Business

Business
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1993-2014
u b l i c a t i o n
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Cover Story:
Aging over the Years with
Gerontology Network
Inside Features
Inside Features
Physical Therapy
Legal Education
Engineering
Lodging
Banking
January 2014 $2.00
Report on State Universities Documents Efficiency
at Ferris State University
Big Rapids Since 2001, Ferris State
University has been the most efficient
state university in restraining overall
costs per student according to a recent
report released by the Michigan House
Fiscal Agency. The report, State
Appropriations, Tuition, and Public
University Operating Costs, was pre-
pared by Kyle I. Jen, deputy director of the
House Fiscal Agency. It examined state
funding reductions, tuition levels and
higher education operating costs since
2000.
During this 13-year period, Ferris
experienced the greatest decline in state
appropriations per student at 38.6 per-
cent, an average of 3.7 percent less sup-
port each year. At the same time, Ferris
had an increase in total resources per stu-
dent (appropriations plus tuition) of 36
percent or an average of 2.4 percent per
year. Since 2001, the university grew at a
rate of 2.6 percent per year in terms of
full-time student enrollment, while its
annualized total resources per-student
grew 2.4 percent. Ferris was the only one
of the states 15 public universities whose
combined rate of state support and tuition
was less than its rate of student growth.
In presenting the findings of this
report to the universitys Board of
Trustees, President David Eisler noted, It
is very gratifying to see an objective
review of state universities reflect the
work we have put into constraining costs.
We have made difficult decisions over the
past decade to implement efficiencies and
absorb state funding reductions rather
than putting that burden on our stu-
dents.
The HFA report shows that Ferris over-
came two different hurdles in constraining
its costs while growing its mission.
First, the report documents that
Ferris annual increase in cost per student
was 2.4 percent, well below the national
indicator of Higher Education Price Index
of 3 percent, and very close to the
Consumer Price Index rate of 2.3 percent.
By contrast the average for all public uni-
versities was a percent above the CPI and
a half-percentage point above the HEPI.
Second, Ferris is one of seven
Michigan public universities with unfund-
ed liabilities under the Michigan Public
School Employees Retirement Systems.
The report notes that the seven MPSERS
universities will pay 13.41 percent for
their MPSERS employees in addition to
payroll of non-MPSERS staff and part-
time employees. In his testimony to the
Michigan House Appropriations
Subcommittee on Higher Education this
past March, Eisler noted that Ferris
returned 21.6 percent of its state appro-
priations to cover MPSERS costs.
Ferris State Universitys ability to
constrain costs for its students has come
about as a result of a university-wide
effort to keep a Ferris education afford-
able for our students, Eisler said. While
we will continue to face challenges, this
report shows that our university has cre-
ated a culture of fiscal responsibility that
is good for our students, and the state as
a whole.
2
Cooley Law School, a Local Resource for
Legal Education
By Jane Whittington
Heres a question: whats the largest
law school in the country? That would be
the Thomas M. Cooley Law School,
founded 40 years ago in Lansing, and
now occupying a total of five campuses,
including one in Grand Rapids, which
has been here for ten years. The others
are in Lansing, Ann Arbor, Auburn Hills
and Tampa Bay, Florida. Total student
enrollment is about 2,500 with close to
380 in Grand Rapids.
Cooley Law School Grand Rapids is
located in the Heartside District in a five-
story law center which features a law
library as well as a computer lab/elec-
tronic classroom, four 100-seat class-
rooms, two courtrooms, many smaller
classrooms, five distance education
classrooms, seven group study rooms, a
student lounge and offices for student
services, student organizations, faculty
and administration.
Cooley renovated the H.H. Cutler
Building and replaced the former Durfee
Building; the facility is an aesthetically
pleasing blend of old and new.
Michigan has five law schools: The
University of Michigan, Wayne State
University, University of Detroit Mercy
and Michigan State University join
Cooley on the list.
According to Nelson P. Miller,
Associate Dean at the Grand Rapids
Campus, Cooley is unique in many ways.
For one thing, the majority of our students
(about 80 percent) are part-time. For that
reason, we offer classes on evenings and
weekends, and our students can take
classes year-round. Because of our
weekend class offerings, we have some
students who commute here from some
distance to take weekend classes and then
return home during the week. Many of
our students continue to work, either
part-time or full-time, while they are
attending Cooley. The median age of stu-
dents attending law school is about 25 or
26, but Cooleys average age skews a bit
higher at 27. Some of our students are
going into the profession as a second
career.
He continues, We are also unique
in that we are focused on practice as
opposed to theory. We are lawyers teach-
ing lawyers. Thats unusual; most law
schools have academics teaching
lawyers. Our faculty members average 8-
10 years of actual practice in the profes-
sion. During the first two years, our stu-
dents are always taught by professors
who have actually practiced law. During
the third year, they are often taught by
adjunct faculty who are currently practic-
ing law.
As the largest law school in the
country, Cooley is able to offer more
campuses, more faculty and more cours-
es than some more traditional law
schools.
Miller says, Here in Grand Rapids,
we offer more than 100 courses with
classes in military law, healthcare and
healthcare legislation law and agriculture
law, courses which are often not available
at other schools. We have a whole pro-
gram in homeland security. Of course,
these are in addition to the traditional
course work that every law school offers.
Typically, it is during the third year that
students decide what area of law they will
practice, so that year offers a number of
electives to help them make the right deci-
sion.
Once students complete law school,
they must pass the bar exam. Students
take a national test as well as a state
exam. Each state has its own individual
bar exam, and students are licensed to
practice only in states in which they have
passed the bar.
Students, faculty and staff at Cooley
Law School are deeply invested in the
community. Their Center for Ethics,
Service and Professionalism was found-
ed to model and teach ethics, foster and
encourage service, practice professional-
ism and commit to local communities. To
this end, they offer a legal assistance
center which consults with over 15,000
people yearly and offers free legal aid.
Miller says, Our students believe in
community service. Besides their work at
the legal assistance center, they volun-
teer at places like Mel Trotter, DeGage,
the Veterans Administration and other
community organizations.
In the works is a partnership with
Western Michigan University to affiliate
with that institution. Once that is
approved, the entity will be known as
Western Michigan University Thomas M.
Cooley Law School. While there may be
some courses offered in Kalamazoo,
there are no plans to establish a new
Cooley campus there.
According to the Bureau of Labor
Statistics, the unemployment rate for
layers is 1.4 percent. In Michigan, it is
slightly higher at 2.1 percent. But Miller
points out that the average age of
lawyers currently in practice is 53 and,
due to the recent recession, there are
fewer graduates so the employment pic-
ture in Michigan should become even
stronger as the economy continues to
improve.
Asked about the most important
attributes for those who succeed in the
legal field, Miller says, The best lawyers
are those who have a passion for
engagement and communication. They
care whats going on in the world and in
their communities. The finest lawyers
understand that law is a service profes-
sion, and they have a desire to help oth-
ers.
Jane Whittington is a freelance
writer and editor who lives in Grand
Rapids.
3
Grand Valley State Provides Jobs and Economic Stability
Allendale - A report by the
Anderson Economic Group shows
Michigans public universities provide
jobs to more than 120,000 people and
spur nearly $24 billion in economic
activity in the state.
The report, commissioned by the
Presidents Council, State Universities of
Michigan, shows Grand Valley State
University employs nearly 2,400, is
responsible for another 1,382 jobs, and
provides a tremendous economic boost
to the counties in which it has campuses.
The report looks at payroll and non-
payroll spending, university spending
and student spending. The non-payroll
spending for Grand Valley looks at areas
like construction, research and athletics.
That totals nearly $158 million spent in
Michigan, $178 million spent in total.
The student spending includes
items like room and board, books,
clothes and their off-campus meals and
entertainment. That totals more than
$330 million.
According to this AEG report, Grand
Valley is responsible for a $1.2 billion
economic footprint as part of the $24 bil-
lion total for all universities.
The report contains a complete
county-by-county breakdown of eco-
nomic activity.
This report illustrates how impor-
tant and relevant universities are to the
states overall economic health, Grand
Valley President Thomas J. Haas said.
Grand Valley and all of Michigans fine
public universities give a remarkable
return on investment to the people of
this state. We also create economic
opportunities and the talent that con-
tribute to the vitality of our communi-
ties.
Other notable findings:
Michigan has the 6th highest
enrollment in public universities in the
nation;
There are 1.3 million public uni-
versity alumni living in Michigan, earn-
ing $47 billion in salaries and wages in
2012;
Public universities bring 121,000
jobs to the state; compared to the
150,000 jobs in automobile manufactur-
ing in Michigan.
Grand Valley State University, one
of the 100 largest universities in the
nation, attracts more than 24,000 stu-
dents with high-quality programs and
state-of-the-art facilities. Grand Valley is
a comprehensive university serving stu-
dents from all 83 Michigan counties and
dozens of other states and foreign coun-
tries. Grand Valley offers 82 undergrad-
uate and 31 graduate degree programs
from campuses in Allendale, Grand
Rapids and Holland, and from regional
centers in Muskegon and Traverse City.
The university is dedicated to individual
student achievement, going beyond the
traditional classroom experience, with
research opportunities and business
partner.
Aging over the Years with Gerontology Network
By Jennifer Feuerstein
At 93 years old, Elbert Lyles refuses
to slow down, stay home or give in to old
age. He has been volunteering with
Gerontology Network for 26 years as a
Senior Companion to visit lonely and iso-
lated seniors. When asked why he wont
retire he says theres no time for that.
Staying home and inactive is not an
option for this senior citizen on the go.
Lyles story of aging well is what
Gerontology Network is all about. For 35
years Gerontology Network has been pro-
viding health, wellness and enrichment
services to make the golden years a posi-
tive and productive stage of life. Lyles is
just one of thousands of people impacted
by the diverse programs of Gerontology
Network since it started caring for the eld-
erly in 1979. The programs and servic-
es have evolved since then, and now as it
celebrates its 35 year anniversary,
Gerontology Networks mission remains
the same to keep seniors independent
in the community and improve their qual-
ity of life.
Gerontology Networks story began
when Kent County Community Mental
Health saw the need to offer mental health
services for the elderly. At that time, few
services existed to care for the aged.
Gerontology Network came to be as a result
of that vision to serve vulnerable older
adults. Today, mental health care contin-
ues to be a core service of Gerontology
Network, to provide treatment for older
adults with mental illness, substance abuse
and other co-occurring disorders.
About a year later, the scope of
Gerontology Networks programs expand-
ed into volunteer opportunities for older
adults. The volunteer programs not only
recognize the need for seniors to give
back to the community but to help others
in need. Besides the Senior Companion
program Lyles is involved with,
Gerontology Network offers four other
programs for volunteers to mentor and
tutor kids from birth to age 21.
Seniors have so much time, talent,
wisdom and love to give back to our chil-
drenour future, says Rev. Peggy
Lawrence Burns, Vice President of volun-
teer programs at Gerontology Network,
who has been with the organization for
24 years. Our volunteer programs are
one of the ways we can enhance the qual-
ity of life for older adults.
These programs have received local
and national recognition for the impact
theyre making in changing the lives of
children. The older adult volunteers are
involved in different ways whether help-
ing students learn to read, providing life
skills for at-risk teens or working in
classrooms with special needs children.
The social model of bringing seniors
together for recreational activities and
caring for their physical needs was creat-
ed through Gerontology Networks adult
day services in. The Friendship Place was
born and eventually renamed CareTree, as
a program of Gerontology Network, which
provides adult day services at two loca-
tions in Grand Rapids. For family care-
givers who work full-time jobs or need a
break from the demands of caregiving,
CareTree provides a safe, active and fun
environment for seniors to spend the day.
For caregivers, this kind of support can
mean the difference between keeping a
loved one living at home or ending up in
a nursing facility.
As technology emerged in the early
90s, Gerontology Networks Life
Connections Plus program did as well to
provide home safety solutions to keep sen-
iors independent at home. When Life
Connections was established it was impos-
sible to imagine the innovative ways tech-
nology would offer security for seniors.
With a number of products offered,
Life Connections Plus has made an impact
across the entire state of Michigan with
personal emergency response service and
medication dispensers. The technology
services offer in-home prescription dis-
pensing and personal emergency buttons
to call for immediate help for seniors who
fall in their homes and need assistance.
And as technology further advances,
Gerontology Network is working on pro-
viding PERS with GPS. With the GPS
technology, people with dementia who
wander off will be found much more eas-
ily. And falls that occur outside the home
can be responded to immediately.
As a leader in aging services for over
three decades, Gerontology Network has
brought many needed options into West
Michigan to keep seniors independent.
As the wave of baby boomers enter their
encore years, the need for services and
programs will only continue to increase.
Since that time many years ago when the
vision was mapped out to help vulnerable
older adults, Gerontology Network has
evolved and grown to achieve it. And
years from now when the last of the baby
boomers are in their golden years, and
our society shifts to be senior-centered,
Gerontology Network will inevitably be
celebrating more anniversaries of provid-
ing exceptional care for better aging.
Jennifer Feuerstein is a freelance
writer and senior advocate.
4
Publisher: Gary Kralapp
Business Development
Senior Vice President: Diane LaPreze
Senior Vice President: Jim Lroy
Circulation: Aubrey Day
Contributing Writers: Jane
Whittington, Jennifer Feuerstein,
Laura Finley, Jim Rhoad, Andy Coutu,
Dave Wineman.
Managing Editor: Carol M. Kralapp
Associate Editor: Jeremy Martin
Printing/Distribution: News Web Printing
Accountant: Michael Tawney & Company
Legal: Miller Canfield Paddock & Stone
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Authenticity
by Laura Finley, Ph.D.
Authenticity is one of the most
important qualities to teach young people.
To be truly who you are, to be comfortable
in your own skin and to walk your talk, is
essential to not just personal happiness
but is also requisite for building a better,
more just and humane world.
Unfortunately, teaching authenticity is
challenging in a society that is dominated
by hypocrisy. Politicians manipulate,
deceive and outright lie with such regu-
larity it is almost amazing when one does
not do so. Celebrities demonstrate to chil-
dren and youth that it is acceptable to say
one thing and do the complete opposite
Below is a short list of recent hypocrisy by
leaders and celebrities.
Although nowhere near exhaustive,
here is a smattering of the political
hypocrisy of 2013. Republicans claimed
they wanted to avoid the government
shutdown in the fall, yet many openly
embraced the idea as a way of stymieing
President Obama in general and of oppos-
ing Obamacare. Republican Presidential
nominee Mitt Romney derided
Obamacare, yet it was very clearly based
in large part on the model Romney intro-
duced as Governor of Massachusetts.
Then there is the Cheney sisters, who
want to be personally fine with gay
people but not politically so. And what
about Florida Republican Trey Radel, who
supported Governor Scotts initiative to
drug test welfare recipients yet is a
cocaine addict?
It is clear, however, that the
hypocrisy bug has infected Democrats as
well. President Obama, for example,
pledged to usher in an era of transparen-
cy yet the revelations made by Edward
Snowden make it abundantly obvious
that he has authorized and continues to
support privacy invasions previously
unheard of. And, of course, there are
Obamas pledges about health insurance
that were, quite simply, either signs of
complete ineptitude or willful deception.
Supposedly assigned to protect and
serve, many of the law enforcement offi-
cers in my home of South Florida seem to
do anything but. In just one example of a
litany, Miami Gardens police stopped and
harassed 27-year-old Earl Sampson 258
times in the last few years while he was
on the clock (yes, you read that right, he
was at work) at a convenience store. They
searched him more than 100 times, much
of which is captured on camera because
the store owner, Alex Saleh, realized that
the threat to his business did not come so
much from local thugs but rather from the
police themselves.
Not exactly a reliable source, Fox
News has, however, shed some light on
the hypocrisy of celebrities who speak out
against various social ills while visibly
perpetrating the same behaviors. Perhaps
most notable was the star-laden Demand
A Plan initiative, in which a series of
celebrities, after the Sandy Hook
Elementary School shootings, lined up to
film PSAs requesting gun control. These
same celebritiesJamie Foxx, for
instanceare often featured in violent
films that glorify gun culture. Both Jay Z
and Kanye West have faced hypocrisy
accusations for their failing to admonish
or withdraw their products from compa-
nies, like Barneys, that are said to racial-
ly profile.
Continued on page 5
5
PNC: The National Bank with the Personal Touch
By Jane Whittington
PNC is huge. Headquartered in
Pittsburgh, it operates 2,700 banks in 19
states and the District of Columbia. In
Michigan alone, there are 250 branches
with some 19 in Grand Rapids and its
environs. Dont assume, however, that its
size and reach mean that PNC is an
impersonal corporate entity. Its philoso-
phy is rooted in the belief that PNC can
provide the best banking experience pos-
sible for each and every customer.
Jim Paul, Executive Vice President and
Greater Michigan Market Manager, says,
Weve recently been expanding in the
Chicago and St. Louis markets and also into
the Southeast. This will be especially con-
venient for Michigan customers who spend
part of the year in the South as well as for
those who are relocating to that area.
He continues, PNC is a full-service
bank. We can take care of everything
from the basic transactional needs of
checking and savings to financial plan-
ning and advising and wealth manage-
ment. We have a full-service mortgage
team, investment group, trust services,
corporate banking for all size businesses.
We are the definition of full-service.
Paul says, We have an investment
center that customers can call and have
immediate access to financial advisors
over the phone even outside of tradition-
al business hours. We also have licensed
investment advisors in our branches who
work with both branch teams and cus-
tomers.
PNC also has a partnership with
Speedway gas stations in Michigan and
provides PNC ATMs in those facilities.
Paul points out that while many
banks faltered during the recession, PNC
maintained steady growth during that
period. Paul feels that growth is a testa-
ment to the way PNC does business and
focuses on customer satisfaction. He
says, We grew consumer customers as
well as small business and corporate cus-
tomers during the recession. Our cus-
tomers have trust in us, and that helped
us stay strong during a difficult time.
He adds, In 2013, mortgage busi-
ness grew to higher than it had been over
the last four or five years while the real
estate market was down.
Technologically, PNC is on the leading
edge. Virtually all banking services can be
accessed online or through ones mobile
device. Technology has also made its way
into small businesses. It used to be
thought that only big business could fully
use technology, but that has changed.
Hand-held devices can now take credit
card payments, even at places like craft
shows, farmers markets and other small
operations. Having those capabilities can
grow their revenue as never before.
With some of the recent news stories,
people are becoming even more concerned
about guarding their privacy online. PNC
understands that concern and addresses it
proactively.
Paul says, Risk management is
really core to us. Before we offer a tech-
nological tool to our customers, it has
been tested and retested. Unfortunately,
the bad guys are out there and are always
looking for ways to access information.
We take a tremendous amount of precau-
tion with our customers
information. We dont launch any-
thing until we are confident that it wont
compromise our customers data.
He continues, We advise customers
on how they can best minimize their risks
in all their electronic activities and avoid
having their information misused. We
send out information through our website
and train our customers in how best to
avoid problems, and, if it happens, we are
there immediately to help them work
through the problem. Our employees are
also trained to recognize problems and
protect our customers. And we honor and
recognize those employees who stop
fraud from occurring. It protects the bank
from loss, but, more importantly, it pro-
tects the customers from loss.
Paul sees all sorts of possibilities
coming in how technology and banking
may interact. He says, What we see com-
ing is a rapid change in customer behavior.
As mobile usage increases and technology
evolves, more and more people will be
comfortable and confident in using tech-
nology in their financial dealings. And
every day, we are working on creating
ways to more efficiently serve the cus-
tomer.
In everything PNC does, they are
focused on maximizing the customer expe-
rience and making it the most positive and
convenient personal interaction possible.
Paul says, We are doing that in our
branches with our well-trained and cus-
tomer-centered employees, through tech-
nology, through social mediathese are all
ways we can connect with our customers
more efficiently than ever before. Thats
what customers want; they want to have
choices. Whether they come into a branch,
reach us by phone or interact with us
online or through their mobile devices, we
offer the best possible banking experi-
ence.
Jane Whittington is a freelance writer
and editor who lives in Grand Rapids.
Authenticity
Continued from page 4
Not to be outdone, evidently just
days ago, the supposedly vegan Beyonce
showed up at an event wearing a fur coat
and suede shoes. Ummmmaybe not.
Among the many nonviolent princi-
ples along which Mahatma Gandhi oper-
ated, the concepts of truth and authentic-
ity rank near the top. Gandhi recognized
that even his detractors might soften their
positions if his actions echoed his words,
his diet followed his espoused beliefs, and
his consumption patterns were consistent
with what he preached. In short, living
what you believe is an essential compo-
nent of nonviolent social change.
I believe the world would be a better
place were authenticity to be widely val-
ued and taught. Although we are all
works in progress, I call on all adults to
work diligently to be those role models
in both what we say and what we do
that our youth so desperately crave.
Laura Finley, Ph.D., teaches in the
Barry University Department of Sociology
& Criminology and is syndicated by
PeaceVoice.
Current Business Trends:
Modest Growth
Grand Rapids - The greater Grand
Rapids industrial economy experienced
modest growth in December, according to
the results of a monthly survey compiled
by Brian G. Long, director of Supply
Management Research in the Seidman
College of Business at Grand Valley State
University.
The survey results are based on data
collected during the last two weeks of
December.
The surveys index of business
improvement, called new orders, eased to
+5, from +16. The production index also
retreated, but at +10, is still in line with
December figures from the past. The
employment index, which had dropped to
+0 as recently as October, remained posi-
tive at +9.
Long said factors that will define the
2014 economy include: automotive,
industrial inflation, interest rates, real
estate, unemployment and Obamacare.
Michigans recovery from the Great
Recession has still been heavily fueled by
automotive, and for West Michigan by the
firms producing automobile parts, said
Long. The past year turned out to be
stronger than industry projections,
although much of the gain was again
attributed to pent up demand. The
December sales for the industry were slow-
er than expected, so we may have already
seen the peak in sales. Even if auto sales
flatten at the present level, most of the
firms are now comfortably profitable.
Long said it is likely the unemploy-
ment rates for the U.S., Michigan, and
West Michigan will continue to slowly
decline in 2014. Lack of hiring and
expansion by smaller firms will keep the
unemployment levels much higher that
they should be. He said shortages will
continue for trained technicians in many
fields and youth unemployment as well as
the unemployment for unskilled workers
will remain excessively high.
Long described Obamacare as one of
the worst messes in recent history. He
said: Most of the economic fallout will be
limited to declining confidence by con-
sumers and small businesses. Large firms
have already figured out how they will
respond as the mandates unfold, but
small businesses are far less certain.
Obamacare will not drive us into a reces-
sion. Except for hospitals, drug compa-
nies, and other medical firms, the health
care law does not impact the supply
chains of most companies.
6
American Red Cross of West Michigan Responds
to 749 Disasters in 2013
Grand Rapids - In a year that had
deadly tornadoes, fierce wildfires and
destructive floods in many states, the
American Red Cross of West Michigan
responded to 749 disasters in the region
and assisted more than 2,200 people
between Jan. 1 and Dec. 30 in 2013. The
vast majority of those disasters were
home fires.
This year, the Red Cross continued to
serve the people of West Michigan through
the dedicated work of its staff and volun-
teers, said Sam Tidwell, Regional CEO of
the American Red Cross of West Michigan.
2013 was a busy year and we are so very
thankful for everyone who supported our
efforts to help those in need.
Here at Home
Most recently, the Red Cross of West
Michigan opened 3 shelters in order to
provide a safe and warm place to go after
severe winter weather left thousands of
people without power. About 50 Red
Cross volunteers worked around the clock
during the holidays to provide this service
at no cost to the public.
The flooding in April brought hun-
dreds of Red Cross volunteers together to
open 6 shelters in 4 counties including
Kent, Ottawa, Ionia, and Newaygo.
During this disaster response, volunteers
distributed more than 6,700 items to
those affected by flooding and served
around 1,000 meals and snacks.
Many Red Cross volunteers from
West Michigan also assisted with disaster
responses across the United States includ-
ing the Oklahoma tornadoes, Colorado
flood and wildfire, and the Indiana torna-
do in November.
Behind the Numbers: Mobilizing
Responses for Big Disasters
The Red Cross disaster responses
across the country in 2013 included:
16,700 workersmany of them
volunteersproviding care, comfort and
support to those in need.
89,000 contacts by specially
trained workers with disaster victims who
needed mental health support or health
services, which is more people than the
amount of travelers who pass through
Chicagos OHare International Airport on
an average day.
1.8 million meals and snacks, the
equivalent of feeding the entire popula-
tion of Philadelphia lunch in a day.
29,000 overnight stays in shelters
for people forced from their homes by dis-
asters, enough to fill the largest hotel in
New York City for more than two weeks.
1 million relief items distributed,
including more than 33,700 toothbrushes.
$74 million to more than 60 non-
profit partners to help people and commu-
nities recover from Superstorm Sandy.
Flooding
In April, flooding struck 10,000
homes in 10 counties in Illinois. More than
a thousand Red Cross volunteers provided
shelter and food to displaced families and
delivered relief supplies to those returning
to waterlogged homes. In September,
almost a half-years worth of rain fell in
just three days across several counties in
and around Boulder, Colo. Red Crossers
responded and served more than 204,000
meals and snacks, handed out more than
249,000 relief items and provided about
15,000 health and mental health contacts.
The Red Cross also provided a total of
3,800 shelter stays for people forced from
their homes by the flooding.
Tornados and Severe Storms
The largest and most deadly tornado
outbreak in 2013 came in Oklahoma in
May, when a series of tornadoes ripped
through the state, and Red Cross workers
were there to comfort the survivors,
including the community of Moore, Okla.,
where two elementary schools were
struck by a deadly EF-4 tornado. More
than six months later, the Red Cross con-
tinues to help residents through long-
term recovery centers and other commu-
nity programs.
In addition, Mississippi was hit par-
ticularly hard by severe spring storms for
the third year in a row, including a torna-
do that severely damaged the Red Cross
building in Hattiesburg in February.
Again in April, the Red Cross was there,
opening shelters, providing food and
water, and helping survivors recover. In
November, dozens of tornadoes cut a path
of destruction through the Midwest, dam-
aging more than 1,000 homes and leaving
hundreds of thousands without power
during a cold snap.
Wildfires
When wildfires threatened communi-
ties, the Red Cross offered evacuees a safe
place to stay and supported first respon-
ders. In total, the Red Cross mobilized
more than 2,000 workers to support 10
large wildfire responses in eight states
during 2013, such as Colorado, Arizona,
California and New Mexico.
Home Fires
Its not just the high-profile disasters
that left thousands of people in need this
year. The Red Cross also responded to
more than 52,000 home fires across
America, helping 226,000 people get back
on their feet. For those who have suffered
a home fire, the event can be just as dev-
astating as the high profile disasters that
get a large amount of national attention.
Regardless of the size of the event, the
Red Cross responds in the same way
with shelter, food and emotional support.
International Disasters
In 2013, the American Red Cross
assisted an estimated 1.3 million people
affected by disasters in 24 countries out-
side of the U.S. These included storms
and floods in the Philippines, Argentina,
Bangladesh and Nigeria. Red Cross work-
ers continue to respond to the ongoing
humanitarian need created by the civil
unrest in Syria, as well as needs caused
by conflicts in other areas around the
world. The Red Cross responded to food
insecurity issues in Malawi and
Zimbabwe and continued our earthquake
recovery work in Haiti that has been
ongoing since 2010. Additionally, the Red
Cross continued its vital work in recon-
necting families separated by conflict and
disaster, reconnecting 886 families this
year alone.
Health Care Briefs
Kalamazoo Prashanth Atluri, MD,
joined Borgess Inpatient Services as a
hospitalist.
Grand Rapids Van Andel Institute
announced appointment of Peter A.
Jones, Ph.D., D.Sc, to position of Director
of Research, Chief Scientific Officer of Van
Andel Research Institute beginning
February 17, 2014.
Kalamazoo Charlotte Rensberger,
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, joined
Borgess ProMed Pediatrics at their
Richland location.
Grand Rapids Life EMS Ambulance
was recognized as a national 101 Best
and Brightest Companies to Work For.
Allegan For the fourth consecutive year,
Allegan General Hospital was named by
Modern Healthcare magazine as one of
the Best Places to Work in Healthcare.
Grand Rapids Cynthia Bell joined
Hospice of Michigan Institute as Nurse-
Researcher, focusing her research on pal-
liative early care, psycho-social needs for
chronically ill children and families, end-
of-life communication with adolescents,
and related issues.
Spring Lake Common Sense Dental
now offers Molar Media Mount, the first
and only arm that mounts directly to a
dental light with an iPad mini or smaller,
and takes away need for bulky and
expensive television mounts.
Kalamazoo Bronson HealthCare
Midwest Digestive, Endocrine &
General Surgery and Bronson
HealthCare Midwest Vascular &
Endovascular Surgery welcomed
Michael M. Bush, PA-C; Bronson
HealthCare Orthopedics & Joint
Specialists welcomed Jodi Haller, Ph.D.,
PA-C; Bronson Internal Medicine Hospital
Specialists welcomed Lauren Weessies,
PA-C; and Bronson Rapid Response Team
welcomed Lindsey Chorney, AG-ACNP.
Grand Rapids Mercy Health Saint
Mary's was named to Leapfrogs -
national organization that measures safe-
ty, quality and affordability - annual list
of Top Hospitals.
Wyoming Metro Health Hospital was
named National Best and Brightest
Companies to Work For by National
Association for Business Resources.
Grand Rapids Spectrum Health
announced The Brain and Spine Tumor
Center, West Michigans first center pro-
viding highly specialized care for patients
with central nervous system tumors,
brain metastases and neurological com-
plications of cancer,- will led by board-
certified specialists: Todd Vitaz, MD,
Director, Neurosurgical Oncology; Wendy
Sherman, MD, West Michigans only
board-certified and fellowship-trained
Neuro-Oncologist; and Kiran Taylor, MD,
Division Chief, Psychiatry and Behavioral
Medicine.
Health Care Briefs
Holland A surgical procedure performed
by Holland-based Orthopedic Surgeon
Carl Wierks, MD, from Holland Bone &
Joint Center, will be center of focus at a
national conference this spring in New
Orleans.
Kalamazoo Stacy Zolp, Certified
Physician Assistant, joined Borgess
Orthopedics, part of Borgess Bone &
Joint Institute.
Kalamazoo William Davis, Nurse
Practitioner, joined DeLano Outpatient
Clinic, part of Borgess Behavioral
Health.
Detroit Blue Cross Blue Shield of
Michigan and Blue Care Networks
Medicare Advantage plans were recog-
nized as top-rated plans in Michigan by
U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services, receiving an overall 4.0-Star
rating out of 5, an increase from its 3.5-
Star rating for 2013.
Kalamazoo Borgess Medical Center
earned American Heart Association/
American Stroke Associations Get With
The Guidelines quality achievement
award for both heart failure and stroke care.
Grand Rapids Cherry Street Health
Services announced it received an
$858,000 grant from U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services to resume
responsibilities to provide health care
services at Health Connections, located
within Barry Eaton Health Department in
Hastings, early 2014.
Allegan Allegan General Hospital
earned Joint Commissions Gold Seal of
Approval for accreditation by demonstrat-
ing compliance with Joint Commissions
national standards for health care quality
and safety in laboratories.
Kalamazoo Rick W. Tiller, DPM, joined
Borgess Wound Healing & Hyperbaric
Center.
Grand Rapids Hope Network
Psychologist Dane VerMerris, EdD, was
appointed President-elect for Michigan
Psychological Association for 2014, and
will assume the President position in 2015.
Grand Rapids Donald Vander Linde,
DDS, was inducted into American College
of Dentists.
7
PT360, A Unique Physical Therapy Practice
By Jane Whittington
The path to a career in physical ther-
apy was a circuitous one for Dave Asselin.
He started his professional life as a CPA
before realizing that was just not the
career for him. He then joined the Peace
Corps and served in Tonga where he
worked with young people as part of a
program called Future Farmers of the
Pacific. Returning from his work in the
South Pacific, he went back to school at
Grand Valley State University to prepare
himself for a career as a physical thera-
pist. After earning a PhD in the field,
Asselin opened his own practice in Grand
Rapids about four and a half years ago.
Through Asselins classes and
hands-on experience as well as his exten-
sive research outside of the classroom, he
has developed a unique approach to phys-
ical therapy. Called Manual Reactivation
Technique (MRT), it is rooted in neuro-
logically restoring control between vari-
ous muscles and muscle groups. Through
the restoration of damaged muscles, the
natural balance of nerves, muscles and
joints is regained.
Asselin says, Through understand-
ing of the bodys stretch reflexes and
cooperative nerve and muscle interac-
tions, we are able to effectively treat and
prevent injuries. We perform biomechani-
cal analysis, strength testing and other
diagnostics to uncover impaired move-
ment and mechanics caused by weak
muscles, which results in pain. More tra-
ditional physical therapy works on
strengthening weaknesses through thera-
peutic exercises alone. But the muscle tar-
geted as weak may actually be weak sec-
ondary to an inhibited primary stretch
reflex pattern.
He continues, Our approach
restores strength by treating the primary
impairment, the stretch reflex pattern
which is actually causing the muscle
weakness. Through this method, the pri-
mary source of the problem is addressed
and the secondary weakness, impairment
or pain is resolved.
Asselin says that he has been able to
roadmap the body and see which mus-
cles need to be repaired in order to allevi-
ate pain and weakness. This approach has
proven overwhelmingly successful, and
patients of PT360 report significant
improvement to both pain and function.
According to Annie VandenBerg, a
dance and Zumba instructor in East
Grand Rapids, I had heel and foot pain
for years and thought I would just have to
live with it. Then I went to PT360, and
they were able to resolve the problem and
show me how to avoid future injury. I also
went to them after meniscus surgery, and
they helped me get back to my active
schedule in no time. I wish I had discov-
ered PT360 years earlier!
In fact, Asselin works regularly with
the Grand Rapids Ballet, both the profes-
sional ballet company and the junior com-
pany. In addition, he is often called upon
to help high school, college and week-
end athletes.
Asselin offers an hour-long free con-
sultation and evaluation for potential
patients. In Michigan, patients have not
been able to self-refer but need to have a
referral from their primary care physician.
However, Asselin says that getting a
referral from a physician is usually not a
problem, and most insurance policies do
cover treatment. Asselin has found that
word-of-mouth marketing has worked for
him: satisfied patients talk about PT360
to others, and the practice has experi-
enced steady growth.
In order to be a good physical thera-
pist, Asselin says, You need to be a real
people person, someone who likes to meet
new people, spend significant amounts of
time with them and enjoy their company.
A good therapist should have the willing-
ness to learn, adapt and grow. Its impor-
tant to be positive and upbeat as in work-
ing with patients to overcome problems.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics says,
Employment of physical therapist is
expected to increase 39 percent from 2010
to 2020, much faster than the average for
all occupations. Demand for physical ther-
apy services will come, in large part, from
aging baby boomers who are staying
active later in life than previous genera-
tions.
Asselin says, Whether people are
suffering from chronic pain or have expe-
rienced an accident or injury, we can help.
People dont have to resign themselves to
living with pain. PT360 is here to make
lives better.
Jane Whittington is a freelance
writer and editor who lives in Grand
Rapids.
The 2014 Health Check
Grand Rapids - More than 45 per-
cent of area businesses have passed addi-
tional costs to workers as a result of
implementing the Affordable Care Act,
according to a report by Grand Valley
State University researchers.
Economics professors Sonia Dalmia
and Paul Isely released results of their
report, Health Check: Analyzing Trends
in West Michigan 2014, on January 10
during the fifth annual health care sum-
mit sponsored by Grand Valley.
The 2014 report includes survey
results regarding the impact of the
Affordable Care Act on local businesses in
Kent, Ottawa, Muskegon and Allegan
counties. Dalmia and Isely used findings
from the survey conducted by economics
professor Leslie Muller in collaboration
with Priority Health and found 48 percent
of companies have passed additional
costs to workers and 40 percent are con-
sidering that option. Seventy-six percent
of employers have, or are creating, well-
ness plans for employees.
Health Check 2014 also was able to
show how preforming the suggested tests
for diabetics would reduce costs by 10
percent compared to not doing the tests.
In addition, the report showed how hav-
ing diabetes combined with other condi-
tions increases costs. These results sup-
port the effectiveness of testing diabetic
patients for complications.
Other key findings are noted below.
Although colleges and universities
in West Michigan are generating 745 new
registered nurses annually, this still falls
short of the projected annual demand for
nurses by more than 100.
Binge drinking in West Michigan
increased 2 percent in 2012 compared to
2010. Heavy drinking is higher in West
Michigan than southeast Michigan.
More than 36 percent of West
Michigan residents were overweight in
2012; this trend is similar to the number
reported in 2010. However, the rate of
obesity in the area dropped slightly to
27.3 percent.
About 10 percent of West Michigan
residents are diabetic; researchers said
the number tracks closely to obesity.
Jean Nagelkerk, vice provost for
Health at Grand Valley, said if the risk fac-
tors in the area, like those listed above,
continue to trend upward, it could pose
challenges to the cost of health-related
services and the number of health profes-
sionals in the area.
8
Construction Briefs
Grand Rapids - Signature Associates
has negotiated the sale of an 8,000
square foot retail building located at 400-
420 W. Main Street, Lowell, Michigan for
the seller, BR Feeds Inc./BR Feed
Holdings, LLC, and the buyer, Kassouni
Holdings, LLC.
Kalamazoo CSM Group welcomed
Construction Managers Ryan Smith and
Jeremy Eisenbrandt, and welcomed back
Construction Manager Jerry Shore to pro-
vide leadership, direction and oversight
during all phases of construction around
a fully operational jobsite.
Grand Rapids Bazzani Associates and
Kingsley Building owner group of Al
George, Bill Frost, and Offsite Lake
Drive, LLC, announced return of the his-
toric five-foot diameter Seth-Thomas
clock to the fifth floor of Kingsley
Building in Eastown. The Seth-Thomas
Company built the original clock in
September of 1926, but the original clock
works were removed decades ago and a
square, modern clock was placed in front
of the original clock face.
Grand Rapids LINC Community
Revitalization Inc., in partnership with LC
Companies, officially began work on
phase two of its Southtown Square project
with demolition of TJs Appliance, Hall St.,
replacing it with a four-story housing com-
plex featuring 23 affordable, energy effi-
cient apartments, and 6,000-square-feet of
commercial space. The demolition also
includes Madison Square Co-op townhous-
es which will be replaced with 21 afford-
able and energy efficient townhouses.
Grand Rapids National Association of
Women in Construction announced new
2013-2014 board members for Grand
Rapids Chapter 194: President - Char
Terpsma, Pleune Service Company; Vice
President - Leslie Nelson, GZA
GeoEnvironmental Inc.; Secretary -
Tanya Fredricks, Builders Exchange of
Michigan; Treasurer - Barb Silvis, Kent
Companies, Inc.; and Directors - Linda
Blanchard, Thermal-Tec, Kristy
Hawkins, Rockford Construction,
Alyssa Veneklase, Pioneer
Construction, and Jenny Waugh,
Rockford Construction.
Dearborn Dearborn Public Schools
Board of Education selected Clark
Construction to serve as Construction
Manager for districts 2013 Bond
Program project to renovate K-12 facility
including secure entries, and add five ele-
mentary building classrooms, two ele-
mentary building gymnasiums, a middle
school science classroom, and middle
school multi-purpose and kitchen addi-
tions.
Grand Rapids U.S. Green Building
Council West Michigan Chapter
announced results of its Board of
Directors: Jessica Eimer, Aquinas
College; Andrew Longcore, Business
Law Group; Jessica Spagnuolo,
Consumers Energy; and Debra Sypien,
Christman Company. David Rinard,
Steelcase, was re-elected to the Board.
Continuing Board members include:
Steve Hassevoort, InForm Architecture;
Cheri Holman, Hurst Mechanical; Brett
Little, Alliance for Environmental
Sustainability; and Mark Zoeteman,
Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber.
Kalamazoo Landscape Forms
announced Interior Design Magazine
awarded Best of Year Award to Olithas,
for Best New Product 2013 in Furniture -
Outdoor/Tables category.
Kentwood Office Furniture
Purchases of Worksurface
Manufacturer
Kentwood -
Kentwood Office
Furniture (KOF)
announces today the
purchase of worksur-
face manufacturer
Brys Industries, a full
service supplier of
engineered wood prod-
ucts and components.
Brys Industries, estab-
lished in 2003, has a
great reputation
around the industry
for producing high
quality products. The
transaction was final-
ized in late December,
and announced inter-
nally to all KOF
employees last week.
Brys Industries, now
KOF Wood Solutions,
will continue to manu-
facture laminate work-
surfaces and other
related products out of
its current 36th street
facility.
The purchase of
this worksurface man-
ufacturer is not only
good for Kentwood
Office Furniture, but
for all of KOFs customers as well.
Product choice, flexible service and
very affordable pricing continue to be
key components in providing great
spaces for our customers, says Art
Hasse, President and CEO of Kentwood
Office Furniture. Bringing the produc-
tion of a key component of our remanu-
factured office systems solutions in-
house gives us the infrastructure neces-
sary to continue to meet, and exceed,
these expectations.
This acquisition is one of several
recent announcements from Kentwood
Office Furniture in the last 18 months.
This past September, KOF announced
the transition of their company to an
ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan)
and in June announced the expansion of
their core remanufactured systems
offering. KOF also announced the
expansion of their regional offices by
opening a location in Indianapolis,
Indiana in September of 2012. With
each step, Kentwood continues to make
a statement about their strength and
position in the office furniture market as
well as their value to all customers they
serve.
4328 Three Mile Rd., NW, Ste. 200 Grand Rapids, MI
616.791.7100
www.rosewestra.com
We serve your needs with quality & innovation.
Environmental Process
& Treatment Design
Underground Storage Tank
Management
Stormwater Management Plans
Property Assessments
Phase I Environmental Site Assessments
BEAs and Due Care Plans
Permits & Regulations
Field Engineering &
Technical Support
Regulatory Reporting
How To Survive an OSHA Audit
By Jim Rhoad
Hello. Im from OSHA and I am
here to help you.
If you own or operate a business,
chances are very good youve heard these
dreaded words before. Next to, Hello.
Im from the Internal Revenue Service,
there are few greetings more inclined to
make your knees weak. But it doesnt
have to be that bad.
Even with the seven million
workplaces they cover each year, OSHA
will most likely find their way to your
location. When they do, here are some
tips to help you survive your OSHA audit.
Plan for an inspection by making
sure you have three key items in place
prior to the arrival of the OSHA compli-
ance officer (CO):
1. A determination if you will ask for
a warrant
2. A form to document what occurs
during the inspection
3. All pertinent documentation such
as written programs, training records,
inspection records, etc.
We recommend you do not require
the CO to obtain a warrant before entry
unless you need to gain time, such as
when a manager or counsel needs to be
present. It is your legal right to ask for a
warrant but this might trigger a stricter
audit (and raise possible red flags). Its
wiser if you simply work with the inspec-
tor. Answer questions honestly and fully,
but don't offer additional information
unless it will help you avoid citations.
Cooperate as long as the inspector
remains ethical and reasonable.
Be prepared. These inspections are
without notice so you will want to have
all information readily available in antic-
ipation of an impending audit. Here are
some items to have prepared:
Assignment of responsibilities, to
include a greeting team to meet the CO
Documented training logs
Recordkeeping
Equipment inspection records
Safety and health policies
Review of insurance and third
party audits
Hazard assessment and abatement
Review of previous audits and cita-
tions.
It is also wise to have a form avail-
able to record the inspector's actions and
comments during the inspection. This
information will help you understand
what transpired and will assist your
attorney should you contest the citation
or penalty. Items you should record on
this form include:
The inspector's name and office
telephone number
The documents that the inspector
reviewed and copied
The attendees at the opening and
closing conferences
The areas that were inspected
The employees and union repre-
sentatives who participated
The dates and times when the
inspector was on site
Almost all OSHA inspections begin
with a review of written documents.
These documents include your injury and
illness records, safety manual, OSHA-
required programs, OSHA-implied pro-
grams, safety procedures, and training
records. There are many records and
written programs that OSHA does not
specifically require to be in writing, but
you should have them anyway. These
documents are referred to as OSHA-
implied records. For example, although
OSHA requires every employer to conduct
frequent ladder inspections, there is no
specific requirement to keep a written
record of ladder inspections. The written
record in this case could be a log of all
ladders with initials and dates of inspec-
tion or a tag attached to the ladder with
spaces for the inspector to initial and
date.
Just to get you used to what youre
in store for, well walk through a mock
OSHA audit:
1. The knock at the door. We recom-
mend escorting the compliance officer
(CO) to your office or waiting area. This
will give you time to gather your docu-
ments and greeting team to accompany
the CO through the inspection.
2. The opening conference. The offi-
cer will explain why OSHA selected your
work place for inspection and describe
the scope of the inspection. Have your
greeting team here to accompany the
CO during the inspection. Make sure you
set ground rules for the inspection, get a
copy of the complaint if applicable, treat
the CO in a professional fashion, coordi-
nate with on-site contractors and ven-
dors, bring up any trade secret issues you
may have, but DONT volunteer any
information unless asked.
3. The walk-around/inspection.
Make sure you have an employee repre-
sentative attend the entire inspection and
take accurate notes on areas reviewed
and all discussions and comments from
the CO, as well as any photos, videos, air
monitoring, etc. Keep in mind whatever is
in the COs sight is subject to inspection.
But maintain control. Remember, its
your facility and you have rights. Dont
be bullied. But also dont try to talk your
way out of an apparent hazard. It will not
help and probably make it worse. And
above all, dont destroy evidence. The CO
may also want to interview employees.
Make sure to schedule these away from
your work area. Its up to your hourly
employees if they want company repre-
sentation during the interview. Advise
the employee of his/her rights, your
appreciation of their cooperation, and to
tell the truth. Be aware that employees do
have whistleblower rights. As for man-
agement and supervisor interviews,
always have another management/coun-
sel present during the interview. If there
is a fatality investigation your attorney
should always be present. No tape
recording is permitted and you will need
a signed statement upon completion.
4. The closing conference. During
the closing conference the CO will review
any apparent violations and discuss pos-
sible methods for correcting the viola-
tions within a reasonable time period.
The CO will explain that the violations
found may result in a citation and a pro-
posed financial penalty, then describe the
employers rights and answer all ques-
tions. Remember, this is not a time for
debate. The law requires OSHA to issue
citations for safety and health standards
violations. The citations include:
A description with particularity
of the violation
The proposed penalty if any
The date by which the hazard must
be corrected
Citations are usually prepared at the
local OSHA office and mailed to the
employer via certified mail. OSHA has up
to six months to send a Notice of Penalty.
Continued on page 12
9
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www.ftch.com
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Education Briefs
Battle Creek Kellogg Community
College (KCC) Foundation Board of
Directors voted to assume responsibility
for athletic scholarships and KCC Trustee
scholarships, two types of scholarships
currently funded by the Colleges general
fund, cumulatively worth approximately
$155,000 per year, beginning with the
2013-14 academic year.
Big Rapids Ferris State Universitys
Board of Trustees approved new academ-
ic degree programs: Master of Architecture
for Kendall College of Art and Design;
Master of Social Work; and Associate of
Applied Science, Pre-Digital Media.
Muskegon Muskegon Community
College Board of Trustees selected
Clark Construction to serve as
Construction Manager for its $9.2 million
Science Center and Addition project - a
two-level Science/Technology Building
with six new laboratories and class-
rooms, serving a combined 18 academic
programs. Renovations to 20,000-sq. ft.
of existing space are included.
Grand Rapids West Michigan Aviation
Academy announced its plan for further
expansion with design and preconstruc-
tion underway for Phase 4. The expan-
sion will provide approximately 15,000
sq. ft. of additional space for 600 junior
and senior students with additional
classrooms, laboratories, and airplane
hangar. The Academys curriculum
includes core subjects, while focusing on
students with a passion for aviation
and/or an interest in science, technology,
engineering and mathematics. Rockford
Construction is serving as construction
manager, and Integrated Architecture is
designing the new addition.
Big Rapids Jeanine Ward-Roof of
Tallahassee, Fla., was named Vice
President for Student Affairs at Ferris
State University, and will begin her
position Feb. 17, 2014.
Big Rapids Ferris State University
announced David R. Lepper was named
FSUs new Associate Vice President for
Advancement.
Grand Rapids Grand Valley State
University announced Ralph W.
Hauenstein made another substantial
investment of $1 million to Hauenstein
Center for Presidential Studies to help
enhance and expand academic and
event-based learning opportunities for
leaders of tomorrow.
Grand Rapids Davenport Universitys
College of Health Professions
announced its Bachelor of Science in
Health Services Administration program
received national accreditation from
Association of University Programs in
Health Administration - one of only two
universities in the U.S. to earn the initial
certification this year, and only third
Michigan undergraduate institution to
earn the certification.
Allendale Grand Valley State
University was selected as a Top
Military-Friendly College by Military
Advanced Education, as published in its
2014 Guide to Military-Friendly Colleges
& Universities.
Big Rapids Dr. Sarah Hinkley, Ferris
State University Associate Professor
and Chief of Vision Rehabilitation
Services in the universitys Michigan
College of Optometry, was awarded a
$2,000 - 2013 Fredric Rosemore Low
Vision Grant.
Muskegon Baker College Online was
awarded designation of Top Military-
Friendly College by Military Advanced
Education, a journal of higher learning
for members of the U.S. Armed Forces.
Grand Rapids Davenport Universitys
College of Health Professions is
launching a new Master of Science in
Occupational Therapy program to begin
September 2014, at its W.A. Lettinga
Campus. The program has earned its
Candidacy Status from Accreditation
Council for Occupational Therapy
Education.
10 10
Staybridge Suites: A Home Away from Home
By Jane Whittington
On the Road Again is more than
just a Willie Nelson song. For many pro-
fessionals, being on the road is a fact of
life. Traveling for business and being
away from home for extended periods of
time is sometimes a necessary part of the
working world. While its never easy to
be away from home and family, extended
stay hotels which cater to those traveling
for business can be a comfortable and
convenient option.
Staybridge Suites in Grand Rapids is
one such place. Part of the
InterContinental Hotel Group which also
includes hotels like Crowne Plaza, the
Holiday Inn brand and Candlewood
Suites, Staybridge Suites is conveniently
located near the Gerald Ford International
Airport and 28th Street.
According to Hotel General Manager
Mitch Spence, We have 94 total accom-
modations with eight different layouts
available. The choices include studios,
one bedroom suites and two bedroom
suites. All of our options include kitchens
with all appliances except an oven. There
are full-size refrigerators, and we provide
all the kitchenware needed for our guests
to cook for themselves.
He con-
tinues, We
cater to the
b u s i n e s s
traveler, but
we are also a
resource for
people who
are moving
into the city
and are look-
ing for a
house or
condo to purchase. Our goal is to fill the
hotel with extended stay customers, but
we also offer one- or two-night stays
when we have availability. We generally
run about 85 percent occupancy. Summer
is generally a bit busier, and the holiday
season is not quite as busy. Even during
the holidays though, we run about 70
percent occupancy.
Besides their comfortable suites, the
hotel offers free laundry facilities onsite,
a daily hot and cold buffet breakfast, a
24-hour business center, a small store
and coffee available 24/7. There is an
outdoor pool and a fitness center. In addi-
tion, the hotel offers complimentary din-
ner three nights a weekno reservation
required. The lobby and common areas
are pleasant
and welcom-
ing with tele-
vision, free
newspaper s
and, when
the weather
warrants it, a
cozy fireplace.
For those cus-
tomers who
dont have a
car with
them, the hotel will provide transporta-
tion to local malls, movies, grocery stores
and anywhere else (within reason) that
the hotel guest wants to go. Twenty
employees keep the hotel in top-notch
working order.
According to Spence , We have
established good working relationships
with area businesses, and they know
they can count on us to provide a com-
fortable, home-like place to stay for
employees or consultants working with
them. And professionals whose business
requires them to travel count on us to
make their travel trouble-free and give
them a restful place to stay.
He continues, Because of our empha-
sis on the business traveler, we dont rent
out to large groups like family reunions or
wedding parties. Noise and commotion is
not what our customers expect from us,
and we maintain a quiet, relaxing home
away from home for them.
Spence says that business travel is
increasing after a downturn during the
recent recession. Staybridge Suites man-
aged to weather the economic downturn
with few problems. Known and well-
regarded as an upscale hotel with high
standards of care, cleanliness and com-
fort, they continued to maintain strong
and steady growth through the recession
years.
Spence says, We pride ourselves on
being reliable, trust-worthy and accurate.
We dont make mistakes. We are con-
stantly working to build honest and long-
lasting relationships both with area busi-
nesses and with our guests. We work
with people from all over the world, not
just Grand Rapids; we value their busi-
ness and strive to make our service even
better every single day.
It may not be home, but
Staybridge Suites is the next best thing!
Jane Whittington is a freelance
writer and editor who lives in Grand
Rapids.
11
Lowell Diversifies Energy Supply
Lowell - Sustainable Partners LLC
(Spart) announced completion of financ-
ing for Lowell Energy AD, LLC an anaer-
obic digestion (AD) waste to energy
facility in Lowell, Mich.
Spart has been at work on Lowell
Energy AD for two years. Greg Northrup
and Pam Landes entered the renewable
energy market in May 2011 as Spart,
short for Sustainable Partners LLC, to
develop, build, own and operate biogas
plants using anaerobic digestion technol-
ogy. Ive always wanted to be an entre-
preneur, said Greg Northrup, principal at
Spart. This was a perfect opportunity to
combine that desire with my passion for
renewable energy.
Spart competed for and won the
opportunity to develop Lowell Energy AD,
an 800 kilowatt (kW) biogas plant for
Lowell Light and Power, a municipal utility.
Landes and Northrup have formed AD
Energy, LLC to partner with a private
investor as owner/operators of the Lowell
project.
The plant will use anaerobic diges-
tion (AD) to convert organic waste into
methane that will be used to power an
800 kW electric power generator. Lowell
Light and Power will purchase the energy
output of the plant that will position the
utility to meet or exceed the current
Michigan Renewable Portfolio Standard.
The facility will be located in an industri-
ally-zoned former manufacturing site at
625 Chatham in Lowell, Michigan.
Anaerobic digesters (AD) work like
a cows multiple stomachs to extract
energy from organic waste products pro-
ducing biomethane, which is an equiva-
lent to natural gas. AD is a worldwide
technology, with more than 7,000 biogas
plants in Germany. Lowell Energy AD is
introducing a new AD technology to the
United States, through a German engi-
neering firm, enCO2, LLC. The
Upflow/Downflow/Reflow technology
offers several advantages over conven-
tional stirred digester technology. (See
Technology Backgrounder.)
The technology is pretty straight-
forward. The real challenge in developing
these projects is the complex relation-
ships required to provide for the organic
inputs to fuel it and for customers to buy
the energy and byproducts. Our approach
is to work transparently and to create a
benefit for all participants, said Landes.
Due in part to the vision of Lowells
city leadership and the Lowell Light and
Power board, the project supports
Lowells economic development strategy
and their intention to become a more sus-
tainable community. Our city is more
than just a nice place to live, comments
Mark Howe, city manager, We are com-
mitted to leveraging the leading technolo-
gies to make Lowell a hub for food pro-
duction. The biogas plant offers a new
way to handle organic waste and increas-
es the capacity of our wastewater sys-
tem. Greg Pierce, general manager of
Lowell Light and Power commented, A
biogas plant produces energy 24/7/365
making it an excellent source of baseload
generation. We are excited about the
opportunity to add biogas generation to
our supply mix. Having diversity in our
energy supply helps assure a reasonable
cost and predictable service for our cus-
tomers.
This project will bring more than
energy to our city, there are many other
benefits associated with the project such
as helping one of our largest employers,
increasing our wastewater plants capaci-
ty, and reducing greenhouse gas emis-
sions. We are very pleased to be partner-
ing with AD Energy to make this project
a reality, said Lowells Mayor, Jim
Hodges.
The project is supported by a strong
team including Rockford Construction,
construction manager; enCO LLC, the
U.S. subsidiary of enCO2, GmbH a
German engineering company; Williams
& Works, civil engineers; Varnum Law,
and BDO. Construction is expected to
begin in earnest in early 2014.
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Industrial Briefs
Grand Rapids Advantage Sign Supply
announced promotion of Steve
Kloosterman, from their Marketing and
Product Management team, to President.
San Marcos, TX Greater San Marcos
Partnership announced Corvac
Composites, LLC, one of the largest glob-
al automotive thermoform suppliers in
the world and headquartered in Byron
Center, is locating a new manufacturing
facility in San Marcos, Texas. Corvac is a
product leader in providing products to
make vehicles lighter and more fuel effi-
cient to companies such as Toyota and
Honda.
Grand Rapids The Right Place, Inc.,
and Grand Rapids SmartZone
announced West Michigan Medical
Device Consortium was rebranded as
MiDevice - a new and improved version
of former West Michigan Medical Device
Consortium.
Charlotte For the fourth consecutive
year, Spartan Motors, Inc., announced
its Aftermarket Parts and Assemblies
operating group was honored with a Gold
Award by U.S. Defense Logistics Agency
as one of the government's top suppliers
for 2012.
Holland Genzink Steel announced pro-
motion of John Maxson to Chief
Executive Officer. Genzink Steel has
become a nationally recognized supplier
of fabricated steel products to some of the
largest original equipment manufacturers
of heavy equipment in oil & gas, mining,
rail, energy, and defense industries across
North America.
Marquette Wolverine Power Supply
Cooperative announced plans to drop out
of a joint venture with We Energies for
Presque Isles coal-fired power plant, and
additionally ending development of
Wolverine Clean Energy Venture, a plan
that included a coal-burning plant in
Rogers City.
Grand Rapids The Right Place, Inc., in
collaboration with Michigan Economic
Development Corporation, and
Vergennes Township announced
approval of a Michigan Business
Development Program performance-
based grant for South Carolina-based
Industrial Services Group, Inc., who is
expanding their Compositech manufac-
turing operations adding 50 new full-time
jobs from managerial and technical posi-
tions to skilled and entry-level production
opportunities.
Rockford Wolverine Worldwide
announced appointment of Gina R.
Boswell - Executive Vice President
Personal Care for Unilever PLC/Unilever
NV - to the company's Board of Directors.
Grand Rapids Cascade Engineering
announced promotion of Kenyatta
Brame, former Group Services Senior Vice
President, to Executive Vice President and
will also remain the Group Services Chief
Administration Officer.
Grand Rapids Charles Bwalya,
Instrument Service Technician, joined
Agile Safety, a safety equipment distrib-
utor and warrantee service center for
Honeywell gas detection products.
12
3D Rapid Prototyping Changing Manufacturing
By Andy Coutu
Faster. Better. Cheaper.
No, this is not the introduction to a
Six Million Dollar Man episode from the
1970s. Its the new mantra of todays
manufacturing companies, which are
using innovative methods to get their
products to market faster, better and
cheaper than ever before.
Who wouldve thought these words
would be used to describe manufacturing?
In the old days, manufacturing took
time. Time to market was clearly a
lengthy cycle in any industry because get-
ting a product from concept stage to being
available for purchase took time. Product
development often had a difficult time
making it out of the engineering depart-
ment, based on such variables as initial
approval, testing phases, budgeting,
staffing allocations, manufacturing, ship-
ping the list goes on and on.
But today, thats all different. Thanks
to an innovative process known as (3D)
rapid prototyping, time to market can be
greatly reduced. And the strange thing is:
the technology is nothing new. It has been
around for nearly three decades.
Known as additive manufacturing,
3D printing is used to fabricate models,
prototypes and parts out of resin material.
Using a CAD drawing, a part can be print-
ed in a matter of hours.
Todays high-end 3D rapid-prototype
printers have improved exponentially
over the last decade. There are machines
with better print quality and resolution,
significantly higher run speeds, more
material choices, properties and shades of
color, and less of a footprint. Its possible
to buy a 3D printer to sit on your desk
similar in size to a laser printer for print-
ing convenience at your fingertips.
So not only are 3D printers more
capable, but the range and mechanical
properties of 3D print materials are
expanding. The result of all this is that
advanced 3D printers are becoming a
must-have fixture within every large
product-development company, from the
automotive sector to electronic goods and
household appliances.
Manufacturers are able to cut out
much of their secondary tooling process-
es, such as injection molding, resin tool-
ing, mold making and soft tooling. And
all of this will go into helping them short-
en their time to market and reduce costs.
Theres not a mechanical engineer on
the face of the planet who wouldnt want
to hold their product idea in their hands.
To physically see it; to feel its material
properties; and to test how it works. A
design engineer could have a new product
idea on Tuesday, design a CAD drawing of
it on Wednesday morning, and print a 3D
part to have in-hand for the sales depart-
ments customer meeting on Wednesday
afternoon. Rapid prototyping virtually
eliminates the need for preproduction
tooling and speculative costly manu-
facturing.
Engineers today are using 3D rapid
prototyping much the same way the busi-
ness world embraced spell check with
word-processing documents. Its a step in
the process that saves costly mistakes by
enabling form, fit and function testing
prior to manufacturing.
Theres no end to the innovation
that is taking place using 3D rapid proto-
typing, on a small and grand scale.
According to The Wall Street Journal,
Boeing plans to someday make an air-
plane wing without cutting or bending
any metal using a giant 3D printer.
General Electric is getting in on the act,
too, for new technology in health care.
From musical instruments to dental
orthodontics and automotive parts 3D
printing is turning ideas into reality.
Its a fact that the U.S. is competing
with other countries when it comes to
manufacturing at reduced costs. 3D print-
ing is but one tool to explore innovation
and cost reduction, to determine if a prod-
uct can be built stronger with less materi-
al, for example, or as a tool to check if a
new design will function properly.
Businesses today compete with ideas
in a global marketplace. In order to com-
pete in this modern, instant world,
ideas have to be very fast. Whats your
next-generation product? Youd better
come up with it quickly and it needs to be
better than your competitions.
One of our customers is a major lug-
gage manufacturer. We built a prototype
of handles and a new wheel design on a
piece of luggage so it could be tested via
focus group for instant feedback critical to
the manufacturing process. Another cus-
tomer, a world-renowned gaming-tech-
nology company, came up with a cover
design that we prototyped for a casino
machine that would use less plastic, sav-
ing millions of dollars in the process. For
a major golf ball manufacturer we proto-
typed four dozen balls, each with different
dimple arrays, in a matter of two days.
These balls were blown through a wind
tunnel to see how they would react for
speed and accuracy something that
would never have been possible before
with traditional manufacturing processes.
Three-dimensional rapid prototyping
is revolutionizing the manufacturing floor.
The future is here, and its one-off, mean-
ing its possible to produce just one part or
model cost effectively, versus having to
produce thousands. When faced with the
pace of rapid change, 3D printing is allow-
ing more businesses to compete and take
advantage of developing opportunities in
their own backyards and around the world.
It puts imagination and innovation back
into the hands of more companies.
Andy Coutu is president of R&D
Technologies Inc. in North Kingstown, RI.
He can be reached at acoutu@rnd-
tech.com. To learn more about 3D print-
ing, visit www.rnd-tech.com.
The Stow Company
Acquires Distinctive Wine
Cellars, Inc.
Holland - The Stow Company
announced that it has acquired
Distinctive Wine Cellars, Inc. (DWC)
Founded in 2003, DWC is a leading
manufacturer of custom designed, high-
end residential and commercial wine
storage and organization systems.
The acquisition is part of a growth
strategy that includes expanding The
Stow Companys product lines to offer
wood-based organization systems for
every area of the home. The Stow
Company is on a strong path of double
digit growth for all of our brands, and
the acquisition of DWC allows us to meet
the unique needs of the growing wine
lifestyle audience, said Frank Newman,
chief executive officer for The Stow
Company. Were very pleased to be
adding the nations premier wine organ-
ization products to our portfolio.
Were delighted with our acquisi-
tion by The Stow Company, said Vic
Trappe, former president of Distinctive
Wine Cellars. Our companies serve the
same target markets, and share the same
passion for craftsmanship and unparal-
leled customer service. DWCs designs
and products are a perfect fit for The
Stow Companys extensive range of cus-
tom organization systems, Trappe
added. Trappe will serve in a general
management capacity through the tran-
sition period, and will continue as an
authorized dealer in the Indianapolis
market.
The Stow Company will continue to
run the DWC manufacturing operation
from the existing 36,000-square-foot
Indianapolis, Ind. facility, with plans to
offer the wine organization design capa-
bilities and solutions through its existing
channels of distribution.
How To Survive an
OSHA Audit
Continued from page 9
Employers have 15 working days
upon receipt to file an intention to contest
OSHA citations, and/or to request an
informal conference with the area director
to discuss any citations issued. Common
causes to dispute citations include:
The citation is false
The citations dollar penalty is
excessive
You disagree with the citations
contention that the danger was real, seri-
ous, and that an accident was likely to
occur
The contention that you are
responsible for causing the unsafe condi-
tions
Finally, contesting may not relieve
you completely of a penalty, but it may
help you negotiate a lesser fine.
Contesting is usually a good idea. OSHA
typically negotiates with employers to a
lesser penalty amount.
There is no way to avoid an OSHA
audit, much like there is no way to avoid
having a root canal. But similarities
aside, you can lessen the pain by being
well-prepared.
Jim Rhoad is an Outsource Risk
Manager with Ottawa Kent Insurance,
Jenison, MI. He has experience in dealing
with Workers' Compensation issues
across all industries, including construc-
tion and manufacturing. He can be
reached at Jrhoad@ottawakent.com
By Dave Wineman
Michigan - Hosted VoIP is quickly
expanding its footprint in the small to
mid-sized business (SMB) marketplace
because it dramatically improves an orga-
nization's profitability, reduces its risk
and adds an unmatched level of flexibili-
ty to its current operations. In layman's
terms, hosted VoIP is a solution which
enables businesses to utilize their
Internet bandwidth to handle their com-
munications needs, rather than forcing
businesses to rely on traditional solu-
tions, such as PBX hardware TDM switch
that reside on site. According to a report
by AMI Partners, "Hosted VoIP in the
North American SMB market is projected
to expand from 2% market penetration to
over 30% by 2014." Adoption rates are
keeping pace with these aggressive
growth projections and these can be
explained by five key reasons:
Cost Structure
In today's unforgiving economic
environment, business owners are being
forced to reexamine their expenses to see
what can be eliminated, minimized, or
streamlined. The fundamental reason
that businesses are adopting hosted VoIP
technology is because of the profound
effects it has on the bottom line. Since,
hosted VoIP is able to "piggyback" phone
usage on top of Internet bandwidth,
SMBs are able to enjoy substantial
upfront cost savings, as well as recurring
savings when they implement hosted
VoIP. The reason for this is because busi-
nesses don't need to buy expensive sys-
tems or hardware anymore, instead
they're just purchasing individual VoIP
handsets. Instead of purchasing hard-
ware products, (PBX systems, desk
phones, new cables, etc.) businesses are
receiving software-centric value
(Connectivity, Call Tracking and
Reporting, Voice-to-text transcription,
softphones, etc.). This means that a new
phone system is no longer a capital
expenditure, but it's simply a lower level
operating expense. Plus, the ongoing
costs associated with hosted VoIP fluctu-
ates as a function of demand.
It Puts Your Communications on
Auto-Pilot...
For an SMB, resources are scarce.
Businesses don't have the time, nor the
resources to spend dozens of hours train-
ing or supporting employees with new
technology. Instead of learning how to
program button commands or memorizing
extensions, hosted VoIP requires the most
minimal levels of supervision possible and
can be remotely handled by the unified
communications partner. Since it's run off
a simple web interface, businesses don't
need extra IT staff to manage their com-
munications. With most providers it takes
about five minutes for someone to explain
how you use the interface, and you'll prob-
ably end up figuring it out for yourself
before they even finish talking. One per-
son can manage all the features, add users
and subtract users, so the IT department
can focus on fulfilling its other duties. Not
only does hosted VoIP free-up labor hours,
but since it's web-based, it can update
itself and keep pace with the ever-chang-
ing demands of today's business environ-
ment.
Business Continuity
Power outages and natural disasters
are threats facing all businesses but host-
ed VoIP provides a way for organizations
to minimize the negative impacts associ-
ated with these occurrences. Businesses
are attracted to hosted VoIP's ability to
handle these situations smoothly. The
box that runs an SMB's communications
system is off-premise in a secure loca-
tion, and is backed up several times over.
What this ultimately means for organiza-
tions is that in the event of a disaster, the
business can continue to operate just as if
nothing had happened.
Scalability
In today's world, business owners
are expected to know what's around
every corner and they can't afford to be
locked into inflexible technology. Hosted
VoIP enables businesses to neutralize the
risk of the volatile economy. Where tra-
ditional phone systems are affixed to a
certain number of employees, hosted
VoIP can provide organizations with the
flexibility they need to survive. Whether
scaling up, or scaling down, the costs of
adjusting your communications infra-
structure to meet your needs are minis-
cule.
Freedom
Emergent businesses in the SMB
marketplace are using remote applica-
tions to enhance their productivity,
whether they're in the office or not.
Technology such as softphones enable
organizations to work from any location,
at any time and still preserve the same
levels of professionalism exhibited by the
largest companies in the market.
Hosted VoIP is an absolutely powerful
technology that is driving profitability and
improving employee productivity, while
providing companies with a unique com-
petitive advantage. In today's rapidly
changing business environment, organiza-
tions need to be agile and they cannot
afford to be held hostage by static, on
premise technology. Hosted VoIP gives
business owners the freedom to adopt the
latest in communications technology and
the peace of mind that it automatically hap-
pens.
Abadata Computer Corporation was
started in 1981 by David W. Wineman as
the Michigan Distributor of US Robotics
modems and equipment. Abadata has
been serving the needs of nearly every
industry for over 25 years.
Communication & IT
13
Communications & IT
Troy Syntel, Inc., a global information
technology services and Knowledge
Process Outsourcing firm, announced it
inaugurated a new development center in
Baltimore, Maryland.
Grand Rapids SeyferthPR announced
promotion of Tyler Lecceadone from
Senior Account Executive to Vice
President.
Grand Rapids Wondergem Consulting,
Inc. announced appointment of Tom
Hanley, APR, as Senior Consultant,
Director of Public Relations Services, and
will be responsible for strategic public
relations counsel, issues management,
crisis communications, and media rela-
tions.
Grand Rapids Clark Communications
announced hiring Morgan Fedewa as
Public Relations Associate, and will assist
with general client needs, media tracking,
general office management, social media,
and more.
Grand Rapids Wondergem Consulting,
Inc. announced hiring Kevan Chapman
as Senior Consultant and Director of
Public affairs.
Grand Rapids WOOD TV8 announced
anchor shifts starting Monday, January 6,
2014; Marlee Ginter and Brian Sterling
debuts as the new anchor team for 24
Hour News 8 at 10pm on WXSP-TV, and
11pm on WOOD TV8.
West Michigan Technology
Economy Looks Good
Holand -Over 90% of both profes-
sional services and computer consulting
companies in west Michigan expect to hire
information technology staffers in the
first half of 2014. Two-thirds of all
responding companies have similar plans.
However, only a third of health care com-
panies are adding staff, fewer than in the
past several years. Perhaps they had to do
their hiring earlier to implement the recent
increases in digital record keeping. Now
their hiring can slow since the initial
changes are in place.
There is increasing demand for sup-
port workers while the demand for sys-
tems people is slacking off. This could
indicate that new systems were put in
place earlier and now the general users
need more support in using these sys-
tems. Applications staffers continue to be
most desired. Mid level workers are still
most needed.
Slightly more companies expect IT
pay rates to increase in the next six
months than did during for the past half
year. More companies will be outsourcing
projects; twice as many expect to do
national outsourcing as did in the last
forecast. Local and offshore outsourcing
will be down.
Our chief recruiting officer Beth
DeWilde says, Demand for technology
talent continues to surpass supply.
Companies are being somewhat more
flexible in considering candidates who
may not have the specific technology tools
originally needed, but who demonstrate
the aptitude and attitude to learn and who
have a strong work ethic.
Twice each year, since 2003, Paragon
Recruiting in Holland, MI, polls senior IT
managers in the West Michigan market to
determine what the future holds for IT
staffing, outsourcing, and pay rates. Each
forecast includes responses from about
100 companies.
Five Reasons Why Hosted VoIP is
Experiencing Explosive Growth
General Business
Lansing Techniques of Alcohol
Management, a nationwide non-profit
alcohol server training program, is the
most recognized alcohol server training
program in Michigan for bars, restaurants
and alcohol retail stores, and the most
recognized program of Michigan law
enforcement officials.
Grand Rapids Tuttles Select Cigars
and Tobaccos was selected Grand
Rapids Best Cigar Shop according to
Grand Rapids Magazine.
Lansing Michigan Veterans Affairs
Agency Director Jeff Barnes announced
Michigan State Tax Commission deter-
mined individuals who are eligible for the
recently expanded disabled veterans
property tax exemption can now file for
that exemption in July 2014, if they
missed the December 2013 deadline in
their communities.
Lansing Michigan Licensed Beverage
Association announced newest staffer,
Scott Walsh, State Program Manager for
Michigan - the first primary in-house
Techniques of Alcohol Management
instructor in decades.
Grand Rapids West Michigan Network
for Animal Protection will launch this
month and will be comprised of six local
animal welfare organizations dedicated to
increasing adoptions and reducing
euthanasia through education, advocacy,
and spaying and neutering of animals.
Holland City of Holland and Holland
Board of Public Works announced an
agreement with Sierra Club to cease burn-
ing coal at three remaining coal-burning
units at the James De Young power plant,
resolving all pending litigation between
Sierra Club and the City of Holland, and
resolving Clean Air Act violations.
Lansing Michigan Public Service
Commission approved DTE Energys plan
to slash its renewable energy surcharge by
85%, bringing the fee down from $3 to
43cents per month as a result of declining
price of wind energy, which is now cheap-
er than all other forms of energy.
Muskegon Chart House Energy, LLC -
provides discounted, emission-free elec-
tricity through developing sustainable
clean energy generation systems such as
solar panel installations for commercial,
industrial and governmental facilities -
signed a one-year agreement with Grand
Valley State Universitys Michigan
Alternative and Renewable Energy
Center to occupy business incubator
space.
Grand Rapids The American Red Cross
of West Michigan named Joe Corrado as
Major Gifts Officer for the region.
Wayland Gun Lake Casino has com-
pleted its construction which includes
expanded parking, and a new spacious
valet entrance located at the east side of
the casino building with a new contempo-
rary, state-of-the-art porte-cochere which
features heated ceiling lamps for guest
comfort.
Grand Rapids Non-profit Artist
Creating Together announced hiring
Angela Steele as Executive Director.
Grand Rapids Viking Partners, repre-
sented by Colliers International, wel-
comed Planet Fitness, the innovative
health club franchise known for its
Judgment Free Zone and affordable
prices, to Rivertown Center.
14
Smoking Cessation Medication Effective
Chicago Among smokers with
schizophrenia or bipolar disease who
achieved initial smoking abstinence with
a standard 12-week course of the smok-
ing cessation drug varenicline, an addi-
tional 40 weeks of treatment resulted in
abstinence rates that were three times
higher than patients who received place-
bo, according to a study in the January 8
issue of JAMA.
Although tobacco smoking among
adults has declined by 55 percent in the
United States since 1965, smoking preva-
lence among adults with serious mental
illness remains higher now than it was in
the general population in 1965. Six mil-
lion of the 11.4 million adults (53 per-
cent) with serious mental illness smoke
tobacco (individuals with mental illness
smoke at rates approximately twice that
of adults without mental disorders).
Relatively small trials have reported phar-
macologic cessation aids increase initial
abstinence rates over behavioral treat-
ment alone for smokers with schizophre-
nia, suggesting behavioral treatment
alone is ineffective for smoking cessation
in this population. Standard courses of
pharmacotherapeutic cessation aids
improve short-term abstinence, but most
who attain abstinence relapse rapidly
after discontinuation of pharmacothera-
py, according to background information
in the article.
Eden Evins, M.D., M.P.H., of
Massachusetts General Hospital and
Harvard Medical School, Boston, and col-
leagues, including Eric Achtyes, M.D., of
Cherry Street Health Services and
Michigan State University, Grand Rapids,
Mich., evaluated the efficacy of longer-
term varenicline use and cognitive behav-
ioral therapy (CBT) in smokers with seri-
ous mental illness. The trial included 247
smokers with schizophrenia or bipolar
disease who received varenicline for 12-
weeks and CBT; 87 met abstinence criteria
to enter the relapse prevention interven-
tion.
Participants who had 2 weeks or
more of continuous abstinence at week 12
of treatment were randomly assigned to
receive CBT and varenicline or placebo
from weeks 12 to 52. Participants then
discontinued study treatment and were
followed up to week 76. Eighty-two per-
cent (33 of 40) of those assigned to
varenicline and 60 percent (28 of 47) of
those receiving placebo remained in the
study from weeks 12 through 52.
The researchers found that 24 of 40
patients (60 percent) in the extended-
duration varenicline group achieved a
biochemically verified (via exhaled carbon
monoxide) abstinence rate at week 52 vs.
9 of 47 patients (19 percent) in the place-
bo group. From weeks 12 through 52, 45
percent of patients achieved continuous
abstinence in the varenicline group vs. 15
percent in the placebo group. After treat-
ment discontinuation, by week 76, 30
percent of patients in the varenicline
group vs. 11 percent in the placebo group
had been continuously abstinent since
randomizations at week 12 (for a total of
16 months). Participants assigned to
maintenance varenicline had higher con-
tinuous-abstinence rates at every post-
randomization visit during the 40 weeks
of relapse-prevention treatment.
Treatment assignment did not have
an effect on severity of psychiatric symp-
toms, on self-report of overall health,
body mass index, or on nicotine with-
drawal symptoms.
The authors write that maintenance
treatment as indicated in this study may
reduce the high prevalence of tobacco
dependence and reduce the heavy burden
of smoking-related morbidity and mortal-
ity in those with serious mental illness.
Hospice of Michigan Offers Men Grief Support
Grand Rapids Hospice of Michigan
is offering an ongoing support group for
men dealing with issues of grief and loss.
The Men and Grief group meets
monthly and focuses on the unique issues
faced by men dealing with grief and loss.
Men share insights, receive information
about what to expect when grieving, and
learn specific strategies and coping skills
for more effectively managing grief. Each
session is led by HOM Grief Support
Services Manager Dan Krajewski.
Discussions are held on the first
Tuesday of each month from 6:30 8 p.m.
at Hospice of Michigan, 989 Spaulding
Ave. SE in Ada. The meetings are free,
however advance registration is required.
Often times, men may be more
unprepared than women to deal with the
loss of a loved one, Krajewski explained.
There is a general cultural expectation
that men dont cry and must not show their
emotions when dealing with grief. Falling
into a depression or experiencing emotions
such as unexpected anger may impact
mens ability to move through grief.
If they have lost a spouse, men may
feel confused or guilty about romantic
feelings for a future partner. They may
have to perform aspects of household
upkeep that were once managed primarily
by a spouse, for example cooking meals
or purchasing birthday gifts for family
members. Sharing these concerns with
others may provide support and practical
solutions to ease a period of mourning.
We must remember that each per-
son is unique in their grief and whatever
form grief takes it must be a healthy
approach. There are many positive ways
men can successfully move through the
process of grief.
This group is held in an informal and
confidential atmosphere. Krajewski noted
that the men who have attended the
group greatly benefited from their experi-
ence and often continue their involvement
assisting others in their grief.
15
Legal/Accounting/Consulting Briefs
Grand Rapids David Skidmore, partner
with law firm Warner Norcross & Judd
LLP, was appointed to Board of Directors
of Broadway Grand Rapids.
Grand Rapids Michigan Lawyers
Weekly honored Gatan Gerville-
Rache, partner with law firm Warner
Norcross & Judd, LLP, as one of 26 Up
& Coming Lawyers for 2013.
Grand Rapids For the third consecutive
year, the law firm of Warner Norcross &
Judd, LLP, was recognized as a Go-To
Law Firm by ALM.
Lansing Honigman Miller Schwartz
and Cohn, LLP, announced Noel E. Day,
Ph.D., partner in the firms Intellectual
Property Department, was named one of
26 Michigan Lawyers Weeklys Up and
Coming lawyers.
Grand Rapids Miller Johnson
announced Kaley M. Connelly as new
Associate in their Employee Benefits and
Executive Compensation practice group.
Grand Rapids Mika Meyers Beckett &
Jones promoted Carey A. Brechting to
Assistant Administrator/Accounting.
Grand Rapids Price Heneveld, LLP
announced promotion of Aaron J. Wong
to Partner. His experience includes trade-
mark procurement and enforcement, and
patent prosecution for the automotive,
furniture, and pharmaceutical industries.
Grand Rapids Miller Johnson
announced Annalise Buth and Patrick
Jaicomo joined their Litigation section.
Grandville Kaptein, Dykstra &
Company, PC, announced promotion of
Joel Holstege to partner.
Grand Rapids Nikole L. Canute, mem-
ber of the law firm Mika Meyers Beckett
& Jones, PLC, was selected as a member
of Michigan Lawyers Weekly 2013 Up &
Coming Lawyers.
Grand Rapids Warner Norcross &
Judd, LLP announced nine attorneys
named as partners: Troy M. Cumings,
Chair of the firms Government Affairs
Practice Group; James B. Cunningham;
Brian P. Lennon; Jonathan E.
Lauderbach; Elisabeth M. Von Eitzen;
Jeena S. Patel; Laura E. Morriss;
Amanda M. Fielder; and Scott M.
Watson.
Comerica Regional Economic Update
Central West Michigan
Central West Michigans Economy
Continues to Improve
Auto-related and furniture manu-
facturing industries are the mainstays of
the Central West Michigan economy.
Healthcare, biotechnology, higher educa-
tion, and high-tech industries also con-
tribute tremendously to the re-gions
economy. Out of more than 82,700 man-
ufacturing jobs created in the state of
Michigan since January 2009, about 14.7
percent of those jobs were created in the
Central West Michigan region.
Payroll job growth is moderating in
the region after a surge of 2.63 percent
(year-over-year) in 2012Q2. Year-over-
year payroll job growth of 2.0 percent in
October was well above the national aver-
age of 1.7 percent. The unem-ployment
rate of 7.2 percent was slightly lower than
the national average of 7.3 percent in Q3.
The unemploy-ment rate is expected to
decline more slowly than the national
average trend, mainly because of the
moderate prospect of job growth down the
road. Both single and multifamily housing
starts grew stronger in 2013Q2 after a
significant decline in Q1. We expect that
the total housing starts will continue to
increase thorough 2014. Similar-ly, house
prices continued to increase in Q3. Year-
over-year growth of house prices of 5.2
percent was well below the national aver-
age of 8.4 percent for the quarter. The
below-average trend in house price
growth is expected to continue through
2014, consistent with moderate income
growth.
The U.S. outlook for office furniture
production is encouraging for 2014.
Office construction is expected to in-
crease in 2014 as overall economic condi-
tions improve. U.S. auto sales are also
expected to improve in 2014, to a 16.6
million unit sales rate, up from approxi-
mately 15.7 million units in 2013.
Finance/Insurance/Banking Briefs
Jenison Ottawa Kent Insurance named
Terri Majeski to Client Risk Advisor in its
Commercial Lines Division, and will over-
see overall administration of program,
policy amendments, invoicing and state-
ments for the company.
Grand Rapids Northpointe Bank
announced hiring Craig Wolffis, Area
Manager of Northpointes mortgage lend-
ing business.
Jenison US Small Business
Administration and Economic
Development Foundation, along with
partner Chase Bank, worked together on
the SBA 504 loan program - provides
long term, low down payment and fixed
interest rate financing - allowing Prestige
Transport to purchase their building at
2000 Chicago Dr.
Zeeland Allied Business Services, Inc.,
full service collection agency and receiv-
ables management firm, was named
National Best and Brightest Companies
to Work For by National Association for
Business Resources.
Holland Lakeshore 504 celebrated its
30th year of helping small businesses
grow and succeed with Celebrate the
Entrepreneur, and awarded recipients
Craig Oosterhouse of Chase Bank with
Central Region Banker of the Year Award,
Ron Mann of Chemical Bank with
Northern Region Banker of the Year
Award, and Chase Bank with 2013 Bank
of the Year Award. Since Lakeshore 504s
inception in 1983, the organization has
lent over 98 million dollars in loans to
over 230 local small business owners cre-
ating over 1,500 jobs.
Grand Rapids Northpointe Bank
announced hiring new Loan Officers in
the banks mortgage lending division:
Michael Bartels, Doug Nykamp, and Beth
Osterhaven.
Holland Macatawa Bank welcomed
Sandy De Groot, Relationship Manager
at the banks Clyde Park office, and will
be responsible for building new customer
relationships, opening new accounts,
loans and investments.
Lansing Lake Trust Credit Unions 2nd
annual Lake-to-Lake Food Drive collected
over 24,000 pounds of food to donate to
local food banks for families in need this
holiday season.
Grand Rapids Founders Bank & Trust,
announced Stephen Grey joined as AVP -
Commercial Lending.
Holland Macatawa Bank welcomed
Bryan Wait, Branch Manager, to their
Douglas office.
Fremont ChoiceOne Bank announced
addition of Annette Powell to their home
Mortgage Lending team.
Sparta Boards of Directors of
ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc., and
ChoiceOne Bank appointed Paul
Johnson, former owner and retired
President of Falcon Resources, Inc., to
Chairman of their respective Boards of
Directors.