GLBM November 2016 by M3 Group Publications

G R E AT ER LANS ING

NOVEMBER 2016

10 OVER THE NEXT TEN AWARDS 10TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION

MEET LANSING’S NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS

IN THIS ISSUE •

LOCAL NEWS: POT REGULATION IN LANSING

•

BRT UPDATE: THE PROS AND CONS OF THIS PROPOSAL

Monotony, please keep right. The all-new Audi Q3 is nothing you'd expect from a crossover. Its distinct and dynamic design stands out amongst the crowd. Its luxurious interior seats five comfortably, with plenty of room for your gear in the back. Yet its impressive agility and available quattro® all-wheel drive gives you the confidence to handle it on virtually any road.* So why settle for the same old thing, when you can simply outmaneuver it? The agile all-new Audi Q3. Stray the course. Starting at $32,500.**

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G R E AT E R

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BUSINESS MONTHLY

ON THE COVER

NEWS

10 Over the Next Ten Awards .....................................................26

Fair Labor Standards Act ........................................................................................................................ 6

Pot Regulation in Lansing................................................................14

Update: “Brexit” Still Ushers Uncertainty Across the Globe................................................. 8

BRT Update: The Pros and Cons of this ProposaL.............16

Organizations Connecting Young Professionals in the Community............................... 10 Groovy Donuts Opens Second Location in East Lansing..................................................... 12

G RE AT E R LAN SI N G

NOVEMBER 2016

FEATURE Commentary.................................................................................................................................................. 4 Q&A With Past 10 Over the Next Ten Award Winners........................................................ 18 Olivet College to Offer Students New Opportunities........................................................... 20 Behind the Scenes: Eric Larson......................................................................................................... 22

10 OVER THE NEXT TEN AWARDS 10TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION

MEET LANSING’S NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS

Visual Breakdown..................................................................................................................................... 30 Greater Lansing at a Glance ............................................................................................................... 32 How Does Leadership Support Service Excellence? .............................................................. 34 Man on the Street ................................................................................................................................... 36

IN THIS ISSUE •

LOCAL NEWS: POT REGULATION IN LANSING

•

BRT UPDATE: THE PROS AND CONS OF THIS PROPOSAL

Economy ...................................................................................................................................................... 38 Business Calendar.................................................................................................................................... 40 Notable News ............................................................................................................................................ 42

Cover photography by Erika Hodges

Greater Lansing Business Monthly | Volume 29, Issue 11

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Greater Lansing Business Monthly is published monthly by M3 Group at 614 Seymour Street, Lansing, MI 48933. Periodicals postage paid at Lansing, Michigan USPO. USPS number 020w807.

Subscriptions: Subscriptions are available at $22 per year for postage and handling or $38 for two years. Call (517) 203-0123 or visit lansingbusinessnews.com to subscribe. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Greater Lansing Business Monthly, 614 Seymour Ave., Lansing, MI 48933. Send additional subscription requests and address changes to The Greater Lansing Business Monthly, Inc., 614 Seymour Street, Lansing, MI 48933. Copyright © 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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Publisher: Tiffany Dowling tiffany@m3group.biz Sales Manager: Jennifer Hodges jhodges@m3group.biz Media Specialist: Jill Bailey Account Managers: Austin Ashley Megan Fleming Manny Garcia Production Director: Kelly Mazurkiewicz Art Director: Mark Warner Communications Director: Ami Iceman-Haueter Graphic Designers: Kerry Hidlay Nikki Nicolaou Photographer: Erika Hodges Editor: Megan Martin Web Manager: Skylar Kohagen Event Calendar Manager: Jaime Hardesty

GLBM Editorial Board: April Clobes — President and CEO, MSU Federal Credit Union Trish Foster — Senior Managing Director & COO, CBRE|Martin Lisa Parker — Director of Alumni Career and Business Services, Michigan State University Alumni Association Deb Muchmore — Partner, Kandler Reed Khoury & Muchmore Tom Ruis — Vice President, Fifth Third Bank Doug Klein — Executive Director, Mason Area Chamber of Commerce

MILLENNIALS Redefining charitable giving O

ur young leaders are changing how many things are getting done these days. Businesses are shifting their cultures to accommodate. Millennials are immersed in social media and the “selfies” craze and its creating serious transparency in well, everything. They are a unique generation that likes to do things their own way. And, I like it. This generation often gets a hard time. Despite being the largest demographic, this generation of 18-to-34-year-olds gives and volunteers less for charitable organizations than any other age group, according to Entrepreneur Magazine. Or, so it may seem. We might be evaluating the issue the wrong way. With the holidays upon us, it’s a perfect time to look at how millennials are giving back. Although millennials might not be traditional, they are the immersed in a movement that is truly shifting the $241 billion market for charitable giving, sources say. Crowdfunding is changing charitable giving. Anyone or any organization can post a crowdfunding site to raise funds for disaster relief, individual medical support or anything in between. And, it works. Millennials make up only 11 percent of traditional charitable giving but they make up roughly 33 percent of donations on cause-based crowdfunding sites, several articles say. The reason is simple. It fits the way they live. Based on M3 Group focus group research, millennials seek instant gratification. Crowdfunding shows results quickly. There’s no long-term waiting for the campaign to complete. A study by Blackbaud and Sea Change Research found millennials want two things when giving to charity: transparency and accountability. And, I would add immediate satisfaction. Millennials are a little like me; they want the details. They like specifics about the people at the receiving end of the donation chain. According to many surveys, millennials view charitable organizations as big sprawling entities that give little information about what is going on. They want to see and hear their stories. And while they may not necessarily be the most generous generation, millennials are largely driving the crowdfunding revolution and it’s making a difference. It is transforming the trillion-dollar global market for charitable giving by making it more in line with their demographic characteristics. They are in the moment, social, transparent and accessible. I’m a proponent for supporting the small, lesser-known charitable organizations that really need the support. It’s also important to support organizations and causes that truly mean something to the individual. This generation is giving and volunteering for micro charitable organization. So, that’s not too bad for a generation supposedly boomeranging back home to live with mom and dad.

Mark Hooper — Partner, Andrews Hopper Pavlik Diontrae Hayes — Supervisor Charter Township of Lansing Tiffany Dowling | Publisher

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FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT Setting a new bar for overtime wages in America BY ADAM LANSDELL

Beginning on Dec. 1, a new law will go into effect that could play a major role in the way businesses conduct internal employee management and may affect their bottom line in relation to staffing and payroll. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has passed a bill that alters the way employee overtime and compensation is tracked. Dubbed the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the new bill will impact employers with salaried employees earning under $47,476 annually. The Fair Labor Standards Act benefits workers by regulating employment issues, such as federal minimum wage, overtime pay and employer record-keeping responsibilities. The new federal ruling will enable employees that are making less than $913 a week to obtain time-and-a-half pay for any time they work over 40 hours in a week, so long as the employee is not covered by other exemptions. This shift will place a huge focus on the way that business is conducted and the way employee hours are tracked – which, for most salarybased employers, may be a new practice. The adjustment might be particularly rough for some businesses that aren’t as conscious of the way they’re currently logging employee hours. The DOL is urging employers to examine their

practices to ensure they adhere to the new law come December. Businesses that fail to comply with the new regulation will see steep penalties in their future. Reasoning behind this new regulation comes in light of the DOL’s acknowledgment of “white collar” exemptions, in which many businesses have unfairly used lower salary positions to leverage additional uncompensated work from their employees. In an effort to combat unfair practices and to protect the overtime rights of lower waged salary employees, the DOL updated the salary level above which certain “white collar” workers may be exempt from overtime pay requirements to equal the 40th percentile of earnings of full-time salaried workers from the lowest wage Census Region. The final ruling from the Wage and Hour Division of the DOL noted the change. “This change raises the salary level from its previous amount of $455 per week (the equivalent of $23,660 per year) to a new level of $913 per week (the equivalent of $47,476 per year). Salaried white collar employees paid below the updated salary level are generally entitled to overtime pay, while employees paid at or above the salary level may be exempt from

overtime pay if they primarily perform certain duties. The final rule also raises the compensation level for highly compensated employees subject to a more minimal duties test from its previous amount of $100,000 to $134,004 annually.” To qualify for the rights outlined in the new regulation, an employee’s position must pertain to the following: have a primary duty of the performance of office or non-manual work directly related to management of general business operations; have independent discretion with matters of significance or supervise two or more employees; or be in an advanced field of science or other specialized prolonged education background, a specialized creative artistic field, a school teacher, or a computer analyzer, programmer or engineer. So how does this impact businesses and organizations? In the months leading up to the change, it is important to update internal documents to show compliance with those regulations. Most employers in accordance with the law have expansive documents of employee regulation requirements that could take time and investments in updating to get them up to code. Other FLSA requirements require up to date documents with workplace and financial positioning readily available to its employees.

After Dec. 1, 2016, employees are eligible for overtime if they earn less than

$47,476 even if they're salaried.

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This takes time, and while it’s an investment of time and money to get to the new standard, it is likely worth the trouble to avoid future fees for not complying with all to the fullest. In an effort to understand how this new ruling will directly affect businesses, Greater Lansing Business Monthly reached out to attorney Aaron L. Davis of Fraser Trebilcock, a Michigan-based law firm. Davis specializes in employment matters, including the Age Discrimination Act and the Fair Labor Standards Act. “The implications of these changes will be felt by businesses, as they prepare for the Dec. 1 compliance deadline. For instance, businesses must ensure that their employees are classified properly. One of the common misconceptions out there is that employee classifications are based on job titles,” said Davis. “To the contrary, classifications are based on the employees’ job duties. So initially, ample time needs to be devoted to analyzing whether each employee is properly classified. Additionally, employers will need to have accurate hourly data on all hours worked by their employees, as well as maintain an appropriate audit trail in the event the Department of Labor audits their business.”

In addition to updating internal documents, many workplaces will need to see an overhaul in the way they are managing their employees. Considering the individuals that could be effected by this are primarily centric on arts, education and computer sciences, it will be necessary for employers to work with their employees to ensure that they’re not only tracking time of the exit and entry of the facilities in which they work, but are also managing the efficiency in which tasks are performed. Failing to become more efficient in workplace activities, while tracking times as regulated, could result in subsequent overtime payments that could expectantly effect a business’s bottom line. Some businesses may consider these updates too costly or time consuming and opt to raise their minimum salary pay to $47,479 to remove the hassle of overhauling internal practices all together.

Requiring that employees either be paid a salary of $47,476 to maintain their exemption or reclassify them as non-exempt hourly workers and be forced to pay them overtime will put a crippling strain on rural businesses where a $40,000-$50,000 salary can be a comfortable living.”

“Smaller and local businesses who reclassify their employees as hourly and prevent overtime may experience a down-tick in productivity. In this instance, the employer can either accept the reduction in productivity or hire additional employees to compensate for the decrease in productivity due to the reclassification,” explained Davis. “Additionally, rural small businesses will suffer throughout Michigan.

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

Thus far, the passing of the new bill has seen uproar from employers in medical and retail. The National Retail Federation (NRF) recently released a statement claiming that they think the new law will become a “career killer.” The NRF feels that the new law will have a negative effect on an employer’s ability to recruit new talent as many will not be able to handle payroll increases and may be forced to restructure salary positions as hourly positions thus impacting their ability to offer perks and benefits to potential employees.

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UPDATE: “BREXIT” STILL USHERS UNCERTAINTY ACROSS THE GLOBE BY ALLISON SPOONER

Several months ago, Britain voted to leave the European Union (EU), an event otherwise known as ‘Brexit,’ and Greater Lansing Business Monthly offered a quick breakdown of what it was and why it mattered.* And while the feeling at the time was that the exit of Britain could have dire consequences for both the British and the rest of the world, today it still remains to be seen what exactly those consequences will be. Some things are different for Britain since the vote. Theresa May has taken over as Prime Minister and she is taking steps to invoke Article 50 of The London Treaty – which was needed to start the process of leaving the EU - without the vote of Parliament, which is traditionally

needed. This may seem an eager move, but it has been reported by The Telegraph that though she will not offer opponents the chance to stall withdrawal, she won’t move ahead without a proper plan.

across the globe, including in the United States. While the extent of the impact in the future is not clear, here’s what’s happened so far.

And, since Britain won’t move forward until they are prepared, this leaves many wondering what interactions with Britain will look like in the immediate future.

Given May’s resolve to hold the exit until the country has a plan in place, many businesses have no idea what future business dealings with Britain look like. The Telegraph reported that the leaders of several American banks have warned the Prime Minister that unless she provides clarity on the future of EU – U.K. relations, they will pre-emptively shift their operations towards Europe.

Despite the fact that Britain hasn’t made their exit yet, the repercussions of the vote are being felt

London is a significant financial hub, but if U.S. banks don’t know what trading and

She has the power to initiate Brexit, now Britain needs to prepare.

*Visit lansingbusinessnews.com/glbm-news/2016/08/brexit-what-it-is-and-why-it-matters/

What’s so special about the number 16? There are 16 pawns in a chess set and each player in a chess game starts with 16 pieces. There are 16 regular season games that each NFL team currently plays.

16 is the atomic number of the element sulfur. From 1998-2012, the National League of Major League Baseball has had 16 teams.

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interactions will look like between the U.K. and the EU, they may be forced to move their institutions. Not only have they appealed to the Prime Minister, but U.S. bankers have also written to U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Jacob Lew, asking for transparency in negotiations. According to BBC News, bankers asked for, among other things, stakeholders from the business community to be actively consulted, the adoption of a provisional, transitional arrangement to minimize uncertainty and for uncertainty to be kept to a minimum. If all of these estimated impacts are still up in the air, what’s even more uncertain is whether or not Brexit will have any impact on the United States. Surprisingly, despite the worries mentioned above, polls show that as of yet, there hasn’t been one. The International Business Times (IBT) reported that, despite an initial drop in all major U.S. stocks right after the vote, The Wall Street Journal now shows that leading forecasters see “no major changes to their projections for economic growth this year and next, and no

significant change to their outlook for the U.S. unemployment rate, due to the decision by U.K. citizens to exit the EU.” This lack of impact seems to be due to preparedness and isolation on the part of the U.S. market. The U.S. economy is fairly isolated — only about 15 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) is related to National Trade, according to IBT - so the changes in the markets of countries like Britain have no major effect. It also appears that the U.S. was already prepared for another economic event and when that didn’t happen, they found themselves with plenty of liquidity. So, while questions fly about when Brexit will happen and how bad it will be when it does, it’s actually occurred to many that the effect may, in fact, be positive for the U.S. According to The New York Times, “The British pound has dropped 12 percent since it was valued at $1.47 just before the vote to leave the European Union.” This makes doing business with, and spending in, the U.K. more profitable for the U.S. and U.S. citizens.

The fallen pound has sweetened the deal for many companies looking to buy or invest in Britain and many U.K. companies have been purchased by companies in other countries. The American company, Wells Fargo, has agreed to buy, but has not yet purchased, a new building in London for its headquarters. And, companies that already do a lot of business in the U.K. are reporting stronger earnings. So, while both good and bad have come from Brexit, it seems the only thing that is certain at the moment is all outcomes of the vote are still uncertain. Allison Spooner is a freelance, content wizard. She writes content that helps businesses in Lansing and beyond tell their stories, educate their customers, and promote their brands. She is the Content Manager at StartupLansing, an online publication about startup activity in Lansing, regularly contributes to Capital Gains and loves helping businesses bring their words and ideas to life. To follow her writing journey and see a list of her professional content services, visit her website at theresistantwriter. com or find her on twitter at @allyspoon.

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ORGANIZATIONS CONNECTING YOUNG PROFESSIONALS IN THE COMMUNITY BY SARAH SPOHN

Landing a steady nine to five job after college is a career goal of many young people. For even more young people, their priority is to find a fun place to live with exciting opportunities, cool hangout spots and scenery. Lansing is lucky to have plenty of new housing opportunities, bustling businesses, creative neighborhoods and more for its residents. For young people who are new to the area, making friends and building connections isn’t always easy, in and out of the workplace, and that’s where a few groups are looking to help out young professionals of the area. When Grand River Connection was conceived, the Lansing area was lacking resources for young professionals to connect outside of the typical job setting. Current Grand River Connection (GRC) President Brian Gallagher spoke about the early beginnings of GRC, which celebrated its tenth anniversary in July.

“There were many resources for college students and there were many resources for families and established professionals,” Gallagher said. “There was really nothing that focused on those of us making the transition.” The organization saw the need to fill that void, so the grassroots group began gathering members and volunteers and formed a board. According to Gallagher, one of the reasons why he thinks GRC was able to withstand, despite other organizations coming and going over the years, is because of their passionate members. “We’re a very open and welcoming group,” he said. “We try to keep things low-key. We realize that young professionals are extremely busy, so we don’t require pre-registration, we don’t have any attendance requirements and most of our events are free.”

The GRC also partners with local area groups including the Lansing Chamber, NextGen@ Wharton, and Lansing 5:01. Hosting events like Wharton Center outings, Tigers and Lugnuts games, tailgates, local bar and restaurant samplings and holiday galas, GRC is always planning its next event. One of their biggest events is their partnership with the Lansing Chamber, the 10 Over the Next Ten Awards, which began in 2007. Developed to give special recognition to young people and their professional contributions, the awards encourage all to make a difference in their communities. The award has honored an impressive 100 young professionals, now considered alumni. Gallagher reports that over 85 percent of the recipients are still in the Greater Lansing region and continue to make a positive impact.

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Aside from providing fun activities on the nights and weekends, GRC is successful in connecting young professionals with a new network of people and places. The Capital City is fruitful in its opportunities for young professionals to stay and play, which is ultimately beneficial for the area itself. “When people feel connected to each other and the region, they are more likely to stay and contribute toward the area’s positive momentum,” Gallagher said. “Without question, talent follows jobs. But talent also follows talent. Young professionals want to live, work and play in a community where there are many other young professionals.” Another organization that brings young people together is the MiLife Sports & Social Club. This club doesn’t gather team members around the office water cooler, but rather, the locker room. Greater Lansing Sports & Social Club is the local chamber of MiLife Sports & Social Club, which hosts co-ed team sports for adults. With sports offered yearlong, ranging from kickball, volleyball, soccer, flag football, dodgeball, basketball and more, the Lansing Sports & Social Club has a program for everyone. The club invites young people, ages 21 or older of all athletic levels, to participate. Aside from the sports, the club also utilizes social media to encourage interaction, both on and off the field. Partnering with local bars after games, the teams all head to the same watering hole and play games and spend time with each other — regardless of which team they’re on. Tyler Reading, Director of Operations of MiLife Sports & Social Club of Lansing and Ann Arbor, said his favorite part of his job is getting to meet all the players and see their friendships form. “I’m definitely a people person,” he said. “I’m not sitting behind a desk for 12 hours a day, I’m out every night, I get to talk to people every night.” Reading also said the relationships that grow from the sports teams are also a plus to the organization. “There are some people who’ve been playing in our club for longer than I’ve been working here,” he said. “People met in the club and got married. That’s kind of crazy, but it’s a good way to meet people.”

... GRC is successful in connecting young professionals with a new network of people and places. The Capital City is fruitful in its opportunities for young professionals to stay and play, which is ultimately beneficial for the area itself. Newcomers to the area can sign up without a full team and meet friends and teammates through the club. Local companies have also signed up and sponsored teams, paying for their registration as part of the business’ health benefits.

For more information on GRC, current events and how to get involved on the board, visit grandriverconnection.com. To see current listing of sports, sign up for a league or more information on MiLifeSports & Social Club, visit glsscsports.com.

Reading said the sports offered over the years have expanded, and he is looking forward to the upcoming leagues. “The more we grow, we can see different sports and stuff we can run for people,” he said. “Which may be different than most of the other stuff that’s offered in the city.”

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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What sets the club apart from others like it, is the camaraderie and easygoing rules of play, which level the playing field, according to Reading. “Another cool thing is that we have our league shirts. Every team has their own shirts that we provide for them. It’s kind of cool because you don’t know if someone is a lawyer or a garbage man really. There’s not a status thing, they’re just all out there having fun.”

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GROOVY DONUTS OPENS SECOND LOCATION IN EAST LANSING BY AMANDA DENOMME

After a successful first year at their Williamston location, the totally rad and hip donut shop, Groovy Donuts, has just opened the doors of their second location in East Lansing. Now music fanatics, flower children or individuals who just love going to a café, can enjoy fresh donuts, fritters, muffins and an exceptional coffee menu in the heart of Spartan nation. Storeowner, Andrew Gauthier is ecstatic to see a second location come to life, as having multiple locations has always been an ultimate goal for his establishment. “From the beginning, I envisioned Groovy Donuts with the potential of having multiple locations,” said Gauthier. “Being an MSU alumnus,

East Lansing was always on my radar and I was just keeping an eye out for the right opportunity.” Both locations display 60’s and 70’s vibes and offer the same menu. The primary difference between the two stores is that the East Lansing location is much larger and provides greater counter space. Groovy Donuts in East Lansing is located at 3054 E Lake Lansing Rd. Gauthier noted that the fact that there was a bakery in the space formerly made the updates that needed to be made much easier, costing Gauthier approximately $10,000. So far, customers are responding very positively to the new location and even regulars from Groovy Donuts Williamston attended opening day at the East Lansing establishment. During the “soft opening” on Sept. 16, the store sold 1,200 donuts, equating to some $1,400 in sales in the first day. “Opening weekend for us was a total blur. We had double the staff, double the customers and more than double the donuts,” said Gauthier. “My partner, Monica and I, were running on almost no sleep,

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caffeine and adrenaline. It was one of those weekends we will look back on in the future and laugh, but for now we’ll pour ourselves another cup of coffee.” TAPPING INTO THE CAFÉ MARKET A simple conversation Gauthier had with his father back in Feb. 2015 began the idea of Groovy Donuts. After debating where they could find a good cup of coffee and a donut in the Lansing area, Gauthier realized that this market had not been touched. Also, after growing up with a long line of family who have excelled in entrepreneurial careers, it was no surprise that Gauthier would also follow suit. “I had always wanted to run my own café, so the gears started turning in my head immediately,” said Gauthier. “This was an untapped market [in Lansing] and the more I thought about the idea, the more excited I got. Within days of that conversation I had completed my initial business plan.” Groovy Donuts currently has 13 employees, many of them attending high schools and

colleges in the surrounding areas like East Lansing High, Williamston High, Michigan State University or Lansing Community College. Before opening Groovy Donuts, Gauthier and the team strived to view all aspects of a coffee and donut shop from the lens of the consumer, so that they could make the shop a special and unique experience for all. They approached this task by selecting specific suppliers and ingredients and then determining what they would buy if they were customers. “Ultimately it comes down to the simple question, ‘Would I buy this donut?’ It’s not put out for sale, unless our answer is a definitive ‘yes’,” said Gauthier. “We sampled donut ingredients from several suppliers.” PROVIDING NOSTALGIA TO ALL The initial thought on the look and feel of the donut shop was that it should be retro. To Gauthier, he felt that donut shops and bakeries were big sources of nostalgia for people; so with that in mind, his goal was to capture that nostalgic feeling in his shop.

research and development, and some input from friends and family. “Some [flavors] work, some don’t, but it is always fun to try new ones,” said Gauthier. “However, we are committed to a high level product, as our donuts are made fresh every morning. We feel that this is the only way to serve them. In fact, if you come early enough, your donut may still be warm, and sometimes the glaze or frosting still hasn’t set!” In addition to their variety of donut flavors and exceptional quality, Groovy Donuts also offers custom donuts for special orders and events. Some customized donuts include Detroit Tigers, bridal party themed and donuts decorated for the holidays. “As you can see, we have some fun referencing 60’s and 70’s era music and films with our products,” said Gauthier. “Our customers seem to enjoy that too, and frankly, I haven’t seen anyone frown when “Let’s Groove” by Earth, Wind and Fire comes on in the shop.” Groovy Donuts is also very committed to the community. One example of their support to the

community is their donation of leftovers to local food banks and homeless shelters. Gauthier noted that one afternoon they received a package full of “thank you” letters from grateful individuals who received the donuts. “Reading those letters literally had Monica [business partner] in tears and had me choked up as well,” stated Gauthier. “Those moments are what make it happen for us.” For more information about Groovy Donuts, visit facebook.com/groovydonuts or facebook.com/groovydonutseastlansing. Amanda has been a freelance writer for the past 5 years, covering arts and entertainment in West Michigan and Lansing. Describing herself as a shoe & fashion enthusiast, Amanda loves attending Broadway shows, dancing, and keeping up with the latest reality T.V.

Gauthier decided to include a fun and universal theme, which made him lean toward the 60’s and 70’s era of music and film. It’s safe to say at Groovy Donuts, the “rad atmosphere and far-out imagery” inside the store is much different from any other coffee and donut shop. Think bright colors and designs throughout the shop, even the logo includes the 60’s era font known as “psychedelia.” Customers will also find Rock N’ Roll posters adorning the walls, with famous bands and artists such as Rush, The Beatles, Santana, Jimmy Hendrix and more. “There is nothing quite like seeing someone walk in, point at the Rush poster and say, ‘Hey, I saw them in Flint in 1973,’” said Gauthier. “While the “older crowd” has been very receptive to the theme, we are very pleased to see the high school and college crowd bobbing their head along to Santana jamming in the background.” COMMITTED TO CUSTOMERS & COMMUNITY THROUGH CUSTOMIZATION Currently, there are over 100 flavor variations at Groovy Donuts. According to Gauthier, the donut flavor creations have been a result of customer suggestions, L

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POT REGULATION IN LANSING BY SARAH SPOHN

Despite being an illegal drug, marijuana is widely utilized and in some cases, the preferred method of medical treatment for many illnesses. In 2008, the act was approved to rule in favor of medical marijuana dispensaries in Michigan. Fast forward eight years later to 2016, and the area is still buzzing with talk of future laws, legislature and regulations regarding the approved medical marijuana shops, which are plentiful in the Lansing city limits. Steve Japinga, director of government relations at the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce spoke about the rise of the popularity of these dispensaries. “This has been going on since 2008… I know back then, most people thought this was supposed to be going to those with real serious issues, not this recreational type use of where it kind of went,” Japinga said. “It kind of got out of control.

Leading up to 2011 when the attorney general got involved, and this is when the Chamber first got involved – there were 20 or 30 on Michigan Avenue alone.”

this,” Japinga said. “However, even earlier this year, when we felt again it was out of control, there weren’t those common sense regulations and zoning requirements.”

Now there is an estimate of 70 - 80 medical marijuana dispensaries within Lansing proper, many taking up residence alongside MLK, Cedar, Pennsylvania, Larch and the Michigan Avenue corridor. Besides the number of shops fluctuating, due to Supreme Court cases ruling them unfit, there have been other shifts in both regulation and conversation since 2008.

According to Carol Wood, council member at-large and owner of CEW Consultant, “The state law allows local governments to enact their own ordinance with regards to licensing medical marihuana facilities (spelled this way by the State of Michigan). They are allowed to limit the number of locations and restrict where they can place with regards to zoning. If the local government does not have an ordinance, the state will not issue them a license.”

“I think a lot has changed since 2008 and 2011, its 2016 now, and I think our members understand the reality that our voters approved

Marijuana on the federal level is considered an illegal substance, labeled a schedule 1 narcotic. While states like Colorado, Washington

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and Oregon are moving entirely to legalize marijuana, in Michigan and many other states, that is not the case. Conversations between the Council, city and community members are frequent in regards to how to regulate these facilities around Lansing. The Planning Board held a Public Hearing on Oct. 4 and discussed this topic. “At the meeting, there was a letter for the City Attorney, who crafted the ordinance, asking that action be delayed for sixty days to allow his office to review the new state law and suggestions from others on the ordinance,” Wood said. “The new state law calls for the Governor to appoint a commission to oversee the licensing of medical marihuana facilities and they have 360 days to write their rules.” According to Wood, if the council waits for the new rules, it would take an additional 15 months before the city would have a licensing ordinance. Japinga said although voters ruled in favor of the dispensaries, the need for creating and maintaining licensing and zoning requirements within the city ordinance is evident.

“Earlier this year, we called for a moratorium,” he said. “It was like, ‘let’s hit the brakes on this, take a breather,’ let the council work through their process on coming up with a stronger, updated ordinance for the city of Lansing.” “What works best for Lansing is different from Detroit, Grand Rapids, Traverse City … we’re all unique in the way we do things,” Japinga said. In 2015, the City Council of Detroit voted 6 - 1 in favor of a zoning ordinance that could potentially close half of the city’s dispensaries. The zoning requirements mandate that these businesses be 1,000 feet from drug-free zones like child care centers, churches, schools, parks, libraries and other youth activity centers. With this crack-down brought an influx of “pot shops” to the area, according to Eric Dimoff, marketing and communications at Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce. “I think what happened in Detroit when they put the cap on, and some of the other more stringent restrictions on it, that’s when a lot of them actually did come to Lansing. We saw an influx and rise pretty rapidly in the number of dispensaries we have in the city,” Dimoff said.

While the issue is certainly a hot topic for City Council, Chamber of Commerce, local, state, federal government and community members alike, the bottom line is about safety. “As a legislative body we create policy based on State law or the desire to regulate an issue locally,” Wood said. “We understand the people of Michigan approved Medical Marijuana and since 2009 this council has tried to adopt legislation that is provides for safe, secure environment for patients and the community.” Eric Dimoff said the Chamber of Commerce would ideally just like to see safe, smart, common sense regulations within the industry. “Every business is regulated to some degree; we just want the industry — if it’s going to be here and thrive — to be well regulated and an example of how to do it at the local level,” Dimoff 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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THE PROS & CONS OF THE BRT PROPOSAL BY OMAR SOFRADZIJA

Patty McPhee owns a Meridian Township commercial cleaning business nowhere near a proposed bus rapid transit (BRT) route through greater Lansing. But that hasn’t quelled her anxiety over the Capital Area Transportation Authority plan, to which she is actively opposed. “I don’t have blood, sweat and tears in this,” she said after attending a recent community BRT meeting. “I don’t want to see the local businesses in my community suffer because of this legacy project that has no use or purpose in this community.” Proponents disagree, believing an express bus line along 8.5 miles of Michigan and Grand River avenues will jump-start new businesses and housing, attract millennials and present a modern, attractive alternative to driving cars. “It’s pretty evident BRT, in other places where it’s done, sparks new investment and job creation,” said Randy Hannan, chief of staff to Lansing Mayor, Virg Bernero, who supports the BRT concept in general. “We’re building an infrastructure for the future, added Bob Trezise, president and CEO of the Lansing Economic Area Partnership. “And the belief is that the future is about connecting our city and [Michigan State] University in that corridor, in a dense, walkable fashion.” Others fear the BRT will divert drivers and customers for existing route merchants, at costs both figurative and literal. BRT construction is pegged around $130 million, 80 percent of which is eligible for federal grants, according to CATA’s website. 16

“The concerns for my CEOs is, do the costs dramatically outweigh the benefits?” said Trezise. While Trezise sits as LEAP’s president and CEO, LEAP itself has no position on BRT.

According to a 2015 University of Utah study of BRT systems nationwide, it found increases in new office space and evidence of an “office rent premium” within a half-mile of most BRT routes.

CATA Assistant Executive Director Debbie Alexander argued in an email that BRT is worth it, saying, “CATA believes these concerns have been addressed by the project. The project delivers on concerns the businesses stress such as increased congestion, diversions and stagnant business growth. Change is challenging!”

“We conclude that, on the whole, BRT systems are associated with positive development and job location outcomes, though not necessarily population or housing outcomes,” the study said.

Alexander noted when Cooley Law School Stadium was being proposed and how businesses were concerned it would put them out of business. “Today, the area around the stadium is flourishing and the stadium brought a wonderful asset into our community,” Alexander said. BRT systems mimic light rail lines with infrequent station stops replacing frequent curbside pick-ups, making travel times competitive with autos. Replacing train tracks would be bus-only lanes barred to all other traffic except emergency responders. In promotional materials, CATA claims BRT will improve adjacent property values, create $4 in investment for every $1 spent on BRT, reduce traffic congestion and crashes and nearly double route ridership (now nearly 7,000 daily riders) over 20 years. “We’ve seen 50 percent, 100 percent increases [in ridership],” said Dennis Hinebaugh, director of the University of South Florida’s National BRT Institute and an MSU alumnus.

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Attractive to developers is “the permanence of the change … they know they have a high-speed, quality solution as opposed to a regular bus line” that can easily be rerouted, Hinebaugh said. Jeff Neilson, who owns five Lansing-area auto repair shops, including two along the corridor, fears construction will lead commuters to avoid the route and never return due to the traffic pattern changes. “They want to risk the existing infrastructure and business corridor in Meridian Township in the hopes that other things will be built bigger and better around it,” Neilson said. A U.S. Federal Transit Administration study said, “If the creation of exclusive bus lanes reduces the number of lanes available for other traffic then in the short term the possibility of increased congestion on the roadways is raised … mobility on alternate routes may deteriorate, as drivers seek ways to avoid roads with exclusive bus lanes.” Jen Costigan, co-owner of the Green Door, said her Michigan Avenue bar and grill has already lost parking from adjacent new development: “If this goes through, we’ll lose our street parking. It’s kind of another hit.”

NEWS

Alexander downplayed those concerns. “The traffic modeling conducted by the traffic engineers shows an improvement in traffic patterns” as a result of the changes, she said in her email. “Thus, no diversions as a result of the project are anticipated.” Also, Alexander claimed the single lanes on Michigan “will more than sufficiently accommodate traffic demands in the downtown area through year 2035” and “there is sufficient unused parking inventory in the parking system” along the route. Officials at MSU, Sparrow Hospital and Meridian Mall said they are taking "wait and see" approaches, though MSU is concerned about whether the BRT plan is pedestrian-friendly. “You’re making a decision today that’s probably going to have a greater impact over the next 10 to 20 years. That’s difficult for people to see,” said Tim Daman, Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce president and CEO. The chamber opposes the current BRT plan. There is worry over CATA’s insistence at a recent public hearing that it can act unilaterally on BRT, regardless of public buy-in.

“You’re making a decision today that’s probably going to have a greater impact over the next 10 to 20 years. That’s difficult for people to see.” – Tim Daman, Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce president and CEO “is the reality that the road itself is literally crumbling when we’re talking about putting all these bells and whistles on that road. Michigan Avenue is a disgrace as a road itself.” “That’s very tough to overcome, because it’s true,” Trezise said, adding he is “very hopeful” a compromise can be reached in time. Still, Alexander and other BRT supporters stand by the value that BRT could bring to the community. “Does the community really want to accomplish the vision they have set out to revitalize this corridor… to attract the next generation of workers and leaders? If so, change is required [more than just repaving the roadway] and big steps like the BRT are necessary to have the

infrastructure to facilitate this change.” Alexander said CATA has submitted the project design to federal authorities and request the project be funded during the 2018 federal fiscal year, which begins in October of 2017. “Getting to the decision is a process, not an event,” said Alexander. “This takes time, communication and cooperation.” Omar Sofradzija is an adjunct journalism instructor at Michigan State University. Prior to that, he was a columnist and reporter at the Las Vegas (Nev.) ReviewJournal, where he covered the development and launch of that city's Metropolitan Area Express (MAX) bus rapid transit system and the Las Vegas Monorail.

“You have this lack of accountability, transparency, the leadership throughout the process, that’s hindering the progress for CATA,” said Daman. “When they tell the media, ‘our board has the authority’ [to do this project] … that’s not the right message to send to the taxpayers of Ingham County.” But according to Alexander, “CATA has been encouraging the community leaders to join us by taking actions to set up an environment to capitalize on this change.” There is also the issue of how to pay for increased operating costs. At an October hearing CATA executive director and CEO Sandy Draggoo said they are “within our five-year plan” but “I can never say that there will never be a millage increase, whether a BRT is put in or not.” CATA is considering modifications, including limiting BRT service to a “capitol to campus” route between the downtowns of Lansing and East Lansing, which the chamber prefers. Hinebaugh said other compromises exist, like “business access lanes” where “during a certain time of day, you’d allow the lanes to be open for left turns or parking.” Trezise said resistance to change is “50 percent of the battle” over BRT, but the other 50 percent

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FEATURE

Q&A WITH PAST 10 OVER THE NEXT TEN AWARD WINNERS BY MICKEY HIRTEN

Lansing School Board President and Vice President of the Michigan Independent Colleges & Universities: Class of 2013

someone who is a leader. When you do things in your career or volunteer service, or in my case with the school board, there are not a lot of awards or recognition. Then you realize that people are paying attention.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE DESIGNATED ONE OF THE COMMUNITY’S “YOUNG LEADERS?” Two things come to mind. There is a lot of pressure and a lot of expectations. But it is very humbling to be recognized by your peers, colleagues and area businesses as

THINKING ABOUT FUTURE WINNERS, WHAT WILL THEY REALIZE ABOUT THIS AWARD? When you get this award you join a small cohort of leaders. There are about 100 of us. When you get together and look at the faces, you see the people who have been making a difference in the community. Now you are a winner and you know these people. A lot of times I sit there and have the imposter syndrome. AND WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU

PETER SPADAFORE

GIVE TO FUTURE 10 THE OVER NEXT TEN WINNERS? Keep it up. Keep doing what you are doing. This should not be a course correction for you. You should recognize a sense of accomplishment, that you are doing something right. Don’t get sidetracked from that trajectory. DO YOU RECOGNIZE CERTAIN LEADERSHIP TRAITS AMONG THOSE GIVEN THIS AWARD? The strength that you seek in the winners is that they take initiative. That they are critical thinkers and they are not afraid to make mistakes. If someone just stays in their comfort zone, they are probably not going to be recognized as someone to keep an eye on over the next ten years. ______________________________________

AMANDA LICK Manager of Advocacy, Governmental and Regulatory Affairs, Michigan Pharmacists Association: Class of 2015

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WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE DESIGNATED ONE OF THE COMMUNITY’S “YOUNG LEADERS?” I was shocked. First of all, it’s a great honor and also it’s a call to action. You don’t often do what I do and get recognized for it. It’s nice to know that your community is investing in you. I spend a lot of time on community boards and I ran for the park commission. It’s all about trying to make our community the best it can be. Also, for winners, it’s a wonderful networking opportunity. I have established relationships with community leaders who I never would have been in contact with. THINKING ABOUT FUTURE WINNERS, WHAT WILL THEY REALIZE ABOUT THIS AWARD? I think when you get an award like this, in the first moment you think about the

FEATURE

acknowledgment. And that’s quickly followed by the realization that there is so much more to be done. As individuals, I don’t think we spend enough time outside of our own space. For the award winners, it brings the opportunity to connect with others and it puts the spotlight on you to be a representative in the community. The award is really a resource. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO FUTURE 10 OVER THE NEXT TEN WINNERS? I would advise them to be there on the night of the award, to be there with their cohort. And I’d advise them to continue their presence in the community. Also, they now have a family of 100 past award winners in different walks of life, all with one goal: to make Lansing a better place for business and a better place to live. DO YOU RECOGNIZE CERTAIN LEADERSHIP TRAITS AMONG THOSE GIVEN THIS AWARD? I would say big-picture thinking and idea sharing. Also, collaboration, communications and follow-through. The winners have, I think, the energy, drive and passion to push for the changes needed to build a better Lansing.

SUBAN NUR COOLEY Managing editor for Capital Gains Media: Class of 2014 WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE DESIGNATED ONE OF THE COMMUNITY’S “YOUNG LEADERS?” It was definitely an honor. For anyone who commits time and energy to working within the community it is very exciting to be selected. For me it was probably a combination of my work as a volunteer, the community engagement side of things and my education — going for my PhD. Both [allowed] judges [to] see that I might have an impact in Lansing. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO FUTURE 10 OVER NEXT TEN WINNERS? Obviously, if they picked you, keep doing what you’ve been doing and the ways you are helping shape Lansing. Clearly, it’s what got you the recognition.

THINKING ABOUT FUTURE WINNERS, WHAT WILL THEY REALIZE ABOUT THIS AWARD? It’s a mix of recognition and acknowledgment that you have the capacity to continue to do more. I’d argue that it is somewhat of a challenge and assumes that in the next ten years you will continue to make an impact. DO YOU RECOGNIZE CERTAIN LEADERSHIP TRAITS AMONG THOSE GIVEN THIS AWARD? There is a mix and I think the judges do that intentionally. They recognize ambitious community leaders who are known for having an impact on Lansing. Then you have organization leaders who develop institutions like Impressions 5.

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

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OLIVET COLLEGE TO OFFER STUDENTS NEW OPPORTUNITIES Programs will offer high school students a chance to receive insurance credits in advance BY KRISTINE RICHMOND

With opportunities in a growing insurance industry abound, Olivet College, a leader in insurance education throughout the state of Michigan, is working to replenish the insurance industry’s workforce by partnering with local school districts and insurance companies throughout the state to educate the next generation of leaders. Representatives from Olivet College and Lansing School District (LSD) officially signed the Lansing School District Insurance Academy agreement at a Board of Education meeting on Oct. 6, allowing LSD students to obtain Olivet College credits from Risk Management and Insurance courses at Lansing high schools. “Olivet College is not only the capital region’s private college of choice, it is a national leader in insurance education at the collegiate level for undergraduates,” said Maria Davis, Ph.D., provost and dean of Olivet College. “There is an increased need for employees due to the lack of current leadership in the field. This presents a great opportunity for Olivet College to take what we are good at and make it more accessible to our local community.” Olivet College’s insurance curriculum, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels, is wellknown and highly respected across the state. Students who graduate from Olivet College with a bachelor’s degree in Risk Management and Insurance, have a 99.9 percent success rate in finding a job in the insurance field. Thanks to partnerships like Insuring MI Future, Olivet 20

College has been able to build relationships with industry professionals and school districts in midMichigan to educate the next generation of young talent for careers in the insurance industry. Olivet College’s recently formed partnership with the Lansing School District will offer a new program for high school students this fall called the Insurance Academy, where they can earn free college credits. Olivet College plans to work with other school districts to expand this model across the state, where the college will provide the curriculum, guidance and support to the LSD and the designated district instructors. The Lansing School District will hire the instructors while Olivet College approves their credentials. Students will have the option of taking up to three Risk Management and Insurance courses to earn a total of nine Olivet College credits. “Our students deserve to have multiple options for career choices and it’s the mission of the Lansing School District to help them get ‘opportunity ready,’” said Yvonne Caamal Canul, superintendent of Lansing School District. “A program such as this one, will not only provide students real-life experiences from which they can learn, but will also build a life-long commitment to being a successful member of our community by joining a growing industry.” Students enrolled in the Insurance Academy will spend three days per week in the classroom and two days per week at AF Group learning

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about the insurance field while gaining handson experience. Students will also be able to attend seminars and engage in campus life at Olivet College. After completing these courses, students will not only be employable after they graduate from high school, they will also have an advanced start on a college degree. Should they decide to pursue an undergraduate degree in Risk Management and Insurance from Olivet College, they will be able to graduate in three and a half years. “We look at this program as a chance to educate students and plant the seeds early about the opportunities available to them. We are very involved in the community and are excited to provide students an opportunity to further their education,” said Lynette Long, manager of Talent Management and Learning for AF Group. “AF Group provides the on-site learning environment so that students can experience what it feels like to be in this business, as well as have access to professionals through job shadowing and guest lectures.” For more information about Olivet College’s Risk Management and Insurance program, visit olivetcollege.edu/academic-dept. 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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BY MICKEY HIRTEN | PHOTO BY ERIKA HODGES

ERIC LARSON Executive Director of Lansing’s Impression 5 Science Center Eric Larson, 41, is executive director of Lansing’s Impression 5 Science Center, which attracts more than 140,000 visitors each year. Larson joined the museum staff in 1997 and became director in 2005. He was in the initial 2007 class of 10 Over the Next Ten winners. CAN YOU GIVE US A SENSE OF IMPRESSION 5’S UNIQUE ROLE IN THE GREATER LANSING COMMUNITY? It’s the reason it was started in the late '70s — to get kids to explore science and art using all five senses. I would still say that is our mission in 2016. But the tactics used to keep people connected to science and art are different today. YOU’VE BEEN HERE FOR 20 YEARS. WHAT’S DIFFERENT? I think there’s a number of variables. People have changed the way that they learn and definitely the motivations that they have for learning have changed. Impression 5 is an informal learning environment. Our measurables, if you will, are a little more open ended than standardized tests. What we are really trying to create here is a change in science behavior for those individuals who engage with 22

Impression 5. It’s different from memorizing content or even being able to regurgitate that content. In the ‘70s, when Impression 5 opened, it was enough to give a child the opportunity to touch things. At the time it was so different from anything they had ever seen. All of a sudden, museums like ours came out from behind the glass and created these activities that allowed people to engage in what they were learning about. ARE YOU SAYING THAT IMPRESSION 5 ENCOURAGES PATRONS TO BE ACTIVE RATHER THAN PASSIVE?

activities, where you are surrounded by people that you trust and that you will take the risks necessary to learn. What it means, is that you don’t have to have all of the answers, nor do the people sitting right next to you. Collectively, you can figure things out. Sometimes I think that becomes a difficult hurdle for people to traverse. Its plagued science centers for quite some time. When you talk to our visitors, one of their biggest fears is that [their] child is going to ask [them] a question that [they] can’t answer. HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THAT?

We have to create a meaningful experience that motivates people to take the risks to learn. It’s different from me sitting down with you, creating an activity which you do once or twice and the outcome will be known. What we are trying to do is create an environment in which you are comfortable with the activity or

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What we are trying to do here is make sure that the environment we present for families here at the science center makes it OK for that to happen. The best example of that is how we have recently shifted away from building science exhibits in the traditional manner. We

BEHIND THE SCENES

would take some scientific content with six or eight table top activities together. You would do that and all of a sudden know how to do a parallel circuit. Now what we are doing, is creating environments where we hope that kids and their parents will actually sit down in a space and spend a great deal of time there, just continually experimenting. It means trying this and asking questions, maybe failing and doing it again. What that does, in our opinion anyway, is allow the most dynamic of learning groups, which is the family group, to be successful. IT SEEMS THAT A CENTER LIKE THIS IS REALLY SELLING A SENSE OF WONDER: WONDER LIKE “ISN’T THAT AMAZING” OR “I WONDER HOW THAT WORKS.” People refer to that sort of thing as the hook. What’s going to get them interested in a thing? Our racing car exhibit out there is really about the exploration of STEM – science, technology, engineering and math. We have used racing to be the hook. It’s similar to our exhibits upstairs about throwing things with catapults, or canons or bottle rockets. It’s about exploring kinetic energy using things kids like to do. Yes, it’s absolutely creating the sense of wonder.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT GOALS, ATTENDANCE IS AN IMPORTANT MEASURE. HOW IS IT GOING THIS YEAR? Last year, at the end of our fiscal period, which [was] September 30, we reported 143,000 visitors. This year, at the end of August, there were just over 140,000. We are definitely going to eclipse that 143,000 and we will take a big step towards our goal of 155,000 visitors. YOU BELONG TO LOTS OF CIVIC AND CHARITABLE GROUPS. HOW IMPORTANT ARE RELATIONSHIPS, PARTICULARLY IN THE NON-PROFIT ARENA? They are monumentally important. A good example is the success the Impression 5 is having right now with fundraising, that has brought numerous large contributions to help us do facility plans and rebuild the exhibits. None of that happens without the decade-long relationship development that happen before that. In order for me to be able to sit down with you as a prospective donor and ask you for $100,000, you have to trust me. You have to know that what I’m asking for is what we

need and that if you give it to me, I am going to do what I said I was going to do. That doesn’t happen overnight. In fact, in a town like Lansing, which is a small town, everybody knows one another and there are not the same deep pockets that you have in other towns. This town does a phenomenal job at coming together to make things happen. YOU WERE IN THE FIRST CLASS OF 10 OVER THE NEXT TEN AWARD WINNERS. WAS IT A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE IN YOUR CAREER? It was huge. I had no idea that I could win. My board and a number of members of my team did a lot to write the nomination package and letters of support. Still, I was totally surprised to receive the award and I remember feeling overwhelmed because it’s such a monumental call to action. You realize, “Wow. People expect a lot from me.” I knew what I was doing was important, but to hear other people talk about you, it was like “Are you talking about me?” This conversation with Eric Larson has been edited for space and clarity.`

HOW WOULD YOU CHARACTERIZE THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF IMPRESSION 5? It’s been transformational. The last 10 to 15 years have been game-changing. I don’t think the organization has gone through such upheaval and reinvention since the day it was created. I think that a lot it has come about by necessity. The science center that I sit in today is one hundred percent different from the science center you or I would have visited 10 years ago. Ninety percent of our exhibits are brand new. The way people get in and out of the building has totally changed. And our education programs are completely different. YOU’VE BEEN WITH THE CENTER NOW FOR 20 YEARS AND YOU ARE PRETTY CLOSELY IDENTIFIED WITH IT. PEOPLE SAY ERIC LARSON, IMPRESSION 5. IMPRESSION 5, ERIC LARSON. IS THAT GOOD OR BAD? I think it’s great. I mean, this is my life’s work and I’m not the only one who has been here for 20 years. I get a lot of the credit and a lot of the notoriety because there has to be an out-front person as the voice of Impression 5. I think it’s a positive. I hope to be here for a very long time. We still have a lot to achieve here. This job has never been and never will be a stepping stone for me to go somewhere larger or to a different market. L

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G R E AT E R L A N S I N G B U S I N E S S M O N T H LY

NOVEMBER 2016

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MICHAEL BASS For 10 Over the Next Ten winners like Michael Bass, perseverance has a payoff. “I was nominated last year and didn’t win,” he said. “I knew some of the winners and they were so deserving. The difference this year was that I joined the Old Town Commercial Association (OTCA) Board and the East Lansing Arts Festival board. Maybe it was those things that struck a chord with the judges.”

10 OVER THE

NEXT TEN

Meet Lansing’s next generation of leaders BY MEGAN MARTIN, MICKEY HIRTEN & AMI ICEMAN-HAUETER

Every year, the Lansing Chamber of Commerce recognizes some of the Lansing region’s top young professionals who are expected to contribute significantly to our community over the next ten years. They are recognized by awarding them with the 10 Over the Next Ten award. Winners must meet two criteria; the nominee must be 35 years old or younger and must have been working in the Tri-county region for a minimum of two years. Nominees are judged based on their professional achievement, community involvement and personal success. This year’s ceremony marked the event’s 10th Anniversary. A big congrats to the winners of the 2016 10 Over the Next Ten award winners - we look forward to see what you do in our community over the next ten years! 26

G R E AT E R L A N S I N G B U S I N E S S M O N T H LY

NOVEMBER 2016

Bass is vice president at Friedland Industries Inc., his family’s business, where he began as a teenager sorting scrap metals in the summer and has since built the company’s social media presence and handled an array of operational assignments, among them account representative, pricing, scale operator, sorter, PR/marketing/social media director and legislative liaison. Friedland is a fixture in Old Town and Bass’s work with OTCA reflects his desire to promote the neighborhood’s unique characteristic in the region and state. It also offers a platform to remind the community that scrap is really recycling. It’s an important connection for a community, he said, an attitude that reflects a new Lansing. “There is a feeling building that Lansing in the next five to ten years can be a very different place.” And he is committed to the change. “It feels good that the judges see potential in me to create something that helps benefit the community.”

COVER

JOSE YANEZ

VERONICA GRACIA-WING

Jose Yanez is owner and founder of Full Circle Financial Planning, a full-service financial service firm providing investment, retirement and insurance planning to individuals and employee benefits to small businesses. “We work to help people become financially secure, to better understand their finances and start saving for their future. It builds relationships that go beyond the numbers, when you help people put their kids through college and save for retirement, you can really see how what we do impacts their lives,” said Yanez. His business is not the only avenue in which Yanez impacts the lives of others. As a dedicated community member, Yanez currently holds positions as president of the Greater Lansing Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, vice chair of The Lansing Community College Foundation and council member of the WKAR Development Council. Yanez also oversees Full Circle Charities, the nonprofit wing of his organization. “I believe that people don’t care who you are or what you do unless they see how much you care about those things. I try to remember that in business, but also in giving back. It is our duty as business owners, community members and human beings to help,” said Yanez. In 2012, Yanez was selected as the Michigan Hispanic Entrepreneur of the Year by the Hispanic/Latino Commission of Michigan. Yanez currently resides in Lansing, Mich. and in his free time he enjoys playing basketball and spending time with his wife Sarah and children Hailey, Isaac and Noah.

Currently working as an associate strategist at Piper & Gold Public Relations, Veronica Gracia-Wing feels that her professional success can be attributed to her hard work and the opportunities that the city of Lansing has to offer. “[It’s] equal parts grit, incomparable mentorships, relationships and the unique opportunities Lansing affords people who want to be involved,” she said.

MICHAEL NORDMANN Michael Nordmann, an experienced financial advisor, has dedicated himself to providing world-class service in the field of wealth management in the mid-Michigan area since graduating from college in 2011. In January 2014, he joined the firm of Morrison, Nordmann and Associates to align himself with a practice whose values, goals and objectives matched his own. The firm provided an environment to help him grow his practice and serve the Lansing community. “I am passionate about what I do. It has been a wonderful experience ever since I joined the team. I am passionate about providing world class service in the area of wealth management. We work with a select group of successful families using our comprehensive, consultative process to have a significant impact in their lives.” said Nordmann. Nordmann manages millions of dollars for people across the country, but he focuses his philanthropic efforts in the heart of Michigan. Nordmann has lived in the mid-Michigan area his entire life. He attended Haslett High School and with his wife, bought his first house in Williamston, Mich. a little over three years ago. Nordmann and his family have come to love everything that the greater Lansing area has to offer. He is committed to living here, raising his family here and making this a better place for everyone through his dedication to community service and passion for helping others in need.

Gracia-Wing’s role in the greater Lansing area began as a student at Michigan State University, where she majored in fisheries and wildlife. Her passion for natural resources and her storytelling abilities has led her to actively participate in many organizations in the greater Lansing area, including positions as the president of the City of Lansing Park Board, the secretary of the Fenner Conservancy and Nature Center, a board member of both the Westside Neighborhood Association and the Over the Ledge Theatre Company and a member of the Lansing Regional Chamber’s Leadership Lansing program’s class of 2016-2017. While Gracia-Wing feels that winning the 10 Over the Next Ten award is an honor, she also views it as a challenge and a promise. “As a member of the lifelong #lovelansing crew, I love this city and what it offers my family and friends,” she said. “I want good things for it and them, so I consider it a serious responsibility and privilege to do my part.”

“I think working together and giving back is how we improve,” said Nordmann. “The more we are all involved in something that we are passionate about, the more we can move the whole region forward.” L

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ANGELA MINICUCI Angela Minicuci never expected to leave her hometown of Troy, Mich., especially because her entire family lives there. But while at Michigan State University, she realized just how much greater Lansing has to offer. “I took advantage of opportunities that allowed me to see how much potential this community has,” said Minicuci. “People are so welcoming and passionate and I was instantly hooked.”

TYLER DYKE After growing up in the small town of Dansville, Mich. and attending Michigan State University in East Lansing, Mich., Tyler Dyke set out to live in a big city. He lived in Chicago, Ill. and Tampa, Fla. After a few years of being away from his home state, Dyke realized that Lansing was where he wanted to be. He moved back to the area in 2008 and currently works as a securities examiner for the State of Michigan. “Now more than ever, I feel a sense of responsibility to do my part to improving the Lansing region,” Dyke said. “Since moving back to Lansing, I have converted from being a person who complained about what Lansing was lacking to someone who actively participates in planning and developing events for the community.” Dyke is actively involved in the community by serving on several boards of directors including The Firecracker Foundation, Michigan Pride and Grand River Connection. While Dyke loved what the big cities he lived in had to offer, he acknowledged that it’s easier in Lansing to get involved because it’s smaller. He said that Lansing will never be those large cities, and that’s what he has learned to love about his home.

Minicuci currently works as the Communications Director for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services; all while serving multiple community organizations, including her role as president of the Central Michigan Public Relations Society of America Board and sponsorship chair of the annual PACE Awards. She also volunteers on the Capital Area United Way Public Relations and Branding Committee, is co-chair of the Basic Needs Grant Review Team and marketing chair of the Peppermint Creek Theatre Company Board. Her extensive work in the community lends itself to her advice to students in the area. “I always tell them to get involved in the community, whether that be through internships or volunteering,” she said. “There’s so much value in growing professionally through getting involved as well as the value they’ll get out of being a part of truly humbling experiences within our community.”

G R E AT E R L A N S I N G B U S I N E S S M O N T H LY

Patrick Dean states his goal simply: “To make a bigger impact in our state.” And to do so, Dean, vice president of business development for Dean Transportation and Dean Trailways of Michigan, has stepped forcefully into the public policy/business development arena. Dean is serving his second term as board president of the Information Technology Empowerment Center. He also serves as his family firm’s representative on the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and in 2014 was named by Governor Rick Snyder to serve on the Michigan Board of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons, which oversees licensing and industry practices. Combined with his nonprofit activities, Dean sees his opportunity, along with the passion of other Millennials, to accelerate the transformation of the Lansing region. “I’ve been impressed with the young professionals in this town,” Dean said. “When you think of this region and the great opportunities and investments that we are making, it is why young Millennials want to move back to the region and raise families.” Dean has worked for Dean Transportation since 2007 in various operations and business development roles throughout the organization. Currently he is responsible for day-to-day business and operations management, focusing on contract and quality compliance, new business development and oversight of his local management teams.

“It has been a great honor to be recognized by Grand River Connection and the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce for the 10 Over the Next Ten award,” said Dyke. “My advice to prospective future winners of this award is to get involved in what you love. If you want to see changes in this community, help make those changes.”

PATRICK DEAN

NOVEMBER 2016

COVER

CHRISTOPHER SELL

BEN RATHBUN

Growing up in Williamston, Mich., Christopher Sell hardly knew Lansing. Heading west for him was a trip to the Meridian Mall. As for the city, it was mostly a mystery. Not anymore. Having obtained a master’s degree from Michigan State University and working at MSU where he is currently director of alumni and entrepreneur engagement – a program that builds advocacy and support for entrepreneurship, especially among students – he became entranced by Lansing and its attractions to young people.

Once a month Ben Rathbun loads up his car with meals, delivering lunches to the aging and infirm in Lansing. For some of those he visits it may be the only hot meal of the day, perhaps their only personal contact.

“I moved to the city and my wife and I moved to the Groesbeck. I started to become familiar with all of the fantastic things happening here. But there was nothing in Lansing connecting young people, showing them the things happening in our community.” So he and some friends formed Lansing 5:01, an initiative that created summer programs for college interns and young professionals, highlighting the quality of life available to them in the region. It’s an initiative that complements his involvement in #lovelansing, service on the board of directors of Impression 5 Science Center and Friends of the Lansing River Trail nonprofit organization. Christopher graduated with his bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University (WMU), a master’s degree from Michigan State University, the 2012 WMU Academic Leadership Academy and, recently, the inaugural 2015-2016 Leadership Lansing program.

LAUREN AITCH Lauren Aitch is a designer-in-residence at The Runway in downtown Lansing and founder and CEO of two companies, Lady Aitch and Our Own, as well as her philanthropic organization, The Aitch Foundation. The start of Aitch’s career came after she left Michigan State University (MSU) with a bachelor’s degree in both advertising and design as well as a master’s degree in public relations. A student athlete in college, Aitch played professional basketball in Copenhagen, Denmark for one year. It was there that Aitch started to follow her passion for design and spent her free time sketching; thus, her fashion design company, Lady Aitch, was born. “I took a lot away from that experience and it really gave me perspective on what I wanted to do next in my life,” said Aitch.

It’s one way, Rathbun said, to make a difference. But there are others. An independent agent in his family insurance business, the Rathbun Agency, he works with those in need in different ways and at different times. He’s involved with Ele’s Place, where each Wednesday he acts as a support group facilitator, helping elementary school-age children talk about the personal losses they’ve experienced. And there’s the Lansing Rescue Mission, where he and co-workers serve up lunch to those in need. He founded and chairs the Capital Region Habitat Young Professionals chapter, encouraging others like himself and his friends to support the housing provider’s mission. For Rathbun, it’s about investing in his hometown. “You really learn a lot about the community,” he said of his volunteer activities. And about people, especially other young professionals. “One of the things I like about Lansing is that it may seem a big city, but it still has a small town feel. It means you can make a significant impact.”

It was also around this time that Aitch began thinking of ideas for a foundation. Partnering with Dr. Jim Potchen and the MSU Health Teams, The Aitch Foundation was created to raise money for early detection of cancers. Along with this mission, the foundation also includes a youth-mentoring program, holds an annual fashion show at Spartan Stadium and sponsors advocacy days to for guests to learn more about health. In addition to these organizations, Aitch created a second clothing line, Our Own, which produces high-performance undershirts for people in public service occupations. With so much going on Aitch has found time to support her community and act as an ambassador for the region. “This city has provided me the opportunities and support I needed when I was trying to get my dreams off the ground, I just want to do the same for it,” said Aitch. L

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MILLENNIALS IN T are Millennials S& AMBITIOU FLEXIBLE

Millennials want to move up the ranks quickly. One of the fastest ways to do that is to change jobs.

A new role often comes with a more elevated title and a substantial pay raise.

15%

RAISE OR MORE GETTING A NEW JOB

1 to 3%

VS.

RAISE STAYING IN THEIR CURRENT ROLE

MILLENNIALS SEEK EMPLOYERS WITH GES SIMILAR VALUES, NOT JUST HIGHER WA

% 3 7

OF MILLENNIALS MAINTAIN THAT BUSINESS HAS A POSITIVE IMPACT UPON WIDER SOCIETY.

MILLENNIALS REMAIN UPBEAT ABOUT BUSINESSESâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; POTENTIAL TO DO WELL.

MILLENNIALS ARE BELIEVERS IN SMALL BUSINESS & CHANGING SOCIETY

47%

OF MILLENNIALS WORK FOR SMALL BUSINESSES WITH LESS THAN 100 EMPLOYEES.

MORE THAN 85%

believe that business has an equal influence to government, if not more, on society.

THE WORKPLACE In most markets, work-life balance comes before career progression when evaluating job opportunities

Top three priorities for young professionals when choosing an organization to work for:

GOOD WORK-LIFE BALANCE

ES NITI / U T SS OR OPP ROGRE S TO P EADER BE L

FLEXIBILITY

MILLENNIALS ARE MORE CONFIDENT IN THEIR ABILITY TO SUCCEED

77%

OF MILLENNIALS ARE CONFIDENT AND FEEL IN CONTROL OF THEIR CAREER PATH.

The smaller, less confident portion feel as if they are controlled and influenced by outside factors, such as the needs of the job market versus their desires.

BY 2020

MILLENNIALS ARE TAKING OVER

46%

OF THE JOB MARKET WILL BE COMPRISED OF MILLENNIALS.

IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS

87%

OF MILLENNIAL WORKERS TOOK ON MANAGEMENT ROLES

VERSUS

38% OF

GENERATION X

19%

OF BABY-BOOM GENERATIONS

MILLENNIALS WANT TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR INDIVIDUALITY

93%

WANT TO WORK IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY CAN EXPRESS THEMSELVES VISUALLY opting for more comfortable clothing and less attire restrictions.

ADDITIONALLY

83%

SAID THEY WANT THEIR EMPLOYER TO VALUE THEIR CREATIVITY.

Compiled by Adam Lansdell | Graphics by Nikki Nicolaou | Sources: money.cnn.com; deloitte.com; payments.intuit.com; www.aabacosmallbusiness.com

LANSING AT A GLANCE

GREATER LANSING AT A GLANCE Each month, Greater Lansing Business Monthly compiles statistics showing the growth of the greater Lansing area month to month. This information is not comprehensive, but rather, a snapshot of the area’s growth throughout the year. The following is a look at the advances some of Lansing’s biggest businesses have made in the past two months.

MICHIGAN RETAILERS ASSN. INDEX

BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS: LABOR FORCE DATA

A monthly gauge of key retail activity in the state; values above 50 generally indicate an increase in activity.

The regular report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics tracking the region's job performance.

Aug. ‘16

July ‘16

June‘16

May ‘16

Aug. '15

Sales

50.8

45.7

53.9

65.1

43.9

Inventory

66.5

57.2

59.5

61.8

56.7

Prices

49.5

50.6

47.9

Marketing/Promotion

59.9

55.3

61.6

Hiring Plans

50.7

53.4

54.7

Aug. ‘16

July ‘16

June‘16

Civilian Labor Force (1)

(P) 240.5

241.7

242.2

248.6

236.6

53.2

Employment (1)

(P) 231.4

231

232.5

237.2

227.1

54.2

Unemployment (1)

(P) 9.1

10.7

9.7

11.3

9.4

55.3

51.5

Unemployment Rate (2)

(P) 3.8

4.4

4.6

4.0

Values above 50 generally indicate an increase in activity

May ‘16

Aug. '15

BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS: WAGE & SALARY

KEY STOCKS — MONTH-END CLOSE

The regular report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics tracking the region's job performance.

A report on price changes for key local stocks and others that reflect the health of the region's economy.

Aug. ‘16

July ‘16

June‘16

(P) 224.4

224.7

226.6

228.9

218.8

12-month % change

(P) 2.6

2.1

0.2

1.2

Mining, Logging & Construction (3)

(P) 7.8

7.7

7.6

7.2

7.4

Total Nonfarm (3)

May ‘16

Sept. ‘16

Aug. ‘16

July ‘16

June‘16

Sept . '15

Spartan Motors

9.58

9.86

8.49

6.26

4.13

General Motors

31.77

31.92

31.54

28.30

30.02

Emergent BioSolutions

31.53

26.65

31.53

28.21

28.49

Neogen

55.94

59.06

55.15

56.25

44.99

Gannett (Lansing State Journal)

11.64

11.93

12.76

13.81

14.73

Gray Broadcasting (WILX)

10.36

11.23

9.90

10.85

12.76

Media General (WLNS)

18.43

17.67

17.59

17.19

13.99

Bank of America

15.65

16.14

14.49

13.27

15.58

UPS

109.36

109.22

108.10

107.72

98.69

Home Depot

128.68

134.12

138.24

127.69

115.49

Kroger*

29.68

31.99

34.19

36.79

36.07

Aug. '15

12-month % change

(P) 5.4

4.1

2.7

1.4

Manufacturing (3)

(P) 20.9

21.2

18.9

20.2

12-month % change

(P) 3.5

8.2

7.6

-2.6

5.8

Trade, Transportation & Utilities (3)

(P) 35.6

35.2

35.8

35.7

34.5

12-month % change

(P) 3.2

2.3

1.4

2.4

Information (3)

(P) 3.1

3.1

12-month % change

(P) 3.3

3.3

3.4

Financial Activities (3)

(P) 16.1

15.8

12-month % change

(P) 1.9

1.9

15.8

1.9

Macy's Inc.

37.05

36.18

35.83

33.61

51.32

Wal-Mart Stores

72.12

71.44

72.97

73.02

64.84

Professional & Business Services (3)

(P) 23.1

22.4

22.7

12-month % change

(P) 5.0

3.2

2.3

-2.2

0.9

Education & Health Services (3)

(P) 30.9

30.8

30.5

30.7

12-month % change

(P) 3.0

-0.6

Leisure & Hospitality (3)

(P) 19.2

20.1

19.8

19.4

19.5

12-month % change

(P) -1.5

4.1

0.5

-1

2.1

Other Services (3)

(P) 10.2

10.2

10.3

10.2

12-month % change

(P) 0.0

-1.9

Government

(P) 57.5

58.2

59.6

56.2

12-month % change

(P) 2.3

1.9

1.2

-0.2

*Adjusted for stock split

An indicator of the Greater Lansing region’s business and housing growth.

BUSINESS Sept. ‘16 Clinton

(1) Number of persons, in thousands, not seasonally adjusted. (2) In percent, not seasonally adjusted. (3) Number of jobs, in thousands, not seasonally adjusted. See About the data. (P) Preliminary

CONSUMERS ENERGY SERVICE STARTS

G R E AT E R L A N S I N G B U S I N E S S M O N T H LY

4,029

Aug. ‘16

July ‘16

4,056

4,057

Sept . '15

YOY Change

4,014

0.37%

Eaton

5,097

5,104

5,094

5,093

0.08%

Ingham

11,483

11,428

11,419

11,239

2.17%

TOTAL

20,609

20,588

20,570

20,346

1.29%

Sept . '15

YOY Change

RESIDENTIAL Sept. ‘16

Aug. ‘16

July ‘16

Clinton

29,419

29,346

29,285

28,978

1.52%

Eaton

41,503

41,494

41,447

41,158

0.84%

Ingham

97,758

97,670

97,422

96,384

1.43%

TOTAL

168,680

168,510

168,154

166,520

1.30%

GRAND TOTAL

189,289

189,098

188,724

186,866

1.30%

NOVEMBER 2016

LANSING AT A GLANCE

REGIONAL SINGLE FAMILY HOMES SALES Source: Homefinders.com, available in the Lansing State Journal

Aug. ‘16

July ‘16

1 month change

Aug. ‘15

1 year change

Ingham County, MI Number of Sales

536

491

9.2%

483

11.0%

Average Purchase Price

$131,783

$136,179

-3.2%

$120,763

9.1%

Median Purchase Price

$118,250

$110,000

7.5%

$112,500

5.1%

$79

$86

-8.1%

$77

2.6%

Average Price per Square Foot

In October: There were 2,664 units for sale in the county as of October 20, 2016. Single-family homes have a mean list price of $208,618. The current mean list price for a condo in Ingham County is $174,274.

Clinton County, MI Number of Sales

125

38.9%

37.4%

Average Purchase Price

$169,502

$179,858

-5.8%

$183,388

-7.6%

Median Purchase Price

$150,000

$170,850

-12.2%

$154,700

-3.0%

$108

$110

-1.8%

$117

-7.7%

Average Price per Square Foot

In October: There were 776 units for sale in the county as of October 20, 2016. Single-family homes have a mean list price of $188,089. The current mean list price for a condo in Clinton County is $233,117.

Eaton County, MI Number of Sales

112

137

Average Purchase Price

$142,250

Median Purchase Price

$132,500 $95

Average Price per Square Foot

-18.3%

62.3%

$143,117

-0.6%

$140,275

1.4%

$137,000

-3.3%

$128,000

3.5%

$95

0.0%

$79

20.3%

In October: There were 1,116 units for sale in the county as of October 20, 2016. Single-family homes have a mean list price of $176,652. The current mean list price for a condo in Eaton County is $143,330.

SPONSORED

BUSINESS BEST PRACTICES FOR MONITORING AND PROTECTING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY BY JOHN MASHNI

Intellectual Property (“IP”) rights can be the cornerstone of a business’s value and competitive edge. IP rights are generally grouped into four categories: trademarks, copyrights, patents and trade secrets. For example, a business can protect its IP rights by registering a trademark or filing a patent application. Those are the initial - but by no means last - steps in protecting a business’s valuable IP assets. Once registered, a business must remain vigilant in monitoring its IP in order to detect and end instances of infringement. Best practices include the following: • A business should monitor its trademarks as used online, in competitors’ advertisements, and in other mediums. If an unauthorized use is discovered, undertake enforcement action immediately.

• Register copyrights and place copyright notices on websites and other business communications. To monitor and protect against infringement online, use digital tools such as Google Alerts for notification when certain content and search queries appear elsewhere on the internet. If infringement occurs, demand the infringement cease and desist. • It is up to a patent holder to police against patent infringement. Some businesses employ enforcement personnel to monitor the marketplace. In other cases, instances of infringement are simply “stumbled” upon. If a business comes across what appears to be infringement, consult an experienced IP attorney who can assess and help remedy the situation. • All businesses have trade secrets they do not want revealed publicly. Every business should have a

strategy in place to protect valuable information. These may include placing confidentiality notices on internal business documents and having employees and consultants sign confidentiality and in some cases non-compete agreements. If an employee leaves for a competitor, ensure trade secrets are not being used. Taking the necessary time to review the proactive and protective measures in place to secure and monitor intellectual property rights is an essential investment to ensure a company’s competitive standing and its financial success. John Mashni brings a unique perspective to Foster Swift with his practical experience as an entrepreneur, business owner, and manager. He focuses in the areas of intellectual property, business, tax and entertainment. L

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FEATURE

HOW DOES LEADERSHIP SUPPORT SERVICE EXCELLENCE? BY TRICIA FOSTER

The impact of leadership, the value of client care and customer service is equal to its leadership involvement. You must talk-thetalk and walk-the-walk of the service process. You are ultimately responsible for any positive and/or negative effects as a result of leading your team. Think about your role as a leader; how are your priorities different than they were as

an employee? As a leader you are paid to accomplish more work than you can do alone, which comes with an underlying responsibility to lead and coach others. In order to get the best from your team, you need to execute a number of roles well; such as selecting the best talent, setting clear expectations, communicating daily, inspiring by example and providing excellent service internally and externally.

Each member of your team has a different behavioral style and level of experience. Modify your style to better communicate with each individual and consider these distinctions: direct beginners; coach novices; observe intermediates; review the advanced and collaborate with the masters. Empowering individuals is about communicating effectively and holding the team accountable for increased productivity and superior client results. Providing meaningful feedback that is reinforcing and timely develops people, lets them know where they stand, improves performance, decreases turnover and heightens morale. Who benefits? Everyone! Happy employees, happy clients, happy managers, higher productivity. Encourage employees to become a collaborative partner with the client, customer and your organization. They become a “leader” and internalize the need for excellence in their behavior. As a successful leader, employees are wanting to follow you, versus having to follow you. Offering consistently excellent service everywhere you operate is attainable through impactful leadership and by remaining focused on producing exceptional results for clients and customers. How you do this today may be different tomorrow. Recognizing the importance of change and growth, while staying focused on your core business mission, is a clear differentiator. We are excited to embrace the 10 Over the Next Ten award recipients in Lansing and look forward to witnessing their success over the next decade. Congratulations! Tricia Foster, CPM®, ACoM® is Senior Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer at CBRE|Martin

G R E AT E R L A N S I N G B U S I N E S S M O N T H LY

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MAN ON THE STREET

MAN ON THE STREET WHAT CHANGES DO YOU THINK YOUNG PROFESSIONALS WILL BRING TO THE LANSING COMMUNITY IN THE COMING YEARS? I believe young professionals will bring an unrivaled sense of passion and energy to their jobs in Lansing. Young professionals have an entrepreneurial spirit that will drive them to accomplish tasks above and beyond what’s expected of them. Oftentimes, companies can lose sight of community and core values in pursuit of improving their bottom line; new talent will bring a progressive outlook, with ideals that align with improving Lansing -JACOB GALLIMORE

They will bring new startup ideas, healthy lifestyles workout, outdoors, etc. Young people can and will put pressure on community leaders, such as politicians, to invest in infrastructure. -SHAY MANAWAR

I think it will bring a lot of cool businesses to town. We already see downtown, Old Town and now REO Town expanding but it hasn’t nearly reached its peak potential yet. No longer will East Lansing be the only place for new and exciting restaurants, retail stores and bars. -RACHAEL RUTHERFORD

Young professionals will definitely make the Lansing job market a more creative one. No longer will we be only known for manufacturing, but also for innovation in design, arts and technology. -ERIN BIEL

Compiled by Adam Lansdell 36

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BY MORDECHAI E. KREININ, UNIVERSITY DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR (EMERITUS), MSU

For people residing in Europe or North America, it is difficult to imagine the widespread poverty that exists in certain poor African and Asian countries. These countries are developing countries, otherwise known as Less Developed Countries (LDC). Per capita GDP (Gross Domestic Product divided by the population) in some countries can be under $500 per year, compared to over $40,000 in the U.S. and certain European countries. Living conditions are poor beyond belief. Goods and even rudimentary services like fresh water are not available. The only way to overcome such conditions is through economic growth, or rise

in GDP faster than the population. But there are certain features of these developing countries that form severe obstacles to growth in output and income per capita - output and income are of identical magnitudes.

Second, a rise in real output requires an increase in productivity (output per worker) which, in turn, requires an increase in machines and structures, otherwise known as “capital formation.” Yet these countries are lacking in such capital. For developing countries, savings and investments are necessarily meager, so they are caught in a vicious circle. Because poor countries with low incomes can’t afford to save, they cannot invest and accumulate capital. Hence productivity remains low and real GDP fails to grow. And as income fails to grow; savings remain meager. In turn, wealthy developing countries, such as oil producers,

First, in some countries, population growth is so rapid (three to four times the rate of industrial countries) that GDP per capita can’t catch up. Attempts to slow it down, such as China’s old policy that allowed couples to have no more than one child or various family planning programs in other countries often fall short of yielding spectacular results.

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ECONOMY

sometimes channel their savings to foreign banks rather than invest them in their own countries. Foreign technical and economic assistance with direct foreign investments (establishing factories), transferred from wealthy to poor countries, can be helpful. And yet, some developing countries restrict incoming foreign direct investment, such as factories owned by foreign multinationals, partly because they wish to minimize the influence of foreign companies on their economies. Third, limited availability of skilled labor is often an obstacle to both domestic and incoming foreign investment. Fourth, inadequate infrastructure can be a serious problem. For example, in developed economies we take for granted the existence of road, rail, and air transport to move materials, parts, and final goods from one part of the country to another. Imagine if this is lacking and goods are stuck in place. The same is true for health and water facilities or institutions designed to train workers in various skills. Last, but not least, is the absence of modern or even semi-modern technology and the

instruments to produce and introduce. In many cases corruption of government, and restrictions on the smooth function of markets (even the labor market) imposed by the government also hinder growth. Fortunately, certain developing countries in Asia and Latin America, such as Thailand and Columbia have succeeded in overcoming some, or all, of these obstacles and have now reached output/income of several thousand dollars per capita. As these countries continue to grow they face several policy questions, which are not always easy to resolve. Many times the proper resolution is counter-intuitive. For example; often when a country attempts to develop through a policy called “import substitution.” Namely, it surrounds itself by a wall of protection from imports, through high import tariffs or restrictive import quotas, and develops internal industries that are substitute for imports. Such a policy was common in Latin America and some Asian countries in the last century. But despite its appeal, it failed time and again to spur growth. In doing so, the country failed to exploit its own comparative advantage. The alternative policy that proved successful, more often than not, is to

concentrate on industries in which the country has a comparative advantage and foster the country’s exports. For developing countries wellendowed with unskilled labor (such as India) and lacking in advanced technology, these would be labor-intensive, technologically unsophisticated industries such as textiles, footwear, lumber goods and sometimes agriculture. In such sectors these countries can integrate themselves into the global economy and grow. Only at a later stage can they move into capital-intensive and then later into technologically advanced sectors. The successful post-WWII examples of Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong point to a desirable move in that direction. Countries that succeeded in promoting such growth are now called “emerging markets.” Once growth begins, it becomes easier for a country to save and invest, as well attract foreign capital to propel itself forward. Mordechai Kreinin is a University Distinguished Professor of Economics, emeritus at Michigan State University and past President of the International Trade and Finance Association. He is the author of about 200 articles and books about economics, including the widely used text, International Economics. He can be reached at kreinin@msu.edu or by cell phone at (517) 488-4837

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BUSINESS CALENDAR

NOVEMBER 2016 NOVEMBER 2 MASTERING INTERVIEW TECHNIQUES Master the art of the interview with this 60-minute webinar. Interviews may seem easy enough, but a strategic approach to interviewing is critical to hiring the right candidate. Hiring the right person for the job can help avoid financial, production, service and legal complications. This webinar is $75 for members and $95 for non-members. Stop by michamber.com for more information and registration details.

NOVEMBER 3 WRITE FOR RESULTS, LANSING Writing well is a fact of life, especially in the workplace. If you don’t feel confident about your writing skills join The Michigan Chamber as they work with you during their one-day seminar. By attending this course, you will be able to gain confidence in your writing, craft documents more easily and respond better through email. This seminar is $270 for members and $295 for non-

members. Stop by michamber.com to register for this fun and informational seminar!

NOVEMBER 4 WAKE UP OLD TOWN, OLD TOWN, LANSING Wake Up Old Town! Is a free networking opportunity for professionals from all over the city who come together to share ideas and opportunities to help local businesses. This event is held the first Friday of every month at rotation locations around Old Town. For a list of the 2016 locations and for more information on Wake Up Old Town!, visit iloveoldtown.org.

NOVEMBER 9 MICHIGAN SALES & USE TAX, The popular Michigan Sales & Use Tax seminar will cover the basic principles of both the sales tax and use tax, compliance considerations, expanded coverage sales and use tax, the new Audit Standards for Field Audits, and a detailed discussion of the taxpayer’s appeal rights. New

guidance in the form of Revenue Administrative Bulletins and Letter Rulings will also be covered. The seminar is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Lansing chamber. Register online and find more information at michamber.com.

NOVEMBER 16 THE NINTH ANNUAL MAKING IT IN MICHIGAN CONFERENCE, EAST LANSING The MSU Product Center is pleased to welcome you to their Making it in Michigan Conference and Premier Specialty Food Marketplace Trade Show. This year’s theme is ‘Taste the Future.’ MSU will be presenting a “comprehensive series of educational sessions with forward thinking strategies for longterm success,” says Brenda Reau, Senior Associate Director of MSU’s Product Center. They will also be expanding the trade show this year to over 200 vendors that will be sampling Michigan-made products. This year’s keynote speaker is Mike Busley, owner of Grand Traverse Pie Company. There is an $85 per person conference registration fee that includes meals and educational sessions and more! The seminar runs from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Lansing Center. For more information visit productcenter.msu.edu/miim or you can call Greta McKinney at 517-353-7185.

NOVEMBER 17

‘Tis almost the season...Is your business ready? More Sparkle... Less Stress

EXEMPT OR NOT EXEMPT? NEW FLSA OVERTIME REGULATIONS TAKE EFFECT DEC. 1, LANSING The new federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) regulations redefine exempt status (to determine payment of overtime) and take effect Dec. 1, 2016. Every employer with exempt employees must be ready on Dec. 1, because there will be no grace period. This 60-minute webinar may be your last opportunity to prepare for the new FLSA salary rules. This webinar is $75 for members and $95 for non-members. Visit michamber.com for registration and more information regarding this event.

NOVEMBER 17 www.theplantprofessionals.com | 517.327.1059 Call us today for your Holiday decorating!

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NOVEMBER 2016

WILLIAMSTON AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LUNCHEON, WILLIAMSTON Join the Williamston chamber as they host their monthly luncheon. This month’s luncheon will be held at the Brookshire Inn & Golf Club. Enjoy lunch as you network as well as listen to speaker Mitch Lutzke. This month’s sponsors are Ben Eichler/Whippletree Financial and Blue Button Bakery. The luncheon is $12 for members and $15 for non-members, pay at the door. To RSVP or learn more about the luncheon contact the Williams Area chamber of commerce at (517) 655-1549.

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NAI MID-MICHIGAN/TMN COMMERCIAL IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE SALE OF TWO PROPERTIES

ATTORNEY EDWARD CASTELLANI HONORED BY MICHIGAN SOCIETY OF ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVES

NAI Mid-Michigan/TMN Commercial is pleased to announce the sale of 209-217 Free Street, Fowlerville, Mich. The property is a well maintained – 100% occupied – 12 unit apartment complex. Logan McAnallen represented both the seller and buyer of this transaction. NAI Mid-Michigan/TMN Commercial is also pleased to announce the sale of 610 N. Cedar Street, Mason. This 100% occupied 19,150 sq. ft. retail strip center anchored by Rite-Aid Pharmacy & Advanced Auto Parts was purchased by an out of area investor. Jeffrey Shapiro represented the seller and Logan McAnallen represented the purchaser.

The Michigan Society of Association Executives (MSAE) recently honored Fraser Trebilcock attorney Edward J. Castellani wiwe nonprofit and association community, and to MSAE.

EDWARD CASTELLANI

Edward has devoted his more than 30 years of legal practice to serving clients, such as non-profits and trade associations, with the added insight as a certified public accountant. This dual background and experience provides unique insight for his clients in business transactions, such as business entity formations,

mergers, acquisitions, tax audits and appeals, and general business and tax planning for both profit and nonprofit corporations.

LEAP AND CITY OF LANSING WIN PRESTIGIOUS INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL AWARDS The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) announced the winners of the Excellence in Economic Development awards at the IEDC Annual International Conference in Cleveland, OH. The Outfield Redevelopment project received two prestigious awards this year. The Lansing Economic Development Corporation (LEDC) through the Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP) received a Gold Award for creating and packaging the Lansing Lugnuts Outfield Redevelopment Project - Public Private Partnership, as well as a Silver Award for the Lansing Lugnuts Outfield Redevelopment Project - Real Estate Redevelopment and Reuse. LEAP is also receiving a prestigious award for its production of the LEAP 2015 Annual Report.

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Announced in 2014, The Outfield project is a mixed-use project located inside Cooley Law School Stadium’s outfield, home to the Lansing Lugnuts minor league baseball team. The project includes 80 upscale residential units built directly within the stadium, something that has never been done before in a professional baseball stadium in the United States.

the Lansing Lugnuts), Scott Keith (Lansing Entertainment and Public Facilities Authority), Chad Gamble (Public Service Director), Pierre LaVoie (Chair, Lansing EDC), Bob Johnson (Lansing Planning Director) Al Wallace Legal (Miller Canfield), the Christman Construction Company and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC).

Through the leadership of Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero and LEAP’s Bob Trezise and Karl Dorshimer, the private/public partners, all equally vital to the success of this project, are the amazing: Pat Gillespie of the Gillespie Group (developer), Tom Dickson (owner of

“The Outfield development is an amazing example of the good that can come from a true, public-private partnership. We are proud to be a part of Lansing’s resurgence, and the Outfield is a prime example of what can result from vision, trust and hard work,” said Pat Gillespie, President of Gillespie Group. “I am thrilled, but not surprised, that The Outfield project has won these prestigious IEDC awards. Public-private partnerships are truly powering Lansing’s progress, and we have had no better partners than The Gillespie Group in bringing amazing, transformational economic development projects across the finish line. The Outfield is a home run in every way and richly deserving of this recognition,” said City of Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero.

“It has become a habit and expectation that our Lansing economic development projects, over the past 11- years, win the top competitive international awards in the nation. The Ottawa Power Station, the Knapps building and now the Outfield are all projects that have outcompeted projects from major communities across the country. I think we’ve firmly put in place a new Lansing tradition- We expect the best,” said Bob Trezise, President and CEO, LEAP. In addition to recognition for The Outfield project, LEAP’s 2015 Annual Report received a bronze award in the Excellence in Economic Development marketing awards competition as well.

DOBERMAN TECHNOLOGIES RECEIVES STATE AND NATIONAL RECOGNITION Doberman Technologies LLC, a local IT management firm, has been recognized by Corp! Magazine and ChannelE2E.com as a top IT service provider. This announcement comes just one month after this up-and-coming

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IT firm received three additional awards by MSPmentor.net and CRN.com, reflecting its commitment to excellence in client service.

The

Doberman was recently named by Corp! Magazine as one of Michigan’s Economic Bright Spots. The firm was chosen by this Warren, Mich.-based publication for its continued economic growth, expansion and hiring of Michigan’s brightest talent. Doberman also made ChannelE2E.com’s first annual Top 100 Vertical Market IT Solution providers list for its work in healthcare. ChannelE2E tracks strategic IT service providers and the five stages of their business

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“The entire Doberman team has been extremely excited about our recognitions,” said Ian Richardson, founder of Doberman Technologies. “We’re committed to Michigan and Lansing/Jackson regions, so much so we’ve got a robust internship program in partnership with Lansing Community College, and a firm vision of keeping talent in the region. This sort of development of staff focus creates highly qualified engineers, which make highly satisfied clients that stay with us 90 percent year over year, combined with 40 percent year over year growth. That sort of success has allowed us to hire 4 new staff in 2016 to date, with plans for more by end of the year.” Doberman Technologies was founded in Nov. 2005 by Ian Richardson in Lansing, Mich. Doberman Technologies has a combined IT experience of over 50 years. Doberman Technologies specializes in acting as a Third Party IT Management Firm. Purchasing, help desk support, vendor management, long-term IT planning, business consulting, equipment disposal, physical infrastructure, cloud services and compliance management are just a few of the services offered in the Doberman Technologies portfolio. For more information, visit dobermantechnologies.com.

TRAVEL SPECIALISTS CRAIG COREY VACATIONS CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF SERVICE

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Craig Corey Vacations, a Lansing-based travel agency specializing in luxury vacation planning, this year celebrates its 25th anniversary. The agency has weathered myriad industry changes and economic downturns to become a small-business success story.

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journey — from entrepreneur to exit (E2E). The site focuses on business development, talent recruitment and management, financial models, marketing, sales and customer engagement.

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“Everyone told me I was crazy, and the bank wouldn’t lend me the money,” recalls agency owner and namesake Craig Corey when reflecting on the site selected for the first office. “From the get-go, we knew we had to do things differently, and we even bucked the trend of most travel agencies. I had flown to New York City and bought the edgiest office furniture and displays I could afford, and shipped them back to Lansing,” he recounts.

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The company’s annual travel sales volume for the first year surpassed $1 million, far exceeding projections, and provided a solid foundation for growth. By 1995, and with a staff of four, Craig Corey Vacations had become one of the travel industry’s renowned specialty travel agencies with a heavy emphasis on “luxury vacations,” ultimately receiving that year the award for “Best Travel Agency Office Design in the Nation” by New York-based Travel Weekly Magazine.

ERIC PATRICK NAMED CHIEF OF PUBLIC SAFETY FOR CAPITAL REGION AIRPORT AUTHORITY Veteran law enforcement officer Eric Patrick has been promoted to chief of public safety for the Capital Region Airport Authority. Patrick has nearly 30 years of law enforcement experience, including serving as a public safety

officer at Capital Region International Airport since 1997. In his new position, he will oversee the nineperson force responsible for police and fire operations at the Lansing airport. Prior to joining the Capital Region Airport Authority Public Safety Department, Patrick served as a U.S. Army military police officer in various outposts, including Haiti and South

The aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks — 15 years ago last month — was directly and immediately felt throughout the travel industry, most especially for airlines and travel agents who were on the front lines. Declining travel and economic challenges forced many agencies to either close or adapt to changing marketing conditions. Craig Corey Vacations chose the latter. “We were scrambling to restore relative calm following the mass cancellations that occurred,” said Corey. “And the overwhelming majority of Americans were skittish about boarding a plane anytime soon. But we persevered by identifying ways to streamline and evolve the business, while remaining focused on our core service offerings, and most importantly, remaining relevant to our customers.” Whenever questioned about the relevance of travel agents in the age of the Internet, Corey says, “It’s all about the service and knowledge required to create a highly personalized vacation experience. If you view travel as a commodity, then booking through an impersonal website or app may make sense. But for most, vacation travel is about the experience, which includes lodging, ground transportation, tours, dining, and so much more that requires a knowledgeable travel expert to guide planning and make personal recommendations. Personalized service and specialized knowledge is what keeps our clients coming back time and time again.”

LOOMIS, EWERT, PARSLEY, DAVIS AND GOTTING P.C. WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE 2016 MICHIGAN SUPER LAWYERS Catherine Jacobs, Estate and Probate, James Neal and Michael Rhodes Energy and Resources, Jeffrey Theuer, Business Litigation and our 2016 Michigan Rising Stars, James F. Anderton and Sara Cunningham.

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Korea. His duties included traffic accident investigations; narcotic, patrol and explosive dog handling; combat lifesaving; and AWOL apprehension.

TWO REO TOWN BUILDINGS SLATED FOR REDEVELOPMENT Mayor Virg Bernero and LEAP announced on September 23 that two functionally obsolete

buildings located on South Washington Avenue in REO Town are slated for redevelopment into mixed-use buildings; featuring Blue Owl Coffee Co., Michigan Creative and an additional restaurant concept. The developer, L & P Properties, is seeking an Obsolete Property Rehabilitation Act (OPRA) tax exemption for the adjacent buildings located at 1149 South Washington Avenue and 1141 South Washington Avenue and will invest a total

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of $709,000 for the renovations. The project will generate an estimated $155,000 in new property taxes over the next ten years while L & P Properties will save an estimated $97,000 in property taxes during the same time. The OPRA tax incentive is used to help offset the extraordinary costs involved in redeveloping old buildings. “This project will continue to add density and vibrancy back into the REO Town neighborhood and South Washington Corridor. REO Town has strong potential to continue to grow and support Lansing in becoming a community with vibrant, cultural centers,” said Bob Trezise, President and CEO of LEAP. “We are very excited about this project in REO Town. We look forward to restoring these buildings and bringing further economic activity to a historic district of Lansing,” said Nicholas Pope, Partner, L&P Properties. “REO Town is definitely on the move, and I am grateful to Nicholas Pope for believing in Lansing and for investing in this resurgent area of our city,” Mayor Bernero said. “It is always a challenge to transform an old, deteriorating structure into a modern facility for commercial and residential uses and I look forward to seeing the results of this terrific new investment.”

GREATER LANSING CVB STAFFER NAMED 2016 MISGMP SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR The Greater Lansing Convention & Visitors Bureau (GLCVB) is pleased to announce associate director of sales Amanda Toy was recently named Supplier of the Year by AMANDA TOY the Michigan Chapter of the Society of Government Meeting Professionals (SGMP) at their annual awards ceremony held at the Crowne Plaza Lansing West Hotel in Lansing. Nominated for the award by a fellow chapter member, Toy was ultimately chosen for the honor by a full vote of chapter membership. Toy began her career in the meetings profession in 2005, working at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. From there Toy transferred to the Hyatt Regency Dearborn and then transitioning to the

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Westin Book Cadillac Hotel in Detroit, working in the state association, entertainment and pharmaceutical markets. Toy joined the staff of the GLCVB in 2011 and is focused on the state association and state government markets. A former SGMP Board Member, Toy has been part of that organization for over eight years. “We at the GLCVB are very happy to see Amanda receive this well-deserved honor,” said Jack Schripsema, President and CEO of the GLCVB. “She has built a solid career based on strong relationships and solid contacts, shaping her into a leader in the industry and a key part of the GLCVB sales team.” The mission of the SGMP is to enhance and promote the expertise of government meeting professionals. The organization strives to improve the quality of, and promote the costeffectiveness of, government meetings in the state of Michigan. SGMP was founded in 1981 and is the only national organization in the U.S. dedicated exclusively to government meetings.

THE DART BANK IN MASON WELCOMES NEW MANAGER Peter Kubacki, president and CEO of Dart Bank, is pleased to announce the addition of Ben Dowd as the Mason Office Manager. Dowd has been in the banking field for over 14 years. He BEN DOWD has a bachelor’s degree in Business Management, and a bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, both from Colorado Tech University. Dowd has been active in the Lansing community for the past two years and prior to that, the Saginaw, MI community. Dowd is also currently on the Board of Directors of the Old Town Commercial Association.

CINNAIRE AWARDED $6.5 MILLION IN CDFI FUND GRANTS Cinnaire, a community development finance organization, was awarded $6.5 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) to further its mission of supporting community stabilization and economic development.

On Wednesday, Sept. 21, Cinnaire was awarded $5.5 million in grants through the CDFI Fund Capital Magnet Fund (CMF) program. The CDFI Fund received 125 applications for CMF dollars and awarded nearly $91.5 million in grants among 32 organizations. Cinnaire, headquartered in Lansing, Mich., but serving multiple regions in the country including Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Delaware, was given the largest of the grants awarded. CMF supports financing for the preservation, rehabilitation, development

or purchase of affordable housing for lowincome communities as well as related economic development and community service facilities such as day care centers, workforce development centers and health care clinics. “The impact of this program will be tremendous,” said CDFI Fund Director Annie Donovan. “The program requires recipients to leverage $10 of housing and economic development investments for every $1 of

Grewal Law PLLC Acquires ChurchWyble PC Mick S. Grewal Sr., CEO of noted Michigan law firm Grewal Law, has announced the acquistion of ChurchWyble, the long established and highly respected personal injury law practice. ChurchWyble will move its staff and operations to the Grewal Companies building in Okemos in early November. ChurchWyble, led by distinguished top Michigan attorney David Mittleman, will become the Mick S. Grewal Personal Injury Division of Grewal Law which already specializes in criminal defense, family law, elder law, general litigation, property and estate tax law and marijuana related matters. “We are excited to take this next step in the growth of Grewal Law to provide Metro Lansing and the entire state of Michigan with world class service for all clients” says CEO Mick Grewal. David Mittleman, who will lead the new Personal Injury Division within Grewal Law, says “I am very excited to be associated with Mick and his team, and this change allows us to better provide our clients with the highest quality Personal Injury legal services as well as have readily available knowledgeable attorneys in all legal matters!” All operations for both firms will be conducted from the Grewal Companies building at 2290 Science Parkway, Okemos, Michigan, 48864. CHURCHWYBLE contact information remains unchanged at 517.372.1011 or 517.372.8545 toll free: 888.227.4770 | churchwyble.com

David Mittleman

GREWAL LAW 517.393.3000 | 4grewallaw.com L

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federal funds, meaning today’s awards will support over $900 million of investment in lowincome communities.” Awardees plan to develop 17,000 affordable housing units, including more than 15,000 rental units and nearly 2,000 homeownership units. Thirty-eight states (including the District of Columbia) will be served by award recipients.

On Tuesday, Sept. 27, awards were announced for the CDFI Fund’s Financial Assistance (FA) and Technical Assistance (TA) programs. A total of 457 applications were submitted and 158 organizations received awards totaling over $170 million. Cinnaire was awarded an additional $1 million in grant funding through the FA program to increase its lending and investment activity in low-income and economically distressed communities.

INVESTING IN THE

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“It is an honor to have received these two grants. This degree of trust truly validates our organization’s dedication to grow and positively impact more communities,” said Mark McDaniel, president and CEO of Cinnaire. “Our team works tirelessly for the communities we serve and this funding helps us further impact economically distressed areas.”

BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS SEND STRONG MESSAGE TO CITY OF LANSING: IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED TO TRANSFORM MICHIGAN AVENUE Businesses, community leaders and residents have sent their message loud and clear. It’s time to transform Michigan Avenue. That message was sent in a letter from the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce (LRCC) to Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero and the Lansing City Council. LRCC, which represents more than 1,100 Greater Lansing businesses and organizations and more than 120 businesses and individuals endorsed the message as co-signers of the letter. “Unfortunately, years have gone by without proper and critical investment in the infrastructure of Michigan Avenue which has negatively impacted the region’s image,” said Tim Daman, LRCC president and chief executive officer. “It is crumbling. It is falling apart and it is in desperate need of repair.”

At Mercantile Bank we’re committed to strengthening business here in the Lansing area. Over the past year we have financed numerous construction projects, helping businesses to develop and expand. All of this impacts new job creation and promotes economic prosperity which helps to build a stronger community. Moving business forward, it’s just another way Mercantile is Here to get you there.®

For more information, contact: Tom Hoban-Community President thoban@mercbank.com

G R E AT E R L A N S I N G B U S I N E S S M O N T H LY

“We know Michigan Avenue should be the highlight of the region and it is not,” said Daman. “We believe the infrastructure investments we are advocating for are desperately needed to support the planned economic investment along the Michigan Avenue corridor to continue to move our region forward.” In the letter to Mayor Bernero and Lansing City Council, LRCC cited a particular need for infrastructure upgrades on Michigan Avenue between Pennsylvania Avenue near Sparrow stretching eastward to U.S. 127.

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Several new developments have been completed along the Michigan Avenue corridor in recent years, stretching from the Stadium District in downtown Lansing well into East Lansing. Current, completed and planned investment along Michigan Avenue totals more than $300 million. Investment in the infrastructure along the road has not kept pace with the rest of the development along the corridor, which leaders say is keeping Michigan Avenue from becoming a regional destination point that should be the hallmark of the entire region.

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