A Manufacturer Where Women Run the Show

The Plascon crew (front): Kate and Laura (back): Denise, Jeff and Monique.

In a field where men traditionally dominate, it's the women who rule at Plascon Group.

Until a few months ago, the specialty plastic packaging company was led by founder David Peterson, who recently stepped into his new …

TC in 3D: How J. Scott Smith became a go-to partner for architects, builders and developers

Smith's rendering of Tom McIntyre's Peninsula Place condominium project.

Before he was a go-to partner for architects, engineers, builders and property developers, J. Scott Smith was a kid growing up in Traverse City.

Now, Smith helps people see the potential future of his hometown through detailed, 3D renderings of …

The Women of Downtown: A definitive look at some of the women shaping Traverse City's downtown into the envy of cities across the state

Women are a force to be reckoned with in downtown Traverse City.

Last month, Jean Derenzy took over the reins as CEO of Traverse City’s Downtown Development Authority (DDA), joining a cadre of female leaders. In her role, Derenzy will work with about 200 retail and restaurant businesses operating in …

Best – and Worst – of Times: Contractors talk about high demand, rising prices

Business is booming for local builders, plumbers, electricians and other subcontractors — to the point that many say they regularly turn down work.

The number of residential building permits issued in Grand Traverse County has nearly tripled since the Great Recession, from 164 in 2009 to 450 in 2016, according …

Making It In Northern Michigan: New Long Lake Culinary Campus Combines Capitalism, Community

Chip Hoagland is a character.

The website for his company, Tamarack Holdings, makes that clear: Artsy portraits of the company’s staff set an entertaining tone for a company that calls itself a "... assionate group of professionals leading our family of businesses to successfully reimagine the food and beverage business, …

Administering Your Family’s Estate: A Blessing or a Curse?

You struggle to keep your composure as you arrive at the attorney’s office. You remember being seated in a dark conference room, lined with books – lots of books. You remember the attorney’s strong handshake and his empathetic gaze. You remember sipping on a cup of mediocre coffee. You remember …

The Never-ending Campaign Season

Here at the Chamber, we think a lot about when people start paying attention to an upcoming election cycle. As political campaigns and issues become increasingly associated with information overload that can generate skepticism and even indifference among voters, the old adage that “timing is everything” seems as relevant as …