Grandville-based Littlefoot Coffee Roasters received the 2021 Entrepreneur of the Year award from the Michigan State University Product Center during its Making It In Michigan conference.
Gaskill Family Farm receives the Value-Added Agricultural Producer Award
Rick and Valerie Gaskill
Gaskill Family Farm received the 2021 Value-Added Agricultural Producer Award from the Michigan State University Product Center and Michigan State University Extension on May 6, 2021. The award was presented during the virtual Making It In Michigan Conference.
“Growing and packaging healthy food options not only kept us in business, it grew our business during the pandemic. Using ingenuity and expanding our networks, we found a multitude of different methods to market our value-added products into greater consumer markets. God has been the mainstay throughout our lives and He deserves the most credit for getting us to the right people, places and markets as well as helping our plants survive the late freezes,” Valerie Gaskill said.
Littlefoot Coffee Roasters receives 2021 Entrepreneur of the Year award from the MSU Product Center
Grandville, Michigan based business honored for their creativity and commitment to community.
Alex Burbo and Rosie Quasarano toast to being named the MSU Product Center 2021 Entrepreneurs of the Year. Photo Credit: Kraig Ehm of MSU.
On May 6, 2021, Littlefoot Coffee Roasters based in Grandville, received the 2021 Entrepreneur of the Year award from the Michigan State University Product Center during their Making It In Michigan conference. This award recognizes an emerging MSU Product Center business that achieved unique accomplishments and growth. Alex Burbo and Rosie Quasarano are the owners of Littlefoot Coffee Roasters, which roasts and provides a variety of seasonal single origin and blend varieties – both whole bean and ground.
Hummus Goodness wins the 2021 “Start-Up to Watch” award at Making It In Michigan Email
From an at-home business in Shanghai to a 3,600 square foot commercial facility in Southfield, Hummus Goodness is a “Start-Up to Watch.”
Hannah Awada, owner of Hummus Goodness, received the 2021 Start-Up to Watch Award at the Making It In Michigan virtual conference and Marketplace trade show. According to Mollie Woods, Director of the Michigan State University Product Center, the award is presented to a business that has shown consistent success and growth in entrepreneurial and business development, annual sales, profit, and related financial performance measures. The selection committee also considered businesses that have increased the number of employees, established a strong business culture, or exhibited a reputation for integrity and proven involvement in the local and regional business community.
Riker s Dog Treats
Riker s Dog Treats Story
Originally aspiring to be a reliable side income, Riker’s Dog Treats has grown into a full blown B2B and B2C business that is a beloved brand for many people and their fur-family across Michigan, much of the U.S and even Puerto Rico. The company was founded in 2014, is owned by Leslie Cowell, and ran with the help of her husband, Adam Cowell.
After realizing this idea was a legitimate business, we reached out to the MSU Product Center, which has helped hone our products as well as introduce us to a network of retail professionals and helped us gain new business along the way. Our very first retail partners came from their annual Making It In Michigan product trade show in 2014. From there, we developed a wholesale pricing structure and Adam began approaching independently owned pet, grocery, and Michigan-Made retailers to carry our products.