January 21, 2020
Undertrained sales managers often make common mistakes
Editor’s note: This is part one of a three-part series. In most organizations, sales managers are the essential bridge between the company’s sales goals and the realization of those goals. The gritty day-to-day interactions between the salespeople and their customers are frequently filtered through the perspective of the sales manager on their way up the […]
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Recruiting firm expands footprint after ‘slow’ growth
Harrison Gray Search & Consulting is flourishing as it sees growing demand for its executive search, outplacement and consulting services in Grand Rapids and beyond. The firm — founded in January 2014 by husband-and-wife team Adam Kail, president, and Beth Kail, CFO — in September moved into a 3,000-square-foot leased office at 2311 East Beltline […]
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Entrepreneur carves out a wine niche in Beer City
Greater Grand Rapids has become synonymous with beer over the past several years. But Kris Mathis wants people to know Grand Rapids not only for its beer but also for its wine. So, he took matters into his own hands by creating Raise A Glass Wine Tours last January. It is an unorthodox wine tour […]
Street Talk: Looking out for local
The Grand Rapids Planning Commission will hold a public hearing Jan. 23 regarding the city’s recreational cannabis ordinance, and the West Michigan Cannabis Guild is urging the public to step forward and speak out against the concentration of licenses to out-of-area businesses. Tami VandenBerg, co-chair of the West Michigan Cannabis Guild, has long been an […]
Public Record
BANKRUPTCY 19-05080 – SMITH, Holly R. & Dennis C., 550 Springfield St. NW, Comstock Park, Jeffrey D. Mapes (Ch. 13) 19-05100 – HURTADO, Jessica A., 869 Fourth St. NW, Rebecca L. Johnson-Ellis (Ch. 7) 19-05103 – DANNAH, Antoinette, 4823 Arbor Lane SE, John D. Dodson (Ch. 7) 19-05104 – SMITH, TaTanisha L., 5779 Ridgebrook Ave. […]
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Change-Ups: Dozeman re-elected managing partner
Douglas A. Dozeman was re-elected for a third, two-year term as managing partner of Warner Norcross + Judd LLP. He chairs the firm's management committee and guides its strategic direction and continued growth. During his tenure as managing partner, Warner broke ground and moved into a new $72 million mixed-use development in downtown Grand Rapids […]
Dangerously high water levels require immediate action
We have witnessed the highest lake levels since the mid-1980s. Seeing the devastation on both public and private lands truly has been eye-opening. There have been homes, yards, roads and dunes lost due to the erosion that has occurred. There has been a large increase in permit applications to construct erosion prevention measures like riprap, […]
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Inside Track: Safe at home
From scraping gum off the concourse at Fifth Third Ballpark to becoming the CEO of the West Michigan Whitecaps, Joe Chamberlin’s journey has come full circle. In April, Chamberlin will be entering his second season as the CEO of the Whitecaps, the Class A minor league baseball affiliate of the Detroit Tigers, after he succeeded […]
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Orion dives into cannabis industry
(As seen on WZZM TV 13) Workforce housing, suburban townhomes and now marijuana dispensaries are stacked up in Orion Construction’s pipeline for 2020. The Grand Rapids contractor is helping new companies set up in the budding West Michigan cannabis industry. Orion Construction recently announced it is underway delivering six medical cannabis provision centers located between […]
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Amplify GR proposes Boston Square transformation
The nonprofit Amplify GR is leading plans to transform a 9-acre site within the Boston Square neighborhood in southeast Grand Rapids. The plans include housing for all income levels, commercial space, an early learning center, a community building, green space and more. Rezoning was approved this month by the Grand Rapids Planning Commission to allow […]
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Local leaders call free college a ‘game-changer’
Grand Rapids leaders expect the recently approved Promise Zone plan to greatly affect future opportunities for local students, especially those who come from low-income backgrounds. Starting with the class of 2020, students from 22 Grand Rapids public, charter and private high schools can get two years of free tuition for associate degrees, job training and […]
Survey: Companies continue to bet on growth
Despite a weakening economy, a new survey finds three-quarters of small and midsize U.S. business leaders expect continued growth for their companies this year. That’s according to JPMorgan Chase’s annual Business Leaders Outlook survey released Jan. 6. It found 3 out of 4 businesses — 76% of midsize companies and 74% of small ones — […]
Marijuana retailers on rise
West Michigan has become a market for recreational marijuana retailers. The Michigan Marijuana Regulatory Agency approved recreational marijuana licenses to Park Place Provisionary, Bella Sol Wellness Centers of Michigan LLC, Battle Creek Provisioning and Battle Spring LLC. Park Place and Bella Sol are the only medical marijuana retailers in Muskegon, and they began selling recreational […]
Asian chamber looks to expand
There’s an effort underway to strengthen support for Asian-owned businesses in West Michigan. Bing Goei, owner of The Goei Center and Eastern Floral, is leading an effort to strengthen the West Michigan presence of the Farmington Hills-based Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce. Before beginning service as board chair of APACC in April, Goei was […]
