The importance of personal branding and real interactions in an AI marketing world
The Small Business Association of Michigan’s Small Business Weekly Podcast
Release Date: 01/06/2026
Award-winning veteran owned small business brings calm to crises
The Small Business Association of Michigan’s Small Business Weekly Podcast
On today’s program, Michael Rogers talks with Chris Kushmaul, owner of Restoration 1 of Metro Detroit, recognized as a Veteran Owned Small Business of the Year for 2025 by Michigan Celebrates Small Business. His company's services include water, fire, smoke, mold and biohazard cleanup. “I'm a service disabled veteran, served in the army for 11 years and I really bring that background to the business,” he says. “And the nice thing about the work that we do is it's not all that different from being in the military. You come in the middle of a crisis, and you calm things down and you...
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“Cleaning up” with quality janitorial services
The Small Business Association of Michigan’s Small Business Weekly Podcast
On today’s program, Michael Rogers talks with Ronald Dwyer, president of RCS Janitorial and a VIP member of the Small Business Association of Michigan. Founded in 2016, RCS Janitorial offers commercial janitorial services, carpet cleaning, and facility maintenance across Michigan. Dwyer highlights their IICRC certification for carpet cleaning, ensuring warranty compliance and using modern, green solutions. He also offers advice on how small business owners can make the job easier for janitorial services. “Keep the clutter off the floor, in the kitchens, if you want us to clean the sink,...
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The sweet scent of small business success
The Small Business Association of Michigan’s Small Business Weekly Podcast
On today’s program, Michael Rogers talks with Tanya Thompson, owner and founder of The Aroma Labs, honored by Michigan Celebrates Small Business as a Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year. Her business offers personalized scent creation experiences and corporate events. A collaboration with Pure Michigan resulted in four seasonal fragrances: Fresh, Harvest, Snow, and Awakening, sold in roller bottles, room sprays, and candles. Tanya emphasized the unique, family-friendly experiences her stores provide, encouraging customers to connect through scent. “We provide a unique experience, an...
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Southeast Michigan distillery crafts best-in-world whiskeys
The Small Business Association of Michigan’s Small Business Weekly Podcast
On today’s program, Michael Rogers talks with Christi Lower, founder of Highline Spirits, selected by Michigan Celebrates Small Business as a Michigan SBDC Best Small Business for 2025. She discusses her craft distillery's focus on blending and special finishing whiskey, which has earned multiple national and international awards, including two Best in Class whiskeys in 2025. “It is really important that people consume safely and responsibly,” she says. “We don't offer shots, we don't create an environment that supports that, either in our tasting rooms and then also on our marketing...
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The importance of personal branding and real interactions in an AI marketing world
The Small Business Association of Michigan’s Small Business Weekly Podcast
On today’s program, Michael Rogers talks with Kim Bode, owner of 8THIRTYFOUR, recognized by Michigan Celebrates Small Business as a Women-Owned Small Business of the Year. Her firm specializes in the fractional CMO model and offers soft skills training through 8THIRTYFOUR Schools. Bodie highlights the importance of real, unpolished interactions in a world dominated by AI. “The best idea is an idea that comes from you,” she says. “It's not going to be something that comes from AI, and whatever they create out there. You still have to personalize and you still have to make it relevant to...
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Design and brand experience as a key element of small business success
The Small Business Association of Michigan’s Small Business Weekly Podcast
On today’s program, Michael Rogers talks with Rachel Nelson, CEO and principal designer of Concetti, a Detroit-based interior design strategy studio, recognized as a Michigan Celebrates Small Business's Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year for 2025. Concetti specializes in interior design and brand experience, emphasizing co-creation with clients. “Design is often thought of as frivolous or something that would be nice to have, but I love to argue and educate that design is problem solving,” she says. “Design is being strategic and intentional, and starting with a hypothesis, how...
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How AI will help your small business punch above its weight class
The Small Business Association of Michigan’s Small Business Weekly Podcast
On today’s program, Michael Rogers talks with Michael Weinberger, owner of Proactive Technology Management. They are VIP members of the Small Business Association of Michigan. He discusses his company's 18-year history of serving small businesses with MSP support and full-stack software development, including AI and data analytics. Weinberger notes AI's potential to enhance business efficiency. “We are at an opportunity where AI is going to allow organizations to punch above their weight class,” he says. “That is impactful on the small to medium size business community because it...
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Customer service pushes this salon to be an elite small business
The Small Business Association of Michigan’s Small Business Weekly Podcast
On today’s program, Michael Rogers talks with Jerad Rushlow, owner of Jarad Anthony Salon and an Elite Member of the Small Business Association of Michigan. Rushlo discusses his background in the beauty industry, explaining how his family started their business in the early 1970s and how he eventually separated and rebranded his own full-service salon and spa. “The key to success for us is, hands down, the customer service,” he says. “You can go get a hair service anywhere, you can get your nails painted, you can get a pedicure wherever you want to go. But what are the extra things...
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Her customers are up-in-the-air but not her business plan
The Small Business Association of Michigan’s Small Business Weekly Podcast
On today’s program, Michael Rogers talks with Christina VanDam, owner of Zeal Aerial Fitness in Grand Rapids, winner of a 2025 Micro Business Award from Michigan Celebrates Small Business. She discusses her journey from being a public school teacher to founding an aerial fitness studio that offers classes in silks, hoop, hammock, bungee, pole and aerial yoga, catering to diverse age groups. “If you're going to the YMCA, you're running on a treadmill or lifting weights, and we're not that kind of place,” she says. “You use your whole body for your workout. I think what a lot of people...
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Environmentally-friendly shipping pallets power growth for this two-decade-old small business
The Small Business Association of Michigan’s Small Business Weekly Podcast
On today’s program, Michael Rogers talks with Mo Alakoli, CEO of PALLETCO. The company has been selected as a member of the Michigan 50 Companies to Watch by Michigan Celebrates Small Business. Founded in 2003, the company employs eco-friendly practices, ensuring pallets are repurposed for biofuel, animal bedding or mulch at the end of their life cycle. “We try to be as green as possible, given that we're a smaller, family owned company that has scaled a lot in the last five years, we're always trying to catch up to that green initiative,” he says. “But a pallet is a very...
info_outlineOn today’s program, Michael Rogers talks with Kim Bode, owner of 8THIRTYFOUR, recognized by Michigan Celebrates Small Business as a Women-Owned Small Business of the Year. Her firm specializes in the fractional CMO model and offers soft skills training through 8THIRTYFOUR Schools. Bodie highlights the importance of real, unpolished interactions in a world dominated by AI. “The best idea is an idea that comes from you,” she says. “It's not going to be something that comes from AI, and whatever they create out there. You still have to personalize and you still have to make it relevant to what you do, or your industry, your business, whatever it is. So I think it's a great tool to get you started on stuff. I use it for research all the time, but then I also fact check it, because you know, just a lot of stuff can go wrong.”
The Small Business Association of Michigan is the only statewide and state-based association that focuses solely on serving the needs of Michigan’s small business community. We have been successfully serving small businesses like yours in all 83 counties of Michigan since 1969. We’re located in Lansing, just one block from the Capitol.
Our mission is to help Michigan small businesses succeed by promoting entrepreneurship, leveraging buying power and engaging in political advocacy. When small businesses band together through the Small Business Association of Michigan, they achieve more than they could on their own.
Our 32,000 members are as diverse as Michigan's economy. From accountants to appliance stores, manufacturers to medical, and restaurants to retailers, what unites the SBAM membership is the spirit of entrepreneurship…a spirit that drove you to start and continue to operate your own business because you believe you can do something better than anyone else is doing it!
(music licensed from www.jukedeck.com)