517 Magazine - August 2023

ODY NORKIN RALLIES GREATER LANSING AND THE WORLD IN UKRAINE RELIEF EFFORT

‘THIS TIME IT WAS US’ 911 workers reflect on MSU tragedy

WHERE THERE’S A NEED, THERE’S SHIRLEY Foundation helps people Against All Odds

Love Doesn’t Fit in a Backpack

The most valuable tool to help your children head back to school is the time you spend with them. Parents who invest time build self-esteem, support well-being and prepare students for the world.

The Art of Subtle Heroism

We crave heroes in our lives.

Not only do we crave heroes in our lives, but we also need heroes in our lives. They set expectations. They foster encouragement. They inspire hope. The news today may be filled with examples of tragedy and cynicism, but it’s that gem you come across of someone doing good or demonstrating selflessness that resonates and stays with you, providing faith in humanity.

As you might have guessed, we’re looking at some of our homegrown heroes this month in 517 Magazine. These are people across Greater Lansing who are lifting our region in a variety of ways. Some of them you’ve probably heard of before; others are people who may be unfamiliar to you now but deserve the recognition they are receiving.

But exactly what makes a hero? What makes a person run into a burning building? What motivates another to collect necessities for the homeless?

It seems like such a simple question, but the answer is as intricate and individual as each person; however, I like to believe that in most instances a fundamental compassion for humanity is at the core of the act or deed.

The part I find so appealing is that it gives all of us a chance to be heroes in our everyday actions and choices. I consider it to be the art of subtle heroism. We get to make decisions numerous times each day that can have a positive impact on another person or even another business.

We think of heroism and heroics as being loud, bold and brazen — and sometimes they’re exactly that. Yet more often than not, heroism is something that’s quiet, unassuming and unsung. It’s a small, maybe even unnoticeable, moment. Compassion takes such little effort, and I’ve found that it has always been reasonably priced.

Be reckless in your kindness, practice brash optimism and heroism will find you.

Cape sold separately.

Tiffany Dowling Publisher

517 Business and Life, Volume 5, Issue 6, August 2023.

517 Business and Life (USPS#020-807) is published monthly by M3 Group at 221 W. Saginaw St., Lansing, MI 48933. Periodicals postage paid at Lansing, Michigan.

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“The

Accidentally Lucky Duo’s serendipitous encounter helps save motorist

business

WECANBEHEROES

OWNERS WHO STAND OUT AS CHAMPIONS

We don’t often hear the word “hero” in business unless we are speaking about those with big ideas who turn those concepts into success stories. However, we’re talking about business owners who have stepped up when others have stepped aside — such as our cover feature, Ody Norkin of Michigan Flyer, who risked his life to help the people of Ukraine. Read his story on page 13.

Travis Stoliker and Matt Gillett of Saddleback BBQ helped crowdfund the donation of around 1,000 meals to kids who had their school lunch programs shut down, as well as fund more than 200 meals to first responders and frontline medical professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic. They’ve also been known to step up for other restaurants struggling in various ways.

The Lansing Economic Area Partnership introduced Elevate to the region. The program uplifts Blackowned businesses.

Playmakers has donated thousands of shoes in the Greater Lansing community to charities supporting homeless veterans, children and seniors.

Ele’s Place continues to work tirelessly in its efforts to serve grieving children.

The list goes on and on … and on.

This kind of work in the community is meaningful. It leaves a lasting impression. As the retail sector continues to scrap to remain open amid a monumental rise in convenience shopping through online sites like Amazon, we certainly could use a few more everyday heroes.

How are you making a difference today?

A snapshot of local business news affecting the 517

NEW BUSINESSES MAKE 517 AREA HOME

BY RICH ADAMS

From board gaming to food and drinks to a new spin on laundry, there are signs that the Greater Lansing business community is growing.

The Homebrew Tabletop Game Lounge opened in Grand Ledge and features games of all sorts. Located at 219 1/2 N. Bridge St., Homebrew, has snacks and a variety of nonalcoholic drinks available, said Jeff Croff, who owns the business with his wife, Sadonna.

Customers can rent games from the list of hundreds of board games or bring a group of people and play for $5 per person. There’s even a date-night package.

“The idea for Homebrew comes from the reality that as we all are busier and busier, we need a place where we can slow down and reconnect with family and friends while possibly making new ones,” Croff said. “We want to be the place that isn’t home or work that folks can call their third place. Homebrew offers games to rent or purchase while providing a relaxing and comfortable environment to enjoy drinks and snacks.”

The business has a number of plastic human-form markers called “meeples.” If folks are looking for new friends, a green marker means you can join the game. Yellow means the players are in the middle of a game and red designates do not disturb.

And if you are looking for electronic games, you’re out of luck. Over in St. Johns, a bit of Ireland can be found at Kilkenny’s Irish Fish ‘N Chip food trailer.

According to the business’s Facebook page, the owners took possession of the trailer June 4 and noted the business will be opening soon; however, further details were not available at the time this publication went to print.

In Mason there are two new businesses, both on Cedar Street.

The Dirty Laundry Lounge at 132 S. Cedar St. has put a new take on the laundromat. Dirty Laundry’s website touts state-of-the-art laundry equipment, which means a fast and superior wash-and-dry experience. Included in that tech is the Speed Queen app, which enables customers to pay for their laundry. The traditional coin payment is still available.

Then there’s a new name on a familiar watering hole. The Tipsy Nickel Bar and Grille at 117 S. Cedar St. is in the building formerly occupied by Darb’s Tavern and Eatery.

Tipsy Nickel has an atypical bar menu. The shareables include seasoned pork rinds and barbecue brisket nachos. Specialty sandwiches include a fried green tomato offering and a pork tenderloin melt. Plus, customers can even create their own sandwich from a menu of breads, proteins, cheeses and toppings.

CULINARY PROJECT THE MACOTTA CLUB BILLED AS RECIPE FOR SUCCESS

BY TEECE ARONIN

It might feel as though the grand opening of the Macotta Club in early 2024 is a long way off, but Julie Reinhardt, director of downtown community development at Downtown Lansing Inc., knows it’s worth the wait.

“The Macotta Club will be a catalyst for creating a 24/7 downtown experience and a space for inclusive community connection,” she said. “Our goal is that 51% of program participants represent women or BIPOC-owned businesses to ensure a diverse business mix within downtown Lansing.”

Construction is underway where the Macotta Club will offer six restaurants and encompass 20,000 square feet. The space will also serve as an incubator for 16 startup culinary entrepreneurs to build their reputations for creating groundbreaking cuisine. If you enjoy a full-service bar and a variety of food truck options, the Macotta Club is also for you.

It is anticipated that the Macotta Club will be open morning through nighttime, weekdays and weekends, and will be a “food hall-style establishment” where patrons can mix and match menu offerings from multiple vendors. So, diners who wish to enjoy one vendor’s food as a main dish, can pair it with a dessert from another vendor.

The Macotta Club will be on the ground floor of the historic Knapp’s Centre at the corner of Washington Square and Washtenaw Street. More information on the venture can be found at macottaclub.com

LANSING INVITES MICHIGAN TO ANSWER THE CALL AT MACKINAC POLICY CONFERENCE

BY RICH ADAMS

When the Mackinac Policy Conference took place in early summer on Mackinac Island, hundreds of legislators, lobbyists, journalists and others took to the island to discuss key issues facing the state and hear from various panels, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and more. Speakers — including businessman and philanthropist Mark Cuban and former U.S. Rep Liz Cheney — offered their takes on this year’s conference theme, “The Power of &.”

Lansing was more than prepared to demonstrate the positive changes in the city’s development with its Lansing Reception on the island under the reception theme of “Lansing is Calling.” Among highlights:

• Grewal Hall 224, which will hold up to 900 patrons and be a destination for bringing in talent and entertainment in the heart of downtown.

• The MSUFCU Ovation Music and Arts Center, a venue seating 2,000 concertgoers, will be completed in two years.

• The Saginaw Corridor east of MLK Boulevard is being revived, including the opening of Moneyball Sportswear; DRM International Learning Center; and the former Park’s Furniture building becoming new office, commercial and residential space.

One of the conference’s main focuses was the future of electric vehicle manufacturing in the Lansing area. Mayor Andy Schor said the city is poised to be a player in that area.

“Lansing is perfectly situated and ready to help build the next generation of cars, including EV battery components,” Schor said. “Working with our economic development partners, we stand ready to recruit more of these projects and create more jobs for our residents. The investments already underway can be a catalyst for more growth for our entire region.”

In the meantime, the Detroit Regional Chamber has announced Suzanne Shank, president, CEO and co-founder of Siebert Williams Shank & Co. LLC, as the 2024 Mackinac Policy Conference chair. The next conference runs May 28-31. Registration opens in November.

Have you noticed that the healthcare system is overwhelmed and stressed?

With the lifestyle-related disease rates at an all-time high and rising, it promises to become an even bigger pressure cooker in our future. While a few people can rave about their recent visit to the doctor, most grumble that the experience was rushed, incomplete and/or impersonal. Now imagine the experience from the perspective of your health care provider. Most are service-oriented givers. Humans serving humans, each and every day. They have become overburdened with demand and must err on the side of efficient, disease-management tactics. Their work environment often feels like a pressure cooker, trying to serve as

many people as possible in a day. No wonder they are increasingly stressed and burned out. They truly are our local heroes. There is another way.

Almost a decade ago, I invited a small gathering of physicians to begin studying together. They represent a variety of subspecialties, but they share similar values around wellness and disease prevention, as opposed to quick-fix solutions. These are providers who spend time helping patients with root-cause analysis and lifestyle change in order to predict and preempt lifestyle-related diseases.

I called it the Wellness and Prevention Study Club. We have grown to about 25 members and we meet monthly at my home. In addition to collaboration and fostering our own learning, we have hosted a handful of community educational events.

Our next one, Healing the Healer, is dedicated to our local hero healthcare providers. We will reserve 20% of the seats for non-professional healthpassionate people.

For more information, check out WellnessAndPreventionStudyClub.com.

Dr. Susan Maples is a dentist in Holt. She is also a speaker, health educator, and author of “BlabberMouth!

77 Secrets Only Your Mouth Can Tell You to Live a Healthier, Happier, Sexier Life” and “Brave Parent: Raising Healthy, Happy Kids (Against All Odds) in Today’s World.” Reach her at Susan@DrSusanMaples.com.

Shop Strategically

Thrift stores, garage sales, and social media groups are great places to look for quality items – including kids’ clothes – that fit your needs for less than you would pay if they were new, saving you money.

special sales during back-toschool season. Don’t forget to look for deals and coupons for school clothes, as well.

You can also get the most out of your back-to-school shopping by using a cash back credit card.

MSUFCU’s Visa Signature®

Back-to-school shopping doesn’t have to add stress to your life or your wallet. Here are a few ways to stay within your budget and get your kids involved as they prepare for the new school year.

Shop at Home

Take a look at each child’s school supplies list to see what you may already have from previous years. You might have enough crayons, pens, pencils, folders, and other supplies on hand already so you can cross these items off your shopping list.

Office supply, dollar, and warehouse stores are also good places to check. They tend to have more variety and possibly better deals, especially if you buy in bulk. If you have multiple children at home who all need similar school supplies, buying those supplies in larger quantities can save you more than buying each item separately.

Shop Generic

Shopping for generic merchandise instead of name-brand items can save you money. Also, look for digital coupons available on websites, apps, and through text messages. Many retailers have

Credit Card features 3% cash back on groceries, 2% cash back on gas, and 1% cash back on all other purchases. We also offer the Platinum Plus Visa Credit Card with 1% cash back on all purchases. Learn more about how MSUFCU can help you save during this school year at msufcu.org/visa.

Healing the Healer:

Deactivating

Stress

and Burnout for HealthCare Providers

SATURDAY--OCTOBER 28 8:30 ��:30

If you are running on overdrive, caring for other people's ailments, this day is for YOU!

Brought to you by: Wellness and Prevention Study Club (Learn more at: WellnessandPreventionStudyClub.com)

LCC West Auditorium I 5708 Cornerstone Drive, Lansing, Ml 48917 Cost $50: includes CE/CME credits, a healthy lunch and book of your choice

Dr. David Pawsat

Integrative Medicine Physician

Dr. Susan Maples

Total Health Dentist

Mindful Providing: Seeking Fulfilment in Every Interaction

Dr. Alicia Williams Wellness Cardiologist

Lower Your Blood Pressure and Love Your Heart

Julie Dillon Health and Wellness Coach

Movement and Breathwork for Any Time of Any Day

Chris Johnson

Health/Performance Coach and Founder of On Target Living Pace, Space and Food for Life

Dr. Chandra Gera

Sleep Medicine Pulmonologist

Dr. Tracey Epley

Total Health Dentist

Healthy Sleep Heals the MindHow to Achieve It?

Dr. Sarah Denham

Holistic Care and Wellness Physician

Do You Want To Live Free? Unlocking the Secrets of the Mental and Spiritual Approach to Relieving our Stress and Suffering

Register online here:

Featured Keynote Speaker: Dr. Robert Lustig

Professor Emeritus UCSF, Neuroendocrinology, and author of three bestselling books: Fat Chance, Hacking of the American Mind, and Metabolical The Secret to Wellness is Identifying the Illness

Event Sponsored by: Rehmann Group PNC Bank 517 Magazine

Howard Hanna Real Estate Executives

ODY NORKIN RALLIES GREATER LANSING AND THE WORLD IN UKRAINE RELIEF EFFORT

BY OMAR SOFRADZIJA

hen Greater Lansing resident Ody Norkin saw televised images of Ukrainian innocents seeking refuge amid a Russian onslaught, he knew he had to do something.

As a Michigan Flyer intercity bus line executive, his skills could aid evacuations, he thought. So, Norkin reached out to officials in the war zone.

“They told me, ‘No, we don’t need drivers, we don’t need vans. But we’re desperate for ambulances. Can you bring us an ambulance?’” Norkin recalled. “I said, ‘I never bought an ambulance; I know nothing about it. … I’ll go try.’”

Four civilian ambulances, three Humvee multipurpose vehicles, one supply van and three shipping containers filled with medical supplies later, Norkin’s efforts — and the related contributions of countless other mid-Michiganders — are a real-time testimony to how far “I’ll go try” can go.

And Norkin’s not done yet.

“That’s kind of been the ethos from the start. We don’t exactly know where I’m going with this; but we’ll try, and we’ll see where it goes,” Norkin said. “People can say ‘no.’ It’s easy to get a ‘no.’ It’s harder to get a ‘yes.’”

Norkin’s drive stemmed from more than simple human decency. His paternal grandparents died in Ukraine (then a part of the Soviet Union) amid Germany’s 1941 invasion, after being abandoned by fleeing Soviets in the city of Odesa, he said.

“My grandparents were rendered too old to be evacuated, so they were left behind. … We really don’t know” what happened to them, Norkin said. “We just know we lost them in the streets, so they’re listed as victims of the Holocaust” in a subsequent mass murder known as the 1941 Odesa massacre.

When sharing his plan, Norkin’s daughter expressed concerns: He didn’t speak the right languages, he was the wrong volunteer, this wasn’t going to work.

“I said, ‘Well, you’re right. I don’t speak any of the languages. I’m absolutely the wrong volunteer. But at least I’ll come back and say I tried,” Norkin said.

“We all learned in the ’40s it was total apathy toward trying to evacuate people from Nazi Europe, and I just couldn’t live with that,” he said. “If the effort fails, it fails. But I wasn’t going to sit around doing nothing.”

So, Norkin headed abroad with a few thousand dollars in hand. However, upon arriving in Romania — next-door neighbor

Norkin with an ER physician supervising ambulance operations in Bucharest and has been instrumental in buying medication, medical equipment and preparing each ambulance and each drawer inside the ambulance. Names are being withheld for protection and privacy purposes.

to Ukraine — “the first thing I learned was that as an American I’m there as a tourist, and I’m not authorized to buy any vehicle.”

Instead of turning around at that obstacle, he went around it — leaning on local Jewish communities and Rotary clubs in Greater Lansing, Romania and Ukraine for assistance, connections and direction.

“Long story short, it took us five weeks, and we delivered an ambulance,” fully equipped and stocked with medical supplies, Norkin said.

In the meantime, word got around midMichigan about Norkin’s efforts. Donations began to trickle in through the Greater Lansing Jewish Federation. By the time Norkin returned home, there was enough cash to cover what Norkin paid for the first ambulance, and even add a second one.

“The project really grew,” he said. “I really didn’t anticipate it while I was there.”

Elected officials and diplomats helped cut through the red tape for ambulance No. 2. As money kept pouring in from near and far, eventually a third ambulance was purchased in Italy, and a fourth was bought in France. Other connections stretching from New Jersey to Utah, and enabled by mid-Michiganders and their grown children living across the country, helped acquire and send medical supplies, retired military Humvee ambulances and a van to Ukraine.

Norkin gives much of the credit to the communities near and far that have chipped in to help with the time, thoughts and treasure.

“I’m just a driver. The community has really made this happen,” Norkin said. “It’s been overwhelming and just heartwarming.”

As for Norkin’s role? He remains modest. Citing an old Hebrew saying of his father’s, he simply said: “I had more luck than skill.”

Whether lucky or skillful, Norkin is persistent.

“I and the team would be happy to come visit any organization, any church, any medical organization, any company that would like to meet with us. We’ll show you a few of our slides of what we accomplished, and we’d love to partner with anyone who’s

willing to partner with us and make things happen,” he said. “Unfortunately, it’s going to be needed in the upcoming months. It doesn’t appear that this is going to end.”

Currently, donations are being collected to send as many as 20 more shipping containers of medical supplies to Ukraine. And next up may be the most challenging effort yet: Doctors in Ukraine have pleaded for a new or refurbished neurosurgical microscope with a price tag well north of $100,000 that is desperately needed to help save lives there. Norkin, unsurprisingly, is unphased.

“It’s a significant ask, and it’s a significant donation; and we’ll try,” he said.

How You Can Help Ody Norkin Help Ukraine

The Greater Lansing Jewish Federation is still taking donations to underwrite Ukraine relief efforts.

• More information (along with pictures and videos regarding this project) is available at jewishfederationlansing.org.

• Online donations are accepted at jewishfederationlansing.org/ ambulance-for-ukraine-relief.

• Checks made out to the Greater Lansing Jewish Federation can be mailed to the group’s office at 1924 Coolidge Rd., East Lansing, MI 48823

Source: Greater Lansing Jewish Federation website

Ukrainian evacuees who managed to reach the port of Mangalia, where Norkin picked them up and transported them to a hotel where they were then provided transit to Israel.

Norkin with N.K., who volunteers with ambulance operations in Odesa as part of several ambulances owned and operated by the Jewish community of Odesa. The ambulances respond to emergency calls of both the military and the civilian population at large in the Odesa region.

PROFESSIONAL HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 517 REGION

Future Leader Takes Top Prize at STEAM Expo

Shawna Wesley, an 8-year-old third grade student at Wilcox Elementary School in Holt, was selected as the grand-prize winner in the first STEAM Expo.

Wesley won an iPad Air and scholarship

to the Little Leaders Camp. Students ages 7-17 were eligible to enter their projects in the event celebrating science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. The event was presented by Advancement Corp. and the 517 Hope Leadership Development Project.

Wesley entered the math category with a fraction garden that she made to practice fractions and the engineering category with a shavings catcher she made with a 3D pen to create a base for a pencil sharpener to catch the shavings.

Herbert Honored with Community Service Award Sparrow Health System board member James Herbert received this year’s Community Service Award from the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Value-driven plans. More resources. Better business benefits.

Shawna Wesley

James Herbert

The award honors individuals who give their time and expertise to the community above and beyond their own field of endeavor and demonstrate excellence, creativity and initiative.

In 2014, Herbert and his wife, Judi, both cancer survivors, donated $2.5 million toward construction of the Sparrow Herbert-Herman Cancer Center, which opened in 2017. The couple later made a $5 million donation to establish the Genomics Endowment for Diagnosis and Treatment of Cancer at the Sparrow Foundation.

MSUFCU Receives CMPRSA

PACE Pinnacle Award

Michigan State University Federal Credit Union received a 2023 Central Michigan Public Relations Society of America PACE Pinnacle Award for its 2023 Open Enrollment Guide.

Held annually, the CMPRSA PACE Awards are a mid-Michigan recognition of public relations efforts and are awarded to public relations practitioners who, in the judgment of their peers, have successfully addressed a contemporary issue with exemplary professional skill, creativity and resourcefulness.

“We are honored to receive this award,” said Silvia Dimma, MSUFCU chief human resources officer. “This recognition is a reflection of our commitment to empowering our employees with the necessary tools, resources and compensation to do their best work. We continue to work together to build a culture and work environment that we all want to and are proud to be a part of.”

Romero Named Outstanding Hispanic/Latino Caregiver

Victoria

Romero, labor and delivery departmentcertified surgical tech at McLaren Greater Lansing, has been recognized as one of the Lansing Latino Health Alliance’s 2022 Outstanding Hispanic/Latino Caregivers. The award is given annually to a caregiver who has made a significant impact in the life of a patient, exceeded expectations in carrying out their responsibilities and demonstrated exceptional professionalism in the

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Victoria Romero

workplace. Romero was nominated for the award by her co-workers.

“I am extremely humbled and honored to have received this award. I have been blessed to work in an environment with amazing nurses, physicians and fellow techs,” said Romero. “I truly love what I do, and I am grateful that I was put on this path to work in labor and delivery.”

ACEC/Michigan Elects New President

The American Council of Engineering Companies/Michigan announced Jon Kramer from OHM Advisors as its 20232024 president.

Kramer joined architecture, engineering and planning firm OHM Advisors as a 19-year-old intern and has held numerous leadership positions. Those leadership efforts resulted in OHM Advisors being named ACEC/Michigan 2020 and 2013 Firm of the Year.

Kramer’s extensive commitment to council members grew alongside his corporate responsibilities, having served ACEC/Michigan’s board of directors in several governance roles before taking the reins as 2023-2024 president.

Ourspace (517) Wins Startup Competition

Lansing Built to Last, a local startup competition, announced Ourspace (517) as its 2023 first-place winner. The community engagement organization will receive one year of free rent in the Greater Lansing area and a suite of wraparound services from experts across the region that will support the new business during its first year of growth.

Ourspace (517) organizes events and festivals in Lansing’s corridors.

“This award will be a game-changer for our organization,” said Mikeyy Austin, founder and director of Ourspace (517). “Our team believes that we show up bigger when we show up together. These services will help us continue to build, attract and retain

community development here in Lansing.”

Lansing Built to Last also announced Knowing Your Home, an educational series offering home maintenance classes for women and new homeowners, as first runner-up. Knowing Your Home will receive one year of retail support in Middle Village Micro Market in downtown Lansing.

Sparrow Names New Board Members

Sparrow Health System has named several new members to various boards.

Dr. Hae Mi Choe and Kimberly Ross were named to the Sparrow Health System board of directors. Ryan Hesche was named to the board of directors at Sparrow Ionia Hospital.

Choe has received numerous honors for her innovations in the field of pharmacy and has been a pioneer in advancing the role of pharmacists in ambulatory care settings and within patient-centered medical homes and accountable care organizations.

Ross joined Michigan Medicine in 2017 as chief government relations officer. She was previously a lobbyist and policy adviser for Dykema Gossett PLLC.

Hesche is managing agent for Greenridge Realty in Saranac and Lowell.

MSUFCU Receives Workplace Mental Health Honor

Michigan State University Federal Credit Union is a 2023 gold recipient of Mental Health America’s Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health.

The Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health is an annual national certification program that recognizes employers committed to creating mentally healthy workplaces. Bell Seal recipients are evaluated based on their organizational policies and practices that

improve employee mental health outcomes, including workplace culture, benefits, compliance and wellness programs.

“MSU Federal Credit Union is proud to be named a Bell Seal gold recipient,” said Silvia Dimma, MSUFCU chief human resources officer. “This recognition speaks to our organizational commitment to prioritize our employees’ overall well-being.”

Greater Lansing Area Club Executive Officers Sworn In

Five members of the community took their oaths June 14 at Lansing City Hall for the 2023-2025 executive committee officer positions of the Greater Lansing Area Club within the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs Inc.

The officers are Renee Morgan Freeman, president; ReShane Lonzo, financial secretary; Lural Baltimore, recording secretary; Sharon Civils, first vice president; and Dr. Surae Eaton, treasurer. The oath of installation was performed by Judge Kristen D. Simmons.

Knapp Named a ‘Go To Lawyer’ for Business Litigation

Dickinson Wright has announced that Lansing lawyer Scott Knapp has been named a “Go To Lawyer” for business litigation by Michigan Lawyers Weekly.

Now in its fourth year, the “Go To Lawyer” program recognizes leading lawyers in a particular field of law.

“I am honored to be selected by Michigan Lawyers Weekly as a ‘Go To Lawyer’ for business litigation. It is a privilege to be included with such a talented and accomplished group of attorneys,” Knapp said.

Knapp focuses his practice on commercial and business litigation and appellate work.

Jon Kramer

Dr. Hae Mi Choe

Ryan Hesche

ReShane Lonzo, Dr. Surae Eaton, Renee Morgan Freeman, Lural Baltimore and Sharon Civils

BECOMING A BUSINESS HERO

FIVE WAYS SMALL BUSINESSES CAN SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER

BY 517 STAFF

Captain Business? The Caped Business-Woman? Commander Business-Man? Those sound like some pretty lame-o comic book names, but small-business owners don’t need to have a star-spangled secret identity to become real-life superheroes for other small-business owners. Here are five ways businesses can support one another in the name of truth, justice and the American way.

CROSS-PROMOTION

Show politicians how it can and should be done by reaching across the aisle in the spirit of cooperation and collaboration. Cross-promotion partnerships can be mutually beneficial to both parties. According to Forrester Consulting, 77% of business owners said partnerships are a part of marketing success — and more than half of those said cross-promotions are 20% of their revenue.

BE THEIR LOYAL CUSTOMER

Small businesses benefit from a tightly-knit community network. As noted on business.nextdoor.com, “It can be easy to forget that small-business owners and staff members can be potential customers too. It can also be challenging to build a network and authentically support the local businesses involved if you have not benefited from their services or products.”

LEAVE A REVIEW

Now that you’re a brand ambassador for the shop next door, say something nice! Show a little love for the product or service you just purchased. Share your thoughts about how that store benefits and contributes to the community. As noted in a blog on LinkedIn, it helps your fellow business owner build trust and establish a positive reputation. And a little reciprocation isn’t out of the question.

GET SOCIAL

An article in Forbes took notice of the endless possibilities that are available when using social media as a platform to partner with other small businesses. From shared content, bundled giveaways or contests, or even hosting live events, social media can get people talking. The article suggested finding partners that align with your audience and brand values when launching a joint campaign.

GO SMALL IN YOUR SUPPLY CHAIN

If your business relies on vendors, look for ways to add small businesses to your supply chain needs. In an article on the small-business networking and mentoring site score.org, it was estimated that “as a result of COVID-19 setbacks, 15% to 20% of small-business vendors are on the receiving end of late payments from the larger corporations that use them as suppliers.”

A BRIEF LOOK AT STATE AND NATIONAL NEWS AFFECTING OUR REGION

diagnostic medical sonographers, electricians, and firefighters.

Similarly, Michigan’s Hot 50 Job Outlook through 2030 highlights several high-demand, high-wage careers — including industrial machine mechanics, massage therapists and physical therapist assistants — requiring less than a bachelor’s degree.

According to evidence obtained by the American Apprenticeship Initiative, employers, except for the building trades, underutilize apprenticeship training partially because they assume colleges will bear the primary responsibility for career preparation. However, research shows that apprenticeships enhance benefits to both employer and employee.

Steven Long, apprenticeship and training representative with the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship, said that apprenticeships and training programs are another vehicle to move people into lucrative careers.

OPPORTUNITIES OUTSIDE A FOUR-YEAR DEGREE ARE GROWING

BY CHRISTINE MACINTYRE

Statistics show that more education means less unemployment and higher pay. Experts credit higher education as a signal to employers that a potential employee possesses desirable skills.

However, there’s also a correlation between the necessity for higher education and the career field, meaning that higher education isn’t a definitive indication of success.

Vocational, technical and skilled trades careers, including employment within the manufacturing, automotive, information technology, health care and construction sectors, require skills such as math, reading aptitude, dependability, work ethic, attitude and flexibility; yet many of these are acquired through minimal college and paid training.

Michigan Career Outlook through 2030, a publication by the Michigan Center for Data and Analytics, highlights a wide range of career options requiring a two-year degree, long-term training or apprenticeships. Some examples among the highest demand and highest paid include bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists, carpenters, dental hygienists,

“In many of these programs, you’re basically taking courses such as humanities and social sciences out of the equation and focusing on very specific areas of study. The beauty of it all is there’s no college debt,” he said.

Additionally, nontraditional trades are emerging. Long said that an apprenticeship training program that will allow certified nursing and medical assistants to progress to a registered nurse certification and licensing without going through a four-year college is currently in the approval process.

“This will provide a viable pathway for nurse licensing. It’s a different avenue for people from lower-income areas and disadvantaged groups to get into an RN program and get licensed,” he said.

Stephanie Beckhorn, director of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity Office of Employment and Training, said a career in the professional trades offers a goodpaying, in-demand job while helping build the foundation of strong communities.

“In 2022, professional trades careers paid about 30% higher than the statewide median for all occupations, with a median salary of nearly $59,000,” she said. “There are resources available to help you tap into these rewarding careers with little or no student debt. Programs like the Going PRO Talent Fund, State Apprenticeship Expansion and Michigan Reconnect help ensure our neighbors, family and friends can get the education, skills or training they need to succeed.”

PREPARING COLLEGE GRADUATES FOR THE WORKFORCE TRANSITION

BY CHRISTINE MACINTYRE

College graduation is a huge milestone but also a crossroads for students.

Graduates face life-changing decisions about careers, housing and transitioning into the world outside the classroom. Some graduates seemingly have everything lined up, but others are in limbo.

Jeff Beavers is the executive director at Michigan State University’s Career Services Network, where he assists at the intersection of students and the workforce. He said the job market for fresh graduates is strong.

“We have had nearly 125,000 full-time jobs posted to our job board in the past 12 months and have more than 14,000 postings that are currently open,” Beavers noted.

He credited MSU’s size, strength of academic programs and diversity of the student population for helping to achieve the record volume of opportunities received. The university’s diverse employer base consists of more than 63,000, including various industries, locations and sizes, which helps limit the impact of industry trends.

“Education, construction, health care, packaging and corporate retail are very strong this year,” Beavers said. At the same time, graduates still struggle to navigate the job market.

“With so many COVID-period internships being remote or canceled, and with fewer opportunities for extracurricular involvement and other experiential learning, some students’ resumes lack the scope of experience employers desire,” said Beavers.

To offset that challenge, his office works with students to ensure they include relevant course projects, volunteer experiences, involvement in registered student organizations

and campus activities on their resumes. Additionally, there is a hidden job market through the alum networking and mentoring program, in which alums have volunteered to support student success through coaching, mentoring and informational interviews.

Macy Jacobs graduated from Grand Valley State University in April, earning a degree in cardiovascular sonography. In March, she started an internship at Corewell Health in Grand Rapids and has worked there as a full-time cardiovascular sonographer since May.

Her transition from college to the workforce was smooth, thanks partly to her placement in a work setting before graduation.

“I’m glad (my employer) has given me an opportunity to learn new skills,” said Jacobs, adding that she’d researched salary before settling on a career field. “Working full time can be tiring, but it’s also nice not worrying about homework and studying. I don’t have worries moving forward since I know I have support from my family, friends and co-workers.”

Jacobs lives in a house shared with four roommates to help offset the cost of living while she’s still new to the workforce. Soon, she plans to transition to an apartment with just one roommate. Not every transition is as clean-cut as Jacobs’. According to a survey conducted by Quality Logo Products, 84% of America’s college seniors don’t have a job lined up when they graduate. Additionally, the survey indicated that a majority of college seniors are concerned about affording rent and utilities once entering the workforce. The survey sheds light on the fact that many college graduates hold expectations that don’t align with reality. These findings speak to the importance of resources such as college campus career services and student planning and research to assist in navigating post-graduate life.

There are those who will demonstrate a dedication and commitment to the work they do, then there’s the next level of Jessica Grienke.

“When I first started this business, I shaved my head bald,” said Grienke, owner of A Wig and a Prayer, 1711 W. Grand River Ave. in Okemos. “I wore a wig for several months, just to see what it would be like to wear a wig.”

Grienke, a hair stylist by trade, opened A Wig and a Prayer roughly a decade ago. The full-service salon caters specifically to those who wear wigs or hair pieces and specializes in providing hair enhancements to women experiencing any form of hair loss — be it due to heredity, chemotherapy, alopecia or any other cause.

“I thought to myself, if I don’t know what it’s like to have to wear a wig on a bald head, how am I supposed to speak to that to someone else?” Grienke continued. “So, after some long conversations with my husband, we agreed that it was important for the business to shave my head. When people ask me, ‘What did you learn?’ … I loved that I could go out and could make my wig look just like my real hair. It looked like me. Nobody looked at me weird. Nobody took a second look. It just made me feel like myself.”

The ability for women to feel like themselves, feel whole, is the goal of Grienke’s work. It goes much deeper than simply restoring selfesteem and rebuilding self-confidence.

“I can’t tell you the amount of women who have said to me, ‘You changed my life. You’ve totally given me my life back,’” she said. “I

HELPING WOMEN FEEL WHOLE

ON THE RECORD WITH JESSICA GRIENKE OF A WIG AND A PRAYER

BY CHRISTOPHER NAGY

feel very honored to have that place in women’s lives, where it’s such a vulnerable area. So many women, when they’re losing their hair, feel like they’re losing a part of who they are. I feel like that’s what my job is — to give them that part of themselves that makes them feel like who they are.”

It’s a common theme Grienke hears from her clients, and it’s something that is reflected in the tagline of the business: “Because it’s more than just hair.”

“One woman just told me, ‘My husband feels like he has his wife back — not because of how I look, but because of how I portray myself, the confidence that I have,’” Grienke said. “When she would go into any space, she would be scanning for where the lights were, whether she was going to be sitting in front of someone. She said it was just debilitating. Now she says she has her husband back — not because of how she looks but because of how she feels.

“A lot of times women will apologize for it. ‘I shouldn’t be so vain.’ ‘This shouldn’t be a big deal.’ ‘I know it’s just hair.’ But it is a big deal,” she added. “It’s a big deal to you, and it’s a big deal about how you feel about yourself.”

There are countless reasons why women come to A Wig and a Prayer, but Grienke said being able to help restore a small piece of their self-worth is what makes her job worthwhile.

For more information on A Wig and a Prayer, visit awigandaprayer.com.

QUESTIONS WITH PURPOSE

EDUCING INFORMATION AND IDEAS IS ALL IN THE PHRASING

BY SUSAN COMBS

What makes a good question?

In my 20 years as a coach and consultant, I’ve worked with many clients and organizations to think about the types of questions they usually ask and about the ways to make those inquiries more impactful. When needing confirmation on information, a yes/no question will suffice. Yet if you are asking about an employee’s level of engagement, seeking fresh ideas on creative solutions or providing support, an open-ended question will give you more robust information. Consider these situations and potential questions:

Delegating a new project

• What will be your first step?

• What will success look like?

• What roadblocks can you foresee?

• How much support do you need from me?

• How often should we touch base on your progress?

Career development

• What do you like about your current job?

• What additional responsibility would you like to take on to enhance your skills?

• Where do you see yourself in five years?

• What is your ultimate career goal?

• What are your strengths?

Improving team dynamics

• On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate our team dynamics?

• What’s missing from our team?

• What additional training or support could we use?

• On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate our team’s communication?

• How can we foster more trust in our team?

When formulating a powerful question, starting with “what” or “how” usually lands best. Be mindful of your tone and ask questions from a place of curiosity instead of judgement. Try to stay away from “why” questions, as these can make people feel defensive.

Give some thought to the typical questions you ask and see if you can work to turn them into powerful inquiries. Then practice those good listening skills; you might be amazed at what you learn.

HOMETOWN HEROES: HOW POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS LEARN AT LANSING’S COLLEGE

BY ANDY BRENT

Public safety is a cornerstone of civil society. Citizens are able to live and work safe from fear of theft, injury or abuse on the promise that somebody is minding the store of conduct; and further, that others stand ready to provide lifesaving care should they need it.

The police, firefighters and emergency medical technicians who constitute the forces providing this security must be educated to accede to the strenuous demands of their mandate. Locally, the Lansing Community College (LCC) Fire Academy graduated 18 firefighters to local departments in May this year. The 111th class of the MidMichigan Police Academy at LCC also graduated in May. LCC Chief of Police Daryl Gaines believes public service, specifically law enforcement, is a national priority.

“Recruiting and retaining committed individuals to the law enforcement profession has always been prioritized by police departments but, now more than ever it’s of the utmost importance,” Gaines said. “With law enforcement rethinking how it approaches service to the public, policy reforms that are committed to moving all law enforcement entities in the same direction are critical. We have to find the most productive ways to serve the communities we’ve swore an oath to protect, building departments with those committed individuals who can rebuild public trust.”

The public trust to which Gaines refers might account for the lag in public service hiring and increase in public service retirements, at least to some degree. A study by the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) determined there were 50% more resignations and 20% more retirements in 2022 than 2019 across all reporting departments, and cited increased scrutiny and lack of proper education and support as consequential to the increase. Commitment to improvement, Gaines believes, is why the officers educated in today’s programs can expect to be more successful.

“Being able to gain the required level of commitment from individuals really starts with an understanding of why we’re seeking to make these changes,” Gaines said. “Educating about not just laws and how to enforce them, but about history and culture so officers can have a better understanding of the communities they serve. That in turn will give them a better understanding of how we got here and why we’re trying to take the profession in the direction we’re trying to take it.”

On average, police departments are only filling 93% of open positions, according to PERF. The lack in staffing owes not generally to a decrease in hiring, but rather an increase in retirements and resignations. Among all responding police departments, there was a 45% national increase in the retirement rate.

The issue of staffing in police departments is a problem in Michigan. The Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police reports that more than 1,000 officers have retired, resigned or otherwise left their jobs since 2020. At LCC, Police Academy Coordinator Andy Lindeman operates his program to create competent and compassionate public servants.

“Educating people for service in police departments is a duty and a service in and of itself,” Lindeman said. “Here, recruits receive more than 700 hours of training in a MCOLES (Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards) approved 17-week program teaching the fundamentals of policing and community engagement, after which, graduates are eligible to sit for the State of Michigan licensing exam before advancing to regional police departments. This comprehensive curriculum ensures graduates of the Mid-Michigan Police Academy at LCC are ready to police in today’s communities, where understanding and communication are key.”

Staffing issues are not limited to police agencies. According to Michigan Fire Marshall Kevin Sehlmeyer, there are 1,500-2,000 full-time firefighting positions open across the state. The staffing shortage is due to retirements, resignations and fluctuating need across departments, he said. As of March 31, the City of Lansing had 17

open firefighter positions, and Assistant Fire Chief Mike Tobin described the hiring situation as “progressively getting worse.” The obvious disparity between open positions and applying candidates makes now a better time than ever to pursue a career in public service.

“Our institutions more than ever have to be committed to providing knowledge during the early foundational building stages,” Gaines said. “Then, by the time officers or firefighters become certified professionals in the field their understanding of the importance of commitment is part of their DNA. That early education is a critical component to teaching how to exercise better judgement and developing problem solving and communication skills. You can only achieve all of this if you’re able to recruit and retain officers who are committed to change and who are fully onboard with that mission. Otherwise, you’re just spinning wheels.”

The 112th class of the Mid-Michigan Police Academy at LCC is enrolling now. Interested parties can visit lcc.edu/policeacademy for more information. The LCC Regional Fire Training is currently enrolling its 77th class. Those interested should visit lcc.edu/firescience. For information of paramedic/EMS training opportunities at LCC, visit lcc.edu/paramedic and lcc.edu/ems, respectively.

“Educating about not just laws and how to enforce them, but about history and culture so officers can have a better understanding of the communities they serve. That in turn will give them a better understanding of how we got here and why we’re trying to take the profession in the direction we’re trying to take it.”

Photography by Kevin Fowler

SEARCHING FOR THE ULTIMATE DESTINATION FOR YOUR HOLIDAY OFFICE PARTY?

High Caliber Delivers Fun and Easy Holiday Party Planning

Are you tired of the same mundane office parties and lackluster venues for your holiday celebrations? Look no further!

High Caliber Karting & Entertainment will take your office party to the next level. With heart-pounding karting action, cutting-edge entertainment and a dedicated event space, this is the perfect destination to create unforgettable memories. Book now (yes, in August) to secure an experience like no other!

High Caliber Karting & Entertainment has quickly become a hot spot for corporate events and team-building activities. With a world-class indoor karting track, a spacious axe-throwing area, a bevy of catering options and a versatile event space, High Caliber Karting offers a diverse range of activities to suit every taste.

Why settle for a run-of-the-mill office party when you can unleash your inner racer on the track? High Caliber Karting provides an exhilarating go-karting experience that will ignite the competitive spirit in you and your colleagues. Have some employees who prefer a more chillaxed atmosphere? The 16 lanes of axe-throwing are the perfect combination

of competition and relaxed play. Need to have a catering experience that will fit everyone’s dietary choices while also looking to impress the guests? High Caliber’s Bar and Bistro will deliver the “ohs” and “ahs.”

From hosting a holiday party as small as 10 guests to as big as renting out the entire facility, High Caliber can handle any party size, while offering fun activities that everyone can enjoy. Whether you envision a casual gathering or banquet-style awards show, the professional staff will ensure that every detail is taken care of, allowing you to relax and enjoy the festivities.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to create lasting memories with your colleagues this holiday season. Book your office party at High Caliber Karting & Entertainment now and treat your team to an unforgettable experience that will leave them talking about it for years to come. Get ready for an adrenaline-pumping adventure and an evening filled with laughter, camaraderie and nonstop entertainment! Email events@highcaliberkarting.com or call 517-721-1794 to begin planning your holiday party now.

lifestyle

HEROESWITHHEART

TEAM AT STONELEIGH RESIDENCE PROVIDES COMPASSIONATE COMFORT

Nestled on 20 acres, Stoneleigh Residence — a part of Hospice of Lansing — offers physical comfort as well as emotional, social and spiritual support at the end of life.

“Stoneleigh Residence is a nonprofit, freestanding community-licensed hospice facility in Lansing. Our residence overlooks woodlands, meadows and a magnificent pond. This unique setting brings the local wildlife right to the patients’ windows,” said Andi Earl, executive director.

“As the executive director, I advocate for comprehensive end-of-life care for all while also being a support to our team,” she added. “They are the true heroes with loving hearts who provide compassionate care in our community.”

Earl’s passion comes from personal experience.

“Three of my immediate family members benefited from hospice,” Earl said. “The hospice team’s support allowed me to be a granddaughter, a daughter, a loved one — instead of a caregiver. It was a gift I will always cherish and fuels my dedication to ensure hospice services are available for all in need.” Learn more at hospiceoflansing.org

Andi Earl, executive director, Hospice of Lansing and Stoneleigh Residence

Photo by: Metro Melik

IMMENSE CARE FOR THE SMALLEST PATIENTS

SPARROW’S NEONATAL ICU PROVIDES FAMILIES WITH HOPE, COMPASSION

Upon entering the regional neonatal intensive care unit of the University of Michigan Health at Sparrow Children’s Center, you’ll realize one thing immediately: It’s not the doom and gloom you see on television or in the movies.

This ICU is full of care, hope and smiles. There’s the background hum and beeps of leading-edge technology and specialized equipment to support each

infant’s developmental needs. An incubator with a tiny patient may have a parent smiling lovingly upon them. Or it may have a team of health care workers making sure that the needs of the whole family are being fulfilled.

“In here there are great extremes of having to say goodbye — then seeing a baby being born at less than 1 pound being able to go home,” said Sarah Collins, manager of the neonatal ICU.

Mom Cherakee Howard of Owosso spoke with a bright smile about how everyone is extremely helpful in the unit.

“They help with the mental aspects; they’re a great asset to the community. And they make sure parents know that it’s going to be OK,” she said, noting that the family was able to stay at the Ronald McDonald House across the street from Sparrow Hospital in Lansing.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY METRO MELIK

Dr. Tareva Watts cared for her own child in the NICU

Each year Sparrow’s regional neonatal intensive care unit cares for about 700 babies, some born as early as 22 weeks. There are 35 ICU beds and 12 step-down nursery beds. The unit welcomes any premature infant or newborn in need with their family.

“Sadness is rare, but it is very important that we support the families during those times,” Collins said. “It is hard on families, but we bond together through it. If there is a loss, we want the families to know that they can have as much time as they need, and we are here to support them.”

Dr. Tareva Watts had a joyous smile as she recently looked after her child in the ICU.

“Even though it was a surprise to end up there, they are embraced by everyone,” Watts said. “They have the best interest of our baby.”

The feelings of hope, care and love are palatable. Stepping into the regional neonatal intensive care unit at Sparrow is like a giant hug for the sake of the babies and their families that the unit expertly and happily serves.

They help with the mental aspects; they’re a great asset to the community. And they make sure parents know that it’s going to be OK.

Cherakee Howard spends time with her infant in the NICU

ACCIDENTALLY LUCKY

DUO’S SERENDIPITOUS ENCOUNTER HELPS SAVE MOTORIST

BY STACY BOGARD

Sometimes, being a hero is all about being in the right place at the right time.

Jason Blackwell and John Drolett definitely were when they stopped to help after seeing a car go off the side of the road in Holt on Aug. 27, 2022. The male driver was not breathing when Blackwell, already on the line with 911 dispatchers, first reached the car. At the operator’s instruction, he pulled the man out and started resuscitation breaths when Drolett came upon the scene and began chest compressions.

They continued CPR until deputies and paramedics arrived a few minutes later to take over. They both left the scene not knowing who the man was or whether he would survive.

The man, Mike Garland, a recently retired Michigan State University men’s basketball coach, surpassed all the odds against him and did survive. It likely wouldn’t have been possible without the immediate and quick action of Blackwell and Drolett.

Pure instinct made Blackwell stop that day.

“At a minimum, I was calling 911,” he said. “At a maximum, I never would have thought I’d be in the process of saving someone’s life.”

Drolett was able to reference his first responder instruction from when he served as a DeWitt police officer.

“I think anybody with my training and experience would have done the same thing,” he said. “It was the right thing to do.”

Given his background, Drolett was in awe of how Blackwell stepped up.

“It confirms that there are people willing to do whatever it takes to help their fellow man,” Drolett said.

The experience also affirmed for Drolett that, while he wasn’t able to make a lasting career out of law enforcement due to health issues, the time, money and effort he spent was 100% worth it.

“I would do it all again, and I wouldn’t have said that before Mike’s accident,” he said.

Blackwell has somewhat adjusted to being called a hero.

“I didn’t accept it at first, but coming from family, friends, when it gets out on social media … I just thought I was doing something that was right, but it took the community to make me realize it was something special,” Blackwell said.

Blackwell and Drolett have been able to connect with Garland as he’s recuperated. Additionally, along with the dispatchers, first responders and McLaren Greater Lansing staff who played a part in saving Garland’s life, they were recognized in February at an MSU basketball game.

“I’ve tried several times to describe what they did, but it’s so hard to explain how somebody saved your life,” Garland said. “I can only describe my feelings and what’s in my heart for both of those guys. For them to be the good Samaritans that they were when there were several other people who passed us by … those guys were heaven-sent.”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MSU ATHLETICS

‘This Time It Was Us’

imee Barajas was 23 when she began working as a dispatcher six years ago at Ingham County 911 Central Dispatch, and she was still studying up on the classroom materials covering policies and procedures when she took a training class on AVI.

“It’s an active violent incident, an active shooter,” she said. “I was brand new. I knew nothing about the job at that point. But, to be honest, that was the training that helped me the most. I will never forget the things I learned in that training, and they stuck with me until the day that it happened.”

The “it” is something the region, the state and the country are tragically all too familiar with now. A 43-year-old gunman

911 workers reflect on MSU tragedy

BY CHRISTOPHER NAGY

walked into two buildings on the campus of Michigan State University on the evening of Feb. 13 and opened fire, killing three students and injuring five others before later taking his own life.

Barajas fielded some of the first frantic calls coming into 911 that night, attempting to ascertain the scope and gravity of what was unfolding while also trying to calm the terrified individuals on the other end of the line and direct emergency responders toward the campus.

“It was just a normal Monday night. I had just come back from break,” Barajas said. “The spot I was sitting was for East Lansing, MSU. During the weekdays, it’s not always as busy. There’s just not a ton of stuff there. … I thought it was a big crash at first. A lot of times when we get a lot of

calls at once, it’s because there’s a crash on the highway.

“No. It was someone whose friend had just been shot in the head,” she continued. “While I was on the phone with them, I started hearing other people answering the same types of calls.”

Throughout the evening, 2,200 calls and 215 texts came in to the team of dispatchers — the equivalent of two-anda-half days of work boiled down to roughly five hours.

A United Front

As director of Ingham County 911 Central Dispatch since July 2021, Barb Davidson knows how well her team can perform.

“We train to it, right? We train to all of

Aimee Barajas, dispatcher, Ingham County 911 Central Dispatch

the worst stuff. All of the violent incidents,” she said. “We train for the worst, and we hope we’ll never have to use it. Ever. But you fall back on it because that’s what we learn to do.”

Knowing her support was needed Feb. 13, Davidson drove in from her home on the east side of the county once the breadth of the scenario was understood. She arrived roughly 30 minutes after the first calls came in and served as a call taker for four hours that evening.

“There was one moment when I looked down at my speedometer, and I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, you need to slow down. If you clip a deer right now, nobody in this county is going to be able to help you because they’re all in East Lansing,’” she said. “So, I got here and assessed and sat down and started taking calls. That was the need. If there’s something about my team that I can say about that night, it’s that it didn’t matter what they were being asked to do. They just did it.

“We did things that we’ve never done before. We were trained to it — this thing, this terrible thing. We trained for the fact that there was a likely possibility that we would have to deal with it someday,” she added. “But there were things that organically happened out there that night. The team very instinctively just saw the need and filled it.”

As director, the necessity for Davidson to come in was obvious; however, she was far from being the only one to feel the strong pull of service and obligation that night.

“I turned around at one point and my entire administrative staff and every supervisor I had was here. Nobody called them. I have six supervisors. There was one on duty when it happened, and the other five just showed up,” Davidson said. “People were calling and saying, ‘Hey, do you need me to come in? I can.’ People just showed up. We ran out of places for people to be at. Nobody would get up. Nobody would take a break. Nobody would go to the bathroom. I mean, everybody was just here. One of the dispatchers saw the need, and she went to Meijer and bought snacks and water and put it on a push cart. We had to make people eat something or drink something or whatever the case may be.”

Trained to Respond

Aside from the towering antenna outside, there is nothing that would make the single-story Central Dispatch building stand out. It’s barely even visible from Jolly Road. Inside, however, the command center of the operation hums with a muted but steady buzz of activity radiating from each station of six computer screens that monitor calls, activity, and emergency responder proximity and availability.

The center receives approximately 400,000 calls annually. The call takers enter information into a computer-aided dispatch system, then the information appears on the screens of the appropriate dispatcher. Dispatchers are assigned to a geographic or municipal region. Each dispatcher works a 12-hour shift, and the minimum staffing level at any given time is 11 dispatchers and one supervisor.

Plus, of course, Jessie — the mainstay Anatolian shepherd mix that provides the much-needed pet therapy.

“You can always tell when Jessie gets that sense that you are in need of her because, all of a sudden, there she is,” Davidson said. “She was laying on the floor behind Aimee’s chair for the majority of that incident.”

It takes a special person to work at Central Dispatch. There are minimum qualifications required, but there are also individual qualities that need to come into play. Davidson said that the time between someone being hired until she considers them fully trained can be up to a year.

“There are some innate things that some folks think that they possess that we test for, which is quick thinking, decisive decision-making, common sense,” Davidson said.

There are also certain demands to be met — mandatory overtime, giving up holidays or weekends or time off.

We train for the worst, and we hope we’ll never have to use it. Ever. But you fall back on it because that’s what we learn to do.

Barb Davidson, director of Ingham County 911 Central Dispatch

“I need 11 people here. I can’t always provide the best work-home balance. As someone who raised a family through this job, it’s a balancing act for sure. You really have to have a servant’s heart to be somebody who wants to do this job,” Davidson said. “But knowing that you are a part of public safety, that you are part of making people’s lives a little better, that’s what this job can offer. It can offer you that feeling when you walk out the door every day. We talk to people on the absolute worst day of their lives. That’s an everyday experience here.”

Still Healing

That’s not to say that the everyday experience doesn’t exact a weighty emotional toll.

Just as the Greater Lansing community is still grappling with the events of Feb. 13, Central Dispatch team members are still tending to their own scars as well.

“Big incidents happen,” Barajas said. “I’ve worked shootings, I’ve worked stabbings, I’ve worked high-speed chases before. But that incident was nonstop. It took a few days to process what had happened. I’m still healing from it. The first few days it seemed like I got no sleep. I was almost on autopilot. It still didn’t comprehend that it happened to us. We see news like this all the time, and this time it was us. That took a while to sink in.”

Davidson said the outpouring of support has been overwhelming — from the community in general and public safety partners to crisis teams and peer support groups from other counties.

“To say that I am a mama bear at this center would be mildly understating it. I just wanted them all to be with me all the time. But that’s not reasonable,” she said. “So, I just want to give them all the resources and the access they need. … I do have a few folks who are having some lasting effects. It was a tragedy. I mean, they talked to the people who were holding onto people who had just been shot in the head. It’s terrible.

“Aimee was the voice that night. She did a great job, and we’re super proud of her,” Davidson said. “But there were 23 other people in that room at one point that night — and everyone did amazing things. To say that we’re proud of what we did feels yucky because it was awful. Just awful. Some of the folks who we talked to that night, just that panic — it was gutwrenching. This is something we are still dealing with. How do you deal with what you heard that night?”

It’s a strange skill to possess: Being able to employ some measure of emotional detachment in moments of pressure and crisis when it is critical to ensuring the safety of others; to be the calm head and the steady, guiding hand in the room. Yet it may be the most invaluable skill in the toolbox at Central Dispatch.

“To me, it felt like I was doing my job,” Barajas said. “At the time, I really felt like I was just trying to do my job.”

517 Magazine would like to express our gratitude to every individual and team who played a part in the response efforts to the tragedy of Feb. 13 on the campus of MSU. From the Ingham County 911 Central Dispatch team, police, medical and other first responders to students, faculty, counselors and others who gave their time in various ways. While this is not the kind of hero role you may wish to play, what you did has meaning and won’t soon be forgotten. Most of all, we send our sympathy to the families of those lost. You remain in our minds and in our hearts.

Pet therapy dog,Jessie

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WHERE THERE’S A NEED, THERE’S SHIRLEY

FOUNDATION HELPS PEOPLE AGAINST ALL ODDS

BY KYLE DOWLING

Shirley Carter-Powell is many things: a two-time breast cancer survivor, mother of three sons, grandmother to nine.

Yet two of her biggest passions may be entertainment and helping others.

Her passions and dedication have led her from modeling jobs to playing in a band to owning her own entertainment company, Phenomenal Entertainment. She has been consulted on doing enormous events, such as a four-day commemoration event for Michael Jackson’s birthday in Gary, Indiana, to filling 192 hours of entertainment for the Super Bowl in Dallas.

As time has gone on and she’s watched her kids grow — and now her grandkids — her drive to help others also has continued to grow.

“My mother used to say, ‘If you have helped one person in your life, you will not have lived your life in vain,’” said CarterPowell. “But she used to help everyone in the neighborhood.”

When she was diagnosed with breast cancer, Carter-Powell began to go to support groups to relate to others with similar experiences.

“When I got there, I didn’t see any women I could relate to,” she said. “After my treatment, I decided to do something about it — and that’s how Against All Odds began as a nonprofit organization for African American women with breast cancer.”

But as time went on, Carter-Powell saw that there was more in the community that she could help with and expanded the scope of Against All Odds to fill the needs of people.

“A lot of people are struggling,” said Carter-Powell. “We want to be there to help them in their time of need with things like groceries, prescription medication co-payment, cellphone bill payment and transportation to doctor appointments.”

Another way Against All Odds has tried to support the community is backpack drives to give school supplies to children who need them.

“When the pandemic began, we tried to make sure that the children who were home schooling would have the support they needed,” said Carter-Powell. “We even put together a little drawstring bag for the parents that included headphones for a little peace and quiet.”

Against All Odds also does a Christmas drive, giving toys to children who need a little Christmas cheer.

“We believe in giving toys, books and clothing to kids, and we even give gift cards to teenagers for Christmas,” said Carter-Powell. “Many times, teenagers are overlooked at Christmas, but we want them to feel loved as well.”

Along with the gift drive, there are many Christmas trees donated with all the

decorations that are given away to families to keep their season cheerful.

Carter-Powell also started Lillian’s, which is a free store in the Lansing Mall. The store stocks clothing from child to adult sizes, shoes, personal care items, and sometimes beauty items and treatments. Everything is free; you need only fill out a form with no financial questions on it.

“We work on the honor system,” explained Carter-Powell. “Lillian’s is not a sustainability system, but we are here if you are having a rough time in your life and might need a little assistance.”

Phenomenal Entertainment does the Michigan Chicken Wing Festival at Adado Riverfront Park. Starting in 2015, it features a nationally recognized wingeating contest. The festival is a fundraising event for Against All Odds and Lillian’s.

Her sons have their own lives around the nation; but when Carter-Powell needs them, they answer the call.

“My sons block off the weekend we do the Chicken Wing Festival,” she said. “Because they know I need the help, and they’re always there to help me when I need them.”

If you’d like to support Against All Odds’ mission to help those in need, pledge donations or volunteer your time at againstalloddsfoundation.com.

THIS MONTH’S EVENTS

Editor’s note: Please call event venues directly to make sure times and dates haven’t changed.

Music in the Garden | Aug. 13

The Michigan State University College of Music joins the W.J. Beal Botanical Garden in celebrating the garden’s 150th anniversary this summer with a musically blended concert series. With a history of fusing music, art, science and sustainability, the Beal Garden and MSU College of Music present their annual series of interactive summer events in the heart of campus. For a full schedule, visit bealbotanicalgarden.msu.edu/.

DeWitt Ox Roast | Aug. 18-20

Be sure to check out the 77th annual DeWitt Ox Roast. Food, fun, entertainment and thrills are all part of the event in downtown DeWitt. Visit dewittoxroast.org for information on tickets.

Old Town ArtFeast | Aug. 19

Art is a feast for the eyes, but you should snack on some tasty food while you’re there. Turner Street in Old Town is welcoming 100-plus artists back to this one-day festival. Don’t forget to check out the shops and restaurants around Old Town. For more information, visit lansing.org/event/old-townartfeast/42214/.

Flower Arranging | Aug. 19

Follow our friends at 517living.com for other upcoming events in the region.

Learn to create the perfect flower arrangement for yourself to lighten up your space with Cait Schneider as the growing season dies down. Join the fun at the Hunter Park GardenHouse, 1400 E. Kalamazoo St. in Lansing, to learn how to pop color into your life. Visit allenneighborhoodcenter.org/gardenhouse/ workshops/ for details.

Lansing Taco and Tequila Fest | Aug. 19

The Lansing Taco and Tequila Fest will take place at Adado Riverfront Park in Lansing, featuring over 100 tequilas, along with other beverage options, food trucks, live music and vendors. Proceeds from the event will benefit Friends of the River, a nonprofit working to improve water quality, access and awareness of Michigan’s rivers. For information, visit lansingtacoandtequilafest.com/

Sundried Music Festival | Aug. 25-27

Come to the Sundried Music Festival at the Mason Courthouse Square. Three days of fun, vendors and music will be held in the center of downtown Mason. Visit sundriedfestival.org/ for more information about this festival.

Meridian Pride Event | Aug. 26

Join your neighbors in celebrating the first Meridian Pride Event, bringing together people from all walks of life to celebrate diversity and inclusion in the Meridian community. There will be food trucks, entertainment, a beer and wine tent, a dog pride parade, art vendors, advocacy resources, and more. Visit meridian.mi.us/about-us/calendar/meridianpride-event for more information and scheduling.

Frontier Days | Sept. 8-9

The Charlotte Frontier Days is a festival full of the Wild West that was started to promote and fund projects in the city of Charlotte through community involvement and effort. For more information about the fair and a schedule of events, visit charlottefrontierdays.org/

WRAP UP

HOLDING OUT FOR A HERO

Five characteristics of the everyday champion

BY KYLE DOWLING

When it comes to being heroic, you don’t need to be a firefighter or doctor. Regular people can be heroic with their actions and words. Here are some of the characteristics emblematic of a hero.

Bravery

Bravery isn’t just the impulse to save people from a burning building. When something is happening that you do not agree with, speaking up or acting is brave.

Honesty

Sometimes the truth is difficult, but sometimes it needs to be said. To be someone who will be honest with another person is important and can make you somebody’s hero.

Inspiration

Being a hero means working to be an example and an inspiration to others. Heroes don’t need to be perfect, but they need to show that they are striving to be better than the day before.

Empathy

Empathy might be the most important part of being a hero. Understanding the feelings of people around you gives insight into the world you inhabit. Sometimes people just need a little time and understanding from the people around them to get through a difficult time or even just a bad day.

Conviction

The ability to see a path forward and keep yourself and others on the right course is another aspect of a hero.