Grand Rapids Business Journal 06.15.20 by Grand Rapids Business Journal

The Business Newspaper of Metro Grand Rapids, Holland, Muskegon & West Michigan

LOCAL

HEROES, THANK YOU!

Inside Track ...... 12 Guest Columns.. 14 Gift of slow times Change-Ups ...... 16 Calendar ........... 16 Public Record .... 17 Street Talk ...... 18

Local HEROES, thank you. The COVID-19 pandemic has ravaged our region, and Grand Rapidians are rising to the challenge in remarkable ways â&#x20AC;&#x201D; from heroic front-line health care workers to organizations and individuals who have sprung into action to help those in need. That is why we chose this issue of the Grand Rapids Business Journal to feature several stories honoring those people, businesses and organizations that have demonstrated how difficult times truly do bring out the Best of GRAND RAPIDS.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: FOUNDERS BREWING COMPANY LEVEL ONE BANK WEST MICHIGAN RIDESHARE AQUINAS COLLEGE LACKS ENTERPRISES COMMERCE BANK DREW COOPER & ANDING HNI MICHIGAN

CUSTER offering ‘workplace re-engagement’ services. PAGE 3

JUNE 15, 2020 VOL. 38, NO. 21

The Business Newspaper of Metro Grand Rapids, Holland, Muskegon & West Michigan

THIS WEEK

TELLIER HAS LOFTY EXPECTATIONS JetCo Federal executive isn’t president of the United States — yet — but she’s setting an ambitious course. Page 10

Airport struggles with passenger counts Decrease in travelers has put some improvement projects on hold. Danielle Nelson

dnelson@grbj.com

Decision time Small businesses have options other than bankruptcy. PAGE 2

Fall outlook West Michigan colleges prepare in-person and online plans for next semester. PAGE 3

CHANGE OF PACE CWD’s short-term executive suites prove popular downtown. Page 14

THE LIST

The area’s top downtown residential buildings. Page 16

It may take years for Gerald R. Ford International Airport to return to its glory days. On the heels of seven consecutive years of record growth, COVID-19 knocked the state’s second-largest airport for a loop this year. Tory Richardson, president and CEO of GFIA, said rock bottom occurred in mid-April, when only essential travel was allowed, and airport traffic dropped by more than 96%. Since then, passenger travel has barely increased. Richardson said in the beginning of May,

New features like hand-sanitizing stations and plexiglass partitions, as well as social distancing guidelines, will greet passengers returning to Gerald R. Ford International Airport. Courtesy Gerald R. Ford Airport

when different stages of the state’s stay-at-home order were being lifted, travel increased from 4% to

7% of “normal” numbers. He said June 4 was the best day for travel since March when approximately

1,400 passengers used the airport. Pre-pandemic, those numbers were more than 7,000 passengers daily. “We look at every positive sign as a little bit of a success,” he said. “We are proud when we see these small improvements, but it is still just a fraction of where we were a year ago.” Richardson said he is unsure when Ford Airport will reach the levels of a year ago, and much of that growth will be dependent on the number of flights leaving the airport. “We have to rely on the airlines because they have the best visibility as to who is looking to take flights — those who are going on the reservation sites and playing around with different cities and considering different cities and those who are converting those searches to actually purchasing tickets,” he said. “So, we rely on CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

City implementing ‘social zones’ Large public spaces to be available for socially distanced outdoor seating; private property permits also available. Rachel Watson

rwatson@grbj.com

If they haven’t already, Grand Rapids residents soon may see temporary outdoor dining and retail plazas on public property popping up around town, thanks to a resolution the city is implementing. The Grand Rapids City Commission passed a resolution May 21 to establish “COVID-19 Recovery” as a special event from June 1 to Nov. 30, with the purpose of creating “social zones” in various neighborhoods to allow expanded seating capacity for patrons of restaurants and bars, as well as ad-

ditional space for retailers to sell their wares. Social zones were deemed necessary given the state’s new social distancing requirements for restaurants and retailers due to COVID-19. Similar multi-business zones have been established in Florida, Ohio, Washington state, Oregon and the Czech Republic that have informed Grand Rapids’ planning over the past several weeks. Since the resolution passed, the city has been partnering with Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. (DGRI), the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce, neighborhood business associations and other groups to iron out the details and approve applications. While the city already had zoning in place that allows sidewalk seating (including parklets) in front of restaurants that have sidewalks — which can be applied for on the city’s website under CONTINUED ON PAGE 21

The closure of half a street is among four options available in the city’s new social zones on public property for bars, restaurants and retailers. Rendering Courtesy city of Grand Rapids

VETERAN-OWNED health care company wins $43M federal contract.

Inside Track ..... 10 Guest Columns..20 Leading after COVID Change-Ups ..... 22 Calendar .......... 22 Public Record ... 23 Street Talk ...... 24

PAGE 3

GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL

JUNE 15, 2020

Struggling small businesses have legal options Attorney says companies on the brink of bankruptcy can explore sale leaseback and receivership programs. Danielle Nelson

dnelson@grbj.com

In the height of economic turmoil, business owners have to

make difficult decisions about their future. Businesses such as J.C. Penney, Hertz, Gold’s Gym and J Crew, among others, all have made the decision to file for bankruptcy amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced nonessential workers to stay home. Many of those stores have locations in West Michigan. The Business Journal reported that according to J.C. Penney’s location finder, the company has locations in Woodland Mall in Kentwood, Rivertown Crossing in

Grandville, Greenville West Mall, The Lakes Mall in Muskegon and Crossroads Mall in Portage. Decisions on store closings have not been made public. While those large businesses all have made headlines, there are many small businesses that have fallen victim to the pandemic, as well. Brendan Best is a partner and co-leader of Varnum’s banking, restructuring and finance practice team. His practice focuses on Chapter 11 restructurings, out-of-court workouts and insolvency-related transactions and

litigation. He said retail, restaurants and specialty food locations like coffee shops, ice cream shops and movie theaters have especially been impacted by COVID-19 and many struggling businesses are on the brink of closing and are seeking advice. Amendments were made to the bankruptcy code during the crisis. Under the revised bankruptcy code, a small business constitutes a business that has up to $7.5 million in debt, Best said. “Bankruptcy lawyers are get-

Welcome Back, West Michigan!

The entire NAI Wisinski of West Michigan team is excited to welcome back the recently re-opened businesses. Although there is still plenty of uncertainty in our community and beyond, our team remains optimistic, committed and focused on doing our part to serve you and answer any questions you may have. We look forward to assisting you with your unique commercial real estate needs.

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Kalamazoo Office 269 353 0311 Retail

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ting a lot of calls from companies that want to talk about the situation they are facing and what are their options and how it will affect them personally,” he said. “We are busy having those conversations with small business owners. Without this pandemic, we would not have these conversations. (The conversations) would be with businesses that are struggling and weren’t profitable, but they would never talk about never reopening again and shutting down. We are having a lot of those conversations in West Michigan, no different than other places in the country. The new companies that I talk to in a week or a month that have (financial) issues that they want to talk about have at least tripled.” Businesses also seek advice about the Paycheck Protection Program that is available for small businesses through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. “The PPP loans are hugely helping a lot of businesses right now,” he said. “Without the PPP loans, you would have a lot of businesses that would be completely closed by now and never reopened by now. If you are almost out of money and you get a $2 million PPP loan, which you hope will be a grant so you don’t have to repay, that is a huge help. Without that there would be no hope. However, when the money runs out, which it will for some of these businesses that weren’t able to stabilize and return to the level of sales and profitability they were before, what happens then? We might need the government to do another round of PPP funding to help as many small businesses stay open as much as possible and help those businesses keep as many jobs as they can.” Prior to COVID, Best said he would talk to businesses about profitability regarding new products or new locations that were putting a strain on revenue. In the daunting new reality, Best said most small businesses cannot afford to file for bankruptcy, so they have to seek other options to try and stay afloat. He said there are several options for small businesses that can prevent them from closing permanently. He said small business owners can find new sources of cash either from new lenders or through selling some of their assets, like real estate, that they don’t need to function. If a small business operates out of a building and owns valuable real estate, one option could be a sale leaseback transaction. “They can sell the real estate to a buyer and get some much-needed capital, and the buyer would agree to a long-term lease with their company,” he said. “They can continue to operate, continue to run their business, (but) they don’t own the property anymore. But they have a long-term lease and they’ve monetized an asset that they didn’t need to hold on to. Companies are going to have to be creative and look for opportunities to be able to run their business going forward.” While the federal government CONTINUED ON PAGE 19

GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL

JUNE 15, 2020

Custer offering ‘workplace re-engagement’ services Colleges

prepare for in-person classes

Furniture dealer and space designer creates six-part plan for helping clients get back to work safely. Rachel Watson

Most also will be offering a combination of online only and hybrid classes this fall.

rwatson@grbj.com

Custer Inc. is offering an array of COVID-19 response services to help employers make shortand long-term physical and “culture-shifting” changes in the workplace. The Grand Rapids-based Steelcase dealer and workplace design firm said it worked to create a “workplace re-engagement plan” in April and May to help clients address health and safety concerns and changes needed in the workplace due to the coronavirus pandemic. In partnership with its affiliated/subsidiary companies Renegade, Century Professional Flooring & Cleaning and CS Erickson, Custer developed a six-component services package it is now providing to businesses of any size, a la carte. The six components include Renegade’s privacy and safety solutions, including design and build of “uniquely tailored” solutions that fit into an existing workstation layout, such as screens and protective barriers; Century’s sanitation and disinfection services, including daily fogging using EPA-approved cleaning agents; work-fromhome Steelcase furniture packages; CS Erickson’s hardware

Danielle Nelson

dnelson@grbj.com

A technician from Custer’s partner/subsidiary company Century uses EPA-approved disinfecting cleaners through a process called “fogging” to get the most effective results in protecting employees against the COVID-19 virus. Courtesy Custer

and software technology solutions to support virtual collaborative work; space planning consultation and adjustment services by Custer designers; and change management guidance from Custer’s Prosci-certified experts to help organizations successfully adopt new protocols and adjust to new ways of being. Custer offers a free, one-hour consultation and assessment for those looking to utilize the services. Todd Custer, CEO of Custer

Inc., founded in 1981, said the six-part response plan was created keeping in mind Custer’s history over the past decade of expanding beyond selling furniture into providing “holistic” space solutions. “We’re trying to do the same with COVID-19 response services, to say, ‘How can we be a strategic partner and a community resource to all our clients, all our customers, everyone we’ve done business with, but also to others we haven’t done business

with?’” Custer said. “How can we be that trusted, authoritative voice in the market because we’ve been doing this for so long and have so much experience, how can we take everything that’s out there — from real estate firms, construction firms, architects, designers, the World Health Organization, the CDC, all of this stuff that’s out there — how can we take all that and consolidate it and make it useful CONTINUED ON PAGE 19

Veteran-owned health care company wins $43M federal contract Alliant Healthcare and partner will provide federal facilities with medical products. Ehren Wynder

ewynder@grbj.com

While many companies have suffered as a result of COVID-19, the federal government still is in need of medical supplies, and Alliant Healthcare has stepped up to fill the need. Alliant Healthcare, based in Grand Rapids, recently was awarded a Laboratory ECAT contract by the Defense Logistics Agency valued at $43,750,000. The value of the contract will last over five years. Per the contract, Alliant Healthcare will partner with Olympus Life Sciences to provide federal health facilities and veterans with a singular source for Olympus’s medical laboratory and research products like microscopes, surgical supplies, cardiovascular products, as well as other laboratory products. “We are excited to expand our partnership with Alliant Healthcare to ensure that veterans and

federal health facilities have access to state-of-the-art Olympus products via the ECAT contract,” said Jeff Bright, national director of sales at Olympus Life Sciences. ECAT was developed to streamline business practices and expand procurement options for the federal government. ECAT is largely used by Department of Defense customers including the Army, Navy, Air Force, etc. In 2018, the VA health care system began using ECAT as well. The program is a complementary acquisition strategy allowing government customers to browse, compare and order a wide range of products. Alliant Healthcare was founded in 2002 and serves as a single point for government sales, procurement and acquisition of medical devices. “It’s rather complicated for sales reps to sell very important medical products in government, Albery so they tend to avoid it,” said Eric Albery, president of Alliant Healthcare. “We help provide the

guidance and the know-how to navigate the world of government sales.” There are multiple channels for government entities to purchase products on the open market, but because it involves tax dollars, there is a lot of red tape to cut through, Albery said. Because vetting for an ECAT contract also is very extensive — Alliant took well over a year to win the contract — it eliminates much of the complex vetting required by the government. “This contract works on kind of a federal ecommerce (platform), like an Amazon for the government,” Albery said. The initial value of the contract was based on the value of Olympus’s products, Albery said. Alliant also is looking at putting other companies’ products on the contract.

“We could relatively easily add them on, and that would be good to expand on our business over the next five years as well,” Albery said. Alliant Healthcare is veteran owned and operated, employs about 25 individuals and completes approximately $100 million in top-line sales with the federal government each year. “This contract highlights our company’s ability and determination to supply our country’s defenders with products that help save lives and advance medical research initiatives,” said Bob Taylor, Air Force veteran and owner and The contract CEO of Alliant Healthcare. “We will provide microscopes, are excited to further engage surgical with our federal supplies and government cusother lab tomers to better products. serve our veterCourtesy ans around the Alliant world.” Healthcare

As Michigan reopens during the pandemic, its colleges and universities are taking precautions to ensure the health and safety of students, faculty and staff for the fall 2020 semester. Schools such as Grand Rapids Community College, Muskegon Community College, Davenport University, Calvin University, Hope College, Aquinas College and Grand Valley State University all have established recommendations and accommodation plans for the fall semester. Grand Rapids Community College will begin its fall semester on Aug. 31. The community college will offer a mixture of on-campus, online and hybrid courses. “The pandemic will change many of the ways we do things, but it will not change GRCC playing an essential role in West Michigan’s recovery,” said Bill Pink, president of GRCC. “We embrace our mission, and we won’t compromise on the safety and wellness of our students, faculty and staff.” GRCC established a task force headed by Provost Brian Knetl and Lisa Freiburger, vice president for finance and administration, and they have developed a four-phase strategy to gradually and safely reopen the campus. The task force is in consultation with campus leaders to determine which classes are preferable for on-campus learning and how the school can incorporate social distancing, deep cleaning and other measures effective in slowing the spread of the virus. The fall semester at Muskegon Community College will begin on Aug. 26. Kelley Conrad, vice president for academic affairs at MCC, said they are planning to have some face-to-face classes while taking measures to keep students and faculty safe through social distancing, frequent and comprehensive cleaning of buildings and rooms, signage to remind people to not enter the buildings if they are sick, appropriate PPE and screening. “We are preparing for more online courses by training faculty who do not have experience or training in teaching online, converting more classes to an online format and offering more options for how a course is delivered online: in an asynchronous format; online in a synchronous format with scheduled meeting times; CONTINUED ON PAGE 23

GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL

JUNE 15, 2020

TO THe healthcare workers, truck drivers, GROCERY STORe employees, CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES, AND ALL OTHER ESSENTIAL WORKERS:

THANK YOU.

FOREVER GRATEFUL FOR THE SACRIFICES AND SELFLESSNESS OF OUR LOCAL HEROES

THANK YOU DREW COOPER & ANDING Lawyers & Counselors www.dca-lawyers.com ▪ (616) 454-8300

County identiﬁes needs for CARES funding Grant for more than $114M will be disbursed among government units, community partners and small businesses.

$433,581 of the unallocated dollars reserved for a possible COVID second wave. The process for allocation involved a review of internal expenses and available funds with the county. Additionally, community presentations were given to the subcommittee through the month of May, involving a community homeless needs report from the Heart of West Michigan Ehren Wynder United Way, local business imewynder@grbj.com pact report from the Grand RapThe Kent County COVID Relief ids Chamber of Commerce and Subcommittee earlier this month an MEDC small business grant drafted a report to the board of report from The Right Place. “We’ve had presentations commissioners detailing its recommended guidelines for the al- from the African American community … the Hispanic commulocation of CARES dollars. Kent County was awarded a nity presented, and we continue grant, as part of the Coronavi- to see letters from the communirus Aid, Relief, and Economic ty,” Britt said. The subcommittee was Security (CARES) Act, of $114.6 million on April 24. The grant charged with identifying availdollars presented the county an able funding sources and the opportunity to cover not only allowable uses of each fund and to recommend county costs into the board of curred due to “We have identified commissioners this pandemic, for but also to as- certain dollars for PPE, guidelines disbursement of sist local units we also approved CARES fundof government, dollars for the home- the ing. community partless community — “We have ners and local small businesses those who were lodged identified certain dollars for PPE, that experienced in hotels — that was we also approved unexpected costs due to COVID-19. done a couple weeks dollars for the comKent County ago now. We worked homeless munity — those Board of Comout a quick arrange- who were lodged missioners Chair Mandy Bolter ment with the chamber in hotels — that done a couthen proposed … and now we have a was ple weeks ago county admingreat partner to work now,” Britt said. istration and a subcommittee with us on allocating “We worked out a quick arrangeof the board of commissioners dollars to the business ment with the chamber … and develop a transcommunity.” now we have a parent strategreat partner to gy to define the Wayman Britt work with us on county’s processallocating dollars es and guidance for allocation and distribution of to the business community.” Britt added the county will these funds. “We have been meeting ac- contract a local firm that undercording to (Gov. Gretchen) Whit- stands federal dollars to provide mer’s executive orders,” said auditing services. The timeline for the subcomCounty Administrator Wayman Britt. “We have made it available mittee is: funds to cover and transparent. We have had •Allocate one, two, three … 10 meetings re- COVID-19 costs already incurred by the county and its estimate of lated to COVID.” Britt said the subcommit- future eligible costs (done). tee held 10 meetings related to •Recommend guidelines for disCOVID prior to the drafting of persing funds to local units of government/municipalities to the report. According to county docu- recover their COVID-19 emerments, the preliminary allocation gency-related costs (done). of CARES Act funding includes •No later than July 20, recom$35 million in county expenses, mend guidelines for fund diswhich includes costs for testing, bursement beyond local/municicontact tracing, emergency op- pal costs (guidance of continued erations center costs and return- need of the community and usto-work PPE for small business- age for remaining funds under federal guidelines). es. An additional $59.2 million •No later than Dec. 14, recwas allocated for community ommend disbursement of any investment, which includes oth- and all remaining funds that er business assistance efforts, may have been held back, rent and eviction assistance to to ensure all possible and prevent homelessness, mental allowable uses and needs have health and child care assistance been met. Funds still can be allocated for vulnerable populations and until Dec. 30, so expected costs more. Of the total $114.6 million and estimates for anticipatgrant, $20,433,581 remains un- ed COVID-related issues can allocated by the county. The be considered and distributed preliminary allocation includes through the end of the year.

JUNE 15, 2020

GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL

B A

LOCAL

HEROES, THANK YOU!

F AS WE SLOWLY emerge from the COVID-19 crisis, now is a good time to say thanks to some of the people who helped us through the pandemic. In addition to photos of the everyday “heroes” on this page, the ensuing page features a few heartwarming stories of businesses and individuals who did their part during the lockdown.

A /// CHRIS ANDRUS, a brewery owner. Chris owns the Mitten Brewing Company. He has been working in partnerhip with Long Road Distillery to make hand sanitizer, while operating a carry-out business for food. B /// COURTNEY ALLEN, a grocery worker. Courty wakes up at 4 a.m. to work at Meijer. She is the frontline. C /// DR. ALLISON LONG AND DR. DANIEL MCGEE, pediatric emergency physician and hospitalist. Dr. Long and Dr. McGee care for some of West Michigan’s youngest patients when they get sick, at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. D /// JENNA ARCIDIACONO, a restaurant owner and chef. Jenna owns and is the head chef at Amore Trattoria Italiana and has been working tirelessly to keep our frontline community fed. E /// JOHN STACK, a UPS driver. John works for UPS, and makes sure our packages arrive safely. F /// JACKIE VELASCO, a senior homecare specialist. Jackie tends to our senior community, at Gauthier Family Homecare, to ensure they have everything they need within their homes. G /// OFFICER JOSE DOUGLAS, a police officer. Officer Jose Douglas works every day to keep our community safe. H /// KEVIN DOYLE, a downtown Grand Rapids Inc. ambassador. Kevin works as an operations supervisor, to keep downtown Grand Rapids safe and clean.

Photos by Mia Jankowiak | Mia Murray Photography

GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL

JUNE 15, 2020

Student sews masks for homeless Danielle Nelson

dnelson@grbj.com

A student from Calvin University used her skills to help others during the pandemic. With many stores closed due to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s stay-home order issued in midMarch, sophomore Freshta Tori Jan opened an online store to sell masks on April 8. She used clothes she intended to donate to Goodwill to sew masks for the homeless. “I hear that the homeless have been hit the hardest by COVID-19,” she said. “That

touched my heart, and I couldn’t imagine what they could be going through.” C u st o m e r s could either purchase the masks for themselves, for their family or friends, or they could make Tori Jan purchases for the homeless, and Tori Jan would then deliver them downtown. She learned how to sew while in her native homeland of Af-

ghanistan, where she said her family faced injustices daily — her parents were tortured and some of her close friends were killed. “I remember growing up back home, all girls were required to learn how to sew,” Tori Jan said. “(So, I wondered,) ‘Why not use my basic skills to help make masks for the homeless?’” Tori Jan said the proceeds from the masks sold at her online store helped fund supplies to make more masks and also went toward feeding the homeless. To learn more about Tori Jan’s story and mission, visit sew trueproducts.com.

Grand Rapids Garage Bar & Grill launched an initiative to serve 100 free takeout meals per day. Courtesy Garage Bar

RESTAURANT PROVIDES 6,000 FREE MEALS Rachel Watson

rwatson@grbj.com

Grand Rapids native Grace Biermacher, left, donated plasma after beating COVID-19. Courtesy Versiti Blood Center of Michigan

A downtown bar and restaurant offered free food to downsized workers, giving away approximately 6,000 meals over a twomonth period ending May 28. Grand Rapids Garage Bar & Grill owners Max Benedict, Dave Levitt and Brad Rosely, as well as Kevin Farhat, who is co-owner-operator, launched an initiative called Garage Bar Cares that offered 100 free takeout meals per day at the restaurant and bar at 819 Ottawa Ave. NW in the Monroe North Business District. The owners of Garage Bar said they hoped the program would inspire others to find ways to help those in need during the health crisis. “We’re all in this together, so we all should find ways to help our friends and neighbors,” Far-

hat said. “For Garage Bar, we felt that cooking up some of our homemade items and giving away for free is our way of pitching in.” The first 100 people to call the location starting at 10 a.m. on any given day submitted their order for a free meal to be picked up during operating hours. Anyone who had been recently downsized or temporarily laid off from their job was eligible, and all of it was based on the honor system. Guests were able to order any item off the menu for each person in their household, up to four people. Owners asked that guests limit their order to once per day. Sponsors for the initiative included Mercantile Bank, Pioneer Construction, Car City, Custer Office/Century Flooring, EatGR, Leadco and an anonymous family.

Plasma donations aid others

Partners’ website offers resources

Ehren Wynder

rwatson@grbj.com

ewynder@grbj.com

As people started to recover from COVID-19 in West Michigan, Versiti Blood Center of Michigan used the opportunity to collect plasma from those infected to help treat others diagnosed with the virus. Grand Rapids native Grace Biermacher donated plasma at Versiti Blood Center of Michigan’s Fuller Avenue donor center in early April. Biermacher is a recovered COVID-19 patient, diagnosed with the virus and now declared virus-free. Her antibody-rich plasma was able to be transfused to up to three COVID-19 seriously ill patients being treated at Michigan hospitals to aid in their recovery. The blood-related treatment, approved by the FDA as an emergency investigational new drug, offered hope to the thousands of patients who were diagnosed. The plasma treatment was used by hospitals for the most severely affected patients. Versiti worked with its partner hospitals to identify recovered patients. As per guide-

lines, hospitals had to request donations,” Waxman said. “They FDA approval and work within (were) anxious to begin the prothe emergency investigational gram.” The plasma treatment transnew drug guidelines, or other approved procedures, to treat fers antibodies the recovered COVID-19 patients with plasma. patient created into critically ill Donors were referred to Versiti patients currently receiving care. through hospitals or the recov- Because of the investigational nature of this treatment, it is ered patients’ physicians. Dr. Dan A. Waxman, vice difficult to know just how many president of transfusion medi- plasma infusions a COVID-19 patient may recine for Versiti, quire, Waxman said potential “Many of our added. donors first had hospital partners Plasma doto prove they had contract- have already requested nations, which take 30 to 40 ed COVID-19 the donations. They minutes, are bethrough a posi(were) anxious to ing collected at tive lab test reVersiti donor sult and then had begin the program.” centers in Michto have a negative igan, Indiana, Iltest result 14 days Dan A. Waxman linois, Ohio and after recovering Wisconsin. The from symptoms. “It’s a very collaborative effort donation process is the same as with our hospital partners who with other plasma donations and will be working to identify and is performed using an apheresis machine, which separates blood verify donors,” Waxman said. The donated plasma from re- components. Though blood group AB is covered COVID-19 patients is provided directly to the hospitals the universal plasma donor, any blood type donor who recovered with whom Versiti is partnering. “Many of our hospital part- from the virus is eligible to doners have already requested the nate as part of the program.

Rachel Watson

A group of community partner organizations launched an interactive website to connect Kent County residents with food sources and other resources during the pandemic. Helpkent.org, which launched on March 30, offers a list and interactive map of every local organization offering food, shelter, safety and health services to Kent County residents whose livelihoods have been adversely affected by COVID-19 measures. The project is led by Heart of West Michigan United Way 211 in partnership with Ama International, Projects for Purpose, I Site Consulting Group, Mallowfields LLC, Kent County Essential Needs Task Force and other community organizations. The COVID-19 “Stay Home, Stay Safe” executive order issued by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in March resulted in many nonessential employees being terminated or put on leave, which spurred the creation of this resource. “People in West Michigan are wondering how they will pay

their bills and put food on the table,” the partners behind help kent.org said in a joint statement. “While many organizations have stepped up to provide assistance, many people still do not know where to turn locally for assistance to find food, shelter and safety. “United in purpose, local organizations have partnered with Heart of West Michigan United Way 211 to answer the question, ‘Where do I get food in Kent County?’” The website includes an interactive map and a simple, threestep process: •Go to Helpkent.org. •Click Kent County Food Access Sites. •Click your location on the map and view details of available food resources, including name of organization, site type (school, church, etc.), hours of operation, and more. Service organizations that already were reporting resources to 211, Access of West Michigan or other coordinating agencies were asked to continue doing so, and helpkent.org worked to incorporate any updates as quickly as possible.

GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL

JUNE 15, 2020

TO ALL THOSE WHO REPORTED TO THE FRONT LINES TO ALL THOSE WHO PERFORMED ACTS OF HEROISM TO ALL THOSE WHO LEFT THEIR LOVED ONES TO CARE FOR OURS

THANK YOU OUR COMMUNITY OF SAINTS IS GRATEFUL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, YOUR CARE AND YOUR COMPASSION.

aquinas.edu

You are more than "essential." You are heroes. Many dedicated workers continue to show up each day to provide critical human services.

West Michigan Rideshare at The Rapid has remained an advocate for our frontline workers, committed to providing a transportation option for our healthcare, government and manufacturing partners during this time of crisis. We are grateful for our frontline heroes responding to critical needs during these uncertain times.

Thank you.

We mean it when we say we’re here for you. I just want you to know that you saved a business today. Our family business. I will never forget the relief you have provided to us.

Additional to our ﬁrst responders and health care professionals, I have added Level One Bank to the foundation of recovery. Your actions will save many jobs and allow companies like mine to survive. Well done!

It took my old bank ﬁve weeks to say "no" to a PPP loan. It took Level One Bank one day to say "yes". I cannot say "thank you" enough.

2,100

Small businesses in Michigan helped through the SBA PPP

100%

Percentage of completed PPP applications approved

Feeling underserved by your big bank? Maybe it’s time to try a local community bank. 2355 Burton St. SE Grand Rapids, MI 49506 Phone: 616-827-4400 M-Th: 9 am - 5 pm F: 9 am - 6 pm Sat: 9 am - 12 pm Drive-up Access and 24 Hour ATM www.LevelOneBank.com

30K+

Employees impacted in Michigan through PPP relief

JUNE 15, 2020

GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL

INSIDE TRACK

Tellier has lofty expectations JetCo Federal executive isn’t president of the United States — yet — but she’s setting an ambitious course in business. Paul R. Kopenkoskey

Special to the Business Journal

rowing up, Sue Tellier entertained the notion of being elected President of the United States so she could right some wrongs. “When I was young, I would see my single mother being treated differently by employers, by our church and sometimes by our own school … at the same time,” said Tellier, president of Grand Rapids-based JetCo Federal. “It gave me a sense of fair play that other women had chances, too. And so part of what I take very seriously here as a leader in the company, is I want our younger employees — not just women, but our younger employees — to see that they don’t have any career obstacles in their way. I really wanted to be (U.S.) president because it seemed like somebody was telling me I couldn’t, not necessarily because I wanted that job.” Tellier and her husband, Jon, launched JetCo Federal in 2007 following her near two-year stint as director of business outreach for the Michigan Department of Management and Budget, a job she had a bit of a love-hate relationship with. “I decided I wanted to be in a supportive role in the public policy world and then I was kind of recruited for marketing for the state of Michigan (director of business outreach, 2005-2007),” Tellier said. “I didn’t want to take the job because it sounded so boring, but I did it because of a kind of double-dog dare you approach.” In the end, Tellier has no regrets about taking the job. “My job was to represent small and underrepresented companies to bid for state-level contracts and to help them not waste their time,” Tellier said. “My challenge was: Here’s a 160-page solicitation, and I understand as a small business owner you have 20 other things on your plate, but how about you drop everything for the next 30 hours and just work on this? (My)

job was really about helping them make those evidence-based decisions about whether or not to move forward in that vein. And if they decided to go forward, they had the tools to do it well.” Tellier’s previous stints include director of marketing for United Methodist Retirement Communities, director of annual giving for the Michigan Humane Society and director of events for College for Creative Studies. Her pathos for animals needing to be adopted is palpable. “For me at the time that seemed like the best job ever,” Tellier said of her job with the Humane Society, “except for the fact I wanted to cry myself to sleep every night because I care a little too much to make it a career.” Now, in her current role, Tellier said JetCo Federal’s specific focus is helping warehouses achieve and maintain operational efficiency. Her company supplies high-quality products for both commercial and government clients and solves complex supply chain challenges for both sectors by using multiple well-vetted manufacturing partners and reliable carriers. “We started as a wholesaler of corrugated and flexible packaging supplies, and we were basically a conduit,” Tellier said. “As we morphed, we realized we didn’t like boring stuff. We wanted complex, hairy challenges. The best contract I love is a contract where I have to deliver 110 different line items that could not possibly be made by a single manufacturer because it’s all different types of materials. They have to be delivered to 82 different locations across the country with no break in fluidity in the ordering cycle. It’s not about making a box. It’s not about making mold or plastic; it’s not about making a heat shield bag. It’s about combining all those things and getting where it needs to go on time. The short answer is we deliver warehouse supplies. But that’s not really it. It sounds like we’re stocking a bunch of boxes, repacking and delivering them,

SUE TELLIER Company/Organization: JetCo Federal Position: President Age: 50 Birthplace: Detroit Residence: Gaines Township Family: Husband Jon, 21-year-old son Ethan, three dogs that come to work with Tellier Business/Community Involvement: Board member of the Small Business Association of Michigan, Women in Defense and the Michigan Strategic Fund Biggest Career Break: Becoming a small business owner of JetCo Federal. “It felt like a lift to me to become a small business owner and take that leap. As soon as my husband and I made that decision we realized it was the right one. It was a deliberate decision. We feel like we have a lot more ownership with our future than we did before.”

Sue Tellier and her husband, Jon, were newlyweds when they took the plunge and launched JetCo Federal, a decision she concedes might have been a bit overzealous at the time. Photo by 616 Media

but that’s not who we are.” Tellier and her husband were newlyweds when they took the plunge and launched JetCo Federal — a decision that when she looks back at it the rearview mirror of her life concedes she would temper her entrepreneurial zeal. “We had been married five months when we decided to start a company together, which in retrospect, knowing what I know now, I recommend against it,” Tellier said. “One, because you have a young marriage and then you decide you’re going to work together, which added a layer of intensity to our relationship, certainly.” Her husband later started another business, which resulted in the couple separating the ownership and operation of their two companies in 2018. Even so, JetCo Federal started with firm leadership as it sought to work out the kinks and find its footing in the business world. “We were lucky,” Tellier said. “We found our skills were complimentary, not in conflict or competition. Eventually I’m the 100 percent owner of this company and he’s the 100 percent owner of his company; we just happen to share space.” Tellier punctuates her rapid-fire dialogue with straightforward aplomb and humor. Go to JetCo’s website and readers will take note under the “leadership” button that “no damn whining” is allowed, but photographs of canines of various breeds are welcomed with open arms. Yes, that does mean dogs do inhabit JetCo’s workspace during work hours, including the three Tellier

owns: a black Labrador retriever, a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon and a yellow lab, golden retriever mix. “The dog-friendly workplace is something that makes our culture,” Tellier said. “We are very sensitive when visitors come to our offices. We like to let people know in advance that we’re dog friendly if they have an allergy or an aversion because they were bit as a child. I don’t want somebody to have a bad day because we’re dog friendly. We have space in our office where the dogs can go. Our three come to work with us every day and then one of my employees usually brings her dog with her. I think we’ve had eight dogs at a time in the office and they were all dogs that belonged to our employees.” The COVID-19 pandemic’s tentacles have wrapped itself around people in unexpected, positive ways, and Tellier is no exception. “The ability to be appreciative in the moment is something I’m not great at,” she said. “I’m definitely more of a destination person than I am a journey person. You know, the joy is the journey? Nah, I really want to get there. It’s kind of where my brain has been. In terms of my own progression through life, I definitely want to learn how to slow down and enjoy life and the moment instead of looking ahead at the next 10 minutes or looking ahead at the next hour or the next day. People have bucket-list things they need to accomplish. I don’t have one.” Tellier may be sans a bucket list, but she’s not without a vision of how she wants her life to be successful.

“It’s definitely not about the business growth or money but those simple elements of life,” Tellier said. “How am I helping other people? Am I living values that I’m proud of? Am I treating people with kindness but in the way that lifts them up and challenges them to do things better? If you ask my son if I am kind, he would say I encourage him, push him and I would prefer that with the people I love when they need a shoulder to cry on.” In her earlier days, Tellier worked a string of restaurant and bar-related jobs where she honed her people skills and work ethic. “Now, if a resumé comes through that shows they’ve had successful restaurant experience, they get an interview,” Tellier said. “I know it takes tenacity and a little bit of grit to accomplish a shortterm goal kind of mindset successfully whether it’s in the front of the house or the back of the house.” Her bartending acumen remains with Tellier today when it comes to favorite mixed drinks, brands and the seasons of the year for quaffing them. “I was a vodka person forever and then I appreciated bourbon a bit more,” Tellier said. “I like a really well made Old Fashioned, but then I can go for a super dry vodka martini but I don’t want olives in it, and it has to be Belvedere. I can do the whole gamut. It (also) depends on my mood. Winter is totally different than summer for cocktails. If it’s going to have olives in it, it has to be Detroit-made Valentine Vodka. Tellier chuckles. “I’m still a bartender at heart.”

GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL

JUNE 15, 2020

Airport struggles with passenger counts CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

that airline to give us that information. “They are telling us that the demand is going to be weak for the rest of this year and some airlines are saying it will be as long as five years before we get back to preCOVID levels. If I had to make a prediction, I would say that West Michigan will probably recover in about two years.” In 2019, 3,587,767 passengers flew in and out of GFIA. That was an increase of 9.88% from 2018. The steady increase in passenger travel started in 2013, when 2,237,979 passengers traveled in and out of the airport. The growth continued early this year, before the pandemic struck, when Allegiant announced new nonstop services to Los Angeles, Boston and Austin, Texas. With the increase in the number of passengers flying in and out of the airport, Richardson said officials were confident in continuing the construction schedule planned for the facility. One of the expansion projects is the Consolidated Rental Car Center (ConRAC), which would move car rental companies to a larger facility adjacent to its current space, but that project has been put on hold. The ConRAC would allow for rental car companies to have more space for ready and return parking, a customer counter and office facility, a walkway connecting the ConRAC to the airport terminal, and space to wash, clean and fuel cars. The space that the rental car companies are currently using would be reconfigured to longterm public parking and valet parking. “That would free up 1,000 parking spaces so the public could park there,” Richardson said. “Prior to COVID, we had to close the parking garage several days per week — every week — because it would fill up, it would be at capacity. It was like that all of last year and it was shaping up to be like that prior to COVID. That project may come back depending on how the passenger traffic recovers and how the rental car companies recover.” The other expansion project on the docket for this year was the concourse space, which may continue. Currently, the airport has two concourses, marked A and B. An additional gate was expected to be added to concourse A, which would allow for eight gates, as well as widening the 66-foot concourse to up to 120 feet and lengthening it by 510 feet to a total of more than 900 feet. The new recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which include social distancing, are now causing Richardson and his team to go back to the drawing board and make a slew of unexpected changes due to the virus. “(From) December up until we got hit with COVID-19, we were seeing passenger screening lines for the TSA going back to the entire Grand Hall area with queues that zig-zag the passengers back and forth until they get to the checkpoint,” he said. “Some-

times those lines would go down the ramp and go into the baggage claim area. What we are having to face now is if we have to continue with social distancing and keep six feet apart from everybody, you could see that it wouldn’t take long for us to have lines like that again. Although there would not be as many people in lines, they would take up a lot of real estate because they would need that much space. We are running models right now to try to figure out what that would look like. Even if we get to 30% of where we were last year, we’ll start to put pressure on the facility, in terms of space, just because we have to use it in a different way. The terminal was never designed to have every person to be six feet apart from another person.”

“If I had to make a prediction, I would say that West Michigan will probably recover in about two years.” t orY r iCharDson Not only is Richardson concerned about the possible length of the TSA lines, he also is thinking about the social distancing requirements at the ticket counters, baggage areas, gate seating, restaurants, bars and retail shops. “We have to redesign or re-layout those types of facilities for the passengers,” he said. “We might be able to go on with some of our expansion projects but for a slightly different purpose. That means we need to do as much as we can for a seamless and touchless passenger journey, which means more space.” To make those adjustments, the airport is taking advantage of the CARES ACT. Based on a complex formula, Richardson said the airport is eligible for $16.22 million. “We have made our first request — because you have to re-request — for reimbursement by demonstrating the cost to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and they will turn around and reimburse us for those costs,” he said. “We submitted our request the (last week of May) for just over $5 million and we expect over the next few months we will continue to make a request to essentially get reimbursed that full $16.22 million, which will cover payroll and operating expenses that include increase costs for signage and for putting up plastic barriers around the terminal to help protect the guests, as well as the agents that are helping them. It is also for deep cleaning, disinfecting and sanitizing checkpoints. “At the low point of the traffic depression, we were losing about $5 million per month, so that $16.22 million will buy us two- or three-months’ worth of expenses. Hopefully, business will start picking up so that we are not losing as much money and probably later this year can get 60% of our traffic from a year ago and start breaking even again. That is sort of our goal for right now.”

Here for you today. And tomorrow. In this time of uncertainty, the business world is pivoting faster than ever before with new challenges emerging every day. Today we are grateful to the front line workers and to our customers who have entrusted us to help them get through these challenges over the last 150 years. Whether it is now or a distant tomorrow, Commerce Bank is here for you.

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GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL

Downtown corporate suites prove to be popular CWD converts four apartments into temporary residences for executives.

have returned. Prices are usually $4,000 per month and include all utilities, as well as complete furnishings and entertainment options like Hulu Live and Amazon Prime. Although the corporate suites only have been available for a little over a year, Carson said the busiest time during that period was during the winter months.

Danielle Nelson

dnelson@grbj.com

When Christine Carson, residential property manager for CWD Real Estate Investment, decided to convert some units at The Rowe and The Gallery in downtown Grand Rapids to corporate guest suites, she had no way of knowing the move would serve as a necessary temporary residence during a pandemic that forced hotels to close. Carson helped to convert two apartments each in The Rowe and The Gallery a little over a year ago. The Rowe has 77 apartments and The Gallery has 56 apartments. The converted apartments have two bedrooms and two bathrooms and are fully furnished, including queen-size beds. The master bedroom has a bathroom with a walk-in shower and the guest room has a bathroom with a tub. “I noticed that there was a growing need for short-term rentals in Grand Rapids,” she said. “With hospitals being in the area and bigger companies coming into the area, I was getting a lot of requests for one-month

“I have only heard positive things about them, so it has been a really good experiment to introduce that into downtown.” C hristine C arson

Apartments at The Rowe and The Gallery were converted to fully furnished suites for short-term stays. Courtesy CWD Real Estate Investment

rentals, monthly leases. So, I took an idea that I saw in Chicago and brought it to our buildings to do like an Airbnb-style corporate suite.” There were cancellations for scheduled stays for corporate meetings and other business operations that required a tempo-

rary residence in the city due to the stay-at-home order in Michigan. Nevertheless, Carson said there were individuals who were quarantined in the corporate suites. Due to COVID-19, AHC+Hospitality consolidated all hotel services to the Amway Grand Plaza

Hotel. The JW Marriott Grand Rapids, AC Hotel Grand Rapids Downtown and the Courtyard by Marriott Grand Rapids Downtown are temporarily closed. While the minimum stay is a month, some guests have stayed up to five months and Carson said repeat customers already

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As businesses and companies start to resume their normal operations, she said CWD is expecting more temporary residents. Carson said there is a possibility CWD will convert more apartments into corporate suites, but those decisions will not be made before the end of the year. Nevertheless, she is pleased with how the first year went. “It is nice to see that the corporate suites have been so well received downtown,” she said. “I have only heard positive things about them, so it has been a really good experiment to introduce that into downtown.”

Sometimes we have to do more. This time, a lot more. Sometimes the urgency of a better future compels you to act. We are in such a moment, when a global pandemic, a cry for racial justice and a feeling of hopelessness challenge each community. In the face of this, Bank of America has committed to investing $1 billion over the next four years to build on our long-standing work to drive economic opportunity and equality in communities of color. It will power small businesses, help connect workers to new skills and job opportunities, improve medical response capacity and access to health care, and support affordable housing. This bolsters our recent commitment of an additional $100 million to support nonprofit partners and $250 million to support Community Development Financial and Minority Depository Institutions, addressing impacts from the coronavirus that disproportionately affect black and brown communities. My teammates and I here in Grand Rapids commit to the important work that lies before all of us. We share the sense of urgency gripping the nation, and we welcome the promise of achieving great things together.

Renee Tabben Grand Rapids Market President

To learn more, please visit bankofamerica.com/community.

GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL

JUNE 15, 2020

THE LIST

Top Area Downtown Residential Buildings (RANKED BY 2019 NUMBER OF UNITS) Building

No. of Management company units

Acquisition Types of units

Price

Amenities

Occupancy rate

Studio, one and two bedrooms

Rent: $850-$2,750

Fitness room, community room, large outdoor community patio, attached parking garage, grilling areas and firepit, dog park

DND

234 Market Apartments 234 Market Ave. SW Grand Rapids (616) 301-1222 krimson.com

Krimson

River House Condominiums 335 Bridge St. NW Grand Rapids (616) 726-2900 colliers.com

Colliers International 206

Condominiums

Purchase: $300,000 – $4 milllion

Fitness center with a view of downtown Grand Rapids with top of the line equipment, Club room with kitchen, private restroom, electronic fireplace and 2 46" HDMI flat screen TVs and comfortable seating area; 24/7 lap pool with 8 person hot tub spa and more

100%

Union Square Condominiums 600 Broadway Ave. NW Grand Rapids (616) 774-3500 colliers.com

Colliers International 188

Condominiums

Purchase: $190,000-$390,000 Fitness center including many fitness equipment options with a vending machine for drinks and snacks; club room with 2 flat screen TVs, kitchenette, private restroom and comfortable seating area; outdoor roof deck with pool and hot tub spa overlooking downtown Grand Rapids and more

100%

Hopson Flats 212 Grandville Ave. SW Grand Rapids (616) 828-1031 hopsonflatsgr.com

DTN

Two-bedroom, threeDND bedroom, four-bedroom flats

All utiilities are included, fitness center, cable and internet

DND

Fulton Place 616 W. Fulton St. Grand Rapids (616) 323-2771 fultonplacegr.com

Rockford Construction 109

One, two, three, four bedrooms

Rent: $1,310+

Furnished and nonfurnished units, pet-friendly, free utilities, free Wi-Fi, key card access, in-unit laundry facilities, some on-site parking

96%

The Morton 55 Ionia Ave. NW Grand Rapids (616) 432-6460 themortongr.com

Rockford Construction 77

Studio, one and two bedrooms

Rent: $1,150+

In-residence washer and dryer, energy-efficient LED lighting, 24/7 fitness center, included utilities (gas, recycling, trash and water)

92%

The Rowe 201 Michigan St. NW Grand Rapids (616) 588-7178 therowegr.com

CWD Real Estate Investment

One and two bedrooms

Rent: $1,215-$2,020

Free Wi-Fi, rooftop lounge, rooftop deck with grilling area and fire pit, fitness center, CWD concierge, extra storage and bike storage available, pet relief area

DND

The Gallery Apartments 10 Commerce Ave. SW Grand Rapids (616) 726-1700 thegallerygr.com

CWD Real Estate Investment

Studio, one, two and three Rent: $1,035-$2,100 bedrooms

Free Wi-Fi, rooftop deck with grilling area and fire pit, fitness center, attached city parking ramp, CWD concierge, extra storage and bike storage available

DND

38 Commerce 38 Commerce Ave. SW Grand Rapids (616) 301-1222 krimson.com

Krimson

One-bedroom penthouse, Rent: $1,175-$2,975 two-bedroom penthouse Rent: $1,260-$2,550

Rooftop deck with barbecue, gym, lounge, balconies, green garden

DND

Kingsley Building 1415 Lake Drive SE Grand Rapids (616) 301-1222 krimson.com

Krimson

One and two bedrooms

DND

Washer, dryer, rooftop deck, on-site garage parking

DND

Barley Flats 415 Bridge St. NW Grand Rapids (616) 323-2772 barleyflats.com

Rockford Construction 40

Studio, one and two bedrooms

Rent: 1,050+

In-unit washer and dryer, full-size new stainless steel appliances, water, sewer, gas, trash and cardboard recycling, secure key card access to the building and your floor call box for guests, secure package delivery, professional property management available 24/7, onsite storage available

98%

Park Place Apartments 68 Ransom St. NE Grand Rapids (616) 301-1222 krimson.com

Krimson

Studio, one bedroom, two Rent: $785-$1,495 bedroom

Hardwood floors, stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, porcelain tile bathrooms, energyefficient lighting, washer/dryer, air conditioning, laundry rooms on-site

DND

Grand Central Lofts 100 Commerce Ave. SW Grand Rapids (616) 644-2846 grandcentralloftsgr.com

Gulker Group

Studio, one bedroom, two Rent: $775-$1,400 bedroom

All utilities included except cable/internet/phone; offer on-site coin operated laundry and bike storage

DND

Iowa Flats 125 Jefferson Ave. SE Grand Rapids (616) 301-1222 krimson.com

Krimson

Apartments

Rent: $895-$1,835

DND

Monroe Terrace 600 Monroe Ave. NW Grand Rapids (616) 774-3500 colliers.com

Colliers International 27

Condominiums

Purchase: $290,000-$370,000 UG or surface parking for individual units, restaurant and hair salon operated by third party

100%

Cityview Building 60 Monroe Center NW Grand Rapids (616) 774-3500 colliers.com

Colliers International 25

Condominiums

Purchase: $190,000 - $733,600 Pet friendly, located within the heart of Grand Rapids and within walking distance of many restaurants, businesses and venues; rooftop access available with spectaluar view of downtown Grand Rapids; professionally managed with maintenance staff available; secure access to the building and floors

100%

Fountain Hill Flats 301 Fountain St. NE Grand Rapids (616) 301-1222 krimson.com

Krimson

One and two bedrooms

Rent: $835-$1,120

Hardwood floors, stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, porcelain tile bathrooms, energyefficient lighting, washer/dryer, air conditioning, laundry rooms on-site

DND

McKay Tower 146 Monroe Center NW Grand Rapids (616) 808-3777 mckaytower.com

Rockford Construction 18

Apartments

Rent: $1,749-$4,299

All apartments are fully furnished; each apartment offers short- and long-term lease options

DND

235

152

McKay Tower was purchased earlier this year by Gun Lake Investments and Waséyabek Development Company LLC from Steadfast Property Holdings for $17.5 million.

New hire CWD Real Estate Investment hired Jeff Kamps. He joins a team of maintenance technicians at the company.

Rent increase Rental rates in Grand Rapids increased despite the effects of the coronavirus. Prices went up by 5.9% year-overyear in March, growing faster compared to February’s 5.4% yearly rise, according RentCafé.

Employee recognition John Kuiper from Colliers International | West Michigan received the 2019 Everest Club Award. Colliers International created The Everest Club to recognize the top 10% of all Colliers professionals across brokerage, valuation and corporate solution service lines.

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CONTINUED ON PAGE 17

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

GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL

THE LIST

JUNE 15, 2020

Top Area Downtown Residential Buildings (RANKED BY 2019 NUMBER OF UNITS) Building 19

No. of Management company units

Name change

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16 Types of units

Price

Amenities

Occupancy rate

The Hendrik 625 Bridge St. NW Grand Rapids (616) 323-2778 thehendrikgr.com

Rockford Construction 16

Studio, one and two bedrooms

Rent: $950+

Community room, fitness center, rooftop terrace, onsite parking ramp, bike storage, pet friendly, secure package delivery, keyless bluetooth entry, inresidence washer and dryer

95%

The Vicarage 43 Lafayette Ave. SE Grand Rapids (616) 774-3500 colliers.com

Colliers International 16

Apartments

Rent: $300-$1,200

Pet friendly; on-site exterior parking; professionally managed with maintenance staff available; on-site laundry available, utilities included with rent

100%

Cardinal Point 445 and 453 Knapp Ave. NE Grand Rapids (616) 774-3500 colliers.com

Colliers International 14

Pet friendly; on-site exterior parking; professionally managed with maintenance staff available; laundry in each apartment

100%

143/145 Lafayette Apartments 143/145 Lafayette Ave. NE Grand Rapids (616) 301-1222 krimson.com

Krimson

Studio, one, two bedrooms

Rent: $760-$1,630

Hardwood floors, stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, porcelain tile bathrooms, energyefficient lighting, washer/dryer, air conditioning, laundry rooms on-site

DND

432 Fountain Apartments 432 Fountain St. NE Grand Rapids (616) 301-1222 krimson.com

Krimson

One and two bedrooms

Rent: $695-$1,250

Hardwood floors, stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, porcelain tile bathrooms, energyefficient lighting, washer/dryer, air conditioning, laundry rooms on-site

DND

Norwood Apartments 1555 Wealthy St. SE Grand Rapids (616) 774-3500 colliers.com

Colliers International 12

Apartments

Rent: $805-$1,545

Pet friendly; within walking distance of Eastown shops and restaurants; on-site exterior parking; professionally managed with maintenance staff availables; laundry in each apartment; secure access to building

100%

Oakes Apartments 1 Oakes St. SW Grand Rapids (616) 774-3500 colliers.com

Colliers International 12

Apartments

Rent: $980-$1,545

Pet friendly; on-site parking both indoor garage or outside; professionally managed with maintenance staff available; secure access to building; on-site laundry available

100%

Apartments

Rent: $950-$1,450

The Grand Rapids Business Journal list of largest downtown residential buildings, ranked by number of 2019 units, is the most comprehensive available. The list is based on Business Journal research. The Business Journal surveyed 59 companies; 31 returned surveys and 25 are listed. To be considered for future lists, email dnelson@grbj.com. DND = Did not disclose

Maplegrove Property Management changed its name to Krimson.

Transfer of management Hopson Flats is now managed by DTN. The building was previously managed by Maplegrove Property Management.

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Struggling small businesses have several legal options CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

has its way for companies to restructure their business through bankruptcy, Best said states have their way of restructuring a business, which is called “assignment for the benefit of creditors” that can avoid a full reorganization. Companies also can be put into a receivership, which is usually started by a creditor but often the borrower will cooperate. In those situations, Best said they would look for a new owner and operator of the company who can buy the company and continue to operate the company, which saves

jobs and allows for continuing business, but doesn’t allow the former owner to continue to own the property unless the company is bought out of receivership. “That can also happen in bankruptcy and also the assignment for the benefit of creditors where the former owners will just sell the assets and then try to attract investors or get new money to buy the asset out of the proceeding,” he said. “There are a variety of legal means to restructure debt, but bankruptcy is by far the broadest legal structure and the most comprehensive.”

JUNE 15, 2020

ChoiceOne has the financial expertise I need and helps me think bigger about how we can achieve our goals” – Dunneback & Girls Farm

Custer offering ‘workplace re-engagement’ services CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

for our clients?” Custer said his firm used Steelcase research on COVID-19 and the workplace looking at “the now, the near and the far” to inform its response services. That’s why the plan addresses initial retrofitting and reconfiguration needs, as well as ongoing cultural changes — such as cleaning procedures, technology support and change management — and takes into consideration future adjustments that may be made to office real estate, including possible reductions in square footage due to the rise of remote work. Many of the initial conversations the firm had regarding COVID-19 were with health care clients, Custer said. They resulted in redesigns of waiting rooms, lobbies, and clinical and administrative areas. Then, large corporations and medium and small businesses also began requesting changes. Besides the addition of temporary screens and barriers, some of the COVID response work done by Renegade for office clients has included the creation of mobile sanitation hubs — carts with hand sanitizer, gloves, face masks, etc., that can be scattered throughout a workplace — as well as temperature screening stations. Custer said many office clients are looking to make these changes in a temporary, fairly low-budget way due to cashflow problems and uncertainty over how long the pandemic will go on. “You have companies that understandably don’t want to spend a lot of money on permanent solutions, because you don’t know what’s going to change and what’s going to happen in ‘the far,’” he said. Custer also is starting to have initial conversations with K-12 and higher education clients and expects to begin implementing safety, sanitation and social distancing changes to classrooms this summer. So far, feedback from clients about the firm’s new response

services has been positive, Custer said. He said this is an extremely challenging time to be a furniture dealer, with many clients closing shop and revenues way down, so it has been important to be able to develop new service-based offerings moving forward instead of just expecting clients to buy more furniture. “It’s actually something I think about every night — about making sure that we’re on the right track,” he said. Custer also was able to apply for and received a Paycheck Protection Program forgivable loan to keep everyone on staff through mid-July at least. “It was challenging, but we feel like we’re going to come out of it strong,” he said. “We’re trying to stay as close as possible (to our clients) to help them navigate through the situation and make sure that they know that we’re with them in the long run.” Custer said the company has been fortunate to be able to still give back during this time, donating dinners, pizza parties, cakes and more to frontline workers in Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo and Fort Wayne, Indiana, where it has offices. In addition to its COVID-19 response services and philanthropic work, Custer recently launched a podcast called “A New Way of Working” that features leaders in human resources, health care and more to share takes on what it will take to get various industries back to the workplace safely. “We try to stay engaged as much as possible to our core values and not forget about that. There are a lot of people out there that need help and need support, and we’ve been in this community for 40 years, and that’s always been our mission, to be here to help out and try to give back as much as possible, even though our numbers are way down,” Custer said. “We always say ‘people before profits’ and that it’s a family business. That’s what’s important to us.”

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COMMENT & OPINION

GUEST COLUMN Dave Kahle

Re-examine policies that maintain structural racism

s America confronts the reality of structural racism, it is clear we must fundamentally reform policing now. It also is clear that redesigning policing is not enough. We need to put on the table topics that have been off the table for far too long. One of those uncomfortable conversations we need to have is about segregation and all the ways the affluent have put in place policies to keep particularly low-income African Americans from living in their neighborhoods and attending school with their kids. The value of integration is that investments made by affluent families — in schools and public services — spill over and positively impact low- and middle-income families that live in the same neighborhoods. With the classes cordoned off from one another, there’s little chance for spillover to occur. In 2015, Harvard economist Raj Chetty and others published two studies with one central conclusion: Where you grow up matters a great deal. The studies found that moving from a high-poverty to low-poverty neighborhood, early in life, has a large positive impact on going to college and future earnings. University of Michigan economist Justin Wolfers wrote in the New York Times that the two Chetty studies are “the most powerful demonstration yet that neighborhoods — their schools, community, neighbors, local amenities, economic opportunities and social norms — are a critical factor in shaping your children’s outcomes.” Why might low-poverty neighborhoods have such a dramatic positive impact on a child’s development? First, moving to a low-poverty neighborhood gives a child the opportunity to attend a low-poverty school. Research

since the 1960s has found the composition of a school’s student body to be more strongly related to achievement than any other school factor. The increased achievement of non-affluent students in affluent schools is one of the most consistent findings in education research, with some studies finding student achievement to be more correlated with the background characteristics of a student’s classmates than with a student’s own background. There is perhaps no better lever to improve educational outcomes for non-affluent students than to send them to middle-class schools. But in addition to the opportunity to attend a low-poverty school, a child’s neighborhood impacts virtually every aspect of his or her life, from exposure to crime to health outcomes to the perception of order — all of which influences a child’s odds of success. Unfortunately, segregation in America is increasing. As the New York Times wrote in an editorial entitled the “The Cities We Need”: “In 1970, 65 percent of the residents of large metropolitan areas lived in neighborhoods with median incomes close to the median for the entire area, according to an analysis by the sociologists Kendra Bischoff and Sean F. Reardon. Most neighborhoods, in other words, approximated the economic diversity of the broader community. But by 2009, only 42 percent lived in such neighborhoods. Meanwhile, the share residing in either very affluent or very poor neighborhoods more than doubled from 15 percent to 33 percent.” The editorial continued: “In the United States, blacks and Hispanics primarily suffer the consequences. Most poor whites live in mixed-income neighborhoods. In the nation’s 100 largest metropolitan areas, about a third of low-in-

come whites — 3.4 million people — lived in high-poverty urban neighborhoods in 2014, according to a Brookings Institution analysis. By contrast, 72 percent of low-income blacks, or 5.2 million people, lived in high-poverty urban neighborhoods, as well as 68 percent of low-income Hispanics, or 6.7 million people.” If you care about providing African American children with equal opportunity, the lever that almost certainly matters most is integrated neighborhoods and schools. That means attacking all the policies that have been “created to maintain economic exclusivity.” We have known this for de-

cades. And, by and large, we know the policies that will reverse race and class segregation. What we haven’t done is use this powerful lever for combatting inequality and structural racism because too many aﬄuent white parents — both liberal and conservative — have used their political clout to block integration. It sure seems like, if we are as serious this time as we claim we are, this topic needs to be on the table as part of any eﬀort to comprehensively deal the structural racism. Lou Glazer is president of Michigan Future Inc.

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GUEST COLUMN Dave Yonkman

Position yourself to lead after COVID

eaders in West Michigan admirably tend to want their work to speak for itself. The problem is that by the time their ﬁnished products become camera-ready and consumers eventually notice, the competition already has taken a considerable share of the market. Such a laissez-faire approach to business development is akin to the childhood game of telephone. You reveal a message to the person sitting next to you, who repeats it to the next person until it comes full circle. By the time the message reaches back to you, your “Have a nice day” has become “Wave at

rice cakes.” It was tough enough to break through the noise two months ago; now, nonstop COVID coverage further interferes with transmission. Business leaders who are consistently one step ahead of their competition eliminate ﬁlters between messengers and receivers. They allow successful public relations programs to do the talking. Proﬁcient bosses regularly discuss their products from concept to production to distribution in news articles, op-eds, online conferences, speaking engagements and social media. You can consistently demonstrate your capabilities and aptitude for managing change by serving as the voice and face of your organization in the news. Here’s how. First, even when you’re successful, there are folks who are even more successful. You could pull up a seat in Kevin Costner’s Field of Dreams and wait until somebody shows up, but your competitors are already out hitting home runs with lesser products. They are after the same prospects, talent and investors as you. They know they need to be on the stage and in front of a microphone to represent their products and

workforce, especially during tough times. Also understand that the public wants to hear from you. A recent Gallup survey found that 56% of Americans want organizations to communicate with them about how they are helping to battle the coronavirus and how it has impacted them economically. Second, traditional advertisements in print and broadcast no longer carry the weight they once did. Consumers crave honesty and transparency, which ads cannot deliver. PR enables a back-andforth exchange with your audiences. They can ask questions and interact with you on a variety of platforms. A strong social media presence helps, but it’s not enough alone. Americans are too skeptical to buy from a company they cannot research themselves. You’ll strike gold when your name becomes synonymous with your industry.

Besides, anyone can buy advertising. You must earn PR. Finally, commit yourself to your public, employees and boardroom. The rate of employees voluntarily leaving their jobs reached an all-time high prior to the COVID outbreak. It’s not that those folks don’t like their jobs. They don’t like their bosses or work environment or company culture. PR enables you to inspire prospective hires to work with you. Great leaders project their vision, their ability to quickly pivot when times turn strange and the competency to achieve goals. Now that certain industries have been allowed to resume at reduced capacity in recent days, it is critical to focus on communications with employees, consumers and the community. What can employees expect when they come back? They will

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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.

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Grand Rapids implementing ‘social zones’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Sidewalk Seating Permits — the concern was that with the demand for outdoor dining expected to increase significantly in the summer, more needed to be done. The resolution passed by the city commission authorizes the issuance of individual permits for multi-business social zones as part of the COVID-19 Recovery event and provides a framework of rules and regulations for operations within social zones. For instance, pedestrian and emergency vehicle access to adjacent properties will be maintained, sanitation and physical distancing practices will be required, and types of equipment that could impact surrounding neighborhoods (amplified sound, lighting, etc.) will be minimized. The consumption of alcohol within a designated social zone will be permitted, subject to the requirements of the Michigan Liquor Control Commission (MLCC). Legislation that would govern alcohol consumption within outdoor social districts was being reviewed by the state House of Representatives at press time and was expected to pass, providing a framework within which cities could approve the extension of existing liquor licenses into the new social zones, with the likely caveat that beverages may need to be in sealed, to-go containers instead of being served tableside in open glasses. The city provided a page with more information about social zones on its website, under Outdoor Space Activation and Social Zones, including four diagrams of what the social zones might look like. Louis Canfield, development center manager for the city of Grand Rapids, said as social zones are established, an interactive map showing where the zones are located will be posted on the city’s website to help people find them. The social zones overview page encourages people to “think of a social zone as a temporary repurposing of (public rights-ofway such as streets and sidewalks or city-owned property such as parking lots and parks) into an outdoor dining plaza or food court where individuals can dine on to-go fare — typically from nearby restaurants — in the company of other diners with appropriate physical distancing between parties.” This means the public social zones aren’t meant to be outdoor seating areas where patrons will be served by wait staff as would be the case with outdoor seating on private property or adjacent sidewalks. According to the social zone resolution, most applications will be submitted by coordinating organizations such as business associations, neighborhood associations, corridor authorities and chambers of commerce. City staff and project partners will work with the organizations to ensure engagement with neighboring businesses and property owners, and to reach agreement on plans

to activate the public properties “with an acceptable level of impact upon the transportation network and other users.” Canfield was planning to start meeting with corridor authorities the week of June 8 to begin the pre-application process, with the first zones expected to be up and running by the weekend of June 13. The zone locations had not been determined at press time. Canfield said there are six corridor improvement authorities in the city and around 12 active neighborhood business associations. He estimates about a dozen social zones will be established in various neighborhoods. Separate from the social zones track is an option that allows sin-

gle businesses to apply for a temporary use permit to designate part of their private parking lots or adjacent sidewalks for outdoor seating based on temporarily reduced occupancy and parking needs, as long as the setup follows social distancing and other safety guidelines and regulations. Canfield said he believes there will be “a lot more” applications from single businesses applying for outdoor seating on their lots or adjacent sidewalks than there will be applications for social zones. Mark Miller, managing director of planning and design for DGRI, who has been working with Canfield and the city to flesh out the framework to deploy social zones, said the opportunity could be in-

clusive not only of restaurants and bars but also retailers — “sort of like a street fair” — and other businesses such as yoga or kickboxing studios, which also are under capacity limits as they reopen. “(We’re) keeping an open mind about these and always thinking about the flexibility of them in terms of how they might be used or how they might morph as the business community starts to see the things that work or the things that may not work or maybe better ways to do things,” Miller said. Canfield indicated the city is planning to offer fee relief for those seeking permits under the “COVID-19 Recovery” special event designation. He said for businesses that

JUNE 15, 2020

exist in areas where creating social zones is not feasible, multiple businesses with a shared parking lot may be able to work out a temporary use solution that allows outdoor dining adjacent to the lot or in the parking lot without obstructing use of the lot for other businesses. Miller added he believes the Outdoor Space Activation and Social Zones guide provides a “broad” and “creative” toolbox of options for business owners to use one or two solutions in tandem to be able to expand their outdoor footprint. Applications for social zones and single-business temporary use permits are now live at bit.ly/ outdoorspaceapps.

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JUNE 15, 2020

ADVERTISING & MARKETING

Muskegon-based Revel for the fourth time has been deemed one of West Michigan’s 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work for by the Michigan Business and Professional Association.

ARTS

Brian Mortimore, director of human resources and organizational development at Kent District Library, has been named a “Mover and Shaker” in the library industry by the national publication Library Journal because of his commitment to the profession and his innovation in matching the right employee to the right job. St. Cecilia Music Center announced its 137th season, from September 2020 through April 2021, will feature 18 evenings of performances by world-renowned jazz, folk and chamber music artists. Concerts will include three Spectacular Jazz Series performances, three Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Series events, nine Acoustic Café Folk Series evenings of music and a first-ever music festival, WinterFest, featuring Christian McBride and Friends. St. Joseph-based Spectrum Health Lakeland and Krasl Art Center partnered to develop a pop-up art and wellness exhibit to help address the behavioral health challenges faced by community members in Southwest Michigan. The pop-up kiosk, which is currently in development by a team of KAC and Spectrum Health Lakeland staff, local artists and regional creatives, is considered timely as the communi-

ty faces the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal of the program is to increase understanding of mental health and destigmatize mental illness.

FOOD & BEVERAGE

AWARDS

Kalamazoo-based Kalsec announced the appointment of Mark Staples as executive director of marketing.

Wexford-Missaukee-Manistee Collaborative with community input has selected the Great Start to Quality NW Resource Center as the 2020 Manistee Early Childhood Champion.

BANKING

Northpointe Bank appointed Brian Kuelbs as its executive vice president, chief financial officer and chief investment officer. Kuelbs will lead the bank’s corporate financial strategy and seek out effective investment opportunities.

EDUCATION

MJ Huebner will join Kalamazoo College as vice president for admission and financial aid, startHuebner ing Sept. 8. Huebner currently is interim vice president of enrollment management at the University of Texas-Permian Basin.

ENVIRONMENTAL

Ottawa County is the recipient of a $300,000 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for environmental site assessment and cleanup planning for brownfield properties.

Dipiazzo joins Chow Hound as CMO Dan Dipiazzo has joined Chow Hound Pet Supplies as chief marketing officer. He has more than 30 years of marketing and communications experience. Most recently he spent 16 years as a vice president leading marketing at SeaWorld and Busch Gardens theme parks. The teams under his leadership achieved new milestones for sales, customer loyalty and digital engagement. Dipiazzo previously led communications programs for several national brands as a senior vice president and partner at the international public relations firm Fleishman-Hillard.

Editor’s note: The coronavirus response has affected many public gatherings. Please check organizations’ websites for the latest event information

unity Discussions. 5:45-7:15 p.m., Massey Insurance, 5384 S. Division Ave., Kentwood, snacks/beverages provided. Information/registration: (616) 532-6071.

JUN 15-AUG 7 Grand Rapids Public Museum 2020 Virtual Summer Camp Curious. Prekindergarten through ninth grade. Explore the wonders of science, history, culture and more. Information/registration: grpm.org/campcurious/.

JUN 17 West Michigan Works! Jobs Fair. 9 a.m.noon, Franklin Service Center, 121 Franklin St. SE. Information/registration: form. jotform.com/WestMichiganWorks/ GRJobFair.

JUN 16 AHC + Hospitality Open Interviews. 9 a.m.-noon or 1-3 p.m., Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, 187 Monroe Ave. NW. Registration: ahchospitality.com. JUN 16 Hudsonville Chamber of Commerce Golf Outing For Young Entrepreneurs. 7 a.m.-1 p.m., Sunnybrook Country Club, 624 Port Sheldon St. SW, Grandville. Cost: $110/person, $400/foursome. Registration: bit.ly/HudsonvilleYoungGolfers. JUN 16 Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce Golf Outing. 7 a.m. registration. Cost: $110/person (you will be paired up), $400/foursome (give us your foursome), $18/lunch only, Sunnybrook Country Club, 624 Port Sheldon St. SW, Grandville. Information/registration: michelle@southkent.org. JUN 17 Massey Insurance Auto Reform Comm-

JUN 17-18 Acton Institute University Online. Speakers include Rev. Robert Sirico, Sam Gregg, Michael Miller, Anne Rathbone Bradley, Ryan Anderson, Stephanie Slade, David Bahnsen and more. Information/registration: university. acton.org. JUN 18 Grand Haven/Spring Lake/Ferrysburg Chamber of Commerce June Bash. An evening of networking, appetizers and cool beverages. 5-7 p.m., Freedom Boat Club & Keenan Marine, 516 Pine St., Spring Lake. Information/registration: web.grand havenchamber.org/events. JUN 19 Hudsonville Chamber of Commerce Virtual Health Care Meeting. Health care legislation, opportunities and challenges will be discussed with Sen. Roger Victory and Reps. Bradley Slagh, and Bill Huizenga. Cost: free. 9-10 a.m. Information/registration: mfare@hudson ville.org.

Holland-based New Holland Brewing Co. was selected for the first time as one of West Michigan’s Best and Brightest Companies to Work For.

Bloom & Grow Coffee announced Megan Dimmer as a co-owner and partner. She will help scale and grow the coffee business.

GOVERNMENT

Brandon Davis has joined the city of Grand Rapids as oversight and public accountability director.

GRANTS

Fifth Third Foundation announced $175,000 in philanthropic commitments to help address the effects of the Davis COVID-19 pandemic in West Michigan to the following organizations: Feeding America West Michigan, Greater Lansing Food Bank, South Michigan Food Bank, Cherry Health and Mel Trotter Ministries. Health Net of West Michigan has received a $270,000 grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to expand existing equity efforts, including adding additional health equity training for Health Net staff working with families to access early childhood resources, completion of an equity-focused strategic plan, revision of policy and training for board members. Holland-based Jolt Energy Storage Technologies, a sustainable energy-storage company, was awarded a $250,000 grant from GCxN, a program through the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory in partnership with Shell Global, for its work in clean, grid-scale energy storage solutions. Kalamazoo-based Can-Do Kitchen received a $10,000 grant from Verizon as part of the company’s #PayItForward initiative, to help small businesses meet payroll, pay rent and cover additional immediate operational needs. Old National Bank has committed $1.2 million for COVID-19 relief, specifically

JUN 22 Wedgwood Christian Services 35th Annual Charity Golf Classic. Set tee time for foursome with Egypt Valley Country Club to play a scramble or standard round. Cost: $200/person, and includes 18 holes, cart, boxed meal, snacks, gift bag, contest, division prizes, door prizes. Register by June 15 at wedg wood.org/golf. JUN 24 Disability Training Alliance Virtual Summit. Topic: How to Create Accessible Events and Marketing For People With a Wide Range of Disabilities. 1:302:30 p.m. Cost: free. Information/registration: bit.ly/AccessibleMarketing. JUN 24 Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce Virtual Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Series: DEI 101 by Paul Doyle, founder and CEO, Inclusive Performance Strategies. What is the difference between diversity, equity and inclusion? 9-10 a.m. Registration: grandrapids.org. JUN 25 Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce Virtual Talent Engagement Series. Focus: ways to attract and retain top talent. Sessions include: second chance employment, talent tool kit, developing the workforce of tomorrow through automation and attracting and retaining U.S. military veteran workforce. 9-10 a.m. Information/registration: grand rapids.org.

CHANGE-UPS & CALENDAR

$600,000 focused on meeting the immediate needs in local communities, and $600,000 in Old National Bank Foundation grant funding that will focus on longer-term restorative and transformational needs within local communities.

NONPROFITS

Guiding Light has again been awarded a Platinum Seal of Transparency by GuideStar, the world’s largest source of information on U.S. nonprofits.

The Greater Grand Rapids Chamber Foundation announced a $200,000 contribution from the Consumers Energy Foundation to its Rapid Response Economic Relief Fund, which has authorized 48 grants totaling $455,000 thus far to provide shortterm, emergency financial relief to small businesses in Kent County impacted by widespread closures brought on by the COVID-19 outbreak.

Wedgwood Christian Services announced the addition of Dan Gowdy as president and chief executive offiGowdy cer, following the retirement of Randy Zylstra after more than 25 years of service to Wedgwood.

HEALTH

REAL ESTATE

Kelly Peterson, ND, of Grand Rapids Natural Health, announced a new partnership with Andrea McSwain, DO, of Michigan Center for Functional Medicine. The health and wellness centers, with locations in Grand Rapids and Lansing, are now known as Michigan Center for Holistic Medicine.

INSURANCE

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan has received the J.D. Power Award for highest member satisfaction among commercial health plans in Michigan for the second time in three years.

LEISURE & RECREATION

The Ottawa County Parks & Recreation Commission has shifted gears due to COVID-19 and offers nature programs to citizens online at bit.ly/ OttawaNaturePrograms. Wayland-based Gun Lake Casino has been identified as one of the West Michigan’s Best and Brightest Companies to Work For by the National Association for Business Resources.

Sun Title Agency announced it has created Remote Mobile Notarization to offer clients safe options to obtain signatures quickly and efficiently while maintaining social distancing.

SPORTS

Jorge Capestany, who has managed the Hope College DeWitt Tennis Center in Holland, and Dwayne “Tiger” Teusink, who managed the center from 1996 until 2003, are among those who are being inducted into the Western Michigan Tennis Association’s Hall of Fame. They will be inducted at a date still to be determined.

TRANSPORTATION

Trusted Rides has launched a new iOS and Android app, designed to help working parents meet their children’s transportation needs. The Trusted Rides app offers safe rides for kids ages 5 and up, and allows parents to schedule a ride or series of rides to drive children back and forth to school, academic tutoring, sports and other extracurricular activities.

MANUFACTURING

Norton Shores-based Dynamic Conveyor Corp. announced the addition of Hybrid specialty conveyors, designed and built specifically to meet demanding conveyance objectives that can’t be met with traditional conveyor systems. The Hybrid line of conveyors rounds out Dynamic Conveyor’s already diverse lines of plastic belt conveyor systems.

MEDIA

Jenn White has been selected as the new host of the nationally syndicated NPR show 1A, which is broadcast in Grand Rapids and West Michigan.

JUN 26 GVSU Seidman School of Business Webinar. Topic: Hispanic Business Community (in Spanish). 1-2 p.m. Information/registration: gvsu.edu/seid man/webinars. JUN 30 AHC + Hospitality Open Interviews. 9 a.m.-noon or 1-3 p.m., Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, 187 Monroe Ave. NW. Registration: ahchospitality.com. JUN 30 Wyoming Business Leaders Meeting. 8-9 a.m., Marge’s Donut Den, 1751 28th St. SW, Wyoming. Information/registration: (616) 261-4500 or d.kuba@instantcashmi. com. JUL 7 AHC + Hospitality Open Interviews. 9 a.m.-noon or 1-3 p.m., Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, 187 Monroe Ave. NW. registration: ahchospitality.com. JUL 7 Builders Exchange of Michigan Summer Safety Instruction Workshop. Topic: New and Traditional Fall Protection Equipment Displays, Anchor Points. 3-5 p.m., RVC Offices Conference Room, 678 Front Ave NW, Suite 212. Cost: $35/person, includes pizza. Information/ registration: bit.ly/BXSafetyWorkshops. JUL 9 Division Avenue Business Association Meeting. 8-9 a.m., Brann’s Steakhouse &

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.

Grille 4157 S. Division Ave. Information/ registration: tombrann@branns.com. JUL 9 Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce Virtual Business Exchange. Hosted via Zoom, alongside chamber director of business services, Mark Allen, who will guide participants through a series of virtual breakout sessions to build connections. 10:30 a.m.-noon. Information/ registration: mark@grandrapids.org or grapidsrapids.org.

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

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 bjcal endar@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 BANKRUPTCY

20-00958 – WELDON, Mary J., 6123 Bagel, Ryan F. Beach (Ch. 7) 20-00961 – SCHEULKE, Daniel L. Sr., 825 Keeler SE, Eliot A. Sasson (Ch. 7) 20-00964 – COUTURIER, Daniel C., 63 Lana Lane Court, Comstock Park, Jacob T. Tighe (Ch. 7) 20-00970 – GORDON, Sheila A., 928 Logan SE, Jeremy Shephard (Ch. 13)

MORTGAGES

Selected mortgages filed with Kent County Register of Deeds BRESKY, Trena L. et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Parcel: 411301226007, $285,000 ELMOUCHI, Darryl et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Parcel: 411411402041, $425,000 APSEY, Marcia A. et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Parcel: 411026427021, $335,000 RECKER, Steven et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Parcel: 411916226002, $597,000 SCHWARTZ, Weldon H. et al, Fifth Third Bank, Parcel: 411434204004, $312,900

GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL SLAIKEU, Jason D., Old National Bank, Parcel: 411508151021, $300,000 ENGMARK, Robert A. et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Parcel: 411613200015, $295,083 KOCH, Jonathan et al, Old National Bank, Parcel: 411318125018, $301,000 SAGE, Travis et al, Union Home Mortgage Corp., Parcel: 411803328014, $424,000 MAKI, Ryan D. et al, Flagstar Bank, Parcel: 412011302012, $280,000 BAZZI, Souhad et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Parcel: 411411477055, $783,672 WAITE, Adam et al, Neighborhood Loans, Parcel: 411525100056, $405,650 GONZALES, Damon et al, Mercantile Bank, Parcel: 412322276009, $415,000 HOVING, Jared C. et al, Northpointe Bank, Parcel: 411122176027, $282,000 HULL, Dennis et al, Summit Funding Inc., Parcel: 411529495021, $329,000 SCHIPPER, Andrew et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Parcel: 412217310015, $328,512 GLONEK, Samantha, Northpointe Bank,

Parcel: 411403252003, $524,919 FARELY, Sean M. et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Parcel: 411011477006, $256,250 GARCIA, Dennis et al, Wells Fargo Bank, Parcel: 411426252062, $332,697 EAGLE INVESTMENT VENTURE LLC, Old National Bank, Parcel: 411414301013, $1,989,000 ROBINSON, Andrea, United Bank, Parcel: 411716195003, $666,500 MENON, Manoj et al, Premia Mortgage LLC, Parcel: 411425295025, $418,000 CATES, Todd G. et al, Northpointe Bank, Parcel: 410627251360, $307,500 KIMBRELL, Tuyet V. et al, Quicken Loans, Parcel: 412312130003, $298,279 JOHNSON, Lori et al, Grand River Bank, Parcel: 411803202026, $331,000 RAMJAN, Zachary, Finance of America Mortgage, Parcel: 411713303022, $405,000 VERWYS, Emily, Consumers Credit Union, Parcel: 411433203032, $313,000 LONG, Thomas J. et al, DFCU Financial, Parcel: 412117435004, $476,000

JUNE 15, 2020

OOSTEMA, Andrew et al, TCF National Bank, Parcel: 412217225014, $376,730 WATERMARK PROPERTY LLC, Chemical Bank, Parcel: 411906426023, $7,000,000 STACY, Jeremiah et al, Union Home Mortgage Corp., Parcel: 411911300045, $285,000 DILLEY, Frederick D. et al, Old National Bank, Parcel: 411428279017, $312,000 BOLTER, Alan et al, Mercantile Bank, Parcel: 411910101066, $362,000 VOGEL, Todd D. et al, Old National Bank, East Grand Rapids, $488,800 HOUSEMAN, Michael J. et al, Independent Bank, Parcel: 410933125028, $497,000 WOOD, Matthew et al, Northpointe Bank, Parcel: 411223201017, $321,000 GOODSPEED, William B. et al, Quicken Loans, Parcel: 411428401015, $350,815 JTB HOMES LLC, Macatawa Bank, Parcel: 412110480010, $276,844 WARNER, Benjamin J. et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Parcel: 410627251091, $298,000 YOUNG, Christopher et al, Caliber Home

Loans, Parcel: 411915177010, $309,670 PETERSON, Jeffrey W. et al, SO Veregign Lending Group, Parcel: 411428353025, $291,852 BHONET, Matthew S. et al, JPMorgan Chase Bank, Parcel: 411509302001, $469,500 TRILOGY REAL ESTATE KENT II LLC, Flagstar Bank, Parcel: 411021276019, $15,400,000 STORNANT, Michael D. et al, Bank of America, Parcel: 411328406006, $290,000 FLUFFLY UNICORN NINJA LLC, Economic Development Foundation, Parcel: 411814201063, $993,000 GOSS, Steven, Old National Bank, Parcel: 411326229006, $510,000

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

Colleges prepare for in-person and online classes CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

courses that may shift from online synchronous to face-to-face as conditions allow; and hybrid courses that include a mix of online, synchronous online, and face-to-face as conditions allow,” she said. Conrad said MCC is planning to purchase three more simulator manikins to equip faculty and students in its respiratory therapy, nursing and medical assistant programs in case they cannot go into health care settings for clinical work due to COVID-19 or space limitations. Davenport University will begin its fall semester on Sept. 8. The university will welcome students on campus for face-to-face classes. There also will be classes online. “Our students need to be able to pursue their dreams and Davenport remains committed to helping them achieve those dreams,” said Dr. Richard J. Pappas, president of Davenport University. “We know we don’t have all the answers about what will come next, but our university has the flexibility, the agility and the experience to adapt and ensure our students don’t miss a step when it comes to their future.” According to the university, it is considering utilizing small class sizes and a hybrid approach to host classes that will combine

in-seat and an online experience to maintain social distancing; initiating strict and consistent cleaning protocols including advanced whole room disinfectant devices; requiring and utilizing facial masks and hand washing; offering disinfectants at contact points and health screening and testing protocols when appropriate for the university community; hosting students on its Grand Rapids campus in modern residence halls featuring 100% private bedrooms; and providing takeout options in its dining services. Calvin University will begin its fall semester on Sept. 3. and it will open campus to students. To ensure the health safety of everyone on campus, the university is partnering with Helix Diagnostics to allow for access to 5,000 COVID-19 tests for students, faculty and staff when they return to campus. “At Calvin University, our goal is to demonstrate that we are willing to adapt to the conditions, act quickly, and do what it takes for a safe and healthy return to learning on our campus,” said Michael Le Roy, president of Calvin University. “We recognize that reliable and timely access to testing for infection is an essential component of our overall strategy. Our partnership with Helix Diagnostics is one example of a number of initiatives we are undertaking to

Position yourself to lead after COVID CONTINUED FROM PAGE 20

need to know whether to wear masks, to prepare for anti-social distancing or whether they need to sign legal documents to return. How about your customers? They should be aware of new oﬀerings, the ability to schedule virtual meetings, whether they can expect you to personally visit their premises to ﬁx problems and any precautions you’re taking. Finally, what does the community need to know about you? Did you pivot your production to personal protective equipment? How about new platforms such as Zoom or GoToMeeting? Any innovations to announce after the government

serve our students well and keep faculty and staff safe.” Most of the 5,000 tests will be for initial screenings and the remainder will be used over the balance of the school year to test members of the community who are symptomatic and help support the university’s contact tracing efforts. The fall semester at Hope College will begin on Sept. 1. The college will have in-person classes and on-campus housing. Aquinas College will start the fall semester with students back on campus. Classes will begin on Aug. 27. To prepare for the health and safety for everyone on campus, Marissa Sura, associate vice pres-

ident of marketing and communication, said the college is considering a number of scenarios that will meet students’ needs for an on-campus experience while also keeping the community safe and in line with information and guidance from state and public health officials. “We intend to begin classes on time this fall,” said Kevin Quinn, president of Aquinas College. “The most important matter facing us now is how to do that thorough planning for our safe return to on-campus work and the establishment of our operational footing for the fall semester in a way that is safe for our community and the broader community.” Grand Valley State University

will be holding classes on campus beginning on Aug. 31. Maria Cimitile, provost and executive vice president for academic and student affairs, said deans and faculty members are reviewing course offerings to identify those that can be adapted to different formats: fully online, hybrid or physically distant faceto-face. She said there will be a shift from scholarship and service for one year to accommodate the need for more teaching. Tim Thimmesch, associate vice president for facilities services, said a cleaning and sanitation plan is in place on Grand Valley campuses. He said it will be “all hands on deck” as employees return.

s H s e a n s i s A u B S y tor r e

Let us tell yours!

frees people from their homes? Those locked indoors want to know what you’re doing now. Don’t sit silently while you commit good deeds and hard work only to wait for your market to return to you. Because it won’t. PR is not a replacement for great products or exceptional service. It can, however, amplify your successful record. So by all means, allow your work to speak for itself. But know that it only matters when people hear it. Dave Yonkman is president of the West Michigan public relations ﬁrm DYS Media and former Capitol Hill communications director.

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GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL

JUNE 15, 2020

A crowded table Al fresco dining. BUSINESS JOURNAL STAFF

small business to leverage donation-based crowdfunding through the Michigan-based Patronicity platform and to receive a 1:1 matching grant from MEDC of up to $5,000. Funds must be used by the businesses for working capital needs in order to maintain ongoing operations during and through the COVID-19 crisis. “I was absolutely blown away to be chosen for the MI Local Biz grant matching program,” said Cori Williams, owner of Beer City Barre in Grand Rapids. “I know there are so many deserving businesses out there, and I do not take this amazing opportunity for granted. The support of the community rallying around small businesses is inspiring, and it gives many people like myself a glimpse of hope as we make our way out of this unprecedented time. The money we receive through this program will be used to cover our basic expenses that have been hard to meet with our loss in sales over the last few months — rent, software, utilities (and) instructor pay, just to name a few.” Businesses in 42 counties are currently participating in the MI Local Biz program in communities ranging from Houghton in the Upper Peninsula to Benton Harbor in Southwest Michigan to Spring Lake in West Michigan to the Lake

Michigan port city of Manistee to Port Huron on the east side. Campaigns are continuing to go live and will be added to the page on a regular basis. Examples of the types of businesses that are participating include restaurants, bars, coffee shops, cafes, salons, day spas, yoga studios, historic theaters, retail shops, art galleries, recreation businesses and more. Those interested in learning more and supporting businesses in their communities can visit patronicity.com/milocalbiz. ART OF RECOVERY After the riots that rocked downtown Grand Rapids on May 30, prominent storefronts throughout the city were left with significant damage. However, on the following Sunday morning, the community came together to help clean up the aftermath. By mid-afternoon, streets and sidewalks were swept of debris and storefronts were boarded up. While the boards act as a temporary measure to protect the damaged storefronts, they detract from much of the lively energy Grand Rapids has come to exhibit. To help restore some of this energy, CWD Real Estate Investment partnered with Lions & Rabbits to bring back the artistic spirit Grand

FREYLING MENDELS APARTMENTS, GRAND RAPIDS, MI 56,000 SQ FT MIXED-USE COMMUNITY

ore than 100 small businesses around Michigan will use the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s MI Local Biz crowdfunding program throughout the month of June, MEDC said on June 4. The MEDC will provide a total of $500,000 in matching grants to help businesses as they work to recover from the impacts of COVID-19. “Michigan’s small businesses and traditional downtowns are a vital part of the state’s economy, and this program offers innovative access to capital for those businesses currently experiencing a loss in revenue directly related to the COVID-19 crisis,” said Mark Burton, CEO of the MEDC. “Helping our local businesses to successfully reopen lays a path for economic recovery in communities across the state while offering patrons an opportunity to support businesses in a time of need.” Launched in May, the MI Local Biz program builds on the MEDC’s Public Spaces Community Places (PSCP) program, in which residents can use crowdfunding to be part of the development of strategic projects in their communities and be backed with a matching grant from MEDC. MI Local Biz allows for a

Rapids embodies. Murals will be installed throughout the downtown area’s damaged storefronts in an effort to inspire, invigorate and remind the community of the city’s strength and unity, according to Lions & Rabbits owner Hannah Berry, who also is one of the driving forces behind the “After Dark” program designed to enhance city neighborhoods. “What happened here Saturday night was not unique to Grand Rapids. What happened next certainly was. On Sunday morning — literally before the sun was up, our community came out to repair the damage sustained,” said Sam Cummings, managing partner at CWD Real Estate. “The generosity and selfless beauty of what happened everywhere around our downtown inspired us again and again throughout the day. It is such a testament to what an amazing place West Michigan is.” CWD said it is working to get windows cut and installed as quickly as possible, but until then, the firm wants people to feel comfortable being downtown. With businesses beginning to reopen as a result of the statewide stayat-home orders being lifted, CWD wants to encourage people to continue supporting local businesses in and around downtown Grand Rapids. The collaborative project will highlight some local artists while supporting the small businesses that were damaged. Murals began appearing throughout Downtown Grand Rapids on June 5. The full list of CWD properties that will see mural installations include: 37 Otta-

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STREET TALK wa, 40 Pearl, 50 Louis, 80 Ottawa, 111 Lyon, 125 Ottawa, 169 Monroe, 180 Ottawa, 201 Michigan and 250 Monroe. GREAT OUTDOORS Wyoming is temporarily allowing local restaurants to expand outdoor seating arrangements. “Wyoming is home to a variety of excellent restaurants that feature cuisines from around the world,” said Mayor Jack Poll. “I’m excited to give restaurant owners an opportunity to jumpstart their businesses as we rebound from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. With the support of the community I know they’ll be successful. I welcome everyone in West Michigan to join us for a meal in Wyoming.” The emergency order signed earlier this month is designed to support local restaurants that are reopening with reduced indoor capacity due to social distancing restrictions. To take advantage of the new guidelines, business owners will need to apply and be approved for the expanded seating area. Before submitting their application, applicants are encouraged to contact staff to discuss their plan and any questions they may have. The planning staff can be reached from 7 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Thursday, at plan_info@wyo mingmi.gov or (616) 530-7258. Once an application with relevant plans and information is submitted to the planning office, they will be promptly reviewed for approval. The full emergency order with application instructions can be found online at wyomingmi. gov/coronavirus.

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Our business continuity plans and preparations ensure that critical functions will continue in the event of any disruption, with policies, people and processes aligned to provide continuous service. Fifth Third Bank has a long-standing history of developing and testing comprehensive plans to effectively manage through emergencies. We are well prepared to continue delivering the best-in-class service levels you are accustomed to receiving from Fifth Third. In moments like these, we are proud to be your trusted partner. Our experts are continually focused on maintaining the safety, security and success of your business today and in the future. For more information on how we can help with COVID-19-related disruptions to your business, visit 53.com. Fifth Third means business.

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