Monday, September 8th, MBN was on the road to the Radisson Plaza Hotel & Suites, Kalamazoo, MI.

This was day 2 of 2025's Michigan Works! Association's Annual Conference.

In this video Chris Holman welcomes Chris Andresen, Partner, Dutko Grayling, based out of Washington, D.C..

They discuss the lobbying services, and challenges, along with what he's experiencing with the Michigan Works! Annual Conference.

» Visit MBN website: www.michiganbusinessnetwork.com/
» Subscribe to MBN’s YouTube: www.youtube.com/@MichiganbusinessnetworkMBN
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Michigan Works! Association Wraps Up 2025 Annual Conference in Kalamazoo

The Michigan Works! Association successfully hosted its 2025 Annual Conference September 7–9 at the Radisson Plaza Hotel & Suites in Kalamazoo. The three-day event brought together workforce development professionals, employers, educators, policymakers, and community leaders to explore solutions for Michigan’s most pressing talent and employment challenges.

The conference opened Sunday with workshops, the Association’s annual meeting, and a networking reception at the Gilmore Car Museum, providing an engaging start for attendees to connect with peers and partners.

On Monday, the agenda featured keynote presentations from Sharon Gai and Dr. Christopher Laney, who offered insights into global workforce trends, leadership, and the future of employment. Attendees engaged in a variety of workshops covering workforce readiness, training strategies, and employer engagement. The Exhibit Hall was a focal point for building connections between businesses, service providers, and Michigan Works! agencies,  (and also where MBN recorded its interviews from). While networking opportunities such as the Dessert Break & Headshot Lounge further fostered collaboration.

The conference concluded Tuesday with workshops and a dynamic closing keynote from Dr. Sherene McHenry, emphasizing leadership, communication, and strategies to strengthen Michigan’s workforce ecosystem. An invitation-only Executive Breakfast also gave business and policy leaders an opportunity to exchange ideas in a more focused setting.

Across the three days, the conference highlighted the critical role of employment in economic development. Employers learned about the tangible costs of workforce gaps, explored innovative approaches to upskilling, and built partnerships to address talent shortages. The emphasis on collaboration positioned Michigan Works! as a vital connector between business needs and workforce solutions.

By drawing together leaders from across the state, the 2025 Annual Conference underscored Michigan’s commitment to building a stronger, more resilient economy through workforce innovation, business engagement, and talent development.

Michigan Business Beat on the Road | Chris Andresen, Dutko Grayling Understanding the Value of MW!A.

Monday, September 8th, MBN was on the road to the Radisson Plaza Hotel & Suites, Kalamazoo, MI.

This was day 2 of 2025's Michigan Works! Association's Annual Conference.

In this video Chris Holman welcomes Ryan Hundt, CEO, Michigan Works! Association, Lansing, but serving statewide in Michigan.

They discuss the services, and challenges facing his Michigan Works! chapter, along with what he's experiencing with the Michigan Works! Annual Conference.

» Visit MBN website: www.michiganbusinessnetwork.com/
» Subscribe to MBN’s YouTube: www.youtube.com/@MichiganbusinessnetworkMBN
» Like MBN: www.facebook.com/mibiznetwork
» Follow MBN: twitter.com/MIBizNetwork/
» MBN Instagram: www.instagram.com/mibiznetwork/

Michigan Works! Association Wraps Up 2025 Annual Conference in Kalamazoo

The Michigan Works! Association successfully hosted its 2025 Annual Conference September 7–9 at the Radisson Plaza Hotel & Suites in Kalamazoo. The three-day event brought together workforce development professionals, employers, educators, policymakers, and community leaders to explore solutions for Michigan’s most pressing talent and employment challenges.

The conference opened Sunday with workshops, the Association’s annual meeting, and a networking reception at the Gilmore Car Museum, providing an engaging start for attendees to connect with peers and partners.

On Monday, the agenda featured keynote presentations from Sharon Gai and Dr. Christopher Laney, who offered insights into global workforce trends, leadership, and the future of employment. Attendees engaged in a variety of workshops covering workforce readiness, training strategies, and employer engagement. The Exhibit Hall was a focal point for building connections between businesses, service providers, and Michigan Works! agencies,  (and also where MBN recorded its interviews from). While networking opportunities such as the Dessert Break & Headshot Lounge further fostered collaboration.

The conference concluded Tuesday with workshops and a dynamic closing keynote from Dr. Sherene McHenry, emphasizing leadership, communication, and strategies to strengthen Michigan’s workforce ecosystem. An invitation-only Executive Breakfast also gave business and policy leaders an opportunity to exchange ideas in a more focused setting.

Across the three days, the conference highlighted the critical role of employment in economic development. Employers learned about the tangible costs of workforce gaps, explored innovative approaches to upskilling, and built partnerships to address talent shortages. The emphasis on collaboration positioned Michigan Works! as a vital connector between business needs and workforce solutions.

By drawing together leaders from across the state, the 2025 Annual Conference underscored Michigan’s commitment to building a stronger, more resilient economy through workforce innovation, business engagement, and talent development.

Michigan Business Beat on the Road | Ryan Hundt, Michigan Works! Association Hosts MW!A Conference!

Monday, September 8th, MBN was on the road to the Radisson Plaza Hotel & Suites, Kalamazoo, MI.

This was day 2 of 2025's Michigan Works! Association's Annual Conference.

In this video Chris Holman welcomes Jessica Topp, CEO,  Michigan Works! Northeast Consortium.

They discuss the services, and challenges facing his Michigan Works! chapter, along with what he's experiencing with the Michigan Works! Annual Conference.

» Visit MBN website: www.michiganbusinessnetwork.com/
» Subscribe to MBN’s YouTube: www.youtube.com/@MichiganbusinessnetworkMBN
» Like MBN: www.facebook.com/mibiznetwork
» Follow MBN: twitter.com/MIBizNetwork/
» MBN Instagram: www.instagram.com/mibiznetwork/

Michigan Works! Association Wraps Up 2025 Annual Conference in Kalamazoo

The Michigan Works! Association successfully hosted its 2025 Annual Conference September 7–9 at the Radisson Plaza Hotel & Suites in Kalamazoo. The three-day event brought together workforce development professionals, employers, educators, policymakers, and community leaders to explore solutions for Michigan’s most pressing talent and employment challenges.

The conference opened Sunday with workshops, the Association’s annual meeting, and a networking reception at the Gilmore Car Museum, providing an engaging start for attendees to connect with peers and partners.

On Monday, the agenda featured keynote presentations from Sharon Gai and Dr. Christopher Laney, who offered insights into global workforce trends, leadership, and the future of employment. Attendees engaged in a variety of workshops covering workforce readiness, training strategies, and employer engagement. The Exhibit Hall was a focal point for building connections between businesses, service providers, and Michigan Works! agencies,  (and also where MBN recorded its interviews from). While networking opportunities such as the Dessert Break & Headshot Lounge further fostered collaboration.

The conference concluded Tuesday with workshops and a dynamic closing keynote from Dr. Sherene McHenry, emphasizing leadership, communication, and strategies to strengthen Michigan’s workforce ecosystem. An invitation-only Executive Breakfast also gave business and policy leaders an opportunity to exchange ideas in a more focused setting.

Across the three days, the conference highlighted the critical role of employment in economic development. Employers learned about the tangible costs of workforce gaps, explored innovative approaches to upskilling, and built partnerships to address talent shortages. The emphasis on collaboration positioned Michigan Works! as a vital connector between business needs and workforce solutions.

By drawing together leaders from across the state, the 2025 Annual Conference underscored Michigan’s commitment to building a stronger, more resilient economy through workforce innovation, business engagement, and talent development.

Michigan Business Beat on the Road | Jessica Topp,  Michigan Works! Northeast Consortium MW!A Conf.

In this candid and raw Tough Girl Podcast EXTRA&nbsp;episode, we reconnect with the unstoppable&nbsp;Vedangi Kulkarni&nbsp;— the youngest woman to have cycled around the world, who’s recently returned from doing it&nbsp;again. Now based in Inverness, Scotland, Vedangi opens up about her second attempt at cycling around the globe — this time not just for the journey, but in pursuit of a&nbsp;Guinness World Record. From&nbsp;racing Lael Wilcox to navigating border delays, funding pressures, and the relentless physical and mental toll of riding across five continents, Vedangi doesn’t hold back.&nbsp; This conversation is about&nbsp;pushing limits, embracing&nbsp;failures, and finding strength when things don’t go to plan.  Highlights from the episode include:  Breaking a record in the&nbsp;Himalayas&nbsp;(Manali–Leh Highway) in 2023 Preparing to cycle the world again in 2024 — and finding sponsorship, gear, and coaching Struggles of travelling on an&nbsp;Indian passport&nbsp;and the challenge of visa logistics Being delayed at borders, detained, and ultimately forced to return to the UK mid-ride due to visa expiry Restarting in 2025, finishing the ride under the blazing Indian summer sun Dealing with the&nbsp;post-expedition blues&nbsp;and finding her footing again  Vedangi’s story is one of&nbsp;resilience, honesty, and fierce determination. Despite knowing she wouldn’t get the world record, she kept going — driven by passion, grit, and the belief that stories worth telling are born from adversity. Now, she’s looking ahead to her next expedition, ramping up her YouTube and Substack presence, and continuing to speak openly about the realities of life as a woman of colour in adventure sport. &nbsp;Heads-up: This episode includes some strong language.  &nbsp;New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)!&nbsp;Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries. &nbsp;Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges?&nbsp;Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here:&nbsp;. &nbsp;Your support makes a difference.&nbsp;&nbsp;Thank you x  Show notes  Who is Vedangi From India but currently based in Inverness, Scotland&nbsp; &nbsp; Coming back from her 2nd ride around the world&nbsp; Speaking to Vedangi in Sep 22, 2020 - &nbsp; Tough Girl Extra Oct 27, 2022 - &nbsp; The focus of this episode - what Vedangi has been up to over the past couple of years Deciding to cycle around the world again 2023 - visiting the Himalayas and going after a point to point record. GWR for being the fastest women to cycle the Manali-leh Highway&nbsp; Getting her win&nbsp; June 2023 - starting to be vocal about her goals in 2024 Getting the sponsorship and funding in place&nbsp; Needing £20k&nbsp; Working with &nbsp; Speaking to the bike experts&nbsp; Getting a gravel bike and specking it like a road bike Being an &nbsp; Working with  - and having custom build gear&nbsp; 3D printed mounts&nbsp; Struggling to get sponsorship from Indian companies Getting only 1 Indian Sponsor at the last moment Training and working with Jon Fearne from E3 Coaching &nbsp; Following a training plan and putting in the best effort with it Applying for visas and planning the route with an Indian passport &nbsp; The challenges of getting to the start line Racing against  (who was attempting the same record at the same time) “Why do I think I can do this? I don’t stand a chance”&nbsp; Mental blocks and challenges The challenges of travelling on a weaker passport&nbsp; Having no room for errors - everything needs to go to plan Why it wasn’t a level playing field&nbsp; Speaking with Lael before heading off - women supporting women Knowing that she wasn’t going to get the record and keeping on going Having a good story to...

Vedangi Kulkarni  - Round the World (Again): Records, Setbacks & Resilience on Two Wheels

In this episode of the&nbsp;Tough Girl Podcast, we meet&nbsp;Susan Norman&nbsp;— a former National and World Champion in whitewater kayaking and rafting, hydrologist, coach, and now author of&nbsp;RISK: A Life Saved by the River. Susan’s story is one of courage, flow, and resilience. From the roaring rapids of international whitewater competition to the quiet, uncertain waters of parenting her young nephew, she’s navigated life’s toughest challenges with the same instinct, grit, and grace that made her a world-class paddler. Now retired from her career with the U.S. Forest Service and living in Lake Tahoe, California, Susan reflects on how rivers shaped her identity — not just as an athlete, but as a woman learning to make her own risk assessments, trust her judgement, and face fear head-on. In this conversation, Susan opens up about:  Finding belonging and strength in the early days of women’s paddling The lessons whitewater taught her about resilience and decision-making Her journey into writing and how storytelling became an extension of adventure What it really means to take&nbsp;good risks&nbsp;— on the river and in life  Get ready for a deeply thoughtful episode about flow, fear, and finding freedom through the wild power of water. *** &nbsp;New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)!&nbsp;Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries. &nbsp;Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges?&nbsp;Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here:&nbsp;. &nbsp;Your support makes a difference.&nbsp; Thank you x *** Show notes  Who is Susan Norman Living in Lake Tahoe, California Working for the US Forest Service Being retired for 7 years&nbsp; Starting her journey and learning new creative writing skills Book: &nbsp; Her childhood (with her twin brother) and early years&nbsp; Her interest in rivers and how her father inspired her&nbsp; Her transition from teenager to adult&nbsp; White water paddling as an amateur sport&nbsp; Competing as a teenager&nbsp; &nbsp; Wanting to increase her skill set Going to high school in the early 1970s&nbsp; Not having many older female role models&nbsp; Dads and daughters on the river&nbsp; Forming a tribe and connecting with the other girls during her teenage years&nbsp; The relationship with her mum who was diagnosed with MS&nbsp; Being raised by a single father&nbsp; Replacing family with the paddling community&nbsp; Being part of the first wave of women getting into a high level of paddling Paddling amongst the best paddlers in the world&nbsp; Analysing and making decisions based on her own risk assessments&nbsp; Learning to trust her own judgement A life saved by the river&nbsp; Working with a writing coach&nbsp; Telling her story, while raising her nephew Taking her nephew on river trips&nbsp; Taking 6 years to write the book&nbsp; Trying to figure out how to raise a child&nbsp; Facing hard things and not being able to see a path through&nbsp; Not knowing how things will turn out and taking it one day at a time Taking challenging in small steps Giving an ultimatum to her partner&nbsp; Going through the teenage years Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) Adventuring with children and why you should go as soon as you can&nbsp; The power of outdoor adventure sports Managing fear while on adventure and parenting&nbsp; River boarding and learning about the flow of the river water How to connect with Susan&nbsp; Final words of advice with regards to risk and making tough decisions Find the good risk&nbsp;  &nbsp; Social Media Website&nbsp;&nbsp; Facebook: &nbsp; &nbsp;

Susan Norman – A Life Saved by the River: Risk, Adventure, and the Power of Trusting Yourself

In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, I’m joined by the incredible&nbsp;Julie Weiss&nbsp;— also known as&nbsp;The Marathon Goddess. Julie’s story is one of resilience, healing, and purpose. After losing her father to pancreatic cancer, she set out on an extraordinary mission: to run&nbsp;52 marathons in 52 weeks, raising awareness and funds for pancreatic cancer research along the way. Her journey captured hearts around the world — from the&nbsp;Today Show&nbsp;and&nbsp;O Magazine to countless finish lines across the US. But behind the medals and media attention is a woman who found strength, joy, and hope through running. Now in her fifties, Julie has completed over&nbsp;118 marathons, raised more than&nbsp;$1 million for research, and continues to inspire others with her message that it’s never too late to chase your dreams, honour your loved ones, and find purpose in every step. In this conversation, Julie opens up about: &nbsp;How running helped her heal from grief and depression &nbsp;The challenges and triumphs of running 52 marathons in 52 weeks &nbsp;What it takes to stay motivated and injury-free through massive goals &nbsp;Her empowering&nbsp;“7 C’s to Defy Your Limits” — Create, Certainty, Connect, Commit, Consistent, Cause, and Courage Julie’s story is a beautiful reminder that transformation begins with one small step — and that every mile can make a difference.  &nbsp;New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)!&nbsp;Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries. &nbsp;Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges?&nbsp;Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here:&nbsp;. &nbsp;Your support makes a difference.&nbsp;&nbsp;Thank you x  Show notes  Who is Julie Living in Santa Monica,&nbsp; California, USA Being known as the Marathon Goddess - Running 52 marathon in 52 weeks Raising over $1 million for charity&nbsp; Being excited to share the wisdom she has leaned from running marathons Her childhood and early years&nbsp; Being tall with long legs Starting running at 37 years Not being at athlete at school Taking a different path Becoming a mother at 18&nbsp; Not doing a lot of exercise in her younger years&nbsp; Feeling at a very low point in her life Going for that first run on the beach&nbsp; Wanting to feel good Keeping on running&nbsp; Coming off anti-depressants&nbsp; Fitting running into her life and making it work for her Joining a running group  Connecting with other people&nbsp; Training for a triathlon first&nbsp; Running her first marathon in March 2008 How running makes her feel&nbsp; Her relationship with her dad Raising funds for  Taking 10 years to raise the funds&nbsp;  Deciding to run 52 marathons in 52 weeks  Being determined&nbsp; Feeling overwhelmed at the start of the goal The start and the different steps involved Reaching out to charities, speaking to her boss The power of having purpose&nbsp; The physicality of the challenge Protein, stretching, foam rolling, strength training, rest, compression tights, physio&nbsp; The standout marathons from the challenge&nbsp;  and the challenges of running at altitude&nbsp;&nbsp;   in 2012 - being cancelled&nbsp;&nbsp; Marathon proposal! Being coached by her husband Qualifying for the  Losing her dad 19th attempt of getting into Boston Marathon Making the decision to run 52 marathons in 52 weeks Not giving up&nbsp; The mental side of the challenge The importance of creating a goal that is important to you The 7Cs - Create, Certainty, Connect, Commit, Consistent, Cause, Courage&nbsp; Enjoying what you’ve accomplished Writing her book&nbsp; BOOK:  Advice for deciding what to do? The importance of fun Chasing speed and wanting to quality for Boston again Running during peri-menopause and...

Julie Weiss – The Marathon Goddess: 52 Marathons in 52 Weeks for Pancreatic Cancer & a Legacy of Hope

"I TOLD Y'ALL THE WAIT WOULDN'T BE THAT LONG. I'M BAAAACCCK! DID YOU MISS ME?!

*shout out to pass the drive and their sample challenges for inspiring this idea*

ON A MORE SERIOUS NOTE THOUGH, I WANTED TO GET BACK TO MY ROOTS. BEEN DOING A LOT OF STUDYING, READING, RESEARCHING AND EXPERIMENTING WITH NEW SOUNDS AND WANTED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO USE THEM IN MY ALREADY EXISTING CONTEXT. I WANTED A MORE RAW, PUNCHY SOUND THIS TIME AROUND, I WAS GROWING TIRED OF MAKING MY STUFF CLEAN, IT FELT TOO STERILE AND BORING."

credits:
sound manipulation & mixing engineer: ATP.
drum programming & synthesizers: ATP.
bass guitar & rhodes: ATP.
producer: ATP.

tracklist:
- so...sedating...
-sensualglitches.
-primordialsoup.
-throwsumdirtondatbih.
-24lay-dees.

challenge accepted. [FULL EP // BEATTAPE]

Being underestimated and downgraded, belief and decide to stand for one's self

MY RULES

Have you ever been haunted by something that just won't leave you alone? This song captures a mood of despair. It's such an impossible task in trying to escape from these demons, no matter how hard we try.

You're Haunting Me (demo)

Originally uploaded September 17th, reloaded October 4th.

Monday September 8th, MBN was on the road to Kalamazoo for the Michigan Works! Association Annual Conference. The team took a break from interviews down in the exhibit hall and attended the luncheon where remarks were shared and awards were handed out. Here are the first eight minutes of a keynote delivered by Dr. Christopher Laney "Michigan’s Labor Market: The Good, the Bad and the Possibilities". 

His research in recent years can be found at https://www.nceda.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Laney-Christopher.pdf

This video shares highlights from the Monday September 8th luncheon presentation. Before we returned to the exhibit hall for more interviews.

» Visit MBN website: www.michiganbusinessnetwork.com/
» Subscribe to MBN’s YouTube: www.youtube.com/@MichiganbusinessnetworkMBN
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MBN On The Road | Dr. Christopher Laney - Michigan Works! Association Conference 9/8/2025  Keynoter

A passionate female singer, rapper, vocalist and music producer. Singing isn't just what I do, it's who I am.

I set up Tough Girl Challenges as a way of motivating and inspiring women and girls.
 
I interview inspirational female explorers, adventurers, athletes and everyday women who have overcome great challenges.
 
I completed the Marathon des Sables in April 2016. In 2017 I thru hiked the Appalachian Trail (2,190 miles) in 100 days. In 2018 I cycled from Vancouver in Canada to Cabo San Lucas in Mexico over 4,000 km! 

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Your support helps me continue to grow the podcast and do inspiring things in this space! Already done all 3? You’re a rockstar! Thank you!

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Experimental Bedroom Producer | Drawer | 22. | Daydreamer | Cancer♋️.

"Literally, I'm just someone who likes to make music and experiment with different sounds."

"I chose to go the instrumental route because it provided more of a challenge to find my voice. I find fascination in speaking through instruments. It's like discovering hidden treasures or talents behind a veil."

Owner of makeurowndontbitemine

#archbishopthaproducer #makeurowndontbitemine
contact: atpproducer1702@gmail.com

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

New tracks tagged #challenges