Supporting Brandon Strong’s nonprofits goes beyond words. Birtu has spent more than a decade putting his time and money where his mouth is, lending a hand to agencies that support many people in the community.
Strong may be known locally as the owner of Regent Floral & Mercantile, 924 Washington Ave., which opened in May 2019. But he leveraged his skills as an event planner and floral artist into his philanthropic life, running a nonprofit and his own businesses.
Brandon Strong said he feels fortunate to be able to help the Michigan Business Professionals of America, which helped him when he was a student.Recently, Strong In 2022, he announced that he has donated more than $25,000 in products and services to local and state nonprofits, some of which are extremely near and dear to his heart.
“The largest portion of the $25,000 comes from the Michigan Business Professionals of America (BPA). Growing up, I attended high school and college; I was a national officer and a state officer,” says Strong. “Their annual regional leadership conference is usually in March, and this year was the 50th year. At least they haven’t had a conference in the last two years, so that was a welcome sight.
Wanting to do something at a higher level, he reached out to the state director Strong, who is famous in the event world for his unique floral creations, hoping to work his magic on some centers for dinner.
“How I did and agreed to donate about 250 centerpieces, fresh cut flowers and candles as well as stage decorations. This was 100% donation for all products and labor. I had a moment of panic, but learned that I could do 250 central tasks in a day and a half. I have been a member of that organization for more than eight years, so it made me special. I learned things in that organization that I use every day. If I take everything I’ve learned from being a member of that (Michigan BPA), I deserve more than if I spent time on flowers and a dinner,” Strong says.
In the year By 2022, Strong estimates he’s donating more than $25,000 worth of products and services to local and state nonprofits.In addition to that monumental task, Strong has worked with several local charities to coordinate the 2022 United Way of Bay County’s The Longest Table event, to which he donated his time and energy, paying only for the cost of the flowers. ; A similar event was held for the Bay Area Community Foundation’s Charitable Aspects event. Strong also traded services with the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce.
“On the side of running non-profit events, they always ask for handouts; it’s just part of the business. And now I’m in a position to help with that. The business is only three years old, so I can’t write a check for these causes, but I’m in a position to help with something.” And this is a way to help,” Strong says.
Strong’s history makes him intimately familiar with the struggles and realities that nonprofits face.
Although he grew up in St. Louis, Michigan, Strong has lived in his current home in Bay City for the past six years. After attending Northwood University, Strong moved to the Midland area.
This position led Strong to another part-time opportunity with the YMCA in Bay City, working in debt collection with the goal of cleaning up the membership database as the Y moved from its Madison Avenue location to its new facility at 225 Washington Street. Eventually, the position changed to full-time, but after four years, Strong felt burned out.
“I looked for a job in Grand Rapids, but I couldn’t find what I was looking for. I did a lot of interviews, but nothing exciting,” Strong said.
During this time, Strong accepted a job at the YWCA Great Lakes Bay Region in Downtown Bay City, where he worked for five years. During this time, Strong started his first event planning business, Event Masters Ltd., on the side. Here, he had the opportunity to show off his talent for flowers and event planning while planning private social events and 5k runs.
Clients were constantly raving about his floral designs, but Strong still wanted to break into the world of corporate events, a goal he struggled with at the time as a one-man show.
Reflecting on his process and goals, Strong was talking to a friend about the event business and started his second venture, the Great Lakes Market, a pop-up art market held four times a year in the region.
Says Strong, “I basically became one of my own clients. My event business was managing my art show, but the show took off and I got rid of the event management business.
All the while, Strong merged his two businesses together to create Regent Floral & Mercantile, a retail store and event space that will remain at the YWCA until the spring of 2019.
“Regent came by combining my two businesses in one way. We focus on unique houseplants, fresh cut flowers and handmade gifts and original art. So we took inspiration from the event management business with events and florals and borrowed the handmade gifts and original art for the retail side.
Opening his own brick-and-mortar business brought him the joy of creating products for his customers and the satisfaction of still being able to help where he could in the non-profit community.
“My style is a little different than most. Many other shops are very traditional, and there is nothing wrong with that. Lots of roses and carnations, sure things. You can use roses and carnations in the right way, but my style is more organic and timeless, I hope. That’s what I aim for. I try to design the flowers in a way that fits their nature,” explained Strong.
