Detroiter articles from November 2008

Detroiter archives from November 2008

Editor's Note.
November 1, 2008... The campaign button on the cover of the October 2008 issue misspelled House Speaker Andy Diilon's name. The Detroiter staff strives to be factually accurate and promptly corrects all errors. We value the Chamber's long standing relationship...

Find your niche: put your small business to work in our emerging film industry.(SMALL BIZ BEAT)
November 1, 2008... What you don't see here A permanent opportunity Warner Bros. execs toured the vacant Wixom Ford plant in August as a possible new film studio. If the perks of making movies in Michigan keep up, much needed permanent jobs may start arising...

Healthcare: the precious benefit: how small business owners can combat rising costs.
November 1, 2008... In the current national and local economy, health insurance has moved from being a standard to a luxury many cannot afford. For small businesses in Michigan, rises in health care costs have caused employers to be creative with their benefits or...

Connections for Deaf Citizens, Inc.(Entrepreneurial Spotlight)
November 1, 2008... Location Detroit, MI What do you do? Connections for Deaf Citizens is a human service provider that is dedicated to improving the lives of people who are deaf, blind, hard of hearing or have disabilities. We assist businesses in...

Good news for business: enhanced driver's license for border crossing purposes one step closer to reality.(VOTE4BIZ)
November 1, 2008... On Monday, October 13, 2008, Michigan Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land and Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for Policy Stewart Baker signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) before the media and business community at the...

Corrections spending reform: the Chamber adopted a policy in favor of reductions in the corrections budget.
November 1, 2008... While it has been over a year, the business community still hasn't forgotten the budget battles of 2007 in Lansing. That is in part because, as a result of the compromise to rid the state of the service tax, businesses were slapped with a 22...

Leading the transformation: the state's transportation chief wants to fix the broken funding system and transform the Detroit region into a global logistics hub.(COVER STORY)
November 1, 2008... Michigan's 20th century system for funding its transportation infrastructure, based largely on revenues from the state gasoline tax, is a non-starter in the 21st century. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Put simply, the system is broken and it...

Our movement: transportation and logistics are going to define the Detroit Region's new role--but what's the key ingredient that will get us there?
November 1, 2008... As the Detroit Region carves out its niche in a new economy, all eyes are on our already growing sector: transportation. An intermodally connected region may be just what we need to secure our position as a region that specializes in...

What's going to happen in 2009? Building the region's global reputation as a prime trading and distribution point will require all hands on deck.
November 1, 2008... Seeking out and connecting our current transportation-related assets (geographical, industrial, political, manmade or otherwise) will help prepare our infrastructure for the future and boost our region for the economy and our citizens. ...

Improving federal transportation funding: an economic imperative for Michigan.(FEATURE)
November 1, 2008... As regular commuters in Michigan, you do not need to be told that some of our roads and bridges are in sorry shape and there isn't an efficient, coordinated transit system. The state clearly needs more resources for improving our transportation...

Transportation infrastructure: the silent crisis.(FEATURE)
November 1, 2008... Transportation infrastructure investment was one issue that didn't get much traction in this year's political campaign, yet there are few, if any, issues that are more critical to our nation's competitiveness and quality of life. ...

Focus on funding: the reauthorization of the nation's transportation funding will determine our infrastructure's future.(FEATURE)
November 1, 2008... Transportation is an investment: it directly impacts the development of communities, it is a necessity for our economic competitiveness in a global economy, it influences the quality of our environment, and it creates jobs. In fact, for every...

Leading bipartisan change: former Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer's new role as co-chair of the national transportation policy project.(Interview)
November 1, 2008... The Bipartisan Policy Center recently selected former Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer as co-chair of its National Transportation Policy Project, which is charged with creating a new vision of transportation policy that focuses on national economic,...

Combining resources: public-private partnerships emerge as an innovative transportation financing tool.(FEATURE)
November 1, 2008... On September 23rd, just as the fate of Lehman Brothers was being determined and the extent of our global financial crisis was becoming painfully clearer, national and state leaders met in Detroit at the Inaugural Michigan P3 Summit to discuss...

Plans for the riverfront: the Port Authority's new public dock & terminal.
November 1, 2008... With construction scheduled to begin before year's end, the long-awaited Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority (DWCPA) Public Dock & Terminal building will soon be a fixture on Detroit's East Riverfront. Once completed, the 21,000-square-foot...

Aerotropolis update: where does the project stand?(FEATURE)
November 1, 2008... From concept to completion, some things are years in the making--10, 20, 30 years and more. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A good idea with vast potential has to begin somewhere, and the Detroit Region aerotropolis is a concept whose time has...

The new north: DTW debuts new North Terminal. What does it mean for the region?
November 1, 2008... You only get one shot at a first impression. For the nearly 36 million passengers who arrive and depart from Southeast Michigan each year by air, Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) is the region's most prominent doorstep. This global...

The transit pickle: what does it take for mass transportation in the region?(FEATURE)
November 1, 2008... All of the stars have aligned for our region to make a greater investment in a transit system. Both demands from changing lifestyles focused on more advanced transportation systems to a dramatic increase in fuel costs have made the case that a...

Next generation transportation: local innovator develops new transportation possibility.(FEATURES)(Interview)
November 1, 2008... What if Detroit innovated the next-generation of transportation? What if it doesn't? If that question makes you squeamish, then it speaks worlds of how we have arrived at this juncture in our divisive journey. Take a really careful look...

Fusion joins transit forum: Model D speaker series highlights transportation in our region.
November 1, 2008... Model D Media recently held a speakers series on transportation in our region, and Fusion members participated. Speakers included John Hertel, CEO of Detroit Regional Mass Transit, and Scott Clein, an engineer with Giffels-Webster. Both are...

Implementing young ideas: marketing associates feels the value of fusion.(INFUSED)
November 1, 2008... After attending the young professional's track of the Mackinac Policy Conference this year, Jenn Sanborn of Marketing Associates was compelled to join Fusion Detroit, the Chamber's young professional's organization, in order to be an advocate...

Chugging along: FOURSIGHT gets creative in an old transit hub.
November 1, 2008... From a corporate marketing executive to a small business owner with an MBA from the University of Michigan, Chamber member Marla Booth has a very diverse and successful business portfolio. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Booth said goodbye to...

Bringing business in: European high-tech companies are looking at the Detroit Region.
November 1, 2008... A recent visit to Europe confirmed that European companies in emerging sectors such as advanced materials and alternative/renewable energy are increasingly looking at the Detroit Region for their North American business. The increased interest...

Travel log: Asia fall Business Attraction Mission 2008.(WELCOME TO OUR REGION)
November 1, 2008... I left Detroit on September 26, before the financial crisis hit the United States and then the world. My first stop was Pune, India, where I had 15 business meetings. I then went to Mumbai, India for another 10 business meetings. I met with...

New faces: leadership Detroit takes a new turn with Dan Piepszowski.(Chamber Updates)
November 1, 2008... The newly appointed senior director of community relations at the Detroit Regional Chamber, Dan Piepszowski, said he is ready for the opportunity to bring Leadership Detroit (LD) to a new level of individual development that will support...

5 On the rise: Chamber launches new awards program.(Chamber Updates)
November 1, 2008... In an effort to support entrepreneurship in our region, the Chamber is launching the 5 on the Rise awards. This program offers well-deserved recognition to five small businesses for their achievements and contributions to our community by...

Going green just makes cents: the Chamber is helping its members practice sustainability.(FOR OUR MEMBERS)
November 1, 2008... Indeed going green is good for the environment, but did you know that it can also help your business succeed financially? Everyday, businesses and corporations alike are making the switch to purchasing more environmentally friendly products and...

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)
November 1, 2008... BRONZE Ayers Group Karen Lazarou (248) 352-5221x212 www.ayers.com Boydell-Russell Industrial Center Chris Mihailovich (313) 872-4000 www.ricdetroit.org DLZ Michigan Inc. Ram Rajadhyaksa ...

Foster, Swift, Collins & Smith, PC.(Accolades)
November 1, 2008... The law firm of Foster, Swift, Collins & Smith, PC. is proud to announce that 26 of the firm's attorneys statewide have been selected for inclusion in the 2009 edition of Best Lawyers in America. A publication of Woodward & White, Best Lawyers...

Wayne State University Law School.(Accolades)
November 1, 2008... Wayne State University Law School Assistant Professor Jocelyn Friedrichs Benson has been honored by the School with the Donald H. Gordon Award for Excellence in Teaching. The Donald H. Gordon Award for Excellence in Teaching, which was...

Warner Norcross & Judd LLP.(Accolades)
November 1, 2008... For the second consecutive year, Warner Norcross & Judd LLP has been named one of Metropolitan Detroit's 101 Best & Brightest Companies to Work For. More than 1,000 businesses were nominated for the 2008 award. Warner Norcross, which has...

Warner Norcross & Judd LLP (BRONZE).(Accolades)
November 1, 2008... Three partners in the Southfield office of Warner Norcross & Judd LLP (BRONZE) have been selected for The Best Lawyers in America [R] 2009. Willaim R.Jansen, Mary Jo Larson and James. P. Spica were selected for the peer-review award which...

Jaffe Raitt Heuer &Weiss, P.C.(Accolades)
November 1, 2008... Jaffe Raitt Heuer &Weiss, P.C. recently announced that it has formed Jaffe Group, LLC to pursue business opportunities in Israel Jaffe Group serves as a conduit for Israeli companies seeking legal expertise, strategic partnerships, investment...

St. John Home Care.(Accolades)
November 1, 2008... St. John Home Care has received MPRO's, Michigan's Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) prestigious 2007 Michigan Award of Excellence for Improving Care in the Home Health Setting. St. John Home Care received the accolade for working to...

Following the buzz: the latest people, events, gadgets and things that have Southeast Michigan's business community buzzing.(MEMBERSHIP MATTERS)
November 1, 2008... Does the thought of losing your wallet make your stomach ache? Now, you can give it away with iCache. Combine all of your credit cards into one, stored in a case accessible only by your fingerprint. iCache is accepted anywhere normal credit...

Up and coming: mark your calendar with these regional business events.(Calendar)
November 1, 2008... Nov. 19 "Careers in Franchise Ownership" Seminar Troy 10 a.m-12p.m. Free Learn how to select the franchise that is right for you. Lots of facts and insight on small business, benefits of franchising, breadth of...