AI Software, Web and Mobile Apps, Product Design and more! Discover what Michigan company has been custom building software for 200+ Organizations since 2001. In this episode we welcome Jonah Bailey , Managing Partner at Atomic Object , as he talks about the future of AI and software technology . Atomic Object is a software development and design consultancy that customizes programs for each unique client. With offices from Ann Arbor to Grand Rapids, Chicago and North Carolina, they are developi...
Jul 02, 2025•33 min•Season 5Ep. 24
In the Southwest Corner of Michigan is the economic powerhouse Cornerstone Alliance, doing business retention and expansion, physical development, and placemaking As President and CEO, Marla Schneider oversees Cornerstone Alliance ’s comprehensive efforts to attract and retain businesses, foster entrepreneurship, and create a thriving economic landscape in Southwest Michigan . She shares with us several transformative projects underway, including initiatives focused on business retention and exp...
Jul 02, 2025•28 min•Season 5Ep. 23
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) helps power the American dream of entrepreneurship. This week we chat with Everett Woodel, Jr. , the Great Lakes Regional Administrator for the U.S. SBA , about how the SBA helps small businesses throughout the Great Lakes area, from crises and disaster resistance services to loan forgiveness and more. Prior to his appointment as the Great Lakes Regional Administrator, Everett served as the District Director for the SBA in Columbus, Ohio overseeing pr...
Jun 25, 2025•32 min•Season 5Ep. 22
With more than 200 years of rocket science experience combined, scientists and engineers are propelling technology from the Upper Peninsula to the outer corners of the solar system We welcome Dr. Brad King , CEO of Orbion Space Technology in Houghton, Michigan, as he shares the story of how Orbion came to be, the companies they have partnered with, and his connection to the Upper Peninsula . The high-tech aerospace company specializes in Hall-effect thruster (HET) Propulsion Systems, helping spa...
Jun 18, 2025•29 min•Season 5Ep. 21
Detroit City FC: Where 7,000 strong pack the stands — and a bold new soccer stadium is on the way. Detroit City Football Club is Detroit's professional soccer team and has established itself as one of the most talked about soccer teams in North America. The club has generated media coverage from publications across the globe. CEO Sean Mann has been involved in every facet of the growing organization, including Detroit City Fieldhouse and City Clubhouse. Sean also shares his unique career path fr...
Jun 11, 2025•29 min•Season 5Ep. 20
From skateboards to hunting blinds, fly fishing gear to motorcycles — Brad Garmon is hitting the road across Michigan, connecting with outdoor recreation entrepreneurs who are building, innovating, and making things happen! As we continue our series Around Michigan in Under 30 Minutes , we talk with Brad Garmon , Executive Director of the Michigan Outdoor Recreation Industry Office . He discusses how the office is charged with supporting and growing the outdoor recreation lifestyle economy of th...
Jun 04, 2025•34 min•Season 5Ep. 19
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula Drives Growth and Talent Retention with Northern Michigan University, InvestUP and Local Experts We talk with Lexi Hagan , Executive Director of Menominee Business Development Corporation and Marty Fittante , CEO of Invest UP , about the Rural Leadership Fellowship Program at Northern Michigan University . The Fellowship is a paid and scholarship-supported applied learning experience for students interested in rural economic development and public sector careers. As a ...
May 28, 2025•28 min
Explore a new AI venture born in Michigan — led by a seasoned tech veteran, focused on strengthening affinity relationships for member-based organizations. We welcome back Trista Van Tine as she shares the story behind her innovative Michigan-based startup and her deep roots in the tech startup ecosystem. Her latest venture, Nunchi , is an AI-powered people intelligence platform built to help membership organizations better understand, engage, and connect with their communities. From early-stage...
May 21, 2025•23 min•Season 5Ep. 17
Connecting the Future of Smart Cities and Beyond Eric Gannaway , Director of Traffic at D2 Traffic Technologies , has over 20 years of traffic transportation experience with a manufacturing background. In this episode he shares how D2 Traffic Technologies delivers cutting-edge traffic management solutions in the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) industry. They specifically bring products and solutions designed to meet the growing demand in the transportation, traffic, and smart city marke...
May 14, 2025•34 min•Season 5Ep. 16
200 small businesses, 12,000 attendees at "All Things Detroit" event at the Eastern Market, food trucks at the NFL Draft, Ask Jennyfer, LLC defines hustle in the new economy! Among other services at Ask Jennyfer , Jennyfer Crawford-Williams conceptualizes, manages and executes the successful small business showcase All Things Detroit, which draws as many as 12,000 attendees and connects them to more than 200 small businesses. Her signature, independently-organized event is held each fall and spr...
May 07, 2025•30 min•Season 5Ep. 15
We continue coverage of the Pure Michigan Governor's Conference on Tourism , a three-day conference focusing on education, networking, and collaboration opportunities to advance the state's tourism industry. The Michigan Opportunity talks with tourism and hospitality leaders about current trends in the travel industry, the economic impact of travel and tourism on Michigan’s economy, and what’s new in Pure Michigan for the 2025 spring and summer travel season. Guests include: Choose Lansing Presi...
Apr 30, 2025•55 min•Season 5Ep. 14
The Pure Michigan Governor's Conference on Tourism is an annual event hosted in Michigan for tourism and hospitality professionals. The three-day conference focuses on education, networking, and collaboration opportunities to advance the state's tourism industry. The Michigan Opportunity talks with tourism and hospitality leaders about current trends in the travel industry, the economic impact of travel and tourism on Michigan’s economy, and what’s new in Pure Michigan for the 2025 spring and su...
Apr 23, 2025•1 hr•Season 5Ep. 13
From the hardwood forests of the Upper Peninsula to the Final 4, this Amasa based company brings Michigan power to March Madness courts Listen as Connor Sports Marketing Director, Zach Riberdy , shares how the company got started, their sustainability practices, an NCAA partnership, and more. Through their partnership with the NCAA® they provide over 14 floors for the March Madness® Division I Men's and Women's Basketball Championships culminating in the Final Four®. Founded in 1872, Connor Spor...
Apr 16, 2025•33 min•Season 5Ep. 12
As the #2 credit union in Michigan, Michigan State University Federal Credit Union (MSUFCU) has 23 branches, 358,000+ members, $7.7B in assets, and 1,100+ employees. April Clobes , President and CEO of MSUFCU , discusses the history of the credit union and what the credit union offers to Michigan residents. She joined the Credit Union in 1996 and moved through many positions within the organization prior to being named President and CEO in 2015. She serves on five #FinTech Advisory Boards. Found...
Apr 09, 2025•31 min•Season 5Ep. 11
Giffels Webster: Shaping Michigan’s Communities with Engineering, Planning & Innovation Jill Bahm is a Partner at Giffels Webster , a Michigan-based firm serving public, private, and institutional clients with their community planning, infrastructure, and land development needs. In this episode, she discusses how Giffels Webster helps communities with their vision for the future, working with MEDC and the Redevelopment Ready program, and more. Since its inception in 1952, Giffels Webster has...
Apr 02, 2025•29 min•Season 5Ep. 10
Bridging Divides: The Michigan Political Leadership Program takes a bipartisan approach to public policy at Michigan State University Since 1992, over 800 Michigan Political Leadership Program (MPLP) graduates have applied the skills and relationships they learned to work in their communities and serve in statewide offices. Tonya Schuitmaker and Rudy Hobbs are Co-Directors at the Michigan Political Leadership Program . They share with us how MPLP Fellows gain expertise to tackle public policy is...
Mar 26, 2025•32 min•Season 5Ep. 9
Using innovation to attract urban talent to sustainable cities including: NYC, LA County, and Detroit (plus a touch of London and Italy)! CIV:LAB was born out of a need for more coordination and collaboration between the various stakeholders that work to make cities more sustainable . We sit down with Founder and Executive Director, Simon Sylvester-Chaudhuri , and Chief of Staff, Allison Lucas , to learn more about CIV:LAB’s mission and vision. CIV:LAB's work in Michigan began with working with ...
Mar 19, 2025•35 min•Season 5Ep. 8
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (U.P.) is filled with exceptional views and exceptional talent. From Ironwood to Sault Ste. Marie, the UP is home to three state universities, several manufacturing companies, and many national outdoor recreation events a year. We welcome back InvestUP CEO, Marty Fittante as part of our Around Michigan in Under 30 Minutes series, to discuss the current projects happening in the U.P. Fittante talks about the Upper Peninsula’s unique impact in the aerospace and defense i...
Mar 12, 2025•26 min•Season 5Ep. 7
From work commutes to connecting people with destinations across Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties, SMART has been Southeast Michigan’s trusted transit provider since 1967. As the General Manager of the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART), Dwight A. Ferrell oversees a complex organization that provides essential public transit and paratransit services to the residents of Southeast Michigan . Ferrell has more than 35 years of experience in the public sector, managing ...
Mar 05, 2025•25 min•Season 5Ep. 6
Around the World in 30 Minutes: Insights from the Executive Director of Grand Rapids’ 75+ Year-Old World Affairs Council This week we talk with Michael Van Denend , Executive Director of the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan . He discusses how the World Affairs Council is dedicated to educating people in western Michigan about other countries, cultures, and regions of the world and provides a forum for discussing critical foreign policy issues facing the country. The Council is best know...
Feb 26, 2025•31 min•Season 5Ep. 5
Uniting the Voices of Chambers and Economic Leaders Across Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula On this episode we chat with Haley Bennett , Director of Government Relations for Traverse Connect and the Norther Michigan Chamber Alliance , about how Traverse Connect is supporting area businesses through a combination of business attraction and retention strategies, talent development efforts, and strategic coordination among partner agencies. Bennett also serves as the Director of Government...
Feb 19, 2025•28 min•Season 5Ep. 4
Michigan’s University Research Corridor (URC) works with Michigan’s three leading research institutions: Michigan State University, University of Michigan and Wayne State University, on a growing interest in technology based economic development. We welcome back Michigan’s URC Executive Director, Dr. Britany Affolter-Caine , as she discusses the future of R&D in their four main initiatives ( Life and Health Sciences , Advanced Manufacturing , Sustainability and Artificial Intelligence ). She...
Feb 12, 2025•30 min•Season 5Ep. 3
What do Terry Crews, Rumer Willis, Josh Groban, Norah Jones and many more artists have in common? They all attended Michigan’s Interlochen Center for the Arts! Listen to Interlochen President, Trey Devey , describe Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan. This world-renowned nonprofit institution was founded in 1928 and has nurtured some of the industry’s most talented artists, musicians, actors, and performers. Its prestigious art programs and education institutions include the Interlochen ...
Feb 05, 2025•34 min•Season 5Ep. 2
Michigan’s Economic story and what’s next for the state. We begin our fifth season with a new series Around Michigan in Under 30 Minutes, by connecting with longtime podcast supporter and returning guest, Quentin Messer Jr. , Chief Executive & Economic Competitiveness Officer at MEDC . In this episode he discusses the Make it in Michigan strategy, gives us a preview of what is to come for the state, and he shares a Detroit Lions metaphor you won’t forget....
Jan 29, 2025•27 min•Season 5Ep. 1
Whirlpool Corporation, headquartered in Michigan, is behind iconic brands like Maytag, KitchenAid, JennAir and Amana. Hear from one of their top designers! Jessica McConnell , Director of CMF (Color, Material, and Finish) & Graphic Design at Whirlpool Corporation, navigates a fascinating path in designing and forecasting products that shape daily life. Whirlpool Corporation , an American multinational Fortune 500 company headquartered in Benton Charter Township, Michigan and stands as a lead...
Jan 22, 2025•29 min•Season 4Ep. 52
Step Into the Future of Innovation: The New Integr8 Series with Automation Alley. Thomas Kelly joins as we explore AI, 3D printing, mass customization, Industry 4.0, and beyond. We chat with returning guest, Tom Kelly of Automation Alley. Automation Alley is a nonprofit technology business association and digital transformation insight center that helps manufacturers in Michigan understand new technology including AI, 3D printing, robotics, Industry 4.0 and more. Tom also takes us through Integr...
Jan 15, 2025•31 min•Season 4Ep. 51
Listen as Kiana Wenzell shares the inspiring stories of College for Creative Studies, Design Core Detroit, and Detroit’s UNESCO City of Design Journey. College for Creative Studies (CCS) is a private art school in Detroit, Michigan. It enrolls more than 1,400 students and focuses on arts education. Located in CCS’ A. Alfred Taubman Center for Design Education , Design Core Detroit provides support for design driven businesses with matchmaking opportunities focused on growth, retention, and attra...
Jan 08, 2025•29 min
WJR is a Detroit-based AM radio station that broadcasts throughout Detroit, southeast Michigan, and parts of northern Ohio. At night, it can also be heard in most of the eastern United States and eastern Canada. WJR is one of the most powerful radio stations in the United States, with a power of 50,000 watts. We chat with Ann Thomas Battersby , the first female Program Director in the station’s 101-year history. During her tenure at WJR , Ann has received numerous awards and honors from several ...
Dec 23, 2024•30 min•Season 4Ep. 49
On October 7, 2000, the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration designated Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary as the nation's first national marine sanctuary in the Great Lakes. Now the sanctuary oversees nearly 100 historic shipwrecks in Lake Huron off the Michigan coast and an underwater robotics world championship! Hear from Jeff Gray , Superintendent of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary , NOAA , as he talks about underwater preservation, diving the great lakes, and educating...
Dec 18, 2024•33 min•Season 4Ep. 48
Mobility and automotive technology today is about connectivity and becoming an information center. Qiong Sun has been working with cutting edge technology and innovation, from industrializing to commercializing it. Michigan-based Qiong Sun talks about her 28 years of mobility experience. As the Vice President & GM of Global Automotive E-mobility at TE Connectivity , her specialties include product development, planning and strategy. Sun shares about her life growing up in Shanghai, her time ...
Dec 11, 2024•30 min•Season 4Ep. 47
