DBusiness Daily Update: Detroit’s Rebel Nell Partners with Michigan Humane on Pet Tags, and More

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.
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Rebel Nell has launched a specially designed pet tag in partnership with Michigan Humane. // Courtesy of Rebel Nell
Rebel Nell has launched a specially designed pet tag in partnership with Michigan Humane. // Courtesy of Rebel Nell

Detroit’s Rebel Nell Partners with Michigan Humane on Pet Tags

Rebel Nell, the Detroit-based jewelry enterprise, has launched a specially designed pet tag in partnership with Michigan Humane.

The tags feature the signature colorful graffiti of Rebel Nell on one side with the pet’s name engraved on the back.

“Rebel Nell shares with us a passion for animals and this partnership is a wonderful way to celebrate that shared passion,” says Matt Pepper, president and CEO of Michigan Humane.

Rebel Nell and Michigan Humane hosted an onsite engraving event Thursday evening to celebrate the launch.

In addition, the tags are available at RebelNell.com, and in its retail locations.  A donation of 5 percent of the tag’s cost will be donated to Michigan Humane, with a goal of raising $5,000 over the course of the year.

“Most of us at Rebel Nell are pet owners so we almost felt compelled to partner with Michigan Humane,” says Amy Peterson, co-founder and CEO of Rebel Nell. “We realize how important pets can be to our overall well-being and even have a shop dog, Dior, who makes our lives a little better each day.”

Mike Ilitch School of Business to Host 8th Elevator Pitch Competition Oct. 28 at RenCen

Wayne State University undergraduate business students will head to Detroit’s Renaissance Center Oct. 28 to vie for $1,750 in scholarship money as they compete in the eighth annual Mike Ilitch School of Business Elevator Pitch Competition.

During a ride to the top of city’s tallest and most iconic elevator, students will practice their opening lines on Detroit executives.

The students will have roughly 80 seconds during their 72-story ride to summarize who they are, what they know and what they want to do. During the semifinals and final-round judging, executives from Ally, the Detroit Pistons, Eli Lilly, Enterprise, General Motors Co., Google, Ilitch Holdings, Lear, Plante Moran, Rocket Companies, and UBS Financial will evaluate students on their ability to sell themselves and present a positive, professional-first impression.

Three winners will receive scholarships of $1,000, $500 or $250.

Beginning at 9:30 a.m., each student will have two rides on the elevator with two different judges. The top five students after the elevator rounds will pitch all judges in a boardroom setting. Prizes will be awarded around 12:30 p.m.

The event is sponsored by the Mike Ilitch School of Business Alumni Council. Highlights of past events can be seen here.

New Episode of ‘Unpack Your Financial Baggage’ Podcast Available

The newest episode of the “Unpack Your Financial Baggage” podcast — featuring Lou Melone of Melone Private Wealth and R.J. King, editor of DBusiness magazine — is now available here.

The new episode, titled “How to Choose a Financial Advisor,” addresses the four criteria everyone should consider when choosing a financial advisor: team, firm type, planning strategy, and compensation model.

“There is a lot of anxiety for anyone looking for a financial planner,” says King, who also is editor of DBusiness Daily News, Tech and Mobility News, Detroit 500, and Michigan Makers.

“The anxiety can stem from: fear of selecting the wrong person, not knowing the types of credentials people have, the financial world’s endless supply of buzzwords, the sheer volume of choices, everyone around them ‘knowing someone,’ guarantees from so many people, the current economy and the list just seems to go on and on. This podcast can serve to alleviate the anxiety and provide a blueprint to selecting a financial advisor.”

The discussion includes topics such as client vs. customer, the quantitative value of a financial advisor, the fiduciary standard some advisors adhere to, the different credentials advisors have, a list of 10 questions to ask a potential financial advisor, and more.

After listening to this podcast an individual should have a thorough understanding of the criteria, the questions to ask, and an understanding how the financial industry works. The listener should be able to conduct a search for a financial advisor who fits their needs.

“Perhaps one of the most important decisions anyone can make for their future is who creates their financial plan,” Melone says. “Your retirement, family planning, and legacy should be managed by someone you trust. This podcast gives you the criteria to evaluate advisors and to find a trusted financial advisor.”

The next episode will review the financial planning topic “Building the Portfolio for Retirement to Match Your Plan” and “How to Take Withdrawals So Your Money Outlives You.”

Forgotten Harvest’s 2022 Holiday Card Collection Available Now

Forgotten Harvest in Oak Park has released its 2022 holiday card collection, sponsored by Tom and Carol Cracchiolo. Forgotten Harvest holiday card sales aim to fight food insecurity in metro Detroit, with proceeds supporting the organization’s mission to relieve hunger and prevent nutritious food waste.

This year, Forgotten Harvest is offering 12 different card options to choose from, including three new designs. Cards include Circles of Snow, Christmas Snowflake, Michigan Love, Orange Tree, Candy Canes, Evergreen Branches, Hanukkah, Happy Healthy Christmas, Old Fashioned Truck, Holiday Ornament, Kwanzaa, and Winter Wonderland.

Standard holiday cards and accompanying envelopes are available in packs of 25 for a donation of $25 per pack. There also is an option to personalize cards with a pre-created or custom message for an additional $5 per pack. Corporate partners have the option to add brand logos to the cards. Special tribute cards also are available for a donation of $5 each, which can be inserted into a holiday card as a wonderful gift.

While Forgotten Harvest provides healthy meals to metro Detroiters all year long, the holidays may be especially challenging to families experiencing food insecurity. Through this initiative, the holiday cards work to fight hunger by providing $175 worth of groceries per card pack. In 2021, card sales helped Forgotten Harvest provide over 120,500 meals to people facing food insecurity in metro Detroit.

Holiday card packages and tribute cards are available online on Forgotten Harvest’s website.

USA Hockey Warrior Classic to Bring 500+ Disabled Veterans to the Area

The Motor City Veterans Hockey Association (MCVHA) in partnership with USA Hockey and the Gary Sinise Foundation will host the 2022 USA Hockey Warrior Classic hockey tournament Oct. 28-30 at the Buffalo Wild Wings arena (formerly the Troy Sports Center).

The tournament, which will feature more than 500 disabled veterans from across the nation, includes 34 teams in eight divisions.

The event also includes a Warrior All-Star team playing against the Detroit Red Wings Alumni Association team at 7 p.m. on Oct 28. The Warrior All-Star team will include players from across the country, nominated and selected by their home programs to represent their teams.

“We are deeply focused on making this event a success, but more importantly, we’re excited for future programming opportunities that will leave a lasting and positive impact with Veterans and their families,” says Mike Palmer, president and general manager of Motor City Veterans Hockey.

This tournament is run annually by USA Hockey, and hosted on a rotating basis across the country. It is considered one of the premiere hockey tournaments of the USA Hockey Warrior Division.

“Our commitment to supporting USA Hockey and the Warrior Discipline made metro Detroit a natural choice for this year’s venue,” Palmer says.

The Motor City Veterans Hockey Association is a nonprofit organization that provides veterans and their families opportunities for recreational therapy and camaraderie through hockey.