Connect with KB

Joining KB today is a a great family friend and an honorary son, David Kaye. David proudly represents Mid-Michigan as one the biggest online Poker players and streamers in the U.S. and he really ignited his status when he signed as a brand ambassador with PokerStars in 2022!

KB connects with Nikki Salander, Experience Director at Flora Cannabis Co - where the cannabis retail experience is being taken to a whole new level with ambiance, a drive-thru, and outstanding customer service!

Since 1988, Martin Commercial Properties has produced comprehensive market insights for the Greater Lansing Area detailing local office, retail and industrial statistics, major transactions, industry trends and market forecasts. The company has been a hallmark of commercial real estate for over 60 years and joining KB to share insights on the early 2023 market are their Senior Vice Presidents, Tom Jamieson and Chris Miller!

KB connects with David Gregory, CEO of Bullrush Sports and former multi-client lobbyist, who left the world of politics to become a NFL/NIL Agent and Sport and Entertainment Attorney. He's jumping right in as things get brewing in the world of NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) for college and high school athletes.

KB connects with Alisha Meneely, Government and Community Relations Coordinator for the Michigan Child Protection Registry, who's committed to being on the frontline to protect kids from adult-themed content on phones, tablets or other electronic devices and works with parents and schools all over Michigan to educate and safeguard against predators.

KB connects with Lisa Posthumus Lyon who is part of a family that believes strongly in public service. She served as a State Representative in the Michigan Legisltature from 2011-2016, was the Lt. Gov candidate in the 2018 Michigan Gubernatorial election, she has been Vice President of Government Relations for the Grand Rapids Association of Realtors, and is now serving as the Kent County Clerk. She is a Mom of four, lives and breathes Lowell sports, and is dedicating her career to promoting West Michigan!

KB connects with Sean Williams, Superintendent of the Eaton RESA to share details about a new program they are launching in partnership with the Lansing's Capital Region International Airport (LAN), Crosswinds Aviation and MSU Federal Credit Union. The RESA (Regional Education Service Agency) provides wonderful opportunities to young people interested in real world experience and setting them on a path to success.

KB connects with Dale Grogan, Managing Partner for Grand Angels, who has been a friend of KB's for over 40 years, as they were high school classmates together at Seminole High in Seminole, Florida!

KB connects with Cleamon Moorer Jr. who founded the non-profit "Eye Care For Detroit" to provide low-cost, high-quality eye care access for home-bound Detroiters. In collaboration with international company, Eyeglasses.com, their goal is to eliminate barriers to preventative eye diseases and provide vision resources to those most in need.

KB connects with Stacie Behler, the recently appointed Vice President and Chief Public Affairs Officer for Grand Valley State University, where she brings a wealth of talent and experience to advance the interest of the University and it's student population!

KB connects with Sarah Jennings of Maner Costerisan where she wears many hats for the full-service accounting and consulting firm - working as principal in the accounting and outsourced solutions department while also leading the firm's innovation and community engagement initiatives!

KB connects with Fred Schaible - a Western Michigan graduate serving his alma mater as the Assistant VP of Government Relations - working with federal, state and local officials on the interests of Bronco Nation!

KB connects with Rommel Vega, CEO of Holo Footwear, who recently moved his sustainable outdoor footwear company from Portland Oregon to downtown Grand Rapids … noting that "West Michigan is a fantastic environment because of its robust outdoor recreation assets, strong talent pool, and attractive business environment.”

Kristin connects with Leah Robinson who is directing advocacy and legislative priorities for the Michigan Chamber of Commerce. She is entrenched in serious tax issues, candidate endorsements and has taken on a new role in leading the Michigan ATHENA programming that highlights ways to promote and enhance issues women face in the workplace!

Kristin connects with Dom Choma, a Haslett-bred professional poker player, who just returned from the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas where he finished 216 out of over 8000 entrees. He's taking this job/career very seriously and is clearly putting himself on the national scene and being recognized for his discipline and talent!

Kristin connects with her daughter, Brinn Beltzer, who has made her life so incredibly rewarding, entertaining, adventurous, and so full of love. She is fierce, emotionally intelligent, a go-getter, smart as a whip, and one of the most decent people on this planet!

Kristin connects with Michael Van Denend, Executive Director of the The World Affairs Council of West Michigan. “The Council's mission is to empower the people and organizations of West Michigan to engage thoughtfully with the world. The organization's motto is ‘To change the world, one must know the world.' To meet its mission, the Council sponsors 40-50 non-partisan programs that engage members with current global and foreign policy issues.”

Kristin connects with Taylor Kulju and Annah Duffey from the Michigan Chamber of Commerce who are among the many young professionals navigating this ever-changing workplace. They are both sharing their talents with the Chamber and know that the key to supporting business is tacking big and small issues and being a problem solver.

Kristin connects with Kobe Rochester and Noel Garcia of the Wilson Talent Center at Ingham ISD where they are serving as student and instructor as well as mentor and mentee. The ISD is providing wonderful opportunities to young people interested in real world experience and setting them on a path to success!

Kristin connects with Zack Armstrong, Owner of Allied Integrated Wealth, who's a long time friend that started his own wealth management business two years ago in the height of the pandemic. With offices in Lansing and Grand Rapids, Zack is building Allied Integrated Wealth into a powerhouse and is showing young professionals that leaders come in all ages!

Kristin connects with Amy Loepp and Suzanne Greenberg who are gearing up for the Children's Trust Fund's 20th Anniversary Pam Posthumus Signature Auction Event on May 17th. The Trust Fund is an incredible organization and it's very exciting to talk about their progress!

Kristin connects with Kurt Berryman, the Executive Director of the Michigan AutoDealers Association, who's been one of Lansing's top lobbyist for years and has built his career by having an incredible sense of humor and an understanding of who he is and his proud authenticity.

Kristin connects with Gina Thorsen, President of Stormy Kromer - based in Ironwood, MI (Upper Peninsula). She has established herself as the next generation of leadership for her family owned business, making Stormy Kromer hats and apparel all the rage from babies to those closing in on 100!

Kristin connects with Pete Kramer, Owner/CEO of Kramer Management Group, who has his hands in on some major economic development projects in the Lansing region - most notably the new McLaren Hospital slated to open in the next few months!

KB connects with Monica Steimle-App, Executive Vice President of Real Estate Development for Rockford Construction. She has established an incredible reputation for building a strong community, fostering hospitality and actively serving the greater Grand Rapids and West Michigan region with a can-do attitude!

Kristin connects with Michelle Detweiler, who's leading PARC, an organization in St. Petersburg, Florida that has been committed to serving clients with developmental disabilities for over 60 years! She understands both the personal and professional aspects of her incredible job and we are SO glad she was able to join us; enjoy!

KB connects with Tina Kozak, CEO of the Detroit-based PR firm FRANCO. She has years of experience as a trusted advisor to her clients and her team, and her mission is to inspire values that are important for success in business and in life!

Composites One offers all of the necessary technical resources and products for the manufacturer on a variety of composites for aerospace and aircraft components. An AS9120 certified supplier, Composites One provides a unique partnership to Aerospace composite part manufacturers by significantly reducing lead-times for critical raw materials and process consumables. Aerospace customers experience an enhanced level of dependability and responsiveness that provides avenues to efficiently solve problems and grow their business. Based in Illinois, Composites One has over 44 locations and is the largest distributor of composites materials in North America.In this episode, KB connects with Lisa Ewald, Director of Aerospace for Composites One!

Kristin connects with Lisa Corless, President and CEO of AF Group, who first joined "Connect with KB" in July 2019 and is back to discuss life, leadership, mental health, and more!

KB connects with Angela Minicuci and Roger Martin who are part of the powerful team at Martin Waymire, a public relations and strategic communications firm headquartered in Lansing. They are here to talk about passing the torch of ownership and what to expect as the firm moves forward!

Kristin connects with Randy Thelen, President/CEO of The Right Place, who's orchestrating economic development initiatives that are making West Michigan one of the state's most attractive places to work and live!

Kristin connects with Lucinda Wright, Co-Founder/CEO of Cask & Kettle, who's created a a ready to brew, one-shot, hard coffee cocktail that comes in the form of a pod - the perfect combination as we head into the winter holidays!

KB connects with Michelle Traill Crosser, Director of Sales and Marketing at Burcham Hills, to talk about their $31 million expansion and how it will impact the community!

KB connects with Stephanie Young, a young professional who's steering signature events as the Events Coordinator for the Michigan Chamber and providing members with educational opportunities, networking, and ways to get their company brand exposure statewide!

Kristin connects with Theresa Dubiel, Senior Vice President for Member Experience and Business Development at Lake Trust Credit Union. She is actively engaged in the community and enjoys numerous relationships in Greater Lansing!

Kristin connects with Jamie Lightner, Life Coach and Founder of Flawless Imperfections, who's dedicating herself to helping people accept and believe in themselves while also realizing it is perfect not to be perfect!

Kristin connects with Craig Makens, VP of Business Development & Partnerships at ThermoAnalytics, Inc.ThermoAnalytics is an employee-owned company with its headquarters in Michigan's scenic Upper Peninsula. They are a leading developer of thermal, fluid-flow, and infrared modeling software. ThermoAnalytics software products and services help engineers in organizations worldwide to optimize product concepts early in the design process, enabling them to significantly improve product quality while reducing product development time and cost. This software is used in many industries including aerospace, automotive, architecture, electronics, environmental, manufacturing, and defense applications!

Kristin connects with Ryan Hundt, CEO of The Michigan Works! Association, which provides services and support to Michigan's workforce development system through advocacy, education and collaboration, they know the key to advancing prosperity in Michigan is to build a skilled workforce!

Kristin connects with the Vice President of Commercial Lending at Mercantile Bank, Mark Conn. Mark has always committed himself to being there for his customers and prides himself on the loyalty they show on giving him repeat business which makes it no surprise that he was a major part of the flourish of activity to help businesses stay afloat during the pandemic!

The State of the Lansing Region Report unveils core strengths and growth opportunities and, in this episode, Kristin connects with Tim Daman, President/CEO of the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce and Brent Forsberg, President of T.A. Forsberg to discuss it all and much more!

Kristin connects with Nicole DeMarco Wiseman who is making moves in the commercial real estate business and recently joined the team at Colliers. As a young professional she is willing to make calculating steps to advance her career and she is excited about this new opportunity!

As the Michigan Chamber's Marketing and Communications Executive, John Zimmerman is managing a constant flow of information regarding advocacy, engagement, social media and managing brand awareness for Chamber members. KB connects with him to discuss all that and more!

Kristin connects with Heather Shawa, CFO for the Lansing Board of Water and Light. She knows her numbers, how to engage the community on multiple levels, and how to keep an eye on the BWL's strategic plan and what it hopes to accomplish in the future!

Kristin connects with Jon Horford, the Founder of Blueprint Athletes, a program to help build the skillset for those aspiring to play high school, collegiate and professional basketball. He is also an entrepreneur and a thought leader at heart and in this episode, we explore all that and more!

Kristin connects with Terry Terry; an artist, entrepreneur, instructional designer, media producer, and creator of transformational experiences! As the President of Message Makers, him and his team have helped businesses in Greater Lansing go virtual and adapt in-person events to a digital platform over this past year.

KB connects with Amanda Toy and David Brownback of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce who are providing tons of opportunity at the Chamber as they engage members and create business value that exceeds expectations!

Kristin connects with Dan Rozycki, Director of Sales for Speedrack headquartered in Sparta, Michigan. The company is one of the leading suppliers of pallet racking and storage systems in the country and their motto is “Difference by Design.”

In this episode, KB connects with Nicole Noll Williams, who brings a wealth of experience and depth to her role as the new CEO of the Capital Region International Airport!

KB connects with John Sellek, who's built a reputation for networking with all sides of the political divide as CEO of Harbor Strategic Public Affairs, to learn how social media has impacted politics, who he believes could be a potential Republican Candidate to challenge the Govenor in 2022, and much more!

KB connects with Jack Ebling, host of "The Drive with Jack," who's made a career out of being a sports expert, researcher, promoter and connector. He’s interviewed those on the national scene and those still living their high school dreams.In part 2 of this conversation, Jack shares some of greatest moments in his career, his favorite interviews he's done, and the story of how he met Muhammad Ali!

KB connects with Jack Ebling, host of "The Drive with Jack," who's made a career out of being a sports expert, researcher, promoter and connector. He’s interviewed those on the national scene and those still living their high school dreams.In part 1 of this conversation, Jack shares how he came to be a sports media figure, the adjustments he's made as a radio broadcaster during the pandemic, and much more!