entrepreneur

Many businesses located in the Ypsilanti area have a global impact even though they are located in Washtenaw County. WEMU's Lisa Barry and On the Ground Ypsi project manager Sarah Rigg talk with Bill Mayer of Ann Arbor SPARK about the many successful local businesses in the Ypsilanti area they've helped support and nurture to reach this level of success.

This week for "On The Ground Ypsi", WEMU's Lisa Barry and On the Ground Ypsi project manager Sarah Rigg talk to an area mother of one who started her own business. She shares how she stays motivated and involves her young daughter in her work while setting a positive example of having a good work/life balance.

Many businesses struggled during the COVID-19 pandemic, but it has been a time of opportunity for some entrepreneurs in the greater Ypsilanti area. Lisa Barry and On the Ground Ypsi project manager Sarah Rigg talk to one Ypsilanti store owner, Jen Eastridge, who kept an established business running and even opened a second, new store during the global health crisis.

While there is still work to be done, women continue to shatter glass ceilings. More women are taking on the challenge of entrepeneurship and doing so successfully. At some point, most everyone launching a new business needs some guidance, and that's where Kristin Gapske and her team come in. Kristin is director of the Entrepeneurship Center at Washtenaw Community College. She joined WEMU's David Fair about how the center is assisting women in business start-ups and in industry growth. 

In this week's "On The Ground Ypsi," Lisa Barry and Sarah Rigg talk to Ypsilanti business owner Julie Palmer about a Washtenaw Community College program called "Renew Your Business."   It helps entrepreneurs in the Ypsilanti area thrive despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

Is it a good idea to become an entrepreneur after 50?  WEMU’s Lisa Barry and Dr. Theresa Reid discuss the pros and cons of creating your own company or community at a later age and share resources on how to make that happen in this edition of "Modern Aging."

Growing Hope is among the top food entrepeneurships in the Ypsilanti area.  Yet, like all startup businesses, it takes time, patience, and good financial planning to get off the ground.  In this week's "On the Ground-Ypsi," WEMU's Lisa Barry and Concentrate Media's Sarah Rigg have a conversation with Cynthia VanRenterghem, Growing Hope's executive director, and with Angela Barbash, CEO of the investment advisory firm Revalue, about the work and rewards involved in becoming a food entrepeneur.

There are many ways to work towards equity and opportunity in our community, but urban farming might not be the first thing that comes to mind.  Melvin Parsons saw the trade as a way forward for himself and is now expanding and giving back through his "We the People Growers Association" and the "We the People Opportunity Center."  Parson joined WEMU's David Fair for this week's installment of "Washtenaw United."

On this week's edition of "On The Ground Ypsi," Patrick Campion and Sarah Rigg welcome Eastern Michigan University students to discuss "Optimize Eastern." 

From Sarah Rigg: This "new student organization at Eastern Michigan University (EMU) is seeking to not only fund small startups that have a social mission, but to also create a community for local entrepreneurs.

Core team members of the organization, called Optimize Eastern, describe it as a social innovation community that supports student-led social impact projects.  The organization was created by students for students."

Many entrepeneurs have made their way into the Ypsilanti area.  A few of those business owners came with the purpose of healing its residents through more holistic and spiritual means, such as yoga, acupuncture, and massage practices.  Among these special folks are Aubrey and Art Schupbach, who own the yoga studio Zion Well, and they join WEMU's Patrick Campion and Concentrate Media's Sarah Rigg for this week's "On the Ground-Ypsi."

To help empower entrepreneurship through inclusion, capital, and connection, the 2019 Intermitten Conference took place Tuesday at The Ark in Ann Arbor.  89.1 WEMU's Jorge Avellan was there and has the story.

In this week's "Washtenaw United," hear from the man who founded and co-owns the popular Boober Pedicab company in Ann Arbor.  From drug and alcohol addiction to community service and entrepreneurship, you’ll find inspiration and motivation in Kevin Spangler’s story.