By Kayla Sosa The Boots to Business Workshop aims to empower and educate United States veterans on business and entrepreneur skills. This month, Grand Valley State University’s Michigan Veteran Entrepreneur Lab will host a workshop open to all veterans in…
Annual pitch competition inspires social justice work in the community
By Kayla Sosa An unique pitch competition allows participants to compete for money with a goal of helping others, not just themselves. Four teams will compete for $5,000 in funding at the upcoming Grand Valley State University Laker Effect Challenge.…
Spotlight: Grand Rapids Opportunities for Women
By Kayla Sosa This year marks 30 years that a local Grand Rapids organization has been helping women start their own businesses. Grand Rapids Opportunities for Women, or G.R.O.W., is a nonprofit organization that supports business owners at every stage…
Spotlight: Zeal Aerial Fitness
By Kayla Sosa Living in Utah, Christina VanDam developed an interest in aerial silks and fitness. When she moved to Grand Rapids about four years ago, she couldn’t find a place that supported those areas of fitness on the flexible…
Q&A: Dean Lawson, GVSU Seidman College of Business
By Kayla Sosa Diana Lawson brings years of international business and business leadership experience to her role as the Dean of the Seidman College of Business at Grand Valley State University. She has led and taught at universities nationally and…
Spotlight: Mamaleelu Cold Brew
By Kayla Sosa Starting a business was not something Maliesha Pullano always intended to do, but was something that kind of fell into place at the right time. In 2014, Pullano was unemployed and looking for an opportunity. She soon…
Spreading ‘LIT’-eracy with We Are LIT
By Kayla Sosa We Are LIT is more than just a book shop, it’s a movement within the community to bring more diverse books and reading to everyone. The “shop” is actually online, and offers new, multicultural selections to readers…
The state of black business in Grand Rapids
What a local advocacy organization is doing to support black entrepreneurs By Kayla Sosa Jamiel Robinson is the founder of GRABB – Grand Rapids Area Black Businesses – an organization that supports and assists black business owners and entrepreneurs in…
Student entrepreneur club president’s five takeaways from national conference
By Kayla Sosa Back in November, the Grand Valley State University Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization (CEO) traveled to Kansas City, Missouri to attend the national CEO conference. Club president and GV senior Ben Parsell learned a lot as a leader and…
Spotlight: A Q&A with Calvin’s Lawn Care
By Kayla Sosa Calvin Pimpleton is a 16-year-old student at Innovation Central High School with a passion for business. Last winter, he saw a need in his neighborhood for shoveling services and he wanted a little extra cash in his…