DBusiness Daily Update: Lomas Brown, Huel Perkins Named Grand Marshals for America’s Thanksgiving Parade, and More

Our roundup of the latest news from metro Detroit and Michigan businesses as well as announcements from government agencies.
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Lomas Brown
Lomas Brown and Huel Perkins have been named grand marshals for this year’s America’s Thanksgiving Parade. // Photo courtesy of Lomas Brown/file photo

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.

Lomas Brown, Huel Perkins Named Grand Marshals for America’s Thanksgiving Parade

The Parade Co. has named Lomas Brown and Huel Perkins as grand marshals for this year’s America’s Thanksgiving Parade presented by Gardner White.

Brown currently is a color analyst for the Detroit Lions radio broadcast as well as a commentator and analyst for ESPN. He played 18 years in the NFL including 11 seasons with the Detroit Lions. He was part of the Super Bowl-winning Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2002 and is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.

Perkins is an Emmy Award-winning broadcast journalist and news anchor who spent 33 years at WJBK Fox 2 in Detroit, 25 of those years teamed with Monica Gayle as trusted and prominent co-anchors for the station in the evening news time slot. Perkins, who retired in 2022, has covered some of the biggest news stories in Detroit and beyond during his time at Fox 2.

“The role of grand marshal is about commitment to our wonderful city and giving back to make Detroit a better place, and I cannot think of two individuals who exemplify these ideals more than Lomas Brown and Huel Perkins,” says Tony Michaels, president and CEO of The Parade Co. “Both of these icons have been tireless supporters of Detroit, and we are thrilled they will be leading the festivities down Woodward on Thanksgiving morning.”

The Parade Co. also announced this year’s parade theme, “A Heart of History.”

Opus IVS Introduces Subaru Variant of Mongoose-Plus Line

Detroit-based intelligent vehicle support provider Opus IVS has launched the latest enhancement of the Mongoose-Plus series of J2534 OEM specific pass-thru devices with the addition of the Subaru variant.

The Mongoose solutions provide OEM dealers and independent auto repair facilities a low-cost option for J2534 pass-thru diagnostics and reprogramming. This newest Subaru version of Mongoose-Plus comes with the latest protocols needed to service the new model year vehicles. The device, when working with Subaru’s SSM3 and SSM4 software, can perform emissions reprogramming for 2004 to current vehicles, non-emissions programming from 2018, and OEM diagnostics for 2004 to current vehicles.

“The roots of Opus IVS come from our legacy as Drew Technologies providing essential diagnostic tools to automakers as the OEM VCI (Vehicle Communication Interface) for their car dealerships, and we’ve continued to bring the same advanced dealership capabilities also to the aftermarket repair shop,” says Brian Herron, CEO of Opus IVS.

“With the introduction of the Right to Repair OEM software subscription offerings, the Mongoose-Plus has become the go-to solution for single OEM J2534 capabilities. The Mongoose-Plus has been tested by OEMs and is in use at tens of thousands of vehicle dealerships as their essential diagnostic tool. Now the aftermarket shop can simply go to Amazon or their preferred tool supplier and get the same capabilities that are in the dealership for Subaru vehicles in addition to all our other models already available.”

MPE Partners Announces Investment in Mid-States Bolt & Screw Co.

MPE Partners in Cleveland have made an unspecified investment in Mid-States Bolt & Screw Co., a distributor of fasteners and MRO products serving a diverse range of end markets with seven branches throughout Michigan.

MPE’s investment positions Mid-States for accelerated growth while supporting the company as an industry leader, an employer of choice, and a strategic partner for its customers.

Molina Healthcare of Michigan Invests $4.5M to Improve Health Equity in State

Molina Healthcare of Michigan, in collaboration with The MolinaCares Accord, is launching the MolinaCares Michigan Health Equity Initiative, investing an initial $4.5 million in a multi-faceted, community-focused strategy to improve equity and health outcomes for underserved populations.

“With the commitment and partnership of community organizations, public health experts, local providers, and academics, this initiative aims to improve equity in health care access, safe living and care environments, housing, food security, and needs that must be met to improve quality of life,” says Terrisca Des Jardins, plan president for Molina Healthcare of Michigan. “Our goal is that this initiative will serve as a model for care that can be replicated throughout Michigan and beyond.”

Molina is committed to serving and improving health outcomes for all Michiganders by working with providers and community-based organizations to implement innovative collaborations that address health equity and the social determinants of health, with initial activities focusing on maternal and infant health, housing and environmental health, access to care for underserved individuals, and academic partnerships for equity solutions.

Molina also funded screening and virtual care equipment for Federally Qualified Health Centers to expand capacity for eye exams, monitor for health failure and abnormalities as well as create connections to specialists. In addition, Molina is developing new collaborative initiatives with the Michigan Primary Care Association and its member health centers to enhance needs assessments and provider and social care connections for Muskegon area members.

In partnership with Corktown Health, Michigan’s first medical home focused on serving the LGBTQ+ population, Molina is providing comprehensive training to providers on topics specific to the LGBTQ+ community and supporting the build-out of a trauma-informed health care environment.

Michigan Senate Votes to Increase Costs for State’s 7.2M Drivers

The Insurance Alliance of Michigan released the following statement after the Michigan Senate passed Senate Bills 530, 531 and 575, which will change the state’s auto no-fault law and increase costs for 7.2 million drivers.

“Michigan families and small businesses that have been struggling with the cost of everything going up will get another hit to their wallets if this legislation becomes law,” says Erin McDonough, executive director of the Insurance Alliance of Michigan. “While we urged caution and careful consideration to the consequences this legislation would have on Michigan’s 7.2 million drivers, the Senate today steamed ahead with a plan that could cost drivers at least $865 million and potentially over $1 billion every year. More than 2 million Michigan drivers have chosen personal injury protection coverage other than unlimited, which means the unchecked medical costs included in the Senate bills will eat away at those policies faster. We urge the Michigan House to slow down and consider these consequences more fully.”

Signed into law in 2019, the bipartisan reforms helped lower costs and saved Michiganders more than $5 billion. Additionally, more than 200,000 Michigan residents bought insurance, many of which were previously unable to afford it and more than 70 new companies have entered the Michigan market, creating competition and helping to drive down costs. More than 2 million Michigan drivers have selected a PIP level other than unlimited – and that number continues to increase since drivers were allowed to choose different levels of coverage to fit their needs.

Under the old auto no-fault system, hospitals could charge three, four, and even 10 times more for the same medical procedures, such as the medical provider who billed auto insurance $5,000 for an MRI, which would have cost 10 times less, at $500, through Medicare.

Athleta Opens at The Village of Rochester Hills

Athleta, a premium performance and lifestyle brand for women and girls, will host a grand opening celebration for customers at 3 p.m. on Oct. 27.

The new Athleta location will feature 2,700 square feet of dedicated retail space, showcasing the brand’s full selection of versatile, on-trend performance lifestyle product, including most-loved styles like the Salutation Stash Tight, Brooklyn Ankle Pant and Momentum Seamless Top. The location also will offer the brand’s popular Athleta Girl assortment and signature customer offerings like free alterations, Buy Online Pickup in Store services, and free personalized styling appointments.

Athleta joins its sister brand Banana Republic at the Village of Rochester Hills, as well as fitness studios YogaSix and [solidcore] at The Village. It is also the first of several new store openings at The Village this fall, which include an expanded Beautiphi Aesthetic Boutique, Detroit Barber Co., and two unannounced new eatery concepts.

Detroit Opera to Host Piano Sale Nov 2-4

Detroit Opera will host a piano sale at the Detroit Opera House in Detroit November 2-4. The event is open to the public by appointment only. More than 200 new and gently used pianos will be available for purchase.

Patrons wishing to attend sale must make an appointment here or by calling 248-756-6589.

A wide range of grand, upright, digital, hybrid, and Disklavier player pianos will be sold at significant discounts from their regular prices. Top-quality brands will include Yamaha, Bösendorfer, Clavinova, Baldwin, Schimmel, vintage Steinway, and more. Most pianos are younger than one year old, come with a new manufacturer warranty, and are tuned. Delivery and special financing will be offered at the sale. All pianos are sold at institutional prices not normally available in retail stores.

A new annual partnership with Solich Piano will allow the Detroit Opera to receive a free loan of new Yamaha pianos for the 2023-24 season. The new pianos will be used for Detroit Opera’s artist rehearsals, performances, and community events.

Robotic Precision Therapy Clinic in Troy to Honor Veterans During Nov. 10 Event

Robotic Precision Therapy Clinic (RPT Clinic), a pain management and sports performance clinic in Troy, announces a first-of-its-kind veterans event to salute and show appreciation for the men and women who have served our country.

In recognition of their sacrifice and dedication, RPT Clinic (3250 W. Big Beaver Road, Ste. Suite 426) will be offering a complimentary hour of Robotic Therapy to Veterans within the metro Detroit community, from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Nov. 10.

Veterans who would like to take part in this special event must sign up and schedule a time here.

Our Neighborhood Academy in Berkley to Host Open House Nov. 11

Our Neighborhood Academy (ONA), a fully accredited 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides life-skills programming for young adults with special needs, is conducting an open house from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 11 at its downtown Berkley location (3096 12 Mile Road).

The event will provides an opportunity for the public to explore the organization’s commitment to empowering young adults with special needs during their transition to independence. ONA’s doors will be open to anyone who has questions about programming or would like to sign up a family member. It will feature a special presentation at 2 p.m., highlighting the diverse program offerings available.

For more information, visit ourneighborhoodacademy.com.

Detroit Goodfellows Honor Nancy and Arn Tellem at Annual Tribute Breakfast

The Old Newsboys’ Goodfellow Fund of Detroit presented the Edward H. McNamara Goodfellow of the Year Award on Friday at its 33rd annual Tribute Breakfast to Nancy and Arn Tellem.

Nancy is executive chair of Eko and co-founder and CEO of BasBlue. Arn is vice chairman of the Detroit Pistons. The breakfast took place at Huntington Place in Detroit and was broadcast live on WJR-AM. Paul W. Smith, past Goodfellow of the Year honoree, served as emcee.

“As one of Detroit’s oldest organizations, we are honored to present Nancy and Arn Tellem, relatively new Detroiters, with the Goodfellow of the Year Award, for their important initiatives and support of children, women and the community in general,” says Beth Conley, president of the Detroit Goodfellows.

The event, created by former Wayne County Executive Edward H. McNamara, draws support from prominent Detroit and Michigan business and political leaders to raise funds to help Detroit Goodfellows in its mission to ensure “no kiddie without a Christmas.”