royal oak chamber

Mallory Slusser is the campaign development manager for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, LLS.  Their signature event, Light The Night, is happening at Hart Plaza October 5th.  If you've never beenm it's an incredibly powerful gathering of survivors, supporters, and more.   And while the LLS appreciates all fundraising, raising money is not a requirement for attendance.   LLS is simply looking for support.

Mallory is very passionate about her work with LLS, stemming from her own personal story. A couple of years ago, she herself battled leukemia.   She connected with LLS, and they set her up with a peer mentor - someone who Mallory had a lot in common with and had gone through something similar.   Now she wants to pay it forward.

In addition to Light the Night, Mallory walks us through some of the programs LLS has for canncer patients and their families.  Its emergency funding for famillies stays right here in our local area. 

For more information, visit LLS's website at https://www.lls.org/

Or the specific Light the Night Website at https://www.lightthenight.org/

Connect with our hosts:

Trish Carruth from The Personal Jeweler - https://www.thepersonaljeweler.com/

Jon Gay from JAG in Detroit Podcasts - http://www.jagindetroit.com/

Lisa Bibbee from Keller Williams - http://soldbylisab.com/

Learn more about the Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce: https://www.royaloakchamber.com/

Connect with our hosts:

Jon Gay from JAG in Detroit Podcasts - http://www.jagindetroit.com/

Lisa Bibbee from Keller Williams - http://soldbylisab.com/

Today's guest is Howard Collens from Galloway and Collens.  The firm celebrates 20 years in business this year, and Howard starts the conversation by demystifying estate planning.   We talk about the differences between wills and trusts, and who needs which.   We also talk about why people want to avoid probate for their estates upon their death.

But future planning is about more than just your death.  What if you were to become incapacitated? We cover medical and financial powers of attorney, and how planning can be your best defense against life's unpredictabilties.

The world is changing - what about your digital assets?  Howard worked in to get a law passed in Lansing that deals with your digital assets upon your passing.  This is something else to plan for, and Howard explains what you need to do.

The Royal Oak Chamber has been instrumental in growing Galloway and Collens - we learn how.

Here's something you may not know about Howard - he plays trombone in a Klezmer band.  You won't want to miss the exchange where he explains to Jon and Lisa what that is. And yes, they've played Arts, Beats, and Eats.

To find reach out to Howard Collens, his partner Scott Galloway, and their team, find them online at https://www.gallowaycollens.com/ 

Or give them a call at 248-545-2500.  Or stop into their office. They have good snacks.

And here's a link to Klezundheit on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Klezundheit/

Connect with our hosts:

Trish Carruth from The Personal Jeweler - https://www.thepersonaljeweler.com/

Jon Gay from JAG in Detroit Podcasts - http://www.jagindetroit.com/

Lisa Bibbee from Keller Williams - http://soldbylisab.com/

Learn more about the Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce: https://www.royaloakchamber.com/

Connect with our hosts:

Jon Gay from JAG in Detroit Podcasts - http://www.jagindetroit.com/

Lisa Bibbee from Keller Williams - http://soldbylisab.com/

Today we get a look inside our newly rebranded Wednesday morning group, Network First.   This meeting is designed to be the antithesis of those structured networking groups.   There's no attendance requirement.  There's no need to find substitutes. There's no sign in sheet or tracking of one-on-one meetings. Come when you can, and get to know the people in the group.  The two Chamber members who run Network First join us today - Jill Plamper of Distinctive Framing and Michelle Rafalski from Gleba and Associates.

The group meets at the Royal Oak Chamber, on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month, from 7:30-8:30.  They try to alternate between having a speaker and a different discussion topic.   And that speaker may be relevant to something in the news - auto insurance or the financial markets, for example.  

Membership to Network First is included in your membership to the Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce.  Or, if you're considering joining the Chamber, come to a Network First meeting and see how you like it.

We spend some time at the end of the podcast getting to know Jill and Michelle a bit better.   And while NEITHER of the two leaders of an early morning networking group, it turns out we have some very strong feelings on chocolate.

To learn more, reach out to:

Jill:  Jill@distinctiveframing.com

Michelle: Michelle@glebaandassociates.com

Connect with our hosts:

Trish Carruth from The Personal Jeweler - https://www.thepersonaljeweler.com/

Jon Gay from JAG in Detroit Podcasts - http://www.jagindetroit.com/

Lisa Bibbee from Keller Williams - http://soldbylisab.com/

Learn more about the Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce: https://www.royaloakchamber.com/

Connect with our hosts:

Jon Gay from JAG in Detroit Podcasts - http://www.jagindetroit.com/

Lisa Bibbee from Keller Williams - http://soldbylisab.com/

Fortunately, the world of mental health care is becoming less taboo.  However, its till remains extremely difficult to navigate in our current health care system.  Our guest today is Anton Babushkin, founder and CEO of Start My Wellness, a company designed to help simplify the mental health care process.

Start My Wellness offers resources for clients, no matter where they are in their mental health journey.  Some may know what kind of service they need - others may be starting from the very beginning and still figuring it out.

On the provider side, Start My Wellness helps service providers navigate their side of their health care system, and connect them with potential clients and patients.

Anton shares how his life experience led him to getting into this field as a therapist himself, and how he started the company.  He was originally in Troy, but moved to Ferndale last year, and has really enjoyed his new home, as well as getting to know the folks in the Royal Oak Chamber.

During COVID,  he traded salsa dancing for tennis, which is where you'll often find him when he's not working.

More:

Start My Wellness Phone Number: 248 514 4955

Start My Wellness Website: https://startmywellness.com/

Start My Wellness YouTube Page: https://www.youtube.com/@startmywellness3155

Connect with our hosts:

Trish Carruth from The Personal Jeweler - https://www.thepersonaljeweler.com/

Jon Gay from JAG in Detroit Podcasts - http://www.jagindetroit.com/

Lisa Bibbee from Keller Williams - http://soldbylisab.com/

Learn more about the Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce: https://www.royaloakchamber.com/

Connect with our hosts:

Jon Gay from JAG in Detroit Podcasts - http://www.jagindetroit.com/

Lisa Bibbee from Keller Williams - http://soldbylisab.com/

In this wild real estate market, many home buyers are waiving property inspections in order to get the house they want.  We can pretty much guarantee you won't do that after listening to today's episode.

Emily Burnett will soon take over her family's business, Journey Property Inspections.  She joins us today with her fiancé, Anton Britting.

We start with the basics - what's involved with a home inspection and why do you need one?  As Lisa points out, many buyers spend 10 or 20 minutes in a home before  writing an offer.  It's crucial to take a deep dive before making the biggest investment of your life!

Our guests talk about everything from sewer line scopes to infrared cameras to drone cameras for roofs, to radon detection.

Of course, we had to ask Emily and Anton about some horror stories - and how they've saved home buyers from disasters.  Here's a teaser:  mold and indoor waterfalls.

We also learn about their hobbies - Emily does improv comedy at Planet Ant, and Anton is a competitive foot bag, or hacky sack player!

More:

JPI Website: https://www.journeypropertyinspections.com/

Phone: (248) 914-5487

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/journeyinspections/

Connect with our hosts:

Trish Carruth from The Personal Jeweler - https://www.thepersonaljeweler.com/

Jon Gay from JAG in Detroit Podcasts - http://www.jagindetroit.com/

Lisa Bibbee from Keller Williams - http://soldbylisab.com/

Learn more about the Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce: https://www.royaloakchamber.com/

Connect with our hosts:

Jon Gay from JAG in Detroit Podcasts - http://www.jagindetroit.com/

Lisa Bibbee from Keller Williams - http://soldbylisab.com/

Today, we turn the tables on our co-host, Jon Gay of JAG in Detroit Podcasts, and put him in the hot seat.  We talk about his radio-turned-podcasting career and get some insight into his personal backstory too!

Jon left radio in 2017 after a 15-year career in the industry.  While he saw radio on the decline, he saw podcasting blowing up.  So he started JAG in Detroit Podcasts, creating broadcast-quality podcasts for businesses and non-profits, in 2018.

We talk about what a podcast is -and isn't - and some stats showing how big the industry has become.

Jon explains the different levels of service he offers his clients, from basic editing to co-hosting shows with them.  We also ask him the two big podcast questions.  How long should your show be and how do you make money off of it?

We also cover the rise of YouTube and the importance of having a presence there, even if you don't shoot a video version of your podcast.  And once the show is published, how do you promote it?

The Blue Yeti is a terrible podcast microphone.  Jon tells us why, and which mic to get instead. (Spoiler: it's cheaper.)

Andrea, Trish, and Lisa ask Jon about remote podcasting, and talk about how it's worked for this show.

Finally, we learn a little bit about Jon personally.  He talks about his job, and the wanderlust for travel he and his wife share.  And our fishbowl question leads to a very interesting story about Mr. Gay in high school, involving his last name.

Links:

Samson Q2U Microphone Mentioned: https://amzn.to/3tVE3rF

Jon Gay from JAG in Detroit Podcasts - http://www.jagindetroit.com/

Trish Carruth from The Personal Jeweler - https://www.thepersonaljeweler.com/

Lisa Bibbee from Keller Williams - http://soldbylisab.com/

Andrea Arndt of Dickinson Wright - https://www.dickinson-wright.com/

Know a Chamber member that wants to be a guest on our show? Email us!  theroccpod@gmail.com

And if you'd like to know more about the Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce, or join, find them here:  https://www.royaloakchamber.com/

Learn more about the Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce: https://www.royaloakchamber.com/

Connect with our hosts:

Jon Gay from JAG in Detroit Podcasts - http://www.jagindetroit.com/

Lisa Bibbee from Keller Williams - http://soldbylisab.com/

Today's episode is a bit longer than usual, because there's a lot of important information in it.  Royal Oak Chamber member Kathleen Novetsky of AAA Insurance walks us through the recent changes to Michigan's No Fault Auto Insurance Laws, and what ramifications and choices now exist for you.

Kathleen also talks with Jon, Andrea, Lisa, and Trish about what she recommends for auto and homeowners coverage, when to make a claim, when not to make a claim, and what other insurance coverages she recommends.

Yes, your driving record can have a big effect on your insurance rates, but with new technology, how you drive can actually save you money as well.

We also cover AAA's roadside assistance program and other benefits that come with membership.

Resources:

Kathleen Novetsky, AAA: (248) 270-4350.  kenovetsky@acg.aaa.com

Jon Gay from JAG in Detroit Podcasts - http://www.jagindetroit.com/

Trish Carruth from The Personal Jeweler - https://www.thepersonaljeweler.com/

Lisa Bibbee from Keller Williams - http://soldbylisab.com/

Andrea Arndt of Dickinson Wright - https://www.dickinson-wright.com/

And if you'd like to know more about the Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce, or join, find them here:  https://www.royaloakchamber.com/

Learn more about the Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce: https://www.royaloakchamber.com/

Connect with our hosts:

Jon Gay from JAG in Detroit Podcasts - http://www.jagindetroit.com/

Lisa Bibbee from Keller Williams - http://soldbylisab.com/

How does an engineer-by-trade end up running a successful framing shop out of her home in Huntington Woods?  We find out today on the ROCC Pod, with guest Jill Plamper of Distinctive Framing.

Jill tells us about the flexibility her business allows for in scheduling clients, and understanding that if a client wants something framed, it has significant value to them.   We talk about the process of client concept to finished product, and the various steps along the way.  There are differences in wood, French lining, shadow boxes, museum glass, and more.

With the holidays approaching, we ask Jill about some of her favorite client projects from the last several years, as well as ideas on how to create a one-of-a-kind gift for someone special.

Find out more:

Distinctive Framing Website: https://distinctiveframing.com/

Call Jill at 248-252-8396

Email Jill: jill@distinctiveframing.com

Distinctive Framing Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/DistinctiveFramingLLC/

Jon Gay from JAG in Detroit Podcasts - http://www.jagindetroit.com/

Trish Carruth from The Personal Jeweler - https://www.thepersonaljeweler.com/

Lisa Bibbee from Keller Williams - http://soldbylisab.com/

Andrea Arndt of Dickinson Wright - https://www.dickinson-wright.com/

And if you'd like to know more about the Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce, or join, find them here:  https://www.royaloakchamber.com/

Learn more about the Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce: https://www.royaloakchamber.com/

Connect with our hosts:

Jon Gay from JAG in Detroit Podcasts - http://www.jagindetroit.com/

Lisa Bibbee from Keller Williams - http://soldbylisab.com/

We figured that after 13 great Royal Oak Chamber guests, we should take an episode to go straight to the source - the Chamber itself.  Executive Director Shelly Kemp joins us today.

We hear about Shelly's background - what made her unique in Key West, and how an earthquake brought her home from California.

We also learn about the Chamber, its wonderful staff, and why it's sometimes considered the "sherpa" of Royal Oak - going above and beyond for residents.

Shelly walks us through the different networking groups within the Chamber, including the Business Women's Network, the ALPHA and ROYAL groups, TAC, and the new walking club. There truly is a group for everyone.

The Chamber has three big annual events - Art of Fire, Royal Oak in Bloom, and Barktoberfest - and Shelly teases a potential fourth event for 2022.

Most importantly, the Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce exists to help local  businesses - through ribbon cuttings, the Monday Morning Memo, social media support, and so much more. 

Now in its 100th year (just like Royal Oak itself), we talk about some anniversary events planned, and of course the upcoming Holiday Soiree.

Finally, you don't have to live or work in Royal Oak to be a Chamber member.  In fact, one of our hosts now lives out of state.  Can you guess which one?

Resources:

Jon Gay from JAG in Detroit Podcasts - http://www.jagindetroit.com/

Trish Carruth from The Personal Jeweler - https://www.thepersonaljeweler.com/

Lisa Bibbee from Keller Williams - http://soldbylisab.com/

Andrea Arndt of Dickinson Wright - https://www.dickinson-wright.com/

And if you'd like to know more about the Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce, or join, find them here:  https://www.royaloakchamber.com/

Learn more about the Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce: https://www.royaloakchamber.com/

Connect with our hosts:

Jon Gay from JAG in Detroit Podcasts - http://www.jagindetroit.com/

Lisa Bibbee from Keller Williams - http://soldbylisab.com/

After losing their 2020-2021 season to the pandemic, Stagecrafters is returning to Royal Oak and about to start this year's schedule.  Today, we are joined by marketing manager Erin McKay.

After learning about Erin's background, we jump into the 2021 schedule, which opens with "Don't Drink The Water" September 17th.  We also discuss the season's other shows, including Cinderella, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Nine to Five.

Not only do the amazing volunteers at Stagecrafters put on high quality entertainment, they are also heavily involved with local businesses and nonprofit organizations - we learn more about that.

And we can't let Erin go without asking her for some behind the scenes details.  Is there really a ghost in the theater?

Resources:

Stagecrafters Website: https://www.stagecrafters.org/

Jon Gay from JAG in Detroit Podcasts - http://www.jagindetroit.com/

Trish Carruth from The Personal Jeweler - https://www.thepersonaljeweler.com/

Lisa Bibbee from Keller Williams - http://soldbylisab.com/

Andrea Arndt of Dickinson Wright - https://www.dickinson-wright.com/

And if you'd like to know more about the Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce, or join, find them here:  https://www.royaloakchamber.com/

Learn more about the Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce: https://www.royaloakchamber.com/

Connect with our hosts:

Jon Gay from JAG in Detroit Podcasts - http://www.jagindetroit.com/

Lisa Bibbee from Keller Williams - http://soldbylisab.com/

If there's a computer or tech problem, chances are Mike Piskie of Mr. Tech Medic has seen it before.  He joins us today for a conversation that ranges from computers to camping, and everything in between.

Mike shares his passion for creativity in web design, and how it balances the analytical part of being an IT specialist.  And you know we had to ask him about some of the wackier tech problems he's run into, as well as the patience required.

We also delve into some tech questions from our hosts, and best practices to stay safe and secure in these uber-connected times.   We cover passwords, 2 factor authentication, and the extremely low tech way to stay ahead of Russian hackers.

What about cloud storage?  Yes, the "big guys" offer it, but there are catches.  Mike explains how to get your own private server for your business, and why it will cost less than you think.   Our guest also provides recommendations on computers and equipment for setting up a home office.

Mike, however, isn't all about PC's and websites.  He's an avid camper, and we talk about some of his favorite places to camp.

Finally, Mike talks about his wife Megan, and traveling to Ukraine to research a book she was writing about Dutch heroes of World War II.

Links:

Mike's Website - Mr. Tech Medic: https://mrtechmedic.com/

Megan's Book The Escape Line: https://www.amazon.com/Escape-Line-Ordinary-Dutch-Paris-Occupation/dp/0190662271

Jon Gay from JAG in Detroit Podcasts - http://www.jagindetroit.com/

Trish Carruth from The Personal Jeweler - https://www.thepersonaljeweler.com/

Lisa Bibbee from Keller Williams - http://soldbylisab.com/

Andrea Arndt of Dickinson Wright - https://www.dickinson-wright.com/

And if you'd like to know more about the Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce, or join, find them here:  https://www.royaloakchamber.com/

Learn more about the Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce: https://www.royaloakchamber.com/

Connect with our hosts:

Jon Gay from JAG in Detroit Podcasts - http://www.jagindetroit.com/

Lisa Bibbee from Keller Williams - http://soldbylisab.com/

Welcome to the ROCC Pod - a chance for members of the Royal Oak (Michigan) Chamber of Commerce to get to know one another on a personal basis.  In our trailer, meet our cohosts:

Jon Gay from JAG in Detroit Podcasts - http://www.jagindetroit.com/

Trish Carruth from The Personal Jeweler - https://www.thepersonaljeweler.com/

Lisa Bibbee from Keller Williams - http://soldbylisab.com/

Andrea Arndt of Dickinson Wright - https://www.dickinson-wright.com/

Now that you've met our hosts, we are excited to introduce you to members of the Royal Oak Chamber in future episodes.  If you'd like to be a guest, you can send us an email - theroccpod@gmail.com

And if you'd like to know more about the Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce, or join, find them here:  https://www.royaloakchamber.com/

Learn more about the Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce: https://www.royaloakchamber.com/

Connect with our hosts:

Jon Gay from JAG in Detroit Podcasts - http://www.jagindetroit.com/

Lisa Bibbee from Keller Williams - http://soldbylisab.com/