By Kayla Sosa Monique Salinas is no stranger to the nonprofit world; she has founded two nonprofits in the course of two decades. For 16 years, she directed Girls Choral Academy - a choir program for girls - and then…
Rende Progress Capital: Creating equity in lending and investments
By Kayla Sosa A community organization in Grand Rapids is making it easier for entrepreneurs and small business owners who can’t obtain a bank loan through racial bias and inequity, to acquire funds. Rende Progress Capital was co-founded by Eric…
Teams place, win cash prizes in teen entrepreneur competition
By Kayla Sosa Three teams of teen entrepreneurs took home cash prizes in the final pitch and showcase for the TESA program. TESA, the Teen Entrepreneur Summer Academy is hosted by the Grand Valley State University Center for Entrepreneurship…
Q&A | Hickory Tree Farm Apiaries
By Kayla Sosa Nick Kaminski is the recent grand prize winner of the Michigan Veteran Entrepreneur-Lab at Grand Valley State University’s Center for Entrepreneurship. Before MVE, Kaminski was involved with Heroes to Hives, a program that teaches veterans how to…
Born Blessing: Supporting women during their path to and through motherhood
By Kayla Sosa A local woman is one of the recent winners of the Michigan Veteran Entrepreneur-Lab Showcase and Pitch Competition at Grand Valley State University. Ellie Dragstra wanted to become a doula - or maternal support practitioner - for…
Shining light on inner and outer beauty with Life’s Beautiful Diamonds
By Kayla Sosa In an effort to spread self love to all women, Shawnda Louise Michael Jackson has started a transformational coaching service called Life’s Beautiful Diamonds. “I transform women’s lives from coal to beautiful diamonds,” Jackson said. “Those who…
Q&A: Ravel Bowman, two-time TESA participant
By Kayla Sosa Ravel Bowman is an esteemed graduate of the Teen Entrepreneur Summer Academy (TESA) held every year at Grand Valley State University’s Seidman College of Business. After participating two years in a row in the program, Bowman continued…
Veteran entrepreneurs awarded in second MVE pitch competition
By Kayla Sosa A second pitch competition concluded Monday night for the Michigan Veteran Entrepreneur-Lab at Grand Valley State University. Four participants took home winnings after a night of showcasing their business ideas, and then a timed pitch competition in…
Nursing students, faculty win GVSU Laker Effect Challenge with disaster-preparedness event
By Kayla Sosa Nursing students and faculty won all the available prize money at Grand Valley State University’s Laker Effect Challenge, a pitch competition where students and staff team up with community partners to do something good for the community.…
CEO of DTE Energy speaks on campus
By Kayla Sosa The top executive at Michigan-based energy company, DTE Energy, spoke to a group of Grand Valley State University students, staff and local business professionals. The topic of the talk was about the “soft skills” in business being…
