Max Loves Midland

Caring for Animals, Supporting People with Jesse Fletcher

In this episode of the Max Loves Midland Show, host Kevin LaDuke sits down with Jesse Fletcher, Executive Director of the Humane Society of Midland County, to talk about her journey through the Great Lakes Bay Region, her path into nonprofit leadership, and the powerful connection between people and animals. Jesse shares how her career led her from the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce to United Way of Midland County and eventually to the Humane Society, where she has helped strengthen the organization’s structure, storytelling, and focus on the human-animal bond. The conversation explores the everyday work of caring for animals, the cost of operating a shelter, the importance of volunteers and donors, and why the Humane Society is more than a place for adoptions. Jesse also talks about programs like Midland Youth Promoting Animal Welfare, partnerships with other animal organizations, Give Local Midland, and how the Humane Society’s endowment fund helps provide low-cost and free services that keep pets in loving homes. Through it all, Jesse reflects on Midland as a welcoming community and shares her hopes for a future where more people feel accepted, supported, and empowered to thrive.

Live Oak's Shelter and Strength with Renee' Deckrow

In this episode of the Max Loves Midland Show, Kevin LaDuke sits down with Renee’ Deckrow, co-owner of Live Oak Coffeehouse and a driving force behind the Ashman Plaza, for a heartfelt conversation about community, belonging, and the power of creating spaces where people feel welcome. Renee’ shares the journey that brought her family to Midland, the organic growth of Live Oak from a dream into a regional business with five locations, and the deeper purpose behind the Ashman Plaza as a home for artists, entrepreneurs, families, and dreamers. The episode also explores the vision for the MYPros Community Crowdfund campaign supporting improvements to the Loft, a cross-generational space used for Little Midland play, young adult lounge nights, and community gatherings. Along the way, Renee’ reflects on hospitality, public art, small business, and her hope that Midland continues to be a place where people feel loved, heard, and inspired to put down roots.

The Good Life with John Metcalf

In this episode of the Max Loves Midland Show, Kevin LaDuke sits down with longtime Midlander John Metcalf, a designer, volunteer, storyteller, and community builder whose life journey stretches from rural Ohio to Japan and ultimately to Midland, Michigan. John shares how his early love of art and reading led him into industrial design, how living and working in Japan shaped his worldview, and how that experience eventually connected him to Midland through a career in exhibit design and a deep commitment to community life. The conversation explores John’s work through Good Design Group, his passion for museum storytelling, his involvement with the Midland-Handa Sister City relationship, and his volunteer leadership with Public Arts Midland and MCTV. Along the way, he reflects on the power of cultural exchange, the importance of civic participation, and why Midland has felt like home for nearly three decades. It is a thoughtful and wide-ranging conversation about design, belonging, creativity, and what it means to invest in a place and its people.

Destination Midland with Rhiannon Gonzales

In this episode of the Max Loves Midland Show, Kevin LaDuke sits down with Rhiannon Gonzales, Midland Destination Ambassador for Go Great Lakes Bay, to talk about what it means to love where you live and help others discover it, too. From the Midland Visitor Center on Main Street to regional gems like Dow Gardens, the Alden B. Dow Home and Studio, Dow Diamond, the Midland Center for the Arts, and so many local favorites in between, Rhiannon shares how tourism strengthens communities, why residents are some of the best ambassadors a place can have, and how the Great Lakes Bay Region continues to shine through its people, small businesses, and shared sense of pride. The conversation also explores Rhiannon’s personal journey from growing up in the region to building her career in hospitality and tourism, her love for Midland’s welcoming energy, and her hopes for a future rooted in inclusivity, momentum, and community support. Whether you are a lifelong local or seeing Midland through a fresh lens, this episode is a reminder that when we champion the places we call home, we help create communities where people want to visit, stay, and thrive.

New (NU) Ideas with Patrick McElgunn

On this episode of the Max Loves Midland Show, Kevin LaDuke sits down with Patrick McElgunn, director of the Alden B. Dow Center for Creativity and Enterprise at Northwood University, to talk about entrepreneurship, placemaking, family life, and why Midland continues to be a community worth investing in. Patrick reflects on growing up in Midland, leaving, and ultimately finding his way back to build a life with his wife Shannon and their three children. Along the way, he shares how his journey took him from coaching lacrosse and launching a basement equipment business to supporting entrepreneurs through the Small Business Development Center, co-owning Grove Tea Lounge, and now helping students and community members bring ideas to life through the Northwood Idea Center. The conversation also explores the impact of the MYPros Community Crowdfund, the importance of creating welcoming third spaces, and Patrick’s hope that future generations will see Midland not as a place to leave behind, but as a place to return to, invest in, and help shape for years to come.

Brewing Business with Ben Marsh

In this episode of the Max Loves Midland Show, Kevin LaDuke sits down with Ben Marsh, co-founder of Creation Coffee, third generation Midlander, husband, and new dad, to talk about the unexpected journey that turned a college coffee hobby into one of Michigan’s largest coffee roasting operations. As Creation Coffee approaches its 10 year anniversary, Ben shares the origin story behind the business, from discovering a “life changing cup of coffee” in college to roasting beans in a garage with a $2 popcorn popper found at a Midland thrift store. What started as a way to make better coffee on a college budget quickly evolved into selling bags to friends and family, then to customers at the Midland Area Farmers Market, and eventually into a growing company with wholesale partnerships, multiple café locations in Midland, Saginaw, Frankenmuth, and Mount Pleasant, and a fifth location on the way through franchising in Wisconsin. Throughout the conversation, Ben reflects on growing up in Midland, leaving to pursue a career in advertising in cities like New York, Richmond, and Los Angeles, and ultimately returning home to build something tangible and meaningful in the community that raised him. Kevin and Ben also explore how Creation Coffee became more than just a coffee company, touching on the role local businesses play in shaping community culture, creating opportunities for young people, and helping Midland become a place where talent can stay and thrive. Ben shares stories about the early days of the business, partnerships with other local coffee pioneers, the importance of the Midland Farmers Market as a launchpad for entrepreneurs, and the unexpected responsibility that comes with leading a growing team. As Creation has expanded into roasting, equipment distribution, and multiple cafés, Ben says one of the most rewarding parts has been creating meaningful jobs and empowering employees to grow their skills and careers. The conversation also dives into Midland life outside of coffee, from childhood bike rides across town and legendary backyard wiffle ball tournaments to the joy of raising a family in a walkable community with access to trails, parks, and local gathering spaces. Ben even maps out his ideal day in Midland, featuring stops at Creation Coffee, Downtown Midland, the Tridge, Pizza Baker, the Chippewa Nature Center, Veedu Cuisine, Witchcraft Taproom, and Nord Social. Whether you are a coffee enthusiast, an aspiring entrepreneur, or simply someone who cares about the future of Midland, this episode highlights how passion, community support, and a little curiosity can grow into something much bigger than expected. Ben closes the conversation by sharing his hopes for the future of Midland, envisioning a community known for its thriving food, beverage, and hospitality scene, where locally owned businesses continue to grow and collaborate to make Midland a vibrant place to live, work, and raise a family.

Building Neighborhoods & Community Through Homes with Jenifer Acosta

This Week on the Max Loves Midland Show: Jennifer “Jen” Acosta (Housing Forward)
 
What does it really take for Midland to be a place people choose to stay, build a life, and thrive? This week, Kevin LaDuke sits down with Jennifer “Jen” Acosta, a hockey mom, poms mom, real estate developer, and one of the leading voices behind Housing Forward, an initiative working to expand attainable housing, livability, and long-term opportunity across Midland County.
 
Jen’s story starts with a choice. With roots in Michigan and experience beyond it, she and her family intentionally chose Midland over a more “transient” lifestyle elsewhere because they wanted deep roots, strong schools, and a community where people know each other and show up for each other. From there, the conversation opens into what Jen calls being “an urbanist at heart,” and why neighborhood design, walkability, safety, and comfort for all ages are not “nice to have” features but building blocks of a resilient community.
 
Kevin and Jen dig into the bigger housing realities shaping Midland’s future, including how household needs have changed, why “housing choice” matters, and why employers are now asking a question economic developers can’t avoid: how many housing starts do you have? They also talk about the mismatch between the homes we primarily have and the households we’re becoming, along with what it means when residents want options beyond the traditional two-lane road of “single-family only” or “large multi-family only.”
 
You’ll also hear Jen break down:
What Housing Forward is and why it exists
Why housing is as essential to a community’s future as roads and schools
How can thoughtful development strengthen neighborhoods and often increase home values?
What “missing middle” housing can look like in real life, including multi-generational solutions that support caregiving and help families build wealth
Why local ownership matters for community wealth building and long-term stability
How Midland can reduce commuter risk and retain talent when nearly 19,000 people work in Midland but don’t live here
What everyday residents can do to support smarter housing solutions, starting with curiosity and asking better questions
Plus, Jen shares a few fun snapshots along the way, including the sports parent lifestyle, her love of baking, a “Midwest nice” moment that stuck with her husband, and her ideal spring day in Midland (yes, it starts with crepes and coffee).
 
If you care about Midland’s future, talent retention, livability, and what it will take to build a community of opportunity and choice over the next decade, this episode is for you.
 
Learn more about Housing Forward: find information through the Midland Business Alliance website, and follow along on Facebook and LinkedIn.
 
Mark your calendar: Jen also shares details about the Regional Housing Summit on March 4 at the Midland Center for the Arts. It’s free and open to the public, with online registration available.
 
And as always, for a full schedule of what’s happening around Midland County, visit MaxLovesMidland.com and explore the community calendar.
 
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United in Hope with Holly Miller

Holly Miller, President and CEO of United Way of Midland County, joins Kevin to share how her journey from the creative industry into nonprofit leadership has shaped her life. The two stress the importance of this year's United Way Community Campaign. She explains that United Way is an impact organization that listens, uses data, and convenes partners. Hence, resources reach people efficiently, and she underscores that campaign dollars are the how, not the what. The 2025 community campaign runs primarily from early September through early November. This year's goal is $ 4.4 million to fund programs aligned with Midland's most pressing needs. Holly invites everyone to take part by giving what they can, volunteering, or lending their voice, and she notes that current matching opportunities can double individual gifts at unitedwaymidland.org.