BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE 2 0 1 8 a n n u a l r e p o r t DECEMBER 11, 2018 OAKLAND COUNTY BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE The Oakland County Business Roundtable provides advice to the County Executive on business, economic development, education, quality of life, transportation and workforce development to ensure the county remains a premier destination to live, work, play and prosper.
The Economic Development Committee makes recommendations to promote business, industry and commerce within Oakland County. It is a strong promoter of business training, vibrant downtowns, improved communications about available county services and offering assistance to start-up businesses.
The Workforce & Education Committee examines and makes recommendations on issues that involve employers, workers, students, training providers and job seekers, including those who need retraining or who are preparing or seeking to enter the workforce.
Oakland Next was created to focus on the next generation of leaders in Oakland County through a branding campaign designed to highlight and retain the human capital so important to the county’s future. Giving a voice to "Oakland’s next ______” – the blank could include Oakland’s next leader, change-maker, professional or volunteer.
The Transportation & Mobility Committee examines transportation issues and identifies actions Oakland County can take to resolve or mitigate them. They include supporting alternative funding sources for road repair, congestion relief and safety improvement.
The Quality of Life Committee focuses on intangible elements that make Oakland County a premier location for businesses and families. A recent focus has been on the creation of age friendly communities in the county. L. Brooks Patterson
Oakland County Executive
Welcome to the 2018 Oakland County Business I hope you share my enthusiasm for this year’s Roundtable Annual Meeting and breakfast and keynote speaker, Chuck Underwood, one of the congratulations on our 26th year. pioneers in the field of generational study. He is the founder of TGI – The Generational Imperative, This valuable partnership between business, Inc., an Ohio-based consulting firm. He consults education and community leaders, and government and trains corporations and organizations in continues to pay dividends as we work together generational workplace and marketplace strategy. to improve the business climate and the quality of life in our county. Much has been accomplished It has been a good year for Oakland County. since the Roundtable’s formation in 1993 and it Domestic and international investment continues would not have been possible without the interest to come our way. and commitment of Roundtable members. The eighth class of our Elite 40 Under 40 will soon I’m grateful to the members for their continued be chosen and we hope to integrate their energy contributions and co-chairman Russ Shelton, and passion into programs such as Medical Main president of Shelton Buick GMC, for his leadership. Street® and Tech248®.
The Oakland County One Stop Shop Business Thanks to Deputy County Executive Dr. Tim Meyer Center, Main Street Oakland County® and for overseeing the Roundtable and his fine work what has come to be known as the One Stop on behalf of the county. Ready program all came from committee recommendations. Excitement and energy abounds. I am excited about our future. Your vision and commitment As most of you know, one of the original members ensure Oakland County remains a premier place in of the Business Roundtable, Terence Adderley, the United States to live, work and raise a family. I died Oct. 9 at age 85. wish the best for you and your family in 2019.
Terry was executive chairman and chairman of the board of directors for Kelly Services. He was the longtime chairman of the Workforce & Education Committee, a tireless supporter of Oakland County and a friend to many of us. We will miss him. Ann Peterson Jackie Bracken Sharon Miller City of Rochester Consumers Energy John Carlos ROUNDTABLE LEADERSHIP James Ralph GreeningDetroit.com Victor Naidu James Ralph & Assoc. Ramsoft Systems, Inc. Russ Shelton, Chair Joseph Cool Shelton Buick GMC Sid Rubin Cool & Associates David O'Donnell Innovative Vending Services DPM Consulting Services Rebecca Davies Arthur Siegal Butzel Long Keyon Payton Jaffe Raitt New Bethel Missionary Ken Elkins Baptist Church Levi Smith Winning Futures Principal Associates - TCN Hriday Prasad Mike Cooper, Chair Elaina Farnsworth Cloudeeva, Inc. Harley Ellis Devereaux Tom Snyder Mobile Comply Strategic Property Services F. Timothy Richards Paul J. Marcus, Vice-Chair Samuel Flam Consulting Services Marcus Consulting Andrey Tomkiw i3 Executive Coaching Dinsmore & Shohl Peter Rosenkrands Jeff Aronoff Larry Fobes A.B. Heller Miller Canfield Ara Topouzian Learning from Leaders Troy Chamber of Commerce Glen Shilling Doug Brown Catherine Francois Detroit Country Day School ASTI Environmental Madonna VanFossen GreeningDetroit.com SMART Douglas Smith John Carlos Karol Friedman Oakland Community College GreeningDetroit.com JoAnn VanTassel Automation Alley Former Orion Twp. Supervisor Alice Swanger Wanda Cook-Robinson Milan Gandhi Alimar Ltd. Oakland Schools STAFF SUPPORT MedShare, Inc. Wayne Thibodeau Brian Dunn Daniel Hunter Shelley Goodman Taub Oakland University Flagstar Bank Oakland County Oakland County Board of Commissioners Richard Turner Gerald Fisher Ryan Cram Metro Welding Supply Thomas M. Cooley Law School Oakland County Jerrad Grandy Oakland Schools Carla Wellborn Violet Gintsis John Wolf-Meyer Winning Futures Mercantile Bank Oakland County John Hancock Butzel Long Michael Yocum Tisha Hammond Oakland Schools Ascent Small Business Promotion Michael Holzschu Holzschu, Jordan, Schiff & Assoc. Rick Hampson STAFF SUPPORT Citizens Bank Linda Jolicoeur Jennifer Llewellyn Terence Adderley, Chair One World Business Finance-MI Oakland County Donald Kegley, Jr. Kelly Services, Inc. Cunningham-Limp Company Peter Karsten Hannah Lim-Johnson, Baker College of Auburn Hills Sean Kelley Co-Vice Chair Mannik Smith Group Kelly Services, Inc. Yasser Khan IBM Miraclesoft Nadja Koehler Michael Berich, Co-Vice Chair Susan Kruger, Chair ABB Robotics Kelly Services, Inc. Jackie Kopp SOAR Learning, Inc. ATD Solutions, LLC Susan Kruger Greg Adams Nadja Koehler, Vice-Chair SOAR Learning iLearn Systems Susan Kruger ABB Robotics SOAR Learning, Inc. Rachel Loughrin Paul Agosta Roland Alix City of Pontiac Applied Technology Systems Lisa Renee Kujawa Hubbell, Roth & Clark Lawrence Technological University Stuart Lebenbom Kristina Arnone Jeanette Brown Lebenbom & Rothman PC EdEn, Inc. Thomas Landry Dutton Farm Landry Consulting, LLC Tanya Markos-Vanno David Banchiu Lloyd Crews Southfield Area EdEn, Inc. Brandon Malson Oakland Community College Chamber of Commerce EAM Staffing & Recruiting Beth Barnes Clarence Dass Mark Morrison Walsh College Tanya Markos-Vanno The Dass Law Firm Oxford Bank Southfield Area Gregory Blass Chamber of Commerce Amber Delind Rebecca Neuman Blass Group of Companies The Center for Michigan Clarkston State Bank Holbert Maxey Donald R. Blum Maxey & Maxey David Delind Christopher Parker Blum & Associates, LLC DTE Energy roundtable6 James Meenahan Tamela Brown-Williams Environmental & Energy Kelly Dobner Kris Pawlowski Oakland Schools Consultants Samaritas Signature Associates Nirav Doshi Alison Woerner James Page Ken Krajewski Complete Data Products Take Root Harley Ellis Devereaux - Retired The Private Bank
Elaina Farnsworth Brian Woodcock Anthony Ptasznik Ann Langford Mobile Comply SOAR Learning, Inc. The Auto Club Group Area Agency on Aging 1-B
Hajj Flemings STAFF SUPPORT Dennis Richardson Michael MacDonald Brand Camp University DDR Wealth Advisors Northwestern Mutual Stephen Huber Lisa Forzley Oakland County Alan Roeder James Meenahan Detroit Zoo Couzens Lansky Environmental & Energy Kristie Everett Zamora Consultant Greggory Garrett Oakland County Jim Santilli CGS Advisors, LLC Transportation Improvement Assoc. Peggy Miller The Dragun Corporation Lindsay Gauthier Jim Schultz Student MDOT Metro Region Bill Newman Save-On-Drugs Emma Gibb Jay Shah Student Alan Kiriluk, Chair Spalding DeDecker Kent Roberts KIRCO National Civility Center Bryce Goulah Barry Stulberg Fleece & Thank You Doug Smith, Vice-Chair Stulberg Development Consultants Jackie Smiertka Oakland Community College Quality of Life Center Jane Harper Gene Szkilnyk HFHS Tom Bruff Integra Realty Resources Gary Warner SEMCOG Excel Technologies Cooper Hazel Madonna Van Fossen Student Jean Chamberlain SMART Jeff Welsh JNC Consulting Right at Home Tri-County DJ Ikeler J. David VanderVeen Center for Success Network Adam Cheslin Oakland County Donna Zalewski Merrill Lynch ITC Holdings Ryan Ikeler Eric Wilson Center for Success Network Robert Cramer Wilson & Wilson, PC STAFF SUPPORT SMART Kait Kluz STAFF SUPPORT Dan Hunter Complete Data Products Brian Downs Oakland County Fifth Third Bank Craig Bryson Nicholas Kristock Road Commission Dan Riley Fleece & Thank You Ron Fowkes for Oakland County Oakland County Road Commission Jennifer Llewellyn for Oakland County Scott Kree Oakland County Oakland County Cheryl Gregory Andy Magnus Spalding DeDecker Kristen Wiltfang Bright Side Markets Oakland County Jacques Haddad Megan Mahoney T-Tech Solutions BASF Robert E. Hagedorn Nancy Mauer Cadillac Presentation Solutions Leadership Oakland Herb Hipple Jennifer Radcliff, Chair Talisa Norton Cordell Metals Preservation Advantage All Pro Color Greg Jamian Jerry Dettloff, Vice-Chair Alison Orlans AmeriCare Medical Downtown Mgmt Strategies Orlans Group Sean Kelley Greg Blass Andrew Raupp Mannik Smith Group Blass Group of Companies STEM.org Dennis Kolar Brandy Boyd Molly Reeser Road Commission Oakland County Camp Casey for Oakland County Parks & Recreation
Daniel Russell Kirk Merametdjian Robin Danto DEM Group Booz Allen Hamilton Michigan State University Ext.
Kimberly Russell Joe Mercurio Susan Emery Justice Multi-Media Journalist General Motors Emery Benefit Solutions
Alex Scharg Sandy Montes Susan Harding Visioned Media MDOT-Oakland TSC OLSHA
Jessie Smude Chuck Moss Joan Horton SOAR Learning, Inc. City of Clawson Fred Nader David Tindall Oakland County Kathleen Klein Oakland University Connected Vehicle Task Force Waste Management Keynote Speaker
Chuck Underwood Founder/Principal The Generational Imperative, Inc.
Chuck Underwood is one of the pioneers who Underwood was formally trained in qualitative created, developed and popularized the field of research methodology and focus-group generational study. moderating by The Burke Institute. He conducts generational research for his clients and for his He is founder and principal of “TGI” – The own proprietary generational research. Generational Imperative, Inc. – an Ohio-based generational consulting firm. He consults and trains The Ohio University College of Business graduate corporations and organizations in Generational spent his earlier career in radio and television, Workplace Strategy and Generational Marketplace first as an award-winning broadcast journalist and Strategy. national sports play-by-play announcer, and then as a creator and producer of original programming. His comprehensive book on generational business He has hosted and produced shows that have strategy – America’s Generations in the Workplace, aired nationally and internationally. Marketplace and Living Room – is available online at http://genimperative.com/ and at Traveling coast-to-coast and overseas for www.amazon.com and it can be ordered consulting assignments, seminars, research and at most bookstores. He is also host of keynotes, he writes newspaper and national the PBS television series, “America’s magazine columns on generational dynamics, Generations with Chuck Underwood.” guest lectures at universities, and is regularly interviewed for generational news stories by Having researched generational dynamics for national and international magazines, newspapers, more than a quarter century and then worked radio and television. side-by-side with hundreds of clients to execute a long list of generational strategies, Underwood is considered one of the elite consultants in generational strategy.
His A-List clients operate in business, government, education, religion, politics, media and entertainment, philanthropy and virtually every other industry.
His 400+ clients include Hewlett-Packard; Procter & Gamble; Coca-Cola Co. and Time Warner Cable. Susan Kruger Nadja Koehler SOAR Learning ABB Robotics Chair Vice-Chair
The Oakland Next is a group of peers/colleagues • Industry leaders from across the state and working to better the county, connecting people higher education and resources, with the goal of retaining talent in Oakland County. • Co-branded – Oakland Next and Oakland County Michigan Works! materials Committee representatives partnered with Oakland County Michigan Works! to meet with • Promoted Oakland County – “Oakland Next is attendees at Imagine Michigan, a day-long event energizing and informing future leaders about held April 27 at the General Motors Renaissance the rewarding and high paying jobs they never Center in Detroit. Imagine Michigan (“Imagine knew existed that await them in Oakland the possibilities. Imagine Michigan.) was held County, Michigan” in conjunction with the FIRST Robotics World • Distributed – “Top Jobs” flyer; Oakland County Championships at Cobo Center. Michigan Works! Apprenticeship Books; Imagine Michigan was held during the FIRST Oakland County PROSPER magazines and Robotics World Championships so students, Oakland Next Buttons educators, businesses and the public can see Co-branded Oakland Next-Oakland County everything Michigan has to offer. The expo Michigan Works! materials were also handed featured 28 Michigan-based organizations ranging out Oct. 5 for Manufacturing Day. Nearly 1,000 from automotive and manufacturing businesses, students from the county’s four Oakland Schools to higher-education institutions, technology firms, Technical Campuses and other district schools tourism and more. took part in an event designed to encourage FIRST Robotics attracted 15,000 students from careers in advanced manufacturing and the around the world; more than 1,400 volunteers; skilled trades. Forty-three manufacturing firms in including mentors, coaches and spectators. the county opened their doors and gave students All told, more than 40,000 people attended the plant tours, a chance to interact with employees, champions. participate in various jobs and learn about the operations. Oakland Next was one of 28 exhibitors and joined Pure Michigan as the only two representing Oakland Next was also a sponsor for the Winter government. To stand out from the crowd, STEM Olympics, hosted by the Michigan Oakland Next hired TapSnap, an instant photo Crossroads Council of the Boy Scouts of America. kiosk that branded social media images of visitors The event was held Feb. 10 at Kensington to the display. Metropark in Milford. Mike Cooper Paul J. Marcus Harley Ellis Devereaux Marcus Consulting Chair Vice-Chair
OVER-ARCHING OBJECTIVE organize the information so that it is current, easy to find and navigate and fully coordinated According to the 2045 Regional Forecast from across all outlets. the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG), it appears Oakland County is on the 3. Marketing Campaign: Consistent with the leading edge of seeing a shortfall in available 2017 recommendation of the entire Oakland workers to fill job demands for the next 25 years. County Business Roundtable (all committees), Extrapolating this data, the county will have design and implement a new marketing approximately 220,000 more jobs than prime campaign (for attraction of businesses and working age residents by 2020 and the deficit will individuals), in the same manner as the state’s grow to nearly 300,000 more jobs than working “Pure Michigan” campaign. age residents by 2045. The magnitude of this shortfall will more than likely have a considerable 4. Increasing Population: Utilize demographic negative effect on economic growth over this trending to develop policies that address period. population shifts and how they impact the employment market. Areas of study should COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS include: The Economic Development Committee has • How an aging population can positively studied the impact of this apparent trend and influence labor needs through direct recommends the following actions: employment and mentoring.
1. New Emerging Sectors: Perform a review of • How migration within the region can the Oakland County’s Emerging Sectors® positively influence business attraction, program to determine which sectors have retention and location. experienced a successful degree of mastery • How migration within the region can (Medical Main Street), which may no longer positively influence where companies be relevant (film production) and identify new locate, where people live and how they sectors for future mastery (i.e. Bioinformatics). commute. Develop a plan to raise awareness of new focus areas within the student population • How migration from outside the region, and retrain workers from other sectors. both nationally or internationally, can positively address a labor shortage and 2. Information Management: Examine the how this influences workforce training current Oakland County web site and social needs. media portals for content and update and 5. Affordable Housing: Provide economic yield stronger alignment with the current direction incentives to develop affordable housing of the county and more meaningful, actionable particularly for those entering the workforce. recommendations. The following should be This initiative should include a review of explored, at a minimum, with greater definition existing incentives (i.e. Home Investment and clarity provided to all committees: Partnership Program), their economic impact effectiveness and whether the application of A. Structure of the BRT – overall and within such incentives should be revised to promote committees more efficient and practical use. B. Role of BRT as a supporting entity to Oakland County Committee Suggestion to Boost Overall BRT Effectiveness C. Role of individual committees and desired integration between them During this year’s discussions, the committee reflected on past successes and opportunities D. Desired output from committees for even greater impact in the years to come. To capitalize on these opportunities, the committee suggests Oakland County undertake a review of the mission and function of the entire Business Roundtable, to determine if a refinement would Hannah Lim-Johnson Michael Berich Kelly Services, Inc. Kelly Services, Inc. Co-Vice Chair Co-Vice Chair
The Workforce & Education Committee examines on activities, and met with professionals from the and makes recommendations on various advanced manufacturing sector. workforce development and education topics and issues that involve employers, employees, job MiCareerQuest Southeast – On Nov. 28, nearly seekers, students, education providers and other 10,000 high school students from across community partners. This includes, but is not Southeast Michigan participated in the region’s limited to, career awareness, talent development, first MiCareerQuest Southeast. This event education and training, talent pipeline, retention provided students with the opportunity to and business/education partnerships. participate in hands-on, interactive career exhibits featuring the county’s high-growth occupations In 2017, committee recommendations focused on in advanced manufacturing, construction, health talent pipeline development and youth engagement sciences and information technology. Over 100 through Oakland Next and other initiatives. The companies, educational institutions, professional committee suggested its members increase their organizations and labor unions from across the promotion and participation in Oakland County region participated. Oakland County Michigan Workforce Development initiatives. The following Works! and the Oakland County Department of accomplishments reflect the achievement of the Economic Development & Community Affairs recommendations: coordinated the event. Expanding Youth Engagement Oakland Next Career Assistance Program – Oakland and Oakland Next Initiatives County Michigan Works! and the Oakland County Workforce Development Division implemented the Oakland County Manufacturing Day – In 2018, “Oakland Next Career Assistance” program and Oakland County, Oakland Community College, campaign to support job seekers between the Oakland Schools, and Oakland County Michigan ages of 16-24. Program participants can receive Works! collaborated to significantly expand tuition assistance, apprenticeship opportunities Oakland County Manufacturing Day, which and paid internships. promotes careers in advanced manufacturing to high school students. Over 1,000 students Implementing Talent Pipeline Initiatives from the four Oakland Schools Technical Center Campuses and 17 high schools toured National Apprenticeship Week – In 2018, the 43 manufacturing companies across Oakland Oakland County Michigan Works! Agency County. Students were exposed to a variety of featured a series of events and activities careers, toured facilities, participated in hands- encouraging more businesses and individuals to consider registered apprenticeships. On Nov. • Career and Educational Advisory Council 13, as part of National Apprenticeship Week, • Manufacturing Day Volunteers Oakland Community College and Oakland County Michigan Works! hosted “Apprenticeships Work!” • MiCareerQuest Southeast Volunteers an event designed to educate over 80 local • Distribution of Oakland County employers and partners on how to successfully Apprenticeship Guides implement apprenticeship programs. Henry Ford • Hosting/presenting Oakland County Skill Health Systems, FEV, and Letica, all Oakland Needs Assessment Projects County companies, were featured and shared their inspiration and experience on the value and • Oakland County Michigan Works! Task Force importance of apprenticeships in business. RECOMMENDATIONS Going PRO Talent Fund – Last fiscal year, Oakland The Committee recommends the following County Michigan Works! received $2.1 million workforce and education strategies for 2019: in Michigan Skilled Trades Training Funds to train 1,538 existing employees, 1,584 new hires 1. Increase career awareness of secondary and create 46 new apprenticeships. In 2018, and post-secondary teachers, counselors the Oakland County Michigan Works! Business and career development facilitators through Services team submitted 127 applications events, roundtables and presentations. for Oakland County companies totaling $4.2 million. If awarded, the funding will train 2,637 2. Implement Talent Tours at local businesses existing employees, 906 new hires, and 51 new across multiple industries for students to learn apprentices. Grant recipients are to be announced more about career opportunities available this month. in Oakland County, resulting in increased internships, apprenticeships and career Increasing Committee Member Engagement awareness.
Last year’s recommendation encouraged more 3. Upskill and retrain adults who have been Workforce and Education committee members impacted by the future of work/disruption to to increase their engagement with workforce transition into high-growth, high-wage sectors development events and activities. In 2018, (i.e. robotics, information technology, health committee members volunteered in several sciences and connected mobility). Oakland County Michigan Works! events, committees, and activities including:
Terence Adderley Kelly Services, Inc. Workforce & Education Committee, Chair
It is with great sadness the committee notes the death of Terence Adderley, the chairman of the Workforce and Education Committee, at age 85. He was one of a handful of active Business Roundtable members who had served since its inception 26 years ago. Mr. Adderley was executive chairman and chairman of the board of Kelly Services. He leaves a legacy of strong leadership, commitment to workforce and education and a passionate dedication to his community. Alan Kiriluk Doug Smith KIRCO Oakland Community Chair College Vice-Chair
The Transportation Committee is charged with road that are in poor condition. One morning in exploring innovative and emerging approaches February, Independence Township officials and to advance the safety and efficiency of a first responders were overwhelmed with calls comprehensive multi-modal transportation about damage to cars and flat tires from potholes. network throughout Oakland County and its Township elected officials acted. The result was connectivity to the region. the Independence Township Road Infrastructure Improvement Millage that passed on the November PAST RECOMMENDATIONS ballot. The new millage will levy up to two mills for four years and collect and estimate $12.2 The committee is pleased to see the 2016 million. Through a cooperative agreement, RCOC recommendation to seek seed and sustainable will be contributing preliminary and construction funding sources for emerging automotive engineering services estimated to be about $4.5 technologies is moving forward. In 2018, million to be used on the various road projects in Oakland County and the Road Commission for the township. Oakland County (RCOC) selected P3 Mobility of Toronto to develop a public-private partnership RECOMMENDATION business model to implement connected vehicle infrastructure. Up to a dozen intersections in The county executive should support local Oakland County will be included in this pilot options for millage and funding models project and they will be fitted with new wireless developed by communities in partnership with technology to test connected vehicles, conduct road agencies to improve area roadways. Cost market research and analyze revenue potential sharing through millages, special assessment for various smart road services. A countywide districts, public-private partnerships and corridor deployment of this infrastructure could help to improvement authorities should all be considered make roadways safer and reduce traffic crashes, to make improvements to major roads and public fatalities and injuries. neighborhood streets.
Local Road Funding Connected Vehicle Curriculum Annual pavement assessments show that It is estimated that by the year 2020, there will the condition of the region’s roadways have be 250 million connected cars on the road. continued to get worse in recent years. Without Oakland County continues to be a global leader additional funding sources this will continue. In in connected mobility and it is important to evolve Independence Township, there are 28 miles of and keep our region relevant in this sector of the automotive industry. The knowledge-based OTHER HIGHLIGHTS economy is constantly changing and it is essential to prepare the workforce with the needed the This year brought opportunities for two new skills, abilities and expertise. transportation options that will promote regional connectivity: RECOMMENDATION The Frequent Affordable Safe Transit or FAST bus To ensure a pipeline of qualified talent is available from SMART began offering transit riders with to meet future industry needs, the county high-frequency service on Gratiot, Woodward executive should advocate for local high schools, and Michigan avenues in January. In Oakland community colleges and universities to offer County, FAST service begins in Pontiac and additional courses and degrees related to, and makes limited stops in Birmingham, Troy, Royal integrating, automotive engineering, computer Oak and Ferndale and extends to downtown systems, software development and cybersecurity Detroit. SMART reported a 30 percent increase in to bridge the divide for connected mobility. ridership on the three FAST routes in the first six months of operation. Additional State Road Funding A fleet of red bicycles are coming to Ferndale, When the Michigan Legislature enacted a Berkley, Royal Oak, Huntington Woods and Oak road-funding package in 2015, it was widely Park. MoGo, Detroit’s bike share program, is acknowledged that this was a first step and that planning to expand into southeastern Oakland the amount of revenue generated by the package County in 2019. This service allows people to was not enough to address the deteriorated purchase a pass and make quick trips around condition of Michigan’s road system resulting town that begin and end at any MoGo station. from decades of inadequate funding. This low-cost, active transportation program is made possible from a $495,380 Transportation RECOMMENDATION Alternatives Program grant that was awarded by the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments. The county executive should encourage the Legislature to continue to adequately fund the state’s transportation system. Jennifer Radcliff Jerry Dettloff Preservation Downtown Management Advantage Strategies Chair Vice-Chair
In 2012, the Quality of Life Committee began the developing an understanding of how to interface year in a double session of strategic planning. our efforts. The department has a wide variety of In that setting, we acknowledged that we were programs and services which the businesses and in danger of “preaching to the choir” instead of agencies represented on our membership roster reaching our business partners, our graduating can enhance, even as the demand for services students, our families with the good news about increases. Oakland County as a place to live, work and play. The work is preliminary and conceptual, but we Since that time, we have developed initiatives feel certain that the need will demand answers which gave us the opportunity to share information, which we, collectively, must provide. and market Oakland County’s unique attributes to these audiences. RECOMMENDATION RECOMMENDATION The Quality of Life Committee has come to realize that our very name reflects the need for Since 2010 the Quality of Life Committee has citizens to review the elements which promote examined the reality of our aging demographic. In community attractiveness. We are suggesting the 2015 and again in 2016 we conducted workshops development of a checklist to be used by local which invited public officials and municipal governing bodies and other community decision- leaders to share their experience dealing with making entities. this issue, as it affects life in Oakland County. We have continued to explore ways in which the This tool will help them discover their strengths to county and the public can collaborate in new build upon and areas of work needed to improve ways; working together we can solve problems the quality of life within their communities. Key and create sustainable initiatives. categories will be identified as important in building a resilient, high-quality place to live, work In 2017 we began a conversation with the Oakland and play. County Department of Health and Human Services, through a presentation by Director The promotion of a checklist by Oakland County Kathy Forzley, which exposed our members to leaders, including the county executive and his the ECHO (Energizing Connections for Healthier department heads, will encourage local leaders Oakland) program. to participate in this proactive effort. Our county’s quality of life has been identified as an imperative Through joint meetings, as well as conversations in attracting and retaining both our businesses between staff and committee leadership, we are and our workforce. We believe a carefully constructed checklist can level of expert leadership required to assure be a significant tool used by local communities to continuation of Michigan Department of Natural enhance quality of life, and that many will welcome Resources grants and to expand control of the and engage with the opportunity. invaders. RECOMMENDATION Local property owners in Oakland County’s many waterfront communities have struggled to Since 2014, CISMA (Cooperative Invasive Species meet the complex needs of system maintenance Management Area) has developed and deployed and infrastructure improvement. As part of our innovative and collaborative approaches to interest in this issue, we have participated in cost-effectively control invasive plants across department-level conversations which can lead to jurisdictional boundaries. CISMA members and the establishment of a county-wide association of partners have provided matching funds to state local lake boards. We recommend that the county grants and many in-kind services for program provide the leadership to coordinate the existing development and implementation. talent and treasure to assure this outcome. To provide long-term sustainability, we recommend on-going annual county funding to support the ADVANTAGEOAKLAND.COM
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