Our roundup of the latest news from metro Detroit and Michigan businesses as well as announcements from government agencies, including updates about the COVID-19 pandemic. To share a business or nonprofit story, please send us a message.
ASE Releases 2022 Salaries for Co-op Students, Recent College Graduates
ASE, Michigan’s Troy-based employer association, has released the 2022 Starting Salaries for Co-op Students and Recent College Graduates Survey, which provides a comprehensive look at the current state of wages and benefits provided to co-op students and recent college graduates.
“Our data suggest that the hiring of new college graduates appears to have rebounded from the previous year,” says Mary E. Corrado, president and CEO of ASE. “In this market, employers looking to set themselves apart should look closely at these surveys and others to develop competitive rewards programs that attract new talent.”
More than 100 (105) companies responded to the 2022 Starting Salaries for Co-op Students and Recent College Graduates Survey. The majority (80 percent) of respondents have fewer than 500 employees. Just over 80 percent of respondents are located in the metro Detroit region with 45.7 percent of those classified as automotive suppliers.
Highlights from the survey results include:
- 46 percent have increased rates for co-op/intern students within the last year, up from 25 percent a year ago.
- 73 percent say their company has hired, or plans to hire, a recent college graduate in 2022, 10 percentage points higher than what was reported in 2021.
The top five in-state institutions the responding companies actively recruit from are:
- Michigan State University
- Wayne State University
- Oakland University
- University of Michigan
- Kettering University
- Michigan Technological University
The top three knowledge/skill factors organizations consider when making hiring decisions, in order, are: related coursework; computer skills; and internship/work experience.
Few of the participants have hired permanently remote new college graduates. Just 13 percent stated they have those types of arrangements, and only 11 percent would consider it given the right candidate.
The highest average starting salary was electrical engineering at $71,500, a rate largely unchanged from the prior year.
This survey is available free of charge to ASE members and for $525 to non-members here.
Rochester’s OneStream Wins National Software Award
Rochester-based OneStream, a corporate performance management (CPM) solutions provider, has won first place in the 2022 Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) Emotional Footprint report by SoftwareReviews, a division of Info-Tech Research Group.
As the top-ranked product among the 12 vendors in the report, OneStream received a CX score of 9.1 and a Net Emotional Footprint of 92, which measures high-level user sentiment towards a vendor’s product offerings across various dimensions of the vendor-client relationship and product effectiveness. Metrics include strategy and innovation, importance to professional success, service and product experience, negotiation and contract experience, and conflict resolution experience.
“This recognition as a First Place Champion is a testament to the value users gain from partnering with OneStream to streamline, modernize, and unify their complex financial processes,” says Tom Shea, CEO of OneStream. “We remain laser-focused on ensuring every customer is a reference, focusing on one customer success at a time. As finance leaders continue to adapt to today’s fast-paced and complex business environment, OneStream provides the tools and insights to drive rapid, accurate and data-driven decision making across the enterprise.”
Troy Chamber Announces 2022 Business Excellence Awards
The Troy Chamber of Commerce on Thursday announced the winners of its 2022 Business Excellence Awards.
“All nominations were made by fellow chamber members and voting was open to the public,” says Tara Tomcsik-Husak, president and CEO of the Troy Chamber. “I am proud to say that we received almost 20,000 votes over the course of two weeks. Each vote was counted, and we were proud to share the results at our virtual event.”
The winners were:
- Cadillac Products Inc., Innovation Award, presented by Chief Financial Credit Union.
- Catherine Kosin, senior vice president and market Leader at Oswald Cos., Leadership Award, presented by DTE.
- Julie Flores, digital and print marketing specialist at For Your Benefit Marketing, Woman in Action Award, presented by Trion Solutions.
- PANDA One Pediatric Transport Service Team of Children’s Hospital of Michigan, Community Impact Award, presented by Comcast Business.
- Entech Staffing Solutions, Marketing Magnet Award, presented by the Troy Chamber of Commerce.
- Becca Smither, the Inspiration Behind Dutton Farm, Diversity Champion Award, presented by Beaumont Health System.
- Detroit Zoological Society, Resiliency Award, presented by Cadillac Products Inc.
- Premier Pet Supply, Customer Service Excellence Award, presented by the Troy Chamber of Commerce.
- Monique Harlan, community relations specialist for Michigan Schools and Government Credit Union, Chamber Advocate Award, presented by Horizon Bank.
- Community Housing Network, Nonprofit Excellence Award, presented by Hunch Free.
- Michelle Taylor, group dining and event sales manager at Fogo de Chão, Young Professional Award, presented by Leadership Oakland.
- The PiggyBank, Inspiring Tomorrow Award, presented by the Troy Chamber of Commerce.
The program, a recording of which can be seen here, was presented by Children’s Hospital of Michigan and sponsored by Beaumont, Cadillac Products Inc., Chief Financial Credit Union, Comcast Business, DTE, Horizon Bank, Hunch Free, Leadership Oakland, and Trion Solutions.
For more information about the Troy Chamber of Commerce, visit troychamber.com.
SME Offers Michigan High School Students Education Opportunity
Students in communities in every corner of Michigan, from the Upper Peninsula to metropolitan areas, will have access to new career and technical education opportunities through the Southfield-based SME Education Foundation.
The SME Education Foundation received $6 million from the state of Michigan as part of the 2021 education budget to scale the SME PRIME initiative across the state. The award increases the number of schools participating in the unique manufacturer/educator partnership-driven SME PRIME initiative by 16 — there are already 17 SME PRIME schools in Michigan.
Supported and informed by private industry, SME PRIME (Partnership Response In Manufacturing Education) builds cost-effective and tailored manufacturing/engineering programs in high schools across the country, providing equipment, curriculum, professional development, scholarships and STEM-focused extracurricular activities to students and teachers.
SME PRIME schools implement career pathways that provide hands-on instruction that aligns with industry needs and industry-recognized certifications. There are nearly 500,000 U.S. manufacturing positions unfilled. That shortage will grow to 2.1 million unfilled jobs by 2030. SME PRIME career pathways address this critical shortage by teaching in-demand skills and knowledge in additive manufacturing, computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing, industrial maintenance, machining and fabrication, mechatronics/robotics, metrology (precise measurement) and quality, and welding.
“Coordinated by our staff of highly qualified education program managers, SME PRIME schools are a model; a unique approach to STEM education and career preparation implemented by scores of schools across the nation,” says Rob Luce, vice president of the SME Education Foundation.
Rite Aid Healthy Futures Commits Close to $1M to Food Programs in Detroit
Rite Aid Healthy Futures is committing nearly $1 million to two leading Detroit food-access programs through its new Strengthening Cities signature initiative, designed to reduce health disparities for children and youth living within city neighborhoods.
Part of a larger two-year, $10 million commitment focused on Detroit and five other cities, the funding aims to advance food equity and food sovereignty. It will support community agriculture, promote healthy eating, and expand youth farming apprenticeship programs throughout Detroit.
The Detroit Black Community Food Security Network will receive $500,000 to expand its Food Warriors and Food n’ Flava Programs. The programs will expose more children and youth to hands-on farming experiences to increase their knowledge of the food system, develop urban agricultural skills and instill a healthy sense of self-esteem through African American cultural immersion.
The programs will teach kids to build gardens, harvest and prepare food in healthy ways, and train older youth in basic entrepreneurial knowledge and skills related to growing and selling their produce at local markets.
Keep Growing Detroit will receive $400,000 to support its Healthy Eaters to Healthy Leaders Project, which promotes health and engages youth and families in ways that develop positive relationships with healthy foods. The project will provide resources and support for more than 1,000 gardens that engage youth during the growing seasons, as well as build the pipeline of young leaders in the food system through a seven-week Summer Youth Apprenticeship.
Formerly known as The Rite Aid Foundation, Rite Aid Healthy Futures is the public charity created by the Pennsylvania-based Rite Aid in 2001. The organization launched a new brand identity this week to reflect reinvigorated programming focused on quality education, good health, food access, stable housing, and income opportunities.
Meijer Supports Boys & Girls Clubs Across Midwest with $1.2M Donation
Grand Rapids-based Meijer donated $1.2 million to dozens of Boys & Girls Clubs serving communities across Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin.
Each of the 24 clubs will receive $50,000 to invest in educational and developmental programs for local youth.
“As a family-owned business, serving families, and especially children, in our communities is always important to us,” says Rick Keyes, president and CEO of Meijer. “Boys & Girls Clubs offer safe places for children and teens to grow into the future leaders our communities will need, and we’re pleased to support them through this donation.”
The retailer’s gift will fund development programs focused on health, academics, and leadership for Boys & Girls Club members.
“We know that each of our communities are different and that each of the clubs understand the wants and needs of their members best,” says Cathy Cooper, senior director of community partnerships and giving at Meijer. “We look forward to seeing how they find unique ways to use this gift to help their members learn, lead and grow.”
The beneficiary clubs in Michigan include:
- Boys & Girls Club of Alpena
- Boys & Girls Club of Benton Harbor
- Boys & Girls Club of Grand Rapids Youth Commonwealth in Michigan
- Boys & Girls Club of Greater Holland
- Boys & Girls Club of Greater Flint
- Boys & Girls Club of Kalamazoo
- Boys & Girls Club of Oakland and Macomb County
- Boys & Girls Club of The Muskegon Lakeshore
- Boys & Girls Club of Southeastern Michigan: Dick and Sandy Dauch Club
- Boys & Girls Club of Southeastern Michigan: Matilda R. Wilson Club
The donation is part of the retailer’s 2021 end-of-year donation efforts, totaling $6.5 million that will support its key areas of giving: hunger relief, diversity and inclusion, sustainability, and local giving.
As part of its year-end giving, Meijer previously announced a $300,000 donation to the National Minority Supplier Development Council affiliates serving its Midwest communities.
Auto Club Group Dedicates $250K for Social Justice Scholarships
The Dearborn-based Auto Club Group’s recognition of Black History Month is highlighted by a commitment of $250,000 in scholarship funds to help reduce barriers for underrepresented students in higher education.
The AAA Social Justice Innovator Scholarship will be offered to students pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, math, and business at Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) in AAA’s 14-state footprint. The first round of grants will support five Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs):
- Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Fla.
- Claflin University in Orangeburg, S.C.
- Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta
- Fisk University in Nashville, Tenn.
- North Carolina Central University in Durham
“As Black History Month honors its leaders of the past and present, ACG is offering this scholarship to financially support the leaders and innovators of tomorrow,” says Keith Mobley, assistant vice president of corporate social responsibility. “In addition, we will offer scholarship recipients a free, one-year AAA Classic Membership and other opportunities with ACG. Our hope is to contribute to students’ education and help prepare them for long-term careers.”
Every university partnership will span three years and annually provide at least two students with funds for course-related materials and supplies, such as textbooks. Priority should be given to students who have documented unmet financial needs. ACG will invite a new round of university partners each year for the next four years.
Priority Health Awarded Michigan Health Endowment Fund Grant
Priority Health in Grand Rapids has received a $500,000 grant from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund to support advance care planning by focusing on older adults in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs).
Priority Health is partnering with Real Time Medical Systems and Probari on this initiative to create a sustainable model around the critical practice of advance care planning.
For many older adults who are nearing the end of their lives, SNFs are often required to ensure their needs are met. These types of care settings also provide an opportunity to understand, document and honor patient and family preferences for treatment. It is Priority Health’s over-arching goal to influence the SNF care model so advance care planning becomes a pillar of care.
Starting in February, Priority Health will be working with Real Time Medical Systems and Probari to engage up to 15 SNFs from around the state. Participating SNFs will be provided with software that identifies patients with the highest mortality risk, combined with expert training and support in facilitating care conversations.
“Anyone who has been through the end-of-life care stage for a loved one knows the importance of having a solid care model in place,” says Dr. James Forshee, senior vice president and chief medical officer at Priority Health. “Partnering with Real Time Medical Systems and Probari on establishing reliable SNF care models is something that is needed in the health care industry.”
The grant timeline runs through June 30, 2023.
Holocaust Center, Wright Museum Present ‘The Six Triple Eight’ Documentary
The Zekelman Holocaust Center in Farmington Hills and the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History are presenting the film “The Six Triple Eight,” a documentary about the only all-black Women’s Army Corps battalion to serve in Europe during World War II.
The unit faced racism and sexism from their own leadership and troops and cleared 17 million backlogged letters to and from U.S. troops in three months, far quicker than the Army’s six-month goal.
The film is available for viewing anytime from Mar. 1-9 on The Zekelman Holocaust Center (The HC) website or from March 1-15 at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History website.
The filmmakers will host a virtual discussion about the film at 7 p.m. on March 8, which is International Women’s Day. To register, visit here.
Amazon’s Livonia Site Hosts Detroit Youth Choir for Black History Month
Hundreds of Amazon associates gathered Thursday at the company’s Livonia Fulfillment Center in celebration of Black History Month, with a day of programming celebrating the region’s rich Motown history.
To kick off the events, the Detroit Youth Choir and Chandler Park Academy dance team delivered performances on the fulfillment center floor, amid thousands of Amazon products stocked for local shipment.
A donation was presented to the choir, before the day continued, with leadership messages, poetry readings, and an afternoon of live music by Denise Davis and the Motown Sensations.
The program was created to showcase the history, passions, and talents of Amazon’s Black employees and the local community, highlighting Amazon’s 2022 Black History Month theme, “Remarkably Black.”
“We believe that building a culture that’s welcoming and inclusive is integral to people doing their best work,” says Ty Sordelet, general manager of the Amazon Livonia Fulfillment Center. “Today’s Black History Month event is just one way that we’re celebrating diversity at Amazon and striving to honor Detroit’s Motown roots. And to get to start the day by witnessing the talent of two community power houses — the Detroit Youth Choir and Chandler Park Academy dance — now that’s a good day at work.”
