Building an Electric Grid for the 21st Century
Joe Mazzola Defines Steampunk Art
Employment for At-Risk Citizens
Venture Michigan EXPLORING MICHIGAN’S INNOVATORS, ENTREPRENEURS
SUSTAINABILITY 2017
The Planet Doctor Michael Garfield has guided the Ann Arborbased Ecology Center for more than twenty years and shares what he has learned.
VENTUREMICHIGANMAG.COM
ENERGIZING MICHIGAN’S
Future
Energy is essential to the way we live, work and play. ITC operates, builds and maintains the region’s electric transmission infrastructure. We’re a Michigan-based company working hard to improve electric reliability, increase electric transmission capacity, and keep efficient, reliable energy flowing to homes and businesses across the state.
Building the electric transmission infrastructure that will power the future.
www.itc-holdings.com
CONTENTS
VOLUME 2 : : ISSUE 3
SUSTAINABILITY 2017
FEATURES FOCUS
14
Michael Garfield of the Ecology Center
18
BUSINESS
6
18
Michigan's electric security blanket
WEEKEND
32
In search of darkness: tips for stargazers
DIGITAL EDITION
22 DEPARTMENTS
28
4 6
WELCOME
From our team
10
IMPACT
STARTUPS CityInsights helps to save and conserve
How to grow produce… and opportunity
venturemichiganmag.com facebook.com/venturemichigan twitter.com/venturemichigan instagram.com/venturemichigan
22
DESIGN
Exploring Detroit's Steampunk art
28
GADGETS
30
MITTEN-MADE
A Mighty player for offline listening
36 38
EVOLUTIONS Athletic shoes for the masses
SCENE University of Michigan hosts a venture capital competition
Michigan artisans and micro-entrepreneurs VENTURE MICHIGAN : : SUSTAINABILITY 2017
3
Venture Michigan
WELCOME
SUSTAINABILITY 2017 Volume 2, Issue 3
T
hese days, "sustainability" may be an oft-used buzzword but, as the realities of climate change come into ever sharper focus, we find it still holds meaning as our evolving markets strive to keep up. As we close 2017, and head bravely into a new year and an uncertain future, our writers give a glimpse into the many ways Michigan startups and legacy businesses are working to conserve resources and nurture the planet. Our cover story, “The Planet Doctor,” introduces us to Michael Garfield. As director of Ann Arbor’s Ecology Center, he’s charged with ensuring its mission of environmental advocacy through education and work with corporations and policymakers. One of its largest initiatives, Michigan Farmed Institution Network, promotes a sustainable food system. A different kind of farming is being cultivated in one central Detroit neighborhood. Gary Wozniak, CEO of RecoveryPark, explains to Weam Namou about his ambition to provide jobs for individuals with barriers to employment, especially those with criminal records. One of RecoveryPark’s engagements, RecoveryPark Farms, grows chefrequested produce for restaurants within a 300-mile radius of the farm. We take a look at our utilities from a greener point of view, too. Nolan Bianchi introduces us to ITC Holdings of Novi and how it’s planning for a more secure and renewable energy grid. He also reports on the recently-held 27th annual Society of Environmental Journalists Conference where representatives from DTE Energy and Consumers Energy spoke about plans for a greener future. That future, it appears, is in the hands of young visionaries such as Abess Makki. The 24-year-old founder of startup CityInsight is helping Detroit residents manage their water usage, and avoid shutoffs, through its CityWater app. Art and travel can also respect manmade and natural resources. Our culture writer Connor McNeely interviewed Joe Mazzola, a Detroit-based artist repurposing the most unlikely of materials into wonderfully creative works of art. In our Weekend section, Andrew Burd shares tips on how best to view our glorious, winter night skies. His advice? Escape the light pollution of big cities and head for the rural hills, no flashlight required. Finally, because you’re likely reading this in December, we offer a handful of suggestions for Michigan-made gifts and tell you about a new, personal music player that streams Spotify without a smartphone. And as you prepare to step lively into the New Year, we ask to put your best foot forward (see page 36). – The Venture Michigan Team
In this issue, our writers give us a glimpse into how Michigan start-ups and legacy businesses are conserving resources and nurturing the planet.
4
SUSTAINABILITY 2017 : : VENTURE MICHIGAN
EDITORIAL Editor Edward Nakfoor Copy Editor Anne Mulvenna Contributing Writers Nolan Bianchi Stephanie Freedman Pam Houghton Connor McNeely
Amy Mindell Weam Namou Ed Snyder Joyce Wiswell
Advisory Board Susan Gordon Paul Riser Chuck Rymal
CREATIVE Creative Director Alex Lumelsky Production SKY Creative Contributing Photographers Andrew Burd Julianne Lindsey Anna O'Neill Max Wedge
PUBLISHING Published by Venture Michigan LLC
ADVERTISING Managing Director, Sales and Marketing R. David Eick Account Managers Jim Angel Nan Keilman Barbara Somero For Advertising: 248-595-0703 or ads@venturemichiganmag.com Venture Michigan is a quarterly magazine. Our mission is to uncover the most important stories about the people, companies, technologies and ideas that are transforming Michigan. The publication is distributed to SmartZone communities throughout the state. To subscribe, please email: subscriptions@venturemichiganmag.com. © 2017 Venture Michigan LLC All content herein is the property of Venture Michigan LLC and cannot be copied, reproduced, distributed or republished without express written permission. Postmaster: Send address changes to Venture Michigan Magazine, 3000 Town Center, Suite 58, Southfield MI 48075
CREATING COMMUNITY CHEMISTRY ONE SMILE AT A TIME. Chemical Bank aims to create a personal bond with each community we serve and every small business, family or customer that walks in our door. Learn more at ChemicalBank.com. We’re proud to support the Detroit community!
STARTUPS
6
SUSTAINABILITY 2017 : : VENTURE MICHIGAN
The Meter Man
U
BY JOYCE WISWELL
Detroit-based startup helps customers to cut costs and conserve water
JULIANNE LINDSEY
nlike many young entrepreneurs his age, Abess Makki isn’t in it for the fame and fortune. His simply wants “to literally make a mark on the world.” He just might. Makki’s startup company, CityInsight, is already getting lots of attention for its new app, CityWater, which helps Detroit water customers monitor their usage. It’s a win-win, he says: customers aren't blindsided by giant water bills they can’t pay, and the city isn't spending time arguing with residents who believe they were overcharged but, instead, helping them establish affordable payment plans. “There was a huge learning curve. I am not a technical guy and I didn’t understand what it takes to build an app,” admits Makki, 24. “But I just kept with the mission I believed in.” That mission is to use technology to create better customer service, and, just as importantly to Makki, help raise awareness of the scarcity and value of water as a resource. He became interested in the topic a few years ago after seeing actor Matt Damon talk about his organization, Water.org, on CNN. “When I saw how simple it was to get involved I immediately jumped on it,” Makki says. “You can go online, make a donation of $25 and give someone water for life. Think about it, it blows your mind.” The CityWater idea came from the notorious Detroit water shutoffs in 2014. “Tens of thousands of people lost access to water, and I remembered how my parents always complained about the rise of their bill in the summer. It all came together – how do we fix this? Not necessarily to prevent the shutoffs, because people need to pay their bills, but to keep people in the loop on what is going on with their water bill.” His idea was to use technology to VENTURE MICHIGAN : : SUSTAINABILITY 2017
7
STARTUPS
make it as easy for customers to keep up with their water usage as it is to see how many minutes remain on their phone account and how much money is in their checking account. “How come,” he wondered, “I do not have a tool that keeps me in the loop on something I pay for on a regular basis?” Makki had already proved his mettle as more than a dreamer. As a student at Wayne State University, he co-founded and was president of the National Student Water Association, a non-profit that raises awareness of global water issues and provides water access assistance in poor nations. He completed the Summer Venture and Management Program at the Harvard Business School, and currently holds a fellowship at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan. In the summer of 2014, he participated in DTX Launch Detroit, a program from TechTown that helps young entrepreneurs with their technology startups. Makki says he appreciated how the program helped him develop CityInsight but admits he was not always the most obedient participant. “I was kind of a rebel. I have never been the guy who follows the rules,” he says. For example, rather than wait until things were in place — as recommended in the textbook he received on steps to running a startup — Makki jumped right in and queried “hundreds of Detroit residents” to see how they felt about his app idea. “They [his instructors] were like, ‘what are you doing?!’ but I took things into my own hands. I just walked around different areas of Detroit and asked people, ‘would you want this for free?’ They all said, ‘without a doubt.’ I said, ‘Would you pay a dollar for it?’ They said yes. But they shouldn’t have to pay anything; they are already paying for their water.” It’s the City of Detroit that paid for the app, though Makki won’t disclose the sale price. “I don’t want that to be what this whole thing is about,” he explains. “I am really differencedriven.” Robert Presnell, COO of the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department, says he liked how 8
SUSTAINABILITY 2017 : : VENTURE MICHIGAN
Makki and his team were willing to be flexible as they developed the app. “Some people looked at it as, ‘you guys teamed up with a startup, are you crazy?’ That depends on the level of risk people are willing to take. I believe we can hedge on that risk on what we can deliver,” says Presnell, who joined the department after working on the city’s bankruptcy team. “We have been going through a very large transformation and a new priority is customer service. We looked at a lot of different options and didn’t like what we saw, which was a lot of off-the-shelf solutions that we didn’t have control over. I needed selfservice that was extremely easy and accessible from a mobile phone, not a computer, because a lot of our population does not have computers. We got to really take control of how we wanted these things to work.” Under the former system, Detroit Water and Sewerage had just three service centers where customers could pay their bills in person. Now
“One thing I have learned from all the successful people I have worked with is that you are always going to find your way."
voice. VoIP. Internet. mpls. sip trunking. hosted ip pbx. unified communications.
they’ve deployed 32 kiosks in 28 locations where residents can make cash payments – the often-preferred method since many don’t have credit or debit cards. Customers can use CityWater to track their water use compared to the prior month, take action if usage unexplainedly jumps, and work out a payment plan if they can’t afford their bill. Through the app, the department can collect information like customer names and phone numbers, data it has lacked until now. The app was launched in late July. “We don’t expect everyone to utilize it by any means, but our goal is 10 to 20 percent and then continuing to grow that number all the time,” said Presnell. “We’re telling people, ‘skip the line, conduct business on your own time.’” Makki says he’s learned a lot along the way, especially the painful lesson of not taking things personally when wouldbe investors or advisors dropped out. “I am super passionate and a lot of people are not. One thing I have learned from all the successful people I have worked with is that you are always going to find your way. The attitude to have it, this will work but you have to be ready to pivot.” For many entrepreneurs, the excitement is all in the creation; once a business is established the owner is ready to move on to other pursuits. Not so for Makki, who says he gets inspiration from his “extremely hard working” parents, who emigrated from Sierra Leone. “My generation wants to work for Goldman Sachs or Google; everyone is just about getting to the next step rather than how can they make a difference,” he says. “My goal is to be running this same company for the next 50 years. I want to have a legacy. Rather than people saying ‘wow, this guy was super rich,’ I want them to say, ‘this guy literally made a mark on the world.’ ”
happy customers
reliable smarter savings
powered by great people
Effective communication is the key to any great relationship. Communication is our business. It’s what we do best. We use technology to help businesses communicate effectively. We use all the latest and greatest network stuff, but to put it simply, businesses just like yours are choosing Grid4 because: We own our network. We have talented people running it. We’ll save you money. It’ll be a great experience.
VENTURE MICHIGAN : : SUSTAINABILITY 2017
9
IMPACT
Barrier Busters RecoveryPark Farms grows opportunities for re-entering citizens BY WEAM NAMOU
H
idden amid the abandoned buildings and empty lots of Detroit's Poletown is the non-profit RecoveryPark, a redevelopment project whose focus is agriculture. RecoveryPark provides employment opportunities for residents with barriers to the job market, including veterans, recovering addicts, people with criminal records or those with low literacy rates. Gary Wozniak, CEO and founder, established RecoveryPark in 2010 with SHAR (Substance Abuse Addiction Rehabilitation), a Detroit-based substance abuse treatment program that was established in 1969. He was not new to farming, having grown up in Shelby Township where his grandparents were farmers and sold produce at the Eastern Market. “A hundred years ago, everything was naturally grown, was organic, and we lost these skills,” he said. Although Wozniak received a bachelor's degree in psychology from Oakland University, he wanted to make more money than what this profession offered so he became a stock broker. He found great success, but as a result of drug addiction, he ended up in prison for three-and-a-half years for using client’s money to support his addiction. “When I came out, I wanted to do something with my life so I applied for a low entry job and they declined me,” he said. This felt humiliating for Wozniak, since he was sober and eager to get back to work. Swearing he’d never allow this to happen to him again, he decided to start his own business and ran several of them prior to establishing RecoveryPark. “I had noticed some problems with the food industry over the years, with various chemicals plaguing it,” he said. “Now it’s coming full circle, with younger people more concerned with what they put in their bodies.”
10
SUSTAINABILITY 2017 : : VENTURE MICHIGAN
Wozniak also wanted to hire people with barriers, particularly those just coming out of prison. “Creating jobs for people with barriers goes to the heart of who I am,” he said. “I want to give people who have made mistakes a chance. When people come to us, we provide the support they need to get back on their feet.” RecoveryPark has 13 employees, 80 percent of
Gary Wozniak, CEO and Founder, RecoveryPark whom are Detroit residents. They are taught farming skills, and earn $11 per hour. After 90 days of employment they receive paid healthcare, and after nine months have the opportunity to become managers. “Statistics show that if people keep a job for two to three years, they won’t go back to their old lifestyle,” said Wozniak.
IMPACT “We’re not urban farming. We’re commercial farmers in an urban area.” – GARY WOZNIAK RecoveryPark is a projected 5-year, $28 million redevelopment project whose mission is to rebuild on vacant land, create jobs and help to revitalize the neighborhood which has seen some of the most significant population losses in the past few decades. The organization has worked closely with various City of Detroit administrations, all of whom have been supportive according to Wozniak. The footprint for RecoveryPark is 105 acres; it currently utilizes 40 acres and additional property is being acquired. “Ninety-eight percent of the land here is vacant,” said Wozniak. “Chene Street used to be the second busiest street in Detroit outside of Woodward,” said George Gardiner, RecoveryPark COO. Gardiner, who holds a B.A. in Economics from Western Michigan University and an MBA from Walsh College of Business and Accountancy, oversees RecoveryPark’s operations. He listed a number of community engagements RecoveryPark is involved in. They include launching a no dumping campaign, building a community garden and installing busstop seating on Chene, converting Chene-Ferry Market Entrance into a community space, founding a neighborhood business association, conducting blight cleanup on more than 60 acres of land, and boarding up dangerous houses. “Healthy communities have high percentage of home ownership and business ownership, because they have a stake in the game,” said Wozniak. “And children learn from their parents. Most farmers learn from their families not from universities.” Their first food business, RecoveryPark Farms, was incorporated in 2012, which is under the umbrella of RecoveryPark’s 501(c)3 non-profit. It provides fresh, local specialty produce to top quality restaurants using novel lighting technology to support sustainable yearround growing. The farm's products are distributed by Del Bene Produce to restaurants in a 300-mile radius within 24 to 48 hours after harvesting. “We’re not urban farming,” said Wozniak. “We’re commercial farmers in an urban area. The for-profit gives us the sustainability that we need so that, at 12
SUSTAINABILITY 2017 : : VENTURE MICHIGAN
some point, we won’t need the philanthropy, and will be able to sustain ourselves.” Like other entrepreneurs, RecoveryPark has had financing issues, where Wozniak sometimes finds himself spending 90 percent of his time. The multimillion dollar operation received its first seed money of $5000 from Detroit Development Fund; then the Erb Family Foundation invested $25,000; followed by a $75,000 investment from the Kresge Foundation. RecoveryPark received an additional $1.1 million from the Erb Family Foundation.
George Gardiner, COO “It’s an uphill battle,” he said. “We need $7 to $10 million for next year to build the green house.” The organization's long-term goals are hydroponic growing sites and fish farming. As a child, Wozniak came with his grandparents to the Chene-Ferry Market that was established in the 1850s and closed in 1990. He remembers the Polish and German immigrants who didn’t speak English but kept the community thriving. To help transform this area, he said, “We should be giving away land rather than selling it, and we should ease immigration rules so people who come here are those who want to be here.”
If a venture fund was willing to INVEST One... Two... or Even TEN MILLION DOLLARS!! into YOUR BUSINESS... would you take it? the tradefirst network provides investment in the best form —
NEW BUSINESS.
• For 39 years TradeFirst has been and will be a source of funds for our 5,000+ members.
• Many of our member companies, receiving the most new business, began as start-ups
• Access to a large and vibrant marketplace.
• New trade business covers every day expenses, thus conserving cash—use trade dollars for advertising, build outs, employee bonuses and more.
• The TradeFirst marketplace: • Increases Business • Maximizes capacity—sell yesterday’s • Grow by $10,000 to $1,000,000... or unsold inventory $5,000,000... or even $10,000,000 every • Support the local economy • We fight the national chains and the new day, month and year! 800 pound gorilla—AMAZON and the internet
michigan florida ohio
248-544-1350 954-781-5000 419-843-2555
FOCUS
The Planet Doctor Michael Garfield, director of Ann Arbor's Ecology Center, seeks to improve community health BY PAM HOUGHTON
M
ichael Garfield’s family moved from New York City to the Midwest when he was ten — a change in scenery that left a lifelong impression on him. “Living in smaller places in this part of the country made me appreciate the role of nature,” and its effect on the community, says Garfield, the director of the Ecology Center in Ann Arbor. “I always loved the outdoors and spent a lot of my time active and out of the house.” When the moment came to choose a vocation, it made sense for the future environmentalist to combine his love of the natural world with the strong sense of social and economic justice his family had instilled. “I wanted to help make the world a better place by making the world more livable for everyone.” He’s been making the world more livable as the center’s visionary director since 1993. The support of “long-term staff people who have made a career out of environmental advocacy and education” has helped, he adds. “I work with some of the most talented people who 14
SUSTAINABILITY 2017 : : VENTURE MICHIGAN
deserve so much credit” for carrying out the Ecology Center’s mission. What is the mission of the center, an independent non-profit since 1970? “We work to create innovative solutions for a healthy people and a healthy planet,” says Garfield, citing health as the focus of everything they do. The Ecology Center also educates consumers and their families; encourages corporations to use clean energy, make safe products and provide healthy food; and works with policymakers to establish laws that protect communities and the environment. Michigan Farmed Institution Network Healthy, sustainable food systems are a major initiative. In 2014, the center partnered with Michigan State University’s Center for Regional Food Systems (CRFS) to create the Michigan Farmed Institution Network (MFIN), which connects growers of locally produced food with institutions such as schools, hospitals, prisons and senior living centers
that buy food in large quantities. “Michigan has the second most diverse agriculture [including fruits, vegetables and livestock] in the U.S. besides California,” Garfield says. “But everything’s grown for sale in commodities for other parts of the world. So switching over to sell to local buyers” — a process Garfield admits is complicated — offers opportunities for Michigan food growers and producers, as well as businesses that warehouse, distribute and transport food. The goal, in agreement with the Michigan Good Food Charter, is to get institutional buyers to purchase 20 percent of their food from Michigan producers by 2020, an increase intended to grow and sustain farms, create healthy communities and stimulate local economies. “We have seen steady growth in local purchasing by food service directors across institutions since 2004,” said a CRFS director on MSU’s website. “This points to increasing potential for farmers to generate new business in these markets and for
“Quote“ – NAME
“We work to create
innovative solutions for a healthy people and a healthy planet. – Michael Garfield
”
VENTURE MICHIGAN : : SUSTAINABILITY 2017
15
“In the timeframe that I’ve been doing this work, the attitude of the business sector has changed dramatically. Every business everywhere understands environmental issues are important." institutions to provide the fresher, local foods valued by their customers.” MFIN connects food service directors “with the entire value chain of people [in Michigan] who bring the food to the table of a hospital patient or the lunch table of a school kid in Lansing,” says Garfield, by removing barriers such as budget constraints and limited seasonal availability. “It’s fantastic and growing fast and helping to re-build a regional food chain here in Michigan.” Recycling The Ecology Center is also trying to lift recycling rates around the state through its Zero Waste program. “The national average for recycling is 30 percent. Michigan’s is 16 percent. Michigan’s would be the worst except that it has the strongest and best bottle bill,” says Garfield. Thanks to the ten-cent deposit law, cans and bottles have an “extremely high return rate.” What happens to recycled products? “Once you put recyclables in a bin, they get picked up and delivered to a Material Recovery Facility (MRF),” Garfield says. Materials are separated by type — then distributed to paper mills, aluminum melters and glass factories where they are later sold as recycled products. “The key to the system is the collecting and separating of the items. Most communities are serviced by two regional authorities … that also manage trash hauling and composting,” who have come together for economies of scale, Garfield adds. “Toronto is very good at this, with so little trash, you don’t have weekly pick up anymore.” Last June, the Ann Arbor City Council approved a one-year contract with Recycle Ann Arbor — the Ecology’s Cen16
SUSTAINABILITY 2017 : : VENTURE MICHIGAN
ter’s non-profit recycling organization — to process the city’s recyclables. Other projects The center also “led the effort in the 1990s and 2000s to convert the healthcare industry from burning trash in incinerators” — a leading source of air pollution, as well as dioxin and mercury poisoning — “to finding cleaner ways to dispose of their trash,” says Garfield Its Healthy Stuff project — known as HealthyStuff.org — alerts consumers to lead, mercury or toxic chemicals in every day products such as child car seats, gardening supplies and food can linings. Garfield’s colleagues also reach about 15,000 K-8 students in southeastern Michigan through their environmental education program; the effort educates young people on issues such as recycling, pollution, air quality and healthy food. And the center recently worked with the Ann Arbor Housing Commission — the agency that oversees low-income housing — on the “redevelopment of three properties to make them more energy-efficient and climatefriendly as possible,” Garfield says.
Business Sector, Public Perception, Government “In the timeframe that I’ve been doing this work, the attitude of the business sector has changed dramatically,” Garfield emphasizes. “There wasn’t a whole lot of patience back in the 1980s and ‘90s, but things are different today. Every business everywhere understands environmental issues are important. They aren’t all successfully addressing them, but some are. What the Ecology Center does is work with leaders who are modeling good solutions and nudge along the others who should be looking for them.” Many were critical of GM’s early electric car efforts, for instance. “They thought the company wasn’t really invested in the [technology]; instead, they thought GM was just trying to comply with regulations in California. But fast-forward to today … and you see GM first-to-market with an electric car, the Chevy Volt, [that today] can be driven 50-60 miles [on electricity alone]. It’s a kind of new thinking that led the largest car company in the world to embrace” a vehicle that’s good for the environment. If the attitude of the business sector has changed in the last 20-30 years, “well, the general public is way ahead,” says Garfield, citing polling that shows strong public preference for environmentally friendly practices. “They’ve been dragging the business sector along. But both the public and the business world are far ahead of our politics. … Politics has always been a lagging indicator. Political leaders tend to follow and not lead. But they will come to lead on these issues when people in communities and businesses demand it loudly enough.”
TROY michigan
Possible is everything.
Promoting Innovation Leading by Example Encouraging Collaboration
Lawrence Technological University’s MBA program prepares you for the global economy.
Creating an Environment for Investment To schedule an appointment with our Economic Development Team, call 248.524.3314
Solve real-world corporate problems Learn from internationally recognized faculty Customize your degree Choose on-campus or online Learn more at: ltu.edu/mba admissions@ltu.edu
www.troymi.gov
Architecture and Design | Arts and Sciences | Engineering | Management
VENTURE MICHIGAN : : SUSTAINABILITY 2017
17
BUSINESS
18
SUSTAINABILITY 2017 : : VENTURE MICHIGAN
BUILDING A SECURE ENERGY GRID BY NOLAN BIANCHI
L
ast winter, more than 10 percent of Michigan residents were forced to endure a brief portion of the season that featured 68 m.p.h. winds and single-digit temperatures without the benefit of electricity in their homes. Here’s the good news: It wasn’t for a lack of resources.
Well, sort of. Currently, coal-fired energy is the most predominant energy source in Michigan. Along with petroleum, these fossil fuels have long had a stranglehold on the state’s electricity production. But recent trends pronounce an expiration date for the old guard, making way for an evolving blend of renewable energy options for Michiganders.
VENTURE MICHIGAN : : SUSTAINABILITY 2017
19
BUSINESS
Coal’s prevalence in energy sourcing has declined since the beginning of the millennium. Accounting for 77.8 percent of the state’s electric utility net generation at the end of 1999, coal made up just 39.7 percent of the same statistic in July 2017. Meanwhile, renewable energy is up 7.1 percent in the same time span (Energy Information Administration/ Electric Power Monthly). If there’s any confirmation to be had from these numbers, it’s in recent actions of Michigan energy giants DTE Energy Co. and Consumers Energy Co. DTE spokesman Brian Corbett predicted at the 27th annual Society of Environmental Journalists Conference in October that the energy company would not be sourcing any of its energy from coal by 2020. According to Crain’s Detroit Business, both DTE and Consumers are planning to invest in natural gas and renewable energy during the coming years. But what does that mean for residents of Michigan? A cleaner ecosystem, for starters. The environmental benefits of prioritiz20
SUSTAINABILITY 2017 : : VENTURE MICHIGAN
ing this type of shift are well documented: Reduced emissions, greater depth within the energy production asset base, and an overall improvement in air quality are prompting business and residential consumers to take an interest in alternative energy options. As consumers demand more renewable energy, then, providers can use this interest to their benefit by heralding programs that indicate an alignment of values with those who envision a day where 100 percent of the nation’s electricity is generated through renewable means. Of course, there are economic benefits, too. There have to be. That’s where companies like Novibased ITC Holdings, Corp. step in. One of the nation’s largest independent electricity transmitters, ITC supplies power to DTE and Consumers, among other distributors. The company is determined to strengthen the nation’s electricity transmission network — otherwise known as “the grid” — through the development of transmission infrastructure. The strains placed on distribution
systems, following the windstorms of March 2017, resulted in widespread outages. In response, ITC crews from the surrounding states were called on to assist customers in restoring service. Overall, ITC is optimistic about Michigan’s energy future, and its financial investments are testament to this outlook. “ITC has invested more than $3.5 billion in new or updated transmission facilities in Michigan since 2003,” said Simon Whitelocke, vice president of ITC Holdings Corp. and president of ITC Michigan. “These investments have saved ITC Michigan customers $111 million between 2010 and 2015 resulting from decreased system congestion and greater market efficiencies.” Whitelocke added that according to global consulting firm IFC International, “Our investments in transmission projects across the ITC Michigan footprint, including ITC’s 140-mile Thumb Loop Project, enabled wind farms to be optimally located, resulting in customer savings of $250 million between 2008 and 2014 in avoided renewable energy costs.”
“In Michigan we are well positioned to connect a growing amount of renewable energy to the transmission grid. – SIMON WHITELOCKE
But despite the fact that renewable energy celebrates an infinite amount of resources in principle and an equally appealing cost, a lack of infrastructure makes it difficult for the field to keep pace with the electricity demands of a society that’s aggressively dependent on technology with a plug. “In Michigan we are well positioned to connect a growing amount of renewable energy to the transmission grid,” said Whitelocke. But in ITC’s Midwest system, he notes, “actual wind energy output routinely exceeds demand.” This means that the ability to transport renewable energy hasn't yet caught up with generation efficiency. “When power generation exceeds local needs it is routed to other parts of the region, however this generation must often be curtailed due to lack of interstate transmission infrastructure,” said Whitelocke. “Today, wind developers are building facilities in rather remote areas where wind is plentiful but demand for energy is low. These wind farms are dependent on electric transmission infrastructure to move power from where it is generated to where it is needed.” An overwhelming benefit of renewable energy is the allocation of production costs. Rather than pouring capital into day-to-day operations like coal-sourced electricity, companies generating renewable energy invest in a system, one that provides a stable construction market, leaves customers with more money in their pockets, and can catch the eye of corporations looking for a home. “Reliable, affordable power is important to attracting and maintaining businesses and creating jobs throughout Michigan,” said Whitelocke, adding that
ITC’s involvement in university research has paid big dividends for the field’s job market in the state. “To help fill the pipeline, ITC supports STEM-based programs from the elementary level all the way up to the collegiate level, where we collaborate with major universities, including Michigan Technological University and Lawrence Technological University for example, on their power engineering programs,” Whitelocke explained. Resources such as natural gas do have their benefits, but the general trend of energy sourcing says that most consumers want renewable energy to power their homes and businesses. While it will be an uphill battle, such a future is feasible. Earlier this year, Germany went 100 percent renewable for 36 hours. In the meantime, Michigan’s energy
leaders will continue to push toward a more reliable energy system through development of the grid while incorporating all of its resources. “More important than connecting renewable generation is ensuring that the grid has adequate capacity, and is reliable and resilient, to fully carry that generation to customers,” said Whitelocke. “Looking ahead, there is still much work to be done from a regional planning perspective to ensure the grid of the future continues to meet the challenges and opportunities of a changing energy mix and advancing technologies.” But with the environmental assets Michigan has, it’d be no surprise to see the state spearhead a national prioritization of renewable energy – which means it may be coming soon to a home near you.
VENTURE MICHIGAN : : SUSTAINABILITY 2017
21
DESIGN
Steampunk Art Inspired by American mid-century design and manufacturing, Eastworks Detroit collects, re-purposes, and re-invents iconic American items into beautiful functional and non-functional art objects BY CONNOR McNEELY
E
very summer weekend in Michigan there’s another local art fair just a nine-iron away in any direction. For some artists, the seasonal craft circuit is merely a hobby or side hustle. For the more imaginative however, it can be a main source of income in spite of the amount of hours spent at their day jobs. This is entirely the case for the steampunk artist behind Eastworks Detroit, Joe Mazzola. Don’t worry, he had to look it up, too, when he first heard it. Steampunk is a design aesthetic combining historical elements with anachronistic technological features inspired by science fiction. (Picture the cookie conveyor belt in "Edward Scissorhands.") “I was at my brother’s one afternoon and he said something about steampunk and I went, ‘What’s that?’ And so we Googled it and I found some beautiful steampunk art work and I thought, ‘I think I can do that!’ So I made a few pipe lamps,” Mazzola said.
22
SUSTAINABILITY 2017 : : VENTURE MICHIGAN
That was nearly five years ago. Mazzola has since graduated from building primitive, metal pipe lamps that turn on and off, to restoring and reassembling historic fixtures with several functional operations such as lights that can dim, rotate and even play music through a Bluetooth speaker. Mazzola’s first two years as an artist were spent at small, Detroit gallery shows in places like The Motor City Brewery in Midtown, which initially let him host his first show. “I picked a date about six weeks from when we spoke, put together about 40 pieces, did my first show there and made $1,200 in like three hours. I started doing more and more art shows like that, where I would do art shows that were just my work. But there’s only so many of those you can do,” Mazzola said. Mazzola has spent the last three years garnering a presence at art fair shows across Eastern Michigan. “I had to buy a minivan, a canopy,
DESIGN
24
SUSTAINABILITY 2017 : : VENTURE MICHIGAN
tables and table cloths and extension cords. Weights. Everyone has to have weights for their canopy because of the wind. So there were a lot of costs setting that up at first,” Mazzola said. “The first year I think I did eight [local art fairs], the second year I did ten and this year I’m doing 14 I believe,” he added. Guitar teacher by day, Mazzola sells some of his art for hundreds of dollars per piece. Due to the originality of his work, the art is his cash crop. “I’ve done shows that are 100,000 people per day walking past my booth and I’ve done other shows, where maybe 10,000 people might see my stuff in three days. But it’s funny because even those shows that aren’t as well attended, I usually do okay because my stuff is kind of unusual,” Mazzola said. “Most of the time at these art shows there’s a lot of photography and a lot of jewelry and a lot of the same old stuff… There might be one, maybe two more vendors that do something similar to what I do, but no one does exactly what I do. Thank goodness,” he added. The Grind With the help of a friend who owns a metal shop in downtown Detroit, Mazzola is able to grind, paint and wire his works of art during the winter months. He operates out of his home in Detroit’s East Village during the summer. While most of his week is devoted to teaching guitar lessons, Mazzola has just enough spare time to build his pieces. The acquiring of materials is ultimately outsourced. “I know about five or six really good pickers and they go around to estate sales and old barns, things like that and they find the stuff for me and I get it from them,” Mazzola said. The items included in Eastwork’s functional sculptures are mostly unrelated: a speaker enclosure from 1927, an ammunition box from the 30s, old pressure gauges, metal pipe, water valves, and vintage locks. VENTURE MICHIGAN : : SUSTAINABILITY 2017
25
DESIGN
Mazzola is drawn to old materials because of their strength and form. “These things were built when American manufacturing was really at its height and the design is beautiful. I gravitate toward old stuff because I think it looks better. Not only the functionality to it but an emphasis on form, too,” Mazzola said. “Just like old cars just look cool! Today all cars kind of look the same. They’re really functional but as far as styling, eh. When you look at cars from the 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, they’re works of art,” he added. The functionality of the lamps and sculptures, such as beaded pull-chains to turn on lights and spinning knobs to dim them, are added activities to interest users beyond form. “It gives it a little bit of operator involvement. I want the person that’s looking to buy it to find it interesting enough that they’ll purchase it and adding things like that does make it interesting enough,” Mazzola said. Although it fell into his lap later in life, physical art was not Mazzola’s initial career path. He has an extensive and successful music career under his belt as a founding member of the Detroit alternative rock band, Sponge. After signing to Sony Records in what became a major label bidding war over the group’s first album, the debut went gold. Sponge eventually found itself struggling to survive in the rap/rage-rock wave of the early nineties, during which artists like Kid Rock and Limp Bizkit flourished. After Sponge, Mazzola joined the garage rock band The Detroit Cobras and played guitar in it for six years. Although music isn’t tangible, Mazzola sees the act of making music as building of another kind. “You’re building something from nothing. And that’s the way music is. You start with nothing and you end up with some cool composition. This – I start with a lot of materials and turn them into something that’s, (hopefully) beautiful and functional, and art,” Mazzola said. 26
SUSTAINABILITY 2017 : : VENTURE MICHIGAN
VENTURE MICHIGAN : : SUSTAINABILITY 2017
27
GADGETS
Mighty Sounds, Small Package BY EDWARD NAKFOOR
T
he founders of Venice, Californiabased Mighty Audio, believing life’s better when the phone’s turned off, introduced earlier this year Mighty, the first music player available to consumers that streams Spotify without a smartphone. Small enough to clip onto any piece of clothing, and with a 1000-plus song storage capacity, Mighty was expressly designed for use while exercising without the inherent distractions that come from using a smartphone to access music. Mighty has a companion mobile app that acts as a remote control for music selection and wireless syncing. By storing Spotify playlists offline on Mighty, music can be enjoyed without a phone or internet connection. Mighty is also compatible with Bluetooth headphones 28
SUSTAINABILITY 2017 : : VENTURE MICHIGAN
for a fully cord-free experience; wired headphones are also supported. The idea caught the attention of several Michigan-based angel investors
including Ian Burnstein, a principal of Equitable Advisors and Farmington Hillsbased Storage Pros. “I loved the concept since the first time I heard about it and was always very impressed with Anthony [Mendelson, founder and CEO of Mighty],” said Burnstein, who invests in businesses based on the operator, and “Anthony checked all of the boxes for me.” Burnstein, who’s been investing around the country since 2003, participated in the seed round and helped introduce the Mighty team to other local investors. “It is not often that you get an opportunity to be on the ground floor of a business that could change behaviors,” he said. That’s music to an entrepreneur’s ears. bemighty.com
OAKLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE
TRAINING FOR BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY
Economic and Workforce Development – LEARN FROM THE LEADERS. EMPLOYEE TRAINING
Leadership / Professional Development Manufacturing Technology Project Management Information Technology
INDIVIDUAL TRAINING
Motorcycle Safety QuickBooks Grant Writing Social Media for Business Owners
oaklandcc.edu/wfdev (248) 232-4000 Campuses in Auburn Hills, Farmington Hills, Royal Oak, Southfield and Waterford. Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
MITTEN-MADE
Gifts by Michigan artisans are sure to please this holiday season BY ED SNYDER
Dave’s Sweet Tooth Toffee They keep it simple at Dave's: real butter, real sugar, real milk chocolate and handsliced almonds. "Prepared with love — one batch at a time, every time." davessweettooth.com
Mi Abilities, Inc. Gourmet drizzled popcorn, available in flavors such as double chocolate, peanut butter cup, chocolate cherry and caramel chocolate. Mi Abilities provides job opportunities for individuals with special needs from Oakland county and the surrounding communitites. facebook/ MiWayGourmetPopcorn
Detroit Attitude Show your Detroit flair with these hometown-themed hats, Ts, hoodies and tanks. Many colors, styles and sizes to choose from, for men and women. Wear it proud. detroitattitude.bigcartel.com
Chair-iot Wheeled carrier with two heavyduty folding outdoor black chairs. Each has a storage pocket, beverage holders, heavy duty wheels and is weather-resistant. Great for tailgating, sporting events and the beach. Sometimes the great outdoors are best enjoyed when you can actually sit back and ... enjoy. mychairiot.com These and other Michigan-made items are available for purchase at the TradeMart in Oak Park, MI. Visit tradefirst.com for details. 30
SUSTAINABILITY 2017 : : VENTURE MICHIGAN
Southfield Town Center
Visit the Southfield Town Center Website for More Information on the Complex
Southfieldtowncenter.com
VENTURE MICHIGAN : : SUSTAINABILITY 2017
31
WEEKEND
In Search of
Darkness BY ANDREW BURD
Dark nights are a crucial natural resource for all life on Earth, but the glow of uncontrolled outdoor lighting has obscured most of the stars in populated areas, radically changing our nighttime environment. The good news is, thanks to protected state and national lands, dark skies can still be found throughout the state of Michigan.
Gladwin, MI
T
aking the time to "look up and exhale" can be a bonding experience — even a spiritual one — for the entire family. In all likelihood, star gazing has been a human tradition since there were humans and, despite the pull of technology, it remains a great way to spend a night outside — anytime of the year. On a clear night, any low-populated location can provide good viewing opportunities. But if you really want to experience the heavens the way our ancestors did, head for one of Michigan's designated dark parks for optimal viewing. Depending on your destination, some effort may be required if you are looking for optimal darkness. For instance, visitors to the Negwegon State Park in Harrisville, have to hike about five miles to reach the designated dark sky area but, on a clear night, it is well worth the effort. If you are not prepared for a five mile hike, The Headlands International Dark Sky Park in Mackinaw City is more accessible. Important factors to keep in mind: Humidity can obscure visibility so cooler air — which tends to be a little more dry — can improve visibility. This should also go without saying but, be sure to dress appropriately. Nights are cooler than days but many people are not prepared for the significant drops in temperature. To be safe, layer up. Bring gloves, a hat, a jacket, perhaps even blankets — depending on the season. Flashlights interfere with your night vision and should be turned off, if possible. Many city dwellers are surprised by how well human eyes can adjust to the dark after just a few minutes. If you must use a light, better options include headlamps or flashlights with red light selections. Our eyes are less sensitive to red light, so it's best for preserving night vision. If you’re just arriving and your eyes haven’t adjusted yet, try sitting or laying down for a few minutes with your eyes closed. This can be kind of fun because, when you open your eyes, you’ll see nothing but the stars. For the best experience — plan ahead, locate your destination on a map before heading out, and bring plenty of common sense.
VENTURE MICHIGAN : : SUSTAINABILITY 2017
33
WEEKEND
Harrison, MI 34
SUSTAINABILITY 2017 : : VENTURE MICHIGAN
Shooting the Milky Way Equipment: Expensive equipment is not required to photograph the stars and Milky Way. With a reasonably-priced DSLR, you can easily shoot photographs that will leave you in awe. For optimal results use a wide angle lens. Also, most DSLR cameras come with a “kit lens” which is a general purpose 18-55mm (set your lens to 18mm). Bring along a sturdy tripod, as clear long exposures are impossible otherwise. One challenge most people face is focusing. An easy way to lock in your focus is to autofocus as far as you can during daylight hours. Then, wrap your lens with a rubber band to hold it in place and switch it to 'M' for manual. Experiment with your settings and exposure times, keeping in mind that lower ISO settings result in a more dynamic range of colors. And setting it as low as you possibly can means extraordinary images. Aperture can be tricky too; I don’t always recommend the most open settings, as most telescopes are around f8. I tend to stick to f4 because it results in a tighter image. Location: The best results will obviously come from a complete lack of light pollution. Dark Sky Preserves are great for this, but you aren’t limited to them. If you can look up and see the Milky Way, you can shoot it. With long exposure times, our cameras see more than we do and, sometimes, surprising details are captured. Conditions: Clear skies are generally preferred but even with some clouds, every now and then, you can get lucky and an interesting image emerges. You’ll also want to watch out for the moon, which acts like a gigantic spotlight. If possible, avoid a full moon and opt for a crescent moon instead. Patience: Take lots of photos and don't be afraid to experiment.
VENTURE MICHIGAN : : SUSTAINABILITY 2017
35
EVOLUTION
The original: Keds, 1892
Converse, 1917
Best Foot Forward Athletic shoes go higher tech BY AMY MINDELL
F
or centuries, regular folk wore “straights” — shoes that could be worn on either foot and eventually adjusted with wear. Only the wealthy could afford comfortable, custom-made shoes. With advances in mechanization and mass production during the Industrial Revolution, better footwear became available to the middle class. The invention of rubber soles in 1899 propelled the United States to the top of world shoe production, with Keds, owned by Rockford, Mich.-based Wolverine Worldwide since 2012, becoming the first nationally known brand. Gym shoes quickly took off worldwide; and passionate devotees bestowed a host of nicknames, including Plimsolls (after the Plimsoll line on a ship: If water rose above the line of the rubber sole, 36
SUSTAINABILITY 2017 : : VENTURE MICHIGAN
the wearer would get wet), sneakers (so quiet), tekkies and trainers. One of the earliest entrepreneurs to understand the potential was a young footwear-firm manager named Marquis Mills Converse who saw how sports captivated the imagination of young Americans at the beginning of the 20th century. Marquis founded the Converse Rubber Shoe Company in Malden, Mass., and introduced the world’s first performance basketball shoe, the All Star, in 1917. He then made a smart move that sealed his company’s place in posterity: He recruited a young college basketball player, Chuck Taylor, to pitch his All Star shoes. The future Hall of Famer took to the job with alacrity, becoming a worldwide “ambassador of basketball” who went on to represent the company for 50 years.
Over the next few decades, athletic shoes became increasingly specialized. In 1925, German Adidas founder Adi Dassler developed the first shoes specialized for soccer and track and field, introducing studs and spikes. He also constructed shoes for various distances and used state-of-the-art materials for reduced weight. In 1952, Emil Zatopek won three gold medals in one week wearing Adidas shoes in the Summer Olympics in Helsinki, Finland. In Oregon, Phil Knight founded Nike with legendary track coach Bill Bowerman, and stumbled upon an innovation that set the company on a trajectory to greatness. The iconic, waffle-soled running shoe made a very distinct impression on runners in 1972, particularly with its nubs, which gave traction but were light and durable.
We are the
Nike teamed up with Apple in 2006
Birmingham Area Cable Board We are your voice in cable issues
Nike continued the specialty shoe revolution a decade later with the Air Force 1, a basketball shoe with far-reaching innovations like mesh side panels, a concentric outsole and Nike air cushioning. Around the same time, in Boston, Reebok released its Freestyle, the first athletic shoe designed especially for women. Timing couldn’t have been better as the shoe hit a hot new fitness craze called aerobics, which propelled the specialized athletic shoe — and the company — into history. Gym shoes haven’t been the same since. By 2008, Nike was using strands of high-strength fibers, called Flywire, to reduce a running shoe’s weight by as much as 50 percent. Nike’s Flyknit system was introduced in 2012, aimed at creating a snug fit like that of a sock but with structure and durability. Known as the Flyknit Racer, the shoe weighed 5.6 ounces. One of the world’s first tech-enhanced running shoes, the Altra Running IQ, introduced in 2015, has an integrated chip for sensing metrics of foot strike,
cadence, impact force and form. But high-tech kicks aren’t limited to the basketball court or gymnasium. In 2015, Dolly Singh, owner of Los Angeles-based startup Thesis Couture, found a way to reconfigure the stiletto into a shoe that was kinder to the female foot. Tapping the skills of a former astronaut, rocket scientist, orthopedic surgeon and fashion scientist, Singh created a high heel shoe that is more comfortable than traditional heels and less likely cause foot pain. Singh isn’t the only one to re-think the stiletto. London College of Fashion graduate Silvia Fado Moreno designed a hydraulic high heel using sports footwear for inspiration. While no one would run a marathon in these shoes, Moreno worked with an architect and an engineer to create a comfortable high-heeled shoe with the help of springs, rubber balls and pneumatic hydraulics. Indeed, shoe designers and visionaries are stepping creatively and comfortably into the future.
We represent the City of Birmingham and the Villages of Beverly Hills, Franklin and Bingham Farms We have an important mission: • Advocate for our four communities and residents • Escalate and resolve complaints with cable providers • Support development and expansion of public, education and government programming • Responsibly manage designated municipal assets and funds birminghamareacableboard.org
(248) 336-9445
SCENE
UpRound UM hosts student venture capital competition
T
eams of future venture capitalists — a.k.a. University of Michigan undergrads — had an opportunity to assess real-world startup firms in search of funding during the recent 2017 UpRound competition. Throughout the event, held on October 21, the students' analyses were evaluated by leading investment professionals, providing an upclose glimpse of the 38
SUSTAINABILITY 2017 : : VENTURE MICHIGAN
investment decision-making process. UpRound is a University of Michigan student venture capital organization that promotes undergraduate venture capital education and helps connect venture capitalists to the greater Ann Arbor community. All University of Michigan students can join UpRound, regardless of school or major, and no previous venture capital experience is required.
UpRound seeks to help students explore the world of venture capital and gain the experience needed to pursue projects. Founded in 2017, the organization has already partnered with a number venture capital firms, as well as the Stephen M. Ross School of Business. UpRound is currently planning their 2018 competition.
Learn more at uproundventurecapital.com
VENTURE MICHIGAN : : SUSTAINABILITY 2017
39