Crain's Detroit Business, Aug. 28, 2017 issue by Crain's Detroit Business

Why one Cool Place to Work always has something to dance about There are highly sought-after companies known for their great workplace cultures, and there are companies revered as needle-moving market leaders in their respective industries. But how many can say they have the complete package? United Shore can. The 2,200-person mortgage company has a lot to dance about at its weekly 3 o’clock dance parties. Whether it’s having one of the top workplace cultures in the country, or being the clear front-runner in the wholesale mortgage business, they have plenty to celebrate. United Shore’s wholesale division, United Wholesale Mortgage, has been the No.1 wholesale lender in the nation for two years running – and looks to be getting even stronger. But why the dancing? Because it makes their people happy. And they’ll tell you – all their success starts with happy people. United Shore is among the 100 Cool Places to Work in Michigan for 2017, part of a special report that e after a e 8 f t ee e

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What they had to say…

We talked to various United Shore team members to find out what the company’s “Be You Here” messaging means to them.

be original here

be innovative here

“For a company with over 2,000 people, I really feel like I have the ability to stand out. The company is constantly evolving and is very receptive to implementing new ideas that come from every corner of the building.”

“I get to build proprietary technology that shapes the way mortgages are done around the country. It’s exciting to build things from scratch and revolutionize an entire business and industry. Tech people like me thrive on that challenge.”

Sara K., Underwriter II

Jagminder B., Business Analyst III

be happy here

be recognized here

“You can feel the positive energy everyone has and it’s contagious. We prioritize events, prizes, surprises, perks and so on to make our experience here enjoyable. It’s about more than production numbers.”

“It’s awesome to work at a company that values its people. Whether it’s a company-wide shout-out, being awarded a Shinola watch or receiving one of our Pillar Awards, it feels good to be recognized for your efforts and accomplishments.”

Lavon Y., Team Leader, Engagement

ReJaun F., IT Team Lead

be passionate here

be family here

“This is the first place that I’ve worked where I’m excited to come to work everyday. I love knowing that I make a difference and that years of hard work and passion for this company has brought us to a point that none of us could have imagined.”

“There’s a lot of effort made to join our real families with our work family. Whether it’s the trick-or-treating event we host, our company fair or simply having my kids visit for lunch, it’s nice to be part of a big family.”

Kareem C., Account Executive Sponsored Content

Chuck O., Lead Building Engineer

be work-life balanced here

be giving here

“I love that I can grind during the day and then leave my work at work. My nights and weekends are mine! I can work a little later, but that’s my choice. The same can’t be said at every company.”

“Our Pay It Forward program is amazing. The fact that I can earn points for my performance at work and translate them into donations to charitable causes of my choice, all on the company’s dime, is really gratifying.”

Rocco V., Team Leader, Senior Account Executive

Kaylan G., Administrative Assistant

be groovy here

be challenged here

“I never thought I’d work at a company where we literally stop what we’re doing for 15-20 minutes and hit the dance ﬂoor. I didn’t know that was a thing. It’s an amazing way to have fun, meet new people, and re-energize for the rest of the day.”

“It’s exciting to work for a company that prioritizes being the best in the country at what it does, because it drives me to do the same. I’m given the opportunity to be creative and proactive, and play a big role in making the company successful.”

Chris B., 4506 Specialist - Lending Support

Bobby C., Account Executive

be healthy here

be coached here

“We’ve got a super nice fitness center, dedicated ‘UFit’ healthy food options in the cafeteria and an in-house doctor’s office so it’s easy to schedule check-ups. I can work hard, have fun and take care of myself at the same time.”

“Looking at my skill set when I started here to where I am today is like a night and day difference. From day one, there’s a focus to give everyone ongoing training and one-on-one coaching to help us reach our potential.”

Todd S., Senior Graphic Designer

Anna S., CAD Analyst

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Take it from the top As the leader of one of Michigan’s coolest and fastest-growing workplaces, United Shore President/CEO Mat Ishbia is one of the nation’s best when it comes to developing a flagship company that serves as a model for cultural and business excellence. Mat shared some thoughts with us on a few topics that have positioned United Shore as one of the top workplaces in the country and home of the No.1 wholesale mortgage lender, United Wholesale Mortgage. On team and culture… The team with the best players usually wins. We recruit the best people to join the company, coach them up with a lot of training so they can be the best version of themselves, and then treat them so well that they hopefully never want to leave. On United Shore’s ‘Firm 40’ philosophy… It’s our way of saying come in and grind for eight hours a day, and then get out of here and go be with your family and friends. Our team members are always going to have their evenings and weekends. Sure, people can work 60 to 70 hours in a week, but that’s not sustainable long-term. If you work over 60 hours in a week, you’re going to get burned out at some point. On growth opportunities… Work ethic and attitude drive success more than knowledge or talent. We coach peoples’ technical skills, train them on being a leader and then promote from within. I don’t need to go out and make headline-grabbing hires for leadership positions because we have talented people here who naturally grow into those roles. I don’t care about an outsider’s background or credentials, I care about what someone does here (at United Shore). On finding and retaining talent… Perks and amenities are popular and make for a memorable experience, but companies have to deliver on “real” things as well. People stay at companies that treat them right, develop them and give them an opportunity to advance their career. Putting greens, basketball courts and dance parties help make a fun culture, but people stay at companies because they can grow and take their careers to the next level. On his biggest pet peeve as a leader… If two people are walking toward each other in a hallway and they don’t look up at each other, don’t smile and don’t say hello. I can’t stand that. Just be friendly to people. That’s what we do here. On fully embracing employees… You have to get to know your people. Learn from them. Gain a better understanding of their “why” for working at your company and then deliver that. I want United Shore to be more than a job, more than a place to work. I want our people to feel happy, fulfilled and part of a family coming here every day. Sponsored Content

And the best is yet to come… Next summer, United Shore is moving its headquarters to a 600,000-square foot building and 60-acre campus in Pontiac. And more space comes with better perks: · Starbucks with indoor/outdoor cafe, wired with Wi-Fi · Full-size indoor basketball court, plus Zumba and yoga · Large fitness center with full-size locker rooms · Massage rooms and full-time massage therapist · Outdoor volleyball court · Indoor/outdoor putting greens · Full-service food court · Outdoor dining patio · Game room, featuring arcade games, pool and Ping-Pong · Outdoor sunken amphitheater · Convenience store · Production studio for filming, recording and editing · Primary care doctor’s office · Bicycle-sharing program with bike and jogging paths · Escape room

AUGUST 28 - SEPTEMBER 3, 2017

Sift aims to make skill-search easy.

Why Michigan should worry about the creep of workplace automation.

Page 3

Economy

The incredible shrinking workforce

More give up on looking for work, bad news for Michigan’s economy By Lindsay VanHulle

Crain’s Detroit Business/Bridge Magazine

It’s generally seen as good news when the state’s unemployment rate goes down. Michigan’s unemployment rate fell again in July to 3.7 percent and has been at its lowest point since 2000, according to the state department that tracks it. That means companies are hiring more people. Right? Not exactly.

“Michigan’s unemployment rate decreased slightly in July. However, for the third consecutive month, the drop in the rate reflected fewer people in the state’s labor market actively seeking employment.” Jason Palmer, director of the state’s Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives

An underlying problem is that people are giving up looking for work. In Michigan, people out of the workforce are disproportionately teenagers between the ages of 16 and

19, and adults who don’t have a bachelor’s degree, according to American Community Survey estimates. The trend is not good news. Its causes are diverse: a lingering hangover from the Great Recession and shifting

cultural attitudes toward teenagers working. It is also a symptom of a gap between the skills that would-be workers have and the skills needed for the jobs employers can’t fill. From June to July, 7,000 fewer

Michiganders were unemployed. The number of unemployed residents has decreased for five straight months, according to the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget. Yet they didn’t all find jobs. Total employment fell by 18,000 between June and July, and another 24,000 people left the labor force altogether. SEE WORKFORCE, PAGE 31

Real Estate

Blind vendor law complicates leasing puzzle

By Kirk Pinho kpinho@crain.com

Joseph Bailey was down on his luck, living in his van when he got a shot at success through a small state-run program. Now, the 36-year-old owns and operates Joe Joe’s Bistro in Cadillac Place in the New Center area, selling about $600

By the numbers Michigan blind population: 230,000. National blind population, 16 and older: 7.36 million. Percent employed: 40.4 of working-age people. Percent below poverty level: 30.5. Source: National Federation for the Blind

a day in food and drink to 1,600 office workers and others in the stateowned building. “This program saved my life,” said Bailey, who is legally blind as a result of congenital glaucoma that claimed the sight of his right eye and, eventually, will claim the left. Yet in the enormous, 1.4 millionsquare-foot building, the majority of the retail space sits empty, save for a hair salon, a Subway sandwich shop and a women’s clothing store. As the New Center area heats up with development and new retail and restaurant activity, Cadillac Place has largely been left out, partly because of a state law requiring that dining and concession options in state-owned buildings be owned by blind people. SEE BLIND, PAGE 29

KIRK PINHO/CRAIN’S DETRTOIT BUSINESS

Joseph Bailey owns and operates Joe Joe’s Bistro in Cadillac Place in the New Center area of Detroit.

INSIDE: CRAIN’S LISTS

Largest Southeast Michigan employers

Largest minorityowned businesses Page 27

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MICHIGAN BRIEFS

INSIDE

From staff and wire reports. Find the full stories at crainsdetroit.com

Lear to build plant in Flint’s Buick City complex

Southfield-based Lear Corp. has received a grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corp. to build a $30 million plant at the old Buick City complex in Flint. The board of the Michigan Strategic Fund last Tuesday approved the performance-based grant of $4.35 million. Lear wants to build a 156,000-square-foot assembly and subassembly plant where it would create 435 jobs, according to an MEDC memo. The plant would produce automotive seating for a fullsize truck program. The Flint location is in competition with Mexico, where overall costs are lower, for the subassembly operation, the memo said. The city of Flint offered a tax abatement to reduce property taxes by 50 percent. Lear will receive the funds over two years when the company reaches certain milestones. The grant will allow for $10,000 per Flint resident job and $5,000 per non-Flint resident job created. The enormous Buick City complex dates back more than a century. It was surrendered by General Motors Co. in its 2009 bankruptcy. Lear is buying the site from the RACER

Trust, formed to liquidate GM’s surplus real estate as part of the bankruptcy. “Having Lear in the neighborhood will mean hundreds of new, quality jobs prioritized for Flint residents, ensuring that more folks in my town will have the opportunity to get a leg up,” Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich, D–Flint, said in a written statement.

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PGA Tour Champions coming to Grand Blanc

Professional golf is returning to Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club in Grand Blanc next year with a new PGA Tour Champions tournament called the Ally Challenge. The senior players tournament will take place Sept. 10-16, 2018, the tour and Detroit-based sponsor Ally Financial Inc. announced last week. The tournament has an agreement to run annually at Warwick Hills for three years, according to a news release. Ally Financial declined to disclose costs associated with its sponsorship, spokeswoman Sari Jensen said in an email. The Grand Blanc club previously hosted The PGA Tour’s Buick Open for years, last in 2009. It was the last time a PGA Tour regular event was played in the state, preceded by the 2008 PGA Championship at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield

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MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY

A $1 million gift to the Eli Broad College of Business at Michigan State University will create a virtual-learning platform for students focusing on advanced business analytics.

Township, which was the last major men’s rotating event. The Ally Challenge is among the tour’s regular 2018 season events and will be viewable on the Golf Channel. Tournaments for Charity, a nonprofit owned by Ohio-based HNS Sports Group, is the host charity organization and will manage the Ally

Challenge, said tournament director Chris Coffman. About 78 PGA Tour Champions players will vie for a $2 million purse.

EY gift to fund virtual learning at MSU

A $1 million gift to the Eli Broad College of Business at Michigan

WEEK ON THE WEB

State University will create a virtual-learning platform for students focusing on advanced business analytics, The Associated Press reported. The gift from financial services business EY will establish the EY Analytics Collaboratory. The funds will support curriculum development, including live cases and customized course materials, as well as developing a cloud-based virtual learning infrastructure. Students from the East Lansing school may enroll in courses to complement those offered in Broad’s master’s in business analytics program. University President Lou Anna K. Simon said in a statement it will be an “extraordinary learning opportunity for current and future Spartans.” EY’s partnerships with Michigan State include the Ernst & Young Endowment Fund for the Department of Accounting & Information Systems that was established in 1995.

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Economy

Automation nation?

The disappearing cashier — and why Michigan should worry By Alexandra Schmidt Bridge Magazine

“No lines, no checkouts, no registers.” That may sound like shopping heaven for busy consumers. But no registers also means no cashiers. No cashiers and 92,860 people in Michigan lose their jobs Last December, Amazon unveiled “Amazon Go,” a convenience store that uses new technology to track what shoppers take off the shelves, so they can leave the store without using a cashier. Cameras and deep learning algorithms allow the store to automatically charge shoppers’ online accounts for what they put in their bag. While store cashiers are nowhere near extinct, the automation of labor is silently wiping out thousands of existing jobs across Michigan — and it’s poised to grow. Analysis by Bloomberg of data from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics suggests that jobs with the

highest risk of automation are lower-paying service jobs. Some restaurants, for instance, have begun to phase out wait staff and cooks in favor of iPads and kiosks. A total (though unlikely) shift in the industry would take 379,500 jobs in the state. Receptionists, also on the decline, account for 31,230 Michigan workers. And one day, self-driving cars could eliminate the need for truckers, taking the jobs of 53,040 Michigan residents. “I don’t think people have ... given enough thought to the very drastic changes that are coming in the American economy as well as the Michigan economy,” said Donald Grimes, a senior research specialist and economic forecaster at the University of Michigan’s Institute for Research on Labor, Employment and the Economy. For all the talk about how automation has changed the face of manufacturing, “in many ways, the effect of automation has been bigger outside of manufacturing … it’s much more widespread than people realize.” SEE ROBOTS, PAGE 30

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City of Detroit

Can selling name avert fiscal cliff at Cobo? By Chad Livengood clivengood@crain.com

The Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority board’s decision to begin exploring a sale of the naming rights to Cobo Center came after managers believed they had exhausted most options for wringing out inefficiencies and boosting revenues. Despite a 50 percent increase in the number of events since 2012, the riverfront convention center still faces obstacles in attracting conventions and major events that require more than the 3,500 hotel rooms available downtown, said Claude Molinari, general manager of Cobo Center. Annual revenue for Cobo Center is expected to top $25 million this year from exhibition hall rentals, special events and parking for both events

CHAD LIVENGOOD/CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS

Despite a 50 percent increase in the number of events since 2012, the riverfront convention center still faces obstacles in attracting conventions and major events.

and daily users. But baked into that overall revenue figure is a $6 million state subsidy

from taxes on hotels, liquor and cigarettes that will drop to $5 million in the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1 and

disappear completely in 2023. The Legislature’s mandate that Cobo Center operate free of taxpayer support has added pressure on convention authority officials to turn to different sources of revenue. “We’ve been given a mission by the Legislature … to get this facility to break even. So we cannot keep any stone unturned,” said Patrick Bero, CEO and CFO of the Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority. “... They didn’t want it to be an endless blank check.” The last untapped option is selling the name of the 57-year-old facility, which underwent a $279 million renovation from 2010 to 2015 that is credited with attracting more convention business in recent years. SEE COBO, PAGE 28

Technology

Sift to build business on solving skills puzzle By Chad Livengood clivengood@crain.com

Sean Jackson is CEO of Sift LLC.

Sean Jackson thinks he’s got the solution to the dreaded company chain email. You know, the mass email one dutiful employee sends out to the entire company workforce seeking assistance from that one person who can write computer code in C++ programming language. “We’ve all been there when you get on a chain,” said Jackson, the 28-yearold CEO of Sift LLC. “But maybe 500 people didn’t need to be on that chain. We’ve all been there and say, ‘Oh my God, get me off of this thing.’

But real work is being done and the question had to be asked.” Sift, a nine-person Detroit-based startup company spun out of Quicken Loans, has developed a software platform that allows employees within a large company to search their colleagues’ work experiences and interests from employee-generated profiles. After two years of internal use and beta testing, Sift is preparing to sell its software to businesses outside of the 30,000 employees within Quicken Loans and founder Dan Gilbert's family of companies. SEE SIFT, PAGE 30

MUST READS OF THE WEEK When the wider world intrudes on business Ron Fournier: Successful business leaders pay close attention to current events and social trends to stay relevant. Page 6

Football, food and Ford Field Fans can watch the Lions play from the comfort of their living room couch, in front of their high-definition TVs, so the Lions rely on a multi-pronged off-field business strategy to get people downtown. Page 4

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Joe Nader, executive chef at Ford Field since 2005 for concessionaire Levy Restaurants, explains to the media on Wednesday afternoon the various new food options available during Lions games this season.

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Footballs and footlongs. Those are key weapons in the Detroit Lions’ business arsenal this season. The Lions, who played their dress rehearsal preseason game on Friday versus the New England Patriot at Ford Field, are coming off a playoff season that saw eight of their nine victories come via late rallies — a National Football League record. Fans are keen to see if they’ll get back to the postseason and maybe even win a playoff game for the first time since 1992. Fans can watch the Lions play from the comfort of their living room couch, in front of their high-definition TVs, so the Lions rely on a multipronged off-field business strategy to get people downtown to the 64,500seat stadium. A major tool the Lions are using to get bodies into the seats — especially into the pricey club seats and suites — is their $100 million stadium renovation that’s currently wrapping up. It involves complete refresh of the suites, installation of massive new LED video boards, bolstered sound and lighting systems, and new clubs and concessions. That’s where the 12-inch wieners come in: The Lions every year roll out a new array of stadium food designed to appeal to the senses and get attention, often using popular restaurants

The Leinydog is the new signature concession item at Ford Field during Detroit Lions games this season. It’s a 12-inch, 8-ounce Dearborn Sausage Co. hot dog stuffed with beer cheese made from Leinenkugel’s 150th anniversary lager, and then wrapped in a house-made pretzel. It sells for $15.

from metro Detroit. For example, HopCat will sell its famed “crack fries” and cheese dipping sauce at games this year for $9. The stadium’s concessionaire, Chicago-based Levy Restaurants, for this season created a foot-long Dearborn Sausage Co. hot dog that’s filled with beer cheese and wrapped in a pretzel. All for $15. It was rolled out to media last week. The “Leineydog” — the beer cheese is made from Leinenkugel’s 15th anniversary lager — is the Lions’ “wow” item for 2017, replacing last season’s Big Blue Donut, a 9-inch blue glazed pastry. Joe Nader, Levy’s executive chef at Ford Field, said fans

HopCat will sell its popular crack fries and cheese dipping sauce at a concession stand near Section 103 inside Ford Field this season during Lions games. The fries and the similar pretzel nugs will sell for $9, or $13 loaded.

buy about 200 of the “wow” items each game. There’s a long-game strategy at work, too, with the off-field investments. The stadium refresh is part of a bid to convince the NFL’s owners to award a future Super Bowl to Detroit. The NFL’s title game is typically held in new stadiums — Ford Field, opened in 2002, hosted Super Bowl XL in 2006 — or in warm-weather cities. Whether the renovation will be enough to earn the Lions another championship game won’t be known for some time. The league awards Super Bowls in batches several years in advance. In May 2016, the NFL gave Super Bowls to Atlanta in 2019, Miami in 2020 and Los Angeles in 2021. All three cities will have new stadiums. The Lions last week also disclosed that they’re serious about landing the NFL’s other marquee annual event, the three-day college draft. Detroit has sent the league its concept for hosting the event, likely at the Fox Theatre, but there’s no timetable for when a decision could be made. In the meantime, the Lions still have one more preseason game (at Buffalo on Aug. 31) before opening the regular season at 1 p.m. versus the Arizona Cardinals at Ford Field. Bill Shea: 313 (446-1626) Twitter: @Bill_Shea19

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ra ig h

t Ye ars!

Conservation-focused Hemingway Coffee to launch online business

By Tyler Clifford tclifford@crain.com

A conservation-focused coffee company connected to descendants of Nobel Prize-winning novelist Ernest Hemingway is set to launch in metro Detroit this week. Hemingway Coffee, founded by Tom Black in his Bloomfield Hills home, is an e-commerce and distribution company that appeals to outdoor and conservation enthusiasts, according to a news release. The venture was inspired by Blackâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s career in the fishing and outdoor industry, when on a fishing trip he met Jack and Patrick Hemingway, whose legendary writer father, Ernest Hemingway, dedicated the later years of his life to conservancy. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are completely driven by conservation and want Hemingway Coffee to do right by our consumers, our environment and its namesake,â&#x20AC;? Black said in a statement. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ernest and his sons not only enjoyed full lives of wildlife adventure, they have been intensely involved in nature conservancy. We aim to continue their legacy.â&#x20AC;? Black and a team of private partners are launching the startup as a way to turn profit into proceeds for the conservation efforts of the Hemingway Conservancy Fund and 1% For The Planet, a global network of conservation-focused businesses and nonprofits. One of those partners is former Detroit-based Campbell Ewald CEO Bill Ludwig, who also recently launched outdoor apparel company American Made Performance in Pontiac. Black did not disclose how much was invested in the company. Hemingway Coffeeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s roasting partner, Highland Park-based Becharas Brothers Coffee Co., produces eight gourmet roasts. Hemingway Coffee is working on deals to distribute its Camp Coffee roast to sporting goods and big box stores, Black said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s world, obviously going green is powerful,â&#x20AC;? Black said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We researched packaging techniques

Global coverage. Detroit-based. HEMINGWAY COFFEE

Hemingway Coffee will offer environmentally-conscious, single-brew cups that can compost to natural matter in 90 days.

and traveled the world to see what things work.â&#x20AC;? The coffee company will offer single-brew cups, called the Hemingway C-Cup, that can compost to natural matter in 90 days, and packaging that is biodegradable in backyard compost, landfills and bodies of water. The cups will help reduce the environmental impact of single-serving brews, the release said. Black expects the company, which employs five, to see $2 million to $3 million in sales over the next calendar year. Hemingway Coffee pledges to donate 1 percent of its sales to support environmentally-focused nonprofits, the release said. The Hemingway Coffee line, which can be found at hemingwaycoffees. com, will come in eight roasts including CafĂŠ Grande Italia and Papaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cubano Sato. The coffee industry has seen some growth, especially in gourmet products, according to data from the National Coffee Association. The number of Americans drinking coffee daily rose to 62 percent this year, up from 57 percent in 2016, a 2017 National Coffee Drinking Trends report said. In 2015, the national coffee industry was worth $225.2 billion and employed about 1.69 million across the country.

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OPINION

COMMENTARY

When the wider world intrudes on your business B usiness does not exist in a vacuum. The wider world intrudes. Which is why successful business leaders pay close attention to current events and social trends: They adapt to stay relevant. Just this month, several of the nation’s top CEOs abandoned White House advisory councils amid criticism over President Donald Trump’s remarks about a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va. In their cost-benefit analyses, these business executives decided the advantages in serving the president were now trumped by the disadvantages. The wider world intruded. The kerfuffle brought my mind back to July, when I moderated a Detroit Economic Club discussion on the 1967 riots/rebellion. The panel consisted of La June Montgomery Tabron, president and CEO of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation; Wright Lassiter III, president and CEO of the Henry Ford Health System; and Tim Ryan, U.S. chairman of the accounting giant PwC. Montgomery Tabron started us off, sharing her experiences as a young black Detroiter raised amid institutionalized racism. Lassiter, the system’s first black CEO, spoke of his hospital’s segregated history. Then came Ryan, a white man from

RON FOURNIER Publisher and Editor

Boston. He recalled his first week as chief executive at PwC, starting July 1, 2016. “Like most leaders,” he said, “I had a 100-day plan.” Before the week was out, Ryan had jettisoned his plan and urgently created a new one. On July 5, a black man named Alton Sterling was shot by two white police officers in Louisiana. The next day, a black man named Philando Castile was fatally shot by a police officer during a traffic stop in Minnesota. His girlfriend streamed the death on Facebook. Then, on July 7, during a protest over police shootings, a disturbed Army veteran ambushed and killed five officers in Dallas. “It was a powerful week,” Ryan recalled. “I knew I had to do something.” What he did was order a series of emotional, companywide conversations about race that have made Ryan and PwC an emblem for diversity in

corporate America. Ryan then launched a CEO-led alliance of companies committed to advancing diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Nearly 300 companies accepted Ryan’s challenge, including Fortune 500 stalwarts Cisco, Dow Chemical, HP, the Home Depot, Merck, Morgan Stanley, Staples, Target and Wal-Mart. After the panel discussion in Detroit, I telephoned Ryan and asked why he was so quick to dump his 100day plan. Ryan said the seeds of his decision were planted four years ago when PwC took 40 of its rising leaders and immersed them in a study of global megatrends: urbanization, demographics, technology, climate change and economic power. “We studied those trends and then we had working groups that went deep on those trends, and then we made recommendations” to PwC leadership, Ryan told me. “For me, that experience changed the way that I think, and it helped me understand a term I coined: ‘What is happening around us is not random.’” Look at your own business. You’d be hard pressed to find a challenge or opportunity that is not influenced by trends much larger than Southeast Michigan. “Almost everything that is happening around is being driven by

“For me, that experience changed the way that I think, and it helped me understand a term I coined: ‘What is happening around us is not random.’” Tim Ryan

these trends,” Ryan told me. “The team and I came to the conclusion that if you choose to ignore these trends … you will over time lose your relevance.” From the first grisly images on TV from Louisiana, Minnesota and Dallas in July 2016, Ryan knew instinctively — “I would say subconsciously” — that his relevance was at stake, if for no other reason than his workforce is overwhelmingly millennial, a generation that is more diverse than any past American cohort, and issues of equity and justice were rising with urbanization. While PwC has always considered diversity to be a company “north star,” Ryan said he recognized a special new challenge to channel the “hearts and minds” of his workforce — to talk openly about what they were all talking about. “You have to focus on the things that are relevant to your people,” Ryan said. Facilitating a con-

versation about race was not, as most CEOs would assume, a risky decision, but rather what Ryan called “a classic business imperative.” I told Ryan that some of my readers will dismiss his actions as liberalism. He said this is not about politics; it’s simply good business. “My job isn’t to choose sides. My job is to make us relevant.” Ryan closed our conversation with advice to CEOs in Southeast Michigan who are buffeted by global trends while fighting for relevance. “Understand that our world is connected and understand history and understand where our world is going,” he said, “and think bigger than the piece of information that is in front of you.” Because what’s happening around you isn’t random.

ased opinions in their coverage. It is becoming increasingly difficult to find objective reporting. And within that context, someone is supposed to stand up and volunteer to run for office? To do so, you also have to be willing to ask anyone and everyone for money, since politics runs on it. Give up any semblance of a private life and make sure that every nook and cranny of your private life is exposed and perhaps ridiculed. Then you get to start campaigning months if not years before the actual election, while your opponents and the media try to dig up any and all dirt, true or not, to sling at you.

Then if you are elected, you get to join a group of highly dysfunctional peers who have gone through the same process and are already trying to raise money for their next campaign, should they choose to run again. And we are hoping to attract the best and the brightest to run for our elected offices? I have nothing but compassion for anyone who gets involved with this process. Whether I agree with them or not, they have my respect and admiration, while at the same time bewilderment as to why they have the desire to run for office. I guess some need the work and the salary. Others like the power, regard-

less of how limited their responsibilities might be, and the last group, who I admire the most, want to make the world a better place within our democratic system. Sadly, I feel that this last group is the smallest. Meanwhile, I’ll try to make sure that reporters who work here realize that a good journalist reports only the facts. We get to voice our opinions in columns, usually on the editorial page. And I will continue to encourage the best and the brightest to run for public office. It’s a noble cause, although I don’t know why anyone would volunteer.

lives for long-term economic security. Kate Birnbryer-White Executive director, Michigan Community Action, Okemos

and wouldn’t bring drivers any real savings on their premiums. Michigan’s auto no-fault system is broken and in dire need of repair. It was first enacted in 1973 and hasn’t undergone any significant changes since. We urge the Michigan Legislature to enact real reforms that will save drivers money. Those reforms include creating a fraud bureau to crack down on the rampant fraud and abuse plaguing the no-fault system and costing families hundreds of dollars each year. Outrageous medical costs paid by auto insurers could be reined in by enacting a fee schedule to set costs for

medical procedures, like they have in other types of insurance. Finally, consumers should have the freedom to select a level of medical coverage that meets their needs — and that they can afford. The only way to ensure drivers see much-needed and long-overdue relief from some of the highest auto insurance premiums in the country is to enact the above common-sense reforms and bring Michigan’s broken, outdated no-fault system in line with the 21st century. Dyck Van Koevering General counsel, Insurance Alliance of Michigan, Lansing

Catch Ron Fournier’s take on business at 6:10 a.m. Mondays on the Paul W. Smith show on WJR AM 760.

Who wants to run for office?

have nothing but admiration for anyone who holds elected office, whether it’s city, county, state or federal. The idea of volunteering to serve and being willing to do the fund-raising and campaigning is daunting, to say the least. In today’s environment, with the daily media out to destroy anyone they deem unworthy of their support, a candidate or elected official can be destroyed simply by some local journalist who has an axe to grind. The editor of The Wall Street Journal said it well recently when he worried that his reporters are far more interested in writing their opinions

KEITH CRAIN Editor-in-chief

rather than reporting the facts. It was interesting to note that many socalled journalists attacked him for stating a great truth. Many journalists no longer just report the news, but hide slanted, bi-

LETTERS

Ballmer Group plan is welcome news Addressing intergenerational poverty is the challenging focus of community action agencies across the state, so it’s welcome news that the Ballmer Group Foundation in Detroit is joining the effort. (Crain’s, Aug. 14). Social and economic deprivation during childhood and adolescence often make it difficult for children to escape poverty when they become adults. Working with children, their parents and even grandparents to help build self-sufficiency at each stage

and remove barriers to education and employment is the best strategy for reducing or eliminating poverty in Detroit. Improving educational attainment, building job skills and helping with transportation and child care are proven methods for making lasting economic changes that affect family members of all ages and build longterm self-sufficiency. We need the programs that feed people and provide temporary housing for shortterm episodes of poverty; those programs need to be augmented with a long-term multi-generational commitment to help people rebuild their

Overhaul of no-fault laws long overdue

In a recent letter to the editor (“Time to correct mistakes on car insurance, fees,” Aug. 21), James Aiello points out Michigan drivers pay some of the highest auto insurance premiums in the country. But his reasoning for the high premiums is off the mark

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Davenport University moving from Livonia to Midtown

Davenport University is moving its Livonia campus to Midtown.

By Kirk Pinho kpinho@crain.com

Grand Rapids-based Davenport University is relocating its Livonia location to Detroit’s Midtown neighborhood. A sign in front of its 40,000-squarefoot building says it is “opening soon” in the bustling neighborhood in greater downtown Detroit but does not give a specific location or time frame. However, the university said Thursday night the move would not affect students attending in the fall 2017 or winter 2018 semesters. “Davenport is committed to the Detroit marketplace and believes a new campus in the Midtown area will help it better tap into the growth and excitement of Detroit’s renaissance,” a statement from the university provided last week said. The statement said it’s looking for a location close to the QLine streetcar system, and the destination will be finalized after a new Livonia tenant has been secured. It does not say whether it is considering constructing a new building or leasing existing space. The move comes as the nonprofit university has recently embarked on a spending spree even though enrollment has shrunk by thousands of students in recent years, MiBiz reported in February 2016, falling from 13,000 in 2011-12 to 8,715 in 2015. The university has most recently said it serves “nearly 8,000” students throughout its 80-plus undergraduate and graduate programs. Its three-story building on Victor Parkway off of Seven Mile Road east of I-275 is for sale or lease by Detroit-based Real Estate Interests LLC for an undisclosed price. It sits on almost 4 acres and is owned by RDG Livonia LLC, according to the city assessor’s office. That entity is registered to Kurt Hassberger, chairman of the board and president of development for Grand Rapids-based Rockford Development Group, which has worked for Davenport on things like student housing and athletic fields. Robin Luymes, executive director of communications for the university, said the move has been announced to students and staff. Kirk Pinho: (313) 446-0412 Twitter: @kirkpinhoCDB

Davenport University’s existing Livonia location is 40,000 square feet and is being marketed for sale or lease.

PHOTOS BY KIRK PINHO/CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS

10% SAVINGS When your business is more energy efficient, it’s also more profitable—and DTE Energy wants to help make that happen. Take John Logiudice, owner of Florentine Pizzeria, for example. DTE worked with him to make some small changes that led to big savings. Simply installing a programmable thermostat, sink aerators, LED lights and a prerinse spray valve in the kitchen saved John around 10% a month on his energy bill. If you’d like to manage energy use to save money at your business, visit dteenergy.com/savenow.

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Kapnick Insurance Group has been named one of

Crain’s Detroit Business’ 2017 Cool Places to Work TŚŝƐ ŚŽŶŽƌ ƌĞĂĸƌŵƐ ǁŚĂƚ ŽƵƌ ƚĞĂŵ ĂůƌĞĂĚǇ ŬŶŽǁƐ ʹ ǁŽƌŬ ĐĂŶ ďĞ ĨƵŶ ĂŶĚ ĨƵůĮůůŝŶŐ͊ tŝƚŚ ϰϭй ŽĨ ŽƵƌ ĞŵƉůŽǇĞĞƐ ƵŶĚĞƌ ƚŚĞ ĂŐĞ ŽĨ ϰϬ͕ <ĂƉŶŝĐŬ ŝƐ ĨƌĞƐŚ ĨĂĐĞĚ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŶƐƚĂŶƚůǇ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ďĞƐƚ ĂŶĚ ďƌŝŐŚƚĞƐƚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ͘ tŚĂƚ ŵĂŬĞƐ ŽƵƌ ǁŽƌŬƉůĂĐĞ ƐŽ ͞ĐŽŽů͍͟ ,ĞƌĞ ĂƌĞ Ă ĨĞǁ ĞǆĂŵƉůĞƐ͗ Ͳ &ůĞǆŝďůĞ ǁŽƌŬ ƐĐŚĞĚƵůĞƐ Ͳ ŽŵƉĂŶǇͲǁŝĚĞ ǀŽůƵŶƚĞĞƌ ŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƟĞƐ Ͳ ŽŵƉĂŶǇ ƚƌŝƉƐ ƚŽ ĞƚƌŽŝƚ dŝŐĞƌƐ ŐĂŵĞƐ͕ ďŽǁůŝŶŐ ĂůůĞǇƐ͕ ĞƚĐ͘ Ͳ <ĂƉŶŝĐŬ <ůŝŶŬŽ ƚŽ ǁŝŶ ƉƌŝǌĞƐ ƐƵĐŚ ĂƐ͗ ƉŝǌǌĂ ƉĂƌƟĞƐ͕ ŝĐĞ ĐƌĞĂŵ ƚƌƵĐŬƐ͕ ĞǆƚƌĂ ƉĂŝĚ ƟŵĞ Žī͕ ĂŶĚ ŵƵĐŚ ŵŽƌĞ͙ tĞ͛ǀĞ ďƵŝůƚ Ă ĐƵůƚƵƌĞ ƚŚĂƚ ĞŶũŽǇƐ ŐŝǀŝŶŐ ďĂĐŬ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚǇ͕ ĐĞůĞďƌĂƚĞƐ ƉĂƐƚ ĂĐĐŽŵƉůŝƐŚŵĞŶƚƐ͕ ƐŚĂƌĞƐ ĞǆĐŝƚĞŵĞŶƚ ĂďŽƵƚ ĨƵƚƵƌĞ ŐƌŽǁƚŚ ĂŶĚ ŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƟĞƐ ʹ ĂŶĚ ƚƌĞĂƐƵƌĞƐ ƚŚĞ ƌĞůĂƟŽŶƐŚŝƉƐ ǁĞ͛ǀĞ ďƵŝůƚ ǁŝƚŚ ŽƵƌ ĐůŝĞŶƚƐ͘

Connect With Us! /KapnickInsuranceGroup @KapnickKIG Kapnick Insurance Group www.kapnick.com

Best managed nonprofit nominations due Sept. 8 Crain’s Best Managed Nonprofit Contest this year will focus on how nonprofits are responding to shifting government and foundation funding priorities and the threat of government cuts. Examples could include, but are not limited to, moves made to diversify your organization’s revenue base or advocacy efforts. Applications are due Sept. 8. Finalists will be interviewed by judges the morning of Nov. 1. Applicants for the award must be a 501(c)(3) with headquarters in Wayne, Washtenaw, Oakland, Macomb or Livingston counties. Applications must include an entry form, a copy of the organization’s code of ethics, a copy of its most recent audited financial statement and a copy of its most recent IRS 990 form. First-place winners within the past 10 years are not eligible; neither are hospitals, HMOs, medical clinics, business and professional organizations, schools, churches or foundations. The winners will be profiled in the Dec. 4 issue, receive a “best-managed” logo from Crain’s for use in promotional material and will be recognized at Crain’s Newsmaker of the Year luncheon early next year. To submit a nomination, go to CrainsDetroit.com/nominate. For information about the contest, email Senior Reporter Sherri Welch at swelch@crain.com or call (313) 446-1694.

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Nominations sought for Eight Over 80 This fall, for the first time, Crain's Detroit Business will recognize Eight Over 80: a new program to profile and recognize individuals over the age of 80 who are still making a difference in business or the community. Who are our region’s most influential leaders over 80 in business, philanthropy, leadership, public service and civic life? Nominations are now open at crainsdetroit.com/nominate. If selected, nominees will be featured in the Oct. 16 issue of Crain’s. For questions regarding nominations, contact special projects coordinator Keenan Covington at kcovington@crain.com or 313-446-0417 or special projects editor Amy Elliott Bragg at abragg@crain.com or 313446-1646.

Who are our region’s most influential leaders over 80 in business, philanthropy, leadership, public service and civic life?

How they ranked, 2017 1. V-Suites 2. Contract Professionals Inc. 3. Greenleaf Trust 4. Michigan Community VNA 5. TowerPinkster 6. Ambassador 7. Trion Solutions Inc. 8. Clarity Voice 9. Marsh & McLennan Agency | Michigan Health & Benefits Team 10. Kapnick Insurance Group 11. Cunningham-Limp Development Co. 12. Decypher Corp. 13. Center for Financial Planning 14. Pioneer State Mutual Insurance Co. 15. OST (Open Systems Technologies) 16. Northwestern Mutual 17. NBS Commercial Interiors 18. Miller Vein 19. Warner Norcross & Judd LLP 20. Billhighway 21. Cambridge Consulting Group 22. Gentlemanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Box 23. Lormax Stern Development Co. 24. Atwell LLC 25. ABM Healthcare 26. Goodman Acker P.C. 27. Pillar Technology 28. PITSS 29. Community Housing Network 30. Blue Chip Talent 31. Ellis Porter, The Immigration Attorneys 32. imageOne 33. Brightwing 34. Signature Associates 35. Member Driven Technologies 36. Capital Mortgage Funding 37. RPM 38. Spire Integrated Systems Inc. 39. JMJ Phillip 40. Arrow Strategies 41. Etkin 42. Farbman Group 43. Broder & Sachse Real Estate 44. Shoreview Electric 45. SapientRazorfish 46. Sachse Construction LLC 47. Zolman Restoration 48. HRPro/BenePro 49. EDSI 50. Rossetti 51. Interior Environments 52. Reverie 53. RedViking 54. The Recovery Project 55. Armor Protective Packaging 56. Compuware 57. Schechter Wealth 58. Lambert, Edwards & Associates 59. United Shore 60. Control-Tec 61. Humantech Inc. 62. Dewpoint 63. Michigan First Credit Union 64. Stuart Mechanical 65. REDICO 66. Shift Digital 67. Cinnaire 68. Friedman Integrated Real Estate Solutions 69. Two Men And A Truck International Inc. 70. ESG Automotive Inc. 71. Advia Credit Union 72. LoVasco 73. Marketing Associates 74. Tweddle Group 75. American Concrete Institute 76. ASTI Environmental 77. Sakti3 Inc. 78. Bedrock 79. The Mars Agency 80. CBI 81. Cornerstone Community Financial Credit Union 82. Ally Financial 83. Red Level 84. Altair Engineering 85. National Food Group 86. Duffey Petrosky 87. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan 88. Bluewater 89. Phire Group 90. Sun Communities Inc. 91. Worksighted 92. Metro Consulting Associates 93. Lake Trust Credit Union 94. The Martec Group 95. Austin Benefits Group 96. Legal Copy Services 97. Sterling Insurance Group 98. Criteo 99. NITS Solutions 100. Dynatrace LLC

Cool Places Pages.indd 1

100 COOL

Places to Work

In Michigan As determined by the 37,802 employees who work there

www.crainsdetroit.com/CoolPlaces to share this report online

Cover design by Carolyn Ridella

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1. V-Suites Farmington Hills

www.v-suites.com @FurnishedApts Diane Batayeh, president/CEO

Corporate furnished housing rental company. Number of employees: 30 Number of millennial employees: 19 Male/female employee ratio: 26/73 Male/female executive ratio: 50/50 Ranking in 2016: No. 1 What makes V-Suites cool: ■ Employees may stay in any of the company’s furnished apartments for free. ■ Managers allow dogs, contending they reduce stress, boost productivity and morale. ■ On random days a large wheel with all employees’ names on it is spun and the chosen employee can immediately go home. ■ Sporadically during the workday, employees will challenge one another to a one-minute “plank break.”

2. Contract Professionals Inc. Waterford Twp.

www.cpijobs.com @CPIJobsInc Steve York, founder/CEO James Cowper, president

Veteran-owned global staffing company. Number of employees: 29 Number of Michigan employees: 25 Millennial employees in Michigan: 5 Male/female employee ratio: 55/45 Male/female executive ratio: 50/50 Ranking in 2016: No. 7 What makes Contract Professionals Inc. cool: ■ Part of its mission is finding employment for veterans. ■ Events include picnics, bocce ball tournaments and Detroit Tigers games. ■ Onsite meditation room contains yoga mats, massage chair and music. ■ Gives a paid day off and $100 to employees who complete a yearly physical.

3. Greenleaf Trust Kalamazoo

www.greenleaftrust.com Michael F. Odar, president

Wealth management firm. Number of employees: 107 Number of millennial employees: 39 Male/female employee ratio: 46/54 Male/female executive ratio: 68/32 Ranking in 2016: No. 6 What makes Greenleaf Trust cool: ■ Employees receive an annual allotment for such equipment as a sit-stand desk.

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There’s a waiting list to play foosball in the break room. Yoga is happening at noon, and fresh fruit is on its way to the lunchroom. In the narrative of “cool workplaces,” those perks are so common they’ve become, well ... almost retro. The 2017 Cool Places to Work in Michigan list shows that in an effort to attract and retain talent, companies are, literally, redeﬁning what it means to be cool. They have: ■ A break room full of arcade games. ■ A company dog. ■ An on-site chef who prepares employee lunches. ■ The opportunity for four-week sabbaticals after 10 years of work. And so on and so on, over the next 12 pages. And it’s not just about time off and snack cabinets. Consider this: Among this year’s Cool Places to Work, 18 offer 100 percent-paid health care insurance premiums for employees; eight of those companies offer the same for dependents. This is the ﬁfth year Crain’s has recognized the state’s coolest workplaces, and with 100 companies it’s our biggest list yet. Again this year, we asked Harrisburg, Pa.based Best Companies Group to produce the ranking. Any Michigan company with at least 15 employees could

■ Pays 100 percent of employee and dependent medical insurance premium. ■ Onsite self-defense and wellness classes and activities. ■ Company provides dry cleaning through a local “green” provider.

4. Michigan Community VNA Bingham Farms

www.vna.org @visitingnurse Vicki L. Welty, CEO

Health care service provider. Number of employees: 70 Number of millennial employees: 5 Male/female employee ratio: 30/70 Male/female executive ratio: 0/100 Ranking in 2016: 12 What makes Michigan Community VNA cool: ■ Free coffee, soda and chocolate offered in the office. ■ Paid time off for employees to volunteer with hospice patients and families. ■ A monthly “Chat with the CEO” allows employees to ask questions and get updates.

5. TowerPinkster Kalamazoo

www.towerpinkster.com @TowerPinkster

participate. First, the employer provided detailed information on its benefits and policies; next, its employees answered questions about workplace culture, company leadership and other aspects of work in a confidential, 80-question survey. This employee survey, which seeks to determine, among other things, whether employees understand the long-term strategy of the company and whether they feel they are being groomed for future leadership positions, accounted for 75 percent of the final ranking. Companies paid for the survey; not all who applied were chosen as a cool workplace. The information gathered here represents a snapshot of each company. New this year, through our Crain Content Studio, the custom publishing division of Crain’s Detroit Business, some companies sponsored more complete coverage of their businesses. That custom content is clearly marked throughout these pages as “sponsored.” Carolyn Ridella, who worked with Crain’s as part of the Grow Detroit Young Talent summer intern program, wrote the company profiles from information provided by each company. Kristin Bull, director of Crain Content Studio, managed this report. Reach her at kbull@crain. com. For more details about sponsored content opportunities through Crain Content Studio, contact Director of Sales Lisa Rudy at lrudy@crain.com

Bjorn Green, president/CEO

Architecture and engineering firm. Number of employees: 94 Number of millennial employees: 50 Male/female employee ratio: 65/35 Male/female executive ratio: 100/0 What makes TowerPinkster cool: ■ Ice cream socials, Easter egg hunts, ugly sweater and costume contests. ■ A monthly president’s lunch where employees can ask questions and share ideas. ■ Employees take part in a “Healthy Habits” competition to receive a prize.

6. Ambassador Software Royal Oak

www.getambassador.com @Ambassador Jeff Epstein, founder/CEO

Tech and referral marketing services. Number of employees: 33 Number of Michigan employees: 30 Number of millennial employees: 27 Male/female employee ratio: 64/36 Male/female executive ratio: 100/0 Ranking in 2016: No. 23 What makes Ambassador Software cool: ■ Pays 100 percent of employee medical insurance premium.

■ Weekly team lunches and monthly happy hours. ■ Flexible hours to accommodate family needs. ■ Office space includes several “chill out” areas with bean bags, couches and pingpong.

7. Trion Solutions Inc. Troy

www.trionworks.com @TrionSolutions Bonner C. Upshaw III, CEO

Payroll and human resource services provider. Number of employees: 68 Number of Michigan employees: 59 Number of millennial employees: 15 Male/female employee ratio: 40/60 Male/female executive ratio: 100/0 Ranking in 2016: No. 3 What makes Trion Solutions Inc. cool: ■ Pays 100 percent of employee medical insurance premium. ■ Employee breakfasts feature “State of

the Company” messages. ■ Outings include Tigers games, bowling and family day at the Detroit Zoo. ■ Wellness program includes massages, Fitbit challenges and smoothie Fridays.

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8. Clarity Voice Southfield

www.clarityvoice.com @ClarityVoice1 Gary Goerke, president/CEO Melissa Fisher, COO

Real

Provider of cloud communication and phone services. Number of employees: 38 Number of millennial employees: 21 Male/female employee ratio: 64/36 Male/female executive ratio: 37/63 Ranking in 2016: No. 2 What makes Clarity Voice cool: ■ Pays 100 percent of employee medical insurance premium. ■ All employees have the option to work remotely. ■ Office space includes a social area where employees can meet, read, eat and play pingpong. ■ An open-door policy lets employees share ideas with leadership.

9. Marsh & McLennan Agency | Michigan Health & Benefits Team Troy

www.mma-mi.com @MMA_Michigan Thomas P. McGraw, CEO, MMA Michigan

Provider of employee benefit plans. Number of employees: 100 Number of millennial employees: 27 Male/female employee ratio: 31/69 Male/female executive ratio: 27/73 Ranking in 2016: No. 10 What makes Marsh & McLennan Agency | Michigan Health & Benefits Team cool: ■ “Sunshine Days” are randomly granted to allow employees to leave the office early to enjoy the day. ■ Employees have options of dual monitors and standing desks. ■ An office Easter egg hunt features eggs filled with prizes that include paid time off. ■ On-site yoga classes offered during busy seasons.

Notes: Some companies have offices outside Michigan; for those companies, even non-Michigan employees were surveyed in order to provide a comprehensive view of overall company policies and culture. When a company has employees outside Michigan, an overall company employee number is listed; all of the other data, including number of millennial employees, is Michigan-specific.

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10. Kapnick Insurance Group

■ Free lunches for employees on Tuesdays.

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13. Center for Financial Planning

www.kapnick.com @KapnickKIG James Kapnick, CEO

Southfield

www.centerfinplan.com @centerfinplan Timothy Wyman, managing partner

Provider of insurance, benefits, risk management and financial strategy services. Number of employees: 158 Number of millennial employees: 51 Male/female employee ratio: 30/70 Male/female executive ratio: 100/0 Ranking in 2016: No. 29 What makes Kapnick Insurance Group cool: ■ Klinko, the company’s version of the Plinko game, awards prizes when large sales are made. ■ There are Scrabble tournaments, an office escape room, field day and ice cream socials. ■ Standing desks are offered.

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11. Cunningham-Limp Development Co.

■ Office space includes a pickleball court. ■ Employees are eligible to receive a bonus based on yearly profits and job performance.

12. Decypher Corp. Berkley

www.decyphercorp.com @DecypherCorp Andrew Aay, president

Novi

Business intelligence software company.

www.cunninghamlimp.com @CunninghamLimp Donald R. Kegley Jr., CEO

Number of employees: 15 Number of millennial employees: 6 Male/female employee ratio: 92/8 Male/female executive ratio: 100/0

Real estate firm. Number of employees: 25 Number of millennial employees: 11 Male/female employee ratio: 84/16 Male/female executive ratio: 100/0

1 6 3

A wealth and investment management firm.

What makes Cunningham-Limp Development Co. cool: ■ Events include a Tigers game, holiday party, golf outing and BBQs.

What makes Decypher Corp. cool: ■ Flexible work schedule to accommodate family needs. ■ Office outings include Tigers games, Whirlyball and urban bowling. ■ Annual Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day is an all-day event that includes a trip to a park for a cookout and games.

Number of employees: 22 Number of millennial employees: 5 Male/female employee ratio: 32/68 Male/female executive ratio: 2/3 What makes Center for Financial Planning cool: ■ Wellness committee occasionally cooks a healthy lunch for the team. ■ Events include a pingpong tournament, cupcake decorating, curling and Tigers games. ■ Company pays 100 percent of long-term disability benefits. ■ Time off is offered for charitable events and activities.

14. Pioneer State Mutual Insurance Co. Flint

www.psmic.com @PSM_Ins_Co Kurt P. Foley, president/CEO

Property-casualty insurance for individuals and businesses. Number of employees: 140 Number of millennial employees: 40 Male/female employee ratio: 50/50 Male/female executive ratio: 67/33

What makes Pioneer State Mutual Insurance Co. cool: ■ Office space includes a cardio room, weight room and meditation room. ■ Office offers adjustable desks and stability ball chairs for employees. ■ Pays 100 percent of employee and dependent medical insurance premium. ■ Periodic kickball games, euchre games, pingpong tournaments, cook-offs and picnics.

15. OST (Open Systems Technologies) Grand Rapids

www.ostusa.com @ostgr Meredith Bronk, president/CEO

Provider of infrastructure services and products, software development, data analytics.

16. Northwestern Mutual Troy

troy.nm.com @NM_News Brad P. Seitzinger, managing partner

Provides customized financial guidance. Number of employees: 240 Number of millennial employees: 89 Male/female employee ratio: 61/39 Male/female executive ratio: 60/40 What makes Northwestern Mutual cool: ■ Free or discounted tickets to local events, including sports and concerts. ■ Paid time off for birthday and to volunteer in the community. ■ Office events include pingpong and dart tournaments, luncheons, potlucks and popcorn afternoons.

Number of employees: 219 Number of Michigan employees: 164 Number of millennial employees: 90 Male/female employee ratio: 76/24 Male/female executive ratio: 75/25 Ranking in 2016: 32

17. NBS Commercial Interiors

What makes OST (Open Systems Technologies) cool: ■ For every employee’s child that goes to college, that person receives a $1,000 bonus. ■ On-site 24/7 fitness facility with locker rooms and showers. ■ All employees get a co-op discount to have organic produce delivered to the office. ■ Office space includes darts, shuffleboard, pingpong and video games.

Commercial interior design firm.

Troy

www.yournbs.com @yourNBS Rich Schwabauer, president/owner Number of employees: 171 Number of employees in Michigan: 163 Number of millennial employees: 51 Male/female employee ratio: 60/40 Male/female executive ratio: 40/60 What makes NBS Commercial Interiors cool: ■ Monthly themed “block parties.” ■ Full-time employees receive four paid volunteer hours to use during workdays. Part-time employees receive two paid volunteer hours.

No. 65

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‘An environment of teamwork’ Story by Michael Scott | Crain Content Studio Opportunity, flexibility and fun are hallmarks of working at Southfield-based REDICO. But so are philanthropy, an exercise reward program, fly fishing with the CEO, and, perhaps most importantly, “Gumby.” It’s all part of the culture that makes REDICO, a national development, property management and investment company, one of the 100 Cool Places to Work in Michigan for 2017. With nearly 200 employees, the majority of them in Southeast Michigan, REDICO operates in a transactional, fast-paced industry that requires teamwork and collaboration. That REDICO CEO Dale “work hard, play hard” Watchowski attitude is shared from the top down, with rewards readily available for deserving team members. “We view ourselves as the type of company that mirrors some of the best-run large companies, but our (smaller) size allows us to be entrepreneurial,” said REDICO CEO Dale Watchowski. “We try to create an environment of teamwork where everyone enjoys SPONSORED BY:

her

Cool Places Pages.indd 3

REDICO prides itself on collaboration, growing talent from within. coming to the office, because our industry requires it.” Since REDICO has properties and employees across the United States, it is important that team members feel connected, Watchowski said. REDICO has a number of events to help make those connections: • “Fridays at 4.” About nine times a year, employees enjoy food, drinks and raffle prizes during an offsite social event. • Companywide scavenger hunt. Employees visit various REDICO properties across the region; it’s a way for them to see some of the properties while collaborating with colleagues toward prizes. • “Birthdays and Bagels:” Each month new team members and employees celebrating a birthday enjoy bagels with Watchowski himself. There, they are encouraged to share a personal fact with colleagues, and can ask questions of Watchowski. “We are very transparent with our team,” he said. “This company is not mine or the executive team’s; it’s our company, so there shouldn’t be any unanswered questions about what we are doing strategically or how we are performing.” Summer picnics, year-end parties and exercise challenges among regional offices

“We view ourselves as the type of company that mirrors some of the best-run large companies, but our (smaller) size allows us to be entrepreneurial,” said REDICO CEO Dale Watchowski, center, with members of his team. are also held throughout the year. In addition, employees are encouraged to support their favorite local charities. At the end of the year, “Gumby Awards” are given to employees who make a positive difference in the company by showing versatility and flexibility throughout the year. Winners receive an actual Gumby statue. These winners also receive a “Day with Dale.” In recent years, the CEO has taken employees for a day exploring downtown Detroit, painting at an art studio and charter fishing. “We try to make the REDICO culture work for our colleagues’ lives so they have a strong work/life fit,” Watchowski said. “We put in

long days when we need to, but when they have the time, we encourage them to spend more time with their families.” Executive leadership also recognizes the value of creating new career opportunities for employees. Even during the Great Recession not one REDICO employee was laid off because of the economy, Watchowski said. Team members are also encouraged to transfer into different roles within the company. “The proudest moment for me is when we advance a team member to a higher level of responsibility and compensation,” Watchowski said. “We seek to provide a path of growth for everyone at REDICO.”

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No. 78 SPONSORED BY:

A stairway inside Bedrock, built in what was once a hotel, serves as a meeting place for team members.

Photos by Jacob Lewkow for Crain Content Studio

History at work

There are spaces to collaborate with coworkers and quiet corners to finish a project at Bedrock.

When Bedrock renovated the 1870s building at 630 Woodward Avenue into its company headquarters, the project became a billboard for what the real estate development firm does best. With more than 90 properties totaling more than 15 million square feet in Detroit, Bedrock has a knack for taking, for instance, a historic hotel and transforming it into a functional but unique workplace. Bedrock moved into its new space earlier this year. It’s the setting for some of its core values — collaboration and openness — that make the company a Cool Place to Work in Michigan for 2017. See more of the office space and hear Bedrock leaders talk about its culture at www.crainsdetroit.com/BedrockVideo.

Team members embrace the open-door policy and open-air environment at Bedrock. An espresso bar and options to stand at your desk are added work perks.

Cool Places Bedrock photo essay.indd 1

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Number of employees: 349 Number of employees in Michigan: 114 Number of millennial employees: 56 Male/female employee ratio: 71/29 Male/female executive ratio: 100/0

■ The winning peer-nominated Employee of the Year receives $4,000 toward a vacation.

Read more about NBS Commercial Interiors on page S9.

What makes Atwell LLC cool: ■ All full-time employees receive free Fitbits. ■ Office provides free healthy snacks, stand-up desks and quarterly lunches. ■ Activities include summer barbecues, holiday parties, weekly fitness challenges and chili cook-offs. ■ A gym is in some buildings.

18. Miller Vein Novi

www.millervein.com @MillerVein Jeffrey H. Miller, M.D., CEO

Health care provider specializing in the diagnosis and management of vein diseases. Number of employees: 37 Number of millennial employees: 11 Male/female employee ratio: 24/76 Male/female executive ratio: 100/0 What makes Miller Vein cool: ■ Pays 100 percent of employee medical insurance premium. ■ Benefits include paid time off for holidays, a retirement plan contribution and bonuses. ■ Quarterly companywide meetings include games and contests with prizes. ■ Holiday parties include a hoedown, go-kart racing and a murder mystery dinner.

Sponsored content: Read more about Miller Vein on page S7.

19. Warner Norcross & Judd LLP Grand Rapids

www.wnj.com @WNJLLP Doug Dozeman, managing partner

Multi-disciplinary law firm. Number of employees: 381 Number of millennial employees: 59 Male/female employee ratio: 41/59 Male/female executive ratio: 67/33 Ranking in 2016: No. 15 What makes Warner Norcross & Judd LLP cool: ■ Free bagels and cream cheese, toast and peanut butter, fruit, granola and coffee; 25 cents for pop. ■ Free or discounted tickets for local family entertainment or sporting events. ■ Office events include fundraisers or contests to spark the firm’s creativity and competitiveness.

20. Billhighway Troy

www.billhighway.co @billhighway Vincent Thomas, founder/CEO

Provides organizations with technological tools and services to manage their finances. Number of employees: 249 Number of employees in Michigan: 64 Number of millennial employees: 37 Male/female employee ratio: 58/42 Male/female executive ratio: 100/0 Ranking in 2016: No. 19 What makes Billhighway cool: ■ Flexible schedules, four-day weeks in summer. ■ Complimentary snacks, massage therapy, yoga. ■ Team activities include scavenger hunts, Billhighway Olympics, birthday celebrations and local sporting events. ■ Office space includes portable elliptical machines, sit-stand desks and yoga balls.

21. Cambridge Consulting Group Royal Oak

cambridge-cg.com Daniel A. Cornwell, CEO

Cool Places Pages.indd 5

Albert W. Papa, executive chairman

Insurance and financial services consulting firm. Number of employees: 53 Number of millennial employees: 22 Male/female employee ratio: 45/55 Male/female executive ratio: 100/0 Ranking in 2016: No. 45 What makes Cambridge Consulting Group cool: ■ Employees take the amount of yearly time off they feel is appropriate to balance work and life. ■ Wellness rewards include gift cards, Fitbits and gym reimbursements. ■ Company pays 100 percent of life insurance, long-term care insurance and short-term disability benefits. ■ Office space includes stand-up workstations, reclining massage chairs and monthly massage therapist.

22. Gentleman’s Box Royal Oak

www.gentlemansbox.com @gentlemansbox Christopher George, co-founder/CEO

Subscription box for men’s grooming and wardrobe accessories. Number of employees: 15 Number of millennial employees: 15 Male/female employee ratio: 54/46 Male/female executive ratio: 80/20 What makes Gentleman’s Box cool: ■ Unlimited paid time off. ■ Office includes arcade machines and beer in the fridge. ■ An employee equity pool so all employees have a stake in the company. ■ Quarterly bonuses based on goals reached.

23. Lormax Stern Development Co. Bloomfield Hills

www.lormaxstern.com Daniel Stern, principal

Real estate development company. Number of employees: 32 Number of millennial employees: 8 Male/female employee ratio: 43/57 Male/female executive ratio: 100/0 What makes Lormax Stern Development Co. cool: ■ Office closes at 3 p.m. every Friday. ■ Offers weekly healthy snacks, free lunch every quarter and game day. ■ All employees receive annual bonuses every December. ■ Free or discounted tickets to local family entertainment or sporting events.

24. Atwell LLC Southfield

www.atwell-group.com @Atwell_LLC Brian R. Wenzel, president/CEO

Consulting, engineering and construction management firm.

25. ABM Healthcare St. Clair Shores

ABM.com/Healthcare Dan Bowen, president

Provides health care insurance and services. Number of employees: 108 Number of employees in Michigan: 44 Number of millennial employees: 7 Male/female employee ratio: 52/48 Male/female executive ratio: 80/20 What makes ABM Healthcare cool: ■ Monthly events include happy hour, birthday celebrations and baseball games. ■ Company pays 100 percent of life insurance and short/long-term disability benefits. ■ Food truck for lunch in the summer. ■ Monday free lunches.

26. Goodman Acker P.C.

Career Growth. Client Growth.

Southfield

www.goodmanacker.com @goodmanacker Barry J. Goodman and Gerald H. Acker, senior partners

Personal injury law firm. Number of employees: 32 Number of millennial employees: 12 Male/female employee ratio: 28/72 Male/female executive ratio: 75/25 Ranking in 2016: No. 34 What makes Goodman Acker P.C. cool: ■ Office offers a smoothie station, fresh organic fruit, frequent free lunches and quarterly back/neck massages. ■ Events include Halloween costume contest, chocolate fountain for Valentine’s Day, potlucks and a barbecue for Tigers’ opening day. ■ Employee teams compete to raise the most money for a local children’s hospital foundation.

Community Growth. That’s our purpose. Join us.

27. Pillar Technology Ann Arbor

www.pillartechnology.com @agilesoftware Bob Myers, CEO JD Sallee, curator of consulting

Provides information technology consulting services. Number of employees: 293 Number of employees in Michigan: 87 Number of millennial employees: 34 Male/female employee ratio: 80/20 Male/female executive ratio :75/25

themarsagency.com/jobs

What makes Pillar Technology cool: ■ Office provides a chef-prepared lunch every Friday, monthly gym memberships and Weight Watchers reimbursement. ■ Holds a companywide conference that includes learning for employees and fun for families. ■ Offers flexible hours and policies to accommodate family and personal needs. ■ Office space includes foosball table and Nerf guns. © 2017 Mars Advertising Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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28. PITSS

Specializes in helping companies transform from legacy Oracle systems.

pitss.com @PITSSAmerica Andreas Gaede, co-founder/managing director Jason Marra, vice president of sales and operations

Number of employees:18 Number of millennial employees: 13 Male/female employee ratio: 73/27

Troy

What makes PITSS cool: ■ Schedule includes work-from-home

SPONSORED BY PLUM MARKET FOOD SERVICE | HUNGRY? TURN THE PAGE

rise & shine

Wednesdays and pizza Fridays. ■ Televised sporting events in common area. ■ Companywide participation in March Madness, soccer and football brackets. ■ Team-building outings.

30. Blue Chip Talent

29. Community Housing Network

Staffing firm specializing in engineering and health care IT.

Troy

lunch break

Number of employees: 87 Number of millennial employees: 30 Male/female employee ratio: 15/85 Male/female executive ratio: 25/75 Ranking in 2016: No. 36

Number of employees: 30

Male/female employee ratio: 55/45 Male/female executive ratio: 66/34 Ranking in 2016: No. 11 What makes Blue Chip Talent cool: ■ Team-building activities include an office tailgate party before the Michigan vs. Michigan State football weekend and escape room sessions. ■ Woodward Dream Cruise Family Fun Event. ■ Office kitchen offers dried fruit, nuts, energy and granola bars and an occasional smoothie day.

What makes Community Housing Network cool: ■ Offers a number of non-traditional working options such as telecommuting and flextime. 31. Ellis Porter - The ■ On-site workout rooms, outdoor treeImmigration lined pathways, shower and massage Attorneys chairs. Troy ■ Provides standing desks, board games, www.ellisporter.com card games and gluten-free and vegan @EllisPorter treats. Marc Topoleski, founder/principal ■ Annual retreats, such as a trip to Belle Fresh Kale & Brussels Sprouts Slaw, attorney Isle. topped with Almonds and Dried Cranberries, law firm.Dijon Vinaigrette drizzledImmigration with a Housemade Number of employees: 20 Number of millennial employees: 8 Male/female employee ratio: 20/80 Male/female executive ratio: 100/0

It’s Good boardroom bites to Be Flexible

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on the go

www.bctalent.com @bluechiptalent Nicole Pawczuk, CEO Ron Pawczuk, president

SPONSORED BY PLUM MARKET FOOD SERVICENumber | HUNGRY? TURN THE PAGE of millennial employees: 19

www.communityhousingnetwork.org @CHNmi Marc Craig, president

Provides nonprofit health and human services.

All Natural Bacon, Cage Free Egg, and Vermont White Cheddar with Lettuce and Tomato on a Zingerman’s Bagel

Bloomfield Hills

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Do you kknow off a company th D thatt could ld use an experienced equity partner, but doesn’t want to sell a majority equity stake? Do you know of a business owner that would like to buy out an inactive shareholder’s interest? Or bring on a partner with capital for growth, or make that long sought-after add-on acquisition? At Huron Capital, we do our best to be flexible. Our Flex Equity solution can provide attractive non-control solutions for owners seeking to diversify their estate, secure growth capital, shore up their balance sheets or repurchase inactive shareholder interests.

What makes Ellis Porter cool: ■ Employee birthday “cake and break” gatherings. ■ Field trips to immigrant-owned ethnic restaurants around Detroit. ■ Friday jeans day. ■ Team-building outings that include Tigers games, bowling, fowling and foodie adventures.

32. imageOne Oak Park

www.imageOneWay.com @imageOneWay Joel Pearlman, CEO

Provides managed print services. Number of employees: 52 Number of millennial employees: 7 Male/female employee ratio: 70/30 Male/female executive ratio: 75/25 Ranking in 2016: No. 27

If the business owner would prefer to sell a majority What makes imageOne cool: All Natural Hickory Smoked Breast All Natural Herb-crusted Beef Tenderloin with interest,Turkey we can do & that too. It’s all about flexibility. ■ “We care Fridays:” a team member is Lacy Swiss Cheese layered with Housemade Rosemary Demi-Glace, Balsamic-Grilled told on Thursday that his or her work is Coleslaw on Zingerman’s Jewish Rye Vegetables, and Bakehouse Rolls covered and to take Friday off. ■ Weekly podcast clubs bring together employees nationwide to discuss emerging technologies. ■ A traveling meditation truck invites employees to spend 10 minutes meditating. ■ Offers a language-learning club for employees interested in broadening their language skills.

We invest in PEOPLE. We build LEADERS.

33. Brightwing

Platform Criteria Buy & Build Strategies Revenues: Up to $200M EBITDA: $5M or more Equity Positions: 20%-100%

Sector Focus Specialty Industrials Consumer Goods & Services Business Services

500 Griswold Street - Suite 2700 | Detroit, Michigan 48226 | 313-962-5800 | www.huroncapital.com

Cool Places Pages.indd 6

■ Weekly yoga and pilates classes are offered. ■ Flexible schedule includes half-day before holiday weekends and two weeks off during the winter holidays. ■ Company pays 100 percent of life insurance.

34. Signature Associates Southfield

www.signatureassociates.com @SignatureCRE Steve Gordon, president

A commercial real estate firm. Number of employees: 142 Number of Michigan employees: 117 Number of millennial employees: 26 Male/female employee ratio: 60/40 Male/female executive ratio: 72/28 Ranking in 2016: No. 48 What makes Signature Associates cool: ■ The office offers coffee, water, soda, bagels, fruit and a variety of snacks. ■ Themed lunches include a Tigers Opening Day office tailgate luncheon and a Cinco de Mayo luncheon. ■ Lunchtime outdoor team-building activities during the summer.

35. Member Driven Technologies Farmington Hills

www.mdtmi.com @memberdriven Larry Nichols, president/CEO

A credit union service organization. Number of employees: 134 Number of employees: 109 Number of millennial employees: 50 Male/female employee ratio: 64/36 Male/female executive ratio: 77/23 What makes Member Driven Technologies cool: ■ Offers flexible scheduling, including remote work options. ■ Employees may wear shorts, T-shirts and flip-flops on Fridays during the summer. ■ Pays 100 percent of employee and dependent health insurance premiums. ■ On-site gym with weights, treadmills, steppers, elliptical trainers and yoga mats.

36. Capital Mortgage Funding

Troy

Southfield

www.gobrightwing.com @gobrightwing Aaron Chernow, CEO

www.lowrateonline.com @lowrateonline Harry Glanz, co-founder/president Steve Jacobson, CEO

Provides recruiting and staffing services. Number of employees: 50 Number of employees in Michigan: 42 Number of millennial employees: 21 Male/female employee ratio: 38/62 Male/female executive ratio: 63/37 Ranking in 2016: No. 60 What makes Brightwing cool: ■ Office space includes an “innovation room” with foosball and hockey tables. Also has a fitness center and stand-up desks.

Residential mortgage banker. Number of employees: 50 Number of millennial employees: 0 Male/female employee ratio: 48/52 Male/female executive ratio: 50/50 What makes Capital Mortgage Funding cool: ■ Holiday and themed parties, costume days. ■ Flexible hours.

8/25/17 11:34 AM

No. 18

Miller Vein’s focus: People Story by Michael Scott | Crain Content Studio Miller Vein is dedicated to serving its patients and hiring the most caring and talented people within the healthcare field. That focus on people is why the practice has grown from a small, one-room office in 2006 to five full-service locations with more than 40 employees just

“We recognize that we

One such charity is the Matthew Bittker Foun-

ees,” Miller said. “We always do what’s right for

dation, which supports pediatric cancer re-

the patient, even if it costs us money.”

are all about humble

search. Miller Vein and its employees volunteer

service, and that’s what sets us apart.”

over a decade later. It’s also one of the

is little turnover among staff at Miller Vein.

from specialty stockings and vein treatments in

Another reason: Employees celebrate wins and

all offices is donated to the foundation.

success together. Employees also are encour-

Employees are also given paid time off to

do so at one of the many themed employee

vides underprivileged children in the area with

events, the annual holiday party, or birthday

school supplies and clothing, and the Stephen

celebrations around the office.

and values are discussed at all staff meetings,

Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which

Vein is one of the 100

and colleagues are encouraged to share positive

raises money for injured first responders.

Cool Places to Work in

patient stories and best practices. “We recognize that we are all about humble

aged to share their own personalities. They can

volunteer for Operation School Bell, which pro-

many reasons why Miller

Michigan for 2017.

That’s one of the many reasons why there

their time and money: 10 percent of proceeds

Another component of Miller Vein’s culture

Miller Vein is in the midst of a growth phase and is hiring for such professional roles as nursing, vascular and medical technicians, and

is transparency with employees, something

administrative assistants. The practice is also

That focus on people

service, and that’s what sets us apart,” Miller said.

in which Miller himself strongly believes. The

opening its own local contact center to further

is by design, since hiring

For example, selfless behavior by staff is regular-

voices of all employees are heard and opinions

improve patient service in the months ahead.

employees with strong

ly recognized with random acts of kindness by

are encouraged by senior management. Team

Such growth will lead to additional opportu-

personal values is what

co-workers. “We have been told multiple times

members are empowered to make decisions

nities for employees to advance professionally

has made Southeast

by individuals or families we work with that

and to develop bonds with patients, while em-

within the practice.

Michigan-based Miller Vein the premiere pro-

the care we provide is unmatched. Many of our

ployees understand that doing the right thing

“Our long-term goal is to serve tens of

vider of varicose vein and spider vein treatment

patients become emotional about it,” he added.

for families may not always equate to profits.

thousands of patients from as many as 100

in metro Detroit, according to owner and CEO

To further emphasize that focus on people,

Jeffrey Miller, M.D. Examples of culture, caring

the practice actively supports multiple charities.

Miller Vein CEO Jeffrey Miller, M.D.

“The people who have been with us for years set wonderful examples for our newer employ-

locations,” Miller said. “But we won’t sacrifice culture for growth.” SPONSORED BY:

Miller Vein Cool Places.indd 1

8/25/17 11:56 AM

■ Office space includes pool and foosball table. ■ Pizza and salad lunch the last Friday of each month. ■ Quarterly social outings. ■ All employees receive paid LA Fitness memberships.

■ Company softball team. ■ Pet-friendly office.

37. RPM Royal Oak

www.loadrpm.com @LoadRPM Barry Spilman, CEO

What makes RPM cool:

Andy Farbman, CEO Andrew Gutman, president

Number of employees: 21 Number of millennial employees: 13 Male/female employee ratio: 76/24 Male/female executive ratio: 72/28

Commercial real estate company specializing in brokerage, property management and construction.

www.spireintegrated.com @SpireIntegrated Navot Shoresh, president

Designs and installs audio/video, auto-

39. JMJ Phillip

Troy

Number of employees: 97 Number of millennial employees: 40 Male/female employee ratio: 74/26 Male/female executive ratio: 84/16 Ranking in 2016: No. 67

mation, lighting control and automated shade systems.

What makes Spire Integrated Systems Inc. cool: ■ Gym memberships are offered to all employees. ■ The company dog, Ginger. ■ Employees take turns grabbing breakfast for everyone on Fridays.

38. Spire Integrated Systems Inc.

Logistics company.

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lunch break

Troy

www.jmjphillip.com @jmjphillip James Philip Arbuckle, founder/ managing director Dennis Theodorou, vice president

Executive search firm with expertise in the manufacturing, supply chain, engineering and technology sectors. Number of employees: 22 Number of millennial employees: 21 Male/female employee ratio: 70/30 Male/female executive ratio: 50/50

age Free Egg, with Lettuce rman’s Bagel

C R A I N ’ S D E T R O I T B U S I N E S S // A U G U S T 2 8 , 2 0 1 7

Fresh Kale & Brussels Sprouts Slaw, topped with Almonds and Dried Cranberries, drizzled with a Housemade Dijon Vinaigrette

“Resolving Your Money Matters” SPONSORED BY PLUM MARKET FOOD SERVICE | HUNGRY? TURN THE PAGE

boardroom bites

REVENUE CYCLE MANAGEMENT CALL CENTER BILL PAY SERVICES

What makes JMJ Philip cool: ■ Rewards include custom suits, Nordstrom gift cards, dinners at four- and five-star restaurants. ■ Office events include a Christmas party with bowling, summer lake party and group trips to spin classes. ■ Weekly activities include an ice cream social on Wednesday, “Wine Down Friday” and “Kane’s Golf Outing Tuesday.” ■ Pays 100 percent of employee and dependent health insurance premiums.

40. Arrow Strategies LLC Southfield

www.arrowstrategies.com @arrowstrat Jeff Styers, CEO

brodersachse.com @brodersachse Richard Broder, CEO

Real estate development and property management company. Number of employees: 63 Number of millennial employees: 20 Male/female employee ratio: 54/46 Male/female executive ratio: 50/50 Ranking in 2016: No. 40 What makes Broder & Sachse Real Estate cool: ■ Events include Thanksgiving luncheons, Thirsty Thursday, happy hours and monthly lunch brought in from local restaurants. ■ Perks include gym membership subsidies and discounted yoga classes. ■ MVP of the quarter receives a ball with the signatures of the leadership team and a $500 gift card.

Commercial construction company. Number of employees:156 Number of millennial employees: 53 Male/female employee ratio: 72/28 Male/female executive ratio: 100/0 Ranking in 2016: No. 13 What makes Sachse Construction LLC cool: ■ Food events include a Thanksgiving luncheon, monthly lunches from local restaurants and breakfast. ■ Office space includes pingpong and foosball tables, a slushy machine and fully stocked bar and snack area. ■ Birthdays off and four-week sabbatical after 10 years of service. ■ Wellness initiative includes yoga, meditation and gym membership subsidy.

47. Zolman Restoration Walled Lake www.zolmanrestoration.com Todd Sachse, CEO Jeff Katkowsky, president

Commercial and residential property restoration company. Number of employees: 15 Number of millennial employees: 4 Male/female employee ratio: 73/27 Male/female executive ratio: 50/50 What makes Zolman Restoration cool: ■ Birthdays off and a four-week sabbatical after 10 years of service. ■ Office events include happy hour, bowling, luncheons and breakfasts brought in from local restaurants. ■ Company offers gym membership and yoga subsidies.

Clinton Township

Number of employees:52 Number of Michigan employees: 48 Number of millennial employees: 26 Male/female employee ratio: 50/50 Male/female executive ratio: 50/50 Ranking in 2016: No. 8

www.shoreviewelectric.com Kevin Puma, president

www.hrbenepro.com @hrbenepro Kristopher Powell, president/CEO

Provides electrical services for residential, commercial and industrial projects.

Human resources and employee benefit administration and advisory firms.

Number of employees: 32 Number of millennial employees: 13 Male/female employee ratio: 94/6 Male/female executive ratio: 67/33

Number of employees: 25 Number of millennial employees: 14 Male/female employee ratio: 9/91 Male/female executive ratio: 14/86 Ranking in 2016: No. 18

What makes Arrow Strategies cool: ■ Unlimited paid time off. ■ Free on-site massages on Fridays. ■ On the annual Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, the company closes and employees join events such as time at a lake house, Tigers game, fowling, private live entertainment on a rooftop and pedal bars in downtown Detroit. ■ Gym with showers and locker rooms; bi-weekly yoga classes.

www.etkinllc.com @EtkinRealEstate Curtis Burstein, CEO

Commercial real estate firm.

What makes Etkin cool: ■ Week paid between Christmas and New Year. ■ Half-day Fridays in the summer. ■ Frequently allows employees to leave a couple of hours early before paid holidays. ■ Free coffee, snacks and pop.

Cool Places Pages.indd 8

Birmingham

Detr

A talent acquisition company.

Number of employees: 54 Number of millennial employees: 15 Male/female employee ratio: 63/37 Male/female executive ratio: 67/33

517.544.9100 www.ljross.com

43. Broder & Sachse Real Estate

42. Farbman Group Southfield

www.farbman.com @FarbmanGroup

What makes Shoreview Electric cool: ■ Pays 100 percent of employee and dependent health insurance premiums. ■ Events include golf outings and bowling and holiday parties. ■ Rewards include cash, tickets to sporting events and gift cards. ■ Flexible hours to accommodate family and personal needs.

45. SapientRazorfish Birmingham

www.sapientrazorfish.com @SR_Technology Ron Shamah, managing director Craig Bielis, director, interactive program management

Helps companies implement a more integrated digital-focused organizational design.

cour holid

sachseconstruction.com @sachseconstruct Todd Sachse, founder/CEO

48. HRPro/BenePro

Southfield

All Natural Herb-crusted Beef Tenderloin with Rosemary Demi-Glace, Balsamic-Grilled Vegetables, and Bakehouse Rolls

What makes Farbman Group cool: ■ Office events include a chili cook-off, summer and winter parties and happy hour. ■ Employees participate in foosball competitions and Monopoly tournaments. ■ Bagels every Friday. Access to a workout space at one of the properties and weekly on-site yoga classes.

Detroit

44. Shoreview Electric

41. Etkin

rkey Breast & h Housemade ’s Jewish Rye

Number of Michigan employees: 121 Number of millennial employees: 14 Male/female employee ratio: 52/48 Male/female executive ratio: 100/0 Ranking in 2016: No. 24

46. Sachse Construction LLC

Royal Oak

What makes HRPro/BenePro cool: ■ Friday work days end at 3 p.m. ■ Reimbursement program helps cover costs of gym memberships, classes. ■ Employee outings include picnics, sports events, bowling. ■ Company provides a massage therapist during the busy fourth quarter.

49. EDSI Dearborn

www.edsisolutions.com @EDSI_Solutions Kevin Schnieders, CEO

Provides workforce development and consulting services.

Number of employees: 3,550 Number of Michigan employees: 68 Number of millennial employees: 50 Male/female employee ratio: 53/47

Number of employees: 595 Number of Michigan employees: 56 Number of millennial employees: 14 Male/female employee ratio: 35/65 Male/female executive ratio: 50/50 Ranking in 2016: No. 31

What makes SapientRazorfish cool: ■ Weekly food events such as Cookie Monday, Fruity Tuesday, Bagel Wednesday and Fun Bus. ■ Bi-weekly masseuse visits. ■ Amenities such as a Starbucks machine, snacks and a foosball table. ■ Events include breakfast club, holiday parties, social hour and summer parties.

What makes EDSI cool: ■ Offers a flexible schedule in which employees work more hours each day in order to have every other Friday off. ■ Employees are rewarded with sports tickets, concerts, gift cards. ■ A meditation bus comes to the office once a week for a 15-minute session. ■ Team building activities include rope

8/25/17 11:34 AM

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courses, laser tag, potluck luncheons, holiday events and painting.

president of sales. ■ Sales employees are eligible for an annual paid trip for themselves and a guest when they achieve their annual quota.

50. ROSSETTI Detroit

57. Schechter Wealth

www.rossetti.com @ROSSETTIdesign Matt Rossetti, president

Birmingham

www.schechterwealth.com @schechterwealth Marc Schechter, senior managing director

Architecture and design company.

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Number of employees: 95 Number of millennial employees: 46 Male/female employee ratio: 61/39 Male/female executive ratio: 75/25 What makes ROSSETTI cool: ■ Collaborative, open studio environment that encourages creative exchange of ideas. ■ Fun activities include barbecues, softball, soccer, Tigers games. ■ Dedicated social hour on Fridays. ■ Regular health and wellness activities including lectures, contests, meditation, yoga and chair massages.

51. Interior Environments Novi www.ieoffices.com @ieoffices Randy Balconi and Steve Cojei, owner/founder

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Number of employees: 69 Number of Michigan employees: 52 Number of millennial employees: 15 Male/female employee ratio: 31/69 Male/female executive ratio: 71/29 Ranking in 2016: No. 28 What makes Interior Environments cool: ■ Catered meal provided to employees on deadline days. ■ Holiday celebrations. ■ Office events include happy hour, employee appreciation luncheons and days out, potlucks, card games on Friday afternoons and summer ice cream socials. ■ All employees receive bonuses based on aggregate sales dollars.

52. Reverie Bloomfield Hills

www.reverie.com @reveriesleep Martin Rawls-Meehan , CEO

Sleep technology company.

apist

Number of employees: 207 Number of Michigan employees:68 Number of millennial employees: 51 Male/female employee ratio: 67/33 Male/female executive ratio: 80/20 What makes Reverie cool: ■ Casual dress/jeans every day. ■ Bi-weekly catered lunches and a stocked kitchen. ■ Office space includes on-site gym, meditation and power nap room, hoverboards, scooters and pingpong tables. ■ Employees participate in workout challenges and meditation sessions.

53. RedViking Plymouth

www.redviking.com @redvkngeng Randall (Randy) Brodzik, president/CEO

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Engineering firm. Number of employees: 208 Number of Michigan employees: 179 Number of millennial employees: 65 Male/female employee ratio: 75/25 Male/female executive ratio: 86/14 Ranking in 2016: No. 70 What makes RedViking cool: ■ Employee softball and soccer teams. Also, onsite batting cage, pitching machine and horseshoe pit. ■ Free or discounted tickets to local family entertainment or sporting events.

Cool Places Pages.indd 9

Provides investment advisory and advanced life insurance design services.

■ Lunch hour includes pingpong, foosball, horseshoe and euchre competitions. ■ Onsite fitness center includes locker rooms with towel service, yoga and Zumba.

54. The Recovery Project Livonia

www.therecoveryproject.net Charles Parkhill, co-founder and coCEO Polly Swingle, co-founder and co-CEO

Physical, occupational and speech therapy practice. Number of employees: 57 Number of millennial employees: 38 Male/female employee ratio: 33/67 Male/female executive ratio: 50/50 What makes The Recovery Project cool: ■ All employees receive a wellness stipend. ■ Monthly catered lunch at work for all team members. ■ Surprise appreciation gifts include Apple watches, iPads and flat screen TVs. ■ Exercise equipment is available after hours for employees to use.

55. Armor Protective Packaging Howell

www.armorvci.com David Yancho & Robin McConnell & John Holden, co-owners

Number of employees: 53 Number of millennial employees: 22 Male/female employee ratio: 40/60 Male/female executive ratio: 86/14 What makes Schechter Wealth cool: ■ All-team events include an outing at a Tigers game. ■ Offers free or discounted tickets to local family entertainment or sporting events. ■ Office includes chair massages, and a massage therapist often comes to the office.

58. Lambert, Edwards & Associates Detroit

lambert-edwards.com @LambertEdwards Jeffrey Lambert, president and managing partner

Advertising, public relations and marketing firm. Number of employees: 45 Number of millennial employees: 22 Male/female employee ratio: 39/61 Male/female executive ratio: 80/20 What makes Lambert, Edwards cool: ■ Office social events include Day of Fun, bi-annual retreat, quarterly themed potlucks, summer outings and a holiday

party. ■ Office space hosts basketball and cornhole contest, giant Scrabble board and leapfrog Fridays. ■ Wellness program includes Zumba on the roof and step challenges.

59. United Shore Troy

www.unitedshore.com @UnitedShore Mat Ishbia, president/CEO

Wholesale mortgage lender. Number of employees: 1956 Number of millennial employees: 1,120 Male/female employee ratio: 54/46 Male/female executive ratio: 55/45 Ranking in 2016: 50 What makes United Shore cool: ■ On-site Starbucks, gourmet cafeteria and convenience store. ■ Annual company fair at which team members and their families enjoy a night of unlimited rides and free games, food and drinks. ■ Team members can rent bikes to ride and break up their day with a workout or to get to nearby shops and restaurants. ■ 3 p.m. Thursday dance party to encourage team members to cut loose for a bit.

Sponsored Content: Watch the dance party, streamed live on the Crain’s Detroit Business Facebook page at 3 p.m. Aug. 31. Read more about United Shore on the inside cover of this week’s issue.

Number of employees: 91 Number of millennial employees: 50 Male/female employee ratio: 80/20 Male/female executive ratio: 90/10 Ranking in 2016: 20 What makes Control-Tec cool: ■ After work clubs include board games, video games and beer club. ■ Offers employees free snacks and drinks. ■ Access to a free gym across the street from the office. ■ Flexible work hours to accommodate employee needs.

61. Humantech Inc. Ann Arbor

www.humantech.com @humantech Franz Schneider, CEO James D. Good, president

Workplace improvement company. Number of employees: 51 Number of Michigan employees: 38 Number of millennial employees: 35 Male/female employee ratio: 38/62 Male/female executive ratio: 66/34 Ranking in 2016: 30 What makes Humantech Inc. cool: ■ Offers employees dry cleaning services, chair massages, shoe shines and meals. ■ Pays 100 percent of employee health insurance premiums. ■ Office includes sit-stand workstations. ■ Flex schedules and locations.

62. Dewpoint

60. Control-Tec

Lansing

Allen Park

www.dewpoint.com Patrick Maltby, COO

www.control-tec.com @controltec David Ploucha, president

A Delphi Automotive company that provides telematics and analytics for the transportation industry.

Strategic technology plan developer. Number of employees: 213 Number of millennial employees: 42 Male/female employee ratio: 67/33

No. 17

Work space matters

This ‘Cool’ firm tells us why

Rust removal and inhibitor manufacturer. Number of employees: 28 Number of millennial employees: 8 Male/female employee ratio: 57/43 Male/female executive ratio: 60/40 What makes Armor Protective Packaging cool: ■ Office kitchen provides Friday morning breakfasts. ■ Employees get 24 hours of paid time off to serve and volunteer. ■ Office space includes a workout room with showers and lockers. ■ Activities include anniversary celebration, outings, massages and manicures.

NBS Commercial Interiors employees enjoy bomb bowling this summer.

56. Compuware

Story by Crain Content Studio

Detroit

www.compuware.com @Compuware Chris O’Malley, CEO

Mainframe-dedicated software company. Number of employees: 331 Number of employees: 276 Number of millennial employees: 45 Male/female employee ratio: 72/28 Male/female executive ratio: 82/18 Ranking in 2016: 64 What makes Compuware cool: ■ Office events include lunches for holidays and monthly department-hosted celebrations. ■ All employees have access to office’s fitness center and day care facilities. ■ Celebrate every sale closed by ringing a bell outside the office of the senior vice

NBS Commercial Interiors operates under a simple, overarching philosophy. Space matters. “We’ve been very fortunate to have, over the years, a variety of people join us who are passionate about those two words,” said Rich Schwabauer, the Troybased commercial interior company’s president. That passion translates into the company’s work to produce inspiring work spaces that encourage collaboration and creativity for clients. “It’s like going into a favorite restaurant or venue: if that space is cool, it makes a difference,” Schwabauer said. “It drives everything we do.” NBS, named a Cool Place to Work in Michigan for SPONSORED BY:

2017, celebrated 40 years of reinventing work spaces last year. The company has about 1,300 clients, mostly in Southeast Michigan and Northern Ohio. Their focus has been in the education and health care industries, along with corporate clients and with emerging businesses. Amid its core focus on physical space, NBS also puts an emphasis on employee recognition. From shout-outs by managers to company-paid vacations, the company has several routines that show employees they are valued. Social gatherings — including one that happens around an ice cream truck parked outside the offices every summer Thursday — are also a staple of working at NBS Schwabauer said he genuinely feels sad when he visits some offices and walks through a sea of what he calls “grey on grey.” “People work 8 to 10 hours a day in their work environments,” he said. “They deserve a space that works as hard as they do, and it should inspire them to do their very best.”

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Male/female executive ratio: 66/34 Ranking in 2016: 25

63. Michigan First Credit Union Lathrup Village

What makes Dewpoint cool: www.michiganfirst.com ■ Discounts on gym memberships, @MichiganFirstCU massages, mortgages, travel. ■ Managers reward employees financially Michael Poulos, president/CEO or with gift cards, game tickets, extra paid Financial services. time off. Number of employees: 325 ■ Casual gatherings at the headquarters Number of millennial employees: 141 for food, drinks and socializing. All Natural Bacon, Cage Egg, Male/female employee ratio:Free 28/72 ■ March Madness event where employMale/female executive ratio: 62/38 ees and clients gather at a local restau- and Vermont White Cheddar with Lettuce Ranking in 2016: and Tomato on a21 Zingerman’s Bagel rant and watch college basketball.

What makes Michigan First Credit Union cool: ■ Free on-site 24/7 fitness center. ■ Provides more than 20 free financial seminars each year. ■ On-site pool table, foosball table, darts, pingpong, cornhole. ■ Annual profit-sharing.

64. Stuart Mechanical Auburn Hills

www.stuart-mechanical.com @StuartMech Richard Broder, CEO Ray Barnowske, COO

Number of employees: 84 Number of Michigan employees: 64 Number of millennial employees: 36 Male/female employee ratio: 51/49 Male/female executive ratio: 61/30 Ranking in 2016: 33

What makes Cinnaire cool: ■ Holiday party with opportunities for community giving. ■ Company-paid cell and wireless Fresh Kale & Brussels Sprouts Slaw, services. topped■ with Almonds and Dried Unlimited paid time off.Cranberries, drizzled■with a Housemade Dijon Vinaigrette On-site fully equipped exercise facility with showers/locker rooms.

68. Friedman Integrated Real Estate Number of employees: 25 SPONSORED BY PLUM MARKET FOOD SERVICESolutions | HUNGRY? TURN THE PAGE Provides comprehensive commercial mechanical services.

SPONSORED BY PLUM MARKET FOOD SERVICE | HUNGRY? TURN THE PAGE

on the go

boardroom bites

Number of millennial employees: 9 Male/female employee ratio: 92/8 Male/female executive ratio: 100/0

What makes Stuart Mechanical cool: ■ Summer half days, birthdays off and four-week sabbatical after 10 years. ■ Happy hour events throughout the year. ■ Office events include Thanksgiving luncheons, monthly lunch brought in from local restaurants and HR breakfast. ■ Flu shots, weekly fresh fruit and gym membership subsidies.

65. REDICO Southfield

www.redico.com @REDICO_CRE Dale Watchowski, president/CEO

All Natural Hickory Smoked Turkey Breast & Lacy Swiss Cheese layered with Housemade Coleslaw on Zingerman’s Jewish Rye

SICK OF DEALING WITH PRINTERS? Luckily for you, we love it.

“We recently switched to imageOne. Not only was it a substantial cost savings, but the overall experience has been extraordinary.” -Michael P. Kolb Chief Information & Security Officer Dickinson Wright

What makes REDICO cool: ■ Monthly birthday bagels with the CEO. ■ Wellness committee organizes organic fruit deliveries and steps challenges. ■ A “Bright Ideas” program invites employees to submit ideas to improve the business; winners receive cash prizes. ■ Employees contribute time and money to Gleaners Food Bank, American House Foundation and Winning Futures.

Sponsored content: Read more of what makes REDICO a Cool Place to Work on page S3.

Birmingham

www.shiftdigital.com @ShiftDigital1 Steve St. Andre, CEO

Digital marketing and technology company. Number of employees: 382 Number of Michigan employees: 356 Number of millennial employees: 247 Male/female employee ratio: 51/49 Male/female executive ratio: 89/11 Ranking in 2016: 16 What makes Shift Digital cool: ■ Dog-friendly workplace. ■ Free membership to Powerhouse Gym. ■ Flexible work environment that allows employees to take breaks as needed, walk to Starbucks, hang out in the lobby and more. ■ Free or discounted tickets to local family entertainment or sporting events.

Number of employees: 455 Number of Michigan employees: 219 Number of millennial employees: 100 Male/female employee ratio: 49/51 Male/female executive ratio: 57/43 What makes Friedman Integrated Real Estate Solutions cool: ■ Annual employee appreciation barbecue and holiday party. ■ More than three weeks of vacation time per year. ■ “FroYo Fridays” during the summer. ■ Holiday lunches, employee appreciation day and take your child to work day.

www.twomenandatruck.com @TwoMenAndATruck Jeff Wesley, CEO

Moving company. Number of employees: 225 Number of millennial employees: 119 Male/female employee ratio: 45/55 Male/female executive ratio: 75/25 What makes Two Men And A Truck International Inc.cool: ■ Free or discounted tickets to local family or sporting events. ■ Assists Volunteers of America with lunch service. ■ Annual family picnic. ■ Various dress-up days for holiday or sports team events.

70. ESG Automotive Inc. Troy

www.esg-usa.com @ESGAutomotiveUS Steve Polakowski, president

Electronic and IT system services to international automobile manufacturers and suppliers. Number of employees: 221 Number of millennial employees: 119 Male/female employee ratio: 79/21 Male/female executive ratio: 66/34 Ranking in 2016: 63

Detroit

What makes ESG Automotive Inc. cool: ■ Supports the Greening of Detroit and Gleaners Community Food Bank. ■ Holiday parties and summer events. ■ Company team events throughout the year include bowling, pizza parties and billiards.

www.cinnaire.com @cinnaire Mark McDaniel, president/CEO

71. Advia Credit Union

67. Cinnaire

A nonprofit community development finance company.

Cool Places Pages.indd 10

www.friedmanrealestate.com @FriedmanNews David Friedman, president/CEO Commercial real estate organization.

Commercial real estate, development, construction and property management firm. 69. Two Men And A with All Natural Herb-crusted Beef Tenderloin Number of employees: 183 TruckDemi-Glace, International Rosemary Balsamic-Grilled Number of millennial employees: 74 Inc.Vegetables, and Bakehouse Rolls Male/female employee ratio: 62/38 Lansing Male/female executive ratio: 50/50

66. Shift Digital

We’ll keep your printers and copiers running, manage your supplies, ramp up your security, and save you up to 30%.

Farmington Hills

Parchment

www.adviacu.org @AdviaCU

Cheryl DeBoer, CEO

Financial services. Number of employees: 466 Number of Michigan employees: 396 Number of millennial employees: 261 Male/female employee ratio: 30/70 Male/female executive ratio: 56/44 What makes Advia Credit Union cool: ■ Monthly activities include jeans days, company-provided lunch, holiday door decorating, crazy sock day and March Madness basketball. ■ Camp Advia brings together all employees for team building, fun activities. ■ Pays 100 percent of employee health insurance premiums. ■ No emails after 5 p.m. or on Fridays.

72. LoVasco Detroit

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www.lovascogroup.com Gene LoVasco, president

Provides insurance, employee benefits, retirement products and consulting services. Number of employees: 17 Number of millennial employees: 5 Male/female employee ratio: 41/59 Male/female executive ratio: 50/50 What makes LoVasco cool: ■ Office team-building events include scavenger hunts, step contest and activity point challenge. ■ Happy hour. ■ Office space includes treadmills with laptops and exercise ball chairs. ■ Cornhole and pingpong tournaments.

73. Marketing Associates Detroit

www.marketingassociates.com @MA_Detroit Mark Petroff, president/CEO

Provides marketing and sales services. Number of employees: 325 Number of Michigan employees: 251 Number of millennial employees: 111 Male/female employee ratio: 51/49 Male/female executive ratio: 87/13 Ranking in 2016: 62 What makes Marketing Associates cool: ■ Flexible work schedules. ■ Employees volunteer at various community organizations. ■ Summer beach parties in Campus Martius and surprise ice cream socials. ■ Volunteer of the Year award of $1,000 to donate to a charity.

Sponsored content: Read more about what makes Marketing Associates a Cool Place to Work on page S13.

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74. Tweddle Group

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www.tweddle.com @TweddleGroup Paul B. Wilbur, president/CEO Digital Publishing.

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Number of employees: 563 Number of millennial employees: 246 Male/female employee ratio: 66/34 Male/female executive ratio: 20/80 Ranking in 2016: 65 What makes Tweddle Group cool: ■ Employees choose their own hours. ■ Halloween celebration; teams collaborate to build a giant haunted house. ■ Company supports Habitat for Humanity, Wigs 4 Kids and Macomb Charitable Foundation. ■ Pays 100 percent of employee and dependent health insurance premiums. ■ Green Week; annual weeklong outdoor fair filled with “green” vendors, demon-

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78. Bedrock Detroit

www.bedrockdetroit.com @BedrockDetroit Jim Ketai, managing partner/CEO

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75. American Concrete Institute Farmington Hills

www.concrete.org @concreteACI Ronald G. Burg, executive vice president

Nonprofit worldwide resource for those in concrete design, materials and construction. Number of employees: 120 Number of millennial employees: 38 Male/female employee ratio: 38/62 Male/female executive ratio: 71/29 What makes American Concrete Institute cool: ■ Jeans days every Friday. ■ Company reimburses up to $30 a month toward fitness-related membership, classes. ■ Monthly office events include chili cook-off, international food luncheon and ice cream float days. ■ Company pays 100 percent of life insurance and short-term disability benefits.

76. ASTI Environmental Brighton

www.asti-env.com @astienv Thomas Wackerman, president

Provides environmental and engineering services. Number of employees: 32 Number of millennial employees: 12 Male/female employee ratio: 53/47 Male/female executive ratio: 85/15 What makes ASTI Environmental cool: ■ Casual work attire and environment. ■ Opportunity for paid time off. ■ Summer picnic for employees and family. ■ Office events include company anniversary parties, holiday events and birthday celebrations.

77. Sakti3 Inc. Ann Arbor

www.sakti3.com @Sakti3 Ann Marie Sastry, president/co-founder

Battery technology. Number of employees: 23 Number of millennial employees: 12 Male/female employee ratio: 65/35 Male/female executive ratio: 50/50 Ranking in 2016: 59 What makes Sakti3 Inc. cool: ■ Pays 100 percent of employee and dependent health insurance premiums. ■ Company-paid staff lunches throughout the year. ■ A quarterly event when all employees get together outside of the office. ■ Free or discounted tickets to local family entertainment or sporting events.

s. oor n-

Cool Places Pages.indd 11

What makes Bedrock cool: ■ Free snacks with healthy options. ■ Sit-stand desks. ■ Free parking in downtown Detroit. ■ Executives have an open-door policy — at any time, employees can approach them. ■ Close proximity to Campus Martius for restaurants and entertainment.

Sponsored content: See more of what makes Bedrock a Cool Place to Work on page S4.

79. The Mars Agency Southfield

www.themarsagency.com @marsagency Ken Barnett, global CEO

Advertising, public relations, marketing agency. Number of employees: 245 Number of Michigan employees: 172 Number of millennial employees: 57 Male/female employee ratio: 31/69 Male/female executive ratio: 47/53 What makes The Mars Agency cool: ■ Offers daily breakfast, and kitchen has coffee and snack bar. ■ Employees receive a half day off every other Friday from Memorial Day through Labor Day. ■ Stress break chair massages are offered every other month. ■ Company outings include Tigers and Mud Hens games, holiday party and golf.

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No. 97

Camaraderie and giving back Sterling Insurance Group culture all about client service, employee happiness Story by Michael Scott | Crain Content Studio Among the many reasons that make Sterling Insurance Group one of the 100 Cool Places to Work in Michigan: charitable giving, emphasis on career growth and social activities to keep the staff engaged. The Sterling Heights-based firm provides independent advice and multiple options on home and auto insurance, commercial insurance, and life and health insurance. Culture at Sterling Insurance Group centers on client service and employee SPONSORED BY: happiness, according to President Joe Haney. On the charitable side, employees are encouraged to recommend organizations to support through office events. Among recent charities Sterling Insurance Group has supported are Ronald McDonald House, Forgotten Harvest, Gleaners Community Food Bank and local animal shelters. Investing in employees and their careers, and giving them the resources for an efficient work environment is another goal of the firm. This includes offering movable desks that allow employees to sit or stand, giving team members two to three monitors per desk, and flexible and remote

Sterling Insurance Group employees attend a Detroit Tigers game.

work schedules. Sterling Insurance Group supports mentoring and is starting a co-op program for high school students this year. At a quarterly state-of-the firm meeting, employees are encouraged to share ideas for improvements. The company also offers wellness and social activities for employees, including massages on Tuesdays, yoga on Wednesdays and office Olympics. “These are all good ways to learn about your co-workers, and we have found they help to create camaraderie and team building,” Haney said.

80. CBI Detroit

cbisecure.com @CBI_IT Steve Barone, president/CEO

IT risk management adviser. Number of employees: 79 Number of millennial employees: 49 Male/female employee ratio: 79/21 Male/female executive ratio: 100/0 Ranking in 2016: 61 What makes CBI cool: ■ Office events include annual company picnic, Cedar Point trips and holiday party. ■ Offers chair massages. ■ Surprise shortened Fridays. ■ Bagel, taco and barbecue days are held year-round.

81. Cornerstone Community Financial Credit Union Auburn Hills

www.ccfinancial.com @cornerstone_CU Heidi Kassab, president/CEO

A full-service financial institution. Number of employees: 74 Number of millennial employees: 33 Male/female employee ratio: 21/79 Male/female executive ratio: 50/50 What makes Cornerstone Community Financial Credit Union cool: ■ Pays 100 percent of employee health insurance premiums. ■ Spirit days include Tigers, Lions, Pistons and other apparel. ■ Birthday paid time off and birthday

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SPONSORED BY PLUM MARKET FOOD SERVICE | HUNGRY? TURN THE PAGE

boardroom bites

celebrations include paid lunches and cake. ■ Office events include annual chili cookoff, ice cream socials and ugly Christmas sweater party.

82. Ally Financial Detroit

www.ally.com @AllyFinancial Kathie Patterson, chief human resources officer Andrea Riley, chief marketing and public relations officer

Digital financial services company. Number of U.S. .employees: 7,678 Number of Michigan employees: 1,491 Number of millennial employees: 416 Male/female employee ratio: 55/45 Male/female executive ratio: 68/32

key Breast & Housemade s Jewish Rye

All Natural Herb-crusted Beef Tenderloin with Rosemary Demi-Glace, Balsamic-Grilled Vegetables, and Bakehouse Rolls

CRAIN’S MICHIGAN STOCK CENTER Track daily winners and losers at crainsdetroit.com/stocks

What makes Ally Financial cool: ■ Flexible work arrangements. ■ On-site fitness center and walking trails. ■ Office space includes sit-to-stand workstations and treadmill workstations. ■ Events include themed potlucks, ugly sweater contest and soup/chili cook-off.

hail from the Detroit area, but they also return there: as analysts and engineers, biochemists and health professionals, as leaders in business and leaders of communities. Support them. Support us. And see the power of what can be.

Number of employees: 36 Number of millennial employees: 16 Male/female employee ratio: 59/41 Male/female executive ratio: 75/25 What makes Red Level cool: ■ Office space includes standing desks. ■ Employees participate in Nerf gun fights. ■ Kitchen includes snacks and treats. ■ During the summer employees are encouraged to bring in their pets on Fridays.

84. Altair Engineering Troy

Provides enterprise-class engineering software. Number of employees: 1,037 Number of Michigan employees: 807 Number of millennial employees: 345 Male/female employee ratio: 78/22 Male/female executive ratio: 88/12 What makes Altair Engineering cool: ■ Office events include ice cream socials, summer barbecues, family picnics and health fairs. ■ Paid time off for volunteering. ■ On-site yoga and fitness classes. ■ Daily walks during lunch.

85. National Food Group Novi

www.nationalfoodgroup.com @nationalfoodgrp Sean Zecman, president

Wholesale food distributor and processor.

Cool Places Pages.indd 12

Advertising, public relations, marketing firm. Number of employees: 83 Number of millennial employees: 34 Male/female employee ratio: 48/52 Male/female executive ratio: 100/0 What makes Duffey Petrosky cool: ■ Monthly summer barbecues. ■ Free yoga classes. ■ Free or discounted tickets to local family entertainment or sporting events. ■ Annual summer party in Detroit overlooking Comerica Park.

87. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Detroit

Number of employees: 7,571 Number of millennial employees: 1,548 Male/female employee ratio: 30/70 Male/female executive ratio: 53/47 Ranking in 2016: 68

www.altair.com @altair_us James Scapa, founder, chairman/CEO

gvsu.edu/SupportLakerEffect

www.duffeypetrosky.com @DuffeyPetrosky Mark Petrosky, CEO

83. Red Level

Creates and manages enterprise-grade IT systems.

of the Laker Effect. Many of our students not only

Farmington Hills

www.bcbsm.com @bcbsm Daniel J. Loepp, president/CEO

www.redlevelnetworks.com @RedLevelIT David King, president/CEO

The Motor City has both fueled and felt the power

86. Duffey Petrosky

Sponsored content: See more of what makes Ally Financial a Cool Place to Work. Watch the video at crainsdetroit. com/Ally.

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What makes National Food Group cool: ■ Chair massages. ■ On-site employee garden. ■ Flexible hours to accommodate employees’ needs.

Number of employees: 103 Number of Michigan employees: 83 Number of millennial employees: 65 Male/female employee ratio: 40/60 Male/female executive ratio: 50/50 Ranking in 2016: 57

A nonprofit mutual insurance company.

■ Pays 100 percent of employee health insurance premiums. ■ Friday trivia afternoons.

90. Sun Communities Inc. Southfield

A real estate investment trust that owns and operates manufactured homes and RV communities. Number of employees: 2,686 Number of Michigan employees: 638 Number of millennial employees: 726 Male/female employee ratio: 47/53 Male/female executive ratio: 80/20 What makes Sun Communities Inc. cool: ■ Free fitness center with two full-time trainers. ■ Summer picnic and holiday parties. ■ Paid time off to volunteer. ■ Supports a variety of charities including Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit. Holland

89. Phire Group Ann Arbor

www.phiregroup.com @phiregroup Jim Hume, principal

Advertising, public relations, marketing company.

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Provides managed and professional IT services. Number of employees: 65 Number of millennial employees: 47 Male/female employee ratio: 81/19 Male/female executive ratio: 84/16

www.metroca.net @MetroCA_LLC Jeff Evans, CEO

Number of employees: 260 Number of Michigan employees: 254 Number of millennial employees: 94 Male/female employee ratio: 75/25 Male/female executive ratio: 75/25 What makes Bluewater cool: ■ Free breakfast and lunch for employees four days a week. ■ Massage therapy services every Thursday. ■ Annual company parties at locations such as Punch Bowl Social in Detroit. ■ Bocce ball tournaments.

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www.worksighted.com @worksighted Mat Nguyen, president

88. Bluewater

Meeting and event technology and displays.

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91. Worksighted

What makes Worksighted cool: ■ Daytime chair massages. ■ Pingpong tournaments. ■ Catering services prepare meals three times a week. ■ Regular breakfast potlucks and in-office happy hours.

bluewatertech.com @BWTechnologies Jeffrey Day, CEO Sue Schoeneberger, owner/president

www @The Jim D

www.suncommunities.com @suncareers Gary Shiffman, CEO

What makes Blue Cross Blue Shield cool: ■ Free parking in downtown Detroit. ■ Health club reimbursement up to $300 per year. ■ Office space includes pingpong table, treadmill walk/workstations and online fitness gaming stations. ■ Office features a scenic walking path from Greektown to the Renaissance Center and Detroit RiverWalk. Southfield

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92. Metro Consulting Associates Plymouth

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A full-service environmental engineering consulting firm. Number of employees: 75 Number of Michigan employees: 51 Number of millennial employees: 21 Male/female employee ratio: 79/21 Male/female executive ratio: 78/22

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What makes Metro Consulting Associates cool: ■ Super Bowl, summer and Halloween potlucks. ■ Pays 100 percent of employee and dependent health insurance premiums. ■ Supports adopt-a-family, wildlife habitat and breast cancer charities. ■ Ornament designing and tree decorating in downtown Plymouth.

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93. Lake Trust Credit Union

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Provides financial services.

Number of employees: 21 Number of millennial employees: 13 Male/female employee ratio: 52/48 Male/female executive ratio: 100/0

Number of employees: 392 Number of millennial employees: 170 Male/female employee ratio: 27/73 Male/female executive ratio: 45/55

What makes Phire Group cool: ■ Monthly Friday “Phire Phun Days” for off-site team building. ■ Monthly all-staff lunch to learn from internal and external speakers.

What makes Lake Trust Credit Union cool: ■ Paid volunteer time off. ■ Office space includes pingpong, foosball table and shuffleboard.

8/25/17 12:31 PM

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C R A I N ’ S D E T R O I T B U S I N E S S // A U G U S T 2 8 , 2 0 1 7 ■ Supports Gleaners, United Way, MakeA-Wish Foundation, Meals on Wheels and more. ■ On-site chair and table massages.

S13

No. 73

94. The Martec Group Southfield

www.martecgroup.com @TheMartecGroup Jim Durkin, president

Provides custom market research consulting. Number of employees: 38 Number of Michigan employees: 19 Number of millennial employees: 8 Male/female employee ratio: 63/37 Male/female executive ratio: 80/20 Ranking in 2016: 37 What makes The Martec Group cool: ■ Half days on Fridays. ■ Sports teams such as soccer, kickball and volleyball. ■ Fitbits for all employees. ■ On-site gym.

holiday season. ■ Pays 100 percent of employee health insurance premiums. ■Employees can leave early on sunny days. ■ Yoga classes, chair massages and annual Tigers game outings for employees.

Sponsored content: Read more of what makes Sterling Insurance Group a Cool Place to Work on page S11.

95. Austin Benefits Group

98. Criteo

Bloomfield Hills

Ann Arbor

www.austinbenefits.com @austinbenefits Dean Austin, president/CEO

www.criteo.com @Criteo Eric Eichmann, CEO Jonn Behrman,VP/product/R&D

Employee benefits agency. Number of employees: 30 Number of millennial employees: 15 Male/female employee ratio: 23/77 Male/female executive ratio: 40/60 Ranking in 2016: 75 What makes Austin Benefits Group cool: ■ Employees participate in spring and summer 5K runs. ■ Office events include scavenger hunts, putt-putt challenges, Easter egg hunts, and DJ parties. ■ Monthly themed lunches. ■ Gym membership reimbursement.

96. Legal Copy Services Grand Rapids

www.legalcopyservices.com @_LCSrecords Mike Van Dusen, CEO

Provides nationwide records retrieval service.

Global digital performance marketing company. Number of employees: 730 Number of Michigan employees: 76 Number of millennial employees: 67 Male/female employee ratio: 84/16 Male/female executive ratio: 100/0 What makes Criteo cool: ■ Pays 100 percent of employee health insurance premiums. ■ Office activities include happy hours and pingpong tournaments. ■ On-site yoga room and yoga/Pilates classes. ■ Financial education sessions for employees.

www.nitssolutions.com @NITSSolutions Neetu Seth, CEO

Data analytics partner.

What makes Legal Copy Services cool: ■ Company provides lunch the first Friday of every month. ■ Jeans can be worn every day (and shorts on Fridays during the summer). ■ Office includes a game room with foosball, pingpong, beanbags and a PlayStation 4. ■ Located on a lake, employees enjoy kayaking, fishing and a trail.

What makes NITS Solutions cool: ■ Office includes pingpong table. ■ Employees volunteer with Forgotten Harvest. ■ Halloween costume party where the two best costumes receive gift cards.

www.sterlingagency.com @SterlingAgency_ Joe Haney, president

Provides commercial and personal insurance as well as employee benefits. Number of employees: 71 Number of millennial employees: 20 Male/female employee ratio: 15/85 Male/female executive ratio: 33/67 What makes Sterling Insurance Group cool: ■ Employees adopt a family during the

Cool Places Pages.indd 13

Employees at Marketing Associates connect outside work, too

work every day,” Petroff said. “Our culture of giving back is very important to us and is one of the main reasons we moved to Detroit. We care about the revival of this city.” Two organized efforts — Community Action Fridays Story by Carolyn Ridella | Crain Content Studio and Random Acts of Kindness Week — help employees disperse gifts and volunteer time throughout the For Marketing Associates LLC, workplace culture community. is built on innovation, creativity and community In addition to their community involvement projinvolvement. ects, Marketing Associates employees participate Those attributes helped the Detroit-based SPONSORED BY: in social activities together. marketing company earn a spot as one of the Beach parties at Campus Martius, surprise 100 Cool Places to Work in Michigan for 2017. ice cream socials and poker walks are among Marketing Associates, celebrating the comopportunities for employees to connect with pany’s 50th anniversary this year, provides one another. marketing, analytics and technology services “Opportunities to collaborate inside and outto global clients across multiple industries. side of the office drive innovation,” Petroff said. CEO Mark Petroff says connecting to the “Our team comes together to deliver creative community is one of the company’s core values. solutions to our clients’ biggest problems. And, the best “Our work in the community gives our team perpart about our culture is that we get the job done while spective on the bigger picture beyond just coming to also having fun.”

Novi

Number of employees: 39 Number of millennial employees: 39 Male/female employee ratio: 60/40 Male/female executive ratio: 25/75

Sterling Heights

Collaboration = innovation

99. NITS Solutions

Number of employees: 68 Number of millennial employees: 41 Male/female employee ratio: 29/71 Male/female executive ratio: 67/33

97. Sterling Insurance Group

Marketing Associates LLC’s annual “Peep Show” is one way that brings out the team’s creativity: Departments create themed displays only using Peeps.

a neer i g n We e world! safer

I’m much smarter than the average dummy...

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100. Dynatrace LLC Detroit

www.dynatrace.com @Dynatrace John Van Siclen, CEO Andrew Hittle, SVP/chief customer officer

Digital performance management firm. Number of employees: 696 Number of Michigan employees: 259 Number of millennial employees: 35 Male/female employee ratio: 70/30 Male/female executive ratio: 100/0 What makes Dynatrace LLC cool: ■ All employees have access to fresh fruit brought in from Eastern Market weekly. ■ Foosball and cornhole games. ■ Office is connected to Ford Field and employees have access to Ford Field yoga on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

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8/25/17 11:34 AM

SPONSORED BY:

Plum Market Kitchen is breaking the rules of the corporate cafeteria

Lunchroom, Redefined How Plum Market is reinventing the healthy workplace and rethinking the corporate cafeteria By Laura Cassar | Crain Content Studio Perfectly grilled salmon with a housemade balsamic glaze, topped with a Michigan corn and organic tomato relish, rests atop a steaming bed of organic, long-grain brown rice. This isn’t your typical corporate lunchroom. Michigan-based Plum Market was cofounded by Matt and Marc Jonna, who just celebrated the company’s 10-year anniversary. They’ve developed a reputation for quality and service at their six retail locations across Southeast Michigan and Chicago and are now expanding their focus to offer that same gourmet dining experience at work. The company’s growing food service division operates 10 cafeterias inside companies and schools including Lear Corp., Magna International, Taubman Centers, Penske Corp., and Detroit Country Day, with several new kitchens opening next year. These operations currently serve over 5,000 guests each day, a number that is projected to double in the next 24 months. In its cafeterias, Plum Market Kitchen provides a neighborhood boutique feel, stocked with healthy, attractive options that taste as good as they look. “A lot of companies that select us want to give their employees that extra 1 percent. It really goes a long way for recruitment and rewarding talent,” Plum Market CEO and Cofounder Matt Jonna said. “There is a lot of excitement when they see us come to a building. When your team doesn’t have to switch gears for lunch there’s more time for networking and team building. ” The making of a lunch menu In setting up a new food service account, Plum Market begins with a stockpile of legacy recipes. And then the fun begins.

“Just like our stores have unique needs and tastes, so do our cafeterias. We’re actually disrupting the food service category by taking the historically institutional concept of the cafeteria and tailoring it to the needs of the individual,” Matt Jonna said. Plum Market customizes each cafeteria to a client’s specific wants and needs, including identifying allergies in the building. “One campus sets up an omelet bar on Wednesday, another really likes low-carb options, vegetarian, and seafood dishes. Other clients are more meat-and-potato,” said Chef Kelly Toone, adding that theme days, like Spanish Day and Mediterranean Day, are very popular. Clients can experience untraditional flavors bringing flare to the work week. Chef Toone is the VP of Food Service for Plum Market and works onsite with each location’s Campus Director. Feedback flows into the kitchen and adjustments are made by listening to the guest’s needs. “We’re like a speed boat,” Toone said. “We can turn quickly and make fast adjustments to the menu.” Each cafeteria has a commercial kitchen on-site. Nothing is brought in prepared; everything is made from scratch, giving Plum Market chefs creative freedom. Each day, a typical cafeteria menu includes: All-natural soups with vegetarian choices and meat-based options. Build your own salad bar with fresh greens and seasonal veggies, plant-based proteins like quinoa and pumpkin seeds, and housemade dressings. Self-service hot food bars with several recipes, including lean protein entrées and gourmet side dishes. Kitchen grill with made-to-order options, from paninis and wraps to build-your-own all natural burgers. Grab and go drinks and packaged organic snacks. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. One thing that never changes is the Plum Market quality. The food service division has an organic focus and uses all-natural proteins, including Bell & Evans chicken and Niman Ranch beef. Every dish is prepared with both the health conscious and foodies in mind. “We are selective,” said Plum Market Cofounder Marc Jonna, “We have to be partners with the corporation and believe in the same goal. We will not compromise what Plum Market is.”

“We’re actually disrupting the food service category by taking the historically institutional concept of the cafeteria and tailoring it to the needs of the individual.” More than what’s on the plate The mission, according to the Jonnas, is to recreate how people think about eating at work. It's fast and casual but it’s fine dining. It’s filling but clean. It’s delicious but healthy. With the growing attention to food quality and eating right, a corporate cafeteria that offers healthy options can help a company attract talent. “How employees are treated means a lot,” Matt Jonna said. “We make our guests feel special. What we offer is quality and service above and beyond.”

Plum Market caters, too

■ Plum Market can cater any size event from the boardroom meetings to large scale corporate events. ■ On-site chefs provide an unparalleled level of detail. ■ Menus can be tailored to the theme of your event; service, entertainment, and decor options also available.

To transform your employees’ lunch experience, contact Plum Market Food Service at www.plummarketfoodservice.com.

Step inside a Plum Market Food Service cafeteria: See photos and take a virtual tour at CrainsDetroit.com/PlumMarketKitchen

C R A I N ’ S D E T R O I T B U S I N E S S // A U G U S T 2 8 , 2 0 1 7

CALENDAR WEDNESDAY, AUG. 30 Navigating Security and Privacy in Next-Gen Mobility. 8:30-10:30 a.m. University of Michigan-Dearborn. A panel of academic researchers at University of Michigan-Dearborn and industry leaders from Ford Motor Co. will discuss security and privacy challenges, solutions and recommendations in the next generation of mobility. Topics will include: an overview of the smart mobility trend, security risks and privacy implications in the next generation of mobility era and recent research advances in security and privacy protection. Speakers: Di Ma, associate professor of Computer and Information Science and founder of the Cybersecurity Center for Research, Education and Outreach, University of Michigan-Dearborn; Pramita Mitra, mobility research engineer, Ford Research and Innovation Center; Brahim Medjihed, associate professor of Computer and Information Science, University of Michigan-Dearborn. Automation Alley, Troy. Free members; $20 nonmembers. Phone: (800) 427-5100; email: events@automationalley.com

DEALS & DETAILS abast@detroitchamber.com; website: detroitchamber.com/events/ 2017 Entrepreneur and Small Business Conference: Pathways to Success. 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Sept. 22. South East Michigan Entrepreneurs Association. Speakers include: Ryan Mack, CNN Commentator, Irene Spanos, director of Economic Development and Community Affairs Oakland County, and Edward Foxworth, Foxworth Marketing Group. Event also includes panel discussions, breakout sessions, breakfast, lunch and network-

ing opportunities. University of Phoenix Southfield Campus. $49 until Sept. 8; $59 after Sept. 8 until Sept. 20; $79 late/onsite registration. Email: administrator@semea. info; website: semea.org To submit calendar items visit crainsdetroit.com and click “Events” near the top of the home page. Then, click “Submit Your Events” from the drop-down menu that will appear. Fill out the submission form, then click “Submit event” at the bottom of the page. More Calendar items can be found at crainsdetroit.com

CONTRACTS J Near Perfect Media LLC, Birmingham, a public relations firm, has been named agency of record for The Fed, Clarkston; Luxury Mortgage, Southfield; and Oakland University, Rochester. Website: nearperfectmedia.com.

EXPANSIONS J Sachse Construction, Detroit, a commercial construction management firm, announced the expansion of the Oakland Veterinary Referral Services facility, a veterinary hospital at

1400 S. Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills. Website: sachseconstruction. com. J Tubby’s Sub Shops Inc., Clinton Township, has opened a store at 4429 S. Wayne Road, Wayne. Phone: (734) 224-6222. Website: tubbys.com. J Lake St. Clair Metropark, Harrison Township, announced the opening of a new playground area. Website: metroparks.com.

Email Deals & Details items to cdbdepartments@crain.com

UPCOMING EVENTS September Economic Development Forum. 8-9:30 a.m. Sept. 13. Troy Chamber of Commerce. Speaker: David Johnson, vice president of Customer Service and Economic Development, DTE Energy, on economic development initiatives. Rehmann, Troy. Free, Troy chamber members; $10 nonmembers. Contact: Jessica Hruska, phone: (248) 641-1606; email: jessica@troychamber.com; website: troychamber.com/events/septemb e r- 2 0 1 7 - e c o n o m i c - d e v e l o p ment-forum/ Washtenaw Economic Club Luncheon. 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Sept. 14. Washtenaw Economic Club. What will the world look like in five years? Journalist and innovation speaker Leah Hunter draws on her research and background as a corporate innovation consultant for companies like Apple, Pepsi and Cisco. 4800 E. Huron River Drive, Ann Arbor $77.50 nonmember. Phone: (765) 677-5060; email: washtenaweconclub@wccnet.edu; website: washtenaweconclub.org CEO Breakfast: Tony Michaels, President and CEO, The Parade Company. 8-9:30 a.m. Sept. 19. Troy Chamber of Commerce. A behindthe-scenes look at America’s Thanksgiving Parade. Hilton Garden Inn, Troy. $24 Troy chamber members; $34 nonmembers. Website: t r o y c h a m b e r. c o m / e v e n t s / ceo-breakfast-tony-michaels/ Inside the CEO Mind. 8 a.m. Sept. 19. Detroit Regional Chamber. American Jewelry and Loan’s Leslie “Les” Gold and Seth Gold will share their perspectives as business owners and reality television stars. The Golds will discuss how their company separates itself from competitors. American Jewelry and Loan, Detroit. $30 members; $50 nonmembers. Contact: Marianne Alabastro, phone: (313) 596-0479; e-mail: mal-

Crain’s Detroit Business just named Greenleaf Trust a 2017 Cool Place to Work. (Not that we noticed…) Financial Security from Generation to Generation

3 4 9 7 7 w o o d wa r d av e n u e b i r m i n g h a m , m i 4 8 0 0 9

g r e e n l e a f t r u s t. c o m

248.530.6200

C R A I N ’ S D E T R O I T B U S I N E S S // A U G U S T 2 8 , 2 0 1 7

ADVERTISING SECTION To place your listing or for more information, please call Lynn Calcaterra at (313) 446-6086 or email lcalcaterra@crain.com

www.crainsdetroit.com/onthemove

CONSULTING

Gerry Miserendino

Ashley Yax

Account Director, Benefits Consulting Group

Vice President, Sales and Marketing

Cambridge Consulting Group

Village Green

Gerry Miserendino & team relocated from Grosse Pointe, MI, to the Cambridge headquarters in Royal Oak, MI. He serves as an Account Director for the Benefits Consulting practice. Miserendino has been an affiliate of with Cambridge Consulting Group Benefits Consulting for more than 30 years, operating independently. He will primarily focus on Individual & Small Business Health Insurance and Medicare. Miserendino & team have expanded Cambridge’s existing Individual & Small Group practice.

FINANCIAL SERVICES

REAL ESTATE

Chris Rice

Jennifer Orcutt

Kyle O’Neil

Vice President, Commercial Relationship Manager

Vice President, Senior Private Banker

Vice President, Commercial Relationship Manager

Village Green is pleased to announce the promotion of Ashley Yax to VP of Sales and Marketing. A natural mentor and advocate for the company, Ashley has been with Village Green since 2008. In her time with the company, she has demonstrated a passion for excellence and a determined spirit manifested in a ‘never quit’ attitude. Ashley’s knowledge of the multi-family industry is truly unparalleled, as is her focus on customer service and in delivering authentic experiences.

Fifth Third Bank Chris is responsible for providing financial solutions for organizations in Eastern Michigan in the healthcare, education and non-profit sectors. Chris has 11 years of banking experience and was previously with Comerica Bank focusing on companies in the same industries. He received his bachelor’s in Finance degree from Michigan State University and his MBA from Wayne State University. Jennifer is responsible for facilitating a broad array of wealth management services including asset management, trust planning, lending, and depository products for Fifth Third Wealth and Asset Management clients in Eastern Michigan. Jennifer has 20 years of banking experience and was previously with Huntington Bank as a commercial banking relationship manager. She received her bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University. Kyle is responsible for providing financial solutions for organizations in Eastern Michigan in the healthcare, education and non-profit sectors. Kyle comes to Fifth Third from Comerica Bank where he was a Relationship Manager focusing on companies in the same industries. He received his bachelor’s in business administration degree from Western Michigan University.

FINANCIAL SERVICES CONSTRUCTION

Landon Owens Director of Preconstruction

MiG Construction Detroit MiG Construction is excited to announce Landon Owens as our Director of Preconstruction, coming from Sachse Construction. Landon will lead MiG’s estimating department. He brings 20 years of experience in sales, business management, construction, and development to the team along with his strong background in cost estimating. Landon has a track record of outstanding performance with product design, procurement/ purchasing of residential, multi-family, commercial and mixed-use projects.

NONPROFITS

Kenneth Chaput

Mary Treder Lang

Todd Biederwolf

Managing Director Compliance and Operations

Vice President of Major Gifts

Vice President of Academic Development Programs

CIG Capital Advisors

Vista Maria

Mary Treder Lang transitions to a new role as Vice President of Major Gifts. In her new role, Treder Lang will develop the structure for the office of major gifts and expand the gateways to giving for existing and future donors. Treder Lang held prior positions at Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, Siemens Building Technologies, Inc., and Mosler, Inc. She is a CPA and a Regent at Eastern Michigan University. She has her Bachelor of Science in business administration from the University of Dayton.

Todd Biederwolf joins Vista Maria as Vice President of Academic Development Programs. Biederwolf will oversee Vista Maria’s Journey to Success program and continue to build on its existing academic and vocational programs and partnerships. Biederwolf comes to Vista Maria from the Harper Woods School District where he was superintendent. Prior to that, he worked as an administrator in the Warren Consolidated School District. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s from Central Michigan University.

CIG Capital Advisors, a firm that provides financial advisory services, has promoted Kenneth G. Chaput, to Managing Director - Compliance and Operations. The announcement was made by CIG’s founder and managing principal, Osman Minkara. Chaput joined CIG Capital Advisors from his previous position as Executive Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer at NorthStar Financial Partners, Inc. Kenneth earned his BSA Managerial Economics & Finance degree from the University of MichiganDearborn.

KNOW SOMEONE ON THE MOVE? For more information or questions regarding advertising in this section, please call Lynn Calcaterra at (313) 446-6086 or email: lcalcaterra@crain.com

G CIN N U NO N A

NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN

For the first time, Crain’s Detroit Business recognizes Eight Over 80 and celebrates their ongoing contributions to our community. We’re looking for our region’s most influential leaders in business, philanthropy, leadership, public service and civic life who are 80 or older — whether they’re retired or not.

Nominations are due by

SEPT. 1

SUBMIT A NOMINATION TODAY at crainsdetroit.com/nominate

â&#x20AC;&#x2122;S S DETROIT BUSINESS C R A I N â&#x20AC;&#x2122; S D E T R O IC TRAIN BU INES S // A U G U S T 2 8 , 2 0 1 7

Page 2

SPOTLIGHT

Henry Ford Hospitalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Popovich to retire

After 43 years at Henry Ford Hospital, starting out as an intern and rising to become CEO, John Popovich, M.D., announced he will retire in the spring of 2018. â&#x20AC;&#x153;His legacy includes building, leading and nurturing John Popovich a team that is well-positioned to continue the hospitalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reputation as an academic medical center highly regarded for its research, education and clinical excellence,â&#x20AC;? Wright Lassiter III, president and CEO of Henry Ford Health System, said in a statement. Popovich has served in many roles at Henry Ford and later at the six-hospital health system. Besides CEO of Henry Ford Hospital since 2010, Popovich is chief medical officer for the health system. In 1980, he became a senior staff physician in the Henry Ford Medical Group after his fellowship in pulmonary medicine. He was director of the critical care unit at Henry Ford Hospital and later led the expansion of critical care medicine at Henry Ford Hospital. In 1999, Popovich became chair of the department of internal medicine. In 2008, he became senior vice president for clinical affairs for the health system.

PLA hires new executive director

The Public Lighting Authority has named Beau Taylor as its new executive director. Taylor, 42, is taking over for PLA CEO Nicolette Carlone, who did not seek reappointment after her contract ended Aug. 1, PLA spokesman Dan Austin said. The job change is effective immediately. The PLA is ramping down operations after it finished installing 65,000 new streetlights in Detroit in December as part of a threeyear, $185 million program. Taylor comes to the PLA from a position as regional manager for Asplundh Construction Midwest, according to a news release. Before that, he had directed Detroitâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Public Lighting Department for three years and helped create the PLA.

Nolan Finley to host 910AM show

Nolan Finley will join Detroitâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 910AM Superstation lineup with a m o r n i n g weekday show starting Sept. 5, the station announced. The editorial page editor at The Detroit News will host â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Nolan Finley Showâ&#x20AC;? at the 7-9 a.m. Nolan Finley slot on the urban talk station, cutting Detroit political consultant Steve Hoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Wake Up With Steve Hoodâ&#x20AC;? show from its current three-hour format to 6-7 a.m., spokesman Mort Meisner said.

Restaurants expect to grow, but hiring still a struggle By Annalise Frank afrank@crain.com

The dining business is on track to grow in the second half of the year â&#x20AC;&#x201D; but restaurant owners are worried about finding enough staff to ride that growth. Restaurant sales across the state rose 3.2 percent in the second quarter of the year, compared with 1.7 percent in the first quarter, the Michigan Restaurant Association found in its second-quarter trends report. And 71 percent of association member respondents said they were optimistic sales growth would improve in the last six months of the year. John Vermiglio, a co-owner of Midtown restaurant and cocktail bar Grey Ghost, said Detroitâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s restaurant scene finds itself in similar territory. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think the constant allure and intrigue of the city of Detroit will continue to fuel restaurants for presumably a long time to come,â&#x20AC;? Vermiglio said. Sales are surging at the Sweet Lorraineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fabulous Mac nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Cheez and Mac nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Brewz locations in downtown Detroit and Midtown, said Gary Sussman, who founded the chain with his wife, Lorraine Platman. But he doesn't expect that same growth across the board. â&#x20AC;&#x153;By the same token, I think mall traffic will suffer somewhat for that, because people will be down in Detroit,â&#x20AC;? said Sussman, who also has a Mac nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Cheez location at Great Lakes Crossing Outlets. Mall restaurants are coming upon their high season â&#x20AC;&#x201D; back-to-school and holidays â&#x20AC;&#x201D; so they may do okay over the next six months. But they certainly arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t doing well like those in the city. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Some (markets) will take from others,â&#x20AC;? he said. But as the industry grows, hiring has â&#x20AC;&#x153;never been tougher,â&#x20AC;? Sussman said. A lack of worker supply, coupled with high demand, remains a major concern for the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s restaurant owners, according to the report. It is also driving up wage prices, the report found. For Vermiglio, the â&#x20AC;&#x153;number one fearâ&#x20AC;? is staff turnover. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s constantly wondering who will leave next and how Grey Ghost will replace them. On top of that, restaurants must seek out staff with qualities that can be difficult to find, like patience and a willingness to completely commit, he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Your team and everyone is a valid player in the game, and you need every one of them to be on top of their stuff if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re gonna compete here,â&#x20AC;? he said. The hiring pool is small, and salary expectations â&#x20AC;&#x201D; of line cooks, especially â&#x20AC;&#x201D; have climbed, Vermiglio said. And while the wage hikes are certainly warranted, restaurants deal with tight margins as it is, he said. But even if a restaurant can find job-seekers to fill positions, it isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t guaranteed those employees will put in the hours needed to cover longer

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Your team and everyone is a valid player in the game, and you need every one of them to be on top of their stuff if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re gonna compete here.â&#x20AC;? John Vermiglio

shifts â&#x20AC;&#x201D; especially millennials, Sussman said. Vermiglio added: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Oftentimes, a position in a restaurant or as a server, as a role, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a way to make money and a second job kind of thing. You have to find the balance, right. For some of us, this is our career, our passion, our lives.â&#x20AC;? This hiring fear coupled with careful optimism is reflected in the statewide survey, which is conducted quarterly to analyze Michigan Restaurant Association membersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; impressions on trends in the industry. About 500 establishments participated this quarter, making total yearly revenue of $689 million. More than 60 percent of survey respondents were single-unit independently owned restaurants, 18 percent were franchisees, 17 percent were independent chains, and the rest were other restaurant groups or corporate-owned. The MRA represents about 4,500 restaurants and other food service providers in an industry that is one of Michiganâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest employers. The report also found that: J Many association members were surprised at the large number of restaurants opening around them. J 62 percent of respondents didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t expect to add employees in the next six months. J Food costs have risen over the past three months. J Though the growth rate improved in the second quarter of 2017, it is still behind 2016â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s growth rate. Restaurants in Detroit are looking to build an advocacy voice for their industry as they navigate obstacles like rising costs and small hiring pools. Recently, the Michigan Retail Association helped a collection of Detroit restaurant owners launch the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first local organization in nearly half a century to promote its increasingly saturated dining and hospitality landscape. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I guess itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kind of like, everyone growing together, right, in this level of dining thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s coming to Detroit,â&#x20AC;? Vermiglio said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s this education of everyone.â&#x20AC;? Diners in Detroit have new expectations and restaurants must keep pace as those expectations evolve. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Finding that and everyone growing together is certainly a challenge,â&#x20AC;? he said.

August 28, 2017 25

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JOB FRONT POSITIONS AVAILABLE

PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT - JOB CODE PC-02 The primary obj of this position is to imp the Symphony EYC GOLD cust user exp by conduct rigorous analyses & identify practical sol. Provide Symphony EYC GOLD sub matter expertise & thought lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ship as an extended member of US cust team. - Provide guidance recom & best practices for Symphony EYC GOLD operâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. Stabilize & opti Symphony EYC GOLD sys perf incl rules & reports. Assist US cust with Symphony EYC GOLD comp upgrade instal, test & config. Assist in the mult hands-on imple Symphony EYC GOLD. - Liaise with Symphony EYC GOLD Sup, Eng, Produ Mgmt & other within Symphony EYC on behalf of US cust. Provide single point of cont & hands-on escal & remediation for crit issues. Respond rapidly to unplanned events, incl after hrs for Severity 1 issues. Proactively comm rel tech inf & alerts on known issues hot fixes & new rele. Comm profesly & effectively at all org level. Keep the acc team informed of major issues or new oppor. Travel may be req to remote sites on need bas. Addit Reqâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s: Bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s deg (or foreign equivalent) in Comp Sci, Eng, Comp Apps or clos rel degree with 5 years of relevant prof exp in supply chain mgmt. Alt: Masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s deg (or foreign equivalent) in Comp Sci, Eng, Comp Apps or clos rel deg with 3 yrs of rel prof exp in supply chain mgmt. 5 yrs of exp in supp Retail Supply Chain Mgmt, Prod Cate Mgmt & Merchand Space Mgmt SW Working kâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ledge of CRM tools. -Working kâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ledge of Oracle Java & J2EE. Willingness to work out nor business hrs without prior notice. 10% Travel may be req to rem sites as-needed basis. Atlanta, GA. Please send resume to: Harman Connected Services Attn: Gokul /Job Code PC-02 2002 156th Avenue NE #200, Bellevue, WA 98007. Work location: Novi, MI, USA May have long term assign in other loc in U.S. incl Livonia, MI area. If sub your app electronically please email:

gokul.d@harman.com

with position name & job code.

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INDUSTRIAL SERVICES

BANKRUPTCIES The following businesses filed for bankruptcy protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Detroit Aug. 18-24. Chapter 7 involves total liquidation.

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C R A I N â&#x20AC;&#x2122; S D E T R O I T B U S I N E S S // A U G U S T 2 8 , 2 0 1 7

CRAIN'S LIST: LARGEST SE MICHIGAN EMPLOYERS

Ranked by full-time employees July 2017 Rank

Company Address Phone; website

Top local executive(s)

Full-time employees in Southeast Michigan July 2017

Full-time employees in Southeast Worldwide Worldwide Michigan employees employees July 2016 July 2017 July 2016 Type of business

Ford Motor Co. 1 American Road, Dearborn 48126 (313) 322-3000; www.ford.com

Jim Hackett CEO

48,000

47,000

General Motors Co. 300 Renaissance Center, Detroit 48265 (313) 556-5000; www.gm.com

Mary Barra chairman and CEO

37,713

36,628

221,083

213,957 Automobile manufacturer

University of Michigan , Ann Arbor 48109 (734) 764-1817; http://umich.edu/

Mark Schlissel president

32,749

31,655

48,000

46,420

Public university and health system

FCA US LLC 1000 Chrysler Drive, Auburn Hills 48326-2766 (248) 576-5741; www.fcanorthamerica.com

Sergio Marchionne chairman and CEO

32,514

32,508

86,900

81,865

Automobile manufacturer

Beaumont Health 2000 Town Center, Suite 1200, Southfield 48075 (248) 213-3333; www.beaumonthealth.org

John Fox president and CEO

28,038

25,721

28,071

26,190

Health care system

U.S. government 477 Michigan Ave., Detroit 48226 (313) 226-4910; www.usa.gov

18,920

18,862

Henry Ford Health System 1 Ford Place, Detroit 48202 (800) 436-7936; www.henryford.com

Wright Lassiter III president and CEO

17,608

16,919

18,520

Rock Ventures 1050 Woodward Ave., Detroit 48226 (800) 251-9080

Dan Gilbert chairman and founder

16,617

14,237

28,742

26,114

Rock Ventures LLC is an umbrella entity managing a portfolio of companies, investments and real estate, including its flagship company Quicken Loans and Greektown Casino.

Trinity Health 20555 Victor Parkway, Livonia 48152 (734) 343-1000; www.trinity-health.org

Richard Gilfillan president and CEO

14,676

15,214

98,842

Health care system

Ascension Michigan 28000 Dequindre Road, Warren 48092 NA; www.ascension.org/michigan

Gwen MacKenzie senior VP, Ascension Healthcare

11,893

11,271

26,222

11,556

Health care system

Detroit Medical Center 3990 John R, Detroit 48201 (313) 578-2442; www.dmc.org

Tony Tedeschi CEO

10,279

10,553

10,282

10,553

Health care system for adult and pediatric care

U.S. Postal Service 1401 W. Fort St., Detroit 48233-9998 (313) 226-8678; www.usps.com

Lee Thompson district manager

9,694

9,685

508,908

493,381 Postal service

Ilitch companies 2211 Woodward Ave., Detroit 48201 (313) 471-6600; www.ilitchcompanies.com

Christopher Ilitch president and CEO

9,191

9,040

23,534

23,181

City of Detroit 2 Woodward Ave., Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, Detroit 48226 (313) 224-3700; www.detroitmi.gov

Mike Duggan mayor

9,066

8,918

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan/ Blue Care Network

Daniel Loepp president and CEO

7,265

7,110

10,213

8,119

Health care insurer

13 14 15

Automobile manufacturer

2,086,347 1,958,811 Federal government

Health care system

Food, sports and entertainment industries. Companies include Little Caesars Pizza, Olympia Entertainment, Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Tigers, Blue Line Foodservice Distribution, MotorCity Casino Hotel, Ilitch Holdings Inc., Champion Foods, Olympia Development and Little Caesars Pizza Kit Fundraising Program. City government

600 E. Lafayette Blvd., Detroit 48226 (313) 225-9000; www.bcbsm.com

DTE Energy Co. 1 Energy Plaza, Detroit 48226 (800) 235-8000; www.dteenergy.com

Gerard Anderson chairman and CEO

6,278

6,138

10,014

9,854

Energy and energy-technology company

McLaren Health Care Corp. 3235G Beecher Road, Flint 48532 (810) 342-1100; www.mclaren.org

Philip Incarnati president and CEO

5,864

5,603

22,500

21,688

Health care system

Detroit Public Schools Community District 3011 W. Grand Blvd., Fisher Building, Detroit 48202 (313) 873-3111; www.detroitk12.org

Nikolai Vitti superintendent

5,794

6,300

5,794 B

Public school system

Wayne State University 42 W. Warren, Detroit 48202 (313) 577-2424; www.wayne.edu

M. Roy Wilson president

5,780

5,806

5,780

Public university

Magna International of America Inc. 750 Tower Drive, Troy 48098 (248) 631-1100; www.magna.com

Don Walker CEO

4,528

3,881

159,000

Comerica Bank 411 W. Lafayette, Detroit 48226 (248) 371-5000; www.comerica.com

Michael Ritchie Michigan market president

4,446

4,835

7,989

8,768

Rick Snyder governor

3,753

9,283

State of Michigan 3042 W. Grand Blvd., Cadillac Place, Suite 4-400, Detroit 48202 (313) 456-4400; www.michigan.gov

Oakland County 1200 N. Telegraph Road, Pontiac 48328 (248) 858-1000; www.oakgov.com

L. Brooks Patterson county executive

3,451

3,432

3,451

3,432

Faurecia North America 2800 High Meadow Circle, Auburn Hills 48326 (248) 724-5100; na.faurecia.com

Kevin Lammers U.S. president

3,343

4,610

100,000

103,000 Tier-one automotive supplier

Lear Corp. 21557 Telegraph Road, Southfield 48033 (248) 447-1500; www.lear.com

Matthew Simoncini president and CEO

3,098

3,078

155,927

140,000 Global supplier of automotive seating and electrical distribution systems

147,000 Automotive parts supplier

Financial services provider

State government

County government

This list of Southeast Michigan employers encompasses companies with locations in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw or Livingston counties. Number of full-time employees may include fulltime equivalents. It is not a complete listing but the most comprehensive available. Unless otherwise noted, information was provided by the companies. Companies with headquarters elsewhere are listed with the address and top executive of their main Detroit-area office. Actual figures may vary. NA = not available.

B Figures are FTE counts from the Center for Educational Performance and Information. LIST RESEARCHED BY SONYA D. HILL

C R A I N â&#x20AC;&#x2122; S D E T R O I T B U S I N E S S // A U G U S T 2 8 , 2 0 1 7

CRAIN'S LIST: LARGEST MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES

Ranked by 2016 revenue Company Address Rank Phone; Web site

Majority owner

Revenue Revenue Local ($000,000) ($000,000) Percent employees Minority group 2016 2015 change Jan. 2017/2016 of ownership Type of business

Bridgewater Interiors LLC 4617 W. Fort St., Detroit 48209 (313) 842-3300; www.bridgewater-interiors.com

Ron Hall Jr. president and CEO

$2,205.6

$2,092.2

1,026 940

AfricanAmerican

Automotive seating/interiors

Piston Group 12723 Telegraph Road, Redford Township 48239 (313) 541-8674; www.pistongroup.com

Vinnie Johnson chairman

1,581.9

930.8

1,108 299

AfricanAmerican

Automotive supplier

The Diez Group 8111 Tireman Ave., Dearborn 48126 (313) 491-1200; www.thediezgroup.com

Gerald Diez chairman and CEO

1,152.0

1,079.0

NA 418

Hispanic

Aluminum and steel sales, blanking, CTL, laser welding, slitting and warehousing

Detroit Manufacturing Systems LLC 12701 Southfield Road, Building A, Detroit 48223 (313) 243-0700; dmsna.com

Andra Rush chairman and CEO

1,039.7

1,022.5

836 886

Native American

Automotive component manufacturing, module assembly and sequencing services

471.0

462.0

59 46

Asian

402.0

359.0

1,991 1,850

Asian

Full-service supplier of complete structures, concept through detailed design, including but not limited to validation, testing, prototype developments, state of the art manufacturing and complete vertical integration Plastic injection molding

Arvind Pradhan Camaco LLC 37000 12 Mile Road, Suite 105, Farmington Hills 48331 president and CEO (248) 442-6800; www.camacollc.com

NYX Inc. 36111 Schoolcraft Road, Livonia 48150 (734) 462-2385; www.nyxinc.com

Chain Sandhu CEO

Prestige Automotive 20200 E. Nine Mile Road, St. Clair Shores 48080 (586) 773-2369; www.prestigeautomotive.com

Gregory Jackson chairman, president and CEO

360.7 B

379.4 B

-5

NA 228

AfricanAmerican

Acro Service Corp. 39209 W. Six Mile Road, Suite 250, Livonia 48152 (734) 591-1100; www.acrocorp.com

Ron Shahani president and CEO

331.8

318.3

1,683 2,056

Asian

Elder Automotive Group 777 John R Road, Troy 48083 (248) 585-4000; www.elderautogroup.com

Tony Elder president

326.5

287.1

225 196

Hispanic

Automobile dealerships

The Ideal Group Inc. 2525 Clark St., Detroit 48209 (313) 849-0000; www.weareideal.com

Frank Venegas Jr. chairman and CEO

307.0

276.3

360 403

Hispanic

HTC Global Services Inc. 3270 W. Big Beaver Road, Troy 48084 (248) 786-2500; www.htcinc.com

Madhava Reddy president and CEO

267.7 C

330.0 C

-19

NA NA

Asian

General contracting, specialized miscellaneous steel manufacturing and distribution of protective barrier products, pure global supply chain management, centralized storage and ondemand distribution of parts for machinery and selling excess stock materials Application development and maintenance, business process management, document and content management and project management office services

Global Automotive Alliance LLC 2801 Clark St., Detroit 48210 (313) 849-3222; www.gaasolutions.com

William Pickard chairman

234.4 D

414.9

-44

220 222

AfricanAmerican

Automotive manufacturer, assembler, warehouse sequencer, aerospace warehousing and logistics

Vision Information Technologies Inc.

David Segura CEO

210.0

251.0

-16

220 NA

Hispanic

Systems integrator and talent management

Royal Oak Ford/Briarwood Ford

Eddie Hall Jr. president

202.9

197.1

217 217

AfricanAmerican

Automobile dealerships

Bill Perkins Automotive Group

Bill Perkins president

175.6

157.8

153 148

AfricanAmerican

Automobile dealerships

Devon Industrial Group

David Burnley president

160.0

62.9

154

60 37

AfricanAmerican

Contracting and construction management

Avis Ford Inc.

Walter Douglas Sr. chairman and CEO

131.0

123.8

121 115

AfricanAmerican

Automobile dealership

James Group International Inc.

John James chairman

129.0

137.0

-6

107 113

AfricanAmerican

Logistics and supply chain management

Global Parts & Maintenance

Paul Ureste CEO and managing member

129.0

120.0

24 24

Hispanic

OEM replacement parts, commodity supply management and procurement services

Technosoft Corp. 1 Towne Square, Southfield 48076 (248) 603-2600; www.technosoftcorp.com

Radhakrishnan Gurusamy president and founder Andra Rush founder and chairman

126.0

113 NA

Asian

121.3

140.4

-14

245 298

Native American

Motor carrier

ChemicoMays LLC

Leon Richardson president and CEO

108.5

100.0

199 98

AfricanAmerican

Chemical management and supply

Systems Technology Group (STG)

Anup Popat chairman and CEO

105.0

99.0

NA 367

Asian

Advantage Management Group Inc-Advantage Living Centers 25800 Northwestern Hwy #720, Southfield 48075 (248) 569-8400; AdvantageLiving.net

Reginald Hartsfield and Kelsey SchwartzHastings owners Pamela Rodgers president

103.3

83.0

1,609 1,100

AfricanAmerican

Nursing homes, assisted living

86.1

77.6

63 63

AfricanAmerican

Automobile dealership

W. Grand Blvd., Suite 600, Detroit 48202 13 3031 (877) 768-7222; www.visionit.com Woodward Ave., Royal Oak 48067 14 27550 (248) 548-4100; www.royaloakford.com Gratiot Ave., Eastpointe 48021 15 21800 (586) 775-8300; www.merollischevy.com Griswold St., Suite 2050, Detroit 48226 16 535 (313) 221-1550; www.devonindustrial.com Telegraph Road, Southfield 48034 17 29200 (248) 355-7500; www.avisford.com W. Fort St., Detroit 48209 18 4335 (313) 841-0070; www.jamesgroupintl.com Executive Drive, Westland 48185 18 6112 NA; www.globalpartsllc.com

Rush Trucking Corp.

E. Michigan Ave., Wayne 48184 21 35160 (800) 526-7874; www.rushtrucking.com Telegraph, Suite 120, Southfield 48033 22 25200 (248) 723-3263; www.thechemicogroup.com W. Big Beaver Road, Suite 500, Troy 48084 23 3001 (248) 643-9010; www.stgit.com

Rodgers Chevrolet Inc.

Allen Road, Woodhaven 48183 25 23755 (734) 676-9600; www.rodgerschevrolet.com

Automobile dealerships, insurance and real estate

Staff-augmentation, outsourcing and IT and engineering consulting

IT services and technology enabled healthcare solutions to Fortune 500 companies.

Information technology outsourcing; digital transformation; big data analytics; mobility; cloud integration; software application development leveraging AWS, Azure and Google Cloud

This list of minority-owned businesses is an approximate compilation of the largest such businesses based in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw or Livingston counties. It is not a complete listing but the most comprehensive available. Unless otherwise noted, the companies provided the information. NA = not available.

B Automotive News. C Crain's estimate. D Vitec, one of Global Automotive Alliance's member companies, sold the assets of its tank manufacturing business in 2015. LIST RESEARCHED BY SONYA D. HILL

C R A I N ’ S D E T R O I T B U S I N E S S // A U G U S T 2 8 , 2 0 1 7

COBO CENTER

Cobo officials think they could sell the building’s name for $500,000 a year, based on what Huntington Bank paid for the naming rights to Cleveland’s convention center two years ago.

COBO FROM PAGE 3

“We always knew that at some point we were going to have to test the market and see if it would be possible to sell the naming rights and what that would garner us,” Bero told Crain’s. The convention authority signed a contract on Aug. 17 with The Fulkerson Group in Birmingham and Austin, Texas-based Connect Partnership Group to market the naming rights for Cobo Center in a process that could take between six months and two years, Bero said. The Fulkerson Group and Connect Partners Group have formed a joint company, FulkersonConnect LLC, to work on the renaming project together. The Fulkerson Group markets and sells sponsorships for major events in Detroit, including the Cobo Center’s marquee event, the North American International Auto Show; the Ford Fireworks; the Thanksgiving Day parade; and the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix. Connect Partnership Group is “very seasoned” in selling naming rights to sports stadiums and amphitheaters, said Tavi Fulkerson, president and owner of The Fulkerson Group. “With the renaissance of Detroit and the incredible and impressive renovation of Cobo Center, there certainly should be some opportunity,” Fulkerson told Crain’s. “There’s not a great deal of major branding positions left.” Cobo officials think they could sell the building’s name for $500,000 a year, based on what Huntington Bank paid for the naming rights to Cleveland’s convention center two years ago. But they won’t know how valuable the facility’s brand is until they test the waters, Bero said. “I’d love to sit here and tell you there are people banging down our door waiting to throw a pot of money at us, but that would be way premature,” Bero told Crain’s. The five-member convention authority board made the decision to start considering a sale of the naming rights after years of renovations of Cobo and a revamping of the convention center’s operations have helped reduce annual multimillion-dollar deficits to $288,000 last fiscal year. “We have a legislative mandate that we have to operate with a balanced budget,” said Larry Alexander, chairman of the convention authority board. “We’re coming close, but we’re not there yet.” Through July, Cobo Center’s revenue was running $49,000 behind from a year ago, Bero said. Cobo Center’s $14.8 million base revenue — excluding parking and the state subsidy — in-

“It’s disappointing to us, because we would certainly be able to increase the revenue from advertising if we were able to use that board for (commercial ads). The westbound Lodge (freeway traffic) would be a fantastic use of that.” Claude Molinari

cludes about $350,000 from commercial advertising on a digital billboard at the corner of West Congress Street and Washington Boulevard, Molinari said. The eye-catching 4,800-square-foot digital billboard on the front of the building cannot legally be used for commercial advertising because it faces Woodward Avenue at the Jefferson Avenue intersection. A designated national scenic byway, there can’t be billboards facing Woodward Avenue that exceed 1,200 square feet. “It’s disappointing to us, because we would certainly be able to increase the revenue from advertising if we were able to use that board for (commercial ads),” Molinari said. “The westbound Lodge (freeway traffic) would be a fantastic use of that.” The renaming of Cobo Center also has garnered political support from Mayor Mike Duggan because the convention hall is named for former Mayor Albert Cobo, whose tenure as mayor in the 1950s is marked by a racially-charged agenda to restrict where African Americans could live in the city. Alexander said the convention authority board members are focused on the bottom line, not the debate around Mayor Cobo’s legacy of carrying out the demolitions of African American neighborhoods and businesses for so-called urban renewal. “We were looking at it strictly from the financial benefit,” said Alexander said. “If we can resolve (the Albert Cobo) issue and still reap the financial obligations that we have, so be it." Chad Livengood: (313) 446-1654 Twitter: @ChadLivengood

C R A I N ’ S D E T R O I T B U S I N E S S // A U G U S T 2 8 , 2 0 1 7

BLIND FROM PAGE 1

That is causing difficulty getting the rest of the retail space leased to tenants because retailers generally like the foot traffic restaurants bring, and the state has had difficulty filling space with blind restaurant owners. “You have a large concentration of people who are looking for lunch options, breakfast options,” said Robin Boyle, a member of the Birmingham Planning Board and Professor of Urban Planning in the Wayne State University Department of Urban Studies and Planning. “If you look at any modern office block, that’s part of the MO. For example, try to get an interesting coffee supplier.” It’s leaving the state, which moved into the building about 15 years ago after General Motors moved south to the Renaissance Center, wondering how best to address 34,000 square feet of vacant retail in the building, plus another 34,000 square feet that could become retail but is now occupied by state agencies. The retail space on West Grand largely sits empty because the state is somewhat restricted in what food choices it can offer to tenants, both office and retail, inside the building, said Robert Burns, the director of real estate for the Department of Technology, Management and Budget, which oversees the state’s real estate assets and leasing. “I don’t want to oversell the impact of the law,” Burns said. “The state is looking at making a better use of the retail areas and making a better use of marketing those suites. We want to try to be a benefit to the community by having some retail, and food service is a portion of any part of a retail plan.” Robert Gibbs, president of Birmingham-based Gibbs Planning Group, said, however, the state needs to do a better job attracting retailers. “The office workers will shop at the retail without restaurants: gifts, apparel, home furnishings, shoes (lots of shoes), athletic wear, books and food markets,” he said. “The state needs to work harder at attracting retailers.” Gibbs also said while retail likes to be near restaurants, it’s not a necessary combination for a successful retail operation. “If a careful tenant mix is implemented, the retail can thrive without restaurants. The restaurants attract office workers, and they spend money in the shops.” According to the state Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, there are 49 Business Enterprise Program vendors, all legally blind, in 267 locations across the state operating things like vending machines, snack bars and cafeterias. LARA says the average income for BEP vendors is $35,000 per year. Some earn up to $100,000 or more. Michigan’s law, enacted in 1978, is far from unique; the federal Randolph-Sheppard Act giving preference to vendors owned by the blind has been on the on the books for over eight decades. It followed World War I, when many returning veterans came home blinded by chemical weapons following their service in Europe, said William Robinson, director of the state’s Bureau of Services for Blind Persons, who was named to the post in September. Other states have similar laws. “It’s about economic opportunities for the blind,” said Robinson, who was blinded in a 2001 hunting accident. “Congress started looking at ways to employ capable and very

Joe Bailey is celebrating the one-year anniversary of Joe Joe’s Bistro in Cadillac Place.

independently motivated individuals who happened to be blind but were not able to work for various reasons.” According to the National Federation for the Blind, there are about 230,000 blind people in Michigan. As of 2014, only 40.4 percent of the country’s 7.36 million blind working-age people were employed, according to the federation. Some 30.5 percent live below the poverty line. “One of the main reasons it still exists today is because employers sometimes don’t understand a blind or visually impaired person can perform the same duties as a sighted person, but they just need additional accommodations.” Bailey, who studied business at

Wayne County Community College District, Wayne State University and Michigan State University, is an example of that, nimbly serving customers and preparing orders. Mike Pemble, deputy director for the BSPS, said DTMB real estate representatives have told him retailers like clothiers and others have considered Cadillac Place for new locations but opted to go elsewhere. Statewide, the department leases 5.3 million square feet for executive branch agencies and departments, including office, warehouse, laboratory and other spaces, according to Caleb Buhs, the department’s communications director.

KIRK PINHO/CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS

There has been substantial development and retail activity in the area the last few years in anticipation of and following the opening of the QLine streetcar system, but Cadillac Place has seen precious little. A joint venture led by Detroit-based The Platform LLC purchased the Fisher Building and Albert Kahn Building two years ago for $12.2 million; a renovation and redevelopment of the Fisher Building into a variety of uses is underway, and last week, the Kahn building was put on the market for sale for an unlisted price. The Fisher has attracted new retail and food tenants, including two new women’s clothing stores by Rachel

Lutz and the first City Bakery location in Michigan. The Platform, led by Peter Cummings and Dietrich Knoer, is also developing hundreds of new apartments in the area, including with its Third and Grand project on West Grand Boulevard at Third Avenue. And Philadelphia-based developer David Grasso is mulling what to do with the southwest corner of West Grand and Woodward Avenue, which he purchased from Midtown Detroit Inc. this summer; he is considering everything from a small redevelopment of the existing building to erecting a new skyscraper with up to 35 stories. The Detroit Pistons are building a $65 million team headquarters and training and rehabilitation facility south of West Grand, and Calgary-based Halcor Group plans about 150 residential units in the historic former WJBK-TV Studios Building at 7441 Second Ave. at Bethune Street. And Sue Mosey’s Midtown Detroit plans a smattering of projects along Woodward just south of West Grand Boulevard., including a $7.5 million redevelopment of the newly rebranded Woodward Grand building at 6568 Woodward into the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation’s new headquarters, plus the Wilda’s Cafe restaurant. Avalon Cafe and Biscuit Bar is opening at 2990 W. Grand Blvd. in the Boulevard West Building. “This is a prime location,” said Bailey, whose bistro was celebrating its one-year anniversary the next day. He got back to work at the bistro, pointing to balloons and streamers throughout. Kirk Pinho: (313) 446-0412 Twitter: @kirkpinhoCDB

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C R A I N ’ S D E T R O I T B U S I N E S S // A U G U S T 2 8 , 2 0 1 7

ROBOTS

Ripe for a robot?

Consider the secretary. In 2006, 37,500 Michiganders worked as executive secretaries or administrative assistants. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, that number had shrunk to 11,070 by 2016. “It wasn’t so many years ago that large numbers of secretaries were employed to type things ... and to do dictation and all of that,” said Susan Houseman, a senior economist at the Kalamazoo-based W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research. “The personal computer means that everybody ... can act as Susan Housetheir own adminisman: No trative assistant precedent for and secretary.” preparing. Secretary is not the only office job getting pinkslipped. Office administrator positions in Michigan shrank by 84 percent. Business operations specialists are down 44 percent. About two-thirds of the jobs taking the biggest hit in Michigan are outside of manufacturing. It’s important to know, of course, that technological innovation has historically created more jobs than it destroys in the overall economy. But overall trends do little to comfort those who lose their paycheck to automation and, for reasons of geography or job skills, can’t latch onto new work. Such problems are poised to become increasingly common — researchers at Oxford University estimate that 47 percent of all U.S. jobs have the potential to be computerized in the coming decades. Automation of jobs has arrived. Is Michigan ready for the skills required of current and future jobs?

Top 10 jobs most likely to be automated

FROM PAGE 3

A national struggle This technological revolution comes amid two related countrywide debates: How to stem job loss? And what to do about stagnated wages? Jobs lost to technological advances cannot be solved by immigration restrictions or retooling international trade deals. These jobs are not being taken by any person or nation. They are simply disappearing. Indeed, “the retail industry alone accounted for four of the 10 subsectors with the biggest losses in the first four months of 2017,” Bloomberg reported in June, with 85,700 U.S. jobs lost. By comparison, 2,800 jobs were lost in the coal industry over that same period. Meanwhile, the buying power of workers has also stalled. The Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan research think tank, found that the federal minimum wage was higher in 1968, when adjusted for inflation. A frozen minimum wage does not affect just teenag-

SIFT

FROM PAGE 3

Sift was developed internally at Quicken Loans in response to the online mortgage company’s tremendous growth and a need to maintain a collaborative workplace culture, Jackson said. Colleagues in another building across the street, on a different floor “or the office in Chicago, they don’t really feel like colleagues,” Jackson said. “Those people are probably willing to

The automation probability is based on research by two United Kingdom researchers. Most of the highest paying jobs are unlikely to be automated but require a high degree of education. Many of those most likely to be automated require less education and pay less.

Occupation

Automation probabiity

Median annual wages

Jobs, 2016

Cargo and freight agents

$41,829

1,670

Data entry keyers

$29,702

5,040

Insurance underwriters

$60,029

1,760

Library technicians

$29,328

3,560

New accounts clerks

$35,755

1,050

Photographic process workers and processing machine operators

$27,643

630

Sewers, hand

$24,856

140

Tax preparers

$31,450

2,440

Telemarketers

$23,400

4,490

Title examiners, abstractors, and searchers

$40,851

1,720

Occupation

Automation probabiity

Median annual wages

Jobs, 2016

Audiologists

0.3

$71,157

410

Emergency management directors

0.3

$62,317

140

First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers

0.3

$62,795

14,230

Mental health and substance abuse social workers

0.3

$47,632

3,730

Recreational therapists

0.3

$49,733

600

Choreographers

0.4

$35,901

170

Dentists, general

0.4

$168,709

4,000

Dietitians and nutritionists

0.4

$55,744

1,760

Family and general practitioners

0.4

$172,557

4,520

First-line supervisors of fire fighting and prevention

0.4

$62,442

910

Top 10 jobs least likely to be automated

Threats to state’s robust job retraining

Source: Michigan median wage and job count numbers are from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.

ers scooping ice cream over the summer — about half of minimum-wage workers in the country are older than 24. While a smaller slice of U.S. workers now earn minimum wage, the two largest industries for minimum wage work are in restaurant and sales jobs. This means the automation of service jobs like cashiers will affect a large portion of those already working for low wages. As automation becomes a more efficient option, some economists predict that the fight for higher minimum-wage laws may encourage more companies to invest in automation, especially in the food service and sales. The push to increase the minimum wage to $15 is what reportedly pushed McDonald’s to replace some cashiers with kiosks. Wendy’s has announced its decision to pursue the same tactic this year following a 5 percent increase in labor costs after a number of states raised their minimum wage. With office jobs, food preparation and retail facing a high likelihood of automation amid this national tide, Michigan stands to lose many existing jobs. According to data from to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, “office answer any question their colleague has,” he said. “The challenge is, they just can’t connect.” At Quicken Loans and other Gilbert-owned companies, employees routinely update their Sift profiles to reflect projects they’ve worked on and their professional and personal interests, Jackson said. Internally, employees search Sift about 100,000 sessions each business week, and 90 percent of Gilbert’s workforce uses the software at least once a month, Jackson said.

and administrative support” is the most common occupation in the state, with 624,190 workers. “Sales and related occupations” and “food preparation and serving-related occupations” also rank in the top five most common occupations in the state, accounting for 425,860 and 379,500 workers respectively.

has suggested an extra tax on companies that utilize robotic labor. The idea was considered (and ultimately rejected) by lawmakers in the European Union. The most traditional response to labor restructuring “is to beef up job search assistance and retraining provided by the state,” Houseman said, usually with help from the federal government. Gov. Rick Snyder’s administration has emphasized reinvestment in training programs for professional trades. In April, the second phase of the governor’s “Going PRO” campaign launched, which aims to “change the discussion about the professional trades, enhance career tech programs and better connect the business and education communities so Michigan students can embrace opportunities for rewarding careers.” The state, through the Michigan Workplace Development Force, has also invested in the Skilled Trades Training Fund, which provides economic incentives to employers that help workers enhance their job skills. Dave Murray, spokesman at the Michigan Department of Talent and Economic Development, told MLive in April that 26,000 employees have received training through the fund. Stephanie Beckhorn, senior deputy director for workforce programs at Michigan’s Talent Investment Agency, told Bridge that the state also has a program for workers who lose their job to foreign trade, but none specifically for automation dislocation. No matter the cause, she said, the agency is “certainly available to help any individual that needs it.”

“I don’t think that there’s any precedent” for how the state can prepare for the dislocation of automation, said Houseman, the Upjohn economist. “[T]here’s precedent for controlling trade. Or slowing down the pace for opening up markets to mitigate, a bit, the dislocation from trade. I don’t know of any policies historically that has tried to do that to sort of mitigate the pace of technological change.” Houseman, Grimes and other labor economists note that the use of automation to save on labor costs is not new. The “shift from farm life into the cities was a major upheaval in terms of the types of labor that were provided” Houseman said, and “people adjusted, ultimately. New jobs

were created.” Indeed, technology does generally create more jobs than it destroys. According to U.S. Census data, only one job has been completely eliminated due to automaDonald Grimes: tion: elevator opAutomation Convenhappening quickly. erator. tional economic theory says technological advances are ultimately good for the economy, as automation improves productivity, which fosters economic growth and wage increases. “The big question,” Houseman cautions, “is whether what we are seeing now is fundamentally different from the sorts of waves of industrialization that we’ve experienced in the past.” As Grimes notes, the most recent wave of automation is difficult because it is happening so quickly, which means “a bigger number of people you have to get retrained.” Thinkers around the world are pondering how to best smooth the transition. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates

Many worker training programs are run by a combination of state and federal funding and Houseman noted the Trump administration has proposed a 21 percent cut to the U.S. Labor Department, which she predicted would have an impact on the state’s job-training efforts. Even if properly funded, Grimes, the UM economist, said he is concerned that traditional approaches may no longer be enough. He said that while technical training at community colleges and apprenticeship programs in Michigan are usually very good, many workers also need to sharpen their soft skills, which can mean getting workers “to understand that means a major change in terms of how they interact with their customers or their clients. “It’s one thing to be working on a construction project, and then that same person goes to become a nursing aide. They’re going to have to have much better interpersonal skills to deal with that client. ... That’s not going to be an easy transition for those people or for society to make that change. “I don’t have any good answers,” Grimes said. “but I do know it’s coming.”

About 7,000 employees use Sift and its distinguishable purple screen daily, he said. “It’s a tool being used every day by nearly everyone from senior executives all the way down to front-line sales people,” Jackson said. Jackson, a 2014 Crain’s 20 in their 20s honoree, founded Sift in 2015 after quickly ascending in Gilbert’s Rock Ventures as a protege of the billionaire businessman. A Marine Corps veteran who was deployed to Afghanistan and Haiti, Jack-

son came to Detroit through a fellowship with Venture for America and by the winter of 2014 was running the Blight Removal Task Force Gilbert chaired during the city’s bankruptcy. The Sift CEO said his company’s service is different from other office communications and workflow platforms like Slack because those programs don’t help workers find colleagues with specific skills. “Slack doesn’t tell you who to talk to about marketing,” Jackson said. Quicken employees use Sift to identi-

fy colleagues who can help solve daily tasks and then Slack to communicate internally. “We’re platform-agnostic. We don’t want to stand in the way of how you communicate. Some people like to text, some people like to Slack, some people like to email.” Jackson added: “Email is not something I wake up every day wanting to do.”

How does Michigan prepare?

Chad Livengood: (313) 446-1654 Twitter: @ChadLivengood

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Michigan’s declining workforce

The percentage of Michigan residents in the workforce has kept declining even as the economy has recovered.

“Michigan’s unemployment rate 100% Population 16 and over in the workforce 16-19 25-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 74+ 20-24 decreased slightly in July,” said Jason Palmer, director of the state’s Bureau 80 of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives, in a news release this month about the July data. 60 “However, for the third consecutive month, the drop in the rate reflected 40 fewer people in the state’s labor market actively seeking employment.” More people are dropping out of 20 the workforce during an economic expansion that has now stretched into its eighth year and is nearing re0 ’05 ’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 cord lengths. SOURCE: American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau “It is kind of paradoxical right now, isn’t it?” said Charles Ballard, a When factored this way, Michigan Michigan State University econoAnd Ballard said it could be that a would be among the 20 states with cultural shift is underway in which mist. the highest expanded jobless rates, a teenagers are shunning work, a shift Ballard said list that includes Great Lakes neigh- that may have started during the rehe’s curious to bors Illinois (9.9 percent) and Ohio cession when unemployed adults see whether a (9.5 percent). few months’ took entry-level jobs that traditionSo who’s not looking for work? worth of data is a ally went to teens. Teenagers also We can draw inferences from have low levels of educational attemporary blip looking at who is. Roughly 61 per- tainment, he said, which could be a or a sign of a loncent of Michigan residents 16 and partial explanation for the big drops ger-term trend. older are in the labor force, accord- in participation among people withThe federal ing to American Community Survey out a high school diploma. government de- Charles Ballard: “Social norms are the hardest fines the unem- Waiting to see if it’s estimates from 2015, the most recent available. That’s down more thing in the world to quantify,” Balployment rate as a long-term trend. than four percentage points, from lard said. the total number of unemployed as a percentage of 65.2 percent, a decade earlier. Gov. Rick Snyder, in a statement The phenomenon is most pro- when the numbers were released, the civilian labor force. People are considered to be unemployed if they nounced among teens and people touted the state’s “tremendous aren’t working, could work and have without a bachelor’s degree. comeback” as reflected in douPeople without a high school di- ble-digit unemployment rate desearched for a job within the past ploma fare the worst: Just 51.7 per- clines since shortly before he took four weeks. People who aren’t working but cent of Michigan residents of prime office in January 2011. haven’t looked for a job within the working age — between the ages of Snyder often refers to the hunpast month are considered to be out 25 and 64 — who didn’t graduate dreds of thousands of private-sector of the labor force. They’re not count- from high school were in the labor jobs that have been added during ed at all when it comes to official force in 2015, according to ACS data. That’s down more than seven points jobless statistics. That can have the unintended from 59.2 percent participation in consequence of making a state’s un- 2005. Workforce participation among employment picture look rosier Michiganders with a diploma but no than it really is. Even as Michigan’s official college slid from 73.1 percent in monthly jobless rate is at its lowest 2005 to 67.4 percent in 2015. Contrast that with Michigan resipoint in 17 years, the state’s total employment and labor force levels dents with a bachelor’s degree, the both are down by more than 300,000 only group to increase labor force since July 2000, according to the state’s Bureau of “This is why the renewed focus Labor Market In- on making sure people have the formation. skills and training they need to And, it said, the labor force succeed at getting jobs is so grew slower than vital. We are hearing from the nation’s as a employers who cannot find whole in July compared to the enough employees — so we same month a must address that disconnect.” year ago — 18,000 people, or Ari Adler, spokesman for Gov. Rick Snyder 0.4 percent. Michigan’s traditional unemploy- participation from 2005 to 2015. ment rate of 4.7 percent, calculated Economists and business leaders between the third quarter of 2016 have long said that Michigan needs and the second quarter of 2017, to increase the number of residents would spike to 9.5 percent if it in- who have four-year degrees if the cluded discouraged, marginally at- state’s economy will succeed at trantached and part-time workers, ac- sitioning away from a reliance on to more adcording to data from the U.S. Bureau manufacturing vanced-skill fields. of Labor Statistics. Ballard believes Michigan and the The bureau publishes a set of alternative unemployment data that nation may be experiencing lingerfactor in discouraged workers (peo- ing effects from the Great Recession, ple who aren’t in the labor force, which officially ended in June 2009. want to and could work but didn’t Among them is sluggish wage search for a job within the past growth, which he said has puzzled month because they didn’t think economists because lower unemthey’d find one), marginally at- ployment should put upward prestached workers who didn’t search sure on wages. Higher wages could for a job in the past month for any be one way to lure more people back reason, and part-time workers who to the labor force. It’s also possible, though difficult worked fewer than 35 hours per week, wanted to work full time but to quantify, that the nation’s opioid couldn’t find a job with full-time epidemic has removed some people from the workforce, he said. hours.

his two-term tenure — understandably so, because politicians get credit for a good economy and blame for a bad one, regardless of whether they had anything to do with it. There are good signs in the state’s numbers. Even as employment lags 2000 levels, year-to-date average employment through July — close to 4.7 million people — is the highest since 2007, the start of the Great Recession. And total employment has grown every year since 2010. From June to July, it fell. The number of unemployed people from July 2016 to July 2017 is down 55,000, according to the state’s data. Still, Snyder’s statement struck a more tempered tone, given the news about Michigan’s labor force participation: “There is always more we can do.” He cited a disconnect between job providers and the skills that job seekers have, and said Michigan needs to emphasize skills training in order to close the talent gap. Snyder has made increasing skilled trades training and participation a focus of his administration. Still, what does declining participation in the labor force say about the strength of Michigan’s economic comeback? Does it suggest some kind of underlying weakness in the economy? “This is why the renewed focus on making sure people have the skills and training they need to succeed at getting jobs is so vital,” Snyder spokesman Ari Adler said via email. “We are hearing from employers who cannot find enough employees — so we must address that disconnect.”

C R A I N ’ S D E T R O I T B U S I N E S S // A U G U S T 2 8 , 2 0 1 7

THE WEEK ON THE WEB

RUMBLINGS

Key Safety CEO resigns as Takata deal looms

Fieger still cagey on governor’s race, Whitmer

AUGUST 18 - 24 | For more, visit crainsdetroit.com

ey Safety Systems Inc. CEO Jason Luo is resigning as the supplier inches closer to finalizing a $1.59 billion deal to acquire the embattled Japanese airbag supplier Takata Corp. The longtime head of the Sterling Heights-based supplier is leaving to head up Ford Motor Co.’s China operations this Thursday. Jeff Wang, chairman of Key Safety’s parent company Ningbo Joyson Electronics, said in an internal memo that he will now serve as executive chairman of Key Safety and board director Yuxin Tang will assume the role of interim president. The supplier is already searching for Luo’s permanent replacement; internal and external candidates will be considered, the memo said. Despite the loss of its top executive, the company remains on track to finalize the deal to acquire Takata and is expected to sign a formal agreement in the coming weeks, Ron Feldeisen, senior vice president of global sales and marketing, confirmed in an email. He would not directly comment on Luo’s departure. As the CEO search commences, an interim structure has been put in place, according to the memo. Working to close the Takata deal are Joe Perkins, CFO; Mark Decker; global head of human resources; Greg Heald, head of Asia; and Feldeisen. The interim leadership running day-to-day operations is Mark Wehner, CTO; Tony Nardone, head of the Americas; Andreas Brand, head of Europe; and Jay Phillion, head of global quality.

BUSINESS NEWS J The last call for the Palace of Auburn Hills has been issued as Palace Sports & Entertainment announced that Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band will play the last event at the 29-year-old arena. J Detroit Lions President Rod Wood spent last Tuesday showing off renovations at Ford Field to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, hoping to increase Detroit’s chances of hosting future Super Bowls and the annual three-day NFL Draft. J The Lions are financing the $100 million stadium renovation, in part, using an NFL program that permits teams to retain a portion of the game ticket revenue normally split with the rest of the league. J Organizers plan to expand AutoMobili-D’s space and offerings at the North American International Auto Show following the mobility exhibition’s launch this year. J The Zell Lurie Founders Fund at the University of Michigan has made a seed investment of $100,000 in Ann Arbor-based Sahi Cosmetics LLC, a startup that was part of last winter’s cohort of companies at the Desai Accelerator. J Corktown Thai eatery Katoi is changing its name to Takoi after it caught heat for the name, which in Thai means “transgender woman or effeminate gay male.” J LG Electronics USA Inc. plans to

The last call for the Palace of Auburn Hills has been issued as Palace Sports & Entertainment announced that Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band will play the last event at the 29-year-old arena. The final show is scheduled for Sept. 23. It will be the band’s 17th concert there. Palace Sports said no timetable or decisions have been made on the future of the building or the property. Business operations for the Detroit Pistons and PS&E remain headquartered at the Palace while the new Henry Ford Detroit Pistons Performance Center in Detroit is being built.

Detroit digits A numbers-focused look at last week’s headlines:

$98.6 million The amount Penske Logistics LLC is planning to invest in Romulus for a distribution center that would create 403 jobs.

35 stories The height of an office tower planned for Bedrock LLC’s Monroe Block development on prime downtown Detroit property just east of the Quicken Loans Inc. headquarters.

$99

The starting price for one-way flights from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport to Iceland through low-cost airline WOW Air. The four-day-a-week service begins next April.

spend close to $25 million to expand its operations in Oakland County as it aims to grab a bigger share of the electric vehicle and renewable battery markets. J Two years after it was purchased as part of a $12.2 million auction deal, the Albert Kahn Building on Second Avenue in the New Center area has been put up for sale for an unlisted price. J Rock Connections, part of Quicken Loans founder Dan Gilbert’s family of companies, is adding online used car retailer Vroom to its client list as the downtown Detroit call center continues to expand its local workforce. J Sports Business Week is returning to Detroit for an industry networking opportunity Sept. 14 at the South Club inside Ford Field. J Plymouth Township-based Adient PLC has agreed to buy automotive seating and interiors supplier

Oak Park-based Futuris Group for $360 million. J A conservation-focused coffee operation connected to descendants of novelist Ernest Hemingway called Hemingway Coffee is launching as an e-commerce and distribution company in metro Detroit.

eoffrey Fieger continues to be the unknown factor in the race for the Democratic Party’s nomination for governor next year. In May, the bombastic attorney started talking publicly about running for governor again. He also started airing television ads this summer that feature Fieger delivering a blistering critique of Republican-controlled state government and GOP policies, while saying little about his Southfield law firm. Fieger has made rumblings in past election cycles about running for governor, but hasn’t followed through since his 1998 bid, which ended in a crushing 740,000-vote defeat to incumbent Republican Gov. John Engler. Former Senate Minority Leader Gretchen Whitmer, the presumed frontrunner for the Democratic nomination, has been trying to get to know Fieger since he panned her during a public television interview as “another Granholm.” Fieger said he didn’t know Whitmer, who was his party’s leader for four years in

OTHER NEWS J Detroit’s inspector general has found evidence of three private demolition contractors submitting doctored photos of sidewalks to avoid making repairs and get paid from the city’s federally funded blight removal program. The investigation led to suspensions of Direct Construction Services and Rickman Enterprises Group. J The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority is considering giving more time to the three finalists submitting plans to design, construct, finance and operate the new Gordie Howe International Bridge. J Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores and the Consumers Energy Foundation are giving $1 million each toward creating a Flint Promise scholarship program for high school graduates in the city. J The Detroit-Windsor Tunnel will close for weeknights and four full weekends from November through June as crews replace the 86-yearold ceiling slab. The tunnel will shut down at 8:30 p.m. and open at 5:30 a.m. Sunday through Thursday. J A two-mile stretch of Woodward Avenue between 14 Mile and Quarton/Big Beaver roads will be reduced to one lane in September and October for a $5.5 million reconstruction of the pavement, which is nearing the end of its lifespan. J Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander’s Wins for Warriors Foundation is collaborating with the Michigan Fitness Foundation to host the inaugural Patriot Ruck in the city’s downtown area on Sept. 9.

Geoffrey Fieger: Hasn’t announced his plans.

Gretchen Whitmer: Running for governor.

the state Senate. Fieger confirmed to Crain’s this week that he’s been talking to Whitmer by phone this summer and the two have discussed walking together in Detroit’s Sept. 4 Labor Day parade. But true to form, Fieger is cagey about whether he’ll go through with it. “It’s possible,” Fieger said. “I haven’t decided yet.” Fieger said it depends on his early September trial schedule. Michigan’s courtrooms are closed on Labor Day.

The Drummond Island property includes about 8,000 feet of shoreline frontage, a golf course, 40-unit condominium hotel and a private hunting club.

Drummond Island resort property listed for sale

rinceton Enterprises LLC is listing its Drummond Island resort for sale. The Bloomfield Township-based real estate company retained Birmingham-based Franklin Property Corp. to market the 1,500-acre property on Lake Huron. Princeton, along with other investors, acquired the Drummond Island Resort and Conference Center and The Hunt Club, which Domino’s Pizza founder and former Detroit Tigers owner Tom Monaghan built over 30 years ago for $30 million, in January 2016. When Princeton purchased it, it had been owned by Clifton Haley, the former CEO and board chairman of Budget Rent-a-Car Corp. and currently the president emeritus of the Michigan State University College of Law board. Upon closing the sale last year, Matt Lester, founder and CEO of Princeton, declined to reveal the purchase price but did say that it exceed-

ed the $3.5 million auction reserve price. “There has been a lot of unsolicited interest from outside investors and users about acquiring the property and, as a result, Princeton has decided to market it on a much broader basis,” Andrew Milia, president of Franklin Property Corp., said in a statement. It includes about 8,000 feet of shoreline frontage, a golf course, 40unit condominium hotel and a private hunting club, among other features. The release says Princeton “has made significant improvements” to the golf course, called The Rock, and other island features. Milia says in the release that Franklin Property expects interest from potential buyers like hospitality or resort owners, golf course operators, marina operators, corporations and colleges. “We even had some inquiries from wealthy families for personal family compounds.”

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