Good Company

We're back with Tim Gleisner, Manager of Special Collections for the Library of Michigan, to cover more of the rich history of Grand Rapids! On this episode, we explore the history of partying in GR, from the beer scene to exciting presidential visits. Tim also touches on how the Spanish flu impacted the community, and much more, all while we enjoy Bloody Mary mix from Brewt's!To learn more about the history of Grand Rapids, check out the Grand Rapids Public Library, The Library of Michigan, or the Kent District Library!

Matt Lauria is a Grand Rapids-based comedian who has performed as part of LaughFest since day 1 in 2011. Hear Matt on the importance of Gilda's Club, share how he comes up with material,  and outline the process of starting his comedy troupe, the Rockin' Homegrown Jam. You can catch Matt and the Rockin' Homegrown Jam on Friday, March 13 at The Intersection! Learn more at laughfest.org. 

Justin Willman is a magician & comedian known for his appearances on The Tonight Show and Ellen, along with his hit Netflix show, Magic for Humans. Hear Anna Young & Laura Traxler chat with Justin about LaughFest, Justin's career, and the craziest moments he encountered on his Netflix show. You can catch Justin performing as part of LaughFest at Fountain Street Church on March 7.

Floriza Genautis, founder and principal of Management Business Solutions, knows a thing or two about talent. She's worked in the professional staffing field for over two decades, going from filling temp positions in Silicon Valley, to finding top talent in West Michigan. Hear Floriza share her thoughts on building talent pipelines, supporting underserved communities, and surviving Michigan winters. 

On this episode, Joel Lautenbach, Executive Director of Development for Samaritas, discusses the Gateways for Growth initiative, which works to foster a more welcoming community for immigrants and their families. Joel also reflects on what inspires his work, why he loves to sing, and his favorite places to travel, all while enjoying Dragon's Milk White from New Holland Brewing!

Since taking ownership of Wolverine Building Group in 2015, Aaron Jonker & Curt Mulder have continuously focused on giving back to the community through their work. Hear them discuss their 80 for 80 campaign, exciting new building projects around Michigan, and what they are doing to attract and retain talent in West Michigan. On this episode, our guests enjoyed Lite Wight Boss Man beer from Grand Rapids Brewing Co. Cheers to season 3 of Good Company

Scott and Christine Vogel took the leap into becoming business owners in 2017, when they opened Nothing Bundt Cakes, and since then, they have dedicated themselves to giving back to the community. Hear them chat about being part of the World's Largest Cake Walk, and their unique connection to Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant!

Tory Richardson has dedicated his career to the world of aviation, and his talents have recently brought him to Grand Rapids, where he has just begun his tenure has the CEO of the Gerald R. Ford International Airport. Hear Tory discussing the expansions happening at the airport, the competitive world of working in the aviation industry, and the importance of excellent customer service, all while enjoying some Vanilla Java Porter from Atwater Brewing!

Orthodontic and dental care is important to many people around the country. OrVance is looking to revolutionize a small part of orthodontic care, dental wax, in a big way. Their mission is focused on improving the quality, safety and compliance of a product used by many. We chatted with OrVance CEO Ron Schutt while enjoying Better Life Choices from Atwater Brewery. You can learn more about OrVance at www.orvance.com.

As the Manager of Special Collections at the Library of Michigan, Tim Gleisner knows a thing or two about local history. On this episode, Tim chats with the Chamber's resident history buff, Andy Johnston, on Grand Rapids' rich history of floods, furniture, and pigs being used to dispose of trash. We also enjoyed the most fitting beer possible for a history podcast, having sipped on John Ball Brown from Grand Rapids Brewing Company.

As Director of Sales – Strategic Enterprise for Comcast Business, Brad Gramlin knows that technology is changing every day, and it's essential for businesses to be on the cutting edge in order to be competitive. Hear Brad discuss the cloud, artificial intelligence, and what companies like Meijer are doing to maintain top-notch customer service all while enjoying Scotch-Barrel Aged S’more Stout from Perrin Brewing.

At the Grand Rapids Chamber, we believe Michigan needs criminal justice reform to reduce unnecessary barriers to employment. Over-incarceration costs too much and does not make our communities safer. On this episode of good company, we continued the discussion with Representative Graham Filler, who has been a key leader in criminal justice reform, including the six-bill expungement package which is working its way through the legislature. This policy change would set aside criminal records under certain conditions with the goal of addressing barriers to employment.

At the Grand Rapids Chamber, we believe Michigan needs criminal justice reform to reduce unnecessary barriers to employment. Over-incarceration costs too much and does not make our communities safer. On this episode of Good Company, brought to you in conjunction with the Economic Club of Grand Rapids, we chatted with Lenore Anderson, President of Alliance for Safety & Justice and Doug DeVos of Amway on why the business community should care about criminal justice reform, and how they can get engaged to support this work.

Around 50% of students in Kent County report that they don't have somebody in their life with whom they can talk about something important. Affinity Mentoring works to change that by matching students with a caring adult mentor. We sat down with Executive Director Laura Ward to discuss how this positive relationship can help improve students’ academic achievements, social skills and self-esteem. Take a listen to learn more about why the work Affinity Mentoring is doing has led them to being a finalist for this year's Non-Profit of the Year at the EPIC Awards!

The Mitten Brewing Company is a two-time recipient of the Chamber’s EPIC Awards, recognized as the Young Entrepreneurs of the Year in 2015, and the Excellence in Business Award last year. We sat down with Chris Andrus, Co-Founder and Co-Owner of the Mitten, to chat through the journey of the Mitten: from their start brewing beer in the basement, to painstakingly restoring the historic Engine House No. 9 on the West Side, to donating more than $250,000 to local organizations since opening in 2012. Take a listen to hear more about what makes this company so deserving of the Excellence in Business recognition!

BDO is celebrating 100 years in Grand Rapids this year. As a company, BDO is committed not only to helping their clients, but also to helping their communities. Tune in while we talk with guests Eric Fischer, Tax Senior Manager, and Kevin Patterson, Assurance Partner for BDO Grand Rapids. Both Eric and Kevin are alumni of Leadership Grand Rapids (LGR) and are involved in a variety of community efforts. We chatted about the importance of giving back, the power of connections, and what exactly it is that makes LGR so special, all while sipping on Founders’ Blushing Monk.

AC Hotel opened downtown Grand Rapids in late May. Located just steps from Van Andel Arena in a historic 127-year-old warehouse, this 130-room lifestyle hotel is the first of its kind in Michigan. We sat down with General Manager Ryan Schmied to talk through the building’s transformation while sipping on gin & tonics, the most popular cocktail of Spain. Take a listen to hear more about the hotel’s features (including it’s signature masculine scent) and learn more about Ryan, a level two sommelier with longstanding roots in the hospitality industry.

As we look forward to the 30th Annual ATHENA Awards Celebration, we were thrilled to welcome our latest guest – Lizzie Williams, Senior Communication Specialist at OST. Lizzie was named the 2014 Young ATHENA Award recipient, and currently serves as Chair of the ATHENA Council. We sat down to chat with Lizzie about why ATHENA Grand Rapids is so important, what she’s looking forward to at the awards celebration, and which ATHENA principle means the most to her.

In June, Dr. Rhae-Ann Booker was named the first Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for Metro Health-University of Michigan Health. A Grand Rapids native, Dr. Booker is a passionate advocate for comprehensive, data-driven and ongoing strategies for diversity, equity and inclusion. We sat down to chat with her about what she’s most looking forward to in her new role, her favorite book recommendations, and tips she’d give other businesses on their journeys to diversity, equity and inclusion.

While visiting Grand Rapids, Jori Bennett’s husband called to tell her about a city with little traffic and lots of art. It just so happened to be during ArtPrize, and it led the Bennett family to relocate to Grand Rapids. Years later, Jori serves as the Executive Director of ArtPrize.Now after ten years, ArtPrize has shifted to a biennial competition to make way for the Project series of citywide art commissions. Project 1 is launching this September. We sat down with Jori and ArtPrize Artistic Director Kevin Buist to chat through what the community can expect from this new format, as well as some of their favorite pieces from the past, while we sipped on Rainbow Universe from Grand Rapids Brewing Company!