August 2014 Issue

Book Review: Small Giants by Bo Burlingham

By Chris Wendel

Small Giants, Companies That Chose to Be Great Instead of Big

By Bo Burlingham

256 pages, Hardcover $13.69, e-read version $6.69

It’s a difficult juggling act for companies to be financially successful, keeping their employees happy – all while fulfilling customer and the public’s expectations. Small Giants takes a unique approach in taking the deep dive into each part of this equation. Several years after being released, it still remains at the top of my list of recommended management books.

Bo Burlingham, author of Small Giants, started a quest ten years ago to find companies that resisted …

Pipelines and the Great Lakes Don't Mix

By Hans Voss

Did you know there are two 61-year-old pipelines submerged in the Mackinac Straits that pump 22 million gallons of oil a day through one of the most unique and beautiful parts of the Great Lakes?

How about the pipeline that ruptured and spilled a million gallons of oil into the Kalamazoo River four years ago? Did you know that it leaked for 17 hours, the cleanup continues to this day, and that …

Talk Taxes Now For A Better Retirement

By Autumn Soltysiak

One can’t control the tax rate or the market, but one can work to reduce current taxes and maximize income potential. Perhaps it shouldn’t come as a surprise that taxes can have a substantial impact on the retirement experience, but for many it does. If you’re like most people planning for retirement, you understand the importance of building and preserving retirement savings. By saving and investing as much as possible, one can …

Organizing Your Finances: Before and After a Personal Loss

By Holly Gallagher, CFP® AIF® PPC®

Life’s uncertainties can present personal hardships that not only affect us emotionally, but financially as well.

The death of a spouse or life partner is one of the toughest events to go through. Along with the emotional adjustment of continuing on without one's best friend, there is additional stress involved in facing the relevant financial issues while still grieving. Even as the primary person handling the family finances, this …

Determining The "True Cost" Of A Lease

By Jerry Snowden

Time to find new commercial space for your business? While visions of a better layout, more natural light or easier customer access may be the fun things to think about, the true costs of occupying a space is really where pencil needs to be put to paper.

…

Whose ‘Local’ Politics are Best for Northern Michigan?

By Doug Luciani

“All politics is local” is a phrase associated with former U.S. House Speaker Thomas P. “Tip” O’Neill, a political legend in Massachusetts. It’s said to be advice from his father – a city councilman in Cambridge – given to a young O’Neill before he unsuccessfully ran for …

Briefly: Big News In A Small Format

SOLAR-POWERED GOLF COURSE OPENS

Northport Creek Golf Course, the first solar-powered course in Michigan, is now open. Northport Creek offers three-hole, six-hole and nine-hole play. It is built on a 63-acre parcel, a former cherry orchard, at the northern end of the village. The course was developed by Bill and …

Our Fair City: How Will We Build It?

This month marks the launch of a new bi-monthly column about local architecture and design by Scott Lankford of Lankford Design Group in Traverse City.

I want to start a conversation about our City, our growth and responsibility to our memories and meaning. For me, our area and Traverse City …

"Going Small" In A Big, Big (Real Estate) World

By Al Parker

Small office vs. big companies has been a long-standing debate in the real estate business. Big operations have big marketing budgets and brand name recognition, but smaller firms often offer more personal service – a huge factor in the real estate game.

So with the Grand Traverse …

20 Years Of Covering the Region's Business

By Ross Boissoneau

A lot can happen in 20 years. Trends come and go, businesses start and fail, technology changes – well, everything.

It was 20 years ago this month that the Traverse City Business News debuted (as the TK), promising in-depth stories about the local business community. Here we …

Local Construction Industry Adds New Leader

One of the most influential industry organizations in the region has new leadership. The Home Builders Association of the Grand Traverse Area (HBAGTA) recently hired Caroline Kennedy as its executive director. The TCBN caught up with Kennedy to get her thoughts about a construction industry on the rebound.

YOU'RE NEW …

Newsmakers: People On The Move

APPOINTMENTSAl Bonney of Traverse City has been appointed Rotary District Governor for 2014-15. As governor, he coordinates the community and international service projects of the 60 clubs in the West Michigan/Wawa Canada District 6290 area. He joins 534 other Rotarians worldwide serving as a district governor this year. Bonney has …

To Default Or Not To Default

When it comes to loaning businesses money – whether for a new enterprise or an expansion – there are some definite “money in the bank” bets. There are also some that carry a bit more default risk.

The TCBN asked a handful of local …

Real Estate Transactions Go "Green"

By Brian Johnson

Our cars, our appliances – even our houses – are “going green” these days. And it would appear the next “green” opportunity is … our real estate transactions. Real estate deals are notorious for being paper-intensive. Purchase agreements and their amendments, mortgage documents, appraisals, title commitments and …

Northwestern-To-Chemical Bank Transition On Track

What’s yellow and black, soon to be green and white all over?

Bank leaders say Northwestern Bank’s conversion to Chemical Bank is on track for a likely August completion. Midland-based Chemical announced the purchase of Northwestern in March; as the closing of the deal now approaches, existing Northwestern employees know …

Going For The Grant

Looking for a grant to build a business in a particular geographic area? Hire certain workers? Launch a new technology? Best of luck.

While grants are the lifeblood of many a nonprofit, educational institution and social service agency, grants for for-profit businesses are almost a misnomer.

“In the broadest terms, …

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