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Growing Southwest Michigan
Monthly Highlights from The Hub
| We serve aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners throughout Southwest Michigan, with a focus on the critical first years of business—when access to guidance, capital, and community support is most essential to long-term survival and success. | |
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Still time to sign up and attend for free!
Wednesday, October 7, 4-6 p.m.
Capital Confidence: Get Your Business Investment-Ready
Lake Michigan College, South Haven
Whether you plan to pursue investors, secure financing, buy a building, or fund your next stage of growth, your business must be financially and operationally prepared.
This free Growth Series elective session, open to the public, will help founders understand what lenders, investors, and funding partners look for, and how to position your business for future capital opportunities with confidence including:
- Understand the different types of growth capital (loans, investors, grants, lines of credit, revenue-based financing)
- Assess whether you business is actually ready for funding
- Learn the key metrics funders evaluate
Register free Here.
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Introducing Growth Bridge: Ask an Expert
Free 1-on-1 Small Business Support in South Haven
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Bring Your Business Questions!
Wearing every hat in your business is exhausting, but you don't have to tackle the complex technical hurdles alone.
Growth Bridge offers free, private 25-minute strategy sessions with Hub Subject Matter Experts. Bring your toughest challenge, plan, or idea, and leave with immediate clarity, practical tools, and an actionable roadmap.
All sessions will be held between 5 & 7 p.m. at Lake Michigan College, South Haven, 125 Veterans Blvd.
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25-Minute 1-on-1s: Get targeted solutions from an industry expert on your exact challenge.
- Open to Everyone: Free for local business owners—no Hub membership required.
- Evening Slots: between 5 and 7 p.m. at Lake Michigan College (South Haven).
- Fast Registration: Choose a date, reserve your spot, and submit your question in advance.
Give your business the dedicated focus it deserves. Slots are limited to ensure individual attention.
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Book an appointment if you:
- Need specialized feedback on a financial, marketing, or operational question.
- Want an expert second opinion before making a significant business decision.
- Need assistance understanding a business document, software, or workflow.
- Are seeking immediate business support without committing to a multi-week course.
October 27 | Accounting & Bookkeeping (Sara Burks & Michele Coy)
- Decode financial statements, build practical charts of accounts, and map out realistic cash flow.
November 10 | Branding, Marketing & Social Media (Heather Schaefer & Korey Force)
- Align your brand with revenue targets and build a digital strategy that maximizes your limited time and budget.
December 15 | Financials & Cash Flow (Sara Burks & Michele Coy)
- Build three-year forecasts, make smarter financial decisions, and streamline tax planning.
| | Partnerships Make it Possible | | Chamber’s Choice Small Business Conference and Celebration | | |
Donovan McVey (above) and Joshua Gray (below) of Room 35 with Hub Board Chair Debi Howe.
| | Building wealth from the roots up. Kalamazoo Forward Ventures Partner Dwayne Powell and South Haven Regional Business Hub Board Chair Debi Howe (pictured below) join forces on the leadership team revitalizing the Capital Consortium Project—driving a new capital access model in Southwest Michigan | (Below) Doreen Gardner, owner of Papa's Brittle with Debi Howe who shared, "We are back to back as she says I always have her back." Debi helped her business get started and now it is exploding! | | $10,000 Grand Prize Winner, Caitlin Burr of C'Mon Betty. The event was hosted by Startup Zoo at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts in September. | | |
Pictured: Carl Brown, Startup Zoo, Executive Director; Bobby Boyd, City of Kalamazoo, Economic Development Supervisor; Elizabeth Bernhard, South Haven Regional Business Hub, Executive Director, Martin Erity, Flagstar Bank, Branch Leader. Elizabeth was one of three judges for the competition joined by Bobby and Martin.
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Hub's Strong Leader Series in the News!
By Mike Wenninger • Entrepreneurship • Sept 14, 2026
Strong Leader Series offers practical leadership training for Southwest Michigan
The Strong Leader Series offers Southwest Michigan professionals a three-part, hands-on opportunity to strengthen communication, strategic thinking and team-building skills while learning to lead more effectively.
Leadership rarely comes with an instruction manual. While some people seem to have a natural knack for leading, most develop their skills through experience, trial and error — and learning from others.
For Southwest Michigan professionals looking to become more effective leaders, the process can be accelerated by learning what makes a good leader, and an opportunity to do that is coming to this region soon. It’s called the Strong Leader Series, and the South Haven Regional Business Hub offers it as a three-part professional development experience designed to help leaders at every level increase their influence, think strategically, and bring out the best in others. Read more here.
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September's Growth Series took attendees past the halfway point with three impactful, practical workshops.
Attendees learned practical strategies for refining internal systems, preparing for future business growth, and integrating modern tools to boost day-to-day productivity.
We would like to extend a sincere thank you to Steven Cummings, Managing Partner at SPC Consulting, who presented "Developing Your Internal Processes for Consistency and Success;" Brad Scoffin, CEO of Advanced Business Advisors, who delivered "Building a Valuable & Sustainable Business;" and Logan Herzog, Executive Director at RISE, who presented "AI for Small Businesses."
The Growth Series is a cohort program designed for small business owners who have been operating for more than three years and are committed to scaling their operations and supports them through critical development stages while fostering a strong peer-learning network.
| | The PITCH Returns for 2026 | | |
Please join us for a celebration of entrepreneurial support and recognition of the graduates from our GROWTH Series as they pitch their business goals to our community.
The PITCH will take place Wednesday, December 2, at Lake Michigan College South Haven from 5:45 to 9 p.m.
The PITCH enters its fourth year this season, spotlighting Growth Series graduates as they present ambitious business goals to regional partners, mentors, sponsors, and investors.
Building on last year’s gathering of more than 115 business and community leaders, the 2026 event continues to connect growth-stage businesses with mentors, partners, and capital opportunities across Southwest Michigan.
The lasting impact of the program continues to show in the sustained progress of its alumni, who have leveraged the experience to:
- Establish permanent physical locations and strengthen their footprint in the local community
- Broaden their market reach into regional retail and distribution networks
- Meet higher industry standards and qualifications to unlock higher-tier contracts
- Build strategic partnerships that drive collaborative marketing and new economic activity into the region
Join us to support these entrepreneurs as they take the stage and help shape the future of our regional economy.
| | Meet the Subject Matter Expert | |
Meet the Team
Dezarai Shepherd, BSET
Operations Subject Matter Expert
Dezarai Shepherd, BSET, is the founder of Dezarai Shepherd Consulting, where she helps founders identify and eliminate the operational bottlenecks slowing their growth.
Through her "Scale-Ready Operations" workshop, she gives founders a clear, systematic framework for finding the root cause of problems and implementing solutions that stick. Beyond workshops, Dezarai serves as a rapid point-of-contact for operational questions, quickly connecting founders with the right solution.
For product-based founders, her 10 years in product development and design engineering — backed by a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology, Product Design and Development — make her an especially valuable resource, guiding teams from requirements through testing to a robust launch.
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Amy Underwood, Pelvic Health Elevated
"Health Elevated," Berrien County’s only outpatient clinic dedicated entirely to pelvic health, is undergoing a rebrand to: "Pelvic Health Elevated." The St. Joseph clinic updated its branding to highlight its specialized focus across Southwest Michigan, treating concerns from postpartum recovery and pelvic pain to bowel and bladder issues.
"Pelvic health has always been at the heart of what we do," says owner and founder Amy Underwood, OTR/L. "Moving the word ‘Pelvic’ to the front makes our name as clear and focused as our mission. Our name and logo are changing, but patients can expect the same specialized, one-on-one care."
Amy is a 2005 Growth Series Graduate. Congratulations, Amy!
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Tiffany Wood, Precision Syrups
One of our 2024 Growth Series Graduates, Tiffany Wood, is incredibly proud to announce that TWO Precision Syrups flavors have earned DOUBLE GOLD at the 2026 Zero Proof Choice Awards:
- Raspberry Crescendo
- Cranberry Santé
"Double Gold is an incredible recognition—and having two of our syrups receive it makes this moment even sweeter. To see that work recognized on the zero-proof stage means so much to us," says Tiffany. Congratulations on this huge recognition.
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October 13, 1 p.m.
Government Contracting: Capability Statement
When you’re ready to sell your products/services to the government, create a capability statement to share when meeting buyers. Registration is required. This class will be Online and In Person. Register Here.
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October 19, 2026, 9 a.m. to noon
Women in Business: From Self-Judgment to Strategic Influence
Lake Michigan College Extended Education, Todd Center, Napier Campus, Benton Harbor
Leadership and business-strategy workshop focused on negotiation, executive presence, and organizational influence for growth-stage business owners and executives. Register Here.
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Ready to Grow Beyond U.S. Borders?
Michigan small businesses have a great opportunity to explore or expand into international markets.
Michigan was recently awarded $847,000 in federal State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) funds, and with state matching dollars, more than $1.1 million is available to help Michigan small and medium-sized businesses pursue eligible export development activities. Funding may support activities such as international sales trips, trade missions, trade show participation, compliance testing, and more.
The Michigan SBDC can help businesses prepare for exporting and navigate international growth through no-cost, one-on-one consulting with export-certified consultants. Interested in exploring whether exporting could be right for your business? Connect with the Michigan SBDC to get started.
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| Download Free Templates and Guides | |
We often get asked if we have a template for business plans, marketing plans, P&L, and profit projections? YES. We even have a small business startup checklist to guide you. See our list below.
Browse Free Resources:
| |  | Join the Hub: Become a Mentor or SME | |
Whether you're a specialist or a strategic leader, your expertise can be the catalyst for a founder’s success. Help us move small business owners from risk to resilience by joining our network:
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Become a Subject Matter Expert (SME): Share your knowledge in finance, HR, marketing, or operations by teaching a session or providing targeted advisory support.
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Serve as a Mentor: Provide the accountability and strategic guidance founders need to scale, directly contributing to higher business survival and regional stability.
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2025 Impact Report Online
The South Haven Regional Business Hub 2025 Impact Report highlights significant achievements in supporting Southwest Michigan's entrepreneurial ecosystem, achieving a 92% business retention rate for its clients. This substantially outpaces the national average, where nearly half of new businesses fail within five years.
Check out the full 2025 Impact Report Here to see how we’re helping small businesses grow and why our regional partnerships have never been stronger!
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Support Our Work
Invest in Local Entrepreneurs. Strengthen Our Region.
The South Haven Regional Business Hub is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to helping small businesses in Southwest Michigan succeed at every stage—from startup to scale. With the support of 40+ volunteer experts, we provide free workshops, mentoring, and hands-on programs like the Startup Series, Growth Series, and The PITCH. When you give, you’re investing directly in the people building our local economy. Click here to donate online.
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Did you Miss an Issue of our Newsletter?
Take a look back at our monthly email message including success stories, news, and more.
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Empowering Entrepreneurs, Elevating Southwest Michigan
The Hub’s mission is to drive regional economic prosperity by growing and sustaining successful small businesses through innovative education and critical connections to capital, mentorship, and community for entrepreneurs across Southwest Michigan. Our target audience includes aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners in the startup and early growth stages.
The Hub works with small businesses throughout the region with support from the City of South Haven, Lake Michigan College, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, the South Haven Area Community Foundation, and individual investors like you.
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