Grand Rapids Business Journal 04.27.20 by Grand Rapids Business Journal

Report paints dire picture of COVID-19 impacts. Page 2 The Business Newspaper of Metro Grand Rapids, Holland, Muskegon & West Michigan APRIL 27, 2020 VOL. 38, NO. 17

Business coach launches mentoring network. Page 3

Real estate uncertainty could bring opportunity

THIS WEEK

VALUES HELP SHAPE MAHER Executive for both DP Fox Ventures and Fox Motors puts emphasis on decency, integrity and commitment. Page 9

How retail responds and changing office needs might prompt significant movement. Ehren Wynder

Grand Rapids Business Journal

Initiatives — a CDFI regulated by the U.S. Department of Treasury that makes business loans to existing and startup businesses, primarily in underserved rural markets throughout Michigan, including West Michigan — had been working since the fall to secure $2 million in loan funding from the MEDC’s Capital Access Program, unrelated to COVID-19. However, now that Northern Initiatives has received the funding, it will be directed to assisting businesses adversely impacted by the pandemic, according to Elissa Sangalli, senior vice president and incoming president of Northern Initiatives. Northern Initiatives will use

The COVID-19 pandemic upended an otherwise steady and busy quarter for commercial real estate in West Michigan, according to Colliers International West Michigan’s 2020 Q1 market reports. “Q1 began with a high level of activity across all sectors coming off a strong end to 2019; in fact, it was stronger than Q1 2019,” said Jon Potvin, managing director at Colliers West Michigan. “We projected another strong year in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on the U.S. health and economy. “COVID-19 presents big question marks across real estate sectors, though there are some positives that will come out of this: new spaces will likely become open that we never thought would be available. The next six to 12 months could also be a time for investors to take advantage of the current environment, which will prove to be a challenge for many tenants and landlords.” The economy showed some signs of cooling down last year, and now the future for industrial real

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ALL SORTS OF MAIN STREET businesses were eligible to apply, including hard-hit in-person businesses such as restaurants, coﬀee houses, retail and service providers, which were most impacted by COVID-19. Photo by iStock

Rising from ashes Landfill-like site at former Cobb plant to become natural wetlands. PAGE 3

Seed of growth MSU Foundation, MEDC expect to have $3 million available for entrepreneurs by June 1. PAGE 3

Relief initiatives flooded with need Applications for $52 million come in within hours after Northern Initiatives receives MEDC loan funding of $2 million. Rachel Watson

Grand Rapids Business Journal

A community development financial institution (CDFI) that serves 77 Michigan counties was quickly overwhelmed with inquiries after receiving $2 million in loan funding from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC).

MEDC on Tuesday, April 14, announced the Michigan Strategic Fund approved various streams of emergency assistance in response to economic hardships caused by COVID-19. “We are committed to leveraging every resource available to us as effectively as we can to support small businesses, entrepreneurs, communities and workers across the state being negatively affected by this unprecedented outbreak,” said Mark Burton, CEO of the MEDC. “The initiatives approved by the Michigan Strategic Fund will provide much-needed resources for small businesses … facing challenges with cash flow and communities working to support and protect their residents.” Marquette-based Northern

Lawmakers present less restrictive COVID plan MAKING SENSE OF IT ALL Law firms are scrambling to disseminate information on available COVID-19 programs and policies. PAGE 6

THE LIST

The area’s top law firms. Page 4

The five-phase proposal would gradually open businesses when certain benchmarks are met. Ehren Wynder

Grand Rapids Business Journal

Michigan Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey introduced a plan to open Michigan, safely, in response to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s shelter-in-place order, which has been criticized for being too restrictive

on essential businesses. The Senate Republican-led proposal acknowledges the need for the vast majority of citizens to continue to stay at home, but differs from Whitmer’s current “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order by adopting several revisions. “Michigan remains an outlier amongst states with strict stay-athome orders,” said Shirkey. “Our governor did not adopt updated guidance from the federal government in her most recent stay-athome order that would provide greater clarity for employers and employees and would permit more people to work.” For example, Whitmer recently declared industries like housing

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CONTENTS Vol. 38, No. 17

construction were not essential, and therefore not allowed to operate under her “Stay Home, Stay Safe” executive order, despite homebuilders being able to operate in surrounding states. Shirkey’s proposal includes five transitional phases. Each phase considers testing capabilities, health care systems’ capacity for COVID-19 patients and treatment, availability of personal protective equipment, available data and ultimately a vaccine or similar medical breakthrough to combat COVID-19. Each phase also outlines conditions in the state, suggested safe business operations and guarded levels of citizen activity.

Inside Track ...........9

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

Guest Columns ...10 Help for sales

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

The Open Michigan Safely proposal also would allow lowrisk businesses to operate during Phase 1. Low-risk businesses are defined as those with little to no physical contact between employers, employees and customers. Workers who can perform their jobs without the need for physical contact with another individual would be allowed to resume work. Some examples of this are lawncare or pest-control businesses. Phase 2 would take place when COVID-19 cases and deaths fall for five out of seven days and the health care systems are below 75% capacity. Continued on page 13 8

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2 GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL APRIL 27, 2020

Report paints dire picture of COVID-19 impacts Main Street America survey finds up to 7.5 million small businesses in danger of closing permanently. Rachel Watson

Grand Rapids Business Journal

THE IMPACT OF the pandemic is especially harsh on businesses employing 20 or fewer people. Photo by iStock

A new report shows the backbone of America — small businesses — may be injured beyond repair as the

result of the COVID-19 crisis. A report published by Main Street America, a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, reveals about 3.5 million U.S. businesses are in danger of permanent closure over the next two months, and nearly 7.5 million are in danger of closing over the next five months as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. As a result, about 35.7 million Americans employed by small businesses may face unemployment. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, there are about 30.2 million small business-

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es, or companies with 500 or fewer employees, in the United States. Main Street America (MSA) is a network of over 1,600 commercial districts comprising about 300,000 small businesses. To assess the impact of COVID-19 on these businesses, MSA conducted an online survey during the week of March 25 to April 6. The Impact of COVID-19 on Small Businesses report is based on the survey results — which MSA said is “the first and most extensive” survey to date assessing the impact of the pandemic on small businesses, especially those that employ 20 or fewer people. More than 5,850 small business owners responded in 48 states and the District of Columbia, of which 91% of respondents reported owning businesses with fewer than 20 employees. Respondents came from more than 1,000 locales across the country, including big cities such as New York and Chicago and small towns like Three Rivers and Niles in Michigan. Nearly 40 percent of the small businesses represented in this survey operate in towns with fewer than 10,000 residents.

“We remain deeply concerned that many of our nation’s smallest businesses are the most vulnerable to revenue disruption caused by the pandemic, and these businesses are the least able to obtain funds absent a welldeveloped relationship with an existing lender and/or technical assistance in securing funds.” Patrice Frey

Matthew Wagner is vice president of revitalization programs at the Chicago-based National Main Street Center, the nonprofit that oversees the Main Street America program, and was one of the report’s authors. He told the Business Journal that MSA staff expected small businesses to report they are facing a great deal of pressure for the immediate term, such as the next 90 days, but the number of businesses that said they could not survive long term without further aid was “staggering.” Wagner added it also was surprising that two-thirds of respondents reported they have no ecommerce capabilities, including no website, and the remaining third that do have that capability reported e-commerce comprises less than 25% of total sales. He said for businesses to survive in the new, post-COVID world, this will be an important shortcoming to address, as prior to the pandemic, e-commerce sales were growing at 15% of the retail market. “You have to balance and create multiple opportunities for people to shop at your store. And e-commerce needs to be part of that business model. I think we’ve got our work cut out for us relative to what the new norm of shopping may look like,” Wagner said. The report suggests web develContinued on page 148

Answering the call with rapid relief fund for small businesses, Page 11 APRIL 27, 2020 GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL 3

Business coach launches mentoring network Firm will SpringGR facilitator creates virtual opportunity for growth and development of Black entrepreneurs. Rachel Watson

Grand Rapids Business Journal

Randy Otterbridge has been a facilitator with the entrepreneurial training program SpringGR since its early days, and now he is working to connect fellow African Americans with growth opportunities through a virtual mentoring platform. Otterbridge — founder and chief idea officer at Grand Rapids-based RBridge Business Institute, an online business creation company — this month launched the African American Mentoring Network (AAMN, pronounced “Amen”) via a private Facebook group, “The African American Mentoring Network,” and a website, blackiron sharpensblackiron.com. He said the group is geared toward African American entrepreneurs or aspiring entrepreneurs in West Michigan who would like to have a mentor or want to be a mentor, or both. Entrepreneurs can obtain an invitation to join the free group by requesting one at the website or on Facebook. Otterbridge said AAMN has been on his “idea pile” for about two years, and he felt the COVID-19 pandemic provided the perfect opportunity to give back in this way. “There is no wrong time to be of service,” he said. “Though COVID-19 has our nation shut down, our hearts are still open for business.” On the Facebook group description, Otterbridge wrote, “African Americans have superpowers,”

and AAMN will give members “the chance to share your superpowers, your skills, your life experiences, your education and your talents with generations to come.” “Black iron sharpens Black iron,” he said — a motto that was inspired by the Bible verse Proverbs 27:17: “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Otterbridge said he initially began thinking about the possibility of launching a general mentoring program spun out of SpringGR, but then he decided to gear it specifically toward Black community members, who have learned much through economic downturns, discrimination and other challenges and have emerged with resilience. “I thought, ‘What would it be like if we could pass that strength on?’ And then I started thinking about, ‘What would it look like? Is it a superpower?’ And I thought, ‘You know what, it is power, so why don’t I create something that allows us to mentor other folks — people that are here now and for generations to come?’” Otterbridge said he believes anyone can be a mentor, whether it’s a 50-something sharing advice to a younger person or a millennial helping older folks with technology and learning new skillsets. The rules of the group are simple, he said. Anyone can join, but it’s not a place to “spam” people with products to sell, unless the products are able to be leveraged and utilized for community members to help their business and their life. “You go to the page and you say, ‘Hey, listen, I’ve learned in a specific area, and I’d like to share this with you. Here’s a video, here’s a piece of conversation, here is a course that you may have,’” Otterbridge said. “You don’t go into the group and start selling. You go in and you start telling. You start saying, ‘Hey, can I share something with you? Can I share an experience with you?’

repurpose ash ponds Landfill-like site at former Cobb plant to become natural wetlands. Ehren Wynder

Grand Rapids Business Journal

RANDY OTTERBRIDGE uses the motto “Black iron sharpens Black iron,” meaning mentors in the community can help each other to thrive and prosper. Courtesy Randy Otterbridge

This is not a place to gripe, this is a place to share your superpower. ‘Let me tell you what I’ve been able to overcome and how you can avoid some of the things I experienced,’ or ‘Here’s a piece of education that I just learned. Did you know about this tool?’” The format of the group is very loose, Otterbridge said. Instead of pairing mentors one-on-one, anyone can offer advice, and if people hit it off, they can choose to connect on their own if they wish. “They share what they have, I share what I have, and together, we can create something interesting. I hope some collaborations come out of this for real,” he said. So far, about 15-20 people have joined the group, and Otterbridge said members have been anywhere from 70 years old to one of his 22-year-old SpringGR students. “It’s old school and new school, sharing tools,” he said. Otterbridge said he became

a SpringGR facilitator about six years ago. He went to the original meeting where stakeholders convened to talk about the curriculum method being piloted in Tennessee. After the meeting, Otterbridge began using that curriculum at his then-place of worship, Kentwood Community Church, while SpringGR also adopted and launched the program separately. The following year, SpringGR called Otterbridge and asked him to join as a facilitator, and he’s been a contractor with the program ever since. He said he puts into practice what he tells his students: “You must always be creating, providing value and showing probable customers doorways into your offerings.” Otterbridge has a background in real estate. He started out as a residential landlord at the age of 21 Continued on page 68

Seed fund will assist startup entrepreneurs MSU Foundation, MEDC expect to have $3 million available by June 1.

More funds soon will be available for some startups. Michigan Strategic Fund approved $3 million for Michigan Pre-Seed Fund III to assist startup companies throughout the state. The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) provided the capital and it will be administrated by the Michigan State University Foundation, a nonprofit research foundation that supports entrepreneurship. “For the last six years, the MSU Foundation’s venture creation apparatus has been under the radar, using their own financial resources to create a deep bench of individuals and service providers that have resulted in the formation

of many promising, high-growth companies,” said Fred Molnar, vice president of entrepreneurship and innovation at the MEDC. “Their mission, track record and relationships across the state is a compelling story, and we’re excited to work with a team so committed to this important work.” According to Molnar, the funds will be awarded to technologybased startup companies that have moved beyond having a minimal, viable product that has some traction in the industry or consumers that they are trying to serve but have yet to reach the commercialization phase. “With this award from the MEDC, we’ll work with statewide SmartZones, university tech transfer offices, business acceleration service providers, and incubators and accelerators,” said Jeff Wesley, executive director of MSU Foundation subsidiary entity Red Cedar Ventures, which will oversee PreSeed Fund III. “We want to leverage existing relationships to support these startups.” Along with providing direct

capital investment to startup companies, individuals will have access to services, resources and professionals such as mentorships, financial and marketing advisers, industry experts, strategy coaches and entrepreneurs-in-residence, among other personnel who are associated with the MSU Foundation. “Even beyond the directors who will be working the fund every day, we can tap other people in our school system that might have specific industry experience such as in advanced manufacturing or therapeutics,” Wesley said. “They can bring another level of experience to bear and help us to solve issues or proactively strategizing with these companies to help them further. I think this is one of the things that we have that makes us unique in the state is the amount of experience and the number of people we have on our team to help these organizations.” There are no limits to the number of startups that can qualify for the funds, but as a result, the funds will be allocated by a certain dol-

lar amount according to the need of the startup and the discretion of MSU Foundation directors. In some cases, the MSU Foundation, via Red Cedar Ventures, will co-invest alongside the PreSeed Fund III and seek support from angel and early stage investors across the state. This is the third pre-seed fund that the MEDC has provided. The first tech-based pre-seed fund was administrated by Ann Arbor Sparks. Pre-Seed Fund II was administrated by Invest Michigan. Pre-Seed Fund III should be active by June 1. Wesley said with the recent approval, they are in the process of developing a contract between MEDC and the MSU Foundation. “Our objective is to contribute to the state of Michigan’s entrepreneurial ecosystem with the goal of creating jobs, attracting and retaining talent and creating value,” said David Washburn, MSU Foundation executive director. “Administering the Pre-Seed Fund III award will enhance our impact and help us extend our reach across the state.”

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Consumers Energy again has contracted out-of-state professionals to help it move toward its zero-coal goal by 2040. Charah Solutions Inc., a Louisville, Kentucky-based provider of environmental and maintenance services to the power generation industry, entered an agreement with Consumers Energy to close the B.C. Cobb Generating Facility’s ash ponds previously owned by the Michigan utility and repurpose them as natural wetlands. As part of the agreement, Charah Solutions, through its subsidiary Muskegon Environmental Redevelopment Group LLC, will take ownership of the ash ponds during the closure process of the former B.C. Cobb site in Muskegon. An ash pond, also called a coal ash basin or surface impoundment, is an engineered structure used at fossil fuel power stations for the disposal of two types of coal combustion products: bottom ash and fly ash. The pond is used as a landfill to prevent the release of ash into the atmosphere. Upon completion of this specific major remediation and reclamation project, the B.C. Cobb ash ponds will be returned to natural wetland areas, after which ownership will be returned to Consumers. “We are pleased to work with Charah Solutions, a proven leader in environmental and maintenance services to the utility industry, to safely and beneficially reuse the material and return the ponds to natural wetland areas,” said Dennis Dobbs, Consumers Energy vice president of enterprise project management, environmental and services. “This innovative project reduces the environmental risk and costs for Consumers Energy and its customers while protecting and enhancing the environment.” The coal combustion residual materials will be excavated and reused as necessary fill material in Consumers Energy’s licensed J.C. Weadock landfill in Essexville, located at the former J.C. Weadock Generating Station site. “Charah brought us this creative solution to reuse that bottom ash,” Dobbs said. “This way we won’t have to use native soil.” The Cobb coal-fired power plants, along with the J.R. Whiting Plant in Luna Pier, were retired in April 2016. Retiring the combined seven generating units is part of Consumers Energy’s focus on developing more renewable forms of electric generation and its goal of being net carbon neutral by 2040. “Many customers like Consumers Energy are now experiencing an increased need to retire and decommission older, un-utilized, or Continued on page 88

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4 GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL APRIL 27, 2020

Top Area Law Firms (RANKED BY NUMBER OF WEST MICHIGAN LAWYERS) W. Mich. managing partner(s)

Year established in W. Mich.

Welcome aboard

No. of W. Mich. Total No. No. of W. Mich. lawyers of lawyers support staff

No. of W. Mich. paralegals

Top areas of practice

Warner Norcross + Judd LLP 150 Ottawa Ave. NW, Suite 1500 Grand Rapids 49503 p (616) 752-2000 f 752-2500 wnj.com

Douglas Dozeman

1931

176

234

148

Business and corporate, litigation and trial, human resources, intellectual property, trusts and estates, real estate

Varnum LLP 333 Bridge St. NW Grand Rapids 49504 p (616) 336-6000 f 336-7000 varnumlaw.com

Ronald DeWaard Scott Hill

1888

126

182

101

Corporate, banking, finance and restructuring, litigation, labor and employment, estate planning and trust services

Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge 100 Monroe Center NW Grand Rapids 49503 p (616) 774-8000 f 774-2461 shrr.com

Kevin Even Jaron Nyhof Matthew Wikander

1941

Litigation, medical malpractice defense, health law, legal malpractice defense, business law

Rhoades McKee PC 55 Campau Ave. NW, Suite 300 Grand Rapids 49503 p (616) 235-3500 f 459-5102 rhoadesmckee.com

Anthony Pearson

1960

Business and commercial litigation, insurance defense, estate planning and probate, real estate and construction, family law

Mika Meyers PLC 900 Monroe Ave. NW Grand Rapids 49503 p (616) 632-8000 f 632-8002 mikameyers.com

Benjamin Zainea Ross Leisman Nikole Canute

1951

Business, municipal, litigation, labor and employment, energy and natural resources, family law and trusts and estates

Foster, Swift, Collins & Smith PC 1700 East Beltline Ave. NE, Suite 200 Grand Rapids 49525 p (616) 726-2200 f 726-2299 fosterswift.com

Anne Seurynck

2005

Business, litigation, municipal law, health care, employment

Barnes & Thornburg LLP 171 Monroe Ave. NW, Suite 1000 Grand Rapids 49503 p (616) 742-3930 f 742-3999 btlaw.com

Robert Stead

2003

615

Corporate (including finance, M&A and intellectual property), labor and employment, real estate, environmental, litigation

Dickinson Wright PLLC 200 Ottawa Ave. NW, Suite 1000 Grand Rapids 49503 p (616) 458-1300 f 458-6753 dickinsonwright.com

Leslee Lewis

1989

490

Banking and finance, corporate law, commercial litigation, municipal law and public finance, health care, real estate

McShane & Bowie PLC 99 Monroe Ave. NW, Suite 1100 Grand Rapids 49503 p (616) 732-5000 f 732-5099 msblaw.com

Michelle Anthes

1952

Real estate, business and corporate law, estate planning, commercial litigation, commercial lending, taxation, dispute resolution, family law

Clark Hill PLC 200 Ottawa Ave. NW, Suite 500 Grand Rapids 49503 p (616) 608-1100 f 608-1199 clarkhill.com

Ingrid Jensen

2006

648

Banking and finance, education, labor and employment, litigation, real estate

Scholten Fant 100 N.Third St., P.O. Box 454 Grand Haven 49417 p (616) 842-3030 f 846-6621 scholtenfant.com

Robert Sullivan

1957

Family law, business law, real estate, estate planning and elder law, municipal

Kreis, Enderle, Hudgins & Borsos PC 40 Pearl St. NW, Fifth Floor Grand Rapids 49503 p (616) 254-8400 kreisenderle.com

Raymond Schultz

2005

Business and corporate, litigation, real estate, estate and probate, family law

Wheeler Upham PC 250 Monroe Ave. NW, Suite 100 Grand Rapids 49503 p (616) 459-7100 f 459-6366 wuattorneys.com

Glenn Smith Michael TerBeek

1883

Commercial litigation, business law, insurance defense, estate planning, employment law

Trent Taylor

1983

221

Business and finance, employment and labor, litigation and dispute resolution, real estate, tax, family law, estates and trust administration, public finance, public law, intellectual property

Floyd Gates Jr.

2017

160

Banking, high net worth, business litigation, labor and employment, intellectual property

Terence Linn Frederick Burkhart Karl Ondersma Matthew Kendall

2011

Intellectual property - patents, trademarks, copyrights and related litigation

Miller, Canfield, Paddock & Stone PLC 99 Monroe Ave. NW Grand Rapids 49503 p (616) 454-8656 f 776-6322 millercanfield.com

Bodman PLC 99 Monroe Ave. NW, Suite 506 Grand Rapids 49503 p (616) 205-4330 bodmanlaw.com Gardner, Linn, Burkhart & Ondersma LLP 2900 Charlevoix Drive SE, Suite 300 Grand Rapids 49546 p (616) 975-5500 f 975-5505 gardner-linn.com

Jessie LaHaie is the new human resources director at Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge. She is responsible for staff recruitment, compensation and benefits, among other things.

New position

Continued on page 5 8

Rhoades McKee’s Jon Siebers has been named chair of the firm’s Business Practice Group and Pam Cross has been named chair of the Estate Planning and Trust Administration Team.

Growing firm

Bodman PLC hired aviation and banking attorney Brian Kersey for its Grand Rapids office.

Law education

Varnum’s Regan Gibson was named to the board of the Michigan Center for Civic Education, a nonprofit organization dedicated to law-related and civic education in Michigan.

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Top Area Law Firms (RANKED BY NUMBER OF WEST MICHIGAN LAWYERS) 7 Continued from page 4

W. Mich. managing partner(s)

Year established in W. Mich.

Executive partner

No. of W. Mich. Total No. No. of W. Mich. lawyers of lawyers support staff

No. of W. Mich. paralegals

Top areas of practice

Hilger Hammond PC 220 Lyon St. NW, Suite 410 Grand Rapids 49503 p (616) 458-3600 hilgerhammond.com

Benjamin Hammond Aileen Leipprandt Stephen Hilger Mark Rysberg Daniel Hatch Christopher Nyenhuis

2008

Construction law, complex and commercial litigation, real estate law, business law, mediation, arbitration

Verspoor Waalkes PC 40 Pearl St. NW, Suite 1020 Grand Rapids 49503 p (616) 459-6100 f 459-2102 vwlst.com

Edward Talen

1983

Business and corporate, probate and estate planning, family law, construction liens and real estate, civil litigation

Bloom Sluggett PC 15 Ionia Ave. SW, Suite 640 Grand Rapids 49503 p (616) 965-9340 f 965-9350 bloomsluggett.com

Clifford Bloom Jeffrey Sluggett

2012

Public sector/municipal, riparian/water law, property tax litigation, state and local tax, real estate

Avanti Law Group PLLC 600 28th St. SW Wyoming 49509 p (616) 257-6807 f 257-8501 avantilaw.com

Meghan Moore Robert Anthony Alvarez Raquel Guzman

2010

Criminal defense, family law, immigration law, labor and employment, business law

Leadership council

Miller Johnsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Reid Williams has been accepted into the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Fellows Program.

Part of a team

Silver & VanEssen PC 300 Ottawa Ave. NW, Suite 620 Grand Rapids 49503 p (616) 988-5600 f 988-5606 silvervanessen.com

Lee Silver Douglas Van Essen

2000

Commercial litigation, general civil litigation, alternative dispute resolution

Muller, Myers & Farran, P.C. 979 Spaulding Ave. SE, Suite B Ada 49301 p (616) 454-4401 f 454-9641 mullerfirm.com

Barbara Muller-Wilson

1961

Collections, creditor's rights, real estate

Cummings, McClorey, Davis & Acho PLC 2851 Charlevoix Drive SE, Suite 327 Grand Rapids 49546 p (616) 975-7470 f 975-7471 cmda-law.com

Allan Vander Laan

2003

Insurance defense, estate planning, subrogation, municipal law, Social Security disputes

Duba & Duba PLLC 220 Lyon St. NW, Suite 530 Grand Rapids 49503 p (616) 458-3200 f 458-3203 dubalaw.com

Donald Duba Christopher Duba

2006

DND

Jackson Lewis P.C. 61 Commerce Ave. SW, Fifth Floor Grand Rapids 49503 p (616) 940-0230 f 285-7215 jacksonlewis.com

Marlo Roebuck Emily Petroski

2013

958

Labor and employment

Keener Law Offices PLC 333 Bridge St. NW, Suite 1020 Grand Rapids 49504 p (616) 726-5900 f 233-9166 keener-law.com

Susan Keener

2005

Family law, domestic mediation, collaborative divorce

Honigman LLP 300 Ottawa Ave. NW, Suite 400 Grand Rapids 49503 p (616) 649-1900 honigman.com

Tracy Larsen

2016

DND

Mergers and acquisitions, corporate/securities, intellectual property, litigation, real estate

Kotz Sangster 40 Pearl St. NW, Suite 400 Grand Rapids 49503 p (616) 552-6400 f 734-6125 kotzsangster.com

Todd Van Eck

2010

DND

Commercial litigation, corporate law/financial services/real estate, family law/trusts and estates, construction law, environmental, labor and employment

Christopher Cooke joined Secrest Wardleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Grand Rapids office as an executive partner.

Boutique setting inside Amway Grand Plaza Hotel with high-touch delivery model - business transactions, commercial real estate, mergers and acquisitions, succession strategy, wealth and trust planning, family office legal counsel and 2G/ 3G best practices

Catherine Jacobs, senior counsel of Warner Norcross + Judd LLP, has been selected for the board of directors of the Better Business Bureau Serving Western Michigan.

Appointment

Varnum partner Peter Smit was appointed to the Attorney Discipline Board, which is an adjudicative arm of the Michigan Supreme Court to supervise and discipline Michigan attorneys.

The Business Journal's list of top area law firms, ranked by number of West Michigan lawyers, is the most comprehensive available. The Business Journal defines "West Michigan" as Allegan, Kent, Ottawa and Muskegon counties. The list is based on responses to Business Journal surveys. The Business Journal surveyed 162 law firms; 28 returned surveys and 28 are listed. To be considered for future lists, email dnelson@grbj.com. DND = Did not disclose

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6 GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL APRIL 27, 2020

Law firms scramble to disseminate onslaught of COVID-19 legislation Webinars help clients with everything from available financing to employees returning to work. Danielle Nelson

Grand Rapids Business Journal

The laws that govern the country are rapidly changing amid the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, law firms across the state have taken it upon themselves to keep the public informed about how the new laws will affect them and their companies. Law firms such as Warner Norcross + Judd and Barnes & Thornburg LLP have been hosting COVID-19 webinars since March, tackling a variety of topics from Preparedness and Response Plan for Employees and Businesses to SBA Disaster Assistance Loans. Amanda Fielder, a partner at Warner Norcross + Judd, said the firm’s webinars are hosted by their attorneys who are located in the state of Michigan so their clients in a variety of industries throughout the country can have access. According to Fielder, the webinars are generally an hour in length. About 45 minutes is dedicated to sharing with their clients legal updates and the remaining time is spent answering questions. “Most entities’ concerns right now are ‘How do they keep their employees? What do they do to make sure their people are treated fairly? How do they bring people back to work, looking at what is still COVID-19, while keeping them safe and operating safe companies?’” she said. “I think those are some of the big concerns.”

Robert Stead, the managing partner for Barnes & Thornburg’s Grand Rapids office, said the firm has had 30 webinars so far related to COVID-19 and more than 12,000 people have tuned in. The webinars are hosted by B&T attorneys located in Michigan offices and Stead other offices across the country who have experiences in different sectors of the law. With the state of Michigan tentatively planning to reopen businesses in early May, both Stead and Fielder said one of the biggest concerns employers have is how to protect their employees once they come back to work. As a result, the firms’ corporate, labor and employment attorneys have been conducting some of the webinars. “Like us, people are asking, ‘How do you stage the reopening of your business?’ Are you bringing some of your people in for a certain period of time during the days, so you are not bringing in everyone in at once?” Stead said. “Are you making sure they have protective gear in place so they can feel comfortable coming back to work? There is so much uncertainty right now on what the right approach should be.” Since the state has been under Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order, there have been a few laws passed that address some of the economic concerns people are having now. Since March, the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, Families

First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Act and the Paycheck Protection Program Increase (PPPI) Act were all signed into law. “The state and the country are going through something that most of us have never seen in our lifetime,” Fielder said. “‘We are trying to make sure that businesses survive and what they can do now in the interim — whether it be applying for a PPP loan, whether there are additional tax credits available they can qualify for. Whatever they can do as a business so that when we do get through this COVID-19 pandemic they are still operating and still supplying whatever goods or services that they were prior.” According to GovTrack, the Coronavirus Preparedness and

Response Supplemental Appropriations Act provided $8.3 billion in emergency funding for federal agencies to respond to the coronavirus outbreak related to developing a vaccine, medical supplies, grants for public health agencies, small business loans, and assistance for health systems in other countries. It also allowed for temporarily waiving Medicare restrictions and requirements regarding telehealth services. The FFCRA Act guarantees free coronavirus testing, established paid leave, enhanced unemployment insurance, expanded food security initiatives and increased federal Medicaid funding, per GovTrack. The CARES Act, according to GovTrack, provides a $2 trillion coronavirus relief bill, which is

sending $1,200 to each American making $75,000 a year or less, adds $600/week to unemployment benefits for four months, gives $100 billion to hospitals and health providers, makes $500 billion in loans or investments to businesses, states and municipalities, and provides $32 billion in grants to the airline industry, and more. “We know our clients are really struggling,” Stead said. “They have so many things to worry about. We are hopeful that the resources that we are putting out there can help them cut to the chase and get quick answers. No one is going to look at 800 pages of the CARES Act, but that is our job as attorneys and that is how we make our living, by trying to condense that information and get it out to our clients. Hopefully, our clients and other people find it useful.”

Business coach launches mentoring network 7 Continued from page 3 and has worked in various business roles over the years, including as interim director for the Affordable Housing Coalition in Grand Rapids, employability skills instructor with Jubilee Jobs, deputy director of employment and workforce development with the Grand Rapids Urban League and vice president of growth and opportunity with CareerMatrix.com. In 2011, he founded RBridge Business Institute and has been full time with the firm for about two years, providing consulting services for entrepreneurs looking to “start up, tune up, or rev up” their businesses.

He also is the author of five books. Along with the AAMN project, Otterbridge has several other irons in the fire, including a YouTube channel called “Quarantine Haircuts” he just launched to help haircare professionals respond to COVID-19; as well as “The Monetize Your Life” series (in production); “The Earn Every Dime Online” podcast on anchor.fm; “The Make More Money Now” app (in postproduction); and “The Motivation Maestros,” an in-progress collaboration with Attah Obande, director of dream fulfillment at SpringGR, and Kris Mathis, serial entrepreneur and founder and owner of Raise a Glass Wine Tours.

Otterbridge said his long-range hope for AAMN is to have 100,000 followers whose businesses grow because of the support, encouragement and mentorship they receive in the group. “I want to see everyone in my community here in Grand Rapids thriving,” he said. “If somebody comes into this group, I know their business is going to be helped. Within our community, we have a multitude of currencies, and it’s not just money. It is knowledge. It is context. It is influence. It is service.” People interested in learning more about AAMN can email Otterbridge at randy@rbridgebusi nessinstitute.com.

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE’S 2019 TOP LAWYERS The research for the Top Lawyers list was created by PRS (Professional Research Services) and is based on an online peer-review survey sent out to certified lawyers within the Grand Rapids area. Many votes were cast honoring excellence in the legal field. Inclusion in Grand Rapids Magazine’s Top Lawyers list is based solely upon one’s standing within their peer group. Listings in Top Lawyers cannot be purchased. Meghan E. Moore Immigration Law Avanti Law Group, PLLC.

Jason M. Rop Litigation - Real Estate Blakeslee Rop, PLC

Ingrid A. Jensen Real Estate Law Clark Hill PLC

Michael Campbell Banking & Financial Service Law Barnes & Thornburg LLP

John A. Quinn Workers Compensation Law Bleakley, Cypher, Parent, Warren & Quinn, P.C.

Allan C. Vander Laan Municipal Law Cummings, McClorey, Davis & Acho, P.L.C.

Scott R. Murphy Construction Law Barnes & Thornburg LLP Michael Campbell Corporate Law Barnes & Thornburg LLP Robert R. Stead Corporate Law Barnes & Thornburg LLP Charles M. Denton Environmental Law Barnes & Thornburg LLP Tammy L. Helminski Environmental Law Barnes & Thornburg LLP Jeffrey A. Michael Intellectual Property and Patent Law Barnes & Thornburg LLP Keith J. Brodie Labor and Employment Law Barnes & Thornburg LLP Scott A. Dienes Land Use & Zoning Barnes & Thornburg LLP Scott R. Murphy Litigation - Commercial Barnes & Thornburg LLP Robert R. Stead Mergers & Acquisitions Law Barnes & Thornburg LLP Scott A. Dienes Public Finance Law Barnes & Thornburg LLP

Jeffrey Sluggett Land Use & Zoning Bloom Sluggett, PC Jeffrey Sluggett Clifford H. Bloom Municipal Law Bloom Sluggett, PC Jeffrey Sluggett Municipal Law Bloom Sluggett, PC David J. Bloss Insurance Law Bloss Betz Lindsay M. Cummings Trusts and Estates John David Gardiner White-Collar Criminal Defense Michelle M. McLean Family Law Bolhouse, Hofstee & McLean Jamie J. Vander Kolk Nonprofit/Charities Law Bolhouse, Hofstee & McLean Bradley Glazier Wrongful Discharge Claims Bos & Glazier, Trial Attorneys Robert J. Buchanan Medical Malpractice Law Buchanan & Buchanan, P.L.C. John J. Bursch Appellate Law Bursch Law PLLC

Leslee M. Lewis Banking & Financial Service Law Dickinson Wright PLLC Daniel F. Gosch Bankruptcy and Creditor/ Debtor Rights Law Dickinson Wright PLLC Brian S. Fleetham Health Care Law Dickinson Wright PLLC Timothy A. Stoepker Land Use & Zoning Dickinson Wright PLLC John T. Schuring Mergers & Acquisitions Law Dickinson Wright PLLC Jeffrey G. York Mergers & Acquisitions Law Dickinson Wright PLLC Richard A. Wendt Municipal Law Dickinson Wright PLLC John G. Cameron Jr. Real Estate Law Dickinson Wright PLLC Leslee M. Lewis Real Estate Law Dickinson Wright PLLC Timothy A. Stoepker Real Estate Law Dickinson Wright PLLC David A. Dodge White-Collar Criminal Defense Dodge & Dodge PC

Scott A. Dienes Real Estate Law Barnes & Thornburg LLP

Steve Bylenga Bankruptcy and Creditor/ Debtor Rights Law Chase Bylenga Hulst, PLLC.

John A. Ferroli Environmental Law Dykema Gossett PLLC

David C. Hill Real Estate Law Barnes & Thornburg LLP

Justin Maxim Personal Injury Chase Bylenga Hulst, PLLC.

John A. Ferroli Insurance Law Dykema Gossett PLLC

Robert R. Stead Tax Law Barnes & Thornburg LLP

Stephen D. Turner Litigation - Intellectual Property Clark Hill PLC

Brian J. Page Real Estate Law Dykema Gossett PLLC

David A. Malson Trusts and Estates Barnes & Thornburg LLP

Stephen D. Turner Litigation - Labor Employment Benefits Clark Hill PLC

Eugenie B. Eardley Professional Malpractice Law Eardley Law

Michael J. Boyle Non White-Collar Criminal Defense Barone Defense Firm

William B. Dunn Real Estate Law Clark Hill PLC

Frederick D. Dilley Arbitration Foster Swift Collins & Smith PC

Laura J. Genovich Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights Law Foster Swift Collins & Smith PC Scott H. Hogan Bankruptcy and Creditor/ Debtor Rights Law Foster Swift Collins & Smith PC Jack A. Siebers Corporate Law Foster Swift Collins & Smith PC Paul D. Yared Corporate Law Foster Swift Collins & Smith PC Lawrence Korolewicz Insurance Law Foster Swift Collins & Smith PC Thomas R. TerMaat Insurance Law Foster Swift Collins & Smith PC Frederick D. Dilley Mediation Foster Swift Collins & Smith PC Jack A. Siebers Real Estate Law Foster Swift Collins & Smith PC Paul D. Yared Real Estate Law Foster Swift Collins & Smith PC Jack L. Van Coevering Tax Law Foster Swift Collins & Smith PC Matthew D. Kendall Intellectual Property and Patent Law Gardner, Linn, Burkhart & Ondersma LLP Karl T. Ondersma Intellectual Property and Patent Law Gardner, Linn, Burkhart & Ondersma LLP Terence J. Linn Litigation - Intellectual Property Gardner, Linn, Burkhart & Ondersma LLP Karl T. Ondersma Litigation - Patents Gardner, Linn, Burkhart & Ondersma LLP J. Paul Janes Insurance Law Gruel Mills Nims & Pylman PLLC Thomas R. Behm Mediation Gruel Mills Nims & Pylman PLLC

Thomas R. Behm Medical Malpractice Law Gruel Mills Nims & Pylman PLLC

Benjamin H. Hammond Litigation Construction Hilger Hammond PC

Scott R. Melton Medical Malpractice Law Gruel Mills Nims & Pylman PLLC

Stephen A. Hilger Litigation - Construction Hilger Hammond PC

William F Mills Medical Malpractice Law Gruel Mills Nims & Pylman PLLC

Peter A. Cummings Intellectual Property and Patent Law Honigman

Thomas R. Behm Personal Injury Gruel Mills Nims & Pylman PLLC

Tracy T. Larsen Mergers & Acquisitions Law Honigman

J. Paul Janes Personal Injury Gruel Mills Nims & Pylman PLLC

Chris A. Houghtaling Family Law Houghtaling Wasiura, PLC

Benjamin W. Mills Personal Injury Gruel Mills Nims & Pylman PLLC

Susan S. Im Immigration Law ImLaw PC

William F. Mills Personal Injury Gruel Mills Nims & Pylman PLLC Norman H. Pylman Personal Injury Gruel Mills Nims & Pylman PLLC William F. Mills Product Liability Gruel Mills Nims & Pylman PLLC

John Inhulsen Litigation - Commercial Inhulsen Law PLC James W. Zerrenner Family Law James W. Zerrenner, PLLC Erica L. Wikander Family Law Johnsen Wikander PC

Brook J. Bisonet Labor and Employment Law Guinan Bisonet

A. Todd Almassian Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights Law Keller & Almassian PLC

Richard K. Grover Medical Malpractice Law Hackney Grover

Thomas F. Koernke Arbitration Koernke & Crampton PC

Troy W. Haney Employee Benefits Law Haney Law, PC

Richard A. Gaffin Intellectual Property and Patent Law Koernke & Crampton PC

William L. Henn Appellate Law Henn Lesperance PLC

Richard A. Gaffin Litigation - Intellectual Property Koernke & Crampton PC

Kevin M. Lesperance Medical Malpractice Law Henn Lesperance PLC

Jeffery S. Crampton White-Collar Criminal Defense Koernke & Crampton PC

Leonard M. Hickey Workers Compensation Law Hickey Combs PLC

Thomas A. Kuiper Litigation - Commercial Kuiper Kraemer PC 180 Monroe Ave. N.W. Suite 400 Grand Rapids MI

Benjamin H. Hammond Construction Law Hilger Hammond PC Stephen A. Hilger Construction Law Hilger Hammond PC Aileen M. Leipprandt Construction Law Hilger Hammond PC

James Champion Non White-Collar Criminal Defense Law Office of James K. Champion PLLC Mark H. Verwys Product Liability Law Office of Mark H. Verwys

GRAND RAPIDS MAGAZINE’S 2019 TOP LAWYERS William J. Waddell Personal Injury Law Offices of William J. Waddell William J. Waddell Medical Malpractice Law Law Offices of William J. Waddell Jerry Lykins Non White-Collar Criminal Defense Lykins Law Mark F. Haslem Family Law Mark F. Haslem PC Mary L. Benedict Mediation Mary L. Benedict PC Craig R. Noland Municipal Law McGraw Morris PC Gary J. McInerney Medical Malpractice Law McInerney & Associates Dan M. Challa Banking & Financial Service Law McShane & Bowie, PLC Brian E. Kersey Banking & Financial Service Law McShane & Bowie, PLC Jennie Boldish Bryan Family Law McShane & Bowie, PLC David L. Smith Land Use & Zoning McShane & Bowie, PLC Aaron M. Smith Real Estate Law McShane & Bowie, PLC David L. Smith Real Estate Law McShane & Bowie, PLC J. Terrance Dillon White-Collar Criminal Defense McShane & Bowie, PLC Melanie S. DeStigter Mediation Melanie S. DeStigter Attorney Brandon M. Hewitt Personal Injury Michigan Auto Law Daniel J. Broxup Appellate Law Mika Meyers PLC Daniel R. Kubiak Bankruptcy and Creditor/ Debtor Rights Law Mika Meyers PLC David S. Lefere Corporate Law Mika Meyers PLC Benjamin A. Zainea Corporate Law Mika Meyers PLC Joshua D. Beard Energy Law Mika Meyers PLC Mark A. Van Allsburg Energy Law Mika Meyers PLC Douglas A. Donnell Environmental Law Mika Meyers PLC Elizabeth K. Bransdorfer Family Law Mika Meyers PLC Nathaniel R. Wolf Immigration Law Mika Meyers PLC Jennifer A. Puplava Information Technology Law Mika Meyers PLC Nikole L. Canute Labor and Employment Law Mika Meyers PLC Scott E. Dwyer Labor and Employment Law Mika Meyers PLC Nathaniel R. Wolf Labor and Employment Law Mika Meyers PLC Ross A. Leisman Land Use & Zoning Mika Meyers PLC Elizabeth K. Bransdorfer Mediation Mika Meyers PLC James R. Brown Municipal Law Mika Meyers PLC Ronald M. Redick Municipal Law Mika Meyers PLC James F. Scales Municipal Law Mika Meyers PLC Benjamin C. Dilley Personal Injury Mika Meyers PLC Mark E. Nettleton Public Finance Law Mika Meyers PLC James R. Brown Real Estate Law Mika Meyers PLC Fredric N. Goldberg Real Estate Law Mika Meyers PLC Neil L. Kimball Real Estate Law Mika Meyers PLC Daniel J. Parmeter Jr. Real Estate Law Mika Meyers PLC Neil P. Jansen Trusts and Estates Mika Meyers PLC Neil L. Kimball Trusts and Estates Mika Meyers PLC Christopher D. Matthysse Trusts and Estates Mika Meyers PLC Trent J. Taylor Banking & Financial Service Law Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone, PLC Joseph M. Infante Food and Beverage Law Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone, PLC Charles S. Mishkind Litigation - Labor Employment Benefits Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone, PLC Stanley J. Stek Personal Injury Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone, PLC

Rachel L. Hillegonds Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights Law Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey, P.L.C. John T. Piggins Bankruptcy and Creditor/ Debtor Rights Law Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey, P.L.C. Jeffrey S. Ammon Corporate Law Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey, P.L.C. Dustin J. Daniels Corporate Law Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey, P.L.C. Robert D. Wolford Corporate Law Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey, P.L.C.

Ross D. Plont Personal Injury Newton Plont, PLLC

John Klees Trusts and Estates Rhoades McKee PC

Matthew D. Zimmerman Environmental Law Varnum LLP

Matthew T. Nelson Appellate Law Warner Norcross + Judd LLP

David Oppenhuizen Intellectual Property and Patent Law Oppenhuizen Law PLC

Michael W. Podein Workers Compensation Law Ryan, Podein, Postema and Westgate, PC

Nicholas B. Missad Family Law Varnum LLP

Gordon R. Lewis Banking & Financial Service Law Warner Norcross + Judd LLP

Christopher Westgate Workers Compensation Law Ryan, Podein, Postema and Westgate, PC

Robert C. Rutgers Jr. Family Law Varnum LLP

Dustin P. Ordway Environmental Law Ordway Law Firm, PLLC Paul L. Mitchell White-Collar Criminal Defense Paul L. Mitchell PLLC Sarah Riley Howard Litigation - Labor Employment Benefits Pinsky, Smith, Fayette & Kennedy, LLP Katherine Smith Kennedy Litigation - Labor Employment Benefits Pinsky, Smith, Fayette & Kennedy, LLP

Drew W. Broaddus Insurance Law Secrest Wardle

Frank E. Berrodin Employee Benefits Law Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey, P.L.C.

Lisa A. Hall Litigation - Banking and Finance Plunkett Cooney

Lee T. Silver Litigation - Commercial Silver & Van Essen P.C.

James C. Bruinsma Employee Benefits Law Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey, P.L.C.

Martha E. Reamon Workers Compensation Law Reamon Law PLC

Lee T. Silver Mediation Silver & Van Essen P.C.

Jeffrey T. Gray Employee Benefits Law Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey, P.L.C.

Greg Timmer Appellate Law Rhoades McKee PC

Douglas W. Van Essen Municipal Law Silver & Van Essen P.C.

Tripp VanderWal Employee Benefits Law Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey, P.L.C.

David Bevins Banking & Financial Service Law Rhoades McKee PC

Thomas G Sinas Personal Injury Sinas Dramis Law Firm

Alan C. Schwartz Environmental Law Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey, P.L.C.

Peter J. Lozicki Banking & Financial Service Law Rhoades McKee PC

WIlliam W. Jack Jr. Arbitration Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge

Melissa L. Neckers Family Law Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey, P.L.C.I

Hal Nelson Banking & Financial Service Law Rhoades McKee PC

Christopher R. Genther Health Care Law Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge

Michael B. Quinn Family Law Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey, P.L.C.

Hal Nelson Bankruptcy and Creditor/ Debtor Rights Law Rhoades McKee PC

Brian J. Kilbane Health Care Law Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge

Kenneth G. Hofman Health Care Law Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey, P.L.C.

Bruce Courtade Construction Law Rhoades McKee PC

John R. Oostema Insurance Law Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge

Mark E. Rizik Health Care Law Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey, P.L.C.

Mark Smith Construction Law Rhoades McKee PC

John R. Oostema Legal Malpractice Law Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge

Michael E. Stroster Immigration Law Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey, P.L.C.

Tom Hogan Corporate Law Rhoades McKee PC

Charles F. Behler Litigation - Construction Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge

D. Andrew Portinga Insurance Law Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey, P.L.C.

Peter J. Lozicki Corporate Law Rhoades McKee PC

WIlliam W. Jack Jr. Mediation Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge

Stephen R. Ryan Insurance Law Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey, P.L.C.

Tony Pearson Corporate Law Rhoades McKee PC

Carol D. Carlson Medical Malpractice Law Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge

Jeffrey J. Fraser Labor and Employment Law Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey, P.L.C. Nathan D. Plantinga Labor and Employment Law Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey, P.L.C. Jeffrey S. Ammon Land Use & Zoning Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey, P.L.C. David J. Gass Litigation - Commercial Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey, P.L.C. Jeffrey G. Muth Litigation - Commercial Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey, P.L.C. D. Andrew Portinga Litigation - Commercial Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey, P.L.C. Tony Comden Litigation - Labor Employment Benefits Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey, P.L.C. William H. Fallon Litigation - Labor Employment Benefits Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey, P.L.C. Richard E. Hillary II Litigation - Labor Employment Benefits Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey, P.L.C. Sara G. Lachman Litigation - Real Estate Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey, P.L.C. Jon G. March Mediation Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey, P.L.C. Maxwell N. Barnes Mergers & Acquisitions Law Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey, P.L.C. Erik R. Daly Mergers & Acquisitions Law Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey, P.L.C. Dustin J. Daniels Mergers & Acquisitions Law Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey, P.L.C. Robert D. Wolford Mergers & Acquisitions Law Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey, P.L.C. Wendy P. Holtvluwer Nonprofit/Charities Law Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey, P.L.C. Jeffrey S. Ammon Real Estate Law Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey, P.L.C. James A. Ens Real Estate Law Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey, P.L.C. Robert D. Brower Tax Law Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey, P.L.C. Raj A. Malviya Tax Law Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey, P.L.C.

Robert Shaver Corporate Law Rhoades McKee PC

Brian J. Kilbane Medical Malpractice Law Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge

Jon Siebers Corporate Law Rhoades McKee PC

John C. O’Loughlin Medical Malpractice Law Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge

Mary Jane Rhoades Environmental Law Rhoades McKee PC

Paul M. Oleniczak Medical Malpractice Law Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge

Scott Steiner Environmental Law Rhoades McKee PC

L. R. “Bud” Roegge Medical Malpractice Law Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge

Stephanie S. Fekkes Family Law Rhoades McKee PC

E. Thomas McCarthy Jr. Personal Injury Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge

Tom Saxe Family Law Rhoades McKee PC 55 Campau Ave. N.W. Suite 300 Grand Rapids MI

Matthew L. Wikander Personal Injury Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge

Kimberly A. Clarke Immigration Law Varnum LLP Luis E. Avila Labor and Employment Law Varnum LLP Elizabeth Wells Skaggs Labor and Employment Law Varnum LLP Nyal D. Deems Land Use & Zoning Varnum LLP Randall W. Kraker Land Use & Zoning Varnum LLP Jon M. Bylsma Litigation - Banking and Finance Varnum LLP Jon M. Bylsma Litigation - Commercial Varnum LLP Ronald G. DeWaard Litigation Commercial Varnum LLP Michael J. Roth Litigation - Commercial Varnum LLP Perrin Rynders Litigation - Commercial Varnum LLP William E. Rohn Litigation - Construction Varnum LLP Mark S. Allard Litigation - Insurance Varnum LLP Larry Murphy Litigation - Labor Employment Benefits Varnum LLP Elizabeth Wells Skaggs Litigation - Labor Employment Benefits Varnum LLP Joseph J. Vogan Litigation - Labor Employment Benefits Varnum LLP Scott A. Huizenga Mergers & Acquisitions Law Varnum LLP Daniel C. Molhoek Mergers & Acquisitions Law Varnum LLP Peter G. Roth Mergers & Acquisitions Law Varnum LLP Kurt G. Yost Mergers & Acquisitions Law Varnum LLP

Stephen B. Grow Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights Law Warner Norcross + Judd LLP Jeffrey S. Battershall Corporate Law Warner Norcross + Judd LLP Cameron S. DeLong Corporate Law Warner Norcross + Judd LLP Anthony J. Kolenic Jr. Employee Benefits Law Warner Norcross + Judd LLP Heidi A. Lyon Employee Benefits Law Warner Norcross + Judd LLP Dennis J. Donohue Energy Law Warner Norcross + Judd LLP Eugene E. Smary Energy Law Warner Norcross + Judd LLP John V. Byl Environmental Law Warner Norcross + Judd LLP Dennis J. Donohue Environmental Law Warner Norcross + Judd LLP Eugene E. Smary Environmental Law Warner Norcross + Judd LLP Richard A. Roane Family Law Warner Norcross + Judd LLP Janet P. Knaus Intellectual Property and Patent Law Warner Norcross + Judd LLP Cameron S. DeLong International Trade Law Warner Norcross + Judd LLP Craig N. Meurlin International Trade Law Warner Norcross + Judd LLP Andrea J. Bernard Litigation - Commercial Warner Norcross + Judd LLP Douglas A. Dozeman Litigation - Intellectual Property Warner Norcross + Judd LLP Dean F. Pacific Litigation - Labor Employment Benefits Warner Norcross + Judd LLP Jeffrey S. Battershall Mergers & Acquisitions Law Warner Norcross + Judd LLP Charles E. McCallum Mergers & Acquisitions Law Warner Norcross + Judd LLP

John R. Marquis Tax Law Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge

John M. Huff Municipal Law Varnum LLP

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Randall W. Kraker Municipal Law Varnum LLP

Jeffrey B. Power Nonprofit/Charities Law Warner Norcross + Judd LLP

Catherine Brainerd Labor and Employment Law Rhoades McKee PC

Matthew G. Borgula Non White-Collar Criminal Defense Springstead Bartish Borgula & Lynch PLLC

Dale R. Rietberg Nonprofit/Charities Law Varnum LLP

W Michael Van Haren Nonprofit/Charities Law Warner Norcross + Judd LLP

Peter A. Smit Personal Injury Varnum LLP

Douglas E. Wagner Product Liability Warner Norcross + Judd LLP

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Matthew G. Borgula -Collar Criminal Defense Bartish Borgula & Lynch PLLC Steven J. Vander Ark Insurance Law Steven J. Vander Ark Connie Thacker Family Law Thacker Sleight

Robert A. Buchanan Municipal Law Varnum LLP

Susan M. Wyngaarden Public Finance Law Varnum LLP Jonathan W. Anderson Real Estate Law Varnum LLP David T. Caldon Real Estate Law Varnum LLP

Connie Thacker Mediation Thacker Sleight

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Nyal D. Deems Real Estate Law Varnum LLP Paul R. Jackson Tax Law Warner Norcross + Judd LLP

Peter Rhoades Litigation - Banking and Finance Rhoades McKee PC

Frank Stanley White-Collar Criminal Defense The Law Firm of Frank Stanley, PC

Stephen Hulst Litigation - Commercial Rhoades McKee PC

Themis J. Fotieo Workers Compensation Law Themis J. Fotieo PLC

Paul McCarthy Litigation - Commercial Rhoades McKee PC

Steven J. Morren Antitrust Law Varnum LLP

Greg Timmer Litigation - Commercial Rhoades McKee PC

Kimberly A. Baber Banking & Financial Service Law Varnum LLP

Bruce Courtade Litigation - Construction Rhoades McKee PC

Harvey Koning Banking & Financial Service Law Varnum LLP

Mark Smith Litigation - Construction Rhoades McKee PC

Mary Kay Shaver Banking & Financial Service Law Varnum LLP

Patrick Drueke Litigation - Real Estate Rhoades McKee PC

Scott A. Huizenga Corporate Law Varnum LLP

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John M. Roels Mediation Wheeler Upham PC

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Daniel C. Molhoek Corporate Law Varnum LLP

Christopher J. Caldwell Trusts and Estates Varnum LLP

John M. Roels Product Liability Wheeler Upham PC

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Peter G. Roth Corporate Law Varnum LLP

John M. Huff Trusts and Estates Varnum LLP

Michael J. TerBeek Trusts and Estates Wheeler Upham PC

Thomas G. Kyros Trusts and Estates Varnum LLP

Gary A. Maximiuk Insurance Law Wheeler Upham, P.C.

Marilyn Lankfer Trusts and Estates Varnum LLP

Peter VanGelderen Non White-Collar Criminal Defense Willey & Chamberlain LLP

Steven J. Morren Real Estate Law Varnum LLP Melissa B. Papke Real Estate Law Varnum LLP Peter A. Schmidt Real Estate Law Varnum LLP Kimberly A. Baber Securities Law Varnum LLP Jeffrey A. DeVree Tax Law Varnum LLP Kaplin S. Jones Tax Law Varnum LLP

Stephen R. Kretschman Tax Law Warner Norcross + Judd LLP Carl W. Dufendach Trusts and Estates Warner Norcross + Judd LLP Susan Gell Meyers Trusts and Estates Warner Norcross + Judd LLP James J. Steffel Trusts and Estates Warner Norcross + Judd LLP Daniel J. James Litigation - Insurance Wheeler Upham PC

Wayne D. Roberts Tax Law Varnum LLP

Robert C. Rutgers Jr. Corporate Law Varnum LLP

Michael J. Taylor Tax Law Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey, P.L.C.

Mark Fatum Medical Malpractice Law Rhoades McKee PC

Michael G. Wooldridge Corporate Law Varnum LLP

Neil D. Williams Tax Law Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey, P.L.C.

Laurie Strong Medical Malpractice Law Rhoades McKee PC

Kurt G. Yost Corporate Law Varnum LLP

Christopher L. Edgar Trusts and Estates Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey, P.L.C.

Douglas Vanden Berge Medical Malpractice Law Rhoades McKee PC

Wendy P. Holtvluwer Trusts and Estates Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey, P.L.C.

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Jon G. March Arbitration Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey, P.L.C.

Matthew L. Vicari White-Collar Criminal Defense Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey, P.L.C.

Stephen Hulst Personal Injury Rhoades McKee PC

James A. Mitchell Litigation - Intellectual Property Mitchell Intellectual Property Law

Zachary J. Meyer Health Care Law Varnum LLP

Jeffrey O. Birkhold Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights Law Warner Norcross + Judd LLP

John Lichtenberg Health Care Law Rhoades McKee PC

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Marcus W. Campbell Workers Compensation Law Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey, P.L.C.

Lawrence P. Burns Health Care Law Varnum LLP

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Mark E. Rizik Tax Law Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey, P.L.C.

Raj A. Malviya Trusts and Estates Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey, P.L.C.

Scott D. Alfree Health Care Law Varnum LLP

Rodney D. Martin Banking & Financial Service Law Warner Norcross + Judd LLP

Suanne R. Watt Stay Family Law Rhoades McKee PC

Lauretta K. Murphy Trusts and Estates Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey, P.L.C.

Alan C. Schwartz Banking & Financial Service Law Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey, P.L.C.

Gary Schenk Land Use & Zoning Schenk Boncher & Rypma

Mary V. Bauman Employee Benefits Law Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey, P.L.C.

D. Andrew Portinga Appellate Law Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey, P.L.C.

Jeffrey G. Muth Arbitration Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey, P.L.C.

David C. Sarnacki Family Law Sarnacki Law Firm

Jude W. Pereira Family Law Varnum LLP

Todd Hendricks Real Estate Law Rhoades McKee PC Mary Jane Rhoades Real Estate Law Rhoades McKee PC Terry Zabel Tax LawRhoades McKee PC

John D. Arendshorst Employee Benefits Law Varnum LLP Jeffrey A. DeVree Employee Benefits Law Varnum LLP William R. Hineline Employee Benefits Law Varnum LLP Katie K. Roskam Employee Benefits Law Varnum LLP Larry J. Titley Employee Benefits Law Varnum LLP

Laura E. Radle Trusts and Estates Varnum LLP Fredric A. Sytsma Trusts and Estates Varnum LLP Ronald G. DeWaard White-Collar Criminal Defense Varnum LLP Richard R. Symons Workers Compensation Law Varnum LLP Randall L. Velzen Family Law Velzen Law, PLLC

Bruce Goodman Energy Law Varnum LLP

Robert F. Wardrop II Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights Law Wardrop & Wardrop PC

Timothy J. Lundgren Energy Law Varnum LLP

Jeffrey O. Birkhold Appellate Law Warner Norcross + Judd LLP

Matthew B. Eugster Environmental Law Varnum LLP

Gaëtan Gerville-Réache Appellate Law Warner Norcross + Judd LLP

Charles E. Chamberlain Jr. White-Collar Criminal Defense Willey & Chamberlain LLP Larry C. WIlley White-Collar Criminal Defense Willey & Chamberlain LLP Phillip Yeager Insurance LawYeager Davison & Day PC

8 GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL APRIL 27, 2020

Firm will Real estate uncertainty could bring opportunity repurpose ash ponds 7 Continued from page 1

7 Continued from page 3 less economically viable generating assets while maximizing the value of the assets and improving the environment,” said Charah Solutions President and CEO Scott Sewell. “By offering one-stop services, Charah Solutions can effectively manage the environmental aspects and safely close and enhance the site for the benefit of the community, all while substantially lowering the cost for the utility.” As part of the environmental liability transfer services, Charah Solutions reviews each site’s particular closure challenges followed by a proposal that includes a closure plan and a repurposing plan for the property. Onsite dewatering, excavation and transportation will begin in Q3 2020 and continue through the end of 2021. State approval of the final pond closure is targeted as soon as early 2022, in advance of the federal CCR Rule compliance deadline, which requires pond closure by March 2023. Consumers also contracted Forsite Development to demolish and redevelop a portion of the Cobb facility separate to the location of the bottom ash ponds. “Because we had some regulations with the ash pounds, we knew we had to control those, so we couldn’t sell that part to Forsite,” Dobbs said. “Charah has been doing this for a long time, these ash ponds that we have need to be closed and they provided a solution.”

estate is more uncertain due to COVID-19. The first quarter began steadily in the West Michigan industrial market with a continued and significant lack of inventory with demand stemming primarily from large, Fortune 500-type companies. Industrial vacancy rates in Q1 were at 2.17%, compared to 2.20% last quarter. The limited space continued to drive average asking prices higher. COVID-19 will continue to impact the industrial market. In the future, direct and sublease availability, along with sale-leaseback activity, is expected to increase as companies look to shed extra space and generate liquidity. “The COVID-19 pandemic presents unique challenges for the industrial market and will continue to affect manufacturers and possibly interrupt supply chains, depending how long it continues,” said Steve Marcusse, SIOR, CCIM and senior vice president at Colliers. “But I believe there will be some long-term positives for the industrial market, including the onshoring of manufacturing, companies increasing critical inventory supply and a further shift toward online grocery fulfillment.” NAI Wisinski of West Michigan, in its Q1 market reports, noted Steelcase is producing critical personal protective equipment for health care providers during the pandemic. The office furniture manufacturer is making masks for use in clinical environments, facial shields for clinicians in direct contact with patients and social screens for communication with visitors at safe social distances. Steelcase plans to produce 6,000 masks and 12,500 face

shields per week in its Grand Rapids facilities. While Q1 began with a lot of activity for West Michigan retail, COVID-19 upended that activity by the end of the quarter, as Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s shelter-inplace executive order forced retailers and restaurants in Michigan to close to help prevent the spread of the virus. In response, some retailers focused more on their online presence, while restaurants offered expanded carryout, drive-thru and delivery services. Many retailers have been forced to lay off employees and find ways to cut other costs. Property owners and managers of commercial real estate continue to work with tenants on rent payments throughout the crisis. According to previous Business Journal reports, some retailers, particularly in the beverage industry, are pivoting to products specific to fighting COVID-19. Long Road Distillers in Grand Rapids is just one of several distilleries that has shifted operations from making spirits to hand sanitizer. Long Road Distillers has partnered with multiple breweries, including The Mitten Brewing Company, Founders Brewing, Perrin Brewing Company and Shorts Brewing Company to get beer for distilling. Long Road Distillers is selling its hand sanitizer to the public in 2-ounce bottles and is also supplying half-gallon refillable jugs for local health care workers, first responders, local hospitals and nursing homes. Restaurants were a large part of retail activity in West Michigan at the start of Q1. As well, national retailers continued to be attracted to the West Michigan retail market, including Dallas-based Texas

JUSTIN ABDELKADER

come down after years of increases but will be hard to predict going forward. “While we anticipated a slowdown in the economy this year, COVID-19 will accelerate that for the next several months and beyond,” said Gary Albrecht, senior associate at Colliers. “As many employers moved to remote work for the first time or significantly expanded remote working, it will be interesting to see how this impacts the office market in the future.” Albrecht predicted companies might reconfigure their workspaces and realize they need smaller spaces to operate, or alternatively, they might need larger spaces to make their workplaces less dense. Out-of-area investors and firms continued to generate a high level of activity to keep positive pressure on values for commercial real estate in Q1. Significant investment deals in the end of 2019 and Q1 2020 included the sale of McKay Tower in downtown Grand Rapids to Gun Lake Investments and Waséyabek Development. However, COVID-19 has caused great unknowns for investors, who are operating with a wait-and-see mentality. “We assume that interest rates will remain low relative to historic times; however, insufficient bond markets will keep interest rates volatile in the near term,” said Michael Visser, associate vice president. “When we re-open, the way we conduct business will be different, so businesses and landlords will need to respond accordingly. The future is largely unknown, but we will know more about the impact as earnings and data emerge over the next 90 days.”

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de Brazil, which planned to open in summer 2021 in downtown Grand Rapids, and Wingstop Restaurants, which opened its second West Michigan location in Wyoming in January. According to the Q1 reports from NAIWWM, Eastpointebased Detroit Wing Co. opened its first West Michigan location at 2004 East Beltline Ave. NE in Grand Rapids prior to the pandemic. Detroit Wing Co. has six locations in metro Detroit. The major retail corridors continued to generate the most activity with vacancy rates at 3.34%. Lease rates are averaging $14 per square foot. “We were reaching a point where there is limited space in West Michigan’s retail market, which could pose future challenges for those who want to move into the market or expand,” said Chris Prins, associate vice president at Colliers. “However, COVID-19 has presented significant new challenges for retailers, who are working to innovate how they get their products to customers. These new ways of reaching customers will likely remain in place after the pandemic.” In the West Michigan office market, the start of the first quarter saw an increase in tenant activity. The national and local unemployment rate remained low, though in March the quarter took a sharp turn because of the pandemic. The vacancy rate for downtown office space is 9.41%, and 6.17% for the suburban market. Rental rates increased downtown in the first quarter, totaling $21.68 per square foot, while decreasing slightly in the suburban market at $15.88 per square foot. In Q1, construction costs were beginning to

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Inside Track APRIL 27, 2020 GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL 9

DIANE MAHER said she is not afraid to face challenges head-on, a trait she learned by cleaning ice cream machines as a youth. Courtesy DP Fox Ventures

Executive for both DP Fox Ventures and Fox Motors values decency, integrity and commitment.

Patience, loyalty shape Maher’s leadership skills Paul R. Kopenkoskey

Special to the Business Journal

iane Maher drives a vehicle that turns heads. With a white exterior and cherry red leather interior, Maher’s 2019 Porsche Cayenne is a curious blend of giddy-up-and-go excitement and a reservoir of common sense. “It feels more racy, more exciting, and I’ve always loved that color combination,” Maher said. “(But) I’m not good about washing my car so white is better. You can go a lot longer without washing it. I never have enough time to get it done.” What Maher does make time for, insists on it actually, is patience and loyalty — qualities not always found in ready supply these days — for the person she works for, Dan DeVos, the people who report to her and the community boards to which she provides her expertise. Such soft skills of Maher’s are not happenstance. Maher said it’s the example her father set while working as an auto

mechanic for over 30 years and her boss of 27 years, Dan DeVos, that helped mold her into the type of corporate leader she is today. “My father always hated his job because he didn’t like his boss and didn’t he feel like he was treated well,” Maher said. “I’m driven to make sure the people working for us don’t feel like that and are treated well and that they love their jobs. I’ve always loved every job I’ve had. I can’t imagine going to work every day and not liking what I’m doing. I’ve always felt like it’s my obligation as a leader to ensure that people feel good about where they work and are happy with their contributions to it. “I’ve been working for (DeVos) for 27 years now and learned about leadership and kindness and decency, loyalty and commitment,” Maher added. “He has a tremendous amount of integrity. I look up to him. He’s always treated me well and given me so many opportunities I never would have imagined. And a lot of people at DP Fox have worked here over 20 years. We’ve grown up together and bonded. That’s been really rewarding. A

partner at Deloitte when I was in my 20s helped me to believe in myself. I just learned being loyal is honorable and that’s really a big part of who I am and why I would never job hop for more money.” Maher is president and chief operating officer of both DP Fox Ventures and Fox Motors, which is a retail automotive and powersports group representing 50 loca-

tions and 48 brands. The locations stretch from Chicago to Grand Rapids to Marquette in the Upper Peninsula. Maher said she’s a c-suite executive who makes decisions following the input she receives from her staff, whenever that option is possible. “I’m collaborative and a good listener,” she said. “I like to have a lot of information to make decisions. I won’t make a decision without talking to people and doing a lot of research. A collaborative leadership style is good unless you have to make quick decisions. That’s a strength for me: I want a lot of people’s opinions but sometimes you can’t take the time necessarily to get that and you have to decide which way we’re going to go.” Maher has held only two postcollege jobs, her first at Deloitte & Touche LLP, from 1987-1993, as an audit manager and as a financial consultant to DP Fox Ventures, which Dan DeVos and his wife, Pamella, founded in 1993 after he left Amway Corp. The company currently employs 1,675. Maher initially started at DP Fox in 1993 as the firm’s vice president of finance and was promoted to chief financial officer a few years later, and then to chief operating officer of Fox Motors in 2009. She handles acquisitions for all of Fox Motors dealerships as chief financial officer. Maher said additional acquisitions are likely on the horizon. “Right now, we’re just looking at businesses we want to be in the market with that would be strategic,” Maher said. “There’s nothing imminent or targeted at this time.” Like many others, Maher has encountered her share of speed bumps in life. Rather than cower from problems, Maher sees them as an opportunity to problem solve. “A challenge is an unexpected event that needs problem solving,” Maher said. “I love to find a way to solve a problem. That’s my favorite thing to do. It’s like a puzzle. You just need to figure out how to handle it, how to get through it, how to turn lemons into lemonade, if you will. When you’ve been through a lot, in the end, you find out you’ve become better for having to face things.” Maher’s hometown is Gobles, a city in Van Buren County with a population of 829 people, according to the 2010 U.S. Census. It was a town that gives Midwesterners their reputation for family values and a community of common interests. “When I think back then, there was family dinner every night at the table,” Maher said. “That was a

DIANE MAHER Company/Organization: DP Fox Ventures and Fox Motors Position: President and COO Birthplace: Allegan Residence: East Grand Rapids Family: Three adult children, all Michigan State University graduates Business/Community Involvement: Our Daily Bread Ministries board of directors; past chair of ODB’s personnel, finance and audit committee; West Michigan Policy Forum board of directors and member of its executive committee; Mercantile Bank of Michigan board of directors and its audit and information systems steering committee. Biggest Career Break: “My career with DP Fox (Ventures) started with a call from people on Dan’s (DeVos) team in 1991. They said, ‘Hey, Diane, we need a little accounting help.’ It was a good thing I said yes to that. They needed a lot of accounting help, I just didn’t know it.”

big part of the day. Sports were a big thing in Gobles. They were good at a lot of sports. Everybody rallied around that. We had a good football team at the time.” Maher’s formative years were sans cell phones, FaceTime and text messaging — all technologies she managed to do without just fine — to a point. “There were no cell phones then, so I remember fighting to use the (family) phone,” she said. “You had to get out there and drive around town and make your own fun. I was driven to get good grades and excel at school. I remember being driven to be noticed and do well and have my parents notice me.” She did work a job in Gobles for an ice cream shop located on the corner of M-40 and M-43. The name of the business escapes her but cleaning the soft ice cream maker after closing time remains etched in her memory.

I’ve always loved every job I’ve had. I can’t imagine going to work every day and not liking what I’m doing. I’ve always felt like it’s my obligation as a leader to ensure that people feel good about where they work and are happy with their contributions to it.

“There was a lot of cleaning involved and I hate cleaning,” she said. “I learned sometimes you have to do things you don’t like doing. You hunker down and make it happen. It’s not always going to be fun and easy. Back then we served soft serve ice cream and I had to clean it every night because you couldn’t have any bacteria in it. You had to be very meticulous. Those machines are hard to clean. I remember hating that. It took forever but was more like a half an hour.” Maher has had a “first” in her life when she became the nondenominational Our Daily Bread Ministries’ first female to serve on its board of directors. “I’m trying to make a difference for Michigan,” Maher said. “I love working for ODB because I feel like it’s my obligation to share my gifts.” Maher said she wants to continue spending time with her family, be immersed in her faith and career while maintaining a body, mind and spirit balance. “I want to make a mark on the world not just because I had a great career but because I positively impacted people to do the same,” Maher said. And she’ll continue her fervent admiration for cars. “I’ve always loved the car business and cars,” Maher said. “It’s been fun to learn it with Dan because he has a huge passion for cars as well.”

Comment & Opinion 10 GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL APRIL 27, 2020

GUEST COLUMN Dave Kahle

How to guide your sales force through difficult times

e are in the middle of some difficult times. Rather than belabor that point, I’d like to come to the heart of the problem: What do we do? We need to answer that question on an immediate, urgent basis: What do we do right now? Let’s focus on the sales force and what company leaders can do to help them. Before I offer some recommendations, let’s take a bit of a milehigh view. We have been here before. As a nation, as individuals, and every level of society in between, this level of confusion and anxiety is not new. Now, it may be new for you. Depending on your age, this may be your first encounter with life that hasn’t gone according to your plan. But it certainly isn’t unique for many of us. We have lived through the oil embargo in the ’70s and the resulting malaise and inflation; the 9/11 attacks and the resulting tailspin in the economy; the dot-com crises; and the 2008 real estate crisis. I’ve seen my business so devastated that I had to tell my staff that I could no longer make payroll. But I don’t just draw from my experience in my business. As a sales consultant, I have personally and contractually worked with over 500 companies. Their sizes ranged from under $1 million in annual sales to over $8 billion — all B2B sellers of some kind. In all of this, I have learned some lessons and gained some wisdom that may be helpful to you. I like to think of it as two issues: shoring up and gearing up. Shore things up for immediate survival It may be that you don’t need to worry, because of the happy coincidence of being in the right place at the right time. One of my clients sells meat to grocery stores, for example. The demand has spiked as people are not going to restaurants

GUEST COLUMN Randy Boss

Getting back to work safely

and are cooking at home. He’s had to put his customers on allocation. However, most of you are likely to be dealing with customers who won’t or can’t see your salespeople, customers who may be teetering on the edge of insolvency, and a pervasive climate of uncertainty and anxiety.

form like Zoom or Skype. You’ll want to have the capability to monitor their activity. It may seem a little bit like “Big Brother,” but without exception, every time I have worked with a client who implemented some kind of activity monitoring, the results were always eye-opening.

Bring the troops inside: Your salespeople are probably frustrated with their inability to see their customers. Now is the time to direct them and enable them to work inside — probably from their home. You’ll need to invest a little bit in equipment and software and provide them some minimal training. Once they become acclimated, they should be productive and much more positive. They, and you, will gain a competency that will separate you from the competition, and pay off long-term as well as shortterm.

Be a calm, rational model: They are all looking for leadership from someone. You are the most likely candidate. Your attitude, your demeanor and the words you share will go a long way to reassuring people who are anxious and fearful.

Install some new management routines: If you haven’t already, now is the time to install a weekly one-on-one conference between your salespeople and your sales management. The conference should focus on this week’s plans and last week’s progress. Your salespeople are doing something new and will need some high-touch encouragement. Also, when there is a crisis in the environment, they are far more amenable to change than when things are going according to plan. This is a great time to install some of those management best practices they may have been resistant to before. If and when they return to outside selling, you can push the weekly conferences to monthly. But for now, the weekly touch can be very effective. As a side note, you may want to check on their activity from time to time. They should be making their calls via a phone system (not their cell phones) and/or a video plat-

hile the debate goes on as to when things might get back to normal, one thing is for certain: the risk of COVID-19 is not likely going away anytime soon. The question is, “Can we afford to stay at home forever?” But you don’t need to be a talking head on the nightly news to know that at some point we need to get back to work. The next question is, “How do we do that safely?” In 2007, the U.S. Department of Labor issued “Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for an Influenza Pandemic,” in which they described it as a worldwide outbreak of a new strain of virus that can spread from person to person. It touched upon the fact that some people might not have natural immunity to the new strain. That a vaccine in not yet widely available. That pandemics vary from a bad flu season to a severe pandemic that leads to high levels of illness, death, social disruption and economic loss. And it’s hard

Gearing up for the inevitable opportunity I am not a futurist, and I make no claim to having any special insight. But, I have been through this a number of times, and I am pretty certain that: •This will end. •Things will be different on the other side of it — but probably not transformationally so. •When it ends, some companies in your industry will be worse for the experience. •A few will be better. •Demand will be pent up and ready to increase disproportionately. This is the perfect time to make some long-overdue structural changes to the way sales are done in your organization. Remember, people are much more amenable to change when they are in the middle of a crisis than when things are going along smoothly. So, you’ll be able to implement some changes that may have met with resistance at a different time. Tighten up your sales system If you have not yet, then this is the perfect time to rearrange account responsibilities and priorities. It is likely that your sales force has been spending time with a number of accounts that just aren’t worth it. Now is the time to rank every account’s potential — A, B, C — and

to predict when they will occur and whether they will be mild or severe. Does this sound familiar 13 years later? That report is describing what we are going through right now as a severe pandemic. The only difference is how we are responding. At no time in history have such aggressive measures been used to keep this silent killer from moving from person to person. Businesses have been ordered closed and most of us are required to stay at home unless you are considered an essential worker. This not only involves the workplace but also our homes as we carry the virus from home to work and work to home. That being said, we are in the first battle in our war against COVID-19 where the goal is not to overwhelm our health care systems. As of today, it appears we have won that battle or at least we know how to do it. Take New York, for example, the epicenter of the breakout. Additional hos-

direct the salesforce to spend more time with A’s. As a result of having to do business remotely, some of your customers are going to like that approach, and, on the other side, decide that is how they want to do business. You will identify some salespeople who excel at selling remotely. Put the two together and create an “inside” sales territory that is defined by phone numbers instead of geographical territories. These changes will have a bigger impact than anything else you can do. And the slow time brought on by this crisis is the perfect time to make them.

Prune your sales force No one likes to let someone go. It often is an emotionally draining, guilt-inducing event. But you’re the manager. It comes with the territory. The health and well-being of the enterprise ensure financial and emotional security for all the employees, not just the few who are marginal. It’s likely that some of your salespeople are marginal performers. For the health of the company, you need to prune the marginal performers so the entire organization can reach its potential. Continued on page 14 8

MI VIEW WEST Garth Kriewall

Michigan journalist, kriewall@hotmail.com

So, how was your commute this morning? pital beds were built, additional medical equipment like ventilators were acquired, and now that the peak has passed, fewer people need care. This means it’s time to move to the next step to re-open business and get back to work. Since there is no vaccine readily available, jumpstarting our economy safely will require a new plan, one designed and built specifically for COVID-19. This will be a critical step in keeping workers healthy and safe as they return to work. The purpose of this plan is to outline the steps that every employer and employee can take to reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19. The plan describes how to prevent worker exposure to coronavirus, the pro-

tective measures to be taken on the jobsite, the personal protective equipment and work practice controls to be used, the cleaning and disinfecting procedures, and what to do if a worker becomes sick. Like any good safety plan, it should include the following: •A company statement where senior leaders express their commitment that the health and safety of their employees is given serious attention, thus laying the groundwork to cascade this message down from top management to everyone in the organization. •Responsibilities of managers and supervisors to set a good example

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 11 8

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APRIL 27, 2020 GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL 11

GUEST COLUMN Stacy Beekman and George Bearup

Now is the time to maximize your estate plan

families navigate through the difficult times created by COVID-19, it is important to focus on our families’ well-being and to think ahead. Important decisions may need to be made and if so, it’s essential that you review your estate plan to ensure everything is well-structured and your wishes will be carried out as intended. Below are a few considerations as you review. 1) You should ensure the fiduciaries that are currently named within your estate planning documents have the appropriate responsibility. Ask yourself, who should be in charge? •Patient advocates named under durable powers of attorney for health care and HIPPA authorization •Agents named under durable powers of attorney for financial decision making •Personal representatives named to administer a will •Guardian(s) named in a will, or separate document, for the care of minor children •The trustee named to administer a revocable trust As intentions or circumstances have changed over the years, along with family and/or financial situations, you may determine the individuals named are no longer suitable or capable to serve in that capacity. Should you need to select an alternative and a family member is not an option, you could consider a corporate fiduciary to serve in that role on your behalf. 2) Your account titling and beneficiary designations are critical to achieving your overall estate planning goals. If done incorrectly, assets might not pass to the intended beneficiaries. To avoid probate, the following documents and titling should be reviewed: •Bank, investment, retirement and health savings accounts •Annuities •Life insurance policies •Real estate

•Business interests •Personal property 3) With the dramatic decline in recent market prices, another recommendation would be to review your will and trust provisions along with your transfer-on- death (TOD) beneficiary designations. You should confirm the distribution language in the document is appropriate for the current size of your estate. For example, a trust may state that upon the grantor’s death, one or more beneficiaries are to receive a large fixed dollar amount as part of their inheritance. With the current drop in the market, a fixed dollar amount may no longer be appropriate or could distort the disposition of your wealth. An alternative would be to have the trust distribute a fraction or percentage of the trust assets rather than a fixed amount as originally planned. Transfer through planning strategies Although the COVID-19 crisis presents numerous challenges for us right now, it also provides opportunities for the future. In addition to reviewing essential documents within your estate plan, it’s the perfect time to find efficient ways to transfer wealth to future generations. 1) Have you considered gifting an asset that could potentially appreciate over time? With low interest rates and low market values, it’s an opportune time to do so. Income that is generated on an asset that is gifted may be taxed to the recipient at marginally lower federal income tax rates, and not taxed to the donor. It also means that less of the donor’s federal gift tax exemption (currently $11.58 million) will have to be used to shelter that lifetime gift from federal taxes. 2) Intra-family loans, governed by a loan agreement, can be used to transfer wealth in low interest rate environments as well. If prepared and administered correctly, parents can transfer wealth to the younger

generation without having to use their lifetime gift tax exemption, and the borrower obtains the advantage of a very low interest rate on the loan (typically set by Applicable Federal Rate). Under this structure, there’s a higher probability the borrower’s investment will outperform the interest rate on the loan, and the appreciation beyond the loan interest is then passed to the borrower free of gift and estate taxes. 3) For individuals who have a large estate that could potentially be subject to federal estate tax, a Grantor Retained Annuity Trust may be a powerful planning tool. With a GRAT, the grantor has the ability to contribute assets into a trust while retaining the right to receive a fixed annuity stream from the trust over a period of years. After the period of years is over, the balance of the assets held in the trust pass to the intended beneficiaries with no estate tax consequence. When planned effectively, a GRAT strategy can benefit families by transferring assets free of gift or estate tax, freezing or reducing the value of the estate and preserving as much applicable exclusion as possible. 4) For those who have charitable inclinations, a Charitable Lead Annuity Trust also is an option. This structure also allows the grantor to transfer assets to a trust, but instead, a charity receives the annuity stream rather than the grantor. The grantor receives a 100% upfront tax deduction for the gift made to the charity while passing assets to their heirs free of gift and estate tax. Stacy Beekman is a Grand Rapidsbased trust relationship officer for Greenleaf Trust. She has 20-plus years of experience providing trust administration services to individuals and nonprofit organizations. George Bearup, J.D., is a senior trust advisor. He has 46 years of practical experience as an estate planning attorney with experience in estate, fiduciary, and tax law.

GUEST COLUMN Rick Baker

Getting back to work safely 7 Continued from page 10 by following this plan at all times and to encourage this same behavior from all employees. •Responsibilities of employees to help with prevention efforts while at work by following company instituted housekeeping, social distancing and other best practices at the workplace. Employees are expected to report to their managers or supervisors if they are experiencing signs or symptoms of COVID-19.

Since there is no vaccine readily available, jumpstarting our economy safely will require a new plan, one designed and built specifically for COVID-19. This will be a critical step in keeping workers healthy and safe as they return to work. •Worksite protective measures requiring any employee/visitor showing symptoms of COVID-19 will be asked to leave the workplace and return home, limiting the number of people at meetings, having meetings by phone or video conference, requiring social distancing and staggering breaks to reduce the number of people together at one time. •Worksite cleaning and disinfecting by instituting regular housekeeping practices, which

includes cleaning and disinfecting frequently used tools and equipment, and other elements of the work environment, wherever possible. •Worksite exposure situations with protocols for employees exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms, employees testing positive for COVID-19, and employees having close contact with a tested positive COVID-19 individual. A word of caution: it’s easy to single focus on “the risk of the day” like COVID-19, but it’s not the only hazard we face in the workplace. We can’t forget about falls, amputation, electrocution or getting caught in a machine. According to the philosophy of injury prevention, the employer is primarily responsible for ensuring a safe and healthy work environment. Organizations with effective safety cultures show commitment that health and safety are at least as important as productivity and quality. Having a plan to safely get back to work is the not only good risk management approach, but also the right thing to do. Randy Boss is a Certified Risk Architect at Ottawa Kent in Jenison. As a Risk Architect, he designs, builds and implements risk management and insurance plans for middle market companies in the areas of safety, work comp, human resources, property/casualty and benefits. He has over 40 years’ experience and has been at Ottawa Kent for 38 years. He is the cofounder of emergeapps.com, web apps for insurance agents to share with employers. He can be reached at rboss@ottawakent.com.

OUTSOURCE YOUR LEGAL BILLING TODAY

Answering the call with rapid relief fund for small business

ertain phrases are quickly fatiguing as we continue to combat the “unprecedented” and “challenging” COVID-19 pandemic. The one phrase that really sinks in is “the new normal.” Lives and livelihoods have been upended; this is anything but normal. After assisting countless businesses over the last month, the Chamber has come to understand that the chief concern for businesses across our region is uncertainty. Recently, Arthur Brooks, Professor of Public Leadership at the Harvard, noted that uncertainty differs from risk. Risk is the possibility of bad outcomes. Those outcomes are known, and the probabilities are known. With uncertainty, the bad outcomes and probabilities aren’t understood. We are certainly uncertain about COVID-19. The best way to deal with uncertainty, is to move forward and use each day to its fullest as we work together to make a difference. It has been inspiring to see our business community do just that. Brewers and distillers alike have transitioned operations to produce hand sanitizer for those in need. A small stationery and branding company, Oh, Hello Co. is working day and night to make ear savers for

first responders suffering from the effects of mask protection. Restaurants are continuously innovating to survive, by transitioning to carry-out and delivery only procedures. Our heroes in health care, transportation, grocery service and sanitation are living on the front lines and our business community continues to step up in order to confront and battle COVID-19. This is West Michigan, a community built on the backbone of entrepreneurship and small business. At the Grand Rapids Chamber, we know that many have been impacted and are working to endure the effects of COVID-19. We hear your stories and continue to address the uncertainty of the situation by connecting business leaders with the resources and experts they need. On a resource front, government support is coming, albeit gradual. In response, our team has initiated a Rapid Response Economic Relief Fund through the Greater Grand Rapids Chamber Foundation to deliver short-term financial support to small businesses in Kent County, now. Checks are already en route, and in hand, but the demand is enormous. We need the rest of the business community to rally. If you

are able, we need your help. Please consider contributing to the fund by visiting www.grchamberfoundation. org. Another way we are working to address uncertainty is by influencing policy. The Chamber is working with policymakers to ensure that we are prepared for an economic restart when the public health state permits. Built on a framework based upon geographic and activity-based risk, we believe early and deliberate planning now on how to safely unwind restrictions will help mitigate the economic devastation caused by the pandemic in the future. We must cultivate pathways for regions where the curve has flattened, to responsibly reopen. We need to rebuild our economy as quickly, and as safely as possible. We do not know what the future will bring. What we do know is how proud we are to be a part of the West Michigan business community. The collaborative spirit and work ethic of our community will continue to help guide us forward into a brighter future, together. Rick Baker is president and CEO of the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce.

PROLEGALSYSTEMS.COM 616.262.3941

Change-Ups & Calendar 12 GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL APRIL 27, 2020

Prein&Newhof garners engineering awards Prein&Newhof recently garnered the Engineering Honorable Conceptor Award and the People’s Choice Award by the American Council of Engineering Companies of Michigan for its work on Plainfield Charter Township’s Water Treatment Pilot Study for PFAS Removal project. Plainfield Township worked with Prein&Newhof to perform a pilot study at its water treatment plant, modifying the existing rapid sand filter beds with granular activated carbon to effectively remove per- and polyfluoralkyl substances from the water. FROM LEFT: Prein&Newhof Vice President Mark Prein, Plainfield Township Superintendent Cameron Van Wyngarden, Plainfield Township Water Treatment Superintendent Don Petrovich, Prein&Newhof Project Manager Kevin Gritters and Plainfield Township Director of Public Services Rick Solle.

ADVERTISING & MARKETING

Ashley Kretler has joined Kalamazoobased LKF Marketing as an account coordinator.

ARCHITECTURE & ENGINEERING

Benton Harborbased Wightman received a Kretler Michigan Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects Merit Award for its work involving the transformation of downtown Sturgis.

BUSINESS SERVICES

Pallet company Kamps Inc. announced it has finalized the acquisition of D&H Bark in Manton. The location will be an addition to Kamps’ Wood Resource Division and will be the division’s sixth location in Michigan. Service Express, a third-party data center maintenance company, has debuted its End-of-Life and End-ofService-Life database. With this tool, users can quickly find accurate EOL and EOSL dates for over 19,000 data center hardware models. The database can be viewed at serviceexpress.com/resources/eol-eosl-database/.

EDUCATION

Aquinas College has been recognized by Colleges of Distinction as one of the renowned 2019-2020 Colleges of Distinction for its individualized and engaging academic offerings and continued focus on student success and satisfaction.

Editor’s note: The coronavirus response has affected many public gatherings. Please check organizations’ websites for the latest event information. APR 28 iChiro Free Massage Workshop. Learn trigger point massage. iChiro Clinics, 6-7:15 p.m., 6690 Crossings Drive SE, Suite A. RSVP required by calling (616) 656-1830. 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 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. Registration: 616-2614500, or d.kuba@instantcashmi.com. APR 30 Association For Corporate Growth Western Michigan Workshop. Topic: Nonprofit Board Training. 3-6 p.m., Varnum LLP Bridgewater Place LLC, 333 Bridge St. NW. Cost: $200/members, $325/nonmembers. Information/registration: acgwm.wildapricot.org/. MAY 1-10 Tulip Time Virtual Experience. Information/registration: tuliptime.com.

Five longtime Hope College faculty members have announced their retirement: Isolde Anderson, professor of communication; Jean Bahle, assistant professor of theater; Edward Hansen, professor of geology and environmental science; James Herrick, the Guy VanderJagt professor of communication; and Roger Nemeth, professor of sociology. They have taught at the college for a combined 152 years. Tom Heetderks recently joined Cornerstone University’s professional and graduate studies as dean of business. Western Michigan University Cooley Law School’s director of graduate and extended programs Catherine McCollum has taken on an additional role as director of online learning. All classes were recently moved to McCollum an online platform as a safety precaution due to COVID-19. McCollum will manage and coordinate online resources and faculty training.

FOOD & BEVERAGE

Long Road Nocino and Long Road Apple Brandy.

GOVERNMENT

The Grand Rapids Police Department announced the promotions of Jeffrey Dionne and Timothy Johnston to the rank of Sergeant. The Ottawa County Road Commission invited students who are staying home for the remainder of the school year to participate in the OCRC’s inaugural Work Zone Safety Awareness Poster Contest. Students of all ages from Ottawa County participated in the art-related activity, which supported National Work Zone Awareness Week, April 20–24. The awareness week promotes safe driving through work zones.

GRANTS

The Grand Haven-based community coalition created to respond to the COVID-19 crises has granted an additional $156,750 from the Emergency Human Needs Fund to 16 area nonprofit organizations that are helping the community in this time of crisis. This brings the total granted from the fund to $355,360. 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 Way.

Long Road Distillers captured new honors at the 2020 American Craft Spirits Awards by the American Craft Spirits Association: two Gold medals for Long Road Aquavit and Long Road Raspberry Liqueur; Silver medals for Long Road Grand Absinthe, Long Road Amaro Pazzo and Long Road Old Aquavit; and Bronze medals for Long Road Rum,

Hope College in Holland has expanded its sexual assault prevention programming by connecting with two national initiatives through support from the Campus Sexual Assault Grant Program awarded by the state of Michigan and administered by the Michigan State Police. The $17,178 grant is funding additional staff training in the Green Dot

MAY 6 Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce Business Networking and Beers. 5-8 p.m., Ganders Restaurant, 4747 28th St. Free admission. Information/registration: meetup.com/NetworkandBeers/ events/266289082/.

Workshop. Topic: Business Growth Series. 1-3 p.m., Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce, 250 Monroe Ave. NW, Suite 150. Registration: grandrapids.org/.

MAY 7 Grand Rapids Opportunities For Women Intro to GROW, free orientation to learn about programs. Noon-1 p.m. or 6-7 p.m., GROW office, YWCA, 25 Sheldon Blvd. SE, Suite 210. Information/ registration: (616) 458-3404 or grow business.org. MAY 3-13 Access of West Michigan Walk For Good Food Fundraiser to support nonprofit organizations that address issues of food access and poverty. Participants encouraged to walk individually due to pandemic. Information/registration: accessofwestmichigan.org/wal. 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. MAY 6 Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce Business Virtual Networking & Beers. Buy a drink item and food item from a local establishment and then tag the business along with Business Networking and Beers in a post on the event page. 5-8 p.m., Zoom link. Information/registration: bit.ly/ VirtualBusinessBeers. MAY 11 Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce

MAY 11 Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce Government Matters @ City Hall — with Elected Officials. 8-9 a.m., Kentwood City Hall, 4900 Breton Road SE. Information/registration: (616) 531-5990 or michelle@southkent.org. MAY 12 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. MAY 13 Grand Rapids Opportunities for Women Start Smart Business Readiness hands-on class to equip you to take the next step on your entrepreneurial journey. Prerequisite: Intro to GROW. 6-9 p.m., GROW, 25 Sheldon Blvd. SE, Suite 210. Cost: $25. Information/registration: (616) 458-3404 or growbusiness. org/event/start-smart-may/. MAY 13 Women In Successful Enterprises Webinar. Topic: “Creating The Habit of Priority: Identifying Key Priorities that Make the Largest Impact on Professional Lives.” 4:30 p.m. Cost: free. Information/registration: wiseconnections. org/. MAY 13-14 Jennifer Maxson & Associates Workshop, The Exceptional Leader: Lead The Business, Lead Change, Lead People! Differentiate the roles of leaders and managers. Cost: $3,500/person, $2,900/person for two people, same program and date. Information/registration: (616) 883-6458 or info@jennifermax sonassociates.com.

bystander-intervention program, which trains witnesses to interrupt situations that are high-risk for sexual violence, and underwriting the college’s participation in the Culture of Respect program of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators. Perrigo Company plc and the Perrigo Company Charitable Foundation donated $400,000 in funding and $216,000 in product donations to assist community partners that are essential to the COVID-19 response effort. Breakdown: $200,000 to Kid’s Food Basket; $50,000 to Allegan County Food Pantry Collaborative; $50,000 and $16,000 in-kind product to Meals on Wheels; $200,000 in-kind product to Feeding America West Michigan; and $100,000 to American Red Cross. Streams of Hope, a community center in Kentwood, announced it has received a $25,000 grant from HarperCollins Christian Publishing to support its elementary student tutoring program. Since its inception in 2010, the tutoring program has steadily grown to provide more than 100 hours of free tutoring each week by 10 certified teachers to 80 students.

HEALTH

Network180, Forest View Psychiatric Hospital and Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services have combined their efforts to encourage individuals seeking mental health support to “Don’t Go Out – Reach Out” by staying away from local emergency departments and contacting one of its agencies instead. All three are open 24/7 and ready to provide services to anyone in crisis during this time. Contact: Network180: (616) 3363909; Forest View: (800) 949-8439; and Pine Rest: (800) 678-5500 or (616) 455-9200 Sandra Muthyal has joined Exalta Health as director of advancement. The Kent County Health Department has partnered with Guiding Light to designate its facility at 255 S. Division Ave. as an isolation center for those experiencing homelessness who have tested positive for COVID-19 or are awaiting test results. The facility has 24 private rooms, a bunk area, six bathrooms, and a full-service kitchen that can accommodate up to 60 individuals when fully staffed.

INSURANCE

Hylant announced the promotion of Matthew M. Hylant to president of its Ann Arbor office. Hylant previously served as client executive and team

leader in employee benefits for Hylant’s Grand Rapids office for the past six years.

LEISURE & RECREATION

Harbor Country Chamber of Commerce in Three Oaks has launched its 2020 Harbor Country Guide. The online guide is available at harborcountry.org/ harbor-country-guide. The West Michigan Tourist Association now offers a live video stream of Drummond Island. Go to wmta.org/ live-west-michigan-camera-gallery/ drummond-islandwest-michiganlive-camera/.

MEDIA

Michael Behrens has joined 13 ON YOUR SIDE as a meteorologist.

MILITARY

Cedar Springs native Lt. Joshua Bowman, a Navy Supply Corps officer assigned to Naval Supply Systems Command Business Systems Center, in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation for his meritorious service as a project officer at NAVSUP BSC from May 2017 to April 2020.

Behrens

SPORTS

Wyoming High School senior Jorge Garcia has been awarded a Chick Evans Scholarship, valued at an estimated $120,000 over four years and covers tuition and housing, by the Western Golf Association. Garcia has played on Wyoming High School’s varsity golf team every year. He currently has a 4.07 GPA and is ranked No. 1 in his class.

TRANSPORTATION

Pampered Auto LLC now provides non-emergency medical transportation, serving Muskegon, Ottawa, Oceana and Kent counties. Pampered Auto is a COVID-19 “essential business” and remains open during the statewide stayat-home directive.

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.

MAY 14 Acton Institute Lecture Series. Topic: “From Logos to Entitlement And Back Again,” by Samuel Gregg, director of research, Acton Institute. Noon-1 p.m., Acton Institute, 98 E. Fulton St. Free livestream also available. Information/ registration: acton.org/event/2020/ GreggALS.

Monroe NW, Suite 150. Information/registration: grandrapids.org.

MAY 14 Division Avenue Business Association Meeting. 8-9 a.m., Brann’s Steakhouse & Grille, 4157 S. Division. Information/registration: tombrann@branns.com.

MEETINGS & CONVENTIONS Information: Stephanie Bradley, (616) 233-3577 or sbradley@experiencegr. com.

MAY 14 Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce Business Exchange Luncheon. 11:30 a.m.1:30 p.m., Bluff Banquet & Conference Center, 2035 28th St. SE, Suite 5. Information/registration: grandrapids.org. MAY 14 Grand Rapids Young Professionals Professional Development Workshop Focusing on Leadership. 5:30-7:30 p.m., Kids’ Food Basket, 1300 Plymouth Ave. NE. Information/registration: gryp.org/. MAY 15 The Right Place Oceana County Economic Alliance 2020 Annual Community Leaders Breakfast. 7:309:30 a.m., Oceana County Council on Aging Center, 4250 W. Tyler Road, Hart. Cost: $25/person. Information/registration: rightplace.org/events/oceana-countyannual-community-leaders-breakfast. MAY 18 Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce Advocacy Engagement Series. Topic: Tackling Poverty. 3:15-4:30 p.m., Grand Rapids Chamber, 250 Monroe NW, Suite 150. Registration: grandrapids.org. MAY 19 Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce Business Insights Program. Connecting people with those running successful businesses/organizations. 7:30-9 a.m., Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce, 250

MAY 19 Muskegon Chamber of Commerce 2020 Luncheon Lessons in Leadership. Noon-1 p.m., Baker College, 1903 Marquette Ave., Muskegon. Cost: $15. Information/registration: muskegon.org/.

APR 27-30 Michigan Professional Fire Fighters Union 2020 Annual Convention. Amway Grand Plaza, Curio Collection by Hilton. APR 27-28 Michigan Department of Transportation 2020 Michigan Bridge Challenge. DeVos Place. APR 29-MAY 2 Michigan Dental Association 2020 Annual Convention and Trade Show. DeVos Place. APR 30-MAY 3 National Association of Women in Construction NAWIC N. Central Spring Forum 2020. Embassy Suites Downtown. 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 27, 2020 GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL 13

BANKRUPTCY

20-00818 – GEORGE, Amy J., 6136 Bittersweet NE, Belmont, Rebecca L. Johnson-Ellis (Ch. 7) 20-00825 – BARRERA, Rebecca S., 2336 Pheasant Court SE, Michael M. Malinowski (Ch. 7) 20-00828 – BANDY, Joyce A., 4184 Pine Creek Road SW, Grandville, Jeremy Shephard (Ch. 13) 20-00829 – ELLIOTT, Delnay D., 1772 Rhoda SE, Lowell, Michael P. Hanrahan (Ch. 7) 20-00843 – DAVENPORT, Christina L., 529 Carrier NE, Jacob T. Tighe (Ch. 7) 20-00847 – BROWN, Kristyn M., 3840 Richmond NW, Michael M. Malinowski (Ch. 7)

MORTGAGES

Selected mortgages filed with Kent County Register of Deeds WEEKS, Roger et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Parcel: 410122100032, $337,000 ELDRED, Mark R., JPMorgan Chase Bank, Parcel: 410731226007, $353,357 MOONEY, Sean et al, Huntington National Bank, Parcel: 411120250010, $440,000 ROERSMA & WURN BUILDERS INC., Lake Michigan Credit Union, Parcel: 410731226005, $385,275 ROERSMA & WURN BUILDERS INC., Lake Michigan Credit Union, Parcel: 411401476051, $322,425 ROERSMA & WURN BUILDERS INC., Lake Michigan Credit Union, Parcel: 410731226001, $307,500 BAHL, Thomas et al, Consumers Credit Union, Parcel: 411909481002, $280,000 VERWOERT, Blake et al, TCF National Bank, Parcel: 411318124002, $288,000 VANDUINE, Todd et al, Quicken Loans, Parcel: 412434300034, $283,500 MAND, Surjeet S. et al, Loandepot.com, Parcel: 411523440001, $280,000 SANDERA, Bryan et al, Economic

Development Foundation, Parcel: 412307227004, $784,000 FRICANO, Thomas III et al, JPMorgan Chase Bank, Parcel: 411106351009, $425,500 PIEHL, Jesse J. et al, Benchmark Mortgage, Parcel: 411115129003, $344,829 TOWNHOMES OF BRETON VILLAGE LLC, Eastbrook Homes, Condo, $1,647,835 VANESSEN, David W. et al, Amerisave Mortgage Corp., Parcel: 412314300043, $326,000 JJN GROUP LLC, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Parcel: 412116451022, $984,000 STREEKSTRA, Mark et al, Consumers Credit Union, Parcel: 411425480025, $373,125 DYKSTRA, Kristin, Inlanta Mortgage, Parcel: 411534155003, $407,643 HAMILTON, Colin et al, Homedirect Mortgage, Parcel: 411425352001, $280,000 BAILEY, Matthew, USAA Federal Savings Bank, Parcel: 410817251015, $340,000 REDSTONE HOMES LLC, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Parcel: 411030360154, $277,943 KEIZER, Alex et al, Allen Edwin Home Builders LLC, Parcel: 412124301087, $316,488 RANGE AT ALPINE LLC, ChoiceOne Bank, Parcel: 410926200025, $768,750 J PETERSON HOMES INC., Mercantile Bank, Parcel: 411433203011, $528,000 DAMON, Paul J. et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Parcel: 411114202021, $729,500 GILLEPALLY, Thejeswi et al, Cardinal Financial Co., Parcel: 411425480002, $288,900 WOZNIAK, Matthew R. et al, Finance of America Mortgage, Parcel: 410635140027, $365,000 DOEZEMAN, Steven E. et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Parcel: 412322201009, $522,500 MILLER, Christopher, Neighborhood Loans, Parcel: 411833106011, $280,250 HANLEY, Brian et al, Neighborhood Loans, Parcel: 412013251005, $313,500 PHILLIPS, James III et al, Quicken Loans,

Parcel: 412336400024, $330,750 NORTH PLAINFIELD LLC, United Bank, Parcel: 411026104005, $495,000 MYOTT-BEEBE, Stacy M. et al, Benchmark Mortgage, Parcel: 411804402023, $293,576 PRICE, Claude et al, Guaranteed Rate, Parcel: 411433303003, $469,950 THOMPSON, Jeremy A. et al, NBKC Bank, Parcel: 410610451008, $296,500 VANSOLKEMA, Derek et al, Adventure Credit Union, Parcel: 411426280004, $582,723 WHITE, Matthew R. & Jennifer L. Trust, Huntington National Bank, Parcel: 411507251003, $1,570,000 WALSH, Timothy M. et al, Adventure Credit Union, Parcel: 410635120021, $437,500 DEUSER, Robert et al, CFBank, Parcel: 411804207008, $360,000 KARUNANITHY, Krithika et al, JPMorgan Chase Bank, Parcel: 411409253057, $287,500 BEUKEMA, Taylor et al, Northern Mortgage Services, Parcel: 411731402026, $282,400 STEEBY, Jeffrey R. et al, American Internet Mortgage, Parcel: 411425480044, $427,000 HOLT, Steven P. et al, Fifth Third Bank, Parcel: 411518300009, $500,000 TORRENCE, Duane H., Fifth Third Bank, Parcel: 411621301014, $289,00 BRYANT, Michael et al, Independent Bank, Parcel: 412114154017, $280,000 DAILY, Andrew et al, JTB Homes LLC, Parcel: 411425102017, $463,813 YOUNG, Jason B., Greenstone Farm Credit Services, Parcel: 411227300002, $330,160 KOSSEN, Jeremiah J., Lake Michigan Credit Union, Parcel: 412321400013, $484,500 HAMSTRA, Dave et al, Fifth Third Bank, Cascade Twp., $500,000 JANISH, Ronald C., Fifth Third Bank, Parcel: 411909201014, $289,700 SCHIPPER, Nicholas, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Parcel: 411904376013, $360,000

TAYLOR, Thurman et al, Quicken Loans, Parcel: 412208431001, $294,500 HILL, Scott J. et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Parcel: 412116402018, $440,000 WYSONG, Faye et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Parcel: 411116327017, $680,000 WESTVIEW PROPERTIES LLC, Chemical Bank, Parcel: 411728151020, $1,500,000 STEENSMA, Matthew R. et al, Old National Bank, Parcel: 412129400059, $680,000 RESTAURANT HOLDINGS LLC, Mercantile Bank, Parcel: 411734151039, $298,500 GRISWOLD, Thomas H. et al, Mercantile Bank, Parcel: 410901126023, $300,000 CHIODINI, Victor C. et al, Sun West Mortgage Co., Parcel: 411524126001, $392,000 BERNHARDT, Stephen & Jessica Trust, JPMorgan Chase Bank, Parcel: 411413226056, $629,000 HUMPHRIES, Thomas A., Huntington National Bank, Parcel: 411904226028, $1,500,000 GVEC LLC, Consumers Credit Union, Parcel: 411735401007, $1,000,000 BARNETT, Daniel G., Fifth Third Bank, Parcel: 412217310013, $300,953 JOURNEY 7011 PROPERTIES LLC, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Parcel: 411308201034, $312,500 KRAUSE, Lisa L. et al, Bank of America, Parcel: 411036136082, $394,900 HALL, Susan L. et al, Fifth Third Bank, Parcel: 411433151003, $329,400 BOYK, Ryan S. et al, Fuoff Mortgage Co. Inc., Parcel: 411810302011, $330,000 AGIM, Tonna C. et al, Guaranteed Rate, Parcel: 411817253001, $282,054 HARTUNG, Daniel G. et al, Citizens Bank, Parcel: 412316376010, $450,000 ROUSE, Keith A. et al, Quicken Loans, Parcel: 412005100020, $296,400

CO-PARTNERSHIPS FILED

Co-Partnerships filed with the Kent County Clerk

PEONY HOMESTEAD, 9849 Myers Lake NE, Rockford, Julie Post, Clark Post

ASSUMED NAMES FILED

Assumed names filed with the Kent County Clerk ADAM SERVICE COMPANY, 2002 Bayou Court NE, Antonive O’Neal BU MAGAZINE, 927 Lancashire Court SE, Tina R. Gillard CM SERVICES, 710 Seventh St. NW, Christian A. Mewhort DJB CONSTRUCTION, 718 Oakland SW, Delcid J. Hernandez JOE BRUIN ROMAN, 3517 Giddings SE, Joe E. Roman JUDITH FEYEN DESIGN, 1827 Cascade Farms SE, Judith Feyen K.B.MESMAN.PAINTING, MACHINING & FABRICATION, 3767 Horton SE, Curt B. Mesman PAULINE HERNANDEZ, 1927 Burlingame SW, Wyoming, Pauline Hernandez SANROMEDA MUSIC SERVICES, 4500 41st St., Grandville, Troy D. Sanromeda ROSA ALTERATION, 3911 Plainfield NE, Thutrang T. Nguyen S & N RETAIL OUTLET, 28 S. Charles, White Cloud, Steven M. Hickmott WEST MCHIGAN AMERICAN YOUTH FOOTBALL, 5381 Ticonderoga SE, Kentwood, Kevin Scott Y. P. ELITE CONSTRUCTION, 7051 Kelly Lee SW, Byron Center, Nancy Becerra Ruiz

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

Relief initiatives flooded with need for small businesses 7 Continued from page 1 the funds to make micro and small business loans ranging from $5,000 to $250,000 to Michigan’s small businesses in the 77 counties it serves, with an emphasis on women- and minority-owned businesses. “That is our typical loan size range,” said Dennis West, outgoing president of Northern Initiatives who is retiring in June. “We have done them as small as $1,000, $250,000 is the max for Community Advantage, and our average is around $60,000.” Sangalli said Northern Initiatives was blown away by the number of inquiries it received after the loan fund was announced. “Within the first 15 hours of the MEDC (announcement), we received 758 inquiries and requests for $52 million. We stopped taking inquiries for the MSF loan

funds and are sorting through what we have. There is a tremendous amount of need,” she said. Sangalli said all sorts of main street businesses were eligible to apply, including hard-hit inperson businesses such as restaurants, coffee houses, retail and service providers, which were most impacted by COVID-19. Businesses that are approved for a loan can use the funds primarily for working capital, acquiring machinery and equipment, and inventory, according to the MEDC. “The Northern Initiatives program is yet another step we are taking to ensure that businesses impacted by COVID-19 — especially those in geographically disadvantaged areas — receive the support and relief they need to come out on the other side of this crisis successfully,” Burton said. Sangalli said the staff at North-

ern Initiatives is working to quickly select the awardees for the $2 million in loan funding as it waits for disbursement from the MSF. Other opportunities In addition to the loan funding for Northern Initiatives, the MSF Awardee Relief Initiative program was approved April 14 and authorizes emergency relief to businesses and community projects that have previously received grants, loans or other forms of economic assistance from the Michigan Strategic Fund. The program will temporarily allow measures such as extended milestone due dates for up to a year, providing up to a year of deferred payments on financing agreements with MSF and eliminating or reducing job creation requirements with a proportional reduction of the grant award to re-size the project scope.

Lawmakers present less restrictive COVID plan 7 Continued from page 1 During this time lower-exposure risk businesses can operate if they are closed to the public or are open to the public with “extreme social distancing,” such as outdoor recreational activity. Phase 3 would be implemented after cases and deaths fall for 17 out of 21 days and the health care systems are below 50% capacity. During this time, bars and restaurants would be limited to 50% capacity and gatherings of less than 100 individuals would be allowed. Phase 4 will take effect when cases and deaths fall for 19 out of 21 days, health care systems are below 33% capacity and the state is not experiencing a shortage of tests. Bars and restaurants will be allowed to operate at full seating capacity, and gatherings with less than 250 individuals will be permitted during this time. All remaining restrictions on businesses, including entertainment businesses, would be removed during Phase 5 – if there is no active spread for 30 days or a vaccine has been available for the same time period.

Individuals with symptoms of or exposure to COVID-19 still would be requested to self-isolate for 14 days during Phase 5. Shirkey said the proposal may be refined and improved over time with input from the medical community, health care systems and other experts. “We welcome input from the medical community to improve this proposed framework,” Shirkey said. ”We also hope the Senate bipartisan ‘Safe Behaviors for Safe Workplaces’ work group will consider this proposal as they continue to gather information about getting Michiganders safely back to work.” Prior to the introduction of the Open Michigan Safely plan, the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce also published a list of recommendations for “Planning Michigan’s Economic Restart.” Among numerous requests, the chamber requested for Whitmer’s office to better define the metrics for relaxing restrictions based on her “Stay Home, Stay Safe” executive order. “We recognize the first order of business is to mitigate the virus,’ said Andy Johnston, vice president

of government and corporate affairs for the chamber. “There cannot be a choice between protecting life and returning to work. We need both, and a lot of businesses already have taken measures to protect workers.” Additionally, the chamber asked Whitmer to adopt uniform — preferably federal — guidelines for working safely and to develop a matrix to allow for regions of the state where the curve has flattened to reopen based on data. “One of the silver linings in all of this is how strong the West Michigan business community is as far as coming together and stepping up to tackle the challenge,” Johnston said. The Grand Rapids Chamber also recently announced the creation of the Rapid Response Economic Relief Fund to provide short-term, emergency financial relief to small businesses impacted by widespread closures brought on by the COVID-19 outbreak. The fund has raised more than $1 million thus far and seeks to raise $3 million in total. Johnston said the objective of the fund is to close the gaps in federal stimulus spending.

This program would be available to support any MSF program awardee that is negatively financially impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. Applicants will be evaluated with relief prioritized based on suspension of tenant evictions, income loss, credit enhancement needs or restrictions, retooling of facilities to meet emergency needs, job creation issues, job retention issues or other community needs or project delays due to COVID-19. Projects must also suspend owner distributions during the period of relief other than those that cover payroll and taxes. The length of relief will be determined based on the needs of the individual project. The MSF board also authorized approval of awards on a delegated basis, rather than require the vote of the full board, in order to ensure immediate approval to projects during the crisis. The program will be temporary, with plans to sunset after one year and will not involve disbursement of any additional funds to any awardee. For more information on the MSF Awardee Relief Initiative, visit michiganbusiness.org/ about-medc/covid19/msf-awardee-relief-initiative. The board also approved $3 million in Pre-Seed III funds to be

administered by Michigan State University Foundation to better support entrepreneurs and tech startups across Michigan over a one-year period. This funding will support the MSU Foundation in engaging with pre-seed stage companies by providing capital support, coaching, assistance with grant funding and more. The award of this PreSeed Fund is “especially critical right now,” MEDC said, “considering the impact that COVID-19 continues to have on Michigan’s early-stage tech companies.” The fund will be vital in providing the best support possible to early-stage technology companies to help put them on a path to survive the economic crisis and scale accordingly when the outbreak subsides. Other resources for businesses across Michigan to assist them in recovering from economic losses as a result of the COVID-19 virus can be found online at michiganbusiness.org/covid19. The site includes resources offered by the U.S. Small Business Administration including emergency loans, the Pure Michigan Business Connect virtual procurement and donation platform, support services offered through the Small Business Development Center and more.

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14 GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL APRIL 27, 2020

Report paints dire picture of COVID-19 impacts 7 Continued from page 2 opment and e-commerce training for small businesses could be a needed area of investment for the federal government to consider as part of future aid packages. Regarding the aid piece, Wagner said he believes the number of small businesses in danger of closing will hold steady according to the report’s projections of 7.5 million as long as there are gaps and shortfalls in federal aid during the worst financial crisis this nation has seen since the Great Depression. Recent news reports across the U.S. have detailed the challenges businesses are encountering when applying for assistance. One such challenge, Wagner said, is that a loophole in the federal stimulus legislation allowed large businesses to swoop in and capture funds from the Paycheck Protection Program if they had individual locations with fewer than 500 employees. This meant many giant restaurant chains were able to claim funds that were desperately needed by mom-and-pop operations. Grand Rapids-based Meritage Hospitality Group — which has a portfolio of 337 restaurants and over 11,000 employees in 16 states — was one such example. The company, which makes most of its revenue as a Wendy’s franchiser, reported April 16 it was approved by the SBA for a $29.1 million loan under the PPP. A statement from Meritage CEO Robert Schermer revealed the company is doing just fine, thanks to the PPP loan and the nature of its business model. “Our geographical footprint and drive-thru operations have allowed

us to continue serving the changing needs of guests as people adapt to local government orders,” he said. “We are grateful to our employees, delivery drivers and supply-chain operators for continuing to deliver essential restaurant food items.” Patrice Frey, president and CEO of Main Street America, said the MSA survey report confirms what was already known: that small operators that aren’t doing fine need more aid. “We remain deeply concerned that many of our nation’s smallest businesses are the most vulnerable to revenue disruption caused by the pandemic, and these businesses are the least able to obtain funds absent a well-developed relationship with an existing lender and/or technical assistance in securing funds,” she said. “Congress must ensure there are

sufficient funds to support all small businesses in need, particularly those with under 20 employees.” The U.S. House of Representatives also passed an additional $484 billion stimulus package of new pandemic relief funds, including $320 billion to replenish the PPP, on Thursday, April 23. The House and the Senate were locked in debate over follow-up legislation that will allocate even more aid dollars at press time. As well as advocating for this additional aid, the MSA report also called on Congress to fund the SBA and partner organizations like local Main Street programs, chambers of commerce and Small Business Development Centers to expand technical assistance to small businesses. These local economic development organizations act as connectors and educators for the nation’s

smallest employers and can help ensure stimulus dollars reach these businesses, according to MSA. “Most small businesses, the ones that really need the help the most, don’t have large accounting staff and attorneys and everyone else to help them through this process,” Wagner said. “And so resources like main streets, chamber of commerce, local economic development corporations — these are all really important connectors for small businesses to help walk them through the process, help them find out where there are resources and who to talk with about that.” Similarly, state and local governments must continue to prioritize and fund these essential downtown and citywide small business support organizations, MSA said, as these programs will help expedite the recovery process once the pan-

demic subsides. Wagner added that banks across the United States have faced difficulty in disbursing federal stimulus funding to small businesses, and he believes that could be fixed by community banks, community development financial institutions (CDFIs) and fin-tech companies such as Square and Quicken being enlisted to help with disbursement. Nationally and locally mapped survey data is available at bit.ly/ MSAsurveymaps, although communities in West Michigan where five or fewer small businesses answered the survey were included in the overall results but not the map. The full report is available at bit. ly/MSA-COVID-19-report. Wagner said MSA intends to use the same pool of respondents to create and distribute follow-up surveys as more aid becomes available.

How to guide your sales force through difficult times It’s like a grapevine. New growth won’t happen until you prune the old. Your marginal performers drag the whole enterprise down. The crisis we are experiencing right now will make their lack of competency or performance even more visible and painful. Now is the time to make those changes that you have been thinking about.

good as you can be, and every one of your salespeople could be better. At the same time, my personal experience indicates that only about 20% of B2B salespeople have ever been taught the best practices of their profession. A little bit of education can have a huge payback just down the road a bit. Bring them to a higher level of performance now, when there is time available, and they are amenable to learning and change.

Improve the competency of your sales team One of the things I have always liked about sales is this: You are never as

Compensation plans If you make the changes I recommend, then it is entirely possible that your salespeople will be doing

7 Continued from page 10

their jobs somewhat differently after the crisis. What you expect of them may change. It’s time to take a hard look at your sales compensation plan and consider revising it to meet the new conditions. Again, from my personal experience, most sales compensation plans are vestiges of years gone by, designed to incent behavior that is no longer at the crosshairs of the bull’s eye. If you restructure your account priorities, prune your salesforce, improve their competencies and revise your sales compensation plan, you will be prepared to increase market share and dramatically im-

prove sales on the other side of this crisis. Grand Rapids-based Dave Kahle is one of the world’s leading sales authorities. He’s written 12 books, presented in 47 states and 11 countries, and has helped enrich tens of thousands of salespeople and transform hundreds of sales organizations. His book, “How to Sell Anything to Anyone Anytime,” has been recognized by three international entities as “one of the five best English language business books.” Check out his latest book, “The Good Book on Business.” This article originally appeared at davekahle.com

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Street Talk APRIL 27, 2020 GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL 15

Call it like you see it Cover up. BUSINESS JOURNAL STAFF

r. Jihad Mustapha has a problem with calling dead health care workers heroes instead of what he believes they truly are — victims of inaction. The co-founder and CEO of Advanced Cardiac and Vascular Centers for Amputation and Prevention in Grand Rapids was featured in a video from Simple Shield, where he expressed resentment for calling health care workers heroes. “Being in the intensive care units, it just brings you that much closer to the reality of how fragile we humans can be,” Mustapha said. Mustapha argued the use of the word “hero” is propaganda to lessen the impact of workers dying because of COVID-19, rather than chasing the root cause, which he said is inaction in the face of the virus. “We can’t justify the deaths of these doctors and nurses by saying, ‘they’re heroes,’” Mustapha said. “Please don’t justify our death and prepare us by saying, ‘If you die, you’re going to be a hero.’ We don’t want the recognition. We just want the support, so we can save lives.” In the video, Mustapha didn’t lay the blame on anyone specifically; rather, he said health care workers most often die because they don’t have enough protective gear. “Every time someone dies, I want people to think, ‘somebody

screwed up,’” Mustapha said. “They did not protect this doctor or this nurse, and they died. They’re not heroes. I call them victims.” Mustapha said he’d had enough when his friend, an ER doctor in New Jersey, succumbed to the virus, but what hit him the hardest was how casually people dismissed his death. “No one talked about it. It wasn’t in the news. It wasn’t anywhere,” Mustapha said. “The guy just vanished. They moved him out of the way, put somebody in his place and moved on. We can’t make that acceptable.” The Business Journal previously covered ACV’s efforts to secure enough PPE, not only for its own staff, but for hospitals in the area. ACV is donating almost 5,000 respirator masks to local hospitals, as well as providing more than 500 masks to patients as personal protection equipment to prevent the spread of COVID-19. After securing enough for its own staff of 75, ACV donated remaining masks to Mercy Health St. Mary’s, Metro Health-University of Michigan Health, Forest View Hospital, Spectrum Health Hospitals and Spectrum Health Rehabilitation. Advice to grads The nearly 4 million students estimated to graduate with a degree this year, according to EducationData.org, expected to enter into one of the tightest labor markets

in recent history, but the onset of the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent statewide shutdowns costing millions of jobs have sent the country into a likely recession. College grads could fare well in this environment if they have patience and are able to adapt to the needs of employers, according to one workplace authority. “Companies are dealing with a lot of unknowns at the moment. Many will report they are hiring one day and the next, those plans go out the window. College grads who can adapt to this uncertainty and offer themselves as a solution could do very well right now,” said Andrew Challenger, SVP of global outplacement and executive coaching firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. In fact, 61% of companies are not planning to revoke any job offers. However, that number is down from 63% just a week earlier, and another 23% are considering revoking these offers. This is according to ongoing polling from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). Their survey, conducted among 284 employers with results published April 17, also found that only a small number of respondents said they were revoking offers, suggesting companies are grappling with a lot of uncertainty about how they will proceed going forward. Meanwhile, in a recent Challenger survey conducted among 254 companies at the end of

March, 37% of respondents reported they had instituted a hiring freeze. “Companies are planning to eventually reopen their worksites and are creating policies to keep their workers safe, such as providing or allowing masks, taking temperatures at the door or limiting the number of staff in the office at any given time. Determining what to do about new, entry-level hires is a different animal,” Challenger said. “In many ways, in a time when the ability to work virtually and familiarity with the technological tools that allow this are valuable skills, new college graduates are attractive prospects to many organizations.” The majority of companies report despite the pandemic, they are still hiring. In the Challenger survey, 47% of companies responded they are hiring right now, and another 10% are hiring for critical positions. The vast majority (80%) of respondents are hiring by phone or video conferencing apps. “College grads with in-demand skills, particularly in biosciences, health care and engineering, will find job prospects more easily, especially as many companies in the U.S. work to provide medical equipment, testing and treatment to COVID patients,” Challenger said. “While those fields tend to always be in demand, companies need people with a background in business as they navigate completely novel business environments, technical writers and communicators to help convey information to the workforce about new virus-related procedures, data scientists and researchers to help develop growth opportunities, and IT professionals to implement virtual and remote business and work options.” Challenger offered the follow-

ing tips for college grads: •Start your job search immediately. •Create a list of accomplishments to discuss with contacts. •Create and build relationships right now. •Start or continue doing volunteer work and include it in your resume. •Look for contract work opportunities related to your degree. •Keep your options open. •Don’t give up. Mask makers Thanks to ongoing donations of handmade face masks from people throughout West Michigan, Spectrum Health will begin distributing the masks to those in the community who most need them. The decision comes in the wake of a CDC recommendation that everyone wear a reusable mask when leaving their home as a way to slow the spread of COVID-19. “Because people in the community have been so generous with their time and talents, we have collected more than 6,000 masks,” said Kurt Knoth, vice president of supply chain, Spectrum Health. “We encourage those who are able, to please continue making and donating masks. This will help us to reduce the community spread of COVID-19 by providing the reusable masks to the people within our communities in greatest need.” Long-term care facilities, home health workers and nonprofit organizations aligned with Spectrum Health are among the groups initially identified to receive masks, based on supply and demand. Spectrum Health will collect the homemade masks at its designated drop-off sites and expresses its thanks to those who have stepped up to create them. Organizations interested in receiving a supply of masks should email a request to covid19supplies@spectrumhealth.org.

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