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…
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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…
Spotlight: Bremer Produce
By Kayla Sosa In 2015, Ross Bremer and his brothers started a family business selling unwanted produce from local commercial farms that’s still good but not qualified to go to a grocery store - because it’s too small or a…
Five entrepreneurs win prize money at first MVE Pitch Competition
By Kayla Sosa Five entrepreneurs with military background or connection took home prize money at the first showcase and final pitch competition for the Michigan Veteran Entrepreneur Lab. Produced through the Grand Valley State University Center for Entrepreneurship and…
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Spotlight: Immersive Language Learning
By Kayla Sosa After being immersed into the Portuguese language studying abroad in Brazil, Grand Valley State University student Olivia Seaver was trying to think of ways she could keep up with learning and retaining languages once she came back…
Spotlight: WINC advocates for women veterans post-military life
By Kayla Sosa Two women are heading up a consulting group that will educate employers on not just how to hire veterans, but how to retain them. Henrietta Hadley said many workplaces say they are “veteran friendly” but once they…
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Spotlight: Local veteran hopes to redefine masculinity for a younger generation of men
By Kayla Sosa A local man is hoping to change society’s view of masculinity through a new non-profit he’s calling ACES. Awareness, Compassion, Equity, Strength. That’s what ACES stands for, and what Trey Sumner is looking to for the foundation…
Read More Spotlight: Local veteran hopes to redefine masculinity for a younger generation of men
