If you are a business owner, or thinking of becoming one, in Muskegon County, a small but powerful media initiative may already be working for you. The podcast and radio show Muskegon Means Business, hosted by WJLQ (99.7 FM), is filling a gap for the area’s entrepreneurs, start-ups and small businesses.
A show built for business owners, and the community
Muskegon Means Business is the only FM radio program in Muskegon County dedicated exclusively to the business community. Its mission: to provide information about available resources, practical business-management techniques, and to showcase entrepreneurs who are building success locally.
The show airs weekly as one-hour episodes, and each show is also archived online, making it easy to catch up whenever convenient.
The decision to launch this show is part of WJLQ’s broader vision: combining traditional radio broadcasting with digital formats like podcasts and streaming to reach listeners near and far, and to remain relevant in today’s evolving media environment.
Voices behind the mic: Passion, mentoring and real-world business insight
At the core of Muskegon Means Business is host Dennis Warren. Warren is Vice-Chairman of the local chapter of the organization SCORE, a nationwide mentoring network for small businesses under the SBA. Formerly a business executive with deep experience in operations and supply-chain management, Warren brings insight grounded in decades of real-world business experience.
Warren says the show is born out of his long history of mentoring entrepreneurs, and though this is his first time hosting a radio show, he is confident the format will allow him to extend that guidance to a wider audience.
In addition to Warren, each episode often includes rotating co-hosts and guest entrepreneurs, local business owners, resource providers, and even representatives of groups such as chambers of commerce. That mix helps provide a diversity of perspectives, as well as actionable information about what it takes to build and sustain a business locally.
Why this matters for Muskegon’s business community
For many local entrepreneurs, having access to mentors, best practices, and real-life stories is more valuable than any generic business guidebook. Muskegon Means Business gives listeners that, in a format that is local, relevant, and practical.
Because episodes are archived online, business owners can revisit useful content as they grow or encounter new challenges. For new entrepreneurs or start-ups, the show can serve as both inspiration and a practical roadmap.
Moreover, the show provides a community hub: through guest interviews and rotating local contributors, WJLQ, and Muskegon Means Business, help connect people, highlight resources, and promote collaboration.
A Muskegon resource with reach and potential
As a licensed low-power FM radio station, WJLQ (99.7 FM) has limited broadcast power, but its impact is amplified by streaming and podcasting, allowing local business stories and resources to reach beyond the immediate broadcast area.
Given the breadth of local entrepreneurs, start-ups, and small businesses across Muskegon County, from manufacturing to retail, services to creative ventures, a show like Muskegon Means Business could become a cornerstone resource.
It also offers local organizations, chambers of commerce, community development groups, resource networks, a chance to amplify their message and support local business at no cost: the show invites partners to contribute 15-minute on-air updates, recorded in studio or by phone.
In short: A smart, community-centered voice for Muskegon Business
Muskegon Means Business stands out because it is local, purposeful, and grounded in real experience, not flashy or national, but relevant to the entrepreneurs, start-ups, and small businesses who make Muskegon County tick.
With an experienced host, a collaborative model, and a commitment to practical help, the podcast is exactly the kind of resource a growing business community needs. For anyone in Muskegon, whether already running a company or thinking about launching one, tuning in could pay dividends.
Here our Managing Partner Brent Raeth and the White Lake Chamber Executive Director Stephanie Ware on Episode 10 of the Podcast.
Check out all our community related here and if you love local businesses check out our “We Build This White Lake Podcast,” that highlights our local businesses.
