December 2024 Issue

Funding the Future: Three women-led philanthropies injecting millions into northern Michigan

By Kierstin Gunsberg

Women-founded businesses in the U.S. drive an impressive $2.7 trillion in revenue annually, yet capture less than 3% of the country’s venture capital funding.

It’s a major gap that the Traverse City-based Boundless Futures Foundation (BFF) wants to close. Started in 2023 by Good Bowl founder and entrepreneur Soon Hagerty and her husband McKeel, BFF awards grants and mentorships to help female-led businesses overcome barriers – financial and otherwise – that stymie growth.

“There are uphill battles when it comes to being a female founder,” said Soon Hagerty, pointing to a lack of early-stage capital as one of the largest …

The Holiday Wish List: Here's what eight local nonprofits are asking for this year

By Craig Manning

Everyone has a wish or two around the holidays, whether it’s dreams for a visit from Santa Claus or hopes for a rejuvenating season spent with loved ones. Northern Michigan’s many nonprofits have wish lists, too, and each year, the TCBN asks a handful of them to share those lists with our readers.

If you remember this feature from past years, you know the drill: We encourage local orgs to think about their needs in …

The Big Split: Local divorce attorneys talk trends, costs, and the 'normalization' of divorce

By Art Bukowski

‘Til death do us part. Unless...

Divorce and the broader category of family law (child custody issues, adoption and more) have always been a big area of business for local attorneys and those across the country. Though national divorce rates have been trending down for some time, a full 40% of marriages still end in divorce, and the matter makes up a healthy chunk of court dockets throughout northern Michigan.

The TCBN connected with three …

Parking Cash: Banks, credit unions gain deposits after years of decline

By Rick Haglund

Bank deposits in Grand Traverse County have crept to their highest level since 2022, marking a slow economic recovery from the COVID pandemic and a boost from a new bank that entered the market last year.

Deposits rose from $3,559,438,000 on June 30, 2023 to $3,680,226,000 on the same day this year, a 3.4% increase, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.’s annual deposit market share report.

But those deposits were still $80,308,000 below record …

Real Estate Rumblings: Local agents on what's in store for 2025

By Art Bukowski

'Confusion and Concern': Court’s ruling creates new challenges for businesses, particularly small and seasonal employers

By Warren Call

Beyond the Resume: Nonprofit fundraising experts advise against experience requirements

By Art Bukowski

The Condo Crater: Why a once-reliable segment of the real estate market is stagnating, both nationwide and locally

By Craig Manning

The Good Guy: Goodwill Northern Michigan leader Dan Buron has big goals and big challenges

By Craig Manning

Medicare Prescription Drug Overhaul: Prescriptions may be harder to swallow in the days ahead

By Andi Dolan

Interior Shuffle: Three local interior decor focused businesses change hands

By Craig Manning

From the Desk of Dave Mengebier, President and CEO of the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation

By Art Bukowski

In Memoriam: Nine leaders who left their mark on the region

By Ross Boissoneau

Low-Interest Loans: With interest rates dropping, could lower mortgage rates be far behind?

By Mike Nagy

Change for the Better: Community Foundation partners with people, organizations to uplift community

By David Mengebier

Death and Taxes: Strategies to limit or reduce exposure to estate taxes

By Jonathan Benjamin

'Never Delay Gratitude': The power of appreciation in business

By Josh Traeger

Spreading the Wealth: Tuck 529 college funding plans, charitable giving or cash in their stockings this year

By Rebecca Teahen

Bridging Generations: Engaging the next generation in charitable giving

By Renee Sovis

Fire and Ice: Hearth Sauna is warming northern Michigan’s social scene

By Kierstin Gunsberg

Briefly

By Lynn Geiger

Newsmakers

EDUCATION

Megan Bylsma has been named director of corporate and foundation relations for the Northwestern Michigan College Foundation in Traverse City. Bylsma maintains all corporate and foundation relationships for the Advancement and Community Engagement Division. She first joined the NMC Foundation in 2023 as a major gifts officer with more …

By Lynn Geiger

Letter to the Editor

Editor's note: This letter is in response to the November article "Out of Network: Why dentists are ditching Delta Dental, and dropping other carriers, too."

I am a dentist in the Traverse City area and am seeing a lot of new patients in my practice because their providers have stopped …

By Dennis T. Spillane, DDS, Bellaire

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