Detroiter articles from April 2007

Detroiter archives from April 2007

Our health care dilemma: we must insist on efficiency and quality.(FROM THE PRESIDENT)
April 1, 2007... Those are the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and they ring as true today as they did when he spoke them four decades ago. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Health care has been one of the top priorities at the Detroit Regional Chamber for...

Innovation that pays: with members in mind, the Chamber influenced the way health care is provided by incorporating wellness.(FOR OUR MEMBERS)
April 1, 2007... One of the most vital issues affecting the business community is the rising cost of health care. As health care costs have continued toescalate, many small employers find themselves struggling to keep up with the financial demands of providing...

How much will $1.5 billion cost your business? A 2 percent sales tax increase on services is a bad idea for business and economic development.(VOTE4BIZ)
April 1, 2007... Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm proposed an "excise tax" of 2 percent on most business-to-business and business-to-consumer transactions. The proposal would generate nearly $1.5 billion in revenue for the state, and $1 billion of these new funds...

Meeting with Department of Homeland Security.(VOTE4BIZ)
April 1, 2007... The Detroil Regional Chamber and the Economic Club of Detroit facilitated a meeting with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, Michigan Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land. U.S. Congressman John Dingell, U.S. Congresswoman...

Chamber visits Washington and California border crossings.(VOTE4BIZ)
April 1, 2007... Sarah Hubbard, Chamber vice president of Government Relations, joined representatives of Canadian Consulates from across the United States and leading supply chain efficiency advocates for tours of the border operations at Blaine, WA and San...

Clogged Pipes: will Midchigan's new shipping permit program stop invasive species?(VOTE4BIZ)
April 1, 2007... The onset of spring brings new life and energy to Michigan each year. Spring also marks the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway and the additional hustle and bustle of waterborne commerce. During the shipping season, the Detroit River...

Health care costs stifle small business growth.(VOTE4BIZ)
April 1, 2007... Time and again, we hear from small businesses that health care is the top issue threatening their bottom line. The staggering increases in costs over the last decade are choking off their ability to succeed. As a result, the Detroit Regional...

Regional collaboration: adjusting to the realities of worldwide competition.(VOTE4BIZ)
April 1, 2007... The Detroit Region is facing some of its toughest economic challenges, but with those challenges come great opportunities. I'm optimistic we will rise to the occasion to overcome these obstacles and improve the quality of life and business...

What would they do? Our region's health care leaders give their remedy for fixing the system.(Cover story)
April 1, 2007... Michael Duggan, president and CEO Detroit Medical Center Improve quality--Requiring physicians' orders to be entered electronically could dramatically reduce hospital errors. The Detroit Medical Center has taken a leadership role nationally...

Prognosis for business: what you need to know about improving quality, increasing access and reducing costs when providing health care to your employees.(FEATURES)
April 1, 2007... Southeastern Michigan's health care CEOs are not the only people with the ability to influence health care access, quality and cost in the region. Businesses, big and small, can influence access, quality and cost by implementing new strategies...

Making their benefits work for you: effectively controlling ongoing cost-increases through a variety of benefit management initiatives.(Strategies For Your Business)
April 1, 2007... According to the Towers Perrin 2007 Health Care Cost Survey, health care costs for U.S. employers are projected to rise by 6 percent this year. That increase, fully two-thirds higher than the Consumer Price Index, will exert significant...

Value vs. cost: advice from an expert: focus on long-term results, not short-term savings.(Strategies For Your Business)
April 1, 2007... When it comes to controlling the cost of the health care benefits they provide their employees, many businesses may be looking through the wrong end of the telescope. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Typically, businesses focus on the cost of...

Designing your plan: Joe Rankin is a partner and employee benefits consultant at plante & moran. Here's his prescription for small businesses seeking to design a cost-effective plan for health benefits.(Strategies For Your Business)
April 1, 2007... 1. Participate in a cutting-edge program that focuses on employee health and wellness. Blue Care Network's "Healthy Blue Living" program--available to Detroit Regional Chamber members--is a good example. Through this program, businesses...

Healthy lifestyle, healthy bank account: a bill in congress would link successful wellness programs to tax breaks for businesses.(Strategies For Your Business)
April 1, 2007... Rep. Joe Knollenberg has introduced legislation offering businesses a $ 200 tax credit for every employee who participates in a wellness program, which includes screenings for chronic diseases and educational seminars on healthy eating,...

The working uninsured: think you can't afford insurance? Think again.(Strategies For Your Business)
April 1, 2007... Health insurance plans come in many shapes and sizes. Important plan features, such as how much it costs employers, how much it costs employees and how much choice is allowed when selecting physicians, can vary tremendously from plan to plan,...

Investing in wellness.(Improvements & Innovations Underway)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... The state of Michigan is using a $100,000 Healthy States grant to develop and implement worksite wellness efforts by the National Governors' Association for Best Practices. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "The Michigan's Healthy Workplaces...

Healthy competition: Michigan's competitive position is directly related to the health of its workforce.(Improvements & Innovations Underway)(Survey)
April 1, 2007... Arecent economic study comparing the health of Michigan's workforce to benchmark states competing with Michigan for new businesses and jobs concludes that unhealthy behaviors could be putting our state at a competitive disadvantage. ...

Federal initiatives: the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services turns to Detroit's big three to endorse value-driven health care.(Improvements & Innovations Underway)
April 1, 2007... Mike Leavitt, U.S. secretary of health and human services, spoke at the Detroit Economic Club on Jan. 29,where he turned to domestic automakers to endorse a federal initiative that would shift the Detroit Region to wider use of electronic...

Save Lives, Save Dollars: greater Detroit area health council earns Detroit 'community leader' status.(Improvements & Innovations Underway)
April 1, 2007... Save Lives, Save Dollars, a program of the Greater Detroit Area Health Council (GDAHC), is a multi-year program to improve patient care and drive cost reductions in health care. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Program goals: * Achieve 100...

Raising the bar: The Detroit Medical Center is the nation's first ISO-certified health system.(Improvements & Innovations Underway)
April 1, 2007... The Detroit Medical Center (DMC) took a giant leap into a new era when, more than six years ago, it became the first health system in the United States to receive ISO 9001-2000 certification for its Quality Management Systems (QMS). ...

Customer service in the health care industry: by Gerard Var Grinsven, president & CEO, Henry Ford West Bloomffield Hospital.(Improvements & Innovations Underway)
April 1, 2007... Extraordinary customer service starts by considering the unexpressed wishes, needs and aspirations of our customers. You need to create memorable signature moments or "hot spots" in the customer experience that communicates your brand. In...

Technological breakthroughs: improving quality and efficiency with electronic health records.(Improvements & Innovations Underway)
April 1, 2007... Electronic health records, which are interchangeable between hospitals and physicians, benefit all parties involved by improving quality and efficiency in service. The American Health Information Community (AHIC) is a federal advisory body...

It to the rescue: increased access to information for patients and providers.(Improvements & Innovations Underway)
April 1, 2007... Advances in technology cut down on medical errors, speed up diagnoses and ultimately reduce costs for all parties involved. Michigan is taking major steps to expand the use of technology to give health care professionals and their patients...

Driving force: a day in the life of Jumana Judeh, president of Judeh & Associates.(DAY IN THE LIFE)(Interview)
April 1, 2007... It's 5:30 a.m., and the Judeh household in Dearborn Heights is getting ready for another busy day. Meet Jumana Judeh, businesswoman and mother of two: 18-year-old daughter Nour (named after Jordan's Queen Nour) and 16-year-old son Khalil. Nour...

Renewed interest from Europe.(WELCOME TO OUR REGION)
April 1, 2007... The Detroit Regional Economic Partnership identifies a trend in companies looking to execute their North American business strategy in the Detroit Region. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Detroit Regional Economic Partnerhip continues to see...

Investing in India.(WELCOME TO OUR REGION)
April 1, 2007... The continuation of economic collaboration between the Detroit Region and India was the basis for the Partnership's most recent trip to India. This mission was designed to promote the Detroit Region as an excellent business location, identify...

Start a wellness program? Encouraging healthy lifestyles is a popular way to reduce the cost of providing health care to your employees.(HOW DO I)
April 1, 2007... There is no magic pill to relieve the pain of soaring health care costs. Employers can lessen the hurt and take the lead in promoting healthier lifestyles among work colleagues by creating a wellness program. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A...

Reaching your target market: Florine Mark, president, WW Group, Inc., answers your questions.(LEARN FROM LEADERS)
April 1, 2007... Mark Lichtman, president & CEO of ZenaComp Inc. in Farmington Hills, asks: "How does Weight Watchers use technology to reach its target market?" A: Weight Watchers is a leader in advance communications and marketing. Currently we have...

A booming health care industry: job creation, award winning care, technology breakthroughs and new facilities are good news for the Detroit Region's economy.(EYE ON OUR ECONOMY)
April 1, 2007... Manufacturers, particularly automotive manufacturers in this country, are struggling. Off-shorting, foreign competition, skyrocketing legacy costs, in increases in productivity-they probably all play a role in some way. But there's one industry...

Award winning hospitals.(List)
April 1, 2007... Bon Secours Hospital (Grosse Pointe) Health Grades 2007--Distinguished Hospital-Clinical Excellence [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Children's Hospital of Michigan (Detroit) Child magazine, Ten Best Children's Hospitals--#6 ...

On the roster: join us in welcoming these new members to the Chamber. We encourage you to contact them for future business opportunities.(MEMBERSHIP MATTERS)
April 1, 2007... GOLD CIGNA HealthCare Greg Donnelly 400 Galleria Office center Southfield, MI 48034 (800) 548-4536 www.cigna.com CIGNA HealthCare of Michigan offers employers an array of benefit plan options that manage health...

Global LT Ltd.(Community Outreach)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Hortensia and Bob Neely, president and CEO respectively, Global LT Ltd., made a donation to the Beaumont Hospital Breast Cancer Center in appreciation of the outstanding care and treatment Hortensia Neely received there. The donation was made...

Henry Ford Health System.(Community Outreach)
April 1, 2007... Detroit-based Henry Ford Health System, in partnership with Oakland University, has opened its nursing program to all displaced autoworkers affected by recent downsizing. The program originally had been limited to Ford Motor Co. displaced...

Staples.(Community Outreach)
April 1, 2007... Office products company Staples donated $10,000 to the Mayor's Time Program, which provides after school educational and recreational activities for Detroit's youth.

Albert Kahn Associates, Inc.(Contracts)
April 1, 2007... Detroit-based Albert Kahn Associates, Inc. has been selected by Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare as the architect of record for its new, integrated hospital campus in Elmhurst, III. Bloomfield Hills-based advertising agency BERLINE has been...

Brogan & Partners Convergence Marketing.(Contracts)
April 1, 2007... Birmingham-based Brogan & Partners Convergence Marketing has been hired by the American College of Healthcare Executives to develop and implement a marketing communications plan.

Identity Marketing & Public Relations.(Contracts)
April 1, 2007... Relations in Bingham Farms has been retained to handle media relations and communication support for Southfield-based pulse220, an experiential agency formerly known as Star Trax Corporate Events.

Marx Layne & Co.(Contracts)
April 1, 2007... Marx Layne & Co. of Farmington Hills has been named public relations agency of record for Advertising Network Solutions of Rochester Hills and EliteFTS.com of London, Ohio.

Shelving, Inc.(Contracts)
April 1, 2007... Auburn Hills-based Shelving, Inc. has been awarded contracts to furnish and install lockers for the Brewery Park in Detroit, the Saline Recreation Center in Saline and Chelsea Hospital in Chelsea.

Tanner Friedman.(Contracts)
April 1, 2007... Tanner Friedman, a strategic communications firm, has been retained by Paragon Property Management/Corporate realty, a Farmington Hills-based commercial real estate company.

Detroit Deputy Mayor Anthony Adams.(In the News)
April 1, 2007... Detroit Deputy Mayor Anthony Adams (I) accepts the check from Staples General Manager Byron Carey at the new Staples store at 2761 E. Jeffson Ave. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Foley & Lardner, LLP.(Expansions)
April 1, 2007... Foley & Lardner, LLP, a national law firm with an office in downtown Detroit, has opened a new office in downtown Los Angeles.

DeMattia Group.(Groundbreaking)
April 1, 2007... DeMattia Group, a Plymouth-based real estate development, architecture and construction firm, broke ground in March for the St. Clair Country Community Mental Health Authority's new, 65,000-square-foot regional facility in Port Huron.

Alcos.(Mergers/Acquisitions)
April 1, 2007... ALCOS, a privately held insurance, employee benefits and retirement planning firm, has been acquired by Brown & Brown, a publicly held company based in Daytona, Fla. ALCOS will retain its name and continue its business operations with no...

Siemens VDO Automotive Corp.(Mergers/Acquisitions)
April 1, 2007... Auburn Hills-based Siemens VDO Automotive Corp. has acquired Ballard Power Systems Corp.'s Electric Drive Business, located in Dearborn. The Ballard employees will join Siemens VDO's Powertrain Electronics and Drivetrain division.

The Auto Club.(New Products/Services)
April 1, 2007... The Auto Club's TripTik[R] service, once reserved strictly for members, is now available online to non-members as part of a nationwide AAA initiative called Easy Access, The Internet service links AAA's mapping tool with the Auto Club's...

NEW (Nonprofit Enterprise at Work).(New Products/Services)
April 1, 2007... NEW (Nonprofit Enterprise at Work) of Ann Arbor has expanded ResourceConnect, a service that offers nonprofits personal and online assistance, including an information helpline, a website devoted to non-profit resources, a training calendar and...

Coalition on Temporary Shelter (COTS).(Partnerships/Alliances)
April 1, 2007... The Detroit-based Coalition on Temporary Shelter (COTS) has become a community partner of the Southeast Michigan program of "Leave a Legacy," a campaign that inspires people to make charitable bequests.

Harvey Hohauser & Associates.(Partnerships/Alliances)
April 1, 2007... Harvey Hohauser & Associates, a Troy-based executive search firm, has joined IIC Parnerts, a network of search firms located throughout the world. Harvery Hohauser is now one of only 10 U.S. member of IIC Partners, which has 61 officas in 38...

Jaffe Raitt Heuer & Weiss, PC.(Partnerships/Alliances)
April 1, 2007... Jaffe Raitt Heuer & Weiss, PC of Southfield and Wachler & Associates, PC of Royal Oak announced they have established an of counsel affiliation to share firm resources and legal expertise to support their expanding practices.

Northwood University.(Partnerships/Alliances)
April 1, 2007... Northwood University signed an articulation agreement with Dorsey Schools, which will provide graduates of Dorsey Schools the opportunity to transfer to one of Northwood's traditional campus programs or to the University College, Northwood's...

Berline.(Awards/Honors)
April 1, 2007... BERLINE, a Bloomfield Hills-based advertising, marketing communications and public relations firm, named production manager Jim Atkin as its 2006 Employee of the Year Atkin, who joined the company in November 2005, was recognized for his...

Butzel Long.(Awards/Honors)
April 1, 2007... The Detroit law firm of Butzel Long received the Commitment to Mission Award from HAVEN, an Oakland county nonprofit organization dedicated to the elimination of domestic violence and sexual abuse. Butzel Long was honored for its longtime...

Daimlerchrysler AG.(Awards/Honors)
April 1, 2007... Tom LaSorda, president and CEO, Chrysler Group and a board of management member of Daimlerchrysler AG, received the Industrial Philanthropist Award from St. Joseph's Healthcare at its 17th annual Medallion Ball. The award is given to a person...

Focus: HOPE.(Awards/Honors)(Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Two programs at Focus: HOPE in Detroit received awards for an outstanding safety and health record from the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA). The MIOSHA Consultation Education and Training Division presented Gold...

Foster, Swift Collins & Smith, PC.(Awards/Honors)(Michael G. Harrison)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Michael G. Harrison, an attorney with the Lansing office of Foster, Swift Collins & Smith, PC, was named a fellow of the American Bar Association National Conference of State Trial Judges in recognition of his extraodinary contributions to the...

General Motors Corp.(Awards/Honors)
April 1, 2007... General Motors Corp.'s Flint Powertrain Plant: project won multiple awards from the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) and the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Representatives of the project team -GM, GHAFARI Associates, LLC, Barton...

John Bailey and Associates Inc.(Awards/Honors)
April 1, 2007... John Bailey and Associates Inc. Public Relations in Troy received 19 MarCom Creative Awards, including eight platinum, seven gold and four honorable mentions for outstanding cliert programs in 2006. Award winners and honorable mentions were...

Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone, PLC.(Awards/Honors)
April 1, 2007... Donald W. Keim, a principal in the Detroit office of Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone, PLC, was elected a fellow of the American College of Bond Counsel in recognition of his skill, experience and high standards of professional and ethical...

Plunkett & Cooney, PC.(Awards/Honors)
April 1, 2007... Robert G. Kamenec, an appellate specialist with Plunkett & Cooney, PC in Bloomfield Hills, was named by Michigan Lawyers Weekly as one of its "Lawyers of the Year" for 2006. According to the publication, Kamanec has redefined medical...

OpTech.(Awards/Honors)
April 1, 2007... Working Mother magazine has named Op Tech as one of 2007's 25 Best Small Companies for working mothers. OpTech was chosen from hundreds of nominations because of its flexible schedules, time off and a spa retreat for female employees for...

Spalding DeDecker Associates, Inc.(Awards/Honors)
April 1, 2007... Dana Suggitt, an engineer specializing in transportation and land development at Detroit-based Spalding DeDecker Associates, Inc., was named the Member of the Year by the Women's Transportation Seminar (WTS) Michigan Chapter. Suggitt has been...

Wamer Norcross & Judd, LLP.(Awards/Honors)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... BTI Consulting Group recognized the Southfield Law firm Wamer Norcross & Judd, LLP as a member of the Client Service A-Team for 2007 in recognition of its outstanding client service. the designation is based on an independent national survey of...

Tanner Friedman.(New Hires.)
April 1, 2007... Kim Higgins has been named controller of Tanner Friedman. In this position, Higgins is responsible for overseeing and managing all firm financial and related administrative functions including forecasting and budgets. Higgins previously served...

Marygrove College.(Inaugurations)
April 1, 2007... Marygrove College will celebrate the inauguration of its 8th president, David J. Fike, PhD, with a series of events leading up to inauguration day, Saturday, May 5. The events, under the theme, "Urban Leadership: Expressions of Legacy,...

About your benefits: new updates and offerings that are increasing the value of your membership.(MEMBERSHIP MATTERS)
April 1, 2007... Let Us Show Your New Employees the Exceptional Quality of Life in Our Region The Chamber's new Executive Orientation Program is designed to positively introduce recently relocated senior level executives and their spouse or significant...

Around the region: March: international consular gala, CEO outlook, leadership Detroit informations! Breakfast, Detroit basketball & business.(MEMBERSHIP MATTERS)
April 1, 2007... Over 500 people gather at the Townsend Hotel for the Chamber's annual black-the event, a fundraiser for the Detroit Regional Economic Partnership. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Ron Shahani, (left) founder of Accro Services Inc., received the...

Off the cuff: we asked and you answered ... what keeps your employees motivated?(MEMBERSHIP MATTERS)
April 1, 2007... Steve Lane, The Siegfried Group LLP We stay focused on teamwork and make sure they are aware of our company's long-term goals, rather than getting caught up in the interim failures and successes. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Jim Kiser,...

Following the buzz: the latest people, events, places, gadgets and things that have Southest Michingan's business community buzzing ...(MEMBERSHIP MATTERS)
April 1, 2007... You can now truly browse the Internet with a handheld device thanks to Nokia N800 Internet Tabiet's moressive resolution on a widescreen, Video conferencing on-the-go is possible with its internet calling and integrated webcam. The ultra-slim...

Up and coming: mark your calendar with these regional business events.(MEMBERSHIP MATTERS)(Conference news)(Calendar)
April 1, 2007... April 20--May 2 26th Annual Michigan Minority Procurement Conference & Trade Fair Presented by: Michigan Minority Business Development Council Get the competitive edge with supplier diversity. Cobo Conference & Exhibition Center...