Crain's Detroit Business articles from May 2009

Crain's Detroit Business archives from May 2009

OPINION.(NEWS)(Viewpoint essay)
May 4, 2009... Obama should come to National Summit Does President Barack Obama really want to do something for Southeast Michigan and the auto industry? If so, he should commit to speak at the National Summit in Detroit, June 15-17. The Detroit...

Career Transition.(NEWS)
May 4, 2009... Name: Anthony LeGree, 27. Education: Bachelor's degree in business administration from Adrian College. New career: President of Basset Communications in Roseville, a promotions and marketing company that develops customer and employee...

Yeah, it's green; Companies tackle environmental challenges, Detroit-style.(NEWS)
May 4, 2009... Ask someone to describe a "green company, and they're not likely to describe a factory floor in metro Detroit. But Crain's found companies that are seizing big opportunities by shifting gears and rethinking product designs to make products...

Companies hope flexible wing can fly for wind turbines.(NEWS)
May 4, 2009... Byline: Chad Halcom An experimental aircraft wing developed by Ann Arbor-based FlexSys Inc. is already supposed to benefit the environment by decreasing fuel consumption and noise. But Sridhar Kota believes the technology can do even more...

New alliance takes over Chrysler HQ.(NEWS)
May 4, 2009... Byline: Daniel Duggan The 4.4-million-square-foot Chrysler L.L.C. headquarters building in Auburn Hills will change hands as part of the deal announced last week. Cerberus Capital Management L.P. has agreed to transfer its ownership...

MasTech looks to wind.(NEWS)
May 4, 2009... Byline: Chad Halcom Not every investment in alternative energy has to bring lab jobs to be a boon to Michigan. Sterling Heights-based MasTech Inc. hopes this week to roll out an initial set of 60 units of the Windspire,a vertical wind...

Greening the Heartland conference comes to Cobo for first time.(Engineering Society of Detroit)(Conference news)
May 4, 2009... Byline: Dustin Walsh The organization that created the standard for "green building is hosting, along with the Engineering Society of Detroit, the Greening the Heartland 2009 conference at Cobo Center May 31-June 2. It is the first...

WIDE RANGE OF NEW USES.(NEWS)(Brief article)
May 4, 2009... Here are some former dealership sites that have been redeveloped: Roseville medical and retail: A former car dealership in Roseville has been redeveloped into an 18,000-square-foot retail strip center and a 6,000-square-foot medical office...

Law on utility rates faces first legal test.(NEWS)
May 4, 2009... Byline: Amy Lane A group of large businesses is seeking to temporarily block a proposed $179 million Consumers Energy Co. electric rate increase that the company wants to enact May 14. The $179 million, which would be assessed on all...

Eight Mile boosters worry about fairgrounds going vacant.(NEWS)
May 4, 2009... Byline: SHERRI BEGIN WELCH The fate of the Michigan State Fairgrounds and Exposition Center will ripple beyond Detroit and Wayne County into Oakland and Macomb counties, regional leaders say. The governor's proposal to close the...

Auto dealership closings make real estate openings; Brokers find new specialty consulting on reuse.
May 4, 2009... Byline: DANIEL DUGGAN Two commercial real estate companies are positioning consulting teams to advise former car dealership owners on the reuse of their real estate. Real estate consultants who in the past offered predevelopment...

Basic benefits plan includes surcharge; Bills seek cheaper individual health coverage.(NEWS)
May 4, 2009... Byline: JAY GREENE Sen. Tom George, R-Kalamazoo, chairman of the Senate Health Policy Committee, is developing legislation that will include a basic benefit individual health insurance package for a $60 to $200 monthly premium that could...

DEEP DEALER CUTS LIKELY.(Brief article)
May 4, 2009... Byline: Daniel Duggan Announcements rock car dealership world General Motors Corp. will push to cut 1,200 dealers in the next 18 months as part of an effort to cut its dealer network from 6,273 to 3,605. Chrysler L.L.C., in...

Defense work, clean energy stem auto losses.(Ricardo Inc.)
May 4, 2009... Byline: Ryan Beene When the Detroit 3 brought outsourced vehicle development work to a halt in the second half of 2008, Ricardo Inc. saw nearly all of its automotive projects terminated. But the Van Buren Township-based engineering...

CALENDAR.(NEWS)(Calendar)
May 4, 2009... TUESDAY MAY 5 World Trade Month Executive Breakfast. Detroit Regional Chamber. 7-9:30 a.m. Honoring Yousif Ghafari, founder and chairman, Ghafari Associates L.L.C. Townsend Hotel, Birmingham. $35 for business builder members and...

BUSINESS OVER BREAKFAST MAY 14 IN BIRMINGHAM.(Detroit Renaissance Inc.)(Brief article)
May 4, 2009... The state budget and tax reform will be discussed at the Crain's Detroit Business Business over Breakfast meeting, beginning at 7:30 a.m. May 14 at the Community House in Birmingham. Keynote speakers are to include Doug Rothwell, president,...

State Fairgrounds tenants given notice to clear out.(Eight Mile Boulevard Association)(Brief article)
May 4, 2009... Byline: Sherri Begin Welch The Eight Mile Boulevard Association is among six tenants of the state fairgrounds that have received eviction notices from the state. The Michigan Department of Management and Budget is requiring tenants...

DOING LUNCH.(NEWS)
May 4, 2009... What: Eight Mile Boulevard Association annual leadership lunch When: 11 a.m.-2 p.m., May 15 Where: Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center Tickets: $50 members, $88 nonmembers To reserve or for more info: (313) 366-3388...

BANKRUPTCIES.(Grandma's House of Pancakes L.L.)(Brief article)
May 4, 2009... Byline: Dustin Walsh The following businesses filed for Chapter 7 or 11 protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Detroit April 24-30. Under Chapter 11, a company files for reorganization. Chapter 7 involves total liquidation. Dopar...

20 LOCAL COMPANIES ARE OWED MORE THAN $340M.(NEWS)
May 4, 2009... The list of Chrysler L.L.C.'s top 50 unsecured creditors is peppered with companies with headquarters or substantial operations here. The largest local creditor, and ranking No. 2 overall, is BBDO North America, with offices in Troy, which is...

Grant to help UM make the most of solar-cell technology.(University of Michigan)(Brief article)
May 4, 2009... Byline: Ryan Beene The University of Michigan received $19.5 million from the U.S. Department of Energy for a new center to research and develop materials used to convert solar energy to electricity, the university has announced. UM's...

LOOKING FOR HEALTH CARE HEROES.(NEWS)(Brief article)
May 4, 2009... Crain's Detroit Business is seeking nominations for Health Care Heroes, a special report on health care professionals that will run in the Aug. 10 issue. The program will honor top-notch medical innovators and patient advocates the...

EMPLOYMENT CALENDAR.(NEWS)(Calendar)
May 4, 2009... Free workshops at OCC Oakland Community College will offer a series of free workshops for the unemployed or career changers. The workshops, led by professional counselors and industry experts, will be held in Room 229 of Levinson Hall...

Diesel advances aren't blowing smoke.(Eberspacher North America Inc)
May 4, 2009... Byline: Ryan Beene Eberspacher North America Inc. had no business in North America when it first came to Michigan in 2000. While the family-owned company based in Germany has roots dating back to 1865, Eberspacher first came to the...

BUSINESS DIARY.(Doeren Mayhew has launched a new Web site www.freechildidkits. net)
May 4, 2009... CONTRACTS Evigia Systems Inc., Ann Arbor, has received its first purchase orders from Northrop Grumman, Los Angeles, as part of Evigia's efforts to supply active Radio Frequency Identification products to the U.S. Department of Defense...

Staff, clients say local Rehmann manager's style inspires loyalty; Respect for others central to Bahr's outlook.(Rehmann Group)
May 4, 2009... Byline: TOM HENDERSON Phil Bahr, managing principal of the Rehmann Group's Troy office, has been known to cut an employee's lawn while she was on a honeymoon, to continue to do audit and other work for clients who have run into financial...

Dealerships await word on which will be cut.(Parkway Chrysler-Jeep Inc.)
May 4, 2009... Byline: DANIEL DUGGAN Like most car dealers in the region, Charles Riley wants fewer dealerships so his business will be more profitable. And also like most car dealers, he doesn't want to be the one to get cut. But Riley, CEO of...

Ecology Coatings CEO optimistic about "green' technology, market.
May 4, 2009... Byline: Tom Henderson Ecology Coatings Inc. CEO Bob Crockett says he sees plenty of reason for optimism over his "green coating technology these days. The good news, Crockett says, includes a recent equity investment of more than $2.3...

UM makes awards to fund gap between lab and market.(University of Michigan)
May 4, 2009... The Life Sciences Institute's Innovation Partnership of the University of Michigan has announced four projects for one-year awards totaling $680,000. The partnership uses philanthropic gifts to bridge funding gaps between laboratory...

People.(Baldrige National Quality Program)(Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute )(Brief article)
May 4, 2009... The Baldrige National Quality Program has named Lucy Young, director of management services, and Marianna Spanaki, senior staff neurologist, both from the Henry Ford Health System, to its 2009 board of examiners. The Barbara Ann Karmanos...

PEOPLE.(NEWS)
May 4, 2009... DISTRIBUTING Gary Jones to general manager, Adrian & Blissfield Railroad Co., Westland, from marketing director. C. Kirk Haggerty to executive vice president and CFO, Atlas Oil Co., Taylor, from founding partner and president, Donnelly...

Flu prompts precautions but not panic; Travel to Mexico is a key concern.(NEWS)
May 4, 2009... Byline: CHAD HALCOM AND JAY GREENE The possibility of widespread swine flu is not leading local companies to panic, but they aren't taking any chances either. Thursday afternoon, CMS Energy Corp. notified managers to tell employees...

Nightmare for suppliers; Chrysler shutdowns, Chapter 11 hit hard.(NEWS)
May 4, 2009... Byline: TOM HENDERSON AND BILL SHEA The worried phone calls to Hydra Professional L.L.C., a Farmington Hills-based turnaround and consulting firm, started coming in moments after Chrysler L.L.C. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection...

NOMINATE A HEALTH CARE HERO.(NEWS)(Brief article)
May 11, 2009... Crain's Detroit Business is seeking nominations for Health Care Heroes, a special report on health care professionals that will run in the Aug. 10 issue. The program will honor top-notch medical innovators and patient advocates the...

Developers see Dequindre Cut as first in string of greenways.(NEWS)
May 11, 2009... Byline: SHERRI BEGIN WELCH The Dequindre Cut Greenway, which officially opens this week, is the first piece of what developers hope will be a system of greenways connecting Detroit to suburbs as far north as Pontiac. The 1.2-mile path,...

State budget cuts go deep; not enough for business.
May 11, 2009... Byline: Amy Lane Arts grants and worker training, business and environmental programs are among areas taking hits in budget cuts approved by state lawmakers last week. Gov. Jennifer Granholm's executive order, slicing $304 million...

Detroit should open its books - online.(Detroit Free Press)
May 11, 2009... Byline: Mark Kramer One of the best ways to improve Detroit's image is to shake the perception of pay-to-play politics and that too many public servants are serving to enrich themselves. We know about the smelly Synagro deal and the...

WSU-DMC practice plan transfer talks come apart.(Wayne State University)
May 11, 2009... Byline: JAY GREENE Two-month-long talks have broken down to transfer 10 faculty practice plans from Wayne State University School of Medicine to Detroit Medical Center, an operating model that could have created a powerhouse similar to...

Green grows the work for eco-savvy law firms.
May 11, 2009... Byline: CHAD HALCOM Green laws have brought much-needed greenbacks into Southeast Michigan law firms struggling with a credit crunch-related slowdown in transactions and the growth will likely continue. Driving some of the activity,...

CORRECTION.(NEWS)
May 11, 2009... A Rumbling on Page 23 of the April 27 issue listed an incorrect name for an organization recognizing Cynthia Pasky, founder, president and CEO of Strategic Staffing Solutions, as one of the Enterprising Women of the Year. The organization...

Auto suppliers pump up business for law firms; Chrysler bankruptcy creates work - for now.
May 11, 2009... Byline: CHAD HALCOM The bankruptcy reorganization of Chrysler L.L.C. has meant a rush of new clients and new revenue for law firms representing suppliers but practice group leaders say the recent gains could prove to be short-lived. ...

Most Chrysler dealers choose GMAC Financial.(NEWS)(Brief article)
May 11, 2009... About 2,500 of Chrysler L.L.C.'s roughly 3,200 U.S. dealerships have signed up with Detroit-based GMAC Financial Services, which will be their new captive finance company after the automaker emerges from bankruptcy, Chrysler executives said...

Symposium gives VC firms a look at Michigan companies.(Center for Venture Capital and Private Equity)
May 11, 2009... Byline: TOM HENDERSON For more than three decades, David Brophy, an associate professor of finance at the University of Michigan and director of the school's Center for Venture Capital and Private Equity, has been preaching that the state...

BRIEFLY.(NEWS)
May 11, 2009... Turnaround firm Conway MacKenzie expands into Texas The Birmingham-based turnaround firm of Conway MacKenzie & Dunleavy has expanded into Texas, opening offices in Dallas and Houston. Van Conway, senior managing director and company...

Legislation would let counties absorb, restructure road commissions.(Brief article)
May 11, 2009... Byline: Chad Halcom Macomb and Oakland counties would be able to absorb and restructure their local road commissions under legislation that passed the state House last week, but only Macomb might actually do so. The Macomb County...

BUSINESS DIARY.(Spalding DeDecker Associates Inc merge with Dietrich Bailey and Associates P.C)(Michigan Department of Transportation contract with G2 Consulting Group)
May 11, 2009... ACQUISITIONS Spalding DeDecker Associates Inc., Detroit, acquired Dietrich Bailey and Associates P.C., Plymouth. Both are professional engineering and surveying firms. CONTRACTS Ann Arbor-based Dynamic Edge has selected Online...

Outsider? Sure; Bing turns attacks into selling points to become mayor.
May 11, 2009... Byline: NANCY KAFFER On the eve of Election Day, then-Mayor Ken Cockrel Jr. joined union members for a rally at a Teamsters hall in Southwest Detroit. The campaign was optimistic: Cockrel had out-fundraised his opponent, businessman...

Insurance for health insurers; Legislation would cover catastrophic claims.
May 11, 2009... Byline: JAY GREENE One of the centerpieces of legislation to reform the individual health insurance market that Rep. Marc Corriveau, D-Northville, will introduce this week is the creation of a catastrophic insurance fund to reimburse...

Region needs unity, not a new turf war.
May 11, 2009... A new political turf war is brewing in Southeast Michigan at a time the region can least afford it. As Chad Halcom reports on Page 1, Wayne County Executive Bob Ficano's 2008 plan to offer tax breaks to any and all comers in the proposed...

CEO says Bing to give up chairman title at Bing Group.(Dave Bing )(Brief article)
May 11, 2009... Dave Bing will give up his title as chairman of the auto parts company he founded now that he's mayor-elect of Detroit. Kirk Lewis, CEO of the Bing Group, said in an interview Thursday with Crain's sister publication Automotive News that...

CALENDAR.(NEWS)
May 11, 2009... TUESDAY MAY 12 Detroit Economic Club. 11:30 a.m. Keynote speaker: Ralph Crosby, chairman and CEO, EADS North America. Marriott Inn, Dearborn. $40 members, $50 guests of members, $75 nonmembers. Contact: (313) 963-8547. Strictly...

EXPERIMENTS IN PROGRESS.(NEWS)(Brief article)
May 11, 2009... Here's a look at area lab-related projects: Development of a 56,000-square-foot National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration research center Location: Ann Arbor Cost: $11 million Lab space: 10,000 square feet ...

PEOPLE.(NEWS)
May 11, 2009... ADVERTISING Rita Lindholm to senior vice president and CFO, McCann-Erickson USA Inc., Birmingham, from CFO, Clear!Blue Communications, Birmingham; also, Julian Putti to art director, from senior art director, BBDO Detroit Inc., Detroit;...

WEEK ON THE WEB.(NEWS)
May 11, 2009... Bill would allow auto show's move to Novi Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop, R-Rochester, said a bill will be entered in the Legislature in the next two weeks that would allow the North American International Auto Show to move to Novi and...

Road to opportunity; Closing of Sterling Truck drives Kenworth expansion.(NEWS)
May 11, 2009... Byline: DANIEL DUGGAN Though it wasn't mainstream news in October when the Sterling Truck Corp. brand was eliminated, it was big news to Jesse Berger. Elimination of the brand meant the loss of a sales franchise for 303 heavy-truck...

BUSINESS DIARY.(Hermann Funeral Home)
May 25, 2009... ACQUISITIONS HP Pelzer Group, Troy, a worldwide operating specialist for vehicle acoustics and car trim materials, has acquired the manufacturing plant of CarMex, located in Pachuca, Mexico, from Howell-based Carcoustics Group. Lynch...

Sacked by circumstances? Lions' top pick may be tough sell for big ad deals.(NEWS)
May 25, 2009... Byline: BILL SHEA Being the No. 1 overall draft pick meant vast contract riches for new Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, but his off-field endorsement potential is a different story. Because of the catastrophic economy, the...

Toffolo's death leaves large void in Oakland County; Others to pick up deputy executive's duties in short term.(NEWS)
May 25, 2009... Byline: CHAD HALCOM An official mourned as "irreplaceable will have to be replaced, but local business leaders said they are not pressing Oakland County for an immediate successor to Deputy County Executive Dennis Toffolo. Toffolo,...

Groups to gather, publish data on candidates.(NEWS)
May 25, 2009... Byline: NANCY KAFFER Track down more than 300 candidates. Solicit basic information, like name, occupation and platform. Publish the ensuing information online. In the next month. That's the goal of a coalition of community...