Crain's Detroit Business articles from December 2006

Crain's Detroit Business archives from December 2006

Urban Science connects the dots; From one man to a global business.(Urban Science Applications Inc.'s James Anderson management techniques)
December 4, 2006... Byline: Andrew Dietderich The only thing James Anderson, CEO of Detroit-based Urban Science, sees when someone says something can't be done is opportunity for his company The proof is in the success of his business, a one-man startup...

Smaller shopping centers adopt larger style.(News)
December 4, 2006... Byline: Anjali Fluker Walkability, fancy landscaping, more attractive architecture and public gathering areas are no longer just for large retail centers with high-end stores and restaurants. Several smaller proposed developments,...

People.(new appointments)
December 4, 2006... Construction Jerry Moses to senior project manager, Turner Construction Co., Detroit, from project manager, JM Olson, St. Clair Shores. Also, Mel Pease to superintendent from senior superintendent, Barton Malow Co., Southfield; Matt Bort...

Business diary.(Allison Personnel Service Inc. acquired Michael H. Cantor Co.)(FaciliNet Services Inc. contracts with E&A Community Credit Union)(HR One Inc., moved to Livonia)
December 4, 2006... Acquisitions Allison Personnel Service Inc., Bingham Farms, acquired the Michael H. Cantor Co., Traverse City. Both firms specialize in the recruiting and placement of insurance professionals. Terms were not disclosed. Calls for...

New owners cook up redo of Clarkston Cafe.(Executive Life)
December 4, 2006... Byline: Brent Snavely The new owners of the Clarkston Cafe are hoping to reopen the long-standing French restaurant this month after several months of renovations and a re-invigorated menu. "Before all of the other restaurants opened...

Briefly.(Michigan Department of Environmental Quality names Flexible Products Co. and the U.S. Army Garrison-Michigan, as Clean Corporate Citizens)(A.D. Transport Express Inc. receives Idle Reduction Technologies Incentive Grant )(Omnicare Inc.'s medicaid fraud)
December 4, 2006... MDEQ names 2 groups Clean Corporate Citizens The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality has named Auburn Hills-based Flexible Products Co. and the U.S. Army Garrison-Michigan in Warren as Clean Corporate Citizens, the DEQ's...

Fighting for a level playing field; After passage of Proposal 2, women's business groups pursue new ways to keep companies competitive.(Focus)
December 4, 2006... Byline: Sheena Harrison Organizations that assist woman-owned businesses in Michigan are looking at ways to help their members compete for state and local contracts after the passage of Proposal 2 last month. Proposal 2 prohibits...

Auto turmoil equals vacant real estate; Industrial, offices empty.(Collins & Aikman Corp.)
December 4, 2006... Byline: Jennette Smith When Collins & Aikman Corp. moved to Southfield's Travelers Tower II in June, it was a standard example of an auto supplier cutting costs by relocating to a building with cheaper rent. For local real estate...

Henry Ford institute to open school in Chicago.(partnering with Homan Square Community Center and Homan Arthington Foundation )(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... Byline: Sherri Begin The Henry Ford Learning Institute on Nov. 16 said it is partnering with Homan Square Community Center and Homan Arthington Foundation to open a charter high school on Chicago's west side, patterned after the Henry Ford...

Office gifts unwrapped; Holiday tokens bear potential pitfalls in the business world.(Executive Life)
December 4, 2006... Byline: Kath Usitalo Ronald Bush II, director of labor relations for Wayne County, likes to give little gifts throughout the year to the seven staffers in his division, but at Christmas, he says he puts forth a special effort. "I'm...

Letters.(Letter to the editor)
December 4, 2006... Another wrangle over money Editor: I have been utterly dismayed by the feuding between the board members of The Detroit Medical Center and Wayne State University in regard to exclusivity agreements and physician reimbursements. I have...

Amendment to thwart scavengers could hurt scrap dealers.(News)
December 4, 2006... Byline: Anjali Fluker Amendments to an ordinance passed by Detroit City Council Nov. 17 are designed to curb thefts of metal that has plagued the city since copper prices ballooned. But they also could hurt some smaller companies that...

How to help women? Start with an MBA.(Focus)
December 4, 2006... Byline: Sheena Harrison The key to seeing more women in business leadership is simple - get more of them into college classrooms, says Mary Hinesly, senior associate director for the University of Michigan's women in business initiative....

Groups pick up push for women in tech world.(Ann Arbor Association for Women in Computing)
December 4, 2006... Byline: Sheena Harrison When Diane Pawlak decided to switch careers from the banking industry to technology a few years ago, she wished she knew of organizations that could provide her with mentors or scholarships along the way. "I...

MAG Industrial acquires German machine-tool group.(MAG Industrial Automation Systems, Boehringer group of companies)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... Byline: Brent Snavely Sterling Heights-based MAG Industrial Automation Systems said Tuesday that it signed a contract Nov. 22 to acquire the Boehringer group of companies from Germany-based IWKA AG. Boehringer is a machine-tool...

Time for high-speed rail in Midwest.(Column)
December 4, 2006... Byline: Howard Learner Nationally, while the public voted for change on Nov. 7, Midwest voters re-elected four pragmatic governors in Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin. The combination of these second-term governors with the...

Big doings at Big Rock; Chophouse owners spread wings with new nightclub, condominium project.(Norman and Bonnie LePage's management techniques)
December 4, 2006... Byline: Brent Snavely Ever since restaurateurs Norman and Bonnie LePage opened Big Rock Chophouse in 1997, they have continued to update the restaurant and their 3.5-acre property with several big projects. The result is that Big Rock...

Bankruptcies.
December 4, 2006... The following businesses filed for Chapter 7 or 11 protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Detroit Nov. 24-30. Under Chapter 11, a company files a reorganization plan that the court must approve. Chapter 7 involves total liquidation. ...

It's time for some creative marketing.(marketing vacated office buildings)(Column)
December 4, 2006... Like it or not, Michigan has a new "natural'' resource: vacant industrial buildings. By one estimate, the state has 2,000 industrial buildings for sale or rent (See story, Page 1), in addition to office space vacated by ailing suppliers....

Rofin-Sinar's stock drops, but analysts remain bullish on firm.(Rofin-Sinar Technologies Inc.)
December 4, 2006... Byline: Tom Henderson Its stock has fallen from an all-time high of $64.60 on Nov. 7 to $58.01 at the close of the market on Friday, but analysts say Plymouth-based Rofin-Sinar Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq: RSTI), remains one to buy and...

A good first step on business taxes.(Column)
December 4, 2006... Byline: KEITH CRAIN Last week the newly re-elected governor announced her tax plan to replace the single-business tax. As you might have expected, the hue and cry was almost immediate. Any group who saw its taxes go up, regardless...

Reading the fine print; Businesses, industry groups take a long look at SBT replacement plan.
December 4, 2006... Byline: Amy Lane There's no small amount of detail in the 122-page bill that Gov. Jennifer Granholm wants to become Michigan's next business tax. But there are also many questions, even among tax experts sifting through elements of...

Bill would ease rules on store price tags.(News)
December 4, 2006... Byline: Amy Lane Michigan retailers have moved closer to reforming the state's item-pricing law. Passed by the state House last week is a bill that would provide exceptions to having to individually affix prices to store items - a...

Small town in the city; Convenience, urban style drive anesthesiologist to move downtown.(Executive Life)
December 4, 2006... Byline: JoAnn Amicangelo Kevin Klimek, 49, had been thinking of moving from his 4,500-square-foot home on a golf course in Northville to Detroit's Central Business District for some time. He had followed the surge in residential...

Seeking immigrant success stories.(News)
December 4, 2006... In many ways, metro Detroit was built by the hopes and dreams of people from other countries. And foreign-born entrepreneurs will be vital to the region's future. Crain's wants to tell their stories. We are seeking nominations for...

Hospital envisions cancer center on land near Botsford Inn.(Botsford General Hospital )
December 4, 2006... Byline: Anjali Fluker Farmington Hills-based Botsford General Hospital later this month is expected to introduce a plan to develop an unused portion of the 4.4-acre Botsford Inn property into a cancer treatment center. The plan hinges...

CEO learned value of giving as young girl.(Florine Mark )
December 4, 2006... Byline: Sherri Begin Florine Mark grew up in a Detroit home with her mother and father, two sisters, grandparents and six aunts and uncles. When one of Mark's sisters was stricken with polio at a young age, the family turned to the...

Week in Review.(Michigan State University, the University of Michigan and Wayne State University form University Research Corridor)("Next Detroit: Clean Downtown'' program shifts to winter mode)(Metaldyne Corp.'s sale to Asahi Tec Corp.)
December 4, 2006... Bloomfield Park breaks ground, names first tenants Bloomfield Park's developers kicked off a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday with announcements about retail tenants. The long-delayed project announced more than 20 tenants for its...

Mt. Clemens Regional Medical Center.(News)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... The acquisition of what is now Mt. Clemens Regional Medical Center earlier this year is only the first step of Flint-based McLaren Health Care's push into Southeast Michigan. The health care company also is pushing for a a $600 million...

St. Vincent de Paul, Habitat, Furniture Bank share costs.(Furniture Bank of Oakland County, Habitat for Humanity and Society of St. Vincent de Paul)
December 4, 2006... Byline: Sherri Begin Three local nonprofits that provide household items and building supplies to the needy at no cost or low cost are working on a plan to share trucking costs and a new Detroit building. The Furniture Bank of Oakland...

Corrections.(Correction)(Correction notice)
December 4, 2006... * A story on Page 3 of the Nov. 27 issue should have named Ann Arbor-based First Martin Corp. as the company working with Ann Arbor Spark in locating lab space for start-up Lycera Corp. in Ann Arbor, not Warren-based F.H. Martin Construction...

Suburban lofts take hit in housing slump; Once-hot sales slow; projects get put off.(News)
December 4, 2006... Byline: Jennette Smith, Anjali Fluker A couple of years ago, it wasn't uncommon for trendy loft projects in suburban downtowns like Royal Oak or Ann Arbor to sell out in a week. But as the overall housing market has cooled, even mid-...

Federal-Mogul: Returning to path; Supplier ready to pursue acquisitions after leaving Ch. 11.(Federal-Mogul Corp. appointed Jose Maria Alapont )(Carl Icahn investing in Federal-Mogul Corp.)
December 4, 2006... Byline: Robert Sherefkin, David Barkholz Crain News Service Jose Maria Alapont is getting ready to take the new Federal-Mogul Corp. out of five years of expensive Chapter 11 reorganization. To do that, the CEO will resume a global march...

This Just In.(Detroit International Bridge Co. accused Commodities Exports Co. and Walter Lubienski for eminent domain )
December 4, 2006... Judge says Bridge Co. can't condemn properties U.S. District Judge Prentis Edwards denied a Detroit International Bridge Co. attempt to condemn and claim eminent domain on two properties near the base of the Ambassador Bridge on Friday. ...

Rumblings.(Michigan Homeland Security Consortium introducing $1 million fund)(John Casey started Casey Communications Inc.)(Linda Solomon's works and General Motors Corp. marketing)
December 4, 2006... Consortium to launch $1m startup fund The fledgling Michigan Homeland Security Consortium, a Lansing-based trade organization launched in June to promote small and startup companies, said Wednesday it will launch a $1 million fund in...

The geek who loves giving.(News)(Brief article)(Column)
December 4, 2006... Byline: Daniel Eizans With the holiday season officially underway, it's time to start thinking about what and what not to give. If you haven't seen our guide of do's and do nots, flip over to the Executive Life section (Page 21). What...

Lear to transfer North American interiors division to joint venture.(Lear Corp. (Southfield, Michigan) joint venture with WL Ross & Co. L.L.C. and Franklin Mutual Advisers Inc.)
December 4, 2006... Byline: Brent Snavely Southfield-based Lear Corp. said Friday that it has reached a definitive agreement to form an interiors joint venture with WL Ross & Co. L.L.C. and Franklin Mutual Advisers L.L.C. The signed agreement calls for...

Local daily papers hit hard by declining circulation.(News)
December 4, 2006... Byline: Tom Henderson Daily newspapers in Detroit and the rest of Southeast Michigan continue to lose readers, according to figures by the Audit Bureau of Circulations. The Detroit News lost 6.8 percent of its circulation Monday...

Calendar.(Calendar)
December 4, 2006... Tuesday Dec. 5 2006 Macomb Hall of Fame Celebration. 6 p.m. Macomb Foundation and Macomb Chamber. Honorees: Joe Dumars, president of basketball operations, Detroit Pistons; Macomb County Sheriff Mark Hackel; Anthony Viviano, owner,...

In the spotlight.(People)(Mark O'Halla appointed as a president and Chief executive officers)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... Mt. Clemens Regional Medical Center has named Mark O'Halla as its next president and CEO. O'Halla replaces Robert Milewski, who resigned in September. O'Halla will begin his new role Dec. 27. O'Halla, a Detroit native, has served as...

Tax proposal seems fair.(small business tax)(Column)
December 4, 2006... And speaking of SBT replacement, Gov. Jennifer Granholm's proposed Michigan Business Tax looks like a winner. The plan differs significantly from an earlier version offered by the governor. The replacement tax would raise the same amount of...

Crain's List: Largest woman-owned businesses.(News)(Directory)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... List of 25: see print copy. * * * Top woman-owned employers By local employee count: MotorCity Casino: 2,660 Plastech: 2,146 G-Tech: 626 Continental Plastics: 604 Entech: 559 WW Group: 470 Mars...

Lists as spreadsheets.(News)
December 4, 2006... You can purchase individual Crain's lists or our Book of Lists in Excel spreadsheet format or as PDF files at www.crainsdetroit.com. Click "Crain's Lists Online" in lefthand navigation bar. Should your company be on this list? Contact...

Guido served his city well.(Dearborn Mayor Michael Guido)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... The original "wedding singer,'' Dearborn Mayor Michael Guido was a part-time singer-trombone player who headed a local music group called The Goldtones before running for City Council. Elected mayor at 31, he inherited Orville Hubbard's...

Corrections.(Correction notice)
December 11, 2006... * A news item on Page 2 of the Dec. 4 issue incorrectly identified the new location of the University of Detroit Mercy's dental school. It should have said that it was on Martin Luther King Boulevard near I-96 in Detroit. * A box on Page 3...

Reporters' Notebook; Weighing feds' tough-guy tactics.(Thompson Memorandum)
December 11, 2006... Byline: Robert Ankeny "I'm from the government, and I'm here to help you'' is an old gag line with ominous overtones about federal investigations. What if a similar greeting came from a company lawyer, but you later learn that...

Business Diary.(Karmanos Cancer Center signs deal with Marquette General Cancer Center)(Fifth Third Bank names Milestone Realty Services Inc. as real estate adviser)(Swany Construction to build new Pizzeria Venti restaurant )
December 11, 2006... CONTRACTS The Karmanos Cancer Center, Detroit, has signed an affiliation agreement with the Marquette General Cancer Center to give Upper Peninsula patients access to advanced clinical research and physicians expanded educational...

People.
December 11, 2006... EDUCATION Anthony Sky to chair of the Department of Natural Sciences, Lawrence Technological University, Southfield, from director of the Master of Science Education program, and remaining as chemistry professor. Phillip Bowman to...

Billion-dollar questions in Valassis-Advo case; Arguments to start today as company seeks to nix merger.(Valassis Communications Inc., Advo Inc.)
December 11, 2006... Byline: Bill Shea Valassis wants a divorce. Advo wants to stay married. A Delaware judge will decide which gets its way. Arguments are scheduled to begin today in Delaware's Chancery Court between Livonia-based Valassis Communications...

Week In Review; From www.crainsdetroit.com, week of Dec. 2-8.(Pfizer Inc. to cut worldwide staff)(Google Inc.'s new office at Ann Arbor )(Michael Guido mayor of Dearborn dies)
December 11, 2006... Pfizer unsure of local effects of end of drug research A spokesman for Pfizer Inc. said it's unclear how the company's announcement to end research on a potential blockbuster drug would affect Michigan. The company did announce Nov. 28...

Hospitals push to expand transplants; Want more to offer bone-marrow service.
December 11, 2006... Byline: Andrew Dietderich St. John Hospital and William Beaumont Hospitals plan to be among health care providers pushing to change administrative rules that could allow more hospitals to offer bone-marrow transplants. Representatives...

Briefly.(Briefs)
December 11, 2006... Condos planned atop Book Cadillac garage The Detroit Downtown Development Authority has entered into an agreement in principle to sell the "air rights'' above a parking garage being built as part of the Book Cadillac redevelopment to a...

As clock ticks on 2006, tax debate continues.(News)
December 11, 2006... Byline: Amy Lane Action on Michigan's next business tax may move into the New Year, but 2006 discussions continue on how current proposals might change. Republican Senate and House leaders signaled last week there was no time to...

The next hot spots; Vietnam, Malaysia among countries drawing interest.(News)
December 11, 2006... Byline: Amy Lane Noel Nevshehir recently wrapped up a trade mission to China, but he's eyeing another promising country that's not as prominent on some radar screens: Vietnam. Nevshehir, director of Automation Alley's international...

Bankruptcies.(United Soils Inc.)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... The following business filed for Chapter 11 protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Detroit Dec. 1-7. Under Chapter 11, a company files a reorganization plan that the court must approve. United Soils Inc., 16171 31 Mile Road, Ray Township,...

New Wright Museum CEO: Increase role in schools.(Juanita Moore, Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History)
December 11, 2006... Byline: Sherri Begin Juanita Moore, new CEO of the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, wants to see it play a larger role in tackling the city's educational challenges. She said she believes the museum can do that by...

Oakland suit information now online.(www.oakgov.com/clerkrod/courtexplorer)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... Oakland County Circuit Court has put lawsuit case docket information online at: www.oakgov.com/clerkrod/courtexplorer/. The Oakland County Clerk's office will continue to make available documents from the lawsuits at $1 per page.

Greektown Casino seeks financial extension.(News)
December 11, 2006... Byline: Robert Ankeny Greektown Casino L.L.C. will face the Michigan Gaming Control Board for the second time in 30 days on Tuesday, seeking an extension to meet required revenue goals. But that doesn't mean the casino is on the rocks,...

Let's quit stalling on Cobo expansion.(Cobo Center)(Column)
December 11, 2006... Byline: KEITH CRAIN There are far too many people in this community who are more than willing to say "No, it won't work,'' than there are willing to try to help make things happen. The latest plan to expand Cobo Center is a great idea,...

In the spotlight.(Larry Hagerty appointed as president of RLP-Technologies)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... Southfield-based R.L. Polk & Co. has named Larry Hagerty president of RLP-Technologies, its research and development subsidiary in Farmington Hills. Before joining RLPTechnologies, Hagerty was president and CEO of The Medstat Group in Ann...

American Dreamers nominations due Thursday.(News)
December 11, 2006... In many ways, metro Detroit was built by the hopes and dreams of people from other countries. And foreign-born entrepreneurs will be vital to the region's future. Crain's wants to tell their stories. We are seeking nominations for...

United Way ready to focus funds on three areas.(educational preparedness, economic stability and basic needs)
December 11, 2006... Byline: Sherri Begin The United Way for Southeastern Michigan's board of directors is expected to vote Thursday on three areas on which the organization will focus its efforts and funding. After spending the past year conducting...

Power play; Troy startup takes on established makers of lithium ion batteries.(Compact Power Inc.)
December 11, 2006... Byline: Richard Truett Crain News Service Prabhakar Patil loses sleep after he reads news of overheating lithium ion batteries in laptop computers. Patil worries that consumers will link the powerful, long-lasting batteries with danger...

This Just In.(Plastech Engineered Products Inc. to acquire Johnson Controls Inc.'s interior trim business)(Cerberus Capital Management L.P. lead bidder for Collins & Aikman Corp.)(Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation awards Fraunhofer USA)
December 11, 2006... Plastech in talks to add new work from JCI Plastech Engineered Products Inc. is in talks to obtain large new automotive interior trim business next year from interiors supplier Johnson Controls Inc. Johnson Controls is the last of the...

Rumblings.
December 11, 2006... Peoples State Bank mulls Detroit branch Madison Heights-based Peoples State Bank is eyeing two sites for its first Detroit branch, which could open by next fall. Bank president Michael Tierney, a 28-year veteran of Comerica, says the...

Court OKs Meridian Ch. 11 plan.(News)
December 11, 2006... Byline: Bill Shea Allen Park-based auto parts supplier Meridian Automotive Systems Inc. on Thursday said its reorganization plan to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy has been approved by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of...

Know your system; New federal court rules keep much closer eye on electronic records in lawsuits.(Easton Sports Inc. sues Warrior Lacrosse Inc. and New Balance Athletic Shoe Inc.)
December 11, 2006... Byline: Robert Ankeny A lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Detroit between sports equipment companies alleging industrial espionage and theft of trade secrets highlights the importance and impact of electronic discovery rules in federal...

Robert Ficano's Cobo plans are a big vision, but only the latest example of an executive In the groove.
December 11, 2006... Byline: Robert Ankeny Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano doesn't dominate a room when he walks in, the way his predecessor Ed McNamara did. Yet many who know and have worked with him during his 25 years of public service agree that...

Letters.(Letter to the editor)
December 11, 2006... Jobs Fund fills need in state Editor: I read William Watch's critical comments regarding the state of Michigan's contributions to the 21st Century Jobs Fund (Other Voices: "Money talks; here's message to Michigan,'' Nov. 20). The...

First in 'Second Life'; Leo Burnett uses virtual world to sell cars.
December 11, 2006... Byline: Bill Shea Troy-based Leo Burnett Detroit is the first of the major advertising and marketing agencies in Southeast Michigan to stake out virtual territory for a client in the online Second Life universe. For the uninitiated,...

UDM hopes move will help renew Detroit neighborhood.(University of Detroit Mercy)
December 11, 2006... Byline: Sheena Harrison University of Detroit Mercy's decision to move its dental school and clinic near downtown could provide additional momentum to Detroit's Core City neighborhood, an area that's already seeing some growth and...

ArvinMeritor prepares for slow growth in production in 2007.(News)
December 11, 2006... Byline: Robert Sherefkin Crain News Service With the market for Class 8 heavy trucks going soft, a senior executive at ArvinMeritor Inc. fears slow growth in North America next year but doesn't see a full-blown recession. "We're not...

New look for the new year.(News)
December 11, 2006... Byline: Daniel Eizans You may or may not have noticed some changes in our daily e-mail alerts in the past two weeks. The Web team here at Crain's Detroit Business has been working harder than Santa's elves in developing new features and...

A bad omen for Detroit's dailies?(Column)
December 11, 2006... Byline: Mary Kramer Daily newspapers across the country are losing subscribers. An iconic media company with a big Detroit history, Knight-Ridder Inc., is out of business, and another big newspaper company, Chicago-based Tribune Co.,...

Video bill would be boon to consumers.(Opinion)
December 11, 2006... State lawmakers have a chance on Tuesday to give consumers a holiday present: competition for video services. AT&T has been lobbying this entire year for a bill that would streamline community franchising so AT&T can sell consumers its...

New: Crain's wireless.
December 18, 2006... This week Crain's debuts a wireless-enabled version of our Web site. You can view the new page on your cellphone or PDA at www.crainsdetroit.com/wireless.

Here's to collaboration.(United Way partnered with Detroit Renaissance Inc.)(Brief article)(Column)
December 18, 2006... Southeast Michigan has no shortage of pressing issues. With limited resources and multiple agendas, collaborations, partnerships and regional alliances are the way to achieve the best results. So it's good news that we end 2006 with strong...

Business Diary.(Hella KGaA Hueck & Co. acquired Tolerance A/S)(Western Creative Inc. contracts with The Luggage Club)(AlixPartners L.L.C. opening a data center)
December 18, 2006... ACQUISITIONS Hella KGaA Hueck & Co., a Plymouth-based tier-one supplier of automotive lighting and electronic equipment, has acquired a majority ownership share in Viborg, Denmark-based software specialist Tolerance A/S. Tolerance develops...

Letters.
December 18, 2006... Rising costs plague districts Editor: Regarding Sherri Begin's article ("Colleges, universities prepare push to keep share of state funding,'' Nov. 27). As the failure of Proposal 5 shows - looking at one side of the equation is not...

UM licenses system to Cigna.(News)(University of Michigan contracts with CIGNA Corp. CIGNA Healthcare Group Inc)(Brief article)
December 18, 2006... Byline: Andrew Dietderich Bloomfield, Conn.-based Cigna HealthCare has entered into an agreement with the University of Michigan to license an analytic system designed to help consumers identify and address health risks and help employers...

Plymouth Financial CEO resigns.(News)(chief executive officers)(Brief article)
December 18, 2006... Byline: Tom Henderson Michael Weaver resigned Friday as CEO and president of both Plymouth-based Plymouth Financial Corp. and its New Liberty Bank, according to a press release, to "pursue other business opportunities.'' His interim...

AT&T heads into TV fray with passage of video bill.(News)
December 18, 2006... Byline: Amy Lane A major video customer battle is about to begin. On the heels of legislative victory last week, AT&T Inc. Michigan President Gail Torreano said AT&T next year will start offering its new video service in Michigan, a...

State's energy plan delayed until January.(News)
December 18, 2006... Byline: Amy Lane Michigan business and environmental interests awaiting a year-end energy plan are going to need to wait a little longer. Michigan Public Service Commission Chairman Peter Lark said last week that his 21st Century...

Submit your big deals.(News)
December 18, 2006... Crain's Detroit Business will publish a list of the largest deals of 2005 in its Jan. 29 issue. Included will be mergers and acquisitions of at least $10 million, stock offerings, commercial-property sales and the largest office and industrial...