Mark Sanchez, Crain’s Grand Rapids Business Journalist Profile

Articles

Perrigo leans on U.S. plants and price hikes to offset $155M tariff hit

1 week ago | crainsgrandrapids.com | Mark Sanchez

Perrigo Co. plc aims to mitigate all of the expected $145 million to $155 million in added gross costs this year related to tariffs, which also could aid sales for the company’s core store-brand products. As consumer confidence in the U.S. sits as a 12-year low, Perrigo’s lowest-cost, over-the-counter medications have seen an increase in sales in the last four weeks, as “consumers are quickly adjusting their buying patterns,” President and CEO Patrick Lockwood-Taylor said.
Auxo Investments Partners acquires family-owned Bay City foundry

1 week ago | crainsgrandrapids.com | Mark Sanchez

Auxo Investment Partners has acquired a family-owned Bay City foundry that specializes in manufacturing heavy steel components. The Grand Rapids-based investment firm closed April 18 on the deal for Bay Cast Inc. and Bay Cast Technologies, an integrated steel casting and precision machining company.
Wolverine pulls guidance despite strong quarter, citing tariff threat

1 week ago | crainsgrandrapids.com | Mark Sanchez

Wolverine World Wide Inc. withdrew sales and earnings guidance for 2025, citing the economic uncertainty from tariffs on and by China. Even though the Rockford-based footwear and apparel marketer significantly reduced sourcing from China since 2019 and expects to further scale back by 2026, the company “felt prudent given the dynamic situation” with tariffs in withdrawing full-year guidance, said President and CEO Chris Hufnagel.
Michigan lawmakers push tough new penalties for misuse of independent contractors

1 week ago | crainsgrandrapids.com | Mark Sanchez

As federal regulators move to review rules on independent contractors, some state lawmakers in Michigan are pushing legislation to toughen state requirements and penalties for willful violations by companies using the workers. Senate Bill 6 and 7 would limit the ability of employers to use independent contractors and increase penalties for companies that intentionally misclassify employees.
Stryker raises forecast on strong sales despite $200M tariff hit

1 week ago | crainsgrandrapids.com | Mark Sanchez

Executives at Stryker Corp. expect to offset an estimated $200 million financial hit this year from tariffs.
Former Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss joins MSU medical school

2 weeks ago | crainsgrandrapids.com | Mark Sanchez

Former Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss has a new job. Bliss, who was term limited and left office at the end of 2024 after sering two four-year terms as mayor, started today at the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine as assistant dean and chief external relations officer. In the role, Bliss oversees communications and marketing, community engagement and outreach, government and hospital relations and industry partnerships for the medical school.
Trio of Corewell hospitals in West Michigan earn top grades in latest safety report

2 weeks ago | crainsgrandrapids.com | Mark Sanchez

Three Corewell Health-owned community hospitals in West Michigan earned top grades in the latest report card on patient safety. The national patient safety advocacy organization The Leapfrog Group awarded an “A” to Corewell Health hospitals in Greenville, Ludington and Zeeland.
Family-owned Ada freight brokerage sells to like-minded buyer

2 weeks ago | crainsgrandrapids.com | Mark Sanchez

A family-owned freight brokerage whose owners were looking to sell after 21 years has found a buyer that aligned with their business model and values. Ada-based Ada Logistics Corp. has been sold to Boston, Mass.-based AGL Group LLC in a deal that closed March 31. Founded in 2004 by Todd and Sheri Konwinski, Ada Logistics specializes in truckload, less-than-truckload, and specialized freight services in 49 states and Canada through a network of more than 6,000 independent freight carriers.
Developer plans 37-unit apartment project on Grand Haven’s ‘neglected’ east side

2 weeks ago | crainsgrandrapids.com | Mark Sanchez

After focusing on large apartment projects elsewhere in Michigan for the last few years, Westwind Construction Co.’s latest development will occur just outside of Joe Oleszczuk’s second-floor office window. The Grand Haven firm plans to develop a 0.43-acre site that sits nearly within the shadow of its corporate headquarters into a 37-unit apartment complex on the city’s east side that has not seen new housing development for many years.
Trump administration cancels $3M grant supporting rural Michigan entrepreneurs

2 weeks ago | crainsgrandrapids.com | Mark Sanchez

The Trump administration canceled a federal grant for a Michigan community lender that supports entrepreneurs across the state. The $3 million, four-year Capital Readiness Program grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency funds Northern Initiatives’ work to support entrepreneurs in rural areas of Michigan.