GLBM August 2015 by M3 Group Publications

BUSINESS MONTHLY GR E ATE R LANS ING

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Joan Bauer and Diana Tarpoff

Support ITEC in 2020 Girls STEM Success In this issue •

MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY’S ECONOMIC IMPACT ON THE CAPITAL AREA

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HYBRID LEARNING: A GAME CHANGER FOR EDUCATION

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NEW OVERTIME LAWS AFFECT MICHIGAN BUSINESSES L

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25 years ALLEGRA

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News Michigan State University Stimulates Economic Growth in Lansing Area Communities.............................................................................................. 6 Michiganders Divided Over Obama’s Proposed Overtime Rule...................................... 10 Nonprofit Tackles Learning Disabilities in Lansing Schools................................................. 12 Three Schools Bring Music and Dance to the Lansing Area............................................... 14

Joan Bauer and Diana Tarpoff

Support ITEC in 2020 Girls STEM Success

Features

In this issue •

MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY’S ECONOMIC IMPACT ON THE CAPITAL AREA

•

HYBRID LEARNING: A GAME CHANGER FOR EDUCATION

•

NEW OVERTIME LAWS AFFECT MICHIGAN BUSINESSES

2020 Girls Creating Brighter Futures for Young Girls ......................................................... 16 Hybrid Learning ........................................................................................................................................ 20 The Capital Area College Access Network ................................................................................. 22

Cover photography by Mark Warner

The Greater Lansing Business Monthly (Volume 28, Issue 8) The Greater Lansing Business Monthly is published monthly by M3 Group at group 614 Seymour 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) 203-0123 or visit lansingbusinessnews.com to subscribe. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Greater Lansing Business Monthly, 614 Seymour Ave., Lansing, MI 48933. Send additional subscription requests and address changes to The Greater Lansing Business Monthly, Inc., 614 Seymour Street, Lansing, MI 48933. Copyright © 2015 The Greater Lansing Business Monthly, Inc. All rights reserved.

The US and Europe During the First Half of 2015 ................................................................. 26

Departments Commentary ................................................................................................................................................. 4 Man on the Street ................................................................................................................................... 28 GLBM List ................................................................................................................................................... 30 Workforce Issues ..................................................................................................................................... 32 Collectibles ................................................................................................................................................. 34 Opinion ....................................................................................................................................................... 36 He Said/She Said ...................................................................................................................................... 38 Business Calender .................................................................................................................................. 40

Editorial Office: 614 Seymour Street, Lansing, MI 48933 lansingbusinessnews.com

Notable News ............................................................................................................................................ 42

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BUSINESS MONTHLY Publisher: Tiffany Dowling tiffany@m3group.biz Sales Manager: Jennifer Hodges jhodges@m3group.biz Media Specialist: Jill Bailey Account Managers: Megan Fleming Manny Garcia Elaina Gonzales Production Director: Kelly Mazurkiewicz Art Director: Brooke Erwin

Risks and Rewards

here is a class for almost anything; you can learn the complexities of supply chain management and statistics if you’re getting an MBA, or you can learn how to construct a complete sentence to communicate your messages clearly. You can also gain knowledge in a variety of areas like business administration, accounting and marketing that can help an individual run a business effectively. But, can you teach entrepreneurship? It’s a question that’s definitely asked right now. Small businesses are on the rise and the trend isn’t slowing down. In fact, women, millennials and retirees are hanging out their shingles at an extremely high rate. It’s a good thing for the economy, but what does it really take to make a business work? Colleges are developing curriculum to help people learn these skills. This process cannot be easy and many might wonder if it can possibly help create an entrepreneurial spirit.

Brand Manager: Ami Iceman Creative Manager: Mark Warner Editor: Alicia Pilmore Graphic Artist: Mike France Web Manager: Skylar Kohagen Event Calendar Manager: Jaime Hardesty

GLBM Editorial Board: April Clobes — President and CEO, MSU Federal Credit Union Trish Foster — Senior Managing Director & COO, CBRE|Martin 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 Doug Klein — Executive Director, Mason Area Chamber of Commerce Mark Hooper — Partner, Andrews Hopper Pavlik Diontrae Hayes — Legislative Director for State Senator Coleman Young, II

When I started my business, I worried about several areas. First, I never saw myself as a business owner. It definitely wasn’t an area that I studied and I’m positive that it didn’t enter my mind as a college student that this was a door cracked a little, let alone standing wide open. Second, I was nervous that there were areas that I didn’t have proficiencies in that would make the chances of success slim. And lastly, there were areas of running a business that I just didn’t want to do. My motto is, without risk there is no reward. I believe this. I don’t have illusions that I make perfect decisions or will always time everything just right, but I’m willing to take the risk to see if I can make something happen. I’m also not afraid of hard work. And I don’t wait on anyone else to move forward. There are three distinct areas that I think are difficult to teach: a willingness to take risks, strong work ethic and decision-making skills. I’m not sure how an educational program can affect change for the emotional feeling that results when something big is on the line, or if it can help someone understand that you get out of a business what you put into it. And I’m sure that while it will help you understand how the process works to make educated decisions, the implementation can be difficult if you’re not someone who can decide quickly. However, creating curriculum and an understanding of how entrepreneurs think, build and maneuver the business environment can be extremely beneficial. I believe that there are many individuals who need the opportunity to uncover the hidden business owners within themselves. Education isn’t about creating clones and ensuring that someone will be an entrepreneur. Learning is about uncovering the opportunity to see yourself in a place you didn’t before. I hope the educational system never stops trying to push forward in providing critical information that impacts students profoundly. Be dynamic in all you do,

Tiffany Dowling | Publisher 4

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PNC WEALTH MANAGEMENT® | Wealth. It instills confidence and peace of mind, but it can create concerns as well. We understand that effectively managing your wealth requires a personal approach—an approach that involves understanding what’s truly important beyond the numbers. By meeting face-to-face with a dedicated team, we can provide insight and a highly customized and comprehensive financial strategy aimed at helping you make the most of your wealth now and for future generations. For more information, call Jim Schmelter, Senior Vice President, Relationship Manager, at 517.334.1713 or visit james.schmelter@pnc.com

The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (“PNC”) uses the marketing name PNC Wealth Management® to provide investment and wealth management, fiduciary services, FDIC-insured banking products and services, and lending of funds through its subsidiary, PNC Bank, National Association (“PNC Bank”), which is a Member FDIC, and to provide specific fiduciary and agency services through its subsidiary, PNC Delaware Trust Company. PNC does not provide legal, tax, or accounting advice unless, with respect to tax advice, PNC Bank has entered into a written tax services agreement. PNC does not provide services in any jurisdiction in which it is not authorized to conduct business. PNC Bank is not registered as a municipal advisor under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“Act”). Investment management and related products and services provided to a “municipal entity” or “obligated person” regarding “proceeds of municipal securities” (as such terms are defined in the Act) will be provided by PNC Capital Advisors, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of PNC Bank and SEC registered investment adviser. “PNC Wealth Management” is a registered trademark of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. Investments: Not FDIC Insured. No Bank Guarantee. May Lose Value. ©2015 The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Michigan State University Stimulates Economic Growth in Lansing Area Communities BY MICKEY HIRTEN

mong the trinity of Lansing economic drivers — cars, capital and college — only Michigan State University has sustained decades of growth. While the auto industry has retrenched and state government has downsized, MSU has transformed into an education colossus with an economic footprint in Michigan that it estimates at $5.4 billion annually. The university’s national and international influence notwithstanding, it is in midMichigan where MSU provides the jobs, culture and entertainment and supports

the state-of-the-art research that has the potential to shape its future. As a state supported institution, one of 15 taxpayersupported universities, MSU, because of its size and scope, accounts for an outsized share of the public institutions’ combined $23.9 billion economic footprint. Throughout the state, higher education is big business. It is generally understood and valued that a university like MSU is vital to the regional economy, but numbers are elusive. Quantifying the footprint is the mission of the governmental affairs offices, where Assistant Vice President for Strategic

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Initiatives, Monique Field production of Spartan Impact.

oversees

It’s an amalgam of big and small numbers, hard and soft data — and the big numbers it reports are really big. Statewide, MSU spends $481 million with local businesses, disburses $516 million in financial aid and as of January 1, 2015, enrolled 34,861 Michigan students supported by 11,516 in-state staff and faculty jobs. “We get these numbers from the counties,” Field said. She added that this data allows her department to look in greater detail at MSU’s local influence.

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“One of the things Lou Anna Simon is looking at is the impact in soft categories,” Field said. “These are things like innovation rankings, research, licenses and patents; businesses that start up.”

Some of the money goes directly to businesses where multipliers broaden its impact. MSU estimates that payments to vendors in the three counties total $181 million: $166.3 million in Ingham, $10.9 million in Eaton and $3.4 million in Clinton. These are the hard numbers, but they don’t convey the full scope of the university’s influence.

Alex Rosaen, Anderson Economic Group’s director of public policy and economic analysis, has worked on the firm’s MSU reports and their impact on the Lansing region. He said it’s hard to overstate the school’s value.

Some of the data used by MSU to measure its influence comes from an independent study by East Lansing’s Anderson Economic Group, which segmented the benefits into four categories: expenditures and income, human capital, economic development and research and culture and entertainment.

What would it be like without the university? “Start in Lansing and go north and south instead of east or west.

Perhaps it would be a nice residential area of low density housing and farming communities.” MSU, he said, is an economic anchor that draws money from outside the area. “People come from around the state, from around the country and the world. They borrow $100,000, maybe $200,000 and spend it here ... most of it to people employed here.” He said that people don’t think of MSU as an export business, but they should. It sells its brand and its services outside of the Lansing region, recouping the benefits locally. Despite its popularity with local students, they represent just a sliver of the student body. In the last academic year, MSU reported student enrollment of 38,786 undergraduates and 11,299 graduates/ professionals. Of that student population,

PHOTO S B Y M A R K WA R N ER

In the greater Lansing region — Ingham, Clinton and Eaton counties — the university says it has an economic impact of $2.85 billion. Of this amount, $2.4 billion occurs in Ingham County, which has 2,543 enrolled students receiving $17.1 million in financial aid. MSU’s economic impact in Eaton County is $151.8 million, with 572 enrolled students receiving $4.1 million in financial aid. In Clinton County, the impact is $222 million, with 1,386 enrolled students and financial aid totaling $6.7 million.

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the university reported that 4,897 came from what it defines as Region 8: the tri-counties plus Ionia, Barry, Montcalm and Gratiot counties. Within these counties, the total economic impact of the university is $2.9 billion, with $182 million spent with local businesses. There is more to MSU’s impact than just the numbers. As any driver knows, Spartan license plates abound in mid-Michigan, a reflection of a large alumni base. The university identifies 32,226 alumni in Ingham County, with 5,723 in Clinton and 7,263 in Eaton. There are 49,049 alumni in Region 8, the second largest cluster behind the Wayne, Oakland and Macomb regions with 89,600. Underlying MSU’s economic footprint is a research engine that, in 2013-14, attracted $528 million in external funds. The Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, now under construction and scheduled to open as early as 2020, is the university’s highest profile project. But the university also supports a dynamic medical enterprise: teaching, research and patient care. The school boasts that it is the “only university in the country with on-campus medical schools graduating allopathic (MD) and osteopathic (DO) physicians and veterinarians (DVMs).” It has 1,915 enrolled medical students and 399 veterinary students. Of these, 184 students from the Ingham, Clinton and Eaton counties attend the College of Osteopathic Medicine; 118 attend the College of Human Medicine; and 124 attend the Veterinary school. MSU estimates that residing in Michigan today are 3,434 osteopathic graduates, 3,064 human medicine graduates and 3,208 graduates of the veterinary school. And its other professional schools and academic colleges broaden the intellectual footprint.

“Not only do they produce top talent that can help businesses thrive, they also contribute with research, development and innovation,” said Kelly Chesney, vice president of marketing and communications for Business Leaders for Michigan (BLM). BLM cited the MSU Innovation Center as particularly noteworthy. The Center supports start-up businesses by integrating innovation, technology and partnerships. Sponsoring an array of programs, it works with organizations like the Lansing Economic Area Partnership, the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce and Prima Civitas to foster economic development.

MSU at a Glance Major research universities like Michigan State University define their communities. The numbers tell why:

Study abroad: More than 275 programs in more than 60 countries External research: $528 million in 2013-14

Campus: 5,200 acres Extension service: Operates in all 83 Michigan counties Agriculture footprint: 19,600 acres throughout Michigan Tuition per credit: $440 lower division; $490, upper division; $646, graduate students

Facilities: 95 academic buildings Enrollment: Students from all 83 Michigan counties, all 50 states and more than 130 countries

Room and board: $4,577 for double room, silver meal plan Athletics: 25 varsity teams

Student body: 51.5 percent women / 48.5 percent men; 17.3 percent students of color; 15.3 percent international

Greek community: More than 50 nationally affiliated organizations

Faculty: Approximately 5,100 Key facilities: Broad Art Museum, Wharton Center for Performing Arts, Breslin Student Event Center, MSU Museum, Abrams Planetarium, six horticulture gardens

Support staff: Approximately 6,500 Academics: More than 200 undergraduate, graduate and professional programs 8

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Hasemann cited programs like the Michigan Corporate Relations Network, which is using a grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation that allows small businesses or startup companies to work with MSU faculty. The grant subsidizes about two-thirds of the cost, Hasemann said. It leverages the intellectual capital of the university to unleash innovations and business development — research and development at the entrepreneurial level. Applying a dollar value to these sorts of relationships isn’t always possible, especially in the early stages. It is bundled into the larger impact of MSU, which Hasemann summed up succinctly: “We change the shape of the regional economy.”

“What we are doing here is changing the trajectory of the micro economy by inserting new technologies or intellectual capital to make new businesses, to diversify the economy of Michigan,” said Charles Hasemann, MSU’s assistant vice president for innovation and economic development.

Mickey Hirten is an award winning writer and editor. He has been executive editor of the Lansing State Journal, the Burlington Free Press in Vermont, and was the financial editor and a columnist for the Baltimore Evening Sun. He is the current president of the Michigan Press Association. His wife, Maureen Hirten, is director of the Capital Area District Library.

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Michiganders Divided Over Obama’s Proposed Overtime Rule BY KRIS TINE RICHMON D

he Obama Administration’s new overtime rule unveiled last month is causing quite a stir. The proposal would allow millions of salaried workers across the nation — including potentially tens of thousands of Michiganders — to claim overtime pay. The US Department of Labor (DOL) says the regulations could affect up to 5 million workers, including, according to a stateby-state breakdown released by the White House, up to 100,000 employees in the state of Michigan. Currently, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) says that certain full-time salaried workers who make more than $455 per week, or $23,660 annually, cannot claim overtime; the new proposal would raise that threshold to about $970 a week, or $50,440 annually starting in 2016, according to the DOL. The proposed rule would not change the current duties test, which exempts some executive, administrative and professional workers from overtime, depending on their specific responsibilities. The FLSA establishes minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping and youth employment standards affecting employees in the private sector and in Federal, State and local governments.

With a greater number of salaried workers eligible for overtime pay under the new rule, a threat of increased labor costs has employers reevaluating their staffing practices. When asked what Michigan Chamber members are saying about the proposal, Block says it’s still too early to say for sure how this will impact businesses and their bottom line. Many companies may be “forced to use more part-time and entrylevel workers, offer fewer promotions and/or convert salaried employees to hourly to avoid raising their pay,” said Block in a statement on the Michigan Chamber’s website.

A proponent of the overtime rule, the Michigan AFL-CIO, says that it’s about protecting wages and making sure Michigan workers are getting paid fairly for the work they do.

In late July, congressional Democrats wrote a letter to President Obama backing the new proposed rules. In all, 31 Senate Democrats and 113 House Democrats signed the letter, according to a July 20, 2015 article by The Hill.

“Since 1975, overtime protections have been gutted by inflation without a significant adjustment. By indexing the threshold for overtime pay to inflation, the new rule will help protect wages from being eroded by rising costs going forward,” said Ron Bieber, president of the Michigan AFL-CIO. “Restoring overtime protections and putting more money in working families’ pockets will help boost our entire economy.”

“Strengthening overtime protections by increasing the salary threshold restores the forty-hour work week — a cornerstone of middle-class life in America,” the Democrats wrote to Obama. “It gives these workers more time with their families, and simultaneously encourages employers to provide additional hours of work to those part-time workers who want and need them to make ends meet.”

The Michigan Chamber has opposed this change, calling it “one of the most aggressive forms of federal governmental interference in the workplace in a decade or more.”

The public can submit written comments on the proposed overtime rule at regulations.gov on or before Sept. 4, 2015.

“The Michigan Chamber is currently preparing comments in response to the proposed regulations. We are opposed and have serious concerns about the impact of the rule change on the employers and by the trickle down impact on the employees,” said Wendy Block, director of Health Policy and Human Resources at the Michigan Chamber. 10

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Kristine Richmond is the Public Relations Specialist at M3 Group. She specializes in helping clients tell their stories of changed lives, fiscal success, philanthropic support and more by creating engaging messages that grab customers’ attention and cause them to act.

AUGUST 2015

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Nonprofit Tackles Learning Disabilities in Lansing Schools

P H OTO B Y MA R K WA R NER

BY MICKEY HIRTEN

ike many small nonprofit organizations, the Michigan Dyslexic Institute (MDI) finds that it must change to survive.

It anticipates a change in leadership, a sale of its outmoded headquarters and broader outreach to fulfill its mission of helping children and adults cope with a poorly understood learning disability that responds to treatment when diagnosed and treated. Founded in 1982, MDI has provided training and instruction to thousands of people with dyslexia through its programs and those it supports in schools. It does this from a small perch with limited staff, funds and reserves. It operates seven learning centers across the state and from its office at the corner of Shiawassee and Cedar Streets in Lansing. As with many area nonprofits, regaining their footing after the recession has been difficult. “In all honesty, we are not doing great. The institute has lost $80,000 for two years in row. A lot of this has to do with the decline in the economy,” said MDI’s Chief Financial Officer Mary Keating. The operating profits that MDI shows on its books are fragile, Keating said. “When you look at the losses over the two year time period, we have to make up for that. Our liabilities are still an issue.” For the fiscal year ended Sept. 30, 2014, MDI had revenues of $808,732 and expenses of $794,169 and closed the books with current reserves totaling $20,000. Compared with the previous year, the financial results were disappointing. In 2013, revenues were $890,501 with expenses of $717,016. “In 2013, there were a few unordinary revenues (contributions/grants) received totaling approximately $168,000. Back this amount out of the 2013 total and it provides a more realistic profit margin of $5,485,” Keating said in an email detailing the organization’s finances. In 2013, nearly a third of MDI’s revenues came from contributions, an unreliable source of funds, Keating said. MDI, like other nonprofits, said it needs to vastly increase and diversify its donations. 12

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“One of our main fundraising activities is our annual giving campaign in November. We have a database of people who have donated over the years. We send out a solicitation for contributions for our operations and a scholarship fund,” Keating said. She added that a contributor who established a charitable trust will provide $25,000 annually to MDI for the next 120 years. But this is the traditional approach to fundraising, and Keating says MDI must do more. She said that she has been tapped by the board of directors to take over MDI when current president Gary Woodbury retires, which is expected in the next two years. “I have many visions, ways that I would like to take this organization. But I feel that we are in the limbo stage now,” said Keating. “We have to raise more funds and be more financially sound before we can really start investing in a larger strategic plan. The strategic plan in place now calls for us to sell the building, move and try to reduce our liabilities. It can happen in two years with a lot of work, then we can take MDI to the next stage.” The transition will engage MDI’s full time staff of 11, a core of parttime employees throughout the state and its board of directors, many of whom have worked with nonprofits and understand their challenges.

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“There is a similarity with small businesses which, if they want to grow, have to tap into outside expertise. It’s the same with nonprofits,” said board member Barb Lazotte. She operates a small company — Lazotte Miller Public Relations Inc. — and has served on the board of directors at Highfields, Inc., which she said successfully moved to reposition itself financially. “It got beyond some of those barriers. MDI is a very young nonprofit. They hit barriers to growth,” Lazotte said. One of the opportunities that MDI believes can help it grow is with its education outreach. MDI has worked closely with the Lansing School District on teacher training with measurable results. A pilot program funded by an anonymous donor allowed the school district to train nine elementary school teachers who

worked with 20 students that were having difficulty reading. The school district’s Director of Special Education, Martin Alwardt, reported that because of the program, the students’ reading ability improved significantly in a few months. Their behavior, attendance and selfesteem also improved. “The next stage is to do more pilot programs to convince school districts to train teachers,” Lazotte said. “There just aren’t enough teachers to work with the kids who need help. In most of our schools there is no trained person to identify dyslexia. Until recently it was not even recognized as a learning disability.” Children and adults with dyslexia have difficulty identifying speech sounds and their relationship to letters and words. This affects reading skills for those with normal vision and intelligence. There is no cure for this lifelong condition, but

there are programs that help students accommodate the disorder. MDI, like other health-related nonprofits, has a unique role addressing problems and offering solutions to those in need. It wants to replicate the success it has with those it helps with its own reinvention, a challenge MDI’s leadership acknowledges, but one it is poised to tackle.

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Three Schools Bring Music and Dance to the Lansing Area BY MICKEY HIRTEN

P H OTO S B Y MA R K WA R NER

t the Big Red Barn, a student could be looking for an acting class and stumble into music lessons, or maybe even a dance class. This great facility is not only a studio, it’s also a theater. Three instructional schools share space and teaching philosophies with one another and hundreds of students each week in a warren of studios and offices at the intersection of Jolly and Hagadorn roads in southwest Okemos. The schools, Happendance and the MidMichigan Family Theatre, both nonprofit organizations, and the Okemos Music Academy are a one-stop site for artistic development, serving students from throughout the region. Happendance has been in the building since 1995; the Okemos Music Academy since 2000 while the Mid-Michigan Family Theatre just arrived in March. Finding opportunity in the mix of students, the three schools are planning an August collage concert, essentially a big variety show.

ballet and hip-hop. “The upcoming trend in the rest of the dance world is jazz and hiphop. They are the most popular. It’s slower at Happendance, but we’re seeing some increase,” Lilje said.

“We can set up two small A Newman protégé, Missy Lilje, manages Happendance. stages, one for theatrics and one for a group of musicians. A of the company, which is now managed by spotlight hits the dancers. They finish and Missy Lilje, a Newman protégé. the light hits a theatrical performance. Then you hear some musicians,” said John The studio has an enrollment of 233 this Dewey, owner of Okemos Music Academy. summer, with some students as young as In fact, the three schools collaborate like two or three years old and two students this throughout the year. in their 80s, Lilje said. “Ballet is the most popular class. Our modern class and Happendance is the artistic elder of the composition class are second.” Dance class trio, founded in 1976 by Diane Newman, lessons cost between $12 and $14. a noted figure in Michigan’s dance world and twice Michigan Dance Educator of the A team of 16 instructors provide classes and Year. Until 2013, she was executive director private instructions in tap, jazz, modern, 14

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The dance company broadened its studio footprint by providing dance programs at schools throughout the region. “We work with about 5,000 kids a year,” Lilje said. The Mid-Michigan Family Theatre also performs away from its Okemos base, with programs this summer in Bath Twp. and Eaton Rapids, said Artistic Director Bill Gordon. “In each of these local communities, there is an interest and excitement for kids being involved in something other than sports. They come in and have a good time. A lot come back and bring their friends,” Gordon said.

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The Mid-Michigan Family Theatre is the smallest of the ensembles at the Big Red Barn. Over the course of a year, it involves about 150 children and family members in its offerings. It charges a $60 fee for productions that last six to seven weeks with two-to-three sessions per week. Its space is open enough for small-scale productions. For more ambitious works, it uses the larger Happendance studios, as does the Okemos Music Academy. It has operated at the site for 15 years and until this year’s name change, was known as the Academy of Music at String Connection. With lessons in instruments as diverse as viola, ukulele, saxophone and mandolin — 14 altogether — as well as voice, Dewey and office manager Eric Weihl recognized that the name failed to fully reflect the range of offerings. “Okemos just seems like it needs a music academy,” Weihl said. Currently there are 180 students taking $26-perhalf hour lessons from 16 instructors. Piano is the most popular offering with violin second.

Goodwill and community aside, the schools must succeed in a market loaded with instructional services. Their strategies differ.

For Happendance, the studio performance and The facilities where practice space is ideal, the schools operate are but the location, away owned by the Vineyard Eric Weihl, office manager of the from bus routes, means Christian Fellowship Okemos Music Academy. that students have to come of Lansing, which has to their lessons by car. The been at the Hagadorn Rd. location since school is planning to expand into Lansing 1994. It uses the first floor for its services where it will have a studio in the Allen and events. Street Community Center, said Lilje. “It’s slated to open Sept. 1. It will expand our Vineyard pastor Ed Russell said that while people hours.” it’s not exactly part of his church’s mission statement, he appreciates the arts. Her challenge as CEO is growth. “This has been a real grassroots organization, “I married an opera major from MSU. somewhat insular. We have only three [Music and other performing arts] all tie people who donate more than $1,000 a together,” said Russell. “I have a really good year because we’ve never asked.” relationship with the people. We’re friends and work together well. What I hope is As a nonprofit, Happendance relies that we create a kind of community that on fundraising to supplement tuition. reinforces and supports one another.” Its annual budget is about $275,000, according to its annual IRS filings. “We’ve

never had a comprehensive marketing campaign — never marketed our service. I hope that there’s a lot of low hanging fruit.” For Okemos Music Academy, success is tied to customer service and a flexible instruction to fit students’ interests. “There are a lot of music schools in the area. We try hard to create a whole experience for our students and customer service for the parents,” said John Dewey, the school’s owner. “We might be the only academy that has a full-time office staff to assist clients. Also, our faculty is fully qualified and they teach you the songs you want to learn.” Mickey Hirten is an award winning writer and editor. He has been executive editor of the Lansing State Journal, the Burlington Free Press in Vermont, and was the financial editor and a columnist for the Baltimore Evening Sun. He is the current president of the Michigan Press Association. His wife, Maureen Hirten, is director of the Capital Area District Library. L

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BY M ICKEY HIRTEN P HOTO S BY MARK WA R N E R

t’s a simple fact borne out of studies worldwide: statistically, young girls in all grades are better students than boys. This academic advantage should make girls leaders in science, technology, engineering and math — the coveted STEM studies and the careers they offer, but it doesn’t — at least not yet. But changes are coming, at least in the Lansing region. An innovative program called 2020 Girls is giving girls age 9-13 a chance to embrace STEM skills, and there are early signs that it is working. The program, which is funded by grants and supported through the Information Technology Empowerment Center (ITEC), has programs involving LEGO® 16

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Robotics, mobile application design and computer programming. More than 200 girls are exploring and innovating in technical fields they might have otherwise shunned. “Girls and women are seriously underrepresented in STEM studies and careers. We’ve wrestled with how to get more girls. This is a way to address the issue head on,” said ITEC Executive Director Kirk Riley. While the goal of STEM skills is simple, the landscape isn’t. The 2020 Girls program navigates challenging academic, social and cultural norms. It was the Women’s Leadership Council of the Capital Area United Way, whose mission is encouraging, educating and energizing women to make a difference in the community, which recognized a unique opportunity and provided $26,000 to fund the program two years ago. “Every woman we’ve talked to about this has been excited. The support has

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been amazing. Women in the community really see the value in encouraging girls to embrace these fields of study,” said Joan Bauer, who chairs the council. “As women, we can remember back to when we were in school and how it felt to be interested in science and math, but maybe not really encouraged. What we want for girls is to allow them to make their own decisions and give them options in the future.” The Women’s Leadership Council decided to focus on middle school girls, said Bauer. “It’s a terribly critical time for them. Two years ago we had some money and put out a request for proposals looking for programs to help middle school girls successfully develop into healthy adults.” In response to the solicitation, ITEC developed 2020 Girls, a program similar to the youth classes it sponsors. 2020 Girls is designed to reinforce science, math and other technical skills, but with an important difference; the programs, featuring women as instructors and mentors, were designed specifically for girls. “Boys tend to be more pushy in the classroom than girls, who sort of hold back. They don’t really engage,” said Riley.

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Council Chair Joan Bauer and Vice Chair and Founder Diana Tarpoff of 2020 Girls. L

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“THE SKILLS THESE GIRLS LEARN IN THE PROGRAM CAN SET THEM UP FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE. IT OPENS DOORS TO BETTER JOBS, FINANCIAL STABILITY, NEW CAREERS AND INDEPENDENCE. BEING PART OF THIS KIND OF CHANGE IS EXCITING.” — DIANA TARPOFF

“Girls are more interested in storytelling, in working in teams.” 2020 Girls leverages these traits in afterschool and summer programs, which operate more like clubs than classes. The after-school program has meetings twice a week at one of four locations (Eastern High School, the Lansing STEM Academy, the Mt. Hope STEAM School and Wexford Montessori Magnet School) where the 125 girls enrolled in the program collaborate on designing and building robots, developing mobile apps for phones or creating video games. “What 2020 Girls can do for these students is just astounding. The skills these girls learn in the program can set them up for a brighter future. It opens doors to better jobs, financial stability, new careers and independence,” said Diana Tarpoff, vice chair and founder. “Being part of this kind of change is exciting.”

The summer program, held at the Foster Community Center, offers two different weeklong programs also stressing robotics, computer-based design and app development. About 75 girls participated. “When you go into the classroom, you see a bunch of little teams, three or four girls. They might be working on their robot, programming them to do specific missions,” Riley said. 2020 Girls uses the popular ITEC Executive Director Kirk Riley LEGO Mindstorms kits for its robotics module. Girls in the programmed on laptop computers using program work with instructors or watch icons. It’s a hands-on problem solving simple videos to identify problems and experience that requires math, physics prompt discussion about the challenges and engineering. And most importantly, and solutions. Easy-to-assemble LEGO it’s fun. pieces — all very familiar to the girls — provide the framework for motors, It’s the same with the modules wheels, batteries and assorted sound, devoted to computer programing light and touch sensors that can be and mobile application writing. The

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courses are designed to reinforce core STEM skills, but more as games than school assignments. “What stands out most about 2020 Girls is that it reinforces that girls can do anything and be anything. Being female doesn’t define what you can do, it allows you to do more,” said Tarpoff. Preliminary data gathered by ITEC indicates that participation in the program leads to small, but measurable changes in girls’ views of math and science. “What you want is small progress over time to keep them involved,” Riley said. And according to educators, it’s not just the academic gains that are being made. “In any interaction with kids since 2020, we notice from the girls this selfconfidence, this thought that they can do anything, that the world is open to them to express their inherent creativity,” said Lansing School District Superintendent Yvonne Caamal Canul. “At a meeting convened by Joan Bauer, there was a mom and dad who heard their daughter’s presentation. The look on the parents’ faces said it all. The father, who works at GM, said that he just couldn’t believe how proud he was of his daughter,” Caamal Canul said. Citing the success of 2020 Girls in its first two years, the Lansing School District is expanding the program to the Willow School and will begin to use the 2020 Girls hands-on approach throughout the system. “We want to incorporate it inside the classroom as opposed to just an afterschool activity,” Caamal Canul said. She is hoping the approach to building STEM skills will encourage regional businesses to engage more fully with Lansing schools. Companies like Emergent BioSolutions already support school technical programs, but overall schoolbusiness interactions are based on community and personal relationships.

“In the future, what we’d like to have with all of our business contacts is an outline of those programs that they can support,” Caamal Canul said. “It hasn’t been a very cohesive or formalized process.” She is optimistic that the success of 2020 Girls will make it happen.

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Hybrid Learning

A New Part of the Business Community BY KA LYNNE MCINTY R E

he advances of technology have brought us a lot of new things: phones that can speak directions to us while we drive, cars that can parallel park themselves, even watches that can make phone calls. But aside from new gadgets, technology has opened up a whole other new world: online education. With programs like LifeTech Academy and Michigan Virtual University, both based in Lansing, students now have the opportunity to learn in a new, technology-focused environment. Michigan Virtual University (the parent organization of the Michigan Virtual School, Michigan LearnPort and Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute) offers students the opportunity to take classes online, either for college credit or as substitutions for classes that their school may not be able to offer them.

On the other hand, LifeTech Academy is more focused on giving students a hands-on education by utilizing ‘project-based’ learning as much as possible. This new style of learning not only gives them the chance to learn in a different style, but exposes them to a new world where they can try different things and push themselves in different ways, and open doors to the next step of their lives. “Imagine being 16 and not caring about chemistry or math, because, ‘how is this going to help me in life?’” said 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

“Our LifeTech Academy gives their Learners opportunities to learn in fun and interesting ways, like working with a Strategic Partner, Douglas J Aveda Institute. At Douglas J, LifeTech Learners can hang out with the cosmetologists and learn that if they mix the dyes incorrectly, they’ll get purple instead of blonde, or they could burn someone’s hair off — This is why chemistry is important to them. Similarly, for someone to be a stylist, they will own a chair, which means they’ll need to understand and produce a profit and loss statement — this is why math is important to them. Project-based learning makes education more relevant for kids, meaning they’ll retain more and will receive more benefit from their schoolwork.” Not only does this new method of learning provide students with a different classroom setting, it also provides them with more ‘real world’ experience, helping them to figure out what their next step after high school should be.

“Since its inception, we have provided more than 150,000 online course enrollments to middle and high school students throughout Michigan,” said Jamey Fitzpatrick, CEO of Michigan Virtual University. “We have developed a national reputation as one of the top quality online secondary education course providers in the nation. Over the past five years, schools, colleges and employers have begun to see the value of online learning and appreciate the quality of our educational services.”

Matthew Anderson, partner at Engaged Education, LifeTech’s parent company.

“In terms of job opportunities, LifeTech Academy is preparing their Learners in a way many other schools could not, by providing the opportunity to interact with Strategic Partners like Potter Park Zoo, the Greater Michigan Construction Academy, the Wharton Center, M3 Group and many more, while still in school,” said Anderson. “This process allows the Learner to decide if the field they are interested in is really for them before graduation. Furthermore, the opportunity to interact with businesses throughout Michigan becomes essentially a long-term interview, which can directly lead to employment.” With the popularity of online learning on the rise, online education proves helpful in several aspects, including

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helping to prepare students for both higher education opportunities and the workforce.

in a different light, forming relationships and essentially molding students into what they’re looking for.

“Last year more than 35 percent of college students in the U.S. completed at least one online course,” said Fitzpatrick.

WITH THE POPULARITY OF ONLINE LEARNING ON THE

“In addition, businesses of all sizes are increasing their use of online programs to provide education and training to their employees. MVS courses help students achieve academic success in dozens of content areas ranging from geometry to Mandarin Chinese to world history. These course offerings also help students learn how to be successful in new learning environments they will need to master throughout their career.” Engagement in online learning is having a significant impact on the business community as well. Businesses are now able to interact with potential employees

RISE, ONLINE EDUCATION PROVES HELPFUL IN SEVERAL ASPECTS, INCLUDING HELPING TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR

influential in the education of its future workforce,” said Anderson. “Individual businesses benefit by interacting with potential employees over long periods of time and can effectively create a pipeline of future employees if they choose.” With technology constantly evolving, there seems to be no end in sight for new opportunities for students. To learn more about LifeTech Academy and Michigan Virtual University, visit lifetechacademy. org and mivu.org.

BOTH HIGHER EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES AND THE WORKFORCE. “The business community benefits [from our style of learning] by being able to be

Kalynne McIntyre is the Digital Branding Specialist at M3 Group in downtown Lansing. She is a Michigan State University graduate, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Advertising.

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The Capital Area College Access Network

Creating Opportunities for Lansing Area High School Students BY A LICIA PIL MORE

s the 21st century job market continues to change, the need for post-secondary education is becoming increasingly important, especially in Michigan, where it is estimated that 70 percent of jobs will soon require a college degree of some kind. In Ingham, Eaton and Clinton counties, occupational employment is expected to increase by 5.6 percent by 2018, with the biggest growth in health and IT, both of which require extra training through higher education. To keep up with this increase, the Capital Area College Access Network (CapCAN) is working with area schools to ensure that more students are able to continue their education beyond high school. Formerly known as the Lansing College Access Network, CapCAN was established five years ago to help support Lansing schools and their efforts to prevent drop outs and encourage students to continue their education after high school. “[The Lansing College Access Network] was being started at the same time that the Lansing Promise and Lansing H.O.P.E. scholarships were getting their evolution, so there was a lot of momentum around creating support for students who ultimately were going to need a scholarship to be able to stay in school,” said Michele Strasz, CapCAN’s program director. About two years ago, the organization changed their name and mission in order to expand their support to schools throughout Ingham County. CapCAN now supports six high schools in the area: Everett, Eastern, Sexton, Holt, Waverly and Webberville and will begin a partnership with Stockbridge in the coming school year. CapCAN staff members use the term “college” loosely; college could mean a two-year community college, a four-year university or a trade school. The type of institution isn’t as important to CapCAN as is encouraging continued education. “Research shows that if a young person continues their education, they’re more likely to be economically stable, to have a home … to participate in society and all of those things that we want for young people,” said Strasz. “Ultimately, having more education creates a stronger family, a stronger person and a stronger community.” CapCAN is just one of the 43 Michigan College Access Network chapters across the state; some are organized for specific school districts while others work with schools throughout their county. But the goal for each chapter is the same; to increase the percentage 22

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of Michigan residents with a post-secondary degree or credential to 60 percent by the year 2025. While this number may seem daunting and unattainable to some, Strasz believes that reaching this goal is entirely possible. “Only about 46 percent of Michigan’s adult population has a postsecondary degree, so we’ve got a long ways to go, but I do think it’s attainable,” she said. “The biggest thing that we need to do to reach our goal is embrace the idea that everybody needs to go on and get their post-secondary degree or credential. The best thing for kids in terms of getting them ready [for college] is having strong relationships and strong support to go on.” A number of programs implemented by CapCAN are helping to make sure that students in participating schools receive the support that they need. College advisors are placed in participating schools to help create a culture of college readiness and to encourage students to prepare for life after high school. Advisors also help students navigate the college application process by providing students with resources, taking students on college visits and helping them complete their applications. Their support is particularly important during College Application Week, an annual event held at the end of October to encourage students to apply to at least one, but up to three post-secondary institutions. Advisors also help students and their families complete their FAFSA information in February. Once college applications and FAFSA forms are completed, the schools working with CapCAN celebrate the students’ hard work by hosting College Decision Day at the beginning of May.

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“It’s modeled after Signing Day for athletes,” said Strasz. “We want all of our students to celebrate the fact that they’re graduating and that they’ve made some decisions regarding what their future plans are. Decision Day is a day to make that announcement.” This year, the college advisors at Everett High School hosted a special Decision Day celebration for the graduating seniors, which featured a college and career seminar and a panel discussion about what they could expect as incoming freshmen at their chosen school. The day concluded with graduating seniors announcing where they would be continuing their education. “WE WANT ALL OF OUR STUDENTS TO CELEBRATE

utilize Khan Academy, an online learning program that provides test preparation for students getting ready to take the SAT, which will be administered to students in Michigan starting in March 2016. The community’s support of the CapCAN is vital to its success; they are affiliated with the Capital Area United Way and always welcome donations and sponsorships for programs. Strasz also stressed that involvement through mentorships and partnerships with businesses are just as important for the students, because they expose students to different jobs and industries. “Kids don’t always get exposed to a lot of the jobs that are out there,” Strasz said. “It’s a great opportunity when businesses open their doors for students to come in for job shadow days or tours.”

THE FACT THAT THEY’RE

As the organization moves forward, Strasz hopes to see CapCAN’s programs extended to more schools in the Lansing area. “There’s so much momentum that’s happening regionally around the workforce,” she said. “[Students] need to know that there are always resources to get them on the path to higher education.” For more information about how to get involved with CapCAN, call Michele Strasz at (517) 203-5011 or email her at programdirector@capitalareacan.org

Alicia Pilmore is a communications specialist at M3 Group in Downtown Lansing. She enjoys writing, volunteering and everything related to social media.

GRADUATING AND THAT THEY’VE MADE SOME DECISIONS REGARDING WHAT THEIR FUTURE PLANS ARE. DECISION DAY IS A DAY TO MAKE THAT ANNOUNCEMENT.” — MICHELE STRASZ “For many of these kids, that was their graduation party, because they don’t necessarily have the opportunity to have a big graduation party like many other students do,” said Strasz. “It was really important to make it a fun, nice event where they could celebrate their accomplishments as a class … I hope that we can expand that opportunity to all of our schools moving forward. CapCAN also provides professional development opportunities for teachers and guidance counselors. Strasz said that they have plans to host a training session next year to show teachers how to

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The US and Europe During the First Half of 2015 BY MORDECHAI E. KR E I N I N

Editor’s note: this article is the first in a series of articles outlining the differences between the U.S. and European economies.

s the first half of 2015 draws to a close, a sharp contrast can be seen between the economies on the two sides of the Atlantic. The U.S. economy, although not spectacular, is performing relatively well. Its total output of goods and services grew at about 2 percent on an annual basis and the rate of unemployment is down to 5.5 percent. Both the unemployment rate and average wages leave something to be desired, as does the current low rate of inflation, but they are satisfactory relative to those in Europe, and suggest that the U.S. is emerging gradually from the financial crisis of the previous decade. By contrast, a much more dire picture is visible on the European continent: Italy is in a recession; namely, its total output of goods and services is declining; France is on the verge of a recession; and the German economy grew at a meager 0.5 percent. These are the major three economies of the Euro-Zone — The 19 countries on the continent that use the Euro as their currency. The rate of unemployment in these countries is nearly double that of the U.S. Furthermore, the rate of inflation in the Euro-Zone has sunk so low that it might turn into deflation — a process of declining prices. Deflation is a phenomenon that plagued the Japanese economy and caused two decades of declining or stagnant total output. Indeed, Japan’s economy has slipped into a recession, aggravating the global economic conditions. Even the so-called “emerging markets,” such as China, witnessed a significant decline in their growth rate. In a relative sense, North America is a beacon of light in a pretty dismal global economy. How long can that condition continue? Returning now to the U.S. — European comparison, the contrast is due mainly to divergent government economic policies; they were expansionary in the U.S. and relatively contractionary in Europe, urged on by austerity measures advocated by Germany. Monetary Policy is conducted by the country’s central bank, which determines its money supply and the rate of interest. 26

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EUROPEAN COMPARISON, THE CONTRAST IS DUE MAINLY TO DIVERGENT GOVERNMENT ECONOMIC POLICIES; THEY WERE EXPANSIONARY IN THE U.S. AND RELATIVELY CONTRACTIONARY IN EUROPE, URGED ON BY AUSTERITY MEASURES ADVOCATED BY GERMANY. The central bank of the United States is the Federal Reserve System, also known as the Fed. The central bank of the Euro-Zone is the European Central Bank (ECB), situated in Frankfurt, Germany. Neither the U.K. nor Sweden is part of the Euro-Zone, and both have central banks of their own. Fiscal policy refers to the creation of deficits and surpluses in the government budget. In the U.S., its final determination is in the hands of Congress. In the Euro-Zone, it is conducted by the individual member-countries of the EuroZone, subject to central rules of the zone. Future columns will explain the nature of government economic policies, as well as the cause, meaning, and effects of widely used terms, such as inflation, deflation austerity, recession, real GDP and will spell out the nature of fiscal and monetary policies on both sides of the Atlantic leading to the current conditions. Before that can be done, the next column will describe the institutional set-up of the European Union (EU) and the Euro-Zone. Mordechai Kreinin is a University Distinguished Professor of Economics, emeritus at Michigan State University and past President of the International Trade and Finance Association. He is the author of about 200 articles and books about economics, including the widely used text, International Economics.

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MAN ON THE STREET

M AN on the STR E ET Do you think that people should be required to take a business or personal finance class in high school or college? COMPIL ED BY K YL E D O W L I N G, G L B M’ S MA N O N T H E S TR EET

“I am an educator and know that graduate requirements are locally set, so some school systems require so much, while others require less. If they have the capacity, then yes.”

Teri Thompson

“Personal finance, yes — it is important to learn how to balance expenses and a checkbook.”

Matt Reinbold

“Yes, it is for the physical good of the people to require business and finance classes.”

Brian Eggers

“Yes, I think I think it would help with business. People would better understand what goes on in the business community.”

Romeell Dozier

“Yes it should be required. I have a daughter with honors, and when she entered college she had no idea how to do a 401k. It is important to learn these skills, and to learn about the economy.”

Andre Micheaux

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Barber/Styling College of Lansing

Barber School

2101 N. East St.

Lansing

Career Quest Learning Center — Lansing Campus

Healthcare, Information Technology and Business

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Flight School

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Healthcare, Culinary Arts, Beauty School, Business Support

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Douglas J. Aveda Institute

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331 E. Grand River

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Excel Academies of Cosmetology

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125 N. Clippert St.

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International Trucking School

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Technical School

5708 Cornerstone Dr.

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Michigan Bricklayers and Craftworkers Union Apprenticeship School

Technical School

3321 Remy Dr.

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Michigan Laborers and Apprenticeship Institute

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11155 S. Beardslee Rd

Perry

Michigan School of Canine Cosmetology

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Michigan State University Graduate School

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New Horizons Computer Learning Center

Computer Training School

1146 S. Washington Ave.

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ONLC Training Centers

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Ross Medical Education Center

Medical School

4106 W. Saginaw Hwy.

Lansing

Spring Arbor University Graduate School

Graduate Studies

4202 Collins Road

Lansing

Western Michigan University Cooley Law School

Law

300 S Capitol Ave

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

AUGUST 2015

GLBM LIST

Each month, the Greater Lansing Business Monthly compiles a list relevant to the publicationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s theme. The lists are not comprehensive, but rather, a snapshot look at what is publicly available on various industries and organizations. The following is a list of local trade and graduate schools in the city of Lansing in alphabetical order. To submit your company information for future GLBM lists, go to lansingbusinessnews.com/get-on-the-list.

Time to Complete Program

Website

Phone Number

1 Year

lansingbarbercollege.com

(517) 482-8083

Varies depending on program

careerquest.edu

(877) 481-4933

4-6 Months

crosswindsaviation.com

(517) 552-1101

Varies depending on program

northwood.edu

(800) 622-9000

Varies depending on program

dorsey.edu/lansing-campus

(517) 272-4018

6-10 months

douglasj.com

(517) 333-9656

6-10 months

excelcosmetology.com

(517) 333-3232

2-3 months

internationaltruckingschool.net

(517) 485-2190

10 weeks

lejatc.org

(517) 483-9688

3-4 years

bricklayers.org

(517) 886-2221

1 year

mltai.org

(517) 625-4176

3-5 months

k9grooming.com

(517) 393-6311

Varies depending on program

grad.msu.edu

(517) 353-3220

Varies depending on program

nhlearningsolutions.com

(517) 318-4005

1-5 days

onlc.com

(800) 288-8221

6-10 months

protegeacademy.com

(517) 324-3388

Varies depending on program

rosseducation.edu

(888) 857-4720

Varies depending on program

arbor.edu

(800) 968-0011

2-5 years

cooley.edu

(800) 874-3511

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WORKFORCE ISSUES

Educating the Next Generation BY E DYTHE HATTER-W I L L I A MS

ducation is a deep and personal passion of mine. I’ve spent nearly two decades with Capital Area Michigan Works! and have previous experience in a public school district; these experiences have morphed me into an avid advocate for the importance of education. Throughout my career, I’ve seen education open the door for opportunities for many folks, but I’ve also seen the unfortunate side of struggling individuals due to a lack of education. That’s what influences my continuous efforts to keep the conversation about education prevalent and frequent.

23.1 %

The future success of our region lies in the hands of so many people and entities, but particularly our children — our next generation workforce — and their success stems from a quality education. We often talk about the importance of STEM, (science, technology, engineering and math), and more and more we’re hearing that art needs to be added to the equation, making it STEAM. STEAM disciplines are predicted to be essential for the in-demand occupations in our future economy. We want to prepare children for career paths they would be interested in, but it’s also vital to direct them toward the in-demand occupations so that when they’re ready to join the workforce, there will actually be jobs to fill. Two of the biggest in-demand fields are manufacturing and information technology, which is why there’s a need for the Capital Area Manufacturing Council and Capital Area IT Council. It seems simple, but one of the easiest ways to help children achieve educational success is by making sure they are in school each day. In Lansing, 23.1 percent of the 12,000 students in the district missed 11 or more days during the 2013-2014 school year, according to the school district. Many students and families are unaware of the impact chronic absenteeism has on a student’s education, beginning in kindergarten and continuing through high school. Parents may not realize accumulated excused absences can cause their children to fall behind. Attendance Works reports that a student who is chronically absent is 7.4 times more likely to drop out. Building the habit of attendance in the early grades can increase a student’s chances of graduating from high school. Another way to encourage children to succeed in school is by family interaction. Whether it’s talking to your child about how his or her day at school was, reading together, helping your child with homework, encouraging better grades and progress, attending parent-teacher conferences or congratulating a job well done, all of these behaviors make a positive difference.

In Lansing, 23.1 percent of the 12,000 students in the district missed 11 or more days during the 2013-2014 school year, according to the school district.

toward this, talk openly about education; whether it’s publicly or through employee newsletters, every promotional opportunity counts. Keep the discussions wide too, from early education to current employees’ lifelong learning. Starting these conversations at the workplace helps make education a common topic to discuss and will hopefully continue once employees are home with their families. One or a couple businesses’ efforts aren’t enough. We need all of the region’s businesses to stand up for education. The more businesses that strive for educational success, the more likely it is that our region will attract and retain more talent, helping it become a place where the best and brightest individuals want to live, work and play.

Edythe Hatter-Williams is the chief executive officer of Capital Area Michigan Works!, a talent investment network that partners with businesses to develop recruiting and retention strategies and partners with job seekers to enhance education and career opportunities. On the Web at camw.org.

Businesses can also play a role in preparing their future talent pool. Sounds great, right? After all, every employer wants gogetters and the brightest individuals working for them. To work 32

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

AUGUST 2015

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COLLECTIBLES

Stamp Collectors Take a Licking BY PATRICK A. HEL L E R

ike many people, I became a stamp collector in my childhood, three years before I began collecting coins. I sold off my collection in the early 1980s, except for stamps of Liberia issued until 1966 (the year I stopped living in that country). Although I didn’t realize it then, I sold close to the all-time market peak for collector stamp prices. Philately is the study and collecting of stamps and postal items as a hobby or investment. Like collectibles and other items such as rare coins, diamonds and Persian rugs, the prices of collectible stamps reached a major peak in 1980. Of the collectibles that peaked then, stamp collecting has experienced perhaps the greatest decline in the number of hobbyists and in the prices of the items. The reason for the decline in the number of stamp collectors is that youngsters were entering the hobby in sufficient quantity to replace older collectors who died or stopped collecting. In the 1980s, there was a strong interest in children to collect sports cards. Later, video games came along to occupy the attention of those who were young or young at heart. THERE ARE SOME STAMP COLLECTING AREAS GROWING IN DEMAND AT THE MOMENT, SUCH AS CHINESE ISSUES AND ULTRA-RARITIES FROM SEVERAL NATIONS. HOWEVER, FOR MOST PEOPLE, IF YOU OWN UNUSED U.S. POSTAGE STAMPS FROM THE PAST 80 YEARS, YOUR BEST OPTION IS TO “LICK ‘EM AND STICK ‘EM.” The declining number of stamp collectors had an impact that could be anticipated. First, demand for stamps declined. Second, the average age of those still in the hobby rose. The last time I checked, the average age of a member of the American Philatelic Society was about 10 years higher than that of coin collectors who are members of the American Numismatic Association. As a result, more existing stamp collectors are dying each year, causing more stamp inventory to be offered for liquidation. With demand down and supplies increasing, prices inevitably dropped. 34

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

Although you might find it hard to believe, more than 99 percent of unused U.S. stamps issued over the past 80 years now trade wholesale between stamp dealers at a discount to face value! At one time, it was popular for a lot of people to purchase new stamp issues as a perceived low-risk investment. After all, the thinking went, stamps could always be used for postage at full face value! While true, this is not the entire story. For decades, the U.S. Postal Service has estimated that one-third to one-half of each stamp issued was purchased by investors planning to save them. Unfortunately, several trends over time have reduced the need for postage stamps. First, postage meters and faxes cut business demand. Later came email and cell phone text messages. Now we have automatic and electronic bill payment options. We have helped senior citizen customers who acquired more than $100,000 face value of U.S. stamps for investment. They certainly can use them for full face value to mail envelopes. But, they will not live long enough to use them all. Over the decades, more stamps that used to be worth a small collector premium have become “discount postage.” The discounts to face value have become greater over time. Often, dealers willing to purchase unused U.S. stamps (and the number of stamp dealers has declined along with the fall in the number of collectors) are offering the public just 30-50 percent of face value. Almost all used stamps, by the way, are mostly purchased by weight. There are some stamp collecting areas growing in demand at the moment, such as Chinese issues and ultra-rarities from several nations. However, for most people, if you own unused U.S. postage stamps from the past 80 years, your best option is to “lick ‘em and stick ‘em.”

AUGUST 2015

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Patrick A. Heller was the 2012 American Numismatic Association National Coin Dealer of the Year. He is the Communication Officer and Owner Emeritus of Liberty Coin Service in Lansing, the largest coin dealership in Michigan. He writes a monthly newsletter, Liberty’s Outlook available at libertycoinservice.com, and commentaries on precious metals and collectibles on various websites. His award-winning radio show “Things You ‘Know’ That Just Aren’t So, And Important News You Need To Know” can be heard at 8:45 AM Wednesday and Friday mornings on 1320-AM WILS in Lansing (which streams live and is archived at 1320wils.com). He is also the Executive Producer of the forthcoming movie “Alongside Night.” Heller was the unofficial “artist” of the 2004 Michigan Statehood Quarter.

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OPINION

Approaching Retirement With Confidence BY W. JOS EPH IRIS H AN D Z AC H A R Y H . A R MST RON G

his article explores the frequently asked questions of those individuals and families approaching retirement or who are already retired.

IS IT USUALLY BENEFICIAL TO ROLLOVER MONEY FROM AN EMPLOYER PLAN TO AN IRA?

Generally, yes. This is especially true if the advisor acts as a fiduciary and utilizes institutional funds with a long-term asset class investment approach. Unlike an Individual Retirement Account (IRA), employer plans typically offer limited investment opportunities, especially among the various asset classes.

An IRA has similar asset protection planning features found with employer-sponsored plans. Additionally, the distribution options available under an IRA following your death are usually more flexible for your beneficiaries than employersponsored plans. HOW DO I AVOID COMMISSION-BASED PRODUCTS WITH A ROLLOVER?

Commissions (or loads) are a real and significant drag on a portfolio’s performance. Commissions are common with actively managed mutual funds and are often classified as Class A, B or C. These fund designations have nothing to do with the quality of the funds or its performance; it merely signifies how the commission will be paid to the broker. This commission is paid on top of the annual expense charges of the mutual fund. We have similar thoughts and, to be certain, even more heightened concerns with annuities. In our opinion, the best practice for low-cost investing is passive institutional investing (wholesale) as opposed to retail investing described above. The problem for investors is that most advisors have limited or no access to passive institutional investments. Investors should seek out fee-only fiduciary advisors who offer 100 percent passive institutional investments that are no-load, penalty-free investments. HOW SHOULD I INVEST MY RETIREMENT FUNDS?

An advisor applies similar rigor and study to the field of investing that a scientist applies to his or her field of research. The science of investing is the use of research and statistical models to design portfolios that track the efficient frontier. The efficient frontier 36

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

represents the optimal volatility (for sake of simplicity we call this risk or volatility risk) and expected return tradeoff between various asset classes. The questions advisors should ask are which asset classes to include (or exclude), what is an optimal allocation of asset classes and how to design and rebalance a portfolio suitable to an investor’s risk and return profile? What experts and amateurs alike cannot do is predict which asset classes will outperform others, or when it will happen, or for how long it will continue, and certainly not in the long run. That being said, a passively managed or structured portfolio consisting of diversification both within and among various asset classes in relation to a low cross-correlative relationship will mitigate the downside volatility risk of any one stock or asset class. Indeed, if designed correctly, an investor can enhance his or her expected return while lowering the volatility risk until the investor has reached the optimal efficient frontier tangency. If a portfolio is not found along the efficient frontier then it is found somewhere beneath it — this is an inefficient portfolio. Inefficient in that an investor is taking on volatility risk for which he or she is not compensated. Significant uncompensated

AUGUST 2015

OPINION

volatility risk and other inefficiencies are created mainly in three ways: high costs of investing, excessive trading and attendant costs (viewing the portfolio as a short-term play to somehow time the market as a risk manager), or inexpertly designed portfolios. I KNOW THAT I NEED AN ESTATE PLAN, SO WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND?

The modern estate plan consists of a revocable living trust, pour-over wills and durable powers of attorney for property, healthcare and mental healthcare. A more involved estate plan arrangement for tax planning would include the use of A/B trusts, irrevocable trusts, qualified gifting strategies, family limited partnerships or a family foundation. Regardless of the type of estate plan that you have or will require, it is vital that your estate plan and retirement plan

are seamlessly connected and kept upto-date. WHAT DO I LOOK FOR IN A FINANCIAL ADVISOR?

There is simply no substitute for substantial education, training and experience. An advisor needs all three to be truly successful for his client. For wealth advisor educational credentials, we recommend advisors holding a JD, PhD, DBA, MS, MBA, CPA, PFS, and/or CFA. Indeed, it is probably best that the advisor hold some combination of the above degrees and designations. Such sentiment has been echoed by many academics and practitioners, especially in recent years as the complexity of finance, law, accounting and taxation has turned financial advising into a rigorous profession.

In our opinion, the best practice in the industry is to have a multi-disciplinary team approach, which has the wealth advisor working with the investor’s lawyers, CPAs, insurance professionals, etc., to develop an integrated and comprehensive retirement, tax and estate plan.

W. Joseph Irish, CPA, PFS and Zachary H. Armstrong are Fee-Only, Fiduciary Investment Advisors with Siena Wealth Advisors. Siena is consistently recognized by CPA Wealth Provider and Accounting Today magazines as one of the Top Investment Advisory Firms in the United States. Only five firms in the state of Michigan have been so recognized. Siena advisors can be reached at info@sienainvestor.com.

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“

HE SAID/SHE SAID

He Said She Said

Each month The Greater Lansing Business Monthly invites authors from two views — one conservative, one liberal — to share their thoughts on a rotating topic. This month’s topic: What are the advantages of attending a public school? What are the advantages of charter schools?

PREPARING STUDENTS FOR THE FUTURE By Sheila Pilmore

Amidst the educational issues in the state, public schools continue to offer a quality education to all students. Public schools are plagued by bad press about teachers, low test scores and lack of fiscal planning. But public schools are doing their part to educate all students, whether they are advanced students or need remedial services. Public schools continue to push for quality curriculum by moving to the Common Core State Standards, continuing to evolve as the state changes testing practices and preparing students for life outside of school by teaching skills that are necessary in today’s world. How are they accomplishing these daunting tasks? Professional development for teachers has become more intentional and focused with the goal of improving teaching and learning for all students. Michigan, along with 43 other states, has moved to 38

the Common Core State Standards, which establishes uniform educational standards across states. The Common Core Standards are based on English and math, and also promote college and career-ready students as they graduate from high school. Intertwined with the Common Core is the new Michigan Student of Educational Progress (M-STEP) test, which 3rd through 8th grade students, as well as 11th grade students will take on an annual basis. This test will monitor student achievement and growth through the years, giving us item analysis and trend data to utilize in the area of curriculum development.

expected to use the technology available for projects, papers and homework on a regular basis. Technology also lends itself to a plethora of information that is readily available to students at any time of the day or night.

PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS

Public school students who are interested in occupational trades have options for vocational classes such as cosmetology, building trades, health occupations, small engines, web design, culinary trades and many more.

ARE DEDICATED INDIVIDUALS WHO SPEND HOURS PLANNING TO PREPARE STUDENTS TO BE

In rural schools, students are encouraged to take advanced classes offered by the district or online. Many more options are offered online for advanced students who may not have had those options even five years ago. This is also an option for students who are credit deficient and need credit recovery to get back on track for graduation.

THEIR ADULT LIFE.

Public schools continue to cater to all students, regardless of their learning styles. Public school teachers are dedicated individuals who spend hours planning to prepare students to be career and collegeready when they ultimately graduate and move on to their adult life.

With the digital age upon us, teachers are learning to use technology in creative ways that enhance their lessons, which in turn are more engaging for students. Many public schools have gone to, or are moving in the direction of 1:1 devices, which means one electronic device per student. Students are taught digital citizenship along with digital skills that are, and will be, utilized now and in the future. Students are also

Sheila Pilmore is an educator with nearly 30 years of experience in public education. She earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education and health from Western Michigan University and a master’s degree in athletic administration from Central Michigan University. She currently works at Breckenridge Community Schools, where she has been a principal for 20 years.

CAREER AND COLLEGE-READY WHEN THEY ULTIMATELY GRADUATE AND MOVE ON TO

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

AUGUST 2015

HE SAID/SHE SAID

Even though charter schools have been around for 20 years, there are still a number of myths and misconceptions about charter schools that should be addressed.

CHARTER SCHOOLS PROVIDE CHOICE, QUALITY & ACCOUNTABILITY By Gary Naeyaert

It’s clear that our entire public education system is failing far too many of Michigan’s 1.5 million school-aged children, especially when you consider that only two-thirds of our K-8 students are proficient in math or English, and less than 20 percent of our high school graduates are considered college or career ready. Rather than point fingers and assign blame, we believe everyone in public education needs to do a better job, and this includes traditional public schools and charter public schools. Charter public schools and schools of choice were created 20 years ago due to public dissatisfaction with the performance of some traditional public schools and the desire for other K-12 education options. Today, more than 140,000 students are enrolled in just over 300 Michigan charter public schools, while another 110,000 students participate in schools of choice within traditional public school districts. This means nearly one in every five students and families in the state are exercising choice in public education. This competitive environment has created a dynamic K-12 education marketplace for innovation and creativity, and should raise the bar for all schools.

First, charter schools are free public schools that do not charge tuition and must accept every applicant without any special entrance requirements. If the number of student applications exceeds the number of available seats, a random selection lottery is held to determine which students will be enrolled. Charter schools enroll a higher proportion of poor, minority students than traditional districts. CHARTER SCHOOLS FOSTER A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN PARENTS, TEACHERS AND STUDENTS. THEY CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH PARENTS CAN BE MORE INVOLVED, TEACHERS ARE ALLOWED TO INNOVATE AND STUDENTS ARE PROVIDED THE STRUCTURE THEY NEED TO LEARN. Second, charter schools must use statecertified teachers, and they enroll nearly the same percentage of special needs students as traditional schools. Third, charter schools must adhere to the same laws, rules and regulations as traditional public schools, with the exception of teacher tenure and the ability to contract for instructional services. Charter schools are unique public schools that are independent from the traditional school district model, but are held accountable for student achievement.

More than 80 charter public schools in Michigan have been closed for poor performance in the past 15 years, which proves they are accountable to their authorizers (usually a state university) and parents. Charter schools often will be developed around a particular theme or mission, such as college-prep, STEM, Performing Arts, Environmental Studies, Aviation, Montessori education and other formats. The biggest difference in charter public schools is that they tend to have a longer school day and a longer school year, largely because their teacher’s are much less likely to belong to a teachers union. This additional time on task likely explains why a Stanford University confirmed that students in charter public schools in Michigan are gaining 2-3 months of additional learning per year when compared to their demographic peers in traditional public schools. Charter schools foster a partnership between parents, teachers and students. They create an environment in which parents can be more involved, teachers are allowed to innovate and students are provided the structure they need to learn. Every child deserves a chance to succeed in college, careers and life, which starts with a great education. Michigan students deserve better educational outcomes and recognition of this problem is the first step towards a solution. The Great Lakes Education Project (GLEP) won’t rest until that solution is achieved and every family has available to them the quality school options that fit their children’s educational needs. Gary Naeyaert is Executive Director of the Great Lakes Education Project, a non-profit advocacy organization supporting efforts to improve academic achievement, increase accountability and empower parental choice in education.

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BUSINESS EVENTS

CONNECTIONS AND COFFEE, LANSING.

The Greater Lansing Business Monthly and the University Club of MSU host Connections and Coffee on Tuesday, Aug. 11. Enjoy a light breakfast, fresh, delicious coffee and the chance to start your morning off right by networking. Event is free, please email melissa@ m3group.biz to register.

8 /15

BIKE TO BUILD, DEWITT. Ride the countryside and help support Habitat for Humanity of Lansing and Clinton County with each push of the pedal. Riders can choose from four scenic routes featuring a family ride (approximately 3

COFFE

August 2015 8/11

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BUSINESS CALENDAR

miles), a 20-mile ride, a 45-mile ride or a 75-mile ride. There will be SAG support, rest stops with refreshments and lunch. This event is rain or shine. Registration is from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. followed by the rides. Riders will start and finish at Northpointe Community Church, located at 505 E. Webb Dr.. Registration is $35/person and riders will receive a t-shirt if registered before Aug. 1. For more information, visit habitatlansing.org or habitatclinton.org.

8/17

HOME IN ONE GOLF OUTING, LANSING. Join Habitat for Humanity for the Home in One Golf Outing. Spend the day golfing and help support a great cause. The Home in One Golf Outing will be held at the Country Club of Lansing, located at 2200 Moores River Dr., starting at 8 a.m. The cost to participate is $150/person and includes a cart and lunch. For more information, visit habitatlansing.org.

5 Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss the annual CAWLM Lady Classic Join us September 17, 2015 at Timber Ridge Golf Club C

Presenting Sponsor

Visit cawlm.com or call (517) 203-0123 for more information 40

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

AUGUST 2015

BUSINESS CALENDAR

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2015 LANSING OPEN, BATH TOWNSHIP. Attend the 2015 Lansing Open and enjoy a fun day of golf while networking with the area’s top business leaders. This event attracts hundreds of golfers every year. The 2015 Lansing Open will be held at Eagle Eye Golf Club, located at 15500 Chandler Rd. Registration and networking will begin at 8:30 a.m., followed by a 10 a.m. shotgun start and dinner at 4 p.m. The cost to attend is $295/person or $800/foursome. For more information, call (517) 853-6463, email trichardson@lansingchamber.org or visit lansingchamber.org.

8 /1 9

PERFORMANCE REVIEWS: HOW TO CONDUCT THE CONVERSATION, WEBINAR. Attend this one-hour webinar and discover how to motivate, inspire and get employees to take accountability during performance reviews, instead of alienating them. You will gain the tools needed to listen and give productive feedback, make sure performance reviews are forward-looking and much more. This webinar will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. The cost to attend is $75/ members and $95/non-members. For more information, visit michamber.com.

9/11

9TH ANNUAL MAYORS’ RAMADAN UNITY DINNER, LANSING. Join Mayors Virg Bernero and Nathan Triplett for the 9th Annual Mayors’ Ramadan Unity Dinner, Hope Not Hunger. The dinner will be held at the Lansing Center, located at 333 East Michigan Ave., from 6 to 9 p.m. Tickets cost $15/college student, $25/ individual, or $80/family of four. For more information, email rachel.huston@lansingmi.gov or call (517) 483-4141.

9/22

10 OVER THE NEXT TEN AWARDS, LANSING. Join Grand River Connection and the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce as they honor ten local young professionals who are expected to have a major impact on our community over the next ten years. Enjoy networking, hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. 10 Over the Next Ten will be held at the University Club of MSU from 6 to 8 p.m. For more information, visit lansingchamber.org or grandriverconnection.com.

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N O TA B L E N E W S

LANSING REGIONAL CHAMBER CITES GREATER LANSING TAXI AUTHORITY AS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF REGIONAL COLLABORATION

The Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce (LRCC) has commended four local communities for their decision to join with the cities of Lansing and East Lansing as part of the Greater Lansing Taxi Authority. Lansing Township is the most recent addition to the Authority, along with the cities of Lansing and East Lansing and Delhi, Delta and Meridian Townships. The Greater Lansing Taxi Authority was established in 2014 by the cities of Lansing and East Lansing to create a uniform

LOCAL NOTABLE NEWS: LANSING-BASED CONSULTING FIRM EXPANDS NATIONALLY East Lansing consulting firm, Courtland Consulting, has made a name for itself as the leading system delivery vendor for child support projects in the United States, which has led to the organization’s explosive growth in the last year. What started as a staff augmentation provider on a single child support project in Michigan has grown into a diverse organization providing system implementation services in more than eight states, with 150 percent growth projected for the remainder of 2015. Courtland’s innovative approach to project delivery has resulted in strong B2B partnerships and the diversification of its services to include project evaluation, training and web design services serving hundreds of clients in public, private and nonprofit sectors. Throughout its history, Courtland’s reputation as the delivery vendor that focuses on the end users ultimately provided clients the necessary edge for a successful implementation and led to national expansion.

regulatory standard for taxi companies that would ensure safe and professional service across the region. Shortly after establishing the Authority, the two cities invited four neighboring townships to join. The Taxi Authority is the latest in a series of regional collaborations that are helping change the nature of government services and how they are efficiently and effectively delivered in the region. The most notable of those collaborations is the Shared Fire Services Initiative, which has helped improve the efficiency and quality of fire and emergency service in the region. “The Greater Lansing region has established itself as a statewide leader in regional cooperation,” said Tim Daman, LRCC president and CEO. “The Greater Lansing Taxi Authority is the latest example of regionalism in action, and one that can be held up as a model in dealing with similar transportation related regulatory programs being considered at the state level.”

The company plans to celebrate its 25th year anniversary with the communities and projects it serves through an interactive website at courtland25.com. Past and current clients, employees and partners are encouraged to interact with Courtland through this website and social media channels to share memories about Courtland and its many partner projects. For more information about Courtland Consulting and their services, visit courtlandconsulting.com

Hotels are also rated on staff knowledge, attitude, professionalism, training, safety, security, facility maintenance and energy conservation. This is Quality Suites Hotel in Lansing’s third Hotel of the Year Award. SUSAN G. KOMEN MICHIGAN’S JENNIFER JURGENS RECEIVES EXCELLENCE IN STAFF LEADERSHIP AWARD

QUALITY SUITES IN LANSING WINS HOTEL OF THE YEAR AWARD The Quality Suites Hotel in Lansing recently achieved the number one ranking in the nearly 1,300-unit strong Quality Hotel brand. By finishing best in brand, the property has won the 2015 Hotel of the Year Award. The Hotel of the Year Award is presented annually to the top hotel in Choice’s rigid quality assurance standards. “This prestigious award recognizes the best of the best — the hotel that excels in service, facilities, and hospitality,” said Dan Schweiger, senior director for the Quality Brand.

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

AUGUST 2015

Susan G. Komen Michigan Executive Director, Jennifer Jurgens, was honored for her leadership on June 27 by the global breast cancer organization during its Komen Leadership Conference held in Fort Worth, Texas. Jurgens received the “Excellence in Staff Leadership Award,” which recognizes a staff member of a local Komen Affiliate for accomplishments that exceed normal job responsibilities and expectations. Jurgens was instrumental in the merger of three Michigan Affiliates earlier this year:

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Mid-Michigan, Southwest Michigan and West Michigan. Jurgens’ leadership was crucial to the consolidation of systems, communications with Komen headquarters in Dallas, TX and ensuring all voices were being heard in the process. In January, Komen Michigan became a legally merged entity with a stronger, broader, more financially stable and dedicated Affiliate known as Komen Michigan.

finest example of volunteerism through distinguished service and generous support. The Lansing Symphony was proud to honor Barb Walkington at the Annual Meeting on Thursday, June 11, at the Spartan Hall of Fame Café.

joining the volunteer group, Pro Symphony. Over the past two years she has chaired the Poinsettia Flower Sale as well as coordinated the refreshments for musicians at every dress rehearsal. Lansing Symphony Board Member and V.P. of Volunteers, Virginia P. Allen, presented the award.

Walkington has volunteered with the Symphony for more than three years, first starting as an office volunteer and then

Individuals who have questions about breast health or need help accessing services can direct their inquiries to Komen Michigan by calling (616) 752-826 or emailing info@ komenmichigan.org. LANSING SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA ANNOUNCES NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS, VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR

Brian J. Lefler, president of the Board of the Lansing Symphony Association, Inc. for the past two years, passed on the gavel to incoming Board President, Michael Rhodes. Four new members were elected at the Lansing Symphony’s Annual Meeting. The new members, who will serve one 3-year term, are Bill Jaconette (PNC Wealth Management), Christine Jodoin (Sparrow Hospital), Catrice Lane (Jackson National Life Insurance Company) and Betty Moore (Retired from State Farm Insurance). The Lansing Symphony Board of Directors leads the organization in making sure that the duties and responsibilities of the mission statement are fulfilled. The 37 members also act as advocates throughout the community, providing the public with further knowledge about the Lansing Symphony Orchestra. Formed in 1929, the Lansing Symphony is widely recognized as one of mid-Michigan’s cultural gems. The Orchestra will kick off their 86th season in September. Also announced was the “Volunteer of the Year” award. This annual award is presented to an individual who shows the

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CAPITAL AREA HOUSING PARTNERSHIP WELCOMES TWO NEW EMPLOYEES Mikki Drost, executive director of the Capital Area Housing Partnership, is pleased to announce the expansion of the CAHP team with the arrival of two new employees.

Shelly Malloy, Project Manager, will utilize her long history in management and maintenance/construction in her position of developing affordable housing and providing assistance to the home owners/ buyers CAHP serves. Amy Kraus, Development Manager, has an extensive background in municipal government and community outreach.

She will assist in the expansion of local partnerships and programs, increasing the number of area residents who benefit from CAHP’s services. Capital Area Housing Partnership, created through the partnership of Hometown Housing Partnership of East Lansing and Franklin Street Community Housing Corporation of Lansing, was developed to increase the ability of both organizations to provide services on a regional basis. THE MERIDIAN COMPANY DONATES $1,000 TO CHILDREN’S BALLET THEATRE OF MICHIGAN

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The Meridian Company, an East Lansingbased plumbing, heating, air conditioning and remodeling firm, recently awarded the Children’s Ballet Theatre of Michigan (CBT) with a $1,000 donation through The Meridian Company Community Connections program. This program is a unique and fun way for The Meridian Company to support the wide variety of noble causes in the Lansing region. Each quarter, The Meridian Company will make a $1,000 donation to a local nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization chosen by the voting public on the company’s Facebook page. Nominations are now being accepted for the third quarter donation. The nomination deadline is Saturday, August 8. Voting will occur during the months of August and September. The winner of the $1,000 donation will be announced the first week of October. To nominate your favorite local charity, visit themeridianadvantage.net and click on The Meridian Company Community Connections banner and submit a nomination form. For more information about The Meridian Company Community Connections, contact The Meridian Company at (517) 618-0589 or themeridianadvantage.net.

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MSUFCU EMPLOYEES RAISE OVER $69,000 FOR MYOI

MSU Federal Credit Union (MSUFCU) is pleased to announce that after a sixmonth fundraising initiative, Credit Union employees raised $69,415 for the Michigan Youth Opportunities Initiative (MYOI). This is the largest amount ever raised by the Credit Union’s charity committee, surpassing last year’s total of $44,000 raised in support of Haven House. Throughout the charity campaign, MSUFCU employees hosted various internal fundraisers and spent time with the MYOI youth. The Credit Union hosted cooking classes, an ice skating day and a professional clothing drive, which provided many MYOI youth with professional attire to be used for job interviews and in business settings.

FOR LEASE

MYOI is a program available to Ingham County foster youth that provides mentoring and life skills training. The goal of MYOI is to ensure that young people in foster care have successful outcomes in housing, education, employment, community engagement and health. STEPHANIE JOHNSON JOINS KANDLER REED KHOURY & MUCHMORE AS PARTNER, MARCY LAY PROMOTED TO PARTNER Kandler Reed Khoury & Muchmore is delighted to announce the arrival of Stephanie Johnson as a partner to the firm. Johnson’s addition further strengthens the Lay firm’s growing professional government relations team.

“Stephanie is among the most respected professional lobbyists working around Michigan state government today, and her dedicated representation of her clients speaks to her reputation as one of Michigan’s most effective,” said KRKM Partner Deb Muchmore. “Her expertise in the building trades, and on transportation and infrastructure development, agriculture, gaming and appropriations issues will further strengthen KRKM and our client service.” Part of the CBRE affiliate network Stephanie joins KRKM from Capitol Services, Inc., where she was managing partner. She is a national award-winning advocate for patient safety issues. Part of the CBRE affiliate network

KRKM also is pleased to announce that association management director, Marcy Lay was named as partner. “Marcy is an expert and valuable Part of the CBRE affiliate association network manager, and has built a solid business practice within KRKM to provide for Part of the CBRE affiliate network

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the special needs of associations,” said Muchmore. “She has a proven ability to help associations remain relevant, sustainable and effective advocates.” For nearly 20 years, Lay directed KRKM’s association management services, providing administration, PAC management and event and meeting planning services for statewide professional associations.

LAFCU’S TECHNOLOGY ON DISPLAY AT NEW ST. JOHNS BRANCH OPEN HOUSE Technology took center stage at the recent open house of LAFCU’s new St. Johns branch as attendees participated in demonstrations of some of the advanced member service options available via stateof-the-art technology.

The technology on display included two interactive teller machines (ITMs) and LAFCU’s Smart Office. The ITMs, both located in the drivethru lanes, blend ATM technology and face-to-face teller interaction via a video screen. They provide a more personalized interaction in which the video-access tellers can respond to the individual member’s needs. The open house also provided LAFCU officials the opportunity to present a $5,000 donation to the City of St. Johns to help fund a proposed community water spray park.

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The credit union and its employees annually assist many community organizations through donations and volunteer time in fulfillment of LAFCU’s longstanding ‘people helping people’ mission. Chartered in 1936, LAFCU is proud to be mid-Michigan’s credit union, serving the counties of Barry, Calhoun, Clinton, Eaton, Gratiot, Ingham, Ionia, Jackson, Livingston, Montcalm and Shiawassee. To learn more, please call (517) 622-6600 or find us onlineat lafcu.com. FOUNDER OF GRAND RAPIDS-BASED EARLY CARE AND PRESCHOOL NAMED EY ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR® FOR MICHIGAN AND NORTHWEST OHIO AppleTree Early Care and Preschool and Gilden Woods Early Care and Preschool announced today that Founder and CEO, Bridgett Tubbs-Carlon, has been named EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2015 for the Education and Training Category in the Michigan and Northwest Ohio region. The company operates AppleTree Early Care and Preschools in Grand Rapids, East Lansing, Grandville, Hudsonville, Kentwood, Otsego, Rockford, Standale and Walker, Mich. Gilden Woods Early Care and Preschools are located in Grand Rapids, Haslett, Holland, Kalamazoo and Portage, Mich..

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The awards program recognizes entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as education, innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. Tubbs-Carlon received the award at a ceremony hosted by EY at Cobo Center in Detroit among hundreds of fellow entrepreneurs. Developed in 2012 as an addition to its 17-year-old sister company, AppleTree Early Care and Preschool, Gilden Woods Early Care and Preschool has quickly expanded and is poised for national growth. The two brands currently include 16 state-of-the-art locations where children ages 6 weeks to 12 years old can grow, learn, and thrive socially, academically, and emotionally. Regional award winners are eligible for consideration for the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year National program. Award winners in several national categories, as well as the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner, will be announced at the annual awards gala in Palm Springs, Calif., on November 14, 2015.

contracts. She is a graduate of Central Michigan University and brings two years of previous design experience. Garrett Barnes joins the company’s office supply sales team. Garrett is a recent graduate of Adrian College and will work as a sales specialist. He will focus on new business opportunities and static marketing efforts for the supply division. ENGAGED EDUCATION CEO NAMED AS ONE OF THE 67 MOST INFLUENTIAL EDUCATORS OF 2015 Angelina Zeller, president and chief executive officer of Lansing-based Engaged Education, was recently selected by Noodle, a leading education site that connects students with schools, programs, resources and experts, as one of the 67 Most Influential Educators in 2015.

Zeller oversees Engaged Education, a full service Educational Service Provider (ESP), and she is also the founder of LifeTech and Relevant Academies. She has built successful schools from the ground up, managing human and capital resources as well as creating effective blended-learning environments. “Zeller is committed to cutting through red tape to make a difference in students’ lives,” said Matthew D. Anderson, partner at Engaged Education. “With a mandate to help people develop as human beings, Engaged Education works to support students in a variety of ways — from developing project-based learning curricula to training teachers in how to obtain funding.” Noodle’s team of experts extensively investigated the movers and shakers of education and selected 67 educators as the ones to watch in 2015.

DBI ANNOUNCES NEW TEAM MEMBERS DBI, one of Michigan’s largest independent distributors of office furniture and supplies, announces the addition of several new employees to meet the needs of their growing workforce and expanding customer demand. Jill Rademacher joins DBI as a senior designer and will focus on creating interior space plans for all types of business environments from furniture and panel systems to freestanding case goods. Jill has more than 20 years of experience and expertise in the corporate interior design industry. Kylie Bowles also joins the DBI team as an interior designer and will specialize in space planning and implementation of workstations for the State of Michigan L

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AWARD WINNING JOURNALIST ANN EMMERICH PROMOTED TO NEWS 10 EVENING NEWSCASTS WILX Television announced today that Emmy award-winning journalist Ann Emmerich has been named the new coanchor for the station’s flagship 5, 6 and 11 p.m. newcasts. She had previously been co-anchoring WILX’s “First at 4” broadcast with Kirk Montgomery. Emmerich will be joining co-anchor Ken Houston, Meteorologist, Andy Provenzano and Sports Director, Tim Staudt on the anchor desk. Emmerich has grown up in the television news business and risen to become a highly trusted and respected journalist. She has won countless awards for her

investigative stories, interviewed then candidate Barack Obama, covered the emotional Ricky Holland story and even covered Olympic Gold Medalists as they prepared for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games. “Ann is the perfect combination to anchor,” said WILX news director Kevin Ragan. “She is a working journalist who knows the issues facing mid-Michigan families.” REGIONAL NOTABLE NEWS: GRANGER CONSTRUCTION ADDS TO CORPORATE STAFF Granger Construction has announced the addition of three professionals to its corporate staff in Lansing. Cory Maurer joins Granger as an electrical estimator. Maurer brings more than 16 years of experience with him and a wealth

of expertise. A Charlotte native, he resides there with his wife, Rachelle, and their two sons. Prior to being hired at Granger, Maurer worked for Lansing-based R M Electric, Inc. Holly Wolniakowski has joined Granger as a marketing coordinator. With more than 10 years of industry experience, she was previously employed as a marketing analyst for Municipal Employees’ Retirement System (MERS) of Michigan. She holds a degree in journalism from Michigan State University. Originally from Brimley, Mich., she currently resides in Lansing with her husband, Rob. Ramon Rivera comes to Granger with nearly 24 years of IT experience, including more than 20 years with Ingham Regional Medical Center/McLaren Health Care in Lansing. Rivera has an Associate’s Degree in Computer Science from Lansing Community College. He grew up in Portland, Mich. where he currently resides with his wife, Kerri, and their two children.

P H OTO P ROV I D ED

To read more about Noodle’s 67 Influential Educators and Zeller’s contributions, visit: noodle.com/articles/67-influentialeducators-of-2015#zeller.

DOBERMAN TECHNOLOGIES ON TARGET FOR CONTINUED GROWTH IN 2016 AND BEYOND Doberman Technologies LLC, a local IT management firm, recently moved its operations from Okemos to Mason as a result of increased business growth. The company held a grand opening at their new headquarters at 205 Mason St. in Mason on June 25, which included a ribbon cutting, tours and a presentation. “After a successful five years working the business full-time and consistently hitting our growth goals, we decided we needed more space,” said Ian Richardson, founder of Doberman Technologies. “The larger office will allow us to hire more staff to better service the increasing number of customers that have entrusted us with their complete IT management needs.” Business leaders from around the Lansing area attended the open house to show their support for Doberman Technologies’ success. Looking forward, Richardson says he hopes to continue their growth strategy of 40 percent growth year over year. “Our fiveyear-plan is to have five times the current revenue and client base.” MSPmentor, a leading global destination for managed care providers, took notice of Doberman Technologies’ success.

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

Doberman Technologies was recently named among MSPmentor’s top 100 Small Business Managed Service Providers for 2015. Doberman Technologies was founded in Nov. 2005 by Ian Richardson in Lansing, Mich. Doberman Technologies has a combined IT experience of over 40 years and specializes in acting as a Third Party IT Management Firm. Purchasing, help desk support, vendor management, long-term IT planning, business consulting, equipment disposal, physical infrastructure, cloud services and compliance management are just a few of the services offered in the Doberman Technologies portfolio. For more information, visit dobermantechnologies.com.

AUGUST 2015

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ASSET: City Center II 333 E. Grand River Avenue East Lansing, MI 98,493 SF

EAST LANSING LANDMARK SOLD BY CBRE CHALLENGE

CBRE|Martin, through CBRE, Inc., was retained by ownership as the exclusive listing agent for the disposition of City Center II, a multi-tenanted ofﬁce / retail building in the heart of downtown East Lansing, located at 333 East Grand River Avenue. City Center II consists of 98,493 square feet and was 93% occupied by six tenants at the time of marketing the property for sale. The landlord had just signed a new, long-term lease with Jackson National Life (The Zone) who occupies 36% of the property. CBRE|Martin was engaged to maximize the investment return as efﬁciently and effectively as possible.

SOLUTION

CBRE performed a complete ﬁnancial analysis of the asset which was incorporated into the best-of-class professional offering memorandum. By utilizing CBRE’s extensive database of local, regional and national investors, the offering was presented to a broad list of qualiﬁed purchasers, bringing the highest possible value to the client.

RESULT

The marketing campaign successfully identiﬁed an in-state investor, and CBRE led the negotiation and due diligence processes. The entire CBRE team worked diligently on behalf of the client, effectively managing a smooth transition through closing.

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AUGUST 2015