Ann Arbor

ForeSee Results expands in Ann Arbor, plans to hire 30-60

By Newsroom

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January 7, 2009

ForeSee Results isn't suffering from survivor syndrome, but people would understand why if the Ann Arbor-based came down with a case of it.As the economy continues its downward spiral, ForeSee Results continues to enjoy success and grow. "We've been growing at a pretty significant rate in the last couple of years despite the economy," says Larry Freed, CEO of ForeSee Results.The 7-year-old company is moving to bigger spaces on the city's north side, expanding from 15,000 to 40,000 square feet. It needs to after hiring about 50 people last year to create a staff of 140, 85 of which work in Ann Arbor. Freed expects to hire another 30-60 this year.The website-information firm captures "voice of customer" feedback and uses it to measure customer satisfaction for the likes of as Kohler, Citibank and Ameriprise. It uses uses the University of Michigan's American Customer Satisfaction Index to find out the satisfaction of website visitors and pinpoint opportunities to improve the site.ForeSee Results is doing it so well that it's experience double-digit revenue growth, a trend it expects to continue this year whichever way the economy turns.Source: Larry Freed, CEO of ForeSee ResultsWriter: Jon Zemke

Single Source Procurement steps into Pfizer’s wake, opens Ann Arbor office

By Newsroom

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Entrepreneurship

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January 7, 2009

Bob Engster is picking up the pieces left behind by Pfizer and making quite the nice chunk of change.The Kalamazoo resident founded Single Source Procurement in 2003 after Pfizer bought Upjohn. It was the corporation's move that left Engster looking for a new job, so he created his own. He was Single Source Procurement's only employee those first few years, helping small companies and start-ups save money whenever they bought, stored or fixed biotech and life sciences equipment. Today he oversees a staff of six in Kalamazoo and plans to open an Ann Arbor office with three employees later this month. It's looking for instrument repair people right now.Engster's company has discovered that there is a demand for his services in places where Pfizer has pulled up stakes and left a wake of start-ups, such as Ann Arbor, Holland and Kalamazoo."We kind of follow Pfizer," Engster says. "We have a lot of opportunities in Michigan."Most start-ups or small companies have to pay high prices for bio-tech equipment. Single Source Procurement leverages the vendors by buying in bulk for a large number of these small firms. It also does stockroom management and helps fix these bio-tech instruments. That usually works out to about 30 percent savings for the companies and another company created in Michigan.Source: Bob Engster, CEO and founder of Single Source ProcurementWriter: Jon Zemke

Ann Arbor, Music Town

By Amy Whitesall

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Arts & Culture

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January 7, 2009

The Internet mantra has long been you can work from anywhere. And A-list talent agency Fleming Artists is proof positive that even Ann Arbor can compete with the likes of L.A. and New York. Representing everyone from Ani DiFranco and Tom Paxton to Jeff Daniels and My Dear Disco, Fleming has been looking after world-class musicians for almost 30 years.

MASTERMINDS: Jon Carlson and Greg Lobdell

By Amy Whitesall

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Arts & Culture

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January 7, 2009

The Blue Tractor. Café Habana. Grizzly Peak. Jon Carlson and Greg Lobdell have become defacto planners of Ann Arbor's downtown. Friends since childhood, the two are building a local food and drink empire by turning historic spaces into must-visit destinations.

Konichiwa, Ann Arbor

By Kimberly Chou

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Diversity & Equity

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December 17, 2008

Ann Arbor as an international center? You betcha. With it's growing global appeal, and proximity to the country's automotive hub, The Deuce has to keep up with its foreign-born citizens and visitors. Case in point: The growing Japanese community and the rising influence of Japanese-owned businesses.

Renaissance VC Fund invests $5 million into Arboretum Ventures

By Newsroom

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Economic Development

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December 17, 2008

The Renaissance Venture Capital Fund isn't wasting time when it comes to investing in Michigan and bridging the gap between Detroit and Ann Arbor.The VC, formed by Detroit Renaissance, made its first investment of $5 million into Ann Arbor-based Arboretum Ventures II. Renaissance expects to invest another $10 million to $20 million in 2009. That money will go either toward venture capital firms looking to invest in the state or firms based in Michigan, such as Arboretum."It is clearly a fast-rising venture capital firm right now," says Chris Rizik, CEO of the Renaissance Venture Capital Fund. "It is a really smart firm with the right niche. Even with the current economic problems we're finding they are really well positioned to be successful."Arboretum focuses mainly on investing in up-and-coming companies that make medical devices. However, the money from Renaissance's investment doesn't come with strings attached on what it must kind of firm or technology to invest. Jan Garfinkle and Tim Peterson formed Arboretum in 2002. Renaissance has been in the works for a few years, but didn’t become a reality until late this year. One of its main tenants is to create more new economy connections between Ann Arbor and Detroit.Source: Chris Rizik, CEO of the Renaissance Venture Capital FundWriter: Jon Zemke

TeL Systems helps update Crisler Arena, creates new jobs in Ann Arbor

By Newsroom

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Arts & Culture

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December 17, 2008

Go to a large venue like a casino or an arena and there is a good chance you will hear or see a bit of TeL Systems' handiwork.The Ann Arbor-based firm specializes in advanced video, audio and communication technology. It recently installed the new state-of-the-art sound system in Crisler Arena.The company started 43 years ago under the name of Thalner Electronic Labs. It now employs 34 people and an intern. That includes adding two additional staffers in the past year.TeL Systems made a decision to migrate away from mainly automotive-based work a few years ago and diversify its client base. Now it counts the University of Michigan as one of its bigger customers - and is glad it can during these turbulent times."From the day we were founded to today, the university is a very important part of what we do," says Karl Couyoumjian, president of TeL Systems.The company expects to hire a few more people in 2009, but Couyoumjian is guarded in his optimism considering what is going on with the automakers and the economy as a whole."If the right person with the right skill set comes by we'll make room," Couyoumjian says.Source: Karl Couyoumjian, president of TeL SystemsWriter: Jon Zemke

Ann Arbor moves forward on Veterans Park skatepark

By Newsroom

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Development News

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December 17, 2008

They're not doing flipkicks in Veterans Memorial Park yet, but supporters are a few kicks closer to rolling in half pipe at a new Ann Arbor Skatepark.The city has approved a "memo of intent" to build a skatepark in the northwest corner of Veterans Park. "It's not a completely binding document but it does give us the foundation to start," says Trevor Staples, a spokesman for the group that is working to establish the skatepark.That group is setting up a fund within the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation so it can raise the money for the park within the next 12-18 months. They're looking at raising $800,000 to $1 million through donations and grants to build the skatepark.The facility will be about 30,000 square feet of permanent concrete skatepark. It will have a skateplaza and possibly even a full pipe. It will also work with the Ann Arbor Public Art Commission to bring some art into the skatepark as well.The Ann Arbor Skatepark Committee says the city is undeserved by not counting a skatepark among its varied recreation options (ranging from tennis courts to Frisbee golf). The group also claims a space dedicated to skateboarders will enhance the city's reputation and help keep kids out of trouble. The group is so confident that a skatepark is needed that it lists 30 reasons why one should be built on its website. Among the more eye-catching are No. 27 "Skateboarding is happening with or without a skatepark" and No. 30 "If a city doesn't have a skatepark, it is a skatepark."Source: Trevor Staples, spokesman for the Ann Arbor SkateparkWriter: Jon Zemke

Northern United Brewing seeks microbrewery prominence

By Newsroom

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Development News

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December 17, 2008

Bell's and Motor City have long been considered the mainstays of Michigan's microbrewery world. Northern United Brewing hopes to add its name to that list.The micro-brewery received a $1.1 million tax credit from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to expand its operations in Ann Arbor, Traverse City and Dexter. The company currently owns North Peak Brewing Co. in Traverse City, Jolly Pumpkin Brewing in Dexter, along with Ann Arbor's Grizzly Peak, Café Habana and Blue Tractor restaurants.Northern United plans to use the money to expand its operations in those spaces and create 158 jobs within the next five years, including 67 in its first year. It had been looking at other sites in Ohio and Indiana.Source: Elizabeth Parkison, Ann Arbor SPARKWriter: Jon Zemke

Plans for The Madison make it leaner, meaner and more palatable to Ann Arbor City Council

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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December 17, 2008

Back again for the first time, it's The Madison. But the downtown development isn't bigger and better. This time it's a bit leaner and meaner.Jeff Helminski, the developer, has cut the plans down from 14 stories to four after the Ann Arbor Planning Commission recommended rejecting the original plans. That means the number of rental apartments has been chopped from 161 to about 60.But many of the details of the project remain the same. It's still aiming at providing work-force housing for people who work downtown or want to live in one. It's still going to incorporate sustainable features and affordable housing. A handful of old student-ghetto houses will be razed to make room for the structure on the north side of Madison Street between Fourth and Fifth avenues.The new plans, which will be submitted to the city late this month, call for a 4-story building with one level of underground parking. The apartments will range in size from studios to four-bedrooms. The building's design will take cues from surrounding architecture, such as industrial finished from the Fingerle Lumberyard across the street."It will be a modern façade," Helminski says.Source: Jeff Helminski, developer of The MadisonWriter: Jon Zemke