GLBM August 2018 by M3 Group Publications

AUGUST 2018

SKILLS NOT EASILY FILLED The Technical Careers Division of Lansing Community College aims to usher in the next generation of skilled trades and labor IN THIS ISSUE • Amazon and Walmart compete with growing Michigan business • The human element – and lifelong learning – ahead of automation • What Europe’s latest data law means for the rest of us

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AUGUST 2018 ON THE COVER Amazon and Walmart compete with growing Michigan business................................................. 6 What Europe’s latest data law means for the rest of us................................................................... 8 The human element – and lifelong learning – ahead of automation................................................... 12 Skills Not Easily Filled....................................................................... 26

NEWS Fortifying the Talent Pipeline........................................................ 10 Launch Michigan: Our Education System Needs Unlikely Allies........................................................ 14

26 FEATURES Rising Above Autism .............................................................................................................................. 16 Decoding Dyslexia .................................................................................................................................. 18 Horrocks: Branding for a Community Near You ...................................................................... 20 Big, Artful Changes: Coming to a Park Near You .................................................................... 22 Visual Breakdown .................................................................................................................................... 24 Behind the Scenes ................................................................................................................................... 30 Business Calendar ................................................................................................................................... 32 Notable News ............................................................................................................................................ 34

CORRECTIONS In our June publication in our Notable News brief on Inside Michigan Politics (IMP), GLBM mistakenly identified Advantage Associates with the acronym AA. GLBM also quoted Susan J. Demas as saying, “Owning AA for almost five years has been exciting and rewarding.” Please note Demas was referring to IMP. In the July issue of GLBM Margaret Keeler’s last name was improperly cited as Keller on the cover. Cover photography by Kevin Fowler

Greater Lansing Business Monthly | Volume 31, Issue 8 group

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.

Subscriptions: Subscriptions are available at $22 per year for postage and handling or $38 for two years. Call (517) 203-3333 or visit lansingbusinessnews.com to subscribe. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Greater Lansing Business Monthly, 221 West Saginaw Street, Lansing, MI 48933. Send additional subscription requests and address changes to The Greater Lansing Business Monthly, Inc., 221 West Saginaw Street, Lansing, MI 48933. Copyright © 2016 The Greater Lansing Business Monthly, Inc. All rights reserved. Editorial Office: 221 West Saginaw Street, Lansing, MI 48933 lansingbusinessnews.com 2

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COMMENTARY

Publisher: Tiffany Dowling tiffany@m3group.biz Sales Manager: Jennifer Hodges jhodges@m3group.biz Editor: Kelly Mazurkiewicz kelly@m3group.biz Media Manager: Jill Bailey Account Managers: Megan Fleming Liz Reno-Hayes Zack Krieger Spencer Flynn Adam Smith Communications Director: Ami Iceman-Haueter Art Director: Mark Warner Publication Designer: Heather Thielking Graphic Designers: Jeanette Wummel Quandrel Ollie

LEARNING: MORE THAN A DEGREE We’re all learning. Every day. That’s how it’s supposed to be. Some things you seek out because you’re sure it will be helpful on your career path. I have a friend who is working hard to complete her Master of Business Administration (MBA). She works full time, raises her family, travels a ton and still meets with her cohort to complete a degree that she knows will help her succeed. These programs are intense, and there is certainly plenty to gain from the experience. I think what I like best about the MBA program she’s involved in is the camaraderie among her classmates. They are in it together as they press on to meet the challenges. Although I haven’t taken the MBA plunge, I do consistently expand my horizons with the latest information. It’s easy to get complacent in any industry, but I say technology, techniques and trends change so quickly that staying current isn’t a luxury – it’s a necessity. There are multiple ways I stay connected to information I need for running my business every day: 1. Research: I love information – the more the better. I like to research what the universities are researching and how they are evaluating trends. 2. Read: It’s important to stay current with business periodicals that discuss trends and follow the lives of industry professionals. There are also books that speak to various areas and provide valuable insight.

Cody Fell Photographer: Mary Gajda Web Manager: Jeanette Wummel Videographer: Michael Cagney

3. CEO Networks: Especially for small-business owners, it’s important to have a sounding board for innovative ideas or strategy. Utilizing a team to get a larger perspective is a great way to vet different strategies quickly.

Event Calendar Manager: Jaime Hardesty

4. Coach or Mentor: I meet monthly with a mentor who has run many large businesses, and we track my business's goals.

GLBM Editorial Board:

5. Conferences: It’s great to get away from the office to learn something new. There are many conferences that focus on business or technology. Don’t overlook the partner organizations that also host training sessions for clients. My accounting firm puts on a conference with speakers that give clients valuable insight, especially with tax updates annually.

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 — Partner, Kandler Reed Khoury & Muchmore Tom Ruis — Vice President, Fifth Third Bank

6. Single Class: You may not be ready for your MBA, but a class could still be in order to truly learn an area vital to your success. There are many options available at local colleges and universities that offer a one-class option suitable to preparing for the next big trend. There’s no limit to what you can achieve, and there isn’t only one way to get there. So, use the educational tools you need to stay on track and continue learning.

Doug Klein — Executive Director, Mason Area Chamber of Commerce Mark Hooper — Partner, Andrews Hooper Pavlik Diontrae Hayes — Supervisor, Charter Township of Lansing

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

Tiffany Dowling | Publisher

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AMAZON VS. WALMART: ONLINE SHOPPING IN MICHIGAN BY KYLE DOWLING

Amazon, the online commerce company, has received approval for its new fulfillment center in Kent County’s Gaines Township. After a unanimous vote on May 14, plans were set for Amazon to build its fourth fulfillment center in Michigan. A fulfillment center is where Amazon will store, package and ship many smaller items such as books, movies, electronics and toys. Sellers send their merchandise to the site for sale online, and the items are shipped by a third party without the need for the seller to get involved. The site of Amazon’s latest Michigan center is at the corner of 68th Street and Patterson Avenue, south of downtown Grand Rapids. 6

The land is currently owned by Grand Rapidsbased furniture manufacturer Steelcase; Amazon will be leasing the land from the company, while a third-party developer will build the center. The project is expected to bring in a total capital investment of $150 million and create 1,000 full-time jobs. In addition to offering a benefits package, the company will offer a 95 percent prepaid tuition program for its associates. The Michigan Strategic Fund has also approved a $4 million performancebased grant from the Michigan Business Development Program to support the project. Michigan was chosen by Amazon over competing states throughout the Midwest.

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The announcement of the development comes after Michigan lost a bid earlier in the year to be the location of Amazon’s second headquarters. In January, Amazon said the reason Detroit was taken off the list wasn’t due to money or location – it was about people. Amazon said that there wasn’t a strong enough pool of talent in the area to staff a second headquarters. Sandy Baruah, president and CEO of the Detroit Regional Chamber, said, “The creativity, the regional collaboration, the quality of the bid document, the international partnership with Windsor – all of that got incredibly high marks. We were good, but we weren’t good enough on the talent front.”

NEWS

What Amazon meant when it referred to talent is that there is a large amount of skilled people who are educated here but leave for careers in other states. Detroit’s lack of public transportation also hurt its bid but was said to not have been a deal breaker. While Amazon continues to expand its physical distribution locations, Walmart has been expanding its online presence. With online purchases across the U.S. up by 33 percent last quarter, many are looking toward Walmart for their shopping needs, specifically groceries. Fifteen Walmart stores across Michigan are going to receive renovations within the next year. With a melding of online and physical locations, shoppers will be able to order groceries from the website and have them shipped to their house or brought to the door of the store. There will also be pick-up towers, where shoppers will be able to pick up online orders by scanning a code from their phone. Along with an upgrade to its website, Walmart seems to be angling toward Amazon’s slice of the e-commerce pie while continuing a large retail presence. Walmart seems to be using its physical stores to its advantage, with plans to add grocery delivery to 800 more stores in the next year.

That is quite the step up from the minimum wage of $7.25 and may be a response to recent bad press about other distribution sites.

with $11.9 million being given to employees of 119 Walmart stores throughout Michigan.

Not to be outdone, Walmart also increased its starting wage to $11 an hour. On top of that, Walmart gave bonuses, ranging from $200 to $1,000, to 890,000 of its 1 million hourly employees, depending on its sales for the quarter. The bonuses totaled $560 million,

Kyle Dowling is an employee of M3 Group and is pursuing a writing degree at MSU. He enjoys fiction writing, video games and movies.

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Amazon is affecting the Lansing area with its own grocery store, due to the purchase of Whole Foods back in 2017 for $13.7 billion. People may see Amazon taking a page out of the Walmart playbook to try and compete, even if to a lesser degree. There are more than 450 Whole Foods worldwide, while there are over 4,000 Walmart stores in the U.S. Amazon is further integrating themselves into Whole Foods through the Whole Foods app. If you are an Amazon Prime member, you will be able to save money on groceries at Whole Foods. Those savings will only be for people with Amazon Prime memberships. The program had only been implemented in select stores in May, but Amazon rolled it out nationally at the end of June. Amazon Prime is around $120 a year but gets you free shipping on items through Amazon along with an online video library like Netflix and other bonuses. The Whole Foods discount is only adding to member benefits, as there will be no increase in fees.

Kyle Ranney 2213 E Grand River Ave #1 Lansing MI, 48912 517-482-2211 Lymansheets.com

This business rivalry doesn’t stop at locations. With Amazon increasing its distribution centers around the country, Amazon is also implementing a $13-per-hour starting wage. L

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GDPR AND YOU: WHAT THE EUROPEAN DATA LAW MEANS

FOR LOCAL BUSINESS BY ALLISON SPOONER

Over the last few weeks, inboxes across the country have been flooded with emails similar to the following: “We have updated our privacy and cookie policies.” Sound familiar? You may have received one or two – or even five. Those emails are due to a change in the law surrounding the way companies handle your data. Approved by the European Union in April 2017 and going into effect in March, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is the largest piece of consumer data legislation ever passed, and it impacts businesses both inside and outside the EU. We’re talking some of the world’s largest tech companies, like Facebook and Google. So, what’s the actual law making such a big splash from across the pond?

WHAT IS GDPR? In short, the GDPR aims to put control of personal data back into the hands of the user. After the personal data of some 87 million users was improperly shared by Facebook with the political campaign firm Cambridge Analytica, companies took notice. Facebook even recognized it should have done more to protect its users.

• Data transparency • Data correction • Data amnesia

So, the latest legislation replaces a previous law called the Data Protection Directive. While it applies to organizations located in the EU, its impact will have a much larger reach.

Those are all rights that go back to the user regarding his or her data. The law gives consumers the right to know what information a company has about them and demand a copy of it, the right to change that information if it’s incorrect and the right to be forgotten by that company. In addition, rather than just tell users their data is being collected, companies now must disclose exactly what that data will be used for. As a result, email notices and pop-ups are up on websites.

WHAT DOES IT SAY?

WHO DOES IT IMPACT?

The GDPR can be summed up with three major focal points:

The new regulations impact any business with operations touching Europe or that might touch

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Europe. If this sound a bit broad, let’s break it down: If you’re a local mechanic with a website meant to show potential customers your services and contact information, you’re probably OK. If you’re a website company with wide reach and multiple forms to fill out on your website, then there’s a chance those forms could be completed by someone in the EU, which means that you need to comply with the new law.

($24.6 million) or 4 percent of its global annual sales, whichever is bigger. That adds up to a lot of money for companies of any size.

FLORES

Many local companies, like SuperWebPros, need to make sure they are informing visitors to their websites of new privacy policies. Jesse Flores, chief web pro at the website development company, said the business updated its privacy policy and made that policy visible to anyone visiting the site. That new policy – combined with the fact that the business uses a trusted third-party software for lead generation and forms on the website – makes the company compliant with the new law and covered if anyone in the EU fills out a form on the site. To make sure a company is covered, Flores recommended using a reputable company for forms and lead generation. “They are compliant already,” Flores said. “If something happens, it's their responsibility.” He said that while most local companies won’t be affected, “If you do a lot of business in Europe, you should have a lawyer look over your privacy policy. “If you need a privacy policy, he added that you can download them online and customize it for your business. His biggest piece of advice for companies in that gray area is don't use low-quality, internally made forms.

SuperWebPros urged those who do a lot of web services themselves to be careful. Customer data can hide in the nooks and crannies of your website, and if a stray piece is hiding somewhere you can’t access, you are then not compliant with the law and open to repercussions.

IN SHORT, IT'S COMPLICATED Flores urged business owners who are unsure of the impact to consult their lawyer or visit the SuperWebPros website to start a conversation about data protection.

While visitors to the U.S. from the EU are not protected by the law, if your form lands in the hands of someone from across the pond, you are expected to comply under the GDPR. The law’s main focus is simple – to protect the data of consumers – but it’s still one of the most complex pieces of legislation ever written by the EU. For consumers, the law means it’s less likely that your data will fall into the wrong hands. For companies, some major vigilance is needed when it comes to protecting those same consumers.

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 in both Lansing and Grand Rapids for 10 years.

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“Consider swapping them out for forms from companies like HubSpot or Salesforce,” he said. Given that the law requires businesses to prove they know where their consumer data is stored, software can also be a great way to track and keep that data. Organizations will also be required to notify individuals and authorities of data breaches within 72 hours and address all the resulting issues, so having that contact information readily available is a plus.

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FORTIFYING THE TALENT PIPELINE Business leaders release recommendations for improving K-12 education BY CHRISTOPHER NAGY

Today’s investments in educational outcomes cement the foundation for tomorrow’s economic stability in Michigan. That’s the essence behind a report released this past spring by the Detroit-based Business Leaders for Michigan. The report, “Business Leaders’ Insights: Leading Practices in K-12 Education That Can Improve Student Outcomes in Michigan,” shares a series of recommended best practices, which aim to make Michigan a top 10 state for student learning and talent development. Among the report’s contents are recommendations for maintaining high standards and existing assessments of progress, giving teachers greater access to technology and data, ensuring all education levels meet uniform accountability and performance standards, making sure funding is being spent effectively and sustaining a unified effort behind strategies that work. The report notes that student achievement in math and reading at all education levels in Michigan are among the nation’s poorest; only one in four students leave high school prepared for college or a career. The purpose of the document is to prompt a public dialogue that involves the business community and leads to improvements. “We need skilled, educated talent to fill today’s open positions, and we can see firsthand that our children are graduating without the skills they 10

need to be successful,” said Doug Rothwell, president and CEO of Business Leaders for Michigan. “We knew it was time to add our voices to the discussion.” Chris Wigent, executive director of the Lansingbased Michigan Association of Superintendents and Administrators (MASA), said his organization applauds the report – particularly the recommendation to address school funding by using the Michigan Adequacy Report as a starting point to understand the costs to educate K-12 students. Released in January by the School Finance Research Collaborative, the report recommended reforming Michigan’s school funding system. “MASA is very much aware that collaboration and partnerships are necessary to improve student achievement in Michigan,” Wigent said. “We look forward to working with the entire business community as we work toward making Michigan a top 10 state in public education.” To accelerate action to improve Michigan’s education outcomes, Business Leaders for Michigan have aligned a coalition of business, education, foundation and philanthropic organizations across the state, including the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Small Business Association of Michigan.

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“We need to actively help both parents and the business community become aware of the need to improve our education system,” said Rob Fowler, president and CEO of the Small Business Association of Michigan. “If our state is serious about boosting entrepreneurship and growing opportunities for more jobs and higher incomes, we need to find meaningful solutions for addressing K-12 academic achievement.” Tim Daman, president and CEO of the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce, said the next step is to keep building the coalition of stakeholders – business leaders, parents, educators, legislators – in order to craft fixes with long-term sustainability regardless of new administrations, new lawmakers or new policies that are put in place over time. “I don’t believe it’s a single entity; it has to be a broad-based coalition. That’s what it’s really going to take,” Daman said. “It’s much bigger than one entity.” The Lansing Chamber’s two primary policy focuses are infrastructure and education, with the latter being a pipeline to prosperity in the state, according to Daman. In April, its executive board passed a policy statement noting that an effective and accountable education system is vital to grow and strengthen area students, as well as the talent pipeline for employers.

NEWS

“It’s an educational crisis, but it’s something that can quickly lead to an economic crisis,” Daman said. Poised in close proximity to the spheres of the state’s lawmakers, as well as many statewide education associations, the Lansing Chamber may be able to provide a unique voice to add to the conversation. “Local groups like the Lansing Regional Chamber can play a strong and active role in helping schools know where skills gaps exist so they can better prepare students to compete for jobs,” Rothwell said. “There are a number of local schools in mid-Michigan (that) already have active partnerships with local businesses – we encourage those to continue.”

supporting it,” said School District Superintendent Yvonne Caamal Canul. “I think the purpose of public education is to provide students with options to explore what they want to do for a career. I think that’s our responsibility in public education.” Caamal Canul said Lansing schools have a wealth of business partnerships to benefit and bolster student interest with such organizations as Emergent BioSolutions, the Michigan State University College of Nursing, Sparrow Health System and Douglas J Salons. In addition, she highlighted the district’s site-based summer programs as well as the Lansing Pathway Promise that helps students prep for college and career paths from the very early grades forward.

The Lansing School District is one such entity that has used business partnerships to open educational and career pathways for students in order to develop and nurture passions and career interests.

“We have lots of partnerships across the city. We’ve created a whole system here in Lansing, with the help of the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce, to help kids prepare for a career and college,” Caamal Canul said. “We’ve kind of changed the way we do things in Lansing.”

“I don’t know that Michigan can have an economic future without public education

Everyone needs to remain engaged and look at how changing the way things are done

can help students meet higher standards and strengthen the talent pipeline for Michigan, according to Daman. “There’s a tremendous amount of activity here. There’s a lot happening in the educational world right now. Everyone should be on board here to make it all about the kids,” Daman said. Research and analysis for “Business Leaders’ Insights: Leading Practices in K-12 Education that Can Improve Student Outcomes in Michigan” was conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers in collaboration with Business Leaders for Michigan. The full report can be found at businessleadersformichigan.com/category/ data/reports/.

Christopher Nagy is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University and has more than 20 years of experience in journalism. He rarely misses a Motor City Comic Con or Michigan Renaissance Festival.

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NOW HIRING QUALIFIED ROBOTS Shifting how we learn to survive in today’s workforce BY ADAM LANSDELL

Despite the necessity of an able-bodied workforce, many people are fearful that their job will be the next in the not-so-distant future that’s snatched up by a robot or program whose sole purpose is to take on a single task with unmatchable precision. From a big-picture perspective, it’s safe to say we won’t be hoodwinked by artificial intelligence (AI) with the realness of HBO’s "Westworld" anytime soon. However, our tendency to ponder our permanence in the workplace may 12

simply be the failure to recognize the origin of technical innovation: the human mind. The human brain is key to mankind’s place; only we are responsible for the functionality and creation behind automation. Still not convinced? Fear not, as research from Gartner Analytics predicts that AI will create a net 500,000 jobs by 2020 and 2 million by 2025. Researchers at the McKinsey Global Institute corroborated the data with their own study,

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concluding that as many as 73 million jobs may be at risk of being automated by 2030, but new ones will be created in their wake. If the workforce desires to continue innovating, retaining jobs and ensuring the operational food chain, we ultimately must understand the necessity to retrain and relearn – no matter how hard it is to let go of skills potentially on the decline.

NEWS

The existence of automated systems can only exist through humans, and evolution is symbiotic to our dedication to being lifelong learners. Educators today are proactively adjusting how they are preparing the youth to not just learn about what’s here now, but to be prepared to take on the educational obstacles required to stay up to speed in their future career. Lansing Community College (LCC) is one institution that’s consistently looking at the ways workforce needs are changing. It's aim is to help anticipate the changes that must be made in the classroom to ensure that curriculum is up-to-date and provides students will the tools needed. “In all of our technical education programs we have what we call an advisory committee, that’s comprised of industry partners from local businesses and industries in the area we serve,” said Mark Cosgrove, dean of technical careers at LCC. “Through these partnerships, we provide a workforce for those individuals through the programs we offer here at LCC, and by doing that we’re helping to serve the community.” Cosgrove agrees that a mentality of becoming a lifelong learner is a must for future workers. However, it’s the responsibility of educators and students alike to meet existing needs first, while preparing for what’s around the corner.

THE HUMAN BRAIN IS KEY TO MANKIND’S PLACE; ONLY WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FUNCTIONALITY AND CREATION BEHIND AUTOMATION. for three-fourths of job losses among more than 350 sectors of the private economy. Last year’s top job-losing sectors included wired telecommunications sales (-27.2K jobs), department stores (-26.8K jobs) and sporting goods stores (-15.5K jobs). The fall of retail positions is compelling, but some might argue that it’s because of an increase in online sales and convenience; related advances in artificial intelligence are primarily focused on the efficiency of specific tasks over entire jobs. No job is immune to technological advancements, but you should rest easy knowing that opportunities on the horizon are

According to a 2017 study conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, overall, service industries, primarily retail and storefront-based sales positions, accounted

Adam Lansdell is a Grand Valley State University alumnus and currently a Communications Specialist with M3 Group of Lansing. With a passion for all things creative, it comes as no surprise that he’s also a musician, movie buff and graphic designer. Adam spends his down time biking, and spending too much of his personal income on concert tickets or vinyl records.

Experience That Matters

“We invite industry partners around the area to connect with programs that fit their industry and we ask them not only what is happening in their industry and what is going to happen, but what are your industries' need and how we should be preparing our students to meet them,” explained Cosgrove. “They help keep us up to speed and inform our curriculum. We can’t turn on a dime because of budgets and things, but we recognize the need for our students and employees to be properly trained within those industries.” Skill shifts have become the norm for many within industries altered by automation. As a result, many large-scale organizations have begun implementing educational programs, training seminars and more. The industries that have witnessed the need for consistent recalibration include manufacturing, retail and other skilled labor sectors. It’s safe to assume that other industries will soon join them.

far more expansive than one might imagine. Today, younger generations won’t be able to paint a black-and-white expectation of their careers in comparison to paths taken by their elders. The future of many industries and career paths may lay in the hands of one’s ability to be nimble and ready to learn.

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LAUNCH MICHIGAN: OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM

NEEDS UNLIKELY ALLIES BY STEVE JAPINGA

We all know that our education system doesn’t exist in a vacuum. But, when it comes to tackling the tough problems that plague our classrooms, discussions are too often relegated to the same old parties and come together in the same old ways, just to hash out the same old ideas. Together, we need to take a visionary and creative approach to bridge the gap between business, education and talent. As business leaders, the Lansing Regional Chamber of 14

Commerce has joined a novel statewide initiative called Launch Michigan. We believe strongly in its importance, necessity and potential to transform education like never before. Launch Michigan is a historic, innovative partnership that primarily brings together representatives from schools, the workforce, unions, the philanthropic community and more. The chamber believes that by joining together these diverse — and sometimes unexpected — partners, who hold a similar vision for our state’s

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future, we can move beyond flat conversations in order to find meaningful and lasting solutions. Our state’s educational woes are neither new nor simple. Recent national rankings and test scores show children are falling behind their peers across the country: Budgets are tight from the school administration to the federal level, and the changes we are implementing, as well as the dollars behind them, still aren’t leading to the improvements that we hoped for. As a result, our businesses lack the skilled,

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educated talent they need to compete in the 21st century.

AS BUSINESS LEADERS, THE LANSING REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAS JOINED A NOVEL STATEWIDE INITIATIVE CALLED LAUNCH MICHIGAN. WE BELIEVE STRONGLY IN ITS IMPORTANCE, NECESSITY AND POTENTIAL TO TRANSFORM EDUCATION LIKE NEVER BEFORE.

Countless groups have tried to take on these issues in the past. Unfortunately, that work has not yielded all of the intended results. Launch Michigan partners, however, see this not as a sign of hopelessness but as a call to action. We know we can move past pointing fingers and partisanship to seek high-quality solutions grounded in research and best practices.

• Supporting shared, statewide, researchdriven strategies for delivering education to all students effectively, and sticking to those strategies regardless of politics and election cycles so that we can see what works

Right now, Launch Michigan is in the early stages of collaboration, but we intend to finalize a shared agenda over the summer for elected officials to begin considering in the fall. In addition, the group will begin crafting solutions to long-term problems that move us toward our goal of making Michigan a top 10 state when it comes to education.

• Supporting a fair and comprehensive accountability system that includes everyone who influences education — not just teachers • Elevating public awareness about the current state of education in Michigan

While the collective boasts a diverse set of individual viewpoints, Launch Michigan has already defined the following priorities to guide the creation of our agenda:

Steve Japinga is director of government relations for the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce. He is responsible for developing and managing the chamber’s policy priorities as well as monitoring local, state and federal issues that may impact the business community and the Greater Lansing region. He is a graduate of Michigan State University and lives in Lansing with his wife, Katherine, and dogs, Charlie and George.

CT I O

Make no mistake, as this work will not be easy. The problems facing Michigan’s K–12 system remain deep and complex, the solutions even

We can do this with new ideas, a new attitude and a new approach. We can do this with Launch Michigan.

CON

• Leveraging existing research and conducting a statewide educator survey, among other activities, as a way of listening to and supporting educators

• Working together to ensure resources are available to provide an equitable studentcentered education system and funding model

more so. But we owe it to our teachers, parents, communities and — above all — our children to say goodbye to the status quo and find a different path forward.

D COF

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Back left-right David Gregory, Charles Moore, Bob Popp, Kellie Dean, Rick Popp Front left Freddy DeGroat, Xavier DeGroat, Alicia DeGroat, back right Firdous DeGroat

RISING ABOVE AUTISM ARTICLE PROVIDED BY THE XAVIER DEGROAT AUTISM FOUNDATON

The Xavier DeGroat Autism Foundation (XDAF) was officially formed in early 2018; however, the idea has been in the works for a long time. The foundation has become a passion-project for Xavier DeGroat, who has been traveling the globe to unofficially advocate for those with autism for years. The mission of the XDAF is to provide support to individuals and families of those with autism by providing them with opportunities to become economically, socially and politically successful. The foundation is dedicated to advocating on behalf of those with autism, which could mean pushing for equal treatment

in employment and housing or combatting other injustices against those with the diagnosis. The XDAF kicked off its official advocacy campaign June 8 at its inaugural picnic. This event was attended by members of the Lansing community and served as an introduction to the foundation and its goals. In the future, with the help of the XDAF, the Greater Lansing area will launch a local autism awareness day called “Lansing for Autism.” This event will take place on the first Friday of every April, which is Autism Awareness Month. The XDAF also is planning a national rally

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to take place on Capitol Hill in 2020 to bring national attention to the injustices that those with autism currently face. Founder and CEO, DeGroat has traveled across America to meet with leaders in various areas. From politicians to celebrities, sports legends, journalists and influential activists, DeGroat has met with them and educated them on issues that exist in their industry or community. Some of the many influential people that have shown support for DeGroat’s cause include: the Dalai Lama, Stephen Hawking, Muhammad Ali, George Lopez, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Dan Marino.

Xavier shares the room with famous people like former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and golfers Jack Nicklaus and Ernie Els

DeGroat was diagnosed with autism at an early age, but he has not let that stop him from defining his own identity. From his elementary years up through high school, he endured bullying, harassment and discrimination. He and his family have always known that he would become his own leader, as he was a very driven and tenacious child; they never imagined that he would have the platform to become a global advocate for those with autism. His platform has surprised members in his community, leading them to ask how a person like DeGroat can “travel all over the country and speak as well” as he does. That way of thinking is not uncommon and demonstrates how misunderstood autism is. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one child of every 59 in the U.S. is diagnosed with autism. With the increase in prevalence, there is an increased need for support and research. Since autism has a wide spectrum of symptoms, it’s a complicated issue in the medical research field and in society in general. Autism is a complex disorder. The average person has a hard time knowing exactly what autism means and cannot understand the thought processes of those with autism. As Dr. Temple Grandin said, “Normal people have an incredible lack of empathy. They have good emotional empathy, but they don’t have much empathy for the autistic kid who is screaming at the baseball game because he can’t stand the sensory overload.” Those with autism are frequently denied economic opportunities and the chance to truly be financially independent. They are often not seen as capable members of the workforce, which is simply not true. Individuals with autism are often more than capable of performing the same jobs as those without autism; they just operate in a different manner. Because of a perceived lack of competency, these individuals miss out on job opportunities, housing opportunities and have little access to capital. Discrimination is also prevalent in social and political institutions. Those with autism have a harder time getting accepted to four-year universities and other institutions. The lack of education leads to a harder time finding a well-paying job, which leads to relying on social programs like Medicaid and welfare services to survive. The lack of opportunities open to those with autism is an issue in civil rights, as they are seen as unequal members of our society. There’s little political advocacy for those with autism, which means that their needs are being lumped in with other

Xavier DeGroat with the Dalai Lama

diagnoses, such as in the Americans with Disabilities Act. Autism is a very different kind of condition, and we are still in the beginning stages of understanding it. DeGroat and his newly

formed foundation are dedicated to helping the rest of the world truly understand that those with autism can lead full and meaningful lives that go above and beyond their condition.

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DECODING DYSLEXIA: LANSING-BASED

INSTITUTE HELPS THOSE WITH A COMMON LEARNING DISORDER BY CHRISTOPHER NAGY

The myths and misconceptions persist. They may range from a belief that the issue boils down to simply seeing a few letters swapped here and there, and they can run to an extreme end of believing the disorder doesn’t truly exist at all. It’s merely a phantom conjured from the imagination. Unfortunately for what some estimates indicate is one out of every five U.S. residents, dyslexia is all too real; it is something they struggle with on a daily basis and there is no cure. “I think many people still believe that dyslexia means writing backwards, someone confusing their B’s and D’s, writing from right to left and that’s all it is,” said Susan Medendorp, director of the Abrams Learning Laboratory inside the central offices of the Michigan Dyslexia Institute on Shiawassee Street in downtown Lansing. “A person who has dyslexia has trouble making the association between the speech sounds and the letters that make those sounds. They have trouble 18

understanding what we call the alphabetic code.” Developmental dyslexia is a learning disorder characterized by reading difficulty in children and adults that is also typically accompanied by difficulty with writing and spelling. It is not related to or has any bearing on intelligence levels. There is no known cause for the disorder and no known cure. Those diagnosed with dyslexia have to adapt to a different way of learning, which is where the work of the Michigan Dyslexia Institute comes into play.

NELSON

For nearly four decades, the Michigan Dyslexia Institute has provided more than 7,500 language/

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math evaluations and 1,100 medical diagnoses of dyslexia as well as trained more than 2,500 individuals to recognize and teach children and adults with dyslexia. In that same time, instructors at the institute have provided more than 405,000 hours of one-on-one teaching for those with dyslexia. In 2016 alone, the Michigan Dyslexia Institute instructed on average 161 students each month, totaling 8,273 hours of instruction for the year.

The institute was founded in 1982 by John and Kay Howell, two educators and researchers from Haslett, after their youngest daughter was diagnosed by dyslexia.

FEATURE

“They were quick to learn there was not much out there to remediate dyslexia,” said Brandy Nelson, vice president of operations at the Michigan Dyslexia Institute. “What they did was take the methods available from the Academy of OrtonGillingham Practitioners to train instructors to tutor students with dyslexia.”

they think, ‘Oh my gosh, I think I have this too.’ When they find out, they feel very liberated. It’s very emotional.”

In addition to getting instructors certified in the Orton-Gillingham method, the Michigan Dyslexia Institute also reaches out to school districts to help train teachers in not only working with dyslexic students but also being able to identify The Academy of Ortonsigns and symptoms of Gillingahm Practitioners dyslexia in those who may and Educators created a MEDENDORP be undiagnosed. Some standards and certification school districts pursue process in the treatment such training on their own; however, there is no of dyslexia. The academy’s methods involve statewide law or pending legislation that addresses a multi-sensory approach to learning where dyslexia. Through her appointment by Gov. Rick all five senses are used to retain what is being Snyder to the PreK-12 Literacy Commission, taught. For example, the Michigan Dyslexia Medendorp hopes to see that change. Institute uses a sand tray as a teaching tool where students can run their fingers through “Michigan is only one of seven states that the grains while sounding out words. Nelson does not have legislation about dyslexia,” explained that the sensation of touch, combined with the aural experience, can aid in a student’s overall comprehension.

she said. “There’s nothing that says what schools need to do. There is no education policy for assessing it, dealing with it or about accommodations for students with dyslexia.” Nelson said increased awareness and education about the disorder will help to spotlight its wide prevalence and develop an understanding of the need to address the issue. “There are actually people out there that think dyslexia doesn’t exist,” Nelson said. “So many people have this. The International Dyslexia Association says that 15-20 percent of the population has a language-based learning deficiency, and so many others out there are undiagnosed.” Headquartered in Lansing, the Michigan Dyslexia Institute has four satellite centers in the state in Berkley, Flint, Harbor Springs and St. Clair. To learn more about the Michigan Dyslexia Institute and the services it offers, visit dyslexia.net.

Still, it’s a long, difficult and uphill road. Receiving one hour of instruction two times each week requires a commitment of several years before students have the tools needed to adapt to the new learning methods. “And I think that’s a minimum of two years. It is a long-term process,” Medendorp said. “It’s something you have to practice at to get good at it. I try to make it very clear at the outset that it’s not a quick fix.” That fix can take much longer for those who are diagnosed with dyslexia later in life because they have built up years of bad habits that must be broken. “They have to unlearn things like looking at the start of a word and then just guessing at what it is,” Medendorp said. “Starting younger is definitely better.” Yet therein lies an additional problem: Some people don’t get diagnosed because they don’t realize they even have the disorder, chalking up their difficulties to an intelligence deficiency. “A lot of times adults will discover it when they hear someone else talking about the signs and symptoms or they have a child having difficulties who they take in for testing,” Nelson said. “As they’re trying to figure it out,

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HORROCKS: BRANDING FOR

A COMMUNITY NEAR YOU BY NICK MCCORMACK

There are ends of a spectrum: Safe and corporate supermarkets occupy one end, while limited and wholesome farmers markets sit at the other. Both find their own success where they can, but something far more rare and inviting lies somewhere between the respective business models. Horrocks Farm Market has managed to fill the role of “humble behemoth,” and its dedication has paid off in spades; it has expanded to several sister locations throughout the state. The Lansing favorite, which harbors hundreds of employees, will celebrate its 60th year in business next year. Many green businesses have their sights set on world domination, so to speak, but why not plant a flag in one’s immediate community? Adam Horrocks, owner and partner of Horrocks, cites a litany of guidelines and philosophies that guided his business to its community staple status. CHOOSE A COMMUNITY WISELY

staggering diversity and general fair-nature when explaining just how easy it can be to fit in. “It's great to work in a place where, in the span of 10 minutes, you can go from a bustling downtown or college campus to a rural area with sprawling farmland. Michigan, in my opinion, is home to some of the kindest people you’ll ever met,” said Horrocks. CURATE PRODUCTS/SERVICES BLUNTLY The rule of thumb Horrocks employs for maintaining quality output is as follows: “Does this offer a value to the people who are shopping here?” he asked. “As long as the answer is ‘yes,’ then you'll be able to make that item, product, department or service work for the consumer.” Most recently, having seen its standout freshness as a promising asset to loyal shoppers, Horrocks has added Lorio’s products, a local gelateria, to its shelves. STAY IN YOUR LANE

One of the things that enables Horrocks to be so connective with Lansing is the quality of the community itself. Horrocks points to Lansing’s 20

“If you can’t be better than [the competition] at what you’re trying to do, then don’t do it.”

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said Horrocks. “It’s as simple as that. While it’s not possible 100 percent of the time, it should always be the goal.” KEEP THE NUMBERS STRAIGHT Along with cultivating a flexible and effective product roster, it’s important to make sure you can afford to do so. “Debt is a business killer,” said Horrocks. “A lot of times, debt is required to get a business going. That's OK – have a plan to get out of it and, once you have, never go back to it.” BE AS HANDS ON AS POSSIBLE The team members at Horrocks stake their pride on how involved they are with customers and the Lansing community as a whole. “There’s almost always one of our owners at the Lansing location every day, and we really are ingrained in the community,” Horrocks said. “That allows for us to have a good feel for what the people want to see from us. This would be an incredibly difficult business to manage from afar.”

BE KIND A constant rapport of caring for its customers is one of the most crucial things that put Horrocks at the top of its game. Keeping the surrounding community and clientele happy and healthy is of paramount importance.

“It’s amazing how some companies and corporations can lose their way and forget this,” mused Horrocks.

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Nick McCormack is a fourth year advertising management major at Michigan State University and an intern at M3 Group. Rather than fetching coffee, he picks up projects here and there spanning the gamut of M3’s many services. Off the clock Nick explores photography, hiking and lifting.

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The park will include a plaza with colorful umbrellas Photo Provided

BIG, ARTFUL CHANGES: COMING TO A PARK NEAR YOU BY TEECE ARONIN

Powerful forces for good teamed up to bring change to an expansion of outdoor Lansing, now known as Rotary Park. Yet, there’s a lot going on at Adado Riverfront Park and other places in Greater Lansing, including the Lansing River Trail. The Capital Region Community Foundation is coordinating private funding for riverfront projects and committing over $1 million in matching funds from the foundation, including $400,000 from the Rotary Club of Lansing Foundation. Contributors include the Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau. As of this writing, $600,000 has been raised. As a result of those efforts and the work of other organizations, including the Arts Council of Greater Lansing and the Lansing Art Gallery & Education Center, a lot is happening with a focus on improving life in the tri-county area. For one thing, Rotary Park is lighting up – literally. A “lighted forest” and fireplace on the plaza are parts of the reason, and community engagement will account for the rest. Happening Under the Bridge, or The HUB as it is called, is a concert space at the north end of the park, which is congenially tucked beneath the Shiawassee Street bridge. 22

The community foundation is involved in some 13 projects along the riverfront, and its master planning committee includes experts from Michigan State University, the city of Lansing, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, the Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP), the Michigan Municipal League and the TriCounty Regional Planning Commission. “Many people have no idea we do things like this,” said Laurie Strauss Baumer. “We’re taking on leadership roles in the community and filling gaps. As to the park, it will also include a plaza with colorful umbrella tables, shade sails, string lighting and a fireplace. It is more than just funding." The word “placemaking” is used a lot by those engaged in such projects. Placemaking is the process of capitalizing on a community’s strengths, with goals including quality public spaces, economic boosts and other benefits to area residents. In the case of the riverfront projects, the approach is mindful of cultural diversity and considers the arts essential. “A revitalized urban core will enhance economic prosperity,” said Bob Trezise, president and CEO of the LEAP. “LEAP is supportive of the foundation’s leadership role in this placemaking initiative. Ultimately, it will benefit everyone who lives and works throughout the tri-county region.”

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Jason Kildea, president of Kildea Real Estate Development Services, is contracted by the community foundation to coordinate two of its 13 projects underway. Adado Riverfront Park is also making big headway. Deborah E. Mikula, executive director of the Arts Council of Greater Lansing, said that she feels the council played a part by setting the table and now has a “seat at the table.” Mikula’s vision includes revitalizing spaces and then activating them. Among the council’s goals are a more “art-centric” community, and it’s a driving force behind the improvements taking place at Adado Riverfront Park. “Because of Michigan’s climate, outdoor activities are more or less confined to May through October,” said Mikula. “We’re working on changes that will enable more year-round programming, such as seasonal festivals.” That’s key, because Adado hosts the Common Ground Music Festival among other high-profile events. Improving the infrastructure to better accommodate programming with the advantages of being nestled into a park environment can position Adado as a major contributor to a renaissance in the tri-county area. Because the Grand River bisects Adado, connecting it to a water and habitat network, the impact can extend beyond park boundaries, sustaining

wildlife, mitigating flood issues and strengthen riverbanks.

A proposed lighted forest at Rotary Park is on the docket Photo Provided

If one needs another reason to use the Lansing River Trail this summer, here it is: ARTpath. Barb Whitney, executive director of Lansing Art Gallery & Education Center, said ARTpath is a means of promoting the work of Michigan artists through activated spaces along 3.5 miles of the Lansing River Trail. “Arts-training builds empathy, supports overall learning and fosters civic engagement,” said Whitney. “We will continue to work diligently every day to make our mission, which includes promoting the work of Michigan artists, a reality, and we appreciate the community outpouring of support for ARTpath as an important part of our work.” Last June, the Lansing Art Gallery & Education Center began partnering with the Lansing Parks and Recreation Department to revitalize 10 sites along the Lansing River Trail with temporary, site-specific public art. The installations are expected to remain in place until sometime this month. Whitney hopes to increase funding next year so that more Michigan artists can be included in the project.

ARTpath’s art ranges from large-scale murals to interactive sound sculptures and touches on a variety of relevant themes including homeless veterans, the fragility of Michigan’s natural environment and the water crisis. ARTpath is known to have witnessed, and perhaps sparked, the largest ever Lansing Bike Party, and children proudly show it off to family members. That statement Laurie Strauss Baumer made that it’s not all about funding – at this point – is an understatement.

Teece Aronin is a blogger and columnist. Teece writes a humor/ health and wellness column for the Oakland Press and is the Featured Writer for October at TrueHumor. com. Her artwork is available at the Redbubble.com store, phylliswalter, and Teece seriously considers any request for workshops, coaching and speaking engagements. Read her blog at ChippedDemitasse.BlogSpot.com, contact her at paronin1@gmail.com and follow her on Twitter @ taronin.

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THE GROWING OPTIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES IN SKILLED TRADES BY TEECE ARONIN

The current lack of skilled trades workers in the U.S. is no secret, and contributors to the shortage include this country’s last recession and baby boomer retirements. According to data compiled by the Technical Careers Division of Lansing Community College (LCC) and partners at the Lansing Board of Water & Light, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and AFL-CIO Local Union 352, approximately 2.7 million trades jobs by 2025 will be needed to offset the retirements of baby boomers; 3.5 million manufacturing jobs will be needed due to retirement and expansion. About 2 million of those jobs are expected to go unfilled. Sherrie L. Vossler, adjunct associate professor of electrical technology at LCC, teaches classes in electrical and electronics technologies. Vossler’s career in skilled trades began when she was hired at the Lansing Board of Water & Light’s Eckert Station in 1986 in power plant operations. She progressed through the operator progression system and was a control operator for six years. In 1995, Vossler began her electrician apprenticeship. She completed it in 1999, becoming the first woman electrician at the Board of Water & Light, which currently employs workers in 16 apprenticeship trades. She earned a second journey card in instrument and control in 2005. She said her passion for skilled trades is represented by being a journey card holder in two skilled trades and is one of the reasons 26

she is a proponent for them. She did not speak to Greater Lansing Business Monthly as a representative of LCC.

defined, so the ability to pick up and move to new work can be an attractive feature when job markets are tight otherwise.”

“It’s important that kids and their parents know about the skilled trades programs available,” Vossler said. “And these aren’t the kinds of jobs that get outsourced the way other jobs can. Not only that, but workers in skilled trades have at least one key advantage over their white-collar counterparts: The nature of these jobs and their requirements are clearly

Vossler said that while parents are still likely to dream of their children going white collar over blue, kids are beginning to see things differently, motivated by shorter stretches in the classroom and the ability to work soon after completing training – sometimes even the next day. And surprisingly, starting pay can be quite high, often around $45,000.

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Students at LCC get skilled trades training including welding with iron and steel Photo by Kevin Fowler

There is still a lot of thinking out there, mainly from parents, that a four-year degree is the best route a kid can take. That’s true in many cases, but a two-year foundation can also be a means to a four-year degree. That is especially important to avoid kids earning degrees in fields they’re no longer passionate about by the time they graduate. “LCC partners with several Michigan universities to offer 3+1, a program where students complete most of their required

classes at LCC, then finish their fourth year through one of the partner universities,” Vossler explained. “Students can earn fouryear degrees in business administration, elementary education, allied health and many other degree programs via 3+1, and more easily switch paths if needed because those first three years are spent getting basics out of the way and learning about themselves. But there are several transfer possibilities from LCC to four-year colleges in addition to the 3+1 possibilities.”

Vossler added that many apprenticeships offer tuition benefits that relieve students from paying for tuition and books while obtaining education with on-the-job training. That means a school-to-work program for many students. Stigma has hung over trades jobs for a long time and is one reason some parents fight to keep their kids away from them. One of the chief culprits is Hollywood. Films like “The Cable Guy” depict trades workers as lazy and sarcastic. Other stereotypes include being L

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courses during or following training can earn two associate degrees. Median wages for aviation mechanics and service technicians is more than $60,000 per year, according to onetonline.org. The program also offers job placement assistance. Cindie Alwood, executive director of the Women’s Center of Greater Lansing, partners with Carol Cool of Michigan State University and Tori Menold of Granger Construction to offer a new program to women using the center’s services. It’s called Women in Skilled Trades, or WIST. Leisa Williams-Swedburg, also from MSU, plays a key role in the planning and presenting of materials. “WIST fits our mission of helping women realize their potential,” said Alwood. “WIST’s goals include offering as many women as possible the opportunity to earn more than a living wage and have medical and retirement benefits. It is a 13-week program covering all the prerequisites for beginning an apprenticeship program with an employer or union. Students are provided tools and equipment needed to complete the coursework, and any woman desiring to learn a skilled trade, who successfully completes an interview, is eligible.”

WIST TRAINING, PROVIDED THROUGH THE WOMEN'S CENTER OF GREATER LANSING

unreliable, dumb, low on money and careless. That stigma is lifting, and the fact remains that trades jobs – encompassing everything from welding to information technology to dental hygiene – are essential to everybody’s well-being. In the January 2017 New York Times article “Wanted: Factory Workers, Degree Required,” Eric Spiegel, retired president and chief executive at Siemens USA, said, “In our factories, there’s a computer about every 20 28

The Women’s Center also helps women eliminate barriers to employment such as lack of transportation or child care.

Cool, the WIST partner from MSU, has worked in the Photo Provided construction industry for 30 years. She oversees construction projects on campus to ensure adherence to MSU standards, quality control and budget maintenance. She said the state of skilled trades in the country has been a topic at national conferences she has attended for the past three years. or 30 feet. People on the plant floor need to be much more skilled than they were in the past. “They always seemed to be asking what we, There are no jobs for high school graduates at as owners of construction, can do to help Siemens today.” increase the number of people in skilled trades because the shortage is only going to The statement highlights another reason for get worse,” said Cool. “On campus I have programs like 3+1. experienced the shortage as price increases, contractors not having the manpower they LCC is especially proud of its aviation need to complete work done on time and, technology program, which can be completed frankly, quality diminishing with lessin 24 months or less with graduates earning experienced workers.” three certificates. Students who add five extra

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and help them succeed in a great career as a skilled trades person.”

WOMEN IN SKILLED TRADES TRAINING, OR WIST, ON SITE LEARNING Photo Provided

the participation of women in skilled trades to less than 3 percent for years. With the supply-and-demand balance where it is today, the opportunity has never been greater for women to enter and succeed in the world of skilled trades,” Cool said. “WIST is a way to help women overcome their fear, expose them to the many opportunities available

Cool said that when Menold suggested an apprenticeship readiness program for women, she saw it as an opportunity to not only help women but the construction industry. “The industry has always made skilled trades unattractive to women. That and a lack of awareness of the opportunity kept

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Cool went to Boston to learn the appropriate curriculum so that all WIST training complies with union and employer requirements.

“That is the one thing that sets us apart from other skilled trades programs: Our students are work-ready when they graduate after 13 weeks,” Alwood said. “They have already completed all of the prerequisites required to begin an apprenticeship. They can, literally graduate on Saturday and start working as an apprentice on Monday. It’s a wonderful thing.”

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IN A WAY THOUGH, YOUR PERSONALITY AND THAT OF THE SCHOOL IS LIKE A BUSINESS. YOU HAVE A BRAND. “We’re working on that. Districts need to have a comprehensive communication plan. If we fail to share accurate and timely information, that space gets filled up by whatever people think is occurring. We are working hard to rebuild trust in education in general, even in Holt Public, and by doing so we are communicating on a weekly basis with email, social media sites, weekly podcasts – I’m now narrating the weekly email using a piece of software called the Soap Box, so our families can listen to me and watch me rather than reading a six- to eight-page email.”

I KNOW YOU’VE GONE VIRAL IN A SENSE ON SOCIAL MEDIA WITH YOUR SNOW-DAY VIDEOS. “We’re having a good time with that. Why not have some fun while announcing them? For the record, we’re actively looking for snow-day video ideas, so people should send them along!”

SUMMER SLIDE IS REAL. IS IT TIME TO MOVE AWAY FROM THE TRADITIONAL SCHOOL CALENDAR?

BY MARY GAJDA | PHOTO BY MARY GAJDA

DR. DAVID HORNAK

Holt Public Schools Superintendent

From his signature bowtie to his viral “noschool-today” videos, Dr. David Hornak makes each student’s experience with Holt Public Schools his business. Hornak has spent most of his career in the district, with the last three years as the superintendent.

SOME SAY SCHOOLS SHOULD BE RUN 30

LIKE A BUSINESS – DO YOU AGREE? “I struggle with the thought of if we should be running our schools like a business, because we have so many moving parts. Our parts, the people we serve, are people, they’re humans – so it’s difficult at times for us to apply all the business principles that are best practiced to education.”

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“We have balanced calendar schools and traditional calendar schools in Holt Public. Truly, the summer slide is real. Our balanced calendars align a little more closely with current lifestyles. We are spending a lot of money reteaching to try to close the learning gaps that we’re in fact creating. When we resume in the fall, our students are required to be retaught for 20-40 days every single year. You take that 20-40 days and then you compound that over the lifetime of a student’s school career, and it’s very possible they are entering high school a year to a year and a half behind their counterparts who are attending a balanced calendar or are attending schools in other regions of the world. So, ultimately, I’m in support of that ... I wouldn’t want to move forward on that without connecting with our community to ensure they would appreciate us expanding the balanced calendar and having air conditioning retrofitted into our buildings.”

BEHIND THE SCENES

STEM AND STEAM ARE BUZZWORDS IN SCHOOL SYSTEMS – WHERE DOES HOLT STAND? “Our Destination Imagination program had the most teams in the state of Michigan that advanced to Global Finals in Tennessee. One of our teams finished fifth in the world, another finished third in the world; we had some fantastic results. Our Quiz Bowl team and our Science Olympiad team were in the top 10 in the state. STEM and STEAM are alive and well. Over the course of the last three years, the Dart Foundation has granted us around $460,000 for STEM and STEAM hardware.”

DO YOU HAVE A SOLID SAFETY ACTION PLAN IN PLACE FOR HOLT PUBLIC SCHOOLS? “We are improving our safety protocols as we speak. Safety is paramount and at the

forefront of our thoughts. In partnership with the Ingham County sheriff, we had their security team audit our facilities, and we recently filmed a new safety protocol video. WLNS-TV donated their time for the video, and we hope to have it ready for the next school year. It was built for beyond our school system, we hope other schools will show it too.”

is developing relationships in the trades. On Wednesdays in Holt we’ll have Power for America, with a training facility in Potterville, which allows our students to be trained on site to potentially enter the energy field. We are sending students to the Wilson Talent Center and we have several, when possible, going to LCC’s West Campus.”

ANY FINAL WORDS? ARE YOU WORKING WITH STUDENTS TO LET THEM KNOW THERE ARE ALTERNATIVES TO TRADITIONAL COLLEGE AND THAT SKILLED TRADES ARE VIABLE OPTIONS?

“We have a new vision statement: Innovate, Educate and Inspire. These are pretty powerful key terms we use to describe who we’re becoming. Keep an eye on Holt Public Schools, I’m really excited about what the future looks like.”

“We have some innovative things happening at Holt Public Schools. We are starting our own Holt Early College, where we’ll send students to both Lansing Community College (LCC) and Davenport University. We have hired a secondary systems coordinator who

Mary Gajda a multi-media specialist at M3 Group. She is a wife, mom and photographer who loves music, Pinterest and all things chocolate.

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Tom Hoban

Lansing Community President

Annie Wittenberg Treasury Sales Officer II

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AUGUST 2018 AUGUST 8 LOCAL BUSINESS ORIGIN STORY WITH LYNN ROSS OF MOTHER & EARTH BABY BOUTIQUE, LANSING Lynn Ross is the owner of Mother & Earth Baby Boutique in Old Town. Hear Ross talk about the journey she followed from an e-commerce store to brick-and-mortar boutique in one of Lansing’s most desirable neighborhoods. Visit eventbrite.com for more information about this event.

AUGUST 9 CAERUSNET517, LANSING If your business is like most, it depends on word-of-mouth referrals. Belonging to a facilitated referral team like the ones pioneered at Caerusnet517 can help you develop new business from sources that can

be profitable now and for years to come. Let us help you grow your business and find out if our referral team is the right fit for you! Visit eventbrite.com for more information about this event.

AUGUST 10 CAPITAL AREA SUMMIT, LANSING This half-day seminar event will be interactive, educational and will demonstrate why technology is part of the solution to providing the best care possible. The theme of Great Lakes Health Connect’s 2018 summit series, “Maintaining Momentum in Care Transformation,” acknowledges the reality of change and progress that the health care community has made. It also focuses us on staying vigilant to how we can continue to make progress toward achieving a fully sustainable and integrated health

care ecosystem.Visit gl-hc.org for more information about this event.

AUGUST 14 NEXT GENERATION VRF SYSTEM DESIGN ROADSHOW, LANSING Hedrick Associates is pleased to welcome Mitsubishi and Swegon to West Michigan for a series of HVAC design seminars. Learn how Mitsubishi VRF and Swegon DOAS systems can provide substantial cost and space savings when building construction is designed and optimized accordingly. A focus point of these seminars will be on a case study where a developer was shown a $164,000 construction cost savings to design around VRF in lieu of traditional HVAC options. Visit eventbrite.com for more information about this event.

We’re so confident in our students’ success, three of our degrees now come with an employment guarantee! Accounting Our students graduate as well-rounded, effective professionals who can help drive business success by using accounting information as a decision-making tool. Nursing One of the state’s best programs, featuring the latest equipment and the most advanced training. Taught by faculty who all have real-world experience. Network Management and Security Students gain specialized, hands-on experience in installing, maintaining, upgrading and troubleshooting critical computer networks. Our graduates are in high demand by all types of organizations. See guarantee requirements at davenport.edu/promise

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AUGUST 14 THE PATH TO BRILLIANT BUSINESS, LANSING Most people are very casual about their design and practices around referral marketing. Learn how to be rigorous and increase the number of leads you get from referral partners. Visit eventbrite.com for more information about this event.

AUGUST 18 LIFEVANTAGE ACADEMY, LANSING LifeVantage Academy’s unified message will be taught by each presenter but with their own personalities, stories and examples. This will allow each training to be a unique experience. Attend each month’s training to ensure the most full and well-rounded training for you and your team. Visit eventbrite.com for more information about this event.

AUGUST 22 GREATER LANSING ENTREPRENEURIAL BOOT CAMP 2018, EAST LANSING

LEAP and Spartan Innovations host the Greater Lansing Entrepreneurial Boot Camp. This event is ideal for both newly inspired and active entrepreneurs who are seeking up-to-date training that features fresh ideas, case studies and business growth strategies. This boot camp will prepare you to approach new venture creation in a thoughtful way, avoiding common entrepreneurial mistakes. Participants will have access to workshops, guest speakers, classroom exercises, group work and textbooks. Visit eventbrite.com for more information about this event.

AUGUST 24 MSU COLLEGE OF NURSING: WRITING AND RESEARCH WORKSHOP FOR STUDENTS, EAST LANSING Participants will practice the skills learned in this session in follow-up to the workshop by sharing research findings with other workshop attendees in D2L and receive specific feedback on search results from the MSU College of Nursing library liaison. Resources and library search skills learned from this workshop will facilitate your success and expedite writing

and research requirements in the program. Visit eventbrite.com for more information about this event.

AUGUST 28 PMP TRAINING, LANSING Project Management Professional certification is the top professional certifications for project managers offered by the Project Management Institute, USA. PMI’s latest salary survey confirms what businesses, job boards and the media have been proclaiming for the past two years: Project management is one of the hottest professions out there. Your PMI credential — specifically, the Project Management Professional credential — also positively impacts your salary, according to the survey responses of more than 30,000 practitioners in 29 countries. The positive impact is not exclusive to the U.S. PMP credential holders in all countries surveyed noted higher median salaries than noncredential holders — some upward of 50 percent more. Visit eventbrite. com for more information about this event.

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MSUFCU’S EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT HONORED AS PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR

Capital Area United Way’s Day of Action mobilized the caring power of volunteers in Greater Lansing on June 21 through a partnership with the city of Lansing’s Serve Lansing Program and the Lansing Board of Water and Light. Volunteers performed general park maintenance of River Street along with riverbank clean-up and trash removal to make an impact in the Cherry Hill Neighborhood.

MSU Federal Credit Union (MSUFCU) announced that Executive Vice President of Member Services Lea Ammerman was awarded the Professional of the Year Award by the National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions. Ammerman was recognized at NAFCU’s 51st annual Conference and Solutions Expo on June 20. “Lea is dedicated to constant improvement, executing strategies and initiatives to benefit our members,” said April Clobes, MSUFCU’s president and CEO. “She works tirelessly to make a difference in the lives of our members and our employees.” Ammerman leads the member-facing areas of MSUFCU, including 18 branches, call center, eServices and specialty accounts. “I am honored to receive NAFCU’s Professional of the Year Award,” said Ammerman. “My passion for MSUFCU and the credit union’s philosophy of people helping people is instrumental in every

Lea Ammerman, awarded the Professional of the Year Award

project I lead and every interaction I have with members and employees. It is our mission and my guiding focus to provide superior service to members, and I am grateful to work among such dedicated employees who share that same vision.”

UNITED WAY’S DAY OF ACTION VOLUNTEERS BEAUTIFIED LANSING PARK

COMMUNITY GIVES INPUT ON NEW MCLAREN HOSPITAL AND REPURPOSING EFFORTS As McLaren Greater Lansing continues to plan its new health care campus adjacent to Michigan State University, leaders are encouraging the community to give their input. Approximately 150 community members attended a recent event to provide feedback on the new campus design, hear updates about the project, share concerns about the new development’s impact on the surrounding community and give suggestions on the repurposing efforts of the two existing McLaren facilities.

New Listings! 2149 Jolly Road, Suite 200 - Okemos, MI 48864 517.487.9222 - naimidmichigan.com

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For Lease: Commercial 9,500 SF Available Summer 2019 Tenant Improvement Allowance Available

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For Lease: Retail/Office The Venue at “East Town” 3,005 SF End Cap, 1,200 SF Patio 3,003 SF (Split Possible)

Call Steve Slater 517.749.7914 or Jim Vlahakis 517.881.9916

For Lease: Commercial 14,000 SF White Box Available Fall 2019

NO WARRANTY OR REPRESENTATION, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IS MADE AS TO THE ACCURACY OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN, AND THE SAME IS SUBMITTED SUBJECT TO ERRORS, OMISSIONS, CHANGE OF PRICE, RENTAL OR OTHER CONDITIONS, PRIOR SALE, LEASE OR FINANCING, OR WITHDRAWAL WITHOUT NOTICE, AND OF ANY SPECIAL LISTING CONDITIONS IMPOSED BY OUR PRINCIPALS NO WARRANTIES OR REPRESENTATIONS ARE MADE AS TO THE CONDITION OF THE PROPERTY OR ANY HAZARDS CONTAINED THEREIN ARE ANY TO BE IMPLIED.

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Burcham Hills will begin construction on a $23 million expansion of its community to be built over the next three to six years. Called StoneBriar at Burcham Hills, the expansion features 44 new upscale independent living apartments.

McLaren Hospital continues to plan its new health care campus

“Engaging the community as a part of our new campus design has been a goal since day one of this project,” said Casey Kandow, chief operating officer at McLaren Greater Lansing. “Our community input event was one of the ways we are gathering feedback and concerns from residents and community organizations.”

BURCHAM HILLS ANNOUNCES $23 MILLION EXPANSION

“Over the past two years, we have worked with our leadership team, board of trustees and industry experts to determine how best to enhance Burcham Hills’s retirement living options,” said Pam Ditri, executive director of Burcham Hills. “Our goal has been to give our residents the most up-to-date choices available to enhance their retirement living.”

NEW INGHAM COUNTY AND EATON RAPIDS AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY RELAY FOR LIFE PARTNERSHIP The Mason Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors and the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors provided a ribbon cutting in downtown Mason on June 15 to celebrate the new partnership of the Ingham County and Eaton Rapids American Cancer

Assisting local relay chair Cheryl Benjamin are John Hayhoe, Tom Botsford, Melanie Squires, Pat Weiler, Kelly Powell, Don Waskiewicz, Chris Waltz, Mark Meadows Mark Voss, Marlon Brown, Mike Waltz and Colleen Briggs

Society Relay for Life among many participants. The relay event exceeded its goal and raised over $104,000 to fight cancer. Photo courtesy of MACC.

BROGAN’S TIRE & AUTO SERVICE OWNER ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT

Award-Winning Experts* *Voted Best Large CVB in Michigan Two Years Running

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Jim Brogan, owner of Brogan’s Tire & Auto Service, has announced that he will retire and is choosing to close his shop. The community tire and auto service center at 614 E. Michigan Ave. is one of the downtown Lansing area’s longstanding businesses, perhaps best known for being a trustworthy, community garage that residents came to rely on. Founded by Joe Brogan in 1957, the business was later sold to his son, Jim Brogan, in 1963. Throughout its 60-plus-year legacy, the shop has stood the test of time as a local service provider overcoming hurdles that have shattered many other neighboring businesses. Those challenges included the introduction of competitive corporate auto and tire dealers as well as the issues with the auto industry in more recent years. Brogan credited a strong, supportive community and customer base as the reason the organization has thrived as a community business leader. “I’m ready to step away – I’ve been at this for over 50 years now, and while it’s hard to say goodbye, I’m excited to see the downtown area continue to grow,” said Brogan. “I’m hopeful that whatever comes next for the property can be something positive for the city. Knowing that is the opportunity I’m creating gives me something I can hold my head high about.” While Brogan hasn’t boiled down what he plans to do with his retirement, he intends to remain in the area he’s called home his entire life. He currently resides in East Lansing with his wife, Sara.

FRASER TREBILCOCK WELCOMES ATTORNEY JARED A. ROBERTS TO THE FIRM'S LANSING OFFICE Fraser Trebilcock announced the addition of attorney Jared A. Roberts to the firm's Lansing office. Roberts is a highly regarded civil litigation attorney with nearly two decades of experience litigating and ROBERTS resolving disputes in the areas of commercial transactions, real estate transactions, contracts, real property and intellectual property. Roberts also defends professional and trade licensees and breach of duty disputes, handles real estate transactions, helps clients on intellectual property, branding and mark registration, and provides general legal counseling to a variety of firms and individuals.

GREAT LAKES CARING HOME HEALTH AND HOSPICE EXECUTIVE WINS GLASSDOOR AWARD Great Lakes Caring Chief Executive Officer Adam Nielsen has won a Glassdoor Employees’ Choice Award honoring the top CEOs in 2018. Glassdoor, one of the world’s largest job and recruiting sites, NIELSEN released its annual report recognizing the top CEOs, which highlights top leaders employees love working for in countries throughout North America and parts of Europe. Among chief executives recognized by employees in the U.S., Nielsen received an approval rating of 93 percent based on the anonymous and voluntary reviews Great Lakes Caring employees shared on Glassdoor throughout the past year. “Winning the Glassdoor top CEO award is a true acknowledgement of Adam’s exceptional leadership, as it reflects the opinions of our employees,” said Vice President of Human Resources Carrie Sorenson. “As a company, we work hard to make Great Lakes Caring a great place to work. This recognition is an excellent example of how Adam has prioritized this effort since becoming CEO.”

CBRE|MARTIN ADAPTS TO RETAIL TRENDS WITH CREATIVITY LEASE

Amber & Gayle

Carin Whybrew Team

The Jeff Thornton Team

CBRE|Martin announced the addition of CravinVapes in the Charlotte Exchange shopping center at 1658 Lansing Road. The 1,200-squarefoot lease transaction was completed by Amy Richter-Perkins and Shawn O’Brien of CBRE|Martin’s retail team, on behalf of the landlord. CravinVapes also recently leased at Five Oaks retail center on Jolly Road in Lansing, which was also handled by Richter-Perkins on behalf of the landlord and achieved 100 percent occupancy for the center. These are the second and third stores owned by the franchisee and the first to open in Michigan.

COLDWELL BANKER HUBBELL BRIARWOOD SALES ASSOCIATE TEAMS EARN DISTINGUISHED AWARDS

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The Laforet Team

Coldwell Banker Hubbell BriarWood Sales Associates Teams have earned the following distinguished Coldwell Banker Awards in North America: The International President’s Circle Team is for sales associate teams that produce a minimum of $550,000 in closed adjusted gross commission income or 75 total units. Amber & Gayle, Carin Whybrew Team, The Jeff Thornton Team, Seguin Sprague Team and The Laforet Team earned those awards.

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International Diamond Society Team is for sales associate teams that produce a minimum of $375,000 in closed adjusted gross commission income or 60 total units. The Horford Team earned that award.

MSUFCU RECOGNIZED FOR EFFORTS TO KEEP EMPLOYEES CONNECTED ACROSS DISTANCES AND LOCATIONS

MSUFCU has been recognized by the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) with the CUNA HR & Organizational Development Award for Employee Engagement. MSUFCU accepted the award at the 24th annual CUNA HR & Organizational Development Council Conference on April 22. MSUFCU received this award for its internal communications and engagement initiatives with MSUFCU Connect, an internal social network that allows employees to engage with one another, stay aware of credit

union happenings and create a more authentic, social environment. “We are deeply honored and proud to accept this award for our employee engagement efforts,” said Silvia Dimma, MSUFCU’s chief human resources officer. “As our organization continues to grow, we search for innovative ways to keep employees connected to one another and maintain our credit union family feeling, despite the distance. Staying connected to each other and grounded in our mission and core values are how we create an enriching, inclusive culture where all can grow and learn together.”

COMCAST BUSINESS BRINGS 100-GIG CAPABLE NETWORK CLOSER TO LANSING BUSINESSES Comcast Business announced it has completed an expansion of its fiber-based network in Lansing that adds 8.1 miles of fiber to 79 buildings. Capable of delivering up to 100 gigabits-persecond of network capacity, the expanded fiber network encompasses a 2-mile stretch west of the Capital Region International Airport along West Grand River Avenue to South Lowell Road. “Having access to the most advanced technology is vital to attracting and retaining business and talent in the Greater Lansing area,” said Tim Daman, president of the Lansing Regional Chamber. “This investment by Comcast Business demonstrates the company’s commitment to our region and gives businesses one more reason to consider Lansing as a place to call home.”

MASON STORE CELEBRATES 90 YEARS

90th anniversary of the Kean’s Store Company

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

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The Mason Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors provided a ribbon cutting on June 23 for the 90th anniversary of the Kean’s Store Company at 406 S. Jefferson St. in downtown Mason. Assisting Teresa Wren were Laurie Reed, Margaret Ross, Cherie Mitchell, Mike Waltz, Chris Waltz, Meggie Wren, Steve Wren, Sean

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Business Association provided a ribbon cutting June 19, to celebrate the opening of Elevation: a mixeduse professional apartment complex at 3595 JollyOak Road in Okemos. Participating in the event were representatives of MACC, LRCC, MABA, T. A. Forsberg, Westpac, Meridian Township, Wolverine, Allegra and members of the Forsberg family.

Wren, Kerry Adams, Kayla Durocher, Samantha Morris, Amanda Palmer, Claire Lafleur, Madie Newport, Rebekah Warnke and Karla Spoor. MACC Courtesy Photo.

ELEVATION CELEBRATES GRAND OPENING The Mason Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors, Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors and Meridian Area

Ribbon cutting for Elevation

MSUFCU RECEIVES 2018 AD POP AWARD MSU Federal Credit Union (MSUFCU) is announced it has received the 2018 Ad POP (Pride in Online and Print) Award presented by the National LGBT Media Association. Ad POP awarded MSUFCU for the best representation of LGBT individuals in online and print advertising in regional LGBT media. MSUFCU was honored with this award at both the national and regional levels at the Between the Lines’ 25th anniversary celebration in Detroit on June 8. “This award is a great honor, and we are proud to be recognized for our advertising efforts to represent the LGBT community,” said Deidre Davis, MSUFCU’s chief marketing officer. “At MSUFCU, we embrace and celebrate diversity in the communities we serve as well as in our workplace. Supporting members of the LGBT community in our ads is one of many ways we demonstrate our commitment to equality.”

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MEDC NAMES DOUG KUIPER AS NEW SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) announced that Doug Kuiper has been appointed senior vice president of marketing and communications for the organization. In his new role, Kuiper will lead MEDC’s communication strategy and execution of marketing initiatives, including the state’s Pure Michigan tourism campaign and PlanetM mobility campaign, and serve as a key liaison to stakeholder groups and state and local partners. “Doug’s depth of experience and knowledge of economic development will be greatly beneficial in promoting Michigan as an attractive place to live, work and play and positioning the state for business growth and community development,” said Jeff Mason, CEO of MEDC. “He’s a great addition to MEDC and we’re excited to have him lead our communications and marketing strategy.”