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GR Foundation Pledges Millions to GR Public Schools

Grand Rapids Signifying the beginning of a long-term partnership, Grand Rapids Community Foundation trustees approved a $250,000 grant and publicly announced that it will create a college-going culture for students at Grand Rapids Public Schools Harrison Park School. Over the next ten years, the Community Foundations total expected investment toward school programs will amount to $4.5M. In addition, $1.5M will be committed, over the next ten years, for summer experiences and afterschool learning opportunities. The Community Foundation also intends to provide $3M annually for college scholarships, beginning with the class of 2020. Students who move through the program start-to-finish will be known as Challenge Scholars. The partnership will help foster an academic and social climate at the pre-k through 8th grade school that will fully support education beyond graduation, for every child. The grant will provide for three, new, full-time staff members at Harrison Park: A College Pathway coordinator, a math coach, and a literacy coach. Grant funds will also support extended learning time and professional development. Additionally, the partnership will lend a college scholarship component. Beginning with next years 4th graders (the class of 2020), the Community Foundation will provide $3M annually in scholarships to students who graduate from Union High School. In coming years, the program will expand to include Westwood Middle and Union High Schools, providing academic and social supports to Challenge Scholars as they prepare for college. This is a game-changing program, said Diana Sieger, Community Foundation president. Were focusing on long-term, systemic change for students, and we know the seeds for academic success are planted early and require ongoing nurturing. This is one step in school reform that people can appreciate and understand. This project fulfills a key element in the Community Foundations education strategy, notes Marcia Rapp, vice president of programs for the foundation. By targeting a specific population, the collective effect of our grant-making will be more evident. The program will be launched at Harrison Park because it offers on-site health and human service s to students and families through the Kent School Services Network. It is a pre-K through 8th grade school, and is a Meijer Good School award winner. Students have been making steady gains on MEAP scores. It also has a highly diverse student population that reflects the district as a whole. Research, preparation and planning for this project have take n almost three years. The program is funded with unrestricted and field of interest funds at the Community Foundation.

Delivery Despite Postal Winds of Change

By Amy Cygan Brian Quist was seven years old when his father founded a mailing company in 1975. Since then, not only has the son grown to wear his fathers shoesas the president and owner of Kent Communications, Inc. (KCI)but the mailing company has grown as well. Sailing through changing winds that have attempted to tousle the print industry and the postal system, KCI has expanded from a traditional mailing and sorting facility to a marketing support services company, over the last 31 years. The industry has changed over the last decade or so, says Brian Quist. Were a mailing company that has started doing print; opposite that, a lot of print companies have started doing mailings. KCIs primary business and largest sales are in mail - first; print - second; and e-marketing - third. While the company hopes to broaden its footprint outside of its West MI customer base, KCI is not looking to lose sight of its main assets. Although KCI performs a wide range of in-house services, from G7 Master offset printer capabilities, digital printing, and statement processing, to back-end analytics and fulfillment operations (where customers can warehouse collateral material or promotional items as needed), direct mail services pump steadily at the heart of the company. With the challenges facing the postal service these days, Quist remains optimistic about the role of direct mail: I think that direct mail has a bright future if the postal service can turn its ship around. Congress has tied their hands in some ways, not allowing them, for example, to close retail post offices. They have restrictions on their rate structures and, moreover, a lot of people dont realize that the postal service receives no tax dollar support; its completely paid by rate payers. And yet, the product that the postal service offers, as far as direct mail and advertising mail is concerned, continues to be effective and viable, especially with the advent of new technology. Quist continues: Print is a mature business that will be around for a long time. There are pieces in the print industry that will probably change dramatically, but as far as an advertising presence, they still evoke an emotional response, and theres still something about holding a printed piece in your hand thats almost impossible to replicate with other technology. As the economy improves, print and mail volumes are also increasing. Were not where we were three or four years ago, but I think there are a lot of positive signs moving forward. KCI will support the post offices efforts to grow their mail volume in the soft seasons of July and August, whereby the installation of a QR code on a mailpiece (in accordance with other stipulations) will yield a 3 percent discount on postage. With talk of the postal service limiting its activities to a five-day work week, Quist also responds positively: Most people I talk to in the industry express that if not having a Saturday delivery helps the postal service reduce their costs, remain a viable organization, and prevent future rate increases, then the industry will go along with it in other words, Saturday delivery is probably not a deal-killer for the industry, but a sick postal service is something that no one wants to see.

A Groundbreaking Force to Be Reckoned With

A Groundbreaking Force to Be Reckoned With 30 minutes outside of Grand Rapids and 15 minutes from Kalamazoo, big things are happening in the small City of Plainwell. Adjacent to where U.S. 131 meets M89, a 36-acre Superfund site (the only Superfund site in the city)and the iconic, vacant, brick-postured Plainwell Paper Mill that has mastered the property since 1886are the subjects of a mixed use, Brownfield redevelopment project that has been evolving since 2006. Spurred on by the public-privatecorporate relationship between the City of Plainwell, Weyerhaeuser, and Conestoga-Rovers & Associates (CRA), the project aims to environmentally restore the area, create jobs, attract area business, preserve the rich local history, and serve as a national template for other mill projects. In 1998, two years before the mill officially closed and eight years before the city would purchase it, the mill consisted of over 18 percent of the citys taxable value and employed over 400 workers; with current efforts underway to redevelop the property, 50 people (between CRA and City staff alone) are expected to be working in 2011, although numbers will swell as the project matures. Plainwell City Manager, Erik Wilson, observes that the ripple-effect from a well-done development will travel throughout the community in a variety of ways. Our inaction would certainly be an anchor on the citys ability to fund services and staff, so the mill development is definitely a priority. Adds Vice President of CRA, Wayne Bauman: Having both CRA and the City living on the site is a unique characteristic to the project. Now that we are close to completing this goal, we are getting strong interest from many parties looking for space at the mill site. There will be plenty of space within the existing historic buildings that will be available for commercial, residential, and other public use, (with some tenant renovation capabilities), as well as open land that will be used for new construction, likely to begin in 2012 or 2013. As part of Michigans economic gardening initiative, CRA Servicesa Michigan-based construction division of The CRA Family of Companieshas elected to grow locally and plans to house their U.S. construction headquarters on site. Thats the goal of economic gardening: To take existing Michigan companies, or divisions thereof, and help them grow, instead of trying to simply attract new outside business, says

Bauman. Wilson is optimistic that the new site-located City Hall will experience some move-in activity in the spring of 2012. The structure will undergo $400K in renovations funded by the revenue from scrap metal obtained from the demolition of select mill site buildings. In addition, the mill development project will account for a separate building on the western portion of the property that will house both Police and Fireanother benefit that the community and its residents will realize. The City of Plainwell has a 5 I.S.O rating that we believe can be reduced to a 4if Police and Fire were contained in one building, says Wilson. A communitys I.S.O. (Insurance Services Offices) ratingwhich spans from 1 to 10 and measures three key areas: The Fire Department; City water main & hydrant capabilities; and 911 servicesdirectly affects the amount an individual pays on home insurance and commercial building premiums; usually, a lower I.S.O. means better insurance rates. Residents will also benefit from the New Urbanism conceptual model, which strives to create an interactive environment, where people can work, walk to stores and services, and make use of the outdoors for recreation, as Bauman notes. In addition to building a new parking lot at the north end of Downtown Plainwellin an area known as Fannie Pell Parkand a distinct pedestrian bridge, which will connect the parking lot to CRA and City office entrances, The project will also give 4,000 feet of river frontage back to the community. There will be a new riverwalk eventually built, and what used to be industrial river frontage will become public space, says Bauman. In 2010, the City of Plainwell received $2,939,000 in mill grants, while various other parties have contributed funding as well. CRA is self-funding their renovation work for just the first phase their office and common areato the tune of $1.5K, and plan to continue to invest as the development grows. And the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and the Michigan Economic Development Corp. have pro-

vided grants to the city for the $2.3 million in demolition of non-historic buildings, and provided $650K (of the $750K estimate) for the parking and pedestrian bridge; the city provided the remaining match. In all, $7 Million has been planned to date for re-development. Overarching the impact that the Plainwell community will experience from the cultivation of a mixed business and residential commonplace, is the reclamation of community pridea pride achieved through the integration of past and modern technologies, and through the preservation of the Paper Mills his-

toric and nostalgic legacies. Up until the 60s, or so, the dam used to work, providing electricity to the mill. We would like to restore that at some point and time, says Bauman. With their most recent nod to the historical integrity of what was founded as the Michigan Paper Mill, Wilson, along with CRA, nominated the mill to the National Register of Historic Places. Wilson has already secured grant funds to rehabilitate buildings, and as a listing selectee, will benefit from a 20 percent federal Investment Tax Credit, and both a five percent and 25 percent state Rehabilitation Tax Credit. Continuing on in the service of the mill project, the city is pursuing various National Brownfield Association awards and has commissioned a documentary to be used as a national prototype; he was also one of three people who received the 2011 Gov. John B. Swainson Award, for his efforts toward preserving Michigan history.

C2AE: Celebrating 45 Years of Service with Integrity and Innovation

By Marcie McCann Forty-five years ago, on June 28, 1966, two men from the Lansing area founded the civil and environmental engineering firm, Capitol Consultants. Throughout the years, as with any growing organization, staff size increased, services were expanded, offices were relocated and/or opened, and company founders retired. In just the past 20 years, the firm has opened three additional offices, merged with Grand Rapids-based architecture firm DesignWorks A/E, changed its name to C2AE, and welcomed a new C.E.O. Currently, C2AE is the largest A/E firm headquartered in Lansing. While other firms in the architecture and engineering industry have struggled in recent years to remain competitive, C2AE continues to prosper. The continued success of the firm has produced steady growth for C2AE, who has over 100 employees, and offices in Lansing, Gaylord, Grand Rapids, and Escanaba, Michigan. By capitalizing on a strategic vision, the full service design firm has increased its revenue by 54 percent over the past six years. The firm averages approximately 400 projects per year for public and private clientele. With regard to timing and strategy, C2AEs diversification into several market sectors has paid off tremendously, which has given the firm the ability to funnel its resources into strong markets, in order to curb a downturn in overall revenues, said C2AE President and C.E.O., Bill Kimble. The firm presently operates in several growing market sectors, namely healthcare, infrastructure, manufacturing, and water and wastewater. C2AEs work has touched all parts of the statefrom the Capital City to the most northern and southern points, to the western shoreline sprawl of Lake Michigan, and to the eastern territory that yields some of Michigans finest sports teams. Beyond the Michigan border, C2AE is working on projects in five states and will be kicking off two projects in India this yearproof that C2AE continues to expand its boundaries to serve clients. Growing at a steady pace and maintaining our profitability puts us in a good position to remain competitive and to attract talented staff who want an opportunity for advancement in their career, said Kimble. C2AE is fortunate to have dedicated, strong employees who are passionate about what they do and a top-notch management team that provides strong internal leadership and support. One longstanding principle of the firm holds

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Publisher: Gary Kralapp

Review of Emotionomics
coding, which is based on psychologist Paul Ekmans Facial Action Coding System (FACS). Facial coding has a sleek and shiny high-tech feel. Indeed, the approach that Dan Hill and his research consultancy firm developed involves eye tracking, video recording, tabulation of emotional data sets, elaborate scoring systems and comprehensive analyses. Yet, 19th-century British naturalist Charles Darwin and French anatomist Guillaume Duchenne studied facial coding and applied their findings in their work. Since prehistoric times, humans have intuitively understood how to read each others faces. Hill and his colleagues have updated this ancient art to enable companies to determine accurately what consumers and employees truly feel about them and their products which is different from what they tell researchers. getAbstract recommends Hills groundbreaking book to executives and managers in all fields, but especially to human resources and marketing professionals. Dan Hill. Emotionomics: Leveraging Emotions for Business Success. Kogan Page, 2009. Pages: 368, List Price: $35.00. ISBN-13: 978-0749453992. getAbstract is the leading provider of business book summaries, with more than 5,000 titles covered. www.getabstract.com

Business Development Senior Vice President: Diane LaPreze Senior Vice President: Jim Lroy Circulation: David Calkins Contributing Writers: Marcie McCann, Chris Atwater, Jan Wierenga, Eric Uitvlugt, Shannon Cunningham, Rick Hert, Rolf Dobelli Managing Editor: Carol M. Kralapp Associate Editor: Amy Cygan Printing/Distribution: News Web Printing Accountant: Michael Tawney & Company Legal: Miller Canfield Paddock & Stone
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that C2AEs success is built upon relationships. The firms tagline Its the People is backed by their mission and vision statements, and represents a clear message: Its all about C2AEs people the employees, the clients, and the communities it serves. C2AE performs a variety of design services for its clientele; from wastewater treatment facilities and underground infrastructure system improvements, to road reconstruction, community park beautification, and innovative design work for industrial facilities, and healthcare and education institutions C2AE showcases a true breadth of experience. A river trail one bikes along, a park one spends time with family at, a community library where one checks out a book, a medical care facility where one visits a loved oneall are examples of projects that C2AE staff design every day. C2AE staff regularly donate time and resources to philanthropic activities and community clean-up efforts, as well as to programs designed to mentor high school and college students. The firm also has a designated Charity Committee that is responsible for reviewing and determining the firms annual Charity of Choice. Moving forward, Bill Kimble sees the firm strategically growing to 175200 employees and plans to open more offices to serve new geographic markets. However, C2AE will remain dedicated to its Michigan base. Kimble admits that todays economy still presents challenges, even for successful firms like C2AE, but is confident that the firm is positioned for continued success in the years to come. In recognition of just how far the firm has already come, C2AE commemorated the milestone by focusing on its employees during a firm-wide, 45th anniversary celebration that took place on June 28, 2011. Several more events are planned throughout the year to honor C2AEs employees and clients. Marcie McCann is marketing manager for the full-service design firm, C2AE, which performs a variety of services for its clients: Civil, mechanical, electrical, and structural engineering; architectural design; surveying; and construction administration, as well as interior design and landscape architecture. To learn more about C2AE, visit www.c2ae.com or call 1.866.454.3923.

By Rolf getAbstract

Dobelli,

Chairman,

PO Box 541 Byron Center, MI 49315 Phone: (616) 583-1577 Fax: 888-728-0045 Email: prupdate@businessupdate.com

People make most of their decisions with their hearts, not their heads. Indeed, feelings always precede rational thought. Learn to read your customers and staff members emotions to increase sales, profits, and customer and employee satisfaction. One technique you can use is facial

Non-profit Spotlight Catholic Charities West Michigan

Grand Rapids Beginning its 65th year, Catholic Charities West Michigan (CCWM) provides help to, and creates hope for, people in various locations throughout the 11-county area of the Grand Rapids Diocese. In 2010, CCWM provided services to over 26,000 individuals and families. Of those served, 75 percent made less than $15K a year and 80 percent were not Catholic. Catholic Charities West Michigan provides access to educational services and resources, which are essential for self-sufficiency and success, to those who are vulnerable to the negative influences of society. The agency offers a continuum of over 50 programs, in four different areas of service, to anyone, regardless of their religion, ethnicity or background. The agency impacts West Michigan by ensuring a nurturing and safe family environment, for both children and adults, through its Child Welfare Programs. This includes foster care for children who have been removed from their homes, adoption services for infants and older children, and on-going familial support. The Family Preservation Programs provide in-home intervention and counseling to at-risk families, in order to prevent children from being placed in outof-home care. The goal is to keep the family unit safely intact through strong case management, improving family interactions, and mentoring. Highly qualified therapists from the agencys Behavioral and Mental Health Counseling render services to children, adults, couples, and/or families who are dealing with issues, such as depression, anxiety, grief and loss, relationship strife, and substance abuse. Community Outreach through CCWM serves individuals and families of the community, as a whole, through programs that reach out to the most vulnerable. Through Capitol Lunch, Meals on Wheels, the Christian Community Center, and nine other outreach meal sites, Gods Kitchens programs served over 215,000 meals in 2010. Gods Kitchen-Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry, an emergency pantry in downtown Muskegon, also provides aid to those whose grocery supplies are limited. In addition to the Community Outreach food programs, CCWM tenders supplies, and baby and toddler clothing to those in need, through its Baby Pantries in Muskegon and Grand Rapids. New to CCWM is the Casa Family Support Center, which offers an in-home setting for parenting education and family supportgiven to biological parents of children who are in Foster Carewith the goal of reuniting families sooner. Through the implementation of inno-

vative, collaborative programs, CCWM works to lead diverse communities with hope and compassion. CCWM, who strives to follow in Christs footsteps, aims to empower people to reach their potential by providing help and creating hope.

$644,400 in College Scholarships

Grand Rapids - When a familys annual income is $30,000 or less, the cost for a year of post-secondary education can be staggering. Grand Rapids Community Foundation believes education beyond high school is a key element to a students lifetime success. To help students and families, the organization is awarding $644,400 in college scholarships. The Community Foundation received a record number of scholarship applications this year. Total scholarships awarded represent a $70,000 increase from last year and is the largest dollar amount the Community Foundation has awarded in a single year ever. Nearly 60 percent of the applicants identified themselves as being first-generation college students, meaning their parents had not attended college. 43 percent of the recipients reported having a family income of $30,000 or less. The Community Foundation has provided scholarships to students since 1945.

A New Home for UICA

Grand Rapids - Founded in 1977, the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts (UICA) has offered the Grand Rapids community innovative experiences in the latest art forms and exposure to the newest creative ideas. Today, UICA presents programs in visual art, film, dance, literature, performance art, and music, while providing artists with studio space, sales support, and educational opportunitiesall under one roof. On July 25th, UICA will move into a new building in the center of Downtown Grand Rapids. Located on the southwest corner of Fulton and Division, the new facility will allow UICA to present a greater dynamic array of contemporary art, new media, and experimental design/architecture projects. The new facility features: 8,500 sq. ft. of gallery space; 4,000 sq. ft. outdoor sculpture terrace; 2,000 sq. ft. ceramics studio; 1,000 sq. ft. youth studio; artistin-residence studio; two lounges, two theatres, two reading areas. Every year, more than 10,000 youth will learn how to become part of the institutes innovative workforcehow to solve problems creatively, value diversity, and engage with their community. UICA

hopes that the new facility will more effectively attract and retain creative, urban-oriented professionals from West Michigan by providing a vibrant anchor for the emerging Avenue for the Arts along the Division Avenue corridor. The non-profit also plans to advance the region's growing reputation for groundbreaking green initiatives by creating one of the nation's first LEED-certified facilities that will unite nonprofit, government, retail, and residential components. Grand Rapids will soon be home to an international artist-in-residency program, two film and performance theatres, more than 30 dynamic exhibitions, 125 educational programs, and exceptional art therapy services for the underserved.

6 Finance/Insurance Briefs
Grand Rapids - Miller Johnson presents its new Municipal and Public School District Restructuring Team as a means for advising MI municipalities and school districts on matters regarding financial stress and the Local Government and School District Fiscal Accountability Act. Michigan - Secretary of State, Ruth Johnson, announced the formation of a business roundtable, to include the following statewide business and industry leaders: Ron Boji - Boji Group, LLC; Pete Beauregard Jr. - Colony Marine; Terry Burns - Michigan Auto Dealers Association; Sherrill Freeborough Hyundai of Lansing; Ed Doss - Waters RV; Tim DeWitt Michigan Manufactured Housing, RV & Campground Association; Michael Gingell - Oakland County Board of Commissioners, corporate development for Polk; Gary Granger - Granger Group; Jim Murray - AT&T Michigan; John Ropp - Michigan Boating Industries Association; Bob Shuman - Shuman Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram; Todd Wyett VERSA, Michigan State Transportation Commission member; and a representative, to be announced - Meijer. Holland - The Bank of Holland applauds Zac Tamminga: 2011 C.A.R.E. Award recipient. The annual award honors a member of the banks staff for their outstanding commitment, through volunteer work, to better the lives of community members. Grandville - PCE Insurance Agency, a locally-owned independent insurance agency, recently relocated to 2890 Wilson Ave SW, in Grandville. Grand Rapids - Varnum Consulting welcomes new executive coach Michael Bivens, who will lead The Exceptional Leader program. Bivens, with 31 years of experience at Kellogg Company, was most recently responsible for the accelerated development of executive leaders. Grand Rapids - Rhoades McKee welcomes the following summer associates: Jacob Dunlop, Indiana University Mauer School of Law; Stephanie Myott, University of Illinois College of Law; Paul Umlauf, Michigan State University College of Law; and Kevan Ventura, University of Michigan Law School. Grand Rapids - Miller Johnson was named a recipient of a 2011 CIO 100 Award by IDGs CIO magazine. The 24th annual award program recognized Erik Goltzer, chief information officer, for his work on programs that exemplified operational and strategic excellence in information technology. Grand Rapids - Gov. Rick Snyder has appointed Christian Meyer, a partner with the law firm of Warner Norcross & Judd LLP, to the inaugural Electronic Recording Commission, which is charged with adopting standardized statewide requirements for the electronic recording of real estate documents. Grand Rapids - Miller Johnson has earned recertification as a member of Meritas. Recertification is required every three years and membership is by invitation only, with only one firm admitted for each selected geographic marketplace. Grand Rapids - In memory of Thomas Weibel (1975-2010), a litigation attorney respected for his willingness to mentor young attorneys, Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge has created the annual Thomas M. Weibel Trial Advocacy Scholarship so that a young attorney with the firm can attend an intensive National Institute of Trial Advocacy program. Muskegon and South Haven Fifth Third Bank has named Sierra Swartz (Muskegon branch) and Lori Goodrich (South Haven branch) as officers of the bank; both serve their branches as financial center managers. Grand Rapids - Jennifer Puplava, Mika Meyers Beckett & Jones PLC, was recently appointed as a board member of the Cascade Township Downtown Development Authority Board. Puplava practices in trademark and copyright law, technology and Internet law, and related commercial litigation. Holland - Grant Lemmen and Josh Delo have joined Lighthouse Insurance Group as personal lines insurance agents at the Holland location. Grand Rapids - In the face of sweeping changes to the way Michigan oversees the finances of local units of government and school districts, Warner Norcross & Judd LLP has created the Emergency Manager Law Team and developed an online news and analysis resource. Grand Rapids - John Inhulsen, an attorney with Foster Swift Collins & Smith PC, has been elected to serve on the Board of Directors for the MSU Alumni Club of West Michigan. Grand Rapids Sun Law Group, PLC and Lighthouse Title Group have created an alliance to offer a more comprehensive short sale and closing service solution to Michigan homeowners. Lansing - Gov. Rick Snyder has announced that Varnum LLP will donate $1 million in legal services to targeted state-based startups, and early stage and growing businesses in a coordinated effort to help spark Michigans economy. The statewide initiative which debuted this Juneprovides Michigan entrepreneurs with free legal services associated with starting a business, capital formation, and other legal needs. Grandville - Berends Hendricks Stuit Insurance Agency, Inc. welcomes Property & Casualty and Employee Benefits Account Executive, Ken Keuning; he specializes in construction and material transportation industries. Grand Rapids In May 2011, Bank Financial Services Group was recognized as a Diamond Associate Member of the Indiana Bankers Association (IBA) at the IBA Mega Conference, in Indianapolis. The company was one of the top 10 percent of IBA associate members recognized for outstanding commitment in four of the following five areas: event participation; advertising; sponsorships; political action committee support; or Preferred Service Provider utilization. Grand Rapids For the fourth consecutive year, Warner Norcross & Judd LLP has awarded Law School Admissions Test Preparation scholarships to six MI, or MI-college-attending minority students, in order to prepare them to take the LSAT (which determines entrance into law school). The scholarship recipients are: Maximo Anguiano, Grand Valley State University; Similoluwa Anifowoshe, Marygrove College; Elle Catlin, Albion College; Marsheda Patrice Ewulomi, University of Michigan; Beatrice Hinton, University of Michigan; Justin Thomas, Hampton University. Troy - Gov. Rick Snyder recently named Alessandro DiNello to the Electronic Recording Commission. DiNello is executive vice president, Retail Banking, for Troy-based Flagstar Bank. Columbus, OH - Huntington has launched its free-to-download, mobile applications for the Android and iPhone operating systems, allowing customers access to general banking information. Grand Rapids - Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge has been named one of Michigans Economic Bright Spots by Corp! magazine. The annual award recognizes 50 Michigan businesses for their successful focus on service and innovation, and for utilizing Michigan talent.

J S I

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M & A

7 A Buyer's Market for Office Tenants But For How Long?

By Chris Atwater While representing office tenants over the past 2 years, I have seen some dramatic discounts offered on space for lease. These discounts have been offered in response to a market plagued by higher than normal vacancy rates and poor consumer confidence. While vacancies in the Grand Rapids' office market are still higher than historical averages, the market is now showing signs of firming up. The average vacancy period between tenants appears to be dropping, particularly for well-located, competitively-priced office space. If this trend continues, vacancies should start to dropfollowed by a firming up of both asking and realized rental rates. As market rental rates have dropped over the past two years, some owners have kept their asking rates unchanged. They feel they can lower the rate if pressed during negotiations, but might achieve a higher contract rate if negotiating with someone who is not familiar with the market. Other owners have dropped their asking rates with the market, which leaves little or no room for further negotiations. Tenants who attempt to find space without professional assistance will find it exceedingly difficult to decide what constitutes a fair, competitve offer. One challenge created by high vacancy levels and discounted rental rates is determining whether a landlord will actually be able to provide the services promised in the lease. Mortgage payments, taxes and utilities are typically fixed costs, so as gross income drops, landlords may have to contribute additional capital to cover expenses or defer property maintenance until cash flow improves. Unfortunately, a poorly maintained property can make for a miserable tenant. With regard to office space, two, main size ranges appear to be in current demand: Under 750 square feet, and 1,500-3,000 SF. Demand for the smaller space is being driven primarily by startups and home-based businesses, and is being satisfied in either executive office suites, or the abundant supply of smaller suites available in Class B and C properties. Demand for larger space is primarily a result of existing tenants with expiring leases who are either expanding or wanting to take advantage of current market conditions. In Grand Rapids, office leases are offered on both a net basis (where the tenant is also responsible for a pro-rata share of taxes, insurance and commonarea maintenance) and modified gross basis (where those common costs are included in the base rent). Office rental rates are often quoted and compared on a price-per-square-foot basis. Without knowing how expenses are allocated, it can be misleading to compare various properties on a price-per-square-foot basis. A better method of comparison is to look at the tenant's total occupancy costs, including such expenses as janitorial service, utilities, and parking costs, and view it on a monthly basis rather than the annual rent-per-square-foot figure. Concessions can take many forms, including rent abatements (aka "free rent"), construction allowances, moving assistance, existing lease buyouts, and flexible lease terms. If you find a space that requires little or no construction expenditures, the landlord should have more flexibility to offer concessions. Finding an existing layout that requires little or no modification is even more important in today's market, as some owners no longer have capital available to fund tenant improvements. Many existing office leases contain at least one renewal option. Renewal options allow the tenant to continue occupancy, based on pre-determined terms and conditions. Exercising a renewal option can be as simple as providing the landlord with notice. I encourage clients with a renewal option to contact me about three months prior to the notification deadline, so I can survey the market and see if the option terms are competitive. If a tenant signed a lease five years ago, chances are good that the contractual renewal rate will be 25 percent, or more, above current market rates. Submitting a revised lease proposal, based on current market conditions, allows the tenant to save money and avoid a move; at the same time, the landlord keeps a tenant with a known credit history and avoids expenses associated with vacancy and tenant improvementsa positive outcome for both parties. Chris Atwater, CCIM, MAI is president of Michigan Commercial Space Advisors, a West Michigan-based commercial real estate broker dedicated exclusively to Tenant and Buyer representation. He can be reached at www.MichiganCommercialSpaceAdvisors.com .

Current Business Trends: Moderate Growth Returns

Grand Rapids - The greater Grand Rapids industrial economy is again seeing moderate growth, 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 in the last two weeks of June. The surveys index of business improvement, called new orders, edged up to +23 from +17. The production index was unchanged at +26. The index of purchases rose modestly to +29 from +25. The employment index moderated to +34 from +45. Statistics indicate that we are on track for continued economic growth, even though the rate of growth may slow in the second half of the year, said Long. The local economy is now in its 23rd consecutive month of expansion, and it now appears the threat of a double-dip recession has passed. Long said this months big economic news is the passage of Michigans new budget for FY 2012, which incorporates some of the biggest changes in taxation since the Hedley Amendment many years ago. The complicated Michigan Business Tax has been replaced with a simplistic 6 percent flat rate tax on profits, explained Long. This means the total cost of business will now be reduced just enough to keep some firms in business or from seeking more favorable tax environments elsewhere. We should see some moderate improvement in the unemployment rate over the next couple of years. Long said the office furniture sector remains fairly positive; and schedule reductions for automotive parts producers, resulting from the Japanese parts shortages, appear to be over; and conditions look positive going into the summer months. He also said industrial distributors came in fairly positive for the second month in a row.

8 Postal Service Rewards Mailers through Barcode Promotion

Washington - To help propel the mailing industry into the age of mobile interactivity, the U.S. Postal Service introduced, on May 17, a promotion designed to complement the enduring ability of direct mail to target customers and deliver results for marketers. Between July 1, 2011 and August 31, 2011, the Postal Services Mobile Barcode Promotion will reward mailers, who launch campaigns that incorporate two-dimensional, smartphone-friendly barcodes, with an upfront 3 percent postage discount on qualifying Standard and First-Class Mail letters, flats or cards. Customers who receive these special mailpieces will be able to use their smartphones to scan the Quick Response (QR) barcodes, in order to obtain more information or to qualify for additional offers posted on mobile-enabled websites. This promotion is another step in our long-term strategy to ensure mail remains relevant as a key element in the overall advertising mix for an increasingly interactive marketplace, said Tom Foti, manager, Marketing Mail. By creating a promotion for placing mobile barcodes on mailpieces, were providing marketers with a compelling way to reach an internet-savvy customer base. Foti says the two-month Mobile Barcode Promotion marks the first mailing industry promotion based on a multimedia approach, and is designed to demonstrate how the value of mail increases customer engagement through technology interfacing. Consumers have become more comfortable with digital devices and online technologies, and the industry should consider incorporating elements that reflect these trends into direct mail campaigns, says Foti. The Mobile Barcode Promotion is open to mailers including non-profit mailers who submit qualifying FirstClass or Standard Mail letters, flats or cards electronically, using a permit imprint payment method; current electronic submission methods include: Mail.XML, Mail.dat and Postal Wizard. All mailpieces must include a mobile, two-dimensional QR barcode on the outside of the mailpiece or within the mailpiece. The marketing information relayed in the mobile barcode must be relevant to the contents of the mailpiece, and a separate postage statement is required for all mailpieces with mobile barcodes.

Finance/Insurance Briefs
Detroit Miller Canfield has announced that Stanley Stek (principal, Grand Rapids) spoke on current issues at the International Right of Way Association-Michigan Chapter 7 membership meeting, in May. B. Yelton (principal, leader of electronic discovery and records mgmt. team, Kalamazoo) and Harold Decker (counsel, e-discovery team member, Kalamazoo) participated in a panel discussion on litigation readiness at the Assoc. of Legal Support Professionals Annual Day of Education, in May. Matthew Neale, whose practice focuses on corporate law, has joined Miller Canfield as an associate, and Ronald Baylor (principal), who counsels on environmental issues, has been elected to the Board of Directors of the Kalamazoo Regional Chamber of Commerce; both men serve the law firms Kalamazoo office. Holland - Macatawa Bank welcomes Peggy Jasper as relationship manager of the Hudsonville Branch. She will oversee relationship development. Grand Rapids - The Right Place, Inc. has announced that its President and CEO, Birgit Klohs, represented West Michigan in the upcoming Clinton Global Initiative event, CGI America, on June 29-30, 2011, in Chicago, Illinois. The event brought together leaders from across the U.S. to focus on strengthening American industries, unlocking capital for innovation and entrepreneurship, advancing energy efficiency and smart infrastructure, and training the next generation for the workforce. Kalamazoo - The Michigan Small Business and Technology Development Center (MI-SBTDC) has selected Tamara Davis as the 2011 Outstanding Regional Director of the MISBTDC network for her outstanding performance and commitment to small business in Michigan. Davis has been the centers regional director for SW Michigan since 2009. Chicago, IL - BDO USA, LLPs Grand Rapids practice will move into new offices located in the Chase Building at 200 Ottawa Avenue NW, Grand Rapids; an open house will be held this fall. Grand Rapids - In an effort to streamline its subsidiary brands and focus on its core business areas of W-2 & 1099 products and services for businesses, Greatland has dissolved its ImageOne subsidiarywhich supplied unique, custom presentation suppliesand will fold those services into the Greatland brand. Current ImageOne customers in the small business or tax and accounting arena will now be served under the Greatland banner or the Nelco brand. All customer accounts will automatically transition to the appropriate Greatland entity. Holland - John Simonds joins Macatawa Bank as wealth advisor for the Wealth Management Group. Working from the Ledyard Building in Grand Rapids, Simonds will manage new business development and the expansion of wealth management services to existing clients. Detroit Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLC announced that the firm has been recognized as one of West Michigans 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For by the Michigan Business & Professional Association. Birmingham Shore Financial Services, Inc. has named Kip Kirkpatrick, current president and CEO of Kirkpatrick & Company, to the position of chief executive officer. Jeffrey Ishbia, chairman of Shore Financial, also announced that Kathy Welty will continue as chief operating officer of the senior management team. Chicago, IL The U.S. Small Business Administrations Midwest Office has awarded Champion and Special Awards. This years Michigan winners include Minority Small Business Champion: Cynthia A. Grubbs - Small Business Liaison, Michigan Economic Development Corporation and Small Business Exporter of the Year: Darryl J. Barlett - VP & general manager, kSpace Associates, Inc. Barlett is also the national winner and received recognition at this years National Small Business Week in Washington, D.C. Midwest Mutual of Omaha Bank has promoted Larry Myers to assistant regional account executive for the Midwest region of its Community Association Banking division. Suffern, NY General Patent Corporation, a leading patent licensing and enforcement firm, announced the publication of the second edition of Essentials of Intellectual Property: Law, Economics, and Strategy, a major update to the book first published in 2002. Columbus, OH - Huntington announced Asterisk-Free Checking as the next phase of its Fair Play banking approach. Asterisk-Free Checking is free to open, has no monthly checking maintenance fee, has no minimum balance and no check or debit card usage requirements, and includes a linked savings account, free ID Theft Resolution Services, and 24-Hour Grace.

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Communication & IT
Study Reveals Online Media Trumping Print
Washington DC, March 14, 2011 The state of the U.S. news media improved in 2010, as compared with a dismal 2009. Newspapers were the only major media sector to see continued ad revenue declines, down 6.3%, according to the Newspaper Association of America. But as online news consumption continues to growsurpassing print newspapers in ad revenue and audience for the first time in 2010a more fundamental challenge to journalism becomes clearer: The news industry in the digital realm is no longer in control of its own future, according to the State of the News Media report from the Pew Research Centers Project for Excellence in Journalism. Online news organizations increasingly depend on independent networks to sell their ads, on aggregators and social networks to deliver a substantial portion of their audience, and now, as news consumption becomes more mobile, on device makers (such as Apple) and software developers (Google) to distribute their content. And the new players take a share of the revenue and, in many cases, also control the audience data. The eighth annual State of the News Media report, which takes a comprehensive look at the health and status of the American news media, includes a detailed look at the eight major sectors of media. Among the studys key findings: Connecting mobile with news. According to a survey produced by PEJ, with Pew Internet and American Life Project in partnership with the Knight Foundation, 47% of Americans get some form of local news on a mobile device. As of January 2011, 7% of Americans reported owning some kind of electronic tablet, nearly double the number four months earlier. But the movement to mobile doesnt guarantee a revenue source. To date, even among early adaptors, only 10% of those who have downloaded local news apps, paid for them. Online outpaces newspapers. Forty-six percent of people reported getting their news online at least three times a week, surpassing newspapers (40%) for the first time. Only local TV news (by 50%) is a more popular platform in America. In 2010, more money was spent on online advertising than on newspaper advertising: Overall, online advertising grew 13.9% to $25.8 billion, according to data from eMarketer. Online news hires appear to match newspaper cuts. Large, national, online-only news operations began to get into the creation of original reporting in a significant way in 2010. AOL hired nearly 1,000 employees, over half of whom went to the local news venture, Patch.com. Bloomberg Government expects to number 150 journalists and analysts by the end of 2011, doubling Bloombergs Washington bureau. And Yahoo added several dozen reporters across news, sports and finance. These hiring increases appeared to have compensated for the 1,000 to 1,500 job losses that the study estimates the newspaper industry suffered in 2010. More declines for newspapers. The newspaper sector endured another year of revenue and audience declines. Advertising revenues fell by roughly 6.4% in 2010, from the year before. Weekday circulation fell 5%; Sunday fell 4.5%. Seven of the top 25 newspapers in the U.S. are now owned by hedge funds, which had virtually no role in the industry a few years ago. On the upside, 23% of Americans said they would pay $5 a month for an online version of their local paper if the print version were to perish. Every media sector is losing audience now, except online. For the first time in at least a dozen years, the median audience declined at all three cable news channels. CNNs median prime-time viewership fell 37% in 2010; Fox lost 11%; and MSNBC 5%. In aggregate, the median viewership fell 13.7% across the entire day in 2010. Prime-time median viewership fell even more (16%) to an average of 3.2 million, according to PEJs original analysis of Nielsen Market Research data. Daytime fell 12%. Local TV wins 2010 revenue race. Among traditional media, local TV may have had the best year financially. Revenue rose 17%, exceeding projections, thanks in part to a 77% increase in auto advertising and a record $2.2 billion in political advertising (for the midterm elections). To boost audience, local TV has also added newscasts at 4:30 a.m. in 69 citiesmore than double the startups in that time-slot a year ago. Nonetheless, when adjusted for inflation, average station revenue has still dropped by almost half in the past nine years. AM FM radio listening may be on the brink of changeand decline. Radio has remained among the most sta-

9
ble media platforms, largely because AM and FM have remained the primary listening format in automobiles; that may be about to change. Toyota is about to put online radio in all its models, and Pandora has made an agreement with Pioneer that, by the end of 2011, would include its online radio service in the cars of at least six additional auto manufacturers. Meanwhile, Audios foray into HD radio seems to be failing; only 31% of Americans are familiar with it and the number of stations converting to HD dropped substantially in 2010. Auto industry bailout added to medias modest recovery. One overlooked dimension in the year past: A key source of renewed news revenue in 2010 was the recovering auto industry, thanks in part to the federal bailout for Detroit. In 2010, auto advertising jumped 77% in local television, 22% in radio, and 17% in magazines. The other benefactor of the news industry, say experts, was the U.S. Supreme Court: Its Citizens United decision, allowing corporations and union to buy political ads for candidates, helped boost political advertising spent on local television to an estimated $2.2 billion, a new high for a midterm campaign year. The report is the work of the Pew Research Centers Project for Excellence in Journalism. The study was funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts and was produced with the help of a number of collaborators, including Rick Edmonds of the Poynter Institute, Deborah Potter of Newslab and a host of industry readers.

Announcing E-Format Changes, Free Services

Byron Center Business Update is making a few changes, starting with its monthly e-issue delivery method. Instead of accessing the e-publication through an emailed attachment, readers will now receive easier, safer, and faster access to the e-issue via an email that contains a direct link to the current edition. Business Update is also changing the readability format of its Daily Business Briefs (DBBs). Utilizing a vertical scroll-like design layout, readers will be able to quickly skim a single, slenderized e-page of brief industry snippets collected from the volume of press releases submitted by the business population on a bi-weekly basis. Additionally, Business Update would like to encourage working professionals to take advantage of its free services. DBBs are freely e-distributed once a week or more, depending on volume, and there are no submission costs to contributors. New-hires, expansions, anniversaries, promotions all make for excellent editorial conversation. Please submit all business news to prupdate@businessupdate.com for potential inclusion in the online DBB, as well as in the monthly online and print publication. To receive and e-version of the publication and the Daily Business Briefs please send an email to business@businessupdate.com.

10 Education Briefs
Grand Rapids - The Grand Rapids Public Museum recently collaborated with Grand Rapids Public Schools (GRPS) University Prep Academy to give three freshman interns a chance to explore museum careers through the schools Teen CEO program. The Prep Academy is a new educational choice offered by GRPS and the first "pilot school" under the Centers of Innovation initiative. East Lansing - Michigan State Universitys Land Policy Institute (LPI) transitions to new leadership this month. Soji Adelaja has accepted a request from the university to bring his expertise and leadership in land-use policy to the universitys global initiatives. Scott Witter, director of the School of Planning, Design and Construction, was named interim director. Big Rapids - Two years after its groundbreaking, Ferris State Universitys Michigan College of Optometry building was formally dedicated on June 8. The highlight of the buildings instructional spaces is the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Interactive Eye Learning Center, innovatively designed as both a lecture and practice exam amphitheater. Dearborn - Jesse Paschall IV of Grand Rapids was awarded the SME Education Foundation Family Scholarship, by the SME Education Foundation, for 2011. Paschall will receive a $70,000, four-year scholarship to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering at North Carolina State University. Grand Rapids Vincent James of Grand Rapids Community College was one of 137 students who received a Newman Civic Fellows Award from the Campus Compact organization. The award honors student leaders on college campuses who have demonstrated an investment in creating long-term change in their community. Kalamazoo The Western Michigan University (WMU) Board of Trustees has approved a 6.66 percent increase in annual WMU attendance costs; a fulltime MI freshman or sophomore will pay $9,606 in tuition and required fees for the 2011-12 academic year, an increase of $600 over 2010-11. Lansing Kellogg Foundation and the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation is announcing the first 92 recipients of the Battle Creek-based W.K. Kellogg-Woodrow Wilson Michigan Teaching Fellowship. Fellows with strong backgrounds in science, technology, engineering and mathematics receive a 3-year fellowship and $30,000 to pursue a customized master's degree program that prepares them to teach in high-need urban or rural secondary schools in seven local districts across the state. Big Rapids Demolition began on Ferris State Universitys Pennock Hall and should take less than a week to complete. The area will serve Cramer Hall by adding more than 70 additional parking spaces. Grand Rapids - Summit Training Source, Inc. has recieved the Bronze 2011 Telly Award for their employee safety and compliance training DVD, Hazardous Waste: Containing the Danger. Grand Rapids - Grand Rapids Community College Provost and Executive Vice President, Gilda Gely, received the Distinguished Women in Higher Education Leadership Award from the Michigan Chapter of the American Council on Educationthe states leading network for women in higher education. Grand Rapids - Grand Rapids Community College Board of Trustees has voted to raise tuition for the 201112 school year, in response to a gap of $2,817,000 in the 2011-12 fiscal year budget. Increases are as follows: Resident, 6.84%; Non-resident, 6.95%; Out-of-state, 7.03%. Other non-credit and specialty programs will also experience increased tuition. Grand Rapids - In recognition of an educators creative and inventive use of public media to engage students and improve learning, Janine Campbell, a visual arts teacher from Byron Center West Middle School in Byron Center, Michigan, was awarded second place in the PBS Teachers Innovation Awards, while Davenport University received the $7,500 Robert P. Ashlock Adjunct Professorship grant from the Griffith Insurance Education Foundation. Battle Creek - Kellogg Community College English Professor, Elizabeth Kerlikowske and Computer Engineering Technology/Networking Professor, John Hoye, were selected to attend a National Endowment for the Humanities workshop about shipwrecks and maritime history. Grand Rapids - Calvin junior, Tyler Bleeker, has been awarded a $48,900 Greater Research Opportunities Fellowship from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The fellowship provides financial support for his junior and senior years of undergraduate study at Calvin and for a 2012 summer internship at an EPA facility. Big Rapids Rosalie Baran, assistant professor, practicum director at Ferris State Universitys College of Pharmacy, was honored with the Fellow of Michigan Pharmacists Association Award at the associations Annual Convention and Exposition earlier this year for her achievements in pharmacy, community dedication, and activity within the association. Big Rapids - Ferris State University has partnered with The Salvation Army of Grand Rapids to donate a surplus of dormitory furniture left over from the reorganization of Ward Hall from double occupancy to single occupancy. Kalamazoo On June 20, Paul Terzino took command as the new director of Western Michigan University's Bernhard Center; he replaces Ted Petropoulos, who retired in 2010. With nearly 20 years of experience managing university student center facilities, services and programs, Terzino leaves the University of California at San Diego, where he served as director of University Centers. Grand Rapids - The Grand Rapids Community College Foundation Board has announced the following officers for the 2011-12 fiscal year: Dave Custer chairperson (returning) - founder, CEO, Custer Workplace Interiors; Deb Bailey - vice chairperson - corporate director of communications, Steelcase; Doug Klein - treasurer - vice president, Northern Trust Bank, FSB; and Larry Murphy secretary - partner, Varnum. Grand Rapids - Summit Training Source has hired Stephanie Zizzo as an in-house EHS specialist. Grand Rapids As a result of a new partnership between Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) and fouryear universitiesDavenport, Ferris State, Grand Valley State and Western MichiganGRCC students (with at least 45 credits) can combine their credits, with credits from their transfer school, to obtain an associates degree under The Reverse Transfer Associate Degree Initiative. Battle Creek - This summer, Kellogg Community College will begin implementation of the "Starting Here and Now" project. Funded by a $760,000 grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation of Battle Creek, Michigan, the instructional model will allow students, who require developmental education, an opportunity to build basic skills over a practical timeline. Grand Rapids - Steven Lick, 10-year coordinator of the Motorcycle Safety Training Program at Grand Rapids Community College, has been awarded The 2011 Outstanding Career and Technical Educator by SkillsUSA. Grand Rapids This fall, for its graduate programs, Davenport University will open its new Downtown Center, at 45 Ottawa Ave.

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11 The Next Step Forward in Personalized Shoe Comfort

Rockford For more than 125 years, Wolverine has been making rugged, durable footwear, with an emphasis on innovative, comfortenhancing technologies. Wolverine recently added to its portfolio of exclusive technologies, the Wolverine ICS (Individual Comfort System). This patented technology provides four adjustable comfort settings, which have been shown in a Michigan State University study to substantially reduce the force and torque on the body that is experienced during stepping and walking activities. In order to perfect Wolverine ICS, Wolverine performed qualitative consumer research and quantitative online research, and conducted numerous shoe wear-tests. Based on these focus groups, online surveys, and field tests, Wolverine analyzed the features that serious outdoorsmen and women desired in their footwear; much of the effectiveness of the ICS technology resulted from extensive consumer research and the addressing of unique consumer needs. ize their comfort in how they walk, so that every step is in its ideal position. The disc can be set to one of four comfort settings: Cushion This setting provides wearers with an extra boost. A cushioned heel helps reduce pressure and maximize shock absorption. Firm This setting helps combat fatigue. A firmer heel helps return energy and keeps the foot effortlessly moving forward. Inward For people with low arches or flat feet, inward stabilization helps reduce discomfort caused by the twisting of the foot, due to over-pronation. Wearers can set the disc to I, if their shoes wear excessively on the inner edges. Outward For people with high arches, outward stabilization helps reduce stress on the foot, due to underpronation (supination). Wearers can set the disc to O, if their shoes wear excessively on the outer edges. These settings were tested in a 2010 biomechanics study conducted by Michigan State University. Wolverine ICS was shown to 1) provide an increase in cushioning, when on the cushion setting, 2) provide more energy return, as compared to other leading brands, when set to firm, and 3) enhance the gait, with an increase in inward stabilization when the disc was rotated to I (inward) and an increase in outward stabilization when the disc was rotated to O (outward). Wolverine ICS has received the American Podiatric Medical Association Seal of Acceptance, which is granted to footwear that promotes quality foot health. Wolverine also has combined this comfort technology with other performance technologiesGORE-TEX breathable waterproof membrane; Vibram outsoles; and OrthoLite insoles to deliver a variety of styles that combine high- quality materials with technologies that personalize comfort.

We found that comfort and fit are imperative to devoted hikers and outdoor adventurers, as is reducing fatigue, said Kelly Redinger, marketing director for Wolverine. The line of footwear that features Wolverine ICS provides personalized comfort in durable shoes and boots, which helps keep outdoor adventurers on their feet and exploring longer. By simply adjusting the gel disc under the insole, wearers can personal-

Alliance for Health Receives $1.3 million To Lift the Quality of West Michigan Healthcare
Grand Rapids - Alliance for Health has been selected to receive, over the next two years, a $1.3 million grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Aligning Forces for Quality (AF4Q) initiativea national effort to improve the quality and value of healthcare in communities across America. Alliance is one of 16 organizations across the United States that has been designated as an Aligning Forces community, and has been participating in the initiative since 2007. The Aligning Forces for Quality program was originally launched by the Foundation in 2006 and remains the largest effort of its kind ever to be undertaken by a U.S. philanthropy. Through the program, Alliance for Health works to improve healthcare in West Michigan by engaging patients in their care, publicly reporting on the performance of physicians and hospitals, and implementing quality improvement techniques. The Foundation hopes to develop national models of reform based on the lessons learned by Alliance, as well as the other Aligning Forces communities. In this third phase of AF4Q, the Alliance will develop and test models of paying for health care as it continues to build momentum to improve the quality of care delivered locally. Over the next two years, Alliance and the 15 other AF4Q communities will take the tools of measurement, improvement, and engagement and use them to demonstrate change outside of their markets. The program will work to expand the fundamental cutting-edge changes already implemented in local communities, to meet the goals of a reformed healthcare system: Better value, greater transparency and improved care coordination. "The Aligning Forces communities are models of health care improvement. The community organizations working on this effort have pioneered groundbreaking concepts, which are also being explored through federal reform and have attracted bipartisan support, such as physician performance reports, patient-centered medical homes, and of late, payment reform," said Anne F. Weiss, MPP, team director and senior program officer at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. "In this next phase, communities will continue to make measurable improvements in quality by placing greater focus on increasing the value of health care delivered." Within West Michigan, Alliance has many notable accomplishments under its AF4Q initiative. Among these are the publication of performance reports for hospitals in the region, and reports of physician performance concerning management of patients with diabetes. These reports can be accessed on the Rethink Healthy website created by Alliance as part of its AF4Q consumer engagement work.

12 Health Care Briefs

Ottawa County - A study conducted by the Michigan Department of Community Health indicates that the Michigan smoke-free air law, introduced last year, is meeting with success; the chemical biomarkers, which denote tobacco smoke exposure, had significantly decreased in bar employees. Grand Rapids - The Center for Physical Rehabilitation is offering in-home physical therapy services and is partnering with Metro Home Health Care of southeastern Michigan for their billing and licensing. Grand Rapids - The Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA), in collaboration with the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center, has chosen Hope Network Rehabilitation Services as a contractor for their "Assisted Living Traumatic Brain Injury Pilot Program." Implemented in 2008, the VA's AL-TBI Pilot Program was developed to assess the effectiveness of providing assisted living services to eligible veterans with traumatic brain injury, by identifying private healthcare agencies to join the continuum of existing VA services. Hope Network's agreement with the VA allows them to provide brain injury services to veterans at their Coldwater, East Lansing, Grand Rapids, and Kalamazoo locations. Grand Rapids HealthGrades has named Spectrum Health Grand Rapids a recipient of the 2011 Outstanding Patient Experience Award. This distinction ranks Spectrum Health Grand Rapids among the top 10 percent of hospitals nationwide, based on an analysis of patient experience data for 3,797 U.S. hospitals. Grand Rapids - Bob Connors, MD, president, Helen DeVos Childrens Hospital, received the 2011 Chairmans Medal from the National Patient Safety Foundation (NPSF), at the NPSF 2011 Patient Safety Congress in Washington, DC. Detroit - Lutheran Social Services of Michigan has promoted MapleCreek Executive Director, Susan Lemon, to vice president of Senior Adult Services statewide. Lemon will divide her time between the senior living campus in southeast Grand Rapids and the organizations Detroit headquartersto begin full-time in Detroit around Sept. 1, 2011. Wyoming - Therese Franzese has joined Metro Healths Wyoming facility as director of case management and social work. With more than 23 years of experience, she will be responsible for case management operations, utilization review, pre-admission screening, care coordination, social work, and discharge planning. Grand Rapids Five companies from the former Health Field Collaborative have joined with the sixteen companies of The SOURCE -- a non-profit employee support organization designed to help employees keep their jobs, receive training to enhance their employment, and shift into better positions within or across companies. The five health care companies making the transition include: Clark Retirement Community, Holland Home, Porter Hills Retirement Communities and Services, St Anns Home, and Sunset Retirement Communities and Services. They join the current SOURCE members a unique collaborative of twenty-one companies that collectively employ over 7,000 local community members. The SOURCE also partners with DHS, as well as 45 other human service agencies in the Grand Rapids area, to meet the needs of their employees. Grand Rapids - Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services has selected Bert Elliott, former donor relations consultant for the Heart of West Michigan United Way as the new planned giving officer for the Pine Rest Foundation. Big Rapids - Kari Sederburg will serve as director of the Michigan Office of Services to the Aging, which promotes independence and quality of services for Michigans older adults and their families. Muskegon - Mercy Health Partners and West Shore Cardiology have teamed up to provide free Student Athlete Heart Screenings for all Muskegon County High School student athletes. In May, MHP successfully pilot screened 72 Muskegon Heights High School students in an attempt to identify pre-existing or at-risk heart conditions that may jeopardize a sports-involved students life. The screening, which will take place at Mercy Health Partners' Hackley Campus Youngberg Auditorium, is a brief, six-step process that includes completion of a heart history questionnaire; a blood pressure check; 12-lead EKG, physician examination and EKG review; and, if necessary, an echocardiogram. Grand Rapids - Van Andel Institute officials have announced the appointment of Love Collins III to vice president of development. Since 2007, Collins served as vice president for advancementat at Benedict College in Columbia, South Carolina. Kalamazoo - Borgess Visiting Nurse has achieved AdvisorMeds 2011 Great Michigan Home Health Care Award for demonstrated results that consistently exceeded patient expectations. Borgess Visiting Nurse scored 93% in how often the home health care team began with patients care in a timely manner; 97% in how often the team treated their patients pain; 94% in how often the team took doctor-ordered action to prevent pressure (bed) sores; and 19% in how often home health patients had to be admitted to the hospital. Grand Rapids - Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners (GRMEP) and Spectrum Health have partnered to open the Spectrum Health Family Medicine Residency Center on June 21, at 25 Michigan St. A $3.5 million Affordable Care Act grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration, in collaboration with GRMEP, will provide funding over the next 5 years for the residencies of 20 family practice physicians. The center will also serve as a training ground for nurses, social workers and pharmacists. Grand Rapids - The first edition of Journey GR is scheduled to launch in June 2011. Published by Pilgrim Manor Retirement Community, the quarterly lifestyle magazine aims to celebrate seniors and how they contribute to the high quality of life in West Michigan. Michigan - Beckie Thompson has joined Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan as director, executive communications, and as press secretary for Daniel J. Loepp, president, CEO. Beckie comes to the Blues from Lambert, Edwards & Associates. Michigan - Borgess Medical Center has received the American Heart Assoc./American Stroke Associations Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award. To receive the award, Borgess (for two or more consecutive 12-month intervals) achieved 85 percent, or higher, adherence to all Get With The GuidelinesStroke Quality Achievement indicators, as well as achieved 75 percent, or higher, compliance with six of 10 Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Quality Measures. Louisville, KY - The new executive vice president for health affairs at the University of Louisville is David L. Dunn, M.D., Ph.D. -- vice president for health sciences, and professor of surgery, microbiology and immunology at the University of Buffalo. Battle Creek - Scott and Niccole Ganton, owners of Battle Creek-based, senior assisted living communities The Heritage and The Reflections Memory Care, recently announced a combined restructuring of the senior leadership teams, where Mikki Streeter has been named senior campus administrator and Patty Dunn, as campus director of nursing. Grand Rapids - Phil Weaver, Hope Network president and CEO, accepted a $4,000 check from Doug Van Manen, CEO of Van Manen Petroleum, to go toward the Christian non-profits Energy Efficiency Project, which will kick off on July 18. During the projects first phase, light fixtures at the five largest locations will be replaced, which is expected to yield a savings of about $50,000 annually. The remaining buildings will receive energy audits to determine how to make those buildings more efficient.

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13 The YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids: Youth Development. Healthy Living. Social Responsibility.
By Jan Wierenga In 2000, the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids volunteer Board of Directors and senior leadership team decided to move the Y beyond a traditional swim and gym mentality. Guided by the Christian principles that were the basis for its founding in 1886, they set course on an expanded mission to provide positive youth development, encourage and educate healthy living, and foster social responsibility. Putting this expanded mission into action has brought local communities many exciting opportunities over the past decade. In 2010 alone, the Y served 177,000 individuals43,250 of them were members, and 9,727 of those members were teens actively involved in leadership development, service learning and the Teen Zone. The Y provided $4,121,810 in financial assistance for programs, memberships, and childcare. In all, 7,525 children attended the Ys childcare and afterschool activities. (The Y is the largest licensed childcare provider in West Michigan.) Another 1,483 kids enrolled in the summer Mid City Adventure Cluband Camp Manitou-Lin hosted 10,724 individuals. The most visible manifestation of the Ys updated mission is its facilities. In 2005, the new, downtown David D. Hunting YMCA set the direction. Soon after, Visser Family YMCA, in Grandville, was completely renovated. In 2005, Wolverine World Wide Family YMCA, in Belmont, began serving residents of northern Kent County and now serves approximately 10,000 members. The 96,000-square-foot, LEED certified Spartan Stores YMCA will open August 15. Generous, local philanthropists funded half of the new facilitys $19 million cost. More than 300 families from the southern Kent County corridor had joined by mid-June. As part of Metro Health Village, the Spartan Y will partner with Metro Health to provide sports medicine, orthopedic, massage, and physical therapy inside its facility. Additional YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids facilities are located in Ada, Lowell, Ionia and Caledonia. This time of year, the Ys Camp Manitou-Lin, in Middleville, hosts the most memorable summer experiences for area youth. Dedicated in 1998, the new Cheff Lodge serves as the focal point for camp activities. Rolling Up The Sleeves. The YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids programs extend beyond its facilities and into the communities it serves. Headed by Carol VanAndel, the Activate West Michigan coalition brings together government and community leaders to address rising rates of obesity and chronic disease. Recently funded through a $1.4 million grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the YMCA Healthy Living Initiative takes the fight against obesity to at-risk neighborhoods. As part of this initiative, Healthy Living Hubs at New Hope Baptist Church, Baxter Community Center, Roosevelt Park Ministries and South End Community Outreach Center will provide families with access to fresh produce, culturally-appropriate nutrition education, and access to high-energy physical activity. Families at each hub will be able to weekly purchase low-cost, fresh, locally grown produce from the YMCA Veggie Mobile. In addition, the Y will work with local, neighborhood convenience stores to overcome barriers in stocking fresh produce. Community gardens will actively engage and educate children and their families about where vegetables come from, how they are grown, and how to prepare them. The Ys registered dietician will consult with families on how to prepare traditional dishes using fresh produce and healthier cooking methods. Another new program, the YMCA Farmers Market, operates out of the David D. Hunting YMCA parking lot, Thursdays between 3 and 7 p.m. To ensure that all area residents can access the benefits of fresh, local foods, this market accepts Bridge Card and participates in the Double Up Food Bucks program. In December 2010, the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids was named an assisting agency for the federally funded Child Health Insurance Program, known in Michigan as MIChild/Healthy Kids. The Y hopes to enroll 10,000 young people, over the next two years, to participate in this insurance program, which provides low-co st/no-cost health insurance for children up to age 19. Who Makes the Y Happen? Dedicated Volunteers and Donors. At the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids, the dedicated volunteers and donors are credited for bringing the organization to where it is today. In 2010, 6,325 volunteers donated 83, 095 hours of service to YMCA programs. Each facility has its own volunteer Board of Directors guiding its operationsas well as its own team of hands-on volunteers making programs happen on the ground. Over the past 145 years, tens of thousands of volunteers have taken part. Without their time and generous gifts, the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids would never have transitioned from swim and gym, to a vital, major nonprofit agency that truly lives up to its mission of providing positive youth development, encouraging and educating healthy living, and fostering social responsibility. Jan Wierenga is the executive Sr. vice president at The YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids.

Regaining Independence. Close to Home.

The staff at MCMC kept my spirits up in a time I needed it most. One staff member took me to the park. I can still remember the feeling of being outside and experiencing the growth of my independence.
Amputation Surgery in Grand Rapids; Rehab Close to Home.

The Breton Rehabilitation and Living Centre

Grand Rapids - Holland Home of Grand Rapids has changed the name of its skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility, Breton Manor, to the Breton Rehabilitation & Living Centre. The new name more accurately reflects the breadth of the facilitys rehabilitation program. At the Breton Rehabilitation and Living Centre, the comprehensive rehabilitation team provides individualized and goal-oriented treatment programs, specifically for the older adult, with a focus on helping patients to reach quality outcomes in order to return home. For those needing in-patient rehabilitation, the Breton Rehabilitation & Living Centre has private rooms available. Breton Rehabilitation & Living Centre will continue to offer long-term care to its patients. Breton Rehabilitation & Living Centre is located at 2589 44th Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49512.

(231) 592-4444
605 Oak Street Big Rapids, MI www.mcmcbr.com

Inpatient Medical Rehabilitation

MECOSTA COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER

14 Construction Project Highlights

Who,What,Where,When,Why
By Amy Cygan Pioneer Construction Heart of the City Health Center Location: Cherry Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI Status: Currently under construction Completion Date: June 2011 Budget: $21M SF: 79,300 - new construction; 128,000 - sub-surface parking Effect on MI Business Community: Cherry Street Health Services, Touchstone innovar, and Proaction Behavioral Health Alliance have joined forces to create Heart of the City Health Center, a new approach in addressing the access and integration of care for lowincome populations. The facility, with its special emphasis on expanding services for children, will consolidate the model of mind/body care, and reach approximately 8,000 new patients. Misc: LEED NC Registered with the USGBC. Forest View Hospital Addition Location: Grand Rapids, MI Status: Completed Completion Date: April 2011 Budget: $1.6M SF: 11,120 Founders Brew House Addition Location: Grandville Ave., Grand Rapids, MI Status: Began construction, June 2011 Misc: Growth at the Grand Rapids-based Founders Brewing Company continues at bottle-neck speed, with plans on tap to hire another dozen workers this year to accommodate projected sales of $10M, up from last year's $6.8M. Retail Building (Anthropologie) Location: Breton/Burton, Grand Rapids, MI Status: Currently under construction Expected Completion Date: June 2011 Budget: $1M SF: 22,000 GVSU L. William Seidman Center Location: Downtown Grand Rapids, MI Status: Demolition currently underway Expected Completion Date: May 2013 Budget: $30M SF: 120,000 Misc: LEED NC Registered with the USGBC. My dads hope would be that this institution would develop students who can convey the complicated ideas of business as clearly as my dad could, and that they could provide responsible and ethical leadership to grow the economy in the direction we need, said Sarah Seidman. The four-story, 110,000square-foot center will include a multipurpose room with a capacity of more than 200, a room for students that will simulate a trading room environment, and study spaces. Outreach programs will be on the first floor. GVSU Mary Idema Pew Library &Learning Information Commons Location: Allendale, MI Status: Currently under construction Expected Completion Date: Spring 2013 Budget: Approximately $47M SF: 150,000 Misc: LEED Platinum Registered with the USGBC. The Mary Idema Pew Library Learning and Information Commons will be a model for 21st century learning and education, with its combination of online, print and mentoring resources. In June, Pioneer Construction, the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, and the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration signed a formal partnership to enhance safety and health protection practices, and to minimize work-related injuries to zero, for workers laboring on the new GVSU facility construction project. Grand Rapids Urban Market Location: Grand Rapids, MI Expected Start Date: TBD Budget: $20M SF: 60,000 Misc: Grand Action, the private group that led efforts to build the Van Andel Arena and DeVos Place, said it would forge ahead with plans to develop an urban market, which would offer space for vendors to create and sell a variety of foods and other goods. In addition, the market is envisioned as an educational facilitywith a greenhouse, demonstration kitchen, and meeting roomsto help people better understand local food systems, while teaching about healthier eating. Beckering Advisor Incorporated Belding High School Renovation and Addition Location: Belding, MI Start Date: Spring 2011 Expected Completion Date: Spring 2013 Budget: Approximately $20M. SF: 23,000 - Performing Arts addition; 31,000 - Gym Addition with indoor walking track Misc: Other highlights include the expansion of the Student Commons area; renovation of the science labs; improvements to the outdoor athletic facilities; and technological upgrades. continued on page 16

Q & A with Exxel Engineering

Question: Next fall, our son will be a junior in high school and seems interested in becoming a land surveyor. What courses should he concentrate on in high school and what education is necessary to become a surveyor? Are there specialties in the profession? Duane & Sherrie; Grand Rapids Answer: Generally, to become a professional surveyor, a minimum of eight years of professional experience including five years, or less, of education with a degree in professional surveying or an approved, related degreeis required. Passing the land surveying fundamentals and professional practice examinations, or approved equivalents, are also required in order to be statelicensed by that state in which the person plans to work. I recommend that someone who is interested in becoming a land surveyor consider acquiring a college degree, in preparation for an eventual professional surveying license. The following list highlights some areas in which surveyors can specialize: Land surveying: Establish land boundaries for property transactions or developments. Geodetic surveying: Determine the size and shape of the earth, and the precise positioning of points on the earth. Land information surveying: Establish datums, coordinate systems and points of reference. Engineering and architectural surveying: Aid the design and layout of infrastructure. Chartographic surveying: Map the earths topographic and hydrographic features. For those high school students who are weighing the prospects of becoming a professional surveyor, my advice would be: Take a summer internship with a land-surveying firm. And concentrate on courses, like mathematics (algebra, geometry and trigonometry), computer sciences (basic software knowledge and computer-aided drafting), science, geography, and of course, English! Eric Uitvlugt is C.E.O. at Exxel Engineering, Inc., has been employed for 38 years at the Grand Rapids-based, civil engineering/land survey firm, and can be reached at 616.531.3660. Please contact Exxel or the publisher to have your question answered here next month.

15 The 2011 Mid-year Construction Forecast

By Amy Cygan During a national online conference held June 8, three chief economists (representing ABC, NAHB, and AIA), weighed in on the state of the nations construction industry. In a Washington press release, ABCs Anirban Basu forecasted the recovery might be two years away. Officially, the country is in a period of economic recovery, Basu said. Unfortunately, this does not mean that all segments of the economy are doing well. No sector of the economy has been hit harder than the construction industry. Employment in the construction industry has expanded over the past four months, said Basu. However, I do not expect significant construction employment in the months ahead. The economy has hit a soft spot and the construction job picture is flat. Segments of the construction industry that will likely experience growth in the coming 10 to 12 months will be healthcare (the construction of hospitals, health centers and clinics) and the natural resources sector, which is in reaction to the growing cost of energy, said Basu. 2. National Nonresidential Construction Spending by Subsector from April 2011-April 2010 reported positive activity in only four subsectors: Conservation & Development, +4.6%; Healthcare/Power, each +2.4%; and Communication, .2%. Source: U.S. Census Bureau. 3. National Nonfarm Employment by Industry Sector Groups from May 2010 v. May 2011 reported the following job gains: Professional and Business Services, 520K; Education and Healthcare, 445K; Trade, Transportation, and Utilities, 288K; Leisure and Hospitality, 202K; Manufacturing, 158K; Other Services, 96K; and Mining and Logging, 76K. Construction registered zero job gain, while the government recorded severe job loss at -853K. The Net Change in U.S. Jobs between May 2010 and May 2011 reported the nation gained 870,000 jobs. Source: U.S. Bureau of Statistics. David Crowe - chief economist National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB): 1. Based on House Price-to-Income Ratio, most states are returning to normal house prices; MI was not one. Mortgage rates are continuing to remain low and will likely remain below 6% by the end of 2012. Sources: David Crowe, NAHB. 2. Affordability Very GoodUnited States; New Home Inventory is very low. Source: NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index 3. Mortgage delinquencies are high: Roughly 2 million home loans are in foreclosure. Source: NAHB. 4. 3 reasons why buyers/customers are holding back: #1. Buyer thinks he cannot sell his existing home at a favorable price; #2. Buyer thinks getting financing will be hard; and #3. Media reports are making buyers cautious. Source: NAHB Kermit Baker - chief economist American Institute of Architects (AIA): 1. After Hitting a Soft Spot Last Summer, Economic Recovery Is Resuming But Very Modestly. Source: Economic Cycle Research Institute 2. While Total Employment Showing Healthy Gains, Construction Sector Still Weak. Source: US Department of Labor. 3. Over Two Years Into Presumed Recovery, Housing Market Conditions Remain Weak. Source: U.S. Department of Commerce; National Association of Realtors. 4. House Prices Beginning to Recover in Key Northeast, Texas, and California Markets. The Change in House Price Index, Year over Year, Dec 2009 Dec 2010 recorded that of the 10 metros with the largest decrease, Detroit ranked highest, with -11%, followed by Orlando and Phoenix, each with -10%. Source: CoreLogic House Price Index, 2010. 5. While Residential Sector is Recovering, Major Nonresidential Sectors (Commercial, Industrial/ Institutional) have eased since the beginning of 2011. Source: AIA Architecture Billings Index. 6. Firms in the South And West are Currently Seeing Weaker Business Conditions. Source: AIA Architecture Billings Index 7. Construction Recovery Expected in Latter 2011; 2012 Better. Source: AIA Consensus Construction Forecast Survey for 2011 and 2012 conducted in December, 2010.

Conference Highlights:
Anirban Basu - chief economist Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC): 1. Since 1980, Value Added of Construction as a Share of GDP witnessed its lowest percentage with 3.4%. Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Barnett Station Apartments Grand Opening

Shelby Project partners The Hovey Companies and Oceana Home Partnership have completed The Barnett Station Village Apartments, located at 64 South Michigan, in Shelby, MI. Wolverine Building Group and Barry Polzin Architects led the construction project, converting 4.29 acres of grassland into a 37,000-square-foot development. The new complex consists of four two-story buildings32 townhomes in alla community space area, and a playground for children. Twelve of the 32 townhomes are tax credit units, available to anyone who makes 60 percent or less of the area median income. The remaining 20 supportive housing units provide financial literacy training, job training, income support, and behavioral, mental health, and case management services. Some units are also designed to assist vision and hearing impaired residents, and to meet ADA compliance. The $4.6 million project utilized MSHDA financing, a Federal Home Loan Bank Indianapolis grant, and equity investment from West Shore Bank, Huntington Bank and Great Lakes Capital Fund. KMG Pres tige will oversee the property management of Barnett Station Village Apartments.

16 Construction Project Highlights

Who,What,Where,When,Why
continued from page 14 C.D. Barnes Associates, Inc. Serenity Lake Senior Living Facility Location: Gary, IN Start Date: July 2010 Expected Completion Date: July 2011 Budget: $8.5M SF: 110,000 Effect on MI Business Community: Approx. 50% of subcontracted work from West Michigan. Metro Dental Location: Wyoming, MI Start Date: February 2011 Expected Completion Date: July 2011 Budget: $750K SF: 4,542 Eastown Veterinary Clinic Location: Grand Rapids, MI Start Date: February 2010 Completion Date: June 2011 Budget: $500K SF: 3,269 Misc: Complete renovation of the vacant 5/3rd bank in Eastown. Upon completion of her boards, Dr. Lynn Happel, DVM, will be the only board-certified veterinary dentist in West Michigan, and only one of four in the entire state. Cummins Bridgeway Expansion Location: Grand Rapids, MI Start Date: March 2011 Expected Completion Date: October 2011 Budget: $1.85M SF: 14,500 Clark Construction Company Michigan College of Optometry Location: Big Rapids, MI Start Date: November 2009 Completion Date: January 2011 Budget: $22M SF: 86,000 Misc: Owner - Ferris State University. Architect: Neumann/Smith. The sustainable building is registered for LEED Gold certification. The clinic, located on the first floor, serves the surrounding five county areas; the second floor holds space for faculty members and classrooms; and the third floor offers clinical lab space. The building is comprised of brick, commonly found on the FSU campus, contrasted with smooth, taut, white metal panels that speak to the clinical nature of the project. Corrugated silver metal panels give the building texture and suggest the technical, equipmentbased aspects of the program. Hobbs+Black Associates, Inc. MASCO Cabinetry design and relocation of main offices. Location: Ann Arbor, MI SF: 142,000 - renovated facility. Misc: Facility houses 450 employees. At the 2011 Michigan Interior Design Excellence Awards on May 25, the Michigan International Interior Design Association presented Hobbs+Black Associates, Inc. with a certificate for Creative Use of Lighting for MASCO Cabinetry New Corporate Office, in recognition of outstanding interior design with the use of new ideas and techniques in the design and furnishing of interior spaces.

Construction Briefs
Ann Arbor At the May 2011 Michigan Interior Design Excellence Awards, the Michigan International Interior Design Association presented Hobbs+Black Associates, Inc. with a Design Excellence award for the BoomTown Restaurant and for the Michigan State Police Headquarters Facility; and with a certificate for Creative Use of Lighting, for MASCO Cabinetry New Corporate Office. Grand Rapids Progressive AE has announced that Sara T. VanderVeen will participate abroad in Germany, in the Group Study Exchange program offered by The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International. She will represent Rotary District 6290. Grand Rapids - David S. Rapp has joined Colliers International, West Michigan, as an industrial associate. Rapp will be responsible for industrial brokerage in West Michigan; he has experience with acquiring and disposing of distressed assets, and working with financial institutions and buyers to finalize deals. Madison, WI - RMT, Inc., a leading environment and energy firm, welcomes six new employees: James Alfonsi, senior project manager (Ann Arbor); Michael Brocato, environmental scientist (Houston); Michelle Puca, environmental engineer (Greenville); and three environmental specialists: Robert Van Borssum (Houston), Katherine Vater (Madison), Timothy Boecher (Grand Rapids). Grandville - Van Dyken Mechanical, Inc. welcomes Scott Bultman as a service & maintenance sales specialist. He will be responsible for HVAC service and maintenance accounts, along with industrial projects procurement. Grand Rapids - This year, a.j. Veneklasen, Inc. celebrates its 35th anniversary. The family-owned company provides a broad range of quality commercial and industrial construction services for clients throughout Michigan and other Midwest states. Kalamazoo - Scott McArthur has joined CSM Group as a project manager on Marshall Public Schools Project Delivery team. He will direct and verify contract compliance by the trade contractors and ensure project quality-standards. Farmington Hills Harbor Park Mini Warehouse (Harbor Springs, MI), the largest Northern Michigan self-storage facility, was sold by Pogoda Companies brokers to a local investment group, ARBKN, LCC; the offering price was $2,665,000. Grand Rapids - The Plaster Creek Stewards have been selected by River Network and Groundwork USA as one of five community organizations nationwide, to help launch a new urban waters movement in the U.S. The Plaster Creek Stewards will receive a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant of $58,500, for a 3-year restoration plan of the Plaster Creek Watershed. Columbus, Ohio Simonton Windows has enhanced its Simonton ProFinish series with exterior color options (with 10-year warranty), interior upgraded hardware, new window styles, and a new sliding patio door. Available options for the Brickmould 600 product lines include exterior frame and flat casing trim, for windows and patio doors. Lansing - The Michigan Public Service Commission directed Consumers Energy to expand its solar energy program: Experimental Advanced Renewables Program (EARP). Consumers Energy had planned to freeze the program, but ELPC worked with clean energy businesses in Michigan to advocate for an expansion of EARP that would continue to create jobs and business growth with minimal impact on consumer bills. The Consumers solar program still needs to address solar system installation pricing. Grand Rapids - C. D. Barnes Associates, Inc., in conjunction with the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce, celebrated the grand-opening of Eastown Veterinary Clinic, located at 1350 Lake Dr. SE in Grand Rapids. The 3,270 SF clinic houses the veterinary practice of Dr. Lynn Happel, and her staff. Ada - June 5 marked three years without a lost time accident for Dan Vos Construction Company. Wyoming - On June 29, the City of Wyoming took ownership (from Revitalizing Auto Communities Environmental Response Trust) of the former General Motors stamping plant; the city paid $1. Beginning this summer, the city plans to redevelop the site on 36th Street SW through a public-private development agreement with Lormax Stern Development Co. of West Bloomfield, with hopes of bringing manufacturing jobs back to the community. Grand Rapids - C. D. Barnes Associates, Inc. will soon begin renovation on the Milestones Child Development Center in Belmont. The addition will allow for the relocation of playground areas and added classroom space to support their infant and wobbler programs.

17 GVSU Study Looks at Pros/Cons of Offshore Wind Turbines

Allendale - The West Michigan Wind Assessment project team at Grand Valley State University has issued a report to address the benefits and concerns related to offshore wind, including public acceptance, visibility, noise and tourism. Currently, there are no offshore wind farms in North America, but several have been proposed for the Great Lakes. Erik Nordman, principal investigator of the project and assistant professor of biology at Grand Valley, said the study reveals public perception of the Great Lakes shoreline. We found there are different expectations and uses of the shoreline, from power plants to recreation to relaxation, said Nordman. This information can help open up a discussion to understand the different values of the Great Lakes and whether offshore wind energy is appropriate. The study showed: Water depths in Lake Michigan increase rapidly with distance from shore, so offshore wind turbines are likely to be located within view of the shore. A wind farm located six miles offshore in Lake Michigan would be visible about 64 percent of the time, based on average weather conditions. Sound from an offshore wind turbine can reflect off the water and travel farther than similar sounds on land, although it is unlikely that any sound would reach the shore six miles away. Permitting an offshore wind farm is complex it took Cape Wind (Massachusetts) nine years to secure a permit, however, the permitting process in Michigans Great Lakes is different from that for federal waters along the continental shelf. Advantages of offshore wind: More consistent wind Proximity to large cities and energy centers Larger and more efficient turbines Located where noise is less likely to disturb people Drawbacks to offshore wind: Construction and maintenance costs Public acceptance Could negatively affect peoples connection to a landscape The West Michigan Wind Assessment is a Michigan Sea Grantfunded project that is analyzing the benefits and challenges of wind energy development in coastal West Michigan. For more information on the study, visit www.gvsu.edu/wind.

State of the Art Green Roofs

Toledo Mercy St. Charles Hospital, based in Oregon, Ohio, recently completed four green vegetated roof projects at the Intensive Care area of its South Building. The hospitals Facilities team engaged StructureTec, a building envelope consulting firm, to assess the conditions of all of its roofing assets and to help develop a long-range management plan. Four roofs were selected to be replaced in 2010, each roofing project to observe the hospitals U.S. Green Building Council LEED certification objectives. StructureTec performed the design engineering associated with all four roof areas (approx. 16,000 SF). The roofing systems were completely removed and replaced with watertight, insulated, single-ply roofs; the roofs served as the foundation for modular vegetated tray systems, which were manufactured by LiveRoof the first, modular green roof system developed by growers, designed to grow plants on a rooftop environment. The new landscaped areas also consisted of pedestal pavers, installed to hide the irrigation systems for the green roof areas. The project was awarded to Manchester Roofing, a Toledo-based roofing contractor who worked und er the governance of the StructureTec consultants as well as with the Facilities team at Mercy St. Charles Hospital. The project was executed over a period of three months. St. Charles is scheduled to complete additional, green vegetated roofs in 2011.

Success in Food Processing Industry

By Shannon Cunningham Though an unlimited number of values and qualities lead to the success of an organization, Dan Vos Construction Company (DVCC) has made a concerted effort to focus on two in particular - not only building, but sustaining its relationships. It seems like a basic and obvious task; however, it is this distinct characteristic that has propelled many of DVCCs long-standing relationships, including its 20+ year relationship with Request Foods of Holland. The relationship between DVCC and Request began in the late 1980s, when DVCC built the companys first facility. Weve had a prosperous relationship with Request Foods for almost 30 years, said Executive Vice President of DVCC, Dan Vos. We are very similar in the fact that we are family-owned companies and share common core values and ethics, which really helps to keep our relationship open, honest and ethical. Since the pairs first collaboration, DVCC has been involved in numerous construction developments with Request, including the companys most recent expansion: a 225,000 sq. ft. new production facility. The facility, which was completed at the end of May, will provide Request with the ability to expand their already successful production of frozen entrees. The design-build project will also make available 250 jobs in the next five years. Weve been so proud to be the general contractor on this project, said Vos. Request Foods is such an integral presence in West Michigan and the surrounding region; its been an honor to be a part of their growth and success. Request Foods expects to be utilizing the new facility by the end of June. Shannon Cunningham is the marketing coordinator at Dan Vos Construction Company.

Ottawa County Brownfield Redevelopment

Ottawa County - The Ottawa County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority has announced that it has approved a plan by Cedar Crest Dairy Inc. to redevelop a contaminated property in the City of Hudsonville. The Plan is the first project approved by the County Authority. Cedar Crest Dairy employs approximately 100 people, and distributes milk, ice cream, and other frozen food products across the State. They plan to invest $1.9 million to redevelop the vacant site where testing has revealed arsenic contamination from previous owners. As a result of the redevelopment, Cedar Crest Dairy will be able to expand, potentially creating 17-20 new jobs in Hudsonville. $66,545 of the total $1.9 million dollar investment can be reimbursed by capturing the increase in the property taxes paid by Cedar Crest Dairy over the next 10 y ears. The Ottawa County Board of Commissioners and the City of Hudsonville have each passed resolutions supporting the project.

Quality Office Furniture, at a price you can afford!

Bill Feyen
616-554-0200 billfeyen@exceloffice.com

18 Industrial Briefs
Michigan - The Office of Regulatory Reinvention has appointed fourteen Michigan citizens to the Workplace Safety Advisory Rules Committee: Stephen Albert - Skanska USA; Brian Blocher - Pioneer Construction; Doug Kalinowski MIOSHA; Patrick Kresnak - IAC Group; Daryl Miller Pattco Inc.; Todd Miller - Herman Miller; Delaney Newberry - Michigan Manufacturers Association; Oscar Rodriguez-Franco - Lansing Board of Water and Light; Allen Smolen Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority; Thomas Taylor - Consumers Energy Company; Ron Walko - Pfizer Inc. Grand Rapids - The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has approved the new edition of ANSI/BIFMA X5.1 General-Purpose Office Chairs Tests standard. Copies of the new edition are available from BIFMA. Grimsby, Ontario RMT Robotics, a Cimcorp Oy company, manufacturer and integrator of innovative robotic gantry material handling systems, has selected Dave Barker as customer care manager. Allegan - Perrigo has hired Charles Long as a computer systems validation engineer, level 1. Long will guide systems validation efforts, in compliance with regulations and practices. Grand Rapids - The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has approved both the new edition of ANSI/BIFMA M7.1-2011 Standard Test Method for Determining VOC Emissions from Office Furniture Systems, Components and Seating, and the new edition of ANSI/BIFMA X7.1-2011 Standard for Formaldehyde and TVOC Emissions of Low-emitting Office Furniture and Seating. Both editions are available from BIFMA. Zeeland - Gentex Corporation will supply auto-dimming mirrors (with advanced features) for the new 2011-12 Nissan Van the automaker's first, fullsize commercial van built for the U.S. market. Waterloo, Ontario - Descartes Systems Group, a global leader in logistics technology, has acquired privately-held Telargo Inc., a leading provider of telematics solutions. Allegan Perrigo has hired Raj Thota as associate director of process development and technology for the Consumer Health Care Formulation Research and Development department. Thota will collaborate with Perrigos product and analytical development groups in MI, NJ and India. Grand Rapids - Jo-Anne Perkins has been promoted to corporate Vice President of Cascade Engineering. Perkins will oversee Cascade Cart Solutions, a flagship business unit focused on providing innovative solid waste and recycling solutions. Grand Rapids - Thrifty of Grand Rapids has announced an official ribbon-cutting event, to take place with Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce on June 17, at 11:00 am, at 2500 28th Street. Southington, CT - Michael Cannata has joined Baumer Ltd. as a field sales engineer. Cannata will oversee product sales for the companys sensor and motion lines in the Ohio/Michigan region. He brings more than 20 years of sales experience in the automation, and motion and safety controls markets. St. Louis, MO - Graybar has been recognized by MedAssets with the Platinum Award for supplier performance. Allegan Perrigo has hired Ellen Smith as its senior talent acquisition consultant. Smith will recruit, administer immigration processes, and collaborate with Perrigos talent development and compensation teams. Allegan - Perrigo has selected Heather Imbault as senior treasury analyst for the Treasury team. Imbault will handle foreign exchange trading, monitoring, and the setting up of hedge programs. Rolling Meadows, IL - At ISACAs World Congress: INSIGHTS 2011 conference in Washington DC, Greg Grocholski, corporate auditor at The Dow Chemical Company in Midland, Michigan, was elected international vice president of ISACAa global association serving 95,000 IT governance, assurance and security professionals in 160 countries.

Gill Industries Premiers Seating Mechanism

Grand Rapids - Gill Industriesa full-service supplier of engineered, mechanical assemblies to the automotive, furniture and multi-use vehicle marketspremiered the revolutionary every1 seating mechanism at the NeoCon exhibition, on June 13, in Chicago. The innovative mechanism uses weight-responsive technology to fit a users seating needs, without any further adjustment needed. The synchro-tilt mechanism provides a comfortable ride for persons of all sizes. The mechanisms self weighing characteristics and motion are based on a scientific formula derived from the results of kinetic studies of the human body, said Brad Miller, director of advanced development. The kinematics of the mechanism provides a superb ergonomic ride with great lower back support and positioning of the body for users less than 75 pounds, up to 300plus pounds. The every1 mechanism is based on the principle of a virtual pivot, in that it relies on its multi-linkage design, which adjusts on a per-individual basis, without the need for spring resistance. It operates by balancing the users weight and hip point, thus allowing adaptation to the users body weight. Engineered to meet BIFMA, BS and EN standards, every1 is the first of its kind on the market, with its patentspending mechanism 100% recyclable. Gill Industries worked closely with European designer, Hilary Birkbeck of 61-54 Design, to complete the every1 concept. Reviewed and praised by several academic institutions throughout Europe, the every1 mechanism is expected to forever change the way chairs are fitted for their users. Gill Industries hopes to see widescale production and incorporation of the every1 mechanism in several of its customers seating designs, by early 2012. In the initial launch, Gill Industries plans to produce and manufacture its every1 mechanism at its Grand Rapids, Michigan manufacturing facility.

19 Ford: Driving on the Horizon Revving three new Technologies

In-Car Management of Medical Conditions Dearborn - Ford researchers are taking a leading role in developing a series of in-car, health and wellness connectivity services and apps that are aimed at helping people with chronic illnesses or medical disorderssuch as diabetes, asthma or allergiesmanage their condition while on the go. Leveraging Ford SYNC and its ability to connect devices via Bluetooth, access cloud-based Internet services, and control smartphone apps, researchers have begun to develop location-based allergy and pollen reports, glucose device connectivity and monitoring capability, and voice-controlled, cloud-based health management services. Glucose Monitoring: Working with Medtronic, a leading manufacturer of glucose monitoring devices, Ford researchers have developed a prototype system that allows Ford SYNC to connect, via Bluetooth, to a Medtronic continuous glucose monitoring device, in order to share glucose levels and trends through audio and a center stack display, and to provide secondary alerts if levels are too low. Allergy Alerts: Ford is working with SDI Health and www.pollen.com to SYNC-enable its smartphone Allergy Alert app through AppLink. Users will gain voice-controlled access to the app that provides location-based, day-by-day index levels for pollen; asthma, cold and cough, and ultraviolet sensitivity reports; and four-day forecasts. WellDoc: Ford and WellDoca recognized leader in the emerging field of mHealth integrated serviceshave joined forces to help integrate in-car accessibility to WellDocs comprehensive, cloudbased personalized solutions for those with asthma and diabetes. Using voice commands, SYNC users could access and update their WellDoc profile to receive real-time patient coaching, behavioral education, and medication adherence supportbased on their historic and current disease information. According to a recent survey conducted by CTIA-The Wireless Association and Harris Interactive, some 78 percent of U.S. consumers expressed interest in mobile health solutions. A recent study by digital messaging powerhouse MobileStorm further confirmed this phenomenon, indicating that, in early 2010, medical and healthcare apps was the third fastest-growing category of smartphone applications. The major app stores, such as the Apple App Store, are now housing upward of 17,000 available health apps for download, with nearly 60 percent of those aimed at consumers rather than healthcare professionals, reports mobile research specialist, Research2Guidance. Sensing the Heart Aachen, Germany The heart rate monitor seat is the latest addition in the Ford research portfolio of possible in-car health and wellness solutions. The joint project was undertaken by experts from Fords European Research and Innovation Centre, in Aachen, Germany, and Rheinisch-Westflische Technische Hochschule (RWTH) Aachen University. The six-sensor system, positioned on the surface of the seat backrest, utilizes unobtrusive, specially designed electrodes that are able to detect, through clothing, the electronic signature of the heart. We are still fine-tuning their operation to work with some materials; certain types of synthetic fabric and lambs wool can cause electrical interference that upsets the signal, but we can achieve a strong signal through 10 layers of cotton, says Dr. Achim Lindner, Ford European Research and Innovation Centre medical officer. In stationary testing, 90 to 95 percent of subjects proved to be compatible, and on-road testing of the Ford heart rate monitoring seat proved it was possible to achieve highly accurate readings for up to 98 percent of the time spent behind the wheel, even at this early stage of development. The seat sensor technology under development could initially be of most benefit to drivers known to have heart conditions primarily those in more mature age groups. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of Americans 65 and older is projected to more than double by 2050, reaching some 88.5 million. Predictions in Europe suggest a growing trend as well, with the over-65 population reaching nearly 23 percent by 2025 and 30 percent by 2050. Data collected by the sensors could be analyzed by medical experts or onboard computer software, and could potentially connect to a variety of services from linking to remote medical services and Ford vehicle safety systems, to providing real-time health information and alerts of imminent cardiovascular issues, such as heart attacks. Talking Cars Los Angeles, CA Ford researchers are showcasing what could be next: Intelligent vehicles that wirelessly talk to each other in order to reduce crashes, in turn, reducing traffic congestion, fuel costs, and driving times. Fords vehicle communications research technology allows vehicles to talk wirelessly with one another using advanced Wi-Fi signals, or dedicated short-range communications, on a secured channel allocated by the Federal Communications Commission. Unlike radar-based safety features, which identify hazards within a direct line of sight, the Wi-Fi-based radio system allows fullrange, 360-degree detection of potentially dangerous situations, such as when a drivers vision is obstructed. For example, drivers could be alerted if their vehicle is on path to collide with another vehicle at an intersection, when a vehicle ahead stops or slows suddenly, or when a traffic pattern changes on a busy highway. Features that warn drivers of approaching hazards, such as Fords collision warning with brake support and Blind Spot Information System with cross-traffic alert, rely on radar sensors to detect vehicles or objects close to the vehicle. By reducing crashes, intelligent vehicles could ease traffic delays, which would save drivers both time and fuel costs. Through a network of intelligent vehicles and through infrastructure that would process real-time traffic and road information, traffic congestion could be greatly reduced. We are not far from the day when vehicles will operate like mobile devices with four wheels, constantly exchanging information and communicating with our environment to do things like shorten commute times, improve fuel economy, and generally help us more easily navigate life on the road, said Paul Mascarenas, vice president, Ford Research and Innovation and chief technical officer. Ford is partnering with other automakers and the federal government, as well as local and county road commissions, to create a common language that ensures all vehicles can talk to each other based on a common communication standard. This public-private partnership will include the worlds first governmentsponsored driving clinics, beginning in summer 2011, for which the company will contribute two prototype Ford Taurus sedans. The DOTs Intelligent Transportation Systems will head the research, continuing to coordinate with a coalition of automakers organized by the Crash Avoidance Metrics Partnership, which is a joint research group headed by Ford and General Motors. The partnership is working to develop inter-operability standards in advance of completing the research phase in 2013. Ford is the first automaker to build functional prototype vehicles to preview the technology, and is conducting a series of events across the country to explore the real-life benefits and near-term feasibility of saving drivers lives, saving on fuel consumption, and saving time spent traveling on the road, in addition to minimizing traffic obstructions.

20 ASSE Ergonomics Tip Sheet

Detroit Workplace musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are one of the most significant occupational safety and health problems in the U.S., according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. To assist businesses and workers in Michigan address this issue and help prevent injuries and illnesses, the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) Ergonomics Branch is providing tips to help reduce MSDs or cumulative trauma disorders at work and at home. ASSE suggests the following tips aimed at increasing safety and comfort in the workplace and in the home office: A chair should have a five point star base for stability, an adjustable backrest (angle, height, and depth) that provides lumbar support, and an adjustable seat pan (height, forward and backward, and tilt angle). Armrests should be padded, should be adjustable up and down and in and out, and should swivel. The edge of the seat pan should be at least four inches from the soft tissue area behind the knee. The chair should adjust in height to allow a greater than 90 degree angle between the trunk and the thigh. A document holder that is the same height and distance from the user as the display screen should be provided when the primary task is data entry. Keyboards should be detachable and adjustable to allow straight/parallel hand-forearm posture. A desk or tabletop should allow legroom for posture adjustments for the seated worker, while also providing a 90-degree angle of the elbow and the work surface; the same is true regarding the elbow angle for the sit/stand and the standing user. For lighting and glare, the characters on the computer screen should be brighter than the screen background. Bright light sources in the peripheral field of the computer screen should be avoided. The computer screen should be positioned to avoid glare. Adjusting the window shades and moving or tilting the terminal can help avoid glare and screen reflections. For posture, the head should be tilted 15 degrees (or less) forward to maintain a vertical position. The elbows should be kept close to the body, or supported. The lumbar curve of the back should be maintained. Feet should never be allowed to dangle and should always be supported. Dry eye can occur because people tend to blink less when viewing monitors; due to this, fatigue can also set in. In the home office, be careful of falling, due to trying to reach high shelves or tripping over cables, wires, ironing cords, toys, fans, etc. Floor surfaces should be in good condition -- carpets not torn or frayed, and affixed to the floor with slip resistance pads underneath them. Avoid having heated surfaces, such as coffee makers, hot plates and portable heaters in the office, as they could trigger a fire. Be aware that in older homes, the existing electrical circuits may not be able to handle the additional electrical load from fax machines, computers, scanners and other office equipment, as well as air conditioning units used explicitly in the office. Also, in the home office, if the workstation is to be used by children, ensure that it can be adjusted to the children for reach, seat pan size, chair height and foot support. At home, have a licensed/bonded electrician inspect the home electrical system and upgrade it, if necessary, to assure the current protection and load will meet demands. At home, develop a fire evacuation plan (such as installing a ladder as an escape route if your office is on the second floor) and move desks closer to power outlets and phone jacks --- or install new outlets. Make sure installed fire extinguishers are acceptable for multiple exposures.

BIFMA International Partners with NSF International to Develop Product Category Rules for Furniture
Ann Arbor and Grand Rapids - The Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association (BIFMA) International has collaborated with NSF International, a leading ANSI-accredited developer of more than 75 American National standards, to develop Product Category Rules for the furniture industry. The National Center for Sustainability Standards (NCSS), founded by NSF, will serve as the program operator for developing the furniture Product Category Rules (PCR). Product Category Rules help meet the growing demand for science-based support to verify environmental product claims and eliminate greenwashing; they also define how to conduct a life cycle assessment (LCA) for a particular product group, and what to include in the resulting report. LCAs measure inputs, outputs and environmental impacts of a product across its lifespan, from cradle to grave, while an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is the ISOcompliant, third-party-verified report that functions like a nutrition label to explain the data generated from a life cycle assessment. Adopted by European countries and growing in recognition in the U.S., PCRs and EPDs provide an international method of communication to compare and report a products environmental impact, throughout its entire life cycle. According to BIFMA Executive Director Thomas Reardon, PCRs and, ultimately, EPDs will give customers a uniformed way to evaluate the full array of environmental impacts of products. NSF International Director of Standards Jane Wilson says: PCRs and EPDs will provide BIFMA member organizations with a verified, scientific and internationally accepted method of supporting their environmental product claims. BIFMAs customers will have access to verified life cycle data to use when analyzing and selecting environmentally preferable products. In addition to the BIFMA collaboration, the NCSS is also working with several flooring trade associations on the first North American PCR, for resilient, carpet, laminate, tile, and wood flooring products.

One-Touch Digital Inspection Recordings

Elyria, OH RIDGID, a leading manufacturer of innovative tools and equipment for the professional trades, has introduced the new rugged SeeSnake CS-10 digital monitor for simple, full-feature digital recording. The one-touch feature enables the CS-10 digital monitor to record still images and video. The monitor features video and image playback and the exclusive auto-log recording method, which compresses files to help save memory on the USB thumb drive, where digital inspections are stored. The 12.1-inch monitor with enhanced daylight readability provides professionals with the ability to clearly view and diagnose line blockages via high-performance RIDGID SeeSnake cameras. The monitor comes with SeeSnake HQ software, a PC-based program that allows images and video of an inspection to be imported and stored on a computer for easy media sharing through PDF reports, DVD burning or uploading to RIDGIDConnect. RIDGIDConnect is an online business tool that serves the rental, plumbing, HVAC/R, utility, industrial, electrical, petroleum, institutional, commercial and hardware markets, and allows users to store and share data. The CS-10 comes with a USB thumb drive and an 18-volt lithium-ion battery. It is backed by the RIDGID lifetime warranty.

Toll Free Fax

800-968-8608 616-997-7263

modernofficeinteriors.com

21 The Splendor of St. Ignace

St. Ignace - St. Ignace sits at the base of the Upper Peninsula, where Lakes Michigan and Huron meet, and is connected to the Lower Peninsula by the fivemile long Mackinac Bridge. Each summer, thousands of visitors flock to St. Ignace to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life, to experience the resort-like atmosphere, and to relax along the miles of beautiful sandy beaches on the north shore of Lake Michigan rated among the finest in the Midwest. The natural surroundings of the area offer a different sort of serenity; trek the North Country National Scenic Trailthe longest footpath in the United States at 4,600 miles, with approximately 35 miles within the St. Ignace District. Or witness the beauty of the Hiawatha National Foresta huge tract of land which covers much of the area, and features forests, streams, rivers, dunes, fields and marshes. If shopping, dining and learning about the areas history is ones fancy, the downtown district features the Museum of Ojibwa Culture, which portrays life over 300 years ago, and Marquette Mission Park, the final interment of Father Marquette. Or visit Fort de Buade Indian Museum, where thousands of artifacts cover pre-contact Native, French, English and American periods. St. Ignace also loves its cars! Each year, in June, Antiques on the Bay Auto Show displays original and restored classic and antique vehicles along the downtown waterfront, while the 36th Annual St. Ignace Auto Show boasts one of the largest all-make, all-model shows in the country. Other St. Ignace events include the St. Ignace Fish Feast, Bayside Music Festival, Rendezvous at the Straits Powwow, Outdoor Movies by the Bay, Fab Fridays, and Locals on the Bay and Bayside Liveboth offering free waterfront entertainment. After enjoying the local festivities, unwind every Saturday night from July 4 through Labor Day weekend, under the fireworks that light up the sky over Moran Bay. And dont forget to attend the Annual Labor Day Mackinac Bridge Walkthe only day of the year that pedestrians are allowed on the Mighty Mac; the view from the middle of the bridge is breathtaking! Getting to the historic Mackinac Island from St. Ignace is a breeze; you can either jump aboard one of the three ferry lines that run several times each day, or you can fly across the open waters to the airport on the back side of the island. Either way, a day trip to the island is a must! Explore the wonders of St. Ignace! Call the St. Ignace Visitors Bureau at 800-338-6660 to request a Visitors Guide, or view the guide online by logging onto www.stignace.com.

Sin Citys Piece of Italy

Las Vegas newest resort, Ravella at Lake Las Vegas, is Nevadas hidden gem. Located where the desert gives way to a romantic, Italian-inspired oasis, Ravella is perfect for those looking to experience a different side of Sin City. Ravella opened February 11, 2011 and offers unmatched recreation and relaxation for business professionals, vacationers, golf-fanatics, and lovebirds alike. Located just 17 miles from the world-famous Strip, the resort sprawls the shoreline of the largest, privately-owned, man-made lake in the country. And yet, the serene lake-setting and the ambiance of Mediterranean architecture makes guests feel as though they have traveled to a colorful, waterside village in Italy. Accommodations The Tuscan-inspired architecture of Ravella is complemented by the resort's lavish accommodations. The 349-roomand-suite, pet-friendly resort sits on 15 acres of the master-planned Lake Las Vegas development, the site of the former Ritz-Carlton. Ravella's guestrooms, including 33 suites and two presidential suites, feature sweeping views of the mountains, desert and lake, Europeanstyle furnishings, oversized spa-style marble bathrooms, upscale bath amenities, and luxurious bed linens. Ponte Vecchio Bridge Reminiscent of Florence's famed Ponte Vecchio Bridge, Ravellas threestory bridge hosts a collection of rooms and suites, creating a one-of-a-kind staying experience. And thats not all! In keeping with the resort's Italian theme, guests can take a gondola ridepassing right under the iconic bridge, which spans 375 feet across the lake, and is tall enough to permit a 21-foot sailboat to pass underneath. As one of Las Vegas' most spectacular wedding locations, it comes as no surprise that Ravella offers Vegas' only over-water chapel (located on the Ponte Vecchio Bridge): La Capella di Amore. Embodying a Renaissance style, the chapel features hand-carved wooden pews imported from Italy, iron chandeliers and sconces, and a beamed ceiling. Dolce Hotels & Resorts Zen Some" promotion, available at any of Dolces 27 properties worldwide, offers 15 percent off guests rooms for weddings booked by October 31, 2011 and occurring by February 28, 2012providing even more of a reason to say I do in the gorgeous chapel overlooking the lake. The Spa Guests can relax under the spell of a different environment at The Spa at Ravellaa 30,000-square-foot spa and wellness center, which features a fullservice salon, an advanced fitness center, and 24 relaxing treatment rooms. Guests can enjoy treatments that balance botanical essences from several Mediterranean regions, with indigenous plant and mineral ingredients from the Las Vegas area. The Spa also features a custom aromatherapy bar, where guests can create a personalized body butter, lotion, sugar scrub, massage or bath oil. Swimming Pool and Lake Activities A private cabana at Ravella's resortsized pool is an ideal retreat from the desert heat. Each cabana features plush furniture, ceiling fans and cable television, and comes stocked with ice-cold water, chilled towels and fresh fruit. Continued on page 22

Hotels/Restrauants Briefs
Midland - TravelandLeisure.com has named the Alden B. Dow Home and Studio one of Americas Coolest Houses. One of only twenty-seven homes to receive this distinction, the Home and Studio is listed alongside Monticello and the White House. Kalamazoo Fair Food Matters has announced the recipients of its 2011 Community Garden Grants, funded by the Kalamazoo Community Foundation and Irving S. Gilmore Foundation. The following projects will receive grants ranging from $350 to $850: Beauty from Ashes Community Garden, Come-Union Garden, Comstock Community Center, Downtown Kalamazoo Inc. Community Garden, Douglass Community Garden, Edible Edison, Historic Stuart Neighborhood Garden, Kadesh Community Garden, Kalamazoo Central High School Community Garden, Mt. Zion Community Garden, Oakwood Community Garden, Parkwood-Upjohn Elementary School Garden, Salvation Army Community Garden, Schoolcraft UMC Community Garden, Tree of Life Urban Garden, Vine Neighborhood Community Garden. Grand Rapids - The Grand Rapids Art Museum has been awarded a $10,000 Arts Education in American Communities grant by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). The NEA grant required a local matching gift, which was fulfilled by Farmers Insurance Group. Grand Rapids The City of Grand Rapids, in partnership with Local First is set to debut a mobile application for viewing, clipping, and redeeming rewards from nearby vendors. The new mobile site can be run on the Android, Blackberry 6 and iPhone platforms. Bloomfield Hills - Karen Carlton opened Bloomfield Galleries, a discount art gallery at 79 W. Long Lake Road, on June 22.

Does Your Travel Agent Pr ovide Your Company :

A company Frequent Flier program that compliments personal frequent fliers plans. A 24 hour grace period after tickets have been issued to avoid the airline penalty of $150 A corporate car rental program that guarantees a car even when locations are sold out An evening and weekend emergency center staffed 24 hours. A corporate rate hotel program with over 120,000 properties. If not call Mike Malaney at Travel Leaders 616-942-2860.

22 Sin Citys Piece of Italy

Continued from page 21 Ravella's private sandy beach provides the perfect atmosph ere to read a book or work on a tan. For the Lake Las Vegas adventurer, the resort offers kayaking, boating, stand-up paddle boarding, and fly-fishing. The Golf Club at Southshore Golf enthusiasts can take pleasure in having exclusive access to the nearby Golf Club at SouthShore, a par-71, 6,917-yard, award-winning, championship course named by Golf Digest as one of the "Top 10 New Private Golf Courses in America. As the first Jack Nicklaus Signature Course in Nevada, the layout showcases generous Bermuda fairways (with up to five tee boxes per hole), gently-rolling Bentgrass greens, 88 strategically-placed bunkers, elevations ranging from 1,410 to 1,750 feet, canyons to force ball-carries, and scenic water backdrops. In celebration of Ravella's partnership with the award-winning Golf Club at Southshore, Ravella has debuted its $199 Golf Escape package, which includes a one-night stay at Ravella and an unlimited day of golf at Southshore, with cart rental and transportation to and from the course. Dining at Ravella Market dining comes to life at the high-energy Medici Caf and Terrace, while the expansive and lively Firenze Lounge takes guests on a flavorful epicurean journey from day to night. For instant poolside delivery of small snacks, mouth-watering meals, and icy tropical cocktails, the Lagoon Bar & Grill will fit the bill. Ravella has also developed a partnership with the nearby Village to both drive Village revenue and to offer guests a greater dining varietyfrom fresh seafood and wood-fired pizzas, to spicy tacos, savory tapas and more. The collaboration enables guests to enjoy preferred reservations, with the option to bill Village meals t o their guestroom at Ravella. Meetings at Ravella Unfortunately, because some guests must work before they play, Ravella provides nearly 39,000 SF of meeting space, which can accommodate gatherings ranging in size from 10 to 1,000. Its advanced meeting space features an 11,841 SF ballroom, with 7,423 SF of pre-function area, a smaller 4,700 SF junior ballroom, 10 function rooms (including two elegantly appointed boardrooms), and a lakeside climatecontrolled pavilion. Technological amenities include free Wi-Fi throughout the resort; state-of-the art electrical, lighting and sound systems; and soundproof air walls. Ravella also customizes culinary experiences for meeting attendees. As part of its "Thoughtful Foods for Thoughtful Minds" initiative, menus are designed to keep minds alert and productive. An evolution in coffee break snacks, Ravella is the first Dolce property to introduce Nourishment Hubs, upping the ante on the Danish by offering fresh and energizing refreshments throughout the day. Ravella's unique dining options provide meeting planners with all-inclusive pricing for easy budget planning, and with flexible meal-planning options. Ravella challenges meeting planners to name their ideal price for meetings and group events with the aptly named promotion "Make Us an Offer...Anything Goes!" To take advantage of this special promotion, meeting planners should submit requested dates, along with specified food and meeting requirements, and name their ideal package price. The "Zen Some" promotion, available at any of Dolce Hotel & Resorts' 27 properties worldwide, offers 15% off guests rooms, for corporate meetings and events booked by October 31, 2011 and occurring by February 28, 2012.

2011 Travel Forecast

By Rick Hert As has been witnessed in the media lately, Michigan is experiencing a tourism and economic development renaissance. Since the financing of the Pure Michigan national tourism campaign by the governor of Michigan and state legislators, many Convention and Visitor Bureaus are experiencing a rise in their room tax revenues. The resulting trickle-effect translates into increased public relations, where advertising and marketing are better able to help foster Michigan business. Thanks to the efforts of Pure Michigan, the state saw a 21 percent growth in travel by out-of-state visitors during 2010, and an increase of 6 percent for in-state travel among Michigan residents. Even with gas prices on the rise, gains are anticipated for 2011 as well, since higher gas prices will likely translate to increased in-state travel by Michigan residents, and higher travel activity from residents who populate Michigans surrounding states. The West Michigan Tourist Association is joining the fight to boost state tourism by utilizing various media outletssuch as WMTAs website (www.wmta.org) and Care Free Travel Guideto continue to promote West Michigan attractions. It's going to be a good summer for tourism, so whether one owns their own business or one is trekking across the Great Lakes state in search of new adventuresbe excited, be hospitable in nature, and take full advantage of what Michigan tourism has to offer! Rick Hert is executive director of the West Michigan Tourist Association, which has marketed West Michigan and its member destinations since 1917, and has a current membership of nearly 700 tourism operators.

A Shift in Gears for Pure Michigans Ad Campaign

Brooklyn Two of Michigans bestknown brands Michigan International Speedway and Pure Michigan are teaming up to host the Pure Michigan 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at MIS on Sunday, August 21. This partnership will bring our Pure Michigan message to millions of NASCAR fans nationwide who will be watching the Pure Michigan 400 on ESPN, as well as to the tens of thousands who come to Michigan International Speedway on race days, said Michael Finney, president and CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. The one-year partnership joining these two brands, both focused on attracting new visitors to Michigan, is believed to be the first time a state brand is featured as the title of NASCARs premier stock car series. The key to successful partnerships is finding organizations which have similar goals. Michigan International Speedway and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation want people to come to this state and see all the wonderful things it has to offer beautiful landscapes, fun activities year-round and awesome NASCAR racing, said MIS President Roger Curtis. One of the Pure Michigan campaigns main goals is to attract more visitors and investments to Michigan. The title sponsorship of the Pure Michigan 400 will introduce the Pure Michigan branding message to 75 million NASCAR fans nationwide. This follows the $11.5 million Pure Michigan national cable television advertising buy, on the air from March 14, 2011 through early July.

Corporate Information
Kalamazoo - Aces Cycle -- a scooter retailer and service provider -- is the first business to graduate out of the Downtown Kalamazoo Incorporated Retail Incubation Program. Aces Cycle completed an 18 month supervised business development period, which included close mentoring, business training, and rental assistance. Grand Rapids Two Men & a Truck has opened a new store, located at 3665 28th Street, Suite 6-E. The location, owned and operated by Rob Felcher, will serve the southeast Kent County region.. Battle Creek and Grand Rapids EmploymentGroup has moved its executive office suite to 38 West Fulton, Suite 410, in the Heartside District of downtown Grand Rapids. Grand Rapids - The International Academy of the Visual Arts applauds the winners of The 2011 Communicator Awards, which honor the creative excellence of communications professionals. WGVU received eight Communicator Awards: Gold Award of Excellence, two Silver Awards of Distinction - LZ Michigan: A Journey Home; Silver Award of Distinction - Real Oldies Billboard; Gold Award of Excellence, Silver Award of Distinction - LZ Michigan Commemorative Magazine; 2011 Silver Award of Distinction Gerald R. Ford Keel Laying; 2011 Silver Award of Distinction - LZ Michigan Website. Grand Rapids - The Board of Trustees of the Grand Rapids Art Museum has appointed Dana Friis-Hansenthe recent executive director of the Austin Museum of Artas the director and CEO of the G.R. museum, effective July 13, 2011. Grand Rapids - Sue Ann Culp has been named Chief Executive O fficer of the Humane Society of West Michigan. Prior to her new position, Culp served nearly 4 years as the Holland Hospital Foundations executive director. Grandville In May, Plato's Closet franchisees attended the Plato's Closet conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, which focused on helping franchisees develop their businesses. The Plato's Closet brand has enjoyed a record 2010 year, with store-sale and North American market share increases. Southfield - Right Management Great Lakes Region and nowHIRE.com have announced a partnership to further support the demand for streamlined processes and cost efficiencies as they relate to talent management and compliance within organizations. Grand Rapids - The 2011 Father of the Year Awards raised $73,000 to benefit the American Diabetes Association. Raising a combined total of $50,000, were the recipients of Father of the Year Awards: George Leonardos, retired, Benteler; Christian Schauer, CEO, PRO Renewables, LLC; and Pete Brand, cofounder, Mindscape at Hanon McKendry. The Father of the Year event also raised $13,300 to help diabetic kids, ages 8 to 16, attend Michigans largest diabetic camp, Ca mp Midicha (Fenton, MI), in June. Grand Rapids - Peaches McCahill, 25year owner, founder of The McCahill Group, was re-appointed to the Governors Council on Physical Fitness, Health and Sports under Gov. Rick Snyder. Purchase, NY As one of PepsiCos top sales performers worldwide, Pepsi Beverages Company sales representative Ben Perez, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, was inducted into the PepsiCo Presidents Ring of Honor, in June. Perez, an employee since 1993, is among the less than one-quarter of one percent of PepsiCos global sales force who win this yearly honor. Grand Rapids - Guiding Light Mission welcomes Bradford Mathis - director of Community Benefit Ministry, Saint Marys Health Care in Grand Rapids; and Clifford Washington - coordination manager for the MPRI pilot site that covers Kent & Allegan Counties in Grand Rapids. Currently, Washington is president of the Board of Camp Fire USA, West Michigan Council. Mackinac Island - During its annual Celebration! Awards gala, the Meeting Professionals International Michigan Chapter (MMPI) installed Sherry Cummins, sales coordinator for Mission Point Resort on Mackinaw Island, as its new president for 2011-2012. Cummins has emerged as a leader in the meeting planner industry. East Lansing On June 22, State Executive Director for the USDA Michigan Farm Service Agency, Christine White, announced that contracts for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) for fiscal year 2012 were awarded. In Michigan, 4,124 acres were accepted into CRP. USDA accepted enrollment of 2.8 million acres, for a total enrollment of 29.9 million acres, including 227,715 acres in Michigan. Paw Paw This fall, one nonprofit organization in Southwest Michigan will be selected to receive market research services, valued at over $10,000, from Perspectives Consulting Group, Inc., in order to better evaluate community awareness and perception, strengthen donor support, understand client needs, or facilitate increased partner support. Grand Rapids - Ken Schmidt of Ken Schmidt Productions and Metro Health Marketing received two, national Telly Awards: 1) For the 2010 TV campaign produced for Metro Health Hospital and 2) for a video produced for Metro Health Hospital Foundation.

23
Grand Rapids - The Grand Rapids Griffins promoted Chad Erwin to director of ticket operations and hired Jamie Law as a corporate sales account manager. Grand Rapids - The Michigan Small Business and Technology Development Center housed at Grand Valley State University is offering nocost training to veterans interested in growing or launching a small business. Grand Rapids - The Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce has received a one-year, $57,000 grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to support its Institute for Healing Racism program, which aims to eliminate workplace racist behaviors and policies. Troy Ziebart International Corporation was recently included on the Military Friendly Franchises Top 200 list for 2011. Ziebart offers military veterans franchise opportunities in the automotive business sector.

Review of Return to Prosperity

(which says, not without debate, that cutting tax rates for rich people ultimately produces more government revenue) offers evidence for each of his zingers, though he meanders at times, and his points are sure to raise hackles. He issues economic warnings with the intent that you should be scared, yet this isnt a partisan book Laffers informed insights, criticism and praise extend to both sides of the political aisle. He productively draws upon his own professional and personal experiences. When he writes that Americans are leaving high-tax states to move to low-tax states, he notes his own shift from California to Tennessee. Laffer is a supply-side conservative, but he voted for Bill Clinton, and he explains why. getAbstract, which recommends books but takes no political stands (the opinions in the Abstract are the authors), suggests this analysis to policy makers and students of economics who welcome a curmudgeonly, but deeply experienced perspective. Arthur B. Laffer and Stephen Moore. Return to Prosperity: How America Can Regain Its Economic Superpower Status. Threshold Editions, 2010. 336 pages. List Price: $27.00 ISBN-13: 9 78-1439159927. getAbstract is the leading provider of business book summaries, with more than 6,000 titles. www.getabstract.com.

By Rolf getAbstract

Dobelli,

chairman,

Prominent economist Arthur Laffer is a contrarians contrarian. He urges trade with North Korea and Cuba, dislikes unions, despises stimulus packages, loves the flat tax, and espouses offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico (note, though, that the book predates the oil spill catastrophe there). The inventor of the Laffer curve