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.
Comerica Bank Women’s Business Symposium Returns in April
The Comerica Bank Women’s Business Symposium returns to the region from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on April 5 at Ford Field in downtown Detroit.
The event, which returns to an in-person format for the first time since 2019, is designed to help women in business learn, connect, grow, and celebrate their potential.
Entering its fourth year, the Comerica Bank Women’s Business Symposium provides a platform developed specifically for women business owners, executives, and professionals at all levels from across metro Detroit to “Power Up Your Potential.”
Emceeing the Comerica Bank Women’s Business Symposium is celebrity chef, syndicated radio host, and cookbook author Jamie Gwen. Joining Gwen on stage is a powerful lineup of speakers that includes:
Erica Dhawan, an internationally recognized authority, speaker, and advisor on 21st-century teamwork, collaboration, and innovation.
Cassandra Worthy, an expert on Change Enthusiasm.
This year’s symposium opens with Conversations at Comerica, a moderated panel discussion featuring three extraordinary change-makers who lead as women founders and executives, including:
- Carolyn Cassin, president and CEO of Michigan Women Forward.
- Nicole Lewis, CEO of Nicole Lewis & Associates.
- Ronia Kruse, president and CEO OpTech.
To register or for sponsorship and additional information, visit here.
An amount equivalent to all sponsorship dollars collected will benefit Alternative for Girls (AFG), a Detroit-based nonprofit serving homeless and high-risk girls and young women.
Flagstar Bank Provides $1M to Advance Appraiser Diversity
Flagstar Bank has donated $1 million to the Appraiser Diversity Initiative (ADI), a collaboration between the Appraisal Institute, the National Urban League, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac. The initiative aims to attract more diverse applicants to the appraisal field, overcome barriers, such as education and access, and provide support to help aspiring appraisers achieve professional success.
“Curbing racial bias in real estate and appraisals has not garnered the attention of more familiar barriers to homeownership for minorities, such as the lack of funds for a down payment and credit scores,” says Thomas R. Cangemi, president and CEO of New York Community Bancorp Inc., which owns Flagstar Bank. “Now with the involvement of a government task force and the advocacy of the Appraiser Diversity Initiative, paths for success are being developed for diverse, aspiring appraisers.”
Here’s what Flagstar’s funding will do:
- Support recruiting, training, and credentialing of diverse appraiser trainees.
- Support pathways to appraiser licensing through industry connections and experience, including simulations of the appraisal experience as an alternative to the traditional supervisory appraiser-trainee model.
- Sponsor and support recruiting workshops in targeted markets.
“As a leading national originator of home loans, Flagstar is deeply invested in the appraisal business,” says Lee Smith, president of Mortgage at Flagstar. “We understand the damaging effects of appraisal bias and the importance of diversity in service professions such as appraisals. We’re excited to be part of the team working to help make homeownership more accessible to more minorities and look for good things to come from Flagstar’s involvement and support.”
Marathon Petroleum Supports Melvindale Police Station Renovation Project
Female police officers in Melvindale are cheering the opening of their new locker room at Melvindale Police Department’s headquarters, built by the Detroit Public Safety Foundation with financial support from Marathon Petroleum Corp.
Melvindale’s police station was built long before women joined the force, and the aging facility lacked a dedicated space for female officers. Melvindale hired its first female officer in 1989, and now has three women on the force. The converted restroom they used as a locker room lacked seating, appropriate lighting, and was small.
“The female locker room needed a complete overhaul,” says Dan Jones, Melvindale’s police chief. “We are grateful to the Detroit Public Safety Foundation and Marathon’s Detroit Refinery for providing our officers with a new locker room that is beyond our expectations and provides our female officers with the space and amenities they deserve.”
The new locker room offers enhanced security and privacy, large lockers, and bench seating, a larger restroom area, lockable weapons storage, and other necessities, ensuring that all Melvindale officers enjoy equitable locker room facilities.
Other assistance for the project was provided by Holly Construction and Planet Fitness, which donated bathroom stalls, mirrors, hand dryers, benches, and other necessities.
Royal Oak’s Blossoms Moves a Mile South on Woodward
Royal Oak florist Blossoms has moved to a new location, 32480 Woodward Ave., one mile south of its previous address.
Owners say everything is the same in terms of staff and products.
For more information, visit here.
The Community House in Birmingham to Host Our Town Art Show
The Community House in downtown Birmingham is hosting its 38th annual Our Town Art Show and Sale March 31 and April 1 both in person and online.
This juried, all media art show provides a forum for Michigan artists to showcase and sell their work including more than 290 paintings, pastels, sculptures, glassworks, fiber works, photography, jewelry, and mixed media.
Sixty-five percent of the proceeds from the art sales go directly to the region’s artists, with 35 percent of the proceeds being used to fund The Community House outreach programs for adults and children.
All juried artworks will be displayed during the Opening Night VIP Party on Thursday, March 30, tickets for which can be purchased here.
The online show and sale goes live on March 31 and runs through April 14; art enthusiasts may view and purchase art by visiting here.
