April 18, 2024 • 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EDT In today’s fast-paced work environment, burnout has become a prevalent concern affecting both employees and organizations. Human Resources (HR) professionals play a critical role in identifying, addressing, and preventing burnout within their teams. This session aims to equip HR professionals with the knowledge and strategies necessary to effectively navigate and implement initiatives to combat burnout.
May 16, 2024 – The Henry, Autograph Collection
The MichBusiness Women Thrive Conference is a day of celebration, informative panel discussions, facilitated networking opportunities, and knowledge-sharing. It is advised by a distinguished board of businesswomen and community leaders.
The products known as “panic buttons” are nothing new – these security measures that alert medical professionals or emergency services when a senior citizen or business needs help have been around for decades.
But what is new is the way that companies including those in healthcare, education, transportation and hospitality are using this well-known technology. In recent years, hotel workers, teachers, ridesharing vehicles, real-estate agents and many others are looking at panic buttons to protect their safety and communicate with safety officials quickly and securely.
SecuraTrac CEO, Chris Holbert
For example, hotel workers in cities such as Chicago and Seattle have introduced or passed laws requiring hotels to provide housekeeping-service workers with panic buttons. The American Hotel and Lodging Association – which includes such top hotel chains such as Hyatt, Hilton, and Marriott – publicly supported these efforts to protect guest and employee safety.
Schools in states that include Florida and Arkansas are providing teachers with panic buttons in schools in order for staff to contact emergency personnel faster. Internationally, taxis and ridesharing services in India are starting to require panic buttons in vehicles to protect drivers as well as passengers in case of an emergency.
SecuraTrac CEO Chris Holbert said his company is seeing new growth in these industries, boosting the technology and connection within their products to respond to industry needs and reaching out to new employees and companies to let them know about the potential in panic buttons.
“There are so many applications and uses for what we do that the sky’s the limit,” said Holbert, who helped start the company in 2008 along with two other technology-industry executives.
California-based SecuraTrac develops, markets, and sells a suite of mobile safety solutions focused on improving senior and employee health and safety through location-based technology and state-of-the-art, cloud-based platforms. Its goal is to “make a difference for every family” by making their lives safer and better.
SecuraTrac’s solutions for seniors and employees have garnered numerous awards for excellence and innovation including the National Parenting Center’s Seal of Approval, and the Caregiver Friendly Award (from Today’s Caregiver magazine). SecuraTrac has also won the Last Gadget Standing award at the Consumer Electronics Show as well as the CES Mobile Apps Showdown.
The company focuses on three markets, including the lone worker, which looks at the needs of people who tend to work alone and may be in situations where their safety is a concern. This may be real-estate agents, housekeeping employees in hotels as well as taxi or rideshare drivers.
Then there is the senior safety market, which has long been robust and a great space for SecuraTrac with its long battery life and wireless products, Holbert said.
Finally, it is emerging as a leader in the healthcare industry, which has both lone workers such as home-healthcare workers and mobile nursing and other jobs that require a fluid connection between the worker and their base.
When SecuraTrac initially began, it looked at childcare and kid safety as a prime market. When that turned out to be a slower growth area, it adapted to the senior market and healthcare as well as individual safety. Generally, SecuraTrac works within the business-to-business realm, Holbert added.
“Nobody ever thinks something will happen to them while they’re on the job. But bad things do happen. That’s why we want to be there as an option to help,” Holbert said.
The next step for SecuraTrac is letting people know about new models and technological advances, Holbert said. For example, some of its senior solutions have models with a 30-day battery life where the product sits quietly when not in use but then alerts a caregiver that the unit needs to be charged.
It also is investing in boosting signal through 4G LTE versions of its products and international solutions. For example, SecuraTrac is now compatible with seven major alarm and central station software providers, which the company says is the most of any mPERS hardware device supplier and with every major cellular service provider including Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile in addition to other carriers in North and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia.
“We continually try to think forward so we can meet the needs of our markets,” Holbert said.
George Hunter is the ultimate police reporter, working for The Detroit News and covering some of the toughest cases in the Motor City.
He also is an author with two books under his belt now. His newest book with wife Lynn Rosenthal is called “The Sadist, the Hitman and the Murder of Jane Bashara.” It is a new look at the infamous true-crime story about Bob Bashara, a Grosse Pointe Park businessman who paid a handyman to help him murder his wife, Jane.
The book is out now through McFarland Publishers and its new true-crime imprint, Exposit Books.
Q: What inspired this book? A: I was involved in this story from the very beginning, and after all these years covering crime, it remains the most bizarre case I’ve ever seen. From the start I was thinking it would make a good book. … Why did I write this book? One reason: I like to have projects in my life. I have a lot of excess energy and I find I can stay balanced if I have tasks to keep me focused. Keeps ya out of the pool hall and all that. Also, my wife is a freelance writer, and I thought it was be kind of neat and romantic if we worked on a book together – and it was!
Q: What are you correcting or adding to this story? A: … While he pretended to be “Big Bob” the rich real estate mogul, he was actually broke. Jane had all the money. So in order to dive full-time into this lifestyle, he wanted to grab her $800,000 401k and other insurance policies. Otherwise, none of the women he courted were likely going to shack up with him, because they seemed to be looking for someone to take care of them.
Q: What did you learn from this experience – it is many people’s dream to write a book. A: The main thing I learned is: You only get so much space in a newspaper, but with a 90,000-word book you have the opportunity to go into far more detail about the people involved, and their motivations and actions. Also, I think a book affords the opportunity to be a little more subjective in the writing. As a journalist, I cover these events as they’re happening, and despite any suspicions or theories I might have, I have to put those aside and write without editorial comment. While we still stick to the facts in the book, there are cases where we wander into speculation. For instance, we ended one chapter covering the period right after the news broke about Jane’s death, and we posed a few questions: What did Bob think of when he went to bed that night?
Q: What was the most rewarding part of this experience? A: The best part was seeing Lynn’s parents and mine beaming when we showed them the finished book. Her mom cried when she read the dedication. You don’t make a ton of money on these books, and as you know, it’s a LOT of work. If you break it down by how much money you make per hour, you’d do better working at a burger joint. But it’s wonderful that our parents can have a reason to be proud of us, and are able to brag to their friends “my son/daughter is an author.” That’s the reward.
In late 2017, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced President Donald J. Trump’s appointment of Joseph P. Galvan as the Regional Administrator of HUD’s Midwest Regional Office.
Galvan served in the same capacity in President George W. Bush’s administration from 2001 to January 2009. A Mexican American, Galvan is one of 10 HUD Regional Administrators appointed across the United States, and is responsible for the oversight and delivery of HUD programs and services across Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. He studied to be a Jesuit priest early in his career, then turned his attention to housing, public affairs, and urban planning in college.
Corp! asked Galvan about his inspiration for working in housing and about the December 2017 announcement of $2.4 million in HUD funding to help Michigan families.
Corp!: Where did you grow up? Joseph Galvan: In Chicago’s near south side in the Chinatown neighborhood. I went to a Catholic high school in a Polish Lithuanian neighborhood called Bridgeport.
Corp!: What was your first job and what did you learn from it? JG:My first unpaid job was working with my dad. He was a janitor. He worked in a local grammar school and that is where I learned to love to read. He would take me [to work] when I was growing up and I would sneak off to the school library and read all these books. My first paid job was when I was in high school. I was 16 and worked for the Vienna Sausage Company and delicatessen. In the deli, there were three ladies and a manager. They were all [Jewish] survivors of the Holocaust. They taught me a lot about working hard and the value of life.
Corp!: Who was your mentor?
JG: My dad. He was physically handicapped, but never let it stand in the way of providing for his family. He taught me the values of faith, family and country.
Corp!:What brought you back to HUD? JG: I have always been attracted to housing. I remember taking the bus [growing up] and looking at places in Chicago and thinking about how people could live in these areas. I love this job because you can effectuate change. One of the biggest reasons I came back was to be able to work under HUD Secretary Dr. Ben Carson.
Corp!: What goals do you hope to accomplish? JG: I know Secretary Carson is [asking] how do we lift people out of poverty, how do we move people forward? Through the EnVision Centers, we will … make change. (Editor’s note: Announced in Detroit by Carson in early December, EnVision Centers is a new initiative designed to help HUD-assisted households. According to a press release, through results-driven partnerships with federal agencies, state and local governments, nonprofits, faith-based organizations, corporations, public housing authorities, and housing finance agencies, EnVision Centers will leverage public-private resources for maximum community impact.)
Corp!: Tell us about the $2.4 million in HUD funding to Michigan. JG: HUD marked the 25th anniversary of the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program by awarding $75 million nationally, including nearly $2.4 million to Michigan to continue helping public housing residents and those participating in the Housing Choice Voucher Program to further their education and find good jobs. Family Self-Sufficiency funding is critical in our effort to empower HUD assisted residents by giving them a hand up towards independence and an opportunity to reach their full potential.
(Editor’s note: According to the HUD website, the FSS Program helps local Public Housing Authorities to hire Service Coordinators who work directly with residents to connect them with programs and services that already exist in the local community. The program aims to help participating families find jobs, increase earned income, reduce or eliminate the need for rental and/or welfare assistance, and make progress toward achieving economic independence and housing self-sufficiency.)
If you believe wishes can come true, then you need to visit Detroit’s official “Wish Tree.” And if you want to see more trees like this installed around the city, get ready to see a major reforestation effort within Detroit.
This leafy installation occurred in April 2000 when artist Yoko Ono visited Detroit at the behest of local residents Lila and Gilbert Silverman. The couple invited Ono to create something for the city after supporting “Freight Train,” one of Ono’s works displayed at the Detroit Institute of Arts. The original tree, a ginkgo, was supposed to be both a living sculpture and what Ono called “a symbol of faith in Detroit,” according to a Detroit News article from the time.
A small plaque attached to a boulder next to the tree’s location reads: “WISH TREE for Detroit. Whisper your wish to the bark of the tree. yoko ono 2000 spring.” The tree became part of what was known then as Times Square Park. In addition to Detroit, Yoko Ono installed other “Wish Tree” projects around the United States in cities including Washington D.C. to encourage the general public to become more involved with art.
In 2009, the city stepped in again to protect the site and the Wish Tree when it built the Rosa Parks Transit Center. The busy center, where Detroit buses move in and out dozens of times an hour, wasn’t the most hospitable site for a tree, and several versions of the Wish Tree died unexpectedly.
However, the city added a new linden on the site in November 2017 as part of Mayor Mike Duggan’s efforts to plant 10,000 trees in Detroit over a three-year period. With its future shade and comfortable boulder, many passing by the Wish Tree are likely to appreciate Ono’s sentiment and the city’s investment.
Here’s how it will work: The city of Detroit’s Forestry division will be planting 10,000 young trees across the city as part of its ongoing effort to improve the quality of life in Detroit’s neighborhoods. The new plantings will replace the 10,000 or more that have fallen victim to wind storms, the emerald ash borer, disease or old age.
The “10,000 Up” initiative, which is part of Mayor Mike Duggan’s 10-point neighborhood plan, got underway earlier in Fall 2017 and already has planted more than 900 trees. The city will spend approximately $3 million per year for each of the next three years to complete the initiative.
“Detroit used to be known as a city of trees, but we have lost so many over the past several decades to various causes,” said General Services Department Director, Brad Dick, said in a statement. “We’ve been putting a lot of energy into removing the dangerous dead trees and felt it was time to get back to planting new trees because they add so much to the community and the environment.”
A central piece of the program is listening to neighbors when deciding where to place the new trees. Neighborhood groups, block club associations, and residents can notify the Forestry department where they would like the trees to be planted. A survey will be created where inspectors can collect addresses and verify if the areas mentioned by residents are viable enough to plant a tree.
The city is spreading the word about the program through door knockers, flyers and word of mouth and encouraging residents to get involved. If a location a resident requests is selected for planting, the Forestry Division will ask that they assist in watering the base of the tree which helps in its growth and rooting process.
The species of tree types being planted will vary based on availability but are expected to have a lifespan of 40-100 years, so they will be around for generations of Detroiters to enjoy.
Troy Moore, Chief of External Affairs at the National Diaper Bank Network; Veronica Claybrone, Founder and Director of the Metropolitan Detroit Diaper Bank; Lynette Ackley, VP of Drugstore & Baby at Meijer and Lisa Stehling, Senior Team Leader at Kimberly-Clark pose with a $10,000 check donated to the National Diaper Bank Network at a Meijer and Huggies Donation Event at the Metropolitan Detroit Diaper Bank on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018 in Detroit. (Rick Osentoski/AP Images for Huggies)
There are some things you cannot live without: Food. Shelter. And, if you’re a parent, that list would have to include those helpful items known as diapers.
National Diaper Bank recently presented a donation of 100,000 diapers to the Metropolitan Detroit Diaper Bank, a member bank of the National Diaper Bank Network on behalf of Huggies and Meijer, the Grand Rapids-based retail chain.
This donation will help the one-in-three U.S. families (36 percent) in diaper need. Diaper need is defined as the struggle to provide enough diapers to keep their baby or toddler clean, dry and healthy.
The event celebrates the larger program that is the result of an in-store promotion at Meijer and its locations around the Midwest. From October 29 to December 23, Huggies donated a day’s worth of diapers for every package of Huggies diapers purchased —up to 400,000 diapers— and Meijer donated $1 (up to $10,000) to the National Diaper Bank Network, which serves communities in need across the country.
This donation event also celebrated Meijer and Huggies fifth year of partnership, which has now enabled both organizations to donate a monumental total of 1 million diapers over the past five years to help support families in diaper need.
Writing a book seems like an incredibly exciting event in a person’s life – until you realize how much work it is to market that book.
Finding your audience for your words is challenging, and that is why in part Becky Robinson developed a platform for authors called Hometown Reads. Based in Lambertville, Michigan, Hometown Reads is a free place for authors to lists their books, gain community among writers and learn new skills to help with that all-important task of marketing.
“When we started Hometown Reads, I was thinking about the energy that happens when an author can effectively mobilize their local networks – they collectively share that author’s books,” Robinson said, creating a ripple effect to find new fans and readers.
“I thought if we could get the fans who lived near you to share your work through their social chapters, it could help spread a book from the author’s hometown to the world,” Robinson said.
Robinson, who also is the founder and CEO of Weaving Influence, started Hometown Reads because she saw through her other businesses how difficult it is for authors to put together a marketing plan and implement it. She wanted a way to develop ways for writers to work smarter, together.
Becky Robinson
Hometown Reads, launched in early 2016, is a division of Weaving Influence, a boutique digital and public relations firm that specializes in serving authors with comprehensive book marketing services. In addition to its custom book marketing services, Weaving Influence developed a do-it-yourself, book-marketing course called Book Marketing Action Guide.
Each location has its own Facebook page, meetings and activities. Robinson and her staff help pull them together initially, foster their development and spur them to reach out to others. That is funded through her core company, Weaving Influence.
Today, there are nearly 100 Hometown Reads locations representing more than 3,000 books – all developed in the past two years. Each author who signs on brings attention to the website, to the other authors posted there and to the writers in their local area. This helps create a support network and attention to their writing beyond their hometown and into the wider world.
To build the business even further, Robinson in 2018 is revamping the website, adding more communication via workshops and seminars as well as getting Hometown Reads authors to act as Ambassadors, bringing new writers and new books to the website. Collectively, having these wordsmiths work together create connection and attention across platforms, Robinson said.
Now, there are Hometown Reads sites from Asheville to Seattle to Washington D.C.
“HometownReads.com creates community within the book universe. It is a way to harness the power of online connections to introduce authors and readers living in the very same zip code,” Robinson said.
Economists are expecting 2018 to be a year of continued modest growth, with most expressing confidence in basic indicators for the national and state economies. The Federal Reserve’s December 13, 2017 decision to raise rates for the third time during 2017 reflected confidence in the economy’s strength and control of inflation.
The University of Michigan, through its Research Seminar in Quantitative Economics, describes Michigan as being in its ninth year of economic recovery, having created an average of 70,500 net new jobs per year from the previous recession’s low point in the summer quarter of 2009. The state’s annual growth rate of 1.7 percent outpaced that of the 1.5 percent nationwide.
For 2018, UM economists see continued progress. “The outlook extends the recovery period to over 10 years—among the longest continuous stretches of job growth in Michigan since the Great Depression.” UM economists forecast 0.9 percent job growth during the first half of 2018 and 1.0 during the second half—a gain of 40,900 jobs. Local inflation, measured by the Detroit CPI, is estimated at 1.5 percent. Personal income growth is projected to increase by 4.4 percent in 2018.
Comerica economists view 2018 as a transition year for the Michigan economy, with a leveling of auto sales, which peaked at 18.8 million units in December 2016, and then “a return to a normal late-business-cycle gradual decline.” Economist Richard A. Dye predicts a 2.1 percent change in real GDP for Michigan with personal income growth of 4.8 percent and unemployment at a low 3.5 percent.
While Michigan’s unemployment rate has been lower than the national rate during 2017, the state still has not recovered thousands of the jobs lost during the Great Recession. And its relatively positive economy lags that of several of its neighbors. According to Michael J. Hicks, Ph.D., director of the Ball State University Center for Business and Economic Research, “Michigan’s economy continues to underperform the nation and the Midwest, with growth hovering between 1.1 and 1.6 percent through the forecast horizon.”
Grand Rapids/Western Michigan Outperforms the State
The Grand Rapids area, however, outperforms Michigan and the U.S. in several important economic measures, says Jim Robey, Ph.D., director of The W. E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research in Kalamazoo. Robey was a featured speaker at the annual economic forecast event held in December by The Right Place, west Michigan’s nonprofit, private economic development organization. He provided an overview of 2017 economic performance and a 2018 forecast for the Grand Rapids-Wyoming Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), which encompasses Berry, Kent, Montcalm and Ottawa counties.
According to his analysis, Grand Rapids has been leading the state and nation in recovery from the Great Recession, as indicated by employment growth. Grand Rapids has returned to pre-recession levels of manufacturing employment, unlike Michigan and the U.S. as a whole.
Jim Robey, director of The W.E. Upjohn Institute
“Grand Rapids is a standout in Michigan and the country. Unemployment in west Michigan is 3.6 percent and in Michigan it is in the upper 4s,” Robey says.
He forecasts an increase of 0.7 percent for total 2018 employment in the Grand Rapids MSA, above Michigan, but less than the U.S. He expects the gross regional product for west Michigan to increase by 1.8 percent next year.
“Their manufacturing sector recovered very fast after the recession. Grand Rapids has a great product mix with a strong economy in automotive parts and office furniture. Both are doing well,” he explains. In addition, he says, the local economy has significant design and engineering components.
Consumer Sentiment Is Generally Positive
Optimistic consumer sentiment provides a positive foundation for future consumption and economic growth. Consumers are generally positive about their economic future, according to the University of Michigan Survey of Consumers, based on preliminary published results from their November 2017 survey. “Improved finances were reported by 51 percent of all consumers in November, just below the 17-year high of 53 percent in October,” according to survey results.
Consumers were optimistic about their financial prospects for the year ahead, with an annual income gain of 2.1 percent expected in both October and November, the best two-month average since 2008. Rising home values were cited by two-thirds of homeowners and 60 percent thought the probability was better than 50-50 that stock prices would continue to rise next year.
Deloitte economist Daniel Bachman
Will Tax Reform Stimulate Business Investment?
Congress has just approved and President Trump has signed a major tax reform law that reduces the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent. Its supporters claim this will stimulate “repatriation” of overseas investment by American companies.
Some economists are cautious in assessing the bill’s potential impact as a business stimulus. Deloitte’s U.S. Economic Forecast for 3rd Quarter 2017 stresses that businesses make investment decisions based foremost on the cost of capital and product demand. “Even a relatively radical tax reform would not likely translate into a very large change in the cost of capital, which also depends on overall financing costs, depreciation rates, and the expected cost of capital structures and equipment in the future. And research on business investment indicates that current (and future) demand is the main driver of investment in any event,” the forecast states.
Richard Dye, the Comerica economist, is more positive about the impact of tax reform on business growth.
“We do see American companies repatriating jobs from outside the U.S. Reduced taxes could generate payouts in dividends and wages, as well as business investment and stock buy-backs. Tax reform will be helpful to corporations and stock market performance,” he says.
However, Comerica’s December 2017 U.S. Economic Outlook cautions that pressure on the federal deficit resulting from the newly approved tax cuts could jeopardize the Trump Administration’s promise of major investment in infrastructure. Also, the analysis suggests that if federal revenues to states and local governments are reduced due to tax reform and a higher deficit, these government entities may seek compensating tax increases—potentially limiting business investment and personal spending.
Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau senior vice president, Dave Beachnau
The Global Economy
Several economic forecasts mention uncertain political conditions in Saudi Arabia, a major oil producer, as a possible issue in 2018. However, concern over potential oil price hikes is mitigated by several positive changes. First, the U.S. continues to reduce its dependence on foreign oil sources. In addition, the capacity of American oil wells that are “drilled and ready to go is huge,” says Robey.
In the past, he says, a spike in gas prices might have shifted consumer preferences from trucks and SUVs to smaller, more fuel-efficient cars. But now, most vehicles, regardless of size, achieve better mileage so buyers are less price-sensitive when gas costs increase.
While the uncertainty of oil prices may not be that threatening to the auto industry, potential changes in international trade agreements, especially NAFTA, could have a substantial impact on car production and pricing. The Trump administration has expressed strong interest in rewriting trade agreements with the stated goal of “leveling the playing field” for all trade partners and discouraging American companies from relocating jobs overseas.
Deloitte economist Daniel Bachman considers trade issues as a potential driver of slower growth.
“The auto sector in particular is most affected by NAFTA. A breakdown would have a short-term impact on the auto industry and the economy with reduced hiring and growth,” he says. However, Bachman suggests that even if the treaty “goes away,” its enabling legislation might remain and the issue might go to court. Robey suggests a reversal of NAFTA could be disruptive to automotive and supplier production, some of which could move to Asia.
Despite uncertainty about the impact of tax reform and trade agreements, economists are generally confident of continued modest economic growth for 2018. Deloitte’s Bachman expects continued job growth and strength in Europe.
“That is good for us,” he says. “Capital is flowing back into Europe and the dollar is falling, which is positive.” Deloitte’s baseline estimate for 2018 calls for 2.4 percent growth in U.S. GDP with a probability of 55 percent.
Comerica grades the 2018 economic outlook as a “B” because of forecasted real GDP growth of 2.8 percent. Dye says that a higher grade would require consistent strong GDP growth of more than 3 percent.
The University of Michigan’s RSQE forecast calls for U.S. GDP growth of 2.5 percent in 2018, noting that this is less than what was assumed in President Trump’s budget proposal. Their 2018-2019 outlook states, “We expect all major private components of domestic final demand to expand at a robust pace over our forecast horizon. The likely passage of deficit-raising tax cuts will put downward pressure on federal government spending growth during our forecast horizon.”
Estimates of the increase in inflation, as measured by the CPI, are in the 1.7 to 2.1 percent range. The Federal Reserve’s inflation target is below 2 percent. Further decline is expected in the national unemployment rate in what some already consider a “full employment” labor market.
Stability and modest growth seem to define economic expectations for 2018—both for Michigan and the national economy.
Finding talent – hiring, training and encouraging employees – is one of the top tasks of any organization. Getting the right person in the right job can be the difference between a successful business and one that struggles, human-resource experts agree.
Stephen Miles, CEO of The Miles Group
Coming into the New Year, the stakes are even higher as company leaders, especially high-profile CEOs, come under fire for setting the tone for incoming talent, says Stephen Miles, CEO of The Miles Group (TMG).
“Boards and investors are pressuring CEOs not only to set the right tone at the top, but also to make sure talent throughout the organization is completely aligned both in performance goals and in cultural fit,” Miles said. “But many companies, if they are not already in the middle of one, are on the brink of a talent failure – and they might not see the mistakes that got them there.”
Hiring expert Scott Wintrip agrees. The author of “High Velocity Hiring: How to Hire Top Talent in an Instant” says the real problem is that businesses believe a dangerous set of myths around hiring and that these myths are hurting organizations everywhere.
“The skilled worker shortage will only become more noticeable in the future,” Wintrip said. “As globalization increases, borders will matter less, creating a talent competition unlike anything we’ve ever seen. It’s crucial to immediately disengage from those myths around hiring that prevent you from efficiently finding good employees. Once you counter the myths that are slowing your selection process, you’ll see that good talent really isn’t hard to find after all.”
TMG develops talent strategies for organizations, teams, and individuals that focus on high-performance, world-class leadership. Through assessments and development, coaching, leadership transition planning, and organizational design, TMG helps clients cultivate exceptional talent from the C-suite to the next generation of leaders throughout the organization. Its clients include many of the Fortune 100 as well as VC portfolio companies, firms in transition, and organizations around the globe and across industries.
Here are TMG’s “Top 10” management mistakes CEOs must be on the lookout for throughout the remainder of 2018:
Downplaying cultural risk. “Shareholders, the media, and consumers – not to mention regulators and prosecutors – will only increase pressure on companies to take a hard look at their corporate culture,” says William Stern, managing director at TMG. “All C-level officers and board members – not just HR – are going to be held accountable for how a company’s culture plays out in both official and unofficial ways, and will need to mitigate the cultural risk that could damage the organization and shareholder value.”
Settling for weekend warriors vs. Ironmen. “It used to be that if you had an executive coach, something was wrong; today, something is wrong if you don’t have a coach,” says Taylor Griffin, chief operating officer of TMG. “Effective leadership development is an Ironman activity – it takes continuous commitment and constant improvement. Treating it as an intermittent activity won’t give people the results needed; companies must identify the truly coachable talent who want to do the hard work of development.”
Ignoring the drafting effect. “Strong executives in a leadership role can often lift the performance of their team, causing people to believe that the whole team is equally talented and capable,” says Matt Bedwell, managing director at TMG. “Unfortunately, this often doesn’t hold true. When that leader moves on and someone else from the team steps into the role, there is a chance that person will fail – much to everyone’s surprise. It’s critical to unbundle the drafting effect by getting very specific in your diagnostics of the leader to see where he or she could be pulling the weight of others.”
Always being “one short.” “CEOs often ask us why, if their company does talent management so well, they are always one short when it comes to finding the right person for an open role,” says Courtney Hamilton, TMG managing director. “Simply having a talent management process in place can instill a false sense of security about one’s bench – it’s necessary but not sufficient. Companies often waste time trying to fix what’s broken when they should be investing in their highest performers and grooming them for future roles.”
Not building competitive muscle. “As growth slows in both the U.S. and abroad, companies can’t wait for the economy to lift all ships,” says Miles. “They must grab market share from competitors in order to grow. Given that there has been such a focus on cost-cutting over the past decade, to the near exclusion of other priorities, there is only a small subset of executives who are willing to really get scrappy and do what it takes to take share.”
Thinking too small about diversity. “The highest performing teams are often diverse, but the lowest performing teams are often diverse, too,” says Griffin. “Leaders may not have the tools to lead diverse teams, and team members may not be able to express themselves in a way that allows for both a cultural fit and their unique differences. Diversity must be broadened beyond identity diversity – gender and ethnic differences – to include cognitive diversity, which expresses itself through different personality types or leadership styles or the way people think about solving problems. Companies need this full-spectrum diversity to drive growth.”
Not assessing for the ability to “disagree and commit.” “Lack of agreement from a team member isn’t a problem – but a lack of commitment is,” says Stern. “Not everyone can agree on every course of action. People need to be willing to have their airtime on a topic, and, if it goes a different way, they need to be able to disagree but still commit 100 percent. A leader must be assessing the team members’ individual abilities to ‘disagree and commit’; if there is any evidence to the contrary, the leader needs to step in immediately for corrective action.”
Focusing on “change management” vs. maintaining organizational fitness. “When times are good, companies typically get undisciplined about improvement and ‘put on a few extra pounds’ – success covers up a lot of sins,” says Bedwell. “Then, when hard times hit, executives embark on ‘change initiatives’ at which they are unpracticed – and start changing things that are actually working, compounding the problem. Instead of this cycle of gaining a few pounds and then frantically working them off, companies have to maintain ongoing organizational fitness. Building this fitness into your corporate DNA gets you away from project-based change and makes it part of your corporate culture.”
Underleveraging your “top 100.” “CEOs frequently underutilize the top 100 people in their organization as tools for communicating the vision of the company,” says Miles. “The three layers – a CEO’s direct reports (typically the top 8-11 executives); the next level of direct reports (another 20-30 executives); and then those who fill out the top 100 in a company – are where a CEO can create leverage of inspiration, influence, and alignment. Engaging all three layers by connecting them and their roles to the overall strategy of the company has a dramatic impact on the broader organization. They are the ones who will cascade the strategy and get more people aligned to drive the strategy forward.”
Not investing enough time in your talent’s “micro” moves. “Managing talent has traditionally focused on helping direct reports with their ‘macro’ moves – how they are going to make the significant career moves that will pave the way up the corporate ladder,” says Hamilton. “But focusing on these big moves with new titles ignores some of the most important work of their career, such as being given opportunities to present to the board, lead a key meeting for the company, or lead a big project or initiative. It’s critical to help your talent make these continuous ‘micro’ moves that will aid their development and allow them to truly grow into roles.”
Remember the talk about Americans, weighed down with the complexity of the U.S. tax system, finally being able to file their taxes on a document the size of a postcard?
Not many people are talking about that, now that the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is the law of the land.
Steve Boggs
Steve Boggs, the managing partner of Grant Millman & Johnson, predicts the changes as having an overall positive effect on the economy, although how individuals and corporations will be impacted differ somewhat.
Looking at the system as two “sections”—individuals and businesses—is a good start.
For individuals about two-thirds to three-quarters will see a reduction in overall tax, the result of a change in itemized deductions.
Business owners are likely to see additional benefits resulting from changes to the corporate side of the tax code, including flow-through credits, which are subject to a somewhat complicated formula.
The big winners appear to be the C-Corp entities (the larger companies, like General Motors) who will see their tax rate drop from 35 percent to 21 percent. For closely held (S-Corp and partnerships) the drop won’t be as much.
Still, Grant Millman, based in Novi, Mich., says a reduction in five of the law’s seven tax brackets (a number that carries forward from the previous code), the rates of tax are reduced for all but two, the exceptions being the 10 percent and 35 percent brackets.
But back to the goal of simplicity for a moment.
It turns out that eliminating the deduction for personal exemptions and a near doubling of the standard deduction will have the effect of reducing by half the number of taxpayers who would otherwise do better by itemizing deductions.
“Of course, that group will realize less of a net tax benefit than those taxpayers who do not now itemize,” says a document sent to Grant Millman clients. “The loss of many itemized deductions will channel an even greater number of taxpayers to the standard deduction.”
Some of the changes are temporary in nature, typically expiring after 2025, which means taxpayers need to look ahead when considering their long-term strategies.
On the business side, sweeping changes now entrenched in law include the corporate tax rate reduction as well as a litany of adjustments in areas like bonus depreciation, the treatment of items purchased (expense or capitalization), interest deductions, and how income from partnerships, S corporations, and sole proprietorships is treated.
Clearly, the best advice is to consult a professional.
Boggs of Grant Millman said the changes definitely add to the complexity of tax law (formally known as the United States Internal Revenue Code).
“We’ll be seeing a significant amount of regulations coming behind that,” he said. “Those will explain what lawmakers are trying to do.”
For Boggs, that’s typical.
“When the original proposal was brought forward, around the September timeframe, it was pretty straightforward,” he said. “We thought ‘this isn’t so bad’ but then once the politicians got into it, there was a fair amount of horse trading going on, which complicated things.”
And that has generated questions that have yet to be answered with a high degree of certainty.
“From a small business owner standpoint, it’s definitely more complicated,” added Boggs.
It’s an honor that puts Michigan at the top of a very prestigious list: Long-term Michigan Opera Theatre Chairman R. Jamison “Rick” Williams is being honored with a 2018 National Opera Trustee Award from Opera America.
Williams was one of only four people across the country to receive the award, which recognizes outstanding trustees of U.S. opera companies for exemplary leadership, generosity, and audience-building efforts on behalf of their respective organizations.
Opera America selected Williams in recognition of his advocacy and problem-solving prowess, citing his 15 years as Chairman of the Board, and a legacy highlighted by his successful navigation through the 2008 recession.
OPERA America, the national service organization for opera and the nation’s leading champion for American opera, in January announced the recipients of its 2018 National Opera Trustee Recognition Awards. Now in its 11th year, these awards honor outstanding trustees of U.S. opera companies for their exemplary leadership, generosity and audience-building efforts on behalf of their respective organizations.
The recipients of the 2018 National Opera Trustee Recognition Awards will celebrate this achievement at a Feb. 23 event in New York City.
Each year, OPERA America’s Professional Company Members are invited to nominate one of their trustees for this award. Through a competitive adjudication process, honorees are chosen by a National Opera Trustee Recognition Program selection committee. The honorees display a significant range of accomplishments, profound generosity and a deep devotion to promoting opera in their communities.
R. Jamison Williams
Q: One doesn’t hear “opera house” and think “customer service” or “problem solving.” What did you do to stand out? A: While it is a performance venue, the Detroit Opera House is still a business that relies on both ticket sales and donor support in order to succeed. In regard to ticket sales, that means offering a complete experience for patrons to enjoy. In addition to quality performances, that it includes offering friendly and informed ushers, informative talks and materials, refreshments, and of course, the beautiful atmosphere of our historic Opera House.
When the 2008 recession hit, it affected Detroit more than most. Michigan Opera Theatre has been part of the effort to revitalize Detroit for over 40 years and we were determined not to allow this incredible arts organization to fail. It took an incredible effort on the part of many people to raise the level of support and negotiate with our creditors in order to survive. We have many passionate supporters of MOT, and I am very proud of what we have been able to accomplish to bring this organization and the Detroit Opera House to the place it is today. We have a very bright future.
Q: How does building a relationship with audiences fit into what you do at MOT? A: Our audiences come for more than seeing a performance, they come for a complete theater experience of relaxation and enjoyment. This means every aspect of their visit with us, from ticket sales to refreshments to finding their seats, needs to be pleasant and complementary to the show itself. Relationship-building is at the heart of our business. Our audiences have unlimited choices of how to spend their money. If we don’t build good, strong relationships with our patrons, we don’t belong in this business.
Q: What else is new at MOT? A: At MOT we are constantly looking for opportunities to expand our audiences and share opera and dance with those who have never had an opportunity to experience it. We strive to do that with our MOT Studio young artists program, which offers advanced training and performance opportunities for up-and-coming singers. We use these talented young people as ambassadors, taking our product to new markets and smaller venues where we can entice younger audiences.
We also have a strong educational programming department that both brings dance and opera into schools and brings students to the Detroit Opera House to see performances. We recently partnered with the Detroit Public Schools Community District as part of the Cultural Passport program, where we are bringing in 2,500 fifth-graders to attend dress rehearsals of our spring performances. We plan to double this number next year to eventually reach all fifth-graders at DPSCD and expand to other grade levels.
Rio Summers, like many young women, dreamed of having a career that inspired her, made her work hard toward her goals and brought joy to others.
Summers, 23, of Detroit, has found it within the world of modeling. Recently, her hard work within this challenging field received recognition from VH1, which cast her as one of the 14 models on the 24th season of “America’s Next Top Model.”
If you’ve never watched it, America’s Next Top Model is a competition of new models who have to do sometimes crazy modeling challenges, be photographed while underwater, hung above the clouds or even dressed in costumes. It’s the best kind of reality television in that the models truly work hard and go through actual transformations during the competition.
At stake is a modeling contract with Next Management, PAPER Magazine fashion spread and $100K from Pantene Pro-V, the world’s #1 hair care brand known to inspire women through its Strong Is Beautiful campaign.
Previously announced model superstar Tyra Banks has returned as the celebrity host. Banks, whose knowledge of the industry really makes the show, is joined by panel of judges supermodel and body activist Ashley Graham, Paper Magazine Chief Creative Officer Drew Elliott and celebrity stylist/image architect Law Roach.
Q: What interested you in modeling? A: As a child I would see models running Hollywood, looking so glamorous and invincible. It was something I thought would raise my self-esteem and make me happy. I was stopped frequently whenever I was out with my mother and people would remark on how I should be modeling. Listening to how sincere they sounded made me believe I had a shot at becoming just like the beautiful and successful women I’d see in the media when I grew up.
Q: Why apply for a show like America’s Next Top Model? A: ANTM is a beacon for women who may not fit “traditional” beauty standards but are incredibly fierce and total bosses in their own right. I knew that if I were to be accepted, I’d be whipped into shape and given the chance to truly live out my dreams. Learning from the judges, the challenges, and the other contestants can really take you from an amateur to a force to be reckoned with in a short time. I also felt compelled to give it a shot seeing as I’ve been compared to Tyra Banks most of my life.
Q: What have you learned along this journey so far? A: Wow, we could be here all night for this one! I’ll tell you the most important things I’ve learned. I know that I struggle with showing vulnerability and protect myself with many walls. I’ve learned that successful modeling is definitely NOT just being a pretty face/nice body. I now understand that I don’t need everyone to like me and that you will not always like the people you’re working with.. That’s okay. You also don’t need to be a size 2 cookie cutter beauty to be absolutely fabulous, SO IMPORTANT!
Call them a “hidden workforce” of sorts: There are millions of mothers who are choosing to put their careers on hold and stay home with their children.
As a previous marketing manager of a Fortune 500 company turned stay-at-home mom, Kristin Helms, author of “From Boardroom to Baby: A Roadmap for Career Women Transitioning to Stay-at-Home Mom,” has made a career of offering advice on how to achieve a fulfilled life for moms in the same position.
Helms uses her experience founding, launching, and continuing to run Tribe Magazine, an accomplishment achieved during her daughter’s naptime. Tribe Magazine is a collaborative online publication exploring the heart and soul of motherhood. Helms reaches more than 75,000 moms daily through her popular website and active social media channels. She’s had the pleasure of publishing and collaborating with more than 200 mom writers, authors, and entrepreneurs since launching Tribe in 2016. She is also a member of Women Writers, Women’s Books, Publishing Mom Bloggers and Boss Moms.
Her motherhood guidebook, “From Boardroom to Baby,” (January 2018) uses her experience in the corporate world and decision to transition into stay at home mom to empower other women and ease their transition process.
Q: Moms tend to be the toughest on themselves. How do you rebuild a career/confidence after a long break in your career trajectory? A: I think the key is not to view it as a “break” but rather a change of focus – it’s not abandoning one’s past education and skillset but rather, placing it on the back burner for a period of time while a woman focuses on her child/children. And if a woman plans to re-enter the workforce at some point, it’s important to stay involved with activities or side projects outside of motherhood (volunteering, consulting, hobbies that might translate well on a resume, or even launching a side business from home). By creating and actively participating in an outlet outside of motherhood, moms will be able to keep their confidence and well-being whole while also staying relevant and exercising business skills. I believe it’s also important to keep and foster friendships and contacts in one’s industry so when a mother is ready to redirect focus to the workforce again, she has a strong network behind her.
Q: What assets do at-home moms have to share with potential employers? A: As family leaders, moms have mastered the arts of time management, multi-tasking, priority-focused, dedicated hard work. These fine-tuned skills that elevate and expand throughout motherhood will definitely translate over to careers when/if at-home moms re-enter the workforce. Next comes fierce motivation. Women in general are undoubtedly motivated to do well and advance throughout their careers, but as mothers, there’s an urgent need to succeed not only for themselves, but for the well-being of their families.
Q: What big takeaways should moms find from your book/work? A: That “staying home” with children shouldn’t strip women of identity, work ethic, self-confidence and power. While the older, more outdated definitions of stay-at-home moms may threaten to do these things, new stay-at-home moms should find solace in the thought that they can design “staying home” in a meaningful, compelling way. While domestic responsibilities are still a part of the role, there are also bigger powers at play — like, dedication to raising well-rounded human beings, exploring and introducing children to the world, identifying and fostering an outlet outside of motherhood (launching a business or mastering a hobby), and practicing self-care so these women can continue providing the very best to their families, their communities, and themselves.
Businesses looking at a merger or acquisition may feel fear at the thought of what will happen to their company, culture and vendor relationships after the deal is closed.
But there are examples of how such an agreement can be beneficial if the parties involved think through the ways they approach the joining of the organizations, how they mutually benefit and the long-term outcomes, merger and acquisition experts say. And there are likely to be more M&A activities throughout 2018 as businesses look to boost sales and investments.
Last year, a merger between two smaller companies with similar backgrounds created a new entity known as Motor City Industrial LLC. The original two companies are Motor City Fastener LLC, a Detroit-based industrial distributor with locations in Hazel Park and Farmington Hills, and EMCO Inc., a Charlotte, N.C., industrial distribution and service business.
Both companies had strong histories, long-term employees, wonderful relationships with their customers and many other positive qualities that made them perfect acquisitions, said CEO Joe Stephens was then brought on as CEO of MCI to quarterback the acquisition.
“That’s a sweet spot for us,” Stephens said. “We find organizations flourish and grow quickly when you give them the tools to do so.”
It’s a trend you’re seeing across the United States – companies are looking for partnerships through mergers and acquisitions that help them be quicker, smarter and leaner at what they do than their competition, said Ralph M. Della Ratta, head of Mergers & Acquisitions Advisory for Citizens Capital Markets
Interest among middle market companies in both buying and selling has increased significantly in the past year, fueled by rising valuations, economic optimism and an ongoing drive to find growth, according to the seventh annual Citizens Commercial Banking Middle Market M&A Outlook. The bank’s survey of 400 business leaders shows a boost both in activity and confidence over 2017.
Both sellers and buyers agree that the seller’s market of the last few years will likely continue. Fifty-six percent of sellers are either currently involved in or open to M&A activity in 2018, up from 48 percent in 2017. Seller confidence is also on the rise as 35 percent of sellers are highly confident they will complete a deal this year, compared with 25 percent in 2017
“There’s a tremendous premium on cranial capacity,” said Della Ratta, referring to the brain power that fuels businesses. “Things are moving at light speed in industry today, and a lot of dollars are chasing companies that do it better, faster and smarter. … We see lots of interest in companies buying other companies that do what they don’t do, do it better or do it differently.”
In the case of Motor City Industrial, it was a matter of two complementary companies coming together and adding new technology to the mix. EMCO, for example, was founded in 1954 and has a great reputation among customers for providing a variety of electrical, mechanical, fluid power and automation products to industries throughout the Southeast.
By adding EMCO to Motor City Industrial, it doubles the size of the company, expanded its product lines and services and added new locations throughout the Midwest and Southeast. Together, the two companies provide a powerhouse of industrial products and services to better serve clients in the automation, defense, manufacturing, automotive, and maintenance and repair operations space, Stephens said.
Stephens, who has more than two decades of experience in the industrial supply industry, said that companies like his look for local and regional partnerships for three main reasons: Market or brand recognition, long employee tenure and good inventory management. Smaller or local companies do these things very well and they understand their markets in a way that makes them extremely valuable assets to potential mergers.
National companies or larger firms also bring something valuable to the table when it comes to these kinds of industrial supply mergers – technology. They have the competitive advantage in that they have invested time and money into the latest tech, and they can supply this to the smaller partners in the merger or acquisition, making their business work better as well.
MCI has the kind of technology that makes it very advantageous to its new relationships with EMCO and Motor City Fastener, Stephens said. EMCO’s customers will also now have access to Motor City Industrial’s best-in-class supply chain management systems, including Crib Boss, the firm’s smart inventory management system. Through the use of electronic scales and vending, Crib Boss is able to map customers’ supply chain and create a cleaner, more efficient inventory flow with enhanced visibility for both OEM and MRO products.
“We’re in a production environment in the United States where increasingly productivity and efficiency is necessary to compete in a global marketplace,” said Stephens. “Manufacturers have an incredible appetite for efficient strategies (and) bringing these new technologies to the table means everyone can make and move their parts to where they need to be in a better fashion, so everyone wins in terms of new growth and better supply chain.”
Motor City Industrial is backed by Kian Capital Partners and Oakland Standard Co, both experienced in the industrial distribution sector and open to additional partnerships that will expand MCI’s products, services and geographic footprint, Stephens added.
The Urban Land Institute, a global real estate focused organization whose members are dedicated to the responsible use of land, will be holding its 2018 Spring Meeting in Detroit, an area that is seen by many of its 40,000-plus members as being one that reflects the ULI’s mission.
Eric Larson
Eric Larson, who heads Larson Realty Group and who serves on ULI Michigan’s leadership team, said the meeting, to be held May 1-3 at Cobo Center, presents a unique opportunity to showcase what Detroit is doing.
“Transformative development is happening throughout Detroit in what has become a living laboratory that is changing the way we think about the possibilities for our built environment,” said Larson, calling the Spring Meeting “a unique opportunity to showcase many exciting opportunities to our members in the Americas region and around the globe.”
The ULI Spring Meeting routinely draws nearly 3,000 of the organization’s most engaged members, including renowned industry experts who share insights on all aspects of real estate.
Mark LoPatin
Organizers say a major focus of this meeting will be the reinvention of urban areas into thriving places that are drawing talented workers and businesses, becoming in the process magnets for investments.
With metropolitan Detroit experiencing a renaissance of sorts, it is seen as a prime example of this urban revolution.
Along with Larson, the host committee includes Mark LoPatin, president of LoPatin & Company; Robert Schostak, chief executive of Schostak Brothers & Company, Inc.; and Robert S. Taubman, chairman, president and CEO of The Taubman Company.
Robert Schotak
Schostak expects attendees to benefit from networking opportunities, pointing to “abundant sharing of this post-bankruptcy urban rebirth in a setting that showcases Detroit as a dynamic forward-looking city.”
ULI has a strong history of involvement in Detroit, notably through awards programs as well as engagement with local officials and the business community on major land use and urban development issues. The organization’s local leaders have also been part of the city’s evolution.
As recently as 2013, Midtown Detroit was chosen as a winner in ULI’s Global Awards for Excellence, one of the industry’s most prestigious. Jurors noted Midtown Detroit’s emergence as a symbol of a reimagined Detroit complete with new development, a focus on density and walkability, and a growing, diverse population.
Robert S. Taubman
That same year, ULI convened an Advisory Service Panel of nationally renowned land use and urban development experts to advise the Southwest Detroit Business Association on the economic development potential of a site along the West Vernor commercial corridor, which has since been revitalized with shops and restaurants.
Three years earlier, in 2010, ULI chose Campus Martius Park as the first winner of its Urban Open Space Award, at least partly citing the park’s role in helping to catalyze the revitalization of downtown—serving as a primary gathering place, a draw for economic development, a beautiful signature square, and a positive image for Detroit, locally and internationally.
Michigan’s art museums – institutions that serve as cultural beacons, community gathering spaces and icons of what modern society values – are working diligently with state officials, key patrons including schools and residents, as well as other cultural organizations, to remain relevant parts of the state’s landscape in terms of tourism, economic impact and creating a civic identity for the region.
Museums, including the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Grand Rapids Art Museum, the Michigan Institute for Contemporary Art in Lansing and others across the state, say they are optimistic about their role in Michigan’s overall environment when it comes to their worth, job creation, local investment, impact on education and entertainment value.
As the economy here and across the nation has grown, so have the endowments, donors and collections of these grand institutions. For example, the Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM) has seen its total philanthropy increase 15 percent since the Great Recession of 2008 and 2009. It also has increased its donor base by 80 percent and increased its corporate partner membership by 48 percent.
The Grand Rapids Art Museum has a permanent collection of more than 6,000 works.
“For the past few years, and even more so as we look forward, we’ve sought opportunities for broader and deeper community engagement through art, educational, and social experiences across generations and cultures,” said GRAM director and CEO Dana Friis-Hansen.
Yet officials at these prestigious institutions also say they are finding their museums at a crossroads. On one side, they have the never-ending challenges associated with wooing new donors, investors and volunteers in a constantly changing economic environment. They also have to work diligently with their social media, marketing and advertising departments to shape public perception of what they offer and what they give back to their communities. Moreover, they are facing regular growing pains, both in terms of size and scope of what they can reasonably do for the crowds of people who visit and the communities where they are based.
Still, the overall environment for Michigan’s art museums – especially after dramatic episodes such as the nation’s Great Recession and Detroit’s sizable municipal bankruptcy – seems to be on an upswing, officials say. The overall goal of bringing people together to enjoy art, music and events is supported, they believe, and the sky’s the limit on what they can to do improve the quality of life among Michigan’s residents.
“Ours has really been a survival story,” said Gene Gargaro, chairman of the board for the Detroit Institute of Arts. “But we’re still standing as one of the great museums in the country. We came through a firestorm that most people said would never happen. But it did.”
Gargaro, along with Gov. Rick Snyder, former DIA Director Graham Beal and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, were key players in getting the Detroit art museum through many of its highs and lows. Over the past 15 years of his tenure on the board, Gargaro helped to save the museum on multiple occasions, including the threat to its collection in 2013 when the city’s bankruptcy led to a suggestion that the DIA’s art be sold in order to pay Detroit’s debt.
Gene Gargaro, chair of the board of the Detroit Institute of Arts, says there’s still a need to talk about the organization’s independence and its outreach.
A wide-ranging group from judges to bankruptcy advisors to art-museum officials, including Gargaro, helped create what became known as the “Grand Bargain,” an agreement that raised more than $800 million for the city’s debts, particularly its pension plans. Of that money, $100 million came from the DIA directly – a project that took about two years of fundraising as part of the museum’s endowment campaign. Its success was an accomplishment, Gargaro said, but it also took 24 months away from getting the DIA’s endowment up to where it needs to be.
Throughout his time working for and with the DIA, Gargaro has been a part of other important efforts that put the beloved museum on better footing for a brighter future. In 2012, he was part of the sizable and controversial campaign to pass a tri-county millage in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties to fund museum operations for a decade. That helped raise $23 million for the museum; in exchange, residents of those three counties have free admission to the DIA during the millage period.
In 2014, Gargaro was part of a unique moment that allowed ownership of the museum to transfer from the city of Detroit to a privately held trust. This allowed the DIA to separate itself from the city’s finances, good or bad. Moreover, it made it much easier for the DIA to ask for contributions from individuals, businesses and foundations, Gargaro said.
“We told the people: If you give us 10 years and support the millage, we’ll spend that time raising an endowment,” Gargaro said. “Now that we’re back to fundraising, the reception has been remarkable. The climate for fundraising has been strong. The economy has been strong. Unemployment is low and people are working.”
Salvador Salot-Pons, the new DIA director, who joined the museum staff in 2015, has earned a reputation for helping to increase its visibility in the community. Gargaro said he wanted Salot-Pons in part because he knew he’d have a valuable partner in fundraising, working with the community and creating new relationships with artists, art lovers and Michigan as a whole.
“Graham [referring to the most recent director, who retired in 2015] did wonders – he reinstalled the collection and brought it to national recognition,” Gargaro said. “Salvador is now making it more available to the public. Just as I told Gov. Snyder, the DIA isn’t just part of eastern Michigan. It is the cultural centerpiece of the entire state. Over the next few years, we’re going to be bringing traveling exhibitions to different parts of Michigan under the DIA flag. We’re going to bring our art to the people. Hopefully, they’ll come back to the museum to see much more.”
Salvador Salot-Pons, the head staff member of the Detroit Institute of Arts, is helping to steer the organization in a direction designed to be more inclusive.
That means taking the DIA’s annual visitors from its current level of 700,000 to more than a million. Having an outreach to the state’s 83 counties, its thousands of school districts and its millions of residents, are all part of that goal, which Gargaro says Salot-Pons is championing.
“In the 15 years I’ve been on the board, we’ve been through some trying times. It felt like we’ve been in crisis management all that time,” Gargaro said. “Now, we’re enjoying the benefits of all the work we’ve done. But that doesn’t mean we’re done. We still need to build awareness – we need to talk to people around the state about our independence and our outreach.”
On the west side of the state, the Grand Rapids Art Museum’s LEED Gold certified building at 101 Monroe Center opened in October 2007, and since then has experienced continued momentum and what officials say is unwavering support from the Grand Rapids community. What has fueled this support is its diverse exhibitions, award-winning educational programs and its renowned collection, officials added.
The Grand Rapids Art Museum has a permanent collection of more than 6,000 works and, just like the city it serves, continues to grow each year. It includes American and European 19th- and 20th-century painting and sculpture and a growing collection in the area of design and modern craft. GRAM houses a collection of some 3,000 works on paper, including The Jansma Print Collection – etchings, engravings and woodcuts by master artists such as Albrecht Dürer, Rembrandt van Rijn, Édouard Manet and William Blake.
More than 245,000 people visited GRAM during the 2015-2016 fiscal year, a 4.5 percent increase since 2012-2013. Participation in GRAM’s Drop-in Studio, a hands-on art-making studio program for all ages, has nearly tripled since 2007-08 with a 284 percent increase. Summer Art Camps participation has increased by 192 percent since 2007-08 and student tours participation has increased by 24 percent since 2007-08.
The museum also has grand long-term goals. GRAM’s five-year strategic plan, Vision 2021, started last January and it is focused on its new mission statement: Connecting people through art, creativity, and design. This will happen through building diverse audiences, creating exceptional art and learning experiences, and building institutional strength. Key to this is a wide range of creative expression, including fashion (Iris van Herpen: Transforming Fashion), photography (Who Shot Sports: A Photographic History 1843 to the Present), tattoo art (Black Waves: The Tattoo Art of Leo Zulueta) and children’s book illustration (Maurice Sendak: Where the Wild Things Are, David Wiesner: The Art of Wordless Storytelling) among others.
This revitalization comes after a 100-year history as a cornerstone of the community, stewarding and growing an important collection, while presenting diverse and engaging exhibitions and programs, said Friis-Hansen.
The Grand Rapids Art Museum is seen by its advocates as having a role as a community connector.
“A deep belief in the importance of the museum’s role as a community connector is at the heart of GRAM’s commitment to nurture partnerships that enhance the museum’s impact on its city, members, visitors and volunteers,” Friis-Hansen said.
It also comes through relationships with schools, organizations and other nonprofit organizations. More than 2,300 students from seven school districts participate in Language Artists, GRAM’s year-long literacy and visual arts program. The museum welcomes thousands of guests each year as a venue for ArtPrize, Grand Rapids’ annual international art competition, and helps serve as an ambassador for the city as part of The Welcome Center, a collaborative effort to share information about all Grand Rapids has to offer.
To celebrate its building’s 10th anniversary, GRAM has two crowd-pleasing exhibitions planned. The first is Andy Warhol’s American Icons and Christian Marclay: Video Quartet. The second, which opens in January 2018, is the debut of Alexis Rockman: The Great Lakes Cycle, organized by GRAM and traveling to several additional venues throughout the Midwest. The Great Lakes Cycle explores the past, present, and future of North America’s Great Lakes—one of the world’s most emblematic and ecologically significant ecosystems.
“Rockman’s series celebrates the natural majesty and global importance of the Great Lakes while exploring how they are threatened by factors including climate change, globalization, invasive species, mass agriculture and urban sprawl,” Friis-Hansen said.
Moving to the center of the state is the Michigan Institute for Contemporary Art (MICA) in Lansing, which is celebrating its history, as well as its new growth as a destination and event-planning center for the community. Terry Terry, CEO of MessageMakers and president of MICA’s board of directors, describes MICA as a nonprofit organization that uses quality art programming as a catalyst for community development. The programs that MICA produces include MICA Gallery, a contemporary art gallery, the Lansing JazzFest and the Michigan BluesFest.
The Wedding Dance, a 1566 oil-on-panel painting by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, is on display at the Detroit Institute of Arts. In 1930, the work was discovered by a previous DIA director in England and brought to Detroit.
MICA is located in historic Old Town Lansing, a decision that has proven to be beneficial to the organization, its gallery and the Old Town area as a whole, Terry said. Its transformation began in the 1980s, grew in the 1990s and has been slowly improving over the past two decades to become an “overnight” success.
“When we moved into the North Lansing area, it was a ghost town. People had left the downtown and moved to the suburbs. There were a handful of artists still there and a couple galleries, but not much was going on. It was starting to look run down,” Terry said. “Then, more artists saw that there was inexpensive space there and they started picking up some buildings and creating an arts scene. That’s when we started organizing events like the JazzFest, BluesFest and October Art Fest.”
With help from the media as well as the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Old Town started to get attention in the right way, Terry said. People started to notice that artists created community through their programming, galleries and open spaces.
“We became the poster child for community development,” Terry said of MICA and Old Town. “We became a place where you could run into old friends, meet new friends and create a community through quality arts programming. Since then, that’s been our steady mission. … It’s truly about bringing people together. We’ve got diversity, we’re friendly, we’ve got atmosphere.”
DIA visitors are flanked by one in a series of 27 fresco panels created by Diego Rivera between 1932 and 1933. The series—Detroit Industry—graces the walls of Rivera Court at the DIA.
That includes great bars, restaurants and related businesses that help boost the local economy. There are places like Meat, a restaurant that was featured on “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” a popular show that travels to unique eateries featured regularly on cable television channel Food Network. That brings people in during the week and the weekends, driving additional business investment.
The challenge to its success, Terry said, is that having a great community means more people want to move in, driving prices up. That tends to drive artists out of the area, and that can change the feel of a community that once prided itself on its artists and artist spaces.
“When studio space gets too expensive, they move out,” Terry said.
That is why MICA and its partners are working with groups like Habitat for Humanity to buy older houses in the Old Town area and fix them up for budding artists.
“We need to find ways to support artists, and that’s the bottom line. They are the roots to quality of life in a community,” Terry said. “Artists share perspective on what’s happening in society and provide a vision for the future. People want to be around that. They want to be around smart, creative people.
You need vibrant downtowns to make a community work. It’s vital. And I’m glad it’s happening in Lansing.”
Some partnerships are made in heaven, and they enhance both businesses that engage in these relationships. So what happens when a Scottish bakery and a brewing company decide to do a special event together?
The result is a party that lasts for hours, brings together people of all backgrounds and creates lines to get in the door. That is what happened when Redford’s Ackroyd’s Scottish Bakery and Urbanrest Brewing of Ferndale collaborated to create a traditional “Burns Night Party” to celebrate Scottish poet and lyricist Robert Burns.
“I absolutely recommend events and experiences as a way to reach your customers, engage new audiences, and expand your reach,” Ackroyd said. “And, by partnering with another local business [Urbanrest Brewing], we’re able to provide more access to our specialty foods and merchandise.”
Every Jan. 25, Scots near and far remember Robert Burns, considered to be the national poet of Scotland. Burns – the author of “Auld Lang Syne” – was a pioneer who Scots honored as far back as 1801 when the first dinners in his honor were hosted.
“As a third-generation Scottish bakery and market, we felt inspired to host our own Burns Supper,” said Ackroyd. “(It’s) where we can serve our award-winning haggis, traditional sausage rolls, neeps and tatties (mashed turnips and potatoes), and our newest house favorite, Millionaire’s Shortbread – our homemade shortbread, topped with a layer of caramel and finished off with a layer of chocolate ganache.”
The centerpiece of a Burns Supper menu is the iconic haggis, a traditional celebratory dish loved by Scots and honored by Burns in his recitation ‘Address to a Haggis.’ Ackroyd’s Scottish Bakery served its homemade award-winning haggis, which is a savory blend of steel-cut oats, lamb rib meat, heart, liver, suet and seasoning, hand-stuffed in a natural, thick casing. Ackroyd’s also offered a vegetarian haggis, Scotch eggs, traditional neeps & tatties (turnips and mashed potatoes), sausage rolls, and British-style baked beans.
Urbanrest Brewing served its ‘Not A Scotch Ale,’ a lighter-bodied and lower-ABV style of Scottish ale, as well as a full line up of craft brews. The Scottish favorite IRN-BRU, a carbonated orange-colored soda with a hard-to-describe flavor, also was available for guests to enjoy.
Traditional Scottish dancing and bagpiping by Duncans Highland Supply, along with a Burns Night toast and recitation, were another key part of the celebration.
The event is hugely popular, Ackroyd said.
“The response is overwhelmingly positive. We have a lot of ardent fans, but even we were somewhat surprised by the excitement around the Burns Night celebration,” Ackroyd said. “I think it shows that people are eager for unique events, especially those that allow them to try and learn something new.”
Students from the Grand Rapids Griffins Youth Foundation Enjoy Bulldogs Hockey
Grand Rapids Griffins Youth Foundation students enjoyed a night of FSU Bulldogs hockey on January 19. The annual outing gave students an opportunity to realize the possibility of a college education. Youth Foundation officials praised FSU’s ongoing dedication to promoting college access for all.
Students from the Grand Rapids Griffins Youth Foundation Enjoy Bulldogs Hockey.Youth Foundation Members Visit Ferris State University
As styles change, retailers must change as well by adding new shopping experiences, bright new décor and interesting design to their brick-and-mortar stores.
In Canton, Art Van Furniture is preparing to unveil its new flagship store – its first Michigan showroom to be built from the ground up in two decades. The Warren-based company says it is bringing in a “new look and a new era” in its home state with the dramatic two-story, 70,000 square foot showroom, located at 41661 Ford Road, directly across from IKEA.
“This magnificent Michigan showroom has evolved from conception to completion over the past two years as a must-visit destination for anyone who wants to furnish and beautify their living spaces,” Kim Yost, president and CEO of Art Van Furniture, said in a statement. “Prepare to be wowed.”
The contemporary, open floor plan and comfortable ambiance fosters a relaxed, visually inspiring shopping experience. Natural light streams into the spacious showroom from the striking glass exterior. The first level showcases several of Art Van Furniture’s popular departments, including Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines, Detroit Sofa Co. and Urban, as well as lifestyle galleries. The second level features Art Van PureSleep, NB2 Collection by Nigel Barker, Outlet, and dining room and bedroom galleries.
A dazzling, custom 20-foot by 13-foot sculpture is suspended above the escalator at the center of the showroom.
The store will host a private VIP event Thursday evening, February 1. On Saturday and Sunday, February 3 and 4, shoppers will enjoy music, refreshments, entertainment, face painters, balloon twisters, giveaways and more during the store’s official grand opening weekend. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at 8:45 a.m. on February 3.
The Rock Star Savers mascot receives mittens from guests at Zeal Credit Union’s annual Rock n’ Roller Skate party.
Thanks to a team effort, Zeal Credit Union recently donated a total of 250 pairs of new gloves and mittens to Mittens for Detroit, a nonprofit organization that provides to those in need during the cold winter months to help warm the hands and hearts of children and adults in metro Detroit.
The Rock Star Savers mascot receives mittens from guests at Zeal Credit Union’s annual Rock n’ Roller Skate party.
At far right, Wendy Shepherd, executive director of Mittens for Detroit, receives the donation from Zeal Credit Union team members, from l. to r., Tiffany Sweet, Kathryn Mesic and Genessa Luckett.
For some, the world of cryptocurrency may seem mysterious if not downright confusing – there is so much happening in terms of new investments, new terminology and new companies coming on board with this form of digital money.
As people and businesses start to learn more about cryptocurrency, one industry expert says he believes it will change the way we all exchange money in the future. In other words, cryptocurrency and the way it is tracked will impact banks in the same way that Amazon impacted bookstores.
Dave Thompson, a cryptocurrency expert in Plymouth, Mich., has spent the past two years studying cryptocurrency for his clients and himself. He regularly hosts seminars on the topic, helping potential investors learn about what opportunities there are in this financial arena.
“This is as big as the invention of the stock market and the internet,” Thompson says. “In 10 years, we won’t know how we lived without it.”
Broadly defined, cryptocurrency is a digital form of currency that uses encryption to transfer money between people or organizations. This transaction occurs outside of a central bank or financial institution to act as a third party. One type of cryptocurrency is Bitcoin, which an internet expert named Satoshi Nakamoto created in 2009 and likely is the best known of the estimated 1,300 cryptocurrencies available.
Bitcoin runs on what is known as a blockchain, or a record of transactions. Think of it as an online ledger that securely tracks all transactions of cryptocurrency. Another well-known blockchain is known as Ethereum, which was developed in 2015.
There are stores that accept Bitcoin as currency, allowing its users to do everything from purchasing food to clothing to even plastic surgery at one New York-area clinic. There even have been sightings of Bitcoin machines – they look like ATMs only with a Bitcoin logo on them. So there is a growing presence of this digital money in towns of every size.
Cryptocurrency has been in the news a lot of late, particularly because of its extreme highs and lows. Over the past few months, the value of one Bitcoin went from just under $1,000 at the start of 2017 to nearly $20,000 by mid-December.
As a result, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have their friends and foes. For example, Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase, at one point called Bitcoin a “fraud” that is “worse than tulip bulbs,” a reference to the famous Holland market bubble of the 1600s when tulip bulbs traded for unusually high sums.
In another recent news story, Merrill Lynch in early January blocked its clients and financial advisers from buying Bitcoin, saying it was not a suitable investment.
There are still fans out there. One industry leader, cybersecurity pioneer John McAfee, is at the other end, projecting that Bitcoin will hit $1 million in the next two years.
Thompson bought his first Bitcoin in September of 2014 at the relatively low cost of $475. He soon became interested in learning more, so he researched the technology behind Bitcoin. Thompson saw the power behind the blockchain, seeing how it could disrupt the technology and financial sectors. That is why Thompson and many other investors believe blockchain will be the next technology revolution of our time.
“We’re on the cusp of something big,” Thompson says.
Today, there are hundreds of startups and thousands of developers around the globe working on blockchain solutions and the cryptocurrency sector is worth over $500 Billion. Thompson has had a hand in all of this, including experiences in cryptocurrency day trading, running a successful Ethereum mining operation and investing in blockchain startups and Initial Coin Offerings.
Thompson has more than 20 years of experience in the IT industry. By day, he’s a successful consultant focused on large-scale enterprise architecture. On nights and weekends, Dave reads whitepapers, watches developer meet-ups and keeps a watchful eye on the cryptocurrency charts.
For those who see cryptocurrency as too volatile or just a flash in the pan like a financial trend, Thompson says they should take a wait-and-see approach instead. He compares this moment to those early days of the internet about 25 years ago when all we knew how to do was write emails. Now, we don’t know how we live without it and its many functions.
“This is one of the most amazing things I’ve ever been involved with,” Thompson says. “It’s rewarding to be able to discuss it with like-minded individuals on an intelligent level. I do hope people will take the time to get up to speed about this dynamic force that will eventually impact everyone.”
Q: What did you learn from this experience – it is many people’s dream to write a book.
Not building competitive muscle. “As growth slows in both the U.S. and abroad, companies can’t wait for the economy to lift all ships,” says Miles. “They must grab market share from competitors in order to grow. Given that there has been such a focus on cost-cutting over the past decade, to the near exclusion of other priorities, there is only a small subset of executives who are willing to really get scrappy and do what it takes to take share.”
Rio Summers, like many young women, dreamed of having a career that inspired her, made her work hard toward her goals and brought joy to others.
Q: What assets do at-home moms have to share with potential employers?
The store will host a private VIP event Thursday evening, February 1. On Saturday and Sunday, February 3 and 4, shoppers will enjoy music, refreshments, entertainment, face painters, balloon twisters, giveaways and more during the store’s official grand opening weekend. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at 8:45 a.m. on February 3.
