For this segment of Michigan Business Beat, Jeffrey Mosher catches up with Meg Derrer, Principal, dogreatergood.com, Grand Rapids. but for this interview representing Michigan Women Forward, Detroit/Lansing/Grand Rapids & Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame. She is joined by Joyce L. Suber, Executive Director for the Women Entrepreneurial Institute Initiative and MWF Entrepreneur institute, Detroit.
To hear Joyce and Meg click play on this PodCast:
In the interview you'll hear about:
MWF mission + pillars (Joyce)
Upcoming pitch competitions (Joyce)
Michigan Historical Center in Lansing (Meg)
Hall of Fame dinner {which is coming up November 7th}(Meg).
Supplementary material related to the Hall of Fame dinner and Pitch Competitions.
Michigan Women Forward is proud to add six inductees to the HERstory Women’s Hall of Fame on November 7th at a celebration at Detroit’s TCF Center (formerly Cobo Center). Three contemporary and three historical women were selected via two rounds of statewide judging:
The contemporary women inductees include Public Health Advocate Vernice Davis-Anthony, BSN, MPH, InsideOut Literary Arts Founder and Executive Director Terry Blackhawk, Ph.D. and Michigan League for Public Policy President and CEO Gilda Jacobs. In the historical category, the Hall of Fame is recognizing Martha Baldwin, founder of the Ladies Literary Society that created the Birmingham Public Library, Margaret Kirchner Stevenson, one of the first Women’s Air Force Service (WASP) pilots and Wayne County’s first female black judge Lucile Watts. The women join 323 other Hall of Fame inductees.
START-UPS COMPETE FOR FUNDING IN MICHIGAN WOMEN FORWARD’S WOMANUp & PITCH COMPETITION
On Wednesday, November 13, 10 woman-owned businesses will go head-to-head in a pitch competition 5:00-8:00 p.m. at Consumers Energy Innovation Center, 165 W. Michigan Ave, Jackson, MI. The public event is sponsored by Michigan Women Forward with support from the Consumers Energy Foundation, Fifth Third Bank, Huntington, Independent Bank and PNC Bank. The participating companies, divided into lifestyle and growth companies, have been narrowed down from an initial field of over 160 applicants.
The finalists are:
LIFESTYLE
- Bee Present Honey - Saline
- Grifka Marketing - Chelsea
- Morgan Burgard Art -Ypsilanti
- Love Travels Imports - Detroit
- Oh, Infinite Love - Midland
GROWTH
- Wiseman Tree Experts - Lansing
- Bronzed N Glow Beauty -Boutique - Detroit
- Zonder Studios, Inc. - Lansing
- Fulfilled Eatery LLC - Ypsilanti
- BRITE Bites – E. Lansing
All finalists receive support services and technical assistance. Winners in each category at each location will be awarded cash prizes as follows:
- 1st Place $10,000
- 2nd Place $5,000
- 3rd Place $2,500
- Audience Choice $1,000 (One winner per location)
Similar competitions are scheduled for Grand Rapids on Nov. 7 and Detroit on Nov. 19.
“Consumers Energy is dedicated to ensuring Michigan businesses and communities are growing and thriving, and that includes creating opportunities for entrepreneurs who can bring critical new ideas to the table,” said Carolyn Bloodworth, secretary/treasurer of the Consumers Energy Foundation. “The Woman Up Pitch Competitions illustrate the diversity that exists in Michigan’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. When these businesses can thrive, we all win.”
“We are proud to bring this opportunity to Detroit, Jackson and Grand Rapids again this year,” said Carolyn Cassin, president and CEO of Michigan Women Forward. “This influx of capital can make a real difference to our winners as they start or grow their businesses.”
Since 2014, MWF has loaned $3,433,689 to 141 businesses, in addition to 97 pitch competition prizes and investments totaling $468,400. The Consumers Energy Foundation continues to be a pillar sponsor for Michigan Women Forward’s Women's Entrepreneurship Initiative.
The session is open to the public and all are welcome to attend. For information, visit www.miwf.org.
Grand Rapids WomanUp & Pitch Competition
Detroit WomanUp & Pitch Competition
ABOUT MICHIGAN WOMEN FORWARD
Michigan Women Forward (MWF), a 501(c)(3) organization, has been devoted to achieving social and economic equality for women and girls in Michigan for more than 30 years. MWF is supported financially and programmatically by many of the state’s top female executives and community volunteers through events like its annual Women of Achievement and Courage Awards and Power of 100 Women donor group. Through philanthropy and high impact initiatives, MWF’s goal is to ensure a brighter future for women throughout the state. For more information, visit www.miwf.org.
ABOUT CONSUMERS ENERGY
Consumers Energy is Michigan’s largest energy provider, providing natural gas and/or electricity to 6.7 million of the state’s 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties. The Consumers Energy Foundation has been the charitable arm of Consumers Energy since 1990. The Consumers Energy Foundation enables Michigan and its communities to thrive and grow. The Foundation invests in Michigan to create positive impact to its people, the planet and prosperity. For more information, visit www.ConsumersEnergy.com.
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