In this episode of Mitten Money, Will and Kevin explore what our relationship with money looks like in adulthood and how it impacts couples. From different spending triggers to navigating joint versus separate accounts, they unpack why financial tension is common and completely normal.

Comments made are not to be considered endorsements of Tri-Star Trust or its employees. All viewpoints expressed herein belong solely to the commentators, whether or not they are employees or clients, and remain uninfluenced and uncompensated by Tri-Star Trust or any of its affiliates.

Will & Kevin share real-world examples, including a close call with a highly sophisticated scam, and explain how urgency and fear are often used to pressure people into quick decisions. They also discuss simple but effective ways to protect yourself, from slowing down and verifying requests to using multi-factor authentication and account alerts.

Comments made are not to be considered endorsements of Tri-Star Trust or its employees. All viewpoints expressed herein belong solely to the commentators, whether or not they are employees or clients, and remain uninfluenced and uncompensated by Tri-Star Trust or any of its affiliates.

Will and Kevin also share their experiences with shopping early, hunting for deals throughout the year, and the importance of supporting local businesses. Whether you’re a strategic planner or someone who usually scrambles at the end of the month, this episode offers practical tips, relatable stories, and a reminder that giving thoughtfully matters more than spending big.

Comments made are not to be considered endorsements of Tri-Star Trust or its employees. All viewpoints expressed herein belong solely to the commentators, whether or not they are employees or clients, and remain uninfluenced and uncompensated by Tri-Star Trust or any of its affiliates.

The discussion covers key strategies like tax-loss harvesting, managing capital gains distributions from mutual funds, staying mindful of Medicare IRMAA limits, planning RMDs and QCDs, and how to spread gains across multiple tax years to avoid unnecessary surprises.

Kevin and Will also stress the importance of evaluating portfolio performance, checking for style or allocation drift after strong market years, and rebalancing to keep risk aligned with long-term goals.

Comments made are not to be considered endorsements of Tri-Star Trust or its employees. All viewpoints expressed herein belong solely to the commentators, whether or not they are employees or clients, and remain uninfluenced and uncompensated by Tri-Star Trust or any of its affiliates.

Comments made are not to be considered endorsements of Tri-Star Trust or its employees. All viewpoints expressed herein belong solely to the commentators, whether or not they are employees or clients, and remain uninfluenced and uncompensated by Tri-Star Trust or any of its affiliates.

Will and Kevin share practical, real-world advice on how to course-correct your financial plan, balance competing priorities, and keep your goals in focus. They talk about managing debt, tackling lifestyle habits, and finding ways to save without sacrificing the moments that matter most.

Comments made are not to be considered endorsements of Tri-Star Trust or its employees. All viewpoints expressed herein belong solely to the commentators, whether or not they are employees or clients, and remain uninfluenced and uncompensated by Tri-Star Trust or any of its affiliates.

They share real-life client stories, practical travel hacks (like saving on parking and when it’s worth driving two cars), and the role hobbies and social interaction play in making retirement fulfilling.

Comments made are not to be considered endorsements of Tri-Star Trust or its employees. All viewpoints expressed herein belong solely to the commentators, whether or not they are employees or clients, and remain uninfluenced and uncompensated by Tri-Star Trust or any of its affiliates.

Whether you’re a parent planning for your child or a student facing these challenges yourself, this episode is all about navigating college financially.

Comments made are not to be considered endorsements of Tri-Star Trust or its employees. All viewpoints expressed herein belong solely to the commentators, whether or not they are employees or clients, and remain uninfluenced and uncompensated by Tri-Star Trust or any of its affiliates.

Will challenges the common belief that buying a home is always better than renting, pointing out how high interest rates and rising costs make renting a smarter, more flexible choice, especially if you’re not planning to settle long term. Kevin dives into the booming world of Buy Now, Pay Later services like Klarna and Afterpay, discussing how these easy micro-loans can help, but also lead to debt stacking if you’re not careful.

Comments made are not to be considered endorsements of Tri-Star Trust or its employees. All viewpoints expressed herein belong solely to the commentators, whether or not they are employees or clients, and remain uninfluenced and uncompensated by Tri-Star Trust or any of its affiliates.

The conversation covers how retirement is changing, the importance of purpose and social connection, and how to strike a balance between saving and enjoying life. With stories from their own busy family schedules, Will and Kevin highlight the personal side of financial planning.

Whether you're aiming to retire early or just want to take better control of your money, this episode offers practical insights to think about!

Comments made are not to be considered endorsements of Tri-Star Trust or its employees. All viewpoints expressed herein belong solely to the commentators, whether or not they are employees or clients, and remain uninfluenced and uncompensated by Tri-Star Trust or any of its affiliates.

Grab his book here!

Comments made are not to be considered endorsements of Tri-Star Trust or its employees. All viewpoints expressed herein belong solely to the commentators, whether or not they are employees or clients, and remain uninfluenced and uncompensated by Tri-Star Trust or any of its affiliates.

The conversation highlights why building trust, sticking to a personalized plan, and tuning out the noise of headlines and social media are crucial for staying on course. Whether you’re cautious, confident, or chasing high returns, this episode offers valuable insight into navigating volatility with clarity and control.

Comments made are not to be considered endorsements of Tri-Star Trust or its employees. All viewpoints expressed herein belong solely to the commentators, whether or not they are employees or clients, and remain uninfluenced and uncompensated by Tri-Star Trust or any of its affiliates.

From the connection between mood and longevity to the power of anti-inflammatory nutrition and epigenetics, this conversation is a reminder that small, consistent choices can have a lasting impact. Tune in for an inspiring and practical discussion that encourages you to take charge of your health from the inside out.

Comments made are not to be considered endorsements of Tri-Star Trust or its employees. All viewpoints expressed herein belong solely to the commentators, whether or not they are employees or clients, and remain uninfluenced and uncompensated by Tri-Star Trust or any of its affiliates.

Comments made are not to be considered endorsements of Tri-Star Trust or its employees. All viewpoints expressed herein belong solely to the commentators, whether or not they are employees or clients, and remain uninfluenced and uncompensated by Tri-Star Trust or any of its affiliates.

Comments made are not to be considered endorsements of Tri-Star Trust or its employees. All viewpoints expressed herein belong solely to the commentators, whether or not they are employees or clients, and remain uninfluenced and uncompensated by Tri-Star Trust or any of its affiliates.

We discuss the opportunities and challenges AI presents, its role in investment management, and how financial professionals can adapt to this rapidly evolving landscape. Whether you're in the industry or just curious about the future of finance, this episode is packed with valuable insights.

Comments made are not to be considered endorsements of Tri-Star Trust or its employees. All viewpoints expressed herein belong solely to the commentators, whether or not they are employees or clients, and remain uninfluenced and uncompensated by Tri-Star Trust or any of its affiliates.

Hosts Will and Kevin break down the pros and cons of each option, share personal car-buying experiences (including a totaled vehicle!), and discuss how factors like reliability, safety, and affordability impact your decision. Plus, they explore the surprising shift in savings habits over the decades and what it means for personal finance today.

Comments made are not to be considered endorsements of Tri-Star Trust or its employees. All viewpoints expressed herein belong solely to the commentators, whether or not they are employees or clients, and remain uninfluenced and uncompensated by Tri-Star Trust or any of its affiliates.

Comments made are not to be considered endorsements of Tri-Star Trust or its employees. All viewpoints expressed herein belong solely to the commentators, whether or not they are employees or clients, and remain uninfluenced and uncompensated by Tri-Star Trust or any of its affiliates.

Along the way, we chat about travel, blackjack, and why financial planning is more important than ever. Tune in and start securing your financial future!

Comments made are not to be considered endorsements of Tri-Star Trust or its employees. All viewpoints expressed herein belong solely to the commentators, whether or not they are employees or clients, and remain uninfluenced and uncompensated by Tri-Star Trust or any of its affiliates.

Comments made are not to be considered endorsements of Tri-Star Trust or its employees. All viewpoints expressed herein belong solely to the commentators, whether or not they are employees or clients, and remain uninfluenced and uncompensated by Tri-Star Trust or any of its affiliates.

Brad also opens up about the challenges of building a business in smaller markets and the importance of perseverance and team building. Now retired, he continues to stay connected to the community while enjoying life with his family, classic cars, and plenty of golf.

Comments made are not to be considered endorsements of Tri-Star Trust or its employees. All viewpoints expressed herein belong solely to the commentators, whether or not they are employees or clients, and remain uninfluenced and uncompensated by Tri-Star Trust or any of its affiliates.

On the flipside...Kevin reveals he likes anchovies on his pizza.

Comments made are not to be considered endorsements of Tri-Star Trust or its employees. All viewpoints expressed herein belong solely to the commentators, whether or not they are employees or clients, and remain uninfluenced and uncompensated by Tri-Star Trust or any of its affiliates.

In today's episode, hosts Will and Kevin interview Pavel Konecny, President and CEO of Tri-Star. Pavel discusses his transition into leadership, focusing on guiding his team and benefiting from a strong stock market.

They explore how the upcoming election could impact the market, with Pavel leveraging his deep financial expertise. He also reflects on political polarization in the U.S., emphasizing the importance of pragmatic discussions and avoiding confirmation bias.

Comments made are not to be considered endorsements of Tri-Star Trust or its employees. All viewpoints expressed herein belong solely to the commentators, whether or not they are employees or clients, and remain uninfluenced and uncompensated by Tri-Star Trust or any of its affiliates.

Connect with Dallas here.

Comments made are not to be considered endorsements of Tri-Star Trust or its employees. All viewpoints expressed herein belong solely to the commentators, whether or not they are employees or clients, and remain uninfluenced and uncompensated by Tri-Star Trust or any of its affiliates.

Comments made are not to be considered endorsements of Tri-Star Trust or its employees. All viewpoints expressed herein belong solely to the commentators, whether or not they are employees or clients, and remain uninfluenced and uncompensated by Tri-Star Trust or any of its affiliates.

Comments made are not to be considered endorsements of Tri-Star Trust or its employees. All viewpoints expressed herein belong solely to the commentators, whether or not they are employees or clients, and remain uninfluenced and uncompensated by Tri-Star Trust or any of its affiliates.

Blair recounts his decisions in his dentistry career as well as leaving the NFL. His team-driven background helps lead his office to assure great experiences for not only his patients, but his employees as well.

You can connect with Blair at https://www.white-ortho.com/ or (989) 737-6046.

Comments made are not to be considered endorsements of Tri-Star Trust or its employees. All viewpoints expressed herein belong solely to the commentators, whether or not they are employees or clients, and remain uninfluenced and uncompensated by Tri-Star Trust or any of its affiliates.

Comments made are not to be considered endorsements of Tri-Star Trust or its employees. All viewpoints expressed herein belong solely to the commentators, whether or not they are employees or clients, and remain uninfluenced and uncompensated by Tri-Star Trust or any of its affiliates.

You can connect with Fred here:

https://www.fmins.com/

https://www.youtube.com/ @FrankenmuthInsurance 

Comments made are not to be considered endorsements of Tri-Star Trust or its employees. All viewpoints expressed herein belong solely to the commentators, whether or not they are employees or clients, and remain uninfluenced and uncompensated by Tri-Star Trust or any of its affiliates.

Comments made are not to be considered endorsements of Tri-Star Trust or its employees. All viewpoints expressed herein belong solely to the commentators, whether or not they are employees or clients, and remain uninfluenced and uncompensated by Tri-Star Trust or any of its affiliates.

Craig breaks down the economic impact the championship will bring to Saginaw as well as what's to come with the week-long span of festivities. Tune in as he covers $18 million worth of legacy projects, the projected tourism for Saginaw and the surrounding region, and the people who are working hard to make this a memorable week for the city of Saginaw.

Comments made are not to be considered endorsements of Tri-Star Trust or its employees. All viewpoints expressed herein belong solely to the commentators, whether or not they are employees or clients, and remain uninfluenced and uncompensated by Tri-Star Trust or any of its affiliates.

Comments made are not to be considered endorsements of Tri-Star Trust or its employees. All viewpoints expressed herein belong solely to the commentators, whether or not they are employees or clients, and remain uninfluenced and uncompensated by Tri-Star Trust or any of its affiliates.

Today, Will is joined with our NEW co-host, Kevin Scorsone! Kevin is the Market Director for Tri-Star's Midland location.

Do they prefer Coke or Pepsi? Old-fashioned budgeting or budget apps? Tune in as Kevin tells more about himself while the pair answer This or That questions!

Pavel grew up in the Czech Republic where he was going to school for engineering. Pavel also played tennis and was learning English at the time, which ended up leading him to Northwood University in Midland, MI. He ended up going for Business Management while playing tennis for the school in 1992.

Pavel originally didn’t have a plan to go into banking and finance, but he had a knack for numbers. He had a long career at Chemical Bank where the possibility of becoming CFO was tossed around. Some changes took place, and his path didn’t become as clear as it once was. The co-founders of Tri-Star eventually reached out to talk about a potential plan for him to lead within five years.

As a leader, Pavel makes it a point to invest in younger employees. He claims a rewarding part of his job is to watch someone grow while sharing wisdom and knowledge and giving them opportunities. When looking for potential employees, Pavel looks for soft skills along with technical skills, which a lot of younger employees proved to have.

While Tri-Star is growing, Pavel comments they made it a point to expand in areas that attract people to downtown development. With locations such as the Saginaw and Midland office, there is opportunity to grab lunch at a small sandwich place or shop at local boutiques. Pavel also helps make sure the office environment is somewhere employees want to be rather than working from home.

In his new position, Pavel is looking forward to continuing community involvement, creating value, and investing in futures while teaching about financial health.

Connect with Pavel here:

https://www.tristartrust.com/

Anna had opened up Soul Fit when she realized there wasn’t a lot of places that connect movement and the soul. Soul Fit is known to empower women through classes like Pilates, dance class, yoga and more, but is also available to men as well. Soul Fit is a studio rather than a gym, making the atmosphere more inviting with diffusers, low lights, and fewer equipment. The goal behind the studio is to make it more relaxing and not as intimidating as other fitness centers.

Anna is open to trying new fitness trends in the studio. She recently added a dance class to Soul Fit, incorporating dance moves with core and lower-body exercises. The studio has plenty of instructors for all different classes to suit each client’s tastes. Because of this, she has been open to the idea of offering virtual classes. Anna says the best marketing for her businesses is word of mouth. Most clients come with their friends or family to Soul Fit after hearing about it from someone else. On top of word of mouth, Anna turns to social media such as Instagram to post Reels of different classes. Besides typical exercise classes, Soul Fit offers hiking trips outside of Bay City for those who want to connect more with other people and with nature. Anna hopes to continue these trips quarterly, one for each season!

While Anna owns Soul Fit, she also manages her photography business. She recognizes that one person may not be able to do it all, such as running multiple businesses, so she learns and grows from her weaknesses. Putting trust in instructors that are passionate for Soul Fit has made balancing her other business much easier.

Connect with Anna here:

https://soulfitmi.com/

https://creativegraceco.com/

Tim explains that investors often exhibit a home bias, preferring to invest in familiar domestic companies. This bias is particularly evident in well-developed and diversified markets like the US, where investors feel more comfortable with companies they recognize, possibly due to personal connections or local presence. Tim warns against the drawbacks of home biases, emphasizing the need for diversification to mitigate concentration risk, underscoring the importance of international investing.

Tim shares that people often seek active exposure to non-US securities. While some clients adopt a passive US approach, others blend it with active international strategies or even active US strategies to address concentration risk. There are various ways to build a portfolio and according to Tim, some popular biases are towards active management.

For new investors, Tim touches on a few key points such as distinguishing between investing and speculation, delegating to professionals, taking a long-term view, and the power of compounding.

You can reach Tim here:

Brandes Investment Partners | Website

Tim Newburn | LinkedIn

Throughout her career, Sharon navigated challenges. As a woman in predominantly male environments, she faced unique challenges but lived by the mantra of “work harder and smarter.”

Sharon emphasizes the importance of early and honest identification of value drivers in mergers and acquisitions, highlighting the need for a strategic integration plan and a team focused on preserving those drivers. She points out the significance of cultural fit in retaining talent and achieving long-term success. Transitioning from her successful corporate career, Sharon started her consulting firm, inspired by an empowered accountability culture, aiming to create a similar environment in her own company.

In solving complex business problems, her method involves a top-down and bottom-up approach, understanding strategic goals and learning from details. She highlights active listening to connect the dots and identify challenges, ensuring buy-in and trust.

Sharon advises individuals to prioritize what truly matters to them and understand their genuine interests. Despite external pressures, the importance of aligning personal values with career decisions is crucial. For Sharon, her family always came first, guiding her choices. She encourages defining success individually, as there is no one-size-fits-all path.

Aimee says fixed income is the “most interesting” area of work for her. According to Aimee, there are so many ways the financial system can create debt, which fuels the economy. There are a lot of conversations on stocks, but not fixed income, so it tends to not come to mind for most people. Public stocks also tend to be more straightforward, whereas bonds work more inversely.

Individual bonds or bond mutual funds? Aimee says owning individual bonds is an interest to investors who have unique guidelines and want customizations. Mutual funds are more of “what you see is what you get.” Breckinridge invests in investment-grade bonds and doesn't venture into high-yield or junk bonds. High-yield bonds generally offer higher returns due to their riskier nature, as they have lower credit ratings and weaker balance sheets. This increased risk could lead to a higher chance of default. The suitability of high-yield bonds depends on an investor's risk tolerance and financial profile.

The decision to invest in a single segment or multiple segments within fixed income is subjective and depends on the client's objectives and portfolio context. There's no one-size-fits-all answer. Generally, diversifying across multiple segments is beneficial as it spreads risk, but the choice ultimately depends on the client's specific goals and preferences.

Find Aimee here:

Breckinridge Capital Advisors | Website

Right out of high school, Matt knew college wasn’t the route he wanted to go on. He was drawn to the army, since his father and grandfather had served. Around his time in service circa 1993, he was deployed to Mogadishu, Somalia. In the army, he didn’t have the luxury of Facetiming family members. He had to write and receive letters. Matt reminisces on how different his time in the military was compared to today’s service members.

Matt had always exercised through high school and found that this continued for him in the army. He transitioned from the military to joining the gym once his service was over and realized he loved interacting with other gym-goers. Matt eventually opened up Smitty’s Iron Works. His “internal drive” was to pave his own path, and this began with opening his own gym.

Matt’s gym has merged with another organization and had taught them how he ran his personal training business. During this time, it solidified his love of working independently and opened the door for “What’s next?” Matt had always had a love for the outdoors and took classes for habitat development. In these classes, Matt learned people made a living by showing people hunting land, which led him to real estate. He currently owns and runs Matt Smith Outdoors, a small realty business. He utilizes social media to build his brand, everything from a home walkthrough to deciphering generators.

Connect with Matt here:

Matt Smith Outdoors | Facebook

Matt Smith | LinkedIn

Cameron got started at the Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra after volunteering while running his own marketing firm. Eventually, his role at the Orchestra turned into a marketing position, and eventually Executive Director. He has always had an interest in instruments, as he plays piano, guitar, bass, and much more. But his passion lies on the stage.

When a new season comes around, Cameron and his team take into consideration things their audience would want to see and hear. Whether you want to hear the same classical piece over and over again or want to experience a movie with live music, this season of the Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra has got you covered. They also take into consideration the Saginaw community and how to get them involved.

The Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra is growing and growing. The goal is to always bring the most music possible to the area – this is one of the Symphony’s biggest budgets thus far. Cameron doesn’t consider other orchestras as competition. Instead, he thinks of them as all working together to keep classical music alive. The season begins October 7th and  includes numerous exciting programs that they haven’t done before.

Connect with Cameron and the Symphony here:

Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra | Website

Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra | Facebook

Skip mentions how he started in venture investing in 1999, went through the dot-com boom and bust, and later got involved with Ann Arbor Spark, an economic development organization. Skip also talks about the growth of angel investing in Michigan and the importance of honesty and transparency in investor-founder relationships. He shares a success story with SkySpecs, a company focused on drone monitoring for facilities, and how they shifted their focus from drones to technology. Skip reflects on the changes in the venture capital landscape in Michigan and the need for state incentives to encourage more high-net-worth individuals to become angel investors.

Connect with Skip:

MI Angel Fund | Website

Joseph Simms | LinkedIn

Michigan-native Johnathan originally wanted to work in conservation, keeping reading and writing as a hobby. His journey took him to radio commercials, where he practiced telling stories. Johnathan self published in 1987, and his career took off. He found a passion for recordings and audio, eventually releasing audiobooks on cassettes. Eventually, the idea for a kids’ horror series dawned upon him from the fictitious name of a bottled town, and the Chiller series were born.

Johnathan suggests that self-publishing is still a great opportunity for a new author. Self-publishing opens doors for creativity, but he touches on how not many people are prepared for the next phase of it: marketing. While you can have a great story, who is your audience? The first step is to think ahead. With self-publishing, you have to think of how you will get your book out there.

Around 2004, Johnathan’s series really started taking off, initiating the idea of his retail store Chillermania. Many people started showing up in his community looking for his books, so Johnathan decided to place the store in a high-traffic area off I-75. The store has entertainment value along with products, making it a hot spot for visitors during the summertime.

You can connect with Johnathan here:

Johnathan Rand Website

Tim Mangan of Michigan Cream & Sugar Ice Cream Company in Bay City discusses moving from creating menus at Horizons Conference Center to managing their new ice cream shop in the midst of the pandemic. Cream & Sugar is known for sourcing Michigan ingredients, ranging from sugar made by Michigan Sugar Company to carrots for a carrot cake flavor from Cherry Capital Foods in Traverse City. During Tim’s off-season, he spends his time crafting recipes for the upcoming season and training new staff. His secret to making his business so well-liked is keeping his staff happy, which in turn makes the guests happy. Cream & Sugar recently received a grant to open a second location in Old Town Saginaw!

Chris McKellar of Love’s Ice Cream & Chocolate in Grand Rapids tells his tale of starting as a performer to e-commerce to finding a passion in cooking and recipe-development. When this “love” sparked, he sold his e-commerce company to a competitor and opened Love’s. It started small, but eventually became big enough to ship their products internationally. Love’s also offers gluten and dairy free options to reach a broader range of ice cream lovers.

Jon Plummer of Moomer’s Homemade Ice Cream in Traverse City tells how Moomer’s operates an 80-acre dairy farm right next to their ice cream parlor - you can see the cows that potentially made the milk in your ice cream. Moomer’s likes to experiment with flavors and products, ranging from eggnog in July to asparagus ice cream (which didn’t get as much buzz as eggnog). Back in 2008, Good Morning America had a “Best Scoop Shop” competition in which Moomer’s was voted the best shop in the nation! They celebrated by inviting customers to come out for free ice cream early in the morning for the GMA taping!

Connect with these sweet businesses here or by stopping in:

Michigan Cream & Sugar Ice Cream Company

Love's Ice Cream & Chocolate

Love's Ice Cream & Chocolate | Facebook

Moomer's Homemade Ice Cream

Kip had a first-hand experience with check fraud, as one of his checks was intercepted by a third party. He reached out to Cindy for the next steps on how to handle the interaction. With Cindy's help, they were able to stop the deposit of the check.

Check fraud is one of the most common types of fraud back on the rise. Kip and Cindy used Positive Pay, a fraud management tool, but advises those without it to check your account and make sure your checks get deposited correctly and all the information is correct from one party to the next.

This is not the first time Kip has experienced fraud; he recounts another time where funds were almost incorrectly sent to a "customer." In this instance, Kip was able to recognize the signs of fraud and reach out to Cindy once again.

Connect with Cindy and Kip here:

Cindy Holliday | LinkedIn

Kip Northrup | LinkedIn

Fraud is back on the rise. Changing checks - whether it be tampering the dollar amount or duplicating a check - is becoming very common in the banking world. The level of information provided on a check and the technology we have makes them an easy target for fraud. Another form of fraud going around as of late is mail fraud, or stealing mail directly from mailboxes.

While fraud can be alarming, there are some ways you can prevent it. A few different methods include verifying requests, monitor your accounts, and noting all the information provided on the check you are about to send. There are also insurances available for business to protect against losses and other policies put into place to protect aspects of fraud.

Todd and Peter's tips for staying safe against fraud include being knowledgeable, aware, and educating others. Prevention is key, and working with others can be a great resource.

You can connect with Todd and Peter here:

Todd Gregory | LinkedIn

Peter Ewend | LinkedIn

1st State Bank

Saginaw Bay Underwriters

Lizzi explains that the office has noticed an increase in alumni returning for assistance in tweaking their resumes and navigating career transitions, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. On a day-to-day basis, Lizzi engages with students, collaborating closely with faculty members to ensure that students have a job lined up when they walk across the graduation stage.

When it comes to making a career switch or finding your first job, Career Services takes a comprehensive approach to help individuals explore their options. They administer a questionnaire consisting of over 200 questions designed to delve into an individual's interests and passions. Along with this, they partner with over 20 employers to gain insight about the do’s and don’ts of resumes and interviews.

Lizzi highlights important tips to master your career skills, whether it be straight out of school or 15+ years into your career. With helpful insight from her time at Career Services, Lizzi hopes these tricks will be useful in your searching process.  

Connect with Lizzi here:

Elizabeth Hubble-Radosa | LinkedIn

SVSU Website

Dale Carnegie offers educational courses to enhance your leadership skills to use in the workplace and your personal life. Training at Dale Carnegie is very accessible, with over 9 million graduates to date. Many graduates of Dale Carnegie speak of their experience to others, which result in more graduates to come.

The training Dale Carnegie offers is applicable to a multitude of people because of their commitment to growth. People’s ability to create change and opportunity drives training. In today’s world, growth is a skill that continually needs to be mastered.

Most people’s calendar is spent convincing others to do things – friends, family, coworkers. Learning the “sales skills” Dale Carnegie provides helps create action. Dale Carnegie training is about the ability to connect and bounce around ideas and skills that someone may not utilize personally.

Dale Carnegie provides live online training as well as face to face, which are both highly interactive. Every participant will leave with a specific action plan that resulted from various activities and lessons that will help add to their skillset. With every skill learned, it opens up the question of what else someone can learn.

It is crucial to continue your education throughout your careers. If you aren’t growing, others around you are, and so are your competitors. Certain skills get you to an opportunity but growing them will keep you there. Today if you sit back, life will pass you by. Growth is fun!

Connect with Wendy and Dan here:

Dale Carnegie Training of Mid-Northern Michigan

While comedy is ever-changing, Mike says the basics are still the same. According to Mike, comedy is “the last form of free speech.” Through his career, he has met many comedians who have given him advice along the way; Mike’s advice to being in comedy is to be who you are, no matter your style of humor, because there’s only one of you. While it is important to be who you are in your humor, there is a time and place to do so – Humor in the workplace has its limits, but an open mic does not. Mike advises to make safe jokes in your place of work and experiment outside of the office. Open mics are the perfect opportunity to practice other things on top of humor such as public speaking, stage presence, and much more. Mike practices this with corporate clients, as well as “under-promising and over-delivering.”

Find Mike Ball here:

Mike Ball | Website

Mike Ball | Facebook

Every engagement is different for Ali and the small businesses she works with. Her work involves anything from attending staff meetings to working with budgets and recruiting for small businesses. Ali’s business not only offers HR services, but anything a small business needs – from advertising to marketing to audits, Allied HR is a catalyst to make sure these operations are seamless. Although she does it all, Ali’s favorite part is the “people stuff.”

Starting her own business during the start of a pandemic had Ali noticing how the job market is changing. For her recruiting services, she has noticed more workers value their time and families, and more people are looking for a hybrid-remote work environment. Ali manages her work-life balance by mixing her other business, Allied Group Fitness, with something she loves. Her trick is to catch burn out before it happens.

Connect with Ali:

Ali Huntoon | LinkedIn

Allied HR Solutions

The brothers built up inventory and sold out within 48 hours. Around this time is when Shark Tank producers reached out to have them apply to the show. ActionGlow at that point was too new, but they tried to get on the show on three separate occasions. Garret applied a fourth time without consulting Dakota, and the rest is history. 

On the show, the two needed something to break the ice, so cracking a few jokes was the route they decided to take. The pitch took about 45 minutes but boiled down to 8 minutes on TV. Since the show, the brand has been sold out. The Porter brothers added that having a Shark on their side “opens doors.”

According to the brothers, it took about 2 years to actually come out with a product to withstand action sports. Action sport equipment tends to get roughened up; ActionGlow is 100% waterproof and can be submerged up to 10 meters. The LED lights were toughened up to not tear under pressure. Constant revisions of ActionGlow are always undergoing.

Now, the boys are planning a bus tour as a “grassroots way of selling.” As for the future of ActionGlow, they are lasered in on the action sport market for now.

Connect with Dakota and Garret here:

Dakota Porter | LinkedIn

Garret Porter | LinkedIn

ActionGlow Website

ActionGlow Instagram

Sandy Worner delves into the repercussions of borrowing from your 401(k). For every dollar put in, it took about $1.30 to get back to where she was.

Lee Reimann recalls not knowing what she really wanted before talking to an insurance salesperson, spending a lump sum on yearly premiums.

Kevin Scorsone recounts his 3-step process of credit. Establish, manage, monitor! Jane Hagen touches on selecting investments carefully. When there was no education on 401(k), there was money market.

To finish it off, our host Will Zank looks back on how important self-reflection is for investing. He realized he needed to think more in depth for what he wanted that money to be when researching where to put it.

With each financial mistake comes a lesson learned. Tune in for insight on what each of them know now that they wish they knew back then.

Connect with the Tri-Star Team:

Sandy Worner | LinkedIn

Lee Reimann | LinkedIn

Kevin Scorsone | LinkedIn

Jane Hagen | LinkedIn

William Zank | LinkedIn

Tri-Star Trust

DeWees originally never saw himself at Valley Lutheran – he started just 1.5 years before their biggest capital campaign. But as soon as he started on the staff, it was made clear it would be his responsibility to oversee it.

The level of success of the campaign was impactful; the school raised $2 million more than their $10 million goal. According to DeWees, the staff was hopeful and thought it was the right time for such a campaign. It started with volunteer leadership and reaching out to anyone connected to the school - alumni, parents, etc.

Reaching out to alumni was a big part of the capital campaign. A way Valley Lutheran keeps alumni involved, as well as other members of Valley Lutheran, is making sure to establish personal relationships. Meeting one-on-one in person is the backbone of alumni relations that Valley Lutheran continues to make an effort to do.

The capital campaign went towards expanding the space to teach properly, making it more of what a 21st century education looks like. With more space comes more opportunity to collaborate, problem-solve, and co-teach. The teachers of Valley Luther High School act more as “mentors” and get to know their students individually.

Connect with Kyle:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kdewees/

https://vlhs.com/

With crisis management comes many factors. Of these factors, Arielle touches on the human side of mistakes; the word “humility” comes up in conversation, which Arielle is not afraid to address. Humans make mistakes, but the way we correct them is important. Unveiling initiative and standing on the right side of history with corrective action is important.

“Networking” isn’t in Arielle’s vocabulary – instead, she prefers “relationship building.” Adding value to other peoples’ lives is far more important than trying to gain something from them. A simple yet widely known phrase of paying it forward is Arielle’s tip on how she became more involved with people and her current organization.

On surface level, rebranding may sound easy. In actuality, rebranding comes down to the nitty gritty of how you want others to perceive your organization. For Ariel Investments, diversity exists within them, being a black and female owned company. Reciprocating this in their image was something Arielle had the pleasure of tasking. Arielle is a graduate from Princeton University, where she earned an AB in Classics with a concentration on Ancient Greek and Latin language, Literature and History. She currently resides in New York City with her husband and daughter.

Nothing mentioned in this podcast is investment related advice. Clients of Tri-Star Trust firm may contain securities that are mentioned in this podcast.

Michelle delves into how people struggle with change not because the fear of failure, but the fear of success. Fear of success can mean results such as pulling away from other duties or making others in your life unhappy by these changes. Michelle explains that with navigating and negotiating your life comes discomfort, which is perfectly normal for working through understanding changes. Discomfort is part of the process, but it should never reach “overwhelming.” According to Michelle, people want to start making changes when they hit a “midlife crisis” – a very real phase of life some people experience. Not everyone goes through this; some people make changes very early on or very late in life. When you make it to that phase and are seeking assistance, there is a difference between working with a coach vs. a mentor. Anyone can coach, but only experts can mentor.

Michelle has her PhD in Educational Evaluation and Research from Walden University. She is a Coach Doctor that is highly requested in 7 different time zones. She also produces a podcast called “Change Your Thinking.” Michelle spends her free time with her three children.

Connect with Michelle:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-burkhard-870062100

https://growby1.com

During their conversation, Joe goes into depth about how the healthcare industry as a whole has been operating since the pandemic. Joe touches on the diverse job opportunities within healthcare; anything from food service to IT staff to accounting is needed to operate a health system, with patient care at the forefront. The pandemic has exhausted healthcare, with many health organizations continuing to struggle finding staff. For Sparrow, acquiring talent comes from redefining roles and jobs, vertical integration, continuous training for workers and students of major universities and community colleges, and adding specialized roles such as social workers in primary care clinics for mental and behavioral care. Since making the decision to join the University of Michigan health system, Joe has made it clear this will be beneficial for Sparrow as two like-minded organizations add to the ability to care for patients.

Joe is a graduate of Michigan State University and the DeVos Graduate School of Management, Northwood University, where he earned Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees, respectively.  He and his wife Pam have 2 children and live in East Lansing. 

Connect with Joe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-ruth-6685345/

https://www.sparrow.org/

Since 2005, Blue Thumb has been through multiple challenging financial situations between the 2008 recession and the 2020 Covid-19 Pandemic. Through each challenge, his team utilized its tools and grew stronger than before.

At the end of the 2020 Pandemic, Blue Thumb had explosive growth, with sales nearly doubling by the end of the year. Kip says, “Our success is due to good decisions. Good decisions need to be made on a daily basis. Some are small, and some are big, but be consistent. Being consistent with these good decisions means you will continue to grow and prosper.”

Kip is a proud graduate of Eastern Michigan University with a focus on International Business. He and his family reside in Saginaw, MI. His company, Blue Thumb, is headquartered in Saginaw, MI.

Connect with Kip on Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kipnorthrup/

Blue Thumb’s website: https://shopbluethumb.com/

Chad faced the unexpected early in life. In high school, he suffered an injury causing him not to be able to join the air force dashing a lifelong dream. This problem led him to go to college and become the entrepreneur he is today. Anything can happen in this world. Even if you think your company is secure, it just takes a split second for someone to gain all the information about your company, your clients, and your personal information.

In this episode, we discuss the dangers of not having an IT specialist or company looking over your company's programming. Every business, big or small, should be budgeting out for an IT portion within their company to eliminate the unpredictability of what could come. It may be an expensive portion within your budget, but would you rather have a costly bill or lose all of your company’s earnings because someone cyberattacked your business and stole your money?

To learn more about Chad Paalman and NuWave Partners, visit the following links.

Chad Paalman | LinkedIn

https://nuwavepartners.com/

In their conversation, Will unpacks how this entrepreneurial duo has successfully built a new revenue stream and how they manage day-to-day operations. Kim and Dan share the highs and lows of owning vacation rentals and valuable tips on making their properties stand out in a tourist town. You’ll fall in love with their Midwestern charm and passion for their fur babies and daughter, Lottie June. Family means everything to Kim and Dan. Kim jokes that she is now retired and enjoys caring for “the bird, the cat, the dog, and the kid.”

To learn more about Little Yellow Cottages, visit the link below!

https://littleyellowcottages.com/

One of the biggest problems people face is networking as an introvert. For extroverts, it feels like you’re talking with any other person, but for some, it may be a little more challenging. The most considerable note to remember is that introverts can be just as talented at networking as extroverts, but it may take some practice. The best thing to do in this situation is to prepare, ask questions, and have a different outlook than you did going into the events. Andy notes that often people skip out on events for fear of not knowing anyone or being unable to network, as others may be networking. It can be overwhelming, and some may not be comfortable in their situation, but anyone is willing to help if you ask.

This week, listen in and learn a few tips on improving your networking ability.

Connect with Andy at andrew.bethune@tristartrust.com

If you want to purchase new real estate, this episode will give you alternative options for this current housing market and insight into rising rates’ impact on new homeowners. Jeff also speaks on how the FED raising the interest rates will impact home purchases. Rising rates are causing prospective buyers to put off owning a home and could even make some homeowners no longer eligible to purchase a home. Lastly, Jeff decodes perspective ways to save money with new home purchases and touches on the Adjustable-Rate Mortgage and how they could be beneficial in the long run.

Jeff Southcott, Senior Vice President, Residential Mortgage Administrator

https://www.1ststate.bank/contact-us/

This week we discussed how Amigo got started and the motivation behind why it began, and how the business can keep pushing through its rough times. Beth explains how Amigo is a relationship-built company and that during their hard times, they had their vendors helping them! She states that communication and service are essential to a successful business.

Amigo Mobility International, Inc. first started as a plumbing and heating contractor. Once one of Al Thieme's relatives was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, he wanted to give her an alternative where she could be more mobile. Unfortunately, the only possible product at this time was a standard wheelchair. In 1967, Al went to work and built his first three-wheeled vehicle and named it “Amigo.” He wanted to take this product further and provide others with this kind of mobility and decided to build his business and called it Amigo in 1968. Beth joined Amigo in 1975 and has been providing mobility equipment ever since.

https://www.myamigo.com/

The four tenants of Conscious Capitalism are:

- Having a higher purpose

- Integration of all stakeholders

- Raising up conscious leaders

- Building a conscious culture

In this episode, learn what attributes to look for when hiring based on values and if their values fit the company. It is vital to connect these values to the values of the people hired within an organization. Tri-Star implements this into its hiring process by asking key questions. One of the key questions throughout their interview process is, “Tell me about the relationship you have besides family and friends.” Having these relationships shows that you can build a bond with someone other than whom you may be related to and show signs of empathy and care.

We got to speak with the President and CEO of Argus Research Group, John Eade. Based all the way out in NYC, it was a pleasure to get the chance to talk with him about how businesses can better prepare for a possible recession. With 75 total employees, 20 are analysts and portfolio strategists who forecast the US economy. As you can imagine, having a superior advantage can make all the difference during trying times, whether it relates to a certain product design or the people within your organization.

In this week’s podcast, we dig a little deeper into some of the challenges the average consumer could be facing as well as how they could grow through these struggles. One of our main points is about 4 Michigan-made companies (Kellogg, DTE, Ford Motor Company, and Dow) and how they are coping with the economic changes happening in the world around us.

Tune into this week’s podcast to see how your business can stand strong during this economic fallout. If this is something that interests you, keep on the lookout for our next episode as this will continue into a mini-series covering the topic of recession and how it can be avoided throughout your business.

Electric vehicles are going to be the “norm” soon enough, and there are already people grabbing the new Ford F-150 electric truck. Ford expects that by 2030, Ford industries will be 50% gas and 50% electric vehicles. Gas cars aren’t going away, but electric cars will be taking over soon enough.  

To learn more about the future of electric vehicles, tune into our latest podcast to get more information.

Please welcome Executive Director and Founder of Self Love Beauty, Lisa Thomson, this week on how she was inspired to grow her non-profit organization to inspire people across the state to be self-aware and confident both in the workplace and in this world we live in. We talk about how social media can majorly impact one’s self-esteem, workshops you can partake in through Self Love Beauty, and how a business owner can be more aware of their employees and when they should interfere and schedule a workshop with Lisa and her team.

Lisa founded Self Love Beauty in 2012 and has been encouraging people since. She started just the same as we all do, with little confidence in herself and looking to grow for the better. She helps her participants understand that one size doesn’t fit all and to find the confidence in yourself to love that body that you’re in because it’s all you have, and only you can determine how to love it!

https://www.selflovebeauty.com/

Connect with Lisa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisathompson032/

Employers and people, in general, tend not to recognize the importance of architecture and what effects it can have on an employee or family. Tune in this week to learn some of the benefits of an architectural style and how it can positively impact the work being created from within.

Paul Hauselhuh, AIA, has been a project manager on a wide variety of projects for WTA Architects and now specializes in higher education and commercial facilities. Paul has a strong interest in sustainability and green architecture.

https://www.wtaarch.com/

That’s precisely what today’s podcast guest, Mark McDaniel, the CEO of Cinnaire, talks about with host William Zank. Cinnaire is a nonprofit organization that gets involved within the community by offering services such as lending funds, finance development, and managing and building all components of a healthy community. Within this nonprofit, employees are granted unlimited paid time off.

Cinnaire wants to find better ways for their team members to feel more valued while also showing their team’s time was valued. What’s the benefit of offering unlimited time off? Cinnaire has seen how productive their employees are when given this freedom. With employee benefits like this, they now hold eight consecutive wins as Best Nonprofit to Work For by the Nonprofit Times, the leading business publication for Nonprofit Management.

Mark McDaniel graduated from Michigan State University and worked as an architectural planning engineer in his hometown of Kalamazoo, MI. He ended up moving back up to Lansing when he found his love for helping develop affordable housing. He started to get involved with many nonprofits and faith-based organizations. He was able to draw up the Michigan Capital Fund for Housing idea, which ended up transitioning into the Great Lakes Capital Fund in 2002.

To learn more about Cinnaire and their team, follow the links below:

https://cinnaire.com/

Mark McDaniel | LinkedIn

Welcome, Crystal Ellison of CD Dents. Crystal and her husband Duane own and operate a 5-star Google rating paintless dent removal business. Crystal has been in the car business for an impressive 24-years and was the first woman in the country to receive her Master Gold Certification.

Today William Zank and Crystal talk about referrals. Referrals are the most valuable form of marketing, and Crystal shares some tips on how CD Dent goes about intentionally building its referral pipeline. 90% of CD Dents business is from referrals. This episode is for you if you are in a niche business looking to deepen engagement with your client base. Tune in to find out how she views customer service and how to build her main marketing source – her referral pipeline.

https://www.cddentsrepair.com/

Michigan Sugar Company, a Michigan staple organization for 116 years, takes on many opportunities to create win-win-win partnerships within the community. Clark states that they speak out about the good Michigan Sugar does within the community because if they didn’t, how would it be noticed?

Sweeten up your commute with this 24-minute master class, inspiring leaders to get involved in the communities they serve.

https://www.michigansugar.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/michigan-sugar-co/

https://www.facebook.com/PioneerSugar/

https://www.facebook.com/michigansugar

In this episode of Mitten Money, host William Zank speaks with Don Sheets. Don is currently retired after almost 15 years as Executive Vice President and CFO at Dow Corning.  In this episode, Mr. Sheets shares how he planned to work as a consultant all along as his second career.

Don also chats about some of the crucial moments where he lead Dow Corning out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2004 and through the 2008 financial crisis. He took advantage of those low points, and we touch base about one of his major milestones of leading the development and implementation of Xiameter internet business. This choice led to the growth of Dow Corning with the silicone business on a global scale.

Don enjoys waking up early to get his day started with the latest news and a good book while participating in multiple organizations with his peers and loving wife!

To get to know Don Sheets better, his LinkedIn is: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donald-sheets-2a6617124/

How about their ability to select the top talent in the hospitality industry while still achieving a 95% retention rate for corporate staff AND franchisees?

This week – we invited on the very talented Dee Ann Turner -who was not only the former VP of Talent, Human Resources, Enterprise Social Responsibility, and Sustainability for Chick-Fil-A but also a 3x bestselling book author. We chat in-depth about how to increase your employee retention, the process of developing your talent systems, and saying that talent is one of the most competitive qualities that a business can have.

For more information on Dee Ann:

https://www.deeannturner.com/

https://www.deeannturner.com/podcast

https://www.linkedin.com/in/deeannturner

https://www.facebook.com/DeeAnnTurnerAuthor

https://www.instagram.com/deeannturner/?hl=en

FOr mOst restaurant’s, while fOOd can help drive grOwth Of the business, the custOmer service is what keeps peOple cOming back.

In 2022, cOnsumers have the knOwledge and OptiOns to chOOse any fOOd option they want. It’s mOre crucial than ever tO nOt Only have a cOmpelling menu, but alsO Offer high levels of custOmer service tO keep guests happy. This sOunds simple in practice – but hOw dO yOu gO abOut implementing a strategy? Interested in knowing how and hearing O's phenomenal grOwth story? Tune in tO today's episOde.

This style Of writing is inspired by O's eye catching way of making O's the real star Of the shOw. See their website and sOcial pOsts.

www.ospubandgrill.com

On this special episode, we invited Shannon Tait of Three Rivers Corporation. Construction means more managing projects. It's taking personal pride in every project, whether new construction or a world-record canopy tree walk.

During the episode, Shannon shares many personal stories throughout her career, highlighting when she was a recent college graduate given complete control over a local project. She described what helped her succeed: building rapport amongst her much older peers and remaining level-headed. She credits being coachable as a top trait for any person to have. 

We also discussed:

1. Tips for employee development
2. How to build a more open and diverse company
3. The power of being coachable

For more information on Shannon or Three Rivers: https://trccompany.com/

The list of satisfied clients and employees of Calder seems endless. Max has a growth mindset and fosters a culture of learning and growth. Calder is a Grand Rapids based Mergers and Acquisitions Advisory Firm focused on representing business owners who desire to sell their business. Calder has been named one of America's fastest growing private companies (2021 Inc 5000 Fastest-Growing Private Companies).

The key takeaway from Will Zank's interview with Max Friar include:

- Tips and Tricks to Talent Development.

- Leveraging technology to create automated processes.

- Creating Key Performance Indicators and benchmarking success.

Max shares the secret to success is, "Taking younger, energetic, and driven people and giving them opportunities that most people their age doesn't get." Max goes on to explain, "One of the ways that we develop talent is to let some of our younger employees that are interested in running deals start with some small deals. Then, we partner them with experienced team members and coach them. Our goal with talent development is to find ambitious people, believe in them, and give them opportunities to shine."

https://www.caldergr.com/

https://www.inc.com/profile/calder-capital

https://www.linkedin.com/company/calder-capital

During every episode of Mitten Money, William Zank asks a signature question about the importance of building relationships. Sarah’s confidently shared, “the importance of relationships is going to be my number one even piece of advice to people. You have to be invested in people, and they need to feel that you have to make a difference in their life.”

Sarah also shares about:

- Her journey in the fitness industry over the past 20+ years,

- Pivoted during the pandemic. Online class offerings were live within 9 hours of news that Michigan was putting a “pause” on gyms for 3-weeks.

- How she views social media as a tool to grow SFHQ.

For more information on Sarah and Sarah Fechter Fitness Headquarters, visit: https://www.sarahfechter.com/

Mike Hanisko is a CPA and Partner at Winelander Fitzhugh with over 38 years of experience. Mike’s a Chippewa Grad – fire up Chips. He warmly shares advice from early in his career that taught him how to go the extra mile to take care of clients. “I remember Fred, one of the founders of our firm, telling me that you can mail final documents to a client. Or maybe you take half an hour, meet them and hand them the finished product. That conversation you have with them is way more important than just delivering the final product,” shared Mike.

Connect with Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-hanisko-70136245/

Visit Weinlander Fitzhugh: www.wf-cpas.com

John is a wealth of experience. Before joining Crystal Mountain as COO in 2017, he had a 25-year career in banking with Fifth Third Banking. In November 2021, Melcher was named as the new CEO replacing Jim MacInnes, who, after 36 years in resort operations, will be stepping back his day-to-day involvement with the resort to focus more on long-term strategy.

This episode touches on:

• Pivoting careers
• The ins and outs of the resort industry
• The idea generation process of creating new attractions
• Advice on building lasting working relationships.

This episode will leave you wanting to visit Northern Michigan and add a stop to Crystal Mountain, named one of North America's Top 25 Family-Friendly Ski Resorts in America (by Travel and Leisure Magazine).

www.crystalmountain.com

Jane Hagen is a director of corporate retirement plans. Her passion is encouraging thousands of 401(k) participants to earn their retirement one step at a time and one percent increase at a time.

Bobbi Putman is a seasoned Financial Planner and shares advice on building an individual’s credit and a readily available emergency fund.

Jon Pickelman is a Relationship Manager and shares why we all have a different relationship with money.

Tune in to hear tips about building a 401(k), building credit, and how to invest for the long-term. Individuals 22-62 can learn a tip or two to help them on their financial journey.

• Why a printed and mailing catalogs continues to be a successful strategy.
• Fueling his passion as a multi-course creating chef.
• How creating an experience for culinary excellence has put Venture on the map.

WORLD'S LARGEST CHRISTMAS STORE

www.bronners.com

VENTURE CULINARY, LLC

https://www.facebook.com/ventureculinary/

According to Conscious Capitalism, Inc. It's driven by the philosophy that business should exist for reasons beyond profit and should work to elevate humanity as a movement has been growing, so too has the interest in joining. Today we have two guests to chat about this. Joining us is Alexander McCobin, CEO of Conscious Capitalism Inc. As you'll see, during the interview, Alex has a big passion for the movement, which has taken him across the globe and spoken to many Fortune 500 business leaders.

Also joining us in this discussion is a model company that has elevated humanity through its business, Roy Spencer, President of Perma-Seal Basement Systems. Roy co-founded Perma-Seal 43 years ago, and it has grown into one of the most successful basement waterproofing and foundation repair companies in Chicago. They've worked on nearly half a million homes and received over 6,000 5-star Google Reviews. And they've also been named one of the workplaces in 2021 in the United States. Happy customers and happy employees make for a win-win scenario!

In today's episode, listeners will dive headfirst into:

• Why should companies consider becoming more conscious?
• What that change to be more conscious means for business.
• How do people get started with creating a conscious company?

What are your options for getting financial support? You could hire someone to run the books, but should that person be full-time or part-time? How should you go about vetting their experience?

To help answer these questions, we have on Tom Conzelmann. Tom had a background in working as a CFO for a medical system, and he has provided accounting knowledge to startups. If you’re at all interested in knowing more about financial reporting, accounting, and seeing when you should potentially hire an outside financial consultant, this episode is for you.

Connect with Tom https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomconzelmann

On today’s episode, Chris Savage of Lowe Law answers common legal questions. Tune in to learn more about:

• When is a good time to seek out the services of an attorney?
• Unique business challenges affecting Michigan-based businesses.
• Most beneficial ways to find the right attorney fit for your business.

Chris Savage has 20+ years of experience in various aspects of estate planning, probate and trust administration, income, estate, gift and generation-skipping transfer taxation, and corporate business matters. Chris regularly advises clients on both simple and complex estate and business planning matters. She’s listed in the Best Lawyers in America in the trusts and estates area and is an author of several small business-related articles.

https://lowelaw.net/christine-savage

https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-savage-22082916/

So, how exactly do you battle this crisis? Luckily – this week’s guests, Dr. Tara Peters and Dr. Cathy Bush, both business consultants and co-authors of "The Demotivated Employee." Cathy and Tara discuss the motivation crisis, and ideas of when to introduce a business consultant into a business.

During this interview, listeners will learn about:

• The motivation crisis happening in the workplace.
• When to reach out to a business consultant.
• How to gauge if employees are engaged.

Resources:

www.theleadershipdoctors.com

Dr. Tara Peters TEDx Talk

https://www.ted.com/talks/tara_peters_demotivation_the_billion_crisis_that_s_plaguing_business

- How employers can stand out amongst their competitors in their job descriptions.

- Structuring an overall employee’s benefits package.

- How often employers should revisit employees’ salaries.

“Explore all the options you have to take care of your employees. Pay for community college if someone is without an associate's degree, or offer COVID pay for those exposed or having COVID. Explain all the options that you have for your employee. Take care of them. It doesn't affect the overall bottom line.” Chuck truly cares about the people entrusted to him and shares, “it's not just about the pay and benefits. It's all about how you treat employees. In the end, that’s what matters.”

An out-of-the-box benefit Chuck is considering offering his team working from home is a once-a-week visit from a housekeeper- clever!

In the next two episodes, will dive headfirst into talking about some of the best practices around hiring, pay, benefits, and talent retention in this two-part HR miniseries. Our first guest is Dan, Porta. Dan is a Senior Corporate Recruiter with Tech Smith. Dan brings a wealth of experience to this episode as he’s worked as a recruiter across the tech industry, healthcare, and manufacturing industries. In this episode, broaden your understanding of best practices when it comes to:

• Remote working.
• Building Relationships with Talent Centers.
• What benefits are trending in 2021.

Listeners will learn about:

• The athletic department by the numbers.
• The newer name, image, and likeness rule.
• How MSU athletics survived the challenges of COVID.
• Bill’s standout moment in his more 25-year tenure at MSU.

GCI literally takes one man’s trash and turns it into treasure. Barrels of wastewater created from the oil refinery process are turned into two byproducts; water and salt. The salt created through this desalination process becomes a useable product for concrete usage and more.

If you’re looking to learn how one person could pivot their career, create a sustainable business model, learn from 100+ investor pitches, and employ a growth mindset, look no further. Mike Schuette brings his a-game while discussing GCI Water Solutions economically and consciously treats oil and gas production wastewater. Mike is originally from Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, and adjacent professor at Central Michigan University.

On August 10, 2021, the U.S. Senate passed an Infrastructure Bill (House Resolution 3684) by a margin of 69 to 30. This $1T infrastructure bill will create jobs and fix crumbling infrastructure. Why should this matter to you? The last major infrastructure bill of this size ultimately authorized over 41,000 miles of interstate highway system back in 1956. That’s the kind of opportunity that we chat about with today’s guest, Wayne Hofmann.

Wayne is an expert go-to on construction and project finance. We chat about the opportunities that the infrastructure bill offers us, some unique things coming from the bill, and how philanthropic organizations are starting to play a major role in this process.

When you call the right people with the right advice, a serendipitous process is started where you can see results. This is some of the special work that Jacob Helwick, Manager at Adamy Valuation, does on a daily basis. Over the past 40 years, Adamy has been serving business owners across the country with their valuation needs. The firm’s work speaks for itself, and it enables clients to make well-informed, sometimes life-altering decisions.

In this episode, Jacob and Will dive into Adamy’s valuation process, the firm’s value in engaging with business owners, and answer the question of ‘what is the current state of business within Michigan?’

-       Their father’s love to invent, create, and improve everything he touches.

-       The holistic care Kim and Todd have for their employees

-       The challenges of operating a business during COVID times.

-       Their paths to joining the family business.

-       Donating their time, talent, and treasure to their community.

We cannot wait for you to learn from her. She’s a “goal-getter” that accomplished Jen Acosta Development’s 5-year plan in 1.5 years.  The best part - she’s humble, kind, wicked smart, generous, and willing to dig in to get the job done.

In this episode of Mitten Money, prepare to learn about:

• Jen’s path to commercial and real estate development.
• Missing middle house and why creating more of it matters.
• Jen’s current community development projects.
• What baking treat she is famously known for by her friends and family.

Jen is an amazingly brilliant entrepreneur with a sense of wonder and wired to collaborate. We hope you enjoy this inspiring episode that is sure to leave you wanting to tackle your next project with the same level of gusto and finesse.

Mitten Money features Michigan-based leaders from various industries and varying sizes. Host William Zank focuses on sharing business leaders' struggles and triumphs. Follow and subscribe.

Wilbert’s journey to mentorship and co-founding Strategic Supply Chain Solutions, LLC includes working in various industries around the country. In his 20’s he was in real estate, created a record label, and owned a mom-and-pop restaurant in Saginaw, MI, called the Melting Pot. Wilbert lovingly gives credit to his wife who juggled the real estate and restaurant business while he was working at GM. After these early years in business, most of Wilbert’s career was spent in Corporate American shaping supply chain management at BP, Alcoa, Aerospace Sector of Honeywell, and General Motors. Currently, he serves as the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Strategic Supply Chain Solutions, LLC, and is the owner of the Sawmill Golf Course in Saginaw, MI.

The Sawmill Golf Course is a premier course in Saginaw Township that Wilbert and his team have taken to a whole new level. “We wanted to demonstrate to our patrons that with the new ownership, we were willing to reinvest in the course. So in two years, we’ve purchased a new fleet of golf carts, refined and improved the facilities, and continually listened for what our members and guests say needs improving.” Wilbert gives credit to the wonderful staff for making the golf and dining experience exceptional for their guests.

You will pick up on Wilbert’s humble, calm nature and not be surprised to find out that he gets great joy in mentoring. “I'm always interested in listening and learning from others. I find joy in sharing what I can to help in developing others.” Wilbert has exceptional communication and leadership skills, and we cannot wait for you to receive this master class in management, life, and golf with Wilbert Long, Jr. Enjoy!

In 32 years, Cherry Republic has scaled to having 200+ locally-made cherry products, 6 locations, and 263 wholesale, retail locations. Through trial and error, resilience, and creative growth, Bob and his team have created two must-visit destinations in Northern Michigan.

We can’t wait for you to hear about:

• The origin story of Cherry Republic
• Why the company was designed to be unconventional.
• His pledged to give back to the outdoors.

To celebrate Michigan Wine Month, our gift to you, dear listeners, is an interview with Luke and Faye Pickelman, lifelong Michiganders who left corporate American to pursue their dreams. Luke and Faye purchased land for a vineyard in 2011 and released their first vintage in 2016. The fruits of their labor is Soul Squeeze Cellars, a boutique winery located on Lake Leelanau. Soul Squeeze offers a wide variety of wines and ciders. At their in Northern Michigan, they provide a modern tasting room and education with each sip. 

Luke shares, “It was a dream of ours. When the opportunity arose to purchase our first tract of land, we jumped on it. We started farming while we were still working. I was driving back to Lansing every week as a lawyer for the first few years.” 

With them being new to the Michigan wine scene, we thought you find value in their story. We “squeezed” as much information as we could into this interview. Listeners will hear about: 

• The pride Luke and Faye take in educating tasting room guests on the farming process.
• Why they chose Lake Leelanau as their desired location.
• The “Soul Squeezing process” to create the brand Soul Squeeze Cellars.
• Following their dreams to create a new path for their family.

Faye shares with Will how she fell in love with the process of winemaking in Italy and attended the University of California, Davis, to further her education. “It’s almost a little miracle. The whole process from tending to the vines and the locations of the planting to enjoying that bottle of wine at your dinner time.” 

* Michigan Wine Collaborative

Jeremy DeRuiter and Brieanne Roper are two dynamic, enthusiastic, and caring individuals leading the corporate culture initiatives at BIGGBY COFFEE. Jeremy and Brie ensure their company’s culture is known and embraced by thousands of employees. Employees at all levels can recite and, better yet, live out BIGGBY'S higher purpose to help people in building a life they love. 

In talking with Jeremy and Brie, you can feel their genuine desire and passion for supporting their employees and everyone they meet to take intentional steps to further build a life they love. Interestingly enough, both started at BIGGBY as part-time baristas and have since blossomed into pivotal leadership roles.

Enjoy this episode aimed at energizing entrepreneurs to reach for their goals and care for their people.

Tim has personally been involved in the pickle industry for thirty years, and on today's episode, he shares valuable insights about being a family business owner, creating Hausbeck’s higher purpose statement, and lessons he has learned about money.

Hausbeck has been family-owned since its inception in 1923. Did you know that family businesses frequently have stronger customer loyalty, and lower employee turnover? But family businesses can also have significant challenges, too. Tim shares, “I am known as ‘the bridge builder’ amongst our family members. I was willing to have hard conversations with my dad and siblings about creating our company’s purpose and building value for our employees.”

Tim even elaborates about a mistake he’s made. “I’m sad to admit it, but I used to think equipment, the best equipment, was our greatest asset. That’s not true. Our people are our greatest asset. And it took me a long time to learn that.”

If you’re a member of a family business, this podcast is for you. If you’re a pickle, pepper-loving person, this podcast is also for you (say that 5 times fast). With more than 100 team members they consider extended family, Hausbeck Pickles & Peppers is blazing the way to create high-quality products and a culture that employees embrace. We’d call that a win-win situation.

We dive into the impact economic development can have in a local region, not only for existing businesses but its citizens as well. Joann shares, “We meet with about 250 C-level executives every year and talk about their plans for the future. That is meeting with the CEO, the COO, or the CFO. Our job is to listen to them and learn what barriers they have. We want to understand their barriers so we can assist in removing those barriers. For example, we want to help business owners identify new investments, and then provide a wide variety of financial incentives, identify available sites for building locations, and more.”

We think you will love Joann’s passion for creating a thriving economy. She highlights the work her team has done to advance economic growth. “We are problem solvers and work hard to reduce barriers for growth.” COVID has presented its challenges with business growth and development and there is no stopping the Saginaw Future team in their desire to help small businesses thrive and expand Saginaw’s overall economic impact.

Saginaw Future https://www.saginawfuture.com/

Tool to help small business reopen safely and thrive

Size up Small Businesses https://www.saginawfuture.com/doing-business/size-up-small-business

This week we welcome on the podcast, John Gallagher, an expert on all things Detroit. For more than three decades, John covered urban and economic events with Detroit Free Press. John is also an accomplished author, having written six books. His most recent book was released into the world on March 30, 2021. The Englishman and Detroit and tells the story of the resurgence of entrepreneurship in Detroit in the past 20 years. with details never before reported. 

On today's show, we talk about the process of writing a book, the biggest lesson that John learned from money, and the transformation Detroit has made to become a tech hub. Listeners will be introduced to Randal Charlton, a remarkable Brit who founded the Asterand bio-medical startup in Detroit in 2000 and went on to serve as director of TechTown. He was among the first to promote the idea that Detroit could rebuild its confidence through entrepreneurship. We hope this podcast inspires you to invent and re-emerge from any tragic event bigger and better than ever before.

The Englishman and Detroit: John Gallagher

https://www.amazon.com/Englishman-Detroit-John-Gallagher/dp/1950843386

Mark also shares how his mentor's words of wisdom affected the course of his career. Mark had a love for construction, and it was early in his career where he met his mentor. His hobby of equestrian sports and showing horses led him to building horse barns and flipping houses. It was at this time that Mark fell in love with the process of building and considering flipping homes as a career. Mark’s mentor gave all the reasons to change his career path and go “all in” on new construction. Unsure but trusting Mark and his wife, Melissa, took his advice. In 2002, they sold their home, moved into a 500 square foot apartment in their horse barn, and bet everything on Cobblestone Homes.

Listen to this episode and hear themes of knowing your niche audience, staying on top of building trends, reasons to have diverse business lines, and the benefits of creating a replicable process.

Connect with Mark:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-wahl-48a973b0/

In this episode, listeners will learn tips on how to prepare for securing a business loan; lessons learned from the PPP loan process; and the advantages of working with a local business lender. “Surround yourself with experience and expertise, a good banker will go a long way. Find a good CPA, a good attorney, and a business associate - maybe somebody that's owned a business for a long time. It’s all about creating great networks.”

We think you’ll learn that this Michigan resident is proud to be with a company that believes in supporting the community as much as he prides himself on being a community banker. “We don't have a one 800 number for you to call. If you want to speak to somebody on a residential mortgage, you can speak with individuals that will help you. We're right here.”

Connect with Todd:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/todd-c-gregory-25611442/

Michigan Out of Door is a Michigan-based media company highlighting hunts from around the state in their 52-episodes released each year. When he first started, he was the self-proclaimed “low man on the totem pole,” and the poster child for the saying ‘hard work pays off’.  Jimmy talks fondly about his elementary gym teacher who connected him with the retired host of Michigan Out of Doors in 1998. “My gym teacher is sitting in a duck blind with the retired host of Michigan Out of Doors. They were looking for a new person to join the team. My teacher says ‘well, hey, I know this kid who grew up hunting and fishing and graduated from Michigan State with a video production degree.’ And that’s how it all began.”

In this interview, Jimmy talks about the 2020 boom in hunting and fishing, shares steps on how a novice should begin, telling the stories of Michigan-based “real” people, and shares how his feelings on money have changed over the years. He claims he is not a businessman, and yet he’s as business savvy as they come. Enjoy this episode that will leave you wanting to explore the abundant water resources and vast forests Michigan has to offer.

Connect with Jimmy:

https://twitter.com/jimmygretzinger?lang=en

Being named President of a 75-year old family business at 25 could seem like an exciting and yet daunting task. For Dick Garber, all he saw was an opportunity. An opportunity to make some tough decisions that needed to be made and position Garber Buick for exponential growth. Dick also gives advice on employee retention, and it is no secret why people remain loyal to his business and the Garber name. Dick and his team have created a conscious culture where ownership and organizational pride in the Garber brand are felt at all levels.

When talking about his love for the community, his thoughts are heartfelt and sincere. “I believe that business's calling is greater than just a return on investment for the shareholders, it's got to be good for the entire entity when you build that culture. That includes all stakeholders - the shareholders, the community, the staff. Everyone who touches your business.”

Connect with Dick:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/garber-automotive-group/

Tune into the first episode of Mitten Money with our guest Jimmy Greene, President of the Associated Builders and Contractor of Michigan. Jimmy is a voracious reader, movie buff, Prince groupie, and an all-around passionate individual.

When asked what it means to lead an organization during these historic times, Jimmy remarked, “it means everything. I’ve been here for 13 years leading ABC’s advocacy. For me, it’s a reward back to my grandfather… I always knew whenever I was advocating on behalf of discriminatory practices against people like him back in the 60s and 70s that he was and still is on my shoulder. I feel him.”

Jimmy’s life was shaped by his grandparents, and he even goes as far as to say he was “rescued” by them. His grandfather was a hard-working independent trucker- and his grandmother, the first black businesswoman in Flint, Michigan. When talking to Jimmy, you can hear how they shaped the morals, values, and work ethic he stands for today.

Throughout this interview, themes of grit, grace, compassion, and determination emerge. After diving into this episode, we would venture to say you will feel inspired to lead from within your organization and learn why it’s important to “invest” in your community.

Connect with Jimmy:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmy-greene-72296a7/