GLBM January 2018 by M3 Group Publications

JANUARY 2018

GREATER LANSING

NEWSMAKERS Highlighting 2017 and looking forward to 2018 with mid-Michigan’s latest change agents IN THIS ISSUE • Home deliveries and the future of grocery shopping • A New Administration: What’s in Schor for 2018 • How Refugees Enhance the Local Economy • Behind the scenes with former Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero — over 25 years of public service

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JANUARY 2018 ON THE COVER How Refugees Enhance the Local Economy.................................................................................8 Home deliveries and the future of grocery shopping............................................................ 10 A New Administration: What’s in Schor for 2018................................................................ 19 Greater Lansing Newsmakers...................................................... 20 Behind the scenes with former Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero — over 25 years of public service.................. 24

NEWS Where Ideas Happen............................................................................6

JANUARY 2018

20 FEATURES Commentary.................................................................................................................................................. 4 Millennials in Business in 2018......................................................................................................... 12 Workplace Culture & Keeping Employees Happy................................................................... 14 A Year in Review........................................................................................................................................ 16 Business Calendar.................................................................................................................................... 26 Notable News............................................................................................................................................. 28

GREATER LANSING

Cover photography by Mary Gajda

Greater Lansing Business Monthly | Volume 31, Issue 1

group

Greater Lansing Business Monthly is published monthly by M3 Group at 221 W Saginaw Street, Lansing, MI 48933. Periodicals postage paid at Lansing, Michigan USPO. USPS number 020w807.

Subscriptions: Subscriptions are available at $22 per year for postage and handling or $38 for two years. Call (517) 203-0123 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 © 2016 The Greater Lansing Business Monthly, Inc. All rights reserved. Editorial Office: 614 Seymour Street, Lansing, MI 48933 lansingbusinessnews.com 2

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COMMENTARY

Publisher: Tiffany Dowling tiffany@m3group.biz Sales Manager: Jennifer Hodges jhodges@m3group.biz Editor: Kelly Mazurkiewicz kelly@m3group.biz Media Manager: Jill Bailey Account Managers: Austin Ashley Megan Fleming Manny Garcia Communications Director: Ami Iceman-Haueter Art Director: Mark Warner Publication Designer: Heather Thielking Graphic Designers: Jeanette Wummel Photographer: Mary Gajda Web Manager: Skylar Kohagen Event Calendar Manager: Jaime Hardesty

GLBM Editorial Board: April Clobes — President and CEO, MSU Federal Credit Union Calvin Jones — Government Relations Director, Lansing Board of Water & Light Lisa Parker — Director of Alumni Career and Business Services, Michigan State University Alumni Association Deb Muchmore — Partner, Kandler Reed Khoury & Muchmore Tom Ruis — Vice President, Fifth Third Bank Doug Klein — Executive Director, Mason Area Chamber of Commerce

2018 STRATEGIZED It’s normal to contemplate a strategy for your business this time of year. Amidst the fanfare of welcoming 2018 and further review of your current strategy, you’ve probably thought about the business trends that may impact your organization. After reading several articles, I’ve identified a few areas that seem particularly interesting to consider. WORKPLACE EVOLUTION: This year saw an evolution in my workplace. It was gut wrenching trying to anticipate what needs my business would have over the next decade and build it into the space we were renovating. I spent many hours reviewing floor plans and furniture choices. And, even though I believe there will continue to be an evolution of the workplace; where companies reduce their real estate size and move toward a more flexible office options. Creative teams need to have time together for energized success. NEW MARKETING: The world of marketing is shifting. It gets tougher and tougher to reach target demographics. Make marketing personal. Generic campaigns trying to capture multiple demographics will not work today. Personalized messaging and content in call-to-action campaigns will be much more successful. Individuals are bombarded with messages everyday and in order to cut through the clutter, marketers will need to speak directly to buyers. IT SPENDING: Information technology is an area seeing significant investment these days. This will not change over the coming year. Cyber security will be a top priority for large and small businesses alike. Organizations will strive to prevent a breach of confidential information or to reduce susceptibility to ransomware. Businesses will also expand the use of cloud systems that give companies flexibility. MOBILE BANKING: Financial institutions are preparing on a day-to-day basis for cyber attacks. This will continue. They are spending time making their services easier to navigate through mobile banking and providing faster service through product offerings including loan processing. With more mobile activity, the increased prospect of cyber-attacks is real. Therefore, financial organizations will invest in better security and rollout tougher access systems to keep financial information safe. Tax reform: With sweeping tax reform at the end of the year, businesses will continue to work through the details. We know the tax reform lowers the corporate rate from 35 to 20 percent. It would also bring down the rate for so-called pass-through businesses like S Corps to 25 percent. With all that to consider and our strategy in mind, I wish you all luck and prosperity in 2018. We hope the new year is a productive, innovative and profitable year for your business.

Mark Hooper — Partner, Andrews Hooper Pavlik Diontrae Hayes — Supervisor Charter Township of Lansing

Tiffany Dowling | Publisher

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Attendees engage with a panel of business experts at the September LEAP and USPTO regional seminar

Photo provided

WHERE IDEAS HAPPEN BY OMAR SOFRADZIJA

Jen Wagemann had an idea. What she needed were ideas on how to make it happen. She’s the founder of Spinning Speakers, a Lansing-based startup that hopes to make hula hoops with Bluetooth speakers built into the tube. Helping her move the concept toward becoming a tangible product were the folks at Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP). “I immediately called LEAP and told them the idea, and they were able to give me a few resources – an engineer that I ended up working with at a very, very low cost. If it wasn’t for that engineer, I never would have really started to get Spinning Speakers off the ground,” Wagemann said. “And I never would have met the engineer if it wasn’t for LEAP.” Without such assistance, “I would be running into a lot of problems, because Google searches only go so far,” Wagemann said. “It really helps to know people in Michigan that know other people in Michigan.”

In hopes of pairing mid-Michigan entrepreneurs and inventors with the right resources in the region, this past fall LEAP partnered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for a one-day seminar in East Lansing to help in protecting and promoting intellectual property. The event was meant “to bring access and convenience to our population here in the Lansing region,” said Tony Willis, director of LEAP’s new economy division. “They have a need to learn more about intellectual property, how to secure and protect their idea or to (get a) patent, trademark or the like.”

ensure that we are proactively reaching those entrepreneurs so they have the best chance of success.” The event was the second annual LEAP/USPTO event in the Greater Lansing area, said James O. Wilson, the assistant regional director of the USPTO’s Midwest office in Detroit. Also on hand were representatives from the Michigan Small Business Development Center and Foster Swift, a local law firm.

There are many inventors in the region; everyone from tinkerers in their garages to researchers in higher learning.

“Knowledge is power. This is a big grey area. Sometimes, processes can be intimidating if you don’t know about them,” Willis said. “It definitely makes them more wise on what they’re going to pursue, how they’re going to pursue it, how much time and work they’re going to put into it.”

“The Lansing area is abundant with creative ideas from the regional community and Michigan State University,” Dave Posigian, a patent examiner with the USPTO, said in a prepared statement. “One of our goals is to

While creating a culture of understanding to drive business practice forward, beyond the initial conceptual phases is one thing many entrepreneurs aren’t provided the inside knowledge and know-how to effectively

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NEWS

communicate with potential investors and stakeholders to obtain invaluable, often essential resources. Bringing the right people face-to-face is often all it takes for economic growth and opportunities to take on infancy.

IN HOPES OF GIVING ENTREPRENEURS A ONE-STOP SHOP IN PLANNING THE TRANSITION FROM IDEA TO INDUSTRY, LEAP IS PROVIDING A “START CHART.”

“One of the things we really, really want to do is we want to link our stakeholders with our resources. We want to educate the public with regard to what’s available,” Wilson said. “Our mission is to foster innovation and competitiveness and economic growth in not only the United States but throughout the world, globally … our goal is to bring high-level people into local environments to provide expert opinion.”

Ultimately, the goal of such partnerships is to ensure Michigan ideas and inventors result in Michigan businesses, jobs and wealth. In hopes of giving entrepreneurs a one-stop shop in planning the transition from idea to industry, LEAP is providing a “Start Chart.” Launched in late 2017, it includes a resource guide and worksheet on everything inventors should think about while developing their idea and working to bring it to market, according to Willis.

“Lansing does have a lot to offer. I think Michigan as a whole has a lot to offer,” Wagemann said. “I think we are all very supportive of supporting local, and I think that’s a beautiful thing.”

The Start Chart is free and available at purelansing.com/startchart. Willis encourages entrepreneurs to subscribe to LEAP’s weekly

C O M FA IN 20 LL G 18

Wagemann said collaborative events and the ability to network with fellow entrepreneurs and different legal and regulation experts keep her coming back; it has all given her the confidence to protect her ideas and stay local. She hopes to have her hoops on the market by spring’s end.

PROUD TO BE IN EAST LANSING

newsletter, too; sign-ups are available at purelansing.com. Plus, inventors need not wait for such events to pick brains at the USPTO. The agency offers resources on its website at uspto.gov and by phone at 1-800-786-9199. “We are available,” Wilson said. “If a question is posed, we are prepared to provide an answer.” Omar Sofradzija is an adjunct journalism instructor at Michigan State University. Prior to that, he was a reporter, columnist and editor at the Las Vegas (Nev.) Review-Journal and the Peoria (Ill.) Journal Star newspapers.

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NEWS

REFUGEES IN LANSING AREA

MADE POSITIVE IMPACT

ON ECONOMY BY KATHRYN MCLRAVY

While there are some misconceptions surrounding the impact of refugees on Greater Lansing’s economy, the results have been positive; a recent study conducted by Global Detroit and the University of Michigan School of Public Policy found that over the past decade, refugee resettlement has contributed $230-295 million to southeastern Michigan’s economy. The report also noted refugees added between 1,798 and 2,311 jobs to the region.

reasons why refugees become displaced: religion, race, political persecution, natural disaster and war. Those who are eligible for resettlement must go through a strict vetting process, which takes nearly two years.

$230-295 MILLION

refugees added

1,798-2,311

OUT OF

Tracy Richey, the director of to southeastern operations staffing services for Michigan's economy EG Workforce Solutions, an employment agency in East The study outlines how refugee resettlement here if it wasn’t for St. Vincent,” said Richey. Lansing, has noticed firsthand agencies, household spending and owning “Our relationship with them has really grown the economic benefits of hiring refugees. “The businesses have impacted Michigan’s economy. tremendously over the years and is a great refugee groups we work with add value to our Money contributed to resettlement agencies partner[ship] within the community.” economy by not just increasing the demand STVCC helps adults and families become selffor services, but by sufficient with aid from the federal government stimulating production that arrived in Lansing and community donations. Unlike Detroit, which with the clients we within the 2017 fiscal year mostly resettles refugees from the Middle East, serve … this population the refugees in Lansing are manifold. Out of 441 is helping us increase refugees that arrived in Lansing within the 2017 production output and fiscal year, 240 were from Africa, 116 were from keep the local Asia and 85 were from the Middle East. from Africa from Asia from the economy strong.” Middle East “The process starts when we pick them up from EG Workforce Solutions the airport,” said Refugee Services helps refugees begin Director Judi Harris at the STVCC. “We set careers in the Lansing up housing arrangement for refugees, which area. Refugees complete includes donated household items and food from results in job creation and spending. Additionally, a general job application submitted to different the community.” employers in the capital area. From there, the refugees support the economy by spending their agency helps refugees train for their interviews money with local businesses. Refugees also create their own businesses, thereby creating jobs and teaches them new skills for higher-level positions. and purchasing goods and services to meet the demands. The agency credits success to St. Vincent Catholic While the study measured the impact of TRAVEL BAN Charities (STVCC): refugees in southeastern Michigan, the results will only allow a charitable nonprofit are applicable to Lansing, which has become a organization in Lansing popular area for refugee resettlement. This cap is low, considering over REFUGEES that assists with refugee in the coming resettlement. “We A refugee is a person who is forced to leave their fiscal year wouldn’t be successful country and cannot return home. There are many have been accepted into the U.S. since 1975

441

240

JOBS

REFUGEES

116

45,000

3 MILLION REFUGEES

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Refugees then go through orientation. The orientation process covers essential details, so refugees can become acclimated to cultural life in the U.S. These refugees learn how to do laundry, how to commute within the local area and take English courses through the program. Refugees concurrently take an employment orientation, which teaches refugees the cultural aspects of working in the U.S. as well as how to apply for jobs. Denise Sullivan, the refugee services’ job coordinator, marks the goal of the organization as helping refugees become independent.

3 million refugees have been accepted into the U.S. since 1975.

600

908 refugees

resettled last year

“The typical or average number of refugees we resettle is around 600 per year. Last year, it was about 908. In this past fiscal year, it was at 474,” said Karasinski. “And now that we move into the next fiscal year, the projection looks to be even lower than that.”

average number of refugees STVCC resettles per year

474 refugees

resettled this past fiscal year

Despite the challenges facing refugees, Harris finds the community beyond welcoming.

“People here are supportive because they know a refugee. They work with them, they live next door to them and they go to school with them. So, they know they’re peaceful and like them, and we learn a lot from them, too,” said Harris. “We’ve had our employers tell us they’re changing their culture in a good way.”

REFUGEES STVCC RESETTLES

“We want refugees to grow. We don’t want them to be dependent forever. It is our goal to teach them the skillsets needed to apply for jobs and have successful careers,” Sullivan said.

Refugees typically start their careers in entry-level positions. While in their first job, refugees can take more English classes and apply for higher-level positions. Some go on to start their own businesses.

The issue of refugee resettlement has become a contentious and lengthy debate on the national level. On Sept. 26 of last year, the Trump administration announced a travel ban will only allow 45,000 refugees in the coming fiscal year. This cap is low, considering over

Although refugees are eager to start their lives in the U.S., there are many misconceptions about resettlement among Americans. A common one is that refugees are on financial assistance for the duration of their time in Lansing, which is not the case. “The goal of our refugee services — and a reason why we exist — is to provide refugees the resources needed to become self-sufficient and to not rely on anyone else besides themselves for financial income,” said Sullivan. John Karasinski, the associate director of community relations and marketing at STVCC, believes another misunderstanding about refugees is that they take positions from locals. “A lot of the jobs refugees are fulfilling for local businesses are jobs that other residents are not doing, or there’s not enough population within the area to fulfill those jobs. So, for those businesses to maintain their ongoing capacity, they need that incoming population base.” Harris agrees. “Refugees just want stability, peace and to be able to take care of their family. They’re not playing games. They are just here to work hard and do what they need to make a life for themselves.” L

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Photo by Mary Gajda

S E I R E C O R G P nces e i r e p x e d e ING U z i m

CLICKIndustry’s futufruetiusrienicsuinstcoustomized experience Industry’s

BY ANDREW DOMINO

The person in the grocery store checkout lane next to you might not be your neighbor any longer, industry experts say. They might be a professional shopper or even an internet entrepreneur. As grocery stores have been taking advantage of technology, shopping experiences have been streamlined to the benefit of a shopper’s time spent in a store. At checkout lanes, nearly every item is run through electronic scanners, whether in front of a clerk or at a self-checkout lane. Apps and websites tied directly to the stores offer coupons that can be printed or displayed on screen. And the most recent move is to remove the customer from the store entirely, with grocery delivery services. In August, Lansing-area Michigan Meijer stores started offering Shipt: a service where customers create a grocery list on its app, then shoppers dressed in green Shipt t-shirts buy what’s on the list and deliver it right to the customer’s doorstep. Shipt has already been in Michigan for more than a year, starting with the Detroit area in 2016 and expanding to Meijer’s hometown, Grand Rapids, in March 2017. 10

Shipt delivers almost everything found in the store, except for tobacco and prescription medication. The service costs $99 a year and comes with no additional charges for delivery on orders over $35. Other grocers offer similar programs at about the same costs. West Michigan grocery chain SpartanNash, owner of groceries such as Family Fare and D&W Fresh Market, offers fast-lane service in about two dozen stores; more will be added in 2018. The big names in the industry are following the home delivery trend too, including Wal-Mart Stores Inc., which is testing a service in California like Shipt called Deliv. The company is taking home deliveries further in a recently announced team-up with the smartlocks company August Home, where delivery drivers can unlock a customer’s door and put the food in the refrigerator. The August Home app includes a camera so the customer can watch as the delivery driver puts the food away. In a press release, Walmart calls it the chance to “help us shape what commerce will look like in the future.”

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AmazonFresh, however, has scaled back to several big cities mostly on the east and west coast, and it is not available in Michigan. Amazon announced the reduction in October, shortly after it purchased the Whole Foods Market grocery chain. There are seven Whole Foods Markets in Michigan, including one in East Lansing. As Amazon’s response shows, customers aren’t as quick to respond to the online shopping movement as stores might like. A 2017 report by retail research company Field Agent found people are more likely to buy non-perishable items online; toothpaste was named by 74 percent of people in the Field Agent study, feminine hygiene products were named by 72 percent and over-the-counter medicine was at 70 percent. Customers aren’t all that interested in buying food they can’t self-inspect — only 25 percent would buy milk or bananas online. Last place in the study went to chicken breasts, which only 22 percent of people would purchase on the internet. The study also reported that only about 46 percent of people buy groceries online now, although 71 percent expect to increase their amount of electronic shopping by 2022.

NEWS

LOCAL APPEAL The Food Marketing Institute finds the fast pace of the average person’s day is prompting another movement in stores: the “grocerant,” or restaurant-style eating inside the grocery store. In a 2017 report, the Institute reports 73 percent of households with children buy “ready-to-eat” foods made in a store, like sushi or rotisserie chicken because they’re too busy to prepare a meal. Fifty-one percent of households without children do the same. Local stores aren’t turning away from technology, but they are emphasizing things a neighborhood grocer can offer that Walmart or Meijer cannot. “We’re not going to beat Amazon on toilet paper, and I don’t really want to,” said Autumn Horrocks, one of the four partners in the Horrocks stores that bear her family’s name. “We offer things that lead to a high-level of joy and try to separate ourselves by offering (an experience) you can’t get online.” That includes free cups of coffee to every shopper, made from beans roasted on-site. Recently, the

Lansing store started offering popcorn popped in the store, and it features nearly 50 beers in the “tavern,” along with a wine-tasting area. While Horrocks emphasized that though the store remains up-to-date — it has a Facebook page, and their popcorns and coffees can be ordered online, for example — there’s not a lot of need for advertising, whether online or in person. MORE HEALTH INFORMATION Stores are also responding to customers’ interests in different kinds of food; from the autumnal pumpkin spice flavors of everything from coffee to Twinkies, to the consistent call for local produce grown or raised within a certain distance from the store. Meijer considers it the “upper Midwest,” stretching from Michigan down to Kentucky. Some of the chain’s corn comes from a farm in the Byron Center and potatoes from Wisconsin. The Food Marketing Institute finds 44 percent of shoppers want to see more information about ethical processes in their food, like fair trade

production and humanely raised meat. The Future Market, a New York City-based research company, presented their Produce Pro concept at a food industry convention this past July, which is something of an in-store help desk: At the push of a button, a dietitian or other food expert appears on a screen, ready to answer questions about the products for sale next to the shopper. The goal for grocery stores of any size is to offer variety to shoppers. The Future Market’s creator, Mike Lee, said “The marketplace of the future is about delivering food to consumers on their terms.”

Andrew Domino writes about finance, culture and hobbies for publications in Lansing, across the U.S. and online. He was surprised to learn how often software is patched and resolves to back up his own computer more regularly. Andrew is also a freelance writer and blogger, bridging the gap between “nerds” and the rest of the world. You can see more of his writing at www.dominowriting.com.

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MILLENNIALS IN BUSINESS IN 2018 BY TERESA J. FRITH

Depending on who you ask, Generation Y â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the millennial generation â&#x20AC;&#x201D; began as early as 1976 and ended as early as 1994; however, most sources agree they were born from 1980 to about 2000 or shortly afterward.

As such, the millennial mindset has brought the invention of technologies that are changing the way people live and work. Unlike in the past, today's technology is adapting to people, instead of making the people adapt to it.

Millennials are the first generation to grow up as babies in a world where they were exposed to technologies like computers, wireless phones and the internet. They likely learned to spell through interactive software or computerized toys instead of wooden blocks, and they grew up playing video games instead of board games.

For instance, management software for client relations help salespeople know their client's needs and preferences by replacing handwritten paperwork with the ability to store and organize information digitally, from their client's contact information to recorded conversations.

According to 35-year-old Amity Pecenka, an academic advisor at Indiana University, millennials use technology more efficiently than previous generations. "Millennials have less fear of technology," Pecenka said. "They are more receptive and adaptive to new systems." 12

TECH AND MILLENNIALS GO HAND IN HAND Technology is integrated into the everyday lives of most millennials. What that means for businesses that hire them is that millennials expect their jobs to have whatever modern technology exists that makes it possible for them to do those jobs professionally and proficiently.

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"I think that millennials bring a sort of thirst for knowledge," said Michael Mink, emergency management specialist for the U.S. Navy. "They always want to know what is the latest tech available and how we can work smarter, not harder. Using the latest gadgets and gizmos add to the efficiency of how we do business." Pecenka remarked, "We use the internet for everything. All university info, policies, courses, major planning guides, etc. are found online; long gone are the days of a 2-inch thick course catalog." Since they have experienced the rapid upgrading of communication methods via technological changes, things like texting, instant messages and group chat apps are preferred. Even email is becoming outdated for efficiency. "Emails are dreadful. I spend hours, daily, responding to emails. They are the biggest

FEATURE

time-suckers and the biggest enabler of students' non-thinking," said Pecenka. She further explained that one of the problems is that emails are normally read on a smartphone nowadays, and students at the university don't handle it the same as they might other forms of communication. "Info sent by email consistently is not read, understood or used to inform behavior — like good decision-making,” said Pecenka. “My biggest concern with the modern world is that we have a massive problem with information processing." To cope with this, millennials are personalizing their communication methods, so they work with them instead of against them. For instance, today's tech savvy employee can customize the apps they use so all the dozens of emails, text, calendar pop-ups and more are optimized to align with their daily needs. Millennials also use technology to leverage a better work-life balance, so they can work whenever they need to from wherever they are. This way, they don’t have to stay at a desk for the traditionally structured 9-to-5 workday. One survey by the Pew Research Center estimates three million Americans are working from home, and that's expected to rise. A company that can provide these types of perks will attract and keep millennial employees. Companies like Google and Apple have been very successful in hiring talented millennials because they are innovative businesses with a culture that doesn’t accept tradition as a fact of life.

of millennials suffer from anxiety and stress. Some of the reasons for this included work, job stability and money woes. Collins thinks millennials handle stress reasonably well, but added that they "tend to withdraw, as a way to escape, mainly because they have more ways of doing so — earbuds, video games and so forth." "You just have to take it with a grain of salt and move on,” said Mink. “Only after an event can you decompress, take a breath and look back on what happened and how you can improve on and make better decisions in the future.” TRANSITIONING INTO THE FUTURE WILL TAKE TIME, COOPERATION According to Collins, businesses have yet to learn how to fully leverage the generational line existing in today's workforce. "In many cases, there are age-related tensions that can hinder business progress," said Collins. "We live in a very open age where we expect everyone to work together and get along."

Collins stressed that businesses have a lot to learn about diversity especially. Differences like age, race, sex, ethnicity and religion can be overcome with effort, education and time. "The best approach to age diversity is to give different age groups more opportunities to work and be alone with each other," Collins said. The bottom line is today's workforce is hardly related to that of millennials' parents and grandparents. Technology has changed dramatically and is likely to keep on doing so; that means learning how to provide employees with the technology needed to do their jobs, keep innovation top-of-mind and bring businesses into the world of the future.

Teresa Frith is a Navy veteran now residing in Nashville, Mich. She's been writing and editing as a freelancer since retiring from the Navy in 2011, where she was a military journalist. She holds a BA in English from Western Illinois University. Her hobbies include reading, writing and working to help stray and feral cats.

Paczki Time, Baby!

STRESS CAN COMPLICATE THE MILLENNIAL WORKFORCE Millennials are predicted to make up half the workforce by 2020, according to a report by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). They are known to be able to manage school, a profession and a relationship all at once just fine, but they are also known as the generation that struggles with stress more than any other before them. According to John Collins, founder of Critical Victories near Lansing, millennials should be given a lot of credit because they have been "overloaded with more information and chaotic imagery than any other generation in history." The American Psychological Association recently released a Stress in America survey. It revealed millennials have the highest stress levels of any previous generation; another survey said that around 19 percent

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WORKPLACE CULTURE

KEEPING EMPLOYEES HAPPY

BY SARAH SPOHN

Finding a job is hard enough. Feeling balanced, respected, challenged and fulfilled hour after hour, year after year can be even trickier. Recent studies have shown new workforce trends show most employees work much more than the average 40-hour work week; even less of those workers are retiring.

Liquid Web is an innovative, web-hosting business headquartered in Lansing, with locations in Ann Arbor, Phoenix and San Antonio. Misty Combs has worked at Liquid Web for four years as the human resources director and considers their office culture as relaxed, yet rewarding.

A SMOOTH PROCESS is what you can expect.

“We describe ourselves as the ‘most helpful humans in hosting,’ with the company vision to ‘be the world’s most loved hosting provider.’ We describe ourselves as ‘cool tech,’” Combs said. In a recent article, Andrew Jensen — a business growth, efficiency and marketing consultant — examines overtime work and productivity. His article discussed the overwhelming evidence that suggests working more than 40 hours per week is harmful to employees and their employers. Overworking results in poor nutrition, lack of exercise and sleep, increased stress levels and poor family life. This can also affect the mental health of employees, causing them to miss scheduled work. Before her role at Liquid Web, Combs knew what it was like to work almost double the typical full-time job workload. She spoke about the importance for businesses keeping their talent interested by creating a space for progress.

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“For employers to retain their knowledgeable talent, I think it will be increasingly important to create opportunities for people to learn, grow within the organization and develop in the ways that interest them,” Combs said. “As both individuals and as an organization, if we aren't growing, we're dying. If we don't allow people to grow within our walls, they will grow somewhere else and take with them valuable knowledge and experience.” “But it is also not reasonable to expect people to live at their job. When I was young in my career, I typically worked 70-80 hours a week. That's the last thing I want to do now,” said Combs. “It's important for a job to allow a

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person to find and pursue their passion outside of work as well.” Plenty of workplaces are creating a more laid-back work culture, inviting employees for luncheons, off-site parties and sporting events. Within the office, collaborative spaces and invitations to gather create a more welcoming feel in the 9-to-5 world. Jill Rinckey is the employee and community ambassador at TechSmith Corporation (TechSmith), a software company in Okemos that’s been around for the last 30 years. Her role was created because TechSmith was aware of the importance of company culture, and they filled the need to have an employee liaison — keeping a pulse on things. TechSmith offers its employees annual volunteer time off, happy hours, catered lunches on Friday, health care and benefits packages, social events for workers and their families, ranging professional development opportunities, tuition reimbursement, paid internships and even paid time off for birthdays.

“I believe it’s most often opportunities for development, open communication, defined and practiced mission and vision, and a culture of inclusiveness and belonging that makes the real difference for employees,” said Rinckey. Culture is often created from decades of past behaviors and policies, which can become outdated if you don’t adapt with the changes in technologies and lifestyles of your employees. Rinckey believes culture is something all employees take ownership of. “Your actions today can change what type of workplace experience you will have tomorrow,” she said. “Remember that you as the candidate are also interviewing the company to see if it’s a good match,” Rinckey said. “Ideal work environments are unique to everyone, so don’t be afraid to ask questions regarding culture, management styles, values and mission.” Although Liquid Web and similar companies are focused on a product which never shuts down — the internet — that doesn’t mean businesses expect all employees to work 24/7 year-round. They respect time off, provide

flexible schedules and encourage employees to take advantage. They offer employees 80 hours of PTO in their first year of service, and an impressive 176 hours after five years. Jessica Workman, corporate recruiting manager at Neogen, said the current job market is a candidate’s marketplace. “One of the trends I have been seeing is that applicants want to work for a company or an organization that has an impact on the world around them, and a focus on the greater good. We do have that at Neogen,” said Workman. “That altruism — that sense of wanting to belong to the greater good, a greater purpose — is such a part of who we are. They really want to make sure they’re not only finding a position that matches their skill sets, but also meets their desires for a workplace,” Workman said. 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.

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Baseball Hall of Fame adds Jeff Bagwell, Tim Raines and Ivan Rodriguez

Film Release: Beauty and the Beast with Emma Watson

Jan. 20 Donald Trump is inaugurated as the 45th President of the United States of America and Mike Pence as the 48th Vice President

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Thousands gathered for Women’s March on Lansing at the Michigan Capitol

Jan 28 105th Women’s Australian Open: Serena Williams defeats Venus Williams 6-4, becomes player with most wins in major tournaments (39) in open era

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Jan 30 scientists in central China reveal oldest known human ancestor – 540-million-year-old Saccorhytus in a fossil

LOCAL Lansing Lugnuts starts another baseball season – Opening day April 8, 2017

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Animal lovers came together for the Capital Area Humane Society’s (CAHS) Fur Ball

LOCAL NATIONAL Lansing named one of the 10 Best Affordable Places to Live by Livability.com

Bob Dylan received his Nobel Prize for Literature

NATIONAL Super Bowl LI: New England Patriots defeat Atlanta Falcons 34-38 59th Grammy Awards: Adele wins Best Song “Hello” and best Album “25”+

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Jay-Z becomes first rapper to be inducted into Songwriters Hall of Fame

MAR 16

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143rd Kentucky Derby: Always Dreaming ridden by John Velasquez wins

18th annual Lansing Common Ground took place

MTV becomes first major awards show to adopt gender-neutral categories

Sparrow Hospital cuts the ribbon for the Herbert-Herman Cancer Center, starting a new era of cancer treatment in mid-Michigan

Emma Watson wins best film actor (MTV awards show for gender-neutral categories)

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Apple becomes the first company to be worth more than $800 million

Canada celebrates 150 years since its formation

Harry Styles releases his self-titled debut solo album

Jeff Horn defeats Manny Pacquiao in WBO welterweight world title fight

U.S. President Donald Trump begins his first foreign trip arriving in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

124th Wimbledon Women’s Tennis: Garbine Muguruza beats Venus Williams

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121st Wimbledon Men’s Tennis: Roger Federer beats Marin Cilic for a record 8th title

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Strange Matter Coffee Co. officially became a multi-location company with a grand opening in downtown Lansing NATIONAL The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum opens in Springfield, Mass. 116th Men’s French Open: Rafael Nadal beats Stan Wawrinka to become first man to win title 10 times 116th Women’s French Open: Jelena Ostapenko beats Simona Halep to claim her first grand slam title

LOCAL 5th Culver’s restaurant to open in Greater Lansing area NATIONAL The Walt Disney Company announces plans to create its own streaming service 100-year-old fruit cake Huntley & Palmers deemed “almost eatable” after being discovered in hut used by Captain Scott’s expedition in Antarctica Daniel Craig confirms he will play James Bond one more time

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Emma Stone is the year’s highest paid actress with $26 million, according to Forbes Former five-weight world boxing champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. defeats MMA fighter Conor McGregor in his debut match in the 10th round in Las Vegas

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BWL 22nd Annual Chili Cook-Off

32nd Annual Silver Bells in the City

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Barry Callebaut announces a fourth type of chocolate, “Ruby,” made from the Ruby cocoa bean

Houston Astros win their first baseball World Series defeating the LA Dodgers 5-1 in game 7 at Dodger Stadium

Consumer credit reporting agency Equifax reports earlier cyber attack could affect 143 million Americans

First Barbie doll to wear a hijab, modeled on Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad unveiled in New York Country singer Blake Shelton wins People Magazine’s sexiest man alive award

Apple unveils premium iPhone X costing $999, along with iPhone 8

Britain’s Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announce their engagement

69th Emmy Awards: hosted by Stephen Colbert, “The Handsmaid’s Tale” Elizabeth Moss, Sterling K Brown, Julia Dreyfus, Donald Glover win

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LOCAL BWL to build $500 million natural gas power plant in Delta Township

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East Lansing approves 10-story student apartment for downtown

Costco opens in East Lansing NATIONAL

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TripAdvisor customer poll names The Black Swan in Oldstead, North Yorkshire, world’s best restaurant

First pizza party in space held by astronauts of the International Space Station (Dec. 3)

Albert Einstein’s “Theory of Happiness”, written as a note for a bellboy instead of a tip in Tokyo in 1922 sells for $1.56 million

Starbucks opens its largest café in Shanghai at 30,000 square feet: a little over half the size of a football field

Photos from The New York Times

“Star Wars: The Last Jedi” takes more than $450 worldwide in its opening weekend as the second largest opening in North America

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WHAT’S IN SCHOR FOR 2018 Photo by Erika Hodges

BY STEVE JAPINGA

The New Year often brings with it feelings of optimism, hope and a desire for a fresh start in new directions. Those are emotions that many of us in the Greater Lansing region are experiencing, as we approach the start of a new era in Lansing City Hall; Andy Schor takes the oath of office as Lansing’s mayor on Jan. 1. The business community has enjoyed a strong, positive relationship with Schor’s predecessor, Virg Bernero, due to the outstanding leadership he has provided during his tenure. As a strong supporter of Schor’s election, the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce (LRCC) looks forward to the opportunities awaiting our entire region.

This, perhaps, represents one of the greatest opportunities for Schor’s administration. Some regional partnerships are emerging to accomplish some exciting prospects, including the recently formed Capitol Council of Governments. Mayor Schor’s background in county and state government have allowed him to build relationships over the years and open the doors to a new era of synergy for a better region. There’s a sense of positive momentum when a new team takes over. The business community

looks forward to working with Mayor Schor, and our regional partners, to build a greater city. Steve Japinga is Director of Government Relations for the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce. He is responsible for developing and managing the Chamber’s policy priorities as well as monitoring local, state, and federal issues that may impact the business community and the Greater Lansing region. He is a graduate of Michigan State University and lives in Lansing with his wife Katherine and dogs, Charlie and George.

Schor’s victory this past November can be viewed as a mandate to tackle some difficult challenges in the coming months. It is the LRCC’s hope that he will capitalize on existing goodwill, as he starts his term and begins to tackle some of those challenges. A recent survey of Chamber members gives a clear indication of what issues are on the priority list: rebuilding roads and sidewalks, building a stronger economy and creating new jobs, to name a few. But, the heart of these priorities is to restore the capital area community to full financial health. Lansing faces a daunting challenge of eliminating more than $600 million in unfunded liabilities; its Financial Health Team (FHT) has come out with a series of recommendations to address this issue. There isn’t an effortless way to go about it successfully, but the fact remains that Lansing will not be able to achieve its other goals until tough decisions are made to address fiscal realities. The entire region needs a strong central city if we are to build the type of world-class community Greater Lansing can become. That is why it is imperative for our region to forget about political boundaries and turf struggles: to approach our challenges from a regional perspective.

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NEWSMAKERS BY KRISTOPHER JOHNSON

Greater Lansing is flowing with industry leaders and unique organizations striving to affect change through innovation and positivity in our community. Here are conversations with a few of these newsmakers as they reflect on what 2017 meant to them, as well as 2018 change agents who are blazing new paths. ***Responses have been edited for content and clarity

It was one of those things where I learned a lot about myself during the process. At the end of the day, I think everything is a learning experience, and I learned a lot through that process! It was challenging yet satisfying

series ‘Stranger Things,’ I make sure to tell him to pay attention to the set and all the things of that time going on. His response: “Got it, mom.”

WHAT’S THE MOST NOTABLE CHANGE YOU FORESEE HAPPENING IN 2018 FOR GREATER LANSING?

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TIFFANY DOWLING

Founder and CEO of M3 Group - 2017

WHAT WAS YOUR OR YOUR ORGANIZATION’S BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENT IN 2017? We had a couple of fantastic things happen this year, and both involve location. Earlier this year, we opened our Detroit office, which was a longtime goal of mine. And then what I’d consider probably our biggest accomplishment — and the thing that almost killed me — was the renovation of the church on the corner of Seymour and Saginaw streets. So, those are two things I would say professionally and personally were huge accomplishments. I think that for both of those things, they are not what my day-to-day world is all about. When I go into projects, I like the feeling of having all the information I need to be successful. With the church especially, it felt like we did a lot of research, but there were ultimately a lot of nuances and happenings I was not necessarily prepared for. 20

For the Greater Lansing area, we are shifting to a new mayor and new administration. And although I don’t think there will be drastic changes, I do think the thought processes will start to shift on how Andy Schor wants to get things done. I think, from what I understand from the new mayor, he wants to build on the successes that have happened thus far. Hopefully, he’ll come out swinging and make some remarkable things happen in our region. I also think we’re going to start seeing some further development. We have the Center City project that’s coming up, the City Hall project that’s supposed to happen — these things are going to be important for the major areas in our region. These are exciting changes, and I have a huge love for Lansing, so I'm looking forward to these types of developments flourish. I’m also working personally on some projects for 2018 as it relates to showing the love of this region from its residents and business community, to really hone in on the message we share as a community and want to express to the world

WHAT WOULD YOUR FRIENDS OR FAMILY DESCRIBE AS YOUR GREATEST QUIRK? I’m a little bit of a crazy fan for the 1980s! So, I am into everything ‘80s. I love the movies, and I love the music. When my son watches the Netflix

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BILADEAU

MINDY BILADEAU Executive Director of Downtown Lansing Inc. - 2017

WHAT WAS YOUR OR YOUR ORGANIZATION’S BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENT IN 2017? Our new branding for downtown Lansing as a destination and the design, fabrication and installation of our new Wayfinding system has been a labor of love for us. Based on a 2016 analysis by Corbin Design, it was determined to evaluate exactly how visitors navigate Lansing based on distinct, individual sub-areas. From the Capital Complex and Washington Square to the Riverfront and Stadium districts, our capital city has been reinforced as a true hub for rich engagements and opportunity, for residents and visitors. Phase I of Wayfinding,

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vehicular signs, are currently being installed and Phase II’s pedestrian signage will be installed in spring 2018.

But in all reality, it’s been a blast. Brendan is our 3-year-old son, and he’s had a ball becoming a big brother too; we’ll see how long that lasts!

None of our progress or the city’s progress would be possible without support from stakeholders of all kinds: property owners, business owners, education centers, arts institution, private and public organizations, and of course the residents of Lansing who keep our area vibrant and incredible. These partnerships include the City of Lansing, Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau, Lansing Entertainment and Public Facilities Authority, and more.

We’ve been teaching some classes and doing more promos, like for wine tastings. In classes, a lot of people find it’s harder than they thought it was to prepare the food, which is always interesting. But that’s how we’re trying to stand out and leverage these trends, by bringing new experiences to households and accessible ways for folks to break bread.

WHAT INDUSTRY TRENDS DID YOU SEE IN 2017 AND WHAT TRENDS DO YOU FORESEE IN THE NEXT YEAR? I’ve seen two key trends that have developed over 2017, and they aren’t going away anytime soon from my estimation: urbanization and residential growth. Across the nation, urban areas have continued to increase in population density, people living and working in downtowns— Lansing is no exception, which is phenomenal. As people are further concentrated, expansion will follow demands, increasing the profile and significance of downtown Lansing as a cultural and education center, entertainment destination, business hub and even just a place to meet and start anew wherever you are in life. A big part of urbanization is our residential growth. We want to continue gaining downtown residents with the opening of spaces such as the Outfield Lofts earlier in 2017. This demand for urban living has not been met quite yet, but as additional residential units enter the market, we’ll see it happen. Our downtown should have a minimum of 3,000 residential units.

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR YOUNG PROFESSIONALS ENTERING YOUR INDUSTRY? I understand the feeling of wanting to take everything by the horns all at once, but you simply don’t have to be an all-out expert in one specific area of community and economic development in order to make a significant impact. When it comes to reinvigorating the spaces important to you, it’s more significant to know a little about a lot of things. It always takes a village, and that includes trusting in the ability of others when working toward the same goal and passions. Work-life balance is also important. Balancing work and family can be interesting for me, but we’re a family of tough cookies. With the addition of our daughter, Kailey, things can get especially crazy, as far as finding time for different things.

ingredients from an establishment to home and make their favorite dish: to have dinner with family, friends or whoever. We understand that, because we understand the social aspect of restaurants. So, it’s a fun thing that people want to do — maybe not every night, but people want to.

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR YOUNG PROFESSIONALS ENTERING YOUR INDUSTRY? KIM

SONG SU KIM

Director of Operations of Ukai Hibachi Grill and Al Fusion Sushi & Grill – 2017

WHAT WAS YOUR OR YOUR ORGANIZATION’S BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENT IN 2017? We had a lot of new hires, and we’ve had a lot of great employees. People looking for a fresh start or just need some extra income — everyone has their reasons for coming and going. It’s always about the people for me, so, I’m proud that we’ve gotten to know and hired some immense talent. As far as finding these employees, it’s sometimes just the luck of the draw. But most of the employees we get are referred here through friends and family. Most people work out, but some don’t, and that’s okay. People graduate, relocate out of town or just go off to do bigger and better things. I always tell people to not take a step back, but take a step forward. We just want people to give us a bit of a notice in the event, which is always helpful

I've been asked by professors at Michigan State — I graduated from there — to share my experiences, so I think this is a great question with a simple answer: work your tail off. When I first got started, I knew my parents would catch me if I fell on my behind but going out and getting myself established was so important to map the rest of my path. I worked hard, told people about that same work ethic, and it showed at the end of the day Understanding the value of demanding work and that sticking to it will get you far is important. My generation tends to label the younger generation as lazy or whatever, but every generation does that to their successors; it’s cyclical. So, to students, don’t worry about it but don’t be afraid of the work. That way, when you’re in your 40s, 50s, etc. you’ll get to work less with your hands and more with your mind.

WHAT INDUSTRY TRENDS DID YOU SEE IN 2017 AND WHAT TRENDS DO YOU FORESEE IN THE NEXT YEAR? A challenging trend can be distinguishing ourselves a little bit from other restaurants with similar menus. Distinguishing ourselves pricepoint wise or with unique food is important, but it is never really an issue. We treat people well, and we have such quality, loyal customers that it makes all the difference and is never a big deal. There’s a lot of trendy stuff that has come up in general, especially in the take-out world. Nowadays, a lot of people will take the raw

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TRACI COREY

Olivet College’s Director of Women’s Leadership Institute (WLI) – 2017

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WHAT WAS YOUR OR YOUR ORGANIZATION’S BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENT IN 2017? Just the launching of the Women’s Leadership Institute has been a real labor of love for so many of us on campus. Despite our rich history, which we continue to build upon, the struggles that women face today are still tough for young girls. While strides have been made, we can do better. And who better to do it than Olivet College? The thing that I’m most excited about, and not just the launch of the institute, is our partnership with ATHENA international and this year-long women’s leadership program based on their model. It’s a proven success model not just for women but for men — we aren’t trying to exclude men, but we think women are facing some tougher challenges, so how can we help them become more successful?

those who can’t. It takes a village; you can’t do anything by yourself, so surround yourself with really good people who are passionate about what you’re passionate about, and you’ll be able to pull it together. Also, let what stands out about you shine. I’m highly driven personally; I’m a driver, sometimes too intensely! When I see something, I dive into it like a dog on the bone, until I accomplish what I want to see happen, you know? That’s what people close to me might say about me, but it’s also what helped me develop, mold and focus — in order to get where I am today.

WHAT WAS YOUR ORGANIZATION’S BIGGEST CHALLENGE IN 2017?

Another challenge has been fundraising. The college is in the middle of the largest capital campaign in its history, and we're entering the public phase. So, balancing WLI within that has been a fun challenge because, without funds, there's no programming. But it's nice to be a part of something so much bigger than one person or a few people, and I believe this will all lead to women's leadership development for years to come.

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR YOUNG PROFESSIONALS ENTERING YOUR INDUSTRY? I think the biggest thing is to be true to yourself. Don’t stop striving to make an impact in a positive way and don’t stop advocating for yourself and 22

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR YOUNG PROFESSIONALS LOOKING TO BECOME NEWSMAKERS AND CHANGE AGENTS WITH THEIR OWN TALENTS? My advice is to know the most about your profession and what you want to do. Whether it’s interning while in college or getting involved at the ground level of the organization you want to be a part of, you need to work hard. It will be rewarded by the people who are already there.

Also, just to see the young ladies already in the program is great, and we’ve had some absolutely amazing women leaders from Michigan be our speakers or facilitators for each of these sessions. For these young women to be able to rub elbows with some of the women who have ‘been there, done that,’ is remarkable. It’s all been a phenomenal, grassroots growth.

My husband has a saying: You can want everything, but you can’t have everything. I think the biggest challenge that we’re most proud of as a college has been the strategic planning involved in WLI. We listened to the surveys, we listened to the focus groups, we listened to the women leaders and in a little over four months we were able to put together the strategic document and get it to some key people. We had it all in places but pulling it all together and really articulating it was a big accomplishment and something that I think we’re really proud of.

Well, you'd have to ask them! My wife would tell you that I love Lansing and get things done on behalf of the city, but I'm also someone that really enjoys staying home and reading a book. People have this concept of politicians as the most outgoing, engaging folks ever, but sometimes you need just to sit and relax. So, in the midst of going out and figuring out what people want and think to the benefit of our community, it's important for me to spend time with my family and re-energize the brain.

SCHOR

ANDY SCHOR

Sometimes, change is hard, and there’s pushback in the face of new ideas. I think that when young people get in, whether you’re an entrepreneur or you’re working at General Motors, you get ahead by showing you’re a team player and working hard. For me, that meant interning and working up from there, allowing those already in place to help me get to where I want to go. Get ready to lead, and a way will be paved.

Mayor of Lansing - 2018

WHAT DOES YOUR ADMINISTRATION PLAN TO ACCOMPLISH IN 2018? In our campaign, we focused on four topics: strong neighborhoods; economic and community development; fixing infrastructures like roads and sidewalks; and relationships with our schools. So, those are the broad topics, and we’re going to be rolling out a variety of exciting plans while still working through many things that the previous administration was working on. We’ll have lots of specifics leading up to the State of the City, with lots to talk about and plenty of work ahead of us. We went through a ninemonth campaign of knocking on 75,000 or so doors; putting together that plan for Lansing and discussing it with voters was a worthwhile effort to inform these ideas and develop progress moving forward. Now, as we’ve transitioned, we’ll continue to engage the community in public safety, citizen engagement and more to hit the ground running.

WHAT WOULD YOUR FRIENDS OR FAMILY DESCRIBE AS YOUR GREATEST QUIRK?

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SUZY MERCHANT

empowHER, MSU Women’s Basketball Head Coach – 2018

WHAT ARE YOU OR YOUR ORGANIZATION PLANNING TO ACCOMPLISH IN 2018? With empowHER, I think my goal is to reach as many kids as possible. There’s a lot of pressure on

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them to be a certain way, look a certain way — I want to reach as many young girls as possible to help them build the skills and mindset needed that will translate into their careers and lives. I came into this under the pretense of tragedy. I was recruiting a young woman out of Pennsylvania, and four days before Mother's Day, in her junior year, she decided to end her own life. I couldn't figure it out, and it really hit me hard. Me, being a mom, I struggled in general and then as a coach recruiting her. I thought over time I would be able to move on, but I couldn’t. So, I asked myself: What can I do?

and even what a healthy relationship looks like from a dating perspective for when they’re older. So, when they’re walking out of here, we want them to walk out with their shoulders straight and head high. Our motto is,’ You got this!’ I think when they go off, they really believe that. We want them to feel good about who they are and that yes, they may need to rework some things, but they’re own confidence and self-esteem is sky high. We can only accomplish this from a facilitator perspective, as a team and when everyone believes in the same vision.

There are so many young girls who struggle to cope with so much — not necessarily with taking their life but with a boy, school, alcohol and drugs. The coping skills just aren’t there. So, after the tragedy, I asked myself questions on how to help with these kinds of things. That sort of developed into this program where we can give these kids some skills and support so that when they leave, they'll be even more equipped to handle tough situations.

Lately, I’ve had this obsession with turkey meatballs from Whole Foods. It’s bizarre, I know. But all I do is eat turkey meatballs for breakfast, lunch and dinner, on the road for games, etc. In fact, Whole Foods was going to discontinue them and — I’ve never done this before in my life — I actually had a meeting with the manager and begged him not to discontinue these turkeybased meatballs, and they had to go all the way to corporate to make my request happen. I couldn’t tell you where this obsession came from; they’re just easy to eat and delicious!

WHAT WILL YOUR ORGANIZATION BRING TO THE GREATER LANSING AREA IN 2018? I hope when these women within empowHER’s leave they’ll be able to cope, feel good about who they are and learn a little bit more about themselves. Hopefully, their self-esteem and selfconfidence will be higher. We do different classes and programming based on ages; It's fourth to ninth grade, so there are distinct levels of content, or if they're close enough in age we slightly adjust. But it covers just about everything, including bullying, loving your body and loving yourself,

I’ve been blessed over the years to have friends and mentors that have helped me mesh my personality traits with work — people like MSU President Simon and our Athletics Director Mark Hollis who have helped me, both through prodding and by example, to be a bit more extroverted. Another thing I'd say, as people grow into leadership roles and this is certainly something I've worked on, is the simple question of work-life balance. I think, for most of us, our biggest hurdle tends to be focusing on the things that we don't do instead of the things that we do. So, I try hard to live without regret and achieve work-life balance in a thoughtful way: to leave it all on the field when I'm at work but make sure I'm present when I'm home and spending time with my family.

WHAT WOULD YOUR FRIENDS OR FAMILY DESCRIBE AS YOUR GREATEST QUIRK? I’ve got a lot of them! In the past, I was WWF fan growing up. I loved wrestling: seeing Jimmy Fly Snuka flying from the tightrope, practicing my piledrivers and figure-four leglocks! All of the excitement and energy associated with wrestling would just blow me away! So, for most of my childhood and I guess even now, I’m a huge fan of that.

When I think about the biggest hurdles that I’ve overcome over the last number of years — I’m in a job that is really a people person sort of role, connecting people to each other. I’m a real introverted sort of guy. So, one of my hurdles over the years has been overcoming my quieter, more introspective nature to most effectively interact with people of all kinds.

WHAT DO YOU SAY ABOUT THE POWER OF A TEAM EFFORT AND LIFTING OUR COMMUNITY UP FROM WITHIN? BEEKMAN

BILL BEEKMAN

Vice President and Secretary of MSU Board of Trustees – 2018

WHAT ARE YOU OR YOUR ORGANIZATION PLANNING TO ACCOMPLISH IN 2018? Michigan State University has a lot on its plate for 2018. We’ve got a number of really exciting construction projects, new buildings, facilities and programming. We’re in the middle of building a new interdisciplinary science and technology building. We’re also putting a major addition to the Eli Broad College of Business. We are continuing to make enhancements to the Facility for Rare Isotype Beams’ — which is known as FRIB — civil construction, as well as to the machine that will do all the work. We’re also going to conclude the university’s largest capital campaign that will have raised over $1.4 billion — much of that is going toward student scholarships and faculty positions. The final thing I’ll say is, with any luck in 2018, we hope to be playing basketball into April in the NCAA Final Four in San Antonio!

The Greater Lansing community and MSU community have always been huge parts of my life. I was born at Sparrow Hospital, I grew up in downtown Lansing and I have been roaming around campus for as long as I can remember. So, to me, lifting our community and becoming a stronger community are important things. I’ve been blessed in my career to work at the university because, its mission as a land-grant institution is to uplift the community. It’s easy to work for a place whose values you believe in passionately. In one of my volunteer roles, I’m the chairperson of the board of the MSU Federal Credit Union. And that’s another organization whose mission is to fulfill the dreams of the community. They do that through loans and financial transactions, but they also give back millions and millions of dollars to the community. Many would be wellserved to follow that example. There’s always more we can do. I’m reminded of a Benjamin Franklin, quote something to the effect of,’ We must all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately.’ I think it is critical we all hang together, and I just try to do my little part in that big tapestry. Kristopher Johnson is a Communications Specialist at M3 Group, earning his bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University in 2015.

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST HURDLE YOU’VE HAD TO OVERCOME? L

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BY KRISTINE RICHMOND | PHOTO PROVIDED

VIRG BERNERO

Former Mayor of the City of Lansing

LOOKING BACK ON YOUR 12-YEAR TENURE AS MAYOR, WHAT IS ONE ACCOMPLISHMENT YOU ARE MOST PROUD OF? People talk about my legacy; What I've done all together as the longest-serving mayor under the modern charter, I think we've made a mark on Lansing, and it will be up to history, and to the people to decide what it is. But for me standing up for the auto industry was my finest hour. For me, it was a great privilege to take it to national airwaves. I got involved in the fight, frankly, because I was scared to death. I sat here as the economy was collapsing in 2007 and 2008, and the Great Recession was upon us, and the auto industry was very much threatened and in peril. I remember calling the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the executive director in Washington D.C., and saying I need your help. As an automotive mayor, I said we’ve got to organize, 24

get the mayors together and I looked to the Conference to do that. After a series of calls and conversations, it was clear they were not going to take up the issue. So, I called my staff in and said we are in it alone. We started calling mayors of automotive cities and put together a coalition, the Mayors Automotive Coalition (now the Manufacturing Alliance of Communities). We had 30-40 mayors made up of Democrats and Republicans from all over the country. Since then, after we had success with the automotive crisis, the Conference agreed to start the Mayors Task Force on Advanced Manufacturing of which I am chair. The highest honor I received, besides the appreciation of residents, including a lot of former GM workers, was a letter I received from Rick Wagner, the CEO of GM at that time, that said ‘thank you, Mayor Bernero, for advocating on our behalf.’ I was just standing up for my people and, in a way, standing up for the UAW

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and auto workers all over the country. And its paid off - the investment in the auto industry has paid huge dividends for this country and has kept hundreds of thousands employed.

YOU CREDIT YOUR TEAM AS HAVING BEEN AN IMPORTANT PART OF YOUR SUCCESS. CAN YOU TELL US MORE? President John Kennedy coined the term ‘best and brightest,' referring to the story about the team he assembled. No matter how smart you think you are, you need a team. Many of the people I appointed stayed with me. It was with the team that we got things done. I put a vision out there, and I often had ideas, but it’s the team - we met in the cabinet, we broke down the silos here at City Hall. One thing you'll never hear me say is "stay in your lane." Our motto is “it's all your lane.” We meet as a cabinet and we have everybody telling

BEHIND THE SCENES

everyone else how to do their job. We must be rowing in the same direction. Not only did I stop the infighting and demand that everyone works together, but I also brought in cabinet people that weren’t here before, or that don’t answer to the mayor. We need to be looking for ways to work together to consolidate. I’m always saying read the charter. The charter calls for consolidation, collaboration and even merger. But here we weren’t even talking to each other on a regular basis, even city agencies.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY WAS A HALLMARK OF YOUR ADMINISTRATION? Regional efforts have been a hallmark of this administration. Regional efforts were a hallmark of Dave Hollister, and we continued that tradition. We built huge additions onto the foundation of Hollister, who had inherited a city that really needed work. He had to bolster the foundation. He helped build modern Lansing and then we took it to the next level.

TWENTY YEARS FROM NOW, WHAT DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO SAY ABOUT YOUR TIME AS MAYOR? ‘He got shit down.' ‘He kicked ass.' ‘He got things done.' I think my mother would be proud of that. That is how she was. We learn from our parents more than we know. My mother was a stay-at-home mother and raised five kids; she was a big Italian mama, great cook, hard worker, and her values and integrity were incredible. She was a fighter with a big heart. To my mother, strangers were friends and friends were family. I think I've led the city that way; I think I've made time for everybody. What I'm proud of is that every person feels good talking to me, and I'm happy to talk to every person from every economic stratum. I think I‘ve been a mayor for everybody, every age and every race.

WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE PLANS? I plan to give back. I have the time and energy to give back, but still smell the roses a little bit.

My dad is 92 and lives with us, and my wife still works for the Lansing School District. I intend to be more hands-on in that. For years my wife challenged me to be a mentor, but I just couldn't fit it into my schedule. I hope to launch the City of Kindness initiative, and Andy has said he’ll let me do it, and he’ll support it. I’ve got the United Way working with me on that initiative. A lot of my philanthropic efforts will go through this City of Kindness initiative, which will take all of us as a community. It answers a lot of the needs in our community right now. I'm interested in partners; everyone can be involved in this. For more information, people can contact me at Bernerovirg@gmail.com. I also plan to do some municipal and political consulting with Randy Hannan.

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

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BUSINESS CALENDAR

JANUARY 2018 JANUARY 3 DEWITT CHAMBER LUNCHEON, DEWITT Join the Dewitt Chamber of Commerce for their monthly Chamber luncheons. This month, they will be featuring Matt Cooper from Matthew Accounting. The luncheon is from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Banquet & Conference Center of DeWitt. Individual pricing is $5. Visit dewittareacc.org for more information.

JANUARY 9 AVOIDING SEXUAL & OTHER UNLAWFUL HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE, LANSING It seems there’s a news story in the headlines every other day about a powerful Hollywood producer, well-known politician or high-level executive admitting to sexual harassment. Sexual harassment is not limited to big companies and famous people. The best way to avoid having the government investigate your workplace or employees filing lawsuits is to better understand what harassment and discrimination is. This 60-minute webinar will explain how to spot, identify and avert potential sexual and other unlawful harassment and discrimination in the workplace. Visit michamber.com to register for this webinar and find more information.

JANUARY 10 NACW MEETING, LANSING The National Association of Career Women is a nonprofit organization devoted to the enhancement of women’s personal and professional development. Their mission is to create an enriching environment for career women to share, grow and build professional and personal relationships that able them to reach their full potential. Lunch meetings are the second Wednesday of each month from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Urban Beat Event Center. Reserve your luncheon spot as a guest or member by visiting nacwonline.org/chapters/ Lansing.aspx.

JANUARY 17 A DAY IN THE LIFE: SOLVING REAL HR PROBLEMS, LANSING There are a number of complex employment law issues that human resource professionals and small business owners can face, sometimes all within a very long day. This interactive workshop will track a day in the life of a human resources director as problems are tackled involving discrimination, wage and hour laws, concerted employee activities, disability and medical leaves, medical marijuana, hostile work environment, social media and an inappropriate new hire interview. Attendees will be able to “issue spot” along with the presenter, who will answer questions and discuss legal implications, the best HR practices and regulatory issues involved. Visit michamber. com to find more information and register today.

JANUARY 17 PROJECT MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP, LANSING Master the art of project planning, organizing and avoiding mistakes or miscalculations. Learn better communication techniques, rid of waste and access indispensable planning and scheduling tools to assure the project is implemented exactly as planned. Visit pryor.com to read more about this seminar and register today.

JANUARY 20 RBT PRESENTS: STARTING YOUR BUSINESS NOW, EAST LANSING Come learn from real entrepreneurs how to turn your business idea into reality. This seminar will cover free resources to start your business, how to stay self-motivated and the steps needed to turn your idea into an asset. This free seminar will be in McDonel Hall from 3-5 p.m. Visit eventbrite.com to find more information.

JANUARY 16 TECH TUESDAY, LANSING Tech Tuesday is a group of weekly meetings just for developers. They meet every Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Technology Innovation Center in East Lansing. Visit purelansing.com for more information.

JANUARY 23 UNDERSTANDING MILLENNIAL EMPLOYEES, LANSING Millennials are often a disparaged and misunderstood generation of employees in the workplace. However, we can learn from them because they are more likely to leave companies quickly when dissatisfied, whereas

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others may be slower to leave – or be less engaged and efficient workers – for the same reasons. This 60-minute webinar will help you better understand the unique millennial collective mindset, how the millennial employee fits within your workplace and how to interpret what they are really saying, leading to overall improved performance. This webinar is offered through the Michigan Chamber of Commerce. Visit michamber.com to learn more and to register.

JANUARY 24 THE HATCHING, LANSING Post your business idea and gain votes. The top five ideas will pitch to a live audience at Lansing Brewing Company. The winning idea will receive $1,000 in seed funding. Visit thehatching.org for more information.

JANUARY 25 HOW TO MANAGE CONFLICT AND CONFRONTATION, LANSING This powerful conflict management training presents an exciting, innovative, solutiondriven approach to the inevitable conflicts that arise at work and at home. Discover practical, proven alternatives you can use in the most difficult and frustrating situations. Visit pryor.com to discover more about this seminar and to register.

JANUARY 25 SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE WORKSHOP, LANSING On Thursday, Jan. 25, Critical Victories Founder and CEO John Collins will host Identify & Eradicate: Ending Sexual Harassment and Other Forms of Workplace Abuse in Lansing, which will cover how reputable companies can reinvent work environments and disable abusive personalities. Collins brings decades of experience in human resources, criminal justice and executive coaching, allowing leaders to learn how to structure environments as toxic to workplace harassment and sexual hostilities, so your employees can continue to thrive at a prominent level. Registration is $124. Please visit criticalvictories.com for more information.

BUSINESS CALENDAR