A celebration of businesses and individuals, an economic outlook for the upcoming year, and a recap of 2021 all took place during the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber’s 2022 Business Recognition Breakfast, presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Honor Credit Union.
Close to 250 guests joined this morning either in-person at the Lake Michigan College Mendel Center’s Grand Upton Hall or virtually via Zoom as new Michigan Chamber President & CEO Jim Holcomb provided a keynote that included an economic update for the upcoming year. Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber President & CEO Arthur Havlicek recapped 2021 and shared part of the 2022 vision for the Chamber, which included restructured dues tiers, and the launch of the new Your Voice for Business Podcast.
Havlicek says, “Looking back on everything we’ve accomplished over the last two years, plus where we have successfully positioned ourselves for in 2022 and beyond, we are extremely excited for what the future holds for our organization as well as Southwest Michigan as a whole. We are a stronger organization than we were pre-pandemic and we can’t wait to share and build upon that strength with our members.”
BEST NEW BUSINESS AWARD: THE MARKET
After two years of constant delays and hiccups, the true labor of love that is The Market officially opened their doors! Founded by Richard Molitor and Deb Sailor, The Market is a 9,000 square foot indoor farmers market featuring a variety of independently owned small businesses. Serving as both a physical brick and mortar location for those businesses, it also serves as an incubator for young entrepreneurs who are looking to expand without the overhead of being solo. Many of the current businesses located inside The Market are owned by females or those who are 40 or younger.
Once inside the doors of The Market, located at 301 Main St. in downtown St. Joseph, you’ll find 8 soon to be 10 separate businesses providing a wide variety of food and drink items, gift ideas, and more. These include: The Cheese Lady, Dad’s Farm & Dad’s Café, Infusco Coffee Roasters, St. Joe Community Taproom, St. Joe Wine Shoppe, The Tea Annex, and Wild Ginger Flowers & Gifts. Coming soon The Culinary Cottage and NOLA Roux – Casual Cajun Eatery!
NON-PROFIT EXCELLENCE AWARD: CITIZENS MEDIATION SERVICES
Citizens Mediation Services brings peace to the community through the training of volunteers and the implementation of services designed to reduce conflict, resolve disputes and increase our sense of community. Volunteer community mediation provides neutral, trained, local people to help facilitate an open and clear conversation among differing points of view and perspectives. This free or low cost resolution dispute service reduces stress associated with conflict, court appearances and ensures that all voices are heard and have an equal place at the table. Citizens Mediation partners locally to provide restorative practices, including mediation, to individuals, groups, courts and schools.
Throughout the pandemic, CMS has found numerous means of continuing to ensure access to services through creating on-line mediation through use of Zoom and other software, and the creation of MI Resolve services through kiosks in Berrien County. During this time, CMS has doubled the number of cases handled allowing for an increase in funding and adding a new staff member in 2021. We all have a stake in the ability to resolve local conflicts. Spread the peace. www.Citizensmediation.org
SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD: LEO + LAINE
This female owned and operated business is a boutique digital branding and content creation agency with a holistic approach to branding. Their laid-back but unfiltered approach has allowed them the opportunity to grow their business from something that was just a side hustle, to a full-time job with two employees, to now 9 employees strong.
While based in Southwest Michigan, LEO + LAINE has a diverse portfolio of local and national clients, ranging from small retailers to high-profile personalities. LEO + LAINE develops, implements and manages digital brand strategies for its clients and offers a suite of branding services including logo design, content creation, websites, graphic design, photography, social media management and more. As partners, LEO + LAINE prioritizes its client relationships, acting as an extension of their internal teams. The LEO + LAINE team is made up of passionate creatives and content marketers who are ready to build partnerships and friendships, while having fun along the way.
As LEO + LAINE’s client base has grown, which includes locally that of The Inn at Harbor Shores, Planks Tavern, Smiles on Niles, the Frazee Team with Century 21, and more – their physical footprint has also grown. Seeing a need for a clean, modern, quiet, and private coworking space, the team at LEO + LAINE opened Think Bar in South Haven.
ECONOMIC IMPACT AWARD: B&L INFORMATION SYSTEMS
Just before COVID struck, B&L Information Systems began the process of doubling not only their physical location (taking it from 9,000 sq ft to 18,000), but also their staff. While the construction was met with a handful of delays and increased expenses that could have resulted in the entire process being halted permanently, they forged ahead.
B&L Information Systems is the global leader in cloud-based Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software for foundries, die casters and investment casters. Since 1976, B&L has implemented their unique ERP solutions at over 500 metalcasting operations, making their cloud-based Odyssey ERP match how metalcasters operate. With Odyssey, metalcasters maximize their resources, minimize costs, and make better decisions faster.
Having seen steady growth over the last 5 years including during the pandemic and a focus on keeping dollars local led B&L to use local contractors as the primary supplier during the expansion. The new facility includes a customer training room, expanded connect spaces for employee collaboration, a hospitality room and employee recreation center.
Founded by local business person Dick Laney and currently under 2nd generation ownership of Philip Laney, as CEO and President, B&L also supports many local non-profit organizations in Southwest Michigan.
RISING STAR AWARD: NICK SHELTON, CITY OF NILES MAYOR & SHELTON’S FARM MARKET
If you’ve ever been lucky enough to have a conversation with our Rising Star, Nick Shelton, then you know he is a man of many titles with a big pride and passion for his community. The Southwest Michigan and Niles native is the current City of Niles Mayor, a fruit peddler for Shelton’s Farm Market, beatboxer, songwriter and performer, husband to Allison, and father to Emery, Rocky, and Mikey. Graduating from Brandywine High School in 2004, he went on to get his BA in Economics and Management from Albion College in 2008 before returning home and working for the family business, Shelton’s Farm Market.
Since becoming Mayor, Nick has helped to inspire a new generation of residents to get involved in local government via attending council meetings, joining committees, running for office, and overall involving themselves in showcasing Niles as a great place to live, work, and play. When asked what a professional accomplishment that he’s most proud of, he quickly responded with how the Niles community handles and bounces back from adversity, including a tornado (2017), flood (2018), polar vortex (2019), and the current COVID pandemic. “We care for one another. We take care of each other. We have each other’s backs. I am proud of the people of Niles, and I am proud to call Niles home.” – Nick Shelton.
THE PAT MOODY AWARD: BOB BURCH, STURGIS BANK & TRUST ST JOSEPH BANKING CENTER
The traveling Pat Moody Award and the distinction of being recognized as this year’s winner goes to Sturgis Bank’s Bob Burch. Robert K. “Bob” Burch was raised in Lexington, MI, where he graduated from Crosswell-Lexington High School in 1974. He went on to graduate from Central Michigan University in 1978 earning a degree in Business Administration including a minor in Economics and Psychology before graduating from the University of Wisconsin School of Banking in 1991.
Bob started his banking career at First America Bank in Lansing, MI in 1978 where he was in the Management training program and quickly became a Branch Manager.
In 1986 he relocated to Berrien County and joined Inter-City Bank as Vice President of Retail Banking. In 1992 he was promoted to Executive Vice President of Shoreline Bank and became Community President in 2007. Bob is currently SVP, Berrien County Community President at Sturgis Bank. He represents the bank in the community, services major depository relationships, manages a significant commercial loan portfolio and serves as a private banker to his clients.
Bob has been involved in many organizations over the years including: Blossomtime, WNIT, YMCA, Junior Achievement, Southwestern Michigan College Foundation, St. Joseph Today, United Way, 25 plus year Rotarian, and the Red Cross to name a few. He is currently serving on the Lake Michigan College Foundation Board since 2013 and is Co-Chair for Senior PGA Hospitality Committee since 2016.
Bob has been married to his wife Stephanie for 10 years, has 2 adult children (Lindsay & Nick), 3 step children (Drew, Luke & Eleah), 4 grandchildren (Taylor, Josie, Charleigh and Graham) and dog Jaxx.
AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR: SANDI KOPACH, UNITED FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
Sandi Kopach is currently the Branch Manager at the Royalton location of United Federal Credit Union. She has been with United since the merger with Edgewater Bank in May of 2021.
Sandi brings more than 20 years’ banking experience, all within the St. Joseph/Berrien County market area. Prior to joining United, Sandi was a Branch Banking Officer with Edgewater Bank for six years and had previously worked at both Flagstar Bank and Fifth Third Bank. She values building relationships, offering exceptional customer service, connecting on a personal level, and helping Members achieve their financial goals.
In the community, Sandi is an ambassador for the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber, a volunteer and Board Member for Junior Achievement Berrien and Cass County, a volunteer with United Way of Southwest Michigan, and was an Executive Board member for the previous Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce.
As an Ambassador she loves the way the Chamber brings the community and local businesses together!
The full list of this year’s Chamber nominee and award recipient information will be made available at www.smrchamber.com.
