April 8, 2019
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Intentional communities help adults with IDD
One thing almost every person desires is the ability to live independently while remaining connected to a community of friends and peers. For some, this goal is easily attainable; it’s just the natural flow of life. For adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), however, this goal is not so easy to achieve. Many such […]
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Whitmer ends medical pot panels
Later this month, some government groups associated with the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs will be abolished. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive order to eliminate the Medical Marihuana Licensing Board (MMLB), which approves or denies license applications for marijuana businesses. It will eliminate the Marijuana Advisory Panel, which was established to make recommendations […]
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City approves more housing recommendations
Three previously contentious Housing Now! recommendations now are in the books. The Grand Rapids City Commission recently approved Housing NOW! Recommendations 3, 6 and 8, following several months of community engagement, including informal resident feedback sessions and formal public hearings. The Grand Rapids Planning Commission headed the review of Housing Now! recommendations 3, 6 and […]
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Not all financial advisers can be called certified financial planners
According to Steve Starnes, anyone can say they are a financial adviser, but not every adviser can say they are a certified financial planner. Financial advisers and CFPs often are thought of interchangeably. That is not the case, however. Starnes, a principal at Grand Wealth Management, said they both allow advisers to provide different services […]
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Public Record
BANKRUPTCY 19-00547 – ROSEBERY, Marilyn J., 4755 Aldun Ridge, Ralph M. Reisinger (Ch. 7) 19-00551 – TEUNISSEN, Kevin J. & Stacy L., 1348 Glen Park, Sparta, Ralph M. Reisinger (Ch. 7) 19-00552 – VANEE, Rashell L., 1815 Paris SE, Marc A. Talsma (Ch. 13) 19-00554 – CHRISMAN, Jason G., 434 Cherry SE, Sean L. Campbell […]
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Change Ups: Colby joins Erhardt Construction to produce custom cabinetry, millwork services
Erhardt Construction expanded its carpentry services by hiring Scott Colby, enabling Erhardt to offer its clients high-end custom cabinetry and millwork services. Colby has 20 years of experience in residential custom woodworking, most recently owning Scott Philip Custom Woodworking the past 10 years. Ben Wickstrom, Erhardt president and CEO, said he talked with Colby last […]
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Why good salespeople often turn into mediocre sales managers
We’ve all done it: promoted a good salesperson, often our best, to sales manager. My files are full of cases where the results were below expectations for everyone involved. Principals and CSOs are often disappointed in the lack of results, and the sales managers are confused and frustrated with the lack of achievement of their […]
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aMDI guides med devices to commercialization
(As seen on WZZM TV 13)A unique resource in Grand Rapids can help medical device entrepreneurs along the path from idea to commercialization. The applied Medical Device Institute (aMDI) offers services for people with viable ideas to navigate the complicated pathway, helping with technical services, intellectual property, business review and mentoring from experienced researchers, engineers […]
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Local women hammer at barriers
Almost without exception, women in business will tell you they experience barriers to success that men just don’t face at the same level, from overt bias and sexism to lack of access to capital and wraparound support. During the Business Journal’s Women Who Mean Business event March 19, panel guest and Local First President Elissa […]
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Rockford breweries say water is fine
Rockford’s brewing establishments are reporting “all clear” in reference to contamination from Wolverine Worldwide’s former tannery site in the area. According to an earlier Business Journal report, the Rockford-based footwear manufacturer commissioned Rose & Westra, a division of GZA GeoEnvironmental, to test soils, groundwater and sediment samples at the old tannery at 123 N. Main […]
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Inside Track: ‘Finance geek’ finds his niche
Andrew Visser is, in his own words, a “finance geek.” The co-founder of Blue Pointe Equities is leveraging his experience in investment and real estate brokerage to build a diverse portfolio of real estate investments. Although Visser always was drawn to the investment world, he went to Grand Valley State University to study pre-med before […]
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Talent pipeline flows through second year
A second group of West Michigan workforce developers is about to graduate from the Talent Pipeline Management Academy. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Center for Education and Workforce developed the program in 2015. Jackson-based Consumers Energy participated in the pilot. In 2017, with support from Consumers and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the chamber launched […]
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From ‘grassroots to grasstops’
Social worker Lee Ann Moss gathered a group of successful businesswomen and launched the nonprofit Grand Rapids Opportunities for Women 30 years ago as a platform for underserved women with plausible business ideas. Celebrating its milestone anniversary this year, the organization now has eight employees and is continuously growing and expanding services. At first, the […]
