Corporate Detroit articles from August 1991

Corporate Detroit archives from August 1991

Harold Brode: selling service. (Entrepreneur of the Year: Wholesale/Distribution Category) (company profile)
August 1, 1991... Harold Brode: Selling Service Max and Louis Broder -- who founded Broder Bros. in 1919 -- would be surprised at their company if they could see it today. Then, as now, the company was a wholesaler; its owners started the tradition of...

The land of the VanderKloots. (real estate developer James VanderKloot and family's Bloomfield Hills housing development)
August 1, 1991... The Land of the VanderKloots The VanderKloot family husbanded its Bloomfield Hills acreage for more than a generation -- and then developed it. James VanderKloot has a definition of the typical developer: "Where there are trees, he takes...

Natural supermarket fails to grab public appetite. (Nature's Market, full-line natural foods supermarket, forced to close operations)
August 1, 1991... Natural supermarket fails to grab public appetite The bottom line on natural foods? Most Americans would rather be chemical doughballs than pay extra for additive-free foods. A little harsh? Not according to Todd Gulich, whose full-line...

Bright lights, big stars for Kughn. (Dick Kughn teams up with Ronnie Clemmer and Bill Pace in forming Longbrow Productions, a television production company)
August 1, 1991... Bright lights, big stars for Kughn The CEO of fun is at it again. Four years ago, Dick Kughn teamed up with Ronnie Clemmer and Bill Pace -- probably best known in Detroit for their work on "P.M. Magazine" -- in forming Longbow Productions....

More workers need compensating. (Michigan Department of Labor reports that number of workers filing illness or injury claims is on the increase)
August 1, 1991... More workers need compensating Recent media reports indicate that workers' compensation claims can take over a year to process, and the situation isn't likely to improve in the future. The number of workers filing illness or injury...

What conflict of interest? (Dr. John Psarouthakis opens JPE Inc. office in Athens, serves as advisor to the Greek government, and is hired on a contract basis to help it divest its ownership of over 400 companies)
August 1, 1991... What conflict of interest? Conflict-of-interest rules being -- uh -- less strenuous in Greece than in the U.S., Dr. John Psarouthakis finds himself in an enviable position these days. Psarouthakis, who sold his JP Industries last year,...

A very private matter. (Neill Powell, Jr., chairman of Hambro & Co., looks for private placements)
August 1, 1991... A Very Private Matter A New York investment banker is looking for a few good companies in Michigan. Neil Powell Jr., chairman of SPP Hambro & Co., is a specialist in the method of financing known as "private placement" and wants to...

Let a Dragon do your typing. (DragonDictate, computer program responding to voice commands)
August 1, 1991... Let a Dragon do your typing You need one report to fill in numbers in another. You keep setting the first one down to punch data from the second into your computer. Wouldn't it be great if you could just dictate the numbers you want...

Bump shop blues. (bump shop franchisor Kale's Collision Inc.'s numerous lawsuits from its franchisees)(includes related article) (Cover Story)
August 1, 1991... Bump Shop Blues Kale's Collision Inc. has been on a collision course with its franchisees. And there is no one to smooth out the bumps. Kale Roscoe displays a cherubic smile. His dress and manner are casual, easy-going, without a hint of...

Something borrowed. (new service companies' difficulty in getting bank financing)
August 1, 1991... Something Borrowed It really is possible for a new service company to get a bank loan -- if it plays its cards right. As a young entrepreneur in a service business, John Schirle Jr. was familiar with the horror stories of trying to get a...

Comerica's Miller time. (Corporate Detroit Magazine interview with chief executive officer Eugene Miller) (interview)
August 1, 1991... Comerica's Miller Time Comerica CEO Eugene Miller, fresh from the Ford Auditorium controversy, talks about banks and business people in an exclusive Corporate Detroit Magazine interview. Eugene Miller ended up as chairman and CEO of...

A tempest in a coffee pot. (wholesaler Standard Coffee ventures into direct coffee sales to businesses and offices, brewing up some problems in the local coffee service industry)
August 1, 1991... A Tempest in a Coffee Pot A venerable coffee wholesaler has brewed up some problems for the local coffee service industry. Jim Spear leans back in his chair, tucks well-manicured hands behind his slickly-groomed head and lets out a...

Betting on the Big Three. (Manufacturers Products Co. gives its best shot to supplying parts for Ford Motor Co., General Motors Corp., Chrysler Corp. and the rest of the industry; includes related article) (company profile)
August 1, 1991... Betting on the Big Three Wes Fredericks used to have a CEO's dream job. But for real excitement, he decided to become an auto supplier. The office of the president at Manufacturers Products Co. is a little worse for the wear these days....

Stretched to the limit. (caught between the responsibility to their jobs and to their family, employees are burning themselves out)
August 1, 1991... STRETCHED to the Limit When Donna Corley returned to work after a trip to South Carolina, she knew things would never be the same. But she didn't realize how hard it would be to concentrate. She was suffocating from the work that had piled...

Designed for lake travel. (D.J. Kennedy, owner of Kennedy & Company Interiors, creates interiors for Nightingale, a 57-foot Viking sport fishing boat)
August 1, 1991... Designed for Lake Travel D.J. Kennedy puts his mark on a not-so-nautical 57-footer. During his 20 years in design, Grosse Pointe Farms-based D.J. Kennedy has created interiors for homes, offices, corporate jets, condos, auto...

Training for Armageddon. (U.S. corporations stress training for executives and managers to fit the company's goals and attitudes; includes related article)
August 1, 1991... Training for Armageddon Mike Galle, a vice president with Troy-based Sandy Corp., has taken more executive training courses than he can remember. No matter what problem a colleague may have, he is quick to summon up a solution: a bit of...

Riding the export wave. (Michigan manufacturers develop their export markets; includes related article)
August 1, 1991... Riding the Export Wave Somewhere overseas, a company wants your product. All you have to do is find it. Mary Boomus never imagined she'd have to learn Japanese. The Arbor Technologies vice president, a Milan native, has lived her...

Casual clothes. (Shear Intensity, athletic and casual wear manufacturer based in Canton MI)
August 1, 1991... Casual clothes For eight years, Shear Intensity, an athletic/casual wear business based in Canton, has been producing an ever-growing line of cotton and nylon lycra leggings, shorts, sweats, raglan tops, and skirts. The product line,...

Compact crane. (Brooks Sales and Engineering manufactures a light duty crane intended for the small contractor)
August 1, 1991... Compact crane Brooks Sales and Engineering, located in the Upper Peninsula town of Chassell, manufactures a light duty crane intended for the small contractor. The Little Lifter will lift 1,000 pounds 44 feet high with 10 foot reach; 300...

Tooth tutorial. (Dental Health Video Source introduces video-based mouth care training program)
August 1, 1991... Tooth tutorial Dental Health Video Source of Grand Rapids has introduced a video-based training program developed to help health care facilities define mouth care, educate caregivers and meet OSHA, OBRA, and in-service regulations. "The...

Medical software. (Megasource Inc. expands its MSMEDS Pharmacy Information System to provide communications capabilities to three pharmacy-related computer systems)
August 1, 1991... * MEDICAL SOFTWARE Megasource of Birmingham has expanded its MSMEDS Pharmacy Information System to provide communications capabilities using its interface communications software to three pharmacy-related computer systems: the Pyxis...

Back it up. (Irwin Magnetic Systems introduces an upgrade to its tape backup software)
August 1, 1991... * BACK IT UP Irwin Magnetic Systems, a supplier of quarter-inch tape backup systems to the personal computer and workstation market, has introduced an upgrade to its tape backup software. The Release 2.1 version of EzTape incorporates...

Corny packaging. (American Excelsior's latest environmentally-sound packaging product - cornstarch Eco-Foam)
August 1, 1991... Corny packaging American Excelsior, a manufacturer of natural packaging materials based in Texas, with offices in Westland, has made available its latest environmentally-sound packaging product -- corn starch Eco-Foam. Made from a...

Ergonomic aid. (Aero-Motive's handbook of repetitive motion injuries, their causes and their impact on workers)
August 1, 1991... Ergonomic aid A 32-page handbook published by Aero-Motive of Kalamazoo provides an overview of repetitive motion injuries, their causes and their impact on workers. "Ergomation" also addresses personal ergonomics, how to identify...

Have a seat. (Keiper Recaro Seating Inc. introduces its Turbo line of seats)
August 1, 1991... Have a seat Keiper Recaro Seating, manufacturers of high performance aftermarket seating systems, has introduced its Turbo line of seats. Turbo seats are designed and engineered by Recaro with bolsters on both the seat back and seat...

Golf guide. (Travel Graphics' Metropolitan Detroit Golf Course Location Map)
August 1, 1991... Golf guide Travel Graphics of Michigan, a Troy-based publishing and design firm, has produced a Metropolitan Detroit Golf Course Location Map, in addition to its various Illustrated Road Maps. The Illustrated Road Maps come either as...

Slip safeguard. (Safe Stride Non-Slip USA develops chemical treatment for floors to prevent slips and falls)
August 1, 1991... Slip safeguard An Oak Park-based company has developed a chemical treatment that it says creates an invisible tread design into the surface of hard mineral floors and porcelain bathtubs, providing a solution to slips and falls. Safe Stride...

Winning lures. (Wolverine Tackle Co.'s Silver Streak trolling spoons)
August 1, 1991... * WINNING LURES According to Wolverine Tackle Co. of Orchard Lake, for the second straight year its Silver Streak trolling spoons caught more Michigan DNR Master Angler Award trout and salmon than any other spoon, plug or type of live...

Robert Marsh. (Advertising and Marketing)
August 1, 1991... Robert Marsh has opened The Marketing Task Group in Birmingham, a sales and marketing consulting company.

Diane Mitchell. (Communications)
August 1, 1991... Diane Mitchell was named president of Comm Mark Associates in Bloomfield Hills, a recently opened firm that offers technical writing and foreign language translation services to Detroit and Mideast-based companies.

Robert Siefert. (Manufacturing)
August 1, 1991... Robert Siefert was named president of the Stamping & Frame Division at The Budd Co. in Troy.

Bradford Morley. (Manufacturing)
August 1, 1991... Bradford Morley was appointed vice president of Schlumberger Technologies in Ann Arbor and president of the company's CAD/CAM Division.

Mikel Miller. (Manufacturing)
August 1, 1991... At Bamal Fastener Corp. in Farmington Hills, Mikel Miller was promoted to president and chief executive officer, David Kelton was promoted to executive vice president, Richard Sharkey was promoted to vice president of sales, and Alan Zinger...

William McIntyre Jr. (Retail and Wholesale)
August 1, 1991... William McIntyre Jr. was named president and chief operating officer for American Speedy Printing Centers in Bloomfield Hills.

Laura Carrie Kendall. (Retail and Wholesale)
August 1, 1991... Laura Carrie Kendall was named chief financial officer, senior vice president of central operations for F&M Distributors in Warren.

Dennis Schlitt. (Engineering)
August 1, 1991... Deborah Schneider was named shareholder of Howard & Howard, a law firm located in Bloomfield Hills.

William Alvin. (Services)
August 1, 1991... Dennis Dowdell Jr. was appointed corporate vice president of human resources for the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, and William Alvin was named executive vice president and chief executive officer of Wyandotte Hospital and Medical...