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upda teupdate1993-2010 u b l i c a t i o nu b l i c a t i o n

December 2010$2.00

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Celebrating 90 YCelebrating 90 Years of Serears of Servicevice

2Safety in the Air

By Elly Bainbridge with contributingcredit to the Grand Rapids Press.

Eric Sheldon knows the importance ofsafety. He has been working at heights for

nearly five years. He started out working onbridges and then on wind turbines aboutfour years ago. His job took him all over thecountry; Iowa, Texas, Minnesota, and Utah.

Only now is he trained in the safety

aspects of working at heights. Sheldon,along with three others are pioneers inGRCC's new Wind Safety TechnicianTraining program after being trained byBen Williams, of Britain’s YST technolo-

gies. They will now instruct and direct thetraining offered by GRCC. “I expect theseguys to help develop this new trainingcenter into a wind energy instruction hubfor the Great Lakes region” says Williams.

Sheldon said the GRCC program hasgone more in-depth on safety trainingthan anything he ever learned on the job."If we would have had a fire, I would havehad to pull out the instructions to knowhow to handle it."

A 40-foot metal structure in the atri-um of Grand Rapids Community College'sTassell M-TEC Center serves as a hands-on training lab during the two weeks ofclimbing, rappelling and footwork, as wellas first aid and rescue training. The classends with a turbine climbing trip inMackinaw City to climb and rappel from autility size turbine.

Some may shudder at the thought ofslipping while climbing a structure thatreaches several hundred feet into the air,but in GRCC’s Wind Safety Techniciantraining, that is exactly what studentsprepare for.

"That's when the fun begins," saysWilliams, explaining how a climber can bepulled all the way from the top or bottom ofa turbine ladder via a harness and safetyline. "If someone slips or becomes uncon-scious, they will always be hooked in."

The program incorporates all theOSHA confined space, OSHA working atheights, and OSHA 10 hour as a part ofone training program. It also includesFirst Aid/CPR certification.

“Our training is the same programused in Europe and Asia by all the origi-nal equipment manufacturer's (OEM’s)and can also be effective for people whorepair cell towers, radio towers, as well asutility line workers, firemen, and otherworkers who install products working atheights,” says Julie Parks, Director ofWorkforce Training.

For Eric Endreszl, GRCC's class was agood brush-up on skills he learned whileworking on turbines with Avanti WindSystems in Wisconsin. He looks forward toreturning to West Michigan and workingwith emerging workers in the field.

"It's one thing to remain confident,but it's another to remember what it takesto walk away from a structure at the endof the day," he said, explaining the impor-tance of safety practices. "The key is toremember to never become too comfort-able, or you lose that edge."

Wind Safety Technician training pro-gram is offered monthly. For more infor-mation and to register go to www.grc-clearn.com/wind.

cooley.edu

CooleyYear-roundOptions

January • May • September

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At Cooley, many people are finding that it is possible to fit law school into their busy lives. With fourcampuses across Michigan – Lansing,Auburn Hills,Grand Rapids,and AnnArbor – Cooley offers classesyear-round, days, evenings, and weekends. Students receive a legal education that provides them withthe knowledge, skills, and ethics that distinguishes Cooley’s over 14,000 graduates worldwide.

For more information about Cooley, visit cooley.edu

Thomas M. Cooley Law School is committed to a fair and objective admissions policy. Subject to space limitations, Cooley offers the opportunity for legal education to all qualifiedapplicants. Cooley abides by all federal and state laws against discrimination. In addition, Cooley abides by American Bar Association Standard 211(a), which provides that “a lawschool shall foster and maintain equality of opportunity in legal education, including employment of faculty and staff, without discrimination or segregation on the basis of race, color,religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age or disability.”

know

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kills

.eth

ics.

AUTUMN, CLASS OF SEPTEMBER 2012

3University Works Locally to Meet

West Michigan’s Educational NeedsMt. Pleasant – It’s no revelation that

Michigan is in trouble economically.West Michigan with its more diversifiedindustries might be faring a bit betterthan the Detroit area, but times aretough all over.

According to a 2010 Report by theW. E. Upjohn Institute for EmploymentResearch, if West Michigan doesn’timprove the talent level of its workforce,the region will grow at a 0.4 annual per-centage rate during the next 15 years,substantially below the expected 0.9 per-cent average predicted for the U.S. as awhole. For West Michigan to “achieve agreater rate of employment growth dur-ing the next 15 years,” the report con-cludes, “we suggest that it work toimprove the quality of its workforce.”

Many people in West Michiganwould agree. They have found thatcareer advancement just is not possiblewithout finishing the bachelor’s degreethey started years before. Some havediscovered that the upper-level manage-ment position they want is just out ofreach without a master’s degree.

In response to this growing need,Central Michigan University’s newlyrelocated center on the East Beltline inGrand Rapids joins 11 other CMU Off-Campus centers in Michigan in offering awide variety of bachelor’s and master’sdegree options designed specifically forworking adults.

CMU is also in the unique positionof being able to bring programs directlyto local businesses and organizations.Recently, Holland Hospital saw a need toeducate their administrators. Partneringwith the hospital, CMU was able to bringthe Master of Science in Administrationdegree in Health Services Administrationon-site, fulfilling the hospital’s need fortrained employees and the employees’need for local classes.

Taking courses online is anotherconvenience offered to West Michiganstudents. CMU has bachelor’s degree pro-grams online in administration, commu-nity development, leadership and psy-chology. For administrators who want tomove up the ladder, online MSA degreeoptions are available as well as MBA pro-grams in SAP, the world’s leading enter-prise system, and logistics management,a demand skill in the public and privatesectors. Educators can qualify for profes-sional certification and earn an MAdegree in the latest educational technolo-

gy as they experience it first-hand online.If West Michigan is to experience

employment growth, it has to educate

its workforce and do it in a way thatallows both those just entering theworkforce and those currently employed

to benefit from an advanced education.Central Michigan University in GrandRapids is ready now.

3

Celebrating 90 Years of Value and ServiceGrand Rapids – A rich tradition con-

tinues to thrive in the foodservice indus-try: Van Eerden Foodservice is celebrat-ing 90 years of service. In 1920, AndrewVan Eerden started a small distributionbusiness with a focus on service andvalue. Today, the Van EerdenFoodservice and Van Eerden Truckingcompanies have 3rd and 4th generationfamily members actively working tobuild better relationships with cus-tomers by continuing to provide qualityservice and value.

When asked how Van EerdenFoodservice has thrived throughout themany years, Harold Van Eerden, chiefoperating officer, says that their focus ison service and relationships. “A customeris not a number, but a real partner inbusiness, and we work to get to knowthem and fulfill their needs with companyserviceability,” he said. “A focus on theseprinciples is what has helped Van Eerdencontinue to grow throughout the years.”

When Andrew Van Eerden startedthe business, warehousing and distribu-tion was solely completed by manuallabor. The horse-and-buggy era wascoming to an end, and business was con-ducted on a handshake. Quality, serviceand ethical business relationships wereessential. These core values are whatsaw Van Eerden companies through the

Depression and a World War. In the 1970’s, under the leadership

of Jack Van Eerden (Andrew’s son), thecompany began the expansion of theirproduct line and became a full-line food-service distributor. 3rd generation broth-ers, Dan Van Eerden, Harold Van Eerdenand Andy Van Eerden took over controlof operations in 1982. Together, with acombined 50 years of foodservice experi-ence, they continued to build upon analready established business. Today VanEerden Foodservice has become the 33rdlargest food distributor in the UnitedStates and still continues to grow.

The continuation of several princi-ples have been the foundation of theirsuccess: Being customer focused,investing in growing partnerships withimportant vendors and foodservice bro-kers, expanding product lines, hiringquality employees who are committed tothe vision of service, continuing invest-ment in technologies to improve effi-ciencies and expanding value-addedservices that create partnerships andgrowth with and for customers.

Van Eerden now has over 500

employees, and many are located inGrand Rapids and the surrounding areas.These include Van Eerden Trucking, itstransportation company and the elevenadditional sales representatives the com-pany added in 2010. With each additionto the sales team and management team,Van Eerden Foodservice has providedgreater service to its customers andgained in market share. A focus on tech-nology and systems to provide improvedefficiencies will continue to bring addi-tional quality product offerings at com-petitive prices to Van Eerden customers.

Van Eerden continues to focus on thechanges taking place in foodservice dis-tribution. This proactive approach, alongwith the Company’s flexibility and strongrelationships, has helped food serviceoperators keep their businesses success-ful during the slowed economy. The VanEerden family and management teamlook forward to continuing its Customer-First focus and quality service for manyyears to come, and thanks all of its cus-tomers for their continuing partnerships.

4

l to r: Harold Van Eerden & Dan Van Eerden

Publisher: Gary Kralapp

Business DevelopmentSenior Vice President: Jim LroySenior Vice President: Diane LaPreze

Contributing Writers: Elly Bainbridge,Greg Myers, Ramzi Faraj, Janice Bullock,John Elmore, Randy Rapp, Chris Kuehl

Managing Editor: Carol M. KralappAssociate Editor: David CalkinsPrinting/Distribution: News Web PrintingAccountant: Michael Tawney & CompanyLegal: Miller Canfield Paddock & Stone

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BusinessBusiness

upda teupdateu b l i c a t i o n Investment in Employee Education

Reaps RewardsWest Michigan – Strong businesses

know that success comes from main-taining and building positive momen-tum to meet market needs and chal-lenges. While some companies revampproduct offerings and business strategy,others are turning to another valuedasset: their employees. Specifically,businesses are choosing to invest inemployee education programs, a practicethat is proving to have growing benefits.

“Successful companies understandthat a well-educated employee base cantranslate into enhanced profitability,”said Valissa Armstead, CorporateEducation Liaison for University ofPhoenix West Michigan Campus.

Armstead works with companies tohelp fulfill their educational growth needswith tailored programs for their employ-ees. The University’s corporate educationprogram allows companies to meld in-

house training and professional develop-ment programs with college curriculum.

“Our program enables workinglearners to maximize their time at workand at school,” Armstead said. “A studentis able to combine their job experiencewith the new competencies they developas a University of Phoenix student.”

This innovative initiative has helpedmany local businesses in the WesternMichigan area match business skill andexpertise needs with those of employeeslooking to enhance their education.

“We have more than 100 businesspartners in our local corporate program,”Armstead said. “In these partnerships,we help each employee develop commu-nication, collaboration, critical thinking,information usage and agility skills thatthey can then utilize day to day.”

Armstead says companies are typi-cally attracted to the dual benefits of

employee education programs.“It’s certainly beneficial for both

parties,” Armstead said. “Employeesgain knowledge and the undergraduateand graduate degrees needed for careerdevelopment, and the employer reaps ofthe benefits of an employee base withstrong core competencies that may helpbolster the company’s positive output inthe marketplace.”

What’s the Return on Investment?Better Employees = Better

Company - Nurturing the educationalpursuits of employees will invariablylead to a workforce that feels betterabout their jobs and are consequentlymore productive in those roles.

Talent Retention - Investing inyour employees’ career development canalso create company loyalty. Employeesare more likely to stay with a businessthat offers professional development,long-term career potential and anavenue for stability.

Reduced Costs, EnhancedCorporate Reputation - Having better-educated employees also means lowertraining costs. The company will benefitdirectly from new ideas, perspective andprofessional capabilities gained fromaccelerated learning among employees.

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5Education BriefsGrand Rapids – Davenport Universityannounced it will open a downtown cen-ter for its graduate programs at 45Ottawa Ave. NW. The 18,000 sq. ft. cen-ter will be open for the fall 2011 semes-ter with MBA concentrations in healthcare management and accounting withother MBA focuses considered for laterrollouts. Davenport’s MBA programs willbe offered in a cohort format with 12-,16- and 20-month rotations. The centeralso will house Davenport’s Institute forProfessional Excellence, allowing theinstitute to offer greater flexibility in thetraining it supports on- and off-site.

Grand Rapids – Northwood Universityhosted over 100 people at an open houseat its new location on Michigan StreetNE. The University’s Adult DegreeProgram has begun classes in the newcenter and will share the space with theRichard DeVos Graduate School ofManagement which starts its EveningMBA program in January 2011.Representatives from the MidlandCampus undergraduate area are holdingoffice hours weekly.

Grand Rapids – Grand Valley StateUniversity will sign a memo of under-standing with three West Michigan pub-lic school districts as part of the W. K.Kellogg Foundation Woodrow WilsonMichigan Teaching Fellowship Program.The schools include Grand RapidsPublic Schools, Godfrey-Lee PublicSchools and Muskegon Public Schools.The Program, aimed at increasing thenumber of science and mathematicsteachers, is open to graduating collegeseniors, recent graduates and mid-careeror second-career professionals withdegrees in science, technology, engineer-ing and mathematics who are interestedin teaching in Michigan’s high-need,urban secondary schools.

Great Lakes Bay Region – The board ofMITECH+ and the board ofMidMichigan Innovation Centerannounced a leadership change, effectiveNovember 1, 2010. CEO BillMoneypenny is moving out of theorganizations to take on a new role atDow Kokam in Midland. With 30 yearsof global and local leadership experiencefrom his service with The Dow ChemicalCompany, Joe Asiala of Midland willbecome the interim CEO of MITECH+.Ken Kousky of Saginaw, currently theDow entrepreneur-in-residence at

Saginaw Valley State University, pres-ident of the BlueWater Angels and CEOof IP3, Inc., will become the CEO ofMidMichigan Innovation Center. Grand Rapids – Calvin's student news-paper "Chimes" recently won nine CollegeNewspaper Contest awards from theMichigan Collegiate PressAssociation. Chimes collected first place

awards for its online edition; a newsstory titled "Student Sits Next to TerrorSuspect on Christmas Flight" by EmmaSlager; feature page design by KatieHall and Jackson Hall for "ABC...GrandRapids"; and best original cartoon for"Insomnia" by Lauren Kelly. The nineawards bested last year's haul of seven.

Grand Rapids – Davenport Universityhas completed an extensive nationalsearch and has named Linda Rinker,Ed.D., to the position of executive vicepresident for academics and provost.

6

Accountability Report Shows Efficiency IncreasesAllendale – Grand Valley State

University showed that it had increasedaccess and efficiency while contributingmillions to the West Michigan economyin its fourth annual AccountabilityReport released at its October 22 Boardof Trustees meeting.

The report shows Grand Valley isattracting students with academic per-formances in the top tier of all Michiganpublic universities. These students arecontributing to Michigan after gradua-tion; 88 percent of recent graduates areworking in the state. More than 90 per-cent of recent graduates are employed orin graduate school.

Grand Valley attracts these high-quality students from nearly every coun-ty throughout Michigan, yet receives thelowest funding per student from thestate. Despite that, Grand Valley’s tuition

remains among the lowest of all ofMichigan’s public universities; GrandValley’s cost of operation is $2,000 lessper student than the state median.

“Grand Valley can keep its tuitionlow, its financial aid to students high andsee incredible academic results becausethe university demonstrates remarkableefficiency,” President Thomas J. Haassaid. “This report is online and we wantlawmakers, taxpayers, students andtheir families to see all the ways GrandValley gives a great return on theirinvestment by producing qualified andproductive graduates using each dollarefficiently.”

The report shows that as GrandValley celebrates its 50th anniversary, arecord number of individuals and organ-izations have donated to the university,its programs and buildings, including the

Mary Idema Pew Library Learning andInformation Commons and the L.William Seidman building that will housethe Seidman College of Business.

The report also shows that GrandValley’s students, faculty and staff in

Kent, Ottawa and Muskegon counties in2008-2009 contributed more than $600million to the local economy, and con-struction on campus created more than700 jobs.

Education BriefsGrand Rapids – Sheri Geddes, assistantprofessor of accounting at Calvin,received the top award for Best PracticePresentation at the Christian BusinessFaculty Association conference heldlast October. Geddes was recognized forher presentation "Cost Accounting andthe Easy Bake Oven."

East Lansing – Dr. Scott Loveridge hasbeen named director of the NorthCentral Regional Center for RuralDevelopment (NCRCRD). The NCRCRDworks with Extension professionals,researchers and their partners toenhance rural development outcomes inthe 12-state north central region.

Muskegon – Competing against morethan 35 professional chefs and otherculinary arts students, four studentsfrom the Culinary Institute of Michiganat Baker College of Muskegon garneredfour medals at the recent 7th AnnualGreat Culinary Classic. The competitionwinners are: Zach Vanderwall ofFremont - gold medal for preparation ofquail; Heather Carr of Grand Haven -silver medal for a red snapper dish; EdJobin of Chicago - silver medal for prepa-ration of a bone-in pork loin; LindsayYzenas of Gary, Indiana - silver medalfor preparation of sole.

Muskegon – Muskegon CommunityCollege (MCC) recognized the followingpersonnel changes: New instructors -David Stradal (business), Cliff Young(english), Jeanne Cooper-Kuiper (eng-lish), Jessica Graf (physical education),Robert Eich (history), Karin Burrell(mathematics), Susan Frazier (nurs-ing) and Dr. Thomas Tisue (chemistry);Larry Haughn - wrestling coach; MikeSmith - cross country coach; Bill Bowen- bowling coach; Ben Ritsema - men’ssoccer coach; Ronald Bush II - executivedirector of human resources; Joe Doyle -vice president of administration;Patricia D'Avignon - manager of regis-

tration; Gerald Nyland - director ofphysical plant; deans - Sally Birkam(student success and campus life),Gregory Marczak (instruction andassessment), George Maniates (enroll-ment services), Trynette Harps (contin-uing education and program outreach)and Jean Roberts (academic servicesand registration); Amy James - busi-ness services manager; Stacey DeBrot -auxiliary services manager; Elizabeth“Eli” Fox, and Erin Patrick - enrollmentrepresentatives. Additionally, MCC hasbeen designated a “military friendlyschool” by G.I. Jobs Magazine, anhonor only bestowed on the top 15% ofcolleges, universities and trade schoolsnationwide. Finally, Pam Brown, direc-tor of nursing, was appointed to thestate-wide Michigan Nursing EducationCouncil.

Flint – Baker College Online officialsannounced that it has been named a2011 Military Friendly School by G.I.Jobs magazine. The list honors the top15 percent of colleges, universities andtrade schools that are doing the most toembrace America’s veterans as students.

Grand Rapids – Calvin College's seniorassociate to the president Bob Berkhofis the recipient of the 2010 "BenjaminFranklin Award For An OutstandingVolunteer Fundraiser."

Grand Rapids – Phase I of AquinasCollege’s Sturrus Sports and FitnessCenter has been completed. Designed tomeet LEED standards, the improvedCenter features upgraded competitionareas in the arena, facilities for a newfitness center and much-needed class-room space for the College’s athletictraining program. RockfordConstruction served as the general con-tractor and Integrated Architecture asthe architect for the project.

7Van’s DeliveryCurrent Generation: 4th

Bob Van Zytveld started Van’sDelivery Service in 1925 with one truckand one customer. Today, the business isstill family-owned – now in its fourthgeneration – and has grown into fourseparate companies with over 150employees and Owner Operator affiliates.

Of the three sons born to Bob andhis wife Jean, one son, Philmore, decidedto devote his career to the company hisfather started. Learning to drive at a veryyoung age, he quickly assimilated hisfather’s attitude toward hard work andlistening to his customers. By the early70s, the business had grown to the pointwhere Philmore had to park his truckand devote his time to the daily opera-tions of the rapidly growing company.

With son Ron Van Zytveld alreadylearning the business as a truck driver,Philmore also offered the same opportu-nity to son-in-law John Nieuwenhuis in1976. The company philosophy of hardwork and hands-on management wasfirmly ingrained in the work ethic of Johnand Ron as they did their studies of thebusiness from their trucks. In 1984 Johnwas promoted to Operations Manager andRon to Dispatcher. In 1995, John and Ronpurchased the company from Philmoreallowing Philmore a well deserved retire-ment. Today, many other family membersare part of the team, including John’swife, two daughters and son-in-law aswell as Ron’s wife and daughter.

Van’s Delivery prides itself on beingan 85 year old family owned businessbut it also recognizes the fact that it isthe families within the company that hasmade it a success. There are manyinstances where employees have thoughtenough of the company and its philoso-phies to bring in their sons, brothers andcousins. Grandpa Bob would be pleasedto know that “Courtesy and PromptnessAssured” remains alive and well at Van’sDelivery Service, Inc.

Pioneer ConstructionCurrent Generation: 4th

In 1933, a young entrepreneur andcarpenter originally from theNetherlands named Earl Beckering Sr.founded a business named BeckeringConstruction Company. In 1962, underthe leadership of his son, Earl Jr., thecompany name was changed to PioneerConstruction to reflect the innovativeattitude and expanding services of therapidly growing firm; they were the

area's first non-unionized contractor -the first general contracting firm in westMichigan to operate an open shop. Laterin 1971, Earl’s son Tom took the reins ofthe company, and today (now in thefourth generation of family ownership)Tom’s son-in-law, Tim Schowalter con-tinues to lead the company which hasgrown into one of Grand Rapids' largestconstruction firms.

“Maintaining closely held owner-ship allows for ease of decision-mak-ing,” said Chris Beckering, Earl Jr.’sgrandson and currently Pioneer’s direc-tor of business development. One of thenice things about pioneer is not only thatour ownership is family-oriented, butmany of our employees at every level ofthe organization are 2nd and even 3rdgeneration employees. They continue tohelp us build and maintain the reputa-tion we’ve gained over 4 generations ofdelivering quality construction on timeand within budget.”

During an Oct. 21, 2010 banquetand ceremony, Earl Jr., Pioneer’s 2ndgeneration company leader was inductedposthumously into the MichiganConstruction Hall of Fame and receivedthe Distinguished Contractor Award.Pioneer continues to carry on the tradi-tions passed down by his father of astrong work ethic, quality craftsmanshipand personal service.

Triangle Associates, Inc.Current Generation: 4th

Originally named George Datema &Sons, Triangle Associates was formed in1918 as a single, small office with only

two employees. George Datema was acarpenter and when his oldest sonturned 16, George started his companywith the desire to have a career for hisboys to follow. After completing the 10thgrade, his son Roy worked side by sidewith his father, and since then, Trianglehas maintained its focus on creatingopportunities for the next generation.

Triangle is now under the manage-ment of the fourth generation of itsfounding family: Craig S. Datema - sonof Roy Datema Jr. and grandson of RoySr. - serves as chairman and CEO. Today,the company maintains its traditionalroots and stays committed to buildingexceptional facilities, great people andstrong communities.

“Though the times have definitelychanged things, a lot of the values andstandards set by my great grandfather arestill valid today,” said Craig Datema.“Being able to bring that perspective andshare those principals with the seniorteam to apply them to today’s situationsand technologies for solutions is veryhelpful. I think there has been a lot of con-tinuity and those core values that we'vealways had as a family are still valid.That's a benefit to all of our associates.

“We’re also proud to make the com-munity a part of this family. We're veryinvolved in community initiatives, andwe've been able to build it into our cul-ture, working hard to give back the com-munity both financially and with ourtime. It all gets back to the value systemsof the family. We’re a business that camefrom family roots that still recognizesthat we're part or the community and thepeople here are part of our family.”

Sligh Furniture CompanyCurrent Generation: 4th

When Charles Sligh's father died inthe American Civil war, the boy of 12 hadno choice but to go to work at Berkey &Gay, a leading furniture maker at the time.When he entered the industry, furniturefactories were very specialized, to thepoint where customers had to gather aroom's furniture from various sources. 18years later, he would have a revolutionaryidea: Why not offer all the furniture piecesneeded in a bedroom, in coordinatedstyles, from one plant? Thus was his com-pany Sligh Furniture born. In 1990, morethan a hundred years after its creation,Robert Sligh, Jr. became the fourth gener-ation of Slighs to lead the company intonew furniture markets, designs and devel-opments.

"We just got back from the semi-annual International Home FurnishingsMarket in High Point, North Carolina,"said Robert Sligh. "We felt great about itas our traffic was up 5% from year agoand our orders were more than double2009, well above 2008 and on a par with2007. We hope we can turn that positivemomentum into sustained improvementout of the recession."

Since the early 90's, Sligh has begunto focus on the home office furniture mar-ket and recently on the home entertain-ment furniture market with its collectionof experienced and talented designers. Inthe 14 years since the initiation of theAmerican Society of Furniture Designers'annual Pinnacle Award, Sligh productdesigners have been finalists every yearand won first place seven times.

Design, Fabrication, Manufacturing, PVC Coating, Insulation, Stripping,Sandblasting, Repairing, and Rebuilding of Anodizing, E-Coat, Painting,

Plating, Powdercoating and PVD Racks, Baskets, Barrels and Screens

Phone: 616-453-8261 Fax: 616-453-38112855 Marlin Court N.W. Grand Rapids, MI 49544 racks@expertcoating.net

8Dan Vos ConstructionCurrent Generation: 3rd

In the late 1940s, Daniel R. Vos wasa celery farmer who had a carpentryhobby. In working with friends and fam-ilies to repair their homes in the wintermonths, he developed a reputation forquality building. This eventually becamea full-time job, and in 1951, Dan VosConstruction Company was established.His son Gary Vos (current CEO) wasinvolved with the company throughouthis whole life, buying into the businessin 1979. He remains the company’smajority holder today while his son DanT. Vos is a minority holder and currentexecutive vice president.

Succession planning has played alarge role in the future of the organization.This has been an ongoing process withinthe company, as Gary recognized theimportance of implementing the planningmany years ago, in hopes of creating asustainable company and a positive own-ership and management transition.

“Many organizations do not realizethe importance of strategic successionplanning soon enough,” said Dan T. Vos.“It takes a lot of work, especially due tothe fact that this is not only a businessprocess, but that of a family. The mostimportant attribute of our family-ownedbusiness is the fact that the core valuesof DVCC that were instilled by my grand-father in 1951 still hold true today. Theyhave not altered since day one, and theyare much easier to maintain and keeppure as a family-owned business. It’svery important for us to grow and stayas up-to-date as possible; however, it’seven more important for us to do sowhile embracing our foundation. It’s

who we are.”Kent CompaniesCurrent generation: 3rd

Founded in 1957 by JohnVanderLaan, Kent Concrete spent theprosperous post-war years pouring resi-dential flatwork. From these simplebeginnings, Kent Concrete began a longhistory of safety, innovation, expertise,quality, productivity and customer serv-ice. In the late 1970's, John's sons, Aland Roger, took the reigns of the compa-ny and diversified its offerings intofoundations and other concrete-relatedspecialty markets. By the late 1990'sKent Concrete became Kent Companies tobetter reflect the broad range of servicesit offered. 2009 saw Al's son Jeff andRoger's son Chris taking ownership ofthe business, bringing third-generationfamily leadership and increased diversi-fication, including the addition of a full-scale home service team, a partnershipwith a leading manufacturer of steelpiers MacLean Dixie and a fully dedicat-ed floor specialty division.

Since the beginning, the leaders ofKent Companies have prided themselveson continuing to diversify their offeringsto other construction-related services,but also stay current with concrete-relat-ed construction, which remains the coreof the company's strengths. They areparticularly proud of their latest work:The RiverHouse Condominium project -at 34 stories, the tallest building and sec-ond tallest concrete-frame building inGrand Rapids, all accomplished withouta single lost-time accident in over190,000 labor hours - and the St. Mary’sHospital parking ramp (the entire insideand a large part of the exterior being

formed entirely of exposed concrete).

Mieras Family ShoesCurrent generation: 3rd

Things haven't always been easy forMieras Family Shoes. When John Mierasfounded the company in 1922, he had noidea that 7 years later, his stroke wouldlead to his 19-year-old son Neil takingover the company just a week before thestock market crashed in 1929. Butdespite the hard times, Neil held on andpersevered. Now with 3 retail locationsand a mobile shoe division, Mieras is intheir 88th year of the same family own-ership and has 3rd, 4th and even 5thgenerations of the indomitable Mierasfamily working alongside one another atthe business.

Standale LumberCurrent Generation: 2nd

Standale Lumber and SupplyCompany was founded in 1952 by KenHoltvluwer who eventually bought outhis partner John Koppenol and tripled thebusiness over the next couple years.Over the next 50 years, Standale wouldcontinue to expand, increasing theirofferings and their staff. Today, KenHoltvluwer's four children all own equalparts of two thirds of the company, whileemployees own their own 33% share.The decision in 1995 to expand owner-ship to include employees made StandaleLumber one of the first employee-owneddealers in Michigan.

“The downturn in the housingindustry the last several years caused usto look at other uses of our resources,”said (daughter) Jan Lehman, director ofmarketing. “We will be a major supplierfor the Fuller Life Center; we are market-ing flooring, cabinetry and custom furni-ture made from reclaimed barn timbers;we continue to expand our “Green” prod-uct offerings; and (son) Buzz Holtvluwerjust received the designation of aCertified Aging in Place Specialist. Andof course, we are still supplying a lot ofproduct for local residential and commer-cial contractors!”

Fortino'sCurrent generation: 3rd

After working at several differentjobs in attempt to raise the money tosend for his family, young Italian immi-grant Louis Fortino finally succeededwhen he bought a little fruit and cigarshop in Muskegon in 1907. After bring-

ing his family to America, he moved to alarger fruit and vegetable store in 1911,shedding the cigars and expanding toinclude wholesale. He later began con-struction of a new building down theblock, where he eventually moved all ofhis business after a severe fire damagedthe store. In order to survive the compe-tition of the popularly emerging super-markets, Fortino's evolved into a gour-met food store once his son Paul pur-chased it 1941. The store, now owned byPaul's daughter Margaret and her hus-band Ken Michlitsch, is the only one ofthe 30 small grocers in town that wenton to survive today.

"We are starting our 104th year ofcontinuous same family owned busi-ness," said Margaret. "I am the third gen-eration and have been operating it since1976 after following in my Grandfatherand Father's footsteps. We are constant-ly striving to keep our store up to dateand interesting, continually changingour product lines to reflect current foodtrends. We carry complete lines of nuts,chocolates, gourmet foods, wines andspirits. All of our gourmet products willremind you that quality is alive and wellin the world."

Hansen-Balk Steel Treating CompanyCurrent generation: 2nd

After working 19 years at the JHansen Steel Treating Company, JamesBalk II purchased the business from JensHansen in 1974 and changed the nameto the Hansen-Balk Steel TreatingCompany. In 1980, the company movedfrom its original location on Ottawa Aveto their current Monroe Ave NW address.Today, the company is still managed byJames Balk II along with his three sonsJames, Martin and Steven.

Hansen Balk has specialized in theheat treatment of tool and die steels sinceits beginning, and while this continues tobe their focus, they also serve the aero-space, medical, office equipment, oil & gasexploration and heavy truck industries.Hansen Balk was recently awarded AS9100 certification and Nadcap accredita-tion, both of which are the highest stan-dards for aerospace heat treating.

"As a result of being family owned,"said Martin Balk, "some of the values thathave been passed on from Jens Hansenand James Balk are to stay current withthe latest in heat treating equipment andtechnology, take care of our employeesand take care of the customers by provid-ing high quality heat treating and excep-tional customer service."

9MCC launches Renewable Energy Job Training Program

Sidney – Montcalm CommunityCollege launched its Renewable EnergyJob Training Program this fall. The pro-gram offers students a comprehensiveintroduction to renewable energy andenergy efficiency. It provides a transfer-able academic foundation for studentsinterested in pursuing an associate orbachelor’s degree in a variety of sustain-ability-related programs. It also providesa general understanding of sustainableand renewable energies that can beapplied personally or professionally.

MCC Vice President for AcademicAffairs Rob Spohr says the programoffers instruction for degree-seeking stu-dents as well as individuals who simplyhave a personal interest in learningabout renewable energy.

According to the 2009 MichiganGreen Jobs Report, education and train-ing are essential to green employers. Thereport states that in multiple focus

groups, employers emphasized the needfor basic math and reading skills.Additional skills may be acquired on-the-job or in college, depending on the partic-ular skills needed to perform the job.

Understanding energy efficiencyand how energy is used in everyday life,is a critical first step in the move towardrenewable energy. Two environmentalscience courses at MCC – Introduction toRenewable Energy and The Science ofEnergy – explore various forms ofrenewable and nonrenewable energypresent on earth. Successful completionof these courses meets MCC’s generaleducation science requirement as well asthe MACRAO (Michigan Association ofCollegiate Registrars and AdmissionsOfficers) science requirement.

Other courses explore: domesticenergy use and ways to minimize energyconsumption; the use of solar panels asan alternative energy source, assembling

cells into solar panels and using the gen-erated electricity as a source of renew-able energy; the practice and theory ofwind electric generation; solar waterheating including system economics,environmental benefits, siting and sizingof systems, types of systems, equipmentinstallation, operation and maintenance;

essentials on how to utilize and integrategeothermal technology as an energysource in both residential and commer-cial applications.

Students will explore renewableenergy through a combination of class-room work and hands-on projects suchas assembling cells into solar panels,

Farm to School InitiativeOnekama & Frankfort – The Farm to

School program - a new initiative inOnekama, Michigan that brings farm-fresh foods to the breakfast and lunchmenu of students at OnekamaConsolidated Schools in Manistee County- has shown a 30 percent increase inlunch dining while generating a newsource of income for farmers and foodprocessors and increasing revenues forthe School’s food service that is trackingto turn a profit. The program led throughFrankfort-Elberta Schools successfully

served over 2,400 students in all ofBenzie County before being expandedthrough an inter-county collaborativeeffort to the Manistee County district andits 415 students (partners hope toextend the program to all of ManisteeCounty’s three other school districts in2011). The expansion has been support-ed by a $60,000 grant from the U. S.Department of Agriculture – RuralDevelopment to the Manistee-basedAlliance for Economic Success.

Education BriefsGrand Rapids – Grand Valley StateUniversity (GVSU) and Grand RapidsCommunity College (GRCC) havereached an academic credit transferagreement for music students. Morethan a dozen GRCC music courses nowqualify for transfer credit to GVSU. Theagreement applies to any student whohas completed an associate’s in artsdegree with music major, or an associ-ate’s in music degree.

Grand Rapids – A new partnership willsee Lawrence TechnologicalUniversity’s new integrated design stu-dios offered at Grand RapidsComminuty College in conjunction witha new GRCC Architectural DesignAssociate degree. A student taking boththe Integrated Design Studio and theArchitectural Design degree at GRCC canthen transfer to “Junior” status atLawrence Tech. to complete a Bachelor ofScience (B.S.) in Architecture.

Grand Rapids – Grand Valley StateUniversity Center for Entrepreneurship& Innovation announced that in August2010, the Michigan Accelerator Fund 1(MAF1) was awarded to the CharterGroup. This marks the development ofthe first Venture Fund in west Michigan,laying a critical foundation to the localcontinuum of funding. GVSU is a corner-

stone investor in the $10M fund whichfocuses primarily on the life sciences.MAF1 targets to make 12-15 invest-ments over the lifetime of the fund withminimum investments of $250K. MAF1is poised to optimize value and wealthcreation to build available capital forentrepreneurs for years to come.

Grand Rapids – The Grand Valley IdeaPitch Competition took place lastOctober, organized by the GVSU CollegiateEntrepreneurship Organization. FrankLeonard took first place and will be usingthe $1,500 prize to begin commercializinga method to accurately measure fluidtransfer from a beer-keg. Leonard willalso develop software algorithms toenable tracking of beer sales with foodsales, helping restaurant owners to designand optimize their inventories.

Allendale – Leaders at Grand ValleyState University and in the WestMichigan community are mourning thedeath of friend, philanthropist and busi-ness leader Peter C. Cook on November28. He attained the age of 96. Cook was abenefactor whose gifts became milestonesof progress for Grand Valley. He support-ed buildings for the health professions,ecumenical campus ministry, and the uni-versity’s Grand Rapids campus.

10The Image ShoppeCurrent Generation: 1st

This full-service marketing compa-ny’s roots belong to Karen Tracey, whobegan the legacy as a freelance designerin 2003. In 2006, experienced businessdevelopment and market strategist RobMcCarty joined along with Troy Best,then communications coordinator atCountry Fresh. Rob and Karen are a hus-band and wife duo, and Troy is practical-ly a member of the family, having knownRob for over 20 years.

The trio discovered a niche that wasripe for tapping in the world of emailmarketing and website design and devel-opment. Today TIS attributes much oftheir success to being on the cutting edgeof emerging media and tools with web-based work assuming half their busi-ness. The other half is split among emailmarketing, image/branding, point-of-sale, print, social media and marketingstrategy.

What makes them different andwhat has contributed to their success isthe quality of their relationships. Theyfocus diligently on growing, cultivatingand maintaining lasting client and ven-dor relationships. In addition to high-touch relationships, TIS developed aproven process for identity, print andweb work that involves working side-by-side with clients every step of the way.Their process ensures clients areengaged and an essential piece of theapproval process, which saves everybodytime and money.

Formax ManufacturingCurrent generation: 3rd

Established in 1938 by HowardMcAleer, the trade name “FORMAX” wascoined from the Four McAleer Brothers -the “Four - Macs” as they were known.The company was established to manu-facture a variety of buffing compounds,polishing wheels, lubricants and otherproducts devoted to the metal, plastic andpaint finishing industries, which havebecome (over the decades) standards inthe industry. Now in its third generationof leadership, Formax Manufacturingcontinues its dedication to supplying thevery finest products, service and technicalknowledge available.

"Being family owned has providedthe opportunity and freedom to makeour own decisions while giving us asense of belonging as we strive toward acommon goal," said Betsy Johnston,marketing director and herself one of six

family members still involved in theorganization. "It allows us to continuethe original ideals, traditions and valuesthe company was founded upon; whilepermitting room to introduce new ideasand technology for the improvement ofour company. Our values of fairness,quality and determination have beenpassed down across generations. In thefuture, we'll continue to manufacturequality buffing and polishing supplies tosatisfy current demand while workingtowards expanding our product linesand our global market reach."

G.B. Russo & SonCurrent Generation: 4th

Giovanni B. Russo came to GrandRapids in 1902 from the small village ofMontelepre, Sicily. He worked for the gascompany until he saved enough money tofound his company in 1905 with a smallstore in East Grand Rapids. In 1908, hepurchased the building on S. Division inthe heart of what was then called "LittleItaly" and when his only son Frank wasborn 8 years later, the company name waschanged from G.B. Russo Importer to G.B.Russo & Son.

Over the next nine decades andthrough 5 generations, G.B. Russo & Sondeveloped a notoriety in West Michiganfor their selection of gourmet foods, deliitems and cookware from around theworld. Their store contains thousands ofwines from every corner of the globe - thelargest selection in West Michigan. Thestore's current owners Philip and David

Russo are proud of their family’s success.“A family-owned business that is in

its fourth generation is special to usbecause it promotes a legacy of value-priced quality products and service thathas been passed from one generation tothe next,” said Philip Russo. “We valueour customers as honored guests, andgive personalized service to them, whichis what G.B. and Frank always did. Wetreat our customers like family, goingabove and beyond what regular grocerystores do in providing customers withkind, quality service and a unique productselection to satisfy their gourmet desires.”

Expert Coating CompanyCurrent generation: 3rd

Expert Coating Co., Inc. was estab-lished on the west side of Grand Rapidsin 1951 - a time when there were scoresof plating companies in Michigan, manycatering to the great automobile industry.Henry Klimek purchased the companyfrom Lyman Sperry in 1971, moving thebusiness to its present location on thenorth side of Grand Rapids a few yearslater. His sons, Erik, Walter and Mennowould follow in his footsteps, purchasingthe company themselves in 1992. Later,their sister Patty would also join thefamily business, and together these sib-lings have proudly expressed their ownhopes to keep the line of ownershipstrong. "Our sons are now part of thecompany’s family and will continue witha third generation of excellent and dedi-cated service," their company website

declares.Expert Coatings and the Klimeks

have seen some changes to their indus-try as the years have passed. With theinvention of new plastics and paint tech-nology and the push for cleaned air andwaterways, many of the smaller platingcompanies that once thrived onMichigan's strong auto industry simplycould not compete. In addition, many ofthe larger platers have since diversifiedto domestic and commercial productswhile still continuing to service the auto-mobile industry's needs. For the Klimeksat Expert Coatings, they are still proud toserve the remaining plating industrywith a mission "to achieve outstandingcustomer satisfaction by providing rackdesign, fabrication and repair services toplaters, painters and powder coaters for avariety of end-use markets."

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11

Preserving a Legacy with the Help of Private Equity:Oliver Products Steps Forward

By Greg Myers

How do you preserve a company’slegacy without a next generation of fam-ily members to take over? That’s the veryobstacle Oliver Products Company founditself facing in 2007 after more than 100years in business.

The family owners had long found-ed their Grand Rapids-based company—which develops and manufactures flexi-ble packaging for healthcare, food pack-aging systems and bakery equipment—on the philosophy that ”everything startsand ends with the customer.”

Despite lacking a fifth generation totake over the business, the family wantedto maintain this philosophy, as well as thecompany’s identity. The leadership alsowanted to provide family members withliquidity from the business that previousgenerations had worked so hard to grow.

The solution? Oliver Products part-nered with Mason Wells, a private equityfirm based in Milwaukee, WI—a decisionthat allowed the company to stay inGrand Rapids, keep its employees anduphold its proud legacy.

As is typical in private equityinvestments, Mason Wells now holdsmajority ownership of the company andprovides strategic direction. But the com-pany remains independent, with a man-agement team that directs day-to-dayoperations and drives decision making.

The PartnershipAt the time of the acquisition by

Mason Wells, Oliver Products was asolid family-owned business with abroad and loyal customer base. It wasalso a business with some very realgrowth opportunities.

In order to bring those opportunitiesto fruition, Mason Wells identified a newCEO to replace family members whowanted to retire and used a conservativefinancial structure that would allow forfacility expansions and other invest-ments necessary to grow the company.The new CEO built an executive team ofexisting employees—to help preserve thecompany’s identity—and added new tal-ent as well.

Sterile, flexible packaging for medicaldevices and pharmaceutical products com-prises about 70 percent of Oliver Products’business, with the other 30 percent allo-cated to the development and manufactur-ing of food packaging for institutionalprograms (Meals on Wheels and schools,

for example) and for bakery equipment. To grow both sides of the company,

the new executive team set forth short-and long-term strategic goals. Thesegoals included bringing in additionalsales team members and a new technicaldirector, as well as the relocation of itsNetherlands office to a larger facility andthe opening of a sales office in China.

Focusing on the home front in GrandRapids, Oliver Products also decided toinvest in new equipment at the local facil-ity, while simultaneously establishingseveral lean initiatives to reorganize thefloor layout and improve workflow.

Additionally, the company rampedup R&D efforts to develop new products.This effort was well supported by theacquisition of Tolas HealthcarePackaging, one of Oliver Products’ directcompetitors in the healthcare packagingmarket. By combining those two busi-nesses (now known as Oliver-Tolas), thecompany gained access to new technolo-gies and has also improved its profitabil-ity and stature in the marketplace.

In another important move, leader-ship built a strong marketing team topromote the innovative solutions provid-ed by Oliver Products to its target mar-kets and key customers.

Now and the FutureSince partnering with Mason Wells,

Oliver Products has not only been able tomaintain its culture and customer-centric

focus, but has also positioned itself as atechnology leader and supplier of thebest-quality resources in its target mar-kets. Oliver has experienced stronggrowth, even through last year’s reces-sion, and is on pace for double-digitgrowth in 2010.

So what does the future hold for thecompany? Acceleration, according to thecompany’s projections. Oliver Productshas solid growth objectives and plans toexpand all sides of the business throughfurther capital investments. And with thehelp of a diverse executive team of exist-ing and new team members, as well asthe backing of Mason Wells, the compa-

ny can continue to preserve the compa-ny’s legacy for years to come.

Greg Myers is a managing directorat Mason Wells Buyout Funds inMilwaukee, a private equity firm knownfor its proven, disciplined, forthrightapproach to acquiring and growing mid-sized, family-owned companies in theMidwest.

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12Finance/Insurance BriefsGrand Rapids – Best Lawyers, the old-est and most respected peer-review pub-lication in the legal profession, hasnamed Connie R. Thacker as the“Grand Rapids Best Lawyers FamilyLaw of the Year” for 2011. Bruce W.Neckers is the “Grand Rapids BestLawyers Bet-the-Company Litigator ofthe Year” for 2011.

Bloomfield Hills – ProfessionalResolution Experts of Michiganannounced that six of its members werenamed to the distinguished “2010Michigan Super Lawyers” list by“Michigan Super Lawyers” publica-tion: F. Peter Blake, Richard A. Bone,Gene J. Esshaki, Paul F. Monicatti,Richard E. Rassel and Martin C.Weisman. Together, their expertiseincludes almost all areas of commercial,corporate and personal law practice.

Kentwood – Regulus Advisors wel-comed James Schipper, Steve OsterinkSr. and Steve Osterink Jr. to their team.The new affiliates made the transitionfrom SagePoint Financial to RegulusAdvisors in late October and have over60 years of combined experience in theindustry with an estimated 75 milliondollars in assets under management.

Holland – Macatawa Bank Corporationannounced that Robert L. Herr (a formerpartner with Crowe Horwath LLP) andThomas P. Rosenbach have beenappointed to the board of directors.

Grand Rapids – Miller Johnsonannounced the addition of Jeffrey J.Fraser and Anthony R. Comden to thefirm’s membership and employment &labor section. Collectively, they bringover 38 years of experience.

Grand Rapids – Hilary Roelofs hasjoined Legacy Trust as an office admin-istrator. She will be responsible for thefinancial accounting system, payroll andhuman resources activities includingbenefits coordination.

Detroit – Stokas Realty Advisors andBieri Company announced their newlyformed partnership as Stokas BieriReal Estate. Bringing together 35 yearsof combined success and industry expe-rience, the company specializes in siteselection for retailers nationwide andoffers additional services includingproject leasing, disposition of excessproperties, restructuring, market analy-sis and legal services.

Suffern, N.Y. – General PatentCorporation announced that AnthonyAmaral, Jr. has joined the legal depart-ment of the company as chief IP counsel.

Grand Rapids – The law firm of SmithHaughey Rice & Roegge announcedthe hiring of Scott Gordon, JeremyNastoff and Lindsay Weber at theTraverse City office, and Megan Smithat the Grand Rapids office.

Detroit – Kotz, Sangster, Wysocki andBerg, P.C. has expanded its practice inwestern Michigan by opening an office inGrand Rapids. Located at 61 CommerceAve. SW, the Grand Rapids office isstaffed by Timothy J. Ryan, who man-ages the office and chairs the firm'semployment/labor practice group, andLinda L. Ryan, who represents employ-ers, especially educational institutionsand nonprofit organizations. Both attor-neys were newly hired by the firm.

Grand Rapids – Varnum attorneyLawrence P. Burns has been namedthe 2011 Grand Rapids Health CareLawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers.Burns is the chair of Varnum's healthcare law practice.

Grand Rapids – The CFA WestMichigan Society announced the newofficers and members of its board ofdirectors to serve through June 30,2011. The board and officers for fiscal2011 are: Andrew Mason, – presidentand chairman; Martin Axelrod – vicepresident and vice chairman; Jeff Tryka– vice president; Michael Poland – sec-retary; Ryan Allen – treasurer;Theodore H. Fuger, Jr. – board mem-ber. Larry Blose, Ph.D. was alsoappointed to lead the CandidatePreparation Committee, Greg Bosch,CFA was appointed to head theProgramming Committee, and AlanKort was appointed to lead theTechnology Committee.

Grand Rapids – Varnum attorneysRandall Kraker and David E. Khoreyhave been elected to the Firm's policycommittee (Kraker for a second term).This governing committee for the Firmconsists of six at-large members electedby the partners. Members serve forthree year terms.

Grand Rapids – Argus FinancialConsultants announced that LisaWilkie has joined the firm as a clientservices associate.

Grand Rapids – Miller Johnsonannounced that Peter J. Kok has beennamed the Best Lawyers’ 2011 GrandRapids Labor and Employment Lawyerof the Year.

Kalamazoo – Stuart H. Deming,Deming PLLC, recently spoke in Paris,France at a meeting of the AmericanBar Association on conducting due dili-gence and internal investigations inforeign settings.

Grand Rapids – Plante & Moran, PLLCwas named one of the top five work-places in Michigan in the 2010 DetroitFree Press Top Workplaces survey.Plante & Moran was named numberthree in the large companies category.

Grandville – Berends Hendricks StuitInsurance Agency, Inc. announced theaddition of Tim Koster, CPA who joinsas a property and casualty account exec-utive and Abby Van Beek, who joins theemployee benefits department to serveas a technical assistant.

Grand Rapids – Lake Michigan CreditUnion announced the hiring of DavidHuisman as vice president of commer-cial lending - Lakeshore. He will beworking out of the Holland branch officeon 8th Street.

Grand Rapids – Varnum attorney NyalD. Deems has been named the 2011Grand Rapids Real Estate Lawyer of theYear by Best Lawyers. Deems is a part-ner in Varnum's real estate practicegroup, where he has practiced for 34years.

13New Affordable Care Act:

Better Value for Insurance PremiumsNationwide – New regulations

issued this month by the Department ofHealth and Human Services (HHS)require health insurers to spend 80 to 85percent of consumers’ premiums ondirect care for patients and efforts toimprove care quality. This regulation,known as the “medical loss ratio” provi-sion of the Affordable Care Act, willmake the insurance marketplace moretransparent and make it easier for con-sumers to purchase plans that providebetter value for their money.

“Thanks to the Affordable CareAct, millions of Americans will get bet-ter value for their health insurance pre-mium dollar,” said HHS SecretaryKathleen Sebelius. “These new rulesare an important step to hold insurancecompanies accountable and increasevalue for consumers.”

Today, many insurance companiesspend a substantial portion of con-sumers’ premium dollars on administra-tive costs and profits, including execu-tive salaries, overhead and marketing.Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, con-sumers will receive more value for theirpremium dollar as money is shifted awayfrom administrative expenditures andspent instead on medical care and healthcare quality improvement.

In 2011, the new rules will protect

up to 74.8 million insured Americansand estimates indicate that up to 9 mil-lion Americans could be eligible forrebates starting in 2012 worth up to $1.4billion. Average rebates per person couldtotal $164 in the individual market.

The medical loss ratio regulationoutlines disclosure and reportingrequirements, how insurance compa-nies will calculate their medical lossratio and provide rebates and howadjustments could be made to the med-ical loss ratio standard to guard againstmarket destabilization.

Beginning in 2011, the law requiresthat insurance companies publicly reporthow they spend premium dollars, pro-viding meaningful information to con-sumers. Also beginning in 2011, insur-ers are required to spend at least 80 per-cent of the premium dollars they collecton medical care and quality improvementactivities. Insurance companies that arenot meeting the medical loss ratio stan-dard will be required to provide rebatesto their consumers. Insurers will berequired to make the first round ofrebates to consumers in 2012.

“These rules were carefully devel-oped through a transparent and fairprocess with significant input from thepublic, the States and other key stake-holders,” said Jay Angoff, director of the

Office of Consumer Information andInsurance Oversight at HHS. “As webuild a bridge to 2014, when better, moreaffordable options are available to con-sumers, these rules will help make healthinsurance fairer for consumers now.”

The Affordable Care Act requiredthe National Association of InsuranceCommissioners (NAIC) to develop uni-form definitions and methodologies forcalculating insurance companies’ med-ical loss ratios. Insurance commissioners

in every State have a responsibility toprotect the interests of the general pub-lic, policyholders and enrollees withintheir respective States. Today’s regula-tion certifies and adopts the recommen-dations submitted to the Secretary ofHHS on October 27, 2010 by the NAIC.It also incorporates recommendationsfrom a letter sent to the Secretary by theNAIC on October 13, 2010.

Finance/Insurance BriefsKentwood - Regal Financial Group,LLC welcomed Riverbank WealthAdvisors to their team. The Riverbankteam - Anthony Burek, MissyClements, Dustin Leach and PaulWannemacher - transitioned to RegalFinancial Group’s network of independ-ent advisors on November 11, 2010.They have a combined 40 years ofexperience in the industry with a spe-cialized practice of helping high networth individuals, families, businessesand foundations.

East Lansing - Karen Thomas hasjoined Independent Bank as a seniormortgage loan officer at the West Roadoffice in East Lansing. Thomas willserve customers in the counties ofClinton, Eaton and Ingham. Thomasbrings 28 years of experience as a loanofficer to the position.

Holland – Macatawa Bank Corporationannounced the appointment of Craig A.Hankinson as senior vice president andchief credit officer. Hankinson will haveoversight for Macatawa’s credit adminis-tration and credit approval process, loanpolicies and procedures and work toensure the overall quality of the Bank’slending portfolio.

Holland/Grand Rapids – Sheri Petershas been promoted to vice president,Treasury Management team lead at theMacatawa Bank corporate office inHolland. Peters will be responsible forTreasury Managements strategic direc-tion, product offerings, sales and teammanagement. Stephanie Jamrog hasalso joined Macatawa Bank as vice pres-ident of Treasury Management in GrandRapids and will work out of the Bank'sEast Beltline and Clyde Park offices.

14

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Self Employed? How to Make the Mortgage Process Work for You

It wasn’t longago when self-employed borrowerscould secure a mort-gage with noincome verification- known as a statedincome loan - butthose days havepassed. Today, Ioften read stories

reported in the media and hear peoplecommenting how it’s impossible for selfemployed borrowers to obtain a mort-gage. With the banking changes thatwere enacted after the meltdown in theeconomy, it’s true that it is now moredifficult, but it is not nearly as difficultas many self-employed people think.

If you’re self-employed and seekinga mortgage, here are some tips to makesure your application does not result ina mortgage loan denial:

• If self-employment is your pri-mary source of income, lenders will pre-fer that you have been self-employed forat least two years.

• In addition to providing your per-sonal returns, you will typically need toprovide business tax returns for allbusinesses where you have more than25% ownership.

• You may also be asked to provideProfit and Loss statements especially ifyou are applying towards the end of theyear so you may want to have these pre-pared in advance of applying.

• If your income has declined fromthe previous tax year to your mostrecent, you will have to explain thedecline. If you know you are going to beapplying for a mortgage in the nearfuture, you may want to discuss your taxplanning strategy with your tax profes-sional. Creative accounting, while savingyou money on taxes, may cost you the

ability to obtain a home mortgage.• Do not assume that you do not

have enough income based on youradjusted gross income. Items like depre-ciation are typically added back to yourincome when mortgage companiesmake their calculations. You shouldalways have a loan professional experi-enced in analyzing tax returns reviewyour taxes and calculate your incomefor mortgage purposes.

• Mortgage notes payable in lessthan one year is a line item on the bal-ance sheet of some corporate returns.This line item is often counted againstyour income for mortgage purposes somake sure your tax professional is onlylisting debts in this line item if they aretruly payable in less than one year. Ihave seen numerous returns wheredebts are listed in this line item in error.

If you have applied somewhere andhave been declined, you should get a

second opinion as the expertise of yourmortgage professional can be the differ-ence between approval and denial.Analyzing business tax returns to calcu-late income for mortgages can be a verytime consuming task. Many loan officersdo not have the expertise or the desire toanalyze the returns and present theincome properly to underwriting. Withthe proper advice and the right loan pro-fessional, obtaining a mortgage as a selfemployed borrower does not have to bea mission impossible.

Ramzi Faraj has been a mortgageconsultant for over 15 years and his“mortgage coach for life” approach hashelped over 1,000 families achievehome ownership. You can contact himat www.MichiganMortgageNews.com.

Ramzi Faraj

Abnormality: The Economy’s New NormalAtlanta, GA – The new normal in

the nation’s economy is the abnormaland we have to “make peace with it,”said Rajeev Dhawan, director of theEconomic Forecasting Center at GeorgiaState University’s J. Mack RobinsonCollege of Business.

In his quarterly Forecast of theNation, Dhawan said the new normalfeatures a real GDP growth that is farbelow the annual growth rates experi-enced from the mid ’90s through themid-2000’s and is marked by “myriadissues including depressed home val-ues, ballooning entitlements, a dividedpolitic and a shaky banking system.”

Another abnormality the countrywill be living with, said Dhawan,stems from adoption of the secondphase of the Fed’s quantitative easing(or QE2) strategy of buying treasurybonds or “printing money” as Dhawancalled it. Although it did “spark a stock

market rally, which was the intendedeffect, it also resulted in a simultane-ous drop in the dollar.”

Dhawan said the QE 2 strategy willhelp the economy indirectly by raisinginflation expectations which will boostthe equity market. Furthermore a weakdollar will boost exports, especially toemerging markets. These factors, saidthe forecaster, will hopefully increaseCEO confidence, which will be the key toinvestment and job creation.

“When CEOs feel optimistic andconfident, they tend to lobby and con-vince their boards that the situation isright to expand the scale of opera-tions,” said Dhawan. “The CEOConfidence Index is up sharply from itsnadir in late 2008. Because of this wesaw job growth in 2010, but theinvestment driving that growth wasprimarily to replace obsolete equipment– not for new additions. As a result, I

don’t think the 15 percent plus techinvestment rate that is necessary toaccelerate job growth can be attained inthe face of fiscal uncertainty and polit-ical gridlock in Washington.”

Dhawan added that before invest-ing, “corporate chieftains and con-sumers, too, need to know what theirfuture tax liabilities will be in order tocalculate internal rates of return oninvestment – and planned consumption.”

Dhawan said to expect gains inmanufacturing (high tech, aviation andcapital goods) and agriculture. He addedthat a weak dollar should make U.S.commercial real estate less expensive andthus more attractive to foreign investors.

Highlights from the EconomicForecasting Center’s National Report:

• Overall, real GDP growth for 2010will be 2.7%, decelerating sharply to2.1% in 2011. In 2012, real GDP willgrow at a slightly better rate of 2.6%.

For all of 2010 consumption expendi-tures will rise by only 1.7%, followed bya 2.2% rate in 2011 and 2012.

• For the entire year, the CPI infla-tion rate will average 1.7%. In 2011, theinflation rate will be 1.6%, increasing to2.0% in 2012. Meanwhile, the core CPIinflation rate will average 1.0% in 2010,followed by a moderate 1.3% rate in2011 and 1.7% in 2012.

• Private fixed investment willgrow 5.9% in 2010, expanding at amuch stronger 8.7% in 2011.

• In 2011, the job creation rate willhover around 127,000 jobs per monthas economic growth remains subdued.The situation will improve slightly in2012 with the addition of 140,000 jobsper month. Although moderating, theunemployment rate will remain above9% for the next two years.

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Bill Feyen616-554-0200

billfeyen@exceloffice.com

15Hotels/Restrauants BriefsSouth Bend, IN – South Bend Airport’s$15.5 million capital improvement proj-ect is placing the final touches on phaseone of three to expand the passengerconcourse. The final project will giveMichiana travelers a new 45,000 sq. ft.concourse and will include 5 new gates.New post-security food service ameni-ties, gift shop, business center, children’splay port, loading bridges and free wire-less Internet access will be part of the air-port’s offerings to the traveling public.

Grandville – The Days Inn & Suitesmotel on 28th St. SW in Grandvillereceived the Chairman's Award ForQuality 2009 at the Wyndham HotalGroup Global Conference 2010. Theaward is given based on an unan-nounced property evaluation for thequality, Days Inn brand standard, cus-tomer service, maintenance and cleanli-ness in year 2009.

Acme – Grand Traverse Resort & Spanear Traverse City opened Dylan’sCandy Bar. The new 1,300 sq. ft. storeincludes an 18-foot chocolate wall, a100-bin bulk candy display and a color-ful assortment of candy-inspired appar-el, souvenirs and gifts.

Detroit – Greektown Casino-Hotel cel-ebrated its 10th anniversary inNovember with a week of specialevents for team members and specialpromotions for guests.

Atlanta, GA - The Holiday Inn GrandRapids Downtown received the IHG(InterContinental Hotels Group) 2010Renovation Award for their successfulcompletion of major modernization andrenovation programs during the pastyear. IHG is the world’s largest hotelgroup by number of rooms.

Kalamazoo – Crow’s Nest Restaurantwon the inaugural "Golden Ladle" Awardat the recent Fair Food Food Fair. Held atthe Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, theevent featured 16 local chefs invited tocreate a “small plate” item using localingredients. Crow’s Nest and chef GraceDorer won for a creation made of pulledpork from Lake Village Homesteadbaked into locally purchased cornmealwith spicy butter, sweet onions andcilantro sour cream.

Mio – A new board of directors waselected in October at the Association ofRV Parks & Campgrounds-Michiganannual fall convention. Directors areelected to two year terms and this yearthe new board will include: TomBrennan, Dave Cordray, Janice Golda,Jack Forward, Susan Novotny andWinnie Yedinak. Also during theevent, Fair Food Matters namedDonna McClurkan its “Locavore of theYear” - an award for an individual ororganization whose efforts best exem-plify support for local food in SouthwestMichigan.

Muskegon County – Muskegon Countytook possession of 95-acres of addition-al park land with the help of theMichigan Natural Resources TrustFund (who provided a grant of over$400,000) and the Land Conservancyof West Michigan (who raised over$150,000). This expansion of MeinertPark more than doubles the size of theCounty Park. A long term endowmentfund for the upkeep of the property willbe housed at the White LakeCommunity Foundation.

Saugatuck – The Saugatuck Centerfor the Arts’ board of directors recent-ly announced the organization’s 2010Volunteer of the Year: BillUnderdown. Underdown has been apart of the SCA volunteer team focus-ing on building an internship programand growing the organization’s newmembership program.

Portage – The Southwest MichiganLand Conservancy (SWMLC) receiveda Keep Michigan Beautiful (KMB)award at KMB’s annual awards ceremo-ny held recently in Portage. ThisMichigan award for an outstanding con-tribution to beautification was given torecognize a grassland restoration projectand a dedicated group of SWMLC volun-teers known as the WednesdayWorkday Warriors.

Muskegon – The Red Lotus Galleryannounced the opening of its new retailart gallery and fine arts center at 825 W.Western Ave, right across from theYMCA in downtown Muskegon. TheRed Lotus is the first phase of theMuskegon Center for the Arts - Michaeland Ron Schaafsma’s vision for a cul-tural refuge for artists of all kinds tocreate, display, perform, and exploretheir chosen art form.

Western MichiganWelcomes Eastern Cuisine

Grand Rapids - The Village atKnapp’s Crossing welcomed P.F. Chang’sChina Bistro as its newest tenant in thenew lifestyle center development at thecorner of the East Beltline and Knappstreet. This new location will soon beginconstruction and will mark P.F. Chang’sChina Bistro’s only location in the WestMichigan area.

The new location will offer it’smost modern state-of-the-art buildingand design and an upscale diningatmosphere, pairing signature Chinesecuisine with contemporary design and apanoramic, hand-painted mural creat-ed specifically for the restaurant -voted America ’s number one Chineserestaurant.

The cuisine is the main attractionof the new 8,481 square foot space,along with the stylish décor that pro-vides an inviting backdrop for the over-

all P.F. Chang's experience. The restau-rant boasts that once you have experi-enced the unique food and fine diningatmosphere, it will become an unforget-table experience bringing you backagain and again. The menu featuresmade-to-order entrees using the fresh-est and highest quality ingredients andoffers a variety of appetizers, soups,salads, entrees, noodles, rice, vegeta-bles and desserts, priced between $7.50and $22.50. The restaurant urges cus-tomers to try their signature lettucewraps or any of their many dishes.

This newest P.F. Changs locationwill offer online ordering, call aheadseating and a very stylish comfortableoutdoor patio area. Look for our grandopening of P.F. Changs very soon andmany more new tenants to beannounced coming in the comingmonths.

2010 WAVE Awards:Winners Announced

Grand Rapids – Experience GrandRapids and the Kent County LodgingAssociation (KCLA) have announced the2010 winners of their 3rd Annual WAVEAwards – a program which recognizesoutstanding service providers in theGrand Rapids and Kent County hospital-ity industry. This year’s program is pre-sented in part by RMG technologies.

Nineteen individuals were nominat-ed online between April and September,by both guests and their employers. Atthat time, the judging panel evaluated thenominees in their respective categoriesand scored on a set of criteria includingthe individual’s attitude, attentiveness,performance, knowledge and consistencywithin the local hospitality industry.

Six winners were selected for six

categories. Winners for 2010 include:• Attraction (sponsored by Grand

Connection): Bob Parente, FrederikMeijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

• Dining (sponsored byGreatFoodandTravel.com): LeifHogan, Carrabba's Italian Grill

• Lodging (sponsored by Proctor &Gamble): Flutie Tolonen, AmwayGrand Plaza Hotel

• Nightlife (sponsored by ValentineVodka): Matt Alles, Z's Bar &Restaurant (2nd consecutive year)

• Retail (sponsored by LadyAmericana & Jonathan StevensMattress Co): Crystal Chipman, Pauly's

• Transportation (sponsored byRegional Air Alliance): StephenFletcher, Metro Cars and Metro Cab.

Curbside Trash & Waste Services:Trash Cart • Yard Waste Cart • Recycle Cart866-669 2047 Jenison, Michigan

16Local Hospitals Selected to Participate in

National Quality Improvement EffortWest Michigan – The Alliance for

Health today announced that 7 differentteams from 5 hospitals across WestMichigan will participate in the AligningForces for Quality Hospital QualityNetwork - an innovative, nationwide pro-gram led by the Robert Wood JohnsonFoundation (RWJF), the nation’s largestphilanthropy dedicated to improving thehealth and health care of Americans.

Participating hospitals includeAllegan General Hospital, Mercy Health

Partners, Saint Mary’s Health Care, NorthOttawa Community Health System andCarson City Hospital.

Aligning Forces for Quality (AF4Q)is RWJF’s signature effort to lift theoverall quality of health care in targetedcommunities, as well as reduce racialand ethnic disparities and provide mod-els for national reform. In 2007 RWJFselected Alliance for Health to lead thelocal AF4Q effort. In all, 17 regionsacross the country were selected

through a highly competitive process.Each is spearheading a range of effortsto help doctors, nurses and hospitalsmeasure and improve quality – as wellas help consumers understand moreabout their care so they can be moreeffective advocates for their own health.

The AF4Q Hospital Quality Networkincludes three separate programs to helphospitals improve how they communicatewith diverse patients, reduce the amountof time spent waiting in emergencydepartments (EDs), or ensure thatpatients who are discharged from thehospital aren’t readmitted because theymissed important elements of their care.Hospital teams will work together andwith the 17 other Aligning Forces forQuality communities to improve the qual-ity and safety of patient care by pilotingand testing new quality improvementstrategies over an 18-month period.

“There is a lot that is right about ourlocal health care system, including gooddoctors, nurses, hospitals and employerswho care about people having access tosafe, high-quality health care,” said LodyZwarensteyn, Alliance for Health presi-dent. “But here, as everywhere, there aregaps in the quality of care that peoplereceive. Together we can help close thosegaps so every patient receives excellentcare every time. The hospitals that areparticipating in this program are leadingan effort to systematically improve carethroughout West Michigan. We’re bring-ing together the people who give care, getcare and pay for care to make lastingchanges right here at home.”

In the Reducing Readmissions com-ponent, Allegan General Hospital andCarson City Hospital teams will focus on

cardiac care, with the specific goal ofreducing readmission rates among heartpatients. The initiative will focus on car-diac care because, whether experiencing aheart attack, heart failure or other condi-tions, the recommended standard of carefor cardiac patients is clear and acceptedamong medical professionals nationwide.

In the Increasing Throughput com-ponent, Allegan General Hospital andNorth Ottawa Community Health Systemteams will focus on making their emer-gency departments more efficient. Theprocess of getting patients through theemergency department in a timely man-ner, either to be treated and released, orassigned a bed in an appropriate hospitalunit, is known as “throughput.” Slowthroughput frustrates patients and does-n’t result in the highest-quality care.

In the Improving Language Servicescomponent, Allegan General Hospital,Mercy Health Partners and Saint Mary’sHealth Care teams will work to improvethe care experience for patients whospeak or understand limited English.Hospitals will work to ensure that thesepatients receive their initial assessmentand discharge instruction from a qualifiedlanguage services provider. These twopoints in care are especially critical forensuring that quality outcomes result.

Led by RWJF, the AF4Q HospitalQuality Network is overseen by the Centerfor Health Care Quality at The GeorgeWashington University Medical CenterSchool of Public Health and HealthServices, which serves as the nationalprogram office for the Aligning Forces forQuality initiative.

17National Rehabilitation Awareness Week

By Janice Bullock, RN, BSN

Most Americans will require at leastone rehabilitation service at some pointin their lives, so it is never too early tohave the discussion about where to gofor treatment.

Rehabilitation often centers on aninterdisciplinary team approach to careby physiatrists (physicians specializingin rehabilitation); physical, occupational,respiratory and recreational therapists;speech and language pathologists; reha-bilitation nurses, psychologists, voca-tional counselors and other profession-als. These are coordinated by a medicaldirector, who works with patients torestore the greatest level of function orindependence. The rehab team helpsindividuals overcome obstacles andaccomplish normal tasks of daily living.

Steve suffered from multiple frac-tures resulting in surgery leaving 21pins, 4 plates and 60 staples in his hip.While recovering in a Grand Rapids hos-pital, he was unable to walk and doeveryday things like dressing himself.His condition required comprehensiverehabilitation care.

Steve and his wife had to make adecision on where to go to receive treat-ment. The doctor and staff made recom-mendations, but in the end, it was theirchoice. They wanted a place that was

highly recommended, had a comfortablefamily atmosphere and was closer tohome so family and friends could easilyvisit. For them, Mecosta County MedicalInpatient Rehabilitation Center fit all ofthese criteria.

During Steve’s treatment in GrandRapids, his wife drove eighty miles to seehim and slept in a chair in his room.While at Mecosta County MedicalInpatient Rehabilitation Center, shestayed at home and traveled only twentyminutes to visit him. Having family andfriends close by brightened his spiritsand made recovery a comfortableprocess. Perhaps the most important ele-ment of treatment is returning patients toa home setting.

Patients work hard during theirtherapy sessions, having to complete aminimum of 3 hours of therapy each dayto meet the admission criteria for ourspecialized unit. Their diligence paysoff! People do not realize the complexityinvolved in performing everyday tasksuntil a crisis hits, and they are robbed ofthose abilities. Patients who initiallyneeded help just to turn over in bed areable to walk independently at discharge.They relearn or practice new techniqueson how to bathe and dress themselves.Others who relied on tube feedings fornutrition have regained their ability toeat naturally and the tubes were

removed before they left our unit. Stillothers have redeveloped the skills need-ed to talk, think, calculate and remem-ber. 85% of patients who came toMecosta County Medical InpatientRehabilitation Center were discharged toa home setting compared to the regionalaverage of 75%.

In less than a year, Steve was work-ing on projects at his home in OsceolaCounty. He enjoys spending time in hiswoodshop, grocery shopping, cuttingfirewood and tending to his one-acre

garden and 38 apple trees.“National Rehab Awareness Week”

was celebrated September 19-25. Duringthis week, we acknowledge those whohave experienced the rehabilitationprocess and applaud their successes. Wehope you too will take a moment duringthis week in the future and be gratefulfor the abilities you have. Finally, we, thestaff at MCMC Rehabilitation Center,wish to thank you for allowing us toserve this community for over 17 years.

Shortage Projected forPA & NP Professionals

Lansing – Michigan is training agrowing number of Physician Assistants(PA) and Nurse Practitioners (NP) tohelp address the state's looming doctorshortage, but serious challenges remain,says a new report issued by the MichiganHealth Council, a nonprofit working onMichigan’s healthcare workforce issues.

Physician Assistants and NursePractitioners have played a vital role inhealth care service delivery since theinception of these professions. The past20 years have seen an explosion in thenumber of these types of providers, andseveral factors are likely to lead toincreased demand in the future.

The Michigan Health Council’sProfile of Michigan’s Nurse Practitionersand Physician Assistants Workforce2010 report also indicates manyPhysician Assistants and NursePractitioners are leaving primary care for

specialty work. Currently, only 35% ofPhysician Assistants work in a primarycare field.

Both PA and NP professionals arefinding more opportunities and chang-ing worksites. In 2009, 17% of PA’s sur-veyed left primary care to practice inspecialty areas. Forty one percent ofPA’s work in hospital inpatient settings,26% in hospital outpatient settings and52% in Physician offices (numbers addup to more than 100% because manyPA’s work in more than one setting).These are dramatic shifts in a shortperiod of time.

Because specific information aboutNurse Practitioners was not available forthis profile, a study by Public

Sector Consultants for the Center forNursing at the Michigan Health Councilis now in the field and will be reported inJanuary 2011.

18Health Care BriefsGrand Rapids – Hospice services in thehome are covered by Medicaid for eligi-ble patients, but there are a limited poolof Medicaid-reimbursed beds in hospiceresidences for those needing 24 hourcare. Faith Hospice has announced thatits hospice residence Trillium Woods(the only hospice residence in thegreater Grand Rapids area) has receivedapproval for 12 of those Medicaid beds.Twelve of the current 20 beds at TrilliumWoods will now be eligible for Medicaidreimbursement for room and board.

Grand Rapids – Pine Rest ChristianMental Health Services announcedthat Radosveta I. Stoyanov, M.D. andTimothy L. Todd, M.D. joined the staff.Dr. Stoyanov works at the Grand Havenand Northeast clinics. Dr. Todd works atthe Zeeland and Northeast clinics.

Grand Rapids – Lutheran Social Servicesof Michigan has hired Tyson Scaife asthe executive chef for campus dining atMapleCreek senior living. He guides thedining services menus, meal preparationand special event catering forMapleCreek’s independent living, memorycare, assisted living and long-term careresidents and guests.

Grand Rapids – Spectrum Health’s can-cer program received a three-yearaccreditation with commendation fromthe American College of SurgeonsCommission on Cancer (CoC)Accreditation of a cancer center is grant-ed only to those facilities that are able tocomply with established CoC standards.

Grand Rapids – Michigan’s branch of theInternational Dyslexia Associationhas selected Dr. Michael Ryan to be its2010 recipient of the Leadership inLiteracy Award.

Muskegon – Mercy Health Partners’(MHP) Lakeshore Campus in Shelbyannounced that it will move its OB depart-ment to MHP’s new birth center whichrecently opened at the Hackley Campus inMuskegon. Jay Bryan, president and CEOof the Lakeshore Campus, said that theopening of the new birth center, alongwith a decline in the need for OB servicesin Oceana County, makes the timing rightfor the transition. The national trend fordeliveries is dropping two percent peryear, as well as the local decline in thepopulation rate of Oceana County. Nonursing department staff jobs were elimi-nated due to the transition.

Grand Rapids – Priority Health has cre-ated 66 new offerings for small busi-nesses with 2-50 eligible employees thatsimplify their existing small businessproduct portfolio into a suite of benefitofferings. Small businesses can choosefrom several plan options, and all of thenew packages feature pharmacy cover-age and tiered office visit co-pays forprimary care, specialist and urgent care.Priority Health also is offering employersa new health plan titled HealthbyChoiceAchievements. Offered with either anHMO, POS or PPO plan, employers cansee anywhere from 4 – 14 percent sav-ings in their premium, depending ontheir plan design. After offering a stan-dard benefit level to every employee,employees can “earn” lower out-of-pocket costs by achieving the criteria ofa healthy lifestyle.

Muskegon – Consumer Reports’October issue listed West MichiganCardiothoracic Surgeons and MercyHealth Partners among 50 of the coun-try’s top-rated heart-bypass surgerygroups. Mercy Health Partners receivedthe Society of Thoracic Surgeons’ three-star rating (the highest possible) basedon the latest data, from 2008 - 2009.

Grand Rapids – Grand Valley HealthPlan’s Family Health Centers will nolonger be charging their insured patientsoffice visit co-payments for healthassessments, sports physicals and wellchild visits.

Grandville - HEARINGLife has addedBrenda J. Tolbert to its Grandville Ear &Hearing /HEARINGLife practice office.Tolbert is a clinical audiologist with 28years of experience.

Holland – Holland Hospital announcedthat Mark Priest, DO has joinedLakeshore Health Partners – FamilyMedicine in Zeeland. Priest is a gradu-ate of the Michigan State University -College of Osteopathic Medicine, and heperformed his internship at TraverseCity Osteopathic Hospital and his resi-dency at Metro Health Hospital inGrand Rapids.

Holland – Tim Aldrich, a HollandHospital surgery tech, has been namedan Alumni of the Year by OttawaCounty Michigan Works!. He was hiredby the hospital after completing histraining through the No Worker LeftBehind program of Michigan Works!

2010 Michigan Caregiver of the Year and RegionalFinalists to be Honored

Novi – Professional caregivers thatassist the aging and disabled populationin their homes are “lifelines” to the indi-viduals and families they serve. WithNovember being National Home Care

Month, the Michigan Chapter of theNational Private Duty Association ishonoring four extraordinary professionalcaregivers with the 2010 MichiganCaregiver of the Year Award.

The award is given to four finalistsfrom different regions of the state, withthe overall winner for Caregiver of theYear selected from these finalists. Eachfinalist was nominated for the award bythe agency they work for and suppliedsupporting testimonials from the clientsand families they served.

“I can’t think of a group moredeserving of recognition than profession-al caregivers,” states Joyce Lovse, a BoardMember of the Michigan Chapter of NPDAand owner of AngelCare Home HealthCare in Grand Rapids. “For many of theseindividuals, it’s not about the money.They are in this field of work because thisis their calling. Their training, experienceand expertise often provides an importantlink between their clients, their clients’family and other members of the healthcare team, allowing their client’s to livesafely at home. They are the real “heroes’in their client’s eyes.”

Also honoring the caregivers aretheir local legislative representative and

the state’s Area Agency on Aging. TinaAbbateMarzolf, the Chief ExecutiveOfficer for Area Agency on Aging1B,located in Oakland County and one of thejudges for the award, related “I was soinspired by all the nominees and theirstories. They really were all amazing,and I just wanted to make them feelextra special, too.”

The finalist for Southeast Michiganincluded caregivers Charlene Harvey fromAffordable Home Care in FarmingtonHills and Diane Stower from HomeInstead Senior Care in Birmingham.

The finalist for Western Michiganwas a caregiver from AngelCare HomeHealthCare in Grand Rapids, DebbieGroulx.

The winner for Northern MichiganRegion was Ruth Billsby, who was alsonamed the 2010 Caregiver of the Year.Ruth has been employed by ComfortKeepers in Traverse City for over fouryears.

19

D o r o t h yLinscott, a residentat The Terraces atMapleCreek, neededhelp. Her prescrip-tion medication hadnot been delivered.She went to the oneperson she knewcould help her, DollieGrant, Community

Coordinator for the Resident ResourceCenter at The Terraces. In her full-timeposition, Dollie functions much like theconcierge in a fine hotel.

“My role is help people figure outwhat it is they need and help them comeup with solutions or options,” Grant said.“Then I identify where within the com-munity they can find those, either in theMapleCreek community or in the greatercommunity beyond this campus.”

With only the doctor’s original pre-scription to go on, Grant did some detec-tive work to find out which nationalchain store had received Dorothy’s pre-scription order and then made calls to thecompany until she reached the rightdepartment. “Dorothy and I got on speak-er phone with the appropriate person,and within five minutes we straightenedout the order, the billing and the deliv-ery,” Grant said. “In fact, the prescriptionwas filled and delivered that same day.Dorothy was very grateful.”

Dorothy’s daughter, Cindi Newhouse,later expressed her appreciation to SarahDuthie, manager of Independent Living at

The Terraces and The Cottages ofMapleCreek. “MapleCreek goes to the endsof the earth to ensure their residents arehappy and comfortable,” Newhouse said.“Thank you for everything you continueto do for my mom.”

When Sarah Duthie arrived atMapleCreek in July 2009, she saw a needfor a one-stop shop where people could beengaged in the community in which theylive. “By visiting our Resident ResourceCenter, they can make a reservation for atrip or event, schedule a massage, getinformation, sign up for an activity, get acopy of the dining menu for that day, any-thing MapleCreek community-based. But Ialso really wanted the Resident ResourceCenter to have suggestions and ties to theGrand Rapids community.”

While earning her hospitality busi-ness degree at Michigan State University,Duthie spent a year in Stavanger, Norway,where she studied at what is touted as thetop Scandinavian hospitality businessschool. It was there that she learned a newangle on customer service. “They taughtthe perspective of providing hospitalitybased on the perception of the guest orresident,” Duthie said. “This is not a com-mon approach. So much customer serviceis based solely on, ‘Well, how am I doing?How is my customer service? What tech-niques can I practice to be more courteousand more respectful?’ But focusing onsomeone else’s perception of how you’redoing is a totally different way of lookingat customer service.”

To do that, each weekday morning

Duthie leads a Resident Experience (orRX) meeting. “We talk, and it’s purelyfeedback that we’ve received from resi-dents. We’re listening.”

It is obvious that Grant loves her job.“When residents are frustrated or over-whelmed, they know where to go and whoto talk to. I can help them to sort throughtheir feelings and put their needs intowords. Then I can suggest communityresources to meet those needs. This helpsthem keep active and engaged in their ownlives, which promotes aging in place andstaying independent longer. We canarrange transportation to the doctor, bank,and appointments, even fun outings. Agroup of volunteers make that happen,driving our minivan one or two days aweek. We provide change of address formsand help residents register for absenteeballots. Sometimes people just need ananswer to a simple question. It’s just plainold-fashioned customer service.”

The shelves in the resource center areoverflowing with guides, brochures andmore for things to see and do in GrandRapids. “Now that people know that thisplace is an information hub, residents andtheir families are always bringing me backmore information about the area.”

There are also all kinds of opportuni-ties for residents to volunteer their timeand talents. “One resident cuts outcoupons from the Sunday newspaper, andorganizes them by category for people totake and use,” Grant said. “Others leadsewing and knitting groups. Really, the skyis the limit. This is our residents’ home.We’re a great big family here. Everyone hassomething they can contribute.”

Duthie agreed. “People move in andthey still have all these skills and life les-sons that they’ve learned throughouttheir lives. You don’t want to just stopusing them. You shouldn’t move into acommunity to sit around. The ResidentResource Center is the place you can go ifyou want to volunteer somewhere andneed some ideas on where you might beof help. So the center acts as a tie to theMapleCreek community and the greaterGrand Rapids community.”

John Elmore is public relations coor-dinator for Lutheran Social Services ofMichigan (www.lssm.org), promoting itsprograms in Lansing, Battle Creek,Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids andMuskegon.

John Elmore

Putting Customer Service into Senior Independent Living

ZCH to Move Forward withIntegration Process

Grand Rapids – The Spectrum HealthSystem board of directors and ZeelandCommunity Hospital (ZCH) board ofdirectors have each approved resolutionsthat would integrate ZCH into SpectrumHealth. Based on the resolutions, ZCHwill become a Spectrum Health hospital,effective January 1, 2011. Specific termsof the agreement are confidential.

“Spectrum Health has had a long-standing relationship with ZeelandCommunity Hospital for more than adecade,” said Matt Van Vranken, execu-tive vice president of Spectrum Health andpresident of Spectrum Health HospitalGroup. “This agreement takes that rela-tionship to a new level by integratingZeeland into Spectrum Health and will

enable us to provide a broader, more coor-dinated array of services to the region.”

Patients of Zeeland CommunityHospital will experience the same level ofconsistent, quality care they have cometo appreciate and value. Integration intothe Spectrum Health System will takeplace over the next 12 to 24 months.During this time, there will be no inter-ruption in patient care.

“Our Board came to this decisionafter an intensive and thorough analysisof several options,” said Henry Veenstra,president of Zeeland CommunityHospital. “Integration with SpectrumHealth will ensure care for the Zeeland,Hudsonville and surrounding communi-ties today and far into the future.”

(231) 592-4444605 Oak StreetBig Rapids, MI

www.mcmcbr.comMECOSTA COUNTYMEDICAL CENTER

Inpatient Medical Rehabilitation

Regaining Independence.Close to Home.

“The staff at MCMC kept my spirits up in a time I needed it most. One staff member took me to the park. I can still remember the feeling of being outside and experiencing the growth of my independence.”

Amputation Surgery in Grand Rapids;Rehab Close to Home.

20ABC Construction Forecast

Predicts “Slow Progress” in 2011Washington, D.C. – Associated

Builders and Contractors (ABC) todayreleased its 2011 economic forecast forthe U.S. commercial and industrial con-struction industry.

“The period of rapid improvementin spending levels did not begin in 2010,and will not happen in 2011,” said ABCChief Economist Anirban Basu.

“ABC’s forecast of nonresidentialconstruction spending for next year sug-gests that total spending will be 0.1 per-cent less than 2010 levels. Privatelyfinanced construction levels are project-ed to decline 0.2 percent while publiclyfinanced construction levels are project-ed to be virtually flat. The bottom line isthe nonresidential construction reces-sion is largely over, but 2011 will beassociated with grudgingly slowprogress,” said Basu.

“To the extent that there has beenrecovery in nonresidential construction,it has been concentrated in segmentsclosely tied to federal funding and thestimulus package passed in February2009 in the midst of the recession,”Basu said. “For example, five nonresi-dential construction categories moni-tored by the U.S. Census Bureau haveexperienced rising spending levels fromthe same time last year, including con-servation and development, water sup-ply, sewage and waste disposal, andhighway and street, and transportation.

“In contrast, 11 nonresidential con-struction sectors have experienced year-over-year declines in spending, a reflec-tion of the lack of available capital tofinance growth and investment,” said

Basu. “The deepest downturns regis-tered in construction were related tolodging, manufacturing, office and com-mercial. ABC expects that the lack ofaccess to capital will continue to detereconomic progress in 2011, and is fore-casting 1.7 percent GDP growth nextyear despite ongoing federal stimulusfunding and the expectation of a moreexpansive monetary policy.

“The roughly flat expectations forspending are reflected in ABC’s nonresi-dential construction employment fore-cast. After losing about 50,000 jobs in2010, ABC does not see nonresidentialbuilding employment rebounding until2012. However, ABC predicts that resi-dential construction employment willgrow substantially as the number ofhousing starts will expand by roughly25 percent,” Basu said.The 2011 Outlook

The national recession that beganin December 2007 ended in June 2009.Nonresidential construction typicallylags the overall performance of the U.S.economy by 12 to 24 months. Even asthe broader U.S. economy entered aperiod of substantial decline in 2008,nonresidential construction volumescontinued to expand and grew 9 percentthat year. Eventually, the weakness ofthe overall U.S. economy, coupled with adeep financial crisis and accompanyingcredit crunch, wreaked havoc on all sec-tors of nonresidential construction.According to U.S. Census Bureau data,nonresidential construction spendingdeclined 9 percent in 2009 and ABCprojects that spending will fall 14.7 per-

cent this year.The good news is the period of deep

decline in U.S. nonresidential construc-tion spending is over. The bad news isthis appears to represent stagnation,with overall construction volumes miredat or near bottom-of-the-cycle levels. Inother words, by remaining near 2010levels, 2011 construction spending ispositioned to be nearly a quarter lessthan 2008 totals.

Viewed from another perspective,the expectations for 2011 represent astark contrast from what occurred in2010. As a year, 2010 was a period ofwidely variable performance betweenconstruction segments as sectors pow-ered by the availability of federal stim-ulus funds experienced growth, andprivately financed activities buckledunder the weight of depleted capitalavailability and excess supply. Nextyear, the variable in performancebetween segments will be far dimin-ished, at least in terms of percentagechanges in spending volumes.

In terms of segments poised toexperience construction spendinggrowth in 2011, ABC projects that powerwill lead the way, with spending risingby an anticipated 5.5 percent.

Segments positioned for declineinclude those that are closely linked tostate and local government spending.With many states and localities trim-ming both operating and capital budg-ets, the expectation is that constructionvolumes in the education category willslip next year.

ABC expects that 2012 will be bet-ter for privately financed construction.Credit conditions will improve by thatpoint as large, well-capitalized banksbecome more aggressive in their pursuitof industry market share. Finally, certainleading indicators have turned theproverbial corner, including ABC’sConstruction Backlog Indicator, whichhas been indicating a steady improve-ment in the commercial and industrialconstruction outlook.

Grand Rapids, MI 616-773-6300 www.securalarm.com

Putting the Pieces TogetherSEEING THE ENTIRE SOLUTION, NOT JUST THE PARTS

• Access Control

• Digital Video Surveillance

• Intrusion Alarm

• Fire Alarm

• Photo ID Badging

• Visitor Management

Q & A with Exxel"I am looking at and want to buy a

parcel of land that does not have accessto public sanitary sewer. I’ve been told Ineed a percolation test and approvalfrom the County Health Departmentbefore I start building our home. Whatdo you recommend?"

-John, from Alpine Township

Dear John,

"You are wise to investigate thisvery important issue before purchasingproperty. We recommend getting somesoil borings to determine the soil contentand also make an on-site evaluation ofother features that are important to meetHealth Department regulations.

Some results that can complicatethe situation are:

• Clay soil content; it may not be per-meable (allow water to pass through it);

• A high seasonal water table;• An area too small to support a

septic system;• An area too small to meet Health

Department requirements for distancebetween a water well, building founda-

tions, property boundaries, wetlands,streams, pool or other features.

When those facts are known, youcan decide whether you want to pursuethe purchase of the property or proceedwith the application process to get aVacant Land Evaluation approval fromthe local Health Department. Even if oneor more of the complications are presenton this property, there may be alterna-tives that will allow you to build yourdream home here. Let’s talk further!

- Randy Rapp, RS

Rand Rapp is a registered sanitari-an in Michigan with Exxel Engineering,Inc., a civil engineering/land surveyfirm located in Grand Rapids. (616)531-3660.

Buying, selling, or building aproperty? Puzzled about surveys,reports, property lines, maps, etc.?Exxel Engineering, Inc. is here to help.If you have your own planning, engi-neering or surveying question you'dlike to see answered, please send it tous at editor@businessupdate.com.

21Construction BriefsGrand Rapids – The West MichiganDesign Center celebrated 10 years inbusiness by hosting a “FALL DesignCRAWL.” Over 10 local companies par-ticipated in the crawl including:Williams Kitchen & Bath, Gerrit'sAppliances, Verhey Carpets, BrightTechnologies, Grand Rapids Lighting,Sevens Paint, Mr. Handyman, NewLook Center, Nancy De Young Studio,Custom Design Furniture and EdwardJones. The three-day event was heldNov 4-6th.

Walker – Gerard Schoeb, a structuraland applications engineer with TubeliteInc., has successfully passed the U.S.Green Building Council's Leadership inEnergy and Environmental Design®(LEED®) Green Associate Certification.

Kalamazoo – Skanska USA announcedthat its building business unit - a lead-ing provider of construction manage-ment, preconstruction and design-buildservices - has recently promoted DougPhillips to senior director of businessdevelopment. Phillips, who formerlyserved as director of business develop-ment, is based out of the company’sKalamazoo and Southfield offices andhas worked for Skanska for more thanthree years.

Kalamazoo – CSM Group welcomes eightnew construction managers all workingon the food & beverage project deliveryteam; Frank Siebeneck, Terry Moermanand Todd George joined as senior-levelconstruction managers; Brian Collins andDale Michael joined as senior construc-tion managers; and Richard Smit, GabeDilworth and Kelly Hornsby joined asconstruction managers.

Comstock Township – Midlink BusinessPark welcomed Bryan Knoll and hiscompany Softball Fans, Inc. to itsdynamic, mixed-use business park. Theprivately-held softball and hardballequipment supplier, who is one of theleading on-line suppliers in the country,has leased approximately 34,000 sq. ft.at Midlink West to facilitate its growingbusiness.

Grandville – Glen De Young has joinedMidstate Security as a senior accountexecutive in sales. Kent Rice has joinedas the company's newest security con-sultant. Lewis Stallworth has joined asa sales consultant.

Grand Rapids – Signature Associateshas negotiated the following: the lease of10,108 sq. ft. of hi-tech office space at1575 Arboretum Drive SE in GrandRapids to Compliance Systems, Inc.; thelease of Mainstreet Group, LLC's 1,250 sq.ft. of industrial space at 7355 Clyde ParkAvenue SW in Byron Center to Otto BockOrthopedic Services; the lease of SouthHudsonville Self Storage's 3,000 sq. ft.of industrial space at 4322 CentralParkway in Hudsonville; the lease of3,000 sq. ft. at 1335 W. Main in Lowell toGrand River Orthodontics. Dr. HeatheryGietzen, DMD; the lease of WhiskeyRun, LLC's 1,920 sq. ft. of office space at27581 M-43 Highway in Mattawan toRepair Central; the lease of 7,138 sq. ft.of retail space in Woodland Mall at 319528th Street SE in Kentwood to VFOutdoor, Inc.; the sale of BosmaArchitect's 1,134 sq. ft. retail building at557 W. Western Avenue in Muskegon toWoody’s Deli; and the sale of 1.11 acresof retail land on 48th Street in FremonttoGawkowski Properties, LLC., the devel-opment arm of GNS Subways.

Grand Rapids – ORG West Michigan, anauthorized ORG dealer and specialist incustom closet and home organization,announced that its new showroom isnow open to the public and trade. Thenew 3,200 sq. ft. facility encompassesoffices, a design room and dedicatedshowroom space, located on the secondfloor of The Windquest Building at 201Monroe NW in downtown Grand Rapids.

Grand Rapids – Signature Associateshas negotiated the following: the lease of10,500 sq. ft. of industrial space at 4515Airwest in Grand Rapids to TABS WallSystems, LLC.; the sale of a 12,100 sq.ft. industrial building at 2830-2860Chicago Drive in Grandville to RW SpaceProperties, LLC.; the sale ofVanderplow Properties, LLC's 34,400sq. ft. industrial building at 2623 JarmanStreet in Muskegon to Quality Tool andStamp; the lease of 3,700 sq. ft. of officespace in Western MichiganUniversity's Business Technology &Research Park in Kalamazoo to Houston,TX-based Dynamic Engineering; thelease of WMU Trustees's 1,496 sq. ft. ofretail space at 911 S. Howard Street inKalamazoo to European Spas; and thesale of James E. Wall Trust's 21,000 sq.ft. retail building at 1300 Whitehall Roadin Muskegon to Darby, LLC.

Grand Rapids – Sears Architects, a bou-tique architecture and planning firm,received an honorable mention in theDowntown Alliance Downtown Awardsin the category of “Smaller Project, BigImpact” for the renovation of its store-front office at 16 Ionia Avenue SW. Thepreviously vacant 2,200 sq. ft. space wasbuilt by local contractor MatrixConstruction and furnished by localfurniture manufacturer ORG.

Grand Rapids – The West MichiganEnvironmental Action Council hasadded positions with gifts from theSteelcase Foundation and WegeFoundation. Nicholas Occhipinti hasbeen named the council’s new policy andcommunity activism director, whileDaniel Schoonmaker covers the newlycreated position of communications andmember services director.Lansing – This year, Hobbs+Black

Associates, Inc. celebrates 25 yearsproviding architectural and engineeringservices to clients in and aroundLansing.

Next Month Topics

Accounting/LegalBanking

Industrial Eqpt &Financing

ArchitectureGreen Building

Physical Therapy

To be involved call 616-583-1577

Communication & ITCommunication & IT BriefsGrand Rapids – Springthroughannounced the addition of developersBrian Steil, Nick LaVigne and JoeRivard. Marc Dion has also been addedas a core services manager, Ryan Malottas a core services technician and AshleyMessing as a receptionist. Dion will han-dle day-to-day management of client proj-ects and oversight of systems and soft-ware components. Malott will serve as atechnical consultant focusing on newsoftware and hardware technologies.

Lansing – The Department ofCommerce’s National Telecommunicationsand Information Administration hasawarded Connect Michigan approxi-mately $3 million in additional fundingunder the State Broadband Data andDevelopment Grant Program to furtherimplement broadband initiatives overthe original five-year award period.

Kalamazoo – California-based Autodeskis featuring Western MichiganUniversity as a "customer success story"in its promotional materials for the soft-ware that allows students to model cam-pus buildings for energy analysis reno-vations and retrofits.

Grand Rapids – CU*Answers recentlyannounced a new feature to automatewhat some refer to as “backdating” or“effective-dating.” The company has alsomade significant enhancements to theirexisting Effective-Dated AccountAdjustments feature and has recentlyannounced a series of options to improveprocesses in the CU*BASE system impact-ing Certificate product configurations.

Middlebury, VT and Midway, UT – eDOCInnovations recently teamed with theVermont credit union community to sup-port the March of Dimes. The CUSO alsoannounced that another Wisconsin-based credit union, Firefighters CreditUnion of La Crosse, recently implement-ed CheckLogic at two WI-area branches.

Grand Rapids – West Michigan-basedcredit union data processor CU*Answershas provided a new, easy-to-use promo-tional campaign software for credit unionmarketing teams to configure their ownpromo campaigns. Additionally, their 10.3version of CU*BASE includes the ability toautomatically generate member noticeswhen a member changes their Opt In/OptOut status.

Portage – Manatron, Inc., a globalleader in providing integrated propertytax and records management softwarefor state and local governments,announced that the City of Cape Town,South Africa is now utilizing the compa-ny’s GRM customCAMA software toassist with the process of assessingproperty value.

Madison, WI – TDS TelecommunicationsCorp. is teaming up with industry leadersTelrex and Broadsoft to add call record-ing and call center to its mix of communi-cations solutions with its TDS managedIPsystem.

Lansing – MyMACWellness.com haslaunched – a website providing local list-ings of free and low-cost exercise andphysical activity programs, as well as asection on nutrition. The website issearchable by region, and it links to afree, computerized health coach pro-duced by the Michigan Department ofCommunity Health where individualscan create a personal health plan.

Grand Rapids - Xtend, Inc., a GrandRapids, Michigan-based multi-ownedcooperative CUSO, announced that it hassurpassed the $1 million revenue markfor the first time its eight-year history.

22

How Can U.S. IncreaseExports? Look to Germany

By Dr. Chris Kuehl

Nobody doubts that the U.S. mustget better at exporting. Although there is“generic” support for the concept inCongress and from the public, when itcomes to specifics, the U.S. struggles.There was a call earlier in 2010 toincrease exports by 5 percent in the nextfew years, but there was nothing to sup-port that goal in subsequent speechesand Congressional action has actuallymade things worse.

Most Americans oppose free tradeand are convinced isolating the economybehind massive walls of protectionismwill solve the crisis. The average citizenthinks that the only nations that benefitfrom trade are those like China which hasadvantages such as low wage structure,lax safety and environmental laws and agovernment willing to manipulate curren-cy, establish trade barriers and stack thedeck in favor of its local companies.

People making this assumption havenot looked very closely at a nation that isfar more like the United States than anyof the developing nations – Germany. TheGermans are now the export masters ofEurope and keep that position despitehaving all the same disadvantages as theU.S.: They have high wages, a generoussystem of benefits, high taxes and strictenvironmental and safety laws. In mostrespects the Germans have more inhibi-tions than the U.S. when it comes to com-peting on the global stage.

Behavior of U.S. ConsumerForces Change

The German and U.S. economies have

become more similar since the beginning ofthe recession into the U.S. The biggestchange is in consumer behavior. U.S. com-panies never really had the need to seekout foreign business because the domesticconsumer was eager to purchase what wasoffered. German companies, however, didneed foreign business. Prior to the reces-sion, the U.S. consumer accounted for 70percent of the action in the economy, butthat number is slipping. It may drop to 65percent or even 60 percent by the end ofthe decade.

In Germany, the domestic consumeronly accounts for about 57 percent ofconsumption and is notoriously cautiouswhen it comes to buying. This has forcedGerman companies to seek markets else-where and they expanded to developedand developing nations alike.

The German economy is only abouta quarter of the size of the U.S. economy,but it exports more in the way of manu-factured goods and in more categories.The demand for high value Germanmachine tools and technology is wellknown, yet the Germans export con-sumer goods as well. It is not generallyappreciated in the U.S. that Germany pro-duces inexpensive goods that sell well inmarkets such as China, India, Brazil andelsewhere.

Consider Emulating GermanyAnalysts are divided as to what

makes the Germans effective at exports,but there are patterns (not unique toGerman culture) that win praise frommost observers.

Continued on page 23

23How Can U.S. Increase Exports?

Use Germany as a ModelContinued from page 22

Other nations can replicate thesepatterns, but it takes commitment fromboth political leaders and the generalpopulation.

The first factor is strong supportfrom the top. This may have begun in theU.S. with earlier statements fromPresident Obama that now must be rein-forced constantly. A significant amount oftime and energy must be spent engaginghigh level leaders in trade missions. Inthe case of Germany, Chancellor AngelaMerkel leads as many as two dozen trademissions a year focused on opening mar-kets to German companies. The U.S.leaves too many trade missions to collec-tions of business people who lack powerto change government policies. With theChancellor engaged, Germany can forcechange on trade policy at the highestlevel. President Obama’s approach hasbeen too distant when it comes to repre-senting U.S. interests.

The second factor is lack of commit-ment to trade promotion within the gov-ernment. The bulk of the U.S. economydepends on small and medium-sizedbusinesses. These companies provide themost jobs and often are the anchors oftheir communities. They also are thecompanies most challenged by trade.

The rest of the world only has to fig-ure out how to sell to the U.S. andEurope, but a U.S. company needs tograsp how to sell to more than 100nations. The U.S. Department ofCommerce and the various state agenciespromoting exports do a yeoman’s job, buttheir budgets are paltry compared to what

is spent in Germany, Japan or most othernations. Until the U.S. funds these agen-cies better, there will be limited progresson trade.

The third factor is America’s failureto back its strongest export sectors. TheGermans work diligently to support thepillars of their export economy. Theyestablish policies that focus on openingup the world market to the niche manu-facturing companies that often dominatetheir unique sectors.

The U.S. economy is a powerfulservice-based system and the exportpotential is huge. The U.S. has to betterprotect that industry with more attentionto intellectual property support, innova-tion and more aggressive attempts toovercome barriers. This is also key toexpanding manufacturing.

The barriers to U.S. activity in Chinaare absurd and essentially block the vastmajority of U.S. operations. However, theU.S. does very little to pry open that sys-tem. The Germans have not been nearlyso accommodating and know that Chinaneeds what they have. If the Chinesewant access to Germany, access must begranted in return.

U.S. Must Change AttitudeToward Trade

One of the most important differ-ences between the U.S. and Germany isthe attitude that exists toward trade. TheGermans unite behind the notion ofexport and import. The government,business community and workers all seetheir future in global business and theywork for a common purpose more oftenthan not.

The U.S. attitude is deeply divided as

evidenced by the polls showing that fully70 percent of Americans think that tradehas been bad for the U.S. economy. TheGermans know their future lies in theworld market and they cooperate inreaching their common goals. The U.S.,on the other hand, rips itself apart overthe issue and leaves everybody poorer inthe process.

Lastly, Germans are much morefocused and aggressive on trade and theyexploit their advantages. The U.S. hedgesbetween protectionism and capitulation.At the same time that Americans areangry at China over its export centeredpolicies and currency manipulation, thereaction of business and the governmentis cautious and diffident.

The U.S. waffles and threatens, butbacks down when China talks of trade

restrictions. The Germans consistentlycall the Chinese bluff and they are doingit again over the currency issue. TheGermans shot back and listed the hun-dreds of products – critical to China’seconomy -- that they would stop send-ing if China imposed barriers againstGermany. The reaction from Beijing wascapitulation and a toning down of therhetoric.

r. Chris Kuehl is economic analystfor the Fabricators & ManufacturersAssociation, International (FMA) andmanaging partner of Armada CorporateIntelligence. Dr. Kuehl is the author ofFabrinomics™, a biweekly economicanalysis e-newsletter for members of theFMA. For more information go tofmanet.org/fabrinomics.

24

Michigan Plastic Manufacturer Extends Operations Grand Rapids – A new tax break

approved in late October boosted theshare of Hodsonville's tax base that'sbeing discounted to support businessgrowth and employment to almost 4percent. Of Hudsonville's $243.9 mil-lion in total taxable value, about $9.7million is being abated. A 50 percenttax break was extended to RoyalTechnologies Corp. on $3.4 millionworth of equipment. Royal molds visualand functional parts for the office furni-ture, automotive and consumer prod-ucts industries. While the tax break willgo to support their equipment at theHudsonville location, Royal is not onlysetting its sights on improving itsMichigan manufacturing, butAlabama’s as well.

In early 2009, Royal announced

plans to construct a new manufacturingfacility to serve the company’s growingcustomer base in the Southeast andprovide for new opportunities to contin-ue to grow business. The company pur-chased 26.6 acres in Cullman County,Alabama and began construction of anew 200,000-square-foot facility. Theproject is a $30 million five-year invest-ment that should not only create newopportunities for Royal, but for the res-idents of Cullman County.

The community of 80,000 locatedbetween Birmingham and Huntsville innorthern Alabama welcomed theRoyal’s presence. It had beenannounced late Feburary 2010 that the100,000-square-foot VF Jeanswear dis-tribution center in Holly Pond was clos-ing down after more than 25 years of

operation. Around 150 jobs were lost,and the announcement came on theheels of numerous other local layoffsfor the county. Unemployment wasexpected to reach double digits as 2010moved forward.

However, in September it wasreported that the latest statistics placedCullman County’s unemployment wellbelow the state average of 9.7 percentwith their numbers dropping a full per-centage point from April to July. Localofficials cited Royal Technologies pres-ence along with the ramping up of otherlocal production lines as the reason forthe improvement. Royal Technologiescould not be reached for comment, but ithas been reported that production forthe Alabama facility was anticipated toramp up as early as September of this

year with an initial group of 35 employ-ees. Royal president Jim Vander Kolksaid that number could rise to around200 in a year, 300 within two years.Throughout the construction process fortheir new facility, the company made aneffort to use local contractors from theCullman area in addition working withthe Alabama Career Center for job place-ment and partnering with the communi-ty college Wallace State in Hanceville.

As production begins to ramp up atthe new facility and Royal expands itsmarket throughout the Southeast, newbusiness opportunities will not onlyhelp the Alabama communities, butMichigan’s as well. Royal currentlyemployees around 800 workers in itsoperations near Grand Rapids.

Armstrong Receives ASPE Industry Innovation Award

Grand Rapids – The Right Place,Inc., The Michigan EconomicDevelopment Corporation (MEDC), andlocal economic partners announced theplanned expansion of two WestMichigan companies that are expectedto create 545 new jobs and $11.4 mil-lion in capital investment.

Dematic Corp., designer and man-ufacturer of material handling systems,plans to invest approximately $10.9million and create 505 new jobs overthe next five years. The company’sexpansion plans target building reno-vations to an existing facility on itscampus located on Plymouth AvenueN.E. in Grand Rapids. The new knowl-edge-based positions will focus onengineering, sales, research, adminis-trative support and production.

The Right Place’s business devel-opment team, led by vice president of

business development Susan Jackson,provided planning and expansionassistance to Dematic Corp. throughoutthe project. Building the business casefor Grand Rapids, Jackson assembled across-functional team of expertsincluding members from The City ofGrand Rapids and the MEDC to supportDematic Corp. through the company’sevaluation and expansion process.

Utilizing MEGA’s High-Tech TaxCredit program, Dynamic CaptioningLLC, provider of captioning and sub-titling services, also plans to invest:$554,000 to create 40 new jobs overthe next five years. From a newly-leased facility on Foremost Drive SE inGrand Rapids, the company will pro-vide captioning services for full-lengthmotion pictures, music videos andtranslation services for television com-mercials and industrial training videos.

Three Rivers – ArmstrongInternational has received the covetedIndustry Innovation Award from theAmerican Society of PlumbingEngineers (ASPE) for The Brain® –Model DRV80 digital mixing valve. Theaward is given to companies that have

developed technology solutions thathave revolutionized the plumbingindustry. Armstrong received the awardduring ASPE’s national convention heldin Philadelphia in November.

The Brain™ Model DRV80 has thou-sands of successful installations and is

the basis for design at some of theworld’s largest and most prestigioushotel chains, retirement communities andconsulting plumbing engineering firms.

Armstrong introduced the first elec-tronic Brain in 2005 and has sinceexpanded its digital technology plat-

form. Most recently, Armstrong dis-played an ASSE 1070 compliant digitalhands free six-outlet valve for lavatoriesand a 1016 compliant version for show-ers. Certification testing is in process.

The Right Place Brings 545New Jobs to West Michigan

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25

MI Steel Company Bucks Declining Growth TrendsGrand Rapids – An October 26 ABC

News report recently stated that, "Thesteel industry's global outlook hasdimmed with the unevenness of theglobal economy – and tougher times areahead." The people at Mill Steel wanteveryone to know: "Don't believe every-thing you hear."

Mill Steel Co. is one of the largestflat-rolled steel distributors in the nation.In order to support its rapid growth, theyrecently announced a number of person-nel changes and newly acquired assets.For this Michigan-based company, busi-ness is growing strong.

In late October, Mill Steel announcedthe promotion of two executives and theaddition of executive and sales supportin key U.S. markets. Eric Lambert, chieffinancial officer, was promoted to seniorvice president and chief operating officerwhile he retains the CFO title. CarlQuenneville, vice president, sales, waspromoted to senior vice president andchief commercial officer while PamHeglund, sales manager, was promotedto vice president, sales. Tom Rosser,most recently vice president of businessdevelopment for Commerce City, CO-based R&M Asset Solutions, was namedvice president for the southern region inmid-September.

"We're tremendously excited aboutthe team we've put together to lead ustowards new growth," said Mill SteelPresident and CEO David S. Samrick.

"We're quickly growing in one of thetoughest markets we've seen in decades,and we've made solid commitments toretain and advance our leadership posi-tion in several markets. The promotionsand new hires are an important part ofthat commitment."

Mill Steel is certainly bucking thedeclining growth trends. During the lasttwo years, Mill Steel has doubled itssales volume and anticipates furthergrowth this year as it expands its busi-ness in building products, automotive,appliance and other markets.

"The key to success for nearly anyorganization is getting the right peopleon board," Samrick said. "We know thatwe've got the right team to drive us tothe top."

In early Feburary of this year, MillSteel expanded its product breadth andgeographic presence with the acquisi-tion of certain assets of Coated SteelCorp (CSC), a Birmingham, AL-basedsupplier of acrylic and pre-painted gal-valume and galvanized flat-rolled steel.Terms of the deal were not disclosed,but Mill Steel will continue operating theformer assets as Coated Steel Co., andthe company's leadership team willremain in place. Mill Steel expects tocreate as many as 30 new sales and pro-duction jobs at its 120,000 sq. ft.Birmingham processing facility duringthe next year and plans to increase itsexisting Birmingham production capa-

bility in the next few months with theinstallation of a new, 72-inch slitter andpackaging line. The strategic acquisitionwill support Mill Steel's growing auto-motive, home appliance, HVAC and con-struction business in the southeasternUnited States and Mexico.

Mill Steel Chairman and CEO DavidS. Samrick said the acquisition is amutually beneficial transaction for MillSteel and the customers of CSC: "We areexcited to add the former management ofCSC to our team, and look forward toworking with them to continue buildingour reputation for delivering first-ratecustomer service and quality steel prod-ucts across the United States, Canadaand Mexico."

"Mill Steel has a long history ofoperational excellence," said CoatedSteel's Al Walker. "The former CSC com-mercial team is excited to join that tradi-tion and looks forward to expanding our

respective businesses together."The new Birmingham, AL location

will allow Mill Steel to enhance its serv-ice to a growing base of existing cus-tomers across a broad range of marketsin the southeast U.S. and Mexico, as wellas boost its technical support to cus-tomers in the regions. The acquisitionalso ensures that CSC will be able to sup-port larger customers by leveraging MillSteel's size and service capabilities.

Based in Grand Rapids, Mill Steelcelebrated its 50th year in business lastyear and has been ranked as one of thebest places to work in Michigan. In2008, it received the prestigious nation-al Alfred P. Sloan Award for businessexcellence in workplace flexibility by theU.S. Chamber of Commerce and theTwiga Foundation. The company contin-ues to practice its history of excellenceas it grows to meet the needs of anexpanding customer base.

Green Energy Project toCreate 63 New Jobs

Fenton – Creative Foam, whichdesigns and manufactures cellular andnon-cellular foams and plastics for cus-tomers in the automotive and medicalindustries, has received a $362,386 taxcredit from the Michigan EconomicGrowth Authority (MEGA) board toexpand their manufacturing of machinedcore materials comprised of their com-posite materials to supply the renewableenergy market.

“The automotive and medicalindustries continue to be a very impor-tant part of our business. However,we’re also glad to bring new industriesto Michigan,” said Wayne Blessing, CEOand president of Creative FoamCorporation. “The tax credits awardedto Creative Foam means that we canexpand into new and exciting markets

such as wind energy. We thank theMEGA Board, the city of Fenton and theGenesee Regional Chamber ofCommerce for their support of ourMichigan expansion plans.”

Creative Foam was notified of thefive-year tax credit during the Tuesday,Oct. 26 MEGA board meeting inLansing. The MEGA board providesrefundable tax credits against theMichigan Business Tax to companiesexpanding or relocating their operationsin Michigan. Creative Foam plans toinvest $1.5 million and create 63 newjobs over the next five years to supporttheir growth in producing high tolerancecomposite foam cores and specializedprocessing equipment for wind turbineblades. The company currently employs366 workers in Michigan.

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Industrial BriefsZeeland – Gentex Corporation (commer-cial fire protection products and dimmableaircraft windows) announced that it isshipping interior base feature auto-dim-ming mirrors for the new RenaultLatitude. This is the first program Gentexhas had with the French automaker.

Holland – LeanLogistics welcomed itsfirst Canadian client, Air Canada, to itsgrowing base of international clients. Inthis new strategic partnership, AirCanada will leverage the LeanLogisticsOn-Demand TMS® to improve visibilityand performance in its cargo service,carrier and customer communication aswell as implement event notifications.The company will also deployWebSettle® for pre-payment audits andautomatic freight payments.

Luxembourg – Sam Martin (65), COO ofSAF-HOLLAND Group and president ofthe American subsidiary SAF-HOLLANDInc., will resign from his operating activ-ities at the end of 2010 at his ownrequest. He will remain available to thecompany to help insure a smooth transi-tion in leadership. He is expected to benominated to join the board of directorsat the company’s annual general meetingon 28 April 2011. His responsibilities inthe management board will be re-distrib-uted and the board will also be reduced insize. Jack Gisinger (62) will succeedMartin as president of the American sub-sidiary SAF-HOLLAND and will take uphis new position as of January 2, 2011.At the same time, Detlef Borghardt (48)will assume the position of deputy CEO ofthe entire Group and will take over theresponsibility for strategic planning. TheCOO function will therefore be dropped inthe future.

Detroit – The Detroit District has award-ed a contract for installation of a newobservation deck and fencing at the SooLocks in Sault Ste. Marie. The improve-ments are part of the Soo Locks FacilitiesMaster Plan, a long-range strategy forpreserving the historic character and nat-ural beauty of the Soo Locks facilities siteand for promoting sustainable develop-ment on the site. The $2,050,000 con-tract was awarded to NomadConstruction, Inc., of Sault Ste. Marie - asmall business. The new deck will havetwo elevated viewing platforms, new lightfixtures and a ramp to the lower level forincreased accessibility.

Kalmazoo – With a long record of workin the pharmaceutical and high-puritychemical industries, Houston-basedDynamic Engineering has opened itsoffice in Michigan at Western MichiganUniversity's Business Technology andResearch Park.

Muskegon – Goodwill Industries ofWest Michigan recently hired JosephDoyle as the nonprofit agency’s newworkforce development director.

Battle Creek – In recognition of his manyyears of hard work to foster internation-al relations between west Michigan andJapan, the Japan America Society ofWest Michigan announced that it hon-ored Dr. Soga’s lifetime of achievements.

Kalamazoo – As Zeigler AutomotiveGroup continues its growth, the groupwill create 200 new jobs, of which over100 will be located in Kalamazoo. Inaddition, new dealerships will be con-structed and existing dealership proper-ties will be expanded.

Holland - Trendway Corporationannounced that the Pack Collection,Choices and Contrada panel systems, allTrendway filing and storage products,TrendWall Flooring Solution, TrendWalland TrendWall Clear have achievedIndoor Advantage™ Gold indoor airquality certification from SCS (ScientificCertification Systems). A key compo-nent of a healthy building is highindoor air quality. SCS IndoorAdvantage™ Gold certification requiresthat products fall within the toughestlimits for indoor emissions of air pollu-tants. Based on peer-reviewed science,SCS's Indoor Advantage™ Gold ensuresfull compliance with California Section01350, North America's strictest indoorair emission criteria. This ensures thatcertified products contribute to a saferand healthier indoor environment incommercial buildings such as officesand schools.

Holland – Dan Kuipers and KyleDenning have started a new company,Sustainable Energy Financing, LLC(SEF) and are now acquiring their formercompany Viability, a wholly owned sub-sidiary of Viability Ventures. The acqui-sition includes Viability Africa, whichDenning co-founded with Ventures whilestill an employee there. SEF focuses onpromoting project financing and financialadvisory services for renewable energyprojects throughout the world. Thefounders have also started the MidwestSolar Aggregation Group, which willfocus in advancing the use of Solar PVtechnology through the use of market-based financial incentives.

Washington DC – The Fuel Cell andHydrogen Energy Associationannounced that Pete Barkey has beennamed communications director. Barkeywill play a vital role as the organizationincreases efforts to raise awareness of fuelcells and hydrogen as integral componentsof the world’s clean energy portfolio.

Holland – Trendway made a first appear-ance in the LA Mart Design Center,located at the heart of Los Angeles'sFurniture and Decorative Arts District.Lauded designer Dale Blumenthal, IIDA,CID, DesignWorkPlace, Inc., collaborat-ed with the Trendway team to design the2,500 sq. ft., long, narrow, angular spaceto showcase Trendway's furniture func-tionality.

Lancaster, PA – The new Saturn™ 140and Saturn™ 230 waste-oil furnacesbring the potential for energy savings tosmaller shop and garage owners world-wide. Customizable to meet specificheating needs, these efficient units fea-ture an advanced burner design, fastinstallation and easy maintenance. The300-pound Saturn 140 features a maxi-mum BTU input of 140,000 and an out-put of 110,000 BTU consuming a maxi-mum of one gallon of used oil per hour.The larger 450-pound Saturn 230 fea-tures a maximum BTU input of 230,000and an output of 180,000 BTU consum-ing a maximum of 1.6 gallons of used oilper hour. Both units feature the Saturn100 burner, have metering fuel pumpsand can operate on 115 volts, 60 Hz witha 20A circuit breaker. A smart controlfeatures auto-restart technology for safe,reliable ignitions.

26

New Jobs & Expansion forPlastics Producer

Beaverton – Saint-GobainPerformance Plastics Corp. will invest$9.1 million at its Beaverton, MI facilityto accommodate growth in its medicalproducts operations.

Company executives were notimmediately available to discuss plansfor the site, but the Michigan EconomicDevelopment Corp. said in a Sept. 14news release that the work will includecreation of 25-61 jobs there. The stateapproved a $324,000 tax credit over

seven years to encourage the company toexpand in Michigan, and the city is alsoconsidering tax abatements.

The Beaverton plant is part of Saint-Gobain’s biopharmaceutical group ofproducts and extrudes tubing and otherparts for the medical industry. The com-pany, with North American headquartersin Valley Forge, recently announced ithas expanded its line of Pure-Fit SC tub-ing, which is made in Beaverton, toinclude a 1-inch size.

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Grand Rapids – MarCom Awardsannounced winners for the 2010 inter-national awards competition that recog-nizes outstanding creative achievementby marketing and communication pro-fessionals. There were almost 5,000entries from throughout the UnitedStates, Canada and several other coun-tries in the 2010 competition. WGVUreceived three MarCom Awards: GoldAward for “LZ Michigan” in the mar-keting/promotion campaign/specialevent category; Platinum Award for“WGVU Showplace Guide” in thebrochure category; Honorable Mentionfor “WGVU – LZ Michigan Program” inthe brochure category.

West Michigan – The Better BusinessBureau of Western Michigan announcedthat the 2010 Integrity Award winningcompanies are: Above Roofing(Hudsonville) - Robert Freeman, presi-dent; Leaves Personal Care Services,LLC (Cascade) - Vicki Smit, owner;Swonk’s Flower Shop, Inc. (BattleCreek) - Jeannette Schmid, president.Criteria for the award are based on overallethical standards, community involve-ment, employee training, truthful adver-tising and overall honesty and integrity.

Chicago, IL – TalentDrive, the creator ofthe online resume search engineTalentFilter, has appointed JeffTomaszewski as the company’s chieftechnology officer. Tomaszewski mostrecently served as a technology lead man-ager at Allstate Insurance Company.

Minneapolis, MN – Grocery ShoppingNetwork announced the addition ofJennifer Flanagan and Robert Mews aseMarketing managers to the firm’s digi-tal marketing team as well as the addi-tion of Jon Fischler and MeganTregedar as web, content, and UIdesigners to the firm’s creative team.

Grand Rapids – American RV is one ofthe top 50 RV dealers in North America,according to RV Magazine’s annual rank-ings. The rankings, judged by an inde-pendent panel of industry leaders, arebased on customer service and satisfac-tion, employee training and education,strategic planning and current initiatives.

Indianapolis and Danville, IL – WatchfireDigital Outdoor became the industry’sfirst digital billboard manufacturer to sur-pass 100 customers with the installationof nine 19mm digital billboards in allmajor highways feeding into GrandRapids: M-6, US-131 and US-196.

Grand Rapids – Lambert, Edwards &Associates announced the addition ofKristie Burns as director within thefirm’s consumer products practice. Burnswill serve several of the firm’s key localand national brand consumer clients.

Grand Rapids – Greatland announcedthey have launched a newly updatedversion of the company’s Winfiler soft-ware. Winfiler is a complete reportingsoftware that helps individuals generateand e-file.

Grand Rapids – As it enters its secondcentury of service, The Humane Societyof Kent County unveiled its new name,The Humane Society of WestMichigan, as well as a new logo andtagline, “Giving animals a voice.”

Dearborn – News from MichiganEmerging conference: Mike andMarian Ilitch were announced asIndividual Catalyst Award winners andUniversity Research Cooridorreceived the Group Catalyst Award fortheir success with The MichiganNeonatal Biobank. CYJ Enterprizeswon a Tweet award for submitting aTwitter posting focused on their busi-ness product e-CYREN.

Grand Rapids – BL2END held theirNovember event in Caledonia, MI focusingon professional development. The eventwas hosted and sponsored byFarmers/Foremost Insurance and fea-tured Birgit Klohs, president & CEO ofThe Right Place, Inc. BL2END (BusinessLeaders Linked to Encourage NewDirections) is a grassroots organizationfocused on creating monthly event oppor-tunities for young professionals of colorbetween the ages of 21 to 35.

Grand Rapids – Public relations andinvestor relations firm Lambert,Edwards & Associates announced thelaunch of its new CLEAN specialty, afirm-wide focus dedicated to acceleratingthe impact of environmentally-friendlybusinesses and initiatives.

Spring Lake – Bobbie Twa welcomesShelley Appel as a career coach andfacilitator with Changing Directions,an employment transition and careercoaching company. Shelley comes witha strong manufacturing backgroundand a decade of experience leading anational nonprofit agency that trainedand equipped hundreds of churcheswith a holistic, faith based approach tolife change.

Grand Rapids – Kentwood OfficeFurniture announced that LauraHopson has joined the company as vicepresident of sales and marketing in theGrand Rapids office. Hopson has exten-sive experience in developing and imple-menting marketing and sales strategiesand directing account teams.

Grand Rapids – The Grand RapidsExpress Employment Professionalsoffice announced it is now a specializedrecruiting group location.

Plano, TX – Smith System, a school fur-niture innovator, has expanded its salesforce with the addition of Mark Coffmanfrom Grandville as regional sales man-ager. Coffman will help school districts insix Midwestern states.

Kentwood – Big Boy RestaurantsInternational LLC opened the doors toits newest restaurant, located inKentwood. The new Big Boy Restaurant

is an approximately 3,500 square-foot,in-line restaurant prototype that servesup all of the classic Big Boy charm, whilebringing a new layout, enhanced menuand jobs to the Grand Rapids area. “Thisnew, smaller restaurant model is really areturn to our Big Boy roots, offering ourmuch-loved Big Boy brand and classicdiner elements in a refreshed setting,”said Keith Sirois, President and CEO ofBig Boy Restaurants International LLC.“We’re excited to launch this new con-cept in the Grand Rapids market, whichBig Boy has been proud to serve formore than 45 years.” The restaurant,which opened on Monday, November 22,2010, is located at 3122 28th Street S.E.and is the 12th Big Boy location in thegreater Grand Rapids market. To date,this restaurant has created more than 50new local jobs, primarily fulltime crewpositions along with select management-level and part-time roles.

Corporate Information 27

CofCoffee of the Monthfee of the MonthEthiopian Yirgacheffe Fair Trade Organic

This longberry heirloom variety is wet processed and from the YirgacheffeCoffee Farmers Cooperative Union located in Gedeo in Southern Ethiopia.The co-op farms over 62,000 hectares in one of the most famous coffee

growing regions in all of Africa. The coffee has a floral aroma with lemonycitrus notes and it hints of grapes and plumbs in the background. Thebody is velvety smooth and the flavor fades to a spicy dark chocolate.

Stop by the roastery on Saturdays from 10:00am – 3:00pm at the corner of Hall & Godfrey. Enter off Hall Street and go to the back of

the building. Look for the South Entrance - Dock #4 sign and proceed upthe wooden stairs to the 5th floor Suite S-530. There you will find

us small-batch custom roasting premium beans from around the world. Inaddition, you are invited to look over our coffee & chocolate lovers gift bas-

kets, loose-leaf teas, milk chocolate covered blueberries, dark chocolatecovered espresso beans and other items for sale. We always have fresh

roasted brewed coffee to sample along with espresso shots at no charge.

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Grand Rapids Coffee Roasters LLC1111 Godfrey Avenue SW Ste S530

Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Craig A. Patterson • 616-308-7753Free delivery on 5lbs or more within Grand Rapids Area