Business

The Columbus-Ann Arbor rivalry gets tech oriented

By Newsroom

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October 30, 2013

In case you missed it, Ann Arbor made the list of the Progressive Policy Institute's 25 high tech hotspots when it comes to tenchnology and information jobs. Know who didn't make the list? All of Ohio. Excerpt: "Blogging in The Atlantic Cities, aided by a helpful map illustration, creative-class enthusiast Richard Florida points out the list “goes beyond the usual suspects.” Sure, three Silicon Valley counties are at the top, but there’s also the counties that include New Orleans and Huntsville, Ala." Read the rest of the rationalizing here.

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Orange Leaf aims for February opening with frozen treats, community values

By Natalie Burg

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Arts and Culture

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October 30, 2013

A new kind of frozen yogurt experience is "coming spoon" to Plymouth Rd. in Ann Arbor. The growing national franchise Orange Leaf combines healthy frozen treats with a commitment to the community, and by Feb. of next year, the Traver Village Shopping Center will be the next community to reap the delicious benefits. "Orange Leaf likes to put their mission out there," says Jason Zalewski, who owns the forthcoming Ann Arbor location along with his partner, Scott McLean. "The want to promote community and families. We'll be heavily involved in the community." Zalewski and McLean opened a location in Macomb County in June, and are looking forward to growing the business in Michigan. About 300 Orange Leaf Yogurt Stores are now open in the US, and the Ann Arbor location is among 110 stores that will soon be added to the ranks. "We had a good summer in Macomb, and we're looking forward to moving to the Ann Arbor market," says Zalewski. "We'll be bringing a healthier option for frozen yogurt and custard than is currently available." Orange Leaf offers 18 different flavors of store-made frozen yogurt every day, including sugar free, peanut free and gluten free options, and more than 50 topping choices. Zalewski says the store will be active in the community, facilitating school fundraisers and donating to local charities. The 2,600 square foot location is now under renovation and is expect to open in Feb. 2014 with approximately 20 employees. Source: Jason Zalewski, Orange Leaf Writer: Natalie Burg

Grand Rapids’ Vertical Media Solution expands into A2 with satellite office

By Natalie Burg

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Development News

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October 30, 2013

Few things can be more stressful than hunting for a new job. Between the résumé writing and the interview preparation, there are a number of questions job seekers may feel only a clairvoyant could answer. Namely: what does this company want to see from me? Vertical Media Solutions is a small, Grand Rapids based résumé, cv and cover letter preparation company that may not have a crystal ball, but with years in the employment recruitment world, they know better than most what employers are looking for. Now, their services have expanded into Ann Arbor with the opening of a new satellite office on S. State St. "We're in the recruitment market every day. We're not using things that were taught in college or are simple, cookie cutter ideas, but we're adapting to a changing job market," says Joel Marotti, Vertical Media Solutions. "It's not the most qualified candidate who gets the job, it's the most prepared." Vertical Media Solutions has been helping clients in the Ann Arbor area for some time via phone and online, but growth in the economy has led to growth in the need for their services in the city more frequently. The recently opened satellite office is currently appointment-only, and Vertical Media Solutions staff will frequent the space. Source: Joel Marotti, Vertical Media Solutions Writer: Natalie Burg

HealPay uses young techies and happy faces to collect debt

By Newsroom

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Economic Development

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September 18, 2013

An Ann Arbor start-up is getting noticed for its kinder, gentler, more tech-savvy approach to debt collection. Excerpt: "As HealPay co-founder Erick Bzovi says, debt collection “is a dirty world and the technology sucks.” The solutions he and cofounder Lance Carlson have developed streamline collections and provide electronic options that they say improve chances of collecting receivables. HealPay’s SettlementApp, for instance, is designed to let large billers such as hospitals, collection attorneys, and collection agencies create payment options so that debtors can make payoffs over time. Pointing to the Home Shopping Network’s enticing sales pitches that let customers “make three easy payments” or “get flexible payment options,” Bzovi says, “People are more likely to buy a service, or pay off their debt, if you give them options." Read the rest here.

U-M receives $200M gift to support business school, athletics program

By Newsroom

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Economic Development

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September 11, 2013

U-M's coffers will runneth over with billionaire real estate developer Stephen M. Ross's $200M gift. Excerpt: "The real-estate developer's gift, the single largest in the university's history, will be split between its business school—which is named for Mr. Ross, a 1962 graduate—and its athletics program... In 2004, Mr. Ross gave $100 million to construct a new building for the University of Michigan's business school and to bolster the school's endowment. The latest gift is meant to "finish the job" in upgrading the business school's other buildings, Mr. Ross said." More here.

Anistia Thomas at her office in Ann Arbor

Q&A: Anistia Thomas of the Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti Black Chamber of Commerce

By Patrick Dunn

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General

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August 7, 2013

With nearly 3,200 African-American businesses in the region, Anistia Thomas thought it was high time to develop an Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti Black Chamber Of Commerce. Concentrate's Patrick Dunn chats with the business owner to discuss how her organization will serve its members.

Clarity Quest grows into new Stadium Blvd. location

By Natalie Burg

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Development News

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July 17, 2013

Growth is nothing new for Ann Arbor's Clarity Quest Marketing, which has been adding staff, increasing revenues, and adding new locations at a regular clip. Now, all of that growth has led the business to expand into a new, 800 square-foot location on Stadium Blvd. "We were getting a little cramped," says Christine Slocumb, president of Clarity Quest Marketing. "We moved for the purposes of having more conference room space, and free parking for our clients." In its downtown Ann Arbor location, Clarity Quest shared meeting space with a neighboring business. Now with its own dedicated conference room, Slocumb says the company can focus more on training, as well as other areas of the business that require more space. "We have a lot more room for creative sessions and brainstorming with clients," says Slocumb. "We've been getting a lot of requests for strategic work, so that really demands a lot of brainstorming." Clarity Quest moved into its new location on July 1. Slocumb anticipates the business to continue to grow, adding up to two additional full-time staff over the next year, as well as two more interns in the near future. Source: Christine Slocumb, Clarity Quest Writer: Natalie Burg

Menlo Innovations’ collective mind profiled as new workplace trend

By Newsroom

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Economic Development

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June 19, 2013

Is top-down management destined to go the way of the dinosaur? New York Magazine writer Matthew Shaer uses Ann Arbor's Menlo Innovations as an example of a boss-free work environment. Excerpt: "Consider, for instance, the fact that hiring at Menlo is handled by committee, with each applicant spending a little bit of time with a group of employees, until a consensus can be reached. That same collective decision-making happens during promotions, layoffs, and flat-out firings. Consider next the charts in the corner of the office, which display the names and titles of the Menlo employees and also their corresponding pay grades. When I first saw them, I was standing in the midst of a scrum of Menlonians, and I suggested—thus belying my own, frankly square work experience—that it might be a little unnerving to have your salary exposed to your colleagues. And the guy standing to my right actually scoffed. “No,” he said. “It’s the opposite. It’s liberating.”" Read the rest here.

Casa Bella Salon to open in Ann Arbor, benefit at-risk kids

By Natalie Burg

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Community Development

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May 15, 2013

Some salons are just salons, but not the new Casa Bella on N. Maple Rd. The hair, nails and massage spa won't just be servicing the beauty needs of clients, but also a very special community need. Owner Kaliah Wolf says that 90 percent of Casa Bella's profits will be used to fund Caron's Crazy Corral, Wolf's new non-profit that pairs at-risk children with therapeutic horse lessons. "Some of these kids' parents are drug addicts; some are in jail," says Wolf. "Our mission is to teach them that they are only limited by their dreams." The seven-month-old 501(c)(3) is located on Sylvan Rd. in Chelsea and has received an outpouring of support and interested from the community already. Within three months of opening, Caron's Crazy Corral was serving 25 local kids. Wolf is now developing a 4H program at farm, and is partnering with other non-profits to expand their services to more kids in need. In the meantime, the 785 square-foot Casa Bella joins a rush of occupancy at the Maple Rd. shopping center in which Juicy Kitchen, El Harissa Market and a new tattoo shop have or are scheduled to open this year. Wolf says the sense of community in the complex is what drew her to the location. "Everybody in the shopping center has been helpful and friendly," she says. "It's a little downtown there. " Though not technically open yet, Casa Bella has been servicing a few clients in their new location and Wolf plans to open to the public soon. The salon currently employs a staff of three and Wolf is looking to hire another stylist, massage therapist and makeup artist. Source: Kali Wolf, Casa Bella Writer: Natalie Burg

PRIME Research to triple footprint in former Borders building downtown

By Natalie Burg

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Community Development

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February 6, 2013

Though many were sad to see Borders exit their State St. location, there's reason for cheer again as another high tech company has signed on to help refill the key downtown building. Germany-based PRIME Research plans to expand their North American headquarters into a 16,000 square foot, second-floor space this year. "We have grown out of it," says PRIME Research North America's Julie Myers-Beach of the company's current, 5,000 square foot Ashley St. location. "We're about as close together as we can be." Myers-Beach says the company is eager to get into the new space, which is now undergoing significant renovations, including a new elevator. "They'll be putting in windows," says says. "Along the side of Maynard and Liberty, it will be almost all windows. They're also adding additional bathrooms and updating the stairway. They're doing a lot of infrastructure work to the building." PRIME Research hopes to move into the new space in June, in advance of the Ann Arbor Art Fair According to Myers-Beach, the location was ideal for the company, which chose the State Street location for one of the same reasons it chose Ann Arbor as its headquarters in 2004. "We really like being so close to the University of Michigan, because we do hire quite a few students here," says Myers-Beach. "We wanted to be close to the universities, and, at the beginning, we were almost predominantly auto clients, so we wanted to be close enough to Detroit." The staff of PRIME Research's Ann Arbor location has grown from 42 employees to 80 over the past year. Myers-Beach says she expects that growth to continue in the new space as the company hopes to expand into new markets, such as the hospitality sector. Source: Julie Myers-Beach, PRIME Research North America Writer: Natalie Burg, Development News Editor