August 12, 2019
Public Record
BANKRUPTCY 19-02535 – HUMPHREYS, Nicholas K. & Carrie L., 3753 44th St. SW, Grandville, Jacob T. Tighe (Ch. 7) 19-02543 – PETERSON, Brenda L., 9490 Prairie SE, Alto, Stephen C. Watt (Ch. 7) 19-02550 – DUNCAN, Jacqueline M., 2374 72nd St. SW, Byron Center, Ryan F. Beach (Ch. 7) 19-02554 – SHEPARD, Lawrence W., 6728 […]
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Change Ups: Mel Trotter hires its first multicultural engagement VP
Sydeon Harvey joined Mel Trotter Ministries’ executive leadership team as vice president of multicultural engagement — a new position at the rescue mission that was founded in 1900. Raised in Chicago, Harvey’s multicultural experiences range over the last 25 years in a variety of roles addressing community issues such as homelessness, addiction recovery, mental illness, […]
Street Talk: Patriotic partners prosper
Together with its store guests and company associates, the SpartanNash Foundation raised $300,000 for its patriotic nonprofit partners Team Red, White & Blue; Operation Homefront; and Honor and Remember through a retail scan campaign. Between June 26 and July 7, store guests who visited any participating SpartanNash-owned retail store or fuel center had the opportunity […]
BBB warning: No, that document did not come from the government
Business owners have a lot on their plate. So, it is no surprise that a lot of them are falling for deceptive mailings that leave the impression they came from a government agency or are in some way required by the government. The Better Business Bureau Serving Western Michigan and various state agencies have been […]
Focus on sales managers first
When budgets are limited, the single most effective use of training money is not on the salespeople but rather the sales managers. Every sales organization understands its sales force — its health and strength — is the company’s primary strategic asset. And that means investing in the improvement of the sales force. Most astute principals […]
Program to offer trades certificates for men
Plans are underway for a new men’s Catholic residential trade school. Set to open in fall 2020, Harmel Academy will offer a two-year associate degree-level certificate meant to lead to a career in machine and systems technology. Students will live on the campus of Kuyper College to gain the “college experience” and create social networks, […]
Financial literacy program expands to Grand Rapids
(As seen on WZZM TV 13) Local teens and young adults who haven’t received enough financial guidance soon will have a new educational option on the table. Lathrup Village-based Michigan First Credit Union — which has six Grand Rapids-area locations — will begin offering its free Money Mentor program in West Michigan. A target demographic […]
Scarcity of marijuana worries state agency
The landscape of the cannabis industry in Michigan is gradually shifting. According to Brad Bogus, vice president of growth and marketing for Confident Cannabis, which is headquartered in California and created testing software that is used by cannabis labs in Michigan, there are more unlicensed medical marijuana retailers than licensed retailers in the state. He […]
Holland investment opportunities bountiful
Colliers International West Michigan took a closer look at the Holland market in its second-quarter reports, revealing a magnet for small businesses. In the first quarter of 2019, Holland was named the “Best Small City to Start a Business” in the United States by Wallet Hub, marking its third year in a row with such […]
Businesses continuing to invest
A majority of Michigan business leaders expect to continue or boost their investment within the state despite increasing anticipation of slower economic expansion next year. The latest survey data regarding capital and employment investment plans is about the same as earlier this year, according to the report by Business Leaders for Michigan, a business roundtable […]
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Inside Track: Faith fuels Booker’s fight for equity
Rhae-Ann Booker was surprised when, fresh out of college, her alma mater, Calvin College, invited her back to work as a minority student adviser in admissions. That’s because, during her time there, Booker had been a leader in multicultural student development and a vocal critic of the school — now called Calvin University — particularly […]
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Northview unveils alternative schooling program
Northview Public Schools is launching an alternative high school program to expand career pathways and flexible learning options. Northview Next will begin this fall for students ages 15-20 who don’t necessarily fit in traditional high school settings, according to Brent Dickerson, assistant principal of Northview Public Schools. The program includes the Northview Next Learning Center, […]
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Chemical Bank brings financial knowledge on tour
Chemical Bank, a division of TCF National Bank, is on a bus tour throughout the region. The bank launched the Mobile Empowerment Center, which is a 40-foot retrofitted bus that travels across Michigan, Ohio and Indiana to help residents, including nonmembers and consumers, with their finances. The mobile center will be making some of its final […]
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Company conveys retailers’ message
Retailers around the world are advertising their services and items in an unconventional way, courtesy of one Grand Rapids company. Grand Rapids native Susan Vanderploeg is the founder and chairwoman of Handstand Innovations, which created MessageWrap, a printed, antimicrobial conveyor belt cover that rides on top of the rotating black belt. It has made its […]
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Steel supplier invests $9M in upgrades
An international refractories company has completed $9 million in upgrades to its White Cloud manufacturing facility as a significant part of its investment in support of its U.S. steel industry customers. Moon Township, Pennsylvania-based HarbisonWalker International (HWI) — near Pittsburgh — last month hosted a ribbon-cutting at its manufacturing operation in White Cloud to celebrate […]
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Cemetery digs into green burials
More Americans are recognizing their carbon footprint extends past death and are shunning traditional burials that involve formaldehyde embalming, treated caskets, concrete vaults and more. Over half (53.8%) of respondents to a 2017 survey by the National Funeral Directors Association said they are interested in natural, or green, burials to reduce the environmental impact of […]
