Today on The Welsh Wire, Welsh & Associates CEO Sheri Welsh interviews Marlee D’Arco, President and CEO of Safety Services, Inc. in Kalamazoo, about her journey into leadership of her family’s business.

The Welsh Wire features professional recruiting expert Sheri Welsh and moderator Mike Rogers. Listen in as leaders from a wide array of small to mid-size west Michigan companies weigh in and share their experiences and insights on a variety of business topics, including employee retention challenges and recruitment success stories.

The Welsh Wire: Transitioning Leadership in a Family-Owned Business ft. Marlee D’Arco

As part one of a special presentation on The Welsh Wire, Welsh & Associates CEO Sheri Welsh discusses a new collaboration addressing Michigan’s urgent need for well-trained STEM graduates, joined by guests from Western Michigan University (WMU).

This collaboration between Welsh & Associates and WMU’s Optional Practical Training (OPT) program will connect local businesses with international STEM students at WMU, guiding them through the legal employment requirements.

Sheri is joined by Dr. Steve Butt, Dean of WMU’s College of Engineering and Applied Sciences; Dr. Paulo Zagalo-Melo, Associate Provost for WMU’s Institute for Global Education; and Lee Ryder, former Senior Director of International Student and Scholar Services at WMU. Together, they explore how this collaboration will benefit both students and local businesses.

The Welsh Wire features professional recruiting expert Sheri Welsh and moderator Mike Rogers. Listen in as leaders from a wide array of small to mid-size west Michigan companies weigh in and share their experiences and insights on a variety of business topics, including employee retention challenges and recruitment success stories.

SBAM Weekly Podcast

The Welsh Wire: Bridging the STEM Talent Gap in Michigan Through College OPT Programs - Part 1

How can your business adapt to the demographic changes rolling across Michigan and get the employees you need to be successful?

Last month, in the first part of a special presentation on The Welsh Wire, Welsh & Associates CEO Sheri Welsh and her guests laid the groundwork for tackling Michigan’s pressing need for well-trained STEM graduates. Listen to part 1 on Soundcloud.

Today in part two, Sheri continues her discussion with Dr. Steve Butt, Dean of WMU’s College of Engineering and Applied Sciences; Dr. Paulo Zagalo-Melo, Associate Provost for WMU’s Institute for Global Education; and Lee Ryder, former Senior Director of International Student and Scholar Services at WMU.

The Welsh Wire features professional recruiting expert Sheri Welsh and moderator Mike Rogers. Listen in as leaders from a wide array of small to mid-size west Michigan companies weigh in and share their experiences and insights on a variety of business topics, including employee retention challenges and recruitment success stories.

The Welsh Wire: Bridging the STEM Talent Gap in Michigan Through College OPT Programs - Part 2

Many family-owned businesses struggle with managing growth and family dynamics. To get some insights into how to successfully navigate that process, Welsh & Associates CEO Sheri Welsh talks with Michelle Timmerman, Vice President and General Manager of Grand Rapids-based Direct Supply Inc. This episode is sponsored by the Family Business Alliance.

The Welsh Wire features professional recruiting expert Sheri Welsh and moderator Mike Rogers. Listen in as leaders from a wide array of small to mid-size west Michigan companies weigh in and share their experiences and insights on a variety of business topics, including employee retention challenges and recruitment success stories.

The Welsh Wire: Managing Business Growth and Family Dynamics ft. Michelle Timmerman

Today, Welsh & Associates CEO Sheri Welsh talks with Know Honesty Founder Ken Bogard and Co-Founder and Chief of Staff Grace Gavin to discuss the launch of their book and their journey in promoting open and honest communication in workplaces.

The Grand Rapids-based Know Honesty Movement, founded in 2016, is helping organizations, professionals, and individuals break down their divisions and experience real communication. 

The Welsh Wire features professional recruiting expert Sheri Welsh and moderator Mike Rogers. Listen in as leaders from a wide array of small to mid-size west Michigan companies weigh in and share their experiences and insights on a variety of business topics, including employee retention challenges and recruitment success stories.

The Welsh Wire: Know Honesty Book Release, ft. Ken Bogard and Grace Gavin from Know Honesty

In this episode of The Welsh Wire, Sheri Welsh speaks with Adrienne Heidema, President & CEO of Consumers Concrete and the first female to lead the family-owned business. Heidema shares her unexpected journey into leadership, insights on career transitions, and how her company fosters an inclusive environment for women. She also highlights Consumers Concrete's commitment to supporting the local economy and her pride in providing materials that shape the West Michigan community. Tune in for inspiring lessons from a trailblazing female CEO in the concrete industry.

The Welsh Wire: Lessons from a Trailblazing Female CEO in Concrete ft. Adrienne Heidema

Today, Welsh & Associates CEO Sheri Welsh dives into the inspiring entrepreneurial journey of Chris O’Neill, the visionary behind One Well Brewing—a beloved Kalamazoo establishment celebrating 10 years of business success.

O’Neill’s story began with a passion for homebrewing and a bold decision to leave the corporate world to chase his dream of entrepreneurship.

The Welsh Wire features professional recruiting expert Sheri Welsh and moderator Mike Rogers. Listen in as leaders from a wide array of small to mid-size west Michigan companies weigh in and share their experiences and insights on a variety of business topics, including employee retention challenges and recruitment success stories.

The Welsh Wire: Brewing Success with Chris O'Neill of One Well Brewing

This month’s The Welsh Wire podcast, sponsored by the Family Business Alliance, features Sheri Welsh talking with Paul Hendricks, the President and CEO of Grand Rapids-based Creston Industrial Sales.

Together they discuss his company, leadership style, and the Advanced Manufacturing Expo happening Aug. 6-7, 2025, in Grand Rapids.

Inside the Advanced Manufacturing Expo with Creston Industrial’s CEO

This month's The Welsh Wire podcast, sponsored by the Family Business Alliance, features an engaging conversation between Welsh CEO Sheri Welsh and Dave Russell, President of Hastings Hot Line Tools & Equipment.

Russell offers a unique perspective on what it means to be an outsider—a non-family member—leading a family-owned company. His story is one of opportunity, patience, and deep respect for the culture that makes family businesses thrive.

The Welsh Wire features professional recruiting expert Sheri Welsh and moderator Mike Rogers. Listen in as leaders from a wide array of small to mid-size west Michigan companies weigh in and share their experiences and insights on a variety of business topics, including employee retention challenges and recruitment success stories.


Being a Non-Family Leader in a Family Business ft. Dave Russell from Hastings Hot Line Tools & Equipment

This month's The Welsh Wire podcast, sponsored by the Family Business Alliance, features an engaging conversation between Welsh CEO Sheri Welsh and Nelson Sanchez, CEO of RoMan Manufacturing.

In 2023, he was named the first non-family member to serve as the company’s CEO. He discusses how the company planned a process for future generations to enter the business or ascend to leadership roles.

The Welsh Wire features professional recruiting expert Sheri Welsh and moderator Mike Rogers. Listen in as leaders from a wide array of small to mid-size West Michigan companies weigh in and share their experiences and insights on a variety of business topics, including employee retention challenges and recruitment success stories.

Leading a Family Business from the Outside ft. Nelson Sanchez of RoMan Manufacturing

The Welsh Wire - Where Talent & Business Connect in West Michigan

The Welsh Wire features moderator Mike Rogers and professional recruiting expert Sheri Welsh in this weekly podcast. Listen in as leaders from a wide array of small to mid-size West Michigan companies weigh in and share their experiences and insights on a variety of business topics including employee retention challenges and recruitment success stories. For more information, visit www.welshandassociates.net.

The Welsh Wire: Bridging the STEM Talent Gap in Michigan Through College OPT Programs - Part 1

The Welsh Wire

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