Article Photographer: Hannah Ziegeler

Seasonally unadjusted jobless rates fell notably in all 17 of Michigan’s major labor market areas during June 2020, according to data released from the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget (DTMB). Michigan’s regional unemployment rates ranged from 10.5 to 17.8 percent in June. June jobless rate cuts were significant, ranging from 3.4 to 8.5 […]

Michigan’s seasonally-adjusted jobless rate remained above 20 percent in May, although the rate declined slightly from 24.0 percent in April to 21.2 percent in May. Michigan’s employment total rose by 256,000 in May while the number of unemployed fell by 97,000. The result was a notable workforce gain of 159,000 over the month prior. The […]

Let’s take it outside! Downtown Kalamazoo is getting down with the new normal and adapting to accommodate new capacity regulations in restaurants and retail establishments. A new plan, dubbed “The Outdoor Experience,” is the product of a collaboration between the Kalamazoo Downtown Partnership and the City of Kalamazoo to open up public spaces for dining, […]

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 […]

A typical four-person household washes eight to 10 laundry loads every seven days, according to Unclutterer. Averaging 16 pounds per load, this equates to lugging 144 pounds of dirty clothes to and from the laundry room each week. Contrast this vision to that of the 450,000 pounds of laundry serviced weekly at Continental Linen Services […]

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 […]

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Kalamazoo, MI The Kalamazoo Promise (The Promise) is known far and wide as one of the nation’s premier community development programs, and education is just one of its team’s many purposes—and passions. The Promise employs specialists who come to work every day eager to break down the barriers that stand between Promise Scholars […]