Attacking Obesity in Minority Communities

According to the Overweight and Obesity Among Latino Youth report issued by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), nearly 39 percent of Hispanic youth ages two to 19 are obese Additionally, according to the organization’s Overweight and Obesity Among African American Youths report, 35.2 percent of Black non-Hispanic youth are considered overweight or obese. As…

Business of the Year Awards

Recently, Eastern Michigan University’s College of Business (COB) held its second annual Business of the Year Awards luncheon.   The event, organized by COB students, nominated various 30 companies from different categories, selected three from each category and ultimately, picked the winners. Criteria used by the students included profitability, strategic execution and level of social…

The Rise of Co-working Space in Detroit

Whether a small, medium or large business, offices have played a vital role where and how work gets done. It’s a natural place for teams to collaborate in a more formal environment and provides an opportunity for individuals to exchange ideas, and to some extent, socialize in a more structured situation. With the advent of…

Can Urban Farming Work In Detroit?

There’s been significant discussion surrounding Detroit’s vacant land. Some estimates suggest the city has 40 square miles of vacant land — meaning the geographic landscapes of San Francisco, Manhattan and Boston would all fit in nicely. The ongoing challenge is to determine what Detroit should do with the swaths of empty land mass pocketing the…

The Saga Continues…

Over the last eighteen months, I have been tracking Detroit-native and University of Michigan alumn, Brian L. Clark, on his entrepreneurial journey. I’ve interviewed him a couple of times on his journey from college graduate, to corporate employee, to entrepreneur. A brief summary, post graduation, Clark had an excellent job in corporate out of college….

Detroit: 1967 – From Memories to Remembrance

Detroit: July, 1967. That month and year conjure up memories of what’s been called a civic unrest, rebellion and/or the Detroit riots. To some, it was a year when racial tensions increased and issues such as inequality and racial injustice were thrust into the forefront. It was when a simmering and frustrated city exploded into…

Protect Your Business With a Competent Attorney

Seeking legal advice for entrepreneurs is a daunting task for some and, for others, they don’t believe there’s a need for an attorney. However, having legal counsel is just as critical for a small business owner as is for a larger organization. For example, do you know the legal ramifications of a failed business relationship?…

What is the Vision for Detroit’s Neighborhoods?

I recently wrote a blog focused on the importance of having viable neighborhoods across Detroit. In other words, without them, Detroit will not be a viable city as it once was. And you responded. I received comments, emails and messages from you sharing your thoughts. I’ve also been engaged in many conversations on this topic….

The Virtual World

A common phrase heard among entrepreneurs is “working in the business” versus “working on the business.” The former is focused on the operational details of running the business daily, while the latter is pulling the lens back and thinking longer-term and strategically about the company’s future. What steps can you take to alleviate the administrative…

The Cloud as the New Frontier

People are driven to start a business for a variety of reasons. For some, it’s a life-long dream and for others, an unplanned situation such as a layoff, buyout, for example, may have driven them to chart a different path. After being laid off In 2009, Jamie Begin, Founder, Ann-Arbor-based, RightBrain Networks (RBN), decided to…