GLBM December 2015 by M3 Group Publications

BUSINESS MONTHLY GR E ATE R LANS ING

DECEMBER 2015

Michigan Legislators Talk Big-Box Store Taxes In this issue •

LANSING AND EAST LANSING INVEST IN RENEWABLE ENERGY

•

SPARROW FASTCARE OPENS IN DOWNTOWN LANSING

•

REGIONAL TOURISM BREAKS RECORDS IN 2015

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BUSINESS MONTHLY

BUSINESS MONTHLY G RE ATER L A N S I N G

DECEMBER 2015

News Shedding Light on Renewable Energy............................................................................................... 6 Sparrow FastCare Provides Healthcare at New Downtown Location............................. 8

Features Michigan Legislators Talk Big-Box Store Taxes In this issue •

LANSING AND EAST LANSING INVEST IN RENEWABLE ENERGY

•

SPARROW FASTCARE OPENS IN DOWNTOWN LANSING

•

REGIONAL TOURISM BREAKS RECORDS IN 2015

Lansing Television Stations Priced for Auction by FCC ....................................................... 10 Cremations on the Rise in Michigan............................................................................................... 12 Lansing Tourism Booms in 2015....................................................................................................... 14 How Government Technology Can Help Small Businesses................................................ 16 Michigan Legislators Talk Big-Box Store Taxes.......................................................................... 18

Cover photography by Mark Warner

Departments The Greater Lansing Business Monthly (Volume 28, Issue 12) 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.

Commentary.................................................................................................................................................. 4 He Said She Said........................................................................................................................................ 22 GLBM List.................................................................................................................................................... 26 Man on the Street.................................................................................................................................... 28 Economy ....................................................................................................................................................... 30 Collectibles.................................................................................................................................................. 32 Investments................................................................................................................................................. 34 Regional Roundup ................................................................................................................................... 36 Business Calendar ................................................................................................................................... 38 Notable News............................................................................................................................................. 40

Editorial Office: 614 Seymour Street, Lansing, MI 48933 lansingbusinessnews.com 2

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C O M M E N TA R Y

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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 Production Director: Kelly Mazurkiewicz Art Director: Brooke Erwin Brand Manager: Ami Iceman-Haueter 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

New Trends and New Opportunities

hile most of you have already worked through your company’s budget and strategy for 2016, you shouldn’t stop paying attention to the current events of the day, the fast-paced change of business and the trends that will inevitably upset your carefully laid plans. Each year you’re tasked with figuring out a solid strategy with many moving parts in the economy, technology and communication. The economy can be affected by so many variables including political changes, tax burden, healthcare and major life events like terrorism. It is difficult to anticipate how the economic ebb and flow will manifest itself. However, when working through my small business strategy, I work to put together a stable plan that should stay the course through foreseeable ups and downs. Then, I like to layer in a “stretch goal” plan that will give me a jumpstart should all variables work together to create a favorable environment. There is no way to predict the future. But, I’m typically an optimist. I like to plan for growth and believe a stable environment will help pave the way. The trick to this type of philosophy is to not get rattled when unknown, possibly chaotic variables present themselves. In the midst of the stress, it is important to stay objective, clear-minded and willing to make the tough decisions for the good of all involved and business operations. There are many areas that business owners need to pay attention to, but I’ve got a couple business trends that can be anticipated and considered. 1 . Technology — As you are well aware, technology is changing faster than

you can come up to speed — literally. Techies are already finding ways to boost power, speed and performance while lowering costs. Budgeting for the changes, upgrades and training can be tricky. It can also be difficult to keep qualified talent on the team because the need is so high. Outsourcing services to technology management companies will continue to grow.

2 . Communication — There have been many changes in the past few years on

how to reach out to potential customers or communicate with the ones you have. There’s no doubt that some type of digital marketing has been a part of the overall plan. All indications say that in 2016 costs will rise for communication efforts online. In addition, more and more will use video in their online ads creating an opportunity for customers to engage.

2016 will bring wonderful new additions and changes to the lansingbusinessnews.com site and will give our readers an opportunity to get more of the story. I also want to encourage you to nominate a business for the next GLBM Entrepreneurial Awards. It’s so important to encourage our young and seasoned business leaders alike by acknowledging their effort. And, by the way, these businesses stimulate the local economy and that’s good for all. Happy holidays,

Tiffany Dowling | Publisher 4

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DECEMBER 2015

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Shedding Light on Renewable Energy BY E M ILY WENS TROM

reater Lansing is on the verge of converting its first sunbeams into energy, thanks to a new project announced by the Lansing Board of Water and Light (BWL), the city of East Lansing and the city of Lansing. Under the partnership, BWL will bring the first solar parks to its service territory. “The community solar program is yet another shining example of regional cooperation and our collaborative efforts to make metro Lansing cleaner and greener,” said Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero in a press release about the project. The first solar park will be located at Burcham Park, a retired landfill site in

East Lansing. The second will be adjacent to BWL’s Wise Road Treatment Plant in Lansing.

lessees get a credit on each month’s energy utility bill for the amount of power created by those solar panels.

To make the project possible, BWL is partnering with Patriot Solar Garden East Lansing, LLC, which will design, construct and operate the facility. Once complete, Patriot Solar will also be responsible to market and administer the project. BWL has entered into Purchase Power Agreement with Patriot Solar to put the power from the solar parks to use.

With 1,000 solar panels producing 300 watts each, each solar park is expected to create 385,000 kilowatt-hours of power each year. That’s enough to power 55 average households.

Both residential and commercial BWL consumers will have the opportunity to lease solar panels for a period of 25 years for a one-time payment of $399. Then,

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AN INNOVATIVE MODEL The solar park model offers a lowmaintenance approach to solar energy. While the traditional approach requires individuals to be responsible for their own solar power and attach unappealing panels to their property, the solar park model allows consumers to take advantage of

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DECEMBER 2015

GREATER LANSING

P HOTO P ROVI DED

The new community solar project will be located at Burcham Park in East Lansing. solar energy technology without the onus of maintaining it themselves.

credits within about 10 years with an annual estimated credit of $20 to $25.

“Not all customers want solar panels on their homes or businesses or may have a home or business without an orientation conducive to a solar installation. A community solar project allows those customers to invest directly in a project and receive a credit on their bill for the power produced,” said BWL Executive Director of Public Affairs Stephen Serkaian.

GREEN KARMA Kinch said the benefits of the solar park go far beyond the cost efficiency.

Michigan Energy Options Executive Director John Kinch said the solar park model is believed to have originated in Davis, Cali., about 10 to 20 years ago. Residents eager to take advantage of the state’s generous sunlight and go green were filing requests to cut down trees on their property to make way for solar panels — a trend that, while well-intentioned, was not great for the area’s greenery. Solar parks were the area’s way of offering residents the green power they wanted without trimming down the local tree population. The individual panels approach is still more popular, but solar parks are on the rise with sites emerging across the country, including Colorado, Massachusetts, Minnesota and Oregon. In Michigan, Cherryland Cooperative and Traverse City Light and Power have one, too. Michigan may not get California’s trademark year-round sunshine, but the area’s new solar parks are still expected to be more than worth it. BWL estimates that lessees will get about three to four times more power from their solar panels in the summer than in the winter. Even with Michigan’s dark winters, each solar panel will pay for itself in energy

“The hope is that consumers will see the triple bottom line. The benefits are environmental, social and economical.” When local businesses support renewable energy in their community, that green karma circles right back to them. Kinch believes local businesses and other community leaders play a key role in making that future a reality — and that it can bolster their bottom lines in more than just their utility bills. Ultimately, the perks that make a community greener — whether it’s better bike paths or renewable energy sources like solar parks — also boost the local economy and create a more vibrant, dynamic community that can help all businesses there thrive. Plus, consumers enjoy spending their money at businesses that go green. Kinch plans to reach out to businesses and other organizations in the greater Lansing community to discuss these green energy benefits, and is open to invitations from interested groups. POWERING UP Residents and businesses within the BWL service area can pre-register now to get first dibs on solar panels once they become available for lease, which is expected to open in December. To do so, visit micommunitysolar.org/sign-up.

The Burcham solar park will begin construction once the solar panels are 80 percent leased, and will take about two months to complete. Kinch hopes to see the park reach this threshold by the end of December — just one week after the Oct. 27 project announcement, 100 solar panels were already spoken for. Once the Burcham Park site is fully leased and 80 percent of the Wise Road site panels are leased, the second site will also begin construction. While 25 years is a long time to commit to a single home for most people — the average American moves approximately 11 times over their lifetime, according to the 2007 U.S. Census data — BWL is doing what they can to make lease terms flexible. Should a consumer need to break the lease, the rights to the solar panels can be transferred to a third party — whether that be a new resident at the address, or a different consumer within the BWL service area, or even an organization the lessee would like to donate the power credit to. After 25 years are up, BWL’s Power Purchase Agreement offers the option to renew the agreement for an additional five years. What happens beyond that? It may be a little early to tell. “This is still new territory,” Kinch said. “Most solar parks are only five or 10 years old.” Emily Wenstrom writes about geek culture, creative writing, lifestyle topics and more; she also advises clients in content strategy. Learn more at EmilyWenstrom.com. L

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Sparrow FastCare Provides Healthcare at New Downtown Location BY SA RAH S POHN

PH OTO BY MARK WARNER

owntown Lansing has recently received quite the facelift in terms of hip, trendy, new housing developments via Marketplace Apartments, the multi-million dollar renovations at Cooley Law School Stadium, Knapp’s Centre and various businesses, bars and restaurants that now call Lansing their home. The downtown area is also home to some of the biggest employers in the city. According to the city of Lansing’s website, significant employers include MSU, state government, General Motors and Sparrow Health System. The city also boasts an impressive commute between home and work, averaging just 20 minutes. Time is always important, and a recent healthcare option sets out to work with both our time and budget. Sparrow Health Care launched FastCare back in July, the first of its kind in the city. Doors to the quick clinic opened up in the Frandor area, and the results were positive. So much so that Sparrow recently opened its second FastCare clinic downtown at 107 N. Washington Square, next to Kositchek’s. Described as “healthcare at the speed of life,” the retail-like concept delivers quick care for non-emergencies, all at one convenient price. Sparrow is no stranger to the area, with two campuses in Lansing, a memorial hospital in St. Johns and facilities in Ionia and Carson City. According to Sparrow’s website, “The health system has dozens of satellite care centers. Sparrow also offers the Michigan Athletic Club, a 276,000-square-foot facility voted one of the country’s top health clubs.” If there’s a healthcare need, Sparrow fulfills it. And its latest endeavor, with downtown’s FastCare clinic, is no different. Sparrow Health System UrgentCare and FastCare Medical Director Patricia Crowe spoke about the retail-like concept of healthcare now provided. “The premise behind Sparrow, going into this type of delivery of healthcare, is to provide access and convenience to high-quality healthcare where patients work, where they live, where they shop, where they play,” Crowe said. In today’s need for affordable healthcare, with many employees without health insurance, FastCare is a great option for those 8

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Sparrow Health Care’s second FastCare clinic is located downtown at 107 N. Washington Square, next to Kositchek’s. on a budget. In fact, part of its mission is to remain committed to supporting healthcare price transparency, informing patients of the necessary costs and decisions to be made concerning healthcare. Crowe mentioned how the fixed price point is what has already drawn many to utilize their newest FastCare services. “The transparent price point is something patients appreciate,” she said.

DECEMBER 2015

NEWS

Visits for a minor illness or injury are $69. These visits could include allergies, cold and flu symptoms, infections, burns, rashes, sports physicals and other nonlife-threatening conditions. FastCare also offers vaccines, TB skin tests and free blood pressure checks. “The great thing about the $69 price point is that obviously it’s a great value if you don’t have health insurance, but if you do have health insurance; your standard office visit co-pay would apply,” Crowe said. Apart from its UrgentCare counterparts, FastCare is a more affordable option for basic medical services, far cheaper than a hospital emergency room. While the care is provided by nurse practitioners and physician assistants, patients need not be affiliated with Sparrow.

to have an option in healthcare that they don’t currently have just enhances all of the other businesses in the community.”

the facility up and running. A third and fourth FastCare are in the works and are projected to open in early 2016.

Following the trend of other burgeoning city centers, Lansing is full of citizens who appreciate a vibrant downtown area, with close proximity and convenience.

Sparrow FastCare Downtown is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The Frandor FastCare is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. All patients 18 months and older are welcome. To schedule an appointment at the downtown location, visit sparrow.org/ FastCare. Walk-ins are also welcome.

Crowe said Sparrow FastCare is a great fit in the area, and a plan that had been brewing for a while. “We started looking at the concept approximately two years ago. We received a tremendous amount of support from senior leadership. Our CEO Dennis Swan and Chief Operating Officer Joe Ruth have both been very interested in the retail-type concept of FastCare focusing on access and convenience.” The healthcare provided is quick and convenient, as was the process for getting

Sarah Spohn received her degree in Journalism from Lansing Community College. She’s a concert junkie; living and breathing in both the local and national music scene. She is proud to call Lansing her home, finding a new reason every day to be smitten with the mitten.

After the official opening on Nov. 3, the facility is off to a great start, according to Crowe. “We’ve been so pleased with the welcome we’ve received from the downtown community and the businesses there.” Affiliated with Bellin Health of Wisconsin, Crowe said Sparrow FastCare had the highest volume of visitors across the nation — impressive stats for such a new operation. “I think it’s understood that at this time in healthcare, patients really want to be able to receive the type of healthcare they want in their timeframe. They want it on their schedule and they would like for it to be prompt and focused on the minor injuries that they have.” Not only has the quick clinic filled a need for downtown healthcare, but it will likely complement the rest of downtown’s areas of work and play. “It provides a service and complements the other businesses there,” Crowe said. “The foot traffic downtown is very impressive, and offering a service for folks to be able

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Lansing Television Stations Priced for Auction by FCC BY MICKEY HIRTEN

f the prices were real, if somehow they were to hold a pending Federal Communications Commission (FCC) airwaves auction, it could fundamentally change the structure of over-the-air TV in Lansing. Owners of television stations will have the opportunity in early 2016 to modify or even sell their broadcast licenses to the U.S. government, which in turn will resell them to providers of in-demand wireless and mobile services. To begin what will be a multi-phased, billion-dollar auction, the FCC has

established opening bids for thousands of broadcast licenses. The initial numbers for stations to “move off the air” are eye-popping. It established first-round auction pricing for WHTV, better known (though lightly viewed) as My18 at $413 million, the most for any of the region’s six local television stations. It has set the opening bid for WLNS, channel 6, at $404 million; WLAJ, channel 55, at $272 million; WSYM, channel 47, at $251 million; WILX, channel 10, at $207 million; and WKAR, Michigan State University’s station, at $207 million.

That’s $1.75 billion for the over-the-air broadcast rights of all six stations. “We will not be selling for $413 million, though it would be wonderful if we could,” said WHTV Station Manager Kristine Melser. Her company is weighing multiple options. “We could sell in the auction, we could channel share; we could be a sub-channel.” For Michigan’s broadcasters, the bid to sell or alter their licenses reflects an unsettled broadcast landscape.

Lansing Area Television Stations Lansing area television stations can participate in the Federal Communications Commission auction for their UHF broadcast frequencies. Or they can continue over-the-air broadcasting on one of two less valuable VHF channels. Opening bid pricing reflects price range for these options. WHTV Licensee: Spartan -TV, LLC, 5670 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1300, Los Angeles, CA Studio: 600 W. St. Joseph St., Lansing, MI Opening bid range: $413 million — $165 million WILX Licensee: Grey Television Licensee, LLC, 500 American Rd., Lansing, MI Studio: 500 American Rd., Lansing, MI Opening bid range: $207 million — $121 million WKAR Licensee: Board of Trustees, Michigan State University, WKAR-AM/FM/TV, 400 Wilson Rd., Room 212, East Lansing, MI Studio: 404 Wilson Road, East Lansing, MI Opening bid range: $207 million — $83 million

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WLAJ Licensee: WLAJ-TV, 103 Michelle Cr., Lafayette, LA Studio: 2820 East Saginaw Street, Lansing, MI Opening bid range: $272 million — $109 million WLNS Licensee: Young Broadcasting of Lansing, 333 East Franklin St., Richmond VA. Studio: 2820 East Saginaw Street, Lansing, MI Opening bid range: $404 million — $162 million WSYM Licensee: Journal Broadcast Corp. c/o Scripps Media Inc., 312 Walnut St., 28th floor, Cincinnati, OH Studio: 600 W. St. Joseph St., Lansing, MI Opening bid range: $251 million — $100 million

DECEMBER 2015

P HOTO B Y MARK WARNER

“There are a lot of changes going on in our industry,” said Karole White, president and CEO of the Michigan Broadcasters Association. “It puts our businesses in a bit of a mess. Maybe they can sell at this amount or maybe not.” Since the early days of radio when space in the electronic spectrum was allocated to broadcasters, the industry has embraced FM radio and UHF channels, shifted from analog to digital transmission. Over-the-air broadcasts have been complemented and often supplanted by cable distribution. And the video Internet is upending the television industry altogether. The slice of the spectrum reserved for television broadcasters, 600 megahertz, is particularly valuable because it easily penetrates buildings, making it ideal for cell phones and other mobile uses. Recognizing the changes and competing needs, Congress has instructed the FCC to sort out the television portion spectrum as best it could. The FCC auction will balance the need for more mobile and wireless capacity with the requirement that it preserve existing levels of television service, said FCC spokesperson Charles Meisch. “If a station is going to stay on the air after the auction we’ve recognized that they have to have the TV band to protect their geography.” The first round of pricing by the FCC is designed to determine who is interested in selling and how much airwaves spectrum they might free up. The FCC could accept some of the high value early bids or in regions where there is excess spectrum available, go to a new round of bidding with lower prices. Although it is based in Lansing, WHTV’s broadcast signal originates in Chelsea. “We have the largest footprint out of Lansing,” Melser said. The signal overlaps the Detroit market and north into Flint and south of Jackson to the Ohio border and as far west as Marshall. The size and shape of its footprint accounts for the high value the FCC attached to its license, Melser said.

The price for broadcast spectrum is unrelated to a station’s popularity. WILX, an NBC affiliate, and WLNS, with CBS, are the most watched stations in the Lansing area. All Lansing stations except WILX broadcast on the high frequency UHF band. If they choose not to sell, the FCC is offering broadcasters the option to shift to the less valuable VHF band. Or they can consider sharing airwaves space on existing UHF bands, which can support up to four separate channels. What happens next, Meisch said, depends on the company’s business model, opportunities to share broadcast frequencies and the ultimate auction price for their signals.

stations, generally remains open to the FCC auction, but cautiously. “Nobody is saying,” White said. “We aren’t hearing of a lot of stations who might actually sell the spectrum to the FCC and go off the air.” 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.

The television industry, including corporations that own Lansing-area TV L

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Cremations on the Rise in Michigan Local Cemeteries Suffer BY MICKEY HIRTEN

stroll through the region’s historic cemeteries — Mount Hope in Lansing or Maple Grove in Mason, with their grand monuments and family plots — is to experience a culture of interment that is fast disappearing. Americans in ever increasing numbers are choosing cremation over burial, a trend that is more pronounced in Michigan than in other parts of the country. For cemeteries, whether they are owned by a municipality, a religious organization or as a private business, the challenge is covering the expense of current and perpetual care.

Statistics compiled by the National Funeral Directors Association show the pronounced shift from burial to cremation. Ten years ago, just 32.3 percent of Americans chose cremation for interment; in Michigan it was 37.1 percent. Projections for 2015 put the national cremation rate at 48.5 percent and 56.3 percent for Michiganders. By 2020, the NFDA projects that nearly twothirds — 65.5 percent — of all Michigan interments will be cremations and that by 2030 it will be 83.3 percent. “The cemetery industry right now is challenged with the rise of cremations.

Historic Rates of Cremation and Burial and Future Projections 2005 Cremation: National: 32.3% Michigan: 37.1% Burial: National: 61.4% Michigan: 60.9%

2015 projected Cremation: National: 48.5% Michigan: 56.3% Burial: National: 45.6% Michigan: 42.1%

2010 Cremation: National: 40.4% Michigan: 47.3% Burial: National: 53.3% Michigan: 50.7%

2020 projected Cremation: National: 56.2% Michigan: 65.5% Burial: National: 37.9% Michigan: 32.9%

2013 Cremation: National: 45.4% Michigan: 52.6% Burial: National: 48.7% Michigan: 45.8%

2030 projected Cremation: National: 71.0% Michigan: 83.8% Burial: National: 23.2% Michigan: 14.6%

2014 projected Cremation: National: 46.7% Michigan: 54.9% Burial: National: 47.3% Michigan: 43.3%

Source: National Funeral Directors Association

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We have our fixed costs for operations. But a lot of cremations never use the cemetery,” said Bert Edquist, president of the Michigan Cemetery Association. “In the long run, cemeteries are going to have to find different ways to find revenue.” Edquist, who owns two private cemeteries and other funeral related businesses, said a challenge for cemeteries adapting to changing preferences is rules prohibiting cross-ownership of facilities like funeral homes or crematoriums. Loosening the rules could provide new income opportunities. Only Michigan and Wisconsin have such stringent cross-ownership rules. The reason is part historical; the state was hit with a massive cemetery fraud scandal uncovered in 2006. There is also political pressure from the Michigan Funeral Directors Association, Edquist said. To provide single-source shopping for consumers, different parts of the funeral business are sometimes owned by different family members. “People want convenience,” Edquist said. But this applies mostly to privately owned funeral enterprises. More common in mid-Michigan are religious and municipal cemeteries, both of which are to some degree subsidized. Lansing has three municipal cemeteries, and two of them — Mount Hope and North — are out of space for burials, which limits revenue opportunities. But Evergreen has ample space, said city Director of Parks and Recreation Brett Kaschinske, whose department oversees facilities. He said the city authorized a $451,000 general fund subsidy in 2015 to support its cemeteries. In 2014, the subsidy was $458,141.

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“We are seeing the trends. We have made changes that offer different options for cremations such as a columbarium wall at Mount Hope. The current one is full and we are now in the process of having a new one built here in the spring,” Kaschinske said. While it addresses the trend, it also illustrates the new fiscal reality for cemeteries. Placement in a columbarium niche is $650 for city residents/$975 for non-residents. This compares with full burial costs of $1,700 for city residents; $2,015 for non-residents. To make its cemeteries more attractive, the city has worked with ethnic and religious groups. It has contracted with Jewish and Islamic faith communities for large purchases of space at Evergreen Cemetery, said Loretta Stanaway, president of Friends of Lansing Historic Cemeteries, which works closely with the city to maintain and strengthen the facilities. “Each group buys graves, paying upfront, and resells them to members of their congregations,” she said, adding that these sorts of outreach efforts help city residents while providing needed revenue. Reflecting the trend in other area cemeteries, the total number of interment recorded by Lansing — full burials and cremains burials — declined from 157 in 2014 to 148 in the 2015 fiscal year.

2016 fiscal year that it will cover using city general funds. At the Diocese of Lansing, Sprawling St. Joseph Cemetery on West Willow Street cremations account for just under 50 percent of interments, said Manager Joe Dionise. While he acknowledges that cremation is cheaper than burial at St. Joseph, the price difference is smaller than at other area cemeteries. Placement in the premium spots in the columbarium can cost as much as $3,000. Inside inches cost between $1,200 and $2,500. Burial of cremation remains is $750 for a gravesite with a $400 opening and closing charge. Conventional burials cost $1,550 for a gravesite opening and closing, and requires a burial vault that costs between $600 and $2,500, Dionise said.

While the Catholic Church prohibited cremations until 1963 and still endorses burial as the preferred means of interment, its options are nonetheless extensive: standalone monuments, deluxe niches, frosted or clear fronts. There are inside and weather protected columbarium options at St. Joseph Cemetery. “These are a particularly nice way to go,” Dionise said. “You don’t need a key card to enter and you can visit anytime.” 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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Smaller cities face similar challenges. Grand Ledge, which operates the Oakwood Cemetery, recorded 36 burials in 2016, down from the five-year average of 50 burials, according to the city’s latest budget documents. It also sold fewer burial lots — just 15 — down from the five-year average of 23 lot sales. “Revenues from grave openings, sales of lots and headstone foundations are expected to experience an overall decrease in the proposed budget,” the city said. It has instituted staffing changes at Oakwood and will have two seasonal employees do basic ground maintenance. Grand Ledge projects a $39,170 budget deficit for the

For more information go to lansingbusinessmonthly.com or contact Melissa at (517) 203-0123 or melissa@m3group.biz.

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Lansing Tourism Booms in 2015 BY MICKEY HIRTEN

PHOTO PROVI DED B Y L EAP

ome of the events are big and flashy, filling Lansing’s Convention Center or Michigan State University’s Breslin Center. Others are small and happen at out-of-the-way soccer fields or suburban hockey rinks. But together they reflect a surging regional tourism economy worth nearly a half billion dollars annually in greater Lansing. “We knew that 2015 was going to shape up as the best year in terms of tourism for the region,” said Jack Schripsema, president and CEO of the Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau, adding that the strong performance follows record years in 2013 and 2014. The GLCVB tracks total visitors to the region, hotel room nights, occupancy rates and even traffic to its sites to measure performance. With just a few weeks left in the year, Schripsema is projecting nearly five million visitors, more than 70,000 occupied hotel rooms and a 60 percent or higher occupancy rate. The Convention and Visitors Bureau represents a broad array of hospitality-related businesses, public bodies and corporations. “Lansing is in the convention rotation and a lot fell this year,” Schripsema said. A significant segment of the in-state convention business is cyclical, with groups rotating between Detroit, Grand Rapids, sometimes to Traverse City and increasingly to Lansing. However, the convergence of events that made 2015 a record breaker won’t be repeated in 2016, and the industry’s expectations are somewhat muted. “It will be a good year, but we’ve raised the bar so high that we may see a slight dip — as much as a point down for occupancy,” Schripsema said. But he expects average hotel rates to grow and that total revenue should be higher.

“ WE SCRAP PRETTY HARD TO GET WHAT WE GET. BUT PEOPLE LIKE COMING TO LANSING. IT’S A QUALITY

agenda, Schripsema said. These were events that he expects to bring new business to the area.

Its central location and affordable PLACE FOR THE VALUE.” accommodations are among the features that help sell the region. It is a magnet In June, the region hosted the Michigan — JACK SCHRIPSEMA for amateur and youth sporting events, Society of Association Executives annual sometimes hosting three or four different conference at the Lansing Center and tournaments on a weekend. MSU and the state capital are Radisson Hotel, and in September the Michigan Association of significant draws, and there is a growing roster of festivals, Conventions and Visitors Bureau met at MSU’s Henry Center participatory sports and special events like Common Ground. and Candlewood Suites in East Lansing. And 2015 has been an unusually opportune year for tourist industry officials to showcase the region’s attributes. Lansing hosted two organizations that help set the state’s convention 14

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“These were high profile events, maybe not in terms of numbers, but these are the people who make the decisions,” Schripsema said.

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In April 2016, the Lansing Center will host the Governor’s Conference on Tourism, a “very big deal,” according to Scott Keith, president and CEO of Lansing Entertainment & Public Facilities. “Grand Rapids has had this for a long time. I think this gets our foot in the door. It says we are a tourism hub.”

It’s a quality place for the value,” he said. “Our greatest strength is also our greatest weakness. People can drive in and can drive home. We want them to stay overnight.” The economic impact is significant, according to the GLCVB: about $100 for a day tourist versus $256 for an overnight stay.

Keith said LEPFA accounts for as much as $70 million of the region’s tourist economy.

“This community is very good at working together. There is kind of a team atmosphere with our partners,” said Schripsema who is finishing his third year heading GLCVB. “I am really impressed with the level of cooperation. We are all

“We scrap pretty hard to get what we get. But people like coming to Lansing.

trying to win business and secondly to provide a positive experience.” 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.

Significant Tourism Events Planned for Lansing in 2016 and Projected Attendance January Michigan Turfgrass Foundation Annual Conference — 900 Michigan High School Football Coaches Annual Coaches Clinic — 600 Michigan Nursery & Landscape Association Great Lakes Expo — 1,500 Michigan Veterinary Association Annual Conference — 1,300 February American Water Works Association, Michigan Section Joint Conference — 700 Great Lakes Ice Cream & Fast Food Association Annual Conference & Trade Show — 1,100 March Michigan Science Teachers Association Annual Conference — 1,700 Michigan Future Farmers Association Annual Convention — 3,000 County Road Association of Michigan Annual Conference — 300

Shuto Con — 4,000 April MLTA’s Annual Governor’s Conference on Tourism — 1,000 May Michigan Association of Broadcasters Great Lakes Broadcasting Conference — 1,200 Michigan Industrial & Technology Education Society Annual Meeting — 150 June Michigan Area Episcopal Office of the United Methodist Church Annual Conference — 2,500 September ATHENA International 35th Anniversary — 500 Brain Injury Association of Michigan Annual Conference — 1,500 October Association of Michigan Basketmakers Annual Convention — 350

Michigan Library Association Annual Conference — 640 November Michigan World Language Association Annual Conference — 1,000 Notable sporting events December 2015 Nations Cup Hockey Tournament — 720 athletes U.S. Team Trials for the World Archery Indoor Championships February DFFO Volleyball 2016 President’s Day Challenge — 3,000 athletes March MHSAA Girls and Boys Basketball Finals and related events — 80,000 spectators/participants May U.S. Archery Collegiate Outdoor Championships — 400 athletes September/October U.S. Figure Skating Eastern Great Lakes Regionals — 550 skaters; 200 attendees; 50 officials

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How Government Technology Can Help Small Businesses BY LU CAS PUENTE

hen people talk about how government can help small business, they suggest the solution is easy: just get out of the way. Our research team at Thumbtack, an online marketplace for small businesses across the country, set out to determine if this is actually what most small business owners want. To do so, we conducted a survey of more than 400 small business owner-operators across the state of Michigan — from photographers in Grand Haven to movers in Ann Arbor. With our survey results, we discovered that what these small businesses want more than lower taxes is for the government to invest in itself by developing high quality, easy-to-use websites. In fact, having access to helpful government websites was more than twice as important to these small businesses as reducing their tax burden. If these results sound surprising, consider that the small businesses we heard from are exactly that — small. More than half of the small business professionals we heard from in Michigan work alone at their business, and fewer than 10 percent have more than five employees. Put simply, these are the mom-and-pop sole proprietors that fix your sink or bake your wedding cake. What’s most important to them is not getting corporate tax breaks or negotiating foreign trade deals, but getting the resources and support they need to start and run a successful small business.

experienced this: 35 percent of our survey respondents have never even used a website published by the state of Michigan or their local government and another 25 percent found the government websites they encountered to be “somewhat” or “very difficult” to use.

THE ENTREPRENEUR TAX That means getting access to the information they need to get their business off the ground and keep it running smoothly. Many aspiring entrepreneurs are so intimidated by the bureaucratic red tape involved with launching a new business that they’re discouraged from following through with their dreams of owning a business. They often don’t know where to start; even when they do, the idea of running a business is made far less attractive by the prospect of going from one government office to another to obtain permits and licenses. And for those with established businesses, dealing with hard-to-understand regulations can significantly raise the cost of doing business.

States that have made significant investments in their online footprint have made it far easier for aspiring entrepreneurs to understand the regulations they need to comply with. Seattle is a particularly good example of how local governments can invest in their online infrastructure to make it easier for local businesses to comply with regulations. Small businesses there can use the city’s website to determine what specific permits they need, apply for those permits online and even file and pay any relevant municipal taxes. Tennessee’s state website provides a thorough, yet easyto-understand tutorial on how to get a new business officially up and running, offers extensive market research tools and provides a live chat function when business owners have specific questions for government representatives.

Entrepreneurs and local service professionals surveyed in Michigan found it much harder to access relevant small business information than did their counterparts in states like Texas, Tennessee and Oregon. For example, a wedding planner in Dearborn told us of the “nightmare” she had when “trying to find which way to turn for a simple response to an insurancerelated question.” She was far from the only entrepreneur who

This is to not to say that all of the small business owners we heard from were frustrated with Michigan’s websites. It’s just that positive online experiences with the state’s websites are far from universal and that shouldn’t be the case given how easy it is to do it right. When smartphones are as ubiquitous as they are and broadband covers as much of the state as it does, it’s fair for small business owners to expect a seamless online experience. After

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DECEMBER 2015

all, these are frequently highly mobile service professionals whose customers expect them to be responsive on the go and to have a strong online presence — many use sites like Thumbtack to make sure they do. It’s time for the state of Michigan to match this commitment and begin offering small businesses the online assistance they deserve. If they do, look for Michigan’s already hot services sector to grow even more. Lucas Puente is the Economic Analyst for Thumbtack.com, a San Francisco-based startup that connects individuals with small business service providers. He co-authored Thumbtack’s 2015 Small Business Friendliness Survey Report and has written extensively on the small business economy. Prior to joining Thumbtack, Lucas completed his PhD at Stanford University, where he studied the political economy of monetary policy.

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MICHIGAN LEGISLATORS TALK BIG-BOX STORE TAXES B Y MI C KE Y H I RTEN | P H OTO S B Y M A R K WA R N ER

t a packed Legislative hearing in mid-November, township officials from throughout the state pleaded with lawmakers to address what they consider unfair and unreasonably low property taxation on big-box stores in their communities.

Bills pending in the Michigan House and Senate would address policies and practices that set the taxable value of big-box stores like Home Depot, Meijer, Kohl’s and Wal-Mart at less than it costs to construct them. These building are now taxed on their resale value, which in turn is based on the depressed value of abandoned, so-called “dark stores” that are often encumbered by covenants that prevent their sale to the most likely purchasers — big-box store retailers. 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

• Prevent operating stores in Michigan from using closed

stores anywhere in Michigan as comparables.

Decisions by the Michigan Tax Tribunal, affirmed by the state Court of Appeals, have trimmed initial property tax assessments, sometimes by 50 percent or more. For municipalities and other public bodies like libraries, school districts and community colleges — refunds for assessments, often stretching back two or three years, can cost communities hundreds of thousands of dollars or more.

According to the lobby group Close Michigan Loopholes, the bills, proposed by Representatives John Kivela and Ed McBroom and Senator Tom Casperson would:

• Prevent new stores from using closed stores with restrictive

easements on them as comparables. • Prevent property owners from imposing an easement

on deed restrictions that runs counter to the community master plan. The bills are backed by the Michigan Municipal League and the Michigan Township Association. Opposing the bills are the Michigan Retailers Association and the Michigan Chamber of Commerce. At play in the dispute are two issues: One is how big-box properties are assessed; the other is the accuracy of the assessments that were lowered after they were appealed.

DECEMBER 2015

Meridian Township Treasurer Julie Brixie “Our perspective is that these taxpayers, these retailers, believed they were being over-assessed in their real estate property taxes. They went through proper channels, and the Michigan Tax Tribunal agreed that they were over assessed,” said Tricia Kinley, senior director of tax policy and regulatory reform for the Michigan Chamber.

“In Michigan, the property tax valuation is (“TCV”), statutorily defined as ‘usual selling price’ (MCL 211.27). There are no exceptions. The valuation standard applies to all taxable property including, for example, apartment complexes, office buildings, industrial buildings, single family homes and, of course, all retail property.”

Tax Tribunal members, all of whom were appointed by Governor Rick Snyder, include Chairman Steven Lasher, assessor member Victoria Enyart, appraiser member Valerie Lafferty and attorney members Preeti Gadola and David Marmon.

Citing the Michigan Supreme state constitution “specifically property taxation.”

Tom Scott, senior vice president of the Michigan Retailers Association, characterized the issue succinctly, “Ultimately the fault is that they were assessed incorrectly.” In testimony prepared for the House Tax Policy Committee, Michael Shapiro, an attorney with the law firm Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP, advanced the MRA’s. His firm has orchestrated hundreds of business property tax appeals. He wrote:

Court, he added the provides for uniform

Shapiro reminded the legislators that Michigan businesses pay substantial taxes based on their business activity: income taxes, sales taxes, use taxes, fuel taxes and unemployment taxes. What he didn’t address was the issue of covenants affecting the comparable values of vacant buildings. According to the Michigan Municipal League, restrictions included in a 2011 covenant deed executed by Wal-Mart for a property in the city of Auburn Hills are typical of the limits governing big-box store sales.

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Reasons for and Against Changes in Property Taxes Reasons cited by those opposing changes in determining property taxes: •• This would be a clear tax increase in the assessments on one segment of the business community — retail. Proposed legislation based on the size of a retail property is discriminatory. •• It sets a slippery slope for establishing valuation that could quickly migrate to other industries, such as manufacturing. •• It would be unconstitutional, because it violates the uniformity provision in the Michigan Constitution, Article IX, Section 3. •• To have the legislation declared unconstitutional would require litigation, which would be costly and time consuming for taxpayers and government.

The covenant states that the property will not be used for a “grocery store or supermarket” larger than 35,000 square feet, “a wholesale club operation similar to that of a Sam’s Club,” “a discount department store or other discount store” larger than 50,000 square feet, “a pharmacy” or for “gaming activities” which include gambling, electronic games or a business that derives “principal revenue from the sale of alcoholic beverages.” Also it mandates that “The Property Restrictions shall remain in effect for a period of twenty-five (25) years.” The cumulative effect of reduced assessments can be significant in communities with large retailers. “Adding up tax history numbers for Home Depot, Meijer, Kohl’s and Target, big-box tax revenue losses as a result of the Michigan Tax Tribunal in Meridian Township are in excess of $1.5 million since 2011,” said Meridian Township Treasurer Julie Brixie. “Our assessors assessed fairly. This law is to close a loophole.”

•• Businesses like certainty. Any proposed change in law designed to increase assessments on one property type sends a chilling message to potential investors that Michigan is not open for business. It is a step backward from the strong progress Michigan has made. •• Local municipalities should concentrate on attracting investment, not discouraging new investment and penalizing those who have invested in their communities. Source: Michigan Retailers Association Reasons cited by those supporting changes in determining property taxes: •• Big-Box retailers like Lowe’s, Home Depot and Wal-Mart have carved out a loophole in property tax law that allows them to argue that their stores should be valued the same as if they were vacant (or “dark”) and blighted.

She added that the existing assessing methods simply give big companies an unfair tax advantage. “It hurts local communities and increases the burden on those who are left,” she said. Brixie is particularly incensed by the claims of Home Depot in Okemos that its assessments should be lower because of the “dark-box” valuations. The home improvement retailer is located in the 130,000 square foot big-box building that originally housed the now defunct Meijer SourceClub. Indiana has wrestled with how to tax big-box stores, and this summer enacted a law to prevent appraisals from using comparisons to closed stores. The measure passed 98-0 in the state House and 49-0 in the Senate. It regulated appraisals for non-income producing buildings occupied by their original owners for less than 10 years and prohibits comparisons for properties with significant deed restrictions. It requires that their assessments consider construction costs when determining

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taxable value and limits comparable sales comparisons to properties that have been on the market for less than a year. The law applies to 2014 assessments and to cases pending before the Indiana Board of Tax Review. The Indiana Retail Council opposed the bill, which like Michigan has constitutional provisions regarding uniform property taxation, but that issue was not raised during the hearings.

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.

COVER

•• This “theory” flies in the face of decades of precedent and training for property assessors and appraisers, virtually changing the property valuation system overnight, all based on a decision from a politically appointed board in Lansing. •• These same retailers are then putting deed restrictions on their vacant stores to depress their values and perpetuate their claims that their operating stores should be taxed at ridiculously low levels. These deed restrictions serve two purposes — they limit who can move into those buildings and potentially compete with the other big-box stores in the area and they limit potential buyers for those buildings, driving down the sale prices of those buildings that they turn around and use as an excuse to lower their taxes on their open and operating sites. •• The tactics being used by these retailers are virtually unique to Michigan. In other states where these same arguments are being attempted, courts and legislatures

have moved quickly to rebuff these appeals. Indiana had been the only other state where this theory had been used and their legislature passed a bill earlier this year to block the dark store claims. Michigan’s commercial property tax values are now a fraction of what they are in surrounding states. •• These unfair tax reductions are having a ripple effect throughout communities around the state as schools, libraries, community colleges, local governments and public safety are all forced to refund money to these retailers and reduce the services they offer or increase taxes and fees on every other taxpayer in that community. •• The concern raised by local government is not about raising taxes on any one industry, or raising taxes at all. It is about maintaining a fair and equitable system of taxation for all taxpayers in a community. Source: Michigan Municipal League

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HE SAID/SHE SAID

He Said She Said

Each month The Greater Lansing Business Monthly invites authors from two views to share their thoughts on a rotating topic. This month’s topic: What do you predict the biggest business trends will be in 2016?

A LEAP project, Niowave, opened its new $79 million medical isotope production facility with 120 jobs. Sparrow began construction on its new $64 million cancer center on Michigan Avenue.

LOOKING BACK ON 2015, AND FORWARD TO 2016 By Bob Trezise

2015 was an amazing year. In fact, if you are a “new Lansing” thinker and not stuck in the “old Lansing” malaise of thought, you know it was a year which few regions in the entire Midwest could match: A LEAP project, Jackson National Life opened its new $130 million national headquarters, doubling its size and adding 1,000 great jobs. MSUFCU began construction on its $46 million expansion of its national headquarters in East Lansing. Lansing Community College (LCC) has completed its $65 million investment of improvements on its downtown Lansing campus. The Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) began its $700 million construction project at Michigan State University. 22

Under LEAP’s lead, The Runway fashion incubator had a grand re-opening, becoming not only one of the nation’s leading fashion incubators, but now a business resource center and home to the Michigan Garment Industry Council, Creative Many and the LCC Fashion Program. A LEAP project, General Motors completed construction on its $160 million stamping plant and its $85 million logistics center at the Grand River Assembly Plant resulting in more than 400 jobs and production of the Camaro, moved from Canada. GM also began its $520 million investment in the Lansing Delta Assembly Plant, preparing the way for a new wave of models. Meijer began the important expansion of the statewide distribution facility in Delta Township, Triton Industries expanded into a new facility in Watertown Township, Mitten State Malt began operations in Meridian Township and Quest Software expanded in St. Johns. The MSU Board of Trustees approved funding of the MSU Food Processing Innovation Center in Alaiedon Township, creating an important statewide magnet and accelerator of food production companies.

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On Michigan Avenue, more LEAP projects were announced; the $77 million mixeduse SkyVue, the tallest building to be built in the last ten years in the region, announced its imminent construction. Scott Gillespie announced East Town Flats. The “Under The Bridge” project, which will dress up the US 127 bridge on Michigan Avenue with art and lighting, received $100,000 through a combination of individual contributions and the MEDC’s excellent Patronicity crowdfunding public place making program, as did the Beacon soccer field in downtown Lansing. LEAP projects, Feldman’s Bud Kouts Chevrolet $3 million redevelopment project on Michigan Avenue and Snethkamp’s Alfa Romeo/FIAT $4.5 million project in South Lansing are underway. In the Stadium District area of Michigan Avenue, more LEAP projects were announced; Pat Gillespie’s $12 million Outfield project began construction, the only building like it in the U.S. to be built in a professional baseball stadium. Lansing Brewing Company opened its doors to many patrons. And, no doubt, due to space limitations, I’ve missed many more fun and great projects across the region. But the point remains; our local economy is booming like no other — it’s global, it’s real and this rumbling train is still willing to take along any of those who wish to hop on board.

HE SAID/SHE SAID

Of course, all of LEAP’s projects, and so many more that are not LEAP projects, are testaments, first and foremost, to our amazing risk takers in the private sector and to critical partnerships with local and excellent economic development partners, mayors like Mayor Bernero, township supervisors, county chairs and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). In the last month of 2015, LEAP will announce its Accelerating Capital initiative, Diversity Lansing programming, as well as the Lansing Proto business accelerator program. So in 2016, expect population growth to our region to fill these many jobs, and more development on Michigan Avenue; further announcements within the local health care industry; the Red Cedar Renaissance project beginning, the continued growth in diverse residential offerings, more good news for the downtown Lansing casino, more brew pubs with national reputations, preparations for another wave of auto suppliers, more entrepreneurial programming and more high-tech businesses expanding. Bob Trezise is the President and CEO of the Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP).

BUSINESS TRENDS TO LOOK FOR IN 2016 By Michelle Rahl

As we wrap up a dynamic and prosperous 2015, we now look to 2016 with vigor,

determination and curiosity. What business trends and opportunities will we have to manage that surprise us? What issues will continue to evolve and challenge the greater Lansing business community? Let’s look at several key issues the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce expects to see next year. TALENT We heard it every day in 2015 — the need to attract, develop and retain great talent — and we expect that need to continue. Businesses across all industries do not grow without innovative, creative and engaged staff. With more than 90 colleges and universities in the state of Michigan, we churn out a tremendous amount of intellectual capital each year. The Chamber views it as absolutely critical that we bridge the gap between these graduates and the employment opportunities in the region. Also inherently critical is the need to understand the various generations that comprise your workforce and make sure that your management style is adjusted accordingly. For the first time in history, you could have as many as five generations employed at your company. This is significant in terms of understanding workplace behaviors, employee engagement and motivation strategies and the tools and practices needed to successfully interact. MENTORING & GUIDANCE With the continued upsurge in entrepreneurs and Millennials entering the business arena, it underscores the need for valuable mentoring and guidance provided by the more seasoned business community. Entrepreneurs are constantly collecting and processing information — thinking both short and long-term simultaneously — in an effort to develop and grow their business idea. A good mentor will help you take action and provide you with the extra confidence and insight needed to move forward without hesitation and course correct as necessary.

In fact, mentoring and personal growth opportunities are some of the most sought-after benefits that Millennials look for during the interview process. Millennials are wired to seek out mentors and the advice of others (with social media to thank for that) and are naturally curious. They themselves can also serve as mentors by better understanding and communicating emerging technologies and social media trends. Mentoring Millennials requires commitment and patience, understanding that your young employee may have multiple mentors (both inside and outside work), and respecting their ideas and thoughts through the reverse mentoring process. PERSONALIZATION Technology continues to dominate our lives, with literally thousands of marketing messages bombarding us each and every day. It is clear that consumers are demanding more personalized and customized messaging and service in their digital world. Examples of this include location-based marketing, creating dynamic content like personalized emails, landing pages or websites, or segmenting by purchasing behavior or business size. I think we will continue to see a decline in the “one size fits all” marketing approach. While there are many more trends that will impact your business, the Lansing Regional Chamber feels that the items above are critical to the continued growth and success of the greater Lansing business community. The Chamber remains committed to positive, forward momentum in the region.

As the Director of Business Development for the LRCC, Michelle works hard to connect Chamber members and help build meaningful business relationships, to ensure that members are engaging and finding strong value in their Chamber membership, capitalizing on unique opportunities and identifying programs and partnerships to assist with member retention and new business development.

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GLBM LIST

New Businesses in the Lansing area

Name

Business Type

Opening Date

American Fifth Spirits

Distillery

April 2015

Beer Grotto

Craft Beer & Wine Bar

April 2015

Crafty Palate

Restaurant

May 2015

Cravings Gourmet Popcorn

Gourmet Popcorn

October 2015

Domino’s

Pizza

August 2015

Duke’s Saloon

Bar

May 2015

Firefly

Yoga Studio

January 2015

Glazed and Confused

Donut Shop/Bakery

August 2015

Henry’s On the Square

Restaurant

March 2015

Iorio’s Gelateria

Ice Cream

November 2015

Kirkland’s

Home Goods Store

September 2015

Lansing Brewing Company

Brewery

October 2015

Mama C’s Deli

Deli

August 2015

Mediteran Café

Café

March 2015

Nick Nauta Financial, LLC

Financial Planning

November 2015

Sweet Custom Jewelry

Jeweler

September 2015

The Creole

Bar and Restaurant

September 2015

TJ Maxx

Department Store

October 2015

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DECEMBER 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 new businesses in the Lansing area in alphabetical order. To submit your company information for future GLBM lists, go to lansingbusinessnews.com/get-on-the-list.

Location

Contact

Website

112 N. Larch St. Lansing, MI

(517) 999-2631

americanfifthspirits.com

500 E. Michigan Ave #100, Lansing, MI

(517) 371-1080

beergrotto.com

333 S. Washington Square, Lansing, MI

(517) 657-2303

thecraftypalate.com

109 S. Washington Square, Lansing, MI

1 (888) 210-0720

cravingspopcorn.com

234 S. Washington Square, Lansing, MI

(517) 372-3030

dominos.com

414 E. Michigan Ave, Lansing, MI

(517) 507-2348

dukessaloon.com

118 S. Washington Square, Lansing, MI

(517) 974-9642

fireflyhotyogabar.com

107 S. Washington Square, Lansing, MI

(517) 253-7147

glazedandconfusedbakery.com

229 S. Washington Square, Lansing, MI

(517) 487-3663

henrysonthesquare.com

1034 Trowbridge Rd, East Lansing, MI

(517) 244-6040

ioriosgelato.com

408 Frandor Ave, Lansing, MI

(517) 333-6994

kirklands.com

518 E. Shiawassee St., Lansing, MI

(517) 371-2600

lansingbrewingcompany.com

325 City Market Drive, Lansing, MI

(517) 641-6541

mamacsauce.com

200 N. Washington Square, Lansing, MI

N/A

3721 W. Michigan Ave., Suite 100 Lansing, MI

(517) 980-5193

N/A

1232 Turner St., Ste B, Lansing, MI

(517) 267-7600

sweetcustomjewelry.com

1218 Turner St., Lansing, MI

(517) 371-1361

thecreolelansing.com

526 Frandor Ave, Lansing, MI

(517) 324-0369

tjmaxx.tjx.com

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MAN ON THE STREET

M AN on the STR E ET What new practice should businesses adopt to continue to be successful? COMP IL 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 think that businesses should be more inclusive and open minded to new ideas.”

Lucy Austin

“Businesses need to do more marketing to be more successful.”

Jason Henning

“There should be more businesses advertising to college kids to get them out into the rest of the area.”

Amy Reck

“I think that businesses need to have more communication with the public.”

Sarah Ornatian

“I think that business should be more open minded to new ideas.”

Josh Prasad “Business should advertise more in the Lansing area; that’s how people will learn about the business.”

Romha Adhanom

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

DECEMBER 2015

Your company’s finances are always near— even if you’re far away.

FirstMerit Business Mobile Banking Susan likes to stay connected to her company, even when she’s on the go. By downloading FirstMerit Bank’s Business Mobile Banking app1 for her smartphone, Susan can take care of her business account when she wants — and where she wants. Whether she’s depositing checks,2 paying bills, or transferring funds into another FirstMerit account, Susan literally has her company’s finances in the palm of her hand.

FOR MOR E I N FOR M AT ION, OR TO DOW NLOA D THE A PP:

visit firstmerit.com/bizmobile or call 855-FMERBIZ. Follow the latest market trends @firstmerit_mkt

firstmerit.com

1. Check your carrier’s app store for compatibility requirements. Wireless carrier and data fees may apply. 2. A Mobile Banking Deposit Fee of $0.50 per check deposited applies. For complete details and restrictions, see a banker or visit firstmerit.com/mbd. L

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2409_FM15

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ECONOMY

Fiscal Policy in Times of Boom BY MORDECHAI E. KR E I N I N

reverse case of recession is a period of inflationary boom. This occurs during a time of excessive demand — namely, aggregate demand for goods and services by consumers, investors, government and foreigners exceeds the ability of the economy to produce at full employment of resources, (workers and machines). Such a period is usually associated with inflationary pressures, as there is too much money chasing too few goods. At such times, the recommended fiscal policy is precisely the reverse of what is called for in times of a recession: a cut in government expenditures and/or an increase in taxes. The idea is to lower aggregate demand to a level that the economy can satisfy at full employment, and thereby avoid or eliminate the inflation. Politically, it is easier to combat a recession by fiscal policy (higher government expenditures and lower taxes) than an inflationary boom (lower government expenditures and higher taxes). As in the recession case, some of this effect appears automatically. Government revenue rises as full employment is approached and more workers pay taxes, while expenditures decline as people need less government services. But the automatic stabilizer accomplishes only a quarter or a third of the job; hence the need for government policy to reinforce it. What happens to the government budget? As a result of the policy actions outlined above, the budget moves toward a surplus; the deficit declines, and sometimes a surplus appears. This brings us to a frequent recommendation made for government policy: “balance the budget over the business cycle.” The complete cycle consists of movement of the economy between recessionary and inflationary periods, perhaps with an “average” period of neither recession 30

nor inflation in between. If the surpluses during boom periods balance the deficits in recessions, a budgetary balance may occur over the cycle. In effect this does not happen, as the deficits tend to exceed the occasional surpluses, resulting in net deficits. And it is here that one may try to keep the long run deficit under three percent of GDP, to be sustainable. However, a proposal often heard in political circles and supported by the late professor Milton Friedman, for a constitutional amendment to balance the budget every year, is faulty on two grounds. First, the constitution is designed to protect our human rights, and it is too inflexible an instrument for the making of economic policy. Second, such a requirement would destabilize the economy. Imagine what would happen if during a recession (which causes a deficit) the government cut expenditures and raised taxes in an attempt to balance the budget. All that would occur is a much deeper recession — precisely what policy should try to avoid or offset. Indeed the fact that during the last (deep) recession government policy was expansionary rather than contractionary possibly prevented the situation from deteriorating into a depression. What about the budgets of state and local governments? In most cases they cannot run deficits. Some states even have a constitutional requirement to avoid budgetary deficits, resulting in all sorts of “creative accounting” when deficits appear during a recession. But more often than not these governments lower expenditures to deal with recession-induced deficits. Many readers may recall the budget cuts involving layoff of essential personnel during the financial crisis and induced recession of the previous decade. The best way 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

DECEMBER 2015

deal with such contingencies is a “rainy day fund.” Namely, during boom periods, set aside part of the resulting surplus to cover deficits in recessions. Because politically this may be difficult to do, the federal government counter-cyclical policy needs to be enlarged enough to compensate for the inability of local and state governments to engage in such a policy. To sum up, fiscal policy, which relies on changes in government expenditures and taxes to stabilize the economy, is a very effective instrument. But it works only with a time lag: it requires six to 12 months for its effects to be felt throughout the economy. The same applies to the second instrument; namely monetary policy, to which the next few columns are devoted. 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. He can be reached at kreinin@ msu.edu or by cell phone at (517) 488-4837.

ECONOMY

ENTREPRENEURS UNITE

GREATER LANSING BUSINESS MONTHLY PRESENTS THE 2016 ENTREPRENEURIAL AWARDS T H U R S D A Y, M A R C H 3

NOMINATIONS ACCEPTED NOW Once a nomination has been received, follow up contact will be made by a member of the selection committee. Deadline: Jan. 14, 2016

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COLLECTIBLES

Collectible Discoveries Found In Mid-Michigan BY PATRICK HEL L ER

or the many people who contact my company hoping they might have discovered a hidden treasure that really wasn’t, there are a handful of stories of discoveries in mid-Michigan proving that it can happen. Here are stories of a few of the happy exceptions. Years ago, a man attended a local estate auction. He saw a box of papers off to the side. In a quick look, he saw some autographs from the 1950s. He purchased that box for three dollars. When going through the box more thoroughly, he discovered autographs of Supreme Court justices, World War II generals and admirals, Cabinet members, and other notables. My company paid him $1,400 for about half the contents of the box. In the 1980s, a customer brought in a handful of coins and paper money from an inheritance. One note was issued on a Nebraska hotel in the 1850s. Upon doing research, we learned that there was only a $49 face value of this hotel’s notes outstanding when it ceased operations. We found two other specimens in a museum in that state but could not find any pieces reported in private hands. That note eventually went for close to $1,000. AFTER RESEARCH, WE CONCLUDED THAT THIS WAS A PREVIOUSLY UNKNOWN DIE VARIETY. WHEN CONFIRMED BY OTHER EXPERTS, THIS COLLECTOR RECEIVED SIGNIFICANT NEWS COVERAGE FOR MAKING THE DISCOVERY.

Also in the 1980s, our company appraised a group of coins and paper money to be divided among three heirs. One item was a scarce piece of U.S. National Currency issued for a bank in Colorado. This one note was worth about two-thirds of the entire accumulation, so that whichever heir ended up with it would have to pay cash to the other two. None of the heirs wanted to do this, so they sold it to us for almost full retail catalog value. Many years ago, a collector showed us a Morgan Silver Dollar from the late 1800s struck at the U.S. Mint in Carson City, Nev. He thought he observed an unusual variation in the design. After research, we concluded that this was a previously unknown die variety. When confirmed by other experts, this collector received significant news coverage for making the discovery. It was extremely exciting in 1999 when a customer brought to our store a spectacular quality U.S. 1855, $2.50 Gold Quarter Eagle struck at the branch Mint in Charlotte, N.C. The owners explained that ancestors had picked up the coin direct from the Mint, which had been passed down through the generations. All coins struck at the Charlotte Mint are prized rarities, but this piece was more scarce than usual. Mintage was a meager 3,677 coins. Because this coin had never entered circulation and been carefully stored for 144 years, it may have been the highest quality $2.50 Gold Quarter Eagle of any year of production at the Charlotte Mint (which operated from 1836 to 1861). We paid this customer more than $50,000 for something that had just been sitting around his house.

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DECEMBER 2015

While most dreams of finding what could be valuable treasures don’t turn out that way, it does happen sometimes. Happy hunting.

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 awardwinning 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 was also the Executive Producer of the movie “Alongside Night.” Heller was the unofficial “artist” of the 2004 Michigan Statehood Quarter.

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INVESTMENTS

Best Practices of the Sophisticated Investor BY STEPHEN L . HICK S, J D, MB A , MS, C PA A N D ROG ER L . M I LLB RO O K , JD, CPA / P FS

n our opinion, the following best practices represent the very pinnacle of financial planning and investment management. We recommend that an investor use this list as an aid in determining whether to keep or leave an existing investment advisor or investment strategy. In our opinion, anything less than what follows represents an avoidable compromise. Not surprisingly, we do not recommend compromising on your financial future. Please note that the following list is not in any particular order of importance. 1. Modern estate plan — For most people, a modern estate plan would include a revocable living trust, a pourover will, along with durable powers of attorney for financial, healthcare and mental healthcare. Without proper planning, your family is unprotected and may be forced to seek legal remedy in the probate courts while at the same time grieving over the death or disability of a loved one. For those families with special estate issues such as concern over estate taxes, a disabled beneficiary, a spendthrift beneficiary or other family specific concerns, proper estate planning is of paramount importance.

Perhaps nothing is more devastating to a family’s finances than a catastrophic illness or prolonged disability. We encourage our clients to consider both disability and long-term care insurance unless their financial resources are such that they could easily provide for such extended care. 3. Tax-managed investing — By their education, training and experience, investment advisors who are also CPAs are uniquely qualified to seek an efficient after-tax return. It is important to remember that you only keep what is left after the government takes its portion. It is highly recommended that investors work with a CPA financial advisor to optimize their after-tax return both while the investor and their spouse are alive, as well as for the benefit of their estate.

We strongly encourage investors to work with an investment advisor who is also an attorney and/or CPA who has substantial experience in estate and tax planning.

4. Avoid most annuities — Insurance makes for great risk management, but generally lousy investment. Annuities are insurance products, not pure investments. They are often saddled with significant mortality and expense charges (largely hidden but very real) in addition to often very high commissions that create substantial surrender penalties lasting several years. As FINRA, the SEC, the Michigan Attorney General and the State of Michigan have done, we too issue alerts or warnings to the public about various annuities.

2. Cost-effective insurance planning for death and disability — While we do not believe that life insurance should be used as a retirement vehicle or investment strategy, we do believe that every family should periodically perform a life insurance needs analysis. For the vast majority of families, term life insurance is all that is necessary for death benefit protection. With very limited exception, we do not recommend cash value life insurance.

5. Avoid actively managed investments in favor of passive investment management — Actively managed mutual funds attempt to outperform a market index despite substantial and compelling evidence in the literature to the contrary result (i.e., benchmark indexes outperforming its active counterpart especially over the long-term). Some of the failures of active management include often very high costs and turnover, style drift, cost of cash, etc.

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DECEMBER 2015

As to such high costs and turnover, it is important to note that actively managed mutual funds are sold by brokers and feebased planners (not fee-only planners) and often carry substantial commissions and possible surrender penalties, along with typically high annual internal expenses. An actively managed mutual fund can be identified by its class structure — A, B, C, etc. These letters do not signify quality, instead they tell the broker how and when he or she will be paid a commission. For example, a typical Class A share charges upfront commissions of 5 to 5.75 percent on the investment to the broker, but can be less (e.g., 3.5 percent) with breakpoints for substantial investment. B shares, on the other hand, charge a surrender penalty instead and C shares charge a constant level load. The commissions associated with A, B, C, etc. shares are entirely avoidable with passively managed investments offered by fee-only, fiduciary advisors. 6. Seek out truly independent and objective advice — In our opinion, only a fee-only financial advisor (and not a broker or fee-based advisor) can provide truly objective and independent advice. Anyone that can sell a product and receive a commission or part fee and part commission (or an offset against the commission) is challenged by potential conflicts of interest. A fee-

INVESTMENTS

only advisor has no conflicts of interests, accepts no commissions or offsets from commissions, exercises complete transparency of all fees, costs and expenses and serves as a fiduciary advisor to all clients. A fiduciary must, by law, serve the client’s best interest only and not merely sell a “suitable” product for a commission or fee. Further, a fee-only advisor often creates a written investment plan for his or her clients as part of the fee. Finally, fee-only advisors use passive asset class investments instead of actively managed funds. 7. Wealthy investors look very closely at an investment advisor’s credentials — The complexity and velocity of change in finance, securities and investments, accounting regulations and conventions, including new international standards, tax laws and estate planning, requires an advisor to have substantial education, training and experience. In our opinion,

a good advisor owes this high standard of excellence to his or her client. The client has, after all, entrusted some or all of his or her life savings to the advisor. How better to serve their investment client than to obtain a substantial and rigorous university-based education along with a long-term commitment to the profession. We recommend advisors holding advanced degrees and designations such as: JD, PhD, DBA, at the doctoral level, MS, MBA, at the master’s level, and CPA, PFS, and/or CFA, for designations and, preferably some combination of these degrees and designations is best. We are not alone in such sentiment. In his well-regarded and top selling book, The Millionaire Mind, Dr. Thomas J. Stanley, professor and prolific author on the affluent including the national best seller The Millionaire Next Door, makes clear that affluent investors almost always look to investment advisors who are lawyers (JD)

and/or CPAs and seldom engage financial planners and brokers not holding such advanced education.

Stephen L. Hicks, JD, MBA, MS, CPA and Roger L. Millbrook, JD, CPA/PFS, are Fee-Only Fiduciary Investment Advisors and principals of Siena Capital Management, LLC. Part of a larger Siena team, both professionals are lawyers and accountants and hold other advanced degrees or designations in the area of financial services. Siena was recently listed by CPA Wealth Provider Magazine as one of the Top Investment Advisory Firms in the United States. Siena advisors can be reached at info@sienainvestor.com.

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REGONIAL ROUNDUP

PHOTOS PROVI DED

Leslie A City of Partnership BY A A RON DES ENTZ

mall communities are portrayed as those quiet towns nestled in the country where neighbors openly talk over white fences and passersby driving in cars are waved at by pedestrians on the sidewalk. This is the atmosphere you will find in the city of Leslie, and this character can be found in the way people do business in Leslie. The community mindset has cultivated a culture of partnership among public and private organizations. The result of this approach has forever changed the landscape of the community. The Leslie community has many benefits and amenities to offer. Those fond of the outdoors will find wonderful parks, including Russell Park, which holds the city’s largest play place for kids to run and play while offering two pavilions for people to hold events. The park was built by community volunteers and financially supported through grants and donations. Tuttle Park offers a quieter atmosphere with a large pavilion and a veteran’s memorial. The park has also been host to many weddings since its foundation. The city of Leslie also contains a number of

Lighted Christmas parade ran by the Chamber of Commerce. basketball courts and baseball diamonds that host a number of recreational sports teams for kids and adults. Many of these parks can be reached by foot, as the city has a well-maintained and connected walkable routes system. Mitchell’s Department Store, a cornerstone of the community, has been in business for more than 100 years. Mitchell’s is in the process of a façade renovation partially funded through a Community Development Block Grant, as is the local Crossroads Restaurant. The downtown streets of Main and Bellevue were renovated thanks to the Downtown Development Authority and include brick crosswalks, beautiful trees and foliage and charming streetlights.

The city has a diverse selection of housing options for families looking to locate to the area. Many of the neighborhoods surrounding the downtown area contain homes both new and old. Victorian style houses are common in the area as are homes of modern design. Some of the downtown businesses have taken advantage of grant funding from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority to renovate upstairs loft spaces to livable, mixed use developments. The upstairs residential units then create an additional source of income for business The Leslie community is home to many parks. owners while offering 36

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DECEMBER 2015

convenient local for residents.

housing

options

Industry has always had a foothold in the city of Leslie. In 1989, the city formed a Local Development Financing Authority (LDFA), which has since completed a number of infrastructure projects and developments in the Industrial Park. J.D. Norman owns and operates a manufacturing plant in the Industrial Park and is working on introducing a new production line. The LDFA has been working with J.D. Norman to finance the infrastructure improvements needed to run the new line. The Industrial Park still has room for more businesses to locate and collaborate with the LDFA. WITH BEAUTIFUL PARKS, A WELCOMING DOWNTOWN AND FRIENDLY RESIDENTS, THE CITY OF LESLIE HAS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE. THE CITY WELCOMES VISITORS TO COME EXPERIENCE THE QUAINT SERENITY OF LESLIE. An active Chamber of Commerce has emerged from a collection of local business owners and community leaders; many of the events that take place in the city are hosted by the Chamber of

Commerce. Local businesses participate in an annual event in the city called Small Business Saturday. On the Saturday after Thanksgiving each year, the downtown is flooded with shoppers taking advantage of great bargains for Christmas shopping. The Chamber of Commerce also puts on an annual Lighted Christmas Parade that draws hundreds of spectators to the area. With beautiful parks, a welcoming downtown and friendly residents, the city of Leslie has something for everyone. The city welcomes visitors to come experience the quaint serenity of Leslie. Aaron Desentz is the current City Manager of the city of Leslie. Originally from Pinckney, Mich., Aaron came to the city of Leslie after two years as Village Administrator in Shelby, Mich. He lives in Leslie with his fiancée Samantha and their two dogs Zander and Lana.

RIGHT ON TARGET

Celebrating over 60 Years of Providing Legal Strategies and Solutions for the Success of Individuals and Businesses LOOMIS

Loomis Law Firm lawyers have also been recognized as 2015 Best Lawyers in America, Michigan Super Lawyers, and as AV Preeminent Lawyers and Distinguished Lawyers selected by Martindale Hubbell. 124 W. Allegan St., Ste. 700 Lansing, Michigan 48933

www.loomislaw.com

(517) 482‐2400

E Y D E C O M PA N Y 517-351-2480 COMMERCIAL RETAIL APARTMENTS View all of our available properties at eyde.com or call us at 517-351-2480.

eyde.com

Clark Corners

Capitol Commerce Center

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BUSINESS CALENDAR

December 2015 BUSINESS EVENTS economic times, many of these local charities’ resources are being depleted or greatly stressed due to the growing number of requests. 100 Women Who Care brings together women who want to make a difference now in their community. To date, they have given more than $300,000 to local charities since starting in March 2010. If you are interested in becoming a member or learning more about the group, please join them for the next meeting at the U Club, located at 3435 Forest Rd., beginning at 5 p.m. For more information, call (517) 332-4411, email rose@roseandev.com, donnaoade@glolawpc.com, or visit greaterlansing100womenwhocare.com.

1 2/13 Karen Grannemann and Jeremy Sampson attending GLBM’s Connections and Coffee networking event.

12/1-2/26

TECH TUESDAY, EAST LANSING. Join Lansing

Economic Area Partnership for Tech Tuesday, Tuesdays in Dec. and Jan. This is a group of weekly meetups, specifically for developers. Join them every Tuesday at the Technology Innovation Center, located at 325 East Grand River Ave., from 7 to 9 p.m. For more information, visit purelansing.com.

1 2 /5

OLD TOWN SCROOGE SCRAMBLE, OLD TOWN. Join the Old Town Commercial

Association for their 9th annual Scrooge Scramble 5K Run/Walk on the Lansing River Trail. The cost to enter is $20/OTCA members by Nov. 28, $25/non-members by Nov. 28, and $30/person Nov. 28 through Dec. 5. Race time is 10 a.m. Proceeds will benefit the Old Town Commercial Association.

12/8

LANSING CHAPTER OF 100 WOMEN WHO CARE MEETING, LANSING. 100 Women Who

Care is a group of more than 100 women who get together four times a year to help local charities, nonprofits and worthy causes serving the greater Lansing area. Because of difficult 38

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LANSING SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: HOLIDAY POPS, EAST LANSING. The

holidays aren’t the same without the Lansing Symphony’s Holiday Pops Concert. Experience this mid-Michigan community tradition, where families and friends come together for a fun-filled afternoon of carols and festive tunes. This year, Soprano Mara Bonde and the Arts Chorale of Greater Lansing join the Symphony. This performance will be held at the Wharton Center, located on the campus of MSU. For more information, call (517) 353-1982 or visit whartoncenter.com.

12/17

ATHENA AWARDS LUNCHEON, EAST LANSING. Join the Lansing Regional Chamber

of Commerce for the 2015 ATHENA Awards Luncheon. Celebrate as they honor this year’s 2015 ATHENA Award Recipient, Sarah Jennings, from Maner Costerisan. This event will take place at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center, located at 219 South Harrison Rd., from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. For more information and to register, please call (517) 853-6463, email trichardson@ lansingchamber.org or visit lansingchamber.org.

12/26

JANUARY ECONOMIC CLUB, EAST LANSING. Join the Lansing Regional Chamber

of Commerce and presenter Mark Reuss, president of General Motors North America at the January Economic Club. The event will be held at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center, located at 219 South Harrison Rd., from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. For more information, please call (517) 853-6463, email trichardson@ lansingchamber.org or visit lansingchamber.org.

DECEMBER 2015

PHP works for you. Physicians Health Plan is local. For 35 years we’ve been a part of your community and we take pride in helping you and your neighbors get the coverage, care, and personal service you deserve. That’s why our plan includes: » New Sparrow FastCare Centers, including one in downtown Lansing, for physicals and minor injuries or illnesses. » Choice of doctors with no need for in-network referrals. » Coverage for emergencies at work, at home, and at play – in every state and 196 countries around the world. » Helpful service. But don’t take our word for it … listen to our members. Our customer service scores are some of the highest in the state. You have a choice, and who you choose matters.

PHPMichigan.com

A health plan that works for you.

517.364.8500 L

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N O TA B L E N E W S

SWEET ENCOUNTER PITCHES WINNING BUSINESS IDEA AT INNOVATEHER CHALLENGE The Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP) hosted the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)’s InnovateHER Challenge, a business pitch competition just for women entrepreneurs, on Nov. 11, 2015. The winning idea came from Nikki Thompson Frazier, owner of Sweet Encounter, a boutique style gourmet bakery/café specializing in scrumptious, made-from-scratch, glutenfree desserts. LEAP served as a co-sponsor and local host for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)’s InnovateHER Challenge. The SBA and LEAP are looking for innovative products and services that help impact and empower the lives of women and families. Local sponsors included MSU Entrepreneurship Association and the Small Business Development Center. Other partners were Loomis Law, Michigan Creative and Andrews Hooper Pavlik PLC.

InnovateHER finals, up to 10 finalists from around the country that won their local division will compete for the top three cash prizes totaling $70,000 provided by Microsoft. This year, the national InnovateHER finals will be held on March 16 and 17, 2016 in Washington, D.C. as part of the SBA’s InnovateHER: Innovating for Women Business Summit.

The InnovateHER Challenge is a national competition that culminates in a live pitch Final Round. During the

For more information, visit sba.gov/offices/headquarters/ wbo/resources/1465581.

LOCAL NOTABLE NEWS: MSUFCU ANNOUNCES NEW BUSINESS LOAN DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

MSU Federal Credit Union (MSUFCU) is pleased to announce the recent addition of Sue Hansen as a business loan development officer in its Business Services Hansen department. Hansen’s duties include establishing and enhancing relationships with local community members, partners and businesses. 40

Hansen has 21 years of experience in commercial lending. Prior to working at MSUFCU, she served as a vice president in business banking, specializing in lending to independent healthcare providers. Hansen holds a Bachelor of Arts in Finance from Michigan State University. NEW ART PIECE UNVEILED IN ST. JOHNS THROUGH LEAP PUBLIC ART FOR COMMUNITIES GRANT An unveiling event was held on Nov. 4 to dedicate the newest art sculpture in St. Johns. LEAP President and CEO Bob Trezise, Jennifer Morris from PNC Foundation, artist Ivan Iler and City of St. Johns staff gave a few words at the ceremony. The new polished 3003-aluminum sculpture entitled “Splash” is approximately 14 feet tall

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and was installed in the Main City Park in St. Johns at the entrance to the new Spray Park. The art installation was made possible by a Public Art for Communities Grant from the Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP) and the PNC Foundation. GILDEN WOODS EARLY CARE AND PRESCHOOL EXPANDS IN THE GREATER LANSING AREA Gilden Woods Early Care and Preschool opened in Okemos on Monday, Nov. 30, 2015 to meet growing childcare and early education demand in the greater Lansing area. AppleTree Early Care and Preschool East Lansing Owner, Lisa Raths, opened a Gilden Woods school in Haslett on June 29, 2015.

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The new state-of-the-art school in Okemos will provide infant and toddler care, full and half-day preschool, and before and after-school care for children ages 6 weeks to 12 years of age from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. The new school, located at 2190 Association Drive in Okemos employs a total of 30-40 teachers and caregivers, and two directors, allowing for the enrollment of up to 168 children. Three Gilden Woods schools opened in 2014-2015 in Portage, Kalamazoo and Haslett. There are a total of 16 Gilden Woods and AppleTree Early Care and Preschools located in the greater Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo and Lansing areas. For more information or to schedule a tour, please call Angela Hoy, program director, at (517) 295-3641 or visit our website at gildenwoods.com.

CAPITAL REGION COMMUNITY FOUNDATION WELCOMES NEW CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER The Capital Region Community Foundation is pleased to welcome Laurie Strauss Baumer as the foundation’s new Chief Operating Officer. Baumer began her work with CRCF on Nov. 2, 2015. Baumer will be responsible for managing the foundation’s day-today administrative operations. In addition, she will provide organizational and Baumer systems support for the foundation’s donor relations efforts. Prior to joining the CRCF, Baumer served as the president and CEO of Ele’s Place, a healing center for grieving children.

Baumer earned bachelor’s degrees in advertising and English from Michigan State University and holds a certification in fundraising management from the Indiana University Center on Philanthropy. The Capital Region Community Foundation currently has more than $85 million in assets and was created by the community as a vehicle to support the charitable needs and philanthropic interests of people living in Ingham, Eaton and Clinton counties. The Community Foundation receives gifts to establish endowment funds, and the income generated by the more than 400 funds is returned to the community each year in the form of grants. The Community Foundation awards hundreds of grants annually, totaling nearly $3.5 million each year. Learn more online at crcfoundation.org.

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NICK NAUTA FINANCIAL, LLC OPENING IN LANSING

Nick Nauta Financial, LLC opened on Nov. 9, 2015. The company is located in Delta Township at 3721 W. Michigan Ave., Suite 100 in Lansing, Mich. The firm will service Nauta individuals and businesses with comprehensive financial planning services specializing in investments, insurance and risk management. Owner Nick Nauta is a Certified Financial Planner™ and a Chartered Life Underwriter™. He has been serving the greater Lansing area with his expertise in financial planning for the last 10 years.

“I’ve been blessed by the relationships I’ve been able to establish here in Lansing. Never did I think when I moved here 10 years ago that Lansing would be able to give so much to me. I have a business that I’m passionate about. It allows me to help inspire people to achieve their personal and financial goals,” said Nauta.

term as Director of the Membership Council on the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors® (SIOR) Board of Directors. Horn’s board appointment is the first for the Michigan Chapter of SIOR since 1996.

ROBERT L. HORN OF CBRE|GRAND RAPIDS APPOINTED TO SIOR BOARD OF DIRECTORS AS DIRECTOR OF THE MEMBERSHIP COUNCIL

Horn is a vice president in the Industrial Services business line and specializes in large-scale industrial properties. Recent transactions total over seven million Horn sq. ft. He is the key contact for logistic and transportation companies relocating to Grand Rapids and has been instrumental in assisting companies consolidate facilities, while taking advantage of the State of Michigan tax deductions programs.

Robert L. Horn Jr., SIOR and vice president at CBRE in Grand Rapids, Mich. was recently elected to a two-year

SIOR is a global professional organization that certifies commercial real estate service providers with the

Nauta is registered with Cambridge Investment Research, Inc. Nick Nauta Financial is currently accepting new clients. For more information, contact Nick at (517) 980-5193 or nick@nicknautafinancial.com.

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exclusive SIOR designation, based on achievement, knowledge, accountability and ethical standards. Only the industry’s top professionals qualify for SIOR. Today, there are more than 3,000 members in 630 cities in 34 countries. For more information, visit sior.com. MICHIGAN LEGISLATIVE CONSULTANTS APPOINTS MATT SOWASH TO LOBBYIST ROLE IN LANSING Michigan Legislative Consultants (MLC) is pleased to announce that Matt Sowash has joined the firm’s team of lobbyists. In this role, Matt will focus on building meaningful connections with key decision makers in Lansing and will be advancing clients’ agendas on a daily basis. Previously Matt served as legislative director to State Representative Joseph Graves and was often considered as the point person on policy with the House Commerce and Trade Committee. His experience also includes working with State Representative Deb Shaughnessy, Office of Legislative Corrections Ombudsman, and consulted on campaigns with more than 15 house and senate candidates. Matt holds degrees from Calvin College and Michigan State University. THE CAPITAL AREA SALVATION ARMY ASKS COMMUNITY TO ‘BE A CHRISTMAS ANGEL’ The Capital Area Salvation Army officially kicked off its 2015 Red Kettle Fundraising Campaign with a special holiday event which took place on the steps of the Capitol at noon on Thursday, Nov. 12. WILX-TV anchor Ann Emmerich, the 2015 Red Kettle Campaign honorary chairperson, encouraged the crowd to ‘be a Christmas angel’ this season. The Red Kettle Fundraising Campaign is The Salvation Army’s largest fundraising

event of the year. Special presentations were given by Emmerich, State Senator Rick Jones, State Senator Curtis Hertel Jr. and Capital Area Salvation Army Coordinator, Major Alan Hellstrom. The Red Kettles will run through Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, Monday through Saturday at local area businesses. The

Salvation Army’s Red Kettle fundraising campaign goal is $230,000. The overall Christmas fundraising goal is $960,000, which includes money raised through the red kettles along with various mail appeals. The Salvation Army can only reach its goal through the generosity of the community.

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Be a Christmas angel by giving a donation online or in a kettle. You can also volunteer by contacting Jim Prichard, volunteer coordinator, at (517) 482-9715, ext. 28, or jim_prichard@usc.salvationarmy.org. For bell ringing, call Jeff Prisner, kettle coordinator, at (517) 484-6381. For more information, visit salansing.org. THE YMCA OF METROPOLITAN LANSING AWARDED $7,500 GRANT FROM THE PNC FOUNDATION TO FUND LITERACY PROGRAMMING The YMCA of Metropolitan Lansing has received a generous $7,500 grant from the PNC Foundation, the fourth of its kind from PNC in the past four years, to help fund financial literacy programming in the Y’s new Healthy Living Mobile Kitchen. The Mobile

Kitchen’s bus will launch at the start of the New Year to help feed and educate children and families within the Lansing community about the importance of physical education and nutrition, while combating childhood obesity. The program itself has already served well over 900 meals since June 15, 2015. The PNC Foundation actively supports organizations that provide services for the benefit of communities in which it has a significant presence. The Foundation focuses its philanthropic mission on early childhood education and community and economic development, which includes the arts and culture. Through Grow Up Great, its signature cause that began in 2004, PNC has created a $350 million, multiyear initiative to help prepare children from birth to age 5 for success in school and life.

The YMCA of Metropolitan Lansing has six operating units, including Mystic Lake Camp near Clare, and branches downtown, on Lansing’s west side, in the Oak Park area to the south, in East Lansing, and DeWitt. For more information, visit ymcaoflansing.org. GREG LEMANSKI OF STATE FARM INSURANCE RECEIVES NATIONAL AWARD Greg Lemanski, an agent with State Farm Insurance, received the NAIFA Quality Award from the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors Lemanski (NAIFA), the industry’s leading professional association. The NAIFA Quality Award recognizes agents for their commitment to excellence in service to their clients and

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THANK YOU SPONSORS! Accident Fund • Adams Outdoor • American Rental • AmeriGas • Arts Council of Greater Lansing • Auto-Owners Insurance • BRD Printing • Capital Area Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • CATA • CASE Credit Union • Ciesa Design • City of Lansing Parking Services • Comcast • Comerica Bank • Consolidated Electrical Contractors • Cottage Inn Pizza • CU Link Michigan • Davenport University • Dewpoint • Dickinson Wright PLLC • Dykema • EDGE Partnerships • Eyde Company • The Exchange Martini & Banquet Lounge • Fifth Third Bank • For Crepe Sake • Foster Swift Collins & Smith • FOX 47 WSYM • Gillespie Group • Goldfish Swim School • Gorsline Runciman Company • Grand Traverse Pie Company • Greater Lansing Business Monthly • Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau • H&H Inc. • Hi-Ball Crane of Lansing • Independent Bank • Ingham County • Insty-Prints Downtown • J&H Family Stores-Trowbridge • Kositchek’s • Lansing Community College • Lansing Economic Area Partnership • Lansing Entertainment and Public Facilities Authority • Lansing Lions Club • Lansing Ophthalmology • Lansing Public Media Center • M3 Group • Marshall Music • McLaren Greater Lansing • Meijer • Michigan Association of Broadcasters • Michigan Capitol Commission • Michigan Events • Michigan Retailers Association • Northside Service Inc. • OneMain Financial Services Inc. • Radisson Lansing • R.E. Olds Foundation • Sohn Linen Service • Sound EFX • Sparrow • State of Michigan-DTMB • The Peanut Shop • Troppo • Two Men and A Truck • Wal-Mart • WKAR • WLMI-Lansing’s Greatest Hits Silver Bells in the City is free and open to the public thanks to our amazing sponsors. A project of the Silver Bells Coordinating Committee of Downtown Lansing Inc. 44

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industry, their pursuit of education and training and their adherence to NAIFA’s Code of Ethics. Agents who receive this award demonstrate that the products they sell will meet their clients’ needs. REHMANN PRINCIPAL ANDY ROSE JOINS LANSING OFFICE Rehmann Principal Andy Rose, CPA, CGMA has relocated to the firm’s Lansing office from Saginaw, Mich. Rose leads Rehmann’s Commercial Industry Group, which includes the firm’s construction, real estate and dealership teams. He currently heads efforts to inform and support clients on tangible property regulation changes as well as revenue recognition issues. Rose has been providing clients with customized business solutions since joining Rehmann in 1997. His

substantial experience in many areas of taxation includes S corporations, partnerships, like-kind exchanges and alternative energy tax incentives. Rose is a graduate of Saginaw Valley State University, with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting. In addition to memberships in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants, he is also a member of the Construction Financial Management Association. CBRE|MARTIN LISTS 50,000 SF OFFICE SPACE FOR LEASE IN COMERICA BUILDING, DOWNTOWN LANSING CBRE|Martin is pleased to announce the listing of the Comerica Building at 101 N. Washington Square in downtown Lansing, Mich. Up to 50,000 SF of vacant

space in the 14-story high rise office building is available to lease.

The owner, Louis J. Eyde Family, LLC, hired CBRE|Martin to help market the Comerica Building for lease. Key features include large expanses of windows, two passenger elevators and a freight elevator that services the first and fourth floors. The property is located in the heart of downtown on the corner of Michigan Avenue and Washington Square, just a short walk from the YMCA, State Capitol, Radisson Hotel as well as restaurants, services and governmental offices. It is also only minutes away from I–496, East Lansing and Michigan State University. CBRE|Martin Senior Vice President and Office Advisor, Eric F. Rosekrans, CCIM and Senior Associate and Office Advisor,

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KELLOGG COMPANY BROADENS COMMITMENT TO ANIMAL WELFARE, WILL SOURCE 100% CAGEFREE EGGS BY 2025 As part of its ongoing dedication to corporate responsibility, Kellogg Company announced today its plans to build on its commitment to animal welfare by sourcing only cage-free eggs for its foods and eliminating gestation stalls from its pork supply chain by the end of 2025. In addition, Kellogg will consider the “Five Freedoms” of animal welfare, an internationally recognized set of humane treatment principles, as part of its process to continuously improve its supply chain in the future. Kellogg uses eggs in some of its foods, including Eggo® frozen breakfast foods and MorningStar Farms® frozen veggie foods brands. The company also purchases a very small amount of pork for some of its frozen breakfast sandwiches. Kellogg has already reduced its use of eggs from caged hens in MorningStar

Thomas Jamieson, will represent the landlord in any transaction. The property is available for lease through CBRE|Martin. LANSING MARKETING & WEB FIRM UNVEILS NEW NAME Spoke8 Marketing has rebranded to become InVerve Marketing, Inc. The firm’s three areas of expertise are web design and development, inbound marketing and creative design. Smith announced the company’s new name and direction on Oct. 16. The “VERVE” in the name describes the energy, dynamism, spirit and passion the company brings to client projects. The “IN” is a nod to websites and inbound marketing — the most accountable and trackable marketing for business. The firm has deep roots in Lansing’s Old Town creative district, and plans to stay in the area — even as they grow as a tech-marketing provider. At InVerve, clients will find a dedicated team of professionals who are grounded in marketing and web principles and energized by creative vision. The 46

Farms products by 20 million eggs since 2007, and by the end of 2016, the company has committed to switch one million more cage-free eggs within its MorningStar Farms brand. Today’s announcement, which applies to its U.S. operations, takes those promises one step further with the move to 100 percent cage-free eggs. Today’s announcement builds on Kellogg’s longstanding commitment to corporate responsibility. The company is committed to responsibly sourcing its priority 10 ingredients, like rice, wheat and corn, by 2020. It also announced plans last month to enhance its efforts to support the livelihoods of more than 500,000 farmers worldwide over the next 15 years through climate smart agriculture practices, training and partnership with suppliers, NGOs and other stakeholders. More details on Kellogg’s corporate responsibility efforts and the expanded animal welfare commitment can be found at kelloggcompany.com/en_US/corporate-responsibility.html

company’s wide range of clients creates an impressive portfolio of website, marketing and design work.

STATEWIDE NOTABLE NEWS: SCOTT HIGGINS EARNS CFP DESIGNATION In earning his CFP®, Scott Higgins completed a comprehensive course of study with a curriculum approved by the CFP Board and passed the CFP® Certification Exam, which covers the financial planning process, tax planning, employee benefits and retirement planning, estate planning, investment management and insurance. Rose Street Advisors is a group of employee benefits, life insurance, investment and retirement specialists. Its focus is helping affluent individuals, Higgins families and business owners achieve personal and professional goals.

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BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU LAUNCHES SCAM TRACKER Better Business Bureau Eastern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula has launched a new program called Scam Tracker, which can help protect consumers in the state from various types of fraud sweeping the country. Scam Tracker was developed to be a repository for illegal activities targeting consumers, businesses and the marketplace at large. Located on the BBB Eastern Michigan and the U.P. website, there are two principal elements in Scam Tracker: tracking and reporting. The web page consists of an interactive map of the continent with scam hotspots. Consumers and businesses will see numbers of scams in those areas, and when clicked, will rank swindles broken down by zip codes. This allows you to zoom in to your city or neighborhood, to see what your family, friends, neighbors and other consumers in Connecticut are reporting. The current number of reported scams is shown at the top of the page. Scam Tracker is a new initiative and the numbers grow

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daily to reflect a growing interest in the program. The information collected through Scam Tracker allows sharing of its data with law enforcement and regulators, while providing consumers with the latest scam trends. Better Business Bureau is working with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to see how the data can be used to help consumers and businesses on a national scale, by revealing what types of fraud are evolving or returning. The ultimate aim is to locate and prosecute the perpetrators. Scam Tracker is accessible through the Better Business Bureau website. TIRE DEALER PROFESSIONALS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE 2015 TIRE LEADERSHIP 21 PROGRAM Tire Leadership 21, the tire industry’s premier professional development program, recently graduated its second

class of students. The 18 graduates left the two-week program with improved business, management and leadership skills — ones they immediately can apply to their businesses. Participants in this year’s class included professionals from tire retail, commercial and retread business from four countries. Tire Leadership 21 is specifically designed to develop the next generation of professionals who work in tire retail, commercial and retread environments. The program covers a wide range of business, management and leadership topics that are critical to the success of the independent tire and service industry. The program was created in 2013 through a unique collaboration between a group of leading tire dealers — the Center for Tire and Service Education — and Northwood University, a fully accredited, private, nonprofit business university that specializes in managerial and entrepreneurial education.

Program participants attended a pair of one-week sessions. The first session was held in April at Northwood University’s campus in Midland, Mich. Participants reconvened in September at Advance Auto Parts’ headquarters in Raleigh, N.C. Gold Level Sponsors of the 2015 Tire Leadership 21 program include American Tire Distributors, Continental Tire and Marangoni Tread North America. Each company donated scholarship funding that reduced each attendee’s tuition payment. For more information or to register for the 2016 Tire Leadership 21 program, please visit universityoftheaftermarket.com or call (800) 551-2882.

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NATIONAL NOTABLE NEWS: BUZZY BOOTH TAKES PHOTO BOOTH TO THE NEXT LEVEL The traditional photo booth created photos and memories; the new BuzzyBooth puts that concept on steroids and offers a marketing buzz saw. First developed as a side business to help Jolina Li pay for her University of Connecticut tuition and to offer a completely new way to promote her family’s restaurants, BuzzyBooth evolved into something larger in our digital age. BuzzyBooth gets customers to smile and share their image and the client’s business message via instant sharing with their friends and family on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The BuzzyBooth includes an openair design to accommodate up to 15 people. Customized graphics in the booth’s background provide a highly visible branding message for the client’s booth location. The concept is as easy as shouting “cheese!” Guests simply click on the button to snap the photo, after photo is taken, they click the button to proceed with sharing on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and email. They just enter the login credentials for the sharing platform they choose, and it will be automatically posted on their social media accounts for all of their friends to see. The photo booth is completely digital. There is no printing, thus users share on their social media platforms. The photo opportunity is free to guests and the BuzzyBooth is either rented or purchased by the client business. For more information about BuzzyBooth, visit BuzzyBooth.com.

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Statement of Ownership, Management and Circulation (Requester Publications Only) 1. Publication Title: The Greater Lansing Business Monthly 2. Publication Number: 020-807 3. Filing Date: November 4, 2015 4. Issue Frequency: Monthly 5. Number of Issues Published Annually: 12 6. Annual Subscription Fee: $22 7. Mailing Address of Known Office of Publication and Contact Person and Phone Number: 614 Seymour Avenue, Lansing, MI 48933 Ingham County, Jaime Hardesty (517) 203-3333 8. Mailing Address of Headquarters or General Business Office of Publisher: 614 Seymour Avenue, Lansing, MI 48933 Ingham County 9. Names and Addresses of Publisher, Editor, and Managing Editor: Publisher: Tiffany Dowling, 614 Seymour Avenue, Lansing, MI 48933; Editor: Alicia Pilmore, 614 Seymour Avenue, Lansing, MI 48933 Ingham County; Managing Editor: Alicia Pilmore, 614 Seymour Avenue, Lansing, MI 48933 Ingham County 10. Owner: Tiffany Dowling, The Greater Lansing Business Monthly, 614 Seymour Avenue, Lansing, MI 48933 11. Known bondholders, mortgages, and other security holders owning or holding 1 percent or more of total amount of bonds, mortgages, or other securities: None 12. Tax Status: Has Not Changed During Preceding 12 Months 13. Publication Title: The Greater Lansing Business Monthly 14. Issue Date for Circulation Data Below: December 2015 15a. Extent and Nature of Circulation, Number of Copies of Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: a. Total Number of Copies: 7433 b. Legitimate Paid and/or Requested Distribution: 1. Outside County Paid/Requested Mail Subscriptions: 1704 2. In-County Paid/Requested Mail Subscriptions: 4793 3. Sales Through Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors, Counter Sales and Other Paid or Requested Distribution Outside USPS: 0 4. Requested Copies Distributed by Other Mail Classes Through the USPS: 0 c. Total Paid and/or Requested Circulation: 6497 d. Non-requested Distribution: 1. Outside County Non-requested Copies: 0 2. In-County Non-requested Copies: 0 3. Non-requested Copies Distributed Through the USPS by Other Classes of Mail: 0 4. Non-requested Copies Distributed Outside the Mail: 200 e. Total Non-requested Distribution: 200 f. Total Distribution: 6697 g. Copies not Distributed: 736 h. Total: 7433 i. Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation: 97% 15b. Extent and Nature of Circulation, Number of Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filling Date: a. Total Number of Copies: 6800 b. Legitimate Paid and/or Requested Distribution: 1. Outside County Paid/Requested Mail Subscriptions: 1642 2. In-County Paid/Requested Mail Subscriptions: 4613 3. Sales Through Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors, Counter Sales, and Other Paid/ Requested Distribution Outside USPS: 0 4. Requested Copies Distributed by Other Mail Classes Through the USPS: 0 c. Total Paid and/or Requested Circulation: 6255 d. Non-requested Distribution: 1. Outside County Non-requested Copies: 0 2. In-County Non-requested Copies: 0 3. Non-requested Copies Distributed Through the USPS by Other Classes of Mail: 0 4. Non-requested Copies Distributed Outside the Mail: 200 e. Total Non-requested Copies Distributed Outside the Mail: 200 f. Total Distribution: 6455 g. Copies not Distributed: 345 h. Total: 6800 i. Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation: 97% 16. n/a I certify that 50% of all my distributed copies are legitimate requests or paid copies. 17. Publication of Statement of Ownership for a Requester Publication is required and will be printed in the December 2015 issue of this publication. 18. I, Tiffany Dowling, Publisher and Owner certify that all information furnished on this form is true and complete. I understand that anyone who furnishes false or misleading information on this form or who omits material or information on the form may be subject to criminal sanctions (including fines and imprisonment) and/ or civil sanctions (including civil penalties).

DECEMBER 2015

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HAPPY HOLIDAYS To our clients, family and friends; thank you for making 2015 a successful year, We wish you bountiful blessings this holiday season and an extraordinary New Year!

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