Have you ever wished you could get unlimited paid time off? That’s precisely what today’s podcast guest, Mark McDaniel, the CEO of Cinnaire, talks about with host William Zank. Cinnaire is a nonprofit organization that gets involved within the community by offering services such as lending funds, finance development, and managing and building all components of a healthy community. Within this nonprofit, employees are granted unlimited paid time off. Cinnaire wants to find better ways for their t...
Jun 07, 2022•22 min•Ep. 38
Have you been on the unfortunate side of getting a dent in your car? Do you let it be or Google your best options to fix it? Today’s podcast guest hopes you don’t just leave the ding and instead ask around. Chances are a friend, or family member will refer you to CD Dents. Welcome, Crystal Ellison of CD Dents. Crystal and her husband Duane own and operate a 5-star Google rating paintless dent removal business. Crystal has been in the car business for an impressive 24-years and was the first woma...
May 10, 2022•25 min•Ep. 37
OH, SUGAR, SUGAR! This week we got the chance to chat with Rob Clark, Director of Communications and Community Relations at Michigan Sugar Company. Clark speaks out about their corporate purpose statement, “Making Life Sweeter.” He states that their employees embody Michigan Sugar’s purpose statement within the business and within their life, family, friends, and community. Michigan Sugar Company, a Michigan staple organization for 116 years, takes on many opportunities to create win-win-win par...
Apr 26, 2022•25 min•Ep. 36
Have you thought about what you will do in retirement? Maybe you dream of sitting on the beach or tinkering around with a long-term hobby. For some, they have an itch to continue working beyond their traditional retirement date. In this episode of Mitten Money, host William Zank speaks with Don Sheets. Don is currently retired after almost 15 years as Executive Vice President and CFO at Dow Corning. In this episode, Mr. Sheets shares how he planned to work as a consultant all along as his second...
Apr 12, 2022•22 min•Ep. 35
Have you ever wondered how Chick-Fil-A built its well-known culture and talent systems? How about their ability to select the top talent in the hospitality industry while still achieving a 95% retention rate for corporate staff AND franchisees? This week – we invited on the very talented Dee Ann Turner -who was not only the former VP of Talent, Human Resources, Enterprise Social Responsibility, and Sustainability for Chick-Fil-A but also a 3x bestselling book author. We chat in-depth about how t...
Mar 29, 2022•19 min•Ep. 34
Marc and Laura Owczarzak had as their visiOn for when they Opened O’s Pub & Grill. Staying true tO their vision has helped them grOw O's expOnentially. They nOw have plans tO Open a secOnd lOcation in Bay City, MI On the river. HOst William Zank talks with Marc Owczarzak, cO-Owner of O's Pub and Grill about their grOwth at O's Pub and Grill. FOr mOst restaurant’s, while fOOd can help drive grOwth Of the business, the custOmer service is what keeps peOple cOming back. In 2022, cOnsumers have ...
Mar 15, 2022•24 min•Ep. 33
Special Episode in honor of Woman in Construction Week. On this special episode, we invited Shannon Tait of Three Rivers Corporation. Construction means more managing projects. It's taking personal pride in every project, whether new construction or a world-record canopy tree walk. During the episode, Shannon shares many personal stories throughout her career, highlighting when she was a recent college graduate given complete control over a local project. She described what helped her succeed: b...
Mar 08, 2022•15 min•Ep. 32
Are you looking for curious, motivated, and ambitious employees? Max Friar, Founder, and CEO, of Calder Capital, shares ways to grow and retain energetic team members. The list of satisfied clients and employees of Calder seems endless. Max has a growth mindset and fosters a culture of learning and growth. Calder is a Grand Rapids based Mergers and Acquisitions Advisory Firm focused on representing business owners who desire to sell their business. Calder has been named one of America's fastest ...
Mar 01, 2022•20 min•Ep. 31
What started as a way for guests to live a healthier lifestyle prompted a lifelong mission of helping others realize their fitness goals. In this heartfelt conversation, Sarah Fechter of Sarah Fechter Fitness Headquarters (SFHQ) shares how she remains joyful about her job that’s never much felt like a job. She’s remained nimble and reimagined her business model. Her desire to offer relevant classes, boot camps, coaching offerings, and online classes is what has led to Sarah Fechter Fitness’s suc...
Feb 15, 2022•22 min•Ep. 30
Tax season is upon us. Whether filing for business or personal taxes, you know what this time of year means. It’s time to gather your annual tax documents and file your taxes. If you're interested in learning more about some of the upcoming tax law changes or how to find a trusted CPA, then this episode is for you. Mike even touches on entrepreneurs with a side-hustle and how they would need to file their taxes. Mike Hanisko is a CPA and Partner at Winelander Fitzhugh with over 38 years of exper...
Feb 01, 2022•27 min•Ep. 29
It's officially winter season in the great state of Michigan. We invited John Melcher as a guest on Episode 28 of Mitten Money to celebrate. John Melcher is the newly named CEO of Crystal Mountain, a four-season resort destination in Thompsonville, Michigan. John is a wealth of experience. Before joining Crystal Mountain as COO in 2017, he had a 25-year career in banking with Fifth Third Banking. In November 2021, Melcher was named as the new CEO replacing Jim MacInnes, who, after 36 years in re...
Jan 18, 2022•15 min•Ep. 28
What’s the top reason for people not taking control of their finances? Procrastination. On today’s mega episode, Jane, Bobbi, and Jon help listeners get started and give tips to stay the course when it comes to saving. Jane Hagen is a director of corporate retirement plans. Her passion is encouraging thousands of 401(k) participants to earn their retirement one step at a time and one percent increase at a time. Bobbi Putman is a seasoned Financial Planner and shares advice on building an individ...
Jan 04, 2022•29 min•Ep. 27
Dietrich Bronner is the Product Development Manager at Bronner's, the world's largest Christmas store. Dietrich is passionate about choosing hundreds of products annually and creating Bronner's sought-after catalogs. He's an avid runner and chef too. In this episode, Dietrich breaks down for listeners: Why a printed and mailing catalogs continues to be a successful strategy. Fueling his passion as a multi-course creating chef. How creating an experience for culinary excellence has put Venture on...
Dec 21, 2021•19 min•Ep. 26
Have you ever heard of conscious capitalism? It's perhaps one of the most significant movements presently in the business landscape. Large and small companies alike are all embracing being more conscious. So what is this exactly? According to Conscious Capitalism, Inc. It's driven by the philosophy that business should exist for reasons beyond profit and should work to elevate humanity as a movement has been growing, so too has the interest in joining. Today we have two guests to chat about this...
Dec 07, 2021•23 min•Ep. 25
For many people, when they start their entrepreneurial endeavors, they are often very talented at the field they go into. Sometimes though, these skills that help drive the core business don’t necessarily support the business's ongoing operations. One of the most common areas where this happens is on the financial side of the company. What are your options for getting financial support? You could hire someone to run the books, but should that person be full-time or part-time? How should you go a...
Nov 23, 2021•23 min•Ep. 24
Today's special guest is Kevin Kendrick, former VP of Security for Dow and veteran FBI agent. During his career, he spent many years building and developing security processes, and safeguarding physical and cybersecurity threats. In addition to his career, Kevin made time for family and giving back to his community. He severed on several different boards, acted in the community theatre.
Nov 09, 2021•27 min•Ep. 23
In America, it’s estimated that 90% of American businesses are family-owned and controlled. That means that two out of three employees either own or are working for a family-owned business. What if a family member wants to pass that business onto the next generation? There are sure to be several complex questions that arise when considering a transfer of ownership: a healthy, transparent, and trusted relationship with attorney matters. On today’s episode, Chris Savage of Lowe Law answers common ...
Oct 26, 2021•20 min•Ep. 22
$550 Billion dollars. Would you believe that demotivated employees cost U.S. businesses that much in lost productivity? While it’s a big number to grasp, it’s certainly believable. According to Gallup research, over 70% of employees in America are affected by demotivation. The scary thing is – this number has been on the rise. So, how exactly do you battle this crisis? Luckily – this week’s guests, Dr. Tara Peters and Dr. Cathy Bush, both business consultants and co-authors of "The Demotivated E...
Oct 12, 2021•27 min•Ep. 21
Today, we'll dive headfirst into everything pay and benefits with Chuck Stadler, President of CORE Staffing. Chuck is a nurse, business owner, people-person, and leader. Chuck runs two businesses; CORE Staffing is a healthcare staffing company providing services across America, and he and his wife own Lazy Dog, a pizzeria in Frankenmuth, MI. Chuck has been involved with the health care industry for 15+ years, starting as an RN. Chuck and host, William Zank, have a lively discussion on: - How emp...
Sep 28, 2021•25 min•Ep. 20
What’s your strategy for finding the right candidate? Do you post and pray, or actively recruit? In the next two episodes, will dive headfirst into talking about some of the best practices around hiring, pay, benefits, and talent retention in this two-part HR miniseries. Our first guest is Dan, Porta. Dan is a Senior Corporate Recruiter with Tech Smith. Dan brings a wealth of experience to this episode as he’s worked as a recruiter across the tech industry, healthcare, and manufacturing industri...
Sep 14, 2021•28 min•Ep. 19
Fall is upon us. Bring on the cozy blankets, apple ciders, and college football! We are pleased to present a special episode of Mitten Money. This bonus episode coincides with Michigan State University's season opener vs. Northwestern game. William Zank talks with Vice President of Strategic Initiatives for Michigan State University, Bill Beekman. Bill is a lifelong Spartan who has worn many hats at the University, most recently as the Athletic Director. Listeners will learn about: The athletic ...
Sep 03, 2021•25 min•Ep. 18
On this episode of Mitten Money, learn from yet another entrepreneur that saw an opportunity and ceased it. Meet Mike Schuette, co-founder, and CEO of GCI Water Solutions, a company born out of the need to solve complex wastewater issues. Entrepreneurism runs in the family as Schuette’s family owns Merchandise Outlet, 11 stores filled with unique, well-priced everyday finds, and recently named one of Michigan’s Top 50 Companies to watch. GCI literally takes one man’s trash and turns it into trea...
Aug 31, 2021•20 min•Ep. 17
It’s been over 63 years since the last time something of this magnitude has happened. We’re not talking about the Detroit Lions Championship drought (that’s 62 years). Instead, we’re talking INFRASTRUCTURE. According to today’s guest, Wayne Hofmann of Wade Trim, the last time the United States had this kind of infrastructure bill in place was the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956. On August 10, 2021, the U.S. Senate passed an Infrastructure Bill (House Resolution 3684) by a margin of 69 to 30. Thi...
Aug 17, 2021•21 min•Ep. 16
Imagine growing the value of your business or having your valuation needs answered by making one phone call. Would you do it? You’re probably thinking, how can that even happen? When you call the right people with the right advice, a serendipitous process is started where you can see results. This is some of the special work that Jacob Helwick, Manager at Adamy Valuation, does on a daily basis. Over the past 40 years, Adamy has been serving business owners across the country with their valuation...
Aug 03, 2021•25 min•Ep. 15
Kim Norris and Todd Hall both work in senior leadership positions with Glastender, a family-owned foodservice equipment manufacturer. Kim is the VP of Administration and Todd is President. Their father Jon Hall invented the world’s first automatic rotary glasswasher called a “Glastender.” In this interview, you are sure to get the “entrepreneurial bug” and understand better why they believe the culture of an organization matters. Kim and Todd talk extensively about: - Their father’s love to inve...
Jul 20, 2021•28 min•Ep. 14
Jen Acosta is the founder and President of Jenifer Acosta Development. Building dynamic communities and creating a sense of place are just two of Jen’s favorite things. Combine them and add a dash of determination, and you have one of the region’s most sought-after “matchmakers” in real estate. Jen offers a thoughtful, hands-on approach to commercial and real estate development. She thrives on putting neighborly touches on each of her projects. We cannot wait for you to learn from her. She’s a “...
Jul 06, 2021•26 min•Ep. 13
Picture a mentor that has shaped you. What characteristics does this person embody? Your list of qualities likely includes maximizing your potential, being a great listener, developing your skills, and constantly improving their performance. We cannot wait for you to meet Wilbert Long, Jr., a mentor to many and now a mentor to our Mitten Money listeners. Wilbert’s journey to mentorship and co-founding Strategic Supply Chain Solutions, LLC includes working in various industries around the country...
Jun 22, 2021•29 min•Ep. 12
In today’s episode, we welcome Bob Sutherland, the owner of Cherry Republic. Established in 1989, Cherry Republic creates the most unique, fresh, and high-quality cherry creations in the world. Bob is an entrepreneur through and through. He’s resilient, creative, and generous. Bob shared about Cherry Republic’s origin story and started with, “we come from a very humble beginning. In 1989, I was selling t-shirts out of the back of my old, old rusty car. I even had chicken wire in the truck to kee...
Jun 08, 2021•25 min•Ep. 11
Dear Listeners, May is Michigan Wine Month. Did you know the Michigan Wine Industry accounts for 47,299 jobs, $5.4 Billion in total economic impact, and $1.8 in employee wages?* Wow! Consumers are thirsty for wines grown amongst the Great Lakes. To celebrate Michigan Wine Month, our gift to you, dear listeners, is an interview with Luke and Faye Pickelman, lifelong Michiganders who left corporate American to pursue their dreams. Luke and Faye purchased land for a vineyard in 2011 and released th...
May 25, 2021•23 min•Ep. 10
Since its humble beginnings in 1995, BIGGBY COFFEE has grown from one location in East Lansing, Michigan, to over 240 locations in 13 states. A fear that some have when scaling at this magnitude is maintaining consistent company culture. Jeremy DeRuiter and Brieanne Roper are two dynamic, enthusiastic, and caring individuals leading the corporate culture initiatives at BIGGBY COFFEE. Jeremy and Brie ensure their company’s culture is known and embraced by thousands of employees. Employees at all ...
May 18, 2021•28 min•Ep. 9
