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.
New Hybrid OR, Larger Surgical Suites Open at Corewell Health’s Grosse Pointe Hospital
Eight expanded and renovated surgical suites and a new, state-of-the-art hybrid operating room are online after a multi-year construction project at Corewell Health’s Beaumont Hospital, Grosse Pointe.
“This project provides the most advanced technology and efficient spaces for our teams to care for the community’s health needs,” says Dr. Timothy C. Lyons, president of the hospital. The project revamped nine existing operating rooms, which went fully back online in January.
The centerpiece is a hybrid surgical suite, a 1,084-square-foot procedure area in which either minimally invasive or traditional surgery can take place. The larger suite is equipped with advanced imaging devices such as C-arms, CT scanners, and MRI scanners used in more complex orthopedic, vascular, and neurology procedures.
The project also increased the size of the remaining eight surgical suites by one-third, to an average of 600 square feet. Lyons says the increased size and new equipment:
- Allows easier and more efficient staff movement during procedures.
- Accommodates more equipment configurations to adapt to different types of procedures.
- Improves access to the patient.
The project also created an upgraded, standalone cystoscopy room equipped to perform urologic procedures like removing kidney stones. Additionally, the area’s electrical infrastructure was updated to meet equipment demands, and storage capacity was increased to allow easy access to necessary equipment as well as specialty equipment.
“These upgrades help a great team be even better,” says Dr. Philip Shalhoub, the facility’s medical director of surgery. “The community support for this project has been incredible, which we truly appreciate as we take care of our families and friends in the Grosse Pointe area and beyond.”
Telemetry Public Relations in Novi Expands into Heavy-duty Trucking Industry
Telemetry Public Relations, an integrated communications agency based in Novi, announced today the launch of telemetryTRANSMIT HD, a new service aimed at helping the heavy-duty trucking industry develop compelling branded content.
As a subdivision of telemetryTRANSMIT, Telemetry’s branded content division, telemetryTRANSMIT HD, is designed to provide heavy-duty trucking companies with a single service-resource to assist in crafting engaging content that resonates with their target audience, from content ideation through execution.
“We are excited to offer this new content creation service to the heavy-duty trucking industry,” says Craig Daitch, president of Telemetry Public Relations. “Our telemetryTRANSMIT division has a strong background in writing for the automotive industry, and we believe this expertise translates well to writing for heavy duty trucks. We understand the unique challenges and opportunities that heavy duty trucking companies face, and we are committed to helping them communicate their message in a way that resonates with their audience.”
Daitch notes that the heavy trucking industry is projected to see a 26 percent growth by 2030, according to data from the American Trucking Association.
Team Schostak Family Restaurants One of Nation’s Top Workplaces
Team Schostak Family Restaurants (TSFR) in Livonia has been recognized as a Top Workplaces USA national award winner for the second consecutive year.
The Top Workplaces USA award celebrates nationally recognized companies that make the world a better place to work together by prioritizing a people-centered culture and giving employees a voice. The award is based entirely on feedback from an employee engagement survey completed by the employees of participating workplaces. The survey measures 24 factors in seven categories, including company leadership, communication, career opportunities, cultural environment, managerial skills, pay and benefits.
TSFR, which employs more than 6,500 employees throughout Michigan, ranked 26th out of 100 recognized companies in the large business category, which compares employers with more than 2,500 employees. Over 40,000 organizations of varying sizes were considered for the Top Workplaces rankings.
“We are celebrating our second year of recognition on a national scale as an acknowledgement of the diligent work and intention that has gone into creating an environment where our employees can thrive, despite the challenges that have faced our industry in recent years,” says Mark Schostak, executive chairman of TSFR. “I’m grateful to our people who show their commitment to leading the way and their dedication to our core values — delighting our guests, serving our community, acting with integrity and achieving impactful results.”
To learn about careers at Team Schostak, visit here.
Detroit Wing Co. Hatches First Chicken Sandwich
Eastpointe-based Detroit Wing Co. (DWC) has unveiled two all-new chicken sandwiches, with these being the brand’s first menu items to compete in the fast casual sandwich arena.
The two sandwiches, Classic and Honey Butter Hot, feature a 4-ounce hand-battered and crispy fried chicken breast, mayo, dill pickles, and a variety of proprietary spices and seasonings, all on a fresh and hearty potato bun, with the Honey Butter Hot sandwich coated in a unique honey butter hot rub.
The sandwiches were in development for more than a year as DWC corporate chef Aaron Cozadd worked with DWC’s culinary team and secretly taste-tested recipes with a number of its top customers to get the flavor combinations just right, using dry rubs as opposed to sauces.
“After initially teasing the idea of offering a chicken sandwich, the anticipation from our customers was palpable,” says Cozadd. “We worked in secret with some of our most loyal guests to develop the flavors using premium ingredients to create a top-quality chicken sandwich at a great price.”
Both chicken sandwiches will be available at all DWC locations in Michigan, Ohio and Florida starting Wednesday, March 8, for $7.95 each. As the chicken breasts are hand-battered daily, the sandwiches are available each day until they sell-out, which remains true to DWC’s mantra that all menu items be fresh and made from scratch every day.
“Quality and consistency aren’t just buzzwords; they’re the foundation for everything we do in the kitchen,” says Gus Malliaras, founder of Detroit Wing Co. “From the freshness of our ingredients to the precision of our cooking techniques, every detail matters when it comes to creating the best possible experience for our customers, and that includes making the best chicken sandwich available — and we did it.”
For more information, visit detroitwingco.com.
Mad Nice in Detroit to Open for Dinner March 12
Mad Nice in Detroit, the latest concept by Heirloom Hospitality Group, will open March 12 for dinner and March 15 for lunch.
Mad Nice is located at 4120 2nd Ave. and will be open for lunch from 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Wednesday-Friday and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Dinner Hours will be from 4-10 p.m. on Mondays, 4-11 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday and Sunday, and 4 p.m.-midnight Friday and Saturday.
For more information, visit madnicedetroit.com.
Egyptian Consul Visits Lawrence Tech, Talks Future Partnerships
Last week, Consulate General of Egypt in Chicago Sameh Aboul-Enein visited Lawrence Technological University in Southfield.
During his daylong stay, Aboul-Enein and Tarek M. Sobh, America’s first Egyptian-American college president, explored potential avenues of collaboration between LTU and higher education in Egypt, and the possible opening of a branch campus in Egypt.
Aboul-Enein also met LTU faculty members and explored the University’s extensive research and development centers and laboratories, visiting LTU’s College of Engineering and other areas of campus.
“We are grateful to the Egyptian consulate for the honor of this visit, and we look forward to future partnerships between LTU and Egypt,” Sobh says. “Lawrence Tech has had a global perspective for decades, hosting international students from all corners of the world, and we hope to see greater representation in the future from Egypt and other African and Middle Eastern nations.”
Megabus Now Selling Tickets Between Detroit and Toronto
Megabus, based in Elizabeth, N.J., now is selling tickets between Detroit and Toronto for the first time as part of a recent partnership with Trailways of New York.
This partnership expansion will allow for two trips daily between Detroit and Toronto along with stops in Windsor, Chatham, London, and Paris, Ontario.
“We are pleased to be able to leverage our partnership with Trailways of New York to expand our service,” says Colin Emberson, vice president commercial at Megabus. “Offering cross-border service between Detroit and Toronto is a new and exciting opportunity for Megabus that will allow for several new travel options for our customers this spring.”
Schedules are available and tickets can be purchased today here for travel beginning on April 5. https://us.megabus.com/
Detroit Pistons Announce Pistons Academy Summer Camp Schedule
Registration is open for the Pistons Academy youth basketball camps presented by Children’s Foundation. Camps begin June 12 at Detroit Country Day High School in Beverly Hills and registration is available at pistonacademy.com.
The Pistons Academy camp tour will visit 17 metro Detroit locations, highlighted by a July 10-14camp at the Henry Ford Pistons Performance Center where the Detroit Pistons practice and train. Additionally, Pistons Academy announced the newest of the premier fantasy camps in Grand Rapids, the United Wholesale Mortgage Facility in Pontiac, and in Saline.
“We are excited to present another summer full of Pistons Academy camps throughout the metro Detroit region,” says Aaron Smith, the team’s director of youth engagement and development. “We look forward to making lasting memories on the court with all of our campers by creating a fun, dynamic atmosphere behind professional basketball instruction and skill development.”
Pistons Academy campers receive NBA-level instruction and individual skill development in an atmosphere that promotes increased passion for the game. Three and five-day camp sessions are available for girls and boys entering grades 3-9 and range from $95-$295 per camp.
Each day consists of professional instruction and innovative skill development during the morning hours followed by full-court games and contests in the afternoon. All youngsters participating will receive an exclusive Pistons reversible jersey, visits by Detroit Pistons’ personalities, and two complimentary tickets to a 2023-24 Detroit Pistons home game at Little Caesars Arena. All campers will have an opportunity to win awards at the completion of each camp day.
For more information, visit here.
Mariners Church of Detroit to Celebrate Annual Blessing of the Fleet March 12
Mariners Church of Detroit, the historic 181-year-old “mariners cathedral” on West Jefferson Avenue, will celebrate its 59th annual Blessing of the Fleet service at 11 a.m. on Sunday, March 12.
The annual ceremony, to be conducted by Mariners’ Deacon Frank Bateman, is a tradition that signals the launch of what is hoped to be a safe and successful seafaring season for professional and recreational boaters across the Great Lakes. Mariners is a house of prayer for all people and invites boaters to bring their burgees, colors, and pennants and to receive a special blessing for themselves, their boats, crews, and passengers during the coming season.
This years’ service will also be livestreamed on YouTube making it more accessible to professional and recreational boaters from across the Midwest.
The Mariners’ professional choir, led by Kenneth Sweetman and accompanied by Kevin Bylsma on the church’s 78-rank 4,100-pipe organ, will be featured during the service, which will include the reading of the names and remembrance for the 55 Great Lakes seafarers who perished in 2022. Those lost also will be remembered by the tolling of the Octorara Bell, the largest bronze bell ever cast for a Great Lakes ship. The Octorara Bell, from a Great Lakes ship of the same name, now serves the singular role of honoring fallen seamen. Octorara is an Iroquois word meaning “long remembered.”
“The Blessing of the Fleet is a joyful occasion where we focus our thoughts and prayers on the safety and success of the coming boating season on all the Great Lakes,” says Bateman. “But it’s also a time to reflect on those we’ve lost on the lakes. The lakes are such a blessing, especially to those of us who live nearby, but they can be treacherous, too. We can never forget that.”
Part of the service will be the awarding of the annual Captain Ludington award commemorating the work of the International Shipmasters Association to two longtime Great Lake sailors: Captain Mark Mathers and Captain Kenneth Gerasimos.
Captain Mathers, vice president of the Great Lakes Captains Association, graduated with honors from the Great Lakes Maritime Academy and later graduated summa cum laude from Ferris State University. During his career, Captain Mathers served on fishing boats, tugboats and freighters and retired as operations manager at Pere Marquette Shipping Co.
Captain Gerasimos, General Manager for Key Lakes/Great Lakes Fleet, started his career with the Ford Motor Company Fleet where he served on all five ships in the fleet. He later worked with MARAD in crewing 31 Ready Reserve Vessels that went to the 1990 Persian Gulf for Operation Desert Storm. He has been in his current general manager role since 2017.
Mike Morse Law Firm Unveils $1M Morse Madness College Basketball Challenge
The Mike Morse Law Firm in Southfield is sponsoring an NCAA college basketball tournament contest there a perfectly predicted bracket earns a $1 million top prize.
Prizes of $25,000 will be awarded to anyone who can correctly predict at least 60 games.
An overnight stay at Hollywood Casino at Greektown, plus food and beverage credit and $300 spending money, will be awarded to the contestant who scores the most points overall, and even the last place contestant will win a $100 Visa gift card.
For the first 2,000 participants, $1 will be donated to the Detroit Police Athletic League to support youth sports in Detroit.
For more information and to enter, visit here.
Great Wolf Lodge Launches Spring Breakout Celebration
Great Wolf Lodge in Traverse City will host a variety of spring-themed activities until April 30 to help families escape the rainy and chilly outdoor temperatures.
The Spring Breakout at Great Wolf Lodge includes springtime crafts and stories, flowery new games, a “spring inspired” dance party, and more to reenergize the family between splash sessions in the water park.
“Spring is a season of excitement for many families who have been cooped up at home during the colder winter months,” says Brooke Patterson, chief marketing officer at Great Wolf Resorts “Our pack celebrates the release of that pent-up energy with playful events and activities that give families freedom to get out and shake off the winter blues. Our Spring Breakout celebration offers another way for families to strengthen their pack and spend time together with our new and elevated seasonal experiences.”
For more information on the activities and events offered at the lodge during Spring Breakout, visit greatwolf.com.
