DBusiness | May-June 2020 by Hour Media

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD? As state and local businesses large and small grapple with the effects of COVID-19, we provide forecasts for 10 industry sectors, including automotive, banking, real estate, health care, and logistics.

ACG M&A ALL-STARS

The regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top dealmakers advance our economy.

BIG THREE AUTOMAKERS

Executive charts, Tier 1s, and dealer sales results.

ARSENAL OF HEALTH CARE

How Michigan can build on its strengths.

HERE TO HELP MICHIGAN BUSINESSES.

PURE PARTNERSHIP Michigan Economic Development Corporation is committed to helping businesses in our state during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. If you own a business, MEDC has dedicated programs and resources available to you now: • Small business support • Access to capital • Entrepreneur resources • Buyer and supplier matchmaking Learn more about the MEDC COVID-19 response at michiganbusiness.org/covid19

TCF Bank is proud to support the Dbusiness Breakfast Series TCF Bank aims to create a personal bond with each community we serve and every small business, family or customer that walks in our door. To learn more visit tcfbank.com

ÂŠ2020 TCF National Bank. Member FDIC. tcfbank.com

Where are you now?

Where do you want to be? The right online degree can take you there.

Master of Business Administration Move into business leadership with an MBA from our AACSB-accredited program.

Master of Science in Information Systems Join one of the fastest-growing industries with business and communication skills while honing your ability to work with and on information systems

Master of Entrepreneurial Ventures Prepare to be on the industryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s front lines with an understanding of the business, legal and tactical issues surrounding entrepreneurial ventures.

Master of Science in Administration Gain the administration skills you need with the leadership skills employers want.

Get started

TODAY!

CMU quality | Online convenience

Central Michigan University

cmich.edu/global | 877-268-4636 | cmuglobal@cmich.edu Central Michigan University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (www.hlcommission.org), a regional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. CMU, an AA/EO institution, strongly and actively strives to increase diversity and provide equal opportunity for all individuals, irrespective of gender identity or sexual orientation and including but not limited to minorities, females, veterans and individuals with disabilities. (see http://www.cmich.edu/ocrie). 3902358 3/2020

BUSINESS INSURANCE EMPLOYEE BENEFITS PERSONAL INSURANCE

YOUR BUSINESS INSURANCE IS COMPLICATED.

SCOTT CRANE Client Executive CHRISTINE RUE Client Service Executive

We make it easier.

Whether it’s production quotas, supplier issues, cyberthreats, employee challenges or product recalls, you have a lot to manage. The last thing you want to think about is insurance. Let us. We’ve been doing it since 1935. As an extension of your team, we customize a program that speaks to your specific business needs. One that balances risk with cost, wherever you do business around the world. Ask how we can make insurance easier for you.

2401 W. BIG BEAVER ROAD, SUITE 400 | TROY, MI | 248-643-8750

hylant.com

With unique lounges, a multi-level resort-style spa, signature restaurants, luxury 400 room hotel, exciting entertainment and 30,000 square feet of flexible event space, we make every visit a spectacular event.

Contact 877.MGM.EVNT (646.3868) or send your RFP to sales@det.mgmgrand.com

mgmgranddetroit.com

ÂŠ 2020 MGM Grand Detroit. Excludes Michigan Disassociated Persons.

2020-21 SEASON MEMBERSHIPS ON SALE NOW PISTONS.COM | (313) PISTONS

D E T R O I T ’ S

BUSINESS SCHOOL Shouldn’t business be taught where business is done? We think so. The Mike Ilitch School of Business at Wayne State University doesn’t want students to just earn a degree. We want students to become business leaders for today and tomorrow. And we’re doing that with unique academic programs, such as:

Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Sports and Entertainment Management

Data Science and Business Analytics

Automotive Supply Chain Management

These programs and a lot more are offered walking distance from global corporations in the heart of the city. Because today, teaching business in Detroit makes as much sense as conducting business in Detroit.

I NNOVATE. I MPACT. I NSP I R E. Learn more at ilitchbusiness.wayne.edu.

May - June 2020 || Volume 15 • Issue 3

Features 36 BIG THREE EXECUTIVE LISTINGS Our annual listing of the top executives, officers, and board members from General Motors Co., Ford Motor Co., and FCA-US, including profiles and photos. Assembled by Tom Beaman Plus: Top 25 Tier 1s and auto dealer sales results. 10 DBUSINESS || MAY - JUNE 2020

55 WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD? From automotive to health care, and technology to real estate, we offer 10 industry forecasts, along with economic outlooks from four banking leaders. By Ronald Ahrens, Paul Eisenstein, Tim Keenan, R.J. King, and David Littmann

COURTESY FORD MOTOR CO.

MOBILITY STATION Ford Motor Co. is transforming the former Michigan Central Station on Detroit’s near-west side into a high-tech campus.

GRAND TRAVERSE RESORT AND SPA

GOLF SPA SHOP DINE MEET

GET UP AND GO Expansive views and limitless venues. The inspiration of a Northern Michigan meeting is more than a vineyard board room, private beach reception, or group sail at sunset. More than renowned service or distinct personalization. It’s having all of those things at your fingertips. You won’t believe it if you haven’t seen it. Get up and go at grandtraverseresort.com/meetings.

Owned and Operated by the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians

Contents || Section

Commentary 19

ARSENAL OF HEALTH CARE Given Michigan’s manufacturing strengths, the state has a golden opportunity to expand its health care offerings with a national movement to source more production domestically. LAPTOP LEARNING: The COVID-19 pandemic left public school districts scrambling to create online curricula, while private schools raced ahead with virtual learning platforms. BUSINESS HEROES: Nationalizing the United States’ health care system would hurt the economy, even in the wake of the pandemic. COMPENDIUM How outsiders view Detroit.

Focus 32

The Ticker 25

RECOVERY SHOT Western Golf and Country Club in Redford is moving into a new $12-million clubhouse this summer. By Norm Sinclair RACING HEROES: The Roush Automotive Collection in Livonia traces the career of engineering and racing impresario Jack Roush. By Tim Keenan ROLLING GEMS: Attendees at this year’s EyesOn Design Automotive Design Exhibition will experience the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House’s new visitor center in Grosse Pointe Shores. By Tim Keenan KEY ICON The Hotel St. Regis is part of a wave of new development in Detroit’s New Center. By R.J. King

12 DBUSINESS || MAY - JUNE 2020

PDA Q&A: Kenneth Kelly, CEO and chairman of First Independence Bank in Detroit, is working from home while overseeing operations. By R.J. King DOUBLE VISION Livonia business owner and vehicle dent expert Simon Daoud has created a rolling ad campaign from a street-legal VW Beetle with two front ends. By Grace Turner SKY EYE: As crowd monitoring rises to the forefront due to public safety concerns , companies are introducing platforms to track outdoor gatherings. By R.J. King

ACG M&A ALL-STARS The Association for Corporate Growth Detroit Chapter and DBusiness magazine honor recipients of the 12th annual M&A All-Star Awards for 2019 activity. By R.J. King

30 68

Etc. 14 74

Exec Life 63

GETTING AWAY Northern Michigan resorts haven’t slowed down, with new courses, rental cottages, hotels, and restaurants ready for action. By Norm Sinclair PLUS: Harbor Shores Golf Club in Benton Harbor. RETURN ON INVESTMENT Dance, Act, Write: Warren native Deborah Goodrich Royce transcends the entertainment industry with a television acting career, script development, and the recent release of “Finding Mrs. Ford.” By Tom Murray

PRODUCTION RUN The Big Three vs. COVID-19: In a flurry that feels like Santa’s workshop in emergency mode, local manufacturers, from OEMs to suppliers, are rolling medical equipment off production lines at record speed. By Grace Turner OPINION Build Better Habits: Forming new business practices can break the cycle of redundancy and mediocrity in time for the opening of the professional work environment. By Jon Dwoskin THE CIRCUIT Our party pics from exclusive events.

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR FROM THE TOP Largest Accident and Health Insurance Firms, Largest Business Insurance Firms, Largest Contractors, Largest Law Firms, Southeast Michigan Chambers of Commerce, and Top Hotels Outside Metro Detroit. CLOSING BELL For decades, C.S. Mott was the single largest individual shareholder at General Motors Co. His agile and prudent management remain an example for the auto industry. By Ronald Ahrens

ON THE COVER Illustration by Edel Rodriguez

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: COURTESY OF THE RUTH MOTT FOUNDATION/APPLEWOOD; COURTESY OF GENERAL MOTORS; JOSH SCOTT

From the docks to the highway we are transportation experts Whether it’s establishing risk management methods, ﬁlling the gaps in your business insurance coverage, designing an employee beneﬁts program, or crea�ng a holis�c well-being strategy for your employees, our trucking, towing, and transporta�on specialists can design the best solu�ons for your unique needs.

Expect more from a broker. Expect an expert.

888.263.4656 | KAPNICK.COM | ADRIAN • ANN ARBOR • TROY

Letters || May - June 2020

Next Up?

rises often lead to changes, so what does the future hold? Work connectivity comes home for good. Computers and data lines will be upgraded, and more people will add home studios complemented with green screens to enhance their web conferences. Such equipment also meets the growing trend of telemedicine. Conversely, more apartments will be added at high-throughput businesses — hospitals, manufacturers, warehouses, distributors, and logistics firms — either within existing buildings or as furnished cargo containers. Key employees can keep operations humming. Check out the offerings from Three Squared Inc. in Detroit’s North Corktown neighborhood, a leader in cargo architecture. Public transportation and venue security will expand with temperature checks, body scanners, and other health screening devices. New smart surfaces at offices and homes will boost connectivity. Sensors and related equipment are set just below the surface, or flat boards can be hidden under cabinets or behind paintings and other artwork. Cabinet-sized 3-D printers will be common in homes and offices. These types of machines can produce a range of products using nylon, metals, composites, ceramics, and plastics. Apart from the basics like printed kitchenware or tools, look for digital clothing, musical instruments, camera lenses, and more. Sophisticated ventilation systems will emerge that purify indoor air using ionizers, advanced filters, ultraviolet light, scrubbers, and cleaners. Get ready for a manufacturing boon in the U.S. for computer chips, vital drugs, medicines, PPE, robotics, smart devices, consumer goods, vehicles, and 5G equipment (and installation). The opportunities are endless. Exports will rise. Energy costs and shipping rates are falling. More companies are realizing they don’t need multiple factories around the world to save money. According to Sunil Chopra, IBM professor of operations management and information systems at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, “the additional cost of a large company operating plants in different locations is often not more than the cost of having 14 DBUSINESS || MAY - JUNE 2020

VOLUME 15 • ISSUE 3

one huge plant. You may reach the limit of your economies of scale at half the size, so by running (fewer) plants you don’t give up much in efficiency, but you gain a lot in resiliency.” Local will become hyper local, including energy. Home solar arrays will be popular, as will fuel cells. Hydrogen that powers fuel cells can be generated from solar energy, natural gas, or the electric grid. By filling a certified hydrogen tank in the home, a fuel cell can provide power for months, especially during periods when other energy sources may not be available. Air taxis will connect airports to FAA-approved landing sites. Most open-air parking decks can accommodate a vertiport (helipad). A flight on a five-passenger VTOL aircraft, including a pilot, reduces a 60-minute drive to 10 minutes, with costs relative to executive-level ground transportation. From there, commuters can walk, arrange for car service, or connect to a bus or a train. ASX at Detroit City Airport is a leader in developing VTOL aircraft for passengers and cargo shipments. For Amazon, there’s nothing foreseeable that would erode their business model other than the introduction of a replicator. But they’re likely working on it. Nurses, doctors, health care providers, and first responders will continue to be heralded for putting their lives on the line for those in need, while caring for families that lost loved ones. Their heroic actions saved countless lives. May their newfound eminence inspire the young and fortify the generations to come.

R.J. King

rjking@dbusiness.com

PUBLISHER John Balardo

EDITORIAL

EDITOR R.J. King MANAGING EDITOR Tim Keenan ASSOCIATE EDITOR Grace Turner COPY EDITOR Anne Berry Daugherty CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ronald Ahrens, Tom Beaman, Jonathan Dwoskin, Paul Eisenstein, David Littmann, Tom Murray, Norm Sinclair

DESIGN

ART DIRECTOR Austin Phillips ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR Alexander Shammami CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS Patrick Gloria, Christine M.J. Hathaway, Matthew LaVere, Edel Rodriguez, Josh Scott, Jon Stich, Martin Vecchio

ADVERTISING SALES

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Jason Hosko PUBLISHING AND SALES ASSISTANT Danielle Szatkowski ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Cynthia Barnhart, Karli Brown, Kathy Johnson, Donna Kassab, Debra Lee, Mary Pantely and Associates, Alexis Steixner, Angela Tisch

PRODUCTION

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Jenine Rhoades SENIOR PRODUCTION ARTIST Robert Gorczyca PRODUCTION ARTIST Stephanie Daniel ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Christian Lott PRS GRAPHIC ARTIST Marcus Thompson ADVERTISING DESIGNERS Christian Lott, Daniel Moen, Amanda Zwiren

WEB

DIGITAL DIRECTOR Nick Britsky WEB PROJECT LEAD Matt Cappo WEB PROJECT ASSISTANTS Mariah Knott, Luanne Lim, Bart Woinski SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR Travis Cleveland

IT DIRECTOR Jeremy Leland

CIRCULATION

DIRECTOR OF AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT Michelle VanArman CIRCULATION MANAGER Riley Meyers CIRCULATION COORDINATORS Sue Albers, Barbie Baldwin, Cathy Krajenke, Rachel Moulden

MARKETING AND EVENTS

MARKETING AND EVENTS DIRECTOR Mary Sutton MARKETING AND EVENTS MANAGER Molly Stelma MARKETING RESEARCH DIRECTOR Sofia Shevin MARKETING RESEARCH COORDINATOR Ana Potter MARKETING RESEARCH ASSISTANT Georgia Iden MARKETING AND EVENTS INTERN Elizabeth Cotra MARKETING AND RESEARCH INTERNS Eric Borg, Lourd Dawood

BUSINESS

CEO Stefan Wanczyk PRESIDENT John Balardo ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Kristin Mingo DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS Kathie Gorecki ACCOUNTING ASSOCIATES Natasha Bajju, Andrew Kotzian, Karley Locricchio, Joshua Phipps, Katie West PUBLISHING AND SALES COORDINATOR Lindsay Miller RECEPTIONISTS Julia Locricchio, Deanna Zawislak DISTRIBUTION Target Distribution, Troy Postmaster: Send address changes to DBusiness, 5750 New King Drive, Ste. 100, Troy, MI 48098 For advertising inquiries: 248-691-1800, ext. 126 To sell DBusiness magazine or for subscription inquiries: 248-588-1851 DBusiness is published by Hour Media. Copyright © 2020 Hour Media. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. DBusiness is a registered trademark of Hour Media.

WEBEXTRA Check out DBusiness Daily News for exclusive business news, blogs, podcasts, and videos — available for free at DBusiness.com.

THE TOP COMPANIES

WANT THE TOP PEOPLE. Walsh has always been on the leading edge of business. Our Automotive Cybersecurity program is the first of its kind in the country and our business and IT programs can take you as far as you want to go. That’s why you’ll find Walsh graduates in nearly every Fortune 500 company in Michigan. Preparing you for success is what Walsh is all about. It’s where academic excellence, real-world experience and an outstanding employment rate come together to propel your career forward.

walshcollege.edu

Celebrate with the Winners Thursday, October 8 | 6:00pm – 8:30pm | The Townsend Hotel, Birmingham

Congratulations to the 2019 All Stars

Diamond Sponsor

Merger of Chemical Financial Corporation and TCF Financial Corporation Mega Deal of the Year NYX, Inc.’s acquisition of Beach Mold & Tool, Inc. Deal of the Year Over $50MM Revenue HighGrove Companies acquisition of All Star Driver Education Deal of the Year Under $50MM Revenue

Ruby Sponsors

John C. Carter, JPMorgan Chase Lifetime Achievement

Emerald Sponsors

Cascade Partners Dealmaker of the Year Brian Basil, Doeren Mayhew Capital Advisors Investment Banker of the Year Steven Pacynski, Clark Hill Rising Star

The Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) Detroit Chapter, a 460-member nonprofit business organization of professionals from private equity firms, corporations and lenders that invest in middle-market companies, plus law, accounting, investment banking and other firms that provide advisory services. Visit acgdetroit.org.

Driving Middle Market Growth®

ARE YOUR BLIND SPOTS STUNTING YOUR COMPANY’S GROWTH?

Too many leaders don’t know what they don’t know about the obstacles they face, and are not interested in finding out. Does your company struggle with one of these 4 out of 13 blind spots? •Not having a process for hiring •Improperly onboarding people •Fostering a culture of learned helplessness •Not creating a culture of accountability

Even 1 of these 13 blind spots can kill a business! Contact us for your Free Blind Spot Assessment www.gerryweinberg.sandler.com/lfoe 248.353.4030

29201 Telegraph Rd. Ste. 410, Southfield, MI 48034

LOCALLY BASED HAWKER 900XP FRACTIONAL SHARES AVAILABLE

CONTACT MATT BRENNAN FOR DETAILS 248-461-9012 / mbrennan@corporateeagle.com

Auto Injuries produce costly bills and sudden physical and emotional injuries. We can help you. We’ll force your insurer to pay your bills and get you the compensation you are entitled to from those responsible.

Auto collision injuries disrupt lives. We travel that road with our clients every day. We can help move you forward. 40900 Woodward Ave. #111 Bloomﬁeld Hills, MI 48304 248.594.2600 schefmanlaw.com

INSIDE || ARSENAL OF HEALTH CARE | LAPTOP LEARNING | BUSINESS HEROES | COMPENDIUM

HOUGHTON WHITE PINE

IRONWOOD

MARQUETTE

KINROSS SAULT STE. MARIE

MICHIGAN BIO-INDUSTRIES

MANISTIQUE

PETOSKEY

Ag/food/nutrion and bio-based products/energy Medical devices and equipment Pharmaceuticals and consumer health care Diagnostics/research products, testing and medical labs SmartZone/incubator

PORT DOLOMITE

ALPENA TRAVERSE CITY

OSCODA

MANISTEE

LUDINGTON MT. PLEASANT

MIDLAND

SAGINAW

MUSKEGON

GRAND RAPIDS FLINT

ROCHESTER HILLS

HOLLAND LANSING

ST. CLAIR

ROCHESTER SOUTHFIELD

KALAMAZOO

University/tech center

BATTLE CREEK

ANN ARBOR DETROIT

BENTON HARBOR

JACKSON MONROE

Clinical trials Phase I unit

SOURCE: MICHBIO

VISION WITHOUT EXECUTION IS JUST HALLUCINATION. — HENRY FORD, FOUNDER, FORD MOTOR CO. MEDICAL

ARSENAL OF HEALTH CARE

A MAJOR CONCERN REGARDING COVID-19? Michigan had the fourth-highest death rate in the country at 19 per 100,000 people (as of April 16 according to a database from The New York Times). The fatality rate trailed Connecticut and Louisiana, both at 24, New Jersey (36), and New York (59). Washington State, which was impacted early on, was at 8, while California was at 2 deaths per 100,000 people. At the same time, Michigan had a higher mortality rate than any other Midwest state. Across the globe, apart from Italy, Spain, and

Britain, lower death rates were recorded in France, Germany, and South Korea. Michigan also had the fourth-highest number of confirmed cases in the U.S., behind New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts, respectively. Other states and countries attribute lower incidence numbers to widespread testing — a factor that allows health care personnel to provide treatment sooner. Other reasons include the early call for stay-at-home orders, and moving testing away from hospitals and into neighborhoods. Compounding the challenge of fighting the virus

at home, Detroit, the state’s largest city, has a large poverty rate and a population with poor health outcomes. Another dilemma before the virus spread was the fact that the Motor City had a fairly high unemployment rate relative to other areas; that means more people were packed into single-family homes and apartments. Coming out of the pandemic, health officials say urban areas like Detroit will need more attention to prevent future problems. With federal assistance, the city and state could do a better job of promoting MAY - JUNE 2020 || DBUSINESS.COM 19

Commentary || May - June 2020

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

65B

Total economic impact of Michigan’s health care industry.

2,500 Number of life science companies in the state.

370

Number of total R&D tech centers, the most of any state in the U.S.

Source: MEDC 20 DBUSINESS || May - June 2020

healthier lifestyles. One trend working in favor of Detroit’s economic recovery is the city’s 200-year history of manufacturing. As the pandemic has shown, there are limits to relying on production overseas. While American producers won’t be able to compete with lower labor costs, the U.S. cut the corporate tax by almost 50 percent, it has a vast blue collar workforce, and fewer regulations of late means companies don’t have to take away investment dollars for consultants and processing forms. As more work comes home, Detroit and Michigan have a golden opportunity to seize the moment and market its collective manufacturing prowess. If successful, bulking up on production will add jobs, grow the economy, fill tax rolls, draw new residents, and provide more money for education. We have a lot going in our favor. Michigan — especially metro Detroit, Ann Arbor, Kalamazoo, and Grand Rapids — has a vast research university network (due in part to decades of high auto wages), a rich medical tourism market, and an abundance of large PPE providers, medical device makers, and makers of surgical equipment. The state also excels at the production of sensors, robotics, precision parts for multiple industries, chemicals, agricultural products, armaments, transportation vehicles, and more. In light of a manufacturing boon, developers and municipalities must establish more industrial sites, including former public school sites in Detroit. In turn, the city should redouble its efforts to work with communities to reach consensus on the mixture and type of real estate developments that could occur. As part of the effort, the businesses would commit to mentor local students. In the not, too, distant future, industrial property in Detroit will be in greater demand. That will drive the renovation of existing structures and boost demand for open land. Light manufacturing or distribution operators may not be the most ideal neighbors, but they can be designed and accessed in such a way that everyone wins.

EDUCATION

LAPTOP LEARNING

ONLINE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS HAVE PICKED UP STEAM IN RECENT years as technology has improved and teachers have become more familiar with posting instructional content. Students, meanwhile, are highly adept at navigating computers and devices. But when the COVID-19 crisis emerged in early March and schools were ordered closed through the rest of the school year, many districts scrambled to develop digital learning platforms. Seeking to address the lack of virtual lesson plans at a time when schools were ordered closed, Nikolai P. Vitti, superintendent of the Detroit Public Schools Community District, urged state leaders, via an open letter, to continue funding classrooms so teachers could develop and distribute online learning programs to students. He also suggested schools distribute laptops with internet access to families. On April 2, Vitti said the district was “actively working with the business community to implement a strategy to provide all DPSCD families with a tablet and internet access.” On April 3, the state opened an application process asking school districts how they planned to implement remote learning. No timeline, however, was given by Gov. Whitmer to actually launch such a program. Some schools, though, jumped right into developing online learning programs. Detroit Cristo Rey High School in southwest Detroit, a private institution, gathered its faculty and support team, and over the course of two days launched a distance learning platform. The effort proved to be a success at a school that sees 98 percent of its graduates enroll in college. Such a rapid plan from the front lines should be adopted statewide.

ECONOMY

BUSINESS HEROES

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, SOME POLITICIANS CALLED FOR NATIONALIZING the country’s health care system — and following the COVID-19 crisis, more legislators sought to manage other sectors of the economy. But such measures never work. The collapse of the “publicly-run” economy last year in Venezuela led to starvation, a lack of medicine, and riots. Or consider the recent path of Cuba. The Castro regime ruined what was a fairly robust free-market economy when it took over the country in the 1960s, followed by the adoption of a socialist system where few, save for the leaders at the top, actually benefited. Today, Cuba is often cited as one of the poorest nations in the world. Capitalism, meanwhile, built America from the start. While few presidents have sought to nationalize industries, one measure pondered by President Franklin Roosevelt was taking over American manufacturers and the entire supply chain before and during World War II to build the armaments needed to defeat the Axis powers. He never acted on the notion, even as labor unions, a main ally of the New Deal, pressured for control to run American factories. In his well-detailed book, “Freedom’s Forge: How American Business Produced Victory in World War II,” author Arthur Herman laid bare the folly of a centralized government economy. “The United States converted the least of all of its economic output to the war effort, just over 47 percent in 1944 compared to almost 60 percent for Britain and more for Germany and the Soviet Union, only to outproduce everyone else put together, including Japan.”

COMMITTED TO OURCITY AND OURCLIENTS Establishing, maintaining and growing businesses in Michigan and beyond.

HOW OUTSIDERS VIEW DETROIT Electrek | March 24, 2020 | By Bradley Berman

DETROIT BECOMES ENGINEERING BASE FOR COMMERCIAL ELECTRIC VEHICLES

THERE IS A RIPPLE EFFECT FROM FORD ESTABLISHING its EV headquarters in Detroit’s Corktown, and GM dedicating its Detroit-Hamtramck plant for electric vehicles. America’s troubled automotive capital is taking on new importance as a center for EV engineering. That’s paying off in unexpected ways. North Carolina’s Fontaine Modification this month (March) opened a facility in Hamtramck to convert the chassis of Ford medium-duty trucks to

electric vehicles. Bay Area-based Motiv Power Systems provides batteries, controls, and motors to electrify Ford E-450 trucks. Motiv is in the process of opening a Detroit-area engineering center. Motiv customers for its electrified vehicles include Google, which uses them for employee shuttles, to uniform supplier Aramark, which ordered 50 of them. Matt O’Leary, president of Motiv, told the Detroit Free Press, “We want to tap into Detroit’s engineering base, which understands the demands of automotive systems.” There are more examples. Michigan-based Spartan Motors will soon begin making its Reach electric truck using an Isuzu chassis. And let’s not forget that Rivian, which has a design and engineering center in Plymouth Township, will soon start building all-electric Amazon delivery vans in nearby Illinois.

New York Times | March 30, 2020 |By Mary M. Chapman, Julie Bosman, and John Eligon

CORONAVIRUS SWEEPS THROUGH DETROIT, A CITY THAT HAS SEEN CRISIS BEFORE

IT HAS SEEN ITS POPULATION PLUMMET, houses fall to ruin, and the largest municipal bankruptcy in the nation. Now another crisis has descended on Detroit: the coronavirus. In less than two weeks, 35 people with the coronavirus have died in Detroit. The police chief has tested positive for the virus, and more than 500 police officers are in quarantine. On Sunday morning (March 22), the city’s downtown, a center of Detroit’s post-bankruptcy resurgence, was quiet and mostly deserted. The coronavirus has landed on this city’s doorstep, its unwelcome arrival a sign of the outbreak’s growing reach across America to cities far from the coasts and not as densely populated as New York. But the virus could place a unique burden on Detroit, a city of 670,000 people where three of 22 DBUSINESS || May - June 2020

10 residents live in poverty, a large number have asthma and other chronic diseases, and hospitals are already overwhelmed. It is a city that has seen more than its share of crisis, and now finds itself staring at yet another. Residents have been shaken by the number of people falling ill from the virus, …

Politico | March 12, 2020 | By Erick Trickey

DETROIT’S PLAN TO MAKE SURE REDEVELOPMENT BOOSTS THE WHOLE CITY

IN 2018, FORD MOTOR COMPANY BOUGHT THE Michigan Central Station, Detroit’s former train depot and most majestic ruin. Opened in 1913, closed in 1988, the train station stood abandoned for 30 years, haunted by vandals and urban explorers. Today, the automaker is spending $350 million to renovate the 18-story Beaux Arts station into the centerpiece of a new $740 million innovation campus where the company will develop electric and autonomous vehicles. Offices will move into upper floors, (and) stores and restaurants (will be added in) the soaring lobby. … Ford, after negotiating with Corktown neighbors and the city, has agreed to pay for $10 million in projects to benefit the neighborhoods around the old depot. It will fund more than $4 million for career training programs, pay $2.5 million to an affordable housing fund, and bankroll park renovations and home repairs. Though the depot project isn’t projected to be complete until 2023, Ford has already paid out $2.5 million of the promised funds. That $10 million in spending is the most successful result so far of a first-in-the-nation law that Detroit voters approved in 2016: the community benefits ordinance. It requires developers of private projects over $75 million that get $1 million in tax abatements or cityowned land to meet with a committee of residents who live near the project, then negotiate with the city government to provide some of the benefits the neighbors request. The benefits can be anything from job training to affordable housing to better parks. The city can sue the developer if the benefits aren’t delivered. …

Compendium || Commentary

Wall Street Journal | March 23, 2020 | By John D. Stoll

DETROIT LANDLORD’S SMALL-BUSINESS SURVIVAL PLAN: FREE RENT UNTIL JULY MATT CULLEN HAS BEEN WORKING ON DOWNTOWN Detroit’s revival since the Carter administration. His real-estate career — beginning with General Motors Co. in 1979 when that company dominated — tracks Motown’s long demise, and its recent resuscitation. In September, he became CEO of Bedrock, a development company created by billionaire Dan Gilbert. As the coronavirus pandemic spreads, Cullen must bolster momentum Detroit has gained since its 2013 bankruptcy. “We don’t want to fall back,” Cullen, 63, said in a phone interview from his home office in Grosse Pointe. “The irony is that it’s long been said if the nation catches a cold, Detroit gets pneumonia.” Because Detroit’s recovery is nascent, “the idea of now standing back and hoping it comes out OK is not an option.” On (March 23), Bedrock unveiled a rescue package his team spent 48 hours last week

hammering out. Under the plan, Bedrock won’t collect rent and fees from dozens of small businesses over the next three months. It will cost his firm “millions of dollars,” Cullen said. Since the coronavirus outbreak, small-business assistance funds have been established in certain parts of the U.S., and Amazon Inc. formed a $5 million fund to aid Seattle’s local businesses. Rent forgiveness plans of this scale, however, are scarce. Rent represents a major expense for the book shops, restaurants, gyms, retailers, and other companies Cullen seeks to help. It can rival labor costs. In many cities, an initiative by a single landlord would be ignored. Bedrock, however, owns about 50 percent of the leasable commercial real estate space in Detroit’s 1.4-square-mile downtown business district. Bedrock estimates its program covers nearly 40

Benzinga | March 25, 2020 | By Renato Capelj

ONE DETROIT RESTAURATEUR ON HOW THEY’RE WEATHERING THE CORONAVIRUS SHUTDOWN THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS HAS PROMPTED MASS layoffs and business closures. (In the last two weeks of March), the number of Americans claiming unemployment benefits rocketed, an indication of how severely the real economy has been impacted. … As the founder and owner of Heirloom Hospitality, a holding group (in Birmingham) that controls and operates the upscale Townhouse restaurants in Birmingham and Detroit, Mich.; Prime + Proper, a Detroit steakhouse; and the Cash Only bar, Jeremy Sasson has experienced the coronavirus shutdown firsthand. The slowdown began weeks before Michigan’s statewide stay-at-home order, he told Benzinga, a finance news site in Detroit. “We found ourselves in a position where, two weeks prior to these transitions, we were already seeing sales compression,” he said. His team reduced schedules and spending. “We had to lay off hundreds of team members and furlough many others.” Carryout Business Won’t Pay the Bills “Right now, the state order provides that carryout, delivery, and drive-through options are considered essential.” Despite the order allowing for carryout and

food delivery, Sasson said he elected to keep his venues closed. The income generated does not justify exposing team members to added health risks, he said. … Cash Flow Realities Look Bleak for Detroit Restaurant Owner The restaurant business is a low-margin, cash flow-based business. “January, February, and March are the slowest periods of the year already, so cash is extraordinarily tight. There’s no auto show (in January) this year. No sports.” Typically, restaurants have enough money to operate on a rolling seven-to-10-day period, Sasson said. “If you shut off the cash flow and bills remain, a lot of restaurants are quickly in the red.” Restaurants are a business with a low barrier to entry, he said. With sliver-like margins and not enough resources to sustain a prolonged closure, the future looks grim, he said. “It’s inevitable that we don’t come out of this in the same way we came into it,” Sasson said. “In the end, it comes down to liquidity in people’s pockets. Do they have the money to spend in restaurants?”… “Some of the things that you offer may not be what the market is going to need. “...

percent of downtown restaurants and retail. … Complicating matters: Bedrock’s founder Gilbert is recovering from a severe stroke he suffered in May. Gilbert is back to work but also spending hours each day in therapy. … CNBC | Feb. 14, 2020 | By Lauren Thomas

THE BIGGEST U.S. MALL OWNER IS DOUBLING DOWN ON RETAIL EVEN AS THE INDUSTRY STRUGGLES SIMON PROPERTY GROUP IS ON A BUYING SPREE AS America’s mall operators grapple with declining foot traffic and some struggle to keep their doors open. The biggest mall owner in the U.S. is close to wrapping up an $81-million deal to rescue teen apparel retailer Forever 21 out of bankruptcy court, the same week it announced its plans to acquire rival mall owner Taubman in a deal valued at $3.6 billion. With Taubman, Simon is doubling down on its thesis that the best and most profitable malls in America will survive, analysts say. And in buying Forever 21, Simon is proving it has the strong balance sheet to make a risky bet or two. As of Dec. 31, Simon had over $7.1 billion of liquidity, including cash on hand. ... The news comes as America’s mall owners are faced with some of the most pressure they have ever seen, with retail store closures mounting and bankruptcies rising as more consumers shop online from their couches. ... May - June 2020 || DBUSINESS.COM 23

THE ULTIMATE BOOK ABOUT DETROIT’S HISTORY

HONORING THE PAST CELEBRATING THE FUTURE 2 0 2 0 Explore the latest book from awardwinning journalist and DBusiness magazine editor R.J. King. “Detroit: Engine of America” is the real life story of how the city grew, step by step, from a French fort on the riverfront in 1701 to become the world’s largest manufacturing economy in 1900.

HALL OF FAME ALUMNI PRESENTATIONS FILM & AUTHOR SERIES EXHIBIT GALLERIES AUTO ENTHUSIAST EVENTS INDUCTION & AWARDS CEREMONY

Mong-Koo Chung

Thomas Gallagher

Jay Leno

Helene Rother

Harold Goddijn

2020 INDUCTEE

MOBILITY INNOVATOR

To purchase copies of “Detroit: Engine of America” personally signed by the author, visit DetroitEngineofAmerica.com.

21400 Oakwood, Dearborn, MI, 48124 | AutomotiveHallofFame.org

NATIONWIDE PRESENCE

Problem Lawsuit? Problem Solved!

LOCAL SERVICE

KNOW YOUR RISK. TAKE CONTROL. WORK WITH THE EXPERTS. • MUSTA Fund & Refined Petroleum Fund Specialists • Environmental Due Diligence (Phase I & II PCAs, ESAs, BEAs) • Underground Storage Tank Assessments, Management, & Remediation • Brownfield & Economic Incentives • Industrial Hygiene Services • PFAS/PFOS Wastewater Treatment Design & Implementation • Experienced in Renew Michigan Funding Procurement

LANSING 517.321.3331 BAY CITY 989.459.1020 BERKLEY 248.336.9988 CHESTERFIELD 800.313.2966 FLINT 800.313.2966 GRAND RAPIDS 616.285.8857 OAK PARK 800.313.2966

Successfully counseling and litigating on behalf of business entities and individuals in southeastern Michigan and across the country since 1967.

STEPHEN LANDAU Associates 28175 Haggerty Road Suite 129 Novi, Michigan 48377

(248) 358 - 0870

www.slandau.com

The Ticker

INSIDE || RECOVERY SHOT | RACING HEROES | KEY ICON | DOUBLE VISION | PLUS PDA Q&A AND MORE ...

WHEEL WONDERS The Roush Automotive Collection in Livonia offers a rare peek at racing history. BY TIM KEENAN MATTHEW LAVERE

MAY - JUNE 2020 || DBUSINESS.COM 25

Ticker || May - June 2020

DBUSINESSDIRECT Detroit’s Sift Offers Digital Employee Directory to Improve Remote Workplace Communications Sift in Detroit, which operates a digital employee directory and is part of the Rock Family of Cos., now offers its enterprise software for free to businesses adapting to remote workplaces amid COVID-19. The “Work Together, Apart” program offer ends in October.

NEW DIGS The new clubhouse at Western Golf and Country Club, set to open this summer, will have a deck that provides views of the 10th and 18th holes.

HFHS in Detroit Leads First Large-scale Study in U.S. of Effectiveness of Anti-malarial Drug in COVID-19 Prevention Henry Ford Health System in Deroit was the first hospital group to lead a large-scale study in the U.S. of the effectiveness of an anti-malarial drug, hydroxychloroquine, in preventing COVID-19 in health care workers and first responders who volunteered to participate.

General Motors Makes EV Charging on the Go Easier Than Ever

Passage Introduces Virtual Events in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic Passage, a Detroit-based event ticketing company, has announced a new digital platform called Passage Virtual Events. The offering provides organizers a solution to current ticketing challenges by making it simple for event creators, artists, and others to host live online events and sell digital ticket access.

U.S. DOD Unveils 5G Request for Prototype Proposal for Augmented, Virtual Reality The U.S. Department of Defense has unveiled a 5G request for a prototype proposal calling for industry input into technology development related to augmented and virtual reality testbeds, networks, and related applications for select military sites around the country.

For full stories and more, visit dbusiness.com/daily-news and get daily news sent directly to your email.

26 DBUSINESS || May - June 2020

Recovery Shot After a fire, Western Golf and Country Club in Redford Township rebuilds its clubhouse.

BY NORM SINCLAIR

early a century of local history was vaporized in an early morning fire last June that reduced to rubble the 93-year-old clubhouse at the famed Western Golf and Country Club in Redford Township. Rather than cancel the golf season, club officials set up a dining room, a bar, and a kitchen in a rented 4,500square-foot tent that had heat, carpeting, and windows. At the same time, they hit the drafting board. This season, members will move into a new two-story stone, wood, and glass clubhouse dominated by a huge deck along the length of the second floor that overlooks the tee on the 10th hole and the finishing 18th green. “We think the new clubhouse will bring growth within the membership, and a lot of opportunities to go along with our Donald Ross-designed course,” says Halley Roberts, membership director at Western Golf and Country Club. “It will be a state-of-the-art, brand-new facility.” Roberts says when all the bills come in, the new clubhouse will cost in the range of $10 million to $12 million. The new building includes workout facilities, a business center, a golf simulator, and a bridal suite aimed at generating wedding functions — a hefty financial stream for golf clubs. The tennis courts and swimming pool

weren’t damaged by the fire. Nudell Architects in Farmington Hills designed the new clubhouse. The firm’s design portfolio includes the Country Club of Detroit in Grosse Pointe Farms, Orchard Lake Country Club in West Bloomfield, and more distant ones like Walloon Lake Country Club and Birchwood Farm Country Club in northern Michigan. “It was very important to us that we build a clubhouse for the future with input from our members,” Roberts says. “Getting the members involved in the project gave everyone a sense of community, as well as making sure we’re building the club they want now, while thinking of the years to come.” Despite having to operate out of a tent for a year, membership remains steady at 375. Looking to recoup the cost of the modern clubhouse, the club initiation fee for new equity members was raised to $6,000. Roberts says the attic of the old clubhouse was packed with historic relics, losses that are heartbreaking. “It was very sad, but the sense of community we gained with everyone pulling together to see it through has been very heart-warming,” Roberts says. “I loved our old clubhouse, but now everyone realizes that we can’t do anything about the loss except to move forward, and keep the charm and the people we’ve had in the past.”

COURTESY OF WESTERN GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB

General Motors Co. in Detroit has made enhancements to Energy Assist, a standard feature available in the myChevrolet mobile app for Bolt EV owners. Energy Assist helps Bolt EV owners plan and manage their routes more effectively, locate available charging stations, and receive real-time alerts on usage.

May - June 2020 || Ticker

Racing Heroes Roush Automotive Collection in Livonia traces the career of engineering and racing impresario Jack Roush.

BY TIM KEENAN MATTHEW LAVERE

ack Roush is a legendary local entrepreneur and a nationally known race car owner who welcomes anyone who’s interested to explore his vast collection of vehicles in Livonia, free of charge. The Roush Automotive Collection resides in a 30,000-square-foot space near Plymouth and Newburgh roads and features more than 110 cars, trucks, and racers. Each has a connection to Roush, known as the Cat in the Hat in NASCAR circles due to the trademark straw Panama he wears at racing events. “I’m not sure collecting was actually an active goal for Jack; it just sort of happened over the years,” says Tyler Wolf, Roush’s company archivist and associate curator of the collection. “Some of the classics he’s accumulated … were just vehicles he liked. The race vehicles typically have some significance — either a driver’s first win, from a championship-winning season, or (they’re) otherwise unique.” One of Roush’s favorites is a two-toned green 1951 Ford Victoria. Wolf says it reminds Roush of a car he once flipped in his younger years, and whose solid construction saved his life. Other favorites of Roush and his family members are a green 1968 Mercury Cougar and a black Cougar GT-E from the same year. Then

PONY RIDE The Roush Automotive Collection includes a 1969 Gapp & Roush Ford Mustang Convertible, which Jack Roush rode to a class win at a national event.

there’s a black 1966 Mustang convertible with red trim that Roush found in a junkyard and restored. Another standout is a burgundy 1969 Mustang Boss 429 that Roush picked up in 1973 for $1,300; today, it’s conservatively valued at around $100,000. The most valuable car in the collection is one of the first-off-the-line 2017 Ford GTs. The Ford supercar also is the newest in the collection. The two oldest are a pair of 1913 models: a Model T pickup and a Rauch and Lang electric truck. Next in the value chain, according to Wolf, is the 1997 All Sport Ford Mustang that Tommy Kendall drove to the last of Roush’s six Trans Am Series championships. Another collector’s item that would bring top dollar at auction is a dark-blue-with-cream-interior original 1964 ½ Mustang convertible. Paramount Pictures’ birthday present to actor/race driver Paul Newman is still another collection highlight. That’s the 1995 Mustang GTO that won the 24 Hours of Daytona (one of 10 in as many starts for Roush) with Newman, Kendall, Mark Martin, and Michael Brockman taking

turns behind the wheel. The entry was sponsored by the Paramount movie “Nobody’s Fool,” which starred Newman, and the car carried the number 70 in honor of Newman’s 70th birthday. Roush first showed a mechanical aptitude by taking apart and reassembling alarm clocks at age 4. His career started as an engine development engineer at Ford, and he worked briefly for Dodge before becoming a teacher at Monroe County Community College. While teaching, his racing hobby became a full-time job, which ultimately took him from Pro Stock drag racing to Trans Am and IMSA road racing to NASCAR. His success in racing, which has led to 400 total race wins and his induction into four motorsports-related halls of fame, evolved over time into Roush Enterprises, the parent company of Roush Racing; Roush Industries, a freelance engineering firm; Roush Performance, an automotive aftermarket development company; and ROUSH CleanTech, a manufacturer of automotive propane fuel systems. His companies employ more than 2,000 people throughout North America and Europe.

Rolling Gems || By Tim Keenan CAR ENTHUSIASTS LOOKING FOR SOME stunning rolling sculpture can head to the Edsel & Eleanor Ford House on Jefferson Avenue in Grosse Pointe Shores on June 21 for the 33rd annual EyesOn Design Automotive Design Exhibition. This year, visitors will be treated to a new visitor center on the grounds. Officials at the mansion say the new 40,000-square-foot visitor center reflects the Cotswold-style

architecture of the historic buildings, incorporating a slate roof, limestone exterior, copper gutters, and other features inspired by the main residence. In addition, the interior draws inspiration from the sleek, rich, contemporary feel of the modern rooms in the Fords’ home, which were designed by Walter Teague in the 1930s. Highlights include a lobby, an education wing, exhibition space

featuring Ford family and traveling exhibits, event space, retail space, and The Continental restaurant, which offfers views of Lake St. Clair. This year’s theme for EyesOn Design is Marques of Extinction: Significant Designs of Bygone Brands. Between 200 and 300 vehicles are expected to be part of the Father’s Day event. Gates open at 10 a.m. and close at 4 p.m. Tickets are $25 per person.

Children under 12 are free with an adult, and active-duty military personnel are free with ID. A Private Eyes Brunch takes place between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. June 21 on the estate’s front lawn. Tickets are $85 per person, $800 for a table of 10, and $25 for children under 12 with an adult. All brunch tickets include admission to Sunday’s car show and must be reserved in advance by calling 313-936-1964. May - June 2020 || DBUSINESS.COM 27

Ticker || May - June 2020

Key Icon

ENCORE CUISINE Chef Bobby Nahra says the menu of the Hotel St. Regis will offer “steaks, seafood, poultry, and ribs,” and “as many local ingredients as possible.” Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be available.

The Hotel St. Regis is part of a wave of new development in Detroit’s New Center.

BY R.J. KING |

MARTIN VECCHIO

escribed as a jewel box at the time it opened in 1966, the Hotel St. Regis in Detroit’s New Center is undergoing a top-to-bottom, $9-million renovation of its 125 hotel rooms, 350-person ballroom, guest areas, and dining and hospitality facilities. With downtown Detroit and the Midtown district at or near peak occupancy, investors and developers have looked for opportunities farther north in New Center, a multi-block enclave centered at W. Grand Boulevard and Second Avenue. Large office users like Strategic Staffing Solutions, which last October announced it was moving to the historic Fisher Building in the heart of New Center from the central business district, are part of a wave of new additions and investment in the area. The Fisher Building, owned by The Platform, is undergoing a multimillion-dollar renovation, while a block to the west the same developer recently completed construction of The Boulevard, a 231-apartment complex with ground floor retail offerings. It’s joined by the new Henry Ford Detroit Pistons Performance Center to the south, medical and research projects by Henry Ford Health System and Wayne State University, and a planned expansion of the Motown Museum. The additions bode well for the hotel, once the impact of COVID-19 is in the rear-view mirror.

“Nearly everything at the Hotel St. Regis will be brand new except for the memories of famous guests who stayed here like Martin Luther King Jr., Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, and Mick Jagger,” says Christos Moisides, principal of Invictus Equity Group in Detroit. The investment team includes Roy Roberts, Gretchen Valade, David Sutherland, Brian Whelan, and the family of the late O’Neil Swanson. The renovation was financed by the Bank of Ann Arbor, while AHC+ is managing the hotel. Paying tribute to the past, Room 601 has been renamed the MLK Suite. The civil rights leader stayed at the hotel in June 1966 while attending the “We Rally for Freedom” gathering in downtown Detroit. The space, since remodeled, includes a bedroom suite, a sitting room, wood

floors, and new furniture and cabinets. “All of the rooms have been redone,” says Moisides, principal of Byzantine Holdings in Detroit. “The tubs have been replaced with showers, there’s all new elevators, and flat-screen TVs. We’re adding new dining options, a cigar bar, an outdoor dining patio, and a new kitchen.” The upgrades, which include high-speed wireless internet access and a business center, will come online in the coming months. The cuisine will be overseen by Chef Bobby Nahra, principal of Encore Catering and Banquet Center in St. Clair Shores. Other local contributors include Kyle Evans Design, McIntosh Poris Associates, and Rockford Construction. “The food and ambience will be exclusive, yet inclusive to everyone,” Nahra says.

PDA Q&A: The E-Interview || By R.J. King

KENNETH KELLY

CEO and Chairman First Independence Bank, Detroit

28 DBUSINESS || MAY - JUNE 2020

DB: WHERE ARE YOU? KK: I’m at home, but in constant contact with our team. DB: HOW’S THE BANK DOING? KK: We’re in very good shape. We have remained open during the COVID-19 crisis. We serve a vulnerable customer base that needs access to their funds and financial services. Our team has gone through extreme hygiene measures, and our goal is to be a force of stability in this crisis. DB: WHAT HAS THE

RESPONSE BEEN? KK: We’ve seen a decline in the number of people coming into our offices and branches. We’ve increased access to ATMs from other banks free of charge, including TCF Bank, Chemical Bank, and Fifth Third Bank. That has been in place, and we’re highlighting that to our customers. DB: ARE YOU IN CONTACT WITH OTHER BANK LEADERS? KK: Yes, very much so. We’re all sharing best practices. I’m chairman of the National

Bankers Association in Washington, D.C., which was founded in 1927 to serve as a voice for minority banking. We represent Asian-American, Hispanic-American, African-American, NativeAmerican, and womenowned banks. There are no credit unions. We are a 501(c)(6) trade association. DB: HAS YOUR BACKGROUND WORKING IN THE UTILITY SECTOR HELPED WITH THE CRISIS? KK: I have a degree in

electrical engineering and an executive MBA. When I was in the utility industry, our respective teams dealt with natural disasters like Hurricane Andrew in Miami. I saw firsthand the destruction there. We must remain calm. We will recover. We must work as a team. Our tellers are on the front line of this crisis, and our office team is working from home. There are lots of unsung heroes that drive success, and I want to highlight their work.

COVID-19 Resource Center Get the latest information

kerr-russell.com/resources

Relax. Enjoy your event. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got this.

Detroit w Lansing w Grand Rapids Promo Code: DB0806 www.chasecreative.com

Ticker || May - June 2020

DBUSINESSDIRECT

Double Vision

Researchers at MSU, Duke University Create Stretchable Supercapacitor Researchers at Michigan State University in East Lansing and Duke University in North Carolina have engineered a new type of supercapacitor that remains fully functional even when stretched eight times its original size, according to a report in ScienceDaily.

GM, Honda to Jointly Develop Next-gen Honda EVs Powered by GM’s Ultium Batteries General Motors Co. in Detroit and California-based Honda agreed to jointly develop two all-new electric vehicles for Honda, based on GM’s global EV platform powered by proprietary Ultium batteries.

U-M Awards 6 Extended Reality Projects Under New Initiative A virtual reality chemotherapy simulation that helps train future medical professionals on mitigation options if a drug leaks out of blood vessels and threatens a patient’s skin is one of six extended reality projects to receive initial funding under the University of Michigan’s new XR Initiative.

FCA Announces ‘Drive Forward’ Initiative, Offering Incentives and Support to Consumers Since April 1, the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram Truck, FIAT, and Alfa Romeo brands of Auburn Hills’ Fiat Chrysler Automobiles have been offering 24/7 support, while well-qualified buyers can get 0 percent financing for 84 months and no payments for 90 days on select FCA 2019 and 2020 models. The initiative is called “Drive Forward.”

Ann Arbor’s BlueWillow Develops Nasal Antiseptic in Face of COVID-19 BlueWillow Biologics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company in Ann Arbor, is advancing the manufacturing and commercialization of NanoBio Protect, a nasal antiseptic solution that can be used to help reduce germs that could cause infections. The product is available for over-thecounter purchases to hospitals, businesses, and consumers.

For full stories and more, visit dbusiness.com/daily-news and get daily news sent directly to your email.

30 DBUSINESS || May - June 2020

Dent expert can look both ways in his VW Beetle with two front ends.

GRACE TURNER |

imon Daoud can always see ahead, thanks to his custom 1965 Volkswagen Beetle with two front ends. The unique set of wheels also doubles as a novel marketing tool for his business, Dent Genius Inc. in Livonia. While the bug drives in only one direction, it has two steering wheels, two hoods, and two driver’s seats, each facing the opposite direction. They’re positioned so the driver sits hip-to-hip with the passenger. Other drivers see headlights from behind as well as in the rearview mirror. On the road, drivers behind Daoud notice his girlfriend sitting the wrong way (and safely texting) while he operates the vehicle. Double takes are normal when people think they’ve developed double vision. While Daoud says he occasionally gets pulled over by confused cops, the car is street legal and has a historic license plate. “It puts a smile on people’s faces,” says Daoud, a native of Saudi Arabia. “If I take it out to a parade or on a cruise, people look twice and three times, and the first thing they do is look at what they’re drinking.” Part of a small collection that includes a 1934 Chevrolet Sedan that was once owned by former Detroit Tiger Mickey Stanley, Daoud found the Beetle, which he calls the Gemini, at an auction. He doesn’t know where it came from or who made it. The two front ends were welded together from identical models, and every part of the car is from 1965. He had the marketing phrase “The Dent Genie Simon

JOSH SCOTT PUSH ME PULL YOU “People whip out their phones and say, ‘Wow, this is so cool,’ ” says Simon Daoud, owner of a 1965 Volkswagen Beetle made from two front ends.

Always Forward” added to each “front door,” making the pristine little critter a rolling billboard. Daoud has a gift for getting dents out of cars without damaging the paint or taking cars apart. When working from behind the dent, he inserts what looks like giant dental tools into openings or gaps in the cars, such as the crack between the window and the door, and massages the dent outward from the inside. When working from the outside of the car, he attaches knobs that look like suction cups to the dent and then pulls them, popping the dent out. “Metal does have a memory, and I just manipulate it back,” Daoud says. His customers bring him cars that are worth up to $500,000. Body shops can charge thousands to fix dents, and it can take days for them to get to a car, but Daoud charges a few hundred dollars for his services, which can take 10 minutes.

Sky Eye || By R.J. King AS CROWD MONITORING RISES TO THE forefront due to public safety concerns, more companies are introducing novel platforms to track outdoor gatherings. In April, Voxel51, a startup at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, released new features of its existing digital platform. The offering now pairs with underlying custom AI to track vehicle, cyclist, and pedestrian traffic. In turn, the system assigns each place a “physical distancing index,” or PDI score, once every 15 minutes.

“The PDI score helps people understand and compare how (an outbreak like) the coronavirus is changing social behaviors over time, and enables municipalities to visualize how they’re doing from a public health perspective,” says Jason Corso, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at U-M and CEO of Voxel51. “Overall, we could see that the public response to (recent) stay-at-home mandates has been rather dramatic and impressive.”

While other systems are tracking lockdown compliance, what’s different about Voxel51’s approach is that its real-time, video-based data protects privacy. Data sources like mobile phones don’t protect privacy, and only offer approximate locations. On Voxel51’s platform, viewers can click on a specific point in time to see historic footage as well as details about policies like school closures. The company says it gains permission to use existing cameras.

We think you should stay focused on the big picture. With talented architects and interior designers in-house, Fishbeck manages everything, from design through construction. This allows you to realize your vision while we precisely detail your comprehensive solution.

800.456.3824 fishbeck.com

N O R T H WO O D U N I V E R S I T Y

America’s Free-Enterprise University We believe in:

• The advantages of an entrepreneurial, free-enterprise society • Individual freedom and individual responsibility • Functioning from a foundation of ethics and integrity • Promoting and leveraging the global, diverse and multi-cultural nature of enterprise

Our graduates are leaders and entrepreneurs, prepared to shape the world.

northwood.edu • 800.622.9000

Focus || ACG M&A ALL-STARS

ACG M&A ALLSTARS The Association for Corporate Growth Detroit Chapter and DBusiness magazine honor the 12th annual winners. BY R.J. KING | ILLUSTRATIONS BY JON STICH

DBusiness magazine partnered with the Association for Corporate Growth Detroit Chapter to honor its recipients of the 12th annual M&A All-Star Awards for 2019 activity. Winners will recognized at an event on October 8 at 6 p.m. the Townsend Hotel in downtown Birmingham. 32 DBUSINESS || MAY - JUNE 2020

Cascade Partners • Southfield Rajesh Kothari • Founder and Managing Director

DEALMAKER OF THE YEAR WHY CASCADE PARTNERS IS THE ACG DEALMAKER OF THE YEAR Even as the COVID-19 virus slowed business activity, Cascade Partners, a boutique investment banking firm in Southfield, reached out to its client base and sought out new relationships. The firm, founded by Rajesh “Raj” Kothari, is coming off its best year on record; last year, it closed nine M&A deals, and three of the transactions totaled more than $100 million each in value. “This year won’t be as strong as last year, due to the virus, but we’re going to see a good diversity of deals and we just picked up a new client,” says Kothari, who helps lead divestitures, recapitalizations, acquisitions, and other strategic transactions for clients in the health care, industrial, business services, and technology sectors. Two deals stood out last year, he says. Remington Products Co., a third-generation, family-owned manufacturer of aftermarket footwear insoles and foot care products based in Wadsworth, Ohio, west of Akron, had received an unsolicited offer from Gridiron Capital in New Canaan, Conn. Founded in 1934, Remington was structured as an ESOP (140 employees), which made the deal more complicated. Remington was unsure of how to proceed and didn’t know if an investment banker could add value to its operations. Ken Marblestone, a managing director at Cascade, says one of the benefits of the deal was Gridiron’s ability to provide capital for growth. In another deal, the Michigan Eye Institute in Flint was eager to grow, but the group of physicians at the helm found the addition of new locations brought on more management responsibilities. The principals turned to Cascade, which helped arrange a financial partnership with Midwest Vision Partners in Chicago. “We were impressed by the strength of Midwest’s leadership team, and refreshed by their emphasis on honesty and transparency,” says Dr. Gary Keoleian, a principal of the Michigan Eye Institute. “We aligned quickly after learning about their commitment to patients and the infrastructure they’re building to empower physicians to focus on clinical care.”

ACG M&A ALL-STARS || Focus

NYX Inc. • Livonia Jatinder-Bir Sandhu • Executive Chairman and CEO

All Star Driver Education • Ann Arbor Sean Roberts • Board Member

DEAL OF THE YEAR OVER $50M

DEAL OF THE YEAR UNDER $50M

WHY THE ACQUISITION OF BEACH MOLD AND TOOL INC. WAS THE ACG DEAL OF THE YEAR OVER $50M What started as a restructuring engagement of Beach Mold and Tool Inc., a provider of automotive, consumer, industrial, and medical components in New Albany, Ind., became a full-fledged sale. Established in 1972, Beach operates from a 550,000-square-foot manufacturing facility that houses more than 130 injection molding machines. “One of our customers had reached out and said they had a supplier that matched up nicely with our capabilities,” says Jatinder-Bir “Jay” Sandhu, executive chairman and CEO of NYX Inc., a multifaceted automotive supplier in Livonia. “Our customer was interested in putting together a strategic partnership already in their supply base. If we said yes, our customer had a high degree of confidence a deal could be put together. “As part of our due diligence, we visited Beach Mold. They had been around for 47 years and they got into some distress because of a big launch that didn’t go as planned. We felt our strengths matched up with theirs; plus, it was always my father’s dream to have a medical component division of our business.” In short order, Sandhu says the acquisition was completed. Soon after, a team of NYX manufacturing experts worked with Beach Mold workers to boost production and improve quality. Today, the company is a positive contributor to NYX’s bottom line, and more workers are being added. NYX is a minority-owned business enterprise that designs, develops, and manufactures interior and technology solutions for the automotive industry. The company was incorporated in 1984 and has operations in metro Detroit; Tennessee; Windsor, Canada; San Luis Potosi, Mexico; Shanghai, China; and Chandigarh, India. “This transaction provides growth opportunities and job stability for all our employees and puts NYX in a position to continue to provide value to our customers with new geography, scale, product options, and processes,” says Chain Sandhu, founder and chairman of NYX.

WHY ALL STAR DRIVER EDUCATION IS THE ACG DEAL OF THE YEAR UNDER $50M For a private equity firm that was just getting its start last year, HighGrove Cos. in Birmingham moved at a rapid pace. In May 2019, Sean Roberts, managing partner of HighGrove, was introduced to the offering of All Star Driver Education in Ann Arbor. The company is one of the largest providers of driver education in the country, with 97 locations across 16 states. As the sole employee of HighGrove, Roberts was able sign an LOI shortly after meeting the company, and closed the transaction in less than 90 days. During that time, Roberts, along with a network of investment specialists, performed a full due diligence process, raised debt and equity financing, and negotiated the transaction documents with the seller. He also oversaw the operating agreement with the equity investors. In addition to the complexity inherent in an independent sponsored transaction, the due diligence process included regulatory requirements to meet All Star’s various state certifications, as well as the company’s proprietary IT system and online course content. “When you’re part of an established organization, you have colleagues you can draw upon to do any aspect of a given deal, but this was the first time I did a deal on my own,” says Roberts, a former partner with Huron Capital Partners in Detroit. “I was supported by advisers, accountants, lenders, and attorneys, and any M&A deal requires a lot of heavy lifting.” Roberts also completed a deal with Phoenix-based Express Flooring, which offers a broad selection of residential flooring products directly to consumers throughout Arizona. When an order comes in, the company sends a salesperson to the homeowner, and once the specifications are completed, an independent contractor finishes the job. “For Express Flooring, I brought in an independent sponsor, Long House Partners in Detroit,” Roberts says. “That made things a little easier. Of the two companies, I’m more active in All Star. My vision is to help them expand in both lines of business (in-person and online education). In southeast Michigan, we plan to double the number of locations within five years.” MAY - JUNE 2020 || DBUSINESS.COM 33

Focus || ACG M&A ALL-STARS

Doeren Mayhew Capital Advisors • Troy Brian Basil • Managing Director of Michigan Office

John C. Carter • President, Michigan Market JPMorgan Chase • Detroit

INVESTMENT LIFETIME BANKER OF THE YEAR ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WHY BRIAN BASIL IS THE ACG INVESTMENT BANKER OF THE YEAR Brian Basil isn’t one to take the first offer that comes down the pike. When the owner of Kay Automotive Graphics in Lake Orion reached out to Basil to sell the company and its real estate assets, an initial offer of $105 million was considered low. “Our team saw that first offer and said we can do much better, so we approached a few different buyers and the accepted bid came in at $200 million,” says Basil, managing director of the Michigan office of Doeren Mayhew Capital Advisors in Troy. The sales transaction proved challenging due to the fact that Kay, founded in 1997, was the largest automotive graphics company in North America. In addition to a production facility in Lake Orion, the firm had operations in Mexico and Wales. “The owner was older and didn’t have a succession plan,” Basil says. “We completed a strategic acquisition with a German company, which was part of our process of maximizing value by seeking out interested buyers globally. “One of the hallmarks of our business is that we bring everything to the table. One of my partners speaks five languages, and we can tap into resources in more than 110 countries through our affiliation with the global network of Moore Stephens International Limited.” In another deal from 2019, Basil was asked by the owner of Belanger Inc. in Northville to undertake a sale. An industry leader in the design and production of premium car wash machinery globally, Belanger had a portfolio of more than 100 patents. Transferring the company’s intellectual property was extremely time-consuming and complex, Basil notes. Additionally, the seller had a car wash operation that was held out of the deal for the benefit of younger family members. The carve-out required complicated long-term supply agreements, territorial sales agreements, and noncompete agreements. “The thing that kills any deal is time, so executing deals efficiently is paramount,” Basil says. “Belanger is unique, and the owner was visionary in the space. We leveraged that with the buyer to maximize the value.” 34 DBUSINESS || MAY - JUNE 2020

WHY JOHN CARTER EARNED ACG’S LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD For more than 30 years, John C. Carter has worked in commercial banking for JPMorgan Chase and predecessor organizations like the National Bank of Detroit. Over the course of his career, he has served as manager or executive in charge of various lending and corporate banking groups that provide capital, along with financial products and services, to companies and organizations large and small. Over the last five years, Carter has helped structure and lead the bank’s $200 million investment in Detroit. He has guided the growth of several Michigan-based companies through IPOs, significant capital raises, and sales/divestitures. Early in his career, Carter worked with several large metro Detroit corporations, eventually becoming head of the bank’s Automotive Group. In 2001, he was instrumental in forming Michigan’s Middle Market banking team. Since 2013, he has held the title of Michigan president. “The pillars of our investment for the past five years are focused on the development of small business activity in Detroit,” he told Give Detroit in 2018. “JPMorgan Chase’s contribution is a continuation of the effort to make this community more vibrant and successful. In the last 18 months, we formed the Entrepreneurs of Color Fund, which specifically targets small micro-businesses that are started by minorities and have entrepreneurial instincts. “The program has grown dramatically, as we’ve funded nearly 60 small businesses — more than half of them are women-owned and two-thirds of them are located in neighborhoods — and have created 1,000 jobs.” Working in the community, Carter serves as either a member or a director of several nonprofit organizations, including the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit, Forgotten Harvest, and Judson Center, among others. In addition, he is the longest participating member of the ACG Detroit Chapter (33 years). Carter holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Alma College and an MBA from the University of Michigan.

ACG M&A ALL-STARS || Focus

TCF Financial Corp. • Detroit David T. Provost • Executive Vice Chairman

Clark Hill • Detroit Steve Pacynski • Senior Attorney

MEGA DEAL OF THE YEAR

RISING STAR

WHY THE MERGER OF EQUALS BETWEEN TCF FINANCIAL CORP. AND CHEMICAL FINANCIAL CORP. IS THE ACG MEGA DEAL OF THE YEAR A merger of equals — when two firms of roughly the same size form a single new company — sounds straightforward, and yet such deals can be rather complicated. In a majority of M&A deals, acquisitions are often easier to pull off because one company is in control of the management and direction of the expanded enterprise. In the case of the merger of equals between TCF Financial Corp. (TCF Bank) and Chemical Financial Corp. (Chemical Bank), which was consummated last year, everything from what the new entity would be called to which company’s technology platform was selected was on the table. Today, TCF Bank — with $47 billion in total assets, more than 500 branches — is based in downtown Detroit. A new headquarters is under construction along Woodward Avenue at Elizabeth Street (scheduled to open in 2022). “When we took a look at the deal, and the synergy and benefits for both of our companies, we got our CFOs involved, we got both management teams involved, we hired advisers, and we started the evaluation,” says David T. Provost, executive vice chairman of TCF Financial and chairman of TCF Bank. “A merger of equals is a difficult deal. There’s no clear person leading the charge, no one side is dominant over the other, and it took six months to look at all of the strategic and social issues on how to combine.” For Chemical Bank’s leadership team, the most important aspect of the deal was to remain in Detroit, where it was bringing significant resources to the community. The TCF team wanted to keep expanding globally; the company recently entered Australia and New Zealand with its inventory finance business. “With a merger of equals, you must give up half of your stuff,” Provost says. “So when we use the analogy of two families moving into one home, you have to pick one house, one chair, one couch. And if you have a dog and the other side has a cat, and they don’t get along, one has to go. If you can get through that, you have a merger of equals.”

WHY STEVE PACYNSKI IS AN ACG RISING STAR At one point last year, Steve Pacynski, a senior attorney at Clark Hill in Detroit, had three transactions close in a two-week span. “Those were some long nights, and I remember being on a phone call at 1:30 a.m.,” Pacynski says. “I had another deal that closed in November where I was the lead attorney, and took on the full range of negotiating and managing the transaction. I (also) was spending a lot of time at the hospital. The day after we closed, my daughter was born.” Overall, the lawyer closed more than a dozen M&A transactions last year, equating to a combined value of more than $600 million. Attributing his success to problem-solving, he says he analyzes client issues, develops strategies, and builds a team to see a deal to closing. When he was recently appointed as Clark Hill’s corporate counsel, he became the youngest person to serve in that role in the firm’s 130-year history. A graduate of De La Salle Collegiate High School in Warren and the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where he earned a degree in psychology, Pacynski spent five years as a teacher and researcher before attending the Michigan State University College of Law. To gain more experience while attending law school, he interned at Masco Corp. in Livonia. In one deal last year, Pacynski oversaw the merger of a large electrical distributor with another company in the same field. Today, the client, McNaughton-McKay Electric Co., is one of the largest electrical distributors in the country, with annual revenue of more than $1 billion. He adds he’s fortunate to have a “loving wife who is an attorney in a different field.” Pacynski says time management is an essential part of his professional life. “The M&A part of my life can be up and down,” he says. “You’re either racing to get a deal done or you’re strategizing as you wait for all the pieces of a transaction to come together. My practice is industry-agnostic, so I can jump from one field to another, which keeps things interesting. I also do commercial contract review, general business and commercial matters, compliance and general corporate governance, and corporate law.” MAY - JUNE 2020 || DBUSINESS.COM 35

Feature || GM — Big Three Auto Executives

Executive Vice President, President, GM China Since July 2020, Blissett has overseen GM’s business in China. Prior to this appointment, he was

MARY T. BARRA Chairman and CEO Barra became the first female chief executive to lead a major automaker when she was named CEO in January 2014. She was elected chairman of the GM Board of Directors in January 2016. Barra is an engineer who has worked for GM for more than 30 years. Previously, she was executive vice president of global product development, purchasing and supply chain, and senior vice president, global product development. In these roles, she was responsible for the design, engineering, program management, and quality of GM vehicles worldwide. Barra has also served as vice president, global human resources; vice president, global manufacturing engineering; and manager of the Detroit Hamtramck assembly plant. She serves on the board of directors of the Walt Disney Co. and the Stanford University Board of Trustees.

BARRY ENGLE Executive Vice President and President, GM North America Engle is responsible for operations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Central America, as well as

GERALD JOHNSON Executive Vice President, Global Manufacturing Johnson leads GM’s global manufacturing, manufacturing engineering, and labor relations

global Chevrolet. He serves on the board of GM China’s joint venture, Shanghai General Motors Co., Ltd., and is a member of GM’s senior leadership team. As VP and president, South America, since 2015, Engle was responsible for GM’s operations in Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Chile, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela. In October 2017, he took over all GM operations outside of North America and China..

organizations, and is a member of the GM senior leadership team. Since August 2017, Johnson served as vice president of North America manufacturing and labor relations, with responsibility for the safety, productivity, and quality performance of 80,000-plus employees at more than 40 assembly, stamping, propulsion, and component operations in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. .

MIKE DEVEREUX Executive Vice President, SAIC-GM-Wuling, GM China Devereux is based at SAIC-GM-Wuling’s headquarters in Liuzhou, Guangxi, and

CRAIG GLIDDEN Executive Vice President and General Counsel Glidden leads a team of attorneys who serve GM’s regional and functional operations in more than

RANDALL D. MOTT Executive Vice President, Global Information Technology; Chief Information Officer Mott is responsible for the company’s global IT strategy and all IT assets.

reports to Matt Tsien, GM executive vice president and president of GM China. Drawing on his experience in sales, marketing, engineering, manufacturing, and product development, Devereux plays a key role in strengthening SAIC-GM-Wuling’s brands and the growth of its product lineup. He most recently served as VP, sales, marketing, and aftersales at GM International.

30 countries. Previously, he was executive vice president and chief legal officer for LyondellBasell, one of the world’s largest plastics, chemical, and refining companies. He has also served as senior vice president, general counsel, and corporate secretary of Chevron Phillips Chemical Co. Glidden received a Bachelor of Arts from Tulane University and a juris doctor with high honors from Florida State University.

He’s a member of the GM senior leadership team and reports to Chairman and CEO Mary Barra. Before coming to GM in February 2012, Mott was executive vice president and chief information officer of Hewlett-Packard, where he was responsible for all IT, including companywide application development, data management, technology infrastructure, data center operations, and telecommunication networks worldwide.

MARK REUSS President Reuss leads the company’s regional operations, including North America, South America, China, and General Motors International. GM’s global product development team, led by executive VP Doug Parks, also reports to Reuss, as does global design, global quality, and operational excellence. Reuss serves on the board of GM China’s joint venture, Shanghai General Motors Co., Ltd., and is a member of the GM senior leadership team. Reuss became GM president in January 2019 and expanded his role to include the regional responsibilities in November 2019. In 2018, he added global Cadillac and global product planning to his responsibilities and continues to lead them today. From 2013-2018, Reuss was executive vice president, global product development, purchasing, and supply chain, and led program management of GM cars, trucks, and crossovers worldwide.

36 DBUSINESS || MAY - JUNE 2020

DOUG L. PARKS Executive Vice President, Global Product Development, Purchasing and Supply Chain Parks reports to GM President Mark Reuss. Prior to this appointment, Parks was the VP,

autonomous and electric vehicle programs, since February 2016. In that role, Parks launched Super Cruise, the industry’s first hands-free driving technology for compatible highways on the 2018 Cadillac CT6. He oversaw the engineering team behind the Cruise AV, a production-intent autonomous vehicle built from the ground up without driver controls and with all the hardware necessary to operate safely on its own.

DHIVYA SURYADEVARA Executive Vice President; Chief Financial Officer Suryadevara is responsible for leading the company’s global financial and accounting

operations. She succeeds former CFO Chuck Stevens, who retired in March 2019. She was named vice president, corporate finance, in July 2017 and was responsible for investor relations, corporate financial planning and analysis, and special projects. As vice president, finance, and treasurer from 2015 to 2017, she oversaw capital planning, capital market activities, and worldwide banking.

LATEST INFORMATION AVAILABLE AS OF APRIL 16, 2020; SOURCES: GM, FORD, FCA-NA, DBUSINESS

JULIAN BLISSETT

responsible for GM’s operations outside the Americas and China, including Korea, Australia, Southeast Asia, India, and the Middle East. Prior to that, he was executive vice president of SAIC-GM and a member of the SAIC-GM Executive Committee. A native of the United Kingdom, Blissett began his GM career in 1996 with Central Engineering at Opel Polska. Since then, he has held various management positions of increasing responsibility.

GM — Big Three Auto Executives || Feature

MATT TSIEN Executive Vice President; Chief Technology Officer Prior to this position, Tsien oversaw GM’s business in China. Previously, as vice president of planning and

CRAIG BUCHOLZ Senior Vice President, Global Communications Bucholz, who came to General Motors Co. from Proctor and Gamble, is responsible for the

EVERETT EISSENSTAT Senior Vice President, Global Public Policy Eissenstat is responsible for leading General Motors’ engagement on key policies impacting

DUNCAN ALDRED Vice President, Global Buick–GMC Aldred provides senior leadership and strategic direction for Buick and GMC sales, service, and

program management for GM China and GM International, and Strategic Alliances for China, he was GM’s leading voice across the region and helped oversee the growth of its product lineup. Tsien worked in Australia and China in a variety of technical, program management, and planning assignments. He supported GM’s negotiations with SAIC for its early joint ventures, and crafted GM China’s initial five-year business plan.

company’s overall global communications strategy, including products and brands, corporate, social media, executive support, and internal communications. He also oversees General Motors’ corporate giving activities. Bucholz is a member of the senior leadership team and is a senior adviser to CEO Mary Barra. He holds a law degree from Drexel University and a bachelor’s degree in journalism and public relations from Temple University.

the company’s business, its customers, and its employees. Before joining GM, he worked in the White House as the deputy assistant to the president for international economic affairs and deputy director of the National Economic Council. Jointly appointed to the National Security Council and the National Economic Council, he led the White House international economic team.

marketing. His goal is to increase positive opinion for both premium brands, and to transform those opinions into profitable sales growth. Aldred had been chairman and managing director of Vauxhall Motors and CEO of Opel Ireland, based in Great Britain. He joined GM in 1990 at Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port plant near Liverpool, and he worked in various positions at Vauxhall. He graduated from Liverpool John Moores University.

DANIEL E. BERCE Senior Vice President President and CEO, GM Financial Berce has held these positions at GM Financial since October 2010, when GM purchased the

STEPHEN K. CARLISLE Senior Vice President and President, Cadillac Carlisle had been president and managing director of GM Canada since 2014, and was

STEVE KIEFER Senior Vice President, General Motors South America, and International Operations Kiefer is a member of the GM senior leadership team and is responsible

SHILPAN AMIN Vice President, Global Purchasing and Supply Chain Amin is responsible for the strategic direction of GM’s worldwide purchasing, supply

company. Previously, he served as vice chairman, president, treasurer, CEO, and CFO of AmeriCredit Corp. Before that, Berce was an auditor with Coopers & Lybrand for nearly 16 years, and was a partner with the firm. Prior to joining AmeriCredit, Berce was an auditor with Coopers & Lybrand for 14 years and was a partner with the firm. He’s a certified public accountant and is a graduate of Regis University in Denver.

responsible for sales and marketing for all vehicle classes and brands, aftersales, dealer support, operations, manufacturing, and engineering. Carlisle began his GM career in 1982 as an industrial engineering co-op student at the Oshawa truck assembly plant. He has served as VP of global product planning and program management, VP of U.S. sales operations, and president of Southeast Asia operations.

for GM operations outside of North America and China. Based in Detroit, his mandate is to deliver profitable growth in each market in which GM competes. Prior to this role, he spent five years as senior VP, global purchasing and supply chain. Kiefer began his career in 1983 as a college co-op student with the GM North American car group. He has held various leadership roles within GM and Delphi throughout his career.

chain, and logistics operations. He’s focused on collaborating with GM’s 20,000 global suppliers to deliver vehicle quality, innovation, and value to GM customers. Prior to this role, Amin was GM’s executive director of global purchasing interiors and exteriors, and led a team of 200 members and more than 600 suppliers. Amin began his career with GM in 1996, as a product engineer.

KIMBERLY (KIM) J. BRYCZ Senior Vice President, Global Human Resources Brycz leads an HR team and systems that build enterprise-wide employee engagement,

ANN CATHCART CHAPLIN Deputy General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer Chaplin’s team manages legal affairs for GM in North America, focusing on employment,

DAVID ALBRITTON Vice President, GM Defense Albritton is the lead executive and general manager of General Motors Defense, LLC,

SANTIAGO CHAMORRO Vice President, Global Connected Services Chamorro’s role is to advance the vision for GM’s innovative connected vehicle

develop talent, and support strategic planning at all levels. Previously, she served as executive director, global product purchasing, where she oversaw GM’s $80B annual global product spending as well as customer care and aftersales purchasing. Brycz was instrumental in transforming supplier relationships by providing strategic solutions to future sourcing and supplier engagement.

organizational transformation, and regulatory compliance. She was previously GM’s deputy general counsel, with responsibility for autonomous and transportation services, customer experience, litigation, product development, and related strategic and regulatory issues. Chaplin joined GM in 2015 as deputy general counsel of litigation. Previously, she was an equity principal at the law firm of Fish & Richarson.

GM’s new business entity focused on providing a variety of innovative and advanced automotive technologies and services to the global aerospace, defense, and security industries. Before, he was GM’s executive director, product development and international communications, where he was responsible for the development and execution of communication strategies for advanced engineering.

technologies, including oversight of OnStar’s safety and security services and in-vehicle connectivity. Global Connected Services provides OnStar and connected services to 20 million members across the United States, Canada, China, Mexico, Europe, and South America. Chamorro is a 25-year GM veteran with experience in marketing, sales, management, and economics.

MAY - JUNE 2020 || DBUSINESS.COM 37

Feature || GM — Big Three Auto Executives

CATHY CLEGG Vice President, Workforce Strategy, Global Human Resources Clegg is responsible for integrating global workforce development and engagement

TONY FRANCAVILLA Vice President, Global Quality and Operational Excellence Francavilla is responsible for leading GM’s global quality efforts, which are aimed at providing the

RORY HARVEY Vice President, Cadillac North America Sales, Service and Marketing Harvey leads the North America sales, aftersales, retail marketing, and global dealer network

TIM HERRICK Vice President, Global Product Programs Herrick leads an international team in the design, engineering, development, and

strategies across the enterprise, primarily among the manufacturing, labor relations, global public policy, legal, and human resources functions. She also serves as an adviser to senior leadership in support of GM's manufacturing and labor relations initiatives, and she’s the lead support staff to CEO Mary Barra for GM’s involvement in the Business Roundtable. Clegg previously served as VP, business intelligence, global public policy.

highest-quality vehicles possible. In late 2017, his responsibilities expanded to include leadership over GM’s Operational Excellence. He brings to the role in-depth knowledge and global experience in manufacturing, engineering, and supplier quality. Prior to his new role, Francavilla served in a variety of senior roles within the Quality organization, including executive director of global supplier quality.

team in achieving Cadillac’s growth targets by focusing on the basics of the business and developmental opportunities. He collaborates with Cadillac CMO Melissa Grady to jointly own retail marketing initiatives, in alignment with the brand strategy. Previously, Harvey served as chairman and managing director of Vauxhall Motors, Ltd., in the U.K. He graduated from Coventry Polytechnic in the U.K.

validation of the GM portfolio, including specialty, performance, and motorsports programs, across the full product development timeline. He began his GM career in 1983 as a reliability engineer at the Janesville, Wis., truck assembly plant. Herrick has experience as a development engineer and design release engineer. He was promoted to vehicle chief engineer in 2000. Herrick earned an MBA in 1991 from Wayne State University in Detroit.

38 DBUSINESS || MAY - JUNE 2020

MARY ANN COMBS Vice President, Global Vehicle Safety Combs has global responsibility for the safety development of GM vehicle systems,

JIM GLYNN Vice President, Global Workplace Safety Glynn’s team supports GM leadership in its mission to keep GM’s 171,000 employees,

CHRISTOPHER T. HATTO Vice President, Controller, and Chief Accounting Officer Hatto is responsible for global leadership and oversight for external reporting, technical

TRAVIS HESTER Global Vice President of Customer Experience Hester is responsible for maximizing customer engagement across the company. He reports to

confirmation and validation of safety performance, as well as post-sale safety activities, including recalls. Previously, as executive director and global functional leader of validation, she led the global team responsible for ensuring GM’s components, systems, and vehicles are validated to meet safety, regulatory, and customer requirements. She is a member of the Society of Women Engineers.

85,000 contractors, and numerous visitors safe at GM’s more than 243 sites worldwide. During his 40-year career, Glynn has worked at seven plants with diverse manufacturing operations, including forging, die casting, machining, stamping, and vehicle assembly. Most recently, he lived and worked in Singapore, where he had responsibility for more than 70 plants located across nine time zones throughout Asia and Australia.

accounting matters, the development of new accounting policies, and internal controls. He’s also responsible for reporting financial results to the company’s senior leadership and the board of directors’ Audit Committee. Hatto joined GM in 2007 as the assistant controller. He held subsequent regional controllership positions and worked at Chevrolet, Buick, and GMC. He previously worked at Goldman Sachs.

Barry Engle, executive VP, GM North America, and GM President Mark Reuss. He had served as president and managing director of GM Canada since April 2018. Before that, he was VP, global chief engineers and program management, where he led a team of executive chief engineers and program managers overseeing specific groups of vehicles from inception to launch and beyond. He previously was an engineer at Cadillac.

PAM FLETCHER Vice President, Innovation and R&D Fletcher leads the teams at GM whose mission is to disrupt the traditional automotive industry. She

ROCKY GUPTA Vice President of Investor Relations; Treasurer Gupta is responsible for leading the company’s global treasury operations including

JAMES E. HENTSCHEL Vice President, Global Safety Systems and Integration Hentschel oversees the implementation of safety, compliance, systems engineering,

STEPHEN HILL Vice President, U.S. Sales and Service, and Chevrolet Hill is responsible for overseeing U.S. sales operations of Buick-GMC and GM Fleet, as well as

directs seven R&D laboratories around the world that focus on future mobility technologies such as battery chemistry, mixed materials sciences, smart manufacturing systems, and vehicle-to-infrastructure technology. Her teams were responsible for developing the Chevrolet Volt and the Chevrolet Bolt EV, the industry’s first mass-market, long-range, affordable electric vehicle.

capital planning, capital markets, operations, and worldwide banking activities. Before becoming treasurer, Gupta was the chief investment officer and chief executive officer of General Motors Asset Management Corp., GM’s investment management subsidiary. In that role, he handled approximately $70 billion of assets under management. Gupta joined GM as an engineering co-op in 1987.

supplier quality, and performance across global vehicles. His group ensures safety, while exceeding customer requirements and government regulations to deliver the best vehicles for a great customer experience. Before this, Hentschel was executive director and global functional leader for GM’s global advanced vehicle development, innovation, and computer-aided engineering group.

Chevrolet’s U.S. sales, service, and marketing operations. In past roles, Hill has served as vice president of GM’s Customer Care and Aftersales division, which oversees vehicle service, parts, and other operations in GM’s North America retail network. He also served as general sales manager for the premium channel (Cadillac-Hummer-Saab). Hill began his GM career in 1983 and moved on to sales and marketing.

GM — Big Three Auto Executives || Feature

KEN KELZER Vice President, Global Vehicle Components and Subsystems Kelzer’s role and organization comprise engineering operations, components develop-

KEN MORRIS Vice President, Autonomous and ElectrificationVehicle Programs Morris leads the global team of executive chief engineers and program managers who oversee

MICHAEL SIMCOE Vice President, GM Global Design Simcoe had been vice president of GM International Design since 2014. In that role, he led

TIM TURVEY Vice President, Global Customer Care and Aftersales Turvey has global oversight for customer care and aftersales, including driving customer

ment, advanced vehicle development, and other engineering business initiatives. He joined GM as an intern in 1982, and most recently was vice president of General Motors Europe’s powertrain engineering. Some of Kelzer’s prior roles include executive chief engineer of full-size and midsize vehicles, and global vehicle chief engineer for rear-wheel drive and performance vehicles.

GM’s autonomous and electric vehicle, electric drive, battery, and fuel cell programs from inception to launch and beyond. He’s also responsible for the initiatives associated with the commercialization of EVs and AVs, and infrastructure improvements. Previously, Morris was VP of global product programs, leading the global team that oversees conventional GM vehicle, engine, and transmission programs as well as performance accessories.

GM’s production and advanced studios in Korea, Australia, and India. Simcoe joined GM in 1983 as a designer at Holden in Australia, and was Holden’s brand champion. In 2003, as executive director of Asia Pacific design, he led the development of the new GM Korea design operations. Simcoe later became executive director of North American exterior design. He also led the team responsible for the Buick Avenir concept.

retention throughout the ownership lifecycle by ensuring global service engineering readiness for launch vehicles, service parts planning and procurement, warehousing and logistics, the parts distribution network, and service, sales, and marketing support for the GM North America dealer and the independent aftermarket channels. Turvey previously served as executive director of GM North America Customer Care and Aftersales.

PHIL KIENLE Vice President, North America Manufacturing and Labor Relations Kienle is responsible for the safety, productivity, and quality performance of over 80,000 employees

DAN NICHOLSON Vice President, Global Electrification Controls, Software and Electronics Nicholson is responsible for all electrified propulsion products including batteries and

RICK SPINA Vice President, Electric Vehicle Commercialization and Industrialization Spina is responsible for developing the partnerships, incentives, and investments needed

FELIX WELLER Vice President, Cadillac China General Director of Cadillac Sales Marketing, SAIC-GM Weller previously served as director of global Cadillac dealer network

at more than 40 assembly, stamping, propulsion, and component operations in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Prior to this assignment, Kienle was vice president of manufacturing, GM International, and GM China manufacturing since September 2017, where he led manufacturing operations in seven countries and managed GM’s manufacturing interests in three GM China joint ventures.

electric drive units. He’s also responsible for all electronic control systems and strategies, software, and associated electronic hardware for all GM products globally. Prior to this assignment, Nicholson was VP, global propulsion systems. In that role he was responsible for all propulsion products including engines, transmissions, fuel cells, electric drive units, and batteries. He is an SAE fellow.

to create the necessary electric vehicle charging infrastructure that will enable acceptance of electrification. Before this, he served as vice president of GM global portfolio planning and was executive chief engineer of crossover sport utility vehicles, leading product development, profitability, and quality initiatives for all new and existing products. Spina was also executive director, global product programs.

development in the U.S. He also served as VP of Cadillac Europe and Russia, which was later expanded to include the Middle East and Israel. Weller began his GM career in 2014 as managing director of Cadillac Middle East. Before joining GM, he was director of dealer development and, later, director of sales in the Middle East for Audi. He spent 10 years with Mercedes-Benz in Germany.

STEVE MAJOROS Vice President, Chevrolet Marketing Majoros has more than 25 years of automotive advertising and marketing experience,

DANE PARKER Vice President, Sustainable Workplaces; Chief Sustainability Officer Appointed Jan. 16, 2020. Parker leads GM’s sustainability strategy, including the alignment

BRIAN SWEENEY U.S. Vice President, Dealer Operations and Innovation Sweeney is responsible for leading the dealer operations support function for 4,200 GM

RICK WESTENBERG Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, SAIC-GM Based in Shanghai, Westenberg oversees all financial operations in China, including the joint

beginning in 1988 in the traffic department of advertising agency Campbell-Ewald and eventually heading the shop’s Chevrolet account. He joined GM in 2013 as director, global Cadillac. Since moving into the role of director, Chevrolet cars and crossover marketing in 2014, Majoros has been instrumental in the launch of the 2020 mid-engine Corvette and direct-to-consumer marketing for the Bolt EV.

of efforts toward its goal of a zero-emissions future. His organization ensures the responsible use, consumption, and production of materials, and he leads GM’s efforts as a global advocate for environmentally sensitive manufacturing and renewable energy. Parker’s other global responsibilities include facility design, engineering, construction and operations, and energy procurement, among others.

dealers in the United States, championing cross-brand dealer profitability. He’s also charged with developing the vision and strategy for GM’s retail experience of the future, including leading GM’s battery electric vehicle ecosystem strategy across the enterprise. Sweeney joined GM in 1990 and has held sales and service assignments at GMC, Pontiac, and GM vehicle sales, service, and marketing.

ventures. Prior to his current role, he held several important leadership positions, including GM vice president and treasurer. Before becoming treasurer, Westenberg was executive director, corporate financial planning and analysis, with responsibility for GM’s financial forecasting, budgeting, and medium-term planning activities, as well as for leading the finance team.

MAY - JUNE 2020 || DBUSINESS.COM 39

Feature || GM — Big Three Auto Executives

KURT WIESE Vice President, Global Manufacturing Engineering Wiese’s global team of 5,000 has manufacturing engineering responsibility for automotive press,

FRANCISCO GARZA President and Managing Director, General Motors de Mexico, Central America and Caribbean Garza succeeds Ernesto Hernandez, who retired in 2019 after a 40-year

KEVIN TIERNEY Chief Product Cyber Security Officer Tierney’s team develops and implements security control strategies to reduce the risks

body, paint, assembly, controls, powertrain, and global program management. He has 40 years of experience in manufacturing and manufacturing engineering. His previous roles include executive director of product industrialization; executive director, manufacturing engineering vehicle body center; and plant manager at the Oshawa (Canada) Truck Assembly. Wiese has a strong reputation for relationship-building.

career. Previously, Garza was vice president, vehicle sales, service, and marketing at GM de Mexico. He joined General Motors de Mexico in August 2011 as vice president, vehicle sales, service, and marketing, assuming responsibility for the development and implementation of go-to-market strategies for Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac, and for managing and maintaining close relationships with dealers.

associated with cybersecurity threats related to the vehicle and vehicle connected services. His organization includes vehicle system penetration testing, cyber risk management, incident response, autonomous vehicle security architecture, telecommunications and OnStar security, and governance. Prior to this role, he was director, vehicle architecture cybersecurity, where he managed supply chain security.

KEN J. BARRETT Global Chief Diversity Officer As General Motors’ first global chief diversity officer, Barrett leads the company’s diversity and

MELISSA GRADY Global Chief Marketing Officer, Cadillac Grady leads strategic marketing for the Cadillac brand around the world, building on the

DEBORAH WAHL Global Chief Marketing Officer Wahl previously served as the global chief marketing officer of Cadillac, where she redefined the brand’s

inclusion portfolio, which includes workforce diversity strategy, empowering employee resource groups, and fostering an inclusive culture that promotes diversity of thought to help GM compete and win in the marketplace. Before joining GM in 2012, Barrett served as the undersecretary of defense’s acting director of the Office of Diversity Management and Equal Opportunity in Washington, D.C.

transformational work that has taken place over the past several months. She brings extensive experience in leading teams across multiple industries and organizations, from entrepreneurial ventures to Fortune 500 companies. Before joining Cadillac, Grady was senior vice president, digital and e-commerce, at tax service Jackson Hewitt and vice president, digital acquisition and measurement, at MetLife.

strategy and played an instrumental role in the leadership team that broke a global sales record in 2018. Rooted firmly in the school of performance marketing, Wahl drives her teams to use data to change the way they seek and engage with consumers. As GM global CMO, she drives GM’s marketing organization to build on its success and accelerate growth by ensuring alignment to provide more effective customer engagement.

ELECTRIC CURRENT Mark Reuss, president of General Motors Co., right, is leading the automaker’s EV programs.

SCOTT BELL President and Managing Director, GM Canada Bell is a member of the Canadian Executive Council and GM Canada’s board of directors. He

KAHER KAZEM President and CEO, GM Korea Kazem began his career with GM in 1995 at GM Holden in Australia as a senior engineer, and

later held several leadership positions in GM Holden’s manufacturing operations. He became vice president of manufacturing and quality for GM Thailand/ ASEAN in 2009. He was appointed president and managing director of GM Uzbekistan in 2012. Kazem was the president and managing director for GM India before assuming his current role. He holds an MBA from La Trobe University.

GENERAL MOTORS CO. BOARD OF DIRECTORS MARY T. BARRA Chairman and CEO, General Motors Co. WESLEY G. BUSH Retired Chairman, Northrop Grumman Corp. LINDA R. GOODEN Retired Executive Vice President, Information Systems & Global Solutions, Lockheed Martin Corp. JOSEPH JIMENEZ Retired CEO, Novartis AG JANE L. MENDILLO Retired President and CEO, Harvard Management Co. JAMI MISCIK CEO and Vice Chairman, Kissinger Associates Inc. PATRICIA F. RUSSO Chairman, HewlettPackard Enterprise Co.

40 DBUSINESS || MAY - JUNE 2020

reports to Barry Engle, executive VP and president, GM North America. Prior to his current role, Bell was VP, sales, service, and marketing for GM Canada and was responsible for marketing, sales, and service for Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC. As director of sales operations at Buick-GMC, Bell was responsible for helping the sales and dealer organizations to position the brands for the future.

THOMAS M. SCHOEWE Retired Executive Vice President and CFO, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. THEODORE M. SOLSO Independent Lead Director, General Motors Co., Retired Chairman and CEO, Cummins Inc. CAROL M. STEPHENSON Retired Dean, Ivey Business School, The University of Western Ontario DEVIN N. WENIG Former President and CEO, eBay Inc. To view GM's Board of Directors, please visit: gm.com/company/ leadership/board-ofdirectors.html.

Ford — Big Three Auto Executives || Feature

JAMES D. FARLEY JR. Chief Operations Officer

Effective March 1, 2020. Farley reports to Jim Hackett. Farley leads Ford’s drive to strengthen

WILLIAM CLAY FORD JR. Executive Chairman, Chairman of the Board of Directors Ford has been a member of the company’s board of directors since 1988 and has been chairman since Jan. 1, 1999. He also serves as chairman of the board’s finance committee and as a member of the sustainability committee. He served as CEO from October 2001 to September 2006. During his time in that position, Ford took the company from a $5.5 billion loss in 2001 to three straight years of profitability. Ford joined the company in 1979 as a product-planning analyst. He held a variety of positions in manufacturing, sales, marketing, product development, and finance. In 1983, Ford began a 12-month course of study as an Alfred P. Sloan fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In 2018, he led the acquisition of the iconic Michigan Central building in Detroit’s historic Corktown neighborhood, which is being turned into a mobility campus.

ANNING CHEN President and CEO, Ford China Chen leads the company’s operations in greater China, including all import and joint venture

KUMAR GALHOTRA President, Americas and International Markets Group In this new role as of May 1, Galhotra is responsible for the profit and loss of the business units,

its automotive operations and deliver a sustainable global EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes) margin of at least 8 percent. He oversees all of Ford’s global markets and automotive operations including product development, purchasing, enterprise product line management, manufacturing and labor affairs, marketing, sales and service, and quality and new model launch. Farley also leads Ford smart mobility.

operations, and is implementing the company’s global strategy and leading China’s future development. Chen is a 25-year auto industry veteran with extensive expertise in leading transformation, establishing alliances and joint ventures, and developing competitive products for China. He was CEO of Chery Automobile Ltd., China, as well as chairman of the board for Chery Jaguar Land Rover China.

including a newly established commercial vehicle business unit for the U.S. and Canada. He reports to Farley. Prior to that, Galhotra was responsible for leading all aspects of Ford’s North American business. Previously, he was group vice president, Lincoln, overseeing all Lincoln operations globally, including product development; marketing, sales, and service; and all team members supporting the brand.

STEVEN ARMSTRONG President, Changan Ford Effective Oct. 1, 2019. Armstrong is responsible for leading Changan Ford’s operations,

JOY FALOTICO President, The Lincoln Motor Co.; Chief Marketing Officer Falotico is responsible for leading the continued evolution of Lincoln as a world-class luxury brand.

MARION HARRIS President and CEO, Ford Motor Credit Co. Effective Nov. 1, 2019. Harris is responsible for a leading financial services provider for dealers and

including manufacturing, marketing, and the selling and servicing of Ford products. He reports to Ford China President and CEO Anning Chen. Prior to this, Armstrong was chairman, president, and COO of Ford of Europe. Earlier, as group vice president and president, he transformed and led Ford’s Europe, Middle East and Africa business units. Armstrong also served as chief operating officer at Volvo Cars.

She oversees all Lincoln operations globally, including product development, marketing, sales, and service, and all team members supporting the brand. Falotico also leads the company’s marketing function and its efforts to connect more closely with customers by identifying new opportunities to serve them. She was previously chairman and chief executive officer, Ford Motor Credit Co.

customers around the world in support of Ford Motor Co. sales. Prior to this, as vice president of Ford’s Mobility Business Group, he was responsible for the connected services businesses of Ford Commercial Solutions and FordPass, as well as Chariot and GoRide Health. Previously, Harris served as chief financial officer and treasurer at Ford Credit, responsible for financial planning, analysis, and accounting operations.

JAMES P. HACKETT President and CEO Hackett, formerly a member of Ford’s board of directors and chairman of subsidiary Ford Smart Mobility, LLC, was named to this position in May 2017. In partnership with Executive Chairman Bill Ford, Hackett has committed Ford to be the world’s most trusted company, designing intelligent vehicles that are connected to an increasingly intelligent world to make life better for customers, communities, and the climate. Earlier, as a member of the board of directors’ sustainability and innovation committee, Hackett was actively involved with Ford’s senior leadership team in launching the Ford Smart Mobility plan. Hackett retired as CEO of office furniture manufacturer Steelcase in 2014. He was interim director of athletics at the University of Michigan from 2014 to 2016, where he led the search for a permanent candidate to fill that post. Hackett played center on Michigan’s football team before graduating with a bachelor’s degree in finance in 1977.

MARK OVENDEN President, International Markets Group Ovenden leads the business unit that oversees nearly 100 markets, including Ford’s

operations in Africa, ASEAN, Australia, India, Mexico, the Middle East, New Zealand, South Korea, and a number of emerging and distributor markets around the world. Previously, as vice president and president of Ford Middle East and Africa, Ovenden was responsible for the growth of a region that included operations in more than 70 markets. He also served as VP, marketing, sales, and service, Asia Pacific.

STUART ROWLEY President, Ford of Europe Rowley is responsible for all operational leadership at Ford of Europe, including acceleration of

the European transformation strategy. Prior to this, as VP and COO of Ford North America, Rowley was responsible for driving the redesign of the North American business to improve its overall fitness. Earlier, as VP of strategy, Rowley played a leading role in Ford’s growth strategy by accelerating the development of new business models in both the company’s core and emerging business opportunities.

MAY - JUNE 2020 || DBUSINESS.COM 41

Feature || Ford — Big Three Auto Executives

LYLE WATTERS President, Ford South America and International Markets Group Watters is responsible for all Ford operations in South America, which is now part of the

BRADLEY M. GAYTON Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel Gayton leads Ford’s litigation, tax, corporate, and intellectual property efforts. He also advises the

JEFF LEMMER Chief Information Officer

Lemmer oversees Ford’s global IT business applications, architecture, data centers, engineering,

HAU THAI-TANG Chief Product Development and Purchasing Officer Thai-Tang has global responsibility for overseeing all aspects of Ford’s design, engineering,

International Markets Group. He reports to Galhorta. Before this, he was CFO and vice president, finance and strategic planning, for Ford of Europe. He has been a member of the boards of directors of Ford Otosan and Ford Sollers since April 2012. Prior to his job in Europe, he was chief financial officer, Ford South America. Previously he was director of business strategy at Ford of Europe.

company’s board of directors and senior management on a wide range of legal issues, and oversees the general auditor’s office. Gayton had been VP and general counsel since January 2016. He was appointed group VP in 2017 and added Ford Land and Corporate Services efforts to his oversight. He reports to Jim Hackett, Ford president and CEO. Previously, he had legal responsibility for NYSE and SEC compliance.

and infrastructure services. He joined Ford in 1987 and has spent his entire career in IT with the company, serving in leadership positions at Ford Motor Co. and Ford Credit. He was most recently Ford’s vice president and COO of information technology, where he led the development of automotive-related applications and ran day-to-day operations. He oversaw the construction of two new data centers.

research, product development, and purchasing operations. As of March 1, 2020, Thai-Tang added responsibility for enterprise product line management and connectivity. He will be the primary architect as Ford brings together vehicle architecture and software to create products, services, and great customer experiences. Thai-Tang most recently was group vice president, global purchasing.

42 DBUSINESS || MAY - JUNE 2020

MITCH BAINWOL Chief Government Relations Officer Bainwol leads a global team that helps shape policy and legislation to promote the company’s

GARY JOHNSON Chief Manufacturing and Labor Affairs Officer Johnson is responsible for the operations of Ford’s worldwide assembly, stamping, and

KIERSTEN ROBINSON Chief Human Resources Officer Robinson oversees all global people processes including talent management, workforce

MARK TRUBY Chief Communications Officer Truby leads Ford’s global communications and public relations activities, including building the

business objectives, including areas of international trade, the environment, autonomous vehicles, mobility, driver safety, and taxation. He directs engagement with governments in 110 markets around the world where Ford does business. Before this, Bainwol served as president and chief executive officer for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers since 2011, where he was responsible for representing automakers.

powertrain plants. He also leads the company’s global engineering support for stamping and vehicle and powertrain manufacturing, as well as Ford’s material planning and logistics, and the Ford production system, manufacturing business office, and labor affairs organizations. Johnson served as VP of North America manufacturing and was responsible for Ford’s North America manufacturing footprint.

planning, learning and development, recruiting, diversity and inclusion, compensation and benefits, and the dealer policy board. Bill Dirksen, Ford vice president, labor affairs, also reports to her. As the senior leader and corporate officer overseeing people processes globally, Robinson ensures the development and execution of business strategies that reflect the global business environment.

company’s reputation globally among customers, employees, dealers, suppliers, news media, communities, governments, and policymakers. He reports to Jim Hackett, Ford president and CEO. Truby joined Ford in 2007 as director of global corporate communications. He has also served as communications director for Bill Ford, and as VP, communications, Ford Europe, Middle East, and Africa.

ELENA A. FORD Chief Customer Experience Officer Ford leads the organization responsible for creating a world-class customer experience

JOHN LAWLER Chief Executive Officer, Ford Autonomous Vehicles, LLC and Vice President, Mobility Partnerships Lawler leads the team charged with developing and bringing to market driverless transportation

TIM STONE Chief Financial Officer

Stone has overall responsibility for the company’s financial operations, including the

DR. KEN WASHINGTON Chief Technology Officer

Washington heads Ford’s worldwide research organization, overseeing the development and

throughout the entire ownership cycle. She works with the Ford Customer Service Division and the quality organization to more tightly connect the design and implementation of a world-class customer experience system that links the interactions between Ford and its customers worldwide. She continues to be closely integrated with the sales and marketing organization, and dealer network.

services. He’s also the point person for Ford’s evolving partnerships with technology companies in the critical areas of mobility, including vehicle connectivity and autonomous vehicles. He reports to Jim Farley. Previously, Lawler served as VP of strategy, leading corporate strategy, business development, and global data insights and analytics; and facilitated the creation of Ford’s long-term strategy.

controller’s office, treasury, and investor relations. Stone joined Ford after decades of experience in the tech industry including at Amazon, where he led financial support of several of the company’s most significant business initiatives. During that time, the company went from $150 million in revenue with fewer than 1,000 employees to $200 billion in revenue with 575,000 employees.

implementation of the company’s technology strategy and plans, and playing a key role in the company’s expansion into emerging mobility opportunities. Before joining Ford, Washington was VP of the Advanced Technology Center at Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co. in California. He was responsible for leading 700 scientists and engineers in performing research and development in space science and related R&D.

Ford — Big Three Auto Executives || Feature

JIM BAUMBICK Vice President, Enterprise Product Line Management Baumbick is responsible for global product strategy and planning, as well as leading the global

LINDA CASH Vice President, Quality and New Model Launch Cash is responsible for driving quality processes throughout the design and production of Ford

CHUCK GRAY Vice President, Vehicle Component and System Engineering Gray’s role is central to Ford’s commitment to develop Ford and Lincoln vehicles with top quality,

MARK LANEVE Vice President, U.S. Marketing, Sales, and Service LaNeve is responsible for all marketing, sales, service, customer care, and dealer relations for the

product line teams that are using deep customer insights to deliver products customers really want and value, and to drive end-to-end business results. Previously, Baumbick served as executive director of global product planning and strategy, where he led the development of Ford’s flexible modular architecture approach, which is a key enabler for product development fitness.

vehicles and for new model launches globally, ensuring alignment throughout the various business operations. Previously, Cash served as VP of manufacturing and director of vehicle operations at Ford of Europe. With extensive experience in lean manufacturing, Cash served as plant manager of the Michigan truck assembly facility, and chief engineer for final assembly for vehicle operations.

fuel efficiency, safety, smart technology, and value for customers worldwide. He replaces Jim Holland, who retired. Previously, as director of Ford’s global core electrical team, Gray delivered a strategy to modernize the company’s vehicle connectivity, software capability, and electrical architecture. This includes leading the design of Ford’s Driver Assist technology and development team.

Ford and Lincoln brands. He is focused on continuing to build the Ford brand through innovative new digital communications and transforming the retail experience. Before joining Ford, LaNeve was COO of Global Team Blue, the company’s marketing and advertising agency. He has also served as senior executive VP and chief marketing officer at Allstate Insurance and in leadership roles at GM and Volvo Cars.

ROELANT DE WAARD General Manager, Passenger Vehicles; Vice President, Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford of Europe De Waard was appointed to the general manager position on July 1, 2019.

LISA DRAKE Vice President, Global Powertrain and COO North America Drake was named COO of North America as of May 1 and will report to Galhorta. In this newly

BOB HOLYCROSS Vice President, Sustainability, Environment & Safety Engineering As Ford’s top environment and safety officer, Holycross is responsible for implementing

DAVID MCCLELLAND Vice President, Strategy McClelland leads corporate strategy, business development, and global data insights

He retains responsibility for all marketing, sales, and service personnel and activities in European markets. From January 2009, as vice president of sales, Ford of Europe, he was responsible for 49 markets, including the U.K., France, Italy, Spain, and Russia. Earlier, de Waard was chairman and managing director of Ford of Britain and vice president, Europe, Ford customer service division. He joined Ford Netherlands in 1990.

created role, Drake will bring enhanced focus to product launches, warranty reduction, and material cost improvements. She also will place a renewed emphasis on returning the North America business back to a 10-percent EBIT. She will continue as vice president of global purchasing, where she is responsible for all category management processes and procurement functions.

sustainability best practices throughout Ford and leading its global environment and safety strategy, policy, and performance. He has served as director, sustainability, homologation, and compliance, overseeing sustainable business plans and policies, and external relationships with regulatory bodies around the world, and reporting on the company’s environmental and social performance.

and analytics. He is also chairman of the Ford Motor Credit Co. board of directors. Prior to this appointment, McClelland was CEO of Ford Motor Credit Co., Ford’s global provider of financial products and services for dealers and customers. He had served as Ford Credit executive vice president of marketing and Asia Pacific, overseeing global marketing and Ford Credit’s business in China and India.

MORAY CALLUM Vice President, Design Callum leads the design of all concept and production vehicles for the Ford and Lincoln

DAVID FILIPE Vice President, Powertrain Engineering Filipe is responsible for worldwide powertrain engineering and reports to Hau Thai-Tang.

BURT JORDAN Vice President, Global Purchasing Operations In this role, Jordan is responsible for Global Purchasing Operations, program delivery,

CATHY O’CALLAGHAN Vice President, Controller Previously, O’Callaghan served as chief financial officer, Ford South America. In that position

brands worldwide. Previously, as executive director, Design, The Americas, he had overall responsibility for the design of all cars and trucks created in Ford’s North and South America studios, and the new Lincoln products, including the Ford Fusion, Explorer, Mustang, EcoSport, and Lincoln MKZ. From 2001 to 2006, Callum led the design transformation at Mazda that resulted in a new generation of vehicles.

Previously, as vehicle line director, North America trucks, large SUVs, and commercial vehicles, Filipe was responsible for the development and launch of the 2017 Super Duty pickup truck, the 2018 Ford F-150, and the 2018 Expedition. Past roles include director of global engine engineering, where he was responsible for the design and development of Ford gasoline and diesel engines.

purchasing strategy, and supply chain diversity. He reports to Hau Thai-Tang. Jordan was previously vice president of global vehicle purchasing, and prior to that, global vehicle and powertrain purchasing and supplier diversity. Earlier in his career, he was director, purchasing, Ford Asia Pacific and Africa, and he oversaw purchasing operations in Australia, India, South Africa, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Phillipines.

she was responsible for all Ford finance activities in Ford South America, including operations finance, profit analysis, treasury, tax, accounting, and internal control. Prior to working in South America, O’Callaghan held a number of key leadership positions at Ford of Europe, including finance director for product development, and controller of European manufacturing operations.

MAY - JUNE 2020 || DBUSINESS.COM 43

Feature || Ford — Big Three Auto Executives

JOHN SAVONA Vice President, North American Manufacturing Savona is responsible for Ford’s North American manufacturing footprint of more than 30 plants.

TREVOR WORTHINGTON Vice President, Global Product Development Operations & Vehicle Programs Worthington leads Ford’s global vehicle programs and is also responsible for

Previously, as Ford’s director of global manufacturing quality, he was responsible for ensuring continuous quality improvement in the company’s worldwide manufacturing facilities. He began his career with Ford in 1989 as a security officer at the company’s Wayne assembly plant. He has a Bachelor of Science in criminology from Eastern Michigan University and a Master of Science in administration from Central Michigan..

coordinating the company’s product development resources to bring new products to market. He also has responsibility for driving competitive material costs and engineering expenses throughout the development cycle. Worthington earlier served as vice president, product development, for Asia Pacific. In that role, he spearheaded the development and introduction of key Ford nameplates.

DREAM TEAM In 2019, Ford Motor Co. officials introduced the Ford Mustang Mach-E. The electric vehicle is scheduled to go on sale later this year. It has a 300-mile range.

44 DBUSINESS || MAY - JUNE 2020

FREDERIEK TONEY Vice President, Global Ford Customer Service Division Toney works with hundreds of Ford dealerships around the world. He joined Ford in

DALE WISHNOUSKY Vice President, Manufacturing, Ford of Europe Wishnousky most recently served as the director, global manufacturing business

2000 and has held leadership positions in logistics, operations, and parts and service. Most recently, he served as executive director, global material planning and logistics. Before joining Ford, Toney spent 23 years in management at Caterpillar Inc. and American Honda Motor Co. In 2012, Black Enterprise magazine named Toney one of the 100 Most Powerful Executives in Corporate America.

office. Earlier positions included director, manufacturing, North America truck, and director, vehicle operations, Ford of Europe, where he was responsible for the manufacturing operations of nine assembly facilities. Wishnousky also held a number of plant manager positions including Kansas City Assembly, where he led the team to achieve significant improvements in safety.

FORD MOTOR CO. BOARD OF DIRECTORS WILLIAM CLAY FORD JR. Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board of Directors STEPHEN G. BUTLER Retired Chairman and CEO, KPMG, LLP KIMBERLY A. CASIANO President, Kimberly Casiano & Associates ANTHONY F. EARLEY JR. Executive Chairman of the Board, PG&E Corp. EDSEL B. FORD II Director and Consultant JAMES P. HACKETT President and CEO WILLIAM W. HELMAN IV General Partner, Greylock Partners WILLIAM E. KENNARD Non-Executive Chairman and Co-Founder of Velocitas Partners

JOHN C. LECHLEITER Retired President and CEO, Eli Lilly and Co. BETH MOONEY Chairman and CEO, KeyCorp JOHN L. THORNTON Chairman, Barrick Gold Corp. JOHN VEIHMEYER Former Chairman, KPMG International LYNN VOJVODICH Former Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Salesforce JOHN S. WEINBERG Former Vice Chairman, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. To view Ford’s Board of Directors, please visit: http://corporate.ford.com/ our-company/governancehub/board-of-directors801p.

FCA — Big Three Auto Executives || Feature

MARK BOSANAC Head of Mopar Parts, Service & Customer Care, FCA-North America Bosanac oversees the strategy for the Mopar parts and services business in the U.S.,

MIKE MANLEY* CEO, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) Manley was appointed CEO in July 2018. He previously had headed the Jeep brand since June 2009, and was head of the Ram brand since October 2015. Manley also served as COO of Asia Pacific and as the lead Chrysler Group executive for international operations, and oversaw the implementation of cooperation agreements for the international distribution of FCA-North America products. Manley also served as executive vice president, international sales and global product planning operations, where he was responsible for product planning and all sales activities outside North America. He holds an MBA from Ashridge Management College in Ashridge, England, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from Southbank University in London.

MAMATHA CHAMARTHI Chief Information Officer, FCA-North America and Asia Pacific Chamarthi is responsible for all information technology applications and infrastructure in

MARK M. CHERNOBY* Chief Technical Compliance Officer, FCA-N.V. In addition to his role as CTCO, Chernoby is responsible for North America vehicle safety

Canada, and Mexico. Previously, he was head of NAFTA supply chain management and global parts SCM & operations. Bosanac has held positions of increasing levels of responsibility since joining the company in 1986. He has extensive experience in the vehicle chain and sales and marketing organization, specifically in the areas of retail planning, sales, and dealer relations. He holds an MBA from Michigan State University.

support of business units located in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Asia Pacific. Previously, as senior vice president and chief digital officer for auto supplier ZF Friedrichshafen AG in Germany, she oversaw the company’s full range of digital strategies and was responsible for driving change across the organization to create a talent ecosystem to allow ZF to be a leader in autonomous driving.

and regulatory compliance. He had previously served as COO, product development; head of product portfolio management; and head of quality. Chernoby was also senior vice president of engineering and head of vehicle engineering. He joined the automaker in 1985 as a powertrain engineer, was elected chair for the SAE Technical Standards Board, and served on the Hydrogen Technology Advisory Committee.

BRUNO CATTORI President and CEO, FCA-México, S.A. de C.V. Cattori serves in the dual roles of president and CEO of FCA-México, and as the unit’s sales

MARK CHAMPINE Head of Quality, FCA-North America Champine was named to this post in 2018. Before that, he served as head of electrified

RICHARD COX Head of Portfolio Planning, FCA-North America Head of Alfa Romeo and Maserati Product Planning Cox is responsible for the NAFTA product portfolio, analyzing the competitive environment, and

director. He had been president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz México. Earlier in his career, Cattori worked in various positions at Chrysler de México, including serving as director of marketing and advertising, where he oversaw marketing planning, advertising, and pricing and incentives for the Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep brands. He holds and an MBA from the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México.

powertrain programs for FCA-North America. He also was head of transmission and driveline quality, and quality center manager for the Kokomo transmission plant in Indiana. Earlier in his career, Champine led various transmission and torque converter engineering programs. He received an MBA and engineering management master’s degree from the University of Detroit Mercy.

providing market and consumer insights to guide future planning of North American products. He is also responsible for Alfa Romeo and Maserati product planning. Previously, Cox was director of Dodge and SRT product marketing for FCA-US. He joined the company in 1999, and worked at FCA-Canada in Windsor, Ontario, with increasing levels of responsibility before moving to the U.S. to lead Dodge product marketing.

MICHAEL (MICKY) BLY Head of Powertrain Engine Engineering, FCA-North America Bly is responsible for core powertrain engineering as well as electrification, which includes leading the company’s expansion into hybrid and electric vehicles. He spent five years at American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc. in Detroit, where he held various jobs in Europe and North America, including his most recent position as global vice president of product management electrification. He also spent 23 years in engineering positions, including powertrain and vehicle electrification, at General Motors Co. Bly’s hiring last year was due to the retirement of FCA’s longtime global powertrain chief Bob Lee, who stepped down after a 41-year career with the automaker. Bly will help lead FCA as it maps powertrain strategies to meet increasingly stringent global emissions standards and tougher U.S. fuel-economy targets looming in 2025 and beyond.

ANTONIO FILOSA* Chief Operating Officer, FCA-Latin America Filosa was named to this position and was made a member of the group executive council in

March 2018. Previously, he served as the head of Argentina, and head of the Alfa Romeo and Maserati brands for the Latin America region. Earlier, he was responsible for all purchasing activities in the Latin America region and was manager of the Betim assembly plant in Brazil. Filosa joined the group in 1999. He is a native of Naples and holds a master’s degree in engineering from Politecnico di Milano in Italy.

GIORGIO FOSSATI General Counsel, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles General Counsel, FCA Europe Middle East and Africa Region Fossati has served on the board of directors of FCA-US since June 2014

and has been general counsel for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles since 2011. He also retains the title of general counsel for FCA’s Europe, Middle East, and Africa region. Fossati serves on the boards of Maserati S.p.A., Comau S.p.A., Magneti Marelli S.p.A., FCA-Italy S.p.A., Teksid S.p.A., Fiat Finance S.p.A., Fidis S.p.A., Fiat Partecipazioni S.p.A., Risk Management S.p.A., Abarth & C. S.p.A., and Fiat Auto Poland S.A.

MAY - JUNE 2020 || DBUSINESS.COM 45

Feature || FCA — Big Three Auto Executives

SCOTT R. GARBERDING* Global Chief Manufacturing Officer Garberding has extensive knowledge and understanding of the company’s worldwide

PIETRO GORLIER* Chief Operating Officer, Europe Middle East Africa Region Head of Mopar (Parts & Service) Globally Chief Operating Officer, Components Gorlier was named to the

PHILIP JANSEN Head of Product Development, FCA-North America Jansen leads all systems and component engineering, vehicle line programs, advance vehicle

LINDA KNOLL* Chief Human Resources Officer Knoll provides companywide oversight for the human resources function, including organizational

manufacturing system, and of the people who work in its plants. FCA subsidiaries Comau and Teksid report directly to Garberding. Earlier, he served as head of quality, chief purchasing officer, and senior vice president of manufacturing/world class manufacturing, FCA-US, with responsibility for all assembly, stamping, and powertrain manufacturing operations worldwide. He was also senior vice president and chief procurement officer.

EMEA role in 2018, has been component COO since 2015, and was appointed to the Mopar position in 2009. At Mopar, he shares responsibility with the brands for parts and services growth and delivery, and customer support. He previously served as head of the network development, owned dealerships, and customer service organizations at FCA-Italy S.p.A. and CNH Global N.V. Gorlier joined the company in 1989.

development, vehicle integration and validation, and cost engineering. He previously oversaw systems and component engineering for the FCA-US vehicle lineup. Since joining the former Chrysler Corp. in 1985 as a production analyst, he has held leadership positions within Jeep vehicle engineering, and was Jeep Grand Cherokee’s chief engineer. He holds a patent for the dual-action rear gate on the firstgeneration Jeep Liberty.

development, talent management, compensation and benefits, employee relations, and compliance and staffing. Previously, Knoll concurrently held the same CHRO and GEC positions at CNH Industrial N.V. from 2007 to 2018. She spent 25 years in numerous operational assignments with the predecessor companies to FCA and CNH Industrial. She also worked at General Dynamics Corp.

46 DBUSINESS || MAY - JUNE 2020

ALISTAIR “AL” GARDNER Head of Maserati, FCA-North America Gardner is responsible for developing the Maserati brand in the North America region.

DAVIDE GRASSO* Chief Operating Officer, Maserati Grasso is responsible for Maserati’s overall commercial and financial performance, while

ROGER (SHANE) KARR Head of External Affairs, FCA-North America Karr is responsible for providing strategic direction on international, federal, and state

TIMOTHY KUNISKIS* Head of Passenger Cars, FCA-North America Global Head of Alfa Romeo Kuniskis has been global head of Alfa Romeo since February 2018, and has full responsibility for its

Previously, as head of network development for FCA-North America, Gardner was charged with ensuring that the dealer network operates at the highest possible level for optimal sales volumes for Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep, Ram, Mopar, and SRT vehicles and products. Since 2013, he served as president and CEO of the Chrysler brand. Prior to that, he was director of FCA’s southeast business center.

driving its operating success across all global markets. He previously served as CEO at Converse Inc., a subsidiary of Nike Inc., where he engineered the iconic brand for long-term sustainable growth. At Nike he also served as chief marketing officer and led teams in Europe, the Americas, and Asia. He joined Nike in 2001. Grasso holds a master’s degree from Bocconi University – Milan, Italy.

government relations. He also leads community relations and employee volunteer efforts for FCA-US and the FCA Foundation. Karr was the vice president, U.S. External Affairs, FCA-US. Prior to joining FCA, he was vice president of federal government affairs for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers. In this role, he represented the Alliance before members of Congress and Congressional staff.

sales and marketing. Before this, Kuniskis was head of the Jeep brand for FCA-North America. He also served as head of passenger car brands Dodge, SRT, Chrysler, and Fiat for FCA-North America, and was president and CEO of the Dodge and SRT brands for FCA North America. Kuniskis has also been head of the Fiat brand for North America and director of brand marketing for Chrysler and Fiat.

RALPH V. GILLES* Head of Design

Gilles, who joined the former Chrysler Corp. in 1992, is responsible for shaping and directing

MARISSA HUNTER Head of Marketing, FCA-North America Hunter is responsible for overseeing and developing marketing for FCA’s brands in North

MICHAEL J. KEEGAN* Chief Audit, Sustainability and Compliance Officer, FC A-N.V. Previously, as head of communications, Keegan oversaw all FCA corporate and product

PHILLIP LANGLEY Head of Network Development, FCA-North America Langley is responsible for ensuring that the dealer network operates at the highest possible level, to

design across the company’s entire brand portfolio. Previously, he served as senior VP, product design, and president and CEO, Motorsports, FCA-North America; president and CEO, SRT brand; and president and CEO, Dodge brand, for FCA-US. He was named VP for design in September 2008. Gilles is executive sponsor of the Fiat Chrysler African American Network.

America. She will also continue in her role as director of brand advertising, where she oversees the creation and implementation of national marketing campaigns across the automotive company’s portfolio, which includes Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge, FIAT, Jeep, and Ram. She joined FCA in August 2009 as head of advertising for the Ram Truck brand. Hunter previously worked at BBDO Detroit.

communications, closely coordinating with communication teams in the company’s various regions and business sectors. He also served as head of human resources, FCA-North America, and was head of supply chain management at FCA-US. He joined the company in 1990 as a financial analyst and has gained experience in sales and marketing, finance, strategic planning, and post-merger integration.

generate optimal sales volumes for Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge, FIAT, Jeep, Ram, Mopar, and SRT vehicles and products. Previously, Langley spent three years as head of U.S. dealer network operations. He has experience in the company’s mid-Atlantic and southeast business centers. Langley holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

FCA — Big Three Auto Executives || Feature

JOAO LARANJO Chief Financial Officer, FCA-North America Laranjo is responsible for all financial matters relating to the company’s operations in the U.S.,

JIM MORRISON Head of Jeep Brand, FCA-North America Morrison is responsible for sales and marketing strategic operations for the Jeep brand in the

BARBARA J. PILARSKI Head of Business Development, FCA-North America Pilarski is responsible for negotiating and executing strategic partnership arrangements. She

SIMON SPROULE Chief Communications Officer, FCA-N.V. Head of North America Communications Sproule took over this position on Feb. 3, 2020. Before that, he had been

Canada, and Mexico. Previously, Laranjo worked as the FCA’s Latin America CFO, based in Brazil, and was responsible for overseeing, planning, and managing financial operations and controlling for the company. He also served as Latin America deputy CFO and chief accounting officer. Before that, Laranjo held a variety of financial positions in FCA’s Latin American operations. He joined FCA in April 2009.

United States, Canada, and Mexico. He previously was head of the Ram brand for FCA-North America and director, Jeep brand product marketing and global coordination. Morrison spent nearly 20 years with FCA-US in the United States and Canada in various sales and marketing positions. He has an MBA from the University of New Brunswick and a Bachelor of Arts and Science from the University of New Brunswick.

previously served as head of human resources, FCA-North America. Pilarski was originally named head of business development, FCA-North America in 2009, and she served in the role until 2017. Earlier, as executive director of mergers and acquisitions, North and South America, at Chrysler, LLC, Pilarski led all merger, acquisition, and divestiture activities in North and South America for Chrysler and the former DaimlerChrysler.

VP and chief marketing officer for Aston Martin since 2014. In that role, he led integrated marketing and corporate communications, which included the company’s brand licensing and partnership initiatives. Earlier, Sproule was VP of communications at Tesla Motors Inc. He also served as corporate vice president, global marketing communications, Nissan Motor Corp., and was head of Renault-Nissan Alliance communications since 2009.

JORGE LUIS LARES ORTIZ Head of Manufacturing, FCA-North America Ortiz is responsible for all assembly, stamping, and powertrain manufacturing operations in the United

RICHARD PALMER* Chief Financial Officer Head of Business Development Chief Operating Officer, Systems and Castings

Palmer is responsible for all of FCA’s finance activities, including

RICHARD SCHWARZWALD* Global Head of Quality

Schwartzwald has more than 25 years of automotive quality and supplier quality

MARK STEWART* Chief Operating Officer, FCA-North America Prior to his appointment in late 2018, Stewart had been VP of operations for Amazon and was the lead

States, Canada, and Mexico, as well as the implementation of the world-class manufacturing system at all FCA-US manufacturing facilities. Ortiz was most recently head of manufacturing at FCA-Mexico, where he was responsible for the operations of seven facilities — including three assembly, two engine, and two stamping plants — in Saltillo and Toluca. He also successfully launched several engine programs.

corporate controlling, treasury, and tax. He added the systems and castings role in January 2016. Palmer joined the company from Fiat Group Automobiles, where he had been CFO since 2006. He joined the Fiat Group in 2003 as CFO of Comau, and later moved to Iveco in the same role. From 1997 until 2003, he served as finance manager for several business units at General Electric Oil & Gas.

experience. He led FCA’s quality organization in Latin America, where his team produced quality improvements in the Jeep Renegade. Earlier in his career, Schwarzwald held senior leadership positions at several automotive OEMs and suppliers. In his new role, he will join FCA’s group executive council (GEC). He holds a master’s degree in production and logistics operations and an MBA from Fundação Getulio Vargas in Brazil.

executive for customer fulfillment across 200 operations facilities in North America. He was also responsible for overseeing operations, procurement, construction, and engineering with teams dedicated to pursuing automation, artificial intelligence, and advanced robotics and conveyance. Before that, Stewart was executive VP and COO at ZF TRW Automotive. He spent the first years of his career in manufacturing with TRW.

JEFFREY P. LUX Head of Propulsion Systems, Global Quality, and Interim Head of Global Powertrain Coordination In addition to his position as head of transmission powertrain, FCA-North America, where he leads

CHRIS PARDI General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, FCA-North America Pardi is responsible for legal functions in North America, including corporate governance,

CARL SMILEY* Chief Purchasing and Supply Chain Officer Smiley had been senior VP and general manager, Asia Pacific, for TE Connectivity since 2012.

SCOTT THIELE Head of Purchasing and Supply Chain Management, FCA-North America Thiele is responsible for driving innovation and collaboration with suppliers in the North

the team responsible for the design, development, and release of all transmission and driveline systems, Lux also supports efforts to coordinate powertrain activities on a global basis. He joined Chrysler Group in 2014 from GM, where he served as executive director, powertrain new product launch; executive director, global powertrain quality; and VP, GM Europe powertrain engineering.

commercial and corporate transactions, product litigation, dealer and trade relations, regulatory and environmental affairs, and intellectual property. He joined the company in 2004 as a tax attorney and transferred to the office of the general counsel, where he led employment law and benefits. Earlier in his career, Pardi worked at Deloitte & Touche, LLP and was in private legal practice.

Prior to that, he held various global leadership roles at Magna Steyr, including VP of operations and purchasing, Asia-Magna Powertrain, and president and board member, Magna Steyr Asia. Smiley began his career at General Motors and spent time in quality, purchasing, production management, and supplier quality in the U.S., China, and Mexico. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Alma College.

American region and continuing to develop the North American supply chain. Previously, he was chief purchasing officer. Thiele had been responsible for all vehicle and powertrain capital expenditures on a global basis since July 2014. He led the development of a global finance platform strategy in 2012, identifying areas where the company could improve its standardization efforts. Thiele joined Chrysler in 2007.

MAY - JUNE 2020 || DBUSINESS.COM 47

Feature || FCA — Big Three Auto Executives

JOSEPH VELTRI Head of Investor Relations

Veltri leads the company’s current and future product planning. From April 2011 to May 2012, he assumed

additional executive responsibilities as head of the Jeep brand in Europe, where he built the brand’s equity through a defined product marketing strategy that aligns with the company’s global brand vision. Previously, as product planning lead and head of truck/SUV product planning, Veltri was responsible for ensuring continuity across brands for all product requirements, engineering capabilities, business case, and voice of the customer.

LAURIE A. VITALE Head of Internal Audit & Compliance, FCA-North America Vitale is responsible for ensuring that all vehicles produced and sold by FCA meet financial

requirements including cost, investment, and profitability. Previously, she was VP of finance operations and VP of corporate audit and compliance. Vitale was also senior manager of corporate audit and senior manager of the treasury pension fund at Chrysler Canada. She’s a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants.

BIG THREE MANAGEMENT RANKS 2020

In 2008, DBusiness magazine began publishing a listing of the top auto executives at General Motors, Ford, and FCA-US. Since then, the automakers have undergone numerous executive changes and reassignments. Number of Executives in 2008

HARALD WESTER* Executive Chairman, Maserati Chief Technical Officer Wester was named executive chairman of Maserati and his role of chief technical officer was

expanded to include global powertrain along with global vehicle engineering in July 2019. In the expanded CTO role, Wester oversees all product development and engineering for ongoing product strategy, including the expansion of its internal combustion and hybrid/electric powertrain offerings. He had served as COO of Maserati since October 2018. Wester served as head of Alfa Romeo and Maserati until May 2016.

ROB WICHMAN Ad Interim Head of Product Development, FCA-North America Wichman has responsibility for all systems and component engineering, vehicle line programs,

advance vehicle development, and vehicle integration and validation, along with cost engineering. Before that, he was the vehicle line executive, truck and cargo van, for FCA-North America. Wichman has spent more than 28 years at FCA in jobs of increasing responsibility, including program management for vehicles such as the Ram 1500. He has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Wayne State.

Number of Executives in 2019

Executives Remaining Since 2008

GENERAL MOTORS CO. BOARD OF DIRECTORS, FCA-U.S

BOARD OF DIRECTORS, FCA-N.V.

GIORGIO FOSSATI General Counsel, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (FCA) General Counsel, FCA EMEA Region

JOHN ABBOTT Member of the Executive Committee of Royal Dutch Shell plc

MICHAEL J. KEEGAN* Chief Audit, Sustainability and Compliance Officer, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. MICHAEL MANLEY* Chief Executive Officer, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V.

ANDREA AGNELLI Non-executive Chairman, Lamse S.p.A. TIBERTO BRANDOLINI D’ADDA Non-executive Director, Giovanni Agnelli B.V.

RICHARD PALMER* Chief Financial Officer, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. Head of Business Development

GLENN EARLE Non-executive Former Managing Director and CEO, Goldman Sachs International

MARK STEWART* Chief Operating Officer, FCA-North America

JOHN ELKANN Chairman Chairman and CEO, EXOR

* Members of the group executive council, the highest executive decision-making body within FCA outside of its board of directors. The GEC is responsible for reviewing the operating performance of the businesses, setting performance targets, making key strategic decisions and investments for the group, and sharing best practices, including the development and deployment of key human resources.

MICHAEL MANLEY* Chief Executive Officer, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. VALERIE A. MARS Non-executive Senior Vice President and Head of Corporate Development, Mars Inc.

RICHARD PALMER Chief Financial Officer

RONALD L. THOMPSON Senior Non-executive Director Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association MICHELANGELO VOLPI Non-executive Partner, Index Ventures Patience Wheatcroft Non-executive Member, House of Lords, U.K. Parliament ERMENEGILDO ZEGNA Non-executive CEO, Ermenegildo Zegna Group

2 FORD MOTOR CO.

59 38

To view FCA’s Board of Directors, please visit: https://www.fcagroup.com/ en-US/group/governance/ board_of_directors/Pages/ default.aspx.

5 FCA-US

48 DBUSINESS || MAY - JUNE 2020

Tier 1 Auto Suppliers || Feature

Tier 1 Auto Suppliers 2019 RANK

In metro Detroit, ranked by global revenue* 2018 RANK

COMPANY

MICHIGAN ADDRESS

TOP EXECUTIVE

REVENUE*

PRODUCTS

Robert Bosch

38000 Hills Tech Dr., Farmington Hills, 248-552-9000

Mike Mansuetti, President

North American: $14.4B, Global: $86.5B

Gasoline, diesel, chassis control, electrical drives, automotive electronics, starter motors and generators, infotainment, battery technology

BASF

26701 Telegraph Rd., Southfield, 248-827-4670

Martin Brudermuller, Global Chairman and CEO

North American: NA, Global: $64.2B

Coatings, catalysts, lightweight composites, fuel additives, construction chemicals

Continental AG

1 Continental Dr., Auburn Hills, 248-393-5300

Samir Salman, CEO

North American: NA, Global: $49.9B**

Brakes, components for powertrains and chassis, instrumentation, infotainment solutions, electronics, tires and technical elastomers

Denso International America Inc.

24777 Denso Dr., Southfield, 248-350-7500

Kenichiro Ito, CEO

North American: $10.9B, Global: $48.3B

Heating, ventilation and air conditioners, radiators, driving control and safety, fuel pumps, instrument clusters, electronic fuel injection

Magna International Inc.

750 Tower Dr., Troy, 248-631-1100

Donald Walker, CEO

North American: NA, Global: $39.4

Body, chassis, exterior, seating powertrain, electronic, vision, closure and roof systems, modules

ZF Group

15811 Centennial Dr., Northville Township, 48168

Martin Fischer, President

North American: $11.4B, Global: $36.5B

Transmissions, steering, suspension components, hybrid couplings, dual-clutch technologies, sensor solutions, circuit systems

Aisin World Corp. of America

15300 Centennial Dr., Northville, 734-453-5551

Scott Turpin, President and CEO

North American: $5B, Global: $35B**

Body, brake, and chassis systems, drivetrain and engine components, information/electronic systems

Lear Corp.

21557 Telegraph Rd., Southfield, 248-447-1500

Ray Scott, President and CEO

North American: NA, Global: $19.8B

Seating and electrical power management systems

Faurecia

2500 Executive Hills Blvd., Auburn Hills, 248-724-5100

Kevin Lammers, President North America

North American: $4.8B, Global: $19.2B

Seating, emissions control technologies, interior systems, automotive exteriors

Yazaki North America

38111 Van Dyke Ave., Sterling Heights, 586-268-4393

Bo Andersson, President and CEO

North American: $5.3B, Global: $17.7B

Wiring harnesses, connectors, junction and power distribution boxes, instrumentation, high voltage systems

Tenneco Inc.

1 International Dr., Monroe, 734-243-8000

Brian Kesseler, Co-CEO, Roger Wood, Co-CEO

North American: NA, Global: $17.5B

Emission and ride control systems, elastomers

Adient

49200 Halyard Dr., Plymouth Township, 734-254-5000

R. Bruce McDonald, CEO

North American: NA, Global: $16.2B

Automotive seating components and systems

Aptiv

5725 Delphi Rd., Troy, 248-813-2000

Kevin Clark, President and CEO

North American: NA, Global: $14.4B

Body and security, driver interface, active safety, powertrain systems, electrical and electronic architecture

Marelli

3850 Hamlin Rd., Auburn Hills, 248-418-3000

Beda Bolzenius, CEO

North American: NA, Global: $11.5B**

Lighting, powertrain, transmissions, electronics, suspension systems, shock absorbers, exhaust systems, plastic systems and components, aftermarket, mostorsports

Borg Warner Inc.

3800 Automation Ave., Auburn Hills, 248-754-9600

Frederic Lissalde, CEO

North America: $3.5B, Global: $10.1B

Turbochargers, transmission systems, torq transfer systems, thermal and emission systems

Dana Holding Corp.

30800 Telegraph Rd., Bingham Farms, 248-594-6227

James Kamsickas, President and CEO

North American: NA, Global: $8.6B

Drivetrain products (axles, transmissions), sealing products, thermal management technologies, fuel cells

Autoliv Americas

1320 Pacific Dr., Auburn Hills, 248-475-9000

Mikael Bratt, President and CEO

North American: $2.89B, Global: $8.5B

Airbags, seat belts, steering wheels, passive safety electronics

Benteler Automotive Group

2650 N. Opdyke Rd., Auburn Hills, 248-364-7190

Laurent Favre, CEO

North American: $1.5B, Global: $7.9B**

Chassis systems, structures, exhaust and engine applictions, engineering services

IAC North America

28333 Telegraph Rd., Southfield, 248-455-7000

Manfred Gingl, CEO

North American: $2.5B, Global: $3.7B

Door and trim systems, instrument panels, consoles and cockpits, flooring and acoustic systems, headliners and overhead systems, other interior and exterior products

Mahle Industries Inc.

23030 Mahle Drive, Farmington Hills, 248-305-8200

Scott Ferriman, President

North American: NA, Global: $3.6B

Engine components, filter systems, vehicle air conditioning and engine cooling

Nexteer Automotive

3900 E. Holland Rd., Saginaw, 989-757-5000

Guibin Zhao, President and CEO

North American: NA, Global: $3.5B

Electric power steering, hydraulic power steering, steering columns, half-shafts

Cooper Standard

2110 Executive Hills Dr., Auburn Hills, 248-836-9400

Jeffery Edwards, CEO

North American: $1.6B, Global: $3.1B

Sealing systems, fuel and brake delivery systems, fluid transfer systems, and anti-vibration systems

Visteon Corp.

1 Village Center Dr., Van Buren Charter Township, 734-710-5000

Sachin Lawande, CEO

North American: NA, Global: $2.9B

Vehicle cockpit electronics

Inteva Products

1401 Crooks Rd., Troy, 248-655-8886

Lon Offenbacher, President and CEO

North American: $1.1B, Global: $2.6B**

Interior systems, roof systems, closure systems, motors and electronics

Bridgewater I nteriors

4617 W. Fort St., Detroit, 313-842-3300

Ronald Hall Jr., President and CEO

North American: NA, Global: $2.2B**

Automotive seating components and systems

*REVENUE IN BILLIONS FOR 2019 UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. **2018 REVENUE USED DUE TO DELAYED REPORTING IN LIGHT OF COVID-19. SOURCE: DBUSINESS RESEARCH

May - June 2020 || DBUSINESS.COM 49

Feature || Dealer Sales Report

AUTO DEALERSHIP CONSUMER GUIDE

For 259 auto dealerships in the Detroit metropolitan area, sales and leases of new vehicles dipped from 336,963 vehicles (between Nov. 1, 2017 through Oct. 31, 2018) to 305,341 for full-year 2019. Patrick Anderson of the Anderson Economic Group in East Lansing gives an explanation why: “Record sales for multiple years left garages flush with new vehicles. Also, the overall economy was slowing.” The outlook for 2020 sales doesn’t look much better, “as all of the same conditions exist, not to mention the effects of the coronavirus.” AMENITIES KEY: CL: Customer lounge P&S: Parts & service on-site A: Accessories on-site R: Rentals (based on availability) S: Shuttle Service UC: Used cars

Dealership

Amenities

Buy/Lease

Amenities

Buy/Lease

Roy O'Brien Ford Inc.

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

500/1201

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

266/773

Sterling Heights

Brighton Ford

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

961/897

Buff Whelan Chevrolet

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

1,788/3,987

Brighton Honda

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

297/126

Crest Lincoln

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

244/763

Brighton Mazda

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

113/81

Sterling Heights Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

416/3,690

Champion Buick GMC

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

313/773

Suburban Ford of Sterling Heights

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

2131/2,414

Vyletel Buick GMC

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

549/1,255

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

164/355

Galeana's Van Dyke Dodge

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

206/834

Golling Toyota of Warren

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

257/170

Hamilton Chevrolet

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

754/1,593

Jim Riehl's Friendly Chrysler Jeep

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

321/1,676

Prestige Cadillac

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

223/169

Fowlerville Champion Chevrolet of Fowlerville

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

95/224

Dick Scott Motor Mall

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

186/280

Fowlerville Ford

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

81/156

Bob Maxey Ford of Howell

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

562/705

Champion Chevrolet

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

317/639

Howell

Pinckney Pinckney Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

317/639

Center Line

Utica Meade Lexus of Lakeside Warren

Washington Township

Crest Ford — Center Line

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

429/1,056

Heidebreicht Chevrolet

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

723/1,658

Ed Rinke Chevrolet Buick GMC

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

549/4,118

Jim Riel’s Friendly Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

207/846

Romeo Ford

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

453/437

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

797/944

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

202/315

Clinton Township Jim Causley Buick GMC

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

525/2,398

Serra Buick GMC Cadillac Kia

Jim Riehl's Friendly Cadillac Honda

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

546/848

Birmingham

Matick Toyota

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

288/266

Fred Lavery Co.

Mike Dorian Ford

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

832/1,722

Bloomfield Hills

Moran Chevrolet

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

1,218/3,838

Erhard BMW

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

353/340

Parkway Dodge Chrysler Jeep

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

409/5,925

Golling Alpha Romeo Fiat

CL, P&S, A, R, S

57/362

Summit Place Kia East

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

1,417/177

Golling Chrysler Jeep Dodge

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

470/4,154

Mercedes Benz of Bloomfield Hills

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

203/327

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

454/291

Al Deeby Dodge Chysler Jeep

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

148/1,869

John Bowman Chevrolet

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

846/2,152

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

581/326

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

548/1,672

Erhard BMW of Farmington Hills

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

306/181

Jaguar Land Rover of Farmington Hills

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

348/325

LaFontaine Volvo Cars of Farmington Hills

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

115/109

Eastpointe Genesis Chevrolet

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

487/689

Page Honda of Bloomfield

Porsche of The Motor City

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

42/24

Clarkston

Alfa Romeo & Fiat of Lakeside

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

33/127

Elder Hyundai

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

202/46

Jaguar Land Rover of Macomb

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

217/237

Nissan of Macomb

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

74/69

Russ Milne Ford

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

1,057/1,625

Sellers Subaru

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

680/305

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

400/3,649

Macomb Township

Richmond Dick Huvaere's Richmond Chrysler Dodge Jeep Roseville

Oakland County

Macomb County

Dealership

Brighton Chrysler Dodge

Macomb County

Livingston County

Brighton

Commerce Township LaFontaine Subaru Farmington Sellers Buick GMC Farmington Hills

Golling Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

235/1,757

Suburban Acura

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

101/107

Jeffery Acura

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

30/72

Suburban Honda

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

399/341

Jeffery Honda Kia

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

478/488

Suburban Imports of Farmington Hills

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

778/1,111

Jeffery Nissan

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

132/291

Suburban Toyota of Farmington Hills

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

460/328

Tom Holzer Ford

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

986/2,177

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

90/145

St. Clair Shores Genesis Cadillac

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

245/342

Ferndale

Mercedes-Benz of St. Clair Shores

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

61/169

Dunning Honda

50 DBUSINESS || May - June 2020

Dealer Sales Report || Feature

AMENITIES KEY: CL: Customer lounge P&S: Parts & service on-site A: Accessories on-site R: Rentals (based on availability) S: Shuttle Service UC: Used cars

Dealership

Amenities

Buy/Lease

Dealership

Hodges Subaru

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

592/281

Troy

Suburban Buick GMC

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

231/748

Suburban Ford

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

458/545

Highland

Buy/Lease

Acura of Troy

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

60/93

Dean Sellers Ford

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

615/1,256

Elder Ford

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

719/1,011

Feldman Chevrolet of Highland

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

1,184/1,014

Jaguar Land Rover of Troy

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

348/325

LaFontaine Cadillac Buick GMC

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

1,458/2,791

Lamborghini Maserati Troy

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

23/20

Szott M-59 Dodge

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

298/957

Lincoln of Troy

CL, P&S, A, S, UC

150/713

Tony Serra Highland Nissan

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

104/115

Mike Savoie Chevrolet

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

437/1,849

Suburban Buick GMC

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

463/1,094

Suburban Cadillac Buick

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

600/662

Suburban Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Troy

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

480/2,727

Holly Szott Ford

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

386/439

Lake Orion CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

320/947

Suburban Hyundai

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

276/107

Milosch's Palace Chrysler Jeep Dodge

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

327/1,325

Suburban Infiniti of Troy

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

29/165

Skalnek Ford

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

420/643

Suburban Imports of Troy

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

950/1,229

Wally Edgar Chevrolet

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

679/1,429

Suburban Exotic Motor Cars of Michigan

CL, P&S, A, R, S, VC

12/7

Suburban Toyota

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

797/678

Troy Honda

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

301/346

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

263/1,242

Oakland County

Golling Buick GMC

New Hudson Feldman Chevrolet of New Hudson

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

858/999

Feldman Hyundai of New Hudson

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

279/74

Walled Lake

Hines Park Ford

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

580/1,396

Shuman Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram

Novi

Waterford

Cadillac of Novi

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

941/787

Joe Lunghamer Chevrolet

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

673/1,612

Feldman Chevrolet of Novi

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

1,229/2,341

Lunghamer Buick GMC

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

360/856

Feldman Kia

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

304/209

Suburban Ford of Waterford

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

1,014/1,486

Mercedes-Benz of Novi

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

170/193

Summit Place Kia

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

1,417/177

Suburban Infiniti

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

31/239

Szott M-59 Toyota

CL, P&S, A, S, UC

201/102

Varsity Lincoln

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

193/1,611

Waterford Mitsubishi

CL, P&S, A, R, S, VC

51/8

CL, P&S, A, UC

25/1

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

514/101

Oak Park Northland Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram

West Bloomfield CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

353/917

Cauley Ferrari

Ortonville Randy Wise Ford

White Lake CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

271/241

Szott M-59 Chrysler Jeep

Rochester Hills

Ann Arbor

Audi of Rochester Hills

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

150/365

BMW of Ann Arbor

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

185/112

Bill Fox Chevrolet Inc.

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

544/1,908

Dunning Toyota Ann Arbor

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

1,329/475

BMW of Rochester Hills

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

295/192

Fox Ann Arbor Acura

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

100/39

Crestview Cadillac

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

275/661

Fox Ann Arbor Hyundai

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

129/60

Fox Toyota

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

431/416

Fox Ann Arbor Infinity

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

75/68

Mercedes-Benz of Rochester

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

104/115

Fox Ann Arbor Nissan

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

127/150

Rochester Hills Chrysler Jeep Dodge

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

461/2,064

Germain Audi of Ann Arbor

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

88/112

Serra Ford

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

521/1,563

Germain Honda of Ann Arbor

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

643/276

Shelton Buick GMC

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

325/1,007

LaFontaine Buick GMC of Ann Arbor

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

296/561

LaFontaine Kia of Ann Arbor

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

75/68

Lexus of Ann Arbor

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

131/266

Mercedes-Benz of Ann Arbor

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

173/121

Mini of Ann Arbor

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

65/26

Porsche of Ann Arbor

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

63/14

Sesi Lincoln Volvo Mazda

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

191/407

Suburban Alfa Romeo and Fiat

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

16/60

Rockford Watson Rockford Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

75/0

Royal Oak Matthews-Hargreaves Chevrolet

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

362/1,288

Royal Oak Ford

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

592/1,513

Village Jeep

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

83/260

Southfield

Washtenaw County

Oakland County

Amenities

Art Moran Buick GMC

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

367/883

Suburban Chevrolet Cadillac

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

757/843

Art Moran Mitsubishi

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

46/9

Suburban Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Ann Arbor

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

291/503

Avis Ford

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

591/1,802

Varsity Ford

CL, P&S, A, S, UC

1,187/3,143

Glassman Automotive Group

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

1,160/948

Volkswagen of Ann Arbor

CL, P&S, A, S, UC

151/121

Meade Lexus of Southfield

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

235/737

Chelsea

Motor City Mini

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

133/79

Chelsea Chevrolet Buick

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

172/126

Page Toyota

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

501/374

Golling Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Chelsea

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

144/228

Star Lincoln

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

73/899

Dexter

Serra Chevrolet of Southfield

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

754/1,328

LaFontaine Chevrolet

CL, P&S, A, S, UC

642/896

Southfield Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

414/2,307

Milan

Tamaroff Automotive Group

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

659/840

Victory Chevrolet Buick

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

224/177

May - June 2020 || DBUSINESS.COM 51

Feature || Dealer Sales Report AMENITIES KEY: CL: Customer lounge P&S: Parts & service on-site A: Accessories on-site R: Rentals (based on availability) S: Shuttle Service UC: Used cars

Dealership

Amenities

Buy/Lease

Dealership

Buy/Lease

Bill Crispin Chevrolet

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

430/500

Dick Genthe Chevrolet

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

372/1,260

Briarwood Ford

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

346/553

Genthe Honda

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

149/147

Lafontaine Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

235/994

Southgate Ford

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

542/2,449

Southgate Lincoln

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

104/334

Ypsilanti Cueter Chrysler Jeep

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

327/742

Taylor

Fischer Honda

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

208/257

Moran Buick GMC

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

429/841

Gene Butman Ford Sales

CL, P&S, A, S, UC

232/473

Taylor Chevrolet

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

730/1,527

Taylor Ford

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

777/2,210

Telegraph Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

387/2,216

Belleville Atchinson Ford Sales

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

573/1,442

Canton

Wayne

Kia of Canton

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

125/136

Jack Demmer Ford

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

634/1,676

Nissan of Canton

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

88/134

Mark Chevrolet

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

370/923

Victory Toyota

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

393/185

Westland North Brothers Ford

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

389/1,062

Fairlane Ford Sales

CL, P&S, A, S, UC

341/1,004

Todd Wenzel Buick GMC of Westland

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

654/1,107

Jack Demmer Lincoln

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

197/624

Woodhaven

LaFontaine Honda

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

339/323

Feldman Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram

CL, P&S, A, R, S, VC

362/1,506

LaFontaine Toyota

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

960/413

Gorno Ford

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

549/1,615

LaFontaine Volkswagen

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

166/181

Michael Bates Chevrolet

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

690/1,346

Les Stanford Cadillac

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

355/616

Les Stanford Chevrolet

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

581/1,814

Nissan of Dearborn

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

82/118

Superior Buick GMC

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

244/2,112

Village Ford

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

643/1,465

Westborn Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

127/1,892

Bob Maxey Ford

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

161/440

Bob Maxey Lincoln

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

93/489

James Martin Chevrolet

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

362/497

Jefferson Chevrolet

CL, P&S, A, S, UC

120/205

Jorgensen Ford

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

252/1,312

Ray Laethem Buick GMC

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

293/879

Ray Laethem Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

223/1,513

CL, P&S, A, R, S, VC

291/615

Gordon Chevrolet

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

596/1,750

Suburban Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Garden City

CL, P&S, A, S, UC

414/2,307

CL, P&S, R, S, UC

102/1,148

Bill Brown Ford

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

1,848/4,381

Feldman Chevrolet of Livonia

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

1,032/1,344

Livonia Chrysler Jeep

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

126/556

Ralph Thayer Automotive

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

392/258

Blackwell Ford

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

365/1,231

Bob Jeannotte Buick GMC

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

408/771

Dick Scott Chrysler Dodge Jeep

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

254/934

Fox Hills Chrysler Jeep

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

154/514

Hines Park Lincoln

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

253/1,446

Lou LaRiche Chevrolet

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

354/1,240

Suburban Cadillac of Plymouth

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

620/456

Victory Honda of Plymouth

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

484/340

George Matick Chevrolet

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

1,085/2,479

Pat Milliken Ford

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

1,019/2,951

Snethkamp Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram

CL, P&S, A, R, S, UC

198/1,378

Dearborn

Totals

2019

30.6% 93,500

69.4% 211,841

305,341

Highland Park Livonia

Plymouth

Redford

52 DBUSINESS || May - June 2020

218,775 64.9%

Totals

Garden City

Bill Snethkamp Chrylser Jeep Dodge

118,188 35.1%

Leased

Flat Rock Crest Ford

2018

Purchased

Detroit

Wayne County

Amenities

Southgate

Wayne County

Washtenaw County

Saline

336,963

Dealer Top 10

PURCHASED VEHICLES 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 5. 7. 7. 9. 10.

Suburban Ford, Sterling Heights // 2,131 Bill Brown Ford, Livonia // 1,848 Buff Whelan Chevrolet, Sterling Heights // 1,788 LaFontaine Cadillac, Buick, GMC, Highland // 1,458 Dunning Toyota, Ann Arbor // 1,329 Germain Honda, Ann Arbor // 1,329 Feldman Chevrolet, Novi // 1,229 Suburban Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Troy // 1,229 Moran Chevrolet, Clinton Township // 1,218 Feldman Chevrolet, Highland // 1,184

LEASED VEHICLES 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Parkway Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep, Clinton Township // 5,925 Bill Brown Ford, Livonia // 4,381 Golling Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Bloomfield Hills // 4,154 Ed Rinke Chevrolet, Buick, Clinton Township // 4,118 Buff Whelan Chevrolet, Sterling Heights // 3,987 Moran Chevrolet, Clinton Township // 3,838 Sterling Heights Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep, Ram // 3,690 Dick Huvaereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Richmond Chrysler, Jeep, Ram // 3,649 Varsity Ford, Ann Arbor // 3,143 LaFontaine Cadillac, Buick, GMC, Highland Township // 2,727

S P EC I A L A DV E RT I S I N G S EC T I O N

MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS Q&A

GET INPUT EARLY WHEN BUYING OR SELLING IN UNCERTAIN TIMES Mergers and acquisitions are themselves complex transactions. Add in a challenging business climate and you’ll certainly need the advice of qualified M&A professionals. The COVID-19 outbreak may have created an uneven path forward, but the economic recovery period is expected to be shorter than previous downturns, once the situation is stabilized. That may present good opportunities for companies

choosing to sell as well as potential investors. Creating a sound plan and being prepared should be a high priority. If you’re thinking about selling your business, you can use this time to get everything in order. Set up your transition team in advance and carefully choose your advisers. Experienced M&A advisers with a proven track record can help you navigate through uncharted waters and avoid making mistakes. Later, when

you’re ready and the time is right, you’ll be more confident that you’re making a good move. If you’re considering selling your business or acquiring a new company, it’s imperative to consult with an M&A expert, regardless of what’s happening in the world. Qualified M&A professionals will always welcome your questions. The following are some M&A experts who are ready to serve your needs.

Q: What can I do now in anticipation of selling my business within the next 12 to 24 months? A: First, get organized. The buyer will spend a substantial amount of time reviewing your books and records and the more organized you are, the quicker the sale process will go. Records that should be organized include stock ownership, financial statements and accounting records, tax returns, customer and supplier contracts, and intellectual property ownership records. Second, interview investment bankers who

are experienced in your industry and have a track record of success. A good banker will save you more than their fee. You’ll spend a lot of time with them, so choose a banker on fit as much as you would on price. Third, interview prospective law firms. You want a law firm that has expertise in buying and selling businesses, expertise in your industry, and the ability to perform the services at a reasonable price.

Kerr, Russell and Weber, PLC Kenneth R. Lombardo, Member 500 Woodward Ave., Ste. 2500 Detroit, MI 48226 313-961-0200 kerr-russell.com klombardo@kerr-russell.com Advertisement on page 29

Q: I’m considering selling my business, but don’t necessarily want to retire completely. What are my options? A: First, you’re asking the right question. Too often, business owners commit to a sale process only to realize too late that a given transaction meets their financial goals, but not their lifestyle goals. The two questions every business owner needs to answer before looking for a transaction partner are: 1. How much money do I need to receive at closing to meet my financial objectives? 2. How involved do I want to be with the business going forward, including what financial interest and/or managerial role? M&A transactions are structured on a continuum — everything from an owner selling

a minority stake with no change in management to fully exiting a business in all financial and managerial respects. A business owner needs to determine his transaction objectives, communicate them clearly to his financial advisers, and task them with finding a transaction partner that best aligns with these goals. For example, most PE firms require complete control of the companies they acquire, often conflicting with an owner’s professional goals. Peninsula Capital Partners is a unique investor in this regard, as they structure investments with a seller’s goals in mind, either as minority or majority investor.

Peninsula Capital Partners, LLC

Scott A. Reilly, CFA President & Chief Investment Officer 500 Woodward Ave., Ste. 2800 Detroit, MI 48226 313-237-5100 peninsulafunds.com reilly@peninsulafunds.com Advertisement on page 83

S P EC I A L A DV E RT I S I N G S EC T I O N

MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS Q&A Q: How will COVID-19 impact the mergers and acquisitions market? A: Generally speaking, mergers and acquisitions take place because the companies together have greater value than they would if they remained separate. There are numerous reasons for mergers and acquisitions, ranging from lowering the cost of capital to improving performance, growth, and economies of scale; diversification; increased market share; and tax consequences, to name a few. It’s expected that M&A activity in the United States and globally will slow as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated financial stress in the capital markets. The U.S. is very likely to experience severe recessionary conditions in the second quarter of 2020, and perhaps well into the third quarter. Difficult economic conditions will bring a new wave of mergers, however, especially in

certain industry segments, to save businesses and undergird investments. Some experts predict that venture capitalists will move into the hardest-hit areas of the economy and acquire vulnerable businesses for exceptionally low costs, with retail and commercial real estate, restaurants, and hotels being the most vulnerable areas targeted for acquisition. Finally, difficult times are accelerating monumental, strategic changes in other areas of the economy. Online shopping with home delivery is replacing a trip to the supermarket. Employees work remotely from home rather than in a business office, and viewers are watching Netflix instead of supporting their local movie theater. These shifts may lead to further business consolidations.

Northwood University

Dr. Timothy G. Nash Senior Vice President, Director of The McNair Center for the Advancement of Free Enterprise and Entrepreneurship 4000 Whiting Drive Midland, MI 48640 800-622-9000 northwood.edu nasht@northwood.edu Advertisement on page 31

Q: Why do so many acquisitions fail? A: There are numerous reasons why acquisitions can fail. Here are some hints for buyers who want to avoid such failures. 1. Improper motives Many acquisitions are based on fear of losing market share, anticipated synergies, or some other factor. It’s imperative to determine exactly where you want the company to be and whether an acquisition is even the right vehicle. 2. Acquiring the wrong company Buyers often consider success to be closing a deal. In reality, success is closing on the right target. 3. Overestimating synergies To avoid overestimating synergies, always take a conservative approach, especially when considering the reduced cost of management and other employment issues. 4. Overpaying the seller Buyers frequently “fall in love with the seller” and

overpay. Carefully establish a suitable value for the target and set a price limit. 5. Refusal to pull out of a deal The value of terminating a deal cannot be overstated. Always remember that the point of due diligence is to get an accurate overview of the seller, including pitfalls. 6. Inadequate due diligence It’s imperative that buyers have the right professionals involved, to ensure proper due diligence before closing. 7. Losing sight of the primary goal: strengthening the buyer Day-to-day operations can suffer. It’s crucial that managers of the buyer remain focused on the existing core operations while conducting due diligence on an acquisition. As part of your M&A team, Plunkett Cooney can help make sure your acquisition goes smoothly.

Plunkett Cooney, PC

Scott Lites 38505 Woodward Ave., Ste. 100 Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304 248-901-4074 plunkettcooney.com/people-80. html slites@plunkettcooney.com Advertisement on page 73

Q: How will the COVID-19 outbreak impact M&A activity? A: The COVID-19 outbreak is wreaking havoc on our global, national, and local economies. Government mandates for social spacing, including such drastic measures as “shelter in place,” have caused many businesses to experience large drops in revenue. The present situation impacts companies as large as the airline industry and as small as the local bakery, and many businesses in between. M&A activity matches aligned goals between two business entities. Businesses saddled with high fixed costs such as debt financing obligations, mortgages, and leases are quickly experiencing liquidity stress. Economic downturns typically impact highly leveraged companies the hardest. Many

negatively impacted companies possess great products, innovative cultures, and strong customer loyalty — but if they’re running tight on cash and have lots of bills to pay, they have a major business problem. The COVID-19 outbreak is generating the most significant economic downturn since 2008. Its characteristics are much different, though, and as a result, the period of economic distress and the subsequent recovery period are likely to be much shorter. Investment capital and businesses flush with cash will likely see a sharp increase in potential partners needing cash infusions, generating a spike in M&A activity once the COVID-19 epidemic is past us.

Walsh

John Moore, Ph.D., CPA Chair and Professor of Finance and Economics 3838 Livernois Rd. Troy, MI 48083 248-823-1600 walshcollege.edu Advertisement on page 15

DETROIT AND MICHIGAN HAVE SURVIVED FIRES, PANDEMICS, INVASIONS, RACIAL tensions, energy blackouts, tornadoes, and economic recessions. We will survive COVID-19, and whatever else comes our way. If we’ve learned anything through this crisis, the thought of our devices overtaking our lives proved to be unfounded. There is great value in one-on-one meetings, business sessions, conferences, and events. While we will need to be mindful of safety and take precautions, the life we knew will return, but in a different form. The North American International Auto Show, Detroit Grand Prix, and Rocket Mortgage Classic will return, along with everything else we missed or had planned to attend. Treatments, early testing, and personal responsibility will carry the day until a suitable vaccine is developed. At some point there will be time for reflection, especially as an exercise to improve upon our collective future. There have been few points in our history when we truly understood what our forefathers fought so valiantly to achieve — the strength to rally when the times got tough. If the past becomes prescience, we will make our region and state the best it has ever been. — R.J. King

May - June 2020 || DBUSINESS.COM 55

Cover Story || Michigan Economic Forecast

MANUFACTURING

AUTOMOTIVE

THE BOTTOM has dropped out on the U.S. new-vehicle market. After tumbling by more than a third in March, demand was expected to plunge at least 80 percent year-overyear in April, due to the nationwide lockdown implemented to bring the coronavirus pandemic under control. The question is, what will happen going forward? For now, most scenarios paint a bleak picture, with a full recovery as much as a year away. Even the most optimistic forecasts see vehicle sales in a Great Recession-level slump through mid-2020 and, says Tom King, chief data officer for J.D. Power in Troy, “we anticipate demand for vehicles in the second half of the year will be depressed by 10 percent to 30 percent, so demand won’t be restored to pre-virus levels until at least next year.” Dealerships have been hard hit by the pandemic. Many states banned sales entirely, while others allowed retailers to operate only online. Mega-chain AutoNation alone laid off 70,000 employees in April. Expect to see big changes going forward in automotive retailing, including more of a shift to online sales, Michelle Krebs, an analyst at Cox Automotive, said during a recent webinar sponsored by the Automotive Press Association. For manufacturers like the Detroit Big Three, shutting down both sales

56 DBUSINESS || May - June 2020

EVEN AS THE DEMAND ECONOMY FORGOT ITS manners this spring and became downright obstreperous, new opportunities emerged for innovation in manufacturing. After first stumbling, manufacturers turned on a dime to address unexpected shortages in the marketplace. Meanwhile, they also likely sped up the ongoing process of bringing more manufacturing activity back onshore and providing a nice kick to the GDP. One key to the industry’s agile response is 3-D printers. These vital elements in additive manufacturing enable the cheap and quick creation of complex parts that would normally be forged or molded. What’s more, a desktop 3-D printer can be purchased for less than $500, meaning more homes, businesses, and schools will mill their own prototypes and products. The quick pivot to make PPE in response to the COVID-19 crisis was seen at every level of industry — from the cottage variety to Ford Motor Co., according to National Public Radio — as more than 100,000 makers worldwide downloaded open-source designs for face shields and masks from Prusa Research, a 3-D printing company in Prague. Elsewhere, members of the HackThePandemic forum on Thingiverse, a site for the 3-D printing community, proffered dozens of digitized designs for shields, masks, and adapters. The Wohlers Report 2019 forecasts a global $15.8 billion market for additive manufacturing products and services this year, and it will grow to $35.6 billion by 2024. According to 3Dprintingindustry.com, as many as 1.5 million printers will be sold worldwide this year. By 2030, sales could reach 100 million units. Manufacturers will be able to produce in large volume from their digitized blueprints while also enjoying once unattainable levels of flexibility. “(Goods) might be designed so that I can manufacture discretely with dozens of 3-D printers in people’s homes,” says Tom Kelly, executive director of Automation Alley, the nonprofit technology and manufacturing business association in Troy. “Manufacturing is going to continue down the cycle of being distributive.” The greater mobility and adaptability of the technology is already restructuring supply chains. Kelly points out that the process of bringing operations back to the United States, or “reshoring,” will accelerate “just for the simple fact that no manufacturer wants to be caught flat-footed like this again.” At the same time, the principles of Industry 4.0 — where sensors monitor nearly every piece of equipment on the factory floor — will proliferate. The technology boon will allow managers to control more operations remotely. Rather than wait for humans to adjust assembly lines, a few swipes of a smartphone or tablet will do the trick in an instant. — Ronald Ahrens

“We anticipate demand for vehicles in the second half of the year will be depressed by 10 percent to 30 percent, so demand won’t be restored to previrus levels until at least next year.” — Tom King

and manufacturing is putting a strain on cash that’s as severe — and perhaps even worse — than what was felt during the Great Recession, industry analysts warn. Lessons learned a decade ago may be helping the industry weather the coronavirus storm, but the longer it takes things to get back to normal the bigger the risk, warns Jeff Schuster, an analyst with LMC Automotive. Among other things, he expects that costly EV pro-

grams “will be pushed out and altered by the virus.” As the industry gets back to work, Schuster believes there will be a focus on the highest -profit products, such as pickups and large SUVs. Suppliers often take the brunt of a crisis, and that’s likely here. They will come under pressure to get parts rolling out quickly once manufacturing restarts, analysts suggest, while at the same time, automakers likely will squeeze suppliers for price concessions. The auto industry was expected to

go through some dramatic changes over the coming decade, including the debut of autonomous vehicles, as well as the shift from personal ownership to ride-sharing. But companies like Lyft and Uber could face their own challenges if consumers start to question whether getting into a ride-share vehicle might pose a health risk. The pandemic very well may “put a damper” on the growth of the ride-sharing business, Krebs cautioned. The bottom line, King says, is that the pandemic “will be extremely damaging to all industry constituents,” including automakers, parts suppliers, tool-and-die shops, dealers, investors, and pretty much anyone else linked to the car business. — Paul Eisenstein

Michigan Economic Forecast || Cover Story

BANKING

AS THE COUNTRY EMERGES from COVID-19, the savings rate is expected to rise across the board. By how much is uncertain, although some economists have projected it could reach 10 percent or more. In January, the personal savings rate in the United States was 7.8 percent, up from 6.3 percent in 2015, according to Statista.com. The last time the savings rate hit double digits — 12 percent — was in 2012. At the same time, non-financial corporations in the U.S. had $4 trillion in cash reserves as of January, compared to $2.7 trillion a decade ago and $1.6 trillion in 2000, based on research from the Harvard Business Review. That’s a good sign the nation’s businesses can weather the storm brought on by an invisible enemy. Moving forward, essential banking services will continue. Though many banks offered branch and ATM operations during the crisis, while adopting additional safeguards to protect customers and workers, a correlated push to expand mobile channels only goes so far. Given older clients are less likely to embrace digital platforms, even as it is safer, physical banking will continue. At the same time, more alternatives to regulatory criteria — like in-person sign-offs — will rise, according to McKinsey and Co. Still, lending institutions will monitor customer-service capacity against demand and reduce branch operations as needed. Most banks have fewer branches than they did a decade ago, and they’ve reduced the size of existing branches by moving to smaller spaces. As many Americans scooped up their office computers and headed home to work, the need to ensure appropriate controls are in place to prevent fraud and cybersecurity attacks will be front and center for the foreseeable future. A rise in home-based businesses and the potential for future pandemics adds to the risk factor. Bank managers must continue to pressure-test and update business continuity and disaster recovery plans as at-home working arrangements continue. On the operations side, as more businesses fail or struggle, fee incomes will fall, net interest margins will remain compressed, and credit losses will be elevated across most sectors. Smart banks will use the current crisis as a test bed for balancing demand with labor. At the national level, David Littmann, former chief economist at Comerica Bank, calls for lowering the federal debt — $24.2 trillion in accumulated debt as of April 15, atop a total of $139.4 trillion in unfunded liabilities (usdebtclock.org). The bottom line is this: Today, no business, organization, or individual wants to be caught without sufficient cash reserves. — R.J. King

ECONOMIC RECOVERY What’s in store for our region? The unemployment rate in metro Detroit will rise commensurately with the national average, peaking around 8 percent in short order, likely by the end of the third quarter if the local rate of job losses maintains its recent trend relationship with national figures. Job losses will be heaviest among industries that rely upon face-to-face service provision, such as leisure and hospitality and retail sales. If a medical resolution to the crisis can be established, Michigan will be capable of laying the foundation for recovery, having had relatively more workers continuing to earn wages and, by force, accumulating savings and pent-up demand to be redeployed into the economy.” — Ric DeVore, Regional President, PNC Bank, Troy It’s far too early to tell whether the impact will be short-term or not. We’re encouraged by the stimulus measures that will impact consumers and small businesses in a very positive way. If you look how people and businesses have adapted, including TCF Bank, I would say our collective response has been remarkable. I’m betting on the people and businesses in our region to come back stronger than ever. In 2008, we had a situation that was more like a ticking time bomb. When it happened, financial institutions had no liquidity, capital wasn’t flowing to businesses, and everything came to a screeching halt. Back then, nobody knew when we would be able to pull out of it. With this downturn, we know what caused it, and when new infections will peak and ultimately decrease. We can start to see the light at the end of this tunnel, which was very hard to do in 2008 and 2009.” — David T. Provost, Chairman, TCF Bank, Detroit

To the extent that there’s any good news, the upside of this is that we come out of it much faster. There’s a wide range of forecasts for how bad it will be in the second and perhaps third quarters of 2020, but most forecasters, ourselves included, anticipate growth getting back to its pre-recession peak by the end of 2021. The rebound after the 2008-09 recession took until the middle of 2011, and the job losses were not fully recovered until 2014. Hopefully, this rebound will be much faster. It’s a larger contraction in economic activity, but it occurs over a shorter period of time. Our latest forecast has a peak-to-trough decline of about 5.5 percent in real GDP. That would be larger than any other postwar economic contraction, and it would all occur in the span of just one or two quarters.” — Tim Quinlan, Senior Economist, Wells Fargo, Economics Group Southeast Michigan has clearly diversified its economy in recent decades, but we continue to have a heavy concentration of automotive. Because of that, our region will likely feel the emerging downturn more than the national average, but there’s the backend effect of a much broader shockwave affecting consumer demand and confidence. This isn’t the financial crisis of 2008-09. The extraordinary levels of fiscal and monetary stimulus will cushion the decline. This downturn should be shorter than the Great Recession and the recovery more rapid, as the economy doesn’t have to work through any particular imbalances. This will not look like the after-effects we saw in the early 2010s, when consumers needed to work through excessive debt and the construction sector had to work through a huge inventory of homes.” — David Girodat, Regional President, Fifth Third Bank, Detroit

May - June 2020 || DBUSINESS.COM 57

REAL ESTATE

Cover Story || Michigan Economic Forecast

REAL ESTATE MARKETS WILL take time to recover from the COVID-19 crisis, although industrial properties will likely be the first to recover. Consider the following projections offered by experts from our region. Residential: Given single-family homes and condominiums are often the largest purchase families and individuals will ever undertake, potential buyers will be wary of taking on higher mortgage payments at a time when the state and the nation are recovering from the virus. Thousands of people have filed for unemployment, others have been furloughed, and many businesses have either closed or will struggle to recover. “I think 2020 will be a year where we just pause,” says Susan Carter, associate broker of Sine and Monaghan Realtors Real Living in Royal Oak. “I think we’ll see what normally happens with a recovery — the comeback will be led by first-time homebuyers, followed by bargain hunters, and then everyone else.” Rents are expected to decline between 5 and 10 percent, based on various estimates. In turn, Carter worries how landlords with mortgages will be able to make payments if their tenants fall behind on rent. Retail: Other than grocery stores and pharmacies, the nation’s $5.5-trillion retail market came to a screeching halt once stay-at-home orders went into effect. Home deliveries picked up some of the slack for essential items and entertainment offerings, but most buyers have put off big-ticket items. “The enclosed mall will be challenged, and big anchors won’t open all of their stores at once; rather, they’ll bring the best ones back first,” predicts Jim Bieri,

LOOK FOR A MANUFACTURING REVOLUtion in health care that will see smart factories added within or near hospitals and medical centers once the COVID-19 virus is mitigated. As the crisis put on full display, no one was prepared for a pandemic. Compounding the lack of surgical masks, gowns, face shields, medicines, ventilators, and other vital medical equipment and supplies was a dangerous reliance on a global supply chain. Within the first two weeks of the crisis, more than 50 nations had imposed some form of restrictions on producing or distributing needed drugs and supplies. Paramount to the future of health care will be “having advanced manufacturing on U.S. soil that can leapfrog other countries so we don’t have to worry about competition against cheap sweatshop labor, different tax regimes, and the massive subsidies of foreign governments that are directly attacking our industrial base,” Peter Navarro, the top trade official in the White House and the point person overseeing

principal with Stokas Bieri Real Estate in Detroit. “Anything made in the USA will be good sellers. “Another thing is the apparel stores will need to replenish their merchandise. I don’t see retail rebounding until next year. You’ll also see a lot of emphasis on buying from local and smaller businesses.” Office: The professional work environment will change considerably this year. Office layouts will be more spread out, and collaborative work areas will be less populated until social distancing subsides. Many landlords are working with their tenants to extend or reduce lease payments, as well. “Lease rates will hold steady for the foreseeable future. I don’t see things turning around until next year,” says Andy Farbman, CEO of Farbman Group/

LOGISTICS TRADITIONALLY ONE OF THE nation’s busiest passenger hubs, Detroit Metropolitan Airport in Romulus has been largely silenced by the coronavirus pandemic. The situation is completely different 20 miles away, at Willow Run Airport in Ypsilanti Township. Pete Sanderlin, COO for Kalitta Air,

58 DBUSINESS || May - June 2020

the Defense Production Act, said during an April briefing. Since the act was invoked by President Trump in late March, Navarro has been working with manufacturers from multiple sectors to streamline regulations and open up supply chains

NAI Farbman, a full-service commercial real estate firm in Southfield. Industrial: The wave of offshore manufacturing that occurred over the last three decades is over. Building up domestic manufacturing will take time, given the demand for available industrial space was strong before COVID-19 hit our shores. “You’ll see more critical components built and stockpiled, which will add to the demand for warehouse and light industrial space,” says Doug Fura, senior vice president at Farbman Group/NAI Farbman. “You’ll also see more domestic production of antibiotics and other critical drugs, as well as rare earth minerals, electronics, and military items. The future looks good for industrial real estate.” — R.J. King

a cargo carrier, says the company is “busier than ever.” That may come as a surprise, considering Kalitta’s primary business is moving auto parts. “Right now we’re only shipping relief supplies,” he says. The switch has driven up the carrier’s business by around 25 percent. The North American automotive production network has been virtually

shut down since mid-March, but, with Detroit being one of the hot spots for COVID-19, emergency supplies have been flooding into the Motor City by truck, rail, and air. At the same time, Detroit’s Big Three automakers and suppliers have stepped in to fill critical shortages for medical supplies like masks, respirators, and ventilators needed locally and nationwide. For Kalitta, keeping its fleet of aircraft flying requires a staff of 1,000 people.

Michigan Economic Forecast || Cover Story

“If we learned anything from the crisis, never again should we depend on the rest of the world for essential medicines and equipment.” — Peter Navarro

“They’re all essential personnel and we’re keeping them pretty busy,” Sanderlin says. The company’s expertise is reflected across the region’s logistics network, as the impact of the pandemic is felt at every level, down to the post office and individually owned stores run by shippers like FedEx and UPS. Even the growing, company-owned delivery fleet operated by Amazon has had to adapt. The online retailer is prioritizing medical, food, and personal

AGRICULTURE

to speed the production of medical equipment, drugs, and materials. The goal is to build up a strong and lasting domestic supply base should another pandemic return or emerge. In recent years, more than 200 hospitals and medical centers, both here and around the country, began setting up in-house 3-D labs to produce limited health care equipment and components through a layer-by-layer technique called additive manufacturing. The 3-D printers are also used to build equipment prototypes, full-size anatomic models to improve surgical outcomes, and implants. Investments in this technology will now grow considerably, providing a boon to domestic manufacturers, logistics firms, and industrial developers. Another growing trend in health care is virtual medical exams. Doctors and medical professionals, along with patients, have become fairly adept at meeting remotely to review health conditions, determine treatments, and approve prescriptions. As the technology improves, more and more patients won’t need to visit a doctor’s office, thereby lessening the strain on health care facilities. In turn, stockpiles of temporary relief units in the form of steel cargo containers like those designed by Three Squared Inc., an architectural firm in Detroit, will become more prevalent and permanent as hospital rooms or climate-controlled housing units for doctors and nurses. The units, which will need utility hookups, can be set up on hospital grounds. “If we learned anything from the crisis, never again should we depend on the rest of the world for essential medicines and equipment,” Navarro said. — R.J. King

MICHIGAN’S FARMERS AND food processors are dealing with challenges similar to those faced by every industry in the state during the COVID-19 pandemic, but unlike most businesses, they can’t work from home and can’t stop production, lest the Great Lakes State and the rest of the country go hungry. “Production agriculture is one of the few segments of society that can’t simply post a notice to temporarily close for a two- or threeweek period to minimize COVID-19,” wrote Carl Bednarski, president of the Lansing-based Michigan Farm Bureau. “Livestock still need daily care. Equipment still needs to be readied for planting season, and hopefully soon, crops will still need to be planted.” Agriculture is one of Michigan’s largest industrial segments, with 47,600 farms that employ 805,000 people That’s 18 percent of the state’s overall employment. In addition to supplying the state and much of the nation with soybeans, sugar beets, wheat, apples, blueberries, cherries, milk, and cheese, the state also exports nearly $2 billion in goods annually. “We’re all concerned about COVID-19 but are working diligently to provide a safe, abundant, and affordable food supply,” says Ernie Birchmeier, manager of commodity, farm, and industry relations for the Michigan Farm Bureau. Michigan’s food and agriculture industry contributes more than $104.7 billion annually to the state’s economy, according to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. One area where the COVID-19 crisis may have a negative impact on Michigan’s farmers is the

grooming goods over shipments of electronics and other products. But, if anything, having much of America working from home puts even more pressure on shippers. Amazon and other shippers have turned to robots in recent years to speed the flow of products and reduce labor strains. That trend will continue, complemented by advanced sensors powered by AI that help automate and predict consumer and industry needs.

Shippers are projected to add more advanced warehouse space, as well. “Access to important packages, supplies, and business material is challenged by the restrictions imposed in response to the coronavirus, ranging from delivery of prescription medications to industrial parts and supplies and legal and business documents,” says Brandon Gale, president of Retail Shipping Associates, a 7,000-member trade association based in Richardson,

availability of H2A seasonal guest workers, due to travel restrictions. New innovations from companies like Exlterra Inc. in Hazel Park couldn’t come at a better time. The sustainable environmental technology company recently launched NEPS — Nutrient Enrichment Passive System, a simple subsoil product that enhances the growth, vitality, and yield of trees and vineyards in a sustainable way. NEPS is a series of specially-designed plastic tubes that are installed underground around a tree, regardless of the type of soil, climate, or elevation. Four 7.5-foot-long extrusions are set around each tree, though two NEPS tubes can be used in areas where trees are set closer together. The system gives trees and vines access to nutrients that are present deep in the soil but are normally inaccessible to roots. As a result, a tree with NEPS grows stronger, healthier, and generates better yield in both quality and quantity, the company states. “The system works for fruit, nuts, coffee, rubber, and olives,” says Frank Muller, CEO of Exlterra. “We have another product, called BSTR, that’s used in fields to enhance the growth of corn, wheat, soybeans, vegetables, and beets. And we have light and agile drill rigs called HAZL and MAZL to speed installation of the tubes.” — Tim Keenan

Texas. Logistics operators are waiting to see when things will return to anything close to normal — and how quickly. Automakers had hoped to resume production in late March, then mid-April; now they’re hoping to fire up sometime in May. But, as has become abundantly clear, beating the coronavirus won’t be easy, and the logistics industry will remain an essential lifeline to the supply chain as the battle plays out. — Paul Eisenstein

May - June 2020 || DBUSINESS.COM 59

AEROSPACE

Cover Story || Michigan Economic Forecast

PRIOR TO THE COVID-19 pandemic, the aerospace industry in Michigan was on a rocket-like trajectory with more than 800 companies and organizations, representing some 100,000 jobs, doing business globally. Officials were making plans for a launch facility and a command-and-control station in the state, as well. The Great Lakes State had attracted some $750 million in aerospace supply chain investment over the previous 18 months, making it the nation’s fourth-ranked state in the category. Aerospace had grown at a 15.3 percent clip between 2013 and 2017, compared to just 6 percent nationally over the same period. Like the rest of the national economy, Michigan’s aerospace industry is poised to take a significant hit as a result of COVID-19. Gavin Brown, executive director of the Sterling Heights-based Michigan Aerospace Manufacturers Association, says the negative impact should be short-lived for some elements of the industry, longer for others. “The workforce health issues affect all manufacturing sectors of aerospace,” Brown says. “Ensuring the health of those in all aspects of manufacturing and assembly — shorter-term for commercial (airlines) — is the grounding of 70 percent to 90 percent of the fleet. That will have an enormous impact on the employment of both service and maintenance employees.

“The rebound will be one to two years in the future. Business jet travel, however, may increase due to the concerns of traveling with public ports of travel. Helicopters may not be as adversely impacted, since they’re primarily used by private concerns.” Drones will become more advanced, and will proliferate due to lower costs and greater mitigation of safety. In turn, urban air mobility will literally take off with the introduction of VTOL aircraft developed by companies like ASX at Detroit City Airport and others. A 60-minute trip by car becomes a 10-minute trip by air, and at the same relative cost of executive transportation services. As the rollout plays out, look for more landing sites atop urban parking decks. Looking toward a post-COVID-19 world, Brown says he expects the commercial aerospace business to show a 25 percent to 50 percent decline (including tooling, components, and maintenance) by the end of 2020. The market is expected to recover in 2021. “The space sector will continue on pace, or provide more opportunities that will increase with the Michigan Launch Initiative,” Brown adds. Individual aerospace companies like Atlas Space Operations in Traverse City are doing as much as they can from home. Atlas provides satellite communications networks for multiple clients. “Atlas was already prepared for a situation such as this, in that we began as a distributed company, and we operate 24/7/365 globally,” says Mike Carey, founder of Atlas Space Operations. Carey says Atlas has the ability to conduct its satellite communications operations remotely. “Our colleagues in the Michigan space sector have operations in multiple locations,” he says. “Although they have their challenges, (they) aren’t at work stoppages. We’ve learned of a launch delay in French Guiana that will impact one of our customers by delaying them for about six months.” — Tim Keenan

“The space sector will continue on pace, or provide more opportunities that will increase with the Michigan Launch Initiative.” — Gavin Brown

RESORTS AND

TOURISM

TOURISM SPENDING IN MICHIGAN TOTALed $25.7 billion in 2018, the latest figures available, but all the virtual tours of our majestic beaches, sand dunes, and forests won’t begin to replace the economic impact of nearly 125 million visitors who cross our borders to snowboard, golf, snorkel, and

60 DBUSINESS || May - June 2020

sip award-winning beer, wine, and spirits. If there’s a silver lining to the COVID-19 outbreak for hotels and resorts, the winter season was winding down and the summer workforce had yet to arrive. At the same time, resorts use the colder months to complete expansion and renovation projects to maximize the peak summer months. Once the stay-at-home order is lifted, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Legislature should approve spending to bring back the popular Pure Michigan campaign. The successful series of TV and radio ads, narrated by Hollywood star and near-native son Tim

Allen, have been running for years, but they were cut by Whitmer last year in a budget standoff she ignited with the Republican-led Legislature. In February, she held out the chance of providing $15 million for Pure Michigan in the next budget, as long as the tourism industry matched the proposed outlay. If a deal can be consummated, it would come close to the $37.5 million in funding for the campaign Whitmer cut last year. To help generate spending this summer, tourism operators are counting on an end to the stay-at-home ban in May. From there, don’t look for tourists to

Michigan Economic Forecast || Cover Story

TECHNOLOGY “THE PROBLEM WAS THIS,” says C. J. Chung, computer science professor at Lawrence Technological University in Southfield. “Everyone in the lab was afraid of touching the head of the hand sanitizer dispenser.” Paralleling the sudden refocusing of priorities throughout society due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Michigan businesses, research centers, and labs, including Chung’s LTU students, have recently occupied themselves with questions of AI deep-learning techniques in diagnostics. Going forward, new solutions for treating and enhancing consumer lives will be paramount, and technology is poised for a new revolution with AI, robotics, machine learning, Big Data, cybersecurity, and more.

On the health care front, new advances will be coming in indoor air purification, medicines, medical devices, and microrobots that can travel through the human body and deliver drugs, perform very precise surgeries, and provide more accurate reports of a person’s vital signs or specific organ performance. The tiny robots will be powered by electric energy and contain sensors, actuators, antennas, and microelectronic circuitry. Other technologies that will come to the forefront include quantum computing (Google reported last October it achieved a long-sought breakthrough called quantum supremacy), silicon photonics to speed the delivery of data faster than copper or electrical impulses, stacked memory chips, and cleaner nuclear power generation. Another promising advancement, as reported in February by the journal Nature, is a thin-film device made from nanometer-scale wires found in a common microbe (Geobacter sulfurreducens) that can generate continuous electrical power. The technology, called Air-gen, short for air-powered generator, uses exposure to humidity in the air to produce small electrical currents. Researchers from the University of

book accommodations all at once; rather, the comeback will be a small ripple at first before the tide (hopefully) rises and waves of families, golfers, boaters, and vacationers hit the road. “There is a lot of pent-up demand to get away, and people who weren’t able to visit Florida or other warmer climates in early spring will likely stay closer to home once we get the all-clear,” says David Lorenz, vice president of Travel Michigan, part of the Michigan Economic Development Corp., the quasi-public agency that oversaw the Pure Michigan campaign. “We have plenty of great destinations that will take a lifetime to explore.” One of the three largest industries in Michigan, behind automotive and agriculture, tourism dollars are the bedrock of hundreds of businesses across the state. From the Upper Peninsula to Traverse City, and

Massachusetts Amherst, who discovered the energy source, say that small senors, at first, will power smartphones and other devices. Down the road, they plan to develop larger systems that can create sustainable energy. “This is just the beginning of a new era of protein-based electronic devices,” said Jun Yao, an electrical engineer at UMass Amherst, who partnered on the research with his colleague, microbiologist Derek Lovley. Other advances are being made in automized farming equipment. Right now, autonomous pickers, planters, and surveyors help limit back-breaking labor while boosting yields. In turn, look for the increased use of small drones equipped with advanced cameras that provide multispectral images. Once the data is downloaded to a computer, farmers can literally see how red-shaded areas of their fields highlight struggling plants. From there, they can mitigate issues days before the leaves wither. The solution to the LTU problem, Chung explains, was to automate the process. Student Joe Schulte took up the challenge in March, drafting three designs and building two prototypes. He used a Lego Mindstorms Education

Mackinac Island to Lake St. Clair, hotel and resort owners may be able to tap a patriotic rally cry to encourage Michiganders and our neighbors to load up their vehicles and get away from it all, Lorenz says. According to the MEDC, tourism spending supports 6 percent of all jobs in Michigan, and in 2018 the industry generated $2.8 billion in state and local taxes. In addition, one out of every 16 workers in Michigan is supported by tourism. “People likely won’t feel comfortable with air travel for a period, and there may be social distancing (on flights),” Lorenz says. “We believe the message for everyone to focus on is vehicle travel, both from Michigan and neighboring states. It will be a slow buildup, and we need to get summer workers here. I think people can’t wait to get out and explore everything Michigan has to offer. ” — R.J. King

EV3 robotics kit. “Since we’re using Lego pieces, it’s easy to adjust the cage in the robot to hold any size of sanitizer bottle,” says Schulte, who plans to graduate in December with degrees in mathematics and computer science. A 100-page manual was created to share the process. Chung says he and his students see the COVID-19 crisis as an opportunity to think about the future use of technology. While telemedicine has enjoyed a big uptick, for example, there are obvious deficiencies. “Currently there’s no standardized way to measure patients’ vitals such as heart rate, blood pressure, and even temperature,” he says. His son, a doctor, has informed him that devices to measure blood pressure are unreliable. “We need to apply AI technologies to develop devices to measure blood pressure correctly.” As founder and director of LTU’s annual Robofest competition, Chung has engaged 28,000 students from around the globe since 1999. The competition started last October and was to have culminated with the 2020 Robofest World Championship in May, but it has been canceled. Still, he expects accelerated development in RoboMed, a new category this year for intelligent and interactive robotics and devices. “Already some researchers have developed the diagnosis of chest X-rays to confirm coronavirus,” he says. Notably, in March, the FDA cleared an AI “instant triage” program that helps pinpoint COVID-19 abnormalities in chest X-rays. Behold.AI, the British company that developed the algorithm, says it offers better than 90-percent accuracy with a 30-second turnaround — a relief for overwhelmed hospital emergency rooms. Meanwhile, work goes on in Southfield, too. “One of my students is working on some coronavirus-related projects to predict the number of patients in the future based on the data,” says Chung, who echoes the theme of new opportunity that is sounding anew throughout many fields of endeavor. “So many things are ongoing.” — Ronald Ahrens

May - June 2020 || DBUSINESS.COM 61

Cover Story || Michigan Economic Forecast

MICHIGAN’S OUTCOME

62 DBUSINESS || May - June 2020

Second, Washington’s infusion of trillions of dollars in cash-equivalent packages is intended to significantly augment existing “hold-harmless” grants, such as the Paycheck Protection Program and myriad other initiatives defeasing overdue liabilities: rents, taxes, insurance, interest, etc. For firms and individuals alike, legislation and emergency policies have authorized subsidies, monetary stimuli (money printing and zero interest rates), debt forgiveness, and loans. Still, many industries face a difficult road back to health. Restaurants, airlines, cruise lines, entertainment, and energy sectors will be watched closely as litmus tests for signs of recovery. Banks have traditionally been among the finest and most accurate indicators of overall health and economic growth. Banks are synthesizers of creditworthiness. They allocate depositor savings to firms and individuals in need of loans to finance productive activity. In this capacity, banks function as stabilizers that truly fortify foundations of prosperity. Most medium-size and small community banks will find the environment difficult in two major respects: loan demand has subsided, and there’s a negligible interest rate spread between interest paid to depositors and rates charged to borrowers. When the economy expands on its own steam the interest rate spread widens, providing bigger profit margins for the industry. In normal times, lending rates rise faster than deposit rates, reflecting both the vigor of loan demand and the added risk in lending operations. For Michigan, the pathway upward is similar, but less robust. One reason is Michigan’s reliance on automotive products. Recent years have witnessed the strongest vehicle sales and auto industry profits ever, and vehicles increasingly embody better quality and technologies. As a result, the average age of a car on the road as of

2019 neared 12 years, far exceeding anything in our history. But in the context of our current crisis, consumers will postpone taking on a large expense, particularly when they figure their vehicle still has a long life. And that deferred purchase decision is only partly offset by the enticing confluence of record-low gasoline prices, zero financing rates, and other promotional activities. Over the past two years, even prior to the pandemic shock, vehicle sales had been on the down side of the business cycle. Michigan’s chances for re-entry onto the U.S. economic growth curve that left us in early March are realizable. Once the nation has sheltered in place and been adequately tested and found ready for active duty, it’s utterly essential for the preservation of our competitive economic system that Washington’s policies unleash the dynamic, innovative spirits inherent in the private sector. Washington has demonstrated to us and to the world how intelligent governance can mobilize and marshal resources with incredible swiftness, direction, and logistics. The Trump administration found and deployed capable medical and transportation personnel and networks, and its Task Force sped the application of live-saving drugs, devices, and techniques to the arena of American health care, thereby eclipsing the time frame that skeptics had presented for blunting the COVID-19 threat. Now it’s imperative that these victories empower the vast and latent talents residing in our private sector. After all, this is the sole source of reinforcements on our economic home front — our ticket of strength for winning the inevitable battles that lie ahead. Michigan, yet again, is destined to be a pivotal part of America’s economic ingenuity and excellence. — David Littmann

NATIONAL DEBT FORECAST 40,000

National debt in billion U.S. dollars

IT’S FORTUNATE FOR MICHIGAN THAT RECORD-BREAKING domestic economic growth, spanning from 2010 to 2020, provided a formidable buffer against unforeseen calamity. Income and employment expansion infused more strength into our state’s personal, business, and governmental financial statements than had been experienced in prior decades. The coronavirus toppled this economic edifice and blew through entire reserves of savings and optimism within the span of a few weeks. Where, when, and how do we recover our economic optimism and vigor? In many states, densely populated metro areas comprise roughly half of the entire population. Metro Detroit accounts for 43 percent of Michigan’s population. In reviewing flu-related pandemics over the past 130 years, tightly packed regions of states and nations exhibit the greatest likelihood for becoming points of incubation, illness, and death. Our region, including Oakland County, has ranked fourth in the U.S. as a hotpoint for incidence, spread, and fatalities attributable to COVID-19. Even so, our metro area has only 426 persons per square mile, in sharp contrast to 929 in New York’s metro region. Clearly, other factors are at work: The early adoption of preventive and containment measures, strictly observed and enforced, moderates both the frequency and severity of bad outcomes. As of early April, experts projected Michigan’s casualty rates would follow the geometric pattern emerging elsewhere. They placed the third week of April as a realistic approximation date for Michigan’s peak rate of fatalities from coronavirus. When that peak turns downward, a more positive expectation of further medical success should translate into a self-reinforcing outlook for healthier financial markets. A focused implementation of nationwide testing, especially targeted on the 41 percent of U.S. counties experiencing severe ravages from coronavirus, will clear portions of America’s workforce to return to producing goods and services, perhaps by early May. Michigan’s start date for individuals returning to their battle stations — their workplaces — should align closely with other states. Renewed engagement hopefully will occur in conjunction with cautions and caveats internalized during quarantine. The U.S. economy will likely recover at an accelerating pace, so long as large portions of our tested workforce are cleared to go. Productivity, output, retailing, and investment activity should ramp up, improving consumer sentiment correspondingly. This constructive view of U.S. economic prospects for the second quarter and second half of 2020 includes two basic elements. First, it’s easier to restart an economy when absence from one’s usual workstation lasts a single month versus a full quarter or half a year. If the worker who performs a task is the same individual who held that position before a lockdown (or if replacement hires are better), then the new scenario might prove even more advantageous.

37,305

30,000 26,290

27,401

28,612

29,795

30,976

32,290

33,609

34,752

38,704

35,883

22,668

20,000

10,000

0 2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

Year

2026

2027

2028

2029

2030

SOURCE: DBUSINESS

Exec Life INSIDE || GETTING AWAY | RETURN ON INVESTMENT | PRODUCTION RUN | OPINION

GETTING AWAY

Northern Michigan resorts haven’t slowed down, with new courses, rental cottages, hotels, and restaurants ready for action. BY NORM SINCLAIR

COURTESY OF HARBOR SHORES

efore the coronavirus pandemic upended life in the country, the 2020 golf and tourism season in Michigan was shaping up to be a repeat of the previous year’s record-breaking performance. From Traverse City across the state to Gaylord, early indicators in the first several months of the year — from airline bookings to golf course and resort reservations, and hotel and restaurant openings — signaled that northern Michigan’s hospitality business is primed for a rolling start to the coming summer season. A new 10-hole, par-3 golf course, the Hilltop, along with new cottages geared to golfers or large families and a massive two-acre putting

course, are ready to welcome visitors to the Forest Dunes Golf Club in Roscommon. In Gaylord, Barry Owens, general manager of Treetops Resort, reports room bookings into mid-March rose 14 percent over the same period last year. He notes that the all-season ski and golf resort recorded its best year ever in 2019. The good times of the past three years are reflected in the mushrooming of hotel rooms in Gaylord. Two years ago, the Alpine-themed community welcomed two new hotel properties: Fairfield Inn and Suites, and Holiday Inn Express and Suites. This season, a 92-room Tru by Hilton hotel is set to open off the city’s main thoroughfare along M-32, just west of I-75. A fourth new hotel, a $9-million, 87-room

Comfort Inn and Suites that will have Gaylord’s first extended stay component, is going up on Wisconsin Avenue on the east side of I-75, filling out the cluster of accommodations available to visitors just off the freeway at Exit 282. The new hotels will bring the number of available rooms in the city to 1,320, according to Paul Beachnau, director of the Gaylord Area Convention and Tourism Bureau. He says the restaurant scene, feeding off the explosion of hotel rooms, has a new attraction this season with the opening of a Lucky’s Steakhouse, a family-owned chain whose flagship restaurant opened in Davison in 1998. The Gaylord restaurant will be the eighth in the group founded by Greek-Americans Lucky and Alicia Vasilakis. MAY - JUNE 2020 || DBUSINESS.COM 63

Exec Life || Resorts and Tourism

Less than an hour south of Gaylord, the early headline in state golf comes from Forest Dunes, where owner Lew Thompson’s 8-year-old and 12-year-old grandsons are credited by their grandfather as the impetus behind his decision to commission building the Hilltop short course. On a visit to the Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina early last year, Thompson played the legendary golf club’s nine-hole, par-3 course, The Cradle, and liked it so much he played it again, taking note of how much fun players of all ages and skill, including kids, were having with the layout. He decided that building a similar course at Forest Dunes would not only be good for business, but it would also help him scratch an itch that had been bothering him. “My grandsons want to go with me to Forest Dunes and play golf, but it’s a problem for them playing the big courses, and a problem for me taking them out there with 180 other golfers,” Thompson explains. “The par 3 is perfect for them; the longest hole is 155 yards and the shortest is 50 yards.” The 10-hole course tops out at just shy of 1,000 yards in length and was laid out between the original Tom Weiskopf layout and the 36hole Loop, the reversible design that Traverse City-based architect Tom Doak created three years ago. It’s also conveniently located adjacent to the new two-acre putting green, the practice area, the clubhouse, and an outdoor bar. “It won’t only be great for the kids and families, it will be a lot of fun for everybody. Scratch golfers or high-handicap players can go out there and work on their short game,” Thompson says. With the emphasis on fun, there are almost no rules. An eightsome can tee off, drinks in hand, and play barefoot if they like.

Two fledging young golf designers, Riley Johns and Keith Rhebb, were selected by Thompson to create the course. Johns worked for Doak during construction of The Loop, and Rhebb gained his experience in the 13 years he worked for the top-rated design firm of Bill Coore and Ben Crewshaw. Johns and Rhebb came to Forest Dunes last

IT WON’T ONLY BE GREAT FOR THE KIDS AND FAMILIES, IT WILL BE A LOT OF FUN FOR EVERYBODY.” — LEW THOMPSON, OWNER OF FOREST DUNES year fresh off their first major project, a renovation of the acclaimed 100-year-old, nine-hole Winter Park Golf Club in Winter Park, Fla. Even as the Hilltop comes on line, Thompson is eyeing another 18-hole course for Forest Dunes. “I’m kind of a trigger-puller,” he drawls in his thick Arkansas accent. “We’re looking at building another course. I think the demand is there, and if our customers say they want it, it’s highly possible it will come to life this year or next year.” Thompson, a trucking magnate from Huntsville, Ala., made a fortune hauling Butterball turkeys and chickens around the country. Starting out with one truck and one load of turkeys in 1983, his Lew Thompson and Son Trucking Co. has grown to 195 trucks and 360 trailers. Since purchasing the 1,300-acre Forest

Dunes property and its award-winning Tom Weiskopf golf course out of bankruptcy in 2011, the tall, lanky golf aficionado has transformed the once defunct club into a bucket-list destination for serious golfers. First he added a 14-room lodge to encourage overnight stays, since Forest Dunes is considered by some to be in a relatively remote location in the Huron National Forest. Next, Thompson gave the green light to Doak’s radical design for The Loop. The two 18-hole courses, Red and Black, share the same fairways playing to the same greens, but each course approaches the green from the opposite side. The hazards and features built into fairways and greens look totally different when played in the opposite direction. Since play is limited to going in one direction on the Red one day, and approaching from the opposite direction on the Black the next day, The Loop has accomplished one of Thompson’s goals for the resort: boosting more overnight stays to an average of three days, while driving up sales in the restaurant, bars, and pro shop. In the past few years, the resort has also been adding villas and cottages to keep pace with the golf courses. This season, two six-bedroom, five-bath cottages will debut along the lake, in walking distance to the clubhouse and other amenities. The new additions bring the number of beds available to 127. At Treetops, Owens says extensive renovation of all rooms, meeting areas, and other amenities at the resort two years ago led to a record surge in business last year. The number of rounds played on the four 18-hole courses and the nine-hole Threetops layout was more than 89,000, he adds. An exclamation point to the golf season was the

COURTESY OF FOREST DUNES GOLF CLUB

ROLLING GREENS Forest Dunes Golf Club in Roscommon, right, offers a new 10-hole, par-3 course called the Hilltop, while Harbor Shores Golf Club in Benton Harbor, below and previous page, is expanding with new homes, hotels, and public amenities.

64 DBUSINESS || May - June 2020

Resorts and Tourism || Exec Life

PAR FOR THE COURSE Harbor Shores Golf Club in Benton Harbor was controversial when built, but it has since paid dividends by driving private and public revenue.

inclusion of the Threetops course in Golf Digest’s list of 20 must-do items on “the common man’s bucket list.” Owens says the renovated hotel also saw a boost in its ski business this past winter. He says the final numbers will show a room, food, and beverage improvement of between 12 percent and 20 percent. “We had a decent weather year,” he says. “We didn’t have the bitter cold or rain, and although we started slow with snow, we made up for it as the season went along.” The Gaylord Golf Mecca, the moniker under which 15 area courses and resorts market themselves, has grown to 20 properties this year with the return to the fold of nearby Garland Resort,

with its four courses in Lewiston, and the addition of the Lakes of the North Golf Club on the western outskirts of the city. Last season the 15 clubs and 20 lodging partners, including Treetops, tallied 207,261 rounds of golf with total revenue for tee times, rooms, food, and beverage totaling $13.5 million, according to Beachnau, a founding member and general manager of the Mecca. Beachnau and Owens say the increase in airline travel and the addition of hotel and resort rooms is driven partly by more out-of-state visitors who have been wooed to northern Michigan by a collaborative marketing partnership involving travel and convention bureaus in Traverse

City, Gaylord, Petoskey, Mackinac Island, Charlevoix, and the Cherry Capital Airport. Representatives from each entity spent the past winter attending golf shows around the Midwest and Canada, and as far away as Dallas, spreading the word about golf and summertime attractions in northern Michigan. “Their partnership with the airport and the state is attracting more out-of-state visitors, which is good for all of us,” Owens says. “Out-of-town visitors stay longer and never ask about costs.” The 2020 tourism season will also mark a sea change in the fortunes of one of the state’s enduring attractions, The Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. Last fall the graceful 397-room Victorian-styled hotel that dates to 1887 was sold by the Musser family, owners of the landmark since the 1930s. The new owner is a private equity firm, KSL Partners, which has offices in Stamford, Conn.; Denver; London, England; and Singapore. R.D. (Dan) Musser continues as chairman of the hotel, which will be managed by Pivot Hotels and Resorts, a luxury division of Davidson Hotels and Resorts in Atlanta. Beachnau says the Pure Michigan campaign and local marketing efforts have played a crucial role in educating the rest of the country about the state’s superior golf, white sand beaches, towering sand dunes, wineries, biking and hiking trails, skiing, fishing, golf, fine dining, live music, performance theaters, and festivals. “We, like everyone else in the country, are watching how this coronavirus crisis plays out, and we hope for the best,” Beachnau says.

COURTESY OF HARBOR SHORES

Bounce Back TEN YEARS AGO, NATIONAL PUNDITS and local critics in Benton Harbor questioned plans to incorporate part of a city-owned parcel along Ox Creek and the Paw Paw River into an upscale golf club. At the same time, supporters touted the development as a catalyst for economic revival in a community struggling to rebound from the loss of hundreds of manufacturing jobs due to global competition. Now those visionaries are proving prophetic. Since 2010, the Harbor Shores Glof Club has generated nearly $1 billion in area investments and created more than 3,200 new jobs. A decade ago, the state equalized value of that property was $0. By 2019, its value was $40 million. The controversy over the golf club was ignited more than a decade ago,

when Harbor Shores leased 23 acres to build an 18-hole course where three lakeside golf holes in the restricted 90-acre Jean Klock beachfront park were planned. The park space was deeded to the city in 1917 for perpetual use by city residents. After multiple protests and several court challenges, the course, designed by legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus, is the centerpiece of a $500-million development that reclaimed an old polluted Superfund site, replaced 3 million square feet of dilapidated old buildings, restored to recreational use miles of river shoreline, and connected it all with 12 miles of walking trails. “When you see what happened, it helps explain why the golf course was so essential,” says Jeff Noel, managing director of Harbor Shores and vice president of communications for

Whirlpool Corp. The appliance maker teamed with community nonprofits, Benton Harbor, its twin city, St. Joseph, Benton Harbor Township, and local businesses to develop the club. “It was the only way to put something of value where all the old buildings and wetlands were, and in effect create little pods for development that made way for 795 homes, including 440 affordable homes that have been constructed or are in the pipeline, and another 300 homes that will come after that,” Noel says. The golf club development, which replaced an abandoned industrial site, includes a four-star 92-room hotel, a marina, and homes ranging in price from $250,000 to $1.5 million. More jobs have been added by Lakeland Health and other companies that have moved into the area, and

Whirlpool built its $85-million world headquarters and technology campus near the Harbor Shores development in 2013. Over the past nine years, 1,000 new hotel rooms have been constructed in the immediate area, adding 600 jobs, Noel says. Three other hotels under construction are within a three-mile radius of the Jean Klock Park, where more than $4 million has been spent for public use. “Prior to the Harbor Shores development, the park was run down and seldom used,” Noel says. “Now that Harbor Shores maintains it, the city collects $150,000 per year from people renting the pavilion in the park, or, if they’re not Benton Harbor residents, they’re paying to have access to the park and beach.” — Norm Sinclair May - June 2020 || DBUSINESS.COM 65

Exec Life || Return on Investment

Dance, Act, Write

Warren native Deborah Goodrich Royce transcends the entertainment industry.

66 DBUSINESS || MAY - JUNE 2020

A STAR IS BORN Deborah Goodrich Royce grew up in Warren, and following college, she landed acting roles on TV and in movies, worked at Miramax, and recently had her first book, “Finding Mrs. Ford,” published.

from the National Guard when the riots happened,” she says. “That was the summer of 1967 and I’d just turned 8 or 9, and my memory of it is that everything was green — vast mountains of green undershorts, undershirts, socks, pants, and towels. I remember my cousin and I getting rides on their trucks.” Royce traces her career as an actress to her early years at Cousino High School. “For a teenager, the ’70s were really the heyday of arts appreciation,” she says. “One of the things Cousino offered was called Drama Workshop, where we put on plays and then toured to local elementary schools. Also, my boyfriend and I were huge fans of foreign films, which at that time were available everywhere.” Royce and her group of friends were also devotees of Detroit’s music scene.

“There was a great jazz club on 8 Mile Road on the west side (in Detroit), which is still there, called Baker’s Keyboard Lounge,” she says. “I think we saw ourselves as — I mean, it sounds really silly now — maybe not young sophisticates, but sophisticate wannabes. We were trying very hard to increase our cultural understanding, and at that point in high school I was studying French and going to a local community college to study Italian at night. I had this drive to speak four languages.” That made her the perfect candidate for Lake Erie College, near Cleveland. “It was a very small women’s college,” she says. “They were the first school to have a mandatory semester of junior year abroad. I ended up getting quite a few specific French scholarships, so off I went to college.”

COURTESY OF DEBORAH GOODRICH ROYCE

eborah Goodrich Royce would naturally prefer being recognized these days for her most current accomplishment — as the celebrated author of the suspense novel “Finding Mrs. Ford,” named last year by a wide selection of reviewers as a must-read summer thriller, but she’s well aware her photograph on the book jacket may ring a bell with fans of All My Children, the soap opera that enthralled faithful viewers during a run of more than 40 years on network TV. “I was cast as the sister of the star of the show, Susan Lucci,” she recalls. “She was Erica Kane, and I played her sister, Silver Kane.” A best-selling author and a recurring part on one of the most successful franchises in television history? Not bad for an only child who grew up in Warren during the 1960s. “It was one of those suburbs that developed in the postwar era,” Royce says, “and it really grew up once General Motors put in their Tech Center on what was farmland to the north of Detroit. The street I lived on was called Lorraine. It was very wide and the elementary school was at the end of it, so there was a lot of traffic.” That meant that when Royce and her friends were young, they were forbidden to cross the street. “The children who lived on the opposite side of the street were like in another country,” she laughs. “We went in a kind of pack up and down our side of the street. As we got bigger, we eventually ventured across the street and onto different streets.” When the weather was too cold, the kids would congregate in each other’s homes. “This was the era of the three-bedroom, bath-and-a-half ranch house,” Royce remembers, “and all the houses and rooms weren’t just similar, they were the same — exactly the same. Their living room was where your living room was, and so on. All of the houses had basements with some kind of pressed particle board paneling, and the families would trick them up. My father put in a gas fireplace, which was snazzy, and we would leave it on for hours. We were probably burning our brain cells with whatever the fumes were from it.” Royce’s father owned and operated a drycleaning business, Elwood Cleaners on 8 Mile Road and Van Dyke Avenue. “For some crazy reason, they got the contract

BY TOM MURRAY

Return on Investment || Exec Life

Eventually she wound up in Paris, where she continued to pursue her foreign languages major while also studying dance. “I came back after my junior year and was doing summer stock theater in Cleveland,” she says. “I auditioned and was hired as a background dancer for a film with Frank Langella and Tom Hulce called Those Lips, Those Eyes.” This is the part of one of those “she came from nowhere” Hollywood stories where the unknown ingenue makes a show-stopping debut and, presto, a star is born. But that’s not what happened with Royce. “I had enough credits to graduate after the fall semester of my senior year,” she says. “I went back to Detroit. I had no clue what I was going to do. I had this vague and ill-defined concept of foreign service, and maybe going on to graduate school, but I hadn’t really figured anything out.” Soon after, she picked up a copy of Variety magazine and saw auditions were being held in New York by the same choreographer who had hired her for the movie in Cleveland. “I packed a suitcase and actually moved to New York the next day,” Royce says. “It was Valentine’s Day 1980. I stayed with the widow of the head of the theater department at my college.” She didn’t get the gig with choreographer, but she did spend the next year in New York, energetically pursuing a dance career. “I auditioned for everything. I got close to every Broadway show at the time, and it finally hit me that I wasn’t quite good enough as a dancer.” Undaunted, Royce decided to give acting a try. “That went much better. I did a ton of commercials for everything — Coca-Cola, Visine, Weight Watchers, bacon-flavored Cheetos — that’s a product you’ve never heard of.” She also began screen-testing for all the soap operas, which is how she landed the role on All My Children. “I did that in 1982 and 1983,” she says, “and I thought that was going to be the rest of my life. It turned out not to be. I was written out of the show.”

GROWING UP IN THE DETROIT AREA, I DEVELOPED A STRONG DRIVE AND AN ALMOST ‘UNBEATABLE’ QUALITY THAT SO MANY DETROITERS HAVE.” — DEBORAH GOODRICH ROYCE Soon after that disappointment, she was flown out to Los Angeles to screen-test for a TV movie. She not only landed the part, but also

decided she needed to stay in L.A. “If I was auditioning for, let’s say, five projects a month in New York, it was five a day in Los Angeles,” Royce said. “I mean, the volume was just exponential, and it began a period of just nonstop work as an actress and it was fabulous. I had a grand time and I loved doing it, but I ended up getting married and having two children.” Her first husband grew up in Paris and when a job for him opened up there, Royce found work, too. “I was hired by the French film studio Canal Plus as a reader,” she says. “That was really a wonderful job, and the beginning of me being able to envision a career apart from acting.” When the family returned to New York a year later, Royce went to work for Miramax — and Harvey Weinstein (convicted of sex crimes in March and sentenced to 23 years in prison). “It’s always a difficult thing to talk about, with everything going on now,” she says. “I certainly have great compassion for the women who went through what they went through. I don’t dispute anything they have to say. But I didn’t work in his office, I wasn’t intimately involved with the details of his life, and all the meetings I had with him were group meetings, all about story. “As a story editor, the volume at Miramax was enormous. My weekend read would often be 12 scripts and a novel, so it was really intense. The quality was at such a high level, so I feel like I was in the most extraordinary time and place to be there. But my children were in elementary school, and after a few years I ended up leaving, just because I couldn’t handle the volume of the work.” Her experience at Miramax only piqued the desire Royce had to write. After her marriage dissolved, she remarried and moved to Connecticut, where she and her husband, Chuck, restored and reopened the historical Avon Theater in Stamford. She also began thinking about writing a book, and that led to a long overdue reconnection with her hometown; she hadn’t returned for a visit in 15 years. “There was this long period after my mother moved to Florida and my father died, and I just didn’t have occasion to go back,” she says. “But then I started going about 10 years ago, and I was so astonished. I got in touch with Preservation Detroit and actually hired a driver and tour guide because I thought, I don’t even know how to visit Detroit. It was the best thing I could have done, and we just went everywhere day after day after day, looking at the revival, looking at the ruins.” It was the first of several similar visits to Detroit, and Royce not only ended up with a position on the advisory board of the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, but she also emerged with the germ of the idea that became “Finding Mrs. Ford,” whose main character is, as Royce once was, a

COVER GIRL On All My Children, a soap opera which aired on ABC from 1970 to 2011, Royce was cast as Silver Kane, sister of Erica Kane (Susan Lucci). Royce was on the show for two seasons.

young girl coming of age in Warren in 1979. “I guess I always had Detroit in my heart and mind,” she says, “and really wanted to write about that time and place when Detroit was in decline but all the vestiges of the past glory were still there for all of us.” After all these years Royce has come full circle, back to her roots with her book, and she’s delighted to announce she’s on a literary roll: another novel is scheduled to come out next year. “It’s called ‘Ruby Falls,’ ” she says, “and it’s also a psychological thriller, and my character comes from Michigan.” Of course she does. After all, Royce’s hometown is clearly a significant part of the inspiration behind her newfound occupation as a novelist. It’s also where her tenacity and resilience were hatched, giving her the uncanny ability to nimbly and quickly pivot from the shutting of one door in her eclectic career to the opening of another. “Growing up in the Detroit area, I developed a strong drive and an almost ‘unbeatable’ quality that so many Detroiters have,” Royce says resolutely. “The Detroiter in me, when knocked down, gets up again — and again, if necessary. Selling my first book wasn’t easy. It took all of my time and energy, and engendered quite a few rejections along the way. It was a bold, and some would say crazy, undertaking at a stage of life when I might have slowed down. But, seeing the incredible resurgence of my hometown now, why wouldn’t I hold myself to the same standard?” MAY - JUNE 2020 || DBUSINESS.COM 67

Exec Life || Production Run

The Big Three vs. COVID-19 In a flurry that feels like Santa’s workshop in emergency mode, local manufacturers are rolling medical equipment off production lines at record speed.

BY GRACE TURNER | ILLUSTRATION BY ALEXANDER SHAMMAMI

n the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses have banned together, partnered with competitors, set up new production lines, and pumped out medical equipment seemingly overnight. The Big Three are working on ventilators, face masks, and more. Suppliers are creating parts and production-line-ready machines, and employees are helping from behind face masks. Making medical supplies is no small task. According to an opinion piece written by Rick Kline Jr., president of Gardner Business Media Inc., that appeared in The Wall Street Journal, every link in a supply chain that produces medical technology has to follow certified processes that are overseen by quality managers and manufacturing engineers. Sourcing the components of devices such as ventilators takes up to a year under normal circumstances, Michael A. Cusumano, distinguished professor of management at MIT, told Slate. For the sake of time, many manufacturers are looking to local companies for components that would usually come from other countries. Most of these domestic operations aren’t used to handling large orders — and after they source the parts, companies have to retrofit plants that

68 DBUSINESS || MAY - JUNE 2020

produced vital equipment like circuit boards and train workers. Local organizations are rallying and organizing the efforts. The Centrepolis Accelerator in Southfield, which is associated with Lawrence Technological University and supports manufacturing in the region, is working with its partners to provide supplies, while the Michigan Economic Development Corp.’s Pure Michigan Business Connect created an online platform that allows companies to list the medical supplies they have available and connects them with organizations that need them. Here’s a breakdown from the automotive front: On March 20, General Motors Co. in Detroit became the first company to announce its plans to begin ventilator production. It has partnered with Ventec Life Systems in Washington, which provides respiratory care products. Ventec says it is using GM’s logistics, purchasing, and manufacturing expertise. After a brief dustup in mid-March with President Trump about the slow pace of negotiations, the automaker and its suppliers have ramped up the production of vital PPE for the front lines. The first ventilators were delivered in April, and GM received a $489.4-million federal contract

for 30,000 units to be delivered to the Strategic National Stockpile by September. The production schedule allows for the delivery of 6,132 ventilators by June 1. “We’re proud to stand with other American companies and our skilled employees to meet the needs of this global pandemic,” says Mary Barra, chairman and CEO of GM. “This partnership has rallied the GM enterprise and our global supply base to support Ventec, and the teams are working together with incredible passion and commitment.” On March 27, the automaker announced it would build Ventec’s FDA-cleared VOCSN critical care ventilators at its Kokomo, Ind., manufacturing plant. Ventec also said it was ramping up production at its manufacturing facility in Washington. The Kokomo facility, home to Kokomo Semiconductors and part of GM Components Holdings, is the integrated circuit manufacturing arm of the automaker. Supporting the production of precision electrical components, the facility offers wafer fabrication, wafer thinning, backside metallization, wafer solder bumping, die sort testing, wafer dicing, die tape and reel loading, and integrated circuit package testing.

Production Run || Exec Life

THE RUNDOWN

COURTESY OF GENERAL MOTORS

PRINT ON DEMAND The Big Three automakers, suppliers, and UAW members are working with others to produce health care equipment.

GM is also making medical masks at its former Warren Transmission Operations for the new production lines. The goal is to produce up to 50,000 masks every day, or up to 1.5 million masks per month. GM worked with Auburn Hills’ Esys Automation and its parent company, Holland-based JR Automation, to design and build the machinery needed to assemble the masks. GM approached Esys on March 21 and the supplier delivered the machinery in six days. Within hours, the first masks rolled off the assembly line. On March 30, Ford Motor Co. in Dearborn announced it would produce ventilators. The company is working with Chicago-based GE Healthcare to produce 50,000 units by July and up to 30,000 per month thereafter as needed. Ford is providing its manufacturing capabilities to scale production, and GE Healthcare is extending its clinical expertise; the license for the current ventilator design comes from Airon Corp., a privately held company in Florida that specializes in pneumatic life support products. The model uses air pressure to operate without the need for electricity. To streamline the process and meet demand early on, a Ford team was sent to Florida to work with Airon and boost production there. Additional manufacturing was scheduled to start the week of April 20 at Ford’s Rawsonville Components Plant in Ypsilanti, and 500 UAW-represented employees will work nearly around the clock. Ford expected to produce 1,500 ventilators by the end of April and 50,000 by Independence Day. The Airon model is the second ventilator collaboration between Ford and GE Healthcare. On March 24, the two companies announced a potential effort to produce a simplified GE Healthcare ventilator.

The automaker is also working with Minnesota’s 3M to increase the manufacturing capacity of 3M’s powered air-purifying respirator. The teams are using existing parts to save time, including fans from the Ford F-150’s cooled seats, 3M’s HEPA air filters, and portable battery packs. Ford is also looking into building the respirators in one of its Michigan facilities. On its own, Ford is making face shields for medical workers and first responders. It expects to pump out more than 100,000 face shields per week at Troy Design and Manufacturing, a Ford subsidiary in Plymouth Township. In turn, the 3-D printing capabilities at Ford’s Advanced Manufacturing Center in Redford Township are being used to make components and subassemblies for use in personal protective equipment. “Working with 3M and GE, we have empowered our teams of engineers and designers to be scrappy and creative, to quickly help scale up production of this vital equipment,” says Jim Hackett, president and CEO of Ford Fiat Chrysler Automotive in Auburn Hills, meanwhile, plans to make more than 1 million face masks per month for donation to health care workers and first responders. Production capacity was installed in mid-March, and the initial distribution ramped up soon afterward. Already, FCA donated 500,000 masks to emergency operation centers in Oakland and Wayne counties. According to Reuters, FCA also partnered with Italy’s Siare Engineering to make hundreds of ventilators that will be used at hospitals around the country. “Protecting our first responders and health care workers has never been more important,” says Mike Manley, CEO of FCA. “In addition to the support we’re giving to increase the production of ventilators, we canvassed our contacts across the health care industry and it was very clear that there’s an urgent and critical need for face masks.”

200,000 ventilators are in U.S. hospitals.

96 million people in the U.S. are expected to test positive for COVID-19.

1.9 million people with the virus are expected to be admitted to an ICU.

In March, 64 percent of ICU clinicians said their facilities and teams were not well-prepared for COVID-19.

Source: Society of Critical Care Medicine May - June 2020 || DBUSINESS.COM 69

Exec Life || Opinion

Build Better Habits s we move into the summer season and we figure out the “new” normal, it’s a good time for each of us to break free of our frozen habits and embrace growth and change. That’s easier said than done following the virus pandemic. But the same level of thinking that got you where you were isn’t the same level that will get you where you want to be. Habits, both good and bad, compound over time. One way to think about the power of compounding is the example of a penny. If you double a penny every day for 30 days, it compounds to $10.7 million. Albert Einstein said it best when he said, “Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world.” To help build positive new habits that will compound over time, consider the following self-help goals.

BY JON DWOSKIN but when you master your calendar, you can own and protect those precious minutes and hours. Instead of blocking things by the hour, break everything into micro segments of minutes and even seconds. Then, schedule one or two 15-minute sessions each day to knock off a bunch of those quick to-dos like responding to texts, replying to emails, scheduling meetings, and making follow-up calls. You’ll get more done and you’ll feel a great sense of accomplishment by completing so many tasks — and that positive reinforcement will keep you moving forward. CONTROL YOUR TIME

In addition to controlling your calendar, you really can control (much of) your time. Take a good, hard look at all the time-wasters you deal with each day: the recounting of the weekend, the Monday morning quarterbacking, the critiquing of that movie you just saw. Those things may just take a few minutes KNOW YOURSELF Before you tackle your business, you have here and there, but it adds up. And not only does the idle talk distract you to understand yourself. What “TAKE A GOOD, LONG from your immediate task, but drives you? What are your values? What are your non-nego- LOOK AT YOURSELF THE it takes time to get your focus SAME WAY YOU’D back to the important stuff. tiables in a world that demands The next time someone wants compromise? Take a deep inner CRITIQUE ONE OF YOUR EMPLOYEES OR to chat about anything you find dive to fully understand what CO-WORKERS.” distracting in the moment, set makes up your bedrock and some good parameters by saywhat you want for (and from) your business. That self-awareness will help ing, “Hey, I’d love to talk to you about this, but I’m on deadline. Can we catch up later? If we you adopt good habits and shed poor ones. need to discuss some business, let’s put it on the calendar.” HAVE A LIVING BUSINESS PLAN When’s the last time you really looked at your business plan? Rather than a stale doc- FIRE AND REHIRE YOURSELF EACH MONTH ument gathering dust in a drawer, it should Take a good, long look at yourself the same be a living road map of actionable goals and way you’d critique one of your employees or deadlines. Just as you frequently consult your co-workers. Do you like what you see? If you’re GPS when heading into unfamiliar territory, brutally honest, you’ll probably find at least you should constantly review your business one fire-able offense. Write it down, then go plan. There’s no better forecasting tool if you ahead and fire yourself. use it correctly, so block just five minutes each Now, take a minute to write one reason and morning and evening to review and adjust it. one characteristic of why you’re going to rehire yourself. Take it further and write down all of the reasons you would fire yourself, and BE A STUDENT OF YOUR CALENDAR Time may seem like it’s out of your control, all the reasons you’d hire yourself back. Be JON DWOSKIN is founder and CEO of The Jon Dwoskin Experience, a multifaceted business and executive consulting firm in Huntington Woods. He’s also an author, speaker, and podcast host. 70 DBUSINESS || MAY - JUNE 2020

very specific and measurable. This simple exercise helps raise our self-awareness of what we’re doing right and also what’s holding us back. Understanding and breaking unhelpful patterns is key to developing new habits. ADOPT MORNING AND NIGHT RITUALS

Bookend each day with a ritual that’s for you and only you. Wake up 10 minutes earlier, but don’t turn on your phone or look at your computer. Instead, take a walk (inside or out), meditate, write in a journal or idea book, or just sit and stare into space. Before you leave the office or turn off the light for the night, take just two minutes to reflect on your day. What went right? What could have gone better? What’s happening tomorrow? Don’t push off this seemingly unproductive time with the excuse that you’re too busy. These few “stolen” minutes are among the most crucial in your day. Good habits come slowly. Rather than trying to overhaul your routines all at once, pick just one or two from this list to start with, then give it your all. As motivational speaker Zig Ziglar put it, “There is no elevator to success, you have to take the stairs.”

COURTESY JON DWOSKIN

Forming new business practices folllowing the COVID-19 outbreak can break the cycle of redundancy and mediocrity.

Exec Life || The Circuit

Uptown Gala CHRISTINE M.J. HATHAWAY

The Bates Street Society Dinner, which recognizes donors who make significant contributions to support The Community House in downtown Birmingham, drew a capacity crowd on Feb. 8. Guests enjoyed a three-course dinner, live entertainment, and a recognition of members. 1. Beatrice and Pierre Boutros, Margaret Cooney, Debbie Casey, John Schrott 2. Huel and Priscilla Perkins, Stephen and Bobbie Polk, Ryan Polk 3. Alex May, Christine Provost, Salvador Salort-Pons 4. Paul Fortin, David Provost, Denis Lincoln 5. Rose and Brian Bolyard

Medallion Ball PATRICK GLORIA

Henry Ford Health System hosted The Medallion: Macomb’s Gala Event on March 7 at Penna’s of Sterling in Sterling Heights. Proceeds supported expansion efforts at Henry Ford Macomb’s Stroke Program in Clinton Township. 6. Dr. Subhi and Kathleen Sbahi, Georgette Anud, Dan Kosmack 7. Mike and Patty Seagram 8. Rose and Jim Lotito 9. Johnny Menifee, Mary Okray, Paula Tutman 10. Jeremy and Pam Wilking, Anthony and Tina Miller, RJ and Carolyn Ross

6 9

ACCESS Express PATRICK GLORIA

ACCESS, an Arab-American community nonprofit in Dearborn that offers services to a diverse population, hosted its 49th Annual Dinner on March 6 at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center. The event drew 2,000 people. 11. Angela Wode, Alice Putrus, Nabby and Mary Ann Yono, Boushra Mansour 12. Monica L. Martinez, Katrina Studvent 13. Ghada Mustapha, Fatme Mustapha, Fouad Ashkar 14. Jonathan Kinloch, Nancy Moody, Rachel Eubanks 15. Dr. Sandy Koltonow, M. Roy Wilson WEBEXTRA To view more photos from these events, please visit dbusiness.com.

72 DBUSINESS || May - June 2020

12 15

11 13

Get the Plunkett Cooney Perspective

â&#x201E;˘

Business leaders say they trust the attorneys of Plunkett Cooney to anticipate legal pitfalls, to resolve high-stakes litigation and to craft contracts they can sign... with confidence. See your business differently. Banking & Finance n Business Transactions n Commercial Litigation n Estate Planning & Business Succession n Healthcare Law n Labor & Employment Law n Mergers & Acquisitions n Real Estate Law n Tax Law n

ATTORNEYS & COUNSELORS AT LAW Thomas P. Vincent President & CEO 248.901.4000 | tvincent@plunkettcooney.com Michigan

Ohio

Indiana

| Illinois

www.plunkettcooney.com

From the Top || Chambers of Commerce

Chambers of Commerce in Metro Detroit AMERICAN ARAB CHAMBER OF COMMERCE* 12740 W. Warren Ave., Ste. 300 Dearborn 48126 313-945-1700 americanarab.com Members: 1,500 Focus: Local, national, and international Meetings: Networking events, monthly seminars, annual Celebrating Success Dinner, Arab American Golf Open, Building Economic Bridges Banquet, quarterly Business Builder series, international delegations Dues: $250-$5,000 Employees: 21 Founded: 1992 Contact: Fay Beydoun, executive director ANN ARBOR/YPSILANTI REGIONAL CHAMBER 2010 Hogback Rd., Ste. 4 Ann Arbor 48105 734-665-4433 a2ychamber.org Members: 1,300 Focus: Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti region Meetings: Monthly networking meetings, Foundation Gala Dues: $395-$5,000 Employees: 9 Founded: 1919 Contact: Diane Keller, president and CEO ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 27055 Orchard Lake Rd., Bldg. M – Rm. 208 Farmington Hills 48334 248-430-5855 apacc.net Members: 4,500+ in Michigan and U.S. Focus: Asian/Pacific Islander American and U.S. businesses Meetings: Networking, personal and professional development Dues: $200-$1,200 Employees: 3 Founded: 2000 Contact: Duc Nguyen Abrahamson, executive director AUBURN HILLS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE P.O. Box 214083 3395A Auburn Rd. Auburn Hills 48321 248-853-7862 auburnhillschamber.com Members: 370 Focus: To be a catalyst for growth in our world-class business community Meetings: Nearly 50

74 DBUSINESS || May - June 2020

educational and networking events per year; several scheduled each month Dues: $250-$1,950 Employees: 6 Founded: 1991 Contact: Jean Jernigan, president BERKLEY AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE P.O. Box 72-1253 Berkley 48072 248-414-9157 berkleychamber.com Members: 155 Focus: Berkley, Huntington Woods, Oak Park, Royal Oak, Southfield Meetings: Monthly networking events, State of the City, Berkley Art Bash, Berkley Pub Crawl, Berkley Street Art Fest Dues: $120-$500 Employees: 2 Founded: 1984 Contact: Darlene Rothman, executive director BIRMINGHAM BLOOMFIELD CHAMBER 725 S. Adams Rd., Ste. 130 Birmingham 48009 248-644-1700 bbcc.com Members: 730 Focus: Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township, Franklin Meetings: Vine and Dine, Village Fair, Forecast Breakfast Series, Professional Edge Workshop, Business After Hours, member coffees, Community Leadership Luncheon, Legislative Reception Dues: $330-$945 Employees: 4 Founded: 1947 Contact: Joe Bauman, president CHALDEAN AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 30095 Northwestern Hwy., Ste. 101 Farmington Hills 48334 248-851-1200 chaldeanchamber.com Members: 975 Focus: Advocacy, economic development, community development, cultural preservation Meetings: Quarterly networking meetings, educational forums, annual awards dinner, annual meeting and board election, annual business luncheon, annual golf outing, seminars and cultural events

(Listed in alphabetical order)

Dues: $50-$5,000 Employees: 50 Founded: 2003 Contact: Paul Jonna, chief operating officer CLARKSTON AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 5856 S. Main St. Clarkston 48346 248-625-8055 clarkston.org Members: 550 Focus: Clarkston, Davisburg, Independence Township, Springfield Township Meetings: Three per month, luncheon mixers, breakfasts, networking events Dues: $210-$590 Employees: 4 Founded: 1987 Contact: Shaun Hayes, executive director CLAWSON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 425 North Main St. Clawson 48017 248-435-6500 clawsonchamber.org Members: 200 Focus: Clawson Meetings: Morning and after-hours networking events, quarterly Oakland County network mixers, seminars Dues: $65-$550 Employees: 1 Founded: 1939 Contact: Char Larson, president DEARBORN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 22100 Michigan Ave. Dearborn 48124 313-584-6100 dearbornareachamber.org Members: 590 Focus: Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, Detroit, Garden City Meetings: Thirty-nine annual events including 15 complimentary monthly morning and after-hours networking events, Meet the Candidates, small business luncheons, two golf outings, Taste of Dearborn, 20+ Teacher of the Year celebration, holiday gala Dues: $295 and up Employees: 4 Founded: 1944 Contact: Jacqueline Lovejoy, president DETROIT CHINESE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION* 3250 W. Big Beaver Rd., Ste. 430 Troy 48084 248-918-0391

dcba.com Members: 3,100 Focus: Michigan Meetings: Quarterly networking events, annual China Forum, U.S.–China business forum, Chinese New Year gala, DCBA International Golf Open Dues: $300-$10,000 Employees: 3 Founded: 1995 Contact: Brian Gao, president DETROIT REGIONAL CHAMBER 1 Woodward Ave., Ste. 1900 Detroit 48226 313-964-4000 detroitchamber.com Members: 20,000+ Focus: Ten counties in southeast Michigan Meetings: More than 80 programs and events, including the Mackinac Policy Conference; meetings with local, state, and national government officials; small business events; leadership and talent development programs Dues: Vary Employees: 80 Founded: 1903 Contact: Jim Connarn, director of sales DOWNRIVER BUSINESS ASSOCIATION 3200 Greenfield Rd., Ste. 300 Dearborn 48120 313-595-2624 dadba.org Members: 300+ Focus: Twenty-one downriver communities from Allen Park to Wyandotte Meetings: Monthly breakfast, lunch, and evening networking events; quarterly business expos; DADBA Spring Expo Dues: $250-$1,500 Employees: 3 Founded: 2005 Contact: Laura Fennell, director GREATER FARMINGTON AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 32780 Grand River Ave. Farmington 48336 248-919-6917 gfachamber.com Members: 460 Focus: Farmington, Farmington Hills Meetings: Two to three monthly networking/professional-development events, annual Business Expo, business development luncheons, Taste of Two Cities, Founders Festival (July), Bunkers and Bogies golf outing, annual

dinner and awards program Dues: $290-$5,000 Employees: 5 Founded: 2009 Contact: Connor Osborn, executive director FERNDALE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 1938 Burdette St. Ferndale 48220 248-542-2160 ferndaleareachamber.com Members: 300 Focus: Ferndale, Oak Park, Pleasant Ridge Meetings: Networking events (two morning, one lunch, and one after-hours), annual awards gala, annual Rainbow Run, annual Artist in You event Dues: $250-$450 Employees: 1 Founded: 1936 Contact: Joy R. Weis, director of operations FRENCH AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE – MICHIGAN CHAPTER 2000 Town Center, Ste. 1800 Southfield 48075 248-365-0535 faccmi.org Members: 5,000+ Focus: To contribute to the improvement of economic, commercial, and financial relations between France and the United States Meetings: Business seminars and round-table events with high-level speakers, networking receptions, annual meeting, annual gala and awards ceremony Dues: NA Employees: 5 Founded: 1992 Contact: Lisa Roland, executive director GROSSE POINTE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 106 Kercheval Ave. Grosse Pointe Farms 48236 313-881-4722 grossepointechamber.com Members: 650 Focus: The Grosse Pointe Chamber of Commerce promotes businesses and engages residents for a thriving community Meetings: Monthly Business Before Hours and Business After Hours, Learn at Lunch, annual membership dinner and Pointer of Distinction Awards, committee meetings, Chamber Foundation Dues: $100-$2,500

Chambers of Commerce || From the Top

Employees: 4 Founded: 2006 Contact: Jennifer Boettcher, president and executive director HOLLY AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 300 East St. Holly 48442 248-215-7099 hollyareachamber.com Members: 128 Focus: Groveland Township, Holly Township, Rose Township, Springfield Township, Village of Holly Meetings: Monthly board meeting, monthly networking breakfast, periodic after-hours networking events Dues: $120 (nonprofit), $200 (business) Employees: Volunteer board of directors, 1 paid director Founded: 1918 Contact: Richard Kinnamon, executive director HURON VALLEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 317 Union St. Milford 48381 248-685-7129 huronvcc.com Members: 450 Focus: Commerce Township, Highland and Highland Township, Milford and Milford Township, White Lake Township Meetings: Monthly and bimonthly networking events, Milford Memories summer festival, Brewed in Michigan, coffee clubs, networking events Dues: $75 to $525 Employees: 4 Founded: 1962 Contact: Joell Beether, executive director INDO-AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE* IACC-USA, P.O. Box 250125 Franklin 48025 248-506-7555 iaccusa.org Members: 150 Focus: Networking opportunities for business professionals to develop economic, commercial, and financial relationships; business-related education; advocacy of issues pertinent to business owners Meetings: Six to eight meetings per year, golf outing, annual banquet Dues: $100 (individual), $250+ (business) Employees: 2

Founded: 2003 Contact: Nandita Bhattiprolu, executive director ITALIAN AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF MICHIGAN 51194 Romeo Plank Rd., Ste. 354 Macomb 48044 586-925-2020 iaccm.net Members: 165 Focus: Business and professional growth, inclusive of the organization’s Italian history and culture; commercial, educational, and charitable forums to inspire pride throughout the Italian community; establish a relationship of trust and service Meetings: 10 meetings per year Dues: $400 Employees: 1 Founded: 1919 Contact: Daniel Galli, president KENSINGTON VALLEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Formerly the Chamber of Commerce for the South Lyon Area 58000 Grand River Ave. New Hudson 48165 248-617-3075 kensingtonvalleychamber.com Members: Nearly 300 Focus: Charter Township of Lyon, Green Oak Township, New Hudson, Northfield Township, Salem Township, South Lyon Meetings: Bimonthly breakfast, one after-hours monthly mixer, networking group Dues: $195-$480 Employees: 2 Founded: 1947 Contact: Andrea Meyer, executive director LAKES AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 305 N. Pontiac Trail, Ste. A Walled Lake 48390 248-624-2826 lakesareachamber.com Members: 450 Focus: Commerce Township, Union Lake, Walled Lake, Waterford, White Lake, Wixom, Wolverine Lake. Meetings: Monthly business “spotlight” lunches, annual State of the Lakes luncheon, annual Awards Breakfast, 1st Friday and 3rd Thursday Networking Breakfasts, annual golf outing, Rockin’ Under the Stars Summer Concert Dues: $195-$550 Employees: 3

Founded: 1950 Contact: Laura Bolyard, executive director LIVONIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 33300 Five Mile Rd., Ste. 212 Livonia 48154 734-427-2122 livonia.org Members: 1,000+ Focus: Livonia and surrounding communities Meetings: Two to three monthly networking events, annual golf outing, annual home improvement show, Connecting Cultures to Business, Livonia State of the City Luncheon, Western Wayne Business Leadership Banquet Dues: $289-$1,000 Employees: 5 Founded: 1950 Contact: Dan West, president MACOMB COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 28 First St., Ste. B Mount Clemens 48043 586-493-7600 macombcountychamber.com Members: 1,000 Focus: Macomb County Meetings: Monthly networking/ economic development/public policy meetings, Lake St. Clair Appreciation Day, Macomb County Hall of Fame, Athena Awards, military and defense meetings Dues: $324 to $565 Employees: 7 Founded: 1897 Contact: Kelley Lovati, CEO

Members: 200+ Focus: Hispanic business enterprises, supplier diversity, automotive, professionals, financial, and more Meetings: Monthly third Thursdays, Economic Forum Breakfast, Minority Businesses Matchmaker, annual golf outing, annual Fiesta Gala Dues: $25-$3,000 Employees: 4 Founded: 1989 Contacts: Camilo Suero, executive director; Barbara Lange, office manager MICHIGAN IRISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE* Beverly Hills 48025 231-590-0003 michiganirishchamber.com Members: 70 Focus: Individuals, businesspeople, and other community members working together to advance the business, culture, education, and civic welfare of the residents of Michigan who are of Irish descent Meetings: Vary Dues: $100 (full-time students under 25), $200 (business and professional level), $500 (Business Bronze), $800 (Business Platinum), $1,200 (Chairman’s Circle) Founded: 2012 Contact: Dave O’Connor, president

MADISON HEIGHTS/HAZEL PARK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 300 E. 13 Mile Rd. Madison Heights 48071 248-542-5010 madisonheightschamber.com Members: 300 Focus: Hazel Park, Madison Heights Meetings: Three networking events per month, auction, State of the Cities annual address, golf outing, BRAND referral group Dues: $10-$1,000 Employees: 1 Founded: 1969 Contact: Keri Valmassei, executive director

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERS – GREATER DETROIT CHAPTER 26677 W. 12 Mile Rd. Southfield 48034 313-961-4748 nawbogdc.org Members: 200 Focus: Southeast Michigan; some out-of-state membership Meetings: Monthly networking events, annual Top 10 Michigan Businesswomen’s Awards, Women on Board, Circle of Learning education program, golf outing, holiday reception Dues: $239-$479 Employees: 1 Founded: 1975 Contacts: Pricilla Archangel, chapter president; Charmaine Brown, president-elect

MICHIGAN HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE* 1938 Burdette St. Ferndale 48220 248-792-2763 mhcc.org

NATIONAL BUSINESS LEAGUE INC. Formerly Michigan Black Chamber of Commerce 1001 Woodward Ave., Ste. 910 Detroit 48226 313-818-3017

nationalbusinessleague.org Members: 3,500 Focus: To economically empower and sustain African-American businesses as enterprises by advocating for economic development through entrepreneurship, procurement, community reinvestment, programmatic and professional development, and capitalistic activity throughout the United States and Black Diaspora Meetings: To be determined Dues: $19 and up Employees: 3 Founded: 1900 Contact: Ken Harris, president NORTHVILLE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 195 S. Main St. Northville 48167 248-349-7640 northville.org Members: 400 Focus: Northville and surrounding communities Meetings: Rise and Shine mixers, after-hours mixer, monthly networking/educational events, Northville Marketplace, State of the Community Luncheon, Veteran Banner Program, Farmers Market, Flower Sale, Tapped in the Ville – Craft Beer Festival, Northville Grub Crawl, Heritage Festival, Streets of Treats, Holiday Lighted Parade, Greens Market Dues: $85-$650 Employees: 3 Founded: 1964 Contact: Jody Humphries, executive director NOVI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 41875 W. 11 Mile Rd., Ste. 201 Novi 48375 248-349-3743 novichamber.com Members: 367 Focus: Greater Novi area Meetings: Three networking events/month, Novi Dinner Tour, Toast of the Town Business Awards Gala, golf outing, golf league Dues: $150-$720 Employees: 2 Founded: 1967 Contact: Farah Shammami, executive director ORION AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 1335 Joslyn Rd., Ste. 100 Lake Orion 48360 248-693-6300 orionareachamber.com

May - June 2020 || DBUSINESS.COM 75

From the Top || Chambers of Commerce

Chambers of Commerce in Metro Detroit Members: 300+ Focus: Auburn Hills, Clarkston, Lake Orion, Orion Township, Oxford Meetings: Monthly morning and evening networking meetings, monthly luncheons, two annual community expos, Women in Business Conference, annual golf outing Dues: $35-$1,800 Employees: 3 Founded: 1950 Contact: Noelle Champagne, executive director OXFORD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE P.O. Box 142 22 W. Burdick St. Oxford 48371 248-628-0410 oxfordchamber.net Members: 170 Focus: Addison Oaks, Clarkston, Lake Orion, Lapeer, Metamora, Oxford Meetings: Mixers with neighboring chambers, annual Women’s Expo, annual Chamber Challenge 5K and 10K Dues: $150 Employees: 1 Founded: 1950 Contacts: Nicole Stirrett, executive director; Amy Desotell, administrative assistant PHILIPPINE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE – MICHIGAN* 17356 Northland Park Ct., Ste. 200 Southfield 48075 586-774-1800 Members: 90 Focus: Michigan Meetings: Monthly board meetings; networking and educational events; leadership, management, and organizational events Dues: $200-$1,200 Employees: Volunteer officers and board Founded: 2008 Contact: Betsy Henry, president PLYMOUTH COMMUNITY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 850 W. Ann Arbor Trail Plymouth 48170 734-453-1540 plymouthmich.org Members: 700 Focus: To stimulate growth and prosperity for a healthy business community Meetings: January and November Dues: $250-$1,300 Employees: 5

76 DBUSINESS || May - June 2020

Founded: 1949 Contact: Wes Graff, president PONTIAC REGIONAL CHAMBER 402 N. Telegraph Rd. Pontiac 48341 248-335-9600 pontiacrc.com Members: 250 Focus: Pontiac and surrounding communities Meetings: Monthly and quarterly networking events and speakers Dues: $5,000 Employees: 1 Founded: 1904 Contact: Dawnaree Demrose, president ROCHESTER REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 71 Walnut St., Ste. 110 Rochester 48307 248-651-6700 rrc-mi.com Members: 1,000 Focus: Oakland Township, Rochester, Rochester Hills Meetings: Community Outlook Breakfast, Legislative Affairs Committee, Sunrise Pinnacle Awards Ceremony, Coffee Talk Networking, Ambassador Network, Preferred Client Networking Groups, Peer Solution Groups, Women in Business Luncheon, Rochester Area Hometown Christmas Parade, Leadership Greater Rochester, Youth Leadership of Greater Rochester Dues: $275-$1,500 Employees: 6 Founded: 1955 Contact: Alaina Campbell, president ROYAL OAK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 200 S. Washington Ave. Royal Oak 48067 248-547-4000 royaloakchamber.com Members: 600 Focus: Royal Oak and surrounding communities Meetings: Three monthly networking events, three community events each year: Royal Oak in Bloom, Art of Fire, Barktoberfest Dues: $199-$465 Employees: 4 Founded: 1936 Contact: Shelly Kemp, executive director

(Listed in alphabetical order) continued.

SOUTHERN WAYNE COUNTY REGIONAL CHAMBER 20904 Northline Rd. Taylor 48180 734-284-6000 swcrc.com Members: 500+ Focus: Twenty-one southern Wayne County communities Meetings: Monthly morning and evening networking events, legislative and business forums, Young Professional Group, Chamber Connection Groups, Black Tie Gala and Expo, golf outing, Taste of Downriver, Women of Achievement Awards, Salute to Government Officials Dues: $250 Employees: 5 Founded: 1967 Contact: Ron Hinrichs, president SOUTHFIELD AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 20300 Civic Center Dr., Ste. 1102 Southfield 48076 248-557-6661 southfieldchamber.com Members: 300 Focus: Lathrup Village, Oak Park, Southfield Meetings: Monthly networking events, golf outing, State of the City, education series, Taste of Southfield Dues: $285-$2,100 Employees: 3 Founded: 1953 Contact: Jason Blanks, executive director STERLING HEIGHTS REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 12900 Hall Rd., Ste. 100 Sterling Heights 48313 586-731-5400 shrcci.com Members: 1,200 Focus: Clinton Township, Fraser, Macomb Township, Shelby Township, Sterling Heights, Utica, Warren Meetings: Weekly Business Resource Alliance Group (leads groups) networking; ambassadors; Public Policy Committee, Tourism, and Hospitality Group; Health and Wellness Group; Nonprofit Network Dues: $285 (Different rates for nonprofits, certain industries) Employees: 6 Founded: 1961 Contact: Stacey Ziasko, president and CEO

TAIWANESE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF GREATER DETROIT* 6636 Maple Creek Blvd. West Bloomfield 48322 248-681-4068 apacc.org Members: 75 Focus: Southeast Michigan Meetings: Chinese New Year Banquet, annual professional development seminars, annual picnic and golf outing, annual banquet Dues: $200 Employees: Volunteer board Founded: 1996 Contact: Duc Nyugen Abramson TROY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 2125 Butterfield, Ste. 100N Troy 48084 248-641-8151 troychamber.com Members: 670 Focus: Troy Meetings: Monthly membership luncheon or breakfast; monthly morning, afternoon, and evening networking events; annual Tee Off Fore Troy golf outing; Simply Shopping women’s networking and shopping event; annual Holiday Luncheon; CEO Series (quarterly); Economic Development Forums (quarterly); Grillin’ with the Prez Dues: $325-$3,045 Employees: 5 Founded: 1959 Contact: Sheila Denstaedt, director of member services WATERFORD AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 2309 Airport Rd. Waterford 48327 248-666-8600 waterfordchamber.org Members: 650 Focus: Clarkston, Waterford, White Lake Meetings: Monthly and bimonthly networking events, periodic luncheons, annual State of the Township breakfast, annual Business and Home Expo, Business Success Conference, annual dinner and awards, annual golf classic, Young Professionals Network Dues: $225 Employees: 5 Founded: 1998 Contact: Marie Hauswirth, executive director GREATER WEST BLOOMFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 5745 W. Maple Rd., Ste. 206 West Bloomfield 48322

248-626-3636 westbloomfieldchamber.com Members: 350 Focus: Keego Harbor, Orchard Lake, Sylvan Lake, West Bloomfield Meetings: Weekly networking events, leadership luncheon, holiday party, officer installation, health and wellness fair, annual awards dinner, W.I.N. (Women’s Inspiration Network), B.I.G. (Business Innovation Generator), Senior Resource Group, Y.E.N. (Young Entrepreneur Group) Dues: $185-$5,000 Employees: 1 Founded: 1976 Contact: Suzanne Levine, executive director *Member of the Council of Ethnic Chambers of Commerce Source: DBusiness

Largest Accident and Health Insurance Companies || From the Top

Largest Accident and Health Insurance Companies in Michigan* 1. BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF MICHIGAN MUTUAL INSURANCE CO. 600 E. Lafayette Blvd. Detroit 48226 313-225-9000 bcbsm.com Assets: $8,990,372 Surplus: $4,933,243 Michigan Direct Premiums Written: $9,165,219 Michigan Market Share: 27.89% Type: LH-MUT 2. BLUE CARE NETWORK OF MICHIGAN 20500 Civic Center Dr. Southfield 48076 248-799-6400 mibcn.com Assets: $2,402,759 Surplus: $1,609,354 Michigan Direct Premiums Written: $4,244,143 Michigan Market Share: 12.91% Type: HMO-NP 3. PRIORITY HEALTH 1231 E. Beltline Ave. NE Grand Rapids 49525 833-489-5443 priorityhealth.com/aboutus Assets: $1,253,780 Surplus: $759,816 Michigan Direct Premiums Written: $3,183,462 Michigan Market Share: 9.69% Type: HMO-NP 4. MERIDIAN HEALTH PLAN OF MICHIGAN INC. 1 Campus Martius, Ste. 700 Detroit 48226 313-324-3700 mhplan.com Assets: $423,196 Surplus: $169,850 Michigan Direct Premiums Written: $1,934,691 Michigan Market Share: 5.89% Type: HMO-P 5. MOLINA HEALTHCARE OF MICHIGAN INC. 880 W. Long Lake Rd. Troy 48098 248-925-1700 molinahealthcare.com Assets: $498,543 Surplus: $237,187 Michigan Direct Premiums Written: $1,791,678 Michigan Market Share: 5.45% Type: HMO-P 6. HEALTH ALLIANCE PLAN OF MICHIGAN 2850 W. Grand Blvd. Detroit 48202 313-872-8100 hap.org

Assets: $515,797 Surplus: $254,711 Michigan Direct Premiums Written: $1,470,811 Michigan Market Share: 4.48% Type: HMO-NP 7. UNITED HEALTHCARE COMMUNITY PLAN INC. 26957 Northwestern Hwy., Ste. 400 Southfield 48034 800-903-5253 uhccommunityplan.com Assets: $260,935 Surplus: $131,258 Michigan Direct Premiums Written: $876,723 Michigan Market Share: 2.67% Type: HMO-P 8. HUMANA INSURANCE CO. 26600 Telegraph Rd., Ste. 220 Southfield 48033 800-486-2620 humana.com Assets: $7,233,381 Surplus: $3,720,673 Michigan Direct Premiums Written: $866,501 Michigan Market Share: 2.64% Type: LH-STK 9. UNITED HEALTHCARE INSURANCE CO. 26957 Northwestern Hwy., Ste. 400 Southfield 48034 877-832-7734 uhc.com Assets: $20,752,474 Surplus: $8,128,232 Michigan Direct Premiums Written: $813,123 Michigan Market Share: 2.47% Type: LH-STK 10. BLUE CROSS COMPLETE OF MICHIGAN 100 Galleria Officentre, Ste. 210 Southfield 48034 800-228-8554 mibluecrosscomplete.com Assets: $271,083 Surplus: $106,594 Michigan Direct Premiums Written: $755,846 Michigan Market Share: 2.30% Type: HMO-NP 11. MCLAREN HEALTH PLAN INC. G-3245 Beecher Rd. Flint 48532 888-327-0671 mclarenhealthplan.org Assets: $277,933 Surplus: $115,891 Michigan Direct Premiums Written: $734,877 Michigan Market Share: 2.24% Type: HMO-NP

12. DELTA DENTAL PLAN OF MICHIGAN 4100 Okemos Rd. Okemos 48864 800-524-0149 deltadentalmi.com Assets: $622,401 Surplus: $439,498 Michigan Direct Premiums Written: $687,986 Michigan Market Share: 2.09% Type: HMDI 13. AETNA LIFE INSURANCE CO. 28588 Northwestern Hwy. Southfield 48034 248-208-8600 aetna.com Assets: $20,230,650 Surplus: $3,697,149 Michigan Direct Premiums Written: $419,542 Michigan Market Share: 1.28% Type: LH-STK 14. PRIORITY HEALTH CHOICE INC. 1231 E. Beltline NE Grand Rapids 49525 833-489-5443 priorityhealth.com/about-us Assets: $129,323 Surplus: $76,213 Michigan Direct Premiums Written: $397,029 Michigan Market Share: 1.21% Type: HMO-NP 15. (TIE) AETNA BETTER HEALTH OF MICHIGAN INC. 1333 Gratiot Ave., Ste. 400 Detroit 48207 313-465-1500 aetnabetterhealth.com/ michigan/ Assets: $136,487 Surplus: $54,596 Michigan Direct Premiums Written: $295,485 Michigan Market Share: 0.90% Type: HMO-P 15. (TIE) ALLIANCE HEALTH AND LIFE INSURANCE CO. (Part of Health Alliance Plan of Michigan) 2850 W. Grand Blvd. Detroit 48202 313-872-8100 hap.org Assets: $133,962 Surplus: $53,752 Michigan Direct Premiums Written: $294,998 Michigan Market Share: 0.90% Type: LH-STK 17. (TIE) PRIORITY HEALTH INSURANCE CO. 1231 E. Beltline Ave. NE Grand Rapids 49525 833-489-5443

priorityhealth.com/about-us Assets: $119,713 Surplus: $55,631 Michigan Direct Premiums Written: $249,047 Michigan Market Share: 0.76% Type: LH-STK 17. (TIE) UPPER PENINSULA HEALTH PLAN, LLC 853 W. Washington St. Marquette 49855 906-225-7500 uphp.com Assets: $97,591 Surplus: $55,741 Michigan Direct Premiums Written: $251,395 Michigan Market Share: 0.76% Type: HMO-P

and/or health insurance. Assets: Investments, cash on hand, items of value. Surplus: Assets minus obligations. Michigan Direct Premiums Written: Premiums written directly to Michigan consumers from insurance companies. Source: Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services, 2019 Annual Report (for 2018 activity) *Ranked by Michigan Market Share (amounts in thousands of dollars)

19. PHYSICIANS HEALTH PLAN 1400 E. Michigan Ave. Lansing 48912 517-364-8400 phpmichigan.com Assets: $83,135 Surplus: $49,498 Michigan Direct Premiums Written: $200,702 Michigan Market Share: 0.61% Type: HMO-NP 20. SIERRA HEALTH AND LIFE INSURANCE CO., TOTAL HEALTH CARE INC. 2716 N. Tenaya Way Las Vegas 89128 855-531-9155 sierrahealthandlife.com Assets: $4,126,484 Surplus: $2,116,487 Michigan Direct Premiums Written: $193,345 Michigan Market Share: 0.59% Type: LH-STK

SUBTOTALS Assets: $68,510,000 Surplus: $26,765,374 Michigan Direct Premiums Written: $28,826,602 Michigan Market Share: 87.71% Key/Definitions: HMDI (Health, Medical, Dental Indemnity): Nonprofit insurance carriers governed under specific Michigan laws. HMO-P, NP (Health Maintenance Organization – For Profit/Not for Profit): Deliver health care through contracted providers. LH-STK (Life and Health — Stock Companies): Stockholder-owned companies authorized to sell life insurance

May - June 2020 || DBUSINESS.COM 77

From the Top || Top Hotels Outside Metro Detroit

Top Hotels Outside Metro Detroit* GRAND RAPIDS

Rooms: 340

Jockey Club, Woods, The Gate

Meeting Capacity:

Rooms: 32

AMWAY GRAND PLAZA HOTEL, CURIO

Meeting Rooms: 15

House, Carleton’s Tea Store, Fort

70,000 sq. ft.

Meeting Rooms: 4

COLLECTION BY HILTON

Dining: six.one.six – French

Mackinac Tea Room, Sadie's Ice

187 Monroe Ave.

bistro, jdek Seasonal Patio,

Cream Parlor, Pool Grill, Grand

ST. JOSEPH

Lake Inn

Grand Rapids 49503

Starbucks, Mixology Lounge,

Luncheon Buffet, The Jewel,

THE INN AT HARBOR SHORES

Meeting Capacity: 3,000

616-774-2000

room service

Audubon Wine Bar, Cupola Bar,

800 Whitwam Dr.

amwaygrand.com

Meeting Capacity: 15,369 sq. ft.

Geranium Bar, Bobby's Bar at

St. Joseph 49085

Dining: Barrel Back, Walloon

square feet

Woods, Sushi Grand

269-983-1111

HOLLAND

WINDSOR

Meeting Rooms: 42

Meeting Capacity:

innatharborshores.com

CAESARS WINDSOR CASINO & HOTEL

Dining: Ruth's Chris Steak

CITYFLATSHOTEL

23,000 sq. ft.

Rooms: 92

377 Riverside Dr. E.

Meeting Rooms: 4

Windsor, Ontario

Rooms: 682

House, GP Sports, Starbucks,

61 E. 7th St.

Lumber Baron Bar, Rendezvous,

Holland 49423

MISSION POINT RESORT

Dining: Plank’s Tavern on the

800-991-7777

Garden Court Lounge, The

616-796-2100

One Lakeshore Dr.

Water, Rise and Vine, Torch and

caesarswindsor.com

Kitchen by Wolfgang Puck, The

cityflatshotel.com

Mackinac Island 49757

Tapas

Rooms: 758

Kitchen Counter by Wolfgang

Rooms: 56

906-847-3000

Meeting Capacity:

Meeting Rooms: 7

Puck, 24-hour room service

Meeting Rooms: 3

missionpoint.com

13,000 sq. ft.

Casino Tables: 95

Meeting Capacity: 47,000 sq. ft.

Dining: CitySen Lounge

Rooms: 241

Meeting Capacity: 3,165 sq. ft.

Meeting Rooms: 20 indoor, 5

TRAVERSE CITY

Market Buffet, Legends Sports

exterior

GRAND TRAVERSE RESORT AND SPA

Bar, Spago Trattoria, Pronto Café,

CITYFLATSHOTEL

Dining: Neros Steakhouse,

83 Monroe Center St. NW

KALAMAZOO

Dining: Bistro on the Greens,

100 Grand Traverse Village Blvd.,

Johnny Rockets, Tim Horton’s,

Grand Rapids 49503

RADISSON PLAZA HOTEL & SUITES AT

Round Island Bar & Grill, Chianti,

P.O. Box 404

room service

616-608-1720

KALAMAZOO CENTER

Boxwood Coffeeshop & Cafe,

Acme 49610

Meeting Capacity: 100,000 sq. ft.

cityflatshotel.com

100 W. Michigan Ave.

Reserve Wine Bar

231-534-6000

Rooms: 48

Kalamazoo 49007

Meeting Capacity:

grandtraverseresort.com

Meeting Rooms: 4

269-343-3333

38,000 sq. ft.

Rooms: 585

*Ranked by AAA and DBusiness

Dining: CitySen Lounge

radisson.com

Meeting Rooms: More than 20

for hospitality excellence.

Meeting Capacity: 6,000 sq. ft.

Rooms: 340

MIDLAND

indoor and outdoor venues

Meeting Rooms: 20

THE H HOTEL

Dining: Aerie Restaurant &

EMBASSY SUITES BY HILTON GRAND

Dining: Old Burdick’s Bar & Grill,

111 W. Main St.

Lounge, Sweetwater American

RAPIDS DOWNTOWN

Webster’s Prime Steak House,

Midland 48640

Bistro, The Grille, Jack’s Taproom,

710 Monroe Ave. NW

Zazios, The Morning Dish,

989-839-0500

Grand Lobby Bar, Marketplace,

Grand Rapids 49503

Starbucks, room service

thehhotel.com

Fin’s Sandbar, Bourbons 72.

616-512-5700

Meeting Capacity:

Rooms: 130

Meeting Capacity:

hilton.com/en/embassy/

44,000 sq. ft.

Meeting Rooms: 11

86,500 sq. ft.

Rooms: 250

Dining: Café Zinc, Oxygen

Meeting Rooms: 6

EAST LANSING

Lounge, 24-hour room service

Dining: Big E’s Sport Grill,

EAST LANSING MARRIOTT AT

Meeting Capacity: 8,000 sq. ft.

Whitewater Café, Whitewater

UNIVERSITY PLACE

INN AT BAY HARBOR 3600 Village Harbor Dr. Bay Harbor 49770

Lounge

300 M.A.C. Ave.

MOUNT PLEASANT

855-351-4295

Meeting Capacity: 6,176 sq. ft.

East Lansing 48823

SOARING EAGLE CASINO & RESORT

innatbayharbor.com

517-337-4440

6800 Soaring Eagle Blvd.

Rooms: 111

marriott.com/lanea

Mount Pleasant 48858

Lakeside Cottages: 21

270 Ann St. NW

Rooms: 182

GPS address: 2395 South

Cottages at Crooked Tree: 12

Grand Rapids 49504

Meeting Rooms: 9

Leaton Rd.

Meeting Rooms: 8

616-363-9001

Dining: Bistro 43; Great Room

989-775-5777

Dining: Sagamore’s Dining

thegrandriverhotel.com

lunch, dinner, and lounge service

soaringeaglecasino.com

Room, The Inn Café, Vintage

Rooms: 162

Meeting Capacity: 12,927 sq. ft.

Rooms: 516

Chophouse and Wine Bar, The

Meeting Rooms: 17

Cabana Bar (summer only), The

THE GRAND RIVER HOTEL

Meeting Rooms: 3 Dining: River Rock Restaurant

MACKINAC ISLAND

Casino Tables: 63

Links Grille, Afternoon Tea.

and Lounge

GRAND HOTEL

Dining: Isabella’s, Water Lily

Meeting Capacity: 6,600 sq. ft.

Meeting Capacity: 2,585 sq. ft.

286 Grand Ave., P.O. Box 286

Lounge, Native Grind Coffee

Mackinac Island 49757

Shop and Bakery, Central Deli,

WALLOON LAKE

800-334-7263

Little Eagle Café, SLICE! Pizzeria,

HOTEL WALLOON

235 Louis St. NW

grandhotel.com

Aurora Buffet, Legends Diner,

4127 N. M-75

Grand Rapids 49503

Rooms: 397

Siniikaung Steak and Chop

Walloon Lake 49796

616-242-1500

Meeting Rooms: 16

House, Ascend Sports Bar and

231-535-5000

ilovethejw.com

Dining: Main dining room, The

Nightclub, room service

hotelwalloon.com

JW MARRIOTT GRAND RAPIDS

78 DBUSINESS || May - June 2020

Largest Business Insurance Agencies — Largest Contractors || From the Top

Largest Business Insurance Agencies in Metro Detroit Ranked by 2019 Revenue* 1. BROWN AND BROWN OF DETROIT 35735 Mound Rd. Sterling Heights 48311 586-977-6300 bbdetroit.com 2019 Revenue: $71M 2018 Revenue: $85M 2019 Premium Volume: $425M Employees: 563 2. MARSH AND MCLENNAN AGENCY 3331 W. Big Beaver Rd., Ste. 200 Troy 48084 248-822-8000 mma-mi.com 2019 Revenue: $46.5M 2018 Revenue: $40.6M 2019 Premium Volume: $1.8B Employees: 154 3. HYLANT GROUP 24 Frank Lloyd Wright Dr., Ste. J4100 Ann Arbor 48105 734-741-0044 2401 W. Big Beaver Rd., Ste. 400 Troy 48084 248-643-8750 hylant.com 2019 Revenue: $32.8M 2018 Revenue: $31.9M 2019 Premium Volume: $486M Employees: 146 4. KAPNICK INSURANCE GROUP 769 Chicago Rd., Third Floor

Troy 48083 248-352-4455 kapnick.com 2019 Revenue: NA 2018 Revenue: $24M 2019 Premium Volume: NA Employees: 85 5. ASSURED PARTNERS INC./ MICHIGAN 3099 Biddle Ave. Wyandotte 48192 734-283-1400 assuredpartners.com 2019 Revenue: NA 2018 Revenue: $21M 2019 Premium Volume: NA Employees: 100 6. MICHIGAN FINANCIAL COS. INC. 28411 Northwestern Hwy., Ste. 1300 Southfield 48034 248-663-4700 michiganfinancial.com 2019 Revenue: NA 2018 Revenue: $19.7M 2019 Premium Volume: NA Employees: 116 7. THE HUTTENLOCHER GROUP 1007 W. Huron Waterford Twp. 48328 248-681-2100 HGWay.com 2019 Revenue: NA

2018 Revenue: $17.5M 2019 Premium Volume: NA Employees: 108 8. RALPH C. WILSON AGENCY INC. 26026 Telegraph Rd., Ste. 100 Southfield 48086 800-638-1174 rcwa.net 2019 Revenue: $86M 2018 Revenue: $8.5M 2019 Premium Volume: $223.5M Employees: 51 9. KOROTKIN 26877 Northwestern Hwy., Ste. 400 Southfield 48033 248-350-5801 korotkin.com 2019 Revenue: NA 2018 Revenue: $8.3M (estimated) 2019 Premium Volume: NA Employees: 51 10. CAPITAL INSURANCE GROUP 1263 W. Square Lake Rd. Bloomfield Hills 48302 248-333-2500 capitalinsuranceagent.com 2019 Revenue: NA 2018 Revenue: $6.3M 2019 Premium Volume: NA Employees: 27

11. GOODMAN VENEGAS 2800 Livernois Rd., Ste. 170 Troy 48083 248-740-9090 goodmanvenegas.com 2019 Revenue: NA 2018 Revenue: $4M 2019 Premium Volume: NA Employees: 15

248-363-5746 ins-advisors.com 2019 Revenue: NA 2018 Revenue: $2.3M 2019 Premium Volume: NA Employees: 26

12. ALLIANT INSURANCE SERVICES 1050 Wilshire Dr., Ste. 210 Troy 48084 248-540-3131 alliant.com 2019 Revenue: $3.9M 2018 Revenue: $3.9M 2019 Premium Volume: $34.5M Employees: 21 13. (TIE) CIA INSURANCE AND RISK MANAGEMENT 45600 Village Blvd. Shelby Twp. 48315 586-532-7300 ciainsurance.com 2019 Revenue: $2.3M 2018 Revenue: $2.3M 2019 Premium Volume: $27.5M Employees: 20

*This list, the most comprehensive available, was compiled through individual interviews with each of the respective business insurance agencies. The agencies located in the region — Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw, and Livingston counties — are ranked by total 2019 revenue. For agencies with headquarters located outside the region, revenue and employment are based on area activity. Many did not respond due to the COVID-19 situation.

13. (TIE) INSURANCE ADVISORS An ACRICURE Agency Partner 8884 Commerce Rd. Commerce Twp. 48382

Largest Contractors in Metro Detroit Ranked by 2019 Revenue* 1. BARTON MALOW CO. 26500 American Dr. Southfield 48034 248-436-5000 bartonmalow.com 2019 Revenue: NA 2018 Revenue: $1.9B Regional Employees: 2,200 Top Local Executive: Ryan Maibach, president 2. BELFOR HOLDINGS INC. 185 Oakland Ave., Ste. 15 Birmingham 48009 248-594-1144 belfor.com 2019 Revenue: NA 2018 Revenue: $1.5B (estimated) Regional Employees: 1,950 Top Local Executive: Sheldon Yellen, CEO 3. WALBRIDGE 777 Woodward Ave., Ste. 300 Detroit 48226 313-963-8000 walbridge.com 2019 Revenue: NA

2018 Revenue: $1.34B Regional Employees: 1,000 Top Local Executive: John Rakolta Jr., chairman and CEO 4. COMMERCIAL CONTRACTING GROUP INC. 4260 N. Atlantic Blvd. Auburn Hills 48439 248-209-0500 cccnetwork.com 2019 Revenue: NA 2018 Revenue: $367M Regional Employees: 187 Top Local Executive: William Pettibone, chairman 5. IDEAL CONTRACTING 2525 Clark St. Detroit 48209 313-551-2279 idealcontracting.com 2019 Revenue: NA 2018 Revenue: $270M (estimated) Employees: 400 Top Local Executive: Frank Venegas Jr., chairman and CEO

6. TURNER CONSTRUCTION CO. 535 Griswold St., Ste. 1525 Detroit 48226 313-596-0500 turnerconstruction.com/ office-network/detroit 2019 Revenue: $247M 2018 Revenue: $206.5M Regional Employees: 87 Top Local Executive: David J. Kelly, vice president and general manager 7. SACHSE CONSTRUCTION 1528 Woodward Ave., Ste. 600 Detroit 48226 313-481-8200 sachseconstruction.com 2019 Revenue: $208M 2018 Revenue: $213M Regional Employees: 170 Top Local Executive: Todd Sachse, CEO and founder 8. AUCH CONSTRUCTION 65 University Dr. Pontiac 48342 248-334-2000 auchconstruction.com

2019 Revenue: NA 2018 Revenue: $190M Regional Employees: 92 Top Local Executive: Vincent DeLeonardis, president and CEO 9. DEMARIA 3031 W. Grand Blvd., Ste. 624 Detroit 48202 248-348-8710 demariabuild.com 2019 Revenue: NA 2018 Revenue: $145.7M Regional Employees: 120 Top Local Executives: Joseph DeMaria Jr., CEO; Anthony DeMaria, president

*The list, the most comprehensive available, was compiled through individual interviews with each respective company. For list purposes, the region includes Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw, and Livingston counties. For company headquarters based in the region, total revenue is listed. For companies with headquarters outside the region, revenue is based on projects in the region. Many did not respond due to the COVID-19 situation.

10. ALBERICI CONSTRUCTORS INC. 26711 Northwestern Hwy., Ste. 255 Southfield 48033 734-367-2500 alberici.com 2019 Revenue: $71.3M 2018 Revenue: $63.2M Local Employees: 19 Top Local Executive: Aaron Walsh, general manager

May - June 2020 || DBUSINESS.COM 79

From the Top || Largest Law Firms

Largest Law Firms in Metro Detroit* 1. HONIGMAN

7. CLARK HILL

2290 First National Building

500 Woodward Ave., Ste. 3500

660 Woodward Ave.

Detroit 48226

313-965-8300

313-465-7000

clarkhill.com

honigman.com

Total Attorneys: 112 (metro

Total Attorneys: 325

Detroit), 140 (Michigan), 616

Specialty: 60+ practice areas

(firmwide) Specialty: 20 practice areas and

2. DICKINSON WRIGHT

24 industries in metro Detroit, 26

500 Woodward Ave., Ste. 4000

practice areas and 27 industries

Detroit 48226

firmwide

313-223-3500 dickinson-wright.com

8. JAFFE RAITT HEUER & WEISS

Total Attorneys: 192

27777 Franklin Rd., Ste. 2500

Specialty: 40+ practices

Southfield 48034 248-351-3000

3. BODMAN

jaffelaw.com

1901 St. Antoine St.

Total Attorneys: 108

6th Floor at Ford Field

Specialty: 27 practices

Detroit 48226 313-259-7777

9. KITCH DRUTCHAS WAGNER

bodmanlaw.com

VALITUTTI & SHERBROOK

Total Attorneys: 154

1 Woodward Ave., Ste. 2400

Specialty: 40+ practices and

Detroit 48226

industries

313-965-7900

LEGAL EAGLES Honigman in downtown Detroit.

kitch.com 4. BUTZEL LONG 150 W. Jefferson, Ste. 100

Total Attorneys: 107

howardandhoward.com

Detroit 48226

Total Attorneys: 49 (metro

Specialty: 97 practice areas

Total Attorneys: 88

313-961-0200

Detroit), 58 (firmwide), 75

Specialty: 15 in practice

kerr-russell.com

(firmwide including of counsel)

expertise, 11 in industry expertise

Total Attorneys: 57

Specialty: 20 practice areas

Detroit 48226 313-225-7000

10. CANTOR COLBURN

Specialty: 38 practice areas

butzel.com

201 W. Big Beaver Rd., Ste. 1101

Total Attorneys: 147

Troy 48084

Specialty: 67 practices, 24

248-524-2300

1155 Brewery Park, Ste. 200

specialty groups

cantorcolburn.com

Detroit 48207

4000 Town Center, 9th Floor

28400 Northwestern Hwy.,

Total Attorneys: 100

313-446-1530

Southfield 48075

Second Floor

Specialty: Intellectual property,

garanlucow.com

248-355-4141

Southfield 48034

150 W. Jefferson, Ste. 2500

patent, trademark, copyright,

Total Attorneys: 78

ceflawyers.com

248-354-4030

Detroit 48226

litigation, transactions, post

Specialty: 24 practice areas

Total Attorneys: 54 (metro

maddinhauser.com

313-963-6420

grant

Detroit/Michigan) 56 (firmwide)

Total Attorneys: 41

Specialty: 11 practices**

Specialty: 18 practice areas

5. MILLER CANFIELD

14. GIARMARCO, MULLINS & HORTON

millercanfield.com Total Attorneys: 141 (metro

11. PLUNKETT COONEY

20. MADDIN, HAUSER, ROTH &

13. GARAN LUCOW MILLER 17. COLLINS EINHORN FARRELL

HELLER

101 W. Big Beaver Rd. 18. HARNESS DICKEY

*Based on numbers of lawyers in

Detroit), 175 (Michigan), 236

38505 Woodward Ave., Ste. 100

Troy 48084

(firmwide)

Bloomfield Hills 48304

248-457-7000

5445 Corporate Dr., Ste. 200

Wayne, Oakland, Macomb,

Specialty: 100+ practices

248-901-4000

gmhlaw.com

Troy 48098

Washtenaw, and Livingston

plunkettcooney.com

Total Attorneys: 66

248-641-1600

counties as of March 2020.

Total Attorneys: 98 (metro

Specialty: 16 practice areas

hdp.com

**According to 2019 data

6. DYKEMA

Total Attorneys: 52 (metro

400 Renaissance Center

Detroit), 142 (firmwide)

Detroit 48243

Specialty: 28 practices in

313-568-6800

business, 33 practices in

1000 Town Center, 22nd Floor

Specialty: Intellectual property

dykema.com

litigation (metro Detroit); 27

Southfield 48075

law

Total Attorneys: 131 (metro

practices in business, 33

248-358-4400

Detroit), 163 (Michigan), 393

practices in litigation (firmwide)

brookskushman.com

19. SECREST, WARDLE, LYNCH,

Total Attorneys: 63

HAMPTON, TRUEX AND MORLEY

(firmwide) Specialty: 100+ practices within five departments

12. HOWARD & HOWARD ATTORNEYS

Specialty: 10 practice areas

248-645-1483

Detroit), 99 (firmwide)

2600 Troy Center Dr. Troy 48007

450 W. Fourth St. Royal Oak 48067

80 DBUSINESS || May - June 2020

15. BROOKS KUSHMAN

16. KERR, RUSSELL AND WEBER 500 Woodward Ave., Ste. 2500

248-851-9500 secrestwardle.com

Source: DBusiness research

THURSDAY JULY 23, 2020

8:30 AM – 5:30 PM

PINE KNOB GOLF CLUB AuburnHillsChamber.com or 248.853.7862 for more information.

AUBURN HILLS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

GOLF OPEN 18 HOLE SCRAMBLE • PRIZES • GREAT CONNECTIONS

THANK YOU,

DETROIT DBusiness supports our medical community, grocery industry, non-profits, retail and restaurant workers, truck drivers, mail carriers and teachers. To all of our neighbors on the front lines, you are our heroes — with gratitude,

THANK YOU

Closing Bell || Automotive

Wheel Man

For decades, C.S. Mott was the single largest individual shareholder at General Motors Co. His agile and prudent management remain an example for the auto industry.

82 DBUSINESS || May - June 2020

“Finally we got going,” Mott recalled, “and (we) made money to buy more machinery to make more axles, and to make more money to buy more machinery to make even more axles.” In 1906, benefiting from an irresistible package of incentives including a free site for a 60,000-square-foot plant — enough space, Renehan notes, for 400 machines and nearly as many men — Mott moved the company to Flint in order to be at the industry’s core. He welcomed his friend Alfred P. Sloan, of Hyatt Roller Bearing Co., on monthly visits from New Jersey. Sloan, who went on to preside over GM for decades, marked Weston-Mott’s move as “the first step in the integration of the automobile industry.” In fiscal year 1908-1909, the supplier made a profit of more than $500,000 on gross receipts above $2 million. When GM formed in 1908 around Buick and Olds, it acquired 49 percent of Weston-Mott through a stock swap. The rest was transferred in 1913. Overall, Mott accumulated an $800-million fortune. Although he previously declined to join GM’s board, he did so in 1913, and his practicality was vital to the corporation. Taking a dim view of GM founder Billy Durant’s incautious ways, Mott recalled, “He was one hell of a gambler. To this day, I don’t know how he was able to handle it financially, but he did.”

TREE OF LIFE Mott built an estate on 65 acres in Flint called Applewood. Named for an apple orchard, today it is open for public tours.

Another facet of Mott’s life was devoted to politics and philanthropy. Running for Flint mayor at the head of the Independent Citizens Party, he swept to victory over a Socialist candidate in 1912. Improving the sewer system, paving roads, and purchasing park property topped the new mayor’s agenda. Mott was re-elected in 1913 to what he called “another year’s sentence at hard labor.” After losing in 1914, he won a third term in 1918 and then campaigned unsuccessfully as a Republican for the Michigan governorship. Meanwhile, he developed his Applewood estate on East Kearsley Street in Flint and launched his namesake charitable foundation, which by 2016 had dispensed $3 billion in grants to such institutions as the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor. Two of Mott’s least-known acts have a special poignancy. In 1938 he “loaned” $30,000 to Durant after his Raymere estate in New Jersey was lost to bankruptcy. Later, at Sloan’s behest, Mott contributed $2,500 a year to Durant’s upkeep until the founder’s death in 1947. Mott, who was 72, kept on ticking, serving on GM’s board until his long and productive life ended in 1973.

COURTESY OF THE RUTH MOTT FOUNDATION/APPLEWOOD

eston-Mott Co. in Utica, N.Y., had enjoyed a period of modest growth as a manufacturer of spoked steel wheels when in 1902 its young leader, Charles Stewart Mott, received bad news from Packard Motor Car Co. in Detroit. The automaker had decided to use wood wheels rather than Mott’s steel offerings. “I was left with responsibility of a factory and payroll, and very little business or income,” said Mott, who was 27 years old. Trained as a mechanical engineer at Stevens Institute of Technology, Mott hastily canvassed his family company’s clientele. “The crisis called for complete retooling and reinvention of the firm’s production,” writes Edward Renehan in “The Life of Charles Stewart Mott: Industrialist, Philanthropist, Mr. Flint.” Mott did more than produce blueprints and work out prototypes with his machinists. He also diversified into axles and “quite audaciously took orders for an enormous amount of trade.” Before long, he had captured new orders from Oldsmobile (founded as Olds Motor Vehicle Co. in 1897) and wooed the fledgling Cadillac Automobile Co., which had pre-sold 2,286 examples of its Model A at the New York Auto Show.

BY RONALD AHRENS

A DETROIT SUCCESS STORY SINCE 1995 PENINSULA CAPITAL PARTNERS L.L.C. is a respected private equity investment firm that has always proudly called Detroit its home. Since its founding in 1995, Peninsula has raised seven investment partnerships totaling approximately $1.9 billion, each providing customized capital solutions to middle-market businesses seeking funding to complete acquisitions, support growth, buyback stock or address other special situations requiring junior capital. We pioneered the development of a new, more flexible investment approach in the private equity industry and are recognized as a leader in our market, earning us the patronage of major institutional investors both in the United States and Europe. Our unique investment approach combines elements of buyout, private debt and growth capital funds, allowing us the rare flexibility to craft tailored capital solutions for businesses, including both debt and equity, and either as a controlling or non-controlling investor. Since 1995, we have closed over 130 platform investments, about half of which have been in partnership with independent sponsor groups. Please keep us in mind the next time you require a junior capital provider; weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll bring our Detroit can-do attitude to help make your next deal another success story.

PLEASE ALLOW US TO SHARE OUR CAPITAL STRUCTURING EXPERTISE WITH YOU â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 313.237.5100 | WWW.PENINSULAFUNDS.COM

Quality higher education minus the long-term financial sacrifice. With tuition rates among the lowest of any four-year college or university in the state and generous scholarships for new and transfer students, the degree you want has never been more affordable.

baker.edu

Better value. Brighter future. Baker College.