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Strong Leader Series Registration is Open!

The Strong Leader Series™ is 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.

• Thursdays, Oct. 8, 15, 22, from 8:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 
• Lake Michigan College, 125 Veterans Blvd., South Haven
• Investment: $500 for all sessions

What’s Included

• Three interactive half-day workshops
• CliftonStrengths® 34 assessment and personalized report
• Practical leadership tools and templates
• Opportunities for networking and peer learning
• Sessions are led by a diverse group of experienced local leaders from The Purpose Partners.

Whether you’re stepping into leadership for the first time or scaling a team and making high-stakes decisions, this series will help you:

• Understand and apply your natural strengths to everyday leadership challenges
• Communicate with influence and build trust across your team and organization
• Think strategically to make better, faster, and more aligned decisions
• Inspire and develop others by focusing on what makes each person thrive.

Through engaging discussions, practical exercises, and self-reflection, leaders learn how to communicate more effectively, make confident decisions, and motivate their teams with clarity and focus. Participants will complete the CliftonStrengths® Assessment before the first session to personalize their learning experience.

Who Should Attend and Why

The 2026 Strong Leader Series™ is an opportunity to invest in yourself and your future as a leader. Get ready for a transformative experience that will refine your skills, expand your network, and empower you to lead with greater confidence and impact.

Each half-day workshop blends easy-to-apply, real-world leadership tools with the power of personal insights using the lens of CliftonStrengths®, helping participants connect their natural talents to create their unique leadership style. 

Through engaging discussions, practical exercises, and self-reflection, leaders learn how to communicate more effectively, make confident decisions, and motivate their teams with clarity and focus. Participants will complete the CliftonStrengths® Assessment before the first session to personalize their learning experience.

Curious about the Strong Leader Series?

Join our informational lunch on Wednesday, Aug. 26, from noon to 1 p.m. at Lake Michigan College South Haven. You will hear directly from past participants, get your questions answered, and enjoy free pizza.

Sign up here.

Hub News 

Meet the Growth Series Business Owners

The 2026 Growth Series kicked off in June with a meet and greet and mentor pairing. Participant business owners include:

• David Cooper and Timothy Goebel run Adapt Technologies Inc. in South Haven, an organization providing customized installation and servicing of safe patient handling and mobility assistance systems.
• Stacey Davis owns the Biggby Coffee franchise in Stevensville, Michigan, offering ethically sourced coffee, fast service, and strong community connections.
• Kip Harden operates Blue Shore Marine Services in Bangor, offering mobile full-service boat care, detailing, mechanical repairs, and fiberglass work.
• Thomas Balke operates Decorators Choice in South Haven, a business specializing in residential and commercial painting alongside high-impact, affordable kitchen cabinet refinishing services.
• Lacey Schmitt runs Eccentric Garden, Allegan, a specialty plant shop retailing rare tropical houseplants and expanding into in-house tissue culture production.
• Max Gleiss owns Max Transportation & Car Service throughout Southwest Michigan, providing pre-scheduled private transportation for airport transfers, winery tours, and private events.
• Nick Uzelac owns and operates Mercury Engineering & Design, LLC, in St. Joseph, delivering industrial automation design and manufacturing solutions to improve efficiency and reduce production errors.
• Sierra Wall is the COO of NEW AGE Laboratories in South Haven, which provides services across the United States and internationally, operating an independent analytical laboratory that provides rapid agricultural, food safety, and environmental testing.
• Amy Braido, New Buffalo, runs Twist and Stout Mobile Bar in Michigan and Indiana, a premium mobile bar and hospitality company serving weddings, corporate events, and private celebrations.
• Jesse Gerspach operates Waypoint Processing in Bangor, a cannabis processor specializing in concentrate production, vape cartridges, infused pre-rolls, and white-label packaging.

Hub Happenings

Partnership Makes it Possible

Empowering Entrepreneurs, Elevating Southwest Michigan

We couldn’t do this work without the partners who collaborate, contribute, and believe in our mission. Their support and expertise help turn purpose into impact for entrepreneurs and our broader community.

Elizabeth recently met with Lake Michigan College President Dr. Ken Flowers at Water’s Edge Coffee Shop to discuss regional workforce development. As the host site for Hub programming, LMC South Haven provides essential space for entrepreneur success. This industry-driven partnership aligns education and business growth, ensuring shared opportunities and a stronger future for Southwest Michigan.

Aloha from The Hub!



We had such a fun evening at the June South Haven Area Chamber of Commerce event, where the luau theme brought plenty of energy, color, and community spirit.

The Hub was especially grateful to attend alongside our Board Chair, Debi Howe, Board Members Mike Neiss and Marc Ugol, providing a reminder that strong organizations are built not only through leadership, but through the people who support the work behind the scenes. At the Hub, we know business excellence doesn’t happen in isolation. It grows through collaboration, leadership, resilience, and a community that believes in helping businesses thrive. We’re grateful to be part of a network that continues to invest in entrepreneurs and celebrate the people building a vibrant local economy.

Thank you to the Chamber for creating space to celebrate the businesses, leaders, and relationships that make our community stronger.

Debi Howe and Sherry Seston at the launch of Veritas Estate’s 2026 wine selection.

Debi Howe attended the June Northern Initiatives Partner Appreciation Luncheon. A major highlight was her reunion with Sean Hollins of RJ’s Printing, whom she mentored years ago in Kalamazoo.

Hub Executive Director Elizabeth Bernhard joined fellow community leaders at South Haven's City Hall to celebrate recent funding awards from the South Haven Area Community Foundation, including $10,000 granted to the Hub. We are incredibly grateful for this generous investment in the South Haven Regional Business Hub, which strengthens our ability to support Southwest Michigan entrepreneurs through the Growth Series and Strong Leader Series.

Julie Callaway

BDN Industrial Hygiene Consultants

Julie is the President and Owner of BDN, a health and safety consulting company specializing in OSHA compliance through employee exposure monitoring, noise monitoring and hazardous materials building inspections for heavy renovations and demolition.

Julie is a graduate of Grand Valley State University with a Bachelor of Biology emphasis in Environmental Health and Chemistry. She is a 2023 graduate and alumni of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program, a 2024 Graduate of the Tuck School of Business Building a Successful Diverse Business, 2025 Graduate of Leadership Greater Kalamazoo and a 2026 graduate of the WBENC WeTHRIVE Executive Education Program.

Michelle O’Neil (second from left), owner of Haven Market was awarded the South Haven Area Chamber of Commerce New Business of the Year award. We’re proud to be involved with businesses, organizations, and individuals whose dedication and leadership help make the South Haven area thrive.

At a recent South Haven Area Chamber event, the Hub team caught up with two inspiring women-owned businesses: Tiffany Wood of Precision Syrups and Michelle O’Neil of Haven Market. Supporting these bold, women-owned businesses is vital to building a stronger, healthier, and more vibrant Southwest Michigan economy.

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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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.

Share this news by clicking one of the social links below and using the hashtag #smallbizsupport

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