March 31, 2011 - A virtual trade show and conference for the sustainable building industry has its keynote address presented online (complete with questions and answers) by Sarah Susanka FAIA. The originator of the Not So Big House movement talked about ways in which architects and builders could use her theories – and her client-friendly language – to build smaller, greener homes with more character and less square footage.

March 17, 2011 - Even in an atmosphere where “government service” is in question, “government services” still need to be fulfilled. Someone has to take out the trash, wash the floors after demonstrations, and provide security when full-time resources are reduced. That’s where Manisha Dotson and her Nisha Industries show their stuff. Hopefully, she’s typical of the small beacons of light leading toward economic recovery.

March 3, 2011 - Is your Starbucks card linked to their app on your smart phone? Or, do you still write checks for a purchase at a supermarket and wonder why they slip the check through a little box and then give it back to you? Are you one of the increasing numbers of businesses that are paying bills electronically and wonder how the system really works? And how does all this tie back to the days after 9/11 when there wasn't a plane in the sky for days?

March/April 2011 - As he leads visitors into his office in the Romney Building across from the state Capitol in Lansing, Gov. Rick Snyder explains that he is not completely settled in.

Feb. 17, 2011 - “The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.” Mark Twain was supposed to have said that after reading his own obituary in the paper. Grand Rapids, Mich. Mayor George Heartwell could well say the same thing about his very-much-alive-thank-you city after reading about its death in a recent once-respected newsweekly. Grand Rapids is, in fact, showing the way forward for a state that has had its problems over the past decade.

Feb. 3, 2011 - Americans spend a lot of money in Canada buying goods, services and energy. Canadians spend almost as much down here. With a national goal of increasing exports by 100 percent over the next five years Canada seems like an ideal place to start. Except for that bridge issue.

Jan. 20, 2011 - If your business is finally turning around and you're looking for more customers, try looking overseas. Small businesses have a lot of opportunities to participate in the global economy and their Uncle Sam has their back.

Jan. 6, 2011 - A serial entrepreneur in his early 40s wonders if he can still start a consumer products company with a unique product and have fun while he’s at it. He’s learned a lot in a short time, not the least of which is that the favorite color of half of us is blue.

Dec. 16, 2010 - When you head off to the mall do you have apps for your favorite stores loaded on your smart phone? When you see an item you like do your scan the barcode to see where you can get it cheaper – or if the store you’re in has it in your size or the color you want? If you do, consider yourself at the front line of a global trend. According to the consulting firm Accenture it may take the rest of us a while to catch up to you.

Dec. 2, 2010 - You’ve probably heard of the idea of employee engagement and how it can contribute to the corporate bottom line. Does the same hold true if the residents of a community are engaged – or attached – to their community? Does that increase the economic bottom line of a whole city?