There are so many charities with so many great causes. Does your company support any charities or community events, or would you like to become more involved personally? Mitchell Tomlinson, President and CEO of Peckham along with Denise Busley, Founder of Grand Traverse Pie Company, shared their ideas of charitable and philanthropic support with different charities and organizations with Marsha Zimmerman, Marketing Manager for Dart Development on Michigan’s Big Show and during the 9am edition of the Michigan Business Rap on July 16, 2014. A summary of their conversation is included below:

• Mitchell explained that Peckham, a non-profit organization, hires many people with disabilities and they feel it is very important to give back to charities and local community organizations. They have events that support veterans, refugees and youth and are always looking for ways to make their lives just a little bit better.
• Refugees are persons who are being settled in Lansing, and some also have disabilities, and Peckham tries to find out those things and tries to help out with their efforts.
• Peckham specifically seeks out charities and organizations that fit their business model within their company.
• Denise Busley commented that Grand Traverse Pie Company looks at things more along the lines of philanthropy vs. charity, meaning, they look at people and how can they make people better as opposed to simply giving money. GT Pie Co. also believes that being philanthropic, allows their company to make the world a better place.
• Grand Traverse Pie Company is also very focused on youth. Denise has been appointed to Governor Snyder’s Task Force for Prevention of Sexual Abuse in Children, and is very passionate about making a different in children’s lives. “Erin’s Law” was passed in January 2013, and a task force has been developed from this law.
• Denise explained that Grand Traverse Pie Company works with different groups, whether it be from the arts, church or school initiatives; however, she feels that if she targets one bigger initiative, she can give more of herself and make a bigger impact / contribution to make change. GT Pie Co. also gives a lot of product from their stores for different community events.
• In Segment 2, Rachael Sanford from Greater Ingham County Habitat for Humanity added that they really focus on the rural part of Ingham County, and are currently constructing wheelchair ramps in Williamston and Mason, and also working on a roof repair in Dansville.

During the 9AM edition of the Michigan Business Rap, panel experts weighed in on their efforts and beliefs regarding charitable giving and involvement in community events/organizations. A summary of their conversation is included below:

• Phil Tripp, owner of Tripp’s Auto Shop & Collision Centers, feels that it’s so important to give back to the communities and to not only give to charities, but really focus on community participation and making events fun for families. Phil stressed the importance of what his customers truly mean to him, and that’s why he wants to give back to them.
• Steve Klaver, owner of DBI Office Interiors, commented that there is so much need out there, and one of the things they did this year was support a school within the Lansing School District with four new picnic tables and got rid of the old dangerous tables. Also, Haven House in East Lansing had an old beat up basketball hoop that the kids couldn’t enjoy any more, so DBI replaced it with a brand new one and constructed it for them.
• Bob Fish, owner of Biggby Coffee, stated that giving is one of their seven core values, and they believe that “giving is getting.” They have changed the traditional ROI (Return On Investment) to ROI, Return on Involvement. When starting out, Bob didn’t contribute a lot of money; however, he did personally participate as much as he could as a way of giving back. Biggby customers support their stores, and it’s important that Biggby employees get back out and support their customers and communities.
• Kim Laforet, The Laforet Team / Coldwell Banker Hubbell Briarwood, stated that she is proud to work for a company who gives back to the community, so employees are definitely looking to be a part of a company that can make an impact in the community. Kim also mentioned that if you don’t have money to give, then you can always give your time and talents.
• Both Bob Hedlund, owner of Hedlund Plumbing; and Nikali Luke, owner of Simplified Tax and Accounting, said that they have found that they are involved in a lot of “in kind” giving. They have a skill / product that people need, and they are willing and happy to help when needed.
• Nikali Luke also added that if a company sponsors an event by putting their name on a t-shirt or the like, they can claim that as an advertising expense, which will ultimately allow that company to give more.

Labels: Lansing, latest, Michigan Big Show, Michigan Business Rap

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Are you an employer who is searching for your next super star employee? Or are you a prospective employee needing to know where to look for that career you’ve been going to school for? Toni Griffin, Account Director and Executive Recruiter, Control System Integrators; and Phil Gardner, Executive Director of Michigan State University Career Services, shared their insight and experience with Marsha Zimmerman, Marketing Manager for Dart Development (www.dartdevelopment.com)on Michigan’s Big Show and during the 9 AM edition of the Michigan Business Rap on June 18, 2014. Highlights of the discussion:

• Toni mentioned that when you work with a Recruiter, it’s like working with a matchmaker, in that the Recruiter is challenged with the task of aligning the employee with an employer who is looking for the skills and assets of that employee.
• As a candidate, working with a Recruiter is free, which is an incredible resource to take advantage of. The Recruiter can look at your resume and make any tweaks and changes if needed. A Recruiter can also help you set up a designated email space so all employment emails will go to one place.
• Fees for using a Recruiter for a company/business vary depending on what the company/business is looking for. Recruiters can work with small and large businesses.
• Phil said that the Career Services Department at Michigan State University serves as the interface between the student and the prospective employer. The Career Services Department starts to work with students as early as their freshman year, obtaining background history and working towards the last step, which is to match the student with their next employer.
• The students who have prepared themselves in their four years of college, building skills and competencies, and starting their job search early on, have a tremendous head start upon their graduation. Many times these students will already have been offered a job due to internships, summer work experiences and/or their strong networking abilities over the years.
• Michigan State University works a lot with interns during the student’s college years and helps align the student with an employer who is in need of their skills.
• Useful websites for your job search: LinkedIn, Monster.com and Glassdoor.com. Always keep your resume updated.
• Helpful tip to employees searching for a job – be responsive. Lack of communication, whether verbal or written, will not work to your advantage.

Labels: latest, Michigan Big Show, Michigan Business Rap

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Many entrepreneurs and small business owners try to tackle bookkeeping and accounting on their own. Tim Lowe (Branch Manager and Mortgage Advisor at Perl Mortgage) and Bob Hedlund (Owner, Hedlund Plumbing), and Scott Daneck (Equanimity Wealth Management) shared some of their experiences during a round table discussion with Marsha Zimmerman (Marketing Manager with Dart Development).

What did they learn? Doing it on your own can translate into many wasted hours and resources. “You can say it was money down the toilet,” said Tim Lowe. Whether you decide to outsource to an accounting firm, or hire in-house help, here are a few things to consider:

1. Make the investment. Hedlund Plumbing has an in-house bookkeeper who works with an external CPA. Lowe reported that he relies on an outside accounting firm. Both Hedlund and Lowe agreed that trusting someone to track financial information and offer guidance on how to navigate tax requirements saves them time and money, while also allowing them to focus on their services. 
2. Do your research. When it comes to accounting firms and financial planners, many are required to meet specific certifications. During a Michigan Business Rap segment, Scott Daneck (Equanimity Wealth Management) talked to Zimmerman about which certifications and titles are important, as well as what to listen for when you’re screening professional services. 
3. Leverage industry-specific software. Many industries have software specific to their trade. Hedlund mentioned that the software used at Hedlund Plumbing helps them track all their inventory. Software tailored specifically for your industry is often more efficient than using several different systems to track necessary financial details. 
4. Learn from others in your field. Trade Associations can be an incredible resources for small business owners. You can network with other business owners outside of your immediate area, and often you can benefit from their experience and lessons learned. 
5. Communicate your goals. Financial people help set you up to achieve those goals. If you’re clear about what you need to do and where you want to go, they can help move the pieces to help get you there. 

Labels: latest, Michigan Big Show, Michigan Business Rap

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Guests: Bob Hedlund (Hedlund Plumbing), Tim Lowe Perl Mortgage
Topic: Bookkeeping and accounting for small businesses

Labels: Bookkeeping and accounting for small businesses, latest, Michigan Business Rap

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Guest: Nikali Luke from Simplified Tax Accounting Topic: Pros and Cons of becoming an LLC, and questions small businesses should be asking their financial advisors.

Labels: and questions small businesses should be asking their financial advisors, latest, Michigan Business Rap, Pros and Cons of becoming an LLC

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Guests: Tom Stewart founder of Commonwealth Enterprises and Ken Szymusiak from LEAP
Topic: Business incubator spaces for public and private sectors

Labels: Business incubator spaces for public and private sectors, latest, Michigan Business Rap

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