Luciano Hernandez says attending the SURGE Boostcamp, a Lakeshore Advantage business boot camp, with his son was “exactly what we needed” to make their solar lighting concept a reality. He says it gave him the motivation to launch his new company, Spirit Fire Aftermarket Products, and its first product, solar-powered marker lights for trucks.
After being introduced to tiger nut in Germany, Hannah Raycraft founded Spera Foods — spera is Latin for hope — to bring the root vegetable to the American food industry. Her entrepreneurial mission has been a challenge, but Raycraft has seen tiger nut grow in popularity since she started her business five years ago.
As a supplier diversity manager at Meijer, Kavy Lenon works to improve Meijer’s partner diversity for internal and external processes. Nicknamed “Wonder Woman,” she also brings her ample energy and passion to her work as an advocate for minority populations in West Michigan and beyond.
Charles Elwood, who left the security of a corporate job to start his own business and use his knowledge to help the next generation, is aiming to make a “huge impact.” He kicked off that vision by forming — with others — a group that distributed more than 60,000 pieces of PPE early in the pandemic.
While at Grand Valley, Jordan Vanderham developed a mask that makes it easier to breathe while working or playing in below-freezing air. He pitched the idea in competitions across the Midwest, including events hosted by Grand Rapids-based incubator Start Garden.
Having employees work from home has affected the culture of a lot of small and midsized businesses. As COVID-19 numbers decline and vaccines become more readily available, leaders are considering the future of in-person, off-site, and hybrid work.
Holland business coach Scott Patchin's new book features interviews with executives at Ready For School, Coastal Container, and the Michigan West Coast Chamber of Commerce.
Holland BPW’s Pete Hoffswell was honored for the “smart brick” he invented, which collects temperature data throughout the city’s snowmelt system.
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