August 2019 Issue

Meet the Amazon of northern Michigan: EFulfillment expanding to Las Vegas, Tampa

By Ross Boissoneau

When eFulfillment Service opened its doors in Grawn in 2001, the e-commerce industry was in its early days. The industry has since grown by leaps and bounds, and the same is true of eFulfillment, which moved to a larger facility in Traverse City less than a decade after its founding

Now another expansion is on deck. The company is eyeing facilities in Las Vegas and Tampa, and has brought on a new director of expansion to oversee the projects: Jason Lindberg, founder John Lindberg's second son to join the business.

“We’re maxing out our space, in spite of how large …

TC's Tight Home Market: Where have we been; where are we headed?

By Brad Platt

Having worked in the real estate industry for more than 20 years now, the age-old question that gets asked about once a week is, “So, how is the market?”

My initial reaction has always been, “Well, what street are you referring to?” I don’t say this to be cagey, but every local market is truly that different. I don’t think the average consumer views this as I do, so let’s discuss some of the main …

Mighty Minis: Small brokerages play a big role in local real estate

By Ross Boissoneau

Everyone knows the big players on the real estate scene that boast 10, 20 or more Realtors in each office.But smaller operations abound in northern Michigan – boutique brokerages with a handful of agents. These smaller outfits say that they are not only surviving, but thriving.

“I groove on it. Every day there’s something different,” said Rob Serbin, owner of Serbin Real Estate in Glen Arbor. The resort town in Leelanau County supports several smaller …

'Good for Business': Employees with autism spectrum disorder shine on the job

By Todd VanSickle

Jennifer Stoll has two sons in their early 20s who are on the autism spectrum. She knew when they were young boys that their neurodiversity would create challenges for them when the time came to enter the workforce.

“I started preparing them when they were younger to create a really good hard-work ethic,” she said. “Our jobs give so much fullness to our lives and I was always concerned with that.”

Jennifer’s concern is justified, …

School's In: Employee learning at Hagerty U keeps the engines running

Howard

Hogan

Aaron Howard didn’t used to consider himself a car guy.

But after about two and a half years working at classic vehicle insurer Hagerty and tapping a unique offering of in-house classes, he’s learned a lot professionally and personally, from car makes and models and automotive …

By Amy Lane

Aveopt jumps in new field of drone air traffic control

Growing markets like agriculture, transportation, security, mining and other industries are pushing more drones into the sky.

A technology company with northern Michigan roots is growing its business through drones and the air traffic control snarl expected to come with them.

Aveopt, a Traverse City-based company co-founded in 2016 …

By Craig Manning

Knock on Wood: Lumber costs stable; varieties offer alternatives

As anyone who has looked into building a home in the past couple years has found out, building costs have increased. While escalating home costs have made it difficult to find a three-bedroom, two-bath home for less than $200,000, it’s still easier than trying to build one at that price …

By Ross Boissoneau

Economic Development: A total team effort

There’s been a significant buzz in the local media in recent weeks on the efforts of area students to participate in the outer space program, including several related to the International Space Station. It’s an amazing accomplishment given the extensive coordination required among numerous private and public organizations to take …

By Warren Call

The Changing of the Guard: It's a pivotal time for region's new leadership lineup

Few have noticed it but we’re experiencing a massive changing of the guard in Traverse City. Leslie Eckert from Raleigh, North Carolina, will lead Northwestern Michigan College’s wonderful Great Lakes Culinary Institute. Leila Hilal is the new director of the college’s equally wonderful International Affairs Forum. She comes to us …

By McKeel Hagerty

Paid Family Leave Tops Job Seekers' Perk List

On the list of the most in-demand employee benefits, paid family leave might just rank at the top.

According to a 2019 survey by employee benefits insurance company Unum Group, paid family leave is the perk that most job seekers want. Fifty-eight percent of respondents expressed a desire for this …

By Craig Manning

Trillion Dollar Coach: The Leadership Playbook of Silicon Valley's Bill Campbell

By Eric Schmidt, Jonathan Rosenberg, Alan Eagle

Harper Business; April 16, 2019; 240 pages; hardcover: $20

In a nutshell: Management and coaching extraordinaire Bill Campbell, an old-school football coach who evolved into a Silicon Valley executive and consultant for major technology companies, is the topic of this motivating book. The …

By Chris Wendel

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