some of your employees, a mix of seasoned and new hires, and ask them how they would describe the organization, touching on each of these work values: achievement, independence, recognition, relationships, support and work conditions. While there are trendier terms, one can’t go wrong by going back to these familiar basics.

In the job description, provide an earnest preview of what an employee can expect from your organization. Project how, or if, employees will be able to use their abilities to achieve something important with your organization. Convey how much autonomy they will or won’t have – independence and flexibility is highly prized by some, while feared by others who prefer a highly structured and predictable workday.

Tout examples of leadership and career advancement opportunities if you offer them. Highlight positive work relationships among employees and customers if you foster a sense of belonging at your workplace. Ensure you give a sense of how much support they should expect from you.

Lastly, describe the work environment – are you a flip-flop, khaki slacks, business suit, or hard hat place to work?

Communicate where safety and security fit into your workplace culture. Depending upon the nature of the work, that may be a differentiating factor for your organization.

Use these, or similar, prompts to draw out what your work culture is like from your employee’s experience. These details will attract the applicants most aligned to your existing organizational values. These are important tactical questions job seekers want to know more about as they consider joining your organization, and they ensure someone joining the team will understand – and be excited about – the culture they will be a part of.

Continue to involve your team throughout the hiring process by including them in your final round of interviews. Have final applicants join key team members for a

coffee chat or a group interview, especially if that is a common format for how your team holds meetings and interacts.

Test your assumptions and try to have a variety of final-round candidates, including someone who no one on the team already knows and someone who was a referral. Employee or customer referrals can lead to candidates who already have a favorable impression of your organization. However, that can lead to issues with group think, with new perspectives potentially missing.

Be open to different views, which can be essential for organizations seeking to innovate and scale. You might be surprised by someone new who could be that culture fit and expand your team’s array of life experience, injecting fresh insights. Ultimately, be open to what fit is right for your organization. Like trying a style you may not have thought would work for you, give yourself and your candidate a chance. Remember, there is only so much tailoring one can do once you’ve hired if it simply wasn’t the right fit.

Gretchen Swanson, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, is the director of talent at 20Fathoms. She can be reached at gretchen@20fathoms.org.

BOOK REVIEW

By Chris Wendel

Written

by acclaimed addiction specialist, Anna Lembke, MD, “Dopamine Nation” centers on the importance of living a balanced life in relation to all the pleasure and stimuli we’re swamped by on a daily basis.

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter produced in one’s brain that serves as a reward center that helps produce good energy that our brain processes in order to get things done. For centuries, the ability of humans to balance pleasure-pain was somewhat stable. More recently, convenience and technology have made things more complicated.

Over the past 10-20 years, easy access to self-gratification through junk food, soft drinks, gambling, YouTube videos, pornography and endless information from smart phones has produced an inordinate amount of dopamine that most human brains counter with a corresponding amount of pain.

Lembke calls out smartphones in particular when she states, “The smartphone is the modern-day hypodermic needle, delivering digital dopamine 24/7 for a wired generation.”

“Dopamine Nation” lays out how, compared to our ancestors, we have a strong reluctance to get out of our comfort zone, which has turned us into pleasure addicts. Over time we build up a resistance to this dopamine pleasure. Something has to give.

Lembke explains how our revved-up pursuit of pleasure accumulates over time, requiring additional pain to balance things out. This eventually results in moodiness, anxiety, physical imbalances and addiction. To demonstrate her points, she weaves together different perspectives behind this pleasure-pain balance by recounting patient stories from her clinical practice as a mental health specialist.

At first, “Dopamine Nation” did not go the direction I thought it would. I was expecting a traditional self-help book framework which presents the author’s well-studied theory, backed up by relatable research and evidence. Instead, Lembke opens with her account of a patient from her clinical practice work, going into graphic detail about the patient’s serious pornography and sex addiction. Throughout the book, we follow additional patient stories (fictionalized to protect their identities) showing the causes of addictive behaviors and their varied treatments.

Lembke is vulnerable enough to recount the story of her own building addiction, from obsessively reading “Twilight” novels, moving onto romance novels, and then to erotic fiction, and taking stock of how much time she spent on pleasurable reading. Her candid account of her own struggle is powerful and may have played a part in the genesis of this book.

L embke boils it down to two major

DOPAMINE NATION

Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence

By Anna Lembke, MD

approaches to attack this pleasure-pain problem. The first is to treat it in a counterintuitive way, with pain. She uses exercise, intermittent fasting, and cold-water baths as healthy, productive examples to increase dopamine levels. In other words: Pain followed by pleasure is a healthier, healing option, but not the other way around.

The second strategy is to abstain or control what is creating the inordinate amount of pleasure, either by abstaining or compartmentalizing when and how a pleasurable activity can take place.

Lembke’s descriptions of her patients dealing with a wide variety of situations, including addictions to various drugs and behaviors, become more relevant as “Dopamine Nation” moves along. She’s able to intertwine the examples with the well-vetted studies. Simple but effective illustrations introduced throughout the book make it relatable to a wide range of audiences.

Following the overarching pleasure-pain theme of “Dopamine Nation,” perhaps it’s Lemke’s strategy to have readers bear witness to the pain from the serious patient accounts early on in the book, followed in the second half by more pleasurable, tangible and relatable solutions.

Overall, for those searching for ways to curb the overwhelming pleasure and pain that come at us in this age of indulgence, “Dopamine Nation” is worth grinding through to get to its rewarding conclusion.

Chris Wendel works with Northern Initiatives, a mission-based lending organization based in Marquette, Michigan. Northern Initiatives provides funding to businesses in Michigan. Wendel works specifically with Northern Initiatives’ “Initiate” program, which provides online business resources to organizations and small business owners throughout the United States. Wendel lives and works in Traverse City.

Managing your investments during difficult times

Economic difficulties, political unrest, and natural disasters can all present challenges. Investors may wonder what effect these types of events, and others, could have on their investments. That’s why it’s helpful to focus on three fundamental actions that could help investors work toward their goals — know yourself, build a plan, and keep an eye on the long term.

Know yourself

When stocks drop by 20% or more, some investors might ignore the drop, others might feel the urge to sell, while still others might see it as a good time to buy. This range of reactions illustrates different levels of risk tolerance, or how sensitive investors are to market volatility. Risk tolerance varies from one investor to another, and no level of tolerance is considered the “right” level — there’s only the right risk tolerance for each investor. Talking with financial advisors or completing online questionnaires can help investors determine their risk tolerance.

While understanding risk tolerance is essential, it should not be considered in isolation. Risk tolerance, goals, and time horizon all play a role in setting an investment plan. Investing more aggressively may yield more rewards, but the length of time available for investing also plays a part. A longer time horizon could give investors the potential for compound growth. And setting specific goals can help to determine how much an investor should accumulate to support their goals.

Build a plan

Dwight D. Eisenhower may have said it best — “Plans are worthless, but planning is everything.” Even though a plan may need to be modified to adapt to changes, the very process of setting a plan can help investors to discover and focus on their most important investment goals.

For a plan to be useful, it’s important for investors to clearly detail which goals they are trying to achieve. Some of an investor’s goals will be shorter term, such as building a rainyday fund. Intermediate-term goals might include buying a house or paying for a child’s education. Longer-term goals might include planning for retirement and potentially leaving a legacy for charities or family. Investor assets can then be matched to those various goals.

For example, investors might own short-term bonds to meet a near-term expense, and a mixture of stocks and longer-term bonds to meet needs that are further in the future. The investor’s risk tolerance will help determine the mix of historically more volatile assets — such as stocks — to less volatile assets, such as bonds.

Keep an eye on the long term

Once a plan is in place, it’s important to keep an eye on it over the long term. This includes considering rebalancing the portfolio if allocations move too far away from targets, a task that can be automated. It also includes revisiting plans as an investor’s goals or situation change. A plan is meant to be a living document.

While market drops can be troublesome, unpredictable economic events have presented challenges in the past. With resilience and creativity, America’s businesses and households have managed to overcome them. While there are no guarantees that past performance will repeat itself, history has shown that sticking to investment plans and taking a long-term view of the markets can help investors work toward their goals.

The recent announcement by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) regarding proposed changes to state building codes has sparked significant debate within the housing industry. At the heart of this controversy lies a fundamental question: How do we balance safety and energy efficiency with housing affordability?

The Home Builders Association of Michigan (HBAM) has raised a critical concern – that the new regulations, while well-intended, will ultimately price out thousands of Michigan families from home ownership.

One of the most contentious aspects of the proposed changes is the mandatory installation of fire sprinkler systems in all new homes, along with other requirements such as increased insulation standards and arc fault circuit interrupters. While these measures aim to enhance home safety and energy efficiency, they come at a steep cost.

According to HBAM, these new mandates could add significantly to the price of a new home, potentially preventing thousands of families from affording home ownership. In a state where housing affordability is already a pressing issue, exacerbated by high interest rates and rising median home prices, such an increase could have severe consequences.

Advocates for these regulations argue that safety should be a top priority and that fire suppression systems can prevent tragedies. However, research indicates that properly functioning smoke detectors are the most effective means of preventing fire fatalities in homes. The reality is that mandatory sprinkler systems may provide a marginal increase in safety but a disproportionate financial burden to homeowners. If affordability concerns force families into older, substandard housing that lacks modern safety features, the net effect may be an increase in fire risks rather than a reduction.

Moreover, the broader implications of these regulations extend beyond just individual homeowners. The increased cost of construction could stifle overall housing production, exacerbating Michigan’s existing housing shortage. When supply is constrained and costs rise, the effects ripple through the entire housing market, pushing rents higher and making it even harder for first-time buyers to enter the market. If the goal of Gov.

There is no question that building codes should evolve to reflect advancements in safety, energy efficiency and sustainability. However, regulation must be implemented thoughtfully, with consideration for its economic impact. Instead of rigid mandates that benefit manufacturers pushing their products into the code, Michigan should adopt a more flexible approach – one that allows builders to achieve safety and efficiency goals through cost-effective alternatives.

HBAM has already proposed a plan that would provide similar energy efficiency improvements at one-third of the cost. The state should seriously consider such alternatives rather than imposing a one-size-fits-all solution that may do more harm than good. Michigan is not alone in facing these challenges. Virtually every other state in the country has rejected mandatory residential sprinkler requirements, recognizing the disproportionate financial burden they impose. Michigan should follow suit and focus on policies that increase housing stock without adding unnecessary costs.

Ultimately, the debate over these building code changes is about more than just numbers on a spreadsheet. It is about the families struggling to buy their first home, the young professionals looking to put down roots in Michigan, and the economic health of communities across the state.

Housing policy should not be dictated by special interests pushing costly mandates; it should be guided by a commitment to affordability, safety and common sense. The Whitmer administration has an opportunity to course-correct and ensure that its policies align with its stated goal of expanding housing access. If it fails to do so, Michigan’s housing crisis will only deepen, leaving more families on the outside looking in.

The Home Builders Association of Northwest Michigan is here to help you navigate the process of building your dream home. Our members possess the local expertise and experience to guide you through every step, from initial planning to final construction. Learn more at hbagta.com/

Gretchen Whitmer’s $1.4 billion investment in housing is to make home ownership more accessible, then policies that drive up construction costs seem directly at odds with that mission.

and

Local physical therapists Julia Otwell and Nick Hawkins have invented the “move.” mobility rack, which focuses on functional mobility and proprioceptive joint loading, with the user’s body weight as the primary driver. They worked with Third Coast Engineering and Trimet Industries during the design

manufacturing stages and have sold several units to fitness studios, Interlochen Arts Academy, fire department gyms, and home gyms.

The Ticker held a special Elk Rapids Recess at the Short’s Brewing Company Pull Barn on March 12. Attendees had a chance to win prizes including a downtown Elk Rapids shopping spree and Short’s merchandise and gift cards.

Thirty-five women attended the Michigan Girl Winter Retreat at Northport Bay Retreat, an exclusive four-season recreational and corporate retreat located in Leelanau County. Kandace Chapple’s Michigan Girl business brings together women of all ages for year-round hiking & biking and annual weekends in Chicago and Mackinac Island.

Justin and Katie Grinnell (pictured far right) have opened a franchise location of Gameday Men’s Health at 4020 Copper View, Unit 118. The concierge medical clinic helps men recover from low testosterone through testosterone replacement therapy and other treatments. Also pictured: Marjorie Jolly, Randall Wallace and Steve Grinnell.

The Elmaple Farm Family of Kalkaska is one of three local potato farms – including Iott Seed Farms, and Jenkins Potato Farm – that have been collectively named Kalkaska Business of the Year. The award honors a local business for their outstanding service. Winners are selected through a community nomination process facilitated by the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation and the Kalkaska Awards Committee.

1 - Brady Buher , senior financial analyst at Breneman Advisors in Traverse City, has earned the Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) credential from the National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts.

2 - Heather Karl has been named branch experience leader at TBA Credit Union in Traverse City. Karl, who oversees branch locations and their operations and member experiences, brings more than 20 years of expertise to her new position.

3 - Myra Schaub has been promoted to assistant retail manager at State Savings Bank in Suttons Bay, managing day-to-day operations. Schaub has been with the bank since 2022 and has nearly a decade of banking experience.

4 - Dallas Worden was recently named director of Breneman Advisors in Traverse City. First joining the firm in 2019 and with extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions and complex valuations, Worden most recently served in a leadership role as the firm’s vice president.

Intrust CPA in Traverse City recently announced the following personnel news:

5 - Gregg Diehl has joined the firm as staff accountant and internal estate attorney. He previously established a law practice in Traverse City, specializing in tax, estate planning, business and nonprofit clients.

6 - Matthew Jacobs has joined the firm as staff accountant. Most recently, Jacobs worked as a staff

auditor at Gabridge & Co., a governmental auditing firm based in Grand Rapids.

7 - Scott Myers is the new tax and accounting manager. Myers brings more than 25 years of experience in tax, accounting and financial reporting to his new position.

8 - Jeb Wierenga is the new operations coordinator. Wierenga brings expertise in organization and systems to the firm.

>> HEALTHCARE

9 - Breann Dalzell , nurse practitioner, has joined Munson Healthcare Geriatric Inpatient Services. Dalzell has a special interest in chronic condition management, dementia care and advanced care planning.

1 // BRADY BUHER

7 // SCOTT MYERS

2 // HEATHER KARL

8 // JEB WIERENGA

3 // MYRA SCHAUB

9 // BREANN DALZELL

4 // DALLAS WORDEN 5 // GREGG DIEHL

6 // MATTHEW JACOBS

10 - Ellen Talbott , nurse practitioner, has joined the Munson Healthcare Digestive Health team. Talbott has a special interest in educating patients about diet and lifestyle changes to improve gut health.

>> LAW

11 - Julius S. Moss has become a shareholder and director in the Traverse City law firm of Bowerman, Ford, Clulo & Luyt. Moss has been a member of the firm since 2021 and focuses his practice on business organization and transactions, real estate law, estate planning, and trust and probate administration.

12 - Zach Stewart has joined Alward, Fisher, Rice, Rowe & Graf in Traverse City as attorney. Stewart brings more than seven years of experience and specializes in civil litigation, real property, business transactions and estate planning.

13 - Melissa Baumgartner Umulis has joined Pezzetti, Vermetten, Popovits & Umulis in Traverse City as partner. Baumgartner Umulis has been with the firm

since 2019 and brings more than 14 years of family law experience to the firm. She focuses her practice on divorce, custody, parenting time, paternity, personal protection order, step-parent adoption and guardianship proceedings.

>> OTHER

14 - Marco Barberini has been named regional director of the Northwest Michigan APEX Accelerator, a program of Networks Northwest. Barberini is replacing long-time Regional Director Cathy Fairbanks, who plans to remain with Networks Northwest. He brings a background in technical project management, government contracting and business ownership. Prior to January 2024, Barberini served as a procurement counselor at Networks Northwest.

15 - Leah Bellows , administrative assistant at Traverse Body and Paint Center in Traverse City, has earned her auto estimating certification. In addition to administrative operations, Bellows is now involved in auto damage assessments and repair estimates.

16 - Arianna Bowman has joined Events North in Traverse City as meeting and event coordinator. Arianna coordinates Events North client meetings and incentives.

17 - Kat e Gille has been named the first-ever executive director of the Glen Lake Association. Gille will help the organization respond to mounting challenges that threaten the watershed’s health. Gille began her career as a park ranger at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and more recently held senior management positions with the Cincinnati Parks Foundation and at an Ohio nonprofit.

18 - Drew Reynolds ha s joined CENTURY 21 Northland’s Elk Rapids office, specializing in the luxury market in Traverse City and Elk Rapids.

Please send Newsmakers by the 10th of the month to news@tcbusinessnews.com

10 // ELLEN TALBOTT

16 // ARIANNA BOWMAN

11 // JULIUS S. MOSS

17 // KATE GILLE

12 // ZACH STEWART

18 // DREW REYNOLDS

13 // MELISSA BAUMGARTNER UMULIS

14 // MARCO BARBERINI

15 // LEAH BELLOWS

THOMPSONVILLE, MI

Support staff in these fields directly employed by qualifying employer (such as Central Dispatch Operator, Custodial Staff, etc.), retirees that retired from an eligible employer, full or part time employees. If you have questions about qualification, contact the Mortgage Department directly at 800-678-4968, ext. 2105 or visit msufcu.org/heroesloan.2The $500 off closing costs offer is valid for new mortgages of $150,000 or more. Closing cost discount will be provided as lender credit. Offer cannot be used toward down payment or with any other discounts and is not available on home equity loans or lines of credit. All usual and customary fees will be charged to the buyer. Loans are subject to credit approval. Eligible properties include primary and secondary residences, single-family homes, condominiums, and modular homes. Home loans available for homes in the following states: MI, AL, AZ, CO, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, MN, MO, NC, OH, OR, PA, SC, TN, VA, WA, and WI. Currently, construction home loans are available in Michigan and Illinois. Rates are based on creditworthiness, loan-to-value (LTV), property type, and other factors associated with your loan application. Your rate may be higher. This offer may not be transferred, sold, or replicated in any way, and it may not be combined with any other mortgage offers. Not an MSUFCU member? Joining is quick and easy! If you live, work, go to school, or own a business in the state of Michigan, you’re eligible to join.

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