Business Next

Michael Rogers, communications officer for the Small Business Association of Michigan, interviews Jim Foucher, vice president of RBV Contracting. His firm is on the list of Michigan 50 Companies to Watch for 2017 and was also named 2017 Government Contractor of the Year. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Detroit, RBV Contracting, Inc. is a full service federal contractor specializing in horizontal and vertical construction projects. RBV is a Certified 8(a) and HUBZone firm that has successfully completed projects for various government agencies.

Michael Rogers, communications officer for the Small Business Association of Michigan, talks with tech expert Linda Daichendt, executive director of the Mobile Technology Association of Michigan, to learn more about a recent article that recommends the virtues of testing websites on actual users.

Michael Rogers, communications officer for the Small Business Association of Michigan, interviews Sara Sherry Knoester, president of Mixed Staffing in Grand Rapids. They were recently named to the list of Michigan 50 Companies to Watch in 2017. From the company website: “Sara Sherry’s roots have been implanted in Grand Rapids for most of her life. An alumni of Grand Rapids Catholic Central, she graduated in 2011 from Grand Valley State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and a Minor in Creative Marketing. As a recent grad, she found out how hard and unpersonalized the job market was and felt she could make a great impact on the community by taking a new approach to staffing. Sara’s devotion to helping the Michigan job market flourish in combination with her entrepreneurial spirit, led her to co-found Mixed in 2012.”

Michael Rogers, communications officer for the Small Business Association of Michigan, talks about which social media tools are used most often by small business owners and why. He presents excepts of a Facebook Live show where he discussed the results of a Small Business Association of Michigan Barometer survey of fifteen hundred small business owners. That survey asked entrepreneurs about their business oriented social media habits. Joining him on the show were social media expert Kate Snyder, owner of Piper & Gold Public Relations, and Sarah Miller, director of marketing for the Small Business Association of Michigan.

Michael Rogers, communications officer for the Small Business Association of Michigan, talks with tech expert Linda Daichendt, executive director of the Mobile Technology Association of Michigan, about easy steps to protect your digital life with better encryption and security.

Michael Rogers, communications officer for the Small Business Association of Michigan, interviews Rupesh, president and CEO of Youngtronics, a member of the 2017 list of Michigan 50 Companies to Watch. From their website: “Youngtronics is a world class quality control manufacturer company, a Leader in providing electronics manufacturing services including contract design, material procurement, documentation, assembly and testing.  Our mission is to provide total customer satisfaction through teamwork, continuous improvements and with just in time manufacturing operations. Our ability to provide the exact, techno savvy and cost saving solutions to our customer’s most challenging requirements and our access to the latest technology and infrastructure has established us well ahead in the field. Youngtronics conducts its full service contract manufacturing operations in a static free, Climate control building.” Steps to improve the security of your digital life

Michael Rogers, communications officer for the Small Business Association of Michigan, interviews Carolyn Cassin, president of the Michigan Women’s Foundation, on how her organization helps women entrepreneurs. The Foundation provides Technical Assistance – Entrepreneurial education and training, Lifeline Business Consulting, Entrepreneur You @ Walsh College in Troy, Go for the Growth sessions, Portfolio Management, Capital – Funding to start or grow your business, Michigan Women's Microloan Fund, Resources – Networks and mentors, and the Foundation has partnered with several organizations to help women launch or grow their business.

Michael Rogers, communications officer for the Small Business Association of Michigan, talks with Shannon Jakovac, brand division manager of Earthy Delights in Okemos. Earthy Delights specializes in wild mushrooms and other seasonal wild-harvested items, fresh specialty produce, artisanally produced cheese, aged balsamic vinegar, exotic spices and hard-to find ingredients to both the professional chef and the cooking enthusiast.

Michael Rogers, communications officer for the Small Business Association of Michigan, interviews Randy Rubin, co-CEO of The Crypton Companies and CEO of Nanotex.

Nanotex is a leading fabric innovation company providing nanotechnology-based textile enhancements to the apparel, home and commercial/residential interiors markets. Purchased by soft-surface technology leader Crypton, Inc. in 2013, Nanotex is headquartered in Bloomfield Hills with operations across the United States, Asia, India and Europe. To date, more than 80 textile mills worldwide are utilizing Nanotex treatments in products sold by more than 100 leading brands worldwide.

Michael Rogers, communications officer for the Small Business Association of Michigan, talks with Jeff Case, Vice President Treasury Management for Independent Bank, about the magnitude of fraudulent transactions in small businesses, the services that Independent Bank offers to address this problem, security tokens, Check Positive Pay and ACH Positive Pay Work.