Detroiter articles from June 2004

Detroiter archives from June 2004

Keep our border in the spotlight.(Feed Back)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... We were very impressed by the coverage given to border issues in the March edition of the Detroiter ("Detroit-Windsor border update"). Great work! Keep driving home the message that the Ontario-Michigan border is the vital component in...

Leadership issue hits the mark.(Feed Back)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... I picked up the April issue of the Detroiter magazine yesterday and just haven't been able to put it down. I love all of the articles on leadership and my issue is all marked up from highlighting. It is a GREAT issue!!! [ILLUSTRATION...

Reception was 'best ever'.(Feed Back)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... The Detroit Regional Chamber's Mega Membership Reception in April was tremendous--the best ever. I got a lot of good leads, and our exhibit table was in a great spot. St. John's Golf and Conference Center in Plymouth is incredible. It is a...

A human equation: why we create great places to work.(From the President)
June 1, 2004... Detroit Regional Chamber Strategic Plan Goal No. 5: Creating a Model Work Environment. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] We believe this is so critical that we put it up there with our other goals that you may think would be more important for...

An open invitation to the Detroit Region's business community.(Guest column)
June 1, 2004... In 1917, Detroiters faced increasing social issues. Forward-thinking community leaders came together because they recognized that there were things in life better addressed together than alone. They set aside the old models and hence, the...

Small Business Conference 2004: we want your suggestions.(In Box)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Initial planning for the Detroit Regional Chamber's 2004 Small Business Conference on Nov. 10 at the Ford Conference and Event Center in Dearborn is already under way, but we want to hear from you. "We're looking for suggestions on how the...

Future 50 deadline is May 31.(In Box)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... May 31 is the deadline for entries in the Future 50 of Greater Detroit competition sponsored by BDO Seidman LLP, the Detroit Regional Chamber, SmithBarney Citigroup and WWJ Newsradio 950. The contest is open to companies in Southeast...

Pump it up! Chamber promotes healthy lifestyles.(In Box)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... These Chamber staffers are pumping themselves up for the annual "Michigan vs. Ohio Fitness Challenge," which pits teams from businesses and organizations in Southeast Michigan against their counterparts in northeast Ohio. Exercise is the...

The Leadership Detroit experience.
June 1, 2004... In honor of Leadership Detroit's 25th anniversary, the Detroiter will feature a monthly first-person report from LD graduates who are making a difference in their communities My life will never be the same again." "I am not the same person...

New members.(In Box)
June 1, 2004... Welcome to these companies who either joined the Detroit Regional Chamber or upgraded their memberships to the Executive Level in March. Gold Concentra Medical Centers Bingham Farms Co/Op Optical Vision Detroit Detroit Project...

The people factor: if you're looking for ways to put the 'human' in human resources without spending a lot of cash, Sharon Ball, COO of The Epitec Group, has some good advice for you.(Cover Story)
June 1, 2004... As a discipline, "human resources" is both an art and a science. It's an art to fashion an HR program that successfully puts a human face on a business. It's a science to transform those HR policies into measurable, bottom-line results. ...

Creating a model work environment: 10 tips from the experts at the Detroit Regional Chamber.(Human Resources)
June 1, 2004... 1. You get what you pay for Compare your job salaries with other organizations in the area. Look into participating in local salary surveys. If you participate in a salary survey you are often able to receive a copy of the overall results...

The 17 DO's of HR.(Human Resources)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... 1. Do offer competitive wages. 2. Do communicate your benefits so your staff can understand their benefits and value what you provide for them. 3. Do offer an array of voluntary benefits in addition to your "core" benefits. 4. Do...

Human resources: first-person report.(Human Resources)
June 1, 2004... We recently introduced a progressive employee benefits program that offers our full-time employees the opportunity to take a paid four-week leave of absence and reimburses employees up to $3,500 for travel expenses incurred during their leave....

Smart hiring: tips for avoiding potential legal perils and costly mistakes.(Human Resources)
June 1, 2004... Many employers are becoming justifiably cautious when disciplining employees. Employment laws are vast and intricate, and often prove a trap for unwary employers who take discharge, demotion or other disciplinary actions with their employees...

Work/life balance: how to help your staff handle life's ups and downs.(Human Resources)
June 1, 2004... There is no denying that the intersection between work and the rest of life is growing. Demands of careers and downsized organizations have placed burdens on employees at a time when their aging parents and growing children are requiring more...

A winning workforce: how do you measure a successful business? One employee at a time.(Human Resources)
June 1, 2004... The drive to stay ahead of the competition while exceeding consumer demands for excellent customer service continues to be a leading factor for businesses." Never has the reality of this statement had a greater impact on businesses. The...

Employee retention: is it always good?(Human Resources)
June 1, 2004... Often, a high retention rate is a sign of a company's good workplace policies and strong human resources department. But in what instances might retention not be desirable? When... * The employee is in the wrong job for his/her skill...

Minority Business Enterprise--certification eligibility.(Dickinson Wright: In Brief)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Both in the public and private sectors, Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) procurement initiatives follow similar approaches and use similar criteria in determining whether one is eligible for certification. One seeks certification by...

Detroiter tip: what to shred.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Certain HR records, like tax forms, need to be retained for several years. Others should be destroyed once they're no longer needed. Here are examples of documents you should shred: * A document containing any HIPAA-protected health...

Human resources: first-person report.(Human Resources)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... We believe in saying "thank you" to our employees in creative ways. For example: * "The Monday Morning Manicure" is free for all, and it helps free many staffers from a Saturday chore. * "Your Birthday Off" is a gift of time to all...

HR legal update: military leave.(Human Resources)
June 1, 2004... As the United States embarks on the largest troop rotation since World War II, many businesses may face difficult questions of how to reintegrate soldiers and reservists back into the workplace. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It's important...

What you need to know about ClickonCareers.(Workforce central)
June 1, 2004... Although she had associate degrees in general studies and general business, 31-year-old retail worker Pam Bieniewicz of Center Line realized she needed additional training and technical skills to realize her career goals. Bieniewicz...

PACs and your business: why you should take an interest in political fundraising.(political action committee)
June 1, 2004... Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you.--Pericles (430 B.C.) Pericles' lesson on politics was never truer than it is today. While many in business have distaste for...

Strategy--managing benefit plans.(Health Care CENTRAL)
June 1, 2004... Managing health-care cost increases is the top priority of human resource professionals for the fifth straight year. Overall, this means: * Health benefit plan costs have senior management attention, and senior management expects action....

Bright ideas--stay compliant.(human resource professionals)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Most HR professionals find it challenging to stay abreast of the broad-reaching and constantly changing compliance issues surrounding their benefit plans, and should raise these questions: 1. Are my plans fully compliant with existing...

What's driving consumer driven health plans (CDHP)?
June 1, 2004... While the bargaining groups and politicians debate a single payer system for health care, employers and their insurance companies have started offering another option; "consumer directed" or "consumer driven" products. But the question is...

Benchmarks.(The Network)(Achievements and awards)
June 1, 2004... Alyssa Martina, president of Southfield-based Metro Parent Publishing Group, a Silver-level member of the Detroit Regional Chamber, was honored as one the "Top 10 Michigan Women Business Owners of Distinction" by the National Association of...

SmithGroup Inc.(Architecture/Construction)(appointment of Barbara L. Porter)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Barbara L. Porter to corporate marketing manager at SmithGroup Inc. in Detroit.

Barton Malow Co.(Architecture/Construction)(appointments)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Mark Bahr to vice chairman; Thomas Porter to executive vice president, chief legal officer and secretary; Ronald Torbert to vice president and general counsel; and Todd Ketola, Donald Davis and Joseph Graf to vice presidents at Barton Malow Co....

The Private Bank.(Banking/Finance)(The Bank of Grosse Pointe)(Appointed Lisa Morrison to branch manager )(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Lisa Morrison to branch manager of The Bank of Grosse Pointe, a division of The Private Bank.

Grant Thornton LLP.(Banking/Finance)(Appointed Kathe Feikens to tax manager )(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Kathe Feikens to tax manager in the Southfield office of Grant Thornton LLP.

Follmer Rudzewicz Advisors Inc.(Business Services)(Appointed David Robb)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... David Robb to the Centerprise Technology Advisors group at Follmer Rudzewicz Advisors Inc. in Southfield.

StartupNation.(Business Services)(Appointed Joel Welsh to chief community officer )(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Joel Welsh to chief community officer at StartupNation in Birmingham, a consulting firm for startup and entrepreneurial businesses.

General Motors Corp.(Education)(Appointed Paul Ballew as executive director )(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Paul Ballew, executive director for Global Market and Industry Analysis at General Motors Corp., to the board of trustees of Walsh College in Troy.

Wayne State University.(Education)(Appointed Harvey Hollins III to vice president )(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Harvey Hollins III to vice president for government affairs at Wayne State University in Detroit.

MGM Grand Detroit Casino.(Entertainment)(Appointed Kevin Lewis to slot technical shift manager )(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Kevin Lewis to slot technical shift manager at MGM Grand Detroit Casino in Detroit.

August Mack Environmental Inc.(Environmental)(Appointed Ed Callahan to regional sales representative )(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Ed Callahan to regional sales representative for the Michigan, Indiana and Ohio areas of August Mack Environmental Inc.

NTH Consultants Ltd.(Environmental)(Appointed Robert J. Flagg to senior project architect)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Robert J. Flagg to senior project architect at NTH Consultants Ltd. in Farmington Hills.

The Dragun Corp.(Environmental)(Appointments)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Jeffrey A. Bolin, M.S., to vice president of technical operations and Michael Sklash, Ph.D., to technology director at The Dragun Corp. in Farmington Hills.

Testing Engineers & Consultants.(Environmental)(Appointed Katherine Banicki)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Katherine Banicki, president of Testing Engineers & Consultants in Troy, to the Associated General Contractors of Michigan Board of Directors.

Associated Food Dealers of Michigan.(Food)(Ronnie Jamil appointed)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Ronnie Jamil, co-owner of Mug & Jug Liquor Stores in Berkley and Farmington Hills, to chairman of the board of directors of the Associated Food Dealers of Michigan in Southfield.

U.S. Small Business Administration.(Government)(appointment of Richard Temkin)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Richard Temkin to director of the U.S. Small Business Administration's Michigan District, based in Detroit. Temkin had been acting director since June 2001.

Health Alliance Plan and Henry Ford Health System.(Health Care)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Francine Parker to president and CEO of Health Alliance Plan and senior vice president of Insurance/Purchaser Relations for Henry Ford Health System in Detroit. Also: Ronald M. Torakis to associate vice president of labor affairs and Ken Braun...

St. John Hospital and Medical Center.(Health Care)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Deborah G. Counts, RN, BSN, MHA, to vice president, Patient Care Services/chief nurse executive for St. John Hospital and Medical Center in Detroit. Also Drs. Robert C. John, Dimitrios Panagopoulos, Veslav Stecevic, Michelle Koniezcny and...

Henry Ford Health System.(Health Care)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Robert Riney to chief operating officer and senior vice president of Henry Ford Health System in Detroit. Also: Kathleen Conway, director of the School-Based Health Initiative at Henry Ford, Health System, to president-elect of the National...

Visiting Nurse Association Inc.(Health Care)(Carol A. Cummings)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Carol A. Cummings, vice president-human resources, electrical and electronics division of Lear Corp., to the Board of Trustees of Visiting Nurse Association Home Support Services, a subsidiary of Oak Park-based Visiting Nurse Association Inc.

Total Employee Assistance & Management.(Human Resources)(Stephen Batchelor appointed)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Stephen Batchelor to vice president of operations and James Harbaugh to manager of information technology at Total Employee Assistance & Management (T.E.A.M.) in Troy.

Butzel Long PC.(Legal)(Thomas F. Hatch, Richard P. Manczak, George B. Donnini, Kathleen Raven Gurrola and William J. Kliffel appointed)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Thomas F. Hatch and Richard P. Manczak to senior attorney in the Ann Arbor office; and George B. Donnini, Kathleen Raven Gurrola and William J. Kliffel to associate attorneys in the Detroit office of Butzel Long PC. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Howard & Howard Attorneys PC.(Legal)(Brian E. Etzel and Christopher E. Tracy appointed)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Brian E. Etzel and Christopher E. Tracy to shareholders at Howard & Howard Attorneys PC in Bloomfield Hills.

Warner Norcross & Judd LLP.(Legal)(James Romzek, Michael Cruse and John Young appointed)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... James Romzek, Michael Cruse and John Young to the Southfield office of Warner Norcross & Judd LLP.

Dickinson Wright PLLC.(Legal)(Mark F. Makower, Michael T. Raymond, Steven J. Enwright, Dana L. Ulrich appointed)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Mark F. Makower to member in the Bloomfield Hills office; Michael T. Raymond to member; and Steven J. Enwright and Dana L. Ulrich to of counsel in the Ann Arbor office of Dickinson Wright PLLC. Also; Henry M. Grix, member in the Detroit office,...

Plunkett & Cooney PC.(Legal)(Jeffrey S. Hengeveld, Aaron B. Kendal, Said A. Taleb and Theresa Smith Lloyd appointed)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Jeffrey S. Hengeveld and Aaron B. Kendal to associates in the Bloomfield Hills office and Said A. Taleb to the Detroit office of Plunkett & Cooney PC. Also: Theresa Smith Lloyd of the Bloomfield Hills office to the firm's Board of Directors.

Jaffe, Raitt, Heuer & Weiss PC Schlussel.(Legal)(Erika Butler-Akinyemi, Michelle L. Coakley, Richard E. Kruger, Noam Y. Raz, Jeffrey B. Schlussel and Satyam R. Talati appointed)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Erika Butler-Akinyemi, Michelle L. Coakley, Richard E. Kruger, Noam Y. Raz and Jeffrey B. Schlussel to partners and Satyam R. Talati to associate in the Litigation Practice Group at Jaffe, Raitt, Heuer & Weiss PC Schlussel in Detroit. ...

Tomkiw Dalton PLC.(Legal)(Jacqulyn G. Schulte appointed)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Jacqulyn G. Schulte to the labor and employment and commercial litigation practices at Tomkiw Dalton PLC in Royal Oak.

Rader, Bradley Fishman & Grauer PLLC.(Legal)(Charlie Bradley and Barbara L. Mandell appointed)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Charlie Bradley to of counsel and Barbara L. Mandell to member at Rader, Bradley Fishman & Grauer PLLC in Bloomfield Hills. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone PLC.(Legal)(Joseph W. Thimm, Anna M. Maiuri and Thomas G. Appleman appointed)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Joseph W. Thimm to senior controller, Anna M. Maiuri to deputy group leader of the Environmental and Regulatory Group and Thomas G. Appleman to deputy group leader of the Business and Finance Group at Detroit-based Miller, Canfield, Paddock and...

Yazaki North America Inc.(Manufacturing)(Colleen Haley, Bryan Jinnett, Margaret Morgan and Pam Broomal appointed)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Colleen Haley to vice president of purchasing and quality, Bryan Jinnett to vice president of New Yazaki System, Margaret Morgan to director of quality assurance in the Component Business Unit and Pam Broomal to director of supplier quality and...

Key Plastics LLC.(Manufacturing)(David M. Roys appointed)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... David M. Roys to group president for Exterior & Underhood products at Key Plastics LLC in Farmington Hills.

John Bailey & Associates Inc.(Marketing/Public Relations)(appointments)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Ebony Dooley, Hope Brown and Elizabeth Weigandt to senior account executives at John Bailey & Associates Inc., Public Relations in Troy.

BERLINE.(Marketing/Public Relations)(Matthew S. Michalski, Denise Brennan appointed)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Matthew S. Michalski to senior account executive and Denise Brennan to creative coordinator at BERLINE in Bloomfield Hills.

Eisbrenner Public Relations.(Marketing/Public Relations)(appointments)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Alissa Cleland to account executive at Eisbrenner Public Relations in Troy. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Brogan & Partners Convergence Marketing.(Marketing/Public Relations)(John Hargrave appointed)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... John Hargrave to account Cleland manager/PR manager at Brogan & Partners Convergence Marketing in Detroit.

Budco.(Marketing/Public Relations)(APPOINTMENTS)(Doug Nafziger)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Doug Nafziger to general manager and treasurer of the Financial Services unit at Budco in Highland Park.

Channel 20/WDWB-TV.(Media)(Ken Frierson appointed)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Ken Frierson to national sales manager at Channel 20/WDWB-TV in Detroit.

Services Marketing Specialists Inc.(Nonprofits)(APPOINTMENTS)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Martha (Marty) K. Richardson, president of Services Marketing Specialists Inc. in Detroit, to the board of directors of Lutheran Social Services of Michigan.

Allegra Network LLC.(Printing)(appointment of Carl Gerhardt)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Carl Gerhardt to president of Allegra Network LLC in Troy.

Insite Commercial Group/TCN Worldwide.(Real Estate)(APPOINTMENTS)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Cynthia J. Kratchman to vice president of the Retail Division at Insite Commercial Group/TCN Worldwide in Southfield.

Diversified Property Services.(Real Estate)(appointment of Angie Kakos)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Angie Kakos to controller at Diversified Property Services in Southfield.

ZenaComp Inc.(Technology)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Laura Grifka to vice president of customer services and Chad Lazette to vice president of technical services at ZenaComp Inc. in Livonia.