2010 – Page 69 of 78

Schoolpictures.com hires 7 in Ypsilanti, plans to add 7-10

By Newsroom

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February 10, 2010

Schoolpictures.com has a lot of room to grow in its new home near Eastern Michigan University, and the Ypsilanti-based firm is already starting to fill out the space.The 5-year-old company hired seven people in 2009, rounding out its staff to 41 employees, along with 30 more interns and independent contractors. It expects to hire 7-10 people this year, and all of that is organic growth."We've increased the size of our business by growing our mission," says Skip Cerier, CEO of Schoolpictures.com. "Our goal is to continue to raise money for schools. As cuts came down from the state, schools are in such dire straits that they are looking for other revenues. Schoolpictures.com provides a unique business model that allows us to sustain and grow our business while we raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for schools. That includes $540,000 for 180 schools in 2009. Cerier believes that number would have been much higher in a healthier economy. He has big aspirations for beating that number this year, partly because of an improving economy and partly because of the company's new home.Schoolpictures.com took over the Ave Maria University campus, turning the old mid-20th Century elementary school and other even older structures into a silver LEED campus. It’s first pre-1950 building to reach LEED silver status in Michigan. Now the 21,000 square feet of space that was prime fodder to become building rubble stand as a shinning example of sustainability and economic opportunity.The old Victorian house is being remodeled into a child portrait studio. The idea is the architecture provides a comforting feeling for both kids and families. The school's old gym is now a 2,400-square-foot photography studio that gives the firm's photographers and creatives a lot of freedom."There has been a monumental change in the attitude of my employees," Cerier says. "They are much happier when they have space of their own."Source: Skip Cerier, CEO of Schoolpictures.comWriter: Jon Zemke

Chelsea Milling Co invests $5M in plant, R&D expansion

By Newsroom

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Economic Development

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February 10, 2010

The marquee business Chelsea is known for is growing. Chelsea Milling Co. is investing $5 million to expand its facilities.The 105-year-old firm, known for making Jiffy Mix, employs 310 people in downtown Chelsea and another 14 in Marshall. It added 10 people last year and hopes to continue hiring in 2010. It's expanding its presence in Chelsea to accommodate this growth. It's building a pilot plant that will connect its corporate offices and main production facility. It is also upgrading its research and development facility."We wanted to get a good feel for how our products would play in the real world," says Jack Kennedy, vice president and general manager for Chelsea Milling Co. "We wanted that intermediate step."Currently new Jiffy Mix products go straight from the R&D oven to full production. Adding the pilot plant allows the company to do some smaller test runs on the products before investing large amounts of cash into a costly full production. Right now the expansion is about 70 percent complete. Kennedy expects his employees to occupy the new addition by the end of May. Source: Jack Kennedy, vice president and general manager for Chelsea Milling Co.Writer: Jon Zemke

NIGHT & DAY: Who’s Got the “Chops”

By Jeff Meyers

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Arts and Culture

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February 10, 2010

This week's FilterD brings you cultural events to make out to or break up over. There's stuff to do for both singles and doubles, the lovesick and the lovelorn. Plus editor Jeff Meyers chats with U-M alum and documentary filmmaker Bruce Broder about his love letter to the process of making jazz, Chops. Click on the link and get some!

Ann Arbor SPARK posts big econ dev numbers in 2009

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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February 10, 2010

Ann Arbor SPARK's bottom line proved to be quite big for 2009, helping generate $147 million in investment.The downtown Ann Arbor-based economic development agency is credited with helping create or retain 3,200 jobs, taking part in 11 Michigan Economic Growth Authority deals, attracting seven firms to the Ann Arbor area that in turn created 1,522 jobs and $37.5 million in investment."2009 was definitely a challenging time for the Ann Arbor region, as well as the state and the nation," says Michael A. Finney, CEO of Ann Arbor SPARK. "The good news is we continued to help local companies that are in expansion mode."Ann Arbor SPARK also took park in 34 projects, filled 887 jobs through its website and helped more than 4,200 people with job searches. It also opened its SPARK East incubator in downtown Ypsilanti and the Michigan Life Science and Innovation Center in a former Pfizer site in Plymouth.Ann Arbor SPARK will consider expanding its influence in 2010. One of the primary ways it hopes to do this is by opening up its resources to other companies, entrepreneurs and economic development agencies outside of Washtenaw County."We plan on working in very close partnerships with many other economic development agencies in Michigan," Finney says.Source: Michael A. Finney, CEO of Ann Arbor SPARKWriter: Jon Zemke

Proof that Ann Arbor still has a viable arts community

By Newsroom

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Arts and Culture

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February 10, 2010

Is Forest Juziuk's existence proof of the viability of Ann Arbor's arts community or that Ypsilanti's arts community is not only on the rise but has arrived? Two stories from AnnArbor.com and MarkMaynard.com examine both angles.Excerpt:Forest Juziuk is a bit of a Renaissance man. Managing Wazoo Records (336½ South State) by day and upping Ann Arbor’s cultural clout on the side, Juziuk hosts popular experimental film and music events; performs as a DJ, comedian and performance artist; designs posters for the Ann Arbor Soul Club; runs record label Hall of Owls; and has published stories by artist/musician Brent Van Daley.Juziuk says, “I don’t know exactly what the impetus was” for initially getting involved in the film, performance and music scene. However, he shares a clear vision of what he thinks is lacking from Ann Arbor’s creative scene and how he thinks his events and performances fill a cultural void."Ann Arbor is a strange place. It seems like it wants to be a big city, but it really isn’t. We don’t have all of the amenities that they do in a big city,” which include a lot more venues to choose from and more avant garde, experimental happenings. “Part of it is to make Ann Arbor livable for ourselves, by featuring the kinds of acts I want to see and the films I want to see,” he says.Read the rest of the story here and Mark Maynard's take on it here.

U-M Prez sees economic opportunity in Michigan

By Newsroom

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Economic Development

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February 10, 2010

Ask University of Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman about economic and entrepreneurial opportunity, and she'll say there is no better place than Michigan and no better time than now.Excerpt:University of Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman said Friday that she believes that Michigan is filled with economic opportunity.Coleman, speaking Friday to the media at an event organized to highlight U-M's University Research Corridor coalition with Michigan State University and Wayne State University, said the state still faces significant challenges. But she said she's "very optimistic" about the future."One of the things that I hear from, at least, business people is we’re become actually a very economical place," she said. "We used to be a high-priced place for companies to come. Now, hey, you can get some pretty good deals here. And it’s beginning to get attention."Read the rest of the story here.

Saline’s use of Google apps saving money

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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February 10, 2010

Name the Washtenaw County municipality creating the most efficiencies with Google-based software. Nope, it's not Ann Arbor. It's not Ypsilanti either. Try Saline.Excerpt:Still, Google’s momentum within schools seems real. One recent example involves a Michigan school district that claims to have saved an estimated $400,000 by switching an on-premises e-mail solution over to Google Apps Education Edition. The Saline, Michigan, school district may only claim 600 employees, but I think it’s a perfect demonstration to MSPs on the power and potential of software as a service (SaaS) solutions.Read the rest of the story here.

Rapidly growing Ann Arbor convent to appear on Oprah

By Newsroom

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General

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February 10, 2010

Two organizations from Ann Arbor have basked in the Oprah spotlight in recent months. The first is an easy choice – Zingerman's. The second? Try the Dominican Sisters of Mary, a Roman Catholic convent that is growing at a rapid pace.Excerpt:Ann Arbor, Mich. - The Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist have made waves across the nation for their rapid growth and their devout orthodoxy. Now, they are once again in the national spotlight, being featured on the popular Oprah Winfrey Show.“They phoned us and asked if they could do a program on us with Oprah. That's all we know!” Sister Joseph Andrew Bogdanowicz, OP, vocations director for the community, told CNA in an email. The show featuring the sisters will air on Tuesday, February 9, 2010. The same day happens to be the congregation’s 13th anniversary. Read the rest of the story here.

Fresh U-M grad continues push of IMU clothing line

By Newsroom

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Arts and Culture

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February 10, 2010

David Merritt is becoming the conductor of the little fashion start-up that can now that his IMU brand is starting to gain traction in Ann Arbor.Excerpt:At Sunday's IMU photoshoot, LSA sophomore Courtney Cox took a brief break from tweeting giveaways to describe her unique internship experience. Like many Michigan students, Cox had been hopelessly looking for internship opportunities in merchandising, until she came across the Facebook fan page for I Miss You, Inc. (IMU), a brand founded by David Merritt, former captain of the Michigan men’s basketball team."Have you ever had someone tell you that they miss you?" Merritt asked. "It makes you feel special. It makes you feel valued."David Merritt is not the typical self-absorbed all-star-athlete-turned-fashion-designer. If you’re looking for an entourage or the arrogant swagger that comes with leading a team to the NCAA tournament for the first time in 11 years, you won’t find it here. Instead, Merritt is so admirably humble, it’s almost frustrating. He just keeps it real — and stylish. He has everything you’d hope to find in the president and CEO of one of Ann Arbor’s hottest up-and-coming fashion lines.But how did the former hoops player combine his two seemingly disparate interests of basketball and fashion?According to Merritt, he never had any intentions of getting involved in fashion. But his experiences playing basketball with selfless teammates like School of Public Policy graduate student and former captain C.J. Lee ultimately became his inspiration for IMU. The IMU brand sells T-shirts which combine the urban style with joy and color. The shirt designs serve perfectly to illustrate the meeting point of style and service."As a captain, I learned the importance of selflessness and giving of yourself to reach team goals — goals that are bigger than you personally." Merritt said. "Like watching C.J. Lee come in every day just to motivate people in order to make the team as good as it could be. These types of goals are what's really behind IMU as a brand."Read the rest of the story here.

Ann Arbor, Scotland lead way in LED lights use

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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February 10, 2010

Ann Arbor isn't just leading Michigan, the U.S. or even North America when it comes to LED lights. It's a world leader comparable to cities in places like Scotland.Excerpt:Major corporations like Starbucks have adopted LED lights to cut costs and save energy. Cities in Scotland and Michigan are now embracing the benefits of LED lights on their streets.Home to the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor has made efforts to be a national leader in energy efficiency. In 2007, the city decided to switch all of their aging street lights in the downtown area to greener LED lights. Not only were the lights going to save the city energy and maintenance costs, they didn’t contain mercury like the older street lights.Ann Arbor had over one thousand lights in the downtown area that needed to be switched from old 120-watt bulbs to 56-watt LEDs. The replacement LEDs had the added benefit of being mercury free unlike the older street lights.Read the rest of the story here.