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.
Hollywood Casino at Greektown Planning Charity Golf Outing Aug. 7
Hollywood Casino at Greektown is planning its 14th annual Charity Golf Outing for Aug. 7 at the Detroit Golf Club benefitting Bing Youth Institute, Latins Americans for Social and Economic Development Inc. (LA SED), and My Sistah’s Pink Journey.
Last year, the Charity Golf Outing was rained out, but still raised nearly $140,000 for three local charities.
Registration will begin at 9 a.m. with a 10 a.m. shotgun start. Dinner and live auction will follow at 4 p.m.
Multiple sponsorship opportunities are available. For additional information, email HCDTCharity@pennentertainment.com or call 313-477-8239.
Verizon Adding 600+ Jobs Nationwide, 15 in Metro Detroit
Verizon is adding more than 600 retail specialist roles across the country – including 15 in the greater Detroit metro area.
Retail positions that are open in this area as of this morning include three jobs in Southfield; two positions apiece in Allen Park and Royal Oak; and at least one role available in Auburn Hills, Brighton, Dearborn Heights, Northville, Troy, Utica, Warren, and Westland.
For more information about the available positions, visit here.
For more information about Verizon services, visit here.
Amerisure Deploys Guidewire Cloud to Enhance Claims Experience
Amerisure Insurance in Farmington Hills, a provider of commercial property and casualty insurance solutions for U.S.-based construction, manufacturing, and health care businesses, and Guidewire in California announced that Amerisure successfully deployed Guidewire ClaimCenter on Guidewire Cloud.
The deployment is designed to power Amerisure’s claims operations, adapt to changing market demands, and deliver value to its agency partners and policyholders. The company implemented ClaimCenter on Guidewire Cloud simultaneously across all lines of business. Guidewire PartnerConnect Consulting Global Premier member PwC led the implementation project.
“We have confidence in Guidewire’s cloud strategy and it was a major factor in our decision to migrate our Guidewire products to Guidewire Cloud,” says Amjed Al-Zoubi, chief information officer at Amerisure. “We’re pleased to see Guidewire’s ongoing execution of that strategy, from maintaining and building up Guidewire Cloud to the capabilities that are offered and the promise of regular updates.
“By utilizing ClaimCenter on Guidewire Cloud, we’re able to take advantage of quicker updates and stay current with Guidewire’s technology and innovations. Due to Guidewire’s modern DevOps practices, we are able to devote less time to system maintenance and use our IT resources more effectively.”
Wyandotte Public Schools Uses State Grant to Train 100 Teachers in Science of Reading
As of June 6, 100 Wyandotte Public School District K-5 teachers have been trained in a specialized literacy course from IMSE, an education pioneer and the leading provider of Structured Literacy Professional Development and Classroom Programs.
The course is based on Orton-Gillingham, which follows the Science of Reading and has helped educators in the district spark “remarkable” change in students’ literacy scores. Jessica Shipman, Wyandotte Public Schools General Ed Director of Curriculum and Instruction, and Literacy Coach Krissy Kobiljak, have been instrumental in implementing the training.
In 2016, with the introduction of Michigan’s Read by Grade Three Law, Shipman and administrators in her district began to push staff to refine an existing curriculum rooted in structured literacy, hiring literacy coaches and other supports to create individualized plans for students and implement assessments to better understand where students were at with their reading. Almost immediately, the district noticed a lack of phonemic awareness among many of its elementary students. Michigan’s MDE 35d funding gave Shipman the money to send the majority of the district’s educators to IMSE Orton Gillingham (OG) training on weekends and during the summer to offset student gaps in reading proficiency.
Shipman says she is striving to get as many educators in her district trained in IMSE’s OG as possible and hopes to increase student reading scores by 8 percent next year. Teachers feel empowered to take what they learned back to the classroom and put it into practice to see an immediate impact on students.
“Our teachers feel like they finally have the keys to the kingdom; they feel empowered to reach children and come up with solutions for those who need it most,” says Kobiljak.
Hyzon Motors Announces Milestone in Production of 200kW Single-stack Fuel Cell System
Hyzon Motors Inc., a hydrogen fuel cell technology developer and global supplier of zero-emission heavy-duty fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) with operations in Troy, today announced the completion and factory acceptance testing of the first nine single-stack 200kW Fuel Cell System (FCS) B-samples at its production and innovation center in Bolingbrook, Ill.
By achieving this milestone, Hyzon remains on track to declare Start of Production (SOP) and commercialization of its FCS in 2024.
The successful completion of testing of Hyzon’s nine 200kW FCS B-samples in the first half of 2023 demonstrates consistent progress toward commercial production. This achievement follows the commissioning of Hyzon’s proprietary, automated roll-to-roll Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) production line including in-line inspection and the installation of its single cell and fully automated fuel cell stack manufacturing lines.
Progression of the 200kW FCS B-samples validates the design, equipment, and operating procedures, which are all critical to the final tooling and production of C-samples and the eventual commercialization of the FCS. Additionally, we believe it shows growth in the company’s prototype assembly rate, with six of the B-samples produced and tested in Q2 2023, an increase from three in Q1 2023.
“Our goal is to accelerate the clean energy transition by providing hydrogen fuel cells to power zero-emission mobility,” says Parker Meeks, CEO of Hyzon. “In our view, this milestone reflects Hyzon’s years of leadership in developing hydrogen fuel cell technology, and this important step toward full-scale 200kW FCS production demonstrates exciting progress toward the commercialization of our single stack design.”
Hyzon sys its single-stack 200kW FCS provides significant advantages relative to current industry standards. While most FCEV suppliers achieve 200kW output by coupling two 110kW FCSs, Hyzon has developed proprietary material, design, and equipment engineering enabling 200kW output from a single stack.
For more information, visit HyzonMotors.com.
Michigan Women Forward Hosting ‘53 Voices’ Pitch Challenge
Michigan Women Forward in Detroit is hosting the “53 Voices” pitch challenge sponsored by Fifth Third Bank through 5 p.m. on July 27.
The challenge addresses income inequality through entrepreneurship by providing anyone with an idea access to the capital, training resources, and social connections needed to remove barriers, take an idea and turn it into a viable business.
Rather than relying exclusively on their ability to put pen to paper, applicants will be asked to submit audio business pitches. Each applicant has up to 53 seconds to verbally describe their idea or existing business for consideration.
“53 Voice’s is open to all individuals – even those without a background in business, higher education, or training. This supports Michigan Women Forward’s mission to expand economic opportunity for female entrepreneurs in the state.
Applications are open through Thursday, July 27 at 5 p.m. and must also include a one-page concept paper. Only women who currently live in the southeast Michigan are eligible to apply.
In the first round of the pitch challenge, a group of judges will review the concept papers and voice submissions to select the top 53 applicants. Finalists will receive $200 and be invited to three training workshops. Completion and attendance of all workshops are mandatory to progress in the challenge.
During round two, the judges will identify the top 10 finalists. Each contestant will submit a 53-second video to receive $750. The videos will be voted on by the community for the chance to win the first prize of $7,500. The second-place winner will receive $5,000 and the third-place winner will receive $2,500.
The winner of the challenge will be announced on Oct. 17 at an in-person event. For entry submission information, visit miwf.org.
Dean Transportation Hosting Daylong Hiring Event in Walled Lake July 13
Dean Transportation is hosting a hiring event in Walled Lake from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. on Thursday, July 13, for job seekers to learn about the company’s openings for school bus driver, attendant, and service technician positions for routes supporting Walled Lake Consolidated School District (WLCSD).
The event will take place at Walled Lake Consolidated School District headquarters (46740 W. Pontiac Trail) in Walled Lake.
Attendees will learn about Dean Transportation’s culture of care, compassion, as well as its comprehensive benefits, paid training, and flexible scheduling. For WLCSD positions, Dean is offering starting wages up to $25 per hour for school bus drivers, $20.10 per hour for school bus attendants, and competitive wages for service technicians based on certifications.
The event is free and open to all interested individuals with or without prior experience. Job seekers are encouraged to bring a valid driver’s license.
For more information, contact Keisha Boose at 517-319-8300, ext. 350, or visit deanjobs.com.
Michigan State Bar Recognizes Warner Law Firm for Pro Bono Contributions
The Detroit law firm of Warner Norcross + Judd has again been recognized by the State Bar of Michigan for its pro bono contributions.
The law firm and 16 attorneys were recognized in the 2023 A Lawyer Helps Pro Bono Honor Roll. The Honor Roll recognizes both firms and individual attorneys who support access-to-justice efforts by providing pro bono legal services to individuals and families who are low-income throughout Michigan.
Warner attorneys provide direct client representation, serve on boards for legal aid programs, engage in community legal education programs and advise nonprofit and low-income public interest groups. They have been particularly active working with Legal Aid of West Michigan and its expungement initiative, providing pro bono legal services to help qualifying individuals clear their criminal records of old convictions. In addition, the firm makes an annual financial contribution to the Access to Justice Fund.
City of Pontiac to Host State of the City Address July 27
The City of Pontiac is hosting Mayor Tim Greimel’s State of the City Address from 6-8 p.m. on July 27 at Pontiac City Hall (47450 Woodward Ave.)
The post event reception will feature a cash bar and light hors d’oeuvres.
Registration here is required for attendance and the deadline to do so is July 20.
D-MAN Foundation Seeks Sponsors for Dreams Come True on Woodward Event
Bloomfield Hills-based Danny’s Miracle Angel Network Foundation (D-MAN), a metro Detroit nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of those with disabilities, is seeking sponsors for its 11th annual Dreams Come True on Woodward event taking place Aug. 18.
This initiative grants people living with disabilities the opportunity to experience cruising down Woodward Avenue in a convertible, providing a liberating and transformative experience for participants.
Dreams Come True on Woodward has become an annual tradition that brings joy, freedom, and a sense of adventure to individuals who typically rely on wheelchairs for mobility.
Sponsors for the event will be recognized as partners. For more information on sponsorship and participation, visit here.
