Detroiter articles from March 2008

Detroiter archives from March 2008

Correction.(Correction notice)
March 1, 2008... Correction: We incorrectly identified the Olympia Club on p.51 of the January Detroiter. The caption should have read: Participants mingle in the Olympia Club before their tour of the new Comerica Bank Legends Club and Red Wing practice.

Stretching beyond the mold: leadership Detroit alum tell their stories.(FOR OUR MEMBERS)(Column)
March 1, 2008... Have you ever been a part of something greater than the individuals involved? Was it moving? Did you remain bonded with those sharing your experience even after it ended? Most people I've asked answered "yes," recalling a wedding" day, birth of...

Vote for a change: Macomb County considers a county executive.(VOTE4BIZ)
March 1, 2008... On May 6, 2008 Macomb County voters will have the opportunity to decide to adopt a county executive form of government. With a county executive, Macomb County would be well positioned, along with Wayne and Oakland Counties and the Cityof...

Fixing Michigan's financial situation: the state should look to structural reforms and budget cuts.(VOTE4BIZ)
March 1, 2008... The last few years, Michigan's budget. Situation has looked bleak. A series of quick fixes have kept the state afloat, but that all culminated in September's legislative marathon. The result of the legislature's work in September was an...

The politics of health care transformation: 2nd annual national forum in conjunction with the Federal Reserve Bank.(VOTE4BIZ)
March 1, 2008... The recent debate in Lansing about individual health insurance reform has brought health care back into the forefront, and as always, the issue of health care remains a priority for the Detroit Regional Chamber. The Federal Reserve Bank of...

[H.sub.2]Oh ... NO: the Water Works Coalition protects Michigan's resources.(VOTE4BIZ)
March 1, 2008... Water is undeniably one of Michigan's greatest resources. As a result, legislation affecting the Great Lakes remains at the forefront of environmental policy discussions in Lansing. The Chamber has joined the Water Works Coalition, a great of...

Strength in numbers: understanding your neighbors will help you grow your business.
March 1, 2008... The recent successes in Lansing by Michigan's business community to abolish a service tax and reverse a state policy that barred legal immigrants from obtaining driver's licenses are a testament to what can be accomplished when we speak with...

The changing face of the region: learn to maximize your business opportunity in a multicultural community.
March 1, 2008... Michigan is well known for its resources, both natural and those facilitated by man: water, lumber, salt, copper, infrastructure, farms and orchards. The Detroit Region is also rich in another way that doesn't always get the attention it...

Business imperative: when it comes to incorporating multiculturalism, businesses that translate their words into deeds are reaping multiple dividends.
March 1, 2008... Ask yourself these five questions about your business: 1 Do you want to hire the best employees for the job 2 Do you want to retain your brightest talent for the long run? 3 Do you want a productive workforce? 4 Do you want to...

Bringing the world to the Detroit Region.
March 1, 2008... With a hub at Detroit Metro Airport, Northwest Airlines has long brought traffic from around the world into the Detroit Region. Most recently the company made news when it announced nonsteps service from Detroit-Shanghai in 2007. The company's...

The Pepsi experience.
March 1, 2008... Long before the term "multicultural marketing" became part of our business lexicon, Pepsi-Cola Co. was putting it into practice. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Seeking to put Pepsi-Cola ahead of archival Coca-Cola among African American...

Reaching new markets: opportunities abound for small business owners in a multicultural region.
March 1, 2008... Few companies are untouched by the power of diverse consumers. The growing popuLatinos, education, affluence and professional attainment of diverse consumers-Latinos, African-American, Asians, Middle Eastern consumers and more-have a direct and...

Illegal immigration debate jeopardizes legal immigrants.(FEATURE)
March 1, 2008... For the past several years there has been a wide-ranging, national debate over what policies are needed to rein in illegal immigration. It is an impassioned discussion that has unleashed a lot of emotion. Unfortunately, the intensity of the...

Improving performance with diversity.(FEATURE)
March 1, 2008... According to the 2005 Workplace Diversity Practices study facilitated by the Society for Human Resource Management, 76 percent of surveyed organizations had some type of formal diversity activities in place. Be it diversity recruitment,...

A changing norm: integrating diversity and multiculturalism in business.(FEATURE)
March 1, 2008... Diversity and Multiculturalism are words we, as business people, understand much better today than we did even a decade ago. However, the need for integration of diversity and multiculturalism into the business mainstream is growing at a pace...

By the numbers: the Detroit Region is one of the most diverse in the nation.(EYE ON OUR ECONOMY)
March 1, 2008... While other large cities have distinct ethnic enclaves, like Chinatown in San Francisco or Little Italy in New York City, the Detroit Region's ethnically diverse population seems to be more distributed throughout the region. There was a time...

Giving back to the community; Peter Wong explains small business success.(DAY IN THE LIFE)
March 1, 2008... "Being a minority business-owner is much like having a quality certificate," said Peter Wong, president of Roy Smith Company. "It is an added benefit to your customer, but it is not why they're going to do business with you. We are required to...

Honoring achievers; International Consular Gala awardees recognized.(WELCOME TO OUR REGION)(Detroit Regional Chamber)
March 1, 2008... The Detroit Regional Chamber Foundation hosted the 24th Annual International Consular Gala on March 7 at the Townsend Hotel in Birmingham. The event is designed to celebrate and recognize the International Consular Corps, regional and global...

World trader of the year.(WELCOME TO OUR REGION)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Aligned with the Detroit Regional Economic Partnership's mission, Robert A. Ficano has taken part in several trade missions, which resulted in new business partnerships for Wayne County, a trade office in Chongqing, China and new investment of...

Emerging global leader.(WELCOME TO OUR REGION)(Stonebridge Business Partners)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... "Rex has been instrumental in helping to diversify the region's economy," said John Carroll, executive director of the Detroit Regional Economic Partnership. "During the last few years the Partnership has really begun to focus on the emerging...

Building business in our region: the partnership hosts international trade commissioners.(WELCOME TO OUR REGION)
March 1, 2008... During the North American International Auto Show, the Detroit Regional Economic Partnership hosted 14 international trade commissioners from Australia, Austria, Canada, China, Hungary, Indonesia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Pakistan, South Africa...

Choosing the right plan: employee retirement plans can offer substantial business and employee benefits.(HOW DO I)
March 1, 2008... In today's economy, a retirement plan for your employees may not feel like a priority. But establishing a company-sponsored retirement plan may be one of the smartest moves you can make. The right plan may reduce current tax obligations for...

What's this?(SMALL BIZ BEAT)(Detroit Regional Chamber)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... The Detroit Regional Chamber has small business in mind. That's why the Detroiter is introducing this new regular section, Small Biz Beat, designed to keep small business owners up on all the latest trends and tips. We'll always feature a...

Just in time ... your biggest tax questions answered by fellow chamber members.(SMALL BIZ BEAT)
March 1, 2008... Rob Dutkiewicz, CPA, MST An Owner at Clayton & McKervey, P.C. What are the most overlooked tax breaks? There are two tax breaks that I see most commonly overlooked: first is the Research and Experimentation Credit. This is a tax...

Entrepreneurial spotlight.(SMALL BIZ BEAT)
March 1, 2008... What was your New Year's resolution? To procrastinate less it's taken me a while to get started. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] What's the one thing you wish someone had told you about owning a small business? Owning a small business is a...

Tools for success: entertain your clients with these new options.(SMALL BIZ BEAT)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Detroit Tiger's Champions Club There's still time to entertain clients or reward staff with Tiger's tickets--purchase the Detroit Tiger's Champions Club Season Access Ticket for access to the Champions Club with the "all you can eat"...

On the roster: join us in welcoming these new members to the chamber. We encourage you to contact them for business opportunities.(MEMBERSHIP MATTERS)
March 1, 2008... SILVER Rickman Enterprises Group Roderick Rickman 2777 Gratiot Ave., Suite 800 Detroit, MI 48226 (313) 363-0675 BRONZE African Caribbean Chamber of Commerce Carol Chea (313) 821-3612 Airea, Inc....

St. John Community Health.(In the News)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... St. John Community Health has added a new School-Based Health Center in the Detroit Public Schools at Osborn High School. The Health Center's mission is to provide students with comprehensive health care, including medical, dental, mental...

Dynamic Edge.(Community Outreach)(Washtenaw Literacy)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Dynamic Edge raised $1,979 from the Christmas Beard Challenge to support Washtenaw Literacy. Twelve Dynamic Edge consultants competed from Thanksgiving until Christmas to grow the "best beard," determined by votes from customers and friends....

Michigan First Credit Union.(Community Outreach)
March 1, 2008... Michigan First Credit Union is helping metro Detroiters stay a little bit warmer this winter. The lathrup Village, Mich-based credit union is donating $9.300 to The Heat And Warmth Fund (THAW) as a result of fundraising efforts during the...

Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP.(Community Outreach)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP, a Detroit-based business law firm, is pleased to announce the establishment of the Jack Miller Memorial Scholarship Funo at the University of Michigan Law School. The Fund will provide a scholarship to an...

MGM Grand Detroit.(Community Outreach)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... MGM Grand Detroit team members presented a check for approximately $218,000 to various community organizations in southeast Michigan, including the Boys and Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan, Children's Hospital of Michigan and Haven, Inc.,...

Opus One.(Community Outreach)
March 1, 2008... Detroit's historic Opus One restaurant announces that patrons who dine at Opus One, Monday through Thursday, through April 17, will have the opportunity to designate that one of 10 chosen charities receive 25 percent of their bill. In addition,...

Miller Canfield.(Awards & Achievements)
March 1, 2008... The law firm of Miller Canfield announced that Beverly Hall Burns, a principal and member of the firm's Labor and Employment Law Group, was recently named one of Inforum's Most Influential Women in Southeastern Michigan.

Albert Kahn Family of Companies.(Awards & Achievements)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... The Albert Kahn Family of Companies announced that Michael Lauhoff, RPA, FMA, was named 2007's Facility Manager of the Year by Building Owners and Managers Association of Metropolitan Detroit (BOMA). This award recognizes Lauhoff as an...

Miller Canfield.(Awards & Achievements)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... In January, the law firm of Miller Canfield hosted a meeting of about 40 business and community leaders to discuss economic goals in Detroit's multi-cultural communities and to network with others committed to growth through diversity. Food was...

Henry Ford Hospital.(Awards & Achievements)
March 1, 2008... Henry Ford Hospital is embarking on an expanded major clinical trial involving the use of gene therapy in combination with radiation therapy. to determine if the combined treatment is more effective than radiation therapy alone for patients...

MGM Grand Detroit.(Awards & Achievements)
March 1, 2008... MGM Grand Detroit has been awarded the prestigious distinction of "Development of the Year 2007" by the 2008 Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza.

Plante & Moran, PLLC.(Awards & Achievements)
March 1, 2008... FORTUNE announced that Plante & Moran, PLLC, the nation's 12th largest certified public accounting and business consulting firm, has been ranked 44th on the 11th annual "100 Best Companies to Work For" list, and has been named to the list for...

ASG Renaissance.(Awards & Achievements)
March 1, 2008... ASG Renaissance was awarded a Platinum International MarCom Award from the Association of Marketing and Communications Professionals for the design and development of the "Keep it Audi" dealer education kit for Audi of America and Audi...

Visiting Nurse Association of Southeast Michigan.(Awards & Achievements)
March 1, 2008... For the second consecutive year, Visiting Nurse Association of Southeast Michigan, the largest independent, nonprofit home health care with hospice organization in the state, earned recognition as one of Metro Detroit's 101 Best and Brightest...

ALCOS.(Awards & Achievements)
March 1, 2008... James Wampler and Kristy Lees of ALCOS have been awarded the PLANSPONSOR Retirement Professional (PRP) TM designation from the PLANSPONSOR Institute, the education arm of PLANSPONSOR, the nation's leading resource for pension-and...

Franco Public Relations Group.(Awards & Achievements)
March 1, 2008... Franco Public Relations Group, a Detroit-based public relations agency, recently received two MarCom Awards for its production of an oral cancer media kit on behalf of Delta Dental of Michigan, Ohio and Indiana (Delta Dentall).

Tanner Friedman.(Awards & Achievements)
March 1, 2008... Tanner Friedman has announced the following new clients: the Woodward Dream Cruise, the Automotive X Prize-International competition, Goodwill Industries and Spike TV.

Dickinson Wright PLLC.(Awards & Achievements)
March 1, 2008... Dickinson Wright PLLC, a nationally recognized law firm with offices in Michigan, Washington D.C., and Macau, China, announced it is expanding its Washington, D.C. office with the addition of six intellectual property attorneys from Stevens...

Wayne State University.(Awards & Achievements)
March 1, 2008... Wayne State University is teaming with Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, China, to crate the Confucius Institute, a nonprofit program within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The institute is designed to promote...

Atwell-Hicks.(Awards & Achievements)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... As part of its continuing national expansion and increased local client demand, land development consulting firm Atwell-Hicks announced the opening of a new office in Nashville, Tennessee. The office is the result of increasing project activity...

Beaumont Home Care.(Awards & Achievements)
March 1, 2008... Beaumont Home Care has been named to the 2007 HomeCare Elite list, a compilation of the most successful home care providers in the country. This designation recognizes Medicate-certified agencies whose quality, improvement and financial...

Budco.(Awards & Achievements)
March 1, 2008... Budco announced that the Consumer TRAC direct communications tool developed for Ford Motor company and Ford dealers was recently recognized by PODi, the Digital Printing Initiative. The case study describing the consumer TRAC application has...

Metro West Chapter of Credit Unions.(Awards & Achievements)
March 1, 2008... All of the proceeds from the Metro West Chapter of Credit Unions Golf Outing each year go to various charities. One cause the chapter supports annually is The Academy of Finance, a two-year program through the Detroit Public Schools that...

Skidmore.(Awards & Achievements)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Skidmore, a Royal Oak creative studio, was recognized recently with several international awards for design, marketing strategy and copywriting. The honors from the MarCom, Davey and W3 Awards acknowledge Skidmore's creative excellence among...

Bianchi Public Relations, Inc.(Awards & Achievements)
March 1, 2008... Bianchi Public Relations, Inc. announced that it received two MarCom Creative Awards for its work on behalf of American Heartland Homebuilder and Children's Home of Detroit (CHD). The American Heartland Homebuilder project, which involved a...

Lawrence Technological University.(Awards & Achievements)
March 1, 2008... A $1 million federal appropriation has been secured for Lawrence Technological University to build an environmental chamber for testing vehicle components for military uses. It is anticipated this latest addition to Lawrence Tech's Center for...

Henry Ford Health System.(Awards & Achievements)
March 1, 2008... Kimberlydawn Wisdom, M.D., vice president of Community Health, Education and Wellness for Henry Ford Health System, and Michigan Surgeon General, was recently honored by the Black Caucus Foundation of Michigan, Dr. Wisdom was the recipient of...

U.S. Steel's.(Awards & Achievements)
March 1, 2008... The Southern Wayne County Regional Chamber of Commerce awarded U.S. Steel's Great Lakes Works (GLW) in Ecorse and River Rouge its Corporate Citizen of the Year Award earlier this week. The award acknowledges a business that has demonstrated an...

Henry Ford Health System.(Awards & Achievements)
March 1, 2008... The Michigan Quality Council (MOC) announces Henry Ford Health System as a 2007 Quality Leadership Award recipient. The Michigan Quality Leadership Award is the highest honor for organizational performance excellence in the state. It is awarded...

National law firm Foley & Lardner, LLP.(Awards & Achievements)
March 1, 2008... National law firm Foley & Lardner, LLP announced today that Crain's Detroit Business recognized partner Nicole Y. Lamb-Hale as one of southeast Michigan's most influential women. Crain's "Most Influential Women" list comes out once every five...

Henry Ford Health System's Home Health Care.(Awards & Achievements)
March 1, 2008... Mike Ellis, R.N., director support services with Henry Ford Health System's Home Health Care, has been awarded the 2007 Nursing Spectrum Excellence Award for his leadership as a mentor. The award is given in recognition for extraordinary...

Beaumont Research Institute.(Awards & Achievements)
March 1, 2008... David L. Felten, M.D., Ph.D., vice president for Research and medical director of the Beaumont Research Institute, was recently awarded the "Building Bridges of Integration Award" by the Traditional Chinese Medicine World Foundation at its...

Michigan First Credit Union.(Awards & Achievements)
March 1, 2008... Michigan First Credit Union continues to support community business initiatives, recently issuing its 10th commercial loan since starting the commercial lending program since early 2007. Partnering with Michigan Business Connection and...

Around the region; January: state of the state address for southeast Michigan's business community.(MEMBERSHIP MATTERS)
March 1, 2008... On Jan. 31, Governor Granholm spoke to chamber members on Lansing's plan to stomp out Michigan's economic woes at the MGM Grand Detroit. Granholm's presentation focused on reforms to Michigan's prison system, the state's economic stimulus plan...

About your benefits: new updates and offerings that are increasing the value of your membership.(MEMBERSHIP MATTERS)
March 1, 2008... The average employee spends time each workday playing on the Internet. So while you're inventing new ways to milk the clock., why not read the eDetroiter? Sure, it's not rebellious like reading the latest celebrity gossip, watching You tube or...

Following the buzz.(MEMBERSHIP MATTERS)
March 1, 2008... Put your mug or glass on the coaster and use the switch on the side to choose between 45 degrees Fahrenheit to keep your beverage cool or 120 Fahrenheit to keep it hot! The USB cable is five feel long, so even if you keep your computer on the...

Up and coming: mark your calendar with these regional business events.(MEMBERSHIP MATTERS)(Calendar)
March 1, 2008... March 19 Entrepreneurial Opportunities Day University of Michigan College of Engineering (Ann Arbor) Meet Inventive and Creative Students at the Talent Fair, We will help you connect with the innovative and collaborative workers...