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1993-2013

Business

December 2013 $2.00

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Cover Story: Happy Anniversary, TowerPinkster Architects | Engineers!

Family Owened Business Independent Living Continuing Education

Inside Features

2 Ottawa Kent: Partnering with Business for Insurance and Risk Management
By Jane Whittington Ottawa Kent started as an insurance agency but has evolved into much more. In 1973, Gary Haverdink, who had previously been an engineer and had worked briefly as an insurance agent, decided it was time to go into business for himself as an independent insurance writer, representing a number of carriers. In this way, Haverdink felt he could best serve his clients by matching their needs to the specific products of different insurance carriers. Ottawa Kent started with a grand total of two employees in one location but now includes a staff of 56 with four offices in Jenison, Sparta, Holland and Byron Center. About half of the employees work out of the Jenison office. Gary Haverdink retired in 1996 and sold the company to his sons, Mike and Matt Haverdink. As the agency has grown, so have its products and services. As an independent insurance company, Ottawa Kents menu includes insurance for auto, life, home, farm, renters, flood, boat and motorcycle. They sell insurance both to businesses and to individuals, and their sales are about evenly divided between the two. According to Ottawa Kent President Mike Haverdink, We now represent about 20 insurance carriers and other companies continue to approach us to represent them and offer their products that cant be controlled; and, finally, ongoing monitoring. Businesses are always changing and so is their risk. Its important for us to have that ongoing monitoring piece in place. Risk management is never done; its constantly evolving. Ottawa Kent currently works with about 1,500 businesses, many in manufacturing and construction. Five times a year, Ottawa Kent offers seminars for their customers on topics like health care reform, wellness and avoiding harassment, discrimination and workplace violence. Expert speakers are featured at these Academy of Risk seminars. They also offer a magazine titled Beyond Insurance to their customers and other interested people. The agency was recently featured in Rough Notes, a trade publication for insurance professionals. Haverdink points out that not only are they a family business, but there are several families who are their employees. Randy Boss is one of their partners, and both of his sons, Josh and Dustin, also work at Ottawa Kent. And besides the Haverdinks and the Bosses, there are three other families with multiple generations working at the company. Jane Whittington is a freelance writer and editor who lives in Grand Rapids.

Reproduced wiht permission form Rough Notes

and services to our customers. In addition, they offer expertise in risk management, human resources support, benefits administration, legal compliance and assistance, health management, training, controlling workers compensation costs and administration and also offer business insurance. Haverdink says, Essentially, we function as an outsourced human resources department. We align ourselves well with companies with more than 20 but less than 200 employees. We are able to keep these companies upto-date in terms of things like compliance issues or the Affordable Care Act.

By using our services, they dont have to send their staff to dozens of seminars to keep current. We do that for them. We can gather that information and then come back and be a resource for them. He continues, Were not onsite for the companies we serve, but we maintain a relationship with them and provide support and assistance. In terms of risk management, Haverdink says, We help companies go through the five steps integral to risk management. Those steps are identifying risk; analyzing risk; putting control measures in place; purchasing the appropriate insurance for those things

Family Business Fast Facts

The Conway Center for Family Business reports,, Family firms comprise 80 to 90 percent off all business enterprises in North America. The Family Business Alliance of Grand Rapids is spearheaded by the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce and the Family Owned Business Institute of Grand Valley State Universitys Seidman School of Business and is supported by its members who are family-owned businesses or firms providing service to family businesses. The FBAGR offers opportunities focused on the challenges family businesses face. They are committed to helping family businesses succeed generation to generation. Their website is www.fbagr.org For 20 years, Glenn Muske of North Dakota State University has been studying coupes who start businesses together whom he calls co-preneurs. His research has found that two-thirds of businesses in the US as family owned, and a third of those are run by couples. Kennesaw State University reported that 80 percent of the worlds businesses are family owned. Family businesses account for 60 percent of US employment, 78 percent of all new jobs and 65 percent of all wages paid in the US. The University of Vermont says that 24 percent of all family businesses are led by women. The top ten family businesses in the US are Wal-Mart (Walton); Ford Motor Company (Ford); Cargill Koch Industries (Koch); Carlson Companies (Carlson); Comcast (Roberts); News Corp. (Murdoch); HCA Holdings (Frist); Bechtel Group (Bechtel); and Mars (Mars). The Churchin Family Business Advisor reports that 70 percent of family businesses dont make it past the first generation. Fifteen percent dont get past the second generation; 12 percent dont make it past the third generation. Only three percent of family businesses make it to the fourth generation and beyond. They further report that 67 percent of family businesses dont have a succession plan leaving only 33 percent who do. Forbes reported in July 2013 the family businesses generate over 50 percent of the US Gross National Product.

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3 G. B. Russo and Son: Bringing La Dolce Vita to Grand Rapids Since 1903
By Jane Whittington Trying to make a quick stop at G. B. Russo and Son is an exercise in futility. This long-time Grand Rapids icon is so packed with delicious foods and beverages that customers find themselves spending a delightful hour or so just looking around. And those customers are sure to leave with at least some of Russos unique products, or, if they give in to compelling temptation, a whole grocery cart full! Its hard to resist when just a partial list of what they carry includes wine, both imported and domestic; exotic pastas with names like fusilli lunghi, pepe or taglioline nests; oils and dressings from around the world; artisan breads; a full array of Michigan-made products; spices; delectable candies of all kinds; specialty coffee and coffee makers (and theres no better coffee than Italian coffee!); beers and liquors of all sorts; and oh, so much more. Phil Russo says that his grandfather founded the store in 1903. According to Phil, My grandfather came to the United States from Sicily in the late 1890s. He first settled in Pittsburgh but then came to Grand Rapids and opened a small grocery store in East Grand Rapids on Reeds Lake. After three years, he moved the store to the part of Grand Rapids that was then known as Little Italy, around Franklin and Division. In 1916, my father was born. My grandfather was so excited to have a son that he renamed his store G. B. Russo and Son, and thats the name we have carried to today. He continues, My father Frank graduated in 1938 from what was then the Michigan State College of Agriculture and Applied Science (now Michigan State University). He served in the Army for two years and then went into the Navy. Then it was home to Grand Rapids to go into business with his father. Frank Russo has the distinction of selling the first pizza in Grand Rapids in the 1940s. Still in the Franklin and Division area, the store expanded to include three storefronts, and the family lived upstairs where there was also a dance hall and meeting space. Phil says, During those years, it was difficult for African-Americans or Friday and Saturday evenings. I want to de-mystify the whole wine experience, and I enjoy introducing our customers to new varieties. I also send out frequent e-mail notices of special buys Ive made of wine as well as micro brewed beer. The wine is about half imported and half domestic, but the beer is almost all made in the U. S., much of it in Michigan. The holidays are a particularly busy for the store as families gather for special meals. Its well-worth a trip to the store to see all the seasonal items, including gift baskets which made great presents. According to Phil, We have many loyal customers who have been with us for years and many who travel some distance to shop here. We know what our customers want, and we are proud to be able to supply those special foods and beverages. Jane Whittington is a freelance writer and editor who lives in Grand Rapids.

Hispanic groups to rent space for events. My father opened up the area above his store for everyone. He let people use it rent-free. I heard stories that entertainers like Nat King Cole and B. B. King performed there when no one else would make space available for them. In the 1960s, there were race riots in Grand Rapids; the stores on either side of G. B. Russo were burned, but our store was spared. It wasnt until my fathers funeral that I found out all about this; people came up to me to tell me how much he had meant to them and how they appreciated his willingness to give them a place to meet. Eventually the store moved to Eastern and Burton for nine years and then, in 1976, their current store was built at 2770 29th St. By the mid-90s, four of Franks sons, Phil, Dave, John and Joe, were working in the business. John and Joe moved on to other ventures, but Phil and Dave remain at the helm. In addition, Phils daughter, Kelly, and her husband, Nate Follett, are part of the business. Another son, Eric, lives and works in Chicago but does some marketing for G. B. Russo. Phils other children, Julie and Mark, are still in college but work at the store during vacations and summers. Daves children are too young to play a role at this point. The store carries the Russo brand of many items, and Nate Follett prepares a variety of pre-made entrees and desserts which have proven very popular. By about 2005, Phil and Dave came to the conclusion that their business was doing so well, they either had to

move or expand. They chose to expand and doubled the size of the store. While they did see some decline in business during the recession, it was minor compared to what many businesses experienced. Dave is the wine and beer expert in the family, and he travels around the world to bring the best wines to Grand Rapids wine aficionados. He says, We have wine tastings in the store on

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Happy Anniversary, TowerPinkster Architects | Engineers!

TowerPinkster is marking its 60th anniversary as one of the regions leading architecture and engineering firms with a few looks back and plenty of looking forward. With offices in Kalamazoo for 60 years, and in Grand Rapids for 30 years, the company relocated its Grand Rapids office in the heart of downtown in October of this year, bringing nearly 30 creative professionals to the center of the city. The move came after more than two years of planning and collaboration with Locus Development, of Grand Rapids. Locus purchased the long-vacant, former home of Junior Achievement, 4 E. Fulton St., in 2010 and quickly retained TowerPinkster to assist with design and engineering for the project. As work progressed, TowerPinksters leadership realized the buildings incredible potential and rich history made it an ideal spot for the firm to relocate its Grand Rapids team. Renovating the building gave the company a chance to implement the same level of expertise at restoration and adaptive reuse it used for projects like Kendall College of Art & Designs Federal Building (now renamed the Woodbridge N. Ferris Building). As with the Kendall project, TowerPinksters team designed the project with efficiency and preservation in mind, and is pursuing LEED certification (Platinum for Commercial Interiors in this case). TowerPinkster may be celebrating its 60th anniversary, but were constantly looking for new ways to innovate, said Arnie Mikon, President and CEO of the firm. Our rich heritage is a point of pride, but this business is one that requires paying attention to the needs of todays clients and designing 21st-century spaces that allow for advances in technology and flexibility. With offices in Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids, Michigan, the firm has enjoyed a variety of notable accomplishments in recent years, including being named ZweigWhites Best Architecture Firm to Work for in the Nation (2010). Additionally, Matt Slagle, AIA, LEED AP, was named the 2013 American Institute of Architects Grand Rapids Chapter Young Architect of the Year.

The firm got its start as a six-person office in Kalamazoo specializing in commercial and educational design. Today TowerPinkster employs nearly 70 people in Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids in varying disciplines including architects, engineers, interior designers, landscape architects and planners. The companys portfolio includes work for Grand Rapids Public Schools Houseman Field, Kent County Courthouse, Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, Gerald R. Ford International Airport, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo Nature Center, Battle Creek Area Math and Science Center and Spectrum Health.

More Michigan Residents Optimistic about States Future

Lansing Michigan residents appear to be regaining faith in the state economy, but that confidence isnt translating into increased spending this holiday season, according to a statewide poll released Tuesday by Lambert, Edwards & Associates. Only 11 percent of the 600 likely voters polled statewide Nov. 12-14 said they plan to spend more than they did last year, while 36 percent plan on spending less. Around half 51 percent did say they would spend the same amount as last years holiday season, while 2 percent were undecided. This status-quo sentiment comes despite the fact that 56 percent said they thought the state economy was headed in the right direction, a 9 percent increase over the 47 percent who thought the same in a July LE&A/Denno Research poll. Twenty-nine percent of voters said in November that Michigans economy was on the wrong track, compared to 41 percent in July. Both telephone polls were conducted by Denno Research and had a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 4 percentage points. While Michigans economy is gaining steam, the unemployment rate remains at 9 percent and consumers remain cautious, said Jeff Lambert, president and managing partner at Lambert, Edwards & Associates. However, over half of those polled now feel Michigan is headed in the right direction, a sign of optimism that should strengthen as the states economy continues to grow. With the major holiday shopping days of Black Friday and Cyber Monday just around the corner, Michigan retailers have the same sense of cautious optimism tempered by economic uncertainty that consumers reported. Retailers expect holiday sales to increase 1.3 percent over last year, according to the Michigan Retail Index, a joint project of the Michigan Retailers Association and the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. Fifty-three percent expect to increase sales, 30 percent predict flat sales and 17 percent project sales will decline. Retailers and consumers seem to be on the same page this year as far as shopping expectations, said Denno Research CEO Dennis Denno. The upward trend is slight, but it reflects that 62 percent of people expect to spend the same or more as last year, a positive sign.

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5 More Michigan Residents Optimistic about States Future

Lansing Michigan residents appear to be regaining faith in the state economy, but that confidence isnt translating into increased spending this holiday season, according to a statewide poll released Tuesday by Lambert, Edwards & Associates. Only 11 percent of the 600 likely voters polled statewide Nov. 12-14 said they plan to spend more than they did last year, while 36 percent plan on spending less. Around half 51 percent did say they would spend the same amount as last years holiday season, while 2 percent were undecided. This status-quo sentiment comes despite the fact that 56 percent said they thought the state economy was headed in the right direction, a 9 percent increase over the 47 percent who thought the same in a July LE&A/Denno Research poll. Twenty-nine percent of voters said in November that Michigans economy was on the wrong track, compared to 41 percent in July. Both telephone polls were conducted by Denno Research and had a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 4 percentage points. While Michigans economy is gaining steam, the unemployment rate remains at 9 percent and consumers remain cautious, said Jeff Lambert, president and managing partner at Lambert, Edwards & Associates. However, over half of those polled now feel Michigan is headed in the right direction, a sign of optimism that should strengthen as the states economy continues to grow. With the major holiday shopping days of Black Friday and Cyber Monday just around the corner, Michigan retailers have the same sense of cautious optimism tempered by economic uncertainty that consumers reported. Retailers expect holiday sales to increase 1.3 percent over last year, according to the Michigan Retail Index, a joint project of the Michigan Retailers Association and the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. Fifty-three percent expect to increase sales, 30 percent predict flat sales and 17 percent project sales will decline. Retailers and consumers seem to be on the same page this year as far as shopping expectations, said Denno Research CEO Dennis Denno. The upward trend is slight, but it reflects that 62 percent of people expect to spend the same or more as last year, a positive sign.

6 Gill Industries: A Family Business Prospers

By Jane Whittington One of the defining characteristics of an entrepreneur is a willingness to take risks. That certainly describes John Gill who, in 1964 and with ten children to support, quit his job and started his own tool and die business. Today, that business, Gill Industries, which in the beginning had only two employees, has manufacturing facilities in Grand Rapids and Georgia, a sales office in Wixom, corporate headquarters in Grand Rapids and two manufacturing facilities in Mexico. There are a total of over 350 employees in the US and 800 in Mexico. They also have a presence in Europe and Asia. Gill Industries has evolved far beyond a simple tool and die operation and now includes stamping, welding and assembly along with product design and engineering. As the Gill family grew to include 12 children, the familys participation grew as well. John Gills wife, Rita, took an increasingly active role in the business. In 1985, she became general manager, a position she held until her retirement (seven years after John retired) when she handed off her responsibilities to daughters Mary Gill-Thornton and Rita Williams who are now Co-CEOs of Gill Industries. According to Gill-Thornton, My mother didnt have any business experience. In fact, she had returned to school to become an LPN after her children were born. But she said, If I can raise 12 children, I can run a business. Williams adds, With so many children, she had excellent management skills! When Rita Gill became CEO, the company was grossing close to $8 million in sales. When she retired in 2009, sales were over $100 million. Besides Rita and Mary, their brothers John Jr. and Kenneth work within the business as engineers, and three of original founders John and Rita Gills grandchildren are also part of the team. Gill-Thornton says, I think my father always intended that some of his children would continue on in the business. Williams says, When my mom took over as CEO, it became more than a small family business. We hired consultants back then to help us strategize for success. We also started an outside advisory board, which has evolved into a Board of Directors. We decided early on to professionalize the organization. The bigger we got, the more we understood that it wasnt just about family. In fact, one of our advisors told us that family business is a contradiction in terms. Its either a family or a business. Gill Industries counts as its customers the automotive industry, office furniture manufacturers, the utility vehicle business and wireless. Working with engineers and designers from those industries, they have the ability to help design and manufacture necessary parts. The automotive industry comprises the largest part of their business. They work with American companies as well as with automotive companies in Europe and Asia. During the recent recession, Gill Industries, like so many other companies, saw a precipitous decline in sales. Williams says, We had to lay off some people and take pay cuts. But we have recovered. Last year was even better than it had been before the recession struck, and were continuing to grow and hire new employees. Gill-Thornton says, We make mechanical welded assemblies that go into seating mechanisms or headrests or recliners. Mostly, what we produce the end user doesnt actually see. Technology has advanced to the point where much of the work done in their manufacturing is automated or robotic. Employees can learn on-the-job or through programs at educational institutions like Ferris State University and Grand Rapids Community College. Gill Industries gives back to the community in many ways. They are active with Habitat for Humanity, hold frequent blood drives, work with Gildas Club and participate in many other worthy causes. The company also prides itself on its environmental awareness and efforts. Williams says, We are very proud that we are a successful family business now moving into the third generation. While many family members work here, theres no free ride. They are held accountable, just as any employee is. We maintain our professional standards while still adhering to our familys values. Jane Whittington is a freelance writer and editor who lives in Grand Rapids.

Kent District Library to Partner with New York Public Library, Others, to Improve Access to Libraries
Kent County - With print books and electronic versions now available for free checkout from your local library, do you still find it easier to buy those materials? Would you switch to an eReader if you could just figure out how to download from the librarys website? Want to borrow eBooks, but dont want to have to go to a library branch for a card first? Kent District Library and nine other U.S. library systems, including the New York Public Library, want to know your answer to Id use the library if only by embarking on a project dubbed Library Simplified. Over a two-year period, participating libraries will explore how they can better use new technology -- including and especially eBooks -- to reduce barriers to use. They also will examine why people dont use the library, and look at how they might alter their policies so they will. The effort is being funded by a $500,000 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.* KDL and the other partners plan to gather information from our patrons, to see what works for them and what some of the barriers are, and to test some of the ideas the project comes up with, said Melissa DeWild, KDL collection development manager. We want to make sure what were doing is scalable and can be used at libraries across the country. NYPLs James English said libraries are finding that as technology changes, so do methods of access to resources libraries offer. Libraries across the country must find ways to ensure democratic access to books, ideas and information, regardless of format, he said. KDL is the only Michigan library to participate in Library Simplified. Other systems throughout the U.S. are Alameda County Public Library, Brooklyn Public Library, Boston Public Library, Chattanooga Public Library, The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Cuyahoga County Public Library Sacramento and Santa Clara County public libraries. Library Simplified is aligned with the Readers First movement, which is dedicated to ensuring that library patrons have access to both virtual and physical collections.

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7 A New Conceptd for Long Term Care

By LouAnn Shawver The silver tsunami is not a myth. Each day in this country, 10,000 people turn 65. This translates into 73million people who will be 65 or older in 20 years. The question is, where will all of these people live, and who will take care of them? The answer might be by changing the way people think about retirement living. Traditional brick-and mortar communities enable people to move from independent living to assisted living to a nursing home. Over the past decade, a new concept has evolved called Continuing Care at Home (CCaH). The premise is that people stay at home rather than move to seek long term care services when needed. CONTINUING CARE AT HOME WITH AVENUES BY PORTER HILLS Avenues by Porter Hills is a CCaH program offering a comprehensive package of long-term care services to members enabling them to remain independent and live at home even as their health needs change. Applicants go through an initial screening, and only those who are relatively healthy and can live independently are appropriate for the program. Members pay an initial membership fee based on their age when they enroll in the program and ongoing monthly fees. The services covered by Avenues is comprehensive that in most cases, members never have to live in an assisted living or nursing home community. Rather, as health care needs change, the program arranges and pays for services to be delivered in the members home. Services often include: Care coordination Home nursing, live-in, homemaker and personal care services Meals Transportation Emergency response system Social and educational opportunities Referrals for home maintenance, housekeeping, lawn care, etc. If a member no longer is safe in his or her home, most programs also cover assisted living and nursing home care. The cornerstone of Avenues is care management and coordination. Each member has a care coordinator who gets to know the member personally. The care coordinator routinely will evaluate a members health and functional status, recommend services and obtain and manage those services. Over time, a trusting relationship develops, and the care coordinator becomes an advocate on behalf of the member. The Avenues program not only focuses on physical health, but also on emotional, spiritual, and recreational health. We work with our members from the day they enroll in the program to inspire them to remain healthy and independent, said Paige Hendrickson, Wellness Coordinator for Avenues by Porter Hills. AN ALTERNATIVE TO LONG TERM CARE INSURANCE Avenues might be an alternative to long term care insurance. The two concepts are often compared; however, there are many differences. Long-term care insurance is about managing claims for a company, Avenues is about managing care for members. Members dont wait for a lifechanging event to occur before they reap the benefits of the program. The benefits start immediately and last a lifetime states LouAnn Shawver, Director of Avenues by Porter Hills ALL THE HELP I NEED For Bob Boyer, a member of Avenues by Porter Hills, membership has exceeded his expectations. I was recently admitted to the hospital. The first thing I did was call my wellness coordinator. Before I knew it, she was visiting me in the hospital and communicating with my children, who both live hundreds of miles away. When it was time for me to go home, she made arrangements for a home health aide to stay with me for the first week. I dont know how I would have managed on my own. The best part is I never received a bill for the home care I received. It was taken care of through the program. Yes, the tsunami is coming, and its important to plan for it by analyzing the options you may have for future long term care needs. Information provided by Porter Hills

Van Andel Institute Cancer research Study Discovers a New Strategy to Target Cancer Cells
Grand Rapids A discovery by scientists at Van Andel Institute offers promise of an innovative treatment strategy to impair the growth of cancer cells. The study identifies two compounds that slowed tumor growth while protecting normal tissue. The results may lead to an improved and safer therapy for a variety of human cancers. This new report, Small molecule intramimics of formin auto-inhibition: a new strategy to target the cytoskeletal remodeling machinery in cancer cells, was carried out at Van Andel Research Institute in collaboration with scientists from Grand Valley State University and Kalamazoo Valley Community College's Michigan High Throughput Screening Center and was published this week in the journal Cancer Research. This discovery could lead to novel cancer therapies for hard to treat cancers and potentially serve as an alternative or an adjuvant to Taxol or Vinblastine, agents commonly used in chemotherapy to treat breast, ovarian, lung, testicular and certain blood cancers, said Dr. Arthur S. Alberts, Ph.D., Professor and head of the Laboratory of Cell Structure and Signal Integration at Van Andel Institute and senior author of the study. Results All cells have an internal structural framework that makes it possible for the cell to move and divide. This cytoskeleton is a valid target for currently used chemotherapeutic drugs like Taxol and Vinblastine. These drugs successfully target the building blocks of the cytoskeleton to keep cancerous cells from growing and dividing, which can prevent tumor growth. This study describes a new class of compounds called Intramimics that target a family of proteins in the cell called formins. Formins are the masons of the cell that assemble the individual building blocks into the structures that comprise the cytoskeleton, explained Dr. Alberts who has spent the past fifteen years studying the genetics, molecular, and cell biology of formins in cancer and other diseases. Because their mechanism of action is distinct from currently available chemotherapeutic agents, it is hoped that the Intramimic compounds can specifically target cancer cells and spare healthy cells without the dose-limiting side effects experienced with Taxol and Vinblastine. The two Intramimic compounds identified in this study were shown to trigger stabilization of microfilaments and microtubules that make up the cellular cytoskeleton. Experiments on cancer cells showed that Intramimics affected changes in gene expression that are associated with impaired cell growth and programmed cell death (apoptosis), that would be expected to reduce tumor size or slow tumor growth, Indeed, in another experimental system, the Intramimics did slow tumor growth. Taken together these studies suggest this strategy will be effective for treating solid tumors. Other preliminary evidence suggests potential application in the treatment of blood cancers as well. This discovery provides a new development regarding clinically validated drug targets in an area of research where few new strategies have emerged, Dr. Alberts said. Intramimics will serve as lead compounds for further exploration and pharmacological development.

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8 Construction Briefs
Holland Driesenga & Associates, Inc., appointed John Tenpas, P.E., as Director of Civil Engineering; Brian Sinnott, P.E., joined as Project Manager in the firms Civil Engineering Group; and Alvin Aquino joined as Staff Engineer in the firms Civil Engineering Group. Grand Rapids Real Estate Broker and Managing Director Chip Hurley, CCIM/SIOR, will lead newly established West Michigan office of Newmark Grubb Cressy & Everett - a full-service commercial real estate brokerage, development and management company - primarily focusing on Grand Rapids, HollandZeeland and Muskegon. Grand Rapids Kentwood Office Furniture announced Sheila Wood, previously from Stonesthrow Home Furnishings, joined Kentwoods Inside Sales. Big Rapids Michigan Construction Hall of Fame welcomed five inductees at a formal ceremony at Ferris State Universitys Granger Center for Construction and HVACR: Eileen M. McCarthy - McCarthy & Smith Construction, Farmington Hills; Bob and Karen Schroeder - Mayberry Homes, East Lansing; Linda J. Vos-Graham Vos Glass, Inc., Grand Rapids; and E. Edward Williams - Edwards Glass Company, Livonia. Grand Rapids - Signature Associates has negotiated: the lease of 1,797 square feet of industrial space located at 3890 East Paris Avenue SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan for the tenant, Anderson Cabinet Co., LLC. the lease of 1,332 square feet of office space located at 311 Fuller Avenue NE, Grand Rapids, Michigan to Volunteers of America for the landlord, Green Cane Property, LLC. the sale of a 9,846 square foot office building located at 4965 East Beltline Avenue NE, Grand Rapids, Michigan to 4965 East Beltline, LLC. for the seller, CL Plainfield Associates, LLC. the sale of a 17,864 square foot office building located at 230 Fulton Street East, Grand Rapids, Michigan for the buyer, Ottawa House, LLC. Keller & Almassian PLC plan to move back downtown into the iconic building by next summer. the lease of 1,488 square feet of retail space located at 255 Seminole Road, Muskegon, Michigan for the landlord, 255 Seminole, LLC, and the tenant, Arcadia Health Services of Michigan. Grand Rapids Progressive AE announced the teams design for 54JEFF was recognized with an honorable mention in an international design competition to re-envision the historic and iconic former Grand Rapids Public Museum. Lansing C2AE, full-service architectural, engineering, and planning firm, announced addition of: Brett Dodge, PS, Professional Surveyor; Amelia Richards, IIDA, LEED Green Associate, Interior Designer; and Justin Wing, PE, Design Engineer in C2AEs Gaylord office. Holland G.O. Construction, local joint venture team comprised of GDK Construction of Holland, and OwenAmes-Kimball Co. of Grand Rapids, announced they were hired to manage the $31 million, 64,000 sq. ft. Jack H. Miller Center for Musical Arts project at Hope College. Holland GMB Architecture + Engineering, Inc., announced it hired Michael J. Lubbers, previous Designer at Wight & Company of Chicago, as Director of its Grand Rapids office. GMBae also announced it will open an office in the historic Mass Ave district, downtown Indianapolis. Kalamazoo Owen Ames Kimball Co. announced opening a new branch office located at 161 E. Michigan Ave, Ste 102, Kalamazoo. Grand Rapids Progressive AE announced C. Jonathan Clark, AIA, EDAC, earned certification of American College of Healthcare Architects. Kentwood Bethany Christian Services and Wolverine Building Group announced grand opening of Bethany Christians first Thrift Store, a 17,000 sq. ft. warehouse located on 29th Street in Kentwood. Store Manager Audrey Trevino states proceeds from the 29th Street store will benefit Bethanys Grand Rapids clients, particularly for unfunded or underfunded projects such as refugee services and other things that fall through the cracks. Trevino is a former Bethany foster child and adoptee. Grand Rapids Interphase Interiors, local Haworth dealer, added three new members to its team: Lizabeth Reilly, Account Executive; Ashley Gibbs, Designer; and Chris Rozema, Installer. Brighton ASTI Environmental is one of five environmental consultants selected by Oakland County to manage their $600,000 EPA Brownfield Assessment Grant ($500,000 for hazardous substances and $100,000 for petroleum substances), and will recruit investors and eligible projects to the County, focusing on Farmington Hills, Ferndale, Hazel Park, Madison Heights, Pontiac and Southfield - each receiving $60,000, with the remaining $240,000 spread throughout the other 55 jurisdictions in Oakland County.

5 New-Home Sales Up Sharply in October

Washington, DC - Sales of newly built, single-family homes rose 25.4 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 444,000 units in October, according to data released today by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau. The government also reported that new-home sales fell 6.6 percent in September. The release of both the September and October report were delayed by the partial government shutdown in early October. "The October sales numbers show that there is clearly a demand for new housing and the recovery remains on track," said Rick Judson, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder from Charlotte, N.C. "However, the recovery continues to be slowed by political uncertainty in Washington and ongoing constraints builders face with regard to tight credit conditions for consumers and the availability of labor, lots and materials." "The strong October results return us to the sales levels we saw earlier this year and negate the pause caused by the sudden jump in interest rates," said NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe. "We expect sales to continue to rise as pent up demand is released and first-time home buyers creep back into the market." All four regions posted double-digit sales gains in October. Sales rose 19.2 percent in the Northeast, 34 percent in the Midwest, 28.2 percent in the South and 15.2 percent in the West. The months' supply of new homes fell to 4.9 due to the quicker sales pace in October, and the inventory of new homes for sales also edged down to 183,000 units.

Current Business Trends: Continued Slow Growth

Grand Rapids - The greater Grand Rapids industrial economy continues to grow slowly, according to the results of a monthly survey compiled by Brian G. Long, director of Supply Management Research in the Seidman College of Business at Grand Valley State University. The survey results are based on data collected during the last two weeks of November. The surveys index of business improvement, called new orders, remained virtually unchanged at +16, up from +15. The production index remained the same at +13, and the employment index resumed its pattern of modest growth and rose to +9 from +0. For the 34th time since the recovery began, it can be concluded that slow growth for the West Michigan economy continues, and probably will continue for the foreseeable future, said Long. As we enter the third month of collecting our new outlook statistics, the numbers are starting to bounce around a little as attitudes and perceptions shift. For November, the short-term business outlook index rose significantly to +29 from +17, and the long-term business outlook index advanced to +53 from +46. Long said the office furniture firms posted one of the best months of the year. The recent uptick in office rentals around the country have translated to the purchase of new, more modern office furniture, Long said. Long also noted a study released this month from NerdWallet, an internetbased personal finance consumer advocacy group. The study of employment labor markets, called The Ten Best Places in Michigan for Job Seekers, names three West Michigan cities: Kentwood (5), Wyoming (8), and Portage (9).

9 Growth in Jobs, GDP Not Yet Accompanied by Rise in Purchasing Power

Atlanta, GA On the surface, the news is good. October non-farm numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show 204,000 total job gains, and job revisions were revised upward by 60,000 for the two prior months. The third-quarter GDP report showed 2.8% growth, a marked contrast to the paltry 0.1% growth in the fourth quarter of 2012. Is it time to pop open a bottle of bubbly? Not quite, according to Rajeev Dhawan of the Economic Forecasting Center at Georgia State Universitys Robinson College of Business. Although such numbers are welcome signs that the underlying growth trend is still positive, the trend is not yet strong enough for us or for the Federal Reserve to breathe a sigh of relief. In his Forecast of the Nation, released today, Dhawan writes that factors including the quality of the jobs created, combined with wounds inflicted on corporate and consumer confidence by the government shutdown and worries about the potential for another stoppage in the new year, along with continuing global malaise depressing manufacturing, will dampen the GDP, weaken business investment, and lead to a decrease in job creation in coming quarters and through much of 2014. Regarding the quality of jobs created, Dhawan points to the 60,000 new jobs reported in upward revisions for September-October. Ninety percent of the revisions came from the low-paying leisure and hospitality category, with the rest from retail trade, also low-paying. The bottom line, says the forecaster, It doesnt matter what the headline number is. What matters is the purchasing power of the jobs. The potential for more shenanigans when Congress opens in 2014 has introduced an element of uncertainty to corporate and consumer confidence which has implications for retail hiring and spending, household decisions, corporate investments and capital spending, and more. Dhawan expects that the Fed will start a taper for non-economic reasons by spring 2014. He foresees consumption and overall GDP staying around 2.0% in 2014, moving towards 3.0% by late 2015. A new Congress will be a factor in that change, ushering in the possibility of less partisanship and bickering. Such a shift will free investment to take off and, in turn, produce good job and income growth in 2015. Highlights from the Economic Forecasting Centers National Report Real GDP grew 2.8% in the third quarter of 2013 after a 2.5% growth rate in the second quarter. Fourth quarter growth is expected to be 2.0% concluding the year with an annual growth rate of 1.7%. Real GDP will expand at 2.1% in 2014 and at a stronger rate of 2.5% in 2015. Business fixed investment will grow by a weak 2.2% in 2013, expand by 4.1% in 2014 and increase by 4.5% in 2015. In the final quarter of 2013, the economy will add jobs at a monthly rate of 138,000, then decrease to 130,000 new jobs per month in 2014, and return growth to normalcy with 175,000 jobs per month in 2015. Unemployment will finally drop below 7.0% in late 2015. Housing starts will average 0.887 million units in 2013, rising to 0.901 million units in 2014 and 1.102 million units in 2015. Auto sales will average 15.4 million units in 2013, then decrease slightly to 14.9 million units in 2014 and decrease again to 14.8 million units in 2015. The 10-year bond rate will rise to 3.3% by mid-2014. It will not cross the 4.0% threshold during the forecast period (end of 2015).

Health Care Briefs

Grand Rapids Keystone Pharmacy launched Keystone Nutrition, a new consulting division, along with two new lines of privately labeled, pharmaceutical-grade supplements, and will provide free nutrition consultation services aimed at improving overall health, diet and wellness. Wyoming Metro Health Hospital added six new primary care physicians to its Family and Internal Medicine practices: Larissa Dunker de Jesus, MD - Internal medicine practicing at Comstock Park; Christina Garcia, DO - Family medicine practicing at Cedar Springs; Hilary Schmid, DO - Family medicine practicing at Cedar Springs; Amanda Huver, DO - Internal medicine, practicing at Cascade; Jennifer Parks, MD - Family medicine practicing at Cascade; and Marcia Nansel, DO - Family medicine practicing at Caledonia. Kalamazoo Leah Predum, Certified Physician Assistant, joined Borgess ProMed Family Practice at Woodbridge Hills, Portage. Kalamazoo Bronson welcomed: Ashley Foster, FNP to Bronson Family Medicine Downtown; Lisa Ryan, MD, to Bronson Internal Medicine Hospital Specialists; Brenda Nishizawa, DO, RD, to Bronson Internal Medicine Oshtemo; and Neurointensivist Jeffrey Fletcher, MD, to Bronson Neuroscience Center. Grand Rapids Holland Home announced Michael Loughman, Senior Living Consultant, and Carrie Koster, Marketing Coordinator, completed requirements to become Certified Tourism Ambassadors. Holland James Dumerauf, MD, Staff Psychiatrist with Holland Hospital Behavioral Health Service, was honored by Michigan State University - College of Human Medicine with 2013 Excellence in Teaching Award, for his work with thirdyear medical students during their psychiatric rotation at Holland Hospital. Grand Rapids Spectrum Health Blodgett Hospital was named 2013 Guardian of Excellence Award winner by Press Ganey Associates, Inc., which recognizes top-performing facilities consistently achieving the 95th percentile of performance in patient satisfaction among Press Ganey hospitals in America. Only 5% of all Press Ganey clients reach this threshold and consistently maintain it for the one-year reporting period.

12 Water Watch for Electric Energy Production

Reston, VA - For the first time since 1995 the U.S. Geological Survey will reinstate reporting the amount of water consumed in the production of thermoelectric power. Tracking the consumptive use of water by thermoelectric power plants could allow water resource managers to evaluate the influence of this type of use on the overall water budget of a watershed. The use of heat and water budgets to estimate water consumption at individual thermoelectric plants provides a useful check on other estimation approaches and in many cases may be the most accurate method available. Thermoelectric water withdrawal refers to the water removed from groundwater or surface water for use in a thermoelectric power plant, mainly for cooling purposes. Much of the water that is currently withdrawn for cooling is reintroduced into the environment, and immediately available for reuse. The consumptive use occurs when some of the water is evaporated during the cooling process or incorporated into byproducts as a result of the production of electricity from heat. Once the water is consumed, it is no longer able to be reintroduced into the environment. "Thermoelectric withdrawal occurs in both freshwater and saline water sources," says Eric J. Evenson, Coordinator, and USGS National Water Census. "It is the most significant use of saline water in the country." This study presents a method for collecting location and cooling-equipment data. An upcoming study will be released providing the consumption numbers derived from our heat/water budget models. About half of the water withdrawals in the United States are for thermoelectric cooling water, however, most of the water is returned to the environment after use. The methods for estimating evaporation presented in this study will play a key role in the National Water Census, a USGS research program on national water availability and use that develops new water accounting tools and assesses water availability at the regional and national scales. "The most significant contribution of this report," according to Diehl, "is to present an updated method for estimating evaporation from surface water downstream from once-through cooling systems, and make the tool available in the form of a spreadsheet." The USGS classifies water withdrawals for thermoelectric cooling by the two types of cooling systems used at the plants: recirculating systems and oncethrough systems. A recirculating cooling system circulates water through the generating plant condensers and is then cooled in a structure such as a cooling tower or cooling pond, before it is re-used in the same process. A once-through cooling system withdraws water from a surface-water source to circulate through the generating plant condensers and then discharges the water back to surface water at a higher temperature. "Most consumption by once-through cooling systems and recirculating ponds takes the form of evaporation from surface water," said Timothy H. Diehl, Hydrologist at the Tennessee Water Science Center. "This type of consumption has been estimated by a variety of methods and sometimes considered insignificant."

Industrial Briefs
Holland The Stow Company announced that it will consolidate all manufacturing into its newly expanded facility in Holland. The decision is part of a growth strategy that includes maximizing manufacturing capacities and leveraging a centralized, national shipping point. The Holland facility manufactures products for all of the Companys brands, including EasyClosets, ORG Home and Easy Track, and has substantial room for further expansion. Approximately 40 new full-time jobs are being created in Holland by the expansion. The recruiting and hiring process is already underway. Holland Advanced Furniture Testing, nations leading office furniture testing facilities, is opening a new 9,600 sq. ft. facility in Jasper, IN, to accommodate mechanical furniture testing machines. West Michigan West Michigan Chapter of Chemical Coaters Association International elected the following officers for their 2013-2014 Board of Directors: President - Ken Pelak, Broadmoor Products; First Vice President - Dale Mulder, Chemquest; Second Vice President - Rich Saddler, George Koch & Sons; and Secretary - Bruce Connell, Environ. Rockford Wolverine Worldwide announced appointment of Frank Annunziata to Vice President and General Manager of Sebago with responsibility for further development of the brand's global growth platform of footwear, apparel and accessories. IN Andrea Hermer, 23 years of legal experience specializing in commercial real estate, joined Ports of Indiana as General Counsel for statewide Port Authority. Zeeland Gentex Corp announced it acquired HomeLink product line, a vehicle-based control system enabling drivers to remotely activate garage door openers, entry door locks, home lighting, security systems, entry gates, and other radio frequency convenience products. Caledonia West Michigan section of American Welding Society held its first meeting of the fiscal year at TV Rheinland Industrial Solutions laboratory, a full-service company assisting welding businesses with necessary testing, inspections and certifications according to AWS codes and regulations, and international requirements. Rockford Wolverine Worldwide announced appointment of Ira P. Hernowitz, previous Executive Vice President of Toys R Us, Inc., as President of the Stride Rite Children's Group. Walker Tubelite, Inc., appointed Glen Barfknecht to Vice President of Operations. Allegan Perrigo announced Kirk Walter was promoted to Senior Director for Tablet Value Stream and NonAnalgesics for cough and cold tablet area. Grand Rapids Sixarp LLC, Praxis Packaging Solutions announced addition of Scott Volkert to their business development team, and will focus on developing and expanding current customer accounts. Grand Rapids Cascade Engineering announced Fred Keller, Chair and CEO of Cascade Engineering, is this years recipient of the Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competitions Spirit of Michigan Award - an award given each year to a Michigan business leader who displays entrepreneurial spirit, contributes significantly to the States economic recovery efforts, and employs a primarily Michigan-based workforce. Albion Caster Concepts, manufacturer of heavy duty industrial casters and caster wheels, collaborating with PARTsolutions, announced launch of a new product configurator, the first customizable CAD designer for industrial caster downloads.

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13 GR Spring & Stamping: A Family Company Grows and Prospers

By Jane Whittington
GR Spring & Stamping is a family business in more ways than one. Not only do three generations of the Zawacki family work at the company but also, according to CEO Jim Zawacki, We think of our employees as family. We treat them well and listen to their suggestions. Many of them have been with us many, many years. In fact, one of our employees, Craig Weaver, recently celebrated his 41st year with the company. Three of Zawackis sons, Jim Jr., John and Steve as well as son-in-law Dennis McCarty are part of the business. Then there are the two grandsons, David and Kevin McCarty who are with the company and grandchildren Linsay McCarty, Will Zawacki and Lauren McCarty who have all worked at GR Spring & Stamping either during their college breaks or as interns. The company was founded in 1960 under the name Grand Rapids Spring & Wire and purchased by Jim Zawacki and Ted Hohman in 1985. In 1995, the name was changed to G R Spring & Stamping. Originally, the operation was located on Alpine Avenue. As the company grew, another facility was opened on Bond Street in 1997. In 2004, two facilities were opened in Richmond, Kentucky, and, in 2009, a sales office in Japan joined the family. GR Spring & Stamping now has over 500,000 square feet of operating space. According to Zawacki, We recently sold a small part of our business to Automotive Spring in Grand Haven, but we continue to do stamping and assembly work. He continues, When we bought the company in 1985, there were 40 employees and one location. Now we have over 650 employees and five locations, and the business is continuing to grow. We are now concentrating 100 percent on the automotive industry, and 60 percent of our business is with the Japanese. Zawacki says, In the early 90s, we decided as part of our strategic plan that we wanted to grow our business with the Japanese. We like the way they treat their employees and suppliers, and we like their lean organizational model. At that time, we also decided we wanted to concentrate on larger parts and projects. The recent recession hit the country and particularly Michigan and the automotive industry hard. GR Spring & Stamping felt it too. Zawacki says, The Japanese auto industry wasnt immune from the economic downturn. During 2007-2008, business conditions were bad both here and in Japan, but we managed to stay profitable, and our business is now back to pre-recession levels. Much of the stamping and assembly industry has now been automated, and employees need up-to-date skills in technology. GR Spring & Stamping has inhouse training programs and also works with Grand Rapids Community College, Western Michigan University and Ferris State University. In fact, this year, the company was honored by Hitachi Foundation for doing well and doing good. GR Spring & Stamping was recognized for its innovative training and personnel policies which resulted in a 300 percent sales increase over the past ten years and a nearly 30 percent annual growth rate since 2009. The Hitachi Foundation named GR Spring & Stamping as one of 14 US companies that have helped their workers gain skills, retain their jobs, advance and generate greater value. GR Spring and Stamping is a family company that considers its employees, its suppliers and its customers as an extension of its family. The way the business operates and the way it treats everyone with respect and trust has made it a success over time and will surely continue into the future as the familyand the companygrows.

Jane Whittington is a freelance writer and editor who lives in Grand Rapids.

Industrial Briefs
Grand Rapids The Right Place, Inc., in collaboration with Michigan Economic Development Corp. and Byron Township, announced approval of $2.75 million in total economic incentives for Grand Rapids-based SpartanNash Company to ensure retention of 620 existing jobs, creation of 72 new jobs in West Michigan while providing flexibility to support 300 additional new jobs for the companys future growth needs, and guarantee the companys corporate headquarters will remain in West Michigan. Lansing Mayotte Group Architects welcomed Project Manager Sean Conklin, Associate AIA member and LEED Green Associate, and Executive Assistant Jennifer Brown as new Production Team members. Kentwood The Right Place, Inc., in collaboration with Michigan Economic Development Corporation and City of Kentwood, announced approval of $650,000 in Michigan Business Development Program incentives from Michigan Strategic Fund that will enable Ventra Grand Rapids 5, LLC, to launch a current automotive lighting product line and acquire new work from automotive OEMs in Michigan. Ventura will invest $16.3 million over three years with purchase and renovation of an existing facility, new equipment and machinery, and generate 150 new jobs for the area. Grand Rapids Owen-Ames-Kimball Co. announced receipt of esteemed ABC Award of Excellence in Historic Restoration category for their work at Tibbits Opera House. Grand Rapids Owners of East Paris Crossings located at 1144 East Paris, welcomed Cribs 2 Bunks and L. Marie & Co to the center. Cribs 2 Bunks specializes in furniture for children as they grow from baby to teen and beyond, and L. Marie & Co., womens clothing boutique, home accents, and holiday dcor, recently relocated from Gas Light Village. Bloomfield Hills Hubbell, Roth & Clark, Inc., consulting engineering firm, appointed Roland Alix, P.E., and Jesse VanDeCreek, P.E., Associate, as Vice Presidents/Partners and members of its Board of Directors. William Davis, P.E., Associate, and Dennis Benoit, P.E., Associate, were appointed Senior Associates.

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14 Why Our Addiction to Work Is Making Us Stupid, Depressed, Unhealthy, and Hurting Our Careers
By Dr. Tasha Eurich Kmarts recent announcement to open its doors at 6am on Thanksgiving Day sent shockwaves throughout the nation. Though bargain-seekers were thrilled, many are questioning the retail chains decision. In recent years, such Thanksgiving Creep has inspired multiple protests from employees, with one petition calling it inhumane and inconsiderate. And unfortunately, this problem doesnt just exist in retail establishments around the holidays. Across all job types and industries, Americans are working more than ever. According to a recent Workforce Management study, since the great recession, 55% of employees have seen their workload increase, and 27% say its doubled. The constant pressure to do more with less, coupled with the belief that being busy means were important, is creating an unsustainable pattern. For many workers, taking time away from their jobs feels like an untenable luxury. Most European countries provide workers at least four weeks of vacation each yearGermany and Sweden are particularly generous with seven weeks. But a Center for Economic Policy and Research study reveals that 25 percent of US employees dont take any vacation at alleither because they dont use their accrued time or their employer doesnt provide it. Why would anyone choose not to take the time away that theyve rightfully earned? For many, fear is a factor fear of missing out on promotions, topping the layoff list, being judged by bosses or coworkers, or the work that will inevitably pile up. Certainty, anyone can work fifty, sixty, or eighty hours per weekand take little time offif they choose. But as it turns out, there are some profound consequences: 1. Working too much makes us stupider. Research has shown that long hours affect our brains. An American Journal of Epidemiology study followed British civil servants over five years to understand the relationship between long hours and brain functioning. Compared to those who worked forty hours per week, participants who worked more than fiftyfive hours showed poorer vocabulary and reasoning skills. In plain English, working too much actually makes us stupider. 2. Working too much makes us depressed. Research has shown that long hours are also a significant risk factor for depression. A study published in PLoS ONE examined more than 2,000 workers in the United Kingdom over six years. They found that employees who worked more than eleven hours per day had more than twice the risk of depression than those who worked seven to eight hours per day. The relationship remained even when researchers statistically removed the influence of socio-economic factors, chronic physical disease, smoking and alcohol use. 3. Working too much hurts our career advancement. When people think about how to get ahead in their career, most have a more is better approach. Just look at the hours worked at many law firms, tech companies, and Wall Street. However, more hours does not always equal better performance, and human beings have an upper limit for productivity on any given day. Somewhat counterintuitively, a 2006 Ernst & Young study that found a positive relationship between vacations (i.e., fewer hours overall) and performance: For each additional ten hours away from the office employees took, their performance reviews were eight percent higher the following year! 4. Working too much can actually kill us. In August of this year, a 21-year old Bank of America intern was found dead in his London dorm room. During the course of Moritz Erhardts demanding seven-week internship, he had pulled eight all-nighters in two weeks. Although Erhardts case is as rare as it is tragic, it reflects the general trend that working too much is simply not healthy. Luckily, when we take time away, these effects are mitigated. For example, the Framingham Heart study (a massive longitudinal research program started in 1948) reported that when workers take annual vacations, their risk for a heart attack is reduced by 30% in men and 50% in women. Two Tips for Taking Time Off Without Paying For It When You Return Hopefully, cashing in some of that vacation time feels more important than it did a just few minutes ago. But if the idea of taking time off still feels difficult or stressful, here are a few tips. First, its okay to start small. Short vacations have similar positive effects as long ones; one study from Radboud University Nijmegen in the Netherlands found that even vacations of just a few days increased health and well-being. And because benefits from most vacations fade after 5 days, frequent, shorter vacations may actually be better. So instead of blocking off two weeks and paying for it when you return, try a long weekend every month or two instead. Second, its okay to check e-mail a few times while youre away. The above study also revealed that people who worked during vacations still showed increases in health and well-being, albeit smaller ones. For many workers, being able to check in at work eases anxiety. So, within the bounds of reason, go for it! Just dont let things get out of hand, lest your spouse or partner lock your iPhone in the hotel safe. Whether youre being forced to work this Thanksgiving or not, the holidays are a great time to re-prioritize. Its important to remember that family and friends are lifes true gifts. After all, on their deathbeds, few people are likely to say I wish I had spent more time at work. So for goodness saketake some time off! A proud leadership geek, executive coach, speaker, and author, Dr. Eurich is the author of the new book, Bankable Leadership: Happy People, Bottom Line Results, and the Power to Deliver Both. She also helps organizations succeed by improving the effectiveness of their leaders and teams. The majority of Dr. Eurichs work has been with executives in large Fortune 500 organizations.

Education Briefs
Grand Rapids Grand Rapids Community College, along with business partner Safety Technology USA, became the first training provider in the U. S. awarded Global Wind Organization (GWO) accreditation to deliver basic safety training to wind farm workers. After an intense independent audit, GRCC was certified to deliver four land-based GWO Basic Safety Training modules: working at height, first aid, fire awareness, and manual handling. Training takes place at GRCCs state-of-the-art Tassell M-TEC facility. Grand Rapids Grand Valley State University officials announced they will ask members of their Board of Trustees to approve purchase of nearly 11 acres northeast of downtown Grand Rapids to expand GVSUs health campus. GVSU is the regions No. 1 provider of health care workers with 5,000 of its students studying in nursing and health related fields. Grand Rapids Kendall College of Art and Design Fashion Studies program announced official naming of the program as Pamella Roland DeVos School of Fashion, named for President and Designer Pamella Roland, and for her renowned international fashion company headquartered in New York City. Allendale Grand Valley State University Assistant Professor of Sociology Laurel Westbrook, and University of Chicago Assistant Professor of Sociology Kristen Schilts article, Doing Gender, Determining Gender: Transgender People, Gender Panics, and the Maintenance of the Sex/Gender/Sexuality System, was recently published in Gender & Society. Allendale Grand Valley State University signed a reverse transfer agreement with Monroe County Community College.

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Communication & IT
Connect Michigan Releases New Broadband Availability Data in Support of GIS Day 2013
Lansing Connect Michigan is announcing the release of its new broadband availability data. The research shows that the broadband availability gap in Michigan is declining, with 98.37% of Michigan residents now having access to broadband speeds of at least 10 Mbps download/1.5 Mbps upload (including mobile wireless, but excluding satellite services), compared to 95.89% last April. We have seen many new and existing broadband service providers investing and expanding service into previously unserved or underserved rural areas, said Connect Michigan State Program Manager Eric Frederick. While some communities still struggle with broadband access, Connect Michigans Connected Community Engagement Program is working to identify these areas and connect them with service providers that are able to expand. GIS Day celebrates the use of geographic information systems (GIS) to analyze diverse topics in local, state, federal, and international applications. Connect Michigan has been working since 2009 to ensure that Michigan residents have access to the economic, educational, and quality-of-life benefits derived from increased broadband access, adoption, and use. Part of that work includes maintaining detailed GIS analysis of broadband availability across the state to support broadband planning efforts. This is the eighth round of releasing these data. Among the findings of the new broadband availability research are: 97.73% of households have access to fixed broadband speeds of 3 Mbps download/768 Kbps upload or higher, the relevant metric the FCC uses to determine eligibility for Connect America Fund subsidies. Broadband availability at 6 Mbps download/1.5 Mbps upload increased more than 2% from 96.29% in April 2013 to its current 98.50% (including mobile wireless, but excluding satellite services). Broadband availability at 10 Mbps download/1.5 Mbps upload increased more than 2% from 95.89% in April 2013 to its current 98.37% (including mobile wireless, but excluding satellite services). 68.35% of Michigans households now have access to fixed wireless broadband service; this is an increase of 37% from October 2011. 83.33% of Michigans households now have access to broadband service of at least 50 Mbps download/1.5 Mbps upload, excluding mobile wireless and satellite services; this is an increase of 34% from October 2011.

15

83.30% of Michigans households now have access to broadband service of at least 100 Mbps download/1.5 Mbps upload, excluding mobile wireless and satellite services; this is an increase of 60% since October 2011.

Communications & IT
Grand Rapids Ideomed, Inc., announced its flagship solution Abriiz, web and mobile based solution that helps people manage chronic medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes and heart disease, is migrating to Amazon Web Services cloud. The highly customizable platform is designed to help anyone from pregnant mothers and their developing babies, to teens working on weight issues, and those with multiple chronic illnesses. Morgantown, WV Online Integrated Marketing Communications graduate program at West Virginia Universitys P.I. Reed School of Journalism, announced addition of Grand Rapids resident Christopher Nicely, Executive Vice President of Marketing at Holland Home (Michigans largest Continuing Care Retirement Community) to their Graduate Student Committee Advisory Board. Muskegon Revel announced addition of its newest Web Developer, Michael Schaafsma. Muskegon Electronic Entertainment Exchange, Inc., DBA E3 Trade and Repair announced they purchased Muskegon Plan N Trade franchise, and will close the store December 31, 2013, and open a new store, E3 Trade and Repair, on the Northwest corner of Seaway and Seminole in early January, focusing on sale, trade, and repair of most electronics.

Education Briefs
Allendale Cynthia Grapczynski, Associate Professor and Program Director of Occupational Therapy at Grand Valley State University, was named Fellow by American Occupational Therapy Association. Allendale Julie Guevara, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs at Grand Valley State Univesity, was appointed by Gov. Rick Snyder to Hispanic/Latino Commission of Michigan, and also appointed to Commission on Accreditation, a commission of Council of Social Work Education. Allendale Grand Valley State University is the first in Michigan to sign reverse transfer agreements with all 28 Michigan Community Colleges. Grand Rapids Davenport University College of Health Professions is launching a new Master of Science in Health Informatics and Information Management Degree program Winter 2014 semester, available in-seat and online. Big Rapids National Center for Educational Statistics ranked Ferris State University sixth among its top 10 schools for construction management degrees. The rankings noted Ferris offers certificates, associates, bachelors and masters programs for people interested in a career as construction manager. Grand Rapids Van Andel Institute Graduate School received institutional accreditation from Higher Learning Commission for its Ph.D. program in cell, molecular and genetic biology of human disease which will combine translational and biomedical research with professional mentorship by scientists of Van Andel Research Institute with further advice and evaluation from faculty members at other research institutes and universities. Lansing Kathy Lawrence, Administrative Assistant for Cooley Center for Ethics, Service and Professionalism, was honored by Department of Military and Veterans Affairs with its Legion of Merit award for her work with Michigan National Guard through Cooleys Service to Soldiers Program.

Report: In Michigan, Experian Gets Big Complaints

Lansing A new report by PIRGIM Education Fund found that the most complained-about credit reporting agency in Michigan is Experian, and that Michigan ranks 38th nationally in credit report complaints per 100,000 residents. The report used data collected by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureaus public Consumer Complaints Database, which was created to help consumers resolve problems with their credit reports. The report compared complaints against the three nationwide credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion), commonly referred to as credit bureaus, who were together responsible for 96% of all complaints about credit reporting. The CFPB is providing aggrieved consumers with the opportunity to demand a response from credit reporting agencies and get real relief, said Eric S Mosher, PIRGIM Education Fund Associate. The nationwide credit reporting agencies effectively function as gatekeepers to financial and employment opportunity, and the CFPBs public database holds them accountable to a high standard of accuracy. The report, Big Credit Bureaus, Big Mistakes: The CFPBs Consumer Complaint Database Gets Real Results for Victims of Credit Reporting Errors, is the third in a series of reports by the PIRGIM Education Fund that analyze the complaints in the CFPBs public Consumer Complaint Database, which accepts complaints relating to a variety of financial products and services. The CFPB has accepted complaints about credit reporting since October 2012. Numerous studies by the PIRGIM Education Fund and a 2013 study by the Federal Trade Commission have found that millions of Americans have serious errors on their credit reports. These errors can severely inhibit a consumers ability to get an affordable loan, rent an apartment, or even find a job. Some key findings: Michigan ranks 38th in complaints per 100,000 residents, making residents 38th most likely to file a complaint. Residents of the District of Columbia were most likely to complain. The most complained-about credit reporting agency in Michigan is Experian. By far, the most common problem was incorrect information on a credit report, which accounted for 65 percent of complaints. The CFPB has helped enable nearly 3,000 consumers, or 30 percent of total complainants, to receive relief such as fixing incorrect information on a credit report or refunding service charges or fees related to credit reporting. The big three nationwide credit reporting agencies (NCRAs) Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian varied widely in how they responded to complaints. Equifax responded to 63 percent of its complaints with non-monetary relief, while Experian did so in only 5 percent of cases and TransUnion in 22 percent. Equifax provided monetary or non-monetary relief nearly three times as often as TransUnion and more than 10 times as often as Experian. Consumers disputed the companies responses to about 18 percent of all complaints. The big three NCRAs collect, centralize, and aggregate consumers financial information. They source this information from public record databases of bankruptcies as well as from creditors and other furnishers, who forward consumer bill payment history and other credit information to them voluntarily. These big three NCRAs accounted for 96 percent of the over 10,000 complaints on credit reporting. In general, monetary relief is most likely due to complaints about add-on credit monitoring subscription products and non-monetary relief most likely involves corrections to credit reports. An FTC report published in February of this year found that 5% of consumers have significant errors on their credit reports. If 5% of the toasters in the market started fires in our kitchens, there would be product recalls and we would do something about it. If 5% of our cars simply stopped working, there would be recalls again, said Attorney Ian Lyngklip of Lyngklip & Associates Consumer Law Center, PLC. Yet 5% of eligible consumers have significant errors on their credit reports and we simply have no data to properly regulate the problem. In our current economy, can we really afford to have 5% of the eligible population black-balled from credit and employment opportunities because of credit reporting errors? The report also highlights several changes the CFPB should make in order to improve the accessibility and usefulness of its database, such as adding details about the consumers specific problem and how it was resolved. PIRGIM Education Fund also urged the CFPB to order the credit bureaus to comply with the laws accuracy and dispute reinvestigation standards.

Health Care Briefs

Allegan Allegan General Hospitals Board of Trustees elected Edelio Coipel, Senior Manager of Employee Relations at Perrigo Co., to its Board. Grand Haven Atlas Ergonomics founder Drew Bossen, will receive Robert G. Dicus Award, highest honor granted by Private Practice Section of American Physical Therapy Association. Lansing Members of the MI Air MI Health Coalition called for swift action to reduce air pollution following news from the World Health Organization that air pollution from power plants is a leading cause of cancer across the globe. Last week the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the cancer agency of the World Health Organization, declared that air pollution is a carcinogen. IARC had previously deemed some of the components in air pollution to be carcinogens, but this is the first time it has classified air pollution in its entirety as cancer causing. Kalamazoo Megan Hass, certified physician assistant, has joined the staff of Borgess Orthopedics, part of the Borgess Bone & Joint Institute. Wyoming Dr. Kevin Howard, Chair of Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Orthopedic Surgery Residency Director at Metro Health Hospital, was named a Fellow by American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics. Wyoming Metro Health Hospital was recertified as Primary Stroke Center from Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program. Grand Rapids Dr. Abigail Veldkamp, and Dr. Shannon Stanek joined Grand Rapids Ophthalmology. Wyoming Metro Health is expanding, and beginning Monday, Nov. 4, 2013, Metro Heart & Vascular will begin seeing patients at Allegan General Hospital with interventional cardiologists Dr. Fadi Saab, and Dr. Barbara Karenko.

Review of The Three Rules

their impressive research is three pivotal rules any company can follow. To uncover this strategic knowledge, the authors worked as diligent corporate paleontologists, carefully analyzing the fossil record of high-performing companies to discover what makes them special. The authors back up their research with 110 pages of detailed appendices that reflect the meritorious rigor of their approach. Their intense research methods are solid and praiseworthy, but their opaque writing style is wearying, as is their criticism of other books that offer business advice based on anecdotes and one-off observations. getAbstract recommends their thorough analysis and practical findings to CEOs, COOs, business owners, organizational strategists, business professors, entrepreneurs, investors and avid students of the application of managerial theory to practical problems. Provided by www.getabstract.com Michael E. Raynor and Mumtaz Ahmed. The Three Rules: How Exceptional Companies Think. Portfolio, 2013. 384 pages. ISBN-13: 9781591846147. getAbstract is the leading provider of business book summaries, with thousands of titles covered. www.getabstract.com

Kalamazoo Paul Peabody joined Bronson Healthcare as Vice President of Information Technology, and Chief Information Officer specializing in all aspects of healthcare operations, project management, information systems, and software development.

How do some companies turn in exceptional performance year after year? Deloittes Michael E. Raynor and Mumtaz Ahmed apply a disciplined, statistically rigorous approach to determine what makes top companies great. The fruit of

17 17 Customer Service Leaders Must Master Speed

By John Tschohl Among the many tools and tactics a company can use to improve the customer experience, speed is the most overlooked. Thats unfortunate because a major factor in creating a positive customer experience is speed. There are three major obstacles to improving the customer experience through speed: 1. Employee mindset. If an employee has four days to do a task, they will take four days to do the task. In fact, they wont get started until the fourth day! And then they will usually not finish the task because they need help from another employee who called in sick or is otherwise unavailable. 2. Company policies. Many companies have policies that slow down tasks that could be completed quickly and easily. They might require two or three sets of eyes and signatures for approval before a task could be completed when one set of eyes is really enough. Companies must eliminate policies and procedures that add to the cost and time of a task. Thats because every time another set of hands touches a document, the company spends money. When you buy an Apple product in their stores you will see speed. 3. Disregard for the customer experience. In todays world, customers want it now. They wont wait in a doctors office for an hour. They wont stand on long lines. If they cant get something quickly, they will go to another provider. Companies that understand the need for speed can actually profit greatly. Southwest Airlines planes have a 20minute turnaround Because of this speed, they need fewer planes, which saves them billions of dollars. As a result, they have been profitable for 40 years while competitors in their industry have posted huge losses. In the early days of computing, Dell became a major player when they convinced customers they could create and ship a fully customized computer in just four hours. In todays competitive world, if you snooze, you loose. Customers want everything faster. Employees must understand that competition demands that employees work quickly. Every customer wants speed. They want everything faster. Employees need to understand everything is urgent. Every extra minute they can save will translate to the bottom line. Look at your company policies. W hen the order comes in, do you ship the same day? When a loan application comes in, does it get processed in one day or in seven days? You better believe there is another company out there who can do that job that fast. And they will get the business and you will lose the business. Every employee needs to figure out where they improve speed without foregoing quality. You can never compromise quality. Management also must be open to employees suggestions. After all, they do the work every day. They know what actions can be taken to make any process faster and more efficient. Listen to them. They will feel appreciated and will be motivated to do a better job. Individuals who master speed have the ability to move up in the organization. Be on the lookout for employees who master speed. CEOs, for the most part, are driven by speed. If you want to differentiate your company in the marketplace, then you need to show how you can dramatically deliver service and products faster than your competitors. Fortunately, companies can create a new mindset that helps win the war on speed: 1. Create a culture for the need for speed. If the employees realize the importance for speed, they will get the job done faster. 2. Customer service is a skill. It can be taught. And it should be taught every four months with new and interesting materials to keep employees fresh and engaged. 3. Modify policies that are speed traps. The lack of speed can cost a company a lot of money. Speed is customer service at its best -- a powerful competitive advantage. John Tschohl - described by Time and Entrepreneur magazines as a customer service guru - presents strategic keynote speeches to companies worldwide. Contact him at John@servicequality.com or http://www.customer-service.com/

Legal/Accounting/Consulting Briefs
Grand Rapids Warner Norcross & Judd, LLP, welcomed new attorneys: Racheal E. Fox, Amy L. Fredrickson, Patrick M. Gunton, Kelly R. Hollingsworth, and Ford J. Turrel. Grand Rapids Heidi Lyon was named Chair of Professional Staff Committee at Warner Norcross & Judd, LLP, and concentrates her practice in employee benefits law. Grand Rapids Warner Norcross & Judd, LLP, was ranked one of 2014 Best Law Firms by Best Lawyers and U.S. News & World Report, in areas of environmental law and regulatory enforcement litigation. In addition, three of the firms offices received top-tier ratings in multiple practice areas. Grand Rapids For the fourth year, U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers recognized Miller Johnson with top rankings for 25 practice areas in Grand Rapids Metro area, and 8 in Kalamazoo. Sterling Heights UHY welcomed new member firms Voscon Chartered Accountants, and Douglas Godwinson World to their global accountancy network. Both firms will rebrand to UHY Voscon and UHY Godwinson respectively, and are both based in Accra, the Ghanaian capital. Muskegon Brickley DeLong, PC, was named both 2013 All-Star Firm, and 2013 Fastest-Growing Firm according to INSIDE Public Accounting, national publication serving the accounting profession. Grand Rapids Hilger Hammond, PC, announced the firm received a Tier 1 ranking in 2014 edition of U.S. News Best Law Firm. Lansing Fredrick D. Dilley, shareholder in Foster Swift Collins & Smith, PC (Grand Rapids office), was elected to serve as Vice-Chair on Board of Trustees for Michigan State University College of Law. Detroit Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn, LLP, was among the nations most prominent law firms in several key practice areas in U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers 2014 Best Law Firms rankings, and the only Michigan-based firm ranked nationally for its Venture Capital and Information Technology practices. Grand Rapids Charles H. Worsfold, partner in Worsfold Macfarlane McDonald, PLLC, became a Fellow of American College of Trial Lawyers, a premier legal association in America. Grand Rapids Douglas E. Wagner was re-elected Managing Partner of Warner Norcross & Judd, LLP, for a fifth term, making him the longest-serving managing partner in the firms history. Grand Rapids Baker Holtz, local CPA firm, announced: Jan Sheffield joined as Paraprofessional, offering bookkeeping and seasonal tax preparation; JoAnne Locatis joined as Administrative Assistant; Melissa Seguin was promoted to Tax Manager from Tax Supervisor; Phil Malnar was promoted to Senior Associate from Associate; and Tiffany Taft, Administrative Assistant continues education as Accredited Administrator in Accounting Practice Management. Grand Rapids Hilger Hammond, PC, announced the following officer appointments: President Steve Hilger; Vice President Aileen Leipprandt; and Secretary/Treasurer Ben Hammond. Grand Rapids Associate Attorney John Taylor II joined Foster Swift's Grand Rapids office as a member of their Business & Corporate Practice Group. Fremont H&S Companies joined Practicewise, a results-focused group of CPA firms across the nation formed by Eide Bailly, one of the top 25 CPA firms in the nation.

Twenty-Three Tools to Build Your Brand

By John Graham Trashing branding has reached star status as critics dismiss it as pass in a digital environment. Who wants the behind the times label? Its interesting that those throwing the rocks at branding come prepared with a ready replacement they want to sell us. Because branding is how people experience a company and its products, dont fall for the idea that its obsolete. Just remember that no company goes to greater pains to protect its brands integrity than does Apple, now the number one brand in the world, according to the 2013 Interbrand survey. "Every so often, a company changes our lives, not just with its products, but with its ethos," noted Interbrand CEO Jez Frampton in the companys report. "This is whyInterbrand has a new No. 1 -Apple." No task is more critical for companies, organizations and individuals than brand building. Here are 23 tools that can enhance a brand by giving it continuous care and protection. 1. Give everyone hospitality training. This is the place to start since most employees dont know how best to interact with customers. Hospitality training is mandatory for all employees of Portland, Oregons Umpqua Bank and it has paid off as demonstrated by the banks stellar performance. 2. Align with a charity. Create a long-term relationship with a charity that shares your values and makes it possible to leverage your companys resources knowledge, skills, talent as well as monetary contributions. 3. Make marketing your mission. Business is all about attracting customers who want to do business with you, a mission requiring a plan thats implemented consistently. 4. Give customers what they want. Thats what T-Mobiles Un-carrier rebranding is all about, starting with dumping contracts, followed by the Jump! early upgrade program and then the signing of Shakira. The payoff has been huge with more than one million new customers, increased revenues and positive changes in public perception. 5. Respond quickly to a crisis. Theres no pause button; just ask Ford Motors. It refused to recall 421,000 2012 Escapes when stuck gas pedals caused accidents until the company was forced into doing it, causing reputation damage and falling Escape sales. Be ready because even a slight delay in responding to a crisis can be costly. 6. Research ruthlessly. Mistakes hurt and some can be fatal, so challenge your ideas, options and opportunities with research and testing to avoid falling into embarrassing and costly debacles. 7. Articulate your mission. Forget about puffy-fluffy (and meaningless mission statements). The famed industrial designer Niels Diffrient, who blended the technical and the aesthetic, had one goal: Why would you design something if it didnt improve the human condition? What an idea! 8. Understand your customers. Many say they know their customers and dont need any help. Theyre kidding themselves about other things, too. It takes a combination of having the right data and having the smarts to figure out what it means. 9. Picture customers correctly. Take a page from Target and Dunkin Donuts, companies that view customers as guests who deserve to be treated that way. 10. Avoid erraticism. This prevalent disease eats away at business success by constantly jumping from one non-solution to the next, baffling and confusing both customers and employees. 11. Make studied moves. Just because a competitor does it or it sounds good doesnt mean its right for your company. Without adequate preparation or serious research, many companies jump into eCommerce, launch new products, make acquisitions, or expand, only to fail. 12. Admit mistakes fast. Too many businesses are living in the past when cover-ups were possible. Not so now theres always a trail that leads to your door. Dont hope for the best; expect the worst and clear the air quickly. 13. Control enthusiasm. Enthusiasm is essential, but it can also dull cognitive skills, obscure roadblocks, and blind us to unnecessary risks that can lead to unwelcome outcomes. 14. Build a case for receiving industry and civic awards. Valid recognition is more than blowing your own horn; it helps in shaping how customers, employees and the public perceive a company. 15. Disallow excuses. Whether its letting yourself, your work group, or your company off the hook by making excuses, customers, shareholders and the public get the message: you cant counted on. 16. Be crisis conscious. Asking the question What would happen if? is the most important component in making decisions. Failing to ask it is entertaining the possibility of making costly mistakes. 17. Segment your customer base. Heard it before? Of course, but only a small percentage of companies actually segment their customer database so they can tailor their marketing message to specific groups, and devote their efforts to those who produce the most revenue. 18. Be responsive. They always get back to me quickly. Because they create a lasting impression, these are the most important words anyone can hear. Like nothing else, they send the message that you care. How fast? Now one hour or less. And there are no exceptions. 19. Educate customers. If customers arent learning from you, theyre vulnerable to competitor attack. Focus on emerging trends, dangers ahead, product use, reducing costs, and solving problems. 20. Think creativity. Nothing is worse than trying to eat when driving for fear of making a mess on our clothes. KFC solved the problem with its fivecompartment Go Cups that fit in a cup holder and a menu of finger food. 21. Get rid of meetings without a strategic agenda. Meetings frustrate goaloriented high achievers, says meeting expert Larissa Barber of UNC, because they feel they are prevented from getting work done, while those who are more social and less self-structured like meetings to catch up and talk with col-

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leagues. 22. Get it right. Good enough is never good enough when it comes to the care and protection of a brands integrity. 23. Give everyone brand training. Branding depends on consistent messaging and that takes training. What values does it represent? Why does it resonate with customers? What role do employees play in caring for our brand? How can they help enhance it? Brand building is a tough job and one that never ends. As difficult as it is to create a solid brand, it can be easily damaged or even destroyed. It needs constant care. And, above all, it deserves tireless protection. It may never appear on a balance sheet as an asset, but its value is immeasurable. John Graham of GrahamComm is a marketing and sales strategist-consultant and business writer. He publishes a free monthly eBulletin, No Nonsense Marketing & Sales. Contact him at johnrg31@me.com, 617-774-9759 or johnrgraham.com.

Review of 12 Disciplines of Leadership Excellence

and Fred are long gone and employees now are more skeptical, self-interested and demanding. Leaders face constant scrutiny from all corners and must consistently model the behavior and attitudes they desire in their followers. Today, leadership demands a combination of 12 broad disciplines as put forward by prolific authors Brian Tracy and Peter Chee, both leadership experts. Their compilation offers foundational and valuable leadership and management advice. You may have heard most of it before, but reviewing the tenets of leadership never hurts and getting it all in one place, clearly stated, is convenient. getAbstract recommends this step-by-step survey of solid but standard instructions to novices and to those whod like a short summary of fundamental leadership advice. Brian Tracy and Peter Chee. 12 Disciplines of Leadership Excellence: How Leaders Achieve Sustainable High Performance. McGraw-Hill Companies, 2013. 240 pages. ISBN-13: 9780071809467. getAbstract is the leading provider of business book summaries, with thousands of titles covered. www.getabstract.com

Provided by www.getabstract.com Great leaders from history including Alexander the Great and Frederick the Great left a legacy of leaderships core principles: excellence, courage, determination, fortitude, listening, integrity and caring about your followers. But Alex

Finance/Insurance/Banking Briefs
Grand Rapids Charter Group, a merger and acquisition advisory firm focused on buy, sell, and capital raise transactions, announced addition of Charles J. Vranian to its Advisory Board. Grand Haven Bank of Holland is expanding at 111 N. Third St., with a new 7,000 square-foot branch to house a growing team of commercial and consumer lending experts, mortgage professionals, and other support staff. Detroit SBAs Michigan District Office is now accepting nominations for its 2014 Small Business Awards. Preliminary nomination letters may be submitted to Michigan District Office via email. Please address some of the evaluation criteria for the award category which includes: Small Business Person of the Year, Exporter of the Year, Young Entrepreneur of the Year, and Family Owned Small Business of the Year. Holland Macatawa Bank announced they would begin offering SpotPay, mobile payments solution for customers which enables merchants to accept card payments anywhere, anytime. Using SpotPay, merchants are able to swipe credit and debit cards with their Apple iOS or Android mobile device to accept payments. Caledonia Andrew Schutt is now President of The Campbell Group, a division of Acrisure, and will oversee all Property & Casualty operations for The Campbell Group; Dan Mannes was promoted to Executive Vice President of Acrisure Business Outsourcing Services Sales, and will lead the national growth of this division of Acrisure; and Don Collins was named Chief Operating Officer of Acrisure, LLC, and will lead new acquisition assimilation, coordination and development of operating strategies, and administrative resources. Midland Chemical Bank announced establishment of the Chemical Bank Foundation to better organize, prioritize and execute Chemical Banks on-going commitment to philanthropy. Bingham Farms Wolf-Chandler Agency, LLC, was formed marking a fourth generation Wolf insurance business, and bringing together two experienced insurance professionals - Matthew R. Wolf, and Steven C. Luppenlatz. Holland Macatawa Banks held a ribbon cutting ceremony November 20, 2013, for expansion of its downtown Grand Rapids Office at 116 Ottawa Ave. NW, on the first floor of the former Penn Club space. Chelsea Northpointe Bank, headquartered in Grand Rapids, opened a mortgage loan center August 2013, located at 134 W. Middle St. Suite H.

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Grand Rapids Northpointe Bank announced new employees David Kuiper, Vice President/Loan Officer, and Jason Bakker, Vice President/Loan Officer. Grand Rapids Grand Angels, an investment group, announced its fifth funding commitment of 2013, investing in Ambiq Micro, a leader in ultra-low power integrated circuits headquartered in Austin, Texas, and invested alongside venture capital firms Austin Ventures, ARM, Mercury Fund, Huron River Ventures, and other investors in the $10 million Series B funding round. Ambiq Micro, whose products are redefining the meaning of ultra-low power ICs, will use the funding to expand the companys SPOT (Sub threshold Power Optimized Technology) design platform, accelerate new product development, and expand worldwide market presence.

General Business
Grand Rapids According to a report from Grand Valley State Universitys Johnson Center for Philanthropy shows donors in Kent County gave an estimated $624.7 million to charity and philanthropic groups in 2011, an increase of almost $10 million from Johnson Centers estimate of total giving in 2010. Individuals gave 57.5% ($359.2 million) of the donations, foundations contributed 29.5% ($184.3 million), corporations contributed 7.2% ($44.6 million), and bequests made up 5.8% ($36.4 million). Ottawa County Ottawa County announced Lynne Doyle, previous Deputy Director, was selected as new Executive Director of Community Mental Health of Ottawa County. Doyle is a Limited Licensed Psychologist and has Masters Degrees in Counseling Psychology and Public Administration. Grand Rapids The Skin Revitalizing Center is one of the first facilities in the U.S. to offer miraDry Procedure, a new treatment providing safe and lasting solution for excessive underarm sweat, a debilitating condition also known as primary axillary hyperhidrosis. Lansing Michigan Liquor Control Commission announced plans to start the rule change process that prohibits bars and restaurants from utilizing logoed items like glasses, coasters and napkins, also known as Secondary Use Rule. If the rule is rescinded, bar and restaurant owners will be able to buy these items for their establishments. Currently, Michigan is the only state that prohibits this common marketing practice. Grand Rapids Nearly $200,000 in gifts and grants, with a lead grant of $100,000 from Lowell Area Community Fund, is supporting Kent Countys purchase of 20 acre Keystone Parcel - 13440 Covered Bridge Road - for $208,000, to expand Fallasburg Park in Lowell to 287acres. Grand Rapids The third annual Jerry OBee Service Excellence Award - developed 2011, by CRN as memorial tribute to honor OBee for his efforts in advocating for caregivers in West Michigan - was awarded to Cindy Streekstra by Caregiver Resource Network. Ottawa County Don Disselkoen, Ottawa County Commissioner representing District 3 (City of Holland Wards 1, 2, 3 & 6, Ward 4 Precinct 3), was unanimously awarded his second threeyear appointment to Michigan Transportation Asset Management Council. Grand Rapids Thirteen years ago, Michael Hines purchased his own Lawn Doctor of West Michigan which has inspired his eldest son, Kendall Hines to fulfill his fathers dreams and take over the family business. Kendall is currently in Lawn and Landscape Management program at Michigan State University with an additional 13 years of lawn care experience working with his father. Battle Creek W. K. Kellogg Foundation launched a new initiative, WKKF Community Leadership Network. The new initiative seeks to develop leadership skills of individuals who will be community-based social change agents working to help vulnerable children and their families achieve optimal health and wellbeing, access to good food, academic achievement, and financial security. A total of 100 fellows will be equitably selected from the foundations U.S. priority places - Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico, and New Orleans. Another 20 fellows will be selected from outside these priority places and will function as a national cohort whose work will focus on racial healing and equity.

Education Briefs
Grand Rapids 2013 Open Doors Report recognized Calvin College as one of the top-five baccalaureate institutions in the U. S. for enrolling 426 international students, and total number of students studying abroad - 52 countries and six Canadian provinces. In addition, Calvins current student body represents 45 states. Grand Rapids Aquinas College Board of Trustees approved expansion of campus housing with construction on new Apartment D building beginning early December 2013, and completion for next academic year (Fall 2014). It will be modeled after LEED certified Apartment D, with estimated cost of $5 million, approximately 29,176 sq. ft., and accommodate 64 upper class residents with single rooms, 2 large lounges, and 1 laundry facility. Battle Creek According to Gibson Survey, an annual survey of tuition and fees at all 28 Michigan community colleges, reveals Kellogg Community College (KCC) is the fifth most affordable college in the state. Gibsons 2013 Survey, compiled and released this month by Michigan Community College Business Officers Association, shows KCCs cost per credit is $106.04. On the survey, costs per credit ranged from $82.11 to $171.42, with average being $124.73. Costs per credit differ from each colleges tuition rate, which is a flat charge per credit hour. KCCs tuition rate, for example, is $89.50 for in-district students. Fremont Baker College was ranked among the nations top 20 online/nontraditional schools in annual Best for Vets College rankings by Military Times, a family of newsweeklies providing independent information to service members and their families.