DETROIT BUSINESS MAIN 04-30-07 A 9 CDB 4/26/2007 2:43 PM Page 1

April 30, 2007 CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS Page 9 OTHER VOICES:Small business at tipping point on insurance

During Cover the Uninsured our current system of em- health system. And what including providers, business and tempt to fix the uninsured prob- Week, which was last week, I ployer-sponsored health literally happens is that labor groups representing differ- lem, you’re going to come face-to- couldn’t help but think it’s worth insurance together. What the cost of this uncompen- ent sectors, consumers, payers, face with small business’ problem: noting that historically, small does this imply for dealing sated care is folded right and faith-based organizations — the high cost of health care. And businesses offered health insur- with the problem of the back into the contracts who will be around beyond you can’t fix the uninsured issues ance for a variety of reasons: re- uninsured, which was hospitals have with insur- changes of governor and changes without fixing our issues. cruitment, retention, reducing ab- brought into focus again ance companies, who pass of legislative leadership, because There are no silver bullets when senteeism, competing with the big last week with the an- it along in premiums. The this is a public policy issue that re- dealing with the problem of the businesses for labor, because it nouncement of the im- higher the premiums go, ally needs a long view. uninsured. It’s a puzzle where a lot was the “right thing to do,” and be- pending closure of Detroit the more people who are I’ve kind of come to the conclu- of pieces need to fall into place — cause the owner wants/needs it. Riverview Hospital? uninsured, the more show sion that, sadly, the political will is they all must be there for it to real- Rob Fowler However, that is changing. The For many years I up at a hospital without not there to fix small-business’ ly work. And that’s a major part of 2006 Michigan Employer Health In- thought that it was unfortunate for compensation. problem. The political will is not MHIAC’s mission — helping to put surance Survey of 1,261 Michigan people to be uninsured, but I didn’t I was recently named the first there to fix the hospitals’ or doc- the puzzle together. employers found that 60 percent re- see how it was a business issue. chairman of the new Michigan tors’ problem of not having ported offering health insurance to Today we understand very clearly Health Insurance Access Advisory enough compensation. But the po- Rob Fowler is president and CEO at least some employees, but 40 per- that when someone is uninsured, Council. The real strength is that litical will is there to fix the unin- of the Small Business Association of cent did not offer health insurance they still get health care in our this is a group of stakeholders — sured problem. And when you at- Michigan. to any employees. The survey shows we’re near the tipping point where small busi- nesses believe it is not necessary to offer health insurance in order Working on a plan, strategies and to compete for employees. The sur- tactics to energize our economy vey shows that 59 percent said of- was no small task. fering health insurance coverage had no impact on employee re- We’d like to thank these people cruitment, 61 percent said it had and organizations for generously no impact on employee retention, giving time and talents to forge the 67 percent said it had no impact on Road to Renaissance. employee health, and 50 percent said they can attract good employ- ees without it. Road To Renaissance Implementation Teams The fact (or the perception) that Team: Become the Global Ms. Sue M. Conlon Mr. Matt Clayson Ms. Judy L. Hartwell Ms. Cynthia A. Bell Mr. Mark C. Tomlinson it is necessary to provide health Center for Mobility Northwest Airlines Cargo, Inc. ePrize Congressman Sander M. Levin, Detroit Workforce Development Society of Manufacturing Engineers Dr. David E. Cole, Ph.D. (Co-Chair) Mr. George Costaris Mr. Ric Geyer 12th District Board Ms. Jacquelyn H. Wolf coverage to attract and retain em- Center for Automotive Research Canadian Consulate General Founder, 4731 Arts Incubator, Mr. Rudy Hobbs Mr. John H. Bierbusse Comerica Incorporated Gallery & Studios Congressman Sander M. Levin, Macomb/St. Clair Workforce ployees is the only thing that holds Mr. Stephen R. Polk (Co-Chair) Mr. David Gamlin Team: Promote Globally, 12th District Development Board R.L.Polk&Co. New Deroit, Inc. Mr. Francis Grunow Communicate Locally Preservation Wayne Mr. Richard King Ms. Megan Burkhart Dr. Sean McAlinden (Shepherd) Mr. Louis Green Mr. Larry Alexander (Co-Chair) Michigan Small Business & Comerica Incorporated Center for Automotive Research Michigan Minority Business Ms. Tanya Heidleberg-Yopp Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Technology Development Center Dr. Thomas Anderson, Ph.D. Development Council Motown Center Mr. Jeff Bush Bureau Ms. Lori Koenig Oakland Schools Automation Alley Ms. Jumana Judeh Mr. Colin J. Hubbell Mr. John W. Carroll, Jr. (Co-Chair) NextEnergy Mr. Keith W. Cooley Judeh & Associates The Hubbell Group Mr. John M. Butler Detroit Regional Economic Focus: HOPE Mr. Jerry Lauer Mr. Dan Hunter Mr. Raj Kothari CMS Energy Corporation Partnership Seneca Partners, Inc. Mr. James Croce Masco Corporation OaklandCountyCommunity& Mr. Greg Capote Ms. Mary Kramer (Co-Chair) LETTERS CONTINUED Economic Development Mr. Jon Kreger Wayne County Economic L NextEnergy Mr. Raymond Lozano Crain’s Detroit Business Detroit Regional Chamber Development ■ From Page 8 Dr. James J. Duderstadt Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Mr. Jason Huvaere Mr. Jim Townsend (Shepherd) University of Michigan Commerce Paxahau Promotions Group, LLC Ms. Lisa Kurek Ms. Carol Churchill Tourism Economic Development Dr. Leo E. Hanifin Mr. Derrick Miller Mr. Atanas Ilitch Biotechnology Business Consultants, LLC Macomb Community College Council Revisionist history University of Detroit Mercy City of Detroit Olympia Development Ms. Cathy McClelland Ms. SusanD.Corey,M.Ed.,CWDP Mr. Aaron Alston Ms. Sarah Hubbard Mr. Thomas A. McMillen Mr. George W. Jackson, Jr. Detroit Entrepreneurial Institute, Inc. Southeast Michigan Community Candor Marketing Group Alliance Editor, Detroit Regional Chamber General Motors Corporation Detroit Economic Growth Mr. Donald Morandini Ms. Terry Barclay Michigan Works! Mr. Dan Kirtland Mr. Kevin J. Prokop Corporation Macomb County Department of Inforum I applaud your effort in allowing Planning & Economic Development Mr. Ahmad Ezzeddine Wayne County Department of Jobs Questor Management Company, LLC Mr. David Knapp Mr. Mark Beyer Wayne State University Mary Sue Coleman space to pro- and Economic Development Mr. Karl W. Randall AlbertKahn&Associates Mr. Kenneth Nisbet NextEnergy University of Michigan-Tech Transfer Mr. Mark T. Gaffney Ms. Cheryl A. Kozell Oakland County International Airport Ms. Susan T. Mosey Mr. Austin Black II Michigan State AFL-CIO vide her views on Ann Arbor and Oakland Community College Mr. Paul Riser University Center Cultural Ms. Sandra E. Pierce City Living Detroit Association Charter One Bank Ms. Cheryl Gambrell Ms. Maureen Donohue Krauss New Detroit Coalition Board of Mr. Michael Brady Washtenaw County and the state Wayne RESA OaklandCountyCommunity& Directors Mr. George R. N’Namdi Mr. Stephen Rapundalo Comcast Midwest Division G. R. N’Namdi Gallery MichBio Mr. Larry Good of Michigan. (Other Voices: “Joint Economic Development Mr. Lester W. Robinson Ms. Wanda Brock Corporation for a Skilled Workforce Mr. Imre Molnar Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Ms. Brenda G. Price Mr. Sandy Rosen Strategic Staffing Solutions efforts can rebuild our region,” Airport John S. and James L. Knight Great Lakes International Recycling Ms. Carol Goss College for Creative Studies Mr. Jeffrey R. Caponigro Foundation The Skillman Foundation April 16.) I am, however, disap- Mr. Dan Radomski Ms. Maria Elena Rodriguez Mr. W. R. Ross CaponigroPublicRelations,Inc. Mexicantown Community Mr. Oliver Ragsdale, Jr. BookerT.WashingtonBusiness Ms. Joyce Hayes-Giles NextEnergy Mr. Matt DiDio pointed at her revisionist history. Development Corporation Arts League of Michigan Association DTE Energy Company Ms. Jane Shallal Gyro Creative Group Mr. John Stoker Mr. Ronald R. Reed Mr. Dave Schreiber Ms. Nellie Jenkins-Kendrick With respect to the loss of Pfizer Associated Food & Petroleum Dealers Mr. Rich Homberg Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority Community Central Bank Oakland County Detroit Workforce Development Board Ms. Marge Sorge WWJ Newsradio 950 Inc., Gov. Jennifer Granholm felt Mr. Timothy Strauss Mr. Chris Rizik Mr. Jonathan B. Smith Ms. Lisa Katz Metaldyne Corporation Mr. Stephen Huber Northwest Airlines Cargo, Inc. Ardesta LLC Wave Dispersion Technologies, Inc. Corporation for a Skilled Workforce compelled to take numerous Mr. Adam Wilburn OaklandCountyCommunity& NuSoft Solutions, Inc. Mr. Paul E. Tait Ms. Sharon Rothwell Mr. Phil Tepley Mr. Jason D. Lee Economic Development swipes at the Pfizer management Southeast Michigan Council of Masco Corporation Michigan Small Business & Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Team: Develop Ms. Kelly Major Governments Mr. Lucius A. Vassar Technology Development Center Program (DAPCEP) an Aerotropolis/ UnitedWayofSoutheastMichigan (just like Comerica) before she Mr. William S. Taubman City of Detroit Ms. Laura J. Trudeau Mr. Kirk J. Lewis Global Logistics Hub Ms. Florine Mark The Taubman Company The Kresge Foundation The Bing Group went to Ann Arbor to “work to Mr. James C. Becker (Co-Chair) Team: Expand the Region’s The WW Group Ms. Melissa Trustman Mr. Martin West Ms. Lisa Mauch Jones Lang LaSalle Entrepreneurial Capacity Ms. Patricia Mooradian overcome the loss.” As is the usual Detroit Regional Chamber Milestone Realty Services, Inc. Automation Alley Mr. John Rakolta, Jr. (Co-Chair) Mr. Howard Bell (Co-Chair) The Henry Ford Mr. Hunter Tully Ms. Cassandra Woods Dr. Gail Mee style of the governor, pass blame Walbridge Aldinger Company formerly of TechTown Mr. Terry Oprea Ryder Logistics Congressman Carl Levin, U.S. Senate Henry Ford Community College Dr. Mulugetta Birru, Ph.D. (Shepherd) Mr. Michael Finney (Co-Chair) Mort Crim Communications, Inc. first, plan later. Please don’t make Ms. Denise Yee Ms. Terrina L. Murrey Wayne County Department of Ann Arbor SPARK Team: Secure a Strong Future Ms. Cynthia J. Pasky Asian Pacific American Chamber of Compuware Corporation her out to be a hero in this reaction Economic & Neighborhood Mr. Kenneth Rogers (Co-Chair) Talent Base Strategic Staffing Solutions Commerce Mr. Robert Ostrov Development Automation Alley Ms. Eleanor M. Josaitis (Co-Chair) Mr. Frank Ross to the job losses. A true leader ArvinMeritor, Inc. Mr. Dave Tyler (Shepherd) Team: Grow Greater Detroit’s Mr. David Blaszkiewicz (Shepherd) Focus: HOPE Wayne County Economic would have acted in advance of the Wayne County Department of Creative Community Detroit Investment Fund Dr. Daniel Little, Ph.D. (Co-Chair) Mr. Jack O’Reilly Development Southeast Michigan Community Economic & Neighborhood Mr. Brian Boyle (Co-Chair) Ms. Nancy A. Cappola The University of Michigan–Dearborn Ms. Susan Sherer Alliance losses instead of reacting to the Development Issue Media Group/Model D Wayne County Economic Dr. Mary Spangler (Co-Chair) Sherer Inc. Mr. Mark Roberts Mr. Neal Belitsky Mr. Richard L. Rogers (Co-Chair) Development formerly of Oakland Community Mr. Gary Spondike news. General Motors Corporation Detroit-Windsor Tunnel Corporation College for Creative Studies Mr. Randal Charlton College Skidmore, Inc. Dr. Gary D. Russi Please don’t try to set Wayne Mr. Sean Brosnan Ms. Maud Lyon (Co-Shepherd) Asterand, plc Mr. Greg Handel (Shepherd) Mr. Shaun W. Wilson Oakland University Willow Run Airport—Wayne County Maud Lyon & Associates Mr. David Darbyshire Detroit Regional Chamber Wilson PR State University, the University of Ms. Kelly Schaefer Airport Authority Mr. PeterQ.Zeiler (Co-Shepherd) DASI Solutions, LLC Mr. Derick W. Adams Ms. Michelle Zellen Charter One Bank Michigan and Michigan State Uni- Ms. Marge Byington Detroit Economic Growth Ms. Sonya Delley Amerisure Insurance Automation Alley Detroit River Tunnel Partnership Corporation LaSalle Bank Mr. John Almstadt Ms. Tracy Smith Hall versity apart from the other excel- Focus: HOPE Mr. Malik Cavallo Mr. Kenneth Anderson Mr. Richard M. Gabrys OaklandCountyWorkforce lent colleges in our state. Everyone Jones Lang LaSalle Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit Wayne State University Development Board knows Coleman is angling for a With special thanks to Mr.Kurt R. Metzger, United Way for SoutheastMichigan,whoservedasaresourcetoalloftheteams. “special” increase in funding for Road To Renaissance Steering Committee just these “Big Three.” This is an Ann Arbor SPARK Henry Ford Community College New Detroit, Inc. The Kresge Foundation idea that needs to be ended before Automation Alley Hudson-Webber Foundation NextEnergy The University of Michigan-Dearborn College for Creative Studies Inforum Oakland Community College The University of Michigan-Tech Transfer Office it even gets started. All our schools Detroit Economic Club Lawrence Technological University Oakland County Department of Tourism Economic Development Council need to funded equally as they all Detroit Economic Growth Corporation Macomb Community College Community & Economic Development United Way for Southeastern Michigan Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau Macomb County Department of Oakland University WayneCountyCommunityCollegeDistrict bring unique opportunities to our Detroit Regional Chamber Planning & Economic Development Schoolcraft College Wayne County Department of Economic Detroit Regional Economic Partnership Michigan Economic Development Corporation Southeast Michigan Council of Governments & Neighborhood Development state residents. Detroit Renaissance Michigan State University TechTown Wayne State University Let us all not forget that Cole- man is also the same president On May 3, read the plan online at detroitrenaissance.com who stated she would go against the will of the people of our state with respect to affirmative action, even though we all pay her salary. Thank you for being above it all, Dr. Coleman. Leadership For Greater Detroit’s Economic Growth. Darrell Sobeski Northville DETROIT BUSINESS MAIN 04-30-07 A 10 CDB 4/26/2007 4:03 PM Page 1

Page 10 CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS April 30, 2007 CALENDAR $50 for each additional participant How to Master Life Work Transitions. Full conference registration: $250 SATURDAY WEDNESDAY from the same company. Contact: 7:30-10 a.m. Inforum. Don Jones, au- members, $300 others. Single-day and MAY 2 (800) 292-1300. thor and president of Experience It single-event registration available. MAY 5 Inc.; Beth McMall, principal, Reh- Contact: Norma Beuter, (248) 646-9629. Strengthening America’s Competitive- mann Consulting; and Kathy Oswald, Asian Pacific American Chamber of ness. Noon-1:30 p.m. Detroit Econom- THURSDAY president, Right Management Consul- Commerce: Building Economic ic Club. Harold McGraw III, chairman, tants. Birmingham Conference Cen- FRIDAY Bridges. 6 p.m.-midnight. Mei-Chan president and CEO, The McGraw-Hill MAY 3 ter, Beverly Hills, $50 members, $60 Duan, director, IBM global procure- Cos., and chairman, Business Round- others. Add $10 at the door. Contact: MAY 4 ment operations & university rela- table. Cobo Center, Detroit. $35 mem- 2007 Livonia Business Expo. 11 a.m.-8 (877) 633-3500, www.inforummichigan. Eighth Annual Leadership Luncheon. tions, ISC. Royal Park Hotel, bers, $40 guests of members, $50 oth- p.m. Livonia Chamber of Commerce. org. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Eight Mile Boulevard Rochester. $150. Black tie and ethnic ers. Contact: (313) 963-8547. Features more than 60 exhibitors and Association. Speakers include Michi- attire. Contact: (248) 844-4100 or a keynote address by Richard Blouse, www.apacc.net. Commercial Real Estate Women Mid- gan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, Detroit CEO of the Detroit Regional Cham- “Financial Savvy” Small Business west Regional Conference. 8 a.m.-8 Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick; Wayne ber. Concludes with the Taste of the Workshop Series. 8:30 a.m.-noon to- p.m. Commercial Real Estate Women County Executive Robert Ficano; Oak- day, May 9, and May 16. Inforum, in Town featuring 15 local restaurants. Detroit. Today-May 5. Multiple net- land County Executive L. Brooks Pat- partnership with Comerica Bank. Burton Manor, Livonia. Free to at- working events, riverboat tour of terson; and William Crouchman, COMING EVENTS Mark Hurst, partner, Plante & Moran tend expo exhibits from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Detroit/Windsor development and Macomb County Board of Commis- Department of L.L.P. Birmingham Country Club. $18 for noon luncheon; $15 for Taste downtown Detroit commercial real es- sioners. Detroit Marriott at the Re- Justice Initiatives of the Town, 5-8 p.m. Contact: (734) $100 Inforum members and Comerica tate tour, and more. Detroit Marriott naissance Center. $50 members, $75 and Priorities. customers; $125 others. In all cases, 427-2122. at the Renaissance Center, Detroit. others. Contact: (313) 366-3388. Noon-1:30 p.m. May 8. Detroit Economic Club. U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. Dear- born Inn. Contact: (313) 963-8547. Gonzales Building Financial Strength in Times of Change. 5 p.m. May 9. Marketing and Sales Execu- tives of Detroit. Charles McClure, chairman, CEO and president, ArvinMeritor Inc. ArvinMeri- tor headquarters, Troy. $50 mem- bers, $65 others. $400 for member McClure tables of eight, or $520 for nonmem- ber tables of eight. Contact: (248) 643- 6590.

Best Practice Workshop: Building Business Connections. 8 a.m.-11 a.m. May 9. Detroit Regional Chamber. Terri Moon, CEO, Terri Moon and As- sociates. Detroit Regional Chamber Headquarters. Free for Bronze, Silver and Gold level members. Contact: Wendy Nodge, (313) 596-0336.

A Glimpse into Michigan’s “West Wing.” 11:45 a.m.-1:30 p.m. May 10. Public Relations Society of America- Detroit. Genna Beaudoin Gent, deputy chief of staff for communica- tions and planning, Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s executive office; and Liz Boyd, Granholm’s press secretary. $30 members, $40 others, Southfield Marriott. Contact: (248) 545-6499.

Detroit Economic Club. Noon-1:30 p.m. May 14. U.S. Rep. John Dingell, D- Dearborn, chairman, House Energy and Commerce Committee. Masonic Temple, Detroit. $35 members, $40 guests of members, $50 others. Con- tact: (313) 963-8547.

2007 Energy Conference and Exhibi- tion. 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. May 15. The Engi- neering Society of Detroit and DTE Energy. Speakers from industry will present topics such as conservation, alternative resources, green roofs, on- site utility generation, emerging tech- nologies and more. Rock Financial Showplace, Novi. $65 members, $85 others. Contact: Tim Walker, (248) 353- 0735, Ext. 4115. CALENDAR GUIDELINES More Calendar items can be found on the Web at www.crainsdetroit. com. Please send news releases for Calendar to Joanne Scharich, Crain’s Detroit Business, 1155 Gratiot Ave., Detroit, MI 48207- Orchard Mall . West Bloomfield . 248.932.7700 . www.tappers.com 2997, or e-mail jscharich@ crain.com. You also may submit Calendar items in the Calendar section of crainsdetroit.com. DETROIT BUSINESS MAIN 04-30-07 A 11 CDB 4/26/2007 2:35 PM Page 1

ichigan owes its statehood to the efforts of a 20-something. The “young ’un” responsible was Stevens Mason, who, at the M tender age of 22, became acting territorial governor in 1834 and was elected in his own right the next year. Michigan became a state during his administration in 1837. He “retired” from office in 1840, still in his 20s. You could say he was among Detroit’s original 20 in their 20s. To Jeannette Pierce, Mason is an inspiration and the “epitome of young leadership.” Pierce, who is one of this year’s class of Crain’s 20 in their 20s, chose to have her photo taken near Mason’s statue, which is where his remains are buried and which marks the spot of Michigan’s first Capitol building. (See Page 16.) The statue, in downtown Detroit’s Capitol Park, is one place Pierce likes to show off when she conducts tours of Detroit. “I walk by it on my way to work every day, and it always makes me smile. I just love knowing that in a couple years it will be one of the hottest places in town surrounded by the best condos, lofts and shopping in the city. It makes me think of the motto for the city of Detroit: ‘Speramus Meliora ... Resurget Cineribus’ — ‘We hope for better days ... it will arise from the ashes,’ which never fails to remind me how much I love this city,” Pierce said. She and the other 19 members of the 20 in their 20s Class of 2007 are all trying to make a creative difference in the region. Crain’s has a long tradition of recognizing business success in our annual “40 under 40” feature, and we’ll continue that tradition on Sept. 24. But with this week’s issue, we’ll introduce you to 20 other young people you should know. They may not have made their first million dollars, but they are committed to countering the region’s “brain drain” while staking their claim — and making their mark — in metro Detroit. Nearly 200 people were nominated for consideration for this year’s 20 in their 20s class. A team of editors and reporters checked references and debated merits of all the candidates before narrowing the list to 20. These 20 creative, out-of-the-box thinkers span a wide variety of fields: fashion, retail, finance, information technology, nonprofits and music. Their stories begin on Page 12.

LAST CALL FOR 20 IN THEIR 20S NIGHT ON THE TOWN Join Crain’s Detroit Business for a Roaring “20s” reception and strolling dinner honoring Crain’s 2007 20 in their 20s, the best and brightest under 30 whose creativity and entrepreneurial spirit are already contributing to a new energy in Southeast Michigan. It happens 5:30-8 p.m. Thursday, May 10, at Atwater Block Brewery, 237 Jos. Campau, Detroit. Tickets are $45; register by May 3 at www.regonline.com/20s. Come dressed in vintage attire or come dressed modern — but be there. Presenting sponsors include One D, the Detroit Regional Chamber and Fusion. National City is the platinum sponsor; gold sponsors include Northwood University and Lucky Strike; Atwater Block Brewery is the location sponsor. Questions? Call (313) 446-0300. DETROIT BUSINESS MAIN 04-30-07 A 12,13 CDB 4/26/2007 2:37 PM Page 1

Page 12 CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS April 30, 2007

FOCUS: 20 IN THEIR 20S

Why he lives in metro Detroit: “Traveling and living out of a suitcase made me sensitive to my environment and helped me re- evaluate what I needed out of a place

JUEL ZAMPLAS I would call home. Stewart Beal, 24 Detroit, to me, is a President, Beal Properties L.L.C. and Beal Inc. blank canvas … it’s a Ann Arbor chance for us to Education: Bachelor’s degree in business manage- create a balanced ment from Eastern Michigan University. Claim to fame: Completed the West Michigan Loft and sustainable Apartments development in downtown Ypsilanti, a $3.5 million project begun when Beal was 19. urban landscape.” Next step: Expand in Michigan and beyond. Beal wants to have a $100 million company by the time GLENN TRIEST he’s 30. Phillip Cooley, 29 Co-owner, Slows Bar BQ, Detroit; general contractor, The West Michigan Loft Apartments develop- O’Connor Development Group L.L.C., Detroit ment put Stewart Beal on the map Why he lives in Education: Bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Columbia and apply the ideas to Detroit. as a developer. College in Chicago. “I decided to get out of the arts and more into the design Now the entre- metro Detroit: Claim to fame: Co-owner and developer of Slows Bar BQ, a world more for the practicality of it,” Cooley said. “I looked preneur is on the “I went to the restaurant in Detroit’s Corktown. to the Detroit music and art scene … and thought I could be prowl for more Next step: Redeveloping additional residential and com- part of a community that needed growth and young ener- small develop- University of Colorado mercial properties in Detroit. getic people.” ment opportuni- for my freshman year About four years ago, Cooley and his brother, Ryan, ties anywhere It’s not often that a fashion-modeling career leads to a ca- bought their first building at 2134 Michigan Ave. in Cork- within an hour’s of college but quickly reer in urban development and restaurant ownership, but town for $45,000 and began renovating it. drive of Ann Ar- returned to Ann Arbor that was the path taken by Phillip Cooley, co-owner of Slows That was the unofficial beginning of O’Connor Develop- bor. because I missed the Bar BQ and general contractor of Detroit-based O’Connor De- ment, a real estate and development company now head- Beal owns two velopment Group L.L.C. quartered in the same building. businesses and business I already had Growing up in Marysville, Cooley frequently helped his Cooley, his brother and several partners later bought the basically works going here. I choose to parents with the family business, O’Connor Realty Inc., a real building next door at 2138 Michigan Ave., renovated it and two full-time estate agency founded by Cooley’s grandfather. It also reno- opened it in September 2005 as Slows Bar BQ. jobs. He spends stay in the Detroit area vated homes as Cooley was growing up. The casual restaurant serves barbecue ribs, pulled pork about 60 percent because I truly love the But after gaining a degree in fine arts in 2000, Cooley be- and brisket and instantly became a hit. The building also has came a fashion model. For two years Cooley lived in New four apartments on the second floor. of his time on people that I get to Beal Inc., a demo- York City, Europe and Asia. And that, Cooley said, is how he Today, O’Connor Development is a real estate agency that lition company, work with on a daily discovered his passion for edgy, urban life. also owns about eight commercial and residential properties and 40 percent on basis. I love the talent “It just ended up that most of the spaces I lived in were in Detroit. Several of the properties have been renovated and Beal Properties pretty raw,” Cooley said. are rental loft apartments while other properties are in the L.L.C., the real es- … I love working Cooley decided to blend what he learned from his parents development stage. tate development in the area.” with what he saw in the cities he visited around the world — Brent Snavely and management company. He used to have a third company, Burns Lawn Care & Landscaping, but sold it to his partner. Beal Properties’ West Michigan Loft develop- Benjamin Blackwell, 24 ment, a 20-unit project with retail and restaurants, Owner, Cass Records in Detroit, and was Beal’s first real estate success story. drummer for The Dirtbombs Beal said at the West Michigan project, a Mongo- Education: Three years at Wayne State lian-style grill is scheduled to open soon, and a University, concentration in journalism. high-end women’s retail store has a letter of intent Claim to fame: Distributed album for al- on a lease. The residential units are all occupied. ternative country-rock band Blanche in Beal said he seeks out more projects like this — 2004. $3 million-$4 million projects of about 30,000 square Next Step: Continuing to develop his feet. The small size means Beal can move more nim- record label. bly and typically needs fewer investment partners. One exception is a minority stake of 3.5 percent in Benjamin Blackwell was just 17 when the planned Broderick Tower redevelopment of 127 he began working at a small, Detroit- apartments in downtown Detroit. The developers based record label and immersing himself are Michael Higgins and Fred Beal, Stewart Beal’s into Detroit’s garage-rock music scene. father. By 2003 he established his own record la- The younger Beal also acquired 11 apartment bel, Cass Records, and soon reached a deal to properties in Ypsilanti last year. From a value and release alternative country-rock band cash flow standpoint, Beal said he is bullish on Blanche’s album “2004” through his label. metro Detroit. Cass Records is small, even among Beal Inc. specializes in demolition for historic re- small record labels, but with Blackwell’s development projects. The company has landed a leadership it has survived for four years number of downtown Detroit contracts, such as a as a quirky, niche company that helps lo- recent win from Olympia Development for the Detroit cal bands get noticed by larger record la- Life building. The company also is hired for emer- bels. gency work and “fire watch” when fire-suppression Blackwell doesn’t try to sign artists, systems are taken down for renovation. like most labels do. Instead he reaches — Jennette Smith one-time agreements to release their GLENN TRIEST songs as singles. DETROIT BUSINESS MAIN 04-30-07 A 12,13 CDB 4/26/2007 2:37 PM Page 2

April 30, 2007 CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS Page 13

FOCUS: 20 IN THEIR 20S

Carolina Di Cesare, 29 Why he lives in Financial services professional, New York Life Insurance Co., Southfield metro Detroit: “Detroit drives a lot Education: Bachelor’s degree in teaching through Oakland University. theater and dance, Michigan State But she kept hearing the call of of individual University, master of arts in dance, capitalism, took a series of classes creativity. There is so New York University. and exams and became a licensed fi- Claim to fame: Her print, e-mail nancial services professional for much culture and and Web site (www.getfinancially New York Life. history here. People hip.com) campaign to make 20- She said she trademarked the somethings realize it’s hip to plan phrase “Financial services for the always talk about for their financial future financially hip,” and registered the Detroit reviving Next step: Tak- domain name ing her finan- www.getfinan- itself like Cleveland, cially hip cam- ciallyhip.com, but what our city paign which recently nationwide. got up and run- offers is more in line ning. She deliv- with Chicago and Di Cesare was ers her “finan- in graduate cially hip” New York. Our town school in New message on my- is very unique and York for a year, space.com, in e- just after the at- mail blasts and we need to learn tack on the through a series how to World Trade of eye-catching Center. But un- ads in Six De- embrace that.” like many of her grees magazine, peers in theater whose founder, ROB HUEBEL and dance, she Justin Near, is Paul DeBono, 29 wasn’t fantasiz- profiled on Page ing of a career on 15. Assistant vice president, NAI Farbman, Southfield or off Broadway. One print ad She was think- carries the mes- Education: Bachelor’s degree in economics, Uni- “There had been many groups working on differ- ing it might be sage: “Ladies, if versity of Michigan ent things. So really what we wanted to do was more fun to fig- we spent as much time Claim to fame: Part of a team that created a design combine the talent pool,” he said. ure out the planning our fi- for a low-energy light to be installed in Corktown DeBono next founded the Design Think Tank with a world of money. nances as we do this summer. The impetus, group of architects, graphic designers, urban plan- planning our Next step: Work on more real estate redevelop- she said, was ners and industrial designers. The group devel- shoe collection, ment opportunities and grow Farbman’s invest- watching the oped a modern art deco-style LED light. The low- we might have ment group. stock market voltage light was created using automotive the money for plunge on Sept. stamping techniques and is scheduled to be in- MORE shoes. Paul DeBono’s family lived in Corktown in the 11, 2001, know- stalled initially around Corktown. About 50 of the Call me. Isn’t it early 1900s. When DeBono was a senior at the Uni- ing her parents’ 200 lights created will be installed this summer. time we versity of Michigan, he decided to move there even nest egg — and The light is meant to add another aesthetic element talked?” though other family members had moved out. her college fund- to the neighborhood, he said. ARA HOWRANI Di Cesare Despite his long commute to college, DeBono ing — were tak- DeBono’s day job is as an assistant vice presi- Why she lives in said she wanted said the rich history and culture of the neighbor- ing a huge hit. “to create a dent at NAI Farbman. He specializes in real estate hood was appealing, and he quickly got involved “Seeing that metro Detroit: branding cam- dispositions and repositioning. For example, he with community redevelopment. economic ruin paign for young worked on the sale of the Detroit DEA building, “I come from a big Italian He was a board member of the Corktown Consumer was terrible. people based on which sold for about $25 million. In addition to re- Housing Cooperative, and then became treasurer. Everyone was so family. New York is an the concept that This group was merged into the Greater Corktown lationships, DeBono relies on his financial back- invested in the amazing city and has a lot money is not Development Corp., where DeBono put his financial ground to provide options and analysis for redevel- stock market and to offer. But it’s a lonely something to be expertise to work. He then became president for opment properties or assets in foreclosure. lost so much feared, but to be about a year. — Jennette Smith money. I remem- city. It’s hard to make and understood. ber watching TV keep friends. I’ve studied in “Why should- and seeing the London, and I’ve traveled n’t personal fi- market crashing nance be as at- and calling my all over the world, but I tractive and “Cass is kind of just trying to be a The Dirtbombs, a legendary local dad to tell him always want to come back. appealing as the Detroit record label that really just band. Why he lives in they’d stopped media we sur- focuses on 7-inch singles. It’s my fa- “It’s probably the best thing that metro Detroit: trading,” Di Ce- People here have heart. round ourselves vorite format for recorded music. It every happened in my life,” Black- “There’s no sare said. “That Most of my friends have left with on a daily kind of has been the premiere medi- well said. “I’ve been to Europe a got me thinking the state and many basis?” um for upcoming artists since Elvis place better I about money. I Di Cesare, a handful of times, Japan, all across continue to leave in droves. put out ‘That’s All Right’ in 1954,” he America. It’s maybe not the best could run my became obsessed classically said. way to see the world, but it’s proba- about how it So the challenge has trained balleri- According to a story April 16 on record label. I works.” bly for me the easiest — and to make become to make Detroit a na, says the gap National Public Radio, sales of new like the fact that Di Cesare’s between dance money doing it, you feel guilty al- vinyl records are up 10 percent this dad, Roberto, young, vibrant place in and financial most because you are having so the scene in year to about 1 million. The renewed was born in Italy advice isn’t as much fun.” which to live.” interest is due, in part, to turntables Detroit is and owns Wash- large as it might Founded in 1986 and led by charis- that can easily download the music relatively tight- ington Town- seem. matic singer Mick Collins, The Dirt- into digital formats. knit. In any ship-based Italia Construction L.L.C. “As a performer you’re running Blackwell said he made an excep- bombs blend stripped-down R&B She says she was always interested your own business, you’re lining up tion to his 7-inch vinyl philosophy with full-throttle garage rock and other city, if in her father’s business, and he your performances. And music is for Blanche, a band that was attract- have helped define a Detroit music you’re in a band would pass along financial tips and all numeric.” ing a lot of attention at the time. movement that formed the backdrop advice. Three of her cousins, all “I’ve known Dan and Tracee or running a Di Cesare hasn’t stopped pursu- for the emergence of the White male, lived across the street in Ster- (Miller) since before that band when ing art. She won roles as an extra in Stripes. Blackwell joined the group record label, they were in a band called Two Star ling Heights. “Dad always told me “The Island,” a 2005 big-budget Hol- in 1999. Tabernacle,” Blackwell said. “I saw you’re one of and my sister, ‘See them? You’ll lywood thriller starring Ewan Mc- This year could be a big year for have to work twice as hard as them Blanche and really, really liked it.” thousands. In Gregor and Scarlett Johansson, and Cass Records. On April 21, Cass to make half as much money as they But since annual revenue for Cass Detroit, you’re “The Crossover,” a low-budget bas- Records was $30,000 to $40,000 in its Records helped to release a new al- will.’ ” ketball movie shot largely at the De- best year, Blackwell also finds other bum for local garage rock band The like one in a After returning to the Detroit ways to keep busy. Blackwell is both Go and several other releases are hundred.” area in 2003, Di Cesare said she con- troit’s Michigan Central train sta- a freelance music critic for alterna- planned. sidered a teaching career and got tion and released earlier this year. tive weeklies and a drummer for — Brent Snavely her certification after student — Tom Henderson DETROIT BUSINESS MAIN 04-30-07 A 14,15 CDB 4/26/2007 2:38 PM Page 1

Page 14 CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS April 30, 2007

FOCUS: 20 IN THEIR 20S

Maureen Kickham, 26 District council coordinator, Urban Land Institute Detroit District Council, Bloomfield Hills Education: Bachelor’s degree in history from Kalamazoo $1,000, and plans to do it bigger and better next year. College. “People doing silly things in bathing suits always gets at- Claim to fame: Kickham raised money for the Leukemia & tention,” she said, adding that she hopes to have 100 runners Lymphoma Society by organizing the Mid-Winter Bikini Mile in next year. downtown Detroit. Kickham’s event-planning prowess is put to work for Next step: Increase Urban Land Institute’s community out- more serious matters as well. For her Urban Land Institute reach programs and membership base. job, she is responsible for event planning and communica- tions coordination. Kickham wants to help the organization Maureen Kickham convinced 35 people to put on bathing grow from about 400 in the local council to 450 members. suits and go for a run in downtown Detroit on a cold Sunday As the organization grows, it will have more resources for afternoon in March. community outreach and will need more staff, providing In the name of charity fundraising, many people who had more opportunities for Kickham and others, she said. never explored Washington Boulevard or the Park Bar (the Kickham also is an artist. She makes coasters, jewelry, site of the after-party) were willing to join in Kickham’s cre- wall art and placemats out of materials such as tiles, beads ative fundraising idea. About 50 supporters also showed up and natural fibers. to watch. With little experience in promotion, she made — Jennette Smith

Why she lives in metro Detroit: “As our economy changes, Detroit is left with many areas of blank canvas and JOHN F. MARTIN people in their 20s have the Sander DeVries, 24 room to be entrepreneurial President, 41pounds.org, Ferndale in a way they likely would Education: Bachelor’s degree in English, Michigan State University not in many other big Claim to fame: Helping the environment by cutting metropolitan markets. down on junk mail. There is physical and Next step: Increasing the number of 41pounds.org sub- scribers to 5,000 by the end of the year. economic space to try new ideas, succeed and An ever-growing pile of junk mail inspired Sander De- Vries to start 41pounds.org last summer. grow or fail and Today, the company is helping more than 2,000 sub- start over.”

scribers cut down on paper waste by making it easier for ROB HUEBEL them to opt out of mass mailings. For $41, 41pounds.org provides subscribers with opt-out postcards that are stamped and addressed to more than 20 top direct mailers. Subscribers fill out the cards with their Kerry Doman, 25 personal information Why he lives in and send them in. Founder and CEO, After 5 L.L.C., Detroit metro Detroit: 41pounds.org also Education: Bachelor’s degree in communications from can call national and Denison University in Ohio. “There are many local mailers to stop Claim to fame: Developed After5Detroit.com, a Web site things I enjoy about mailings on sub- showcasing Detroit’s nightlife for young professionals. scribers’ behalf. The Next step: Expand the Web site to other major cities. Detroit. I work at the subscription lasts five Penobscot Building a years. While Kerry Doman was working as an event planner in few times a week and “We try to make it Chicago, she and her co-workers would go online before as easy as possible,” have always enjoyed quitting time and see what the city had to offer that night. said DeVries, whose “We’d sit in our cubicles and plan our nights out, and learning about the company has generat- there were Web sites to help us out,” she said. ed about $52,000 in rev- A year later, she was back home in Detroit and those net- many professions that enue so far. working Web sites of bars, restaurants, concerts, stores and The company was call Detroit home. events for young professionals weren’t there for Motown. started in June by De- Whether I run into “I didn’t know hot spots, the new trends, where to go, Vries and his broth- how to meet new people,” she said. “It was missing from people who have ers, 38-year-old Tim the Internet world.” started their own Pfannes and 39-year- old Shane Pfannes. De- So, Doman decided she’d make just such a one-stop company or work for Vries’ brothers are clearinghouse for metro Detroit. After six months of plan- Fortune 500 part owners of ning, After5Detroit.com went live last June. “We live, work and play online. This is where my target organizations, I see a 41pounds.org. DeVries got the idea audience is,” she said. That audience is young profession- great diversity that for 41pounds.org — a als working in and around Detroit. will help Detroit build reference to how many The audience has responded, too. The site had 3 million pounds of junk mail an visitors, many of them repeats, in March, Doman said. for the future.” average person re- That’s a relief for Doman, who spent her savings to ceives each year — start the company five months after moving back to her while talking with Tim Pfannes about ways to cut down parents’ home in Bloomfield Hills. Now, she lives in a loft on paper waste. Together, they researched opt-out infor- downtown near the Compuware building that’s also her mation for the largest direct mailers and passed it along office. She and a full-time editor and staff of interns run to 100 of their closest friends and family. the site and gather the content. While the brothers received positive feedback for the The site was relaunched last month after a redesign. information, no one followed through because they said “It used to be 25 hours a day of work, but that’s a reflec- the process was too time-consuming, DeVries said. So he JUEL ZAMPLAS tion of me being a workaholic. This is my baby. I might and his brothers decided to form a company that would Why she lives in metro Detroit: work too much, but I love it,” Doman said. do the work for them and others who wanted to receive Most of her work is making sure the newest information less mail. is on the site, but plans include expansion to other cities. DeVries estimates that 41pounds.org has helped save “It’s a huge city. If we showcase Detroit in a “We are always looking to make it bigger, better. There more than 10,000 trees so far by preventing unwanted way that’s conducive to a young person’s really is no end to it, if we keep it fresh and updated,” Do- mail from being sent. The company hopes to have more man said. “This is an idea that can be taken to multiple than 5,000 subscribers by the end of the year, and is see- lifestyle, they’ll come here cities. Part of our redesign is where we can pick this up ing strong growth on the West Coast, DeVries said. or at least consider Detroit.” and drop it into any city in the U.S.” — Sheena Harrison — Bill Shea ROB HUEBEL DETROIT BUSINESSMAIN04-30-07A14,15CDB4/26/20072:38PMPage2 offers forbiggerjobs. got littlejobssuchasweeding, then ness, ing, Mosher’slandscaping busi- since,” Moshersaid. out 20,andIhaven’thadtodoit brochures. “IthinkIonlyhanded doors andhandingoutthe the neighborhood,knockingon brochures. Hebegancanvassing Birmingham yardandprinted work he’ddoneinhisparents’ backyard, sohedecidedtotrythat. small pondortwoinhisparents’ ng afewshrubsandinstalling He’d dabbledinlandscaping,planti- spired tostarthisownbusiness. ham, onesummer,Mosherwasin- er, Dolan,Cataldo&Kelly home constructioncompany, Matthew Mosher. business attheageof17,sodid plants. searching forspecificitemsor from havingtovisiteachwhen area nurseries,savingcontractors that willprovideaninventoryof mercial realestatedeals. a numberofresidentialandcom- sequently startingorpartneringin attending collegefulltimeandsub- cessful landscapingbusinesswhile ty ofDayton. business financefromtheUniversi- April 30,2007 President, Mosher&AssociatesL.L.C.andBowersL.L.C.;foundingpartnerin lot ofmy music style,technique and “Being bornand raisedinDetroit,a Robinson, Aretha Franklin, JDilla, from. With history ofmusic therich Mosher saidhespenttimeon the Through word-of-mouthadvertis- Mosher tooksomepicturesofthe While workingforhisfather’s Just ashisfatherstartedown Next step: Claim tofame: Education: come fromthesamesoilasSmokey from Motown to hurt ...itdoesn’t Forest StreetL.L.C.andNakotaL.L.C.,allbasedinBirmingham ear is an influence ofwhere I’m ear isaninfluence Mosher &AssociatesL.L.C. Eminem andEminem somany others.” Why helives inmetroDetroit: To developaWebsite Bachelor’s degreein Launching asuc- in Birming- Matthew Mosher, 25 Mosh- , first JOHN SOBCZAK building inRoyalOak. lion conversionofacommercial which recentlycompleteda$6 mil- a partnerin Birmingham, ing a$30millionofficebuildingin est StreetL.L.C ther andfourotherstolaunch estate holdingcompany. 2000, established rental properties,andattheendof der $3millioninrevenue. ployees. plus morethan75contractedem- Associates hasabout20employees, places andbutterflysanctuaries. negative-edge pools,outdoorfire- apiece, includinginstallationsof ing jobsvaluedatnearly$1million driving backtoschool. work andsleepinhistruckbefore ing jobs.He’dsneakintotown, Ohio eachweekendtodolandscap- but Mosherwoulddrivehomefrom ating thebusinesswhileincollege, Dayton fulltime. gan attendingtheUniversityof launched thecompany,Mosherbe- $20,000 range. 1999, Mosherwasdoingjobsinthe learn howtodothejobshesecured. books inthecontractors’sectionto weekends at Last springMosheralsobecame In 2005,hepartneredwithhisfa- Mosher beganbuyingsmall Last year,itbroughtinjustun- During thesummer,Mosher& Today, Mosherisdoinglandscap- His parentsobjectedtohimoper- In 2000,twoyearsafterhe By theendofthatfirstsummerin a producerofhip-hopmusic. Mile.” for thedocumentary“TheReal8 University graphic designfromWayneState son said. dom todowhateverIwant,”Mel- music wasproducedbyMelson. Lazarus andUno—mostofthe tures threerappers—Hush, ple involvedinDetroithiphop. at thevarietyoflifestylesandpeo- hometown togiveviewersalook Charlie LeDuffreturningtohis mer documentary “TheReal8Mile.” career hasbeenworkingonthe coming hip-hopartistLazarus. work onanalbumwithup-and- Times Channel Mile,” thatairedon documentary called“TheReal8 tones, producedthemusicfora moniker Alphabet,producesring service productioncompany. on theTableProductions Melson onhiswaytoturning length hip-hopalbums,Donald nel Home Depot Nakota StreetL.L.C. ., whichisdevelop- From ringtonesto Next step: Claim tofame: Education: “They gavemecreativefree- While thedocumentaryfea- The documentaryfeaturesfor- Melson saidthehighlightofhis Melson, whogoesbythe Bowers L.L.C background musictofull- New YorkTimes — SherriBegin , reading Raising hisprofileas Bachelor’s degreein , andjustcompleted ., areal F Produced music For- Donald “Alphabet”Melson,27 OCUS , Speed Chan- Owner, BangontheTable into afull- journalist wanted togodown thereand prove it’s suburban kidcouldmove toDetroit.I “I wanted toshow otherpeoplethata Ford Field and restaurants. There’s a great spots, between Comerica Park,great spots,between Comerica Discovery Productions, Detroit a great place tolive.a greatplace There’s alotof lot toofferdown herethatwasn’t RAIN 20 : Bang C available even 10years ago.” Why helives inDetroit: ’ S D ETROIT troit),” Melsonsaid. a J.Dilla,whowasfrom(De- ers likeDr.Dre,orKanyeWest tioned asoneofthegreatproduc- on BangtheTable’sWebsite. tones andoffers10ofthemforsale panding hiscompany. Lazarus, andhopestokeepex- length albumdueoutsoonby about 10ofthe18songsonafull- but hejustfinishedproducing had revenueof$10,000lastyear, said. and putsMelsoninthetop15. 40 to50freelancemusicproducers it wassurreal,”Melsonsaid. those big-namepeopleonthere… debut showandforittohave show anyway,andforittobethe tertainers. cles drivenbycelebritiesanden- customization businessforvehi- gives viewersaninsidelookatthe Bron James.“UniqueWhips” Cent andbasketballplayerLe- ary episodefeaturedrapstar50 gram “UniqueWhips.”TheFebru- episode ofthe songs onthisseason’sfirst said sheplacedtwoofMelson’s Bergen, N.J.-based NTHEIR IN “One dayIhopetobemen- Melson alsomakeshisownring Melson saidBangontheTable “He’s verytalented,”Sanzio Sanzio saidsherepresentsabout “I wasexcitedtobeonthat Nicole Sanzio,CEOofNorth B USINESS Speed Channel 20 — BrentSnavely InDigi Music S DON KUREK pro- , what isnow are thepeople,placesandeventsthatfillpagesof azine, nowownerofhisownpublic-relationsfirm. the investorsinpublicationanditsfirstpublisher. fluential cosmopolitantrendsetters.”Nearwasamong ly withtrendylocalandnationalcontentaimedat“in- lication. Six Degrees marketing firmheformedinSeptember. new is else anddosomethingnew,”hesaid.That Near feltitwastimetodosomethingdifferent. There areMiamiandAtlantaeditions,too. tions inmetroDetroit. title in2005,isfreeanddistributedat600upscaleloca- Degrees since grownto25,000.Themagazine,whichbecame University. information andmediastudiesfromMichiganState Ego Detroit Ego Next step: When themagazinelaunchedinSeptember2004as in Michigan.Idon’t think peoplerealize Near planstostayinvolvedin anadvisoryrolewith “After twoyearsIwantedtomoveonsomething Once theDetroiteditionwaslaunchedandstable, “We builtthemagazinefromscratchhere,”hesaid. Near Perfect based Claim tofame: Education: Near saidhemade contacts thathave been critical tohis critical been relationships alive influential people new venture. “I reason I’llkeep metro Detroit: and that’s the President, NearPerfectMedia,FarmingtonHills Why helives in useful local Near PerfectMediaL.L.C. keep those are herein how many when NearandothersboughtthatMiami-based Detroit.” , circulationwas10,000,Nearsaid,andit’s Grow hisPRfirm’sclientbaseandopenof- . Heremainsaminorityinvestor inthepub- Six Degrees Six Bachelor’s degreeintelecommunication, Founding publisherof Justin Near, 25 magazine, apocket-sizemonth- those communitiesoffer unique thingstooffer.” They allhavetheir in eachlittlepocket. the senseofcommunity people dogit,butIlike of metroDetroit:“Alot tions firm. own growingpublic-rela- zine andnowrunshis There, he’srunamaga- self inFarmingtonHills. State, Nearplantedhim- degree fromMichigan naw andthengettinga The Netherlands. for while hisfatherworked to juniorhighinBelgium from here. gan guy.Hejustisn’t fices inothercities. Among thethings Oh, andhe’sadefender After movingtoSagi- Born inTexas,hewent Justin NearisaMichi- , apublic-relationsand Dow ChemicalCo. Six Degrees Degrees Six — BillShea JOHN SOBCZAK Page 15 mag- in Six DETROIT BUSINESS MAIN 04-30-07 A 16,17 CDB 4/26/2007 2:40 PM Page 1

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FOCUS: 20 IN THEIR 20S

Jeanette Pierce, 26 Downtown Detroit has 37 percent less crime than the national average, Pierce boasts. “People are always surprised to hear Director of information, Inside Detroit, Detroit that.” Special events coordinator, United Way for “That’s my biggest achievement, changing people’s opinions Southeastern Michigan, Detroit or showing them a Detroit they haven’t seen before,” she said. Education: Bachelor’s degree in communications from Her passion for turning people on to all that Detroit has to of- Aquinas College. fer led her to co-found the tour Claim to fame: Founded an organi- group Inside Detroit in 2005. zation to conduct city tours to in- The new organization provides crease appreciation for the city. guided tours of the downtown Next step: To work with the Detroit area, but it goes well beyond that. Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau on Pierce and her business part- “Tour: Detroit,” a program that ner began getting referrals from packages tours every Saturday the Detroit Metro Convention & Vis- throughout the summer, and to for- itors Bureau to do customized malize a partnership with City Living tours for people interested in Detroit. Also leading formation of a various aspects of Detroit, from leadership group for young profes- the restaurants to the neighbor- sionals at United Way for Southeastern hoods to places with signifi- Michigan. cance in blues music to the ar- chitecture. Jeanette Pierce, who was born Inside Detroit doesn’t just and raised in Detroit, thought she point out places. It takes its MELISSA HERNDON/CRYSTAL CARROW knew the city — until she took a groups in to meet proprietors Violeine Oliver, 29 tour with Preservation Wayne a few and to enjoy a free beverage, Owner, Beautiful Home L.L.C., Ferndale years ago. Pierce said. Pierce had returned to live in De- Inside Detroit soon began get- Education: Bachelor’s degree in business ad- troit’s Harmonie Park after spend- DON KUREK ting referrals from the Detroit- ministration, Wayne State University. ing a semester in Spain and gradu- Why she lives in metro Detroit: based Hubbell Group to provide Claim to fame: Opening a store that sells hand- ating from Aquinas College in “It has all the great things about a big city, but tours for people who were inter- made African furniture and benefits workers in Grand Rapids in 2003. ested in moving to the city. the Ivory Coast. Her time in Spain had shown her also all the great things about a small city. We Pierce and her partner also Next step: Expanding the company’s manufac- “all the possibilities that living in a have great sports teams, beautiful architecture began boarding City Living Detroit turing facility and starting a school in Africa to walkable, urban community could buses to point out points of in- teach furniture- and craft-making. offer,” she said. and a history. At the same time, I can’t walk out terest in the city to riders as During time off from her Greek- they headed to tour the organi- Beautiful Home, a store that sells handmade town waitressing job, Pierce began my door without running into someone I know. zations featured Detroit lofts. African furniture, has allowed Violeine Oliver taking walking tours with Preser- The proprietors of the businesses and Pierce said she has probably to achieve her Why she lives in goals of entrepre- vation Wayne. restaurants downtown know my name.” led 75 to 100 tours at a cost of $10 It wasn’t long before she became to $40 a person. metro Detroit: neurism and help- addicted to the glimpses of history, Pierce now is working on non- ing to spur the architecture and people the tours offered. Soon, she was volun- profit status for Inside Detroit. “I’m excited to African economy. tarily leading tours for the organization. She’s also leading an effort at United Way to launch a young be part of a “I’ve always had In 2004, Pierce became a special events associate at United Way professionals leadership society to get them engaged in giving diverse, up-and- a passion for furni- for Southeastern Michigan, but she continued taking groups on the back to the community. ture and design,” tours, trying to show people how wonderful Detroit is. — Sherri Begin coming city with a said Oliver, who downtown that is opened the Fern- dale store in May heading toward 2006. “But I also al- being a fun and ways felt the need Brian Renner, 21 to invest in Africa Founder, themovieinsider.com, Novi cultural and do something Education: Senior at Michigan State Uni- destination. that would be versity, majoring in marketing. Developing the more personally rewarding for me, Claim to fame: Developed a popular waterfront and movie preview Web site. as well as helping Next step: Expanding the site’s offer- additional retail others.” ings, including adding user-generated stores would make Oliver, who content such as blogs. worked previously Detroit an even as a financial ana- To say Brian Renner is a movie buff is more appealing lyst, discovered her calling during a akin to saying George Lucas is just a guy city for individuals who makes movies. what she called a Now a Michigan State senior majoring under 30.” soul-searching trip in marketing, Renner started his Web to the Ivory Coast in 2005. Oliver’s fa- site, themovieinsider.com, as a hobby in ju- ther is originally from the Ivory Coast. nior high. A mix of movie reviews, ru- During her time in that African country, mors, tips, trailers, interviews and film Oliver met five men who sold furniture made industry news culled from The Hollywood from native woods such as mahogany and teak. Reporter and Daily Variety, the site has The men sold their handmade goods on the side grown by leaps and bounds. It averages of the road, hoping for buyers to pass by. 400,000 to 500,000 unique visitors a month, PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY JOHN SOBCZAK It was then that Oliver decided to start her Renner said. own manufacturing facility in the Ivory Coast More impressively, the site’s revenue Why he lives in The result was the movie Web site, that would allow those men and other residents has grown sixfold since 2004, enough to metro Detroit: which Renner handles himself. Reviews to craft their furniture while earning a steady the point it pays for itself and some of Ren- and other content come from five free- paycheck. ner’s schooling. “I like to think that, through my lancers. The most popular aspect is infor- “There is nothing better than to be able to Renner, a full-time student, has a deal Web site, I bring a little bit of mation about upcoming movies, some a make a living while helping others,” Oliver for ad placement on his site with Boston- year or more from opening, he said. said. Allied Advertising based , which specializes Hollywood glitz and glamour to Renner’s goal for the site is to see more Oliver did not discuss how much she invested in promotion for the movie industry. user-generated content, such as blogs, by in the facility, but said she used credit cards and “I’m a huge movie fan,” he said. His Michigan, where the lifestyle is this summer. In the meantime, he plans to personal savings to buy the land and construct love of film, which involved making the building. much less hectic and the culture continue to tinker with the site’s look. movies in his parents’ basement, and his Today, the Ivory Coast manufacturing facili- probably a lot more balanced. “I’m not completely happy with what I interest in computers, took flight in ju- ty has 20 employees who receive a weekly pay- have right now,” he said. After graduating nior high, when he began taking college Besides, Detroit is conveniently check from Beautiful Home and have creative in December, he plans to stay in Michigan classes on Web graphics, PhotoShop, ad- located in between my studio control over the pieces they design. vertising and business. and find a grad school. “I view them not as my employees, but as part “Those two things intermingled in contacts in Los Angeles and their Renner’s also trying to get the site ac- of the Beautiful Home team,” said Oliver, whose about eighth grade,” said Renner, who at- marketing departments in credited with the Academy of Motion Pic- company expects sales of $250,000 in its first tended the University of Michigan-Dearborn tures Arts and Sciences so he can attend the year. “And it’s been so rewarding to see them and Schoolcraft College in Livonia before New York City.” Academy Awards. grow as artists.” transferring to MSU. — Bill Shea — Sheena Harrison DETROIT BUSINESS MAIN 04-30-07 A 16,17 CDB 4/26/2007 2:41 PM Page 2

April 30, 2007 CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS Page 17

FOCUS: 20 IN THEIR 20S

Jeremy Schneider, 26 Founder, RentLinx L.L.C., Ann Arbor Education: Bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Uni- So, Schneider created a database for the manager, and the versity of Michigan. idea blossomed from there. There were no local or regional Claim to fame: Developed an online database of rental rental property databases, so there was a niche to fill. properties. “That led to idea of a centralized database,” he said, not- Next step: Take the database na- ing that RentLinx has 10 to 20 tional and introduce new products. property managers signing up every day. The service costs Jeremy Schneider knew his life $120 a year for 10 or fewer prop- would revolve around computers, erties to $800 a year for 1,000- but two internships at Microsoft plus units. Corp. made him realize that he need- Among his clients is the ed to tread his own path, and not a Michigan State Housing Develop- corporate one. ment Authority, for which he “I didn’t want to be a cog in the developed michiganhousing machine,” he said. “I wanted to stay locator.com using the around Ann Arbor and Michigan. I RentLinx database. The Web didn’t want a real job, so I started a REBECCA COOK company.” site connects low-income fami- He formed what is now called lies with rental properties that Shaquetta Starks, 29 RentLinx L.L.C., an online rental take Section 8 vouchers. Operations manager, National Logistics Management, Detroit housing database used by nearly Schneider also worked with Education: Bachelor’s degree in business administra- 1,500 property managers, mostly in the Michigan Disability Rights tion, Davenport University. MBA, American Interconti- Michigan but in several others Coalition to set up features that states, too. nental University. allows disabled people to find Claim to fame: FedEx Corp. The database now contains more While working at , coordinat- rental housing with the features Ford Motor Co. than 178,000 apartments. RentLinx ed the movement of thousands of tires to they need for accessibility. is used by people with just a single JOHN F. MARTIN plants, dealerships and clients during a massive tire re- unit to rent and by major landlords Why he lives in metro Detroit: Schneider isn’t sure if Michi- call in 2000. gan’s economic woes and the Next step: Use the skills she’s used to manage people and with thousands of apartments. “I love Ann Arbor. It’s a high-tech little Schneider, who has developed slowdown in the domestic hous- lead projects as an executive. software used by other program- city here. We’ve had great success ing market have boosted the Ford Motor Co. mers, was designing Web sites on partnering with all these associations.” popularity of his service, but When recalled thousands of tires, Sha- the side while a grad student at the he’s convinced the site will con- quetta Starks played a key role in making sure replace- ments went where they were supposed to go. University of Michigan. An Ann Arbor tinue to do well. That’s because the 29- property manager hired him in 2004 to create a site for his “The end goal is to be the rental housing database,” he year-old had just been pro- rentals, and Schneider discovered that the manager’s data- said. Why she lives in moted to the job of supervi- base of 100-plus units was in his head. — Bill Shea metro Detroit: sor at FedEx Corp. Supply “I like the hope that Chain. She was given the task to the city still has for coordinate several hundred Stephanie Tardy, 28 a better day. I have shipments of tires to Ford to admit that I was plants, dealerships and Founder, Phantom Limb, Pleasant Ridge; co-founder, clients. She led a staff of sev- Handmade Detroit, Pleasant Ridge; part-time designer, terrified and very en that worked two shifts Observer & Eccentric Newspapers in Livonia skeptical of the city around the clock. Education: Bachelor’s degree in journalism and de- To Starks, however, the sign from Michigan State University. when the pressure of that kind of situ- Claim to fame: Co-founded membership group Hand- automotive ation is why she loves work- made Detroit to organize events where local crafters companies began to ing in supply chain manage- can sell wares. ment. Today, she works as Next step: She and four others are in the preliminary report losses that operations manager at Na- stages of putting together a business plan for a retail resulted in strikes, tional Logistics Management, and workshop space in Detroit that will sell other overseeing more than 20 crafters’ wares on a consignment basis layoffs and plant people. closures, but we “The biggest thing for me Stephanie Tardy is on track to turn her love for cre- have continued to be is how the dynamics are al- ating handcrafted paper products into a business. ways changing,” she said. She took a part-time position as a page designer for hopeful. The city “Customer circumstances the Observer & Eccentric Newspapers five years ago after continues to impress change, volume numbers graduating from MSU. change; it changes every The has allowed her to pursue her true passion, the the masses by day.” creation of handcrafted journals, notebooks and cards, performing beyond National Logistics was using vintage textbooks, children’s books and game expectation.” founded in 1991. The compa- pieces. She founded Phantom Limb, her personal craft ny manages logistics for company, in the fall of 2005 at age 26. more than 2000 assembly and Later that fall, she also co-founded Handmade Detroit, manufacturing plants, more than 6,800 suppliers and more a membership group that organizes events where she than 300 ground, air freight and air charter carriers. and other crafters can sell their wares, publicizing She has many duties at the company: ensure staff re- them through www.handmadedetroit.com. quirements are assessed and adjusted to maintain high The 2006 inaugural events included a holiday craft levels of service, serve as a liaison between account man- fair; “Sunday Crafternoon,” a monthly craft fair at the agers and operational staff, investigate any problem is- Woodward Area Brewery in Ferndale, which features sev- sues and develop and modify operational procedures. en or eight local artists and attracts about 150 people Starks started at National Logistics in 2003 after her during its four-hour run; and the largest of the events, three-year stint at FedEx. the Detroit Urban Craft Fair, which attracted 50 ven- Her most recent notable accomplishment was launch- dors — some from as far away as Philadelphia, Ohio ing National Logistics’ Ground Transportation Mexico and all over Michigan — and 1,200 attendees to the Ma- program, which allows the company to offer shipping to jestic Theatre for its inaugural event last August. Mexico. She is leading the organization’s second and MELISSA HERNDON/CRYSTAL CARROW “We’re harnessing the power of guerrilla market- third phases of the program, which will offer expanded Why she lives in metro Detroit: ing,” Tardy said. services. She and the friend she tapped to help found Hand- A Detroiter born and raised on the east side where she “On some level, we are trying to create an made Detroit created a Myspace page and began issu- attended Martin Luther King Jr. High School, Starks alternative to industrial and ing bulletins on the craft fair events to their 2,000 earned her bachelor’s degree in 2003 and MBA in 2005. “friends” on the site. Those friends told their friends, But she said her job also encompasses something that megacorporation reliance. People my age and attendees and vendors got word-of-mouth advertis- can’t be taught in any school; the ability to effectively see fewer and fewer benefits of relying on ing. work with and manage people, not just bark orders out. the big industries and more opportunity Phantom Limb is still operating in the red, but Tardy “You have possess the ability to delegate while at the is hoping that will change once she and a group of other same time receive feedback while at the same time be able in working for themselves.” crafters open a retail and workshop space in Detroit. to meet customer requests,” Starks said. — Sherri Begin — Andrew Dietderich DETROIT BUSINESS MAIN 04-30-07 A 18 CDB 4/26/2007 2:41 PM Page 1

Page 18 CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS April 30, 2007

FOCUS: 20 IN THEIR 20S Thomas Wick, 29 President, evitamins.com, Shelby Township

Education: Bachelor’s degree in finance from Western Michigan University. Claim to fame: Selling discount vitamins and nu- tritional supplements on the Web. Next step: Expanding evitamins.com’s offerings to include more medical supplies, fitness equipment and cosmetics.

What started as a side job in college has become a growing online retail business for Thomas Wick. Evitamins.com generated revenue of $3.8 million last year and expects $5.2 million in 2007 revenue. The company has 12 employees, a network of more than 300 suppliers and sells its products through the Web, a quarterly catalog and two stores in Shel- by Township. Wick didn’t always expect evitamins.com to be- come a success. He founded evitamins.com in 1999 to help pay the bills during his days at Western Michigan University. “We were just so thrilled to get any business in the beginning,” Wick said. The company started off buying its supplies from Wick’s mother, who operated her own vitamin REBECCA COOK store. That business closed in 2000. ARA HOWRANI Why he lives in metro Detroit: Through the family connection, evitamins.com Gregory Yatooma, 27 developed relationships with suppliers and added Despite local economic woes, Wick said the vendors as the company saw increasing sales. Chairman, Michigan Tournament of Charities, Southeast Michigan market has provided assets Evitamins.com has built credibility by consult- Macomb Township ing with doctors, nutritionists, dieticians and per- Attorney, Foley & Lardner L.L.P., Detroit such as low real estate costs and skilled labor that sonal trainers to review and provide medical exper- Education: Bachelor’s degree in political science from Tay- have helped evitamins.com grow. “It’s good for us tise about items sold on the site, Wick said. lor University in Indiana, law degree from the University of The company is considering selling products that Michigan. because we do 99 percent of our business outside of would complement evitamins.com’s health focus. Claim to Fame: Founded and chairs the Michigan Tournament Detroit. So it allows us to take advantage of the It’s something Wick said the company is approach- of Charities. ing with caution, but is optimistic about. Next Step: Yatooma wants to expand the Michigan Tourna- state the economy is in today.” “We don’t want to grow too quickly,” Wick said. ment of Charities to a weeklong event that could raise funds — Sheena Harrison for 40-50 charities.

Losing his father at age 13 brought Greg Yatooma into an awareness that has absorbed his life. Michael Delon Wilson, 25 Knowing first-hand the chaos that such a tragic loss can Executive director, Detroit Fashion Incubator, Detroit cause, he devotes his time to children’s charity work. “My father was born in Baghdad, Iraq, and immigrated to Owner, Michel Delon Collection, Detroit the U.S. in 1949, directly to Detroit,” Yatooma said. Education: Two years at Wayne State University, con- His father, Manuel Yatooma, was killed in a 1993 carjacking. centrations in fashion design and marketing. In response to that experience, Greg’s older brother, Nor- Claim to fame: Creating the Detroit Fashion Incubator, a man, founded the Birmingham- networking organization for fashion designers and en- Why he lives in based Yatooma’s Foundation for thusiasts. metro Detroit: the Kids to aid children who Next step: Working to receive nonprofit status for the have to deal with the terrible incubator and raising money for a larger space to house “I live in Detroit experience of losing a parent. the organization. because of my In 2002, Greg founded the Ma- comb Township-based Michigan Michael Delon Wilson grew up in Detroit and wants roots, the culture Tournament of Charities, a non- fashion to have a home here, too. and my family. profit that raises money for That’s why he formed the Detroit Fashion Incubator, an children’s charities in South- organization that highlights the work of local designers Because of people east Michigan, many of which and has created a gathering place for fashion aficiona- like my father, are too small to organize their dos. own events. The incubator, at 4737 Grand River Ave., organizes the Detroit “At the next tournament, on fashion shows and events around metro Detroit, and metropolitan area June 11 at the Sycamore Golf and holds seminars and meetings to support Detroit’s fash- Country Club in Macomb Town- ion community. has the largest ship, we hope to raise enough to “If they have questions about where to go for fabrics, population of bring our total to $1 million in or advice, or mentoring, we have resources,” said Wil- the first five years,” he said. son, who opened the incubator in October. Arab-American In the past four years, the Wilson studied fashion design and marketing at people outside of tournament has raised nearly Wayne State University before moving to Chicago in $750,000 for children’s charities 2003 to try his hand at starting a collection. the Middle East.” in Southeast Michigan such as While there, Wilson worked with a tailor who taught Hospice of Michigan, Joy of Jesus, him how to make suits by hand. Wilson used that expe- Band of Angels, The Dream Project, Detroit Rescue Mission, rience to start his women’s wear line, the Michel Delon Promise Village, the Home for Children, Open Door Ministry and the Collection. Children’s Therapy Fund. Wilson moved back to Detroit in 2005 and joined two Now, Yatooma is developing a new nonprofit called Charity fashion organizations that would influence him — the Tickets, for which he and partner Rick Frazier are now seek- Toronto Fashion Incubator and the Pure Detroit Design Lab. ing tax-exempt status. “We want to solicit unused sports and He often traveled to Toronto incubator events that entertainment tickets from corporations and venues so they made him want to create a similar community in De- can be used by children who otherwise won’t get to see base- troit. Meanwhile, the Design Lab provided a retail ball or hockey games or concerts,” he said. space for Wilson and other designers to showcase and ARA HOWRANI Yatooma put himself through college and law school with sell their collections. revenue from Sylvan Lake-based Wholesale Car Connection He was working to open the incubator early last year Why he lives in metro Detroit: L.L.C., a vehicle retailing, wholesaling and exporting company when the Design Lab decided to reformat its retail seg- “I love being here and the creative energy that he founded and continues to own. ment last fall. That hastened Wilson to open the incuba- Now a corporate lawyer in the Detroit office of Foley & Lard- tor in order to create a new place for designers who and the determination to succeed that ner L.L.P., Yatooma handles mergers and acquisitions and is were displaced from the Design Lab. I think you can’t find anywhere in developing a niche work with automotive clients who want to “It’s kind of out of love of fashion and trying to see expand into Japan. fashion have an industry here in Detroit,” Wilson said. the world but here.” — Robert Ankeny — Sheena Harrison April 30, 2007 CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS Page 19

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ANNOUNCEMENTS & PHOTOGRAPHY FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITIES BUSINESSES WANTED OFFICE FURNITURE SERVICES LOOKING TO BUY: Residential and/or Commer- LARGE OFFICE CLOSING FOR GOOD NOW EXPANDING IN cial Plumbing Service & Drain Cleaning Must sell all cubicles, desks, files, chairs, & copiers. ADVERTISING SERVICES METRO DETROIT! Companies; Southeast Michigan Preferred; 5 Trucks Everything must go immediately. Delivery & set up or more; Fast close with substantial CASH DOWN available. Call (734) 890 - 1601 for appointment. payment. Confidentiality assured. Fax information Salsarita’s Fresh Cantina is the hottest new TROY OFFICE DOWNSIZING AND MOVING. Fresh-Mex concept to land in Michigan!! We Toll Free to 866-402-5260 or email to: Ad Pardner [email protected] AllSteel partitions, workstations w/overhead compart- offer • On-going training & support • Low ments, plotter table, desks, storage units, Mahogany Writing & Production start-up costs • Financing available. We are desk/hutch, chairs & more. Marsha 248-269-0600 Marketing Campaigns inviting pre-qualified candidates to join us for EQUIPMENT & MUST SELL, OFFICE CLOSED Professional Speaking an informational session on Tues., May 8th MERCHANDISE Desks $99, Chairs $39, Files $49, Partitions $50, 734 • 747 • 6266 starting at 7:00pm in Southfield, MI. Call Lateral Files $99, Cubicles, Office Phone Systems 313-402-4900 to secure a reservation and Call (248) 548-6404 or (248) 474-3375. www.DrCarolDunitz.com Carol Dunitz,Ph.D. more details. www.salsaritas.com MISCELLANEOUS SECURITY SERVICES TELECOMMUNICATIONS FINANCIAL SERVICES MOTORHOME RENTALS Reserve now for this Workplace Detroit summer. 2007, 26 & 31 foot slideouts, also Pop Up LUCENT . . . AVAYA. . . PARTNER. . . Flint INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES Not as profitable as you would like? Violence Trls & Utility Trls. CAMP-R-CRUISE 4679 DIXIE MAGIX. . . VOIP. . .LEGEND . . . We will improve your profits. Grand Rapids HWY, WWW.CAMPRCRUISE.COM (248) 673 4400 MERLIN. . .SPIRIT Systems/Parts New/refurbished. Optimum Systems 248.379-1500 Prevention Traverse City Experienced Downtown Detroit Developer Omnicall Equipment Corp. (248) 848-9282 Systems & Financial Analysis Toledo looking for capital for exciting new project near the Specialists Renaissance Center at the junction of the River Walk CRAIN’S EXECUTIVE WE HAVE USED PHONES & SECURITY South Bend Nortel, Lucent, phone systems. Almost any new or and Dequindre Cut bike path. Bordering the building RECRUITER WORKS! LEGAL SERVICES - IMMIGRATION 24 Hour is also Michigan’s first urban state park. Earn 30% or used phone available. Expert installation available. 1-877-870-4200 more, Call Randy (810) 599-6214. Call (248)548-6404 Emergency Service N. Peter Antone AV-rated Immigration Attorney Adjunct Professor Immigration Law at MSU BUSINESS & Antone, Casagrande & Adwers, P.C. INVESTMENTS 31555 W. 14 Mile Road, Suite 100 CRAIN’SEXECUTIVE RECRUITER Farmington Hills, MI 48334 BUSINESSES FOR SALE Phone (248) 406-4100, www.antone.com Very profitable, high end tanning & massage sal- on in heart of Novi. 10 tanning rooms, 2 massage ADMINISTRATIVE FINANCE MISCELLANEOUS rooms. All equipment is state of the art. "Salon of the Year". Established clientele over 10 years. High traffic salon. Great cash flow. (248) 470-7572. If your filter costs Birmingham teleproduction studio seeks GOT A HEAD FOR FINANCE. A HEART FOR PROGRESS. AN are out of sight, Oakland County meal assembly for sale. full-time client services guru and receptionist. Customers prepare meals to take home and freeze. APPRECIATION FOR BULLFROGS IN FLOWERED BONNETS? let us show you Fast growing, highly profitable, great location. Must be computer savvy, detail-oriented, professional, and You could be exactly the type of CFO our international how you can save (248) 425-2477 friendly. Positive attitude and outgoing personality are also up to 75% of your greeting card company wants. LASER ENGRAVING / LASER CUTTING required. College degree and desire for advancement are annual costs. Profitable Small Business preferred. Position requires answering telephones, man- We're Avanti Press. Famous for creating greeting cards that make people laugh. In most cases, filters Established customer base over 16 years aging client meals, light accounting, tape trafficking, ship- We are profitable. Established. Growing. Transitioning from a large closely- For more information: (248) 540-1644 can be cleaned up to ping and high levels of client contact. held business to one that's larger. We want CFO candidates who can see the big 4 times without los- picture. But are you capable of having us see it, too? Can you be a multi- BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES Please send resume and salary requirements ing their effectiveness. The cleaning costs are ap- tasking, roll-up-your-sleeves CFO? Digging deep into our day-to-day details, proximately one-third the cost of a new filter. Since to [email protected] 200 ACRE SOD FARM while seeing clearly how it impacts our tomorrows. Are you strategic? Can you some plants change and dispose of dirty filters sever- SW, MI Owner retiring forecast? Here, you'll have a chance to manage the finances of our new creative al times a year, the savings are substantial and real. Land-Equipment-Inventory LEGAL products while managing corporate capital, too. Finally, what we want is a ver- And it works!!! 800.552.8060 satile communicator. As our CFO, you'll be talking strategy one minute - opera- tions, the next. FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITIES CORPORATE ATTORNEY National Developer / Property Management What do you want from us? Company seeks real estate attorney for in- • Recognition. Along with responsibility that can grow. house General Counsel position at our Livonia • A chance to excel in a well-balanced life. In a flexible environment. headquarters. This position will prepare, ne- • To work where hierarchy is low, and the chance to shape destiny is real. gotiate and review contracts, leases, corre- • An opportunity to help us drive performance. Make an impact. Live our vision. spondence and other legal documents. Coun- For more information please email: sel will be actively involved in acquisitions, Participate in the company's imagination. dispositions, entity set-up and structure, re- • Access to our top resources to get the job done and keep your skills sharp. [email protected] Specialty Pet Store search legal issues, and coordinate the efforts • To join a company that's really worthy of a lifelong commitment. or call us @ 248-442-6540. of outside counsel. Minimum of 7 years expe- rience required, with a concentration in real es- So, got a head for finance and a heart for progress? Our DO (Detroit office) is Franchise tate transactions necessary. Candidate must looking for a CFO (you?). Send us a cover letter that tells us what you can do be a member of the Michigan Bar. for us. Of course, send a resume too. (No phone calls, please.) Then make us Successful Restaurateur Wanted Please fax resumes to: wonder...how'd we get this far without you? Opportunity 734-779-8910 or forward to: PLEASE SEND COVER LETTER AND RESUME TO: If you’re seeking a unique opportuni- Rock Companies ty and location, and have a successful 20555 Victor Pkwy., Ste. 250 [email protected] track record of owning and operating Livonia, MI 48152 a restaurant(s), the City of Auburn We are looking for a Hills wants to hear from you. The City desires to add a new restau- qualified franchisee for REAL ESTATE rant to its Village Center located at Auburn Road and South Squirrel. unique opportunities We have the following to offer. 1) A reserve Class C liquor license in Detroit, MI Real Estate Acquisition Associate 2) Funding for storefront signage Real Estate Development Company, based in 3 )Incentives for water/sewer connection fees, Farmington Hills Michigan, with holdings if applicable If you love pets, like people, 4) Available space with main street frontage throughout the Midwest & Florida, is seeking 5) A recently renovated Village Center area experienced, motivated individual for its ac- with $17 million in municipal improvements and have at least $125,000 quisition & disposition team. Individual 6) A desirable location with little competition should be result oriented, accountable and 7) A City government eager to work with you available capital to invest in self starter. Applicant must have 4 yr. college to succeed your own business, we should degree, fluent in Microsoft Excel. Compensa- You must have a history of tion includes, annual salary, performance bo- successful restaurant operation and nus and health benefits. be able to provide information to talk. All inquiries will be held support that claim. The City will not Forward all resumes & inquires to consider first time attempts. You in strict confidence. [email protected] must also be able to meet all the nec- (248) 737 - 1600 Ext. 103 essary requirements of a review by the City and the MLCC. Call Carrie Hall at Please send a letter of interest describing CRAIN’S your proposed restaurant and your experience to: (740) 775-2464 EXECUTIVE Mr. Thomas A. Tanghe RECRUITER Assistant City Manager or email City of Auburn Hills WORKS! 1827 North Squirrel Road [email protected] To Place Your Ad Call Auburn Hills, MI 48326 [email protected] to learn more! (313) 446-6068 or No phone calls please at this time. Fax (313) 446-1757 DETROIT BUSINESS MAIN 04-30-07 A 20 CDB 4/26/2007 2:49 PM Page 1

Page 20 CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS April 30, 2007 CRAIN’S REAL ESTATE BUSINESS DIARY ACQUISITIONS its Ann Arbor commercial and resi- dential real estate company. Kapnick Orchard Hiltz & McClimet Inc., a Livo- AUCTIONS COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY has offices in Ann Arbor, Southfield nia-based engineering firm, has pur- and Adrian. AUCTION - 3 HISTORIC MOBILE HOME PARK FOR SALE - Unbeatable location on I-696 @ chased Hitch L.L.C., a 15-person archi- 20 mi S. of Mid Town Detroit, 48 Larger Lots, Home Groesbeck &11 Mile. 76,000 SF, 23’ hi heated tectural, engineering and surveying BUILDINGS 960 Ft. Road Frontage / 1/4 mile to Lake Erie. warehouse + 3 acre yrd, 9 Indr. Docks, Great Cond., firm based in Houghton. EXPANSIONS Downtown Ypsilanti $1,399,000 Firm/Gross $214,440/Net $130,605/Terms $31 psf. [email protected], or (248) 790-5552. Zanglin 734-675-7500 Associates The Fred Astaire Dance Studio, 2510 National Chain hotels for sale in Livonia and Ster- National and Local Tenants CONTRACTS Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Town- ship, offers dance lessons for begin- ling Heights. Each 100+ rooms. Excellent condition. Low Rates, Easy Access off I-75 CareTech Solutions, Troy, has signed John Mandich, Marcus & Millichap (248) 415-2628, ners to advanced students in private a five-year contract to provide its [email protected] or in groups. Couples can also take health care information-technology FRASER wedding dance lessons. The Long- 14 Mile & Utica Road. 8,100 sq. ft. free standing services to the Manitowoc, Wis.-based meadow, Mass.-based company was corner building for sale or lease. Holy Family Memorial health network. co-founded by movie legend Fred As- LaHood Realty 313-885-5950 Catellus Group, LLC (810) 695-7700 TechTeam Global Inc., Southfield, has taire. Telephone: (248) 454-1715. Web been awarded a five-year contract to site: www.fadsmichigan.com. Office & Yard For Lease -Metro Airport Area provide information-technology ser- MAY 19th @ 12 NOON AVAILABLE NOW vices for tobacco company 1340 S.F. Office, Parking for 30 Trucks & Philip Mor- JOINT AGREEMENTS Preview Sunday, April 22 and Trailers, Paved, Lighted, Fenced. ris International. TechTeam will pro- 4,000 to 100,000 sq. ft. Lawrence Technological University, Saturday, April 28 Employee parking 35 spots. Cross dock vide support services for about 9,000 12-2 PM at area available if needed. Also 10,000 & 25,000 sq. ft. Philip Morris employees in Italy, the Southfield, and Macomb Community College have announced that Macomb 211 - 213 - 215 W. Michigan Ave. (313) 410-2586 Cell Free Standing Bldgs w/truckwells. United Kingdom, Poland, Switzerland, Call Now: students can transfer more of their as- (734) 457-2123 Fax 1 Mile from Metro Airport Germany and France, according to a Sperry Van Ness/ REA CONSTRUCTION company statement. The contract is sociate degree credits to two LTU Lillie & Assoc. expected to be worth about $4 million. bachelor’s degree programs. A revised agreement allows Macomb students to Realtors/Auctioneers WESTLAND - Excellent development site. Prime cor- (734) 946-8730 Compuware Covisint, Detroit, has ner in the heart of Westland, 250’ frontage on busy transfer up to 70 credit hours in ap- 734-663-6694/www.svnlillie.com been contracted by Bloomfield, Conn.- Wayne Rd. Some possibilities include strip mall, gas Also Heavy Industrial plied science-manufacturing technol- based Cigna HealthCare to use its in- station, and bank. Call Van Esley Real Estate. Land Available ogy toward an LTU bachelor’s in engi- 734-459-7570 formation-technology infrastructure neering technology. Also, Macomb www.reaconstruction.net to allow the carrier to communicate Gratiot/12 Mile - 1360 - 7800 SF Comm, Lease/Sale students now can transfer up to 75 Harper/11 Mile - 10,700 SF Comm - Must Sell better with health care providers. credit hours in accounting, business Harper/11 Mile - 3,400 SF, Office, Great Parking Cigna centers that will use the infor- CRAIN’S Mack/9 Mile - 9,400 SF, Office/Comm Reduced management, general business and mation technology are in Pittsburgh; St. Clair Shores - 2 great development sites FOR LEASE marketing toward an LTU bachelor’s Raleigh, N.C.; Dallas; Chattanooga, J.E. DeWald & Assoc (313) 884-2200 GRAND RIVER & OAKMAN in business management. Tenn.; and Glendale, Calif. RESIDENTIAL Detroit, MICHIGAN Cleary University and Hartland High Tomco Remodeling L.L.C. of Farming- 27,000 Sq. Ft. 2 TRUCK Docks School have signed an agreement to SALE or LEASE - LIVONIA ton has retained Old Dog New Tricks allow Hartland High School students Advertising L.L.C. of Farmington Hills PROPERTIES 313-506-0534 to be dually enrolled in the Ann Ar- as its advertising agency of record. bor-based university and the high Sachse Construction, Birmingham, school. Students with a B or higher RECREATIONAL PROPERTY OFFICE BUILDING built a Lilly Pulitzer store in The Do- grade can receive up to 24 hours of main, a new mall in Austin, Texas. dual credit for high school classes in 320 ACRES: 6,000 S.F. furnished modern lodge, Twin Oaks Landscape Inc., Ann Arbor, marketing, advanced marketing, ac- 2 master suites, 3 stall garage, stream, duck marsh, has become a member of the Pitts- counting, entrepreneurship, retailing food plots, tower blinds, superb hunting, Clare County, $1.6M, Call Mark, 1031 INC. 616-774-1031 Retail or Office - 25,500 Sq. Ft. burgh-based LandOpt licensee net- and business management. The agree- work of landscaping contractors. ment is effective until August 2009. Middlebelt Rd. btwn. 5 & 6 Mile Mitten Artworks and Power Market- RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY Free Standing - Excellent Condition ing, both of Ann Arbor, collaborated NEW PRODUCTS to develop an online video promoting Rest assured that your family and home are safe in Moeller Manufacturing Co., Plymouth, this exclusive community! This 186 acre community 1.59 Acres - Over 50 Parking Spaces The Home Buyer’s Agent of Ann Arbor. now offers the True Strip die-spring includes a private lake, beach, fishing ponds, trails, Call Bob Richardson It will be shown on the real estate mechanical stripper for punches. The soccer & baseball fields and more! Home sites re - agent’s Web site. True Strip complies with all NAAMS duced up to $40,000! Call today for more info 586- 336-9595 or www.MyWoodlandWaters.com. Marx Layne & Co., Farmington Hills, specifications. has been named public-relations agency of record for elitefts.com, a Dourdan Place strength-training products and ser- Bloomfield Hills 248.855.1221 vices company in London, Ohio. DIARY GUIDELINES www.armadarealestate.com The Washtenaw Economic Club has Send news releases for Business named Phire Branding Co., an Ann Ar- Diary to Joanne Scharich, Crain’s bor advertising agency, as its market- Detroit Business, 1155 Gratiot Advertise your ing partner. Ave., Detroit, MI 48207-2997 or Media Genesis, Madison Heights, was send e-mail to jscharich@crain. goods and services in chosen by Global Strategic Connec- com. Use any Business Diary item tions, a Troy pharmaceutical and as a model for your release, and Crain’s Detroit Business business-procurement corporation, to look for the appropriate category. redevelop its Web site. Without complete information, your Kapnick Insurance Group has signed item will not run. Photos are Located north off Hickory Grove, just east Thomas B. McMullen Co. Inc. as a welcome, but we cannot guarantee of Woodward, Dourdan Place is a community client, providing property and casual- they will be used. of 18 estate home sites. Award winning plans ty insurance and employee benefits to available or bring your own ideas. Bloomfield Hills schools. Five lots remain starting at $450,000. For more information, please call CHRIS PERO REAL ESTATE AUCTION Century 21 Town and Country JUNE 6TH 248-642-8100 View All My Listings at chrispero.com INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT OR USER OPPORTUNITY 8100-8300 Lyndon Ave.—Detroit, MI

WATERFRONT PROPERTY Ì Light industrial complex 7 buildings with 89,000 CROOKED LAKE FRONTAGE Fish and Water Ski off your dock, sq. ft. includes 7 vacant 5 bedroom home. Petoskey Area Call Linda at C.B. (231) 548 - 9336 parcels 4.6 acres total. APPRAISED VALUE NOW TAKING RESERVATIONS! Ì 15 yr. NN lease at $750,000 Beautiful waterfront 1 acre estate lots $60,000 per annum MINIMUM BID in Brighton. New exclusive 10 lot com- $400,000 munity on large all sports Woodland with increases. Lake! Each lot has appx. 160’ of front- STUNNING MODEL & 14 1-ACRE HOMESITES LUXURY LAKEFRONT HOME age on paved road. Brighton Schools. 10610 Deer Ridge Tr.—Holly, MI 7935 Dixie Hwy.—Clarkston, MI Easy X-way access. Have "up north" lakefront living minutes from work! Ì Homesites Originally Ì 3,800 SF Ranch on Priced to: $95,500 2.75 Acres Call Vantage Construction OPENING BIDS Company For More Details FROM: $45,000 ÌAll-Sports Deer Lake 810-220-8060 Ì Wooded/Walk-Outs/Pond Views ÌIncredible Views Ì Model Originally Priced: $479,900 ÌChef’s Kitchen 5 HOMESITES TO BE SOLD ABSOLUTE OPENING BID CRAIN’S CLASSIFIEDS MINIMUM BID ON MODEL $295,000 $525,000 WORK! EXCELLENT FINANCING AVAILABLE To Place Your Ad Call Call for Brochure, Open House Dates & Terms of Sale (313) 446-6068 INLAND REAL ESTATE AUCTIONS, INC. or (248) 593-8790 Fax (313) 446-1757 The Inland name and logo are registered trademarks being used under license. In Cooperation with McTevia Real Estate LLC, MI Broker