It's Been the Most Active Week in 17 Years

"I've watched a client's sales team close a deal in three days that would have taken them three weeks a year ago. The difference wasn't a bigger team or a bigger budget. It was AI — and it's already here in Detroit."

It's Been the Most Active Week in 17 Years

I started MRJ Consulting in 2008 with a simple belief: Detroit businesses deserve to be seen online. This week, I feel like everything I've been building toward is starting to move at once — and I want to share it with the people who've been part of this journey.

First, I officially launched the AI Readiness Audit — something I've been developing for months. It's a focused session where I sit down with your organization, assess where you are digitally, and hand you a written roadmap showing exactly where AI tools can save your team time and money. No guesswork. No generic advice. Just a custom plan built for your business. Starting at $497.

Second, I submitted a full marketing and communications proposal to the Youth Development Resource Council for their Discover Your Spark platform — a Southeast Michigan initiative connecting youth and families to out-of-school-time programs. If I'm selected, I'll be leading the marketing strategy across Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, and Washtenaw counties this summer. That's the kind of work that reminds me why I'm in this business.

And finally, I'm bringing on Micah Grant as Senior Digital Marketing Consultant starting May 1. Having someone I trust deeply on the team means I can serve clients faster, better, and at a level that's been hard to sustain as a solo founder.

If you've been wondering where to start with AI, the Readiness Audit was built for you. Starting at $497 — book a free 20-minute call first at info@mrjcdetroit.com.

The Shift I Think Most Business Owners Are Missing

I talk to business owners every week who still think AI is a future thing — a Silicon Valley thing, a big-company thing. I want to be honest with you: I think that window has closed.

What we're in now is the era of agentic AI — systems that don't just answer questions, but execute entire workflows on their own. I'm not talking about asking ChatGPT to write an email. I'm talking about an AI system that researches a prospect, finds the right contact, writes a personalized message, schedules the follow-up, and updates your CRM — all while you're asleep.

The data backs it up: 62% of organizations are already testing AI agents (McKinsey, 2025). Teams are seeing 5.6 hours saved per employee per week with the right tools, and 300–700% average ROI within 12–18 months.

I've seen this firsthand with clients. The ones moving now are closing faster and serving more people with the same team. The ones waiting are going to spend the next two years wondering what happened.

Detroit on My Mind

I've been doing this work in Detroit for 17 years. I've watched this city go through things that would have broken other markets — and come back stronger every time.

This week I had the chance to meet with Making It Happen Foundation — an incredible Detroit organization running the HEROES Tech Mission, connecting young people ages 14–24 to technology careers across five cities. Sitting across from that team reminded me exactly why I built MRJ. The organizations doing the most important work in this city are often the ones with the least support telling their story online. I want to change that.

I genuinely believe Detroit businesses have exactly the mindset AI adoption requires — resourceful, community-rooted, and ready to run with something when it works. The ones that move now are going to set the standard. I'd love for that to be you.

If anything here made you think, reach out — connect with me on LinkedIn or email me directly. I'd love to hear what you're working on.

— Redic Grant, Founder & CEO, MRJ Consulting. Detroit, MI · Est. 2008. info@mrjcdetroit.com · 313-701-5970 · mrjcdetroit.com