FEBRUARY 2020
ALL IN THE FAMILY
Greater Lansing-area family businesses, including Uncle John's Cider Mill, share secrets to their success IN THIS ISSUE • How to Start a Nonprofit • Michigan Leads the Way in Clean Energy Efforts • Notable News: The Latest and Greatest on Lansing area Business Happenings
NOTABLE NEWS
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FEBRUARY 2020 ON THE COVER Michigan Leads the way in Clean Energy Efforts........... 10 How to Start a Nonprofit..................................................... 30 Notable News......................................................................... 32
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FEBRUARY 2020
Dede and Mike Beck
NEWS
Veteran Astronaut Urges Kids to Shoot for the Moon................................................ 6 Deals are Made on the Golf Course, and these Area Golf Courses Made Deals, Too......................................................................................... 8 The Challenges and Benefits of Owning a Family Business...................................... 12
ALL IN THE FAMILY
Greater Lansing-area family businesses, including Uncle John's Cider Mill, share secrets to their success IN THIS ISSUE • How to Start a Nonprofit
FEATURES Visual Breakdown................................................................................................................. 24 The Cornerstones of Community and Culture.............................................................. 26 Behind the Scenes............................................................................................................... 28
• Michigan Leads the Way in Clean Energy Efforts • Notable News: The Latest and Greatest on Lansing area Business Happenings
Cover photography by Mary Gajda
Greater Lansing Business Monthly | Volume 33, Issue 2 Greater Lansing Business Monthly is published monthly by M3 Group at 221 W. Saginaw St., Lansing, MI 48933. Periodicals postage paid at Lansing, Michigan, USPO. USPS number 020w807. Subscriptions: Subscriptions are available at $22 per year for postage and handling or $38 for two years. Call (517) 203-3333 or visit lansingbusinessnews.com to subscribe. Postmaster: Send address changes to Greater Lansing Business Monthly, 221 W. Saginaw St., Lansing, MI 48933. Send additional subscription requests and address changes to The Greater Lansing Business Monthly, Inc., 221 W. Saginaw St., Lansing, MI 48933. Copyright © 2016 The Greater Lansing Business Monthly Inc. All rights reserved. Editorial Office: 221 W. Saginaw St., Lansing, MI 48933 lansingbusinessnews.com 2
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COMMENTARY
Publisher: Tiffany Dowling, tiffany@m3group.biz Sales Manager: Jennifer Hodges, jhodges@m3group.biz Editor: Kelly Mazurkiewicz, kelly@m3group.biz Asst. Editor: Mary Gajda, mary@m3group.biz Media Specialist: Carey Jarvis Account Managers: Megan Fleming Liz Reno-Hayes Zack Krieger Art Director: Mark Warner Publication Designer: Matthew McDaniel Graphic Designers: Lauren Brumbach Cody Fell Chelsey Freedman Communications Specialists: Amanda Fischer Christopher Nagy Rich Adams Adam Lansdell Photographers: Mary Gajda Matthew McDaniel Videographer: Michael Cagney GLBM Editorial Board: April Clobes — President and CEO, MSU Federal Credit Union Calvin Jones — Government Relations Director, Lansing Board of Water & Light Lisa Parker — Director of Alumni Career and Business Services, Michigan State University Alumni Association Deb Muchmore Consulting — Owner, Deb Muchmore Consulting Tom Ruis — Vice President, Fifth Third Bank Doug Klein — Executive Director, Mason Area Chamber of Commerce
A FAMILY AFFAIR
Melding the work-life balance has advantages It was never a calculated approach on my part, but it makes sense that members of my family have come to play integral roles in the business I started in 2002. It almost seems like it’s something that is hardwired into my genetic makeup. I come from a long-standing line of family-run businesses, going back to several owned by my grandparents. The earliest was a small grocery store, which my grandfather and grandmother lived above. I remember walking to the store from school in my early elementary years, sitting behind the counter, and watching and marveling as they ran the business. In his later years, my grandfather owned a trucking company, with my grandmother working in the accounting office and two uncles serving as drivers. My parents also, at one time, ran a motel together. It seems like I’ve always had a connection to firms and fields that had deep familial bonds, and Sunday dinners always seemed to spark with activity revolving around discussion and debate of business-related issues. There’s something abstractly comforting about having family around you in the workplace. It brings a reassuring sense of trust knowing that these people are there, encouraging you and supporting you yet also providing a balance to some of your more misplaced impulses. My husband, Pat, does that for me. We tend to take opposite approaches to issues and formulate views from differing points of origin. It helps me take new perspectives into consideration and make more well-rounded business decisions. We are dedicating this issue of Greater Lansing Business Monthly to family businesses. The Lansing area is home to companies large and small that are driven by family ties, but the midMichigan region is not unique. These types of businesses form the backbone of the nation’s economy, with the U.S. Census Bureau reporting that family firms comprise 90% of all business enterprises in North America. That doesn’t mean that being a part of a family business is always days of wine and roses. There are occasional drawbacks that pop up from time to time. Work talk can become a dominating force, which is something to which I must plead guilty. I love to talk strategy – where we should be, how we should get there – but sometimes you have to step away for the sake of your personal time, personal life and personal sanity. Yet any flaws are minor in comparison to the contentment and the satisfaction that building and creating something together brings. The thing I love is being able to see the people I care about the most on a day-to-day basis. It makes me feel connected because they are always included in my personal sphere. I am lucky. Tiffany Dowling Publisher
Mark Hooper — Partner, Andrews Hooper Pavlik Diontrae Hayes — Supervisor, Charter Township of Lansing Tiffany Dowling | Publisher
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S P O N S O R ED
Exciting Alternatives at LCC’s Early College By Andy Brent | Photo by Kevin Fowler The landscape of public education in America is changing. As new methods of engaging and teaching today’s high school students emerge, new ways of looking at the classroom – and high school itself – are emerging in forward-thinking school districts across the country. Alternatives to traditional school districts and high schools often offer accelerated instruction and opportunities to earn college credit while in high school, making college more affordable by limiting the number of credits needed for graduation. In mid-Michigan, The Early College (TEC) at Lansing Community College (LCC) keeps college readiness at the forefront of its mission to connect motivated students with a head start toward their college program or programs. One hundred percent of TEC tuition, fees and books are provided free, at no cost to students or their parents. Students who graduate from TEC earn up to 60 tuitionfree college credits – a potential savings of more than $60,000 in tuition costs. “Our students benefit from free tuition, books, college-level resources and instruction – it’s a comprehensive program,” TEC faculty member Tony Greenburg said. “It is a strong high school community, and we mentor students in a college atmosphere. It’s a quantum leap to college-ready.” TEC built its program to challenge students in an academically rigorous environment, but also to provide a more inclusive and
collaborative learning environment. Beginning in their junior years, TEC students learn in the Mackinaw Building on LCC’s Downtown Campus. First-year TEC students participate in coursework dedicated to high school learning and college prep. Second-year students round out their necessary high school instruction with entrylevel college English, Math and Science, while third-year TEC students dedicate their time toward college-level courses. TEC Director Steve Rosales has seen firsthand what TEC’s approach to education can do for students and families. “Students are learning in different ways, which presents us with challenges,” Rosales said. “In order to meet those challenges, today’s classrooms need to keep pace and provide different opportunities to facilitate high-quality instruction and education. At TEC, we foster a supportive learning environment that engages students’ individual strengths, develops great learning and study habits that leads to long term academic and social success.” In addition to an academic program conducive to success in a college learning environment, TEC also mentors students for all aspects of their future. Abigail Lucas, a 2015 TEC graduate, attributed much of her postcollegiate success to the start she got at TEC. “Learning in a supportive environment
starting at such an early age was beneficial,” Lucas said. “They taught basic elements of professionalism and built that into an understanding of how the real world actually works, academically and professionally.” TEC welcomes eligible students from 16 collaborating districts in mid-Michigan. TEC instruction simultaneously prepares students for college and provides them with a high school education of the highest quality. Quoting from anonymous students’ program evaluations, Rosales shared stories of empowered students ready to clear their next academic hurdle. “TEC encourages me to develop my own thoughts on issues, instead of learning the thoughts taught to me by a textbook,” one student said. “My teachers were really good at incorporating the real world into what we were learning, and students were encouraged to ask questions important to us.” “When I got to TEC, I did not even know where I struggled,” said another TEC student. “They taught me new ways of learning that helped me see the lessons in a new way. It was like opening up a new door.” TEC is currently accepting applications for fall 2020. Interested parents and students should visit lcc.edu/ earlycollege for more information. La
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NEWS Photo provided by Sylvan Learning Center
Veteran NASA Astronaut Dr. Bernard Harris and George S., winner of the National Grand STEM Challenge
VETERAN ASTRONAUT URGES KIDS TO SHOOT FOR THE MOON Harris stresses the importance of STEM education during visit to Sylvan Learning Center BY RICH ADAMS
Kids at Lansing’s Sylvan Learning Center recently learned about the importance of STEM – science, technology, engineering, math – compliments of a visitor from outer space. Dr. Bernard Harris Jr. is a two-time space shuttle crew member and the first African American to spacewalk. He paid a visit to the learning center after a student, fifth-grader George Rollins, won a national competition sponsored by the National Math and Science Initiative, of which Harris is CEO. While in Lansing he spoke to the small group of students and parents at Sylvan and later appeared with Rollins for a fifth-grade assembly at Herbison Woods Elementary School.
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His message, while often couched in tales about his experiences on the shuttles Columbia and Discovery, was clear: STEM education is vital if the elementary students of today are going to be the leaders of tomorrow.
age when I got excited about the science and aerospace part of the business.”
“In this day and age everything is involved in technology, everything we do no matter what profession you’re in,” Harris said. “You must have some proficiency in STEM. That’s how important it is.”
“I decided to be an astronaut 50 years ago, when we landed on the moon,” Harris said. “I was enamored about space prior to that, but when I saw Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin land on the moon – that was it for me.”
Harris, 63, said that when he was growing up, STEM education had not yet been established. “But we had science class and we had math class. I was inspired by my science teacher, particularly in middle school,” Harris recalled. “I was probably George’s
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During his discussion with the children, Harris was even more specific, saying his interest in space began July 20-21, 1969.
In his talk with the children and parents, his message repeatedly returned to the importance of STEM education, particularly science. When noting the temperature in space can get as low as minus 165 degrees, he again gave a science lesson.
NEWS
“How am I so certain about that? Because we were the first mission to take a thermometer into space,” he said before detouring the discussion to mercury thermometers.
to be educated. And being educated in STEM is right at the top of the list.”
“Many years ago, we knew that mercury had the ability to absorb whatever temperature was around it and change its shape – it expands,” Harris explained. “We put it in a device and as the temperature heats up, the mercury goes up.”
The 10-year-old from DeWitt attended a weeklong summer camp where he participated in the Grand STEM Challenge, a national competition among Sylvan Learning Centers. This year’s challenge was to invent a piece of wearable technology that solved a problem.
The crew couldn’t take a mercury thermometer into space because it won’t react in space the same way it does on Earth, he said. Through the use of a thermistor – a type of resistor whose resistance is dependent on temperature – they established the standard for space temperature is 200 degrees in the sunlight and minus 165 degrees in the darkness. He reiterated the significance of STEM learning. “It’s important from the standpoint of realizing how it is incorporated into careers going forward,” Harris said. “I always like to say if you want the ability to take care of yourself, your family and your community, it is incumbent
Rollins seems to have a leg up on that.
Rollins’ invention was a fighter jet pilot helmet that senses when the pilot has passed out and alerts the copilot. Coincidentally, the youth plans to be a fighter pilot someday. Prior to Harris arriving at the Sylvan Center, Rollins said he was excited to meet an astronaut. “I’m going to ask him what it was like up there and if my invention might be used,” he said.
it’s not necessarily that I want them to do what they say at the time,” Harris said. “I want them to have something on their mind they can explore – like George, who wants to be a pilot. That means he is going to do some research and he’s thinking about it. “He will decide later on whether this, indeed, is what he wants to do, but he would have learned. It would have raised his knowledge in that space,” Harris continued. “He might switch to something else, maybe being a scientist, but each time they have something they are thinking about, and it’s an opportunity for you to grow as an individual.” Now a freelance writer, Rich Adams was a print and broadcast journalist for more than four decades. When he is not watching his beloved Chicago Cubs, he is counting the days until spring training begins.
Harris asked some of the children what they wanted to do when they grew up. “I even ask elementary school kids (what they want to do when they are adults), and
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NEWS
DEALS ARE MADE ON THE GOLF COURSE, AND THESE AREA GOLF COURSES MADE DEALS TOO BY TEECE ARONIN
There’s that classic image of business deals being made on golf courses, but in the Greater Lansing region, the golf courses make deals too. Case in point: Over the course of the next decade, plans are in the works for the longclosed Waverly Golf Course to be reborn as WestPark. Northern Capital Investments bought the course from the city of Lansing in fall 2018 for $2.2 million. Once the mixed-use development is completed, WestPark is expected to include a park, housing, senior living and restaurants. The site, consisting of 120 acres, makes for substantial usable space with roughly 27 acres to be commercial, 84 residential, and up to nine designated as park space.
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A Lansing State Journal article from Nov. 9, quoted Jay Barnes of the Florida-based company Northern Capital Investments as saying, “When we made the decision to pursue the project, in our minds it was a 10-year project to build out, but we’re confident there will be steady development in the next few years.” There are other ways area golf courses are being improved and making the news, and Groesbeck Golf Course is busy in those departments as well. Named for Michigan Gov. Alex Groesbeck who was in office when the course was built, Groesbeck Golf Course opened in 1926. In 2016, reconstruction was performed on holes six and seven to allow for a drainage project, and additional tees and a water
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feature were included. Then, in 2018, to improve traffic f low and visibility, a new entrance was constructed off Cesar E. Chavez. The Lansing Entertainment and Public Facilities Authority took over management from Lansing Parks and Recreation on Jan. 1, 2018. Scott Keith is president and CEO of LEPFA. He told GLBM, “Golf courses naturally see some growth and development in good economic times. At Groesbeck Golf Course, we are investing in improvements to the course, improvements to the culture of customer services, and amenities that are allowing the golf course to be used more year-round and for nontraditional activities.” Then there’s the deal struck in November
NEWS
destination for golfers from all over the world thanks to our long summer days and 650 public golf courses. It follows that we couldn’t have reached those lofty heights without stunning and challenging courses with hosts of amenities. And in the case of Waverly, you won’t need tees, balls and golf clubs to take full advantage of what it has to offer. So, when it comes to our area’s golf courses, there’s a “good deal” of improvement going on.
Teece Aronin is a blogger and columnist. Teece writes a humor/health and wellness column for the Oakland Press. Her artwork is available at the Redbubble.com store, phylliswalter, and Aronin seriously considers any request for workshops, coaching, and speaking engagements. Read her blog at ChippedDemitasse. BlogSpot.com, contact her at paronin1@gmail. com and follow her on Twitter @taronin.
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2018 between Eagle Eye Golf Club and the famed Timber Ridge Golf Course on Park Lake Road in East Lansing. The arrangement resulted in Eagle Eye acquiring Timber Ridge. According to the Eagle Eye Golf Club website, eagleeyegolfclub.com, Timber Ridge was “carved from a mature tree nursery that was planted in the late 1940s.” Among other features, the course prides itself on a championship layout, environmentally sound course design, beautiful water features and breathtaking greens. A concerted effort is also made to keep family-friendly choices available and a redoubling of attention on areas such as greens maintenance and clubhouse renovations also provided a welcomed lift.
Contact Dennis to focus on what drives value and how to increase it. Dennis Theis, CPA, CVGA 517.886.9537 dtheis@manercpa.com
manercpa.com 2425 E. Grand River Ave. Ste. 1, Lansing, MI 48912
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MICHIGAN LEADING THE WAY IN CLEAN ENERGY State's energy companies full-steam ahead on renewable efforts BY ALLISON SPOONER
In 2008, Michigan introduced the Clean, Renewable and Efficient Energy Act that requires the state’s investor-owned utilities, alternative retail suppliers, electric cooperatives and municipal electric utilities to generate 15% of their retail electricity sales from renewable energy resources by 2021. Michigan's two biggest energy providers are on track to not only meet these requirements, but they're also surpassing them. 10
Through renewable energy efforts, reduction of coal and carbon emissions and innovative energy solutions, the Lansing Board of Water and Light and Consumer’s Energy are working to make Michigan a leader in clean energy. In 2007, BWL became the first utility in the state of Michigan to adopt a renewable energy portfolio. Dick Peff ley, general
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manager, said BWL decided to take this step when it looked at the environment and the amount of coal and energy it was using. “We wanted to cut back but also help customers control costs.” BWL is committed not only to cutting costs for customers but to providing 30% clean energy by 2020 and 40% by 2030. In addition, it will also cease
NEWS
coal generation in Lansing and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by the end of 2025. According to Peff ley, all of the goals are on track to be met and it is ahead of schedule on its 2025 goal. BWL’s energy goals are being met by a combination of renewable energy, like wind and solar, and implementing new technologies that help customers manage their energy needs. The customer’s role in managing energy usage and controlling costs is huge and they play a key part not only for BWL but for Michigan’s other energy leader, Consumer’s Energy. Consumer’s also has big goals when it comes to clean energy and, like with BWL, the consumer is at the center of those plans. “A lot of people feel helpless when it comes to climate change,” said Patti Poppe, president and CEO of Consumer's Energy. “But the message we want to send is that there is something we can do that is very meaningful and powerful.” Both companies are encouraging customers to upgrade their lighting, insulate their homes, use smart thermostats and use their appliances during nonpeak energy times. Beyond consumer-centered programs, Consumer’s is also turning to wind and solar energy to meet big clean energy goals. According to Poppe, Consumer’s is on track to eliminate coal, reduce carbon emissions by over 90% and meet customers’ future electricity needs with 90% clean energy resources by 2040. “We’ve issued our first request for proposals on solar installations … we will see how the marketplace delivers. It’s a big shift to do an open call for proposals, and promise the panels will be built by someone other than us but it fits the market dynamics.” Both companies are looking to wind energy to fulfill and surpass the state energy law, and Peff ley said this has offered a bit of a challenge. “People like the idea of wind and solar energy but not in their backyard.” Finding locations for new energy conductors was a challenge, but through cooperation and education, Peff ley said BWL is still ahead of its 2020 goal.
blocks. Both companies offer energy monitoring programs utilizing technologies such as smartphones and apps. “We can handle the big stuff, like the solar panels and closing coal plants," Poppe said. "But we can't help unless people take action.” You can learn more about each company’s plan for a cleaner future on their websites.
Allison Spooner is a writer, storyteller, copywriter, marketing content creator and communicator. She uses her communication and creative writing skills to articulate the stories and messages that businesses can’t express themselves. She has been telling the stories of businesses across the state of Michigan for 10 years. You can find both her professional and her creative writing on her website, allisonspoonerwriter.com and follow her musings on Twitter @allyspoon.
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Education is key for both companies. “We need to suspend people’s belief that there is nothing they can do,” said Poppe. This means making customers aware of the programs it offers. “Our programs have been in full swing for 10 years and 46% of people still don’t know we do this.” BWL conducts energy audits and Consumer’s offers subscriptions to solar
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THE CHALLENGES AND BENEFITS OF OWNING A FAMILY BUSINESS BY RICH ADAMS
Family-owned enterprises are the backbone of the American economy.
to major corporation, according to the Conway Center for Family Business.
Studies have shown about 35% of Fortune 500 companies are family controlled and represent the full spectrum of American companies from small business
There are approximately 156,000 familyowned businesses in Michigan, according to data extrapolated from the U.S. census.
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The decision alone to start a family-owned business involves a great deal of faith, both in the overall economy and in how marketable the product or service will be. “While there are many challenges that will face those brave enough to
NEWS
“WHILE THERE ARE MANY CHALLENGES THAT WILL FACE THOSE BRAVE ENOUGH TO VENTURE FORTH AND RISK IT ALL BY GOING INTO BUSINESS, THERE ARE SOME MAJOR HURDLES THAT ARE COMMON TO ALL FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESSES,” SAID CHARLES OWENS, MICHIGAN STATE DIRECTOR FOR THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF INDEPENDENT BUSINESS.
venture forth and risk it all by going into business, there are some major hurdles that are common to all familyowned businesses,” said Charles Owens, Michigan state director for the National Federation of Independent Business. “The first is the idea. Is the dream real in terms of a market for a good or service? It sounds simple, but often an idea does not survive the rough and tumble realities of the market and free enterprise,” said Owens, who has more than 30 years of experience dealing with small and family-owned businesses
today than it has ever been. “Ignoring or violating local, state and federal regulations on small and family-owned businesses can make or break the company,” he said. “It is not uncommon for many entrepreneurs to reconsider a specific idea or proposed venture when the legal and regulatory obstacles are thoroughly examined.” Not only does the owner of a family business have to consider the here and now, the future of the business after the owner is no longer involved has to come into
Those who have the dream and decide to take the dive into a family-owned enterprise often do so for the ability to make choices on their own, without having to go through layers of oversight.
play. More than 30% of all family-owned businesses make the transition into the second generation, according to the Family Business Alliance. Just 12% will still be viable into the third generation, with only 3% of all family businesses operating at the fourth-generation level and beyond. A succession plan has to be in place even before the first customer walks through the door. “Family dynamics, including lack of a formal succession plan, have been attributed by numerous studies as the primary reason why most family-owned businesses fail or are sold before the second generation,” Owens explained. Another consideration is a mix of family and non-family employees, and the need to define the job description of each employee to avoid the appearance of nepotism. “Much has been written on this subject,” Owens said. “The most concise answer to the question is that the expectations and roles of family and non-family members should be made clear up front to all concerned. If circumstances warrant a change in these roles and expectations, it must be communicated quickly and clearly to everyone involved in the enterprise.”
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“Most small- and family-owned business owners make the move to go into business for themselves because it gives them the independence and freedom to make their own decisions,” Owens explained. “They also know that this makes them totally responsible for the success or failure of their endeavor, and this is a risk they are willing to take.” Owens said entrepreneurs need to do more than set up an office and hope profits materialize. “The second (requirement) is a solid financial plan and capitalization. If everything is checked off on the ‘to do’ list of going into business except this one, success is unlikely,” he said. “The third is the family dynamic. Working together as an effective team is challenging enough for any business,” Owens noted. “When you add the unique nature of family relationships in the mix it often gets more complicated.” No. 4 is having a grasp of the regulatory requirements for the business, which Owens explained is more of an issue
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COVER
Mike Beck, Dede Beck, Kathy Heystek and John Heystek
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COVER
ALL IN THE FAMILY
Greater Lansing Area family businesses share their secrets to success COMPILED BY THE STAFF OF GLBM AND WRITTEN BY MARY GAJDA
Family-owned businesses are a tried and true part of Greater Lansing, but sustaining the legacy is demanding. It takes strong values, commitment, vison and focus. The most fruitful family businesses are well-founded and equally as well-run, playing a significant role in the cities in which they serve.
We honor the myriad family-based entrepreneurs that make up the region. We can’t imagine life in Lansing without them. GLBM spoke to representatives of several family-owned businesses in the area for their perspectives on success and working with family.
There are just too many to mention in this issue, many of them having been in business the better part of 100 years and more. La
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COVER STORY
UNCLE JOHN'S CIDER MILL Dede Meister Beck, Owner of Uncle John’s, spoke to us about the business.
TO WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE YOUR SUCCESS AS A BUSINESS? You should ask my mother-in-law! It’s all about listening to our customer base. It’s always about building an experience. At Uncle John’s, we try to give each of our customers a memory they can hold on to. They don’t just spend minutes at Uncle John’s, they can spend an entire day having fun and building memories. The return customers we have assures us that we have a great formula for success.
John Heystek, Ella Heystek, Josie Heystek, Kathy Heystek, Dede Beck, Mike Beck and Lauren Beck.
Uncle John’s Cider Mill was originally a wholesale fruit and vegetable farm and was founded after John and Carolyn Beck purchased the family farm from John’s parents in the early 1970s. The Becks needed to find a more innovative approach to keep
the farm operating when the idea of making apple cider and doughnuts came to them. The business has since boomed and now has added a cidery and winery and is active with community events for the entire family.
NAME ONE THING YOU LOVE ABOUT WORKING WITH FAMILY. One thing I love about working with family is I always have a built-in “friend” and a confidant. There is always someone who knows how you are feeling and working as hard as you are.
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® started over 30 years ago as a way for two brothers to make extra money while they were in high school with an old 1966 Ford pickup truck. With the support of their mother, founder Mary Ellen Sheets, the company flourished. Since that time, the company has grown to over 350 franchise locations through North America and Europe and performs over 500,000 moves each year.
NAME ONE THING YOU LOVE ABOUT WORKING WITH FAMILY. The thing I love most working as part of a family-owned company is the core values we hold true have remained the same throughout all of our growth and success. They welcomed me as an intern 18 years ago as if I was a family member, and that has had such a positive impact on me personally. I love the
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® values but also love the fact that the family that started this company is still involved and yet gives the teams autonomy to continue working to make TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® even better. I love the fact that we get to build something special into the future.
Randy Shacka – president of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®, is not a member of the founding family, but has worked with the family business for several years.
TO WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE YOUR SUCCESS AS A BUSINESS? At TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® it starts with our people. We have always looked at ourselves as being a customer service company that happens to provide moving services, but ultimately, we serve people every day. It’s our people (both at our corporate headquarters in Michigan as well as the thousands of people that work for TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® across North America and abroad) that continue to push our brand forward. … We truly live by the mindset that we’ll never make it in business if we are complacent, which continues to push us to evolve. 16
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Sitting: Mary Ellen Sheets L-R. Melanie Bergeron, Jon Sorber and Brig Sorber FEBRUARY 2020
COVER STORY
EYDE CO.
George Eyde
George and Louis Eyde founded what is now known as the Eyde Co. in June 1958. George Eyde passed away in 2017, but the company’s legacy continues. The family business regards all of its employees as an extension of the family. GLBM spoke with Evemarie Eyde, Partner at the Eyde Co.
TO WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE YOUR SUCCESS AS A BUSINESS? Our team is made up of excellent, loyal employees who share a passion for the business.
NAME ONE THING YOU LOVE ABOUT WORKING WITH FAMILY. We love to work collaboratively. When the team is strong, hardworking and smart, success is achieved through strategic collaboration. Ultimately, we’re focused on continuing our father’s legacy and promoting growth in the Lansing community.
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COVER STORY
HEDLUND PLUMBING Hedlund Plumbing was started here in Lansing in 1939 by Einer Hedlund. Eighty years later, it is owned and operated by his grandsons, Bob and Tom Hedlund. Hedlund Plumbing was owned and operated by Dave and Howard Hedlund for about 40 of those years. We asked Bob Hedlund, co-owner of Hedlund Plumbing, to tell us a little about their success as a family business.
TO WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE YOUR SUCCESS AS A BUSINESS? Never losing sight on taking care of our team. Without a strong family and team atmosphere, we wouldn’t be able to serve the Lansing community. Also reinvesting into the company for decades to make sure we are cutting edge in our people and equipment.
NAME ONE THING YOU ENJOY ABOUT WORKING WITH FAMILY. The pride of carrying on our family tradition in the plumbing industry with pride and the abilities to service our community. Bob Hedlund, Howard Hedlund, Dave Hedlund and Tom Hedlund.
BOJI GROUP Ron Boji, president of Boji Group worked with his father on multiple projects for many years prior to the purchase of the Michigan National Tower, now Boji Tower, in 1998. The family has been in the business of development, construction management and property management for well over 20 years.
TO WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE YOUR SUCCESS AS A BUSINESS? The foundation of our organization is the people we work with every day. It’s amazing to see employees who have been with Boji Group since day one continue to thrive, while we also embrace our new team members as the company grows. Hard work and dedication to our craft with love and respect to our people is the cornerstone of Boji Group.
NAME ONE THING YOU LOVE ABOUT WORKING WITH FAMILY. Learning so much from my father, Louie, about the business side of things was outstanding, but what I really loved learning from him was how to treat people: staff, partners, vendors. Treating people with respect and fairness is 18
Ron Boji and Louie Boji
priority No. 1. The business will come and go but treating people right will have a lasting mark.
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COVER STORY
DEAN TRANSPORTATION Dean Transportation, formerly Special Transportation, was established by transporting students with polio to Lansing schools. Today Dean Transportation celebrates 50 years with 47 offices across Michigan. Patrick Dean, vice president of Dean Transportation, tells us more about working with his father, Kellie Dean, and brother, Christopher Dean.
TO WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE YOUR BUSINESS SUCCESS? Trust and responsibility. Our mission is to serve our communities with caring and reliable transportation. Most of our transportation services provide access to education, jobs and medical appointments every day. We take our responsibilities seriously and understand the trust our customers and employees place in us. We also understand that business can be a force for good, and it is our responsibility to lead through action. This is why our organization is community centered. Investing our company’s time and resources
Patrick, Kellie and Christopher Dean
in building our communities through education and not-for-profit organizations has a net positive benefit to business.
NAME ONE THING YOU LOVE ABOUT WORKING WITH YOUR FAMILY? Communication. I am humbled to work with my father, Kellie Dean, who is a trained
special education teacher and public school administrator, and my brother, Christopher Dean, who is a trained civil engineer. My background is business finance. Due to our trainings, we approach problems with vastly different skills but a common vision and goal. This results in trusted and proactive communication. At times passionate, we all want our organization to get better each day, which is why we love working together.
When business is booming, your need for tax planning and all-inclusive business consulting is top of mind. Your first call should be to someone who knows you and your business. Our trustworthy advice, answers and guidance take the stress out of every challenge and change. Business solutions. Peace of mind. That’s The Rehmann Experience.
rehmann.com/growing | 517.316.2400
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COVER STORY
THE MERIDIAN CO. The Meridian Co. was founded by Jim Phillipich in 1984 and is headquartered in East Lansing. In 2007, the company expanded their operation to include heating, cooling and airconditioning repair and replacement. Project manager, and son of Jim Phillipich, Craig Phillipich, spoke with GLBM.
TO WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE YOUR SUCCESS? Success in business starts with a plan or idea. In short, most entrepreneurs take that idea and they want to be the best at it. To achieve that you need to first hire, build and maintain a great team and take care of that team. The team in turn will take great care of your customers resulting in the customers taking great care of the business. Our success over the years is largely based on that model. From a regional perspective (like a lot of local businesses), it goes without saying that operating in a capital city with a Big Ten university, expanding health care facilities, etc. offers a diverse professional customer base to offer our services.
Jim Phillipich, Marty Phillipich, Mike Farhat and Craig Pillipich
NAME ONE THING YOU LOVE ABOUT WORKING WITH FAMILY. Working with family surely has its advantages. for our business, it’s the trust factor it brings. With four family
members active in our day-to-day operations, someone’s always got your back. Having said that, I have to admit, we’re all one big family at Meridian.
GRANGER WASTE SERVICES Granger Waste Services CEO Keith Granger tells GLBM that Granger is a third generation of family businesses. The company started as a construction business in the late 1950s, and in 1966 began hauling their own waste. Shortly after that, the Grangers started hauling waste for other construction companies followed by residential customers and other businesses. In 1991, the construction and waste components of Granger were separated into two distinct companies. Its humble beginning with one truck and one driver in Lansing has evolved to the Granger Waste Services of today with a f leet of more than 100 trucks and nearly 300 associates.
TO WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE YOUR SUCCESS? I believe Granger Waste Services has been successful in large part due to the strong relationships we’ve built with our customers and the communities we service. Our company was founded on the Golden Rule, treating others the way we want to be treated, and we’ve continued to live by that philosophy for more than 50 years.
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The Granger Family circa 1992
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT WORKING WITH FAMILY? Working with family means there is a solid base of love and respect in our dealings with one another, as well as shared values. It has also allowed us to cultivate that feeling
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of family throughout the company and develop a culture of associates who really care for each other and our customers.
COVER STORY
SHAHEEN AUTOMOTIVE GROUP
The Shaheen Dealership showroom
Shaheen Automotive Group, comprised of Shaheen Chevrolet Inc., Team One Chevrolet Buick GMC, Shaheen Parts Warehouse Freeland, Shaheen Cadillac, was founded by Michael Shaheen in August 1970. Ralph Shaheen, now president of Shaheen Chevrolet, started selling vehicles in the summer of 1969 and became a fulltime employee upon graduation from Michigan State University in 1972.
door policy and work hard to make sure everyone knows their contribution counts.
First National Bank of Michigan seeds landscaper’s continued success. “Jennifer Marsh at First National Bank of Michigan made me and my business a priority, she understands and supports every aspect of my business, and her communication is second to none.”
TO WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE YOUR SUCCESS AS A BUSINESS? Our success is attributed to our great team. We have been able to establish a culture that attracts the very best people to promote a culture where we treat every customer as we would a guest in our home. We live it every day. Every associate carries with them a domino to remind them that everything we say and do sooner or later ends up in front of our guests. Our culture is more important than any one individual.
Pictured left: Jennifer Marsh, FNBM Pictured right: Brian Stiles, owner, Stiles Landscape
-Brian Stiles, Owner Stiles Landscape
NAME ONE THING YOU LOVE ABOUT WORKING WITH FAMILY. I am partners with my two brothers, and the most enjoyable part of doing that is that we are able to share our father’s dream of a growing a prosperous business with our family. We also have associates that have other family members who work together as well. Father and daughter, brother and brother, and a mother and son. We promote an open-
To read the full story, please visit: www.fnbmichigan.com/ stiles-landscape Together, We are First. fnbmichigan.com | 330 Marshall St., Suite 200, Lansing 48912 | 517.319.8000 La
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COVER STORY
F.D. HAYES ELECTRIC CO. innovation is deeply rooted in our business story. We have a few of his patents from the 1920s framed in our conference room. Statistically, very few family-owned-andoperated construction firms experience the longevity we have. Without embracing change and new ideas, we never could have survived … To our customers, being innovative means we are creative problem solvers. They know that we are always learning about new products and installations that will ultimately give them a quality finished product for the best value.
NAME ONE THING YOU LOVE ABOUT WORKING WITH FAMILY. Megan Doherty, Teresa Reno, Patrick Hayes, Claire Doherty, Liz Reno-Hayes, Connor Doherty, Charlie Doherty and Ryan Hoffman
Megan Doherty, president of F.D. Hayes Electric Co., tells GLBM the company has been in business since 1923, but she took ownership of the family business in 2016, continuing to work with her father, Patrick Hayes, who was the president and owner of the company for over 30 years, and her husband, Charlie Doherty.
TO WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE YOUR BUSINESS SUCCESS?
There is an implicit level of trust when you are dealing with family. I know that our goals and values are well aligned. We really like each other and have a lot of fun together outside of the business, which really helps also.
I attribute our innovative approach with much of our business success. My greatgrandfather, who founded the business in 1923, was an inventor and an engineer, so
LAFONTAINE AUTOMOTIVE GROUP Michael LaFontaine started selling Volkswagens in 1966 alongside his wife, Maureen LaFontaine. Together, the two founded LaFontaine Automotive Group in 1980. The LaFontaine matriarch and co-founder passed away at the age of 73 in October 2019, leaving sons Ryan and Mike Jr, daughters Kelley and Christie, and 15 grandchildren to carry on her legacy.
each sales and service experience and in turn, hope to have a customer for life.
NAME ONE THING YOU LOVE ABOUT WORKING WITH FAMILY. It’s hard to nail down just one thing because working alongside my family
is a true blessing. We are able to build off our individual strengths and create a work environment that is welcoming and empowering. We put such a focus on family and know that our employees can see our actions, not just our words, on what family truly means.
Ryan LaFontaine, chief operating officer for LaFontaine Automotive Group tells us more about the family business, also known as the home of “The Family Deal.”
TO WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE YOUR SUCCESS AS A BUSINESS? Our success can be attributed to our dedicated and passionate team of 1,400 individuals and our corporate culture. Our mission statement is “Build lifelong relationships that connect families, strengthen communities and personalize the automotive experience.” We truly run the business like a family and strongly believe our employees are our greatest asset. Our LaFontaine associates treat our customers like family too – making sure we personalize 22
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Michael LaFontaine, Maureen LaFontaine, Kelley LaFontaine and Ryan LaFontaine. FEBRUARY 2020
JOIN GREATER LANSING BUSINESS MONTHLY as they present the 26th Annual Entrepreneurial Awards Ceremony
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2020
Cocktail hour 5 p.m. - 6 p.m. Awards program at 6:30 p.m. Lansing Center, 333 E Michigan Ave., Lansing MI 48933
PLATINUM SPONSOR:
PRESENTED BY:
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VISUAL BREAKDOWN
LANSING-AREA BUSINESSES HAVE HISTORY From education and fashion to early automobiles and health care, these businesses in the Greater Lansing region have stood the test of time.
165 YEARS: The Michigan
Agriculture College in East Lansing and the Michigan Female College opened in 1855. They would ultimately combine to become Michigan State University.
103 YEARS: Linn &
Owen, established in 1917, is Lansing's oldest family-ownedand-operated jeweler located in the heart of downtown.
91 YEARS: Formed in 1929, the Lansing Symphony Orchestra is in its 91st season, continuing to reach audiences on a personal level.
92 YEARS: Kean’s Company
Store: Farmers from all across Ingham County rode into Mason to eat, drink and shop at Kean’s Five & Dime — newly opened in 1928. Kean’s is still family owned and operated.
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91 YEARS: First organized
by Michigan State University faculty in 1929 as the State College Club, the University Club has a long and distinguished history of serving the university mission.
FEBRUARY 2020
VISUAL BREAKDOWN
105 YEARS: Maurer’s Sanitary
Cleaners opened in 1915 as Sanitary Cleaners and renamed Maurer’s Sanitary Cleaners in the 1950s.
74 YEARS: Builders’ Hardware
Co. was founded in 1946 by two brothers, Edward Hertel and Crawford Hertel, after they returned from World War II. It was located in East Lansing but moved to REO Town in Lansing in 2019.
103 YEARS: Auto-Owners
was founded by Vern Moulton in in Mount Pleasant, who moved the company to Lansing in 1917.
81 YEARS: Hedlund Plumbing 107 YEARS: McLaren has
was founded in 1939 by Einar Hedlund while working out of his residence on Michigan Avenue in Lansing.
been providing health care to the region since 1913, when a 10-bed county facility opened its doors to care for tuberculosis patients.
155 YEARS: Kositchek’s 112 YEARS: Lansing Country
Club was founded in 1908 by a group of 17 men who leased the land and the soon-to-be built “locker house” from local developer J.H. Moores.
Menswear was started in 1865 by Henry Kositchek in Eaton Rapids and moved to its present downtown Lansing location in the late 1800s.
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FEATURE
The Lansing Black Chamber poses with Lansing Police officers at a mixer to open dialogue about Black business and police presence in the community
THE CORNERSTONES OF COMMUNITY AND CULTURE BY AMANDA FISCHER
The month of February is devoted to celebrating the 400-year history of the achievements of African Americans in the United States. Some of the greatest, yet underappreciated, triumphs are those of the African American trailblazers and entrepreneurs who put their all into starting businesses. According to the Greater Lansing Convention and Visitor Bureau website, the oldest black-owned business, Riley Funeral Home, dates back to 1957 and was started 26
by World War II veteran James Riley. Since then, the Lansing region has had several successful black-owned businesses that contribute greatly to the community.
different look or feel than some of the bigger commercial companies, Barker said they tend to have a larger impact on their immediate neighborhood.
Alane Laws-Barker, president of the Lansing Black Chamber, said there are several black businesses in the area, and while some are larger, a lot of black businesses are entrepreneurs or mom-andpop shops with 10 or less employees.
“Black businesses help support the community,” said Barker. “Black businesses help create wealth in ways that we don’t have any other way to generate wealth. They’re special because they give opportunities to people and communities who wouldn’t have opportunities.”
Although these businesses may have a
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FEATURE
Additionally, Barker said black-owned businesses strengthen the local economy, create jobs, tap into underused talent pools, serve the community, celebrate culture and help close the racial gap. Ashlee Willis, owner of Lansing-based businesses Michigan Premier Events and Lansing Mosaic, said black-owned businesses are important to communities because they bring new cultures to the area. “Lansing is really diverse within the business owners,” said Willis. “There are a lot of businesses that are coming here from different countries, or they are going to a different country and bringing back that business here to Lansing.”
nation were at an all-time low,” said Bailey. “Celebrating the minority and blackowned businesses says to them that they are not forgotten. They are a part of the fabric of our economic success as a society, and they have something to offer just as our larger conglomerates.”
out and celebrate the culture and diversity of Lansing and the businesses that make the community unique and successful. Amanda Fischer is a communications specialist at M3 Group. She likes reading, watching movies and playing games in her free time.
Celebrating black-owned businesses during the month of February is great, but remember to celebrate and support black-owned businesses all year. Visit their stores, buy their products and come
Diverse businesses expose the community to cultures and things that they may not be able to otherwise experience, Willis said. Cultural diversity also brings new people to the area and improves the overall quality of life for residents. As a black business owner, Willis understands the struggles associated with starting and owning a business as a person of color. Exposure in the community is a top issue for most new businesses, which is why she started Lansing Mosaic, a website that highlights diverse businesses in the Lansing region. The site features African American and minority businesses through articles and videos that highlight the company’s background, missions, services and products. “The people we feature love it because we’re showing off what they’re doing,” said Willis. “They’re actually giving the Lansing experience.”
Real people, Real solutions, Right here.
Barker said another way black businesses gain visibility and support in the community is through diversity events and celebrations like the Lansing Juneteenth Celebration, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Luncheon and Lansing Community College Black Business Expo. She said those events bring together the community to celebrate African American history and culture, provide a platform for businesses to promote their products and services, and motivate people of color to follow their dreams. Tonya Bailey, chief diversity officer in Lansing Community College’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion, said LCC started the Black Business Expo specifically to celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit of black business owners in the Lansing region and their contributions to the community. “For many instances, (black businesses) were intricate in keeping the economy going for their communities during a time when society and finances as a whole for our
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BY STEFANIE POHL | PHOTO BY MATEO DONINI
CATRINE AND CHRISTINA MEDAWAR CO-OWNERS, MEDAWAR JEWELERS Medawar Jewelers has been a midMichigan gem for over 40 years. The family’s introduction to the jewelry business began in 1920 thanks to renowned watchmaker and master craftsman Chakib Medawar. Continuing the legacy, watchmaker and master jeweler Pierre Medawar opened the first Lansing-area store in 1978. Alongside Catrine Medawar, Medawar Jewelers grew to five locations across Michigan. Pierre and Catrine’s two children, Christina and Jon-Pierre, are now taking the reins, bringing their own talents in design and marketing to the multigenerational family business. Catrine and Christina shared their thoughts on working together in a family business and what is on the horizon for Medawar Jewelers in 2020.
YOU AND YOUR BROTHER JON-PIERRE ARE THE THIRD GENERATION OF THE MEDAWAR JEWELERS FAMILY. WHAT ARE YOUR ROLES IN THE BUSINESS? Christina Medawar: About four years ago, my brother and I officially took over our family business. We have done a lot more with social media and social advertising. 28
In our business, a lot has been changing over the past few years. Jon-Pierre and I are really excited to be part of this new industry of jewelry and having our parents backing us up. We definitely still need them. They are so wise and know so much about the business and jewelry itself. In our industry, I feel like we’re going back to the ’70s, with custom design work and not the mass production of the ’90s. My dad started off doing what we are trying to do right now with custom design, so it’s been really cool to see things come full circle. As far as our roles, Jon-Pierre is the creative director. Our goal is to create 99% of the things that are in the store — we’re about 70% there right now. Every piece of inventory goes through him, and he does a lot of the repair work, as well. We have master jewelers in every location, but Jon-Pierre oversees that part. I focus on customer service, social media work, HR and charity events.
WHAT IS THE BEST PART OF WORKING WITH FAMILY? Christina Medawar: Working with family is the best. We have a trust that you don’t have with anyone else, and that trust is really important. My brother and I have always been very close, so being able to have him as a partner is wonderful. We
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Juan Trevino, Christina, Pierre, baby Joaquin, Catrine, Jon-Pierre and Veronica
can get on each other’s nerves, but the nice part about it is we sort of mull it over and a day later it’s fine. In our family business, having our parents be there for answering questions and as a guidance is very helpful. I also love all of our employees, and they’ve truly become like family. Catrine Medawar: The best part of working with family is the fact that you are working with people you trust and people you already have an established relationship with. You love them, you care about them and they’re in your closest circle. You know that they understand you more than the average person. Sometimes working with family – they know what you’re thinking and feeling, as opposed to people you don’t know as well. Overall, working with family has been one of our strengths. For Pierre and me, working with our kids has been the best thing ever. One, we get to see them and communicate with them. I love calling Christina or having her call me 15 times a day. It’s amazing.
ARE YOU HOPING THAT YOUR SON MIGHT BECOME THE NEXT GENERATION OF FAMILY WORKING IN THE BUSINESS? Christina Medawar: I’m going to treat it the way our parents treated it for us. They
BEHIND THE SCENES
let us pursue whatever we wanted. At 13, I wanted to move to California and live on the beach in a trailer park and make jewelry out of seashells. My brother wanted to become a famous singer and guitarist, and he was in a band as a teenager. We ended up choosing to be in the family business, and I think that’s what I want to do with my son. I want him to become whatever it is what he wants to be. If he chooses to be in the business, then that’s great.
WHAT DO YOU SEE ARE THE PARALLELS BETWEEN THE GENERATIONAL, HEIRLOOM NATURE OF JEWELRY ITSELF AND YOUR FAMILY’S HISTORY OF WORKING IN THE JEWELRY BUSINESS? Christina Medawar: My parents have clients who they sold their engagement ring to, and their kids and grandkids will come back and talk to me or J.P. They will tell us about how our dad sold them a ring 30 years ago and they want to see if we can help them repurpose the diamonds. I think it’s awesome that I get to hear these kinds of stories. Catrine Medawar: The best part of the job is when clients come in and say that they’ve worked with your family and loved what they did. I had a few customers come in the other day, a gentleman and four of his kids who are now adults. He said that they had a tradition of coming to our store every Christmas to buy his wife a present and the kids would help. There were a couple of years they stopped the tradition because of life and moving away, but they were back in the area and wanted to renew that tradition. It brought tears to my eyes. I remembered the kids, although I didn’t recognize them because now, they’re adults as old as my kids. It was beautiful to wait on them, and there was that sense of, “I know you. I know what you’ve done for me. I feel comfortable here.”
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO OTHERS ABOUT HOW TO SUCCESSFULLY WORK WITH FAMILY? Christina Medawar: Having patience is definitely one of them. It’s also important to be able to look at a sibling or a parent in one aspect of your life, and respect them in a different way in business. I respect my brother as my business partner; he’s not just my little brother. Having those different lenses in which to see your family is key.
the boss and employing family members, because the lines are not always so clear.
LOOKING TOWARD THE FUTURE, WHAT ARE YOU HOPING TO ACCOMPLISH WITH MEDAWAR JEWELERS? Christina Medawar: On the horizon, there will be a lot more custom work, including house-made lines from Jon-Pierre and my dad. They will actually be in the jeweler’s bench working on the pieces that we as a family have created. You’ll see a lot of
that in the coming years. We have a lot of great ideas for our five locations we’re excited to be working on in 2020. Stefanie Pohl earned a bachelors degree in English and creative writing from Michigan State University and a masters degree in writing and Publishing from DePaul University. She is currently a freelance writer raising her two young daughters with her Spartan sweetheart. Find her musings about motherhood and more on her blog, www.mostefinitely.com. Stefanie has been spelling out her name since 1985.
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Catrine Medawar: Some of the challenges are that while you love your family, sometimes things are a little tense at work and it can carry on to the family relationship. It’s difficult sometimes to be La
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Behind the Scenes
HOW TO START A NONPROFIT
Tips, tricks and more for the aspiring do-gooder BY LAUREN FARHAT
So, you want to know if starting a nonprofit is right for you. In your gut, you can feel the passion you embody toward making a greater impact in your community. You recognize that the nonprofit world can be a tough feat, but your desire to do good and share it with others is too resilient. You know you have a worthwhile mission, a dedication to that mission and a team of like-minded supporters who are equally committed to those same beliefs. Your heart carries faith in all the greatness you could accomplish, but you find yourself timid and uncertain about how to take your motivations to the next level. The good news is that in having a unique mission, a strong dedication and a group of compatible supporters, you’ve already taken your first step — maybe without even knowing it. Bob Hoffman, founder of ePIFanyNow, shares about the accidental start of his nonprofit, and how sometimes all it takes is a little heart and soul to get things off the ground and running. “I just started organizing these ‘pass it forward’ events once a month,” said Hoffman, “People would come and share their stories about positive changes they’ve made within their communities, and it became a huge hit. As I started hosting more of these events, venues were requesting a nonprofit number from me to rent the spaces. We didn’t have one at the time, so I figured if we wanted to keep up what we were doing, we better start a nonprofit.” 30
At ePIFanyNow, the mission is to create a revolution of positive and transformational experiences through expediential acts of kindness. While Hoffman agrees that starting his own nonprofit was a lot of work, a lot of dedication and much more labor-intensive than ever anticipated, it gave him a sense of peace and purpose. “The world can be negative, and it can be hard,” Hoffman noted. “But when you’re on the right path, and doing what you love, the world will send signs to remind you that you’re exactly where you should be.” In taking a small concept by storm, such as simply sharing a smile with others, and reforming it into something much bigger, Hoffman has been able to do wonders for the Lansing community, and stay “exactly where he should be,” for the past 10 years. For people like Hoffman, nonprofit difficulties truly begin presenting themselves when the utilization of heart and soul only goes so far. As a nonprofit begins progressing and attempting to maintain itself, the need for finances, resources and structure becomes much greater. Nonprofit Network Executive Director Regina Pinney said, “My first question to someone looking to start their own nonprofit is always, give me a clear why as to how your mission is different from others.” Pinney continued, “In the United States, we have over 1.5 million nonprofit organizations, and 50,000 in the state of Michigan. People don’t realize the
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sheer number of organizations out there, and the shortage of generous people who have enough disposable income to sustain them.” The key for success in nonprofit creation truly relies on an individual’s solidification of the “why you” statement. Building this important foundation will not only bring purpose to your efforts, but to all the outsiders looking in to help — from funding to volunteerism. Seek out similar nonprofits who are experiencing success, and look at how and why they’re funded. Consider if their strategy is best for you to mirror, or if it can be done differently and better. Be certain to ask a lot of questions, use your resources, plan strategically and don’t be keen on moving too quickly. As they say, nothing good comes easy. When it comes to transforming your community, the results are worth the wait. For more information on how to start a nonprofit, visit: nonprofitnetwork.org To learn more about ePIFanyNow, visit: epifanynow.org. Lauren Farhat is a graduate of Michigan State University with a background in creative writing. Farhat works for a non-profit in Chicago while continuing her love for writing through freelancing. In her spare time, she enjoys being a foodie and exploring all of the great restaurants the Windy City has to offer.
Behind the Scenes
Photo provided by Tim Dilts Hoffman speaks at his annual ePIFanyNow awards
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Brookside Plaza 707 Brookside Dr Lansing, MI
Jeff Shapiro 11,920+ SF
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3902 S. Canal Rd Lansing, MI
Ryan Shapiro and Gino Baldino 23,000+ SF
Nick Vlahakis 43 acres
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NOTABLE NEWS
GREATER LANSING CVB HIRES KROLL AS SALES MANAGER
The Greater Lansing Convention and Visitor’s Bureau announced they have hired Hannah Kroll as sales manager. Kroll comes to the GLCVB from the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Hannah Kroll Center, where she performed three different roles over the last eight years. Kroll holds a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management from Central Michigan University and is an active member with the Michigan Society of Association Executives and the Society of Government Meeting Planners. Hannah’s role with the GLCVB will include growing the meeting and events market within Michigan State University as well as generating meetings for businesses with the regional and national associations market. “Continued growth of our relationships within MSU is an important part of the future plans of our organization,” said Jack Schripsema,
president and CEO of the GLCVB. “We are confident that Hannah’s experience and valuable community relationships will make her a perfect fit for this key role.”
LAFCU SIGNALS IMPORTANCE OF ENTERPRISE LIAISON WITH NEW POSITION
Jamell Williams has been tapped for the LAFCU’s newly created enterprise liaison position. Williams will develop, implement and manage various corporate initiatives that Jamell Williams strengthen LAFCU, achieve superior member service and serve to live LAFCU’s philosophy, Your Credit Union for Life. The position is in the professional services division, with dual reporting to the department’s director, Ryan Larson, and LAFCU CEO Pat Spyke. “This new position will allow LAFCU to respond with agility to organizational change in support of member-focused solutions,” said Spyke. “Jamell brings an extensive understanding
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of LAFCU and how it operates. He also has proven interpersonal and leadership skills, all of which will serve him and LAFCU well.” Williams, of East Lansing, has nearly 17 years of experience in the financial industry, including six years with LAFCU. He has worked in member service at the LAFCU West Lansing Branch, most recently serving as manager. He recently received a leadership award from the Michigan Credit Union League & Affiliates in recognition of his commitment to self-improvement.
TERRY NAMED MANAGER AT MANER COSTERISAN
Monica Jane Terry has been promoted to manager in Maner Costerisan’s Lansing office’s audit department. Terry joined the firm as an associate four years ago, and Maner Costerisan leadership said her latest promotion is a result of an impressive work ethic and commitment to the industry and organization. Keith Pfeifle, principal, said Terry is a rising star at Maner Costerisan and has quickly made a name for herself since joining the certified public accounting and business and technology advisory firm as an associate four years ago. “We love having people who are so self-directed and invested in both our organization and the industry,” said Pfeifle “Terry’s promotion is well-deserved, and we look forward to seeing where she goes from here.” After graduating from Corunna High School, Terry attended Saginaw Valley State University, completing her bachelor’s degree in professional accountancy in 2015. She joined the team at Maner Costerisan shortly after graduation. Terry is a licensed certified public accountant as well as a member of the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Saginaw Valley State University Alumni Association. She lives with her fiancé in Potterville, where she enjoys spending her nonwork hours reading, playing with her dogs and spending time with her family.
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G R E AT E R L A N S I N G B U S I N E S S M O N T H LY
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FEBRUARY 2020
Jack C. Davis
Jack C. Davis, and Loomis, Ewert, Parsley, Davis & Gotting PC in Lansing, have been named the “Recommended Attorney & Firm in Michigan for 2020” by “The
NOTABLE NEWS
Corporate Lawyers, the premier guide to the nation’s leading corporate attorneys.” As part of the firm’s business transactions, real estate, business entities and tax law departments, Davis manages a large client base, providing expert legal counsel to business clients. He has served on several international delegations to advise government leaders on trade and international tax matters for the development of a free market economy. An alumnus of Harvard Law School, Davis is listed in the 2018 edition of “Best Lawyers in America,” as well as the 2018 edition of “Preeminent Lawyers,” maintaining that rating for over 25 years; and has been listed in Super Lawyers, Lawyers of Distinction, Leading Lawyers and Top Lawyers. He recently received the Lexis/Nexis MartindaleHubbell AV Peer Review Rated for Ethical Standards and Legal Ability Award.
accountants and business and technology advisors. He conducts affordable housing audits and specializes in providing outsourced chief financial officer and controller services to businesses, governments and not-for-profit organizations. In addition, Allen provides valuation expertise and abilities to closely held businesses looking to buy, sell or gift ownership.
given presentations for the MICPA as well as the Maner Solutions Conference. He and his wife live in Grand Ledge with their two sons. In his free time, Allen enjoys backpacking and world travel, and his journeys have included whitewater rafting in the Zambezi River near Victoria Falls in Africa.
Allen is a member of the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He has
NAI Mid-Michigan announced they ended 2019 on a high note, including many sales and leases for the month of December. Recent
TRANSACTION HIGHLIGHTS FOR NAI MID-MICHIGAN
Davis, who was honored in 2014 with the Leo A. Farhat Outstanding Attorney Award by the Ingham County Bar Association, was associated with Kirkland & Ellis in Chicago before joining the Loomis Law Firm in 1966. The Loomis Law Firm has positioned itself on its commitment to providing expert, innovative and cost-effective solutions to complex legal problems. They have served a wide range of Michigan businesses for the past 65 years, from startups to Fortune 500 companies, with their counsel to help navigate the challenges of an ever-changing legal, regulatory and business environment.
MANER COSTERISAN NAMES NEW PARTNER
Maner Costerisan announced that Jeffrey P. Allen has been named as a new partner for the firm. Allen has worked for the firm for 11 years in the audit, accounting and outsourced solutions department. Allen said his recent promotion and rewarding career at Maner Costerisan came from a chance job shadow when he was 16 years old and exploring possible career paths and weighing the decision to go into finance or accounting. Allen’s father knew an engineer at Parker Hannifin Corp. who arranged the job shadow with a plant controller, and Allen said the job shadow laid the foundation for his current career.
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“The controller convinced me that accounting was a language and that I could always go into finance with an accounting degree, but I couldn’t go into accounting with a finance degree,” he said. Now 33, Allen has grown his career working with Maner Costerisan’s certified public
Call 517-339-6300 for the Meridian Advantage or visit themeridianadvantage.net for more information.
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NOTABLE NEWS
NAI Mid-Michigan sales and leases include:
represented the landlord in the transaction.
NAI Mid-Michigan has sold 1159 and 1229 S. Pennsylvania Ave in Lansing to Emterra Environmental USA. Dave Robinson represented the seller in the transaction.
NAI Mid-Michigan sold the Onondaga Post Office building at 5555 Oak St., and the Onondaga building at 428 N. Cedar St. in Lansing. Steve Slater represented the seller in the transaction.
NAI Mid-Michigan sold Brookside Plaza, a 24,176-Square-foot retail strip center facing West Saginaw Street on Brookside Drive in Lansing’s west submarket. John Starkey represented the seller in the transaction and NAI Mid-Michigan will continue to manage and lease the property for the new owner.
Wright and Filippis Inc. has entered a longterm lease at The Lofts at 329 S. Washington Square in Lansing. NAI Mid-Michigan’s Jim Vlahakis and Slater represented owner, Gillespie Group, in the transaction.
NAI Mid-Michigan sold 1141 N. Pine St. that was formerly part of the School for the Blind campus located north of downtown Lansing. Steve Slater represented the Ingham County Land Bank in the sale of the property.
NAI Mid-Michigan sold more than 62 acres of land on East Five Point Highway and Cochran Road in Charlotte. Robinson represented the seller in the transaction.
PECKHAM NAMES NEW PRESIDENT AND CEO
D&D Bicycle Service Inc. has entered a long-term lease for 4,750 square feet at Brookfield Plaza at the corner of Grand River Ave. and Hagadorn Road in East Lansing. NAI Mid-Michigan’s Ed Weaver represented the landlord in the transaction. Bread Bites, a Mediterranean Bakery, has entered a long-term lease for 2,850 square feet at Central Park Place on Marsh Road. in Okemos. Weaver
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G R E AT E R L A N S I N G B U S I N E S S M O N T H LY
Jo Sinha
The Peckham board of directors named Jo Sinha the new Peckham Industries CEO. Sinha moved from her current position as chief operating officer to her
FEBRUARY 2020
appointment as CEO on Feb. 1, after the current CEO Mitch Tomlinson retires in January. “Jo brings more than 20 years of combined Peckham experience and has a unique understanding and insight into all that is involved in creating and establishing Peckham as an industry leader,” said Peckham board President Kathie Feldspauch. “We trust that Jo will continue to successfully lead this organization toward an exciting future with the same vigor, passion and purpose-driven mission that has been a part of the Peckham fabric for the last four decades.” Peckham has more than 3,000 employees, 11 locations, five social enterprises, and more than 25 vocational rehabilitation services and programs. Sinha has been with Peckham for more than two decades serving in a variety of leadership roles within the company, including project and grants manager, corporate vice president and, for the last five years, as chief operating officer. “I am honored to be chosen to lead Peckham into its future. Mitch has been a great mentor and nationally blazed a trail demonstrating what a modern community rehabilitation program can achieve,” said Sinha. “My vision is to build on those accomplishments embracing innovation, piloting new approaches, and defining clear
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upward mobility pathways for persons with disabilities and other barriers to employment.”
CAPITAL AREA HEALTH ALLIANCE HEALTH EQUITY FORUM ON THE IMPACT OF RACISM ON HEALTH
The Capital Area Health Alliance hosted a forum on health equity Dec. 13. The purpose of the forum was to explore the impact of racism on health, what racial healing looks like, and how we achieve both health equity and healing. More than 120 people from health systems, public health, governmental, community and faith-based organizations were in attendance. Dr. Gail Christopher gave the keynote address, RX Racial Healing: An Engagement Strategy for Eliminating Health Inequities. Christopher is a nationally renowned speaker and an awardwinning change agent widely recognized for designing holistic strategies for social change. She is also the executive director of Nation Collaborative for Health Equity. She designed the Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation (TRHT) process underway in Greater Lansing. TRHT is a comprehensive, national and community-based process to bring about transformational and sustainable change, and to
address the historic and contemporary effects of racism. In Lansing, TRHT is engaging community members to focus on racial healing through the TRHT framework consisting of five areas: narrative change, racial healing and relationship building, beyond separation, law and economy.
GORCHOW NAMED GONGWER EXECUTIVE EDITOR AND PUBLISHER
Gongwer News Service Michigan has named East Lansing resident Zachary Gorchow executive editor and publisher. Gorchow, editor of Gongwer's Michigan Report since 2009, succeeds John Lindstrom, who retired Dec. 31 after 37 years with the company. In his new role, Gorchow will manage Gongwer's Michigan operations and develop new services while still playing a role in the company's news coverage and leading Gongwer's reporting on the governor's office.
LOCAL LEADER ELECTED TO HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF MICHIGAN BOARD OF DIRECTORS The Habitat for Humanity of Michigan board of directors voted unanimously to
elect Rodney Cole Jr. to the board. Cole is director of state government affairs for DTE Energy and also serves on the board of directors for the American Association for Blacks in Energy (Michigan), Black Caucus Foundation of Michigan, Connect Detroit, Midnight Golf and the Wayne State University Press board of visitors. Cole serves as a member of Teen Hype’s advisory board and is co-chair of the Children’s Trust Fund of Michigan’s advisory committee. “Habitat for Humanity is far more than building homes,” said Sandra Pearson, president and CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Michigan. “Our No. 1 priority is to advocate for quality housing for all that is achieved within limited family budgets. Rodney has the skills, experience and passion to help us put a voice to the needs of Michiganders, both in the realm of housing people can afford and in achieving energy efficiencies to keep utility costs down, which means money for other important household needs. We look forward to working with Rodney and building up our DTE partnership.”
ANDREWS HOOPER PAVLIK PLC ANNOUNCES MERGER WITH SOUTHFIELD FIRM, GEORGE W. SMITH & CO., P.C.
MEET LIKE A LOCAL
The GLCVB’s role is to market the Capital Region as a travel destination and our vision is to inspire visitors and residents alike to love Lansing as much as we do. We understand what makes this community great. Work with us to host your next meeting or event and together we can grow the local economy while showcasing our hometown pride. Contact us today!
LANSING.org (517) 487-0077 #LOVELANSING
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NOTABLE NEWS
The merger between Andrews Hooper Pavlik PLC and George W. Smith & Company, P.C. went into effect on the first of the year. “The merger with George W. Smith & Co., P.C. is a win-win for both firms and our clients,” said AHP Managing Partner William J. Mulders Jr., “AHP has been looking to expand our geographic footprint in southeast Michigan for some time. We have known the firm a long time and the firm is well-respected with a client service philosophy that is very similar to AHP’s. This addition will expand our services in Southeast Michigan.” The Southfield-based George W. Smith & Co., P.C. is a one office certified public accounting firm. “I worked with several AHP partners when I began my career in Lansing. I am confident in the knowledge that we will be able to continue providing quality services to our clients at the level they have come to expect from us, and now will be able to offer a broader array of services,” said George W. Smith IV, shareholder of George W. Smith & Co., P.C.
MCLAREN GREATER LANSING PURCHASES MAJORITY STAKE IN LOCAL SURGERY CENTERS
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McLaren Greater Lansing is now the majority stakeholder for Lansing Genesis Surgery Centers with two existing convenient locations on Lake Lansing and Jolly Road, offering even more access to care for patients across mid-Michigan. “McLaren continues to expand our services to our community in new and exciting ways,” said Kirk Ray, McLaren Greater Lansing president and CEO. “This purchase adds to our constantly growing partnerships with community physicians and furthers our mission to be the best value in health care as defined by quality outcomes and cost." These centers and this partnership will address the need for increased access to outpatient procedure centers for the patients with less complex cases, helping reduce the costs of care for McLaren patients, he added. “We look forward to working with our physician partners in continuing to offer safe and efficient care in an ambulatory setting,” said John Patterson, McLaren Greater Lansing representative for the Lansing and Genesis Surgery Centers boards. “McLaren Greater Lansing strives to provide a full continuum of services and sites to provide the best care to our community.”
G R E AT E R L A N S I N G B U S I N E S S M O N T H LY
FEBRUARY 2020
NEW DEVELOPMENT LAUNCHES TO HELP REVITALIZE SOUTH LANSING Ferguson Development Team and community partners have purchased the vacant property of the former elementary school of Malcolm X from Landbank. “This project will utilize a prominent location in southwest Lansing with a rich history and a proud background of strong community involvement,” stated Joel Ferguson. “It will stimulate the surrounding community and improve the quality of life and help to build a strong local economy.” The team’s plan includes a medical facility in which they will be partnering with local health care providers. There will also be a one-story community building with a cafe plus retail and residential space. “I am very excited about this proposal, which will be transformational for southwest Lansing,” said Mayor Andy Schor. “This will provide muchneeded medical care where services are currently lacking and it will create a new building and facility on a crucial corridor in southwest Lansing. I am excited to see this progress and to have it open for the residents in southwest Lansing.” Have notable news to share? Email press releases or details to info@lansingbusinessnews.com.
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BREWING BETTER BUSINESS Be an active member of Lansing’s dynamic business community. Meet people from diverse industries to add to your network, reconnect with friends and find local resources. Join us for Connections and Coffee presented by the Greater Lansing Business Monthly and the Capital Region International Airport.
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Trusted Commercial Real Estate Services.
Former Corporate Headquarters Building available in downtown Lansing with on-site parking For Sale / 415 W Kalamazoo & 400 S Walnut, Lansing
Features
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