Tickets for the May 3 Michigan Celebrates Small Business event are $95 per person (down from $135 last year) or a table of ten for $900. The evening includes a cocktail reception, a keynote speaker and the awards dinner at the Lansing Center in Lansing. To register online go to MichiganCelebrates.biz.
(Photo at left: SBAM President and CEO Rob Fowler congratulates Innovation Award winner Kyle Schwulst of ElectroJet at the 2010 Michigan Celebrates Small Business)
Michigan Celebrates Small Business is a cooperative effort of the Small Business Association of Michigan, Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center, the Edward Lowe Foundation, the U.S. Small Business Administration – Michigan and the Greater Lansing Business Monthly.
“Michigan Celebrates is an opportunity to tell the new story of Michigan — a story of bright futures and exciting companies that are building Michigan’s economy,” says Penny Lewandowski, Director of Entrepreneurship and Development at the Edward Lowe Foundation. “This is the place to celebrate and acknowledge their success and to learn who and what is driving the state’s momentum.”
Underwriters for this year’s Michigan Celebrates Small Business event are PNC, Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the Michigan Certified Development Corporation, Accident Fund Insurance Company of America, Varnum Law, Michigan Credit Union League, Comcast Business Class, Huntington Bank, DBI Office Interiors, Comcast Spotlight and Dynamic Edge Inc.
The new Michigan Celebrates underwriters brought onboard this year are Varnum LLP, Michigan Credit Union League, Huntington Bank and DBI Office Interiors
“Last year we attended the awards event for the first time and were so impressed by the accomplishments of the honorees that we decided to become a sponsor,” says Scott Hill, Partner with Varnum law firm. “We assist entrepreneurs and small businesses with their legal needs and understand the many challenges of growing a business. Recognizing success honors the recipients and inspires us all.”
PNC has been a supporter of Michigan Celebrates for the previous seven years. “We’re honored to have been the primary sponsor of this prestigious event since its inception eight years ago,” says David Morrison, Southeast Michigan Business Banking Market Manager with PNC. “Michigan Celebrates Small Business is very important to PNC because it recognizes those companies and individuals that have taken the risks necessary to grow our economy. At PNC, we have a group of seasoned bankers that help those risk takers succeed.”
“Thanks to the generosity of this year’s underwriters, the MCSB organizers have been able to accomplish a longstanding goal to decrease the event’s ticket price,” says Jennifer Deamud, Associate State Director of the Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center. “In a time of ever-growing prices, we are proud to change that trend. For the first time in seven years the ticket price will drop substantially to $95.”
The expectation with the decreased ticket price is more community members, such as Chambers, EDCs and small business owners will be able to attend to support the businesses in their community that are being awarded.
For more information about Michigan Celebrates Small Business contact Jennifer Deamud, Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center at (616) 331-7480 or deamudj@gvsu.edu.