Sbam Shorts, Your Weekly Small Business Success Tip

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. “It's a great networking tool, and it's a great networking organization and it's a great political advocacy organization.” Bob Spence is the executive vice president of Spence Brothers Construction. “Talk to a number of different entrepreneurs and small businesses from across the state and just talk to them about how they do business and their challenges, how they're dealing with things, it's been very valuable for me, in particular getting the entrepreneurial type perspective from some really small businesses, is kind of energizing for me. Because you know, we're a little bit larger and deal with different things than let's say a start up would. So it's to get that sort of diversity of thought and approaches -- I don't see anywhere else where I could get that other than SBAM.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 80

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. “Who else can I talk to who understands my daily struggles.” Kim Bode is the owner of 8THIRTYFOUR, an award winning communications strategy, event planning, social media, media relations and design firm based in Grand Rapids. “I joke and say it's almost a support group, but it's almost like going home. You see a lot of the same business owners, you're all there to support each other, you're there, we all give advice to each other freely. But then, SBAM staff being able to know what's going on, on the legislative side of things, and how that's going to affect my business, is incredibly important.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. “The Small Business Association is just really an asset to help small businesses become better businesses and learn from one another and in really embellish, you know, what you've learned and how I can take some of those best practices within my own organization.” Ginny Seyferth is the founder and president of nationally-known public relations and communications firm SeyferthPR in Grand Rapids. “I think it's the opportunity to have somebody looking out for small business from whether it's taxes or you know, workers comp issues. It's a resource. I think when we get too limited into what we do every day and we don't look at the bigger picture I think it's problematic.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. “SBAM within the state of Michigan, hands down, has developed the best level of content and leadership material and networking for me and without SBAM, I don't know that I would know where else to go get it.” Dave Moore is president of VP Demand Creation Services, founded 50 years ago in Traverse City. “The best thing SBAM has done for me in terms of delivering content, delivering knowledge, because at the top of every organization, there's a president/CEO, and it's very lonely. And you no longer have a mentor. Unless you formed a board of directors, you no longer have a boss. And so where do you go for those resources? SBAM has developed that for me.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. “It's an amazing opportunity to just speak to someone that's been there, and done that, to see that, you know, you're on the right path, and you're doing the right stuff.” Justin Caine is the co-owner of Good Fruit Video in mid-Michigan and he appreciates the opportunity the organization gives him for owner-to-owner interaction. “Being able to talk to someone and when you think you’re drowning, and you think you're doing a horrible job, and then you talk to someone and they say, oh no, you know, yeah, I feel the same way or blah, blah, blah, you know, I did this and this is how I do this.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. “For one thing, I really value the expertise of the people who are leading the organization.” Cynthia Kay is a past board chair of SBAM and owner/president of Cynthia Kay and Company, a full service media production and communications consulting company in Grand Rapids. “What I love about SBAM is that they understand the issues sometimes before we even know it's an issue as a business owner, they take a really even handed nonpartisan approach to what they look at what is good for small business, and they come back and they give you the pros and the cons of things.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. “There's so many wonderful things about it. But I think one of the highest value pieces for me is the involvement in the legislation and the communication that comes out of that.” Sarah Hall is the owner and president of the Griswold Group, a health insurance agency and employee benefits consulting firm based in Grand Rapids and a member of SBAM’s Leadership Council. “For any person, you know, living a busy life running a business, some of us are not as able to stay as closely on top of the changes and the needs. So just being able to be made aware of what's going on and then in addition to that, obviously, being advocated for as a whole it's it's really a wonderful thing.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. “The staff at of SBAM is phenomenal, world-class. Would put them up against any association or leadership team in the country.” Bonnie Alfonso is the President/CEO of Alfie Logo Gear for Work & Play in Traverse City and a past chair of the Small Business Association of Michigan. “The connections that they have helped me build through a peer network within the organization, the opportunities I've had to serve, and the people that I've met along the way have now become lifelong friends. And I so value the connections and the opportunities that I have to learn and grow from other business leaders across the state. And it is just been phenomenal.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. “The fellowship of something like SBAM is remarkable.” Bob Fish is co-founder of BIGGBY COFFEE and a past chair of the Small Business Association of Michigan. “As a board member, I was just exposed to other board members, and then broadly, members of SBAM. And, you know, when anybody can create, you know, the word I like to use is scaffolding. That is that there are people around you where you can share your ideas, and you can listen to their ideas, and you can simply listen to them, because you might hear something differently that can really influence your thinking and allow you to grow.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. “Oh, I think as SBAM is a remarkable organization.” Gary Kushner is CEO of Kushner & Company in Portage and a past chair of the Small Business Association of Michigan. “The biggest value I saw was that SBAM was nonpartisan, or I shouldn't say partisan, but only to small business. It was not a Democratic or Republican organization like others in Lansing. But what I found that that allowed them to do and allowed all of its members and myself included to do was provide input on both sides of the aisle. Didn't matter who was in the, you know, which party was represented in the governor's office or the House or Senate. Up in Lansing, we were able to represent small business, probably at the greatest level of any organization in the state. And so I saw SBAM as this remarkable entity now in its 50th year. I've been involved with them for probably 30, 40, for almost 35 years or longer, and just saw them a

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. Erick Stewart, CEO and President of Stewart Industries in Battle Creek, recently set up a Foreign Trade Zone division at his company. He credits his SBAM engagement with helping to give him the confidence to move forward. “The owner experience has really helped us, given me more clarity, in terms of being aggressive, to be the entrepreneur that I know that I am, and looking at opportunities like this.” Stewart says he ran the Foreign Trade Zone idea past one of his fellow SBAM Board members, Gina Thorsen of StormyKromer. “And you know, her endorsement means a lot to me, because we throw a lot of things around, and she's one of my favorite folks from the U.P. and around the state. But, you know, in her textile industry, they deal with a lot of foreign materials and things of that nature. And her input, in terms of what I was thinking about doing, was really important. So, you know, you got people l

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. “Well, it goes back to the relationships.” Mike Busley and his wife Denise founded Grand Traverse Pie Company. “I mean, the opportunity to get together and talk about issues, not only listening to Brian and Rob and your team, but also all the great people that are members. And when you're sitting in a room, you know it's very hard to not have conversations that are in the group, is very willing to listen and to offer support. And then the relationships that might lead to I could point to many cases where folks that that I did not know are referred to me through SBAM meetings.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. “Focusing in on the mission, that is very important to me.” Christina Roehl is vice president of Gray Brigade and a past board member of the Small Business Association of Michigan. “And that's really what I've learned through osmosis with being involved with as spam and on the board. I noticed how everyone on that board and the people I’ve networked with a SBAM really focused in on what they want it to do. And the work here, there was that one mission that they wanted to get their business going, or whatever it is, they set their mind and their goals on. They have programs to help small businesses by the networking with other businesses, even if they're not similar businesses to yours. All businesses have the same problems and the same rewards as every other business. So that is where SBAM is very good. And it has evolved so much. And really anybody who joins SBAM. through osmosis you will learn

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. “SBAM has been truly a highlight in my life.” Frank Lopez is the founder and Chairman of Aztec Manufacturing Corporation, a tier-one supplier to the automotive industry, and a past member of the SBAM Board of Directors. “When I go to any meeting, or any seminar, I meet people that are engaged, and have the desires and and are looking at the future the way I do. So the past is just great. So I get energy, get energized when I associate with SBAM. A lot of organizations look at a different viewpoint but SBAM is very, very ahead of the game in terms of coming up with great items that drive those members to do better themselves. And I can see that every time I go to a meeting.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. Jerry Grubb is the co-owner (with his wife Rhonda) of Wee Discover Child Care and Enrichment Center in Waterford, and a past chair of the SBAM Board of Directors. One of the things he really values about his engagement is the way that SBAM gives him opportunities to connect with lawmakers, from state representatives to the governor. “It's great to call an office, it's great to be able to write a letter. But when you can talk to those people face-to-face and let them know we’re the small business people here in Michigan, we're the people who do a majority of the employment here in Michigan, this is what I think about that particular bill or this would really help if you did that -- those types of things -- the advocacy has been really strong for me.” Grubb also gets a lot out of participating in SBAM owner-to-owner activities. “When you go to the SBAM owner-to-owner meetings or the Leadership Counc

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. Cam Gnass is the owner of brand positioning firm Traction in Lansing and a past member of the SBAM Board of Directors. “This is just one of those opportunities and chances I found to meet some of the really great minds around our state, of people not only just running great small businesses, people that are running great small businesses that are interested in being involved on these other committees, are being on that board and help making a difference and being as insightful as we can about helping our businesses find their success. And that, to me, has been one of the most rewarding and kind of things I'm most grateful for.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. “SBAM is a terrific organization. There's so many things that SBAM does well that I appreciate. But I'd say the thing that I appreciate most is its true dedication to support the success of small business owners in the state.” Loch McCabe is the founder & CEO of Shepherd Advisors in Ann Arbor, and a past board member of SBAM. “It is focused on small business success. And you know, I may disagree with pathways to success. You know, I may have issues with SBAM policies around this or SBAM positions around this policy or that policy. But I have no doubt that SBAM as an organization is focused on the success of Shepherd Advisors, the success of our other clients. And that is, I think, one of the things that really makes SBAM special as an organization, as a nonprofit, you know, such a trade association or membership organization, who could be focused on many other things but turns out happens to be fo

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. “It's the ability to meet with others, who are executives, small business owners, talk to them get to know them, and, you know, see how they run their business and learning from them.” David Fant is the owner of Market Mapping plus Inc. in Grand Rapids and served on the SBAM Board of Directors. “I find that the political role that SBAM plays in helping small business to make sure that there are laws in place that benefit us or that don't damage us or hurt us as small businesses is critical in this day and age. Legislators, it seems, tend to wander off and do what they want. And they need somebody looking over their shoulder. We need somebody looking over their shoulder to make sure that what they are doing isn't going to hurt small business.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. “We had a meeting recently, in Ann Arbor, and I was able to meet with other small business owners, and I think those things are the most important to me, just talking with other people who are sort of like minded, you know, and hearing how they go through some of the different challenges that they have.” That’s Toni Krowisz, president and CEO of Ann Arbor-based Barnes Information Technology Solutions and a VIP member of SBAM. “I do like, what I see, I like keeping abreast on some of the policy changes that are out there, are potential changes, so to speak, so that I can kind of be proactive myself with not only helping my efforts, but also efforts of other business owners that I'm supporting.” Leverage the value of your involvement with the Small Business Association of Michigan. Learn more by calling today at 800-362-5461.

There are many great reasons for entrepreneurs like you to belong to the Small Business Association of Michigan. “I'd say the best benefit is being in the know and hearing what's on the horizon that we can help be aware of and be prepared for as a small business person.” Barb Lezotte is the owner of Lezotte Miller Public Relations in Lansing. She is a past member of the SBAM board of directors, and she really values the way that organization helps her make a difference on public policy issues. “I always look forward to the Legislative Council meetings because you get an insider's view of the workings at the state capitol, and what challenges are facing the business community and trying to push legislation that's going to make for a better business climate, and how we can be helpful.” “I remember when I was first on the board, we had to fight the battle of the Services Tax, which would have had a huge detrimental effect on small businesses, especially in my industry, service industry, and many others that fall