How Businesses are Giving Back

Great Lakes Bay Magazine checked in with local business owners on why it is important to contribute to the community they serve and how they are giving back.

Dennis Hoeg

Vice President and North America Division President, Nexteer

Nexteer has called the Great Lakes Bay Region home for 100-plus years, and we have a strong history of volunteering and supporting our community in ways that engage our employees and make a difference in people’s lives. Corporate citizenship is a core part of our culture because we believe in making tomorrow better than today. Our efforts focus on partnerships, STEM education and strengthening our neighborhoods. This year, we also supported local flood relief and the fight against COVID-19 with medical face mask production.

Rob Thomas

Nursery Manager and Horticulturist, Artisans Landscaping

I have always looked at the local community as an extension of our business, sort of a marriage of sorts. We couldn’t thrive without them, so we always like to give back. We help each other out and we pick each other up. We sponsor many youth leagues; we donate time, labor and materials to local projects; we donate items to local chapters for different outings or fundraisers; and we get involved with local festivities such as parades and festivals. It is important to be seen not only as a business but a business that cares and supports the community as that same community supports you.

Margie Brown

General Manager, City Market

Giving back within our community allows our community to prosper. City Market has always given back to the community — it’s actually part of our mission statement. In fact, we are about to introduce a new fun way of giving back called the “City Market Show Some Love” program. City Market be partnering with multiple nonprofits in our area where 10% of our weekly sales will be donated to that nonprofit during their “partnered” week, with different nonprofits each week being helped.