What's New in the Blog

Lansing, Mich. - Lansing Community College is set to celebrate Black History Awareness Month with an array of special events. This year’s national theme, “African Americans and the Vote” explores the struggle to ensure that African Americans are able to fully participate in American democracy. To this end LCC has partnered with Lansing’s Office of the City Clerk to have voter registration available at this year’s events.

Mike Larson, President and CEO, Michigan Association of United Ways, Lansing, MI, visits the MBN studio to discuss Michigan Governor Whitmer's recently issued Executive Order establishing a Michigan Poverty Task Force.

Michigan Works! Association recently celebrated National Apprenticeship Week with Visit to Germany. The Delegation paired with reps from NY State to study success of German apprenticeship model and share information about successful U.S. apprenticeship programs – National Apprenticeship Week was (Nov. 11-17, 2019), and the trip was November 7th to the 17th.

LuAnn Dunsford, Chief Executive Officer, Michigan Works! Association, Lansing, MI, drops by the MBN studio to discuss the Michigan Works! Association Celebrated National Apprenticeship Week with Visit to Germany. 

More than 870,000 businesses in Michigan are small and they are the engine of our state’s economy. Celebrated each year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, Small Business Saturday encourages consumers to impact their local economies by supporting a small business and acknowledge those who create two of every three jobs, deliver essential goods and services across the nation 365 days a year, and enrich our communities.

Seven-month program provides growth framework for up-and-coming Michigan small businesses

DETROIT – Eighteen small business owners from Michigan will graduate November 6 from the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Emerging Leaders program, an executive-level training initiative for local businesses on the brink of growth.

Jackie Smythe is a second-year student at Michigan State University planning to study Supply Chain and Sustainability. Jackie spent two weeks in Costa Rica in 2018 studying “Business Sustainability and Entrepreneurship.” This experience led Jackie and three of her colleagues from the program to launch a start-up business, INFKNIT Apparel, a reversible, sustainable clothing company with a practical approach to clothing design. In this interview, we discuss the resources through MSU that assisted in the company’s launch. This interview is part of a series with students about their experiences inside and outside of the classroom that prepare them for careers in international business. The company website is at infknit.com/

Valerie McNamera is a first-year student at Michigan State University studying Business and International Relations/Pre-law. Valerie spent two weeks in Ireland over the summer in a program entitled “Globalization, Nationalism, and the Changing Face of International Trade” looking at Ireland’s place in the global business community and how it’s being affected by Brexit discussions. She is currently working as a student assistant in the International Business Center in the Eli Broad College of Business where she does research, assists with the globalEDGE website, and writes for the blog of trade issues. She wants to be an international business contract lawyer. This interview is part of a series with students about their experiences inside and outside of the classroom that prepare them for careers in international business.

Gigi Ngcobo is a Senior at Michigan State University, majoring in Finance and User Experience Design. She currently serves a President of the MSU Women’s Association for Venture capital and Private Equity and Vice President of Spartan Blockchain Solutions. As an advocate for the development of emerging markets, she organized the inaugural MSU African Business Symposium; recordings from the event are available on globalEDGE Business Beat. Gigi aspires to help solve her community’s most pressing issues by establishing enterprises and strengthening the African business ecosystem. This interview is part of a series with students about their experiences inside and outside of the classroom that prepare them for careers in international business.