Our Graze Craze Okemos Story Featured by Michigan's Economic Development Corporation

Our Graze Craze Okemos Story Featured by Michigan's Economic Development Corporation

We're excited to share that the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) recently featured our Graze Craze Okemos story as part of its Michigan Business Voices series!

The article, "Lindsey and Silas Coffelt of Graze Craze," shares a little about our journey into small business ownership, the lessons we've learned along the way, and the community that has supported us.

It's a story we're proud to share because building a small business is about so much more than what happens inside the store.

From Home Construction to Charcuterie

Before opening Graze Craze Okemos, we both spent years working in the residential construction industry. Lindsey's background was in marketing, operations, and leadership, while Silas brought years of hands-on experience managing people, projects, and quality.

Eventually, we started thinking about what our next chapter might look like.

We wanted to build something together, combine our different strengths, and create a business that felt connected to the community we call home.

That's what led us to Graze Craze.

Today, our team creates handcrafted charcuterie boards, grazing tables, and catering for everything from corporate meetings and weddings to birthdays, celebrations, and those everyday moments worth sharing.

Small Business Ownership Is a Learning Experience

One of the things we appreciated most about the MEDC feature was the opportunity to talk openly about the realities of owning a small business.

Growth is exciting, but it also comes with challenges.

Through the Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM) Foundation's Small Business Support Hub program, supported by MEDC, we gained access to education, resources, and connections that helped us strengthen our business.

We also received grant support that allowed us to expand our kitchen equipment capacity, making it easier for our team to manage growing catering demand while maintaining the quality our customers expect.

It's a reminder of how important small business resources and community support can be, especially when you're building something from the ground up.

Rooted in Greater Lansing

Both of us have deep roots in Mid-Michigan. Lindsey grew up in Eaton Rapids and Lansing, and Silas grew up in Okemos.

This is home.

One of the most rewarding parts of owning Graze Craze Okemos has been the relationships we've built with customers, local businesses, nonprofits, schools, and organizations throughout Greater Lansing.

We've had the opportunity to cater important milestones, support community events, celebrate with local companies, and work alongside some truly wonderful people.

Those relationships mean just as much to us as the food we create.

Grateful for the People Behind the Business

While the MEDC article features the two of us, Graze Craze Okemos is very much a team effort.

We're grateful for our employees who put care into every order, the organizations that have trusted us with their events, and the customers who continue to support our locally owned business.

We're also thankful to the Small Business Association of Michigan and MEDC for investing in small businesses and sharing stories like ours.

We still have plenty to learn and lots of ideas for the future, but we're proud of what we've built so far.

And we're especially grateful to be building it right here in Mid-Michigan.

Read Our Full Story

Thank you to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation for sharing our journey!

Read "Lindsey and Silas Coffelt of Graze Craze" on MichiganBusiness.org