Construction material prices are on the rise as residential and commercial building activity escalates during the spring season. Local building products suppliers say annual materials price increases of about five percent have been typical for the past few years. They’re expecting similar increases this year and...
Running a business? Ransomed nuclear warheads and rats that can cook likely won’t make their way to your list of concerns, but popular movies that include these – and other – issues can nevertheless offer case studies in how to avoid costly missteps. If you build...
Communities are often like businesses in that they can go years – even generations – with many of the same people in leadership roles. In others, the door at the top can be revolving all the time. Neither is an ideal scenario. Businesses, like communities, can...
Shelter Questions Answered In his November column, Ron Jolly asks a number of questions about the Safe Harbor shelter proposal. Most of the answers have been public for nearly a year at www.gtsafeharbor.org. Knowing our need, City Commissioner Jim Carruthers suggested the City's building at 517 Wellington...
The commentary by Ron Jolly in the November issue, “City Commissioners: Stop, and Answer the Questions About Homeless Shelter Plan,” contained an error. While a majority of TC City Commissioners spoke against pursuing mediation surrounding the controversy of a permanent seasonal homeless shelter in Traverse...
By Joe Liszewski The term nonprofit organization often connotes something of lesser value and common misconceptions such as free services, volunteer managed, and low wages help to reinforce that notion. People who have made careers and work in the sector know better and much prefer the...
By Gerry Castino Unified Communications is exactly what it sounds like – technology that seamlessly connects all the different ways one communicates in a typical workday. Whether you send a text, respond via email and followup via phone, all the interactions are right where you need...
By Al Parker Despite a steep decline in donations over the past few years, the mission of the United Way of Northwest Michigan hasn’t changed. “Our goal is to improve the lives in our five-county region by mobilizing the caring power of communities to advance the common...
By Ron Jolly Nine years ago the Traverse City community came together to raise nearly $5 million to build the Goodwill Inn shelter. Leaders led, volunteers worked, and donors – big and small- gave! As a member of the Capital Campaign committee, I played a tiny...
By Wells Fargo Advisors/Ty Finch After 24 years of marriage, Joe and Jane often finish each other’s sentences. So imagine how surprised they were when some differing goals emerged during a recent retirement income planning discussion with their financial advisor. As the advisor led the couple...
