The Small Business Association of Michigan's Small Business Weekly Podcast

Michael W. Rogers
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"The Small Business Association of Michigan's Entrepreneurial Insights" every week presents a dynamic audio interview from a top-notch expert on entrepreneurial success. Hear great tips and advice on how to be a more effective small business owner. The program is hosted and produced by the Small Business Association of Michigan's Vice President Communications Michael Rogers

  1. 5D AGO

    Eat healthy foods, exercise and get good sleep – great advice for busy small business owners

    On today's program, Michael Rogers talks with Cheryl Tallman, CEO & Founder of Fresh Baby in Petoskey, recently named to the 2026 list of Michigan 50 Companies to Watch. Founded in 2002, Fresh Baby provides nutrition education for public health agencies. What kinds of actions does she recommend to small business owners if they want to stay healthy? "Obviously, the focus is to avoid processed foods," Tallman says. "A second thing that people can do is physical activity. We all know that we need to get up and move throughout the day. The goal should be 60 minutes of activity. And you can kind of divide that 60 minutes up into ten minute increments of getting yourself moving, get up from your desk, take a walk, go out at lunch, move around a little bit, dance, things like that. So eat real food, be active for 60 minutes a day, and then it is extremely important for us to get good sleep. Good sleep reduces stress." The Small Business Association of Michigan is the only statewide and state-based association that focuses solely on serving the needs of Michigan's small business community. We have been successfully serving small businesses like yours in all 83 counties of Michigan since 1969. We're located in Lansing, just one block from the Capitol. Our mission is to help Michigan small businesses succeed by promoting entrepreneurship, leveraging buying power and engaging in political advocacy. When small businesses band together through the Small Business Association of Michigan, they achieve more than they could on their own.  Our 32,000 members are as diverse as Michigan's economy. From accountants to appliance stores, manufacturers to medical, and restaurants to retailers, what unites the SBAM membership is the spirit of entrepreneurship…a spirit that drove you to start and continue to operate your own business because you believe you can do something better than anyone else is doing it! (music licensed from www.jukedeck.com)

    13 min

  2. MAR 24

    Woof! Mid-Michigan company honored for doggone good doggy daycare

    On today's program, Michael Rogers talks with Janice Milligan, President and Owner of Doggy Daycare and Spa -- selected as a Michigan 50 Company to Watch for 2026. The company operates two locations in the Greater Lansing area, offering daycare, boarding, and grooming services. Milliken attributes their success to a dedicated team and comprehensive training.  "The team members are trained, and so they know dog behavior, they know what to look for," she says. "The dogs are always supervised when they're together. We're very particular about our requirements, so we don't take just any dogs. The dogs that we're seeing are dogs that we know are going to be successful in our environment, so we're not having a lot of behavior issues." The Small Business Association of Michigan is the only statewide and state-based association that focuses solely on serving the needs of Michigan's small business community. We have been successfully serving small businesses like yours in all 83 counties of Michigan since 1969. We're located in Lansing, just one block from the Capitol. Our mission is to help Michigan small businesses succeed by promoting entrepreneurship, leveraging buying power and engaging in political advocacy. When small businesses band together through the Small Business Association of Michigan, they achieve more than they could on their own.  Our 32,000 members are as diverse as Michigan's economy. From accountants to appliance stores, manufacturers to medical, and restaurants to retailers, what unites the SBAM membership is the spirit of entrepreneurship…a spirit that drove you to start and continue to operate your own business because you believe you can do something better than anyone else is doing it! (music licensed from www.jukedeck.com)

    12 min

  3. MAR 17

    Business success and local economic development in west Michigan

    On today's program, Michael Rogers talks with SBAM leader Paul Santoro, owner of the 876 Baldwin Restaurant, located in Baldwin in west Michigan. Inspired by his love for fly fishing, he established the restaurant in a renovated Masonic temple, featuring a 16-seat bar and three apartments. Santoro emphasizes the restaurant's role in economic development and community engagement, highlighting local natural resources and heritage through unique decor and community events. "We are attempting to use the restaurant and its emphasis on economic development to really change the economic landscape in this community," he says. "Would we like to make some money? Of course, but I've been lucky in my life to have done a few good things, and I'm really turning my focus to can we make an impact on this larger community."  The Small Business Association of Michigan is the only statewide and state-based association that focuses solely on serving the needs of Michigan's small business community. We have been successfully serving small businesses like yours in all 83 counties of Michigan since 1969. We're located in Lansing, just one block from the Capitol. Our mission is to help Michigan small businesses succeed by promoting entrepreneurship, leveraging buying power and engaging in political advocacy. When small businesses band together through the Small Business Association of Michigan, they achieve more than they could on their own.  Our 32,000 members are as diverse as Michigan's economy. From accountants to appliance stores, manufacturers to medical, and restaurants to retailers, what unites the SBAM membership is the spirit of entrepreneurship…a spirit that drove you to start and continue to operate your own business because you believe you can do something better than anyone else is doing it! (music licensed from www.jukedeck.com)

    18 min

  4. MAR 11

    A small business whose success is guided by providing a great customer experience

    On today's program, Michael Rogers talks with SBAM leader Jordan Munsters, Chief Fort Officer for High Caliber Karting & Entertainment in Okemos. His business, located at the Meridian Mall, has added 25,000 square feet since 2022, including a banquet center, stage for live music, a large bar, and new attractions like jelly blasters and archery tag. Munsters says his business is guided by three questions: "One, does it improve the guest experience? Two, does it reduce the cost of doing business for them? And three is, does it increase profit? And if it doesn't satisfy at least two of those things, well, we can't do that because at some point if you do that constantly, now you're out of a business. If the guest experience is great, the money will follow." The Small Business Association of Michigan is the only statewide and state-based association that focuses solely on serving the needs of Michigan's small business community. We have been successfully serving small businesses like yours in all 83 counties of Michigan since 1969. We're located in Lansing, just one block from the Capitol. Our mission is to help Michigan small businesses succeed by promoting entrepreneurship, leveraging buying power and engaging in political advocacy. When small businesses band together through the Small Business Association of Michigan, they achieve more than they could on their own.  Our 32,000 members are as diverse as Michigan's economy. From accountants to appliance stores, manufacturers to medical, and restaurants to retailers, what unites the SBAM membership is the spirit of entrepreneurship…a spirit that drove you to start and continue to operate your own business because you believe you can do something better than anyone else is doing it! (music licensed from www.jukedeck.com)

    10 min

  5. MAR 1

    Breaking up is easy to do at Break Room Therapy

    On today's program, Michael Rogers talks with SBAM leader Dawn Levian, owner of Break Room Therapy in west Michigan. The concept offers customers a space to break glass and electronics for stress relief or fun. The facility requires specific safety equipment, including tennis shoes, lab coats, and safety gear. Break Room Therapy caters to various occasions, including business team building, birthday and divorce parties and offers packages suitable for different needs. "People come for lots of reasons, and even if you're celebrating, that doesn't still mean that you haven't had a hard week and your body just needs to let go from what it's holding on to," Levian says. The Small Business Association of Michigan is the only statewide and state-based association that focuses solely on serving the needs of Michigan's small business community. We have been successfully serving small businesses like yours in all 83 counties of Michigan since 1969. We're located in Lansing, just one block from the Capitol. Our mission is to help Michigan small businesses succeed by promoting entrepreneurship, leveraging buying power and engaging in political advocacy. When small businesses band together through the Small Business Association of Michigan, they achieve more than they could on their own.  Our 32,000 members are as diverse as Michigan's economy. From accountants to appliance stores, manufacturers to medical, and restaurants to retailers, what unites the SBAM membership is the spirit of entrepreneurship…a spirit that drove you to start and continue to operate your own business because you believe you can do something better than anyone else is doing it! (music licensed from www.jukedeck.com)

    8 min

  6. FEB 24

    A great company culture means not having to second-guess and over-supervize your employees

    On today's program, Michael Rogers talks with SBAM leader Mark Hamilton, founder of Versa Culture in Grand Rapids (He can be contacted via LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/versa-culture, and by email at markh@versaculture.com.) His company helps small and mid-sized organizations improve execution by defining and reinforcing company culture. Hamilton emphasizes the importance of clear decision-making, especially under pressure, and the need for leaders to set boundaries and accountability. "What good looks like, what is the standard people are being held to," he says. "What do they need to achieve in their day-to day-behaviors, not just values on a wall, and how leaders reinforce those behaviors and especially accountability, so that teams can move forward without second guessing and, frankly, with as little supervision as possible." The Small Business Association of Michigan is the only statewide and state-based association that focuses solely on serving the needs of Michigan's small business community. We have been successfully serving small businesses like yours in all 83 counties of Michigan since 1969. We're located in Lansing, just one block from the Capitol. Our mission is to help Michigan small businesses succeed by promoting entrepreneurship, leveraging buying power and engaging in political advocacy. When small businesses band together through the Small Business Association of Michigan, they achieve more than they could on their own.  Our 32,000 members are as diverse as Michigan's economy. From accountants to appliance stores, manufacturers to medical, and restaurants to retailers, what unites the SBAM membership is the spirit of entrepreneurship…a spirit that drove you to start and continue to operate your own business because you believe you can do something better than anyone else is doing it! (music licensed from www.jukedeck.com)

    15 min

  7. FEB 17

    AI an important tool for small business marketing, but it can't replace relationships and trust

    On today's program, Michael Rogers talks with SBAM leader Chip LaFleur, CEO of Lafleur Marketing in Grand Rapids. He discusses the company's transition from a traditional marketing firm to a growth insights agency and highlights the challenges small businesses face due to economic uncertainty and rapid technological changes, particularly AI, which has both expedited and complicated marketing strategies. "You have to build a relationship to establish trust," he says. "You have to have the trust before you start sharing ideas around how to make your business successful, how to grow your organization, and things like that. AI can, in some ways, help us to capture ideas, and sometimes those ideas inform the relationships a little bit, but it's still a tool in the toolbox." The Small Business Association of Michigan is the only statewide and state-based association that focuses solely on serving the needs of Michigan's small business community. We have been successfully serving small businesses like yours in all 83 counties of Michigan since 1969. We're located in Lansing, just one block from the Capitol. Our mission is to help Michigan small businesses succeed by promoting entrepreneurship, leveraging buying power and engaging in political advocacy. When small businesses band together through the Small Business Association of Michigan, they achieve more than they could on their own.  Our 32,000 members are as diverse as Michigan's economy. From accountants to appliance stores, manufacturers to medical, and restaurants to retailers, what unites the SBAM membership is the spirit of entrepreneurship…a spirit that drove you to start and continue to operate your own business because you believe you can do something better than anyone else is doing it! (music licensed from www.jukedeck.com)

    11 min

  8. FEB 10

    How a family-owned and family-oriented outdoor clothing store competes with online retailers

    On today's program, Michael Rogers talks with Becky Philipp-Kranig, owner of  Bearcub Outfitters in Petoskey, selected by Michigan Celebrates Small Business as a Michigan SBDC Best Small Business. Her family-oriented outdoor gear store in Petoskey offers clothing and gear for infants through adults, including pets. Becky cites the store's unique product mix and excellent customer service as key factors in competing with online retailers. "We tend to get people looking for certain things, and they find it, and then hopefully they come back and want to see it in person as well," she says. "And we're providing an experience and great customer service in the store. That's one of the things that we try to pride ourselves on, and do the best we can always to make sure we can find what you might need where online stores can't do that." The Small Business Association of Michigan is the only statewide and state-based association that focuses solely on serving the needs of Michigan's small business community. We have been successfully serving small businesses like yours in all 83 counties of Michigan since 1969. We're located in Lansing, just one block from the Capitol. Our mission is to help Michigan small businesses succeed by promoting entrepreneurship, leveraging buying power and engaging in political advocacy. When small businesses band together through the Small Business Association of Michigan, they achieve more than they could on their own.  Our 32,000 members are as diverse as Michigan's economy. From accountants to appliance stores, manufacturers to medical, and restaurants to retailers, what unites the SBAM membership is the spirit of entrepreneurship…a spirit that drove you to start and continue to operate your own business because you believe you can do something better than anyone else is doing it! (music licensed from www.jukedeck.com)

    8 min
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"The Small Business Association of Michigan's Entrepreneurial Insights" every week presents a dynamic audio interview from a top-notch expert on entrepreneurial success. Hear great tips and advice on how to be a more effective small business owner. The program is hosted and produced by the Small Business Association of Michigan's Vice President Communications Michael Rogers

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