The journey of Max Transportation and Car Service is a premier example of how the South Haven Regional Business Hub supports a business through every stage of its lifecycle—from the first spark of an idea to regional expansion.
The Roadmap of Success
In 2025, owner Max Gleiss joined the Hub’s Startup Series, attending every session to build a rock-solid foundation for his service-based model. His dedication to the fundamentals like licensing, insurance, and market positioning—paid off immediately. In just one year, Max Transportation has moved from a new name on the road to a vital piece of the regional infrastructure.
“Being part of the Business Hub gave me clarity, structure, and accountability at a time when everything was moving fast. It helped turn momentum into a sustainable path forward. Over the past year, we’ve traveled more than 50,000 miles, joined the South Haven Chamber of Commerce, actively participated in South Haven Regional Business Hub events, and provided transportation for everything from the South Haven Icebreaker Festival to weddings, winery tours, airport transfers, and corporate events.”
Longevity in Motion
Max Transportation’s evolution demonstrates the “longevity loop” the Hub strives to create. By staying engaged with our ecosystem, they have successfully:
- Integrated into the Community: Becoming a go-to provider for signature local events like the Icebreaker Festival;
- Diversified Revenue Streams: Expanded from simple airport transfers to high-end winery tours and corporate contracts;
- Prepared for Scale: Participation in the 2026 Growth Series would focus on the systems needed to manage their rapidly increasing mileage, need for drivers, and client base.
Max is considering applying for the 2026 Growth Series to further scale his fleet and operations.
As Gleiss reflects on his high-speed progress:
“Working with the Business Hub,” notes Gleiss, “has been incredibly helpful as I’ve grown my business. Having access to thoughtful guidance, honest feedback, and people who genuinely want to see local businesses succeed made a huge difference for me. Their support helped me move from ideas to action with much more confidence.”
Max Transportation isn’t just moving people—they are moving forward. Their story proves that when a new or startup business works with the Hub’s sequence of Startup-to-Growth, the sky (and the odometer) is the limit. To sum it up Gleiss says, “The Business Hub’s knowledge, guidance, and support made a real difference in helping my business reach where it is today.”