Business Rap

A brand identity guide establishes a base for everything you want your clients and staff to know about your business. Knowing where to start may be overwhelming, which is why we have assembled top experts in branding and PR together, to teach you how to do it!

We review President Trump's first 100 days in office, with Jeff Williams, CEO​ ​of Public Sector Consultants.

Get the scoop on everything you need to know when it comes to tax credits and deductions, from the owner of Simplfied Tax and Accounting, Nikali Luke.

We discuss the pros and cons of employment and entrepreneurship and give advice on identifying the skills needed to succeed in both career pathways. Hear from Olivet College, The Grand Ledge Fledge, LEAP, Davenport University, Simplified Tax and Accounting, Conquer Accelerator and Quantum Medical Concepts.

Bootstrapping, pre-seed, venture capital – if you’re in the early stages of starting a business, you’ll hear a lot of investment terms thrown around. Developing an understanding of what each round of funding means and why it exists is important to your startup’s success. Hear from top experts from around the state; Skip Simms of MI Angel Fund, Charlie Moret of Invest Michigan, Patti Glaza of Invest Detroit Ventures and Dan Tomaszewski Maxone.

Building an iconic brand doesn’t happen over night. There is a lot of planning and dedication that goes into developing an image people like and trust. We have assembled a panel of top business experts together to help you understand what it takes to build an iconic brand. Hear from Gud Marketing, Michigan Creative, CJ Buck Consulting, Farm Burea Insurance of Michigan and The Eyde Company.

We debunk common skilled trades myths ​with ​Edythe Hatter-Williams, Chief Executive Officer at Capital Area Michigan Works!​, Michelle Cordano, Executive director of the Capital Area Manufacturing Council, Bob Hedlund of Hedlund Plumbing and Peggy Doty of Doty Mechanical!

Find out how life insurance can help you protect your business and those you care about with expert insights from Jim McDaniels of The McDaniels Agency, Vic​ ​Verchereau, Vice President of Marketing for Farm Bureau Insurance and Tom Hoban, President​ ​​​of​ ​Mercantile Bank.

Find out if paid parental leave if right for your company, with insights from; Andrew Abood, Partner at Abood Law Firm, Todd Surline of Hiring Solutions LLC and Jim McDaniels of The McDaniels Agency, Farm Burea Insurance.

Find out how to enhance your online customer service with tips from top experts; Ash Harris, CEO​ ​of AKEA Web Solutions, Ben Klaver, Marketing Manager​ ​of DBI Office Interiors, Chris Hall,​ ​CEO of Big Shot Video, Karl Pawlewicz, Head of communications​ ​and Voice of Olark and Katherine Mays, Head of Customer Experience at Nutshell.

Options and tips on various types of insurance for your business, with expert insights from the viewpoints of an insurance agent, claims adjuster and attorney.

Get the scoop on what you need to know about saving and accumulating money for your retirement using your company’s retirement plan. Expert insights from the Equanimity Wealth Mangment Team.

The labor shortage of skilled workers in Michigan is ipacting employers and consumers, find out how on this episode of Business Rap.

Find out how three different retail business models (brick and mortar, showroom/ e-commerce and e-commerce) are adapting to consumer habits and new technology.

We discuss the steps to take to become ​a ​successful entrepreneur, at all stages of life; in high school, college, and into your retirement, with our expert panel from AARP Michigan, Spartan Innovations, LEAP, Equanimity Wealth Managment and Simplfied Tax and Accounting.

We discuss what’s on the horizon in regards to employment laws and regulations with guest Nancy McKeague, the Chief of Staff of The MHA. Hear expert insights from Todd Surline of Hiring Solutions LLC, Scott Danek of Equanimity Wealth Managment and Nikali Luke of Simplified Tax and Accounting

Choosing a career path in the skilled trades may be a lucrative and rewarding decision. Find out what opportunities are available and how to land them on this episode of Business Rap. We talk to top experts; Bob Filka, CEO of HBA of Michigan, Cindy Kosloski, CEO of HBA of Greater Lansing, Jerry Johnson, Instructor Capital Area Career Center, Bob Hedlund of Heldund Plumbing and Peggy and Gary Doty of Doty Mechanical.

Technology is rapidly changing the way most of us do business. The real estate industry has changed dramatically over the past 10 years and new technology is predicted to create huge changes, in the near future. Hear how experts from The Laforet Team, Center for Financial Health, Union Home Mortgage and Coldwell Banker Hubbell BriarWood have adapted to change and are preparing for the future.

Everyone on this episode's panel has competitors and everyone on the panel has differentiators that set them apart. Find out how you can use your differentiators to your advantage.

Working or even partnering with friends or family may seem like a great idea at first, but if you are not careful your relationship may be jeopardized by your new dynamic. Everyone on this episode's panel has worked with a close friend or family member and has established great professional relationships. Guest experts Jenny Quinn and Trista Parisian of FLEXcity Fitness join our discussion on creating buffers around potentially difficult or damaging situations when working with friends and family.