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Ed
June 17, 2023 - Establishing Business Credit
Ed Garner is a Regional Director for the Michigan Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
and has over 30 years of experience in economic & business development, lending, and customer service. He is responsible for providing comprehensive leadership, oversight, planning, resource development, and management of the SBDC West Michigan Regional Center at Grand Valley State University.
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Over his career, Ed has been selected as the Michigan SBDC Satellite Director and Regional
Director of the Year, and in 2020 his center was awarded the Excellence and Innovation Award
by the Michigan District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration. Ed has also been
named as one the 200 Most Powerful Business Leaders in West Michigan for the past four
years. Ed has a bachelor’s degree in Engineering from Michigan State University and an MBA
from Western Michigan University.
Jay
June 17, 2023- Home Base to Brick & Mortar
Meet Jay Kilgo. "Your Community Agent". A local West Michigan native whose passion is helping people and creating lasting relationships. Whether you are looking to buy a house or sell your home, He is a great agent. Focus target areas are Muskegon County & Kent County. Jay volunteers with several local non-profit organizations like Community En-Compass, Men of Color Read, & sits on the board for ICCF.
Jay has a passion for sports, especially college and professional baseball, basketball, and football. He’s known around the office to start good sports conversations and a single consultation could probably help you notch a few places higher in your fantasy sports standings. Outside of sports, Jay enjoys his movies. He is quite the cinema buff and won’t turn down the opportunity to see good films.
Going the extra mile for clients comes easy and habitually to Jay. He has a passion for nurturing those alongside him and being a mentor, which he hopes to bring to each one of his client relationships. From the city to the lakeshore, Jay is committed to helping people find a place to call home, all across the West Michigan region.
Te
June 17, 2023- Avoiding predatory contracts
Attorney Te Smith is the President and Chief Litigation Counsel for Smith Attorneys Group at Law, P.C. (SAGlaw). SAGlaw is a full-service firm, advising clients in various legal areas, including business, litigation, estate planning, municipal, ministry & clergy, entertainment law, family law, and white-collar defense.
Through his practice, he also regularly assists businesses with corporate governance, contract negotiation, dispute resolution, regulatory compliance, and business succession planning. Attorney Smith provides outside general counsel service to businesses of all sizes, including family-owned businesses, start-up companies, and religious organizations. Using his background as an entrepreneur, business owner, and musician, he has a deep understanding of the businesses he represents, as well as the knowledge and savvy of a seasoned attorney. As a trusted advisor, he regularly counsels family-owned businesses, entrepreneurs, municipalities, churches, and start-up businesses on a range of matters.
Attorney Smith is a Muskegon Heights native and serves as the Interim City Attorney for Muskegon Heights. He earned his law degree from Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School. He obtained his undergraduate degree from Alabama State University.