Michigan took a huge step toward fortifying its place at the center of the electric vehicle (EV) revolution securing a $3.5 billion investment by Ford to establish its latest EV battery plant in Marshall, Mich. 

Almost every business leader has felt it: the sense of no control as your insurance premiums seem to skyrocket. Whether it is your commercial insurance program or your employee benefits package, it often appears there is little you can do to avoid these annual price increases. This is because the guaranteed cost insurance solution is priced based on marketplace volatility. Your business cannot control the onset of a global pandemic, an increase in weather-related disasters, or the spiking trend in plaintiff-friendly legal decisions. Yet carrier-based insurance programs must spread their losses across all insureds in an effort to minimize the impact on their loss prone clients. Essentially, the strong performing clients pay for the poor performance of their peers.

The pandemic’s grip on our world has finally loosened, but not without leaving permanent changes to our work lives and expectations. From this, a new challenge for businesses was born: The war for talent.

Michigan’s top executives have confidence in their state operations and high demand for qualified talent, even with potentially softening economic conditions, according to a recent survey by Business Leaders for Michigan.

No matter who you are, if you have an interest in the operation and performance of a building, a preventive maintenance program (PMP) is key to long-term success. The process can be compared to changing the oil on your car. On average, every 3,000 miles, you swap the oil to maintain efficiency and promote ongoing performance for your vehicle and its many components.

To compete with top-performing states, Michigan must invest in talent

Sooner or later, every business owner faces the question of whether or not to sell their business.  If you own a business, there are some important questions to ask yourself before considering a sale:

Whether or not we spend much time thinking about it, our lives and businesses are powered by energy. And the ways we engage with this resource can make a big difference for our operating costs – and our planet. With so many ways to manage energy, Michigan businesses are sometimes left wondering what steps to take first. 

The premier business awards celebration of the region returns on Wednesday, October 19 to recognize 27 upstanding businesses in West Michigan and present awards to the top finalists from each of the nine categories.

How do we design a workplace, now that non-traditional office space, retention strategies, and remote work need to be taken into consideration? How we view workplaces and the needs of current and future staff has shifted. The perspective toward remote work has pivoted to a more accommodating mindset as employees have increased productivity and work-life balance has tilted toward the positive. With restrictions lifted, market forces have pushed for maintaining at least some form of hybrid schedule as a talent attraction and retention strategy.

Michigan is more than just a venue for the Detroit Auto Show – it is a place where the next generation of transportation and mobility is being designed, created and revealed. The automotive industry built its foundation and laid its roots here in Michigan; now, led by innovations in electric vehicles (EV) and assisted driving, we are witnessing a transportation mobility revolution. 

If you’re not adapting, you’re failing. That was the message during this year’s Michigan Contractor of the Year (MCOY) Awards, hosted yesterday evening at the LMCU Ballpark in Comstock Park. 

Inflation is the highest it’s been in decades, which impacts our entire Michigan business community. But while costs on nearly everything else seem to be rising, Consumers Energy is here to help businesses reduce energy waste, lower energy costs and even cash in on rebates that can be invested back into your bottom-line. 

As businesses gather an increasing amount of consumer information, consumers’ concerns about who knows what about them are becoming more pronounced and businesses’ legal obligations regarding that data are becoming more complex.

There is no shortage of information available regarding industry 4.0 technology. Small and medium-size manufacturers curious about these technologies can often find themselves drowning in a sea of whitepapers, blogs, vendors, sales calls, and other information – making it too overwhelming to even begin their journey. While each of these pieces of information has its place, sometimes it’s most effective for manufacturers to cut through the murk and hear a fellow company’s story. 

GRAND RAPIDS, MI—April 2022 marked 60 years in business for architecture and engineering firm Progressive AE. The firm’s theme for the year is “A Year of Gratitude,” as they look back on the partnerships and communities they’ve had the chance to serve over 60 years. 

The practice of education is ever-changing. New technology, pedagogy and demands for a trained and educated workforce continue to change and evolve. But the combination of demographic declines and post-pandemic challenges – and opportunities – are radically shifting the way K12 school districts and higher education campuses are thinking about space and where, when and how learning best occurs.

If a new coworker asked you what experiences are the epitome of Grand Rapids, what’s the first thing you’d recommend?

On August 31, 2022, the American Subcontractors Association of Michigan (ASAM) will celebrate the 12th Annual MCOY Award Celebration at the home of the Whitecaps, Lake Michigan Credit Union Ballpark. MCOY recognizes Michigan’s general contractors and construction managers with a track record of best practices, professionalism, and collaboration within the trade contracting community. 

Though it may have revolutionized production, the “just in time” mentality does not extend to talent. In the current labor market, manufacturers are finding that many workers are not walking through the door with all the necessary skills they may need. With that in mind, many companies are enhancing their training and development efforts to prepare their workforce for the factory of the future. 

Regardless of industry or seniority, virtually every member of the workforce shares one commonality: onboarding.

Here’s a sobering thought: Every underground piping system - in every building and all of the connections there in-between - installed before and during the 20th century, is rapidly approaching the end of its useful lifespan. 

You’ve worked hard to build your business, equip it with a team of high-performing individuals, and ensure your compensation and benefits package adequately protect your business from what’s come to be known as “The Great Resignation.”

Your business needs to move, but the availability of existing buildings is dismal, and you can’t find the right fit to meet your immediate and future needs.  So, you decide to build.  Now you’re faced with rising construction costs, labor shortages, supply chain issues, and long lead times that wreak havoc with your timeline and budget. How do you navigate this very real and intimidating situation?

First of a three-part webinar series focuses on preparing for the manufacturing workforce of the future

The 2022 Health Care and Human Resources Summit will dissect the state of our health care system through a business lens and expand on previous topics to include the latest information on hiring, health care, wages, benefits, and more.

Capital is vital to any business, whether it’s just getting started or looking to grow. How you fund your business can have a huge impact on your operations and ability to take advantage of new opportunities.

Some days your supply chain can feel like a moving target. From managing volatility in supply and demand, to staving off inflation, to complying with carbon emissions regulations, you never know what challenges your supply chain might face on a given day. Each one can throw a wrench in your planning, supplier relationships, profitability and more.

In manufacturing, product is the endgame. 

The year is coming to a close and the holidays are upon us.  That means annual traditions of family, food… and stressful holiday shopping.

AmCon Novi Advanced Design & Manufacturing Expo Suburban Collection Showplace - Novi, MI November 9-10, 2021

Here’s a question for all Accounts Payable (AP) managers and treasury professionals: How often do you think about payments after you’ve made them?