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.
Detroit Historical Society Annual Ball Salutes Local Legends May 11
The Detroit Historical Society welcomes the public to its Annual Ball May 11 at the Detroit Historical Museum, featuring ceremony honoring this year’s Detroit Legends — Huel Perkins, Mickey Redmond, and Greg Kelser — as they unveil their Legends Plaza handprints and signatures.
The evening begins with a VIP reception at 5:30 p.m., then craft cocktails with a strolling dinner and dessert reception throughout the museum, a silent auction, and various entertainment experiences including period actors bringing museum exhibits to life.
The Kresge Foundation also will be presented with the society’s Moving Forward Award.
During A Salute to the Legends evening, the new exhibit In the Neighborhood: Everyday Life on Hastings Street in collaboration with the Jewish Historical Society will be open to the public.
For more information and tickets, visit here.
National Coney Island Announces Partnership with Detroit Grand Prix, Driver Nolan Allaer
National Coney Island (NCI) in Roseville announced it has signed as the official signature sponsor of Detroit-born rising star driving Nolan Allaer and his No. 11 HMD Motorsports car for the Indy NXT series race at the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix, May 31-June 2, on the streets of downtown Detroit.
Allaer is the only Detroit-born driver racing in the Detroit Grand Prix. NCI brings 60 years of Michigan-made, family-owned, and delivered-fast food, a perfect complement to Allaer’s quest for speed on the streets of his hometown.
On May 17 from 4-6 p.m. race fans will have an opportunity to meet Allaer at the National Coney Island at 30140 Van Dyke Ave. in Warren. He will be signing autographs as well as displaying his National Coney Island-branded race car and passing out free merchandise including a special poster.
In addition to grabbing a coney or Hani, attendees will have a chance to win two tickets to the Detroit Grand Prix as well as NCI gifts.
Bollinger Motors In Oak Park Automates Warranty Operations with Syncron
Syncron, a Chicago-based provider of AI-based aftermarket and OEM after-sales software, announced Syncron Warranty has been selected by Bollinger Motors, an American electric commercial truck manufacturer based in Oak Park.
Bollinger Motors, which will launch the all-electric Bollinger B4 in the second half of 2024, identified the need for an end-to-end warranty lifecycle partner with deep automotive expertise to help streamline operations while offering industry-leading standards of customer experience.
Syncron stood out for its user-friendly, intuitive interface backed by simplified warranty registration, automation, and granular tracking. Compared to other potential partners, Bollinger Motors noted that Syncron was cost-effective and scalable to their growing business needs.
Syncron Warranty connects and enhances the entire warranty process, enabling businesses to process claims, track returns, and upsell new service plans on one platform while reducing costs and increasing revenue. With Syncron Warranty, Syncron customers have seen up to a 23 percent reduction in total warranty spend, a 30 percent reduction in claims processing time, and a 58 percent increase in supplier recovery.
For more information, visit here.
To learn more about Syncron Warranty, visit syncron.com/warranty
Farmington Hills’ Kyyba Achieves HITRUST CSF i1 Certification
Kyyba Tech Inc., a Farmington Hills provider of technology services, consulting, and talent solutions, has achieved the HITRUST CSF i1 Certification for four of its services.
They include:
- Amazon Web Services U.S. East Coast Region (Data Center) managed by Amazon Web Services located in Virginia.
- Amazon Web Services Elastic Compute (EC2 services) residing at Amazon Web Services U.S. East Coast Region.
- Amazon Web Services Relational Database Services (RDS) residing at Amazon Web Services U.S. East Coast Region.
- Active Directory residing at Amazon Web Services U.S. East Coast Region.
This certification underscores Kyyba’s dedication to safeguarding sensitive data in today’s complex digital landscape, the company says. The HITRUST CSF Certification is said to be the gold standard for information security adherence.
For more information about Kyyba, visit kyyba.com.
Athletes, Entrepreneurs, Investors Gather in Detroit During NFL Draft to Discuss Wealth
Tech entrepreneurs, active and former professional athletes, investors, and community leaders gathered last week in Detroit during the NFL Draft to discuss investing in local startups, connecting sports and tech communities, and building generational wealth while.
The event was led by the Michigan Economic Development Corp., Black Tech Saturdays, and former first-round pick Charles Harris, capitalizing on the national stage of the draft to shine a light on Detroit’s diverse tech ecosystem and Michigan’s strong STEAM talent.
The event featured a panel discussion, networking, and remarks by prominent figures including Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II.
Alexa Turnage, co-founder of Black Tech Saturdays, emphasized the importance of capturing this national moment for the city as an opportunity to bring more people to the table. Athletes are ambassadors of hope and opportunity in their communities, and they carry incredible influence. By working with organizations like Black Tech Saturdays and the MEDC, and having these important discussions, they are elevating incredible innovation happening in Detroit and breaking barriers for more athletes to do the same.
During the panel, Quentin L. Messer Jr., CEO of the MEDC, spoke to the opportunities athletes have to inspire economic development in Michigan and nationwide. Using a moment like the draft to gather and share ideas will fuel economic impact not only in Detroit, but throughout Michigan, Messer says.
Rite Aid Expands Partnership with Uber Eats to Deliver Alcohol in Michigan
Pennsylvania-based Rite Aid announced the expansion of its delivery partnership with Uber Eats to include alcohol in Michigan, California, Idaho, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Virginia, and Washington.
Nearly 1,000 select Rite Aid stores across the nation now are participating in the expanded delivery, allowing more customers to shop for a wide selection of alcohol brands and enjoy the convenience of delivery to their doorsteps within minutes.
Adults of legal drinking age in select markets can visit ubereats.com or download the Uber Eats app to shop a range of alcohol brands from Rite Aid where available.
U.S. HHS Invests $5M+ to Improve Maternal and Infant Health in Michigan
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), announced more than $5 million in funding to support five organizations working to improve maternal and infant health in Michigan.
Those organizations and the amount of money received include:
- Institute for Population Health Inc., Detroit, $1,008,333
- Genesee County, Flint, $997,416
- Corewell Health, Grand Rapids, $1,008,333
- Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners, Kalamazoo, $1,008,333
- Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan Inc., Sault Sainte Marie, $1,008,333
“At the Health Resources and Services Administration, we know that healthy babies begin with healthy moms,” says Carole Johnson, administrator of HRSA. “Through Healthy Start we support on-the-ground, community-based organizations who will work every day to help expecting and new moms get the health care and key supports — like transportation to prenatal care and food assistance — they need to have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies.”
Shinola Hotel Celebrates Five-year Anniversary with Dinner, New Brunch at San Morello
Shinola Hotel is celebrating its fifth anniversary with a special dinner at 6:30 on May 14 hosted by Chef Andrew Carmellini alongside Shinola Hotel’s Executive Chef and Managing Partner Cory Barberio.
The night will begin with welcome drinks and canapés in the Shinola Woodward store for a private shopping experience and exclusive perk. Dinner will feature a five-course dinner at San Morello where Carmellini and Barberio have curated a selection of all-time greatest hits from their past menu repertoire. Guests also will be invited to stay at the Shinola Hotel with an exclusive offer upon booking. Tickets are $250 and can be purchased here.
In addition, Shinola Hotel’s San Morello restaurant recently launched a new brunch menu, available Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. New brunch items include the Lox Pizza topped with smoked salmon, creme fraiche and fried capers; an Italian Benedict with potato roti, rosemary ham, spinach, tomato and hollandaise; Shrimp and Grits made with creamy polenta, pink shrimp, sausage, ragu and salsa verde; and the Piadina, an Italian flatbread sandwich made with prosciutto di parma, Stracciatella, and arugula.
Oxford Bank Rebrand Wealth and Advisory Services to Oxford Wealth Management,
Oxford Bank has rebranded its wealth and advisory services business from Oxford Financial Services to Oxford Wealth Management offered through Osaic Institutions.
The new name more clearly conveys the team’s specialized expertise and ongoing commitment to helping clients manage, grow, and preserve capital through personalized advisory services and customized wealth management strategies and solutions.
Oxford Wealth Management offers:
- Wealth planning
- Asset management
- Tax-advantaged investment strategies
- Estate planning review services
- Corporate 401 (k) Rollovers
- Required Minimum Distributions
Oxford Wealth Management is a member of Osaic Institutions (formerly Infinex Group), one of the nation’s largest networks of independent wealth management firms. Having recently announced its own rebranding it brings all eight of its wealth management firms together under the Osaic Institutions brand.
Feldman Automotive Group to Help Fulfill Need for Donations at Lighthouse
With the requests for assistance from Lighthouse in Pontiac at an all-time high and supplies at their food warehouse reaching critically low levels, Feldman Automotive Group Dealerships across southeast Michigan will become collection sites for anyone in the community to drop off non-perishable food donations during May.
This time of the year food donations are in higher demand to help support children during summer break to aid with breakfast and lunches, both crucial meals they usually receive only during the school year.
Dealership collection sites include:
- Feldman 1800 Pre-Owned Supercenter, Waterford Township
- Feldman Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Clarkston
- Feldman Jeep, Clarkston
- Feldman Kia, Novi
- Feldman Chevrolet of Livonia
- Feldman Ford of Detroit, Highland Township
- Genesis of New Hudson
- Feldman Chevrolet of New Hudson
- Feldman Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Woodhaven
Monetary donations also will be accepted online at My.LighthouseMI.org/Feldman.
Gesher Human Services Offers Free Women to Work Program Starting May 16
Gesher Human Services in Southfield will be offering its free four-week Women to Work program, beginning with an informational meeting on May 16 from 9-11 a.m. at its headquarters (29699 Southfield Road) in Southfield.
The program, which starts on May 21 and has sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m.-noon, also will offer participants the opportunity to learn basic computer skills in afternoon sessions, and these too will be free.
Women to Work is being offered as new data announced in April by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the US labor market remains robust with job creations in March topping expectations with an additional 303,000 nonfarm payrolls being added. While the new data shows unemployment has dipped to 3.8 percent, unemployment amongst ‘discouraged workers’ (those who have stopped looking for work because they cannot find suitable employment options or are not being shortlisted for jobs they have applied for) and people who hold part-time positions for economic reasons, remains steady at 7.3 percent.
During the program’s eight sessions, which run from May 21-June 18 (no classes on June 13), topics will include in-depth vocational assessment; help with networking, resume writing and interviewing; financial management advice; employment-related group counselling and emotional support; information and referrals to support services; and stress management.
For more information and to register for Women to Work contact Judy Richmond at 248-233- 4232 or email her at jrichmond@geshermi.org.
