GE Targets Homegrown Talent in Hiring Blitz
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20110829-NEWS--0001-NAT-CCI-CD_-- 8/26/2011 5:54 PM Page 1 ® www.crainsdetroit.com Vol. 27, No. 36 AUGUST 29 – SEPTEMBER 4, 2011 $2 a copy; $59 a year ©Entire contents copyright 2011 by Crain Communications Inc. All rights reserved Page 3 General fund won’t solve GE targets homegrown state’s UI debt troubles talent in hiring blitz BY DUSTIN WALSH When GE announced the $100 million expan- CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS sion at the Grace Lake Corporate Center site, for- merly Visteon Village, in 2009 with intentions General Electric Co.’s hiring spree in Southeast of hiring 1,100 workers averaging a $100,000 Michigan is anchored by local talent experi- salary, recruiters began looking to in-state enced in information technology. groups and programs to identify the area’s top About 90 percent of the center’s 700 employ- talent. Bankrupt jeweler’s legacy: ees at its Advanced Manufacturing and Soft- Tina Watson, an infrastructure manager at Two shops now aim to grow ware Technology Center in Van Buren Town- the center, interviewed for her position at GE ship hail from Michigan, said Kim Bankston, early last year and suggested the recruiter senior human resources leader for the site and check out the LinkedIn group she was running, corporate IT. Baker’s Dozen — which was an exclusive invi- The company is hiring about 10 IT profes- Inside JOHN SOBCZAK tation-only networking group of out-of-work IT “Incentives were how we’re able to put people sionals a week, and by 2013, the Van Buren fa- professionals founded by Gary Baker, now the In home stretch, RiverWalk here,” said Kim Bankston, senior human resources cility is expected to house the largest concen- leader for GE’s center in Van Buren Township. tration of GE IT employees in the world. See GE, Page 21 backers step up fundraising, Page 17 Crain’s Lists Lawyers flee Social media awakens Largest architectural firms, information technology Fieger over companies, Page 14 nation to Sleeping Bear workload rule Advocates tweet, blast and cajole to hit top of GMA poll This Just In Ethics concerns BY HOWARD LOVY ica” contacted North to get some Bid protest filed SPECIAL TO CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS stock footage and told her Sleep- cited, disputed ing Bear Dunes was a finalist in in defense contract GLEN ARBOR — Locals Tom the “Good Morning America” Almost $890 million worth BY CHAD HALCOM Ulrich and Rachel North were not competition, the social media in- of business is on hold for in- CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS as surprised as many were that frastructure already was in place. dustry teams led by Sterling “Good Morning America” view- “I think the important thing to Heights-based General Dynam- Geoffrey Fieger stands behind ers voted Sleeping Bear Dunes Na- know here is that we didn’t just ics Land Systems and BAE Sys- the new workload policies that tional Lakeshore the “Most Beauti- wake up when the ‘Good Morning tems Inc., after a bid protest have driven much of the recent ful Place in America,” with the America’ people called us and Friday in the week-old professional selection broadcast Aug. 17. Yet North Ulrich (say), ‘Well, we need to start do- Ground Combat Vehicle con- turnover at even many in Michigan who ing social media,’ ” North said. tracts. Fieger, Fieger, know the place well were amazed. Northern Michigan businesses “It’s important to start years in Losing bidder Science Ap- Kenney, Giroux & It’s beautiful. Sure. But the are tech-savvy, said North, mar- advance so that (you) have a good plications International Corp. of Danzig PC, and “Most Beautiful in America”? keting director for MyNorth.com, network and a good group of peo- McLean, Va., filed a formal he said former There are a few reasons the the online home of Traverse maga- ple that you can call on to support protest as expected before employees who dunes beat out some formidable zine. you.” the U.S. Government Account- claim to see eth- competition in an admittedly un- They have to be. New Yorkers When GMA producers men- ability Office, on the U.S. ical pitfalls scientific poll among people cast- visit Sleeping Bear, and they tioned that the competition was Army’s decision last week to should “get a ing their votes on a morning TV bring their smartphones, update close, “that was when we started life.” show’s website: Local businesses their Facebook pages and tweet. to really encourage folks to com- award two-year contracts to Fieger the two companies with team This month, know what they’re doing when it This is how many decide where municate not only by their Face- leadership in Sterling former Fieger associate Todd comes to social media, and people and how to spend their vacation book and their tweets, but also Heights. Weglarz opened the Law Offices of attached to Sleeping Bear are dollars. See Dunes, Page 20 “We believe the govern- Todd J. Weglarz in Farmington pretty fanatical about it. So when “Good Morning Amer- ment relied on evaluation Hills, marking the 10th departure criteria outside its published from Fieger’s 20-lawyer Southfield request for proposals,” SAIC firm this year. Communications Director Former partner Ven Johnson Vernon Guidry said. “We and three other former Fieger at- See This Just In, Page 2 See Fieger, Page 20 “We didn’t just wake up when the ‘Good Morning America’ people called us and (say), At Stop 9 along Pierce Stocking Scenic ‘Well, we need to start doing social media.’ Drive, visitors can look down the 450- NEWSPAPER ” foot dune to Sleeping Bear Bay. Rachel North, MyNorth.com BRIAN WALTERS 20110829-NEWS--0002-NAT-CCI-CD_-- 8/26/2011 5:44 PM Page 1 Page 2 CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS August 29, 2011 Power foundation to fund products — which include the Dog- goneit alert system, Babysitit alert DISCUSSION TO TACKLE FUTURE OF AUTOMOTIVE JOBS THIS JUST IN education chair at EMU system, Knockout 360 fire extin- What is Michigan doing to remain Topics include what Michigan is guisher and EZstrollit baby stroller. ■ From Page 1 The American Electric Power Foun- attractive to its signature industry? doing to remain attractive to the It also plans to develop automotive dation announced a $1.5 million do- That’s the central question guiding automotive industry and what other products, he said. also believe several aspects of the nation to Eastern Michigan University an upcoming policy discussion regions are offering in the way of Hardge said the local workforce bid may have been discounted be- to fund an endowed chair in the col- planned by Crain’s Michigan economic development incentives cause of a lack of familiarity with lege of education. was a draw to relocate operations Business and Crain’s Detroit to lure OEMs and suppliers. their non-American origins.” Michael Morris, a graduate of EMU from California and Mississippi. Business. Crain’s is hosting a “There’s a larger force of hands-on Speakers include Sandy Baruah, The SAIC team, which included who serves on the university’s practical session titled “Can president of the technical people and high-level en- Detroit Regional The Boeing Co., Krauss-Maffel Weg- board of regents, is retiring from Michigan grow auto jobs?” Chamber; Peter Brown, publisher gineers in Michigan,” he said. mann and Rheinmetal, had proposed American Electric Power in No- Planned in partnership with the and editorial director of Automotive — Dustin Walsh developing a version of the vehicle vember. Morris is chairman, presi- Detroit Regional Chamber, News; and Neil De Koker, president using technology from the Puma, a dent and CEO. Automotive News and the Original and CEO of the Original Equipment German infantry fighting vehicle With the gift, EMU’s capital cam- Export Boot Camp offered Equipment Suppliers Association, Suppliers Association. in production. paign, started in April 2010, has the discussion will take place from A new education program Tickets are $40 each or $35 The U.S. Army received three raised more than $48 million. 7:30-10 a.m. Oct. 4 at The Henry through the Michigan Small Business each for groups of 10 or more when industry team bids on an $18 bil- — Ellen Mitchell hotel in Dearborn.The title sponsor & Technology Development Center is purchased in advance, and $50 at lion proposal to develop and pro- is Blue Cross Blue Shield of geared toward small businesses the door. For more information, visit duce more than 1,800 infantry Michigan. Hardge firms consolidate, who’d like to learn more about ex- www.crainsdetroit.com/events. fighting vehicles starting in 2018, porting. to replace its aging fleet of Bradley expand state presence The Export Boot Camp program armored vehicles. The two con- A group of related R&D and prod- at Schoolcraft College is presented by tracts awarded last week were for uct distribution companies is ex- the MISBTDC, and begins Sept. 15. RAIN S WORKSHOP FOCUSES ON FINDING CUSTOMERS early technology development. C ’ panding a Michigan operation in The five-class program will cover The Army’s standard practice is Companies interested in hear from leading private-sector Farmington Hills. topics like risk assessment, supply to stop work on pending contracts learning more about the Pure purchasing managers on how to Hardge Investments LLC invested chain management, finance, freight while a bid protest is pending be- Michigan Connect plan to create get into their vendor systems and $1.2 million to consolidate in Michi- forwarding, insurance, export reg- more procurement opportunities participate in specific roundtables fore GAO. gan under the names of Hardge In- ulations and marketing.