News & Resources

Word of click

By Steven StraussQuestion: I heard you on the radio say that “word of mouth today is actually word of click.” Can you elaborate what you mean by that?Answer: Long-time readers of this column know that …

June 14, 2013

Supercharging the small business export economy. Today on Business Next

Tune in at 10am (repeats at 3pm and 8pm) on the Michigan Business Network.Michael Rogers talks with J.D.Snyder of the Michigan State University Center for Community and Economic Development about efforts to boost Michigan small …

June 12, 2013

Get the best deal you can on your commercial lease. Details today on Business Next.

Tune in today at 10am (repeats at 3pm and 8pm) on the Michigan Business Network.Michael Rogers talks with Dale Willerton – The Lease Coach. Dale is a Professional Lease Consultant, coach, recognized speaker and author …

June 11, 2013

SBAM urges support for Medicaid reform

The Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM) supports House Bill 4714. This measure initiates critical reforms and broadens the eligibility criteria to participate in the Medicaid program so that people under 133 percent of the …

June 11, 2013

Lactation rights: Appeals court slaps down denial of discrimination claim

Article courtesy of SBAM Approved Partner ASEBy Joe DeSantisFiring a new mother because she asked for break time to express breast milk is indeed sex discrimination under the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978.The EEOC sued …

June 10, 2013

IRS webinars on tax benefits and avoiding tax mistakes

The IRS is presenting free two webinars this month that will be interesting to both small business owners and tax professionals. First, on June 18 will be "Small Business Owners: Get All the Tax Benefits …

June 10, 2013

How to get your employees to protect company data on their mobile devices. Advice today on Business Next!

Tune in at 10am (repeats at 3pm and 8pm) on the Michigan Business Network!Michael Rogers talks with Steve Barone, President and CEO of Troy, Mich.-based Creative Breakthroughs, Inc. (CBI), an industry leader in IT advisory …

June 7, 2013

How Michigan’s lakes and streams flow toward small business prosperity. Today on Business Next

Tune in at 10am (repeats at 3pm and 8pm) on the Michigan Business Network.Today on SBAM’s Business Next radio show, Nina Ignaczak, who works with the Clinton River Watershed Council, discusses the positive business impact …

June 5, 2013

Use new mobile tech to boost your small business success. Today on Business Next

Tune in today at 10am (repeats at 3pm and 8pm) on the Michigan Business Network.Tony Merlo, owner of Smarterphones.net, provides an overview of mobile phone technology and tablets and how these tools can be deployed …

June 4, 2013

Fair Labor Standard Act Cases: A snowball rolling downhill

Article courtesy of SBAM Approved Partner ASEBy Joe DeSantis A quick look at a bar graph showing the growth in employee-initiated Wage and Hour claims in the last 10 years makes startlingly obvious what HR …

June 3, 2013

The secret ingredient

By Steven StraussQuestion: Steve, I saw you give a speech a while back where you talked about the “secret ingredient” in business. Could you share that again? I missed part of it and it seemed …

June 3, 2013

How local economic development helps your small business. Today on Business Next

Tune in today at 10am (repeats at 3pm and 8pm) on the Michigan Business Network.Michael Rogers reports from the Michigan Economic Developers Conference in Lansing. Interviews with Amy Cell, senior vice president for Talent Enhancement, …

June 1, 2013

SBAM member Treat Dreams partners to support young entrepreneur

It’s not unusual that a business owner chatting with a customer and fellow business owner evolves into a business partnership. What’s different is that the customer is 6 years old.Christopher Pandzich, 6, is participating in …

May 31, 2013

Employee notification of Exchange

By Scott Lyon, Senior Vice PresidentBefore October 1, 2013, employers must notify their employees about the availability of the Health Exchange/Marketplace. In Michigan the Exchange will be called Mi Health Marketplace. In summary, this requirement …

May 31, 2013

Lessons of entrepreneurial success from small businesses named to the 2013 Michigan 50 Companies to Watch list. Today on Business Next!

Tune in at 10am on the Michigan Business Network!Michael Rogers talks with Michigan 50 Companies to Watch winners John Kelo of Match RX, Lee Francisco of 906 Technologies, Mike Uckele of Uckele Health and Nutrition, …

May 30, 2013

Is an attendance requirement reasonable under the ADA?

Article courtesy of SBAM Approved Partner ASEBy Anthony KaylinPTI is a company that provides around-the-clock ground transportation service for railroads seeking to move their train crews from one route to another. Ms. Terri Basden was …

May 29, 2013

Employee Notification of Exchange

Before October 1, 2013, employers must notify their employees about the availability of Health Exchange/Marketplace. In Michigan the Exchange will be called Mi Health Marketplace. In summary, this requirement applies to essentially all employers and …