Inside story on how Josh Silverman CEO of Etsy took Etsy’s market capitalization from $1.56B in May of 2017 to $27.9B today. Etsy, Inc. is an American e-commerce company focused on handmade or vintage items and craft supplies.  We will talk about growing up in Ann Arbor and his amazing career.

Florence Knoll (1917–2019) was a leading force of modern design. She worked from 1945 to 1965 at Knoll Associates, first as business partner with her husband Hans Knoll, later as president after his death, and, finally, as design director. Her commissions became hallmarks of the modern era, including the Barcelona Chair by Mies van der Rohe, the Diamond Chair by Harry Bertoia, and the Platner Collection by Warren Platner. She created classics like the Parallel Bar Collection, still in production today.

David Griffis has lived in Detroit for his entire life except for two years of service in the military, when he went to Korea. He worked as a Personnel Technician for the Michigan Employment Security Commission and for Chrysler’s personnel department. He received a degree in business administration from Wayne State University, and went on to run two nursing home facilities in Detroit for over fifteen years. He has two daughters, and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Learn about the most luxurious classic cars built by American companies. Find out how the Eckhart Brothers, E.L. Cord, the Duesenberg Brothers, and Harry Stutz built their companies. Follow mergers between some of these companies and how the companies finally ended their production.                                      

When you hear the word startup, what do you think about? Do you think tech? Retail? Duo Security? Regardless of what you envision, we know one thing for sure: startups are what drive economic growth and development. This talk goes over what Michigan needs to continue growth as a startup ecosystem.

In 1999, amidst the height of DIY culture, independent music and publishing and the idea of owning the means of production, Jen Farrell built a small letterpress and design studio, focused on creating meaningful work for herself and other indie entrepreneurs. Over the past 19 years, the type of work produced in the studio has shifted but the spirit has not. Here she discusses the early days of the studio, its first mission statement, and how Starshaped Press continues to grow alongside its urban community in a city known for its diverse and interconnected neighborhoods.

This fun and informative event explains how your house can be made more energy efficient and whether solar power might be an option. 

Presenters include:

Local business owners talk about how socially conscious business practices – from environmental sustainability to hiring practices to community partnerships – are part of their business identity and their bottom line.