School focuses on improving Latino students’ grad rates. Page 7
The Business Newspaper of Metro Grand Rapids, Holland , Muskegon & West Michigan
Not the usual canoe trip. Page 3
APRIL 28, 2014 VOL. 32, NO. 17
MADCAP FOUNDER Barista school has a pleasing blend eehouse’s classes EXHIBITS PATIENCE Coff cover technical, tHiS WEEK
ryan knapp pours himself into city’s brewing coffee movement. page 14.
training and ownership matters.
A survey of the largest state employers shows they are increasingly optimistic.
Rachel Weick
Grand Rapids Business Journal
double time
Dual degree equips med students with business acumen. paGe 3
family affair
Veenstra’s Garage, a small business started in 1925, earns accolades from the state. paGe 3
coffee and doughnuts
Using the success of its coffeehouse, a lakeshore-based barista school is using business knowledge and experience to train future coffee shop business owners. JP’s Coffee & Espresso bar, a coffeehouse in downtown Holland, has served the West Michigan community for more than 20 years, with signature espresso drinks, whole bean coffees and loose-leaf tea. Founded in 1993, JP’s Coffee & Espresso expanded its services in 2007 with the opening of the Midwest Barista School, which provides comprehensive training for individuals interesting in opening a coffee shop. Sherry White, operations manager at JP’s Coffee & Espresso, said the decision to start a training program was a result of meeting the demand for consulting work by owner Jack Groot, and also to use the large space at the coffeehouse more effectively. “He could save people money by actually having them come here (to train),” said White. Converting extra space in the downtown Holland facility into a training bar, the Midwest Barista School’s classes take place within JP’s Coffee & Espresso shop.
BLM: Michigan outperforming U.S. economy
Pete Daly
Grand Rapids Business Journal
bar as the business model, methods taught at the school are meant to educate and train people in coffee and its industry, according to its website. The school offers a five-day new business owner course for $1,875, an advanced barista class lasting four days at $1,575, and a two-day technical repair and maintenance workshop for $995. Other options include: private training at JP’s Coffee & Espresso for $800, customized corporate or supplemental classes, and a four-hour home
Business Leaders for Michigan, a statewide organization of corporate executives based in Detroit, is projecting the Michigan and U.S. economies will grow in the next six to 18 months, but expects Michigan’s economy to continue to outperform the U.S. economy. “The good news from this survey is that Michigan’s largest employers continue to be much more optimistic about Michigan’s shortand long-term economic prospects than they were a couple of years ago,” said Doug Rothwell, president and CEO of BLM. “Job providers continue to be bullish on the state’s economic prospects and are backing it up with increased hiring and investment. More than half of Business Leaders for Michigan companies are forecasting increased investment in Michigan over the next six months.” Fifty-four percent of business leaders believe Michigan’s econ-
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the midwest Barista school, housed in JP’s Coffee and espresso, draws clients from throughout the country and around the world. Photo by Rachel Weick
According to White, having the school housed in an operating coffeehouse appeals to people, since they are able to see techniques and practices implemented in the context of the real world. “We bring people in usually 10 months out of the year to learn what we do because we do it every day of the week, and we can teach you what we’ve learned,” said White. MBS offers complete training in barista techniques and business financing, as well as classes in espresso and coffee bar systems. Using JP’s Coffee & Espresso
Find out what’s happening with Grand Rapids’ coffee culture, and grab a different kind of doughnut, too.
JPG Resources partners with Arizona firm
paGe 6
The Battle Creek firm supports new product development in the food and beverage industry.
laW WEEK
Two for one
Kent County’s new corporate counsel has plenty of experience on both sides of the issues. page 19
right to vote
Law Day celebration will feature presentation by interim dean at Wayne State University. paGe 20
Pete Daly
Grand Rapids Business Journal
JPG Resources, a consulting/management firm in Battle Creek providing expertise to consumer packaged goods companies developing new food and beverage products, has partnered with Healthy Brand Builders in Scottsdale, Ariz. JPG is led by Jeff Grogg, who founded the business in 2009. An entrepreneur and R&D manager, Grogg was the head of product development at cereal brand Kashi and worked in R&D at Kellogg Co. for 18 years. Grogg said JPG’s strategic alignment with Healthy Brand Builders allows both to provide a more complete set of services to their clients. Healthy Brand Builders, led by
James S. Tonkin, is described by JPG as a brand marketing and strategy development company. Both companies specialize in the food and beverage industry, with the JPG Resources expertise in preparing products for market, while Healthy Brand Builders’ expertise is in business, marketing and financial strategies. Grogg said JPG Resources’ primary focus is ensuring that clients’ business growth goals are met by successfully shepherding new products through all phases of the Grogg innovation process: idea generation, product development and launch/post-launch management. According to Grogg, in the last few years JPG Resources has launched more than 60 new client products and all remain in the market. Tonkin, according to Grogg, has
CoNtENtS
inside track ..........14
calendar ...............28
© Entire contents copyright 2014 by Gemini publications. All rights reserved.
comment...............16 Reason to celebrate. Matters ..................17 Culture of philanthropy.
area economy.....29 Emerging economies.
Vol. 32, No. 17
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successfully created more than 450 business and financial strategies for domestic and international firms. “Jim Tonkin is an icon and has his finger on the pulse of the beverage industry. His expertise complements our executional capabilities and we will work seamlessly together to bring innovation and growth to our clients,” said Grogg. Healthy Brand Builders concentrates mainly on functional and nutraceutical food and beverage segments, according to Grogg’s news release. Clemson University, which has a National Nutraceutical Center, defines “nutraceutical” as food, or parts of food, that provide medical or health benefits, including the prevention and treatment of disease. The latest types of health foods and beverage brands are becoming a more attractive target for acquisition attempts, according to Grogg. He said given the decline in carbonated soft drinks and rise in healthy products, the trend is expected to continue its “massive growth.”
sales Moves .........17 Bad bosses. change-ups .........28
street talk ............30
Grogg told the Business Journal that JPG Resources helps “companies grow new businesses,” which could be from the ground up, but quite often means helping larger companies, including even multinationals, grow new aspects of their business. Another key member of JPG Resources is Lucinda Wright, who heads the firm’s supply chain and marketing/sales functions. She is a former vice president of marketing at Kellogg, where she developed new brand and business platforms and managed innovation processes from ideas to commercialization. She was also employed at Meijer. Much of her work was in Kellogg’s natural/organic foods division, and her results were awarded a Top 20 Best New Frozen Products of the Year from Supermarket Review, according to the JPG Resources website. Grogg said he was not at liberty to identify his clients due to confidentiality agreements, with the exception of Simply Eight, a start-up Continued on page 9 8
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