Michigan Business Network

globalEDGE Business Beat | Martha Gabrielse: The Role of Your Banker in Exporting

Recently retired, Martha Gabrielse is an experienced banking executive and member of the West Michigan District Export Council (DEC). Her areas of expertise include Global Trade, Trade Finance, Risk Management, Credit, Banking, Corporate Finance, Strategic Planning, and Accounting. She holds a B.B.A. in Accounting from the University of Notre Dame.
Here Jade and Martha discuss her career in financial services, how she found herself there, back before international business became an area of study. She also draws on her career as a banker to share what companies considering international sales need to know—beyond just getting paid.
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globalEDGE Business Beat | Erkan Kocas: Working With Today’s University Students

Erkan Kocas is the Assistant Director for International Trade Research at the Michigan State University International Business Center. In addition to overseeing much of the research done at the Center, Erkan directs the student teams and manages the globalEDGE website. Erkan also teaches 'International Management' both at the undergraduate and graduate level and he received an 'Instructor Excellence Award' in Spring 2019. Prior to joining the Broad College of Business Erkan worked in different roles for more than 15 years at companies with extensive global reach such as Xerox, Thomson Reuters, and Citrix.  Erkan graduated from the Broad College of Business at Michigan State University with a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Supply Chain Management, and currently, he is pursuing a Ph.D. program at the College of Education studying Higher Adult and Lifelong Education (HALE).
In this conversation, Erkan speaks with Jade about what brought him to Michigan and to MSU from Istanbul, Turkey, and his experiences working with MSU students in and out of the classroom.
@globalEDGE, @msu_ibc
https://www.facebook.com/globalEDGEmsu
https://www.linkedin.com/company/michigan-state-university-international-business-center

globalEDGE Business Beat | Maureen Lyon: Corporate Growth In Times of Uncertainty

Maureen Lyon is an accomplished senior manager with a proven track record in domestic and global business. Skilled in business process development, order management, import/export, and project management, she is an effective communicator and team builder across all organizational levels, with the ability to bridge cultural and communication gaps. Maureen is also experienced successfully launching and implementing mergers.  She is a graduate of Providence College and Thunderbird School of Global Management.
During this interview, Maureen and Jade discuss her work with Dematic in West Michigan. Dematic designs, builds, implements, and supports automated system solutions for warehouses, distribution centers, and production facilities. The huge increase in online sales in 2020 has allowed the company to grow and hire more employees as companies look for more efficient solutions to increase the capacity in their facilities. Maureen has spent much of her career working and living in China, and talks a bit about the changes she’s seen and how she expects business with China to reemerge post-pandemic.
@DematicNA
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dematic
https://www.facebook.com/DematicNA

globalEDGE Business Beat | Alyssa Tracey: Resources for Michigan Companies Selling Abroad

Alyssa Tracey is the Director of International Trade at Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). Alyssa’s program provides assistance to Michigan companies interested in exporting, including training, consulting, and financial reimbursement. She has spent her career working in economic development, and holds a BA in International Relations from Michigan State University and an MA in Modern Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Michigan.
Here, Jade and Alyssa talk about many resources available for exporters via the MEDC, and how those programs have changed and expanded to better assist small- and medium-sized companies during the pandemic. As everyone has become more dependent on online sales and communications, assistance for website optimization has greatly increased. Michigan’s International Trade Development Managers can be reached to discuss assistance available for trade shows and trade missions, international market research, local trainings, contacts to international offices, and 75% reimbursement for international marketing expenses by going to https://www.michiganbusiness.org/services/international-trade/
Social media:
Twitter: @MEDC
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/medc/
Facebok: https://www.facebook.com/MEDC
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globalEDGE Business Beat |Abdul Bakir: Strengthening Global Ties

Abdulrahman Bakir is Vice President in the Saudi Office at Ministry of Investment in the United States. He’s worked in the GCC, US, South America, Europe and West Africa in both the public and private sectors. His current role in the diplomatic mission is to develop, attract, and expand quality investments for sustainable national economic growth. Abdul has a degree in Manufacturing Engineering & Management from the University of Nottingham and a degree in Corporate Finance from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.
In this interview, Abdul discusses the historic and modern ties between Michigan and Saudi Arabia, as well as opportunities for new partnerships. He also discusses Saudi Vision 2030, described as “expressing long-term goals and expectations and it is built upon our country’s unique strengths and capabilities. It guides our aspirations towards a new phase of development – to create a vibrant society in which all citizens can fulfill their dreams, hopes and ambitions to succeed in a thriving economy.” More concretely, advancements in solar production and advanced technologies are areas that the Kingdom will continue to pursue as it moves forward to diversify the economy and respond to the global needs of the twenty-first century. The Invest Saudi website can be accessed HERE
Social media:
Twitter: @investsaudi, @atb_23
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/investsaudi/
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Michigan Business Beat | Why Cybersecurity Is A Leadership Level Responsibility

President and CEO of ASK, Mike Maddox, joins the Michigan Business Beat to talk about why cybersecurity is a leadership level responsibility. He covers some questions executives should be asking their teams about security and how to measure an ROI on security investments.
ASK is a world-class provider of best of breed IT hardware, software, services, and cybersecurity solutions. ASK’s methodology of “The Three Pillars of Technology” equips organizations to have a balanced IT and business infrastructure around managed services, disaster recovery and cybersecurity.
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Michigan Business Beat | MCAN COVID-19 Response Grants initiative

Ryan Fewins-Bliss returns to the Michigan Business Beat for another discussion. This time around covering;
The grants which started in April as a response to the pandemic. What inspired the COVID-19 Response Grants Initiative? Were there other funders who participated in this endeavor? How does it align with the overall mission of MCAN?
FOCUS: IMPACT. The COVID-19 Response Grants have provided over $619,000 in funding to more than 100 organizations in Michigan. What does the funding assist with? What kind of programs received the grant funding? Here is a list of recipients if you want to ask about any specific awards: https://micollegeaccess.org/grants/category/covid-19-grants
WHAT'S NEXT? Because of these grants, recipients were able to continue postsecondary programs and initiatives. However, colleges are seeing a rapid decline in enrollment. What are solutions to this issue? What does postsecondary education look like in Michigan as the pandemic resolves?

Michigan Business Beat | New Laws in Place to Allow a Pathway for Foreclosed Property Owners

Jeffrey Mosher reconnects with Jennifer Nash, Livingston County Treasurer; Michigan Association of County Treasurers President, from Howell.
This is a follow-up as there are new laws in place to allow a pathway for foreclosed property owners to claim some or all of the proceeds of a tax sale.
Property owners – business and residential -- who have gone through the unfortunate foreclosure process now have the option to reclaim monies leftover from a tax sale.
County treasurers will notify property owners who lose their homes or businesses to foreclosure of the pathway to receive any remaining proceeds of the tax sale of their property after taxes, interest, penalties, fees, and costs have been paid.
The owner has until July 1 of the year in which the foreclosure took place to file a claim.
County treasurers believe this is a fair and equitable solution to the Michigan Supreme Court’s July 2020 ruling that said they couldn’t keep proceeds of tax sales.
The work of county treasurers statewide prevented 97.5 percent of property tax foreclosures in 2019. Treasurers use a variety of methods and numerous community resources to help people pay their taxes and prevent foreclosure.
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Michigan Business Beat | Skating Rink Coming to Downtown Lansing

Jeffrey Mosher catches up once again with Laurie Strauss Baumer, Executive Vice President, Capital Region Community Foundation, Lansing, MI, to discuss this upcoming skatepark.
They last spoke about a year and a half ago pre-COVID for Rotary Park Lansing. This discussion covers;
1. Describe the rink for us. What is it made of and how big is it?
2. Where exactly is it located?
3. Is there a fee to use it? Will there be skate rentals?
4. Why did the Community Foundation pay for this?
5. What is the City of Lansing’s role with the rink?

Michigan Business Beat | NexTech Lansing Welcomes Marvel Comics Illustrator as New Art Teacher

Jeffrey Mosher speaks with Nate Beyer, School Leader, NexTech High School of Lansing, Lansing/Okemos, MI.
Their discussion covers:
- Can you tell me a little bit about NexTech's program and what makes NexTech unique?
- Tell me a bit about Gerald DeCaire and his new position at NexTech.
- What are you looking forward to with Mr. DeCaire as NexTech's art teacher?
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