December 2008

Business
update
$2.00

1993-2008 ublication

Celebrates 60th
Anniversary

Business
update
ublication

Featur es:
Family Owned Business
Education
Estate & Tax Planning
Sur veying
Constr uction Management
Plastics/Steel Supply
 Wind Turbine to Rise on KVCC Campus
Kalamazoo - Known once as “The 25-foot blades should be installed
Windmill City,” Kalamazoo will be going between Christmas and New Year’s Day,
back to the future when work begins and be ready to generate 15 percent of
Monday on bringing a 150-foot wind tur- the energy needed to power the technical
bine to KVCC’s Texas Township Campus. wing at KVCC by the first of 2009.
With the college receiving a special- KVCC’s wind turbine, which could be
use permit and an approval of a site plan the first of four, will overlook the soccer
this week from the Texas Township and ball fields on the west end of the
Planning Commission, the 50-kilowatt campus. The $250,000 project is viewed
unit with its 125-foot tower and trio of as an investment in energy conservation
and in technical education.
As an indicator that “everything old
is new again,” Kalamazoo is flashing
back in its industrial history when in the
late-19th and early-20th centuries, the
city was home to several major manufac-
turers that, at their peak, made 4,000
windmills annually and sold 1,500 to
overseas markets.
Designed, built and installed by
2
Entegrity Wind Systems Inc., which has a
sales office in Boulder, Colo., the 50-kilo-
watt wind turbine supplements the energy
source needed to power large buildings and
combats rising utility rates. Its purchase
and installation is being funded by one of
the college’s “Innovative Thinking” grants.
But it will also be a powerful teach-
ing and learning tool for KVCC’s technical
programs, and serve as the symbol of the
college’s plans to establish a Wind
Energy Center.
Earlier this year, according to
Deborah Dawson, KVCC’s dean of busi-
ness and advanced technology, the
Michigan Energy Office awarded the col-
lege a $6,000 grant to purchase equip-
ment to provide students “real-time”
experiences with this alternative source
of energy and train the next generation of
technicians in this field.
One of the purchases was a miniature
version of a three-bladed turbine with a
five-foot propeller span. KVCC’s technical
programs are infusing wind-power com-
ponents into their curriculums. In the
works is a one-year, 35-credit-hour cer-
tificate for wind-energy technicians.
Other objectives include educating
the public about alternative sources of
energy and to get high school students,
such as those enrolled at the Kalamazoo
Area Mathematics and Science Center,
involved so that they can increase their
knowledge and awareness about the effi-
ciencies of wind energy.
“An educational institution leading by
example is the way I see it,” said James
DeHaven, vice president for economic and
business development. He believes the
KVCC Wind Energy Center, which will be
based in the M-TEC on the college’s Groves
Campus along I-94, will have educational,
job-training, employment, entrepreneurial,
and research-and-development ramifica-
tions for this part of the state.
The turbine operating at the WMU
College of Engineering and viewable
along U. S. 131 is a 1.8-kilowatt unit.
The one on the Texas Township Campus
will 25 times more powerful.
While wind is now “in,” it’s been a
long time coming, according to one of
Entegrity’s executives.
“The time for wind energy came with
the first Arab oil embargo in late 1973
when it became evident that energy was
such a big part of the economy of every-
body,” said Malcolm Lodge, who has 30
years of wind-energy engineering to his
credit as the firm’s president and chief
technical officer.
According to a Michigan State
University study, Michigan could produce
320,000 megawatts of energy -- more
than 10 times the amount of electricity
needed during a peak-use period -- if
100,000 offshore wind turbines operated
along the Great Lakes.
Continued on page 4
 Family-Owned Businesses Find Partner in 3
Private Equity
By Greg Myers processes. Whether it’s in the form of a cap- work of other resources—such as a board of to make strategic decisions that can pay off
ital infusion to bolster IT systems or a fresh directors with valuable industry experi- in the long run, but wouldn’t be as attractive
There comes a time in many business perspective on the marketplace, a PE’s ence—to assist management teams in to stock-market investors.
owners’ lives when they want to exit their involvement can breathe new life into a achieving strategic objectives. Compete globally.
company. Unfortunately, many family busi- mature company. Plan for long-term growth. Globalization is now a major factor in
ness owners overlook exit planning and are Gain a strategic planning partner. PE is a viable alternative to the cash most industries. Some mid-market business-
uninformed about all the options available. For many mid-market PE firms, infusion a public offering brings and it es may not be equipped to compete globally.
As a result, numerous family-run companies involvement comes through strategic plan- allows for steadier, longer-term growth. But the resources and know-how of a
are caught unprepared, and face less than ning and providing additional resources to Under the public microscope, companies are PE firm can help them enter new markets
optimal ownership transition options, or help improve and build the business. In held to short-term growth goals measured and serve new customers worldwide.
simply go out of business. addition to capital, a PE firm may have a net- quarter by quarter. PE allows more flexibility Continued on page 8
It’s critical that family business owners
consider what will happen to the company if
they retire. Most family business owners
assume another family member will take the
reins, but according to statistics, that’s rarely
the case.
Thirty percent of family-owned busi-
nesses successfully transfer from the first
generation to the second, about 12 percent
transfer to the third generation and only
about 3 percent make it to the fourth gener-
ation, according to the Family Business
Institute, Raleigh, N.C.
While there are several exit options, an
increasing number of family business owners
are partnering with private equity firms.
There are many benefits to a PE partnership,
such as the opportunity to keep the business
independent and avoid selling to a competitor,
as well as the option to remain with the busi-
ness or cash out. Meanwhile, business own-
ers get a sense of comfort knowing that their
company and its employees will be taken care
of, and will not simply become a production
facility or local branch for a competitor.
New Ernest & Young Study Praises PE
A recent study by Ernest & Young pro-
vides further support behind the value of
partnering with a PE firm. The study ana-
lyzed metrics for the 100 largest private-
equity exits worldwide in 2007 alongside the
performance of comparable publicly traded
companies over the same period.
The study found that companies sold by
private equity firms increased in enterprise
value at an annual, compounded rate of 24
percent while in a PE firm’s portfolio—dou-
ble the rate of the comparable publicly trad-
ed companies. PE firms also increased the
earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation
and amortization (EBITDA) of these portfo-
lio companies 37 percent faster than their
publicly traded counterparts did. Finally,
these companies improved productivity lev-
els 33 percent faster than publicly traded
company benchmarks.
The outperformance stems from the PE
business model, which produces measurable
growth, productivity improvements and
profit increases at a greater rate. In turn,
those gains increase enterprise value.
Benefits of Private Equity Investment
Many business owners may not fully
understand the advantages they can gain by
leveraging a PE investment. Following are
five of the most important benefits owners of
family-owned businesses can expect from
the right PE firm.
Spark business growth.
A good PE firm brings efficient systems
into a company, narrows the focus, identifies
new markets and integrates value-added
 Cover: Haworth Celebrates 60th Anniversary
Holland - Haworth, Inc. celebrated
its 60th anniversary onsite its global
headquarters – One Haworth Center. A
member reception featured Dick
Haworth, Chairman of the Board, com-
memorating Haworth’s West Michigan
roots, growth to becoming a world leader
in the design and manufacture of office
furniture and organic workspaces, and
dedication of nearly 8,000 members
world-wide.
“I’m honored to celebrate the jour-
ney we’ve taken to providing workspace
solutions anywhere in the world with the
highest standard of quality,” said Dick
Haworth, Haworth Chairman. “I celebrate
our members’ passion for serving our
customers, embracing change, continu-
ously pursuing greater effectiveness,
striving for excellence in quality, and
striving to make the world a better place
to live. These are the values which define
Business
update ublication
Publisher: Gary Kralapp
Senior Vice President: Jim Lroy
Vice President: Diane LaPreze
Director of Business Development: Tom Handy
Contributing Writers: Craig Datema, Rolf
Dobelli, Mike Frandsen, Max Friar, Marla
Huizing, Jennifer Jordan, Howard Milove,
Greg Myers, and Randall Patterson
Managing Editor: Carol M. Kralapp
Associate Editor: Matt Decker
Printing/Distribution: News Web Printing
Accountant: Michael Tawney & Company
Legal: Miller Canfield Paddock & Stone
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Haworth and are the same values on
which Haworth was founded.”
History
Innovation and flexibility have been
Haworth cornerstones since the company
was founded in 1948. These principles
remain the driving force today, as
Chairman Dick Haworth and President
and CEO Franco Bianchi lead a worldwide
effort to create great, adaptable work-
spaces.
Originally known as Modern
Products, the company's founder G.W.
Haworth was driven by two dreams—to
start his own business and to put his five
children through college. Today, those
dreams have led to Haworth becoming a
global leader in workspace solutions,
with quality products and customer-
focused members propelling the compa-
ny’s growth.
In the beginning, Modern Products
represented a variety of wood products.
In 1954, the company shifted focus to
office environments with the develop-
ment of modular office partitions, prede-
cessors of panel systems. G.W. was an
early proponent of sustainability, decades
before the word entered the popular lexi-
con. Stories abound of his legendary pas-
sion for reuse and recycling. His devo-
tion to stewardship is one of his greatest
gifts to the company as it continues on
the journey to sustainability.
The company name was changed in
1976, with the introduction of the world's
first pre-wired modular panel. That year,
Dick Haworth also became President and
CEO. Business remained centered around
office furniture systems until the early
1980s, when office seating was added to
Haworth's product offering. Since then,
the company has continued to move
toward complete workspace solutions.
In the late 1980s, Haworth expanded
globally in North America, Europe and
Asia, and continued to achieve more
industry firsts. Haworth also earned
awards for sustainability, leadership,
community service and member job satis-
faction.
In 2005, Franco Bianchi became the
president and CEO after more than 10
years with Haworth in Europe, and Dick
Haworth assumed a new position as
Chairman of the Board.
In 2008, the new One Haworth
Center opened in Holland, MI showcasing
the best of the company’s adaptable, sus-
tainable and user-focused innovations.
4
Today the family-owned private
Haworth, Inc. operates in three geograph-
ic sectors: North America, Europe,
Asia/Pacific. Haworth connects suppliers
and more than 600 independent dealers
with 24 ISO-9001 registered manufactur-
ing sites in 10 countries and offer prod-
ucts and services in over 120 countries.
Haworth, Inc. is a global leader in
the design and manufacture of office fur-
niture and organic workspaces, including
raised access floors, moveable walls, sys-
tems furniture, seating, storage and wood
casegoods. Family-owned and privately
held, Haworth is headquartered in
Holland, Michigan, and serves markets in
more than 120 countries through a glob-
al network of 600 dealers. The company
had net sales of US $1.66 billion in 2007.
Wind Turbine
Continued from page 2
That would be 80 times greater than
the projected output of the world’s largest
wind farm being planned by billionaire T.
Boone Pickens in Texas.
In addition to the free winds that
come across Lake Michigan, the state has
the manufacturing infrastructure and
technical workforce to become a major
player in this industry. While the United
States ranks second globally to Germany
in the generation of electricity courtesy of
the wind, that amount is only 1 percent of
the nation’s total energy output.
Regarding noise and peril to winged
wildlife, John Patten, a WMU professor of
engineering who is serving as the col-
lege’s consultant on the wind-energy
project, told an audience this fall that
“windmills generate no more noise than
the average conversation, and kill fewer
birds than cats, cars and skyscrapers –
less than one for every 10,000 killed by
humans.”
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 Weightless Flight Program for Teachers Reports 5
Dramatic Impact in Student Interest in Science and Math
Los Angeles, CA – The Northrop
Grumman Foundation announced that a
recent poll of more than 200 teachers who
participated in its 2006 and 2007
Weightless Flights of Discovery Program
reveals the initiative is meeting its goal in
driving student interest in science, tech-
nology, engineering and math (STEM).
The findings, which come amid the
conclusion of the third year of the
Weightless Flights of Discovery Program,
are an encouraging sign given the demand
for skilled and talented labor to fill the
technology and engineering jobs neces-
sary for everything from the development
of alternative sources of energy, to new
technologies, to space exploration.
By focusing the Weightless Flights
program on teachers rather than students,
the program has achieved maximum
“reach” for the lessons of its microgravity
“classroom,” delivering inspiration to an
estimated 25,500 elementary, middle
school and high school students in its first
three years. This year, teachers from
around the country participated in the pro-
gram, which made stops in San Jose, Calif;
“Florida’s Space Coast ,” Atlanta, and
Chicago. It is expected the participation of
this year’s teachers will reach an estimat-
ed 6,000 students with the message that
“science is cool.”
According to the online poll of 205
teachers who participated in year one and
two of the Northrop Grumman Foundation
program, 91.9% report a notable increase
in their students’ overall interest in sci-
ence. Additionally, 74.6% report an
increased number of students expressing a
desire to continue to study science and
math in high school and/or college with
77.8% of teachers reporting a rise in the
number of students who have expressed a
desire to pursue a career in a science or
math related field – a key goal of the
Northrop Grumman Foundation program.
Traci Bourgeois, a teacher at Patrick F.
Taylor School in Jefferson, New Orleans,
who participated in the 2007 weightless
flights program, said, “I have students
who for the first time want to become
engineers instead of doctors or lawyers.”
“The results from this poll are truly
exciting and indicative of what the
Northrop Grumman Foundation is all
about in its mission to impact STEM,” said
Sandra Evers-Manly, president of the
Northrop Grumman Foundation and vice
president of Office of Corporate
Responsibility for the company. “The need
to ensure the competitiveness of the U.S.
in the areas of engineering and technolo-
gy for the future remains a very real chal-
lenge, and much of the solution lies with-
in our ability to instill a passion and inter-
est in science and math among the next
generation.”
Nearly two-thirds of teachers
(60.7%) also report more of their students
are participating in science club and other
related extra-curricular activities.
Participants also reported a turnaround in expenses related to travel to and from the ation of a school-wide “gravity day,” and
the number of notably disengaged stu- workshops and flights. another used in-flight video of a ball drop-
dents. According to 83.5% of teachers, According to the poll, 95.6% of teach- ping in front of a tape measure to have
students who were previously disinterest- ers said they have incorporated their students determine what “G” they were in
ed in science and math have shown weightless flight experiences into their by calculating the acceleration.
marked interest. One respondent cited a lesson plans; one teacher reported the cre- Continued on page 12
third grade student with a discipline prob-
lem who so enjoyed hearing about his
teacher’s experience that the student
signed up for an additional science-related
inter-session course, created successful
experiments, and has now set his sights
on one day being part of the U.S. space
program.
Charles Fulco, who teaches at Port
Chester Middle School in Port Chester,
N.Y., said, “I formed an after-school sci-
ence club because of my flight, and now
have about 15 very interested children
doing all sorts of science-related experi-
ments and field trips.”
“The Northrop Grumman Foundation
provided me with an unforgettable experi-
ence to which my students most definitely
benefit,” said Catherine Meechan of
Salem Middle School in Virginia Beach,
Va. “My students are empowered to take
my achievements a step further, and they
Rockford: 616-866-5469
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The Northrop Grumman Foundation Grand Rapids Industrial: 616-247-4754
Weightless Flights of Discovery program is
an initiative that places teachers on micro-
and zero-gravity flights to test Newton 's Grand Rapids Professional: 616-247-0004
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ticipants take part in a flight aboard a 727
aircraft that creates weightlessness and Holland: 616-399-0500
lunar and Martian gravity environments in
the cabin by running parabolic (arc-like)
flight patterns. Prior to the flights, teach-
ers participate in one-day workshop where
they learn about science and engineering
concepts, zero-gravity environments, and
science and math curriculum development.
The Northrop Grumman Foundation's
sponsorship enables participants to take
part in the program at no cost, excluding
 The Year-End Tax Planning
Challenge
As the end of the
year approaches, it is
a good time to focus
on last minute moves
you can make to save
on taxes – both for
your 2008 return and
for future years. This
year’s planning is
Marla Huizing made more challeng-
ing by the state of the
stock market, the upcoming leadership
changes in the White House and Congress,
as well as the possibility that another eco-
nomic stimulus package with tax changes
will be enacted before the end of the year.
The time honored approach to tax
planning is to defer income and accelerate
deductions to minimize current year taxes.
This strategy has been made a little easier
with the alternative minimum tax (AMT)
“patch” for 2008, a number of additional
tax breaks and credits (including a tax
credit for first-time homebuyers), and
50% “bonus” depreciation and beefed up
expensing options for businesses who
acquire new machinery and equipment.
However, certain “high income” tax-
payers may want to consider a different
strategy – accelerate income into the cur-
rent year and defer deductions into next
year.
Throughout Senator Obama’s cam-
paign, he has indicated plans for reform of
the tax system, and with the Democrats
controlling both houses of Congress it is
likely we will see some of his proposals
realized. As many of the tax cuts imple-
mented during the Bush presidency are set
for expiration in 2010, the new adminis-
tration will have to determine whether to
extend those provision or let them expire.
The current state of the economy and the
increasing budget deficit may cause the
new president to act on tax reform sooner
rather than later.
Under Obama’s plan, tax rates for
“high income” taxpayers (adjusted gross
income of $250,000 for joint returns,
$200,000 for single returns) would
increase from 36% to 39.6%, and the top
rate for capital gains for these same tax-
payers would increase from 15% to 20%.
Fewer exemptions and deduction would be
available, and an additional 2 to 4% pay-
roll tax on employees whose earnings are
more than $250,000 is possible.
Obama has also proposed making
permanent the estate tax, with a $3.5 mil-
lion exemption and a top tax rate of 45%
For taxpayers not in the “high
income” category, Obama proposed addi-
tional tax cuts, including a $1,000 tax
credit for low wage earners, a 10% mort-
gage tax credit for taxpayers who don’t
itemize, oil company windfall tax to fund
$1,000 rebates to help pay higher energy
costs, expanded child and dependent care
credit, adoption credit, and the earned
income credit, no income tax for seniors
earning less than $50,000, expanded col-
lege credits, and penalty free withdrawal
from retirement accounts and a removal of
the Required Minimum Distributions for
retirees older than 70 ?.
Without a multi-year outlook, you
can’t be certain maneuvers intended to
save taxes on your 2008 return won’t
backfire and cost additional money in the
future. This is especially true this year,
with many changes almost certain to take
effect in 2009. For year-end tax planning,
this year it certainly isn’t business as
usual.
Marla is a Partner in Beene Garter's
Tax Planning and Preparation Services
department. With over 25 years of public
accounting experience, Marla has assited
clients in achieving their financial goals in
a wide array of industries. Her areas of
expertise include individual, corporate,
partnership, limited liability company,
estate gift, and fiduciary taxation.
Intern Initiative Grant 6
Kalamazoo - Businesses and indus-
tries are invited to partner in a major
internship initiative that Kalamazoo Valley
Community College plans to launch in
January.
Funded for a three-year period by the
KVCC Foundation, the $100,000 project
seeks to place at least 55 students per aca-
demic year with enterprises interested in a
grow-your-own-workforce alliance.
The bulk of the grant funds will be
used to pay up to 50 percent of the wages
for KVCC students accepted for internships
through December of 2011, with the com-
panies they work for providing the bal-
ance.
“The number of students who take
part could increase,” said Diane
Vandenberg, assistant director of the KVCC
Student Success Center, “if a company
agrees to increase the ratio to 75-25, or to
pay the entire amount.”
While the initiative is targeting enter-
prises involved in bio-medical services,
alternative fuels, and the digital arts, com-
panies involved in other sectors of the
regional economy are also invited to take
part.
The said salary terms will be estab-
lished on a case-by-case basis and agreed
upon prior to the commencement of the
internship. The pay can range from the
minimum wage of $7.40 to $12 per hour.
Called the “Community Partners
Internship Program,” its parameters were
forged by Vandenberg, Lois Brinson and
Karen Phelps. The latter two oversee the
center’s Student Employment Services
activities.
“We see this as the college’s wish
to join forces with Southwest Michigan
employers to produce and retain a highly
talented and trained workforce,”
Vandenberg said.
For many enterprises -- and not just
those in emerging businesses -- the No. 1
factor for achieving success is finding the
right people to fit the right
jobs. Internships are tried-
and-true ways to “grow your
own” and identify prospects
with high potential.
It’s the classic win-win
equation: great experience
for those who are selected as
interns and a no-strings-
attached arrangement on the
part of the employer because
internships are basically
akin to temporary jobs.
The employer gets
essentially a low-cost look at
a potential permanent
employee who could either
be somebody who would not
be a good fit or somebody
who has “the right stuff” to
be a future leader.
In order to find that out,
interns -- while supervised
and operating within a struc-
tured work environment – can be given
enough autonomy and enough leeway to
determine their own direction. That
allows the employer to evaluate the per-
son’s judgment, how he or she works with
other people, and work habits. Few one-
on-one interviews provide those types of
measurements.
“This will give students a strong
foundation of work experience,”
Vandenberg said, “while providing an
opportunity to cultivate professional net-
works that could jumpstart their careers
with businesses in our part of the state.
“Because of financial constraints,”
she said, “many students have not been
able to participate in an unpaid internship
program. KVCC will be able to attract more
students in more career paths because of
these paid internships.
“This connection with local business-
es will allow students to practically apply
what they have been learning in the class-
room,” Vandenberg said. “Better yet, they
will bring back that experience to our
classrooms and help the college continue
to provide relevant training and instruc-
tions.”
KVCC students can apply when they
have achieved the skills and education
required by the company offering the
internship, and when they have completed
50 percent of the course work in their
respective majors.
They will also be required to complete
pre-employment-skills training provided
by the center’s Student Employment
Services. This training will include resume
writing, effective cover letters, interview-
ing skills, professional attire, personal
hygiene, promptness and dependability,
communication skills, and non-verbal
behavior.
Each company can request an intern
based on the area of study, skills needed,
duties expected, hours of work, and when
the person is needed on the job. Each will
select an intern based on the organiza-
tion’s existing hiring methods and criteria.
According to the National Association
of Colleges and Employers, nearly 70 per-
cent of interns receive full-time positions
from their employers. This ratio has
increased 13 percent since 2001.
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 CEO Profile: Jeffery L. Brittan 7
“I have a great family,” said Brittan, “I year we have the opportunity to certainly for the clients and something that is cer-
have a son that is 23 years old and he also exceed that. Within the business portfolio tainly propagating the growth of the
works in the business. My wife is very we actually have several companies that organization.
supportive and if we continue to grow at are engaged with the client to provide a More universally speaking, Brittan
20% like we have been, there will be a lot “total-turn key” approach. The whole expressed concern over the state of the
more travel involved especially as we look opportunity here, which is the key, is total- economy but explained why he thinks his
Nationally. I am very appreciative of my ly serving and meeting the clients’ needs. company will be okay.
wife and family. My extended family is all We not only have the consulting side of the “I think the economy will more than
residents in the area of Southwest business but we now have the construction likely continue to soften over the next six
Michigan as well.” side as well,” said Brittan, “In addition to to nine months before it stabilizes, I don’t
Brittan has over 30 years of experi- providing consulting and engineering serv- think we’ve reached the bottom yet,” said
ence in building management regarding ices we actually have a contractor who can Brittan, “but where all of us stand right
the remediation of building envelopes and accomplish a full “turn-key” service for the now is we don’t have to worry about the
roofs. He also has been personally and client. For National Accounts we acquired a economy around us as long as we focus on
directly responsible in establishing and company plane, a Cessna twin-engine the needs of our clients and make sure we
managing over 850 major capital projects turbo charged aircraft. Some members of are delivering the highest level of customer
by Matt Decker
throughout the United States, Canada, the company from our management team service. We need to find ways to help our
Mexico, Puerto Rico, United Kingdom, and are traveling the country 3 to 4 days a clients succeed and support them through
Let’s play word association. What
West Germany. week in the plane now in order to service this economic process, which is the law of
comes to your mind when you read the
That being said, when talking with clients and grow the company on a nation- reciprocity. We support our clients and
word: envelope?
Brittan, he has an air of someone who has al basis.” enable them to perform better and enhance
I’m going to go ahead and hazard a
kept his success in perspective. Brittan also went on to talk about the value to everything that is done then that
guess that you thought of a thin piece of
“For me my prized possession is my company’s “Platinum Program.” He reciprocates and comes back. Don’t take
folded paper. Unless you are Jeffery
personal relationship that I have with explains that the program emphasizes our eyes off the customer service and
Brittan, in which case you probably
Christ,” said Brittan, “Our whole mindset what he calls the “turn-key” approach focus, and things will take care of them-
thought of the exterior of a building, the
in the company is to serve the Lord and I where the company is now engaged in the selves, in spite of the economy.”
walls, the roof, or the shell (Building
thank God for all he has done in my life Construction Management processes. In So if you happen to see Mr. Brittan
Envelope).
and right now my personal passion is to other words, StructureTec manages the tooling around the country side or up the
“I’ve been in the industry for 30
reach other businessmen for Christ. We are projects from start to completion from a coast enjoying the back roads with the top
years,” said Brittan, the Chief Executive
starting a nonprofit organization which is construction management process. Brittan down, feel free to say hello.
Officer of StructureTec, “The focus (of my
called the Christian Business Round Table. referred to this as an exciting opportunity
background) is on marketing, consulting
It is designed to minister and support the
services in the construction industry for
business community from a faith perspec-
building envelopes/structures.”
tive.” Brittan went on to explain that he
Brittan, who is 54 years old, has now
has high hopes that this new organization
been in business for 18 years as CEO of
will find success on a National and
StructureTec. His college education came
International level as well.
from Western Michigan University, and
As busy as Brittan is, he does like to
StructureTec sits not far from campus today.
find time to relax. He shared with me some
“Today we are Nationally renowned in
of the activities he likes to do to wind down
the Industry and we’re headquartered in
in his spare time. “I have an Audi TT
the Business Technology & Research Park
Roadster and I like to rally in the car on the
which is part of Western Michigan
weekends and I spend a lot of time doing
University in Kalamazoo. We have
that. I enjoy golf, fishing, and I have a real
Regional Offices in Chicago, Detroit, and
passion for sailing. I’ve had several sail-
Cleveland,” said Brittan, “In addition to
boats over my life span.”
that, we have a very significant national
When asked to share some details
presence.”
about the new developments going on at
So, in addition to working at a place that
StructureTec, Brittan is excited to talk
can legitimately root for the Bears, Lions, and
about the national growth that his compa-
Browns simultaneously, Brittan also has a
ny is experiencing.
wonderful family to come home to.
“Although we are growing at 20% per
 Business Cost Savings Ideas & Advice
by Max Friar
I never cease to be amused by the most
typical reaction I get from business owners
or senior managers when I tell them that my
cost management consulting group helps
companies enhance profits by negotiating
lower operating costs for our clients. The
standard response is "that sounds like
something lots of businesses must need …
just not my business. We're already saving
all the money that we can." The ugly truth is
that every company is bleeding profits
through a thousand little cuts. While it's
comparatively easy to stay focused on high-
dollar raw materials or the big annual
healthcare insurance renewal bill, few CEOs,
CFOs and Purchasing Managers watch the
pennies. In these most challenging of times,
let's consider some ways that watching the
pennies could help your company save
money in 2009 and beyond.
Corporate Purchasing Cards: Placing a
corporate purchasing card in the hands of
numerous employees seems like a great idea
upfront. Unfortunately, this often becomes
the "black hole" of business expenses. Most
of the clients I've worked with who use these
cards simply treated "American Express" or
"Corporate VISA" as a line item on the income
statement and rarely, if ever, allocate the
associated expenses. The theory is that if
bosses review and approve expense state-
ments, the purchases won't get out of hand.
The reality is that your staff is buying a lot of
items at full retail from multiple vendors in
each category rather than getting volume dis-
counts by shopping through a designated
supplier in each category. Most companies
wouldn't dream of letting buyers purchase
raw materials or strategic components from
five or six different sources. So why is it
acceptable to purchase from multiple office
suppliers, MRO suppliers, travel agencies,
maintenance providers, etc?. P-cards are con-
venient, but they shield thousands of dollars
of inefficiency and wasted money. Periodic
auditing of P-card related expenses is recom-
mended as it is often illuminating...but just
as often humilating and scary.
Parcel Shipping: Overnight shipping
is another area where a little discretion can
save a lot of money. How often are packages
sent via overnight delivery qualified to go
2nd-day delivery? Is your company using
multiple overnight shipping vendors and
missing out on volume discounts? Are
things routinely going via overnight deliv-
ery that could go ground at a fraction of the
cost? When the spend is marginal and
employees are free to choose the "conven-
ient" way or work with suppliers that make
them "comfortable", accountability is lost in
the process. A few policy controls and a lit-
tle supervision in this area can pay back big
dividends.
Association Discounts: Do any of your
industry associations offer group purchasing
discounts that your company can take advan-
tage of? If you haven't explored these dis-
counts, you should. While generally not the
lowest costs available, these discounts can
often get you an easy 10% off retail with a
few clicks of a mouse or a signature and a
fax. Sometimes it's as easy as asking. Typical
association-related discounts are related to
fleet services, insurance, and maintenance
services, but can often include uniforms,
restaurants, hotels, telecom and workers
compensation premiums.
Travel & Entertainment: What sort of
policies does your company have on travel
and entertainment expenses? Traveling staff
are entitled to eat decent meals while on the
road serving the company's interest, but if
you don't have a per diem allowance for
food when not entertaining a client you're
probably paying a lot more to feed the
troops than you need to. If employees are
traveling on a corporate credit card, are they
being directed to hotels in a specific hotel
group to capture the bonus points for free
future corporate room bookings? If not, you
could be missing out on a lot of free nights
for future trips.
Utilities: There are lots of ways to
reduce utility bills (and enhance your corpo-
ration's "green" reputation) through energy
conservation. Motion sensors to turn lights
on and off in places like rest rooms, pro-
grammable thermostats, company directives
to shut down computers at night before leav-
ing, upgrades of fluorescent fixtures and
more efficient light bulbs, selling used corru-
gated packaging and styrofoam to recyclers –
the list may not be endless, but it's pretty
long. Ask your electric power company for an
energy audit and recommendations on con-
servation tools. They might even help you
pay for some of them.
Supplier Consolidation: Set a goal of
reducing your total suppliers by 5% in the
next year, and pay employees a bonus each
time they figure out a way to do it. Buyers in
every business develop purchasing habits of
buying selected items from each supplier. In
many cases, however, you can consolidate
five suppliers to three, or three suppliers to
two, and become a more valuable customer
to the remaining suppliers. This practice
allows the negotiation of better pricing
through higher volume, and it also con-
tributes soft savings in bill processing, bill
payment and time saved vis-a-vis fewer sup-
plier meetings, phone calls and emails.
Most of these expense areas are tied to
the empowerment of staff to make purchases
without central controls. While I appreciate
being treated as a responsible adult as much
as the next person, the evidence suggests
that many companies have taken the "man-
agement" out of cost management. Discipline
imposed through a little more corporate
structure and some external auditing can
help to sometimes significantly improve your
bottom line. As a cost management colleague
of mine likes to say, "there are few ways to
save $1 million, but there are a million ways
Family Owned
Continued from page 3
Create liquidity.
PE provides liquidity as a way of cash-
ing out or diversifying assets. Owners can
achieve partial or full liquidity on their equi-
ty ownership, diversifying net worth for
estate planning purposes.
A PE Partnership Success
In May 2007, Oliver Products Company,
a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based manufacturer
of food and medical packaging products,
partnered with Milwaukee-based private
equity firm Mason Wells. The owners were
ready to retire, but transferring the business
to another family member was not an option
for various reasons.
As is typical in PE investments such as
this, Mason Wells obtained a majority own-
ership position, with the balance of equity
held by management. While the PE firm’s
leaders serve as advisors on the strategic
direction of the business and as board mem-
bers, the company remains independent and
the management team steers decision mak-
ing and day-to-day operations.
After just one year, the company has
increased revenue nearly 10 percent. How?
The partnership gave the management team
8
to save a buck". From our experience, most
companies spend 15-30% more on indirect
operating costs than necessary. If you think
your company is saving everything it can,
think again. Cost management is a process
that never ends, but the dollars you save and
efficiencies you gain are real. Start watching
the pennies and you'll see the dollars add up.
Max Friar with Alliance Cost
Containment is a national expense-reduc-
tion advisory firm. With over 40 offices
spanning North America.
the confidence and sense of empowerment it
needed to move forward with strategic
growth plans that had been on hold due to
the economic outlook and the company’s
understandably cautious approach.
The influx of cash enabled Oliver
Products to purchase new equipment and
open an office in China. In addition, the com-
pany relocated its operations in the
Netherlands to a larger facility, and R&D
efforts have significantly ramped up to
develop new products. Lean manufacturing
principals were implemented throughout the
organization, leading to improved efficiency
in manufacturing processes.
Make sure PE is the Right Choice
A private equity investment may not be
right for every family-owned business. First,
business owners need to determine if they’re
ready for an outside partner. If they are, due
diligence is key to ensuring that the right
partner has been selected.
Greg Myers is a Managing Director
Mason Wells Buyout Funds, a Midwest-
based private equity firm. Greg can be
reached at (414)727-6404 or by e-mail at
gmyers@masonwells.com.
 Traits That Make Small Business Owners Successful, 9
May Impact on Their Long Term Financial Planning
By Howard Milove,
Successful small business owners
tend to be hard-working, tenacious,
smart and highly focused. They have to
be. According to a study by Dun &
Bradstreet, businesses with fewer than
20 employees have only a 9 percent
chance of surviving a decade.
Yet, even those that are successful
fail miserably when it comes to planning
for their financial future. In fact, it’s their
proclivity to hone in so intensely on their
business, certainly an attribute to being
successful, that often gets in the way of
their personal financial planning.
Take the case of a client of ours, hus-
band and wife owners of an extremely
profitable seasonal business. When we
first started working with them, they had
built a very profitable company that
earned millions in revenues. They spent
24/7 on the business, constantly upgrad-
ing the facility, traveling the world to buy
inventory, always keeping their eyes on
the ball. Yet, they had not saved any
money outside of the business, their ben-
efits package was modest, and they had
little invested in their kids’ college or
their own retirement funds.
Today, that same couple has pulled
out more than $1 million from the busi-
ness and placed it in a well diversified
portfolio. They have opened a profit
sharing plan for the company (of which
85% of the $500,000 already invested is
earmarked for them). And, they have
purchased appropriate life and disability
insurance and 529 plans to fund their
children’s college, while continuing to
invest in the business.
Their story is hardly unique. In fact,
such a rosy financial outlook is possible
for many small business owners – if they
are prepared to make a few changes.
Here is a look at common mistakes made
by many successful entrepreneurs that
may impede their financial future, and
what can be done to help turn it around.
They do not implement proper bene-
fits, such as health, life and disability
insurance, and retirement plans. This,
unfortunately, happens in the case of too
many small business owners. When one
begins a business, benefits are often a
low priority. Costs, after all, may be pro-
hibitive. As time passes, the question of
purchasing proper benefits is often not
revisited, even if the business has now
grown and added employees so it can
take advantage of significant group dis-
counts for benefits. In the case of retire-
ment planning, there are many options
available for small business owners,
including those with built-in flexibility
that take into consideration fluctuations
in annual cash flow. These need to be
taken care of as soon as possible.
They do not properly provide for
their families should the unexpected
occur. Many small business owners
scrimp on life or disability insurance,
rationalizing that “my business is worth
millions of dollars – if I die my family will
be taken care of once the business is
sold.” What they fail to consider is that
without them, the business is likely to be
worth far less. How much life insurance
is enough? There is no hard and fast rule
and no formula that exists. Not all peo-
ple who earn, say, $200,000, require the
same amount of life insurance. Rather, it
depends on one’s stage in life in terms of
ongoing cash flow needs and financial
obligations.
They do not save money outside the
business. Small business owners have a
tendency to become so focused on their
business, pouring money into it so it can
grow and prosper, that they fail to save
for their future. They may enjoy a very
upscale lifestyle while the business is
alive and well, but end up with nothing to
show for it should the business fail. This
is why some small business owners end
up working well into their 70s and even
80s – they never drew sufficient cash out
and have no choice but to continue work-
ing. To prevent this from happening,
money needs to be invested during prof-
itable times to fund retirement plans and
invest in a diversified portfolio. This
does not mean sucking the business dry,
but rather not putting all one’s eggs into
a single basket (i.e. the business). This
way, even if the business ends, there can
be a comfortable retirement.
They do not establish business cred-
it as soon as possible or use business
loans rather than personal credit. Many
fail to establish proper financing not only
during the very beginning, when person-
al credit may be the only option, but also
during the growing stages of the busi-
ness. Without proper financing, busi-
nesses often cannot grow (unless owners
sink their own money into it, which can
inhibit their ability to invest properly in
their personal financial future). The rec-
ommendation is to acquire a minimum
line of credit early on in the business’s
name and to increase it over time to show
banks and other institutions the business
is a good credit risk, which in turn will
help sustain business growth.
A proper succession plan or exit
strategy has never been developed. Many
small business owners work very hard to
build a viable enterprise and at the end,
shortly before they plan to retire, sudden-
ly wonder, “What am I going to do with
my business?” Usually by then, it’s too
late and the business dies. As a result,
while the company may have sustained
the owner’s lifestyle for many years, it
suddenly has no value. To prevent this
from happening, a plan needs to be put in
place five to seven years prior to one’s
planned retirement. It all starts with look-
ing at where the owner wants the busi-
ness to go (along with having the value
of the business assessed). Is there a fam-
ily member to take over the business?
Are there key employees? What about
selling to a competitor? If the decision is
made to pass the business on to a child,
should it be sold or gifted? (There may
not be any choice if a sale is necessary to
fund retirement.) Finding someone who
is willing to take over the business and
someone who is capable of running the
business, are two entirely different
things. We’ve seen too many businesses
run into the ground by the next genera-
tion of ownership. The consequences can
be catastrophic, costing the owner his or
her retirement stream of income.
They often live for today and not
tomorrow. This is the philosophy of many
people, not only small businesses own-
ers. Yet, unlike those who receive W-2’s
and know what they will take home
annually (with the exception of a very
small minority of salaried employees who
receive significant yearly bonuses), small
business owners often experience up and
down years. While they may tighten their
belts during the rough times, many make
up for it during the good years by spend-
ing rather than investing for the long-
term. And yet, it’s during these peak
earning years that money needs to be
tucked away for the future.
For small business owners, running
a successful business is just the first hur-
dle to achieving financial security. They
still need to keep their eyes focused on
the finish line.
Howard Milove, CPA, PFS, is a finan-
cial planner with the wealth management
firm Access Wealth Planning in Roseland,
NJ. He can be reached at
hmilove@awplan.com.
 The Parent Trap: What You Need to Know About 10
Family Responsibilities Discrimination
By Jennifer L. Jordan
Since the 1990s, the number of work-
ers who have sued their employers for sup-
posed mistreatment based on family
responsibilities—pregnancy or a need for
time off to care for a child, parent, or other
relative—has increased by as much as 400
percent. According to one recent statistic,
more than 1,150 such “family responsibili-
ties discrimination” lawsuits have been
filed in federal and state courts. In one case,
a jury granted $11.65 million to a hospital
maintenance worker who was penalized for
having to care for his elderly parents.
Recently, in Ohio, a jury awarded $2.1 mil-
lion to an assistant manager who was
demoted because she had several children.
These are numbers that have legal
trend-spotters, plaintiffs’ lawyers, and the
media talking. In the past year, the subject
of “family responsibilities discrimination”
has been covered by CBS, ABC, NBC, CNN,
NPR, and The New York Times. The Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission
(EEOC) recently issued an official guidance
on it. With that kind of media coverage
available to employees, employers ignore
the phenomenon at their peril.
That is family responsibilities discrim-
ination? It is any discrimination against
employees based on their obligations to
care for family members, or stereotypes
about such obligations. Remarks like “A
mother isn’t going to be cut out for this job,
because it involves a lot of travel,” or “Why
do you need the time off? Why isn’t your
wife taking care of the child?”—still consid-
ered appropriate in some work environ-
ments—can now form the basis for a recog-
nized cause of action.
What law supports such claims?
Actually, except in Alaska and the District
of Columbia, there is no law expressly pro-
hibiting family responsibilities discrimina-
tion, as such. Instead, these lawsuits derive
from a surprising array of statutes that
were originally designed to address other
concerns: Title VII and comparable state
statutes prohibiting pregnancy and gender
discrimination; the Americans with
Disabilities Act and comparable state
statutes prohibiting discrimination against
the disabled and the people who care for
them; and the Family Medical Leave Act
and comparable state statutes prohibiting
retaliation against employees who take
leave to care for certain family members,
among others.
The rise in these sorts of claims is
broadly attributed to the increase in the
number of working mothers over the past
two decades, changes in societal attitudes
about the assumption of traditional caregiv-
ing roles, and an increase in employees’
awareness of their legal rights. However, the
reasons for the uptick in claims are general-
ly of less interest to employers than how
they can protect themselves against them.
As an employer, you should carefully
consider whether and how your policies
affect employees’ family responsibilities.
Uniform policies against telecommuting,
strict attendance policies, and sick leave
policies that don’t allow for care of family
members may have a disparate impact on
those with caregiving responsibilities.
Review them with counsel.
However, the cases strongly suggest
that what is most critical is to train super-
visors and management personnel to avoid
the sorts of comments and decisions that
may give rise to a cause of action for fami-
ly responsibilities discrimination. Even a
supervisor acting with the best of inten-
tions—one who, for example, gives a new
mother less challenging assignments so
that she can spend more time with her fam-
ily (the EEOC calls this “benevolent stereo-
typing”)—can give rise to liability. The key
is whether your company makes employ-
ment decisions based on assumptions
about the attitudes or abilities of employees
who are also caregivers.
The EEOC, courts, and juries have
CMU Opens New Grand
Rapids Center
Grand Rapids - West Michigan resi-
dents seeking to expand their education
can get a degree from Central Michigan
University at a new center in Grand
Rapids. The new facility was unveiled at a
grand opening ceremony Nov. 18.
The event featured free presentations
on tips to getting a job, leveling the play-
ing field through a job interview and how
to take an online class with CMU. The Gary
D. DeWitt family was honored for a gener-
ous scholarship donation to CMU's Grand
Rapids campus.
The new Grand Rapids center, which
provides updated classrooms, a computer
lab with state-of-the-art connectivity and a
found family responsibilities discrimination
in statements and actions of the sort that
are common in some workplaces. Were
applicants asked whether they had young
children, or asked about their childcare and
caregiving responsibilities? Did managers
or decision-makers complain that employ-
ees with caregiving responsibilities were
less reliable than other workers? Were
employees with young children given less
prestigious or challenging assignments, or
steered into lower-paid positions, regard-
less of actual performance? Did managers
and supervisors assume that pregnant
employees would quit once their babies
were born, and treat them accordingly? Did
supervisors or co-workers ridicule male
employees who asked to take paternity
leave? Did employees who took time off for
caregiving routinely receive lower bonuses
and raises?
If any of this sounds familiar to you,
or if you have questions about how to pro-
tect your organization from these rapidly
proliferating sorts of claims, please your
employment attorney.
By Jennifer L. Jordan is a Member of
Miller Johnson and has been practicing law
since 1996. She chairs the firm’s Employment
Litigation practice group and is vice chair of
the FMLA Solutions practice group.
lounge area, is adjacent to the Kent
Intermediate School District. CMU will
work with the district to create new pro-
grams that will address increased educa-
tional needs in the Grand Rapids area.
CMU's Grand Rapids center offers
administrative and business related bach-
elor's degrees with online options for many
classes. A Master of Science in
Administration degree and online Master
of Business Administration degree with an
emphasis in SAP or value driven organiza-
tion are also offered.
The new center is located at 1633 E.
Beltline Ave., N.E.
 Michigan Certified Development Corporation
Announces Record Year
Lansing – The Michigan Certified million of that provided by MCDC/SBA.
Development Corporation (MCDC) Financing was approved in 30 Michigan
announced record fiscal year-end totals counties and MCDC participated with 46
today, despite the difficult economy in different financial institutions during the
Michigan. In the last year, MCDC approved last fiscal year. As a result of this capital
225 SBA loans and 98 MCDC volume investment, 925 jobs are expected to be
loans in Michigan, a significant jump from created during the next two years.
the 89 loans approved during the previous MCDC secured loans within various
year. industries, helping finance business start-
“We work hard every day to assist up and products needed to be successful.
Michigan businesses in reaching their Most notably were the 19 loans in the
potential,” said Jane K. Sherzer, president manufacturing industry with totaled $30
of MCDC. “We are thrilled with our million in capital accessed and are expect-
increased lending activity that has helped ed to create 184 jobs as a result of
further Michigan business and we look financed expansions. Within the manu-
forward to continuing to make an impact facturing industry, three of the companies
as we move forward.” are involved in higher tech manufacturing
During the last fiscal year, over $128 such as advanced instrumentation and
million in total capital was accessed precision instruments for aerospace. Also
through the program, approximately $47 noteworthy were retail loans totaling $13
million, medical related loans totaling $11
million and recreation businesses totaling
$7.7 million.
A new partnership also developed for
MCDC during this fiscal year. MCDC part-
nered with the Community Reinvestment
Fund (CRF), a national nonprofit organi-
zation that supplies funds for local com-
munity development efforts around the
country. This program will finance proj-
ects that may not have otherwise been
able to secure a loan. Loan refinancing
also will be a new option, an alternative
that MCDC’s SBA 504 loan program can-
not provide. This partnership gives MCDC
a new source of loans to help Michigan
business reach its potential.
“Despite the tough economy and the
bad banking news seen lately, we are
going strong, working hard to provide
11
opportunities for Michigan business to
thrive, said Sherzer. “Our partnership
with Community Reinvestment Fund is a
key example of our commitment to help-
ing businesses reach their potential.”
Due to increased activity, MCDC has
opened new branch offices and hired new
loan officers to better serve businesses
across the state. MCDC is pleased to
announce the opening of a branch in the
greater Grand Rapids area where Kelly
Hutchings of Rockford will handle
MCDC/SBA loans in Western Michigan.
Phillip Weiss of Ann Arbor will oversee
the new Ann Arbor office and handle
loans in Ann Arbor and the western Metro
Detroit area.

Business Education in 2008

by Mike Frandsen, Ph.D.
Business education, or perhaps more
particularly management education, has
been criticized recently (see Bennis and
O’Toole, 2005 or Mintzberg, 2005 for
examples). It has been characterized as
disconnected from practice, taught in
functional silos, and overly focused on
quantitative analysis. Our current eco-
nomic crisis certainly begs the question of
how well our business leaders have been
prepared for the challenges of the 21st
century. Executive pay is perceived as out
of control and we are barely past the eth-
ical scandals of Adelphia, Enron, Tyco,
WorldCom, and others. What, then,
should business education do to help cur-
rent and future business persons?
Knowledge of the basic business
functions – accounting, finance, manage-
ment, marketing, etc. – is necessary, but
not sufficient. To deal with the increas-
ingly rapid pace of change, men and
women in business need to bring a broad
perspective to their work and to critically
think about how to answer the questions
brought on by advancing technology,
increasing global interdependence, and
growing environmental concerns. They
must approach issues thoughtfully and
ethically. They must consider all the
stakeholders in their businesses – share-
holders, employees, customers, communi-
ties, and others. They must be ready to
change, to reinvent their businesses and
themselves.
I believe these basic issues are the
same whether one is teaching undergrad-
uates, MBA students, in an executive
education program, or in some other set-
ting. However, they are not easy to teach.
And while there is no “one best way”, in
my opinion the best ways include many of
the following:
Development of communication skills.
• This must go beyond the Public
Speaking course I took about 25 years
ago. It must include that, but also the use
of technology, the ability to write in many
forms for a variety of audiences, and, per-
haps most importantly, careful, attentive
listening.
Appreciation for intercultural differences.
• Our world is interconnected like
never before. Within our country, we are
becoming more diverse on a variety of
dimensions. We need to appreciate and
respect these differences.
Consideration of stakeholders.
• Recognition that business decisions
have far-reaching consequences.
Teamwork.
• In situations that require both seri-
al and pooled interdependence. Among
small and large groups. Where getting
things done requires some negotiation.
Creativity and innovation.
• Encouragement and freedom to
think of and try novel solutions.
Hands-on learning.
• Internships, simulations, case stud-
ies, project-based learning – some form of
learning by doing. Activities that promote
the practice of problem solving skills and
include the necessity of dealing with
change.
Reflection.
• So one really learns from the doing.
Integration of theory, practice, and
current events.
Many opportunities for discussion
and other forums for the exchange of
ideas.
Mike Frandsen, Ph.D. is Director,
Carl A. Gerstacker Liberal Arts Institute
for Professional Management Albion
College
 Fewer Teens Interested in
Entrepreneurship
Colorado Springs, Colo. – In its sev-
enth annual “Teens and
Entrepreneurship” poll, Junior
Achievement has found that 13-18 year
olds are less interested in starting their
own businesses than they were a year
ago. In 2007, 67 percent of teens indicat-
ed an interest in entrepreneurship; in
2008 that number declined to 60 per-
cent—perhaps as a result of the stagnat-
ing economy.
Teens cited “unemployment,” “pos-
sibility of recession,” and “the federal
budget deficit” as the top three threats to
the U.S. economy. But in a show of opti-
mism, more than half (53 percent) pre-
dicted they would be better off financial-
ly than their parents.
With the national unemployment
rate at 6.5 percent, independent-minded
teens who were interested in starting a
business cited “earn more money” and “I
Weightless Flight Program
Continued from page 5
The Northrop Grumman Foundation
Weightless Flights of Discovery program is
one of several initiatives the foundation
sponsors in support of promoting education
and student interest in the science, technol-
ogy, engineering and mathematics fields.
The foundation has targeted middle-school
math and science teachers primarily
because the United States is experiencing
a shortage of college graduates in these dis-
www.gza.com
and Vision Environmental, Inc.
Division of GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc.
don’t want to work for someone else” as
the top reasons why they would be inter-
ested in starting a business.
Next Month Topics
in Industrial &
Health Care Sections
Mfg Equipment & Supply
Industrial Financing
Physical &
Occupational Therpy
To be involved call
616-583-1577
ciplines, a development that bodes ill for the
nation's industries that depend on talented
scientists and mathematicians. Because
studies have indicated most children make
the decision to pursue math and science
education and careers during middle-
school, the Northrop Grumman Foundation
developed the Weightless Flights of
Discovery to engage teachers, key influ-
encers in the lives of students during these
crucial years.
Meet Jim L’roy
Jim Lroy is a funny guy.
“What is my perfect vacation?” pon-
dered Jim, “If somebody else paid for it!”
Jim, who is now the Senior Vice
President with Business Update, is a well
traveled man, having visited Jamaica, the
Bahamas, and Mexico 3 or 4 different
times in his life.
“I went to the Bahamas on a sixty
foot sailboat,” said Jim, “that was a riot.”
12
Jim also is a man of many tastes
when it comes to food. He likes Italian,
Mexican, Chinese, but states he likes
most fine cuisine. Jim still works out three
days a week and enjoys getting some golf
in, and snow skiing in the winter. “I’ve
been skiing for about 9 years now. I also
enjoy riding snow mobiles in the winter,
seems like I end up buying one every cou-
ple years,” said Jim.
Jim has been with Business Update
since 1996. Before arriving here he
worked in sales at Centurytel (now Alltel)
for 3 years in corporate sales. Jim shares
that he did a lot of odd sales jobs as well
which adds up to 18 years total in sales.
Before discovering his penchant for sales,
Jim worked as a warehouse manager for
10 years with Belwith International. He
got his college education at Grand Valley
State University.
Jim’s daughter, Jamie, currently
attends GVSU and is studying Business
Science, although Jim says that he does
not see her following him into sales.
So if you are interested in advertising
with Business Update, or just want to
shoot the breeze, feel free to give Jim a
call at 204-4100!

Battle Creek Downtown Transformation Plan
Battle Creek - Battle Creek Unlimited
(BCU)unveiled its strategy for redevelop-
ing downtown Battle Creek. The plan calls
for leveraging current and future invest-
ments in food science, technology and
education to revitalize downtown.
Elements of the vision articulated by BCU
include:
• A new six-story "green" office building
to be financed and constructed by a local
developer and leased by Kellogg
Company.
• Infrastructure improvements to
enhance the aesthetics of downtown,
including a gateway enhancement project
on M-66, lighting enhancements and
more useable public spaces.
• Establish a research center to promote
the formation and attraction of new com-
panies and jobs by increasing research,
development and commercialization of
new technologies in food sciences and
food protection in Battle Creek. Program
details may be announced by BCU in
December.
• Explore the potential of relocating and
expanding the Battle Creek Area Math
and Science Center to downtown Battle
13
adjacent to Kellogg Company's headquar- business district."
ters in downtown Battle Creek. Contingent "Revitalizing our cities is a key com-
upon securing local and state incentives, ponent of our strategy to grow
the sixstory, 122,500-square-foot building Michigan's economy and create jobs, but
will be financed and built by McCamly it requires a strong partnership between
Office, LLC, and leased long term to public and private sectors,II said
Kellogg Company. The project represents Governor Jennifer M. Granholm. "I
an estimated private capital investment of applaud Kellogg for its vision and gen-
$22.5 million. It will enable Kellogg to erosity to make Battle Creek a dynamic
relocate approximately 600 employees city of the future."
who currently work in its Porter Street The W.K. Kellogg Foundation, mean-
office complex to downtown Battle Creek. while, has approved up to $35 million to
The new office tower, expected to be oper- support various aspects of this redevel-
ational in late 2010, will be certified by the opment effort. This money will be invest-
Leadership in Energy and Environmental ed as opportunities arise that resonate
Design (LEED) Green Building Rating with the Foundation's mission and vision
System™. of building a nation where all children
Creek. This well-respected and innova- "The new office space will enable us thrive.
tive educational option for students from to consolidate our employees downtown "It's a natural fit for us," said Sterling
area school districts is operated by Battle and create a campus-like environment," Speirn, the Foundation's President and
Creek Public Schools. said David Mackay, President and Chief Chief Executive Officer. "We have a his-
• Support collaboration efforts underway Executive Officer, Kellogg Company. "We toric commitment to investing in the
between the Battle Creek Y-Center and believe this is the right thing to do for our assets of the community in which we are
the city's Parks and Recreation Battle Creek-based employees and that it based.
Department that would include the cre- can significantly contribute to the growth
ation of a first class fitness and recre- and revitalization of Battle Creek's central Continued on page 15
ation center in downtown.
"We've been working diligently over
the past year with a group of stakehold-
ers on a plan to revitalize the downtown
area," said Karl Dehn, Marketing Director
of Battle Creek Unlimited. "The plan has
a number of integrated elements to
increase the number of people who work
in the central business district by lever-
aging our strong competencies in food
science, technology and education. The
increased concentration of people and
spending power will benefit our existing
businesses and will also enable us to
attract additional restaurants, retail, pro-
fessional offices and residential activity."
As a part of this strategy, the devel-
opment company McCamly Office, LLC
plans to construct a "green" office building

Construction Management Market Update
by Craig Datema
Triangle Associates is fortunate to
enter 2009 with the largest backlog in the
90+ year history of our company. With
over $300 million in current and future
construction projects, our backlog contin-
ues to grow despite the troubled economy.
Current backlog is comprised of a variety
of building types; however it is largely
Putting the Pieces Together
SEEING THE ENTIRE SOLUTION, NOT JUST THE PARTS
• Card Access
• Surveillance Cameras
• Network Digital Video
• Intrusion Alarm
• Fire Alarm
Integrated Systems Provider
Northwest Kent
Mec hanical Co.
Mechanical Contractor
Commercial/Industrial/Institutional
Plumbing - Heating - Sheetmetal
Design-Build - Process Piping
fueled by our reputation in the education-
al and governmental sectors. Currently,
we are working with eleven public school
districts and three universities. Our high-
er-education work includes a $10 million
renovation of the Owen Hall dormitory,
our first project on the Michigan State
campus in East Lansing. Added to this are
a number of governmental projects in
Kent, Ottawa and Muskegon Counties
Proud to offer a
24 Hour service
department
POST OFFICE BOX 216K 4095 16 MILE ROAD
CEDAR SPRINGS, MI 49319
PHONE: 616.696.9026 FAX: 616.696.9327
comprised of various libraries, water
treatment plants and governmental sup-
port facilities. We see continued strength
in these publicly funded market seg-
ments.
The reason that publicly funded seg-
ments will continue to grow is two fold: 1)
Private equity markets have a major lack
of credit at this time. 2) Unless you’re
talking about Walmart, the decrease in
demand for goods has curtailed the
expansion of private businesses.
However, local retailers seem to be doing
well considering the soft times we are
experiencing right now.
A strong component for us is our
leadership in sustainable construction
and the LEED certification process for
buildings. Most of our customers are con-
cerned with sustainable building practices
and many are requiring their buildings to
be LEED certified. Triangle has construct-
ed 25 LEED certified buildings including
the first school and first hospital in the
State of Michigan. As sustainability and
LEED Certification increase in popularity,
we recognize the need to increase our
expertise in implementing sustainable
building practices throughout our organi-
zation.
Commercial and retail market seg-
ments continue to be strong with our
existing clients. Triangle continues to
build retail centers throughout the
Midwest including a number of new and
renovated Wal-Mart Supercenters across
the State of Michigan. Additionally, this
fall we broke ground on The Gallery,
located on the corner of Fulton and
Division in downtown Grand Rapids. This
high profile, mixed-use project includes
the new home for the Urban Institute of
14
Contemporary Arts (Commercial), a 250
space public parking garage
(Governmental) and 56 market rate apart-
ments (Housing). The Gallery’s 12-story
project highlights the vibrancy that is
downtown Grand Rapids.
Despite growth in most of our mar-
kets, we are experiencing a decline in our
housing market segment. The Developers
of governmentally funded housing proj-
ects are seeing limitations in project fund-
ing. This includes availability of funds
from governmental units as well as
increased difficulty in selling tax credits.
On the private sector, new homes and
condominium sales are at an all time low.
This is having a spill over effect in senior
housing, where seniors cannot sell their
homes and potentially make a lifestyle
choice of moving into a condominium or
retirement community.
Furthermore, the market has given
no reason to assume that 2009 will show
any significant change. The housing mar-
ket is faced with a limited amount of
funds coupled a huge amount of oversup-
ply. Even when the financing frees up, the
inventory will need time to absorb and
even out.
The growth of businesses in the con-
struction market will always come after
the bell curve. Meaning that when other
markets begin to pick up, it will take
about a year at least before they begin to
announce additions or build new build-
ings. Just as when other markets go sour
it usually takes a year to get to the point
where the construction industry is hurt-
ing.
Craig Datema, the Chief Executive
Officer/President of Triangle Associates,
has in-depth knowledge of architectural
design and contract documentation,
along with a strong understanding of
project management techniques and cost
control. Prior to joining Triangle, Mr.
Datema was a project architect and
worked on a variety of commercial,
industrial, and institutional projects.
Business
update ublication
Past 12 Months
Online at
www.businessupdate.com

Battle Creek Downtown Transformation Plan
Continued from page 13
We also have a rich legacy of funding
food science and healthy living programs,
as well as education. By building on both
our legacy and existing community assets,
this project will help position Battle Creek
as a world leader in food science research
and place innovation at the center of the
community's ongoing downtown revital-
ization efforts."
Speirn said that the Foundation is
pleased with the plan developed by Battle
Creek Unlimited and looks forward to
helping leverage the investments being
made possible by Kellogg Company and
other partners in our community. Over the
next several months, he said, the Kellogg
Foundation will be taking a closer look at
the project as it unfolds and deciding how
its investments can best help the commu-
nity achieve its goals. The Foundation is
15
committed to working with Battle Creek for Battle Creek to create a very special and
Unlimited to strengthen the downtown vibrant downtown area while capitalizing
economy by improving its aesthetics and on our unique food science technology
reactivating commerce, he said. concentration." BCU officials estimate that
"We're particularly excited about the its downtown revitalization plan could
potential for building a community that require more than $86 million in new
actively engages scientists, young people investment. It is pursuing various public
and educators in learning and discovery
around the critical issues of food supply
and safety," Speirn said. "We believe the
Next Month Topics
Battle Creek New Vision project will help
transform the hometown of our founder, in
W.K. Kellogg, into a 21 st Century commu- Business Update &
nity with a global purpose -one that ties
together its health and wellness legacy Construction Sections
with the growing challenges of food qual-
ity, safety and protection," Speirn said.
Accounting/Legal/
"These are important issues for the Kellogg
Foundation and we look forward to sup- Consulting
porting this effort in meaningful ways."
"I'm very pleased to see BCU's excit- Architectrue &
ing vision and strategy to transform our
downtown area with economic develop-
Green Building
ment, education and quality of life compo-
nents," said Battle Creek Mayor Mark To be involved call
Behnke. "This is an enormous opportunity
616-583-1577

Light Corporation Spins-off New Company and
Joins the Emerge Alliance at Greenbuild
Grand Haven - Light Corporation, a
world-class specialty lighting manufac-
turer whose product offerings enlighten
the workplace, has spun-off a new com-
pany. This new company, Kanepi
Innovations, will focus on the on-going
development of the Intu! Wireless
Infrastructure platform and technology
being introduced this week at the
Greenbuild International Conference &
Exposition in Boston, MA.
Kanepi’s technology is the industry’s
first true wireless technology. It was
developed to replace the wiring infra-
structure utilized in today’s construction
practices as well as building automation
systems which are still dependent upon
homeruns and wiring configurations of
some type. The system was designed to
focus on the use of electricity within the
workplace and to reduce the usage of that
electricity through the use of scheduling
protocols, flexibility and individual
addressability of control for specific
devices, peak energy shaving, and
demand response applications. In addi-
tion, Intu! acts as a technology “canopy”
allowing for additional applications to be
supported within the wireless infrastruc-
ture – control of other devices such as
VAV systems, humidifiers, fans, convey-
ors, and security and asset tracking to
name a few.
Based on this new approach to ener-
gy control, monitoring, and wireless
infrastructure, Kanepi was asked to join
the Emerge Alliance, a group of like-
minded organizations looking to create a
new power, control and device-level tech-
nology standard for commercial interiors,
developed around the use of safe, low-
voltage direct-current (DC) power. Intu!
will be utilized to control the devices and
for location of those devices within the DC
building grid.
“We’re very impressed with the
vision of the Emerge Alliance and the tie-
in to our own vision for the responsive
workplace,” said Larry Leete, Director –
Sales, Marketing, and Strategic
Continuity for Kanepi Innovations. “Our
view of the new sources of alternative
energy, specifically wind and solar, allow
for the need of a DC based grid. This
allows for a 12% conservation of energy
that normally would be lost in the trans-
formation of power from DC to AC and
then back to DC to power up the daily
devices that we need to utilize in today’s
working world. Our Intu! technology will
support the “no-wires” thought process
currently being adopted within the stan-
dard. Reducing energy is just one aspect
of this, however, and driving toward the
ability to better utilize our electrical needs
24 Progressive AE Projects
Earn Unique LEED
Grand Rapids, MI – Progressive AE is
pleased to announce that 24 projects
recently earned LEED® certification,
including three LEED-Silver and 21 LEED-
CI through the USGBC’s new Portfolio pro-
gram, which is still in pilot phase. LEED,
Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design, is the national benchmark for
“green” building practices developed by
the USGBC (United States Green Building
Council).
The three LEED-Silver projects were:
Hauenstein Library at Aquinas
College: Progressive AE determined that
the most efficient way to add a state-of-
the-art library to this urban
college site was to add onto
an existing building and to
build on its existing infra-
structure. The designers
uncovered innovative reuses
of spaces to meet the needs
for Aquinas College which
required very few structural
changes, reducing waste and
new material usage. Also,
the designers incorporated
donated book shelves which
resulted in not only financial
savings to the College, but
also greatly decreased the
use of new materials.
West Michigan Center
for Arts and Technology: The
sustainable story at WMCAT
is about rapidly renewable
materials. The floors, case-
work, and other typical wood
features were substituted
16
in a more granular way allows for conser-
vation efforts to be better realized,” added
Leete.
Brad Davis, President of Light
Corporation remarked on the timing of this
announcement, “Greenbuild is the perfect
place to make these announcements. What
we’re doing to impact the betterment of the
environment lies at the very heart of who
Light Corporation is. This technology, and
new business for that matter, has the abil-
ity to positively impact organizations that
are looking to better themselves and be
more productive stewards as they deal with
the environment. How do we make that
minimalistic impact? Greenbuild is where
some of these answers come from – and
we’re happy to participate in that dialogue
by presenting some of our own thinking in
terms of products and services.”
with bamboo, which can grow approxi-
mately three inches per day while being
lightweight and extremely durable. The
space also used linoleum and rubber, both
of which are manufactured from rapidly
renewable resources.
Harrison Park Elementary/Middle
School in Grand Rapids Public Schools:
The main “green” features of this building
aren’t even recognized. The renovation to
the 1950’s structure including extensive
energy savings features, such as histori-
cally appropriate windows that have mod-
ern efficiency; upgraded heating and cool-
ing systems that are more efficient and
provide more comfort; and lighting sys-
tems that use less energy and can even
turn themselves off.
The USGBC’s portfolio program is a
new system that is not yet available to the
general public. 26 companies were chosen
to take part in the pilot program, and one
of Progressive AE’s clients, a Fortune 500
Financial Services company, was one. The
portfolio program was created to make
LEED certification cost effective and
streamlined for organizations with multi-
ple facilities. Through Progressive AE’s
leadership, this client was the first project
in the nation ever to be certified using this
rating system, and now the first “batches”
of 21 projects have been certified.
These unique LEED certifications
were made possible because of
Progressive AE’s expert knowledge in
green design and LEED certification, and
by a diligent following of the process by
all the team members.

Land Surveying in the Present Day
by Randall Patterson
Land Surveying has been a long
standing profession in the Michigan area
as well as every other state in the nation.
In an article published by the Michigan
Society of Professional Surveyors, the
division of land in Michigan is explained
as follows.
“In Michigan, the primary system
used to describe boundaries is the
Rectangular System of Surveys, as estab-
lished by the U.S. government.
In the early 1800’s, the federal gov-
ernment in order to provide for the order-
ly sale and settlement of territorial public
land, established a survey system which
has been used for all government land
since that time. This survey divided all
land into the familiar section units of
approximately one mile square.
Monuments were erected at the corners of
sections and townships. These corners are
still used today for surveying purposes
and in describing public and private
boundaries in writing.”
“The statute of the State of Michigan
explicitly designates the licensed
Professional Surveyor as the only person
empowered to apply the principles of
mathematics, science, and law to measure
and locate property lines for the purpose of
preparing and perpetuating maps, plats,
and property descriptions.”
The trade has undergone many
changes over the past 200 years. It has
evolved from the days of transits and
chains, to current technology of fully
robotic total stations, electronic data col-
lectors, Global Positioning Systems, and
Digital Scanners. The land surveyor has
always been relied upon to provide accu-
rate measurements and legally binding
parcel descriptions for one of our most
valuable commodities, “land”.
With our current economic decline it
would seem that surveying profession
would be in a state of turmoil due to the
lack of development in our region. One
only needs to look at the subdivisions that
have been partially completed, put on
hold, or abandoned to realize that the
winds of change are upon us. How the
land development business will pan out is
anyone’s guess at this point, and it is
becoming more evident with each passing
week that we’re in for a long road to
recovery.
We had some discussion in last
month’s edition of “Business Update”
regarding how we may see the Michigan
market evolve. Although none of us have
a crystal ball to know what the future will
bring, it’s fairly certain that the business
of land development and the practice of
land surveying will need to evolve again to
insure profitability. Michigan developers
17
have taken advantage of the availability of Professional Surveyor are essential to sion will continue to provide these essen-
vacant undeveloped acreage and relatively anyone involved in a property transaction. tial services to our clients.
low real estate prices for many years. The Professional Surveyor can work with
Although land prices have been steadily the client’s attorney, realtor and lender to Randall Patterson, the Business
increasing over the past 20 years, the cost ensure the client’s investment is not jeop- Manager with Latitude Engineering &
of development has still been feasible. We ardized by a faulty land description” Surveying Inc., has over 10 years experi-
may see a transition to more redevelop- (Michigan Society of Professional ence in the engineering and surveying
ment in the years to come. With the cur- Surveyors). field, teamed with 18 years in manufac-
rent trend of companies closing up shop As Michigan continues to change, turing engineering and management. They
and the increase in foreclosed properties it and the future requirements of land devel- can be reached at 616-583-1601 or at
appears that these conditions will dictate opment evolve the Land Surveying profes- www.latitude-inc.com.
the development environment of the
future.
Land surveying seems to be taken for
granted as a necessary evil that is required
Construction Briefs
by the bank and by the state in order to Grand Rapids - C. D. Barnes Associates, Livonia - The Madonna University New
transfer ownership of real property. I’m Inc. announces they have completed con- Science and Media Building has been
not sure that many people realize the struction on the Caledonia Professional fully enclosed and remains on schedule for
importance of the accurate measurement Office Building, a 2 story, fieldstone completion by Clark Construction in April
and description of this highly sought after office building. C.D. Barnes Associates 2009. The New Science and Media
commodity that we call real estate. The congratulates Dr. Tom Grias, DDS and Dr. Building, located at 36600 Schoolcraft
cost for boundary surveys, topographic Eric Hannapel, DDS, MS, PC on the com- Road in Livonia, is the University’s first
surveys, and mortgage inspections, has pletion of their new, architecturally strik- stand-alone building constructed in 40
not kept pace with many other disciplines ing, medical office building. years. The 64,000 square-foot New
of development. If you compare the price Science and Media Building will include
of a boundary survey to the value of the Holland - Lakewood Construction is new science classrooms and lab space,
land, the cost is usually less than one per- adding another LEED facility to its portfo- state-of-the-art TV and radio production
cent of the property value. The cost of a lio, as it nears completion of a new facilities and an open-air gathering area
“mortgage inspection” which has been 16,500 sq. ft. facility for Technical for students. Madonna University is seek-
widely accepted by almost every bank in Energy Solutions in Byron Center, Mich. ing LEED certification from the U.S. Green
Michigan barely covers the cost of labor to Technical Energy Solutions, Inc. is a Building Council for the project, which
get to and from the site. How has our
licensed mechanical, electrical and tem- would make the New Science and Media
industry allowed this to happen?
perature controls contractor serving com- Building Livonia’s first green building.
The measurement and legal descrip-
mercial, industrial and institutional cus-
tion of the most valuable component of
tomers throughout Michigan, Indiana, Grand Rapids - ENR magazine awarded
any development project has become
Illinois and Minnesota. Recent growth the top 100 contractors in the country
thought of as simply a requirement that
has led to the need for a new headquar- with a ranking for green building.
must be dealt with as the first step in the
ters and service center, which will incor- Pioneer Inc. received #55 with $92
improvement process.
porate many of the company’s energy Million of “Green Revenue” in 2007,
Modern survey equipment has
systems in a sustainable design. The pre- which is 49% of our total revenue. 62%
allowed us to become more efficient, and
increasingly accurate in the way that we
engineered metal building is a Lakewood of our green projects were in the educa-
measure the land that we live on. The cur- design/build project, with Dixon tion market and we have 5 LEED
rent equipment takes advantage of laser Architecture as the project architect. Accredited Professionals on staff. This
technology, and ruggedized electronic also makes Pioneer Inc. #1 in West
components that have proven to be resist- Michigan
ant to the harsh environments that we
must work in. Even though the Midwest
has a relatively temperate climate as com-
pared to the extreme northern and south-
ern regions of our world, Michigan sur-
veyors must still subject their equipment
to a harsh environment. Long hot sum-
mer days, dusty conditions within con-
struction sites, rain, snow, and tempera-
tures that can range from below zero to
well above ninety degrees Fahrenheit. I
don’t think that there are many people
that would take there desktop, or laptop
computer into any of the environments
that the surveyor is required to work in
day after day. Our profession requires that
the work be completed within strict dead-
lines, and many times that means that the
field crews must work whether the sun is
shinning or not.
“The services of a licensed

Construction Briefs
Byron Center - TurnKey Network
Solutions, a leading contractor of telecom
infrastructure, announces that it has bro-
ken ground on its new facility in
Caledonia Township. The building will
serve as the corporate headquarters and
meet TurnKey’s need for increased work-
flow efficiencies during a time of signifi-
cant growth for the company. TurnKey
Network Solutions is a privately held
telecommunications contractor that focus-
es on providing complete telecom/fiber
infrastructure solutions to the market-
place. With offices throughout the
Midwest, TurnKey’s services range from
outside plant engineering, construction,
and maintenance to central office design,
installation, and equipment test and turn
up. Operating out of the company’s sec-
ond location since its inception in 2000,
TurnKey is once again in need of more
room. TurnKey Network Solutions, recent-
ly broke ground on the construction of a
28,900 square-foot operational headquar-
ters located within Caledonia’s Southbelt
Industrial Park at 7020 Southbelt. The
new building is designed by Dixon
Architecture and built by Grand Rapids-
based First Companies.
Ispheming - Hobbs+Black Architects
announced the completion of design and
construction for Bell Memorial Hospital.
The ribbon cutting ceremony for the new
109,000 square foot Critical Access
Hospital took place on September 15 in
the Upper Peninsula town of Ishpeming.
Hobbs+Black worked with the Oscar J.
Boldt Company to develop this
Design/Build project. Serving a rural
region, the new one-story Critical Access
Hospital was carefully and tightly
planned in 108,050 gross square feet to
efficiently accommodate all essential
hospital services. The compact facility
features an emergency center, surgery,
cardiology, imaging, lab, medical rehabil-
itation, pharmacy, administration,
dietary and support services, as well as a
25-bed inpatient and nursing unit sup-
porting birthing, acute care, and critical
care centers. Additionally, an adjacent
36,495 square foot new medical office
building houses all clinics. With opera-
tional flexibility and visitor hospitality
high priorities for the remote hospital,
the Hobbs+Black team developed ways to
combine or isolate designated areas
according to the demand of the ever
changing circumstances and patient
needs. A large central avenue allows vis-
itors and patients direct access between
the main lobby, cafeteria, waiting room,
and clinics, passing all departments with-
out interfering with hospital operations
or entering sterile space. Architecture for
the new hospital draws heavily from sur-
rounding vocabulary, uniquely translat-
ing the local environment, history, and
sentiment into a contemporary hospital
design. Surrounded by a 35-acre forest
of mature birch trees, the one-story facil-
ity resembles a modern mountain lodge
of wood timbers and stone.
Grand Rapids – Wolverine Building, Inc.
has been hired as general contractor for a
warehouse addition to Thierica’s display
graphics manufacturing plant on 900
Clancy in Grand Rapids. Thierica Display
Products Corp, a growing business for
over 50 years, is a neighborhood compa-
ny where many of its employees live
close enough to walk to work. Its current
location at 900 Clancy NE, is vital to the
local district and its success. Wolverine
will expand the building by 10,000
square feet which is twice the size its last
expansion Wolverine completed for the
Clancy facility in 2004. New parking
areas will be constructed as well to
accommodate the addition of new
employees. As a Design/Build project,
Wolverine plans to finish construction
within 5 months, and operate without
disturbing any existing operations.
According to project manager, Chris Nye,
“Wolverine Building group has had an
excellent partnership with the Thierica
group of companies for the past several
years, and it’s refreshing to participate in
their continued growth yet again, espe-
cially in the current economic conditions.
I look forward to the completion of
another successful facility expansion.”
Grand Rapids - C. D. Barnes Associates,
Inc. announces their celebration of com-
pletion on the Caledonia Professionals
Office Building. C.D. Barnes Associates
held its ribbon-cutting in November to
celebrate completion of the 2 story, archi-
tecturally distinctive, fieldstone office
building. In attendance were Dr.’s Tom
and Effie Grias, DDS; Dr. and Mrs. Eric
Hannapel, DDS, MS, PC; members of
their staff; the C.D. Barnes Associates
project team; Design Plus and members
of the press.
Grand Rapids – Spectrum Health
announced Aero Med will began using the
rooftop helistop at Butterworth Hospital
for training on November 17.
Enhancements to the site are complete.
The enlarged helistop accommodates two
helicopters and includes enhancements
for safety, fire suppression and wind tur-
bulence control. It features a platform
raised several feet above the roof that
allows for two 60 foot by 60 foot landing
zones. The new helistop has many
enhancements: A raised platform several
feet above the existing roof. This makes
the helistop slightly larger in area than the
roof, allowing for two 60 foot by 60 foot
landing zones. The elevated helistop also
allows wind traveling up the side of the
building to flow underneath the platform,
which helps decrease air turbulence; The
helistop has horizontal aluminum safety
netting extending several feet beyond the
platform; Additional emergency exits.
Each landing zone will have an external,
fire escape-type metal stairway leading to
the floor below; A fuel-water separator
tank for each landing zone catches all liq-
uid run off from the landing surface and
blocks fuel from entering storm drains;
An upgraded fire-suppression system can
be activated from either landing zone, in
addition to inside and outside of the
structure housing the elevators.
According to the Federal Aviation
Administration, a helistop is an area
used or intended to be used for the land-
ing and takeoff of helicopters engaged in
dropping off or picking up passengers. A
helipad is a surface used for parking hel-
icopters and refueling. Helicopters at the
Butterworth Hospital helistop will remain
there only as long as it takes to transfer
patients. The helistop will not be used for
parking or refueling helicopters.
Kentwood - Wolverine Building Inc. &
Post Associate Architects have been
selected by the City of Kentwood to
design and construct the new Kentwood
District Library. At approximately
43,000 square feet, the new facility will
act as the Kentwood District Library’s
new flagship location. It will include the
latest innovations in Library Sciences, as
well as space for community gatherings
and functions. Land Development
Solutions is assisting the team in select-
ing the most appropriate location on the
Kentwood Municipal Campus on Breton
JONKER LAND SURVEYS
RANDALL J. JONKER
8373 MERTON AVE SW, SUITE A
PO BOX 385
BYRON CENTER, MI 49315
S U RV E Y I N G S E RV I C E S :
A.L.T.A., BUILDING /House Stakeout,
Boundary, Tower Certifications,
Construction Staking, Elevations,
18
Avenue to place the building; while
Molinaro Architects of Evanston, IL
guides the KDL through programming.
The Wolverine team plans to break
ground on the project in the Spring of
2009. The $ 8 Million project better
serves Kentwood residents by providing
a facility that will include larger reading
selections, upgraded technology, and a
more serene learning environment.
Walker - Wolverine Building, Inc. is
proud to build the new Foot & Ankle
Specialists of West Michigan 9th loca-
tion in Walker, MI. On the corner of
Leonard and Wilson, Wolverine broke
ground on a new two-story medical office
building in September. The new building
will have many modern aspects designed
by Wolverine’s in-house architects. The
design/build project will be over 11,700
square feet total and will include a 1,200
square foot basement. Foot & Ankle
Specialists will occupy the 2nd floor,
while two tenant lease spaces will be
available on the first floor. According to
project manager, Chris Nye, “It’s a pleas-
ure to be working with Foot & Ankle
Specialists again on their new Walker
facility. This new building will surely be
a showcase for the City of Walker.”
Caledonia - DVK Construction has recent-
ly completed the addition project for
Flow-Rite Controls located at 960 74th
Street in Byron Center. The project broke
ground in June of 2008 and was complet-
ed ahead of schedule in November 2008.
The 50,000 square foot addition is to
support the expanded needs of the ware-
housing, shipping, and production
departments. Flow-Rite manufacturers
fluid control products based on the tech-
nology of fluidics. Aivars Linde was the
design build architect for the project.
PRESIDENT
PROFESSIONAL SURVEYOR
616.878.1607 PHONE
616.878.9465 FAX
jonkersurveys@sbcglobal.net
Flood Certification, Plats, Condos,
Mortgage Reports, Site Plans,
Topographical.

by Matt Decker
Kalamazoo is a great place to grow a
business.
Back in 1979 Wright Coating got its
start under Alan Wright. Almost 30 years
later the company is still sticking to what
it does best: solve coating problems.
President Chuck Grimes, who is close
to celebrating 22 years with the company,
said that the company has always aspired
to grow through quality and service. He
told me that that was what Alan Wright
stressed, and what the company has car-
ried on and found success doing.
“We have actually seven markets that
we’ve been concentrating on as we work
on diversifying in both our processes and
our customer base,” said Grimes, “We
have seven different markets that we are
servicing customers in. Office furniture
and consumer’s goods are most dominant
right now, but in addition to those two we
have architectural, automotive, appliance,
RV, and Medical. We work with customers
in each of those markets and we do spe-
cialized coatings for them.” Grimes went
on to explain that the company also does a
wide range of general coatings like powder
coating and plastisol and nylons.
It is no secret that the medical field is
a great one to be involved in during this
time in Michigan. So when asked point
blank about what that market specifically
has to offer to a coating company, Grimes
had this to say:
“We’ve always tried to get into that
market because of it’s stability and growth
here and of course that is really a hot bed
here in Kalamazoo right now because of
what’s been spun off with Pfizer. The coat-
ing portion of medical may not be as large
as an instrument manufacturer or some-
thing like that, but there is business there.”
Of course, if Medical is the Peyton
Manning of fields to be involved in in
Michigan, automotive is the Ryan Leaf.
And Wright Coating is involved in both.
“I think that there is going to have to
be some changes (in the automotive
industry). If part of our business is auto-
motive of course it is going to be down but
what part of our business isn’t down?”
said Grimes, “Michigan has been hard to
do business in if you are in automotive but
if you’re in medical you’re probably doing
pretty well. Office furniture is doing pretty
good, but I think with the way the econo-
my is right now that nobody is going to do
real well for awhile.”
While Grimes is very confident in his
company and where it is heading, he was
brutally honest about how he perceived the
market to be faring in the individual sectors.
19
Wright Coating
Technologies
doing just to make sure our spending is in
line with our sales. Unfortunately we do
have to lay off some people, you don’t want
to do that but you have to reduce your cost
to a level of sales.”
In spite of the economy though,
Grimes was sure to point out that the peo-
ple of Michigan are good hard workers.
“The people in southwestern Michigan
have a very good work ethic and our labor
force is one of the best. I’d put them up
against anybody. That is why we stay here.
You know you could go somewhere else but
I don’t know if the labor force would be as
good. There are some great companies in
Western Michigan, Steelcase, Hayworth,
Herman Miller, Styker, there are some real-
ly good companies in our area and we want
to be one of those and we do business with
a lot of them,” said Grimes, “As long as we
have potential customers here, we will stay
here. If they leave I would assume that we
would have to too because we wouldn’t
have any customers. But the work force is
“Medical is the only one I’m really coming in they just don’t bring as much great and of course with our unemploy-
optimistic about. I don’t see RV, I don’t see work as they used to,” said Grimes, “It’s a ment there are a lot of people out there
automotive, consumer goods: no, office very competitive environment out there looking for jobs and they are good, skilled
furniture has been steady but it is going to right now so you’ve got to hang on to every people.”
follow everything else. I’m optimistic customer you’ve got for sure and do your “The Kalamazoo area is a great area
about our company,” said Grimes, “Its just very best for them and try to have them to live.”
the way it is.” stay with you. I think people are looking
Grimes explained that Wright Coating more internally at cost. That is what we are
is financially strong and has process that
are proprietary to them.
“We got powder coating of plastics and
we have our thin film controlled technis
nylon application which we call “rylon.”
Those are unique to us. We also do general
coating and plasticols. Those proprietary
things make it better for us no matter what
market you are in because you have limit- 900 Hall Street, Grand Rapids Michigan 49503
ed competition,” said Grimes.
In terms of new developments,
Grimes informed me more about plastics.
Want to know how we keep our
“The newest one would be powder coat-
ing of plastics. We call it plastic coat. It is the
customers for over 100 years?
application of powder on nylon substrate.
We started commercially at the end of 2004,
beginning of 2005 so about 4 years and we
have expanded our customer base in that
significantly.” But more so than plastics,
Grimes wanted to make sure that I knew that
his company is doing well fiscally.
“It really hasn’t been a tough year up
except for the economy. Actually business
has been really good up until September
and then all business has dropped off.
We’re doing better than last year. We’ve
been growing every year since 2001, pro-
We partner with our customers,offering
gressively picking up new business and solutions for all their logistics needs.
new processes and new customers. But the
overall economy is going to affect every-
body we just don’t have any control over Call: 1.616.514.6000 or 1.888.609.8542
that. We still have the same customers Ask for Donna Randall, Director of Marketing www.columbian.us
www.columbian.us

Trendway Bucks Industry Trend
Holland - Trendway continues to
experience an increase in net sales num-
bers while, according to BIFMA statistics,
industry-wide shipments are showing a
decline of one percent and new orders are
flat. “Our sales are up 7 percent over
2007 for the same time period,” says Bill
Bundy, Trendway’s president and CEO.
“Last year we grew at three times the
industry growth rate, and this year’s
September and October orders were the
highest monthly totals in our 40 year his-
tory!” In addition, Trendway continues to
enjoy significant success relative to its
Federal Government business.
Why such growth at a time when
businesses are reeling from the decline in
the stock market, from home foreclo-
Current Business Trends: Another Down Month
West Michigan - The greater Grand
Rapids economy is still down in October,
sures, bankruptcies, and rising prices?
“We attribute it directly to our service
model,” explains Bundy. “We are in the
‘peace of mind’ business, delivering a
complete, ready-for-people workplace, on
time, as promised. This means our cus-
tomers can spend less time worrying
about furniture and have more time to
worry about everything else – and in
today’s environment there is plenty of
‘everything else’ to worry about”
“Our continued sales growth is only
possible through the ongoing efforts of
our dealers, sales representatives and
field leadership,” adds Mark Dlugolecki,
Trendway’s vice president of sales.
“When you add Trendway’s unyielding
commitment to world-class customer
according to a survey compiled by Brian
G. Long, director of Supply Management
service and industry-best lead times, the
result is customer satisfaction – and that
translates into sales.”
Trendway continues to hold to its
strict standards. For an order to be recog-
nized as on time and complete it must
include everything from service parts to
multi-part workstations. “When the cus-
tomer knows that they don’t have to
worry about the furniture, then they truly
have peace of mind,” says Bundy.
Trendway’s Board Chairman Don
Heeringa believes that there is another
significant contributing factor. “We have
been an employee owned company for
nearly two years now,” says Heeringa. “I
believe this has strengthened our team
environment and increased performance
Research in the Seidman College of
Business at Grand Valley State
University.
According to the monthly survey, the
index of new orders declined to -24,
down from -21 in September. While still
negative, the production index was -14,
a little better than September's -24. The
purchasing index sank to -35, down from
-28. The employment index slid to -26
from -21.
“We are now in the seventh month
of the downtrend for this report,” Long
said. “Unfortunately, the statistics con-
tinue to weaken, and there is no end in
sight.”
Long noted that the national econo-
my has met the official definition of a
recession. “Unlike the 2001 recession
which was largely the fault of the dot com
bust, the causes of this recession are far
more complex,” Long said. “Hence, these
MAGNUM
P OWD E R COATI N G, I N C.
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2-Coat, S I N G L E PAS S Sy stem
8’ x 8’ x 2 5’ Off Line
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20
excellence. As a result, we have been able
to issue quarterly profit sharing checks to
our employee owners. Our employees
make our success possible and, because
they’re owners, they share in the
rewards.”
Whatever the reason for the positive
sales numbers, Trendway remains dedi-
cated to providing exceptional customer
service. “The global economy is in an
unprecedented time of uncertainty,” says
Bundy. “Nevertheless, we remain
focused. We are committed to being the
best and to getting better everyday.
Customers will still buy furniture, and we
believe that most who do will want peace
of mind service, now more than ever.”
problems will take much longer to correct
themselves — or to be corrected.”
Looking at individual industries,
Long said the news is bad across the
board, with declines in the office furni-
ture, auto, industrial distribution, capital
equipment and aerospace industries.
Long said President-Elect Barack
Obama will face a tough task. “We should
not expect any miracles,” Long said.
“Indeed, Jimmy Carter noted after his
term in office that one of the most frus-
trating part of his presidency was that the
executive branch of government really
has very little control over the economy.
Except for the proper administration bail-
out package that has already been
passed, there is really little that our gov-
ernment, the Chinese government, and
the European governments can do except
wait for the markets to work their way
through the problems.”
Fx 616-785-3605

Industry Index Declines In Latest Survey
West Olive - Michael A. Dunlap &
Associates, LLC announced the results of
the 18th edition of its quarterly MADA /
OFI Trends Survey, a unique tool that
designed to measure the current business
activity of the office furniture industry and
its suppliers. This survey was completed
during the month of October 2008.
The survey focuses upon ten key busi-
ness activities, with respondents rating
each area on a scale of TEN (the highest) to
ONE (the lowest). The business activities
are Gross Shipments, Order Backlog /
Incoming Orders, Employment Levels,
Manufacturing Hours (Overtime vs.
Reduced Hours), Capital Investment,
Tooling Expenditures, New Product
Development Activity, Raw Material Costs,
Employee Costs, and the respondents’
Personal Outlook on the industry.
The unique element of this survey is
the establishment of an Industry Index
Number to quantify where the industry is
currently performing. For example, an
index of 100 means that things “couldn’t
be better”, an index of ONE is “absolutely
the worst” it can be, and an index of 50
means it is neutral; no change “up” or
“down”.
The October 2008 Overall Survey
Index is 50.54, the second lowest in over
four years. The previous low of 49.21 was
in April 2008. The highest recorded Index
was 59.72 in July 2005. The average is
Vision Environmental, Inc. Joins
GZAGeoEnvironmental, Inc.
Norwood, MI & Walled Lake, MI -
GZA GeoEnvironmental Inc., a leading
environmental and geotechnical consult-
ing firm, has announced that Vision
Environmental, Inc (VEI) of Walled Lake
MI has joined the company and signifi-
cantly expanded GZA’s capabilities.
Vision Environmental, Inc. will add
air quality, permitting, regulatory compli-
ance and below-ground environmental
assessment capabilities to GZA’s Great
Lakes operations. The move nearly dou-
bles GZA’s growing air quality practice
and expands their services to the automo-
tive and other industries in the Midwest.
VEI is a 16-year old firm located in
Southeastern Michigan. The entire former
staff of VEI will join the staff at GZA and
the founder of VEI, Tony Percha, will
become Vice President in GZA and will
work from the Livonia, MI office. GZA
anticipates that the entire VEI operation
will join the Livonia MI office in moving to
a new location early next year.
With the emergence of climate
change, the increasing concern over the
impacts of greenhouse gas emissions and
the awareness of environmental sustain-
56.18 since the survey started in August
2004.
Some individual index values declined
significantly between the July and October
surveys. In particular, Gross Shipments and
Order Backlog fell 61.25 to 53.29 and
60.00 to 50.76, respectfully. Ironically, Raw
Material Prices and Employee Costs
improved 30.00 to 37.31 and 44.58 to
46.03, respectfully.
Dunlap commented, “I’m glad to see
both these index values improve, but
Material costs are still impacting everyone,
especially the small companies. They seem
to suffer the most in difficult times like this.
Everyone is aware that raw materials costs
are skyrocketing, due to oil, steel, and
related commodity price jumps. As for
employee costs (46.03), “for these costs to
continue under 50.0 (index) is a never-
ending battle. They won’t go into ‘reverse’;
soon, now, or ever!”
Personal Outlook Index plummeted to
41.41 in October 2008. In October 2007, it
slipped to 59.10; below 60.00 for the first
time in more than two years. Furniture
manufacturers were less pessimistic than
suppliers; 45.33 to 36.40.
“Suppliers are typically more pes-
simistic”, Dunlap added, “they don’t see the
same picture as the OFM’s, and vice-versa.”
The majority of respondents cite the
economic conditions, the credit crisis,
healthcare costs, transportation costs and
ability, this expansion of GZA’s air quality
practice supports the company’s strategic
decision to enhance air quality, regulatory
compliance and permitting capabilities.
Precision Wire EDM Service, Inc.
is proud to announce the addition of the most technologically
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21
especially energy costs, as the “largest spots. The most recent quarterly reports
threats to individual company’s growth”. from the largest public companies generally
The “largest threats to the industry” are support this.”
most commonly identified as deep concerns Dunlap closed with this comment.
for the economic situation, the fluctuating “Over 50% of our responses come from
value of the U.S. Dollar, a fear of global eco- executives who are the Chairman, CEO,
nomic recession, and the increasing costs of COO or President of their organization. The
oil and energy. senior leadership in this industry continues
Dunlap stated, “We have been con- to endorse this survey as an important
ducting the MADA / OFI Trends Survey for business tool for the industry. Their strong
more than four years. This quarter has participation supports this, and I am grate-
shown a decline that was worse than I had ful for their support.”
anticipated three months ago. The The October 2008 MADA / OFI Trends
decreased backlog is worrisome, but I think survey was sent to more than 650 individ-
the industry is in a good position to absorb uals involved with office furniture manu-
some downturn. Then he added, “I wish my facturing and suppliers throughout the
(and everyone else’s) ‘crystal ball’ was world.
more clear. Unfortunately, this industry Responses came from Asia, Europe,
doesn’t enjoy the long term visibility it once North and South America and from compa-
enjoyed.” nies ranging from more than $1 Billion in
He concluded, “There is no doubt that sales to less than $10 Million in sales. The
the industry is not as strong as it was 18 to survey repeats in January 2009.
24 months ago, but there are many bright
Design, Fabrication, Manufacturing, PVC Coating,
Insulation, Stripping, Sandblasting, Repairing,
and Rebuilding of Anodizing, E-Coat, Painting,
Plating, Powdercoating and PVD Racks, Baskets,
Barrels and Screens
Phone: 616-453-8261 Fax: 616-453-3811
2855 Marlin Court N.W. Grand Rapids, MI 49544
racks@expertcoating.net
to its stable of EDM, Waterjet, Cryogenic,
and CMM equipment.
P: 616-453-4360 F: 616-453-2549 E: pwedm@aol.com

ilumisys Debuts Products, Channel Partners in
Growing LED Market
Troy - ilumisys, Inc., developer and
producer of next-generation solid-state
lighting technology, announces a grow-
ing roster of channel partners, two new
additions to its product line and
increased opportunities in the business
and government communities.
ilumisys, founded in 2007, is a spin-
off of Altair, a global software and tech-
nology company that has a growing
presence in the energy market. With the
support of its majority owner, ilumisys
has a deep research and development
background that includes more than 25
patent filings. The company recently
expanded its channel partner network to
include companies covering the
Northeast, Midwest and Southwest
regions, including Chicago-based LED
Lighting; Orange County-based IHNcorp.
and Ecogreen Solutions; and New York
City-based Greenlight Initiative.
The ilumisys product line now
includes the MK1 lighting tube, the
recently launched MK2 lighting tube and
SETTING THE PACE
FOR TOMORROW
Lacks Trim Systems
Lacks Wheel Trim Systems
Plastic-Plate, Inc.
Manufacturer of plastic components for the Automotive,
Business Machine, Electronics, and Telecommunications Industries.
5460 Cascade Road • Grand Rapids, MI 49546 • 616-949-6570
the newly available CM 2x4 fixture.
Patented circuitry enables ilumisys MK1
LEDs to operate in existing fluorescent
fixtures, without modifications to the fix-
tures or ballasts. This allows users to
simply remove an existing fluorescent
tube and replace it with the ilumisys
MK1 product. The ilumisys MK2 runs off
of 120 VAC and 277 VAC building cur-
rents.
The CM 2x4 fixture is designed to
fit in the same space as any other ceiling
fixture of the same size, and has one of
the lowest profiles on the market. By uti-
lizing ilumisys’s MK2 tubes, the CM 2x4
is easily upgradable to the latest in LED
technology. In addition, the CM 2x4 was
developed within Altair’s award-winning
industrial design studio with an aesthet-
ically elegant yet functional design.
“Our patented circuitry enables our
products to operate in existing fluores-
cent fixtures without modifications,
allowing users to simply remove an
existing fluorescent tube and drop in the
ilumisys replacement, saving energy and
money over time,” said Dave Simon,
president of ilumisys. “Businesses and
governmental groups can transition their
operations easily to solid state lighting
without incurring costly infrastructure
changes."
Unlike the fluorescent tubes they
replace, the ilumisys tubes are energy-
efficient and are mercury-free, reducing
toxic pollutants. The 500 million to 600
million fluorescent tubes discarded
annually in the United States introduce
an estimated two to four tons of toxic
mercury into the environment per year,
despite industry and government efforts
to limit mercury content and encourage
recycling.
Additionally, DTE Energy has
installed two tubes each in four fixtures
in the Walker Cisler building at its Detroit
Unshielded Distribution
Transformers
Rosemont, IL - SolaHD, a leading
supplier of power quality solutions,
announced today a new line of unshield-
ed general purpose distribution trans-
formers that equally mix value and per-
formance for outstanding energy-effi-
ciency in commercial, institutional and
industrial facilities.
Utilizing the same feature-set that
has made the SolaHD ET series of shield-
ed low voltage dry-type distribution
transformers successful, these new
unshielded transformers offer improved
cost effectiveness and are fully compati-
ble with the shielded ET units in most
applications. The initial offering includes
the eight most popular ET part numbers
22
headquarters. DTE Energy is working
with ilumisys to provide feedback on the
performance of the tubes. This will help
ilumisys improve the design and func-
tionality of its lighting technology.
“We see the value and promise of
LED lighting and we are working closely
with Michigan companies like ilumisys to
develop high-quality and high-efficiency
lighting technology for the future,” said
Gerald Polk, manager of Energy
Partnership & Services at DTE Energy.
“ilumisys’ concept of replacing bulbs
instead of fixtures makes sense for office
buildings so we are pleased to collabo-
rate on these ideas. Our commitment to
improving and enhancing LED lighting
technology will be discussed at the
upcoming DTE Energy Solid-State
Lighting Symposium.”
-- ET2 and ET5 Series, 15 kVA through
75 kVA.
For those customers seeking an out-
door transformer, the new units can be
outfitted with optional weather shields
which meet UL-3R requirements.
Key features for both shielded and
unshielded SolaHD ET transformers
include:
· NEMA TP-1 compliance
· UL Class 220° insulation system
· Terminal board connections and spa-
cious wiring compartments
· Panel design that reduces labor time
· Rugged stainless steel enclosures
· High efficiency for low cost operation
· Single and three phase availability.
From $799/Mo.
W.A.C.

Waterwall System for Bank and Business Facility
Management and Security
Baltimore, MD - CINTEC America
introduces the Waterwall™ System, a
series of water inflated, rapidly deploy-
able, blast suppression devices designed
to isolate or shield suspicious objects in
order to protect both people and infra-
structures.
Ideal for security management of
bank or business lobbies, offices, and
public/private areas, the Waterwall System
comes in various designs to suit many
scenarios. Extensive research and devel-
opment has demonstrated the exceptional
qualities of the Waterwall in mitigating the
effects of a blast. Pressures behind the
blast wave are substantially reduced, heat
is absorbed and fragmentation is either
eliminated or significantly decreased. The
Waterwall’s rapid deployment can also
lessen the inevitable disruption resulting
from dealing with such an incident,
whether it proves to be a genuine threat or
a false alarm.
The Waterwall’s Suspicious Object
Isolator (SOI) is designed to isolate poten-
tially explosive devises that may be found
in employee offices, or unattended cases
within a lobby. When required, it is first
inflated with air to provide stability, and
then filled with water through a fire-hose.
The water displaces the air through a
series of pressure relief valves. Each unit
is open at the top and bottom to facilitate
deployment for access to, and inspection
of, the suspect object. In the event of a
hoax device or redeployment elsewhere,
the water can be pumped out and the
Bomb Bin deflated.
The SOI is designed by first respon-
ders for use in responding to emergency
situations, or, to deploy when suspect
objects are identified, such as question-
able items found in a bank waiting area.
Its compact design allows for easy storage
and rapid deployment wherever and
whenever necessary. Its specific dimen-
sions are tailored to suit customer require-
23
ments, as is the selection of the internally
reinforced fabric used in its construction.
The exterior of a bank or business
can be protected by the three meter high
Waterwall, a formidable barrier that will
protect people and buildings from the
effects of a car bomb or similar device.
The Cargo Isolation System is designed to
isolate suspicious items when necessary.
All of the products in the Waterwall series
can be supplemented with the additional
appropriate chemicals necessary to treat
CBR devices.

Industrial Briefs
Holland - Trendway announces
PackTM, a complete filing and storage
solution. With an exceptional range of
sizes, options and finishes, this versatile
collection offers great value. With height
options that support new lower profile
design trends, Pack is designed to offer
customers versatility and value.
Numerous options and complete flex-
ibility make this offering a simple solution
to a wide variety of workplace storage
challenges. “Pack becomes our most com-
prehensive filing and storage line,”
explained Bryan Speet, senior product
development manager. “It has the broadest
total offering of components and options
from which to choose.” The Pack collection
includes mobile personal storage options
affording flexibility for the individual
workstation. In addition, it offers all of the
essential components for an organization’s
volume storage needs.
“We are especially pleased to be part-
nering with a manufacturer here in West
Michigan to produce this offering,” noted
Bill Bundy, Trendway president and CEO.
“The addition of Pack enables us to pro-
vide a more complete storage product
that’s aligned to Trendway’s commitment
to reliability, quality and industry-best
lead times.” This also better enables
Trendway to accommodate customers’
needs for custom solutions. Pack products
are designed to meet Trendway’s stringent
quality standards, as well as those of
BIFMA and GSA.
Minneapolis, MN & Holland, MI - Tennant
Company announces that its breakthrough
ec-H2O™ technology, which converts plain
tap water into a powerful cleaning agent
without any added chemicals, has won a
2008 R&D 100 Award. The R&D 100
Awards, sponsored by R&D Magazine, rec-
ognize the 100 most technologically signifi-
cant new products and processes of the
year.
www.proficientmachine.com
Phone: 616-878-7800
Fax: 616-878-7006
“ec-H2O is the result of years of research
and development at Tennant Company. AT PROFICIENT MACHINE & TOOL WE...
Chemical-free and environmentally friend- • DESIGN & BUILD CUSTOM MACHINES & FIXTURES
ly, it is a highly innovative and category- • FABRICATION SERVICES • MACHINE DESIGN SERVICES • MACHINING SERVICES
changing advancement that is already rev- • ERGONOMIC WORKSTATIONS • CONTROL SERVICES
olutionizing the cleaning industry,” said • REBUILD-REFURBISH EXISTING EQUIPMENT
Chris Killingstad, president and CEO of
Tennant Company.
Holland – SAF-HOLLAND proudly
announces that its Muskegon, MI facility
has won the prestigious Masters of Quality
Award for 2007 from Daimler Trucks
North America, Freightliner Custom
Chassis Division. The Muskegon facility,
which has been manufacturing Neway
brand air-ride suspensions for almost 60
years for heavy-duty vehicles, was 1 of
only 48 suppliers chosen to receive the
award from over 1,800 suppliers. Since
1987, Daimler has evaluated suppliers on
more than 100 criteria, encompassing
quality, delivery, continuous improvement
and customer support.
West Michigan – Wynalda Litho
announced that they were chosen to pro-
duce the packaging for the DVD release of
the Disney summer hit, WALL-E. The
packages chosen for the single, double and
triple disc release are all from Wynalda
Litho’s Wyn-Slide family and share a com-
mon look but are all unique and were
designed specifically out of paperboard
material, without the use of any plastic. New Truck Sales located
in Wyoming & Kalamazoo
Wynalda Litho’s Wyn-Slide was one of
For further information
hundreds of packages that were presented please call:
to Disney for consideration to be the pack- 866-549-8148
age they would choose for the DVD release
of WALL-E. The Wyn-Slide’s fun, interac-
tive design combined with its unique abil-
ity to hold multiple discs were advantages
that made it an early contender. The Wyn-
Slides ability to be automated, its compet-
itive price and its small carbon footprint New/Used Truck Sales New/Used Parts/Service Parts/Service Parts/Service Parts/Service
were major factors in the final decision. 575 56th Street SW 5316 Wynn Rd 215 Hall Street SW 274 West Sherman Blvd 2500 84th Ave.
Wyoming, MI 49509 Kalamazoo, MI 49048 Grand Rapids, MI 49507 Muskegon, MI 49444 Zeeland, MI 49509
616-249-0552 269-345-2183 616-241-4656 231-733-2157 616-748-1738

Veolia Energy Purchases District Heating
and Cooling System
Grand Rapids - Veolia Energy North
America, a leader in sustainable energy
services, facility operations and manage-
ment solutions, and the owner and opera-
tor of the largest portfolio of district ener-
gy systems in North America, is pleased to
announce that it has purchased the
District Heating and Cooling system and
generation assets in Grand Rapids from
Kent County.The new name of the busi-
ness is Veolia Energy Grand Rapids, LLC.
The Veolia plant, located on Fulton Street,
Gill Industries Ramps Up Production
For Rough Terrain Vehicle Frames
Grand Rapids – Gill Industries Inc. is
ramping up an automated production line
at its Trenton, Ga. facility to supply steel
chassis for a new series of utility vehicles
by Club Car Inc. that targets the agricultur-
al and outdoor recreation markets.
The Trenton facility will have the
capacity to fabricate up to 30 frames a day
for the XRT950 side-by-side utility vehicle
JW Marriott Hotel and
Convention Center
2 0 2 0 N E WA R K S E • G R A N D R A P I D S , M I 4 9 5 0 7
( 6 1 6 ) 4 5 2 - 3 2 8 1 P h . w w w. s t e e l s u p p l y e n g i n e e r i n g . c o m F x . ( 6 1 6 ) 4 5 2 - 8 4 9 3
across from the Van Andel Arena, houses
four industrial boilers that provide steam
to more than 130 customers in downtown
Grand Rapids via seven miles of steam
pipe. Customers include hospitals, college
campuses, cultural and exhibition centers,
commercial offices and retail store fronts.
Mayor George Heartwell said:
“Veolia’s acquisition of the County’s steam
system is an exciting development for
downtown Grand Rapids. The investments
they intend to make in order to upgrade
that satisfies a demand for more horse-
power and versatility for the mid-sized
utility vehicle market, said Scott Cronan,
regional business development manager
for Gill Industries in charge of the Club Car
account.
Introduced by Club Car in October, the
XRT950 offers a number of features that
are resonating with consumers, such as a
the plant will improve its efficiency and
ensure that a valuable and sustainable
resource remains available for downtown
businesses for many years into the
future.”
Stewart A. Wood, CEO of Veolia
Energy North America said: “We like
Grand Rapids, as it is a vibrant city. We
believe that the Grand Rapids district
energy system will be a valuable econom-
ic development tool for the community, in
addition to providing thermal energy in an
twin-cylinder 14-horsepower engine that
is the largest in its vehicle class, inde-
pendent suspension, four-wheel hydraulic
disc brakes, locking rear differential and
nine inches of ground clearance for
demanding farm work and off-road tour-
ing.
Saint Denis, director of operations of
the Trenton facility said the plant employs
about 115 people, and the XRT950 work
will help to offset a potential downturn in
orders from automotive customers. While
he doesn’t expect the line to create new
jobs in the near future, Saint Denis said
the new business creates a solid founda-
tion for potential job growth in the long
term.
Saint Denis said technical personnel
at the Trenton facility worked closely with
the Augusta, Ga.-based Club Car during
the initial design of the frame to determine
the most cost effective ways to manufac-
ture it. Gill Industries was able to design,
install and debug an entire production line
in about 10 months – one of the fastest
implementations of a production line in
the company’s history.
The production line employs
We are a high-tech company geared to the future.
A progressive, growth-oriented, full service
mold making company specializing in
Quality...On Time!
ISO 9001 Registered
Located In:
Grand Rapids • Walker
Auburn Hills
0-215 Lake Michigan Dr. N.W.
Phone 616.453.5451 • Fax 616.453.7872
24
efficient manner. We have a lot of capacity
at the central plant and our goal is to
expand our customer base to efficiently
utilize that capacity.”
Keith Oldewurtel has been named
Vice President and General Manager of
Veolia Energy Grand Rapids LLC. The
company has also established a business
office at 50 Monroe Avenue NW, Suite
430, Grand Rapids, MI 49503.
hydraulic presses, machining centers and
robotic welding units to precisely bend
and weld 2-inch-by-3-inch rectangular
steel tubing to make the XRT950 frames
that each weigh about 200 pounds.
“One particular challenge is the
remarkable amount of welding we do on
each frame – about 47 feet total,” Cronan
said. “All of the vehicle components con-
nect to the frame, so everything – bends,
brackets, holes – have to be just right for
smooth assembly. There isn’t a lot of room
for error.” After fabrication, the frames are
electrostatically painted and powder coated
before being shipped to Club Car’s assem-
bly plant in Augusta.
The market for Club Car rough-terrain
utility vehicles continues to grow in the
United States as the products offer more
amenities, such as higher torque and
horsepower, improved suspension, and
coverings to shield occupants from the
weather. A subsidiary of the Ingersoll-
Rand Co., Club Car estimated that its over-
all revenues rose about 10 percent last year
due in part to the increased sales of its util-
ity vehicle offerings.
We Design and Build:
• Plastic injection molds
• Die cast dies
• Aluminum and magnesium dies
• RIM molds
• Compression molds
• Prototype aluminum tools
• Parts for the aerospace industry
Our Services Include:
• Sampling and pre-production of
plastic injection mold (up to
3350 ton molding press size)
• Prototype development
• CAD/CAM cutting of molds
 Corporate Information
Awards
Grand Rapids - Grand Valley Health plan
(GVHP) again ranks as one of the best
health plans in the nation according to U.S.
News & World Report and the National
Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA)
America’s Best Health Plans rankings. The
2008 rankings, released today, places
GVHP in fourth place in the top 50 pub-
lished by the magazine; 245 Commercial
Health Plans submitted data for considera-
tion. This is the fourth consecutive year
that GVHP has been named among the top
50. Grand Valley Health Plan is also recog-
nized as the highest ranked commercial
health plan in the State of Michigan. Each
year U.S. News & World Report and NCQA
collaborate to rank the nation’s health
plans based on member satisfaction, access
to care, prevention and treatment. The
2008 America’s best Health Plans rankings
were featured in the November issue of
U.S. News & World Report.
Grand Rapids - HEDIS results are in! Grand
Valley Health Plan (GVHP) came out on
top and raised the bar for all health plans in
the state of Michigan. GVHP ranked as the
best Commercial Health Plan for the follow-
ing 28 National Committee for Quality
Assurance (NCQA) Quality of Care meas-
ures: Prevention and Screening: Childhood
Immunizations #1 in Michigan; Breast
Cancer Screening #1 in Michigan & #2 in
Nation. Respiratory & Cardiac Care:
Appropriate Testing for Children with
Pharyngitis #1 in Michigan & #2 in Nation;
Appropriate Treatment for Children with
Upper Respiratory Condition #1 in
Michigan; Appropriate Treatment for
Adults with Acute Bronchitis #1 in
Michigan; Appropriate Use of Asthma
Medication #1 in Michigan & #2 in Nation;
Use of Spirometry Testing in Diagnosis of
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease #1
in Michigan. Cardiovascular Conditions:
Cholesterol Screening #1 in Michigan;
Controlling High Cholesterol (LDL < 100)
#1 in Michigan; Controlling High Blood
Pressure—#1 in Michigan & #2 in Nation.
Jim Gilmore Enterprises
Office Rentals - High Speed DSL Available
C OMERICA B UILDING -D OWNTOWN
M ICHIGAN B UILDING -D OWNTOWN
Quality
C ALL C HRIS S HOOK
Assured 162 East Michigan, Kalamazoo, MI 49007
www.gilmoreent.com
Comprehensive Diabetes Care; Controlling
Blood Pressure—#1 in Michigan & #2 in
Nation; Cholesterol Screening #1 in
Michigan & #1 in Nation; Controlling High
Cholesterol (LDL < 100) #1 in Michigan;
Eye Exam #1 in Michigan & #1 in Nation;
Hemoglobin A1c Tested #1 in Michigan &
#1 in Nation; Kidney Disease Monitoring
#1 in Michigan. Behavioral Health Care:
Antidepressant Med Managed Continuation
Phase #1 in Michigan & #1 in Nation;
Effective Acute Phase Treatment #1 in
Michigan; Optimal Practitioner Contacts #1
in Michigan; Engagement of Alcohol &
Drug Treatment #1 in Michigan. Medication
Monitoring: Annual Monitoring for
Patients on Persistent Medications #1 in
Michigan & #1 in Nation; Annual
Monitoring for Patients on ACE or ARB #1
in Michigan & #1 in Nation; Annual
Monitoring for Patients on Anticonvulsants
#1 in Michigan; Annual Monitoring for
Patients on Diuretics #1 in Michigan.
Member Survey Measures: Flu Shots for
Adults #1 in Michigan; Satisfaction with
Personal Doctor #1 in Michigan. Access to
Care; Prenatal Care #1 in Michigan;
Postpartum Care #1 in Michigan & #2 in
Nation. About 400 Health Plans nationally
submitted data to NCQA.
Grand Rapids – ENCOMPASS, LLC has
earned certification through the Women’s
Business Enterprise National Council.
ENCOMPASS has demonstrated the ability
to meet rigorous national standards of
being a majority female owned, operated,
managed and controlled company. This is
the first year that ENCOMPASS has earned
certification through WBENC.
Southfield – The J.S. Clark Agency was
recently recognized by Crain’s Detroit
Business as the 17th Largest Business-
Insurance Agency in Michigan, which
includes property and casualty insurance
agencies. This is an impressive feat for J.S.
Clark, who specializes in employee benefit
services and does not offer property and
casualty insurance.
AT 269.381.3490
Grand Rapids – Hope Network recently
was awarded a five-year, $1.75m federal
grant that will allow the Christian organi-
zation to continue its efforts in working
with Michigan companies to develop
industry-specific training for individuals
with disabilities. The intent of this pro-
gram has been to teach individuals with
disabilities the skills necessary to obtain
and retain jobs in the state’s ever-emerg-
ing technology-based economy. The grant
funds will allow Hope‘s effort to run from
2009 to 2013 in the counties of Kent,
Montcalm, Muskegon, Mecosta, Osceola,
Missaukee, Wexford, Ottawa and Allegan.
Grand Rapids - Smith Haughey Rice &
Roegge has been presented with the first
ever President’s Special Recognition
Award by the Michigan Defense Trial
Counsel (MDTC). The award was given to
recognize Smith Haughey’s outstanding
leadership, professional achievements,
and contributions to the MDTC.
Grand Rapids – The Grand Rapids
Express Employment Professionals
earned top honors at the GLAStar Awards
(Great Lakes Area Star Wards) November
8th in Lansing. The Grand Rapids Express
office received the award for Business
Partner of the Year.
Go Green, Live Rich
By Rolf Dobelli, Chairman,
getAbstract
This book lists 50 ways you can make
your life greener. Readers who are already
convinced of the need to act ecologically
will be its best audience. The ideas are
useful, if not deeply innovative. Most of
them will indeed help the environment
and save you money. And that’s a good
25
West Michigan – Wolverine Building
Group announced they were the recipient
of the 2008 Excellence in Business Award
from the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of
Commerce. The award is one of three pre-
sented at this year’s Salute to West
Michigan Business event that pays tribute
to the Ford presidency. Wolverine is
pleased to stand at the 13th annual Salute
to West Michigan Business, and gives spe-
cial thanks to all of their 2008 clients who
always steer us toward success.
Grand Rapids - Meijer was the recent
recipiant of Jennie-O Turkey Store’s Deli
Retailer of the Year Award at their corpo-
rate headquarters in Grand Rapids, MI.
Being judged against supermarkets
nationally, Meijer was selected due to their
consistent delivery of high-quality prod-
ucts, merchandising and promotional
innovation, on-going commitment to the
highest standards for both food safety and
cleanliness, as well as their emphasis on
friendly, engaging team members deliver-
ing outstanding customer service.
thing. However, author David Bach (writ-
ing with Hillary Rosner) uses many semi-
statistical claims without giving enough
data or context to lend meaning to his
numbers, though they may still encourage
true believers in environmental action.
Some of the book’s statistical conclusions
are based on fairly unrealistic extrapola-
tions of averages. For example, saying
that the average family works two to four
months out of the year to drive, insure,
fuel and maintain its cars does not seem to
capture the fiscal realities and practical
options truly available to such families.
Bach’s real message, of course, is to drive
thoughtfully, save money and go easy on
the planet, so getAbstract suggests focus-
ing on the good to be done, and being a
little forgiving about the math.
David Bach with Hillary Rosner. Go Green,
Live Rich: 50 Simple Ways to Save the
Earth (and Get Rich Trying). Broadway
Books, a division of Random House, Inc.
2008. List Price: $14.95. ISBN-13:
9780767929738.
getAbstract is the leading provider of business
book summaries, with more than 4,500 titles
covered. www.getabstract.com
 Corporate Information
Mergers & Acquisitions/Partnerships
Muskegon – The Rehmann Group
announces its intent to merge with
Muskegon-based Pridnia LaPres, PLLC
effective January 1, 2009. “With an ever-
increasing presence in the Lakeshore mar-
ket, we are better positioned to serve small
businesses and middle-market compa-
nies,” said Steve Kelly, Chairman & CEO of
The Rehmann Group. “Companies have
been looking for alternatives in the profes-
sional services marketplace, and we
believe the merger further enhances our
position as that strong alternative.” The
merger brings together an alignment of
partners with representative strengths in
serving closely-held and family-owned
businesses. The Rehmann Group’s core
industry segments include healthcare,
manufacturing, distribution, real estate,
construction, government/nonprofit and
international services, according to Kelly.
New Business Agreements
Kalamazoo - The Association of
Fundraising Professionals selected
McCrosky Marketing Communications to
receive its Outstanding Corporation Award
for 2008. The award was presented to
McCrosky Marketing on National
Philanthropy Day ceremonies at the Fetzer
Center on Western Michigan University’s
campus.
Judgment
By Rolf Dobelli, Chairman,
getAbstract
The focus of this book fills a hole in
the literature on leadership. Best-selling
authors Noel M. Tichy and Warren G.
Bennis concentrate on a key issue that is
central to leadership: how leaders make
judgment calls, and how you should
Kalamazoo – SalesPage Technologies
announced a partnership with Coates
Analytics. This collaboration integrates
SalesPage Financial solutions and Coates’
Managed Money Dashboard, providing
SalesPage clients direct access to Coates’
office-level data intelligence in their
SalesPage Financial client relationship
management application. SalesPage
Technologies secured this partnership as
part of a continuous product development
strategy for empowering their clients to
identify and act upon opportunities,
improve performance and remain compet-
itive in today’s marketplace.
New Business/Products
Allegan – The Allegan Community
Federal Credit Union announces it’s new
“My Loan” product, which grants loans
with interest rates based on credit scores.
The term “Personalized Lending Program”
is a system enacted to determine interest
rates and individualize loans depending
on one’s financial qualifications.
Borrowers will be able to receive the most
competitive loan rates the credit union can
offer based on their credit score, the better
the score the better the rate. Those who
have lower scores, but are still deemed
credit worthy, will be offered loans at a
slightly higher interest rate. This will com-
pensate the credit union in proportion to
the amount of risk taken.
make, execute and evaluate them. They
provide a good, useful framework to guide
your decision-making process. They offer
intriguing tools, such as using a storyline,
to encourage people to help implement
your judgments. The book does have
weaknesses, however, and those are due
to the authors’ definitions of two key
terms: “results” and “long-term.” While
their case studies examine judgment calls
that they consider successful, they define
success as meeting “the espoused goals of
the institution. Period.” This assumes that
the institution’s goals are already exam-
ined and valid, when in many cases they
are not. Their definition of “long-term”
may strike some as only moderate – or
even short-term – in duration.
Nonetheless, their work is clearly written
and rich in examples. getAbstract recom-
mends it to anyone who is seriously inter-
ested in leadership, execution, and organi-
zational strategy and culture.
Noel M. Tichy and Warren G. Bennis.
Judgment: How Winning Leaders Make
Great Calls. Portfolio, 2007. List Price:
$26.95. ISBN-13: 978-1591841531.
getAbstract is the leading provider of business
book summaries, with more than 4,500 titles
covered. www.getabstract.com
Detroit - Miller Canfield announced that
the Ministry of Justice of the People’s
Republic of China has approved its appli-
cation and granted it a license to open a
representative office in Shanghai. Miller
Canfield principal Thomas Appleman will
lead the Shanghai office and the firm’s
Asia initiative. He will be joined by life
sciences attorney Weisun Rao, Ph.D., who
specializes in patent law and intellectual
property transactions, and is a Chinese
national and fluent in Mandarin and
English.
Grand Rapids – Under the collaboration
and direction of Colleen AC App, MD,
FACS and John C. Rienstra, MD, FACS,
mmpc will be opening the Advanced
Breast Care Center. The new site is locat-
ed at: mmpc Advanced Breast Care Center,
4069 Lake Drive SE, Suite # 117, Grand
Rapids, MI 49546.
Kalamazoo – PlazaCorp Realty
Advisors, Inc., announces the addition
of Thailand Cuisine to Drake Road locat-
ed at the intersection of North Drake
Road and West Main Street. Thailand
Cuisine will occupy 2,450 square feet in
the shopping center featuring a mix of
unique and authentic Thai Cuisine.
Okemos – CareSource, a nonprofit public-
sector managed care company, has expand-
ed its service into Muskegon County in
western Michigan, effective November 1,
2008. CareSource was approved to enroll
members in Muskegon County by the
Michigan Department of Community
Health. CareSource now serves 40 counties
throughout the state of Michigan.
Relocation/New Construction
Grand Rapids - Hospice of Michigan is
relocating its offices. The new office,
which opens on December 15, is located
at: 989 Spaulding SE, Ada, Michigan,
49301. The new offices reflect an evolu-
tion in the work-life culture at Hospice of
Michigan where the emphasis is on time
Flags Unlimited
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★ ISO & QS Flags
★ Custom Flags 1-800-648-3993 or 616-243-2600
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26
spent at the bedside of patients and less in
the office. State-of-the-art technology
allows the hospice team to access and
update records on laptops in real time.
With less time spent at desks in a corpo-
rate office it allows Hospice of Michigan to
reduce office space and related costs.
Miscellaneous
Holland - Macatawa Bank Corp.
announced that it has sold $26.2 million
of noncumulative convertible perpetual
preferred stock in a private transaction.
The preferred stock was sold to West
Michigan investors. Dividends on the pre-
ferred stock are payable quarterly in
arrears at a rate of 12.00% per annum, if
and when declared by the Company's
Board of Directors. The shares are con-
vertible into common stock at the option of
the holder at a price per share of $8.95.
On or after October 31, 2011, the preferred
stock will be subject to mandatory conver-
sion into common stock under certain cir-
cumstances.
Los Angeles, CA - Genre Film Partners, a
Los Angeles and Michigan based film
financing and production company, has
launched a new film fund to produce a slate
of films in Michigan. The company plans to
produce 7 to 10 films budgeted between
$2.5 M and $10 M, thereby injecting over
$35M into the local economy over the next
four years. Producer and Managing
Member Julie Richardson shares that “The
generous tax incentive offered by Michigan
coupled with the vision of GFP Executive
Ken Higbee (also owner of Sunbelt of
Detroit and other Michigan businesses)
make it feasible for us to help bolster the
Michigan economy by utilizing the rich
local resources. We at GFP are excited to
work in concert with the Michigan Film
Office to facilitate community involvement
through our mentorship and training pro-
grams to further build local infrastructure
for film and television production.” GFP’s
mentorship program for youth and adults
will work to train participants in all areas of
film production and post-production.
4238 29th St. SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49512
Fax: 616-243-2969
www.Flags-Unlimited.com
 Corporate Information
Grand Rapids - In the first five months of
their new Energy Education program,
Grand Rapids Community College
reducedtheir energy use by 16.25% over
the same period last year. In today’s market
dollars, that translates to $224,152.66. The
actual energy saved comes to 1.2 million
kWh of electricity and 82.7 Therms of nat-
ural gas, the equivalent of 230 cars being
permanently removed from the highways
annually. According to Thomas Smith,
head of GRCC facilities, most of the col-
lege’s success comes from having a trained
Energy Manager on the job.
Michigan - Chestnut Growers, Inc.
announces the introduction of CGI
Chestnut Slices™ available this holiday
season and for year-round use. CGI
Chestnut Slices are the most versatile
chestnut product on the market to date.
Freeze dried and packed in 8-ounce bags,
the Chestnut Slices can be re-hydrated by
soaking in water for 15 minutes, yielding
a full pound of ready-to-eat, all natural,
additive and preservative free chestnuts.
Kalamazoo - The training of technicians
who care for animals used in research is
next in the stable of Kalamazoo Valley
Community College’s workforce-develop-
ment academies. Slated to begin in late
February, the Animal Technician Academy
is designed to provide pre-employment
training to students interested in entering
this phase of medical and bio-technology
research.
Family, Inc.
By Rolf Dobelli, Chairman,
getAbstract
Ottawa County - The Ottawa County
Health Department is offering five mini-
grants in the amount of $1000 each to
Ottawa County worksites that want to
improve the health of their employees. The
grants provide funding to assess how well
worksites support healthy eating, physical
activity and tobacco-free living for their
employees. The results are used to carry
out strategies that improve these areas of
health. The grant application is available
at www.miOttawa.org/Health. Completed
applications are due by January 12.
Battle Creek and Grand Rapids –
EmploymentGroup announced continued
revenue growth for the first nine months
of 2008, driven by new sales and organic
growth. EmploymentGroup reported top-
line growth of 10 percent for the period,
citing revenue of $41.5 million, compared
to $37.8 million for the first nine months
of 2007. The Company also announced
the expansion of a key strategic initiative
aimed at responding to the current condi-
tions impacting the staffing industry and
broader economy.
Fullerton, CA – Yokohama Tire
Corporation announced it will be the pre-
senting sponsor and official spec tire of
the newly-minted Patrón GT3 Challenge
by Yokohama race series. The single-make
series, featuring Porsche 911 GT3 Cup
cars, is a support event for the American
Le Mans Series and is entering its fifth
season after previously being known as
the IMSA Challenge.
Imagine the conflict, arguments and
drama around almost every Thanksgiving
dinner table, then imagine them played
out around a conference table and you’ll
see the issues that arise in family firms.
Emotional, volatile relationships can erode
even the most solid of businesses. Larry
and Laura Colin, who worked together in a
family company before it was sold, use
their first-hand experiences to show you
how to avoid sacrificing your relationships
on the altar of the family firm and vice
versa. They look at the characters that
populate many family firms, including
“Dad the Decider,” “The Hard-Charging
Son” and “Mr. & Mrs. Inc.” Although their
insights are just one step beyond common
sense, at least you don’t need a business
degree to understand the conversational
and personable text. getAbstract recom-
mends this to readers who must practice
nepotism as an art form, working with
bosses, colleagues and employees who are
also close-knit kin.
Larry and Laura Colin. Family, Inc.: How to
Manage Parents, Siblings, Spouses, Children, and In-
Laws in the Family Business. Career Press, 2008. List
Muskegon – Lake Effect Winery is at 4285
S. Brooks is housed in a former industrial
contracting machine shop that has under-
gone a total renovation is the newest fruit
winery on Michigan’s west coast. Lake
Effect Winery does not produce ordinary
fruit wines – we produce extraordinary
fruit wines made from premium Michigan
fruits and berries. Lake Effect Winery uses
all natural fruits in its 19 fruit wines and
does not add any sulfites during the wine-
making process.
Lansing - A new, statewide discount pre-
scription drug card program called the
Michigan Retailers Free Rx Card is now
available to Michigan residents. The free
Current Business Trends:
Sharply Down
Grand Rapids - The greater Grand
Rapids economy, which has been down for
some time, declined even more sharply in
November, according to a survey compiled
by Brian G. Long, director of Supply
Management Research in the Seidman
College of Business at Grand Valley State
University.
According to the data collected in the
month of November, the index of new
orders declined to -32, down from -24. In
a similar move, the production index fell to
-30, down from -14. The index of pur-
chases sank to -40, down from -35. The
index of employment turned in its weakest
performance in the 20-year history of the
survey, falling to -43, down from -26.
“The bad news is that we are in for a
rough ride. The worse news is that we
don't know how long or how rough the
ride is going to last,” Long said.
Long said that, when looking at indi-
vidual industries, the office furniture, auto
and capital equipment industries continue
to fall, and the only industries that are still
holding up are those relating to defense,
aerospace, or mining equipment.
“Unfortunately, even these firms will not
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program, available to all Michigan Retailers
Association (MRA) members and their cus-
tomers, is expected to provide savings
averaging 30 percent on many prescription
drugs. There are no restrictions for receiv-
ing and using the card — no income restric-
tions, no age limits and no applications to
fill out. The Michigan Retailers Free Rx
Card is accepted at more than 50,000
national and regional pharmacies in
Michigan and around the country.
Participating pharmacies include Kmart
Pharmacy, Meijer, Target, Wal-Mart, CVS,
Walgreen’s, and Kroger Pharmacy, as well
as thousands of independent pharmacies.
hold up for long. The shock wave has
probably just not reached them yet,” he
said.
It seems that the news is grim — and
is likely to stay that way for some time.
“The question will be raised for months —
where and when do we reach the bottom?
Unfortunately, there are so many negative
economic things happening at once that it
is difficult to aggregate an honest assess-
ment,” Long said.
The Greater Grand Rapids
Association of Purchasing Management
survey is a monthly survey of business
conditions that includes 45 purchasing
managers in the Greater Grand Rapids and
25 in Kalamazoo. The respondents are
purchasing managers from the region's
major industrial manufacturers, distribu-
tors, and industrial service organizations.
It is patterned after a nationwide survey
conduced by the Institute for Supply
Management. Each month, the respon-
dents are asked to rate eight factors as
“same,” “up” or “down.” An expanded
version of this report and details of the
methodology used to compile it are avail-
able at www.gvsu.edu/scblogistics.
 Personnel Updates
Holland - Bob Wuerfel,
President of Lighthouse Title
Group, was elected to his 2nd
three year term on the
Michigan Land Title
Association (MLTA) Board of
Directors at their Summer Convention.
Holland - Holland Hospital
announced that urologist,
Diane Bigham, DO, has
joined Western Michigan
Urological Associates, 577
Michigan Avenue, #201, in
Holland. Dr. Bigham is a current member
of both the Michigan Osteopathic Society
and the Society of Women in Urology.
Grand Rapids - SMG announced the
appointment of Kathy Bart as Director of
Sales for DeVos Place Convention Center in
Grand Rapids. Bart will work collectively
with the Grand Rapids Convention and
Visitor’s Bureau and area Hotels in filling
the event calendar.
Business Website
Dir ector y Listings
Construction/Building/Envir
Construction/Building/Environment
onment
Lamar Construction Company - With 68
years of experience, our team pledges to pro-
vide top-quality facilities on time and on budg-
et. Our passion is construction. Experience the
difference at www.lamarconstruction.com.
Structure Tec - Consulting firm specializ-
ing in the restoration of building
envelopes and roofs, providing solutions
through Total Building Envelope
Management. www.structuretec.com
Owen-Ames-Kimball Co - Serving ALL of
YOUR commercial construction needs. Call
616-456-1521 for a FREE consultation on
your next project! www.owen-ames-kim-
ball.com
Engineering & Sur veying
Latitude Engineering & Surveying, Inc. – By
truly understanding our client’s needs, we pro-
vide the service and support necessary to exceed
their expectations. Add some vision to your site
at www.latitude-inc.com
It Suppor t
2G TechWorks, Inc. provides IT support and
website development services specially tailored
to the needs of small businesses.
http://wwww.2gtech.com
Powder Coating
Magnum Powder Coating was extab-
lished in 1992. Capabilities include pro-
duction up to 8’ and custom up to 25’.
www.magnumpowdercoating.com
Grand Haven - Gazillion &
One Inc. has added Hillary
Fuller to their staff as a
Media Buyer. Fuller will assist
with the annual planning,
budgeting, and coordination
of advertising schedules for key clients.
Lansing -CPA, Michelle F.
Gallagher, CPA/ABV/CFF
recently became Certified in
Financial Forensics (CFF)
through the American
Institute of Certified Public
Accountants. The CFF encompasses fun-
damental and specialized forensic
accounting skills that CPA practitioners
apply in a variety of service areas.
Grand Rapids - Plante & Moran, PLLC
announced that Michelle McHale has
been named firm-wide leader of the Fraud
& Investigative Services Practice. McHale
will lead a team who focus their practices
on fraud investigation and prevention.
Material Handling
Morrison Industrial Equipment Co. -
Morrison - your one source for material han-
dling equipment, service, parts, and rentals.
Depend on Morrison and world-class manu-
facturers. www.morrison-ind.com.
Andersen & Associates - TUSK counterbal-
ance lift trucks, allows Andersen to supply
high quality, state-of-the-art products at
competitive industry pricing. Ask about our
low lease pricing with full maintenance pro-
grams. www.andersenassoc.com
Marketing and Sales
MarketingHelp! - Your outsourced mar-
keting department. We can help you catch
and keep customers with better yet afford-
able Marketing Plans, Programs and
Implementation. www.mktghelp.com
Training
Summit Training Source offers health
and safety training solutions; including
Online OSHA approved 10 & 30 Hour
training. safetyontheweb.com
Confer ence Centers
Haworth Inn & Conference Center in
Holland; 50 room lodging, meeting and ban-
quet facilities serving 400 people. Ballroom
and Breakout rooms. www.haworthinn.com
Grand Rapids -
Aquinas College
recently named
Marjorie Kindel
as the school's
new Director of
Planned Giving within the
Department of Institutional
Advancement. She has
responsibility for developing
donor relationships designed
to support the College's long-range goals
associated with Endowments and Planned
Gifts. Kate Davis and Cindy Dorman
were each given new responsibilities
under the same title of Manager of
Advancement Strategies. They are respon-
sible for facilitating the department goals
through donor relationships, event coordi-
nation and grant writing. The College also
announced that Heather Hall has been
hired as Director of Student Activities and
Orientation.
Grand Rapids – Pondera
Advisors, LLC announces the
addition of Dick Bertrand as
a Leadership Consultant.
Dick is a successful athletic
coach and business leader
with experience leading teams in a vast
array of areas, including ice hockey, insur-
ance, and manufacturing.
Allegan - The Allegan Medical Clinic
announced that Dr. Timothy Dickinson
has been granted the title of Certified
Medical Director in Long Term Care (CMD)
by the Board of Directors of the American
Medical Directors Certification Program.
Dr. Dickinson is one of more than 2,300
physicians nationwide who have received
the CMD designation since the program’s
inception.
Grand Rapids - Helmholdt+Company LLP,
CPAs announced that Michael M.
Kornoely, CPA and Bradley S.
Greenfield, CPA were promoted to senior
managers, and Melissa A. McConkey,
CPA and Staci M. Dawson, CPA to senior
staff accountants.
multitasking (adj):
the concurrent performance of several jobs
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offering 4-color printing, mailing services, composition and design,
bindery and inserting services and excellent customer service.
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28
Freemont/Muskegon - Carla
Burmeister, Area Manager
for Lighthouse Title Group,
was Awarded the 2008 West
Central Board of Realtors
Affiliate of the Year from the
West Central Board of Realtors. Carla man-
ages the Fremont and Muskegon area
offices for Lighthouse Title.
Grand Rapids -
Sun Title Agency
in Grand Rapids
has created two
new employee
positions, thereby
expanding their services. Betsy Dean
serves as the Full Service Escrow Officer
and Stacey Gonzales is Sun Title's new
Closing and Marketing Officer.
Holland - Holland Hospital
Vice President of Nursing and
Chief Nurse Officer, Patti
VanDort, RN, BSN, MSN,
NEA-BC, has been named the
2008 winner of the Nurse
Leader Award from the Michigan
Organization of Nurse Executives.
Grand Rapids – Helen DeVos Children’s
Hospital announced the appointment of
pediatric sleep specialist James
Chamness, M.D., and pediatrician Karen
Thompson, M.D., to its medical staff. Dr.
Chamness provides care for sleep-related
needs of infants, children and adolescents
on an outpatient basis. Dr. Thompson pro-
vides care, primarily on an inpatient basis,
for infants, children and adolescents with
lung and respiratory needs.
Grand Rapids – Kyle Layne Johnson,
Program Manager of Junior Achievement
of the Michigan Great Lakes, has been
awarded the organization’s “Rising Star”
Award. The award is given to mid-level
staff members who are emerging as lead-
ers within the organization, and who
demonstrate outstanding, measurable
success in executing their responsibilities.
Greenville, Michigan 866.262.4449
www.newswebprinting.cc
 Personnel Updates
Kalamazoo - Miller Canfield
announces that Marcella
Stewart has joined the
Kalamazoo office as an attor-
ney. Stewart’s practice focuses
on corporate records manage-
ment, e-discovery, and discovery and liti-
gation project management as part of the
Corporate Discovery Management team.
Grand Rapids -
Kreis, Enderle,
Hudgins & Borsos,
P.C. announces
that Andrew J.
Va n B r o n k h o r s t
and David C. Hill have joined the firm’s
Grand Rapids office as associates.
VanBronkhorst joins the firm’s litigation
and business law practice. Hill joins the
firm’s corporate and real estate practice.
Holland - Elzinga & Volkers,
Inc. announced the hire of
Gordon Ralston as the
National Accounts Manager.
Gordon’s job will be to assist in
enhancing current client rela-
tions and establishing new ones through
comprehensive sales plans and programs.
Grand Rapids – Angela M. Pfister has
joined Miller Johnson as an Associate in
the Grand Rapids office. She will be a part
of the firm's litigation practice group. She
was admitted to the Michigan bar in 2004
and the Illinois bar in 2008.
Grand Rapids - Open Systems
Technologies, Inc. (OST) of Grand Rapids,
Michigan announces the firm’s expansion
with the hiring of Brian Anderson.
Anderson joins OST to help grow and
manage custom applications practice with-
in OST’s services group.
Grand Rapids – Spectrum Health Continuing
Care has named Russell Lampen, D.O., as
medical director of Spectrum Health
Infusion Pharmacy Services. Dr. Lampen
was an infectious disease specialist for
Spectrum Health Primary Care Partners.
Grand Rapids,
Michigan - Windquest Companies as Vice
Waddell & Reed
announced today
that Chad
Rayborn, Samuel
K. Mirto and Joshua Hong
have joined the firm as a
Financial Advisor in the Grand
Rapids area. As a personal
financial advisor, they will
help develop customized financial plans,
recommend investment strategies and
counsel clients throughout the area.
Grand Rapids - Mike
Hartwigsen is the new
Account Executive for First
Telecommunications in
Kalamazoo. His territory is
basically the 269 area code.
First Telecommunications is a Nguyen, PA-C, is also a physician assis-
Communications Service Provider, provid-
ing voice and data solutions to small and
medium sized businesses.
Grand Rapids - Richard D.
Lewellyn, II, has joined
Independent Bank as a mort-
gage sales manager and sen-
ior loan officer. Lewellyn will
serve customers in the Grand
Rapids and Ionia areas. Lewellyn brings
more than 21 years of mortgage lending
experience to the position.
Grand Rapids – The Grand Rapids/Kent
County Convention & Visitors Bureau and
the Kent County Lodging Association have
announced the winners of their inaugural
WAVE Awards, a program which recog-
nizes outstanding service providers in the
Grand Rapids and Kent County hospitality
industry. The 2008 winners, in their
respective category, include: Dining: Ivan
Rojas - White Lodging Services; Lodging:
Maria Del Campo - Courtyard by Marriott
- Airport/White Lodging; Nightlife:
Kasandra Butler - Days Hotel Grand
Rapids; Transportation: Brent Wheatley -
Metro Cab of Grand Rapids LLC; Retail:
Mike Dombrowski - Art Of The Table.
Holland - Mark Giles joined
President of Finance and
Operations on October 27,
2008. Mark comes to
Windquest Companies with a
broad financial background ranging from
logistics and product quality to corporate
strategy, dealer channel development and
public accounting.
Grand Rapids – mmpc announced hireing
of: Elaine Leigh, NP, is working for
mmpc’s Holland Gastroenterology practice;
Joanne Coates, RN, MSN, is working full
time with the Holland Home Health Care;
Sarah Akers, NP, is working as a nurse
practitioner for mmpc’s Center for Diabetes
and Endocrinology in Grand Rapids;
Jessica Baxter, PA-C, is a physician assis-
tant with Grand Rapids Hospitalists; Hanh
tant, working for the Grand Rapids
Hospitalists; Mark Rapson, PA-C, is
working with as a physician assistant with
our Grand Rapids Critical Care office;
Elizabeth Read, NP, will be joining our
Internal Medicine practice at 4100 Lake
Drive, SE, as a nurse practitioner, in Grand
Rapids; Duane Scholtens, PA-C, will be
joining the Grand Haven Family Medicine
Practice on a part-time basis as a physi-
cian assistant; Sarah Tuinstra, LPC, is
joining mmpc’s Weight Loss Specialists as
a behaviorist.
5 Future Strategies You
Need Right Now
By Rolf Dobelli, Chairman,
getAbstract
This is a slender but useful little
29
Grand Rapids -
Grand Rapids
based First
Companies, Inc.
announced the
addition of Craig
Schroeder and Rick Striebe. Schroeder
joins as Project Manager responsible for
project administration, scheduling, budget
control, and project closeouts for ground up
construction and tenant improvement proj-
ects. Striebe assists in the roles of estimator
and project coordinator. Striebe joins the
team with over twenty-five years of experi-
ence in the construction industry
Lansing – C2AE announced that two
members of its Landscape Architecture &
Planning team have successfully passed
the Landscape Architect Registration
Examination to become Registered
Landscape Architects. Amy J. Mazure,
R.L.A. has been with C2AE for approxi-
mately three years. Joe D. Wright, R.L.A.,
has over 13 years of experience as a
Landscape Architect.
Holland - Rutherford & Associates, the
leading route accounting and management
software for food and beverage distribu-
tors, announces that Mason Koffman has
joined the company as the national sales
director. Koffman will be responsible for
executing the national sales expansion
plans and leadership of eoStar.
book. Early in it, George Stalk notes accu-
rately that all too often, the media
announce the next big thing long after
cutting-edge companies have learned
about the change, dealt with it and moved
on to the next big innovation. High-profile
stories end up trailing real change, rather
than actually reporting it as it happens. If
you’re trying to plan for change by follow-
ing the mass media, you’re going to be left
behind. This leaves Stalk with a difficult
challenge: to address key changes that are
emerging just now as they develop. The
result is a bit uneven; the text is specula-
tive at times, and his desire to write a brief
treatment means that he skims some
areas. But that said, this is a more specif-
ic and applicable treatment of the future
than most books present, and getAbstract
recommends it to anyone planning realis-
tically for change.
George Stalk. 5 Future Strategies You
Need Right Now: Memo to the CEO.
Harvard Business Press, 2008. List Price:
$18.00. ISBN-13: 9781422121269.
getAbstract is the leading provider of business
book summaries, with more than 4,500 titles
covered. www.getabstract.com
 Personnel Updates
Grand Rapids – Stephanie
Denton has joined the West
Michigan Center for Arts and
Technology as associate direc-
tor. Denton will manage the
development, production,
operational and financial aspects of
WMCAT, a non-profit that provides oppor-
tunities for at-risk teens and under-
employed adults to engage with the arts
and technology.
Grand Rapids – Spectrum Health Continuing
Care announced the promotions of: Mark
Guzicki, formerly executive director of
Spectrum Health Visiting Nurse Association,
is now vice president, community- and
home-based services; Jeff Mislevy, former-
ly executive director for long term care oper-
ations, is the new vice president, long-term
care and residential services for Spectrum
Health Continuing Care.
Wyoming/Kentwood - The following were
elected as Officers of the Wyoming-
Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce for
the 2009 year: Chairman of the Board -
Todd R. Duncan, Consumers Energy; Sr.
Vice Chair of the Board - Norine Mulvihill,
Option1 Credit Union; Vice Chair of the
Board - Brent Holland, Chameleon, Ltd;
Vice Chair of the Board - Skip Knapp,
Edward Jones Investments; Vice Chair of the
Board - Kathey Batey, Priority Health &
Spirited Presentations; Past Chair of the
Board - Tom Kruisenga, W MI Business
Group.
Nudge
By Rolf Dobelli, Chairman,
getAbstract
In this lovely, useful book, Richard
Thaler and Cass Sunstein examine choic-
es, biases and the limits of human reason-
ing from many perspectives. They disclose
Holland - Steve Hamstra, of
GMB Architect-Engineers,
has earned a High-
Performance Building Design
Professional certification
from the American Society of
Heating, Refrigerating and Air-
Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).
Hamstra is the first engineer in Michigan
to achieve this certification.
Grand Rapids – Adamy +
Company PC, CPAs and
Consultants announce that
Catherine Van Proyen has
joined the firm. Catherine will
provide income tax compli-
ance and accounting services to closely
held businesses, their owners and high
net worth individuals.
Grand Rapids – Rachel L. Hillegonds has
joined Miller Johnson as an Associate in the
Grand Rapids office. She will be an integral
part of the firm's Bankruptcy -
Creditors/Debtors Rights practice group.
Grand Rapids – Local First, a 450 member
network of locally owned businesses,
added four new board members: Craig
Clark, Clark Communications; Jose
Reyna, Assistant to the City Manager for
the City of Grand Rapids; Steven de Polo,
Grants and Special Projects Coordinator for
Grand Valley State University; Sara
Lachman, Associate Litigator at Miller
Johnson.
amusing accounts of how they have fallen
victim to the limitations of thought, prov-
ing that even educated, articulate individ-
uals are not always rational or aware of
what influences them. Humans tend to fall
prey to systematic errors of judgment, but
you can harness this problematic tenden-
cy. To help people act better, you can make
a law and punish them for breaking it. Or
you can design their options to “nudge”
them toward better decisions. They’re still
free to choose, but you’ve increased the
odds of them acting sensibly. This “liber-
tarian paternalistic” approach cares for
people by guiding rather than regulating
them. Not all of the authors’ suggestions
are practical but they are interesting.
getAbstract recommends this book to any-
one who wants to know how to shape
responsible decisions.
Richard H. Thaler & Cass R. Sunstein.
Nudge: Improving Decisions About
Health, Wealth, and Happiness. Yale
University Press, 2008. List Price: $26.00.
ISBN-13: 9780300122237.
getAbstract is the leading provider of business
book summaries, with more than 4,500 titles
covered. www.getabstract.com
Grand Rapids - Pelco
Solutions, a Grand Rapids
based software developer, has
named Miranda Osburn as
Graphic Designer. As a gradu-
ate of Kendall College of Art &
Design, Osburn brings with her a BFA in
Visual Communications and a customer-
centric approach to design.
Grand Rapids - DVS, a Grand
Rapids based media duplica-
tion, asset management, and
creative services company,
has named Heather Muller
as Customer Service
Representative. Muller will be involved in
customer service, handling requests for CD,
DVD, Blu-Ray, and USB Drive duplication.
Grand Rapids - Kristy
Roszkowski has been pro-
moted to the position of Sales
Manager for DeVos Place
Convention Center, an SMG-
managed facility in Grand
Rapids, Michigan. Roszkowski will be
responsible for selling to associations,
organizations and other groups represent-
ing social, military, educational, religious,
and fraternal markets.
Grand Rapids – Operation Smile, a world-
wide children’s medical charity, has select-
ed Dr. Steven L. Ringler, to receive the Dr.
Stephen Pratt Award 2008 for excellence in
volunteerism in plastic surgery. Dr. Steven
Ringler, a plastic surgeon who is board cer-
tified by the American Board of Plastic
Surgery and a member of the American
Society of Plastic Surgeons.
Lansing - Clark Construction Company
announced that April Sutton has achieved
the status of LEED Accredited Professional
(LEED AP). In order to become a LEED
Accredited Professional, April completed
training and passed an exam evaluating
her understanding of green building prac-
tices and principles and the LEED Rating
System.
Grand Rapids - a.j. Veneklasen, Inc. wel-
comes Ron Miller as Assistant
Superintendent. Ron is a graduate of
Central Michigan University and brings
over nine years of experience in the con-
struction industry.
Grand Rapids – Todd Brandstadt, Debbie
Lambrix and Chet Ortman, all financial
advisors and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL
PLANNER™ professionals, have joined
Raymond James & Associates, Inc. at its
East Paris Avenue Grand Rapids branch
office. Brandstadt has been in the finan-
cial services industry since 1993. Lambrix,
a first vice president of investments, has
been a member of the financial services
industry since 1984. Ortman began work-
ing in the industry in Detroit in 2002.
30
Ada - Erhardt Construction
announced that David Olson
has joined the company as
Vice President– Business
Development. Olson has over
18 years of business develop-
ment experience, managing sales and mar-
keting teams in the Architecture,
Engineering and Construction industry.
Grand Rapids – Pondera
Advisors, LLC announces the
addition of Dr. Mike Schuler
as a Leadership Consultant.
He has conducted research on
aligning leaders and employ-
ees with organizational values and he has
applied the principles of leadership in his
positions for over 20 years.
Lansing – The Michigan
Economic Development
Corporation is happy to report
that due to an increased
demand in small business
loans, a Western Michigan
office is opening to cater to the region.
Kelly Hutchings will work as a senior
loan advisor out of the new office in
Rockford, handling loans in Western
Michigan for MCDC. Hutchings will be
responsible for working with bankers and
small businesses to help finance small
business loans for new dollars expended
for real estate or equipment purchases.
Ann Arbor/Wyoming - Julie
Forstner, M.D., will lead radi-
ation oncology services at the
new 21,500-square-foot
Cancer Center at Metro Health
Village in Wyoming as part of
a joint venture with the University of
Michigan Health System. Forstner joins
the faculty at the University of Michigan
Medical School, where she received her
medical degree. She will hold the title
assistant professor of radiation oncology.
As part of the U-M Radiation Oncology
Network, Forstner will have full access to
UMHS specialists and clinical trials. Metro
Health joined the network in June.
Holland - GDK Construction Company
proudly announces Project Manager Kara
Slater has successfully received the LEED®
Accredited Professional credential. Slater
has been a part of the GDK Construction
team for over 14 years. As Project
Manager, she has recently managed the
City Flats Hotel and Value Place Hotel, both
in Holland, and multiple Walgreens stores
throughout Michigan and Indiana.
Walker - Tubelite Inc. adds John Campbell
as a product development engineer helping
expand the company's offering of architec-
tural aluminum products for the commer-
cial glass and glazing industry. As part of
Tubelite's engineering team, Campbell
works in close collaboration with manufac-
turing, sales, marketing and client services.
 Personnel Updates
Grand Rapids – To support
continued growth over the
past five years, Service
Express, Inc., a leader in
delivering customized solu-
tions for on-site hardware
maintenance, has hired Jody Beamer as
an executive assistant.
Grand Rapids - Open Systems
Technologies, Inc. (OST)
announces the firm’s expan-
sion with the hiring of Brian
Anderson. Anderson recently
started with the firm as
Custom Software Development Manager.
Anderson brings over 11 years of infor-
mation technology experience.
Holland - The H. E. Morse Co., known as
Hemco Gage, announced Michael Hop,
Vice President & General Manager, has
been elected by his peers to the board of
the American Measuring Tool
Manufacturers Association which was
established "to promote and further the
interests of its members in manufacturing,
engineering, research, safety, transporta-
tion and other challenges” for the indus-
try. Michael Hop’s career with Hemco
spans over 30 years, with nearly 20 years
as a vital member of the Hemco’s leader-
ship team.
Allegan - The Allegan General Hospital
Foundation has named Brent L. Larson as
its new full-time Executive Director.
Larson replaces long-time Allegan commu-
nity leader Lou Thierwechter, who is
electing to pursue other opportunities after
three years as the Foundation’s lead execu-
tive. Larson brings more than 25 years of
experience in health care and non-profit
management, including positions in fund
development, external relations, govern-
ment relations, and marketing and public
relations.
Grand Rapids – Northern Jet Management
announces the promotion of three individ-
uals. Rick Hansen, who currently has 20
years of aviation experience, will be pro-
moted from Captain to Chief Pilot. Donald
Jaeger III, who currently has 11 years of
aviation experience, will be promoted from
First Officer to Captain. And Anthony
Shupe, who currently has 10 years avia-
tion experience, will be promoted from
First Officer to Captain.
Grand Rapids – Metro Health Hospital
Foundation announced the election of new
officers. The 2009 officers are: Stephen
Klotz, president and CEO of Huizenga
Group, chairperson; Daniel Pfeiffer, pres-
ident of Pfeiffer Automotive Group, vice
chairperson; John Van Singel, vice presi-
dent of business development, United
Bank, treasurer and secretary; Robert
Sweezie, president of ITS
Communications, immediate past chair-
person
Ada – Dan Vos
Construction Co.
announced:
Derek Eade has
joined as a project
manager. Eade
will be responsible for managing all phas-
es of DVCC’s renovations, additions and
new construction projects; Todd Musser
has been promoted to the new position of
information systems manager. He will be
responsible for managing the day-to-day
information technology operations.
Ada - Erhardt Construction
announce that Jim
Hathaway has joined the
company as Project Manager.
His responsibilities include
oversight of project scopes,
schedules, budgets, quality and safety; as
well as contractor coordination and client
relations.
Grand Rapids - Calvin professors and stu-
dents have been honored with a number
of research grants: Jim Rooks and
KaiLonnie Dunsmore, professors of edu-
cation, won their third consecutive State of
Michigan Improving Teacher Quality grant
and will receive $200,000 for activities in
2008-2010. The duo will continue to pro-
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vide professional development in English
Language Arts to elementary school
teachers from Buchanan, Potter's House
and Calvin Christian. The new infusion of
funds will allow that group of teachers to
be joined by middle school teachers from
Grand Rapids Public Schools as well as
Potter's House and Calvin Christian;
Biology professors John Wertz and Randy
DeJong have received a three-year grant
from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute
to participate in the Science Education
Alliance which is part of the National
Genomics Research Initiative. Just 12
institutions were selected to receive grants
to implement an already-prepared, two-
semester, research-based course for 20
first-year students each year. Calvin's new
course will focus on genomics, bacteriolo-
gy, DNA manipulation and sequencing,
viral genetics, bioinformatics and electron
microscopy. No specific amount for the
grant was listed but Calvin officials believe
it will be in the range of $300,000 over the
three years; Chad Tatko, professor of
chemistry, earned $42,225 over the next
Wyoming Kentwood
Chamber Features:
Carol Crawford
by Matt Decker
Carol Crawford has curb appeal.
As a member of the Strategic Planning
Committee and Chair of the Business Expo
Sub-Committee Crawford has do handle
many exciting tasks.
“The Strategic Planning Committee
developed a plan and recommendations for
the Board for the 2009 year,” wrote
Crawford in an email message, “Significant
topic discussions were about improving
"curb appeal." We worked diligently to
identify what the Chamber can do to
bring value to current members as well as
attract new members. The Business Expo
31
two years from the Research Corporation
for Science Advancement, founded in
1912 to stimulate advances in science.
Tatko won a Cottrell College Science award
to support his research on "Identifying the
Role of Aromatic Networks in Amyloid
Protofibril Formation and Anti-
Alzheimer's Therapeutic Action." The
funds will also support Calvin student
researchers in the summer of 2009 and
2010.
Kalamazoo – Steve East, President of CSM
Group, was appointed to serve a three year
term as a Director of the economic devel-
opment agency on the Board of Directors
of Southwest Michigan First.
Kalamazoo – Bob Henke joined the
Estimating Department on a part time
basis in November. Bob is a mechanical
engineer with over 50 years experience
who has worked for such firms as Tower
Pinkster and Kingscott.
was held on November 10th at the Hilton.
According to John Crawford (the President
of the Wyoming Kentwood Chamber), the
event had the largest attendance of any
chamber event, approximately 350. This
was the first ever BtoB event. We sold out
with 43 exhibitors. Again the goal was to
bring value.”
Crawford, who serves as the Principal
with The Alternative Board of West
Michigan, has also been the Vice President
Corporate Services with United Bank of
Michigan, and Chief Financial Officer with
Grand Rapids Public Schools in her day. In
addition to these duties, Crawford serves
as a Chamber Ambassador.
“Serving as an Ambassador one has
to be knowledgeable about all Chamber
programs and services. This has given me
a chance to learn more about the organiza-
tion and all it has to offer,” wrote
Crawford, “As an Ambassador, I have had
the opportunity to represent the Chamber
on numerous occasions. I have met with
many members throughout the year to dis-
cuss their needs and share information
about Chamber opportunities and services.
I have sponsored several new member
events to help new members identify and
begin using Chamber programs. I have
also been the Ambassador liaison to rib-
bon-cutting events recognizing new
organizations and/or relocation of busi-
nesses.”
So if you are looking for information
on the Chamber and what is all about,
please contact Carol Crawford!
Rivertown C.D.L. Academy is a new Class-A Truck Driving School in Grand Rapids. Rivertown C.D.L.
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in the area since 1989.

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Website: www.rivertowncdl.com
1025 Ken-O-Sha Industrial Dr. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49508