Crain's Detroit Business articles from February 2006

Crain's Detroit Business archives from February 2006

New energy is key to future.(Opinion)(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... As Michigan casts about for the silver-bullet industry that will help build its economy, we'd like to nominate alternative energy. Gov. Granholm and President Bush are already on board the "green'' bandwagon. Both their annual "state''...

New this year: Seeking up-and-comers under 30.(Focus)
February 6, 2006... Who is the smartest, brightest and most creative twentysomething business person you know? Nominate him or her for our first-ever "20 in their 20s" feature to be published April 17. Unlike "40 under 40," we aren't looking for hard business...

Alternative energy powers up in Michigan - Part 2 of 2; Companies with new technology approach the mainstream as state pushes to be 'epicenter'.(Focus)
February 6, 2006... Byline: Amy Lane Biodiesel is made from renewable resources, such as vegetable oil, which can be either recycled from restaurants or produced from sunflowers, soybeans and canola plants. A fuel that is 20 percent renewable oils and 80...

Spotlight on: Accounting firms.(News)
February 6, 2006... 3 charts: Biggest gainers * Total employees at top 20 firms * Share for top 5 companies; see print copy

Ex-Lear executive forms joint venture; Buys interest from Bing, Vinnie Johnson.(News)
February 6, 2006... Byline: Brent Snavely After 18 years as an executive with Lear Corp., Jim Comer now finds himself working with his former employer as a partner in a joint venture with about $365 million in annual sales. Thursday Southfield-based Lear...

Somanetics shakes things up as it posts decline in net income.(News)
February 6, 2006... Byline: Andrew Dietderich Revenue rose but profits fell for Troy-based Somanetics Corp., the company said last week, as it announced plans to issue more shares of stock, hire a new CFO and vice president. Somanetics (Nasdaq: SMTS)...

This Just In.(Herb Strather buys St. Regis Hotel )(Taubman Asia Ltd. partners with Gordon Group Holdings L.L.C)(Jerome-Duncan Inc restructures)
February 6, 2006... Strather's group buys St. Regis Hotel A group of African-American investors led by Detroit entrepreneur Herb Strather has bought the St. Regis Hotel. Strather said that St. Regis Detroit Partners L.L.C. includes 15 Detroit area...

Mr. Pita wagons rolling along.(Executive Life)(Pita Franchise Corp.)
February 6, 2006... Byline: Brent Snavely Shelby Township-based Pita Franchise Corp. says that it has been rolling up sales with three Mr. Pita wagons and a revised menu. The pita wagon is more than a lunch truck, said Mr. Pita president and founder Frank...

Super Bowl XL.(Briefs)
February 6, 2006... Super Bowl impact pegged at $49.3M A new report estimates that Super Bowl XL will have a $49.3 million economic impact on the Detroit area, well below estimates that have reached more than $300 million. The report, released Wednesday...

Let's run Roger Penske for governor.(Column)
February 6, 2006... Byline: KEITH CRAIN It's always a little dangerous to be writing about a Sunday event when your deadline is on the Friday before it happened. But make no mistake. The Super Bowl XL Host Committee led by Roger Penske did as great a job...

Alternative Energy Companies.(Focus)(Brief Article)(Directory)
February 6, 2006... Southeast Michigan has a growing number of companies working on products or processes for alternative energy. A selected list: * Adaptive Materials Inc., Ann Arbor Solar oxide fuel-cell systems. * Alternate Energy Solutions Inc.,...

Calling all buff bosses for 50 Fittest CEOs.(Focus)(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... Crain's Detroit Business is teaming again with the Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan to put local CEOs through their paces and find out who's fittest. RIM will test CEOs at sites throughout the area for free between now and April 14....

Come back soon... Airport, hotels brace for departure.
February 6, 2006... Byline: Jennette Smith Barbara Hogan won't breathe a sigh of relief until Tuesday. The post-Super Bowl move-out of equipment and support staff will take about a week, but the largest swarm of out-of-town visitors leaves Monday. For...

Host Committee ready to start job-hunting.(News)(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... Byline: Jennette Smith Planning Super Bowl XL has prepared host committee staff for a wide range of jobs. They will be looking starting this week. Staff members plan to spend the next few weeks finalizing reports to the NFL, working...

Letters.(Letter to the Editor)
February 6, 2006... Eight Mile needs foot traffic Editor: It was good to read about continued energy being focused on the physical improvement of Eight Mile Road as a major border of Detroit and so many other important metro communities. The opening...

NIH grants give boost to WSU upgrade plans; Hopes there's more to come.(Wayne State University)
February 6, 2006... Byline: Sherri Begin Wayne State University believes new facility-improvement grants from the National Institutes of Health are an encouraging sign that it could see more research from the organization. The university's board of...

McGregor Fund grants spur nonprofit collaboration.
February 6, 2006... Byline: Sherri Begin Some local nonprofits coordinating efforts to make more efficient use of funding have caught the attention of the McGregor Fund. The Detroit-based foundation's board in December approved three grants that help fund...

A Conversation With; Simon Ng, director of alternative energy technology, Wayne State University College of Engineering.(Focus)(Interview)
February 6, 2006... Byline: Amy Lane Simon Ng is director of the alternative energy technology program in Wayne State University's College of Engineering, and a professor in WSU's chemical engineering and material science department. Wayne State's curriculum...

Numbers game.(News)
February 6, 2006... 400,000 Hand warmers distributed by the Super Bowl XL Host Committee. 2,000 Ear warmers given away by the Detroit Regional Chamber at the SBXL Media Party. 5,000 Postseason guides published by the National Football...

Week in Review.(Briefs)
February 6, 2006... Kilpatrick's PAC got phantom donations The Generations PAC, controlled by Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, got four donations totaling almost $60,000 from anonymous or not fully identified contributors, although they were required by law to...

After Super Bowl, a Detroit wish list.(Opinion)
February 6, 2006... Byline: Mary Kramer Detroiters - those who live in the city and in surrounding suburbs - rediscovered the heart of their city last week. As a volunteer "ambassador'' for the Downtown Detroit Partnership, I got to watch jaws drop and eyes...

Detroit needs a BID to keep momentum.(Opinion)(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... The past week has been Detroit's time to shine. This week, it's Detroit's time to work on what it needs to keep its momentum going. As Robert Ankeny reports on Page 1, key stakeholders in downtown will meet Wednesday to talk about next...

Brothers rev up Roostertail.(Executive Life)
February 6, 2006... Byline: Brent Snavely Brothers Michael and John Schoenith are putting their own stamp on Roostertail Inc., a private banquet hall and catering company in Detroit that their grandfather founded. Over the past three years the two...

Energy conference in Novi March 23.(Focus)(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... Byline: Laura Bommarito DTE Energy Co. and The Engineering Society of Detroit will hold a conference and exhibition March 23 on alternative energy sources and energy efficiency at the Rock Financial Showplace in Novi. The 2006 DTE...

Patriarch adds $7 million auto supplier to its holdings.(Patriarch Partners L.L.C)
February 6, 2006... Byline: Brent Snavely Lynn Tilton, CEO of New York City-based Patriarch Partners L.L.C., bought Fraser-based Jacobs Industries Inc. Wednesday for about $7 million, her third automotive acquisition since December. Jacobs, a roll-forming...

Corrections.(Correction)(Correction Notice)
February 6, 2006... * A story on Page 3 of the Jan. 30 issue incorrectly identified The Express Group and Kawasaki Robotics (USA), Inc. as Wixom-based businesses. Both companies have Wixom addresses, but are located in Lyon Township. * The name of...

The roots of a home; Tracing a house's history adds interest - and can add value.(Executive Life)
February 6, 2006... Byline: Constance Crump Did George Washington sleep in your house? Chances are good he didn't, but if you have an old house, researching its history could enhance its value and qualify you for tax credits when it comes time to...

Bettis readies his next play in Detroit; Redeveloping riverfront site a top priority.
February 6, 2006... Byline: Andrew Dietderich After a week of fielding questions about what he's going to do on the field, Pittsburgh Steelers star and former Detroiter Jerome Bettis now faces an even tougher question - what he plans to do off the field. ...

Blues plan management realignment.(Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan)
February 6, 2006... Byline: Michelle Martinez Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Executive Vice President and CEO designate Dan Loepp said a realignment of the company's management not only will prepare for his mid-May assumption of the top job from Richard...

Bankruptcies.
February 6, 2006... The following businesses filed for Chapter 7 or 11 protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Detroit Jan. 27-Feb. 2. Under Chapter 11, a company files a reorganization plan that the court must approve. Chapter 7 involves total liquidation. ...

MEDC entertains execs at big game.(Michigan Economic Development Corp)
February 6, 2006... Byline: Amy Lane The high-level corporate roster for state Super Bowl XL entertaining is a page out of Michigan's economic-development playbook. The 21 executives that were to be Michigan Economic Development Corp.'s guests are from...

Briefly.(Brio Advertising moves to its oldest commercial building in Novi)(The Energy Future: China and the U.S. conference held Ann Arbor)(Wayne County Airport Authority recieves federal funds)
February 6, 2006... Brio Advertising moves into former Novi Inn Brio Advertising, a brand-development and marketing agency, has finished moving into the oldest commercial building in Novi, the two-story former Novi Inn at the southeast corner of Grand River...

The morning after.(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... Byline: Bob Allen I trust that you've caught up on that sleep you missed while trying to experience everything about Super Bowl week, including the game Sunday night. Many things were reported, photographed, said and written last week. If...

A gift for engineering.
February 6, 2006... Byline: Sherri Begin Up until now, Yousif Ghafari said he has supported Wayne State University through a number of small gifts. But drastic times call for drastic measures. "As (we) well know, the manufacturing jobs in this state...

SEE change; D.O.C stores make room for high-fashion sister brand.(News)(Column)
February 6, 2006... Byline: Brent Snavely Richard Golden took a look around his D.O.C. stores last year and decided the merchandise was falling short of expectations. While the stores carry eyewear from brands such as Ralph Lauren, Burberry and Jones New...

In the spotlight.(promotion)(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... Livonia-based Dynatek Inc., which was founded in 1986 and makes software that automates the mortgage process, has promoted Todd Luhtanen to president from vice president. Luhtanen, 42, is responsible for overseeing all sales, marketing and...

NextEnergy may get HQ.(Focus)(Column)
February 6, 2006... Byline: Amy Lane Nextek Power Systems Inc. came to Detroit to work with a manufacturer on its alternative-energy technology. Now, it's considering moving its New York headquarters here - building on a foothold it's taken in Detroit's...

Alternative energy powers up in Michigan - Part 1 of 2; Companies with new technology approach the mainstream as state pushes to be 'epicenter'.(Focus)
February 6, 2006... Byline: Amy Lane This year, McKenzie Bay International Ltd. may see its first revenue. From wind. The Farmington Hills-based company is preparing to commercially launch a wind-energy system that generates and distributes electricity...

Keeping the spirit alive; Endowments, BIDs could keep ball rolling.
February 6, 2006... Byline: Robert Ankeny Detroit can't waste any time if it wants to build on the momentum of its preparation and execution efforts for Super Bowl XL, business, civic and political leaders say. Matt Cullen of General Motors Corp. and John...

People.(Michael Forgacs appointed as design group leader)
February 6, 2006... ARCHITECTURE Michael Forgacs to architectural design group leader, NSA Architects, Engineers, Planners, Farmington Hills, from architect and founder, Partners Design Group, Ann Arbor. Andrew Hetletvedt to project architect, DSA...

Rumblings.
February 6, 2006... Ilitch, Shank get national attention Two metro Detroit businesswomen are being saluted in national publications. Marian Ilitch, owner of MotorCity Casino L.L.C., is featured on the cover of the January issue of Global Gaming Business,...

Lists as spreadsheets.(News)
February 6, 2006... Lists as spreadsheets You can purchase individual Crain's lists or our Book of Lists in Excel spreadsheet format at www.crainsdetroit.com. Click "Crain's Lists" in the gray bar at the top of the page. If you've never used this feature...

Jump start for Slows; The art of building a buzz: Viral marketing, food that closes the deal pack house.(Slows Bar BQ)
February 13, 2006... Byline: Brent Snavely Nothing has been slow about the buzz that has surrounded Slows Bar BQ in Corktown in Detroit. The 80-seat restaurant, which opened in September, has yet to place an advertisement. And yet it's not uncommon for...

Legal News publisher sells his interest in company.(Detroit Legal News' John Parks)(Brief Article)
February 13, 2006... Byline: Tom Henderson John Parks, the retiring publisher of the Detroit Legal News, has sold his minority interest in its parent company, Detroit Legal News Publishing L.L.C., to Minneapolis-based Dolan Media Co. for an undisclosed sum....

Briefly.(Rochester College raised the capital campaign)(General Dynamics Land Systems Inc. is awarded military contract)(ThyssenKrupp Materials N.A. Inc. buys VPK Metal Inc.)
February 13, 2006... Rochester College raises $11.6M Rochester College has raised $11.6 million of its $31 million goal, about 21/2 years into its capital campaign. The Rochester Hills-based Christian college launched the campaign, its first campuswide...

Ross, Lear may lose out on deal for pieces of Collins & Aikman.(News)
February 13, 2006... Byline: Robert Sherefkin, David Barkholz New York investor Wilbur Ross may have hit some snags on the way to rolling up the auto interiors sector. Collins & Aikman Corp., a linchpin of Ross's acquisition strategy, is looking...

Investment firm rolls up big supplier stakes.(News)
February 13, 2006... Byline: Robert Sherefkin, David Barkholz Crain News Service While Wall Street pounds the Detroit automakers and their suppliers, a little-known California investment firm is loading up with beaten-down supplier shares. Dimensional Fund...

$100m fund for regional projects gets look.(News)
February 13, 2006... Byline: Amy Lane A new Granholm administration proposal to spend $100 million to seed regional economic-development projects is drawing interest. The proposal, outlined last week in Gov. Jennifer Granholm's proposed 2007 budget, would...

A super selling point; Convention recruiters use Super Bowl to seal more deals.(Focus)
February 13, 2006... Byline: Jennette Smith Think of Super Bowl XL as the ultimate resume builder when it comes to attracting more events and leisure travelers to town. That's the message from the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau and others in...

Good marketing moves.(opening of new restaurants )
February 13, 2006... Byline: Brent Snavely * At Eph McNally's, it's all about location, decor and the premium meat used in the restaurant's New York-style sandwiches that are piled high with corned beef, pastrami, roast beef, ham or any number of combinations....

St. Vincent shifts focus to keeping families intact.(News)
February 13, 2006... Byline: Sherri Begin The St. Vincent & Sarah Fisher Center plans to continue offering services to build strong children and families from a new location in Detroit. The goal is to use the new and expanded services to prevent children...

What's next? Biz leaders speak.(strategic planning in business)
February 13, 2006... Eric Cedo Executive director CreateDetroit, Detroit The vision: Entertainment is the key for bringing people back. "It's important to invest in our creative economy. People come to big cities to be entertained.'' What's...

Reporter's Notebook.(Focus)
February 13, 2006... Byline: Mary Kramer Detroit flunked transit last week. Transit was the only section of the Super Bowl final exam we didn't ace. That needs to change if we want to improve our grade for future major events. Five separate...

Pain medicine may keep jobs in Ann Arbor, Pfizer CEO says.
February 13, 2006... Byline: Andrew Dietderich Researchers and developers at Pfizer Inc.'s Ann Arbor complex may have saved the company - and some of Pfizer's 14,000 jobs in Michigan - by developing a new drug the company hopes will be as successful as...

What should Detroit do for an encore?(Opinion)
February 13, 2006... Byline: Bob Allen Now what? If you live in Southeast Michigan, that is the question you probably were asking the day after the Super Bowl. Here are some possible answers: Make the Winter Blast a winter sports spectacular:...

Meters a new yardstick; New tech boosts cable ratings, hits broadcasters.(News)
February 13, 2006... Byline: Tom Henderson Local television advertisers are re-evaluating their purchasing decisions in the wake of early results from "people meters,'' a new digital rating system rolled out in the Detroit market on Jan. 5 by Nielsen Media...

Week In Review; From www.crainsdetroit.com. Week of Feb. 4-10.(Marvin Novick died)(Delphi Corp. filed a bankruptcy case)(Gateway Inc. appointed Rick Snyder )(Obituary)
February 13, 2006... Former MCA VP gets 24 months, $65.7M fine U.S. District Judge John Feikens on Tuesday sentenced Cheryl Swain, former vice president of marketing syndication for MCA Financial Corp., to 24 months in prison and a fine of $65.7 million. ...

School jobs give small firm big revenue growth; Cyclotron project accelerated biz for architects.(Lord, Aeck and Sargent Inc.)
February 13, 2006... Byline: Jennette Smith Atlanta-based Lord, Aeck & Sargent first made the grade in the metro Detroit architectural industry by securing a $5 million project - an addition to the University of Michigan medical school's cyclotron building....

Crain's awards scholarship.(Andrea Manson)(Brief Article)
February 13, 2006... Andrea Manson, a junior at Eastern Michigan University, is this year's winner of the Crain's Newsmaker Scholarship. Manson is pursuing a degree in accounting and carries a 4.0 grade point average while helping to raise three children. She...

Bankruptcies.(J.C. Beauty Inc., Rission Manufacturing Corp.)(Brief Article)
February 13, 2006... The following businesses filed for Chapter 7 or 11 protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Detroit Feb. 3-9. Under Chapter 11, a company files a reorganization plan that the court must approve. Chapter 7 involves total liquidation. J.C....

In the spotlight.(TechTeam Global Inc. appointed William Brown)(Brief Article)
February 13, 2006... Byline: Andrew Dietderich The board of directors of Southfield-based TechTeam Global Inc. said Feb 6. that William Brown, an executive from IBM Corp., will become its president and CEO Feb. 16. Brown, 54, currently serves as vice...

Big religious meetings hold promise of big payoffs for local economy.
February 13, 2006... Byline: Anjali Fluker The Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau has scored a few big events for religious groups over the next several years that have the potential to bring millions of dollars to Southeast Michigan. Organizations...

Nothing is impossible.(Column)
February 13, 2006... Byline: KEITH CRAIN Last week, we had a great luncheon for Roger Penske, our Newsmaker of the Year and chairman of the Host Committee for Super Bowl XL. It was a fitting tribute to a man who made a difference. How grand it was to see that...

Working the Web; Video producers use Internet delivery to get info to employees.(TVS Communication Solutions)
February 13, 2006... Byline: Anjali Fluker TVS Communication Solutions spent 10 years focusing on video-production and satellite-broadcasting services. When revenue started to drop, president and CEO Rick Ghersi said it was time to zoom out into other areas....

Calendar.
February 13, 2006... Tuesday Feb. 14 Enhancing Your Professional Image. Ann Arbor IT Zone Hi-Tech Tuesdays. Noon-1:30 p.m. Speaker: Denise Anne Taylor, protocol and etiquette consultant. Spark Central. Free for members, $5 students, $25 others. Contact:...

Local light-rail supporters eye bill for Grand Rapids.(Brief Article)
February 13, 2006... Byline: Amy lane The future of a light-rail system between Detroit and Ann Arbor is entering into a dispute over a public-transit bill in the Legislature. House Bill 5560 is the second-year attempt by state Rep. Jerry Kooiman, R-Grand...

People.
February 13, 2006... EDUCATION Gerald Oglan to assistant dean of teacher education, College of Education, Wayne State University, Detroit, from associate professor for the college's reading, language and literature program and program coordinator for special...

Dreaming even bigger.(Brief Article)(Column)
February 13, 2006... Byline: Bob Allen As you can tell from this week's issue, we've spent a lot of time seeking answers to the overarching question in the aftermath of what by all accounts was a successfully executed Super Bowl XL: "What's next?'' Last...

Corrections.(Correction)(Correction Notice)
February 13, 2006... * In a Briefly item on Page 28 of the Feb. 6 issue, Brio Advertising should have been referred to by its new name, Brio Advancing. * In the story "Medicaid HMOs say Granholm plan could boost enrollment'' on Page 15 of this week's issue,...

Medicaid HMOs say Granholm plan could boost enrollment.(News)
February 13, 2006... Byline: Michelle Martinez ***** Correction: In the story "Medicaid HMOs say Granholm plan could boost enrollment'' on Page 15 of this week's issue, the story should say that Gov. Jennifer Granholm's State of the State address was...

The Detroit agenda; Post-Super Bowl priority: Focus on mass transit.
February 13, 2006... Byline: Sherri Begin, Michelle Martinez Crain's asked its readers how Detroit could reinvent itself in the wake of the Super Bowl and the answer came through loud and clear: Build mass transit. Detroit's status as home to Motown, cars...

Penske: Aid homeless, work on mass transit.
February 13, 2006... Byline: Jennette Smith His official duties may be over, but Roger Penske isn't taking a pit stop. He has a working agenda, including helping the homeless, addressing mass transit and pushing more investment in Detroit. The chairman of...

Olympic bid for Detroit-Windsor?(News)(Brief Article)
February 13, 2006... Byline: Amy Lane, Michelle Martinez What should Detroit's next big event be? Some readers think a joint Summer Olympics bid with Windsor should be the next big goal for the region. "How about it, Detroit? Are we ready to pull the...

Hamtramck DDA OKs plan for Jos. Campau district.(Downtown Development Authority)(Brief Article)
February 13, 2006... Byline: Robert Ankeny Hamtramck's commercial district, the Jos. Campau Avenue strip, is back in the redevelopment business, says Erik Tungate, director of community and economic development for the city. The city's Downtown Development...

Clayco to build $9.3M warehouse in Romulus for First Industrial.(Clayco Construction Co., First Industrial Realty Trust Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 13, 2006... Byline: Laura Bommarito First Industrial Realty Trust Inc. of Chicago has chosen Detroit-based Clayco to build a 302,832-square-foot warehouse in Romulus. The $9.3 million building is expected to be completed this spring. Palatine,...

New this month; Metro.
February 13, 2006... In this issue, Crain's introduces a new monthly feature dedicated to a behind-the-scenes look at business trends and other events in metro Detroit. Our inaugural story, on Page 17, explains how word of mouth works in marketing new...

Business Diary.(Briefs)
February 13, 2006... CONTRACTS Brendy Barr Communications L.L.C., Rochester Hills, has joined PRConsultants Group, a nationwide group of public-relations and marketing specialists that serves the needs of national accounts in local markets. McDonald...

This Just In.(Coca-Cola Bottling Co. opens new plant)(Trans-Industries Inc. files for stock offerings)(FMF Capital L.L.C. filed a class action lawsuit)
February 13, 2006... TCF Bank Michigan breaks ground for HQ TCF Bank Michigan broke ground Thursday on its new, three-story, 60,000-square-foot headquarters in the College Park office complex on Haggerty Road near Six Mile in Livonia. More than 250...

14 nonprofits pull out of United Way pension plan.
February 13, 2006... Byline: Sherri Begin Fourteen nonprofits have pulled out of the multiple-employer pension plan sponsored by United Way for Southeastern Michigan as of Dec. 31. Three of the organizations paid off their unfunded liabilities and...

Nonprofit seminar is March 13.(News)(Brief Article)
February 13, 2006... A seminar on Best Practices from the Best-Managed Nonprofits is scheduled for March 13. The seminar is presented by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, the Detroit Executive Service Corps and the Lawrence Technological University...

Rumblings.
February 13, 2006... Utilities: Using Granholm in ads not political Good deeds don't go unnoticed, especially if you're Gov. Jennifer Granholm and it's an election year. Granholm is appearing in radio ads for DTE Energy Co. and Consumers Energy Co., as...

Ann Arbor's QuatRx Pharmaceuticals files for stock offering.
February 13, 2006... Byline: Andrew Dietderich After raising nearly $72 million in venture capital since 2000, Ann Arbor-based QuatRx Pharmaceuticals Co. filed an initial public offering Monday with hopes to raise an additional $86 million. The company...

Lists as spreadsheets.
February 13, 2006... You can purchase individual Crain's lists or our Book of Lists in Excel spreadsheet format at www.crainsdetroit.com. Click "Crain's Lists" in the gray bar at the top of the page. If you've never used this feature before, you'll be prompted...

How to submit announcements to Crain's.
February 13, 2006... * Crain's publishes news items about local business activity weekly in its Business Diary, Calendar and People columns. These are editorial columns in which items run based on space available and news value. Each column has specific eligibility...