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.
Radisson Plaza Hotel and Suites in Kalamazoo Unveils Renovations
The Radisson Plaza Hotel and Suites in Kalamazoo has completed a multi-million-dollar full renovation of its meeting and event spaces, lobby, social areas, and guest rooms.
Locally owned and operated by Greenleaf Hospitality Group, the Radisson is an upscale, full-service hotel with 340 guest rooms.
“We are thrilled to unveil the updated spaces to leisure travelers, conference, and meeting attendees, as well as our local community,” says Craig Davies, general manager of the property. “From the complete floor-to-ceiling renovation of our guest rooms to the addition of our new mobile check-in option, we think guests will find the transformation, as Radisson Hotel Americas says, simply delightful.”
All lower-level meeting and event spaces, including the wedding and convention location, The Kalamazoo Room, have been transformed into sleek and modern environments. The 50,000-square-feet of versatile meeting space now provides a new experience for returning conference guests as well as new elements to attract first-time organizations and businesses to the Kalamazoo area.
The new guest rooms create a calming ambiance while sleek minimalistic furniture provides more room without loss of functionality. The renovation had an emphasis on the use of technology with new in-room entertainment as well as a mobile check-in experience for guests’ convenience – available via the Radisson Kalamazoo App.
Social spaces on the lower level, lobby, and second level feature an open, welcoming, and naturally calming atmosphere. Practical spaces to work, socialize, and relax contribute to a harmonious flow for meeting and event attendees as well as visiting guests.
New Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally Charges Up the Hill at England’s Goodwood Festival of Speed
For the first time in its nearly six-decade history, Ford Motor Co. in Dearborn took Mustang where it never has gone before – where the tarmac ends and the dirt road begins – with the rally-inspired electric Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally.
At the Goodwood Festival of Speed in Chichester, United Kingdom, enthusiasts and onlookers got a look at the first rally-inspired electric SUV from Ford — available to order in the U.S. this fall — as it charged up the hill driven by Ott Tänak, current driver of the M-Sport Ford Puma Hybrid Rally entry and former World Rally champion.
“Mustang Mach-E took the freedom and fun of Mustang and made it free from emissions,” says Darren Palmer, vice president of electric vehicle programs for Ford Model e. “Now with Mustang Mach-E Rally, we’re providing our customers the freedom to venture off the asphalt and beyond the beaten path.”
Mustang Mach-E Rally will be available first in the U.S. and Europe. For more information, visit here.
Bingham Farms’ Huntington Technology Ranked on Channel Futures 2023 MSP 501
Huntington Technology Inc. in Bingham Farms has been named as one of the world’s premier managed service providers in the 2023 Channel Futures MSP 501 rankings.
For the past 17 years, managed service providers around the globe have submitted applications for inclusion on this prestigious and definitive listing. The Channel Futures MSP 501 survey examines organizational performance based on annual sales, recurring revenue, profit margins, revenue mix, growth, innovation, and supported technologies.
MSPs that qualify for the list must pass a rigorous review conducted by the research team and editors of Channel Futures. It ranks applicants using a unique methodology that weighs financial performance according to long-term health and viability, commitment to recurring revenue and operational efficiency.
“We’re grateful to all of our clients for their trust and loyalty that allowed us to be recognized for this prestigious honor,” says Steve Krasnick, owner of Huntington Technology. “In today’s business world, one cannot operate without using technology at every turn. For over 20 years, we have taken pride in our ability to help clients manage their technology, while keeping them safe and secure, allowing them to focus on their business.”
Consumers Energy Foundation Gives $500K to Jackson Organizations and Nonprofit Hub
The Consumers Energy Foundation in Jackson announced today $500,000 in grants as part of their annual People Awards. This year’s recipients are organizations based in Jackson and Grand Rapids that are working to provide economic security for Michigan residents.
“We are deeply grateful for the work these three organizations are doing in their communities, and across the state, to remove the barriers many still face to fulfilling basic needs,” says Brandon Hofmeister, president of the Consumers Energy Foundation. “Ensuring every person in this state has access to the resources they need to live safe and healthy lives is part of our core mission, and our People Award grants give us an opportunity to fund programs we know will provide those resources.”
The People Awards recipients chosen from more than 75 applicants are:
- Jackson Friendly Home and John George Home — $125,000 each
- The Storehouse of Community Resources — $250,000
Denso in Battle Creek Awards Scholarships to Local High School Students
Southfield-based mobility supplier Denso announced that several of its locations in the U.S. and Canada have awarded more than $80,000 in scholarships to local students and high schools to support students’ pursuit of postsecondary education.
The donations are part of the company’s longtime commitment to continuous learning and increasing access to new opportunities in the communities it serves.
In Michigan, Denso’s Thermal Manufacturing Facility in Battle Creek donated to the Battle Creek Community Foundation, which awarded scholarships to high-performing students who have a parent employed by Denso.
The location also donated to the Battle Creek Area Mathematics and Science Center, which awarded scholarships to students in the area.
“Across the region, our teams are committed to supporting the places where we live and work,” says Seiji Maeda, CEO of Denso’s North American operations and a senior director at Denso Corp. “It is vital that we help students continue their educations so they can pursue their passions, broaden their perspectives and flourish into future leaders.”
Short’s Brewing Invites Citizens to Celebrate Michigan Beer Month
July has been proclaimed by the Michigan Senate as Michigan Beer Month and Short’s Brewing in Elk Rapids, north of Traverse City, is inviting Michiganders to celebrate all month long.
Michigan’s brewing industry conservatively contributes more than $144 million in wages with a total economic contribution of more than $600 million. In terms of overall number breweries, microbreweries, and brewpubs, Michigan ranks No. 6 in the nation thus supporting its claim as “The Great Beer State.”
Short’s Brewing Co. partnered with the officials at Pure Michigan to create the Pure Michigan Summer IPA made exclusively with Michigan ingredients. It was created in partnership with Empire Malting Co., Great Lakes Malting Co., and Valley View Farms, MI Local Hops, and Hop Alliance.
