ZEELAND – Lakeshore Advantage has released the Certify Your Business video series to offer education on the benefits of certification for diverse businesses. The series features the lead certification support provider for woman, veteran, minority, and LGBT- owned businesses, and provides an overview of the process, cost and timeline. “Each certification process, depending on your
LANSING — The Michigan Small Business Development Center has expanded its no-cost services to reflect the needs of small businesses continuing to be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Small businesses in all 83 counties in Michigan will benefit from new support services including accounting, e-commerce website development, human resource support and more. “The pandemic hit
ANN ARBOR - Michelle Gilbert, vice president of communications at Comcast's Heartland Region (Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky) rebuffs story in the technology press that claims Comcast data caps will cost people money. She also outlines various plans businesses can purchase to bundle Internet and telephone services. Her job is to develop and manage all proactive and
GRAND RAPIDS — Former Lakeshore Advantage CEO Randy Thelen is returning to West Michigan to lead regional economic development firm The Right Place Inc. Thelen will replace long-time President and CEO Birgit Klohs, who is planning to retire at the end of January after 33 years with the organization. Thelen starts March 1. The Right Place board
WASHINGTON DC - The coronavirus pandemic and its aftermath could transform the landscape for U.S. businesses. With a larger remote workforce, expanded delivery options and lingering health fears likely to last long after the pandemic is under control, business owners and entrepreneurs are asking tough questions and bracing for an uncertain future. Businesses that pay
JACKSON—Consumers Energy is helping Michigan’s local businesses this holiday season, providing $500,000 to support shopping in 55 local communities through a new gift card matching effort called “Our Town.” Consumers Energy is providing holiday shoppers with a dollar-for-dollar match for gift cards they buy through local Chambers of Commerce and downtown organizations, doubling the amount they can spend in downtowns across the
LANSING—The Michigan Strategic Fund board has approved a $10 million grant program to help meet the urgent needs of small businesses disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 virus. The Pure Michigan Small Business Relief Initiative will utilize federal CARES Act funding to award grants of up to $15,000 to more than 650 small businesses across Michigan.
ANN ARBOR - Former Free Press Auto Writer Rachel Konrad reflects on a 25-year communications career that has led her to run worldwide communications for Impossible Foods, the vegetable meat sustitute that Burger King sells as the Impossible Whopper nationwide. The Impossible Foods Mission Statement: We’ve been eating meat since we lived in caves. And
ANN ARBOR - Traverse Legal Principal Enrico Schaefer updates the latest news on the class action lawsuit he has filed against AirBnb on behalf of hosts who allege they have been cheated out of deposit refunds triggered largely by reservation cancellations from the COVID-19 pandemic. https://youtu.be/1eRrjVJeNTw The Players: Airbnb, Inc., Airbnb Payments, Inc, and Airbnb Payments
ANN ARBOR - Gary Erickson, managing director of Executive Search Partners, provides tips on how CIOs can land top jobs at major companies even during a pandemic. In fact, he said, demand for CIOs that know the business completely that can develop products that drive sales can write their own ticket. You're going to want
