January / February 2010

Made in Detroit

Peter Karmanos Jr. has tapped his blue-collar work ethic and a knack for discovering the next big thing to build Compuware Corp. into a global information-technology power- house — but his...

By Fara Warner

In Sickness and in Health

Confronted with substantial market losses and uneven public policy — and having identified more than $125 million in savings to date — Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan isn’t sitting idly by...

By Michelle L. Martinez

Wheels of Prosperity

With all that’s affecting the automotive industry, it’s easy to forget the depth and reach of what is actually the largest business sector in Michigan.

By R.J. King

Get Your Motor Running

Can a new cable TV show stoke the fortunes of a Ferndale custom-motorcycle shop that’s relying on parts-and-service orders to stay alive?

By R.J. King

And the Band Played On

With fewer commercials on tap, music man Dan Yessian hit a high note by branching out into the entertainment world.

By Jim McFarlin

Webmaster

Borrowing a page from Economics: 101, an Ann Arbor design firm is drawing plenty of attention on the World Wide Web.

By R.J. King

A ‘Ghost’ of a Chance

When 19-year-old Sam Valenti launched a niche record label in 1999, not even he could’ve envisioned the success he’d find.

By R.J. King and Nina Coppola

Andrew Hoffman

Holcim (U.S.) Professor of Sustainable Enterprise, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

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.

Hard-Pressed

Gone are the lavish vehicle launches at idyllic resorts. Today, the media must wade through the halls of Congress, hold their own with an auto czar, or read the White House tea leaves to gauge the...

By Tom Beaman

Masters of Arts

It’s no easy task to host a patron dinner, and without a solid game plan that melds memorable wines, exquisite food, and a well-organized charitable organization, the pressure can really boil over.

By R.J. King