6% Solution Levies 100% Tax on Patience Of

DETROIT BUSINESS MAIN 11-19-07 A 9 CDB 11/16/2007 11:51 AM Page 1

November 19, 2007 CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS Page 9 6% solution levies 100% tax on patience of biz LANSING — Once again, tions and utility compa- Sarah Hubbard, vice president 20, to find an equitable solution,” Garavaglia, Cox’s director of legisla- decisions on major tax poli- nies — are elements that of government relations at the De- said Charlie Owens, NFIB-Michi- tive affairs, who is being promoted cy are coming down to the have come under fire. troit Regional Chamber, one of the gan director. to chief administrative officer. John wire. And it’s making busi- Last week the chair- backers of HB 5408 in its current But the Detroit chamber and oth- Dakmak, a section head in Cox’s nesses nervous. woman of the Senate Fi- form, said the chamber would ers have cited compliance costs as- criminal division, will become di- Action to repeal and re- nance Committee, Nancy need to see what such a proposal is sociated with the tax — a Detroit rector of legislative affairs. place Michigan’s 6 percent Cassis, R-Novi, and mem- before commenting on support. chamber estimate last week pegged ■ Angela Madden, former govern- tax on services remains a bers of the business com- “What we want is something the costs at $906 million — and they ment affairs assistant at Arling- possibility this week. But munity expressed concern governor will sign,” she said. say each day of delay is costly. ton, Va.-based American Waterways as of press time Friday, it about cap’s helping select- The National Federation of Indepen- Operators, a trade association for appeared more likely that ed large businesses and dent Business-Michigan and some the U.S. tugboat, towboat and it would be the final week CAPITOL BRIEFINGS pushing a greater burden other members of the business Comings & goings barge industry, has become direc- of November before law- Amy Lane on small and medium-size community encouraged lawmakers ■ Stu Sandler, director of external tor of legislative and political af- makers vote — just days businesses. to push back the effective date of affairs for Michigan Attorney Gen- fairs for the Michigan Beer & Wine before the Dec. 1 start of the tax. Some said the cap should be elim- the tax, as proposed in one bill, to eral Mike Cox, has become deputy Wholesalers Association. She fills a “That’s the same kind of last- inated; another direction lawmak- allow more time to craft a solution. director of the Republican Jewish new position. minute situation that led to the ser- ers may head is to lower the sur- “We do support extending the Coalition in Washington. Assuming Amy Lane: (517) 371-5355, alane vice tax in the first place,” said charge and impose a higher cap. implementation date to December some of Sandler’s duties is Mike @crain.com Matt Resch, spokesman for the Ax the Tax Coalition, a group fighting for the tax’s repeal. “We’re still hopeful that they’ll be able to repeal this before December 1. But the fact that they leave this up to the last minute just leaves it up in the air.” Last Thursday, the Senate Fi- nance Committee heard four hours of testimony on the service tax and on a House-passed bill that would repeal the tax and impose a surcharge on the Michigan Business Tax to make up the revenue. But House Bill 5408 had not formally been referred to Senate Finance, so the committee could not act on it. The bill remains on the floor of the Senate, which is tentatively scheduled to come back into ses- sion Tuesday. Matt Marsden, press secretary to Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop, R-Rochester, said he expects a House-Senate work group to continue meeting on the issue. He said Bishop wants to resolve the issue before the tax starts but also wants to come up with the best possible solution. “We understand that businesses are under a deadline,” Marsden said. “We want to make sure that whatever the resolution is, that it is sound fiscal policy and that we take the time necessary to make this happen.” Marsden said Bishop has concerns over the size of the surcharge in the House-passed bill — a 32.9 percent levy in 2008 that would drop to 27.3 percent in 2009 — and also would like legislation to include a provision specifying a date that the surcharge would end. The size of the surcharge and the fact that it would be capped at $2 million for each taxpaying business — helping about 30 large retail, manufacturing, communica- MAGICAL PC LETTERS CONTINUED ■ From Page 8 MANAGEMENT. into the 21st century. It is important to reflect, howev- er, that the services tax is the direct result of people’s unwilling- ness to sit at the table and negotiate real and responsible solutions to our state’s fiscal crisis. REMOTE PC SUPPORT GRANTS EVERY I.T. WISH. The anti-tax crowd and its recall With Intel® vProTM processor technology, your IT manager or IT service provider can diagnose and repair rhetoric never presented a bal- PCs remotely, even when they’re off or the operating system is down.* So you can get back to what’s anced budget, never outlined a rea- really important: managing your business. Learn how easy it can be at intel.com/smallbusiness sonable strategy to resolve the shortfall and marginalized its own voice in a process that ended up Intel® AMT requires the computer system to have an enabled chipset, network hardware and software, a connection with a power source and a corporate network connection. Setup requires configuration and may require scripting with the management console or further integration into existing security frameworks, and modifications or implementation of new business processes. For more information, producing the services tax. see http://www.intel.com/technology/manage/iamt ©2007 Intel Corporation. Intel, the Intel logo and Intel vPro are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. All rights reserved. Steve Tobocman House Majority Floor Leader State Representative, 12th District Detroit DBpageAD.qxd 11/16/2007 9:15 AM Page 1 DETROIT BUSINESS MAIN 11-19-07 A 11 CDB 11/15/2007 3:35 PM Page 1

November 19, 2007 CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS Page 11

CONVERSATION WITH A Largest advertising/marketing companies. Ranked by 2006 revenue. 1 Valassis Communications Inc., $1,043.5 million. 2 George P. Johnson, $651.7 million. 3 Entertainment Publications Inc., $196.8 million. Tim Smith, Skidmore Inc. 4 W.B. Doner & Co., $173.1 million. 5 EWI Worldwide, $170.0 million. See Page 16 for the complete list. Crain’s reporter Bill Shea spoke with Tim Smith about Web 2.0. Smith is president of Royal Oak-based Skidmore Inc., a boutique advertising firm that’s devoted some of its staff to Internet-based work.

What is Web 2.0? A lot of people throw Web 2.0 around like there’s this big switch. It’s a misnomer. It’s things like social networking (MySpace, Facebook), blogs, podcasts, wikis and Web-based services such as search engines, eBay and Gmail. A lot of places are involving their audience more. Facebook and MySpace are the drivers. Web 2.0 is a mind-set more than using technologies. Sometimes Blogs let Inc. speak someone will want us to redesign their Web site in Web 2.0 like it’s a new language.

What value to business does it Firms market, talk with customers ... or give their 2 cents present? It’s how you want that Web site of yours to interact with your pulpit for a CEO? audience. Do you want your site to BY BILL SHEA CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS Detroit-based companies have a growing sta- be a two-way, interactive BLOG ROLE MODEL?POLITICS ble of resources devoted to feeding these varied experience? You can allow some of n this corner, Jason Vines, the occasionally contributions to the blogosphere. Done right, Corporations can take a page them to drive some of that. You cheeky vice president of communications blogs can help collect important customer feed- from the political world, which form a relationship with them on a I for Chrysler L.L.C. back or help employees feel connected. knows well the value of blogging, one-to-one basis that is more In the other corner … anyone and everything Common blog pitfalls include companies not said Chris DeWitt, president of impactful. That’s what we’re trying that wanders into Vines’ online cross hairs at understanding their online audiences or legal DeWitt Communications in to help people understand. Lansing and Gov. Jennifer www.thefirehouse.biz, Chry- concerns — such as if the conversation ven- sler’s locally produced pri- Granholm’s political spokesman. What Skidmore clients are heavily tures into bad-mouthing competitors. vate blog for automotive me- into it? The Ann Arbor District Birmingham-based Brogan & Partners Conver- In the 2002 gubernatorial dia and analysts. election, blogs weren’t that Library. We added a blog component gence Marketing recently launched Cary, N.C.- The blog — which takes its prevalent. But in the 2006 on the front page, and it drove traffic based Ignite Social Media L.L.C., a social-network- name from the former fire sta- election, it was a key way to up 300 to 500 percent. They’re not ing consulting service. Setting up blogs is one of tion in Detroit that’s used as a communicate, DeWitt said. afraid to let their audience dictate Ignite’s specialties. media hangout during the De- content. It’s been up for about a “The whole idea behind social media is it’s the “Blogging and other various forms troit auto show — is an online year and a half. (Content is) driven first time people can talk back. You give up a of newer methods of compendium of Chrysler by staff and users, and anyone can measure of control, but they will go out and talk communication are absolutely news, auto industry trends comment. Vines about you,” said Ignite President Jim Tobin. essential, on the political end,” he and more than a few snarky Brogan was getting approached for blogs and said. “And even on the business When did Skidmore get into Web commentaries from Vines, whose career includ- podcasts, so management end, I think you’re going to see 2.0? We’ve been trying to watch the ed stints doing standup comedy. created Ignite, Tobin said. more and more companies looking technology from the very beginning. Big Oil, General Motors Corp. Vice Chairman “We got enough interest to at that as a method to We’ve been doing Web sites since Bob Lutz (himself a blogger) and consumer ad- know it was starting to perco- communicate. the early 1990s. We jumped into vocate Ralph Nader all have felt Vines’ sting on late up the corporate food “When you talk about being able (Web 2.0) hard five years ago. the blog, launched in September 2005. It has chain,” he said. to target your message, which is 6,000 registered users. To set up a blog, Ignite obviously key in politics but no What are client concerns? The “I think it shows we have a sense of humor,” charges $15,000 on the low different than target advertising, clients are recognizing that their Vines said. “It was kind of the style our compa- end to more than $100,000 for what better way to communicate existing sites are static and don’t ny has with the media world.” the more in-depth, complex with your customers than through involve their audience. It takes a lot Blogging consultants say there is no single Web sites that involve many a blog? In general, you can get Tobin of courage to open up and say, ‘I’m magic formula for a successful blog such as bells and whistles. some really good feedback, as going to let my users dictate Vines’. But some universal suggestions work. Royal Oak-based Skidmore Inc., a boutique ad- well as an opportunity to content.’ That’s the biggest Much of the strategy should be driven by vertising firm, has devoted five staffers to pure communicate with folks who are challenge: the courage to do it. what a company wants from its blog: Is it a mar- interested in what you are doing.” keting tool? A vehicle to impart news ? A bully See Blogs, Page 12 Is it expensive to upgrade? How long does it take? The technology behind these things, BLOGGING 101 from a design or programming standpoint, is not that complicated. To There are no absolutes on what makes a corporate blog successful, but here are some tips from bloggers and consultants. do a full site for a small firm is $17,000 to $18,000. Bigger sites can go past $100,000. The average site is $30,000 to $40,000. We’ve done about 50 sites in the past five years. To do it right, I’d say you need 90 days.

If you know someone interesting ■ Have a ■ Get internal ■ The writing ■ Make the ■ The blog’s ■ Entries ■ Allow public you would like Bill Shea to interview, strategy for the support and must be warm, blog a regular “voice” has to should be at comments, but call (313) content. Who is legal advice. human and part of be authentic, least once a screen before 446-1626 or write bshea the intended youthful. corporate not corporate- week, more if posting. @crain.com. audience? culture. toned. you can. DETROIT BUSINESS MAIN 11-19-07 A 12 CDB 11/15/2007 3:36 PM Page 1

Page 12 CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS November 19, 2007

FOCUS:INNOVATIONS Blogs: Companies talk with colleagues, clients ■ From Page 11 Internet-based work, including campaigns. He doesn’t think blogs setting up corporate Web sites and are worth the effort, in most cases. blogs. Its résumé includes Farm- Corporate blogs tend to be of lit- ington Hills-based Pinnacle Homes, tle interest except for market-shap- Southfield-based architects Harley ing corporations, he said. Ellis Devereaux and the Motor City “If you’re a market-maker like a Music Conference. Nike, people will be interested,” he “Our basic advice to clients is said. “Otherwise, it’s not of signifi- that they need to commit to it and cant value.” be regular and consistent,” said Instead, Glauberman encour- Skidmore President Tim Smith. ages clients to become involved in Tom DeMay, co-owner of Royal conversations about their indus- Oak-based Octane Design, has no- try that are already occurring on- ticed an uptick in clients seeking line in industry blogs and forums. blogs as part of Web site work. “Join the conversation where Like many interactive agencies, the conversation is happening,” he Octane gets Web work farmed out said. by larger companies, such as the Internal, staff-only blogs are use- Farmington Hills-based post-pro- ful, Glauberman said. Rather than duction creative agency Grace & just company newsletter news, in- Wild Inc. and Southfield-based mar- ternal blogs should include things keting house Gail & Rice Inc. such as trend stories that employ- The Southfield-based ad agency ees can use to improve their work. Doner has done blogs for clients in- Washington-based blogging con- cluding a contest for Mazda on My- sultant Debbie Weil said fear is the Space.com, which includes blog- biggest obstacle to creating any ging and comment capabilities type of corporate blog. within its platform. Doner also has “Companies are afraid of being created a blog for the HGTV cable criticized,” Weil said. Blogs, she network. said, are “a great opening to be able Doner also identifies blogs on to defuse criticism.” which clients can buy advertising. It uses software to monitor and measure the analytics of blogs, Legal lessons such as how many times a compa- Companies need to proceed care- ny is mentioned. fully, both in their own blogs and in blogs by employees, said Linda Bur- well, principal and co-owner of the Blog evolution Detroit labor and employment law Blogs — the word is a fusion of firm Nemeth Burwell P.C. ENHANCED DECISION “Web log” — date back to the mid- Burwell said employers need to 1990s. Many include photos, sound determine where they stand on files, videos and links to stories blogging and then publish a policy MAKINGFRESH THINKING elsewhere on the Web. The ability that lets employees know that if for readers to leave comments also they use company equipment, ACCOUNTABILITY FOR SUCCESS is a common feature, one that their actions can be monitored. helps corporations seeking input. Also, employee blogs that refer to Some companies use internal the company need a disclaimer blogs to communicate with em- that it is not a company statement. IMPROVED PERFORMANCE ployees and public blogs that offer Burwell said companies can company news and links to stories. identify acceptable or nonaccept- It varies on who writes the able topics of discussion, and they Business leaders require judgment that cannot be gained from books or consultants. blogs, from corporate communica- need to make clear that confiden- TEC Detroit is a CEO membership organization that enables you to beneﬁt from the wisdom and tions staff to the CEO. Some com- tiality policies apply. panies allow any employee, or cus- In corporate blogs, companies experience of other CEOs. TEC mentors clarify the vision so you not only set, but follow through tomers, to add entries. need to be careful talking about on goals. TEC resources provide critical detail just when you need it most. Many companies have multiple competitors, as well as their own blogs, including Mountain View, business, Burwell said. TEC Detroit is not for every CEO. Is it right for you? Calif.-based Google Inc., which has In a July 2005 survey of human- dozens of blogs. One, adwordsapi. resource professionals, by the Call us now and ﬁnd out. blogspot.com, is devoted to the Alexandria, Va.-based Society for Ann Arbor headquarters of its Ad- Human Resource Management, 85 Words advertising unit. percent of respondents said they Technorati.com, a San Francisco- did not have a written policy about based blog search engine, tracks 111 what is acceptable to write in per- million blogs daily, most of which sonal blogs. 586-443-5880 www.tecdetroit.com are written by individuals. More The upshot of legally sound and than 120,000 blogs are created each properly executed blogs is the new day, according to Technorati. breed of marketing they have cre- An Affiliate of Vistage™ International The World’s Leading CEO Membership Organization A survey by business author ated. Take the Farmington Hills- and Wired magazine staffer Chris based public relations firm Tanner Anderson found that 8 percent of Friedman, which launched its Web Fortune 500 companies had public site and blog in April with help blogs as of October 2006. Among from Skidmore. the locally based ones are Chry- Agency co-founder Don Tanner. sler, GM, Ford Motor Co. and Com- said he and partner Matt Fried- puware Corp. man spend about two hours a week updating the blog, which they paid about $25,000 to have set up. Blog with caution “It’s turned into an incredible mar- Not everyone is a fan of corpo- keting tool,” Tanner said. “It keeps rate blogs. people coming back to the site.” Steve Glauberman is CEO of Crain’s reporter Amy Lane con- Ann Arbor-based Enlighten Inc., tributed to this report which develops Web sites and Bill Shea: (313) 446-1626, bshea@ helps conduct online advertising crain.com DETROIT BUSINESS MAIN 11-19-07 A 13 CDB 11/15/2007 2:41 PM Page 1

November 19, 2007 CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS Page 13

FOCUS:INNOVATIONS Video games, desktop designs push Stardock toward $12M in revenue

BY MIKE SCOTT lessons and readjusted its business Solar Empire,” will be released early corporated in 1993, is owned 100 SPECIAL TO CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS STARDOCK’S OTHER PRODUCT model. Stardock tried to provide an next year. Wardell expects it to sell percent by him and other employ- online gaming subscription option hundreds of thousands of copies on- ee stockholders. Stardock expects Stardock Corp. has gone from a Stardock has created a popular at a flat-rate fee for a few years, but line and through stores. Stardock to remain headquartered in South- business run by a college student WindowBlinds product for Windows the addition of third-party prod- also will release “Political Machine eastern Michigan, Wardell said. to a growing player in video-game can change the look of elements ucts made profitable licensing too 2008,” an update of the 2004 edition The Western Michigan University and desktop-design software. such as title bars, push buttons, start bars and scroll bars. The difficult, Wardell said. that allows gamers to manage a pres- graduate said the sluggish local The Plymouth-based company A key to Stardock’s success is its idential campaign from one of the economy has been a boon for re- projects 2007 revenue of $12 mil- software is $19.95 and can be downloaded from ability to market to “gamers” with major-party candidates. cruiting. lion. That is likely to rise based on www.windowblinds.net. complex, civilization-type games, “It’s easier to predict a national “We have been able to bring in the company’s growing line of cus- Green said. Stardock’s portfolio election than the outcome of a business executives and profession- tomizable Microsoft Windows desk- dent studio that successfully mar- has grown significantly, building sporting event,” said Wardell, add- als from Fortune 500 automotive top designs. kets to hard-core gamers. Stardock a brand that has been strengthened ing that sports simulation games companies who are used to develop- Stardock is working with manu- has a great reputation and pro- since 2006 with the “Galactic Civi- have proved to be accurate. ing large-scale partnerships,” he facturers including Dell, Hewlett- duces high-quality games, he said. lization” game brand. Stardock, founded in 1991 while said. “The available talent, sadly Packard, Toshiba and Acer to offer its The company has learned some A new strategy game, “Sins of the Wardell was still in college and in- enough, is a benefit to our growth.” Our Colors desktop designs as options, with designs ranging from ©2007 Authorized Mercedes-Benz Dealers professional sports teams and uni- versities to inspirational and sea- sonal themes. Stardock sells about 120 such designs on its Web site and expects to have 300 available com- mercially by the end of next year. Stardock also expects to sell its Turns heads. Hugs turns. desktop backgrounds in stores, said President and CEO Brad War- The stylish, powerful E350 Sport Sedan. dell. “There’s been a revolution in the personal- computing industry in the last few years as (PC and notebook Wardell makers) have watched cell- phone companies make millions by selling customized options such as ring tones and wallpaper,” he said. “We hope that Our Colors allows us to market these desktop solutions as an experience all consumers want.” Stardock has seen revenue rise from $9 million annually during the past two years. Its employee count has risen from 16 to nearly 60. Stardock also continues to build its video-gaming and distribution business through games sold on its TotalGaming.net Web site. TotalGaming.net offers hundreds of video-game titles for purchase via download and includes games created by Stardock pro- grammers and by small gaming studios. The studios pay Stardock a small license fee. Some of the games have come from Pennsylvania-based eGames

Inc., which has published nine games on TotalGaming.net. It is a } BRAKE ROTOR & CALIPER proven channel with a strong brand name, said eGames Product The 2008 E350 Sport Sedan comes equipped with ventilated front and Manager Greg Zesinger. “As broadband (Internet) access rear brake discs to help dissipate heat generated during extreme braking. has become more widely available, it is clear that more customers are purchasing games directly on- Unlike any other. line,” he said. Customers who buy games online are much different THE STYLISH, POWERFUL You don’t want to blend in. The stylish, powerful E 350 Sport Sedan, available from retail buyers, Zesinger said. E 350 SPORT SEDAN STARTING AT with optional 4MATIC™ all-wheel drive, comes with a 12-speaker harman/kardon® Increased online distribution is ® also a strategy to fend off large $51 ,675* LOGIC7 digital surround-sound system and power glass sunroof. Outside, game brands such as Electronic Arts it’s aggressively styled with a large front grille and a low profile. In short, it’s a and Microsoft that have purchased VISIT MBUSA.com standout. Visit your local authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer for a test drive today. game studios in recent years, Zes- inger said. The retail shelf space is decreasing as national big-box chains such as Best Buy and Circuit City are forming digital and retail Mercedes-Benz of Bloomfield Hills Mercedes-Benz of Novi Mercedes-Benz of Rochester distribution channels with gaming 36600 N. Woodward Ave. 39500 Grand River Ave. 595 S. Rochester Rd. Web sites and game developers. (248) 644-8400 (866) 524-9094 (248) 652-3800 Jeff Green, editor in chief of San Francisco-based Games for Win- dows, said Stardock is an industry *MSRP for a 2008 E350 Sport Sedan includes transp. charge. Excludes all options, taxes, title, regis. and dealer prep. E 350 shown with optional Bi-Xenon headlamps. anomaly because it is an indepen- For more information, call 1-800-FOR-MERCEDES, or visit MBUSA.com. DETROIT BUSINESS MAIN 11-19-07 A 14 CDB 11/15/2007 9:19 AM Page 1

Page 14 CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS November 19, 2007

FOCUS:INNOVATIONS Travelers can add their tales to state Web site BY AMY LANE state tourism- that we never could.” ers is a great idea. from previous occupants, he said. CAPITOL CORRESPONDENT marketing agen- “If you look at other travel-relat- “There is no better testimony The new Michigan tourism fea- cy housed with- ed sites, national sites, you see that a consumer can get than third- ture launched Oct. 1, in tandem LANSING – Michigan tourism in the Michigan more and more of this. States, party credibility from someone with a redesign of MEDC Web sites promotion is getting personal. Economic Devel- cities, other providers of travel, who has already bought or taken developed by an in-house team. The state has launched user-gen- opment Corp. airlines, car-rental sites … all are for a test drive the product you’re The MEDC split what was one erated content on its tourism Web “It gives users coming up with their own versions going to buy or the place you’re go- economic development and tourism site, enabling travelers to write of the site, both of user-generated content, because ing to go,” said Martin, a partner in Web presence into three entities: A about their favorite experiences in-staters and that’s where the Web is going. ” Martin Waymire Advocacy Communica- site at www.themedc.org that out- and post photos. out-of-staters, a Roger Martin, spokesman for the tions Inc. in Lansing. lines the MEDC; a site at www.michiganadvantage.org that It’s a move that keeps the state Zimmermann chance to share Tourism Improving Michigan’s Economy In the cruise industry, for exam- offers business-assistance informa- abreast of e-marketing trends their favorite ex- coalition, a group of Michigan ple, people can access the Web to tion; and the travel and tourism while conveying unique informa- periences,” Zimmermann said. tourism businesses and organiza- find a wealth of information about site, www.michigan.org. tion, said George Zimmermann, “They give detail, and describe a tions, said allowing people to learn a ship, its service or even their The travel site will continue to vice president of Travel Michigan, the particular experience, in a way about Michigan from fellow travel- prospective room and feedback evolve; a major redesign of Michi- gan.org is due to be unveiled early next year. Further changes could include the ability for people to post comments on travelers’ reviews and to post videos, Zimmermann said. “Even as we are kind of getting our feet wet with this, we are already thinking about what’s next,” he said. Amy Lane: (517) 371-5355, alane @crain.com

Utilities expand online services With the click of a mouse, South- east Michigan utility customers can go online to get answers or even You’ve been building talk with a virtual representative. On Nov. 5, Detroit Edison Co. started a feature in which a virtual your business representative will answer common questions customers have since you about service. The “Ask Amy” feature can respond to concerns about meter reading, bill payment can remember. options and other topics. It’s just one way Detroit Edison and Consumers Energy Co. are using their Web sites in new ways. For example: Fifth Third ■ Detroit Edison and Con- sumers Energy customers can go online to report a power outage Business Banking and check restoration times. ■ Customers can start or stop Your business is built on hard work and determination. It’s not enough service or arrange for new instal- for you to have your own company, you want it to be the best. As Fifth Third lation on the Web. ■ Both utilities offer monthly e- Business Bankers, we admire your entrepreneurial spirit and we share your passion mail notification when customer for building successful businesses. We can provide the financial blueprint bills are ready for online viewing. Payment options include Visa, to help you build the business of your dreams. MasterCard and automatic deduc- tion from bank accounts, depend- ing on the utility. Now more than ever, it matters where you bank. As of the end of 2006, more than 225,000 Detroit Edison customers Call 1-877-579-5353 or walk in any of our were using e-billing, and the company expects a 30 percent increase 90 Southeast Michigan Banking Center locations today. in enrollment by the end of this year, said Scott Simons, senior media relations representative. At Consumers Energy, about 250,000 customers receive and pay bills online. And coming in 2008, Consumers customers will be able to pay one bill that reflects com- bined locations, rather than making separate payments for each address for which they receive utility service. Detroit Edison also offers bill bundling. Said Consumers Energy’s Jeff Holyfield, director of news and information: “The way we look at www.53.com our Web site is that we want to give our customers as many op- Fifth Third and Fifth Third Bank are registered service marks of Fifth Third Bancorp. Member FDIC. tions as possible to work with us, communicate with us.” — Amy Lane DETROIT BUSINESS MAIN 11-19-07 A 15 CDB 11/16/2007 9:46 AM Page 1

November 19, 2007 CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS Page 15 Bad client? Make break cleanly, swiftly — and based on numbers

Firing an employee is difficult. that number is.” again?” Mathur said. “You have to measure your risk Choosing to fire a customer can be FIRING CUSTOMERS Breaking ties with a customer Said Bida, who has let go of cus- versus reward and see whether it’s an even harder decision. Cutting ties with unprofitable can be a tough conversation, but tomers from her own business: worth it,” Mathur said. Small-business advisers say customers can clear the way for both Mather and Bida say the mes- “Either I call them or I’ve written While firing a customer can be a companies often are reluctant to companies to build new and more sage should be delivered tactfully. them very nice letters saying I touchy subject, Bida said putting it rid themselves of unprofitable profitable client relationships. It’s a good idea to show clients the have to break the ties at this time, off is one of the worst mistakes a clients, or customers who take up The decision to fire a customer financial details of their account to and I wish them luck.” business can make, because it so much time that it becomes diffi- should be based on financial illustrate that the decision is based What if the client still owes mon- wastes time that could be spent on cult to pursue or maintain other reasons, such as low profit on business rather than personal ey? Mather said claiming accounts more profitable ventures. client relationships. margins or that the client has reasons, Mathur said. receivable from former customers “Most of us are kind people,” outgrown your company’s capacity. “Personal relationships make it Companies also can leave the can be relatively easy if there was Bida said. “We don’t want to hurt Be tactful when delivering the hard to get rid of them,” said door open for future business if a contract. anybody’s feelings. news to clients, and be willing to Vikram Mathur, associate regional they think the client may make a But if the former client doesn’t “But you’re not in business for director of the Michigan Small Busi- show them the numbers to back up the decision. good fit down the road. pay, the company may be better off that. You’re in business to make ness and Technology Development “The best way to do it is cleanly seeking new contracts that are money.” Center at Schoolcraft College in Livo- million in 2006. “A lot of times, and amicably, because who knows more profitable rather than spend- Sheena Harrison: (313) 446-0325, nia. small businesses don’t know what when you might run across them ing resources to claim old debts. [email protected] Paring down your client ros- ter to customers that provide value can provide long-term bene- fits for small businesses, ex- perts say. “You don’t SMALL BIZ SOLUTIONS want to be rude, Sheena Harrison but sometimes your customers can be overly de- SOLUTIONS manding or con- frontational, and ON THE WEB those are times Read Sheena you may want to Harrison’s assess whether previous Small it’s worthwhile Biz Solutions to keep them,” columns at Mathur said. www.crains Each year, detroit.com. Click on her companies name in the list should evaluate of columnists clients and sepa- on the left hand rate them into side of the Web groups labeled page. “A” “B” or “C” based on the re- turn that the company is getting from each client, said Cheryl Bida, a CPA with G&C Accounting Services plc in Troy. A-list clients are usually customers that are profitable and provide other sorts of value, such as referrals for additional clients. Companies at the low end of the list usually are the most trouble- some or create the least value. “You should go through that list and see which of your clients are taking up the most of your time or you’re no longer making a profit from them,” Bida said. Mathur said it can be as simple as phasing out clients that are among the bottom 5 percent of performers each year or parting ways with customers that have outgrown your company’s capacity. But he said the decision should be based on numbers rather than gut feelings. “It totally should not be emo- tional,” Mathur said. “It should be completely based on what your fi- nancials are telling you.” That’s been the case for Venator Consulting Group Inc., a staffing and recruiting company in Troy. Presi- dent and CEO Cedric Corera said his company won’t take clients unless they will generate adequate profits for his company. Corera said all small businesses should make sure their clients meet bottom-line profitability criteria. “Everybody needs to understand what their profitability margins are,” said Corera, whose company generated revenue of $6 DETROIT BUSINESS MAIN 11-19-07 A 16 CDB 11/16/2007 9:47 AM Page 1

Page 16 CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS November 19, 2007

CRAIN'S LIST: LARGEST ADVERTISING AND MARKETING COMPANIES Biggest Ranked by 2006 revenue gainers Employees The rapid change in the Company Revenue Revenue in Detroit marketing industry is illus- Address ($000,000) ($000,000) area trated by revenue jumps Rank Phone, Web site Top local executive 2006 2005 Jan. 2007 Representative clients Specialties for local companies that Valassis Communications Inc. Alan Schultz $1,043.5 $1,131.0 981 NA Direct mail, newspaper-delivered specialize in events, inter- 19975 Victor Parkway, Livonia 48152 chairman, president promotions, in-store marketing, active advertising and oth- 1. (734) 591-3000; www.valassis.com and CEO direct-to-door advertising and sampling, Internet-marketing, loyalty-marketing er nontraditional services. software, coupons and promotions EWI Worldwide, for exam- George P. Johnson Laurence Vallee, 651.7 564.3 159 IBM, Toyota, General Program strategy, creative, technology and ple, took its new name this 2. 3600 Giddings Road, Auburn Hills 48326 president Motors Corp., Motorola, delivery and services summer to reflect chang- (248) 475-2500; www.gpj.com David Drews, CFO Adobe, Pfizer ing business lines. Its old moniker was Exhibit Entertainment Publications Inc. MaryAnn Rivers 196.8 219.0 300 NA Discounts/coupons and promotions Works. 3. 1414 E. Maple Road, Troy 48083 CEO and president (248) 404-1000; www.entertainment.com +32.6% W.B. Doner & Co. Alan Kalter 173.1 164.3 692 Mazda, Expedia.com, Advertising agency 4. 25900 Northwestern Highway, Southfield 48075 chairman and CEO Secure Horizons, Big Communications Inc. (248) 354-9700; www.donerus.com Owens-Corning

EWI Worldwide B Dominic Silvio 170.0 153.0 366 NA Live communications, creative strategy, +25.5% 13211 Merriman Road, Livonia 48150 chairman, president themed environments, exhibit and event ePrize L.L.C. 5. (734) 525-9010; www.ewiworldwide.com and CEO design, business theater, mobile marketing, museums and attractions, corporate and retail interiors +19.2% Campbell-Ewald Anthony Hopp 145.0 C 138.0 C 1,300 U.S. Postal Service, Advertising, custom publishing, digital, 30400 Van Dyke Ave., Warren 48093-2316 chairman and CEO OnStar, Carhartt, General direct marketing, event/entertainment GlobalHue 6. (586) 574-3400; www.campbell-ewald.com Motors Corp., UM Health marketing, integrated health care marketing, System, Federal Deposit media planning and buying, sales Insurance Corp., promotion, planning and research, +17.7% Chevrolet government services Chamberlain Marketing Budco Perry Miele 100.0 105.5 600 Chrysler L.L.C., Ford Marketing communications, Group 13700 Oakland Ave., Highland Park 48203 chairman and CEO Motor Co., General warehousing/distribution, digital print, (313) 957-5100; www.budco.com Motors, Avery-Dennison, dependent audit, database/customer 7. Boeing Co., Walt Disney relationship management Co., Entertainment +15.5% Publications Inc., George P. Johnson Federal-Mogul, HAP GlobalHue D Donald Coleman 84.0 70.5 150 NA Advertising, interactive, media planning and 8. 4000 Town Center, Suite 1600, Southfield 48075 chairman and CEO buying, events and promotions, public +15.5% (248) 223-8900; www.globalhue.com relations Pulse220 Helm Inc. Dennis Gusick 54.0 49.0 NA FTD, General Motors, Brand building, catalogs, co-branding, 9. 14310 Hamilton Ave., Highland Park 48203 CEO and president Ford Motor Co., Chrysler e-commerce, printing and distribution +11.1% (313) 865-5000; www.helm.com L.L.C., Castrol Lubricants, NAPA, NGK Spark Plugs EWI Worldwide H.B. Stubbs Cos. Scott Stubbs 52.0 50.0 185 NA Strategic consultation, design, program 10. 27027 Mound Road, Warren 48092 CEO and president management, fabrication, logistics for (586) 574-9700; www.hbstubbs.com exhibits, environments and events +10.1% Helm Inc. Market Strategies Inc. Andrew Morrison 50.0 NA NA NA Brand development and management, 20255 Victor Parkway, Suite 400, Livonia 48125 president and CEO communications assessment, 11. (734) 542-7600; www.marketstrategies.com customer-satisfaction measurement, issue and policy strategy, market-opportunity assessment, market segmentation, Web site Is your assessment Exhibit Enterprises Inc. Derek Gentile 36.0 35.0 128 Chrysler L.L.C., BMW Exhibit design and fabrication, event and company 1400 S. Livernois, Rochester Hills 48307 CEO and president AG, Detroit Institute of mobile marketing, large-format graphic 12. (800) 582-9250; www.eeiglobal.com Art, Delphi, production creative? Fedral-Mogul, ABB, General Motors If so, Crain’s Detroit Busi- ness invites you to be part ePrize L.L.C. Josh Linkner 35.9 28.6 280 Coca-Cola, American Loyalty programs, interactive promotions, 1 ePrize Drive, Pleasant Ridge 48069 CEO and founder Express, Dell, General sweepstakes, instant-win promotions of its Cre- 13. (248) 543-6800; www.eprize.com Motors Corp., The Gap, ative Econ- Yahoo!, Southwest Airlines, P&G, Disney, omy Subway Inventory. This first- Mars Advertising Co. Inc. Marilyn Barnett 26.2 25.5 365 NA NA 14. 25200 Telegraph Road, fifth floor CEO and president ever com- Southfield 48033-7496 pilation (248) 936-2200; www.marsusa.com will docu- Chamberlain Marketing Group Jerry Chamberlain 18.6 15.8 63 Volkswagen, Domino's Branded/logoed merchandise and apparel, ment com- 15. 12103 Delta Drive, Taylor 48180 CEO Pizza, Pittsburgh Paint e-commerce and fulfillment panies in (734) 946-8005; www.chamberlainmarketing.com the follow- Imperial Marketing Jay Slavsky III 18.0 17.2 70 NA Brand merchandise, promotional products, ing indus- 21238 Bridge St., Southfield 48034 CEO and president corporate gifts, reward and recognition tries: adver- 16. (248) 353-0950; www.imperialmarketing.com programs, incentive programs, safety programs, brand strategy development, tising, architecture, brand marketing support services art/historic preservation, Clear!Blue Communications Todd Smith 14.2 C 13.4 64 Chrysler, General Motors Public relations, experiential marketing, digital media, design, engi- 17. 135 N. Woodward Ave., Birmingham 48009 CEO Corp., Glaxo product-launch strategy neering, film/video produc- (248) 644-0800; clearblue.com Smith-Kline, ACCO, tion, marketing, media, mu- Valvoline sic production and public Big Communications Inc. Lisa Stern 12.3 9.3 94 Novartis, Takeda, Developing innovative interactive programs relations. 1200 Woodward Heights, Ferndale 48220 CEO and president Schering Plough, Merck, to increase the value of communications 18. (248) 246-5200; www.bigcommunications.com Johnson & Johnson, between health care companies and their The inventory will be Amgen, Pfizer, key audiences of sales forces, physicians used to market the region’s Genentech and patients creative economy and will Berline Jim Berline 11.3 E 10.9 E 42 Greektown Casino, DTE Strategic planning, creative development, be available on a new Web chairman and CEO Energy, Art Van media planning/buying, marketing 70 E. Long Lake Road, Bloomfield Hills 48304 site for creatives to be (248) 593-4744 Furniture, Detroit Media communications, public relations, digital 19. Partnership, Total Health media launched by Crain’s early Care, Elder Automotive next year. Group, Michigan Credit Union League For more information and to fill out the survey, go to Pulse220 Craig Erlich 9.7 8.4 30 Gatorade, Microsoft, Experiential-marketing programs; strategic 20. 24463 W. 10 Mile Road, Southfield 48033 CEO and president Quicken Loans, Rock meetings and events; employee incentive www.crainsdetroit.com/ (248) 200-3900; www.pulse220.com Financial, Tropicana, and recognition programs; creative design, creative. New York & Co. conceptualization and execution This is a list of advertising and marketing companies in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw and Livingston counties. Companies with headquarters in the Detroit area are listed with their revenue, and companies with headquarters outside the area are listed by revenue of their Detroit area operations only. This is not a complete listing but the most comprehensive available. NA = not available. B In August 2007, Exhibit Works reorganized and changed their name to EWI Worldwide. C Crain's estimate. D GlobalHue provided billings of $560 million for 2006 and $470 million for 2005. Revenue is an estimate based on 15 percent of billings. E Berline provided billings of $75.0 million for 2006 and $72.5 million for 2005. Revenue is an estimate based on 15 percent of billings. LIST RESEARCHED BY ANNE MARKS, NATASHA ROBINSON AND JOANNE SCHARICH DETROIT BUSINESS MAIN 11-19-07 A 17 CDB 11/16/2007 9:48 AM Page 1

November 19, 2007 CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS Page 17

CRAIN'S LIST: LARGEST BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES Ranked by 2006 revenue

Company name Revenue Revenue Local Local Percent Address ($000,000) ($000,000) Percent employees employees Black- Rank Phone; Web site Majority owner 2006 2005 change Jan. 2007 Jan. 2006 owned Type of business Prestige Automotive Gregory Jackson $1,545.6 $1,010.0 53.0% 200 150 100 Automobile dealerships, insurance 1. 20200 E. Nine Mile Road, St. Clair Shores 48080 chairman, president and CEO and real estate (586) 773-2369; www.prestigeautomotive.com Bridgewater Interiors L.L.C. Ronald Hall 728.2 815.2 -10.7 700 700 51 Automotive interiors 2. 4617 W. Fort St., Detroit 48209 president and CEO (313) 842-3300 Barden Cos. Inc. Don Barden 501.0 519.0 -3.5 16 18 100 Casinos, real estate development and 3. 163 Madison Ave., Suite 2000, Detroit 48226 president and CEO entertainment (313) 496-2900 TAG Holdings L.L.C. Joseph Anderson Jr. 445.0 340.0 30.9 6 25 90 Automotive supplier 4. 2075 W. Big Beaver Road, Suite 500, Troy 48084 chairman and CEO (248) 822-8056; www.taghold.com Integrated Manufacturing and Assembly L.L.C. Jim Comer 360.0 B NA NA 600 NA 51 Contract automotive assembly 5. 19881 Brownstown Center Drive, Suite 890, Brownstown Township CEO and president 48183; (248) 233-0860; www.comerholdings.com Global Automotive Alliance L.L.C. William Pickard 260.0 338.0 -23.1 NA NA 100 Automotive-related businesses 6. 2627 Clark St., Detroit 48210 CEO (313) 297-6676 SET Enterprises Sid Taylor 200.0 200.0 0.0 160 160 99 Metal processing 7. 30500 Van Dyke Ave., Suite 701, Warren 48093 CEO, chairman and president (586) 573-3600; www.setenterprises.com The Bartech Group Inc. Jon Barfield 190.0 198.0 -4.0 1,001 1,583 100 Human capital and staffing services 8. 17199 N. Laurel Park Drive, Suite 224, Livonia 48152 chairman and president (734) 953-5050; www.bartechgroup.com Piston Group Vincent Johnson 162.8 256.3 -36.5 113 114 100 Automotive supplier 9. 12723 Telegraph Road, Redford Township 48239 chairman (313) 541-8546; www.pistongroup.com Briarwood Ford Inc. Eddie Hall Jr. 145.4 117.0 24.3 179 181 60 Automobile dealership 10. 7070 E. Michigan Ave., Saline 48176 president (734) 429-5478; www.briarwoodford.com The Bing Group Dave Bing 140.2 463.1 -69.7 611 635 100 Automotive supplier 11. 11500 Oakland Ave., Detroit 48211-1073 chairman (313) 867-3700; www.binggroup.com Bill Perkins Automotive Group Bill Perkins 124.6 114.8 8.5 153 160 100 Automobile dealerships 12. 21800 Gratiot Ave., Eastpointe 48021 president (586) 775-8300; merollischevycars.com Southgate Automotive Group Fred Poe 112.0 C 121.0 C -7.4 132 C 131 C 100 Automobile dealerships 13. 15800 Eureka Road, Southgate 48195 president (734) 282-3100 MPS Trading L.L.C. Roderick Rickman 103.0 98.5 4.7 NA NA 51 Scrap metal management 14. 2920 Scotten, Detroit 48210 CEO (313) 841-7588; www.mpsgrp.com James Group International Inc. John James 88.2 78.0 13.1 230 230 100 Logistics and supply-chain 15. 4335 W. Fort St., Detroit 48209 chairman and CEO management (313) 841-0070; www.jamesgroupintl.com GlobalHue D Donald Coleman 84.0 70.5 19.1 150 120 100 Advertising agency 16. 4000 Town Center, Suite 1600, Southfield 48075 chairman and CEO (248) 223-8900; www.globalhue.com Avis Ford Inc. Walter Douglas Sr. 76.2 81.7 -6.7 103 117 61 Automobile dealership 17. 29200 Telegraph Road, Southfield 48034 chairman and CEO (248) 355-7500; www.avisford.com DBM Technologies L.L.C. Lawrence Crawford 71.0 70.5 0.7 30 30 100 Assembly, injection, tooling 18. 220 W. Congress, Fifth Floor, Detroit 48226 president and CEO (313) 962-1140; www.dbmtech.net Rodgers Chevrolet Inc. Pamela Rodgers 62.0 75.3 -17.6 67 79 85 Automobile dealership 19. 23755 Allen Road, Woodhaven 48183 president (734) 676-9600; www.rodgerschevrolet.com MPS Group Inc. Roderick Rickman 54.6 55.7 -2.1 115 150 52 Industrial and environmental cleanup, 20. 2920 Scotten, Detroit 48210 chairman flooring installation, scrap services (313) 841-7588; www.mpsgrp.com Detroit Heading L.L.C. Jeanette Abraham 49.5 42.9 15.5 94 85 51 Manufacturer of automotive fasteners 21. 6421 Lynch Road, Detroit 48234 president and CEO (313) 267-2240; www.detroitheading.com Unibar Maintenance Services Inc. G. Jean Davis 42.0 E 36.0 16.7 400 500 80 Building maintenance and related 22. 4325 Concourse Drive, Ann Arbor 48108 president and CEO services (800) 229-3449; www.unibarinc.com Michael Chevrolet Mike Johnson 37.0 45.5 -18.7 49 61 100 Automobile dealership 23. 29425 23 Mile Road, New Baltimore 48047 president (586) 949-9050; www.michaelchevy.com Jenkins Construction Inc. James Jenkins Jr. 30.2 31.0 -2.5 65 50 100 General contracting, construction 24. 985 E. Jefferson Ave., Suite 300, Detroit 48207 president management (313) 625-7200; www.jenkinsconstruction.com The Epitec Group Inc. Jerome Sheppard 23.0 20.0 15.0 375 360 100 Staffing services 25. 535 Griswold, Suite 2500, Detroit 48226 CEO (248) 353-6800; www.epitecgroup.com

This list of black-owned businesses is an approximate compilation of the largest such businesses based in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw and Livingston counties. It is not a complete listing but the most comprehensive available. Unless otherwise noted, the companies provided the information. Percentage of the company that is black-owned may not be solely held by majority owner. NA= not available. B Company estimate. C From Black Enterprise. D GlobalHue provided billings of $560 million for 2006 and $470 million for 2005. Revenue is an estimate based on 15 percent of billings. E Crain's estimate. LIST RESEARCHED BY ANNE MARKS AND JOANNE SCHARICH Page 18 CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS November 19, 2007

Confidential Reply Boxes Available Call Us For Personalized Service: See Crainsdetroit.com/Classifieds (313) 446-6068 CRAIN’S CLASSIFIED for more classified advertisements See our Classified ads on www.crainsdetroit.com FAX: (313) 446-1757 MAIL: Classified Advertising, Crain’s Detroit Business, CLOSING TIMES: Monday 3 p.m., PAYMENT: All classified ads must be prepaid. E-MAIL: [email protected] 1155 Gratiot Ave., Detroit, MI 48207-2997. one week prior to publication date. Checks, money order or Crain’s credit approval INTERNET: www.crainsdetroit.com/classifieds Include name, company, address and phone number. Please call us for holiday closing times. accepted. Credit cards accepted.

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See Call Us For Crainsdetroit.com/realestate Personalized Service: for more real estate (313) 446-6068 advertisements CRAIN’S REAL ESTATE

AUCTIONS INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY OFFICE BUILDING OFFICE SPACE

11AM • Thur, Nov. 29 • Auction On Site EXCELLENT LOCATION for Professional Offices. 2+ FARMINGTON HILLS AVAILABLE NOW acrs Downtown Royal Oak, zoned mixed use. Sale A or lease of well built, 40M sq. ft., multistory, sprinkled, Beautiful offices and admin work stations A 4,000 to 100,000 sq. ft. ADA comp. bldg. w/ample power. Move in or reno- available to sub-lease in beautifully appointed Also 10,000 & 25,000 sq. ft. vate. Contact: (email) [email protected] law firm suite located in a Class A office Free Standing Bldgs w/truckwells. building. Flexible terms. Receptionist, con- B ference rooms, kitchen area, copier, fax ma- U 1 Mile from Metro Airport SOUTHFIELD AREA chine, etc. available to share. Please call Karen REA CONSTRUCTION BEST LEASE RATE @ (248) 488-1537 for more information. S BEST VALUE C (734) 946-8730 WAS $14.75 psf plus electric, NOW $9.75 psf plus Also Heavy Industrial electric. Clean, secure, well maintained Southfield office RETAIL SPACE O 6717 E. Davison St., Detroit MI building. Up to 15,000 sq. ft. available - can be divided. Land Available Smallest 757 sq. ft. Available while it lasts. WESTLAND PLAZA - Join CVS, Old Country Buffet, 2,870± S.F. Gas Station on 1/3± Ac T www.reaconstruction.net Call 231-932-1700 Payless Shoes and Many Others! Excellent Rate! Preview: From 2,000 to 4,000 sq. ft available. L • Built in 2001, block construction 10A-3P Lahood Realty 313-885-5950 • 4 double-sided pump islands Nov. 28 I OFFICE BUILDING OFFICE SPACE U • 2 fuel storage tanks (10,000/15,000gal) VACANT LAND • Zoned: M2; Restricted Industrial District Excellent User/Owner Opportunity 60 ACRES T www.higgenbotham.com/cdb O 440 East Congress Street • Detroit, MI Imlay City, Michigan 800.257.4161 Near M-53/I-69 interchange. LEASING SINGLE & MULTIPLE OFFICES E With N Paved roads. All Utilities available. 500 SF OR LESS Buy all or part. AUCTIONS COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES First Class Office Space (810) 533-1095 FRASER • All Private Window Offices REAL ESTATE AUCTION 14 Mile & Utica Road. 8,100 sq. ft. free standing •53,217 RSF Building For Sale corner building for sale or lease. •25,873 SqFt Vacant • Telephone Answering Included LaHood Realty 313-885-5950 WAREHOUSE STORAGE SPACE •120 Car On-Site Parking Garage • Conference / Meeting Facilities •Modern Upgraded Office Suites 4000 SQ. FT. COMMERCIAL BUILDING. WAREHOUSE •Excellent Freeway Access • Full Business Services Eastpointe, former bakery, 30 pan oven, 10 x 30 walk • 7,000 - 14,000 Sq. Ft. • Oakland County •Close to GM Headquarters, Greektown in freezer, Hobart Mixers, more! • T1 Internet Access • Clean • Dry • 20’ Clear w/loading dock 45 Prime Retail Locations & Restaurants Available in 11 States! Call 586-536-1616 • Private Parking .20 ¢ / Per Sq. Ft./Month 248-291-0590 For more information, contact: • $175 Part Time Plans Also Available Steve Eisenshtadt AZ (2), CA (4), CO (3), FL (1), MISCELLANEOUS [email protected] CRAIN’S CLASSIFIEDS IL (1), LA (3), MI (2), NM (3), 248.324.2000 Established Non-Profit Human Services 248.324.2000 (800) 446-4444 WORK! OK (4), PA (1), TX (21) Organization seeking donated or low cost www.americenters.com To Place Your Ad Call office space in S.E. MI. 4,000 sq. ft. or more. (313) 446-6068 Includes 22 Fee-Owned Locations & Contact [email protected] or 248.867.6180 34975 W Twelve Mile Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48331 Troy • Southfield • Livonia or 23 Premier Retail Leaseholds www.friedmanrealestate.com Bloomfield Hills • Novi • Detroit Fax (313) 446-1757 INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY

FF&E May Also Be Available! 26,581 Sq. Ft. - 38139 Florence St., Westland. For Sale-$1.1m; For Lease-$3.50 NNN/Sq. Ft. Zoned Industrial - 4 truck wells, ample power. Keen Consultants Certified Management Co. - Bill: 248.476.6700 The Real Estate Division of 24,000 S.F. Bldg. For Lease. Mfg./Distrib. in Burt KPMG Corporate Finance LLC Indust’l Pk. (I-96/Telegraph), Very Clean, Dry, Well- Maint., Docks, Truck Parking, EZ Freeway Access. T: 516-482-2700 (248) 356 - 5466 www.keenconsultants.com

COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES

HOWELL South Genesee’s Premier Warehouse Grocery store needed where none exists. Available Space: Will build to suit. Also, bank, coffee, pizza, barber, etc. 20,000 cars/day between 45,000 SF with Rail new high school and I-96. $73,000 me- 99,200 SF The dian household income. best for Ask For Gary Lillie 64,000 SF less! Sperry Van Ness | Lillie & Assoc (800) 345-6694 111,800 SF www.svnlillie.com or 275,000 SF Contiguous

Crain’s Classifieds Gets Results Catellus Group, LLC 810-695-7700

OFFICE BUILDING FORFOR SUBLEASESUBLEASE

3252 UNIVERSITY DRIVE 17187 N. LAUREL PARK DRIVE LIVONIA • MICHIGAN LIVONIA • MICHIGAN

• From 8,269 to 28,191 Rentable SqFt • From 33,000 to 66,000 Rentable SqFt • Sublease Expires 12/31/2010 • Sublease Expires 8/31/2010 • Immediately Available - “Turn Key” • Immediately Available - “Turn Key” Opportunity Opportunity • “Call Center Plug & Play” Conﬁ guration • Parking Ratio of 10/1,000 SqFt • Located at University Drive/I-75 Area • Located in a Class “A” Full Service Building With Many Amenities

For More Information Please Contact: For More Information Please Contact: Steve Eisenshtadt Dan Verderbar [email protected] [email protected]

For More Information, Please Call: 248.324.2000 34975 W Twelve Mile Rd • Farmington Hills, MI 48331 www.friedmanrealestate.com DETROIT BUSINESS MAIN 11-19-07 A 20 CDB 11/16/2007 11:28 AM Page 1

Page 20 CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS November 19, 2007 PEOPLE BUSINESS DIARY and integration, AmeriChip Interna- ACQUISITIONS EXPANSIONS tional Inc., Clinton Township, from IN THE SPOTLIGHT owner and operator, Designers Edge Sterling Edge, a manufacturer of Control Solutions International has Inc., Monroe. milling tools in Highland Township, opened a Detroit office. The New Tiffany & Co. has named Erle has a new owner and CEO: Albert York City-based independent inter- Pereira the director of its store in MARKETING Robitalle of Kalamazoo. nal-audit consulting firm is expand- The Somerset Collection. MSX International Inc., Warren, has ing in the Midwest. Pereira comes to metro Detroit Janet Tabor to senior vice president, Weber Shandwick, Birmingham, from acquired Actuate Business Solu- Wenzel GmbH, a German manufac- from Tiffany’s Chicago store, where vice president, Strat@comm, Troy. tions Ltd., providers of a predictive turer of coordinate-measuring ma- he was sales Also, Marc Brailov to vice president marketing database service in Fleet, chines, has opened Wenzel/Xpect manager and from head of corporate communica- England. Solutions, 47000 Liberty Drive, credited with tions, SPSS, Chicago. Wixom. Telephone: (248) 295-4300. Houhanisin Corona leading a team Web site: www.xspectsolutions.com. Brian Kelley to director of sales and CONTRACTS that generated Strategic Staffing Solutions, a De- ARCHITECTURE marketing, Motivational Marketing TCF Bank Michigan has been named a double-digit Inc., Southfield, from program manag- the official bank of Eastern Michi- troit-based information-technology George Houhanisin to partner, DSA Ar- sales increase er. Also, Melinda Aufmuth to program gan University athletics. service provider, has added offices chitects, Berkley, remaining studio over the past in San Antonio and Dallas to its manager from project coordinator. Stout Systems, Ann Arbor, has leader and principal in charge. Also, two years. Texas operations. Richard Corona to partner, remaining Brad Duca to print production manag- signed a contract for extended soft- Pereira joined Beaner’s Coffee has opened its first MEP engineering group leader. er, Banner Sign Co. Inc., Hazel Park, ware development and staffing ser- Tiffany in 2004 from production manager, The Capi- vices with Fluency Media of Ann Ar- store with a new company name — John Bodag to director of interior de- — at 37644 Ford Road as operations tal Group, Madison Heights. bor, an online marketing and Web Biggby Coffee sign, Yamasaki Associates, Troy, from Pereira in Westland. Mohamed Elfakir and manager of the site management firm. principal and director of design, Ford company’s Edina, Minn., store. NONPROFITS his partners Basem and Farah Al- & Earl Associates Inc., Troy. Rand Construction Engineering Inc., masri are the store’s franchisees. Previously, he held management Lisa Sowa to director of marketing Brighton, has been awarded a con- BIOTECHNOLOGY positions at Marshall Field’s and and development, Catholic Social Ser- tract to build a new Fifth Third Bank NAME CHANGES Macy’s. vices of Oakland County, Pontiac, branch in Belleville. Liss and Associates P.C., a Bloom- Richard Dyer to executive vice presi- from director of development, Art- Pereira has a bachelor’s degree in The Ann Arbor Area Community Foun- field Hills law firm, to Liss, Seder & dent of product development, Velcura technology from the Indian Serve Michigan, Southfield. Andrews P.C. Therapeutics Inc., Ann Arbor, from dation, Ann Arbor; and The Salva- Institute of Technology and an Andrea Cole to executive director and vice president of scientific affairs and CEO, The Ethel & James Flinn Founda- tion Army Eastern Michigan Division, development, TCH Pharmaceuticals M.S. and Ph.D. in food engineering Southfield, have become community NEW SERVICES from the University of Minnesota. tion, Detroit, from Inc., Ann Arbor. CFO and treasur- partners of the Southeast Michigan Diamond Automation Ltd., Birming- Michael Mullenix to vice president, re- Pereira replaces Anne Fleming, er, The Skillman program of Leave a Legacy. Leave a ham, now offers robotic integration search and development, Assay De- who joined Neiman Marcus. Foundation, De- Legacy is a public-awareness cam- services and provides information to signs Inc., Ann Arbor, from principal troit. paign conducted by the Planned Giv- help engineers, managers and execu- scientist, clinical-immunology group, ing Roundtable of Southeast Michi- tives apply and justify robotics and er, recovery and reorganization prac- Louis Piszker to Amgen, Thousand Oaks, Calif. Also, gan to inspire people to make flexible automation. To further de- tice, Grant Thornton L.L.P., Southfield, CEO, Wayne-Met- to vice presi- charitable bequests. velop this service, Diamond Automa- Gabriella Szekely-Klepser from director of finance, Stout Risius ropolitan Commu- dent, science and technology, from as- tion has joined the Robotic Industries Ross, Farmington Hills. nity Action DesignHub Inc., Saline, has created a sociate research fellow, Pfizer Global Association, a sponsor of Robotics Agency, Wyan- point-of-purchase display and sales Online. Web: www.diamsys.com. Research & Development, Ann Arbor. HEALTH CARE dotte, from CFO. literature for Oil Purification Systems Robin Hunt to vol- of Shelton, Conn., to promote its OPS- Cassann Blake to co-director, Alexan- MOVES EDUCATION Piszker unteer services 1 on-board refining-system product. der J. Walt Com- GraphiColor Systems Inc., a trade- to executive director, manager, Oakland team, Hospice of Susan Moe Au- prehensive Breast MR1, a Berkley-based facility ser- show exhibit and graphics provider, , Michigan, Bloomfield Hills, from hu- tomotive Youth Educational Systems Center, the Bar- vices company, has completed the to 12788 Currie Court, Livonia. Tele- Troy, from business development co- bara Ann Kar- man resources coordinator, Detroit. roofing remodelings for the comput- phone: (248) 347-0271. ordinator, technical-support opera- manos Cancer er center and south manufacturing tions, Ford Motor Co., Dearborn. REAL ESTATE Center, Detroit, plant at the Southfield headquarters STARTUPS from assistant Linda McIntosh to corporate director of automotive supplier Comau Pico. First Michigan Bank, 700 Tower Drive, ENTERTAINMENT professor, cancer of communications, The Forbes Co., Freedom One Retirement Services, Suite 120 in Troy, provides private- Larry Thompson to vice president of patient services; Troy, remaining marketing director, Clarkston, will provide 401(k) ser- banking services for small-business The Somerset Collection, Troy. sponsorship development, Palace and continuing as vices to new clients Barry County customers, their families, and em- Sports & Enter- assistant profes- SERVICES Lumber of Hastings and Chas Roberts ployees. Telephone: (248) 928-1020 and tainment, Auburn sor of surgery, Air Conditioning of Phoenix. (248) 928-1060. Web site: www.first- Hills, from direc- Wayne State Uni- Mary Treder Lang to business develop- michiganbank.com. Blake G2 Consulting Group, a Troy-based tor of corporate versity School of ment manager, Accretive Solutions, Troy, from senior government execu- engineering firm, is providing geo- Alleready Foods is a Royal Oak- marketing. Medicine, Detroit. based business that provides low- Also, Sharon tive, Siemens Building Technologies technical and construction-engineer- Tom Jacobs to as- Inc., Plymouth Township. ing services for the 150,000-square- sodium, low-potassium, precooked sociate commis- Helmer to co-direc- frozen meals for people with medical tor of the Walt Lori Bowie to rehabilitation manager, foot regional headquarters of Ryder sioner-business Corp. under construction in Novi. needs. Meals can be ordered online affairs, Central Comprehensive Renaissance Gardens at Fox Run, Novi, and shipped by FedEx anywhere in Marx Layne & Co., Farmington Hills, Collegiate Hockey Breast Center, from occupational-therapy supervisor the contiguous 48 states. Chef has been named public relations Association, Far- from medical di- for inpatient services, William Beau- Matthew Hall developed Alleready agency of record for the Chaldean mington Hills, rector of Kar- mont Hospital, Royal Oak. Foods’ menu while working as a American Chamber of Commerce, a Jacobs from director of manos Breast Chris Ostrander to club director and chef at the University of Michigan. championships, Imaging and the general manager, One on One Athletic Farmington Hills-based partnership Telephone: (248) 546-3847. Web site: NCAA, Indianapolis. Maisel Breast Club, Ann Arbor, from fitness director. of Chaldean businesses and profes- www.alleready.com. sionals. Helmer Center and contin- Kevin Kay to sales and marketing man- uing as associate Sparkling Frog Media L.L.C., Oxford, SUPPLIERS Sachse Construction has built three ager, Suburban Sports Group, Farm- professor of radiology, Wayne State is a video-production house special- William Dircks to executive vice presi- stores in the Mall at Partridge Creek ington Hills, from owner and opera- University School of Medicine. izing in commercials and corporate tor, The Entertainment Sponsorship dent and CFO, Avon Automotive, Farm- in Clinton Township: Calvin Klein, training videos as well as videos to Group, Macomb Township. Michelle Block Schreiber to senior ington Hills, from vice president in Bose and swimwear store Everything stream on your company’s Web site. vice president and chief quality offi- corporate finance, Goodyear Tire & But Water. The Birmingham company Telephone: (248) 789-7868. Web Site: cer, The Detroit Medical Center, De- Rubber Co., Akron, Ohio. also built a new Everything But Water www.SparklingFrogMedia.com. FINANCE troit, from associate medical director store in the new wing of Novi’s Twelve WriteStuf Communications L.L.C., De- Mark Davidoff to partner, corporate for utilization and quality, Henry Ford TECHNOLOGY Oaks Mall and completed building investigations, Deloitte Financial Ad- Health System, Detroit. troit, is a communications firm offer- Victor DeMarco to chief technical offi- shoe stores Florsheim and Shi by Jour- ing professional writing services. visory Services L.L.P., Forensic & Dis- ney’s in Twelve Oaks in September. pute Services, Detroit, from director. cer, Encore Energy Systems Inc., Darron Patterson is WriteStuf’s pres- INFO/TECHNOLOGY Brighton, from founder and CEO, ident. Web site: www.writestuf.com. Martin DenBraber and Michael Peraz- DesignHub Inc., Saline, has provided Larry Arreguin to vice president of gov- American Geothermal Inc., Murfrees- the Ann Arbor-based Center for Infor- za to partner, De- ernment affairs, VisionIT, Detroit, OTHER loitte & Touche boro, Tenn. mation Management Inc. with a table- from regional director, office of Gov. Strategic Staffing Solutions, a De- L.L.P., Audit & top display and brochure to help pro- Jennifer Granholm, Detroit. troit-based staffing company, has ob- Enterprise Risk mote its Compass software at trade tained eligibility as a certified IT Services, Detroit, PEOPLE GUIDELINES shows. vendor for the state of Louisiana. from senior man- LAW Microheat Inc., a Farmington Hills- Announcements are limited to The company has a New Orleans ager. Patrick McCauley to shareholder, Giar- based tier-one supplier, has an- branch office. marco, Mullins & Horton P.C., Troy, management positions. Nonprofit nounced Toyota is featuring Micro- Michael Pezzetti and industry group board to partner, De- from senior shareholder, Sommers heat’s HotShot hot washer-fluid loitte Tax L.L.P., Schwartz P.C., Southfield. appointments can be found at windshield cleaning and de-icing sys- international tax Lisa Kavalhuna to member, Corporate www.crainsdetroit.com. Send tem on Toyota Corollas in Japan. DIARY GUIDELINES services, Detroit, Law and Medical-Dental Professional submissions for People to Joanne Qualitech, Bingham Farms, was se- Send news releases for Business Pezzetti from senior man- Practice groups, Hertz Schram P.C., Scharich, Crain’s Detroit Business, lected by On Deck, an air-freight com- Diary to Joanne Scharich, Crain’s ager. Bloomfield Hills, from associate. Also, 1155 Gratiot Ave., Detroit, MI pany also in Bingham Farms, to pro- Brian Sullivan to partner, Deloitte Tax Steven Jenkins to member from associ- 48207-2997, or send e-mail to vide a new Altigen IP phone system, a Detroit Business, 1155 Gratiot L.L.P., Detroit, from senior manager. ate and Gerald Cavellier to member, [email protected]. Releases Microsoft Windows 2003 upgrade to its Ave., Detroit, MI 48207-2997 or send e-mail to jscharich@crain. Avec Guadalupe O’Brien to audit man- Family Law/Domestic Relations Prac- must contain the person’s name, existing server, and wiring to allow IP ager, Deloitte (Great Lakes Region), tice Group, from sole practitioner, new title, company, city in which phone sharing with a sister company. com. Use any Business Diary Bloomfield Hills. item as a model for your release, Detroit, from audit in charge. the person will work, former title, Cygnus Systems Inc., Taylor, has an- to shareholder, and look for the appropriate Deborah Everly to senior vice presi- Paul Smothers Heritier former company (if not promoted nounced its exclusive distribution Nance & Sheridan P.C., Troy, from as- category. Without complete dent and chief acquisitions officer, As- from within) and former city in and support for BuildTech Solutions’ set Acceptance Capital Corp., War- sociate. which the person worked. Photos information, your item will not products and services. BuildTech So- run. Photos are welcome, but we ren, from vice president-marketing are welcome, but we cannot lutions L.L.C., Dearborn, provides cannot guarantee they will be and acquisitions. MANUFACTURING guarantee they will be used. builder-developed planning software used. Grant Simmons to operations manag- Daniel Green to director of systems to the building industry.