Greater Lansing Business Monthly April 2020 Issue

APRIL 2020

XAVIER DEGROAT Driving Education in Autism

IN THIS ISSUE • Coronavirus and Its Early Impact on Greater Lansing • Dean Transportation Celebrates 50 Years • Greater Lansing Notable News Announcements

NOTABLE NEWS

APRIL 2020 ON THE COVER Coronavirus And Its Early Impact On Greater Lansing...................................................................... 8 Dean Transportation Celebrates 50 years........................ 24 Greater Lansing notable news announcements.............. 32

APRIL 2020

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NEWS

Self-driving Cars and Other Automotive Technologies............................................... 6 Medical Examiner Drug Report......................................................................................... 12

FEATURES Pandemic & PTO.................................................................................................................. 20 Visual Breakdown................................................................................................................. 22 Behind the Scenes............................................................................................................... 26

XAVIER DEGROAT

Oh, the places you’ll go!..................................................................................................... 28

Driving Education in Autism

IN THIS ISSUE • Coronavirus and its early impact on business • Dean Transportation Celebrates 50 years • Greater Lansing notable news announcements

Cover photography by Mary Gajda

Greater Lansing Business Monthly | Volume 33, Issue 4 Greater Lansing Business Monthly is published monthly by M3 Group at 221 West Saginaw Street, Lansing, MI 48933. Periodicals postage paid at Lansing, Michigan USPO. USPS number 020w807.

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COMMENTARY

Publisher: Tiffany Dowling, tiffany@m3group.biz Vice President of Business Development: Jennifer Hodges, jhodges@m3group.biz Asst. Editor: Mary Gajda, mary@m3group.biz Media Specialist: Carey Jarvis Account Managers: Melissa DeMott Megan Fleming Liz Reno-Hayes Art Director: Mark Warner Publication Designer: Matthew McDaniel Graphic Designers: Lauren Brumbach Cody Fell Chelsey Freedman Communications Specialists: Kyle Dowling Amanda Fischer Christopher Nagy Rich Adams Adam Lansdell Photographers: Mary Gajda Matthew McDaniel Videographer: Michael Cagney GLBM Editorial Board: April Clobes — President and CEO, MSU Federal Credit Union Calvin Jones — Government Relations Director, Lansing Board of Water & Light Lisa Parker — Director of Alumni Career and Business Services, Michigan State University Alumni Association Deb Muchmore Consulting — Owner, Deb Muchmore Consulting

ON THE MOVE, BUT MOVING SAFELY On a broad scale, transportation is the root of progress and innovation as well as the soul of business and industry. It is the economic driver of our nation and allows widespread access to goods and services that would otherwise be unavailable.

Yet there is a deeper and more intimate aspect of transportation in that it provides access to mobility on an individual level. It helps to erase remoteness, detachment and isolation to keep us better interconnected on a more personal level.

However, the recent developments with the novel coronavirus has placed the idea of travel specifically – and transportation generally – in a more precarious state as vacation plans are canceled and public transit systems across the country brace for plummets in regular ridership.

Already, the virus has had a negative impact on the global supply chain that is so critically linked to the worldwide transportation system, and the rapid spread of COVID-19 has – rightfully so ­– made many people nervous as the medical community and government leaders issue warnings and implement measures to slow the forward momentum of the illness and keep our health care system from getting overrun.

Transportation allows the personal independence and autonomy to move, to see, to learn and to experience the world around us and help us grow as individuals; yet each of us as individuals has to determine our personal comfort levels of movement in the face of this new uncertainty and threat.

Those at the highest levels of the medical field in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization have urged people to take some commonsense precautions in travel throughout the coming months to help us better protect ourselves as well as those around us.

In this issue of Greater Lansing Business Monthly, we’re looking at the topic of transportation as it pertains to our region as well as what it means in the situation we now find ourselves in. Moving, meeting and connecting with one another is still a central component of the human condition; but in these times of heightened caution and awareness, we can all take a more conscious and concerted approach toward moving safely.

Tiffany Dowling Publisher

Tom Ruis — Vice President, Fifth Third Bank Doug Klein — Executive Director, Mason Area Chamber of Commerce Mark Hooper — Partner, Andrews Hooper Pavlik

Tiffany Dowling | Publisher

Diontrae Hayes — Supervisor, Charter Township of Lansing 4

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NEWS

SELF-DRIVING CARS AND OTHER AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGIES

BY TEECE ARONIN

Imagine you’re a passenger in a car that’s zipping down the highway. The landscape on both sides is a blur. The car’s brake and gas pedals, even its steering wheel, move as though a phantom driver is in control.

But you know better. There is no driver.

If this sounds like the part where you wake up screaming, relax; self-driving cars aren’t expected to be commonplace for years. Such vehicles are being tested and even used in limited settings – with passengers.

Called “autonomous” or “self-driving,” these cars can “perceive” their environments and avoid accidents; Since they will be a lot “smarter” than us humans, developers say automotive crash fatalities and injuries could fall to virtually zero. That means you should be just fine after reaching your destination in an autonomous car.

have done alignments on vehicles with those features, and they require some advanced procedures to make sure the camera and detection systems remain in alignment.”

Steve Freemire, a licensed insurance agent with the Hacker-King-Sherry Agency in East Lansing, pointed to an industry magazine article showing a price breakdown of adaptive and standard headlamps. Adaptive headlamps have sensors that cast a curved beam to improve visibility. Because of their complexity, adaptive headlamps can cost from 1.5 to 2.5 times the price of a standard headlamp.

“When I was a teen, you went to Meijer and bought a headlight for $9.88. You’ll see in the article that the cost of a headlight has exploded.” said Freemire.

Jeff Worrall, owner of Don’s Auto Fleet Services in Lansing, said that while they haven’t worked on a fully autonomous vehicle, he and his technicians do see vehicles with advanced driver-assist capabilities such as lane-departure warning and lane-centering assistance. He thinks the new technologies are exciting.

Indeed, the costs of the three adaptive headlamps cited in the article ranged from $940 to $3,274.

Freemire said that driverless cars will, in theory, shift legal liability from the driver to the product manufacturer. While the cost of adaptive products is higher than standard equipment, cost savings in other areas, such as hospitalizations and life care costs, could drop to nothing – again, in theory.

“We haven’t performed repairs related to advanced driver-assist as most of these vehicles are still under warranty,” said Worrall. “We

During an interview with Greater Lansing Business Monthly about Dean Transportation’s 50th anniversary, Vice President Patrick Dean

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touched on the topic of emerging technologies.

“At Dean, we see the assistive capabilities available today as building blocks for what’s to come, including self-driving vehicles,” he said.

“These technologies are challenging because when companies embrace one, a new one is right on its heels. But we’re ready for that challenge.”

Lansing’s General Motors products include some of the newer technologies as well. On Feb. 15, GM Plant Executive Director Marcos Purty received the Black Engineer of the Year Career Achievement Award. At the event that took place in Washington, D.C., General Motors Chairman and CEO Mary Barra said, “Driving the future of mobility will depend on a deep and diverse talent pool that can bring their whole selves to work.

As our industry continues to evolve, leveraging our diverse talent and empowering employees to infuse unique perspectives into all we do will position GM to shape the future of mobility and achieve our vision of a world with zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion.”

Zero crashes. Getting there will involve some smart, probably autonomous, vehicles.

Teece Aronin is a writer and career coach. She works with individuals from all walks of life, including persons with disabilities and career-changers. Contact her at teecearonin8@gmail.com.

NEWS

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CORONAVIRUS AND ITS EARLY IMPACT ON GREATER LANSING

BY OMAR SOFRADZIJA 8

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NEWS

“WHEN THE COLLEGE STUDENTS DISCOVERED … THAT THEY DIDN’T HAVE TO GO TO CLASS, WE ACTUALLY GOT MORE BUSINESS THAN USUAL THAT NIGHT” MEGHAN BELL, MANAGER OF THE PEANUT BARREL The economic impact of the coronavirus has certainly been unpredictable, something Meghan Bell learned firsthand on the night of March 11.

That was when in-person classes were suspended at Michigan State University, which is across the street from the popular bar and grill she manages.

“When the college students discovered … that they didn’t have to go to class, we actually got more business than usual” that night, Bell, manager of The Peanut Barrel in East Lansing, said the following day.

Then again, she knew that the virus, which has rattled the global economy and shuttered businesses elsewhere, was likely to eventually keep customers home. And that’s what happened

March 16, the day restaurants and other businesses centered on social gathering closed for in-person gatherings, per the orders of state officials.

“At this point, we’re just kind of taking it day by day,” she said prior to the state order’s issuance.

“It is something that is uncharted territory for all of us, so we’re all just trying to figure out every day, ‘OK, how do we adjust today?’ or, ‘What do we need to adjust for tomorrow?’”

Bell was one of many Greater Lansing businesspeople keeping a wary eye on a pandemic that has flummoxed everyone from physicians to politicians in finding a suitable response, leaving shoppers and salespeople caught in between and unsure of the future.

“I think the next month or two will tell us a whole lot,” Charles Ballard, an economics professor at MSU, said in mid-March as business impacts became more apparent.

“We don’t know how bad it’s going to be, but it has the potential to be bad enough that it would really have some pretty substantial adverse effects on some companies, and there are limits to what any individual company can do when its revenues go way down.”

What businesses still operating can best do is keep the coronavirus at bay to “flatten” its impact and minimize a surge of cases that could have an even greater negative economic and health impact, according to Linda Vail, Ingham County’s health officer.

“We don’t have a vaccine. We don’t have a cure. We don’t have a specific treatment,” Vail said. “What we have to protect ourselves is people listening to these issues about staying home; quarantines if they’ve been in highrisk areas or in contact; staying home when they’re sick; and doing all these diligent things about hand hygiene and not touching your face and getting these workplaces clean.”

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NEWS

At General Motors’ two facilities in Lansing and Delta Township, proactive efforts were underway in March along those lines. Taking cues from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization, GM said it has instituted a number of initiatives to get ahead of the threat, including:

• • •

Travel bans to a number of Asian and European nations impacted by the coronavirus, including China, South Korea, Italy and Iran.

Restrictions on air travel both domestically and abroad, with senior leader approval needed.

New visitor protocols at all GM sites to keep employees, guests and facilities safe.

“The situation is very fluid, but we are continuing to monitor it closely,” GM said in a statement. “GM’s focus has been on the health and safety of our employees first

and then our business.” As of mid-March, GM reported no production disruptions in North America due to the coronavirus.

Strategies offered by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services for businesses still operating include regular cleaning and disinfecting of frequently touched surfaces, discouraging gatherings whether for meetings or for lunch, and limiting work travel and encouraging sick employees to stay home, among other recommendations.

“These recommended strategies apply at individual, organizational, and community levels.

They apply to businesses, workplaces, schools, community organizations, health care institutions and individuals of all ages, backgrounds and health profiles,” the MDHHS said in a statement.

“Everyone has some measure of responsibility to help limit the spread of this disease.”

Ballard is hopeful that the coronavirus pandemic’s lasting economic effects on mid-Michigan in particular and America in general will be less than that of the Great Recession more than a decade ago.

“I hope that a month from now I will still feel like I can say what I’m about to say … this still is way better, way easier for businesses than the dark, dark winter of ’08-’09,” Ballard said in midMarch. “I don’t think we’re heading to anything like that … maybe a mild recession, but not a catastrophe like what we had 12 years ago.”

Omar Sofradzija has worked as a journalist in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Peoria, Illinois, covering everything from car crashes to Hurricane Katrina. The East Lansing resident currently serves as newsroom adviser to The State News, the independent student newspaper at Michigan State University. He has also taught journalism at MSU.

HOW BUSINESSES CAN COUNTER THE CORONAVIRUS The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has assembled a list of community mitigation strategies recommended on an interim basis. For workplaces in particular, the MDHHS suggests: • • • • • • •

Encouraging employees to stay home when sick, and notifying supervisors of illnesses Communicating and reinforcing best practices for washing hands and covering coughs and sneezes Regularly cleaning and disinfecting touched surfaces like doorknobs, keyboards, cellphones and light switches Ensuring hand hygiene supplies are readily available throughout the workplace Encouraging staff to telework when feasible, particularly people at risk of severe illness Implementing social distancing measures as feasible, including limiting in-person meetings, canceling or postponing large gatherings, conferences and sporting events, and discouraging employees from eating meals in large-group settings Limiting nonessential work travel and large work-related gatherings, such as staff meetings and after-work functions

SOURCE: Michigan Department of Health and Human Services 10

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NEWS

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NEWS

MEDICAL EXAMINER DRUG REPORT

BY EMMA C. JOHNSON 12

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NEWS

THE STATS

Michelle A. Fox, D-ABMDI, is the Sparrow forensic pathology supervisor & chief investigator of the Office of the Medical Examiner, which tracks drug-related deaths in Eaton, Ingham, Ionia, Isabella and Shiawassee counties.

For 2019 Q3 (July 1 – Sept. 30) in Ingham County, there were 23 drug-related deaths, of which 13 included some form of fentanyl, though all but three cases were a combination of drugs.

Fox says it is helpful to look at the whole year.

In 2018, in Ingham County there were 101 drug-related deaths, 84 of them opioid related.

In most cases, multiple drugs were involved.

Drug deaths and drug deaths where opioids were involved are slightly down in 2019.

“We had a general decrease in overall drug deaths from quarter three of ’19 to quarter three of ’18,” said Fox. “Amphetamines are a little bit more on the rise,” said Fox. However, Fox cautions against making too many inferences with a small sample size. “You have to look at a whole lot more (information) than that to be able to determine exactly what direction we’re headed in.”

disease. And, to the extent that we do this, we create a system that has barriers,” she said.

To help curb the opioid crisis Vail would like to see a health care system that doesn’t bifurcate treatment systems into medical and behavioral health. Vail says bifurcation “makes it more difficult to get treatment.”

“Then why do we continue to treat people who have this disease differently? … Then, that stigma literally becomes discrimination,” she said.

THE EVOLVING ROLE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT

“Opioids are an epidemic,” said Daryl Green, chief of police for the City of Lansing Police Department. “It continues to rear its ugly head throughout many communities, not just the city of Lansing.”

Green says the department will see spikes in overdoses in a specific area.

“We’ve seen some of the most potent heroine in the nation,” said Green.

Green says his department is working with area partners to share information, make referrals,

Fox says one possible reason for the reduction could be because fentanyl analogs have been reclassified as a schedule one, a category meaning there is no deemed medical use and they are illicit.

and approach the issue in a holistic way.

In the past couple of years, all of the patrol officers have been trained and equipped with naloxone, a medication designed to rapidly reverse opioid overdose.

“One of the things we’re doing really differently in the city of Lansing is we try to directly intervene to help overdose victims,” said Green.

“And how we do that is we’re one of the only police departments in the state of Michigan that has a fully embedded social worker.”

“If you can get them stable, you don’t see them anymore in the criminal justice system,” said Green.

“It’s complex,” he said. “You have a drug issue, a housing issue, you have some mental health issues.

A lot of times you’re dealing with all three.”

Emma C. Johnson is a writer based in Midland. She has written for the Midland Daily News, the Delta Collegiate, and Great Lakes Bay Magazine, among others.

She studied English at Rutgers University - New Brunswick and holds a B.A. in English from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities.

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“A lot of what we’re seeing mirrors what’s going on nationwide,” says Linda Vail, MPA, health officer at the Ingham County Health Department.

“People get addicted to drugs,” she said. “It is not a moral failing.”

“It’s a chronic disease no different than diabetes or high blood pressure,” she added.

Vail said many people say our society spends too much money on fentanyl – that people should just die because they’re not smart enough to stop taking drugs.

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“This is a complete misconception,” said Vail.

For example, Vail says most of society wouldn’t advocate denying emergency medical care to someone with diabetes who forgot to take their insulin.

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Ingham County Sheriff Scott Wrigglesworth with Xavier DeGroat 14

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ADVOCATE FOR UNDERSTANDING AUTISM

DeGroat helping to bridge the gap in communication, education

BY ALLISON SPOONER

Seeing red-and-blue lights suddenly flashing behind your vehicle can be startling for anyone; however, for most people, getting pulled over is little more than an inconvenience — and perhaps some slight embarrassment — that interrupts the flow of their day.

Yet for someone on the autism spectrum or who has a communication impediment, that small disruption can be a much more terrifying ordeal.

The lights and loud sounds can overstimulate and cause anxiety and fear. According to Xavier DeGroat, founder and CEO of the Xavier DeGroat

Autism Foundation, even being tailgated can raise anxiety levels, making a driver keyed up before he or she is even pulled over.

When a driver with autism experiences heightened anxiety, that increase in fear can inhibit his or La

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her ability to communicate, which can turn a minor traffic stop into a complicated situation for both the police officer and the driver.

That overstimulation and inability to communicate isn’t a new experience for DeGroat, who is on the autism spectrum. DeGroat started his foundation due to his experiences being disciplined because of his autism and dealing with bullies, as well as learning what it’s like for an average family to take on the challenges of a special-needs child.

In school, DeGroat was often restrained and stopped from pursuing the things he needed to feel comfortable because it was seen as a disruption.

“I was told to sit and not get up,” he said.

“We (those on the spectrum) need to be able to expose our minds to calm.”

He would try to go on a walk to ease his anxiety, but he couldn’t communicate that need with his teachers or paraprofessionals, who would punish him for being disruptive. He also was called to the school office for things he didn’t understand were wrong, like getting too close to people or not understanding nonverbal cues. One of DeGroat’s trips to the office ended in a call to the police and a suspension because his frustration at not being able to communicate his feelings manifested as anger.

“It’s like punishing someone for not understanding because they don’t speak the language,” 16

DeGroat said. “They think I should be like everyone else, but why can’t I be me?”

the first thing DeGroat did was call the police chief. He knew things needed to change.

While schools and educators today have a deeper understanding of what kids with special needs require, when DeGroat was a child there weren’t a lot of people to advocate for him. As an adult, he realized he needed to advocate for himself and others like him. In 2009, DeGroat began to share his story around Lansing and with local leaders.

Today, DeGroat is working to pass a law that would let drivers with autism or hearing loss (or a family member) voluntarily disclose a “communication impediment designation” to the secretary of state when getting a driver’s license or registering their vehicle. That designation would show up when a police officer ran their plate, giving the officer a better understanding of how to interact with the person he or she is about to approach. The change would mean that officers would be required to run plates before exiting their vehicles and would receive training on how to interact with those with communication challenges.

“I was focused on educating these individuals and helping them see the perspective of someone on the spectrum and bring social change to their organizations,” he said.

After being pulled over for a routine stop, DeGroat realized that some of those social changes needed to happen within the transportation industry.

During that stop, DeGroat found himself upset because he didn’t understand what the police officer wanted. Those on the spectrum, DeGroat said, often are “self-minded” and can’t see outside their own needs and experiences.

“I don’t have the mind to know or understand what he’s thinking,” DeGroat said, noting that can cause anxiety, which can turn into adrenaline for someone with autism.

While DeGroat’s traffic stop ended without incident, many don’t. After being pulled over,

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Ingham County Sheriff Scott Wrigglesworth is just one of DeGroat’s many supporters and fully backs the legislation.

“Information is power in police work, especially on traffic stops,” he said. “If the police could have information that the driver of the vehicle is possibly autistic, we can better prepare for the encounter prior to contact, increasing the likelihood it goes smoothly.”

The bill passed unanimously in the Senate and now goes to the House. If the bill is signed by the governor, Michigan would be one of the

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Ingham County Sheriff Scott Wrigglesworth with Xavier DeGroat

first states to offer the designation. After that, DeGroat wants to take the bill to other states.

Sen. Tom Barrett, R-Charlotte, is another supporter of DeGroat’s legislation.

“Xavier has been a tireless advocate for individuals with autism and other special needs,” he said.

DeGroat’s efforts to spread autism awareness aren’t limited to Lansing. Locally, he has received support from former Michigan State University football coach Mark Dantonio, MSU men’s 18

basketball coach Tom Izzo, former Lt. Gov. Brian Calley, and numerous local celebrities and politicians, but he’s also started building a list of contacts full of celebrities and internationally known names. DeGroat has had conversations with Vice President Mike Pence, author and astrophysicist Neil Degrasse Tyson, celebrity chef Rachel Ray and former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, just to name a few.

Still, his talks don’t end with police stops. DeGroat has spoken with President Donald Trump about

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the challenges of everyday transportation, as well as airports and air travel. They discussed trying to let those with autism sit at the front of the plane so they can get out of the crowd faster when it’s time to deplane. Situations like that can often cause sensory overload and even security lines can be a daunting task.

Personal vehicles are the best choice for those with autism, but many can’t drive so autonomous vehicles could mean a new level of freedom for those on the spectrum. DeGroat is working

COVER

with General Motors on how to make selfdriving cars sensory-friendly and safe, including adding screens that would allow caretakers and emergency personnel to see inside the vehicle.

If DeGroat’s bill is signed into law, his work won’t stop. His foundation will be providing both the training for police officers on how to approach a car driven by someone with a communication challenge and cards officers can carry with reminder protocols that they can reference whenever needed.

Barrett has high hopes for the bill: “Our hope is that the bills we are working on together will improve the interactions between those with a communication impediment, including autism, and our law enforcement community. These bills are not just common sense, they are also the right thing to do,” Barrett said.

DeGroat is looking to make tangible changes but also to disprove doubters for himself and others like him: “I define my own life, no one defines me.”

Given the impact on those he’s worked with, it seems he’s doing just that.

“Xavier’s hard work on all things autism has been impressive to watch and be a part of,” said Wrigglesworth. “If everyone had just one thing to be as passionate about as Xavier is about autism, the world would be a much better place.”

Allison Spooner is a writer, storyteller, copywriter, marketing content creator and communicator.

She uses her communication and creative writing skills to articulate the stories and messages that businesses can’t express themselves. She has been telling the stories of businesses across the state of Michigan for 10 years. You can find both her professional and her creative writing on her website, allisonspoonerwriter.com and follow her musings on Twitter @allyspoon.

“IF EVERYONE HAD JUST ONE THING TO BE AS PASSIONATE ABOUT AS XAVIER IS ABOUT AUTISM, THE WORLD WOULD BE A MUCH BETTER PLACE.” SCOTT WRIGGLESWORTH, INGHAM COUNTY SHERIFF

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PANDEMIC & PTO

BY LAURA MICHAELS

Pam Babcock, the owner of My Chores Are Yours, appreciates what a deep clean can do for a both a home and a state of mind.

“We are not a spray-and-wipe company,” she said. “So it’s not like we are holding containers and spraying and wiping away.

Our hands are always in products.”

With cases of the coronavirus continuing to spread across Michigan, sanitation is on everyone’s mind. So is stopping the spread of the illness.

As of our interview, Babcock said only one customer put a hold on housecleaning services.

“She said when this, you know, the epidemic is what she called it, when it’s over, she’ll call us back,” said Babcock.

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Babcock employs about 29 workers. Since her business has less than 50 people, she’s not required to provide paid sick leave under Michigan law. She doesn’t. Doing so would “greatly, greatly” impact her bottom line, she said.

requires employers with at least 50 employees to allow workers to accrue one hour of paid sick leave for every 35 hours of work.

However, when an employee takes a sick day, Backbock, said it has always been her philosophy not to push back.

Whether someone can afford to stay home to take care of his or her health should not be up for discussion during a pandemic, said Linda Vail, a health officer with the Ingham County Health Department.

“I don’t give anybody a hassle if they are sick and not feeling well and need to be absent,” she said.

“That’s just the reality of running a business.”

“This is a time when we need people to make the right choice, which is to be able to stay home when they’re sick,” said Vail.

The issue of whether companies should be required to pay their employees when they are out sick is returning to public discussion.

The Paid Medical Leave Act went into effect in Michigan in March 2019. The measure

The overarching goal of other measures such as closing schools and canceling large-scale events is to flatten the number of cases so they don’t overwhelm the health care system, according to Vail.

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Many people will have minor symptoms. Others will develop serious illnesses, she said.

Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Tim Daman.

“The number of people that have serious illnesses have the potential to tax our health care system’s capacity to take care of that many people at a time,” she said.

“Whether you are a small business or a large business … the government mandates and what and how that works is one of those tricky areas that always generates a lot of debate from the business community,” he said.

Even if it’s just a temporary measure, Vail said Michigan employers should implement paid sick-time plans.

“Their losses by paying those employees to stay home are going to be much less significant than them coming to work sick and infecting the rest of the workforce,” she said.

If the government were to force paid sick time, pushback would likely follow, according to

As for Pam Babcock, she loves the challenges that come with being an entrepreneur. She’s seen a lot in her 40 years of cleaning homes.

She knows she’ll survive this too.

“Even as bad as it can get, it’s not going to stay bad forever.”

Daman will be closely watching how virus-combating measures such as workfrom-home policies and canceled in-person meetings play out in the long term.

Laura Michels has worked as a television, radio and print reporter.

She believes media at its best can connect, teach and inspire.

“Employers are probably going to have to be very flexible,” he said. “They are probably going to have to bend some policies that maybe weren’t in place previously. It’s kind of an unprecedented time we are in right now.”

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TIPS FOR TRAVELERS

As business and industry continue to implement precautions against the new coronavirus, people across the country are struggling how to perform the day-to-day tasks in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. If travel is unavoidable as part of your business, the World Health Organization has issued general recommendations for personal hygiene, cough etiquette and keeping a distance from people showing symptoms that remain particularly important for all travelers. These include:

01

Perform hand hygiene frequently, particularly after contact with respiratory secretions. Hand hygiene includes either cleaning hands with soap and water or with an alcohol-based hand rub.

Alcohol-based hand rubs are preferred if hands are not visibly soiled; wash hands with soap and water when they are visibly soiled.

02

Cover your nose and mouth with a flexed elbow or paper tissue when coughing or sneezing and immediately dispose of the tissue and performing hand hygiene.

03

Refrain from touching your mouth and nose.

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04

A medical mask is not required if exhibiting no COVID-19 symptoms, as there is no evidence that wearing a mask – of any type – protects people who are not ill. However, in some cultures, masks may be commonly worn. If masks are to be worn, it is critical to follow best practices on how to wear, remove and dispose of them and on hand hygiene after removal.

05

WHO also is advising travelers to follow proper food hygiene practices, including following the five keys to food safety: keeping hands and surfaces clean and sanitized, separating raw and cooked foods, cooking food products thoroughly to their recommended safe temperatures, storing food at recommended safe temperatures, and using safe water and safe raw food products.

06

Travelers returning from affected areas should self-monitor for symptoms for 14 days and follow national protocols of receiving countries. Some countries may require returning travelers to enter quarantine. If symptoms occur, such as fever, cough or difficulty breathing, travelers are advised to contact local health care providers, preferably by phone, and inform them of symptoms and travel history.

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FEATURE

DEAN TRANSPORTATION CELEBRATES 50 YEARS BY: TEECE ARONIN

It might be hard to believe, but iconic community presence Dean Transportation has been in business for more than 50 years. The company’s roots are firmly planted in supporting the needs of schoolchildren, including those with special needs, and its plans are to continue along those lines while also spreading newer roots.

“After 50 years of quality service to our communities, Dean’s commitment to students and parents continues to grow stronger,” said Kellie P. Dean, president and CEO of Dean Transportation. “Our goal is to continue living up to our core values of integrity, trust, respect, compassion, quality, communication, teamwork and advocacy as we enter our next 50 years serving Michigan families.”

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Dean Transportation first hit the scene in the 1950s as Special Transportation, a service founded by Eric Christensen, who transported children with polio to and from school during the ’50s and ’60s. Special Transportation was incorporated by Lyle L. Stephens, a former Michigan State Police motor carrier officer who had an established reputation for passenger safety.

Fast-forward to 1986 when Kellie Dean joined Special Transportation. Kellie Dean holds a master’s degree in school administration and served in the Lansing School District, where he worked in special education. In 1991, Kellie Dean purchased the company and changed its name to Dean Transportation.

The company continued advocating for people with disabilities, including its stance as one

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of the primary entities pushing the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the U.S. Department of Transportation to toughen specifications on equipment used to transport people in wheelchairs. It was a fiveyear battle, and the result was significantly safer transportation for many people with disabilities.

Today, Dean Transportation employs more than 2,400 staff members, making it one of the largest privately owned transportation companies in the U.S. The business is family run. In addition to Kellie Dean, his sons, Patrick and Christopher, are its vice president and its business intelligence and analytics coordinator, respectively. Patrick Dean joined the company in 2007 and Chris Dean in 2013.

FEATURE

Patrick Dean told Greater Lansing Business Monthly that the company is considering ways to emphasize its role as something besides a bus company.

Expanding on his father’s statement, he said, “We’re a community-based organization, and we embrace emerging technologies.

We’re ready for what’s coming over the course of the next 10 years and beyond.”

Dean Transportation’s improvements in the realm of school transportation include hybrid electric school buses and a gold-level Green School Bus Fleet certification from NHTSA. But its reach extends beyond school buses. It has worked with the Capital Area Transit Authority to transport the general public and operates Dean Trailways, which offers upscale motor coaches and other luxury vehicles for use by universities, schools and charter groups. Additionally, the company offers black-car services for business, airport and special event transportation, allowing clients to make an impressive and comfortable entrance and exit.

The two Deans’ statements pointing to Dean Transportation as a community organization are borne out by its work with nonprofit groups, many of which focus on the needs of children.

Groups with which Dean works or has worked

in the past include the United Way, Ele’s Place, Make-A-Wish Foundation and Sparrow Hospital. The company contributes by means of volunteerism, community outreach or sponsorship with an eye toward groups providing educational opportunities to children and families.

In 2017, Dean Transportation joined forces with the Information Technology Empowerment Center to launch the TechTransport Bus. Dean donated the bus that was loaded with a mobile computer lab enabling fourth to eighth graders to try robotics, 3D printing and a mock space launch, among other experiences and innovations.

Kellie Dean summed up how he feels about the company’s accomplishment of lasting so long: “We are extremely proud to have been an integral part of communities throughout Michigan for the past 50 years. We have worked hard during the past half-century to provide safe and reliable transportation to and from school for 80,000 students every school day. We are committed to further serving our communities and look forward to transporting the children and grandchildren of today’s passengers in the future.”

That future will include the results of the company’s continuing hard work and innovation.

Kellie Dean

Meet

Frank

His specialized knowledge of commercial real estate investment makes him an asset to any team. He’s ready to put his 20+ years of experience to work for you.

Call us at 517-487-9222 to meet with Frank Woronoff or any one of our specialized expert team members.

We’re NAI Mid-Michigan. Your best choice for commercial investment knowledge and insight. naimidmichigan.com • 517.487.9222

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BY KYLE DOWLING | PHOTO BY MATTHEW MCDANIEL

LIFE ON THE RIVER

CHAMBERLAIN CHARTS A COURSE FOR THE J&K STEAMBOAT CO. The waterways of the United States have helped shape the nation from its earliest days, serving as one of the earliest modes of transportation for goods and travel, and playing a critical role in the lives and livelihoods of many Michiganders.

For more than four decades, the J&K Steamboat Co. has helped restore that cultural link to the past on Lansing-area rivers and beyond. The roots of the business date back to 1976, when John and Karla Chamberlain started a small 26

canoe rental business in Lansing’s Potter Park.

With that venture underway, they expanded their business by purchasing a barge and building it into the first boat of many, the Spirit of Lansing. The Spirit of Lansing would operate out of Potter Park and would take passengers downtown to Adado Riverfront Park.

The popularity of the Spirit of Lansing would soon force the Chamberlains into a larger boat.

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In 1984, the Princess Laura, named after the Chamberlains’ daughter, began taking as many as 110 passengers on the waterways of Michigan.

The Michigan Princess was the next boat that the couple set their sights on, with the idea of a boat that could handle large events and inclement weather. It was christened by then-Gov. John Engler in 1991, with a remodel to expand its size in 1998.

BEHIND THE SCENES

“The Spirit of Lansing and the Princess Laura did not have as much cover as the Michigan Princess would have,” explained Chris Chamberlain, John’s son and the current owner of the J&K Steamboat Co. “The Michigan Princess is able to hold up to 500 passengers and not worry about if the rain starts up at a corporate event we’re holding.”

When the large steamers that once ferried passengers to and from the Boblo Island amusement park at the mouth of the Detroit River went up for sale, John considered purchasing them but discovered that they would be too much of an investment to restore.

However, the idea of operating such a boat stuck with him, and in 2004 he purchased the perfect vessel. The only problem was that this perfect boat was an old casino ship off the coast of Texas. It took John and Chris 104 days to sail all the way back to Michigan.

They christened her the Detroit Princess.

Along the way, John and Karla made the tough decision to sell the Princess Laura, but the couple replaced her with the Grand Princess in 2010. The Grand Princess was of comparable size but had an enclosed lower deck.

Chris took over the company after his father passed away in 2013, and he is growing and expanding the business to new and exciting projects.

“It was amazing to see all the people he had impacted,” said Chris Chamberlain. “People tell me all the time how he had let them steer the boat as a kid and they’d come back years later to get married on the same boat.

“WE GIVE PEOPLE THE EXPERIENCE AND MEMORIES THAT PEOPLE LOVE, AND THEY COME BACK TO SHARE THAT WITH THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY. I ALWAYS FEEL LUCKY TO BE A PART OF THAT.” CHRIS CHAMBERLAIN, CAPTAIN OF THE MICHIGAN PRINCESS

Real people, Real solutions, Right here.

“We don’t just sell boat rides,” explained Chris. “We give people the experience and memories that people love, and they come back to share that with their friends and family.

I always feel lucky to be a part of that.”

Chris also likes how his boats create environmental awareness in his passengers.

“When people get out on the river, they can actually see the water around them,” said Chris. “And that awareness really shows.

The water is so much better than it was 10 years ago. I can see that the community is really looking at the river differently.”

Kyle Dowling is an employee of M3 Group and is pursuing a writing degree at Michigan State University.

He enjoys fiction writing, video games and movies.

517.853.2700

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FEATURE

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!

BY EMMA C. JOHNSON

Due to COVID-19 and the subsequent reduced demand for travel, some Amtrak routes have temporarily suspended service.

Please visit Amtrak’s website for the most up-to-date train schedules: amtrak.com/ alert/nec-modified-schedule.html There are myriad ways to get around Lansing, as well as to take a trip to Chicago, Detroit or 28

even an international destination. Those include trains, planes, automobiles, buses and more.

PLANES At the Capital Region International Airport in Lansing, many residents choose to “fly Lansing” because the airport is small but has international reach, as well as the amenities of a large airport.

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Spencer Flynn, marketing manager for the Capital Region Airport Authority, said people can save money or pay an equivalent price compared to bigger airports like Detroit Metropolitan. Sometimes a flight from Lansing that goes through Detroit is cheaper than buying a lower-priced ticket but paying for parking and the gas to drive to Detroit.

FEATURE

Flynn said that even when the cost comes out in the wash, it’s nice to use the Capital Region International Airport “because you don’t have an hour, hour-and-a-half drive home after just getting back from a week on vacation.”

TRAINS At Amtrak, trains can take you across the country.

Most of Amtrak’s business in Michigan is travel between Lansing and Chicago, according to Marc Magliari, public relations manager for Amtrak government affairs and corporate communications for the Amtrak Chicago Union Station.

“The biggest city, the biggest draw,” he said.

“We do a fair amount in west Michigan – Kalamazoo and Battle Creek,” added Magliari.

The three Amtrak routes in Michigan are heavily used by the university populations that pass through them: Wolverine Service for the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Pere Marquette for Ferris State University, and Blue Water for Western Michigan University and Michigan State University.

MICHIGAN AMTRAK ROUTES: Blue WaterSM: Chicago, Kalamazoo, East Lansing and Port Huron Pere Marquette: Chicago and Grand Rapids Wolverine Service: Chicago, Ann Arbor, Detroit and Pontiac

“We do a lot of business with college students, faculty and staff, ” said Magliari. “It’s not all of it, but a big part of it. You’ll find it’s harder to get lower fares on a Saturday. College travel doesn’t happen during the week; it takes place on a Friday, Saturday, Sunday or Monday.”

Magliari said lower fares can be found on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and he

AS THE CORONAVIRUS MADE ITS WAY INTO THE REGION, GLBM REACHED OUT TO FIND WHAT THE TRANSPORTATION BUSINESSES WE SPOKE TO WERE DOING TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 CAPITAL REGION INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT: “While we always use the top industry products to disinfect and keep our passengers safe, we have increased our surface cleaning twofold as well as are investigating further measures that can be taken,” said Spencer Flynn, marketing manager for the Capital Region Airport Authority.

On how the airport has been effected: “The airline industry overall is seeing a large impact. Airports Council International is predicting a loss of $4.3 billion in total revenue for the industry,” said Flynn.

CAPITAL AREA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY:

added that train travel is particularly popular with young adults in general.

“Millennials or even Gen Xers facing big college bills and high schoolers today don’t seem to be interested in buying cars or multiple cars for their family,” said Magliari. “Many people are postponing car ownership or doing fractional car ownership and/or … have old cars they use

“In preparation for COVID-19, we recently upgraded our cleaning standard and frequency by applying a hospital-grade aerosol disinfectant in buses that effectively kills coronavirus and a broad spectrum of other pandemic viruses.

We are taking additional containment measures as well,” the statement read.

AMTRAK: In a media release, Amtrak said it is “taking action based on guidance from public health experts.” Amtrak increased the frequency of cleaning services on its trains and stations. Amtrak also increased the quantity of sanitizers and disinfectant wipes available for customers and employees.

On some routes in the northeast, Amtrak has temporarily suspended or reduced route frequency due to reduced demand. Amtrak is waiving change fees on all existing or new reservations made before April 30. Amtrak also advises riders that it enters parts of Canada, so if you cross the border, US Customs and Border Protection may ask about previous travel, as well as require a medical screening.

On its website, CATA stated it convened an internal emergency-response task force and are following Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s recommendations for community mitigation strategies.

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around town. For all those reasons, we are there to help because you don’t need an especially good car to go to Chicago – you can go on Amtrak.

“Plus, on the train you can sleep or text or read – all things you should not do while you’re driving,” he added.

Magliari said train travel has some other advantages over driving for passengers.

“When they’re riding our train, they’re likely to be more comfortable and don’t have to worry about paying 25 bucks a day to park their car,” said Magliari. “Sit back and relax, don’t worry about I-94 or the Indiana toll road. You can wave at the cars.”

To get the most out of your travel, Magliari recommended buying tickets in advance.

“Generally speaking, the fares are lower,” he said.

Fiscal year 2019 station ridership for East Lansing totaled 69,210 customers in that 30

12-month period. That was slightly higher than 2018, which saw 68,295 passengers.

According to Michael Frezell, communications manager for the Michigan Department of Transportation, there are other possible train routes being studied by groups, but there aren’t any concrete plans at this time.

AUTOMOBILES Flynn said the airport’s car services include taxis (DD’s Downtown Taxi, MSU Express), black car/limos (Dean Trailways, Grand Limousine, Posh Transportation) as well as ride-hailing apps (Lyft, Uber).

BUSES The Capital Area Transportation Authority serves all of Ingham County and portions of Eaton County and Clinton County.

CATA’s average number of weekday rides from September through December was

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48,275. During peak months, CATA averages between 52,000 and 54,000 trips.

CATA is most known for its fixed-route bus service. However, CATA also offers demandrespond services by reservation, curb-to-curb service for individuals with American with Disabilities Act certification, and grocery store and shopping trips for seniors. Free 15-minute service between downtown Lansing and Old Town is known as the Grab & Go Express.

CATA’s special programs include free rides on Election Day and free rides for veterans on Veterans Day. “CATA provides safe, reliable, affordable public transportation services that benefit all citizens in our region, including those who are most disadvantaged. Public transportation can improve our health and social mobility, but we also meet daily needs that many take for granted: getting to school, work, food sources, medical appointments, social services,

FEATURE

leisure activities … We can help people escape poverty – our services can and do help advance social equity,” CATA said in an email.

CATA also says public transportation is more “environmentally sustainable” than other forms of transit and helps make the city “economically vibrant.”

In addition, Greyhound Lines Inc. buses travel through Chicago, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Flint, Troy and Ann Arbor, as well as the Upper Peninsula. Headquartered in Owosso, Indian Trails buses travel from Hancock all the way in the Upper Peninsula and down to Chicago via East Lansing.

THE CHOICE IS YOURS There are many ways to get around in Lansing.

Whichever way you choose to travel in Lansing – be it plane, train, automobile, car, bus, bike, foot or even hot-air balloon – there are other options you might explore to move around the region.

MEET LIKE A LOCAL

The GLCVB’s role is to market the Capital Region as a travel destination and our vision is to inspire visitors and residents alike to love Lansing as much as we do. We understand what makes this community great. Work with us to host your next meeting or event and together we can grow the local economy while showcasing our hometown pride. Contact us today!

LANSING.org (517) 487-0077 #LOVELANSING

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NOTABLE NEWS

The regional hospitality agency reported a strong 61.6% occupancy rate for 2019, and the overall hotel room demand increased to over 1.06 million hotel room nights, according to Smith Travel Research data.

“The Greater Lansing community experienced another very strong year,” said Jack Schripsema, former president and CEO of the GLCVB. “For the ninth consecutive year, the GLCVB destination sales department exceeded its roomnight goal, the Greater Lansing Sports Authority once again broke the century mark for events hosted and, despite new hotel inventory in the community, demand for rooms increased.”

Julie Pingston and Jack Schripsema

GLCVB TOUTS POSITIVE GROWTH, CHANGES The Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau held its annual meeting Feb. 25 and had findings for the hospitality industry of the area and the local economy.

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The GLCVB also recognized the Certified Tourism Ambassador of the year. The Greater Lansing Certified Tourism Ambassador program aims to equip residents in frontline hospitality- and tourism-related positions – such as hotel, local attraction and restaurant employees – with a more in-depth knowledge of the area’s many assets so they may help create a more positive and memorable visitor experience. The meeting concluded with the announcement of the GLCVB’s new president and CEO, Julie Pingston, CDME, CMP, CTA.

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JUDGE ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT Ingham County Circuit Court Judge Janelle A. Lawless will step down from the bench at the conclusion of her current term at the end of this year. At the time of her retirement, she will have served the people of Ingham County for over 30 years.

Lawless received a bachelor’s degree from Central Michigan University in 1977 and continued to a law degree from Thomas Cooley Law School in 1981. She went into private practice as a licensed attorney in Lansing.

In 2002, Lawless was elected to an open seat on the Circuit Court bench and began her service as a judge in January 2003. She has since been reelected twice, with her current six-year term expiring at the end of 2020.

During her entire tenure on the Ingham County bench, Lawless has been assigned to the family division of the Circuit Court, hearing cases relating to child protection, juvenile justice, adoption and other matters involving families. Lawless also served as Circuit Court chief judge from 2012 to 2017.

NOTABLE NEWS

The successor to Lawless on the bench will be decided in the November general election.

DOUGLAS J OPENS SCHOOL OF BARBERING

LAFCU WINS 5 MARKETING AWARDS

Douglas J announced the opening of its School of Barbering in Greater Lansing. This will be the first barbering program to come to Greater Lansing that will be accredited. The headquarters will be in the Marriott East Lansing and the school will soon welcome its inaugural class.

LAFCU has won five marketing awards in the 17th annual Service Industry Advertising Awards competition, with two entries winning the top awards in their categories.

The advertising work was produced in partnership with Harvest Creative Services in Lansing; the public relations project was executed in partnership with Publicom in Okemos.

“In offering quality financial products to our members statewide, we are also competing with national entities,” said Kelli Ellsworth Etchison, LAFCU chief marketing officer.

“Our goal is always to represent LAFCU as a cutting-edge financial organization.

This SIAA recognition is validation that our marketing is competitive on a national scale.”

Origami employee award winners.

“Our School of Barbering is a highly anticipated addition to our education offerings, which

THE MOST TRUSTED NAME IN

HOME SERVICES HAS YOU READY FOR SPRING

The entries that have earned gold awards and their SIAA categories were “Here to Help” for the Total PR Campaign and the “Go Vertical” video for the TV Advertising-Single.

The Merit Award winners and their SIAA categories are the “Go Vertical” billboard in the Outdoor Advertising category, the “Go Vertical” campaign in the Total Advertising Campaign category and the “Jumbo CD” video for the TV Advertising-Single.

The SIAA competition recognizes advertising excellence of service industry providers. Of the more than 1,600 entries, about 15% were recognized, receiving 121 gold, 74 silver and 54 bronze awards. Judges reviewed entries for execution, creativity, quality, consumer appeal and overall breakthrough content.

ORIGAMI REHABILITATION CENTER RECOGNIZES PEER-NOMINATED AWARDS Origami Brain Injury Rehabilitation Center congratulated this year’s recipients of its annual peer-nominated awards. The individuals were recognized for bringing unmatched creativity, innovation and care to their roles. The awards and recipients are Tori Richards for the Business Operations Award, Kara Christy with the Clinical Excellence Award, Drew Doubleday for Employee of the Year, Lauren Wesolowski with the Client Care Award and Amanda DeForke for the Client Support Award.

Call today to schedule your spring: • Air-conditioning tune up • Whole-house electrical inspection • Annual plumbing inspection

1999 E. SAGINAW HWY. EAST LANSING, MI 48823 | 517.339.6300

THEMERIDIANADVANTAGE.NET

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NOTABLE NEWS

is why we’re so proud to see it come to fruition,” said Scott Weaver, president of Douglas J Aveda Institutes and Salons. “Our first class of students is already full, proving there’s a real demand for this career path.”

president and co-owner of Douglas J Institutes and Salons. “This is a great opportunity for people who are passionate about hair care, grooming and skin care, but don’t necessarily want to work in a salon or spa.”

LUGNUTS ANNOUNCE NEW HIRES The Lansing Lugnuts has announced the hiring of three new employees to the team’s front office staff. Greg Kigar is the director of stadium events, Kaitlyn Reed is the box office manager and the Paul Kuhna is the head groundskeeper.

“We are thrilled to welcome Greg, Kaitlyn and

Members of the Weaver family which founded Douglas J cut the ribbon.

“Greg brings an incredible amount of experience and is well-respected in the sports industry. We’re fortunate to add someone of his caliber to our staff. Kaitlyn impressed us immediately with her enthusiasm, and she brings a terrific background that will translate well to our box office. She’s a rising star in the industry and will make a tremendous addition. And Paul is someone we were well-acquainted with, as he worked with us during the 2017 season. He did an amazing job the last few years in West Virginia, and when we had an opening, we immediately thought of him. I have no doubt that our field will continue to rank among the best in MiLB under his guidance.”

NAI/TMN UPDATE NAME, LAUNCHES WEBSITE

This school will provide a yearlong, 1,800-hour curriculum in skills that include precision cutting, shaving, color, chemical treatments, skin care and business management. The program will be similar to Douglas J’s Aveda Institute, where students will provide services that they have learned to clients.

“Urban barber shops are experiencing a modern revival, creating a demand for barbers in the state of Michigan,” said T.J. Weaver, vice

Paul to our team here with the Lugnuts,” said Lansing Lugnuts General Manager Tyler Parsons.

Greg Kigar

NAI Mid-Michigan and TMN Commercial have served the Greater Lansing area’s commercial real estate needs for decades. In 2013, the two companies merged together under the name NAI Mid-Michigan/TMN Commercial, but have now streamlined the brand under NAI Mid-Michigan.

They will continue with the same comprehensive services and organizational structure as before.

Sparrow Health Classic Exceptional Golf to Support

Extraordinary

Care

Wednesday, June 17, 10:00 a.m. | Shotgun Start Hawk Hollow & Eagle Eye Golf Courses The Sparrow Health Classic offers an unforgettable day of golf.

All proceeds benefit the health and care of our region.

» Serious golfers will love the challenges offered by some of the toughest holes in the region.

» Recreational golfers will enjoy the scramble format, the beautifully manicured greens and the fun gifts for every golfer.

» Not a golfer? Sign up for the 18-hole natural grass putting course at Little Hawk, then join the golfers for dinner following play.

No matter how you choose to participate, you’re helping us continue to provide the best, most advanced healthcare services available to the men, women and children who come to Sparrow for care each day.

Generously presented by

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G R E AT E R L A N S I N G B U S I N E S S M O N T H LY

For more information, visit SparrowFoundation.org/HealthClassic.

Questions? Call 517.364.3620.

APRIL 2020

NOTABLE NEWS

“This tremendous growth hasn’t changed how we conduct business. We look at commercial real estate as a person-to person business relationship, and our new website highlights this,” said Jeff Shapiro, principal. “We want to deliver the very best services and outcomes for our clients, and we want to reach new clients by providing meaningful online information and resources. We knew in time the name would be simplified as the two operations became one.”

The new website, naimidmichigan.com will include a link to easily access the tenant portal for all of the company’s client properties.

starting college at Michigan State University in the fall. Prior to joining NAI MidMichigan, he was the director of commercial at Coldwell Banker Hubbell Briarwood.\

SPARROW HEALTH SYSTEM HONORED WITH IMPACT AWARD

with LCC on addressing this need by creating a program for current caregivers in which the college would provide classroom time while students would get clinical experience at Sparrow. The caregivers continue to get paid by Sparrow while in the program.

Sparrow Health System has been selected as a 2020 Michigan Works! Impact Award winner, honoring the finest achievements in workforce development statewide. Sparrow was nominated

by Capital Area Michigan Works! for being a leader in the Mid-Michigan region in the development of apprenticeship programs.

“It is an honor to receive this award, which would not have been possible without the hard work of many people at Sparrow and our partners in the community, Capital Area Michigan Works! and Lansing Community College,” said Sherry Pfaff-Doody, talent acquisition director Sparrow Health System.

Among Sparrow’s highly successful apprenticeship programs is a collaboration with Lansing Community College to train medical assistants. The program addresses a major need in health care. Sparrow worked

Graduates of the Sparrow/LCC medical assistant apprenticeship program were honored during a ceremony at LCC last fall

Frank Woronoff

INVESTMENT SPECIALIST JOINS NAI Frank Woronoff has joined NAI MidMichigan as its commercial adviser.

Woronoff specializes in investment real estate and represents clients in the sale and purchase of investment opportunities in the mid-Michigan region. He has accrued more than 20 years of real estate and investment experience, primarily in office and multifamily properties.

He will be focusing on the acquisition and disposition of investment-grade properties for individuals, developers, partnerships, corporations, financial institutions and investors.

“Frank is held in high regard in the Greater Lansing area,” said Jeff Shapiro, principal for NAI Mid-Michigan. “His decades of experience and his knowledge of positioning real estate assets for investors heightens our capabilities in mid-Michigan.”

Woronoff lives in Okemos and is engaged to be married. He has two children, with one La

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NOTABLE NEWS

LEAP CEO RECOGNIZED AS NORTH AMERICAN TOP 50 ECONOMIC DEVELOPER

Blooming Minds Therapy

NAI ANNOUNCES EXPANSION LEASE FOR BLOOMING MINDS THERAPY NAI Mid-Michigan announced that Blooming Minds Therapy has entered in to a long-term expansion lease for 3,500 square feet at 3496 E. Lake Lansing Road in East Lansing. Anna Scates, and Jacqueline Newsome, will more than double their space, growing their practice of clinicians. According to Scates, “We have been very pleased with the location but quickly outgrew our original 1,400-square-foot suite. NAI MidMichigan worked diligently to provide a solution by relocating us within the same building with an attractive tenant package.” Blooming Minds Therapy will be in their new space in early May.

Bob Trezise

The Lansing Economic Area Partnership has announced LEAP President and CEO Bob Trezise was selected as one of North America’s Top 50 Economic Developers for 2020 by Consultant Connect.

Consultant Connect is a leading consulting agency focused on bridging the gap between economic developers and site consultants, a key relationship that defines the success of business attraction efforts. The economic development professionals selected for this list were nominated by their colleagues in both the economic development industry and the site consultant community for excellent practices, innovation and success in building the communities they serve.

During Trezise’s tenure with LEAP, private sector investment projects have totaled over $3 billion, resulting in the creation of more than 7,100 direct-private jobs through a wide variety of award-winning projects.

Trezise has also pushed LEAP to create a robust entrepreneurial business startup program, corporate innovation subsidiary (PROTO Accelerator), a placemaking program that has resulted in 35 pieces of strategically placed public art across the region and the creation and support of the Lansing Poet Laureate program.

“I’m honored to be selected for this award and to be recognized with top colleagues from across the country,” said Trezise.

“While it certainly feels good to be identified as a leader, it’s even more fulfilling to have LEAP’s relentless pursuit of excellence in all we do validated on a national stage. Our investors and our region are receiving the best there is, in the entire country, when it comes to economic development.”

NEOGEN LAB SERVICES EARNS ACCREDITATION Neogen announced that its Laboratory Services Group in Lansing has received ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation from the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation, the highest recognized quality standard in the world for testing laboratories.

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Receiving the accreditation means that test reports and certificates generated from Neogen’s laboratory in Lansing can now be generally accepted from one country to another without further testing. In addition, the accreditation means that companies seeking to comply with the recommendation of the Food Safety Modernization Act to only use ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratories for third-party testing can now use Neogen’s Laboratory Services Group.

Lansing Community College is an equal opportunity educational institution/employer.

“This prestigious accreditation confirms the quality and competency of our laboratory’s personnel and processes,” said Tony Lupo, Neogen’s senior director of technical services.

“The Neogen Laboratory Services group was determined to consistently produce precise, accurate and valid testing data for the analysis of mycotoxins and food allergens. The ISO/ IEC 17025 accreditation demonstrates Neogen’s commitment to quality, competency and reliability through implementation of a rigorous quality management system.”

G R E AT E R L A N S I N G B U S I N E S S M O N T H LY

APRIL 2020

Pam Posthumus

NOTABLE NEWS

S i g n at u r e A u c t i o n E v e n t 18Th Annual

Show up &

stand

for kids

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

An Evening to Stand Up & Stand Out.

Stand Up & Get Involved.

Join us for an evening of great music, conversation, cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and lively bidding at the annual Pam Posthumus Signature Auction Event.

We’re counting on you to help us stand up for children throughout the state.

Wednesday, May 20, 2020, 5:00 p.m.

Breslin Student Events Center, Michigan State University To donate, purchase tickets, pre-register and preview live and silent auction items, visit ctfauction.givesmart.com.

A $75 donation provides a home visit for an at-risk young mother.

A $139 donation provides one direct service such as parent/education support.

A $1,000 donation provides 25 hours of respite care for a parent of a child with special needs.

Prevent Child Abuse Michigan Children’s Trust Fund 235 South Grand Avenue, Suite 1411 Lansing, MI 48933 800-Children This ad is generously underwritten by

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For Lansing’s Ground Breakers.

Building Business Communities For almost 60 years, Martin has been focused on supporting innovation and pioneering the ever changing landscape of mid-Michigan. As Lansing’s leading commercial real estate firm, our clients entrust us to deliver superior service and unparalleled results by combining big business benefits with the attentiveness to detail and local knowledge that you would expect from a boutique firm. From brokerage services to property development to property management, Martin is for all the ground breakers who are ready to take the next step.

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77 Monroe Center NW, Suite 405

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East Lansing, MI 48823