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The Ideal Way Alongside building Ideal Group into a $650-million automotive, construction, and materials management conglomerate, the Venegas family is helping to lead a long-term revival of Detroit’s Mexicantown neighborhood.

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14 DBUSINESS || SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2026

48 The Ideal

Way

Alongside building Ideal Group into a $650-million automotive, construction, and materials management conglomerate, the Venegas family is helping to lead a long-term revival of Detroit’s Mexicantown. By Dan Calabrese

54 Carbon

Rocks

Rising energy demand has sparked a comeback for coal after it kindled the Industrial Age two centuries ago, but can the industry sustain its new fortune when natural gas and energy storage systems are less expensive? By Ronald Ahrens

SARAH GRIFFITH

CONTENTS

09-10.26

Some of the best business decisions begin with a simple introduction. Meet Donna Bashi and Dr. Jason Abate. Every business has different goals, different challenges, and a different vision for what's next. That's why they believe the best partnerships start with listening. Whatever your next chapter looks like, Donna and Jason are here to help you find the right path forward. Because the best partnerships start with a conversation.

09-10.26

Foreword 18

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

READERS' LETTERS

CONTRIBUTORS

CONTENTS

Commentary 24 NUCLEAR POWER Nuclear energy is the solution to rising electrical rates, both in Michigan and around the country. But businesses, consumers, and other entities have concerns about nuclear energy powering new high-speed data centers. 24 DEEP TECH As the U.S. government looks to transform and enhance its fleet of nuclear-powered submarines, Michigan has an opportunity to meet the demand for new parts and systems from its existing supply base, and to train residents in all aspects of maritime employment. 24 DOUBLE CAPACITY With the Gordie Howe International Bridge spanning the Detroit River now operational, Michigan has an opportunity to boost trade between Detroit, Windsor, and across North America. At the same time, governments on both sides of the border need to provide for the free flow of cargo and passengers.

The Ticker 30 STAR ATTRACTION Production Management One in Romulus helped program one of the nation’s greatest celebrations. By R.J. King 31 RAM POWER Demand for custom-built IT hardware is driving growth at PC Server and Parts in New Hudson. By R.J. King 31 AN APPLE A DAY Ford Motor Co. in Dearborn and Apple are integrating Apple Maps directly into Ford’s upcoming Universal Electric Vehicle (UEV) Platform through Apple’s new MapKit for Automotive SDK. By Kate King 32 BOND OF TRUST How to start a new practice and bring longtime clients into the fold. By R.J. King 32 PDA Q&A Rob Elhenicky, CEO, Kelley Cawthorne, Lansing. By R.J. King

JOSH SCOTT

26 COMPENDIUM How outsiders view Detroit.

34 VICTORY LAP Pine Lake Country Club in Orchard Lake has undergone $22 million in upgrades, including a redesigned and reconditioned 18-hole golf course. By R.J. King

Exec Life

80 CUTTING EDGE Winning Formula: Ajay Chawla, founder and CEO of OnTrac AI in Bloomfield Hills, also drives success on the lacrosse field. By Norm Sinclair

SINGING IN THE RAIN (COATS) As summer temperatures begin to cool, local business professionals are preparing for Michigan’s fall and winter weather with raincoats, scarves, and jackets. By Justin Stenson and Sabrina Seldon 70 RETURN ON INVESTMENT Assemble Sound: Mike Jbara grew up in Westland and learned the music trade in New York City and Toronto before sharing his knowledge to help amplify Detroit’s music scene. By Tom Murray

16 DBUSINESS || September - October 2026

TOP BUSINESS RESTAURANTS Our list of the region’s most business-friendly dining establishments.

82 OPINION Target Market: Michigan’s M&A sector is built on more than successful deals and tangible assets. By Mark Winter 84 THE CIRCUIT Our party pics from exclusive events.

Et Cetera 86 FROM THE TOP Metro Detroit’s Largest Intellectual Property Law Firms, 2026-2027 Largest Conventions/Events in Metro Detroit, Largest Meeting Venues in Metro Detroit. 90 CLOSING BELL Bread Winner: Harris Machus survived capture in World War II, returned home to take over the family bakery, and brought fine dining to Birmingham and beyond. By Ronald Ahrens ON THE COVER Photo by Matt LaVere. Counter-clockwise from lower left are Frank Venegas Jr., Linzie Venegas, Jesse Venegas, and Loren Venegas.

Letters

20 YEAR ANNIVERSARY

H.W. KAUFMAN GROUP | POWERED BY WOMEN | WALLOON LAKE $5.95 July/August 2026 dbusiness.com

If the state’s assessment is accurate, why doesn’t metro Detroit show up among the top regions cited in Global Location Strategies’ inaugural 2026 Best Places for Aerospace & Defense Insights Report? According to the report, the top five regions are, in order: Wichita, Kan.; Ogden, Utah; Dayton, Ohio; Salt Lake City; and Huntsville, Ala. Metro Detroit is ranked No. 18, while Grand Rapids is No. 7 on the list. Based on the findings, success in the aerospace and defense industries depends less on breakthrough innovation and more on the ability to rapidly scale manufacturing, secure skilled workers, strengthen supply chains, and deliver production at speed. Michigan and metro Detroit clearly check all of those boxes. Still further, the nation’s strongest aerospace markets continue benefiting from integrated ecosystems that combine manufacturing, suppliers, research institutions, military bases, and a skilled workforce. And yet, if the rumors are true, Michigan may lose its U.S. Army Detroit Arsenal in Warren — and its roughly 8,000 skilled jobs — to Huntsville, which has been dubbed the “Pentagon of the South.” Given the defense and aerospace sectors are a close-knit ecosystem, losing the Detroit Arsenal will disrupt local suppliers, engineering firms, workforce pipelines, and future investment decisions. As the next governor takes the reins of Michigan in January, he or she must unite the state around a common goal of attracting and retaining the best talent and companies in the defense and aerospace industries (and other sectors). There’s plenty of upside, considering Michigan has more than 4,000 defense and 900 aerospace businesses. Combined with military operations, the state’s defense, aerospace, and homeland security ecosystem account for $30 billion in annual economic activity and 166,000 skilled jobs. Growth prospects for Michigan in these sectors are there for the taking, if only we would do a better job of coordinating and leading the state toward greater success.

R.J. King rjking@dbusiness.com

EMAIL US AT: editorial@dbusiness.com SEND MAIL TO: Letters, DBusiness magazine, 5750 New King Drive, Ste. 100, Troy, MI 48098 Please include your city of residence and daytime phone number. We reserve the right to edit letters for length and content.

18 DBUSINESS || SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2026

VOLUME 21 | ISSUE 4

s the economy in Michigan lags and sputters following eight years of the Whitmer administration, there are plenty of growth opportunities in the defense and aerospace sectors. For any economy to effect a turnaround, the creation of jobs that attract highly skilled workers can’t be overstated. While Michigan has long been a leader in manufacturing and logistics, it has trailed other states in the fast-growing defense and aerospace sectors. R.J. KING Driven by rising global demand for air and ground mobility systems, satellites, missions to the moon and, eventually, Mars, military modernization, dedicated data centers to capitalize on AI research, and the need for next-generation defense systems like the Golden Dome, there’s plenty of opportunity to scale. But the state lacks a dedicated team that works to attract, advance, and market the defense and aerospace sectors, while also serving as a one-stop-shop to harness and better coordinate Michigan’s military, production, and higher-education assets. At one time, the Michigan Aerospace Manufacturers Association consistently issued reports and press releases, noted industry trends, and promoted growth opportunities — but the nonprofit group failed to sustain its operations. The Aerospace Industry Association of Michigan, formed in 2017, offers a platform for the state’s aerospace companies to support the continued growth of the industry, yet it wasn’t established as an aggressive business attraction agency that works to secure federal and military contracts. While the Michigan Economic Development Corp., along with the related Michigan Office of Defense & Aerospace Innovation, assert that “no other state offers the defense network of defense companies, military operations, and cutting-edge research institutions that Michigan does,” a dose of reality is in order.

JULY - AUGUST 2026

Economic Offensive

INSIDE: WALLOON LAKE | DETROIT SOUND | POWERED BY WOMEN

Insurer of Record ONE OF THE NATION’S LARGEST FAMILY-OWNED INSURANCE BUSINESSES, H.W. KAUFMAN GROUP IN FARMINGTON HILLS, TAPPED ITS ROOTS IN THE PLUMBING, REAL ESTATE, AND HARDWARE SECTORS TO SCALE WHAT IS NOW A $3.6 BILLION, THIRD-GENERATION POWERHOUSE.

DETROIT AUTO SHOW

The article you authored on the Big 3 automakers and the Auto Show (in the July-August 2026 issue of DBusiness) was gutsy and thought-provoking. I hope your perspective sparks some new discussion of our individual and collective responsibility to the community, and the people who build and buy the cars. They truly deserve to feel special and important to the companies that benefit from their loyalty. On behalf of the people who rely on the auto show for its economic impact in the gray days of January, and for our community, thank you for your perspective. I hope your editorial and your longtime support of the Detroit Auto Show, the auto companies, and the dealers will be heard and inspires the discussion it deserves. There really is only one Motor City. Christina Lovio-George Detroit

SONIC WAVE

I really enjoyed Ronald Ahrens’ Sonic Wave story in the July-August issue of DBusiness. I grew up in the Eight Mile-Ryan area in Detroit. I remember walking in Hazel Park with a friend, and he pointed out Jack Scott’s house. I had no idea of how important Jack was to the start of the Detroit sound. His starting Fortune records was another surprise. I loved “What in the World’s Come Over You,” and “My True Love,” two great slow ballads. Thanks for this great history lesson that only DBusiness could publish. Al Trombetta Royal Oak

Contributors

CONTRIBUTORS

DETROIT’S PREMIER BUSINESS JOURNAL

VOLUME 21 • ISSUE 5 GROUP PUBLISHER Jason Hosko EDITORIAL EDITOR R.J. King

KATE KING

Kate King served as a summer editorial intern with DBusiness. She’s an incoming student at the University of Michigan, pursuing a dual degree at the Ross School of Business and the College of Engineering as part of the inaugural Integrated Business and Engineering (IBE) cohort. In this publication, she wrote an article about a new partnership between Ford Motor Co. and Apple Maps, helped conduct research on the feature article about the coal industry, and fact-checked data for the Metro Detroit’s Top Intellectual Property Law Firms list in From the Top. In addition, she conducted research and compiled information on the honorees featured in the magazine’s annual Detroit 500, which was released in mid-August. CONTRIBUTION: Writer, Researcher, Ticker, Feature, and From the Top | SEE IT HERE: Pages 31, 54, 86

MANAGING EDITOR Tim Keenan COPY EDITOR Anne Berry Daugherty EDITORIAL INTERN Kate King DESIGN CREATIVE DIRECTOR Lindsay Richards ART DIRECTOR Justin Stenson JUNIOR ART DIRECTOR Sabrina Seldon SALES MEDIA ADVISERS Samantha Alessandri, Cynthia Barnhart, Karli Brown, Danielle Elliott-Smith, Cathleen Francois, Donna Kassab, Lisa LaBelle, Amanda Muszynski, Mary Pantely & Associates PRODUCTION PRODUCTION MANAGER Crystal Nelson ACCOUNT MANAGER Elizabeth Kowalik SPECIAL PROJECTS EDITORS Morgan Brown, Olivia Sedlacek DIGITAL

DAN CALABRESE

Dan Calabrese has been reporting on businesses in Michigan since 1992. He started at the Grand Rapids Business Journal and became a frequent contributor to DBusiness in 2009. He has written for a variety of trade magazines, including Transport Topics, Pet Age, ICF Builder, and several others. He also has authored four novels: “Powers and Principalities,” “Pharmakeia,” “Dark Matter,” and “Backstop.” Calabrese lives in Royal Oak with his wife, Angie, and their son, Tony. In this issue, the graduate of Western Michigan University profiles the Venegas family, which owns and operates Ideal Group in southwest Detroit.

CONTRIBUTION: Writer, Cover Story | SEE IT HERE: Page 48

DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL STRATEGY Travis Fletcher DIGITAL STRATEGY SPECIALIST Alessandra Taranta DIGITAL STRATEGY INTERN Evan Daniels DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Matt Cappo SENIOR DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST Luanne Lim DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST Brian Paul IT DIRECTOR OF IT Jeremy Leland CIRCULATION CIRCULATION MANAGER Riley Meyers CIRCULATION COORDINATORS David Benvenuto, Cathy Krajenke, Rachel Moulden, Michele Wold MARKETING AND EVENTS MARKETING AND EVENTS MANAGER Regan Wright MARKETING AND EVENTS COORDINATOR Puja Trivedi MARKETING AND EVENTS ASSISTANT Lachlan O’Neill EMAIL MARKETING COORDINATOR Mitch Ackerman MARKETING RESEARCH MARKETING RESEARCH DIRECTOR Sofia Shevin MARKETING RESEARCH COORDINATOR Kristin Bestrom MARKETING RESEARCH SALES COORDINATOR Alexandra Thompson MARKETING RESEARCH SALES COORDINATOR

MATTHEW LAVERE

Matthew LaVere is an editorial portrait and commercial photographer based in Detroit. He understands that most people don’t enjoy being in front of a camera, which is why he continues to learn how to direct and capture realistic expressions in the least amount of time by working on personal portrait projects outside of client work. He has worked with many brands and publications, including DBusiness, Hour Detroit, Car Design News, DFCU, Shinola, the Detroit Lions, Ford Motor Co., and HBO. In this issue of DBusiness, LaVere photographed the Venegas family for the cover story. CONTRIBUTION: Photographer | SEE IT HERE: Cover, Page 48

Theresa Lowery MARKETING RESEARCH ASSISTANT Abby Galanty PRS GRAPHIC DESIGNER Kendra Okamoto MARKETING RESEARCH INTERNS Isabella Gentry, Olivia Gill, Ally Metry, Marissa Mills BUSINESS CEO Stefan Wanczyk PRESIDENT John Balardo COO Edward Peabody DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS Kathie Gorecki MEDIA ASSOCIATE Ariana Biondo SENIOR ACCOUNTING ASSOCIATE Andrew Kotzian ACCOUNTING ASSOCIATES Stephen Diaz Jenna Glod, Austin Schmelzle, DISTRIBUTION Target Distribution, Troy

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ronald Ahrens, Dan Calabrese, Tom Murray, Norm Sinclair, Mark Winter CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS Patrick Gloria, Sarah Griffith, Matthew LaVere, Trever Long, Lindsay Schweickert, Josh Scott, Rebecca Simonov, Jessica VanAssche, James Yang

20 DBUSINESS || September - October 2026

Postmaster: Send address changes to DBusiness, 5750 New King Drive, Ste. 100, Troy, MI 48098 For advertising inquiries: 248-691-1800, ext. 126 To sell DBusiness magazine or for subscription inquiries: 248-588-1851 DBusiness is published by Hour Media. Copyright © 2026 Hour Media. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. DBusiness is a registered trademark of Hour Media.

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09-10.26

COMMENTARY

JAMES YANG

24 WE’RE POSITIONING (MICHIGAN) AS THE NATIONAL BLUEPRINT FOR NEXTGENERATION NUCLEAR POWER.” — MICHIGAN REP. PAULINE WENDZEL, R-WATERVLIET

p. 24

p. 26

Nuclear Power

Compendium

Deep Tech Double Capacity September - October 2026 || DBUSINESS.COM 23

Commentary

ENERGY

Nuclear Power

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

Number of commercial nuclear reactors operating in the U.S.

Average age of U.S. nuclear reactors

Number of nuclear reactors in Michigan (Fermi, Cook, and the soon-to-be-reopened Palisades)

Sources: American Nuclear Society, World Nuclear Association

ith electrical rates on the rise, both in Michigan and around the country, businesses, consumers, and other entities are concerned the development of new high-speed data centers will hike energy bills to unaffordable levels. But a solution is on the horizon. Long a dormant technology since the Three Mile Island accident in 1979 and the Chernobyl explosion in 1986, smaller nuclear power plants are now being developed as an alternative energy source for data centers, remote areas such as Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and aging coal plants. Small modular reactors, or advanced nuclear reactors, can produce up to 300 megawatts of electric per unit, about one-third the capacity of larger, traditional nuclear power plants. As part of a program introduced by the U.S. Department of Energy, the Trump administration sees the new technology as a way to revolutionize the overall power sector and lower demand for fossil fuels. In early July, the federal government announced four U.S.-based companies had each built a small nuclear reactor, having met key milestones. Going forward, the goal is to develop small nuclear reactors to complement larger units as well as exploring other applications. Overall, nuclear power currently accounts for 20 percent of the U.S. electrical supply. What’s more, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, through his energy company, TerraPower, is developing what he calls a natrium reactor. The 345-megawatt sodium-cooled fast reactor, which is replacing a former coal plant in Wyoming, is scheduled to be operational in 2030. Closer to home, last December the U.S. Department of Energy announced a $400 million investment in Holtec to deploy two next-generation small nuclear reactors, or SMRs, at the Palisades nuclear plant in west Michigan, doubling the site’s generation capacity and providing enough power for 1.4 million households and businesses. The DOE’s investment will help Holtec deploy two SMR-300 advanced nuclear reactors at Palisades that will generate 600 megawatts of energy. The goal is to deliver new nuclear generation in the next five years and strengthen domestic supply chains. Holtec states it is taking an innovative approach to nuclear reactor deployment at every stage in the process, from setting up the reactors to selling the electricity they generate. The State of Michigan, which supported Holtec’s application for the DOE’s Gen III+ SMR program, seeks to become the first state in the country to successfully reopen a shuttered nuclear power plant that would produce 800 megawatts. The plant was closed in 2022. The U.S. DOE finalized a $1.52 billion loan agreement with Holtec to aid in the restart of the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant, and the USDA awarded more than $1.3 billion to support the restoration of service at the plant, including a $650 million grant to Wolverine Power Cooperative to reduce the cost of power produced at Palisades. Together, the investments are designed to provide clean, reliable energy for 1.4 million homes and protect 900 jobs. In July, the restart project near South Haven reported the last of the major projects were successfully closed out, and now the Palisades plant is transitioning from large-scale activities to the remaining routine maintenance, testing, inspection, and operational readiness work required before startup.

24 DBUSINESS || September - October 2026

DEFENSE

DEEP TECH AS THE U.S. GOVERNMENT LOOKS TO TRANS-

form and enhance its fleet of nuclear-powered submarines, Michigan has an opportunity to meet the demand for new parts and systems from its existing supply base and train residents in all aspects of maritime employment — design, engineering, welding, CNC machining, testing, deployment, and operations. Already more than 400 businesses in the state support the submarine sector, 175 of which are located in southeast Michigan. To help provide the next generation of talent, the Michigan Maritime Manufacturing Initiative was formed to assist in training and recruitment. Overall, the U.S. initiative will generate around 140,000 skilled jobs. The state and local industry are working together to strengthen opportunities and increase the supply chain. Currently, submarines are built at General Dynamics Electric Boat in Connecticut and Huntington Ingalls Industries in Virginia. Nuclear subs can run without refueling for more than 40 years. What’s more, Michigan is well-versed in developing and operating 3-D printing machines to speed the time it takes to produce prototypes, parts, and components. To boost its level of support to the submarine industry, the state must continue to develop talent, recruit skilled workers, and grow the supply chain. INFRASTRUCTURE

DOUBLE CAPACITY WITH THE GORDIE HOWE INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE

spanning the Detroit River now operational, Michigan has an opportunity to boost trade between Detroit, Windsor, and across North America. At the same time, governments on both sides of the border need to provide for the free flow of cargo and passengers. To help make the case for the new Gordie Howe bridge, for years Canadian inspectors at the Ambassador Bridge slowed truck and vehicle traffic by reducing the number of inspectors and working toll booths. In turn, the Canadians helped encourage the construction of the Gordie Howe bridge by making the case it would pay for the entire cost, estimated to be between $4.5 billion and $5 billion. But that proved to be a “myth,” according to U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra. During a recent podcast, Hoekstra said Canada served as the lender for the bridge, much like a bank. “The bridge will actually be paid for by the folks who are using the bridge,” he said. “It will not be paid for by the Canadian government.” As competition between the two crossings heats up — the Ambassador Bridge recently lowered prepaid passenger car rates by nearly 50 percent, to $5.50, to undercut the Gordie Howe bridge’s toll of $5.75 per car — the Trump administration brokered a deal that requires U.S. approval before the Gordie Howe bridge authority can raise or cut tolls by a certain amount.

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Commentary

COMPENDIUM: HOW OUTSIDERS VIEW DETROIT HALF OF AMERICA’S 16-YEAR-OLDS DON’T BOTHER GETTING A LICENSE AND THAT’S A PROBLEM FOR DETROIT

CARSCOOPS JULY 1, 2026 BY BRAD ANDERSON Before the COVID-19 pandemic, new car sales across the United States generally rose every year, or at least hovered around the same mark. Things are changing now, and the market may never return to its previous heights, including the 2016 peak when sales topped out at 17.6 million, a record that has yet to be matched. A recent analysis by Bain & Co., a consulting firm, suggests that annual car sales in the country could fall by as much as 2 million units by 2040. Several factors could feed into that decline, and none of them makes for happy reading among automakers. For starters, birth rates are falling. Last year, the U.S. fertility rate sat at roughly 1.6 births per woman, below the replacement rate of 2.1. Immigration levels help offset that gap, but restrictive immigration policies could become the norm over the next 15 years, gradually thinning net migration rates. As the population shrinks, so

will demand for new cars, CNBC reports. Consumer behavior has also changed. Between 1966 and 1984, roughly 70 percent of 16-year-olds in the U.S. held a driver’s license, but now that figure is closer to 50 percent. With this in mind, the share of new vehicle registrations among those aged between 18 and 34 has dropped from 12 percent in early 2021 to 10 percent last year. This is no doubt in large part because new cars are much more expensive now than they’ve been in the past. …

DETROIT’S EV BET BACKFIRES AS HYBRID BOOM LEAVES BIG THREE BEHIND LOS ANGELES TIMES JULY 1, 2026 BY GABRIELLE COPPOLA, BETHANY BENJAMIN, AND DAVID WELCH

Fuel-sipping hybrids have become some of the hottest vehicles on the lot this year as gas prices hover near $4 a gallon. The problem for Detroit’s automakers is that they don’t have many to offer. Hybrid sales likely rose more than 9 percent during the first half of the year, compared with a roughly 3 percent decline in overall U.S. auto sales, according to forecasts by researcher Cox

26 DBUSINESS || SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2026

Automotive. Deliveries have jumped more than 80 percent since 2023, with hybrids accounting for a record 14 percent share of the market through the first quarter. The trend has put a spotlight on the haves and have-nots in the segment. Asian automakers dominate the hybrid market in the U.S., with Japan’s Honda Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. accounting for seven of the 10 best-selling hybrid models this year, according to Cox. Just a single model from a U.S. automaker — Ford Motor Co.’s Maverick pickup — cracked the top 10. With fewer hybrids by comparison, Detroit’s carmakers risk missing out on the sales bonanza in the near term. Hyundai Motor Co. reported record second-quarter sales that were helped by a 71 percent rise in hybrid deliveries … The company plans to increase production of gas-electric vehicles in the U.S. in response to the strong demand, said Randy Parker, chief executive officer of Hyundai’s North America business. … Hyundai’s sibling Kia saw sales of hybrid models jump 187 percent in June, contributing to a 3 percent gain in second-quarter deliveries. Hybrids combine an internal combustion

engine with an electric motor, boosting fuel efficiency compared with models powered solely by gasoline. They’re also less expensive than battery-electric vehicles and can be refueled at the pump, unlike EVs that drivers often charge at home. …

A MARKET IN TRANSITION: DETROIT BUILDERS ADAPT TO A NEW CYCLE

BUILDER • JULY 13, 2026 • BY ZONDA ECONOMICS The Detroit metro continues to provide a reliable foundation for housing demand, posting a third consecutive year of population growth in 2025 per census estimates. The region now sits at roughly 4.3 million residents, with all three core counties still expanding, albeit at a slower pace. For builders and developers, this consistent, if modest, growth reinforces long-term demand. However, slowing migration and flattening household formation suggest that future growth will be more measured, requiring careful alignment between product and buyer profiles. Not all demand is equal in today’s environment. New attached housing has become the clear outperformer, with annualized sales rising more than 30 percent year over year as of May. This surge is helping offset softer performance in the detached segment, where annualized sales have declined year over year. In total, new-home sales reached an annualized pace of 1,572 units in May, up modestly from the same month last year. It’s clear that buyers are favoring lower price points and smaller footprints. Attached product, townhomes, and compact single-family offerings are increasingly aligned with what today’s consumer can afford. These smaller homes also end up in more ideal locations. Affordability remains a central constraint in Detroit’s housing market. The median closing price for new homes is around $500,000 as of April, while existing homes are closer to $285,000 and still rising. This gap is reinforcing the challenge for builders trying to compete with resale options. In response, builders are increasingly adjusting product mix, scaling down size, and using incentives to maintain sales momentum.

Supply Remains Tight but Controlled Despite softer demand in certain segments, Zonda still classifies Detroit as modestly undersupplied, with total housing demand outpacing total housing supply. This imbalance may continue to provide a supportive backdrop for builders, even as absorption slows in select communities. At the same time, production is becoming more measured. Total permitting activity is expected to decline 18 percent year over year in 2026, reflecting a cautious approach among builders. Economic Headwinds Temper Near-Term Momentum The broader economic backdrop is creating additional friction. Employment has declined slightly, and the unemployment rate has ticked up to 6.4 percent in May, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Key industries such as manufacturing are contracting, while sectors like education, health care, and finance are providing more stability. Overall, job growth is expected to remain subdued in the near term before gradually improving. Outlook: Opportunity in Attainable Housing Detroit’s housing market is defined by consistency. A stable population base, moderate supply gap, and shifting demand profile create opportunities for builders that can deliver attainable product at scale. Meanwhile, suppliers should expect steady but measured activity as builders carefully manage pipelines and respond to evolving market conditions.

Commentary

EIGHT CRAZY CAR FEATURES YOU WON’T BELIEVE DETROIT ACTUALLY PRODUCED FORBES • JUNE 18, 2026 • BY PETER LYON

If you think modern cars are ridiculous because they beep whenever you stray too close to a white line, squeal when you remove your seatbelt for five seconds, or shut off their engines every time you stop at a traffic light, spare a thought for motorists of the 1950s. Long before regulators and safety advocates began influencing every aspect of vehicle design, Detroit’s automakers operated in what can only be described as the Wild West of automotive creativity. … The result was arguably the most entertaining decade in automotive history. … Tail Fins: When More Was Never Enough The tail-fin craze began innocently enough in 1948 when Cadillac designers, led by Harley Earl, borrowed inspiration from the twin tails of the Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighter aircraft. At first, the fins were tasteful and restrained, adding jet-age glamour to post-war American cars. Unfortunately, restraint was never Detroit’s strongest quality. … The Edsel: A Rolling Collection of Questionable Decisions Few vehicles symbolize Detroit’s occasional tendency toward self-inflicted wounds better than the Edsel. Introduced by Ford in 1957, it was supposed to become the company’s next great success story. Instead, it became one of the most famous failures in automotive history. … Hood Ornaments: Chrome Jewelry with a Dark Side The 1950s were also the golden age of hood ornaments. Cadillac, Buick, Pontiac, Packard, and others adorned their cars with rockets, birds, goddesses, jets, and other chrome sculptures that looked magnificent in a showroom but considerably less charming in a pedestrian impact. ... Dagmar Bumpers Where Detroit Met Television Glamour Cadillac’s so-called Dagmar bumpers remain one of the strangest styling trends of the era. ...

Bench Seats: The Sofa that Encouraged Romance Nearly every American manufacturer embraced the front bench seat, officially because it allowed three people to sit across the front row. ... Wraparound Windscreens: Seeing the Future Through a Fishbowl In the ’50s, General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler all embraced panoramic wraparound windscreens, which gave cars a futuristic, aircraft-inspired appearance. … The Door Re-Mi Chime: When Your Car Wanted to Sing Long before modern infotainment systems and warning tones, Ford and Lincoln experimented with musical door chimes. ... Ford Nucleon: The Atomic Family Car The 1958 Ford Nucleon represented full-blown atomic-age optimism. Ford imagined a future in which cars would be powered by small nuclear reactors, theoretically allowing drivers to travel thousands of miles before replacing the power module. …

THE MOTOWN MUSEUM’S $75M EXPANSION AIMS TO HONOR DETROIT’S MUSICAL LEGACY YOUR SUN JULY 9, 2026 BY COREY WILLIAMS

The Motown Museum in Detroit has been resonating with a different signature sound — the rumble of trucks, the buzz of drills and the pounding of metal — as one of the most significant sites in American musical history undergoes a $75 million donor-driven face-lift ahead of its 2027 grand reopening.

The expansion of the Hitsville USA campus — a house where chart-toppers by Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, and Diana Ross and The Supremes were written, rehearsed, and recorded — aims not just to honor Detroit’s musical legacy, but also to increase the city’s footprint as an education and tourism destination. The museum should enjoy the same level of promotion as other landmarks in the United States, says former Motown music arranger Paul Riser Sr., comparing the seminal label’s potential to a tourist mecca in New York City. “The city can really benefit by further marketing this whole concept here,” Riser said. “We need to see more pageantry of Motown. Every time I think Motown, I think Times Square.” Cities across the U.S. have for years promoted musical heritage as a selling point to attract business conventions, exhibitions and tourists. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame attracts 500,000 people each year to Cleveland, while Nashville’s music history and attractions tied to country, gospel and other genres bring in about 17 million people annually. The Motown Museum says it logs more than 100,000 visitors each year and is expecting at least 325,000 visitors per year after the expansion opens. … The 40,000-square-foot expansion is being constructed around the original Hitsville USA house and will feature a theater, a recording studio, retail space and a cafe, as well as immersive exhibits and a searchable back catalog of music and interviews. …

A MICHIGAN RESIDENT NOTICED SOMETHING WAS OFF ABOUT HER WALMART MUSTARD. IT SPARKED A MASSIVE LEGAL DEBATE. INC. • JULY 10, 2026 • BY AMAYA NICHOLE

A viral video about a packaging discrepancy has consumers alleging fraud — but the law may view it differently. After picking up an order from Walmart, Michigan resident Krysten Melville noticed something odd: The two bottles of Frank’s yellow mustard didn’t feel the same. She weighed them both on a kitchen scale to confirm her suspicions. One came in at 1 pound, 5.6 ounces — and the other at just 1 pound, 0.7 ounces. “Is this how we’re ripping off Americans now?” Melville asked in the comments of her TikTok video, tagging Frank’s directly. This isn’t the first time a food or beverage brand has faced this kind of scrutiny. Subway faced backlash after its “footlong” sandwiches were found to measure closer to 11 inches, and Starbucks faced a federal case alleging its drinks didn’t actually contain the advertised ounces. Danny Karon, a consumer attorney with 35 years of experience in food litigation, explained to Inc. that these types of situations resemble what’s legally called “slack-fill,” which is governed by the Code of Federal Regulations. Packaging is allowed to have empty headspace for legitimate reasons, like preventing potato chips from breaking or protein powder settling. Fill requirements are based on weight, not package size or how full something looks. According to Karon, what actually matters legally isn’t how full a package looks or how big it is. “The thing is, they’re not so based on volume — (they’re) based on weight,” he says. Essentially, a package can be as big as a company wants without violating the CFR’s headspace rules as long as the actual weight of the product inside matches what’s promised. Karon adds that making a substantial claim like Melville’s would take more than a kitchen scale. “You don’t just weigh it on the scale you use in the kitchen,” he says. “You gotta go to a certified lab and have it weighed.” …

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2026 || DBUSINESS.COM 27

TRUST E D A DV ISO R S

Local Experts You Can Trust A

s a leader, every decision carries weight. Business owners must balance financial priorities with the need to attract and maintain the workforce that drives long-term success. While those decisions can make leadership challenging, you don’t have to navigate them alone. Fortunately, metro Detroit is home to financial institutions, consultants, and other experts with decades of experience. Advising on everything from retaining top talent and improving workplace culture to managing finances and planning for sustainable growth, they help companies make informed decisions and build a stronger organization. Here, we’ve compiled a few questions and answers from local experts as a jumping-off point to help you feel more confident in your business.

Q: How can business leaders create a culture that attracts and retains top talent? A: As leaders, we often focus on growth, strategy, and results, but none of those are possible without great people. In my experience, the organizations that attract and retain top talent create a culture in which employees feel valued, supported, and connected to a larger purpose. At Hylant, we believe in relationships. People want to work where their leaders are accessible, their contributions matter, and they can grow both professionally and personally. When business leaders invest in development, provide meaningful feedback, and empower employees to make an impact, it fosters a sense of community and belonging. Ultimately, talent retention is about creating an environment in which people can build rewarding careers while doing meaningful work alongside a team that cares about success. My advice to leaders: Be the kind of organization your own son or daughter would want to build a career at. If you get that right, you’ll attract talent more likely to stay for the long term.

Hylant

Jack Miller 220 Park St., Suite 102 Birmingham, MI 48009 248-643-8750

How can business owners make sure their money is working just as hard as they are? A: For many business owners, the conversation starts with a financing need. Maybe it’s purchasing equipment, expanding into a new space, buying a vehicle, or investing in commercial real estate. But the loan is rarely the whole story. When I sit down with business owners, I want to understand where they’re headed. Once I know their goals, I look at the bigger picture. Are they managing cash flow efficiently? Do they have the right treasury tools in place? Is excess cash working for them? Are they positioned to act quickly when the next opportunity comes along? That’s where a true banking relationship makes a difference. At Community Choice, we take the time to understand each business and connect owners with the right combination of lending, banking, and cash management solutions to support long-term growth. When your financial partner understands your business, your money becomes another tool to help move it forward.

Community Choice Credit Union

Dr. Jason Abate, CBPA 31155 Northwestern Hwy., Farmington Hills, MI 48334 877-243-2528 ext. 2551 jabate@communitychoicecu.com

JOSH SCOTT

09-10.26

THE TICKER

32 CAPITAL PLATFORM Jeremy J. Modell, founder and managing partner of Modell Capital Management, acquired a building in Bloomfield Hills along West Long Lake Road, just west of Woodward Avenue, that once was used by famed architect Eero Saarinen and his design team.

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Star Attraction

Bond of Trust

Victory Lap

An Apple a Day

PDA Q&A

Ram Power September - October 2026 || DBUSINESS.COM 29

Star Attraction

NATION’S BIRTHDAY The United States Marine Band performs during the opening ceremony for America250 in Washington, D.C. Production Management One in Romulus helped produce, stage, and light the celebration activities.

What’s more, there was the FIFA Fan Zone Experience, which ran from June 11 to July 19 in the nation’s capital to mark the world’s largest soccer tournament, which was held at multiple sports stadiums across North America. The World Cup is hosted in different countries every four years. “It was a huge honor to be part of the event team for this historic celebration. It was high-risk, high-reward, and our team executed,” says Lazarus, founding partner of HRG Capital in Bloomfield Hills, which earlier this year made a major investment in PM1. “It helps put us on the map even more.” Launched in 2018, Production Management One specializes in the design and deployment of staging and seating for live events, along with full-scale production management. The company operates from facilities in metro Detroit, Orlando, and the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, and has supported and facilitated events nationwide and worldwide. The company also activates and manages full-scale production and asset rentals for America’s Thanksgiving Parade Presented by Gardner White in Detroit, the NATO Summit, Major League Pickleball tournaments, and Unite for America. In July, PM1 was part of the event team for the 2026 National Scout Jamboree, which was held July 22-31 in West Virginia. Other summer events included tennis matches and tournaments, as well as the 2026 PDGA Professional Disc Golf World Championships held from Aug. 26-30 at Kensington Metropark in Milford Township. “With these major events, for every employee with PM1, there are around five other vendors we bring in,” Lazarus says of his 80-person team. “That brings another level of organization and coordination. “We’re active with events in 45 states, and these large events open new doors for us. It also helps with employee attraction and retention, our corporate culture, branding, and new opportunities. This is looking to be our best year ever.”

Kalamazoo’s FlavorSum Purchases California Flavor Manufacturer Kalamazoo flavor solutions provider FlavorSum has acquired S&S Flavors in Brea, Calif., adding powdered flavor capabilities that complement the company’s existing strengths in beverages and other applications.

Detroit City FC Lands Investment from Ronin Capital Partners Detroit City Football Club Holdings announced that Jay Farner, founder and CEO of Ronin Capital Partners in Birmingham, will be making the largest single investment in the club’s history. The amount of the funding was not provided.

Production Management One in Romulus helped program one of the nation’s greatest celebrations. BY R.J. KING

s America prepared to celebrate its 250th anniversary this summer in Washington, D.C., David Lazarus Jr. and his company, Production Management One in Romulus, designed and deployed staging, seating, structures, barricades, and audiovisual and lighting services. “It was all hands on deck,” says Lazarus, majority owner of Production Management One, or PM1. “We started setting up in April, and at this scale it was a whole different experience.” The company was part of a group of event management companies and related vendors from across the country that set up and programmed multiple large-scale events, including the Great American State Fair and Salute to America, which included the world’s largest fireworks display (850,000 pyrotechnic effects). The attractions were complemented by military flyovers, performances, presidential remarks, tributes to American heroes, and the largest assembly of military musicians and ceremonial service members ever gathered in a single performance.

DBUSINESS DIRECT

Pentastar Aviation Buys Gourmet Airfare at Detroit Metro Airport Pentastar Aviation in Waterford Township is expanding its Fivestar Gourmet catering operation to Detroit Metropolitan Airport in Romulus through the acquisition of Gourmet Airfare, a longtime provider of private aviation catering at the airport.

30 DBUSINESS || SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2026

Huron Capital in Detroit Sells Horsepower Automotive Group Huron Capital Partners in Detroit has sold its diversified aftermarket automotive platform Horsepower Automotive Group, which it launched in 2015, to River Associates Investments in Tennessee. Terms of the sale were not disclosed.

Charlevoix Weathervane Restaurant Completes Extensive Renovation The Weathervane Restaurant in Charlevoix has completed a comprehensive renovation that includes new interiors, furnishings, enhancements to the bar, a reconfigured event space, and a redesigned outdoor patio and deck.

COURTESY US ARMY/MILITARY DISTRICT WASHINGTON

The Ticker

AN APPLE A DAY

FORD MOTOR CO. IN Dearborn and Apple are integrating Apple Maps directly into Ford’s upcoming Universal Electric Vehicle (UEV) Platform through Apple’s new MapKit for Automotive SDK. Coming to Ford’s UEV Platform in 2027, the integration will deliver a new navigation experience powered by Apple Maps directly to the vehicles’ displays. Road-level Maps information also will enable Ford’s Latitude AI team to build a seamless, hands-free driving experience. Ford’s new electric truck, announced recently, will hit the market in 2027. Priced at $30,000, it offers a budget-friendly yet compact option. Notably, the truck’s battery can power a house for up to six days during a power outage. Using Apple’s new MapKit for Automotive SDK, Ford’s UEV Platform will offer drivers turn-by-turn directions using natural language, real-time traffic and incident information, intuitive search capabilities featuring detailed place cards, and routing options to help users easily find the best route to their destination. Additionally, Ford UEV drivers will benefit from an intelligent EV routing functionality, including battery preconditioning. Ford also will use road-level information from Apple Maps as part of its next-generation BlueCruise hands-free highway driving feature. — By Kate King

Farbman Group Launches Apex Wall & Finish and Apex Circuitry Farbman Group in Farmington Hills has launched two new entities — Apex Wall & Finish, a drywall and finishing company, and Apex Circuitry, an electrical services company. Both businesses are designed to complement Apex Mechanical Solutions.

Ram Power

Demand for custom-built IT hardware is driving growth at PC Server and Parts in New Hudson. BY R.J. KING |

JOSH SCOTT

C Server and Parts in New Hudson is at the crossroads of AI and trailing technology. As businesses and consumers increasingly use AI to automate tasks, analyze large datasets, and lower operational costs, PC Server finds itself on a roll. Since 2008, the company has been buying, refurbishing, and reselling certified enterprise hardware systems — servers, workstations, and related parts and equipment — to businesses, governments, institutions, and consumers in close to 70 countries. PC Server builds custom-configured servers from Dell PowerEdge, HPE ProLiant, and Lenovo ThinkSystem platforms, as well as workstations from Dell Precision, HP Z, and Lenovo ThinkStation. “With the rising use of AI, people can’t find new servers, or they’re looking for more competitive pricing,” says Scott Eisenberg, CEO and chairman of PC Server. “At the same time, older equipment is going to landfills. “What we do is give servers and related equipment a second life. When the old servers come into our shop, we do a tear-down and remove the components. It’s like stripping a used car and keeping the best parts.” The company sources used hardware from decommissioned data centers and servers. Once the equipment arrives at PC Server’s 35,000-square-foot facility along Grand River Avenue, just west of Novi, each server takes roughly a few minutes to disassemble. From there, the 50-person team of “computer geeks” utilizes the shell of, say, a Dell workstation, and installs new and refurbished hardware. Pricing can be as much as 80 percent cheaper than buying a new unit, Eisenberg says. “Due to heavy demand for digital speed, there’s a big backlog and it’s hard to find new servers,” he says. “The refurbishing market has grown steadily over the last three to four years, not only due to availability, but also less expensive pricing.” Eisenberg, founder and managing director of Franklin Capital Advisors in Birmingham, along with an investment group, acquired PC Server in 2017. Franklin Capital assists lower-middle-market companies in mergers and acquisitions, turnaround and restructurings, and capital-raising. “I’ve always been fascinated by technology,” says Eisenberg, a longtime board member of the Detroit Chapter of the Association for Corporate

Detroit’s Fort Shelby Hotel to Become Embassy Suites by Hilton The 203-room DoubleTree Suites Detroit Downtown Fort Shelby is set to undergo a $42 million renovation and conversion to Embassy Suites by Hilton by Hotel Ventures Fort Shelby, an investment entity organized by Peter Beukema.

West Michigan’s Palisades Nuclear Generating Station Completes Projects The Palisades Nuclear Generating Station near South Haven has closed out the last of its major restart projects. Now, it is performing the test, inspection, and operational readiness work required before starting up again.

Atwell Acquires Colorado Company, Forms National Data Center Platform Atwell has acquired Colorado’s NEI Electric Power Engineering Inc. to create a platform for data centers and other energy infrastructure. The team is equipped to support full life-cycles of data centers and energy plants.

Growth. “Just when you think no one wants old servers and routers, along comes demand for greater data speeds.” Eisenberg says PC Server is on pace to reach between $25 million and $30 million in revenue this year, up from $20 million last year. In 2017, when he and his fellow investors acquired the company, it recorded $16 million in sales. The company was founded by Darin Zygner, who still has an interest in the company, along with operating Zygner Enterprises Inc. in Milford. “We get around 1,000 orders a month, and the (electronic) dashboards you see hanging from the ceiling help us track everything,” Eisenberg says. “We also offer customer DATA MINE support for pre- and Scott Eisenberg, CEO and post-sales, as well as chairman of PC Server and Parts in New Hudson, bought warranty coverage for the business in 2017. up to five years.”

PHINIA in Auburn Hills Agrees to Purchase German stoba Group PHINIA Inc. in Auburn Hills announced plans to acquire 100 percent of German precision component manufacturer the stoba Group, which employs more than 1,000 people across eight locations worldwide including Charleston, S.C.

For full stories and more, visit dbusiness.com/daily-news to get daily news sent directly to your email.

September - October 2026 || DBUSINESS.COM 31

The Ticker

Bond of Trust How to start a new practice and bring longtime clients into the fold. BY R.J. KING |

JOSH SCOTT

aunching a startup business is one thing. It’s quite another challenge to establish an independent company and convince existing clients to join the new enterprise. In February, following a negotiated deal, Jeremy J. Modell transitioned his clients to Modell Capital Management in Bloomfield Hills from Clarkston Capital Partners in Rochester. The latter company was started by Modell and two partners in 2011. To ensure his clients would take to his new boutique investment management firm, Modell visited with the individuals and families that make up his book of business and assured them he valued the personal relationships they had developed over the years. “Our clients are doctors, lawyers, and business owners, and when you become their financial adviser, you really become part of the family,” says Modell, founder and managing partner of Modell Capital Management. “We work with the client, their attorneys, and their accountants to develop disciplined, goal-oriented strategies they’re comfortable with.” In those meetings, Modell emphasized that his new firm was free from outside pressures, did not utilize proprietary products, and had no competing incentives. In other words, he told his clients he was still part of their family, but now it was with a new firm. To instill greater confidence, Modell acquired sole ownership of a unique building where famed architect Eero Saarinen and his team designed such landmarks as the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, the TWA Flight Center at John F.

ASSET TEAM The team at Modell Capital Management in Bloomfield Hills includes, left to right, Alexander Strek, Jake Powers, Jeremy J. Modell, Steve Wloszek, Nancy LaBenne, and Denise Barber.

Kennedy International Airport in New York, and the Dulles International Airport Main Terminal in Virginia, among others. “I called all of our clients and met with many of them individually,” says Modell, who works with six other professionals. Collectively, the firm has 250 clients and $2 billion in assets under management. “I said trust was our biggest asset, but the new firm would allow us to present new ideas and opportunities. “I also (assured them that) we were committed to preserving and enhancing the value we had built up, while continuing to uphold the highest fiduciary standards. The firm was established on a

simple philosophy that a close-knit team serves our clients best.” The company’s two-story wood studio, wrapped by a glass curtain wall (Saarinen utilized the same concept for his design of General Motors Co.’s Warren Technical Center), spans 6,400 square feet. “We have some room to grow,” Modell shared during a recent tour of the building, located along West Long Lake Road near Woodward Avenue. “The history of this building was important in our discussions with our clients. It shows we’re here for the long haul, and that this is my — and their — home.”

PDA Q&A: THE E-INTERVIEW DB: WHERE ARE YOU?

ROB ELHENICKY

CEO Kelley Cawthorne, Lansing

RE: I’m en route to Chicago. I’m headed to the National Conference of State Legislators Legislative Summit at McCormick Place. DB: WHAT’S IT LIKE?

RE: As a lobbyist, it’s always a great opportunity to not only connect with legislators from our home

32 DBUSINESS || September - October 2026

state and Ohio, but also to catch up with clients and meet new people. The sessions are focused on policy, not politics, but it’s a hard-charged political year with the midterms (in November) and all the primaries. DB: IS THERE A HIGHLIGHT?

RE: Yes. This afternoon (July 28) we’re hosting an

event for one of our clients, Diageo, which owns Guinness beer. We invited everyone we knew that was going to be at the conference. We’ll have a short program, networking, introduce people to one another, and do a tour of the beer-making process. It’s at the Guinness Open Gate Brewery in the West

Loop. We’ll host around 150 people.

DB: WHAT ELSE IS PLANNED?

RE: On the retail front, we represent Walmart. We’ll discuss various retail issues. In addition, there’s a big focus on potential property tax reductions, both for homeowners and commercial and industrial property owners. Most

people agree residential property taxes are high, and the discussions will center on how they can be reduced. Right now, potential new-home buyers, many of them younger buyers, may not be able to afford a home because the property taxes are too high. — R.J. King

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The Ticker

TAP IT IN Pine Lakes Country Club in Orchard Lake has invested in multiple capital improvement projects in recent years.

Victory Lap Pine Lake Country Club in Orchard Lake has undergone $22 million in upgrades, including a redesigned and reconditioned 18-hole golf course. BY R.J. KING

34 DBUSINESS || SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2026

and new infrastructure improvements like the HVAC system,” he says. The golf course was closed for play from June 2023 to August 2024, to allow for more than $10 million in improvements. One issue that needed to be addressed was that the original course, designed by Willie Park Jr., had been redesigned several times over the decades. “Before we renovated the course, holes 1, 2, and 3 were literally designed by three different architects,” says Terry Poley, director of agronomy at Pine Lake Country Club. “We’ve since removed a number of trees to open up the sightlines and vistas, and provide for more consistent playing conditions for our members and their guests.” In recent years, more golf courses have been removing trees so the roots don’t compete with grass on the fairways, greens, and tee boxes for water, nutrition, and sunlight. In turn, maintenance crews are spared from clearing leaves, sometimes twice a day, during the fall season. “We added 27 miles of drain piping so that soon after heavy rains, the course is ready for play,” Poley adds. “On windy days, we (used to spend) up to three days picking up debris from the trees, but that’s now been reduced to a minimum. If you look at the life cycles of trees, it’s a lot of money to maintain them.” Now seeded with creeping bentgrass, known for its ability to withstand cold weather, provide a carpet-like surface, and tolerate low mowing, members returning last season “were blown

away at how much better the course plays,” Poley says. This year, the grass matured even more. All of the improvements, Yerby notes, have led to an increase in both full and social memberships. “We added seasonal menus, three concerts (during the summer), other new events, and we added new docks last year,” he says. Michael Kalil, a member of Pine Lake for 23 years and a board member for seven years, says he plays “tennis and pickleball year-round.” In addition to growing up at the club (his family has enjoyed the club for 50 years), he golfs regularly, has made longtime friends, and enjoys the outdoor dining area overlooking the lake. As COO of Farbman Group in Farmington Hills, he also hosts clients at the club. “With the course (renovation), we’ve gone back to the original Willie Park Jr. design,” Kalil says. “It’s had a significant positive impact on the club.”

COURTESY OF PINE LAKE COUNTRY CLUB

hat became the Pine Lake Country Club in Orchard Lake was founded in 1902, but initially there was no golf course. Rather, the woodland setting along the west shore of Pine Lake was first named the Automobile Club of Detroit, and its early members included Henry B. Joy, Ransom E. Olds, Henry Ford, and James Couzens. The membership changed the name to the Automobile Country Club in 1916, but it wasn’t until 1919 that the first nine holes were ready for play. Two years later, the name was changed to Pine Lake Country Club, and in 1924, 18 holes of golf were available to members, families, and their guests. Fast-forward to today, and Pine Lake Country Club has completed more than $22 million in recent improvements that span the clubhouse, the golf course, and other membership amenities like a renovated indoor tennis facility with four courts (it is used for pickleball, as well). “We have a lot of history here with third- and fourth-generation members, and we’re unique not only for our automotive heritage, but we’re one of the few golf clubs that has more than 60 boat slips,” says Tyler Yerby, general manager and COO of Pine Lake Country Club. “Before I came here (in April 2025), $12 million had been spent on the clubhouse; (there were) new men’s and women’s locker rooms, an upgraded outdoor dining area, a new commercial-grade kitchen,

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Cordon Bleu Local catering companies are expanding as they navigate changes in corporate and social consumer demands at offices, factories, charity events, and banquet centers. BY TIM KEENAN

CORPORATE CUISINE Forte Belanger in Troy counts Corewell Health, General Motors, Rocket Mortgage, and Bedrock among its clients.

36 DBUSINESS || SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2026

COURTESY CONTINENTAL/FORTE BELANGER

ocal catering businesses are being asked, more than ever, to provide sophisticated dining experiences that entertain as well as nourish, offer options for people with varying dietary requirements, and maintain the highest level of culinary quality — all while dealing with increasing material and labor costs. And they’re doing it, in both the corporate and social catering segments. “We’re definitely in a growth mode,” says Robert Esshaki, co-owner and CEO of Rudy’s Hospitality Group in Clarkston, which includes Rudy’s Smokehouse Catering and Rudy’s Prime Steakhouse. Rudy’s is the sole food service provider for United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) in Pontiac, as well as the Mortgage Pros and Flagstar Bank headquarters in Troy. Esshaki says more catering contracts will add to his company’s $25 million in annual revenue and its employee count of 175 people. “The off-premises catering business is up,” says Joe Vicari, president and CEO of the Joe Vicari Restaurant Group, comprised of Andiamo Catering and Event Management and 12 restaurant locations. “We’ll go to barns, theaters, factories. Our outside catering has been up double-digits, probably 35 percent, over the last five years since COVID-19.” Chef Bobby Nahra, owner of Encore Catering and Banquet in St. Clair Shores, which operates event venues Encore and The Blossom Heath Inn, and is the preferred caterer for the Royal Oak Music Theatre, M1 Concourse, Michigan Central, and Belle Isle, agrees. “On the corporate side, the post-COVID-19 (business) is a lot better,” Nahra says. “People and businesses are wining and dining again. They’re doing business the old-fashioned way.” According to IBISWorld, a market research company in New York, the catering and food service industry in Michigan encompasses more than 400 registered businesses employing more than 4,700 people, and brings in $336.3 million. The broader food service contractor industry generates $1.6 billion and employs an additional 17,300 workers across the state. Michigan is part of a global catering industry that was worth $175 billion in 2025, and it’s expected to grow to $332.45 billion by 2035, according to a report by Expert Market Research in Sheridan, Wyo. The United States is the world’s largest national catering market, characterized by a well-developed corporate catering ecosystem, a large and active events and wedding catering segment, and a mature contract food service sector serving healthcare, education, and government institutions. The U.S. also leads the way in in-flight catering operations. Catering in the Great Lakes State, specifically southeast Michigan, is a microcosm of the national scene, with a market segmented into corporate catering, wedding catering, and social events catering. Each sector presents opportunities and challenges to those in the business of feeding the masses. In May, ezCater, a Boston company offering workplace food solutions, published data at its 2026 Catering Growth Forum showing that 91 percent of U.S. workplaces plan to spend the same or more on catering services in 2026, with daily and weekly employee meal programs growing 26 percent year-over-year, as organizations use catering as a strategic tool for workforce productivity and office attendance management. Expert Market Research says the decision by corporations, healthcare institutions, educational facilities, and government entities to outsource their food service operations to specialist catering providers, rather than managing in-house cafeterias, is the most significant structural driver of global catering services’ market growth.

Focus

COURTESY RUDY’S HOSPITALITY GROUP

For the customer companies, outsourcing delivers cost predictability, quality specialization, regulatory compliance management, and access to professional culinary talent that most organizations can’t develop cost-effectively in-house. “The biggest trend right now, as companies wrestle with what returning to the office looks like, is how do we retain top talent?” says Jason Olinik, senior vice president of operations and partnerships at Rudy’s Hospitality Group. “A subsidized meal program is a great way to do that. It gets people together, drives innovation, drives retention, and drives recruiting. Having a really great restaurant-style program on campus is a great way to get people together, (and) make actually coming in to work worth it. A great way to do that is to lower the price of food.” When Rudy’s Hospitality Group first took over the food service at UWM in 2014, the mortgage company had 700 employees. It now has close to 10,000 workers, and Rudy’s has grown with the mortgage giant. Rudy’s service at UWM features eight food stations with a variety of selections. There are no subsidies, and all the food is prepared at UWM kitchens. Flagstar Bank’s service also is provided via an on-site kitchen, but its food service is subsidized in order to keep the cost to employees lower. At Mortgage Pros, Rudy’s Hospitality Group stocks a micro-market that’s serviced from Rudy’s Prime Steakhouse. Rudy’s also is in the process of building a commissary in Troy, which is expected to open late this year or early next year, from which it can service Mortgage Pros and future corporate clients. According to industry reports and the caterers themselves, corporate clients now expect caterers to offer regularly rotating menus featuring locally sourced ingredients, allergen-transparent labeling, culturally diverse cuisine options, and plant-based alternatives that accommodate the dietary preferences of increasingly health-conscious workforces.

“When people are going to the same building all the time, they need variety,” Esshaki says. “Food fatigue is a real thing. What separates our company from a lot of our competitors is we’re big into prepared food, micro-markets with grab-and-go options, and different kinds of selections.” Says Olinik: “Corporate catering used to be heavily box lunches and basics. Now it’s getting a little more into themed buffets, more action stations, a lot more charcuteries, platters where people can graze throughout a meeting, and themed events with menus that are curated for that event.” According to Vicari, business is back to what it was prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, but he says he doesn’t see businesses being more extravagant. “As of 2025 and 2026, (corporate business is) back to probably pre-COVID-19 type of activity for us,” he says. “The counts aren’t as high as they used to be, the guest lists are smaller. But I don’t see corporate customers getting more extravagant. They’re purchasing what they purchased before COVID-19.” He does note that off-site corporate catering is experiencing growth. “Our clients are bringing in people from out of town, and they want to stay in their factory during the workday,” Vicari says. “We’re equipped to go anywhere and do anything.” In addition, catering for events and weddings is experiencing a transformation. The global catering services market is benefiting from sustained growth in premium event and wedding catering, according to Expert Market Research, as consumers prioritize memorable dining experiences for social celebrations following a period of deferred event spending, mostly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The trend toward premium, unique, and experiential catering concepts is lifting average spending per event and expanding the addressable market for specialist event caterers. Luxury social occasions represent particularly high-value growth opportunities for specialist catering operators with premium service and logistics capabilities.

PASTRY TOWER Joe Vicari of the Joe Vicari Restaurant Group says catering customers “want to see a show.”

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2026 || DBUSINESS.COM 37

COURTESY JOE VICARI RESTAURANT GROUP

FLAVOR AND SAVOR Rudy’s Hospitality Group in Troy is getting ready to open a commissary to service some of its corporate clients.

Joe Vicari Restaurant Group and Encore Catering and Banquet offer full-service events that include stages, video walls, sound systems, lighting, drapery, furniture, flowers, and more. Social event and wedding catering is experiencing “premiumization” as couples and event organizers invest in unique menu designs, live cooking stations, and immersive food experiences that differentiate their events. The growing integration of themed dining, interactive food presentation, and experiential catering concepts within high-value social events is supporting above-market pricing growth within the premium non-contractual catering segment. “People want to see a show,” says Vicari, whose company is a fixture at major downtown events such as the Ford Fireworks and the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix. “Buffets have to have different styles of serving trays. A square container with Sterno under it is out of style. You have to have round ones or oval-shaped ones. They’re looking for different foods. We can do Greek, Italian — obviously, Asian, Polish. We can do all of that. They’re looking for variety. They want to be different.” A relatively new addition to the metro Detroit event venue inventory is The Seven in Ferndale. It’s co-owned by Tom Violante Jr. and Patrick VanLehn, who also operate Sushi Kabar.

Focus

COURTESY ENCORE CATERING/THE SEVEN

GALA BITES Chef Bobby Nahra of Encore Catering and Banquet extols the popularity of small plates at high-end gatherings.

The latter company started by putting sushi programs in hospitals, universities, and grocery stores. The growth allowed the owners to invest in office space, and they purchased a 20,000-square-foot former Ferndale Electric building. Both agreed the space, with its unique architectural features, would make an “incredible” event venue. It opened for business after an $8 million investment — $2 million for the building and $6 million in renovations. “What we’re seeing in the contracts we’re signing for this year and next is that the desire is to have more sophistication — something that’s more experiential, so it’s not just a simple plated dinner,” VanLehn says. “We’re seeing requests for strolling dinners with multiple courses, making the food more interesting. Same with the bar service; (people want) signature drinks or something that speaks to the event or company.” “One of the trends is action stations,” Esshaki adds. “People love to see something as simple as someone cutting meat for them, or watching someone make a stir-fry. Action stations always attract a lot of interest.” Nahra echoes Esshaki’s thoughts. “People like action stations, where they can watch chefs actually making a pizza after they pick the toppings. They love watching the chefs prepare stuff.” 38 DBUSINESS || SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2026

tables, chairs, plates, and glasses. When you go off premises, you have to pay for all of that. It’s probably 30 percent more to have a party at a barn up in Metamora or somewhere.” Nahra agrees. “Destination weddings, outdoor weddings, and barn weddings are a growing trend. Places like the Packard Proving Grounds. Clients like the warehouses, they like the barns, they like the distillery downtown. It’s so expensive to do an off-premises wedding and it’s over in five hours.” While local catering companies are upping their game by providing creative full-service events for off-site parties, the business side of catering is becoming challenging. An April 2026 survey by the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association in Lansing showed Michigan operators are experiencing mounting pressure from persistent inflation and cautious consumer spending. “What we’re seeing is an industry that remains committed to Michigan’s economy and communities, but one that’s absorbing significant pressure from multiple directions,” says Justin Winslow, president and CEO of MRLA. “(Restaurant) operators are still investing, still creating jobs, (and) still opening new locations, but the economic fundamentals are getting tougher.” Many of these issues also are being faced by caterers. Food costs lead the challenges; 23 percent of Michigan operators cite food costs as their top challenge, followed by labor costs (19 percent) and the economy (16 percent). “In the last five years, our prices have gone up 15 percent,” Vicari says. “It’s not profit. Wages have gone up and the cost of food has gone up for us significantly.” Despite the challenges, caterers are bullish on the future of the business. “I think we’re back to getting people connected physically, having meetings with the AV equipment that’s necessary, and having a community experience with the food,” Violante says. “People want to get their business together and, once they’re all together, they want to leverage that time.” Olinik, of Rudy’s Hospitality Group, says, “The goal of a great food program is that people use it. One way to get people to use it is to serve things they want to eat. We want to provide a special experience. We want to design culinary programs for that particular population.” DESSERT DELIGHTS The small plate concept also extends to the dessert course.

COURTESY CONTINENTAL/FORTE BELANGER

FISH WISH The Seven incorporates the expertise of Sushi Kabar when customers are looking for an upscale sushi experience.

Nahra says his chefs use the newest in electric pizza oven technology to craft a pizza while guests watch. Less than two minutes later, the product is ready to eat. “We have these new tabletop electric pizza ovens that can make a 12-inch pizza in 90 seconds,” Nahra explains. “We can put six of these on a table and we’re knocking out six pizzas every two minutes.” Another trend in the catering business, according to Nahra, is serving pre-set micro plates. “You put a slice of a 1- or 2-ounce Wagu off of a tomahawk, a dollop of potato, then a vegetable and sauce of your choice. I literally have chefs with tweezers putting micro greens on the finished plate. Our young chefs love that stuff. It gets them out in front, which adds some stage presence. Everybody wants to be a celebrity chef.” The Seven and its origin firm, Sushi Kabar, have taken advantage of the popularity of raw fish dishes from Japan. It uses this expertise to offer its special variety. “We’re a sushi company, and we offer a sushi table with a sushi experience with a chef right in front of people,” Violante says. “It provides theater and it provides delicious food. People love the sushi experience.” Two other trends in the wedding catering industry involve the size and location of wedding parties. “We’ve seen the (hall wedding) business go down,” Vicari says. “Traditional weddings, going to a dining hall, have been declining for the last six or seven years. In the last 10 years, the counts for weddings have gone down. A big wedding back in the day was 650 people. Today, a big wedding is 375 to 400 people. Most of the weddings are 250 to 300 guests.” Those who do decide to have a wedding, a mitzvah, or some other major party in a hall, end up transforming the facility to suit their taste or the theme of the event. “The people today dress up the hall with lighting, drapery, and flowers,” Vicari says. “Some people spend more on flowers than what we charge them for the food.” Violante recalls a recent fundraiser for FAR Therapeutics that was hosted at The Seven. “For the FAR Therapeutics gala, we created a community in our space,” he says. “The food was good, there was a good atmosphere, and we raised a lot of money. This charity invested a little more in their event, and that investment paid off by having a better experience and a better outcome.” VanLehn adds, “We choreographed and co-created an evening that blended the entertainment with the food, so they were able to get people in a great mood and get their message across. They were excited to be there and give.” The other trend is weddings that take place in various nontraditional locations, despite the added cost involved. “Younger people today want to have their party in a barn or a factory,” Vicari says. “It costs so much more. If you come to our hall, you don’t pay for

Perspectives

Michigan Venture Capital Report

Local venture capital investors are supporting Michigan startups, and attracting and retaining founders who want to stay and succeed. BY TIM KEENAN

n June, some 2,000 representatives from venture capital companies, founders, large private enterprises, and the public sector converged on Hudson’s Detroit for the third annual Reindustrialize Conference. Among the topics discussed at the June 16-18 collaboration were reindustrialization, reshoring, defense tech, and public-private partnerships. “Detroit feels like the right place to hold this conference and lean into what we can build outside of automotive,” says Lindsay Kilbride, an investor at Detroit Venture Partners, part of the Gilbert Family Office in Detroit. “Venture capital leaders from other cities are paying attention to what’s happening in Detroit.” One of the reasons the Motor City is the “right place” to conduct a venture capital-related conference is that it’s in Michigan, the third-rated state in the nation for investing in home-grown startups. According to the Rise of the Rest Revolution Fund’s 2026 Annual Report, the Great Lakes State is behind Kentucky and California in investing in new local companies. The report states the local investor participation rate in Michigan is 64.4 percent. California’s is 73 percent and Kentucky’s is 82.4 percent. Indiana is fourth at 57.4 percent, and New York rounds out the top five at 51.9 percent.

“Michigan’s innovation economy draws on deep roots in manufacturing and mobility, alongside growing momentum in software, life sciences, and climate tech,” the report says. “In 2025, Michigan startups saw 163 venture deals, with local investors participating in 64.4 percent of them.” Michigan’s top local investor is Michigan Rise, a subsidiary of the Michigan State University Research Foundation, a nonprofit organization established in 1973 in East Lansing to advance economic development through technology commercialization. It partners with the Michigan Economic Development Corp. (MEDC) in “building Michigan’s future as a leading hub for technological innovation and entrepreneurship.” In 2025, Michigan Rise participated in 31 deals; Innovation Partnerships, part of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, followed close behind with 28 deals. Ara Topouzian, executive director of the Michigan Venture Capital Association in Bloomfield Hills, says it’s important that local investors support area startups, specifically at the state government level. “We continue to push for things like the Michigan Innovation Fund (MIF) and we want to see more money go into that,” Topouzian says. “We need to be competitive within the Great Lakes and we haven’t been. You have states like Indiana, Ohio, and Wisconsin with a ton of incentives and capital to play with. “The Michigan Innovation Fund is the first time in decades that we’ve had any kind of incentives that help promote innovation. We need to continue on that path.” The MIF is a $60 million bipartisan state program backed by the MEDC to provide capital to early-stage startups and bolster the statewide entrepreneurial ecosystem. It provides long-term, continuous-growth capital through evergreen venture funds across the state in an effort to retain homegrown talent, drive job growth, ensure a continuous pipeline of investment capital, and reduce the number of founders leaving Michigan for other markets. Kilbride says there are efforts, in addition to state-sponsored investing, that are stemming the tide of startups leaving the state and bringing companies into Michigan. SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2026 || DBUSINESS.COM 39

ADOBE STOCK

Driving Investment

Perspectives

BY THE NUMBERS

MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION

134

220

MSU Technologies Supported

Venture Investments Made

Overall Startup Portfolio

$992M

MSU Research Funding

Startups Formed

Successful Exits

“Since I’ve been investing over the last four or five years, investors in the state have had more intentionality about how we all work together,” Kilbride says. “For years, we took for granted that we all see and know the same things, but we don’t. “We’re doing regular co-working days. We probably have 150 people from around the state who collaborate and co-invest. We’re looking at how our combined efforts have a greater chance of success.” As a result, she sees Detroit and southeast Michigan being more attractive as a place for founders to come and build than they did four or five years ago. “Some of this is the work being done at Newlab (at Michigan Central in Detroit) and the other collaboration spaces that offer shared resources and opportunities for mentorship and expertise, but I also think the city of Detroit is a great story right now,” she says. “The population is growing for the first time in a long time. The downtown area is not only safe, but it’s thriving — and you can walk between MLB, NBA, NHL, and NFL games. “In the last two or three years, we’ve invested in companies (that) decided to move here, not because we twisted their arms but because we have the infrastructure and engineering talent,” Kilbride adds. She’s referring to Nox Metals, a supplier of aluminum plates and bars; Maka Kids, a children’s media platform; AutoSitu, an AI-native intelligence provider for real estate; Birdstop, a drone airspace monitoring system; and Bloomscape, a platform for buying plants. The companies all have made their headquarters in Detroit. Another region of the state that’s attracting the attention of investors is the Upper Peninsula, specifically the area that includes Houghton, the home of Michigan Technological University, and nearby Marquette and Calumet. “We’re seeing a growth of technology companies and investable companies, traditional companies, and startups that we haven’t seen previously,” says Jim Baker, associate vice president for research administration at Michigan Tech, who explains that it wasn’t easy getting to this point. 40 DBUSINESS || SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2026

Houghton is about a seven-hour drive from Detroit, and a nine-hour drive from Grand Rapids. Given the distances, isolation is a factor, as is culture — economic and otherwise. “We send founders to Grand Rapids and Detroit to raise money and they come back saying, ‘they don’t know how we do business up here,’ ” Baker explains. Over time, he was able to start the Michigan Outdoor Innovation Fund in Marquette and 1885 Capital, local funds that understand how business is conducted in the U.P. “I think we’re at an inflection point,” Baker says. “We were one of the first Smart Zones in the state 25 years ago. We have the technologists. We have research going on at Michigan Tech. Now, we have an evergreen pre-seed fund run out of Marquette, so we can have discussions locally with people who understand the culture and business environment. That has driven the innovation culture.” In Hancock, just north of Michigan Tech, 1885 Capital backs early-stage founders across manufacturing, enterprise software, advanced materials, and sustainability. Among the success stories from the U.P. are Steelhead Technologies in Calumet, which undertakes manufacturing, powder coating, liquid painting, fabrication, galvanizing, heat treatment, chemical processing, and other industrial tasks. Another successful company is Mohawk Technologies in Mohawk, which expands modern factory capability for the dairy processing industry

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This year’s venture activity at the Michigan State University Research Foundation shows strong commercializtion activity among technology firms, early investors, and statewide funding support.

Perspectives

BY THE NUMBERS

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UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN INNOVATION FUND by combining controls engineering, process engineering, and process installation into a turnkey process solution. Businesses showing promise in the U.P. are technologies involving material science and recycling. “There’s quite a bit of work in critical minerals that has significant promise based on the reshoring of mineral extraction, processing, and purification that other people aren’t doing,” Baker says. “Capital finds good deals,” he adds. “If we put together good deals with good teams, we can get money out of the coasts, (and) we can get money out of the metropolitan centers of Michigan. We’ve demonstrated the ability to do that.” In the western part of the state, the Michigan Capital Network in Grand Rapids is growing. “They’re very busy and doing some great things,” Topouzian notes. Michigan Capital Network, which has its headquarters in the AC Hotel in downtown Grand Rapids, has more than $250 million under management across five funds. It has invested in more than 100 companies, 90 percent of which were founded in the Midwest, and has 70-plus investors in its network. The Grand Rapids network invests in life sciences, advanced manufacturing, advanced agriculture, and software and IT. Among its success stories are Atlas Space Operations in Traverse City, Grand River Aseptic Manufacturing in Grand Rapids, and Max Analytical Technologies in Mount Pleasant. Higher up the investment ladder, private equity is becoming a bigger player in the automotive M&A universe, according to a report from PwC. Still, the average private equity transaction size remains less than $100 million, the report states, supported by moderating valuations, dry powder, and a steady cadence of supplier carveouts making automotive assets reachable for financial buyers. Overall, the state of Michigan’s venture capital business seems to be on the upswing, despite the challenges of raising funds. “I think it’s going well,” Topouzian says. “A lot of funds are in the midst of fundraising, and fundraising is hard in this economy. We’re seeing some new funds come into play, which is good, and I want to see more funds in the state of Michigan, for sure. “I think Michigan Central is a wonderful hub for the city. With Michigan Central and Newlab, you’re seeing a lot of technology and startups that are great for the state.” Kilbride also is bullish on southeast Michigan’s venture capital potential. “We’re starting to see some green shoots coming from the seeds that were planted 15 years ago by the Ilitches and the Gilberts,” she says. “This is a city that’s growing and innovating, and people want to live (here). The country is paying attention, and the world is paying attention.”

With growth over the last three years for startups launched, the University of Michigan Innovation Fund is working to raise more funding opportunities. 2,000

35 30 25

1,500

1,000

1.5B

759M 786M 514M

500

662M

5 0

0 FY21

FY22

FY23

FY24

Startups Launched

FY25

FY21

FY22

FY23

FY24

FY25

Funding Raised by Startups (Millions)

INVEST DETROIT 2025 KEY METRICS ACROSS ALL PROGRAMS Located in Midtown, Invest Detroit is a financial institution made up of equity and investment assets that support entrepreneurs, startups, and local neighborhoods.

$21,573,945 DEPLOYED $280,060,703 LEVERAGED 47 PROJECTS AND/OR BUSINESSES SUPPORTED 110,089 TOTAL SQ. FT. OF COMMERCIAL/RETAIL 148 HOUSING UNITS CREATED WITH

105 AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS (70% OF ALL UNITS)

521 JOBS CREATED OR RETAINED 84% IMPACT POPULATION REPRESENTED*

*Invest Detroit’s impact population is businesses or projects owned or developed by people of color, immigrants, and women, and startup companies based in Detroit.

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Perspectives

2026 Michigan Investment Organizations

MICHIGAN VENTURE CAPITAL FIRMS 42 NORTH PARTNERS 171 Monroe Ave. NW Grand Rapids 616-325-2100 42np.com

BAIRD CAPITAL 2950 S. State St., Ste. 401 Ann Arbor 734-302-2900 annarbor.bairdwealthl.com

DTE ENERGY VENTURES 414 S. Main St., Ste. 600 Ann Arbor 734-302-5309 dteenergyventures.com

GRAND VENTURES 99 Monroe Ave. NW, Ste. 502 Grand Rapids 616-326-1585 grandvcp.com

ABUNDANT VENTURES P.O. Box 326 Metamora 248-812-2418 abundantventures.com

BELLE IMPACT FUND 217 Lake Shore Dr. Grosse Pointe Farms bellefunds.com

EDF VENTURES 425 N. Main St. Ann Arbor 734-663-3213 edf.fr/en/pulse/ventures

GROW MICHIGAN 2 Lone Pine Dr. Bloomfield Hills 248-593-4810 growmichiganfund.com

EICONICA CAPITAL 34300 Woodward Ave., Ste. 200 Birmingham 248-981-6688

HONOR EQUITY 63 Kercheval Ave., Ste. 111 Grosse Pointe Farms 313-444-0093

EIGHTEEN94 CAPITAL One Kellogg Square Battle Creek 269-961-2000 1894capital.com

HOPEN LIFE SCIENCE VENTURES 171 Monroe Ave. NW, Ste. 410 Grand Rapids 616-325-2110

ELAB VENTURES 206 E. Huron St., Ste. 108 Ann Arbor 734-926-5221 elabvc.com

HURON RIVER VENTURES 303 Detroit St., Ste. 100 Ann Arbor huronrivervc.com

AMHERST FUND 401 E. Stadium Blvd. Ann Arbor 734-662-2102 amherstfund.com ANNOX CAPITAL 480 Pierce St., Ste. 240 Birmingham 248-712-1086 annoxcapital.com APJOHN VENTURES 350 E. Michigan Ave., Ste. 500 Kalamazoo 269-349-8999 apjohnventures.com ARBOR PARTNERS 130 S. First St., Ste. 200 Ann Arbor 734-668-9000 arborpartners.com ARBORETUM VENTURES First National Bldg. 201 S. Main, 3rd Floor Ann Arbor 734-998-3688 arboretumvc.com ARIA VENTURES 380 N. Old Woodward Ave., Ste. 290 Birmingham 248-766-2903 ariaventures.com ARSENAL 303 Detroit St., Ste. 301 Ann Arbor 734-436-1496 arsenalgrowth.com ASSEMBLY VENTURES 1555 Broadway St. Detroit assemblyventures.com AUGMENT VENTURES 206 S. Fourth Ave. Ann Arbor augmentventures.com

BERINGEA 32330 W. 12 Mile Rd. Farmington Hills 248-489-9000 beringea.com BIOSTAR CAPITAL 206 Bridge St. Charlevoix biostar.capital BLUE VICTOR CAPITAL 2103 Rochelle Park Dr. Rochester Hills bluevictorcapital.com BOOMERANG CATAPULT 10850 E. Traverse Hwy., Ste. 4400 Traverse City 231-631-1734 boomerangcatapult.com CANTILEVER INVESTORS 600 S. Wagner Ann Arbor cantileverinvestors.com CITY SIDE VENTURES 34300 Woodward Ave., Ste. 200 Birmingham 248-605-2028 citysideventures.com COURTSIDEVC Detroit courtsidevc.com DETROIT VENTURE PARTNERS 1555 Broadway, 3rd Floor Detroit detroit.vc DOW VENTURE CAPITAL 2030 Dow Center Midland 989-636-1000 dow.com/venture DRAPER TRIANGLE VENTURES 303 Detroit St., Ste. 100 Ann Arbor 48104 734-215-7577 drapertriangle.com

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ENVY CAPITAL 39665 Northwestern Hwy., Ste. 200 Farmington Hills EVERGREEN CAPITAL PARTNERS 201 W. Big Beaver Rd. Troy 248-619-1864 evergreencappartners.com FIREFOX VENTURES Bloomfield Hills 248-766-3040 firefoxventures.com FONTINALIS PARTNERS One Woodward Ave., Ste. 1600 Detroit fontinalis.com GENERAL MOTORS VENTURES 30470 Harley Earl Blvd. Warren gmventures.com GENESIS INNOVATION GROUP 2851 Charlevoix Dr. SE, Ste. 327 Grand Rapids 833-444-2468 genesisinnovationgroup.com GIBBS CITY INVESTMENTS Ann Arbor gibbscity.com

INVEST DETROIT 938 Selden St. Detroit 313-259-6368 investdetroit.com INVEST MICHIGAN 235 E. Main St., Ste. 105B Northville investmichigan.org JXP CAPITAL 6735 Telegraph Rd. Bloomfield Hills 248-550-0838 jxpcapital.com KELLY INNOVATION FUND 999 W. Big Beaver Rd. Troy 800-535-5901 kellyservicesinvestments.com LIS VENTURES 28555 Orchard Lake Rd., Ste. 100 Farmington Hills lisventures.com LUDLOW VENTURES 1555 Broadway St. Detroit ludlowventures.com MADDOG TECHNOLOGY 233 Pierce St. Birmingham

248-686-0900 maddogtechnology.com MCKINLEY TECHNOLOGY GROUP 106 S. Walnut, Ste. 1 Bay City 866-616-1463, ext. 4 mckinleytechnology.com MERCURY FUND 1420 Washington Blvd., Ste. 301 Detroit 713-715-6820 mercuryfund.com MICHIGAN ACCELERATOR FUND 140 Monroe Center NW, Ste. 300 Grand Rapids 616-235-3567 linkedin.com/company/ michigan-accelerator-fund-i/ about/

MK CAPITAL 353 W. William, Ste. 303 Ann Arbor 734-663-6500 mkcapital.com MONROE-BROWN SEED FUND 2281 Bonisteel Ave. Ann Arbor 734-763-1021 innovation.medicine.umich.edu/ michigan-biomedical-venturefund MUDITA VENTURE PARTNERS 30300 Telegraph Rd., Ste. 370 Bingham Farms muditavp.com NARROW GAUGE VENTURES 330 Detroit St., Ste. 200 Ann Arbor narrowgaugeventures.com NORTH COAST TECHNOLOGY INVESTORS 206 S. Fifth Ave., Ste. 550 Ann Arbor 734-662-7667 northcoastvc.com NORTHBROOK INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT 2149 Jolly Rd., Ste. 500 Okemos

MICHIGAN BIOMEDICAL VENTURE FUND 3350 Duderstadt Ann Arbor 734-763-1021 michiganmedicine.org

OMEGA ACCELERATOR 3707 W. Maple Rd., Ste. 100E Bloomfield Hills 248-633-8557 omergaaccelerator.com

MICHIGAN CAPITAL NETWORK 37 Ottawa Ave. NW, Ste. 200 Grand Rapids michigancapitalnetwork.com

PLYMOUTH GROWTH PARTNERS 555 Briarwood Circle, Ste. 210 Ann Arbor 734-747-9401 plymouthgp.com

MICHIGAN INVESTMENT IN NEW TECHNOLOGY STARTUPS 2281 Bonisteel Blvd. Ann Arbor innovationpartnerships.umich. edu/ventures/

QUANTUM MEDICAL CONCEPTS 120 W. Saginaw St. East Lansing Phone: NA quantummedicalconcepts.com

MILLER CAPITAL PARTNERS 5600 New King Dr., Ste. 220 Troy 248-901-1650 millercapital.com

QUANTUM VENTURES OF MICHIGAN 1030 Doris Rd. Auburn Hills 248-292-5680 quantumventures.com

MICROTECH VENTURES 550 Merrill St., Ste. 240 Birmingham microtechventures.com MISSION THROTTLE 2 Towne Square, Ste. 900 Southfield 248-415-1455 missionthrottle.com

RED CEDAR VENTURES 325 E. Grand River Ave., Ste. 275 East Lansing 517-256-4040 msufoundation.org/ redcedarventures

Perspectives

RENAISSANCE VENTURE CAPITAL 201 S. Main St., 10th Floor Ann Arbor 734-997-8661 renvcf.com RESONANT VENTURE PARTNERS 425 N. Main St. Ann Arbor linkedin.com/company/ resonant-venture-partners/ RHV CAPITAL INVESTORS 38710 Woodward Ave. Bloomfield Hills 248-561-5508 RIZVI TRAVERSE MANAGEMENT 260 E. Brown St., Ste. 2500 Birmingham 248-594-4751 rizvitraverse.com ROCK COS. 6400 Telegraph Rd., Ste. 2500 Bloomfield Hills 248-430-7712 rockcompanies.com RPM VENTURES 350 N. Main St., Ste. 400 Ann Arbor 734-332-1700 rpmvc.com

Ann Arbor tamarind-hill.com TAPPAN HILL VENTURES 120 E. Liberty St., Ste. 245 Ann Arbor 734-646-4386 tappanhillventures.com TGAP VENTURES 7171 Stadium Dr. Kalamazoo 269-217-1999 tgapvcfunds.com

ABUNDANT VENTURES P.O. Box 326 Metamora 248-812-2418 abundantventures.com

THIRD SHORE GROUP 25909 Meadowbrook Rd. Novi 248-291-7758 thirdshoregroup.com

ALIDADE CAPITAL 40900 Woodward Ave., Ste. 250 Bloomfield Hills 248-593-7878 alidadecapital.com

TKM VENTURES MANAGEMENT 706 Dornoch Dr. Ann Arbor 734-369-3456 tkm-ag.com

AMERIVEST GROUP 119 Church St., Ste. 236 Romeo

TRANSHUMAN CAPITAL Ann Arbor transhumancapital.com TROUT CREEK VENTURES Grand Rapids troutcreekventures.com

SECRET SAUCE CAPITAL 28 W. Adams Ave. Detroit 313-818-3260 linkedin.com/company/ secret-sauce-capital/

VENTURE INVESTORS HEALTH FUND 3027 Miller Rd. Forest Cove III, Ste. 24 Ann Arbor 734-274-2904 ventureinvestors.com

SI CAPITAL 38955 Hills Tech Dr. Farmington Hills sicapitalllc.com

VINEYARD CAPITAL GROUP 26111 W. 14 Mile Rd. Franklin 248-415-8000

SKYPOINT VENTURES 601 Saginaw St. Flint 810-547-5591 skypointventures.com

VOYLET CAPITAL 719 Griswold, Ste. 820-101 Detroit 734-788-4199 www.linkedin.com/company/ voylét-capital/about/

SLOAN VENTURES 430 N. Old Woodward Ave. Birmingham 248-540-9660 SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN FIRST LIFE SCIENCE FUND 180 E. Water St., Ste. 2690 Kalamazoo 269-553-9588 southwestmichiganfirst.com

MICHIGAN PRIVATE EQUITY FIRMS

WAKESTREAM VENTURES 40 Pearl St. NW, Ste. 200 Grand Rapids wakestreamventures.com WHITE PINE INVESTMENT CO. 171999 Laurel Park Dr., Ste. 220 Livonia 734-464-2532

SPECTRUM HEALTH VENTURES 221 N. Michigan St. NE, Ste. 501 Grand Rapids 616-281-6720 corewellhealthventures.org

WOLVERINE VENTURE FUND 701 Tappan Ave., R3200 Ann Arbor 734-615-4419 zli.umich.edu/wolverine-venturefund

TAMARIND HILL 220 E. Huron St.

Sources: Michigan Venture Capital Association, DBusiness research

ANDERTON INDUSTRIES 3001 W. Big Beaver Rd., Ste. 310 Troy 248-430-6650 AR2 3600 Wabeek Dr. W Bloomfield Hills ar2.global.com THE ASCENT GROUP 28 W. Adams, Ste. 800 Detroit 313-908-0476 ascentgroupmi.com AUXO INVESTMENT PARTNERS 38 Commerce Ave. SW Grand Rapids 616-980-9810 auxopartners.com AVENIR GROUP 380 N. Old Woodward Ave., Ste. 314 Birmingham 248-594-6350 avenirgroupinc.com BLACKEAGLE PARTNERS 6905 Telegraph Rd., Ste. 119 Bloomfield Hills BLACKFORD CAPITAL 190 Monroe Ave. NW Grand Rapids 616-233-3161 blackfordcapital.com BLUE WATER EQUITY PARTNERS 251 E. Merrill St., Ste. 202 Birmingham 248-792-3644 bluewep.com BRIDGE STREET CAPITAL PARTNERS 171 Monroe Ave. NW, Ste. 410 Grand Rapids

616-732-1051 bridgestreetcapital.com CAMELOT VENTURE GROUP 27725 Stansbury St., Ste. 175 Farmington Hills 248-741-5100 camelotvg.com CHESTMORE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT 43842 W. 12½ Mile Rd., Ste. 150 Novi 248-231-0900 CITG CAPITAL PARTNERS 999 Tech Row Madison Heights citgcapital.com

EQUITY 11 2701 Cambridge Ct. Auburn Hills 248-377-8012 EVANS INDUSTRIES 200 Renaissance Center, Ste. 3150 Detroit 313-259-2266 eiihq.com FRESH WATERS VENTURE FUND 7600 McCain Rd. Parma 517-914-8284 freshwater.ventures GAL-MAR 32255 Northwestern Hwy., Ste. 290 Farmington Hills 248-522-6964

COLFAX CREEK CAPITAL 400 E. Maple Rd. Birmingham 248-631-4620 colfaxcreek.com CONCURRENCE HOLDINGS 1600 E. Beltline, Ste. 213 Grand Rapids concaphold.com

GR INVESTMENT GROUP 839 N. Rochester Rd. Clawson 248-588-3946 GRAND SAKWA CAPITAL 28470 13 Mile Rd., Ste. 220 Farmington Hills 248-855-5500 grandsakwa.com

COVINGTON PARTNERS 1734 Crooks Rd. Troy 48084 248-450-5900 covingtonllc.com CRESCENT WAY CAPITAL PARTNERS 330 E. Liberty St. Ann Arbor 734-276-9914 crescenwaycapital.com DEMPSEY VENTURES 662 Cromwell Ave. SE East Grand Rapids 616-259-8430 dempseyventures.com DETROIT VENTURE PARTNERS 1555 Broadway St., 3rd Floor Detroit detroit.vc

INVESTMICHIGAN 235 E. Main St., Ste. 105B Northville 313-244-0667 investmichigan.org JACOB AND ROHN EQUITY 1345 Monroe Ave. NW, Ste. 410 Grand Rapids 616-710-1437 LAKE STREET CAPITAL Detroit Phone: NA lakestreetcapital.com LAKELAND VENTURES DEVELOPMENT 410 Lakeland St. Grosse Pointe 313-886-8370 LONG LAKE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT 401 S. Old Woodward, Ste. 435 Birmingham 248-712-6160 longlakecapital.com LONG POINT CAPITAL 26700 Woodward Ave. Royal Oak 248-591-6000 longpointcapital.com

GREENSTONE INVESTMENTS 2605 Greenstone Blvd. Auburn Hills 248-276-0800

LONGHOUSE PARTNERS 3670 Woodward Ave. Detroit 313-618-9735 longousepartners.com

GREYSTONE FINANCIAL GROUP 665 Hulet Drive Bloomfield Hills 248-267-1270 greystonefg.com

LORIENT CAPITAL 550 W. Merrill, Ste. 435 Birmingham 248-247-3900 lorientcap.com

GVD INDUSTRIES 3440 Windquest Dr. Holland 616-836-4067 gvdindustries.com

LV2 EQUITY PARTNERS 2013 W. Wackerly St., Ste. 200 Midland 989-631-2687 lv2partners.com

DIVERGENT CAPITAL 21411 Civic Center Dr., Ste. 211 Southfield hello@divergentfund.com

HIGHGATE 260 E. Brown St. Birmingham 248-385-5285

M GROUP 370 E. Maple Rd., Ste. 200 Birmingham 248-540-8843 mgroupinc.com

ENDURANCE VENTURES 121 W. Washington St., Ste. 400 Ann Arbor 734-994-3406 enduranceventures.com

HURON CAPITAL PARTNERS 500 Griswold St., Ste. 2700 Detroit 313-962-5800 huroncapital.com

M3 CAPITAL PARTNERS 5755 New King Dr., Ste. 210 Troy 248-247-3045 mcubedcp.com

September - October 2026 || DBUSINESS.COM 43

Perspectives

MICHIGAN CAPITAL ADVISORS 39520 Woodward Ave., Ste. 205 Bloomfield Hills 248-590-2275 michigancapitaladvisors.com

SENECA PARTNERS Two Towne Square, Ste. 810 Southfield 248-723-6650 senecapartners.com

THORNLEA CAPITAL 380 N. Old Woodward Ave., Ste. 205 Birmingham 248-225-3616 thornleacap.com

MILLER CAPITAL PARTNERS 5600 New King Dr., Ste. 220 Troy 248-901-1650 millercapital.com

SIGMA INVESTMENT COUNSELORS 186 E. Main St., Ste. 200 Northville 248-223-0122 sigmainvestments.com

TILLERMAN AND CO. 59 Baynton Ave. NW Grand Rapids 616-443-8346 tillermanco.com

MOTORING VENTURES 29155 Northwestern Hwy. Southfield 248-795-5469 motoringventures.com NEW CENTURY INVESTMENTS 1 Towne Square, Ste. 1690 Southfield 248-262-3140 NORTHSTAR CAPITAL 100 S. Jackson St., Ste. 206 Jackson 517-783-5325 northstar capital.com O2 INVESTMENT PARTNERS 40900 Woodward Ave., Ste. 200 Bloomfield Hills 248-540-8040 o2investment.com OAKLAND STANDARD CO. 280 W. Maple Rd., Ste. 305 Birmingham 313-701-7735 oaklandstandard.com OTTAWA AVENUE PRIVATE CAPITAL 200 Monroe Ave. NW Grand Rapids 616-454-4114 linkedin/company/ottawa-privatecapital/ PENINSULA CAPITAL PARTNERS 1 Towne Square, Ste. 1400 Southfield 313-237-5100 peninsulafunds.com RAINSTAR CAPITAL GROUP P.O. Box 140991 Grand Rapids 616-953-6036 rainstarcapitalgroup.com RIVERSTONE GROWTH PARTNERS 6400 Telegraph Rd., Ste. 2000 Bloomfield Hills 248-430-7961 linkedin.com/company/riverstonegrowth-partners-llc/about/ ROCKBRIDGE GROWTH EQUITY 1555 Broadway St., 4th Floor Detroit 313-373-7000 rbequity.com

SIMON GROUP HOLDINGS 335 E. Maple Rd. Birmingham 313-662-3538 simongroupholdings.com SOARING PINE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT 335 E. Maple Rd. Birmingham 313-662-3605 soaringpinecapital.com SPEYSIDE EQUITY Ann Arbor 212-994-0308 speysideequity.com STAGE 2 INNOVATIONS 26800 Haggerty Rd. Farmington Hills 248-536-1970 stage2innovations.com STONE RIVER CAPITAL PARTNERS 261 E. Maple Rd. Birmingham 248-203-9840 stonerivercap.com STRATFORD-CAMBRIDGE GROUP 801 W. Ann Arbor Trail, Ste. 235 Plymouth 734-667-1925 scgequity.com STRENGTH CAPITAL PARTNERS 350 N. Old Woodward Ave., Ste. 100 Birmingham 248-593-5800 strengthcapital.com STURBRIDGE CAPITAL 300 Park St., Ste. 400 Birmingham 248-220-8400 sturbridgecapital.com SUPERIOR CAPITAL PARTNERS 500 Griswold St., Ste. 2320 Detroit TALON GROUP 400 Talon Centre Dr. Detroit 313-392-1000 talon.us

44 DBUSINESS || September - October 2026

TMW ENTERPRISES 101 W. Big Beaver Rd., Ste. 800 Troy 248-844-1410 tmwent.com TRANSPORTATION RESOURCE PARTNERS 2555 S. Telegraph Rd. Bloomfield Twp.

248-648-2101 trpfund.com TRP CAPITAL PARTNERS 380 N Old Woodward Ave. Birmingham, MI 248-648-2101 trpfund.com TRUE NORTH EQUITY 477 S. Main St. Plymouth 248-890-3961 truenorthequity.com UNION LAKE MANAGEMENT 7609 Locklin West Bloomfield Twp. 248-363-0080

VALSTONE PARTNERS 260 E. Brown St. Birmingham 248-646-9200 valstonepartners.com

VOLUTION CAPITAL MANAGEMENT 130 S. First St., Ste. 201 Ann Arbor 734-669-8260

VENTURE INVESTORS 3027 Miller Rd. Forest Core III, Ste. 24 Ann Arbor 734-274-2904 ventureinvestors.com

THE WINDQUEST GROUP 201 Monroe Ave. NW, Ste. 500 Grand Rapids 616-459-4500 windquest.com

VISION INVESTMENT PARTNERS 700 N. Old Woodward Ave., Ste. 300 Birmingham 248-865-1515 visioninvpartners.com

MICHIGAN FAMILY FUNDS (TALBERT “TED” AND LEOTA) ABRAMS FOUNDATION 271 Woodland Pass East Lansing 517-853-6900 the-abrams-foundation.org ALLEN FOUNDATION 812 W. Main St. Midland 989-832-5678 allenfoundatio.org

(DOUGLAS AND MARGARET) DECAMP FOUNDATION 3485 W. M 179 Hwy. Hastings 616-945-4700 (DANIEL AND PAMELA) DEVOS FOUNDATION 200 Monroe Ave. NW, Ste. 200 Grand Rapids 616-643-4700 dpdevosfoundation.org

BAIARDI FAMILY FOUNDATION 2328 Pinecrest St. Harbor Springs 231-526-8395 baiardifoundation.org

(DICK AND BETSY) DEVOS FOUNDATION 200 Monroe Ave. NW, Ste. 200 Grand Rapids 616-643-4700 dbdevosfoundation.org

(GUIDO A. AND ELIZABETH H.) BINDA FOUNDATION 15 Capital Ave. NE, Ste. 205 Battle Creek 269-968-6171 bindafoundation.org

(DOUGLAS AND MARIA) DEVOS FOUNDATION P.O. Box 230257 Grand Rapids 616-643-4700 dmdevosfoundation.org

COOK FAMILY FOUNDATION 120 W. Exchange St., Ste. 202 Owosso 989-725-1621 cookfamilyfoundation.org

(ALDEN AND VADA) DOW FUND 315 Post St. Midland 989-839-2744 avdowfamilyfoundation.org

WILLIAM DAVIDSON FOUNDATION P.O. Box 1688 Birmingham 248-788-6500 williamdavidson.org

(HERBERT H. AND GRACE A.) DOW FOUNDATION 1018 W. Main St. Midland 989-631-2471 hhgdowfdn.org

(VERA AND JOSEPH) DRESNER FUND 7066 McGraw St. Detroit 313-285-8618 dresnerfoundation.org ERB FAMILY FOUNDATION P.O.Box 2568 Birmingham 248-498-2503 erbff.org (JOHN E.) FETZER INSTITUTE 9292 W. KL Ave. Kalamazoo 269-375-2000 fetzer.org (MAX M. AND MARJORIE S. ) FISHER FOUNDATION Two Towne Square, Ste. 920 Southfield 248-415-1444 mmfisher.org FORD FOUNDATION 320 E. 43rd St. New York, NY 212-573-5000 fordfoundation.org FORD MOTOR CO. FUND One American Rd. Dearborn fordfund.org FREY FOUNDATION 40 Pearl St. NW, Ste. 1100 Grand Rapids

WOLVERINE CAPITAL PARTNERS 39400 Woodward Ave., Ste. 210 Bloomfield Hills 248-220-2200 wolverinecapital.com Sources: Michigan Venture Capital Association, DBusiness research

616-451-0303 freyfdn.org GENERATIONS MANAGEMENT 13919 SW Bayshore Dr. Traverse City 231-751-1233 generationsmgnt.com HAGERMAN FOUNDATION 601 S. Saginaw St. Flint 810-285-9223 thehagermanfoundation.org KELLOGG FAMILY FOUNDATION 1250 Byron Rd. Howell 517-546-3330 kelloggfamilyfoundation.com W.K. KELLOGG FOUNDATION 1 Michigan Ave. Battle Creek 248-968-1611 wkkf.org (JAMES S. AND JAMES L.) KNIGHT FOUNDATION 2937 E. Grand Blvd., Ste. 320 Detroit 305-908-2600 knightfoundation.org LAIDLAW FAMILY FOUNDATION 314 Newman St. East Tawas 989-362-9117 laidlawfoundation.com (RICHARD AND JANE) MANOOGIAN FOUNDATION 21001 Van Born Rd. Taylor 313-792-6246

Perspectives

MCGREGOR FUND 100 Talon Center Dr., Ste. 100 Detroit 313-963-3495 mcgregorfund.org MEIJER FOUNDATION 80 Ottawa Ave. NW, Ste. 101 Grand Rapids meijercommunity.com MORLEY FAMILY FOUNDATION P.O. Box 2485 Saginaw 989-753-3438 morleyfdn.org (CHARLES STEWART) MOTT FOUNDATION 503 S. Saginaw St., Ste. 1200 Flint 810-238-5651 mott.org RUTH MOTT FOUNDATION 111 E. Court St., Ste. 3C Flint 810-233-0170 ruthmottfoundation.org R.E. OLDS FOUNDATION P.O. Box 4900 East Lansing 517-402-1009 reoldsfoundation.org SUZANNE UPJOHN DELANO PARISH FOUNDATION 211 S. Rose St. Kalamazoo 269-388-9800 PORTER FAMILY FOUNDATION 212 W. Summit St. Ann Arbor 313-881-0500 theporterfamilyfoundation.org REID FAMILY FOUNDATION 3159 Alco Dr. Waterford 248-766-3738 reidff.org RONIN CAPITAL PARTNERS 625 Purdy St. Birmingham ronincp.com RUSSELL FAMILY FOUNDATION 333 W. Fort St., Ste. 2010 Detroit 313-961-6675, ext. 118 cfsem.org/organization/Russellfamily-foundation SCHAAP FOUNDATION P.O. Box 75000, MC 3302 Detroit 313-222-3568

(CHARLES J.) STROSACKER FOUNDATION P.O. Box 471 Midland 989-832-0066 strosacker.org (A. ALFRED) TAUBMAN FOUNDATION 200 E. Long Lake Rd., Ste. 190 Bloomfield Hills alfredtaubman.com (HARRY A. AND MARGARET) TOWSLEY FOUNDATION 924 N. Main St., Ste. 1 Ann Arbor 734-660-2170 towsleyfoundation.org TUMMALA CHARITABLE FOUNDATION 1240 Woodkrest Dr. Flint 810-733-8673 (HAROLD AND GRACE) UPJOHN FUND 300 S. Westnedge Ave. Kalamazoo 269-385-0439 haroldandgraceupjohnfoundation.org VAN ELSLANDER FAMILY FUND 313-568-9000 Vanelslanderfoundation.org WALTERS FAMILY FUND P.O. Box 370 Midland 248-205-1390 waltersffmi.org WILLIAMS FAMILY FUND 380 N. Old Woodward Ave. Birmingham 248-642-0333 KAREN COLINA WILSON FOUNDATION P.O. Box 728 Grosse Ile kcwf.org MATILDA R. WILSON FUND 1901 St. Antoine St., 6th Floor Detroit 313-392-1040 RALPH C. WILSON, JR. FOUNDATION 3101 E. Grand Blvd. Detroit 313-885-1895 ralphcwilsonjrfoundation.org Source: DBusiness research

METRO DETROIT INVESTMENT BANKS

AMHERST PARTNERS 255 E. Brown St., Ste. 120 Birmingham 248-642-5660 amherstpartners.com

BLUE RIVER FINANCIAL GROUP 1668 S. Telegraph Rd., Ste. 250 Bloomfield Hills 428-309-3730 goblueriver.com

COWEN 300 Park St., Ste. 480 Birmingham 248-594-0400 cowen.com

PAINT CREEK CAPITAL PARTNERS 755 W. Big Beaver Rd. Troy 248-792-3644

ANGLE ADVISORS 101 Southfield Rd., Second Floor Birmingham 248-605-9550 angleadvisors.com

BOULEVARD AND CO. 333 W. 7th St., Ste. 280 Royal Oak 313-230-4156 boulevardusa.com

FINNEA GROUP 34977 Woodward Ave., Ste. 210 Birmingham 248-792-3000 finneagroup.com

PENDO ADVISORS 400 Renaissance Center, Ste. 2600 Detroit 313-309-7134 pendoadvisors.com

ARBOR CAPITAL MARKETS Ann Arbor 734-678-0483 arborcapitalmarkets.com

CASCADE PARTNERS 29100 Northwestern Hwy., Ste. 405 Southfield 248-430-6266 cascade-partners.com

GREENWICH CAPITAL GROUP 189 Townsend St., Ste. 200 Birmingham 248-480-2030 greenwichgp.com

BEACONVIEW CAPITAL 1002 N. Main St. Rochester 248-302-0671 beaconviewadvisors.com

CHARTER CAPITAL PARTNERS 1420 Broadway St. Detroit 313-879-2565 chartercapitalpartners.com

P&M CORPORATE FINANCE INC. 2 Towne Square Southfield 248-223-3300 pmcf.com

UHY CORPORATE FINANCE 719 Griswold St., Ste. 630 Detroit 313-964-8311 uhy-us.com/services/corporatefinance Source: DBusiness research

MICHIGAN-BASED ANGEL INVESTOR GROUPS ANN ARBOR ANGELS 201 S. Division St., Ste. 430 Ann Arbor annarborangels.org Mission: Invest in early-stage companies with breakthrough products or services while sharing expertise, providing mentoring, and facilitating connections to the broader marketplace. ARK ANGEL FUND 30095 Northwestern Hwy., Ste. 101 Farmington Hills 248-851-1200 arkangelfund.com Mission: The fund invests in early-stage, startup, and other technology-based businesses, along with assisting in the development of such firms. BELLE MICHIGAN IMPACT FUND 26 Windemere Place Grosse Pointe Farms bellefunds.com Mission: To provide superior returns for investors while serving the early-stage capital needs of companies led by women.

BIRMINGHAM ANGELS 34300 Woodward Ave., Ste. 200 Birmingham 248-535-1306 citysideventures.com/Birminghamangels Mission: Building a network of active, progressive, and innovative investors who are committed to turning the U.S. into a powerhouse startup ecosystem. BLUEWATER ANGELS INVESTMENT NETWORK 1320 N. Michigan Ave., Ste. 6 Saginaw michigancapitalnetwork.com/ bluewater-angels.com Mission: Recognize the value of supporting and nurturing the entrepreneurial community for the economic benefit of mid-Michigan and Michigan in general. CAPITAL COMMUNITY ANGEL INVESTORS 1181 Ridgewood Dr. East Lansing 517-242-0972

Mission: Introduce qualified entrepreneurs to member investors, focusing on disruptive early-stage investments that offer a sustainable competitive advantage. COMMUNE ANGELS 440 Burroughs St., Ste. 631 Detroit Phone: NA communeangels.com Mission: To expand access to angel investing and capital investing in scalable consumer, enterprise, and life science companies that transform lives. Members are committed to contributing their experiences, relationships, and resources to drive better outcomes for investors and portfolio companies. GRAND ANGELS 40 Pearl St., Ste. 336 Grand Rapids 616-566-1770 michigancapitalnetwork.com/ grand-angels.org Mission: Invest in new ideas that will have a positive effect on the

world, focusing on west Michigan and border states. GREAT LAKES ANGELS 568 Woodway Ct., Ste. 1 Bloomfield Hills Phone: NA glangels.org Mission: Provide funding to capital-efficient, early-stage companies located in the Midwest. KA-ZOO ANGELS 40 Pearl St. NW, Ste. 336 Grand Rapids michigancapitalnetwork.com/ kazoo-angels.org Mission: Measure impact through business growth, job creation, and the attraction to and retention of talent in west Michigan. (an affiliate of Grand Angels.) MICHIGAN ANGEL FUND 201 S. Division, Ste. 430 Ann Arbor miangelfund.com Mission: Provide funding to the most promising, capital-efficient, early-stage companies in Michigan.

September - October 2026 || DBUSINESS.COM 45

Perspectives

MICHIGAN CAPITAL NETWORK 37 Ottawa Ave. NW Grand Rapids michigancapitalnetwork.com Mission: Connect accredited investors with “high-potential” early-stage companies, and assist entrepreneurs who want to establish a successful business. MUSKEGON ANGELS 200 Viridian Dr. Muskegon muskegonangels.com

Mission: Find, fund, and mentor young companies in the Muskegon area, from pitch through exit, with a priority on job creation and development. POINTE ANGELS 935 Westchester Rd. Grosse Pointe pointeangels.com Mission: Provide independent investor club members with opportunities for capital investments in scalable, earlystage companies.

WOODWARD ANGELS michigancapitalnetwork.com/ woodward-angels.com Mission: Invest in tech and digitally scaling companies in and around Detroit at the pre-seed and seed stage. Sources: Michigan Venture Capital Association, DBusiness research

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS ANN ARBOR SPARK 330 E. Liberty St. Ann Arbor 734-761-9317 annarborusa.org Mission: Advance the economy of the Ann Arbor area by establishing it as a desired place for innovation and growth.

DEARBORN ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT 16901 Michigan Ave., Ste. 6 Dearborn 313-943-2180 cityofdearborn.org Mission: Business retention, attraction, and investment; improving neighborhoods; contributing to a high quality of life. DETROIT ECONOMIC GROWTH CORP. 500 Griswold St., Ste. 2200 Detroit 313-963-2940 degc.org Mission: Design and implement innovative solutions that attract investment, create jobs, and advance Detroit’s economy. FLINT COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 1101 S. Saginaw St. Flint 810-766-7015 cityofflint.com Mission: To improve the quality of life for city residents, and promote economic development and local growth opportunities.

GRAND TRAVERSE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORP. 202 E. Grandview Parkway Traverse City 231-947-5075 grandtraverseedc.com Mission: To help grow, retain, and expand businesses in the Grand Traverse region. LANSING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORP. 1000 S. Washington Ave., Ste. 201 Lansing 517-702-3387 lansingmi.gov Mission: Attract, expand, and retain business and industry in the city of Lansing. LIVONIA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 33000 Civic Center Dr. Livonia 734-466-2200 livonia.gov Mission: Retain and expand existing Livonia businesses, and attract new companies. MICHIGAN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORP. 300 N. Washington Square Lansing 888-522-0103 michiganbusiness.org Mission: Market Michigan as the place to do business, assist businesses in their growth strategies, work to attract new companies, and help make communities more vibrant.

46 DBUSINESS || September - October 2026

THE RIGHT PLACE 125 Ottawa Ave. NW, Ste. 450 Grand Rapids 616-771-0325 rightplace.org Mission: To build the next chapter in west Michigan’s growth story. STARTUPNATION 34300 Woodward Ave., Ste. 200 Birmingham 1-866-59-STARTUP startupnationventuregroup.com Mission: Provide resources and services to start and grow a business. STERLING HEIGHTS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 6633 18 Mile Rd. Sterling Heights 586-884-9322 sterling-heights.net Mission: Attract, expand, and retain business and industry. WESTLAND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 36300 Warren Rd. Westland 734-467-3264 cityofwestland.com Mission: Provide leadership in the retention, expansion, and attraction of businesses. Source: DBusiness research

ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANIES ADVANCE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT 1 Towne Square, Ste. 800 Southfield 800-345-4783 acadviser.com

AZIMUTH CAPITAL MANAGEMENT 200 E. Long Lake Rd., Ste. 160 Bloomfield Hills 248-433-4000 azimuthcap.com BLOOM ASSET MANAGEMENT 31275 Northwestern Hwy., Ste. 145 Farmington Hills 248-932-5200 bloomassetmanagement.com R.H. BLUESTEIN & CO. 260 E. Brown St., Ste. 100 Birmingham 248-646-4000 rhbco.com CLARKSTON CAPITAL PARTNERS 91 W. Long Lake Rd. Bloomfield Hills 248-723-8000 clarkstoncapital.com DEROY & DEVEREAUX 40705 Woodward Ave., Ste. 150 Bloomfield Hills 248-358-3200 deroydevereaux.com JAY A. FISHMAN LTD. INVESTMENTS 901 Wilshire Dr., Ste. 555 Troy

2488-740-9400 jaf-ltd.com

FORMULAFOLIO INVESTMENTS 89 Ionia NW, Ste. 600 Grand Rapids 888-562-8880 formulafolios.com MAINSTAY CAPITAL MANAGEMENT 10775 S. Saginaw St. Grand Blanc 866-444-6246 mainstaycapital.com PLANTE MORAN FINANCIAL ADVISORS 3000 Town Center, Ste. 100 Southfield 248-352-2500 plantemoran.com Q3 ASSET MANAGEMENT 2175 Cole St. Birmingham 248-566-1122 q3tactical.com REHMANN CAPITAL ADVISORY GROUP 1500 W. Big Beaver Rd. Troy 866-799-9580 rehmann.com RETIREMENT INCOME SOLUTIONS 2301 Platt Rd., Ste. 300 Ann Arbor 734-769-7727 risadvisory.com

SCHWARTZ AND CO. INVESTMENT ADVISORS 3707 W. Maple Rd., Ste. 3212 Bloomfield Hills 248-644-2701 gjsco.com SEIZERT CAPITAL PARTNERS 34100 Woodward Ave. Birmingham 248-593-1500 seizertcapital.com TELEMUS CAPITAL 2 Towne Square, Ste. 800 Southfield 248-827-1800 telemus.com YOUSIF CAPITAL MANAGEMENT 39533 Woodward Ave., Ste. 100 Bloomfield Hills 248-792-6634 yousifcapital.com ZHANG FINANCIAL 1145 W. Long Lake Rd., Ste. 301 Bloomfield Hills 248-687-1258 zhangfinancial.com Source: DBusiness research

26 DBusiness Commercial Real Estate Awards 2026 DBusiness magazine’s Commercial Real Estate Awards celebrates metro Detroit’s leading projects, transactions, dealmakers, and industry executives. Join us November 3, 2026, at Michigan Central in Detroit as we reveal and celebrate this year’s winners. Tickets are on sale now!

Cover Story

MATT LAVERE

BUENO DETROIT The Vanegas family, left to right: son Jesse, Frank Venegas Jr., founder and chairman of Ideal Group in Detroit, daughter, Linzie, and brother, Loren.

Cover Story

Ideal Group PROFILE: Automotive, construction, and materials management family of companies FOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN: Frank Venegas Jr. HEADQUARTERS: Detroit FOUNDED: 1979 REVENUE: $650M EMPLOYEES: 750

hat happens when a turnaround plan is outside the company? Thirty years ago, the Ideal Group moved into southwest Detroit and began to hire, train, and provide opportunities for gang members and residents in the surrounding Mexicantown neighborhood. It was either that or stand by and watch as crime and violence escalated, hindering any chance of an economic and community recovery. Give credit to the Venegas family for spearheading a civic restructuring — one that traces its roots to former Detroit Tigers pitcher Hank Aguirre. A popular player, Aguirre just missed out on being part of the legendary 1968 World Series championship team, having been traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers prior to the start of the season. But Aguirre didn’t miss a thing when it came to impacting Detroit’s inner city, neither during his playing days — he was a two-time All-Star player with the Tigers — nor during his time as CEO of Mexican Industries, a successful supplier to the automotive industry that he launched in 1979. Aguirre knew how much it meant to Mexicantown to have more than one large company that both employed residents and cared about the neighborhood. So, when his health was failing in the mid-1990s, he presented a challenge to Frank Venegas Jr., who had grown up in Mexicantown and owned and operated Livingston County-based Ideal Group. Seeking to ensure a strong corporate presence in Mexicantown over the long term, Aguirre exhorted Venegas to move Ideal Group into the neighborhood in a way that only Aguirre could. “He (Aguirre) used to call my father chickens*#@ because his business was outside the community, and not in the community,” says Jesse Venegas, Frank’s son and Ideal Group’s co-COO, along with his older sister, Linzie. And when Frank Venegas made the decision in 1995 to fulfill Aguirre’s request, he quickly realized how badly Ideal Group was needed. “It was a war zone,” Venegas says. “People were scared. You didn’t come out at night.” Ideal Group had no particular need to enter a war zone. The company had been thriving for 16 years in its Livingston County headquarters. By the time Frank Venegas received Hank Aguirre’s appeal, Ideal Group had established a strong relationship with Detroit-based General Motors Co. as a major contractor working on various construction projects.

Venegas likes to tell the story of how he financed the start of the company in 1979 by selling a Cadillac Coupe DeVille d’Elegance he had won in a raffle at the Home Builders Association’s Fall Festival. After driving the car for nine days, Venegas sold it for $12,000 and combined the proceeds with other savings to start Ideal Group. The Cadillac connection proved to be relevant in more ways than one, as the facility Ideal Group took over in 1995 was a portion of the former General Motors Cadillac/Detroit Assembly Plant at Michigan Avenue and Clark Street, first established in 1921. Shuttered in 1987, what was left from a massive demolition effort were a few buildings along Clark Street. As part of the cleanup, a significant remediation of polluted soil and groundwater was undertaken, given a wastewater treatment plant had operated on the site. Without GM’s support of the necessary remediation work, neither Ideal Group nor anyone else might have ever opened up shop there. “It was a Superfund site,” Venegas says. “The Superfund was a real good idea, but they couldn’t get anyone to use it. We were the first people who went through the Superfund, but we couldn’t get anyone to lend us money because of the pollution.” In the end, Ideal Group was able to work with both a bank and GM to remediate the ground contamination issues. “It was a good thing for GM,” Venegas says. “It was a good thing for the state of Michigan. It was a good thing for the United States. We were a company that General Motors wanted to do business with. And when we bought this place, we were committed to GM’s business.” According to Steve Kiefer, who was head of purchasing for GM from 2013 until his retirement four SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2026 || DBUSINESS.COM 49

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SELF-STARTER After Frank Venegas Jr. won a 1979 Cadillac Coupe DeVille d’Elegance in a raffle, he sold it and used the proceeds to launch Ideal Group. Years later, his brother, Loren, bought him an almost identical Cadillac as a gift.

years ago, the success of Ideal Group in Mexicantown was critical — not only for GM’s image, but for its performance as a good corporate citizen. “The Clark Street plant ended up being an excess plant that we didn’t need,” Kiefer says. “And we all know the history of GM leaving communities. Think of the worst examples, like Buick City in Flint. “It’s not good for the company to leave facilities, so whenever we have someone take over parts of a facility and keep it operational, it’s good for our image and helps us do something good in the community.” Of course, bringing restoration to Mexicantown couldn’t be the primary day-to-day focus of Ideal Group. The company had to secure and maintain customer relationships while excelling at production and operations. Growing steadily, today the company is working on a wide variety of projects, including major construction work at GM’s Technical Center in Warren. There’s also the University of Michigan Center for Innovation and the JW Marriott Detroit Water Square (both set to open in 2027). In its pursuit of a relationship with General Motors, a point in Ideal Group’s favor was the fact that the automaker had a need for a strong supplier that fit Ideal Group’s profile, and GM was willing to take some critical steps to make the arrangement work. Kiefer described GM’s relationship with Ideal Group as beneficial in many ways, largely because Venegas embraced the idea that a customer’s best interests should drive Ideal Group’s priorities. “I remember (Frank) being one of the most GM-committed suppliers we had, meaning he was such a strong voice for GM,” Kiefer says. “I remember he was the first person to get a Chevy Volt in Michigan, and he was the first guy to get a Chevy 50 DBUSINESS || September - October 2026

Bolt in Michigan. Whatever GM was offering, he wanted to be the first guy to get it.” Kiefer also lauded Venegas for finding creative ways to help GM deal with excess inventory and materials. In fact, what GM might have seen as clutter to be discarded, Venegas turned into a profitable business. “We would order stuff and then it wouldn’t get used,” Kiefer says. “It could be rubber gloves and rags, or something as complicated as an engine part. There would be inventory or parts that couldn’t be used, and Frank would say, ‘Let me help you.’ And he turned it into a nice business there at the Clark Street plant.” As the needs of Ideal Group’s customers evolved throughout the years, the organization began establishing a variety of distinct companies to better organize the operation for both clients and employees. While each business exists under the Ideal Group umbrella, which today generates $650 million in annual revenue, they operate with their own individual assignments. The six companies are: • Ideal Shield — provides facility maintenance and protection products including industrial guardrails, plastic sign base systems, safety handrail systems, and steel bollards. • Ideal Contracting — a construction group offering general contracting services, a certified steel erector, and a special projects group that handles facility updates, emergency repairs, and other special needs. • Ideal Setech — offers indirect material management services, including consulting and business process outsourcing. • Ideal Setech Share the Spare — manages inventory of spare parts, primarily for General Motors North America’s stamping operations. • Ideal Setech Canada — oversees the services of inventory management, warranty and repair management, project management, inventory organization, new product launch support, and decommissioning of machines and materials. • Ideal Surplus Sales — serves as a reseller of excess and obsolete maintenance, repair, and operations materials for major manufacturers. According to Frank’s brother, Loren, who played a key role in establishing each of the individual companies, the structure of the overall enterprise has always been driven by something a customer needed, albeit one customer in particular. “Those are General Motors-focused companies,” says Loren, CEO of Ideal Group. “We were listening to the customer and listening to what their needs were, and then being real focused on whether we could put something

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together. It’s been really fortunate to have great customers in building the business.” Ideal Shield, for example, was the result of rising high-profile security threats and the growing desire of the business community to be better prepared. “The amount of industries — commercial and government clients — that need to protect their buildings and their employees has been a challenge to us, to make sure we can take care of all of them,” Loren says. “There’s a growing need to protect people and businesses. It might be a synagogue, or a company wondering if their building could get run into, especially after 9/11. And it wasn’t just federal and state buildings. It was commercial buildings.” Just as Ideal Group grew in response to the needs of its customers, it formed initiatives in Mexicantown to help spur a revival. The first thing the leaders of Ideal Group noticed when they arrived in Mexicantown was the random clutter across nearly every street. As an opening gesture to its new neighbors, Ideal Group arranged to place dumpsters throughout the area. Before long, residents got the idea and began depositing their clutter in the dumpsters. Just like that, the aesthetics of the neighborhood started improving, and people noticed that Ideal Group was making a positive difference. But the company still faced one seemingly intractable community problem: how to conduct business in a neighborhood that was rife with gang activity. Rather than fight the gangs, Frank Venegas hired them. The experiment took some patience, as the first few weeks saw some gang members taking their rivalries and battles out on the shop floor. But within a month, he says, they were learning how to handle manufacturing work and envisioning different futures for themselves and their families. “That’s when the magic clearly started to happen,” Linzie says. “We’re a very people-first organization, so when we started hiring residents from the community, we started learning about who they were, and we learned about their families.” As the Venegas family began getting to know everyone, they recognized other opportunities. One example was turning two vacant parcels of company-owned property into a community garden using leftover steel bins from General Motors. Forming relationships with neighbors also meant learning about people’s needs. “When we visit the neighborhood and host events, soon we’ll hear, ‘My brother’s looking for a job,’ or ‘My kid wants to go to Cristo Rey High School,’ ” Linzie says. “When you start the relationship, and you start talking to people and building trust, you end up working really well together. The best neighborhoods are the ones that take care of each other.” At the same time, hiring local gang members meant filling another void. “We needed to provide opportunities for people after work, along with students after school, and we helped establish the Detroit Hispanic Development Corp. (DHDC), which is a nonprofit on Trumbull Street (a few blocks south of the former Tiger Stadium),” Frank says. The facility was the home of a program called GRACE, or Gang Retirement and Continuing Education and Employment. “It was more than just getting young adults out of gangs,” Frank says. “We had to create activities outside of work.”

Value Added T

he building that once housed Holy Redeemer High School on Detroit’s southwest side was, for more than a century, the nexus of learning and community activity in a neighborhood that needed as much of that as it could get. Founded in 1882, Most Holy Redeemer served more than 1,000 students at the peak of its enrollment in the 1970s. Adding to its radiance was an appearance in several scenes in the 1987 film “The Rosary Murders,” starring Donald Sutherland as Fr. Robert Koesler. But declining enrollment resulted in Holy Redeemer High School being shut down in 2005, leaving a gaping hole in the Mexicantown neighborhood. The elementary school is still in operation. To Detroit native and Ideal Group Chairman Frank Venegas Jr., the emptiness of Holy Redeemer High School didn’t need to be the end of the story. So, he took the lead and encouraged other local businesses to help in the revitalization effort. The vision was to launch a new high school in the same building. The project took three years and, in 2008, Detroit Cristo Rey High School opened. Its educational mission prioritizes low-income families. Classwork activities place a special emphasis on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skills to better position local students for career opportunities. Cristo Rey operates as a distinctly Catholic co-ed school and is co-sponsored by the Basilian Fathers and the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Enrollment is open to all students regardless of their faith background. As part of their enrollment agreement, each student works at a sponsoring company for one school day per week. To date, since helping to establish Cristo Rey, Ideal Group has invested more than $1 million. The company continues to support the school and its students financially, in addition to offering a work-study program.

For Loren Venegas, president of Ideal Group, the commitment to Cristo Rey is deeply personal. “The students and the school are really dear to my heart because I was one of the original board of trustees to get it going,” Loren says. “(The building has) been there for 143 years.” General Motors, at the urging of Frank Venegas, founder of Ideal Group, also played a major role in the development of Cristo Rey as a catalyst for local youth education and employment. “At GM, I think we were the single biggest employer of Cristo Rey kids,” says Steve Kiefer, who served as head of purchasing at GM during the time of the school’s founding. He also worked closely with Ideal Group on the business side. Kiefer, who lost his son in a distracted driving accident in 2016, now helps teach Cristo Rey students and others about the dangers of such behavior. “I introduced a distracted driving simulator, and Frank was one of the first to invest in it and to deploy them into the Cristo Rey School, so all the kids who are going to be new drivers will learn about the dangers of distracted driving. He’s been very supportive of that.” Other area business leaders say they were glad someone from the community urged them to get involved. “We’re supporters of Cristo Rey because Frank is such a champion, and he asks that everyone in his circle support the school,” says Ronald Hall Jr., president and CEO of Bridgewater Interiors in Detroit. “One reason for supporting Frank’s goodwill is just out of the respect people have for him.” Ideal Group continues to be represented on the Cristo Rey High School board by Pamela Savedes, director of shared services at Ideal Group. Overall, graduating seniors have had a college acceptance rate of 100 percent since 2012. — Dan Calabrese

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COURTESY IDEAL CONTRACTING

FACTORY FLOOR A multifaceted manufacturing operation, Ideal Group and its related companies, like Ideal Shield, heat and treat steel, and manage auto parts, machines, and constuction materials. Below: U-M Center for Innovation in Detroit; an Ideal Contracting project.

Over time a recording studio was added, a summer camp opened, and tattoo removal services were offered. GRACE, for its part, prioritized career training, particularly in robotics, and established a robotics training program at DHDC. Ideal Group’s involvement in robotics education is extensive. It helped set up a middle school program, based at DHDC, called the First Lego League. It gives local students the opportunity to build miniature-sized robots. The family didn’t stop there. They recruited skilled workers from GM and others to help teach robotics and help guide development; some students were later hired by GM as engineers. As the skill sets improved, last April a combined Cristo Rey and DHDC student team won the state competition. They went on to the FIRST Robotics Championship in Houston, which Ideal Group helped support. The series of competitions included winning several local competitions. “There’s a cost involved for families who might not be able to afford to go to these events, so we’ve also helped send the winning teams to those things,” Venegas says. “There were others who also helped. We’ve been getting more participation now than ever before.” Just as Ideal Group converted blight into community assets, it saw that the same thing was needed at venerable Clark Park, now an urban oasis in the center of Mexicantown. “People used to be scared of the park,” Jesse says. “People were scared to run through the park because of what might be there. And the facilities there were old. They hadn’t been taken care of for years.” This was the park where Frank Venegas had played baseball during his youth, and the leadership at Ideal Group saw reason for hope in what Clark Park could be. “We made a decision to put in stands, so when people would ride by, they would say, ‘Wow, those are cool,’ ” Jesse says. The family also reached out to musician Jack White, who grew up in the area. He agreed to pay for the rebuilding of the ball fields and the installation of dugouts. Those additions were completed in 2017.

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COURTESY IDEAL GROUP

Cover Story

The new commitment inspired other area business owners to get involved, including Bridgewater Interiors in Detroit, which specializes in producing car seats, door panels, overhead systems, and other vehicle components. “It’s hard to overstate how highly regarded Frank and the family are in the community,” says Ronald Hall Jr., president and CEO of Bridgewater Interiors. “My father was a very civic-minded business leader who really admired Frank’s commitment to this area and appreciated his mentorship in the business community. They were very active peers in the ’90s.” Ronald E. Hall Sr. and Frank Venegas worked together on issues like hiring and training more local minorities. “For the majority of Bridgewater’s history here in southwest Detroit, we have largely followed Ideal’s lead in terms of where we got involved as a business that wanted to be supportive of the community,” Hall says. One such endeavor, which Bridgewater joined in following Ideal Group’s lead, is the Southwest Detroit Business Association. The two companies also worked together to help advance the redevelopment of the old Tiger Stadium site at Michigan and Trumbull (now The Corner Ballpark and the headquarters of the Detroit Police Athletic League). Lorron James, CEO of James Group, a multifaceted shipping, logistics, and supply chain family of companies on Fort Street between the Ambassador Bridge and the Gordie Howe International Bridge, says the example set by Ideal Group and embraced by other area companies has helped transform the neighborhood. One result is that various business owners see themselves accepting a shared mission to look out for the best interests of the community. “Southwest Detroit wasn’t that developed in the ’90s, and it was suppliers like Ideal Group, Bridgewater, and James Group that helped sustain and improve the area,” James says of the company founded in 1971 by his father, John A. James. “We purposely built those facilities in areas that were struggling.” Even as Ideal Group continues to look out for its neighborhood, it also maintains policies to provide support for its employees, including an on-site gym and access to counselors for employees and their families as needed. In turn, Ideal Group continues to look for talent. “This year we have 27 interns who were hired on through different colleges, such as Michigan State University and Ferris State University,” Linzie says. “They get to work with two generations of families like ourselves, and we have some employees where an older relative worked here.” As the company transitions to a new generation of leadership, Linzie and Jesse are steadily taking on more responsibilities. “Jesse and I really work hand-in-hand overseeing the daily operations,” Linzie says. “All the different companies in our organization have a president, and each of those presidents reports to Jesse and me.” The leadership transition is tentatively targeted for completion in 2027, but it had its beginnings years ago. “When I started doing my ABCs, I started filing and doing marketing,” Linzie says, “and my brother got handed a broom and started learning to sweep

PARKS AND REP With help from local businesses, residents, and even entertainer Jack White, Clark Park in Mexicantown underwent a major restoration.

the floor. The next thing you know, he’s driving a forklift and becoming an ironworker. “We both had different trajectories in how we learned the business, which is very complementary today because you’ve got seven different businesses, and we’re able to work together well because of those different paths.” For Venegas’ oldest child, one particular memory from when she was young helps anchor her to the principles she and her brother intend to uphold. “I can remember, at a very young age, being in my dad’s office,” Linzie says. “We were in Livingston County, and a friend brought his son in and told his son, ‘Smile for Frank.’ And he had braces, and they were so excited he had braces, because they had dental benefits.” She realized then what it meant for a company to call itself a people-first organization. “It’s about our family, and how my dad started the business and how he got down here into the community,” Linzie says. “It’s also about building the impact we’ve created in the community, and how we’re going to continue to grow and be led by our values and our core beliefs — those being people first and taking care of your community — and living by the Golden Rule. “Those values were set forth by my father and my uncle, and they’ve been deeply ingrained in the people at Ideal Group.”

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Feature

SPECIAL REPORT

CARBON

Rocks

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BY RONALD AHRENS

A report published in the MIT Technology Review notes, “Energy demand globally is increasing, and coal has consistently been the world’s biggest power source, meeting about 35 percent of demand.” While older coal plants from Düsseldorf to Detroit have been decommissioned, China and India lead a still-significant contingent of nations that are building new coal plants to meet industry and consumer demand. “The industrial age emerged literally in a haze of coal smoke, and in that smoke we can read much of the history of the modern world,” Barbara Freese writes in “Coal: A Human History.” “And because coal’s impact is far from over, we can also catch a disturbing glimpse of our future.” Freese explains that as Britain’s iron-making industry scaled up, the charcoal that fired furnaces proved insufficient by the 1700s. Charcoal is the porous carbon residue of wood that has smoldered in a low-oxygen environment. The quest for large quantities of charcoal to use in iron smelting increased the pressure on woodlands and created an energy crisis. Coal (called “sea coal” by the British) was little used in Europe until this point. The giant ferns, mosses, horsetails, and other plants from the marshlands and forests of the Carboniferous Period some 300 million years ago accumulated and were compressed over the eons to form coal. A few coals in the hearth provided “the power of millions of years of solar income that had been stored away in a solar savings account of unimaginable size,” Freese writes. At first, mining coal above the surface was straightforward. When those deposits were used up, mine shafts were sunk — but problems developed when groundwater rushed into the mining caverns. The dire need to pump this water out spurred innovation; the steam engine was developed in the 1700s and powered the pumps. The steam came as the result of burning wood or coal. From there, steam engines were placed on rails for the task of hauling the coal to market, as coal was the best fuel for powering locomotives. Soon, people from colonial times warmed their homes with coal instead of wood; later, after scientists learned how to heat coal and capture the escaping volatiles, those gases passed through piping to fuel gaslights in homes and workplaces.

ADOBE STOCK

t’s a fact: Coal is still one of the most essential fuels on earth. Despite stiff competition from natural gas, nuclear energy, battery storage systems, and, to a lesser extent, wind and solar energy sources, coal is on the comeback trail following a long period of increasingly tighter governmental and environmental restrictions. Other potential energy sources may emerge from nuclear fission and harvesting solar energy in orbit, and wirelessly transmitting it to earth via directed microwave beams or lasers. Both such initiatives could be viable in the future. Of the two energy sources, nuclear fission seems to be the most feasable clean-energy source. In September 2024, Constellation Energy in Baltimore announced a $1.6 billion, 20-year deal with Microsoft that will recommission the idle, undamaged Unit 1 — an 835-megawatt reactor — at Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania. TMI’s Unit 2 partially melted down in 1979 due to an accident; the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission later reported there were no detectable health effects. Under current policies, the United States is pursuing a goal of decarbonizing the grid by 2035, even as demand for electricity rises with the advent of data centers and artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency generation, and the rising use of electric vehicles. As coal now edges closer to becoming the fuel of last resort, the satiny, shimmery, hardto-ignite rock is more than a symbol.

WALTER P. REUTHER LIBRARY

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“By 1805, coal-gas lights were keeping the factories so bright that observers cheerily compared them to palaces,” Freese notes. A downside was the fact that coal burned sluggishly, and chimneys lazily carried away the smoke. On some days, in highly populated areas, a black fog could seemingly turn day into night. As the use of coal increased in the United States, it led to cheaper production of iron. Getting coal to urban markets was a challenge initially addressed by canals in Pennsylvania. Well before the Rockefellers exploited petroleum resources, Pennsylvania found itself itching with anthracite. Whoever could get anthracite — up to 98 percent pure carbon — out of the ground and onto a boat could supply users in Boston, New York, and Philadelphia. To go along with the other grand ideas the leaders of the time had, these cosmopolitan centers became known as the Anthracite Cities. Reluctant to light, but then burning with low flame and little smoke, anthracite yielded clearer skies. Anthracite is hard coal. Bituminous is soft coal. Bituminous coal was found in veins extending far west of the Alleghenies and Appalachians. Distributed to towns along the Ohio River, and then through a growing network of Western railroads, it was available to fuel Pittsburgh’s upstart steel industry, Detroit’s growing manufacturing economy, and Mark Twain’s Mississippi River steamboat adventures. Twain designated the town of Grand Tower, Ill., as “a great coaling centre and a prospering place.” Everybody snuffled and sneezed through the prosperity. With incentives from the expanding prairie market, the growing manufacturing town of Detroit developed a superior stove industry, establishing manufacturing greatness long before autos. More efficient than Britain’s hearths and inglenooks, the iron and steel stoves came in all sizes for kitchens, parlors, and bedrooms. The City of Detroit Gaslight Co. was organized on March 14, 1848, and its small coal-gasification plant on Woodbridge Street, between Fifth and Sixth streets, supplied streetlights starting in 1851. The escaping volatiles from the heated coal were carbon monoxide, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and methane. The readily ignitable result became known as “town gas.”

BLACK GOLD The Unionville Coal Mine, located in Michigan’s Thumb area and east of Bay City, operated from the early 1900s to 1946. Owned by Robert Gage Coal Co., the mine was known as “Big Chief #10.”

“Service in private houses and business blocks soon followed,” said Detroit historian George B. Catlin, who was with The Detroit News. “The rate charged was $3.50 per thousand feet, with a discount of five percent for prompt payment.” The company reorganized and took the name Detroit Gas Light Co. Today, it’s DTE Energy. Individual concerns were free to make their own gas in Detroit, as well. “H.R. Johnson built a hotel at the foot of Third Street for the accommodation of passengers who traveled by the Michigan Central Railroad,” Catlin wrote. “As a novelty to attract (guests), he introduced a small plant for distilling coal in his basement and the resulting gas was used to light his hotel.” Early on, guests were asked not to blow out the flame in their room; every night, the hotel cut off the gas flow at 10 p.m. Coal also fired boilers, which provided businesses — especially those in the rising services sector — with cheaper energy, and enabled greater productivity. For example, every major building had a steam plant, and in some of them, steam engines found preference over hydraulic or electric systems for driving freight and passenger elevators. “They were consistently perceived as effective and competitive alternatives to hydraulic and electric elevator engines,” an elevator-industry journal reported. Meanwhile, in 1885, Coulson & Morhous, located along Woodward Avenue in downtown Detroit, offered Peninsular Stove’s No. 11 Magic Coal Stove at a cash-only, clearance price of $7.88.

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SAGINAW BASIN

Coal mines operating in Michigan during the last two centuries were largely located in the Saginaw Basin (numbers show how many mines per county).

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Miners in Calumet in 1906.

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As part of the sales tactics, coal dealers vied for trade and kept their ad men busy with branding exercises. A 1903 newspaper ad claimed that Alexander Malcomson’s Glen Alum coal burned with a lower percentage of ash than the Red Jacket coal sold by P.H. Zacharias. One of Malcomson’s notices asserted that “Glen Alum in value is an overcoat compared with any of the jackets, red or white, on the market today. Why buy a red jacket and freeze when you can get an overcoat at the same price?” Malcomson grew wealthy enough to support the launch, also in 1903, of former Edison Illuminating Co. chief engineer Henry Ford’s new venture, Ford Motor Co. Looking to expand further, in November of 1912 Malcolmson paid $500,000 for H. Houghten & Sons, a retiring rival who had docks at the foot of Dubois Street at 23rd Street, and in Delray (west of the Ambassador Bridge). A reporter at the time explained, “By acquisition of the new property, the Malcomson coal

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company will be afforded large dockage as well as rail facilities for the handling of coal and building, paving, and sewer supplies.” Not all coal used in Michigan came over Lake Erie and up the Detroit River. The state was known for its deposits of salt, with mines below the city of Detroit, as well as copper and iron ores from the Upper Peninsula. It is little remembered that coal was mined in several counties, but most intensively for Michigan it was sourced from the Saginaw Valley; these mines typified all the benefits and drawbacks of the industry. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy records that Saginaw Valley produced 46 million short tons of coal between 1860 and 1949, and maintained an annual production rate in excess of 1 million tons per year between 1900 and 1923. After the first coal was discovered in Michigan two centuries ago, it came at a high cost for workers. The public, over time, was conditioned to

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

Feature HALF OF PEAK COAL-FIRED GENERATION CAPACITY TO CLOSE IN U.S. BY 2026 The peak of coal’s power generation capacity was in 2011, at 317.6 gigawatts. Just 15 years later, in 2026, half of that capacity will be gone — replaced by gas, wind, nuclear, and utility-scale solar.

COAL HARD FACTS

100%

PEAK U.S. COAL CAPACITY, 2011: 318 GW (100%)

(PART ONE)

Coal supplies more than a third of global electricity. The U.S., China, and India are the top coal producers. The fossil fuel contributes to global warming, acid rain, and smog. Derivatives are used in aspirin, soap, plastic, and nylon. Major energy source for steelmaking and cement plants.

2020: 218 GW (68%)

2023: 184 GW (58%) 2026: 159 GW (50%)

2030: 116 GW (36%)

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Includes announced U.S. coal-unit closures

0 2011

2015

2020

2023

2025

2030

Sources: EIA; PJM; S&P Global; IEEFA research (2021-2030), end of each year, as of March 7, 2023

accept accidents as natural until the crusading novelist Upton Sinclair published “King Coal” in 1917; his book exposed the sordidness of the industry for popular consumption. From the 1850s, coal produced comfort and wealth. The comfortable part came into question during the coal famine of 1918. Resources went to the effort to win World War I, and ordinary people hungered for an inedible substance. Local production helped to stave off the worst. Gradually, after World War II, coal’s grimy grip began to ease, and public perceptions started to change. Northeastern cities switched to oil for heating. The first use of natural gas for electricity generation was in the 1920s; over several decades, the gas pipeline network expanded and new markets opened nationwide. In 1966, singer Lee Dorsey scored an international hit with “Working in the Coal Mine,” which pegged the miners’ hopelessness. Two years later, coal’s inherent dangers resulted in tragedy when an underground explosion killed 78 miners in Farmington, W. Va. The casualty toll was modest compared to the industry’s worst disaster, which had claimed 362 miners at Monongah, W. Va., in 1907. Seeking to deliver more oversight and accountability, Congress responded by passing the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969. The expansive law provided for more frequent inspections of mines, and inspectors were given broad powers to shut down hazardous mines. Passage of the Clean Air Act followed several months later. By the end of the 1970s, awareness of acid rain and black lung disease grew. Media coverage, along with academic and medical research, began exposing how airborne sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides from smokestacks mingled with water vapor. The resulting precipitation bears these compounds down to the ground in the form of sulfuric acid and nitric acid. During another energy crunch in 1979, President Jimmy Carter gave his infamous “Crisis of Confidence” speech, in which he asked for “the most massive peacetime commitment of funds and resources in our nation’s history” to develop coal, oil shale, ethanol, and solar energy. A few weeks later, scientists gathered in Lansing to discuss the effects of acid rain on endangered lakes in the Upper Peninsula. In the Detroit Free Press, reporter Eric Sharp quipped, “The industrial fumes that generally drift from Detroit to Canada threaten to damage a lot more than the paint jobs on Windsorites’ cars.” Sharp went on to explain that pollutants drifted long distances before returning to earth: “And rainfall as tart as a morning glass of orange juice

COKE IS IT The United States holds the world’s largest recoverable coal reserves, estimated at 251 billion tons. The fossil fuel supplies approximately 21 percent of Michigan’s electricity generation.

is a regular occurrence in large areas of the ancient rock and lake wilderness known as the Canadian Shield.” Because of acid rain, fish died in otherwise pristine lakes and trees struggled to draw nutrients from sterile soil. The United States implemented its acid rain program in 1990 as an amendment to the Clean Air Act, and new power plants added technology to “scrub” emissions. From there, utilities implemented emissions-trading cap-and-trade strategies. Today, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions register at half the 1980 level, and public attention has shifted to the carbonization of the atmosphere. As a low-carbon fuel, natural gas has provided an answer. One source counts more than 7,800 electric-generating units powered by gas in the U.S. The share of gas has risen to 43 percent in 2025 from 16 percent of total generation in 2000. Because of fracking (hydraulic fracturing of shale), gas goes into the pipelines with cost advantages over coal, in addition to other inherent efficiencies. Michigan utilities Consumers Energy and DTE Energy have taken advantage of the abundance of gas to decommission coal plants. In 2025, Consumers Energy, which provides natural gas and electricity to 6.7 million customers, started to phase out its last two coal plants, the Dan E. Karn Generating Complex near Bay City and the J.H. Campbell Complex in West Olive. Karn opened in 1959, Campbell in 1962. DTE Energy, providing electricity to 2.3 million customers in southeast Michigan and gas to 1.3 million, is on track to end the use of coal at its last two coal plants by 2032. The Belle River Power Plant (1984) in St. Clair County will be converted to gas. “At one time, DTE Electric had one of the largest fleets of coal-fired power plants in the Midwest,” says Angela Wojtowicz, vice president for

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2026 || DBUSINESS.COM 57

Feature

business planning and development at DTE Energy. “DTE Electric’s energy mix was 77 percent coal in 2005, and we’re proud that over the past five years the company has accelerated our coal retirement plans four times.” In June 2024, DTE, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, announced that a portion of its retired Trenton coal plant (1924) will be converted to house a 220-megawatt battery energy-storage center. Upon completion in 2026, it will be the largest of its kind in the Great Lakes region. In turn, DTE sees battery storage as a safe and convenient way to boost power reserves. “Today’s lithium-ion batteries, in particular, experience extremely low failure rates, thanks to system designs that include advanced features to avoid cell failure within the battery,” Wojtowicz says in response to a question about potential fire hazards. “Additionally, DTE ensures its energy storage systems are located within secure facilities designed to maximize safety for facility workers and the surrounding communities.” Beyond environmental benefits, substituting low- and zero-carbon sources for coal results in flexibility within the combined power portfolios. And it makes greater financial sense every day, as demonstrated by the national and international shift away from aging coal plants. “There’s a couple of reasons for that, specifically in the United States,” says Sri Maddipati, a native of Ann Arbor who started his career at Goldman Sachs in New York City but returned to Michigan and is now vice president of electric supply at Consumers Energy. “One is the market dynamics. It’s more expensive to build a new coal facility than it is either renewables or natural gas. The energy dynamics are such that coal isn’t really competitive, especially new coal, with other technologies that are in the market today.” Consumers Energy in Jackson is an investor-owned utility. Maddipati’s realism was developed through his experiences traveling the world to meet investors, and he finds them persuaded by the imperative to move progressively forward. “I will tell you, there’s certainly nobody that we were talking to that was interested in investing billions of dollars into developing coal,” Maddipati says. “If you’re going to raise money, it’s got to be for a forward-looking technology that has longevity to it.”

MICHIGAN COAL

SINCE 1977, RAY VUGRINOVICH has served as a

geologist in the Geological Resources Management Division of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy in Lansing. Supplying a list of 114 coal mines that once operated in Michigan, he estimates that even within his division, few people know of Michigan’s coal-mining heritage. “For all practical purposes, coal mining in Michigan ceased prior to 1950 or thereabouts,” Vugrinovich says. He adds he isn’t aware of any museum documenting the activity that started when coal was first discovered and mined in Jackson County in the 1840s. Following is a Q&A with Vugrinovich: DB: What is the Michigan Coal Basin? RV: The Michigan Coal Basin is that part of the Lower Peninsula, located between Calhoun County in the south, Missaukee County in the north, Newaygo County in the west, and Tuscola County in the east, where rocks of Pennsylvania age underlie the glacial deposits. Geologists consider the Pennsylvanian Period of the Paleozoic Era to have been between 323 and 299 million years ago. DB: Is it similar to the Appalachian Basin deposits of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio? RV: The same conditions existed in Michigan, (but we have) rather less extensive coal deposits here. Other than in the counties of Saginaw, Tuscola, Bay, Shiawassee, and Jackson, indications of coal from domestic water wells and oil and gas wells are sparse, probably because the coal is ground up into such small fragments during drilling that it isn’t readily apparent in the cuttings from the wells. There are very rare reports of “coal” in drill cuttings from the Upper Peninsula, but the rock in question is most likely graphite and is not related in any way to the Coal Basin. DB: Are the bituminous deposits in the Saginaw Valley completely played out? RV: There is undoubtedly still coal to be mined in the four counties listed above. However, the coal seams are thin — generally 4 feet or less in thickness — and dewatering the mines would be a constant concern. Additionally, the coal in Michigan isn’t of the best quality, being highly volatile Bituminous B and C grade — suitable for domestic and industrial fuel, but not for manufacturing coke — and rather high in sulfur. Coal in the western states and the Appalachian Basin occurs in much thicker seams and can generally be strip-mined, which is much less trouble (although not much less controversial) than underground mining. — By Ronald Ahrens

58 DBUSINESS || SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2026

COAL HARD FACTS (PART TWO)

The Romans used coal to heat forts and make black jewelry.

Water filters utilize activated carbon to trap sediments.

Steel used to make wind turbines is produced in coal plants.

Ash from coal is used as fillers for tennis racquets and golf balls.

The sun creates much more energy than coal and natural gas.

Feature

COURTESY DTE ENERGY

CAPTIVE ENERGY DTE Energy’s Monroe Power Plant in Monroe, along the shores of Lake Erie, was constructed in the early 1970s. The utility plans to close the plant in phases between 2028 and 2032.

He says the “very extensive” long-term planning process with the Michigan Public Service Commission, as well as state law, put “numerous mechanisms in place to ensure reliability.” Moves like those underway at DTE Energy and Consumers Energy will reduce local sources of carbon emissions, but the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability at Stanford University reported that the Global Carbon Project found that “the world’s emissions of carbon dioxide (would) exceed 40 billion tons in 2023, including nearly 37 billion tons from fossil fuels.” This happened despite a 3 percent decline in U.S. emissions, “primarily due to a longterm decline in coal use driven by both economic and environmental factors.” Outside the purview of regulators in Washington, D.C., and Paris, new coal-fired capacity from Bangladesh to Zimbabwe outpaces the decommissioning of old plants in Western Europe and North America. “Energy demand increases strongly and universally with rising economic activity and quality of life; global demand is expected to grow by about 50 percent through mid-century as most of the world’s people improve their lot,” Steven E. Koonin writes in “Unsettled: What Climate Science Tells Us, What It Doesn’t, and Why It Matters.” He continues: “Fossil fuels supply 80 percent of the world’s energy today and remain the most reliable and convenient means of meeting growing energy demand.” Back home, in June the U.S. Department of Energy committed up to $850 million to construct two new coal-fired power plants, modernize more than a dozen other facilities, and bolster coal export capabilities from the West Coast. Overall, the funds will support 17 total projects, including new coal-fired plants in Anchorage, Alaska, and Mt. Storm, W. Va., which will have a combined capacity of 2.85 GW.

FOSSIL FUELS SUPPLY 80 PERCENT OF THE WORLD’S ENERGYTODAY, AND REMAIN THE MOST RELIABLE AND CONVENIENT MEANS OF MEETING GROWING ENERGY DEMAND.”— STEVEN E. KOONIN

BACKUP POWER A rendering of DTE Energy’s 220-megawatt battery energy storage center. Set to open this year, the facility occupies a portion of the Trenton Channel coal power plant. DTE retired the energy complex in 2022.

Despite the added supply, through the end of 2030 more than 80 GW of coal generation is currently set to close, with about 10.5GW of that expected to be converted to run exclusively on natural gas, according to Seth Feaster, energy data analyst, North America, at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis in Ohio. “Utilities appear increasingly committed to these coal unit retirement plans as their long-term spending and resource plans are implemented,” Feaster writes in a recent IEEFA executive summary report. “For utilities, the rising cost of maintaining and operating coal plants, especially when cheaper, more flexible, and far more technologically advanced generation alternatives are available, makes retirement an increasingly attractive option.” September - October 2026 || DBUSINESS.COM 59

CO CK TAIL H O URS — E VENTS — D INNERS — ACCOMM ODATIONS

Everything Under One Roof. Elevate your corporate gathering with Anthology Events, located in the beautifully restored Book Tower. Encompassing a collection of unique offerings ideal for entertaining, dining, and accommodating overnight guests.

Boutique Event Space for Corporate and Social Gatherings

Thoughtfully Designed Apartment Hotel

Classic French Brasserie, Daily Plat du Jours, Weekend Brunch

Rooftop Lounge with Tapas, Cocktails, and Views

An All‑Day Café and Wine Bar

Immersive Soulful Japanese Dining and Artisan Cocktails

A Taste of Tokyo with Weekly Karaoke, Cold Beer, and Sake.

An Intimate Lounge for Curious Drinkers

inquiries@anthologyevents.com

THE WAR MEMORIAL 32 LAKE SHORE DRIVE, GROSSE POINTE FARMS, MI 48236 • 313-881-7511 • INFO@WARMEMORIAL.ORG • WARMEMORIAL.ORG HOST YOUR NEXT BUSINESS FUNCTION at The War Memorial, where professional excellence meets timeless elegance. Set along the beautiful shores of Lake St. Clair, this one-of-a-kind venue combines the historic charm of the iconic Alger House with the contemporary sophistication of the Fred M. Alger Center, creating an inspiring setting for meetings, conferences, seminars, holiday parties, leadership retreats, training sessions, and corporate celebrations. With more than 17,000 square feet of flexible event space, The War Memorial can accommodate everything from smaller executive meetings and team lunches to large-scale presentations and seminars for up to 600 guests. Each space has audiovisual and presentation capabilities, ensuring your event runs seamlessly while providing the comfort and convenience that today’s businesses expect. Your guests will also enjoy exceptional, full-service catering led by executive chef Joe Paxton, featuring fresh, high-quality cuisine crafted to elevate every gathering. Whether you’re planning a networking reception,

awards banquet, or all-day conference, the culinary team can handle every meal that your gathering may need. Conveniently located less than 30 minutes from downtown Detroit, The War Memorial offers a peaceful waterfront retreat that feels worlds away from the office. Surrounded by breathtaking lake views, historic architecture,

and beautifully maintained grounds, your attendees will feel refreshed, inspired, and engaged from the moment they arrive. Combining impeccable hospitality, versatile event spaces, and unforgettable scenery, The War Memorial provides the ideal backdrop for business events that leave a lasting impression on clients, colleagues, and guests alike.

ANTHOLOGY EVENTS 1265 WASHINGTON BLVD., DETROIT, MI 48226 • 313-597-8341 • INQUIRIES@ANTHOLOGYEVENTS.COM • ANTHOLOGYEVENTS.COM THE MOST MEMORABLE GATHERINGS extend beyond the event itself. At Anthology Events, located within Detroit’s iconic Book Tower, your guests can gather, dine, celebrate, and stay in one destination. Anthology Events offers a collection of versatile event spaces with flexible layouts accommodating 20 to 220 guests. Each venue pairs historic architecture with modern amenities to create an inspiring backdrop for every occasion, from executive meetings to holiday celebrations. The beautifully restored Book Tower stands out for the moments that unfold before and after the main event. Welcome guests with rooftop cocktails at Kamper’s, gather for dinner at Le Suprême, Hiroki-San, or Bar Rotunda, and create opportunities to connect long after the meeting has ended, all without leaving the building. For out-of-town attendees and multiday events, ROOST Detroit features luxury apartment-style accommodations including full kitchens, in-suite laundry, spacious living areas, and the comforts of home, making extended stays as seamless as the event itself.

From arrival to departure, Anthology Events thoughtfully connects every detail. With flexible event spaces, acclaimed dining, rooftop cocktails, and luxury

accommodations under one roof, Anthology delivers an effortless experience for both hosts and guests. The skilled team is ready to help bring your next event to life.

Photo by Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

MOTORCITY CASINO HOTEL 2901 GRAND RIVER AVE., DETROIT, MI 48201 • 313-237-7711 • MOTORCITYCASINO.COM WITH BALLROOMS, BOARDROOMS, a large theater, and soaring skyline views, MotorCity Casino Hotel is Detroit’s leading meeting destination. The hotel’s dedicated meeting coordinators will help you find the ideal space to make your event unforgettable. This is where meetings go to the next level and become memories that will last far beyond your agenda. Each space is fully equipped with state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment, including video and teleconferencing capabilities. From the simplest needs to the most extensive, the team will keep you connected and your audience engaged. Customize your experience with help from an expert team and skilled culinary staff, offering service that will exceed your expectations. Treat your guests to complimentary Wi-Fi, parking, and 24-hour access to the business and fitness centers. After the closing speech, it’s time to play, and there’s no better place to let loose than MotorCity Casino. Play the latest slots and experience the excitement of a myriad of games. The sports fans in your crew will flock to the two-story FanDuel Sportsbook.

Give MotorCity a call to start planning an unforgettable event in an unparalleled setting. • Three unique venues: Sound Board, Amnesia, and Iridescence

• No resort fee • Free hotel valet parking • Nonsmoking venue • Seven on-site restaurants

THE WESTIN BOOK CADILLAC DETROIT 1114 WASHINGTON BLVD., DETROIT, MI 48226 • 313-442-1600 • WESTINBOOKCADILLAC.COM DISCOVER A LANDMARK setting for your next meeting or event at The Westin Book Cadillac Detroit. Centrally located in the heart of downtown Detroit, this iconic hotel features more than 36,000 square feet of recently refreshed meeting and event space, including the historic Venetian and Crystal ballrooms and the contemporary Woodward Ballroom. Multiple boardrooms and meeting rooms are thoughtfully designed to foster productivity, collaboration, and inspiration for groups of all sizes. Enhanced by personalized event support, premium amenities, and a dedicated planning team, the Westin executes every gathering with seamless precision. Whether you’re hosting an intimate executive meeting, a large-scale conference, a corporate retreat, or an elegant reception, your guests will enjoy exceptional catering, customized menus, state-of-the-art technology, and Westin’s signature service. The hotel’s historic architecture and modern conveniences create an impressive atmosphere that leaves a lasting impression.

Just steps from Detroit’s premier business, entertainment, and sports destinations, The Westin Book Cadillac Detroit offers an ideal backdrop for memorable events.

From initial planning through final execution, Westin’s experienced event professionals are dedicated to delivering a flawless and successful experience.

INTERNATIONAL BANQUET & CONFERENCE CENTER | LONDON CHOP HOUSE 400 MONROE ST., DETROIT, MI 48226 • 313-963-1400 • INTERNATIONALBANQUETS.COM 155 W. CONGRESS, DETROIT, MI 48226 • 313-962-0277 • THELONDONCHOPHOUSE.COM INTERNATIONAL BANQUET AND CONFERENCE CENTER provides a distinguished setting for executive meetings, conferences, and high-impact corporate events. Combining architectural grandeur with a strategic location and unmatched professionalism, its venues offer an exceptional environment for organizations to connect, collaborate, and succeed. Designed to accommodate business at the highest level, from 20 to 999 guests, IBCC is where leadership gathers and business moves forward. LONDON CHOP HOUSE’S private dining rooms offer a timeless experience where classic elegance meets superior service. Known for its prime steaks, fresh seafood, and rich, flavorful sides, this historic restaurant delivers private dining that celebrates both tradition and quality. The restaurant features three distinctive private dining rooms, as well as the exclusive LCH Cigar Lounge. London Chop House combines culinary excellence with a refined, classic ambiance and attentive service, creating the perfect setting for business dinners and special occasions.

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EXEC LIFE

09-10.26

TREVER LONG

Singin’ in the Rain(Coats)

ON AMANDA: Burberry Foxfield Silk-Cotton Trench Coat, $3,990, Saks Fifth Avenue, Somerset Collection, Troy.

BUTTON UP Get ready for the fall and winter weather with the latest suits, scarves, jackets, gloves, and hats. And don’t forget an umbrella. Shot on location at the Detroit Historical Museum’s “Streets of Old Detroit” exhibit.

ON MATTHEW: Bespoke Trench Coat, Prices starting at $1,875, Crown Custom Clothing, Royal Oak.

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Exec Fall Fashion

Return on Investment

Top Business Restaurants

Cutting Edge

Opinion

The Circuit

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2026 || DBUSINESS.COM 65

Exec Life

Pair stylish modern-retro suits and vintage details with autumn-ready outerwear.

STYLING BY JESSICA VANASSCHE HAIR AND MAKEUP BY ROBBIN KUJUS PHOTOGRAPHY BY TREVER LONG SHOT ON LOCATION AT THE DETROIT HISTORICAL MUSEUM’S “STREETS OF OLD DETROIT” EXHIBIT 66 DBUSINESS || SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2026

ON MATTHEW: Avenue 21 Men’s Shirt, $165; Tie $65; Socks $16; Leather Linen Brogue Wingtips in Tan, $198; Dolce Moda, Birmingham. Bespoke Wool Suit, Prices starting at $1,995; Crown Custom Clothing, Royal Oak. Vintage Rose Lapel Pin, $20 (est.); Lagerfeld Umbrella $75 (est.),Leah’s Closet, Royal Oak.

Exec Life

ON AMANDA: Burberry Rozalyn Check Wool-Linen Tailored Trousers, $1,195; Burberry Sabella Check Wool-Linen Tailored Jacket, $2,450; Brunello Cucinelli Linen Diagonal Vest with Monili, $1,900; Stuart Weitzman, Vinnie 85MM Printed Leather Pumps, $525; Straw Fedora with Precious Leather Band, $1,950; Saks Fifth Avenue, Somerset Collection, Troy. Wide Croc Belt Portobello, $168, Dolce Moda, Birmingham. White Top, Prices starting at $495, Crown Custom Clothing, Royal Oak. Vintage Earrings, $100 (est.); Silk Scarf $35 (est.), Perry Ellis Umbrella $125 (est.), Leah’s Vintage Closet, Royal Oak September - October 2026 || DBUSINESS.COM 67

Exec Life

ACCESSORIES: Trench Coat, Prices starting at $1,875; Crown Custom Clothing, Royal Oak. Helly Hansen Women’s Kirkwall II Raincoat, $135. Burberry Giant Check Cashmere Scarf, $645, Saks Fifth Avenue, Somerset Collection, Troy. Original Tall Waterproof Rain Boot Black, Hunter Boot, $190. Vintage Hats. $25 - $50 (est.) Vintage Gloves, $20 - $40 (est.) Vintage Umbrellas, $75 - $125 (est.) Leah’s Closet, Royal Oak.

ON AMANDA: Versace Stretch-Wool Straight-Leg Trousers, $1,250; Versace Stretch-Wool Informal Blazer, $2,890; Burberry Elora Cotton Poplin Regular-Fit Shirt, $615; Saks Fifth Avenue, Somerset Collection, Troy. Jessica Simpson Cassani Pointed Toe High-Heel Pumps, $80 (est.); Vintage Earrings, $100 (est.); Silk Scarf, $30 (est.); Leah’s Vintage Closet, Royal Oak.

68 DBUSINESS || September - October 2026

ON MATTHEW: SAND Craig Trousers, $310, Saks Fifth Avenue, Somerset Collection, Troy. Avenue 21 Men’s Shirt, $165; Solid Knit Bow Tie, Burgundy, $45; Leather Chelsea Boots with Textured Detail, Black, $450; Socks, $16: Dolce Moda, Birmingham. Bespoke Wool Blazer, Vest, Prices starting at $1,500; Crown Custom Clothing, Royal Oak.

Exec Life

AMERICA’S MOTOR CITY

ALLESEE GALLERY OF CULTURE

Detroit Historical Society

or 75 years, the Detroit Historical Museum has served as a gateway to the city’s past from its home on Woodward Avenue in Midtown Detroit. The museum opened its doors on July 24, 1951 — Detroit’s 250th anniversary — but its history began more than two decades earlier. In 1928, Detroit’s first historical museum opened in a suite on the 23rd floor of the Barlum (now Cadillac) Tower, earning the nickname “the highest museum in the world.” Following a major fundraising effort and support from the city, the Detroit Historical Museum found its permanent home at 5401 Woodward, where generations of visitors have explored the people, places, industries, innovations, and events that have shaped the region. Over the years, the museum’s exhibitions have continued to evolve, from longtime favorites such as “Streets of Old Detroit” to “Origins: Life Where the River Bends,” “America’s Motor City,” “Detroit 67: Perspectives,” and “Detroit: The ‘Arsenal of Democracy.’ “ Current temporary exhibitions include “The Searching Eye: Images of Mid-Century Detroit,” “LENI: Looking Through the Lens,” and “Detroit Red Wings at 100: Becoming Hockeytown.” The museum’s 75th anniversary programming continues throughout 2026 with special events, tours, lectures, and family programs, including Treats in the Streets on Oct. 25 and a Halloween event marking the 100th anniversary of Houdini’s death in Detroit. Find more details and plan a visit at detroithistorical.org.

LENI: LOOKING THROUGH THE LENS

September - October 2026 || DBUSINESS.COM 69

COURTESY DETROIT HISTORICAL SOCIETY

MOTOR CITY MUSIC

Exec Life

RETURN ON INVESTMENT

Assemble Sound

Mike Jbara grew up in Westland and learned the music trade in New York City and Toronto before sharing his knowledge to help amplify Detroit’s music scene.

ike Jbara’s career spans two countries and an array of talent. He is vice president and general manager of Lenbrook Media Group, a privately held audio hardware company in Toronto. The enterprise owns brands like Bluesound, NAD Electronics, and PSB Speakers, and Jbara runs a new media division focused on music experiences, software, and intellectual property. “We develop software that can be used to make studio production better, and I’m leading the effort to build a new streaming service that’s going to focus on people who really care about higher-quality audio delivered in a particular way,” says Jbara. “Music and performance was part of our family’s way of life from the beginning of time. And I would say for most of the path that I’ve taken, it probably started in our house on Grandview Street in Westland. “My mom is a piano player, and a huge influence in my life, so I felt like music and entertainment performance were running through my blood.” Jbara’s two brothers and a sister also caught the music bug from their mother. “We were all doing theater forensics competitions,” recalls Jbara, the youngest of the brood. “We didn’t have a lot of money, so the only times my family (went to) Mackinac Island was (when) the state competitions took place at the Grand Hotel. “The arts were so pervasive in everything we did at both Wayne Memorial and John Glenn high schools. Both of them had great music and theater programs.” Joan Jbara was a homemaker, above all else, but she also was a regular substitute teacher at her kids’ schools — “ever-present, active, and very engaged,” Jbara remembers fondly, “although as a young kid, you don’t always love it that your mom’s the one teaching the metric system.” 70 DBUSINESS || SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2026

AUDIO FEEDBACK Mike Jbara and Garret Koehler discuss music and business at an “AssembleU” panel at Assemble Sound Detroit. The studio was located in a former church set just west of Michigan Central Station. After Ford Motor Co. acquired Michigan Central and the church over the last few years, Jbara moved Assemble Sound to Detroit’s east side.

His father, John, operated an insurance investigation firm. “My paternal grandfather’s house was on Spokane Avenue in Detroit, and as a young child that was the family homestead and gravitational center of every event in our family,” Jbara says. “My father was the youngest of 16 (children), so it was an interesting environment because, as a young kid, you didn’t really know who was an aunt, who was an uncle, or who was a cousin. I had first cousins significantly older than my father, just because of that age range.” The creative energy in his grandfather’s house was challenging and stimulating, and Jbara’s older brothers responded accordingly. “Both went on to have successful careers in the arts,” Jbara says. “Dan was a very successful television producer, the original line producer for ‘A Current Affair,’ and he went on to develop a lot of shows in New York and L.A. Greg is a Juilliard grad, who was on ‘Blue Bloods’ for 15 seasons and won a Tony Award for ‘Billy Elliott.’ ” Jbara takes a quick pause before sharing, “I believed, to the bottom of my feet, that I was going to be a professional trumpet player. I studied for a long time with a really fine trumpet player who was a graduate of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and he studied with the

COURTESY OF ASSEMBLE SOUND

BY TOM MURRAY

COURTESY OF ASSEMBLE SOUND

Exec Life

principal trumpet player for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, so I thought that was where I was heading.” Accordingly, Jbara also landed at U-M, where he pursued a degree in mechanical engineering as he continued to play his horn. He also dabbled in the music scene in Ann Arbor, only to quickly be jolted by a sobering reality check. “I realized there’s a difference between being a really good (technical) trumpet player and being an artist,” he concedes. “So I wasn’t really on a path of thinking that I was going to do anything with my horn, but a lot of my friends were in bands and most of them weren’t music school students, and I realized there was a path into entertainment that didn’t go through the traditional academic lane of the U-M music program.” As graduation loomed for U-M’s mechanical engineering students, the usual ritual was to field multiple job offers through on-campus interviews. Not so for Jbara. “You could write your own ticket if you wanted to be an engineer, but I didn’t do any interviews,” he reveals. “I still didn’t know what I was going to do. My head was in the clouds a little bit, but I knew I didn’t really care about thermodynamics. “So, I moved to New York to be with my brother, Greg, thinking (that because he was) actively involved in the theater community, maybe that would help me kind of unlock where I needed to be.” With only a vague idea of pursuing a career in a still-unidentified sector of the music industry, Jbara worked an array of odd, after-hours, parttime jobs. After six months living with his brother, Jbara realized he had to figure out how to pay his bills.

RIGHT IN TUNE Koehler and Jbara hosted numerous community events at Assemble Sound Detroit’s original location inside a church in Corktown. The studio’s new location east of Indian Village continues to offer free, collaborative recording space.

“Because of that degree, I had nine interviews and nine job offers, and chose Accenture, which at the time was called Andersen Consulting,” he says. “I wasn’t really in a position to afford to go to grad school, so I thought that was my version of it — I was going to work as a consultant and really understand how businesses do what they do.” Jbara spent nine years at Accenture, focusing largely on consumer and media businesses. “I thought, ah ha, this was the chance for me to connect my interests to companies that could use a steady hand; somebody to come in and say, Hey, let’s just focus on the unsexy operational side of what you’re doing and give you more space to be creative.” Jbara applied that same approach to his next job at Warner Music Group. “I started taking time out of the supply chain, which meant we could actually wait longer to put a record out, if that’s what the artist wanted to do,” he says. “So, if I took a month and turned it into a week, that’s three extra weeks for them to be in the studio, fiddling with the audio, doing whatever.” The philosophy was to increase the capacity of the enterprise, and help companies grow and scale. Jbara was at Warner for more than 20 years, in large part making his mark by envisioning and building what became the fully digital supply chain of the business, even as CDs were still the primary listening format. “Basically, I walked into this and said we (didn’t) need to do any of that stuff,” he explains. “We could be sending everything everywhere electronically. I was a kid in a candy shop, taking out millions of dollars and saving us two or three weeks on every release just by standardizing how an audio master was going to get delivered. “We created the source for all the encoding in the future, and actually built the first encoders in-house so we could deliver finished assets to people that predated even Apple Music.” All of which led Jbara to his current position at Lenbrook. “I stepped away from the artist development side of it to focus a little bit more on just the product side,” he says. “It was audio, IP, development, and where technology was taking the music listening experience, if you will. “I also started hanging out in Detroit more often, because I felt I had to do the things I believe Detroit deserves, because of my love for the city.” Enter Garret Koehler, a young entrepreneur who was hosting music acts all over the city. “I was throwing shows in chosen warehouses, and a bunch of artists approached me with the idea of opening up a free, collaborative recording space,” Koehler says. “The idea was to get artists from different genres who didn’t typically work together under one roof, where money wasn’t a barrier to entry. “We bought this historic, abandoned 1872 church (just west of) Michigan Central, and I started Assemble Sound in 2015. Everyone was asking, Why are you buying this old church?” Everyone except Mike Jbara, whose initial meeting with Koehler was memorable because of the one topic that wasn’t even mentioned. “There was no request for funding,” Jbara says. “We spoke about what Assemble wanted to accomplish, whether there was any relevance in what I had learned, and how that related to the music business he was creating.” To get things started, the pair made a pact that if either one called the other, they would pick up the phone right away. Koehler describes Jbara’s initial role with Assemble as an “informal mentor” who was “driven by this insane curiosity, and can connect dots that you don’t think are connectable, and right away he said what we were doing was a real ecosystem. “Labels (record companies) spend millions of dollars trying to develop ecosystems, and he’s telling us we did it for essentially nothing. He said, There’s something authentic here, and how can I support it?” Fast-forward 10 years, and Koehler no longer describes Jbara as simply an informal mentor, but as an investor and board member. During that September - October 2026 || DBUSINESS.COM 71

Exec Life

KICK OUT THE JAMS Jbara helped Assemble Sound move to its new studio at Lantern in Detroit’s Little Village. The studio shares the building with the Progressive Art Studio Collective (PASC) and other organizations.

72 DBUSINESS || September - October 2026

YOU DON’T INVEST IN RESTAURANTS TO GET RICH, BUT I LOVE THE IDEA OF BEING PART OF THE EMPLOYMENT STORY IN DETROIT.” — MIKE JBARA

COURTESY ASSEMBLE SOUND

time, the studio also made a major move as Ford Motor Co. acquired Michigan Central and numerous surrounding properties to create a new mobility innovation campus. “Mike reminded us that what we were doing wasn’t about the church; it’s about the people, right?” Koehler says. “He told us we made a smart move when we bought it. (He said,) Ford just bought the building next door, so sell it to Ford and let’s find a new spot and move on. That’s what we did, and we actually just built out a new 4,000-square-foot studio at Lantern on Detroit’s east side (at Kercheval and McClellan avenues).” For the 60-year-old Jbara, who lives with his family in New York’s metropolitan area, the relationship with Koehler and Assemble is just one of many he’s established in his hometown. “I’m an investor in a number of different restaurants and hospitality businesses in Detroit,” he says. “All of them come from the same place — meaning I believe in the founders and the managers of those businesses. “You don’t invest in restaurants to get rich, but I love the idea of being part of the employment story in Detroit. My love of the city is my love of the people of Detroit. They’re family, no matter where I might meet them. I believe we’re bound by a shared belief in the goodness of individuals.” The sentiment connects directly to the earliest days of Jbara’s life as a grandson surrounded by three generations of relatives of all ages, opinions, and personalities. “I saw what it meant to respect each person and to be a good listener,” he says. “The way they engaged with us with respect and consideration for our ideas, even when we were very young, was a model for how I hope I treat others. “When I look back at time with my dad’s huge family, often together at my grandfather’s house on Spokane, it feels like a microcosm of the personalities I’ve come across since. I’m not distracted by the first impression of somebody. With so many aunts, uncles, and cousins — all loving people — I saw that we all communicate differently and deserve the assumption of good intentions.”

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RESTAURANTS in metro Detroit

FOREST Birmingham

RESERVATIONS ARE OFTEN NEEDED. PLEASE CALL AHEAD FOR AVAILABILITY.

BLUE LLAMA JAZZ CLUB

New Orleans jazz meets downtown Ann Arbor with live music every night and world-inspired cuisine. A favorite spot for locals, visitors, and fans attending a sporting event. 314 S. Main St., Ann Arbor, 734-372-3200, D Wed.-Sat. / 40 / 100 / / NA THE CHOP HOUSE

An elegant steakhouse destination featuring grain-fed beef like filet mignon and New York strip — usually a great spot before or after a U-M football game. 322 S. Main St., 46 / Ann Arbor, 888-456-3463, D Daily / 81 / / The Chef’s Table. Seats 10-12 people at the front of the restaurant, with a view of Ann Arbor’s Main Street. GANDY DANCER

Located in the elegantly restored 1886 Michigan Central Depot railroad station, made from stone, the Gandy Dancer specializes in seafood, steak, and pasta dishes. 401 Depot St., Ann Arbor, 734769-0592, B Sun., L Mon.-Sat., D Daily / 35 270 / / / Window tables with a / scenic view of the train tracks or a central booth by a sculpture.

mignon with zip sauce, a 32-oz. porterhouse, and tableside Caesar salad. Originally located in Detroit. 885 Opdyke Rd., Auburn Hills, 248-3734440, L & D Daily / 50 / 350 / / / Located in a high-profile part of the restaurant, the tables by the bar are highly requested.

BIRMINGHAM 220 MERRILL

220 Merrill is a modern and chic upscale restaurant specializing in American cuisine. 220 E Merrill St., Birmingham, 248646-2220, BR Sat.-Sun., L & D Daily / 40 / 250 / / NA BIG ROCK ITALIAN CHOPHOUSE

Charming and historic, the former Grand Trunk Railway station has found new life as the Big Rock Italian Chophouse, serving up premium steaks and upscale Italian dishes. The menu highlights branzino, lasagna, and veal parmesan, complemented by a curated wine list. 245 S. Eton St., Birmingham, 248-275-0888, D Mon.-Sat / 40 / / The Grand Trunk private dining room accommodates up to 36 guests; Eton Station accommodates up to 30 guests. BIRMINGHAM PUB

A cozy atmosphere featuring rustic Italian dishes with an emphasis on regional preparations. The menu also boasts variety, offering dishes such as duck ravioli and barbequed ribs flavored with orange molasses and vinegar. 3411 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor, 734-971-0484, L & D Daily / 26 / 250/ / NA

Enjoy a sophisticated twist to the classic gastropub experience with an inviting ambience that’s casual and comfortable, with luxe touches and urban chic details. 555 S. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham, 248-885-8108, 30 / B & L Sun., L Tue.-Fri., D Tue.-Sun. / 300 / / The Sunset Room can seat up to 60 guests and has standing room for 70. It overlooks South Old Woodward Avenue and features a full bar and open-air views.

ZINGERMAN’S ROADHOUSE

CASA PERNOI

PAESANO RESTAURANT & WINE BAR

A down-to-earth establishment, Zingerman’s serves fresh regional American foods. Entrées include Uncle Joe Burroughs’ Southern fried whole catfish platter, rainbow trout, and Alaskan halibut. 2501 Jackson Ave., Ann Arbor, 734-6633663, B, L & D Daily / 293 / 65 / / / NA

AUBURN HILLS

LELLI’S OF AUBURN HILLS

This Italian restaurant is known for its filet

Casa Pernoi is best known for its famous bread basket, which is baked in-house. The food is all scratch-made in this Trattoria-style casual Italian restaurant, featuring homemade pastas, wildcaught seafood, local vegetables in season, and locally raised meats. 310 E. Maple Rd., Birmingham, 248-940-0000, L Wed.-Fri., D Tue.-Sat. No valet, but the restaurant has its own dedicated parking lot that costs $5 to use. / 50 / 400 / / The most popular area for guests to sit is the covered patio in the bar/port rooms. The

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restaurant offers private dining in the Maple/ Ocean rooms for six to 50 people. FLEMING’S PRIME STEAKHOUSE & WINE BAR

This steakhouse, showcasing a menu complete with aged prime beef and fresh seafood, offers a renowned wine list with more than 100 selections. 323 N. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham, 248-723-0134, D Daily / 50 / 400 / / / The Captain’s Table seats eight people in large, comfortable chairs. FOREST

Located in Birmingham’s Triangle District, diners can watch as the culinary team prepares charcuterie and traditional bistro dishes behind glass windows. The chef emphasizes fresh, local ingredients. 753 Forest Ave., Birmingham, 248-258-9400, L Sat., D Tue.-Sat. / 45 / 65 / / / The restaurant’s corner booth seats up to 14 people and provides ample privacy. HAZEL’S SEASONAL SEAFOOD

This seafood restaurant offers diverse options all year long, with rotating regional offerings from some of the best-known seafood destinations in the country. 1 Peabody St., Birmingham, 248-6711714, L & D Tue.-Sun. / 25 / 125 / HYDE PARK PRIME STEAKHOUSE

The popular downtown venue offers both traditional and specialty steaks, including dry-aged reserve prime offerings, as well as shrimp and lobster tail. 201 S. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham, 248-594-4369, D Mon.-Sat. / 70 / 60 / / / The plush red Gotti booth is a customer favorite, but for more privacy the Board Room seats 8-10. Other popular areas of the restaurant include six rooms for private dining, and stained glass-ornamented Room 11. MADAM

Located inside the Daxton Hotel, Madam serves American cuisine and beverages. Entrées include scallops, flat iron steak, and steelhead trout. 298 S. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham, 42 / 90 248-283-4200, B, L & D Daily / With an open floor plan and the / / / large expansive space, every table is as advantageous as the next.

AVERAGE PRICE OF DINNER ENTRÉES

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PHOENICIA

A unique and refined menu for Middle Eastern cuisine. Owner Sameer Eid selects the finest cuts of meat every morning and uses them in specialty dishes such as baba ghanoush and hashwi with lamb confit. 588 S. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham, 248-644-3122, L Mon.-Fri., D Daily / 25 / The dining area can comfortably accommodate parties of up to 10. / / Booths 1, 2, and 21 are popular for meetings. The two most private booths can seat up to six and are located beside the wine cellar. RUGBY GRILLE Tucked inside Birmingham’s Townsend Hotel, the Rugby Grille offers steaks, seafood, sushi, and chicken milanese. Or sit outside on the expansive sidewalk patio, which offers a great view of who’s coming in and out of the main entrance doors. 100 Townsend St., Birmingham, 248-642-5999, B, L & D Daily / 52 / NA / / / New interior design includes a larger bar, new tables and chairs, and modern decor. TOWNHOUSE Located in downtown Birmingham, this American bistro serves up everything from lobster rolls to footlong cheesesteaks, and has an extensive alcohol selection. 180 Pierce St., Birmingham, 248-792-5241, L & D Daily / 34 / NA / / NA WILDER’S The Art Deco-inspired space features rich green hues, polished brass, and eclectic art. Wilder’s offers craft cocktails and an extensive wine and spirits list. Menu highlights include a raw bar featuring oysters on the half shell, beef and tuna tartare, and prime steaks with enhancements. 458 N. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham, 248-771-0900, L & D Mon.-Fri., D Daily / 65 ZANA Zana offers a modern American menu with a European flair. Its ambience celebrates the fusion of art, aesthetics, and food. 210 S. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham, 248-800-6568, D Tue.-Sun. / 42 / 130 / / The back booth works for a private business lunch.

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COURTESY FOREST

ANN ARBOR

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BLOOMFIELD HILLS ANDIAMO BLOOMFIELD

The Italian eatery offers a range of traditional dishes such as ravioli and lasagna, along with premium cuts of beef. 6676 Telegraph Rd., Bloomfield Hills, 248-865-9300, L Mon.-Fri., D Daily / 41 / 150 / / / Table 40 is at the center of the restaurant near a fireplace. With a low wall to one side and a high wall to the other, this secluded table offers ample privacy for a group of eight. EDDIE MERLOT’S

This is the first and only Eddie Merlot’s in Michigan and, in keeping with the restaurant’s mantra, it provides top-of-the-line steaks and seafood. 37000 Woodward Ave., Bloomfield Hills, 248-712-4095, D Daily / 56 / 600 / / / Table 441, located in the center of the restaurant, seats up to eight people and offers views of the entire restaurant and the wine wall. Table 119 is also highly requested for a more private setting. JOE MUER SEAFOOD

Joe Muer Seafood in Bloomfield Hills is the second Muer seafood restaurant in the region. The menu is the same, and the décor is distinctive with a central bar, black-andwhite marble floors, live acts, and an extensive wine collection. 39475 Woodward Ave., Bloomfield Hills, 248-792-9609, D Daily / 49 / 200 / / / The Bloomfield Hills location seats up to 250 people, with several prime locations. ROADSIDE B&G

This bar and grill is retro-themed and specializes

in everything from burgers, ribs, and fish and chips to steaks and seafood. 1727 S. Telegraph Rd., Bloomfield Township, 248-858-7270, D Daily / 24 / 40 / Tables on the patio are the most requested.

CANTON TOWNSHIP ANTONIO’S CUCINA ITALIANA

Family recipes feature authentic Italian cuisine — like linguine primavera, ravioli, and cannelloni — that truly reflect the Old Country. The location is one of four Antonio’s restaurants in metro Detroit, along with Roman Village in Dearborn. 2220 N. Canton Center Rd., Canton, 734-981-9800, L & D Daily / 19 / 140 / / The VIP Room. This plush and private room, equipped with a 20-foot-long captain’s table and captain’s chairs, has a wide-screen TV.

CLARKSTON

RUDY’S PRIME STEAKHOUSE

Located on the corner of Washington and Main Street in what was Rudy’s Market for almost a century, Rudy’s Prime has been updated to offer a modern and sophisticated dining experience. The menu includes prime and Wagyu steak options, and other specialties such as craft cocktails and mocktails, lobster mac and cheese, and panroasted sea bass. 9 S. Main St., Clarkston, 248-625-3033, D Tue.-Sun. / 48 / VIA BOLOGNA

Designed to remind customers of the romantic atmosphere of European dining, this Italian restaurant specializes in pastas, veal, chicken, and fish entrées. 7071 Dixie Hwy., Clarkston, 248-620-8500, D

Wed.-Sat. / 28 / 50 before 3 p.m. / / Table 14 is tucked away by a window.

CLINTON TOWNSHIP THE BREWERY RESTAURANT

A casual American restaurant featuring upscale, world-class cuisine including steak, chops, fresh seafood, and daily specials. 39950 Hayes, Clinton Township, 586-286-3020, D Tue.-Sat. / 34 / 30 / / A corner table by the patio that seats up to eight people and offers plenty of privacy.

COMMERCE TOWNSHIP AURORA ON THE LAKE

Overlooking Union Lake, the large Italian-style restaurant inspired by a Capri menu showcases specialties including tableside Caesar salad preparation, made-in-house pastas, land and sea entrées, and vegetable side dishes. 2323 Union Lake Rd., Commerce Township, 248-3606650, D Daily / 31 /

DEARBORN

ROMAN VILLAGE CUCINA ITALIANA

This family-owned restaurant sticks to its traditional Italian roots and uses family recipes. For example, their polenta consists of cornmeal topped with Italian sausage and meat sauce. 9924 Dix Ave., Dearborn, 313-842-2100, L & D Daily / 19 / 110 / / A round table in the center of the room.

DEARBORN HEIGHTS ANTONIO’S CUCINA ITALIANA

This location, just as the Rugiero family’s other locations, produces its own pasta daily. Apart from ravioli Florentine or mannicotti, pair their fresh gnocchi with the house special pancetta

ALPINO Detroit

and mushroom sauce. 26356 Ford Rd., Dearborn Heights, 313-278-6000, L & D Daily / 19 / 110 / The secluded south room, with its few tables, is reminiscent of old school Italian restaurants and is located away from the main room’s hustle and bustle. It’s private and quaint.

DETROIT ADELINA

A block north of Campus Martius Park, Adelina offers elevated Italian-Mediterranean flavors in a bright, modern space. It serves made-inhouse pastas, signature cocktails and mocktails, and has an extensive wine list by the bottle and the glass. The dessert menu features Italian classics like tiramisu and zeppoli, Italian ricotta doughnuts, and after-dinner drinks. One Campus Martius, 1040 Woodward Ave., Detroit, 313246-8811, D Tue.-Sun. / 42 / ALPINO

Situated at 1426 Bagley St. in Detroit, Alpino is rooted in an Alpine tradition where cattle adorned with oversized cowbells and flower crowns are led down the mountains by local farmers in early fall. The menu includes mountain cheeses, fondue, La Valaisanne tomato soup, gurkensalat, pasta, meat, fish including walleye, and wienerschnitzel, steak, spatzle, and more. Desserts include buttermilk panna cotta, rosette, bonet, rhubarb tarte, and carrot and strawberry torte. 1426 Bagley St., Detroit, 313-524-0888, BR Sun., D Daily / 43 / 80 / / / There’s seating for an additional 50 guests on a 1,500-squarefoot patio. ANDIAMO RIVERFRONT

Located on the Detroit River in the Renaissance Center, this scenic eatery offers authentic Italian dishes including ravioli and lasagna, and has numerous wine selections. 400 GM Renaissance Center, Detroit, 313-567-6700, L Sat., D Daily / 44 / 200 / / / The Galleria. Accommodating up to 90 guests, the elegant room offers plenty of privacy for meetings both small and large. THE APPARATUS ROOM

Housed in the former Detroit Fire Department Headquarters that is now the 100-room Foundation Hotel, the Apparatus Room features regional riffs on traditional American dishes. Entrées include braised farm chicken, lamb shank, and seafood bourride. 250 W. Larned, Detroit, 313-800-5600, B Mon.-Sat., L & D Daily / 39 / 320 / / / The Chef’s Table, a 10-seat space that offers a multi-course tasting menu, and also serves as a home for visiting chefs and pop-ups. BASAN COURTESY ALPINO

Tucked neatly into the ground floor of the historic Eddystone and a mere stone’s throw from Little Caesar’s Arena, Basan is a marriage of distinctive food and inimitable beverages with a lifestyle of hospitality. 2703 Park Ave., Detroit, 313-481-2703, D Daily / 24 / 24 / / AVERAGE PRICE OF DINNER ENTRÉES

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Exec Life

BESA

An exceptional modern dining experience in a 1917 building, featuring cuisine inspired by the Adriatic Sea. 600 Woodward Ave., Detroit, D Mon.-Sat. / 44 / 108 / / / The Chef’s Table, a 15-seat space on the lower level that features its own lounge. CAUCUS CLUB

The Caucus Club, which originally opened in 1952 and then closed in 2012, is enjoying new life and new ownership in the Penobscot Building. House favorites include tenderloin steak bites, roast prime beef, and pan-seared halibut. 150 W. Congress, Detroit, 313-965-4970, D Daily / 66 / 93 / / / Table 53, a corner booth that’s right in the middle of the restaurant, is the most sought-after spot, but Table 31, a “Vegas-style booth,” is the favorite of owner George Sboukis. CUISINE RESTAURANT

Set in New Center, this quaint French-American restaurant is located inside a residential manor and offers seared sea scallops, beef tenderloin, and roasted Alaskan halibut. 670 Lothrop St., 50 / Detroit, 313-872-5110, D Tue.-Sat. / 200 / By request / / Tables 15 and 16 are on the old porch overlooking Lothrop Street. D.PRIME

Inside MGM Grand Detroit, D.PRIME features a modern twist on flame-grilled steaks, signature cocktails, and a fresh atmosphere. 1777 3rd St., 313-465-1645, D Wed.-Sun. / 70 / N/A / / / NA GIOVANNI’S RISTORANTE

A recipient of a DiRoNA award for being among the best restaurants in North America, Giovanni’s is a cozy Italian eatery offering ravioli, lasagna, and gnocchi. Guests have included Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. 330 S. Oakwood, 26 / Detroit, 313-841-0122, D Tue.-Sat. / 127 / / The Sewing Machine Table, in a corner that overlooks the entire restaurant, seats up to four people.

HIGHLANDS DETROIT

Atop the Renaissance Center downtown, Highlands Detroit offers a twist on a traditional steakhouse with starters like squash and coconut soup, second courses including Spanish octopus, and classic steakhouse third courses such as an 8 oz. New York strip, a Wagyu skirt steak, sea scallops, and more. 400 Renaissance Center, Floor 71, Detroit, 313-877-9090, D Mon.-Sat. / 85 / 300 / HIROKI-SAN

Deeply rooted in Japanese tradition and technique, the menu is overseen by highly regarded Japanese Executive Chef Hiroki Fujiyama. Hiroki-San’s ultra-marbly Wagyu steaks are cut from cattle raised in Japan’s Miyazaki, Kagawa, and Hokkaido prefectures. Fresh seafood is flown in twice weekly from Tokyo’s Toyosu Market. 1265 Washington Blvd., Detroit, 313-597-8344, 85 / 150 / The 16-seat D Tue.-Sat. / private dining room. JOE MUER SEAFOOD

With sweeping views of the Detroit River and a newly redesigned interior, the menu offers seafood dishes, sushi, and classics such as Dover sole, whitefish, and surf and turf. There’s also a piano bar and a small patio. 400 Renaissance Center, 313-567-6837, L Mon.49 / 175 / / / A Fri., D Daily / table in the main dining room, next to floorto-ceiling windows with views of the river, the Riverwalk, and Windsor. Will be moving in January to the JW Marriott at Water Square, 100 Steve Yzerman Dr., Detroit. LEILA

Leila is rooted in the Lebanese tradition of generous Sunday family dinners. It offers cold mezze, hot mezze, and entrees like shish tawook, shish kabob and Wagu ribeye. 1245 Griswold St., Detroit, 313-816-8100, D Mon.Thu. 5-10 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 4-11 p.m., Sun. 4-10 p.m. Leila offers private event space for up to 75 people. / 34 / 130 / / / MEDUSA CUCINA SICILIANA Detroit

LEÑA

Leña blends open-fire cooking with fresh Midwest ingredients and exclusive Spanish wines to create a vibrant culinary experience. The cocktail menu features Spanish classics like Sangria and gin and tonics. 2720 Brush St., Detroit, 313262-6082, D Wed.-Mon. / 23-90 / LE SUPREME

Located in the iconic Book Tower, Le Supreme is a Parisian-inspired brasserie offering French fare and seating at the restaurant’s bar, alfresco, or in its elegant dining room. The menu includes appetizers such as shrimp cocktail, lobster cocktail, and oysters, steak tartare, and wild mushroom tart. Main courses include gnocchi a la Parisienne, omelette Francaise, trout Amandine, Mediterranean sea bass filet, and filet mignon. 1265 Washington Blvd., Detroit, 313-597-7734, BR Sat.-Sun., D Daily / 45 / 210 / / / A private dining room with a fireplace holds 24, plus patio seating. THE LONDON CHOP HOUSE

Renovated and paying homage to the original restaurant, The London Chop House is like dining in private luxury. Also harkening back to the original restaurant, the new establishment serves old favorites like a porterhouse steak. 155 West Congress, Detroit, 313-962-0277, D Mon.Sat. / 55 / 40 / / / Booths 1 and 2. In the early days, and even today, these booths have hosted celebrities and luminaries. MAD NICE

This Italian restaurant in midtown Detroit offers a modern menu surrounded by coastal chic décor and Mid-century Modern design with smooth, sophisticated service. 4129 Second Ave., Detroit, 313-558-8000, L Wed.-Sun., D Daily / 51 / 28 / /

COURTESY MEDUSA CUCINA SICILIANA

Ostrea Seafood, in Detroit’s Financial District next to the London Chop House, offers oysters, caviar, poached lobster, seared scallops, and more. The bar has a nice selection of Midwest beers; enjoy Happy Hour Mon.-Sat. from 3-5:30 p.m. 536 Shelby, Detroit, 313-403-2111, D Mon.Sat., Bar Mon.-Sat. 3-11p.m. / 30 / PARC AT CAMPUS MARTIUS PARK

Parc combines contemporary Detroit cuisine with French and Mediterranean flavors in a vibrant atmosphere featuring modern design. 800 Woodward Ave., Detroit, 313-922-7272, BR Sat.-Sun., L & D Daily / 40 / 175 / PRIME + PROPER

Aiming to be Detroit’s premier steakhouse, Prime + Proper dry-ages all meats in-house and offers 100 percent USDA prime beef and lamb, as well as seafood. In the lower level is a truly private bar called Cash Only. 1145 Griswold, Detroit, 248-294-0700, L Sat.-Sun., D Daily 40 / 230 / / / Table 1 is one / of the restaurant’s most private and sought-after tables, while Table 2 offers the chance to see and be seen. PRISM

Winner of the Best Steakhouse award from Hour Detroit magazine and located in Greektown’s Hollywood casino, Prism delivers a sensory overload from appetizers through desserts, thanks to their award-winning dishes, renowned musical accompaniment, and stylish décor overlooking the Detroit skyline. 555 E. Lafayette St., Detroit, 313-309-2499, D Wed.-Sun. / 44 / / / Indoor and outdoor seating. SAN MORELLO

With a mission to support sustainable food systems in the Great Lakes region, Marrow is a restaurant and butcher shop in Detroit’s West Village. It serves high-quality meat with a short supply chain and Midwest seasonal produce, and a chef’s tasting menu is updated every six weeks. 8044 Kercheval, Ste. 1B, Detroit, 313-5130361 / 23-90 /

Located in the Shinola Hotel, San Morello is a hip, trendy Italian restaurant. Specialties include wood-fired pizza and handmade pasta with seasonal ingredients. 1400 Woodward Ave., Detroit, 313-209-4700, B, L & D Daily / 38 / 40 / / / The two power tables for a business lunch are large enough to accommodate a group of four, but also work well for two. One is somewhat tucked away in the dining room, and the other is free-standing.

MEDUSA CUCINA SICILIANA (NEW)

SELDEN STANDARD

MARROW

Medusa honors the rich, complex heritage of Sicily by bringing its dynamic flavors to the heart of Detroit. It features street food, small bites from the sea, and large-plate entrées. 644 Selden St., Detroit, 313-798-3498, D Mon. 5-11 p.m., Wed.Thu. 5-11 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 4 p.m.-12 a.m., Sun. 4-11 p.m. / 39 / 182 OAK & REEL

Oak & Reel is run by Michelin-starred chef Jared Gadbaw and sources the freshest seafood, kissed by flames fueled by an oak-burning hearth. It features house-made pasta, oysters, octopus, halibut, Dover sole, steak, and more. 2921 E. Grand Blvd., Detroit, 313-270-9600, D Thu.-Sun. / 36 / 140

76 DBUSINESS || SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2026

OSTREA SEAFOOD

This seasonally driven restaurant allows guests to enjoy flavors born on local farms and captured at the peak of the season, for ultimate taste and quality. The eatery offers meals such as seasonal flatbread, grilled trout, and charred octopus, as well as local brews and craft cocktails. 3921 Second Ave., Detroit, 313-438-5055, 27 / 88 / The chef’s D Wed.-Sun. / counter seating area is highly requested and very interactive. SEXY STEAK

Sexy Steak has created an elegant and luxurious space inside Detroit’s historic and castle-like Grand Army of the Republic building, on the corner of Cass and Grand River avenues.

Exec Life

Meat lovers will appreciate the menu’s prime steak offerings, Italian-inspired entrées, and memorable desserts. Upper Castle Hall, on the second floor of the GAR building, is available for private events. 1942 Grand River Ave., Detroit, 313-403-1000. D Daily / 48 SHEWOLF PASTIFICIO & BAR

Chef Anthony Lombardi started SheWolf in Midtown Detroit in 2017. Its primary focus is contemporary Italian cuisine inspired by old Rome. Its menu is less about red sauce and more about fresh vegetables and pasta made from hand-milled flour. 438 Selden St., Detroit, 313-315-3992. D Tue.-Thu. 5-11 p.m., Fri. 5 p.m.-12 a.m., Sat. 4 p.m.- 12 a.m., Sun. 4-11 p.m. / 34 / 90 +30 outdoors / Chef’s Cucina Curata. TABLE NO. 2 RESTAURANT

Greektown’s Table No. 2 offers a three-course meal with ingredients sourced from local farmers markets, served alongside live entertainment. 1045 Brush St., Detroit, 313-340-9550, D Mon.-Sun. (no Tue.) / 37 / maybe / / / There are two different options for the best table. The first is a private alcove with a curtain drape for a romantic dinner for two. The other is the girls’ night out table, which can seat 12-15. THE WHITNEY

Detroit’s most iconic mansion, this historic eatery retains all of its charm and refinement while appealing to contemporary tastes with offerings such as bourbon beef Wellington, bourbon-glazed salmon, and crispy panroasted duck. 4421 Woodward Ave., 313-83281 / 5700, BR Sat.-Sun., D Wed.-Sun. / 400 / / / Table 28 is in the center of the bay window area along Woodward Avenue. The table seats two and looks out over a colorful, expansive garden.

FARMINGTON HILLS ANTONIO’S CUCINA ITALIANA

Signature dishes include gnocchi Rita, chicken Antonio, various veal dishes, and pizzas — all in an Italian countryside setting. 37646 W. 12 Mile Rd., Farmington Hills, 248-994-4000, L Tue.-Fri., D Tue.-Sun. / 20 / 45 / NA CAFÉ CORTINA

This Farmington Hills restaurant may be the best-kept secret in metro Detroit. A garden provides fresh ingredients like arugula, basil, eggplant, peppers, and tomatoes for the Northern Italian cuisine. 30715 W. 10 Mile Rd., Farmington Hills, 248-474-3033, D Tue.-Sun. / 45 / 185 / / / When weather permits, the ideal table is one by a fireplace on the patio, with a scenic view. HONG HUA

With more than 80 years of combined experience, the chefs at Hong Hua offer guests authentic Chinese cuisine like Peking duck in an upscale setting. Other selections include stirfried choice rib-eye, King of the Sea, and Phoenix Nest. 27925 Orchard Lake Rd., Farmington Hills, 248-489-2280, L Fri.-Sun., D Tue.-Sun. / 28 / 200 / Private meeting rooms are available. STEVEN LELLI’S ON THE GREEN

Located at Copper Creek Golf Course, Lelli’s Inn continues the tradition started in 1939, serving filet mignon with zip sauce, bone-in filet mignon, and veal marsala. 27925 Golf Pointe Blvd., Farmington Hills, 248-994-1111, D Tue.-Sun. / 35 / 200 / / / Tables in the Red Room or the Champagne Room are very private.

FRANKLIN

THE FRANKLIN OYSTER BAR AND EATERY

East Coast grace and the Franklin village come together at the Franklin Oyster Bar and Eatery, and the result is a space that’s warm and inviting. The menu includes a daily selection of oysters, lobster roll, seared octopus, and non-seafood options. Private dining is available in The Second Story, The Nook, and The Pavilion and Patio. BR Sat.-Sun., D Tue.-Sun. 32760 Franklin Rd., Franklin, 248-771-4747. NA

GROSSE POINTE FARMS DIRTY DOG JAZZ CAFÉ

THE DANCING PINE Novi

In an intimate pub atmosphere, this restaurant provides live music along with entrées such as Vietnamese short ribs, confit chicken fettuccine, and braised pork chops. 97 Kercheval Ave., Grosse Pointe Farms, 313-88230 5299, L & D Tue.-Fri., D Sat. / / 80 / / For entertainment, Table 4 offers an up-close view of the live music, but for a quieter and

MEETING ROOM CAPACITY

secluded setting, the Board Room is a private room with a 64-inch screen and speakers that allow guests to see and hear the band, yet still conduct a private meeting. TAVOLA MIA (NEW)

This restaurant offers an Italian dinner menu and a weekend brunch. Entrees include veal osso bucco, lasagna, clam linguini, filet mignon, lamb chops, and veal marsala. 123 Kercheval Ave., Grosse Pointe Farms, 313-886-8101, L Tue.-Sat., 32 / 180 / / / N/A It D Daily / replaces The Bronze Door.

GROSSE POINTE WOODS DA EDOARDO

Family-owned by the Barbieri family for more than 25 years, Da Edoardo offers rich Italian cuisine like fettuccine Alfredo, tuna au poivre, and veal saltimbocca. 19767 Mack Ave., Grosse Pointe 32 / Woods, 313-881-8540, D Tue.-Sun. / 75/ Fireside booths, with elegant mahogany and leather features, offer an impressive and intimate setting.

LEXINGTON

EMILIO’S PRIME STEAKHOUSE

Located at Lakeview Hills Country Club, Emilio’s Steakhouse offers first-in-class dining and service. 6560 East Peck Rd., Lexington, 810-3597333, D Wed.-Sat. / 50/ 120 / / The best table is the corner booth that overlooks the third and fourth holes and the picturesque lake on the South Golf Course. It seats two, or can easily be extended to the nearby tables to accommodate 15.

LIVONIA

ANTONIO’S PICCOLO RISTORANTE

This upscale casual, family-owned restaurant is decorated with oil paintings and mosaics on its walls and serves its fan-favorite linguine with white clam sauce, as well as a fresh, steamed mussels appetizer and spaghetti carbonara. A full carry-out menu is available. Everything, including the gelato, is made in-house in this authentic Italian restaurant. 31735 Plymouth Rd., Livonia, 734-513-8000, L & D Tue.-Fri. D Sat.-Sun. / 18 / 15 / / NA THE CAPITAL GRILLLE (NEW)

The Capital Grille Livonia offers signature cuts like the bone-in ribeye and dry-aged porterhouse, fresh seafood prepared daily, and chefcrafted sides served with attentive service. 17117 Laurel Park Dri. North, Livonia, 734-293-0576, L & D Mon.-Thu. 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m., Fri. 11:30 a.m.55 10 p.m., D Sat. 4-10 p.m., Sun. 4-9 p.m. / / NA / Private dining for groups of up to 30. FLEMING’S PRIME STEAKHOUSE

An ideal setting for entertaining clients, this restaurant offers award-winning steak and seafood, including New York strip, bone-in rib-eye, and double breast of chicken. Desserts can easily be shared. 17400 Haggerty Rd., Livonia, 73446 / 60 / / / 542-9463, D Daily / A table in the main dining room, next to the

VALET

WI-FI

BEST TABLE IN THE HOUSE

reserve wine room with more than 100 bottles. MITCHELL’S FISH MARKET

Fish so fresh, the menu is printed twice daily. Mitchell’s provides a wide array of fish, and their crab cakes are a guest favorite. 17600 Haggerty Rd., 734-464-3663, L & D Daily / 37 / 40 / / / NA

NORTHVILLE

GAUCHO STEAK HOUSE

This authentic Brazilian steakhouse offers a vibrant atmosphere and 17 types of unlimited meats including filet mignon, rib-eye, and lombo com parmesao. 39550 W. Seven Mile, Northville, 248-380-7770, L Fri., D Daily / 55 / 40 / / Table 7 is located in the second dining room and, conveniently, near the salad bar. This table offers privacy, and one of the restaurant’s waterfalls accentuates the surroundings. There’s also a private dining room that seats up to 30 people. HYDE PARK PRIME STEAKHOUSE

The venue offers both traditional and specialty steaks, including dry-aged reserve prime offerings, as well as shrimp and lobster tail. 17107 Haggerty Rd., Northville Township, 248-6790007, D Tue.-Sat. 69 / 60 / / / NA

NOVI

BRENTWOOD GRILLE

Chefs Steve Allen and Chuck “Rocky” Rachwitz offer local American favorites including filet mignon, shrimp Provencal, and lake perch sauté. The restaurant pays homage to its former occupant, Steve & Rocky’s, by keeping a number of signature menu items. 43150 Grand River Ave., Novi, 248-374-0688, L & 27 / 250 / / D Mon.-Fri., D Sat. / The perimeter tables offer the most privacy. THE DANCING PINE (NEW)

The Dancing Pine Korean Steakhouse specializes in premium Japanese, Australian, and American Wagyu and carefully selected cuts sourced for superior quality, texture, and flavor. It’s the first Korean steakhouse in Michigan to serve high-quality caviar. Every dish is prepared with precision and balance, combining authentic Korean techniques with modern steakhouse standards. 42738 Grand River Ave., Ste. 100, Novi, 248-773-7368, D Tue.-Thu. 4:30-9:30 p.m., Fri. 4-10 p.m., Sat. 12-10 p.m., Sun. 12-9:30 p.m. / 50+ / $325 / Offers a private dining experience. TOASTED OAK GRILL & MARKET

Located in the Baronette Renaissance Hotel next to Twelve Oaks Mall, the upbeat restaurant offers an array of steak and seafood prepared in-house, including grilled pizza, Lake Huron trout, local grass-fed rib-eye, and Creekstone Farms tenderloin. 27790 Novi Rd., Novi, 248-277-6000, BR Sat.-Sun., B, L & D Tue.-Sat. / 33 / 50 / / A private dining room is available that can extend near the fireplace. With its doors shut, the room holds approximately 26 people.

September - October 2026 || DBUSINESS.COM 77

REBECCA SIMONOV

AVERAGE PRICE OF DINNER ENTRÉES

Exec Life

PLYMOUTH

LA BISTECCA ITALIAN GRILLE

The Grille offers pollo alla picatta and an array of steak and seafood such as a 16-oz. New York strip and salmon al griglia. All steak is certified Piedmontese beef. 39405 Plymouth Rd., 37 / Plymouth, 734-254-0400, D Tue.-Sat. / 100 / / / Table 11 is tucked away in the corner of the dining room off the beaten path, giving you a full view of the room. Table 22 is more private, in an area where diners don’t see many others.

PLYMOUTH TOWNSHIP CANTORO TRATTORIA

This restaurant offers a selection of homemade gelatos, cannoli, breads baked fresh daily, and a cheese room. Hundreds of wines complement appetizers, salads, fish, meats, seafoods, pastas, and pizzas. 15550 N. Haggerty Rd., Plymouth Township, 734-667-1199, L Tue.-Sun., D Tue.-Sat. / 40 / 280 / / Table 19 is the most popular. The restaurant can’t guarantee reservations for it, but takes requests.

ROCHESTER

PARK 600 BAR + KITCHEN AT THE ROYAL PARK HOTEL

Park 600 bar + kitchen is a well-appointed restaurant that has memorable flavors and locally sourced foods. The expansive menu features Indian brook rainbow trout, Asian-styled pork shank, and pasta carbonara. 600 E. University, Rochester, 248-453-8732, B Daily, L Wed.Fri., D Wed.-Sat. / 42 / 118 / / / Booths near the fireplace or half-booths along the back wall are recommended. ROCHESTER CHOP HOUSE

The Kruse and Muer restaurant offers great, affordable steaks, chops, Australian lamb chops, and seafood such as Maine lobster tails and stuffed shrimp. 306 Main St., Rochester, 248-651-2266, L & D Mon.-Fri., D Sat.-Sun. / 34 / 60 / / / Table 210 is highly requested and is located in the center of the restaurant. The table is half-moon-shaped and near the piano, providing a nice view of the restaurant. SILVER SPOON RISTORANTE

The restaurant embraces the culture and feel of dining in Italy. There are plenty of homemade dishes to satisfy any palate. 534 Main St., Rochester, 248-652-4500, D Mon.-Sat. / 20/ 15 / / / Will accommodate upon request.

ROCHESTER HILLS

LA COLLINA RISTORANTE ITALIANO

La Collina serves authentic Italian cuisine with an exemplary wine list and top-shelf martinis and cocktails. It delivers a world-class dining experience. 6830 N. Rochester Rd., Rochester Hills, 248-759-4099, D Mon.-Thu. 4-10 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 4-11 p.m. Closed Sunday / 45 / NA / / / La Collina offers private dining for groups from 10-100 people.

MITCHELL’S FISH MARKET

Fish so fresh, the menu is printed twice daily. Mitchell’s provides a wide array of fish, and their crab cakes are a guest favorite. 370 N. Adams Rd., Rochester Hills, 248-340-5900, L Tue.-Sun., D Daily/ 37 / 32 / / / Tables 91, 92, 93, and 94 are horseshoe-shaped booths that are semiprivate, and located in the back of the restaurant. Each one seats up to six people.

ROMULUS REFLECTIONS

Located inside The Westin at Detroit Metropolitan Airport, Reflections offers a contemporary setting with a modern American menu that provides a wide array of options including pasta, salads, and soups. 2501 Worldgateway Place, Detroit, 734-229-6782, 35 / 10 / / / B, L & D Daily / Table 29 is next to the tranquility pond in the atrium, and provides an intimate and relaxed setting. A great way to relax before or after a flight.

ROSEVILLE

MR. PAUL’S CHOPHOUSE (NEW OWNERSHIP)

This family-operated restaurant offers exceptional steak, seafood, and pasta in a club-like setting. Beef and fish are delivered to the restaurant twice daily, in order to keep meals fresh. 29850 Groesbeck Hwy., Roseville, 586777-7770, L & D Mon.-Fri., D Sat. / 45 / 182 / / / The larger booth in the back corner of the restaurant.

TAYLOR

PETE’S PLACE

Fresh food and great service has been the motto for the past 30 years. A new addition has taken the motto a step further to include 40 draft beers, 26 of which are Michigan craft beers. The menu includes an array of salads, sandwiches, pasta, and more. 12245 Telegraph Rd., Taylor, 734-374-0088, B, L & D Daily / 11 / 40 / / A large high-top table seats up to 10 people and is highly requested by larger parties.

TROY

THE CAPITAL GRILLE

Located at Somerset Collection North, the Capital Grille offers prime steaks and seafood, accompanied by an extensive wine list. 2800 W. Big Beaver Rd., Troy, 248-649-5300, L & D 59 / 60 / / / Table 64 Daily / is the most secluded table, and 61 is great for romantic occasions such as anniversaries and engagements. EDDIE V’S PRIME SEAFOOD

Eddie V’s offers fresh seafood, a wide selection of steaks, jazz played by local musicians, and more than 300 wines. 2100 W. Big Beaver Rd., Troy, 248-649-7319, D Daily / 48 / 48 / / / The V Lounge offers live jazz every night in a comfortable, secluded area. MON JIN LAU

Enjoy cuisine infused with Chinese, Japanese,

78 DBUSINESS || September - October 2026

Thai, Korean, and Vietnamese influences, a lengthy sushi list, and a lively atmosphere. Menu selections include cashew chicken, Mongolian rack of lamb, and spicy Korean pork chop. 1515 E. Maple Rd., Troy, 248-689-2332, D Daily / 23 / 60 / / / The patio is spacious and can be rented for private events. MORTON’S STEAKHOUSE

Enjoy an intimate setting among lush wood tones and unique caricatures — it’s as close to an Old World steak and seafood club as you can get, and famous for its large portions. 888 W. Big Beaver Rd., Troy, 248-404-9845, D Daily / 56 / 138 / / / Booth 70 is often requested, and is set against a brick wall. Table 51 is highly requested for parties of eight.

features cuts of premium beef and seafood, and tableside Caesar salad, cordials, and a dessert cart. It has all the ambience of an upscale steakhouse. 7096 E. 14 Mile, Warren, 586-268-3200, L Mon.-Fri., D Daily. / 34 / 650 / / / Tables in the main or west part of the main restaurant allow diners privacy.

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP BAR VERONA

With a thoughtfully chosen menu and locally sourced ingredients, Bar Verona strives to deliver cuisine that’s fresh and uncomplicated, yet unique and refined. 59145 Van Dyke Ave., Washington Township, 586-473-0700, D Daily / 36 / 135 /

OCEAN PRIME

WEST BLOOMFIELD

RUTH’S CHRIS STEAKHOUSE

Aurora Italiana captures the flavors and feel of the Amalfi Coast. The large, Italian-style menu showcases specialties including optional tableside Caesar salad preparation, made-in-house pastas, land and sea entrées, and vegetable side dishes. The location also offers private dining and event spaces, including the patio and Capri Room. 6199 Orchard Lake Rd., West Bloomfield, 248-782-3000, D Mon.-Sun. / 31 /

This contemporary version of a rich American supper club is an award-winning steakhouse that offers prime beef and seafood on its made-from-scratch menu. 2915 Coolidge Hwy., Troy, 248-458-0500, L Mon.-Fri., D Daily / 45 / 95 / / / Table 10 is highly requested for parties of eight. An all-glass room that seats up to eight people is a popular setting. With more than 40 years of rich history, Ruth’s Chris boasts an extensive offering of steak and seafood, and an award-winning wine list. Steak selections include filet, New York strip, and porterhouse. Well located near I-75. 755 W. Big Beaver Rd., Troy, 248269-8424, D Daily / 51 / 125 / / / Table 50, a special round table that accommodates 10. STONEY RIVER STEAKHOUSE AND GRILL

An upscale steakhouse specializing in handcut steaks, fresh seafood selections, signature salads, and house specialties. Lunch and dinner favorites include steak and biscuits, wild mushroom meatloaf, and burgers, sandwiches, and bistro chicken. 155 W. Big Beaver Rd., Troy, 248-925-4730, L & D Daily / 36 / 40 / NA / /

UTICA

FILIPPA’S WINE BARREL

A tradition in dining excellence for more than 40 years, Filippa’s offers quality steaks and seafood, but the hand-rubbed, sweet-sauced ribs are a favorite. 45125 Mound Rd., Utica, 586-254-1311, L & D Tue.-Sun. / 27 / 400 / / Tables 5 and 91. Table 5 is in a corner by a window and faces the main dining room area. Table 91 faces the bar and is near a bulk counter. With the terrace to the right, this is a great option for guests looking for a serene setting.

WARREN

ANDIAMO WARREN

The flagship location of a bustling Italian franchise. Joe Vicari’s Andiamo Italian Steakhouse

AURORA ITALIANA

NARA SUSHI & HIBACHI STEAKHOUSE

Japanese precision and fiery Hibachi come together at Nara Sushi & Hibachi Steakhouse to provide an entertaining culinary experience. Nara also offers extensive sushi options, colorful cocktails, and special sake offerings. It features gathering spaces for large or small parties. 5656 W. Maple Rd., West Bloomfield Township, 248-847-0000, D Daily / 23 PRIME29 STEAKHOUSE

A contemporary steakhouse featuring prime cuts of seafood and beef aged for 29 days. The 24-oz. bone-in rib-eye is a restaurant specialty. 6545 Orchard Lake Rd., West Bloomfield, 248737-7463, L & D Tue.-Sun. / 47 / 152 / / A table inside a glass-partitioned room adjacent to the main dining area.

WYANDOTTE

LATITUDES RESTAURANT & BAR

Latitudes Restaurant & Bar offers a nautical culinary experience along the Detroit River with colorful drinks, shareable menu options, coastal seafood offerings, and a waterfront patio. Private dining is available. 2455 Biddle Ave., Wyandotte, 734-407-7042, L & D Daily / 23 Compiled by DBusiness All restaurants are reviewed anonymously and all expenses are paid by DBusiness. The listings have no relationship to advertising in the magazine.

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Create an unforgettable experience with our expert service and exceptional cuisine — whatever the occasion. Photos c/o: Blaine Siesser Photography, Inner Circle Photography 313.881.7511

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Exec Life

CUTTING EDGE

Winning Formula Ajay Chawla, founder and CEO of OnTrac AI in Bloomfield Hills, also drives success on the lacrosse field.

casual glance at the resume of Ajay Chawla might suggest the founder and CEO of one of metro Detroit’s fastest-growing, AI-centered technology firms created his own alter ego as a Michigan Hall of Fame high school lacrosse coach. In reality, the 51-year-old Chawla juggles the task of managing his OnTrac AI business from its headquarters in Bloomfield Hills with his duties on the playing field as the head varsity coach of Brother Rice High School’s highly rated lacrosse team. The records of the two distinctly unrelated endeavors validate the success Chawla is enjoying while wearing both hats. When he launched OnTrac AI in April 2024, Chawla says he began with six employees. Now the company has more than 100 workers. “We have 30-plus employees in metro Detroit, and I say plus because we literally hire every day and I don’t even know how many people we have now,” Chawla says. “We probably have 10 open jobs in metro Detroit, maybe 15. We have 30 (more) offshore, we have people in Florida, we have people in Canada, and then we have a delivery center in India, in Chennai, where we have around 60-some people.” According to a company fact sheet, OnTrac AI’s revenue has quadrupled since the summer of 2025; it’s expected to at least double again by the end of this year. While declining to share specific numbers, Chawla is willing to talk more generally about his company’s revenue. “We had a couple of clients doing in the hundreds of thousands (of dollars) when I bought the business,” Chawla says. “We grew pretty quickly over the last two years, to where we’re now in the tens of millions of dollars.” Chawla apparently wasn’t overly preoccupied with directing the meteoric two-year rise of OnTrac AI. Last year, his Brother Rice lacrosse team won the Division I state high school championship; it was the eighth Division I championship the team has won since Chawla took over as varsity coach in 2014 (overall, the team has won 28 state championships). Lacrosse and Brother Rice, located in Bloomfield Township, have been constants in his life. He was a player on the Brother Rice team before graduating in 1993 and attending Marymount University in Virginia. Three years of playing on Marymount’s lacrosse team prepped him for later returning to Brother Rice as an assistant coach. Chawla says the key to stoking two disparate careers simultaneously is straightforward. “You have to have a great team at the office that can cover for you when you’re on the field, and you have to have a great staff in lacrosse,” he says. “It 80 DBUSINESS || September - October 2026

TRAINING DATA Ajay Chawla, founder and CEO of OnTrac AI in Bloomfield Hills, says the bulk of his business is centered on automotive manufacturing. One aspect of using AI is to help his clients compete with lower-cost regions, states, and countries.

really is a challenge — especially coaching Brother Rice, a very high-level program.” His record is now 218 wins, including the eight Division I championships. In 2024, Chawla was inducted into the Michigan High School Lacrosse Coaches Association Hall of Fame. He notes that coaching a top-ranked lacrosse team and running his technology business share overlapping values. “I think there are a lot of principles that cross over,” he says, “(including) how you run a team, how you motivate your team, and how you figure out what motivates each person to play really well.” His approach to motivating players is the same one he takes with his employees. “Everybody in this office is motivated by different things. And as a leader here, I have to figure out what motivates my team in the office, just like I do on the field. I have to get the best out of my players or my employees,” he notes. “Lacrosse has been a blessing to me. It has built relationships, many of which I do business with. I do business with kids I’ve coached. My executive vice president of sales, I coached him when he was at Brother Rice. “We’ve had early success here at OnTrac, and we’ve had great success on the field, and (players and employees) get that culture. It’s that winning culture. We have this mindset every time we step on the field: We’re going to win. We have that same mindset here. I’m a very competitive individual, and we set out to win.” OnTrac AI focuses on devising and implementing AI solutions for manufacturers. The “lion’s share” of the business, Chawla says, is concentrated on automotive manufacturing. “We have clients in other businesses, but our bread and butter has always been manufacturing. We’re in a heavy manufacturing state, and I think that part of (using) AI is how does that allow us to bring more manufacturing back to the state?” he says.

COURTESY OF ONTRAC AI

BY NORM SINCLAIR

FAST BREAK In addition to running OnTrac AI, Chawla is coach of Brother Rice High School’s varsity lacrosse team. In 2025, the team won the Division I state high school championship, its eighth such title since Chawla was named varsity coach in 2014. He also played on the team as a student.

“How can we control more of what we do here using AI, and how can we be more competitive with the lower-cost countries using AI? I think we’re starting to see that with robotics and different things.” Chawla emphasizes that his Detroit roots and his preference for hiring staff from the metro area and Michigan gives his company an edge with local manufacturers over larger national consulting firms. “I grew up in the (automotive) industry,” he says. “(I’ve seen) my friends’ parents being executives or working at Ford, (and) half my friends (have worked) for Chrysler, GM, or Stellantis. That’s how you differentiate your efforts here versus the (national firms). I think we’re more grounded in the business.” Chawla also credits his company’s growth to relationships he has built over the years. “People I had done business with in the past have helped grow our business, but there’s also people who took flyers (about) me and my company because they knew my reputation in the industry, and my reputation overall to be able to get stuff done,” he says. Detroit, he adds, is home to OnTrac’s largest clients. “They range from the biggest OEMs in the world to some Tier 3 suppliers and some other non-automotive manufacturers like Carhartt,” he says. “We have a roofing manufacturer, roof shingle manufacturers, and a company that makes the majority of the buns for McDonald’s. They’re still a manufacturer, but they’re different types.” OnTrac AI’s mission is all about process automation — using technology to automate complex business processes for each client. “We look across our portfolio of partners, from Microsoft to Google to Anthropic, and say, what’s the best fit for this customer, for that need?” he says. “We’re looking at the use case the customer has, and saying, this is the best solution for that use case. And then our engineers go in and implement that for them.” Chawla says all OnTrac programs are custom-built for each client. “We’re not taking off-the-shelf software and putting it in. We’re taking platforms that are out

there today and we’re building around it, so the customer has a complete solution,” he explains. “If you think about a supply chain, with AI we’re helping the purchasing department buy better and buy right across industry — (whether) I’m buying aluminum for a vehicle, or I’m buying nuts and bolts for transmissions, or I’m buying flour for (hamburger) buns,” he says. Chawla says using AI allows his company to go into the market, test-price material, negotiate, and purchase at the best price for the clients. For larger companies, he uses AI to do predictive analytics at the front end.

“(When) I know that aluminum is going to be up in the next three months, I better buy big now. Or if I know it’s going to go down, I’m going to buy what I currently need. And that’s the same in every commodity across the world,” he says. Chawla says AI technology allows OnTrac AI to analyze long-established buying practices between a manufacturer and a favored vendor, to determine if the client is getting the best deal possible. “Now, with AI, I have the ability to go test 30 other companies and get quotes and establish subquotes,” he says. “So now I’m multiplying my

efficiency and capability across all these spots, or agents, that are out there — going and finding out different things — and now I can buy better.” In the automotive space, where margins are often tight, shaving off a half a point of cost can be a big deal. “It doesn’t matter if that’s bread-making, making clothing for Carhartt, or making buttons for car parks. It doesn’t matter,” he says. “You’re buying the same. And I think the same thing applies in finance, accounting, and HR — all the main functions of a business are often the same. It’s just different places.” Chawla says his company doesn’t take a preset approach with a new client. “Oftentimes when we go in, we’re going in on the front end and doing the process efficiency first, and then automating it with AI, and that’s a big deal — especially in the automotive industry,” he says. “In Tier 2 and Tier 3 manufacturers, and even in Tier 1s and OEMs, you may have 30 people doing the same thing and they’re all doing it a different way, because that’s the way they just do it. “And so, you have to bring efficiency to it before you automate it. So, a lot of times we come in and we make processes a lot more efficient, and we find out that this is a better thing to automate, or you don’t really need to automate it.” Across the board, top executives of the biggest manufacturing companies, including the Detroit Three, are mandating that their senior leaders adopt even more AI initiatives. Such automated technology allows OnTrac to drill deep into previously inscrutable business transactions such as thousands of individual payments on accounts receivable or auto warranty claims from dealers around the country to determine the validity of each item. Companies that routinely pay refund claims for spoilage or breakage of goods they ship no longer have to accept those claims as the cost of doing business, he says. AI technology allows OnTrac to examine each and every claim submitted by a distributor. A $5 claim that falls under the percentage of loss acceptable to a client shaves $5,000 off a monthly bill when that distributor submits 1,000 such claims that are bogus, Chawla says. “And that’s what’s happening, and some of these companies are running off hundreds of thousands of dollars a month,” he says. “So we went from saying, hey, we’re not gonna look at anything under a certain dollar amount, to we’re just going to look at everything now.” That type of AI review not only benefits a client’s fiscal performance, but it also sets new standards in a given marketplace. “The indirect effect is the mindset now of that distributor. (It’s) ‘Oh, my God, they’re checking everything,’” Chawla says. “In the automotive space, where margins are really tight, if you can shave off half a point of your cost, that’s a big deal on your margins, for sure.”

September - October 2026 || DBUSINESS.COM 81

COURTESY OF ONTRAC AI

Exec Life

OPINION

Target Market

Michigan’s M&A sector is built on more than successful deals and tangible assets.

ichigan has quietly become one of the country’s strongest middle-market M&A environments. Our state is home to world-class industries and iconic brands. While automotive remains our global calling card, manufacturing, healthcare, technology, industrial, professional services, real estate, consumer products, and countless other sectors continue to produce companies that are growing organically, scaling through acquisitions, and successfully transitioning ownership.

They’re evaluated by the long-term success of the business, the preservation of relationships, and the confidence that owners have placed in the people guiding them through one of the most important decisions of their lives. That mindset has helped create one of the country’s strongest middle-market ecosystems — one built on trust, integrity, and relationships that extend well beyond the closing table. Organizations like the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) Detroit Chapter play an important role in strengthening that ecosystem.

MICHIGAN HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PLACE WHERE GREAT COMPANIES ARE BUILT.” Just as important, Michigan has built one of the nation’s deepest and most experienced benches of M&A talent. Private equity firms, family offices, investment bankers, commercial lenders, attorneys, accountants, valuation experts, and transaction advisers across the state have helped execute some of the country’s most sophisticated middle-market deals. Business owners and investors don’t need to look to Chicago, New York, or California for world-class expertise. What truly differentiates our market, however, isn’t simply the quality of its professionals — it’s the culture that connects them. Unlike many larger financial centers, Michigan’s M&A community is remarkably collaborative. Competitors find alignment. Advisers are trusted resources. Relationships drive new opportunities, partnerships, and transactions. That collaborative spirit is one of our greatest competitive advantages. Midwestern values are alive and well, and still matter. Behind every acquisition or exit is a business owner who may have spent decades — or generations — building a company. There are employees whose livelihoods depend on the outcome, vendors who helped make it successful, and families who are thinking about legacy as much as liquidity. The best advisers understand that successful transactions aren’t measured solely by EBITDA multiples or purchase agreements.

With more than 400 members representing every discipline involved in mergers and acquisitions, ACG Detroit creates opportunities for business owners, investors, and advisers to learn from one another, support each other, and build lasting and meaningful relationships. Throughout the year, the organization hosts more than 40 educational, networking, and social events that keep the community connected. Signature programs such as the M&A All Star Awards, Automotive Update, and Economic Update bring together many of the region’s leading dealmakers to discuss emerging trends, market conditions, and notable transactions. Equally valuable are the opportunities to connect outside of the “boardroom.” Whether it’s a round of golf, sporting clays, an evening at M1 Concourse in Pontiac, an Oktoberfest, the Summer Soirée, or the Holiday Party, members strengthen relationships in an environment where conversations start long before a transaction begins and continue long after one closes. Most of these events are open to the public. One exception is the organization’s new Member-to-Member Connect series. These small, exclusive experiences give members behind-thescenes access to companies, landmarks, and passions that shape our region. A recent event featured a private walking tour of several of Detroit’s historic buildings with ACG member Randy Book, whose great-grandfather, Frank Book, and his two brothers, J. Burgess and

Herbert, built the Book Tower, Book Building, and the now Westin Book Cadillac Hotel. The event offered members a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the city’s rich architectural history while building new professional relationships. ACG Detroit also is investing in its own growth and future through its Women’s Forum and Next Gen communities. The nearly 70-member Women’s Forum hosts monthly events, including Coffee and Connections, Wine Down Wednesdays, and clinics for sporting clay shooting and golf. The 35-and-under Next Gen group supports emerging leaders with events focused on expanding their networks to ensure that Michigan’s deal community remains strong for generations to come. ACG’s growth mindset will be further on display at the Detroit M&A Summit on Oct. 22 at the Detroit Athletic Club. The event will bring together hundreds of attendees, nationally recognized speakers, regional dealmakers, and business owners for a day of insights, learning, and real-world case studies. It will include intimate conversations with multiple business owners who will share their journeys, including serial entrepreneur David Trott and the leaders behind the exponential growth of JAX Kar Wash, the Buddy’s Pizza transaction, and other notable success stories. Michigan has always been a place where great companies are built. Today, it’s also one of the country’s best places to buy, sell, and invest in businesses. That’s because our competitive advantage isn’t just our industries or our capital markets; it’s our people, our relationships, and a business community that understands the best deals create value long after the documents are signed.

MARK WINTER

is currently serving a two-year term as president of ACG Detroit. He also is founder and president of Identity, a national public relations and marketing agency with offices in Birmingham, Tampa, and Chicago.

82 DBUSINESS || September - October 2026

COURTESY IDENTITY

BY MARK WINTER

Getting your business where you want to be is our mission. That means we’re ready to work with you to ensure your company gets up and running or to the next level quickly. Plus, we’re home to a lower cost of doing business, efficient infrastructure and a top-tier talent pipeline to help keep you growing for years to come. Sure, this sounds like a dream, but it’s not. This is Iowa. Minding your Business. Learn more about us at businessiowa.com.

Exec Life

HOPE IGNITES PATRICK GLORIA

The Applied Underwriters Invitational, hosted by Frank Torre, co-CEO of Signal Restoration Services in Troy, took place on Aug. 3 at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Township. The charity golf event benefited Hope Ignites Detroit, formerly Boys Hope Girls Hope of Detroit. The day included a buffet lunch, a cocktail hour, silent and live auctions, a dinner, and a program. The mission of Hope Ignites Detroit is to nurture and guide motivated in-need youth to reach their potential to become career-ready young adults. 1. Frank Torre, DheVion Sowell, Jessyka Hurts, Rebecca Limbaugh 2. Dan and Nanette Ret, Amy and Chris Byrne 3. Kim and Paul W. Smith 4. Bobby Levin, Dino Kostopoulos, Phil Serra, Sean Silver 5. Brayton Williams, Greg Williams, Mark Marangon

1 3

CLASSIC SHOW LINDSAY SCHWEICKERT

6 8

The fifth annual Northville Concours d’Elegance took place July 10-12 at historic Mill Race Village, just north of downtown Northville. The event honored Jack Roush and the Roush family as Collectors of the Year, and featured legendary racecar driver Lyn St. James as chief mentor judge. On July 11, panel discussions were held featuring St. James, IMSA Hall of Fame inductee Judy Stropus, past Concours honorees Ken and Kristen Lingenfelter, Jack Roush Jr., and other members of the Roush organization. On July 12, some 175 classic vehicles were judged and awards were presented. 6. Al Jacobson, Kathryne Karibo 7. David Kibbey, Vicki and Tom Celani 8. Logan Ziegler, Chase Ziegler, Ross Ziegler 9. Kathleen and Craig Idema 10. Satwik Vejandla, Priya Ganji

7 10

SUNSET AT THE ZOO PATRICK GLORIA

Sunset at the Zoo, presented by KeyBank, took place on June 18 at the Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak. The annual celebration of the Detroit Zoological Society and the wildlife it protects featured craft cocktails, dishes from more than 30 local restaurants and food trucks, tram tours, carousel rides, live entertainment, silent auctions, access to Erb Discovery Trails, and unique up-close animal encounters. All funds raised support animal wellness, nutritional nourishment, and wildlife conservation efforts led by the society. 11. Mike and Brooke Bowers, Tami and Matt Damiani 12. Mike Murray, Dr. Hayley Murphy, Amanda Hanlin 13. Chris and Lara James 14. Steven Polk, Ann Duncan, Ryan Polk 15. Cynthia and Edsel B. Ford II 84 DBUSINESS || September - October 2026

11 13

12 15

From the Top

METRO DETROIT’S TOP INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW FIRMS (FIRMS ARE RANKED BY NUMBER OF METRO DETROIT IP ATTORNEYS AS OF JULY 22, 2026) 1. DINSMORE AND SHOHL 755 W. Big Beaver Rd., Ste. 1900 Troy 248-647-6000 dinsmore.com Total IP attorneys: 94 Total attorneys nationwide: 795

4. HONIGMAN 2290 First National Building 660 Woodward Ave. Detroit 313-465-7000 honigman.com Total IP attorneys: 60 Total attorneys nationwide: 377

7. HOWARD & HOWARD ATTORNEYS 450 W. Fourth St. Royal Oak 248-645-1483 howardandhoward.com Total IP attorneys: 40 Total attorneys nationwide: 141

10. FISHMAN STEWART 800 Tower Dr., Ste. 610 Troy 248-594-0600 fishstewip.com Total IP attorneys: 22 Total attorneys nationwide: 22

13. QUINN IP LAW 21500 Haggerty Rd., Ste. 300 Northville 248-380-9300 quinniplaw.com Total IP attorneys: 20 Total attorneys nationwide: 25

2. TAFT 27777 Franklin Rd., Ste. 2500 Southfield 248-351-3000 taftlaw.com Total IP attorneys: 92 Total attorneys nationwide: 1,100+

5. HARNESS IP 5445 Corporate Dr., Ste. 200 Troy 248-641-1600 harnessip.com Total IP attorneys: 45 Total IP attorneys nationwide: 93

8. YOUNG BASILE 3001 W. Big Beaver Rd., Ste. 624 Troy 248-649-3333 youngbasile.com.com Total IP attorneys: 39 Total attorneys nationwide: 46

11. MILLER CANFIELD 150 W. Jefferson Ave., Ste. 2500 Detroit 313-963-6420 millercanfield.com Total IP attorneys: 22 Total attorneys nationwide: 195

14. CARLSON, GASKEY AND OLDS 400 W. Maple Rd., Ste. 350 Birmingham 248-988-8360 cgolaw.com Total IP attorneys: 20 Total attorneys nationwide: 20

3. BROOKS KUSHMAN 150 W. Second St., Ste. 400N Royal Oak 248-358-4400 brookskushman.com Total IP attorneys: 60 Total attorneys nationwide: 64

6. DICKINSON WRIGHT 500 Woodward Ave., Ste. 4000 Detroit 313-223-3500 dickinson-wright.com Total IP attorneys: 40 Total attorneys nationwide: 532

9. CANTOR COLBURN 201 W. Big Beaver Rd., Ste. 1101 Troy 248-524-2300 cantorcolburn.com Total IP attorneys: 28 Total attorneys nationwide: 86

12. DYKEMA 400 Renaissance Center Detroit 313-568-6800 dykema.com Total IP attorneys: 21 Total attorneys nationwide: 388

15. DARROW MUSTAFA 41860 Six Mile Rd. Northville 248-864-5959 darrowmustafa.com Total IP attorneys: 20 Total attorneys nationwide: 28

16. BODMAN 1901 St. Antoine St. 6th Floor at Ford Field Detroit 313-259-7777 bodmanlaw.com Total IP attorneys: 19 Total attorneys nationwide: 182 17. REISING ETHINGTON 755 W. Big Beaver Rd., Ste. 1850 Troy 248-689-3500 reising.com Total IP attorneys: 19 Total attorneys nationwide: 19 Registered patent agent: 1 18. BUTZEL 150 W. Jefferson Ave., Ste. 100 Detroit 313-225-7000 butzel.com Total IP attorneys: 16 Total attorneys nationwide: 163 19. BEJIN BIENEMAN 2000 Town Center, Ste. 800 Southfield 313-528-4882 b2iplaw.com Total IP attorneys: 12 Total attorneys nationwide: 12 20. THE DOBRUSIN LAW FIRM 29 W. Lawrence St., Ste. 210 Pontiac 248-292-2920 patentco.com Total IP attorneys: 11 Total attorneys nationwide: 11 Registered patent agent: 1 Source: DBusiness research

DINSMORE AND SHOHL

DINSMORE AND SHOHL, TROY

86 DBUSINESS || September - October 2026

From the Top

2026-2027 Largest Conventions/Events in Metro Detroit (AS OF AUG. 13, 2026) EVENT

ARRIVAL

DEPARTURE

ATTENDANCE

FACILITY

Banana Ball: Firefighters vs. Party Animals

9/18/26

9/19/26

41,000+

Comerica Park

2026 Battery Show

10/12/26

10/15/26

8,300

Huntington Place

2026 Detroit Free Press Marathon

10/16/26

10/18/26

Downtown Detroit and Windsor

2026 AGMA Motion + Power Technology

10/21/26

10/23/26

3,500

Huntington Place

NFL Football on Thanksgiving: Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears

11/26/26

65,000

Ford Field

NCAA Basketball on Thanksgiving: Michigan State vs. Arkansas

11/26/26

22,000

Little Caesars Arena

2026 Mid-American Football Championship Game

12/5/26

17,500

Ford Field

2027 Detroit Auto Show

1/14/27

1/24/27

500,000

Huntington Place

2027 Presidents Day Volleyball Challenge

2/13/27

2/14/27

Huntington Place

NCAA Basketball: Duke vs. Gonzaga

2/20/27

20,332

Little Caesars Arena

2027 Career Development Conference

3/11/27

3/13/27

4,000

Huntington Place

2027 Detroit Tigers Home Opener

3/25/27

41,000+

Comerica Park

2027 NCAA Men’s Final Four

4/2/27

4/5/27

160,000

Ford Field

2027 All Things Detroit Day

4/11/27

Eastern Market

2027 WCX SAE World Congress

4/27/27

4/29/27

36,000

Vibe Credit Union Showplace, Novi

2027 Main Street Now Conference

5/3/27

5/5/27

Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center

2027 Movement Music Festival

5/29/27

5/31/27

100,000

Hart Plaza

2027 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix

6/4/27

6/6/27

150,000

Downtown Detroit

2027 Detroit Bookfest

7/18/27

20,000

Eastern Market

All attendance figures are estimates. Sources: Visit Detroit and individual organizations

September - October 2026 || DBUSINESS.COM 87

From the Top

Largest Meeting Venues in Metro Detroit VENUE

ADDRESS

CITY

TELEPHONE

WEB ADDRESS

SQ. FT.

Huntington Place

One Washington Blvd.

Detroit

313-877-8777

tcfcenterdetroit.com

2,400,000

Vibe Credit Union Showplace (formerly Suburban Collection Showplace)

46080 Grand River Ave.

Novi

248-513-4111

vibeshowplace.com

650,000

Comerica Park

2100 Woodward Ave.

Detroit

313-471-2000

313presents.com

325,213

Ford Field

2000 Brush St.

Detroit

313-262-2000

fordfield.com

200,000

The Parade Co.

9500 Mt. Elliott St., Studio A

Detroit

313-923-7400

theparade.org

200,000

Macomb Community College

14500 E. 12 Mile Rd.

Warren

586-445-7561

tinyurl.com/macomb-college-events

175,000

Little Caesars Arena

2645 Woodward Ave.

Detroit

313-471-7000

313presents.com

163,501

Detroit Opera/Michigan Opera Theatre

1526 Broadway St.

Detroit

313-961-3500

michiganopera.org

150,000

Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center

400 GM Renaissance Center

Detroit

313-568-8000

detroitmarriott.com

100,000

Macomb Community College, Sports & Expo Center

14500 E. 12 Mile Rd.

Warren

586-498-4198

macomb.edu/eventservices

75,000

MotorCity Casino-Hotel

2901 Grand River Ave.

Detroit

866-782-9622

motorcitycasino.com

67,000

Ford Piquette Avenue Plant/Model T Automotive Heritage Complex

461 Piquette Ave.

Detroit

313-872-8759

fordpiquetteplant.org

57,510

Saint John's Resort

44045 5 Mile Rd.

Plymouth Township

734-414-0600

saintjohnsresort.com

56,000

Eastern Market

2934 Russell St.

Detroit

313-833-9300

easternmarket.org

53,000

JW Marriott Detroit Water Square*

100 Steve Yzerman Drive

Detroit

313-444-1178

marriott.com

53,000

Detroit Symphony Orchestra at the Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center

3711 Woodward Ave.

Detroit

313-576-5100

dso.org

50,000

Detroit Institute of Arts

5200 Woodward Ave.

Detroit

313-833-7900

dia.org

46,940

GM Renaissance Center

100 GM Renaissance Center

Detroit

313-567-3126

gmrencen.com

41,000

The Henry Ford

20900 Oakwood Blvd.

Dearborn

313-982-6001

thf.org

38,950

The Detroit Zoo

8450 W. 10 Mile Rd.

Royal Oak

248-541-5717

detroitzoo.org

35,000

Westin Book Cadillac Detroit

1114 Washington Blvd.

Detroit

313-442-1600

bookcadillacwestin.com

35,000

Westin Hotel, Detroit Metropolitan Airport

2501 Worldgateway Place

Romulus

734-942-6500

tinyurl.com/westin-dtw

32,727

Macomb Center for the Performing Arts

44575 Garfield Rd.

Clinton Township

586-286-2141

macombcenter.com

32,600

Crowne Plaza, Detroit Downtown Riverfront

2 Washington Blvd.

Detroit

313-965-0200

tinyurl.com/cpdetroit

32,000

JD Racing

44225 W. 12 Mile Rd.

Novi

248-773-8777

jdracing.com

32,000

Atheneum Suite Hotel & Conference Center

1000 Brush St.

Detroit

313-962-2323

atheneumsuites.com

30,000

MGM Grand Detroit

1777 Third Ave.

Detroit

313-465-1777

mgmgranddetroit.com

30,000

*Opens January 2027 Source: Visit Detroit

88 DBUSINESS || September - October 2026

GROSSE POINTE GATHERING September 16, 6 to 9 p.m. corewellhealth.org/foundation/southeast/events/grosse-pointe-gathering

The third annual Grosse Pointe Gathering will be held at The War Memorial in Grosse Pointe Farms. The fundraising event beneﬁts heart, vascular, and breast care initiatives at the Corewell Health Beaumont Grosse Pointe Hospital. The evening will feature a cocktail reception, strolling dinner, and live entertainment.

DISCOVERY & IMPACT BENEFIT DINNER September 22, 6 to 9 p.m. teachmi.org/get-involved/discovery_and_impact_dinner

Teach For America Detroit’s inaugural Discovery & Impact Beneﬁt Dinner will bring together leaders from education, business, philanthropy, and civic life for an evening focused on Michigan’s students and schools. Guests will hear from nationally recognized education leaders Dr. Carey Wright and Kevin Huffman, celebrate the impact of outstanding educators and community champions, and explore how sustained investment in teacher talent can strengthen schools, improve student outcomes, and build a brighter future across Michigan for generations to come.

CHAMPIONS OF HEARTS

September 24, 6 to 10 p.m. varietydetroit.com

Variety the Children’s Charity presents Champions of Hearts on Sept. 24 at Andiamo Celebrity Showroom to support children with unique and special needs. The legendary Michigan State University head men’s basketball coach Tom Izzo will deliver an incredible message. This inspiring evening celebrates the 45th anniversary of the Variety Myoelectric Center, which provides state-of-the-art, lifelike electronic prosthetic limbs to children with upper-limb differences. For details, visit varietydetroit.com.

2026 ANNUAL CELEBRATION GALA

September 25, 6:30 to 10 p.m. ccsem.org/events/ac26

Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan (CCSEM) will host its 2026 Annual Celebration Gala on Friday, Sept. 25, at Saint John’s Resort in Plymouth. The evening honors the volunteers, parishes, and partners whose works of mercy strengthen communities across the region. Guests will enjoy dinner, awards, and the annual Fund for the Mission appeal supporting CCSEM programs. Tickets and sponsorships are available online. Catholic Charities serves people of all faiths.

NIGHT OF DREAMS September 25, 5:30 to 10 p.m. dcofmi.org/nod

Dream Centers of Michigan will host its 12th annual Night of Dreams at M1 Concourse in Pontiac. Business, civic, and community leaders will gather for an evening featuring fast-track rides, a strolling dinner, live entertainment, a silent auction, and inspiring stories of transformation. Proceeds support the organization’s education, housing, economic empowerment, and community engagement programs serving children, families and individuals in Pontiac and surrounding communities.

FERRARIS ON THE RUNWAY: DETROIT September 26, 4 to 9 p.m. tickettailor.com/events/prancinghearts/2096959

Ferraris on the Runway is a luxury automotive and fashion experience set against the backdrop of private aviation, beneﬁting Make-A-Wish Michigan and Corporate Angel Network. Produced by Prancing Hearts, the Ferrari Club of America, and a dedicated leadership team including Bobby Mueller, Jake Doman, Gina Wheaton, and Alex Lawrosky of Wool & Linen, the evening unites exotic automobiles, luxury fashion, philanthropy, and community leaders for an unforgettable experience while raising critical funds and awareness.

NIGHT AT THE VILLAGE October 15, 6 to 9 p.m. kintsugivillage.org

Join Kintsugi Village’s first annual fundraiser and celebrate the center’s first anniversary with an unforgettable evening of exceptional food, live music, art, and immersive experiences! Explore the village after hours, wander the gardens, and discover the campus in a new light. Your ticket supports curious young learners, artists, makers, and a thriving community while helping shape what’s next. Join Night at the Village to celebrate what the nonprofit has built and the future your support is creating. ADV E RTI SE ME NT

Closing Bell

Bread-Winner

Harris Machus survived capture in World War II, returned home to take over the family bakery, and brought fine dining to Birmingham and beyond.

90 DBUSINESS || September - October 2026

FRONT OF HOUSE In the early 1940s, Elaine and Harris O. Machus started a bakery in Birmingham and, over time, operated 16 restaurants, including the Machus Red Fox (shown) along Telegraph Road in Bloomfield Township (now Andiamo Italia). Later, in 1987, the couple’s son, Robert, oversaw Machus Enterprises. Today, the restaurants and bakeries that revolutionized confectionaries and fine dining are all closed.

By 1969, Machus Enterprises hummed along with its restaurants and bakery shops, employing 400 people and grossing $3 million annually. Machus served as president of the Michigan Restaurant Association in 1970. He also presided in terms at the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and the Lions Club, and he was a director of Birmingham Federal Savings Bank. “My God — for the peace and quiet of a German prison camp,” Machus would tell his wife. The restaurant expansion program continued through the 1970s with the Machus Sly Fox in Birmingham, Machus Plaza One in Rochester, and Mr. Mac’s Stable and the Paddock, a Dearborn restaurant. Foxys restaurants were located in Troy and Rochester. If Harris and Elaine Machus had a bête noire, it was from the events of July 30, 1975, when Jimmy Hoffa disappeared, having last been seen in the parking lot of the Red Fox in Bloomfield Township. A City of Birmingham podcast records the resulting proprietorial anguish. “Machus hated the notoriety that Hoffa’s disappearance brought, worrying that people would think he ran restaurants for gangsters and that it would tank his reputation,” the podcast observed. Instead, notoriety made the Red Fox a destination, bringing in new patrons. Meanwhile, the chain grew further. In a nod to Elaine’s hometown, the Hungry Fox (1976) opened in Jacobson’s Saginaw location, part of the “superblock.” A tribute by the Castle Museum of Saginaw Valley History described the Hungry Fox as a “moody, dimly lit room (that) featured dark paneling and deep red leather booths … As this was the ’70s, the waitstaff was insistent on using over-scaled peppermills to pepper salads.” Machus Enterprises also operated Le Buffet Café on the department store’s second floor. This “frothy confection of white and hot pink” was known for its Seven Layer Salad. Machus operated the Saginaw restaurants until the mid1980s, and later ran the Palace Grille at the Palace of Auburn Hills. No restaurant is operating today. When Elaine passed away in 1999, she and Harris had been married 65 years. Harris was 92 years old when he died in 2001. His legacy is all the greater because he narrowly escaped death in a tank in 1943, endured captivity, and brought the Purple Heart and a Silver Star back to Birmingham.

BIRMINGHAM UNCOVERED

o escape his German captors in October of 1943, Capt. Harris O. Machus flung himself from a moving POW train in Italy. The Michigan State University graduate’s subsequent 18-month odyssey involved recapture, a camp in Germany, another escape, and a perilous Eastern European sojourn before he shipped for home from Egypt. During that time, Machus was listed as missing in action. When he finally telegrammed home, his young wife, Elaine, joyfully spread the news throughout Birmingham. Harris soon returned to the town of 12,000 people where his late father, Hans, had sold pastries from a pushcart. Hans died in 1941. Harris and Elaine had opened a bakery in Birmingham just as Army service beckoned, and she and her mother-in-law, Kathleen, kept it going during the war. Regular assistance came from a family friend, the future restauranteur Bill Knapp. “I learned to love Birmingham,” Elaine told the Farmington Observer. “The people were wonderful to me.” After Machus rejoined his wife, the bakery moved to 160 W. Maple Rd. in 1947. Prosperity increased with the 1950 arrival, nearby, of Jacobson’s department store. Adding a lunch counter made sales take off. The bakery grew into a full-service restaurant called Machus 160 West Maple. The Machus Adams Square Cafeteria opened in 1965, and then Machus Red Fox was established on a former hunting grounds along Telegraph Road, south of Maple Road. A Lansing Red Fox was still to come.

BY RONALD AHRENS

A DETROIT SUCCESS STORY SINCE 1995 PENINSULA CAPITAL PARTNERS L.L.C. is a respected private equity investment firm that has always proudly called Detroit its home. Since its founding in 1995, Peninsula has raised eight investment partnerships totaling $2.4 billion, each providing customized capital solutions to middle-market businesses seeking funding to complete acquisitions, support growth, buyback stock or address other special situations requiring junior capital. We pioneered the development of a new, more flexible investment approach in the private equity industry and are recognized as a leader in our market, earning us the patronage of major institutional investors both in the United States and Europe. Our unique investment approach combines elements of buyout, private debt and growth capital funds, allowing us the rare flexibility to craft tailored capital solutions for businesses, including both debt and equity, and either as a controlling or non-controlling investor. Since 1995, we have closed over 150 platform investments, about half of which have been in partnership with independent sponsor groups. Please keep us in mind the next time you require a junior capital provider; we’ll bring our Detroit can-do attitude to help make your next deal another success story.

P L E ASE AL LOW US TO SH AR E O UR CAP I TA L STRUCTURING EXPERTISE WITH YOU — 31 3.237.51 00 | WWW.PENINSUL A FUNDS. C O M This is not a solicitation to invest in any limited partnership managed by Peninsula Capital Partners, LLC.