Our roundup of the latest news from metro Detroit and Michigan businesses as well as announcements from government agencies. To share a business or nonprofit story, please send us a message.
70th Annual Autorama to Feature Keith Famie’s Muscle Car Movie Sneak Peek
An added attraction to the 70th annual Autorama custom car show this weekend (Feb. 24-26) at Huntington Place in downtown Detroit is a sneak peek of the new documentary from local filmmaker Keith Famie, “Detroit: The City of Hot Rods & Muscle Cars.”
On Sunday at 1 p.m. in Huntington Place’s Grand River Ballroom, Famie, founder of Visionalist Entertainment Productions in Wixom, will show a 40-minute sneak peak of his latest documentary.
The host for the exclusive look at the film, which requires an Autorama ticket to see, is Detroit native Danny Koker from the History Channel’s “Counting Cars.” His partner, Kevin Mack, also is expected to attend.
The film will premiere June 19 at Emagine Novi and be available on DPTV/PBS at 8 p.m. June 23. The Novi premiere will benefit the following charities: The Rainbow Connection, Kids Kicking Cancer, Gilda’s Club of Metro Detroit, Camp Casey, and Kids without Cancer.
Visit here to see a 2-minute trailer for the documentary.
The rest of Autorama will include the usual showcase of hundreds of colorful and powerful custom cars, celebrities, and other attractions.
Among the favorite vehicles on display will be the 1966 Batmobile, the “Munsters’” Koach and Drag-U-La cars, all coming from the shop of Hollywood customizer George Barris.
Celebrities slated to appear are designer Dave Kindig, and entertainers Flavor Flav and Henry Winkler, The Fonz from the TV show “Happy Days.”
For more information and tickets for Automara, visit here.
Local Entrepreneur Launches Full-service Travel Agency for Vegans
Royal Oak-based travel blogger Rebecca Gade Sawicki has launched a full-service travel agency focused on the specific needs of vegan and eco-minded travelers.
The Veggies Abroad blog offers visitors advice on where to find vegan food, travel guides, and trip tips to plan their own veggie-filled vacation.
“The Veggies Abroad blog is a fantastic resource for veggie-friendly travelers,” Sawicki says. “I realized I could make even more of an impact sharing knowledge and building awareness for our vegan community as an advisor and travel agent.
“Travel can enlighten our perspective, and it can support local communities and businesses that are working to protect our environment. As an advisor, it’s my goal to use travel as a tool for good.”
The advisory services are tailored to the client’s needs, from finding a vegan-friendly hotel for a London getaway to planning an ethical, carbon-neutral safari experience in Africa and everything in between. If the client isn’t ready to book a trip just yet, there’s an option for a 30-minute consultation call to ask questions or get feedback on a dream trip.
Potential itineraries include:
- Vegan tour through Italy inclusive of a vegan street food tour in Venice, chef-led cooking classes, a stay in a Tuscan farmhouse, wine tasting, and more.
- Relax on the beach while learning about local conservation efforts at a eco-friendly resort while enjoying gourmet plant-based cuisine.
- See lions, elephants, and hippos on Kenya’s first carbon-neutral safari while staying in eco-lux accommodations and enjoying plant-based dishes with ingredients from the onsite garden.
Sawicki is an independent affiliate of the Virtuoso affiliated agency, The Travel Society, and a member of the sustainable travel organization Regenerative Travel.
For more information, visit here.
ACG Detroit to Host 2023 M&A Update Panel Discussion March 2
ACG Detroit will host experts in corporate development, private equity, investment banking, and capital markets for its annual “M&A Update” panel discussion at 8 a.m. on March 2 at Walsh College in Troy. The discussion will recap the activity in the marketplace in 2022 and share predictions for what’s to come in the year ahead.
Panelists include Arjun Murthy, director at Cascade Partners; Heather Madland, partner at Huron Capital; Demetrios Samohin, vice president of corporate development, M&A at BorgWarner; and Joshua Stehlin, senior vice president and midwest division executive at PNC Business Credit. The program will be moderated by Clayton Vanderpool, senior vice president for PNC Business Credit.
For more information and to register, visit here.
DMC Detroit Receiving Hospital Burn Center Re-verified
DMC Detroit Receiving Hospital has been re-verified as an Adult Burn Center by the American Burn Association. The verification extends through January 2026.
The Burn Center at Detroit Receiving Hospital is one of Michigan’s largest adult burn care centers, one of only three dedicated centers in the state, and the only American Burn Association Verified Adult Burn Center in Detroit.
Verified burn centers must meet a series of stringent criteria that ensure burn care capability and institutional performance, as outlined by the American College of Surgeons’ Committee on Trauma. Burn center verification provides a true mark of distinction for a burn center and is an indicator to government, third-party payers, accreditation organizations, patients, and their families that the center provides high-quality patient care to burn patients. The designation is given as a result of the spectrum of quality care provided to burn patients from their arrival to the ER through the rehabilitation process.
“This achievement recognizes the hospital’s dedication and commitment to providing high quality burn care to patients across the region,” says Dr. Michael White, medical director at the Burn Center. “The dedicated team of the Burn Center at DRH provides unparalleled care to hundreds of burn patients each year in our ER, inpatient units, ambulatory burn clinic and rehabilitation.”
Pistons Gaming Team Releases 2023 2K League Schedule
The Pistons Gaming Team, reigning 3v3 2KL champions, announced its schedule for the 2023 NBA 2K League season.
Pistons GT will begin its sixth season in the league with The Slam Tournament on March 8 to open a five-month regular season.
The NBA 2K League regular season will begin on March 8 and teams will participate in eight two-week-long, group-style tournaments, two of which are 3v3 (The Slam and The Switch), and two that are 5v5 (The Turn and The Tipoff). Pistons GT will open the season with a best-of-five series against Cavs Legion GT in The Slam 3v3 tournament.
All teams will participate in the 3v3 and 5v5 seed weeks and the top five finishers from both formats from the Eastern and Western conferences will earn a spot in the NBA2KL 3v3 Playoffs and 5v5 Playoffs, respectively. Two additional teams in the 3v3 Playoffs will be determined by The Steal, and the two additional teams in the 5v5 Playoffs will be determined by The Ticket. The 13th and 14th spots in the NBA 2KL 3v3 Playoffs will be the amateur team that earns the most points from each of the Slam Open and Switch Open.
Pistons GT regular season schedule is highlighted by a contest with Cavs Legion GC on March 17 that will be featured as the Game of The Week as well as a showdown against the defending 5v5 Champions Bucks Gaming in The Tipoff. The team also will look to avenge last season’s loss to Pacers GT in The Switch finals with group play beginning on April 6.
Last season, Pistons GT won the inaugural NBA 2K League 3v3 Championship, sweeping Wizards District Gaming in the finals, 4-0. Ramo was named MVP of the tournament, averaging 8.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in the finals. The club is led by 2018 NBA 2K League Coach of the Year and General Manager Duane Burton.
The NBA 2K League, a joint venture between the NBA and Take-Two Interactive, is a professional esports league featuring the best NBA 2K players in the world and is the first official esports league operated by a U.S. professional sports league. According to Newzoo, the global esports audience will reach 532 million this year and will generate revenues of $1.38 billion, over a 14.5% year-over-year increase. A number of NBA teams, owners and former players are already looking to the future of the esports industry, investing in esports franchises/holding companies.
Cloud Cannabis Launches ’23 Ford Bronco Smokin’ Ride Sweepstakes
Cloud Cannabis, the Troy-based vertically integrated cannabis business, announced the launch of its Smokin’ Ride Sweepstakes, offering the chance to win a 2023 Ford Bronco 4-Door 4×4, plus $10,000 in cash to help cover taxes, for a total grand prize value of approximately $50,000.
The sweepstakes runs from through April 30 and the winner will be announced on May 12. Eligible participants must be Michigan residents who are at least 21 and members of the company’s Cloud Club Rewards Program, with a max of 20 entries per person. Entry is available online or in-store with a more than $100 purchase, or by U.S. mail without purchase. Cloud’s retail locations across Michigan include Ann Arbor, Cedar Springs, Detroit, Gaylord, Kalamazoo, Muskegon, New Baltimore, Traverse City, and Utica. The Smokin’ Ride Sweepstakes is sponsored by cannabis brands butter and Mitten Extracts.
“The launch of our new sweepstakes provides another avenue to give back to the Michigan cannabis community,” says Jacob Saboo, co-founder and head of retail at Cloud Cannabis. “And what better way to represent the Motor City than to promote Michigan’s iconic automotive industry? Over the course of this giveaway campaign, Cloud will continue to offer the premier retail experience we’re known for, and we are excited to announce the big winner in May.”
For more information, visit here.
Detroit Pistons, RareCircles Introduce RareAccess Digital Passes
The Detroit Pistons and New York-based RareCircles Inc. have launched Pistons RareAccess, a next-generation digital community and platform designed to deepen the relationship between sports teams and their fans while enabling unique rewards and behind-the-scenes opportunities to be unlocked.
Pistons RareAccess, powered by Web3 technology, redefines loyalty for a new generation of fans by uniquely combining fan engagement and feedback with rewards and benefits, transforming how sports fans interact with their favorite team or players, according to the team and RareCccess.
“It is an honor to collaborate with the Detroit Pistons for our first NBA program,” says Ethan Song, CEO of RareCircles. “Through this partnership, we’re powering deeper levels of engagement for Piston fans. It’s about putting fans at the center of the community. We’re excited to partner with the Detroit Pistons and their fans to shape the RareAccess experience together.”
Fans have the option of purchasing three editions of digital access passes to become a part of Pistons RareAccess — Legend Edition, All-Star Edition, and Starter Edition — each with varying levels of benefits. All pass holders gain entry to a unique online community as fans become a part of the action on Pistons RareAccess with insider privileges. Holders will also be able to attend private Huddle Sessions with coaches, team executives, and players, and enjoy limited merchandise drops and gameday tickets.
“We are always looking for ways to provide our fans new opportunities to experience the Pistons like never before,” says Dan Lefton, chief revenue officer of the Pistons. “Pistons RareAccess will bring fans closer to all the aspects of the Pistons that make NBA basketball a unique and exciting experience. We’re excited to continue to innovate along with our partners at RareCircles to provide Pistons fans the most engaging and exclusive next-generation platforms.”
The digital access passes were designed by Yuri, a 3-D graphic designer from Ukraine. The passes bring Pistons Mascot Hooper to life in 3-D, featuring a “Bad Boy” persona.
Fans wishing to secure their spot in line for Pistons RareAccess and to join the digital community of Detroit Pistons fans, visit here.
Hazel Park Promise Zone to Host Fundraising Dinner March 6
Hazel Park Promise Zone will host its 10th annual fundraising dinner to benefit college-bound students in Hazel Park from 5:30-8 p.m. March 6 at the Regency Manor & Banquet Center in Southfield.
Tickets are $75 per person with all proceeds going to benefit the Hazel Park Promise Zone Scholarship Program. Michigan State Rep. Mike McFall will serve as moderator for the event and U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens will serve as the keynote speaker.
The Hazel Park Promise Zone program annually guarantees a tuition-free path to an associate’s degree at Oakland Community College for graduates of Hazel Park Schools who reside in the school district. It also supports funding for a full-time college advisor who works one-on-one with seniors completing the financial aid process, searching for scholarships, and applying to college, as well as funding comprehensive college success programs designed to work with all college freshmen to help them persist through higher education and a community mentor program.
“Each year we support around 300 students and we’ve continuously enhanced programmatic support for our young scholars to succeed at college,” says Moussa Traore, interim executive director of the program. “We’ve revamped our college success coaching and mentor program and restructured what student support looks like by centering the diverse needs of our students and community.”
For more information and tickets, visit hazelparkpromise.org.
