Seeing an opportunity In 1946 Ed Lowe joined his father’s business in Cassopolis, Michigan. Among other products, Lowe & Lowe distributed industrial absorbents for the Dri-Rite Co. A few month later, Ed’s neighbor, Kay Draper, stopped by the Lowes’ warehouse to ask Ed for some sand, explaining that the ashes she used in her cat’s litter box resulted in sooty…
Era of the double hustle As a young boy, Ed was often left to his own devices as his mother helped frequently with her husband’s many enterprises. Yet the move from St. Paul to rural Michigan ignited a great love of the land for Ed, who spent considerable time hiking and camping in the woods with his cousin Loren. “Cass…
Early lessons Ed Lowe was born on July 10, 1920, in St. Paul, Minnesota, where his father, Henry Lowe, had been raised. Five years later the young family moved to Marcellus, Michigan, his mother’s hometown. (Henry Lowe and Lulu Huber had originally met in Benton Harbor, Michigan, where they worked for the Baker-Vawter Co., which printed office supplies.) In Marcellus…
Dennis Blanchette is principal of D. Blanchette & Associates LLC, an advisory firm in Northville, Michigan, which helps small and middle-market companies develop strong business practices to drive focused execution and achieve strategic growth. Dennis’ career spans nearly 35 years and includes more than 25 years of business management experience. He has led multiple organizations through successful acquisitions and on…
After his wife’s grandmother was ripped off by a remodeling contractor for $2,000, Keith Paul launched HandyPro Handyman Services in 1996. Based in Farmington, Michigan, the company provides professional handyman services to residential and commercial clients, protecting them from dishonest contractors. In 2000 the company established HandyPro International to expand through corporate and franchise locations, and today it has offices…
Cynthia Kay is the founder of Cynthia Kay and Co. in Grand Rapids, Michigan, which produces high-quality communications for organizations from the Fortune Global 100 to small business. A graduate of Michigan State University, Cynthia holds a master’s degree in communications from Western Michigan University. Cynthia is a passionate spokesperson for small business. For more than 35 years, she has…
Tom Martin is co-founder of Pod Pack International LLC, which specializes in manufacturing single serve coffee and tea products for most of the coffee and tea brands in North America. In February 2021, Tom retired from Pod Pack as its president and CEO. Launched in 1996, Pod Pack partnered with LongueVue Capital, a New Orleans private equity firm, in 2018…
Erick Stewart is co-founder of Stewart Industries, a Battle Creek, Michigan-based provider of assembly manufacturing, inspection and foreign trade zone (FTZ) services to automotive, aerospace, medical device and defense industries. Erick launched the company in 2000 with his father and led it for more than two decades, with sales growth of more than $40 million. A skilled culture creator, he…
Barbara Stankowski is a retired naval officer and an experienced serial entrepreneur. Her 28 years in the U.S. Navy included more than seven years in command of large, diverse, geographically distributed shore-based commands. She is the recipient of numerous awards for leadership, corporate growth and business success. Her company, AMTIS Inc., was named to the Inc. 5000 for six consecutive…
“At the end of the day, creating a legacy is about creating the life you want to live after your business,” says Kathie Fuce-Hobohm, noting that she has had to “tiptoe” into retirement.