Barber Packaging: Crystal clear on strategy
“When you’re operating a small business and trying to grow a small business into a market space, many times you feel like you’re out there by yourself,” says Luke Barber.
The magic of aligning vision and values
Putting people before profit was one of my first lessons as an entrepreneur and has continued to be a guiding principle as we scale HandyPro. Our vision is to “create a remarkable experience,” which applies not only to customers but also employees…
Our ever-evolving BRV
The foundation has seen a great deal of change in its 40-year history, from programming to the property. And when it comes to Big Rock Valley (BRV), our 2,000-acre home in southwest Michigan, I’d say there have been more changes in the last six months than the past five years…
Outlook on Leadership with Courtney Lorenz
Cortney Lorenz started Cultured Kombucha Co. in 2015, introducing the first kombucha microbrewery to Michigan. In the past 10 years, she has taken the Traverse City-based company from startup stage, selling its multiflavored fermented tea at farmer’s markets, to an award-winning second-stage business that now distributes its products to more than 500 restaurants, breweries and stores. Among recent milestones, Cultured Kombucha was named a 2025 Michigan Companies to Watch honoree this spring, and the company is getting reach to launch a new line of canned kombucha.
Conservation steward update
For the past several years the foundation has offered a seasonal conservation steward program to accelerate growth for future natural resources professionals. Below, Dawson Porter, a student at Michigan State University, discusses his experience from this summer.
PALLETCO: From middleman to strategic manufacturer
“When I think growth, I no longer think numbers. I think strategy,” says Moe Alakoli, CEO of PALLETCO. “It’s much easier to think in numbers, but it’s not sustainable.”
Phase 5: For entrepreneurs, by entrepreneurs
Although our mission of “championing the entrepreneurial spirit” has remained consistent throughout the years, how we execute that mission has changed…
Hearing the unheard: A different type of leadership
We often hear second-stage business owners express frustration over constantly needing to tell employees what to do rather than seeing them take initiative and solve problems without prompting. Granted, having proactive employees is partly due to hiring — getting the right people on the bus and in the right seats. Yet I also believe that the ability to listen plays…
Martin Specialty Coatings: Investing in talent and technology
Innovation is a core value for Martin Specialty Coatings, one that has enabled the Shreveport, Louisiana-based company to triple its size in the past few years, exceeding $20 million in annual revenue and 100 full-time employees.
Safe Bites: Allergy friendly and chef inspired
Driven by the belief that everyone deserves access to healthy meals, Innovation Food Service (IFS) provides nutritious, high-quality meals to schools, childcare centers, senior living facilities and businesses. Founded in 2002 by Thomas Lane, a trained chef, the Twinsburg, Ohio-based company has been growing steadily since its inception. Last year alone it served 7,000 daily lunches to schools in northeast…