Business Next

Michael Rogers, vice president communications for the Small Business Association of Michigan, talks with John DiNunzio, founder of IdentiCom Sign Solutions, a member of the Inc. 5000 for 2016. DiNunzio is the founder of IdentiCom Sign Solutions, which started in 2009. With over 35 years’ experience. John has worked in all aspects of the sign industry which began in 1980 with a large national sign company. DiNunzio leads the company, managing day-to-day operations, as well as directing customer signage and branding solutions. He works closely with the sales team, program managers and production process. He also sets up partner arrangements with strategic vendors for the support of customer initiatives.

Michael Rogers, vice president communications for the Small Business Association of Michigan, talks with Seena Sharp, author of The Competitive Intelligence Advantage. They discuss how to identify your unknown customers and how to find alternative uses for your products or services. Sharps's book is a practical guide that explains what competitive intelligence is, why data is not intelligence, why competitor intelligence is a weak sibling to competitive intelligence, when to use it, how to find the most useful information and turn it into actual intelligence, and how to present findings in the most convincing manner. Importantly, Sharp argues that businesses would benefit from shifting their perspective on competitive intelligence from viewing it as a cost to viewing it as an investment that saves money and provides immediate value. 

Michael Rogers, vice president communications for the Small Business Association of Michigan, talks with Linda Cena of the Michigan Department of Legislative and Regulatory Affairs, about the Sept. 21-22 LARA seminars in the Upper Peninsula on how to raise capital.

Michael Rogers, vice president communications for the Small Business Association of Michigan, talks with Merrill Lynch financial advisor, Jeff Gembis. They talk about Managing Both Sides Of The Personal Balance Sheet. For over three decades, Jeff and his team have been helping clients with the creation, the preservation and the management of their wealth through a variety of market cycles and often challenging economic conditions. Jeff believes in complimenting his many years of experience with continuing education. He has earned and maintained the Certified Investment Management Analyst® (CIMA®) designation sponsored by the Investment Management Consultants Association at the Wharton School. A Michigan native, Jeff received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from James Madison College at Michigan State University. He and his wife Melissa have three grown children. Active in his community, Jeff is a member of the Detroit Athletic Club, Birmingham Athletic Club and Wawashkamo Golf Club on Mackinac Island.

Michael Rogers, vice president communications for the Small Business Association of Michigan, talks with sales trainer and coach Greg Coyne of Gerry Weinberg & Associates Sandler Training, about how to bid and negotiate for sales without falling into the trap of falling into the role of being an unpaid consultant to your customer. Greg joined the Sandler Sales team in June 2012 as a sales trainer and sales force developer. Greg has been actively involved with Sandler Training since 2009. His almost 10 years of success in sales & business development in the advertising industry has brought him to this point. As a Sandler Trainer, he looks to help companies and individuals raise their sales to new levels by stopping unpaid consulting and assisting his clients to get out of their own way in their search for success.

Michael Rogers, vice president communications for the Small Business Association of Michigan, talks with social media expert Veronica Gracia-Wing of Piper & Gold Public Relations about using the power of Pokemon Go to to increase traffic at your small business, how to increase your Facebook followers, staying up-to-date on technology trends, new research findings on how social media affects young minds and using social media to reach millennials.

Michael Rogers, vice president communications for the Small Business Association of Michigan, interviews tech expert Linda Daichendt, executive director of the Mobile Technology Association of Michigan, about Ford’s plan to offer fully driverless car in 2021. For the full article click here. To learn why startups need a defensive IP strategy click here. 

Michael Rogers, vice president communications for the Small Business Association of Michigan, talks with business coach and consultant Tom Borg about 4 strategies to help you maximize the customer profitability of your small business – including your website content, the mission/vision of your firm, how stop “thinking small” and creating a client recovery plan.

Michael Rogers, vice president communications for the Small Business Association of Michigan, interviews small business tech expert Linda Daichendt, executive director of the Mobile Technology Association of Michigan, to learn more about the “Internet of Things” and services, Uber’s plans for launching self-driving vehicles, the importance of teaching coding to young people and whether or not you should charge your phone overnight.

Michael Rogers, vice president communications for the Small Business Association of Michigan, talks with Jeff McWherter, owner of Gravity Works Design + Development in Lansing. Gravity Works was recently named to the 2016 Inc. 5000 list of fast growing companies. A graduate of Michigan State University, Jeff has spent over 17 years working to better the software development community not only in Michigan but also across the country. Jeff was awarded with the Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) for three years in a row, and Jeff is a three time published author. He is also very active in developing programming communities, speaking at conferences and organizing events such as the Lansing Give Camp, pairing developers with non-profit organizations for volunteer projects.