Greater Lansing Business Monthly January 2020 by M3 Group Publications

JANUARY 2020

TRAIN SMARTER Trackers revolutionize fitness by bringing health data to the masses IN THIS ISSUE • Year in Review: What 2019 happenings will stick with you? • Behind the Scenes with Deborah Guthrie: New adventures • Generation Z: A quick look at Lansing’s newest workforce

VISUAL BREAKDOWN

JOIN GREATER LANSING BUSINESS MONTHLY as they present the 26th Annual Entrepreneurial Awards Ceremony

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2020

Cocktail hour 5 p.m. - 6 p.m. Awards program at 6:30 p.m. Lansing Center, 333 E Michigan Ave., Lansing MI 48933

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JANUARY 2020

VISUAL BREAKDOWN

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JANUARY 2020 ON THE COVER GEN Z Gets to Work: a look at Lansing’s newest workforce.................................................................. 10

Behind the Scenes................................................................. 22 A Year in Review..................................................................... 24

JANUARY 2020

NEWS

Vista Springs and Orion Construction Expand Timber Ridge Village in East Lansing......................................................................................................... 8 A Vision for Growth............................................................................................................. 12

FEATURES Local Municipalities Prepare for Potential Recession, Economic Downturn....................................................................................... 14

TRAIN SMARTER Trackers revolutionize fitness by bringing health data to the masses

Newsmakers.......................................................................................................................... 26 Notable News....................................................................................................................... 30

IN THIS ISSUE • Year in Review: What 2019 happenings will stick with you? • Behind the Scenes with Deborah Guthrie: New adventures • Generation Z: A quick look at Lansing’s newest workforce

Cover photography by Mary Gajda

Greater Lansing Business Monthly | Volume 33, Issue 1 Greater Lansing Business Monthly is published monthly by M3 Group at 221 West Saginaw Street, Lansing, MI 48933. Periodicals postage paid at Lansing, Michigan USPO. USPS number 020w807. Subscriptions: Subscriptions are available at $22 per year for postage and handling or $38 for two years. Call (517) 203-3333 or visit lansingbusinessnews.com to subscribe. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Greater Lansing Business Monthly, 221 West Saginaw Street, Lansing, MI 48933. Send additional subscription requests and address changes to The Greater Lansing Business Monthly, Inc., 221 West Saginaw Street, Lansing, MI 48933. Copyright © 2016 The Greater Lansing Business Monthly, Inc. All rights reserved. Editorial Office: 221 West Saginaw Street, Lansing, MI 48933 lansingbusinessnews.com iv

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MSUFCU Welcomes Dan Wilkinson We are pleased to announce Dan Wilkinson as our newest business loan officer. Dan brings with him a wealth of business lending knowledge and a strong desire to continue helping promote growth of the mid-Michigan area. Dan has been serving the Greater Lansing business community for over 12 years, is president of the Haslett-Okemos Rotary Club, and also serves as a member of the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce Ambassador team. Whether you are just getting your business off the ground, or have been established for years, Dan can help your business grow to the next level.

Dan Wilkinson 517-333-2424, ext. 6653 | dan.wilkinson@msufcu.org La

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COMMENTARY

Publisher: Tiffany Dowling, tiffany@m3group.biz Editor: Kelly Mazurkiewicz, kelly@m3group.biz Asst. Editor: Mary Gajda, mary@m3group.biz Media Manager: Jennifer Hodges, jhodges@m3group.biz Media Specialist: Carey Jarvis Account Managers: Megan Fleming Liz Reno-Hayes Zack Krieger Art Director: Mark Warner Publication Designer: Matthew McDaniel Graphic Designers: Lauren Brumbach Cody Fell Chelsey Freedman Communications Specialists: Amanda Fischer Christopher Nagy Rich Adams Adam Lansdell Photographers: Mary Gajda Matthew McDaniel Videographer: Michael Cagney GLBM Editorial Board: April Clobes — President and CEO, MSU Federal Credit Union Calvin Jones — Government Relations Director, Lansing Board of Water & Light

2020 VISION FOR THE COMING YEAR Lansing’s story continues to unfold – and like any riveting edge-of-yourseat pager-turner, it seems like we’re just getting to the good part. First, there are so many exciting things happening in technology that relate to fitness and health. We take a look in this issue at a couple of businesses that are using technology in new and exciting ways. Second, this past year the city and surrounding region continued to take strong strides toward positioning itself for a bright future. Whether it was the long-anticipated groundbreaking of Gillespie Group’s BLOCK600 project in the heart of the Stadium District, the fulfillment of the Rotary Park project to bolster the use of the city’s riverfront acreage or the announcement that global energy provider EDL is moving its North American headquarters to East Lansing, the region’s business outlook shined with nothing but promise and polish throughout 2019. This issue of Greater Lansing Business Monthly is highlighting some of the projects and people in 2019 that proved to be valuable newsmakers to the growth, livability, sense of community and economic health of where we call home. Who or what will be the newsmakers that push us forward in 2020? It’s an exciting proposition because they’re out there right now, planning and preparing to be the next guiding hand of our community, whether they’re seasoned industry veterans calculating their next business initiative or new entrepreneurs who will bring fresh minds and bold ideas to the table. There are plenty of accomplishments to be proud of as the city continues its rise. Equally so, there is no shortage of skill, talent and ingenuity that have yet to be tapped to accelerate regional performance and prominence. I encourage you to become part of the conversation and a catalyst for what you know needs to happen. Let the next chapter begin. Most importantly, be a part of it.

Lisa Parker — Director of Alumni Career and Business Services, Michigan State University Alumni Association Deb Muchmore Consulting — Owner, Deb Muchmore Consulting Tom Ruis — Vice President, Fifth Third Bank Doug Klein — Executive Director, Mason Area Chamber of Commerce

Tiffany Dowling | Publisher

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

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VISTA SPRINGS AND ORION CONSTRUCTION EXPAND TIMBER RIDGE VILLAGE IN EAST LANSING BY TEECE ARONIN

Vista Springs, an assisted living care provider, and Orion Construction have teamed to create a new 28,000-square-foot facility in East Lansing’s Timber Ridge Village. Both Orion Construction and Vista Springs are based in Grand Rapids. Groundbreaking on the building, called Imperial Park and designed by RDL Architects, took place last October. Site work should be completed in July with the assisted living community opening in August. Vista Springs’ investment in the project is more than $7 million, and the one-story, standalone facility will provide 30 additional residential units. Vista Springs Timber Ridge Village is a boutique-style assisted living community with 60 units. Jeannie Anthony is the managing partner. The facility provides memory care, assisted living and “rediscovery” transitional care services. Thinking in terms of rediscovery is one of the ways Vista Springs approaches its care of people with memory loss, dementia or cognitive impairment. “Some individuals have conditions that, over time, may be worsening or improving, and they will transition from one level of care to another. For instance, after a fall at home, they might need short-term physical therapy and a safe place with supportive care during this rehabilitation period before returning home,” said Vista Springs CEO Lou Andriotti, adding some residents “age 8

in place” during which time their level of care transitions accordingly. Some people come for short stays and go home, while some have lived in their Vista Springs community for more than 10 years. “These dignified and personalized approaches are how we make a significant difference in the lives of those under our care and the families we serve,” said Andriotti. The amenities of the existing 57-apartment center are modeled after those in resorts. The new community also will be resort style. It will add eight studio apartments and 22 one-bedroom apartments along with dining rooms, a beauty salon, spa, commercial kitchen, social areas and work/office space. To staff the facility, 30-35 new employees will be hired. “We are growing to meet our residents’ needs and exceed their families’ expectations of what an assisted living community can be,” Andriotti said. Vista Springs has 12 communities in Michigan and the Greater Cleveland, Ohio, region. At press time, it had completed four projects with Orion Construction with two underway in Michigan. “Vista Springs is a first-class organization with exceptional standards for their communities and the level of care they provide,” Orion President Roger Rehkopf

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said. “That consideration inspires our company to deliver the highest quality building we can. I think that is what makes this relationship so enjoyable for Orion. We know their community members will get the excellent treatment they deserve in a first-class building, and we are proud to play a small role in that process.” Orion was founded in 2000 and is a multi-service construction company and development firm. It specializes in revitalization of urban cores, new construction, renovation, restoration and design along with building services. It takes on projects including mixed-use, industrial, institutional, retail and multifamily. Vista Springs offers residents and their families what it calls a “Full of Life” experience with an emphasis on purposeful and engaging communities. To learn more about Vista Springs, go to vistaspringsliving.com and for Orion Construction, visit orionbuilt.com. Teece Aronin is a blogger and columnist. Teece writes a humor/health and wellness column for the Oakland Press. Her artwork is available at the Redbubble.com store, phylliswalter, and Aronin seriously considers any request for workshops, coaching, and speaking engagements. Read her blog at ChippedDemitasse. BlogSpot.com, contact her at paronin1@gmail. com and follow her on Twitter @taronin.

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Debbie Foster-DeMyers Line Department Administrative Assistant

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“The Board of Water & Light is very involved in the community and encourages us to give back by volunteering in such programs like Meals on Wheels. This program delivers meals to people who are not able to get out and get these kind of meals for themselves. I love doing Meals on Wheels. It’s an opportunity for me to give back. It’s a joy to see someone else is actually relying on us to provide a meal for them and for us to be able to deliver that for them and see a smile on their face. It’s all worth it.”

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GEN Z GETS TO WORK: A LOOK AT LANSING’S NEWEST WORKFORCE BY NICK MCCORMACK

While the oldest members of Generation Alpha – the children of millennials – are clamoring at the thoughts of what double digits have in store for them, the eldest of the previous generation are finding a new lease on life in Michigan’s bustling job market. The cusp of Generation Z turns 25 this January, and what a 25 years it has been. Gen Zers have grown up through several wars, a financial crisis and a technological revolution. Growing up during such turbulent times has made Gen Z hard to nail down, with experts having anguished over their collective behavioral profile for over two decades. As with all generations, the most soughtafter dataset concerning Generation Z is consumption habits, but it is their thoughts on employment that will pave the way to properly introducing the next 10

generation to the workforce. In 2019 Tim Sackett, the president of HRU Technical Resources, relayed his experiences with Gen Z employees to the Society for Human Resource Management. Sackett remarked at Gen Z’s hardworking nature, growing pains in their new professional environment and the antagonism they would often receive at the hands of older generations. Indeed, Gen Z is running the gamut of entry-level trials and tribulations as indicated by a few choice stats from The Workforce Institute at Kronos’ 2019 report, “Meet Gen Z”. According to the report, which takes into account survey responses from over 3,000 participants in 11 countries, Gen Z exhibits outgoing attitudes toward time management. Approximately 30% of surveys indicated that Gen Z workers demand control over their schedules, will not stand for denial of time off and would refuse

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back-to-back shifts; strong stances that could ruff le the feathers of older workforces. Datasets aside, there is no denying that the iGeneration has already begun to leave its mark on the Greater Lansing area. Ciesa Design, a 30-plus-year-old mainstay in Lansing marketing, has taken enormous bounds in curating a generationally diverse team of marketers, going so far as to collaborate with Michigan State University professors for the Ciesa Blend team. The young unit operates out of the basement of Ciesa Design’s headquarters on East Grand River Avenue and is bustling with recent MSU grads hungry to change Lansing for the better. Twenty-threeyear-old Parker Sessa graduated from MSU in 2018 and has been managing the accounts for Ciesa Blend ever since. “As the account manager at Ciesa, my main goal is to ensure we are answering

NEWS

our clients’ needs and wants with thought-out solutions,” said Sessa. “I love meeting new people and presenting what we can do for our clients.” Ciesa Blend primarily works with local businesses. “We did a campaign for Potter Park Zoo that kicked off in late 2018 that still continues today,” said Sessa. “We love that project because we can really see the impact the campaign had and continues to have in the Lansing community.” While recent grads like Sersa are making an impression on Lansing’s professional workforce, current members of the Lansing area’s collegiate community are similarly working hard to gain a foothold in the local zeitgeist. Zoya Shevchenko is a junior attending MSU’s College of Social Science and an active member of the local arts and humanities community. “Taking part in local art collectives and interning at creative businesses has made me feel more at home,” Shevchenko explained. Shevchenko recently interned at Fusion Shows, a Lansing-based concert promotion company. “I did lots of graphic design work as well as hands-on show

preparation,” Shevchenko said. “It was really cool to see my designs displayed in real life for a real purpose.” Whether they’re taking bold new steps in an already fruitful career or exploring the possibilities our vibrant community has to offer, Generation Z is sure to have a long, revolutionary run in Lansing.

Nick McCormack is a fourth-year advertising major at Michigan State University and a freelance contributor for the Greater Lansing Business Monthly. He enjoys covering surfacing trends and local innovators. In his free time, he busies himself with good books, scenic hikes and shooting his bow.

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A VISION FOR GROWTH The Revitalization of Downtown Lansing

BY EMMA C. JOHNSON

URBAN REVITALIZATION It can be a Catch-22. People want nice places to live close to work, restaurants and entertainment. But first, housing needs to be available and businesses setting up shop need to make sure they have a customer base living nearby. Greenspaces outside the city are attractive to developers because there aren’t cleanup costs of revitalization often associated with city spaces. However, from an urban planning perspective, this can lead to a sprawling city that’s harder to provide services for. Using tax incentives, the city of Lansing is working with developers to revitalize neglected spaces in the heart of the city that need asbestos removal and other environmental cleanup services.

THE BROWNFIELD PLAN The Lansing Brownfield Redevelopment Authority released “Brownfield Plan No. 77,” a report outlining plans and 12

costs of redevelopment for the 500 Block Redevelopment Project. The project calls for a “mixed-use multiphase multibuilding redevelopment,” including offices, retail space and apartments. This includes 501 S. Capitol Ave. – building No. 1 – and 520 S. Washington Ave. – building No. 2 – in Lansing. Building No. 1 was constructed in 1970 as a six-story single-occupant central bank. The building is now vacant except for Lake Trust Credit Union on the first f loor. Building No. 1 will include renovations to transform the property into a mixed-use structure. It will contain an estimated 23,461 square feet of office/commercial space and 44 multifamily residential apartments across four residential f loors. Completion is expected by 2021. Building No. 2 will be a newly constructed mixed-use building built on the current parking lot of the 500 block. The building will contain an estimated 116 multifamily residential apartments and 3,500 square feet of commercial space.

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Completion is expected by 2022.

A VISION OF GROWTH FOR THE CITY Lansing Mayor Andy Schor said the plan is to draw people to the city and retain young people living in the area, and even bring people back to the area. “We’d rather not have a blighted parking lot with an aging building that is mostly empty,” Schor said. “The goals are to repurpose and activate that space so that there is something exciting and active going on in the southern downtown. “We have a vision of growth throughout the city. We want to create excitement and activation throughout the city,” Schor continued. “We’ve been pushing for lots of vibrancy. And when you have development and more people living in our city and in our southern downtown area and more options for commercial for activities, then more people want to live there and more people want to visit.

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huge benefit, but even citywide it’s making Lansing a more attractive place to live.” According to Klein, more people living downtown means more businesses and support for the businesses that are there. Klein said this outcome is the “shortterm, direct benefit.” However, there are also long-term benefits for the city. “A lot of people choose where they live before they choose where they work,” Klein said. “So, people are picking … a place to find opportunities rather than moving

to a certain location for a specific job.” There also are significant tax benefits. More people living downtown means a larger tax base of both individuals and businesses. Emma C. Johnson is a writer based in Midland, MI. She has written for the Midland Daily News, the Delta Collegiate, and Great Lakes Bay Regional Lifestyle Magazine, among others. She studied English at Rutgers University— New Brunswick and holds a B.A. in English from the University of Minnesota—Twin Cities.

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“I expect it to have a pretty significant economic impact,” said Schor. And a “tremendous impact in that area.”

INCREASING ECONOMIC ACTIVITY The Lansing Economic Area Partnership is working on the project with the aim of increasing economic activity and bringing in new tax revenue from an increased property value and from new residents paying taxes. LEAP Economic Development Specialist Kris Klein said adding apartment units downtown “will help bring more residents and, with that, potentially more of a demand” for restaurants, services and office spaces.

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Klein said apartment units added downtown feed into a positive cycle. “It makes Lansing a more attractive place to help spur additional businesses that provide services for folks who live downtown,” Klein explained. “As far as downtown, it’s a

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LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES PREPARE FOR POTENTIAL RECESSION, ECONOMIC DOWNTURN BY AMANDA FISCHER

Lansing-area municipalities are preparing for a financial downturn or recession in light of more than 70% of analysts predicting a nationwide recession by 2021 in a National Association for Business Economics survey. Ron Leix, spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Treasury, said economists at past consensus revenue estimating conferences have predicted state and national economies will continue to grow, but at a slower pace, over the next few years. Despite the inconsistent predictions among economists, Leix said it is still important that local governments prepare for future economic downturns, recessions or emergencies because cities, counties, villages and townships provide many services necessary for a growing, vibrant community. “Local governments that have a strong foundation in preparation help ensure that unplanned events, such as a loss of a large employer, infrastructure failure or economic downturn have minimal impact on the shortterm operation of the community,” said Leix. Delta Township Manager Brian Reed agreed, saying officials know recessions are going to happen, so governments must be prepared. 14

“As much as we would like to never see recessions happen, we know that they do,” said Reed. “If you always do everything thinking toward those tough times and whether or not you’re going to be able to afford those (nonessential) services, it helps keep you in the proper perspective so you don’t become too bloated with a lot of services that are difficult to sustain during economic downturn.” Additionally, Delta Township maintains six months’ worth of operating funds, sets aside money for future capital improvements each year and diversifies industries within the township. East Lansing also has implemented cost-saving strategies like making significant budget cuts and using fiveyear financial forecasting to prepare for future economic downturns. “We are still recovering (from the last recession) but have implemented many cost-cutting measures and efficiencies over the years to safeguard our future financial sustainability,” said George Lahanas, East Lansing city manager. “We also have relied more heavily on our residents by way of voter-approved millages and an income tax.”

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Jake Brower, city of Lansing budget director, said the city has adopted recommendations from the Lansing Financial Health Team to help prepare for recessions, including using internal forecasting to incorporate fiveyear revenue and expenditure forecasts as a supplement to the annual budget and hiring a chief financial officer to explore revenue possibilities and implement strategies to address increasing long-term obligations. Moreover, East Lansing and Lansing make supplemental pension payments to reduce their funding gaps. These three Lansing-area municipalities have worked to maintain transparency with residents while preparing for financial downturns through public financial planning meetings, newsletter updates, social media, website updates and more. To learn about what your elected officials are doing to prepare for economic downturn, contact your local municipality. Amanda Fischer is a communications specialist at M3 Group. She likes reading, watching movies and playing games in her free time.

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SMART AND FIT Monitors, trackers and apps are helping trainers and their clients get smarter about fitness BY STEFANIE POHL La

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Orangetheory clients wear arm straps during a workout to track zones of heart rate training.

Technology has taken over most aspects of our lives. It connects us not only with others, but with ourselves in a variety of ways – from our sleeping habits to steps taken throughout the day. Thanks to wearable devices and apps, we are becoming even more in tune with ourselves and our goals. In the world of health and fitness, technology helps to motivate the masses through tracking steps, recording workouts, measuring heart rates and encouraging everyone to live a healthier lifestyle. Whether in a fitness studio or at home, smart technology is providing the tools to get smarter about fitness. Orangetheory Fitness is an international franchise that utilizes smart technology in its studios to enable clients with personal health information and competitive motivation. The program features wearable heart rate monitors to track the five zones of heart rate training – ranging from very light activity to all-out effort – during hour-long, high-intensity interval workouts. According to Dylan Lambertson, studio manager at 18

Orangetheory’s East Lansing location, the OTbeat chest straps and arm straps are 99% and 96% accurate, respectively. The information gathered from the heart rate monitors is displayed on the individual fitness equipment as well as three large TV screens in the room that project the clients’ names for everyone to view. It inspires a healthy dose of competition and community to the workouts, and Lambertson said the trackers are the ultimate motivator for clients. “It’s a great thing for us, because it actually helps members push themselves more than just having someone in there coaching them without a wearable,” he said. “They can actually see real-time results throughout class and over a period of time watch their heart be healthier. It pushes them to a whole new level of fitness.” After class, members receive an email summary detailing their calories burned and metrics to track progress. The Orangetheory Fitness app, launched this

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Photo provided by Orangetheory

past summer, also makes it easy to access information from previous workouts. In addition to its own line of wearables and app, Orangetheory Fitness is continuing to find ways of utilizing technology to serve its members, from monitoring their 1-mile run time every six months to launching an InBody body composition reader machine. “Technology is the way everyone’s going,” Lambertson said. “I think a lot of members get a lot more out of it because they actually see what’s happening. You can see sweat, but to actually know what you did in an hour is such great information to have.” Of the personal devices clients use for tracking their activity, Lambertson said the AppleWatch is the most popular. “We have members who love taking classes because of what it does for their goals on their watch,” he said. “It’s keeping people more accountable and more aware of how to work out.” With its own heart rate monitor and metrics

LET’S GET DIGITAL Looking beyond the ubiquity of technology in fitness studios and gyms, there are a growing number of options for people interested in exercising from the comfort of their own home, on their own time. Convenience and connectivity are the name of the game, and smart technology is making it easier than ever. Among the most popular home fitness options comes from Peloton, deemed “the best cardio machine on the planet” by Men’s Health. In addition to dozens of live classes for its Bike, Tread, and App, Peloton offers an on-demand library of classes with varying lengths and formats for users to choose from. The Peloton Bike and Peloton Tread are an investment; along

with a $39 per month membership, the Basics Package is over $2,200 for the Bike and $4,200 for the Tread. The Peloton App membership, a more accessible $19.49 per month, gives users the chance to stream a variety of workouts at home or on the go on their tablet, phone, TV or web browser. Another feat of fitness technology is the Mirror, named one of the best inventions of 2018 by Time magazine. A full-length mirror when it’s off, the Mirror connects users to an instructor and classmates with its interactive display. Over 70 new live classes are offered weekly, in addition to a library of on-demand classes, ranging from cardio and strength to yoga and boxing. At $1,495 for the equipment and

for measuring activity, the AppleWatch is one example of how users track their goals inside the gym and beyond.

$39 per month for a subscription, Mirror is another cult favorite that comes at a cost. Beyond fitness equipment, personal trackers such as the AppleWatch, Fitbit and Garmin give users a wealth of information about their health and that extra nudge to keep on moving. Those who track their activity throughout the day are all too familiar with parking farther away, taking the stairs and sneaking in extra steps on walks to hit their goals. Whether working out at home, in a fitness studio or just going about your day, wearable devices are an approachable way of getting in tune with your heart and your health.

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Matt Warner, a personal trainer since 2002 and owner of The Training Factory in Okemos, agreed that fitness trackers have been a game-changer for the industry. The biggest impact on the overall fitness of his clients? The simple Fitbit. “It’s a change in lifestyle,” Warner said. “It makes them more aware about trying to get to the recommended 10,000 steps a day. Certain people are going to use it more than others, of course. But it’s all about awareness.” Beyond step counting, Warner said wearable devices can provide instant accountability, pointing to features such as alerts to keep users from sitting for too long and prompts to complete daily goals. Another benefit is in the subconscious decisions made throughout the day, such as eating better. “You put a little more time into workouts, and you eat better on those days,” Warner said. With all of his personal training clients, Warner uses a heart rate monitor to record a perceived exertion. The data provides a baseline and, in some cases, a wake-up call. “They don’t realize they need to work a little harder to get to where their heart

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Matt Warner, The Training Factory

rate needs to be,” he said. “It becomes a fun way to compete with yourself to know that you’re working hard.”

700 others are riding the same recorded class. You can compare it to next time. It helps with your effort level.”

Warner plans to add a heart rate monitor concept similar to Orangetheory Fitness at The Training Factory, with client data posted on a screen inside the studio. “It’s all about accountability,” he said.

The Peloton is one of the latest pieces of fitness equipment implementing the newest in technology for connectivity and personal data tracking.

A popular amenity at The Training Factory is access to its Peloton bike, which offers ondemand and live-streamed cycling classes. “They have their own built-in community,” Warner said. “People come in at lunch to do an on-demand class and think they’re the only one, but they realize 20

Signing up for classes at fitness studios has also gone the way of technology. Apps like MindBody and ClassPass allow users to scan through class offerings, sign up through their phones and even sync with fitness trackers to record activity data. Even if fitness studios don’t have their own apps, these options help them connect with new and potential clients in a convenient way.

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While smart technology can be to blame for the problem of inactivity, the fitness and tech industries are working in tandem on solutions to get people more aware, more accountable and more active. Stefanie Pohl earned a B.A. in English and creative writing from Michigan State University and an M.A. in writing and publishing from DePaul University. She is currently a freelance writer raising her two young daughters with her Spartan sweetheart. Find her musings about motherhood and more on her blog, mostefinitely.com. Stefanie has been spelling out her name since 1985.

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BY TERESA FRITH | PHOTO BY MATTHEW MCDANIEL

DEBORAH GUTHRIE

NEW YEAR, NEW BEGINNINGS Social media has become bigger than life and is increasingly used as a form of digital marketing for businesses both big and small. It tells the story of a business’s services and culture, and that story must be told well. The residents of Meridian Township have relied on Deborah Guthrie, the current communications director/public information officer for the township, to be their eyes and ears on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Guthrie has provided communications services for Meridian Township residents since 1996 but is now getting ready to start her own company this month, Guthrie Communications LLC. 22

Guthrie said she has enjoyed every minute of being a township employee, but several factors led to her decision to start her own company, including f lying an open-air biplane over the mountains of Arizona last January, which taught her to be fearless. She said she watched “Bohemian Rhapsody” several times and Freddy Mercury’s “Radio Ga Ga” song kept ringing in her ear: “You had your time, you had the power, you’ve yet to have your finest hour.” “I kept playing that over in my head thinking ... I have many more ‘finest hours’ to go,” Guthrie said. “Are they as a communications director in my current position or something

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else? After much thought, and several other ‘signs’ including tons of encouragement from friends and supporters, I knew what I wanted to do, even if it meant giving up something I loved. Having a husband who is behind me 100% of the way with whatever I do doesn't hurt either. So I decided to follow my heart and take a leap of faith. The rest is yet to come as they say.” This month Guthrie announced on social media her new business and services. “I formed Guthrie Communications LLC in 2019, and I have already filed my LLC so I could own the business name I wanted,” Guthrie said. “I also bought a bunch of

Behind the Scenes

domains as I didn't want anyone taking them. Seems strange, but when you launch your own company, you'd be surprised how many names you want are taken!” With that being said, we asked Guthrie for some social media expertise.

WHAT NEW TRENDS DO YOU SEE FOR SOCIAL MEDIA COMING IN 2020? HOW WILL THESE AFFECT YOUR BUSINESS? I think social media is an amazing tool. I’ve given statewide to national presentations on the importance of being present on social media. I’ve often said if you're not on social media, you're dead. For instance, chefs make Instagrammable food because they know the power of social-driven content equating to feet in the doors and profitability. The matcha craze was totally driven this way.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY SOCIAL MEDIA IS A GREAT WAY TO STAY IN THE KNOW, EVEN IF YOU’RE NOT IN BUSINESS? When I discovered Facebook I said; “That's where everyone is.” I joined immediately. I honestly believe every business needs a social presence. YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn, depending on who you are, you need to be there.

I follow everything in Hong Kong on Facebook through my journalist friend’s posts. If it weren't for my connection to him, I may not even had known about the protests. I learned about the tsunami on Twitter and see every cute litter of puppies born on Schultz Vet Clinic's Instagram account. Super adorable.

WHAT SHOULD BUSINESSES CONCENTRATE ON FOR SOCIAL MEDIA IN 2020? HOW CAN YOU HELP PEOPLE WITH THESE TRENDS? In 2020, businesses should be aware of how new algorithms will affect their business and how to tweak their posts so the posts they create don’t have a negative effect on their page reach. Don't know what I’m talking about? Call me. JK. No really – call me. I can’t survive without excessive amounts of espresso shots and love engaging with people. If you are a new business or small government or organization, start small on social when you are ready. There is no pressure to begin. But when you do, consistency and brand voice is key. If that means hiring a consultant who can help launch your presence, get you going and

show you the ropes so you're empowered to do your own social, go for it! The one thing I’ve heard the most from all the conferences I’ve presented at is “We can’t afford to do it.” My response is that you cannot afford not to. Without you behind the driver’s seat telling the information, who is telling your story? You need to tell your own story. Showing people how is what I love. Guthrie added that she loves to chat with people, and you can connect with her to talk about social media topics at facebook.com/ deborahgtv, instagram.com/deborahgtv or email her at deborahg@guthriecom.com or call her at (517) 214-1530. Teresa Frith is a Navy veteran now residing in Nashville, Michigan 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 B.A. in English from Western Illinois University. Her hobbies include reading, writing and working to help stray and feral cats.

IMAGINE THE POSSIBILITIES

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Jan. 1 – Gretchen Whitmer takes the oath of office to become Michigan’s governor. Dana Nessel is sworn in as attorney general and Jocelyn Benson as secretary of state.

March 22 – General Motors Co. announces it will invest $300 million in its small-car assembly plant in Detroit to build a new electric vehicle, a move that will add 400 new jobs. (Detroit News)

Jan. 21 – Nearly 1,600 people attend the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Luncheon Celebration at the Lansing Center.

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May 17 – The U.S. House of Representatives passes the Equality Act, which prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. (Business Insider)

April 15 – A fire breaks out at the Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral in Paris, resulting in the collapse of its roof and spire and considerable damage to the building’s interior. (AJC) (BBC)

JANUARY 2020

Nov. 6 – A Lansing businessman donates $7,000 to fix the iconic red Christmas decorations in the Washington Square roundabout. The oversized Christmas ornaments were severely damaged by a hit-andrun driver in 2018. The donation came just in time to repair the damage for the Silver Bells in the City celebration. (City Pulse)

Aug. 1 – Samuel Stanley Jr. officially becomes Michigan State University’s 21st president. (Michigan Radio) Photo provided by MSU

Sept. 16 – About 46,000 United Auto Workers members at GM facilities nationwide go on strike, which ends after 40 days (Oct. 25) with a new contract. (Reuters) (MLive)

Sept. 24 – Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi announces that a formal impeachment inquiry has been launched into President Donald Trump. (The New York Times), (The Washington Post) Photo by Gage Skidmore is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

Dec. 10 – U.S. House Democrats on Tuesday introduce two articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump alleging abuse of power and obstruction of Congress regarding his interactions with Ukraine, touching off a rapid-fire sequence that could result in a momentous floor vote (Fox News)

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NEWSMAKERS

2019 NEWSMAKERS BY RICH ADAMS

The Greater Lansing region is teeming with inventive and dedicated community leaders, entrepreneurs, dreamers and advocates who are helping to build a strong and safe community. They were asked questions about what was important in 2019 and looked into the future to discuss plans for the new year.

Dave Trumpie Photography

BAUMER Laurie Strauss Baumer

Executive vice president, Capital Region Community Foundation What impact do you think Rotary Park had after completion this year? Will it evolve into a busy event center next year? 26

The new Rotary Park, a glittering jewel on Lansing’s downtown riverfront, is sparking pride in our community. I love sitting in the park, seeing people of all ages and walks of life and listening to the “wows” as they explore it, day and evening. I’ve heard more than a few times, “I can’t believe this is Lansing!” It’s a popular destination even when no events are going on, and residents are proud to show it off to their out-of-town guests. Photographers are taking family pictures in the park at night for holiday greeting cards. But it’s more than just a cool park – it’s a catalyst for more placemaking along the riverfront. The Community Foundation is proud to lead riverfront development and seeks investors for our next projects in partnership with the city of Lansing. Ultimately, a vibrant downtown will attract and retain a talented workforce for the entire region. That’s where we’ll see the real impact.

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STANLEY Samuel L. Stanley Jr.

President, Michigan State University 2019 was a busy time for you, taking the helm of Michigan State University. What’s next?

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Since I arrived as the 21st president of Michigan State last August, I’ve focused on listening to the concerns of our campus community. What I heard reinforces my very top priority: building a safer, more respectful and more welcoming campus. This and other input will help inform our strategic planning. One aspect of that is our continued work to improve prevention and response to relationship violence and sexual misconduct, assessing our institutional culture, and building a community on a foundation of respect and accountability. Campus members must be able to feel safe to be able to succeed and thrive. Improving our approaches to diversity, equity and inclusion will be another focus of our attention. We will continue our momentum in student success, research and outreach that place us among the world’s top 100 universities. Our close engagement with community partners and stakeholders will continue to be an important part of our land-grant mission. Finally, the national search for a new provost to oversee our academic programs and support the initiatives above is well underway, and I expect the outcome will be an outstanding pool of candidates from which to select later this year.

Regulation to Marijuana Regulatory Agency over the years, something that hasn’t changed is our priority to focus on outreach, education and collaboration with industry stakeholders. From patients and advocacy groups to municipalities and licensees, I have made time to meet with pretty much any group that wants to share their input and opinions.

My plan for 2020 is to continue to discuss the difficult yet important topic of incest – rehabilitation for victims, perpetrators and felons. Personally, I’d like to get the attention of all of those who are involved in lawmaking

Even though medical marijuana is continuing to grow – and adult-use licensing is now underway – that outward focus will continue in order to ensure that the regulatory program in Michigan is the model for ensuring safe consumer access while also stimulating business growth. We have a lot of work ahead to ensure the success of our social equity program and implement a permanent administrative rule framework that will position Michigan as a leader in the industry on both a regional and national scale.

BORDAYO

Priscilla Bordayo

Author, motivational speaker and advocate You’ve been recognized as one of the “10 Over the Next Ten” award recipients for your important work addressing the rehabilitation of victims of incest. What are your plans for 2020?

and changing to further discuss the importance of attaching mandatory counseling to an individual’s sentence. It is crucial to get to the root of the problem of why people make the decisions that they make. It is a disservice for us not to assist in uprooting bad

BRISBO Andrew Brisbo

Executive director, Michigan Marijuana Regulatory Agency What’s next for you as MRA director? What do you do until and after adult recreational use goes active in the spring? While the name of our regulatory team has changed from Bureau of Medical Marihuana Regulation to Bureau of Marijuana La

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behaviors and patterns instilled into adults. We live in a society where dysfunction takes root in many forms, and it begins when they are a child. I believe we can’t leave people where they are. We offer free education to people behind bars, yet the percentage of people recommitting crimes is too high. I am for education, but I am even more for getting people healed and helped from the inside out.

which means improved air quality and environmental health and a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2025. These shared sustainability goals, help attract development and businesses to Lansing.

The Red Cedar development is going to have a tremendous impact on the Michigan Avenue corridor. What’s are you looking forward to in 2020? The change is real. From the recent renovation of the Michigan State Capitol to a state-commissioned approval for a $40 million welcome center on the lawn of the Michigan statehouse and the construction of the Meijer’s 600 block development, the Michigan Avenue corridor is transforming. The $270 million private investment for the Red Cedar development is the largest in Lansing’s history and breaking ground on this site was the next step toward the

BOJI SCHOR Andy Schor

Mayor, city of Lansing Lansing was named the third best metro in the nation for sustainable development by Site Selection magazine. How do you plan to maintain this status? The city of Lansing continues to be a leader in redeveloping obsolete and formerly contaminated sites, which is a major criterion for rating sustainability. By supporting projects that clean up brownfield sites, we are repurposing blighted properties, protecting the environment and preventing sprawl. We are proud of the many brownfield projects being worked on throughout Lansing, including the mixed-use hotel, grocery store and housing in our downtown. The city of Lansing is also home to the world’s first LEED tripleplatinum project, the Christman Building. The city of Lansing is looking internally for how to make city properties more sustainable by working with a consultant to help set an energy-use baseline for our buildings and vehicles, along with goals to improve our energy efficiency. Additionally, we are completing a comprehensive audit of our building operations, with the goal of implementing energy efficiency improvements in summer of 2020. The Board of Water & Light, our municipally owned public utility, has committed to 30% clean energy by 2020 and 40% by 2030, 28

Ron Boji

President, Boji Group Boji Group acquired the Farnum Building, now known as The Louie. What are you looking forward to in 2020? More downtown development? Boji Group’s team is thankful for the opportunities we’ve been afforded in Lansing for more than 20 years and we’re eager to continue this work in the coming year. As our portfolio of private-public partnerships and developments across the state grows, we’re always proud to call Lansing home. We’re very excited about The Louie; after the purchase of the historic Farnum building in 2018, we’ve renamed the site to The Louie honoring our chairman, Louie Boji. We’ve worked closely with the (Michigan Economic Development Corp.), the city of Lansing and local agencies to realize this project. Our team is enthusiastic to complete $20 million in renovations and welcome the tenants, including Dickinson Wright, who will occupy the building as early as mid-2020. Entering the new decade, Boji Group will continue to grow, creating innovative solutions to challenging opportunities. Boji Group has a tradition of exceeding expectations of our partners and will remain true to that as we enter 2020.

Chris Strzalkowski

Executive project manager, Red Cedar project for Ferguson Development

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STRZALKOWSKI revitalization of the east side. The measurable impact of investment in the region’s most critical avenue will affect the region for years to come. Several development projects in East Lansing have been completed or are in progress, expanding to Okemos and Williamston. The celebrated diversity of people, places and housing will add to the attractiveness of living, working and playing in the metro Lansing region. We embrace the opportunity to participate in this change well into 2020 and beyond.

Pat Gillespie

President, Gillespie Group BLOCK600 is beginning to take shape. What’s next for Gillespie Group in the coming year? The development of BLOCK600 has gained the attention of entrepreneurs and business owners from outside of the downtown Lansing area and beyond to look at what is going on in the Stadium District – they are looking at Lansing and want to know what they can do to be involved and plant roots here now. We knew the inquiries

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East Lansing was a logical hub for the business with excellent facilities and close proximity to our key customers in the Great Lakes region. Additionally, we will be near our Wood Road generating station; Michigan State University, from which to source talent; and a strong pool of skilled mechanical and electrical labor to support the safe operation of our facilities.

strengthening our presence in the area and being a local conduit to global resources. Rich Adams is a communications specialist at M3 Group and was a print and broadcast journalist for more than four decades. When he is not watching his beloved Chicago Cubs, he is counting the days until spring training begins.

We have an ambitious Canadian growth plan, so being close to the border is also important. My team and I are looking forward to

GILLESPIE would pick up and Lansing would get the attention it deserves, but it is beyond what we expected. For 2020, expect to hear many more announcements of our other commercial properties filling up with businesses who want to be here – right in the Stadium District. Our team is excited for what is ahead and the energy and life it will continue to breath into our city. #ProudToBeLansing

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CHRISTOPHER MILLER ACHIEVES SIOR DESIGNATION

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an exciting time as the future of health care is being built with a new state-ofthe-art health care campus. His immense skill set and experience will be an integral part of McLaren Greater Lansing’s continued success well into the future.

Miller has an extensive background in commercial real estate in both investment and industrial segments. Using this experience, Miller has closed a variety of transactions for his clients, whether sales/ leases, investment sales or sale leasebacks.

NEW COO BRINGS COMMITMENT TO SERVICE TO MCLAREN GREATER LANSING

Christopher Miller

Martin has announced that 15-year veteran Christopher Miller has achieved the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors, or SIOR, designation. Real estate professionals who earn the SIOR designation are recognized as the most capable and experienced brokerage practitioners in any market.

McLaren Greater Lansing’s new chief operating officer wants you to know he is serious about service. “I’m laser-focused on service,” said Jay E. de los Reyes, MSHA, MBA. “Whether it’s the patients, their family or our staff, I want their experience to be second to none at McLaren.” Reyes has a proven track record of success at every organization he’s been a part of, and he joins McLaren Greater Lansing at

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Jay E. de los Reyes

Reyes’ commitment to community is wellestablished, with experience serving as a board member for multiple organizations,

including the United Way of St. Clair County and the St. Clair County Child Abuse/Neglect Council. “No matter where I’ve been it’s been paramount to me to make sure that the community knows I have a vested interest in impacting the delivery of care,” said Reyes.

BURCHAM HILLS’ MANAGEMENT COMPANY RANKED NO. 1 IN J.D. POWER STUDY Burcham Hills and its expansion, StoneBriar at Burcham Hills, managed by Life Care Services, have announced that its management company ranked highest in customer satisfaction in the J.D. Power 2019 U.S. Senior Living Study. Burcham Hills and StoneBriar at Burcham Hills officials said they are proud to be a part of Life Care Services, which achieved the highest score in all seven study factors: resident services and activities; community staff; food and beverage; new resident orientation; resident cost; community and grounds; and resident apartment unit. Life Care Services, the nation’s second-largest senior living operator, scored 843 on a 1,000-point scale, a full 49 index points above the second-highest performing senior living organization.

“Our company is committed to providing the resources for communities to deliver an exceptional resident experience driven by innovation, signature programs and quality services. The J.D. Power award represents the voice of the senior living customer, and I can’t think of a more important voice than that of the residents we serve,” said Joel Nelson, president and CEO of LCS, the parent company for Life Care Services. “Burcham Hills employees have a passion for serving seniors, and their dedication to its residents continually inspires me.”

LOOMIS LAW RANKED AMONG BEST LAW FIRMS The Lansing law firm of Loomis, Ewert, Parsley, Davis & Gotting received a ranking in the 2020 edition of U.S. News - Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms.” In addition, the following attorneys were named to Midwest Real Estate Magazine’s “Best of the Best” issue for 2019 as leading real estate-related lawyers for Michigan: Sara L. Cunningham, Jeffrey L. Green, Paula K. Manis, Michael G. Oliva, Michael H. Rhodes, Kevin J. Roragen, Ted S. Rozeboom and Jeffrey St. Theuer.

MCLAREN GREATER LANSING ADDS NEW SAFETY AND SECURITY MEASURES McLaren Greater Lansing is adding new safety and security measures to help ensure patient safety and care. The phrase “call don’t fall” is prominently displayed above a patient’s bed so they can see it and remember to page their care team first to stay safe. New placemats are being used throughout the hospital that signify a patient’s food allergies. McLaren Greater Lansing also is rolling out new signs in each room that give clear guidelines to caregivers, patients and their families on acceptable language and policies for recording and taking photographs inside the hospital. Security staff also will be increased during specific hours to ensure there is an officer present at a central entrance point. To do this, the emergency department entrance will be the only point of entry from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. McLaren Greater Lansing also has a dedicated K-9 officer that can handle a variety of situations along with its handler.

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“The safety of our patients, visitors and staff is our top priority,” said Kirk Ray, McLaren Greater Lansing president and CEO.

SPARROW EARNS AN ‘A’ FOR PATIENT SAFETY Sparrow Hospital has earned an “A” for patient safety in a spring 2019 scorecard of 2,600 hospitals nationwide. This reflects the hospital’s commitment to quality and safety and meeting the needs of every patient.

The Leapfrog Group prepares the Hospital Safety Score, which grades a hospital’s overall performance in keeping patients safe from preventable harm and medical errors. As a patient-centered health care delivery system, Sparrow continues to take great strides in patient safety by investing in new technology and new procedures. This Leapfrog grade is an outcome of the efforts of many caregivers. The Hospital Safety Score is determined by analyzing national performance measures

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from the Leapfrog Hospital Survey; the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; and the American Hospital Association’s Annual Survey and Health Information Technology Supplement. A through F grades are assigned based on 30 measures of publicly available hospital safety data. The Hospital Safety Score includes five measures of patient-reported experience with the hospital, as well as two of the most common infections, C.diff and MRSA.

BEKUM AMERICA BREAKS GROUND ON NEW FACILITY, CELEBRATES 40TH ANNIVERSARY Bekum America Corp. has broken ground on a new facility at its Williamston headquarters, ahead of the 40th anniversary celebration which was Nov. 26 at the Brookshire Inn and Golf Club. Company owner Michael Mehnert traveled to Williamston from Germany for the celebration. “This is a historic week for Bekum America,” said Steve London, COO and president of Bekum America Corp. “The groundbreaking on our new facility was a great kickoff to our 40th anniversary celebration with our dedicated employees. The Bekum team has continually been providing state-of-the-art products for our clients, and this event is the perfect opportunity to celebrate all the individuals who complete Bekum.” Bekum America is North America’s leading provider of blow molding technology, with two Bekum leaders inducted into the Plastics Hall of Fame. The anniversary celebration honored the hard work and unwavering dedication the team has contributed to the plastic manufacturing industry.

Ron and Louie Boji

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INGHAM COUNTY TREATMENT COURTS FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES NEW LEADERSHIP Ingham County Undersheriff Andy Bouck has been named president of the Ingham County Treatment Court Foundation. The announcement was shared at the organization's annual fundraising breakfast Oct. 25. The foundation supports local treatment courts and their participants by providing funding to alleviate everyday financial obstacles that may hinder a participant’s progress, such as assisting with substance abuse counseling fees, transportation costs,

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participants are in our correctional facilities. It is uplifting to be involved in the treatment and recovery process. When I get to attend graduation and know the graduates have a new chance at life, it is a success story,” said Bouck. “Your contributions are funding a multidisciplinary approach and you’re impacting lives for the better.”

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Andy Bouck

drug screenings and any other needs that threaten their ability to finish the intensive court-ordered program. Having policed in Ingham County for more than 25 years, Bouck brings unique perspective and firsthand experience to the life-changing value the treatment courts bring enrollees, “I have the experience of being involved on the front lines, on the streets, watching it through the sheriff’s office as the

Lansing’s Allegra Marketing Print Mail was recently recognized with the Sales Growth Award, given to the top 10 businesses in the Alliance Franchise Brands international network of 600 marketing and print services providers. This marks the third time the Lansing business has received the recognition. “This award represents our team’s continued determination and persistence in helping local businesses and nonprofits reach their audiences with engaging cross-channel marketing and print communications,” said Angie Lewis, partner and general manager of Allegra Lansing. “We work to be true solutions providers through collaboration and partnership with our clients, so they can

continue to grow and have a positive impact on their local business communities.” Allegra, 5731 Enterprise Drive, is a fullservice marketing communications provider with in-house capabilities including graphic design services as well as advanced printing technologies including full-color printing, personalized printing, and posters and banners. Allegra also offers graphic design, commercial mailing services, promotional products and print management solutions. Allegra is a member of the Alliance Franchise Brands network, which is a world leader in marketing, graphics and visual communications, linking more than 600 locations in North America.

COMMUNITY FOUNDATION EXECUTIVE VP NAMED TO THE MICHIGAN AVENUE CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITY BOARD The Lansing City Council has appointed Community Foundation Executive Vice President Laurie Strauss Baumer to the board of directors of the Michigan Avenue Corridor Improvement Authority.

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for placemaking initiatives to help create a vibrant urban core for the region. “I am honored by the opportunity to serve on the MACIA board of directors,” said Baumer. “MACIA’s goals closely align with the Community Foundation’s strategic focus on placemaking along the Michigan Avenue corridor, including downtown riverfront development, to attract and retain talent for regional economic growth. I look forward to expanding my work on the corridor in this new capacity.”

Laurie Strauss Baumer

Baumer will serve a three-year term on the authority’s board of directors. The authority was formed in 2009 by the Lansing City Council with the goal to correct and prevent deterioration in the business district, redevelop the East Michigan Avenue commercial corridor and promote economic growth. Baumer brings a wealth of experience, knowledge, strategic skills and passion

Okemos students

with care by Meridian Township staff. One requirement of the grant is factoring in power lines and underground utilities when selecting tree species and locations, so they are the “right tree, right place.”

OKEMOS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS PLANT 20 TREES AT CENTRAL PARK SOUTH Students from the Okemos High School Action Club planted 20 trees in Meridian Township’s Central Park South. Meridian Township was awarded a $2,000 grant to purchase the trees. Consumer Energy’s Community Tree Planting Grant Program provides funds to local municipalities with tree-planting projects that focus on appropriate selection of tree species and planting locations on public land. The tree species and locations were selected

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Meridian Township’s Park Naturalist Kelsey Dillon coordinated the project with the students. “They braved a cold, cloudy day and did a fantastic job,” said Dillon. “We try our best to engage students to participate in our park projects whenever we can. We’re very lucky to have such dedicated volunteers in our local schools.” The new trees will be providing both an aesthetic and environmental value along the entrance of Central Park South, where

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more projects are slated for completion in 2020. The Central Meridian Regional Trail Connector, Large Dog Park and Marketplace on the Green all are expected to open next year and will be great additions to Meridian Township’s park system.

ANDREWS HOOPER PAVLIK PLC PROMOTES PFEIFLE TO PARTNER Andrews Hooper Pavlik PLC announced effective Jan.1, Julie M. Pfeifle has been promoted to a partner in the firm’s Greater Lansing office.

WAYFAIR TO BRING OVER 500 JOBS TO MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP The Lansing Economic Area Partnership on behalf of the region and site selection group on behalf of Wayfair, will create a new Wayfair customer service center at 4700 S. Hagadorn Road in Meridian Township. The announcement comes after over a year of market data analysis, site visits and strategic discussions, led by the LEAP and site selection group.

University, Lansing Community College and other institutions will go a long way in retaining much-needed talent in Michigan. The Michigan Economic Development Corp. contributed to the project by approving over $2 million in grants to assist in Wayfair’s job creation and investment. Wayfair looks to begin hiring in the first half of 2020, expanding its award-winning team and culture in the Lansing region.

“Meridian Township is a growing community with prime schools, neighborhoods and businesses and provides outstanding service to its residents. Meridian welcomes Wayfair and the 500 employees it plans to bring to the township,” said Meridian Township Supervisor Ronald J. Styka. Wayfair will be revamping and leasing 62,000 square feet of office space from the Eyde Co. “I am thrilled that such a recognizable, national brand chose Meridian Township for their expansion site,” said Meridian Township Economic Development Director Chris Buck. “Providing a high volume of credible jobs to recent graduates of Michigan State

Julie M. Pfeifle

Pfeifle has over 15 years of accounting and tax experience. Pfeifle is an experienced tax professional and has led engagements for a diverse client base including not-forprofit organizations, insurance companies, closely held businesses, trusts, estates and individuals.

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“Julie joined the firm 15 years ago and has been an asset to AHP and our clients. We value her technical expertise, attention to client service and leadership style. She’ll be a beneficial addition to the partner group, and we’re happy to have her as a leader and role model in our firm,” said managing partner, William J. Mulders Jr. Pfeifle is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants. She is a member and past president of the Williamston Rotary Club and treasurer for the Woldumar Nature Center. Internally, Pfeifle often presents at tax-related trainings and is the firm’s certified public accountant exam coordinator.

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Features

Martin is pleased to offer this unique Class A, cross dock site located in Holt near US-127. The former light manufacturing facility is unique with over 16,000 SF of corporate headquarters grade office space. The space has been well maintained and is available immediately.

• 170, 380 SF total,154,000 SF steel and block warehouse, 16,380 SF office on a 11.6 acre site • 17 loading docks with automatic levelers, 40’ x 50’ column spacing and 28.5’ clear ceilings • Heavy power and wet sprinkled

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