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Paul C. Wegert honored with 2019 RD Musser Hotelier of the Year Award

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.

The story behind how the NAIAS handled a date shift

Perspective is always a useful thing. And when it comes to changing a date, consider what most of us go through when we decide one day (or week) might be better than another for one of a myriad of reasons, some related not just to the event itself, but the various schedules of those who are critical to its success.

In most cases, we’re dealing with one or two people, possibly even a handful if it’s a team or family gathering.

Probably not a big deal.

And then there’s the North American International Auto Show, arguably one of the biggest in North America and, largely due to it being smack dab in the middle of the automotive capital of the world, one of the most influential.

The auto show calendar is a very big deal for more people than one might think, and not just the people who work at the world’s automakers. Add in the people who make the exhibits, transport vehicles from one show to another, and halls—Detroit’s Cobo Center included—and there’s a very complex dance going on every time someone decides to shift something in the lineup.

Last year, officials at NAIAS—insiders pronounce it “NAY-AS”—announced they would be doing just that, moving the dates from January, the traditional spot on the calendar, to June.

Two things to point out here: one is that it is a big deal; the other is that no one was surprised, given the process those who spend much of the year putting all the pieces together had gone through to make the debut June event, now set for 2020, a target that everyone has now embraced.

The process is key
Our questions—and, by extension, those of our readers—related to how this shift of dates came together and who was involved, essentially the “thought process” that resulted in the “oh yeah, that makes sense” reaction to the July 22, 2018 announcement.

We started with Doug North, who chairs the 2020 NAIAS as part of the structure the Detroit Auto Dealers Association, which owns the show, has established.

North, who heads North Brothers Ford in Westland, a business that’s been in the North family since its inception in 1928, is also president of the DADA, having gradually moved through the ranks of the 190 dealers who make up the organization.

“We have a continually updating brain trust here,” said North of the DADA organization. “We sort of shepherd the show and at any given time there’s quite a bit of experience to call upon.”

When a dealer moves up to become a vice president of the association, they began travelling to international shows, an opportunity to rub shoulders with others in the auto show circuit, including manufacturers, suppliers and representatives of governments.

People like North and Rod Alberts, executive director of the DADA and the auto show, are constantly looking for trends in the industry and ways to better meet the needs of automakers who ultimately will drive what goes on at these events.

Anyone who has played chess with a degree of skill or at least awareness of how one move can have a ripple effect throughout a game will appreciate the sense of “big picture” that North, Alberts and others at the DADA and beyond would have to consider should a move of dates come together.

Alberts spoke about just how long the thinking took place for the decision that was made.

Thinking started years ago
“We actually had been thinking about a date change for a number of years,” he said. “The fact is, January can be a challenging month for a number of reasons. Travel is a part of that and of course, the weather has also provided its own set of challenges over time. But more so, what we were looking at was how the automotive landscape was changing, especially when it comes to technology, and how would we position ourselves to deal with those changes in a meaningful way.”

Three years ago, the integration of the technology piece birthed an event that came together when additional space became available as a result of a massive $279 million renovation project for the venue.

AutoMobili-D, designed to showcase not only new technology but the startup firms, also serves as an opportunity for conversations to take place between potential venture capitalists and companies who want to carve their own path to a future where autonomous vehicles and the like are commonplace.

The recent event grew to 85 startup companies taking space, 35 more than the previous year, blowing past expectations that were set when the event first came together in January 2017.

What the success of AutoMobili-D telegraphed to people like North and his dealer colleagues, as well as Alberts, was the appetite for even more engagement, not just with the industry, but the public who were already seeing substantive change in how automakers were bringing their products to market.

Alberts points to one of those changes, the “cadence” of introduction that now sees vehicles being introduced not at a set schedule (typically September), but “when they’re ready,” an eye-opener when your business is scheduling opportunities for those unveilings to take place.

But back to the idea of a date change for Detroit.

A critical checkpoint was how Cobo Center would be—could be—accommodating to a move, and the dance began, with numerous discussions taking place among representatives of the industry who would be affected.

And here’s where Alberts began to see the impact that a move to June would begin to take shape.

“Dates are important but it’s the byproduct of a date change that is key,” he said. “In June, we have temperatures in the 70s, and we have the opportunity for some very vibrant engagement, well beyond what we could expect to happen in January.”

What a June event would offer—or will now that the date change is a given—is a grand opportunity for potential buyers to take test drives with new vehicles in a broad number of situations.

Activations mean more customers taking the wheel
In auto show vernacular, the term is “activations” and shows throughout the southern U.S. have seen growing adoption of the “ride and drive” concept where attendees line up—sometimes for a lot longer than they would for an amusement ride—to drive or sit as a passenger in one or more vehicles they hope to buy.

“The timing is good for Detroit to get in that mode,” says Alberts, who has certainly seen those activation opportunities grow, especially in his role as a key player with Auto Shows of North America, a subset organization of dealer groups.

One obvious opportunity that visitors to the June 2020 event can begin to look forward to is an enclosed Hart Plaza, the 14 acres of open area east of Cobo Center that was—in a winter auto show—a sort of urban desert as far as outdoor activity was concerned.

“We see a web of opportunities emerging with this,” said Alberts. “The only limitation will be in the creative minds of people who are looking at setting up those activations.”

Alberts, whose ongoing job is to create opportunities for automakers to showcase their product, says keeping on top of what various suppliers and tech companies want and need to do to make an ever-vibrant NAIAS take shape will be key.

“It’s really about bringing people in and letting them experience the cars,” he adds.

There’s another compelling reason to embrace the move of NAIAS to June and that’s the cost.

Setting up a January show typically takes eight weeks, with numerous holidays factoring in to labor costs, which drives up the overall price tag for exhibitors in a time when cost-cutting remains a key factor in a push for profitability.

For the June 2020 event, that setup time will be slashed to just three weeks, and two weeks for subsequent shows. That delivers another added benefit from the cost perspective: grandiose displays, some of them even multilevel (Ford has even had an escalator in its space), will have to be scaled down just to keep within the fixed schedule.

The public show itself—which in 2018 brought in just over 809,000 paid attendees—will be two days shorter in 2020.

All of that is a good thing, says Alberts.

“For the automakers, it’s about return on investment, the efficiency factor, and more value in creating a way to experience the product.”

Doug North, who takes over as show chair from Bill Golling, the dealer’s rep in that role for January 2019, recalls conversations that began to take place in earnest as recently as when the January 2018 show wrapped up.

“It was part of a debrief and follow up that we have every year,” said North. “I think we made at least a couple of hundred phone calls, sometimes multiple calls with people, and there was almost unanimous support for the date change.”

Even beyond the conversations with automakers and suppliers were the ones that took place among sponsors, a significant economic factor given the positive impact that has had over the years.

Again, green lights shone for the date change.

June stands out among the other options
What also became clear not long after those conversations with key players took place was that it was June that stood out as the logical landing spot for any shift.

With the Detroit Grand Prix schedule factoring into the June 8, 2020 start of NAIAS, the “pros” for a date change were simply overwhelming.

Already, now that the 2020 dates are established, the plans are beginning to take shape, at least in the minds of those who will be creating all the opportunities a summer show makes possible.

“AutoMobili-D will remain,” says North, although with the kind of modifications that it has seen every year since its inception. “Some of the technology will find its way up on the display floor, but it’s outside where there will be more interactive opportunities with the new dates.”

Beyond the representatives of the show, the response from people like Claude Molinari, general manager of Cobo Center, and Larry Alexander, president and CEO of the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau, have been positive.

“Detroit now has the opportunity to showcase our riverfront and our revitalized downtown during our beautiful summer months and creatively use the exterior of Cobo to launch new products that will transform Detroit into an exciting auto-centric environment,” said Alexander.

A June event is expected to set the stage for exhibitors to provide immersive experiences that engage media and consumers alike.

Visitors can expect to see vehicle activation sites throughout downtown Detroit, including Hart Plaza but also Detroit RiverWalk, Campus Martius, Woodward Avenue and Grand Circus Park, with spots likely extending beyond the downtown area to historic automotive locations or state parks such as Belle Isle.

Perhaps predictably, and certainly essential to the June 2020 event’s success, are comments from automakers that have embraced the date change.

“Reinventing NAIAS as a summertime festival of design, speed and innovation is incredibly exciting,” said Mark Gruby, vice president of communications with Ford. “It will showcase the best of our industry and the best of Detroit, and should become the can’t-miss event on the calendar for global automakers and media.”

Automakers are on board
Jim Trainor, Hyundai’s director of Hyundai North America, said the company looks forward to the evolution of the show.

“It certainly will be a new experience, leaving the ski hats and Chap-Stick at home and packing our Tigers baseball caps and sunscreen.”

And Scott Vazin, group vice president and chief communications officer at Toyota Motor North America, echoed many of the positive comments.

“With a new summer timeframe, industry leaders and international media will see Detroit in a new light, paving the way for exciting outdoor activities and more opportunities to explore this vibrant city.”

Rod Alberts is certainly one of those with a positive outlook, especially at the end of a process he said was largely about communication with all those who needed to be brought into the discussion.

“People want to be informed,” he said of the entire process. “Things like a floor plan at the show don’t just happen overnight and by the time you release it, people all know what to expect. With the date change, it’s an even bigger thing. The key word in all of this has to be consideration. We’re dealing with people who have a lot invested in the product. It’s not just about the dealers here.”

And, yes, it’s about staying on top of change, something the NAIAS and the dealer group that owns the show have come to appreciate.

“It’s a global platform that people are involved with,” adds Alberts. “Where we’re headed in the future, we have to make sure it’s going to be good for everyone with whom we partner. When you look at the changes that have taken place and continue to take place, we want to change with it.”

How do you know if SEO is successful?

Search Engine Optimization consultant touching SEO button on whiteboard

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 in assessing if your SEO is a working portion of your marketing campaign. The first success metric is common knowledge. It’s simply, where does your website rank in the Google search results for your target keywords.

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.

Finished exterior facade of 1515 and 1529 Woodward before retail tenants move in on September 27th, 2019

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 work space.”

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
Scott Keith

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.

Improving access to justice programs is key goal of Oakland Co. Bar Foundation event

For many years, members of the Oakland County Bar Association have worked beyond their “day jobs” to improve access to justice through various initiatives involving a number of partners throughout the region.

Veronica Leonard

Twenty years ago, their efforts received a significant focus in the formation of a standalone organization — the Oakland County Bar Foundation — and its Signature Event fundraiser that has, in the last five years, raised $1.7 million or about $250,000 a year.

This year’s event marks its 20th anniversary and takes place on April 25, 2019 at the Oakland Hills Country Club. Information on purchasing tickets (which are $175 per person) can be found HERE.

Veronica Leonard, an attorney in private practice, is president of the Foundation.

“We raise funds used to help organizations who are on the front line when it comes to providing access to justice programs,” she said. “These organizations may not have the ability to seek out the services of a professional fundraiser, so this event is key to their ongoing mission.”

One of the organizations supported through the Signature Event is Lakeshore Legal Aid, with funds raised going to support its Estate Planning Clinic.

Another, from a long list of those helped through the Signature Event fundraiser, is Jewish Family Service, which has used funds raised to develop materials related to guardianship.

Leonard said the primary support for the event comes from various sponsorships, including law firms of all sizes and professionals engaged in providing support for the legal community, including those involved in forensic accounting and other fields.

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

Gloria House Photo credit: Karen F. Sanders, courtesy The Kresge Foundation.

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.

Gloria House Photo credit: Karen F. Sanders, courtesy The Kresge Foundation.

“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.

Comcast CommTech 5 receives recognition for his Pig mat pitch at Comcast Heartland Region’s internal technical operations Shark Tank competition. Pictured from left to right are Lisa Kocsis-LeCureux, vice president of customer experience strategy, Scott Monteith, vice president of field operations, Jim Clark, CommTech 5, Dino Magdos, vice president field operations, Dale Kirk, vice president of engineering and network operations.

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.

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