Archive of Ticker

All Together Now

With an ample supply of empty office space in metro Detroit, why would a nonprofit organization build a $17.5-million headquarters in Farmington Hills?

To Heaven and Back

Early retirement sounded great when John Bornoty sold his Royal Oak-based technology company in 2005. But he soon found out the easy life was harder than it looked.

By Amelia Bell Carpenter

Trip the Light Fantastic

An international lighting designer, Ron Harwood often uses metro Detroit as a test lab for enhancing consumer encounters around the world, whether at luxury shopping malls, entertainment venues, public squares, or college campuses.

By R.J. King

Disheveled & Debonair

A man should never appear completely perfect. The goal is to create something unique that conveys a sense of personal identity in a subtle, yet memorable, way.

By R.J. King

A Program Ahead of Its Time

What happens when a product is so advanced that few people understand it? “It’s pretty lonely out there,” says Donald R. Fullenwider, president of Plymouth-based City Simulation, which offers advanced virtual reality programs to businesses, municipalities, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations.

Danielle Turcotte

Java or Caramel?

Maxine Lauer prowls the floor of major consumer and trade shows like a big-game hunter. Armed with a camera, a notepad, and a near-encyclopedic knowledge of colors, fashions, and trends, she spots her most recent prey: Cadillac’s XTS Platinum Concept Hybrid.

By Michael Strong

Bang the Drum

Stephen Badalament says his drums are world-beaters. “I can confidently say my drums will do 200 percent more work than you could ever ask them to,” says the founder and CEO of Bloomfield Hills-based Innovation Drum Co., makers of elite, custom-built, handcrafted drum kits.

By Jim McFarlin

Wind-Chaser

Multitasking comes easy for Mark Kuban. After a 10-year run as a home goods sales representative, Kuban jumped into kiteboarding — a sport that’s actually been around for more than a century — full time in 2008. Kiteboarders use a large, inflatable kite to reach speeds approaching 30 mph, whether they’re on water or snow.

By R.J. King

Disaster and Recovery

When adversity strikes, a Sterling Heights firm uses stress-management techniques to soothe anxiety and mitigate tension.

By R.J. King

Mr. Inside and Mr. Outside

A consolidation wave in the residential brokerage industry is paying dividends for a real-estate sales firm in Birmingham.

By R.J. King