In 2014, Marlena Curtis left her job at a local tax firm to branch out on her own. She had learned a lot from her time with the company and wanted to take those lessons and build upon them.  “I left there because I had maximized my opportunity for advancement,” says Curtis. “I learned a […]

Sherri Stephens’ path to leadership has been unique, especially in her profession. When Stephens graduated high school, she planned on attending the University of Michigan-Flint to pursue education, like her parents. However, when she was hired by an investment advisory firm her life path took a turn.   “I didn’t know about Wallstreet or investment,” says […]

Sharina Jones set out to build a place where everyone had access to self-care because she knew firsthand what it felt like to be without it.   “I am in a wheelchair and my husband always had to take time off work to help me lift onto tables for facials and massages,” says Jones. “That is […]

Page Kidd started her business with her husband 25 years ago in the spare bedroom of their house in Millington, Michigan. What started with a single-head embroidery machine has grown over two and a half decades to become a full-service company providing screen printing, embroidery, and direct-to-garment solutions.  “The idea was we wanted to have […]

Fessler & Bowman, originally founded 60 years ago by Don Fessler and George Bowman, has evolved significantly over the years.  From its origins as a residential flatwork and basement wall contractor, the company underwent substantial growth and development under Jim Malenich, the current President and CEO.  Malenich’s journey at Fessler & Bowman began in 1995 as […]

Starting a business wasn’t the goal for Alexandria Green, but that changed after she took a break from her career in higher education to move back home and decompress.   Photography had always been a hobby for Green. In high school and college, she used point-and-shoot and disposable cameras to take photos of friends and loved […]