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2nd Brain Collective Podcast with Nikki Thompson Frazier from Sweet Encounter Bakery

Nikki Thompson Frazier considers herself a mompreneur. She’s always loved cooking and baking but it wasn’t until her two daughters were diagnosed with seven different food allergies that she decided to turn the challenge into a business opportunity. Since Sweet Encounter Bakery Cafe opened in October 2015, Frazier has won four business plan and pitch competitions, winning over $20K. She plans to use the funds to open her first storefront.

Prior to starting her business, Frazier was the executive director of a local nonprofit in Alabama and a Communications Associate for Eli Lilly. Frazier also worked for The Princeton Review and taught communications courses at a four year college.

Nikki Thompson Frazier earned her BA in Journalism from Indiana University and MS in Information & Communications Science from Ball State University. Frazier moved to Michigan in 2015 after her husband, Dr. Terrence Frazier accepted the position of Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs at Michigan State. They live in East Lansing and enjoy attending MSU events with their two daughters, Melia and Madison.

2nd Brain Collective Podcast – Rick Preuss of Preuss Pets

Rick Preuss has been in the pet store business for over 30 years. He co-owns mid-Michigan’s largest family-owned pet store and serves as the co-host of the Mid-Michigan Pet Expert Talk Show on WILS 1320.

Rick is also involved in animal science education locally and nationally. He serves as a regular guest speaker in zoo and aquarium science classes at Michigan State University. He has also spoken at the Marine Aquarium Conference of North America and the National Marine Educators Association.

Rick is active in the Lansing community and serves as the current vice president of the Old Town Commercial Association. He also considers himself the best dad in the entire universe. Listen to Rick talk about the growth of his business on this episode of the 2nd Brain Collective!

2nd Brain Collective Podcast – Thomas Stewart of Quantum Medical Concepts

Over the last decade, professional manager and business coach Tom Stewart has consulted with over 50 companies across several industries. He has helped major organizations like the Neogen Corporation, the Demmer Corporation, and Michigan State University transition and begin new initiatives. In the past three years, Tom’s efforts have resulted in nearly $15 million in new client revenues and over 100 new jobs in the Capital region.

In his role at Quantum Medical Concepts, Tom helps connect medical startups with potential investors to grow their businesses and develop new technologies. Tom is passionate about using entrepreneurship for social justice and community improvement and is active in the Lansing community!

Listen to Tom talk about how he helps entrepreneurs on this episode of the 2nd Brain Collective!

2nd Brain Collective Podcast with Jerry Norris of The Fledge

After graduating with a degree in statistics from the University of Michigan, Jerry Norris started his career with the Unisys Corporation and Cascade Engineering. He became an expert in management systems across a wide variety of industries. Jerry’s next projects involved building and selling multiple companies and creating management systems that operate in 172 countries. He is currently the CEO of GAIA, which connects global professionals.

But Jerry’s current passion is helping startups form in the Lansing area. He is co-founder of the Grand Ledge Fledge, a startup incubator and accelerator, and he serves as the Business Acceleration Consultant for the Lansing Economic Area Partnership.

On this episode of 2nd Brain Collective, Jerry chats with the hosts about how he helps entrepreneurs in Mid-Michigan!

2nd Brain Collective Podcast – Belinda Thurston of Just B Yoga

Belinda is trained in several types of yoga and tai chi and her studio offers a welcoming environment for the LGBTQ community, plus-sized students, trauma survivors, and many others in the Lansing community.

Belinda also enjoyed a long career in the newspaper industry as Assistant Managing Editor and Digital News Director at the Lansing State Journal, as well as time at the Dallas Morning News and USA Today.

Belinda and Just B Yoga are an active part of the community. In 2012, Just B Yoga was honored as a Michigan Hometown Health Hero. In 2013, Belinda Thurston received the Woman of the Year Award from the Women’s Center of Greater Lansing.

Join us on this episode of the 2nd Brain Collective as Belinda talks about how she balances business, life, and digital media and the importance of remaining present in her work.

2nd Brain Collective Podcast – Tony Willis of LEAP

After graduating from Michigan State University with a degree in communications and public relations, Tony Willis continued to involve himself in the Lansing community. After a few years at the MSU Federal Credit Union, Tony took on the role of Director of the New Economy Division at the Lansing Economic Area Partnership. He helps businesses tap into all of the resources in Greater Lansing through pitch competitions, incubators, and acceleration opportunities.

Currently, Tony helps coordinate a monthly event called The Hatching, where local leaders help promote and support new entrepreneurs. To date, The Hatching has created 29 local businesses, 52 jobs, and over $240,000 in follow up funding.

Tony enjoys spending time with his family and taking advantage of all of the cool activities that Lansing has to offer. On this episode of 2nd Brain Collective, Tony talks about how he helps build a business friendly community!

2nd Brain Collective Podcast – Jesse Goldberg-Strassler of the Lansing Lugnuts

Jesse Goldberg Strassler’s long career in sports radio broadcasting took him to Massachusetts, Alabama, Illinois, and finally to Michigan. As the voice of the Lansing Lugnuts, Central Michigan University’s women’s basketball team, and local high school football games, Jesse is a prominent voice in the mid-Michigan sports community.

In addition to his live sports broadcasting, Jesse writes for Ballpark Digest and is the author of two books, The Baseball Thesaurus and The Football Thesaurus. On Saturday mornings he serves as the co-host of “The Pep Rally with Doc and Jesse” on The Team 92.1 FM.

On this episode of the 2nd Brain Collective, Jesse discusses his career in sports journalism, shares his thoughts on the future of radio, and tells a few hilarious stories about what can go wrong during a live broadcast.

Learn more about Jesse Goldberg Strassler:

Website
Twitter
LinkedIn – Jesse Goldberg-Strassler

2nd Brain Collective Podcast – Denise Peek of the Entrepreneur Institute

Ms. Peek has lived in Lansing since 1972 and graduated from Lansing Everett High School. She holds two Associates Degrees, one from Davenport University in Fashion Merchandising & Management, one from LCC in General Studies. In 2006 she received her BA from Northwood University in Marketing with a Minor in Business Management. In 2009 she received her Masters of Science Degree in Community Economic Development at Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester, New Hampshire. She has been the Executive Director of the Entrepreneur Institute for the past sixteen years. In January 2016 she became an Adjunct Faculty Member at LCC teaching Marketing 200 and will be teaching Marketing 200 again this fall.

Her experience in sales & marketing includes, experience in the retail industry, advertising sales in electronic media (cable television & radio) and newspaper has assisted in her duties as the Executive Director. As the Executive Director she facilitates the credit before capital and business plan development training programs. She has been able to increase the exposure of the Entrepreneur Institute in the community and increase the services offered by the organization. In December of 2011 the Entrepreneur Institute became the regions only SBA Microloan Lender.

Accomplishments & Professional Development

Personal Accomplishments

May 1999 – March 2000 – Former board member of the Entrepreneur Institute
March 2000 – May 2000 – Interim Executive Director of the Entrepreneur Institute
May 2000 – Present EIM Executive Director
2001 – Capital Area Michigan Works Alumni of the Year!
2001 – Certificate of Achievement for “Distinguished Achievement” in “Individual Excellence in
Regional Cooperation” by the RED TEAM
2002 – Michigan Works! Outstanding Alumni Award
2005 – Career Woman of the Year, National Association of Career Women, Lansing Chapter
2011 – Catalyst of the Year, Michigan Emerging
2016 – Adjunct Faculty Member Lansing Community College
Professional Development – Certifications/International Trainings/Programs of Study

Certified NxLevel Business Plan Training Instructor – 9/01
Participant in Entrepreneurship Training Program: A Ghana-United States Exchange Accra, Ghana – 6/05
NeighborWorks America, Program of Study Management and Leadership Program – 9/06
Participant in the “Connecting the Linkages between Gender Equality and Economic Sustainability for Community Advancement and Capacity Building: A Women’s Empowerment Program,
Professional Fellows, South Africa & Tanzania – 9/13
Past Community Involvements

Guest Speaker for the American Marketing Association’s Regional Conference at LCC
Guest Speaker, MSHDA’s Affordable Housing Conference, Connecting Michigan Communities Annual Conference
LCC Alumni Committee Member,
Westside Commercial Association Business Development Committee Member
Facilitator/Business Consultant – BCI Entrepreneur Academy Workshops
Charter Member and Past President Elect, Lansing Black Chamber of Commerce Affiliate Chapter of the Michigan Black Chamber of Commerce
Board Member, Community Reinvestment Fund
Consultant/Coach for the Athena PowerLink Network, Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce
Learn more about Julie Powers and Greater Lansing Housing Coalition:

Website
Fan Page
LinkedIn – Denise Peek

2nd Brain Collective Podcast: Rich Howard of Big Brothers Big Sisters

Mr. Howard grew up in the Lansing area and is a graduate of Michigan State University. He holds a BA in Communication and a MA in Counseling. He is currently a licensed professional counselor (LPC) in the State of Michigan.

Rich has over 18 years of higher education experience holding faculty and administrative positions including Registrar, Executive Assistant to the President/Board Liaison and Vice President for Strategic Initiatives.

Rich left higher education in 2006 to pursue consulting in the non-profit sector. He has consulted with numerous school districts both in state and national-wide, as well as with Girls Scouts of the USA and United Way Worldwide.

He currently serves as the Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters Michigan Capital Region located in Lansing. He resides in Caledonia with his wife Peg of 26 years and their 3 children Andrew, Joe and Elizabeth.

Learn more about Rich Howard and Big Brothers Big Sisters, Michigan Capital Region:

2nd Brain Collective Podcast – Jayme Taylor of Taylor*d Marketing

Jayme started her career while attending Michigan State University, as a telemarketer for the MSU Delvelopment Fund. Her love for mentoring and building relationships based on trust also began to flourish.

Having been in the media industry for 20-years, she has learned the importance of multi-platform marketing strategies and passes that expertise on to her clients.

Jayme is the Mother of 3-boys and resides in Okemos, with her husband Jeff. In her spare time she enjoys running, reading, watching her boys play sports and spending time with family and friends.

Learn more about Jayme Taylor and Taylor*d Marketing: