The Small Business Association of Michigan's Small Business Weekly Podcast

Hosted by Michael W. Rogers

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100

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Aug 2026

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About the show

"The Small Business Association of Michigan's Entrepreneurial Insights" every week presents a dynamic audio interview from a top-notch expert on entrepreneurial success. Hear great tips and advice on how to be a more effective small business owner. The program is hosted and produced by the Small Business Association of Michigan's Vice President Communications Michael Rogers

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60 recent

August 18, 2026Episode 54210 min

Solving the people-side of business communications and leadership

On today's program, Michael Rogers talks with Shelley Davis Boyd, Founder, President and CEO of Essdee & Co., a VIP member of the Small Business Association of Michigan. She says her firm helps organizations solve the people-side of business communication breakdowns: accountability, leadership gaps and the human dynamics and behavior that impact the culture in the organization. "I really believe that leadership is about removing barriers so people can become the best version of themselves and engage within the organization," she says. "If you want your organization to reach its full potential to hit your goals and you're lucky enough to have folks that work with you, making sure that they are choosing to follow you and that you are creating conditions where they can excel will ultimately help you create conditions where your organization can excel." The Small Business Association of Michigan is the only statewide and state-based association that focuses solely on serving the needs of Michigan's small business community. We have been successfully serving small businesses like yours in all 83 counties of Michigan since 1969. We're located in Lansing, just one block from the Capitol. Our mission is to help Michigan small businesses succeed by promoting entrepreneurship, leveraging buying power and engaging in political advocacy. When small businesses band together through the Small Business Association of Michigan, they achieve more than they could on their own. Our 32,000 members are as diverse as Michigan's economy. From accountants to appliance stores, manufacturers to medical, and restaurants to retailers, what unites the SBAM membership is the spirit of entrepreneurship…a spirit that drove you to start and continue to operate your own business because you believe you can do something better than anyone else is doing it! (music licensed from www.jukedeck.com )

August 5, 2026Episode 54110 min

Family-owned water-well and water-treatment company savours Michigan's water quality

On today's program, Michael Rogers talks with Charles "Buddy" Sebastian, third-generation owner of Sebastian & Sons Well Drilling -- a VIP member of the Small Business Association of Michigan. He says Michigan's unique geography and legal doctrines provide superior water access compared to other regions. "Michigan is fortunate because our glacial drift and clay layers can filter some [microplastics and other contaminants) out before it hits the water supply. Overall, quality in Michigan is relatively good. We have some iron, manganese, and calcium, but it is treatable. In some areas like Ohio and Pennsylvania, the water is so sulfury it is almost untreatable. Michigan has great water." The Small Business Association of Michigan is the only statewide and state-based association that focuses solely on serving the needs of Michigan's small business community. We have been successfully serving small businesses like yours in all 83 counties of Michigan since 1969. We're located in Lansing, just one block from the Capitol. Our mission is to help Michigan small businesses succeed by promoting entrepreneurship, leveraging buying power and engaging in political advocacy. When small businesses band together through the Small Business Association of Michigan, they achieve more than they could on their own. Our 32,000 members are as diverse as Michigan's economy. From accountants to appliance stores, manufacturers to medical, and restaurants to retailers, what unites the SBAM membership is the spirit of entrepreneurship…a spirit that drove you to start and continue to operate your own business because you believe you can do something better than anyone else is doing it! (music licensed from www.jukedeck.com )

August 3, 2026Episode 54012 min

Helping AI be a capable assistant to your manufacturing engineers

On today's program, Michael Rogers talks with Arul Muralikrishna, a software engineer with SBAM Elite Member company Ekaras, with offices in southeast Michigan and Ontario. Ekaras is an industrial technology company focused on helping manufacturers improve their operations with a special emphasis on machine intelligence and AI specifically for machine maintenance and servicing. "AI should supplement engineering expertise, definitely not replace it," he says. "Manufacturing equipment in particular is very complex. An AI system shouldn't pretend to have more authority than a trained engineer. Instead, we believe that AI can act more as a capable assistant." The Small Business Association of Michigan is the only statewide and state-based association that focuses solely on serving the needs of Michigan's small business community. We have been successfully serving small businesses like yours in all 83 counties of Michigan since 1969. We're located in Lansing, just one block from the Capitol. Our mission is to help Michigan small businesses succeed by promoting entrepreneurship, leveraging buying power and engaging in political advocacy. When small businesses band together through the Small Business Association of Michigan, they achieve more than they could on their own. Our 32,000 members are as diverse as Michigan's economy. From accountants to appliance stores, manufacturers to medical, and restaurants to retailers, what unites the SBAM membership is the spirit of entrepreneurship…a spirit that drove you to start and continue to operate your own business because you believe you can do something better than anyone else is doing it! (music licensed from www.jukedeck.com )

July 28, 2026Episode 53914 min

A holistic alternative to traditional executive services

On today's program, Michael Rogers talks with Dani Clark, owner of Centerpoint Strategies -- VIP members of the Small Business Association of Michigan. Clark's firm provides comprehensive support to small and mid-sized businesses. He explains that his firm offers a holistic alternative to traditional executive services by partnering directly with owners to improve operational efficiency and profitability – and help them grow! "I have a real passion for it, coming from a family-owned business myself. When my father passed away, I had to take over very quickly with no passwords or plans. I realized many small and mid-size businesses lack an executive team to get them to a safe or desired place. Most owners didn't start their businesses to become experts in risk analytics or inventory; they started with a passion for a product or service. My passion translates into supporting theirs. I listen to understand how to move them out of survival mode and back into growth and profitability." The Small Business Association of Michigan is the only statewide and state-based association that focuses solely on serving the needs of Michigan's small business community. We have been successfully serving small businesses like yours in all 83 counties of Michigan since 1969. We're located in Lansing, just one block from the Capitol. Our mission is to help Michigan small businesses succeed by promoting entrepreneurship, leveraging buying power and engaging in political advocacy. When small businesses band together through the Small Business Association of Michigan, they achieve more than they could on their own. Our 32,000 members are as diverse as Michigan's economy. From accountants to appliance stores, manufacturers to medical, and restaurants to retailers, what unites the SBAM membership is the spirit of entrepreneurship…a spirit that drove you to start and continue to operate your own business because you believe you can do something better than anyone else is doing it! (music licensed from www.jukedeck.com )

July 20, 202615 min

Helping the businesses behind healthcare stay healthy enough to take care of the people taking care of patients

On today's program, Michael Rogers talks with Hansika Nanayakkara, a VIP member of the Small Business Association of Michigan and the Co-Founder and CEO of Gentek Health. Based in Michigan with a global team, the organization helps medical practices handle billing, insurance claims and financial operations so clinicians can focus on patient care. Naniyakara shares her entrepreneurial journey from Sri Lanka and explains how her firm utilizes AI and automation to improve accuracy and recover lost revenue. "AI, automation isn't just a talking point for us," she says. "It's core to how we stay sustainable long term because it lets us take genuinely messy problems—tangled denials, shifting payer rules, more compliance demands every year—and turn them into something a practice can actually act on. That's the real value we bring. Not more data, but more clarity." The Small Business Association of Michigan is the only statewide and state-based association that focuses solely on serving the needs of Michigan's small business community. We have been successfully serving small businesses like yours in all 83 counties of Michigan since 1969. We're located in Lansing, just one block from the Capitol. Our mission is to help Michigan small businesses succeed by promoting entrepreneurship, leveraging buying power and engaging in political advocacy. When small businesses band together through the Small Business Association of Michigan, they achieve more than they could on their own. Our 32,000 members are as diverse as Michigan's economy. From accountants to appliance stores, manufacturers to medical, and restaurants to retailers, what unites the SBAM membership is the spirit of entrepreneurship…a spirit that drove you to start and continue to operate your own business because you believe you can do something better than anyone else is doing it! (music licensed from www.jukedeck.com )

July 10, 2026Episode 53712 min

Relationships and people skills becoming more important in business success

On today's program, Michael Rogers talks with Jennifer Jurgens, CEO and Founder of B2B marketing organization 1 Bold Step. The company has been recognized by Michigan Celebrates Small Business with a Michigan 50 Distinguished Alumni Award -- Strategically Focused. Jurgens advises business owners to step away from daily tactics to focus on identifying bottlenecks and setting clear priorities. To scale effectively, leadership must embrace delegation and maintain a consistent communication cadence with employees to ensure alignment with the company's vision. Ultimately, she highlights that long-term partnerships and human relationships are becoming increasingly vital in an increasingly automated and digital business landscape. "It's going to become more and more important that we have relationships and people skills in order to actually do great business and great work for people," she says. "I don't think I'm sounding old in saying that because I'm hearing it from my younger employees and the next generation where they're suddenly interested again in learning how to make small talk, how to network, how to connect with people, and I think that we need to remember that." The Small Business Association of Michigan is the only statewide and state-based association that focuses solely on serving the needs of Michigan's small business community. We have been successfully serving small businesses like yours in all 83 counties of Michigan since 1969. We're located in Lansing, just one block from the Capitol. Our mission is to help Michigan small businesses succeed by promoting entrepreneurship, leveraging buying power and engaging in political advocacy. When small businesses band together through the Small Business Association of Michigan, they achieve more than they could on their own. Our 32,000 members are as diverse as Michigan's economy. From accountants to appliance stores, manufacturers to medical, and restaurants to retailers, what unites the SBAM membership is the spirit of entrepreneurship…a spirit that drove you to start and continue to operate your own business because you believe you can do something better than anyone else is doing it! (music licensed from www.jukedeck.com )

July 6, 2026Episode 53612 min

Building business success in the age of AI

On today's program, Michael Rogers talks with business trainer and coach Jeremy Lopatin, Professional EOS Implementer at EOS Worldwide. He's based in southeast Michigan and is a VIP member of the Small Business Association of Michigan. He says that if companies focus on six core components—vision, people, data, issues, process, and traction— they can resolve numerous underlying organizational symptoms. He also talks in the interview about the business pros and cons of AI. "AI is already bringing in incredible increases in our capacity to do a lot of things at scale that we've never been able to do before, such as having greater insight into certain topics and executing with more precision or confidence," he says. "I think the big risk is that some in the business community are going to offload certain really human responsibilities to AI. They're going to start to hand over really important things like judgment and handling the sort of emotional and social sphere of being a good leader and a good manager of other humans." The Small Business Association of Michigan is the only statewide and state-based association that focuses solely on serving the needs of Michigan's small business community. We have been successfully serving small businesses like yours in all 83 counties of Michigan since 1969. We're located in Lansing, just one block from the Capitol. Our mission is to help Michigan small businesses succeed by promoting entrepreneurship, leveraging buying power and engaging in political advocacy. When small businesses band together through the Small Business Association of Michigan, they achieve more than they could on their own. Our 32,000 members are as diverse as Michigan's economy. From accountants to appliance stores, manufacturers to medical, and restaurants to retailers, what unites the SBAM membership is the spirit of entrepreneurship…a spirit that drove you to start and continue to operate your own business because you believe you can do something better than anyone else is doing it! (music licensed from www.jukedeck.com )

June 23, 2026Episode 53512 min

Building marketing fandoms and emotional connections

On today's program, Michael Rogers talks with Jay Norman, CEO and Co-Founder of Detroit-based culture and brand agency Verse and Hook. They are VIP members of the Small Business Association of Michigan. Moving away from traditional marketing models, the agency focuses on building deep emotional connections rather than just highlighting product benefits. "It's very much based on fandoms and connecting to the proxy things that allow people to make those decisions culturally and the groups that they end up spending time with," Norm says. "A lot of the decisions people have in terms of their fandoms are really based upon the things that they love and the things they share with their friends, family, and associates, and we have a very deep knowledge of how those things connect to their day-to-day consumption experience. So it really does change the way we think about the work, strategically." The Small Business Association of Michigan is the only statewide and state-based association that focuses solely on serving the needs of Michigan's small business community. We have been successfully serving small businesses like yours in all 83 counties of Michigan since 1969. We're located in Lansing, just one block from the Capitol. Our mission is to help Michigan small businesses succeed by promoting entrepreneurship, leveraging buying power and engaging in political advocacy. When small businesses band together through the Small Business Association of Michigan, they achieve more than they could on their own. Our 32,000 members are as diverse as Michigan's economy. From accountants to appliance stores, manufacturers to medical, and restaurants to retailers, what unites the SBAM membership is the spirit of entrepreneurship…a spirit that drove you to start and continue to operate your own business because you believe you can do something better than anyone else is doing it! (music licensed from www.jukedeck.com )

June 9, 2026Episode 53412 min

Building High-Performance Sales Teams Through Analytics and Diagnostics

On today's program, Michael Rogers talks with Daryn Lawson, an expert with SalesIndex and a VIP member of the Small Business Association of Michigan. His organization helps businesses optimize their revenue by applying data-driven diagnostics to the sales process using a specialized three-step methodology involving analysis, coaching, and training. "The analytics give us really a target, call it an MRI or a diagnostic like an auto mechanic would use, to really pinpoint exactly what each person in the sales role does," he says. "The analysis comes from the kind of an assessment that gives us the behavioral psychology and then tactical sales skills." Lawson emphasizes that long-term sales success is built on authentic relationships, discipline, and providing meaningful value to customers. The Small Business Association of Michigan is the only statewide and state-based association that focuses solely on serving the needs of Michigan's small business community. We have been successfully serving small businesses like yours in all 83 counties of Michigan since 1969. We're located in Lansing, just one block from the Capitol. Our mission is to help Michigan small businesses succeed by promoting entrepreneurship, leveraging buying power and engaging in political advocacy. When small businesses band together through the Small Business Association of Michigan, they achieve more than they could on their own. Our 32,000 members are as diverse as Michigan's economy. From accountants to appliance stores, manufacturers to medical, and restaurants to retailers, what unites the SBAM membership is the spirit of entrepreneurship…a spirit that drove you to start and continue to operate your own business because you believe you can do something better than anyone else is doing it! (music licensed from www.jukedeck.com )

June 9, 2026Episode 53311 min

The Betty Brigade: Navigating the Silver Tsunami of Downsizing

On today's program, Michael Rogers talks with Sharon McRill, owner of The Betty Brigade, a 2026 Michigan 50 Company to Watch. Operating nationwide, her business handles everything from virtual estimates to trust liquidations, ensuring meaningful items are preserved while simplifying lives. "We help people wherever they are, with whatever they need," she says. "Sometimes it's just organizing and moving, sometimes as we're clearing out a trust stuff needs to be shipped to beneficiaries all over the world. We handle that, too. So it's really about figuring out what is the right solution for that home and then putting together a plan for it." McRill is the author of Downsizing the Silver Tsunami, which addresses the unique psychological challenges of aging populations. The Small Business Association of Michigan is the only statewide and state-based association that focuses solely on serving the needs of Michigan's small business community. We have been successfully serving small businesses like yours in all 83 counties of Michigan since 1969. We're located in Lansing, just one block from the Capitol. Our mission is to help Michigan small businesses succeed by promoting entrepreneurship, leveraging buying power and engaging in political advocacy. When small businesses band together through the Small Business Association of Michigan, they achieve more than they could on their own. Our 32,000 members are as diverse as Michigan's economy. From accountants to appliance stores, manufacturers to medical, and restaurants to retailers, what unites the SBAM membership is the spirit of entrepreneurship…a spirit that drove you to start and continue to operate your own business because you believe you can do something better than anyone else is doing it! (music licensed from www.jukedeck.com )