Article Author: Heather Baker

It’s almost game time. The tip-off is about to happen. As you slip on your favorite jersey, you find yourself asking that good-looking face in the mirror, “Isn’t that 55-inch big screen TV feeling a little small?” If you find yourself screaming “heck yah,” grab your car keys and head out to one of these […]

December jobless rates rose slightly in most Southwest Michigan labor markets due to seasonal job cuts in the construction and mining, leisure and hospitality, business services, and government sectors. But, there’s no reason to get hot under the collar at this uptick. The Kalamazoo-Portage metro area recorded an unemployment rate of 2.7 percent, which was […]

When Stryker Corporation began the search for a place to construct a $154 million research and development facility for its Instruments Division, it had to look no further than the home of its birth in Southwest Michigan. On January 27, 2020, several hundred corporate and community leaders celebrated in tandem as the ribbon was cut […]

It’s January in Southwest Michigan and there’s no better time to practice your double axle! We’ve found a few local skating spots for to slip and slide on over to. The Ice Rink at Millennium Park in Portage is the best place to take a date! Open Thursday to Sunday until 9:00 pm, you can […]

The 269 MAGAZINE team set out to find the best of the best happenings in Southwest Michigan in 2019. We wanted to stop at 10, but added two more for good measure! Graphic Packaging International selected Kalamazoo for its massive $600 million investment in facilities and equipment to support the company’s commitment to sustainable packaging. […]

WEALTH MANAGEMENT FIRM Kalamazoo, MI In the wealth management field, where clients’ assets are passed from generation to generation, relationships matter. “We’re like doctors in a way,” says Kimberly Dudley, human resource specialist at Greenleaf Trust. “Our clients are sharing deep, personal details about their finances with us, and that’s not something you disclose to […]

ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING AND DESIGN FIRM Kalamazoo, MI TowerPinkster, a West Michigan-based architectural firm, is behind the top-to-bottom composition of buildings across the state. TowerPinkster, a west Michigan-based architectural firm, is behind the top-to-bottom composition of buildings across the state. This creativity-centric company tackles architecture, engineering, interior design, landscape, security, and technology projects. But to keep […]

CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS Kalamazoo, MI For over 25 years, BKC, formally known as Brink, Key & Chludzinski, has been serving Southwest Michigan by providing accounting excellence in solutions for personal and business needs. And though this full-service firm has a roster of tax, audit, accounting, and consulting experts, each of its team members is passionate […]

CREDIT UNION Kalamazoo, MI Consumers Credit Union knows all about growth. Over 300 employees work at the credit union’s 20 West Michigan offices, with more joining its ranks every year. Jennifer Smith, senior recruiter and human resources specialist, credits the Consumer’s team for the organization’s success. “We’ve found that if we have happy and engaged […]

BEVERAGE DISTRIBUTOR Kalamazoo, MI Since the repeal of prohibition in 1933, Imperial Beverage has had a presence in Michigan. Today, over 80 years later, it keeps good cheer flowing in every county in the state. With new bars, breweries, and tasting rooms drawing ever-bigger crowds to Southwest Michigan’s downtowns, the company is enjoying a renaissance […]

CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT FIRM Portage, MI To witness the growth of Southwest Michigan is to see AVB’s team in action. The company is a leader in both residential and commercial development, and its people are driven by a passion for creating great places to live and work. “We have a desire to build things that […]

INDEPENDENT INSURANCE AGENCY Kalamazoo, MI Knock on the doors of Nulty Insurance, and you’ll find a staff of experts in personal and business insurance, as well as employee benefit services, waiting to welcome you. Helping clients prepare for whatever the future might bring is the company’s top priority. But when it comes to looking out […]