February 2015 Issue

10 Tips for Non-Meeting Planners … Faced with Planning a Meeting

By Allison Beers

Many times the office manager, project manger or someone else in the office will be directed to plan a meeting or event. It’s not their job, per se, but it’s important that things run smoothly. Following these tips and being organized really helps make the job a lot easier and less stressful.

1. SWOT And 5Ws

If you don’t know what your attendees are doing or even who they are, how do you even begin to start planning? Before starting any planning, pull key stakeholders together to find out the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) of the meeting or …

Pick, Pack and Ship

By Ross Boissoneau

For entrepreneurs, coming up with a great product is a great start – but it's only the start. Then there's marketing and sales to drive demand and ultimately – but most importantly – packaging and shipping of goods to customers.

Timothy Young, owner of specialty food company Food for Thought in Honor, said that lattermost detail is something many startups overlook.

“When we were a younger company we underestimated the cost of order fulfillment,” said …

Getting Down To Business … Out Of The Office

By Karen Stein

Some projects require a no-frills, all-business meeting to hash through the details and get to work. But what if your company or collaborative wants to plan a different kind of meeting, maybe even a retreat, to awaken the group’s synergy and spark some ingenuity? Or, what if you are organizing a seminar that requires a bigger, more inspiring space? Perhaps something beyond the typical conference room is in order. Check out these spaces in northern …

Delivery With A Star On Top

By Al Parker

In the package delivery industry, the Big Three of United Parcel Service, Fed Ex and the financially-troubled U.S Postal Service dominate. But in recent years, more and more companies and individuals have turned to a thriving Traverse City-based business to solve their delivery problems.

Star Delivery Solutions (SDS), started in 2006 by Debi Piette-Wilson, operates distribution centers and warehouses in both Traverse City and Grand Rapids. From those locations the staff provides expedited and regularly …

50 Years Of "Car Talk" In Traverse City

For one week every summer for the past 50 years, Traverse City becomes a mini Motor City.

Since its creation in 1965, the Center for Automotive Research's (CAR) Management Briefing Seminars have been held exclusively in Traverse City – some 250 miles north of the automotive capital of the world …

By Bridgette Steele

Pure Michigan Pushing Forward: A Look At The 2015 Governor's Conference On Tourism

Pure Michigan isn’t resting on laurels.

And what’s up with the brand, and Michigan’s tourism industry, is on stage next month at the Pure Michigan Governor’s Conference on Tourism.

Look for details from a Google Inc. partnership making select Michigan trails and destinations viewable from anywhere in the world, ideas …

By Tcbn Staff

Commentary: All Aboard! TC Rail Service Needs Support Now

Imagine packing a bag for the weekend, heading over to the Filling Station (at the historic Train Depot) in Traverse City for lunch – and then actually boarding a train. As you settle into your clean, comfortable seat, the train pulls south along Boardman Lake toward Kingsley. You open your …

By Hans Voss

Who's Coming This Year?

Northern Michigan continues to build on its reputation as a destination for convention and meeting business, particularly throughout the state. Brad Van Dommelen, who heads Traverse City Tourism (formerly the Convention and Visitors Bureau), said the region’s combination of excellent meeting facilities and its burgeoning fame as a travel destination …

By Ross Boissoneau

Book Review: Finish Big

Finish Big, How Great Entrepreneurs Exit Their Companies on Top

294 pgs. Hardcover: $27.95, E-version $11.99 Penguin Group 2014

“A good exit takes time – measured in years, not months.”

Hundreds of books have been published for the aspiring entrepreneur who wants to start a business. At the same time, …

By Chris Wendel

Newsmakers: People On The Move

FINANCIAL SERVICES

David Boeve has been named vice president and commercial lender for Chemical Bank’s Traverse City office. He manages business and commercial banking accounts and is responsible for increasing deposit and loan amounts. He brings more than 11 years of experience in the industry, most recently as vice president, …

By Lynn Geiger

DBAs

GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY

TAMI'S BILLING SERVICE, 4919 Silver Pines Rd, TC, Tamara Calvary

GRAND TRAVERSE COLLISION, 231 W 17th, TC, Christopher Hall

GRAND TRAVERSE DISCOUNT ROOTER, 1249 Dyer Lake Road, TC, Jesse Fleming, Kimberly Fleming

KVS WILDLIFE CONTROL, 5446 Mobile Trl W, TC, Stephen Lee

REDNECK CHARMS, 3850 Scenic Ridge …

By Lynn Geiger

Briefly: Big News In A Small Format

STATEWIDE DISTRIBUTOR BUYS WICKSALL

Great Lakes Wine and Spirits has acquired beverage distributor Wicksall Distributors, Inc. following the retirement of majority owner Pat Wicksall.

Traverse City-based Wicksall Distributors has 60 employees and services nearly 600 retailers in Antrim, Grand Traverse, Leelanau, Benzie, Kalkaska, Wexford and Missaukee counties. It sells beer …

By Lynn Geiger

Brands, Banners and The 4,000-Pound Box

Traverse City-based Britten, Inc. ships more packages around the world than you. It's an easy assumption, given that the banner and sign maker shipped 46,000 packages last year and ranks third among all FedEx customers from northern Grand Rapids to Sault Saint Marie.

And though its operations are fascinating for …

By Luke Haase

Top Area CPA Firms

With the February issue, the Traverse City Business News is launching a new Lists section. Going forward, the Business News will periodically be publishing a ranking of local businesses in a particular industry, based on revenue, annual billings or some other form of measurement.

Below is a list of the …

By Lynn Geiger

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