Growth Spurt: The $1.2 trillion private equity market takes an interest in northern Michigan

By Craig Manning

In 2025, private equity deals in the United States totaled a whopping $1.2 trillion in value, according to the financial data platform PitchBook. It was the second biggest year on record for private equity, trailing behind only the post-pandemic boom of 2021.

The rise in private equity activity nationwide, combined with Traverse City’s growth as a business hub and entrepreneurial ecosystem, means one thing: Private equity firms are eyeing the northern Michigan market like never before – and acquiring businesses here in virtually every industry sector.

Is this new type of attention good news or bad news for Traverse City? …

Local SBA lending holds steady by loan totals, but drops sharply in dollars: Huntington and 4Front make the most 2025 Grand Traverse County loans

By Luke Haase

The number of locally approved SBA loans in 2025 remained steady, from 45 in fiscal year 2024 to 43 last year, according to data provided by the SBA’s Michigan District Office.

The dollar value of those loans, however, fell sharply – from $28.2 million to $13.5 million, a drop of 52%. The decline was largely due to a few unusually large real estate and manufacturing loans that outsized the 2024 totals.

The average local SBA …

A Conversation With New Munson Medical Center President Joe du Lac

By Art Bukowski

Michigan native Joe du Lac was announced in May as the new president of Munson Medical Center. Du Lac comes to Munson from Kalamazoo-based Bronson Healthcare group, where he served as a senior vice president. Prior to that, he held executive leadership positions at Trinity Health of New England and the Detroit Medical Center, among other roles.

The TCBN sat down with du Lac on his second day on the job in late June to …

HR in Five Chapters: How human resources became Hagerty’s secret weapon

By Craig Manning

Three million. As of June 2026, that’s how many vehicles Hagerty has insured.

The Traverse City company has come a long way from its 1984 roots, growing from a basement-run specialty insurance provider into a publicly traded company with 1,930 employees worldwide.

What enabled this family business to become one of northern Michigan’s most impressive scalability stories? In a lot of ways, the credit goes to a department that virtually every business has but rarely …

From Founder to Future: How to navigate a family business succession

By Ross Boissoneau

On the Front Lines: Thomas Judd Care Center continues fight against HIV in new location

By Art Bukowski

Full Circle: Loyalty leads to growth and growth fuels giving

By Mike Busley

The Practice of the Practice: Local therapy consultant helps thousands of clinicians nationwide

By Art Bukowski

Exit Signs: How small business owners can navigate the biggest financial decision of their lives

By Jeff Dennis

Beyond the App: A practical wellness framework for northern Michigan business owners

By Andi Dolan

Small but Mighty: Childcare 'microcenter' model might boost region

By Art Bukowski

Everyday Genius: Hacks to Boost Your Memory, Focus, Problem-Solving, and Much More

By Chris Wendel

From the Desk of Mark Newhouse, President of Newhouse Insurance Agency

By Art Bukowski

The Doom Spiral: Managing stress starts with the basics of self-care

By Chris Archangeli

A Year Later with Michigan ESTA: What employers might still be missing

By Jennifer Ewing

The Deliberate Team: When the building disappears, an intentional approach builds better teams

By Marivi Bryant

BRIEFLY

By Lynn Geiger

Flexibility, retention and the evolving employer value proposition

By Carrie Smith

Recovery Homes for Sale: ATS bets on 'One Campus' to consolidate services by 2030

By Kierstin Gunsberg

NEWSMAKERS

By Lynn Geiger

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