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.
One Michigan Kid Can Win an Exclusive Thanksgiving Experience
One Michigan kid will be a Thanksgiving Day star courtesy of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and the Detroit Lions.
The #MIKidsCan Turkey Day VIP Sweepstakes is open to enter now through Nov. 10 for Michigan children in grades 1-10. The winner and their parents or guardians will ride on Blue Cross’ float down Woodward Avenue during America’s Thanksgiving Parade presented by Gardner White, then deliver the commemorative game ball on-field at the 84th annual Thanksgiving Day game at Ford Field.
The winner will be joined at the game by nine guests — allowing their family to enjoy one of Detroit’s premier Thanksgiving traditions together while cheering on the Detroit Lions.
As part of the sweepstakes entry, fans are asked to share how they will get active for 60 minutes on Thanksgiving Day. Eligible children and families can enter here.
The winner will be randomly selected by the Detroit Lions and announced prior to the game. As part of their prize package, they will receive:
- Participation for the winner and their parents to be part of the BCBSM parade float, carrying the Detroit Lions Thanksgiving Day commemorative game ball.
- A custom jersey.
- A commemorative football.
- Participation in the fan tunnel experience prior to the Thanksgiving Day game.
- Special seating along the parade route for his or her guests in the BCBSM Blue Zone.
- Ten club level seats at Ford Field, to watch the Thanksgiving Day game.
- A complete Thanksgiving dinner for all 10 guests.
Royal Oak’s Howard & Howard Represents Healthmark Industries in $320M Sale
National law firm Howard & Howard Attorneys, based in Royal Oak, recently represented longtime client Healthmark Industries Co. Inc. in Fraser and its shareholders when Sweden’s Getinge AG acquired Healthmark for $320 million. The transaction officially closed Oct. 11.
Healthmark has been a leader in the development and marketing of health care solutions since 1969. Its products aid health care facilities in delivering surgical instruments and other lifesaving medical devices to patients, focusing on the validation and clarification of sanitizing medical products.
Richard Miettinen and Nolan Yaldo led the team of Howard & Howard attorneys throughout the deal, supported by Mark Peyser, Bradley Knickerbocker, Brett Garwood, Kaila Patrick, John Pollock, Bob Johnston, Steve Hays, Joanna Myers, Aaron Beresh, Gary Peters, Rui Lu, Trevor Lloyd, and Simon Alnajjar.
“Working with Healthmark for over 25 years has been a privilege,” says Peyser, a partner at the firm. “We have built a great business partnership through trust and understanding. Negotiation, strategic planning, and strong collaboration is what drives a successful transaction. I am grateful for the opportunity to have played a role in this deal and look forward to the continued success of our clients.”
Building trust along the way, over the past few decades, the Howard & Howard team has counseled and helped Healthmark Industries grow from a small family business into an international industry leader. The depth and resources of the Howard & Howard team in its offices in Royal Oak, Las Vegas, Chicago, and Peoria, Ill. all contributed and collaborated to successfully close this major transaction, the firm reports.
Hudsonville Ice Cream Announces Three Limited Edition Little Debbie Holiday Flavors
Hudsonville Ice Cream in Holland, southwest of Grand Rapids, has launched three limited-edition ice cream holiday flavors inspired by Little Debbie’s snack cake treats: Cherry Cordials, Christmas Tree Cakes, and Chocolate Christmas Tree Cakes. They will be exclusively available on Walmart stores shelves in pints beginning this month and will be available while supplies last.
“Every season is ice cream season at Hudsonville, but we’re especially excited about these holiday flavors. Christmas Tree Cakes has been an absolute sensation,” says C.J. Ellens, vice president of sales and marketing at Hudsonville Ice Cream. “And the two flavors joining it this year are sure to delight our fans and get them in the holiday spirit.”
For more information, visit here.
Kroger to Host All-store Hiring Event on Nov. 4
The Kroger Co. of Michigan will be hosting a hiring event from noon-4 p.m. Nov. 4 at all 119 southeast Michigan stores. Potential candidates can stop by their local location to learn more about open positions and offerings, and even interview on-site for positions that could start within three business days.
Candidates can expect the following when working at Kroger:
- Next-day pay.
- Flexible scheduling.
- Competitive wages & benefits.
- Valuable discounts on food, technology, travel.
Former U-M QB Ex Wilton Speight Partners with RTD Canned Margaritas Sold in Ann Arbor
Former University of Michigan’s quarterback Wilton Speight has recently invested and partnered with MARGS, the RTD canned margarita and is bringing the brand to select locations in Ann Arbor.
Speight, now a partner at Lab Capital Advisors in New York, has invested in and joined the team at MARGS, whose product comes in five flavors including: Classic, Mango, Coconut, Mezcal + Spicy, and are low in sugar, made with authentic ingredients and top-shelf tequila.
MARGS is available in Ann Arbor at Stadium Market (1423 E Stadium Blvd STE D), Plum Market (both locations), and Falsetta’s Market (2200 Pittsfield Blvd.)
For more information, visit sipmargs.com.
St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp. Settles Strike with Union
With the conclusion of the labor dispute between the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp. (SLSMC) and Unifor, the Chamber of Marine Commerce is calling for a full and fast resumption of Seaway operations to get traffic moving and restore the significant economic activity that is made possible by Seaway infrastructure, which also is a critical conduit for cross-border trade in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River region.
“We are pleased that this interruption in vital Seaway traffic has come to an end, and we can focus once more on meeting the needs of consumers around the world,” notes Bruce Burrows, president and CEO of the Chamber of Marine Commerce (CMC). “The entire marine shipping industry will now get straight back to work to get things moving again as the one of the most reliable, efficient, and sustainable modes for transporting commodities.”
Overall, this strike, which took place during one of the busiest times of the year for the Seaway, is expected to have resulted in:
- The loss of up to $100 million per day in economic activity across Canada and the U.S.
- Risking the continued employment of approximately 67,000 people directly or indirectly employed by activity through the Seaway in Canada and the U.S.
- Stalling the movement of key cargoes including grain that feeds the world, salt that ensures safety on roads during winter, iron ore for steelmaking and auto manufacture, and construction materials for housing and infrastructure.
Such supply chain disruption, as noted, ultimately leads to increased costs to consumers at a time when inflation is already hurting people. “It is deplorable that a service as vital as the Seaway could be brought to a halt in this way – the Seaway stoppage was extremely harmful for supply chains, the economy, and our quality of life,” said Bruce Burrows.
“It should now be clear to everyone how critical the Seaway is to the well-being of businesses and consumers. For our part, we look forward to immediate resumption of Seaway operations now that the strike is over, and look forward to cooperation in that regard,” Burrows says.
Jewish Senior Life Planning Storytelling Fundraiser Nov. 14
Jewish Senior Life of Metropolitan Detroit in West Bloomfield Township will celebrate lives well-lived at the nonprofit’s “Lives Well Lived: Wrinkles in Time” festival of storytelling fundraiser at 7 p.m. Nov. 14. at The J (6600 West Maple Road).
A new book, “Don’t Write Me Off!” a compilation of narratives by 39 Jewish Senior Life residents about their personal lives, loves, and lessons learned, will be unveiled and available for purchase ($18). The authors will be signing books during a meet and greet at the event.
Three short films starring older adults also will be shown at the event, including the Academy Award-winning 1987 documentary, “Young at Heart” by Sue Marx and Pamela Conn, about the romance between Marx’s father, Louis Gothelf, and Reva Shwayder-Gothelf, both in their mid-80s. Detroit journalist Jack Lessenberry and author Bill Haney will share a special tribute about the late Marx, their longtime friend.
The other films are “Death-Metal Grandma” (2018) directed by Leah Galant, featuring 95-year-old Holocaust survivor and aspiring heavy metal singer, the late Inge Ginsberg, and “Wendy’s Shabbat,” (2018) directed by Rachel Myers, which chronicles older Jewish adults enjoying Shabbat dinners of burgers and fries while saying prayers and lighting candles at a local Wendy’s restaurant.
The fundraiser includes a pre-glow with dessert and coffee, and valet parking. There is a minimum donation of $75 per person.
For more details, tickets, and sponsorship information, visit here.
NCJW|MI Fall Focus Seeks to Foster Connections in a Combative World
National Council of Jewish Women, Michigan (NCJW|MI) is hosting Fall Focus, a free event at 7 p.m. Nov. 14 at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township, called “Radical Civility: Fostering Connections in a Combative World.”
The event aims to address the incivility that has become default for many interactions between people of differing faiths, political viewpoints, and agendas, and is particularly apt at this time of turmoil both in the Middle East and closer to home.
It also will explore working solutions that attendees can implement into their personal interactions to foster connections rather than exchange inflammatory remarks. The panel discussions will be guided by the president of the Jewish Historical Society of Michigan, Jeannie Weiner.
The panel will include:
- Pontus Leander, director of the Center for Peace and Conflict Studies at Wayne State University in Detroit.
- Barbara Flayer, educator.
- Josh Bennett, rabbi at Temple Israel.
- Eva Murphy, student at Bloomfield Hills High School.
To register for Fall Focus 2023, which was funded by The Sandra and Alfred Sherman Family Advocacy Fund, call 248-355-3300 ext. 0 or email mail@ncjwmi.org.
