May 31, 2018
An Uncommon Melting Pot: Commonplace slated to open third co-working space
A lawyer, a graphic designer and a business consultant walk into an office ...
April 29, 2018
The Rise and Fall of Cribspot
[caption id="attachment_15009" align="alignleft" width="300"] Alex Gross (head of business development); Evan Dancer (co-founder, CTO/lead engineer); Jason Okrasinski (co-founder and CEO); Tim Jones (co-founder and CMO); Kevin Gardner (content manager)[/caption] Renting in Ann Arbor has never been a picnic. With little to no online information, students seeking off-campus...
April 29, 2018
Boating Registrations Swell in Region
Boat registrations in Michigan have fallen 10 percent since peaking in 2003, but the five-county Grand Traverse region is bucking the trend. That’s not a surprise to Rick Venner, general manager of Harbor Springs-based Walstrom Marine’s Traverse City showroom, which sells new and used boats ranging...
By Rick Haglund
January 2, 2018
Demise of the Cube Farm: Hagerty embraces the ‘Future of Work’
Hagerty is embracing the future of work one location at a time. The specialty insurance provider is redesigning parts of its work spaces to be more collaborative, including comfy furniture and areas where small groups can gather. The spaces getting refreshed include the Silverstone common area (see rendering) at...
November 30, 2017
When Disaster Strikes, Call These Guys
From their headquarters on Seeley Road just north of the village of Kalkaska, C.C. Power Electrical Contracting dispatched 100 men, bucket trucks and other equipment to Florida in early September. They were there to deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, one of the most powerful...
By Al Parker
August 30, 2017
After ‘Hell,’ a Career: Veterans with disabilities now have Traverse City-based vocational rehabilitation
For Sean McCarthy, the opportunity to help veterans with a disability get a job is its own reward. McCarthy is a vocational rehabilitation counselor for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. He works with veterans with disabilities who are looking for work. The services run the gamut,...
August 30, 2016
Support Group Attendance on the Rise at Michael’s Place: All programs still offered free of charge
Those grieving the loss of a loved one often turn to family members, friends, and their church. For the past several years, they could also turn to Michael’s Place. Started by Chris Dennos in 2001 in honor of her cousin Michael Dendrinos, who died at...
June 29, 2016
The Crossover Effect: Businesses in Little Traverse, Grand Traverse areas look for customers across the globe and in one another’s backyards
While the rise of online shopping has made the world a global marketplace, local businesses still find it profitable to reach out to their neighbors. That’s true whether those neighbors are across town or an hour or two away. In the case of the Grand Traverse...
December 29, 2015
The Trusted Advisor: Accountants advise business owners on tax planning, expansion and more
For many people, visiting their accountant is akin to seeing the dentist: An unpleasant yet necessary task. The only difference is a visit with the accountant only comes once a year (and you don’t get a free toothbrush). For many business owners, however, the relationship is...