An epic storm swept through my northern Michigan town of Glen Arbor in August of 2015, leaving some 3,000 downed trees in its wake. While crews hauled away profitable logs for resale lumber, what remained were damaged fences, docks, and farm structures considered scrap. An idea, to turn this seemingly useless wood into signs depicting places iconic to the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, began to grow and MichAgain Signery was born. I sell my original reclaimed wood signs at northern Michigan farmers’ markets and art fairs and recently launched e-commerce so that customers can purchase signs year round.
What drives you to be a business owner?
My love for northern Michigan, supporting the local community, and maintaining its natural resources for generations to come is the primary motivation behind my business. I love brainstorming new ideas, meeting people, and proving that successful entrepreneurship is possible regardless of age.
How has the Entrepreneurship Center at WCC helped with your business goals?
As a young entrepreneur, I greatly appreciated the genuine business support provided by Entrepreneurship Center staff and learning from my peers who were also participating in the (Pitch@WCC) program. The biggest takeaway I learned from the business growth session was identifying what I needed to grow my business, instead of focusing on growth for growth’s sake without a clear plan.
If you could offer one piece of advice for fellow entrepreneurs or prospective entrepreneurs, what would it be?
I believe that a great business begins with identifying a problem and creating a sustainable solution. Mixing passion with the mission and outcome makes the challenges along the way worthwhile.