This week eight Entrepreneurs-in-Residence from Michigan, Louisiana and Florida joined us at Big Rock Valley! A shoutout to: Arthur Boisfontaine of CCI Productions, Jonathan Denton of Haron, LLC, Tony Grace of Alma Tire Companies, Nenette Gray of Lemonade Creative Marketing, LLC, David Hartmann of The SilverLogic, Jaci and Michael Russo of brandRUSSO, and Linda Schlesinger of skinnytees. (In photo from left: Jonathan, Michael, Nenette, Linda, Jaci, Arthur, David and Tony.)
About us
Ed and Darlene Lowe established the Edward Lowe Foundation in 1985 to leverage entrepreneurship as a strategy for economic growth and community development. In contrast to most U.S. foundations, which are grant-giving entities, we are an operating foundation that funds its own programs. Our entrepreneurship initiatives are focused on second-stage companies — growth-oriented firms that have moved beyond startup but haven’t yet reached maturity. Our peer learning, leadership education and strategic information programs are geared to help these companies continue growing. We also educate communities about the unique challenges second-stagers face, how to work with them — and how to develop the kind of culture they need to flourish. To scale our impact, the foundation delivers its programs to second-stagers through other entrepreneur support organizations, which includes chambers of commerce, small business development centers, technology councils and economic development agencies. Although many programs are conducted on our partners’ turf, such as PeerSpectives CEO roundtables and Economic Gardening, we host leader retreats and facilitator training at Big Rock Valley (BRV), our headquarters in southwest Michigan. BRV is also integral in our land stewardship initiatives. A 2,000-acre property comprised of woodlands, wetlands and prairies, BRV’s diverse habitats support a wide variety of species, many of which are endangered or threatened. To preserve BRV’s environmental integrity, the foundation employs a number of innovative land management practices. In addition, we allow researchers to use the property for studies that can expand the knowledge base of conservation science.
- Website
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http://edwardlowe.org/
External link for Edward Lowe Foundation
- Industry
- Non-profit Organizations
- Company size
- 11-50 employees
- Headquarters
- Cassopolis, MI
- Type
- Nonprofit
- Founded
- 1985
- Specialties
- Second Stage Entrepreneurs, Peer Learning, Economic Gardening, and Leader Retreats
Locations
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Primary
58220 Decatur Road
Cassopolis, MI 49031, US
Employees at Edward Lowe Foundation
Updates
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In partnership with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, 8 Michigan business owners were inducted today into the American Academy of Entrepreneurs® (AAE). Congratulations to Karen Arondoski of I F Metalworks, Austin Gongos of Chicken Tramper Ultralight Gear, Cynthia Kay of CK and CO. Media Production, Caitlin McMahan of Marcellus Metalcasters Inc., Nancy Marshall of Aluminum Supply Company Inc., Alan Miotke of St. Clair Packaging, Mike Osterman of Selective Industries and Stacy Sloan, CEPC of Three Little Birds Granola! Learn more about AAE at https://lnkd.in/gkAQkzhJ
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Sixteen business owners from Louisiana joined us at Big Rock Valley this week to begin our American Academy of Entrepreneurs (AAE) mentoring program. The fifth cohort of AAE participants to be hosted by Louisiana Economic Development, participants included: Matthew Amoss of Craft Kettle Brewing Equipment, Brandon Cornett of Elevator3, Dan Ducoté of Enginuity Global LLC, Charles Edwards of One TeleMed, Cherie Hebert of BBR Creative, Robbie Higginbotham of SSI Millwork & Fence, Natasha James of Allstar Community Care, LLC, Michael LeBlanc of White Glove Interior Care, Kristofer Love of Love's Asphalt Solutions LLC, Chris Meaux of Mallard Bay Outdoors, Christy Pennison of Be Inspired Counseling & Consulting, Jaci Russo of brandRUSSO, Brandon Smith of Flexicrew Technical Services, Carrita Tanner-Cloud of Creativity Justified, José Villeda of JLV Construction | Builder and Cindy Wallace of Test Prep Class. Learn more about our AAE program at https://lnkd.in/gkAQkzhJ
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Road trip — Dan Wyant, Colleen Killen-Roberts and Madison Suseland visited some of our second-stage friends in southwest Michigan this week: • Caitlin McMahan of Marcellus Metalcasters Inc, a diversified foundry that specializes in low-volume production of parts under 500 pounds, ranging from vintage light fixtures and frying pans to pipes that transfer hydroelectric power. • Dorothy Munao of Flamm Pickle & Packing Company in Eau Claire, which makes pickle relish for salad dressing manufacturers, meat packers and major food companies. • Annette Crandall of Quality Assured Plastics, inc., a Lawrence-based custom injection molding company that manufactures components for a wide variety of industries.
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Happy birthday to our founder Ed Lowe, who was born on July 10, 1920. “Ed was a real entrepreneur’s entrepreneur,” says Dan Wyant, chairman and president of the Edward Lowe Foundation. “He believed being entrepreneurial was something he couldn’t turn off, like a beagle’s innate tendency to chase rabbits. In fact, Ed even referred to an entrepreneur’s instinct for pursuing opportunity as ‘beaglism.’ He was constantly coming up with ideas, watching for opportunities and acting on them.” https://lnkd.in/g6BZ7qHE
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This week we launched our fourth rural cohort program for Pelican State second-stage business owners! Conducted in partnership with Louisiana Economic Development, the program spans several months and includes a virtual retreat, CEO roundtables and our System for Integrated Growth. Participants include: Leslie Cobb of Land Acquisitions, Inc., Jovan Darbonne of Healthy Family Counseling Services, Edward Godeaux of Produced Water Solutions, Esther Grant of Grant Burial & Vault, Carolyn Jackson of Juz Us Childcare Development Center, Amanda Martin of Studyville, Jonathan Scallan of Custom Corrugated Supply and Gabriel Taylor of Sportsman/Gabriel Taylor.
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Five business owners from Michigan and Louisiana joined us at Big Rock Valley this week to begin our year-long Legacy Council program! Participants include: Dave Goudreau of NORTHERN WINGS, Tim Keeley of Martin Specialty Coatings, Nancy Marshall of Aluminum Supply Company Inc., Kristi Matthews of K-Belle Consultants, LLC and Chad Paalman of NuWave Technology Partners. (In photo from left: Dave, Dan Ducote, Colleen Killen-Roberts, Nancy, Kristi, Tim, Chad and Dave Galbenski).
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“This week I’m excited to begin our third round of Legacy Council, a program we launched in 2021 for entrepreneurs who have either exited their companies or are near that stage,” writes Colleen Killen-Roberts. “Legacy Council is a testament to my belief that when you put the right people in the room, great things happen.” Learn more at: https://lnkd.in/grP2Yndv
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Chris Holman of the Michigan Business Network talks with Dan Wyant about the foundation’s mission to accelerate growth for second-stage companies, our conservation work and 2,000-acre learning campus at Big Rock Valley. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/gyEr__Ft
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