Planning for the future isn’t just about 401(k)s and forecasts. Around Greater Lansing, it looks like inclusive business plans, legacy giving and choosing wellness are the ultimate goals. This month, we asked local voices what “planning ahead” really means — and their answers went beyond the financials. From accessible bakeries to nonprofit impact, they’re investing in people, purpose and a future with heart.
Bob Hoffman | Founder, ePIFanyNow
Q: If you had a million dollars to donate but had to spend it all in Lansing, where would it go?
A: If I had a million dollars to give back to Lansing, I’d spread it across the organizations changing lives every day: Capital Area Humane Society, Ele’s Place, The Davies Project, Hospice of Lansing, the Community Foundation, Positive Somebody, Child and Family Charities, ePIFanyNow, and so many more. Each one meets people and families at their most vulnerable and turns compassion into real impact.
Catherine Blatnik | Owner, Baked Goods by Dominic
Q: If you had a million dollars to donate but had to spend it all in Lansing, where would it go?
A: If I had a million dollars to invest in Lansing, I’d open a bakery that hires individuals with disabilities. Right now, there isn’t one like that in town. Since 2020, my adult son and I have run a successful Michigan Cottage Foods business, and we’ve met so many families facing the same challenge: A shortage of job opportunities for people with more severe disabilities.
The million would let us build a training facility where future employees could learn job skills and eventually transition into a brick-and-mortar bakery. We’d bring on job coaches and professionals. The space would have lower ovens and counters for wheelchair users, Braille training manuals, sign language interpreters and other accommodations to create an inclusive, accessible environment for all.
Grant Hendrickson | President, Share the Music Foundation
Q: What does “planning for the future” mean to you — professionally and personally?
A: Planning for the future is about making space for both vision and flexibility. Professionally, it means setting clear goals — growing in my craft, pursuing new opportunities and building something lasting, while staying ready to pivot when life takes an unexpected turn.
Personally, it’s about aligning my choices with the life I want to lead — making time for family, prioritizing health and investing in experiences that bring joy. For me, planning isn’t about scripting every detail; it’s about setting a direction I believe in and adjusting when I need to.
Fonda Brewer | Supervisor, Delta Township
Q: What does “planning for the future” mean to you — professionally and personally?
A: At 65, my future is wellness first — mind, body and soul. The rest is simple: Be a light. This world is starving for hope and love.
Dave Busch
Dave Busch is a creative advertising writer with a knack for big ideas and memorable messaging. Off the clock, he and his wife have a hobby farm populated by rescue animals – including goats, chickens, peafowl, ducks, cats, a dog and one potbelly pig named William.
