Trusted Voices: Business and Community Leaders Across Greater Lansing
A look at the institutions and leaders that anchor the Greater Lansing economy, and why being plugged into that network matters for small businesses.
The strength of the capital region's economy shows up in its people. ReLaunch Greater Lansing brought together leaders from across business, government, education, and healthcare, and that network of institutions is still what gives small businesses here an unusual advantage.
The leaders who anchored the initiative spanned the region's major employers and institutions: Marla Ekola (Director of Pharmacy, McLaren Greater Lansing), Dr. Karen Kent VanGorder (Chief Medical Officer, Sparrow Health System), and Dr. Peter Graham (Chief Medical Officer, Physicians Health Plan) in healthcare; Darci Marcum (Plant Manager, GM Lansing Grand River Assembly) and Mike Zamiara (President, Niowave) in advanced manufacturing; Julie Mann (Chief Human Resources Officer, Neogen Corp.) in agriculture and life sciences; and Samuel L. Stanley, Jr., MD (President, Michigan State University) in education and research. Civic leadership rounded out the group, including Chief Daryl Green (Chief of Police, City of Lansing), Chief Randall Talifarro (Fire Chief, City of East Lansing), Dr. Adenike Shoyinka (Medical Director, Ingham County Health Department), Dr. Farhan Bhatti (CEO & Chief Medical Officer, Care Free Medical), and Tico Duckett (President, Duckett Brothers Distribution).
For a new owner, the takeaway is simple: the people who lead these organizations sit on the same boards, attend the same events, and shop at the same local businesses. Building relationships across that network is one of the most durable advantages of running a company in Greater Lansing.