The Small Business Association of Michigan’s Small Business Weekly Podcast

The Small Business Association of Michigan’s Small Business Weekly Podcast presents a dynamic audio interview from a top-notch expert on entrepreneurial success. Hear great tips and advice on how to be a more effective small business owner.

Woof! Mid-Michigan company honored for doggone good doggy daycare 03/24/2026

Business success and local economic development in west Michigan 03/17/2026

A small business whose success is guided by providing a great customer experience 03/11/2026

Breaking up is easy to do at Break Room Therapy 03/01/2026

A great company culture means not having to second-guess and over-supervize your employees 02/24/2026

AI an important tool for small business marketing, but it can’t replace relationships and trust 02/17/2026

How a family-owned and family-oriented outdoor clothing store competes with online retailers 02/10/2026

How a family-owned and family-oriented outdoor clothing store competes with online retailers On today’s program, Michael Rogers talks with Becky Philipp-Kranig, owner of Bearcub Outfitters in Petoskey, selected by Michigan Celebrates Small Business as a Michigan SBDC Best Small Business. Her family-oriented outdoor gear store in Petoskey offers clothing and gear for infants through adults, including pets. Becky cites the store's unique product mix and excellent customer service as key factors in competing with online retailers. “We tend to get people looking for certain things, and they find it, and then hopefully they come back and want to see it in person as well,” she says. “And we're providing an experience and great customer service in the store. That's one of the things that we try to pride ourselves on, and do the best we can always to make sure we can find what you might need where online stores can't do that.” The 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 ) /episode/index/show/sbamentrepreneurialinsights/id/40060710

Award-winning veteran owned small business brings calm to crises 02/03/2026

“Cleaning up” with quality janitorial services 01/27/2026

The sweet scent of small business success 01/20/2026

Southeast Michigan distillery crafts best-in-world whiskeys 01/13/2026

Southeast Michigan distillery crafts best-in-world whiskeys 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 materials. It's always important to have legal drinking age adults represented that are very clearly grown ups, and then use language that's appropriate for an adult to be enjoying our spirits. So it's important that we market and then also create environments where people are drinking responsibly.” The 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 ) /episode/index/show/sbamentrepreneurialinsights/id/39716870

The importance of personal branding and real interactions in an AI marketing world 01/06/2026

Design and brand experience as a key element of small business success 12/31/2025

How AI will help your small business punch above its weight class 12/16/2025

How AI will help your small business punch above its weight class 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 allows them to respond as if they are a larger enterprise than they are, whether it's proposal generation or streamlining processes to respond to client issues, whether it's their order to cash process in manufacturing, whether it's their reporting and aggregation in the private equity space in order to create reports. I think that AI is going to continue to allow us to do more with less, and it certainly has impacted how I run my business.” The 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 ) /episode/index/show/sbamentrepreneurialinsights/id/39428760

Customer service pushes this salon to be an elite small business 12/09/2025

Customer service pushes this salon to be an elite small business 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 that a service provider is willing to do to gain your trust and gain that respect so you want to come back and see this person more often? So, we do a lot of little extra things in our business that attract people to come back a little more often. Here's a little bit of wine during your services that's complimentary, we have nice tea, we do hand massages when your color's processing – little things like that to just amplify the service.” The 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 ) /episode/index/show/sbamentrepreneurialinsights/id/39343675

Her customers are up-in-the-air but not her business plan 11/17/2025

Environmentally-friendly shipping pallets power growth for this two-decade-old small business 11/14/2025

Concrete foundations are their literal foundation for growth 11/13/2025

Concrete foundations are their literal foundation for growth On today’s program, Michael Rogers talks with Hussein Mokahal, owner of LED LION in Westland, selected by Michigan Celebrates Small Business as a member of the Michigan 50 Companies to Watch for 2025. LED LION handles the foundational side of projects like underground utilities, concrete foundations and infrastructure work for public and private sectors, and 3D concrete printing for bridges and infrastructure. The company has partnered on significant projects like the 2024 NFL draft and has collaborated with Lawrence Tech University and the National Science Foundation. Hall advises small business owners to practice proactive property maintenance. “A lot of property owners wait until they start seeing cracks and leaks or drainage issues, and by then the fix is probably far more expensive, so simple, routine inspections, especially around drainage systems, concrete slabs and foundations can ultimately save thousands down the line,” he says. The 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 ) /episode/index/show/sbamentrepreneurialinsights/id/39027300

Family-founded business thrives in west Michigan’s culture of growth and entrepreneurship 11/10/2025

Family-founded business thrives in west Michigan’s culture of growth and entrepreneurship On today’s program, Michael Rogers talks with Evan Mathison, a member of the Small Business Association of Michigan board of directors and Founding Principal of Mathison | Mathison Architects, a design-focused architecture and interiors firm based in Grand Rapids. He and his father Tom founded the company in 2013. “I grew up here in the Grand Rapids area and went to undergrad here, then moved to New England for grad school, and stayed out there and worked for 10 years,” he says. “I always knew that I wanted to move back and be a part of the growth of west Michigan. I knew I wanted to be close to family and be part of that growth trajectory. Our team also reinforces that story. You know, almost everyone on our team grew up in Michigan, moved somewhere else to go to school or work and then returned home with the goal of doing really high quality design work that they were a part of in other parts of the country and the world. And I really do believe that this kind of richness adds to the entrepreneurial spirit of Michigan, that desire for growth, desire for change and impact.” The 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 ) /episode/index/show/sbamentrepreneurialinsights/id/38982120

Expanding veterinary hospital focuses on compassionate care and community involvement 11/04/2025

Expanding veterinary hospital focuses on compassionate care and community involvement On today’s program, Michael Rogers talks with Dr. Lindsay Ruland, DVM, owner and chief of medicine at Emergency Veterinary Hospital in Ann Arbor. They were named to the list of Michigan 50 Companies to Watch for 2025. The hospital treats a wide range of animals and emphasizes compassionate care for both pets and their owners. Dr. Ruland highlighted the importance of proper care for exotic pets, the rise of pet insurance and the role of veterinarians in determining pet nutrition. The hospital recently expanded to three operating rooms and plans to add more specialists. They also focus on inspiring future veterinarians through community engagement. “We are very passionate about being part of our community, getting out in the community, speaking with kids, and hoping to inspire them to understand that veterinary medicine can be a tough job, but it is so deeply rewarding and very much worth it in the end. And so don't, don't let anyone tell you that you can't do it,” she says. The 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 ) /episode/index/show/sbamentrepreneurialinsights/id/38909680

Creating a work environment that encourages employees to grow and want to stay 10/28/2025

The importance of expanding your knowledge and growth potential while remaining true to your core values 10/20/2025

The importance of expanding your knowledge and growth potential while remaining true to your core values On today’s program, Michael Rogers talks with Heather Isch, President & Owner of LKF Marketing in Kalamazoo and a member of the SBAM board of directors. This year her firm was selected as a member of the Michigan 50 Companies to Watch. LKF Marketing has worked with hundreds of companies, big and small over the years, and in the interview Isch shares some of the entrepreneurial lessons from their work to help these firms be more successful. “I think one of the things that is hardest for entrepreneurs and especially founders is to get to the place where they're comfortable adding more leaders or managers, surrounding themselves with people who are smarter than them or more gifted in areas and really growing for the future,” she says. “Sometimes it's hard to let go of what we've built, and in order to be successful, you have to expand on that knowledge and grow and also stay focused on really what your core vision and mission and values are. Sometimes it's very easy to get distracted by shiny things, and a lot of times that is what keeps us from growing.” The 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 ) /episode/index/show/sbamentrepreneurialinsights/id/38648820

Award-winning small business has great advice on inclusion and accessibility for the neurodiverse in your workplace 10/14/2025

Award-winning small business has great advice on inclusion and accessibility for the neurodiverse in your workplace On today’s program, Michael Rogers talks with Reena Naami, Owner and Founding CEO of the Spark Center for Autism, honored this year as a member of the prestigious Michigan 50 Companies to Watch. The center has grown from a two-person operation to nearly 50 employees, offering new programs like a summer learning program and internships. She highlighted the importance of inclusion and small adjustments for neurodiversity in workplaces. “It's really important to remember that inclusion and accessibility benefits everyone, and not just those who are meant to be the recipients of accommodations,” she says. “So when we think about it as business owners and entrepreneurs, providing accommodations can actually have a really great return on investment across the board. And the other point is that adjustments and accommodations don't need to be on a huge scale or necessarily require a lot of work or even money. They can be small adjustments that can still make really large impacts.” The 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 ) /episode/index/show/sbamentrepreneurialinsights/id/38578320

Fast growing Sunfield Center honored as one of Michigan 50 Companies to Watch 09/15/2025

Helping your small business turn challenges into opportunities 09/15/2025

How to spend your marketing dollars on things that don’t just look nice but actually work 09/13/2025

Understanding interpersonal and intrapersonal intelligence 09/08/2025

Everything's “fishy” about this family owned smoked fish products company 09/02/2025

The political power and influence of many small businesses working together 08/26/2025

How Foster Swift experts help navigate the women-owned and minority-owned certification process 08/19/2025

How Foster Swift experts help navigate the women-owned and minority-owned certification process On today’s program, Michael Rogers talks with Amanda J. Dernovshek and Lindsey M. Mead, members of Foster Swift’s business and tax practice group in Lansing. They discuss how they assist their clients with obtaining women-owned and minority-owned business certifications. “We have worked with clients to have conversations about whether they qualify, and ask some of the key details to say yes you would or no you would not qualify for a certification,” Dernovshek said. “We've reviewed organizational documents to kind of flag any issues that we see in terms of certifying qualifications that are required. And then some certification programs will allow a business to designate a delegate or a representative on behalf of the business who works through the application and essentially does the application for the business. So Lindsay and I have experience with assisting clients through that process.” The 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 ) /episode/index/show/sbamentrepreneurialinsights/id/37879555

The Small Business Association of Michigan’s Small Business Weekly Podcast

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