Page 4 - Focus MJ 2018

FOCUS » COMMUNIQUÉ
The Michigan Entrepreneurship
Score Card: Helping SBAM
Advocate for Legislative Change
By Rob Fowler
The overall health of any business is a good indicator to future success. You need a solid business plan, the right mix of products and services, good employees and a positive nancial outlook. This issue of Focus explores some of the ways small businesses can decrease expenses and increase revenue. But we all know that’s only a small piece of the puzzle.
I thought I would take this opportunity to share some of the work SBAM and others are doing to ensure that the business climate in Michigan is positive. Because even with all of the planning and analyzing and budgeting, there are still outside fac- tors that greatly impact your pro tability and chance of success.
Last month we published the 14th Michigan En- trepreneurship Score Card through MiQuest, a foun- dation dedicated to empowering Michigan entrepre- neurs. SBAM is proud to be one of the founding partners of MiQuest, and we support and celebrate the great work it does.
More than 15 years ago SBAM set a bold goal for Michigan to become a “Top 10” entrepreneurial state because we knew that it was crucial to understand all of the factors that in uence such a ranking.
When the Michigan Entrepreneurship Score Card was rst created, it offered real insight into the path Michigan needed to take to be THE state for entre- preneurship. By looking at all of the factors that impact the entrepreneurial climate—from education and transportation to business costs and workforce pre- paredness—these reports offer digestible data that help guide effective change. With 14 years of data
under our belt, we can see that while Michigan has improved there is still work to be done in supporting second stage small business growth.
The Score Card offers ranks on Entrepreneurial Climate, Entrepreneurial Change and Entrepreneurial Vitality. Despite large improvements in the post-re- cession years, this year’s report shows a leveling off in these areas. Keeping tabs on Michigan’s perfor- mance in these areas will be crucial in years to come in order to have a vibrant entrepreneurial economy.
This year’s Score Card shows that Michigan’s general Business Climate is improving (though still mediocre), but there is work to be done regarding small business healthcare premiums. The quality of life in Michigan is attractive to and supportive of entrepreneurs, but poor infrastructure is a threat to business growth.
These are the types of issues we hear from you, our members, when we have the chance to connect at our SBAM Engage events around the state. Our legislative team will proactively use the data found in the Score Card to advocate for legislative change that will make it easier to be a small business owner in Michigan.
The Score Card can be found on our website at
www.sbam.org.
Rob Fowler is SBAM's President and CEO. He can be reached at rob.fowler@sbam.org.
Focus on Small Business, the of cial member publication of the Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM), is dedicated to focusing the power of small buness in order to provide useful information to Michigan entrepreneurs about issues and events speci c to the success of their small business operations, including legislative advocacy, regulatory concerns and economic opportunities. Focus on Small Business is published six times a year.
The SBAM Strategic Communications Advisory Committee of Focus on Small Business advises the editors in the content and policy of the magazine, subject to the policies of the SBAM Board of Directors. Known Of ce of Publication: Small Business Association of Michigan, 120 N. Washington, Suite 1000, Lansing, Michigan 48933.
Neither the editor nor SBAM will accept responsibility for statements made or opinions expressed by any contributor in any article or feature published in the pages of the journal. The views expressed are those of the writer and not necessarily of cial positions of SBAM Focus on Small Business. SBAM Focus on Small Business reserves the right to accept or reject advertising copy. Products and services advertised in Focus on Small Business are neither endorsed nor warranted by SBAM.
Focus on Small Business (ISSN 1930-5257) is the of cial magazine of the Small Business Association of Michigan, published six times a year under the direction of the SBAM Strategic Communications Advisory Committee. Basic annual dues are $109, Premium annual dues are $229 and VIP annual dues are $369, which includes $19.95 for a one year subscription to Focus on Small Business. Postmaster – Please Send Address Changes – Focus on Small Business, 120 N. Washington Square, Suite 1000, Lansing, Michigan 48933. Periodicals postage paid at Lansing, MI and additional of ces. Printed in USA. © 2018 Small Business Association of Michigan
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May/June 2018
2017-2018 SBAM Board Members
Chair: RUSS KNOPP
Comfort Keepers, Traverse City
1st Vice Chair: CHAD PAALMAN NuWave Technology Partners Lansing
2nd Vice Chair: MILAN GANDHI, Med-Share, Inc., South eld
Treasurer: BILL KIMBLE C2AE, Lansing
Secretary: LORRI RISHAR Edge Partnerships, Lansing
Immediate Past Chair:
KATHIE FUCE-HOBOHM
SPACE, Inc., Midland
Directors:
ANITA ABROL
Lewis & Knopf CPA’s, Flint
SASSA AKERVALL
Akervall Technologies Inc., Saline
ERIC BROGAN
Brogan, Reed, VanGorder & Assoc., East Lansing
DAN CHERRIN
North Coast Strategies, Royal Oak
REBECCA COX
The Savant Group, Midland
DOYLE HAYES
dhayesGroup, Grand Rapids
PARK KERSMAN
Lorin Industries, Muskegon
SUE LABONVILLE
Allis Information Management, Midland
JEFF MAGOWAN
Garceau Insurance Agency, Escanaba
KEVIN SCHLUETER
Kalkaska Screw Products, Inc., Kalkaska
NEIL SHERIDAN
SVPI LLC, Ortonville
ERICK STEWART
STEWART Industries, Battle Creek
RICH TEGGE
Wealth Strategy Group, Marquette
SUE TELLIER
JetCo Solutions, Grand Rapids
GINA THORSEN
Stormy Kromer, Ironwood
STEVE TRECHA
Integrated Strategies Inc., Haslett
SHERI WELSH
Welsh & Associates, Kalamazoo