Midland Business Alliance

?? Ribbon Cutting Celebration! ?? Today, we celebrated the grand opening of Venue 63 in Midland! ? Originally designed by renowned architect Alden B. Dow and opened in 1963 as the Salvation Army Citadel, this historic building has been beautifully transformed into a premier space for weddings, celebrations, business meetings, and more. With its blend of mid-century charm and modern amenities, Venue 63 is a fantastic addition to our community. Congratulations on this exciting milestone! ??

Thank You for Joining Us at the 2024 State of the Business Community Luncheon! A big thank you to everyone who joined us today for an insightful look at Midland’s business landscape and future opportunities. We appreciate our incredible panelists — Brad Befus, Chuck Sherwin, Kelly Wehner, and Evan Westervelt — for sharing their perspectives and helping us envision what’s next for our business community. Special thanks to our moderator, Bridgette Gransden, for leading such an engaging discussion! We also want to extend a special thanks to our event sponsors, Three Rivers Corporation, Hemlock Semiconductor, and Pioneer Sugar. Your support makes events like this possible and helps drive Midland’s growth and success!

Our very own Jason Story recently sat down with Kevin LaDuke of Max Loves Midland to share his journey to Midland. This engaging conversation complements our recent panel at WakeUp! Midland, providing a personal look into Jason’s experiences and insights. Look out for another episode this week where Jason will dive deeper into his model and how we can all play a role in making Midland a welcoming and inclusive community.

?? Meet Our 2024 State of the Business Community Panel! ?? Join us for an incredible opportunity to hear from leading voices across Midland’s business landscape as they discuss the present and future of our community. With insights from experts in healthcare, manufacturing, brewing, and innovation, this panel promises a deep dive into what’s next for Midland’s business growth. ?? Moderator: Bridgette Gransden, Midland County Administrator/Controller ?? Panelists: Brad Befus, Scientific Anglers – Bringing expertise from the sporting goods industry Chuck Sherwin, MyMichigan Health – Insights from healthcare and community wellness Kelly Wehner, Case Systems & BOSTONtec – Perspectives on manufacturing and workplace innovation Evan Westervelt, Midland Brewing Company – A taste of the food and beverage industry Don't miss this diverse and dynamic discussion! Register by noon on Wednesday, November 13th, to secure your spot. https://lnkd.in/gaHWKxcH

?? Exciting Opportunity Alert! We’re looking for a Market Manager for the Midland Farmers Market! Do you have a passion for small businesses, local agriculture, and community engagement? The Midland Business Alliance is hiring a Market Manager to oversee the seasonal Midland Farmers Market in Downtown Midland. This vibrant market runs every Wednesday and Saturday from May to November, offering a unique chance to support our community! ?? Position Highlights: Oversee market operations, vendor coordination, and logistics. Foster a welcoming and positive environment for vendors and visitors alike. Collaborate with community partners to ensure a successful market season. ?? What We’re Looking For: Strong communication and leadership skills Ability to work outdoors in varying weather conditions, with the physical capability to lift up to 50 lbs A valid driver’s license with a clean driving record ?? Join us in celebrating local agriculture and strengthening our community connections. Apply now and make an impact! ?? Apply here: https://lnkd.in/gziWamy6

??? Today is Election Day! ??? Make your voice count in shaping our community’s future. The Midland Business Alliance encourages everyone to get out and vote! Need any last-minute information? Check out our Election Guide for details on candidates, ballot issues, and polling locations: MBA Election Guide. https://conta.cc/3NxaFR3 Let’s make a difference for Midland—your vote matters!

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the November WakeUp! Midland at The Great Hall! We engaged in a powerful discussion on talent attraction and retention, emphasizing the importance of welcoming people from all backgrounds into our community. With our ongoing efforts and those of Max Loves Midland, we’re excited to drive this vision forward. We also took time to honor our local veterans with a slideshow of those who have served in our business community that played at the beginning and middle. Along with a presentation by the honor guard by the veterans coalition. At WakeUp! Midland, we aim to help you build valuable connections while advancing Midland’s vision: An inclusive community. Together. Forward. Bold. A place where everyone can thrive. Events like this are essential for fostering meaningful conversations around talent attraction and retention, just as we did today. Don’t forget to like, tag, and share your photos as a memento of the event! We’ll be sharing more pictures next week, so stay tuned. We hope you enjoyed connecting with others, and we look forward to seeing you and your friends at our holiday-themed WakeUp! Midland on December 6th at The Great Hall!

The Midland Business Alliance is excited to continue our business profile series by spotlighting Dr. Teona Maghlakelidze, MD, ABOM Diplomate, FACP, president and co-founder of the Obesity Medicine and Wellness Center. Dr. Teona’s journey from primary care to opening a dedicated obesity treatment center in Midland reflects her commitment to addressing one of today’s most pressing health issues. Dr. Teona’s passion for obesity treatment began in primary care, where she observed firsthand the impact of chronic obesity on her patients’ health. “You see consequences of chronic obesity in the form of diabetes, heart disease, and sleep apnea,” she explains. Recognizing that primary care settings often lacked the time and resources to address these conditions holistically, she envisioned a more specialized approach. Her own experience with weight gain following her pregnancy also provided motivation. “If I, as a primary care physician who promotes healthy living, couldn’t figure out how to lose weight, what am I going to tell my patients?” With her husband’s support, who brought his background in business management, Dr. Teona founded the Obesity Medicine and Wellness Center to provide the community with comprehensive obesity care. Reflecting on her time with MyMichigan Health, Dr. Teona acknowledges its significant role in her journey. “MyMichigan was a big reason for my success,” she shares, noting how her experience there helped her build a foundation for the clinic’s work. With a holistic, multidisciplinary approach, the Obesity Medicine and Wellness Center offers patients a supportive environment focused on more than just weight loss. “We provide the community a place where they can achieve healthy weight goals through a multi-cause approach,” she explains, emphasizing the importance of education and personalized care. Today, the center has grown to three locations, with plans to expand as needed to serve the community better. As Dr. Teona looks to the future, she’s focused on additional training, including board certification in culinary medicine, and hopes to mentor future physicians in the importance of treating obesity as a chronic disease. “Every success story with a patient brings three potential patients,” she notes, highlighting the impact of word-of-mouth in Midland. The Midland Business Alliance is proud to celebrate dedicated professionals like Dr. Teona, who are enhancing the quality of life in our community. Stay tuned as we continue to introduce the people behind Midland’s thriving businesses.

Join us for the latest WakeUp! Midland event on November 1st, where we'll dive into From First Spark to Full Potential: Midland's Talent Continuum. This program will feature a talk-show-style discussion with?Jason Story, MBA Director of Talent and Small Business Initiatives,?Kevin LaDuke, Communications Officer at the Midland Area Community Foundation and Max Loves Midland, and?Maureen Donker, Mayor of Midland! They’ll share insights on Midland’s approach to attracting, developing, and retaining talent, helping to build a strong and thriving community. Don't miss this opportunity to engage with community leaders, learn about the talent continuum! Register Here https://lnkd.in/gGYTUdPf

We are thrilled to share that, so far in 2024, we’ve celebrated an impressive 37 ribbon cuttings for new businesses, expansions, renovations, and anniversaries across Midland, MI—already 10 more than last year, with two more months still to go! This milestone wouldn’t be possible without the dedication and support of our amazing business community. From the grand opening of the new Midland Community Center to the ribbon cutting at City Hall, expansions for nonprofits, and local small business success stories, we’ve had the privilege of standing by their side to celebrate their growth and achievements. A big thank you to our entire MBA team and Ambassadors for their hard work, but even more so to the entrepreneurs, business owners, and community leaders who continue to invest their time, energy, and resources into the success of Midland. Every ribbon-cutting marks another chapter in our shared story of progress. As we reflect on this year’s accomplishments, we want to take a moment to celebrate the success we’ve seen so far and look forward to the continued momentum. Here’s to a fantastic year of growth and all that’s still to come!