Kalsec New Priority earns Health leader on B Corp accelerating change status in health care PAGE 7 PAGE 22

JANUARY 4, 2021 • VOL. 33/NO. 6 • $3.00 SERVING WESTERN MICHIGAN BUSINESS SINCE 1988 www.mibiz.com Thelen to lead

By JAYSON BUSSA | MiBiz The Right Place [email protected] ports bettors and online casino gamers found amid economic themselves sitting on the sidelines in Michigan for LET THE all of 2020, even when there was a glimmer of hope that the state would launch online gaming before development S the year was out. However, people seeking to place wagers from comput- GAMES ers and mobile devices can likely do so in the coming weeks. ‘infl ection point’ “We’re ready when the industry is ready,” Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) Executive Director Rick Kalm told MiBiz. By ANDY BALASKOVITZ | MiBiz That’s where this high-profile issue stands at the start of [email protected] BEGIN 2021, weeks after state officials waived a 15-day review period on sports betting rules and then issued provisional licenses GRAND RAPIDS — Randy Thelen describes the Regulators, for 15 different platform providers just eight days later. The COVID-19 pandemic as an “inflection point” that platforms, actions paved the way for online gambling to go live. can shift the course of economic development in consumers gear The MGCB is now awaiting each platform — including West Michigan. popular sites like DraftKings and FanDuel Sportsbook — to Thelen, who was selected last month as the up as online undergo independent testing to ensure the integrity of their new president and CEO of The Right Place Inc., gaming prepares games. This extensive vetting ensures that platforms are says the challenges of 2020 will likely create more using geolocation properly and are able to properly iden- competition among cities, and generate oppor- to launch tify a bettor so that bets are not placed by someone who is tunity for a wider umbrella that includes equity underage or not located in the state of Michigan. as a key priority in economic SeeS ONONLINELINEG GAMINGAMIAMMING on page 3 development. “Every region in the world is wrestling with what’s next,” said Thelen, who’s planning his move back to Michigan from Denver, where he’s currently senior vice presi- dent of Downtown Denver Thelen Partnership Inc., the city’s Putting pieces together in Manistee economic development agency. “The markets that can come together Two hotels, downtown education center lock in community investments in and move forward together are going to be win- ning markets and be able to leapfrog some of the anticipation of post-pandemic recovery, local offi cials say competition.” During previous recessions, Thelen said By KATE CARLSON | MiBiz hold promise for the city’s transfor- Denver “doubled down, invested in itself,” which [email protected] mation. The projects also involve a allowed it to “accelerate out of recession and variety of local interests and inves- bypass that competition.” He’s leaving a “hyper MANISTEE — The lakeshore city tors, including regional developers, growth market” in the Mile High City that’s of just more than 6,000 people is the local American Indian tribe and attracted investments particularly from large seeing multiple new downtown a nearby community college. tech firms such as Google, Twitter and Facebook. developments that local officials “There are a lot of pieces when “Virtually any tech company you can imagine and investors say are critical for you’re transforming a downtown,” has put up a sizable outpost in Denver,” Thelen reinvigorating empty storefronts, said Scott Ward, president of West said. “It’s a healthy reminder that the product of diversification and emerging bet- Shore Community College, based a region matters, and talent and placemaking ter off after the pandemic. about 20 miles south in Scottville. drives business decisions. There’s been a lot of In Manistee, two planned The college and community good movement in that area in West Michigan in A vision for the Spirit of the Woods Manistee Gateway Project pre- hotels, a larger downtown “gate- groups have been instrumental the last 10-15 years. We’ve got to continue that.” sented to city officials in September. COURTESY RENDERING way,” and a new education center See MANISTEE on page 9 See THELEN on page 12

PERIODICALS Telehealth soars INSIDE: during pandemic, M&A Deals sparking new in Review: health coverage options 2020 PAGES 10-11 SEE PAGE 13 AWARD WINNER SPOTLIGHT

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2 JANUARY 4, 2021 / MiBiz Visit www.mibiz.com The MGCB does have some experience reg- place bets from home, the total amounts wagered ONLINE GAMING ulating an online gaming format through the could potentially rank among the top sports gam- Continued from page 1 Michigan Lottery. bling states in the country. “We’re going to adapt,” Kalm said. “We have “There are some people that won’t go to casi- With a number of states looking to deploy a division of online gaming already inside the nos and (casinos) never captured that market,” Published since 1988 online gambling at the same time — including agency which will be ensuring internal controls Kalm said. “A lot of it has to do with the younger MiBiz® is a registered trademark of Iowa and Illinois — Kalm said he wouldn’t be sur- and watching the online gaming format. But we demographic, the 25- to 35-year-olds that are MiBiz, Inc. prised if those testing labs may be experiencing still have the retail side — the commercial casino very comfortable using technology.” a bottleneck. side — and we have regulators in place there, too. New Jersey, with a similar population to Another caveat that may be slowing the pro- It’s sort of adding another arm to us.” Michigan, in October 2020 saw $803 million Publisher cess: Michigan was the only state to regulate For security and control, all servers for these wagered via sports betting, of which 92 percent Brian Edwards / [email protected] Associate Publisher online gambling for both tribal and commer- online platforms must be located within Michigan was done via mobile app. Revenue on sports bet- Denise Montambo / [email protected] cial casinos. This means that Michigan’s tribally and anyone who can change the ting tallied $58.5 million for that owned casinos must be licensed by the MGCB for outcome or touch the software month. The state has seen more “From a state Editor online gaming when they have otherwise oper- has to be vetted and licensed to than $4 billion placed on sports regulatory Joe Boomgaard / [email protected] ated independently of the state authority for do so. bets for the entire year. Managing Editor gaming that takes place on tribal land. Manipulation of game results perspective, we “We fully expect Michigan Andy Balaskovitz / [email protected] The state must wait until platforms for both is another critical issue for sports did this in a to be successful just given the (energy, policy) a tribal and commercial casino are ready before betting. Platforms will have to pent-up demand from opera- Senior Editor launching in order to give both types of casinos contract with third-party data lightyear — it tors and suppliers in the state Jayson Bussa / [email protected] equal opportunity out of the gate. monitoring companies to look was very quick.” but also the end customer — (manufacturing, tech, sports) Kalm said he expects sports betting will go live for suspicious betting activity. the Michigan residents, I think, Senior Writer first in the middle of January The stringent control mea- will be excited to have some Mark Sanchez / [email protected] while online gaming will fol- sures were developed after a — RICK KALM really cool products that they (fi nance, health care, life sciences) low shortly after. year of consulting with industry Executive Director of the can play on,” said Max Bichsel, Staff Writer Kate Carlson / [email protected] While casinos and con- professionals and other states. Michigan Gaming Control vice president of U.S. business (real estate & development, small biz) sumers might characterize “We collaborated really Board for Gambling.com Group, it as a slow, painstaking pro- closely with Indiana and New which does digital marketing Contributing Reporter cess, Kalm was impressed Jersey, who are out in front of for the global online gaming Marla Miller wih the speed at which the (sports betting and online gam- industry. MGCB has moved. ing) already,” Kalm said. “New Jersey really wrote The company has launched an affiliate web- VP of Production & Audience Development “From a state regulatory the book on it — they’ve been doing it several site to cover online gaming in Michigan called Kalm Kristi Kortman / [email protected] perspective, we did this in a years. We’ve done visits to New Jersey and col- GreatLakesStakes.com Digital Specialist lightyear — it was very quick,” Kalm said. “From laborated with their gaming board.” In a report from The Gambling.com Group, Danielle Affholter / [email protected] the time the law was signed in December of 2019, the organization predicted that Michigan would Graphic Designer and in light of COVID shutting down the casinos skyrocket to No. 3 for online gaming revenue in Sports gambling floodgates Kaylee VanTuinen / [email protected] and shutting down our ability to go to the office, 2021, behind Pennsylvania and New Jersey. we were able to get those rules set in time for this With some casinos opening in-house retail sports “Look at a nearby state like Illinois, which Senior Advertising Consultant legislature to review it and approve it.” books this fall, initial numbers reveal strong has only been live with online sports betting Shelly Keel / [email protected] demand. In October, Michigan’s three commer- for a little while as Governor (J.B.) Pritzker has Sales & Marketing Associate cial casinos recorded total wagers of $46 million removed the requirement for on-site registration. Ready to regulate Lauren Frailey / [email protected] and gross receipts of around $7.6 million to the They’re taking almost half a billion dollars in bets With such an overwhelming demographic casinos. This was also while the casinos were lim- in October,” Bichsel said. “You take that to a state Circulation For address corrections or expected to migrate to online sports betting and ited with capacity restraints. like Michigan — where it has online casinos and subscriptions, contact MiBiz at gaming, it will somewhat reshape the MGCB as In November, when those casinos spent much online sports with no on-property registration 1-877-443-1977 or [email protected] cybersecurity and control becomes a paramount of the month closed completely, they recorded requirement — and I think the numbers will be issue. total wagers of $25 million. When users are able to pretty impressive, pretty quickly.” MiBiz ISSN 1085-4916 • USPS 017-099 Established 1988

MiBiz is published every other week by MiBiz, Inc., P.O. Box 1629, Grand Rapids, Florida State League, which will drop Operating under the Huntington name, MI 49501. Telephone (616) 608-6170. Fax down to Low Single-A status. the bank would become a top 10 (616) 608-6182. E-mail: [email protected]. BIZ BRIEFS The Toledo Mud Hens will continue regional bank in the U.S. Subscription changes: subscribe@mibiz. Here is a recap of recent stories from MiBiz.com. as the team’s Triple A affiliate, just one com. Periodicals Postage is paid at Grand step down from Major League Baseball. State plans another Rapids, MI. Steelcase says October The Erie SeaWolves also remain the liquor buyback program in its third quarter because of the organization’s Double-A affiliate. POSTMASTER: Send address changes cyberattack delayed $60 “novel day-zero attack orchestrated According to Tigers Vice President Michigan has launched a liquor buyback to MiBiz, P.O. Box 1629, Grand Rapids, MI million in shipments by very sophisticated actors.” of Player Development Dave Littlefield, for bars and restaurants for the second 49501. Subscriptions are available without Keane said Steelcase’s I.T. depart- the overall player experience provided time during the COVID-19 pandemic. cost to qualifi ed readers. Paid subscriptions An Oct. 22 cyberattack that stalled ment identified the ransomware attack by the Whitecaps was a major reason The move mirrors an effort launched are available to those not meeting qualifi ed Steelcase Inc.’s global operations for early enough before it deeply infil- for bumping the team up the food chain. by the Michigan Liquor Control circulation requirements. Paid subscriptions two weeks effectively delayed approxi- trated the company’s system. Commission in early 2020 during a are $99/year. Single copy and back issues mately $60 million in shipments into Huntington, TCF plan prior closure of bars and restaurants to (when available) are $3 each, plus fi rst class the company’s current quarter. West Michigan in-person dining. During the first pro- postage. Call 1-877-443-1977 to order. The delay contributed to a 35-per- $22B merger gram, MLCC bought back $3.4 million cent drop in revenue for the third Whitecaps promoted to Columbus, Ohio-based Huntington in spirits from 673 liquor license holders, quarter of the company’s 2021 fiscal High Single-A affiliate for Bancshares Inc. (Nasdaq: HBAN) for an average of a little more than $5,000 MIBIZ INC. year, which ended Nov. 27. (Steelcase’s the Detroit Tigers and Detroit-based TCF Financial per each licensee that was closed or had 1059 Wealthy St. SE, #202 2021 fiscal year began Feb. 29, 2020.) Corp. (Nasdaq: TCF), two of the larg- limited operations because of state pan- Grand Rapids, MI 49506 616-608-6170 phone • 616-608-6182 fax Steelcase (NYSE: SCS) said 6 percent The West Michigan Whitecaps have est banks operating in West Michigan, demic mitigation measures. of the decline could be attributed to moved one spot closer to the Detroit plan to merge in a $22 billion deal that Additionally, the Michigan COPYRIGHT ©2021. All Rights Reserved. the shipment delays associated with Tigers within a shifting hierarchy of would create a Midwestern banking Department of Health and Human Reproduction or use of any portion without the shutdown related to the cyber- Minor League Baseball. powerhouse. Services opened recipients of the permission of the publisher is prohibited. attack. Of those delayed shipments, The Tigers announced its new The all-stock transaction, announced SNAP food assistance program to use $50 million are scheduled for the structure of minor league affiliates in mid December, could close in the their benefits to buy meals prepared at Americas and $10 million are for cli- last month, moving up the Whitecaps second quarter of 2021, pending share- restaurants. Restaurants can enroll in ents in Europe, the Middle East and as the team’s High Single-A affiliate holder and regulatory approvals. the program, which has “the aim of pro- Africa (EMEA). after spending the previous 27 years The combined bank, with TCF merg- viding diverse and affordable options for Steelcase CEO Jim Keane told bro- as a Low Single-A organization. ing into Huntington, would have about eligible participants across the state.” kerage analysts in an earnings call The Whitecaps, which belong $168 billion in assets, $117 billion in loans, More information on the Restaurant that the company estimated it incurred to the Midwest League, swap roles and $134 billion in deposits with dual Meal Program is available on the about $6 million in incremental costs with the Lakeland Flying Tigers of the headquarters in Detroit and Columbus. MDHHS website.

Visit www.mibiz.com MiBiz / JANUARY 4, 2021 3 MANUFACTURING

‘Manufacturing Millennial’ helps industry appeal to younger workers

By JAYSON BUSSA | MiBiz “I would say the automation and manufac- [email protected] turing industry is very underrepresented when it comes to video content and sharing it,” said Hall, hile Jake Hall might not tout the who curates and creates manufacturing-focused same beastly social media met- content online as The Manufacturing Millennial. rics as some famous American “All these other companies in industries out socialites, he considers himself there, they got their commercials down and their W a rare influencer in the manu- branding down,” he said. “I think more (manu- facturing industry. facturers) are realizing that putting together a His approach seems to be working, too, and nine-and-a-half minute video that is pretty much could set a blueprint for an industry that is fac- just reading off a data sheet on why their sensor is good doesn’t attract people. You need to share a story and I think that’s what I’ve done with my content.” more efficient manufacturing processes. youngest and brightest?” Hall said. “Why is Tesla’s Before that, he worked for Industrial Control median age 25 years younger than Ford’s?” Service Inc. in Zeeland, which sells automation “They made manufacturing fun again,” he said. A product of survival equipment. In a single work week during a nor- “You go to work for Tesla because you know you’ll Hall, 31, went to work for Grand Rapids- mal year at Industrial Control, Hall would find be dipping into the latest and coolest manufac- based industry technology and auto- himself consulting with dozens of manufacturers turing processes and what’s new in the industry.” mation specialists Feyen Zylstra LLC in and their engineers. Cindy Brown is on the frontlines of the September as a business development That in-person interaction stopped when the regional talent pipeline challenge in her role Hall Brown Walsh manager. As part of his duties, Hall works COVID-19 pandemic crept into the picture. This as vice president of talent initiatives for West ing a serious shortage of talent and general pro- with machine builders and end users to help pushed forward an idea that he had been kicking Michigan economic development organization duction workers. implement Industry 4.0 technologies to create around for more than a year: To shine a spotlight The Right Place Inc. She is also a member of the on an industry that isn’t necessarily known for executive team for Discover Manufacturing, a fast-paced, flashy videos or other content that regional network of manufacturers. resonates on social media. Brown is active in events like Discover “I said, ‘I need to find a way to get content Manufacturing Week and MiCareerQuest, which out there and let people know I’m still available,’” serve as hands-on opportunities for students to WEST MICHIGAN’S LEADING Hall said. “I just turned to LinkedIn.” get a first-hand look at manufacturing. The Manufacturing Millennial’s LinkedIn On the digital front, Brown said manufactur- page is Hall’s content-sharing hub, where he cur- ers have been making strides. COMMERCIAL ROOFING CONTRACTOR rently has 13,000 followers and 2.4 million views “I think manufacturers have done a really to his content. He also has a standalone website, good job of not just moving to Industry 4.0, but which he hopes to further build out in the future. also getting the word out regarding the culture of Hall shares video content that he finds inter- the organization as well as the equipment they esting and timely, even if it highlights a manu- will be using,” she said. “I wouldn’t necessarily facturing process for something mundane. For say it’s behind the times — I think they’re doing instance, around Thanksgiving, he shared a video the best they possibly can.” that showcased a high-speed vision inspector for But, she added, “That’s a big task — having green beans because green bean casserole is his someone like Jake out there is fabulous because favorite Thanksgiving dish. it’s helping spread the good word.” His aim is to garner attention to all forms of While a company’s strong roots and tradition automation and manufacturing. Another exam- in the community might not be flashy, Brown ple of this is when Hall shared a video that out- said it does help sway some talent. lined the manufacturing process used to create “For some students, the stability of a company pencils, which drew more than 50,000 views. being here for 100 years is important to them so that “Everyone holds a pencil but they don’t real- they don’t get laid off and they don’t lose their jobs,” ize how that pencil was made and it’s really she said. “I think that’s partly in the back of their cool to highlight these manufacturing pro- heads — they find it important. But I also know that cesses,” Hall said. “I think it gives people a better they want to know what they’ll be doing.” understanding.” Still, it is important for manufacturers to start engaging with students at a young age — a demographic that is very much plugged into Making manufacturing fun social media. Outside of curating content for the general amuse- John Walsh, president and CEO of the ment of viewers, Hall said he enjoys highlighting Michigan Manufacturers Association, has done manufacturing specifically in Michigan, a state plenty of hand wringing over the growing tal- where most people associate manufacturing with ent shortage. He emphasized the importance of the automotive industry alone. Hall’s approach to reaching workers years before they enter the field. promoting machine builders, automaters and their “There are some stats that show if you can latest innovations stands as a template for getting capture a child in middle school and spark their a new generation excited about manufacturing. creativity in manufacturing, that’s when you can Hall pointed to companies like Tesla Inc. and really root an interest in the career,” Walsh said. “I SpaceX as examples of manufacturers that have think we’re doing pretty good on at least generat- EASTMUSKEGON.COM placed an emphasis on showing the world their ing interest but we still have a lot of work to do as innovative manufacturing processes. an industry and as a state to change the overall “Why is Tesla attracting so many of the newest, perception on a career in manufacturing.”

4 JANUARY 4, 2021 / MiBiz Visit www.mibiz.com FINANCE

Century Technology Group leans on tech acquisitions to drive growth

By MARK SANCHEZ | MiBiz Strategy deal to pursue acquisitions of “The second time around Jacks cites Inno-Versity, acquired [email protected] tech companies, Jacks said. in August 2019, as a “great example” of Century Technology Group has been as we go through this Century Technology Group’s interest ADA — Century Technology Group LLC looks to reload by pursu- looking at companies that typically have in companies that “can be bent toward ing acquisitions of technology companies that it can grow. annual sales ranging from $3 million to is not about us being technology.” Inno-Versity’s custom The Ada-based company — a family office for Grand Rapids $5 million, and will make investments operators anymore — it’s learning programs for higher educa- businessman and entrepreneur Keith Harrold — made two acqui- in the Midwest with a preference toward tion and Fortune 500 companies have sitions in 2020 and is “getting close” on two more, one of which is West Michigan-based companies. about lifting and elevating been adaptable to technology for remote under a letter of intent, President Dana Jacks said. “Right now our focus is mostly West management teams of the learning. The company wants to acquire compa- Michigan. That’s where our roots are,” “We’re introducing concepts such nies that are technology focused or “can be Jacks said. “As we reload we’re going to companies that are in our as ARVR (augmented reality and vir- bent toward technology or utilize some type stay a little closer to home and build out portfolio.” tual reality) and gamification into what of technology in their go-to market,” Jacks from there. We understand the people, they’re doing, or helping them with said. Acquisition targets as well would “have a we understand the clients, and it’s our the delivery of some of these custom- strong, hungry management team” that could home. And the second time around as — DANA JACKS learning programs,” Jacks said. “It’s “use some rounding out or could use some we go through this is not about us being President of Century Technology Group LLC really been fun to not only watch how help in certain areas,” she said. operators anymore — it’s about lifting they’ve been able to evolve, but how “What we’re looking for is something that and elevating management teams of the they’re servicing their clients and the has good bones and potential. They have a companies that are in our portfolio.” rejuvenated energy in the company. Jacks value proposition that makes sense and that Century Technology Group presently holds two portfolio com- The sales team has more to sell and there’s a lot more thought can evolve and grow if it were accelerated with some capital, and panies: Inno-Versity, an Ada-based company that provides cus- leadership coming from the creative side because they have has a good management team and they want to build something,” tomized instruction and training to clients; and Mutually Human more options to offer.” she said. “We really want to grow stuff.” LLC, a custom software and applications developer in Grand The technology sector that Century Technology Group oper- Century Technology Group’s return to acquisition mode comes Rapids that it acquired in November. ates in ranked as one of the top areas for activity in 2021 in law more than two years after the divestiture of its last prior portfolio At the time of the deal, Century Technology Group Executive firm Dykema’s annual M&A survey. company, Data Strategy LLC, to Miami-based private equity firm Vice President Jason Kuipers said Mutually Human “fits per- Technology ranked among the sectors where corporate execu- H.I.G. Capital in August 2018. Data Strategy — originally founded fectly with our vision of growing a leading software development tives and M&A professionals expect the most activity this year, by Harrold, Century Technology Group’s CEO — at the time had and application modernization services business and adds to behind health care and automotive and ahead of consumer prod- sales of more than $400 million, Jacks said. our charter of investing in growth-oriented technology services ucts and financial services, according to the annual survey released The investment firm is now using the liquidity from the Data businesses.” in November.

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Visit www.mibiz.com MiBiz / JANUARY 4, 2021 5 FOOD BIZ

As craft beverage waits out the pandemic, lingering supply chain and policy concerns remain

By JAYSON BUSSA | MiBiz Uncertainty ahead [email protected] The fate of many craft breweries he COVID-19 pandemic hinges on where the pandemic goes has not doused Justin in the coming year. The trade group Buiter’s optimism in his Brewers Association administered a future plans for his brew- survey to its members that showed T ery. However, when Buiter more than 80 percent were very con- Railtown Brewing Co. co-owner Justin Buiter says 2021 “will be a year of seeing how things pan out and letting the looks ahead, he said 2021 will likely be fident their doors would still be open dust settle.” COURTESY PHOTO spent regaining the footing his com- come 2021. But when asked if they pany lost during a gauntlet of a year. would still be in business a year from through extensive distribution, brew- carry over into other essentials of save craft beverage producers from a “I think it will be a year of recovery now, that confidence dropped to eries like Railtown are put at a near the business, from CO2 to cardboard mammoth and unexpected tax bill. and getting back on our feet and figur- around 54 percent. standstill when in-house dining is packaging. Cideries, meaderies, wineries, brew- ing out what a new normal looks like,” To further underscore the uncer- restricted, which totaled nearly 180 Stevens attributed shortages to a eries and distilleries nationwide were said Buiter, who is co-owner of Dutton- tainty, one in five craft brewery owners days in 2020. combination of increased demand lobbying for Congress to pass the Craft based Railtown Brewing Co. The brew- doesn’t think they’ll still be operating “Put them in the bucket with res- and manufacturers that were ham- Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform ery has been open for six years but has by the end of 2021. taurants and bars,” Founders co- pered by the inefficiencies of COVID Act (CBMTRA), which would make the only operated for two as a full-scale res- Buiter called himself cautiously founder and CEO Mike Stevens said and therefore couldn’t always operate currently reduced federal excise tax rate taurant at its location at 3595 68th St SE. optimistic when it comes to the future of retail-oriented breweries. “The at full capacity. permanent. These slashed rates were “From there, we can start look- and said he is comfortable with his bottom line is you don’t create a retail While certainly a disruption, these adopted on a two-year basis in 2017, ing at 2022 and deciding on some big company’s capital. establishment to operate either closed supply chain problems should dissi- renewed for a year in 2019, and set to events we want to move forward with “We’re confident we’ll get (back to or at 50 percent capacity. … I feel for pate fairly quickly as COVID subsides. expire at the end of 2020. and if we want to start dipping our toes normal) by the spring,” Buiter said. these brewers that have just been “The (aluminum) can situation Congress passed CBMTRA with in more distribution. I think it will be a “And honestly we feel like there is a hanging on since last March, coming is just a constraint based on the its omnibus spending and COVID-19 year of seeing how things pan out and lot of opportunity sitting out there. up to a year almost. It’s been brutal.” manufacturer being a little caught relief package before President Donald letting the dust settle.” There is going to be consolidation in off guard,” Stevens said. “What hap- Trump threatened to veto the bill. Railtown, and craft a lot of industries and pened when COVID hit was all those “I wasn’t deathly concerned but it Supply chain woes beer producers around I think folks that are drinkers — say 30 percent of the U.S. was one of those things with legislation the state, have certainly FOOD BIZ able to see their way While Stevens might not envy the population — used to go to bars and that when you start to change things it earned a breather as NEWS through this crisis are struggles of non-distributing brew- drink draft beer. Well that dried up can quickly derail,” Newman-Bale said they continue to slog — probably going to do eries, and faces similar challenges and shifted liquid into the grocery of the last-minute tax changes. “I was Sponsored by: through the pandemic DAN VOS well for themselves. I with taprooms in Detroit and Grand store channels and pushed a lot more worried maybe they would have to and its various phases CONSTRUCTION think consumers are Rapids, he must contend with vari- demand in cans.” procedurally reintroduce and change of shutdowns for bars COMPANY going to be very eager ous supply chain woes that grew dur- “The manufacturers weren’t the bill and whenever you do that, and restaurants. to get out and spend ing the pandemic. expecting that 30 percent of the there is always the chance something Unsurprisingly, the and get back to life as For starters, an aluminum can American public would all of a sud- may change. I was concerned but still pandemic is top of mind for Michigan normal.” shortage is starting to tighten around den want to buy cans,” he added. relatively confident.” brewery owners, who move their Buiter maintains his optimism the necks of many breweries with The other important issue was roughly billion dollar industry into even when his brewery — which significant distribution. Last month, allowing Paycheck Protection Program 11th-hour tax relief the new year. But brewery owners mostly sells its beer in-house — is one Founders COO Brad Stevenson loan recipients to deduct payroll costs face the added stress of supply chain of the most vulnerable. acknowledged the shortage, telling When speaking with MiBiz before and other expenses covered by the issues and shortages, and late last year While manufacturing breweries — MiBiz that the brewery has not been Christmas, Short’s Brewing Co. CEO loan. This tax benefit — worth hun- dealt with uncertainty over potentially like longtime West Michigan heavy- able to procure the amount of cans it Scott Newman-Bale was somewhat dreds of billions of dollars for busi- higher tax bills and limited financial weight Founders Brewing Co. — are needs. anxiously monitoring the progress of ness owners of all industries — was relief from the state and Congress. able to continue generating revenue This problem could potentially two important tax issues that would also signed into law.

Design Build General Contracting Construction Management Warner Norcross & Judd www.danvosconstruction.com Grand Rapids, MI

6 JANUARY 4, 2021 / MiBiz Visit www.mibiz.com Kalsec earns B Corp status

By JAYSON BUSSA | MiBiz [email protected]

r. Scott Nykaza always considered his company to be both environ- mentally and socially responsible through its 60-year history. Now it D has a credible stamp of approval to back up those claims. Kalamazoo-based Kalsec Inc. — a global producer of natural spices, advanced hop prod- ucts and herb flavor extracts, colors and antioxi- dants — recently announced that it has acquired B Corp (benefit corporation) certification. It joins more than 3,500 businesses from various indus- Kalsec Inc.’s campus in Kalamazoo. COURTESY PHOTO tries across the globe that have worked through a rigorous third party audit to verify that it meets “Does our office in Shanghai, China have the “I’m kind of a skeptic when people say, ‘Our LLC, with offices in Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor and certain standards when it comes to social and same sort of values and visions that we do and are business does this.’ It’s like a red flag to me at Chicago, is another West Michigan company with environmental performance, public transpar- people practicing that?” Nykaza said. “We had to times because there is so much green washing,” B Corp certification, weighing in with a strong ency and legal accountability. do a little more in terms of communication and said Swift Vice President Jessica Slaydon. “It’s an score of 110.4. Some of the more recognizable national stewardship of our programs and our responsi- easy way to market yourself. Being able to actu- Like Swift, it also received B Corp certifica- names in the program include Ben and Jerry’s bilities across the globe.” ally put your money where your mouth is, that tion in 2017 and is working on the recertifica- Ice Cream, New Belgium Brewing Co. and Despite having labs filled with 65 profession- is what attracted me to (B Corp).” tion process, which has been delayed because Patagonia Inc. als who combine to speak 14 different languages, During its certification process, Swift not only of the pandemic. For Nykaza, CEO of Kalsec, having the third party Nykaza said diversity was still a point of emphasis audited its own practices but surveyed vendors Atomic Object Vice President Mary O’Neill verification was crucial in proving the company’s and an area for potential improvement at Kalsec, to ensure that they also maintained certain said the company continually strives to be a bet- commitment to environmental and social respon- primarily with minorities who have been under- standards. ter business and neighbor to the community, and sibility. The verification comes from Pennsylvania- represented in the company’s candidate pool in Slaydon said her company’s B Corp status, that it changed nothing about its practices since based nonprofit B Lab, which conducts the audits the past. paired with the fact that it is locally owned and first applying for B Corp certification. and maintains the B Corp program. operated, is a selling point for the company but “It was an opportunity to take what we “When we went through the audit, which is a not the sole motivation behind participating in believed to be really strong practices and ‘Money where your mouth is’ pretty severe audit centered on the practices you the program. approaches to business and have them thor- have, how you treat your employees, how you Grand Rapids-based Swift Printing and “It’s about the mission,” she said. “If you’re oughly reviewed by a third-party, super rigorous think about the environment and all the other Communications Inc. is one of only two com- going to do it, it has to be about the mission. If process,” O’Neill said. “It wasn’t ourselves saying, things, we found that we had a really strong align- mercial print shops in the world to hold B Corp you’re using it for a marketing tactic, I don’t nec- ‘Hey, we’re cool. We do all sorts of great things.’ It ment,” Nykaza said. “We got a passing score with certification. Located at 404 Bridge St. NW since essarily think it’s the way to go. But if you fully was going and investing the time and money to our first audit. It was not the highest one possible, 1954, the 11-employee print shop received the believe it, I think sales will come from it as a have someone else render an opinion for us and so it really showed us that there were things to certification in 2017 and is in the process of fil- byproduct.” we were surprised and delighted at how well we continue (working on) to be a certified B Corp.” ing for recertification. Custom software developer Atomic Object did the first time through.”

A work in progress Kalsec, which started the process in early 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic took full effect, rang in with a score of 82.5 in a system that fac- tors in five areas of business: governance, work- ers, community, environment, and customers. Companies need a score of 80 or better to receive certification. By B Lab’s measure, a typical busi- ness scores roughly 50.9. Achieving B Corp status by no means indi- cates “mission accomplished” for Kalsec, as the program is an ongoing one. B Corp certification is granted on a three-year basis and companies must show that they are improving to maintain certification. Nykaza said that’s one of the fea- tures that will ultimately benefit Kalsec. “We get the benefit of people that study this every day and they tell you about things you can do that maybe have a bigger impact,” he said. “They spend a lot of time thinking about energy utilization and how you serve minorities and all the other things that really reaffirm what we want to do.” The team would like to thank our clients for their support in 2020. HERE'S TO 2021! As a 442-employee company that operates on a global scale, Nykaza said that Kalsec had to ensure that every corner of the business was on | Grand Rapids, MI | runengine.com the same page.

Visit www.mibiz.com MiBiz / JANUARY 4, 2021 7 SMALL BIZ: COPING WITH COVID-19

Walker-based medical workstation manufacturer ramps up product development

By JAYSON BUSSA | MiBiz [email protected]

he COVID-19 pandemic was a driv- ing force that influenced product Workers at Altus Industries’ facility in Walker and a model of the company’s L3 ClioAir LCD cart (below). COURTESY PHOTOS development and launches for Altus Industries Inc. in 2020. medical industry, which was facing both a surge While Altus had been slowly developing its West Michigan stayed open March, April and T The Walker-based company — and shift in demand. telehealth and lightweight powered cart — the May just for us.” which specializes in designing and building During the pandemic, Altus Industries sped L3 ClioAir LCD cart — both the virtual visitor And while many of the products were workstations for the medical industry — found up the development of lighter-weight carts to and ventilator carts were in direct response to designed as a response to COVID, Leitz expects itself fast-tracking existing projects and develop- support ventilators, virtual patient visits and the shifting needs of medical facilities. The com- them to stick around and find a purpose in the ing some from scratch to feed the under supplied telehealth. pany employs 36 and is headquartered at 3731 market after the pandemic subsides. This is espe- Northridge Drive NW in Walker. cially true for the lightweight L3 ClioAir LCD “It was all in our wheelhouse — these are cart that has made the lives of frontline work- all similar things to what we make,” said Sarah ers easier. Leitz, Altus Industries’ director of product mar- “Nurses are working longer hours, doing keting. “Luckily what we already made was more, and we knew this cart could help release really needed for helping people with COVID. some stress on them,” Leitz said. “If you make a Just with the regular products we had, we lighter cart, they’re pushing around less weight shipped hundreds if not thousands off to hos- and able to do their job a little bit better. …We pitals that were dealing with surges and (the wanted to do anything we could do to help out new products) were additional things we could those on the front lines.” do to help.” The virtual visitor cart, which was made as part of a partnership with Rockford-based elec- trical specialists Byrne Inc., provided an easy way for patients to interact with family members and in some cases with nurses in the event they had a brief, simple request. SMALL BIZ Understanding NEWS the importance of — Sponsored by: the product, Altus SMALL BUSINESS pushed a model ASSOCIATION OF out the door imme- MICHIGAN diately so hospi- tals could use them before going back to overhaul the design. In fact, Leitz estimated that the first couple hun- dred were made and sold at cost. The gravity of what the cart was used for was not lost on Altus. Visit sbam.org/join and use promo “Of course we’re thinking about business and code JAN21 at checkout to save 21% providing work stations, but this is one of those things where you’re helping people visit their on a new membership. family and maybe their last time they’ll get to say goodbye,” Leitz said. “That’s pretty big.” Altus Industries was fortunate to sidestep the typical supply chain woes that manufacturers in other sectors have faced, making for smooth production on these products. “We were very fortunate that 80 percent of the components are made here in the U.S. — so, no huge problems with the supply chain,” Leitz said. “We were very fortunate to be able to crank them out. Some suppliers in Grand Rapids and

8 JANUARY 4, 2021 / MiBiz Visit www.mibiz.com REAL ESTATE & DEVELOPMENT

MIBIZ TO LAUNCH DIGITAL REAL ESTATE/ DEVELOPMENT REPORT ON JAN. 6

MiBiz will launch a new weekly e-news- letter devoted to the region’s commercial real estate, development and construction activity. The MiBiz Real Estate/Development Report — a weekly digest of the West Michigan region’s commercial real estate, develop- ment and economic development activity — will begin on Jan. 6, 2021. The weekly digital newsletter will include MiBiz reporting and aggregated coverage from a variety of local, regional and national publications. Coverage will be led by MiBiz real estate and development reporter Kate A rendering of Suburban Inns’ plans for a 108-room Hampton Inn and Suites at 101 South Lakeshore Drive along Manistee’s lakeshore. Carlson, who can be reached at kcarlson@ COURTESY RENDERING mibiz.com for tips. Readers can sign up for the newsletter, which publishes on Wednesdays, at MiBiz.com. MANISTEE “This project will bring “Our market studies show that if guests aren’t Continued from page 1 able to find hotel rooms at the resort then they — MiBiz staff the community together, are not looking to stay in the Manistee area. including a group that They instead look at Traverse City or Petoskey in redeveloping a vacant and deteriorating for- and leave the community for lodging,” Leppanen mer retail building for offices and classrooms. isn’t always involved in said. “Bringing in another hotel with visitors “These projects downtown are really moving the city, and gives them circulating through the downtown will gener- forward partly because of this cohesiveness from an opportunity to develop ate a lot of spending in the Manistee area and “We know the economy is suffering now, so everyone in the city, county, Chamber, college, downtown.” we said let’s not weaken the college at this point tribe and private entities working hand in hand their ancestral homelands.” Project construction, which has been delayed and let’s be ready to help our community when to see what we can do,” Ward said. some by the pandemic, is expected to start some- the economy can open back up,” he said. time in the late summer or fall of 2021. — TYLER LEPPANEN “This is an important project for the commu- Suburban Inns’ evolution A plan for growth COO of Little River Holdings LLC nity and the tribe,” Leppanen said. “It’s very vis- Marc Miller, economic development director at ible and transformational and we want to make Community leaders say part of the reason why the Manistee Area Chamber of Commerce, said sure we get it right.” the West Michigan beachtown is seeing economic it’s “spectacular” to have two hotel projects mov- during the pandemic because all these projects development interest is a targeted approach to ing forward during the pandemic, which led to are going to take approximately 18 months to developers that has spanned several years. Educational anchor mass hospitality layoffs and ongoing, historically open,” he said. “We are taking the opportunity “Our economic development approach was low occupancy rates. to double down right now, knowing in 18 months Development projects aside from the hotels are novel for a community of our size,” said Miller, Hudsonville-based Suburban Inns plans to we’ll be climbing out of this.” also planned in Manistee, including at a large of the Manistee Chamber. “We have been gather- manage a 108-room Hampton Inn and Suites at deteriorating, vacant building downtown that ing steam and progress by having that dedicated 101 South Lakeshore Drive. The proposed Hilton- was renovated with a $5 million investment focus for economic development, and we’re see- A more inviting gateway branded, five-story hotel is expected to be com- from several community agencies to form the ing the fruit of that now with these projects.” pleted in April 2022 and would replace the two- Conceptual plans for the Spirit of the Woods Manistee Downtown Education Center. The Miller’s position at the Chamber was created story Lakeshore Motel now at the property along Manistee Gateway Project were presented to space includes offices and meeting rooms that when he was hired about a year and a half ago. Lake Michigan. the Manistee City Council in September 2020. accommodate West Shore Community College, The position was the result of the Chamber’s “There’s not another Hilton (hotel) property The project is being developed by Peru, Ill.-based the Manistee Chamber and Michigan Works!. effort to jumpstart the stagnated development for 90 miles, and we saw this as an opportunity CL Real Estate Development and Little River “We were able to move this project forward that had unfolded over the years. to develop a property on a very unique location Holdings LLC, the economic development arm by all of us working together,” said Ward, of West “We were not seeing a cohesive movement with a very sought-after brand and loyalty pro- of the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians. The Shore Community College. “I always try to stress for economic development at the time,” said gram that Hilton has,” Suburban Inns CEO Peter project plans include improvements to the entry- to people how tied the community colleges are to Ward, who also sits on the Chamber’s eco- Beukema told MiBiz. way into downtown Manistee, as well as the con- the local economy. A strong community college nomic development committee. “Some dif- The hotel will be owned by Hotel Ventures struction of a 100-room upscale boutique hotel. helps make a strong economy — it’s a symbiotic ferent entities were organizing and stepping Manistee LLC, a separate company registered The vacant businesses in Manistee currently relationship.” on each other’s toes. The Chamber stepped for- to Beukema that’s a common ownership struc- lining US-31 are not inviting to travelers as they The downtown classroom space could also ward to provide leadership, but they needed ture for Suburban Inns. The new hotel is part of pass through town, said Little River Holdings accommodate a larger number of high school funding for the position,” which came from Suburban Inns’ evolution during 2020 to diver- COO Tyler Leppanen. The city also saw a 6 per- students looking to dual enroll in classes by various organizations, the city of Manistee sify its properties and services in the hospitality cent population decline from 2000-2010, accord- shortening their commute, Ward said. and the county. industry, Beukema said. Suburban Inns’ portfolio ing to U.S. Census data. While the street level of the building is Looking forward, Miller is planning to work includes eight hotels in Midland, Grand Rapids, “This project will bring the community nearly complete, the lower level is awaiting a with the Michigan Economic Development Holland and Grandville. together, including a group that isn’t always potential tenant that could occupy the space Corp. to recertify underutilized sites in the area Since the pandemic hit, the company is involved in the city, and gives them an oppor- by mid-2021, Ward said. The building was ren- as “redevelopment ready.” increasingly partnering with investors, includ- tunity to develop their ancestral homelands,” ovated with $1 million in community dona- “One of the benefits is it highlights five or ing on the renovation of the McCamly Plaza Hotel Leppanen said. tions, $500,000 from the Manistee Downtown six sites, and we’re looking at expanding our list in downtown Battle Creek that’s expected to be The upscale hotel planned at the gateway Development Authority, and about $3.5 mil- and adding new properties,” Miller said. “We completed in 2022. project could also accommodate Little River lion from West Shore Community College, still have opportunities for historic preservation, “We look at these projects as an opportunity Casino Resort visitors at peak times. The casino which Ward said was supported by the col- housing and other opportunities. There is more to grow and take advantage of opportunities resort is about six miles northeast of downtown. lege’s board. room for growth in the city.”

Visit www.mibiz.com MiBiz / JANUARY 4, 2021 9 FOCUS: TELEMEDICINE Telehealth use soars during the pandemic, here to stay

By MARK SANCHEZ | MiBiz through late December 2020 and 11,000 through According to industry experts, virtual doctor [email protected] its OnDemand Video Visit service. The health sys- visits offer greater access to care, especially in rural tem completed just 248 video visits in 2019 and markets, and are far more convenient for patients pectrum Health entered 2020 with “we anticipate that telehealth volumes will grow than in-person office visits. Care providers say tele- a goal of having half of eligible pri- and be expanded to support additional services in health is becoming commonplace for basic pri- mary care patient visits with its doc- 2021 as more people and providers become accus- mary care, such as annual health checks or chronic tors occur virtually by the end of 2022. tomed to using this technology offering greater disease management. They believe the platform Between Nov. 30 and late December, Metro S Then came the COVID-19 pan- access to patients,” according to a spokesperson. will evolve to incorporate more care. Health had used the Hoboken, N.J.-based Health demic that resulted in physician offices in “I really believe that in the future of health care, Recovery Solutions’ home monitoring platform Michigan being closed for three months in the your kids and my kids are probably going to be for 29 COVID-19 patients after their discharge. Expanding access spring, leading medical practices to redirect consuming care a little differently,” said Dr. Khan The system uses tablets and internet-connected patients to telehealth platforms to connect with While telehealth visits flattened during the summer Nedd, CEO of Grand Rapids-based Answer Health devices such as blood pressure cuffs, scales and their doctors for low-acuity, routine care. after physician offices reopened, care providers say LLC, an umbrella administrative organization for pulse oxygen sensors to check and report a The result was exponential growth in virtual they remain well above pre-pandemic levels. 200 independent medical practices with more patient’s vital signs. visits in 2020 after years of gradually gaining Now that telehealth has broken far more into the than 1,000 care providers in the western Lower If a patient’s readings are outside of normal traction with consumers. At Spectrum Health, public consciousness, care providers say it’s here Peninsula. “That future is coming and we’re get- parameters, the system alerts a monitoring cen- virtual primary care visits with doctors via the to stay and will only become further embedded in ting used to this telemedicine platform, but we ter that’s staffed by medical professionals who OnDemand telehealth service hit 35,000 in April health care as more consumers embrace the con- can extend it to be much more of a complete, inte- respond accordingly. 2020. That one-month total exceeded all of 2019. venience the service offers. grated form of how we care for patients.” Through Dec. 23, the HRS system had saved “We don’t see telehealth going away 142 patient days at Metro Health Hospital, free- once COVID is under control,” said Dr. ing up needed bed space as the health system Freeing up capacity Fred Reyelts, a family practitioner and was nearing capacity from the surge in COVID- medical director for innovation at Mercy Advances in medical technology enable doctors 19 patients, Owens said. Health Physician Partners. to do more virtually than ever before, according “We’re happy because we’re able to monitor “We also see this as a long-term piece to Brenner at Spectrum Health. He cites internet- them and we can open up a bed for someone else of our repertoire of how we can take care connected blood pressure cuffs and monitors, and who may be sicker or someone who needs a crucial of patients,” Reyelts said. “It allows us to hand-held devices with digital cameras that allow surgery,” Owens said. “Hospitals are bursting at the practice in ways that we didn’t think we doctors in video visits to listen to patients’ heart seams and freeing up one or two beds can make a Brenner Reyelts Owens could in the past.” and lungs, or to check their ears, nose and throat. big difference in the supply chain of hospital beds.” Mercy Health began adopting telehealth “We’re really almost starting to emulate in Metro Health was already planning to use the Dr. Kristopher Brenner, a family physician and in earnest early last year, before the pandemic hit. your home what we would listen to or look at Health Recovery Solutions system prior to the surge division chief for virtual medicine at Spectrum In 2019, Mercy Health Physician Partners doc- (in the office) using these devices,” Brenner said. in COVID-19 cases this fall. The health system soon Health, describes the pandemic and 2020 as a year tors completed “virtually zero” telehealth visits, Care providers use telehealth for routine pri- hopes to extend the home monitoring platform for that “shot us out of a cannon” in using telehealth. Reyelts said. That changed with the events of mary care and also for consultations with medi- patients with congestive heart failure or chronic The Grand Rapids health system has since exceeded 2020 and the resulting rapid rise of telehealth. cal specialists. Other uses include ongoing care obstructive pulmonary disease, Owens said. its goal for virtual visits well ahead of schedule. Mercy Health now has a near-term goal of having for patients with chronic medical conditions or “We literally are 24 months ahead of where we 10 percent of primary care and some specialty for patients after they’ve been discharged from High scores from patients ever dreamt we’d be,” Brenner said. “It’s moving physician visits occur virtually by the end of the a hospital. faster than we ever anticipated.” first quarter of this year, according to Reyelts. In late November, Metro Health-University of Mental health care and physical therapy provid- As of late December, Spectrum Health had Having 25 percent to 30 percent of patient Michigan Health launched a home monitoring ers also have made greater use of telehealth over recorded nearly 415,000 video visits in 2020, an visits occur virtually within a year “is not unrea- telehealth service for recovering COVID-19 patients the last year. experience that is typical of the massive growth in sonable” for Mercy Health Physician Partners, who otherwise met the criteria for discharge but Among the top 10 diagnoses via telehealth for telehealth that began with the COVID-19 pandemic. said Reyelts, who in the last couple of months remained hospitalized because they needed ongo- employees at self-funded companies that Grand Kalamazoo-based Bronson Healthcare has completed half of his patient visits virtually ing monitoring, said Dr. Lance Owens, the health Rapids-based benefits consultant Advantage recorded more than 78,000 scheduled video visits after doing none in 2019. system’s chief medical information officer. Benefits Group Inc. works with, seven were for mental health issues ranging from anxiety and depression to alcohol abuse. Overall, telehealth medical claims for Advantage Benefits Group’s self-funded clients have increased 2,600 percent in 2020 over the prior Connect from home. year, according to company President Bob Hughes. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan saw an Treating anxiety, depression, “explosion” in behavioral health care through telehealth platforms in 2020, Chief Medical and more. Director James Grant said. Half of Blue Cross Blue Shield members’ telehealth visits during Teletherapy available for all ages. 2020 were for behavioral health, Grant said. Part of the driver in telehealth’s greater use has 200+ licensed, West Michigan clinicians. been consumer and patient satisfaction. In an pinerest.org/telehealth | 866.852.4001 October report by Troy-based J.D. Powers, telehealth received high satisfaction scores that were “among the highest of all healthcare, insurance and financial Psychiatric Urgent Care Center: services industry studies conducted” by the firm. in person and virtual walk-in psychiatry for adults. Barriers to greater consumer adoption and the deployment of telehealth remain, namely pinerest.org/urgent | 616.455.9200 through the lack of reliable high-speed internet access in some rural markers where telehealth can help to address provider shortages and improve access to care. The new COVID-19 economic federal stimu- lus package Congress enacted includes $7 billion for broadband access, $300 million of which will go for rural broadband service and $250 million for telehealth.

10 JANUARY 4, 2021 / MiBiz Visit www.mibiz.com Insurance reimbursements, new virtual-fi rst coverage plans to help ensure telehealth’s growth

By MARK SANCHEZ | MiBiz 5,000 people enrolled in MyPriority Telehealth large employers in Southeast Michigan works explaining the value proposition and how it’s a lot [email protected] PCP, with some switching from other individual with telehealth care providers at parent corpora- better if you have an employee take 15 minutes health plans Priority Health offers. tion Henry Ford Health System. Both have zero to do an e-visit than it is for them to take a half s COVID-19 emerged last spring and Priority Health brought the individual vir- member cost sharing for virtual visits. day off” to see a doctor. closed physician offices for non- tual-first plan to market after spikes in telehealth HAP includes telehealth coverage across all of Most employers already include telehealth essential care — forcing connec- claims. In April 2020, one in every five member its policies and introduced the virtual-first poli- coverage in their employee health benefits, tions with patients via telehealth visits to a doctor was done virtually. That com- cies to “remove some barriers to people getting according to Melissa Sluss, director of employee A platforms — health insurers began pares to one in 1,000 in April 2019, according to access to care,” said Margaret Anderson, HAP’s benefits at Lighthouse Group insurance agency to pay doctors the same for virtual visits as they Gritters. senior vice president and chief sales and mar- in Grand Rapids. do for in-person care. Telehealth claims flattened during the sum- keting officer. The ability to reduce absenteeism is one way That reimbursement level continued into mer and fall, yet remained far above pre-pan- The telehealth plan for small businesses had that Lighthouse Group promotes telehealth to 2021 for many health insurers. demic levels at one in every 20 doctor visits by a a high level of quote activity during the recent employers, Sluss said. Employees who need to How insurers set future reimbursement levels Priority Health enrollee, Gritters said. open enrollment period, indicating that employ- see a doctor during the day can do a virtual visit will make a difference in how telehealth grows Detroit-based Health Alliance Plan also ers at least want to consider virtual-first policies from work, she said. and evolves, said Dr. Khan Nedd, CEO of Grand introduced two virtual-first policies in the fall as an option for employees to consider. “That’s how we’ve historically been able to get Rapids-based Answer Health LLC, an umbrella for 2021 coverage. HAP’s Virtual Care Plan for “There is a bit of a learning curve and maybe a traction with it with our clients: Helping them organization for 200 physician practices in the individuals and families now has 1,000 enroll- slower adoption rate when you think of employer understand it’s a benefit for their employees and it’s western Lower Peninsula with more than 1,000 ees. A narrow network product called Pivotal for groups,” Anderson said. “We need to get better at a benefit for the company, too,” Sluss said. care providers. If health insurers after the pandemic no lon- ger pay physicians the same for virtual care as office visits, “then essentially what you’re doing is really getting people to go back to what they were doing,” negating the progress of telehealth, Nedd said. That potential requires physician practices to examine where telehealth fits into the busi- ness in the future and how they can meet higher patient demands for virtual care, even if the reimbursement rate changes. “A lot of what happens in health care is aligned to who is paying and what’s being paid,” Nedd said. “We have to get payers to really under- Nedd stand why this is going to become a tool and how payers can work together with physicians to accomplish the very end that we all are trying to get to.” Virtual visits are giving doctors more time with patients, and “probably greater outcomes at less cost,” on top of providing greater efficiency and access to care for patients, Nedd said. Like many organizations, Answer Health experienced rapid telehealth growth in 2020. Early in the pandemic in March, Answer Health brought aboard more than 50 practice sites in two weeks, according to Colby Crittenden, the VirtualCare firm’s manager of business development.

Virtual-first coverage policies As health systems and physician practices turned to telehealth and consumers embraced the plat- Care is just a few clicks away. Our team of providers form, some insurers also introduced new policies that emphasize telehealth as the first option for treat a variety of medical conditions virtually. primary care. Priority Health in October launched MyPriority Telehealth PCP for coverage that started Jan. 1. Enrollees in MyPriority Telehealth MercyHealth.com/VirtualCare PCP are assigned a primary care physician through the national telehealth platform Doctor on Demand and do all visits virtually. The policy provides full coverage for preventative care. “Telehealth is certainly here to stay,” said Curtis Gritters, Priority Health’s director of con- tracting. “Consumers, providers and insurers are all working together to learn how to deliver care and receive care in safe and comfortable ways during the pandemic, and our telehealth plans were a way that Priority Health responded.” Early data during the recent open enrollment period showed the “market responded well” to the plan’s introduction, he said. More than

Visit www.mibiz.com MiBiz / JANUARY 4, 2021 11 ENERGY THELEN Continued from page 1

Thelen’s joining The Right Place is a homecoming of sorts. After leading Lakeshore Advantage for almost a decade before leaving in early 2014, Thelen spent nearly four years as senior vice president of economic development at the Greater Omaha Chamber. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Thelen held economic development positions in Monroe County and with the Michigan Economic Development Corp. While at Lakeshore Advantage, Thelen helped the Holland/Zeeland area lure in major corporate invest- ments even during the depths of the Great Recession, including lithium-ion battery manufacturing plants from LG Chem Michigan and Johnson Controls. Thelen said West Michigan’s culture of public-pri- vate partnerships was among his professional inter- ests for returning here. “The ability to come back and apply the trade and craft in a market I consider home is a pretty powerful combination,” he said. He’s bringing his experience from Denver and les- sons learned about a market that “gets in a groove and becomes a place everyone wants to move to.” He cited investments over the past 15-20 years in down- town Grand Rapids and more recently in downtown Holland and Muskegon. “All of those things make for a quality place and a quality of life people are attracted to,” Thelen said. Grand Rapids Community College President Bill Regulators approve 3-year electric commercial Pink, who’s on The Right Place board of directors and served on the CEO search com- fl eet program in Consumers Energy case mittee, said finalists from around the country showed an inter- est in Grand Rapids, and noted By ANDY BALASKOVITZ | MiBiz will be able to look forward to the MPSC’s broader order that Rod Williamson, executive President and CEO Birgit Klohs’ [email protected] cleaner air and more low-carbon will raise rates for electric custom- director of the Association of influence in the sector. transportation options in their ers by $100 million (Consumers Businesses Advocating Tariff “Aside from the great work Michigan Public communities.” initially sought a $254 million Equity (ABATE), told MiBiz (Randy) did in West Michigan at Service Commission The MPSC order includes increase) and formalizes a pro- recently that the current out- Lakeshore Advantage, he then got order in a sweeping a service to help fleet manag- gram for compensating custom- flow compensation mechanism Pink out in Omaha and Denver and did Consumers Energy ers transition to electric vehicles ers who install small-scale, onsite “makes sense.” ABATE is a trade really good work in those markets A rate case last month as well as rebates for charging renewable energy projects. group for large energy users that and economic development organizations,” Pink told includes a three-year pilot pro- equipment. The program includes Under state law, these pro- regularly intervenes in MPSC MiBiz. But Thelen’s prior West Michigan base can allow gram to study the roll-out of elec- $7 million for fleet charging sta- grams that set compensation cases. him to “hit the ground running a bit better than some trified commercial fleet vehicles. tion capital and operations and rates for excess customer-gen- “We’re open to having discus- others. That’s an added value to this whole deal.” The $12.2 million PowerMIFleet maintenance costs, $1.3 million erated power sent back to the sions about what the appropriate program not only provides rebates for “resources to recruit custom- grid are capped at 1 percent of compensation is for those types of Equity in economic development for charging infrastructure but also ers and site hosts for the Program, a utility’s average peak load. The distributed generation programs, hopes to give the utility a glimpse concierge service analyses, as compensation rate — or “out- but we think it also requires a dis- Top among Thelen’s priorities after joining The Right into the way commercial electric well as educate all customers on flow” credits — approved in the cussion around the creation of Place on March 1 is a focus on diversity, equity and vehicles can provide grid benefits. the benefits of EVs and managed Consumers case and previously in more granular residential tariff inclusion in economic development. Depending on how they’re charging,” and $3.4 million for a separate DTE Energy case is less rate structures as well,” he said. “We’ve had the pandemic and this economic deployed and charged, electric a system to collect and analyze than the retail price of electricity, Meanwhile, ABATE and clean recession, but we’ve also had this nationwide con- vehicles on a large scale could charging data. which has been the rate used in energy groups are united in versation on diversity and equity that is continu- provide benefits by charging dur- Consumers spokesperson net metering programs for more expanding or eliminating the cap ing now,” Thelen said. “There has to be greater rec- ing off-peak hours and potentially Brian Wheeler said the fleet pilot than a decade. on customers who can participate ognition with all of the economic growth that has serve as a form of battery storage. program “will encourage the Critics say the new outflow in these programs. Consumers occurred that not everyone has participated. We have Experts have said deploying com- development of electric vehicle rate, or the power supply cost less voluntarily agreed to lift its cap got to do better and figure out ways to connect more mercial electric vehicles, such as charging stations for Michigan transmission, discounts the value from 1 percent to 2 percent after members of the community to job opportunities, in company fleets and delivery employers that have committed of solar power sent back to the meeting the program’s capac- career paths and economic prosperity.” vehicles, could help jumpstart the to electrifying their fleets.” grid typically at peak usage times. ity. According to an MPSC staff Pink said he was “impressed” by Thelen’s raising transition to electrified transpor- The fleet pilot program is “In slashing outflow rates by report last month, participation diversity, equity and inclusion during the interview tation faster than the passenger modeled off of the utility’s three- about half, this ruling will be dev- in these utility programs grew process. vehicle segment. Major automak- year, $10 million PowerMIDrive astating for residential custom- 53 percent in 2019 with the total The Right Place helped launch the New ers have also spent the past year pilot program approved a year ers,” said Rob Rafson, founder of number of customers exceeding Community Transformation Fund LP venture capi- racing to develop some of the first ago, which includes rebates for Muskegon-based Chart House 8,000. Program participation has tal fund in 2019, which set a $25 million goal to invest electrified fleet vehicles. various types of residential, com- Energy LLC. “If this doesn’t seem grown every year since 2006, and in companies nationwide owned by racial and ethnic “Consumers’ PowerMIFleet mercial and public EV fast-charg- fair, that’s because it isn’t. It makes the latest report doesn’t account minorities. As of early December, the fund reported program fills a key need in sup- ing stations as well as incentives solar investment less attractive, for likely growth in 2020. raising more than $5.5 million. porting municipal and private for customers who charge during which will cost a lot of Michigan “This increase in Consumers’ Pink believes the Transformation Fund will ulti- fleets who want to transition to off-peak hours. jobs for solar developers.” (distributed generation program) mately serve as a “blueprint” for other communities electric, including trucks, buses Although Consumers has dis- cap is just a temporary fix,” the seeking to ensure equity in economic development. (and) delivery vehicles,” said puted testimony provided by Michigan Energy Innovation The fund will hopefully position The Right Place Michigan distribution Charles Griffith, climate and clean energy advocates on the Business Council said in response to say: “Here’s what we need to focus on: quality jobs generation growing energy program director at the outflow credit, the MPSC order to the Dec. 17 MPSC order. “In for everyone, entrepreneurship where it makes sense Ann Arbor-based Ecology Center. A second coalition of environ- also calls for a third-party study 2021, the Michigan Legislature for people, and for companies to be built up,” Pink “By supporting the development mental and residential ratepayer on the costs and benefits of dis- needs to step in to ensure that said. “It will be exciting for anyone coming into that of EV charging infrastructure for advocates that intervened in the tributed energy resources like customers across Michigan are CEO spot and seeing those conversations have hap- the emerging electric truck mar- MPSC case called the fleet EV rooftop solar, battery storage and able to generate their own elec- pened. Those conversations are important, but let’s ket, Consumers Energy customers pilot program a “bright spot” in electric vehicles. tricity.” talk about what action we take.”

12 JANUARY 4, 2021 / MiBiz Visit www.mibiz.com 2020 DEALS: A YEAR IN REVIEW A comprehensive list of mergers and acquisitions covered by MiBiz in 2020.

Zeigler Automotive expects the new stores to add $350 Jeffrey Genzink became a shareholder in Integra purchased the assets of Steripod, a toothbrush JANUARY million in annual revenues. Motor Werks Auto Group Realty, which also hired all of Genzink Appraisal’s accessory brand, from Culver City, Calif.-based Bonfit ■ Traverse City-based Northern Radio of Michigan retained its stores in Barrington, Ill. The deal, which employees. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. America Inc. The acquisition includes a portfolio of Inc. sold off a pair of radio stations in separate will add an expected 5,000 new units of sales, was ■ BBC Distributing LLC in Kalamazoo acquired antibacterial toothbrush protectors, children’s prod- transactions, according to a report on InsideRadio. ucts and tongue cleaners. Terms of the deal were Zeigler’s largest to date, according to the company. Grand Rapids-based Premier Paper & Supplies, a Midwestern Broadcasting Co., also of Traverse City, Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. undisclosed. acquired rock station 97.5 WKLT for $450,000, while regional distributor of point of sale products, paper ■ Kalamazoo-based SalesPage Technologies Mt. Pleasant-based Central Michigan University ■ Wyoming, Mich.-based real estate appraisal firm supplies, and other non-durable goods. Premier LLC made its second acquisition in seven months purchased 94.3 WFCX for $500,000 to add it to the Genzink Appraisal Co. has been acquired by Denver, Paper & Supplies’ owners, Jim and Pat Bonander, with a deal for WCMU Public Radio network, InsideRadio reported. Colo.-based Integra Realty Resources, a commer- sold the company to retire. Grand Rapids-based Small SalesStation, a divi- cial real estate valuation and consulting firm. The com- Business Deal Advisors LLC served as M&A adviser ■ Las Vegas-based private investment firm Crystal sion of Milwaukee, to the sellers. Terms of the deal were undisclosed. View Capital purchased the 398-unit Stowaway pany will operate from an office at 1009 44th St. SW in Wis.-based Celera Systems LLC. SalesStation, Mini Storage at 9879 Portage Road in Portage, Wyoming, its second in Michigan. In the deal, founder ■ Ranir, the oral care division of Perrigo Co. plc, which serves asset management firms outsourcing according to a report in Inside Self Storage. Berkadia data management and sales reporting, will maintain arranged a 10-year, fixed-rate $2.5 million acquisi- its primary office in Milwaukee. Terms of the deal were tion loan from CIBC World Markets, according to undisclosed. a statement. TRIBES PARTNER ■ Grand Rapids Cardiology merged with Advanced ■ The Association for the Blind and Visually Cardiac & Vascular Centers for Amputation Impaired became an independent subsidiary of Mary Prevention PLC, also of Grand Rapids. Led by cardiol- Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital on Jan. 1. The IN $17.5 MILLION ogist Dr. Ronald VanderLaan, Grand Rapids Cardiology nonprofit merger comes as ABVI Executive Director and its staff of 17 now practice under the Advanced Richard Stevens retired after 17 years at the orga- PURCHASE OF Cardiac & Vascular Centers brand name. The cardiol- nization. ABVI served more than 930 clients in the ogy practice continues to operate out of its office on 12-month period ending on Sept. 30, 2019and evalu- ICONIC MCKAY East Beltline Avenue as ACV Grand Rapids Cardiology. ated more than 500 patients in outreach screenings. Advanced Cardiac & Vascular Centers has 72 physi- ■ Niles-based Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lower cians and care professionals at two locations in Grand West Michigan merged with South Bend, Ind.-based TOWER IN Rapids and one in Lansing. Big Brothers Big Sisters of St. Joseph County, ■ Chicago-based private equity firm DuneGlass effective Jan. 1. The Niles nonprofit served Berrien, GRAND RAPIDS Capital acquired a majority stake in and recapitalized Cass and St. Joseph counties in Southwest Michigan. Kentwood-based Grand Health Partners, a bariatric ■ Grand Rapids-based pallet management firm and general surgery practice that provides medical Kamps Inc. sold a and surgical weight loss. The deal marked DuneGlass’ majority interest to Los ribally owned Gun Lake Investments first investment. Angeles, Calif.-based and Waséyabek Development Co. ■ Grand Rapids-based public relations and investor private equity firm T partnered to jointly acquire McKay relations firm Lambert & Co. acquired New York- Freeman Spogli & Co. Tower in downtown Grand Rapids. based Casteel Schoenborn Investor Relations & Founder and CEO Bernie Kamps continues to lead the The two tribal non-gaming economic McCay Tower. MIBIZ FILE PHOTO Corporate Communications. The acquisition accel- company and remains a significant shareholder. Other development entities purchased the iconic erates Lambert & Co.’s growth strategy and boosts members of Kamps’ management team also partici- downtown building from Steadfast Property Holdings for $17.5 million in a deal that was com- its investor relations and financial services expertise, pated in the transaction. Kamps manages more than pleted Jan. 15 and brokered by NAI Wisinski of West Michigan. according to a statement. Lynn Casteel and Jeffrey 100 million pallets annually for more than 1,800 cus- The 18-story, 154,000-square-foot building at 146 Monroe Center St. NW — located at the Schoenborn, principals at Casteel Schoenborn, which tomers. Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey PLC corner of Pearl Street in the core downtown business district — houses retail, office space, an is based in the Buffalo suburb of Williamsville, were in Grand Rapids was the legal adviser to Kamps, and event venue and luxury apartments on the upper floors. named managing directors of Lambert & Co. as part Lincoln International was lead financial adviser. Waséyabek Development is the non-gaming economic investment entity of the Nottawaseppi of the transaction. Terms of the deal were undisclosed. Morgan, Lewis and Bockius LLP served as the Huron Band of Potawatomi Indians, while Grand Rapids-based Gun Lake Investments serves ■ Precise CNC Routing Inc., a family-owned and legal adviser to Freeman Spogli. Debt financing for in a similar function for the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians, or Gun the acquisition was provided by Oaktree Capital operated manufacturer based in Wyoming, Mich., has Lake Tribe. been acquired by local investors David and Carey Management L.P., Adams Street Partners LLC and The deal marks a “rare co-investment” by the economic development arms of two Native Comerica Inc. Terms of the deal were undisclosed. Lefere. Precise CNC Routing employs 16-18 people American tribes based in Michigan, officials said at the time of the deal. and generates around $2 million in annual revenue. ■ Zeigler Automotive Group acquired three lux- Waséyabek Development was advised on the transaction by Dickinson Wright PLLC, while Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Grand Rapids- ury dealerships in the northwest suburbs of Chicago Rosette LLP advised Gun Lake Investments. As well, Barnes & Thornburg LLP provided legal based Calder Capital LLC served as the M&A adviser from Motor Werks Auto Group: Mercedes-Benz counsel to the tribes on the transaction. for former Precise CNC Routing CEO Rick Lemson. and Sprinter of Hoffman Estates, Infiniti of Hoffman Estates, and Jaguar Land Rover of Schaumburg. See 2020 M&A DEALS ROUNDUP on page 14

Visit www.mibiz.com MiBiz / JANUARY 4, 2021 13 2020 M&A DEALS ROUNDUP

■ Grand Rapids-based Auto-Wares Group of part of the deal, eMotion Controls became part of ■ Foxbright LLC, a Grand Rapids software and web Companies, a family-owned aftermarket parts dis- the Lifecycle Performance Services unit at Material services company, was acquired by Hannah Lawrence tributor and retailer, signed a definitive agreement to Handling Systems. Terms of the deal were not dis- from owners Catherine Ettinger and Paula Whisman. UFP INDUSTRIES acquire four retail automotive parts stores and their closed. Material Handling Systems was advised on Founded in 2002, Foxbright primarily works with inventories in metro Detroit and Kalamazoo from the deal by PricewaterhouseCoopers and the law schools to manage and improve their websites. Calder CAPS AN ACTIVE Kennesaw, Ga.-based Icahn Automotive Group LLC, firm Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Capital LLC represented Foxbright in the sale. Terms according to a statement. Auto-Wares rebranded the ■ Grand Haven-based Light Corp. acquired Most were undisclosed. YEAR FOR M&A locations to its Auto Value Parts Stores brand. Icahn Modest, a lifestyle and accessory brand based in ■ Muskegon-based marketing and branding firm Automotive retained all of its Pep Boys-branded loca- Stockton, Calif. The deal added products that will help Revel acquired Borns B2B. The deal “augments IN 2020 tions in Michigan and entered into a supply agreement Light Corp. better compete with the increasingly resi- and enhances” Revel’s capabilities, partner and CEO for Auto-Wares to supply those service centers, accord- dential design trends in the contract furniture industry, Jason Piasecki said. Revel serves small and mid-sized ing to a statement. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. according to a statement. Light Corp. President Marc manufacturers, primar- ■ Kalkaska-based American Waste signed a defini- Langeland said the acquisition poses “a major growth ily in West Michigan. rand Rapids-based wood products tive agreement to sell its solid and liquid waste busi- opportunity” for the company as it looks to break into Muskegon-based Left company UFP Industries Inc. nesses in Michigan and Pennsylvania to Toronto-based the residential and direct-to-consumer market. Terms Coast Capital Resources LLC brokered the deal, G remained an active serial acquirer GFL Environmental Inc., according to a statement. of the deal were not disclosed. which was financed by Community Shores Bank, in 2020. The deal was valued at $380 million, including $360 ■ Wayne, Pa.-based private equity firm Guardian also of Muskegon. Terms of the deal were undis- Combined, the deals UFP Industries million in cash, according to SEC filings. Owners Capital Partners partnered with the executive man- closed. Borns B2B staff moved into Revel’s offices (Nasdaq: UFPI) closed in the year were Michael Ascione and Edward Ascione joined GFL to agement team at Belding-based Flat River Group at Lake View Lofts on Western Avenue in downtown valued in excess of $284 million, accord- manage the American Waste businesses. LLC to acquire the company. Flat River Group, an Muskegon. Each company retains its brand, and Borns ing to an MiBiz analysis of the compa- ■ Grand Rapids-based Priority Health closed on a e-commerce products distributor, offers product B2B founder Randy Borns remains in business devel- ny’s securities filings. The firm reorga- deal to acquire Total Health Care Inc., a Detroit- sourcing, inventory management and high volume opment and creative roles after the transaction. nized its corporate structure and formally based HMO. Under the deal, the two health plans will direct-to-consumer drop-shipping. Flat River Group’s ■ Niles-based metal components manufacturer changed its name from Universal Forest operate separately and maintain their brand names. financial adviser was Houston-based Gulfstar Group, Modineer Co. Inc. broadened its capabilities and Products Inc. on Jan. 2, 2020. Priority Health continues to serve enrollees statewide, while Cleveland-based Jones Day acted as legal entered new end markets by acquiring the family- UFP Industries’ 2020 dealmaking and Total Health Care focuses operations in Detroit adviser. Guardian was advised on the deal by the law owned P-K Tool & Manufacturing Co. of Chicago. included: and surrounding communities. Terms of the deal were firm Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP of Philadelphia. P-K Tool serves customers in the powersports and • acquiring the operating assets of undisclosed, although the Grand Rapids-based Priority CIBC Bank USA provided senior financing in the automotive industries and offers tool design and Texas-based Quest Design & Fabrication Health established a $25 million foundation to support acquisition, while Centerfield Capital Partners pro- build, welding, laser cutting, machining and assem- and Quest Architectural Millwork in a health initiatives in the Detroit area. vided additional financing and minority equity. bly, according to a statement. The company employs deal valued at nearly $21.8 million. Quest ■ Comstock Park-based John Grace Construction ■ Atwater Brewery, a Detroit-based brewery with more than 950 people. Terms of the deal, which closed designs, fabricates and installs millwork LLC acquired Muskegon-based Port City a satellite taproom in Grand Rapids, was acquired by Jan. 31, were not disclosed. Modineer is owned by and casegoods for a variety of commercial Construction & Development Services LLC. The Chicago-based Molson Chicago-based Westbourne Capital Partners, a pri- uses, includ- Muskegon general contractor adopted the short- Coors Beverage Co. vate equity firm that works with family offices to invest ing builders’ ened name of Port City Construction. John Grace (NYSE: TAP). As part of in private companies; Oklahoma City-based family sales centers, Construction specializes in insurance claim work. the deal, Atwater joined investment firm Hall Capital, the parent company of design stu- Executives say the deal allows the companies to the Tenth and Blake automotive supplier The Fred Jones Companies; and dios, hospi- expand their respective client bases and continue to Beer Co. division of an unnamed private investor. tality, corporate offices and health care, focus on their key service areas. Molson Coors, which ■ Holland-based Westside Auto Group Inc. according to a statement. owns and operates a ■ Hopson Flats GPA LLC, a subsidiary of Montrose, acquired All Auto Care, a Grand Rapids-based auto- • buying the assets of Rancho range of craft breweries across the country. Terms of Mich.-based Charger Holdings Inc., purchased the motive repair shop. The new ownership updated the Cucamonga, Calif.-based T&R Lumber the deal were not disclosed. Atwater was advised on 42-unit mixed-use Hopson Flats apartment building renamed All Auto Services facility at Ball Avenue and Co. for nearly $19.2 million. The deal the deal by Arlington Capital Advisors. at 212 Grandville Ave. SW in Grand Rapids for $8 mil- Leonard Street, as well as purchased new equipment, included T&R Lumber’s affiliates, Sullivan lion from East Lansing-based Krimson LLC, formerly ■ Parchment-based Advia Credit Union picked according to a statement. The transaction was com- & Mann and Kelmar Creations. T&R is a known as Maplegrove Property Management LLC. up nearly 3,500 members in a merger with Saint pleted in November 2019 and announced in February manufacturer and distributor of products The deal also included a small surface parking lot at 207 Clair-based Riverview Community Credit Union. 2020. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. for the nursery industry, including grow- Grandville Ave. SW, adjacent to Custer Office. Bloomfield Riverview Community Credit Union has a single office ing containers, pots, trays, wooden stakes, Hills-based Income Property Organization was the in Saint Clair with 3,479 members and $30.3 million in trellises, tree boxes and other supplies. broker on the deal. An affiliate of Maplegrove Property total assets as of Sept. 30, 2019, according to a quar- MARCH • acquiring Matthew, N.C.-based Fire purchased the building in 2015 for almost $9.4 million, terly financial report to federal regulators. Retardant Chemical Technologies according to city property records. ■ Charlotte-based Spartan Motors Inc. (Nasdaq: ■ Allegan-based Perrigo Co. plc (NYSE: PRGO) LLC for $5.9 million. The company devel- SPAR) divested its emergency response division to acquired the oral product line from Stamford, Conn.- ops fire retardants and water repellents Milwaukee-based REV Group Inc. (NYSE: REVG) in based High Ridge Brands Inc., which filed for bank- and found a niche in new and cost-effi- a $55 million cash deal, which was effective Feb. 1. The ruptcy in December 2019. The $113 million cash deal cient technologies for wood preservation. FEBRUARY deal allowed Spartan Motors to refocus its business on follows a bidding process and auction held Feb. 20 in • investing $5.3 million into a 50-50 ■ Easy Ice LLC, a Marquette-based commercial e-commerce, electrification and autonomous technolo- U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware. The acquisition joint venture to form Milan, Italy-based ice machine rental and servicing company, has been gies, according to a statement. Under the transaction, was completed April 2 after court approval. The acqui- Enwrap Logistic & Packaging S.r.l. acquired by private equity firm Freeman Spogli & Spartan Emergency Response and its brands Spartan sition could contribute more than $100 million in net The company provides mixed material Co. of Los Angeles, Calif. Co-founders Mark Hangen Fire Apparatus and Chassis, Smeal Fire Apparatus, sales to Perrigo in the first full year and builds on the industrial packaging and logistics ser- and John Mahlmeister and the Easy Ice management Ladder Tower, and UST became part of REV’s Fire & July 2019 acquisition of Grand Rapids-based Ranir vices through eight locations in Italy. team continue to oper- Emergency segment. REV Group also purchased the Global Holdings LLC for $750 million. • acquiring the assets of Atlantic ate the company. Terms rights to the “Spartan” name and logo, which it is licens- ■ Grand Rapids-based Steelcase Inc. (NYSE: SCS) Prefab Inc., Exterior Designs LLC and of the deal were not ing back to Spartan Motors for its RV chassis business. divested coated steel manufacturer PolyVision Corp. Patriot Building Systems LLC, all based disclosed. Easy Ice was Spartan later changed its name to The Shyft Group and of Atlanta to an affiliate of Industrial Opportunity in New Hampshire. The trio of companies advised in the deal by moved its headquarters from Charlotte to Novi, Mich. Partners, an Evanston, Ill.-based private equity firm. combine to serve the commercial and Los Angeles-based FocalPoint Securities LLC and ■ A division of the Bay Mills Indian Community in The $74 million deal allowed Steelcase to focus on multifamily construction markets in the Austin, Texas-based law firm Queen, Saenz + Schutz the eastern Upper Peninsula acquired Four Season’s “disciplined portfolio management in pursuit of northeastern states. The deal values were PLLC. Varagon Capital Partners and Madison Market Inc., a grocery store in Brimley. The tribal growth.” Steelcase planned to use $41 million of the not yet disclosed in corporate filings. Capital provided debt financing. Freeman Spogli was council approved Bay Mills Enterprises moving proceeds to pay off a note and use the remainder to • acquiring all of the outstanding equity advised by Philadelphia, Pa.-based Morgan, Lewis forward with the deal on Jan. 27. The 5,160-square- invest in growth strategies, according to a filing with in Bartow, Fla.-based pallet manufacturer and Bockius LLP. Previously, Easy Ice was a portfolio foot IGA-affiliated store is directly across the street the Securities and Exchange Commission. PolyVision PalletOne Inc. for $232 million. The com- company of New York-based Saratoga Investment from the 160-acre Brimley State Park, located along makes a CeramicSteel product used in chalkboard pany operates 17 manufacturing facili- Corp., which invested in the company in 2014 and Whitefish Bay on Lake Superior, about 15 miles south- and whiteboard surfaces and architectural cladding. ties throughout the southern and eastern recapitalized it in 2017. west of Sault Ste. Marie. Bay Mills Indian Community Steelcase acquired PolyVision in 2001 for approxi- regions of the country and also makes a ■ Lowell-based eMotion Controls Co., an auto- Tribal Chairman Bryan Newland said the acquisition mately $176 million, including $103 million in debt, variety of other specialized industrial pack- mation controls system integrator and software com- will help the tribe toward its goal of “diversifying our according to SEC filings at the time. aging solutions, such as bins and crates. pany, was acquired by Mt. Washington, Ky.-based business holdings.” The tribe planned to retain all cur- ■ Howard Miller Clock Co. of Zeeland divested Material Handling Systems Inc., a provider of auto- rent employees of the store. Terms of the deal were its wood furniture manufacturing division, Alexis mation systems to the material handling industry. As not disclosed. Manufacturing Co., to Brooklyn, N.Y.-based Roll &

14 JANUARY 4, 2021 / MiBiz Visit www.mibiz.com Hill Furniture LLC, according to a statement. Alexis brands in the Lansing and Flint areas, according to a LLC, a Holland-based paper and packaging com- Puerto Rico, also received about 200,000 square feet of Manufacturing operates a 30,000-square-foot facility statement. The deal also coincided with the purchase pany. Through the deal, New-Indy added Shoreline manufacturing and distribution capacity with Precept’s in Walker and has manufactured complex wood com- of six repair locations in Indiana. The Boyd Group oper- Container’s two facilities in Holland that produce cor- manufacturing facility in Agua Prieta, Mexico, and dis- ponents and wood seating for 75 years. The company ates non-franchised collision repair centers under the rugated packaging products, and a Zeeland facility tribution warehouses in Douglas, Ariz. and Richmond, serves the residential and hospitality market and also Gerber Collision & Glass brand, and operates sev- that distributes protective and specialty packaging Va. Precept designs, manufactures and markets pro- supplies to other OEMs in the fine furniture industry. eral brands that sell automotive glass. Terms of the materials. Shoreline’s chief operations officer, Bob tective medical apparel for infection control. The com- Howard Miller Clock owned the company since 1983. deal were not disclosed. Zuker, remains with the company. Ernst & Young pany’s products include surgical face masks, non-sur- Terms of the deal were not disclosed. ■ Stevensville-based Boelcke Heating Co. was Capital Advisors LLC served as the financial adviser gical isolation gowns, lab jackets, scrubs, coveralls, ■ Grand Rapids-based Charter Capital Partners acquired by employee John Nedoba. The sale allowed to Shoreline Container. Terms of the deal were not patient gowns, lab coats and cold therapy packs. was the M&A adviser for Hancock-based Keweenaw former owner Dave Boelcke to retire from the com- disclosed. Terms of the deal were undisclosed. Aspen Surgical is Financial Corp., the parent company of Superior pany. Grand Rapids-based Calder Capital LLC served ■ Patten Monument Co. in Comstock Park, a cem- a platform company of Boston-based Audax Private National Bank & Trust, in the $42 million acquisition as the M&A adviser to Boelcke in the sale. Terms of etery headstone provider, acquired Campbell Murch Equity. of North Star Financial Holdings Inc., the Bingham the deal were not disclosed. Memorials Inc. in Mattawan, a 125-year-old manu- ■ Lansing-based communications firm 7C Lingo Farms-based parent company of Main Street Bank facturer and engraver of cemetery memorials. Todd LLC acquired 2b Inclusive LLC, a professional in suburban Detroit. The combined bank will have 11 Sokolowski owned Campbell Murch Memorials since development training firm also based in Lansing. Tedi offices in the Upper Peninsula and Southeast Michigan 1984 and sold the company to retire. He was repre- Parsons, manag- with more than $800 million in total assets. Grosse APRIL sented in the deal by Small Business Deal Advisors ing partner of 2b Pointe Farms-based Olejniczak Advisors LLC, a ■ Grand Rapids-based public relations and inves- LLC in Grand Rapids. Terms of the transaction were Inclusive, planned financial services industry strategic consultant, and tor relations firm Lambert & Co. acquired Holland- not disclosed. to stay on with 7C Grand Rapids-based law firm Warner Norcross + based ad agency Fairly Painless ■ New York-based managed technology solutions Lingo, where he will serve as the vice president of Judd LLP also advised Superior National on the deal. Advertising Inc. The deal gave provider BCM One Group Holdings Inc. acquired professional development and training, according to Lambert & Co. added comple- ■ Kalamazoo-based Michigan Mobile Canning nexVortex Inc., a Herndon, Va.-based internet phone a statement. Parsons also will oversee a new initia- mentary capabilities in creative tive, 7C Pros, aimed at professionals just starting a LLC was acquired by Manchester, N.H.-based Iron service provider with an office in Grand Rapids. BCM services and advertising. Fairly career in the C-suite. 7C Lingo President and CEO Heart Canning Co., according to a report in indus- One plans to maintain the Grand Rapids office, led by Painless continues to maintain its Fathy Shetiah said the deal allows the company to try trade publication Brewbound. Both companies Mike Nowak, according to a statement. Terms of the current brand. Founded in 1992, expand its services and client base. Terms of the deal provide mobile beverage canning services for brew- deal were not disclosed eries, cideries, wineries, distilleries and other bever- Fairly Painless serves regional and were not disclosed. age companies. Founded in 2013, Michigan Mobile national clients in the automotive and manufacturing, ■ Grand Rapids-based Charter Capital Partners Canning operated from locations in Kalamazoo and consumer products, education, financial services, non- served as M&A adviser to Oakdale, Minn.-based Indianapolis. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. profit and retail sectors. The firm employs 12 people. MAY Supply Chain Services, a provider of automatic iden- Terms of the deal, which closed in early March, were ■ Industrial scales and weighing systems supplier ■ Caledonia-based Aspen Surgical Products Inc., tification and data capture and factory automation, in not disclosed. D.C. Martin & Sons Scales Inc. of Wyoming, Mich. a producer of disposable surgical products, acquired its sale to Santa Monica, Calif.-based Sole Source has been acquired by Columbus, Ohio-based Mettler- ■ Jackson-based Melling Engine Parts acquired Precept Medical Products, an Arden, N.C.-based Capital LLC. The deal allowed Supply Chain Services Toledo International Inc. (NYSE: MTD). D.C. Martin Performance Springs UK Ltd. of Blackpool, England. maker of personal protection equipment in health founder Chip Emery to retire from the company. Sole The company was renamed Melling Performance & Sons Scales operated as a family-owned business care. The acquisition adds to Aspen’s product portfo- See 2020 M&A DEALS ROUNDUP on page 16 since its founding in 1955 and has grown to serve mul- Springs Ltd., and management and sales staff stayed lio. Aspen, with facilities in Caledonia and Las Piedras, tiple industries including food processing, pharmaceu- on under the new ownership, according to a state- tical, discrete manufacturing, agriculture and distri- ment. Performance Springs is a designer and manu- bution. The company facturer of automotive and industrial springs. Family- employs 19 people owned Melling Engine Parts is a supplier to the original locally. Mettler-Toledo equipment and performance aftermarket segments. is a multinational man- Terms of the deal were not disclosed. ufacturer of scales and ■ Pallet management firm Kamps Inc., based in analytical instruments. Grand Rapids-based M&A firm Grand Rapids, acquired wood products wholesaler Calder Capital LLC represented the company in the D&H Bark Inc. of Manton in Wexford County. D&H sale. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Bark has been in operation for more than three ■ Holt-based Business Management Resources decades and specializes in wood products ranging Inc., a provider of managed accounting services to from hardwood, red pine, and cedar barks; animal restaurant chains, was acquired by Cincinnati, Ohio- bedding; colored mulches; and landscape chips. For based accounting and advisory firm Clark, Schaefer, Kamps, the acquisition will allow the company to capi- Hackett & Co. Business Management Resources talize on ongoing growth nationally in its pallet and founder James Back and three employees joined recycling divisions. The addition allows Kamps to pro- Clark, Schaefer, Hackett’s East Lansing office. Terms duce bark and mulch at a higher volume, as well as has been acquired by of the deal were not disclosed. expand its customer base. Terms of the deal were not ■ Dykstra IT LLC, a provider of fully managed infor- disclosed. mation technology services, merged into Quantum ■ Ada-based design and development firm 2B Leap Inc., a telecommunications provider. Staff Studio Inc. was acquired by Plymouth, Mich.-based from Dykstra IT moved into Quantum Leap’s facility Innovation Studios LLC. 2B Studio’s founder Bruce on 44th Street in Grand Rapids and founder Drew Sienkowski remained as president of the company, Dykstra became a partner. Quantum Leap often used which has eight employees. Innovation Studios Dykstra IT when installing phone systems. The merger is led by Herman Grewal, who ventured into the expanded Quantum Leap’s client base and will help design business after owning and operating res- to drive growth. Terms of the deal were undisclosed. taurant franchises. Sienkowski worked with Grand ■ Construction management firm The Christman Rapids-based Small Business Deal Advisors LLC. Co. of Lansing acquired MEDCO Construction, The Business Law Group served as legal adviser the construction arm of Dallas-based health system to 2B Studio, while Rhoades McKee PC advised Baylor Scott & White Health. Baylor Scott & White Innovation Studios. Health operates the largest nonprofit health care sys- ■ Kalamazoo-based National Flavors LLC was tem in Texas. MEDCO served as the in-house con- acquired by Cleveland-based private equity firm The struction partner for Baylor Scott & White for more Riverside Co., according to a statement. National than 55 years and built medical centers for the com- Flavors is a producer of flavors used in beverages, served as exclusive financial advisor to pany. Christman Co., which generates more than $1 frozen desserts, baked goods, confections and pro- billion in annual revenues and maintains an office in cessed fruits. The company became part of the spe- Innovative Medical Systems Grand Rapids, planned to expand its services in Texas cialty ingredients portfolio for Riverside, which typi- and surrounding areas with the acquisition. Terms of cally invests in lower middle market companies. Terms Medical Equipment Distributor and Integrator the deal were not disclosed. of the deal were not disclosed. ■ Chicago-based Boyd Group Inc. acquired eight ■ Ontario, Calif.-based New-Indy Containerboard collision repair centers in Michigan under the Vision LLC, a joint venture between the Kraft Group and Collision and McFall’s Collision & Frame Service Schwarz Partners LP, acquired Shoreline Container

Visit www.mibiz.com MiBiz / JANUARY 4, 2021 15 2020 M&A DEALS ROUNDUP

Source focuses on acquiring industrial lower middle not disclosed. Liquid Web is a portfolio company of market companies in North America. Chicago-based Madison Dearborn Partners LLC. ■ Full-service machine shop Grand Rapids Electric ■ A long-standing partnership turned into the sale of a Motor Service LLC was acquired by individual inves- NEOGEN COMPLETES 6 INTERNATIONAL significant business unit for Blue Medora Inc., a venture tor Brent Pelishek, according to a statement. EMS sells capital-backed Grand Rapids-based software developer. and repairs electric motors, gearboxes and pumps. ACQUISITIONS, 1 BOLT-ON DEAL After partnering with software virtualization giant VMWare The company provides on-site service for customers Inc. (NYSE: VMW) for several years, the Palo Alto, Calif.- who need assistance in the installation, alignment based software company acquired Blue Medora’s True or troubleshooting of electric motors. EMS has six Visibility Suite team and products. The deal was finalized ansing-based Neogen Corp. bolstered its international business with a series of deals full-time employees and three part-time employees. on July 7 for an undisclosed sum. Blue Medora’s True through the first half of 2020. Grand Rapids-based M&A firm Small Business Deal Visibility Suite contains solutions that easily integrate into With the recent global acquisitions, the food and animal safety products manufacturer Advisors LLC represented the company in the sale. L and enhance the performance of VMWare’s AI-driven vRe- Terms of the deal were not disclosed. now operates from nine domestic and 15 international company-owned locations, clustered in alize platform. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Europe, Latin America, South America, Australia, China, India, Australia and Canada. ■ Holland-based Collision Consolidation Co. LLC ■ Grand Rapids-based FormulaFolios Investments According to an analysis by MiBiz of securities filings by Neogen (Nasdaq: NEOG), the company acquired Stonewall Road Automotive Group, a LLC merged with Chicago-based Brookstone Capital invested nearly $16.8 million over seven deals, six of which were international. The deals included: Grand Rapids-based multi-state operator of MAACO Management in a deal that will create an investment • acquiring Argentina-based Productos Quimicos automotive repair centers. Stonewall Road Automotive adviser firm with more than $6.5 billion in assets. The Magiar S.A., a longtime distributor in South America. Group operates five locations in metro Detroit, four merged firm will keep the Brookstone name and retain the Neogen paid $3.8 million for the firm’s Argentina busi- in Maryland and one in Ohio, according to a state- Grand Rapids-based FormulaFolios brand for continued ness and $1.5 million for the business in Uruguay, effec- ment. The company will continue to operate under oversight of its asset management division. Brookstone tively taking over the distribution of its products in the the Stonewall Road Automotive Group name. The intends to maintain both headquarters in Chicago and two countries company employs 120 people. Grand Rapids-based Grand Rapids. Formed in 2011, FormulaFolios serves • buying Milan, Italy-based Diessechem S.r.l., a dis- M&A firm Calder Capital LLC represented Stonewall hundreds of financial advisers and thousands of cli- tributor of food and feed safety diagnostic products, for Road Automotive in the sale. Terms of the deal were ents nationwide. At the end of 2019, the firm managed not disclosed. $3.5 million. $3.64 billion in assets. FormulaFolios also maintains an • purchasing U.K.-based Abtek Biologicals Ltd., a ■ Byron Center-based SurfacePrep, a private office in Costa Mesa, Calif. A year ago, Clearwater, Fla.- developer and supplier of culture media supplements and equity-backed abrasive products distributor, acquired based AmeriLife Group acquired a majority stake in microbiology technologies, for $1.4 million to accelerate Sacramento, Calif.-based Temple Associates Inc., Brookstone. AmeriLife is backed by Boston, Mass.-based growth in Neogen’s global microbiology product portfolio. a distributor of loose abrasives and blast equip- private equity firm Thomas H. Lee Partners L.P. • acquiring the food safety assets of Australia-based ment. The deal marks the 10th strategic acquisi- ■ A partnership of Mason Asset Management Cell BioSciences, a supplier of food safety and industrial microbiology products, for $3.8 million. tion for SurfacePrep in the last 18 months, accord- and Namdar Realty Group acquired the majority of • acquiring Chile-based Magiar Chilena, a distributor of food, animal and plant diagnostics, ing to a statement. Dallas-based private equity firm the assets of Grand Rapids-based Goodrich Quality for $400,000. CenterOak Partners LLC formed SurfacePrep as a Theaters Inc., which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in • acquiring the U.S. rights to StandGuard Pour-on, which combats horn fly and lice within platform company out of its November 2018 acquisi- February. The $12 million deal, which includes 12 theater domestic beef cattle, from global animal products supplier Elanco Animal Health Inc. for nearly tion of GNAP LLC. Terms of the Temple Associates locations in Michigan, seven in Indiana, two in Missouri $2.4 million. The deal was mandated by the Federal Trade Commission for Elanco to move for- deal were not disclosed. and one in Illinois, took effect on July 13, according to ward with its $7.6 billion acquisition of Bayer Animal Health GmbH. Neogen’s purchase was ■ Grand Rapids-based BlueWater Partners LLC a statement. That includes West Michigan locations in finalized on July 31, 2020. served as financial adviser to Monroe, Wis.-based Ada/Lowell, Grand Haven, Kalamazoo, Holland, Battle Orchid Monroe LLC in its deal to acquire Carter Creek, Hastings and Cadillac. The buyers, both based in Motor Co., a Chicago-based designer and manufac- Great Neck, N.Y. and doing business under Goodrich turer of electric motors, gear motors, rotary converters ■ The $21.9 million merger of Muskegon-based high-end freshwater boats including Sea Ray, Tiara Theater Newco LLC, a Delaware corporation, are work- and tachometers. Orchid Monroe is a manufacturer of Community Shores Bank Corp. into Sparta-based Yachts, Chris Craft and Pursuit Boats, adds new brands ing with theater operator VIP Cinemas to manage the components for electric motors, generators and trans- ChoiceOne Financial Services Inc. closed after with the deal, including Lund Boats, Sea Doo and Crest 21 locations. The sale, which was approved by the U.S. formers. Terms of the deal were undisclosed. earning shareholder approval. The two banks con- Pontoons. The deal also included Traverse Bay Marine’s Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Michigan, solidated in the fourth quarter with Community Shores location at U.S. 31 in Traverse City, according to the report. did not include a theater in Oswego, Ill., which was sold in a separate $4.95 million deal to Downers Grove, Ill.-based taking on the ChoiceOne name. At the close of the deal ■ Private equity-backed CloudAccess LLC, a Tivoli Enterprises Inc., according to court records. As ChoiceOne had 29 offices in West and Southeastern Traverse City-based cloud hosting provider that also JUNE well, court records indicate that Goodrich Quality Theaters Michigan with about $1.5 billion in assets. Community operates an office in Poland, has completed the add- ■ Family-owned investment firm Coastal Group sold its 50-percent stake in Florida-based Gibsonton Shores had about $220 million in total assets with on acquisition of Miller Media Inc., a 30-year-old has acquired Bogalusa, La.-based Veecor Co. Inc., Theaters LLC for $1.1 million to AP Gibsonton LLC. three offices in Muskegon County and one in Grand Bloomfield Hills-based web development and search a honeycomb packaging manufacturer, and moved Haven in neighboring Ottawa County. engine optimization company. The deal will allow the company’s teams at both companies to expand service offerings, operations to ■ A pair of Indiana cooperatives formed a strategic according to a statement. Terms of the deal were not Holland. Two joint venture to acquire an Allegan County agricultural AUGUST disclosed. CloudAccess is a portfolio company of New Veecor employ- retail business owned by CHS Inc. Crawfordsville, ■ Grand Rapids-based Acrisure LLC acquired the York City-based Cloud Equity Group, a private equity ees also moved Ind.-based Ceres Solutions and Avon, Ind.-based insurance practice of Tulco LLC, a Pittsburgh, Pa.- and investment management firm focused on compa- permanently to the Holland area to remain with the Co-Alliance LLP closed on the deal in September based provider of artificial intelligence and machine- nies in web hosting and cloud-based infrastructure. company, while another is working remotely on a for the business located at 4671 E. Washington St. learning technology, in a $400 million deal. The contractual basis, according to a spokesperson. The in Hamilton, southeast of Holland. It was renamed ■ Private equity-backed Heartland Home Services acquisition matches the global reach of Acrisure with acquisition and launch of Coastal Honeycomb LLC Endeavor Ag & Energy LLP. acquired Jenison-based First Call Plumbing Inc. A Tulco’s AI expertise and follows a year-long part- could lead to 12 new jobs in Holland to produce the family-owned nership between the firms, which previously formed company’s lightweight packaging materials, according provider of res- Altway Insurance, an AI-backed insurance broker- to a statement. Coastal Group’s holdings also include idential plumb- age initially focused on individual health benefits. The Coastal Automotive, Coastal Container and TKP JULY ing services with a 20-year market history, First Call deal was structured as a stock-for-stock trade, with Investments. With the Veecor deal, the company’s ■ Grand Rapids-based TG Manufacturing Group Plumbing joins the Macomb-based Heartland Home Tulco becoming a significant minority shareholder in packaging services now span design, testing, cor- acquired the gaming machine integration division Services platform, which has completed four stra- Acrisure. Grand Rapids-based Varnum LLP advised rugated, honeycomb, packaging supplies and foam. of Turnkey Fabrication LLC, which operates in a tegic acquisitions, including a prior deal for Grand Acrisure on the deal. Rapids-based Vredevoogd Heating & Cooling. Terms of the Veecor deal were not disclosed. 20,000-square-foot facility in Grand Rapids and supplies ■ Kalamazoo-based National Flavors LLC, a pro- businesses in the gaming sector across North America. Heartland Home Services is a portfolio company of ■ The assets of Lansing-based H2O Hydroponics ducer of flavors and extracts for the food and bever- North Branch Capital LLC, an Oak Brook, Ill.-based LLC have been acquired by Denver-based The new division is called TG Integration LLC. TG age industry, acquired private equity firm. Terms of the First Call deal, which GrowGeneration Corp. (Nasdaq: GRWG), a chain Manufacturing Group will now manufacture complete GSB & Associates Inc., closed June 15, were not disclosed. of specialty hydroponic and organic garden centers integrated gaming machine assemblies following two a Kennesaw, Ga.-based with 27 locations. GrowGeneration previously acquired prior acquisitions of Grand Rapids-based A2Z Powder ■ Lansing-based Liquid Web LLC, a private equity- company specializing in the assets of Grand Rapids Hydroponics Inc. in Coating and the metal fabrication division from Turnkey backed hosting and application services provider, flavor development. The September 2019. The company cited Michigan’s legal- Fabrication. Terms of the latest deal were not disclosed. acquired Fishers, Ind.-based ServerSide Inc., a web deal was the first bolt-on ization of cannabis for recreational use, including the ■ Harbor Springs-based Walstrom Marine Inc. development and managed cloud services company, acquisition for National Flavors since becoming a plat- ability to grow up to 12 plants within a residence, as acquired Traverse City-based Traverse Bay Marine Inc. according to a statement. ServerSide founder and form company for The Riverside Co., a Cleveland, Ohio- a driver for its continued push into the market. Terms from longtime owner James Rautio, according to a report CEO Steve Oren and the company’s team remained based private equity firm. GSB’s portfolio of liquid and of the H2O deal were not disclosed. in the Traverse City Record-Eagle. Walstrom, a dealer for in place after the acquisition. Terms of the deal were powdered flavors, masking agents and flavor enhancers

16 JANUARY 4, 2021 / MiBiz Visit www.mibiz.com complements National Flavors’ existing library of flavors, ■ Flint-based Patriot Supply Inc., which does business according to a statement. Terms of the acquisition were as Capitol Supply and Service and has locations in not disclosed. Grand Rapids and Lansing, was acquired by Fremont, ■ Via its Italy-based Poltrona Frau Group, Holland- Ohio-based Style Crest Inc. Capitol Supply is a building based Haworth Inc. acquired Luxury Living Group, products distribution and HVAC installation and servic- an Italian furni- ing business for the manufactured housing industry. The ture maker and company had completed several rounds of shareholder interior design buyouts over the years and was ready to find a long-term company that produces and distributes high-end furni- strategic partner to grow the business, according to a ture in Italy. The company works under licensing agree- statement. For Style Crest, a provider of HVAC and manu- ments with such brands as Fendi Casa, Bentley Home factured home products and services, the deal allows the and Bugatti Home. Luxury Living has a worldwide net- company to expand its installation and servicing capabili- work of 80 retailers and directly owned stores in Milan, ties to a new state. Southfield-based investment bank- Paris, New York, Los Angeles and Miami. The company ing and private investment firm Cascade Partners LLC generated about $104 million in revenue, down from a advised Capitol Supply on the deal. reported $139 million in 2017, and employs 250 people. ■ Perrigo Co. plc acquired three skin care and hair Terms of the deal with Haworth were not disclosed. loss brands from Paris- ■ Wyoming, Mich.-based C.G. Witvoet & Sons based Sanofi for approxi- Co., a fourth-generation family-owned custom sign mately $62 million. In the maker, was acquired by JBLR & Associates LLC, 12 months leading up to a Jackson-based investment group. C.G. Witvoet & June 30, the three treat- Sons, founded in 1932, operates from two facilities in ments generated combined sales of $23 million. The the Grand Rapids area and serves as a manufacturer deal, which was announced in August and closed Oct. WEST MICHIGAN’S TOP DEALS & DEALMAKERS and wholesaler of interior retail store décor, signage 30, fits with Perrigo’s transformation into a self-care and displays. The company had been looking for a company and boosts its skincare and personal hygiene MiBiz presents the 8th Annual M&A Deals & Dealmakers partner with additional resources to help scale up, product portfolio, according to a filing. Awards to spotlight best practices and excellence related to mergers, CFO Pete Musser said in a statement. Terms of the ■ A wholly owned subsidiary of Kalamazoo-based deal, which was finalized in June, were not disclosed. Midwest Fastener Corp. acquired most assets acquisitions, capital formation and other types of deal making throughout C.G. Witvoet & Sons was advised on the deal by Grand of Hy-Ko Products Co., a manufacturer of num- Western Michigan. We are seeking nominations for deals completed Rapids-based M&A firm Calder Capital LLC. bers, letters, signs, keys and accessories based in ■ Greenville-based FabX Industries Inc. acquired Northfield, Ohio, according to a statement. The new between July 1, 2019 and Dec. 31, 2020 in the following categories: Elite Tooling LLC in Kalamazoo. Shane Smith, who company, Hy-Ko Products Company LLC, retained founded Elite Tooling in all previous employees. A manufacturer of nuts, bolts, 1996 at the age of 18, anchors, deck and drywall screws and specialty fas- Q Deal of the Year: Manufacturing remained with the com- teners, Midwest Fastener expands its product capabil- Q Deal of the Year: Professional Services pany as president. Elite ities and enters a new North American market in the Q Deal of the Year: Finance/Banking Tooling serves pharma- deal. The buyers were represented by Grand Rapids- ceutical, medical and aerospace manufacturers in the based law firm Rhoades McKee PC. Q Deal of the Year: Retail Sector Kalamazoo area with a focus on low-volume, high- ■ Grand Rapids-based Surge Cardiovascular has Q Deal of the Year: Real Estate/Development precision and fast turnaround work. The acquisition been acquired by Sycamore, Ill.-based MED Michigan enables FabX Industries to expand its reach into high- Holdings LLC, an affiliate of medical device specialty Q Deal of the Year: Economic Development precision machining and makes Kalamazoo a “stra- distributor MED Alliance Solutions, according to a Q Deal of the Year: Health Care tegic location to service our customers in Northern statement. Surge Cardiovascular is a medical device Q Deal of the Year: Life Sciences Indiana,” owner Gopi Ganta said. A machining and company that designs, develops and manufactures fabrication service provider, FabX Industries is the par- cardiopulmonary bypass cannula and cardioplegia Q Deal of the Year: Technology ent company of Aquest Machining & Assembly delivery systems as well as blood management, orga- Q Deal of the Year: Nonprofit and LaserTec. Terms of the deal were undisclosed. nization and temperature management products. MED Grand Rapids-based Calder Capital LLC advised Alliance had been the exclusive distributor of Surge Elite Tooling in the transaction. Cardiovascular’s products since 2012. Q Dealmaker of the Year/Executive ■ Covington, Ky.-based manufacturer ProMach Inc. ■ Brown & Brown of Michigan Inc., a subsidiary of Q Dealmaker of the Year/Adviser enhanced its packaging machinery capabilities with Daytona, Fla.-based Brown & Brown Inc., acquired Q Dealmaker of the Year/Investor the purchase of Holland-based Fogg Filler Co. LLC, substantially all of the assets of Grand Rapids-based a third-generation family-owned company. Over six insurance agency Buiten & Associates LLC, accord- decades, Fogg Filler has grown to become a leader in ing to a statement. The Buiten & Associates team con- Winners will be featured in a special editorial section in the rotary filling systems for the food and beverage industry. tinues operating from its Grand Rapids office under February 15, 2021 print issue of MiBiz. Plus, we’ll highlight each of the Owner Ben Fogg will continue to lead the team of more the leadership of Paul Buiten. than 170 employees at the company’s 107,000-square- ■ Muskegon marketing and advertising firm Ignite winning companies and executives online and share their stories with foot location in Holland. A platform company backed merged with New School, an agency also based in industry professionals, executives, advisers, investors and other potential by Los Angeles-based private equity firm Leonard Muskegon. The merger expands New School’s mar- Green & Partners LP, ProMach is a provider of com- keting capabilities and capacity. The merged agency allies. It’s an exceptional opportunity to source new deals, attract plete packaging machinery solutions, engineering and maintained its office in Muskegon and all existing employees, access capital and create strategic growth opportunities. integration services for food, beverage and pharmaceu- staff. Justin Young joined the organization as senior tical companies. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. program manager, and Ignite founder Larry Young ■ Grand Rapids-based VNN Inc., a high school serves as senior marketing specialist. The deadline for nominations is January 8, 2021 at 11:45 p.m. sports communication platform, carved out a foot- ■ M. J. Van Damme Inc., a construction firm based hold in Washington in Gwinn, Mich. about 20 miles south of Marquette state with its acqui- in the Upper Peninsula, was acquired by Scottsdale, sition of Lynden, Ariz.-based private equity firm Eberhart Capital LLC, Wash.-based according to a statement. The $20 million to $50 million Washington Prep deal adds trucking and quarry expertise to Eberhart’s Athletics Network. Similar to VNN, WPA Network NOMINATIONS OPEN: existing construction portfolio. M. J. Van Damme Inc. has become the largest provider of data management employs 130 people and provides specialized construc- tools for athletic directors throughout Washington. tion support services to the mining, farming and civil VNN has partnerships with roughly 10 percent of the construction industries. The firm also repurposes vari- MIBIZ.COM/DEALS high school sports programs in the U.S., but was only ous wastes into materials used on construction projects. connected with three schools in Washington. With the ■ Grand Rapids-based SpendMend LLC, which pro- deal, VNN is now connected with 35 athletic confer- vides spending visibility and audit recovery services to ences in the state, or roughly 85 percent of the schools For sales information, contact [email protected]. in Washington. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. See 2020 M&A DEALS ROUNDUP on page 18

Visit www.mibiz.com MiBiz / JANUARY 4, 2021 17 2020 M&A DEALS ROUNDUP

the health care industry, acquired two related compa- closed on a deal co-owners, President Timothy Dedinas and Vice President acquired the California Mille car rally from the found- nies, TurnKey Pharmacy Solutions and Elevate340B, on Aug. 20 to Robert Franzak, retained a minority ownership and remain ing Swig family, according to a statement. The California both based in Draper, Utah. The company rebranded acquire Re-source in advisory roles with the company. Kilroy Partners will Mille travels a route along northern California’s moun- the firms as SpendMend Pharmacy, which will focus on Industries Inc., a maintain the company’s Grand Rapids operations. tains and coastal roads and is limited to 65 cars annu- compliance, optimization and growth services for 340B family-owned man- Franzak described Kilroy Partners as the right buyer for ally. The deal follows Hagerty’s 2019 acquisition of programs in the health care industry. The 340B pro- ufacturer based in Cheeze Kurls, as previous potential buyers have proposed Greenwich Concours d’Elegance, a 25-year-old gram requires drug makers to provide discounted medi- Muskegon. Previous owners Paul and Randi Kuyt closing the plant and moving operations out of state. family-run car show in Greenwich, Conn., and bolsters cation to hospitals and clinics providing care to unin- remained with the company, which was renamed ■ A long-standing New Buffalo ice cream and yogurt the portfolio of “immersive automotive experiences” for sured or vulnerable patient populations. TurnKey offers RSI of West Michigan. The company is a high-vol- shop Oink’s Dutch Treat was sold to an individual the Northern Michigan firm. 340B audit and compliance services and established ume manufacturer of parts for a range of products, investor Michael Schimanski. Grand Rapids-based ■ An employee group took a majority ownership posi- Elevate340B to consult with hospitals to grow their use including ATVs, autos, snowmobiles and archery bows, Small Business Deal Advisors advised former tion in investment advisory firm Red Cedar Investment of 340B programs. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. and employs 44 people. RSI offers CNC machining owner Roger Vink on the deal. Management LLC. Under the terms of the deal, Delta and rapid prototyping and operates from a more than ■ Grand Rapids-based law firm Miller, Johnson, Snell ■ Grand Rapids-based engineering consultant Dental of Michigan subsidiary The 4100 Group 40,000-square-foot facility on South Getty Street in & Cummiskey PLC acquired Detroit-based law firm Foresight Management acquired Sustainable Inc. issued Muskegon. Grand Rapids-based Calder Capital LLC Lusk Albertson PLC in a deal that closed Aug. 31. Lusk Research Group LLC, a long-standing pioneer in the 51 percent sourced the deal for Waséyabek. Albertson focuses its practice on the education sector. realm of sustainable business practices. Sustainable of its com- mon shares The combined firm will have 105 attorneys practicing ■ Grand Rapids-based private equity firm Blackford Research Group founder Bill Stough was the inau- to Bridge & Vine LLC, a Michigan company owned at three offices statewide, and “represents an oppor- Capital sold Fort Wayne, Ind.-based Ellison Bakery, gural inductee of the Michigan Sustainable Business by a core group of six Red Cedar Investment profes- tunity for Miller Johnson to establish an even stronger a maker of cookies and other baked goods. Blackford Hall of Fame. foothold in the greater Detroit market,” according to an Capital sold Ellison Bakery to Tilia Holdings, a sionals. The 4100 Group retained a 49 percent equity ■ Grand Rapids-based office technology solutions announcement of the deal. Terms of the deal were not Chicago-based private investment firm founded in stake in Red Cedar. John Cassady was named CEO of provider Applied Imaging has grown its presence in disclosed. Lusk Albertson partner Kevin Sutton will lead 2017 that invests in the food supply chain. Blackford the new ownership structure that took effect Oct. 1. Florida through the acquisition of Tampa Bay-based the Detroit office as managing member. Capital acquired Ellison Bakery in 2017. Terms of the He also remains chief investment officer at Red Cedar, Upstream Office Solutions. The acquisition gives ■ Grand Rapids-based Waséyabek Development sale to Tilia Holdings were undisclosed. which employs 13 people and has $1.4 billion in assets Applied Imaging a total of 14 offices spread through- under management. Co., the non-gaming economic development arm of ■ Traverse City-based investment firm Boomerang out Michigan, Ohio and Florida. Terms of the deal, ■ Schoolcraft-based LNS Manufacturing Inc. the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi, Catapult LLC sold Taste the Local Difference, a food which was finalized in late August, were undisclosed. marketing agency, to individual investor Jody Trietch, acquired Grand Rapids-based Van’s Pattern Corp., a ■ Rosemont, Ill.-based Brennan Investment Group according to a report in the Traverse City Record-Eagle. family-owned manufacturer with 60 years of experience established a joint venture equity partnership with Saudi Trietch serves as CFO of Boomerang Catapult, which in polystyrene patterns and prototypes. Van’s Pattern Arabia-based investment firm Arbah Capital to acquire bought the organization from Groundwork Center operates out of a 40,000-square-foot facility at 11 Sweet 557,000 square feet of light industrial and flex space, for Resilient Communities in 2018. Under Trietch’s St. NW on Grand Rapids’ north side, where it uses CNC- PE-BACKED including two sites in West Michigan. The properties leadership, the company looks to expand its services controlled cutting machines to create detailed patterns include 5460 Executive Parkway in Cascade Charter beyond Michigan, according to the report. and prototypes for the auto industry in addition to special HIGH STREET Township, which is occupied by Tesla Tool and Die, and tool manufacturers and foundries. The deal was bro- 1865 Industrial Drive in Grand Haven, which is occupied kered by Hudsonville-based NuVescor Group. by Lakeshore Fittings Inc. Global real estate services ■ Denver-based GrowGeneration Corp., which INSURANCE firm JLL Capital Markets connected Brennan and SEPTEMBER operates specialty retail hydroponic and organic Arbah, as well as helped the newly formed joint venture ■ Grand Rapids-based BlueWater Partners served gardening stores throughout the country, recently equity partnership secure $22.9 million in debt financ- PARTNERS as exclusive financial adviser to Douglas Corp. of acquired Michigan’s Big Green Tomato, a hydro- ing via a 5-year floating-rate loan with Wintrust Bank. Minneapolis, Minn. in its sale to Aludec USA Inc. ponic equipment store with locations in Taylor and CONTINUES Douglas is a designer and manufacturer of prod- Battle Creek. Big Green Tomato has a strong com- uct identification and user interface products for the mercial operation and generates around $16 million automotive, truck, marine, agriculture and construction OCTOBER in revenue. With the deal, GrowGeneration now owns DEAL STREAK industries. Spain-based Aludec designs and manufac- and operates six stores across Michigan. ■ Cascade Charter Township-based Hart & Cooley tures exterior and interior automotive parts. Terms of LLC, a manufacturer of air distribution products for both the deal were not disclosed. residential and commercial HVAC clients that was for- ■ igh Street Insurance Partners, a Brent Slagell and Jim Zawacki — part of the own- merly owned by Johnson Controls International plc, NOVEMBER ership group of Lowell-based Big Boiler Brewing — Traverse City-based agency platform sold to Miami-based global private equity firm H.I.G. ■ Building products dealer and manufacturer acquired Castle Brewing in Greenville under the entity backed by private equity, completed Capital, which will now operate it as its own entity. Hart Zeeland Lumber & Supply Co. was acquired by H Hophog LLC. Terms of the deal were undisclosed. a series of nationwide acquisitions in 2020. & Cooley manufactures grilles, registers, diffusers, flex US LBM Holdings LLC, one of the largest specialty Since forming in 2018 with backing from ■ Pro-Vision Video Systems, a West Michigan air duct systems, air filtration components, chimneys sys- building product distributors in the country. Zeeland Detroit-based private equity firm Huron producer of body-worn cameras and rear vision and tems and other components. The company will maintain Lumber & Supply operates three manufacturing Capital, High Street Insurance Partners video recording systems used worldwide, acquired St. its headquarters at 5030 Corporate Exchange Blvd. SE, facilities and three building material yards scattered has completed 15 Petersburg, Fla.-based Zone Defense LLC. Aligning with near the Gerald R. Ford International Airport. throughout Michigan and Northern Indiana. With the acquisitions and Pro-Vision’s products, Zone Defense develops, engineers ■ Marne-based DeWys Manufacturing Inc. acquired deal, US LBM now operates 16 locations in Michigan. and manufactures advanced vision systems for automo- continues to pur- Grand Haven-based metal fabricator ReFab LLC. ■ Minneapolis, Minn.-based engineering and environ- tive and fleet industries. Pro-Vision is owned by Boston- sue an acquisition Established in 1977 as a mental consulting firm Barr Engineering Co., which based private equity firm JMC Capital Partners. strategy. one-person metal shop, has offices in Kentwood and Ann Arbor, acquired Grand The company’s 2020 deals included: ■ Grand Rapids-based medical and biotechnology DeWys Manufacturing, Rapids-based King & MacGregor Environmental Inc. • Ken Bleeker Insurance Agency in manufacturing firm Medbio LLC acquired Orchard provides custom metal King & MacGregor specializes in natural resource con- Martin, Mich. Park, N.Y.-based Polymer Conversions Inc., which fabrication services. sulting and environmental services, particularly wetland • Trust Shield Insurance Group of specializes in contract medical device manufactur- The deal allows DeWys and water body assessments, the design of constructed Schoolcraft, Mich. ing involving thermoplastic injection molding. Medbio Manufacturing to expand its core capabilities — cutting, wetlands and environmental reviews and permitting. • Gates-Cole Associates in New officials say Polymer Conversions is “highly comple- forming and welding — while also facilitating quicker Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Hartford, N.Y. mentary” and expands the company’s “geographic turnaround times and the ability to meet the evolving ■ Grand Rapids-based private equity firm Auxo • Tall Pines Insurance Services of presence.” Terms of the deal were undisclosed. needs of clients. Investment Partners acquired Elmhurst, Ill.-based Boonville, N.Y. Philadelphia, Pa.-based private equity firm Graham ■ Ludington-based Foam Works LLC, a young busi- GC Dies, a steel rule die cutting manufacturer with a • an unspecified book of business in Partners owns a majority stake in Medbio. ness specializing in spray foam and cellulose insula- 37,500-square-foot facility. The manufacturer employs Verona Beach, N.Y. ■ Ceresco, Mich.-based Integrated Manufacturing tion, sold to an individual investor. Foam Works was 50 employees and specializes in flat corrugated, rotary • Capital Insurance Group of Concepts LLC was acquired by individual investor Tom founded in 2017 by Dann and Julie Van Dyke, who corrugated and flat steel rule die production. Bloomfield Hills, Mich. Tilma. The Calhoun County company manufactures tube together own property maintenance and construction ■ Chicago-based private equity firm Westbourne • Tracy, Driscoll & Co. Inc. in Bristol, fabrication and bending products, serving a variety of company Cottage Works Corp. The couple ultimately Capital Partners completed a strategic investment Conn. different industries. Terms of the sale were undisclosed. decided to sell Foam Works to focus on their other in Grand Rapids-based Proos Manufacturing, which • Millennium Alliance Group LLC in Grand Rapids-based M&A firm Calder Capital LLC business. Terms of the deal were undisclosed. Grand specializes in designing and manufacturing material Long Island, N.Y. advised Integrated Manufacturing Concepts in the deal. Rapids-based Small Business Deal Advisors LLC handling solutions. The investment, made to sup- Terms of the deals were not disclosed. ■ Walker-based snack food maker Cheeze Kurls Inc. advised the VanDykes on the sale. port Proos Manufacturing’s rapid growth in domestic was acquired by Kilroy Partners, a Boca Raton, Fla.- ■ Traverse City-based Hagerty Insurance Agency and international e-commerce fulfillment, was made based private investment firm. Former Cheeze Kurls Inc., an insurer of classic cars and high-end automobiles, in partnership with Samson Investment Partners,

18 JANUARY 4, 2021 / MiBiz Visit www.mibiz.com which is based in New York and Dallas, in addition to mortgages and investments. The two agencies provide a group of additional family offices. Terms of the deal auto, home, farm, commercial, life and health insurance were not disclosed. policies. Secure Investors Group — a financial services ■ Belding-based Flat River Group, a toy and game TETRA THERAPEUTICS’ SALE OFFERS and insurance firm started in 1997 — has offices in Troy distributor, acquired Optimum Fulfillment, an Illinois- and Albion. Terms of the deal were undisclosed. based company that services the e-commerce indus- HEALTHY RETURNS FOR INVESTORS ■ Muskegon-based Betten Baker Auto Group try as a wholesaler of toys, games and other con- acquired the Buick franchise from Witt Buick, also sumer products. Optimum Fulfillment sells to the located in Muskegon. Witt Buick will continue its busi- likes of Amazon, Walmart and Target, according to a ness as Witt Sales, Service & Collision and will provide statement. Flat River Group will continue to operate pre-owned sales, service and collision repair while rand Rapids-based Tetra Therapeutics Inc.’s sale to Japanese pharmaceutical company Optimum Fulfillment’s facility in Peru, Ill. retaining all of its current staff. With the acquisition, Shionogi & Co. Ltd. provides a final pathway toward bringing to market potential new drugs ■ Grand Rapids-based TTS Logistics, a transporter Betten Baker’s location at 2474 Henry St. in Muskegon to treat Alzheimer’s disease and a form of autism, as of specialty produce, was acquired by LaFayette, G will now offer every GM brand on the market. Terms well as generates a handsome return for financial backers. La.-based Dupré Logistics, an energy and chemi- of the deal were not disclosed. Investors in a $7.2 million Series A capital round Tetra cal trucking firm, according to a statement. The deal ■ Grand Rapids-based public relations and investor raised in 2016 got a return of five times their original marks the entry into a new market for the privately held relations firm Lambert & Co. formed a joint venture investment, according to founder and CEO Mark Gurney. Dupré, which aims to grow its “asset light business with 9th Wonder, a Houston, Texas-based marketing Participants in an earlier July 2013 debt offering got an unit” to $200 million and brand strategy firm. The joint venture and capital in sales by 2024. TTS ROI that’s close to 13 times their investment, he said. investment in 9th Wonder can accelerate the growth of Logistics’ 15 employ- “We returned a lot of capital to Michigan,” said Gurney, both companies, according to a statement. Lambert & ees have joined the who started Tetra Therapeutics in 2011 and methodically Co. co-founder and CEO Jeff Lambert called 9th Wonder team at Dupré, which built and led the company down the R&D pathway toward a “perfect complement to our offerings in PR, inves- will maintain the company’s offices in Grand Rapids an exit for investors. tor relations, crisis communications and diversity con- and Mount Pleasant. Dupré operates 750 trucks and “This is a tremendous win for West Michigan, both sulting.” Under the deal, Lambert will join 9thWonder’s employs more than 1,100 drivers, according to a state- for our investors and stakeholders,” Gurney told MiBiz board. The joint venture includes an investor group led ment. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. for a July report. by Monika Mantilla, a fund manager who invests in ■ Ada-based Century Technology Group Inc., a fam- Tetra’s merger into Shionogi & Co. Ltd., first minority, women-led and diverse-owned companies, ily office that provides tech companies with growth capi- announced in May 2020, could ultimately reach a trans- and entrepreneurs located in low or moderate-income tal, administrative resources and managerial consult- action value of $500 million if certain regulatory and sales communities. Terms of the deal were undisclosed. ing, acquired custom software and app developer Grand milestones are met over the years. ■ Schaumburg, Ill.-based Convergint Technologies Rapids-based Mutually Human. Century Technology Under the deal, Shionogi & Co. acquired Tetra’s port- Mark Gurney, founder and CEO LLC acquired Grand Rapids-based Innovative Group plans to invest in strategic sales and marketing to folio of drug compounds for treating Alzheimer’s disease, of Tetra Therapeutics. Medical Systems Inc., a reseller of acute care and grow Mutually Human, in addition to recruiting outside technical products for hospitals. The deal will “further talent and adding complementary development capa- Fragile X syndrome and other brain disorders associated MIBIZ FILE PHOTO: ADAM BIRD deepen and expand Convergint’s presence within the bilities. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. with cognitive or memory conditions. Tetra became a wholly owned subsidiary of Shionogi, which obtained global rights to all of Tetra’s drug health care market in the United States,” according ■ Holland-based Major Brands Oil Co. acquired to a statement. Terms of the deal were undisclosed. compounds, including one known as BPN14770 for Alzheimer’s. Central Oil Co., a Roseville-based distributor that Grand Rapids-based investment bank BlueWater The deal represents one of the largest exits to date for a startup company formed and specializes in industrial and commercial lubricants Partners LLC served as the exclusive financial adviser nurtured in West Michigan and supported by local investors. throughout Southeast Michigan and parts of Ohio. and Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey PLC, also Central Oil offers next-day delivery for coolants, lubri- Michigan-based investors in Tetra included Grand Angels and its Ka-Zoo Angels of Grand Rapids, was the legal counsel to Innovative cants, oils and speciality chemicals and gives Major affiliate, Kalamazoo-based Apjohn Group LLC, Muskegon Angels, Traverse City-based Medical Systems, which gained access to Convergint’s Brands Oil a foothold in the metro Detroit region. Northern Michigan Angels, Ann Arbor SPARK, the Michigan Economic Development global network to broaden services to clients. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Corp.’s Invest Michigan fund, and the Bioscience Research & Commercialization ■ Lighthouse Group, a Grand Rapids-based insur- Center at Western Michigan University, plus local high net worth individuals. ance and employee benefits agency, has been acquired The deal followed a March announcement that Shionogi & Co. increased its equity stake by Alera Group, a Deerfield, Ill.-based independent DECEMBER in Tetra to 50 percent, which included an option to complete a structured buyout of the insurance firm that has more than 90 locations across remaining equity in Tetra if certain conditions were met in the company’s Phase 2 trial of its ■ Fruitport-based medical device supplier Motion the U.S. Joining Alera Group “will open avenues for BPN14770 compound in treating Alzheimer’s disease. Dynamics LLC, a portfolio company since 2016 of growth like never before, both for our clients and our Advisers on the March equity deal included Cooley LLP, Honigman LLP and Nomura Los Angeles-based private equity firm Vance Street firm,” said Tom Helmstetter, group president and CEO Capital, completed its first add-on acquisition with a Securities International Inc. of Lighthouse, which has eight offices in Michigan. deal for ViaMed Holdings LLC. The Easton, Mass.-based Terms of the deal were undisclosed. MarshBerry ViaMed manufactures miniature precision components Capital Inc., a Woodmere, Ohio-based strategic con- sulting and M&A advisory firm, served as financial advi- and subassemblies for medical device manufacturers in cleanrooms for clients in North America. Angstrom closed Oct. 31. Guide Engineering specializes in design- the neurovascular, peripheral vascular and orthopedic sor to Lighthouse Group in the transaction. Technology’s management team will continue to lead ing and manufacturing automation, assembly and test markets. The deal complements Motion Dynamics’ capa- ■ Walker-based Pipp Horticulture acquired Vertical the company. Terms of the deal were undisclosed. systems primarily for the automotive industry. The acqui- bilities and allows the company to “simplify the supply Air Solutions LLC (VAS), a Santa Cruz, Calif.-based pro- Grand Rapids-based M&A firm Charter Capital sition adds capabilities to FabX, which is focused on chain” for device manufacturers, President Chris Witham ducer of air circulation systems for indoor vertical farming. Partners represented Angstrom Technology in the high-quality, cost-effective and value-added machining said in a statement. Terms of the transaction were not The acquisition was a strategic one for Pipp Horticulture, transaction. Dickinson Wright PLLC served as legal and fabrication services. FabX President Gopi Ganta will disclosed. Motion Dynamics was advised by Chicago- a division of Pipp Mobile Storage Systems, Inc., which adviser to Angstrom, while Richmond, Va.-based now take on the CEO role at Guide Engineering, where based Vedder Price LLP, while Attleboro, Mass.-based specializes in vertical farm- McGuireWoods LLP advised ASGARD Partners. former co-owner Scott Taylor will serve as president. Coogan Smith LLP served as legal adviser to ViaMed. ing and space optimization ■ The deal allowed two of Taylor’s partners to transition to ■ Albion-based Caster Concepts Inc., which solutions. “We have gotten Caledonia-based Aspen Surgical Products Inc. retirement. Grand Rapids-based mergers and acquisi- completed its third acquisition in less than a year with designs and manufactures industrial casters and to know the VAS team well tions firm NuVescor Group advised Guide Engineering a deal for Coralville, Iowa-based Protek Medical wheels for a variety of industries, expanded into in recent years, as they on the deal. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Products Inc. The acquisition “strengthens Aspen’s the aerospace and defense sectors with a deal for have been an integral part broad portfolio of medical and patient and staff safety Los Angeles-based Aerol Co. Inc. The acquisition ■ Chicago-based Factorial Holdings acquired 26 of our horticulture business, and their products are the products sold into hospital and surgery center mar- included Aerol’s line of aluminum casters specifically existing Burger King restaurants in the Grand Rapids ideal addition to our Mobile Vertical Grow Rack Systems,” kets,” according to the company. Protek Medical designed for the aerospace tooling industry, which area, where it plans to construct 10 new locations of said Craig Umans, President and CEO of Pipp. “We look Products produces single-use ultrasonic probe covers bolsters Caster Concepts’ product line of heavy-duty the fast food chain over the next five years. Factorial forward to integrating their leading technology into our and needle guides used in tissue biopsies, fluid aspi- industrial casters, wheels and polyurethane tread. Holdings specializes in buying restaurant companies continually expanding product offering to better serve the ration and vascular procedures, as well as protective Caster Concepts plans to close Aerol’s southern where founders are interested in transitioning. The firm fast growing vertical indoor farming industry.” covers for medical instruments and equipment. Terms California operations and move it to its home facil- invests in family-owned companies with $500,000 to ■ Texas-based Mueller Industries Inc. announced that of the deal were undisclosed. Aspen Surgical is a plat- ity in Albion. The company also plans to outsource $5 million in annual earnings. it signed a definitive agreement to purchase the flexi- form company of Boston-based Audax Private Equity. the production of aluminum castings to a foundry in ■ Troy-based Secure Investors Group Inc. acquired ble duct business from Grand Rapids HVAC contractor ■ New York City-based private equity firm ASGARD West Michigan. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. South Michigan Insurance Agency Inc. and Donald Hart & Cooley Inc. Greg Christopher, CEO of Mueller Partners & Co. acquired a controlling interest in ■ Greenville-based FabX Industries Inc., a provider E. Thornton Insurance Agency, both based in Lawton. Industries, said the acquisition, which is expected to close Angstrom Technology, a Grand Rapids-based of machining and fabrication services, acquired Fort The deal brings the two firms additional services that in late January 2021 will “expand our footprint in the air company that designs, builds and maintains modular Wayne-based Guide Engineering LLC in a deal that include retirement savings, retirement income tactics, quality and climate control systems markets.”

Visit www.mibiz.com MiBiz / JANUARY 4, 2021 19 Karen Kania and Peg McClure support nonprofits addressing basic needs. In particular, they’re focused on safe housing and alleviating hunger. They believe that if a person can’t nourish their body, they can’t nourish their spirit. As Karen and Peg considered what would happen to their assets after their lifetime, their professional advisor connected them to Grand Rapids Community Foundation. After their passing, the McKania Fund for the Economically Disadvantaged will be established at the Community Foundation to continue their legacy of providing for people facing housing and food insecurity. LET US HELP YOU GET STARTED We’re here to help you understand your options and explore creative ways to leave your mark on the community and causes you love. Give us a call at 616.454.1751. LEAVE YOUR MARK grfoundation.org

20 JANUARY 4, 2021 / MiBiz Visit www.mibiz.com NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS

Kids Count report KIDS COUNT DATA Michigan-specific statistics from the highlights toll of Annie E. Casey Foundation’s COVID-19 COVID-19 pandemic Kids Count report:

As of Oct. 12, the percentage of Michigan householdsds on Michigan families 34% with children that have felt nervous, anxious or on edgege for more than half of the days or nearly every day foror the past seven days, and 22 percent said they felt down, depressed or hopelesseless fforor halhalff By MARLA MILLER | MiBiz in recent weeks by Gov. Gretchen or more of the previous week. [email protected] Whitmer. On Dec. 29, Whitmer signed As of Oct. 12, the percentage of Michigan residents raising children reported a $106 million relief package that being uninsured. he coronavirus pandemic includes an unemployment benefit 7% is taking a toll on children extension, small business relief and and families who are strug- direct payments to some workers. Because of COVID-related insurance access, medical costs and exposure concerns, nearly one- gling to meet basic needs “This data is really relevant moving 1/3 third of Michigan families reported delaying medical care. And a quarter of Michigan households T while stretching nonprofits forward,” Perdue said. “The impact is raising kids said they did not get needed medical care because of the COVID-19 crisis. that provide essential services around still going to be there. Sixty percent of The rough percentage of Michigan households with children that have reported “sometimes food, shelter and mental health, families have lost employment income 15% or often” not having enough food to eat in the previous seven days. The same percentage of according to a new report. since March, and it’s still hovering Michigan parents say they have slight or no confidence in paying their next rent or mortgage In mid-December, the Baltimore- around 50 percent. That has a cascad- payment on time. based Annie E. Casey Foundation ing effect on how to meet basic needs released a special COVID-19 Kids as well as access to health insurance.” Count report that featured Michigan- specific data and highlights the pain of unemployed workers and people children. The goal is to get them into can come up with more comprehen- Equitable food systems points families face. In general, fami- accessing food resources for the first permanent housing they can afford, sive help.” needed lies are struggling with hunger, hous- time, though some food relief sites and many clients have paid ahead Like Skidmore, O’Keefe agrees the ing, health insurance and mental Partners of the Kent County Essential have reported seeing fewer people as on their bills when they do receive need for affordable housing and liv- health, the survey found. Needs Task Force report food insecurity more locations pop up. assistance. ing-wage jobs are complex, commu- An average of 62 percent of is a significant need that has increased “This year, it’s been interesting to “These are hard-working families nity-wide issues that were bubbling Michigan households with children since the pandemic began. Locally, food see all the disparities highlighted, but who are doing everything they can to up before COVID. Various stakehold- have lost employment income since banks are seeing more new families as they are not new,” she said. “So many stay in their housing during a global ers are working to “redesign the home- March 13, 2020, according to the well as a higher frequency of visits, said people are living one accident or one pandemic,” she said. lessness system and catch families report, “Kids, Families and COVID-19: Wende Randall, director of the Essential hospital visit away from the poverty Randall said families — and agen- more upstream,” O’Keefe said. Pandemic Pain Points and a Roadmap Needs Task Force. level. We need to address the fact that cies that support them — are worried “To get away from the Band- for Recovery.” That percentage has The goal has been to make sure there aren’t living wage jobs.” about housing issues, educational dis- Aids, we need to address why people declined in more recent weeks but is food distribution centers and access parities, and access to mental health are needing one in the first place,” still hovering at 51 percent. points are welcoming and barrier free, resources. Skidmore noted. Housing, education gaps Kids Count releases a data book and that there isn’t a feeling of judg- “We definitely have been hearing Skidmore also wants to see more every spring, but the Annie E. Casey ment for those first-time food bank The pandemic has continued to tax that education is a very stressful area investment in the local farm econ- Foundation developed the special visitors. housing resources for individuals and for families right now and part of that omy, adding that nonprofits can use 50-state report of recent household “What is interesting here is the families experiencing homelessness. is the whole digital divide,” Randall the Kids Count data to collaborate and data to assess how fami- overall food supply for Last month, Mel Trotter Ministries said. combine resources in 2021. lies are faring during the West Michigan has been opened an overflow shelter for individ- “There are so many farmers them- public health crisis, said NONPROFITS fairly steady,” Randall uals in the former Purple East building selves who are on food stamps and Nonprofits crucial for Kelsey Perdue, the Kids NEWS said. “The challenge across from Heartside Park to address food programs,” she said. “For food, — policy action Count director at the Sponsored by: is ensuring we have a ballooning homeless encampment for housing, for any of the larger sys- Michigan League for GRAND RAPIDS nutritious foods where there, which pushed city officials to Looking ahead in 2021, nonprofits can tems that are really really broken down COMMUNITY Public Policy. FOUNDATION people can access them clear the area in mid-December. use the Kids Count data to advocate right now, we’ve got to get creative The survey exam- easily.” Family Promise of Grand Rapids for policies and funding to support and work together and make more ined data from weekly Erin Skidmore, Good in March saw an immediate increase services that help families. connections.” surveys conducted by the U.S. Census Food Systems director at Access of in families seeking shelter — from 35 “The nonprofit voices — those on Pre-pandemic disparities for fami- Bureau, substantiating reports of fam- West Michigan, said the economic cri- to 70 families. The need has remained the ground working with families who lies of color, single-parent households ilies challenged to meet basic needs sis brought on by COVID-19 has high- steady throughout the year, with 85 see these numbers through real sto- or those living at or near poverty are along with managing school, work and lighted the disparities that existed long families staying in an emergency hotel ries — are a necessary component of being magnified, but the crisis has mental health. before the pandemic began. Access shelter two days before Christmas, advocacy,” Perdue said. hit all income levels. As the recovery “We’re looking at pretty timely data of West Michigan works with com- said Kate O’Keefe, Family Promise’s The Kids Count data helps sub- begins, government, advocacy organi- specific to the pandemic,” Perdue said. munity centers, the faith-based com- director of development and com- stantiate the need when making a case zations, businesses and citizens need “This is giving us some concrete data munity, health sites and food pantries munity engagement. Family Promise for funding, along with building col- to take a hard look at the ineffective and information to pair with the sto- to address the root causes of poverty, moved families from a shelter setting laborations among social service pro- systems and processes that led to ries we’ve been hearing this year. It’s including the need for living wage into extended-stay hotels because of viders and other local groups to make severely inequitable outcomes, advo- a more concrete idea of how families jobs, affordable housing, and equita- COVID-19 concerns. sure people aren’t falling through the cates say. with children are doing.” ble access to food. “It is a huge need in West cracks. “The people who may be in that The Michigan League for Public “There is a need for an emergency Michigan,” O’Keefe said. “We have “We’re working together to both middle class or upper middle class Policy and its Kids Count project response, but part of the problem with families who are living paycheck to share resources as well as build rela- want to get back to normal, but it was have used the data to support several charity food is that we aren’t working paycheck and can’t make ends meet.” tionships across the network of pro- a normal that wasn’t benefitting all COVID-19 relief measures, including to prevent the need from being there,” Family Promise has advocated for viders so people can enter the system people in the community,” Randall a six-week extension of emergency she said. “We are simply band-aiding the extended moratorium on evic- through one door and be supported,” said. “We need entire systems to unemployment benefits, a morato- the response.” tions and provides a variety of sup- Randall said. “We need to be able to shift for all people to be in a better rium on water shutoffs and the $100 Access of West Michigan part- port to families in the program. Most look at the different types of data, so situation as we come out of the pan- million COVID relief fund proposed ners have seen an increased number are young, single moms with young we can see how they intersect so we demic.”

Visit www.mibiz.com MiBiz / JANUARY 4, 2021 21 New Priority Health leader says IN THE NEWS local presence, M&A Independence Bank, one of the largest African values brought ■ Calgary, Alberta-based TransAlta Renewables American-owned banks in the U.S., the statewide Inc. has acquired a 29 megawatt (MW) cogenera- Grow Michigan Fund II will lend to profitable com- tion facility in Ada as part of a broader $439 million panies that typically need $500,000 to $5 million, him to insurer deal with its parent company for interests in renew- have established relationships with senior lenders, able energy projects in Canada and Washington revenue of $3 million to $50 million, and where the A Q&A with Praveen Thadani, State. “This enhances our position in the renewables capital will increase employment in Michigan. sector in both Canada and the U.S., launches on-site incoming president of generation in the U.S. and further extends the con- HEALTH CARE Priority Health tracted duration of our cashflows for ongoing distri- ■ Spectrum Health plans to buy out Holland butions to our shareholders as we continue to target Hospital’s interest in Health Pointe, an outpa- an 80 to 85 percent payout ratio for our common tient medical campus developed in Grand Haven raveen Thadani starts as Priority Health’s new president this month, moving from share dividends,” TransAlta Renewables President through a joint venture. Spectrum Health confirmed Humana Inc. in Chicago, where he’s worked for more than seven years. He started at John Kousinioris said in a statement. The Ada facility the move to MiBiz, saying in a statement that the Humana as Illinois market president then led strategic planning across several business has been in operation since 1991, and has another two “mutually agreed that Health Pointe will be most lines as senior vice president of strategy, product and innovation. A veteran health insur- five years left under a power purchase agreement successful going forward outside of a joint venture P ance executive with 25 years of industry experience, Thadani succeeds Joan Budden, and steam sale agreement with Consumers Energy structure.” The Spectrum Health statement did not who retired at the end of 2020 after 12 years with Priority Health, including the last five as CEO. and Amway Corp. TransAlta Corp. acquired the Ada indicate the value of buying out Holland Hospital’s Thadani is expected to take on the new role in early January. facility in March for about $27 million as it sought to interest. The nonprofit, tax-exempt corporate LLC pursue more U.S. cogeneration facilities. will remain intact and “continue to serve the Grand What attracted you to seek the leadership position at Priority Health? Haven community just now as a wholly owned sub- When this opportunity arose, (there were) two major factors. One is health care is so incredibly sidiary of Spectrum Health,” Spectrum said. local, and you’ve got other larger organizations that have a lot of local presence that I think Priority ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ■ Five hospitals in West Michigan were among does. Certainly it’s a statewide plan, but its ability to be very locally oriented to the consumer in ■ The economic development organization for 32 statewide to earn an “A” in a fall report card on Michigan makes a massive difference. the Muskegon area took on a new name when patient safety. Spectrum Health hospitals in Zeeland, I view Priority Health as an organization that’s very deeply involved in the community. I was Muskegon Area First became Greater Muskegon Greenville and Big Rapids, Metro Health Hospital, really fascinated by pretty much everybody on the leadership team and their very deep apprecia- Economic Development under a rebranding and Bronson Battle Creek earned the top grade from tion for creating vibrance in the community through health care. That’s the main thing that really initiative that includes a new website. The orga- The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit organization resonated with me and attracted me to this opportunity. nization made the change “to better identify our for patient safety based in Washington, D.C. Another mission and the geographic area we serve,” said 28 hospitals earned a “B” in the fall report card. All of The second factor? President and CEO Jim Edmonson. He cited, for the hospitals owned by Spectrum Health and Trinity Its values. I’ve interacted with a lot of organizations and I’ve never seen words like ‘curiosity’ and instance, the 13-county Procurement Technical Health, including Mercy Health Muskegon and ‘courage’ in their value statements. Priority’s ability to create really compassionate health care and Assistance Center that Greater Muskegon Mercy Health Saint Mary’s in Grand Rapids, earned thinking about how they can use collaboration, curiosity and courage differently in the community Economic Development manages, and the West an “A” or a “B” in the report card. really resonated with me. I think of all the work that’s taken place already under Joan’s leadership Michigan Food Processing Association that ■ Hulst Jepsen Physical Therapy opened loca- — and she’s been a really visionary leader and did some amazing things — clearly demonstrated covers five counties. tions on Baldwin Street in Jenison and Fuller Avenue to me that the curiosity, courage and certainly the collaboration is there. The ability to really har- ■ The West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of NE in Grand Rapids. The new locations give the ness that and accelerate the momentum was very attractive. Commerce will use a $100,000 grant from Bank Grand Rapids-based Jepsen Physical Therapy 18 of America to help businesses through the COVID- offices in the area. How will your experience in strategic planning at Humana fit with your new role at 19 pandemic. The funding supports the expansion Priority Health? of the Hispanic Chamber’s Transformando West ENERGY I think there’s a really neat fit. A lot of the work that I’ve done at Humana has been focused on not Michigan initiative with the launch of the Latinx ■ Gov. Gretchen Whitmer appointed engineer- just strategic planning, but strategic execution. There’s long term or short term to that. I’ve spent Business Restart Program, which will provide ing and energy storage expert Katherine Peretick a lot of time on innovation and what’s referred to as market development. As an example: What coaching and training to businesses. The program as a political independent to fill a vacancy on the are the ideas that will resonate in certain markets (and) how do you enhance your focus on value- will assist busi- Michigan Public Service Commission. Peretick, based care and innovation and transformation around transparency? Those are some of the key nesses with based in Ann Arbor, is the director of engineer- initiatives that I worked on at Humana and I think those themes really resonate inside the Michigan personal pro- ing for Toronto-based energy storage developer community and inside of Priority Health as well. tection equip- NRStor Inc. and would replace Commissioner ment such as Sally Talberg, who resigned to take a job in Texas. How does the COVID-19 public health crisis affect the health care industry as you face masks and plexiglass barriers, plus best prac- Peretick’s appointment is subject to the advice and transition to Priority Health? tices to restore their supply chain and technology consent of the state Senate. It has created a platform for people to create a compelling vision to accelerate change in health for e-commerce, digital marketing and touchless care. It’s the silver lining, candidly, to this crisis. In a very short time, the FDA on an emergency payments. The grant will also support business AGRICULTURE basis was able to approve the vaccine. It’s the fastest they have ever moved. What gives me a lot of coaching in finance and banking practices. ■ Ravenna High School in Muskegon County was hope is that we’ll be doing more of that in the future. And as consumers begin to embrace more ■ Perrigo Co. plc is seeking a 12-year incentive selected by the U.S. Department of Education for digital solutions, health care has been ripe for destruction for a very long time around this notion agreement estimated at $4.1 million in total prop- a $100,000 Rural Tech Project grant that will support of consumerism and consumers really beginning to take more responsibility for their health and erty tax savings for its plans to relocate its North a new agricultural technology program teaching wellbeing, and providers and payers working more closely together toward value-based solutions. American headquarters to downtown Grand Rapids. skills in robotics, health care and computer infor- It’s accelerated the move toward all of those pieces. The Grand Rapids City Commission will consider matics. The first phase of the school’s project will the agreement at a Jan. 12 public hearing. The tax focus on automated beekeeping to allow remotely How does it carry the industry forward? incentive hinges on Perrigo having 150 employ- accessing data and managing hive health. “The Even if you think about the inability of consumers to visit hospitals and clinics (in the spring) and ees in downtown Grand Rapids within two years act of bee pollination,” Ravenna Public Schools how quickly they evolved (toward adopting telehealth), I think the massive learning there is the of the project’s completion. About 100 will be exist- Superintendent Greg Helmer said in an announce- system is very resilient and people are very resilient, and everybody has found a solution to oper- ing Perrigo employees that will transfer to Grand ment, “is the infrastructure of farming.” ate despite the challenges. The challenge now for us is to continue that momentum and learn from Rapids, and about 50 will be newly created positions. the last nine months and apply those learnings to continue to drive more momentum. It creates EXPANSION a lot of opportunity. FINANCE ■ Tantrick Brewing Co. is redeveloping a ■ A new $200 million fund to support growing 2,110-square-foot facility at 134 Water St. in What do you want people and employers in the marketplace to know about you? businesses in Michigan intends to direct half of Allegan, which will serve as its new production Two things. One is that we know health care is expensive and we will absolutely do our part to make the capital it raises to financing minority-owned space. The Allegan-based brewery, which currently health care more affordable. To the consumers of health care, health care has been complex for a companies. Grow Michigan Fund II, the succes- operates a production space and taproom at 633 long time and we’ll continue doing our part to make it simpler day by day. That’s a journey. It’s not sor to a mezzanine fund formed in 2012 with the 114th Ave., plans to finish off renovations by the end a destination that can be accomplished in a year or two years, but we will absolutely do our part backing of state funding and investments from of February, when its current lease expires. Tantrick to help because the healthier the community is and the more affordable health care is, the more several banks, will target small businesses in an is also working to overhaul the former Long Branch vibrant the community is. That’s ultimately what I care about the most. array of sectors including manufacturing, distri- Saloon at 243 Hubbard St. to serve as a restaurant bution, transportation, life sciences and enabling and taproom. The two facilities are just blocks away Interview conducted and condensed by Mark Sanchez. COURTESY PHOTO technologies. Administered by Detroit-based First from each other.

22 JANUARY 4, 2021 / MiBiz Visit www.mibiz.com 1.18.2021 Industry 4.0: Smart Factories Contract Deadline: 1.6.2021 2.1.2021 Cybersecurity UPCOMING Commercial Lending Quarterly: Small Biz Lending Update Contract Deadline: 1.20.2021 2.15.2021 Work From Home M&A, Deals & Dealmakers Awards ISSUES Contract Deadline: 2.3.2021 3.1.2021 Education & Talent Development Contract Deadline: 2.17.2021 EGLE director Nonprofits on 2050 seek restored carbon neutral charitable giving roadmap tax credits PAGE 22 PAGE 21

OCTOBER 12, 2020 • VOL. 32/NO. 26 • $3.00 SERVING WESTERN MICHIGAN BUSINESS SINCE 1988 www.mibiz.com Grand Action 3.15.2021 Metro Health pursuing open-heart surgery program in GR reboot eyes By MARK SANCHEZ | MiBiz septal defects, and “other identified appropri- care. We are proud to help [email protected] ate services.” make this a reality,” Metro Metro Health would spend $3.2 million to Health President and CEO downtown etro Health-University of Michigan renovate and remodel space at its Wyoming Peter Hahn said in a state- Real Estate: Offi ce Health likely will proceed with hospital to perform heart surgeries, according ment to MiBiz. seeking state approval to per- to the Oct. 8 letter of intent to the state. The letter of intent to amphitheater M form open-heart surgery in Grand The move comes nearly four years after Metro the state signals a care pro- Rapids, a move that would bring more competi- Health was acquired by University of Michigan vider’s interest in seeking a By ANDY BALASKOVITZ | MiBiz tion for the procedure to the local market. Health System and Michigan Medicine, its aca- certificate of need (CON) to [email protected] Contract Deadline: 3.3.2021 In a filing last week to the Michigan demic medical center in Ann Arbor. launch a new clinical ser- Hahn Department of Health and Human Services, “Michigan Medicine is world-renowned for vice. Care providers typically will file a letter of GRAND RAPIDS — The business group that Metro Health indicated it may pursue regula- cardiovascular care. This new program will bring intent that places them in line for state review pushed several major developments over the past tory authority to launch coronary artery bypass that expertise to West Michigan, giving patients during that quarter as the provider makes a final 25 years has multiple new priority projects, includ- surgery, cardiac valve repair or replacement, choice and access to the most sophisticated decision on whether to proceed. ing a downtown Grand Rapids amphitheater. repair for birth defects of the heart known as treatments and world-class cardiovascular See METRO HEALTH on page 3 Grand Action, which reconvened earlier this year after a nearly three-year hiatus, is studying the How should Aerospace feasibility of an amphitheater, expanded conven- tion center space and a professional soccer field. marketing change suppliers brace On Oct. 2, the Grand Rapids-Kent County in the wake of for continued Convention/Arena Authority board approved a res- olution authorizing the authority to “proceed with COVID-19? turbulence efforts to determine whether there is an appropriate PAGE 9 PAGE 5 site for the location of an amphitheater.” Grand Action has effectively taken over those 3.29.2021 MAY 11, 2020 •VOL. 32/NO. 15•$3.00 SERVING WESTERN MICHIGAN BUSINESS SINCE 1988 www.mibiz.com efforts from a task force appointed by the CAA Board. Grand Action has “embraced this potential (amphitheater) project and likely will get involved in its planning and fundraising for it,” Steve Experts warn of Heacock, president and CEO of Grand Rapids EXPLORING Whitewater and CAA board member, said during possible mental the meeting. “We don’t know that for certain yet, Utilities & Energy WHAT’S but that’s a very, very good potential.” health ‘aftershock’ Heacock added that multiple studies over recent years have all concluded a downtown from COVID-19 NEXT amphitheater would result in positive economic activity, and that “site selection is the next big step.” Experts preview workplace Two potential sites on Market Avenue along the By MARK SANCHEZ | MiBiz changes as economy slowly M&A Roundtable Grand River have been previously mentioned: 201 [email protected] re-emerges Market SW, where the city recently walked away from a separate $270 million development deal, f the SARS outbreak 17 years and 63 Market Ave. SW, the site of the former ago in Asia is an accurate indi- By MARK SANCHEZ | MiBiz Charley’s Crab restaurant. cator, behavioral health care [email protected] Contract Deadline: 3.17.2021 The three development projects have been on providers could see a patient I Hikers in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in the Upper Peninsula. PHOTO COURTESY OF PURE MICHIGAN the radar of civic leaders, developers and city offi- surge in the coming weeks and eople who have been working from cials for nearly five years. months as the COVID-19 pandemic home for weeks because of the Former takes an emotional toll on people. Spectrum COVID-19 pandemic will return to a Grand Action, which dissolved at the end of One-third of the people in Asia decidedly different workplace than 2017 and relaunched in March under new leader- Muskegon coal Health PBy MARK SANCHEZ | MiBiz the pandemic, and with the ship, has retained consulting firm CSL to provide a were unable to return to work full COPING they had previously once the economy gets plant to get time after the SARS pandemic, six prioritizes With limited funding [email protected] again. restoration of limited funding, new market feasibility study on the projects. The new owners in 10 experienced fatigue, and half buying local Changes will span a range of workplaceTravel Michigan Vice President study is expected in late November. had difficulty sleeping. environments,he Pure including Michigan offices, cam- shop floors,Dave Lorenz sees an urgency to Grand Action 2.0 is led by Carol Van Andel, Dick PAGE 12 In Hong Kong, the suicide rate PAGE 14 breakroomspaign and conference that touts rooms. the Wearingramp the Pure Michigan cam- DeVos and Tom Welch, regional president of Fifth spiked nearly 32 percent for two WITHrestored, Pure Michigan face masksstate and as ahaving travel destina-more distancepaign back up this fall — in Third Bank. DeVos is the only holdover from the pre- MARCH 16, 2020 •VOL. 32/NO. 11•$3.00 SERVING WESTERNyears afterMICHIGAN SARS. Hong BUSINESS Kong also SINCE 1988 www.mibiz.com betweenT workerstion should will returnbecome soon the norm,some form — to support the vious Grand Action team that was also co-chaired by experienced “increases in persistent alongto spur with fallroutine and temperature winter travel checks tourism and industry that’s popu- John Canepa and David Frey, both of whom retired. depression, anxiety, panic attacks, shifts focus to fall and continuallyand help cleaning tourism-reliant and sanitizing small the work-lated by many small businesses. Formed in 1992, the original Grand Action psychomotor agitation, psychotic place,businesses tools, equipment that were and hit workstations. hard When working with limited group pushed major downtown develop- symptoms, delirium, and suicid- this summer by theThose COVID-19 and other prac-funding, Travel Michigan would ments such as Van Andel Arena, DeVos Place 4.12.2021 — CORONAVIRUS IN MICHIGANCOVID-19 — STATUS QUO ality,” accord- pandemic. tices are all part of thetypically pro- put its resources into Convention Center, the relocation of Michigan ing to a white winter tourism As Michigan’sverbial “newtourism normal” the for “big season” and promote State University’s medical school to Grand Rapids GR debates increasing sites for marijuana paper from Pine industry continuesemployers to reel working from to nav-See PURE MICHIGAN on page 15 and the Secchia Center, the Downtown Market, businesses; equity, Rest Christian Virus concerns igate the deadly pandemic renovation of DeVos Performance Hall and the local ownership Mental Health that has disrupted daily rou- Grand Rapids Civic Theater. concerns remain Services on the tines, thrown the economy Drinking Economy potential men- Small businesses arounddrive West additional Michigan have been affected in many ways into recession and may lin- tal health effects PERIODICALS Kennedy ger for many months until a By SYDNEY SMITH | MiBiz Eastburg of the COVID-19 by the ongoing pandemdueic. Wh diligenceile some are see ining increased business, most vaccine is developed. [email protected] pandemic. companies are being forced to deal with the fallout by getting creative, man- “As business Golfleaders, you have to make The white report pulls data from sure you’re takingcourses the responsibility for your GRAND RAPIDS — Following a number of sources to issue a call to aging cash and findiM&Ang new ways transactions to stay engaged with customers and cli- employees,” Kentwood-based Autocam mixed messages from the Grand action for care providers to prepare ents. In this Coping with COVID-19 special report, MiBiz speaks with two Medical Devicesbounce LLC CEO John Kennedy Rapids City Commission late last Craft Beverage Roundtable for the “aftershocks” from the pan- said during a recent back-to-work webinar INSIDE: month, marijuana advocates demic and “minimize the fallout of dozen West MichiganBy compan MARK SANCHEZies to hear | MiBiz how they’re navigating the current hosted by Advantageback Benefits with Group Inc. “It’s hope city officials will ultimately COVID-19 on mental health in our uncharted waters. [email protected] PAGES 12-19 incumbent on usbanner as businesses to make sure open more properties for medi- communities.” See WHAT’S NEXT on page 8 Industry cal and recreational facilities. “The warning signs are he coronavirus outbreak that’s bat- summer On Feb. 25, the commission tered Wall Street and caused supply 4.0 Contract Deadline: 3.31.2021 there right now that we could in PAGE 12 went back and forth on appli- Visit mibiz.com for ongoing coverage of the busMichiganiness impl experienceications ofa significantCOVID-19 in West Michigan. chain disruptions for some manu- SEE PAGE 5 cations for both types of facili- surge in behavioral health needs T facturers has yet to interrupt trans- ties. The city has approved 24 that emerge out of this COVID cri- COVID-19 highlightsactions, structural although more changesconversations needed are for unemployment system, researchers say licenses for medical marijuana sis,” Pine Rest CEO Mark Eastburg occurring as part of due diligence, according businesses, while another 14 Automotive analyststold MiBiz. “We ought see to be pre-shiftingBy ANDY BALASKOVITZ | MiBizto M&A professionals.benefits for people active in their state’s Program loan — call hosted by the West Michigan Policy are waiting for approval. The pared as a state and a community [email protected] Deals thatsystem. are in In process Michigan, involve this means a deeper work- which requires 75 Forum. As of early May, Sturgis Molded city hasn’t finalized recre- for that in case that happens.” dive into dueers diligenceunemployed in situationsas a result of where the pan- percent of the loan Products was running at about 10 per- ational marijuana zoning reg- dynamics amid coronavirusThe stress, anxiety and spreads some employers express demic couldone company receive up is to acquiring $962 a week. to be used for pay- cent capacity involving transportation ulations and won’t start accept- depression the pandemic trig- concern about retain- The federalanother benefits that aresources available raw for roll in order to be and medical devices. The company has ing applications until April 20. gers can come from the loss of a ing workers who are earn- up to 39materials weeks, whileor components state benefits forgiven — faced about 200 employees. Hours after voting to delay By JESSICA YOUNG | MiBiz job or income,Earlier grief, thisand uncer-month at theA Westing Michigan more income through were expandedfrom China. to more Buyers workers are and backlash from “I’ve called people and there has recreational and pause medi- [email protected] tainty aboutAutomotive the future. Suppliers At Pine Symposium unemployment in Grand Rapids, benefits than their extendedasking for 26 for weeks. more informa- employees, since been communication that said, ‘I make Presta cal applications, the City Rest, “we’reMike experiencing Wall, director a ofrise automotive normal analysis paychecks, in Grand researchers say Mediation reports about supplyhave shown chains, con- the loan effectively more by not coming in,’” Presta told Commission reversed course he automotive industry is scrambling to instrike many ofRapids the stressors at IHS Markit that are, forecasted long-term light vehicle structural sales fixes are needed cern amongbackup employers plans whoand paythe less means workers would be paid their MiBiz. “That’s out there.” after the six commission- a balance between near-term executionknown and toof increase 16.8 million risk units for sui- in the U.S.to this state year, and in federal the seg- programs. than thecapabilities amount of replacementbenefits work- typical wages. Sturgis Molded Products’ opera- 4.26.2021 ers could not agree on how to unsteady industry disruption from the cide,”novel Eastburgment that said. includes cars, utility vehiclesThe $2.2 and trillion pickup CARES Act passed ers aresuppliers. receiving. In at least one case Kelly Presta, vice president at Sturgis tors and first-line positions make Brown move forward. A last-minute T coronavirus outbreak. See MENTALtrucks. HEALTH on page 6 in late March included provisions to in Washington“It’s still state, very a company new. Molded Products Co., shared these less than the maximum amount dispute among commissioners That’s according to industry experts who say the Already, that outlook is changingadd as$600 COVID-19 in weekly con- unemploymentEveryone’s thattrying received to figure a Paycheck it out on Protectionthe fly, concerns during an April 22 conference See UNEMPLOYMENT on page 5 also involved equity and local effect of the virus, which has been spreading around tinues to develop across the country, he told MiBiz. but if clients were selling source parts from ownership. the globe since late December and shut down produc- As of this report, IHS Markit was still finalizing a China, you’re going to have to make sure Commissioners were con- tion in specific regions, has shifted forecasts forPERIODICALS global revised sales projection, but Wall expects the new fore- they have a backup supply-chain plan in sidering zoning amendments automotive production and U.S. sales downward. cast to drop to 16.5 million units. case there is a major disruption,” said Mike Culture & Generational Change recommended by the Planning Indeed, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced “Everything is happening so quickly and there is Brown, who leadsConstruct the M&A practiceion at invest- Commission that would have the state’s first two presumptive positive cases so much volatility that given the circumstances, 16.5 ment bank Charterindustry Capital Partners LLC in eliminated a waiver process in Oakland and Wayne counties on March 10, fol- (million) will still be a very good year,” Wall said. Grand Rapids. for sensitive land uses like reli- lowed by a state of emergency declaration. See SHIFTING DYNAMICS on page 4 adaptsSee DUE DILIGENCEto on page 9 gious institutions and opened new safety Contract Deadline: 4.14.2021 more properties for cannabis development. protocols Marijuana advocates have PAGE 11 sought to relax distance require- ments in order to expand the Michigan Chamber prepares for ‘war’ over graduated income tax proposal number of properties qualified for marijuana business use, which they say could also help By ANDY BALASKOVITZ | MiBiz seeking a constitutional amendment graduated, or progressive, income tax. schools and road and water infrastruc- address concerns over a lack of [email protected] to change Michigan’s flat 4.25 percent The Democratic-backed proposals have ture starting in 2022. The plan would local ownership. income tax to a graduated structure failed to gain traction in the Republican- reduce the state income tax rate for Joe Neller, co-founder and s progressive political advo- based on income. The Board of State held state House and Senate. individuals with income of $175,000 or chief government affairs offi- cates seek lower state income Canvassers is expected to decide in the In the late 1960s and 1970s, less and joint filers with income at or cer at Dimondale-based Green tax rates for most Michigan coming weeks whether organizers can Michigan voters by wide margins below $350,000. According to organiz- Peak Innovations LLC, said the A residents while higher earn- collect signatures in hopes of putting rejected ballot proposals for a gradu- ers, 95 percent of Michigan residents Planning Commission rejected ers pay more for infrastructure needs, the question to voters in November. ated income tax. Such a change would would pay a lower state income tax rate 5.10.2021 a provisioning center proposed the state’s leading business group is “If this qualifies for the ballot, require a constitutional amendment. than they do now. by his company because of the bracing for a highly contentious polit- frankly, it would be war,” said Rich However, supporters say growing Of the 41 states with income taxes, site’s proximity to a church, ical campaign. Studley, president and CEO of the income disparities and declining pub- 33 have a progressive structure. Federal even though the company had Organizers behind the Fair Tax Michigan Chamber of Commerce. lic services have shifted public opinion. income tax also follows a graduated a waiver from the church. Michigan campaign, which was For years, the Chamber has opposed The Fair Tax Michigan plan would raise model. See STATUS QUO on page 8 announced in late February, are efforts in the state Legislature for a $1.5 billion in additional revenue for See INCOME TAX on page 3 Diversity/Equity/Inclusion

PERIODICALS Leaders push for action to INSIDE: Commercial Lending Quarterly: raise wages PAGE 21 Business of Senior Care Commercial Real Estate Lending Update SEE PAGE 16 Contract Deadline: 4.28.2021 5.24.2021 Food Systems Contract Deadline: 5.12.2021 6.7.2021 Real Estate: Multifamily Contract Deadline: 5.26.2021

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