Community Capital

On this special edition of Community Capital, Jennifer Bond sits down with Dorothy Harrison from Bank of Ann Arbor Livingston to talk about Brighton's Smokin' Rock-N-Blues Festival returning to Downtown Brighton on September 11th and 12th. The conversation covers the lineup, the barbecue contest, the rockin' kidpreneurs, and what it means to kick off the festival on the 25th anniversary of September 11th with a tribute to first responders.Smokin' Rock-N-Blues runs Friday September 11th from 5 to 10pm and Saturday September 12th from noon to 10pm in Downtown Brighton.
 Event Website: https://business.brightoncoc.org/events/details/2026-brighton-smokin-rock-n-blues-festival-48590 
 Timestamps00:00:00 Festival Overview and History00:04:09 Barbecue Contest and Kidpreneurs00:08:11 Festival Logistics and Atmosphere00:12:35 Event Schedule and Final Invitations
 
Show LinksLearn more about the Brighton Chamber by visiting our website.Website: https://www.brightoncoc.org/

On this episode of Community Capital, Rob sits down with John Alban, Vice President of Michigan Clear Water. John shares how a referral from a common contact led him to leave an 18-year career in office equipment, take a leap with a 3-month-old at home, and build a bottleless water cooler company from the ground up. Ten years later, Michigan Clearwater covers the entire state and is just getting started on its next phase of growth.  Guest Links:Website: https://mclearwater.com/  Timestamps00:00 Starting Michigan Clear Water03:16 Growth, Services, and Maintenance06:04 Evolution, Pandemic Resilience, and Lessons09:35 Future Expansion and Customer Engagement12:08 Reflections on Entrepreneurship
 
Show LinksLearn more about the Brighton Chamber by visiting our website.Website: https://www.brightoncoc.org/

On this episode of Community Capital, Rob sits down with Chris Berry, founder of Castle Wealth Group in Brighton. Chris is one of the few professionals in Livingston County who is both a certified elder law attorney and a certified financial planner, and he built his practice around a simple idea: your legal, financial, and tax planning should work together instead of against each other. The conversation covers what elder law actually is, why nursing home costs catch so many families off guard, and why waiting too long to plan is the most expensive mistake people make. Guest Links:Website: https://castlewealthgroup.com/  Timestamps00:00:00 Integrated Wealth and Legacy Planning00:03:33 The Importance of Fiduciary Guidance00:07:31 Proactive Elder Law Planning00:08:56 Community Growth and Educational Resources
 
Show LinksLearn more about the Brighton Chamber by visiting our website.Website: https://www.brightoncoc.org/

On this episode of Community Capital, Rob sits down with Sweta Patel, founder and pharmacist at Brighton RX Pharmacy. After nearly 24 years in the industry, Sweta made the decision to leave corporate pharmacy behind and build something different: a place where patients are known by name, questions actually get answered, and healthcare feels personal again.
 
Guest Links:
Website: https://brightonrxpharmacy.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brightonrxpharmacy/
 
Timestamps
00:00:00 Transitioning from Corporate to Independent Pharmacy
00:03:00 Future Growth and Patient Services
 
 
Show LinksLearn more about the Brighton Chamber by visiting our website.Website: https://www.brightoncoc.org/

On this special live edition of Community Capital, Chamber President and CEO Karen Storey sits down with Sandy Rachwal and Jerrad Beauchamp of Beauchamp Water Treatment Solutions at the Country Boots and Beats Festival. The conversation covers how a dad taking apart a water softener in a basement in 1976 turned into one of the most community-minded businesses in Livingston County, and what the 322 initiative means for people around the world who don't have access to clean water. Guest Links:Website: https://www.beauchampwater.com/  Timestamps00:00:00 Beauchamp’s Community Impact00:05:01 The History and Vision of Beauchamp00:11:43 Understanding the 322 Initiative00:14:08 Reflections on American Values
Show LinksLearn more about the Brighton Chamber by visiting our website.Website: https://www.brightoncoc.org/

On this episode of Community Capital, Rob sits down with Elyse Moore, founder and co-owner of McClements Farm Country Store on Main Street in Brighton. Elyse shares the winding road that brought her from freeze-drying fruit on a hobby farm to navigating a toxic business partnership, losing her storefront, and landing in a space she never could have planned for. The conversation covers what it really means to build a business around mission instead of margin, why chasing trends is usually a losing game, and what faith has to do with entrepreneurship.
Guest Links:Website: https://www.mcclementsfarmcountrystore.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mcclementsfarm/ Timestamps00:00 The Evolution of McClements Farm01:53 Overcoming Business Conflict07:08 Developing Thick Skin and Leadership11:03 Curating a Unique Retail Experience15:07 Products, Growth, and Milestones18:47 Business Mission and Values23:59 Long-Term Strategy and Future Vision
Show LinksLearn more about the Brighton Chamber by visiting our website.Website: https://www.brightoncoc.org/

On this episode of Community Capital, Rob sits down with Chijioke "CJ" Nwabuike, founder of Malachi's House of Hope and iPrecari Fingerprinting. CJ shares the story of his son Malachi, born with a rare and complex cardiac condition, and how a week-long trip to Chicago during COVID turned into a year away from home. That experience became the foundation for a nonprofit that helps families navigate the financial and emotional weight of caring for a medically fragile child. In less than a year, Malachi's House of Hope has already helped over ten families and is just getting started. This one is worth your time.
Guest Links: Malachi's House of Hope: https://www.malachishouseofhope.org/iPrecari Fingerprinting: https://www.iprecari.com/
Timestamps00:00 Introducing CJ Nwabuike & iPrecari03:35 Malachi’s House of Hope: Mission and Origin07:23 Impact and Surprises11:09 Navigating Challenges and Fraud14:45 How to Support Malachi’s House of Hope
Show LinksLearn more about the Brighton Chamber by visiting our website.Website: https://www.brightoncoc.org/

On this episode of Community Capital, Rob sits down with Melissa Rollins, founder of A Beyoutiful Balance Skin Care in Brighton, along with team members Olivia Kamal and Katelin Orrico. Melissa breaks down what intentional skincare actually looks like, why so much of what gets pushed on social media does more harm than good, and how treating the whole person, not just the skin, is what sets their approach apart.
 
Website: https://www.abeyoutifulbalance.com/
 Timestamps00:00 Intentional Skincare Philosophy03:26 Holistic Skin Care & Education06:05 Building Trust and Community
Show LinksLearn more about the Brighton Chamber by visiting our website.Website: https://www.brightoncoc.org/