Month: April 2019

Greg Dobson, Chief Operating Officer and Principal at AVB, tells us about his journey to leadership. 1970 | Born in Quincy, MI  I grew up in a strong family environment. However, my entire family is made up of die-hard Michigan State Spartans. So, when I got a last-moment scholarship to Western Michigan University (WMU) and […]

Nick White, Director of Facilities for Ascension Borgess Health, and Nancy Turtle, Kalamazoo Community Bank President at Mercantile Bank, give their perspective on leadership. First thing you do in the morning? Nick White: Make my bed. Nancy Turtle: Brew a cup of coffee. I don’t function well without it. First pet?  Nick: A 140-pound golden […]

Teamwork and a mission-driven business model unlock opportunities for Keystone Solutions Group. Company Keystone Solutions Group Local Executives Jim Medsker, President Vaughn Gerber, Director of Operations Headquarters 6387 Technology Avenue Kalamazoo, MI 49009 Year Founded 1997 Regional Footprint 48,000 square feet with 31,000 square feet in manufacturing space Industries Served • Medical Device • Aerospace […]

Arbor Financial Credit Union opens doors to new business. On March 6, 2019, a snowy, below-freezing day, excited staff and supporters huddled in front of Arbor Financial Credit Union’s newest location. The icy pavement didn’t stop the attendees from posing for a celebratory photo with their proud teammates. It was the grand opening and ribbon-cutting […]

Greenbush Brewery owner, Scott Sullivan, took his love for home brewing to the next level when he opened the Sawyer, Michigan brewery. The coast of Lake Michigan is home to some of the best-kept secrets the mitten state has to offer. From Muskegon to Holland, Grand Haven to St. Joseph, its beach-centric towns draw thousands […]

Michael Englmaier learns to design hydraulics at Parker Hannifin Corporation. Hometown Portage, MI Education  Western Michigan University (WMU) Engineering Design Technology Major; Business Management Minor Expected Graduation: May 2020 Position  Engineering Intern at Parker Hannifin, Summer 2018 Working on all Cylinders  I grew up in Michigan, but I was originally born in Germany. My family […]

How Michigan’s Going PRO training fund is injecting growth into Eimo Technologies. If you were to ask a manufacturer to tell you its biggest challenges, the search for skilled talent would likely land among its top three answers. Michigan has worked hard to reclaim its spot among the top states for both manufacturing output and […]

A Q+A with Savannah Walters, Industrial Designer at Newell Brands. How do you approach design in your role at Newell Brands? I’m a staff industrial designer at Newell Brands, a leading global consumer goods company. We have a lot of great brands in our portfolio—since I started here, I have gotten to work on a […]

Regional leaders share lessons they’ve learned on their journeys. When it comes to expanding communities, the focus tends to fall on young and emerging professionals: how to lure them in, how to make them stay, and how to set them up for growth. While young people are an undeniable asset to an evolving economy, it’s […]