Maner Costerisan Strengthens West Michigan Presence Through Baker Holtz Merger

November 17, 2025 - Maner Costerisan announced the merger of Baker Holtz, a respected Grand Rapids-based accounting and advisory firm, effective Jan. 1, 2026. The agreement, officially signed in late October, marks a major milestone in Maner Costerisan’s five-year growth vision to expand its service capabilities and deepen its presence across West Michigan. 

The merger brings together two firms that share a strong commitment to integrity, exceptional client service, and community involvement. Baker Holtz’s three partners and 28 team members will join Maner Costerisan’s growing West Michigan operation, expanding the firm’s reach and resources for clients statewide.  

“This merger is an exciting and strategic step forward for both of our firms,” said Trey Williams, CPA, president of Maner Costerisan. “We’ve been intentional about expanding in the Grand Rapids market through internal growth and now through acquisition. Partnering with Baker Holtz allows us to bring even greater access and resources to our clients—while continuing to foster the people-first culture that defines who we are.” 

Maner Costerisan opened its Grand Rapids office in 2019 and is currently expanding to a 15,000-square-foot suite designed to support current team members, welcome Baker Holtz colleagues, and provide room for continued growth. The Baker Holtz team will remain in their current downtown Grand Rapids office throughout the 2026 tax season before relocating to Maner’s expanded office later in the spring. 

“Joining forces with Maner Costerisan gives our clients access to expanded resources and additional expertise, without sacrificing the personal relationships and attention they’ve come to expect,” said Ryan Holtz, CPA, CGMA, managing partner of Baker Holtz. “Both firms share the same values and dedication to our people, our team, and West Michigan.” 

Together, the combined firm will include more than 225 professionals focused on delivering comprehensive, forward-thinking financial and business solutions to clients across Michigan. The merger enhances the firm’s ability to drive growth, support local businesses, and give back to the communities it serves.

AVS Broadband Sets Statewide Example in Effort to End Human Trafficking

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AVS Broadband Sets Statewide Example in Effort to End Human Trafficking
Company encourages other ISPs to join effort to combat human trafficking statewide

PIGEON, Mich., November 11, 2025 – AVS Broadband, a leading internet service provider serving Michigan’s Thumb and Northern Regions, has become the first ISP in Michigan to achieve Operation IFast (Internet-Focused Anti-Sex-Trafficking) certification from The Guardian Group, marking a major step forward in Michigan’s efforts to curb human trafficking.
 
As part of its certification process, AVS Broadband partnered closely with the Huron County Sheriff’s Department and the Village of Pigeon Police Department to strengthen coordination between internet providers and local law enforcement. The collaboration aims to improve community-based awareness, detection and reporting of potential trafficking activity, all while maintaining strict respect for customer privacy. 

Operation IFast is a nationwide initiative that equips internet service providers with training and tools to recognize and report activity that could indicate human trafficking. Participation in IFast does not involve surveilling customers’ internet traffic, but rather focuses on educating staff to detect suspicious activity, and responsible communication with law enforcement when appropriate. 

“We’re honored to be the first ISP in Michigan to earn IFast certification, but our hope is that we won’t be the last,” said Barb Main, director of AVS Broadband. “Our partnerships with the Huron County Sheriff’s Department and the Village of Pigeon Police Department show what’s possible when service providers and public safety agencies work together for the good of our communities.” 

AVS Broadband’s achievement reflects a broader commitment by its parent company, Agri-Valley Communications, Inc. (AVCI), to expand this training throughout its family of businesses, including Pigeon Telephone, Thumb Cellular, AVS Broadband and the AVS Tech Team. The goal is to have majority of its staff trained in human trafficking detection and response. 

“Our mission has always been to bring big city services to our rural communities,” said Edwin H. Eichler, president and CEO of AVCI. “Now, through the Operation IFast program, we’re taking that mission a step further by helping ensure the communities we serve are safe from the exploitation and harm of human trafficking.” 

AVS Broadband is calling on other Michigan ISPs to pursue Operation IFast certification and join the growing coalition of telecommunications providers using their platforms to promote awareness, prevention, and response efforts related to human trafficking. 

For more information about Operation IFast program participation, visit: guardiangroup.org/operation-ifast/

  About AVS Broadband

 AVS Broadband is a residential and commercial broadband provider serving Michigan’s Thumb and Northern regions.

 The company’s internet offerings are delivered via fiber-optic, fixed wireless and next-gen DSL networks. As Michigan’s first Smart Rural CommunityTM provider, AVS is committed to expanding vital internet connectivity to rural regions of the state.

Founded in 1996, AVS Broadband is a family-owned company. It is a subsidiary of Agri-Valley Communications and is headquartered in Pigeon, Michigan. avsbroadband.com

About Guardian Group

 Guardian Group is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that uses open-source intelligence (OSINT) to identify victims of sex trafficking online. The publicly available information they find is passed to resource-constrained law enforcement agencies, free of charge, for action.

 Through their unique volunteer program, Project 1591, everyday citizens with digital skills can also contribute to this critical mission, resulting in victims being offered a path to freedom faster.

 To learn more or donate, visit www.guardiangroup.org.

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Media Contact

 Richard Kuhn

AVCI Media Group

989-453-4444 (office)          

mediagroup@avci.net

MEC Announces Winners of Annual Fiber Cup Esports Tournament

Contact: Grant Zamora
Communications Specialist
Midwest Energy & Communications
Cell: 269-365-6226

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 10, 2025

(Cassopolis, MI) – Midwest Energy & Communications (MEC), in partnership with Southwestern Michigan College (SMC), held the third annual Fiber Cup esports video game tournament in southwest Michigan on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025.

Ten teams of three competed in a double-elimination Rocket League tournament hosted in the MEC Esports Arena at SMC’s Barbara Wood Building. Prizes included Steam Decks for the winning team, gift cards for second and third place winners, and a donation to any schools whose affiliated teams placed in the top three.

After several very competitive matches, three teams came out on top:

1.       Scary Aftershock (unaffiliated)

2.       Wildcats (Jenison High School)

3.       Ball Chasers (Tecumseh High School)

Also in attendance were teams representing Bangor High School, Watervliet High School, Constantine High School, Marcellus High School, and Ross Beatty High School in Cassopolis, plus teams with students from Lawrence High School, Detroit Catholic Central High School, and Coloma High School.

MEC and SMC are proud to offer the Fiber Cup each year as an opportunity for students from around the state to discover MEC, SMC, and southwest Michigan towns like Dowagiac. It also allows local students the opportunity to enjoy an esports event without setting aside the time and resources to travel to cities like Grand Rapids, Lansing, or Detroit, where esports events are more common.

MEC is proud to support local esports programs as a way to give students an opportunity to develop teamwork, communication, and other life skills that are usually practiced in traditional team sports such as football. MEC sees investment in students’ present as an investment in the future of the vibrant, relevant, sustainable rural communities of south Michigan.

About MEC Esports Arena

The Midwest Energy & Communications Esports Arena is located in the Barbara Wood Building at Southwestern Michigan College. The space provides students with opportunities to compete in national esports championships, developing interpersonal and technical skills and setting them up for future success.

About Midwest Energy & Communications

Midwest Energy & Communications provides electricity, propane, and fiber internet to over 40,000 consumers in 15 counties across southern Michigan, northern Indiana, and Ohio.

About Southwestern Michigan College

Southwestern Michigan College serves roughly 1,800 students each year and operates on two campuses in Dowagiac, Michigan and Niles, Michigan.

Shirley Bloomfield speaks at ComPulse

FOR RELEASE

East Lansing, MI
September 9, 2025

 Shirley Bloomfield speaks at ComPulse

ComPulse attendees enjoyed NTCA-The Rural Broadband Association’s CEO Shirley Bloomfield’s key note speech, “What’s Next?”.  The Members of the Broadband Association of Michigan (BAM) gathered in East Lansing for their annual ComPulse Networking conference.  Shirley shared her insight built on more than 35 years of rural telecommunications business and relationships with regulators and legislators in DC and BAM colleagues in all 50 states!  Highlights of the speech focused on Universal Service Fund (USF), FCC actions and Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) and other federal grant funding.  

USF has been the hottest issue for the industry in the last few years with the lawsuits ultimately being settled in favor of continuing the USF.  Shirley noted that there are many imminent opportunities for the Congress to modernize the USF and encouraged continued discussion with the Workgroup in DC.

On the topic of the FCC, Shirley warned that the deregulation push at the FCC is promising, but “there are some other things that are getting caught up in this big net of deregulatory efforts that could also have a financial impact on everyone in this room.”  Issues such as the Broadband Map, de-tariffing and special access are areas for the industry to monitor.

Lastly, BEAD is well on its way toward implementation with strong leadership at NTIA and USDA’s ReConnect continues in the Farm Bill.  But the shift in focus from scalable infrastructure, which was highlighted during COVID, when the IIJA was passed, to getting broadband to Americans as quickly and as cheaply as possible has occurred in 2025.  Shirley noted that “it is a really really different feel in Washington right now… I don’t know if it was DOGE … or Musk, but the interfacing I have been doing with Congress lately has been ‘just enough’ has been good enough for rural.”  Monitoring and advocating for continued scalable broadband grant programs will take work by rural broadband providers. 

Many conversations and discussions on technology and customer service continued after Ms. Bloomfield’s general session speech at ComPulse.  Thank you, Shirley for your insight!

Media Contact: Joelle Demand, President, Joelle@mibroadband.org

Press Release (.pdf)

BAM Says Thank you to Past Chair and Welcomes New Chair

Barb Main Helped Steer BAM During a Year of Transitions

When Barb Main (Pigeon Telephone) took over as Chair of the BAM Board of Directors last September, she presided over historical staff and member transitions within the association. Barb was instrumental in making the process as smooth as possible. On behalf of the entire Board and staff at BAM, we thank Barb for her leadership during an eventful year!

Chris Bogner Elected BAM Board Chair

The Board of Directors unanimously elected Chris Bogner (Carr Communications) to serve as Chairman when they met this week. Chris has experiences that will serve the association well as the industry continues to evolve. TeamBAM looks forward to working with Chris as Chairman.

BAM Membership Elects Board Members and Assigns New Leadership Positions

BAM members gathered for the association’s Annual Meeting this week to elect members as Directors. We congratulate the following members on their elections and express our appreciation for their willingness to help lead the association:

 ·        Chris Bogner (Carr Communications)

·         Bob Evenson (123NET)

·         Robert Parisien (D & P Communications)

·         Teresa Sadler (Sand Creek Communications)

·         Kelly Shipley (Brightspeed)

 BAM’s Board of Directors also elected Mark Bernath (Waldron Telephone) as First Vice Chair, Steve Shults (Bloomingdale Communications) as Second Vice Chair and Jay Brogan (Hiawatha Communications) as Treasurer this week. All three bring important perspectives and experiences to BAM’s leadership team. Congratulations!

2025 ComPulse attendees again listened to stellar presentations by their colleagues in the Rural Broadband Industry.

 FOR RELEASE

East Lansing, MI
September 9, 2025

2025 ComPulse attendees again listened to stellar presentations by their colleagues in the Rural Broadband Industry. 

BAM thanks Ms. Tammy Smith, CGMS, MPA, Grants and Funding Manager at Peninsula Fiber Network for her presentation “You’ve Won a Grant – Now What?”  Tammy joined, BAM Member, PFN and focused on grant applications for ROBIN and BEAD and shared her experience and tips for ComPulse attendees to succeed in their awards.

BAM member, Adtran, sent their Business Development Manager, Greg Luhman, to share his expertise in “10G PON and Beyond: an Introduction to 50G PON”.  PON architecture has evolved and ComPulse attendees learned about how to grow in the multigigabit era.

“Higher NOI, Faster ROI: Re-thinking MDU Deployments” presenter, Michael McCourt, of BAM member, Calix, shared his strategies for reaching multi-family housing units.  Michigan is highlighting affordable housing and many in the housing industry have focused on housing funding programs not only in the larger cities but in smaller communities outstate!  Thank you, Mr. McCourt for the timely discussion!

 
The last BAM member for the 2025 ComPulse Breakout Sessions was JSI’s Cybersecurity Director, Mr. Daniel Lindley.  Cybersecurity has been a key area for BAM members in all Categories.  His presentation “Cyber Resilience” focused on simple, but crucial strategies and policies.   

BAM would like to thank our Members who submitted presentations for our 90th Annual ComPulse conference.  Thank you, too, to the ComPulse Committee members who chose these outstanding four presenters.  These appearances by our Broadband Industry experts are integral to a successful conference!

Media Contact: Joelle Demand, President, mailto:joelle@mibroadband.org

Press Release (.pdf)

Broadband Association of Michigan Foundation Awards Scholarships to Five Member Employees Children

Lansing, MI – The Broadband Association of Michigan is proud to announce the five scholarship winners for 2025.  Each year the Broadband Association of Michigan Foundation provides $4,750 in scholarship funds to be distributed to immediate family members of the Association member company employees. Four of the scholarship winners will receive a $1,000 scholarship and one will receive a scholarship for $750.

The five winners were chosen based on academic achievement, community involvement, employment, and extracurricular activities. 

The five scholarship winners are:

·         Carson Kienitz, Munising, MI (Hiawatha Communications)

·         Connor Parisen, Adrian, MI (Deerfield Farmers’ Telephone)

·         Reagan Taylor, Durand, MI (Lennon Telephone)

·         Elizabeth Wing, Au Train, MI (Hiawatha Communications)

·         Kiauna Hargens, Parkston, SD (Innovative Systems)

The purpose of the Foundation, which is a non-profit organization, is to promote educational advancement by helping students obtain instruction or training to improve and develop their capabilities.

Press Release in .pdf format