Archive of Focus

Golden Boy

When the kit finally arrived, Richard Golden couldn’t have been happier. At 12 years old, he was selling greeting cards door-to-door and doing a brisk business. Never mind that his father, Donald Golden, was operating a successful chain of optical stores in the late 1950s. The son, it seems, was on to something.

By R.J. King

Terms of Limitation

Next year will be a banner year for Michigan voters who savor fresh political winds — or red-meat politics — as three-fourths of the state’s senators and nearly a third of the representatives will be rookies in every sense of the word.

By George Bullard

The Rebirth of Delphi

There are times when Rodney O’Neal sounds more like a sailor than a CEO. “You have to be aware of what your North Star is and never lose sight of it,” he says, sitting in a Renaissance Center ballroom shortly after giving a recent speech to an auto industry confab. “Otherwise,” he cautions, “you’ll lose your way.”

By Paul A. Eisenstein

Seller’s Paradise

A new global wine distribution system developed in northern Michigan promises to increase retailer profit margins, expand selections, and reduce consumer prices.

By R.J. King

Back From the Brink

When the insurance industry decided not to reimburse for body-scan imaging, some facilities closed while others survived by overhauling their business models.

By Dan Calabrese

20 Largest Law Firms

When legal challenges arise, metro Detroit business leaders don’t often venture far for expert advice. Here's our list of Michigan's largest.

Gaming the Market

Greater competition for entertainment dollars, combined with Ohio’s new casinos, will affect Michigan’s gaming industry like never before.

By Dan Calabrese

On a Clear Day …

Susan Docherty may be the most powerful woman in the automotive industry, but if she can’t win over skeptical consumers, General Motors won’t last another century.

By Paul A. Eisenstein

Arsenal of Democracy, 2.0

As the Pentagon shifts from planning for big land wars to combatting small insurgencies, it’s been busy eliminating weapons programs and facilities across the country.

In Vino Veritas

Northern Michigan’s wine industry has come a long way in 35 years, and more growth is in the forecast — so long as property values and weather patterns don’t ruin the party.

By R.J. King