Detroit IS on the Road to Recovery

“Detroit is on the Road to Recovery” Mayor Mike Duggan State of the City Address, February 10, 2015 With those words, the Mayor discussed his plans on continuing to move Detroit forward. And to set the right tone, he moved this year’s SOTC address to the Old Redford theater—a symbolic gesture to demonstrate the importance…

Entrepreneurs: GO! Live! Well!

As an entrepreneur, I’m confident days are filled with the angst of managing, running and growing your business along with balancing the demands of your personal life. This creates stress and, as a result, it’s easy to forget about your personal health and wellness needs. Callie Bradford, Certified Holistic Health Coach, Nutrition Consultant and Personal…

Forever Committed to Detroit

There’s been a lot of discussion regarding people moving downtown–whether companies relocating suburban employees into the city’s core or new businesses sprouting up along Woodward Avenue and other major thoroughfares within the Central District. While it’s outstanding to see an influx of new people and businesses, there have been those whom have been downtown through…

Former NFL Player Invests in Northwest Detroit’s Growth

There’s been much discussion around significant investments Downtown and Midtown. However, questions continue to surface about investing in and providing jobs in neighborhoods. Meet Ron Bartell, an ex-NFL player, has come home and invested in the neighborhood where he was raised. Bartell, who played for both the St. Louis Rams and the Detroit Lions, has…

Unique Venture Funding Finds Detroit

We’ve heard how Detroit is beginning to attract entrepreneurs from other parts of the country and, in particular, young, energetic millennials wanting to make a difference. Venture for America (VFA), a two-year Fellowship program which is focused on recent college graduates, is providing support to young entrepreneurs in cities across the country who desire to…

Diversity Helps the Business Bottom Line

In a recent blog, I put out a call tfor Detroit-area entrepreneurs to contact me directly so I can share their story this year. Needless to say, I was overwhelmed by the number of responses. What is clear to me is we live in a region where entrepreneurs not only want to be successful, but…

Welcome to 2015!

Detroit experienced positive signs last year–from establishing a solid financial foundation to generating momentum which is now being recognized nationally. For example, I just returned from New York for the New Year and, while on a recent flight, I noticed a wonderful article in Delta’s Sky magazine under the heading “Detroit’s Next Chapter”. The article…

Thoughts and Reflections About Detroit During 2014

It’s official and as announced​, Detroit is exiting bankruptcy and is, hopefully, on the road to recovery and growth. As we head into the 2014 Holiday season and the remaining days of this hectic year, let me share with you my thoughts on Detroit based my observations and conversations I’ve had with others throughout this…

Entrepreneurship Can Be FUN STUFF!

There are many reasons why entrepreneurs might start a business–from being a life-long dream for some to losing a job due to financial and budgetary constraints. Regarding the latter, meet Denise Kulak, a highly-enthusiastic entrepreneur with a positive and infectious attitude. She lost her job three times in ten years, but rebounded in the world…

Art Is The Cultural Gem of Detroit

During the recent bankruptcy proceedings, the potential sale of art was focal point of negotiations. Clearly, that didn’t happen, but it did rally the region around another Detroit cultural gem–art–and its role in Detroit’s cultural fabric. And an integral part of Detroit’s art scene is the N’Nambdi Center for Contemporary Art. It was created by…