Michigan Reimagined

Healthcare is a hotly discussed topic. There's a new practice in mid-Michigan whose tagline is “Supporting Health, Not Just Treating Disease”. Joining Chris to discuss the techniques and their refreshing attitude is the Founder of Wellness Alternatives in Okemos, Dr. Janet Eng!

The pandemic disrupted life in many ways, and there are entities still measuring the recovery of various industries. Choose Lansing recently held its annual meeting and shared the 2024 numbers for hospitality, conventions, and tourism. Joining Chris to share the findings and discuss the near-term Lansing momentum is President and CEO of Choose Lansing, Julie Pinkston!

In July 2021 we introduced a concept being discussed called Strikeout Baseball. A few years - and lots of hard work later - the team is back to announce the grand opening. Joining Chris to discuss the path, and the future, is the Founder of Strikeout Baseball - Jeff Lazaros, Community Ambassador & Board Member - Ashlee Willis and Mayor of Lansing, Andy Schor!

With healthcare costs rising and the overall health of Americans declining, most are searching for simple and honest ways to stay healthy and avoid disease. Joining to share his health & wellness small business story is the owner of Lansing's Moss Man Herbs, Darian Draper.

Home ownership - and deciding when and how to take the plunge - can be complicated. You need an expert to help you navigate the trends and strategies. Joining to share some thought-starters is the owner of Keller Williams - Advantage in Team, Chris Silker.

Michigan is doubling down on its efforts to create a bright future for its residents. There are a lot of organizations working to put our youth in the best possible position to thrive. One organization in these crosshairs is Junior Achievement - a name you may be familiar with, but you may not know who they are and how they work. Joining Chris is the Senior District Director of the Junior Achievement of Mid Michigan, Susan ODell-Shilton.

Healthcare has historically been an important topic. But recently - navigating our way out of a global pandemic, the financial well being of healthcare providers, and doctor & nurse burnout are common news topics. Joining to talk about a new partnership between a university and a century-old health care system are Frank Urban, Director of Venture Creation at Spartan Innovation - MSU Research Foundation and Lisa Prasad, Vice President & Chief Innovation Officer for Henry Ford Heath.

Renewable energy and reducing waste are hot topics for Michigan, and pretty much everyone these days. Joining Chris to discuss their work in this space, their Grand Rapids facility, and an upcoming event, is the Founder and CEO of Woodchuck.ai and best selling author of “Unleashing Abundant Energy”, Todd Thomas.

We've talked regularly about the housing needs in Michigan, but what about the true affordability of housing and how it drives economic growth. Joining Chris to talk about the effects of housing affordability is the President of TA Forsberg, Mr. Brent Forsberg!

We're on the cusp of the newest season of the award winning Capital City Film Festival! Here to share this year's details as we know them at this time - are Festival Event Director Emma Selby, Co-Program Director Jason Gabriel and President of the Board Samantha Le!

Michigan is a state that “makes stuff” - and we're hell bent to keep it that way. We have massive manufacturers, and we have many thriving small manufacturers as well. One resource available to them is through the Capital Area Manufacturing Council. Joining Chris to discuss their work, and an upcoming event, is Executive Director of CAMC, Cindy Kangas!

Outdoor recreation checks a lot of boxes when it comes to things that bring value to our lives. It drives our health and wellness, and it drives our economy. Joining Chris to discuss some new federal reporting - and what it means for Michigan - is the Vice President of Programs for the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, Chris Perkins, and the Executive Director of the Michigan's Outdoor Recreation Industry Office, Brad Garmon!

Healthcare is a hotly discussed topic. The news around their field is endless - and many ask, how do we balance affordability and truly drive wellness in our communities? Because it isn't happening. Joining Chris to share his unique perspective on the state of our healthcare system is the Founder & CEO of Health Bar, Nathan Baar!

Today's guest compares her work in community planning to road trips – successful journeys involve understanding the starting point, the destination, and how the route might be impacted by what we discover along the journey. Joining Chris to talk about her passion - and her firm's work in this space - is a Partner from Detroit-based civil engineering firm Giffels Webster, Jill Bahm!

The food service industry is notoriously difficult to navigate. Success is hard, and the pandemic made things even more challenging - not only due to temporary closures - but also the changed behavior of consumers. Joiniing Chris to discuss a platform built to assist restaurateurs is the Co-Founder and CEO of Bikky, Abhinav Kapur!

Michigan is a wonderful place to get outdoors. Whether it's exploring the great lakes, skiing, snowmobiling, hiking or ice fishing, we have plenty of ways to get moving. Michigan has an ecosystem to share the benefits of getting outside. Joining Chris to share the efforts of Michigan's Outdoor Recreation Industry Office is their Executive Director, Brad Garmon!

Men are told to “man up” and “tough it out”, while women are told to “hold their tongue.” It's evident men and women differ - and these gender differences surface all the more in mental health. Joining Chris to discuss her research targeting proper care for Gen Z men and women battling mental illness is psychology professor and the public health program director at Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Dr. Julie Yonker!

Lansing has produced a lot of talented people, and talented people are often lured away to chase their dreams elsewhere. Every now and then we get a star to return home. Joining Chris to share how he is giving back to his community is former basketball star, Jon Horford!

Artificial Intelligence is here, and here to stay. Many are tinkering with its abilities, but others are diving into the deep end to become experts and assist others with their journeys. Joining Chris to speak on his IT business and its AI evolution is the Founder of Super Web Pros, Jesse Flores!

Almost a year ago, I interviewed Jose Aste - the CEO and Founder of the Peruvian restaurant Tantay, who has evolved from test kitchen, to food truck, to its first brick-and-mortar location in Okemos. A medical emergency slowed their progress and has only recently opened to the public. Please enjoy this encore presentation of Chris's interview with Jose where they discuss his new, permanent location for Tantay.

There is very little as awesome as live music. I've done shows about Lansing's new Grewal Hall and the forthcoming Ovation performance space. Joining Chris to discuss how bands and spaces connect to allow great performances to happen in a wide variety of venues is the Founder of Angry Talent Entertainment, Dan Laird!

Housing, and the lack of volume and affordability, has been a topic of discussion throughout Michigan. Solutions require a wide variety of stakeholders. Joining Chris to share the story of TriTerra and the process of environmental due diligence, is their Director of Multi-Family housing, Shawn Shadley!

Regardless of what side of the aisle you sit on politically, I think we can all agree it's important to be as educated in civics as we can be. Fortunately there is a non-profit called the Michigan Center for Civic Education working tirelessly to create an informed citizenry here in Michigan. Joining Chris to share some details of their work is the Director of Outreach at the State Bar of Michigan and Board Member of the MCCE, Darin Day!

Climbing the ladder of success is a challenge for most, and becoming a CEO and being inducted to the Herstory Museum for the industry you operate within is a feat that is almost unimaginable. Joining Chris to discuss her path to success, is the President and CEO of Community Financial Credit Union, Tansley Sterns!

Lansing is in the process of getting a new downtown music and arts venue called The Ovation. There have been many organizations working together to make this a reality, and there have been recent breakthroughs bringing us closer to the finish line. Joining Chris to give us an update on this exciting attraction is the Director of the Lansing Public Media Center, Dominic Cochran!

The Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, or FRIB, at Michigan State University is one of many critical components driving the region's efforts to seek a Tech Hub designation from the Economic Development Administration. Joining Chris to discuss what that means and why it's important is the Director of the University Corporate Research Park, Jeff Smith!

Small business owners are highlighted on the show regularly. Most have found a path to sanity and success and we discuss what they've learned and share their secrets. Joining Chris is Owner & CEO of Michigan Creative, Brian Town, who has published a book, and a subsequent community of sorts,to share his learnings!

Food delivery has been a thing for a long time, and the advent of national brands like GrubHub, DoorDash and UberEats flourished during the pandemic. In this episode, we have a guest that has a unique spin on Delivery in greater Lansing - the Founder of Red Bike Delivery, Jeremy Hurt!

Many companies have philanthropic endeavors, and Maner Consterisan in mid-Michigan certainly does their part. Joining Chris to discuss how Maner functions as a successful business - and how they give back - is Maner Costerisan Principal, Sarah Jennings!

We discuss entrepreneurship and small business development regularly on this show. One area I've never covered is intellectual property. Inventors and innovators need to protect their inventions and processes. Joining Chris to share how that all works is Senior Attorney from Foster Swift Collins & Smith PC, Mr. Mikhail Murshak!

Whether you're moving into a new home, or deciding you want to stay where you are but make some improvements, home ownership can be a complicated endeavor. Joining Chris to discuss a new program where homeowners can learn tips and tricks on how to turn your house into a home is the Marketing Manager for Custom Built Design and Remodeling, Isabelle Braeutigam!

The Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP) recently introduced the TREK Small Business Support Hub. This comprehensive resource center is designed to support small businesses and entrepreneurs in Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham Counties. Joining Chris to explain the program is their Vice President of Small Business and Innovation, Harrison Leffel-Jones!

Purchasing a home is probably the most thrilling and frightening thing a person does in their lifetime. Understanding the process, trends, tricks and traps is intimidating so selecting a great realtor is critical. Someone Chris has gotten to know and trust is Chris Silker, from Keller Williams - Advantage in Team, and he is here to teach us some of what he knows!

 Accumulating and managing wealth is - and should be - an extremely complex strategic process. Going it alone is not recommended if you have goals you want to achieve. Joining Chris to share how to create a comprehensive wealth creation and management plan are members of the Waggoner Financial team, President Kiley Eory, Director of Investment & Planning Ankit Jalan, and Financial Advisor Associate Jordan Bowman.

Michigan's University Research Corridor is a leading national academic research cluster: fostering talent, academic research and economic revitalization in the state, and is created by an alliance of Michigan's three leading research institutions - Michigan State, University of Michigan, and Wayne State University. Joining Chris to discuss the work of the URC is its Executive Director, Dr. Britany Affolter-Caine!

Allison Spooner is an author who writes emotional fiction with a hint of sarcasm. She joins Chris to share her journey as a writer and her new forthcoming book titled: The Things We Cannot Change: A Story About The Ghosts Created by Addiction

We've had Jerry Norris from The Fledge in Lansing on the show a number of times, but in this episode we get to discuss a new endeavor which will greatly expand the educational opportunities of those engaged at the Fledge, the purchase of Urbandale Farms. Jerry is back to discuss this bold new step!

There is a lot of discussion about talent attraction and workforce preparation these days. Fortunately we have groups like the Michigan College Access Network, or MCAN, who are contributing in a big way. Joining Chris to discuss MCAN's work is their Executive Director, Ryan Fewins-Bliss!

Michigan has doubled-down on inbound population growth and accelerating talent development in an effort to attract & retain businesses and drive the state's overall vibrancy. Joining Chris to share the story of a passionate Mid-Michigan based effort are the Founder and CEO of Hundred Place Consulting, Samanth Harkins, and the Principle & Creative Director of Redhead Creative Consultancy, Jennifer Estill!

Whether you're an individual or a business owner, having a sound investment strategy is critical when it comes to meeting your financial goals - whatever they may be. Joining to discuss their proprietary stock selection strategy, called RFED, are members of the Waggoner Financial team - Founder, Eric Waggoner, Junior Portfolio Manager, Shanzer Khan, and Financial Planning Assistant, Mark Hu!

Entrepreneurship is a difficult path, but there are fantastic resources to help the process. Start Garden helps start-ups through its pitch competitions and coworking space located in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids. Joining Chris to share the story of Start Garden, and their upcoming installment of The 100 Pitch Competition is their Director of Community Relations, Laurie Supinski!

There's been a lot of prognostication and chatter about return to office protocols as the pandemic fades further away. Joining Chris to give us an updated perspective from the Office Furniture industry is the Vice President of Sales for MarxModa, Brian Johnson!

For those of us who live here, Michigan is a wonderful place to get outdoors. Whether it's the great lakes, skiing, hiking or ice fishing, we have plenty to feed our adventurous spirit. But did you know Michigan has a robust outdoor INDUSTRY business ecosystem? Joining Chris to share the efforts of Michigan's Outdoor Recreation Industry Office is their Executive Director, Brad Garmon!

Music festivals - highlighting multiple artists at a single event - are all the rage. Lansing's college radio station Impact 89FM referred to the last installment of the show we're about to discuss as “A collection of talent sought to destroy the boundaries of genre, to make a new statement on the beauty of local music, and to testify to the joy and benefits of artistic collaboration.” That intrigued Crhis enough to discuss the upcoming Amalgamation Project II with drummer and show promoter, Bryan Knickerbocker! 

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion have grown beyond human resources buzzwords and into major directional changes for business, non-profits, and higher education. Lansing Community College has announced and soon will unveil a formal and impressive nod to the Changemakers and Trailblazer of Mid-Michigan. Joining Chris to share the story is LCC Foundation Executive Director Cathy Zell, and LCC President, Steve Robinson!

We talk quite a bit here on Michigan Reimagined about small and medium business support. It's tough to find harder working and more passionate people than business owners, yet many spin their wheels and struggle to get the returns they feel they deserve. Joining Chris to discuss the services provided by Endurium Advisors are its Founding Partner, Eric Gerdes and their Automation Architect, Matt Downs!

There are several what I would call behind-the-scenes industries when it comes to the revitalization of Michigan. One is environmental consulting. One Lansing-area firm has been growing and winning awards. Joining Chris to share the story of TriTerra is the Director of Economic Development, Dave VanHaaren!

Building your company's brand to drive new business & awareness is one of the most important things an organization can do. If you're not good at doing this yourself, you hire an expert. Joining Chris to share the story and the services of Güd Marketing in Old Town Lansing is its Principal and President, Debbie Horak and the Strategic Planning Director, Jill Holden!

Michigan has deployed a tremendous amount of resources to change the world's narrative of Michigan for the better. One area of our state resources that has come under fire is the quality of our K-12 education system. Joining Chris to share some statistics, and what's being done to make Michigan a more credible developer of talent, is the Program Director for the School of Education at Calvin University, Erek Kooyman

The US microbrewery revolution is nearly 30 years old now, and Michigan is a nationally renowned “beer state”. Chris loves the experiences and the opportunities to hear the backstory of these artisans. Joining Chris to share the story of Sleepwalker Brewing in Lansing's REO Town is Owner and Brewer, Jeremy Sprague!

Chris loves getting to meet fantastic people and companies throughout Michigan, especially those who advocate for the Michigan brand. This episode's guest is a perfect example of Michigan passion. Joining Chris is photographer and emmy-award winning filmmaker Mr. Stephen McGee!