Ann Arbor SPARK CEO Podcast: Recent Episodes
Ann Arbor SPARK
This episode of the Ann Arbor SPARK CEO Podcast features Joseph Vig, CEO of Vig Construction.
This episode of the Ann Arbor SPARK CEO Podcast features Shannon Polk, President and CEO of the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation. View the video on our YouTube channel, @AnnArborSPARK.
This episode of the Ann Arbor SPARK CEO Podcast features Sarah Miller, CTA, President and CEO at Destination Ann Arbor.
This episode of the Ann Arbor SPARK CEO Podcast features Kristine Nash-Wong Director, Entrepreneurial Services at SPARK East in Ypsilanti.
D giants (KLA, Sartorius, Torc, Wacker) accelerate local innovation; and why mid-sized hubs are becoming magnets for both startups and established companies. If you’re building, scaling, or investing, this session will reveal what high-performing ecosystems outside traditional coastal markets get right—and how companies leverage them for faster, more sustainable growth.
Originally recorded at SXSW 2026: Behind many of the world’s most transformative technologies is a research university. But turning discovery into a scalable company is still one of the hardest journeys in entrepreneurship. In this fireside chat, two founders who launched their companies out of the University of Michigan share the real founder-level story of navigating intellectual property, raising early capital, building teams, validating markets, and crossing the infamous “valley of death.”Moderated by a U-M innovation leader, the conversation explores what support structures matter most for first-time founders, how universities can accelerate (or unintentionally slow) a company’s trajectory, and the lessons learned for entrepreneurs, investors, and research institutions nationwide. Whether you’re commercializing research, scouting university deal flow, or building a startup rooted in deep tech or science, this session offers a rare look inside what it truly takes to go from lab bench to market.
This episode of the Ann Arbor SPARK CEO Podcast features Skip Lupia, Vice President for Research and Innovation at the University of Michigan.
This episode features special guest Greg Gage from Backyard Brains. SPARK.grow is hosted by Dave Haviland of Phimation Strategy Group.
We've upgraded to video! View the full podcast on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKhZpETRvGoThis episode of the Ann Arbor SPARK CEO Podcast features Milton Dohoney from the City of Ann Arbor.
This episode of the Ann Arbor SPARK CEO Podcast features Chris Kowitz from Wacker Chemical.
This episode of the Ann Arbor SPARK CEO Podcast features Erica Chappell from Briarwood Mall.
This episode of the Ann Arbor SPARK CEO Podcast features Jeff Hauptman from Oxford Companies.
This episode of the Ann Arbor SPARK CEO Podcast features Marie Klopf from the Lower Town Riverfront Conservancy.
This episode of the Ann Arbor SPARK CEO Podcast features Kelly Sexton, University of Michigan Innovation Partnerships.
This episode of the Ann Arbor SPARK CEO Podcast features Mandy Grewal, Pittsfield Charter Township.Audio only. This podcast was recorded as a video as well. To view the full video please visit youtube.com/watch?v=3mLwJEhouu4
This episode of the Ann Arbor SPARK CEO Podcast features Cynthia Wilbanks from the University of Michigan.
This episode of the Ann Arbor SPARK CEO Podcast features Tim Marshall from Bank of Ann Arbor.
This episode of the Ann Arbor SPARK CEO Podcast features Stephen Forrest from the University of Michigan.
Interview Featuring Marvin Yates, NSIN and hosted by Sarah Cicotte, Director, Mobility Programs at Ann Arbor SPARK
This episode of the Ann Arbor SPARK CEO Podcast features Nathan Sprague from FAME and WCC.
Are you a founder? Looking for an opportunity to pitch your startup on a national stage? We’re chatting about all things SXSW and what it’s like to compete on their pitch stage. If you’re a founder in Fem-Tech, AI, Mobility, Future of Work-Tech, Climate-Tech, etc., this is the information you need. Check it out!
This episode of the Ann Arbor SPARK CEO Podcast features Mike Psarouthakis from University of Michigan Innovation Partnerships.
This episode of the Ann Arbor SPARK CEO Podcast features Michael Bickers from PNC Bank.
This episode features special guest Rishi Narayan from Underground Printing. SPARK.grow is hosted by Dave Haviland of Phimation Strategy Group.
This episode features special guest Brenda Jones, CEO of Ulendo. SPARK.grow is hosted by Dave Haviland of Phimation Strategy Group.
This episode of the Ann Arbor SPARK CEO Podcast features Skip Simms of Michigan Angel Fund, Michigan Angel Community, and Ann Arbor SPARK.
This episode of the Ann Arbor SPARK CEO Podcast features Kelly Sexton from the University of Michigan.
This episode of the Ann Arbor SPARK CEO Podcast features Reuben Sarkar from the American Center for Mobility.
This episode of the Ann Arbor SPARK CEO Podcast features Catalina Kaiyoorawongs from LoanSense.
This episode of the Ann Arbor SPARK CEO Podcast features Don Hicks, Multiverse Investments.
This episode features special guest Ben Lorenz from Human Element. SPARK.grow is hosted by Dave Haviland of Phimation Strategy Group.
This episode of the Ann Arbor SPARK CEO Podcast features Tara Lanigan from May Mobility.
This episode of the Ann Arbor SPARK CEO Podcast features Bastien Beauchamp of !Important Safety.
This episode of the Ann Arbor SPARK CEO Podcast series features John McLaughlin, Global ESG Leader & Ann Arbor Site Lead at KLA.
This episode of the Ann Arbor SPARK CEO Podcast features David Wilhoit, President and CEO of Wacker Chemical.
It Takes Money is a series of podcasts hosted by Skip Simms featuring angel investors and experts who offer insight on how to invest in startups. In these podcasts we'll discuss the many aspects of angel investing and why they're choosing to invest in Michigan.
It Takes Money is a series of podcasts hosted by Skip Simms featuring angel investors and experts who offer insight on how to invest in startups. In these podcasts we'll discuss the many aspects of angel investing and why they're choosing to invest in Michigan.
It Takes Money is a series of podcasts hosted by Skip Simms featuring angel investors and experts who offer insight on how to invest in startups. In these podcasts we'll discuss the many aspects of angel investing and why they're choosing to invest in Michigan.
It Takes Money is a series of podcasts hosted by Skip Simms featuring angel investors and experts who offer insight on how to invest in startups. In these podcasts we'll discuss the many aspects of angel investing and why they're choosing to invest in Michigan.
It Takes Money is a series of podcasts hosted by Skip Simms featuring angel investors and experts who offer insight on how to invest in startups. In these podcasts we'll discuss the many aspects of angel investing and why they're choosing to invest in Michigan.
It Takes Money is a series of podcasts hosted by Skip Simms featuring angel investors and experts who offer insight on how to invest in startups. In these podcasts we'll discuss the many aspects of angel investing and why they're choosing to invest in Michigan.
It Takes Money is a series of podcasts hosted by Skip Simms featuring angel investors and experts who offer insight on how to invest in startups. In these podcasts we'll discuss the many aspects of angel investing and why they're choosing to invest in Michigan.
It Takes Money is a series of podcasts hosted by Skip Simms featuring angel investors and experts who offer insight on how to invest in startups. In these podcasts we'll discuss the many aspects of angel investing and why they're choosing to invest in Michigan.
It Takes Money is a series of podcasts hosted by Skip Simms featuring angel investors and experts who offer insight on how to invest in startups. In these podcasts we'll discuss the many aspects of angel investing and why they're choosing to invest in Michigan.
It Takes Money is a series of podcasts hosted by Skip Simms featuring angel investors and experts who offer insight on how to invest in startups. In these podcasts we'll discuss the many aspects of angel investing and why they're choosing to invest in Michigan.
It Takes Money is a series of podcasts hosted by Skip Simms featuring angel investors and experts who offer insight on how to invest in startups. In these podcasts we'll discuss the many aspects of angel investing and why they're choosing to invest in Michigan.
It Takes Money is a series of podcasts hosted by Skip Simms featuring angel investors and experts who offer insight on how to invest in startups. In these podcasts we'll discuss the many aspects of angel investing and why they're choosing to invest in Michigan.
It Takes Money is a series of podcasts hosted by Skip Simms featuring angel investors and experts who offer insight on how to invest in startups. In these podcasts we'll discuss the many aspects of angel investing and why they're choosing to invest in Michigan.
It Takes Money is a series of podcasts hosted by Skip Simms featuring angel investors and experts who offer insight on how to invest in startups. In these podcasts we'll discuss the many aspects of angel investing and why they're choosing to invest in Michigan.
It Takes Money is a series of podcasts hosted by Skip Simms featuring angel investors and experts who offer insight on how to invest in startups. In these podcasts we'll discuss the many aspects of angel investing and why they're choosing to invest in Michigan.
It Takes Money is a series of podcasts hosted by Skip Simms featuring angel investors and experts who offer insight on how to invest in startups. In these podcasts we'll discuss the many aspects of angel investing and why they're choosing to invest in Michigan.
It Takes Money is a series of podcasts hosted by Skip Simms featuring angel investors and experts who offer insight on how to invest in startups. In these podcasts we'll discuss the many aspects of angel investing and why they're choosing to invest in Michigan.
This episode features special guest Richard Chang, CEO of NewFoundry. SPARK.grow is hosted by Dave Haviland of Phimation Strategy Group.
This episode features special guest Mike Klein from Genomenon. SPARK.grow is hosted by Dave Haviland of Phimation Strategy Group.
This episode features special guest Casey Alford from Treetown Tech. SPARK.grow is hosted by Dave Haviland of Phimation Strategy Group.
This episode features special guest Gregg Hammerman from Larky.
SPARK.grow is hosted by Dave Haviland of Phimation Strategy Group.
This was our fifth year doing Tech Trek and this year we did something different. Through a partnership with the Ann Arbor District Library we were able to record some live conversations during Tech Trek.
This episode of SPARK.grow features Lisa Sauve and Michael Laurenzano.
This was our fifth year doing Tech Trek and this year we did something different. Through a partnership with the Ann Arbor District Library we were able to record some live conversations during Tech Trek.
This episode of SPARK.grow features Megan Zarembski and Brooke Boyle
This was our fifth year doing Tech Trek and this year we did something different. Through a partnership with the Ann Arbor District Library we were able to record some live conversations during Tech Trek.
This episode of SPARK.grow features Jeremy Peters and Mariah Cherem.
This was our fifth year doing Tech Trek and this year we did something different. Through a partnership with the Ann Arbor District Library we were able to record some live conversations during Tech Trek.
This episode of SPARK.grow features Ann Marie Sastry and Dave Haviland.
This was our fifth year doing Tech Trek and this year we did something different. Through a partnership with the Ann Arbor District Library we were able to record some live conversations during Tech Trek. This episode of SPARK.grow is a bit of an overview of those conversations.
Comcast Business builds tools and services that can help small- and medium-sized businesses grow. In his conversation with Paul Krutko, Ann Arbor SPARK president and CEO, Comcast’s Jeff Marston explains how the company's commitment to providing services that companies need to grow is rooted in the belief that these companies help lift a community with jobs, investments, resources, and services.
Join Jeff, vice president of business services at Comcast, as he and Paul chat about Ann Arbor as a “tech bridge” community with impressive talent, a great mix of small, medium, and large businesses, and a solid investment for businesses looking to succeed.
In 1993, Doug Rothwell moved to Michigan to lead the newly minted Michigan Economic Development Corporation. Today, Doug serves as president and CEO of Business Leaders for Michigan (BLM) — an organization that authored the _Plan for a Stronger Michigan_, a playbook for economic growth.
Listen in as Doug and Paul Krutko, Ann Arbor SPARK president and CEO, discuss the state’s economic progress and future, including how the Ann Arbor region has differentiated itself from the rest of the country.
Governor Rick Snyder, who concludes his two-term tenure as Michigan’s top elected official at the end of 2018, joined Paul Krutko, Ann Arbor SPARK president and CEO for a discussion about how the state’s economic and talent landscape has improved during the past eight years.
Listen as they discuss how the state has strengthened its position within the country, the significance of business attraction efforts like the new KLA-Tencor R&D facility in Ann Arbor, how the region has evolved as a tech hub, the value of talent retention, and the importance of mobility for the state’s continued growth.
The SPARK.grow podcast series continues with Sonja Parker and Kit Dickinson from Integrated Design, Inc.
Chris Sing of Rehmann Ann Arbor, who joined the Ann Arbor SPARK executive committee in 2017, sat down with president and CEO Paul Krutko to discuss the importance of working with experienced advisors when managing personal and business finances.
Join them as they discuss what differentiates Rehmann from other organizations, and how they can help clients with a broad spectrum of financial services, and can even teach businesses to love their numbers.
On the northeast side of Ann Arbor, nestled in the nook of US-23 and M-14, is the iconic Domino’s Farms. Inspired by the architectural designs of Frank Lloyd Wright, the office park is located on 270-acres and shares the property with some unexpected residents — including a herd of bison.
Listen as Domino’s Farms president Paul Roney chats with Paul Krutko, Ann Arbor SPARK president and CEO, about the facility’s history, its unique architecture, and new developments that are on the horizon.
When the new UMS president Matthew VanBeisen left his position as president for the New York Philharmonic and relocated to Ann Arbor, he fielded a lot of questions regarding how he came to that decision.
Now, one year after his transition to the role, Matthew sits down with Ann Arbor SPARK president and CEO Paul Krutko to share with us his impressions of Ann Arbor and how he was surprised to discover how significant the region’s entrepreneurial spirit influences the community and culture.
Yeo & Yeo is a Michigan-based, premier accounting firm with industry-specialized accountants and consultants who provide a wide-range of business, auditing, and accounting solutions. The Ann Arbor office opened in 1998, and today finds itself gravitating toward growth strategies for startups, small businesses, and medium enterprises.
For 10 years, Yeo & Yeo has sponsored the Ann Arbor SPARK FastTrack Awards which recognizes fast-growth “gazelle” companies. The sponsorship extends to the firm’s partnership with SPARK by evaluating the award applications. Thomas Gawne, senior manager at Yeo & Yeo shares with Ann Arbor SPARK’s president and CEO, Paul Krutko, how much Yeo & Yeo values the FastTrack Awards. Hear why Thomas defines the event as a “momentous occasion” as well as receive some great financial advice for businesses!
Ann Arbor is a dynamic destination fueled by personal passions. One such example is Tim Marshall, Bank of Ann Arbor president and CEO — and avid music fan. Tim’s passion spurred 11 seasons of the lunchtime music series Sonic Lunch. Now, with A2Tech360 joining downtown Ann Arbor’s summer line-up, Tim saw another opportunity to give the thousands Tech Trek attendees something to dance to.
Tim joins Jenn Cornell, Ann Arbor SPARK VP of marketing and communications, to chat about the inaugural Tech Trek in 2015, how the event has grown over the years, and how Bank of Ann Arbor is joining the A2Tech360 program by sponsoring Mobility Row and presenting Live @ Tech Trek — a live music event.
Mandy Grewal, Pittsfield Charter Township supervisor, received the Ann Arbor SPARK 2018 Volunteer of the Year award for her dedication and visionary leadership serving on Ann Arbor SPARK’s executive committee and co-chairing its public sector committee.
During a recent conversation with SPARK CEO and president Paul Krutko, Mandy shared how her career in public service began and — after nearly 10 years as Pittsfield supervisor — some of Pittsfield’s greatest successes, from the Lohr-Textile Greenway Loop to welcoming California-based Nexient to the community. During Mandy’s tenure, Pittsfield Township has partnered with Ann Arbor SPARK on 76 projects, resulting in investments greater than $160M, and producing more than 4,000 new jobs.
Mandy also serves on the Southeast Michigan Council of Government’s executive committee, chairing its finance and budget committee, and on both the Huron River Watershed Council and Therapeutic Riding, Inc. boards of directors.
Business banking in the Ann Arbor area is a competitive arena. Ann Arbor SPARK CEO Paul Krutko sat down with Peter Schork, co-founder, president, and CEO of Ann Arbor State Bank to discuss how this bank with local roots works with small to medium sized businesses in the area.
They discuss the recent partnership between their two organizations supporting Back Office Studio, a new co-working space that provides first-hand exposure to Ypsilanti. Schork, an Ypsilanti native, shares how businesses like Back Office Studio support connecting and retaining Ypsi’s talent pool within the city’s vibrant downtown.