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 Writer/Director John Rosman Returns to Hometown Thriller ‘New Life’
Los Angeles-based filmmaker and Birmingham native John Rosman is set to debut his new feature film “New Life” nationwide, with a special stop at the Birmingham 8, Presented by Emagine, located at 211 S Old Woodward Ave. in downtown Birmingham.
Rosman’s directorial debut, which unfolds throughout the first two weeks of May at the Birmingham 8, will feature a live Q&A session following the 7 p.m. screening on May 9.
“New Life” promises a fresh take on horror, offering an exploration of mortality that challenges traditional genre conventions. The film follows the story of a mysterious woman on the run (Hayley Erin) and the resourceful fixer assigned to bring her in (Sonya Walger). As their two stories inexorably link, the stakes of their pursuit rise to apocalyptic proportions.
A 2005 graduate of Seaholm High School in Birmingham, Rosman grew up going to the Birmingham 8.
“It’s where I fell in love with movies,” he says. “It’s where I first saw ‘Star Wars,’ had my first (group) date to ‘Titanic,’ and saw ‘Outbreak,’ whose movie theater contagion scene would later inspire this very film.”
Distributed by Brainstorm Media, “New Life” already has generated significant buzz and acclaim since its world premiere at the 2023 Fantasia International Film Festival. The film has been shown at captivated audiences at FrightFest London, Overlook Film Festival, Panic Fest, Florida Film Festival, Santa Fe Independent Film Festival, and the Heartland International Film Festival, where it received the esteemed 2023 Audience Choice Award.
To see a trailer for the film, visit here.
UWM in Pontiac Offers Career Head Start for High Schoolers Tonight
United Wholesale Mortgage in Pontiac is hosting an educational session and job fair from 5-7 p.m. tonight to teach those not planning to attend or ready for college about the mortgage industry.
UWM also will be highlighting potential job opportunities for soon-to-be-graduates looking to start their careers.
This event can offer a valuable head start into the real world and open doors for a promising future, according to UWM. Additionally, the event offers an outlet to explore the shifting perceptions around higher education and how leading companies are preparing to meet the expectations of the next generation.
Michigan Businesses Share Energy Efficiency Expertise Tuesday in Novi
DTE Energy and The Engineering Society of Detroit are co-hosting the Michigan Energy Efficiency Conference and Exhibition from 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. tomorrow at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi. There will be complimentary parking in the Diamond Center lot.
The 25th edition of the conference is designed to educate small to large commercial and industrial businesses on technology, products, and services for successful energy management.
The conference agenda includes presentations from Michigan businesses, an exhibition of services and products, luncheon keynote: Energizing Tomorrow: Exploring the Past, Present, and Future of Energy and awards recognizing companies that have made the most effective contributions towards energy efficiency.
For more information, visit here.
Detroit Students to Build and Race Model Hydrogen Cars May 10
About 70 middle-school-age students from Henderson Academy will go to the Michigan Engineering Zone (MEZ) in Detroit from 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. May 10 to build and race hydrogen model cars.
The aim is to build familiarity with hydrogen technology and engineering concepts — and get students thinking about careers in clean energy technologies.
The students will use tiny electrolyzers powered by AA batteries to split water and fill hydrogen cells about the size and shape of a C battery. Those cells feed a fuel cell about the size of a deck of cards, converting the hydrogen back into water and powering an electric motor.
To make the racing more interesting, the students will have different options for the gear on the motor and the gear on the drive wheel, enabling them to optimize the gear combination for speed.
Henderson Academy teaches pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. About 89 percent of the students are considered economically disadvantaged.
Meijer Enhances Military Leave Benefits for Team Members
Grand Rapids-based Meijer has announced enhancements to its military leave benefits for active-duty team members on military leave to make the transition from employment to deployment as smooth as possible.
The improvements prioritize team members’ financial stability and well-being, reflecting the retailer’s commitment to supporting those who serve.
Effective this month, Meijer is making two impactful changes:
Increased Differential Pay: Meijer will now offer 100 percent income replacement for up to nine months for deployed military members who have been with the company at least one year. Those with less than one year will receive the same percentage of assistance for up to three months. This benefit can be utilized multiple times throughout a team member’s career with no maximum limit.
Extended Health Care Coverage: Meijer will extend team members’ health benefits for up to nine months after they leave for active duty to help alleviate the stress of deployment.
JR Automation in Holland Unveils Updated Branding
JR Automation, a Holland-based wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi Ltd., has unveiled a new brand strategy that is more aligned with the values and capabilities that differentiate the company, while further positioning it for growth as the market continues to rapidly evolve.
As a Hitachi Group Co., JR Automation’s customers now have access to a global network of industrial, technical, and digital expertise to help advance their operations to compete. The new brand messaging focuses on highlighting their talented global team, emphasizing co-creation and partnership with their customers, and leverages the company’s diverse experience.
Detroit-based Bankjoy Hosts Largest Client Conference Yet at Elevate 2024 in California
Detroit’s Bankjoy hosted its client conference at Elevate 2024, which took place April 17-19 in Napa, Calif. at the Silverado Resort.
Executives from financial institutions across the U.S., including banks and credit unions of various sizes, as well as neobanks and several of Bankjoy’s fintech partners, participated in the event to network, collaborate and learn about the latest trends shaping financial services.
Elevate 2024 provided bank and credit union leaders an opportunity to network with fellow Bankjoy clients and peers, get a first-hand look at the company’s newest product innovations, and more.
This year’s event featured Mark Weber, CEO of Strum as the opening keynote speaker, where he revealed proven best practices for driving deposit growth in the current economic environment and the increasingly important role that personalization plays in growing wallet share with customers and members.
Detroit Riverfront Conservancy to Host Shimmer on the River at Valade Park June 10
The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy is kicking off summer early this year with a riverfront beach party at Shimmer on the River, the nonprofit’s largest annual fundraiser from 5-9 p.m. June 10 at Robert C. Valade Park.
Shimmer on the River will provide guests with an unforgettable evening of all-ages fun, featuring live musical entertainment, the Riverfront Boardwalk lined with summer activities, a family-friendly Adventure Park, a kids dance party and karaoke, a strolling dinner from Detroit’s favorite food trucks, the presentation of the Shimmer Awards and more. Valade Park is located at 2670 Atwater St. along the east Riverfront in downtown Detroit.
Main event tickets to Shimmer are $150 each and include access to the main event from 6-9 p.m., a strolling dinner and refreshments, live entertainment, prizes, games, and free admission for up to two children 12 and under.
VIP tickets to Shimmer are $250 each and include access to an exclusive VIP reception and Shimmer award ceremony from 5-6 p.m., plus all Main Event benefits. During the VIP reception, the conservancy will celebrate the Shimmer Award honorees. This year’s honorees include Vivian Day and John Stroh, III along with Robert Alan Davis.
To purchase tickets or sponsorships, visit detroitriverfront.org/Shimmer.
May 23 Butzel Webinar to Focus on Reinventing Manufacturing with Generative AI
As part of its continuing AI Institute series, Butzel will next explore how generative AI is redefining manufacturing during a free webinar from 1-2 p.m. on May 23.
From creative design to efficient supply chain management, Butzel attorneys will explore available AI tools while addressing pivotal concerns that need to be on your radar when evaluating this new technology for possible adoption.
The program is crafted to equip industry frontrunners and corporate leaders with in-depth insights and actionable knowledge on generative AI’s burgeoning landscape.
Featured speakers include the following Butzel attorneys:
- Angela Shapiro is a litigation attorney with extensive experience in all aspects of commercial litigation, with a strong focus on AI and Electronic Discovery (“E-Discovery”).
- Mitchell Zajac concentrates his practice on automotive, intellectual property, regulatory and emissions compliance, and international trade law. He also is a registered patent attorney with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
To register online, visit here.
Cranbrook House & Gardens Announces 52nd Annual Spring Plant Sale
Cranbrook House & Gardens in Bloomfield Hills announced its 52nd Annual Spring Plant Sale will take place May 17 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and May 18 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
The public is invited to shop for plants native to Michigan; perennials, herbs, and fairy garden plants; tropical houseplants, gardening items, and more. This sale is the largest fundraiser supporting the preservation of Cranbrook House & Gardens, a National Historic Landmark.
Cranbrook House & Gardens is located at 380 Lone Pine Road in Bloomfield Hills. Visitors are encouraged to bring wagons to transport their purchases from the Plant Sale area to their vehicles.
For more information on the Spring Plant Sale, including details on accessibility, visit here.
Washtenaw Community College, Central State University Sign HBCU Transfer Partnership
Representatives from Central State University (CSU) in Ohio has signed a partnership to officially join the HBCU Pathway program offered to Washtenaw Community College (WCC) transfer students.
The partnership was made official during WCC’s second annual HBCU Day, during which more than 400 high school students visited the campus to learn about the pathway that helps students easily transfer to one of the nation’s Historically Black Colleges & Universities.
WCC now is partnered with seven HBCUs throughout the country, with most offering guaranteed admission, in-state tuition, priority housing consideration, ease of credit transfers, scholarship access, advising and many other support services.
WCC’s HBCU Pathway partners are:
- Alabama A&M
- Alabama State University
- Central State University (Ohio)
- Tuskegee University (Alabama)
- Jackson State University (Mississippi)
- Mississippi Valley State University
- Southern University – New Orleans (Louisiana)
