Destination Michigan is the go-to organization for destinations, hotels, venues, and service providers to open doors to new business opportunities. As a business leader, we can get so busy taking care of current clients that we lose that precious prospecting time. No worries! Leave the prospecting to Kim Corcoran's Destination Michigan!  They put you in front of the right audience at the sales missions, lunch and learns, tradeshows, and other marketing events. All you need to do is follow up and book the business! 

A key ambassador for this state's multi-billion dollar meeting and event business, Kim is a major contributor in getting meeting planners and resources together!  She knows every part of Michigan and that's why we asked her to meet us here on the Michigan Corners, where we talk about all things that involve meetings, events, festivals, and tourism here in the Great Lake state!

Michigan Corners | Let's Meet in Michigan!

Tim is in his 51st year in broadcasting, the longest in Michigan history. Tim joined WILX - TV in July of 1980.  While at WILX, Tim has hosted numerous coaches shows and has been on every CMN Telethon since it started in 1989. Tim has anchored all of the MSU basketball tournament specials and MSU Bowl game specials every year the teams have been involved.

Tim's successful and highly awarded career has many highlights and memorable moments.  So many of the coaches, great athletes, and events he has been around making for incredible lessons in business and life.  Called the "Dean of sports", Tim has so much to offer and share in this edition of the Leadership Lowdown!  Blow the whistle!  It's game time!

Leadership Lowdown | 50 years of broadcasting, a lifetime of great learning!

Leona Williams was destined to become a Country Music Entertainer. She landed her first radio show at the age of 15, simply called “Leona Sings” in Jefferson City, Missouri. That journey would take her all over the world and allow her to sing before thousands upon thousands of Country Music fans.  The lessons learned and the wisdom gained make this interview one of the most interesting in Leadership Lowdown history! Come laugh a little and get inspired with this graceful lady of country music!

Goerge Jones said ”Leona Williams is the greatest female country singer that has ever stepped up to a microphone.  She can make a grown man cry with her sad songs.  I love the lady and her music.  What a nice lady “  He's right!  I don't think I have ever encountered a nicer lady in all my life!  

Let's go a little country and hear an inspiring story!

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Leadership Lowdown | Grace, Class And A Little Honky Tonk

Jeffrey Mosher spends a few minutes with Ara Topouzian, Executive Director, for MVCA, the Michigan Venture Capital Association, Novi, MI while at the 2021 Mackinac Policy Conference, on Mackinac Island.
Reporting from the lobby of the Chippewa Hotel on the island, Jeffrey finds out from Ara the latest from MVCA, the overall venture capital sector across Michigan, his perspective on #MPC21, a key takeaway from the conference, a note that MVCA has an upcoming awards evening September 30th.

Michigan Business Beat | Michigan Venture Capital Association from #MPC21

Tony welcomes back Tom Gantert, Managing Editor of Michigan Capitol Confidential, a daily news site of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, for a follow-up discussion about the funding of news sources, and media's persuasive ways across the country and in Michigan.
They review crossed paths in their career, and then Tom's journey over the years and what he sees in media bias, along with how stories are covered (or aren't), and whether this trend will change.
When Gantert arrived at Capitol Confidential as Senior Capitol Correspondent in February 2010, he already had extensive experience as a journalist, having worked for more than 20 years at Michigan daily newspapers, including The Jackson Citizen Patriot, Lansing State Journal and Ann Arbor News. Gantert also served a four-month stint at USA Today as part of a Gannett Corporation loaner program. In 2008, Gantert was The Ann Arbor News writer of the year, and in September 2009, he founded Reporting Michigan, a nonprofit news Web site.
Gantert holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Michigan State University. He has two sons and lives in Jackson, Mich.
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Thank you to Benjamin Robinson and Motor City Skyline's music open.spotify.com/track/7y23KC54uZ…fPSoq_BrEnoS9kUw

Media Business | Media and Their Persuasive Ways

Tony spends some time with Tom Gantert, Managing Editor of Michigan Capitol Confidential, a daily news site of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy.
They review crossed paths in their career, and then Tom's journey over the years and what he sees in media bias, along with how stories are covered (or aren't), and whether this trend will change.
When Gantert arrived at Capitol Confidential as Senior Capitol Correspondent in February 2010, he already had extensive experience as a journalist, having worked for more than 20 years at Michigan daily newspapers, including The Jackson Citizen Patriot, Lansing State Journal and Ann Arbor News. Gantert also served a four-month stint at USA Today as part of a Gannett Corporation loaner program. In 2008, Gantert was The Ann Arbor News writer of the year, and in September 2009, he founded Reporting Michigan, a nonprofit news Web site.
Gantert holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Michigan State University. He has two sons and lives in Jackson, Mich.

Thank you to Benjamin Robinson and Motor City Skyline's music open.spotify.com/track/7y23KC54uZ…fPSoq_BrEnoS9kUw

The Tony Conley Show | Episode 8 How Non-Profit Media Views Media Bias from Both Sides

Jeffrey Mosher welcomes back  Jennifer Maxson, Founder and President of Jennifer Maxson & Associates, Belmont, MI.
Questions covered in this interview:
● As a leadership coach, what do you believe are the most crucial qualities that distinguish great bosses from merely good ones?
● How can leaders effectively balance being approachable and maintaining necessary authority within their teams?
● In your experience, what are some common mistakes new managers make, and how can they avoid these pitfalls?
● Based on your outcomes, how does an improvement in leadership impact teams?
● Can you share two or three practical tips for bosses looking to improve their leadership skills that they can start using right away?
Talking Points
● The impact of good leadership on employee retention: Studies have shown that approximately 57% of employees have left a job due to poor management. Good bosses can significantly reduce turnover rates, saving companies both time and money in recruitment and training.
● The ripple effect of effective leadership on team performance: Research indicates that teams led by high-performing managers are 50% more productive and 44% more profitable than those led by average managers. Good bosses elevate their entire team's performance.
● The connection between leadership quality and company profitability: Companies with high-quality leadership development programs have been found to outperform their competitors financially. Investing in leadership pays off.
● The role of emotional intelligence in effective leadership: Leaders with high emotional intelligence scores are responsible for 58% higher productivity and 70% higher employee retention rates compared to those with lower EQ scores.
● The importance of continuous learning and adaptability for leaders: In a rapidly changing business environment, adaptable leaders who prioritize ongoing learning are 25% more likely to outperform their peers and lead their companies to long-term success.
About Jennifer Maxson:
Jennifer Maxson is a highly driven and influential figure in networking, communication, leadership development, and public speaking. With her extensive experience and expertise, she serves clients by offering tailor-made individual coaching, executive coaching, and group training services. As a Certified Professional Coach, she is dedicated to delivering exceptional consulting services that empower clients to achieve their goals.

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Michigan Business Beat | Jennifer Maxson, Qualities Distinguish Great Bosses from Merely Good Ones

Chris Holman welcomes back Bob Trezise, President & CEO of the Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP), Lansing's REO Town, MI.

A unified list of Top 10 priorities for statewide growth has just been released — which of these do you believe will have the most immediate economic impact in Michigan, and why?

EDLM regions represent 84% of Michigan’s GDP. How does this collective voice help shape statewide policy compared to regional efforts acting alone?

Talent attraction and retention continues to be a major issue for employers. Can you explain how the proposed Regional Talent Attraction and Retention Fund would work in practice?

EDLM is calling to double the R&D tax credit to $200 million. How critical is innovation funding to keeping Michigan competitive nationally and globally?

Many of these priorities involve revitalization, placemaking, and community development. How does investing in vibrant local communities directly influence business attraction and economic growth?

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Economic Development Leaders for Michigan Unveil Top 10 Priorities for Statewide Growth and Prosperity 

Lansing, Mich. (Aug. 2025) — Economic Development Leaders for Michigan (EDLM), a coalition of the state’s premier regional economic development organizations, today announced a unified list of 10 priorities designed to position Michigan for long-term growth, innovation, and prosperity. 

Representing regions that comprise 79% of the state’s population and 84% of its gross domestic product, EDLM brings together leaders with over 225 years of combined experience in economic development. The coalition is committed to advancing strategies that will drive business investment, talent development, community revitalization, and innovation across the state. 

“A competitive economic development toolbox locally impacts all elements of a community — from small businesses, startups, and entrepreneurs, to placemaking projects like farmers markets, and to successfully attracting brand-new investment and good jobs. The better funded and more robust our state economic development toolbox and programs are, the more revenue we will generate for the state, supporting the quality services we all want,” said Bob Trezise, President and CEO of the Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP).  

The Top 10 Economic Development Priorities outlined by EDLM include targeted investments and policy reforms across four key categories:

Business Attraction and Retention

Maintain Business Development Program at $100 million to stay competitive for job-creating investments.
Adopt a performance-based, accountable withholding tax incentive to support impactful project attraction and expansion.
Community Development

Renew and fund the Revitalization and Placemaking (RAP) Program at $50 million to support vibrant, place-based development.
Renew and fund the Community Revitalization Program (CRP) at $50 million to reinvest in communities across Michigan.
Modernize locally driven programs:
SmartZone: Extend expiring TIF agreements by 15 years, with potential for additional extensions based on local approval.
Transformational Brownfield Program: Simplify program access and remove funding caps to unlock more redevelopment opportunities.
Fund the Regional Strategic Site Readiness Program at $50 million annually to accelerate development of competitive, investment-ready sites.
Talent

About LEAP
The Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP) is a coalition of area leaders partnering to build a stronger community for all—working every day to grow, retain and attract business to the Lansing, Michigan, region.

About EDLM

Economic Development Leaders for Michigan (EDLM) is a coalition....

Michigan Business Beat | Bob Trezise, LEAP - EDLM's Top 10 Priorities To Drive Michigan’s Growth

Jeffrey Mosher speaks with Rebecca Abel, Owner of Treat Dreams Dessert Emporium & D'vine Cookies, of Ferndale, MI. They review the topic - Building a Food Brand

During the conversation Rebecca covers how:
• She has had to be very flexible in creating the company to appeal to what the consumer wants.
• She has a strong passion for building her brand which has fueled her through the ups and downs.
• She tries to work on the business vs. in the business as much as possible and constantly is asking herself if what she's doing can be delegated of if it is important for her to do.

In addition to the food business she's also a financial planner money manager and single mom. With limited time and energy to get everything she focuses on working in areas where she's strong and prioritizing the most important things to get done each day. Finding the right partner took several months but has been an amazing asset to the growth of my company.

blog article: http://www.michiganbusinessnetwork.com/blog/rebecca-abel-building-a-food-brand-in-michigan

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Rebecca Abel: Building a Food Brand in Michigan | Michigan Business Beat

Mark McDaniel, President  & CEO, Cinnaire, Lansing, MI, drops by the MBN studio to discuss 2019’s Highlights, reviewing some of those with Chris Holman.
They cover recent news, including: Cinnaire Receives Affordable Housing Program Award from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago

Cinnaire Receives $1 Million CDFI Fund Award

What Cinnaire is looking forward to in 2020? (Cinnaire's 5-year-plan).

Mark McDaniel | Cinnaire's 2019’s Highlights and Insights

The Michigan Business Network was on the road to the Detroit Regional Chamber’s 9th Annual Detroit Policy Conference 2020 at the Motor City Casino in Detroit, MI on January 29th. This annual event brings more than 30 leaders who address Detroit’s ongoing path to economic sustainability and set into motion meaningful change in the city.

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One-On-One Conversation with Dug Song: Dug Song, Duo Security at Cisco

The Home of Business in Michigan. Get on-demand access to audio programs, articles and resources presented by savvy business leaders and industry experts.

Michigan Business Beat | Bob Trezise, LEAP - EDLM's Top 10 Priorities To Drive Michigan’s Growth

Michigan Business Network

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