Business

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I In ns si i d de e F Fe ea at tu ur re es s
B Bu us si i n ne es ss s L Le en nd di i n ng g
E Em mp pl l o oy ym me en nt t
C Co on ns st tr ru uc ct t i i o on n E Eq qu ui i p pm me en nt t
C Co ol l l l e eg ge e E Ed du uc ca at ti i o on n
T Tr ra an ns sp po or rt t a at ti i o on n
August 2014 $2.00
2
Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce Works to Build a
Better Community
By Jane Whittington
The Grand Rapids Chamber of
Commerce recognizes how important it is
that Grand Rapids be a diverse, inclusive
and culturally sensitive community that
welcomes and celebrates all races, gen-
ders, religions and ethnic backgrounds.
According to their website, Nothing is
more powerful for business and our com-
munity than peoplethe perspectives they
share, the conversations they spark and
the action they take. Encouraging the
diversity of our people is the key to creat-
ing a community where everyone is wel-
come and where businesses thrive
through new ideas.
In 2011, the Chamber formulated a
three-year plan to grow business and
build the community. The first of four
goals then stated was to be a champion
for an inclusive and magnetic community
with premiere resources for inclusion and
community leadership development.
As Vice-President of Inclusion and
Community Leadership, Sonya Hughes
works to realize the goals set forth by the
Chamber. In 1999, she was brought
onboard to help the Chamber launch a new
initiative, the Institute for Healing Racism.
Since its inception, over 2,000 people have
attended the two-day Facing Racism
seminar.
Hughes says, The impetus behind the
initiative was to understand what racism
looks like and how it impacts us both on an
individual level and also within the work-
place. From there we have grown addition-
al initiatives that help to inform and educate
employers about diversity in the workplace
and in the marketplace. That has extended
into some new programs around minority
business development as well as talent con-
nection and welcoming minorities into the
community.
The populations in the Chambers
broad definition of minority include
African-Americans, Asians, Hispanics,
Native Americans, LGBT, women, veterans,
Middle-Easterners and those with disabili-
ties. Under the auspices of the Chamber,
there are groups throughout the community
focusing on inclusion; these include OutPro,
a professional association of LGBT business
people and the Multi-Racial Association of
Professionals. These groups are also open
to allies of minorities.
In the area of minority business
development, the Chamber partners with
more than 30 other organizations that
support entrepreneurs. According to
Hughes, We try to make sure that we
dont duplicate services but that we help
our small businesses and startups under-
stand where the resources are and then we
fill in the gaps. This may include helping
people to connect to new opportunities,
find partners or link up with others with
the same focus. We have a CEO
Roundtable that gives business owners
the opportunity to share both challenges
and ideas about business growth.
Members of the roundtable work together
to solve problems and move forward.
In addition, the Chamber helps busi-
nesses to recruit, attract and retain top-
notch employees who are members of a
minority population. Coming into a new
community can be difficult for anyone and
may prove particularly challenging to
minorities. The Chamber helps both new-
comers and longer-term community mem-
bers explore Grand Rapids cultural histo-
ry, expand leadership skills and explore
issues facing ethnic communities and
businesses.
Their Inside Grand Rapids (IGR) pro-
gram guides participants through a one-day
exploration of the history, culture, programs
and places within our community. The pre-
vious evening, theres a networking recep-
tion. This is an excellent introduction for
both the potential employee and his or her
family to get a feel for the community they
may be joining.
Each November, the Chamber hosts
an Inclusion and Diversity Forum.
On the whole, Hughes believes that
Grand Rapids and the surrounding commu-
nity are welcoming and inclusive, but there
is always room for improvement. She says,
It is important that Grand Rapids contin-
ues to evolve into a community that cele-
brates its diversity and is willing to embrace
the ideals of inclusion.
By Jane Whittington is a freelance
writer and editor who lives in Grand
Rapids.
Review of The Best
Teacher in You
Provided by www.getabstract.com
A team of researchers studied teach-
ers with high assessment scores to discov-
er how their methods differed from those
of their less successful peers. The
researchers held workshops and conduct-
ed interviews with these highly effective
teachers to glean insights, formulate the-
ories and identify best practices. Robert E.
Quinn, Katherine Heynoski, Mike Thomas
and Gretchen M. Spreitzer share the sto-
ries of seven extraordinary educators and
explain the Connect Framework, a four-
quadrant matrix delineating the core
aspects of fruitful teaching. (The frame-
works full name is BFK Connect; the ini-
tials stand for Battelle for Kids, the educa-
tion nonprofit where Heynoski and
Thomas work.) Here, the authors focus
more on general areas like empowerment,
transformation, collective learning and
expectations than on specific classroom
tactics. getAbstract recommends this
inspiring approach to teaching to all edu-
cators, and to business leaders and train-
ers, who will find much applicable advice.
Robert E. Quinn, Katherine Heynoski,
Mike Thomas and Gretchen M. Spreitzer.
The Best Teacher in You: How to
Accelerate Learning and Change Lives.
Berrett-Koehler, 2014. 216 pages. ISBN-
13: 978-1626561786.
getAbstract is the leading provider of
business book summaries, with thou-
sands of titles covered.
www.getabstract.com
Current Business Trends:
Slow Growth Continues
Grand Rapids Slow growth contin-
ues for the greater Grand Rapids industrial
economy, according to results of a monthly
survey compiled by Brian G. Long, director
of Supply Management Research in the
Seidman College of Business at Grand
Valley State University.
The survey results are based on data
collected during the last two weeks of July.
The surveys index of business
improvement, called new orders, eased to
+18 from +23. The production index
tapered to +25 from +30. The employment
index remained stable, unchanged at +15,
and the index of purchases remained
unchanged at +19.
Locally, the pattern established in
2009 as the recession recovery began
remains virtually unchanged, said Long.
The automotive parts producers continue
to provide much of the drive behind the
recent economic growth, although some
firms have clearly done better than others.
Several are continuing to expand, while oth-
ers prefer maintaining their present size.
Long said the office furniture business
remains positive, with some of the smaller
firms outpacing their larger counterparts. He
said while industrial distributors had a very
good month, the capital equipment industry
appears to be having some difficulties.
There is no evidence that the weakness
demonstrated by some firms is the begin-
ning of a downward trend, he said.
The statistics for business optimism
are showing signs of stabilization after last
months unexpected drop, according to
Long. He noted the short-term business
outlook index rose to +27, up from last
months +21. However, the long-term busi-
ness outlook edged lower to +34, down
from +36. Long said the level of pessimism
for this index has grown considerably,
given the +64 reported less than a year ago.
The Hauenstein Center at Grand Valley State
University: Seeking Common Ground
By Jane Whittington
It all
started with
one man.
R a l p h
Hauenstein is
a remarkable
i n d i v i d u a l
whose impact
goes far
beyond West
Michigan. He
began his
career as a
journalist in
Grand Rapids but left to serve his country
during World War II. As Chief of the
Intelligence Branch in the European
Theatre in World War II he worked under
General Dwight Eisenhower. As the war
was winding down, he became one of the
first Americans into liberated Paris, war-
torn Germany and Nazi concentration
camps. In recognition of his service, he
was awarded the French Croix de Guerre
with Palm and Legion of Honor and also
the Order of the British Empire.
Returning from his service, he came
home to America and, seeing an opportu-
nity to build bridges between the United
States and Europe, went into internation-
al trade, founding Tri-Continental Trading
Company which partnered with European
entities to provide goods and services to
Europe, the Middle East, South America,
the Caribbean and anywhere fledgling
democracies were struggling. He became
the owner of Werner Lehara of Grand
Rapids, a food equipment company in
Grand Rapids. As part of his outreach
efforts, he provided funds for a bakery in
Haiti, providing jobs and financial stabil-
ity for many in that troubled country. He
also set up a school in Florida training
people from developing countries.
The list of his accomplishments goes
on: he served as a consultant to President
Eisenhower; he was part of a team that in
1996 supervised the first free elections in
Russia; he served on the board that found-
ed the Van Andel Institute; he helped
establish the neurological center at St.
Marys Hospital; and, through his generos-
ity, made possible the founding of the
Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies
at Grand Valley State University (GVSU).
Today, at 102, Hauenstein continues
to be active in the life of the community
and in the ongoing efforts of the
Hauenstein Center to seek common ground
between people of differing viewpoints.
The Center was founded in 2001 fol-
lowing conversations between then GVSU
President Don Lubbers, VP of Development
Mary Beth Wardrop and Hauenstein who
was interested in establishing a center in
his name that expressed his deepest core
values. The Center functioned without a
full-time director until 2003 when Gleaves
Whitney came onboard. Whitney had pre-
viously taught at several universities and
spent 11 years in Governor John Englers
administration serving as senior writer,
chief speechwriter, and historian. He has
written or edited 14 books and has written
for newspapers, magazines and journals.
According to Whitney, Ralph is an
amazing person, smart, compassionate and
caring, and one of the leading philanthro-
pists in West Michigan. He has given
financial support to Aquinas, the VanAndel
Institute, St. Marys Hospital and numer-
ous other institutions. He has been a leader
in so many areas, and his leadership
inspired the people around him.
He continues, We have a vision that
flows from Ralphs vision; we want to
uphold his legacy of leadership and serv-
ice and really supplement a students
education. But its not just GVSU stu-
dents. We do programs in the community
as well as for other universities.
Over time, several initiatives have
been developed within the Center. Last
year, Common Ground was introduced.
Common Ground prepares leaders to work
with people from diverse cultures and dif-
ferent worldviews through their sponsor-
ship of debates, workshops and discus-
sions. Under their auspices, debates have
included Christopher Hitchens vs. Peter
Hitchens, Arianna Huffington vs. Victor
Davis Hanson, Katrina vanden Heuvel vs.
Rich Lowry, Susan Jacoby vs. Dinesh
DSouza, and others. They have also host-
ed H. W. Brands, Richard Norton Smith,
Kiron Skinner, Ron Chernow, Robert Caro,
Amity Shlaes, Robert Dallek, and other
historians and leadership writers.
It brings together diverse camps
onto the same stage to search for com-
mon ground. According to their website,
We believe that through principled civic
engagement and civil discourse, there are
more possibilities between progressives
and conservatives to work together than
usually realized or acknowledged.
Continued on page 7
3
Pleotint Brings New Technology to Window Design
By Jane Whittington
In 2013, Pleotints Suntuitive tech-
nology received the Glass Magazine
Award for Most Innovative Commercial
Window. Innovation is defined as the
creation of something new or finding a
better way of doing something. By that
definition, Pleotint is leading the way in
a whole new concept in window design.
CEO Harlan Byker, Ph.D., says, I
was at Gentex Corporation for over 12
years. They are the leader in the elec-
trochromic, automatic-dimming mirror
industry. When I left there, I got a phone
call from someone in Holland who was
interested in having me come up with the
design for a skylight. He wanted to do
something with a mechanical device. I
didnt think that would work, but I won-
dered if I could use glass in the structure
that would lighten and darken by itself
depending on the intensity of the sun.
He continues, I wanted to come up
with something that would block the sun
from entering on really hot days so the
room would stay cooler. On sunny days,
thered also be a reduction of glare com-
ing from the outside, which would make
the room more comfortable, reduce the
cost by keeping the room cool and cut
down on the fading of furniture and
floors, but the windows would not be
obstructed and would still provide a
view. Then in winter or on cloudy days,
these new windows would allow more
light and warmth in to the room, again
making for more comfort and lower
costs.
Working out of a small lab in West
Olive, Byker set out to research, design,
develop and perfect his ideas on ther-
mochromic technology for windows.
After six years of intensive experimenta-
tion along with consultation with others
in the field, he received a call from a
Calvin professor, Douglas Vander Griend.
He suggested new materials which Byker
had not considered. Within three
months, Byker had made two major
breakthroughs that took the product
from an idea to an actuality.
Byker says, Our key patent on
thermochromic materials now has over
1,000 examples with about 500 new sys-
tems.
Ultimately, this led to the develop-
ment of Suntuitive. Suntuitive is a
thermochromic interlayer for windows
which lighten and darken by them-
selves--with no mechanical intervention-
- based on heat from direct sunlight. The
more direct and intense the sun, the
darker the window becomes, thus maxi-
mizing natural sunlight while minimiz-
ing heat gain. Besides cost and comfort
benefits, these windows reduce the need
for shades, blinds or curtains which
restrict the view. They block harmful UV
rays, reduce sound penetration and are
impact resistant. The windows are used
in both commercial and residential build-
ing, in new construction and in renova-
tion and retrofitting.
The laminate produced for the win-
dows is not applied onto the external
window itself but forms an interlayer.
However, once this system was
developed, production was another mat-
ter. Byker says, We went around the
world saying to people, Look at this fan-
tastic idea! This is so great; wouldnt you
like to make this? They all said no. So
we raised money from local people, our
angel investors, and set up our own pro-
duction line here in Jenison.
He continues, Here in our plant we
extrude huge rolls of film using polymers
we purchase and adding our own secret
sauce. We still have our lab in West
Olive where we do testing such as accel-
erated age testing. We have about 20
employees, divided between the lab and
our 10,000 square foot facility in
Jenison.
In order to have access to glass to
use in the construction of these win-
dows, Pleotint purchased Thompson IG,
a glass fabricator in Fenton, MI.
Today, Pleotint has customers all
over the world. There are about 100
buildings throughout the world using
these windows with about 50 in
Michigan. Locally, the Hope College
Concert Hall, the renovation of the
Herkimer Hotel and Unity Christian
School use their windows. In Texas, a
chain of child care centers, Childrens
Learning Adventure Center, is using
Suntuitive. On the East Coast, a chain
of convenience stores called Sheetz is
using the windows and is in the process
of opening 500 new stores.
Comfort, value, aesthetics, protec-
tion, environmental advantageits a
winning combination of benefits. Created
through hard work, entrepreneurial drive
and creative thinking, Pleotint can be
proud that it has established itself as a
leader in the industry and that it is con-
tinuing to grow and succeed throughout
West Michigan and the world.
By Jane Whittington is a freelance
writer and editor who lives in Grand
Rapids.
4
Publisher: Gary Kralapp
Business Development
Senior Vice President: Diane LaPreze
Senior Vice President: Jim Lroy
Circulation: Aubrey Day
Contributing Writers: Jane
Whittington
Associate Editor: Jeremy Martin
Printing/Distribution: News Web Printing
Accountant: Michael Tawney & Company
Legal: Miller Canfield Paddock & Stone
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Business Business
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Survey finds Small Business Owners
Continue to Boost Hiring
Lansing - Nearly a third of small
business owners in a recent Small
Business Association of Michigan
(SBAM) Barometer survey said they
hired more workers in the past six
months. Thats up from three years ago
when only 12 percent said they
increased hiring. Thirty-seven percent
plan to hire more employees in the com-
ing six months (compared to 29 percent
in June 2013.)
Thirty-four percent of small busi-
ness owners plan to increase wages in
the next six months.
This is vivid evidence that small
business owners are responding to a
much improved tax and regulatory cli-
mate in the state by increasing hiring,
creating jobs and boosting wages, says
SBAMs Vice President Communications
Michael Rogers.
In other survey results, small busi-
ness owners said that over the previous
six months:
Forty-five percent said sales had
increased (compared to 42 percent in
December 2013.)
Thirty percent said profits had
increased (up from 29 percent in
December 2013.)
Looking forward over the next six
months:
Sixty-two percent said they expect
sales to increase (compared to 48 per-
cent in December 2013.)
Fifty percent said they expect
profits to increase (compared to 36 per-
cent in December 2013.)
Continuing a trend, small business
owners expressed concern about access
to qualified personnel. Thirty-two per-
cent said access was only fair, com-
pared to 33 percent in December 2013.
Forty-one percent said access was pret-
ty good, compared to 38 percent in
December 2013.
Six hundred eleven small business
owners were interviewed in late spring
for this round of the Barometer survey.
Curbside Trash & Waste Services:
Trash Cart Yard Waste Cart Recycle Cart
866-669 2047 Jenison, Michigan
Finance/Insurance/Banking Briefs
Grand Rapids Lake Michigan Credit
Union announced hiring Terry ORourke
as Senior Vice President of Finance, and
Lisa Kreza as Mortgage Loan Originator,
where she will work from their new
Farmington Hills branch and announced
hiring Pamela Eichorst as Mortgage
Loan Officer, and will work through a
satellite office in Mishawaka, IN.
Grand Rapids Sal Durso of Principal
Financial Group announced Jeff
VanStrien earned Retirement Income
Certified Professional from American
College, Bryn Mawr, PA.
Grand Rapids Lake Michigan Credit
Union announced Jason Stursma of
Hudsonville, is winner of LMCUs second
$25,000 Home Makeover Giveaway..
Grand Rapids Economic Development
Foundation recognized Andrew Miedema
of Mercantile Bank as 2014 Western
Michigan SBA Lender of the Year.
Portage Economic Development
Foundation reported John Crandle from
Horizon Bank used U.S. Small Business
Administration 504 loan program for 3
projects in the past year with investments
totaling $3,694,400 in Southwest
Michigan.
Southfield Citizens Financial Group
Inc.s Charter One branches in Michigan
and Ohio will be rebranded as Citizens
Bank next year. Citizens already uses the
Citizens Bank brand in nine other states
where it has branches.
Detroit Invest Michigan announced the
first investment was made through
Michigan Pre-Seed Fund 2.0 - a
statewide investment fund of $6.8 million
aimed at supporting high-tech early stage
companies - to ENT Biotech Solutions
for $100,000 to continue development of
a cutting-edge surgical tool, The
ElassoTM, for adenoid, tonsil, and soft
tissue removal.
Jenison Randy Boss, Certified Risk
Architect at Ottawa Kent Insurance,
presented "Employers for Better Health
Linda E. Anderson Awards" to Area
Agency on Aging of West Michigan, and
Caraustar Packaging for protecting their
employees, clients, and customers with
first aid training.
Detroit Huron Capital Partners and
Bandit Industries announced they
entered into a letter of intent to recapital-
ize Bandit as a private company, and to
provide resources and capital to reinforce
Bandit's continued record growth while
accelerating the company's global growth
strategy. The investment is expected to
close early fall 2014.
Kentwood Regal Investment Advisors,
LLC, was recognized in Financial Advisor
Magazines 2014 Independent RIA
Ranking as Top 50 Fastest-Growing
Firms with 58.08% growth in assets
from 2012-2013, and 81.47% change in
number of clients.
Portage Northpointe Bank announced
hiring John Rader, Loan Officer.
5
National Survey Shows Michigan gets D+ Grade
for Starting a Business
San Francisco, CA, -:
Thumbtack.com, in partnership with the
Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation,
today released new data showing that
Michigan is near the back of the pack
when it comes to its friendliness to small
business.
More than 12,000 entrepreneurs
nationwide participated in this years sur-
vey. The Thumbtack.com Small Business
Friendliness Survey is the largest survey
of its kind and is the only survey to obtain
data from an extensive, nationwide sam-
ple of small business owners themselves
to determine the most business-friendly
locations.
While there are various "business cli-
mate rankings" that rate locations as good
or bad for business, there are no others
that draw upon considerable data from
small business owners themselves. This
year our team was able to rate 82 cities
and most states across multiple metrics
that business owners say are critical to a
friendly business environment.
After a two-month survey of thou-
sands of small business owners nation-
wide, we've heard directly from
Michigan's small businesses that the state
could do more to support them, said Jon
Lieber, Chief Economist of
Thumbtack.com. Creating a business cli-
mate that is welcoming to small, dynamic
businesses is more important than ever,
and Michigan has more to do to get
there.
Some of the key findings for
Michigan include:
Michigan earned a C- for its friendli-
ness to small business.
Michigan received a D+ for the ease
of hiring new workers.
Michigan small businesses were
among the top ten most prepared nation-
ally for the implementation of the
Affordable Care Act.
Small businesses also rated Michigan
as the third hardest state in which to get
health insurance.
Michigan's small businesses were
the third most pessimistic in the country
about the outlook for the local economy.
The top rated states overall were
Utah, Idaho, Texas, Virginia and
Louisiana. The lowest rated were Rhode
Island, Illinois, California, Connecticut
and New Jersey.
It is critical to the economic health
of every city and state to create an entre-
preneur-friendly environment, said Dane
Stangler, vice president of Research and
Policy at the Kauffman Foundation.
Policymakers put themselves in the best
position to encourage sustainable growth
and long-term prosperity by listening to
the voices of small business owners
themselves.
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6
Climate Change Negatively
Impacting Great Lakes
Muskegon - Climate change is hav-
ing a direct negative effect on the Great
Lakes, including impacts to recreational
value, drinking water potential, and
becoming more suited to invasive
species and infectious pathogens,
according to a Grand Valley State
University researcher.
The impact of climate change on the
Great Lakes, as well as other natural
resources in the United States, was
explored in the report Science,
Education, and Outreach Roadmap for
Natural Resources, recently released by
the Association of Public and Land-grant
Universities. Kevin Strychar, an associ-
ate professor at Grand Valleys Annis
Water Resources Institute, co-authored
one of the chapters.
Strychar researches climate change
impacts on aquatic and marine ecosys-
tems, and has studied climate change
impacts on organisms for 16 years in
countries from Australia and Palau to
Canada and the United States.
Strychar spent the past year work-
ing with 35 other authors to compile the
section on climate change. In the report,
Strychar and his co-authors described
the need to increase understanding of
the impacts of climate change on ecosys-
tems, water supplies, air quality, fire,
disease transmission and species sur-
vival.
One of the many conclusions reached
by the researchers was the need to devel-
op technology that allows real-time moni-
toring and management of water systems.
Climate change has occurred in the
past, but this time, the frequency of
change is too fast, not allowing animals
enough time to adapt, Strychar said.
Further complicating this issue is that
we need not only study individual ani-
mals but their inter- and intra-depend-
encies on other animals and on the envi-
ronment.
Ignoring the problem is no longer a
solution. Denying the plausibility of cli-
mate change is foolhardy. We need to
accept the problem and now, find solu-
tions or at least minimize its impact
on society and our planet as a whole.
The full report focuses on six
grand challenges that are facing the
U.S. in the areas of climate change,
water, sustainability, agriculture, energy
and education.
Read the report: gvsu.edu/s/Gx
Communications & IT
Grand Rapids Clark Communications
announced promotion of Jennifer
Griffin from Senior Associate to Public
Relations Director.
Grand Rapids KR Group, Inc.,
announced it was named to Ingram
Micro 2014 SMB 500, which recognizes
the top 500 fastest-growing Ingram
Micro U.S. channel partners serving
small and midsize businesses.
Grandville Trivalent Group, Inc., an IT
solution provider, announced its Senior
Cloud Services Engineer, Andy
Syrewicze, was honored with 2014
Microsoft Most Valuable Professional
Award.
Grand Rapids Wondergem
Consulting, Inc., a public and govern-
ment relations and issues management
firm, announced promotion of Tom
Hanley, APR, to Vice President, Client
Services.
Grand Rapids Lambert, Edwards &
Associates, public relations agency and
affairs firm, announced addition of
Chelsea Dubey as Director of Business
Development.
Grand Rapids ABC affiliate WZZM 13
announced they are adding the following
newscasts: beginning Sunday, August
10, 2014, WZZM will begin a 9:00 a.m.
newscast that will air each Sunday in
addition to their two-hour newscast cur-
rently airing 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. Saturdays
and Sundays; and beginning Monday,
August 18, 2014, WZZM will launch a
4:30 a.m. newscast.
Grand Rapids ABC affiliate WZZM 13
announced Lee Van Ameyde was
named Managing Editor of WZZM 13
Watchdog Investigative Team, and Nick
LaFave will be joining WZZM 13s news
team as Co-Anchor of evening newscasts
with Juliet Dragos. WZZM 13 also
announced new AM co-anchor Dan
Harland will join Lauren Stanton and
Meteorologist Aaron Ofseyer in early
August.
Grandville IT solution provider
Trivalent Group, Inc., announced
appointment of Jennifer Puplava, mem-
ber and attorney at Mika Meyers Beckett
& Jones, PLC, to its Board of Directors.
Grand Rapids Laura Goble announced
launch of Acorn Studios, 919 Fulton
Street East, designed for photo and video
production, and also offers a variety of
classes, hosted events, and space avail-
able to rent for private events and pro-
fessional use.
Grand Rapids CU*Answers Network
Services, provider of managed network
services, announced it hosted a commu-
nity Computer Aided Design (CAD)
Camp for West Michigan-based FIRST
Robotics teams to provide beginner com-
puter aided design skills using PTC Creo
commercial CAD software packages to
assist in the design and manufacture of
robots competing in FIRST events.
Students were members of existing
FIRST teams based in West Michigan,
and ranged in age from middle school to
high school.
Toll Free 800-968-8608
Fax 616-997-7263
modernofficeinteriors.com
7
Education Briefs
Grand Rapids Grand Valley State
University Board of Trustees adopted
the universitys FY 2015 budget and set
tuition rates for the coming academic
year. Trustees voted to increase tuition by
$149 per semester, bringing annual
tuition to $10,752 for a full-time under-
graduate Michigan resident. The budget
includes $38 million for student financial
aid, an increase of $3.1 million that
becomes available for students in scholar-
ships and grants.
Grand Rapids Researchers at Grand
Valley State Universitys Johnson
Center for Philanthropy received a
$1.05 million grant from W.K. Kellogg
Foundation to study Michigan
Department of Human Services Pathways
to Potential program aimed at helping stu-
dents in 169 Michigan schools and their
families succeed.
Grand Rapids Grand Rapids
Community College and Davenport
University signed an articulation
agreement giving students who com-
plete the medical assistant program at
GRCC, a seamless transfer to
Davenports health-related programs.
Benton Harbor Michigan Career and
Technical Institute graduated 12 stu-
dents in its Certified Nursing Assistant
program, mostly Department of Human
Services PATH participants who faced
educational challenges.
Grand Rapids For the second consecu-
tive year, a Graphic Design student from
Ferris State Universitys Kendall
College of Art and Design won an
award from American Advertising
Federations American Advertising
Awards. Amy Johnson won a Gold
award for Letters Lost Then Found.
Muskegon Baker College is launching
a new certificate program this fall that
helps preschool educators prepare for
the assessment process for a Child
Development Associate Credential
administered by Council for Professional
Recognition.
Grand Rapids Dr. John C. Pinheiro,
Professor of History and Director of
Catholic Studies at Aquinas College,
was elected to a four-year term on
National Network Board of Lilly Fellows
Program in Arts and Humanities.
Grand Rapids Colonel Ralph W.
Hauenstein Fellowship Medal, one of
Grand Valley State Universitys most
prestigious awards, was presented to for-
mer U.S. Secretary of State James A.
Baker, III at the 2014 William E. Simon
Lecture in Public Affairs, a series estab-
lished by President Gerald R. Ford in
1988.
Big Rapids Ferris State Universitys
Board of Trustees approved a new 42-
credit-hour Master of Public Health
Degree for its College of Health
Professions.
Grand Rapids David R. Fernstrum,
Member with law firm Mika, Meyers,
Beckett & Jones, PLC, was elected a
Fellow by College of Labor and
Employment Lawyers.
Grand Rapids Davenport University
announced it received approval from
Michigan Department of Education and
Higher Learning Commission to offer
Michigan Alternate Route to Interim
Teaching Certification through its new
College of Urban Education. Recruitment
of students for Davenports Master of
Urban Education program is now under-
way, with classes scheduled to begin Oct.
29, 2014.
Kalamazoo Western Michigan
University officials learned that
Sangren Hall was awarded LEED Gold
certification by the U.S. Green Building
Council, which brings the number of
LEED certified buildings on WMUs
campus to nine, with a dozen more still
in certification process.
The Hauenstein Center
Continued from page 3
American Conversations brings
national figures to Grand Rapids around
the theme of leadership and civic
engagement. Recent speakers have
included Senator Olympia Snowe, jour-
nalist and historian Colin Woodard and
social psychologist Jonathan Haidt.
Anther program is The Wheelhouse
Talks which are free and open to the
public. This brings local leaders to the
stage to share their experiences and wis-
dom. Recent speakers have included
Mayor George Hartwell, Michael
DeWilde, Director of the Business Ethics
Center at the Seidman College of
Business at GVSU and Mary Buikema,
Executive Director of Habitat for
Humanity of Kent County.
The Cook Leadership Academy is
named after Peter Cook, another extraor-
dinary individual and a good friend of
Ralph Houenstein. As a philanthropist
and community activist, he has con-
tributed generously to educational,
healthcare and cultural causes.
According to Whitney, Forty
undergraduate and graduate students
each year, mostly but not exclusively
from GVSU, are chosen to be part of the
Cook Leadership Academy. They spend a
number of hours over the course of the
school year participating in seminars,
workshops, outreach efforts and other
opportunities for growth. An individual-
ized plan is developed for each student,
and mentors from the community are
available as students progress through
the academy.
In establishing the Hauenstein
Center, Ralph Hauenstein set forth a
wide-ranging mission. He said, In the
20th century, I saw with my own eyes
the worst that leaders are capable of. In
the 21st century, I want to encourage the
best leadership possible so that the
world will be better for my childrens
children.
Jane Whittington is a freelance
writer and editor who lives in Grand
Rapids.
88
Health Care Briefs
Allegan Allegan General Hospital
announced opening its new 2,600 sq. ft.
Cancer Care and Infusion Center, and fea-
tures an open treatment area with five
patient treatment chairs, two private
treatment rooms, a patient waiting room
and education room, and three physician
exam rooms.
Kalamazoo Borgess Medical Center
again received Get With The Heart Failure
Gold-Plus Quality Achievement Award
from American Heart Association.
Wyoming Metro Health Hospital was
chosen to receive Excellence in Patient
Care Award for exemplary results from
Studer Group for receiving results with
an Overall Rating of 9 or 10 on Hospital
Consumer Assessment of Healthcare
Providers and Systems patient survey.
Detroit Blue Cross Blue Shield of
Michigan and LifeSecure Insurance
Company partnered to offer comprehen-
sive supplemental insurance options to
Michigan consumers. The products are
long term care insurance, which helps
individuals with costs of daily living; hos-
pital recovery insurance designed to
assist policyholders in recovery stages
following a hospital stay; and personal
accident insurance designed to help poli-
cyholders pay for unexpected needs
resulting from an accidental injury.
Kalamazoo Bronson Neuroscience
Center opened an Amyotrophic Lateral
Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou
Gehrigs disease, Clinic at its office locat-
ed in the medical office pavilion on south
campus of Bronson Methodist Hospital,
the only ALS clinic in Southwest
Michigan.
Grand Rapids Spectrum Health was
recognized by Institute for Patient- and
Family-Centered Care as a Better Together
exemplar hospital for excellence in
engaging patients and families as part-
ners in patients care.
Ann Arbor Aastrom Biosciences, Inc.,
developer of patient-specific expanded
cellular therapies for treatment of severe
diseases and conditions, announced
appointment of Zac Taylor as National
Sales Director.
Grand Rapids Spectrum Health
Medical Groups Integrated Care Campus,
2750 East Beltline Ave NE, will officially
open to patient use Monday, July 21,
2014, offering convenient and coordinat-
ed health care including neurology,
obstetrics, radiology, family medicine,
rehab and Urgent Care.
Grand Rapids MapleCreek Senior
Living began work on eight new inde-
pendent living condos with Elzinga &
Volkers hired to build The Cottages.
Grand Rapids Five Spectrum Healths
medical specialties were ranked among the
nations best by U.S. News & World Report
in its Best Hospitals 2014-15 rankings.
Spectrum Healths Butterworth and
Blodgett Hospitals placed 20th in pul-
monology, 23rd in gynecology; 25th in dia-
betes and endocrinology, and 49th in gas-
troenterology and GI surgery, plus 49th in
ears, nose and throat. The hospitals were
also recognized as high-performing in can-
cer; cardiology and heart surgery; geri-
atrics; nephrology; neurology and neuro-
surgery; orthopedics; and urology.
Higher Temperatures Increase Risk
for Heatstroke
Lansing With July being the
warmest month of the year here in
Michigan, the American Heart Association
would like to remind consumers to watch
out for signs of heatstroke, which differ
from the signs of stroke, and what you can
do to protect yourself.
While heatstroke contains the word
stroke and both are very serious medical
conditions, they are not the same condition
and do not present the same symptoms.
Heatstroke, sometimes referred to as
sunstroke, occurs when the core body
temperature rises above 104 degrees
Fahrenheit. At this temperature, the
organs cannot function properly.
A stroke, on the other-hand, occurs
when a blood vessel to the brain is either
blocked by a clot or bursts. The disruption
of blood and oxygen to the brain causes
brain cells to die.
Heatstroke can be brought on by a
number of external environmental fac-
tors, typically involving high tempera-
tures. Certain medications like beta block-
ers, ace receptor blockers, ace inhibitors,
calcium channel blockers and diuretics
(which deplete the body of sodium) can
exaggerate the bodys response to heat
and may increase the risk for heatstroke.
If you believe someone is having a
stroke, you should call 9-1-1 immediately
and let the operator know it may be a
stroke. A stroke patients chances of sur-
vival are greater the sooner they get to the
hospital. The American Heart Association
teaches the acronym F.A.S.T. for stroke:
Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech
difficulty, Time to call 9-1-1.
Heatstroke however, has different
symptoms that include a body tempera-
ture of 104 degrees or greater, lack of
sweating. Skin will feel hot and dry,
unless the heatstroke is a result of exer-
cise, nausea, flushed red skin, confusion,
and muscle weakness. If you believe
someone is suffering from heatstroke,
you should cool them down and call 9-1-
1 immediately.
To protect yourself from heatstroke:
Dress for the weather. Wear light-
weight, light-colored clothing in breath-
able fabrics such as cotton.
Avoid being outdoors for extended
periods of time during the middle of the
day.
Stay hydrated. Drink water before,
during, and after your activity, even if you
dont feel thirsty. Avoid caffeinated or
alcoholic beverages.
Enjoy a break in the shade as
needed.
Michigan Pharmacists Association
Compounding pharmacists are a crit-
ical part of ensuring patient access to
unique, individualized medications
By Ashley Builta, Pharm.D., fellow of
association management and business
development, Michigan Pharmacists
Association
Compounding medications has been
at the heart of pharmacy practice since the
start of the pharmacy profession. While
the advent of mass manufacturing has
greatly minimized the daily need for com-
pounding, the ability of pharmacists to
custom make medications for their
patients has not changed. Compounding
pharmacies continue to fill a critical role in
health care, customizing medications to
meet patient needs.
Frequently, physicians turn to com-
pounding pharmacists when they have a
specific need that is not addressed by con-
ventional medications. Working together
with the patients physician, the pharma-
cist can help ensure the patient gets the
right medication in the right form to best
manage their medical condition.
Compounding pharmacies can com-
bine and make medications that are not
provided by commercial manufacturers,
but are still approved by the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration (FDA). If a
patient cant swallow a pill, a pharmacist
can compound medication into a flavored
liquid that can be easily swallowed, topi-
cal gels or creams that can be absorbed
through the skin, lozenge-like forms that
dissolve under the tongue or even lol-
lipops! In addition, if a patient had an
allergy to a component in a commercially-
prepared medication, a compounded med-
ication could be made without the aller-
genic component. Compounding pharma-
cies operate under strict quality and con-
trol guidelines to ensure the customized
medications are safe for patients.
The words custom made may bring
higher cost to mind; however, with
access to raw ingredients, the compound-
ing pharmacist can pass on the additional
cost savings to the patient. Pharmacists
want to ensure patient access to critical,
compounded medications, and controlling
costs is one of the ways to accomplish
that goal.
A patient may not typically require a
compounded medication, but when they
do, compounding pharmacists are there to
help! Make sure that compounded med-
ications are included in your health plan
so you can take advantage of this impor-
tant service when you need it most.
9
Lookin Good!
By Jane Whittington
We all want to look our best.
However, the biting winds of winter, blis-
tering sun of summer and, most of all, the
inexorable passage of time does a number
on our skin. Scars, sun and age spots,
acne, lines and wrinkles all accumulate and
make us conscious that we are not looking
as good as we could. Cosmetic surgery can
be an option, but if we would prefer not to
take such a drastic step, there are non-sur-
gical cosmetic procedures that can make a
big difference in how we look and, conse-
quently, our self-esteem.
Julie VanDyke is an esthetician with
M.A. Stawiski, MD. She has worked for
fourteen years offering non-surgical cos-
metic procedures. She studied at the
Booker Institute of Cosmetology complet-
ing 400 hours of instruction in everything
from anatomy to the use of mechanical
and electrical equipment and then passing
a rigorous state licensing examination.
VanDyke says, One of the things I
do is microdermabrasion treatments
which help with scarring, pigmentation or
dark spots, clogged pores, fine lines and
acne. This is usually done on the face, but
it can be done on any part of the body,
especially when there is scarring.
Microdermabrasion exfoliates the dead
skin cells and brings the new cells up
quicker so it helps to rejuvenate, and it
will also help to unclog pores for people
with acne. It will take down scarring, but
that might take a few treatments. It also
reduces fine lines on the face and, for this
purpose, should be repeated every three
months or so.
She continues, The machine uses
diamond tipped wands. It uses diamond
crystals and is a very small wand with a
suction in the middle of it. So it scrapes
the skin and then suctions the skin cells
away. It doesnt hurt; its just rough, like
fine grain sandpaper, and it feels really
good afterwards. You do have to stay out
of the sun for a few days, and there might
be some redness, but nothing major.
Another procedure offered at the
Center is VariLite Laser Treatment. The
laser generates an intense beam of light that
targets a specific site. The light is absorbed
by oxyhemoglobin (bright red blood cells)
and melanin (black or brown pigment).
Van Dyke says, We use this treat-
ment for tiny veins in the nose and cheek
area or for angioma spots, those red spots
caused by sun damage and/or rosacea. It is
also used for pigment spots, called lentig-
ines, what are sometimes called age spots.
Again, it isnt particularly painful, sort of
like being flicked by a rubber band.
Another option is the chemical peel.
Using either glycolic acid or salicylic acid,
the solution is applied to the skin and
removes the top layer, exposing the skin
underneath. According to VanDyke, this
helps with clogged or enlarged pores and
fine lines. The salicylic acid is especially
helpful in cases of acne. They can also use
lactic acid, which is a more gentle treat-
ment and can help with fine lines and pig-
mentation. In addition, theres a new ver-
sion of the chemical peel called Power of
10, which is a stronger and deeper peel
with some redness and peeling over the
course of a week.
Medical doctors and physician assis-
tants also offer Botox injections, which
decrease lines on the face, particularly in
the forehead area. They are also able to
inject fillers such as Juvederm which
plumps up lines around the nose. The
practice also sells a limited line of skin
care products which they have used and
found to be effective.
Although insurance wont cover these
treatments, they are surprisingly affordable
and can make a big difference in the way
individuals look and feel. Beauty may be
only skin deep, but that skin deserves to
look and feel sensational!
By Jane Whittington is a freelance
writer and editor who lives in Grand
Rapids.
New Grant Offers Increased Patient
Access to Cancer Trials
Grand Rapids Cancer patients
throughout West Michigan will now have
greater access to new and unique clinical
trials.
Eleven hospitals and health care sys-
tems have formed a consortium - the
Cancer Research Consortium of West
Michigan (CRCWM) to bring the highest
level of clinical trials from the National
Cancer Institute (NCI) to the men, women
and children in their communities.
The consortium received notice on
August 1 that it has been designated by
the NCI as a National Cancer Institute
Community Oncology Research Program
(NCORP). This designation provides $1.9
million in grant money annually for
CRCWM over the next five years to pro-
vide new cutting edge clinical cancer trials
to our community and to complete exist-
ing clinical trials on which over 1800
West Michigan patients are currently
enrolled. CRCWM is one of only 46 com-
munity sites selected from applicants
across the country.
This is great news! The NCORP des-
ignation will allow our West Michigan
hospital members to recruit physician
investigators to participate in National
Cancer Institute clinical trials, such as
those they trained under at national can-
cer centers, said Gilbert D. A. Padula,
MD, Principal Investigator, Cancer
Research Consortium of West Michigan.
CRCWM members include:
Bronson Battle Creek
Lakeland HealthCare
Mercy Health Mercy Campus
Mercy Health Saint Marys
Munson Medical Center
Spectrum Health
Spectrum Health Reed City Hospital
West Michigan Cancer Center
Michigan State University College of
Human Medicine
Van Andel Research Institute
The NCORP opportunity was estab-
lished after the National Cancer Institute
made the decision to end funding as of
July 31, 2014 for federally-funded clinical
trials in the community setting through
Community Clinical Oncology Programs
(CCOP). CCOPs existed in more than 60
communities throughout the United
States, including Grand Rapids and
Kalamazoo. Without the new NCI research
grant funding as an NCORP, it would be
very difficult for communities to access
these trials.
We are enthusiastic about the oppor-
tunities that the programs academic/com-
munity partnership offers for incorporating
new technologies into clinical studies to
improve cancer care for individuals at risk
of cancer and with a diagnosis of cancer,
said Worta McCaskill-Stevens, MD, MS,
Chief, Community Oncology and Prevention
Trials Research Group, National Institute of
Health, National Cancer Institute. Another
exciting area is the new focus on Cancer
Care Delivery Research. These studies will
evaluate the multiple factors that influence
the dynamic health care environment in
which cancer care is provided and also have
great potential for improving cancer out-
comes and reducing disparities in care.
We are very pleased to receive the
NCORP designation because it offers hope
and possibilities to the more than 9,000
men, women, and children in West
Michigan who will face a new cancer diag-
nosis each year, said Connie Szczepanek,
RN, BSN, Director, Cancer Research
Consortium of West Michigan.
10
Legal/Accounting/Consulting Briefs
Grand Rapids Scott A. Hughes,
Associate of law firm Mika Meyers
Beckett & Jones, PLC, was elected Vice-
Chair of Grand Rapids Bar Association
Environmental Law Section.
Kalamazoo Honigman Millers
Schwartz and Cohn, LLP, announced
Kelly T. Murphy, Partner in their
Intellectual Property Department, was
elected to Board of Trustees for Irving S.
Gilmore International Keyboard Festival.
Detroit Kenneth R. Marcus, a Partner
in Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohns
Health Care Practice Group, was named to
this years class of Fellows for State Bar of
Michigan Health Care Law Section.
Grand Rapids Lindsay Hartman joined
law firm Warner Norcross & Judd, LLP,
as an Associate, concentrating her prac-
tice in healthcare.
Grand Rapids Attorney Joseph J. Gavin
was elected to serve a three year term on
the Board of Trustees for Grand Rapids
Bar Association.
Grand Rapids David R. Fernstrum,
member with law firm Mika, Meyers,
Beckett & Jones, PLC, was elected a
Fellow by College of Labor and
Employment Lawyers, the highest recogni-
tion by ones colleagues of sustained out-
standing performance in the profession.
Grand Rapids Intellectual property law
firm Price Heneveld, LLP, announced
partner Steven L. Underwood was
appointed to its three-member
Management Committee.
Holland Accounting firm DeBoer,
Baumann & Co., announced promotions
of Steven Darrow, CPA, and Kaileigh
Eddy, CPA, to Manager.
Grand Rapids For the 14th consecutive
year, law firm Warner Norcross & Judd,
LLP, awarded academic scholarships to
assist minority students from Michigan
complete their legal studies. The 2014 recip-
ients are Kanea K. Brooks, Law School
Scholarship, and Veronica A. Foster,
Paralegal/Legal Assistant Scholarship.
Grand Rapids Varnum, LLP, once again
ranked in the following practice areas in
Chambers USA, a national directory rank-
ing leading law firms and lawyers:
Banking and Finance, Labor and
Employment, General Commercial, and
Real Estate. Chambers also acknowledged
Varnum attorneys David McLeod,
Richard Hooker, Lawrence J. Murphy,
and Nyal Deems as notable practitioners.
Grand Rapids Hilger Hammond, PC,
announced Attorney Stephen Hilger was
designated as Construction Dispute
Resolution Specialist by Construction
Dispute Resolution Services.
Holland Accounting firm DeBoer,
Baumann & Co., announced promotion
of Kristin Hibbard, CPA, to Senior
Manager; Steven Darrow, CPA, to
Manager; and Kaileigh Eddy, CPA, to
Manager.
Grand Rapids Plante Moran, public
accounting and consulting firm,
announced its support for the latest ver-
sion of the next-generation Epicor enter-
prise resource planning solution, Epicor
ERP version 10.
Do You Lead or Manage Your Business?
Denver, CO - Accomplishing goals is
the most essential function of running a
company, according to 46% of entrepre-
neurs polled by The Alternative Board. By
comparison, 38% place more importance
on providing a vision for their business.
Despite acknowledging how crucial that
vision is to the company's success, most
leaders need help communicating it: par-
ticipants averaged just 7.1 out of 10 when
grading themselves on how effectively
they expressed their vision to their team.
"It's important that the leader estab-
lishes and communicates a vision. But
it's even more important that they
accomplish goals," says David Scarola,
Vice President of TAB. "One without the
other has little value."
After surveying 336 small business
owners and CEOs worldwide (roughly
70% of whom have companies earning
over $1 million a year), a common profile
of the modern business leader emerged
from TAB's study. Key findings show that
today's leaders:
Take risks. In fact, 90% say pursuing
opportunities (even those with high levels
of risk) is more important than simply
reducing risks -- a task better suited for
traditional suits.
Seek respect. An overwhelming 65%
of leaders feel that earning the respect of
their team is preferable to being under-
stood (33%), liked (3%) or feared (0%).
Inspire action. Delegation and talent
selection is key because 63% of the lead-
ers surveyed believe inspiring action is
their primary objective with employees,
versus the traditional managerial roles of
solving problems (16%) and coordinating
tasks (15%).
Contemporary leaders favor direct
communication and corporate transparen-
cy. When asked how they communicate
with employees, the majority of CEOs
(61%) say they most often speak to their
staff face-to-face or in company meetings
(27%). By contrast, 9% primarily commu-
nicate through managers and only 4%
resort to email as the first line of commu-
nication with their staff.
Prepping their second-in-command
is vital to a business owner's strategy for
a number of reasons, including succes-
sion planning, selling the company or
handling emergency scenarios. When
asked how well their best available
replacement would run the company if
they had to step into the top role for the
next year, only 30% of leaders say this
person would be very effective. This is
another sign that delegation and commu-
nication skills need to improve.
In TAB's poll, 62% of participants
said that when faced with serious busi-
ness obstacles, their first course of action
is to seek input from those around them.
This advice may come from trusted
employees, freelance consultants or, pos-
sibly, a structured peer board -- all of
which can improve a leader's vision.
"Often when we think of 'visionary
leadership' we think of someone who ini-
tiated a great change, like a skyrocketing
start-up or the amazing turnaround of a
struggling company. However, visionary
leadership is just as important in the
ongoing management of our businesses,"
says Jason Zickerman, TAB President &
CEO.
Review of The Hard Thing
About Hard Things
Provided by www.getabstract.com
Ben Horowitz guided Loudcloud
through life-or-death struggles before sell-
ing it to Hewlett-Packard for $1.65 billion.
He argues that no formula can promise
entrepreneurial success. Horowitz is a first-
rate storyteller and a refreshingly irreverent
teacher who uses allusions ranging from
Jay Z to Clint Eastwood to Dr. Seuss. Any
business leader will find worthy guidance in
this exhortation to persist through the
Struggle. getAbstract recommends
Horowitzs part autobiography, part tip
sheet to anyone building a company.
Ben Horowitz. The Hard Thing About
Hard Things: Building a Business When
There Are No Easy Answers.
HarperBusiness, 2014. 289 pages. ISBN-
13: 978-0062273208.
getAbstract is the leading provider of
business book summaries, with thousands
of titles covered. www.getabstract.com
11
Construction Briefs
Grand Rapids Paradigm Design is cel-
ebrating its 40th anniversary with an
Open House August 20, 2014, from
3:00 7:00 PM, at 550 3 Mile Rd NW,
Suite B., with an invitation to friends,
clients, neighbors, and those that would
like to learn more about the firm.
Paradigm has been active on the local
and national scale since its establish-
ment and has developed long-standing
relationships with various clients
including SpartanNash, Gordon Food
Service, and Goodrich Quality Theatres.
Southfield Signature Associates,
independently owned member of
Cushman & Wakefield Alliance, proudly
marks 25 years of commercial real
estate results.
Muskegon, Michigan - Signature
Associates has negotiated:
the sale of a 26,280 square foot indus-
trial building located at 350 Skeels
Street, Coopersville, Michigan for he
seller, 76th Street Partners, LLC, and
the buyer, Triple T Properties, LLC.
Gemwood Products, a related company,
intends to expand its operations to the
building.
the sale of a 7,356 square foot retail
building located at 121 W. Milham
Avenue, Portage, Michigan to P & L
Company, LLC. for the seller, Kzoo
Investments, LLC.
Grand Rapids Grand Rapids Drive
announced plans to move into Shops at
Monroe Center and Division, for NBA
Development Leagues retail shop for
Drive merchandise and ticket window.
Grand Rapids Wolverine Building
Group welcomed Michael B. Verhulst
as Vice President of Business
Development and Community Relations,
and will assist Wolverine in providing
superior service to current clients and
contacts, and expanding to new market
segments.
Iron River Developer Tim Hovey of
Gryphon Group announced ribbon cut-
ting at Apple Blossom Apartments, for-
mer site of historic Central School.
General contractor Wolverine Building
Group and architect Barry J. Polzin com-
pleted the $6.6 Million adaptive reuse
project to transform the former school
into 22 affordable one, two and three
bedroom units.
Grand Rapids Custer announced addi-
tion of Ashley Forsythe, LEED AP
ID+C, as Interior Designer for Custer
Design.
Grand Rapids Advanced Green
Architecture was awarded a contract
for their Advanced Green Roof system
for University of Iowas Art Building
Replacement Facility. Midwest Green
Roof of Arlington Heights, Ill., will per-
form the 14,066 sq. ft. pre-vegetated
sedum mix roof installation next spring.
Byron Center Miedema Asset
Management Group announced addi-
tion to its Eastern Michigan team,
Senior Appraiser Robert Hall.
Grand Rapids Custer announced addi-
tion of 217 Management, a full service
professional management firm servicing
clients needs throughout their entire
interior renovation project, including
overseeing construction, technology
integration, and facility planning.
Grand Rapids Progressive AE
announced Thomas D. Kingshott,
Senior Mechanical Technician, and
Jeffrey C. Werle, Senior Mechanical
Designer, earned Medical Gas Specialist
Certification from American Society of
Safety Engineers, the most recent certi-
fications in the health care practice.
West MI - Signature Associates has
negotiated
the sale of a 3,516 square foot industri-
al building located at 1737 Marion, Grand
Haven, Michigan for the tenant,
Kemosabe, LLC.
the sale of a 23,825 square foot indus-
trial building located at 745 Woodlawn
Avenue, Grand Haven, Michigan for the
seller, MI Industrial Development, and
the buyer, Blue Agate, LLC.
the sale of 3.00 acres of land located at
4450 Grand Haven Road, Muskegon,
Michigan for the seller, Galy Developers-
Family Dollar, LLC, and the buyer,
LMBBP, LLC.
the lease of 3,360 square feet of retail
space located at 5401 Portage,
Kalamazoo, Michigan for the tenant,
Wright & Filippis, Inc.
the sale a 15,020 square foot invest-
ment property located at 1991 Lakeshore
Drive, Muskegon, Michigan for the seller,
Jore, LLC. Jim also represented the buyer,
BTBG Investments, LLC.
Benton Harbor Wightman &
Associates, Inc. added GIS, landscape
architecture and interior design to their
services, and added: Ryan Miller, GIS
Manager; Ben Baker will serve as lead
on landscape architecture projects; and
Marissa Kovatch, Senior Interior
Designer in Architecture Studio at
Wightman.
Hudsonville Dan Vos Construction
Co. broke ground on expansion of
11,040 sq. ft., and a 4,000 sq. ft. stand
alone building at Grand Equipment
Co., a full-service heavy equipment
dealership and rental house, which
offers equipment sales, rentals, parts
and service of heavy equipment. The
addition includes four offices, confer-
ence room, storage rooms, parts storage
and counter, break room, mezzanine,
and shop.
Grand Rapids Andys House, built
in honor of the late Andy Angelo, is the
fifth Kent County Habitat for
Humanity house to achieve LEED
Platinum certification, the highest
award from U.S. Green Building Council.
Grand Rapids Custer announced addi-
tion of Jason Moore, formerly with
Schweitzer Construction and CSM
Group, as Construction Manager.
Grand Rapids Colliers International
West Michigan will serve as leasing
partner for Arena Place, downtown
Grand Rapids newest upscale mixed-
use development located at 45 Ottawa
Ave. SW.
Young Hispanics Often Obese, at Higher Risk
for Heart Diseases
Lansing - Obesity is common
among U.S. Hispanics and is severe par-
ticularly among young Hispanics,
according to research in the Journal of
the American Heart Association (JAHA).
The first large-scale data on body
mass index (BMI) and cardiovascular
disease risk factors among U.S.
Hispanic/Latino adult populations sug-
gests that severe obesity may be associ-
ated with considerable excess risk for
cardiovascular diseases.
For U.S. Hispanics, the obesity epi-
demic is unprecedented and getting
worse, said Robert Kaplan, Ph.D., lead
author, and professor of epidemiology
and population health at Albert Einstein
College of Medicine in New York City.
Because young adults with obesity are
likely to be sicker as they age, and have
higher healthcare costs, we should be
investing heavily in obesity research and
prevention, as if our nations future
depended upon it.
Researchers reviewed data from a
study of 16,344 people of diverse
Hispanic origin in four U.S. cities
(Bronx, Chicago, Miami and San Diego).
Men were average age 40 and women
were average age 41. People with
Mexican roots were the largest group
(about 37 percent of subjects), followed
by those with Cuban (20 percent) and
Puerto Rican (16 percent) backgrounds.
They found:
Overall 18 percent of women in
the study and 12 percent of the men had
levels of obesity that signal special con-
cern about health risks, as defined by
having a BMI above 35 (BMI is calculat-
ed based on height and weight).
The most severe class of obesity,
(BMI greater than 40, or for a person 5'
5" tall, body weight over 240 pounds)
was most common among young adults
between 25 and 34 years of age, affect-
ing one in twenty men and almost one in
ten women in this age group.
More than half of the severely
obese people had unhealthy levels of
HDL cholesterol, the good cholesterol,
and of inflammation, as measured by a
marker called C-reactive protein.
About 40 percent had high blood
pressure, and more than a quarter had
diabetes.
This is a heavy burden being car-
ried by young people who should be in
the prime of life, he said. Young peo-
ple, and especially men who had the
highest degree of future cardiovascular
disease risk factors in our study are
the very individuals who tend to neglect
the need to get regular checkups, adopt
healthy lifestyle behaviors, and seek the
help of healthcare providers.
Yet compared with the women, high
blood pressure and diabetes, both risk
factors for heart disease and stroke,
appeared to be more tightly linked with
severe obesity among men.
High Stress, Hostility, Depression Linked with
Increased Stroke Risk
Lansing - Higher levels of stress,
hostility and depressive symptoms are
associated with significantly increased
risk of stroke or transient ischemic
attack (TIA) in middle-age and older
adults, according to new research in the
American Heart Association journal
Stroke.
A TIA is a stroke caused by a tem-
porary blockage of blood flow to the
brain.
Researchers investigated how psy-
chological factors might influence risk
for chronic disease, using data from the
Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis
(MESA), an ongoing study on cardio-
vascular disease risk factors in partici-
pants living in six U.S. cities.
More than 6,700 adults (ages 45-
84; 53 percent women) completed ques-
tionnaires assessing chronic stress,
depressive symptoms, anger and hostil-
ity over two years. Participants were
38.5 percent white, 27.8 percent
African-American, 11.8 percent Chinese
and 21.9 percent Hispanic. All were free
of cardiovascular disease at the start of
the study.
In follow-up for an additional 8.5
to 11 years, 147 strokes and 48 TIAs
occurred.
Compared to people with the lowest
psychological scores, those with highest
scores were:
86 percent more likely to have a
stroke or TIA for high depressive symp-
toms.
59 percent more likely to have a
stroke or TIA for the highest chronic
stress scores.
More than twice as likely to have
a stroke or TIA for the highest hostility
scores.
No significant increased risk was
linked to anger.
Theres such a focus on tradition-
al risk factors cholesterol levels,
blood pressure, smoking and so forth
and those are all very important, but
studies like this one show that psycho-
logical characteristics are equally impor-
tant, said Susan Everson-Rose, Ph.D.,
M.P.H., study lead author and associate
professor of medicine at the University
of Minnesota in Minneapolis.
These associations noted in the
study were significant even when
researchers accounted for age, race, sex,
health behaviors and other known risk
factors of stroke.
Given our aging population, its
important to consider these other fac-
tors that might play a role in disease
risk. Stroke is a disease of the elderly
predominantly, and so learning more
about things that can influence risk for
stroke as people age is important.
Researchers measured chronic
stress in five domains: personal health
problems, health problems of others
close to the participant, job or ability to
work, relationships and finances.
They assessed depressive symp-
toms with a 20-question scale and ana-
lyzed anger with a 10-item scale that
captured the extent and frequency of
experiencing that emotion. Hostility,
which is a negative way of viewing the
world, was measured by assessing a
persons cynical expectations of other
peoples motives.
One thing we didnt assess is cop-
ing strategies, Everson-Rose said. If
someone is experiencing depressive
symptoms or feeling a lot of stress or
hostility, we dont know how they man-
age those, so its possible that positive
coping strategies could ameliorate some
of these associations or effects, she
said. We did not inquire about coping.
I would say thats one of the tasks for
future studies.
Researchers didnt identify poten-
tial racial and ethnic differences or sex
differences in the observed associa-
tions, but were not able to fully examine
such differences due to the smaller
numbers of strokes in some groups.
12
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13
Drive Green
By Jane Whittington
With gasoline prices likely to go
higher in the future and our dependence
on fossil fuels problematic at best, many
of us have probably thought about pur-
chasing a more eco-friendly vehicle.
With all the options out there, how does
the consumer decide? Reducing fuel
costs, helping to preserve limited
resources, receiving tax benefits on the
purchase of a new vehicle and doing
whats best for the environment, buying a
green car can make sense.
Hybrid, all-electric cars and light
trucks (EVs) and even diesel cars are
becoming more popular and practical.
Hybrid
Hybrids combine a regular (usually
smaller) gasoline engine with an electric
motor to power the vehicle. The electric
motor adds power at low speeds and
greatly reduces tailpipe emissions.
Hybrids offer a great many buyer choices
and more car companies are jumping on
the bandwagon. A wide range of vehicles
from most foreign and domestic manufac-
turers are available. Current models from
subcompact to luxury cars provide per-
formance similar to non-hybrids but use
less fuel. Although hybrids cost more
than their gasoline counterparts, savings
come from reduced fuel cost and federal
income tax incentives from about $2,500
to $4,000.
Plug-In Hybrid
Recently, some companies have
begun offering this option. Plug-ins are
essentially hybrids that can run for short
distances (typically 15 to 40 miles) on
electric power alone. Unlike normal
hybrids, they can be plugged into an 110v
power source for recharging or a 220v
source for quicker recharging. These
models cost more than hybrids and have
fewer models available, but that number
is growing each year. In addition to fuel
cost savings, tax incentives range from
approximately $2,500 to $7,500, depend-
ing on how far the car can travel on elec-
tric power alone.
Electric
Electric cars (EVs) run on electric
power alone. Several models, from sub-
compacts to expensive sports cars like the
Tesla Model S, are currently sold. EVs
eliminate gasoline costs altogether, but
have a reduced driving range (currently
about 50 to 100 miles) on a single charge
from 110v or 220v outlets.
The Chevrolet Volt, introduced in
2010, is unique because although it is
always powered by an electric motor, it
also has a small on-board gasoline engine
that recharges the electric motor. This
reduces the range anxiety that can
come with EVs. So although the Volt is a
plug-in EV, it can also be classified as a
hybrid. Chris Schaberg of the Sales and
Leasing staff at KOOL Chevrolet on North
Plainfield Avenue says that KOOL is the
leading marketer of the Volt in the Grand
Rapids area with average sales volume of
four to five vehicles per month. He pre-
dicts that EVs and other green vehicle
technology will be rapidly evolving in the
near future. For that reason, Schaberg
says that leasing an EV can be a good
option.
All EVs come with a $7,500 tax cred-
it. Furthermore, some utility companies
(including Consumers Power) will pay for
the cost to install a 220v recharging sta-
tion.
Diesel
A few new clean diesel models are
now available from Chevrolet and
Volkswagen. They are quieter and more
reliable than older diesels, and tailpipe
emissions have been greatly reduced.
These models are a little more expensive,
and diesel fuel typically costs a little more.
But diesels are sturdier, simpler and
cheaper to own in the long run. A recent
study by the University of Michigan
Transportation Research Institute found
that diesel models achieved between eight
and 44 percent higher mileage than com-
parable gasoline models while holding
their value better. If diesel cars prove
themselves, more models should be avail-
able in the near future.
Economy, efficiency and environ-
mental responsibility all play a role in
transportation choices. Todays wide
range of options gives the consumer lots
to consider in making that choice.
By Jane Whittington is a freelance
writer and editor who lives in Grand
Rapids.
Industrial Briefs
Belding Stahlin Non-Metallic
Enclosures, manufacturer of fiberglass
enclosure products, was chosen as one
of "West Michigan's 101 Best and
Brightest Companies to Work For" for the
11th consecutive year by Michigan's
Business and Professional Association.
Rockford Wolverine Worldwide
announced: James D. Zwiers was
appointed President of International
Group; James A. Gabel will succeed Mr.
Zwiers as President of Performance
Group; Andrew Simister was appointed
President of the Company's Lifestyle
Group; and retirement of William J.B.
Brown, first President of International
Group.
Jenison Pleotint, LLC, announced a
distribution partnership with Solar
Innovations, Inc., Pine Grove,
Pennsylvania, enabling Solar
Innovations to incorporate Suntuitive
glass in its full product line.
Allegan Perrigo hired Toby Wendt as
Human Resources Manager, and hired
Brock Rodgers as Corporate Social
Responsibility Manager.
Grand Rapids Compatico, Inc.,
announced its recently introduced
FreshFIT product earned a Merit Award
as part of 2014 Product Innovations
showcase by BUILDINGS Magazine.
Patented FreshFIT self-adhesive panel
overlay tiles instantly transforms old pan-
els and workstations into bright, fresh,
and colorful office dcor.
Allegan Cassie Cammenga, Certified
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, joined the
staff of Allegan Medical Clinic.
Grand Rapids Pine Rest Christian
Mental Health Services first residency
class started July 1, 2014. Pine Rest has
been building its Psychiatry Residency
Program for the past two years.
14
Medbio, Inc., Undergoing 20,000 SF
Expansion in Cascade
Grand Rapids Regional economic
development organization The Right
Place, Inc., along with its local and state
partners, today announced a new West
Michigan economic development project
that will bring 45 new jobs and nearly
$3.39 million to the region.
Headquartered at 5346 36th Street
SE in Cascade Township, Medbio, Inc. is a
premier contract manufacturer, specializ-
ing in injection molding, assembly and
packaging for the medical device and
biotechnology industries.
Medbio is receiving a $180,000 per-
formance-based grant from the Michigan
Strategic Fund (MSF) under the
Michigan Business Development Program
(MBDP) to help the company expand its
Grand Rapids area operation and support
new business growth and demand.
The project will result in a capital
investment of $3.39 million and the cre-
ation of 45 jobs. The company will
expand its existing facility by 20,000 SF;
12,000 SF for manufacturing space and
8,000 SF for warehousing. The expanded
campus will be 55% larger to accommo-
date future growth.
Cascade Charter Township is sup-
portive of the expansion and is anticipat-
ed to provide local support in the form of
a P.A. 198 property tax abatement.
We are very excited about our
upcoming expansion that will provide us
room to continue our growth, said Chris
Williams President and CEO, Medbio. The
entire Medbio team always works together
to deliver quality service and value. Our
customer base is growing in both sheer
numbers and revenue, allowing us to cre-
ate jobs locally. The Right Place, MEDC
and Cascade Township have been integral
to our success and provide the support a
local business needs to flourish.
Medbios expansion announcement
reinforces the strength of the growing
medical device industry in West
Michigan, said Birgit Klohs, President
and CEO, The Right Place, Inc. With life
sciences and medical device manufactur-
ing as a part of The Right Places three-
year strategic plan, we are pleased to
work with the MEDC and Cascade
Township to continue Medbios success
here in the region.
Medbio plans to begin the expansion
immediately. Hiring will be ongoing, and
interested job seekers may apply directly
to Medbio by submitting resumes to
hr@medbioinc.com.
General Business
Grand Rapids Grand Rapids Griffins
announced promotions of Matt
Batchelder to Vice President of Ticket
Sales, Zack Krywyj to Group Sales
Account Manager, and Mike Myeno to
Season Ticket Sales and Customer Service
Account Manager.
Grand Rapids Alternatives in Motion
Board of Directors announced Matt
Chapman, the organizations former
Marketing and Special Events
Coordinator, was named new Executive
Director.
Lansing Michigan Department of
Human Services announced it will
partner with Grand Valley State
University and Kellogg Foundation to
measure the impact of Pathways to
Potential program in Michigan - a DHS
program placing caseworkers in
Michigan schools to help remove barriers
to student success.
Holland/Zeeland Buntes Pharmacy
Inc. was presented with West Coast
Chambers IMPACT Award, for its con-
tribution of purchasing and installing
two bike racks in downtown Zeeland.
Grand Rapids 61st District Court,
Cooley Law School, Heartside Social
Services, Community Legal Services of
West Michigan, and Heartside
Neighborhood Collaboration Project
joined together to provide free legal serv-
ices to marginalized individuals that
have unresolved non-violent misde-
meanors and civil infractions through the
recently launched Community Outreach
Court.
Lansing Nancy Brown, CEO of the
American Heart Association, Henry
Kravis, Co-CEO and Co-Chairman of
KKR & Co., Terry Lundgren, Chairman
and CEO of Macys, and 19 additional
CEOs from some of Americas largest
companies announced formation of
American Heart Association CEO
Roundtable. This groundbreaking initia-
tive is designed to create a workplace cul-
ture in which healthy choices are default
choices.
Grand Rapids Catholic Charities West
Michigan announced promotion of
Priscilla Kern to Vice President of
Behavioral Health, and Tiffany Page to
Director of Community Engagement and
Volunteer Services.
Holland/Zeeland The Farmhouse was
presented with West Coast Chambers
IMPACT Award, recognizing its contri-
bution to the community and involve-
ment in raising funds for Zeelands new
Splash Pad.
Grand Rapids/Grandville Jim Jonkman,
General Manager of Grand Rapids Olive
Garden, and Katherine Trosko, General
Manager of Grandvilles Olive Garden, both
attained Darden Restaurants Diamond
Club status.
Grand Rapids Grand Rapids
Community Foundation and ArtPrize
announced a $50,000 outreach initiative
to reduce barriers to engagement and
draw a more diverse audience than ever
before to the annual ArtPrize event, the
worlds largest art competition.
Wyoming Just in time for back-to-
school shopping, a new 50,000 sq. ft.
Gordmans opened at Wilsontown Center
with an incredible selection of todays
latest brands, fashions and styles in
apparel and home dcor, big savings of
up to 60% off department store prices
and specialty store prices, and outstand-
ing guest services.
Boyne Falls Boyne Resorts Michigan
operations welcomed Matthew Alagna
as Director of Sales, and announced pro-
motion of Trisha Olach to Assistant
Director of Sales.
Lansing Michigan Licensed Beverage
Association moved to its new location in
downtown Lansing after almost 20 years
at its former location on Fairview Ave.
Review of
Supply Chain Risk
Provided by www.getabstract.com
Supply chain managers must con-
tend with numerous complex and often
baffling issues. External events such
as strikes, natural disasters or terrorism
can slow or stop their operations.
These are the managers who must plan
for supply chain disruptions, and who
are front and center when they happen.
Logistics expert John Manners-Bell ably
provides an A-to-Z report often hair-
raising, never dull on the hazards
inherent in supply chains and how to
manage or minimize them. getAbstract
recommends his cautionary insights to
supply chain managers, their bosses and
their suppliers to aid risk planning and
risk mitigation.
John Manners-Bell. Supply Chain
Risk: Understanding Emerging Threats
to Global Supply Chains. Kogan Page,
2014. 264 pages. ISBN-13: 978-
0749471101.
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15
Flow-Rite Controls, Ltd. expands in
Byron Center and Celia Corp. expands in Sparta
Grand Rapids Regional economic
development organization The Right
Place, Inc., along with its local and state
partners, today announced two new West
Michigan economic development projects
that will bring 114 new jobs and nearly
$10 million to the region.
Flow-Rite Controls, Ltd.
$6 million capital investment in
Byron Township; 64 new local jobs pro-
jected over the next 3 years; $224,000
incentive package from the MEDC.
Headquartered at 960 74th Street in
Byron Township, Flow-Rite designs, man-
ufactures and markets fluid control
devices for lead acid batteries and a vari-
ety of other industrial and consumer uses.
Flow-Rite is receiving a $224,000
performance-based grant from the
Michigan Strategic Fund under the
Michigan Business Development Program
to retain the company and support the
expansion of its Byron Center facility by
7,500 SF with a high technology engi-
neering center. The expansion will include
upgrades to the existing facility and new
high-speed assembly equipment and new
injection molds.
The project will result in a capital
investment of $6 million and the creation
of 64 jobs. The company, which was
established in 1981, currently employs
109 people.
Byron Township is supportive of the
expansion and has approved a P.A. 198
property tax abatement.
Flow-Rite is appreciative of The
Right Place for its efforts in helping us
grow at our headquarters, said Robert
Burnetter, Chief Executive Officer for
Flow-Rite. With the support from The
Right Place, along with the MEDC and
Byron Township, Flow-Rite is pleased to
continue creating jobs here in West
Michigan. This incentive package has
allowed us to reinvest in our community
quicker than expected, Burnetter adds.
Flow-Rite is the definition of what
advanced manufacturing looks like today
in West Michigan, said Birgit Klohs,
President and CEO, The Right Place, Inc.
It is imperative that we retain and
expand growing companies like Flow-Rite
in our region; companies that take pride
in the Made in the USA labels on their
products, Klohs adds.
Celia Corporation dba General
Formulations
$4.175 million capital investment in
Sparta; 50 new local jobs projected over
the next 3 years; $233,000 incentive
package from the MEDC.
Headquartered at 309 South Union in
the Village of Sparta, General Formulations
is a worldwide manufacturer of pressure-
sensitive materials for a wide range of
applications. Its products are used for sig-
nage, decals, labels, POP Advertising, OEM
identification, large format images along
with specific industrial applications.
General Formulations is receiving a
$233,000 performance-based grant from
the Michigan Strategic Fund under the
Michigan Business Development Program
that will enable continued growth of
General Formulations in Sparta while
gaining new efficiencies in production.
The project will result in a capital
investment of $4.175 million and the cre-
ation of 50 jobs. The first phase of the
expansion includes vacation of a public
right-of-way along Union Street and the
relocation of public and private utilities
along the street.
The Village of Sparta is supportive of
the expansion and is considering local
support in the form of a P.A. 198 proper-
ty tax abatement.
Michigans Manufacturing Sector Receives
an A while Logistics a B-
Michigan is floundering as human
capital, global positioning and diversifica-
tion are eroding, says a new report from
Ball State University.
The 2014 Manufacturing and
Logistics Report, prepared by Ball States
Center for Business and Economic
Research (CBER), shows how each state
ranks among its peers in several areas of
the economy that underlie the success of
manufacturing and
logistics. These specific measures
include the health of the manufacturing
and logistics industries, the state of
human capital, the cost of worker bene-
fits, diversification of the industries,
state-level productivity and innovation,
expected fiscal liability, the state tax cli-
mate, and global reach.
CBER director Michael Hicks says,
Michigans grades dropped from C- to
D in human capital category, from A
to B on global position category and D-
to F in diversification category. While
the states overall tax climate is above
average, the expected fiscal liabilities
associated with pensions and bonding
cast along shadow on manufacturing in
the state. Moreover, the catastrophe that
is Detroit continues to dampen prospects
for manufacturing in Michigan.
Michigan received the following
grades:
Manufacturing: A
Logistics: B-
Human Capital: D
Worker Benefit Costs: C+
Tax Climate: B
Expected Liability Gap: D+
Global Reach: B
Sector Diversification: F
Productivity and Innovation: C
Industrial Briefs
Allegan Pharmaceutical supplier
Perrigo promoted Nannette (Nan)
Ainsworth to Associate Director,
Integration, and will be responsible for
integrating supply chain functions and
processes of newly acquired businesses
into Perrigos systems.
Grand Rapids Michigan Instruments,
Inc., announced release of a new,
sophisticated design modification to its
Training and Test Lung, also known as
Michigan Lung. The Michigan Lung
embodies a mechanical respiratory
simulation of the human pulmonary
system capable of measuring airway
pressure, lung pressure, tidal volume
and dozens of other parameters. The
new design includes PneuView3, an
innovative, intuitive software interface
allowing for simulation of hundreds of
patient scenarios which then calculate
and display, in real time, numerous res-
piratory parameters and waveforms.
Holland Stow Company, Inc., leader in
custom home storage and organizational
products, announced it promoted Wendy
Morrow to Vice President of Finance.
Grand Rapids Jeff Leeuw, former Vice
President of Steel and Precast for Lamar
Construction, Wade Walcott and
Douglas Coke, Jr., also both formerly
with Lamar Construction, formed a new
steel erection company - Legacy Steel -
with help of business partner Mike
VanGessel of Rockford Construction.