Crain's Detroit Business articles from August 2008

Crain's Detroit Business archives from August 2008

Where to get help.(Directory)(Brief article)
August 4, 2008... Hospitals in Southeast Michigan with licensed substance abuse facilities: Brighton Hospital, Brighton: (810) 227-1211 or www.brightonhospital.org. Providence Hospital and Medical Center, Southfield: (248) 849-3000 or www.stjohn.org/...

Business ace.(Brief article)
August 4, 2008... Tips for business interactions during golf events: * Work on big issues, not details. * Don't try to settle a conflict or problem. * Do invite a client's significant other. * Keep the mood casual and relaxed by not...

90th PGA Championship.(Brief article)
August 4, 2008... What: The season's final major championship, featuring the toughest field of the season's four majors, will include 136 of the world's greatest players and 20 club professionals competing for the Wanamaker Trophy. When: Today-Sunday. ...

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August 4, 2008... William Pugliano Longtime Oakland Hills Country Club members Hunter McDonald (left) and Jeff Trimmer have experienced the south course's two other PGA Championships.

People.(Thomas Edwards of Albert Kahn Associates)(Jack Pounds of Detroit Ready Mix Concrete)(Rozanne Kokko of Handleman Co.)
August 4, 2008... ARCHITECTURE Thomas Edwards to senior associate, Albert Kahn Inc., Detroit, remaining as project manager. Also, Lawrence Fill to senior associate, remaining as manager of commissioning services; Jeffrey Gaines to senior associate,...

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August 4, 2008... Work on the proposed Crittenton-Karmanos Care Center in Rochester Hills is expected to begin this summer.

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August 4, 2008... Nathan Skid/Crain's Detroit Business The McLaren Health Care Village in Independence Township is in the first phase of construction.

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August 4, 2008... PHOTOs COURTESY HENRY FORD HEALTH CARE Alex Maysura closed many business deals through drinking but eventually sought help at Henry Ford Behavioral Health-Maplegrove Center in West Bloomfield Township.

State scrambles to fund roads; Local taxes, fees among options.(Michigan. Department of Transportation)
August 4, 2008... Byline: Amy Lane A long-targeted piece in a patchwork of solutions to fund Michigan roads has dropped into the Legislature. And it's none too soon, as state and local road agencies juggle budgets strained by reduced gas-tax revenue,...

Legislators working to reconcile energy bills.
August 4, 2008... Byline: Amy Lane Two conference committees and nine lawmakers are having a final hand in shaping Michigan energy reforms. Key bills dealing with electric choice and regulation, energy efficiency and a state standard for renewable...

Effort would increase number of clinics that treat uninsured.
August 4, 2008... Byline: Jay Greene If Wayne County's five federally qualified health centers and two look-alike sites treated a higher proportion of Medicaid patients, Chris Allen believes they could expand and take on a greater number of the county's...

Bill's collection.
August 4, 2008... Bill Whetstone currently has 10 vehicles in his collection: * Two 1932 Ford roadsters * 1934 Ford Cabriolet * 1940 Ford convertible * 1940 Ford pickup * 1940 Ford coupe (right) * 1949 Ford pickup * 1950 Ford...

Corrections.(Correction notice)
August 4, 2008... * The first name of Oakland Community College board Chairwoman Anna Zimmerman was misspelled in a Page 1 story of the July 28 edition. * The list of publicly held companies published July 28 should have listed the end of the fiscal year as...

Loss of lease deals jolts auto dealers; Many hope incentives will get customers to buy.
August 4, 2008... Byline: Nancy Kaffer With the Detroit 3 automakers ending, restricting or re-evaluating lease programs, the future looks rocky for some area auto dealers. Chrysler Financial L.L.C., the financial arm of Chrysler L.L.C., rocked the auto...

Collection.
August 4, 2008... Greg Ornazian currently has 20 cars in his collection. * 1935 Auburn Boattail Speedster * 1936 Cord Cabriolet * 1948 Kurtis-Kraft race car No. 66 * 1936 Ford 5-window coupe street rod * 1946 Dodge fire engine *...

Table of contents.
August 4, 2008... * The game will go on, even without Tiger. Page 18. * Local courses to host U.S. Senior Open and Michigan Open. Page 19. * Longtime Oakland Hills members who have worked on multiple PGA championships. Page 20. * The history of the...

Mayor-council dispute holds up millions in block grants.
August 4, 2008... Byline: Sherri Begin Nonprofits and the Detroit residents they serve are getting caught in the crossfire between Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and the Detroit City Council. A disagreement between the two over who should allocate...

Bankruptcies.(Public notice)
August 4, 2008... The following business filed for Chapter 7 or 11 protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Detroit July 25-31. Under Chapter 11, a company files for reorganization. Chapter 7 involves total liquidation. Healthy Hydration Corp., 8579 Oreview...

Gift takes a library beyond books.(Marybeth and Kinnie Smith Jr. pledges $1 million toward the preservation of the Grosse Pointe Central Library)(Brief article)
August 4, 2008... Byline: Sherri Begin While Marybeth and Kinnie Smith Jr. see the value in moving forward, they also see value in preserving the past. The couple has pledged $1 million toward the preservation of the Grosse Pointe Central Library and...

Best managed nonprofit.(contest)(Brief article)
August 4, 2008... This year has seen continued challenges in the nonprofit arena that have included changes in United Way funding in addition to a weak economy. Therefore, this year's Best Managed Nonprofit Contest will continue to look at nonprofits that...

Birdie or bogey; Some nonprofits score with PGA Championship, others can't get off the tee.(local nonprofits earns extra revenue from the 2008 PGA Championship)
August 4, 2008... Byline: Sherri Begin While some local nonprofits have already brought in extra revenue from the 2008 PGA Championship, other programs are still looking for diamonds in the rough. The PGA of America expects the PGA Championship to bring...

Business Diary.(TK Holdings Inc. acquires Cognex)(Rich and Associates contracts with Allegiance Health)(Renaissance Construction Group contracts with Mitutoyo Corp.)
August 4, 2008... ACQUISITIONS TK Holdings Inc., Detroit, has purchased the assets of the former Assistware division of Cognex for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition enhances Takata's safety technology in the area of lane-departure warning systems. ...

Signs of addiction.(Brief article)
August 4, 2008... How do you know if someone at work is struggling with substance abuse? There are no hard and fast rules, but there are warning signs. Look for: * Major behavior changes or mood swings. * Short-tempered or angry. * Secretive or...

Masco plans for continued slump in housing market.(Masco Corp.)
August 4, 2008... Byline: Chad Halcom It doesn't inspire confidence when a company's chairman says the housing market might get so bad the government will intervene. But shares of Taylor-based Masco Corp. rallied last week on news that it cut more than...

Week in Review.
August 4, 2008... Granholm won't extend hearings on removal of Kilpatrick Gov. Jennifer Granholm denied a Thursday request by Sharon McPhail, an attorney representing Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, to delay removal hearings by two months, the Associated Press...

In the spotlight.(Energy Conversion Devices Inc. appoints Harry Zike)(Brief article)
August 4, 2008... Harry Zike has been named vice president and CFO at Rochester Hills-based Energy Conversion Devices, effective Sept. 1. Zike, 53, replaces Sanjeev Kumar, who is leaving to pursue other opportunities. Before joining ECD, Zike was...

Calendar.(Conference news)(Calendar)
August 4, 2008... TUESDAY AUG. 5 Power Tools-Take Control of Your Business. 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women, National Association of Women Business Owners Greater Detroit Chapter, Women Impacting Public Policy, Women...

Medical school planned for OU; Beaumont Hospital collaborates.(Oakland University)(Brief article)
August 4, 2008... Byline: Chad Halcom A new medical school for Oakland County is expected to be another part of local health care job growth in the next few years. The medical school at Oakland University is planned as a privately funded institution in...

Go with us, up on the roof or out on the vine.(Brief article)
August 4, 2008... Byline: Alan Baker There are a million rooftops in the naked city. Now one of them's not naked any more. Last week, we climbed a spindly ladder to the top of the People Mover station outside Joe Louis Arena to see the building's new...

Profiles in giving.(Grosse Pointe Library Foundation)(Brief article)
August 4, 2008... The gift: $1 million Nonprofit receiving the gift: Grosse Pointe Library Foundation. Donors: Marybeth and Kinnie Smith Jr. Why the gift was made: To preserve and expand the Grosse Pointe Central Library.

TrackSpeed expands with new warehouses.(TrackSpeed L.L.C.)(Brief article)
August 4, 2008... Byline: Ryan Beene Ann Arbor-based TrackSpeed L.L.C. last week moved into a 70,000-square-foot warehouse in Brownstown Township and plans to open two more warehouses in Mexico and Canada by Sept. 1. The provider of Internet-based,...

Inforum workshop for women.(Inforum Center for Leadership)(Brief article)
August 4, 2008... Byline: Joanne Scharich The Inforum Center for Leadership, Detroit, is launching a "Make Your Success Happen! Executive Presence Workshop'' this fall for area women. The Oct. 22 session at Compuware headquarters in Detroit is to be...

RBS, Charter One score an ace with joint marketing for tournament.(Royal Bank of Scotland PLC)(Charter One Financial Inc.)
August 4, 2008... Byline: Bill Shea When the Royal Bank of Scotland Group signed a deal last year to become one of the PGA of America's two top sponsors, the Detroit headquarters of RBS subsidiary Charter One saw a chance to spin marketing gold. After...

"Virtual pros' make money for StaffPro, save money for clients.(StaffPro America)(Company overview)
August 4, 2008... Byline: Sherri Begin Southfield-based StaffPro America expects to boost revenue this year by 19 percent with the start of its "virtual pros'' subsidiary. Launched in February, StaffPro Virtual pairs small businesses with self-employed...

End of the bed boom?(Brief article)
August 4, 2008... Byline: Chad Halcom One leading Oakland County health care executive does not expect the county's health care boom to be sustainable for the long run. Not everything under development in Oakland may be built to last, according to Jack...

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August 4, 2008... Pat Croswell, head professional at Oakland Hills Country Club, says the driving range is the best place to hang out during the tournament.

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August 4, 2008... PHOTO COURTESY OF STAFFPRO Lesley Delgado wants to help people who've lost their jobs get back to work.

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August 4, 2008... Greg Ornazian's collection includes a 1936 Cord Cabriolet (above) and some motorcycles, including this 100th anniversary Harley-Davidson that was turned into a chopper. He said his 1961 Corvette (left) is worth about $1 million.

Photo capion.
August 4, 2008... nathan skid/crain's detroit business A layer of vegetation tops the new roof of the Detroit People Mover station at Joe Louis Arena.

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August 4, 2008... PHOTO COURTESY OF M-DOT Bridge work at I-96 and Wixom Road is among the many projects under way in the region.

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August 4, 2008... JOHN F. MARTIN Tony Rubino and his brother leased a home near the course to host a fundraiser for the MS Society, but ticket sales have been slow.

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August 4, 2008... Tony Viviano, chairman of Sterling Heights Dodge, says leasing ranged from 90 percent to 95 percent of monthly business.

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August 4, 2008... Emmett Moten Jr.'s list of achievements in Detroit include GM's Poletown plant, Chrysler's Jefferson Avenue plants, an expansion of Cobo Center and the Ilitch family's business headquarters.

Nearly done.
August 4, 2008... The Greektown Casino Hotel finished exterior construction Wednesday. It's scheduled to open early next year.

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August 4, 2008... WILLIAM PUGLIANO Golf merchandise with the PGA Championship logo is for sale in the pro shop of Oakland Hills Country Club.

TheraMatrix plans $10M lawsuit against the Blues over contracts.
August 4, 2008... Byline: Jay Greene TheraMatrix Physical Therapy in Pontiac was to file a multimillion-dollar lawsuit today against Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan for breaching a 2005 vendor agreement and a 2006 provider agreement in an ongoing...

Four-day week nice idea ... but.
August 4, 2008... Byline: Chad Halcom Progress has been slow, but a few private-sector employers are weighing four-day workweeks to help curb employee fuel costs as proposed by Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson. That's according to recent...

Health care grows as auto industry slides; Beaumont expected to replace GM as largest employer.
August 4, 2008... Byline: Chad Halcom Oakland County's rising reputation as a health care destination is also making it a magnet for health care jobs. Before the end of this year, industry and local political leaders predict, Royal Oak-based Beaumont...

People Mover has its first `green' roof.
August 4, 2008... Byline: Nathan Skid The Detroit People Mover has completed its first "green'' roof project at the Joe Lewis Arena Station. The goal: to alleviate some of the heat caused by the previous roof in the platform area. Detroit People Mover,...

A Conversation With; Joe Steranka, PGA of America.(Professional Golfers' Association)(Interview)
August 4, 2008... Byline: Ryan Beene PGA of America CEO Joe Steranka was named CEO of the PGA in 2005 and is the second CEO in the 92-year history of the organization. Before working at the PGA, he held marketing positions with the NBA's Washington...

Rumblings.(prime retail estate in Royal Oak to go medical)
August 4, 2008... Beaumont to close Royal Oak shops A prime retail real estate parcel in Royal Oak is going medical. Beaumont Hospital, which has owned the 214,000-square-foot shopping center at 13 Mile Road and Woodward Avenue, next door to the Royal...

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August 4, 2008... Courtesy of Orchard Lake Country Club The Michigan Open comes to the Orchard Lake Country Club in 2009 and 2010 after being held at the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa in Acme for 28 years.

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August 4, 2008... JOHN F. MARTIN Bluewater Technology Group Inc. has installed 455 high-definition TVs at Oakland Hills for this week's tournament. Vice President Alex Mills said the company counts NASCAR and the Detroit 3 among its clients.

The long road to recovery; Executives tell of addiction, denial, reach for treatment.
August 4, 2008... Byline: Jay Greene After 30 years in printing, Alex Maysura thought he'd honed an effective businessdevelopment strategy. "I would take customers out for a three-martini lunch and I would have nine,'' said Maysura, 56. "I found I had a...

Land Bank Authority to help move vacant parcels.(Brief article)
August 4, 2008... Byline: Robert Ankeny The Land Bank Authority, created July 29 by Detroit City Council, has its work lined up with the city's surplus property listings now showing more than 32,000 parcels valued at more than $180 million. Douglass...

Care for poor grows heavier for downtown hospitals.
August 4, 2008... Byline: Jay Greene When it comes to the national problem of caring for the rising numbers of uninsured, Detroit is the canary in the coal mine. High unemployment, large numbers of uninsured, a sicker-than-average population, the lack...

Thank goodness for sports and the zoo.
August 4, 2008... Byline: Keith Crain This week, a whole bunch of folks will be heading for Detroit to enjoy golf on a championship level. Oakland Hills Country Club is hosting the PGA Championship. We'll have thousands of people and millions of dollars...

This Just In.(Francis Grunow of Preservation Wayne is resigned)(Sircon Corp. sold to Vertafore Inc.)
August 4, 2008... Olympics may give gold to state businesses The 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing has proven to be a source of new business leads for Michigan businesses. C. Peter Theut, a partner at Detroit-based Butzel Long, said the firm plans to open...

A hotel for "can-do' Moten; Pick-Fort Shelby is longtime developer's latest achievement.
August 4, 2008... Byline: Robert Ankeny The renovation of one of downtown Detroit's most neglected buildings the long-shuttered Pick-Fort Shelby Hotel on Lafayette Boulevard at First Street is in the hands of one of the city's most experienced developers....

Opinion.
August 4, 2008... Help second-stage companies with fund Gov. Granholm last week unveiled what could be one of the strongest programs yet to strengthen and diversify the state's economy: The state of Michigan will tap a tiny piece of the state's $57 billion...

Groups seek funds to raise high school grad rates.(United Way for Southeastern Michigan)
August 4, 2008... Byline: Sherri Begin United Way for Southeastern Michigan has launched an effort to raise $10 million to help low-performing high schools in the region improve their graduation rates. The agency and the Detroit-based Skillman...

Nurse practitioner helps the homeless, head to toe.(Dean Carpenter)(Brief article)
August 11, 2008... Byline: Jay Greene Dean Carpenter was puzzled when a 42-year-old woman appeared at the Tumaini Center in Detroit complaining about her feet. She said they were painful and described the sensation as tingling. Carpenter, 51, a...

Storms cost utilities $48M; DTE, Consumers earnings take 2Q jolt.
August 11, 2008... Byline: Amy Lane June storms that knocked out electricity to more than 760,000 customers of Michigan's two largest utilities hit the electricity providers with a combined cost of some $48 million to restore power. Detroit Edison Co....

Optimism amid turmoil.
August 11, 2008... There are many reasons to love the D despite its leadership and economic problems t's remarkable, really. Despite the political turmoil in Detroit and the economic turmoil throughout Southeast Michigan, our reporters found new angles for...

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August 11, 2008... Dean Carpenter began collecting socks for patients at the Tumaini Center after treating a woman with trench foot.

Many Jobs Fund applications sent in with errors.
August 11, 2008... Byline: Amy Lane The state's latest round of 21st Century Jobs Fund competition has had a bumpy start. A majority of the 117 applications received by the Michigan Economic Development Corp. lacked full compliance with the state's...

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August 11, 2008... Dr. Patricia LoRusso has been involved in the clinical development of drugs such as Ixempra and Tykerb, used to fight breast cancer.

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August 11, 2008... Byline: NATHAN SKID/CRAIN'S DETROIT BUSINESS Matt Knio of Cannella Patisserie and Creperie found out the hard way that location is critical to survive in business.

Will Detroit's soap opera ever end?(Viewpoint essay)
August 11, 2008... Byline: Keith Crain We were all supposed to enjoy the national publicity of the PGA golf tournament. National television was showing the wonderful course at Oakland Hills Country Club in the shadow of the city of Detroit. Instead, we...

Pinched suppliers cut staff, file suits; Rising costs, changed market spur moves.(sales and earnings of BorgWarner Inc.)
August 11, 2008... Byline: Ryan Beene and Chad Halcom As local auto suppliers feel the squeeze of increased economic pressure on their industry, some are shaking up operations and laying off workers. Others are heading to court. Even a standout...

Finding options for cancer patients.
August 11, 2008... Byline: Jay Greene Dr. Patricia LoRusso, chief researcher at Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, lost both parents to cancer during her youth. "My mother had what is now a curable lymphoma,'' said LoRusso, 52, who has been with...

Even big-name coffee shops need good locations to thrive.
August 11, 2008... Byline: Nathan Skid Seattle-based Starbucks Corp.'s recent decision to close eight stores here as part of a nationwide retrenchment was a reminder that location still matters, even when you have one of the nation's best-known brand names....

A city connected; First phase of Dequindre Cut path nears opening.
August 11, 2008... Byline: Christiana Schmitz They're in!'' Tom Woiwode's enthusiasm for lamp post installation at the Dequindre Cut recreation path was akin to that of an 8-year-old seeing Disney World for the first time. As the Community Foundation for...

Born for a mission; Exec's childhood in foster care drives push for clinic.(Jim McElya of Cooper-Standard Automotive Group)
August 11, 2008... Byline: Sherri Begin Jim McElya didn't always talk much about his childhood. But the chairman of Cooper-Standard Automotive has reason to now. Left on the doorstep of the Salvation Army in West Chester, Pa., when he was just 6...

PSC investigates storm response.(Michigan Public Service Commission )(Brief article)
August 11, 2008... Byline: Amy Lane The Michigan Public Service Commission is investigating the utilities' response to the June storms. No early findings or comments were available last week, but in June PSC Chairman Orjiakor Isiogu said that "reports of...

Lower electricity sales cited in energy-reform debate.(Brief article)
August 11, 2008... Byline: Amy Lane Lower electricity sales cited in energy-reform debate With action potentially looming on Michigan energy reforms, a coalition calling for more legislative review is pointing to Michigan electricity companies'...

SPEEDING UP CARE.(Brief article)
August 11, 2008... Byline: Jay Greene In a Nov. 30, 2006, study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, which is cited often by cardiologists, six key strategies were found to reduce door-to-balloon time. They are: * Having emergency medicine...

A bad week for the mayor.
August 11, 2008... Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's legal troubles continued to mount Friday when he was charged with two counts of assaulting or obstructing a police officer in the furtherance of his duties on Friday. The charges came in connection with a...

James McElya, 61.(Cooper Tire and Rubber Co.)(Occupation overview)(Brief article)
August 11, 2008... James McElya, 61 Title: Chairman, Cooper-Standard Holdings Inc. and Cooper-Standard Automotive Inc., Novi, which had sales of $2.8 billion last year. Background: CEO of both Cooper-Standard companies from 2004 through June this year;...

Riverfront revival; Area on its way to being a vibrant gathering place.
August 11, 2008... Byline: Marti Benedetti Visit Chicago, Boston or Portland, Ore., and it's clear those cities were early adopters of waterfront redevelopment strategies. Give Detroit 10 more years to catch up. The city's riverfront will be alive...

Shopping Midtown; Reporter finds unique goods, food, drink on eight-block trek.
August 11, 2008... Byline: Nancy Kaffer Crain's reporter Nancy Kaffer covers retail and small business, which, if you're reading correctly, means "shopping.'' In this column, she shares her idea of a perfect day in the D. (And, no, you can't have her new...

Alternative cure for back pain.
August 11, 2008... Byline: Bernadine Stallings Chrysler L.L.C., Henry Ford Health Systems and Health Alliance Plan of Michigan developed a pilot program to help employees and patients with chronic back pain. The pilot program, called "We've Got Your...

A CONVERSATION WITH; Dr. Ronald M. Davis.(American Medical Association)(Interview)
August 11, 2008... Halfway into his term earlier this year as president of the American Medical Association, preventive medicine specialist Dr. Ronald M. Davis, 52, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. As director of the Center for Health Promotion and Disease...

CALENDAR.(Calendar)
August 11, 2008... Wednesday aug. 13 American Business Women's Association. 6:15 p.m. Meeting of the Novi Oaks Charter Chapter. Meets every second Wednesday of the month. Crowne Plaza Hotel, Novi. Contact: www.abwa-novi.org. How to Finance Your...