MBA Business Spotlight: Brandon Munsey

Brandon’s path to Feeny Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Midland began after his service in the Army, where he was a sergeant and military police officer stationed with the 108th Airborne Air Assault unit. Reflecting on his transition, he shares, “I’ve always been a people person, and after the military, I knew I wanted to work in a role that allowed me to connect with others.”

Read More
Navigation Team Meeting Recap: Childcare Infrastructure and Policy

On Friday, November 15, the Max Loves Midland Navigation Team met to tackle a critical topic affecting families, businesses, and the community: childcare infrastructure and policy. Local and regional experts gathered to share insights into the challenges and opportunities within this space, sparking discussions and collaborative problem-solving among attendees.

Read More
Accomplishing What Matters: Fostering Multi Generational Relationships

We live in a lonely era. For as connected as our society seems on the surface, deep and meaningful relationships seem to be on the decline. Many relationships are fostered through social media and texting now, rather than face-to-face interactions. The decline in in-person relationships seems to be taking a toll on the mental health of people of all ages.

Read More
MBA Business Spotlight: Meet Teona Maghlakelidze

Dr. Teona’s passion for obesity treatment began in primary care, where she observed firsthand the impact of chronic obesity on her patients’ health. “You see consequences of chronic obesity in the form of diabetes, heart disease, and sleep apnea,” she explains. Recognizing that primary care settings often lacked the time and resources to address these conditions holistically, she envisioned a more specialized approach.

Read More
MBA Business Spotlight: Meet Brendan McConkie

Brendan’s story began with a knack for fixing things around the house, a skill he picked up from his dad and grandfather. What started as helping family with small remodeling jobs quickly grew into a business when he was asked to take on larger projects, like roofing. "I wasn’t trained, but I learned as I went," Brendan says, explaining how he took the leap and founded Kirkland Property Solutions.professional worlds.

Read More
Accomplishing What Matters: Collective Accomplishments through Partnerships and Volunteering

On Thursday, Sept. 26, the Pediatric Partnership held “Parents Night Out” at the Longview Early Childhood Development Center. This initiative provided 16 children with autism a fun, safe environment filled with activities, games, and snacks, all supervised by volunteers. During this time, parents were invited to enjoy a couple of hours to themselves to do whatever they wished, knowing their kids were in good hands.

Read More
MBA Business Spotlight: Meet Sarah Stockford

Sarah’s career began in sports, with an exciting role in ticket sales and service for the Cleveland Browns, a dream come true for a high school athlete passionate about sports. While she loved the experience, she eventually sought a different pace, moving to Nashville for a role in TV advertising with Comcast. It was there that she realized her love for both sports and advertising, and when the opportunity to work with 100.9 The Mitt came up, she knew it was the perfect fit, blending her two professional worlds.

Read More
Accomplishing What Matters: Hunger Eased by Loving People at Memorial Presbyterian Church

For over 30 years, Memorial Presbyterian Church has been home to the HELP Food Pantry, a founding pantry of the Midland County Food Assistance Network. HELP, or Hunger Eased by Loving People, fulfills about 600 appointments a year. The church offers space and equipment for the pantry, and donations come from a variety of local sources.

Read More
Creating Home, Arts, & Service: Meet Katie Trzaska-Miller

"Through my work with Youth Action Council, I began understanding the broader issues affecting my community, such as socioeconomic disparities and housing inequities. Even as a teenager, I was exposed to the challenges others faced and learned about the people and organizations striving to make a difference. Watching Muskegon change and grow over the past 20-25 years has been fascinating. These experiences influenced my understanding of the vital role community foundations play in supporting and enhancing the places we live." -Katie Trzaska-Miller

Read More
Defining Family & Home with The Voice of the City, Katie Guyer

"I'm someone who wears my heart on my sleeve. Transparency and human connection are so important to me, and that's not something people traditionally associate with government entities. Midland is full of personality, love, and connection; I want to reflect that in our communications. In the past, the City's messaging had been very straightforward and professional but maybe too formal. I believe that kind of communication doesn't always foster trust. I live in this community—I go to the same stores, my kid goes to the same schools. Why should we pretend we don't know each other when we're all working toward the same goals for ourselves and our community? Relating to people more humanly, especially on social media, drives me." -Katie Guyer

Read More