Business Biography

The Farman Group, founded by Bert Farbman in 1976. It is today a company with billions in real estate assets, in which now provides a full suite of services to its clientele. Business Biography, is a show that tells stories of how businesses became successful, but which also includes the human interest side of the people behind those businesses. Today joined by Andy Guttman, President of the Farbman Group.

Celebrating 75 year in business. Dan, Kelly, and Katelyn Aitken share the stories behind the success of this family owned insurance agency.

Wallside Windows: started in 1944 by Martin Blanck, the son of Eastern European immigrants. His mantra, you left the customer satisfied or the job simply wasn't finished. Today, Wallside Windows is led by second and third generation, Martin's son, Stanford and his grandson, Stanford's son, Adam. Wallside Windows now considered one of America's largest home improvement operations.

A crown jewel when it comes to Michigan business success stories, Boyne and Resorts, the Michigan family-owned business, started 75 years ago. Which has grown to become the third largest mountain resort company in North America, headquartered in northern Michigan. Jeff Sloan speaks with Stephen Kircher, President & CEO.

CC Consulting, a business in the highly competitive field of commercial real estate marketing. It's founder, Cindy Ciura's business is in the field where only 4% of senior executives are women. She has excelled where others have been denied.

Doctor, Lawyer, Entrepreneur, Mother: The story of Dr. Farideh Bagne

Iron Fish founded in 2016 by two sisters & two brothers-in-law, Richard Anderson, his wife Sarah, Sarah's sister, Heidi Bulger & her husband David Wallace. Iron Fish is MI's first farm distillery, growing grain & distilling spirits now attracting over 125,000 guests annually to the once abandoned 120 acre farm that is home to Iron Fish.

The quintessential American Dream still alive at Corrigan Oil in Brighton, MI. This family story told by son, Tim Corrigan.

Building a great business with family and close partners, seeing the fruits of your labor, what could be better for the Laing Brothers and Mawby Wineries.

From its humble beginnings as a 179 acre ski hill to what is today, a 3,300 acre year-round resort. A world class golf course ranked in the top 200 in the US. Managing it all, Barry Owens, General Manager.

The story of entrepreneurial success that starts in Glasgow, Scotland, where a young lady grew up, was educated and ultimately made her way to the land of opportunity to complete her education and to start a series of her own business. Our featured entrepreneur, Annemarie Cronin.

Franklin Cider Miller's 3rd generation family member, Melanee Radner, & current CEO of the iconic business in Franklin, MI tells the story of how they delight customers every fall.

To realize entrepreneurial success of any kind is challenging, but when you're a woman in the leadership role of a family company, operated in what has clearly been a man's world, things can be even more challenging. Nonetheless, Mary Buckzeiger has knocked down barriers and forged ahead with a fortitude and conviction that has helped her overcome these challenges and realize her dreams of carrying on the family business.

Siren Strategy, a strategic communications firm serving clients across the state of Michigan, and now widely recognized as a leader in their field. Lindsey Grosso and Adela Piper tell their story.

Today Matt O'Bryan, President, shares the story of how his family took KLA, a 93 year old IT company, building microphones and speakers and paging systems nationally. Now a solutions systems integrator, performing services that include network design installation, wifi das, to event production.

A successful business and a successful lawyer behind the law firm. Co-founder Barry Goodman of the firm Goodman Acker, has a personal mission. You can sense it, you can hear it in the comments. He is a man on a mission and the intensity of his purpose is palpable.

It's the why behind the way, that motivates Mike McFall. Coming to terms with those aspects of living life clearly have spilled over into the founding and growth of one of our regions, and indeed the nation's most dynamic franchises now poised for significant national growth.

Paul Glantz, Founder of Emagine Entertainment, shares many secrets to success including icon marketing, hospitality, and a loving family.

On the "Business Biography," Jeff talks with the four sisters who now run Bommarito Bakery, a beloved community business started by Italian immigrants in 1925.

Todd Sachse of Sachse Construction walks host Jeff Sloan through the evolution of his company. Sachse Construction's fingerprints are all over Detroit's skyline.

On this episode of "Business Biography," Jeff talks with Jeff Fratarcangeli of Fratarcangeli Wealth Management about how he learned to outsmart, outwork and outperform the competition to realize his goals and ambitions.

On this episode of "Business Biography," Jeff talks with Mike Palmer about his entrepreneurial journey with Premier Pet Supply. Palmer has built the business his way.

Host Jeff Sloan talks with 31-year-old real estate developer and entrepreneur Mario Kiezi, the son of immigrants, who just purchased Oakland Mall.

On this episode of the "Business Biography," Jeff talks with Michael Schodowski and Amy Swanson of Shelving.com about the company's growth trajectory.

On this episode of "Business Biography," host Jeff Sloan talks with Greg Packer of AccessPoint about his entrepreneur streak, the source of his strong work ethic and being in business as a family.

A third-generation, family-owned business, Aleva Stores has achieved huge success with a niche company. And it all started with prosthetic legs.

On this episode of Business Biography, Jeff talks with Brian Elias of 1-800-Hansons, a truly old-school entrepreneur who shares his amazing success story.

On this episode of Business Biography, Jeff Sloan shares the entrepreneurial success story behind Victor's Roofing. Ukrainian-born owner Victor Smolyanov exemplifies what can happen when an immigrant fulfills his American Dream.

Cloud Cannabis cofounder John McLeod talks with Jeff Sloan about how his personal pain led him to start a booming business that promotes a whole new way of looking at medicine and wellness.

On this episode of Business Biography, host Jeff Sloan talks with Brandon Hornung, owner of Capital Stoneworks, about how they've injected new technologies and passion into a centuries-old trade.

Jeff Sloan talks with the the Kratt family, dad Bob and twin sons Jason and Jeremy, about their family business, Hamilton's Propane, a heating business that serves home and business needs in 12 counties.

Jeff Sloan traces the interesting history of Better Made Snack Foods with President David Jones and Vice President Phil Gusmano. The company, founded by two Sicilian cousins in the early 1930s, is synonymous with Detroit and Michigan. Learn just what makes the products "better made."

Four generations of the Weingartz family have helped Michiganders take care of everything from lawn to snow. Jeff Sloan goes back in time with Dan Weingartz as he discusses his legendary grandfather and the farm family mentality that has spurred the trajectory of the business.

On this episode of Business Biography, Jeff Sloan talks with Stefan Ahee about his family's legendary jewelry business, Ahee Jewelers. It's a story of sacrifice, humble beginnings, stellar customer service and natural diamonds.

Stahls', a fourth-generation imprinting and emblem company, began in a garage in 1932. Jeff Sloan talks with Dan Stahl about the evolution of the business, its revolutionary processes, the importance of customer service and what it's like working with family.

April 2, 2022 ~ Kapnick Insurance CEO Jim Kapnick, COO Mike Kapnick, and former Owner Doug Kapnick talk about their independently-owned insurance business started in 1946 by Elmer Kapnick. The business has since grown to be a top 100 national insurance company by Business Insurance Magazine, and has been on their list of "Best Places to Work in Insurance" every year since 2010.

January 5, 2021 ~ On the premier revival edition, Jeff Sloan visits with former WJR News Director Dick Haefner about both the history and future of the “Business Biography” program. Also, Jeff speaks with Troy Clogg, owner of Troy Clogg Landscape, about what it has taken to grow his family business into one of the largest and most successful landscaping firms in Michigan.