Michigan Resources

Marty Peltier is the Chief Business Development Officer and Vice President at Lake Michigan Credit Union where he has worked since 2016.

Leading sales teams in both Michigan and Florida, Marty focuses on business opportunities and executes the strategic planning and implementation of relationship building for Lake Michigan Credit Union.

Prior to LMCU, Marty worked at Bank of America for 11 years managing the Mortgage Sales and Operations in their Michigan market. He has also worked at General Motors Corporation for 8 years as a Regional District Manager and at GMAC Mortgage as a Vice President for 11 years.

Contact Marty Peltier for help with or questions about:

• Commercial Lending
• Bonding Capacity
• Financial Planning
• Business Banking

5 Accounting Questions Contractors Should Ask When Starting a New Construction Company

Contact Andy Rose for help with or questions about:

• Accounting Services
• Payroll Best Practices
• Understanding Business Taxes

The Going PRO Talent Fund (Talent Fund) makes awards to employers to assist in training, developing, and retaining current and newly hired employees. Training funded by the Talent Fund must be short-term and fill a demonstrated talent need experienced by the employer. Training must lead to a credential for a skill that is transferable and recognized by the industry. To apply, visit the website here.

Opportunity Empowered is a pilot program being launched by the Urban League of West Michigan in partnership with Heart of West Michigan United Way.

This is for residents with grassroots ideas for an opportunity to empower community voices by ideating, identifying, and prioritizing solutions to issues identified.

This is an opportunity for those who may already be operating small-scale out of homes and churches, etc., and are looking to elevate their idea.

View more details on the Urban League website.

Start Garden created The 100 as a no-strings-attached way to fund people to take a shot at new endeavors each year. It’s a community-wide investment in the businesses and organizations of tomorrow.

The 100 exists to open the gate for the whole community to try out new ideas each year, knowing that some can be life-changing.

2023 submissions are now closed, but keep an eye out for 2024 dates!

View more details on the Start Garden website.

Bruce Courtade is past board member for Builders Exchange of Michigan, and hosts or presents a series of construction-related seminars throughout the winter months of each year for Builders Exchange members. He has practiced construction law throughout Michigan for more than 30 years and is a past president of the 45,000+ member State Bar of Michigan. Read Bruce’s full bio.

Tony Pearson currently serves as Rhoades McKee’s firm president. He is a member of the firm’s corporate practice group, specializing in helping businesses of all sizes, from single-person companies through publicly traded corporations, in every aspect of their life cycle, from startup to mergers and acquisitions to business succession planning. Among other things, Tony will be talking about how to make sure that your company is best set up to address your needs and limit ownership disputes, shield your personal assets from liability, and planning ahead for when you may want or need to transition ownership of the business to someone else. Read Tony’s full bio.

Patrick Sweeney is no stranger to the Builders Exchange, having helped teach seminars on bonding, lien law, and other construction-related topics. A member of the firm’s Construction Practice Group and trial attorney, Patrick will offer insight into proper documentation (contracts, purchase orders, change orders, etc.), specific contractual provisions to understand and use, and other topics. Read Patrick’s full bio.

Other members of the Rhoades McKee Construction Industry Service Team include: Meghan Clayton, Patrick Drueke, Mark Greidanus, Todd Hendricks, Nathan Russell, Tom Saxe, Jon Siebers, Mark Smith, and Peter Veldkamp.

Contact the Rhoades McKee team if you need help with or have questions about:

• Choosing the right corporate entity when forming your company
• Filing legal paperwork for your company
• Legal consultations with a specialization in construction law.

The West Michigan Construction Institute provides the training, knowledge, and national certification for students to have a well-paid, high-demand, and meaningful career in commercial construction.

See upcoming classes on the WMCI website, or join the Affiliate HUB to get discounts on select WMCI classes!

Whether you’re an employer in need of technically-skilled employees to give you a competitive edge in the marketplace, or a student in need of top-notch skilled trades and/or technical training to give you a competitive edge in the workplace, GRCC will help you get the job done.

Learn more here.

The U.S. Green Building Council of West Michigan presents a unique opportunity for minority-owned contractors who wish to expand their skill set of energy efficiency and carbon analysis of buildings. This includes a potential for a professional certification and youth volunteer opportunity. Read more here.

It is estimated that 65% of the construction industry works on scaffolds, which is approximately 2.3 million workers. Our 1-hour OSHA Scaffold Safety Awareness Certificate Course details OSHA standards as they apply to scaffolding and gives you specific details about individual types of scaffolds and what safety measures are needed to protect yourself and others from hazards.

Find available classes here.

Want to share your capabilities statement in our Contractor Directory? Submit it here.

Don’t have a capabilities statement? Let us know and we can help!

Courtney Howe started The Yellow Umbrella Creative, a digital marketing and website development agency, with the goal of building up small businesses through simple, but effective, marketing strategies.

Contact Courtney Howe for help with or questions about:

• Building a Marketing Plan
• Email Marketing
• Social Media Branding
• Website Design and Development
• Logo and Marketing Material Design

Additionally, join the Affiliate HUB to get discounts on select marketing services from multiple providers!

The Builders Exchange of Michigan is a construction association that provides statewide coverage of projects in the planning and bidding phase, with full accessibility in a virtual plan room. 

Learn more here.

To fill out the MBE/WBE Application Form through MSHDA, use this link.

For questions about this form or process, contact Haywood Edwards at 517.241.0541.

Certified Micro Local Business Enterprises (Micro-LBEs) are prioritized businesses that the City of Grand Rapids looks to for all spending needs. Micro-LBEs range from Construction, Goods & Services, and Professional Services to cover a variety of spending needs across the organization.

To apply for Micro-Local Business Enterprise (MLBE) Certification, use this link.

For questions about this process, contact Amaad Hardy at 616.456.3096.

The Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council (MMSDC) is a non-profit organization promoting the economic growth of our corporate members and the minority-owned businesses that serve them. Learn more here.

Your Better Business Bureau serving Western Michigan is a non-profit organization that offers you an opportunity to showcase your business’s credibility and integrity, gaining the trust of potential customers. BBB provides resources and support to help you navigate challenges and grow your business successfully. By becoming BBB Accredited, you demonstrate your commitment to excellence, which can open doors to new opportunities and partnerships.

Questions? Contact Wendell Gafford, Director of Business Relations.

Learn more here.