By Luke Haase Things have changed a lot in the past two decades of northern Michigan banking. Gone are names like First of America, NBD, Republic, North Country, and others. Some banks have changed hands (and names) multiple times, like NBD-turned-Bank One-turned-Chase. So which bank is biggest...
By Lynn Geiger In theory, snowmaking sounds simple enough – turning water into small ice crystals. But ask any northern Michigan snowmaker and it’s a fine balance of water pressure, horsepower, compressed air and mad math skills. For the second year in a row, snow guns have geared...
By Al Parker As Baby Boomers age, the need to employ a growing number of qualified health care workers to both prevent and treat medical conditions grows as well. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the nation needs to retain its corps of qualified workers...
Start from Scratch or Buy a Business The Case Study: Jackie Winslow always knew she would run her own business one day. An admitted business geek, Jackie had been reading Fast Company and Entrepreneur since she was a teenager. She used to fantasize she’d actually been adopted...
FINANCIAL SERVICES Donna McAvoy has been promoted to Regional President – North of Chemical Bank. She will be instrumental in the management and oversight of business development and philanthropic efforts for Chemical Bank’s network across northern Michigan. She has been with Chemical Bank since 1983. Honor Bank...
By Amy Lane Over the last three years, Dakota and Garret Porter have built an idea hatched while snowboarding into a patent-pending product that’s lit up attention, and sales. Their Action Glow LED lighting kit for sporting equipment – available for 10 types of uses, ranging from...
Barring any unforeseen delays, Munson Healthcare will close on the purchase of Mercy Hospital Cadillac and Mercy Hospital Grayling on February 1, 2015. When Munson Healthcare first announced news of the planned purchase in May, president and CEO Ed Ness described it as “the next practical...
By Marie Hooper The current health care landscape is a complicated one but, when it comes to an individual’s health and wellness, it doesn’t have to be. Medicare has defined an Accountable Care Organization (ACO) as a group of doctors, hospitals and other health care providers...
By Scott Lankford I understand that Traverse City has the richest Rotary Club in the world. I have heard that Traverse City boasts one of the most active Chamber of Commerce in the nation. If you look at our Visitor Center, it is located, as is...
By Doug Luciani It was nice to see – people exiting the Traverse City Area Chamber’s Economic Outlook breakfast last month with some upbeat business data and trends to feel good about. It was a welcome change from the forecasts that ranged from tepid to downright...
