Rehmann announced today that they will host a Cyber Security Threats & Best Practices Forum at the Detroit Marriott Troy Hotel in Troy on May 9, 2019. The forum will feature a live hacking demo along with a panel discussion focused around detection and response and how to mitigate your risks.
Plunkett Cooney attorney Alan Shamoun has been appointed to serve as a member of LARA’s Adult-Use Marijuana Stakeholder Workgroups. Shamoun volunteered to serve on the attorney workgroup as part of his practice. He along with 13 attorneys statewide were selected for service on the workgroup.
The Association for Corporate Growth Western Michigan (ACGWM) is pleased to announce the winners of its 11th annual ACG Cup Competition. The 2019 Cup was awarded to undergraduate and MBA teams both from Michigan State University at an event held in Grand Rapids on March 19. More at acg.org/wmich.
Talk to Michelle Richards about one of her greatest passions, the Great Lakes Women’s Business Council, and you’ll quickly see why she says 35 years marks a huge moment for the group.
“This is a big birthday for us,” said Richards, who serves as executive director for the Great Lakes WBC, formerly known as CEED or the Center for Empowerment and Economic Development.
Over the past three-and-a-half decades, Great Lakes WBC has grown into a powerhouse. It has certified more than 1,300 women-owned businesses, supported more than 10,000 small businesses with training and counseling as well as provided $7 million in microloans.
To honor these achievements and those of women-owned businesses the Great Lakes WBC will hold an awards celebration on April 17 at Suburban Collection Showplace. Sponsored by General Motors and RIM Custom Racks and featuring entertainment by actress and comedian Sherri Shepherd, the 35th Annual Awards Celebration recognizes numerous corporate partners and business volunteers who have significantly helped the organization to expand women’s business opportunities in the marketplace.
Richards notes that the majority of employers in the U.S. are small business owners, and women-owned businesses have grown to 10 million. Part of what makes Great Lakes WBC so powerful is that the members “reach back” to bring others with them toward success, she said.
“We’ve proven that we continue to be relevant to women business owners,” Richards said. “We’re the largest we’ve ever been in the past 35 years. … What sets us apart is that we understand the hurtles that women have in front of them and we get them over the top.”
Great Lakes WBC will highlight four groups during this awards ceremony. The first is outstanding business owners, whose growth has helped the whole community. The second group is called the Ambassadors, who have supported Great Lakes WBC through committee work and sharing its services with other small businesses.
The third group is “Corporation of the Year,” a chance for Great Lakes WBC to highlight the businesses that have engaged with it and strongly support small business. The final group is the Partner of the Year, groups that work with Great Lakes WBC to advance women and women’s causes.
Eli Lilly and Company will receive the Corporation of the Year award for its outstanding support and dedication to women and minority-owned businesses. Pure Michigan Business Connect will be awarded Partner of the Year for providing business development opportunities to small businesses including Women Business Enterprises (WBEs) and facilitating more than $8 billion in business contracts.
Distinguished Business Leader awards will be presented to seven area leaders who demonstrate dedication, perseverance and leadership in their businesses while also making time to support others. And four Ambassadors will be recognized for giving their time and talent to serve on committees, mentor and counsel small businesses and promote the work of Great Lakes WBC.
Founded in 1984, Great Lakes WBC is a Livonia-based nonprofit champion for women, minority and small business owners. It represents more than 1,200 WBENC-certified women’s business enterprises generating approximately $11.6 billion in annual revenue and employing 41,500 U.S. workers, as well as 90-plus corporate partners in a diverse range of industry sectors.
Since 1969, Healthmark Industries Company, Inc. has developed and marketed innovative solutions to aid healthcare facilities in their delivery of surgical instruments and other lifesaving medical devices to patients.
Healthmark Industries, a family-owned healthcare supplier located in Fraser, Michigan, is celebrating its 50th year in business in 2019. Healthmark now employs more than 200 people and has recently moved into a 100,000-square-foot headquarters in Fraser.
Ralph A. Basile and his wife, Suzanne, established Healthmark in 1969 in Grosse Pointe. After a successful career in medical sales, Ralph decided to start his own company. In the early days, Healthmark was operated out of the family home, for their first-generation products.
After a few years of success and growing business, Healthmark moved to its first “real” office on the corner of Mack Avenue and Harvard Road in Grosse Pointe Park. Continued success led to the need for a larger facility, and in 1979 Healthmark moved to a building on 9 Mile between Mack and Jefferson in St. Clair Shores.
Right from the start, Healthmark operated as a family business. Sons Ralph, Mark, and Steve were among Healthmark’s first “employees,” stamping literature with the company information on a pay-for-piece basis. Ralph jokes that he still has paper cuts from those days.
Later on, each of the sons, at different times and with different prior experiences, joined the family business and helped grow it. Healthmark’s founder and patriarch, Ralph A. Basile, passed away in 2001 after a battle with cancer. Through the efforts of his wife, three sons, grandchildren, and many loyal employees, the company has continued to grow.
Currently the company is run by Ralph and Suzanne’s three sons, Ralph, Mark, and Steve, with Suzanne still very much involved. Grandson Daniel Basile and wife, Theresa, recently joined the company, as did granddaughter Ashlynn Basile, continuing Healthmark as a third-generation family business.
Suzanne Basile reflects fondly on the past and is excited to see what the future brings for Healthmark.
“I thank my sons and our wonderful employees who have carried on the legacy of our great company so beautifully, and now it is our grandchildren’s turn to carry Healthmark forward into the future, meeting the needs of our customers as we have always strived to do,” Basile said.
Clayton & McKervey, a certified public accounting and business advisory firm helping growth-driven companies compete in the global marketplace, has been included on the list of Top Firms in the Great Lakes Region by the accounting profession’s leading trade publication, Accounting Today. “Clayton & McKervey is so pleased to be included on this list of top firms in the Great Lakes region,” Clayton & McKervey President Rob Dutkiewicz, CPA, said.
Ten years ago, Michigan’s beer industry started to take off and people of all ages and backgrounds were curious about how they could support this crafty new industry in the state.
That is where Stephen Johnson saw an opportunity to start a new business, introducing these spirited companies to the public. In 2009, Johnson co-formed Motor City Brew Tours and started offering bus and walking tours to Detroit breweries.
The idea was simple: Johnson took participants on guided tours to three different breweries, cideries or meaderies. Together, everyone got to sample beers, hard cider or mead, go on tours and eat new dishes that complimented the brews along the way.
The best part was Johnson and his unique knowledge of Michigan’s beer history, its current makers and what was new in the industry. Over the years, the company grew where Johnson could run bus and walking tours year around.
In 2011, he added bike tours, giving small groups a chance to get some exercise and learn about downtown Detroit’s brewing history. He came up with 10 different tour themes, making tour stops along the route to describe the historical significance. Again, audiences loved these tours because they learned about the city, its food and its beers.
The next step was to take the fun onto the water. Today, Motor City Brew Tours also run multiple beer tasting boat cruise events in partnership with the Detroit Princess Riverboat. Enjoy a cruise on the Detroit River and sample seasonal local beer and hard cider and lunch.
“We call all of the tour experiences, part education and part social hour,” Johnson said. “We only work with Michigan Breweries, meaderies and cideries. We have over 50 partners! Since June 2009, we have taken more than 25,000 people on tours.”
He’s even written a book on the topic. “Detroit Beer – A History of Brewing in the Motor City” was published in 2016 by Arcadia Publishing & The History Press. The book chronicles Detroit Beer History from the 1800s up to prohibition, during the rise and fall of big beer and through the current craft beer boom. Profiles and interviews with over 50 breweries and contains 80 historic pictures.
To keep with the times, Johnson even added a podcast. He interviews folks in beer, cider and mead industry on the monthly podcast called “Beer Tour Guy.” It offers another fun way to interact in the Michigan craft beverage community
This year, Johnson and Motor City Brew Tours will run 30 Bike & Brew Tours running May-September with 10 different history themes including Brewery, Prohibition, Automotive, Hamtramck, Corktown/Mexicantown, Architecture, Murals/Public Art and Church History.
There also will be four boat Beer Tasting Boat Cruises – Father’s Day on June 16, August 18, September 14 and Boatoberfest on October 5. These are in addition to the monthly walking tours and bus tours.
Plunkett Cooney has increased the horsepower to its Transportation Law Practice Group with the recent addition of attorney Matthew J. Zmijewski. A member of the firm’s Bloomfield Hills office, Zmijewski focuses his litigation practice in the areas of first- and third-party motor vehicle liability.
Brian MacInnes believes in a strong sense of “community,” which is a key reason his company, Composite Builders, is investing some $344,600 in their Holland manufacturing space.
Apparently, officials in the City of Holland appreciate the community feel of the company. The city recently approved a 12-year tax abatement to support the company’s expansion effort.
Composite Builders is more than doubling their manufacturing space, investing $344,600 to retrofit 30,000 square feet within a larger facility at 430 W. 18th Street. The new expansion will allow for the company to support new projects, including the building of the America’s Cup sailboat, slated to be completed this fall. The expansion is expected to create 15 new jobs.
“The strong appeal to us growing our business in West Michigan is in the sense of community, economic growth, and forward thinking for the aerospace and manufacturing industries,” said MacInnes, CEO of Composite Builders. “With our customers’ necessity of product performance, we have grown exponentially. When partnering with other local industrial businesses like Christianson Fiberglass, Allrout, Impact Fab, and Plascore, to name a few, we make a powerful team for some of our larger projects.”
After city officials approved the tax abatement, Mayor Nancy DeBoer praised the company for its efforts.
“How appropriate that Composite Builders is expanding in Holland, near Lake Macatawa,” DeBoer said. “Soon, they will be launching their 75-foot sailboat for the Stars and Stripes Team USA, ready for America’s Cup in New Zealand in 2021. We celebrate the breadth and depth of Composite Builders’ creations, inspiring us all with their industrious innovation.”
Lakeshore Advantage, the local economic development organization that assists employers with growth opportunities in Ottawa and Allegan counties, has worked with Composite Builders through connecting the company with local and state resources to support their expansion and in assisting the company through the tax abatement application process.
“Composite Builders is a shining example of the engineering and innovation that occurs in industry along West Michigan’s lakeshore region that continuously makes final products better, faster, stronger, safer,” said Jennifer Owens, president of Lakeshore Advantage. “Congratulations to Composite Builders on their growth, and to the City of Holland on the great manufacturing jobs being created locally.”
Composite Builders is an established manufacturer of structures and components using advanced materials and technology, specifically advanced fiber materials and fiber reinforced polymers.
Composite Builders currently serves the military, marine, energy, recreation, aerospace and architectural markets with materials that are ultra-light weight, durable and load bearing. Some notable products that use Composite Builders’ technology include sit skis for the USA Paralympic Nordic Skiing Team, fly fishing rods, industrial inspection aircraft drones, wind turbine blades and military chase boats.
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Bob Jastrzebski has two bee hives hidden in the trees of his home in a Canton Township subdivision.
At one point, he had a neighbor who suddenly saw improvement in his tomato plants. Both men attributed the rise in the neighbor’s tomato production to the presence of the two hives.
“He told me ‘ever since you put those hives up, I’m getting more tomatoes,’” Jastrzebski said. “Without the bees, maybe only one plant gets pollinated. That’s a big difference for gardens.”
That small-scale success Jastrzebski, owner of BobilinHoney (www.bobilinhoney.com), had with those hives illustrates the importance bees play in growing crops of all kinds. That’s also the subject of a U.S. Geological Survey study that says “critical honey bee and wild bee populations in the United States have been declining in recent years, creating concern about the future security of pollination services for agricultural crops.”
Bees are critical to pollination of many crops, including blueberries, apples, pears, pumpkins and cherries. [Editor’s note: read our story from 2008 to see what we learned then about bees and crops. https://www.corpmagazine.com/features/cover-stories/the-bzzz-ness-of-michigan-bees/]
Discovering what bees like to eat has important ramifications for growers and farmers whose apples, cherries, blueberries, squash, cucumbers, pumpkins, pears and other flowering fruits and vegetables depend on bees for pollination, said Logan Rowe, a co-author of a recently published study examining Michigan bees’ feeding preferences.
The research can help farmers and growers decide what native plants to grow near their orchards and fields, said Rowe, a zoologist with Michigan State University Extension and the Michigan Natural Features Inventory.
The study said, “Since bees obtain nearly all their nutritional requirements from pollen and nectar provided by flowering plants, the availability of these resources within bees’ flight range is crucial to their survival. Flower plantings have been shown to increase the yield of adjacent pollinator-dependent crops.”
Rowe said, “We already encourage growers to incorporate native plants,” and the findings will help them more accurately select the best seed mixtures to attract bees.
The plants used to attract the bees are important, according to Jastrzebski, who said primary crops like corn, wheat and soy beans aren’t that attractive to bees. He also said popular bee plants are being taken down in favor of other crops.
“Hedge rows and ditches and places where a lot of natural flowers bloom are being taken away,” Jastrzebski said. “The natural pollen sources are gone, and farmers are spraying fungicides and other (chemicals). When you’re taking habitat away … the farmer is farming every inch of the field. There’s nothing left for the bees to have. Even bees in the wild … you don’t have as many.”
According to the study, reasons for the decline include pests, pesticides, colony collapse disorder and diseases, as well as “shifting landscapes” in the Midwest where cropland is expanding at the expense of “crucial native grasslands and conservation lands that have historically provided abundant flowers for honey bees and native pollinators,” the Geological Survey said.
Scientists conducted the Michigan study in the Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Center in Leelanau County, the Clarksville Research Center in Ionia County and the Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center in Berrien County.
They planted 51 species of drought-tolerant native prairie plants and two non-native species, then observed more than 3,500 honey bees, wild bees and bumblebees as they visited the flowers.
“We were seeing which were most supportive of pollinators,” Rowe said. There’s been little prior research about what types of flowering plants in Michigan’s prairie-type habitat appeal best to different types of bees.
One surprise finding is that bees in different regions of the state have different dietary preferences, he said.
Bees aren’t the only beneficiaries of targeted plantings, the study said. They also provide habitat for threatened wildlife.
The study by researchers at MSU and the University of Manitoba appeared in the journal “Environmental Entomology.”
Eric Freedman, Capital News Service, contributed to this report. Read the original CNS Story at
http://news.jrn.msu.edu/2019/02/culinary-guide-gives-bees-something-to-buzz-about
Coffee shops became popular destinations for telecommuters, freelancers and entrepreneurs for good reason – these quiet havens had caffeine, ample space to work and good Internet access. But the one thing they were missing for business users and coffee lovers alike was a feeling of happiness or excitement.
That is where the new Biggby coffee shop design comes in. The East Lansing-based coffee company is calling its redesign Jakarta and describes it as “bright, airy and effervescent … meant to meet customers where they’re at in their day.”
The result is a warm, safe and unintimidating environment – the kind of place where writers, corporate types, designers and anyone else can feel comfortable enough to linger a while to get their work done in an enjoyable space.
According to Biggby, the new Jakarta design came about as a way to bring other parts of the world to your local Biggby coffee shop. Officials said the Jakarta design was largely inspired by the coffee shops co-CEOs Bob Fish and Mike McFall saw when they visited Jakarta, Indonesia.
“As they walked the streets of Jakarta, Fish and McFall frequented a handful of coffee shops, and while they were all unique one thing rang true through all of them—they were energetic, bright, happy, and welcoming. As they visited these coffee shops, Fish and McFall found a vision for the new look and feel of Biggby coffee shops throughout the nation,” the company said in a statement.
Biggby’s Fish and McFall said they had a fresh direction so they wanted someone innovative and inventive to help them with a design concept. They contacted a Japanese firm that knew about what they had recognized in the Jakarta locations. Then, they got together with Biggby’s Store Development Manager, Jeannie Cleary, in East Lansing to talk further.
The end goal of creating an inclusive environment where all demographics feel at home made the design approachable, Fish said.
“Our intent has always been to be welcoming, approachable, universal, and for everybody. It’s not exclusive, it’s inclusive. We want all demographics to know they belong,” Fish said in a statement.
The Biggby philosophy centers around several concepts, including “Everyone deserves to feel special” and “Coffee brings people together.” So Fish and McFall said they wanted their customers to feel that way the moment they came into a Biggby location, no matter where it is.
“We always wanted it to be a place where when you walk in it’s like you get injected with energy and positivity,” McFall said in a statement. “[Like you] walk in and it gives you a little boost!”
Customers can see the new Jakarta design at the Michigan City, Indiana, store, and coming soon to Celina, Ohio, and East Lansing, Michigan, locations.
The new store concept features four seating areas, which are unique to the new space design. These designs are: Standard tables and chairs that sit 2-4 people, soft seating, a community table that fits 6-10 people, and pods that fit 1-2 people. Each space is designed with a purpose for different levels of comfort and activity.
The community table, which acts as the main focal point in the coffee shop, is meant more for people working out of the office; this space is supposed to feel like a space where they can get their work done in an alternative environment to the office or home.
Between the large sleek table, overhead lighting and electronic outlets, Fish and McFall describe the space as the perfect equation for getting work done away from the office. The soft seating, on the other hand, is meant for those that want to sit and stay, sipping their coffee and perhaps staying for a few hours.
These comfortable chairs give people a home-away-from-home feeling and invite customers to sit and enjoy their stay, the company said. The standard seating acts as a good spot for a group of people to meet and chat, study, or work together.
The most popular seating area, however, is the pods. These semi-private areas give 1-2 people the space to have privacy, but still feel somewhat connected to something other than themselves. With a warm light above them and a spot to plug in their electronic device, this is the space for someone to work, make a phone call, or have some private time with the opportunity to engage with those around them as they choose.
“We made a real effort in this look to do some things that are progressive and meet customers where they are at in their day. The four different areas of the store provide different levels of comfort for where they’re at in their day,” McFall said in a statement.
The design features warm teal and orange colors, contrasted with sleek black chairs and lighting, and soft wood tones. A modern take on a checkerboard floor leads customers down a path from the entrance right to the register. On the counter customers will also see a lava lamp, gifted to owner/operators directly from Fish and McFall.
Biggby Coffee was started with a single store on March 15, 1995. One year later, and on the cusp of opening a second location, Bob Fish and Michael McFall, on a handshake and $4,000, decided to franchise the concept. Today, Biggby has more than 230 cafes across nine states and counting including Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Florida and Texas. In 2018, Biggby launched an Area Representative Program and currently has eight Area Representatives in six states.
When Heather Merrick came home to Michigan after completing her military service in 2008, the skills she picked up in the U.S. Army translated well to the private sector.
Merrick, who joined the Army in 2001 just six weeks prior to 9/11, was a human intelligence collector, translating documents and other such work. After 9/11, she said, her job morphed more into field work, conducting interviews and “going out with the forces.”
“Coming home, being back in Michigan, it was, ‘Now what?’” said Merrick, an HR consultant for Express Employment Professionals. “I ended up going to school for business. But what I did in the army really translated to interviewing, so I went into HR.”
Merrick’s veteran status was a big help when she facilitated a training workshop March 14 to teach other business professionals the best practices in hiring, engaging and retaining veterans. The event was hosted at the Express Employment Professionals Training Center in Wyoming, Mich.
Topics included demographics of the veteran workforce, veteran skills and job paths, translating veteran experience into the workplace and how to recruit, engage and retain veterans.
“The most important thing we wanted to convey was the value veterans can bring to your workplace,” said Merrick, who holds a bachelor of business degree from Davenport University. “I wanted to talk to companies about how they can bring veterans into their workforce. A lot of (military) skills are transferable … leadership, dedication … a lot of those skills aren’t teachable. A veteran comes with those interpersonal skills; you can teach them the job.”
The March 14 event was well-received, with 24 people representing some 17 different companies taking part. Merrick, a certified Society for Human Resource Management Foundation Inclusion Captain for Veteran Hiring, Onboarding, and Retention initiatives, said Express Employment Professionals received “a lot of good feedback. Engagement was strong, people were asking good questions.”
Roger Meyers, human resource director for Atonne Group, Inc., of Wyoming, Mich., said the steps Merrick discussed, such as adding “Veterans Encouraged to Apply” to a job posting, could help catch a veteran’s attention and “can be done and don’t cost anything to do.”
“It was very interesting to hear (Merrick) tell about her personal experiences from being in the military and using those experiences to shape her way back into the civilian workforce,” Meyers said.
Janis Petrini, owner of the Grand Rapids Express Employment Professionals office, said her office was “excited” to host the training.
“Michigan has one of the largest veteran populations in the country,” Petrini said. “If employers aren’t tapping into this valuable workforce, they are missing out.”
Feedback was strong enough, according to Merrick, that Express Employment Professionals is planning to organize a half-day conference “targeting different companies” to help them “put together a veteran-friendly hiring plan and learn best practices for hiring and retaining veterans.”
The conference would likely be conducted in November, though details are not yet available.
The folks at QuadWest Associates, a management consulting firm founded in 2004, were looking for some help expanding their human resources services.
The staff at Rehmann, a Troy-based company and fully integrated financial services firm of CPAs and consultants, wealth advisors and corporate investigators, seemed to have what QuadWest was looking for.
A marriage made in heaven? Apparently officials at both firms think so.
Rehmann announced last month it has joined forces with Troy-based QuadWest Associates, LLC. The move was effective March 1. Officials said the blend creates “great value as it provides clients access to a broader suite of human resources solutions.”
“It gave both of us an opportunity to expand services to our client bases,” said Stacie Kwaiser, Rehmann’s chief operating officer. “We’ve already been working on providing HR solutions to our clients. This expands our expertise in HR consulting services (outsourcing, employer relations, policy development, strategic planning, etc.). Rehmann is focused on making sure we can help our clients with their business needs.”
Rehmann CEO Randy Rupp said the firm was “thrilled to find like-minded experts to help the Rehmann team continue its trajectory of growth and innovation.”
“This is a win-win for both firms as we are poised now, more than ever before, to provide the services that our clients need to succeed,” Rupp said.
Founded in 2004, QuadWest provides a host of HR services, including HR outsourcing, employee relations, policy development, risk management and strategic planning. That portfolio is set to grow notably with Rehmann’s own accounting and specialty services added to the mix, as well as its traditional accounting services, wealth management, technology solutions and specialized consulting offerings.
“This alliance expands our ability to deliver value across a full spectrum of business solutions,” said Susan West, QuadWest president. “QuadWest and Rehmann have a shared strategic vision and we believe that integrating our firms will allow us to better serve our clients.”
Kwaiser believes the relationship between Rehmann and QuadWest was a great one right from the beginning.
“What a great fit Susan and her team were,” Kwaiser said. “From the very first meeting, it was clear that QuadWest under Susan’s leadership had very common cultural focus on associates and clients. Her team-based approach is very consistent with Rehmann’s service philosophy. It was a very strong, natural fit from the first meeting.”
QuadWest associates joined Rehmann’s office on Big Beaver in Troy.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has a goal for which she recently gathered some key support.
Her goal: Increasing the percentage of Michigan’s workforce with a post-high school degree or high-value certificate to 60 percent by the year 2030.
The goal was buoyed when four major business organizations – Business Leaders for Michigan, the Detroit Regional Chamber, the Grand Rapids Chamber and the Small Business Association of Michigan – expressed their support for Whitmer’s MI Opportunity and Reconnect proposals.
Officials from those groups said they “look forward to working” with Whitmer’s team, and the state Legislature, to increase post-secondary access for high school graduates and adults, “consistent with principles related to accountability for both students and colleges.”
Doug Rothwell, CEO of Business Leaders for Michigan, said large employers in the state face the “same major challenge” to attract talent and then, of course, retain it.
“We want to have homegrown talent sustaining our state’s productivity and continued economic growth, and to achieve that we need to boost the number of residents who attain a post-secondary degree or certification,” Rothwell said. “(Whitmer) quickly identified this challenge and brought forth an attainable goal for us to all work toward.”
Detroit Regional Chamber president/CEO Sandy Baruah pointed out the chamber was “an early adopter” of the 60-percent goal now shared by Whitmer, as evidenced by its experience with Detroit Promise.
Andy Johnston, vice president of government affairs for the Grand Rapids Chamber, called closing the skills gap and addressing the talent crisis the “number one issue” for chamber members.
“To combat this issue, we need a plan to increase degree attainment, including four-year and two-year degrees, as well as certificates and credentials,” Johnston said. “We are eager to work alongside the administration, the Legislature and other stakeholders to craft initiatives that accomplish these goals and create a sustainable and thriving workforce.”
The lack of available talent to accommodate growth is a common challenge businesses of all sizes face, according to former lieutenant governor Brian Calley, now president of the Small Business Association of Michigan, who said Michigan has “come a long way” in the last decade. “We need a unified, comprehensive strategy to connect more people to education and opportunity,” Calley said. “SBAM looks forward to working with the Whitmer administration and the Legislature to reach the ambitious 60-percent degree or certificate attainment by the year 2030.”
Here’s one of those “Did You Know?” things about Michigan’s economy: Food and agriculture jobs make up 20 percent of the state’s workforce. These jobs are crucial to Michigan’s economy and provide long-term opportunity for workers to make a good living.
Recently, Eastern Market and several partners announced a new, free job training program for careers in the food and agriculture industry. These jobs will prepare Detroiters for skilled, living-wage jobs in food resourcing, processing, packaging, distribution and more.
Four of Detroit’s foundational food businesses are joining forces to launch Food Industry Jobs, a training and development pilot program that will prepare workers for stable jobs and career paths in the food and agriculture trade. This sector provides the highest number of entry-level, living-wage jobs in Michigan’s workforce.
With more than 300 years of combined experience in food resourcing, processing, packing, distribution and retail, Eastern Market Corporation, along with partners Wolverine Packing Co, E.W. Grobbel, and Germack, are working with Greenhorn Training Solutions on a comprehensive program that will prepare participants to succeed in the food and agriculture industry.
“Food processing and distribution provides a great portal for Detroiters who have limited skill sets to enter the workforce. There are many growth opportunities for dedicated workers to continuously build their skills and talent,” said Dan Carmody, president, Eastern Market Corporation.
The program’s first cohort will take 25 people through 72 hours of rigorous classroom instruction over two-and-a-half weeks, beginning May 1. Participants will learn industry basics and career skills including time management, conflict resolution, financial literacy and teamwork. Participants also will complete certification training and testing in ServSafe Food Handling.
There is no cost to the participant, but they must first apply for the program online at apply4worknow.com beginning April 1. Qualified applicants will be enrolled at an April 24 project launch, where they will meet the Food Industry Jobs partner businesses.
Participants who complete the course will attend a graduation event May 17, with interviews occurring the week after. These jobs will help to fill the food and agriculture career pipeline.
“Growing and developing people both personally and professionally is the heart of what we do every day,” said Jason Grobbel, CEO of E.W. Grobbel. “Trained, dedicated, hard-working people have tremendous opportunity within the food industry. Food industry jobs are vital to Michigan’s economic diversity and stability.”
The Food Industry Jobs partners aim to train a total of 120 people in four cohorts over the next year.
“We’ll evaluate after the first cohort, but we are applying for grants and looking to connect with additional partners to help fund the program on a continuous basis,” Carmody said.
In addition to the four partners, Michigan State University and Detroit Edison Public School Academy are consulting on curriculum design and instruction, to ensure a training experience that is suitable for all educational backgrounds. For more information or to apply to Food Industry Jobs, go to apply4worknow.com.
Eastern Market Corporation is the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that manages Eastern Market on behalf of the City of Detroit. Its vision is to create the most inclusive, resilient, and robust regional food hub in the United States and to ensure that Eastern Market nourishes Detroit — from food to art and commerce to culture.
Whether you’ve been working for a few years or a few decades, the pull of advancing your education and going back to get a business degree or MBA may be attractive – especially if you can do the work online.
If you’re in Michigan, six universities were recently were ranked as the best online MBA programs in 2019 by BusinessStudent.com, a business education social community website focused on giving students and professionals information on careers, degrees and job opportunities.
The study shows the six Michigan Universities that made the list: Lawrence Technological University was ranked No. 48, Northwood University was ranked No. 64, University of Michigan – Dearborn was ranked No. 97, Kettering University was ranked No. 128, Ferris State University was ranked No. 135 and Central Michigan University was ranked No. 157.
“Today, there are over 300 Online MBA programs offered by nonprofit and for-profit universities. Our rankings report was created to help narrow down the highest quality and most affordable options in a clear and concise format. By analyzing cost, accreditation, acceptance rates, student support, and engagement metrics we’re now able to showcase the best of the best for 2019,” said Henry Steele, managing editor of BusinessStudent.com.
While traditional MBA enrollment is down across the board, online MBA programs are seeing record numbers of people enroll due to lower tuition costs and the ability to study from anywhere. In fact, the U.S. News and World Report 2019 list of online MBA programs includes 301 schools, up from just 170 in 2017.
BusinessStudent.com analyzed all programs and today released a study on the 202 Best Online MBA Programs in 2019.
Programs without accreditations (AACSB or ACBSP) were not included. The rankings were determined by analyzing five criteria: tuition, accreditation, acceptance rate, student support and engagement.
As part of the study, more than 100 former online MBA students were surveyed and 83 percent ranked tuition price as their number one consideration when choosing a program. Based solely on tuition, BusinessStudent.com also ranked the 25 highest priced online MBA programs and the 25 most affordable programs.
Rehmann CEO Randy Rupp announced that the firm has won ClearlyRated’s Best of Accounting Award for providing superior service. Best of Accounting Award winners have proven themselves as industry leaders in service quality based entirely on ratings provided by their clients.
Many university students have lived in dorm rooms, but few can say they’ve lived in a retirement community. Calvin College and Western Michigan University students are doing just that for 19 months. They are residing at Clark to build stronger communication skills and deeper relationships with the older generation.
Bank of America Merrill Lynch is pleased to announce that it has named David Lee as senior vice president and senior relationship manager. Based in Grand Rapids, he will serve middle-market companies with annual revenues of $50 million to $2 billion.
Threads For Success held it’s 13th annual program where 60 high school male seniors were given a free tailored business suit, shirt, and tie. Along with receiving these items each young man participated in the following training. First Impression, Pre-Interview Skills, & One on One Mock Interviews.
