March 30, 2020

  • Street Talk: Celebrating unsung heroes

    With an additional 1 million school-age children, laid off workers and a growing number of families needing emergency food, Michigan’s seven regional food banks are doing essential work on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. “The list of heroic leaders who walk through the fire is inspiring — health care professionals, firefighters (and) law […]

  • Public Record

    BANKRUPTCY 20-00593 – MOSS, Lezor J., 1317 52d St., Maureen B. VanHoven (Ch. 7) 20-00595 – STEINBERG, Scott, 7090 30th St. SE, Ada, Michael P. Hanrahan (Ch. 7) 20-00600 – KETTERMAN, Casey N., 330 Northland Drive NE, Rockford, Eliot A. Sasson (Ch. 7) 20-00605 – CORTES, Adrian J., 2678 Richmond NW, Jacob T. Tighe (Ch. […]

  • Change-Ups: Kent Companies promotes its first female VP

    Kent Companies, a third-generation family-owned commercial and industrial construction business, has promoted Leah Gradl to vice president of support operations, becoming the company’s first female VP in its 60-plus year history. Gradl will oversee marketing, safety, human resources, training/education and IT divisions nationwide. Gradl joined Kent Companies in 2011, initially in a consulting role. As […]

  • Report pegs insurance companies’ wages at $6B

    Insurance companies are a high driver in Michigan’s economy, according to a recent report. The report, titled “A Firm Foundation: How Insurance Supports the Economy,” found insurance companies in Michigan employed more than 83,000 people and paid more than $6 billion in wages in 2018. The insurance industry as a whole donates more than $500 […]

  • Inside Track: Garcia values leadership in many forms

    Emma Garcia said she’s witnessed too many nonprofits sink into a hierarchical bog that ends up compromising their overall mission. “I became really disillusioned with this nonprofit structure that is supposed to help with equity,” said Garcia. “All nonprofits say they believe in equity, but if you look internally at their structure, they’re got a […]

  • Sales managers’ most common mistakes

    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 ladder. The aspirations and strategies of the company’s management must […]

  • Brewers feeling pinch of closed taprooms

    Third Nature Brewery had just gotten into the swing of things when Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ordered all restaurants and bars to shut down dine-in services. Now, the six-month-old brewery must learn to operate without a usable taproom. “It’s tough,” said Third Nature co-owner Chad Zitzelsberger. “Anybody who says other than that probably isn’t being honest.” […]

  • Landlords may need to deal

    Prior to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s March 24 order directing all nonessential Michigan businesses to temporarily suspend operations and ordering residents to shelter in place, the real estate industry already was suffering heavy hits. According to Colliers International West Michigan, landlords and tenants were actively analyzing the pandemic’s impact on supply chain reductions, decreased retail and […]

  • How will legal marijuana affect the blue-collar workforce?

    LANSING — It’s been more than a year since voters approved the legalization of the recreational use of marijuana for adults. But the blue-collar workforce and its employers still have to work out how to deal with the new law and how it can affect drug policy, the ability to fill jobs and worker retention. […]

  • Attorneys advise on ‘critical infrastructure’ question

    Businesses in critical industries such as food and manufacturing that want to avoid sanctions related to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order should take immediate action to ensure they are compliant by the March 31 deadline, a pair of Michigan attorneys say. Joe Infante, an attorney with Miller Canfield in Grand Rapids who […]

  • Marketing firms fight pending downturn with free services

    Two marketing agencies in West Michigan are offering free services to businesses that are being impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Grand Rapids-based David Kranker Creative is offering free 90-day digital marketing strategies to businesses and Muskegon-based ThrivePOP is offering free resources, advice and recommendations to 25 companies that are affected by the Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s […]

  • Attorney general on the lookout for price gouging

    Two Rockford companies are among more than 1,600 companies cited recently for price gouging in Michigan. Frequency Apps Corp. and Biores Technologies Inc. were issued a cease and desist letter last Tuesday, March 24, after marketing to consumers the “Coronavirus Defender Patch,” which, according to the Michigan Department of Attorney General’s office, the companies claimed […]

  • Child care centers stand in the gap

    In response to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s March 18 executive order for child care centers to stay open for disaster relief if they are “willing and able,” some local providers are continuing to serve the children of the essential workforce despite financial hardships. The business partners behind the sister brands Gilden Woods Early Care & Preschool […]

  • Agencies help small businesses navigate COVID-19

    (As seen on WZZM TV 13) The Michigan offices of a pair of national agencies are working to help small businesses understand their options, including emergency loans, during the coronavirus crisis. Rob Scott, Great Lakes regional administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration, on Friday, March 20, hosted a media conference call featuring SBA Michigan […]

  • Hospitals, care centers enact COVID-19 protocols

    Local hospitals and urgent care centers are among some of the national medical-based facilities trying to prevent patient surge due to the COVID-19 outbreak. With the continuous changes that surround the virus, Holland Hospital, Metro Health and Pine Rest’s Psychiatric Urgent Care Center all have implemented new policies, procedures and services since the outbreak began, […]

  • Commercial fishers, sports anglers, at odds over restrictions

    LANSING — Bills introduced in the Legislature earlier this year are in direct opposition about the controversial issue of allowing commercial catching of game fish and are causing conflict between commercial fishers and sport anglers. Recreational anglers like things the way they are, while the industry is pushing for the right to catch and sell […]

  • Affected workers seek aid during COVID-19

    As restaurant servers, bartenders, and service and entertainment industry workers have been hit hard during COVID-19, nonprofits and employers are mobilizing to help, and aid funds are popping up across the country — but organizers say much more is needed. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on March 16 issued an executive order temporarily closing Michigan’s restaurants, cafes, […]

  • 2Gen Manufacturing opens in Cottage Grove area

    2Gen Manufacturing this fall opened a plastic injection molding plant in southeast Grand Rapids that is in the process of creating jobs for residents of the 49507 ZIP code. Kevin Smith is co-owner of 2Gen Manufacturing with his mother, Heidi Smith, and business partner, Lee Ringling. The company was formed in 2015 as a spinoff […]

  • Bank exec offers data security tips

    A bank with a West Michigan presence is offering tips to consumers for protecting their identity and financial lives during the coronavirus outbreak. Jude Schramm, executive vice president and chief information officer with Cincinnati-based Fifth Third Bank, which has a large West Michigan presence, spoke to the Business Journal on March 20 with tips to […]

  • Mental health programs target younger students

    LANSING — New programs focusing on younger students are trying to address rising rates of depression and anxiety in Michigan’s schools by offering coping mechanisms against such problems. The programs are educating younger students on common signs of depression and anxiety as part of the effort to better prepare them before high school or college, […]

  • Language barriers pose COVID-19 problem

    West Michigan is home to at least 10 different languages other than English commonly spoken here, which can be a problem when sharing information about COVID-19. Holly Rea, language services manager for the Hispanic Center of Western Michigan, said the language barrier can lead to a delay in information reaching communities where English is not […]

  • Amazon provides free online computer science courses

    Amazon is altering the way it is providing a technological program to students and teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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