Paul C. Wegert, CHA, Managing Director/Area Manager at The Inn at St. John’s located at 44045 Five Mile Rd., Plymouth Twp., received the RD Musser Hotelier of the Year award at the 2019 Pure Michigan Governor’s Conference on Tourism.
UHY Cares Charity Poker Tournament Brings in Over $41k
Employees, their friends and associates of UHY LLP, certified public accountants, in conjunction with UHY Cares, the firm’s independent 501c(3)organization, celebrated their 12th annual Texas Hold‘Em tournament on Feb. 7.
Reliance Community Care Partners celebrate the opening of its Integrated Wellness Center
Reliance Community Care Partners is proud to announce the grand opening of its Integrated Wellness Center in Grand Rapids, which will allow the organization to provide integrated and holistic mental health services to adults, and specialized mental health services to older adults in the community.
How do you know if SEO is successful?
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a mystery to many business owners. You may hear it’s a powerful digital marketing strategy. However, you may not understand if it’s right for your business.
One of the stumbling blocks is to understand what is successful SEO. Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Obviously, earning new business is our initial reaction as to why we might want to begin an SEO campaign. Yet, this is not the roll of SEO in marketing.
Wait! — then why would anyone bother to optimize their website if SEO is not about new business? The reason is that SEO has a different core objective. Fortunately, there are three metrics which will let you know if your SEO campaign is successful.
The role of search engine optimization is to drive traffic to your website. If done well, quality traffic will convert into new customers. However, it’s the job of the content on the company website to turn the visitor into a loyal customer.
When you drive traffic to a website which offers a poor customer experience, the chances for conversions or sales are low. If people don’t find quality answers or solutions on your website, the site is not living up to its end of the bargain. Google will most likely notice the poor signals which makes it harder for your website to rank well.
Nonetheless, it’s important to understand what metrics to look for
Although ranking for keywords which are important to you doesn’t by itself guarantee traffic, it does give you an easy-to-understand measure of progress.
The second statistic to review is your year-over-year search traffic analytics. I consider this the most important metric. SEO is about driving traffic. So check and see if Google is driving more traffic than the same period a year ago.
To measure your traffic year over year, you will need to have Google analytics (https://analytics.google.com) installed on your website for at least a year.
It’s not fair to compare search traffic month to month because each month has a different season, weather, holidays and cycles which can affect your business or industry.
The last success factor is similar to the second. However, it takes the question to the next level by asking how much opportunity does Google give your website to earn traffic. To find out how often Google shows your website as an option in search, you can find the information in Google Search Console (http://www.google.com/webmasters) in the performance section.
Although you may focus on specific keywords, Google will test your pages to find relevant traffic from similar or related search queries. With good SEO, this can dramatically increase the chances people will find your website.
If Google shows your website to more people over time, you have a greater opportunity to earn additional traffic. In turn, with the help of your website, you can convert your traffic into new customers.
If your product or service solves a problem, then people are looking to the search engines to find your solution. The search engines will serve the best answer they can offer, whether you are listed or not. If not, your competition earns the opportunity. Yes, even the specialty products and services with a niche clientele have a search audience.
Now that you understand how to measure SEO success, you can better implement the strategy with your marketing and with the proper expectations.
H&M to open first Detroit location in Woodward Shopping District
Detroit’s Woodward Avenue is adding another retailer – this time, the internationally known “Fast Fashion” experts H&M.
Bedrock Detroit, the real estate arm for Dan Gilbert’s family of companies, announced last week that Hennes & Mauritz Inc. has signed a lease with Bedrock for its first ever Detroit location with plans to open in Fall 2019.
H&M will become the largest retailer in Bedrock’s portfolio, located in a 25,000 square-foot space spanning three Albert Kahn-designed buildings on the west side of Woodward between John R. and Park Ave./Witherell St.
For the first time in decades, a shop that offers men’s, women’s and children’s apparel in one location, will return to the downtown Woodward corridor: The same district that generations of Detroit families frequented for their shopping needs.
“When we started work on the former site of the JL Hudson’s department store approximately one year ago, stories from the public poured in about memories of shopping along Woodward Avenue,” Dan Gilbert, Bedrock Founder and Chairman, said in a statement.
“H&M is one of those flagship retail stores that will take the Woodward Avenue shops to another level. We are hopeful that new memories and experiences will be formed once again along Woodward Avenue. H&M is opening a major Detroit store because it is good for their business,” Gilbert added.
In the last year, Bedrock added several key retailers to the downtown landscape. Le Labo, G-Star Raw, Pure Barre, Madewell and Shinola have all opened their doors for the first time downtown, alongside native Detroit brands like Lovers Only, San Morello, Canelle Patisserie, The Lip Bar, Mootz Pizzeria, Deluxx Fluxx, Besa, Good Neighbor, and Posie Atelier. These brands join national and local names like John Varvatos, Bonobos, Warby Parker, Under Armour, Nike, Moosejaw, House of Pure Vin, Avalon, Shake Shack, Central Kitchen, Detroit Is The New Black, Townhouse, and many others.
Bedrock’s Retail Strategy
Bedrock has acquired more than 700,000 square feet of retail space in downtown Detroit since its founding in 2011, much of which has been fully restored within historic structures. In the years since, Bedrock has welcomed dozens of local and national retailers to its eclectic portfolio, in which local businesses are thriving next door to some of the nation’s more successful brands.
Three transformational developments are currently underway just blocks from the future H&M store that will add a total of more than 275,000 square feet of prime retail space to the Central Business District. Retail spaces in the Book Tower, Monroe Blocks and the Hudson’s Site developments are designed to attract a mix of local and national brands unmatched in the region, while providing Detroiters with access to much needed neighborhood services.
Bedrock is committed to ensuring downtown Detroit offers opportunities for businesses of all sizes and entrepreneurs of all backgrounds. In 2017, the Downtown Detroit Markets were launched. This initiative activates urban public spaces with seasonal, short term leases to local shops at very affordable rates. Since the program’s inception, more than 100 small businesses seized the opportunity to market and sell their products and learn best practices.
In several cases, business owners gained the confidence from the Detroit Markets’ model, committing to permanent downtown brick and mortar stores.
Woodward Shopping History
The historic Woodward shopping district was once home to Detroit’s most prominent department stores, such as JL Hudson’s (once the world’s tallest department store), Himelhoch’s, Kern’s, B. Siegel, and others.
The three landmark buildings that H&M will inhabit at 1505, 1515 and 1529 Woodward were all designed by prolific Detroit architect Albert Kahn.
1505 Woodward has roots in the fashion industry, as it was once home to the Richman Brothers Co., a men’s haberdashery. The building has undergone significant renovations and is now home to offices of International Bancard and Rocket Fiber.
The facades at 1515 and 1529 Woodward recently underwent complete restorations and were once home to the Grinnell Bros. music store and the Sanders candy store respectively.
Buddy’s Pizza opening in downtown Detroit
The folks at Buddy’s Pizza think the downtown Detroit area could use another family-focused restaurant.
Buddy’s officials announced recently that the original Detroit-style pizza chain, which opened at Six Mile and Conant in 1946, will be opening its first downtown location later this year. The eatery, which will move into the Madison building on Broadway, should be open by late fall.
“The call for the Original Detroit-Style pizza downtown is being answered,” said Wes Pikula, Buddy’s chief brand officer. “We’re looking forward to having a space in the heart of Detroit. Buddy’s offers a unique product. We’re about families, and I think Detroit is under-served as far as family restaurants.”
The move, which will put Buddy’s in a 7,000-square-foot space previously occupied by Angelina Italian Bistro, has been in discussion since 2017, when Buddy’s approached Bedrock, LLC, the owner of the building. It also falls in line with an expansion of the business made possible by the company’s partnership with CapitalSpring, an investment firm headquartered in New York.
That partnership, Pikula pointed out, has allowed some rapid growth for Buddy’s, with new stores expected to open in Grand Rapids (April), Plymouth Township (early June) and Woodhaven (mid- to late-summer).
In Plymouth, the new Buddy’s will be on the former Ruby Tuesday’s site on Beck Road and people like Wes Graff can hardly wait.
“That’s a nice addition,” said Graff, president of the Plymouth Community Chamber of Commerce. “When the downtown area has busy nights and people can’t find a place or don’t want to deal with the crowds, they’re looking for a place to go. Buddy’s will be a nice alternative for them.”
The downtown Detroit location will be the fourth opening for Buddy’s this year. Pikula said the parking availability — there’s underground parking right next to it — is a primary reason the Madison building makes sense.
“Being a family restaurant, (parking) was a high priority for us,” Pikula said. “There is so much history to the area, and these things made it even more attractive.”
The new restaurant will 225 guests in a space that features glass partition walls opening onto a summer patio area. A separate area will offer limited service where guests can grab a slice, whole pie, salad or other items for a quicker, delicious Buddy’s experience.
“We want to accommodate those who may not have time for a full-service experience,” Pikula said. “Buddy’s will also offer catering to surrounding businesses and delivery for anyone who wants the convenience of the Original Detroit-Style Pizza delivered right to their
Pikula said the downtown Detroit location will allow Buddy’s to be part of the continuing revival of the area. “We want to be part of one of the greatest stories in history,” Pikula said. “For Buddy’s, it’s about finding a space that works for families. There are great restaurants in the city. We’re just going to be another one.”
Lansing Center looks for corporate naming partner
Scott Keith is a self-admitted “operations guy” who believes saving money by turning off the lights is important. No doubt that adds up to some significant cost savings at the venues he manages as president and CEO of the Lansing Entertainment and Public Facilities Authority (LEPFA). Those include the Lansing Center, Cooley Law School Stadium and Groesbeck Golf Course, as well as regional events like the Common Ground Music Festival. The Lansing Center, located along Michigan Avenue, with its western facade fronting the Grand River, is the only convention center in the capitol region.
The Delaware native says he’s now “lived more of my life in the Midwest than on the East Coast.” Corp! spoke to Keith about the decision to find a naming rights partner for the Lansing Center, which has had the same moniker since it was built in 1987.
Corp!: Tell us a bit about your career.
Scott Keith: Originally my undergrad degree was in education and I was a teacher. When I went back to graduate school, I fell into the management of sporting and other events and that was what landed me at University of Michigan’s Athletic Department. I came to LEPFA in 2001 and have climbed the ladder. I have enjoyed great opportunities here. I love the organization and the team I work with.
Corp!: Tell us about the venues you and your team manage.
SK: The Lansing Center currently holds 270,000 square feet of space, including a main exhibition hall, meeting rooms, conference centers, banquet facilities, a restaurant and lounge, a full kitchen, and a 500-space underground parking garage. The center underwent its first extensive renovation in 2007 and 2008. The renovation included cosmetic upgrades as well as structural upgrades. We hosted more than 320 events with 240,000-plus attendees. We can host everything from concerts to conventions to sporting events.
Cooley Law School Stadium next door is a multipurpose stadium. The Lansing Lugnuts, an affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, play here and we have a soccer team coming in the spring, Lansing Ignite FC, part of the new USL League One.
In January 2018, we took over operation and management of the city’s only municipal golf course, Groesbeck, which has 18 holes. We also assist with other municipal events, like the new MargaritaFest, which attracted 600-plus attendees and 13 participating vendors on the outdoor plaza of the Lansing Center.
Corp!: What is the thinking behind seeking a corporate partner for naming rights to the Lansing Center?
SK: Most stadiums and arenas have some kind of naming rights opportunity attached to it. Typically, events centers have moved in this direction in the last four to five years. That got us thinking it was time to rebrand with a naming rights corporate partner that helps with brand identity and with capital improvements and other initiatives. By changing the name, we think it lends itself to being seen as a regional asset, not just a city asset. (Editor’s note: LEPFA is a nonprofit organization that gets some of its funding through the City of Lansing.)
Corp!: How long does it usually take to secure a naming rights partner?
SK: It is a relationship building experience. Will it be a three-year process? Not necessarily. We are getting serious about conversations now. The governor speaks here frequently and the president and vice president come here to speak. We think a corporate partner may recognize that.
Corp!: Tell us about this past year at the Lansing Center.
SK: First thing that comes to my mind: we achieved more than 25,000 directly attributable room nights to Lansing Center business, our first time in its history (nearly 31 years) to go over that mark. We exceeded the national average for occupancy by nearly 4 percent. In partnership with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, we held our first ever “zero waste” event. In collaboration with Greater Lansing Jewish Federation and a local rabbi, we executed our first fully kosher event in nearly 20 years.
Corp!: What has been the cumulative economic impact of the Lansing Center?
SK: It was about $65.185 million in 2017, which consists of room nights, spending within the community, our employees, and the impact it has through other companies in the region. All the venues combined, it was approximately $83 million in economic impact in 2017.
Corp!: What is your guiding principle to live by?
SK: If it’s right, it’s good. I believe everything has balance. There’s one-third of what you hear that is true and one-third of what you see is true, the rest you need to investigate.
Corp!: What is your pet peeve in the office and why?
SK: Probably leaving the office with the lights on. Also, people looking at their cell phones in meetings drives me nuts.
Plunkett Cooney names five attorneys as new shareholders
Plunkett Cooney, one of the Midwest’s oldest and largest law firms, recently named five attorneys as its newest shareholders, Chase M. Kubica, Mitchell McIntyre, Christopher J. Scott, Kimberly K. Seibert and Andrea Forsyth Telling were unanimously approved by the firm’s Board of Directors.
New Training Center and Talent Fund Award for Star Truck Rentals
As statewide transportation company Star Truck Rentals opens their second Michigan job training location, they’re receiving a $90,000 award from West Michigan Works!. These Going PRO Talent Fund Award dollars help provide paid on-the-job training for diesel technicians — in high demand nationally.
West Michigan physician receives national recognition for work on end of life care
Dr. John Mulder received the 2019 Project on Death In America (PDIA) Palliative Medicine Community Leadership Award from the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Dr. Mulder is Medical Director of the Trillium Institute, in Grand Rapids.
CEO Spotlight with Greg Deja, Principle and CEO of GR Catholic Central
Club events give startups chance to perfect their pitch
Later this month, Kyyba Innovations hosts the latest in its monthly string of “Pitch Club” events, where businesses can learn from other entrepreneurs and investors about how to pitch their startups.
If history is any indication, the three entrepreneurs chosen for the March 27 event in Grand Rapids should do very well following their appearance.
Farmington Hills-based Kyyba Innovations has been hosting the “Pitch Club” events in rotating cities since September 2017 and, in the first year, the 30 businesses who took part raked in a combined revenue of some $3 million following their pitches.
“(Pitch Club) is an opportunity for startups to showcase their ideas and to connect with companies,” said Sarah Myrand, Kyyba’s executive coordinator. “All the firms that have taken part have walked away with tremendous connections and a chance to make great progress.”
According to Myrand, Pitch Club is a “mentoring and funding program” aimed at connecting the various ecosystems and smart zones throughout Michigan. Pitch Club has ongoing monthly events that provide entrepreneurs the opportunity to learn from seasoned entrepreneurs and investors.
Myrand said the events are “meant to educate, network, inspire and provide valuable experiences for being investable.”
The monthly event rotates between Detroit, Ann Arbor, Lansing and Grand Rapids. As part of the events, three entrepreneurs will receive the opportunity to practice their pitch and discuss their business model with funding experts, giving them a better understanding of the mindset of an investor.
“Pitch Club provides a tremendous opportunity for cross-pollination and increased deal flow across Michigan, something that currently is not at the level it should be,” said Tel Ganesan, Kyyba’s managing director. “This program will be very valuable for both the startup entrepreneurs and investors and will hopefully create meaningful dialogue, as well as a technological and economic impact for the entire region. In order to make this initiative even more successful, I encourage seasoned entrepreneurs in each of these areas to join us by serving as a mentor.”
The next Pitch Club takes place Wednesday, March 27, at Start Garden in Grand Rapids and will include three startup presentations and a panel of judges. Matt Larson, co-founder/COO of CampusStarter, is the guest keynote speaker.
Corp! is a media sponsor for the March event.
Distinguished architect joins Ghafari as Director of Design in Grand Rapids
Distinguished architect Michael Lubbers, AIA, has joined Ghafari Associates as its Director of Design in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He will assume lead responsibility for design direction and process management in West Michigan while also collaborating with clients in Chicago and southeast Michigan.
Chip lovers far and wide will celebrate National Potato Chip Day with Better Made
What Detroit now knows as Better Made Snack Foods started as a simple 50/50 partnership between two men – Cross Moceri and Peter Cipriano – who both loved food and feeding people with love.
Better Made, which is still family owned and made fresh daily in Detroit, is is celebrating National Potato Chip Day on Thursday, March 14. For 89 years, what started as Cross & Peters has made Michigan’s favorite potato chip.
The potato chip – a blend of potatoes, oil and salt — remains the largest selling segment of the salty snacks market with over $15 billion in sales worldwide.
“We have several different flavors of potato chips and are always experimenting with new flavors,” says David Jones, president of Better Made. “We have many different types of BBQ chips available, including our newest flavor, Southern Style Sweet Heat BBQ, and our Red Hot BBQ flavor was featured in Rachel Ray Every Day Magazine last July/August.”
According to some, and this number has never been proven, Michiganders still eat more chips than people in any other state. That makes sense based on the fact that there are few locally based potato-chip companies like Better Made left in the United States.
Here’s one version of the origin story: Potato Chips were first made in 1853 when Moon’s Lake Lodge was a popular tourist location. As the story goes, a customer kept sending his fried potatoes back to the kitchen because he said they were too thick and not crunchy enough. The chef, George Crum, decided that he would cut them into paper-thin slices, boil them in oil, fry them, and salt them as a joke. It backfired as they became an instant success and the restaurant became well known for them.
In the late 1800s, chips became a staple in cracker barrels and in glass cases. Around that time, a woman came up with the idea of using a heated iron and waxed paper to form the first potato chip bag. The bags were filled as people bought them and sealed them shut with the warming iron.
Cross & Peters opened in several locations but settled on Gratiot, where the company is still making fresh chips, popcorn and potato sticks. A favorite activity for Detroiters of all ages is to stop by the retail store there and look in the factory’s large windows to watch the chips and potato sticks as they’re being made.
(Karen Dybis has written a history of Better Made chips. Her favorite flavor is Garlic Dill Pickle.)
Michigan poet, teacher and activist gains new title: Eminent Artist
She’s been a teacher, a copy editor and a professor. Gloria House, who also considers herself an activist and a poet, added one more title recently: The Kresge Foundation’s 2019 Eminent Artist.
It’s an honor House didn’t expect – she was as surprised as anyone when she got the call about the honor and the $50,000 prize that comes with it. Yet having such grace in her life is one more reason she said she has treasured her years in Michigan, Detroit in particular.
“It’s an affirmation of a whole life’s journey,” the 77-year-old honoree said.
Invested in art
House is the 11th honoree of the Kresge Eminent Artists program, part of The Kresge Foundation, a national private foundation based in Metro Detroit. The award focuses on celebrating and investing in Detroit artists, such as fellow Eminent Artists musician Marcus Belgrave, artist Charles McGee and photographer Bill Rauhauser.
House’s career spans the past five decades. Most of her career has been as a teacher, professor and student. In other words, she is in love with learning. Her longest tenures were as a student at University of Michigan and as a UM-Dearborn professor emerita.
Born in Tampa, Florida, House traveled the world, earned several degrees, joined the Civil Rights movement and moved to Detroit in 1967. She returned to teaching and was a copy editor at the Detroit Free Press before receiving her Ph.D. in American culture/history at U-M.
After 27 years of teaching at Wayne State University, House joined UM-Dearborn as a visiting and then full professor of African American literature, American culture and research methods in the interdisciplinary studies program. House also designed the university’s major in African American and African Studies.
These days, House is retired yet still working on the projects she loves. She is co-editor of Riverwise quarterly magazine, senior editor at Broadside Lotus Press and a volunteer for groups such as We the People of Detroit, which focuses on water, land and education.
House has published four poetry collections: Blood River (1983), Rainrituals (1989), Shrines (2003) and Medicine (2017).
Comcast tech, tired of muddy entrances, cleans up with bright idea
Jim Clark isn’t the kind of person who runs to do big presentations in front of large crowds. But when he recently had an opportunity to share an idea that could change the way his company did business with and for customers, he jumped at it.
Clark is a CommTech 5 in Comcast’s Heartland Region, which covers Michigan and two other states. He came up with an idea to keep customers’ entryways clean and dry from work-boot debris and water during installations and service calls.
Last May, he pitched the idea to Comcast executives and his fellow employees during an in-house Shark Tank competition. It was something Clark may not have thought he would do, but he felt like his idea was heard and honored.
“I get a lot of good support from Comcast, and this really shows how we care for customers. It’s a respect issue and I appreciate that my idea was selected,” Clark said.
Clark said his goal was to find a way to avoid dragging water, mud, snow and more into his customers’ houses. He knew that Comcast through employees like him wanted not only to provide top-notch service, but leave a great first impression – and tracking dirt through someone’s home accidentally was an issue.
During one house call, a Comcast customer offered Clark a towel where he could stand while he was putting protective booties on in preparation for some work. That sparked his imagination.
The Navy veteran thought back to his early days when he was a journeyman toolmaker and had to come up with solutions.
The result was a pitch at the Comcast event where Clark suggested every technician like himself have a mat they could carry to jobs. If they needed it, they could use the mat to make sure the floor under their boots or shoes was clean as they put on the protective booties. Simple enough. But it was genius at the same time.
As a result of his pitch, Comcast took Clark’s idea and implemented it into its operations across the Heartland Region. The company found a business that makes the mats and ordered enough for everyone to have at least five on them for work jobs. The mats are made from recycled materials, so that also helps the environment. It was a win-win for Pig mats, the company that makes the product Comcast chose, and the entertainment provider.
Lear executive Frank Orsini receives Sam Cupp Impact Award
Frank Orsini, executive vice president and president of seating at Lear Corporation, received the Sam Cupp Impact Award from Kris Marshall, President & CEO of Winning Futures, a Metro Detroit student mentoring program. The award recognizes business executives for stepping up and making transformational changes in the community.
Chad DeVriendt named Director of Sales for Comcast Business in Michigan
Comcast Business has promoted Chad DeVriendt to Director of Sales. DeVriendt will lead a team of business technology solution consultants who serve the telecommunications needs of small and medium-sized businesses in Michigan.