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.
Dessert Oasis Coffee Roasters Opens Flagship Café in Ferndale
Ferndale-based Dessert Oasis Coffee Roasters will celebrate the grand opening of its new company headquarters and flagship café location in Ferndale at 2 p.m. on July 7.
A full day of activities is planned including a ribbon cutting with the city of Ferndale, a latte “art throwdown,” cake cutting, and a party in the evening after closing. The event starts with a public coffee cupping at the café at 927 Hilton Road.
“This is an important milestone in our company’s growth, as we also mark our 14th anniversary, thanks to both our talented leadership team and staff, as well as our wonderful customers,” says Nathan Hamood, president of Dessert Oasis.
“Ferndale is an outstanding city and business community that fosters entrepreneurial companies like ours, with its creativity, ethos and community focus. While this will be a more centrally located headquarters for us to support future growth, our goal in Ferndale is to be the best neighbor and community member we can be. We also want to thank our event sponsors.”
Dessert Oasis Coffee Roasters began in 2009. Through a passion for coffee and community, it evolved its business model over the years to become what it is today — a craft coffee roaster with brick-and-mortar retail stores, that bakes all its own desserts, hosts live music, and seeks to be a community gathering place.
“We believe growth of the company should only serve the purpose of bettering what we do as a company, achieving the best possible products and customer service, while providing opportunities for our people to grow their careers in coffee,” Hamood says.
The company obtains its coffees from small quality driven farms around the world, sourced ethically and with the farm’s best interests in mind. The goals are longer-term relationships and partnerships that not only deliver the highest quality coffees, but, also, sustain coffee and its people as an industry both locally and globally.
Jeep Brand Renews Long-standing Partnership with USO, Increases Military Discount
The Jeep brand of Stellantis in Auburn Hills has renewed its 15-year partnership with the USO and has been named America’s most patriotic brand for the 22nd consecutive year by Brand Keys.
“Over the years, through many campaigns, sponsorships, events, and in-kind donations of vehicles and other support, our partnership with the USO mission has helped make it possible to keep service members connected to family, home, and country,” says Jim Morrison, senior vice president, Jeep brand North America. “And to celebrate July Fourth, we wanted to do something extra for our military members by increasing the brand’s military discount until July 10, to $2,000.”
Through the Jeep brand’s Military Incentive Program, select military personnel are eligible for military bonus cash to use toward select 2023 vehicles. Active, active reserve, retired military, retired military reserve, 100 percent disabled veterans, and honorably discharged veterans, within 12 months of discharge date, are eligible under the program. The offer applies to purchases and leases on a range of 2023 Jeep brand vehicles.
As a tribute to U.S. military members, the Jeep brand also offers a military-themed, special limited-edition Freedom package for the 2023 Gladiator and Wrangler, featuring military-themed exterior and interior design cues. The 2023 Jeep Freedom Edition (limited quantities) pays tribute to those who serve in the U.S. military. With unique military-themed decals and badges and impressive features for the road and trail, it honors the perseverance of brave service members.
The Jeep brand will make a $250 donation to military charities with every Freedom edition sold. “Since 1941” is a badge of honor proudly displayed on all Jeep brand vehicles, recognizing the Jeep brand’s long-standing military heritage and legendary 4×4 capability leadership for more than 80 years.
Diamond Die & Mold of Clinton Township Acquired by New York Investors
Diamond Die & Mold Company in Clinton Township has been acquired by individual investors in Cicero, N.Y. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Diamond Die is a manufacturer of tooling and equipment for the wire harness industry founded in 1956. Looking to transition into retirement following more than 40 years of service as co-owner and president, JoAnn Hinds engaged Calder Capital in Grand Rapids to help transition her business.
Detroit’s Donner Partners Network Launches In-house Media Studio
Doner Partners Network (DPN) in Southfield, part of Washington, D.C.-based Stagwell has launched Doner Media, the network’s integrated media offering designed to deliver clients effective and engaging solutions at the intersection of data and creativity.
The DPN has appointed Jennifer Villamil as executive vice president and managing director to lead the new practice. Villamil brings 18 years of media expertise, most recently serving as head of media at The Many.
“Doner has helped build and scale some of the best brands in the world through data-driven creativity and integrated production,” says David DeMuth, chair of DPN and and CEO of Doner CEO. “By re-launching our media practice, we can tap into our deep data resources and creative spirit to build more integrated and impactful work.”
With the new Doner Media, The Doner Partners Network now offers clients services across consumer research, strategic planning, creative, production, PR, influencer marketing, diversity marketing, and B2B, all from a single engagement and point of contact. Doner Media is the latest addition to the DPN, which acquired Los Angeles-based agency Wolfgang in October 2022.
SME, Stratasys Announce Winners of 2023 SkillsUSA Additive Manufacturing Competition
SME in Southfield and global additive manufacturing company Stratasys, announced the winners of their co-sponsored 2023 Additive Manufacturing Competition, conducted as part of the 59th annual SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference, conducted in Atlanta. The competition for high school and college students was supported this year by partner Autodesk.
High school winners included:
Gold Team: Johann Rafanan and Sabal Schuster, Nova High School in Davie, Fla.
Silver Team: Reggie May and Kyra Sandahl, Payette River Technical Academy in Emmett, Idaho
Bronze Team: Alejandro Colon and Daniel Hulse, West-MEC Northwest Campus in Surprise, Ariz.
College winners included:
Gold Team: Dallin Hansen and Tom Swindler, Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.
Silver Team: Armand Carlo Agbulos and Cody Buchanan, Madison Area Technical College in Madison, Wisc.
Bronze Team: David Atess and James McBride, Meridian Technology Center in Stillwater, Okla.
More than 500 parts were printed during the three-day competition, all on Stratasys 3-D printers.
“It’s no secret that additive technologies have disrupted the manufacturing industry, and through SME’s partnership with Stratasys we’re giving tomorrow’s talent an opportunity to feel, first-hand, its application on the job,” says Robert Willig, executive director and CEO of SME. “One of the things students enjoy most about working through these challenges is experiencing the process of iterating, testing and adjusting their design, which is exactly why additive manufacturing is being embraced globally, across all sectors.”
This year’s competition challenged students to design and print parts to build an assembly that attached to a fixture with a rotating mount point to grab and hold three progressively more difficult objects. Then each team presented their process, engineering design notebook, and printed designs to the judges.
Highline Relying on BEAD Funding to Connect the Upper Peninsula
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (UP) is hopeful for recently announced government funding from The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, $42.45 billion to expand high-speed internet access by funding planning, infrastructure deployment, and adoption programs for all 50 states. The NTIA recently announced that Michigan’s allocation is 1.6 billion dollars.
“Highline (based in Escanaba) is committed to serving over 42,000 Upper Peninsula homes with our fiber network,” says Bruce Moore, Midwest CEO for Highline. “The expeditious flow of funding is critical due to the short 100 days we have to build in the UP because of the long winter season.”
Highline is on target to build a network offering gigabit fiber internet access to 23,815 UP households by the end of 2023.
“We are committed to working with the state of Michigan and NTIA to develop a long-term strategy that will ensure equitable and universal access to high-speed internet for all Upper Peninsula households,” says Moore.
New Day Foundation for Families Launches New Day NEXT, to Host 5K Run, Brunch
New Day Foundation for Families in Rochester Hills is launching New Day NEXT, a young professionals’ group of designed to cultivate the next generation of philanthropy, along with the group’s first event — a brunch following New Day’s July 29 5K Run.
NEXT is built on three pillars: fun-raising, advocacy, and volunteering.
“The New Day NEXT initiative represents the embodiment of comradery and compassion, as we come together to make a meaningful difference in the lives of families battling cancer,” says Sarah Smith, co-founding council member of NEXT. “We designed NEXT to connect up-and-coming and established professionals to turnkey donation, mentorship and relationship building opportunities. It is our hope we will cultivate the next generation of New Day donors, giving them the power to create lasting change, all while building lifelong relationships and having a little fun along the way.”
NEXT will make its debut this summer in conjunction with the Color of Wellness 5K Run, which benefits New Day Foundation, by hosting a post-race brunch at O’Connors Public House in downtown Rochester on July 29. Those interested can join the NEXT team in the race, or simply meet afterward for the brunch. Show your race bib or t-shirt to get 10 percent off your bill from 9:30-11 a.m.
Former Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Maura D. Corrigan’s Portrait Unveiled
A portrait of Butzel attorney and former Michigan Supreme Court Justice Maura D. Corrigan was unveiled during a special session of the court June 14.
The event was hosted by the Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society. The portrait was created by Patricia Hill Burnett.
Corrigan concentrates her Butzel practice on litigation and appeals. She served as a law clerk to Judge John Gillis of the Michigan Court of Appeals. She then became a Wayne County assistant prosecuting attorney in 1974, and Chief of Appeals in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Detroit in 1979. In 1986, she was promoted to Chief Assistant U.S. Attorney, the first woman to hold that position. She became a partner at Plunkett and Cooney in 1989.
In 1992, former Gov. John Engler appointed her to the Michigan Court of Appeals. In 1997, the Supreme Court named her chief judge of the appeals court. She was elected to the Michigan Supreme Court in 1998 and reelected in 2006. Corrigan is the only person ever to serve as chief judge of both the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court. She served two terms as chief justice.
Corrigan left the court on Jan. 14, 2011 to become the director of the Michigan Department of Human Services under Gov. Rick Snyder. From 2015-2016, Corrigan was a visiting fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a think tank in Washington, D.C. where she worked on poverty and child welfare issues. In that role, she testified in Congress, authored papers and book chapters, and served as liaison to state secretaries of human services.
She currently serves on five nonprofit boards, is a past president of the Incorporated Society of Irish American Lawyers and the Detroit Chapter of the Federal Bar Association.
Love, Tito’s Supports Detroit’s Annual Garlic Harvest
Love, Tito’s, the philanthropic heart of Tito’s Handmade Vodka, is supporting Keep Detroit Growing (KDG) by calling on volunteers to help with its annual garlic harvest, digging up the fully formed heads of garlic, removing excess soil, and placing the garlic in the greenhouse to begin the curing process.
Motown Music garlic is grown at KGD Farm and is significant in Detroit as urban growers have been cultivating the seed in the city for more than a decade. Once cured, the 7,000 heads of garlic harvested at the event will be a culinary highlight at KGD’s cooking classes and Grown in Detroit markets this fall.
The harvest will take place July 6 from 10 a.m.-noon and 1-3 p.m. at 3100 Orleans in Detroit.
Later this year, the two groups will come together again for KGD’s fundraising dinner to support Detroit-based farmers who will obtain a certification from Michigan State University’s Organic Farmer Training Program (OFTP). Tito’s will support the event and KGD’s goal to raise funds to support the inaugural cohort of farmers.
Gesher Human Services Offers Career Change Program for Teachers
Metro Detroit teachers ready for a career change but uncertain how to utilize their many skills in a new form of employment can take part in a program entitled MyCoach for Teachers offered by Gesher Human Services in Southfield.
MyCoach for Teachers is an intensive two-week group career coaching program for $50 this summer when teachers are out of school. The program includes four masterclass group sessions plus one individual coaching session. Sessions are in-person and will meet at Gesher’s headquarters (29699 Southfield Road) from 10-11.30 a.m. July 18, 20, 25, and 27 plus a one-on-one coaching session on another date to be determined. Registration is required.
To register, contact Phyllis Scripsick at pscripsick@geshermi.org or call 248-233-4278. In addition, individual career and job search advice also is available to metro Detroiters at no cost and those interested should email employmenthelp@geshermi.org or call 248-233-4245.
