GLBM March 2019

MARCH 2019

A CITY’S EVOLVING HORIZONS Local developers outline their vision for bringing the future of Lansing into focus IN THIS ISSUE • Historic School for the Blind site is getting a new lease on life with renovations • Lansing Ignite preps to spark inaugural season at Cooley Law School Stadium • Meet the judges behind this year’s Greater Lansing Entrepreneurial Awards

The partnership between the Spartan Auto Group and Capitol National Bank has been founded on a strong personal relationship. Both organizations’ 35 years of success has been driven by delivering exceptional service to our clients and supporting our community.

- Rosario Criscuolo, President/Owner of Spartan Auto Group LANSING 200 Washington Square North Lansing, MI 48933 517-484-5080 MERIDIAN 4792 Marsh Road Okemos, MI 48864 517-347-1006 Member FDIC

www.CapitolNational.com

MARCH 2019 ON THE COVER Historic School for the Blind site is getting a new lease on life with renovations....................................................... 8 A city's evolving horizons............................................................... 16 Lansing Ignite preps to spark inaugural season at Cooley Law School Stadium..................................................... 22 Meet the judges behind this year’s Greater Lansing Entrepreneurial Awards.................................................................. 28

MARCH 2019

16 NEWS Flipping the Bird........................................................................................................................................ 6 Self-Contained........................................................................................................................................... 10 Open Doors, Open Hearts................................................................................................................... 12 Performing Arts Center Proposed for Downtown Lansing................................................ 14

FEATURES Trading in the Stereotype..................................................................................................................... 26

A CITY’S EVOLVING HORIZONS

Behind the Scenes.................................................................................................................................... 32

Local developers outline their vision for bringing the future of Lansing into focus

Home Consctruction trends: 1900s - Today.............................................................................. 34

IN THIS ISSUE • Historic School for the Blind site is getting a new lease on life with renovations • Lansing Ignite preps to spark inaugural season at Cooley Law School Stadium • Meet the judges behind this year’s Greater Lansing Entrepreneurial Awards

Building a Better Region....................................................................................................................... 36 Business Calendar.................................................................................................................................... 38 Notable News............................................................................................................................................. 40

Cover photography provided by Edmonds Collection, FPLA/CADL

Greater Lansing Business Monthly | Volume 32, Issue 3 group

Greater Lansing Business Monthly is published monthly by M3 Group at 221 West Saginaw Street, Lansing, MI 48933. Periodicals postage paid at Lansing, Michigan USPO. USPS number 020w807.

Subscriptions: Subscriptions are available at $22 per year for postage and handling or $38 for two years. Call (517) 203-3333 or visit lansingbusinessnews.com to subscribe.

Postmaster: Send address changes to The Greater Lansing Business Monthly, 221 West Saginaw Street, Lansing, MI 48933. Send additional subscription requests and address changes to The Greater Lansing Business Monthly, Inc., 221 West Saginaw Street, Lansing, MI 48933. Copyright © 2016 The Greater Lansing Business Monthly, Inc. All rights reserved.

Editorial Office: 221 West Saginaw Street, Lansing, MI 48933 lansingbusinessnews.com 2

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MARCH 2019

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COMMENTARY

Publisher: Tiffany Dowling, tiffany@m3group.biz Sales Manager: Jennifer Hodges, jhodges@m3group.biz Editor: Kelly Mazurkiewicz, kelly@m3group.biz Asst. Editor: Mary Gajda, mary@m3group.biz

KNOW YOUR MARKET, SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY

Media Specialist: Carey Jarvis Account Managers: Megan Fleming Liz Reno-Hayes Zack Krieger Adam Smith Art Director: Mark Warner Publication Designer: Cody Fell Graphic Designers: Jeanette Wummel Quandrel Ollie Communications Specialists: Alicia Finch Christopher Nagy Rich Adams Adam Lansdell Photographer: Mary Gajda Videographer: Michael Cagney GLBM Editorial Board: April Clobes — President and CEO, MSU Federal Credit Union Calvin Jones — Government Relations Director, Lansing Board of Water & Light Lisa Parker — Director of Alumni Career and Business Services, Michigan State University Alumni Association Deb Muchmore Consulting — Owner, Deb Muchmore Consulting

Every year I’m impressed and intrigued by the stories of those who have built businesses in our community. There are a lot of factors involved when deciding to move forward, but whether you’re just throwing caution to the wind or you’ve elaborated on each intricate step in a detailed business plan, the road isn’t easy.

When I sit down with people who want to start a business, I always give the same advice: Be prepared to fail. If you are too afraid to stumble, you won’t move the business forward in a productive way. Don’t get me wrong, no one wants to fail – and the thought of it makes my stomach hurt. However, there are many risks involved with running a business, and it doesn’t go away in the first five years either.

Another piece of advice is to pay attention to the market you’re in. Just because you were on top of the world for a few years, seemingly doing everything perfectly, changes in the marketplace that go unnoticed can have devastating results. The news of Sears and Payless are perfect examples of failing to monitor shifts in how customers shop and instead going about business as usual. Ironically, Sears was uniquely positioned to take advantage of the online buying trend and didn’t move in the direction because business was good enough.

The relationship between business and community is important. Typically, entrepreneurs open businesses where they live and feel connected. It doesn’t mean there is a natural need for the service or product in the area. It could already be oversaturated. I advise business owners to find a unique selling proposition for their service or product that specifically highlights the benefit it provides to the area around them. Sometimes, it’s easy to look at market generalities but the connection to community is too important to overlook. Conversely, it’s important for community members to understand that support of local businesses is critical for the growth of the entire community.

I’m not suggesting that you’ll be able to find or do everything you need at a local retail establishment. But if there is a way to support local entrepreneurs, it has a ripple effect in our community. You’re supporting the growth of our region as illustrated in the pages of the publication this month. It’s exciting to see how the community is evolving and will continue to move forward with development investment. These projects are not small endeavors and support of the new projects sets us up for future growth. I say, bring it on. Lansing is open for business.

Tom Ruis — Vice President, Fifth Third Bank Doug Klein — Executive Director, Mason Area Chamber of Commerce Mark Hooper — Partner, Andrews Hooper Pavlik

Tiffany Dowling | Publisher

Diontrae Hayes — Supervisor, Charter Township of Lansing

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G R E AT E R L A N S I N G B U S I N E S S M O N T H LY

MARCH 2019

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FLIPPING THE BIRD The ethics of a disruptive new business

BY NICK MCCORMACK It is Sept. 18, give or take 10 days after Bird Rides Inc. launched its electric scooter-sharing app on Michigan State University’s campus and the East Lansing neighborhoods that saddle it. A wellsuited Bird representative has just finished rattling off some impressive numbers (600 rides a day) and noble company values and is about to start looking decreasingly credible to the committee evaluating his employer.

vehicle-sharing app but envisioned a more 21st century vehicle. After a quick round of funding, Bird unveiled its service, a mobile app that granted users access to a fleet of dockless electric scooters. The app locates available scooters in the surrounding area and unlocks the user’s chosen ride with a simple QR scan. The scooters are fast, eco-friendly and cheap, but parking is where some problems begin to rear up.

“If Bird is all about education, why was no one notified prior to their citywide launch?”

To date Bird has been largely unaccountable for its products, which span entire cities. While a rider accountability system (riders send pictures of their parked scooters post-ride) was mentioned by the representative at the East Lansing City Council meeting, the system’s legitimacy was never concretely established. Birds still consistently turn up in the middle of sidewalks, blocking

“Who gets sued if a Bird rider crashes into another pedestrian?”

Those and other important questions remain effectively unanswered throughout the remainder of this East Lansing City Council meeting.

Across the country, city employees find themselves asking the same questions and facing a new reality: A young industry has emerged, and it has a pension for disruption.

In 2017 the advent of ride-sharing and the increasing optimization of personal transportation devices collided to birth Bird Rides. Taking cue from LimeBike, Bird saw potential in a last-mile 6

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ramps or hanging out of trash cans. In addition to Bird failing to ensure its product is compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act rules, Bird seems entirely unsure of what should happen if its product is involved in an accident. During an interview, an unnamed Bird spokesperson responded to that scenario by recommending the incident be reported to Bird’s support team, but made no mention of the legal ramifications of a scooter accident. Bird is a very young startup and blunders are sure to occur, but a legal team should be front and center in a public transportation launch as ambitious as the company’s.

Scrolling through Bird’s company website, it doesn’t take long to get a sense of the Manifest Destiny credo the company was presumably built on. The homepage is dominated by a video

Who gets sued if a Bird rider crashes into another pedestrian?

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MARCH 2019

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NEWS

depicting a mild-mannered highway line-painter standing up to the rotten “car crowd” by laying claim to three-quarters of a highway in the name of kind Bird riders. While this may seem strange to many, the video’s message falls in line with the typical Bird debut in a new area. As a practice, Bird likes to drop into communities entirely unannounced. The East Lansing Police Department, City Council and anybody who especially needed notification of such a drastic change to public space report that Bird’s launch came as quite a surprise.

Remember LimeBike? Since 2017 the company dropped the “Bike” and picked up electric scooters to give Bird a run for its money. While far from perfect themselves (Lime scooters get impounded wholesale just the same as Birds), Lime serves as a good contrast to Bird in its young industry.

Scott Mullen, Lime’s director of expansion in the Northeast, also spoke at the September City Council meeting; however, where the Bird rep blundered, Scott excelled. Right out the gate, Scott addressed Lime’s accountability with mention of its geo-fencing tech, being able to mark areas as danger zones for riders and notify them of possible fines for parking in a restricted area. Additionally, in an interview with Lime spokesperson Olivia Hwang, she provided information regarding Lime’s insurance coverage in response to the

same accident scenario presented to Bird. The East Lansing Police Department reported that Lime notified the department prior to its launch on the streets of East Lansing. Despite Lime and Bird sharing a birth year (2017), watching the two operate in the same arena tends to paint Lime as an old vet and Bird as more than a bit wet behind the ears.

Nick McCormack is a fourth-year advertising major at Michigan State University and a freelance contributor for the Greater Lansing Business Monthly. He enjoys covering surfacing trends and local innovators. In his free time, he busies himself with good books, scenic hikes and shooting his bow.

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HISTORIC BUILDING GETS NEW LEASE ON LIFE Former School for the Blind will become senior apartments

BY RICH ADAMS In 1915, Charlie Chaplin released his nowclassic film “The Tramp.” That year the Kiwanis was founded in Detroit, the U.S. House of Representatives rejected a proposal to give women the right to vote, and Babe Ruth hit his first career home run for the Boston Red Sox.

Developers plan to restore many of the original elements, such as this staircase with a wooden bannister, to maintain the character of the former School for the Blind

Construction on the main building for the Michigan School for the Blind was completed that year as well.

The stately brick building with four majestic columns has stood over the intersection of Pine and Willow streets in Lansing for 104 years. At the end of this year or early in 2020, it will become the Abigail Apartments, home to 48 senior citizens.

The adjacent high school building will house another 12 seniors.

Renovation of the main school building is the icing on the cake for TWG Development of Indianapolis, the contractor for the project. In November, the construction firm placed the final brick for the new Walnut Park apartments, which houses 72 mostly low-income families and individuals.

TWG has now turned its full attention to the main school building and high school, working to maintain the historic character of the structures while adding modern conveniences like air conditioning, said John Sullivan, TWG’s vice president of tax credit development.

“We were looking to come into Michigan for quite a while,” Sullivan said. “There had been other groups looking at the school as a tax credit

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project in the past, but they had failed for some reason. When MSHDA (the Michigan State Housing Development Authority) updated their requirements for this property, we hit more of the boxes MSHDA was looking for, so we thought it was a good opportunity.”

Sullivan said TWG liked the area and the neighborhood. The firm also saw the steady growth occurring in nearby Old Town.

“Our company had done historic rehabilitations in the past, as well as new construction, so it was a good fit all around,” he said.

The School for the Blind building is TWG’s first foray into Michigan. During the trips from Indianapolis to Lansing, the company discovered a new senior apartment complex planned in Charlotte and won bids to build those units as well.

Sullivan

Sullivan said the crews will attempt to keep as much of the school’s character intact.

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“The apartments are still going to have the corridor layout like a school, and we are keeping the gymnasium, which will be used as community room,” Sullivan said. “We are going to make the building functional, but it will still have that old-school feel.”

The building was ideal for senior apartments, he added.

“Classroom sizes are fairly close to what you see in apartment unit sizes, so it made a lot of sense for us to continue forward with it as a rehabilitation project as opposed to tearing it down,” Sullivan said.

A Lansing Police Department substation was included in the Walnut Park apartment structure.

Sullivan said feedback from the neighborhood expressed concern about security, and Sullivan said the substation will make the area safe.

When TWG learned that famed singer Stevie Wonder attended the school, the company made plans to acknowledge that.

“We learned (Stevie Wonder was an alumni) during the process, and we think that is a very cool

aspect of that property and we hope to have some recognition of that fact that Stevie Wonder went to school there,” Sullivan said.

Rich Adams is a communications specialist at M3 Group and was a print and broadcast journalist for more than four decades. When he is not watching his beloved Chicago Cubs, he is counting the days until spring training begins.

Sullivan said there are several exterior areas that needed attention, adding that the overall structure is very solid.

“A lot of structural work has been completed. The exterior around the columns was crumbing and you could see where the brick on the side was coming apart. That required a lot more shoring up and tuck-pointing than we needed in other areas,” he explained. “These buildings are built to such a high level. One-hundred years ago they were built with so much concrete, so from a bare-bones aspect it is really very sound.”

TWG, the developer renovating the former School for the Blind, have demolished some areas to the bare bones before restoring them for senior apartments

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NEWS

SELF-CONTAINED Habitat affiliates use shipping containers for affordable homes

BY RICH ADAMS When one thinks of houses built by Habitat for Humanity, they usually envision a traditional, stick-built house being constructed from the foundation up.

However, some Habitat affiliates are taking a different route by converting used shipping containers to affordable homes. That’s happened in Kentucky, Louisiana, Texas, Ohio and North Carolina.

In Hardin County, Kentucky, Habitat officials converted their first shipping container home in 2015, turning a container measuring 8 feet by 40 feet into a 285-square-foot home.

In Lafayette, Louisiana, Habitat for Humanity built a so-called 1020 house out of two containers, one 10 feet long and the other a 20-footer.

In addition to being more affordable – some estimate a savings of $10,000 in construction costs compared to a traditional house the same size – container homes are energy efficient and require little maintenance.

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But you won’t see container homes constructed anytime soon by Habitat for Humanity Capitol Region.

versions are also planned. Solar panels on the roof of each unit will add to the affordability factor.

“We are looking into more dense housing opportunities,” said Capitol Region President and CEO Vicki Hamilton-Allen. “We feel the cost savings come in building homes instead of changing the superstructure.”

The trend in shipping container homes is not limited to Habitat affiliates.

She explained that entails building duplexes, row housing or even condominiumstyle dwellings.

Habitat officials in Collin County, Texas, are working on construction of three-dozen container homes in a neighborhood called Cotton Grove. As is everything in Texas, the planned development is big – much bigger than a one-bedroom unit.

Celeste H. Cox, CEO of the North Collin County Habitat for Humanity, said the organization will bolt the metal boxes together and stack them to build each of its new homes.

"There are four containers for our 1,280-squarefoot, three-bedroom plan," Cox told the Dallas Morning News. Four- and five-bedroom

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At Iowa homebuilder IndieDwell’s factory in south Boise, visitors find a structure that was once two boxy, 40-foot-long containers, according to the Boise Statesman. Instead of walking into a boxy structure, they find an attractive entryway leading to rooms with high-performance windows to let plenty of light inside. The floors are made of polished maple and the kitchen boasts quartz countertops.

Used shipping containers can be purchased for several hundred dollars each, said IndieDwell CEO Scott Flynn, who obtains his from a company in Ontario, Oregon.

Shipping containers were invented in 1956 by trucker Malcom McLean. Homes made of shipping containers are a more recent development. The first patent for a shipping container home was issued in 1989 to Phillip Clark of Miami.

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NEWS

OPEN DOORS, OPEN HEARTS City Rescue Mission opens new Outreach center

BY SARAH SPOHN The City Rescue Mission of Lansing has been providing food, shelter and hope for the Lansing community since 1911. On Jan. 21, the 501(c) (3) nonprofit’s helping hands reached out even more with its latest addition, The Outreach. The 3,000-square-foot facility at 601 N. Larch St. will provide showers, laundry, clothing, and a host of other resources and referrals to housing, mental health agencies and substance abuse treatment centers.

The shelter was modeled after a neighborhood service organization, the Tumaini Center in Detroit. Named after the Swahili word for hope, the no-barrier, drop-in center provides shelter for about 120 people per night, according to Criss.

“We provide a no-barrier shelter to our community,” said Mark Criss, executive director of the City Rescue Mission. “The reason why that’s important is because we’ll provide a safe haven for those who are chronically homeless who may not be qualified to go into shelter.

We’re serving vulnerable individuals in our community, including those with behavioral issues that would make them unlikely to be accepted into a traditional shelter.”

“Right now, the City Rescue Mission helps about 140 men, women and children a night between our two shelters,” Criss said. “This will be a third drop-in center, which will probably be two to three dozen.”

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The City Rescue Mission provides 100,000 meals in an average year in addition to shelter and other assistance.

The project was inspired by Mark Bozzo, who provided a similar service called City Outreach Ministries about 14 years ago. After Bozzo’s passing in June, Criss felt compelled and

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obligated to continue what Bozzo had begun – and increase the scope of the community being helped.

“We wanted to make sure it was a 24/7 dropin to meet the needs of the most vulnerable community,” he said.

The shelter will provide jobs for about eight full-time employees who will be at The

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Outreach. Operations Coordinator Daron Mackinder knows firsthand how much of a lifechanging impact programs like these have. The recovering heroin addict and alcoholic has been clean for about three years but used to utilize the resources from Bozzo’s program and stayed in the men’s shelter at the City Rescue Mission.

Mackinder said the shelter was in search of “someone with some dirt under his nails” who could use real-life experience to help transform those in need of a change.

“I am really looking forward to being of service to the guests at The Outreach,” he said. “I am in no way a preacher or the most-versed person in God’s word, but I sure can say, ‘Hey, I was right here, I know what you’re going through,’ because I really have. If I can help one person to get some help and better their life, then everything I have went through to get where I am will be worth it.”

Criss is excited for The Outreach to be part of a supportive community.

“It’s amazing to see how we’re able to meet needs,” he said. “As the need grows, our supply grows with it. Fifteen years ago our budget was well under a million dollars, and we only

WHERE BUSINESS GETS DONE #LOVELANSING, MICHIGAN

sheltered probably about 40 people a night. Over the years, the need grew, but we were also able to meet that need.”

The City Rescue Mission’s budget is about $2 million a year, according to Criss, and 95 percent comes from individual or family donations. The remaining 5 percent comes from churches, organizations and grants.

“Our city is very much transforming when it comes to development, but also our guests that come through here on an annual basis,” Criss said.

“Many are transformed by their needs being met – not just physically, but spiritually. It’s exciting to see we as a community can meet this need.”

Sarah Spohn received her degree in Journalism from Lansing Community College. She’s a concert junkie; living and breathing in both the local and national music scene. She is proud to call Lansing her home, finding a new reason every day to be smitten with the mitten.

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NEWS

Rendering entering the park from the rail bridge

PERFORMING ARTS CENTER PROPOSED FOR DOWNTOWN LANSING The city could become an even busier place for art, culture and shopping

BY TEECE ARONIN If the plans of Mayor Andy Schor and a lot of other people come to fruition, downtown Lansing has a performing arts center (PAC) in its future.

The center would stand in addition to a multi-use performance stage in the works at Adado Park and the Capital Region Community Foundation’s plan for a performance space under the Shiawassee Bridge dubbed the Happening under the Bridge.

Mayor Schor told GLBM, “Lansing is a community very friendly to art and culture. We can easily attract concerts and symphonies and other performers. We just need a performing arts center where they can perform. I am excited that we have again started the conversation, and hope that we can have this finalized and up and running as soon as possible.”

To the mayor’s point, Lansing residents often head to cities such as Grand Rapids and Detroit for concerts, so keeping them home could be good for the city’s economy and a boost to Lansing’s public profile as an entertainment destination.

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Laurie Strauss Baumer of the Capital Region Community Foundation (also called the Community Foundation), said the organization is providing the city of Lansing with a grant toward a feasibility study and that the Mayor’s Arts and Culture Commission has a facilities committee assisting in the exploration phase of the project.

Other principals involved include Dominic Cochran from Lansing Community Media and Courtney Millbrook with the Lansing Symphony Orchestra.

Past plans for a performing arts center were scrapped when the economy slowed, but the possibilities are alive again. In an article in the Lansing State Journal in December, Mayor Schor said, “For the PAC, it can be part of a larger development with retail and maybe a hotel.

People are very interested... We already have three developers working on land parcels and development packages. We’ve identified a few locations that would work.”

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Design possibilities include a modular auditorium that can be configured to multiple seating arrangements and seating for up to 1,500. This option allows for accommodation of different sized audiences. The Wharton Center has two halls, Pasant Theater and Cobb Great Hall, with seating for about 550 and 2,500 respectively; the city’s plan has the performing arts center, with its right-in-the-middle number of seats, dovetailing with Wharton, not competing with it. The possibility of blending the performing arts center with adjacent retail and hotel space is also being discussed.

Plans for a performing arts center date back to when David Hollister was Lansing’s mayor and the city received a $500,000 grant from then-Gov. John Engler’s office. The funds were to cover a study and preliminary plans, and because the city had recently acquired the Lugnuts, it was decided that a cultural center would be a more effective spark to the economy than the addition of more sports. Then the overall economy faltered, and

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plans shut down. Of the $500,000 received from the state, $56,000 was spent on the study and the remaining funds returned.

If the performing arts center becomes a reality, the Lansing Symphony Orchestra will likely perform there. Currently, the orchestra performs at the Wharton Center for Performing Art’s Cobb Great Hall, which is generally too large for its audiences, and where other groups must be fit into the schedule. The presence of the orchestra, combined with plenty of restaurants, shopping and hotels, could be a big boost for the region in both culture and economics.

Deborah E. Mikula, executive director of the Arts Council of Greater Lansing, heads the Adado Park stage project. She is also a member of Mayor Schor’s arts commission. Mikula clarified for GLBM that the proposed performing arts center will be a separate entity from the stage designated for installation at the south end of Adado Riverfront Park, where the Common Ground music festival usually takes place. In GLBM’s July 2018 article titled, “Big, Artful Changes: Coming to a Park Near You,” Mikula said “Because of Michigan’s climate, outdoor activities are more or less confined to May through October. We’re working on changes that will enable more yearround programming such as seasonal festivals.”

Rendering overlooking the stage from the event plaza

Mikula and the Arts Council, along with city personnel, Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP), Parks and Recreation, and the Lansing Entertainment & Public Facilities Authority (LEPFA), have been working on the project for about four years.

If everyone’s plans work out, Lansing could become an even busier place for art, culture, shopping and a whole lot more.

Teece Aronin is a writer and career coach. She works with individuals from all walks of life, including persons with disabilities and career-changers. Contact her at teecearonin8@gmail.com, and read her blog, Chipped Demitasse at chippeddemitasse. blogspot.com.

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A GLIMPSE THROUGH THE EYES OF THE ARCHITECTS Local developers share how they envision the future of Lansing

BY STEFANIE POHL When it comes to the Lansing area, some things remain constant. The Michigan Capitol and Michigan State University, built and established in the mid- to late 19th century, have served as iconic pillars connected by a thoroughfare. Over the years, this corridor and its surrounding areas have evolved, and now we are on the brink of a new era. Big things are happening in the Lansing area. Take a drive down Michigan Avenue or a stroll along Grand River Avenue and there is evidence of exciting brick-bybrick change.

From a state-of-the-art hospital campus to a downtown city market to new residential options, a new era of Lansing is forming.

The changes to the Lansing landscape are thanks in large part to the businesses and creative minds behind these game-changing projects. It is their investment and dedication to the success of our area that continue to make the difference, drawing new talent to mid-Michigan while also retaining and serving the Lansing community.

We spoke with some of the Lansing area’s most recognized real estate developers and construction companies to learn about their current projects, why they have chosen Lansing as the anchor for their businesses and what they predict for the future of the Capital City.

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retail, Trowbridge is going to be activated.

It’s the only true thoroughfare into campus.

If you look at it, it’s finally going to have the pizazz when the tens of thousands of people a week come in off of that thoroughfare to shop, live, play, work and go to school at Michigan State. It’s going to change the look of it. It has been in a dilapidated state for quite a while. Second, what I think is going to be truly transformational to the skyline of downtown Lansing is our acquisition and redevelopment of the Farnum Building.

We’re going to bring a tremendous amount of activity. It’s going to be a multi-tenant office with some retail on the ground floor.

Our attraction is to bring people from the suburban area, who are not able to have office space with views of the Capitol and parking, to look at downtown in a different light than it has in many years. We’re looking to attract the tech organizations or medical industry. We’re very excited about that.

WHY HAVE YOU CHOSEN LANSING AS A DESTINATION FOR REDEVELOPMENT? Boji Tower, located directly across the street from the state Capitol

BOJI GROUP Ron Boji, president

IF BUDGET AND LOCATION WERE NO ISSUE, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO SEE IN LANSING? That’s easy. Bring the Little Caesars Arena here. Bring what the Ilitches have done here to downtown Lansing. That’s your gamechanger. You pull people from everywhere, being located centrally in the state. That’s my answer.

WHAT IS A CURRENT PROJECT OF YOURS OR SOMEONE ELSE’S THAT YOU’RE EXCITED ABOUT? First, giving respect to my friends that are in this same industry as me, I’m really looking forward to Pat Gillespie’s project on the corner of Michigan Avenue and Larch.

By far, that’s going to be a very impactful development to the surrounding area. What we’re most excited about in our portfolio are two projects. First, we’re just finishing up our Marriott Hotel in East Lansing off of Trowbridge. Finally, with what has already been done there with Kevin McGraw, and what we’re doing with the new hotel and 18

many, but there’s not enough choice. Some will say you need more people living here to do that, but it’s sort of the chicken and the egg. I feel what Pat Gillespie and others are doing on the residential side, the mass is getting there. We need to emphasize the play part. That’s where I see it.

THE EYDE COMPANY Nick Eyde, principal Evemarie Eyde, partner Mark Clouse, chief financial officer Sam Eyde, member

IF BUDGET AND LOCATION WERE NO ISSUE, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO SEE IN LANSING? Mark Clouse: One of the things that has been discussed is bringing an entertainment complex or auditorium. The Greater Lansing Symphony, which is terrific for our community, is currently using the Wharton Center. Having something similar to that on a smaller scale in the downtown area would be, we think, another game-changer. It would

As we celebrate our 20th year anniversary of Boji Group and looked at Lansing to start our real estate development career, it’s pretty easy. There are four foundational items that Lansing has that makes it separate from anywhere else. First, it’s the state capital, so the main government side is here. Second, it has one of the top major universities in the country. Third, it has a phenomenal health care business with Sparrow. And fourth, we have major General Motors plants and suppliers. When you look at those four fundamentals, within reason, we’re not going to hit the bottom and we’re not going to jump to the top. It’s always going to be a nice steady pace. Your state government will never move. Michigan State will not leave where it is. Within reason, Sparrow has no reason to leave. With General Motors, we’ve endured quite a bit, but it’s pretty foundational. That’s why.

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE OF LANSING LOOK LIKE TO YOU? What you need to do is not re-create the wheel. Right now, what millennials want more than anything is a community that involves live, work and play, and a walkable community. We have a very good walkable community within reason. We have decent mass transportation. Of the live, work and play, what we lack the most downtown is the play side of it. There are not enough entertainment district items. Yes, there are

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A rendering of the Oliver Tower project

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bring people downtown on a regular basis and give additional entertainment choices.

We’re lucky to have the Lugnuts and Ignite at the stadium, but we don’t have that auditorium-use venue. We think that would be an outstanding addition to our community, bringing people to town on the evenings and weekends. That might not be a pie-in-the-sky idea, as many people have discussed it, so we’re hopeful to see that come to fruition.

WHAT IS A CURRENT PROJECT OF YOURS OR SOMEONE ELSE’S THAT YOU’RE EXCITED ABOUT? Sam Eyde: We are excited to begin the first phase of a complete renovation to a downtown Lansing landmark: the Comerica building. This building located at the corner of Michigan Avenue and South Washington Square, which is anchored by Comerica Bank on the first floor and our newest tenant, MiSignal, an internet and PBC phone system company, on the 14th floor. We are renovating the interior offices and common areas to bring the facility up to a Class A standard. The location is ideal for area lobbyists, attorneys and other businesses

that need to be located in the heart of the Downtown Central Business District.

Mark Clouse: We’re working on a property currently known as the Oliver Tower. We are working on changing the name of that as we redevelop it. It’s at the corner of Capitol Avenue and Ionia. It is 96 apartment units and will be a location for young professionals, perhaps people working downtown.

WHY HAVE YOU CHOSEN LANSING AS A DESTINATION FOR REDEVELOPMENT? Mark Clouse: For Nick and Evemarie, their father, George, grew up in the city. This was his home, and this was their home growing up. With George smiling down upon us, his six children are now involved with the company. I think that is probably, for this group, why Lansing is so important.

Evemarie Eyde: For the six of us, we didn’t choose Lansing. Lansing chose us.

Our father passed away a year ago, and he was one of the founders of this company.

They founded this company in 1958. For our family, we went away to college and had careers internationally and nationally.

We’re drawn back to this community by this business that our father created. We are not only drawn to the community, but committed, heart and soul. We are committed and drive to not only continue our family business, but to make Lansing succeed.

Nick Eyde: We’re in the capital city of a state that has five freshwater lakes around it that are outstanding. You look at that, and you realize when you’re out of the state or country that Michigan has so many amazing things. With Michigan State University in our area and the new FRIB, what it’ll mean to the community is huge.

of the things that we’re excited about. There are many downtown that are not only our projects but others. One of the great things about Lansing I think is that we have a terrific group of community developers that live in and care about our community.

We’re excited about Pat Gillespie’s project with the Capital City Market. As much as we’re excited about the Oliver Tower, I think that grocery will help us quite honestly, where people living downtown can shop downtown.

Nick Eyde: It’s going to be a game-changer.

This is going to be the third location for an urban grocery store in Michigan after Grand Rapids and Detroit. When you compare Lansing to Madison and Columbus, that have these corridors from their Big Ten universities to downtown, you see this great development and interesting urban experiences. You go from the college to the Capitol. For Lansing, with the new restaurants and the urban market along Michigan Avenue, it’s pretty exciting.

GRANGER CONSTRUCTION Dennis Carignan, executive vice president

IF BUDGET AND LOCATION WERE NO ISSUE, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO SEE IN LANSING? We’ve done some sports-related projects, and mostly what we’ve done is at the university level. But from a community standpoint, to have some kind of an allsports indoor complex to promote healthy living in cold-weather conditions, that would be pretty cool.

MSUFCU headquarters

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE OF LANSING LOOK LIKE TO YOU? Mark Clouse: One of the things our company is involved with and we’re seeing with the downtown area is bringing residents full time within our city limits. I think that’s something that we as a company are excited about, and business owners in downtown Lansing are excited about this as well. We’ve seen in our community just the same as others that the suburban growth takes away from the city itself. Last year was one of the first years we saw an increase in population within the downtown community. Now we’re seeing even more of that. I think that’s one L

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WHAT IS A CURRENT PROJECT OF YOURS OR SOMEONE ELSE’S THAT YOU’RE EXCITED ABOUT? I’m glad that there are investments in infrastructure going on around the area. I think that’s wildly important. There are some upgrades to the Board of Water & Light and parking downtown. I think Lansing’s got an awful lot of potential, so I’m glad to see those investments. There is a lot of space to grow geographically. I would say the McLaren project is one of the jobs that we’re really excited about in Lansing.

WHY HAVE YOU CHOSEN LANSING AS A DESTINATION FOR REDEVELOPMENT? The Granger family has been born and raised here in the Lansing area. There’s a strong sense of community, a sense of pride in the history the company has. When we go out to Michigan State University, we have either built or improved close to 50 percent of the buildings on campus. There’s a lot of pride there in those contributions.

The work that we do, we cover the whole state. We have offices in Grand Rapids and Novi, and it’s nice to be centrally located in Lansing. It’s nice that you can get to an awful lot of places in an hour. I think what is exciting about Lansing is that there’s a

really good mix of industries. You have the state government, our industrial background, education through LCC and Michigan State, and health care. The financial and insurance industries are pretty strong in our area. They’re making investments in their continued presence here.

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE OF LANSING LOOK LIKE TO YOU? I think institutions like LCC that are forward-thinking and offering the next generation of education, they’ll be growing.

I expect MSU to continue to grow in terms of the research side. The presence and upcoming operations of the FRIB will bring a lot of research technology fields to this area. There’s a strong sense of community, and a draw of being adjacent to that lab, that it’ll be really great.

T.A. FORSBERG INC. Brent Forsberg, president

IF BUDGET AND LOCATION WERE NO ISSUE, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO SEE IN LANSING? People are drawn to the resort-style feel of our communities. This past year, we executed on the grand opening of Elevation

Okemos in June, after several years of careful planning and work with Meridian Township and various other community stakeholders. Elevation Okemos brings an upscale apartment community unlike anything else we have seen in this area, and since the grand opening in June, the Elevation property management team have been inundated with requests to host various community events in the clubhouse. We believe that more community-centric spaces should exist in our region.

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE OF LANSING LOOK LIKE TO YOU? Looking forward in 2019, we have the redevelopment of 735 Hazel St., commonly known as The Wing, due to begin in the spring with our partners under the banner of Urban Systems. The redevelopment of this historic building will bring a unique functional work and living space concept that also offers some greatly needed maker space.

Our focus is to provide a diverse range of housing to meet all cross sections of our community. Thus, our projects and joint ventures range from resort-style living, tradition single-family home lots, micro units and smaller homes such as the Tembo Homes.

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE OF MIDMICHIGAN LOOK LIKE TO YOU??

We are excited to be working with the city of Eaton Rapids to transform an uninhabited former trailer park into a community of newly constructed homes. We are currently working through the requirements with City Council and the Planning Commission and hope to be able to begin our construction by spring/summer.

GILLESPIE GROUP Pat Gillespie, president

WHAT IS A CURRENT PROJECT OF YOURS OR SOMEONE ELSE’S THAT YOU’RE EXCITED ABOUT? Our efforts, partnered with the city of Lansing and many other organizations, presented final products in Marketplace II, the second phase in our expansive apartments on Lansing’s river trail and the Grand River, and MP Social, a vibrant, modern and socially charged communal dining space with a great riverfront view and patio. In addition, we unveiled our biggest

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A rendering of the future view of the 600 block on Michigan Avenue

project to date in Lansing, set to redefine the heart of the city. Our 600 Block project, which is set to bring the city much-needed and highly requested amenities such as an urban grocer and hotel to the Stadium District, is the next phase in Lansing’s innovative and trend-forward growth along the Michigan Avenue corridor. We aim to continue to work cooperatively as a partner that puts our community first. This project is not only our largest in our hometown in terms of size, cost and completion time, but our biggest in terms of the impact it will have on Lansing, which is what motivates us above all.

WHY HAVE YOU CHOSEN LANSING AS A DESTINATION FOR REDEVELOPMENT? In 2018, we had a firm focus on creating new spaces to live, work and play. Spaces that we believe will help to redefine the city of Lansing and spark interest in the minds of potential downtown area residents who have witnessed similar growth in other major cities. We envision them celebrating the passion and energy that exists in our growing region.

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE OF LANSING LOOK LIKE TO YOU? This past year was one the entire team at Gillespie Group won’t soon forget. As a team, we’ve worked tirelessly to bring new visions to life that aim to reenergize and support and build communities that will benefit the region as a whole – and many of those are simply the tip of the iceberg for what’s next.

Stefanie Pohl earned a B.A. in English and creative writing from Michigan State University and an M.A. in writing and publishing from DePaul University. She is currently a freelance writer raising her two young daughters with her Spartan sweetheart.

Find her musings about motherhood and more on her blog, mostefinitely.com. Stefanie has been spelling out her name since 1985.

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FEATURE

SPARKS SET TO FLY Lansing Ignite FC preps for its inaugural season at Cooley Law School Stadium

BY ADAM LANSDELL Back in October, the Lansing Ignite FC was unveiled to the masses by an ensemble of familiar faces, including Mayor Andy Schor and Lansing Lugnuts and Ignite FC owner Tom Dickson. The new club team, one of and a founding member of the upcoming USL League One, is now days away from taking the field. The team is set to kick its inaugural season off, in pursuit of becoming the league’s first-ever champion, when they travel to

take on fellow founders the Richmond Kickers on March 30.

Since being announced as a team, when details were bare-bones, a lot has changed. From selecting a head coach and defining a schedule to welcoming the first of new talents and hosting open tryouts, the team has slowly begun taking shape and creating an identity of its own.

USL LEAGUE ONE TAKES SHAPE When unveiled, the Lansing Ignite was one of only a handful of teams that would comprise the entire roster of USL League One teams. Many of the teams are spinoffs of existing teams while others are new entities entirely – as is the case for the Ignite FC. Teams come from throughout North America and include the Chattanooga Red Wolves, FC Tucson, North Texas SC and Toronto FC II just to name a few.

“The release of the schedule is another exciting step as we get ready to kick off the 2019 season in the USL League One,” said Jeremy Sampson, league vice president and general manager. “We begin the season with two matches on the road, but the planning has already begun to Ignite the entire city of Lansing for our first home match against Richmond on April 13.”

In its inaugural season, the league will be comprised of 12 teams, with each competing in roughly 28 games. The Lansing Ignite FC is set to host its first home game ever at Cooley Law School Stadium on April 13 when they have a rematch of the opener with the Richmond Kickers.

Unveiling of the Ignite Scarfs 22

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With a finalized league schedule, Lansing Ignite team officials will also play host to three additional friendly matches. These will include contests against other teams outside of the USL League One.

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT Tickets for the opening-day event, as well as the rest of the season’s matches, are on sale now.

Many fans have already begun preparing by purchasing season ticket packages to also become a member of the team’s Spark Society. Fans are also encouraged to become a part of The Assembly Line, an independently organized supporters’ group for the Lansing Ignite FC. According to its site, assemblylinesg.com, the support group exists to “energize Cooley Law School Stadium on match days and to create the most intense home field advantage in the league for LIFC.”

FRESH TEAM, FRESH FACES Another area in which details remained scarce upon announcement was personnel. Who would play? Who would coach? Luckily, many of those questions have been answered, while other specifics remain unclear. As originally announced, Sampson, former owner of the now-defunct

Lansing United, will take on the role of general manager. More recently it was announced that the team had found a head coach in another Lansing United alum, Nate Miller. The 32-year-old has served as the head coach of the Spring Arbor University men’s soccer program since 2013 as well as the head coach and general manager of Lansing United, a former member of the Premier Development League, North America’s premier pre-professional soccer. Building on a rapport of coaching in various leagues and the existing connection each has with the community at large, Sampson and Miller will potentially be a major asset when establishing a foundation for the new organization as it searches to find its legs.

In addition to a new coach, the team has also scored a handful of young talent to comprise the inaugural roster, including Xavier Gomez, Rafa Mentzingen, Kyle Carr, Nathan Lewis, Steeve Saint-Duc, Kyle Ihn, Rhys Williams and Kevin Coiffic. While these players are making the move from other leagues and clubs to provide experienced support, the team also sought out new players for its roster during an open tryout session in late January.

More information on selections and the full roster may be available come this article’s publication.

To stay up-to-date and to reserve your seats for one of this year’s inaugural season matches, be sure to visit lansingignite.com.

Adam Lansdell is a Grand Valley State University alumnus, and currently a Communications Specialist with M3 Group of Lansing.

With a passion for all things creative it comes as no surprise that he’s also a musician, movie buff and graphic designer. Adam spends his down time biking, and spending too much of his personal income on concert tickets or vinyl records.

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TRADING IN THE STEREOTYPE More women find a home in the skilled services

BY ALLISON SPOONER Jenna McFarland wants to see so many women in the trades. But as only one of four women in the apprentice program in United Association Local 333 serving plumbers, pipefitters, welders and HVAC service techs throughout mid-Michigan, McFarland knows she’s going to have work to convince other women to take on a career path that is considered nontraditional even for men.

Yet for the women in the apprentice program already getting paid, on-the-job training, when faced with the choice between a career in the trades and the more “traditional” path of college and job-hunting, the choice was clear.

For Emily Songer, it was about a career rather than just a job. She’d worked in customer service since she was 16 and even got two degrees in management and marketing, but she just wasn’t finding the right fit.

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“I had a hard time finding something I liked, where I fit in, and that also paid,” Songer said.

“You’ve got to be able to support yourself and think about retirement. I don’t want to work until I’m 80.”

For millennials, the fear of a job without a pension is real. From 1980 through 2008, the proportion of private wage and salary workers participating in defined-benefit pension plans fell from 38 percent to 20 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Labor.

That is not the case for those employed through the unions like Local 333. For the women in the apprentice program, a career in the trades allowed a multitude of freedoms and perks that other career possibilities did not.

Songer and Rachel Need both want to travel, and they both found that an appealing aspect of life in the trades.

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“I could be here forever, but I could also work in Colorado, the Dakotas, Ohio. … That is one of our goals, when the kids are done with school, we want to buy a motor home and travel and since he’s (her husband) in the trades and I’m in the trades, it fits us,” Songer said. “We can travel and work.”

Both women transferred into Local 333 from other cities and know how easy it is to make moves when needed. For a generation that doesn’t often stay in one job, planning to stay in the same career until they retire, especially for the 21-year-old Neeb, can seem daunting. But variety and the ability to learn new things on a daily basis appealed to Neeb when she first looked into the trades. While she came into the trade wanting to weld, a skill she learned from her father, she said, “I just wanted to keep my hood down and practice, but when I found out it was a combined local – pipefitting, plumbing and welding – I was all in.”

FEATURE

Neeb tried to go to college for welding before making the switch. “It wasn’t helpful,” she said.

“They wanted too much money; and when I passed the basic tests, they told me they didn’t think welding was a good career path for me. So I said that’s it. I’m going into the union.”

After some urging from her husband to just check it out, Songer found herself at a building trades fair, talking to the female president of the local in Cleveland: “I asked her how hard it was and she said, ‘If I can do it, you can do it.’ ” McFarland was working through a tech program at Lansing Community College that eventually got shut down. She joined the welding program at LCC. “The plumbers and pipefitters were in the same building, and anyone you talked to said if you wanted to make money you should be a pipefitter, so I didn’t even have to think about it,” she said.

While she’s great at welding, she’s also working toward other certificates: “They like students to be well-rounded, and I like to have my hand in a lot of things. You stay employed better that way.”

In a trade that can slow down in the winter, staying employed is important. McFarland said while you have to plan for the lulls, she enjoys the lifestyle.

That, or they just wouldn’t let her do anything.

But, she said, “We make up half the population, why shouldn’t we be here? There’s no reason women can’t do this job.”

Neeb agreed that women must have thick skin to join because they are going to have to deal with guys.

“A lot of women are scared to join a maledominated trade because of sexual harassment – and a lot of women do deal with it, but if you get into a situation, you need to take it up with your foreman,” Neeb said. “This union has your back 110 percent.”

Neeb was disappointed in the numbers when she came from Colorado where there were 11 women in the union. She’s trying to make it more appealing and has looked into starting a women in the trades group here. She encourages women who are thinking about it to come talk to someone.

McFarland thinks things are on the right path to invite more women into the trade. She noted that women are being targeted through advertising.

Plus, with the introduction of girls into the new Scouts programs, they can earn their welding merit badge.

“It’s going to be good to expose more young people to this stuff, a lot of girls don’t even know it’s an option,” McFarland said.

It’s an occupation that’s not for every woman; however, Songer noted that it’s not for every man either. Yet for McFarland, Neeb and Songer, the opportunity has allowed them to discover something more than just another job.

“I love learning something new every single day,” said Neeb “You’ll make a lot of friends and meet a lot of people. … It’s like a brotherhood – and sisterhood.”

Allison Spooner is a writer, storyteller, copywriter, marketing content creator, and communicator.

She uses her communication and creative writing skills to articulate the stories and messages that businesses can't express themselves. She has been telling the stories of businesses across the state of Michigan for ten years. You can find both her professional and her creative writing on her website, www.allisonspoonerwriter.com and follow her musings on Twitter @allyspoon.

“If you live simply, it’s nice to have time off,” she said. “I do a lot of art welding, so I see it as an opportunity.”

McFarland said she knows people who take a few months off every year. If they need work, they ask for it.

“You can make a lot of money doing travel calls.

It’s a lifestyle,” she said. “Some people get it, some can groove with it and some can’t.”

However, it’s not just the benefits. Consistent raises, guaranteed work and travel opportunities keep McFarland in the trades. As a woman in the trades, she said, “I get asked why I do this all the time. You could not pay me and I’d show up.” She loves knowing that she’s played a part in building the city where she lives.

“I could drive through town and say my name is somewhere in that building. It’s empowering, helping build Lansing and build East Lansing,” she said. “It would be pretty hard to get me to stop doing it.”

Yet some people try. A friend of hers from another union attempted to discourage McFarland from joining, telling her that there were men who would try to run her into the ground to discourage her.

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FEATURE

2019 ENTREPRENEURIAL AWARDS JUDGES

BY ALICIA FINCH The Greater Lansing Entrepreneurial Award judges are a key component in making each year’s event a successful one. The panel of judges spends countless hours reviewing nominee submissions and discussing how local entrepreneurs are positively impacting Lansing. The esteemed panel of judges is committed to finding those who help grow the community. Join us again this year on March 7 to find out who our entrepreneur award winners are. Visit glbmawards.com to learn more

Kathryn Burkholder Kathryn Burkholder is a community affairs manager for Consumers Energy, Michigan’s largest energy provider.

She proudly serves Shiawassee, Clinton and Livingston counties, ensuring her friends and neighbors receive the hometown service Consumers Energy aims to provide.

Prior to her work in community affairs, Burkholder was on the media relations team, serving as the smart energy outreach coordinator for East Michigan. In that role, she was responsible for educating legislators, local officials and community members about smart meter technology. Before joining Consumers Energy, she was an educator at Pinckney Community High School.

Burkholder is an active board member of the Livingston Habitat for Humanity, Shiawassee Economic Development Partnership and Economic Development Council of Livingston County, and currently serves as chairwoman of the Clinton County Economic Alliance, secretary of Mt. Brighton Adaptive Sports and co-chair of the Howell Grassroots Safety Team.

She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, communications and drama, and a Master of Arts degree in interdisciplinary technology, journalism and communication from Eastern Michigan 28

University. Burkholder resides in Ann Arbor and is beyond proud of her two children and four grandchildren.

Tom Hamp Tom Hamp is a Business Transformation and Leadership coach with 30 years of experience with companies such as IBM, Kodak and Kyocera. According to his clients, Hamp consistently holds them accountable, pushes them to set specific, measurable goals, returns their focus to plans that are in place and uncovers the true value drivers of their business.

In addition, Hamp also coaches teams and helps them to understand the fundamentals of working together, and how important their culture is.

His expertise and success in a wide range of areas include sales and marketing, pricing, product management, strategic planning, business development, leadership development, human resource management, public speaking and facilitation. Hamp is a Certified Value Builder Advisor as well as a C-IQ Enhanced Skills coach.

He has dedicated himself to creating a powerful transformational journey for himself and his clients. Hamp’s particular passion is the unique aspects of a family business, and he has guided many family businesses through difficult decisions and dynamics specific to family members operating a business.

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He is married to Julie, his lovely wife of 20 years and has partnered with her in raising their four children: Kelsey, Nate, Evan and Derek.

Together, Tom and Julie teach high school students on Sunday mornings at their church where they have been in leadership for over 19 years. When Hamp finds himself with spare time, he enjoys playing basketball and softball, and you can often find him playing with and watching his children in their activities.

Melody Warzecha Melody Warzecha is the vice president of commercial banking at Union Bank, a Michiganbased community bank that provides financial services to individuals, businesses and farms. As the vice president of commercial banking, she works to create solutions and build relationships with her clients.

Warzecha received her bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from the University of Michigan and an MBA from Central Michigan University. She joined Union Bank in 2015 and has been in the banking industry since 2000.

Prior to joining Union Bank, Warzecha worked as a controller and accounting consultant for 10 years.

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“Supporting the community and being involved is really important to Union Bank,” said Warzecha. “We really want people to succeed.”

Warzecha is also involved in the community as treasurer of the Lansing Rotary Club and the Lansing Rotary Club Foundation as well as being the treasurer of the St. Gerard School PTO. She is proud to be serving as a judge for the Greater Lansing Business Monthly Entrepreneurial Awards for her third year and is excited for the opportunity to support Lansing-area entrepreneurs.

“I am glad to be part of a community that appreciates entrepreneurs,” Warzecha said. “I’m proud to represent Union Bank as a judge and support business people in the Lansing area.”

Scott Norman Scott Norman is the vice president of business development for Physicians Health Plan (PHP). PHP is a division of Sparrow Health System, is an award-winning health plan that provides insurance for hundreds of employers across Mid-Michigan.

In this role, Norman is responsible for strategic planning, sales, marketing and product and market development for PHP. He will also oversee expanding collaborative relationships across Michigan as the health plan potentially expands into new markets.

Norman has nearly 20 years of experience in health care insurance, and his most recent experience was at Priority Health, where he obtained the title of vice president of senior markets. In that role he was responsible for overseeing the 4.5-star Medicare Advantage plan that had $1.2-billion in annual revenue and covered over 140,000 members across Michigan.

He previously served as Priority’s vice president of sales and client services, responsible for commercial sales and customer retention for over 7,000 employer clients and 400,000 enrolled members.

Prior to joining Priority Health, Norman was the senior director of insurance services for the Michigan Chamber of Commerce. In that role he was responsible for leading the employee benefits insurance division of the chamber that provided coverage for hundreds of employers across Michigan. In addition, he developed a number of proprietary insurance products and strategic solutions to help employers reduce their employee benefit costs.

Norman is a Michigan State University graduate and has been a resident of East Lansing since 1997.

Jessica Starks Jessica Starks is the president of Transworld Business Advisors of Lansing, the world leader in the confidential marketing and sales of businesses and franchises. Before starting her own business, Starks gained experience at a public accounting firm, sales with a payroll company, followed by 10 years in business banking.

Toward the end of her banking career, Starks was financing buyers acquiring businesses.

Starks realized there was a need in the market and wanted to help business owners exit their business. Starks found that baby boomers did not know where to turn when wanting to retire.

Although she thought of mostly baby boomers, she realized that other business owners wanted to exit their business as well. They had built something great, reinvested a lot of their money back into the business and care about their customers and employees. Starks wanted to give them an outlet to sell what they have worked so hard to create while leaving a legacy and taking care of those who helped get them to where they are today.

Starks received her bachelor’s degree from Grand Valley State University in Business Administration with an emphasis in accounting and finance. She is married to Brad and has two sons, Carter, 12 and Grant, 9. You are likely to find them at a football field, basketball court or baseball field.

Reuben Levinsohn Entrepreneur, investor and business coach, Reuben Levinsohn has a passion for developing leaders who want to disrupt the status quo and create meaningful change.

Levinsohn has an innate ability in discovering the game changers and is experienced in developing them into the

successful leaders of tomorrow. Assisting with financial and strategic consulting, Levinsohn serves as a financial advisor and mentor to several startup founders, business owners, and executive teams.

Learning and drawing from his own experiences, Levinsohn developed a series of educational, financial workshops that are designed to help young professionals make smart financial choices. He and his business partners at Washington Avenue Advisors have developed the Life and Wealth Roadmap program, which they regularly use to guide entrepreneurs through the development and implementation of their customized financial plans.

Levinsohn regularly spends time as a coach, mentor, and judge at local incubators and pitch events. When he’s not working as a financial advisor or advising entrepreneurs, he is enjoying time with his family, flying his plane, backpacking or on a river somewhere with his fly rod. Levinsohn resides in East Lansing with his wife, Rachel, and three children, Victoria, David and Joseph.

Michael Debri Michael J. Debri is the Lansing community president and Mid-Michigan business banking market manager at Huntington National Bank.

Debri has served as the Lansing community president since November 2009 and has held the position of business banking market manager since February 2014.

Debri began his banking career in 1997 as a credit analyst, after graduating from Michigan State University with a bachelor’s degree in finance. In 1999, he transitioned into a commercial relationship officer. He has spent his entire career serving existing and developing new commercial banking clients. In 2005, Debri became team lead of Investment Commercial Real Estate in the Jackson and Lansing markets at Fifth Third Bank. He joined Huntington Bank, formerly Citizens Bank, in 2007 as the senior commercial relationship officer in Lansing.

Some of Debri’s current and past board positions include Lansing Downtown YMCA, Great Lakes Capital Fund Art of Leadership, Junior Achievement, Mid-Michigan Entrepreneur Institute and the Mid-Michigan Alumni Association.

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FEATURE

Debri has been married to his wife, Erin, since 2001 and has two teenage sons, Andrew and Bryce.

Jennifer Marsh Jennifer Marsh is a key player on the commercial banking team at First National Bank of Michigan. Her extensive banking and financial experience enables her to provide exceptional knowledge to help plan and expand any business with customized financing solutions. She has experience including commercial development, company acquisitions and health care financing. Her clientele includes small businesses, independently owned multimillion-dollar companies and commercial real estate investors.

She obtained a bachelor’s degree in finance from Michigan State University and a certification as an accredited wealth management advisor through the College for Financial Planning.

Marsh has over 26 years’ banking experience and has served as president of the East Lansing Rotary and as a member of the Lansing Chamber Economic Club. She is an active member in the Lansing Rotary, currently volunteers for Habitat for Humanity and is on the board of directors for the Capital Area Humane Society.

Jeff Jackson Jeff Jackson currently serves as the chief lending officer of Michigan State University Federal Credit Union (MSUFCU).

He joined the Credit Union in 1997 and has experience leading the business and consumer lending teams, as well as a background in managing payment systems, support services, member services and adjustment processes.

As chief lending officer, Jackson guides the lending divisions of the credit union, including mortgage lending, direct lending, and all forms of business and consumer lending. He works closely with his team to provide financial solutions 30

for members to meet their lending and cash management needs.

During his more than 20 years at MSUFCU, Jackson has built a reputation for strengthening and overseeing the advances for housing and community economic development through credit union products and services. This commitment has resulted in increased access to grants for qualified members and improved services for local economic development.

Beyond his leadership at MSUFCU, Jackson is actively involved in the community. He was recently named to the board of directors for the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis, an independent regional cooperative bank.

Jackson also serves as a board member for the Michigan Credit Union Foundation, Child and Family Charities and Sparrow Foundation, and is a member of the Credit Union National Association Lending Council and East Lansing Rotary Club.

He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and Accounting from the University of Michigan and a Master of Business Administration from Michigan State University.

Debbie Petersmark Debbie Petersmark serves as vice president and general manager of WILX Media, a Gray Television station which operates WILXTV 10 (NBC), WILX.com, WILX Digital, cable channels Antenna TV and Heroes & Icons, as well as producing the newscasts for Fox 47 News. Debbie joined the station in 2000 as an account executive and served as general sales manager since 2014.

Prior to joining WILX, she spent 10 years at the Sparrow Foundation as the manager of the Children’s Miracle Network, where she led the fundraising efforts for the Regional Children’s Center and produced an annual telethon. She serves as a board member for the American Red Cross, mid-Michigan chapter and on the Sparrow Foundation board of directors.

Petersmark grew up in an entrepreneurial family, working alongside her grandfather, uncle and father at Holden Reid Clothiers from a young age. She has the opportunity to work with local business owners every day as her teams help them grow their business through advertising and cover their stories on News 10. She appreciates

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and understands the hard work, sacrifice and joy that comes with being an entrepreneur and feels privileged to be part of the Entrepreneurial Awards judging panel. A lifelong resident of East Lansing, Petersmark holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Indiana University. She and her husband, Mike live in East Lansing with their three children, Andy, Megan and Owen.

Bo Garcia Bo Garcia is dean of the Community Education and Workforce Development Division at Lansing Community College (LCC).

He manages corporate training, small business development, community education, continuing education and extension centers.

Formerly, Garcia was executive director of the Business & Community Institute at LCC, which was charged with creating business and workforce development initiatives between LCC and regional employers. In his previous position as regional director of the Small Business Development Center, Garcia counseled over 2,000 business clients on areas ranging from startup to expansion and crisis management.

Garcia also authored “Business Matters,” a weekly business column in the Lansing State Journal for over five years. He has been published in Entrepreneur Magazine and numerous other business publications and presents regionally on various business issues.

He has been adjunct faculty at Davenport University, College of Business Administration.

Garcia holds a Master of Business Administration from Northwood University, a Master of Public Administration from Western Michigan University, and a Bachelor of Arts from Michigan State University.

Don McNabb Don McNabb is the chief executive officer, principal scientist and co-founder of Triterra, a Lansing-based consulting firm that specializes in brownfield development, environmental consulting and natural resources management services.

McNabb brings over 20 years of experience in the industry and is responsible for overseeing

FEATURE

implementation of the company’s strategic direction, while continually promoting the firm’s core focus and values. He routinely assists clients with the implementation of environmental due diligence and contaminant management strategies while keeping their best interests in mind. He has provided numerous creative, effective, and economical solutions for real estate acquisition, contaminant investigation/ remediation, new development, and brownfield redevelopment projects throughout Michigan and the Great Lakes Region McNabb has a great appreciation for Michigan’s Capital Region and routinely devotes time and resources to help make our communities better.

He currently serves on the Lansing Economic Area Partnership’s Executive Committee and the city of Eaton Rapids Downtown Development Authority. As part of revitalization efforts in Eaton Rapids, McNabb became a partner/cofounder of the Eaton Rapids Craft Co., a new restaurant/pub nestled along the Grand River that brings a unique dining experience through quality food, craft beer/spirits and Michigan wine.

McNabb is a resident of Eaton Rapids, where he resides with his wife, Erica, and their two children, Torin and Marissa.

Steve Piesko Steve Piesko joined Maner Costerisan in 1999 and currently serves as the treasurer of the board of directors and chair of the education services niche.

Piesko specializes in consulting and strategic business advisory services, as well as auditing of closely held businesses, nonprofits and school districts.

Being part of the team running a firm of approximately 140 employees gives Piesko the ability to assist small businesses and analyze issues from an owner’s perspective. He works closely with them on strategy, succession planning, leadership, software conversions, bonus systems, stock transactions, and a variety of other issues, ensuring the best outcome and success of our clients.

Piesko graduated from Michigan State University with a bachelor’s and a master’s in accounting and finance. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants and is the past treasurer of The First Tee of Mid-Michigan. He currently lives in DeWitt with his wife, Missy, daughter Cate and puppy Murphy.

Jason Brunette Jason Brunette is the director of project management for Martin Property Development. He has been with the company since 2015 and is highly regarded in the field of project management.

Brunette has extensive experience in project management, construction management, and move management for both owners and occupiers of commercial real estate.

Prior to his affiliation with Martin Property Development, Brunette was a project manager with CBRE, Inc. out of Atlanta, Georgia. He was responsible for managing construction projects on behalf of clients across the southeast and southwest such as Ernst & Young, McKesson and Shaw Industries Group, Inc. He has managed over 30 projects across 16 states totaling approximately 700,000 square feet of tenant buildouts for Ernst & Young in their central, southeast, and southwest regions. Brunette’s experience has created a strong foundation for budgeting, scheduling and overall project management of commercial construction and development projects.

Alicia is a 2016 journalism graduate of The University of Akron. She is a Mason, MI resident.

She enjoys all things fitness related and has a yorkie poo named Oscar Mayer.

Earn $52k as a Robotics Technician.

Lansing Community College prepares students for exciting careers in advanced manufacturing. Utilizing hands-on instruction, LCC teaches industry tested skills in robotics and automation, computer automated design, precision machining and welding to those eager for high-paying careers after one year or less in training. This is your time.

Discover your future. lcc.edu/cme

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BY TERESA FRITH | PHOTO BY MARY GAJDA

SUMEET SAXENA

Mortgage loan originator at Huron Valley Financial Buying a home can be a trying and confusing process to someone who has never undergone the process of getting a mortgage. However, for homebuyers in the Greater Lansing area, Sumeet Saxena makes that process a little less stressful and a whole lot easier.

Saxena is a mortgage loan originator at Huron Valley Financial, which has branches in Ann Arbor, Brighton, Lansing, Southgate, Clarkston, Sterling Heights and Birmingham.

In simple terms, a mortgage loan originator is someone who works with borrowers to help them to get a mortgage and remains their point of contact through the entire mortgage process.

WHAT IS THE BACKGROUND ON HOW YOU STARTED OFF IN THIS INDUSTRY AND YOUR EXPERIENCE TO DATE? Before entering the mortgage industry, I was a personal banker specializing in helping 32

people with their banking needs and goals.

After three years I decided I wanted to expand my experience in helping people achieve their financial goals, and the way I wanted to do that was breaking into the mortgage industry.

I started out as a loan processor, which means I was the liaison between the mortgage loan officer, client or clients and the underwriter in getting the loan closed.

After being a processor for four years, I decided that I was ready to expand my mortgage experience even further and become a mortgage loan officer. I felt being a mortgage loan officer best fit my personality and my passion for helping people with their homeownership needs. I have been a loan officer now for two years.

As a mortgage loan originator, my goal is to help people accomplish their homeownership goals and needs. I have a conversation with my clients so I know what their homeownership needs and goals are. After

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the initial conversation, I educate them in the mortgage process, which mortgage program best fits their needs and why it fits their needs.

Finally, I work with the Realtors, processor, underwriter, and my closing department to get my clients to the closing table and help them become homeowners.

WHAT DO YOU DO ON A TYPICAL DAY AS A MORTGAGE LOAN ORIGINATOR? My typical day consists of meeting with Realtors and other industry leaders in my “sphere of influence” group to generate mortgage leads. I’m also meeting and talking to prospects that I’ve been connected with through my referral partners who are looking to get pre-approved for a mortgage.

BEHIND THE SCENES

WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT YOUR JOB? WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO GET INTO THIS FIELD? I feel the best part about my job that I like is getting my clients to the closing table. I get to witness the happiness and joy in my clients’ faces once they have signed the last document and are officially homeowners. I decided to get into the mortgage industry because I wanted to help people accomplish their homeownership goals.

DOES ONE NEED TO HAVE A PARTICULAR TYPE OF DEGREE TO BE A MORTGAGE LOAN ORIGINATOR? You don’t need any type of degree to become a mortgage loan originator. Typically, in order to become a mortgage loan originator, a person needs to have a financial services background, mortgage loan originator experience, and pass the mortgage loan officer state and federal tests that are required to become licensed.

WHAT ARE THE FIRST STEPS SOMEONE TRYING TO GET A MORTGAGE SHOULD DO AND HOW WOULD YOU ADVISE THEM TO PROCEED? The first steps to take when interested in getting a mortgage is to know how much money you’re looking to put down, what source are the funds for the down payment and closing costs coming from, how much do you want your total monthly payment to be including principle and interest, homeowners insurance, property taxes and mortgage insurance. Also, another step to take is to make sure your credit score qualifies for a mortgage and the credit report has no derogatory tradelines.

WHAT CHANGES, IF ANY, DO YOU SEE COMING FOR MORTGAGE LOANS IN 2019?

All indicators project interest rates will be increasing, with more consolidation of smaller mortgage companies in the market.

WHAT ARE TYPICAL REASONS WHY SOMEONE MIGHT NOT BE APPROVED FOR A MORTGAGE LOAN? The typical reasons someone would not be pre-approved for a loan is because of their credit scores not qualifying, along with derogatory tradelines on their credit report and/or not enough income that can be used to qualify them for a mortgage.

WHAT MAJOR CHANGES IN TECHNOLOGY HAVE YOU SEEN IN YOUR TIME AS A MORTGAGE LOAN ORIGINATOR? The major changes in technology that I’ve seen is the ability for mortgage loan officers to electronically send the application and loan disclosures to the client for them to electronically sign the application and loan disclosures. The ability to market/promote myself and other referral sources via social media is another major change I’ve seen in technology. The ability to track the progress of each loan from beginning to end using the loan origination software. Lastly, the availability of software to keep track of an existing database of prospects and clients.

WHAT SETS YOU APART FROM OTHER MORTGAGE LOAN ORIGINATORS AND MAKES IT A GOOD DEAL FOR A CUSTOMER TO CHOOSE YOU TO HELP THEM GET A MORTGAGE? I feel that I have an awesome support team and processing systems in place with Huron Valley Financial that help the mortgage process go smoothly. Also, I feel that my commitment to finding the right program for my clients’ needs, communicating with my clients and Realtors on a consist basis from beginning to end, definitely sets me apart from different mortgage loan originators.

DO YOU SEE ANY MAJOR CHANGES COMING IN THE HOUSING MARKET IN 2019 THAT WILL CAUSE CHANGES IN THE STRATEGY OF GETTING A MORTGAGE LOAN?

WHAT ARE THE STEPS A CUSTOMER HAS TO GO THROUGH TO GET A MORTGAGE LOAN? Have a conversation with me first, complete an application, have credit pulled, send me initial income documentation to receive a preapproval, put an offer on a house and have it accepted. Have an appraisal completed, submit the loan through underwriting to receive conditional approval, gather remaining documentation requested by underwriting, resubmit it back to underwriting for a clear to close and finally receive the clear to close from the underwriter.

HOW ELSE DO YOU HELP CUSTOMERS GET THEIR MORTGAGE LOAN? If a client doesn’t immediate qualify for a mortgage because of their credit score or anything derogatory on their credit report, I will work with them as far as guiding them into what they need to do to increase their credit score. I will also guide them in what they need to do with any derogatory items that are on their credit report, and how that will affect them in qualifying for a mortgage. I will also educate clients on the mortgage programs available and the process as well.

The bottom line is that the American dream has always been owning a home, and the mortgage process can seem scary to new homebuyers. It is always a good thing to have someone on your side to guide you through the process and to answer any questions or concerns that you may have in your journey to buy a house. That’s where people like Sumeet Saxena of Huron Valley Financial are standing by, ready and eager to help those who need a mortgage to buy their dream house and make that journey to secure a mortgage go smoothly.

So, if you are in need of a mortgage, and are unsure about the process or just want an experienced person to guide you, a mortgage loan originator like Saxena is the right place to start the process.

Kerry Hart is a couple and family therapist with a private practice in East Lansing. The only thing she loves more than saving relationships is writing about them. See more of her musings at kerryhartcounseling.com

We’ve seen in the last couple of years that it was a seller’s market, but now I predict it will swing back toward a buyer’s market.

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OH, HOW THE TIMES HAVE CHANGED AT HOME

1950s & 1960s In these two decades, the exodus from hot, crowded cities continued as more and more families flocked to the suburbs, fulfilling the dream by building a prefabricated home with a big yard in a nice neighborhood. Two-thirds of each house was constructed in a factory using assembly-line technology.

One company reported it built all the components for each house in just seven minutes.

(National Association of Manufacturers)

1908 Sears, Montgomery Ward and Aladdin Co. – of Bay City – were pioneers of mail-order kit homes. Everything needed to build a house was ordered and delivered to the construction site. More than 70,000 kit homes were sold in North America between 1908 and 1940.

Homebuyers could choose from more than 370 different home designs in a wide range of styles and sizes. (Wikipedia, Sears Archives)

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Today Early in 2018, a San Francisco nonprofit called New Story joined forces with ICON, a construction technology firm that designs 3D-printed homes. They built what is believed to be the first government-permitted 3D-fabricated home in America. The design is for a 350-square-foot house that takes 48 hours to build and costs $10,000. (Business Insider)

1990s & early 2000s When the federal government revised stricter standards for modular homes, they became more popular with people seeking a home that was fast to go up and came in a wide variety of styles. Modular homes were built in units – often two halves for a one-story house – that were transported to the construction location and joined together on-site. They could even be be built as a multiple-story house.

(Home Stratosphere)

1947

1970s & 1980s

Entrepreneur Abraham Levitt began work on a planned community in Nassau County, Long Island.

Within a few years they had turned farmland into the first suburban community. On average, Levitt's builders finished 12 houses per day. (U.S. History Team, L.A. Times)

The movement during this period was to blend houses into their environments, with terraced building sites and natural wood siding.

It became known as California Contemporary style. Experts say this style was the last mid-century modern design to be completely new, not borrowing from previous designs. The also were smaller – an average of 1,700 energy efficient square feet – which was a reaction to the energy crisis. (Modern Charlotte)

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BUILDING A BETTER REGION

BY STEVE JAPINGA The Greater Lansing region has made great strides over the past few years to increase the quality of life for residents, businesses and visitors. As the region’s driving force for positive change, the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce (LRCC) works relentlessly to build a stronger community and more prosperous region for all.

2018 WAS GOOD TO OUR REGION Last year, the chamber worked with business leaders, community members and public officials from every level of government to collaboratively influence and support initiatives, pieces of legislation and regional developments, creating positive change and strengthening the Greater Lansing region.

The LRCC’s 2018 policy priorities improved the region’s education and workforce development, infrastructure, regulatory environment and regionalism, and they resulted in many regional successes, including:

• Coleman Road funding: A total of $7.6

million was secured to extend Coleman Road to ease traffic on Lake Lansing Road and create new economic development opportunities and jobs.

• Heritage Hall funding: The funds were

secured for a new $40 million welcome center to the Michigan Capitol, serving as an educational resource for Michiganders and visitors.

• 50-50 Rule repeal: A law was removed that

could have potentially increased the costs of food or alcohol to consumers and could no longer be accurately monitored and audited in the city of East Lansing.

• Ingham County, East Lansing and Lansing

to strengthen the business environment in our region and enhance our community while keeping you connected and advocating on your behalf.

• American Airline LAN to DCA: This move

By building and strengthening key relationships with local, state and federal policymakers who are making decisions that impact your business, the chamber will remain the trusted voice of your business. Together as business leaders, we will influence policy decisions by leading and executing efforts that focus on the Greater Lansing business community’s guiding principles and our shared vision to make the Lansing region a better place to live and work.

court consolidation (House Bill 6344): The bill promotes regional collaboration and provides significant savings for the region. extended nonstop flights from Lansing to Washington, D.C., which will continue to support the region’s development, growth and quality of life.

In order to continue to effectively impact policy decisions, the chamber has formed key relationships with organizations that are also fighting to help the region reach its fullest potential.

PARTNERING WITH THE CAPITOL CAUCUS The Capitol Caucus is a nine-member, bipartisan and bicameral group of lawmakers from the mid-Michigan region that represents legislative districts in Ingham, Eaton and Clinton counties.

Throughout the year, the chamber will work with the Capitol Caucus to advocate for businesses to the lawmakers who represent the region.

The Capitol Caucus selected Sen. Curtis Hertel Jr., D-East Lansing, as chair. Reps. Angela Witwer, D-Delta Township, and Sarah Lightner, R-Springport, were named as vice chairs for its 2019-2020 leadership positions.

The other members of the caucus are Sen. Tom Barrett, R-Potterville; Rep. Sarah Anthony, D-Lansing; Rep. Julie Brixie, D-Meridian Township; Rep. Kara Hope, D-Holt; Rep. Graham Filler, R-Ovid; and Rep. Ben Frederick, R-Owosso.

WHAT’S IN STORE FOR 2019?

This year, the chamber’s government relations team is focused on leading advocacy efforts

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The chamber’s 2019 advocacy priorities will focus on the following areas:

• Talent and workforce development • Regional infrastructure • Economic development • Regulatory environment • Local government financial health As the chamber continues to work relentlessly on the policies impacting your business, if you have specific issues that you want our staff to review and act on, contact Steve Japinga, vice president of government relations, at sjapinga@ lansingchamber.org or Amanda Fischer, communications and public policy coordinator, at afischer@lansingchamber.org.

Steve Japinga is Director of Government Relations for the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce. He is responsible for developing and managing the Chamber’s policy priorities as well as monitoring local, state, and federal issues that may impact the business community and the Greater Lansing region. He is a graduate of Michigan State University and lives in Lansing with his wife Katherine and dogs, Charlie and George.

2 0 1 9 S PA R R O W G A L A PROCEEDS TO BENEFIT ORTHOPEDICS AT SPARROW

thank you to our generous sponsors INSPIRE

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CHARM ANDREWS HOOPER PAVLIK PLC

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Anesthesia and Pain Management Consultants David & Connie Donovan Granger Construction Kitch Drutchas Wagner Valitutti & Sherbrook

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Michigan Professional Insurance Exchange Michigan State University College of Human Medicine & The Department of Family Medicine MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine MSU Department of Neurology & Ophthalmology MSU Federal Credit Union

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Physician Anesthesia Service PNC Tri-Star Trust Bank

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BUSINESS CALENDAR

MARCH 2019 title sponsor once again. Visit this event on Eventbrite.com for more information.

MARCH 6 MEECA 5TH ANNUAL BANQUET & AWARDS CELEBRATION

MARCH 17

In December 2018 Michigan's Legislature and the U.S. Congress each passed legislation that decriminalized and created a marketplace for industrial hemp. Regulations regarding Michigan's hemp industry will be ready by the end of February, making this conference the one place where farmers and entrepreneurs can get cutting-edge information they need to get involved. Michigan's first hemp crops- both indoor and outdoor- will be planted in 2019, but until you know, you can't grow! The MICBD Group has held nine previous conferences in Michigan centered around the emergent cannabis

MARCH 18 YOUTH STARTUP EXPO CHAPERONE SIGN UP 2019 The Lansing Youth Startup Expo brings sixth12th-grade students from across the region together to present their unique, creative and innovative business ideas to each other and the public. Chaperones are an integral part of the event, and we appreciate your efforts to bring this event to your students. Visit Eventbrite.com for more information.

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With early spring comes the MEECA Annual Banquet & Awards Ceremony, formerly known as the Annual Gala. Regardless of its name, this event is widely recognized as our organization’s premier networking and fundraising opportunity that everyone looks forward to each year. The 2019 Annual Banquet & Awards Ceremony returns to the Kellogg Center on the banks of the Red Cedar River on Michigan State University’s main campus in East Lansing. This location is easily accessible from all directions and includes covered parking in case of inclement weather. Once again, we will occupy the Lincoln Room. We are also pleased to announce that DNVGL has graciously decided to be this year's

MICHIGAN HEMP CONFERENCE

industry. Our connection to the state government, to legislative leaders and to industry giants is second to none. The conference is an affordable way to learn if the hemp industry is right for you!

Visit this event on Eventbrite.com for more information.

D COF

JOIN US WEDNESDAY MARCH 13, 2019 Be an active member of Lansing’s dynamic business community. Meet people from diverse industries to add to your network, reconnect with friends and find local resources. Join us for Connections & Coffee presented by Greater Lansing Business Monthly and Capitol National Bank.

8 - 9 AM MARCH 13, 2019

CAPITOL NATIONAL BANK 200 N. WASHINGTON SQ. LANSING, MI 48933

RSVP or sponsorship inquiries to kelly@m3group.biz

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PRESENTED BY:

BUSINESS CALENDAR

MARCH 19 ENTREPRENEURSHIP MIX AND MINGLE The Michigan State University Career Services Network, in partnership with Spartan Innovations, is excited to host the Entrepreneurship Mix and Mingle event on March 19, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. inside the Breslin Hall of History on the MSU campus. The casual networking event is the perfect forum for startups and entrepreneur-minded companies looking to connect with college students who are interested in learning more about careers as entrepreneurs and innovators in the industry. The cost to register is $25 per company, and complimentary food is included. You don’t even need to have immediate job/internship openings to register.

Visit Eventbrite.com for more information.

MARCH 21 10TH ANNUAL BARRISTERS NIGHT The 10th Annual Barristers Night is an opportunity for the bench and bar to come together and recognize the recipients of the Top 5 Under 35 Awards, given annually to five members of the Ingham County Bar Association, Young Lawyers Section.

Recipients are recognized for their talents, skills, professionalism and civility in the practice of law. Visit Eventbrite.com for more information.

with many more underway. The Barre Code offers group classes that are aimed to provide personal growth and self-acceptance. The all-encompassing fitness program incorporates cardiovascular conditioning, strength training, and restoration in an empowering environment.

Lorenz grew up dancing and performing from an early age, uncovering her passion for choreography during her high school and college years. Lorenz earned her B.A. in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan State University, where she also served as her sorority president.

After graduation, she joined a global consulting

firm, spending over 10 years immersing herself in the business world. Since founding The Barre Code in 2010, Lorenz has been highlighted alongside the brand in publications such as Forbes, Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, SELF, Glamour, Entrepreneur, Women’s Health and Inc. She regularly speaks on entrepreneurship panels, including The University of Chicago and Northwestern University business schools. She received the 2018 Spartan Innovator of the Year award by the Chicago Spartans. Visit Eventbrite.com for more information.

LEGAL COUNSEL FOR REAL ESTATE Investment, Development and Management Foster Swift’s Real Estate team counsels financial institutions, businesses, insurance companies and individuals. We assist our clients with their real estate transactional needs, including drafting and negotiating purchase agreements, construction contracts, financing and lending documents, as well as resolving title, zoning, utilities, environmental and real estate tax issues.

MARCH 21 THE DRINKING LUNCH MARCH 2019 There was a time when it was expected that you’d have a few at your business lunch - and then it vanished. We’re proud to be bringing back the afternoon libation - without the judgment. So, bring your business cards and raise a toast to The Drinking Lunch. Visit TheDrinkingLunch.com for more information.

MARCH 26 INNOVATE STATE, WITH JILLIAN LORENZ Jillian Lorenz is the co-founder and co-CEO of The Barre Code, a fast-growing fitness franchise.

The Barre Code originated in Chicago in 2010 and now has over 40 locations across the country

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Lansing • Detroit • Southfield • Grand Rapids Holland

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Traverse City • St. Joseph

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NOTABLE NEWS

ATHENA WIN ANNOUNCES 2019 BOARD

Front row, from left: Colleen Serkaian of Exciting Windows by Colleen, Breina Pugh of the Lansing Board of Water & Light, Jessica Fleet of Maner Costersian, Hope Lovell of LoveJoy Community Services and Karen Grannemann of the University Club of Michigan State University. Back row, from left: Melissa Nay of the Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau, Ashlee Willis of Michigan Premier Events, Michelle Reynaert of the Sparrow Foundation, Abigail Daughtery of Farm Bureau Insurance, Michelle Rahl of the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce and Jennifer Sturdy of PNC Bank. Not pictured: Debbie Horak of GUD Marketing.

ATHENA WIN announced its 2019 board of directors. Board members for the year include Colleen Serkaian of Exciting Windows by Colleen, Breina Pugh of the Lansing Board of Water & Light, Jessica

Fleet of Maner Costersian, Hope Lovell of LoveJoy Community Services, Karen Grannemann of the University Club of Michigan State University, Melissa Nay of the Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau, Ashlee Willis of Michigan Premier Events, Michelle Reynaert of the Sparrow Foundation, Abigail Daughtery of Farm Bureau Insurance, Michelle Rahl of the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce, Jennifer Sturdy of PNC Bank. and Debbie Horak of GUD Marketing.

Founded in Lansing under the original principles of ATHENA International to support, develop and honor women leaders while inspiring and encouraging women to achieve their full potential, ATHENA WIN is a collaborative effort to provide a support system for professional women in the Greater Lansing area. ATHENA WIN focuses on offering information, support and opportunity to women in business, whether it is advice on getting started or assistance stepping up to the next level.

For information on membership or general questions, email winmichigan@gmail.com.

FIVE PROMOTED AT MANER COSTERISAN Showcasing its commitment to fostering talent in the region, Maner Costerisan recently announced the promotion of five employees to management positions within the full-service public accounting and business advisory firm.

“We are firmly dedicated to nurturing our talent along the career path toward expertise in their respective fields,” said Director of Administration Kris Latchaw. “Because of their previous experience and familiarity with the Maner Costerisan culture, these new managers will be able to best serve our clients as well as position themselves as mentors in grooming our future talent for continued service and success.”

The five employees who have been promoted to managers at Maner Costerisan are:

• Tyler Baker, CPA: Baker, who joined

the firm in 2015 as an associate, was promoted to audit manager specializing in the niche areas of real estate and government.

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• Kasey Roth, CPA: Roth, who joined

the firm in 2015 as an associate, was promoted to audit manager specializing in the niche areas of telecommunications, nonprofits and government.

• Seth Meyer: Meyer, who joined the firm in 2015 as an associate consultant, was promoted to technology manager. He holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Davenport University.

• Bethany Verble, CPA, CFE: Verble,

who joined the firm in 2015 as an associate, was promoted to audit manager. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and fraud investigation from Davenport University.

Other board members for the year include Cindy Bowen of the Crowne Plaza Lansing West, Thomas M. Collins of Traverse City Leasing, Inc., Kellie Dean of Dean Transportation/Dean Trailways, Barry Freed of Art Craft Display Inc., Kristina Reitler of Spartan Hospitality Group, Derrell Slaughter of the Ingham County Board of Commissioners and Aimee Wright of Quality Suites Hotel.

“We are very fortunate to have such a vital, dedicated group of business professionals

and community leaders comprising our board,” said CVB President Jack Schripsema. “I look forward to working with them to promote the Greater Lansing community.”

MSUFCU EARNS QUALITY PERFORMANCE AWARD Visa has awarded Michigan State University Federal Credit Union one of its prestigious Visa Global Service Quality Performance Awards based on the credit union’s

• Joseph Burelle, CPA: Burelle, who

joined the firm in 2015 as an associate, was promoted to tax manager and will serve in the niche areas of tax preparation and planning services on Internal Revenue Service and state audits, tax research, and mentoring/training of colleagues.

NEW BOARD NAMED AT FRASER TREBILCOCK The shareholders of Fraser Trebilcock, one of Michigan’s longest-established fullservice law firms, have re-elected Michael H. Perry as president of the firm. This is Perry’s second consecutive year as president.

Shareholder Mark E. Kellogg was reelected to the board of directors, where he will serve as vice president, and shareholder Thomas J. Waters was elected to the board of directors, where he will serve as treasurer/secretary.

The annual election of the board of directors allows Fraser Trebilcock to continue its tradition of exceptional client service, dedicated community involvement and professional excellence.

CVB NAMES LEADERSHIP FOR THE YEAR The Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau announced its board officers for 2019. Officers include Chair Kenric Hall of the Radisson Hotel Lansing at the Capitol, Vice Chair Eric Sudol of the East Lansing Marriott at University Place, SecretaryTreasurer Michael Brand of the Wharton Center for Performing Arts and Past Chair Dorothy E. Maxwell of the Max Weingar Group.

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exceptional results in its authorization approval rate for consumer credit.

Throughout this award program’s history, Visa has recognized its most exceptional clients for their consistent, superior operating performance in areas directly affecting Visa cardholders and merchants.

“This recognition from Visa is a tribute to the exceptional performance of our team,” said credit union Chief Marketing Officer Deidre Davis. “We are committed to

providing accurate and efficient processes so that our members consistently receive access to credit in a timely manner. We are honored to receive this award; it underscores our commitment to fulfilling our mission of helping members achieve their dreams.”

Visa instituted the Visa Global Service Quality Performance Awards program In 1992 to recognize clients demonstrating exceptional card operations processing within the United States.

HEALTH CENTER CHANGES NAME With the transfer of Volunteers of America of Michigan’s Lansing programming to Holy Cross Services, the name of the on-site community health center operated by the Ingham County Health Department in partnership with Sparrow Health System has been changed to New Hope Community Health Center.

The health center continues to aid underserved members of the community, including the homeless. The health care providers remain the same.

“We are excited to work with Holy Cross Services,” said Deputy Health Officer and Executive Director of Ingham Community Health Services Anne Scott. “Together, we hope to continue providing excellent care for our most vulnerable community members.”

& e t a t s E l g n i Rea s u o H e l b a d r o f f A rs,

lope e v e d estate dicators, l a e r e to syn u l t i a d v e g r din xC nies. i a a v T p o r g m p n o i ous ent c CPAs H m e e m g a o c n Low In ofits, and ma nonpr

New Hope Community Health Center is the newest addition to the Ingham Community Health Centers, which is the network of federally qualified health centers operated through the Ingham County Health Department. Ingham Community Health Centers provides access to primary health care services.

CHAMBER ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF FOUR AWARDS The Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce announced the recipients of four major awards, which were presented at the chamber’s annual dinner Feb. 26. Amy Stephenson, founder of Helping Woman Period, received the Community Service Award. American Fifth Distillery received the Outstanding Small Business Award.

Lansing Ice & Fuel received the Legacy Award. Martha Mertz, creator of the ATHENA Award, received the Pioneer Award.

TRUSCOTT ROSSMAN ANNOUNCES D.C. EXPANSION

517.886.9524

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Truscott Rossman announced the opening of a new office in Washington, D.C. It will be

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the firm’s fourth office and the first located outside Michigan. The new office will help Truscott Rossman’s clients navigate Washington, while connecting Washington interests to the levers of power in Detroit, Lansing and Grand Rapids.

Trump administration tariffs impacting her company.

DBI HONORED WITH TOP DISTINCTION

“Truscott Rossman is known for our political knowledge and experience in the Michigan state capital, so it makes sense to open shop in the nation’s capital,” said John Truscott, CEO and principal of the firm he cofounded. “2018 was a landmark year for our firm. This new office will help us continue that trend while helping our clients tackle challenges and opportunities at the federal level.”

The move comes nine months after Ron Fournier joined Truscott Rossman as president following a 25-year career as a White House reporter and editor in Washington as well as a stint as editor and publisher of Crain’s Detroit Business. A Detroit native, Fournier helped his first client, Mary Buchzeiger, president and CEO of Lucerne International, testify before the U.S. Trade Representative, drawing national and international media coverage of her successful fight against the

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DBI is one of 30 dealerships to be awarded the 2019 Best in Class distinction and one of only seven to have earned Best in Class every year since the award’s inception. The award is a distinction reserved for those elite dealers that not only obtain the highest performance levels but are successful in maintaining those rigorous standards over time and against high-performing peer dealers. Haworth Inc. currently has 600 partners in its dealership network worldwide DBI is a privately owned office furniture and office supply dealer in Lansing, serving midMichigan businesses since 1984.

Haworth Inc. leadership announced that DBI has been designated as a 2019 Best in Class dealership. The Best in Class distinction is awarded to dealerships based on exceptional performance in market development, sales, customer satisfaction, operational excellence and enterprise development.

“Only through outstanding dealerships like DBI is Haworth able to provide the exceptional service experience our customers deserve,” said Franco Bianchi, president and CEO of Haworth.

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“It all starts with having great people.

Haworth’s Best in Class distinction is a testament to our extraordinary team members and the exceptional work they perform each and every day to ensure that we are satisfying our customers and achieving organizational excellence,” said George Snyder, co-owner and president of DBI.

SPARROW TOWER RENAMED TO HONOR SWAN The Sparrow Tower has been renamed the Dennis A. Swan Family Tower in honor of

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to Swan. He and his wife, Kathy, live in Okemos near their daughter and son-in-law, and dote on their three grandchildren.

I-94 TEAM RECEIVES PARTNERSHIP CHARTER AWARD

Richard Bruner, chair of the health system board of directors, said the decision was an easy one for the board, given Swan’s impact on Sparrow and his dedication to Sparrow caregivers and the health of people in the mid-Michigan region.

the health system’s recently retired longtime president and CEO. The unanimous decision was made by the Sparrow Health System board of directors and was revealed in a surprise announcement at a recent reception for Swan.

“Having our family name attached to Sparrow’s 10-story tower is far beyond anything I could have ever imagined,” Swan said. “We accept this honor with humility and profound appreciation for all past and present physicians, caregivers, volunteers and donors.”

It was important that “family” be included in the name because family is so integral

“Dennis Swan was a classic servant-leader who thoroughly believed that his job was to take care of the people who take care of the people,” Bruner said. “One of the hallmarks of Dennis is that integrity is paramount to him. … We felt that the significant growth of the health system and expansion of Sparrow’s physical plant in his years of leadership could best be honored by naming the tower after him.”

The tower is one of numerous achievements during a tenure in which Swan made an indelible mark on local health care. Swan retired Dec. 31 after nearly 38 years at Sparrow, including 14 as president and CEO. He has been succeeded by E.W. Tibbs Jr.

Interstate 94 Modernization, Advanced Bridges Project Team with their awards

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) of Michigan have announced the Interstate 94 Modernization, Advanced Bridges Project Team as the 2018 recipient of the MDOTACEC Partnership Charter Award.

The award, now in its sixth year, recognizes project managers and firms in Michigan for project partnerships based on trust, effective communication, continuous improvement, innovation and timely issue resolution. The team was recognized for its achievement at the annual MDOT-ACEC conference held in Lansing on Jan. 31.

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FOSTER SWIFT ELECTS SHAREHOLDERS Foster Swift Collins & Smith attorneys Matthew S. Fedor, Clifford L. Hammond, Ryan E. Lamb and John W. Mashni have been elected as shareholders of the firm.

Fedor practices in in the areas of business law, estate planning, probate, trust and estate administration and elder law matters; writing content for the firm’s elder law blog

at mielderlawblog.com. He provides legal counsel to small-business owners on general corporate matters and business succession planning and assists families with elder law matters including estate planning. Fedor practices in the firm’s Southfield office.

Hammond focuses on employment and labor law counsel and litigation in both the Lansing and Southfield offices. He has extensive experience in collective bargaining, employment litigation, and dispute resolution among other labor and

employment matters and regularly conducts seminars to national and local business groups.

Lamb primarily practices business and tax law, immigration, estate planning, and real estate law from the firm’s Holland and Grand Rapids offices. With a background in finance, he has extensive experience counseling businesses of all sizes and stages of growth. Lamb also serves as the leader of Foster Swift’s immigration practice group.

Mashni practices in the areas of business, tax and intellectual property, and has a strong focus in the areas of nonprofits, cybersecurity, technology and entertainment. As a former entrepreneur, business owner and manager, Mashni has a deep understanding of the decisions that entrepreneurs and business owners face. His legal skill, with his understanding Insurance can be complicated.

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MACKINAC ADVENTURE AUCTION HELPS NATURE CENTER

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The Harris Nature Center Foundation hosted an online auction from Jan. 26 to Feb. 8 for a Mackinac Bridge Adventure Package to raise funds for a new pavilion at the nature center 46

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Accepted Everywhere You Go Whether your business takes you statewide, nationwide, or worldwide, you can depend on your MSUFCU Business Visa Credit Card. It’s accepted everywhere you see the Visa logo.

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and help fund School Bus Scholarships. The fundraiser netted $2,700 for the efforts.

“We’re excited to have raised this amount of money to help fund the amazing nature experiences of our visitors and residents,” said Harris Nature Center coordinator Kit Rich. “Having fun and unique ways to engage our community in raising money for Harris Nature Center improvements encourage people to become more involved and show support.”

CONSTRUCTION UNDERWAY FOR BURCHAM HILLS EXPANSION

Upon completion, StoneBriar at Burcham Hills will also feature 44 new upscale independent apartments with either a patio or balcony, underground parking and a new main entrance with porte-cochere.

“StoneBriar at Burcham Hills is more than a new building or renovation,” said Pam Ditri, executive director. “It is a fresh take on senior living, created around the preferences of today’s independent, on-the-go senior.”

The campus is located on 38 acres at the corner of Park Lake Road and Burcham Drive.

HOMTV AIRS BILINGUAL NEWSCAST Construction of the first phase of the expansion of Burcham Hills has official begun. The $29 million expansion in East Lansing, known as StoneBriar at Burcham Hills, will show significant areas of the existing Burcham Hills building being renovated or enhanced.

Mandarin version of the “Meridian News Now” newscast, which began airing Feb. 7.

“It is a truly historic moment at HOMTV to air our fist program in Mandarin. This is something we have talked about doing for multiple years,” said HOMTV Executive Producer Brandie Yates. “It is exciting we can provide this opportunity to our international interns and viewers.”

HOMTV’s internship program hires international and multicultural students every year. Mandarin-speaking alumni members will translate scripts and anchor the Mandarin version of the newscast on a biweekly basis. The Greater Lansing Chinese association is also assisting HOMTV with the translation of scripts.

To better serve the diverse cultures in the community, HOMTV is incorporating bilingual programming, including a

THANK YOU LANSING FOR 100 YEARS OF SUPPORT

Giving back & looking forward since 1919

100 Years of Local Heroes

Visit www.micauw.org to learn about the history of Capital Area United Way and to view informative videos.

1919 Community Welfare Fund 48

1939 United Community Chest

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1972 Capital Area United Way

2019 Celebrates 100 Years

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Capital Area Michigan Works! is a proud partner of the American Job Center network. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, this piece will be made available in an alternative format upon request to Capital Area Michigan Works! Relay Center. Call 711 or 844-578- 5653 (Voice and TDD). Funding for Capital Area Michigan Works! is received in part from the U.S. Department of Labor, the State of Michigan Department of Health L a nand s i nHuman g B u s Services, i n e s s N and e w s . c o m the Talent Investment Agency. An Equal Opportunity Employer/Center.

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