GLBM November 2015

BUSINESS MONTHLY GR E ATE R LANS ING

NOVEMBER 2015

10 Over the Next Ten In this issue •

NEW CREDIT CARD CHIPS MAKE PURCHASES MORE SECURE

•

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS SET BY THE UNITED NATIONS LOOK TO IMPROVE CONDITIONS FOR PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD

•

HARVEST SEASON LOOKS PROMISING FOR MID-MICHIGAN FARMERS L

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Monotony, please keep right.

The all-new Audi Q3 is nothing you'd expect from a crossover.

Its distinct and dynamic design stands out amongst the crowd.

Its luxurious interior seats five comfortably, with plenty of room for your gear in the back. Yet its impressive agility and available quattro® all-wheel drive gives you the confidence to handle it on virtually any road.* So why settle for the same old thing, when you can simply outmaneuver it?

The agile all-new Audi Q3. Stray the course.

Starting at $32,500.**

Williams Audi 2845 East Saginaw Street Lansing 517.484.1341 www.williamsaudi.com *Always obey speed and traffic laws. When driving in cold, snowy, or icy conditions, ensure that your vehicle is equipped with appropriate all-season or winter tires. **Starting MSRP of $32,500 for a 2015 Audi Q3 Premium Plus 2.0 TFSI with six-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission. Model shown is a 2015 Audi Q3 Premium Plus 2.0 TFSI quattro with six-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission and optional paint, i i 19" wheels G R EinAavailable T E R L metallic ANSIN G Bstarting U S I NMSRP E S S ofM$35,950.

O N T HPrices L Y exclude N Otransportation, V E M B E R taxes, 2 0 1 5title, other options and dealer charges. Dealer sets actual price. “Audi,” “quattro,” “Truth in Engineering,” all model names, and the four rings logo are registered trademarks of AUDI AG. ©2014 Audi of America, Inc.

Welcome Wherever You Go Whether your business takes you nationwide or worldwide, depend on your MSUFCU Platinum Resource Visa Credit Card.

Apply today. www.msufcu.org/business • 517-333-2365 Platinum Resource Visa Credit Card account available to Michigan-based businesses only.

All loans are subject to credit approval. Origination or other fees may apply.

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NOVEMBER 2015

G R E AT E R

L A N S I N G

BUSINESS MONTHLY

BUSINESS MONTHLY G RE ATER L A N S I N G

NOVEMBER 2015

News UN Establishes a New Set of Global Goals..................................................................................... 6 Michigan Legislature Sites Road Repairs and Employer Rights as Priorities During Session.................................................................................................. 10

Features 10 Over the Next Ten

A Look at Generation Y ............................................................................................................................ 9 Mid-Michigan Expects Record-Breaking Harvest in 2015.................................................. 12

In this issue •

NEW CREDIT CARD CHIPS MAKE PURCHASES MORE SECURE

•

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS SET BY THE UNITED NATIONS LOOK TO IMPROVE CONDITIONS FOR PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD

•

HARVEST SEASON LOOKS PROMISING FOR MID-MICHIGAN FARMERS

Computer Chip Credit Cards Expected to Provide Added Security.............................. 16 Documentary Celebrates General Motors’ Success in Lansing........................................ 18 10 Over the Next Ten............................................................................................................................. 20

Cover photography by Mark Warner

The Greater Lansing Business Monthly (Volume 28, Issue 11) The Greater Lansing Business Monthly is published monthly by M3 Group at group 614 Seymour 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) 203-0123 or visit lansingbusinessnews.com to subscribe.

Postmaster: Send address changes to The Greater Lansing Business Monthly, 614 Seymour Ave., Lansing, MI 48933. Send additional subscription requests and address changes to The Greater Lansing Business Monthly, Inc., 614 Seymour Street, Lansing, MI 48933.

Copyright © 2015 The Greater Lansing Business Monthly, Inc. All rights reserved.

Editorial Office: 614 Seymour Street, Lansing, MI 48933 lansingbusinessnews.com 2

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

Departments Commentary.................................................................................................................................................. 4 He Said She Said........................................................................................................................................ 28 GLBM List.................................................................................................................................................... 30 Man on the Street.................................................................................................................................... 32 Economy ....................................................................................................................................................... 34 Workforce Issues...................................................................................................................................... 36 Regional Roundup.................................................................................................................................... 38 Real Estate................................................................................................................................................... 40 Business Calendar ................................................................................................................................... 42 Notable News............................................................................................................................................. 44

NOVEMBER 2015

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C O M M E N TA R Y

G R E AT E R

L A N S I N G

BUSINESS MONTHLY Publisher: Tiffany Dowling tiffany@m3group.biz Sales Manager: Jennifer Hodges jhodges@m3group.biz Media Specialist: Jill Bailey Account Managers: Megan Fleming Manny Garcia Production Director: Kelly Mazurkiewicz Art Director: Brooke Erwin Brand Manager: Ami Iceman-Haueter Creative Manager: Mark Warner Editor: Alicia Pilmore Graphic Artist: Mike France Web Manager: Skylar Kohagen Event Calendar Manager: Jaime Hardesty

GLBM Editorial Board: April Clobes — President and CEO, MSU Federal Credit Union Trish Foster — Senior Managing Director & COO, CBRE|Martin Lisa Parker — Director of Alumni Career and Business Services, Michigan State University Alumni Association

Bring on the Millennials

C

hange is inevitable. The workplace is shifting. As so many Millennials take their places in businesses of all sizes, it’s important to understand how the world of work will evolve. Like the generations before, there are always pros and cons to how they see the world of work. I can remember in my first year working full-time after college, I heard someone in leadership say that he feared for the world when my generation took over. It’s a generational cycle.

Here’s what we know about the next generation according to data collected by Yahoo Small Business: • 89 percent of Millennials would prefer to choose when and where they work rather than being placed in a 9-to-5 position.

• 45 percent of Millennials will choose workplace flexibility over pay.

• 56 percent of Millennials won’t accept jobs from companies that ban social media.

• Average tenure for Millennials is two years (compared to five years for Gen X and seven years for Baby Boomers.)

• It costs an average of $24,000 to replace each Millennial employee. Either promote them fast or give them options to gain more transferable skills — otherwise they will leave.

This generation views the world differently, but doesn’t every generation? They are searching for specific things and are willing to make it work on their terms.

Each year I’m impressed by the Greater Lansing Chamber of Commerce’s choices for the 10 Over the Next Ten. Please take the time to read each person’s story.

They are all amazing individuals making great contributions to our community.

Since we all need to work together and make the future brighter, use these tips to make the world of work more productive. It may not be easy or intuitive at first, but this generation is thoughtful, creative and smart. They also care about people.

• Understand them

• Set them free

• Get the ‘deal’ right

• Let them learn

Tom Ruis — Vice President, Fifth Third Bank

• Help them grow

• Let them advance faster

Doug Klein — Executive Director, Mason Area Chamber of Commerce

• Let them know how they’re doing

• Expect them to go

Mark Hooper — Partner, Andrews Hopper Pavlik

Some of the Millennials will go. In fact, some of them will start businesses and stay right here in the mid-Michigan area. Then one day, we can celebrate their accomplishments at the GLBM Entrepreneurial Awards. This year’s event is set for Thursday, March 3 at Eagle Eye. I hope you’ll put the date on your calendar and consider nominating a deserving entrepreneur in the community.

Deb Muchmore — Partner, Kandler Reed Khoury & Muchmore

Diontrae Hayes — Legislative Director for State Senator Coleman Young, II In last month’s article, Strange Bedfellows, author Dr. Ronald Horowitz’s title should have read, “retired medical director of Sparrow Laboratories.”

In the Old Nation Brewing Co. article, Pierre Celis’ brewery in Austin was named “Celis Brewing Co.” It is in the article as “Seles.” Jean Luc Suys was responsible for the Belgian style beers brewed by Unibroue in Quebec (La Fin Du Monde, Trois Pistoles, Maudite). He was not responsible for “all Belgian beers”, just those delicious and well-known examples.

In the feature titled “Fiscal Policy, the Recession Case,” the U.S. stimulus package was referenced incorrectly. It should read, “the U.S. addressed the deep recession with a trillion dollar stimulus package…”

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Be dynamic in all you do,

Tiffany Dowling | Publisher

NOVEMBER 2015

women’s ^ 2-D

3-D

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Life is three dimensional. And so are you. HGB is the first hospital in mid-Michigan to offer 3-D mammography in its Breast Care Center.

With a 40+ percent increase in accuracy over two-dimensional mammography, this cutting-edge technology reflects our dedication to providing the best-in-class medical care you can expect from HGB. Schedule your 3-D mammogram appointment now. Call HGB’s Breast Care Center at 517-541-5805 to learn why our trusted relationships, strong capabilities and high-caliber physicians bring us together in health. hgbhealth.com 3-D MAMMOGRAPHY NOW AVAILABLE! L

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NEWS

UN Establishes a New Set of Global Goals

BY E M ILY WES TROM

D

uring the United Nations (UN) Summit in New York City in September, the UN reviewed and released a set of “Sustainable Development Goals” (SDGs) to guide its efforts across the globe through 2030.

That’s where the new SDGs come in.

The MDGs expire in 2015 and the newly finalized SDGs will step into their shoes, with the intent of leading the world to collaboratively reach new phases of even greater progress from 2016 to 2030.

The SDGs were created to replace “the Millennium Development Goals” (MDGs) that expire this year and were established in 2001. The MDGs consisted of a more limited eight goals, tackling similar themes such as eradicating extreme poverty, achieving universal primary education and reducing child mortality.

In “The Millennium Development Goals Report 2015,” UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon stated, “The MDGs helped to lift more than one billion people out of extreme poverty to make inroads against hunger, to enable more girls to attend school than ever before and to protect our planet. They generated new and innovative partnerships, galvanized public opinion and showed the immense value of setting ambitious goals. By putting people and their immediate needs at the forefront, the MDGs reshaped decision-making in developed and developing countries alike.”

While the world still has many serious issues to tackle, the MDGs have led the way to significant advances in the face of some of the world’s greatest problems.

And yet, there are plenty of problems in the world that still need to be addressed.

One in five people live on less than $1.25 a day; one in nine is undernourished.

So the UN has set the bar high for its next 15 years. Though the SDGs are finalized, the logistics of how to reach them — and how much it will cost — is still in the works.

The SDGs were created over the course of three years, following the Rio+20 Summit in 2012. The result is a lofty collection of 17 goals for the world including “no poverty,” “zero hunger” and more. Under these 17 goals, there are 169 targets that get more specific about markers to reach to make each goal possible.

UN’s Sustainable Development Goals The United Nation’s (UN) agenda for the next 15 years will focus on the following 17 Sustainable Development Goals: 1. End poverty in all its

forms everywhere

7. Ensure access to affordable,

reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

2. End hunger, achieve food security

and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

4. Ensure inclusive and quality

education for all and promote lifelong learning

and production patterns 13. Take urgent action to combat

8. Promote inclusive and sustainable

climate change and its impacts

economic growth, employment and decent work for all

14. Conserve and sustainably use the

3. Ensure healthy lives and promote

well-being for all at all ages

12. Ensure sustainable consumption

ocean, seas and marine resources 9. Build resilient infrastructure,

promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation

15. Sustainably manage forests,

combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss

10. Reduce inequality within and 5. Achieve gender equality and

among countries

empower all women and girls

16. Promote just, peaceful and

inclusive societies 11. Make cities safe, resilient

6. Ensure access to water and

and sustainable

sanitation for all

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17. Revitalize the global partnership

for sustainable development

NOVEMBER 2015

NEWS

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

With such noble causes on the agenda, the SDGs have easily garnered widespread support and international attention.

The SDGs’ 17 goals are considered more complete and in-depth than its predecessor’s eight.

But the SDGs also force world leaders to take a hard look at its greatest challenges.

In a statement at the UN Summit, President Barack Obama pressed for better government and transparency, with an eye on the ongoing conflict in Syria. He said, “In the face of corruption that siphons billions away from schools and hospitals and infrastructure into foreign bank accounts, governments have to embrace transparency and open government and rule of law.”

Meanwhile, critics question if the UN has set its sights too high and set goals it won’t be able to reach. Some countries, including the UK and Japan, have expressed that they’d like to see the number of goals trimmed from 17 to a more manageable number like 12 — though there may be political motivations behind which of the goals they’d like to see cut.

THE RESULT IS A LOFTY COLLECTION OF 17 GOALS FOR THE WORLD INCLUDING “NO POVERTY,” “ZERO HUNGER” AND MORE. UNDER THESE 17 GOALS, THERE ARE 169 TARGETS THAT GET MORE SPECIFIC ABOUT MARKERS TO REACH TO MAKE EACH GOAL POSSIBLE. Pope Francis, who gave the opening address at the UN Summit, countered, “We cannot permit ourselves to postpone ‘certain agendas’ for the future. The future demands of us critical and global decisions in the face of worldwide conflicts which increase the number of the excluded and those in need.”

All in all, it’s hard to nitpick with any of the goals in the SDGs. From giving poverty the boot, to forging gender equality, to taking on climate change, each of the 17 goals address an important aspect of global development. By and large, top leaders from across the world have expressed staunch support for the SDGs. Teenage education activist and Nobel Peace laureate Malala Yousafzai pled to the UN, “Promise us that you will keep your commitments and invest in our future. Promise that every child will have the right to safe, free and quality primary and secondary education. This is the investment the world needs and what world leaders must do.”

Reaching success on the SDG’s goals will require a joint effort combining both the public and private sectors.

It’s safe to assume that the SDGs won’t affect every country the same way. The need to combat hunger in America is very different from that of Sudan, for example. And no matter what that means — for both of these countries and the rest of the world — American businesses have a role to play.

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NEWS

FROM GIVING POVERTY THE BOOT, TO FORGING GENDER EQUALITY, TO TAKING ON CLIMATE CHANGE, EACH OF THE 17 GOALS ADDRESS AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT.

Some businesses will find the SDGs complement their work naturally. For example, global education publisher Pearson was able to contribute by developing an education plan specifically for refugee children. But even if your business doesn’t tie directly to one of

the SDGs like theirs does, you still have a role to play — and you’ll still reap the benefits.

about the work of the UN on a regular basis,” said GLUNA President Lynn Bartley.

Think about what you can do and don’t be afraid to get creative. Can you help promote education opportunities for your industry, or take a stand for greater gender equality? Can you make a financial gift to fight crisis situations abroad?

The details are still being worked out, but the UN SDGs will have the entire world working hard through 2030 to meet lofty but worthy goals that have the potential to transform the world and the economy.

From world leaders to small businesses, we all have an opportunity to contribute and help make the world a better place.

Whatever you decide, you can be confident that paying it forward will come back to you in the long run.

Businesses in the Lansing area can learn more and get involved through the Greater Lansing United Nations Association.

“We see our local chapter of the United Nations Association-USA as ‘your connection to the United Nations.’ We provide advocacy alerts and opportunities as well as information

Learn more at gluna.org.

Emily Wenstrom writes about geek culture, creative writing, lifestyle topics and more; she also advises clients in content strategy. Learn more at EmilyWenstrom.com.

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F E AT U R E

A Look at Generation Y B Y A LIC IA PIL MORE

G

eneration Y, more commonly known as the Millennial Generation, or Millennials, is quickly becoming the largest and most influential generation in the United States. Within the next 10 years, Millennials will have more buying power and make up more of the workforce than any other generation, and their entrepreneurial spirit sets them apart. But despite the growing number of Millennials entering the workforce and contributing to the economy, they are still a largely misunderstood generation.

Below are a few statistics to give you a look inside the lives of Millennials in the United States.

At nearly 80 million, Millennials make up about one fourth of the U.S. population, making them the largest and most diverse generation.

By 2018, Millennials will have the most spending power of any generation.

Roughly half of Millennials say that it’s important to them to live close to their friends and family.

More than 85 percent of Millennials own smartphones.

Five out of six Millennials in the U.S. connect with companies on social media.

Millennials are the most educated generation in American history, with more than 63 percent of Millennials having at least a bachelor’s degree.

54 percent of Millennials either want to start a business or have already started one.

Eighty-nine percent of Millennials would prefer to choose when and where they work rather than being placed in a 9-to-5 position.

45 percent of Millennials will choose workplace flexibility over pay.

The average tenure for Millennials is two years.

In the last five years, 87 percent of Millennial workers took on management roles.

31 percent of Millennials say that working with creatively-minded colleagues is important to them.

84 percent of Millennials say making a difference in the world is more important to them than professional recognition.

65 percent of Millennials say that losing their phone would have a greater negative impact on their daily routine than losing their car.

By 2025, three out of every four workers globally will be a Millennial.

80 percent of Millennials said they prefer on-the-spot recognition over formal reviews and feel that this is imperative for their growth and understanding of a job.

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NEWS

Michigan Legislature Cites Road Repairs and Employer Rights as Priorities During Session

BY MICKEY HIRTEN

E

ach year Michigan’s legislators introduce hundreds of bills affecting businesses. Some are significant, others are aimed at special interests and many never become law.

The Mackinac Center, which tracks bills, their sponsors and the legislative outcomes, in mid-October reported 102 business bills in its online “Michigan Votes” searchable database (michiganvotes. org). It identified 29 bills targeted at economic development, 39 about energy, 10 on government regulations, 79 dealing with licensing, 86 on labor, 189 on taxes and 171 on transportation.

“The challenge is to pick out the ones that have genuine broad application to business,” said Jack McHugh, the Center’s senior legislative analyst. “Here’s the bottom line for our business climate. It means for a potential investor looking to invest in Michigan, ‘Can I make money here and will the state drive me nuts if I try? Will they regulate me into insanity? Will they tax me into the poor house?’”

The Mackinac Center identifies itself as a nonpartisan research and educational institute dedicated to improving the quality of life for all Michigan citizens by promoting sound solutions to state and local policy questions. It focuses on issues where it has expertise, McHugh said. He identified its specialties as taxation and spending, labor and education.

It’s an agenda that is often reflected in the legislative priorities promoted each year by the Michigan Chamber of Commerce.

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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

NOVEMBER 2015

The Chamber, which represents approximately 6,800 employers, trade associations and local chambers of commerce, mobilizes six lobbyists who work the legislature to promote its agenda. For the 2015-2016 session, the Chamber has identified bills dealing with employer rights, health care, legal reform and tax policy as significant issues, which it broadly identifies as either “pro jobs” or “job killers.”

With a Republican legislature, Governor, Attorney General and Supreme Court, Michigan’s government generally supports measures identified as pro-business. For the Chamber, support for laws and tax policies it supports has helped the state’s economy recover.

NEWS

“Overall the business climate is good. It is important to remember that we are a very large and diverse state in terms of geography. Our three leading industries — manufacturing, agri-business and tourism — are all more competitive today than a few years ago,” said Rich Studley, the Chamber’s president and chief executive officer.

He identified roads as one of the Chamber’s top priorities.

“We’ve been strongly committed to fixing the roads and improving public transit for a long time. For the next few weeks we will be pushing very hard for transportation funding,” Studley said, adding that the Chamber believes there is a need for additional road-related revenue, like user taxes and registration fees.

Michigan’s Legislative Priorities These are the key bills identified as legislative priorities by Michigan Chamber of Commerce. Additional information is available at michamber.com/key-bills.

EMPLOYER RIGHTS Ban Non-Compete Agreements With Employees: House Bill 4198 (Job Killer) Garnishment Reform: House Bills 4119 and 4120 (Pro Jobs) Mandatory Paid Sick Leave: Senate Bill 101 and House Bill 4167 (Job Killer) Preempt Adoption of Local Labor Laws: House Bill 4052 (Pro Jobs)

Studley identified the other critically important infrastructure issue as energy policy, which he said should be decided at the state level, not nationally.

Repeal Prevailing Wage: Senate Bills 1, 2 and 3; House Bills 4001, 4002 and 4003 (Pro Jobs)

While the Chamber’s key labor initiatives — banning non-compete agreements, opposing mandatory paid sick leave and repeal of the prevailing wage — are framed as employer rights issues, it aligns with more worker-friendly interests in supporting the need for better education and training.

HEALTH CARE

“Every year we do regional meetings across the state and hear from a growing number of members who are concerned about talent and workforce development,” Studley said.

Reform Michigan’s Auto No-Fault Insurance System: Senate Bill 248 (Pro Jobs)

Talent and workforce development is an issue for Lansing Senator Curtis Hertel Jr., who sits on the Senate Commerce Committee.

Eliminate “Pay-to-Play” to Use Michigan Court of Claims: Senate Bill 100 (Pro Jobs)

“I think we need to make some major investments there. Michigan has done a lot on one side of the equation by cutting business taxes and regulation.

We’re not doing much on the other side which is creating and keeping talent in the state,” said Hertel.

Hertel has sponsored a bill to allow a five-year state tax credit for interest on student loans. He noted that during the early years of loans, almost all of the payment is interest.

Increase Taxes on Health Insurance Claims: House Bill 4114 (Job Killer) LEGAL REFORM

TAX POLICY

Eliminate Michigan’s Ineffective Film Subsidy: House Bill 4122 (Pro Jobs) End Michigan’s Use of Incentive-based Auditing: House Bill 4090 and Senate Bill 122 (Pro Jobs) Impose a Graduated Income Tax: House Joint Resolution K and House Bill 4341 (Job Killer) Stop Union-Led Effort to Hike CIT by 83 percent (Job Killer) Petition drive for a statutory initiative (Job Killer)

“For some of these problems we have to invest. It will cost the state some money, but if we can get young people to stay here and spend money here, it’s worth it.”

Stop Unlawful Taxation of Software Services: Senate Bills 82 and 83; House Bills 4018 and 4019 (Pro Jobs)

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F E AT U R E

Mid-Michigan Expects Record-Breaking Harvest in 2015

BY MICKEY HIRTEN

P H OTO S B Y M A RK WA RNE R

A

rea farmers, most of whom grow corn and soybeans, are wrapping up an extraordinary 2015 growing season.

Michigan’s corn yield, forecast at 167 bushels an acre, is a new record; soybeans, at 46 bushels an acre, ties the record.

But good yields don’t necessarily guarantee good money; prices for both commodities are low by recent standards and could worsen.

“It’s a matter of supply and demand,” said Kif Hurlbut, deputy regional director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Michigan Field office. “We have had very substantial crops in the past couple of years. No supply shortage is foreseen.

Prices are not going to be where they were a couple of years ago. I don’t think we’ve gotten to the lowest point.”

A bushel of soybeans that traded at about $15 a bushel in mid-2014, sold in October for about $9. For corn, the price per bushel has declined from about $5 a bushel last year to the $3.80 range. For farmers in Ingham, Clinton and Eaton counties, the declines are significant and there is little they can do about it.

“You can hope that you have enough income for seed and fertilizer for next year,” said Jake Wamhoff, who with his son and grandson farms 1,350 acres of corn, soy and wheat.

“You can’t control prices and you can’t control the weather. A good farmer knows there are ups and downs. In the good years you don’t spend all of your money. If you keep an even keel you can come out all right,” Wamhoff said.

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Jake Wamhoff with his grandson.

His farming operation, based in Williamstown Township, uses sophisticated GPS tracking and computer modeling of his fields to minimize expenses for seed, fertilizer and pesticides. Brian Wamhoff, Jake’s son, said the technology allows crop fertilizer application with as little as a 1-inch overlap. Soil nutrients like potash are applied only as needed after the land has been sampled and mapped. This precise management of the fields reduces expenses and waste, Jake Wamhoff said.

Agriculture officials monitoring the state’s crops estimate that farmers in the three mid-Michigan counties will harvest about 185,000 acres of soybeans worth about $76 million. For corn, much of which will be harvested during October, the three-county crop is valued at about $106 million. The three counties also produce about 4.1 million bushels of wheat each year.

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By early October, about half of the soybean crop was harvested with much of the corn crop still in the fields drying. It was a harvest that started slowly, according to the USDA’s early October crop report.

“The maturity of the corn crop was behind historical trends on Sept. 13 in some northern areas of the Corn Belt, including 17 percentage points behind the 5-year average in Iowa and 13 percentage points behind in Michigan.”

But as Jake Wamhoff noted, dry and warm weather during September helped farmers catch up.

At 13.6 billion bushels, 2015 corn production is forecast to be the thirdhighest production on record for the United States. Record yields are forecasted in Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, South Dakota, Virginia and Wisconsin.

“YOU CAN’T CONTROL PRICES AND YOU CAN’T CONTROL THE WEATHER. A GOOD FARMER KNOWS THERE ARE UPS AND DOWNS. IN THE GOOD YEARS YOU DON’T SPEND ALL OF YOUR MONEY. IF YOU KEEP AN EVEN KEEL YOU CAN COME OUT ALL RIGHT,” — JAKE WAMHOFF

Jake Wamhoff’s farming operation, based in Williamstown Township, uses sophisticated GPS tracking and computer modeling of his fields to minimize expenses for seed, fertilizer and pesticides.

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F E AT U R E

All of which is bad for pricing, though it may be good for consumers.

“If you look at the export market, large inventories and stockpiles have flooded the market on a global basis,” said Michigan Farm Bureau crops specialist Kate Krepps. Also depressing prices, she added, was avian flu in China and the strong dollar, both of which reduced demand.

“We’ve had it good for three to five years.

Things were pretty positive. But in the last two years things have gotten interesting,” she said.

A crop less important nationally, but vital to Michigan agriculture economy is apples.

While most of the state’s production is based along the Lake Michigan coast, there are 22 orchards in the midMichigan region.

Surpassed only by Washington, Michigan is the nation’s second largest apple producer with an expected harvest of 24 million bushels this year, said Diane Smith, executive director of the Michigan Apple Committee. A bushel weighs 42 pounds.

Most growers focus on the “fresh side” of the market, selling to retailers rather than processors, Smith said. Pricing is based on supply, demand and quality, and for many Michigan apple varieties packaged in three-pound bags, the wholesale price is about 50 cents a pound.

The USDA reported that for Detroit terminal market sales, Michigan-grown 2.5-inch Red Delicious apples traded in mid-October at $18 to $20 for cartons of 12 three-pound bags. For Granny Smith apples, the prices were $22 to $23.50.

Gold Delicious prices were $18 to $20.

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Mickey Hirten is an award winning writer and editor.

He has been executive editor of the Lansing State Journal, the Burlington Free Press in Vermont, and was the financial editor and a columnist for the Baltimore Evening Sun. He is the current president of the Michigan Press Association. His wife, Maureen Hirten, is director of the Capital Area District Library.

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www.lansing.org

For the commercial market, the Michigan Processing Apple Growers Marketing Committee has negotiated the minimum prices with some processors for the 2015 crop: Ida Red 2.5 inches and up: $14/ per hundred weight (cwt); Jonathan, Jonagold and Crispin 2.5 inches and up: $13.50/cwt.; hard varieties 2.5 inches and up: $13.00/cwt. and soft varieties 2.5 inches and up: $10.50/cwt, Fruit Growers News reported in August.

517.377.1414 mchotchkiss@lansing.org *Source: Michigan chapter of Meeting Professionals International

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GREATER LANSING

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F E AT U R E

Computer Chip Credit Cards Expected to Provide Added Security

BY MICKEY HIRTEN

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PH OTO B Y E RI K A HO DGE S

s the holiday season approaches, some consumers have the new computer chip credit cards; others don’t. Shoppers at Wal-Mart can dip their cards rather than swipe them. At smaller retailer stores, little has changed.

Different cards, different terminals, different liabilities. It will all sort out over the next few years as Americans migrate to credit and debit cards with a computer chip designed to reduce fraud.

Now, how it affects consumers depends on where they bank and where they shop.

“October was the start of a process to convert,” said John Mayleben, senior vice president for Technology and Product Development at the Michigan Retailers Association.

The Michigan Bankers Association estimates that about 75 percent of its members’ credit card accounts have made the switch. These cards are expected to provide better security than the traditional cards with magnetic stripes that hold fixed data about the user that is easily copied. The new EMV cards — that is Europay, MasterCard and Visa — and the software behind them treat each purchase as a discrete transaction, meaning information stolen about a sale applies only to that purchase.

For the 98,000 credit and 70,000 or so debit card customers at Michigan State University Federal Credit Union, the changeover will happen gradually.

Unlike the quick swipe, so familiar to card users, the chip card readers are more like an ATM machine that takes time to process the information.

Clobes said the credit union has been working on the conversion for two years.

“We were an early adopter of credit cards, debit cards and ATMs in the seventies and have been on some legacy software for 20-plus years. This means there were things we had to unravel to get current technology,” she said.

“Most of our members have made the transition. We want to be ahead of the curve, to make sure that credit cards and debit cards are protected,” said David Worthams, the Association’s policy director.

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“We will phase in the cards, taking a little over a year,” said MSUFCU President and Chief Executive Officer April Clobes. “We have some folks who want the technology right away, and we have some people who don’t want to have it. But by the time your card expires, everyone will get a new card.”

Also, the credit union is finding that with so many financial institutions reissuing

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their cards, vendor resources are limited.

Clobes said that by next October or November, all customers should have the updated card, easily identified by a small but prominent chip. They cost about $3 each compared with $1 for the older mag-striped cards.

The move to chip-based credit cards is a response to the change in who pays for fraudulent transactions.

“On Oct. 1, there was a shift in liability.

Prior to that, if a bad guy had a counterfeit card and went into a retail store and purchased face-to-face, and that transaction was approved, the loss was born by the bank that issued the card. After October 1, if a counterfeit card transaction occurs, it is the bank or the merchant that has the least secure system in place that is responsible,” Mayleben said.

F E AT U R E

While the liability rules on fraud have changed, not all businesses want to or need to adapt to the EMV system, — at least not immediately. The new ­ cards will continue to have the standard magnetic stripe, which will continue to work for businesses that want to avoid unnecessary costs by keeping their current card reading systems.

THESE CARDS ARE EXPECTED TO PROVIDE BETTER SECURITY THAN THE TRADITIONAL CARDS WITH MAGNETIC STRIPES THAT HOLD FIXED DATA ABOUT THE USER THAT IS EASILY COPIED. THE NEW EMV CARDS — THAT

He explained that some businesses are more prone to fraud than others. It may make little sense for a restaurant that serves a thousand $4 meals a week to upgrade its terminals to avoid an occasional bad credit card charge.

“If I have a counterfeit card that I bought on the dark web, I’m probably not going to buy a Happy Meal. I’m probably not going to pay for a root canal at my dentist,” Mayleben said. “I am going to the big screen TV store or the jewelry store. The bad guys are looking for two things: Something they can easily turn into cash and anonymity.”

It explains why large retailers like WalMart, Target and Costco installed EMV terminals in their stores in anticipation of the October change in liability.

crimes. “We experience fraud in some capacity every day,” said Clobes.

With criminals, it is a continual thrust and parry competition, or as Worthams explained it, “A good thief will try to stay one or two steps ahead of what security companies are doing.”

Mickey Hirten is an award winning writer and editor.

He has been executive editor of the Lansing State Journal, the Burlington Free Press in Vermont, and was the financial editor and a columnist for the Baltimore Evening Sun. He is the current president of the Michigan Press Association. His wife, Maureen Hirten, is director of the Capital Area District Library.

Yet even with more secure systems in place, few expect an end to credit card

IS EUROPAY, MASTERCARD AND VISA — AND THE SOFTWARE BEHIND THEM TREAT EACH PURCHASE AS A DISCRETE TRANSACTION, MEANING INFORMATION STOLEN ABOUT A SALE APPLIES ONLY TO THAT PURCHASE.

“The expense on the low end is $300 to $400 for a one cash register operation.

That is, the replacement of an existing terminal,” said Mayleben. But the cost can be much higher for large multi-store retailers with a cash register system that reads bar codes and are used for inventory control.

“The reality is that it comes down to a decision to upgrade hardware, software and calculate the risk of exposure,” Mayleben said. “They are looking at the expense and the return on investment.”

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Documentary Celebrates General Motors’ Success in Lansing

T

PH OTOS PROV IDED BY MES S AG E MAK ERS

BY MICKEY HIRTEN

he feature-length film that celebrates Lansing’s successful bid to prevent General Motors from leaving town has migrated from theaters to television.

Trimmed from 67 to 54 minutes, given a new ending and a tighter focus, the documentary now named “Second Shift” has aired on WKAR and with select audiences like the national Labor and Employment Relations Association.

The film’s backers expect “Second Shift” to be shown on other public television stations in the state and perhaps the country.

“Our hope is to work with WKAR to find distribution on stations across the U.S.,” said Producer and Director Tom Lietz, adding that the video is available on the station’s website. He called the process of re-editing the original film “evolutionary.”

Producer and Director Tom Lietz one of the organizers’ target markets. There are discussions underway to take the film to Italy and France as part of panel discussions on business practices and community involvement. “The communities in Europe play a secondary role,” Hollister said.

“Having had a chance to screen that first draft of the film with different audiences made me want to make some additions. There were some pieces that really belonged there, that really connected with the community and broadened the vision. Now the narrative is cleaner. It does a better job at getting to the point. We can step back and say how this really translates to other communities and see examples of what collaborative economic development looks like in other communities.”

The revised film and book are parts of an outreach to promote a method of economic development neatly summarized by the project’s early title, “This Model Works.”

And it won’t just be the film; publisher McGraw Hill has contracted for a business-press book detailing the collaborative effort that unfolds in the documentary. It will be written by Michigan State University Eli Broad College of Business faculty members David Closs and Tomas Hult, along with former Lansing Mayor Dave Hollister, one of the forces behind the “Second Shift” project.

“McGraw Hill thinks there is real potential for this in the labor relations business community,” Hollister said. He added that he and his co-authors expect to finish the 70,000-word book in March and release it by August. It will follow the story outline in the film, expanding on Lansing’s collaborative business model that Hollister believes will resonate with European audiences, 18

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“If you want to make your region attractive for industry you have to collaborate and work together. You have to understand how industry thinks and makes decisions.

Industry wants to be in a region and it wants to see evidence of collaboration. I think the movie and hopefully the book provide that story,” Closs said.

“Second Shift” explores how the community, stunned by GM’s announcement that it would end auto production in Lansing after it finished building the Oldsmobile Alero, rallied government, business, labor education and other organizations to reverse the automaker’s decision. They formed a “Blue Ribbon Committee to Keep GM,” which developed a proposal that stressed the strong GM/United Auto Workers relationship, regional cooperation and support from the state.

NOVEMBER 2015

‘Second Shift’ Director of Photography Rob Sumbler (left) and Production Assistant Jared Page (right) film inside GM’s Lansing Delta Township Assembly facility.

At the time, GM’s operations stretched across Lansing. Vehicles were assembled downtown at the Grand River Assembly Plant; car bodies were built on the west side of the city at the Fisher Body Plant along Verlinden. There was a sheet metal plant along Saginaw and a service parts warehouse in Delta Township. In the mid-1990s GM employed nearly 15,000 workers at its Lansing facilities, and it was clear to those on the Blue Ribbon committee that even if the automaker stayed, there would be fewer jobs.

“ONE OF THE RATIONALES IN

To secure state aid for GM in Lansing, the committee had to sell the premise that some jobs were better than none, said Closs.

— DAVE HOLLISTER

“Traditionally, development dollars are given only if they bring new industry to the state. We had to say that we aren’t going to bring new jobs; we were going to lose jobs. But if we don’t act, we are going to lose a lot more jobs,” Closs said.

Today GM employs about 5,153 workers in the Lansing region, according to the Lansing Economic Area Partnership.

DOING THE DOCUMENTARY WAS TO CELEBRATE THE SUCCESS. PEOPLE WHO SEE THE MOVIE FEEL WARM AND FUZZY AND CELEBRATORY ABOUT IT.”

Auto suppliers and other business related to the industry add thousands more. As a result of the committee efforts, the automaker built the Delta Assembly Plant and rebuilt the Grand River Assembly Plant. With these and various support facilities, GM has invested billions of dollars in the region. It computes its economic impact at $394.8 million with $75.3 million in payroll taxes.

“One of the rationales in doing the documentary was to celebrate the

success,” said Hollister. “People who see the movie feel warm and fuzzy and celebratory about it.”

What “Second Shift” promoters hope to do is sell the success.

“The previous ending looked at all of the new products that came to Lansing as a result of what we did. In this one (the re-edited documentary) the final scenes take place on a parking ramp looking out over the city,” said Hollister. “I talk about how we established a legacy that will last 50 years. It is up to the next generation of leaders to build on that. We are really handing it off to them.”

Mickey Hirten is an award winning writer and editor.

He has been executive editor of the Lansing State Journal, the Burlington Free Press in Vermont, and was the financial editor and a columnist for the Baltimore Evening Sun. He is the current president of the Michigan Press Association. His wife, Maureen Hirten, is director of the Capital Area District Library.

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10 OVER

The Next Ten B Y A L I C I A PI L M O R E | P H OTO S B Y M A R K WA R N ER

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nyone who has interacted with this year’s 10 Over the Next Ten winners knows how dedicated they are to the Lansing community. Their enthusiasm for everything that Lansing has to offer is evident by their support of local businesses, involvement in the community and willingness to help other young professionals thrive. It’s no wonder they were chosen to receive this honor.

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So once again, the Greater Lansing Business Monthly has asked the winners to weigh in on a tough but important question: What improvements can be made to Lansing’s business community, and how can they help make those improvements? Many of the winners provided some thoughtful insight into what could be done to make Lansing better. Here are some of their thoughts:

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with annual and new events, as well as to encourage others to do the same.

TO NY W I L L I S DI RE CTOR OF THE N E W ECONOM Y DIVIS IO N AT T H E LA NS ING AR E A ECONOM IC PARTN ER SH I P

Two things come to mind when it comes to improvements in the Lansing business environment, both of which are linked to perception. First of which is trumpeting and promoting the success our region is having; especially when it comes to giving credit to the risk takers who are on the frontlines. I truly believe that the Lansing region has a great story to tell and we need to be better about getting our name out there in larger and more diverse outlets. We should strive to be in the biggest, most diverse niched and fun media channels (blogs, newspapers, journals, etc.).

Second, I believe our local businesses need to take a lead when it comes to promoting and getting employees involved in local events. There are so many different activities that happen on a weekly basis, all of which help to shape the Lansing experience. Even with so many things happening (Film Fest, startup weekends, mixers, concerts, etc.) there are a number of people who still say, “There’s nothing to do.” It’s an important part of talent and professional development to have your workforce engaged in their community. I take it upon myself to continuously engage

In addition to the HR consulting and training/speaking work I do, I am a founding member of a group called PureReinvention. One of our projects, WE.INVENT, creates experiences where local women from various stages of their careers are brought together to connect, inspire, motivate and push one another to be more; more confident, more authentic, more purposeful in their work and more passionate about reaching their goals. Relationship building on this level will lead to new professional and personal networks and help cement ties to this area. Not just because Lansing is a great place to live, but also because Lansing is where you can feel like you belong.

J O D I S CH A F E R O W N ER AN D GE N E R AL PA RT NE R OF H U M AN R ESO U RCE S S E R VI CE S , L LC

One of the challenges that I continually face in the world of human resources is a lack of qualified candidates to fill the open positions that my clients have available.

Whether we are looking at the tech industry or creative services, healthcare or not-for-profit work, employers are feeling the pinch.

I think there are several factors contributing to this talent shortage, especially at the local level. One is our inability to retain our local college graduates. Lansing has a lot to offer those entering the workforce — affordable housing options, theater and sporting events, unique dining experiences, access to the political system, big-name employers, etc. — but we haven’t done a great job of marketing ourselves to those who think they have to go to Chicago, Seattle, Denver or New York to make a career for themselves. The graduates that do decide to stay are often at a loss for how to connect with the employer community in a meaningful way. It’s this idea of increasing connections that really appeals to me.

A A RO N PU MF E RY CH I E F CR E ATI VE OFFIC ER AT E D GE PARTN E R S H I PS

The community must develop meaningful initiatives that encourage and grow small businesses. The impact of small business is significant, creating jobs and bolstering the region’s economy.

To stimulate small business growth, the Lansing area must develop opportunities, provide education and support, encourage collaboration and establish itself as a dynamic hub for entrepreneurs.

This focus will help the region continue to prosper both economically and in attracting young talent.

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Being in a creative field, I can help make these changes by participating in activities that focus on small business.

These include mentoring, professional internships, collaboration and advocacy.

program would focus on pairing industry experts/activists/parts of town to those who are interested in working together.

Last, establishing one place or perhaps a website where those searching for these relationships can find each other or be paired together.

We have amazing resources for those looking for startup assistance — the Small Business and Technology Development Center, Lansing Economic Area Partnership, The Hatch, etc.

However, I am unaware of any singular resource for business owners to go to find out who else in the community can help boost them or work with them to make something happen.

LAU R E N LONG OW NE R O F CUR VACE O U S LI N G E R I E

Once this collaboration and communication of these highly motivated people starts happening, the sky is the limit! I would be thrilled to see these changes happen and am more than willing to be a part of making them happen.

Strong communities are built on not only successful businesses, but also on those individuals who seek continuous improvement and change.

Few things would help the Lansing business environment more than connecting former 10 Over the Next Ten winners, industry experts and community and business leaders to those who are seeking specific advice or professional relationships.

Is there currently a system in place to foster true integrative collaboration amongst any of these people? If so, there needs to be better marketing and communication of these opportunities.

If not, there needs to be a way for us to find one another.

To help make this change, a few things come to mind. First, a mentorship program focused on business-to-business relationships; partnering established businesses in the area with startups or those needing advice (think Big Brother, Big Sister style). Second, that same 22

J O H N K ACZYN S K I D I R E CTOR OF G OVE R N M E N TAL AF FAI R S AT SAGI N AW VAL L E Y STATE U N I VE R S I TY

I believe that we must continue to create a business environment that is conducive to talent attraction and retention for our entire region. The formula for creating

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this type of business environment includes strategic investments that focus on an excellent quality of life factor, a world-class transportation infrastructure and educational opportunities.

Over the past 25 years, the State of Minnesota has made many similar strategic investments. If you travel to Minneapolis or St. Paul, you would agree that they have the infrastructure, quality of life and educational opportunities for talent attraction and retention.

These investments in Minnesota have merited 19 Fortune 500 companies, an unemployment rate near three percent and a post-secondary educational attainment near 50 percent. As a region, similar strategic investments must be made to create quality transportation systems, excellent schools and livable/ walkable communities.

Our region has a good track record for making investments in these areas.

Most recently, a millage was passed to support the Lansing River Trail; CATA is planning for Bus Rapid Transit along the Michigan Corridor; Lansing Public Schools are working on a bond proposal; and investments by developers continue to create walkable communities in Lansing and East Lansing. My personal priority is to continue to work at increasing our quality of life in the region. I believe that we can work together to further promote our cultural amenities and increase the quality of our local neighborhoods.

Our region has many cultural assets — the Potter Park Zoo, Lansing Art Gallery and REO Museum — to name a few. My vision is for us to increase the presence of these assets to our local community, while at the same time promoting these places to people who visit our region. As a community we can also work to increase the quality of our local neighborhoods by embracing our local neighborhood associations. Through working with our local associations, we create a sense of community and place.

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and to conduct the people’s business in an open, fair way that inspires confidence in the entrepreneurs and businesses considering investment in our region.

All of this work begins, as one would expect, by simply participating.

Encouraging others and participating ourselves ensures that our own talents aren’t wasted and represents the essential foundation of a vibrant, attractive community.

A N DRE W BE L A N GER M AN AGE R , KE YS TONE CE N TE R COM M U N IC AT IONS AT TH E M I CH I GAN H E ALTH AN D H OS PITAL AS S OCI ATI ON

STEP HE N PURC HASE V I CE P R E S ID E NT O F H . I N C

Improving our community’s business environment comes down to, in a word, talent. While we have made great strides as a region, we need to continue improving how we attract and retain the talent that will continue to drive new and established businesses alike. What I particularly like about viewing this question through the prism of talent is that it provides a clear, definable goal that we can all work toward from a variety of angles while striking an appropriate balance between competing interests.

The work of attracting talent is a truly virtuous cycle. As we enhance the vitality of our downtowns and neighborhoods to attract new people to our region, those same people add their own energy to the mix. I am actively engaged in my professional life on this front, working to develop innovative housing attractive to both young professionals and families looking to put down roots in our growing city.

Attracting and retaining talent also requires moving the levers of government — together with the business community — to strengthen our schools, to make real investments in our transportation infrastructure, to update protections for vulnerable populations so that all people feel welcome in our community

S COT T DA N E E X EC U TI VE D I R E CTOR OF T H E CAPI TAL AR E A SO C C E R L E AGU E

I would love to see our region retain talent, especially young talent. We have to make Lansing a much more attractive area for young graduates. I feel like we are educating young people and preparing them for the “real” world, but we are sending them away. I would love for the business community to embrace young talent.

I’m hoping that with the addition of a vibrant downtown Lansing with a diverse array of businesses, the attractive living options both in Lansing and East Lansing and the improving arts scene will help to make the region a place where young, energetic recent grads will want to live and play.

I think the greater Lansing’s business environment has a lot of positive things going for it right now. With unemployment in Michigan falling below the national average — a 15-year low — and talent on the minds of employers, both big and small, I’d argue the single greatest issue facing the greater Lansing business community is retaining and attracting talent.

With Lansing competing on a global stage for talent with places like Chicago, Ill.; New York City, N.Y.; San Jose, Cali.; Boston, Mass.; San Francisco, Cali.; and Washington, DC; I think greater Lansing could benefit from a unified, business-driven talent attraction and retention marketing campaign.

With Michigan’s Bureau of Labor Market Information projecting an increase of 7.2 percent, or 15,920 jobs from 20102020 in the region, I think businesses across the board will need to become more creative in how they promote their opportunities and how they collectively promote the region. There are a lot of innovative companies doing great things on both of these fronts now, but what is needed is the power of a collective L

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campaign. Business needs to package messaging around quality of life not just for students at Michigan State University and the area’s 12-plus two-and four-year post-secondary educational institutions, but also for national and international talent. To be competitive, businesses collectively need to promote career opportunities, pay competitive wages, invest in and create well-defined and well-designed places and be advocates for the region.

every economy, and this begins with a focus on education and building a strong pipeline for key skills. The business community will need to engage intensely with the education community. They will need to focus on retaining talent through improving company culture, promoting Lansing’s quality of life and communicating about what makes each company a great place for personal growth and professional opportunity.

Employees can be a business’s biggest brand advocates, and businesses collectively can be a community’s largest brand advocates. By challenging businesses to get involved and rally behind common regional live, work and play messaging, it can enhance our collective voice, our reach and our greater Lansing brand.

WE’ VE STILL GOT WORK AHEAD OF US, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO LEARN HOW TO BRAG — AND BRAG LOUDER. LANSING IS NOT THE SAME PLACE IT WAS 10 YEARS AGO.

J O E QUI C K DI R E CTOR OF B U SI N ESS S OL U TIO NS AT T H E MI CHIG AN WO R K S! A SSO CIATION

It’s all about talent attraction and retention, education, quality of life and entrepreneurship. If you ask any business owner what keeps them up at night, or what helps their company thrive, they will tell you it’s human capital. Attracting and retaining key talent (of all experience and education levels) is important to 24

Quality of life is as important to Lansing’s business community as it is to those who live, work and play here. Lansing needs to further define its identity — what makes it unique. In addition, an open, inclusive, diverse approach to talent attraction is proven to have a deep impact on local economies. By supporting and promoting the arts, tourist destinations, festivals, restaurants and walkability of our community, local businesses have another feather in their talent attraction and retention cap when competing for in-demand talent in a global economy.

A strong, coordinated talent attraction and retention message is needed.

Continuing to support and enhance the entrepreneurial ecosystem here in Lansing is also crucial. This focus has spawned numerous companies in our area and has attracted key talent and, quite often, national attention. We’ve still got work ahead of us, but we also need to learn how to brag — and brag louder.

Lansing is not the same place it was 10 years ago. Those of us who are involved in the community or run businesses here know this. But we need to inspire new champions of change and vocal advocates for our great city.

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A MA N DA L ICK M AN AGE R OF ADVOC AC Y, GOVE R N M E N TAL AND R E GU L ATOR Y AF FAIRS AT TH E M I CH I GAN PH AR M ACI S TS ASSOC IAT ION

As many of us know, the Lansing business community is incredibly resolute and vibrant. I am most excited about the individual commitment that many professionals have made to make Lansing a vital region for sustainable opportunities and growth in Michigan.

One opportunity I think we can all engage in that would advance the business community is to continue to build upon and form interpersonal connections within our own professions and industries, but also taking it one step further to increase interdisciplinary collaboration across business sectors.

Lansing has proven to be a place that one can make their dreams into reality. To continue this trend and potentially grow it exponentially, we need to effectively communicate our expertise with one another so that we can apply our unique skills, education and experience to each discussion that we are a part of. I see this happening through the collaboration of associations, foundations and other organizations that represent different types of professionals or industries.

Associations and foundations are

NOMINATIONS OPEN organizations comprised of committed leaders within communities that typically have the resources to bring people together and to make a difference.

Continued sustainable engagement of all professionals in association and foundation work is vital to advancing community work.

I am dedicated to working with others in the association world and other industries to build relationships and connections among thought leaders at all levels of their career; doing this will result in creating opportunities to leverage our unique abilities to further enhance our community. Collaboration between professionals, professional associations and foundations is essential for the significant and imperative work that lies ahead of us. As stated so simply

by Helen Keller, “Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.”

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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

NOVEMBER 2015

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“

“

HE SAID/SHE SAID

He Said She Said

Each month The Greater Lansing Business Monthly invites authors from two views to share their thoughts on a rotating topic. This month’s topic: What are the advantages and disadvantages of having Millennials in the workplace and how will they affect the economy in the coming years?

their full potential. To do this, I am going to start each section with a negative word that is often referenced to my generation.

DEBUNKING MILLENNIAL MYTHS

By Ken Szymusiak

Millennial is a really hard term to define.

By most accounts it includes anyone who was born between 1980 and the early 2000s, so in theory that would mean that a 35-year-old and a 15-year-old are in some way, shape or form related in habits, social norms and interests. Given that I fall into this cohort and I happen to interact with 18-to 20 year-olds on a daily basis, I think this catch-all phrase might be a bit dangerous. Although I have often been told that I act “old for my age” — this is probably the nice way of saying I’m too cynical — I do know that there is a lot of discrepancy between 30-yearolds and 20-year-olds in this cohort.

However, I am going to summarize the value of Millennials in the workplace and the ways employers can help them reach 28

Millennials are distracted. We live in a world where we are constantly plugged in. Our phones are buzzing non-stop, and all of the information is just a click away. Who wouldn’t be distracted? But I think we need to rethink distraction.

These same tools that supposedly “distract” us also allow us to connect with friends around the globe, make connections with new resources that would be out of our reach just 10 years ago, and fundamentally change the way we communicate. We’re connected, NOT distracted. So the next time you see a bunch of Millennials looking at their phones and not talking to one another, remember they could be chatting with a friend in China, not just playing Candy Crush. Use their ability to connect and find new resources to take your business to the next level.

Millennials are lazy.

“Young professionals (kids) these days are lazy.” I hear this a lot, and I find it very annoying. The reality is that Millennials get bored by mundane tasks. We live in a global world now from both a social and business context, and the workplace needs to change if you plan to retain the best talent. I would argue Millennials aren’t lazy, we’re flexible. The strictly 8-to-5 mentality doesn’t work well with us. Think about measuring productivity not by how much time your employees

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

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sit in a chair but rather how productive they are. Challenge them more and be comfortable with how and when the work gets done.

Millennials are naïve. Often times, my generation is criticized for not being in touch with “reality” or “how the world works.” But let’s take a step back and realize that this generation came of age with 9/11 and the DOT.com bust, followed by the explosion of Internet and mobile technology and entered the workforce during the greatest financial collapse since the Great Depression — which arguably none of us were involved with. I would argue that we are more “in touch” than anyone else. The reality is that we are living in a world with complex challenges that need to be solved. We’re not naïve, we’re hopeful. I think the fact that many in my generation are big thinkers and willing to challenge traditions is our greatest trait.

I’ll take connected, flexible and hopeful people on my team any day of the week.

Ken Szymusiak serves as the Managing Director for the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the Broad College of Business at Michigan State University. In this role, Ken teaches and mentors students in the development of an entrepreneurial mindset, as well as sustainable business model creation to further their new business ventures.

HE SAID/SHE SAID

ADJUST YOUR WORKPLACE FOR MILLENNIALS

By Susan Combs

At 80 million and counting, the Millennials will soon be the majority of the employee population in the U.S. They grew up in the digital age with constant access to information. Combine that with their very close, almost egalitarian relationship with their parents and you have a confident, connected and impatient cohort.

On the plus side, they are eager to make their mark. They infuse our workplaces with new ideas and energy. They are open to feedback and value openness in their leaders. On the down side, this need for frequent feedback can feel draining to a manager who is used to giving feedback only at the annual review.

What we are starting to see now and what will continue to be an issue in the future is retention. After you’ve landed your prized Millennials, make sure you have programs in place to keep them.

Have a welcoming, robust on-boarding program. Check in frequently. Offer a mentor program!

In my eight years of managing corporate mentor programs, this stands out as a relatively easy, cost-effective way to engage both your Millennials and your current employees. In one study of the effectiveness of a large tech company’s mentor program, they found the mentees had a 23 percent higher retention rate

than non-participants and mentors had a 20 percent higher retention rate. Bottom line translation: $6.7 million savings in turnover and replacement costs.

In our Mentor Roadmap system, we give the mentors and mentees workbooks with specific tools they can use to set goals and track progress.

Mentor programs are key in developing both mentees and mentors. They each gain, as does the organization.

Communication across departments or silos is improved; mentors are newly energized and “up their game,” and mentees have another professional in the organization looking out for them and having those important career conversations with them.

Keep reading and learning about the Millennials. Be open to their input on new programs and be willing to make changes to keep them connected and happy in your organizations. They are the future. Let’s be sure we have set them up for success.

What we have discovered over the years of managing mentor programs is that the Millennials need structure. They grew up with everything in their lives being scheduled — playdates, hockey, dance, soccer, etc. So when they get to the workplace, they look for this structure.

Show them written career paths and the specific skills needed for each promotion.

Susan Combs, MBA and Professional Certified Coach, works with coaching clients to enhance their leadership skills, improve their communication, and increase their confidence.

Susan provides one-on-one coaching, DiSC team-building training, and manages corporate mentor programs. She is co-facilitating the new Leadership Lansing program and lives in Lansing with her 11-year-old son, Max. Visit SusanCombsCoaching.com or MentorRoadmap.com for more information.

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GLBM LIST

2011

2013

2015

10 Over the Next Ten recipients

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Name

Company

Position

Company Website

Andrew Belanger

Michigan Economic Development Corporation

Manager

mha.org/keystone_center

Scott Dane

The Capital Area Soccer League

Executive Director

caslsoccer.org

John Kaczynski

Saginaw Valley State University

Director of Governmental Affairs

svsu.edu

Amanda Lick

Michigan Pharmacists Association

Manager of Advocacy

oldsite.michiganpharmacists.org

Lauren Long

Curvaceous Lingerie

Owner

curvaceouslingerie.com

Aaron Pumfery

Edge Partnerships

Chief Creative Officer

edgepartnerships.com

Stephen Purchase

H. Incorporated

Vice President

hinclive.com

Joseph Quick

Michigan Works! Association

Director of Business Solutions

michiganworks.org

Jodi Schafer

Human Resource Management Services, LLC

Owner and General Partner

hrmservices.biz

Tony Willis

LEAP

Director of the New Economy Division

purelansing.com

Josh Hovey, APR

Trustcott Rossman

Vice President

truscottrossman.com

Peter Spadafore

Acuitas, LLC

Legislative Director

acuitasllc.com

Brian Gallagher

Fraser, Trebilcock, Davis & Dunlap, P.C.

Attorney

fraserlawfirm.com

Nicole Szymczak

Lansing Community College

Communications & Marketing Director

lcc.edu

Andrea Kerbuski

Capital Area Michigan Works!

Chief Communications Officer

camw.org

Nikali Luke

Simplified Tax & Accounting Service PC

Partner

simplified-tax.com

Emily Caswell

M3 Group

Publications Director

m3group.biz

Andrea Ragan

Capital Area IT Council

Executive Director

capitalareaitcouncil.com

Timothy Schmitt

City of East Lansing

Community Development Analyst

cityofeastlansing.com

Joseph Lee Yang

Boys & Girls Club of Lansing

Director of Operations

bgclansing.org

Benjamin Bakken

American Eagle Superstore

Chief Financial Officer

bigfireworks.com/eSource3/default. aspx

Kristin Bellar

Clark Hill PLC

Attorney

clarkhill.com

Tim Bograkos

Michigan State University Alumni Association

Young Alumni Coordinator

alumni.msu.edu

Michael Ciranna

WorkSquared

Account Manager

marxmoda.com

Ryan Doom

Web Ascender

Co-Founder and CEO

webascender.com

Joe Ford

Netvantage Marketing

Managing Partner

netvantagemarketing.com

Diontrae Hayes

Office of Senator Coleman Young

Legislative Director

senatedems.com/young

Brittney Hoszkiw

Old Town Commercial Association

Executive Director

iloveoldtown.org

Marc Merritt

Merrill Lynch

Senior Financial Advisor

ml.com

Evan Pinsonnault

WLNS TV 6

Morning Anchor and Reporter

wlns.com

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

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GLBM LIST

2010

2012

2014

Each month, The Greater Lansing Business Monthly compiles a list relevant to the publication’s theme. The lists are not comprehensive, but rather, a snapshot look at what is publicly available on various industries and organizations. The following is a list of 10 Over the Next Ten recipients in consecutive years. Please note that these are the positions that the winners were in at the time they received the award.

Name

Company

Position

Company Website

Kelly King

YMCA Downtown Wellness Center

Executive Director

ymcaoflansing.org/downtown

Joe Manzella

Trustcott Rossman

Senior Account Executive

truscottrossman.com

Suban Nur Cooley

Capital Gains Media

Managing Editor

capitalgainsmedia.com

Steve Japinga

Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce

Chief of Public Policy & Legislative Affairs, State and Federal Government Relations

lansingchamber.org

Katie Lynwood

Bernick, Radner & Ouellette, PC

Attorney

borpc.com

Ken Szymusiak

Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Broad College of Business

Managing Director

ie.broad.msu.edu

Nichole Martin

Ingham County Michigan Youth Opportunities Initiatives

MYOI Coordinator

fosteringsuccessmichigan.com

Mindy Biladeau

Downtown Lansing, Inc.

Executive Director

downtownlansing.org

Jeff Hertrich

Accident Fund Holdings, Inc.

Assistant General Counsel

afhi.com

Sarah Anthony

Michigan College Access Network

Director of Finance & Strategic Partnerships and Ingham County Commissioner for District 3

micollegeaccess.org

James F. Anderton, V

Loomis, Ewert, Parsley, Davis & Gotting P.C.

Attorney

loomislaw.com

Brian Bratta, MS, ATC, CSCS

MSU Athletic Training Department

Athletic TBierlein Bierlein

athletictraining.msu.edu

Nicholas Chilenko

Nicholas Creative

Founder and Chief Creative Officer

nicholascreative.com

Adam Henige

Netvantage Marketing

Managing Partner

netvantagemarketing.com

John Miller

Artie’s Filling Station

Owner

N/A

John Lindenmayer

League of Michigan Bicyclists

Executive Director

lmb.org

Jake Pechtel

Potter Park Zoo

Director of Communications

potterparkzoo.org

Nicole L. Proulx

Fraser, Trebilcock, Davis & Dunlap, P.C.

Attorney

fraserlawfirm.com

Amber Shinn

Shinn Marketing Communications

Chief Strategist and CEO

N/A

Kate Snyder, APR

Piper & Gold Public Relations

Principal Strategist and Owner

piperandgold.com

Thomas A. Stewart

Common Wealth Enterprises

Managing Partner

N/A

Rochelle Rizzi

Rizzi Designs, LLC

President and Founder

rizzidesigns.com

Tremaine Phillips

Prima Civitas Foundation

Director of Innovation & Region Building, Chief Program Officer

primacivitas.org

Jeffrey McWherter

Gravity Works Design

Partner — Director of Development

gravityworksdesign.com

Tobi Lyon

Adams Outdoor Advertising

N/A

adamsoutdoor.com/#1

Paul Jacques

Michigan State University

Director of Student and Community Engagement

msu.edu

Kat Cooper

Michigan State University

Communications Manager, Auxiliary Resources

msu.edu

Sarah Jennings

Maner Costerisan, CPA, PC

Senior Manager

manercpa.com

Jessica Knott

TechSmith

Instructional Designer

techsmith.com

Adam Van Lente

RetroDuck.com, Inc.

CEO

retroduck.com L

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MAN ON THE STREET

M AN on the STR E ET What’s the best way for young people to impact the Lansing area?

COMP IL ED BY K YL E D O W L I N G, G L B M’ S MA N O N T H E S TR EET

“Getting involved with things on campus will help young people learn about their community, thus being able to make an impact in the Lansing area.”

Jenny Simpson

“Learning about and getting involved with recreational activities is important because it will help students make an impact on the Lansing community.”

Camille Thomas

“Volunteering within the Lansing area is a great opportunity for young people to make an impact on their community.”

Jess Swantek

“Community service is a great way for young people to make an impact in the Lansing area.”

Jennifer Berez and Brittany Taper

“Really stress the idea of social interaction on the streets. Get off your phones, pay attention to the community and people around you and start to care about it.”

James Erickson “Emphasizing volunteer work is a great way for young people to make an impact on the Lansing area. A lot of students cannot donate financially, but they can donate their time. Giving back what you can is important.”

Hannah Hoekert

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ECONOMY

Budget Deficits and the National Debt

BY MORDECHAI E. KR E I N I N

U

pon reading my last column, a reader asked, “Why did Europe not introduce a one trillion Euro stimulus package (meaning, an infusion of government expenditures and tax cuts)?” The answer relates to annual budget deficits, the national debt and possible inflation that can be ignited by the deficits. This is the subject of this column, beginning with some terminology.

Inflation is a process of rising price level; it is not high prices.

Once prices stabilize at whatever high a level, inflation is said to have stopped. Nor is a rise in the price of gasoline called inflation.

It’s the average prices of all goods and services that need to rise for inflation to exist. The full cause of inflation and its effects must await a future column on monetary policy. But for now, assume that the economy is functioning at full employment of workers and machines. Then if Company A wishes to expand, it must bid away resources (say, engineers) from other companies by offering higher wages and benefits. As such, bidding spreads, wage rates rise and companies are forced to raise prices, leading to an inflationary spiral.

In contrast, no such bidding is needed in times of a recession; unemployed resources are then available for companies to hire at current wages to support the expansion. Indeed, no sign of inflation (beyond the acceptable level of two percent per year) was visible in Europe or the U.S. in the past seven years. If anything, countries were concerned about deflation (declining price level), which can have an even more disastrous effect. So the fear of inflation was completely misplaced, at least in the 20082015 period.

WHO HOLDS THE U.S. NATIONAL DEBT? INDIVIDUALS, INSTITUTIONS, CORPORATIONS AND WHOEVER SEEKS A SOLID, SAFE INVESTMENT OUTLET HOLD IT.

What about the annual budgetary deficits and the national debt apart from inflation? When the Euro was first introduced in 1999, it was agreed upon that each country must keep its budget deficit at or below three percent of its GDP and its national debt at or below two thirds of its GDP. These criteria were easily met during the years of relative prosperity 1999-2007, but then came the global financial crisis beginning in 2008, from which Europe has not yet recovered. The accompanying recession was 34

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

deep and widespread, and with it came high unemployment and large budgetary deficits for most countries, way above the agreed upon standard of three percent of GDP. Under these conditions a country must choose its policy objective: is it designed to address the issue of unemployment or to remedy the budget deficit? The U.S. introduced a trillion dollar stimulus package to alleviate the unemployment, even at the expense of a deficit and indeed by 2015 unemployment was cut in half. By contrast, Europe was concerned about budget deficits and adopted austerity measures (sometimes draconian) to reduce them. Austerity consists of higher taxes and lower government expenditures designed to reduce the deficit. But because these policies also lower GDP, the ratio of deficit to GDP may not decline and the measures can become self-defeating. In any event, the concern about the deficit brought about the poor economic conditions in Europe.

We turn next to a discussion of the national debt. In the U.S.; it is the sum total of budgetary deficits since the beginning of the republic minus surpluses that may occur in certain years. It is in the form of U.S. government bonds of various denominations and durations. Two points need to be made at the outset: 1 . The absolute amount of the debt may be high, but is

NOVEMBER 2015

irrelevant. What is important is the ratio of the debt to GDP. In the U.S., it is about 90 percent, depending on how

ECONOMY

one counts debt held by government departments. By comparison, it was about 150 percent of GDP at the end of WWII. It is about 200 percent in Japan and the Japanese government still markets its bonds at a very low interest rate.

So the answer to a question, “are we going the way of Greece?” is a resounding NO!

buying and selling government bonds.

Moreover, foreigners hold much of the debt, for the dollar is not just the currency of the U.S. It is truly an international currency. Transactions in billions of dollars between foreign entities not involving the U.S. are denominated and financed in dollars. And finally the dollar is a global reserve currency. Central banks throughout the world maintain foreign currency reserves — mainly in U.S. dollars, invested in U.S. government bonds. In short, if we did not have a public debt, we would have to invent it for a global investment outlet. The main burden of the debt is the interest the government has to pay annually to bond holders, namely, to service the debt.

Who holds the U.S. national debt?

Individuals, institutions, corporations and whoever seeks a solid, safe investment outlet hold it. The Federal Reserve conducts monetary policy by

At this point we can answer the question posed by the reader at the beginning of this column. The reason why Europe did not introduce a 1 trillion Euro stimulus package is because its

2 . Is the debt denominated in the

country’s own currency, or in the currency of some other entity (as in the case of Greece)? In the case of the U.S., it is denominated in dollars, which the U.S. is the country of issue.

politicians were (and still are) more concerned about budget deficits than about unemployment.

Mordechai Kreinin is a University Distinguished Professor of Economics, emeritus at Michigan State University and past President of the International Trade and Finance Association. He is the author of about 200 articles and books about economics, including the widely used text, International Economics. He can be reached at kreinin@msu.edu or by cell phone at (517) 488-4837.

What’s so special about the number 7?

A 7 sided shape is a

There are 7 rows in the

heptagon.

periodic table.

In the NHL, MLB and NBA, 7 is

The common ladybird

the maximum number of games

has 7 spots.

played in a playoff series.

Maner Costerisan has 7 team members that make up their Board of Directors

2425 E. Grand River Ave., Ste. 1 Lansing, MI 48912-3291 T: 517 323 7500 • F: 517 323 6346 www.manercpa.com • www.manersolutions.com

Maner Costerisan’s Board of Directors, which contain 3 directors and 4 officers, plays an integral role in developing the firm’s future vision and strategic direction. They work together as a team to help develop the firm’s presence in the Lansing business community, as well as the greater mid-Michigan region. Together with the help of the Board, the firm strives to continue to offer a balance of both the depth and expertise needed to provide exceptional service to their clients and maintain the warm, personal environment of a local, neighborhood firm. At Maner Costerisan, the numbers speak for themselves.

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WORKFORCE ISSUES

How to Retain Young Talent

BY E DYTHE HATTER-W I L L I A MS

L

ooking at our region, one of our biggest strengths is our young talent — which was exemplified at the recent 10 Over the Next Ten Awards, hosted by the Lansing Chamber of Commerce and Grand River Connection.

We have young people who are willing to step up as leaders and drive change toward creating an even better place to live, work and play.

We value these young leaders in our community, which is why we need to continue with the progress we’ve made, but also look to how we can make adjustments to make sure they stay here.

According to Rick Haglund’s MLive report on data from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, Michigan experienced a net migration loss of 3.5 percent of young talent, ages 22 to 34 with a bachelor’s degree or higher in 2013, following a 2 percent loss in 2011 and 2.2 percent in 2012.

If statistics are showing young talent is leaving Michigan, we need to have conversations to evaluate what we’re doing and what we plan to do to keep them here. After all, Millennials continue to make up more and more of the job market — now at 34 percent and climbing — according to the Pew Research Center.

There’s not a single person or organization that’s the end-all solution.

That’s why community partners in our region, Region 7 of Gov. Snyder’s Regional Prosperity Initiative, are working together toward prosperity. Some of the results have been the CATALYST event and report that followed. One of the main focus areas of CATALYST is talent, both creating the talent through education and training as well as being a vibrant, thriving region that attracts and retains talent.

36

It’s not just community partners that need to make a change though; it’s businesses too.

REWARD

FLEXIBLE

Businesses are always HIRING looking to attract and retain DEVELOPMENT talent. After all, it’s essential PROCESS for a company’s success and growth. The more time an employee stays with a company, the more he or she can become familiar with company norms and goals.

Each time an employee leaves results in both time and money spent by employers a more open option. If your company for recruiting and retraining. Thankfully, cannot make customizations like these, there are ways to be proactive about make sure you clearly communicate what attracting and retaining talent. the environment and expectations will be during the interview process.

Here are tips employers can implement to help create a workplace that appeals Support professional development & to job seekers and keeps current continued learning. Most employees employees happy: want to continue to excel in their careers. Employers can help this growth Reward employees for a job well done. by supporting trainings or classes Employees want their hard work to be that employees are interested in. This recognized. This doesn’t always have to may mean financially covering the be monetary recognition either. It may professional development, counting mean acknowledging an individual at the professional development as work time next staff meeting, sending out an email or being flexible if they need to come late to the company about a recent success or leave early due to these activities. or leaving the employee a handwritten thank you note. Employers can be Re-evaluate your hiring process. If creative about how they want to reward you’re having issues keeping qualified employees, and it doesn’t have to be a talent at your company, you may want super time-consuming process. Positive to take a look at your hiring process. Are re-enforcement can play a significant role there ways to better promote the open with staff morale. positions to make sure you’re reaching as many people as possible? Are all the Create a flexible environment. To qualifications for the position clearly better attract a variety of qualified communicated? Do you need to revise the workers, it’s important to address needs questions you ask during interviews? Are of talented individuals of all generations you asking what type of work culture the or different preferences. That could applicants want during interviews? These mean offering part-time employment or are all questions to consider. Visit camw. flexible hours. It could also mean creating org to find out how to connect with the workspaces that fit each individual’s Capital Area Michigan Works! Business needs — some employees prefer more Services Team staff for assistance with a private workspaces while others prefer variety of human resources needs.

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Creating a positive workplace doesn’t have to be an overwhelming process, but it does need to be made a priority to attract and retain talent. Making an effort to address these components will result in positive outcomes and help eliminate employee turnaround.

Greater Lansing has so many great opportunities to offer. It’s up to all of us to shed light on the positives and to work together to make the greater Lansing region a place where young professionals want to call home.

Edythe Hatter-Williams is the chief executive officer of Capital Area Michigan Works!, a talent investment network that partners with businesses to develop recruiting and retention strategies and partners with job seekers to enhance education and career opportunities. On the Web at camw.org.

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REGIONAL ROUNDUP

Charlotte is Giving You Plenty of Reasons to Visit PHOTO PROV I DE D

BY GREGG GUEUTS CH OW

Lansing’s World Class City Band brought its big band swing to Charlotte for the 2015 edition of the Summer Concerts on the Square free music series.

N

ew and growing family-friendly events and activities are helping make Charlotte a fun place to spend a day or a weekend without breaking the bank. From established festivals like Frontier Days to new events like the Michigan Nordic Fire Festival, Charlotte has more and more unique things happening.

Over the past five years, the Downtown Development Authority’s Summer Concerts on the Square free music series has become one of the most sought-after performing venues in mid-Michigan. It offers the highest-caliber musical acts of any free community concert series in the region. Audiences and performers agree that Thursday evenings in July and August should be spent in Charlotte.

There are many other opportunities for entertainment in downtown Charlotte, too. The historic Eaton Theater offers first-run movies for affordable prices 38

with two state-of-the-art digital projection systems. Downtown pubs, coffee shops and art galleries also offer live entertainment throughout the year.

Thursday events on the historic 1885 Courthouse Square expanded this year with the Charlotte Artisans & Farmer’s Market. A Saturday morning market has operated for more than 10 years on the Courthouse lawn, but this new weeknight market has attracted both new vendors and new customers.

The Courthouse Square is Charlotte’s downtown focal point and regular gathering place; it is home to Eaton County’s museum, and plays host to everything from weddings and festival events to community theater productions. This fall, it featured a first for Charlotte — a ghost-hunting event enjoyed by more than 30 people, with close to 100 names on a waiting list for future ghostly excursions though local history.

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The annual Celebrate Charlotte Festival held on Father’s Day Weekend continues gathering steam, with 2015’s festival featuring a rejuvenated Father’s Day FlyIn at the Charlotte Airport. The active pilot’s club attracted many new modern and antique aircraft to the fly-in, as well as classic cars, police and fire equipment, a University of Michigan Survival Flight helicopter and special kids’ games and activities. The pancake breakfast at the fly-in served nearly 1,000 meals this year.

This year’s Celebrate Charlotte Festival also featured a ‘Michigan Brews & Blues’ event at Beach Market — a unique, openair downtown venue that generated a lot of excitement.

A new community group hoping to bring some wintertime excitement to Charlotte is planning the first Michigan Nordic Fire Festival for the last weekend in February 2016. This new festival will have a medieval, Nordic theme and will feature a historic Viking encampment

REGIONAL ROUNDUP

and activities, along with more fantasyoriented fun, including cardboard longship sled races, strength games, children and adult costume contests and a community bonfire. This is the first new festival planned in Charlotte in close to 15 years, and it’s garnering a lot of online attention. The Michigan Nordic Fire Festival can be followed on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other popular social media sites. Use the hashtag #beaweekendviking.

This winter will also feature several new local events at the Charlotte Performing Arts Center, all based on popular television shows — Charlotte’s Got Talent, Charlotte Idol and Dancing with the Charlotte Stars will allow residents to exhibit their best acts and vocal talents to friends, family and visitors. These showcases for local talent will be joined this season by several professional acts including Roy Rogers’ Riders in the Sky,

the Berenstain Bears, Matt Jernigan and Hot Peas & Butter, among others.

Of course, the Charlotte Performing Arts Center is also home to such annual local traditions as the student Band Bounce and Cabaret. Learn more at charlotteperformingartscenter.com.

The newly formed Andromeda Community Theater brought several new stage shows to Charlotte in 2015, its second year of operation. To Kill a Mockingbird was staged in an historic downtown courtroom, and for Halloween it produced a version of Bram Stoker’s Dracula at The Country Mill. You can learn more about this active new theater group at andromedaplayers.org.

Local recreation is also getting a shot in the arm, with renovated tennis courts in 2016 and a newly planned softball complex on the city’s north side joining recently improved facilities at Lincoln

Park. Charlotte is especially well-suited to active lifestyles, having been named one of only two established Walkable Urban Places, or WalkUps, in midMichigan by Smart Growth America.

It’s traditional streets with friendly walking infrastructure, combined with an active local advocacy group and a new experienced-based health park called Al!ve has helped Charlotte establish and maintain a focus on issues related to active living and nonmotorized transportation.

We hope you will give Charlotte a second look when you are looking for something to do this year.

As City Manager for the City of Charlotte, Gregg Guetschow is the chief administrative officer of Charlotte and is responsible for general oversight of all municipal services.

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To Transfer or Not to Transfer The role of the liquor license in commercial real estate sales

BY TRICIA FOS TER

A

s the pockets of retail stores, restaurants and bars expand and become more defined, it’s important to know how a liquor license may or may not transfer with a real and personal property conveyance.

The process can be technical and complicated; as a buyer, involving an experienced licensed beverage attorney is recommended. Your broker and attorney can work together in your best interest to guide you through both the facets of the real estate purchase and liquor license application and transfer process. Conversely, as a seller, involving a commercial real estate broker experienced with bar and restaurant sales is recommended.

From a pure commercial real estate closing and valuation standpoint, a liquor license is something that must be considered at the onset of any transaction. Not only should it be appropriately valued, you should determine whether or not the license would be held or transferred with the commercial real estate in the event of a property sale.

Language within the listing, offer and buy and sell agreement that clearly states whether or not the liquor license will or will not be conveyed along with the real and personal property is important.

Further, if a deposit is allocated toward the liquor license, you must identify who will hold that deposit. Many title companies and commercial real estate companies do not transact business assets, only real property and personal property. Therefore, they will not hold a liquor license earnest money deposit.

Additional language in a buy and sell agreement that addresses a specified time for the buyer to commence the 40

liquor license transfer process through the Michigan Liquor Control Commission (MLCC), along with language that requires the seller to comply in a timely fashion with any and all requests, is key. The fees associated with the liquor transfer application process and which party is responsible for these fees must also be identified.

The timing of the sale of an asset is typically fluid, yet there is a drop dead close date deadline. When a liquor license is involved, often both parties will agree to a contingent closing date based on the MLCC’s approval of the seller’s transfer of the liquor license. If approval is not yet obtained within a specified period of time, the parties may agree to enter into a Participating Management Agreement.

This allows the buyer to open and operate under the seller’s existing liquor license.

Applying for a conditional license, which is neither transferable nor renewable, but allows the buyer to operate while the application for a permanent license is pending, may also be a strategy worth considering.

Due to the timing of the sale of real and personal property and the MLCC’s process for conveyance of a liquor license, more often than not, the closing of a liquor license and real and personal property do not occur at the same time.

Because the purchase of and conveyance of the liquor license is likely to take place separately from the real and personal property; you may even wish to have two separate buy and sell agreements — one for the real and personal property and one for the liquor license.

The main point of our dialogue is for you to align yourself with experts on this matter, as timing is a key component for the eventual success of a bar or

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NOVEMBER 2015

restaurant. The more you know at the onset about how a liquor license transfer may take place, the better prepared you will be to determine which path makes the most sense for your business.

Tricia Foster, CPM®, ACoM® is Senior Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer at CBRE|Martin.

Keep your business heading in the right direction.

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TO L E A R N MOR E, C O N T A C T :

Michael Debri, Community President, at 517-337-4159 or michael.debri@firstmerit.com.

Follow the latest market trends @firstmerit_mkt

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BUSINESS CALENDAR

November 2015 BUSINESS EVENTS

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8TH ANNUAL MAKING IT IN MICHIGAN FOOD TRADE SHOW, LANSING. Visit

Michigan’s premier specialty food show for the 8th annual Making it in Michigan Food Trade Show. There will be over 150 Michigan vendors all under one roof ready to do business with you. The food trade show will be held at the Lansing Center, located at 333 E. Michigan Ave., from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, visit makingitinmichigan.msu.edu.

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10TH ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF REGIONAL GROWTH AWARDS, EAST

LANSING. This is a great event for recognizing area businesses

for their economic investment and job creation in the greater Lansing area. Awards include an International Trade Award and a new Emerging Economy Award. The awards luncheon will be held at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center, located at 219 S. Harrison Road, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $55/chamber members, $90/non-chamber members or $400/ table of eight. For more information, call (517) 853-6463, email trichardson@lansingchamber.org or visit lansingchamber.org.

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SILVER BELLS IN THE CITY, LANSING. Celebrate the season

at the 31st Annual Silver Bells in the City. This familyfun event includes an electric light parade, a community sing, lighting of the State Christmas Tree, fireworks over the Capitol dome (weather permitting), a concert and the Silver Bells Village. Start your holiday shopping or purchase some yummy treats as local vendors throughout the state show off their wares. Don’t miss this fun event, beginning at 5 p.m. For more detailed information, visit silverbellsinthecity.org.

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ATHENA AWARDS LUNCHEON, EAST LANSING. Join ATHENA for their awards

luncheon at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center, located at 219 S. Harrison Road, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. For more information, including pricing, call (517) 853-6463, email trichardson@lansingchamber.org, or visit lansingchamber.org.

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Courtney Maki, Cara Diaz, Mary Anne Smith, Maria Deneau, Ian Richardson, Kyle Shumaker, Lisa Regan and Diane Winter attending the October Lansing Regional Chamber mixer event.

NOVEMBER 2015

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ANDY ROSE, CPA Principal, Rehmann Construction Industry Group andrew.rose@rehmann.com | 989.239.5211

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MSU PARTNERS WITH EXXONMOBIL TO ADVANCE BIOFUEL RESEARCH A new $1 million relationship between Michigan State University and ExxonMobil will expand research designed to progress the fundamental science required to advance algae-based fuels.

The project will take advantage of these natural variations as well as a suite of new technologies developed by the Kramer lab at PRL that allow rapid, high-throughput testing of photosynthetic efficiency of many algal lines under simulated growth conditions. One of these technologies, developed through a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy program) is a matrix of specialized

LOCAL NOTABLE NEWS: CASE CREDIT UNION RECEIVES EXCELLENCE IN TECHNOLOGY AWARD CASE Credit Union was recently honored by the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) with an Excellence Award.

This award recognizes outstanding approaches to technology challenges with potential for universal application across the Credit Union movement.

The award was presented by CUNA’s Technology Council, a national network comprised of more than 800 Credit Union technology experts across the United States. Awards are given in each of six categories, including Technology Infrastructure, Information Security/Privacy, Member Service/ Convenience, Sales Management/ Marketing Automation, Leadership and Miscellaneous.

CASE Credit Union won the Technology Infrastructure category for its entry, entitled Outstanding Approaches to Technology Challenges for its custom information systems dashboard solution.

This solution provides CASE a centralized location for many information technology (IT) tasks, including scripts that perform 44

chambers, called the environmental PhotoBioReactor, that allows algae to be studied in detail under simulated production environments.

ExxonMobil’s research with SGI, MSU and other entities are a part of the company’s overall research and investment in new technologies with the potential to increase energy supplies, reduce emissions and improve operational efficiencies.

ExxonMobil’s goal is to have algae bio-oils processed in its refineries to supplement crude oil as the raw material to manufacture gasoline, diesel, aviation fuels, and marine fuels. In addition to fuels, the company is also examining potential applications for other products such as chemicals and lubricants.

file transfers and complex processes and provides links to commonly used sites and applications.

Award winners were recognized at the CUNA Technology Council’s 20th annual conference held Sept. 27-30 in Orlando.

For more information on the Excellence Awards or to view the entire list of winners, please visit cunacouncils.org NEW WEBSITE WILL KEEP BWL CUSTOMERS INFORMED AND UP TO DATE ON LANSING ENERGY TOMORROW PLAN

assistance of BWL staff, is developing a plan to guide how the utility will provide electric power to the region well into the future.

At LansingEnergyTomorrow.com, visitors will find: • •

•

•

A new website will keep mid-Michigan utility customers and other audiences informed and up to date on the Board of Water & Light’s (BWL) ongoing process to modernize its transmission and distribution system, replace its aging Eckert Power Station and prepare for the Clean Power Plan, EPA’s regulations for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

LansingEnergyTomorrow.com will support the work of a nine-member Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) that, with the

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•

Details about the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) and planning process A complete schedule of the CAC’s public meetings, including recaps of meetings already held (including audio files, various documents and presentations) A form to be completed by people who want to testify at future CAC meetings or submit questions and other information A list of frequently asked questions about Lansing Energy Tomorrow, the Eckert Power Station A list of CAC members, along with brief biographic information

Lansing Energy Tomorrow is the BWL’s major electric modernization program to replace and upgrade aging infrastructure with clean, efficient and reliable generation and transmission assets. In addition to determining how to replace Eckert, Lansing Energy Tomorrow includes an extensive five-year, $101 million Transmission & Distribution

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(T & D) Improvement Project that is already underway which includes: new transmission lines; six new or rebuilt substations; reducing the number of circuits and the amount of customer demand at the Eckert substation, and adding capacitor banks at strategic points on the BWL’s transmission system.

STAYMOBILE NOW OFFERING IN-STORE DEVICE REPAIR TO LANSING WALMART CUSTOMERS

A recent report by IBISWorld shows the cell phone repair industry has experienced strong growth over the past decade as smartphone and tablet usage have increased. In the coming years, the

rising popularity of expensive but fragile smartphones will encourage consumers to repair their smartphones rather than replace. To better serve this demand, Staymobile®, a service company providing electronic repair, accessories and protection for businesses and consumers, announces the opening of its new location inside the Wal-Mart in Lansing, Mich.

MESSAGEMAKERS WINS W3 AWARD FOR DOCUMENTARY MessageMakers has been recognized by the W3 Awards organization with a Silver Award for its award-winning documentary, “Second Shift: From Crisis to Collaboration.” The story of Second Shift stretches back to 1997, when GM informed Mayor David Hollister that they would build the new Oldsmobile Alero in Lansing. But, after production finished in 2004, the automaker planned to leave Lansing for good. With that “shocking news,” Hollister sprung into action, teaming up with the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce to launch a public campaign, titled “Lansing Works! Keep GM,” to persuade GM to remain in the city. The mayor hired Ray Tadgerson, Capital Consultants (now C2AE) CEO and President, to serve as the committee’s project manager.

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The committee eventually convinced the automaker to stay and invest over a billion dollars instead. The documentary tells this story of successful regional collaboration to create the “second shift” for a community in crisis.

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Since its red carpet premiere last fall, “Second Shift” has screened at the East Lansing Film Festival, Capital City Film Festival, Freep Film Festival in Detroit, with other opportunities pending, including an upcoming showing at WKAR in East Lansing.

decision-making — whether it applies to investments, estate

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Using the store-within-a-store model, Staymobile will offer customers the speedy, reliable repair service for which the company is known. Consumers will be able to leave their damaged or broken cell phones and tablets with Staymobile technicians and continue to shop while repair service is completed. The Lansing opening is one of 17 Staymobile locations opening in Wal-Mart stores across the country this month.

The new store is located in the Walmart at 3225 Towne Centre Blvd. Operating hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays. The store phone number is (517) 648-5857.

BEKUM ANNOUNCES NEW AFTER SALES MANAGER Bekum America Corporation proudly announces the promotion of Sebastian Rainer to the position of “After Sales Manager,” with the responsibility for Service, Spare Parts, Machine Rebuild/

Remanufacturing Projects and Customer Training. Rainer graduated from the University of Cooperative EducationLeipzig having earned the equivalent of a BA in service engineering with a focus on maintenance and service management.

He joined Bekum in 2013 as the Assistant Production Manager. Prior thereto, his extensive “service” background was developed over a nine-year period, working in various capacities for a German machine tools manufacturer, including four years as a service engineer.

JOHN MASHNI ELECTED TO ACES COUNCIL Attorney John Mashni was elected to the State Bar of Michigan Arts, Communications, Entertainment and Sports (ACES) Council. This section of the State Bar of Michigan focuses on art and entertainment law, both of which are Mashni’s areas of expertise.

Prior to working at Foster Swift, Mashni managed a media department at a large

Mashni’s legal experience ranges vastly, from securing music rights for feature films to serving as general counsel for record labels. He also devotes his time to a nonprofit that uses multimedia and concerts to reach youth across the nation to help them develop their communities.

Recently he has released a set of legal basics videos to give general advice to people seeking information about the entertainment industry. His videos cover topics such as, film financing, finding investors for films, tips for distribution and many more. To view these, visit fosterswift.com/professionals-John-MashniAttorney.html.

MAA NAMES DOUG NEEDHAM NEW PRESIDENT

With more than 21 years of experience in the construction industry, Doug

LEAP, MEDC ANNOUNCE INITIATIVE IN SOUTHWEST LANSING

An inclusive steering committee of southwest Lansing stakeholders will soon be convened to lead the effort.

The State of Michigan Governor’s Office and Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) are taking on at-risk and underserved areas across Michigan. Thanks to a grant of $50,000 from the MEDC to LEAP, the regional agency is launching a new initiative that will look to empower community and business stakeholders in the southwest area of the City of Lansing to come together in shared vision and to drive forward an economic action plan.

“This new initiative that LEAP has crafted provides much needed resources to support important capacitybuilding in an area that has some serious challenges but also an amazing asset in its diversity,” said Bob Trezise, president and CEO of LEAP. “We are going beyond conventional economic development here to try to affect real positive change in an area that has not seen enough positive development in recent years.”

After considering multiple areas across the three counties of Clinton, Eaton and Ingham, the MEDC and LEAP selected the southwest area within the City of Lansing as the most suitable for this grassroots revitalization approach. LEAP will be engaging a consultant to conduct a study to understand economic opportunities while conducting extensive community engagement to formulate an action plan for this area.

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leadership development company. During this time he also freelanced for numerous films and videos, serving as director, audio engineer and visual effects artist.

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

“I’m very pleased to see LEAP leading the way on this project to explore new opportunities for economic growth and job creation on Lansing’s southwest side,” said Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero. “Lansing’s Third Ward has great citizens who are eager to get involved and great potential to attract new investment through a coordinated community effort led by LEAP. It is the right effort in the right place at the right time.”

NOVEMBER 2015

ENTREPRENEURS UNITE

GREATER LANSING BUSINESS MONTHLY PRESENTS THE 2016 ENTREPRENEURIAL AWARDS T H U R S D A Y, M A R C H 3

NOMINATIONS ACCEPTED NOW Once a nomination has been received, follow up contact will be made by a member of the selection committee.

Deadline: Jan. 14, 2016

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Needham has been appointed president of the Michigan Aggregate Association (MAA). He is succeeding Mike Newman who has successfully led the Association for over 20 years.

Needham, currently serving as vice president of industry relations for the Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association, will

officially start his new role on November 2 and will work closely with MAA members and leadership to ensure a smooth transition.

As an experienced professional engineer and recognized leader in the construction industry, Needham has led the development of various statewide initiatives and conferences that have

䠀攀爀攀 琀漀 洀愀欀攀 椀琀 栀愀瀀瀀攀渀⸀

benefited the construction industry of Michigan.

Needham holds a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from Michigan Technological University (MTU). He began his career as an engineer at the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and is a licensed Professional Engineer.

MAA is a statewide trade association founded in 1960 by a group of conscientious and environmentally concerned aggregate producers to protect and promote Michigan’s aggregate industry. Our member companies produce/represent not only crushed stone, sand and gravel, but also recycled materials, as well as dock operators on the Great Lakes. Our members operate over 325 surface mines and operate in almost every Michigan county. Our products are a vital component of the infrastructure and transportation industry.

GREAT LAKES CAPITAL FUND CHANGES ITS NAME TO CINNAIRE

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A driving factor leading to GLCF’s decision to update its brand came when Delaware Community Investment Corporation (DCIC) became part of GLCF in October 2013. The partnership presented an exceptional opportunity to grow into new and different markets, to expand its business activity, thereby increasing

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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

Great Lakes Capital Fund (GLCF), a fullservice community development financial partner headquartered in Lansing, Mich., is pleased to announce it has changed its name to Cinnaire. The name change follows a yearlong branding process that provided valuable insight into how the organization is viewed by its supporters and partners and how the organization could enhance its visibility and value in the industry.

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its ability to reinvest locally. Yet the two organizations maintained their existing company names; this did not promote a cohesive brand.

in Michigan. The award is designed to recognize outstanding public accounting professionals who have been practicing for less than fifteen years.

An additional factor influencing the decision to rebrand was that the current name, Great Lakes Capital Fund, did not represent the entirety of the markets the company serves, which consist of: Michigan, Delaware, Indiana, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, upstate New York, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

A primary charter of the National Academy of Public Accounting Professionals is to recognize and distinguish the top public accounting professionals in each state.

The accountants who make the NAPAP

“Top 10 Rising Stars” list demonstrate an extensive amount of knowledge, skill, experience and success in the field of accounting, while practicing for less than 15 years.

Pfeifle has been with Maner Costerisan since 2004 and has attained the position of Audit Principal. He works with a wide array of clients, including nonprofit and

Cinnaire has experienced tremendous growth over the past two years and has increased its staff 34 percent during this period. Currently, Cinnaire manages $3.2 billion in equity investments and loans in the community redevelopment space.

Its community development lending programs have supported over 280 loans totaling over $330 million for a variety of uses including affordable housing, community facilities and lines of credit for Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) or nonprofit partners whose work complements Cinnaire’s.

The company manages 58 housing tax credit equity funds, supporting the development or preservation of over 652 affordable housing developments, representing 39,000 units. In addition to these investments, it manages over $360 million of New Markets Tax Credits supporting over $1.5 billion in total development costs. To date, Cinnaire’s cumulative activities have supported the creation or retention of over 81,000 jobs and provided quality, safe and stable housing for over 97,000 low- to moderateincome individuals.

To learn more, visit cinnaire.com.

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KEITH PFEIFLE, CPA SELECTED FOR PRESTIGIOUS “TOP 10 RISING STARS” ACCOUNTING AWARD The National Academy of Public Accounting Professionals (NAPAP) has selected Keith Pfeifle, CPA, of Maner Costerisan, PC in Lansing as one of the 2015 “Top 10 Public Accounting Professional Rising Stars”

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governmental organizations and law firms.

He maintains particular specialization with the real estate industry and is heavily involved with Maner Costerisan’s Affordable Housing Group. Additionally, he serves on the firm’s Education Services Group and works with several school districts throughout Michigan.

Pfeifle is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), a Certified Management Accountant (CMA), and a Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP). He holds a Master of Arts degree in Accounting and a bachelor’s degree in Finance from Michigan State University.

LANSING SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA MOVED DOWNTOWN OFFICES Lansing Symphony Orchestra (LSO), one of mid-Michigan’s cultural gems for the past 85 years, has moved their offices.

For the past six and half years, the LSO’s administrative offices have been on the fourth floor of the Lake Trust Credit Union building. Now moved to the heart of downtown Lansing, they occupy the third floor of the MSU Federal Credit Union on Washington Square.

The LSO features a roster of professional musicians, a committed board, an active group of volunteers and a dedicated staff.

Each year, they reach more than 20,000 people through inspiring performances and educational programs in the Greater Lansing area.

In their 86th season, the Lansing Symphony is proud to present a wide variety of musical performances, ranging from the MasterWorks Series, which presents world-class guest artists and great works of the orchestral repertoire, to the Pops Series, which each year brings new audiences to the orchestra through popular music and exciting programming.

In addition to presenting the finest in orchestral performances, and along with a Chamber and Jazz Band Series, the LSO is committed to taking an active role in the development of music education programming for the community.

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Contact information for the LSO office has stayed the same. Patrons can still call (517) 487-5001 or visit the website at LansingSymphony.org.

GRANGER CONSTRUCTION ENHANCES CORPORATE STAFF Christine Streeter joined Granger as an Administrative Assistant. She will provide administrative support for Granger’s Business Development team.

Streeter brings a wealth of knowledge and experience, include time spent in administrative support, account management and sales support. Most

recently, Streeter has worked for MultiPackaging Solutions (formally The John Henry Company). She is from Lansing, where she currently resides with her husband, Mike, and their three sons.

Granger also welcomes Melissa Bogdalek as the Director of Client Relations.

Bogdalek brings to Granger a wealth of knowledge working in Public Affairs. In her previous role, she was Sr. Consultant with Strategic Federal and Public Affairs, which provided advocacy and strategic planning services to health care, municipal, and higher education clients.

Melissa lives in Oakland County with her husband and their four sons.

Founded in 1959, Granger provides Design-Build, Construction Management and General Contracting services to clients throughout the Midwest.

Granger’s corporate office is located in Lansing, Mich. and also has offices Grand Rapids and Novi.

GREATER LANSING CVB ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF SALES AWARDED EMERGING NEW LEADER BY THE MSAE The Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau (GLCVB), is pleased to announce that Associate Director of Sales, Amanda Toy CMP, CGMP, GMS, CTA, Toy was awarded the Emerging New Leader Award by the Michigan Society of Association Executives (MSAE) at their 14th Annual Diamond Awards Banquet held recently at the Marriott Hotel in Troy, Mich.

The Emerging New Leader Award symbolizes exceptional contributions to the association industry and the promise of future accomplishments within the association management profession.

This is the highest honor within MSAE for a new association staff leader. The award also signifies distinguished service to MSAE and other professional organizations as well as the pursuit of

continued professional development and participation in community and civic affairs.

The nominee for this award must have been employed as a full-time key association staff member for a minimum of one year at the time of nomination. The nominee also must be a member of MSAE and previously recognized as a Rising Leader within the organization.

Toy is a graduate of Michigan State University and has been with the GLCVB since 2011.

LCC FOUNDATION ANNUAL BREAKFAST CELEBRATES EDUCATION The Lansing Community College Foundation held its annual breakfast on Sept. 24 at The Lansing Center.

Community members came out to celebrate the scholarship recipients of the H.O.P.E. Scholarship Program, LCC Foundation and Lansing Promise, while honoring the many donors that made the dream of higher education possible for many students.

The presentations began with Joan Bauer, former member of the Michigan House of Representatives, who welcomed the crowd and introduced the keynote speaker, Paul Hernandez, Ph.D., Lansing Community College’s (LCC) chief diversity officer.

Among the other speakers was Darcy Kerr, senior vice president of human resources, Accident Fund Insurance Company of America and Lansing Promise Corporate Donor; Cyndi Gallegos, H.O.P.E. Scholarship recipient; Bill Motz, Marketing and Sales Scholarship Donor, LCC Foundation; and Melissa Willett, Belen Health Careers Scholarship recipient, LCC Foundation.

Melissa Willett was the recipient of the Belen Health Careers Scholarship through the LCC Foundation. She is a single mother of two children, ages six and 10. Her journey has not been easy, but she reached the point where she knew

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her “family’s success was dependent on her educational success.”

Willett is currently enrolled in the dental hygiene program at LCC and is set to graduate in 2017. She plans to go on to receive her bachelor’s degree and possibly seek further education beyond that.

The Lansing Community College Foundation annual breakfast honors Lansing Promise, H.O.P.E. Scholars, LCC Foundation Scholarship recipients and donors. While the mission of the programs are all different, all three are dedicated to the goal of removing financial barriers to professional, technical and academic success that leads to a strong economy and healthy communities.

FRASER TREBILCOCK ATTORNEY BRIAN GALLAGHER APPOINTED EMPLOYEE BENEFITS CHAIR OF THE STATE BAR OF MICHIGAN Fraser Trebilcock attorney, Brian Gallagher, has been appointed to serve as Chair of the Employee Benefits Committee of the State Bar of Michigan Gallagher Taxation Section. The Committee is responsible for analyzing new documents in employee benefits law, preparing employee benefits articles for the Michigan Tax Lawyer and hosting educational and networking programs for employee benefits practitioners across the State of Michigan.

In his practice, Gallagher helps employers navigate the complicated and everchanging legal landscape of ERISA and the Tax Code. He was named one of the “10 Over the Next Ten” by the Lansing Regional Chamber and Grand River Connection, a “2014 Rising Star in Michigan” by Super Lawyers for Employee Benefits and one of the “Top 4 Under 35” by the Ingham County Bar Association in 2013.

Gallagher is also very engaged in local community, serving on the boards of the 52

Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce, Highfields, Inc. and as President of Grand River Connection.

STATEWIDE NOTABLE NEWS: MAC ELECTS ALGER COUNTY’S DOUCETTE AS NEW PRESIDENT; ADDS ANTRIM’S MARCUS AND OTTAWA’S KUYERS TO BOARD The Michigan Association of Counties (MAC) elected board officers and members for 2015-16 at its Annual Conference, held Sept. 20-22 at the Grand Traverse Resort in Acme.

Jerry Doucette, a veteran county commissioner in Alger County in the Upper Peninsula, is the new MAC president. Shelley Goodman Taub of Oakland County is now first vice president and Matthew Bierlein, a Tuscola County commissioner, is the new second vice president for the MAC board.

New directors for the board chosen this week are: • • •

Joe Stevens of Dickinson County, representing MAC’s Region 1 Christian Marcus of Antrim County, representing MAC’s Region 2 Philip Kuyers of Ottawa County, representing MAC’s Region 3.

Doucette is the current chairman of the Alger County Board of Commissioners.

Before his retirement, he worked in power generation at the Presque Isle Power Plant in Marquette, Mich., for 40 years. He was a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

Also serving as directors on the board for this term are: Ken Borton (Otsego County), Donald Disselkoen (Ottawa County), Pat Gardner (Newaygo County), Michael Hanley (Saginaw County), Joseph Palamara (Wayne County), Shelly Pinkelman (Crawford County), Robert Showers (Clinton County), Michael

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Spisz (Oakland County) and Max Thiele (Allegan County). Jon Campbell of Allegan County also will serve on the board as immediate past president.

For more information on MAC, go to micounties.org.

LAKE TRUST CREDIT UNION INNOVATION CATALYST, BLAKE WOODS, SELECTED FOR FILENE’S I3 Congratulations to Lake Trust Credit Union’s Blake Woods on his recent selection into Filene Research Institute’s prestigious i3 (Ideas, Innovation, Implementation) Program.

Filene does exciting research work to improve the member experience in the credit union industry; each i3 member (serving a two-year term) commits to ideating, building and testing concepts to improve the financial lives of millions of consumers. Historically, less than 20 percent of applicants are accepted into the program.

For the 2015 team, Blake was selected amongst 16 exceptional credit union innovators.

Ideas developed in Filene i3 have gone on to change state laws and save countless millions of dollars for credit unions.

Expect big ideas from these newest i3 members — you can check them out at filene.org.

Lake Trust Credit Union lives up to their name, with branches that stretch from Lake Michigan to Lake Huron. With over 167,000 members and $1.6 billion in assets, they’re the fourth largest credit union in Michigan. By participating in and sponsoring nearly 100 events locally, they reach across the state to create stronger communities. Membership is open to anyone who lives, works, worships or attends school in their 35 county service area. Visit Lake Trust online at laketrust.org.

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