Testimonials SBAM Weekly Podcast

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. “It's a great networking tool, and it's a great networking organization and it's a great political advocacy organization.” Bob Spence is the executive vice president of Spence Brothers Construction. “Talk to a number of different entrepreneurs and small businesses from across the state and just talk to them about how they do business and their challenges, how they're dealing with things, it's been very valuable for me, in particular getting the entrepreneurial type perspective from some really small businesses, is kind of energizing for me. Because you know, we're a little bit larger and deal with different things than let's say a start up would. So it's to get that sort of diversity of thought and approaches -- I don't see anywhere else where I could get that other than SBAM.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. “Who else can I talk to who understands my daily struggles.” Kim Bode is the owner of 8THIRTYFOUR, an award winning communications strategy, event planning, social media, media relations and design firm based in Grand Rapids. “I joke and say it's almost a support group, but it's almost like going home. You see a lot of the same business owners, you're all there to support each other, you're there, we all give advice to each other freely. But then, SBAM staff being able to know what's going on, on the legislative side of things, and how that's going to affect my business, is incredibly important.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. “The Small Business Association is just really an asset to help small businesses become better businesses and learn from one another and in really embellish, you know, what you've learned and how I can take some of those best practices within my own organization.” Ginny Seyferth is the founder and president of nationally-known public relations and communications firm SeyferthPR in Grand Rapids. “I think it's the opportunity to have somebody looking out for small business from whether it's taxes or you know, workers comp issues. It's a resource. I think when we get too limited into what we do every day and we don't look at the bigger picture I think it's problematic.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. “SBAM within the state of Michigan, hands down, has developed the best level of content and leadership material and networking for me and without SBAM, I don't know that I would know where else to go get it.” Dave Moore is president of VP Demand Creation Services, founded 50 years ago in Traverse City. “The best thing SBAM has done for me in terms of delivering content, delivering knowledge, because at the top of every organization, there's a president/CEO, and it's very lonely. And you no longer have a mentor. Unless you formed a board of directors, you no longer have a boss. And so where do you go for those resources? SBAM has developed that for me.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. “It's an amazing opportunity to just speak to someone that's been there, and done that, to see that, you know, you're on the right path, and you're doing the right stuff.” Justin Caine is the co-owner of Good Fruit Video in mid-Michigan and he appreciates the opportunity the organization gives him for owner-to-owner interaction. “Being able to talk to someone and when you think you’re drowning, and you think you're doing a horrible job, and then you talk to someone and they say, oh no, you know, yeah, I feel the same way or blah, blah, blah, you know, I did this and this is how I do this.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. “For one thing, I really value the expertise of the people who are leading the organization.” Cynthia Kay is a past board chair of SBAM and owner/president of Cynthia Kay and Company, a full service media production and communications consulting company in Grand Rapids. “What I love about SBAM is that they understand the issues sometimes before we even know it's an issue as a business owner, they take a really even handed nonpartisan approach to what they look at what is good for small business, and they come back and they give you the pros and the cons of things.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. “There's so many wonderful things about it. But I think one of the highest value pieces for me is the involvement in the legislation and the communication that comes out of that.” Sarah Hall is the owner and president of the Griswold Group, a health insurance agency and employee benefits consulting firm based in Grand Rapids and a member of SBAM’s Leadership Council. “For any person, you know, living a busy life running a business, some of us are not as able to stay as closely on top of the changes and the needs. So just being able to be made aware of what's going on and then in addition to that, obviously, being advocated for as a whole it's it's really a wonderful thing.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. “The staff at of SBAM is phenomenal, world-class. Would put them up against any association or leadership team in the country.” Bonnie Alfonso is the President/CEO of Alfie Logo Gear for Work & Play in Traverse City and a past chair of the Small Business Association of Michigan. “The connections that they have helped me build through a peer network within the organization, the opportunities I've had to serve, and the people that I've met along the way have now become lifelong friends. And I so value the connections and the opportunities that I have to learn and grow from other business leaders across the state. And it is just been phenomenal.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. “The fellowship of something like SBAM is remarkable.” Bob Fish is co-founder of BIGGBY COFFEE and a past chair of the Small Business Association of Michigan. “As a board member, I was just exposed to other board members, and then broadly, members of SBAM. And, you know, when anybody can create, you know, the word I like to use is scaffolding. That is that there are people around you where you can share your ideas, and you can listen to their ideas, and you can simply listen to them, because you might hear something differently that can really influence your thinking and allow you to grow.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. “Oh, I think as SBAM is a remarkable organization.” Gary Kushner is CEO of Kushner & Company in Portage and a past chair of the Small Business Association of Michigan. “The biggest value I saw was that SBAM was nonpartisan, or I shouldn't say partisan, but only to small business. It was not a Democratic or Republican organization like others in Lansing. But what I found that that allowed them to do and allowed all of its members and myself included to do was provide input on both sides of the aisle. Didn't matter who was in the, you know, which party was represented in the governor's office or the House or Senate. Up in Lansing, we were able to represent small business, probably at the greatest level of any organization in the state. And so I saw SBAM as this remarkable entity now in its 50th year. I've been involved with them for probably 30, 40, for almost 35 years or longer, and just saw them as remarkably effective, open to ideas and helping improve the small business climate in the state of Michigan.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. Erick Stewart, CEO and President of Stewart Industries in Battle Creek, recently set up a Foreign Trade Zone division at his company. He credits his SBAM engagement with helping to give him the confidence to move forward. “The owner experience has really helped us, given me more clarity, in terms of being aggressive, to be the entrepreneur that I know that I am, and looking at opportunities like this.” Stewart says he ran the Foreign Trade Zone idea past one of his fellow SBAM Board members, Gina Thorsen of StormyKromer. “And you know, her endorsement means a lot to me, because we throw a lot of things around, and she's one of my favorite folks from the U.P. and around the state. But, you know, in her textile industry, they deal with a lot of foreign materials and things of that nature. And her input, in terms of what I was thinking about doing, was really important. So, you know, you got people like that, that are part of SBAM. And, you know, within their given discipline, they don't have to be in manufacturing, they just have to be in business. And you get to kind of toss things off of people, and have, as I said, a great peer-to-peer experience. And it gets you closer to, you know, making a decision that in the past, I would have probably had to do on my own.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. “Well, it goes back to the relationships.” Mike Busley and his wife Denise founded Grand Traverse Pie Company. “I mean, the opportunity to get together and talk about issues, not only listening to Brian and Rob and your team, but also all the great people that are members. And when you're sitting in a room, you know it's very hard to not have conversations that are in the group, is very willing to listen and to offer support. And then the relationships that might lead to I could point to many cases where folks that that I did not know are referred to me through SBAM meetings.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. “Focusing in on the mission, that is very important to me.” Christina Roehl is vice president of Gray Brigade and a past board member of the Small Business Association of Michigan. “And that's really what I've learned through osmosis with being involved with as spam and on the board. I noticed how everyone on that board and the people I’ve networked with a SBAM really focused in on what they want it to do. And the work here, there was that one mission that they wanted to get their business going, or whatever it is, they set their mind and their goals on. They have programs to help small businesses by the networking with other businesses, even if they're not similar businesses to yours. All businesses have the same problems and the same rewards as every other business. So that is where SBAM is very good. And it has evolved so much. And really anybody who joins SBAM. through osmosis you will learn from other business leaders.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. “SBAM has been truly a highlight in my life.” Frank Lopez is the founder and Chairman of Aztec Manufacturing Corporation, a tier-one supplier to the automotive industry, and a past member of the SBAM Board of Directors. “When I go to any meeting, or any seminar, I meet people that are engaged, and have the desires and and are looking at the future the way I do. So the past is just great. So I get energy, get energized when I associate with SBAM. A lot of organizations look at a different viewpoint but SBAM is very, very ahead of the game in terms of coming up with great items that drive those members to do better themselves. And I can see that every time I go to a meeting.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. Jerry Grubb is the co-owner (with his wife Rhonda) of Wee Discover Child Care and Enrichment Center in Waterford, and a past chair of the SBAM Board of Directors. One of the things he really values about his engagement is the way that SBAM gives him opportunities to connect with lawmakers, from state representatives to the governor. “It's great to call an office, it's great to be able to write a letter. But when you can talk to those people face-to-face and let them know we’re the small business people here in Michigan, we're the people who do a majority of the employment here in Michigan, this is what I think about that particular bill or this would really help if you did that -- those types of things -- the advocacy has been really strong for me.” Grubb also gets a lot out of participating in SBAM owner-to-owner activities. “When you go to the SBAM owner-to-owner meetings or the Leadership Council, you're talking to people who own a business who have the same problems as you would have and who might have solutions you can get. So it's very helpful to me to be able to talk to other business owners about solutions, problems, techniques, ideas that they use.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. Cam Gnass is the owner of brand positioning firm Traction in Lansing and a past member of the SBAM Board of Directors. “This is just one of those opportunities and chances I found to meet some of the really great minds around our state, of people not only just running great small businesses, people that are running great small businesses that are interested in being involved on these other committees, are being on that board and help making a difference and being as insightful as we can about helping our businesses find their success. And that, to me, has been one of the most rewarding and kind of things I'm most grateful for.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. “SBAM is a terrific organization. There's so many things that SBAM does well that I appreciate. But I'd say the thing that I appreciate most is its true dedication to support the success of small business owners in the state.” Loch McCabe is the founder & CEO of Shepherd Advisors in Ann Arbor, and a past board member of SBAM. “It is focused on small business success. And you know, I may disagree with pathways to success. You know, I may have issues with SBAM policies around this or SBAM positions around this policy or that policy. But I have no doubt that SBAM as an organization is focused on the success of Shepherd Advisors, the success of our other clients. And that is, I think, one of the things that really makes SBAM special as an organization, as a nonprofit, you know, such a trade association or membership organization, who could be focused on many other things but turns out happens to be focused on enabling me and my peers to be as successful as we can.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. “It's the ability to meet with others, who are executives, small business owners, talk to them get to know them, and, you know, see how they run their business and learning from them.” David Fant is the owner of Market Mapping plus Inc. in Grand Rapids and served on the SBAM Board of Directors. “I find that the political role that SBAM plays in helping small business to make sure that there are laws in place that benefit us or that don't damage us or hurt us as small businesses is critical in this day and age. Legislators, it seems, tend to wander off and do what they want. And they need somebody looking over their shoulder. We need somebody looking over their shoulder to make sure that what they are doing isn't going to hurt small business.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. “We had a meeting recently, in Ann Arbor, and I was able to meet with other small business owners, and I think those things are the most important to me, just talking with other people who are sort of like minded, you know, and hearing how they go through some of the different challenges that they have.” That’s Toni Krowisz, president and CEO of Ann Arbor-based Barnes Information Technology Solutions and a VIP member of SBAM. “I do like, what I see, I like keeping abreast on some of the policy changes that are out there, are potential changes, so to speak, so that I can kind of be proactive myself with not only helping my efforts, but also efforts of other business owners that I'm supporting.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. “I'd say the best benefit is being in the know and hearing what's on the horizon that we can help be aware of and be prepared for as a small business person.” Barb Lezotte is the owner of Lezotte Miller Public Relations in Lansing. She is a past member of the SBAM board of directors, and she really values the way that organization helps her make a difference on public policy issues. “I always look forward to the Legislative Council meetings because you get an insider's view of the workings at the state capitol, and what challenges are facing the business community and trying to push legislation that's going to make for a better business climate, and how we can be helpful.” “I remember when I was first on the board, we had to fight the battle of the Services Tax, which would have had a huge detrimental effect on small businesses, especially in my industry, service industry, and many others that fall into that category. And it would have been detrimental to the economy. And that battle may come back again.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. Jennifer Jurgens, CEO/Founder of 1 Bold Step, is an SBAM VIP Member. “Really enjoyed the just general networking and camaraderie at the events --- going by myself and I won't be standing by myself so long. It's just been a combination of great connections, not only potential clients, but potential partners, and helping get some of these crazy small businesses up and up and running.” Jurgens also gets a lot of value from public policy engagement. “I have really enjoyed the connection to our legislators that I didn't realize would be a part of being part of SBAM, understanding how businesses are driving policies, and how policies impact businesses. Suddenly, I feel like I have a voice in some of the legislation that is, you know, on the docket that's going to affect how we how we run and if we're successful, really or not. So that's been huge.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. “I like the way that they are dedicated to the small business community, both politically and community wise.” That’s SBAM VIP Member Teresa Renaud, owner of Outsourced Sales Management Services LLC. “They have a number of fantastic events that I've attended throughout the last year. And from a networking perspective, it's been great to be able to meet other business owners meet other people that I might be able to serve as well, or that can serve me. So the bi-directional support I think has been fabulous. It just seems like every time I go to an event or meet additional people within the SBAM organization, I'm delighted by the caliber of their business acumen and feel like they offer a lot in terms of knowledge, and I guess networking.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. Law firm Warner Norcross + Judd uses their engagement to stay connected to the small business community. “The smaller businesses, our sweet spot, we have to know what's going on with these companies, what's keeping them up at night.” That’s Warner Norcross + Judd attorney Robert Nolan. “By way of our participation with SBAM, be it the the meetings where we're getting together the Leadership Council that we're a part of, we're interacting face-to-face with people. They may not be our client, but we're hearing it face-to-face as to what are the issues that are disconcerting for them, or wondering where are we going in this direction. And we get to interact face-to-face. So that's been that's just been great for us.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. Barbara Muller-Wilson is an attorney with Muller, Myers, & Ferran PC in Ada. “Small Business Association of Michigan does a stellar job of keeping up on legislative changes, and they are sending emails out to their constituents about what is new, what is happening and how they lobby on behalf of their members. They are very engaged organization and I don't think one thing that goes by that involves a small business in Lansing that they don't report on and I find that very, very helpful.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. “The Small Business Association of Michigan is a phenomenal group, 26,000 members in the state of Michigan, wide variety of businesses, everything from dairy farmers to software implementers. It's a group of very intelligent and strong business people who want to work together to make small business prosper.” Kevin Heinl is an intellectual property attorney with Brooks Kushman in Southfield. “It is very difficult to find out about Michigan State politics, but I found in the SBAM that they have a great focus on Michigan legislative issues, which affect small businesses immensely. Working with the people that do the publications has been very rewarding and they've been very cooperative. And it's been a great experience all-in-all.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. “The quickest word is alignment. So as a community based bank here in Michigan, each of our little branches that are across the state is an individual business. If there's a branch manager that has the goals of maintaining profitability, if you will, in the branch, of providing quality customer service, that's directly in line with every business owner that we work with.” Marc Judge is VP Community Banker for Independent Bank in Traverse City. “The sponsorship arrangement that we have with the Small Business Association is the subset leadership group that we've partnered with. And what's really just encouraging is a lot of the same business owners that I work with and see and deal with on a daily, weekly, monthly basis are the same folks that are participating in that. And I would just encourage any business owner the value that you can get out of the Small Business Association of Michigan, you know, from just being plugged in, you kind of get not lost. But you get focused on your day to day business operations, you forget how big legislative impact or how big some of the policy impacts can have. And this group is a wonderful advocate for the abilities for our small businesses to be successful in Michigan.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. “Build a different relationship because you know that the people in that group, they're trying to better their business. And I think for me, that's a big point, like that's one thing we have in common.” Adam McCauley is a member of SBAM’s Leadership Council and co-owner of Sandlot Sports in Bay City/Saginaw. “We didn't come in here to be business owners, we came here to be screen printer embroiderers and that type of thing. It's nice to have somebody around us that has experience running companies handling 22 employees that we can bounce ideas off of. That's been to me, you know, the most rewarding thing on my end, and I've got other people in SBAM and even the Leadership Council [who] will tell you something completely different. But for me, that's what's more valuable now. In a year from now, there may be something totally different that's more valuable to me. But right now I'm happy with being part of Leadership Council.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. Matthew Anderson is Chief Brand Officer for Engaged Education in Lansing and a member of the SBAM Leadership Council. He’s been involved in a lot of leadership activities, and one of the things he appreciates the most about his engagement with SBAM is the opportunity to give back. “[That’s] the thing that's been the most surprising and valuable to me about SBAM in particular. And having the opportunity to serve on the Leadership Council has been really truly focused on giving to the members. I mean sometimes I leave Leadership Council meetings and I'm like, man, what are you guys really getting out of this from me, like you're giving so much to me when what am I giving to you? It is truly the place that I feel so, so passionately appreciate it.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. “Well, SBAM has been great. For me, I think that generally speaking, many of us are joiners and so I'm pretty selective when I join a group and certainly when I’m going to bring my business into that group.” Paul Mead owns Clear Path Strategic in Traverse City and is part of SBAM’s Leadership Council. “I was exposed to it through other local business owners that encouraged me to explore SBAM and it's been a wonderful experience. I certainly, you know, as you would expect been able to network with fellow business owners, which is very valuable but also from my own needs, insurance or economic data, things like that. SBAM’s been a great resource for me in getting that and the team that works there will bend over backwards to try and help you with what you need. So it's really been a positive experience for me and and I look forward to continuing working with SBAM for quite some time.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. “My biggest benefit is my peer-to-peer relationships.” Erick Stewart is president and CEO of Stewart Industries and a member of the SBAM board of directors. “Because SBAM is, you know, a room full of mostly A-type personalities that are business owners and have been through a lot. But when you can walk into a safe environment, and ask the tough questions and get honest answers, that just makes you better as a person, and which translates into making Stewart industries better as a business. So I'd say that's my biggest benefit, that peer-to-peer relationship.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. “Number one would definitely be the peer to peer interaction.” SBAM board member Ginny Sherrow and her husband Matt founded the award-winning Fenton Winery & Brewery. “Networking events and different conferences that they do, I really enjoy getting to know other business owners around the state. These are business owners that I wouldn't otherwise meet locally in the community while working. So that's awesome. The second thing I would think is that SBAM provides me with some summaries and snapshots of what's happening in our state, and what's happening politically and what's happening with laws and different things that would affect my business. So that's really nice, having quick resources. They send something out regularly or whenever new things happen, and that's really nice to know that they're kind of watching out and will send me information and make sure I'm up to date on all that kind of stuff.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. “I learn every time I'm with SBAM.” Sheri Welsh owns Welsh & Associates executive recruiters in Kalamazoo and serves on SBAM’s board of directors. “Whether it is from other business owners, or from the staff and the leadership of as spam keeping me informed about what's going on in Lansing or statewide. I learn all the time and I value that lifelong learning, I value the opportunity to take that and put that into practice in the way I run my business and just grow as an individual. So that is really what I love about it. The work of SBAM I think, is so, so powerful as an advocate for small business. There's just nothing like it anyplace else in the state of Michigan. And I'm so thrilled and honored to be a part of the board and to help move that work forward. It's really a joy.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. “I love the Small Business Association of Michigan.” Lorri Rishar is the CEO of Edge Publicom and a member of the SBAM board of directors. “I watched the Small Business Association go from kind of a second-tier player several decades ago to now the voice, truly the voice of small business in Michigan and throughout very active on the national scene as well. And so the opportunities that business owners have, no matter how many years you're into it, what you can learn from our colleagues. And that's what I take most from my SBAM involvement and then again the involvement on a policy level -- to be able to have an audience with the governor and with decision makers and legislators and SBAM provides that.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. SBAM board member Gina Thorsen is the president of iconic hat maker Stormy Kromer. “It's 100% the ability to sit down with other business owners from across the state and to pick their brains, to hear about their successes, their challenges, bounce ideas off of them.” That owner-to-owner connectivity is particularly valuable when you’re a company like Stormy Kromer that’s located in Michigan’s far western Upper Peninsula. “I think it's particularly helpful given our geography. You know, we are far away from other bigger communities. There’s obviously other businesses here, but to get that more rich and diverse opinions and outlooks of other business owners, it's been fantastic and it's well worth the time I spend in a car to get to Lansing or other places where some of these meetings are. The people are phenomenal, they've helped me tremendously and once you've made these connections with them at some of the in-person events, you're able to get this whole roster of folks that you can pick up the phone or shoot an email to say, hi, have you ever dealt with this before, I'm struggling. And to a person they've all been incredibly willing to offer their advice and their assistance and that's just a huge value. I think business owners, we often feel alone or like we’re the first person to have dealt with this challenge or that everyone else is super successful and I'm the only one with this challenge. And so to have that reality with other folks is hugely helpful.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. “Well, the people certainly are incredible.” SBAM board member Park Kersman owns Lorin Industries in Muskegon. “Both the staff of SBAM, and the board members, the Leadership Council members, and then it’s just all the members. I've had the opportunity to meet so many people that have an incredible passion for Michigan and for small businesses in Michigan and work very hard to find ways to to work effectively not only with other businesses but with everyone in Lansing. Just working hard to make Michigan a better state. And I really appreciate the hard work that goes into that and just the the people are very ethical and thoughtful in their methods of doing this.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. “Oh, my gosh. So I wish I knew exactly what year I got involved with SBAM. Because it changed the way I looked at my company. It changed the way I looked at leadership.” SBAM board member Sue Tellier, with her husband Jon, owns JetCo Solutions in Grand Rapids. Their firm helps small businesses sell to government agencies. “SBAM as an organization gives me direct access to other small business owners. The fact that you really need to be a small business owner to be involved in SBAM makes it a very, I don't know, a special place to be around. I know that there are people that have had the same pains that I'm having. If I come into work one day, and I have a challenge or I need something to add to overcome something, I can reach out to one of the other small business owners that I've met through SBAM and I can either avoid a failure or get an idea or something from them. And every time I'm at an SBAM event, I either walk away with something either that I can do, as soon as I get back to my office, something actionable and productive that I can do to make my business better or I got inspired by somebody else that is killing it in their own business. Or I just, I just get some kind of cathartic conversation with someone that understands how lonely it can be to run a business and to be a small business owner. It's at the same time just a great lifestyle. Some days it can be pretty lonely. And it's nice to have a network of people that are there and that understand that and I just, it's made our company grow because of that.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. “SBAM has opened me up to a lot of opportunities. I've met lots and lots of great very, very interesting people and have learned a lot. One of the things that I would say about being with SBAM and being on the Board of SBAM, you get, it is such a great experience you get to meet the most incredible people in the world. I will say SBAM, like, if you're going to belong to any organization as a small business owner, SBAM is gonna be right up there.” Anita Abrol is a principal with Lewis & Knopf CPAs in Flint and also serves on the board of directors for the Small Business Association of Michigan. One of the things that she enjoys about her SBAM engagement is the opportunity to network with her fellow business owners. “It's very rare to have an organization where you can actually have, as Rob Fowler calls it, owner to owner conversation. But they happen directly at every single meeting you go to, and it's just a great experience because you can listen, learn and take really good ideas back to your own business and back to your own life to improve improve what you have already.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. Steve Trecha is Chief Results Officer for Integrated Strategies, Inc. and a member of SBAM’s Board of Directors. “I've got great respect for for business owners, small business owners, and the way that they have been able to contribute, and I get to learn how they think about things, I get to learn how they do that. And I think that's number one.” Steve also admires the way that the SBAM organization operates. “If you look at the leadership team at SBAM, and you look at how they think about what they do, they really run like a small business. And they really do that in a way not only to best service their members across the state, but they do that in a way where they're continually improving how small businesses can attract, how small businesses can do work. And I find that really, really exciting. It's not an organization that sits on the shelf and and basically beats their chest -- and they full well could do that because they're the most influential small business organization in the state of Michigan. They are the go-tos, and it's neat to be affiliated and it's neat to learn.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. Bill Grubb owns STAR EMS ambulance services in Oakland County. “I'm on the board of SBAM, which is humbling to me, because truly when I go to these meetings, and I listened to the business leaders from around the state, and what they do, and how they do it, and how they talk, I learned something from them every single time that I have an interaction with other business leaders in SBAM.“ Grubb shares these lessons learned with his STAR EMS employees. “When I would say that I've learned something at SBAM and I tell our staff I learned this it at SBAM, it does lend some credibility because SBAM is such a great organization and somebody else is saying this thing that we want to do.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. “I've had the privilege of working side by side with some incredible business owners from all over the state in all different categories that deal with a lot of the same problems.” Russ Knopp and his wife Leslie own Comfort Keepers Home Care Agencies in Traverse City. Russ is a past chair of the SBAM Board of Directors. “It's the coolest thing in the world to be in a room with other small business owners who are living the same things that you're living and to have those conversations about, how do you deal with this? have you dealt with this, or, oh, you're selling product through Amazon? How does that work?, These are conversations you just can't have, unless you're mixing it up with other small business owners.” Russ says that “owner-to-owner” connection makes all the difference. “It's a different conversation that you can have when you're talking to the owner. Unfortunately, what happens at so many local chamber events and those type of things is you've got a lot of marketing and sales people in the room and they should be there, that's their job. But they don't have a lot of decision makers in the room. So that's what makes it so important is having this owner-to-owner and knowing that you're talking to other business owners when you're in there, not people just trying to sell you something. So that that's one of the things that SBAMas Dan has that is a complete differentiator and I couldn't be more proud of it.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. Rich Tegge is the owner of Wealth Strategy Group in Marquette. “Well, you know, being up here in the UP, at times you can feel like you're having a little bit of an island when it comes to what's happening in the state. And what I found is that my association with SBAM has really connected me well with the rest of the state.” Tegge is involved with SBAM as a member of the association’s board of directors. “From a business climate, from a business standpoint, but also on the political front, understanding more about the things that are affecting small business throughout the state, the network of business owners that I've been able to get introduced to and network with on a regular basis, through the board and through the Leadership Council has been phenomenal. It's helped me grow as a business owner. I get ideas every time I connect with these folks, always a lot of energy in the room. And I think for any business owner, the value of SBAM is in the network that you can build and the conversations that you can have with like- minded individuals.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. Drew Veach is Vice President for Corporate Color Graphics in Grand Rapids, a custom signage and retail decor fabrication company that specializes in large format printing and creative signage and branding. He says the owner-to-owner connection he gets through SBAM is really important to him. “Big time, that is a big time value that I get out of it.” Veach is a part of SBAM’s Leadership Council. “Yeah, the biggest value I get out of this is really networking with other similar business owners and people [who are] managing businesses. It's kind of the old adage that we're all in the same boat together and it feels good to be able to network with those other people that are going through those similar business struggles. And I can connect with them, kind of get better ideas of how to how do I solve my business needs. Other people have gone through it, I'm not the only one dealing with that issue. So, it's nice to have that collaboration and that reassurance that SBAM’s that resource and support when I need it.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. “It makes me feel like I have a voice.” Jason Verlinde is President of RFT Search Group in Farmington Hills and a member of the SBAM Board of Directors. “You know, as, as business owners, we kind of a lot of times sit in our own little world and don't have other owners to talk to. So our owner-to-owner networking, our Leadership Council, gives us an opportunity for that involvement with other business owners. And then on the political side, you know, it helps us feel like we have a voice. We're a very small percentage of the overall population. And a lot of times, we feel like nobody's out there fighting for us, but SBAM is. So I really enjoy it.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. “The biggest value is everybody in the room is a business owner so it's the perspective that you can't find it anywhere else.” Jim Foucher is Vice President of RBV Contracting in Detroit and a member of the SBAM Leadership Council. “We have all the same issues, we've all seen problems, we all bounce things off each other. No matter what industry, everyone kind of has the same few issues so it's great just to have that group to rely on, to be able to go to and [ask] how did you handle this? How did you handle that? So for us [that’s] the greatest thing with SBAM.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. “I think SBAM represents small business. There’s not a lot of organizations in the state of Michigan and or, you know, certainly broader than that, that can make that statement.” SBAM board member Bill Kimble is the President and Infrastructure Group Leader for Lansing based architecture and engineering firm C2AE. They have nearly a hundred employees. “And even at 100 in staff we still consider ourselves, and the federal government still considers us, a small business. And so we need an advocate to speak for small businesses because our voices individually are not loud enough but our voices collectively are very loud. And that’s really what SBAM does is tie those organizations together and represents them in a lot of different ways. Not just in advocacy but also in sharing business-to-business ideas -- how each of them can improve their business. So that's what I've always appreciated about SBAM. They're really vested to help everyone grow their business.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. “The primary value that I get through being involved in SBAM are the relationships with other business owners.” SBAM board member Dan Cherrin is the owner of North Coast Strategies, an independent public relations-public affairs consultancy based in Royal Oak. “When I got involved a few years ago, my priority in joining SBAM was not to get health insurance or discounts for UPS, it was to meet people and to network throughout the entire state. And now I can go all the way to the tip of the UP, to the corner of Michigan and Indiana, and know a business owner that I can reach out to and learn from, and there's so many businesses that we have in the state. It's really the diversity. It’s incredible.” And, Cherrin puts a lot of value on SBAM’s nonpartisan public policy agenda. “We have tremendous opportunities to engage public policy leaders from both sides of the aisle and bring them together for conversations. And so I get a lot of value out of that and the advocacy that SBAM focuses on. And then it's not only the networking, but it's being able to learn from other business owners, the issues that they're facing, and how we can all work together to help address these issues. It's a great community that we have in this state around small business and the networking is fantastic and worth everything in my involvement of the organization.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. “There is no other organization out there that combines the advocacy, the government relations side of small business protecting us in Lansing and in DC now.” Milan Gandhi is Vice President of Med-Share, Inc., and 1st Vice Chair of the SBAM Board of Directors. “Combine that with influence over all levels of government relationships at all levels and government. I use this SBAM as my lobbying firm now when I want to get something done in Lansing.” Gandhi also values the member-to-member benefits of SBAM. “You know, chambers of commerce that I've been a part of forever, you end up meeting people from all parts of different organizations. In SBAM it's owner-to- owner and and I can't stress how important that is. When we go to Leadership Council events, SBAM board meetings, PAC board events, nobody trying to sell me anything. We are all in our own businesses and have our own busy lives. And we’re only there because we care and care to help each other and contribute collectively. So SBAM has been a wonderful venue for me to learn from others to make great relationships and to have a deeper connection to what goes on in Lansing.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. “The greatest value for me is being immersed in a network of like minded people.” Rebecca Cox is president of the Savant Group of Midland and a member of SBAM’s board of directors. “I get great ideas, great energy from my involvement with SBAM. That’s allowed me to think outside the box and to see things that other people have done that are successful and learn from mistakes that they've done so I don't have to repeat them. And, you know, just that a more practical side as SBAM has a really great suite of of products and services that it offers small businesses. So, all the way around, it's just a really great concept for being able to offer small businesses a lot of assistance as they're navigating their way through.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. “If you want to have a voice and you want to join other small business owners in having a voice in small business, there's no better organization.” Chad Paalman is SBAM’s 2018-19 Board Chair and CEO and co-founder of NuWave Technology Partners. “I had the chance first of all, just to just work alongside a number of people that are very, very talented business [people], some of the brightest and most talented business people because of SBAM. I've learned so much from from these individuals, they are running just really neat businesses. I've also had the opportunity to get involved in legislative issues, things that I would have never dreamt that I'd be involved in and have the opportunity to have a say in it. And now fast forward years later, I'm now the Board Chair of SBAM. And I tell individuals that are looking to get involved or have a say in what's happening in business issues, especially even on the legislative side, is get involved in SBAM. I'd say certainly I'm a little biased but I think the single best advocate for small business in the state Michigan.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. “When you have the ability to to work with each other for common causes.” Denny Ware is an SBAM member and the owner of Mission Point Resorts on Mackinac Island. “When you can talk with other people who have related issues they've learned how to deal with when you can band together and be a voice with respect to being involved in in state and local government. It makes life so much more interesting and improves the quality of the business that you have in a small business. You can can't always afford to get all of the expertise you need on your staff. And so you need a place where you can go take advantage of the the synergy that you can develop with other people with similar problems. And since similar challenges that you're dealing with, and small business organizations are good for America. They're good for each of us.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. “First one I would say is advocacy on behalf of the small businesses that don't have, you know, the time or resources to learn and communicate with legislators, regulators, do research into other topics.” Henry Morley is the founder and senior solution consultant for DPT Solutions in Grand Rapids and is a member of the Leadership Council for the Small Business Association of Michigan. “Second value is tied to that information source. I think SBAM provides great sources of information, not only of apprising what's happening in Lansing and maybe Washington that impacts small businesses, but back to my best practice and good practices of understanding what other small businesses are doing in certain areas. And that collaboration, both online and offline. And like you said, mentioned, the Leadership Council, having a group there to be able to interact with other owners and leaders. I would kind of put that as a third piece, along with the information, that's collaboration -- sounding board sharing best practices, what's working, what's not working in their businesses. SBAM really facilitates that, particularly the people on the Leadership Council I've gotten to know that are in the same boat. Oh, we were looking for that, and we're looking for this kind of resource as well, have you had, yeah, we've worked with this group, we’ve worked with that group. I think that's a huge facilitation and collaboration piece, so I'm really happy with that.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.