Our roundup of the latest news from metro Detroit and Michigan businesses as well as announcements from government agencies, including updates about the COVID-19 pandemic. To share a business or nonprofit story, please send us a message.
Hyzon Motors Sells Trucks to Subsidiary of German Motor Insurance Provider
Hyzon Motors Inc., a fuel cell electric vehicle company with operations in Troy, today announced it will supply its fuel cell electric trucks to Hylane GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of DEVK Versicherung, one of Germany’s largest motor insurers.
Hylane has purchased 18 Hyzon vehicles, with deliveries expected to begin in late 2022.
Under Hylane’s sustainable mobility model, fleet owners can deploy Hyzon vehicles in their operations through a rental agreement with Hylane. Further, it is expected that customers will only pay for the miles driven while Hylane plans to cover maintenance or downtime costs. Through this pay-per-use approach, Hylane expects to minimize the risk for customers while accelerating the rate at which zero-emission vehicles replace diesel.
Hylane has already confirmed rental contracts for the first vehicles and is in talks with numerous prominent transport companies interested in transitioning their fleets to zero-emission options. Germany is expected to be one of the major global markets for zero emission commercial vehicle technologies in the coming years.
Germany recently announced support for a total ban on sales of combustion engine cars from 2035, and there are already significant domestic incentives in place to transition heavy vehicles off diesel.
To support its focus on climate-friendly transport solutions, Hylane is aligning key elements within the value chain, including energy producers, refueling infrastructure providers, and government subsidy programs. Through the coordinated management of these resources, Hylane aims to provide sustainable and flexible mobility management to its customers.
“Hyzon’s singular mission is to decarbonize transport through zero-emission, hydrogen-powered vehicles,” says Craig Knight, co-founder and CEO of Hyzon. “Through Hylane’s sustainable mobility program, customers across Germany can experience first-hand the vehicle performance, driver satisfaction, and emissions reductions of Hyzon’s fuel cell electric trucks.”
“Hyzon recognizes that, as with any new technology, customers need the chance to utilize our fuel cell electric vehicle in their regular operations. From past experience, we are confident that once fleet owners have experienced our vehicles, they will be motivated to hasten their transition to zero-emissions. Having a strong partner in the German market has the opportunity to fuel significant long-term growth for Hyzon.”
Plante Moran Named to FORTUNE’s 100 Best Companies to Work For List
Plante Moran, an accounting, tax, consulting and wealth management firm in Troy, has been named to Fortune magazine’s list of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” for the 24th consecutive year. The firm ranked 30 on the list.
One of the nation’s largest certified public accounting and business advisory firms, Plante Moran says it takes a people-first environment that prioritizes work-life balance, mental health, diversity, equity, and inclusion – a formula it says has been especially important in attracting and retaining top talent in the current job market.
“We continue to see the benefits of investing in programs and policies that can be tailored to each staff member and give people the ability to grow personally and professionally,” says Jim Proppe, managing partner at Plante Moran. “We want to maintain and enhance our ‘whole person comes to work’ culture, especially during challenging times, to attract and retain best-in-class professionals who provide excellent service to our clients.”
To attract and retain talent in a job market where workers are increasingly calling for more flexibility and a supportive company culture, Plante Moran created and enhanced programs that reaffirmed its commitment to its staff’s well-being and performance.
While the firm has had workplace flexibility programs in place for decades, it enhanced these offerings last year to accommodate the changing needs of its staff, most notably through its Flexible Time Off and Workplace for Your Day policies. These policies allow staff to take time off as needed without having to bank time or worry about paid-time-off availability and choose the optimal working environment for the day based on their daily objectives and goals.
Plante Moran says its workplace culture is often its top recruiting and retention tool. From picking up the tab on food service delivery fees, shipping ice cream to staff members across the globe, to providing “thank you” bonuses to team members for their extraordinary efforts during the pandemic, the firm seeks to find new ways to show staff they’re appreciated and valued.
“In this job market, we know giving our team flexibility, independence and recognition for all the great work they do maximizes career satisfaction,” says Proppe. “Being recognized by FORTUNE as one of the top companies to work for affirms we’re doing right by our team and their families, which in turn, benefits our clients.”
84 Lumber to Fill Immediate Job Openings in Detroit Area with Hiring Event on April 14
84 Lumber, a privately held building materials supplier based in Eighty Four, Pa., is recruiting for 10 immediate openings at their new location in Commerce Township
Metro Detroit is the latest addition to the company’s U.S. footprint of stores as they continue to expand nationwide, and the organization is looking to fill positions for the new store to support a growing market. Interested job seekers can interview for open positions at a hiring event on April 14, 2022, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Detroit location at 4158 Pioneer Dr., Commerce Township.
“At 84 Lumber, we are on the leading edge of the ongoing rise in residential construction across the nation and are excited to support builders and help satisfy construction demands in the Detroit market,” says Phil Garuccio, divisional vice president at 84 Lumber.
“Greater demand for our products means a need for more motivated, dedicated employees who want to take advantage of the phenomenal growth opportunity in our industry. If you have a strong work ethic and are eager for something new, you could be the perfect fit for us.”
Hiring event attendees will participate in job interviews, learn more about 84 Lumber’s company culture, and get more details about signing bonuses being offered. Some attendees may receive a job offer on site. Open positions include:
- Manager trainees (MTs), who enter an intensive, one-on-one, on-the-job training program that teaches them about the company’s business and puts them on a path to become a future leader within the enterprise. Starting compensation for manager trainees is $40,000 to $45,000 per year. MTs also receive an $840 sign-on bonus.
- Forklift/yard associates. Applicants need no prior experience and perform essential functions behind the scenes — from the management of supply shipments to the operation of forklifts and other equipment. Starting pay is $15 per hour. These associates also receive an $840 sign-on bonus.
“As a family-owned company, 84 Lumber is committed to helping our employees build a long-term career with us. We are proud to say that 95 percent of our store managers started in our manager trainee program,” says Garuccio.
“We believe that a wide variety of candidates can find a home with the company and open doors for themselves – a person with no construction experience but a desire to learn, military veterans ready to open their next chapter, or someone simply ready to make a fresh start. We’ll give every one of them the tools to grow.”
Candidates interested in participating in the hiring event should pre-register online and complete the form. Registrants will then receive an email from 84 Lumber with the link to apply for the desired position. To save time, Garuccio strongly encourages candidates to apply for positions online before they attend the event.
On-site pre-employment drug screening will be available for applicants at the hiring event. Candidates who advance in the process will also be required to pass a background check prior to employment.
JobFairGiant.com Hosting Metro Detroit Career Expo April 28
JobFairGiant.com is hosting a Metro Detroit Career Expo from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Marriott Hotel (3600 Centerpointe Parkway) in Pontiac on April 28.
Employers can interview with job applicants registered to attend the career expo event in designated private interview areas for employers and job seekers or accept resumes and employment applications.
The event is open to employers and job seekers from Oakland, Macomb, and Wayne counties, Pontiac, and Flint.
Several job openings are available in Wayne County, the Ann Arbor and Flint areas, western Wayne County, Port Huron, Livingston County, Lansing, Macomb County, and Oakland County.
To register as an employer or job seeker, visit here.
Autistic Children Awareness Fundraiser Slated for April 30
Change the World for You, a nonprofit dedicated to creating awareness of children with autism, is conducting its inaugural black-tie fundraiser at 7 p.m. on April 30 at Regency Hall (25245 W. Seven Mile Road) in Detroit.
Oakland County resident Tiffany Jackson founded the organization when her daughter, Daijah, was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
In addition to awareness, dollars are necessary along with emotional guidance.
Additional information and tickets to the fundraiser are available here.
