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.
Walsh College Partners with Troy Chamber to Launch Talent Retention Effort
Walsh College in Troy and the Troy Chamber of Commerce have joined forces to launch the Preferred Education Partnership (PEP), aimed at not only supporting businesses during tough economic times but also at nurturing and retaining talent within Michigan.
PEP is designed to be an initiative to train and grow local talent, reinforcing Michigan’s position as a hub for skilled professionals. Empowering businesses to offer access to educational benefits through this program, Walsh College and Troy Chamber of Commerce say they are investing in the future of Michigan’s workforce, and their families.
“At Walsh College, we know the power education has in transforming lives and communities,” says Suzy Siegle, president of Walsh. “The PEP program furthers our commitment to Michigan’s businesses and their employees, offering them a ladder to climb higher in their professional journeys while deepening talent growth in Michigan.”
PEP’s role in fostering Michigan’s talent pool includes:
Education Incentives for Local Talent: Offering discounts on both undergraduate and graduate courses, professional development and continuing education at Walsh College, the PEP program is an affordable pathway for Michigan-based employees to enhance their skills and qualifications.
Family-Inclusive Benefits: Extending educational discounts to the immediate family members of employees further roots the benefits within the community, encouraging long-term residency and career growth within the state.
Resource for Small Businesses: Particularly beneficial for small businesses, PEP provides a competitive edge in attracting and retaining talent, contributing to a robust local economy.
Community and Career Growth: Facilities rental discounts and access to career fairs further integrate businesses and their employees into the thriving educational and professional landscape of Michigan.
“Michigan thrives when its businesses and talent flourish,” says Tara Tomcsik-Husak, president of Troy Chamber of Commerce. “The PEP initiative is a testament to our dedication to the state’s economic vitality. By equipping our workforce with advanced skills and knowledge, we are not just supporting individual careers but are also fortifying Michigan’s position in the national and global economy.”
Ascension St. John Children’s Hospital in Detroit Opens Dedicated Pediatric ER
The new Shery L. Cotton Pediatric Emergency Department opened Monday at Ascension St. John Children’s Hospital in Detroit.
The level II pediatric emergency department is separate and distinct from the level I adult/trauma emergency center at Ascension St. John Hospital — with its own entrance, waiting room, and treatment areas to help enhance privacy, comfort, and wait times for young patients and their families.
While the emergency center at Ascension St. John Hospital has been caring for pediatric patients since the hospital opened in 1952, a level I trauma center sees everything from minor injuries to critical gunshot wounds.
“Visiting the ER can be traumatic enough for anyone — adult or child,” says Dr. Marcus DeGraw, chief of pediatrics at Ascension St. John Hospital. “We do not want young children and their families in the waiting room with adults in serious distress. Neither should we treat them in proximity.”
Features of the new pediatric emergency department include:
- Pediatric triage and exam rooms in their own location, separate from adult patients.
- A dedicated ambulance entrance and trauma rooms specifically for children.
- 13 exam rooms, including three child/adolescent behavioral health rooms, one sensory exam room, and two procedure rooms.
- Board-certified pediatric emergency specialists and specially trained nurses available 24/7.
- New state-of-the-art equipment.
“The benefit of a dedicated space for pediatrics is that everything is designed with our youngest, smallest patients in mind,” says Dr. David Ahee, medical director and chief of the department of emergency medicine at Ascension St. John Hospital. “We have all the necessary equipment and staff to best care for the unique needs of the pediatric population.”
The creation of the pediatric emergency department was made possible with generous philanthropic support, including a $4 million gift from Shery L. Cotton and her son Jon B. Cotton. Their gift, along with several others, helped bring the Your Child, We Care campaign to its minimum goal of $18 million to enhance and renovate Ascension St. John Children’s Hospital through a four-phase construction plan.
Study: Average Michigander Prepared to Forgo $8.6K of Salary to Skip Commute
A national survey commissioned by Gunther Volvo Cars of Coconut Creek, Fla. shows that employees in Michigan would accept $8,608 less in salary if they could work from home.
According to research, the average American devotes 330 hours each year to commuting, time that could be spent on personal pursuits or with family. With this backdrop, the Florida dealership launched the study to understand how much employees value their work-from-home arrangement and their aversion to resuming the commute.
While Michigan workers would give up $8,608, other regional data paints an even more colorful picture of this trend. Californians, dealing with the double whammy of long commutes and enticing paychecks, are leading the charge. They’re game to let go of $13,759 per year to keep their home coffee brews and casual work attire. They are followed closely by residents of Washington and Utah, willing to let go of $13,017 and $12,843, respectively.
On the other end of the scale, Montanans appear quite happy to commute again — here they would be prepared to take a salary cut of just $429 in order to continue working from home.
For more information, visit gunthervolvocars.net.
Identity PR in Birmingham Named to PRNews 2024 Agency Elite Top 100 List
PRNews has selected Identity PR in Birmingham as part of its 2024 Agency Elite Top 100, a list of “the most innovative public relations, marketing, and communications firms.”
“We have built a reputation on envisioning big, bold concepts and bringing them to life through planning and great work,” says Mark Winter, founding partner and president of Identity PR. “When we set out to establish our Identity 2025 vision a few years ago, we rallied our team behind the idea of being recognized as a visionary PR agency, known for our strategy and media prowess, from a team who can deliver outstanding award-winning programs.
“While we are still focused on achieving our big Identity 2025 goals for the next year-plus, we are exceptionally proud to be included on this selective list of leading national agencies from across the country for our supercharged growth, our engaging game lover culture, and our future focus to adapt and lead in the fast and ever-changing PR and media landscape.”
Valencia College in Florida Re-enrolls in Detroit-based LIFT’s Operation Next
LIFT, the Detroit-based, Department of Defense national manufacturing innovation institute, announced that Valencia College in Orlando, Fla. will be expanding its job training work by again offering advanced manufacturing career training through the Operation Next initiative.
The state of Florida is providing $2 million in funding to help support the training program across the state.
LIFT’s Operation Next partners with community colleges to provide training to transitioning military members, the National Guard, Reserves, and their families for careers in advanced manufacturing. The program has expanded to serve veterans as well as members of the civilian population.
Developed by LIFT and the Department of Defense, Operation Next provides an accelerated hybrid program that combines online education with hands-on training to earn credentials for in-demand careers in advanced manufacturing, including Computer Numeric Control (CNC), welding, robotics, and industrial technology maintenance. Each year 200,000 service members transition out of the military across the nation.
For more information, visit opnextjobs.com.
Viking Group in Caledonia Adds Product to Storage Sprinkler Lineup
Viking Group Inc., a manufacturer and distributor of fire protection solutions in Caledonia, south of Grand Rapids, has added VK5141, a K28 Specific Application ESFR glass bulb pendent sprinkler, to its storage portfolio.
With a UL Listing for ceiling heights up to 48 feet, the VK5141 suppresses high-challenge fires in storage areas.
“The new K28 glass bulb provides an advantage to storage and warehouse occupancies by allowing aisle widths as narrow as 5 ft.,” says Martin Workman, senior vice president of product experience at Viking. “It allows for more racking to be installed and ultimately adds more space for facilities to efficiently stock more product.”
The VK5141 is a K28 sprinkler intended for use in buildings utilizing wet systems and has a maximum working pressure of 175 psi (12 bar). This sprinkler features a threaded 1-inch NPT (25 mm BSPT) connection and is available in a brass finish at temperature ratings of 155°F (68°C) and 200°F (93°C). New VK5141 sprinklers are available for use with InstaSeal technology and will feature torque-assist caps for compatible applications.
For more information, visit vikinggroupinc.com.
Metronet Connects Grand Rapids Residents to Ultra-Fast 100% Fiber Optic Network
Indiana-based Metronet announced residents and businesses located south central and southwest Grand Rapids now have access to Metronet’s 100 percent fiber optic internet.
Many more expected to be connected to ultra-high-speed fiber optic internet as the construction process continues. As Metronet’s service becomes available to more homes throughout the city, residents will have access to multi-gigabit speeds up to 2 gigabits; and businesses may access speeds up to 10 gigabits.
“As we begin to connect our first Metronet customers in Grand Rapids to our infrastructure, we eagerly await the life-changing impact of access to our state-of-the-art, fast and reliable service on the community,” says Ben Ruzick, director of dovernmental affairs at Metronet. “With access to our service, the city of Grand Rapids is backed by a network that will support the continued economic growth, community development, and widespread resident and business success.”
Chicago Firm Partners with Kalamazoo’s C2Dx to Acquire Part of Indiana Company
C2Dx, a medical device company based in Kalamazoo, has partnered with Chicago’s Shore Capital Partners to acquire the otolaryngology/head and neck surgery family of products from Cook Medical in Indiana.
These products provide minimally invasive procedures for ENT surgeons to help treat obstructive salivary disease, chronic ear disorders, nasal/sinus and skull base reconstruction, and dysphagia.
“Shore is very proud and excited to partner with C2Dx,” says Don Pierce, partner at Shore and chairman of C2Dx. “Kevin McLeod and his high-caliber team have built an incredible company with an excellent reputation in the medical device space. We are well-positioned to build on their reputation as an industry leader through both acquisitions and organic growth, and the initial acquisition from Cook Medical complements and differentiates the platform’s product offerings.”
C2Dx and Shore say they are actively pursuing opportunities to build a strong and diversified medical device company through new industry partnerships, business development, and further investment in the company’s products and team, with a vision to serve multiple specialties and procedures across the U.S. and internationally.
To learn more about partnerships with C2Dx, visit c2dx.com.
AIHFS Planning Third Annual Charity Gala at The Garden Theater Oct. 4
American Indian Health and Family Services (AIHFS) will be conducting its third annual Charity Gala from 6-9:30 p.m. on Oct. 4 at The Garden Theater in Detroit.
The event aims to be a catalyst for positive change in Michigan, focusing on improving the quality of life and health care access for diverse communities. The gala will shed light on the challenges faced by Native American communities and underserved populations in urban areas, while also providing a platform for solutions through a keynote panel discussion on the Urban Indian Experience.
To inquire about sponsorships, email kkleinhans@aihfs.org or call 313-580-2614.
