Michigan Reimagined

The MSU Research Foundation has been at the forefront of fostering Michigan start-ups for years. They recently announced a new investment in East Lansing. Joining Chris to discuss what that means and why it’s important is the Director of Research Parks for the MSU Research Foundation, Jeff Smith!

Michigan’s K-12 education performance is a hotly discussed topic lately. But it’s hard to make considerable improvements until you first address the teacher shortage. One lifelong educator has launched an organization focused on doing just that - building a more robust educator pipeline. Joining Chris to tell the story of Michigan’s Educator Workforce Initiative is its Founding Partner & CEO, Jack Elsey!

Detroit's Neighborhood Economic Development Team Helps Small Businesses Thrive

Non-Profit Helps Returning Vets Get Into Skilled Trades

Housing opportunities and solutions may be the largest challenge Michgian is facing. The City of Detroit has an established organization called the Detroit Housing Commission - and they are providing an amazing amount of support to its residents. Joining Chris to share their story, their mission and their services are Detroit Housing Commission Executive Director, Arthur Jemison and Chief Operating Officer, Irene Tucker!

Walsh College Laser Focused on Developing Students Proficient in AI and Advanced Tech

MDARD Offers Solutions to Agribusiness and Rural Communities - Recently With Food Insecurity

Next Street Prepares Downstream Supply Chain Partners to Engage With Buyers On A Large Scale

Rental Property Owners Association Advocates For Housing Solutions Statewide

Lansing’s Rivertrail has been loved by many for decades. In recent years, the Capital Region Community Foundation has invested in several downtown venues along the trail, and now there is a website - lansingriverfront.org - hosting a bevy of information for residents and visitors alike. Joining Chris to discuss the details of these spaces and their offerings is the President & CEO of the Community Foundation, Laurie Baumer!

Oakland County Offers Robust Talent Development Solutions - Aligns with Business

Miller Johnson Growth Advisors Assists Developers & Municipalities on Unique Funding Solutions

Central MI University President Explains Complexity of Higher Ed Leadership

Belle Isle - Larger Than Central Park - Funds and Coordinates Renovations For User Experience

5 years beyond the pandemic, what does the new 'workplace' look like? How are organizations balancing the need for both collaborative and private spaces? We are beyond everyone figuring it out, there is some stabilization. Joining Chris to share his perspective to the workspace landscape it General Manager of Interphase Interiors, Brian Johnson!

MichAuto Association Focuses on Advocacy, Talent, and Industry Transition in Mobility Space

Livonia Offers RFP For Redevelopment of Alfred Noble Historic Site

Michigan Works! Connects Job Seekers and Employers via Statewide Network

Small Business Development Centers Offer Free Services Statewide

If you’re looking for a career in financial planning, you want to be sure YOUR financial planner is following the fast moving trends of today and hires and trains new talent the right way, you want to listen to this next conversation. Joining Chris to share the culture of Waggoner Financial and how they remain up-to-date on employee development and industry trends are Director of Advisory Services, Jordan Bowman and Wealth Management Associate, Tobin Zeluff!

Oakland County CFO Explains New Development Plan in County Seat of Pontiac

Michigan Chief Mobility Officer Explains Confidence & Complexity of Legacy Industry

Cohort Launches "Innovation Alliance" Encouraging Start-Ups to Scale in Michigan

The Grand Hotel Celebrates 140 Years with a "Season to Celebrate"

Most urban areas have nodes of density & vibrancy that set them apart from the city as a whole. Lansing’s Old Town is one such node. Joining Chris to share the mission and successes of the now 30 year old organization is Old Town Commercial Association Executive Director, James Lenon!

Michigan, and mid-Michigan have been virtually flat in population for decades. A recent study shows that Michigan is projected to shrink, while the Lansing region is slated to grow. But is the news encouraging? Joining Chris to share important details is COO of LEAP, the Lansing Economic Area Partnership, Keith Lambert!

May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, and it serves as an important reminder that simple actions — like taking an extra second to look twice — can save lives. Joining Chris to talk about how Michigan is working to improve motorcycle safety, and the role awareness campaigns play in changing driver behavior, are the Deputy Chief of External Affairs from the Michigan Department of State, Joshua Elliott, and Sr. Strategist and Research Manager from Güd Marketing, Chelsea Maupin!

The MidMichigan Environmental Action Council - or MidMEAC - is doing amazing things in our community. Joining Chris to share their mission and the many ways they work to make our communities cleaner and more safe for us to live in, is Executive Director, Theresa Lark, and President of the Board, Dennis Louney!

There’s a new development project planned for the intersection of Holmes and Pleasant Grove in Southwest Lansing. This project is unique as it provides a creative investment opportunity for citizens. Joining Chris to share the vision and the strategy for the Holmes & Pleasant Grove project are members of the Lansing Growth Fund, Brent Forsberg and Melissa Hall!

Lansing is in the process of getting a new downtown music and arts venue called The Ovation. There have been many organizations working together to make this a reality, and there have been recent breakthroughs bringing us closer to the finish line. Joining Chris to give us an update on this exciting attraction is the Founding Director at Ovation Center for Music and Arts, Dominic Cochran!

Environmental sustainability has become more than a buzz-word - it’s a permanent way of life for many people and a growing strategy for corporations. Here to share the role marketing plays in broadcasting the message are two superstars from Güd Marketing in Lansing’s Old Town District. Joining Chris are Senior Client Strategist & Research Manager, Chelsea Maupin and Account Manager, Lauren Abbott!

Michiganders have pretty solid access to quality baseball. Most are loyal to their beloved Detroit Tigers, but if you roam around the state you can find serious baseball in many cities. Joining Chris to discuss the kick-off to their 30th season is the General Manager for the Lansing Lugnuts, Zac Clark!

Lansing 5:01 is a wonderful mid-Michigan organization doing great work. They’ve been highlighted in Michigan Reimagined many times. For the first time since they were founded, they have a leadership change. Joining Chris to tell us about the history and the future of Lansing 5:01 is their President & CEO, Samantha Harkins!

The community is a richer place to live when individuals find their true calling and dare to buck the trends by opening unique businesses. Today I want to highlight a special business in Lansing’s Old Town, Chengdu Teahouse. Joining Chris to share her journey and offerings is the owner of Chengdu, Elyse Ribbons!

We’re on the cusp of the newest season of the award winning Capital City Film Festival! Joining Chris to share this year’s hot new details - are Festival Event Director Emma Selby, Program Director Pete Johnston, and Film Programs Manager, Jaden Deibel.

Chris has said a number of times, Michigan may have the most competitive and effective start-up ecosystems in the country. Two major players in that space are the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the Michigan State University Research Foundation. Joining Chris to share the amazing PitchMi event are the VP of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the MEDC, Alison Todak and the Director of Portfolio Management at Red Cedar Ventures, Pete Martin!

Chris has said many times on this show that a quality community values art and the artist. I’ve also highlighted people who have made significant pivots in their careers. In this episode, we delve into both! Joining Chris to share his story and new art installation is local artist Jason Keusch.

Artificial Intelligence is being incorporated in all manners of life. Joining Chris to share how AI is used in Real Estate and to give a general update on the status of resident real estate in Michigan is the owner of Keller Williams - Advantage in Team, Chris Silker!

The Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP) recently introduced LEAP Thrive, a program that partners with developers to facilitate community-oriented development projects. Joining Chris to explain more is LEAP Thrive Board President & COO of LEAP, Keith Lambert and Thrive Board Member and Executive Director of the Ingham County Land Bank, Roxanne Case!

Society is clamoring for health care reform, along with a fundamental shift from Sick Care to truly affordable Health Care. Joining Chris to discuss an upcoming event called ‘HEALTH’CARE 2026 is the Founder & CEO of Health Bar, Nathan Baar!

Seemingly out of nowhere Data Centers have been proposing new facilities in many Michigan communities. Most are being met with strong opposition, but it’s hard to keep up with what the concerns are, what the rebuttals have been - and ultimately what the truth is. Joining Chris to discuss the topic on a broader scale, as well as some details on the proposed Lansing-based project, is the Vice President of Strategy and Operations for Deep Green, Luke Gavin!

Insurance is something most people would rather not think about. After all, people and businesses pay money in the hopes of never having to use the services they’re paying for. Many think that getting the cheapest policy, and foregoing a live Agent, is the best path. Joining Chris to shed some light on why NOT having a live expert advising you is State Farm agent, Kirk Byrens!

Michigan Community Action is the state association for the 27 designated Community Action Agencies in Michigan. They are also part of a national network of over 1,000 local organizations that help people move from poverty to economic stability and self-sufficiency. Joining Chris to discuss more programming information and the impact on Michigan is the Community Action Executive Director, Brian McGrain!

Outdoor recreation checks a lot of boxes when it comes to things that bring value to our lives. It drives our health and wellness, and it drives our economy. Joining Chris to discuss the details and impact of the annual Michigan Ice Fest is the Festival Organizer and Co-owner of Down Wind Sports, Bill Thompson, and the Executive Director of the Michigan’s Outdoor Recreation Industry Office, Brad Garmon!

In this episode, we’re talking about legacy, leadership and impact. The Commission is preparing for its 41st annual Day of Celebration, one of the largest MLK Day events in the country — but its work extends far beyond a single day. Joining Chris to share how the Commission continues to carry forward Dr. King’s vision through education, youth leadership and community action is Chair of the Dr. MLK Jr Commission of Mid-Michigan, Elaine Hardy!

Many of us cheer at ribbon cuttings, or even groundbreakings, and are excited about a new endeavor in our communities. Those behind the scenes realize it takes amazing partnerships and collaboration months - even years - in advance to get a project underway. My next guests are here to share some of the behind-the-scenes work that leads up with projects materializing or not. - and they are Brownfield Consultant for Triterra, Connor Zook, and Project Liaison for Revitalize, Reece Burton!

Vulnerable populations suffer in a variety of ways. One way is having a lack of access to financial services - either lacking transportation, or awareness that services exist. Joining Chris to discuss a new mobile tax service provided by the United Way of South Central Michigan, is their Senior Director of Community Impact & Programs, Bethany Stutzman and CEDAM Member, Quill Stellaris!

For decades businesses have been chasing SEO - Search Engine Optimization - for their websites. AI is changing things, and it likely will require a new strategy to get discovered as a business. Joining Chris to share how Güd Marketing is learning and sharing their findings are Principal and President Debbie Horak and Director of Special Projects, Joel Newport!

Bridges - An Intergenerational Center - is preparing to open in Lansing, offering a truly unique model that brings young children and older adults together for shared learning and connection. After two years of searching for the right building and facing an uphill battle with multiple lenders, this small business turned a corner when they found LAFCU — a credit union known for putting people over profits and finding creative solutions to help entrepreneurs succeed. Joining me today are Sandra Tryon, director of Bridges, and Brook Jones, commercial lending officer at LAFCU, to talk about the dream behind Bridges, the hurdles they overcame, and what it means for families, seniors, and the community!

Accessible housing has been a hotly discussed topic around Michigan - and on this show - for a while now. Our next guest has found a way to develop 204 units of mixed-income housing in Midland MI called The Dean, Apartments at Eastlawn. Joining Chris to share the journey is the President of River Caddis Group, John McGraw!