September 2015 Issue

The Robot Generation: Faster, Better, Stronger

By Ross Boissoneau

Robotics has come a long way, from the anthropomorphic designs popular in science fiction (think C-3PO from Star Wars or the robot in Lost in Space) to today’s various industrial processes. And while the robots used in manufacturing may not suggest a humanoid shape, their ability to do repetitive work very efficiently makes the human customers happy.

“We’ve been building robotic systems for 20 years,” said Fred Leishman, vice president of sales at TranTek Automation Corporation in Traverse City. “They can do a lot – pick up, set down, load and unload materials.”They also provide "flexible automation platforms" for customers, …

Making It In Northern Michigan: Hayes Manufacturing

By Al Parker

It’s not unusual to find a family-run business in the region.

But there are very few that have more family members involved in the day-to-day operation of the company than Hayes Manufacturing in Fife Lake. And three-fourths of the company is owned and operated by three daughters of the founders.

“The company began as a small job shop and now we make stub shafts, flywheel couplings and drive coupling products,” said CFO and co-owner Penny …

Manufacturing A Workforce: $20 Million In Training Dollars

By Tcbn Staff

A $20 million pot of state grants to help manufacturers and other industries train workers in needed skills is opening up October 1.

Terry Berden, CEO of Great Lakes Stainless in Traverse City, knows its value.

The Traverse City fabricating company was awarded $10,500 in a previous round of funding from the Skilled Trades Training Fund and used the money to train about a dozen new and existing workers in principles of lean manufacturing – …

Airline Profitability Flying High, But Revenues Down

By Kevin Klein

Summer travel is slowing down, the leaves are already beginning to change colors, and the kids are heading back to school. With the change of season, much of our TVC airport travel focus is on business travel or Spring Break getaway 2016.

It is also a good time to look at the business surrounding the airlines and the profitability they are experiencing – now at record levels. Profit margins are at all-time highs as fuel …

Huntington Banking On Meijer

Bread, butter and banking. In-store bank branches – part of a one-stop shopping business strategy – are not new, but there is a new partnership in town: Huntington and Meijer.

Although in-store banking has been available in many markets including Traverse City and other northern communities for more than a …

By Mary Bevans Gillett

What About A "SmartZone" In TC?

By Guest Author

Newsmakers: People On The Move

CONSTRUCTION/ENGINEERING

Dan O’Brien has joined the staff of Burdco Incorporated as a design/build project manager. His experience includes seven years in the Chicago construction market, focusing on medical and education projects. He also brings knowledge of Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Lean Construction implementation with him to northern Michigan.

Josh …

By Lynn Geiger

Briefly: Big News In A Small Format

NEW: BAY FAMILY VISION CARE

Anna Lammers, O.D recently purchased the practice of Dr. Paul Kropf on Munson Avenue in Traverse City and renamed it Bay Family Vision Care. Dr. Lammers returned home to Traverse City after finishing a residency in pediatrics and binocular vision. She provides comprehensive eye exams, …

By Lynn Geiger

Book Review: Do The KIND Thing

Do the KIND Thing

Boundlessly, Work Purposely, Live Passionately

By Daniel Lubetzky

Ballantine Books, 2015

Hardcover $26, E-read $14, Audio $11

In a Nutshell – Hidden inside this unique autobiography is the recipe for building a major food company from scratch.

Who’s it for? – Business owners, aspiring …

By Chris Wendel

A Simple Case Of Supply And Demand

On August 8, BP unexpectedly shut down part of its Whiting, Indiana refinery where crude oil is turned into gasoline and transported throughout the Midwest. As a result, gas prices jumped – in the Traverse City region from $2.54 to $2.99 per gallon. Consumers were suspicious and public officials were …

By Ron Jolly

Manufacturing Roundtable

Northern Michigan manufacturing is going through some growing pains – in a good way. Business is up, jobs are on the rise, and moods are high. At the same time, a shortage of skilled labor, a retirement bubble and limited training opportunities are challenging the local industry's leaders. And then …

By Lynn Geiger

The Money Media: Assets on the Airwaves

While the finance industry was called out earlier this year for its insufficient presence in social media, two local companies are doing quite well, thanks, in part to the traditional media presence of the principals.

Dennis Prout of Prout Financial Design and Michael Reese of Centennial Wealth LLC, both certified …

By Karen Stein

LEADS: Info To Help Build Your Business

BENZIE COUNTY

BIZARRE HYDROGRAPHICS, 8935 Red Pine Dr, Lake Ann, Cory Paquette

BOB’S CLEANING AND MAT SERVICE, 10761 Riverside Dr, Honor, Robert M. Theobald

BROTHERS CONCRETE, 19880 Cedar Run Road, TC, Jacob Therrien

C&M ROCK SHOP, 13236 Honor Hwy, US31, Beulah, Shirley M. Mueller, Bruce E. Mueller

COTTAGE GARDEN GREENHOUSE, …

By Lynn Geiger

Growing – And Keeping - Our Young Talent

By Laura Oblinger

40UNDER40: THE 2015 MOST INFLUENTIAL PROFESSIONALS UNDER 40

Meet this year's 40Under40 – 40 unique professionals from a wide range of industries with one thing in common: impact. They hold positions of leadership and influence at for-profits and nonprofits, spark the region's economy and give endless energy to community projects.

After receiving more than 100 nominations from the …

By Gayle Neu

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