November 21, 2016
Attorney: Full repeal of Obamacare unlikely
Throughout his run to the White House, President-elect Donald Trump repeatedly pledged his intentions to scrap and replace President Barack Obama’s Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. But in the wake of Trump’s historic win on Election Day, the president-elect appears to have walked back some of his harsher rhetoric, first in an interview with […]
Street Talk: Does loyalty trump money?
President-elect Donald Trump could end up with a familiar West Michigan name among his cabinet advisors. Betsy DeVos has been rumored by multiple news organizations, including the Washington Post, as a potential nominee by Trump to be the U.S. Secretary of Education. DeVos, wife of Dick DeVos, is a supporter of charter schools and school […]
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Geographic resources as economic linchpins
When Daniel Jean-Louis was a younger man, he sought out an answer to a question that had been nagging him for his entire life — what makes countries poor? In his research, which turned into the impetus for Jean-Louis’ book “From Aid to Trade,” the Haiti native found the answer actually was quite simple. Countries […]
Change Ups: Van Til receives APA’s PTSD certification
The American Psychotherapy Association bestowed Holland resident Rick Van Til, Sr. the Board Certified Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Clinician for demonstrating dedication to counseling and a willingness to devote time and energy to advancing the field. Van Til is a therapist at Allegan County Community Mental Health, which works with homeless adults to coordinate services […]
Three more big sales questions and bigger answers
Here are a few more sales, business and life answers that can help you make more sales today and help you build a personal brand and reputation forever. 1. Jeffrey, what do you do every day to build attraction and brand? What do you do to create consistency in your daily business habits? And I […]
West Michigan is back to a flat economy this month
After last month’s 16-month high, the West Michigan industrial economy has again returned to a growth pattern that is almost flat. According to the latest survey conducted during the last two weeks of October, new orders, our index of business improvement, retreated to an anemic reading of plus 1, considerably below our September index of […]
Public Record
MORTGAGES Selected mortgages filed with Kent County Register of Deeds DUNN, Margret J. et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Condo-Clements Mill, $246,000 NALLAPATI, Ramesh et al, Amerifirst Financial Corp., Condo-Deerview, $299,250 LAKEMAN, Asa et al, Cardinal Financial Co., Grand Oaks No. 2, Lot 29, $207,000 MEINKE, Chad et al, Choiceone Bank, Condo-River Bend, $237,900 SMITH, […]
Courtroom results — as certain as presidential elections
Long ago, after we had lost a $1.9 million verdict, the lawyer who hired me at the firm where I still work sat next to me in a bar and said, “Well, Bill, if you try a lot of lawsuits, you're going to lose from time to time.” That makes trying lawsuits different than running […]
Cyber breach not a question of if, but when
You’ve spent numerous resources building your customer base, created long-term strategies for retention and have developed a sense of mutual trust — and then you get the call: “We’ve been hacked.” It’s every business owner’s worst tech fear. Your customers’ records are exposed to threat — and so are your profits. From ADP to the […]
Charitable is good but change maker is priceless
’Tis the season employers and employees are deliberate in making a statement in regard to participating in the community with shared gifts and talents to favored human services agencies most in need. The beneficence of the West Michigan community is often heralded as second only to Salt Lake City, Utah, but at best, of a […]
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Inside Track: Changing people’s lives
Dennis Van Kampen remembers journeying with a friend to Juarez, Mexico, in 1988 for what would prove to be far from the typical touristy experience. “I visited a dump,” Van Kampen said of the short-term mission trip he enlisted in with Youth With a Mission. “The kids there weren’t going to school, because their job […]
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Farmers rolls out insurance for food trucks
Farmers Insurance is rolling out a new policy designed to fit the needs of restaurants that roll out. Earlier this month, Farmers began offering coverage for food trucks in Michigan, which now is one of 28 states where the policy is offered. The new program rolls commercial automobile coverage in with restaurant and business owner […]
Arena still rockin’ after 20 years
More than 20 years ago, a group of Grand Rapids visionaries with deep pockets and a love for their city set out to change the downtown landscape. They wanted to build a convention center and an arena in hopes of re-energizing the city. Today, Van Andel Arena, the first of the two projects to be […]
New OT rules will require employer transparency
As the new federal overtime regulations take effect Dec. 1, area employment attorneys are working to make sure businesses know what they need to do. Kurt Graham, of Mika Meyers, and Lindsay Raymond, of Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge, have been working with their employer clients to help inform them as thoroughly as possible about […]
DTE promises to be a major jobs supplier
(As seen on WZZM TV 13) DTE Energy is making an appeal to high school and college students to come work for the utility after completing their education. The company, along with Consumers Energy, faces a workforce shortage in the coming decade. “It’s a well-known fact that our workforce is aging, especially in our industry,” […]
Millennials: Don’t be afraid
Deborah Erickson has seen a lot of changes during her time in the mortgage lending industry, but now she is thinking about the trends that affect millennials. Specifically, the way the market, evolving regulations and the growth of technology could be construed as positive for younger buyers, yet millennials are not making the leap to […]
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Firm tackles ‘missing middle’ housing problem
Should a potential resident want to live on Michigan Street, Max Benedict wants to be able to point them to a housing option no matter their income. With more than 400 market rate apartments online or under construction by Benedict and his partners at Third Coast Development, Georgia-based RISE Real Estate and 616 Development, he […]
