TRAVERSE CITY - With the economy in a downturn, it might seem an odd time for a company to expand into northern Michigan. But that is precisely what has happened with Fox Grand Traverse. "Northern Michigan is growing by leaps and bounds, and we knew...
LEELANAU CO. - Randy Woods has the perfect property for installing a wind turbine. Woods built Wooden Fish Vineyard six years ago on a high ridge off Hohnke Road in Leelanau County. He had always envisioned the land to be perfect for growing grapes with...
TRAVERSE CITY - "Power to the People!" is the slogan for Garth Ward's Traverse City-based company, Michigan Wind Power (MWP).Ward has become one of the first dealers in the country selling a more advanced form of wind turbine to individual households. With Ward's help, individuals...
TRAVERSE CITY - In a business that's considered far from green - black, in fact - one company in the Grand Traverse area is leading the way with an earth-conscious philosophy. For 14 years, SureSeal has been using an environmentally-friendly asphalt emulsion sealing product. The most...
We've all heard about going paperless and buying more efficient vehicles to cut costs and reduce our businesses' carbon footprint. But consider this: energy use from office equipment has surpassed lighting in most office environments, accounting for 30 to 40 percent of the electricity bill....
Ah, the Organics craze. Throw a couple of natural sounding ingredients into your product and voila! It is "good for you." Or perhaps a business can sell one or two "all natural" products and suddenly it becomes known as "all organic."Salon Verve is the real...
TRAVERSE CITY - Tom Corwin makes his living by venting.It's got nothing to do with the fact he's a licensed minister. It's got everything to do with how he's saving people money on their utility bills.Corwin and his wife, CeeJay, have spent eight years developing...
TRAVERSE CITY - Physicians and health care providers might be able to increase mobility and technology while streamlining their time thanks to new integration software just hitting the northern Michigan market. Traverse City-based Integrated Systems Consultants (ISC) is introducing a "gateway" product that promises...
Today's business climate demands that business owners use technology to a competitive advantage. In order to achieve maximum benefit from technology, owners must first have a plan that will serve as their roadmap to success. Too often companies implement technological solutions without a...
In the very recent past I have analyzed more annuity statements than ever in my career, which means they are being sold like hotcakes at a fundraiser. It is not uncommon to see an uptick in the sales of these investment products during times of...
