Entrepreneurship

Kent MacDonald, Northwood president, assessing the flood damage to the university.

Q&A with Kent MacDonald, President of Northwood University

Financial challenges, the pandemic, and a devastating flood all happened in the first year on the job for Northwood University president, Kent MacDonald. The native of Nova Scotia shares with Catalyst how the university has responded, what role a university should have in a community, and who his mentors have been over the years.

Latest in Entrepreneurship
LoLita Pfeiffer picks an order of coho salmon. The most recent shipment also touted halibut, lingcod, prawns, shrimp, and cherry-hickory smoked salmon.
An Alaskan fish story with a longline to Midland

Midland native Caven Pfeiffer delivers his wild-caught Alaskan fish to market through his company, Sword Seafood Company. His mom, LoLita, helped him establish his first community-supported fishery right here in Midland.

Just over three hours after their grand opening, O’MACARON completely sold out of macarons.
Oh yes, O’MACARON now has a storefront downtown

O’MACARON’s storefront is now open for business! If you want to try one of their 19 unique flavors of macarons, give them a visit in downtown Midland. You’ll want to get there early; they completely sold out within hours of their grand opening.

The Northwood University Idea Center is located on the corner of Main Street and Ashman Street in downtown Midland.
Student entrepreneurs have an ‘idea’ for downtown Midland

The Northwood University (NU) Gallery has been repurposed into the NU Idea Center, a space for experiential learning for students. The center hopes to open fully later this spring.

Grove Tea Lounge is located at 2405 Abbott Rd.
Midland businesses stay resilient through the pandemic, additional relief in sight later this month

The Midland Business Alliance has offered assistance to more than 300 local businesses in effort to sustain them during the devastating COVID-19 pandemic. Co-owner of Grove Tea Lounge, Patrick McElgunn, shares how the grant he received from the MBA enabled his business to keep its doors open.

Door decorations at Nature Niche add a holiday touch to a safety notice.
Midland retailers balance safety with cheer this holiday season

Holiday shopping looks different this year. But, Midland stores are still serving up a healthy dose of cheer. Shopping local is especially important this holiday season after a challenging year for small businesses.

Evan Sumrell focuses on making beautiful, high-quality food with none of the pretentiousness. This salad is made with certified organic produce from Good Stead Farm.
Farm-to-table restaurant hits the streets of downtown Midland

“We wanted it to be a farm-to-table restaurant that is focused on food, sustainability, and community,” says Evan Sumrell, chef-owner of Aster. “That’s a huge thing for us.” Aster is now open for takeout.

After minimal renovations like paint, lighting and furniture, the duo plans to officially open shortly after the Thanksgiving holiday.
Cloud-based realty and coworking take shape in Midland’s Center City

After a switch to a cloud-based realty in late 2019, Bricks Real Estate has found they need a bit more space. The husband and wife duo are making over a midcentury modern gem in Center City to function as a place for new agents and other coworking potentials. 

Ice cream is a unique industry, Andrew says. It can thrive in challenging times. It's a little treat.
This Midland ice cream company wants you to have the perfect bite every time

Andrew and Halee Pirie stay busy at Great Lakes Ice Cream Co., serving up smiles and new holiday flavors.

Memento Leather Co. launched in February 2020.
Hand-stitched hobby turned genuine: The making of Memento Leather Co.

How Tyler Dietlein turned a growing hobby into a business of handcrafted leather goods with a little inspiration and a dose of good quality technique.  

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