Beth Thieme, President and CEO of Amigo Mobility International, shares the inspiring origin story of Amigo Mobility, how Beth transitioned from nursing to business, and the significant challenges and achievements the company has faced over the years. The episode also delves into the importance of having a visionary leader like Al Thieme, the development of new business avenues, and the company's mission to improve lives through mobility.

Links:

Amigo Mobility's Website: https://www.myamigo.com/

Subscribe to our Email Newsletter: https://totalmichigan.com/join/

Find us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/totalmichigan

Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@totalmichigan

Sponsor:

Stevens Center for Family Business: http://svsu.edu/scfb

Casey Stevens Contact Information: 989-964-2776

Show Notes:

00:00 Introduction

00:25 Meet Beth Thieme: Early Life and Career

02:15 The Birth of Amigo Mobility

04:15 Challenges and Growth

07:57 Overcoming Financial Struggles

17:57 Diversification and Innovation

24:36 Vision for the Future

25:42 How to connect with Amigo Mobility

Youth pastor to frog mogul? That's the path Josh Willard, CEO and founder of Josh's Frogs, an online retailer of reptile and amphibian products. Josh shares his journey from a youth ministry pastor to a successful entrepreneur who turned his hobby into a multi-million-dollar business. The discussion covers Josh's unique business start, his ethical approach to animal trading, and his company's significant growth and impact on the exotic pet industry.

Link:

Josh's Frogs: https://joshsfrogs.com/

Subscribe to our Email Newsletter: https://totalmichigan.com/join/

Find us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/totalmichigan

Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@totalmichigan

Show Notes:

00:00 A Tough Start: Losing a Job and Facing Uncertainty

01:10 Meet Josh Willard: From Youth Ministry to Frog Enthusiast

01:59 From Pastor to Frog Seller: The Unexpected Career Shift

02:54 Building a Business from a Hobby

04:20 The Leap to Entrepreneurship: Risks and Rewards

05:43 Overcoming Financial Hurdles: The Birth of Josh's Frogs

10:58 The First Steps: Launching the Website and Early Sales

13:03 Explosive Growth: From Hobby to Multi-Million Dollar Business

15:54 Building a Team and Expanding the Business

16:52 Ethical and Sustainable Practices

17:20 Conservation Partnerships

17:55 Innovative Online Retail Strategy

18:57 Challenges of Captive Breeding

21:06 Decision to Stay Online

22:42 Expanding into New Species

24:06 Unique Hiring Practices

27:15 Navigating Legal and Regulatory Challenges

33:04 Conclusion and Contact Information

Raising a child with special needs takes a special kind of love. Leasa Androl, the CEO and founder of Spectrum Autism Center shares her personal journey of discovering her son's autism and the subsequent struggles she faced in finding adequate resources. Driven by a passion to help other families, she pursued a degree in psychology and started her own center to provide ABA therapy for children with autism. The episode delves into the challenges and triumphs of opening multiple centers, the impact of legislative changes on autism services, and the future of her organization.

Links:

Subscribe to our Email Newsletter: https://totalmichigan.com/join/

Find us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/totalmichigan

Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@totalmichigan

Show Notes:

00:00 Ep 109 Leasa Androl

03:23 When Leasa realized her son was different

09:43 The Search for Family Resources

12:23 Why would God allow this? Depression sets in.

15:28 Hope: Aiden responds to this treatment

19:49 The Journey to Certification

22:21 What is the Autism Manadate

24:40 A Touch Choice is Made

28:56 Confronting Possible Failure

32:32 Growing Pains

34:13 What do Families say about ABA therapy

36:07 How ABA Therapy has changed

38:43 Advice to parents about ABA therapy

41:05 What the Future holds for Spectrum Autism Center

43:21 Resources for Families

Cierra Crudup knew all her life that she was passionate about one thing: baking. Cierra, the owner of Delicious Sweets Bake Shop in Saginaw, shares her inspiring journey from starting baking at age 11 to quitting her job in social work to pursue her passion full-time. She emphasizes the role of faith in her decision-making and the challenges she faced in entrepreneurship, including managing finances and employees. The episode highlights her dedication, the support from her family, and the eventual success of her baking business.

Links:

Delicious Sweets Website: Click here

Delicious Sweets Facebook: Click here

Subscribe to our Email Newsletter: https://totalmichigan.com/join/

Find us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/totalmichigan

Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@totalmichigan

Show Notes:

01:03 Meet Cierra Crudup: Owner of Delicious Sweets Bake Shop

02:19 The Journey to Saginaw

03:52 Baking Beginnings: From Childhood to Business

08:12 Balancing Social Work and Baking

10:10 Taking the Leap: From Job to Full-Time Baker

11:54 Starting from Scratch: Pop-Up Shops and SVRC

14:06 Cierra's Family Reaction to Her Career Change

16:20 Overcoming Entrepreneurial Challenges

18:35 Learning to Delegate and Trust Employees

19:54 Expanding the Bakery Empire

23:23 Signature Desserts and Customer Favorites

25:29 Freshness and Daily Operations

26:19 Where to Find Delicious Sweets Bake Shop

What if your best years in life are in front of you? In this episode of Total Michigan, Cliff DuVernois explores the trend of people pursuing new passions later in life. Featuring inspiring stories from Brett Scharnhorst, who switched from IT to winemaking, Patti Christopher, who transitioned from psychologist to chocolatier, and Pam Westridge, who runs Tiny Digs Lakeshores with her family. The episode emphasizes that it's never too late to follow your dreams and shares valuable lessons on passion, credentials, and collaboration.

Links:

Brett Scharnhorst Vinomondo: Interview Here

Pam Westra Tiny Digs Lakeshore: Interview Here

Patti Christopher Patricia's Chocolates: Interview Here

Bill Duckwall Paddling Michigan: Interview Here

Subscribe to our Email Newsletter: https://totalmichigan.com/join/

Find us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/totalmichigan

Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@totalmichigan

Show Notes:

00:00 Introduction: Embracing New Passions Later in Life

01:44 Brett Scharnhorst: From IT to Winemaking

07:44 Patti Christopher: From Psychologist to Chocolatier

16:26 Pam Westridge: Building Tiny Homes with Family

24:21 Bill Duckwall: Paddling into Retirement

25:40 The Importance of Staying Active and Passionate

Have you ever wondered about being a lighthouse keeper? Let's find out! Today we talk with Larry Becker and Mimi Herrington from the Pointe aux Barques Maritime Museum.

They discuss the history, restoration efforts, and community involvement in maintaining the lighthouse and the life-saving station in Port Hope, Michigan. The episode also highlights the challenges and triumphs related to preserving the lighthouse and the establishment of the Life Saving Station, emphasizing their roles in maritime history.

Links:

Website: https://pointeauxbarqueslighthouse.org/

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pointeauxbarques

Subscribe to our Email Newsletter: https://totalmichigan.com/join/

Find us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/totalmichigan

Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@totalmichigan

Show Notes:

00:00 The Great Fire Near the Life Saving Station

01:04 Meet the Pointe Aux Barques Maritime Museum Team

01:27 History of the Pointe Aux Barques Lighthouse

02:23 Life Saving Station and Its Restoration

02:41 Mimi's Journey Back to Michigan

03:37 Larry's Involvement with the Lighthouse

04:43 The Early Days of the Lighthouse

10:16 The U.S. Life Saving Service

14:08 Restoration Efforts and Historical Insights

15:35 A Glimpse into the Past

16:29 Sponsor Break and What's Next

17:02 Welcome Back to Total Michigan

17:08 The Pointe Aux Barques Maritime Museum

17:25 Maintaining the Lighthouse

17:46 The Keepers Program

18:37 Collaborative Efforts with the County

20:04 The Assistant Keeper Program

22:13 Membership and Volunteer Programs

25:53 The Annual Festival

27:21 Restoration Efforts

29:57 Connecting with the Museum

31:55 Conclusion and Farewell

Have you ever kayaked Pictured Rocks? Meet one of the owners who can make this experience happen for you! Bill Duckwall, the owner of Paddling Michigan, recounts his journey from being a commercial pilot to establishing a thriving adventure company offering kayaking tours, lodging, and more in Munising, Michigan. He discusses the challenges of staffing in a small town, the expansion of his business to include various adventurous packages, and how listening to customers' needs has driven his business growth.

Links:

Paddling Michigan Website: https://www.paddlingmichigan.com/

Subscribe to our Email Newsletter: https://totalmichigan.com/join/

Find us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/totalmichigan

Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@totalmichigan

Show Notes:

00:00 Introduction and Initial Challenges

00:26 Welcome to Total Michigan

01:02 Meet Bill Duckwall of Paddling Michigan

01:15 What is Paddling Michigan?

02:02 The Beauty of Pictured Rocks

02:46 Bill's Background and Journey to Michigan

04:42 The Birth of Paddling Michigan

08:13 Expanding the Business

09:15 Challenges in Staffing

12:55 Uncle Ducky and Business Diversification

14:51 Vacation Packages and Offerings

22:09 Seasonal Operations and Charter Fishing

23:31 Listening to Customers and Final Thoughts

24:46 How to Find Paddling Michigan

25:42 Conclusion and Farewell

The world of long boards is about to change. Ryan Pelletier, the founder of Morphite Boards. Ryan is a student at Scott L. Carmona College of Business at Saginaw Valley State University. He shares his journey of developing a collapsible skateboard that fits into a backpack. He discusses how SVSU supported his project through access to resources and grants, the initial skepticism and eventual interest in his product online, and his plans for the future, including potential production and investor involvement.

Links:

Morphite Board Website: http://morphiteboards.com/

Moprhite Boards on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morphiteboards/

Subscribe to our Email Newsletter: https://totalmichigan.com/join/

Find us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/totalmichigan

Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@totalmichigan

Show Notes:

00:00 Introduction

01:57 The Concept and Development of Morphite Boards

03:13 Ryan's Background and Entrepreneurial Journey

05:44 Interest in Skateboarding and Longboarding

08:22 Challenges and Doubts in Development

11:11 Support from SVSU and Moving Forward

13:41 Online Reactions and Negative Feedback

19:02 Business Setup and Future Plans

28:49 Conclusion and Contact Information