Catalyst - May

Local Businesses Form Michigan Hispanic Contractors Association PAGE 14

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FOR THOSE REDESIGNING DEVELOPING & CREATING A NEW DETROIT MAY 2019

Childhood friends, now business partners building communities and empowering lives through

REAL ESTATE

DEVELOPMENT

PAGE 4

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CONTENTS 8 UAW-Ford

Technical Training Center Transformed To Train Hourly Workers In Advanced Manufacturing Technologies

10

With Council approval of FCA project, Mayor Duggan turns attention to getting

Detroiters into plant jobs

14 Leveraging Success

Through Association

Local Businesses Form Michigan Hispanic Contractors Association

catalyst is brought to you in partnership with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation

catalyst www.catalystdetroit.com Powered by Real Times Media

Tanisha Leonard President RTM360

Editor Patreice A. Massey Designer Raymond Allen

Staff Writers Branden Hunter Trevor W. Coleman

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Childhood friends, now business partners building communities and empowering lives through

G

By Donald James

rowing up in Toledo, Ohio several decades ago, best friends Clifford A. Brown and Christopher E. Earley were mesmerized by the majestic Victorian homes in the Historic Old West End of the city.

The two youngsters, however, were perplexed that some homes were barely livable and reflected a vast economic contrast of the people who called this historic community home. The two youngsters, at the age of 12, made a pact that someday they would create something that would empower inner-city communities and the people who lived in such neighborhoods.

Today, the friends are co-founders and business associates of Woodborn Partners, a full-service real estate development company established in Detroit ten years ago. The company also focuses on financial analysis and modeling, and development advisory services. Woodborn operates on four core principles: paying attention to details, going above and beyond, delivering results on time, and doing the right thing. Brown serves as managing partner; Earley is Woodborn’s investor partner.

The name Woodborn, according to Brown, was established because every street in the Historic Old West End neighborhood in Toledo ended in wood, i.e., Scottwood, Robinwood, Parkwood, Collingwood, etc.

“

Chris and I believe if we can build lives and focus on the development of communities while remaining disciplined and understanding the core fundamentals of the business, wealth will come.

”

“Woodborn is a constant reminder of where we come from and what we are striving to accomplish,” said Brown. “Chris and I believe if we can build lives and focus on the development of communities while remaining disciplined and understanding the core fundamentals of the business, wealth will come.”

The business partners, under the Woodborn Partners banner, are currently involved in numerous real estate projects in downtown Detroit, Midtown, along the Riverfront, and in five other neighborhoods in the Motor City.

Woodborn’s first project was The Scott at Brush Park. The $63 million project, completed in partnership with Broder Sachse Real Estate Services, Inc., is located just north of downtown Detroit. The Scott at Brush Park is a 199-unit mixed-use development that features studios and one, two and three bedroom apartments, complete with a 326-vehicle parking garage. There is also 15,000 square-feet of retail space.

The company is also proud of its work on The Coe at West Village,

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located at 1462 Van Dyke on the city’s east side. Brown describes the relatively new development as a 12-unit mixed use/mixed-income development consisting of studios and one and two bedroom apartments and townhomes. The development also includes more than 1,200-square feet of retail space.

Among the other real estate development projects that Woodborn is currently working on, Pullman Parc stands out. It is a distinctive residential community development in the surrounds of Lafayette Park, just east of downtown Detroit. When completed in early 2021, Pullman Parc will feature 81 townhomes, Parc homes and corner flats, as well as the Renato at Pullman Parc, which will consist of 180 refined apartments.

“Our goal is to develop more than just buildings,” said Brown. “We want to build lives by creating environments of success. We seek to provide urban communities with a superior level of planned development through a holistic approach to working with all stakeholders to improve neighborhoods and ensuring that all parties’ needs are met.”

Empowering urban communities and its people is the common thread that has been woven through the minds and actions of Brown and Earley, stemming from their childhood days in Toledo. And even though both young friends had dreams of one day building communities and empowering people, their paths of how to get there went separate ways before reuniting to form a real estate development company.

Brown went to The Ohio State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and an MBA, with concentrations in corporate & investment finance and real estate & marketing strategy. Professionally, he has amassed more than twenty years in real estate, corporate and investment, and finance and banking.

Earley’s post-Toledo days led to him earning a bachelor’s degree in corporate finance from Morehouse College. He subsequently received an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin, with a focus in finance & real estate. His professional portfolio contains more than twenty-two years of real estate experience in both the public and private sectors.

With vast professional and educational experiences between the two friends, Brown and Earley are a formidable real estate development team, rooted in the common desire to help empower inner-city neighborhoods and the residents who reside there. Yet, both men understand that their roles are to enhance what’s already there.

“We want to be involved in transformational real estate,” Brown said.

“Our goal is to be the national leader in transformative urban real estate projects by 2030.”

Brown adds.

“We are not Christopher Columbus; we’re not discovering anything new,” he says. “What we are discovering are these amazing neighborhoods and these amazing people with these amazing stories. All we are trying to be are good partners in empowering them through real estate development.”

To learn more about Woodborn Partners’ real estate development projects, log on to www.woodbornpartners.com.

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The newly transformed UAW-Ford Technical Training Center is located in Lincoln Park, MI.

UAW-Ford

Technical Training Center Transformed To Train Hourly Workers In Advanced Manufacturing Technologies

By Patreice A. Massey

On Wednesday, May 22, 2019, Ford unveiled the newly transformed UAW-Ford Technical Training Center (TTC), designed to provide state-of-the-art technology training to hourly employees from Ford manufacturing plants.

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Martina Allen, an apprentice at the Technical Training Center, mills a hole as part of her hands-on training.

Ford invested $35 million in the TTC, completely renovating the facility, which is an important move in its efforts to leverage advanced manufacturing and improve operational fitness. The TTC, located in Lincoln Park, Mich., is at the heart of training for UAW-Ford skilled trades apprentices, jobs that are critical in assisting Ford’s already highly efficient plants perform even better.

“We are embracing advanced technologies in all of our manufacturing plants, helping us to become more efficient and produce even higher-quality vehicles for our customers,” said Gary Johnson, Ford chief officer, Global Manufacturing and Labor Affairs. “The UAW-Ford Technical Training Center allows our people to support technologies and equipment critical to keeping our plants running and provides opportunities for hourly employees

to use their intelligence, skills and experience to recommend additional improvements.”

The UAW and Ford replaced the infrastructure, manufacturing technology and equipment inside the existing building. To ensure the technology and training supports Ford’s advanced manufacturing vision, responsibility for the TTC falls under the leadership of Ford’s Advanced Manufacturing team.

The Advanced Manufacturing team helped identify manufacturing technologies used every day in Ford plants and important for skilled trades training, including 3D printers, collaborative robots, vision systems, drones and much more.

“This investment continues the job growth outlined during 2015 bargaining,” said Rory Gamble, UAW-Ford Vice President. “It is important that we are constantly training our UAW members, not only to operate the new machinery on the line but to keep it up and running. This will help with job security for our members both now and in the future.”

The skilled trades joint ap-

Khory McClellan and fellow apprentices’ study programmable logic controllers in class at the Technical Training Center. prenticeship program, which is housed at the TTC, dates back to 1941. Since that time, nearly 30,000 journeypersons have graduated from the program. The UAW-Ford Joint Apprenticeship Program

takes between three and four years to complete.

After passing several required courses for entry, acceptance to the Joint Apprenticeship Program is based on employee interest,

a measure of employee performance history and their seniority. Once an apprentice is accepted, they must complete a minimum of 576 classroom hours, a minimum of 8,000 shop hours, plus several assessment exams.

Employees are paid for their time in the classroom as well as in the plant.

“Before entering this program, I worked as an assembler at Cleveland Engine Plant. This apprenticeship will give me the opportunity to work as a millwright after graduation,” said Ventura Robinson, apprentice at the TTC. “My mom and I work together at the plant, and I knew that the opportunity was so good that I told my mom about it. Now she’s training to become a skilled tradesperson and is as excited as I am about the future.”

Ventura Robinson and Michelle Fountaine, daughter and mother apprentices at the Technical Training Center, train to complete their millwright skilled trades apprenticeship.

Robinson and her mother Michelle Fountaine began their apprenticeship work last fall. They hope to complete the program together in approximately four years.

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With Council approval of FCA project, Mayor Duggan turns attention to getting

Detroiters into plant jobs

The Detroit City Council has voted to approve the final agreements necessary to allow Fiat Chrysler Automobiles to invest $2.5 billion into a new assembly plant in Detroit, upgrade their Jefferson North Assembly Plant and create 4,950 new middle-class union jobs in the city. Construction on the new plant is expected to begin this summer with the hiring process expected to begin in July for Detroit residents and in August for the general public.

FCA North America /Twitter

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To land the first new assembly plant in nearly 30 years in Detroit and the first US auto assembly plant in 11 years, the City assembled 215 acres of land and completed a community benefits process that resulted in a $35 million package of neighborhood based investments and improvements.

“I’d like to thank our partners on City Council and members of the Neighborhood Advisory Council for this project for their diligence throughout this process. I’d also like to thank Mike Manley and FCA for their vote of confidence in our city’s workforce and their commitment to give Detroit residents the opportunity to be considered first in the application process for the life of this new assembly plant.”

Detroiters can get info for job application process at detroitatwork.com Questions and answers about jobs at the new FCA facility are provided below.

during the DETROIT only early access application window.

Why do I need to register through Detroit at Work and attend an information session? Why can’t I just apply?

Detroit at Work is partnering with FCA to offer dedicated application, interview and job readiness support to Detroit residents in securing employment at the new facility. Giving Detroiters early access is part of the development agreement between the City of Detroit and FCA. Anyone can apply for the FCA jobs after the 4 week Detroit-only early access window.

Further detail about information sessions, dates, and locations, as well as pre-registration for Detroiters to apply early will be added soon so please check back regularly.

Please note information and updates are subject to change as more information becomes available and is finalized.

How many jobs are available?

Once the facility is running at full capacity, there will be 4,950 new jobs.

The FCA jobs will be filled over the next 18 months. Additional job openings and timing will be communicated at Detroit at Work at a later date.

Do Detroiters get to apply early for the FCA jobs?

Yes. When FCA opens the application process there will be a four week window available for Detroiters to apply early, starting with Detroit Veterans, Detroit Returning Citizens, and residents of impact zone ZIP codes 48213, 48214 and 48215. You must live in the City of Detroit to apply during this time. The application time frame dates for Detroiters have not been finalized yet. Detroit at Work will post this information once finalized.

For a Detroit resident to apply in the early in the early time frame, they will need to: Register through Detroit at Work (detroitatwork.com) – Information Coming Soon Attend a Detroit at Work Information session – Information Coming Soon on dates and locations and how to sign up.

Meet FCA employment qualifications

– More details available at Information Sessions The Detroit at Work/FCA Information Sessions will begin mid-June. Information available soon on dates, locations and times on Detroit at Work. com.

When will the new FCA plant open?

The first employee start dates for new employees are expected in late 2019 or early 2020.

What job opportunities are available?

FCA indicated there will be 4,218 Production Operators, 345 Skilled Trades workers, and 387 Professional/Supervisory employees.

What kinds of Skilled Trades Workers will be needed?

Skilled trades workers include electricians, plumbers, laborers, carpenters, and others.

What are the requirements for a Skilled Trades worker?

Skilled Trades workers are required to have a journeyman/woman’s card.

What is the early application order for Detroiters?

The early application order is as follows: UAW employees that were laid off or who are temporary employees at one of the sites now DETROIT residents who reside in the Impact Area (48213, 48214, 48215), and veterans and returning citizens, All other Detroit residents Only Detroiters who register at detroitatwork.com will receive a link to apply

What are the starting wages for the FCA opportunities?

The wages for full-time production positions start at $17.00 per hour with scheduled annual increases up to $29.94 per hour.

The wages for temporary employees start at $15.78 per hour with increases up to $19.28 per hour.

Skilled Trades employees earn $34.72 per hour.

What are the starting wages for the FCA opportunities?

The wages for full-time production positions start at $17.00 per hour with scheduled annual increases up to $29.94 per hour.

The wages for temporary employees start at $15.78 per hour with increases up to $19.28 per hour.

Skilled Trades employees earn $34.72 per hour.

Can I apply if I have a criminal background?

Yes. FCA will hire the right applicant.

The results of a background check will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis

by FCA hiring management. It is critical that all candidates be honest on the application. The number one reason FCA applicants with a background are rejected are because they failed to disclose the conviction, not because of the conviction itself. Be honest about your background. It will not automatically disqualify you.

Do I need a High School Diploma/ GED?

Yes. To be eligible to apply, all applicants must have a high school diploma or equivalent (e.g., GED).

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Leveraging Success

Through Association Local Businesses Form Michigan Hispanic Contractors Association

I

By Trevor W. Coleman

n 1979, Frank Venegas Jr. bought a winning raffle ticket at a Livingston County builder’s event and was rewarded with a brand-new Cadillac. The young aspiring entrepreneur knew exactly what he was going to do with his winnings: enjoy it for a minute…then invest it with the hopes of turning it into something bigger.

After enjoying his new ride for about a week, he sold the car for $12,000 and used the proceeds as seed money to fund his first business.

Forty years later, from the fruits of that seed money and the sweat of his brow, Venegas started a humble two-man business with his brother. The business began with the duo erecting steel cross beams for homes and small commercial buildings and eventually grew into an international enterprise called the Ideal Group.

The Ideal Group is a sprawling industrial conglomerate of eight core businesses located on the grounds of the old Cadillac Clark Street assembly plant in southwest Detroit. It employs approximately 600 people with operations in seven states as well as Ontario, Canada. Its revenue has exceeded $300 million a year through various avenues including the sales of such unique products as bollard covers for ATMs, inventing and building safety barriers for auto factories, installing aluminum railings inside Ford Field, constructing buildings throughout

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the Midwest and managing inventory in major manufacturing facilities.

Today, Venegas, chairman of the Ideal Group, and his son Jesse, vice president, are using their acquired knowledge and leverage that comes with such success to assist in other ways.

As co-founders and charter members of the newly formed Michigan Hispanic Contractors Association (MIHCA), they help organize and nurture other Hispanic businesses in Michigan.

During a recent kick-off event at his headquarters, Frank Venegas Jr. praised the MI-HCA as an advocacy organization dedicated to increasing participation of member contractors and promoting growth and sustainability. He urged other large businesses to mentor by building relationships with small businesses, helping them grow and advance through education, training and investments.

His son, Jesse, noted that the Ideal Group was one of the founding members of the Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (MHCC), which was started 30 years ago.

He pointed out that Hispanics in Michigan have always had strong participation in the construction industry but weren’t necessarily orga-

nized well enough to leverage their true potential.

Now, leaders of the chamber feel it is time to organize the MI-HCA in order to optimize business opportunities for these contractors and help inspire growth in other areas, he said.

“The Southwest Detroit Business Association, and MHCC all came together and said, ‘Hey, we have a lot of small construction businesses and people that are in construction that are starting to become their own contractors…and they’re not just doing residential,” Jesse Venegas said. “They’re doing office buildings; they’re doing restaurants…and now in the last 10-15 years, a lot more of them are incorporated and actually making a run

at commercial construction on larger scale products and projects.”

He said this meant a lot of contractors were ready to go to the next level.

“We [noticed] there’s a lot of needs for us…and Southwest Detroit is getting a lot of development. It’s the perfect time to do what we can to help improve the entire skill set of all of our contractors,” Jesse said. “And so, we have a couple of large contractors in the Michigan Hispanic Chamber that can help mentor some of the smaller ones.”

About 57 companies have joined the MI-HCA so far, and the goal is to get close to 100 members by the end of the year.

Armando Ojeda, execu-

tive director of the MHCC, said many of the members work for the automotive industry, which does a lot of construction.

“And we have people who do construction, millwright work, rigging work, or do construction work in other industries outside of automotive…They are coming from the Southwest Detroit Business Association and are smaller businesses with one- or two-person sub. And they aspire to do industrial work,” he said. “Our position is the larger contractors should provide opportunities for development for the smaller Hispanic contractors and mentor them in the process so they can become capable and effective suppliers to larger contractors.”

Arthur Jemison, chief of Services and Infrastructure for the City of Detroit, also attended the kick-off event at the Ideal Group.

He encouraged contractors, whose offices are in Detroit, to get certified as minority, women or veteran business enterprises to take advantage of all the contracting opportunities in the city as it undergoes a development boom.

“And if you aren’t headquartered in Detroit, then move your business here!”

He said.

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