Grand Rapids Business Journal 04.06.20 by Grand Rapids Business Journal

Entrepreneur adds snail mail greeting card service. Page 7

The Business Newspaper of Metro Grand Rapids, Holland, Muskegon & West Michigan APRIL 6, 2020 VOL. 38, NO. 14

Risk calculator tracks odds of infection. Page 3

HINES PLANTS Region’s Q2 GDP expected to drop over 20% DIGITAL STAKE THIS WEEK

After working in the family lawn care business for years, entrepreneur creates international digital platform for services. Page 8

Cyclical manufacturing losses mainly driving the projected decline, followed by real estate, entertainment/ hospitality, nongrocery retail. Rachel Watson

Grand Rapids Business Journal

Home stretch Homebuilders being classified as nonessential will hurt the recovery, HBAM says. PAGE 3

Ray of light Solar energy’s popularity brightens amid pandemic. PAGE 3

Good for all Digital fundraiser Good Ink turns to helping small business owners survive. PAGE 9

Early projections are out about the impact of COVID-19 on the West Michigan economy, and they paint a sobering picture for the second quarter of 2020. James Chung — partner at StratoDem Analytics, a data science firm in Cambridge, Massachusetts that generates geographic market intelligence and forecasting in the U.S. — told the Business Journal on April 1 that the consensus forecast for national gross domestic product in Q2 is currently -18.1%, the sharpest downturn in the history of U.S. GDP measurement. The consensus forecast is based on the compilation of national forecasts issued during the preceding week by Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, UBS (Switzerland) and Deutsche Bank, which StratoDem Analytics further refined down to the county level based on local economic data.

Expert highlights legislation’s consumer protections, provisions for banks to modify loans during crisis. Grand Rapids Business Journal

PAGE 7

THE LIST

The area’s top wealth management ﬁrms. Page 4

The declines in the core coverage area of the Business Journal — Kent, Ottawa, Muskegon and Allegan counties — are sharper than the national average, with an expected Q2 GDP downturn of -21.6% in Kent County, -22.9% in Ottawa, -21.0% in Muskegon and -24.3% in Allegan, which translates into combined Q2 GDP deContinued on page 11 8

Projected gross domestic product impact of COVID-19 on Q2 2020 County

GDP decline (-%) GDP decline (-$) GDP decline (-$ per household)

Kent Ottawa Muskegon Allegan

21.6% 22.9% 21.0% 24.3%

$2 billion $858 million $356 million $317 million

$9,300 $8,100 $5,200 $7,000

Source: StratoDem Analytics using consensus estimates from Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley and UBS (Switzerland)

Attorney: CARES Act to help banks help borrowers

Rachel Watson

REBALANCING ACT Advisers say now might be a good time to add more balance to investment portfolios.

ANALYSTS SAY IT’S AN encouraging sign when manufacturers such as Steelcase turn from making their traditional products, like the Bivi collection shown here, to producing personal protection equipment for professionals ﬁghting COVID-19. Courtesy Steelcase

In addition to providing emergency financial assistance for Americans affected by COVID-19, the $2 trillion stimulus package passed by Congress in March has certain provisions that will better position banks to help borrowers survive this time, a local financial services attorney said. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), a six-part legislative package negotiated by the House and Senate last month and signed into law March 27 by President Donald Trump, has garnered headlines for many of its aspects providing relief to workers, families and businesses, including: •The Paycheck Protection Program that provides $349 billion for small businesses to retain jobs and continue paying operat-

ing expenses. •Loan forgiveness for small businesses with covered loans. •The extension of an additional $600 in weekly unemployment insurance (UI) payments to Americans who are jobless as a result of COVID-19, as well as extending UI benefits to those who are self-employed, independent contractors, caregivers for a loved one, have a limited work history and more. •Recovery rebates of $1,200 for individuals, $2,400 for joint taxpayers and $500 per child within certain income brackets. •Provisions that support the health care system via ensuring supply chain security for medical supplies and devices, and also promote access to health care coverage for COVID-19 patients. A lesser discussed section of the legislation is Title IV, Ott “Economic Stabilization and Assistance to Severely Distressed Sectors of the United States Econ-

Find the latest news every day at grbj.com

CONTENTS

Vol. 38, No. 14

UNDER THE CARES ACT, banks may not initiate court foreclosure proceedings or execute foreclosure-related evictions or sales during the COVID-19 national emergency. Photo by iStock

omy,” the fourth of six sections of the CARES Act. Jeff Ott, a financial services and corporate attorney with Warner Norcross + Judd in Grand Rapids, said Title IV will give banks greater ability to help borrowers and will include many consumer protections, as well. The week leading up to pas-

Inside Track ...........8

Change-Ups......... 12

Guest Columns ...10 Taking aim at housing

Calendar ............... 12 Public Record ...... 13 Street Talk ...........14

sage of the CARES Act, financial regulatory agencies including the Federal Reserve, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the National Credit Union Administration put out a March 22 interagency statement Continued on page 11 8

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2 GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL APRIL 6, 2020

Some nonprofits are weathering the pandemic — for now Samaritas, AgeWell are using more resources to protect senior populations. Ehren Wynder

Grand Rapids Business Journal

West Michigan’s nonprofit sector is gearing up to deal with the COVID-19 crisis while still being able to deliver important care to the most vulnerable members of the population. Sam Beals, CEO of Samaritas, said the organization at this time is fortunate to not have any clients or staff test positive for COVID-19. “We seek to be CDC compli-

ant and I think we’re there,” Beals said. “Their guidelines change from time to time, so we’re making sure we stay up to date.” Regular procedures include infection control, hand washing, using masks, daily temperature readings for all residents and staff, as well as discussing signs and symptoms with staff, Beals said. In total, Samaritas has more than 60 programs in Beals over 40 sites across Michigan, Beals said. Five of these sites are senior living facilities. The or-

ganization recognizes the elderly are the most vulnerable to COVID-19, so it is most proactive in those locations, including having a contingency plan if someone tests positive. “We’re working with all the local professionals and authorities to ensure we are prepared,” Beals said. “We’re also doing similar things with the other populations in foster care, affordable housing, etc.” Based on Samaritas’ most recent annual report, between 15,000 and 20,000 people take part in the organization’s programs per year, and the group employs just over 1,600 workers. Beals added Samaritas is not starving for volunteers, even when uncertainty over COVID-19 is

keeping most people homebound. The challenge for the organization is not finding volunteers but finding the safest place for them to serve. “A lot of it comes in creative ways,” said Kelli Dobner, chief advancement officer for Samaritas. “Our COVID care kit, for example — people sometimes find out they bought too much, so they donate gloves and masks, sometimes in the thousands. We‘ve had a lot of outpouring of that type of volunteerism in this time.” Beals added Samaritas has faced challenges in receiving enough masks, and donations within the last week have been significant in helping with the shortage. Samaritas also is looking for donor support to help with added

Take Heart, Michigan.

When “Financial security from generation to generation,” is your tagline, you tend to take a long-term view of market performance. You also tend to be optimistic, given that historical market data overwhelmingly favors that long-term mindset—even in the throes of a worrisome crisis like COVID-19. A profound sense of gratitude helps. Gratitude to the many who are visibly fighting the virus day and night at great peril to their health. And gratitude to the equal number of good people who, behind the scenes, are providing products, services and aid to our nation. As author Mary Anne Radmacher once said, “Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes it’s the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.’” With you, and in every measure thanks to you, we will prevail.

Kalamazoo Grand Rapids Birmingham Traverse City Bay Harbor | 800.416.4555 greenleaftrust.com

costs related to COVID-19 precautions, including transportation, child care and overtime pay, as well as liability insurance, which he predicted would increase because of the pandemic. At press time, Beals did not have a anticipated cost increase for Samaritas during the outbreak, as the organization is currently tracking expenses through all of its programs. “We know it’s accumulating quickly,” Beals said. “We assume it’s going to be significant.” Dobner said Samaritas is looking at a tentative goal of $250,000 to $300,000 to cover predicted costs, including laptops, educational materials and food for staff who are forced to work from home. “We have many staff working remotely, so they will need the equipment to do that,” Beals said. AgeWell Services of West Michigan fortunately had an emergency plan in place before COVID-19 was even a topic of household conversation. Executive Director Kris Collee said the organization spent a lot of time forming emergency management procedures because of inclement weather. “We did think about how we’re going to respond under constraints,” Collee said. AgeWell operates senior activity and lunch centers throughout Muskegon, Ottawa and Oceana counties, as well as the Meals on Wheels program to deliver 1,600 meals each day to seniors in their three counties. Like with Samaritas, AgeWell interacts with a portion of the population that is particularly vulnerable to COVID-19, and the group has put special measures in place for volunteer work, including utilizing existing channels. “Right now, we’re trying to utilize the current volunteers we have to contribute more, or we tell them to sit back if they’re not comfortable,” Collee said. “We also have partnerships with the Life Circles PACE program and Mercy Health to provide health care workers at no cost to deliver those meals, because they’re already vetted.” AgeWell currently is not calling for general volunteers, but that could change in the future, Collee said. AgeWell services seniors who specifically are homebound and in need of community, but social programs like lunch and activity centers have had to be modified to prevent exposure. The organization now implements a curbside model where people can drive up and receive a bundle with enough food for five meals. “We are an essential service, and with seniors being the most affected by COVID-19, it’s necessary that they have access to proper nutrition,” Collee said. “That’s also why we’re sending out five meals at a time. If they can’t go to the grocery store, it’s good to just put them away for when you need them.” Collee added she was proud of Meals on Wheels’ response to the COVID-19 crisis. In New York, for example, the regional Meals on Wheels program is still running, and Collee said AgeWell’s partners in Grand Rapids are not slowing down, either. “Forty percent of the individuals we see say their daily driver is the only contact they have with a human being,” Collee said. “There’s many reasons homebound elderly don’t have those social supports, but that’s why it’s way more than a meal. We’re all dealing with social isolation now, but imagine having that be a part of your every day.” AgeWell’s census for staff is 95 workers, with 28 being full-time. Continued on page 128

Experts examine environmental 'silver lining' of COVID-19, Page 9 APRIL 6, 2020 GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL 3

Risk calculator tracks odds of infection Center for Social Research director created a tool that illustrates the need for the stay-home order.

Industry is shut down in Michigan, but not in neighboring states.

Rachel Watson

Grand Rapids Business Journal

Maybe despite Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order, you’re still longing to go out. A tool created to illustrate the risk of gathering together shows why that’s a bad idea. Before the March 23 order to shelter in place came down, Neil Carlson, a data expert who is director of Calvin University’s Center for Social Research (CSR), was interested in answering the question, “Am I really that at risk?” of contracting the virus by attending a group gathering. During the weekend of March 21-22, Carlson created a visual meeting risk calculator as part of an interactive dashboard that tracks the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and informs people about known risks. The calculator projects how risky a person’s social behavior can be based on the estimated infection rate in the region the person lives and works in. Now that everyone is effectively banned from leaving their homes unless they are getting groceries or doing other necessary tasks, or they’re a critical infrastructure worker, the tool isn’t needed as the basis for decision-making on whether to attend meetings, but Carlson said those interested in understanding the reason behind the executive order to stay at home might still find it useful. “I hope this is helpful for creating some context for why public health officials and statisticians are alarmed when the general public is dismissive of the risks of exponential growth,” Carlson said.

Homebuilders plead for ‘essential’ status Ehren Wynder

Grand Rapids Business Journal

Michigan is at least as fast as New York’s, if not faster. “The modeling for our area shows that at its current rate, we would exceed demand for hospital and intensive care services in early May, and this would last for many weeks. This peak in cases would be more than our health care system or any health care system could handle,” she said. This is why it is so essential that people stay home, flatten the curve, and that hospitals free up beds for the coming surge, Freese Decker added. Carlson said in addition to the risk calculator, the CSR site features digital visualization tools that allow users to see how the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic is happening on a country-bycountry and state-by-state level. CSR is taking suggestions for other models that would be help-

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recently declared industries like housing construction are not essential under her “Stay Home, Stay Safe” executive order. The Home Builders Association of Michigan is now calling on her to rethink the assessment and to consult with federal Homeland Security officials and her colleagues from around the country in determining whether to shut down builders and contractors. “You can’t declare three-quarters of our industry nonessential and expect to have a ‘safety and repair’ side of the industry available to help people maintain and repair their homes,” said Bob Filka, executive director of HBAM. “The supply chain that feeds maintenance and repair activities also feeds the home construction and renovation markets. Without the latter functioning, the former can’t be sustained.” Filka said in places like Sparta, builders are being told to vacate incomplete homes even if those structures pose health and safety hazards. He also noted places like Detroit are allowing far more activity than the governor’s order appears to authorize, and such confusion needs to be addressed by the administration. Filka added he recently has been fielding calls from home

Continued on page 138

Continued on page 118

EXPOSURE TO EVEN a small group of people increases the risk of contracting the disease exponentially, according to risk calculations. Photo by iStock

The risk calculator — which draws from the public work of the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University and was inspired by a widely read blog post by Tomas Pueyo of Course Hero as published on Medium — is available at the CSR’s Tableau Public page, at tabsoft.co/2RgeGwD. The simulator uses seven data points to calculate the probability of at least one infection being present in a group of various sizes: deaths reported to date in one’s county, estimated fatality rate, estimated cases active at infection, estimated cases active now, estimated infection rate, estimated healthy rate, and meeting size. Based on the one death that had been recorded in Kent County as of March 31, and the approximately 115 presumptive positive cases, the calculator estimated that the risk of at least one infected person being in the room during a

group gathering of 100 people — if no social distancing controls were in place and people weren’t handwashing, Carlson said — would be about 11.5%. “Later, if there are five deaths in the county, that same meeting of 100 people has a 45% chance — nearly ‘a flip of the coin’ — of someone infectious being in that room,” he said. As noted by Spectrum Health CEO Tina Freese Decker in a March 30 address to the community, it is known that COVID-19 is “far more dangerous” than the flu in many respects, one of them being that after two months, one person with COVID-19 will pass it on to up to 99,000 people, so even an 11.5% risk of being in the room with an infected person is far too high. Assuming the worst using models based on state, national and global data, Freese Decker said the rate of growth of infections in

Solar is bright spot during pandemic One company is on an early season hiring binge. Ehren Wynder

Grand Rapids Business Journal

“In tougher times, people are thinking you have to have power in your home. That’s the thing customers want to make sure they have. When you have solar panels on your roof you are in control of your power.”

As the COVID-19 spread continues to put a stranglehold on businesses, solar installation still is shining through. POWERHOME Solar, a North Carolina-based residential solar installer with offices in Michigan, has reported new hires in all nine of its coverage areas are up significantly over the past 30 days. Per Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s “Stay Home, Stay Safe” executive order, which ordered the closing of “nonessential” businesses, solar installation is designated as a utility, and therefore is an essential service. Ben Brookhart, chief sales of-

ficer for POWERHOME, said the spike in hiring is especially surprising considering that late winter/early spring typically is the slowest hiring time of the year for the company. “It’s crazy how many people are

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Ben Brookhart

responding to our ads,” Brookhart said. “A lot of people have been let go or are deciding to stay home. They may be potentially looking for a new career in times like these — something with more stability.” Additionally, uncertainty over the growth of the COVID-19 crisis is leading residents to consider long-term energy sustainability, Brookhart said, which makes an industry like solar survivable even in an economic crisis. “With our business, we’re offering energy independence,” he said. “In tougher times, people are thinking you have to have power in your home. That’s the thing customers want to make sure they have. When you have solar panels on your roof you are in control of your power.” POWERHOME still is answering calls from residents to come to their homes and discuss options for solar installations, all while maintaining CDC guidelines for

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ROOFTOP SOLAR PANELS ensure homeowners have access to power under any circumstances. Courtesy POWERHOME Solar

social distancing, Brookhart said. Brookhart added POWERHOME is practicing social distancing for all of its employees, and all work and training is done

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remotely. Additionally, the company is breaking up shifts to avoid having too many workers in one Continued on page 118

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4 GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL APRIL 6, 2020

Top Area Wealth Management Firms (RANKED BY 2019 WEST MICHIGAN ASSETS UNDER MANAGEMENT) Top W. Mich. executive(s)

2019/ 2018 W. Mich. assets under management

Certifications/accreditations

Signage Broker/dealer affiliates

Commissions, fees or both

Specialization

*Huntington Private Bank 40 Pearl St. NW Grand Rapids 49503 p. (800) 480-2265 huntington.com/privatebank

John Irwin

$17B DND

CFA, JD, CBES, PPC, RPA, CRC

Huntington Financial Advisors

Fees

Comprehensive fiduciary counseling focused on affluent and high net-worth banking, investment management, trust services and retirement plan advisory services

Edward Jones 825 Parchment Drive SE Grand Rapids 49546 p. (616) 957-2139 f. 633-6223 edwardjones.com

Philip Streng

$6.5B $5.4B

CFP, AAMS, CRPC

Edward Jones

Both

Retirement planning, insurance solutions, education planning, estate and trust services

VantagePointe Financial Group 3333 Evergreen St. NE Grand Rapids 49525 p. (616) 534-9632 f. 534-1340 vpfgroup.com

David Pasciak

$3.48B $3.1B

DND

Royal Alliance Associates Inc.

Both

Building lifelong relationships with clients while becoming a resource to families and businesses as their needs change

Zhang Financial 460 Ada Drive SE Ada 49301 p. (888) 777-0126 f. 385-5705 zhangfinancial.com

Charles Zhang Lynn Chen-Zhang

$3.3B $2.9B

CFP, CPA, MBA, MSFS, ChFC, CLU Custodians: LPL Financial, TD Ameritrade, Charles Schwab

Fees

Fee-only asset management, retirement planning, investment advice, comprehensive financial planning, wealth management

Stifel 5181 Cascade Road SE Grand Rapids 49546 p. (616) 942-1717 f. 942-2412 stifel.com

Paul Drueke

$1.9B $1.55B

DND

Stifel, Nicolaus & Company Incorporated, Century Securities Associates, Stifel Bank & Trust, Stifel Trust Co.

Both

Full-service wealth management and investment banking

Greenleaf Trust 25 Ottawa Ave. SW, Suite 110 Grand Rapids 49503 p. (616) 888-3210 greenleaftrust.com

Thomas DeMeester

$1.21B $1.65B

CFA, CFP, CTFA, J.D.

Not affiliated with any one broker/dealer

Fees

Trust administration, wealth management, retirement plan services, foundation and endowment services, family office services, estate settlement

Discovery Financial LLC 971 Spaulding Ave. SE, Suite A Ada 49301 p. (616) 957-9999 f. 957-9949 discoveryfinancialllc.com

David Muilenberg

$567.57M $565.92M

CLU, ChFC, AIF

LPL Financial

Both

Fee-based wealth management and financial planning, 401(k) and deferred compensation

Midwest Capital Advisors LLC 630 Kenmoor Ave. SE, Suite 206 Grand Rapids 49546 p. (616) 454-9600 f. 454-9608 midwestcap.com

Henry Swain Michael DeSmyter

$481M $341.7M

CFP, CRPC, AIF

DND

Fees

Wealth management, financial planning, company-sponsored retirement plan management

Grand Wealth Management LLC 333 Bridge St. NW Grand Rapids 49504 p. (616) 451-4228 f. 451-4229 grandwealth.com

Jeff Williams Steve Starnes Janelle Anderson

$404.21M $325.92M

CFP, CIMA, AIF, CPA/PFS

None

Fees

Fee-only wealth management for professionals, business owners and executives; retirement plan services for professional firms

Advance Capital Management Inc. 625 Kenmoor Ave., Suite 307 Grand Rapids 49546 p. (616) 954-2066 f. 954-2499 acadviser.com

Ryan Sheffer Jared VanDenBerg James Walsh

$395.29M $333.34M

CFP, CMFC

DND

Fees

Retirement, financial and tax planning

Henrickson Nauta Wealth Advisors 2325 Belmont Center Drive NE, Suite A Belmont 49306 p. (616) 361-9308 f. 361-9370 hnwealthadvisors.com

Doug Henrickson Jeff Nauta

$381.52M $316.21M

CFA, CFP, CAIA, CIMC, AIF, CDFA, DND CRPC, CMFC

Both

Comprehensive wealth management services

Rehmann 2330 East Paris Ave. SE Grand Rapids 49546 p. (616) 975-4100 f. 975-4400 rehmann.com

Ronald Knipping Derrek Klimek

$371.83M $361M

CFP, MBA, AIF, CRPC, CPA, MST, EA

Both

Tax-managed investments, financial and estate planning, advanced design 401(k) plans, nonqualified deferred comp. plans

Growtrust Partners 979 Spaulding Ave. SE, Suite A Ada 49301 p. (616) 949-8300 f. 696-1919 growtrust.com

Chris Engle Brian Sandberg Ryan Smith

$367M $260M

Certified financial planners, LPL Financial chartered financial consultants, accredited estate planners, chartered adviser for senior living

Both

By using a comprehensive, goal-oriented planning approach, we seek to help clients create and maintain wealth to assist in meeting their current and future financial objectives

Rinvelt & David, LLC 1700 E. Beltline Ave. NE, Suite 150 Grand Rapids 49525 p. (616) 957-0022 f. 957-4409 rinveltdavid.com

Roger David Jacob Rinvelt Robert Rinvelt

$359.25M $283.37M

CFP

Kestra Financial

Both

Financial planning/wealth management, social security optimization planning, portfolio risk analysis, major life event planning

Huizenga Gamache & Associates 44 E. Eighth St., Suite 215 Holland 49423 p. (616) 392-6614 f. 392-6694 tim-huizenga.com

Tim Huizenga

$320M $170M

CFP, ChFC

Ameriprise Financial

Both

Pre-retirees, retirees

Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. 2856 Port Sheldon St. Hudsonville 49426 p. (616) 379-5248 f. 379-5256 ameripriseadvisors.com

Brian Timmer

$283.25M $230.84M

CFP, CLU

Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.

Both

Retirement income portfolios, retirement plan rollovers, retirement account construction

First Mutual Investment Management Inc. 688 Cascade West Pkwy. SE Grand Rapids 49546 p. (616) 957-4210 f. 957-9946 firstmutualinvestment.com

Dennis Joppe

$227M $225M

CFP, CFS, MSFS

LPL Financial

Both

Retirement, financial and tax planning

MaxWealth Management at Lake Michigan Credit Union 2024 Celebration Drive NE Grand Rapids 49525 p. (616) 234-6358 lmcu.org/maxwealth

James Blakeslee Kristy Nicol

$223.13M $209.28M

RIA, CRPC, Financial Advisor

LPL Financial, member FINRA/SIPC, insurance products through LPL Financial or its licensed affiliates

Both

Investment, insurance, banking, financial and retirement planning, estate and college planning

Voisard Asset Management Group 99 Monroe Ave. NW, Suite 504 Grand Rapids 49503 p. (616) 988-5778 f. 988-5694 voisardgroup.com

Douglas Voisard

$216.13M $167.11M

CFP

None

Fees

Portfolio management, retirement planning, financial planning, retirement plan accounts

Rehmann Financial Network

Continued on page 6 8

VantagePointe Financial Group debuted new signage at its Elkhart, Indiana office.

National recognition

Stifel’s PearlStreet Investment Management was named to PLANADVISER’s Top 100 Retirement Plan Advisers list and the National Association of Plan Advisors’ Top DC Advisor Teams.

On board

Rehmann principal Andy Rose was recently named treasurer of the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

Promotion

MaxWealth Management at Lake Michigan Credit Union promoted Nick Venlet to Michigan sales lead. He has been with the company for nine years.

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Download this list now at GRBJ.com in Excel or PDF format. The Book of Lists and other lists are also available.

A F e e - O n l y We a l t h M a n a g e m e n t G r o u p

Charles Zhang - Michigan’s #1 Financial Advisor by both Barron’s* and Forbes** Serving the Entire Grand Rapids Area Our Office is Located at: 460 Ada Drive SE, Suite 200 Ada, MI 49301 616-235-5777 or 888-777-0126

Our Grand Rapids Team

www.zhangfinancial.com

Fee-Only Unbiased Investment Advice

• We uphold a Fiduciary Standard and work with clients on a fee-only basis. • We do not receive commissions, kick-backs, or soft dollars from product sales, eliminating inherent conflicts of interest.

Credibility & Professionalism

• Our team of professionals holds designations and degrees such as CFP®, CFA, CPA, MBA, and PhD. • Charles received his MBA from the Kellogg School of Management - Northwestern University, his MA in Economics from Western Michigan University, and Executive Education from Harvard Business School and Columbia University.

Charles Zhang CFP®, MBA, MSFS, ChFC, CLU • Ranked #6 in the nation on Forbes’ list of TOP Wealth Advisors and is the highest ranked Independent Advisor on the list.** • Ranked #2 on Barron’s list of America’s TOP 100 Independent Advisors and is the highest ranked NAPFA-Registered Fee-Only Advisor on the list.* Minimum investment: $1,000,000 in Michigan/ $2,000,000 outside of Michigan. Assets under custody of LPL Financial, TD Ameritrade, and Charles Schwab.

Founder and CEO

*As reported in Barron’s March 13, 2020 and September 16, 2019. Based on assets under management, revenue produced for the firm, regulatory record, quality of practices, and other factors. For fee-only status see NAPFA.org. **As reported in Forbes January 16, 2020 and September 14, 2019. The Forbes rankings, developed by SHOOK Research, are based on an algorithm of qualitative criteria, mostly gained through telephone and in-person due diligence interviews, and quantitative data. Those advisors that are considered have a minimum of seven years experience, and the algorithm weighs factors like revenue trends, assets under management, compliance records, industry experience and those that encompass best practices in their practices and approach to working with clients. See zhangfinancial.com/disclosure for full ranking criteria.

6 GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL APRIL 6, 2020

Top Area Wealth Management Firms (RANKED BY 2019 WEST MICHIGAN ASSETS UNDER MANAGEMENT) 7 Continued from page 4 Top W. Mich. executive(s) 20

JVL Associates LLC 1535 44th St. SW Wyoming 49509 p. (616) 261-2800 f. 261-2866 jvlassociates.com

Advanced Asset Management LLC 4555 Wilson Ave. SW Grandville 49418 p. (616) 531-5220 f. 531-7773 aamllc.com

2019/ 2018 W. Mich. assets under management

Certifications/accreditations

Recognition Broker/dealer affiliates

Commissions, fees or both

Jerry VanderLugt

$208.09M $186.22M

CPA, CFP, CVA, CFA

None

Fees

Estate planning, financial planning, wealth transfer strategies, investment advisory services

Ronald J. VanSurksum, CFP

$110.19M $91.39M

CFP, NAPFA

None

Fees

Fee-only financial planning and investment advisory, comprehensive financial planning

Ron Courser & Associates 2900 Charlevoix Drive SE Grand Rapids 49546 p. (616) 301-2581 f. 301-2593 roncourser.com

Ron Courser

$65M $61M

CFP

DND

Both

Wealth management, retirement income planning

Synergy Wealth Management LLC 660 Cascade West Pkwy. SE, Suite 250 Grand Rapids 49546 p. (616) 285-7818 f. 285-7819 synergywm.com

Fred Iacovoni Tyler Kotlarz

$56.06M $47.4M

Drew Ysseldyke

Aaron Pike

Old National Bank 5200 Cascade Road SE Grand Rapids 49546 p. (616) 228-6000 oldnational.com Variable Concepts Inc. 161 Ottawa Ave. NW Grand Rapids 49503 p. (616) 774-8555 f. 774-0150 variableconcepts.com

Old National Bank was one of 132 honorees by the Ethisphere Institute as one of the 2020 World’s Most Ethical Companies. This is the bank’s ninth consecutive year being recognized.

Specialization

Joining forces CFP, AWMA

None

Fees

Fiduciary fee-only wealth management, portfolio management, holistic retirement/financing planning, corporate retirement plans

DND DND

DND

DND DND

ChFC, MBA

Cadaret, Grant & Co., Inc.

Both

Referral only full service brokerage and financial advising with a focus on small and midsized 401(k) plans and individual financial planning

The Grand Rapids Business Journal list of top area wealth management firms, ranked by 2019 West Michigan assets under management, is the most comprehensive available. The list is based on responses to Business Journal surveys. The Business Journal defines "West Michigan" as Allegan, Kent, Muskegon and Ottawa counties. The Business Journal surveyed 134 companies; 25 returned surveys and 25 are listed. To be considered for future lists, email dnelson@grbj.com. DND = did not disclose. * = total assets under management

Foundation Wealth Management and John McLaughlin have joined the franchise channel of Ameriprise Financial. They have $272 million in combined assets under management.

ListStore @ GRBJ.com

Download this list now at GRBJ.com in Excel or PDF format. The Book of Lists and other lists are also available.

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! n n a m h e Call R Every milestone affects your financial future. When it comes to building and protecting that future, your first call should be to someone you trust. Our trustworthy advice, answers and guidance take the stress out of every challenge and change. Forward thinking solutions. Peace of mind. That’s The Rehmann Experience.

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APRIL 6, 2020 GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL 7

Entrepreneur adds snail mail greeting card service Through AffirMAILtions, Shannon Cohen sends custom messages of encouragement to brighten people’s days. Rachel Watson

Grand Rapids Business Journal

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Shannon Cohen has fast-tracked the launch of a greeting card mail service she began brainstorming nine months ago under her Tough Skin, Soft Heart brand. Recognizing that people are Cohen stressed, overwhelmed and isolated during this season of social distancing, Cohen on March 24 launched AffirMAILtions, a service that allows anyone to order a themed greeting card to send to a loved one or client, and Cohen herself will devise and write a personalized note to the recipient on behalf of the customer and mail it through the postal service. Cohen is founder and principal of Shannon Cohen Inc., a consulting firm with the subsidiary brand Tough Skin, Soft Heart, through which she is a speaker, author and encourager to leaders and difference makers. The Tough Skin, Soft Heart brand also encompasses a wholesale and retail line of greeting cards, stickers, stationery, postcards, mugs and wall art. Cohen said she began incubating the idea to mail people handwritten messages of positivity and affirmation after her Rockstar Woman brunch last year, at which she presented each of the 200 attendees with a handwritten letter. Since then, she has been “testing the waters,” including sending personalized letters with the copies of her book ordered by corporate clients, as well as mailing notes to others when they come to mind.

But since Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued her “Stay Home, Stay Safe” executive order requiring Michiganders to shelter in place and businesses to shut down nonessential in-person activities, Cohen said she needed to “pivot” her business model for the greeting card line, as up until this point, most of her sales took place through retail stores, gift shops, bookstores and boutiques that aren’t currently open. The custom service is $6 and includes the cost of the greeting card, a specially curated message to the card recipient and shipping. To place an order, all people need to do is pick a theme for the card, such as encouragement, sympathy, birthday card, thank you or celebrate a difference maker; email info@shannoncohen.com with the sender’s name, the recipient’s name, pronouns and their detailed address; and send $6 via Cashapp to $ShannonCohenInc. Cohen will then write the personal message in one of the cards from her inventory; email the sender a photo of the inside and outside of the card, “so there are no surprises”; and mail the card to the recipient. She said her custom service enables clients to celebrate, connect with and extend support to those they care about without violating shelter-in-place protocol. “Even in a pandemic, human beings still have an innate desire to connect,” Cohen said. “We want to celebrate birthdays, support friends in the loss of loved ones, and uplift colleagues and community health workers in this time of crisis. We may be shut in, but expressing love, care and concern is never locked out.” While people could write and mail their own greeting cards during this time, Cohen said she wanted to offer a service that would do “the emotional lift” for the client, who may be members of the pared-down essential workforce, unemployed, working from home while also parenting and homeschooling, or just generally overwhelmed by the new realities of life. “You just tell us the theme and the person’s name and how to get it to them, and we’ll do the rest,”

THE PERSONALIZED greeting cards cover several themes, including encouragement, sympathy, birthdays and appreciation. Courtesy Shannon Cohen Inc.

“We transport the care and concern you feel in your heart on your behalf.” Shannon Cohen

she said. Cohen and her two employees are busy managing their inventory and marketing and all the other aspects of running a business remotely, but she said the new service has made it all worth it. “This whole project gives me all the feels. It connects my life as a small business owner, my passions as a person and my heart to care for leaders,” she said. “People are responding back, like, ‘I cried when I saw the card.’ Some of the folks we’ve sent cards to, one was a new grandmother whose daughter lives in South Carolina, and she can’t hold her new grandbaby yet. We’ve done

ones for new moms. We sent a card to someone who lost their father. We did one for an executive at Spectrum who, it was her college roommate’s birthday, and she’s been so engrossed in everything connected to COVID that we sent the birthday card so she wouldn’t miss the friend’s special day. “It was like, ‘I want to send something, but I’m so overwhelmed emotionally and physically with work, too.’” In addition to business-to-consumer sales, Cohen has done several business-to-business transactions, such as when Grand Rapids Opportunities for Women and the Michigan Farm Bureau ordered cards to be mailed to all their staff members. “I’m seeing our corporate clients use this season of pause to send affirmations to say, ‘Even though we can’t gather together,’ or ‘Even if we’ve had to temporarily close, we just want to elevate that our staff matters.’ Sometimes in silence, you start to appreciate the people who make a

difference more.” Cohen said since launching the custom service, she already has gotten more orders than she did in a month through her wholesale partners. While she hopes to continue the AffirMAILtions service after the pandemic, Cohen said she also is committed to maintaining ties with brick-and-mortar retailers. She said she doesn’t expect to make many sales through retail channels at a time when grocery shopping is a sprint to get in and buy essentials quickly while touching as few items as possible. But currently, Tough Skin, Soft Heart products are continuing to be stocked at Horrocks Market and Bridge Street Market, and she hopes to be able to resume selling her products in the other venues after social isolating ends. Cohen calls the custom card mailing service “telehealth for the soul.” “We transport the care and concern you feel in your heart on your behalf,” she said.

Advisers say now might be perfect time to rebalance portfolios As the markets roll, it also might be a good opportunity to start a business. Danielle Nelson

Grand Rapids Business Journal

The volatility of U.S. stock markets now mirrors the uncertainty of the world economy. In recent weeks, the value of stocks has been going up and down as investors scramble to determine whether to sell their stocks because different industries such as hospitality and food have fallen victim to the unknown that surrounds the COVID-19 global pandemic. According to CNBC, the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 both had their worst first quarter ever. The Dow closed the quarter down -23.2%. It was the worst quarter since the fourth quarter of 1987. The S&P 500 closed down 20% for the first quarter. That was its worst quarter since the fourth quarter of 2008. Despite the downturn and fluctuation, Charles Zhang, founder and CEO of Zhang Financial, said this is not the time to panic.

“Please don’t focus on one month’s return or two months’ return,” he said. “People are always confused about this, saying ‘I lost 20% this month and if I continue to do that, in five months I will have nothing.’ That is not logical because, for the next five months, it will not be down every month 20%. We always tell clients, look at one-year returns, two-year returns, three-year returns, don’t look at a one-month return.” A result from a study commissioned by Towneley Capital Management and conducted by professor H. Nejat Seyhun at the University of Michigan showed that 96% of market gains occurred in 0.9% of trading days from 1963 to 2004. As a result, Zhang said investors must stay in the market because people will be missing that 0.9% of trading days and the resulting higher returns. In addition to being aggressive in maintaining extreme patience during this volatile time, he said, investors always must be smart and assess the risk level in the amount they can afford to lose in the shortterm. In an effort to lower the risk factors, Zhang said diversifying investments in different indus-

tries and categories can possibly prevent major losses. He said now might actually be a good time for investors to rebalance their portfolios. Jeff Pauza, senior wealth management adviser at Greenleaf Trust, agreed investors can minimize financial losses through proper portfolio rebalancing. “A properly diversified portfolio that would be the outcome of these comprehensive plans that were created for clients typically has several assets that are performing well even during a market sell-off,” he said. “When we have some assets that are doing really well, we have the ability to use some of these securities as a form of ‘dry Pauza powder,’ or essentially we can redeploy some of our assets that are performing well into areas of the portfolio that have sold off and look more attractive. That strategy of rebalancing keeps the portfolio aligned with the pre-determined asset classes.” Another way to minimize finan-

“Please don’t focus on one month’s return or two months’ return. People are always confused about this, saying ‘I lost 20% this month and if I continue to do that, in five months I will have nothing.’ That is not logical because, for the next five months, it will not be down every month 20%.” Charles Zhang

cial loss, Pauza said, is through tax loss harvesting. “If a portfolio has some securities that are trading right now below their current cost bases — so, below what a client or investor put into that investment — you can consider selling those securities, capture the loss and now use the realized loss you have to offset any future capital gains from that portfolio,” he said. With the uncertainty in the stock market, Zhang said now is a great time for young people to create their own business. “A lot of good businesses were started in 2009, during the financial crisis,” he said. “Uber was started in 2009, so you can start a new business from this moment.”

Pauza said young people can take advantage of the lower interest rates that are now available and utilize the increase in short-term loans that the federal government is issuing to banks. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has created some uncertainty in the economy right now, it is important to look long-term, according to both advisers, while evaluating the risk level the downturn may have on your assets and take the necessary steps needed to withstand the fluctuation in the market. “Being optimistic doesn’t mean you have to be happy all the time,” Zhang said. “It just means that when times are tough, you know there are better days ahead.”

Inside Track 8 GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL APRIL 6, 2020

year? What do we want the following year to look like? We want that year to have 300 customers and $100,000 in sales and an 80% retention rate. How are we going to get there? Networking, local engagements, lawn signs.’ Those were some of the little metrics we would use to judge ourselves by.” Because Lawn Doctor is not a mowing company, Hines said whenever he would see a mowing company crew, he would network with them and introduce himself and his business, trying to understand ways they could be a resource to each other. He also established a social media presence for the firm.

I didn’t ask for any permission, I basically just acted as if I owned the business and said, ‘This is my company.’ I just presented myself to the public as if it was my company. COLLEGE DIDN’T TAKE twice for Kendall Hines, but he learned that focus and salesmanship are very beneﬁcial in the real world. Courtesy Dave Burgess/Studio 616

After working in the family lawn care business for years, entrepreneur creates international digital platform for services.

Hines plants stake on digital side of lawns Danielle Nelson

Grand Rapids Business Journal

hey call him “Kendall, the lawn man,” and with good reason. Kendall Hines, who is the owner of Lawnbot, a technology platform for lawn companies to sell their services, has spent practically all of his life providing consumers with “green, thick, weed-free lawns.” Hines’ parents were the owners of a Lawn Doctor franchise, a small lawn care company that fertilizes lawns and sprays weeds, among other services. The family business treated residential and commercial lawns throughout East Grand Rapids, Caledonia, Byron Center, Wyoming, Rockford, Ada and Grandville. Hines and his brothers grew up in the business, with all of them working there until Hines eventually purchased it from his parents. He later sold it to one of his brothers. “I was out there doing the lawns at 8 years old, literally spreading the fertilizer, spraying

the weeds, handing out fliers and putting signs in the ground after the treatment was done on lawns that read, ‘Stay off the lawn until it is dry,’” he said. “They were big properties, too; they were an acreand-a-half big. I did everything short of going to the bank and depositing checks.” Hines continued to work with his parents’ business until he went off to college at Siena Heights University in Adrian. But he realized quickly that college was not for him. “I basically partied too much in college,” he said. “There is a saying that says, ‘If you are going to fail, fail fast,’ so that you can get onto the next thing. And I did that, extremely fast. I was there for two years and I just had too much fun, partying too much. It was also right around the time of the financial crash, 2008-2009, so it was very expensive to go to school. Between the financial situation and my grades, which weren’t that great because I wasn’t taking my classes seriously, I left. I left that school in Siena Heights because I probably wasn’t ready to

go to school.” Hines returned home and after a few months of thinking about his future, he returned to what he had been doing for practically his entire life — working at Lawn Doctor. “It was something in me that said go,” he said. “I didn’t ask for any permission, I basically just acted as if I owned the business and said, ‘This is my company.’ I just presented myself to the public as if it was my company. I just took the reins and just went. I just had so much ambition and focus at that time. I was done being a loser and being mediocre. I wanted to be successful. I started cutting negative people out of my life. I have a very tight circle now. A lot of people in my circle are fellow business owners.” Hines said he began writing down goals he wanted to accomplish with Lawn Doctor in the next 10 years, categorized by months. “It would say, ‘Where are we now? We have 90 customers. What is our average customer value? How much did we do in sales that

Eventually, his path led back to school. He enrolled in Michigan State University’s agricultural technology program. The classes were held at what is now known as Calvin University. He was working at Lawn Doctor during the day and going to classes at night. “I figured that if I am all in, I needed to learn all about the science and the different types of soils,” he said. “During classes, they would talk about the microorganisms of the soil and how that impacts the amount of fertilizer. We learned a lot about soil composition: sand, silt and clay. (The classes) were very detailed, which was really important, but I happened to know a lot of that stuff by working with my dad.” Lawn Doctor started to grow exponentially. Hines said it went from having 90 customers to 400 customers, and the growth continued to the point where his phone kept on ringing in class. The demand for Lawn Doctor services was evident in the number of phone calls and online requests, so Hines faced a crossroad — either continue classes or focus entirely on growing Lawn Doctor. He chose the latter. “It was like, ‘Do I pay MSU $10,000 or do I go make $100,000?’” he said. “It was an easy choice to make. The top thing on every business’s financial statement is sales. Like, if you don’t have sales and revenues, you don’t have a business. Every business needs sales to grow and that was what I was great at. There are no college classes that can teach you persistence, to keep going when everyone is telling you, you can’t, or that is not a good idea, or no one is going to buy it.” In the early 2000s, when his parents where operating Lawn Doctor, they had a small group of clients. Hines and Henry Eggers officially purchased the franchise in 2018.

Now the business has grown its customer base to over 2,000 homes and businesses, including the Gerald R. Ford International Airport. The company also has a fleet of a dozen trucks and a 5,000-square-foot warehouse from which to operate. As the business grew, Hines noticed something else. He said Lawn Doctor received “thousands of requests” for quotes via phone and online, and he thought there had to be a better way for people to go on their phones and purchase lawn services. Hines said he became obsessed with the notion and began building a website, occasionally googling how to add things to it like videos in HTML format. The site was the genesis for Lawnbot. “When I built the initial version of Lawnbot and tested it and got my first sale, I was like ‘Oh, my God, it works! Someone put their credit card information in and they bought services,’” he said. “On the front end on the website it looks simple, but on the back end it is so much work. I have a lot of respect for people who build large technology platforms.” Hines was putting a lot of his energy into Lawnbot, so his brother, Jordan Hines, managed Lawn Doctor last year. “My business partner, Henry, said to me, ‘I can’t be in business with you while you are working on Lawnbot. You can’t be half in and half out.’ So, I started thinking about it more, and my brother and his girlfriend came to me and said, ‘Hey, Kendall, we see that you are busy with this Lawnbot thing. Have you thought about selling Lawn Doctor because, clearly, you are not spending enough time here.’” Hines and Eggers eventually sold Lawn Doctor to Jordan Hines and his girlfriend, Angelica Hough, in January. Hines now is officially four months into Lawnbot. The firm operates in 32 states and 65 companies are using the platform. Within the next year, Hines said he hopes to have 300 to 400 companies using his platform. In the long-term, he said he hopes to have 10,000 companies using the online service. “I have lawn care companies in the United Kingdom and in Canada reaching out to me because they have lawn care companies there, too,” he said. “So, it is not just the United States, it is the entire green industry.”

KENDALL HINES Position: Owner Company: Lawnbot Age: 28 Birthplace: Grand Rapids Residence: Byron Center Family: Wife, Masha Hines; son, Axel Hines Business/Community Involvement: Mentoring young up and coming entrepreneurs and inspiring others to be the strongest version of themselves. Biggest Career Break: “Growing my family’s business, Lawn Doctor, to 2,000 clients — and allowing my parents to retire.”

APRIL 6, 2020 GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL 9

Apparel printer pitches in to help displaced workers Good Ink uses fundraising platform to aid breweries, restaurants, salons and other small businesses. Danielle Nelson

Grand Rapids Business Journal

A Holland-based business owner has changed the mission of his business. Dave Ornée is a co-owner and the director of operations for Good Ink, a custom apparel company that was launched in 2016. The company was started with the purpose of helping individuals, nonprofits and other organizations raise money for their causes by selling custom T-shirts through its website (goodink. com). During the COVID-19 pandemic, however, Good Ink now is offering its services to local small businesses such as breweries, res-

taurants, salons and spas to raise funds for their employees and prevent business closure through access to its fundraising platform. To benefit from the opportunity, businesses must detail their cause, create a custom design they would like on their apparel, which include sweaters, short- and longsleeve T-shirts, and Good Ink will do the apparel printing, embroidery and provide a check for the amount of funds that were raised on the website. “A lot of small businesses are feeling the pinch, big time,” Ornée said. “I reached out to a number of other small business owners and they are all feeling bad, not only for themselves but for their employees who are out of work. We are working with the (businesses) to create some unique designs and start campaigns to raise money for people who are out of work and out of a paycheck right now.” One of those business owners using the Good Ink website to raise money for furloughed employees is Chris McKellar, owner

of Love’s Ice Cream in Grand Rapids. As of March 30, there were 45 T-shirts sold with the Love’s Ice Cream theme and $800.45 was raised. “Everything is a bit unknown,” McKellar said. “Hopefully, this (fundraiser) is a short-term thing that we can do to put a little money in our staff’s pocket while they are out of work. We hope we’ll get back to work as soon as it makes sense for everyone to do so. We don’t want to be a part of the problem.” McKellar said while he is trying to help his staff now, he is aware of an even bigger issue looming in the future. “Bankruptcy is a real threat if we can’t earn any money for the long-term,” he said. In an effort to avoid bankruptcy, McKellar has resorted to curbside pick-up, a pretty unusual step in the frozen treats segment. He also is doing deliveries, which he said he has never done, for individuals who order online. Love’s Ice Cream uses local organic and

minimally processed ingredients to make treats on-site. Another business owner using Good Ink to print T-shirts is Trevor Doublestein of Our Brewing Company in Holland. Doublestein said he and Ornée have been friends for nearly two decades and when he opened his brewery in 2012, he started a business partnership that allowed Good Ink to print custom-designed apparel to be sold in the brewery, which was seeing an average of 200 to 300 visitors per day. The brewery was an entertainment spot with trivia night, karaoke night, playing vinyl records and offering live music performances. Today, the brewery is forced to offer only “to-go” orders and, never having had food options, relies solely on its beverage sales. Doublestein now is contemplating the purchase of a food truck to supplement sales. While he mulls the food truck idea, Doublestein said he has been using Good Ink’s site for fundraising for his employees. As of March

31, 122 Our Brewing-themed items had been sold, raising $2,277.64. All the proceeds will go directly to the bartenders who are currently out of work, he said. “We have six bartenders and two production people, which are myself and our brewer,” he said. “We have eight total staff. We keep it lean. We have had pretty much the same employees for all of the seven years that we have been open. Everyone is like family.” Good Ink is helping about 23 businesses raise money during this time when people are told to stay home. “It is super important to support any of your local restaurants that you love because if you don’t, then it is very possible that they will not be reopened,” McKellar said. “It is a very real thing, so we are doing our best to just try and get by because we don’t know how much, if anything, by way of help is coming from the government. We can’t wait to rely on that either.”

Experts examine environmental ‘silver lining’ of COVID-19 While stay-at-home order may lead to temporary reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, challenges abound. Rachel Watson

Grand Rapids Business Journal

The West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum recently hosted a webinar that explored the positive and negative aspects of COVID-19 when it comes to sustainability and human impact. The webinar, held April 1 and moderated by WMSBF Executive Director Daniel Schoonmaker, was titled “Cost and Considerations of the COVID-19 Environmental ‘Silver Lining.’” Featured guests included: •Michael DeWilde, director of the Koeze Business Ethics Initiative at Grand Valley State University •Paul Isely, professor of economics and associate dean of undergraduate programs at the Seidman College of Business at Grand Valley State University •Edgar Cardenas, postdoctoral fellow, Center for Interdisciplinarity at Michigan State University and author of “Between Two Pines: Ushering in a Sustainable Future Through an Art-Science Practice” •Carissa Patrone, equity program manager, WMSBF During the discussion, the speakers examined the so-called environmental “silver lining” of the COVID-19 pandemic — i.e., the idea floating around in sustainability circles right now that actions taken to reduce viral transmission of the novel coronavirus are leading to “significant” temporary reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and noticeable improvements in environmental conditions in certain regions and industries. While it’s believed these temporary reductions may demonstrate the possibility for mankind to respond to global issues such as climate change, they come with significant ethical concerns, economic challenges and disproportionate impacts, the panelists said. They convened to explore how sustainability practitioners and stakeholders might interpret these issues as they work to promote sustainability and equity in their

organizations, industries and communities. DeWilde, as the group’s ethicist, led off by saying the very idea of a silver lining to this pandemic can feel “distasteful” to mention when so many people around the world are suffering financial, emotional and physical hardships related to the coronavirus. Nevertheless, he said he can see at least three silver linings, the first of which is positive environmental impact. “This is an unsustainable way to create sustainability, but nonetheless, it does bear out what many of the scientists are saying, that you can see short-term positive environmental impacts. That is good,” he said. The second silver lining is the crisis gives people the opportunity to think about the nature of work. “We know that overwork, especially work-related stress, causes an awful lot of illness. This is a chance to think about the way we structure work,” he said. Thirdly, he said this global event could be seen as a “dry run” for a long-term and more “serious, unfolding issue,” i.e., climate change and the ways in which we can prepare ourselves for the coming fallout. Cardenas added people can take this opportunity, when life is put on hiatus, to collect data on the environment and how quickly it responds, but also in terms of equity and justice, to observe the areas in which systems broke down most quickly in order to take action to prevent the most vulnerable populations from being impacted in those ways again. Patrone said she believes the planet could return to equilibrium without an event such as this one that causes mass suffering, if only people would use this time to reexamine “business relationships, the intersection between sustainability and equity, and our health care system” using a systems change model to reimagine a new way of living. She sees the mutual care for one’s neighbor that has arisen during this crisis as a silver lining. “There’s a new sense of collectivism that has happened, whether it’s through volunteerism and people dedicating time and putting themselves on the front lines, to making grocery store runs or medicine runs for the older folks, to these mutual aid circles that have

FEWER PEOPLE TRAVELING is one of the silver linings to the current pandemic, according to environmental experts. Photo by iStock

been popping up all over,” Patrone said. “This collectivism can definitely be leveraged to then combat things such as climate change and environmental degradation moving forward.” Isely cautioned that a lot of the positive side effects happening now — which Schoonmaker noted include a reduction in air and car travel and a shutdown of business activity that comes with environmental impacts — are short term and will ultimately run counter to social and sustainability goals, i.e., the virus’ impacts are disproportionally on “people on the bottom end of the income stream,” the price of oil falling will make it harder to incentivize businesses to switch to renewable resources or people to buy electric cars, and capital streams for investing in new sustainability ideas will dry up as the economy struggles to regain its footing. Schoonmaker also noted cons to the crisis including increases of 20% to 30% in residential waste going to landfills, rollbacks in recycling and environmental regulations, and just as many computers and just as much electricity running, but at homes instead of offices. In support of the short-term nature of the environmental benefits of this time, Cardenas quoted a line from environmental activist Donella Meadows, from her book

“Thinking in Systems: A Primer”: “Your factory is torn down, but the rationality that would produce it is left standing, and that rationality will simply produce another factory. For revolution destroys the government, but the systemic patterns of thought that produced that government are left intact, and those patterns will repeat themselves.” He said now is the time to rethink what the mission of business should be. DeWilde said when this comes up in the classes he teaches, an obvious answer might be business exists “to turn a profit,” but in West Michigan, business owners, employees and those who study business don’t necessarily default to that answer and instead include other factors, such as building social and community capital, experimenting with sustainability and looking for “other ways to do well by doing good.” Patrone said this is currently illustrated by the businesses that are revamping their models right now to support the creation of critical health care resources, such as manufacturing PPE and medical supplies, and the employees and community members who are volunteering to help on the frontlines. Cardenas called this a “pro-social” approach to doing business, and this perspective can help build a societal “robustness … so that you

don’t have these collapses.” Isely said the problem with that view is that “businesses still have to be in business,” and with the pandemic surge predicted to last well into May, businesses can’t help people if they don’t have the cash on hand to survive as an entity. “For them to be thinking about sustainability, they first have to worry about their very survival,” he said, adding that the federal relief bill will not be enough for every business to last through June, unless more legislation passes with additional aid. Patrone said from a social responsibility standpoint, equity gaps in our society are becoming apparent in terms of infrastructure such as access to home internet to work remotely — with only 16% of U.S. Hispanic workers, 19% of African Americans, 30% of whites and 37% of Asian Americans having access to home Wi-Fi. Cardenas added this gap is concerning because it also means children of lower income families who don’t have internet will fall further behind as the school year moves to an online class format. Parents whose children are out of school and don’t have access to daycare but still have to go to work also are disproportionally affected by this crisis, he said, and low-inContinued on page 13 8

Comment & Opinion 10 GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL APRIL 6, 2020

GUEST COLUMN David Allen

Solving the city’s housing problems takes a multi-pronged approach

wo critical areas of focus in Mayor Rosalynn Bliss’s recent State of the City address were the lack of affordable housing and homelessness, and the city’s actions toward reducing these issues. These measures include increasing the construction of affordable housing units over the last two years and surveying to gauge the supply and demand. To combat homelessness — which decreased for individual adults and increased by 47% for families between 2016 and 2018 — the city also plans on creating an outreach team, among other efforts. While there’s no doubt that these initiatives are vital and the city is taking great strides with fixing housing issues, there’s still much to be done. The Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) recently released two reports — The Michigan Homeownership Study and the Michigan Statewide Housing Needs Assessment —to demonstrate how the demand for affordable housing is outpacing supply in the state, including Grand Rapids. The reports also highlight the biggest obstacle in solving affordability issues: there is no single problem that Michigan needs to address to improve the state of homeownership. That’s not to say there aren’t problems. Instead, the approach to providing solutions

GUEST COLUMN Carey Monroe

Dual enrollment can reduce college costs

needs to be nuanced and diversified for each region of the state. A standard measure for defining housing affordability is whether housing expenses exceed 30% of the household income. If so, the household is considered cost burdened. In many communities, there are huge disparities between the cost of owning a home and household incomes. Combined with growing demand and a lack of safe and affordable housing options, residents and businesses alike are feeling the strain around the state. In Grand Rapids, the total population grew by 2% over the last decade. Notably, residents in the 25-34 age group increased by over 15% during the same period. On the other end of the spectrum, the population of residents ages 55 and older grew by 11% between 2011 and 2016. These population shifts have created a market for new multifamily rental and condo developments. Even with a growth in population and employment in the city, the median household income in Grand Rapids is $42,019, falling below the state’s median of $50,803. Yet, the median price of a single-family home in the city grew by 114% between 2012 and 2018. This severe increase reduces the affordability for current residents, especially for those with incomes below the median. There’s a similar story for existing owner-occupied units in Grand

hanks to dual enrollment options, my son graduated high school with 33 credit hours that transferred to his postsecondary institution. Because of this, we were able to save a full year of tuition dollars — $34,000. As an enrollment management and career development professional, I am disheartened when I talk to families who have no idea about dual enrollment. According to the Michigan Department of Education, the average student participating in dual enrollment only earns half of the credits they could by not fully participating in the dual enrollment options their schools and local colleges offer. In Michigan, 70 colleges and universities offer dual enrollment to high school students. Many K-12 administrators do not explain this option to parents well enough, or at all. With the current debate over college debt and the cost of higher education, I can’t imagine why any parent would not embrace the option of dual enrollment, if they knew it could save them and their students significant tuition dollars in the future. My son now attends Belmont University in Tennessee, where annual tuition is $34,000. By taking college courses as a high school student, he began at the university as a sophomore, which means he can graduate in three years. That’s a year of college paid for by the state of Michigan while he was still living at home and a minor. What a

Rapids: the increase of median sale prices was so drastic between 2011 and 2016 that those earning the median income couldn’t afford a home selling at the city’s median value. To address Grand Rapids’ housing issues, there are a variety of strategies and tools available to help local municipalities and community leaders advance homeownership opportunities in the region. As further outlined in the reports, these strategies include: Finance tools: Help address gaps in access to capital for individuals and developers, as well as enhance existing programs. •Down payment assistance •Low-interest rate mortgages •Infrastructure grants Rehabilitation and preservation tools: Grand Rapids has an older housing stock when it comes to ownership units. Rehabilitation funding and neighborhood stabilization/preservation tools can help bring these units back on the market. •Rehabilitation gap financing •Neighborhood development programs Land use and zoning tools: Allows communities to have direct control over the type of units built, the location of those units and the time it takes to build them. •Diversifying product types •Zoning code reform •Incentive zoning and density bonuses Economic development tools:

Provide opportunities to help businesses thrive and employees find affordable housing. •Employer-funded housing funds •Employer location incentives •Trade worker training programs •Anchor institution partnership programs

As Grand Rapids’ population continues to grow, the supply of safe and affordable housing options has generally not kept pace with the demand. By focusing on the specific

fabulous opportunity! All 50 states have some policy regarding dual enrollment or dual credit. Pennsylvania is the only state that does not currently offer it to high school students due to lack of funding. Still, the biggest issue is that parents don’t know about or realize the long-term cost savings that can come from encouraging students to participate. There are many benefits of dual enrollment. High school students can learn in a college setting from a professor, as well as follow a syllabus and college schedule. If they are mid-range to high achieving, they will benefit from the material presented while learning time management, group dynamics and better communication skills. Students who dual enroll can learn material in a discipline they may be interested in before leaving high school — a great way to begin career planning and try a career on for size. Imagine the dual enrollment student who thinks he may be interested in becoming an engineer. He takes his first CAD class and spends a day job-shadowing someone who has worked as an engineer for 30 years — and hates it! He has used his time wisely by finding out what he doesn’t want to do while earning credit toward a degree he may really enjoy in the future. Research demonstrates, in an analysis of 1,232 community college students, those who participated in dual enrollment were 3.4 times less likely to require tutoring, and 2.5 times more likely to graduate in

two years. Dual-enrolled students are more likely to stay in college because they know what to expect, and they know they can handle it. College affordability and the student loan debt crisis are at the forefront of media and a prime topic for this year’s presidential race. Rather than suggest a highly illogical possibility like free access to public education, we should be discussing practical ways to minimize college costs, and dual enrollment must be front and center in that discussion. According to the Michigan Transfer Network, a student who earns an associate degree will earn $400,000 more over their lifetime than a high school graduate; someone with a bachelor’s degree will earn $900,000 more over their career lifetime than the associateonly graduate. The average college graduate carries debt of $35,000 for a bachelor’s degree. If a student can take the first 30 credits debt-free, perhaps he could reduce that debt — or eliminate it. The dual enrollment and early college programs have potential to move the needle on Gov Gretchen Whitmer’s 60 by 2030, ensuring 60 percent of Michigan residents will achieve a

post-secondary credential by 2030 and increase their lifetime earning potential. Parents need to know about dual enrollment options at their student’s high school before they even start ninth grade. State policy puts the onus on K-12 administrators to provide workshops and meetings to describe the process and benefits — and many don’t have time. Most families only learn of dual enrollment options when their student has exhausted the options for classes at the high school — and that can be as a junior or senior. Anecdotally, some high school administrators admit they don’t present the option because they feel dual enrollment takes away from their classrooms and leaves them with lower achieving students (the ones who need more attention and help). That’s an egodriven mistake. It is important for parents to know their options so they can guide their children wisely toward debt-free college solutions.

LETTERS POLICY: The Business Journal welcomes letters to the editor and guest commentary. Letters and columns must include the writer’s name, address and telephone number. Guest columns do not necessarily reflect the philosophy

of the Business Journal. Letters and columns may be edited for reasons of space or clarity. Please submit to: The Editor, Grand Rapids Business Journal, 401 Hall St. SW, Suite 331, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 or email bjletters@grbj.com.

Continued on page 13 8

MI VIEW WEST Garth Kriewall

Michigan journalist, kriewall@hotmail.com

It’s Skype, Bob. You can get closer.

Carey Monroe, Ph.D., is vice president of enrollment at Cleary University.

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APRIL 6, 2020 GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL 11

Region’s Q2 GDP expected to drop over 20% Solar is bright 7 Continued from page 1 clines of about $3.53 billion in the region, and an average income loss of $7,400 per household in Q2 (see chart for further details). Chung said the top three worsthit areas in the U.S. right now are counties that are dependent on the oil industry, tourism and cyclical manufacturing. He said the declines in West Michigan from the cyclical manufacturing sector are mainly in office furniture, automotive and aviation manufacturing — although the impact of many area manufacturers such as Steelcase and Herman Miller pivoting to making personal protective equipment and health care supplies was not taken into account in the StratoDem forecast. Because the Grand Rapids area is slightly more diversified than the east side of the state — with large health care and agriculture sectors in addition to grocery retailers based here such as Meijer and SpartanNash, which are hiring — the GDP declines on the west side of the state are expected to be lower than in the Detroit metro area, Chung said. Michigan counties that likely will see some of the steepest percentage drops in Q2 2020, according to the StratoDem analysis,

include Macomb County, with expected economic losses of around $3.1 billion for Q2 (-30%); Genesee County, with expected economic losses around $989 million (-26.4%); and Wayne County, with expected economic losses around $6.5 billion (-26.3%). “Because (Grand Rapids) is not a one-trick pony that’s solely about cyclical manufacturing, it’s going to do a little bit better than the rest of Michigan,” Chung said. Other sectors such as commercial and residential real estate and hospitality/entertainment — which includes hotels, restaurants, museums, concert venues and tourist attractions — also are “getting hammered everywhere in the country,” Chung said. Paul Isely, professor of economics and associate dean of undergraduate programs at Grand Valley State University’s Seidman College of Business, said the StratoDem analysis tracks with GVSU’s current forecast for Q2. GVSU’s forecast, which defines West Michigan as Kent, Ottawa, Barry and Montcalm counties, projects about a -20% drop in GDP for Q2, which equals an overall GDP decline of about $3.3 billion, Isely said. He concurred that the impact on the manufacturing sector will be “outsized,” with manufacturing

accounting for about 41% of the quarter’s GDP decline. Non-grocery retail and entertainment will be the second- and third-hardest hit sectors, Isely said, accounting for about 12%15% of the decrease in total output. He noted employment numbers likely will show greater losses than output, but it’s impossible to make a projection. “What I’m telling people on the unemployment number is the number is going to be stunning, and it’s outside of any modeling that we have,” he said. “We’re hearing national numbers ranging from 10% all the way to 30%, because we’re experiencing something that we’ve never experienced before, which is the complete shutdown of several industries.” He said it is unclear what effect the federal CARES Act stimulus package will have on the economy, but if West Michigan receives its “fair share” of federal aid, that will significantly help. Along with most economists, Chung and Isely said there is no question we are now in a recession for the rest of 2020. Chung said based on data StratoDem collected during the Great Recession, Kent, Ottawa, Muskegon and Allegan counties saw

respective GDP declines of -5.6%, -7.5%, -4.7% and -8.8% at the end of 2009, which was the bottom of the most recent recession. “If this recession is only as bad as the last recession, that would be a good outcome,” Chung said, noting most models are forecasting a national GDP decline of -5% to -6% for the full year 2020, provided Q3 and Q4 stabilize. Isely added he expects 2020 will end with a -5% GDP decline, and that’s provided manufacturing goes back online in May and people are able to leave their houses and resume normal life by June, which is what the current virus modeling suggests will happen, he said. Chung said stories like Steelcase and Herman Miller using their history of innovation to be part of the solution during this pandemic are what give him hope for the nation’s recovery. “This is going to be a hard thing to go through … but we’re going to see how strong communities really are,” he said. “It’s going to take really strong communities to put the pieces together. Part of the reason why we’re sharing this is we’re hoping good reporting helps everyone take it seriously and know that it’s going to take a lot of collective effort to work through this.”

spot during pandemic 7 Continued from page 3

place and to prevent the spread of the virus. POWERHOME currently is hiring for 15 energy consultants and 10 installers for its Grand Rapids office. Job listings are available at https://www.powerhome.com/ solar-jobs/. POWERHOME has more than 50,000 customers through its nine-state footprint, and Michigan is home to its largest customer base, Brookhart said. “Michiganders absolutely have been open to solar energy for their home,” he said. POWERHOME recently started offering battery storage through a partnership with Generac Power Systems. The utility soon will offer Generac generators as part of the installation package if the customer chooses. POWERHOME Solar opened its Grand Rapids office, the first location in West Michigan, in 2018, and in 2019 opened a dedicated commercial division to better serve business clients.

Attorney: CARES Act to help banks help borrowers 7 Continued from page 1 saying they would “not criticize institutions for working with borrowers and will not direct supervised institutions to automatically categorize all COVID-19 related loan modifications as troubled debt restructurings (TDRs).” Troubled debt restructurings occur when a creditor for economic or legal reasons related to its debtor’s financial difficulties “grants a concession to the borrower that it would not other consider,” according to the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). Due to many creditors’ past “unscrupulous” practices in modifying loans multiple times leading up to the financial crisis, FASB put in place the requirement that

banks carry TDR loans separately on their financial statements, test them periodically for impairment and possibly accrue a reserve for a potential loss on the loan after it is modified, Ott said. “So what that does effectively is it … hurts their earnings,” Ott said, adding such a reporting requirement unintentionally acts as a penalty for modifying a loan during a short-term crisis such as COVID-19. The new interagency guidance would have removed the TDR reporting requirement for a loan modification as long as a borrower applied for a concession when their loan was not more than 30 days past due, and as long as the concession was short term. The CARES Act, however, overrode those guidelines and is

providing broader relief by allowing financial institutions to make loan modifications at their discretion for any borrower whose loan was current or not more than 30 days past due as of Dec. 31, 2019 — as long as the modification was made during the “applicable period ... beginning March 1, 2020 and ending on the earlier of Dec. 31, 2020, or the date that is 60 days after the date” on which the national emergency concerning COVID-19 is terminated, according to Sec. 4013 of Title IV of the CARES Act. “If (the federal government) were to say that the national emergency is up around June 30, that means that (banks) could make modifications up until Aug. 30,” Ott said. In addition to removing barri-

ers to banks modifying loans for those affected by COVID-19, Ott said Title IV of the legislation also does not require that the modifications be short term. Title IV of the CARES Act also includes several consumer protections: •Amending the Fair Credit Reporting Act so that a bank that agreed to make a loan modification for a consumer affected by COVID-19 during the pandemic is to report the loan as current so it does not adversely affect the borrower’s credit (Sec. 4021). •The borrower has the right to request forbearance on federally backed mortgage loans regardless of delinquency status, and such forbearance shall be granted for up to 180 days, with an additional 180-day extension under certain

circumstances (Sec. 4022). •A moratorium on foreclosures and evictions of occupied properties shall be in place for “not less than the 60-day period beginning March 18, 2020” (Sec. 4022). •Holders of multi-family home mortgages, i.e. landlords, affected by the pandemic may request forbearance, and loan servicers shall provide the forbearance for up to 30 days and two additional 30-day extensions as long as the requests are made during the covered period (Sec. 4023). •Landlords may not evict tenants or charge late fees or penalties for the duration of the forbearance they are receiving (Sec. 4023). The CARES Act is available in its entirety at bit.ly/CARESAct_ fulltext.

Homebuilders plead for ‘essential’ status 7 Continued from page 3 builders based in border states and doing business in Michigan. Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Minnesota all declared the housing industry in their states essential, but HBAM has recommended to out of state builders to adhere to Whitmer’s order for the time being. HBAM previously sent a letter asking the governor to classify the construction and renovation of housing as an “essential activity or infrastructure,” and the “permitting, inspection, construction, transfer and recording of ownership, of housing and anything incidental thereto,” be considered an “essential government service.” Whitmer’s order does make an exception for site work that needs to be shored up to prevent hazards and protect materials from the elements. “She did respond to our letter and clarified builders can finish buttoning up existing projects,” Filka said. “Essentially, ongoing

work has to cease.” Meanwhile, the National Association of Homebuilders celebrated a victory as the Department of Homeland Security designated single and multifamily housing construction as essential infrastructure. “Americans depend on a functioning residential construction sector to provide safe, affordable housing for our citizens, and this need is especially acute during this pandemic,” said NAHB Chairman Dean Mon. “Moreover, a healthy housing market is critical to maintain a sound economy.” In an effort spearheaded by NAHB, 90 companies and organizations sent a joint letter last month to Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Jack Wolf urging him to designate housing construction as essential. The declaration from DHS is only a recommendation for states to follow. There is no mandatory federal order for states to follow on what is or is not an

essential business. For the immediate future, HBAM is encouraging members to comply with Whitmer’s order. Filka said the organization supports the governor in her attempt to protect human health. “When you draw the line between essential and nonessential, sometimes that line is not as clear as you or I would like,” Filka said. “Lets err on the side of caution and hope we can see that curve flatten. But it is frustrating.” At the same time, Filka stressed the importance of having a longterm plan in place for the housing industry, so it is poised to respond to emergencies like a tree falling on someone’s roof, for example. “In the long term, the governor needs to look to DHS and the new guidelines,” Filka said. “You can’t shut off our industry and expect it to be available for emergencies. Given our worker shortages and people being a little more desperate about earning money, I’m concerned our industry will be irreparably damaged.”

HOMEBUILDERS ARE allowed to do site work needed to prevent hazards and protect materials from the elements, but those are the only activities allowed in Michigan for now. Courtesy HBAM

Change-Ups & Calendar 12 GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL APRIL 6, 2020

Stockmeyer’s academic paper receives 2020 Cohn Prize Western Michigan University Cooley Law School professor emeritus Otto Stockmeyer was awarded the 2020 Cohn Prize for Law and Public Policy by The Michigan Academy of Science, Arts & Letters. Stockmeyer was honored for his 2019 academic paper, “Three Faces of Restitution,” which traces the evolution of restitution as a subject of law school study and summarizes its principal components and practical applications. The paper is to be published in the upcoming issue of the academy’s journal, “Michigan Academician.” Named after Judge Avern Cohn of Detroit for his patronage of legal scholarship and the academy, the Cohn Prize recognizes the best scholarly paper on law or public policy. ADVERTISING & MARKETING

RED66 Marketing recently received national supplier status with the CSC Network, a resource for independently owned and operated linen or industrial laundry companies to grow their business by working with select vendors with the best products, services and pricing in the industry. The CSC has grown to over 175 members working exclusively with a select 75 approved vendors.

ARTS

The Grand Rapids Public Museum announced various resources available during the museum’s temporary closure due to the ongoing coronavirus/COVID19 pandemic, including the exploration of the museum’s collection online, at-home activities and new content. It includes: Curious Content; the museum has shifted its live stream camera to

Some nonprofits are weathering the pandemic — for now 7 Continued from page 2 The group averages about 250 volunteers per year. Collee added AgeWell is still operating its senior transportation program, which averages about 16,000 one-way drives in Muskegon County every year, but the program has had to drop volunteers to prioritize client safety. Amid the COVID-19 scare, there also are many perpetrators of fraud against seniors, which AgeWell is looking out for though its elder abuse program, Collee said. “A couple of weeks ago in the Grand Rapids area we heard of an individual was going around with a sack of potatoes and milk telling people he was with Meals on Wheels,” she said. “We also heard about the ‘American Red Cross’ offering seniors a ‘vaccine’ for COVID-19. Our elders are so vulnerable, especially to financial exploitation.” To fight back against fraud, AgeWell has developed a task force in Muskegon and Ottawa counties. Safeseniors.info offers resources and information for loved ones to identify signs of fraud and other forms of elder abuse. AgeWell currently is calling for face masks and additional funding, as well. “Federal aid is coming but it doesn’t cover everything.” Collee said. “We need unrestricted dollars to continue our programs. We have seen a significant decrease in giving. Whether someone can give $5 or more, anything helps.”

showcase the two 10-month-old lake sturgeon featured in the Grand Fish, Grand River exhibition. View online at grpm.org/live-stream. GRPM’s collection of more than 250,000 artifacts and specimens can be explored online at grpmcollections.org for free. Visitors can learn about curating their own collection of museum artifacts at https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=NCKdRHa1grs&f eature=youtu.be. Tibbits Opera House in Coldwater has started upgrades to its electric service thanks in part to a grant from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and support from donors to the theater’s ongoing restoration effort. Tibbits Opera House was built in 1882 and was originally lit by gas lights. Electricity was added a few years later and it has evolved and adapted over the next 138 years. The main electric box is

Editor’s note: The coronavirus response has affected many public gatherings. Please check organizations’ websites for the latest event information. APR 9 Division Avenue Business Association Meeting. 8-9 a.m., Brann’s Steakhouse & Grille, 4157 S. Division Ave., Wyoming. Information/registration: tombrann@ branns.com. APR 9 Grand Rapids Opportunities For Women Lakeshore Intro to GROW, free orientation to learn about programs. Noon-1 p.m., GVSU Muskegon Innovation Hub, 200 Viridian Drive, Muskegon, or 6-7 p.m., Mahali Muskegon Heights, 2780 Peck St., Muskegon Heights. Information/ registration: (616) 458-3404 or grow business.org. APR 14 Institute For Supply Management Greater Grand Rapids Professional Development Webinar, for procurement professionals whose job includes negotiating prices for raw materials, components or finished goods, by Rod Sherkin, who will explain why cost transparency is the golden arrow in your negotiations quiver. Noon-1 p.m. Information/registration: ismggr.org/. APR 14 World Affairs Council of Western Michigan The Future of Work Virtual Series. Topic: “Global Trends Shaping the Future of Work,” by Kristin Sharp, Entangled Solutions. 6:30-7:30 p.m. Information/registration worldmichigan. org/futureofwork. APR 15 Muskegon Chamber of Commerce Chamber Orientation and Networking. Meeting is for new members, future members and longtime members. 4:30-6 p.m., Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce, 380 West Western Ave., Suite 202, Muskegon. Cost: free, light refreshments provided. Information/registration: muskegon.org/. APR 15 World Affairs Council of Western Michigan Global Executive Briefing and Luncheon. Topic: “Global Trends and the Future of Work,” by Kristin Sharp, Entangled Solutions, 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m., University Club, 111 Lyon St. NW. Cost: $50/person; $250/table of six. Information/registration: worldmichigan.org/ corporate2020. APR 16 Michigan West Coast Chamber of Commerce Leading Edge Workshop.

more than 80 years old and most of the system is more than 60 years old and runs on single-phase power. The electrical system feeds all of the theatrical needs for the facility.

AWARDS

Hope College in Holland has been honored with Tree Campus USA recognition by the Arbor Day Foundation for the second year in a row for its commitment to effective urban forest management.

EDUCATION

Aquinas College announced Stephen Germic has been selected as the college’s new provost and dean of faculty. Germic begins his new role on July 1. Germic, a Michigan native, comes to Aquinas from Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Montana, where he has served as provost and academic vice president since 2014. During his tenure he helped Rocky Mountain College increase its graduation rate and steadily rise in prominence to become the No. 2 value among similar institutions in the west region.

FOOD & BEVERAGE

Holland-based Coppercraft Distillery announced it is producing and donating approximately 10,000 gallons of alcohol-based hand sanitizer to area hospitals and health care providers, including Holland Hospital, to mitigate shortages within the community. The hand sanitizer is comprised primarily of glycerol and a 96% ABV neutral grain spirit. It adheres to World Health Organization guidelines, as directed by both the FDA and TTB, which calls for a 60 percent alcohol minimum.

GOVERNMENT

Kent County announced it has put into action workplace policy changes to more effectively comply with social distancing recommendations. Specifically, face -to-face services and appointments will continue on a very limited basis. When possible, appointments should be

Topic: Drama-Free Workplace, by Leslie Fiorenzo, director, Employee Assistance Center. 8:30-11 a.m., West Coast Chamber of Commerce, 272 E. 8th St., Holland. Cost: $55/members, $35/one additional employee, $75/nonmembers. Information/ registration: colleen@westcoastchamber. org. APR 16 Michigan West Coast Chamber of Commerce Lakeshore Latinas Meeting. 5:30-7:30 p.m., Michigan West Coast Chamber of Commerce Learning Lab, 272 E. 8th St. Cost: free. Information/registration: keegan@westcoastchamber.org. APR 16 Rotary Club of Grand Rapids Luncheon. Topic: “How Inflammation Can Affect the Brain and Lead to Psychiatric Symptoms,” by Dr. Lena Brundin, associate professor, Center for Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Institute. Noon-1:15 p.m., University Club of Grand Rapids, 111 Lyon St. NW, Suite 1025. Information/registration: grrotary. org/. APR 16 Work Wellness and Disability Prevention Institute Webinar. Topic: “Managing Pain-related Limitations in the Workplace: The Role of the Employer.” 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Information/ registration: wwdpi.org/Webinars. APR 17 Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce 3rd Fridays! Networking Luncheon. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Spartan YMCA, 5722 Metro Way SW, Wyoming. Cost: $17/members, $22/nonmembers, no walk-ins. Information/registration: (616) 531-5990 or michelle@southkent.org. APR 20 Express Employment Professionals Training Center Event. Topic: A New Perspective on Time Management. 8 a.m.-noon, 1760 44th St. SW, Suite 10, Wyoming. Cost: $125, includes breakfast. Information/registration: bit.ly/ TimeManagementSeminar2020. APR 20 Michigan West Coast Chamber of Commerce Advocacy In Action: Governmental Affairs Breakfast. 7:308:30 a.m., Alpenrose Restaurant, 4 E. 8th St., Holland. Cost: $25/members, $45/ nonmembers. Information/registration: colleen@westcoastchamber.org. APR 20 Work Wellness and Disability Prevention Institute Webinar. Topic: “Returning and Thriving at Work After Sickness Absence: How Workers Can Be Supported After a Long-Term Illness,”

rescheduled, or an alternative method of service delivery will be implemented. Some essential services will continue to be delivered in-person. All residents are encouraged to call first before visiting a Kent County facility for service. Residents can find phone numbers for all county departments and offices on accesskent.com. The Kent County Treasurer announced its office is closed to the public until further notice due to the coronavirus. Taxpayers are encouraged to mail check and money order payments to Kent County Treasurer, P.O. Box Y, Grand Rapids, MI 49501. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive order extending the redemption deadline on 2017 tax foreclosures from March 31, 2020 to May 29, 2020. For the latest updates on COVID-19, visit the Kent County Health Department COVID-19 page: accesskent.com/ Health/coronavirus.htm.

GRANTS

Detroit-based Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan will provide $500,000 to support the efforts of community-based organizations across Michigan to provide meals to vulnerable kids as schools across Michigan close in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and support other efforts to protect seniors and other populations in need. BCBSM joins many other organizations in this effort. A local nonprofit BCBSM supports is Kids’ Food Basket, serving Kent, Allegan and Ottawa counties.

Way. $30,750 was awarded earlier. A breakdown of nonprofit grantees: $2,700 to City on a Hill; $5,000 to Community Action House; $5,000 to Coopersville Cares; $5,000 to Four Pointes Center for Successful Aging; $20,000 to Good Samaritan Ministries; $5,000 to Harvest Stand Ministries; $10,000 to Holland Rescue Mission; $5,000 to Love in Action; $5,000 to Love Inc Allendale; $5,000 to Love Inc Hudsonville; $7,500 to The People Center; $5,000 to Resilience; and $7,500 to The Salvation Army in Grand Haven.

LEISURE & RECREATION

A voluntary short-term closing 30 has resulted in an excess of fresh ingredients in Wayland-based Gun Lake Casino’s coolers. The large supply of food was donated to local organizations in West Michigan to combat hunger as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. More than over 2.75 tons of food were packaged, loaded and transported to Dégagé Ministries, Feeding America West Michigan and Hand2Hand. The West Michigan Tourist Association offers information about Michigan’s 100 lighthouses that people can tour, tower climb, take in museums and more. More information is available at bit.ly/MichiganLighthouseTours. The 2020 edition of the map will be out in April, which can be requested at bit. ly/2020MichiganTourMap.

The community coalition created to respond to the COVID-19 crisis has granted an additional $87,700 from the Emergency Human Needs Fund to 13 Ottawa County nonprofit organizations. Funding is provided on behalf of the Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area, the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation and the Greater Ottawa County United

CHANGE-UPS POLICY: The Business Journal welcomes submissions to the Change-Ups section. Send announcements concerning personnel changes, new businesses, changes of address etc. to Change-Ups Editor, Grand Rapids Business Journal, 401 Hall St. SW, Suite 331, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 or email bjchangeups@grbj.com.

by Karina Nielsen, professor, University of Sheffield. 8-11 a.m. Information/registration: wwdpi.org/Webinars.

6-7:15 p.m., 6690 Crossings Drive SE, Suite A. RSVP required by calling (616) 656-1830.

APR 21 Jennifer Maxson & Associates Workshop, “Speak Up and Be Effective.” Craft messages that are clear, concise and focused. Cost: $680/person, $600/ person for two people, same program and date. Information/registration: (616) 8836458 or info@jennifermaxsonassociates. com.

APR 28 Wedgwood Christian Services Hosts State of the Child Panel Discussion and Breakfast. Topics will address the well-being of depressed children and teens through in-depth discussion with local students and community experts. 7:30-10 a.m., Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, 1000 E. Beltline Ave. NE. Cost: $25/person, $15/students, $200/ reserved table of 8. Information/registration: wedgwood.org/sotc.

APR 21 Muskegon Chamber of Commerce 2020 Luncheon Lessons in Leadership. Noon-1 p.m., Tanglewood Park, 560 Seminole Road, Norton Shores. Cost: $15. Information/registration: muskegon.org/. APR 21 World Affairs Council of Western Michigan The Future of Work Webinar. Topic: “Entrepreneurs in the Changing Economy,” by Attah Obande, director of dream fulfillment, SpringGR. 6:30-7:30 p.m. Information/registration: world michigan.org/futureofwork. APR 22 Muskegon Chamber of Commerce STAR! Certification Training. A onetime class about Muskegon’s history, upcoming events, local resources, new developments and more. 1-5 p.m., West Michigan Works!, 316 Morris Ave., Suite 100, Muskegon. Information/registration: (231) 722-3751 or muskegon.org/. APR 22 West Michigan Environmental Action Council Blue Tie Ball. Celebrating 50 years of Earth Day. 6-10 p.m., City View, 401 Hall St. SW. Information/registration: wmeac.org/bluetieball/. APR 24 Grand Haven/Spring Lake/Ferrysburg Chamber of Commerce 6th Annual Purse Party/Live, Silent Auction, benefiting Camp Courage. 1-3 p.m., 1204 S. Lake St., Whitehall. Information/registration: grandhavenchamber.org/. APR 24 Michigan West Coast Chamber of Commerce Membership Orientation Lunch. Focus: Maximize Your Membership: The Benefits of Chamber Membership. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Michigan West Coast Chamber of Commerce Learning Lab, 272 E. 8th St., Holland. Cost: free, complimentary lunch provided. Information/registration: keegan@west coastchamber.org. APR 28 iChiro Free Massage Workshop. Learn trigger point massage. iChiro Clinics,

APR 28 World Affairs Council of Western Michigan The Future of Work Series Webinar. Topic: “Working Together for Growth in West Michigan: Industry and Education,” by Bill Pink, president, Grand Rapids Community College. 6:307:30 p.m. Information/registration: world michigan.org/futureofwork. APR 28 Wyoming Business Leaders Meeting. 8-9 a.m., Marge’s Donut Den, 1751 28th St. SW, Wyoming. Information/registration: 616-261-4500, or d.kuba@instant cashmi.com. MAY 4 Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce Breakfast With Legislators. 7:30-9 a.m., Gordon Food Service, 1300 Gezon Parkway SW, Wyoming. Information/registration: grandrapids.org. MAY 5 Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce West Michigan Minority Contractors After Hours. 4-6 p.m., Grand Rapids Chamber, 250 Monroe NW, Suite 150. Information/registration: grandrapids.org.

CALENDAR POLICY: The Business Journal welcomes submissions to the calendar section. Send items to Calendar Editor, Grand Rapids Business Journal, 401 Hall St. SW, Suite 331, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 or email bjcalendar@grbj. com. Submissions must be received at least three weeks prior to the event. The Business Journal calendar posted on the publication’s website (grbj.com) includes listings for events extended beyond those printed in the weekly publication that are limited by space restrictions.

Public Record APRIL 6, 2020 GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL 13

BANKRUPTCY

20-00633 – BROWN, Chester L., 111 Dickinson SE, Nicholas A. Reyna (Ch. 7) 20-00642 – POLMANTEER, Christine, 5271 14 Mile Court NE, Rockford, Michael P. Hanrahan (Ch. 13) 20-00651 – COLLINS-NUNEZ, Sara G., 127 Rose SW, Nicholas A. Reyna (Ch. 7) 20-00654 – SAENZ, Belinda M., 1820 Hanchett NW, Karen M. Tjapkes (Ch. 7) 20-00658 – POLYNICE, Bethany A., 729 Lake SE, Jeffrey D. Mapes (Ch. 7) 20-00667 – PAGEL, Tracy L., 4669 Kimball SE, Kentwood, Jacob T. Tighe (Ch. 7) 20-00692 – CHRISTIAN, Beatrice, 836 Thomas, pro se (Ch. 7) 20-00703 – CASSON, James M., 338 Spaulding Hills Circle SE, Ada, Ryan F. Beach (Ch. 7) 20-00759 – GOODRICH QUALITY THEATERS INC., 4417 Broadmoor SE, A.T. Almassian (Ch. 11)

MORTGAGES

Selected mortgages filed with Kent County Register of Deeds RVK VENTURES LLC, West Michigan Community Bank, Parcel: 411433301007, $500,000 STEINMETZ, David et al, Bank of America, Parcel: 412103366010, $332,963 SANDACK, Steven et al, Amerihome Mortgage Co. LLC, Parcel: 412114326004, $430,000 CAMPBELL, Douglas, Inlanta Mortgage Inc., Parcel: 411013326039, $367,551 FAROOQ. Muhamad U. et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Parcel: 41191027800, $397,500 MAXWELL, Christun et al, Inlanta Mortgage Inc., Parcel: 411012427006, $333,830 SOBECK, Michael C. et al, Fifth Third Bank, Parcel: 412008103006, $357,300 ISELY, Paul N. et al, Mercantile Bank, Parcel: 411401201003, $307,500 FAVS I LLC, A10 Capital LLC, Parcel: 411033226006, $5,050,000 CURRAN, Tracy et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Parcel: 411526330013, $550,000 EARBY, Julie et al, Finance of America Mortgage LLC, Parcel: 410635140021, $330,000 SHROCK, Troy et al, Independent Bank, Parcel: 411509100018, $400,000 ABREU, Miguel et al, Allen Edwin Home

Solving the city’s housing problems takes a multi-pronged approach 7 Continued from page 10 housing issues in the region and taking advantage of the tools and resources available today, housing decision-makers will be equipped to adjust, add or reconfigure existing housing programs to match the needs of current and prospective homebuyers across the city. David Allen is the chief market analyst for the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, an organization that serves as a catalyst for housing and homeownership in Michigan. He also is the lead researcher on the Michigan Statewide Housing Needs Assessment.

Builders LLC, Parcel: 412307300040, $389,694 ITB HOMES LLC, Macatawa Bank, Byron Twp., $345,169 2740 PROPERTIES LLC, West Michigan Community Bank, Grand Rapids, $1,287,780 Y&O WALKER LLC, Kimco Capital Corp., Parcel: 411301305004, $3,750,000 DELGER, Christopher W. et al, Fifth Third Bank, Parcel: 412217308072, $276,000 BUTLER, Geraldine, Carrington Mortgage Services LLC, Parcel: 411833278011, $346,500 HENDRIKSEN, Heather A. et al, Huntington National Bank, Parcel: 411314476019, $360,000 NESTA, Matthew E. et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Parcel: 411024331008, $414,400 RAYMAN, Shaun et al, Heartland Home Mortgage LLC, Parcel: 411411202045, $305,000 VANDYKE, Scott P. et al, Mercantile Bank, Parcel: 411410300040, $328,500 HOLWERDA, Gregory et al, JPMorgan Chase Bank, Parcel: 411409152013, $388,000 ROGERS, James M. et al, Fifth Third Bank, Parcel: 411025327026, $398,000 JACOBY, Brian et al, JPMorgan Chase Bank, Parcel: 411803127043, $450,000 STEHLEY, Robert et al, Pennymac Loan Services LLC, Parcel: 411233227028, $297,957 KHALILI, Mohsen et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Parcel: 411411202056, $370,500 JAGROOP PROPERTIES LLC, Chemical Bank, Parcel: 411819152044, $450,000 ROE, Michael D. et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Parcel: 412230126003, $424,000 VANDERHOOF, Justin, ChoiceOne Bank, Parcel: 411426376001, $315,596 ARSULOWICZ, Lyndsie et al, Old National Bank, Parcel: 411233101026, $341,900 POSEY, Michael W. et al, Newrez LLC, Parcel: 411904202010, $305,250 KRUSE, Brandon L., Paramount Bank, Parcel: 411128228033, $454,600 AHRENS, Jonathan J. et al, Mercantile Bank, Parcel: 411104300005, $347,200 WITGEN, Brian et al, KS State Bank, Parcel: 411035400067, $463,184 LEON & TERRIE THOMPSON TRUST, Edgewater Bank, Parcel: 410105400076, $300,000

MURRAY, Brian D. et al, Bank of America, Parcel: 411905130003, $366,000 SAMYN, Randall S. et al, JTB HOMES LLC, Parcel: 412017140009, $466,633 PARINI, Sean A. et al, Navy Federal Credit Union, Parcel: 411401176011, $561,102 KLAUZA, Joseph J. Jr. et al, Independent Bank, Parcel: 412004201012, $361,400 NIJJAR, Jagtar et al, Fifth Third Bank, Parcel: 411812280001, $320,800 KERNDT, Garrett M., JPMorgan Chase Bank, Parcel: 411414327033, $329,000 EARLES, Heather L. et al, MMS Mortgage Services, Parcel: 410826200010, $292,000 MCCAY, Brett A. et al, Honor Bank, Parcel: 411109252008, $288,000 TINDALL, Luke et al, Mercantile Bank, Parcel: 411425480047, $335,000 BOELKINS, Matthew R. et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Parcel: 411324453206, $302,400 BRAAT, Brian et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Parcel: 412114177076, $358,400 GIOIA, Robert, Mercantile Bank, Parcel: 412211310012, $407,500 SYMANSKI, Michael J., Mercantile Bank, Parcel: 411401231038, $475,607 DEVRIES, Joel et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Parcel: 412229374008, $318,455 CUTLER, Brett J. et al, Quicken Loans, Parcel: 411129375054, $405,000 BAZUIN, Michael J. et al, Flagstar Bank, Parcel: 411106376008, $345,000 ASHENBREMER TRUST, Fifth Third Bank, Parcel: 411233251043, $300,000 DUMEZ, Lisa, Todd Dumez, Parcel: 411819402022, $2,500,000 HAYES, Matt et al, Dan Hayes et al, Parcel: 411403401043, $296,447 NIETLING, Zachary et al, Grand River Bank, Parcel: 411125300028, $328,566 DELONG, John et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Parcel: 411903105005, $522,750 SWEET, Cory C. et al, Old National Bank, Parcel: 411427382016, $304,950 VALENTINE, James V. et al, Ruoff Mortgage Co. Inc., Parcel: 411433129012, $414,296 GARDNER, Donald I. III et al, Sirva Mortgage Inc., Parcel: 412103460010, $330,600 DIXON, Todd A. et al, Benchmark Mortgage, Parcel: 411433301005, $756,280 RIZIK, Rachelle et al, TCF National Bank, Parcel: 411531126044, $515,000 KOKENAKES, Gabrielle, Team Mortgage Co.

LLC, Parcel: 410635220004, $308,750 FREEL, Steven K. et al, Grand River Bank, Parcel: 412217202005, $500,000 BEARD, Trent G. et al, Independent Bank, Parcel: 411412381011, $620,000 WOOD, Timothy A., Lake Michigan Credit Union, Parcel: 411434476010, $308,000 SULTINI, Nicole L. et al, Heartland Home Mortgage LLC, Parcel: 411915470003, $282,750 LUBE, Adam, Consumers Credit Union, Parcel: 411427301006, $440,000 231 LYON LLC, Community Choice Credit Union, Parcel: 411430130010, $340,000 ALBERY, Eric et al, Neighborhood Loans, Parcel: 412111322005, $457,000 HERMAN, James D. et al, Loandepot.com LLC, Parcel: 411429456017, $295,075 TODD, Timothy et al, VanDyk Mortgage Corp., Parcel: 411034352009, $386,000 CALDWELL, Kevin et al, ChoiceOne Bank, Parcel: 410128400002, $367,000 JW REMODELING LLC, Adventure Credit Union, Parcel: 411336326009, $793,000 JENSEN, Lila M. Trust, One Lending Inc., Parcel: 411407205033, $366,000 MOORE, Jeffrey A. et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Parcel: 411908301031, $346,000 WEST SPARTA PROPERTIES LLC, ChoiceOne Bank, Parcel: 410515376025, $705,000 COOLEY, Jason K., Old National Bank, Parcel: 411729461003, $280,500 MERRILL, John et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Parcel: 411429480010, $283,500 TOTH, Scottie et al, ChoiceOne Bank, Parcel: 410109300030, $467,000 EAGLE EYE LEASING CO. LLC, Newtek Small Business Finance LLC, Parcel: 411736326001, $4,400,000 EASTER VILLA MHP LLC et al, State Bank, Parcel: 412205101001, $1,730,000 DAVIS, Scott M. et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Parcel: 411905130019, $568,000 WLACEK, Michael et al, JPMorgan Chase Bank, Parcel: 411803127006, $310,614 BREEMS, Brent D. et al, Old National Bank, Parcel: 411810401042, $283,100 VENTRUES-AVE LLC, Macatawa Bank, Parcel: 411831451096, $1,242,000 BARBER, Brandon J. et al, Consumers Credit Union, Parcel: 412009427012, $300,000 RAWSTHORNE, Patrick et al, Mortgage 1, Parcel: 411804405004, $294,900 INMAN, Erin E., Heartland Home Mortgage LLC, Parcel: 410319300027, $491,000

TAVA, Chadwick J. et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Parcel: 412304400030, $450,500 SMITH, Diane C. et al, United Bank, Parcel: 411433403006, $320,000

CO-PARTNERSHIPS FILED

Co-partnerships filed with the Kent County Clerk BACKWOODS TRANSPORTATION, 14243 14 Mile NE, Greenville, William Dennis, Aerin Dennis MIDWEST CLEANING PROFESSIONALS, 545 Jennifer SE, Kentwood, Miroslav Vukomanovic, Zijada Vukomanovic

ASSUMED NAMES FILED

Assumed names filed with the Kent County Clerk ART STUDIO BY LEA, 3255 Nature View SE, Kentwood, Lorilea F. Wu B.D.’S BBQ, 4010 Timberland SE, Carey C. Riley BEE NEAT CUSTOM CLEANING SERVICES, 7827 Robertson Run NE, Rockford, Janet L. Lynn BELLA’S SOUL FOOD, 757 Burton SE, Nia L. Williams ET EXPERTS, 23 Fuller NE, Bryant E. Zimmerman FREEDOM IN PURPOSE BOUTIQUE, 1440 Beckwith View NE, Khadua Pennington MW VELASQUEZ CONSTRUCTION, 60 Baylis SW, Wilfredo B. VelasquezHernandez NUVUE WINDOW TINT & GRAPHICS, 4256 Springwell Court, Wayland, Sunni Lawson PEGGY JANSMA, 3504 Earle SW, Grandville, Peggy Jansma ROBERT BROOKS FLOORING, 1498 44th St., Wyoming, Robert C. Brooks RYN CONSTRUCTION OF WYOMING, 1111 Rathbone SW, Wyoming, Juan C. ArivizuAcuna SABA’S NOOBIE TUBIE-VISION, 3878 Yorkland NW, Comstock Park, Dominic A. Rodriguez SAFE RETURN TRANSPORT, 3878 Yorkland NW, Comstock Park, Dominic A. Rodriguez

PUBLIC RECORD AVAILABLE ONLINE: For the full version of this week’s Public Record, visit the Grand Rapids Business Journal’s website at grbj.com.

Risk calculator tracks odds of infection 7 Continued from page 3 ful to develop, as well. Someone can suggest a model by emailing csr@calvin.edu or sending a message to the Calvin University Center for Social Research Facebook page. “For your readers and for businesses, I’m interested in thoughtful requests for feature enhance-

ments (and) questions about the applications of the things. To the extent that there’s someone who’s like, ‘I really do want to use this, but I want to make sure I use it right,’ have them get into touch with us and we’ll try to help,” Carlson said. CSR is researching data needed for comparisons of COVID-19 to past epidemics and will soon in-

clude per capita rates of COVID-19 infection for the U.S. Referrals to new public data sources are welcome, Carlson said. Founded in 1970, Calvin University’s Center for Social Research (CSR) is a learning partner for social research and development. The center conducts socialscientific research projects, taking

data from collection to reporting through focus groups, statistical analyses, program evaluations, maps, interactive data visualizations, surveys and more. CSR conducts and collaborates on several large research projects and several dozen smaller projects annually for academic, public sector, nonprofit, religious and business organizations.

Experts examine environmental ‘silver lining’ of COVID-19 7 Continued from page 9 come communities and communities of color also are more likely to have underlying health conditions that make them more vulnerable to the virus, while they also have less access to health insurance to pay for hospitalizations. The panelists agreed these problems of intersectionality and

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inequity will need to be solved by re-examining and reimagining those systems following this crisis. DeWilde said he hopes if anything good comes out of this time, it’s that people will adopt a spirit of humility, as well as “fidelity” to things like evidence, facts, data and truth, so that the country can rebuild its institutions based on scientific literacy and critical

thinking after the crisis is over. Isely agreed. “If we get to a point where there’s some more trust in institutions, it’s going to be easier to have these discussions without having it go to a false narrative,” he said. Cardenas added too much of the misinformation floating around social media surrounding COVID-19 is based on ideologies

rather than facts, which undermines a community’s ability to unify in solving pressing problems. “I think there needs to be a much deeper discussion and a much deeper integration around what the facts are,” he said. “For sustainability, it really is about what values we want to uphold and what we want to see in the world.”

Community

ELEVATED. At Independent Bank, we’re dedicated to our communities and their backbone—local businesses. In trying times like these, we know that now more than ever, you need a financial partner who cares as much about your success as you do. With over 155 years of banking in Michigan, we’re here to help you through the challenges of today as well as tomorrow. We’re in this together.

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Street Talk 14 GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL APRIL 6, 2020

The new neighborhood watch Power of prayer. BUSINESS JOURNAL STAFF

ith so many of us home these days, now might be a good time to reinstitute something that was far more popular in a bygone era: the Neighborhood Watch program. This time, however, there is a tech twist. U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge last week urged the public to continue reporting suspected fraud schemes related to COVID-19 by calling the National Center for Disaster Fraud hotline, (866) 720-5721, or sending information to the NCDF e-mail address disaster@leo.gov. He also urged the public to continue reporting suspected price gouging to the Michigan Attorney General’s Office by calling (877) 765-8388 or reporting online at www.michigan.gov/ag. “My office is actively pursuing leads brought to our attention thanks to these hotlines. The scammers know we are home more, and on our computers more, so they will try to take advantage. But that also means residents can be a very effective ‘neighborhood watch’ for phone and online schemes by reporting them.” Birge said the kinds of scams already getting reported locally or around the country include: •Individuals and businesses selling cures, treatments or testing kits for COVID-19 that are fake. •Robocalls offering valid COVID-19 health care products, like masks, for sale with no intent to deliver. •Phishing emails from entities posing as the World Health Organization or the Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention. •Malicious websites and apps that appear to share coronavirus-related information to gain and lock access to computer systems for ransom. •Solicitations for donations fraudulently for illegitimate or nonexistent charitable organizations. •Medical providers obtaining patient information for COVID-19 testing and then using that information to fraudulently bill for other tests and procedures. Even if a scam seems like it is run from somewhere outside of West Michigan, Birge said his office can help. “Federal law enforcement has a long reach,” he said, adding the NCDF coordinates complaints with all U.S. Attorney’s offices and 16 additional federal law enforcement agencies, as well as state Attorneys General and local authorities. And then, of course, there is another big scam opportunity looming on the horizon. “With relief payments coming soon, we want people to be mindful that scammers are out there looking for ways to get their hands on those checks and personal account information. Remain vigilant, warn your friends and family about COVID-19 scams and report suspected fraudulent activity to the federal hotlines,” said Birge. Sarah Kull, special agent in charge of the Internal Revenue Service–Criminal Investigation Division in Detroit, added her warning to West Michigan residents to watch out for scammers attempt-

ing to steal COVID-19 Economic Impact Payments. “I urge the public not to fall victim to fraudsters attempting to steal Economic Impact Payments being sent out. The IRS will not call, text, email or otherwise contact you to ask for your information. This money is meant for you. Don’t fall victim to scammers,” she said. Kull added that the Treasury Department and IRS announced distribution of the payments will begin in the next three weeks and will be distributed automatically, with no action required for most people. Information from the 2018 or 2019 tax return, if filed, will be used to calculate payment. Most individuals do not need to take any action, she said. Social Security beneficiaries who are not typically required to file tax returns will not need to file to receive a payment. Instead, payments will be automatically deposited into their bank accounts. If banking information was not provided, the IRS will send a check via mail. She said the IRS will not contact anyone to request banking info, will not ask for confirmation of personal information to send or expedite an economic impact payment and does not require payment of a fee. Blown away Terrapin Care Station is postponing all 420 promotions, sponsorships and events in an effort to keep people safe amid the COVID-19 outbreak. Terrapin made the decision to postpone all activities related to the

unofficial cannabis holiday to encourage social distancing and selfisolation during this time of uncertainty. The April 20 “420 holiday” is normally an opportunity for cannabis companies and consumers to get together and celebrate progress made on the legalization front. But with Colorado Gov. Jared Polis pushing a #DoingMyPartCO campaign, in which people are encouraged to make sacrifices in the fight against COVID-19, Terrapin officials said they felt it was prudent to suspend any 420-related marketing activities. The firm said it will re-evaluate plans after stay-at-home orders are lifted and health officials believe the country has turned the corner in the fight against the virus. Terrapin Care Station is a newcomer to West Michigan. The company in 2019 secured the former Kids’ Food Basket site at 2055 Oak Industrial Drive NE, Grand Rapids, as a new growing and processing facility and Terrapin’s first location in Michigan. “Now is the time for us to do our part. That means making sacrifices,” said Chris Woods, owner and chief executive of Terrapin Care Station. “We understand that 420 is a time of celebration for all that we have accomplished in our efforts to end cannabis prohibition. But there is a bigger battle at our doorsteps today, and we must do our part to control the spread of this deadly virus.” Cannabis companies have been allowed to remain operational as a “critical” service in Colorado and in most states where marijuana is legal. According to Terrapin, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock flirted with the idea of closing cannabis companies. But the order spurred panic buying, which defeated the purpose of social distancing as hundreds flocked to cannabis stores to stock up. The prohibition in Denver lasted just over two hours before the mayor rolled back the proposal,

allowing cannabis stores to remain operational. Recognizing that many are experiencing economic hardship and job loss stemming from COVID-19, Terrapin also is offering discounts on products. The Terrapin Relief Package will see discounts of at least 20% on some products during the month of April, Woods said. Have faith COVID-19 has disrupted just about every facet of life, including how (and where) people worship. The ban on public gatherings includes all places of worship and without discrimination. And if they didn’t already have enough to worry about, it trickles into the health care arena, too. This can be especially challenging for health care settings as they uphold a statewide ban on visitors. The highly contagious nature of COVID-19 requires unprecedented precautions. Metro Health–University of Michigan Health officials said they are working to preserve spiritual practices while also honoring an obligation to the lives of patients and the safety of the community. The matters of clergy access and end-of-life sacraments have been “carefully deliberated” by Metro Health’s COVID-19 Incident Command team, and Metro Health has allowed and continues to allow priests access to administer Viaticum for the dying. “Metro Health has a long tradition of working with faith leaders,” said Steve Polega, chief nursing officer for the health system. “In addition to our hospital chaplain, Metro Health maintains relationships with congregations across the region. These connections are more valuable than ever in the era of COVID-19, especially as we approach a sacred time of year for people of Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths.” Amen to that.

Congratulations to Stu Kingma on being named an NAI Global Top 10 Producer in 2019 Out of more than 6,000 professionals in the NAI network worldwide, Stu was in the top ten of all producers in local and multimarket business volume for 2019. Thank you, West Michigan, for entrusting your real estate transactions to Stu and each of the agents at our company in 2019.

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APRIL 6, 2020 GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL 15

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