Innovation + Job News

Central Michigan University's Grand Central Magazine is making a bit of a name for itself these days, having just recently collected its fourth award in three years.

The magazine, which has been recognized by the Association of Collegiate Press and the Society of Professional Journalists in the past, added an EPPY award to its list of honors thanks to a selection from Editor and Publisher magazine. The award was for having the Best College/University Journalism Website for 2011.

"To be recognized as the best among the other universities entered is a big honor," says Betsy Rau, Grand Central Magazine faculty adviser. "Winning such an award is really motivating. It sets the bar even higher for everyone."

Grand Central competed against finalists from DePaul University, Temple University, Berry College and City University of New York Graduate School of Journalism.

Grand Central Magazine is run by a volunteer staff of 30 students, including a team of 10 editors. It was launched in 2007.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Besty Rau, Grand Central Magazine

AgVenture's facility in Chesaning has a new agricultural yield specialist, Steven Bohn. AgVenture is an Indiana-based company with a division in Michigan since 2009, and provides a network for independently-owned seed companies to operate under.

Bohn is originally from Freeland, and has a long and impressive resume in the seed industry; he has been in the business for more than 20 years, and works as a consultant with Hilleshog Beetseed, a division of Syngenta. He also has been an agriculturalist for Monitor Sugar Co.

He will serve growers in the Thumb region of mid-Michigan, according to AgVenture.

"I'm excited about the opportunity to work with AgVenture of Michigan. While they are a relatively new name in the area, AgVenture is very well established and highly respected--and is firmly seated among the country's top ten seed companies in market share," Bohn says. "I feel like corn and soybean farmers in this area stand to benefit from AgVenture's ability to access seed from multiple platforms. Beyond that, AgVenture of Michigan is committed to working with growers one-on-one to help them get the most profitability out of every acre."

Bohn is a graduate of Western Michigan University, with a degree in agriculture with a minor in business.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Steven Bohn, AgVenture of Michigan

Saginaw-based Handley & Associates, a Dale Carnegie training office, received some awards recently among its peer companies, honoring its growth.

Dale Carnegie is the author of "How to Win Friends and Influence People," which has given rise to a whole network of consulting and training agencies under the Dale Carnegie name.

Representatives of Saginaw Township's Handley & Associates, Inc., went to the 2011 Dale Carnegie Convention in San Diego, and brought home two major awards among Dale Carnegie franchises.

Handley's team won the Millennium Group Award, which goes each year to the highest-producing office in sales and market penetration across the 80 countries in which Dale Carnegie franchises are located, and is one of the highest honors a Dale Carnegie franchise can earn.

They also won the Silver Cup Award for being one of the franchise's top growth producers in North America in 2011. It's given to the top eight franchises each year. And, they brought back an additional recognition for being the No. 1 Dale Carnegie franchise in North America for market penetration.

Handley & Associates, located at 5800 Gratiot, has provided Dale Carnegie training and consulting for more than 30 years and serves 36 Michigan counties. Its team focuses on leadership, teamwork, interpersonal, customer service, communication and sales skills that can improve the performance of individuals, teams, and organizations.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Handley & Associates, Inc.

The region's largest law firm, Braun Kendrick, announced it has selected David Klippert as the new chairman of the firm's executive committee.

Klippert will be responsible for leading the firm in its development, as well as manage its finances, staff and offices in Saginaw, Midland and Mount Pleasant--all while maintaining his active law practice.

"Braun Kendrick has a dedicated and talented team of professionals who know how to work collaboratively and capitalize on each other’s strengths to obtain the best result for our clients," says Klippert. "It will be my pleasure to help lead the firm and continue to offer our region the most comprehensive legal services in a single law firm."

Klippert is a graduate of the University of Detroit Mercy Law School and has been practicing law for over 16 years.

In addition to his law practice, Klippert currently serves on several area nonprofit boards, including the Wenonah Park Properties, Inc. and Studio 23/The Arts Center. He also serves on the executive board of the Stevens Center for Family Business at Saginaw Valley State University.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Dave Klippert, Braun Kendrick

When we here at Mid Michigan Second Wave hear about grants being handed out locally, we think it's always good news. Our ears perk up just a little bit more, however, when we hear that those grants are going toward advancing the economy.

The Michigan Initiative for Innovation & Entrepreneurship recently awarded $55,000 in grants to Central Michigan University. The programs grants, which are administered by the Presidents Council and handed out across the state, will be used toward creating 200 new startup businesses and helping boost entrepreneurship-related programs and organizations on Michigan college campuses.

"We are pleased to be playing a leadership role along with other universities in Michigan in helping commercialize faculty inventions," says Jim Hageman, interim vice provost, Office of Research and Sponsored Programs. "The future for our university is continuing in this direction, working with faculty in developing intellectual property."

According to Central Michigan University, the funds will be used toward three projects on campus. Approximately $25,000 will help pilot a collaborative, multi-institutional business plan competition between CMU and Michigan Technological University. Another $22,000 will be used toward commercialization of new mercury absorbent technology for coal-fired power plants. And $8,000 will fund a market assessment for commercialization of a tap water filter for perchlorate.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Jim Hageman, Central Michigan University

The Michigan Academy of Science, Arts and Letters is active all over the state, so it's understandable that not all that many people realize its home base is little Alma.

But the Academy has been administrated from Alma College since 2004, the latest host for the 118-year-old academy that supports the sciences, social sciences and humanities across the state, with the help of 32 member institutions including universities and colleges.

So, it's fitting that the academy's annual conference for 2012 is coming home to Alma this spring, on March 2. Topics presented at the conference range from business administration to zoology.

"This organization is unusual in its broad and multidisciplinary focus," says Karen Gross, director of the Michigan Academy. "There are many state academies that focus solely on sciences. We do it all."

The keynote speaker also is from Alma; history and political science professor Ed Lorenz will address the Academy members and students. Awards also will be given to both undergraduate research projects and faculty presentations.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Karen Gross, Alma College

McLaren-Central Michigan hospital in Mount Pleasant recently won an award for outstanding quality among McLaren hospitals.

The President's Award is given annually to a McLaren partner that shows excellence in health care quality and fiscal leadership. It was announced by president and CEO of McLaren Health Phil Incarnati, and is the first time in the three years of the award that it's been given to a McLaren hospital.

"McLaren–Central Michigan is an extraordinary hospital," Incarnati says. "It earns outstanding quality scores, expands its physician team and services continually, and is fiscally strong because of its ongoing attention to costs. We are proud to have McLaren–Central Michigan as part of the McLaren family."

The Mount Pleasant hospital will share the award with McLaren Health Plan, the system's health insurance subsidiary. The two will split $100,000 as the monetary part of the award.

Incarnati says the reasons McLaren-Central was chosen include its strong leadership, and staff, nurse, doctor, volunteer and board cohesion among all parties.

"McLaren–Central Michigan combines the services of a large, urban hospital with the quality, compassion and personal excellence of a regional hospital," he says. "This hospital is truly committed to the well-being of its community."

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Phil Incarnati, McLaren Health Care System

Michigan Blood has a new employee in the position of public relations supervisor after hiring Tamar Chipp into the position late last month.

Chipp, who hold's a bachelor's degree in broadcasting and political science from Central Michigan University, formally worked at the Saginaw Community Foundation. Her primary responsibilities will be leading the nonprofit's community and media relations efforts in the Great Lakes Bay Region. Michigan Blood is an independent, nonprofit blood bank that provides blood for 32 hospitals across the state. Each year, the organization collects more than 110,000 pints of blood.

Chipp serves on the boards of the White Pine Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America and the Social Media Club Great Lakes Bay Chapter. She is a graduate of the Great Lakes Bay Regional African American Leadership Institute, the 1000 Leaders Initiative, and the Believer’s Bible Institute at Faith Harvest Church in Saginaw. Chipp also serves as the worship arts minister at Faith Harvest with her husband, Aaron Chipp.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Michigan Blood

Central Michigan University got some good news this week, as rankings for online education came out from U.S. News and World Report, and CMU's online programs got top marks.

CMU is no stranger to distance learning; the Mount Pleasant university has been doing such programs since 1971, and was an early adopter of online classes. It now offers almost 200 online bachelor's degree programs and 170 online master's degree programs.

It's the first time the magazine has rated online education programs, although it's famous for its rankings of colleges and graduate schools. CMU was ranked high in areas including student engagement and assessment, student services and technology, and faculty credentials and training.

It was ranked No. 3 in two categories: student services and technology in online graduate business programs, and student engagement and accreditation for online graduate education programs.

CMU also was ranked No. 10 for student services and technology in online bachelor's programs, No. 11 for student engagement and accreditation in online graduate business programs, and No. 20 for student services and technology in online graduate education programs.

"The continued growth of CMU's online programs, both in increased course offerings and student enrollment, reflects CMU's commitment to providing learning environments that are of the best academic quality while offering flexibility and faculty engagement that meets the educational needs of our students," says Merodie Hancock, VP of CMU's Off-Campus and Online Programs.

She also pointed out several notable alumni of CMU's online programs, who include Gen. Norton Schwartz, current chief of staff of the Air Force; Michael Orris, chief procurement officer for Rolls-Royce; Vivien Crea, Vice Admiral of the U.S. Coast Guard; and Scott Bernard, federal chief architect.

Distance and online learning programs at CMU are supplemented by more than 50 locations worldwide, including Atlanta; Washington, D.C.; Detroit; Camp Pendleton, Calif.; the Pentagon; Toronto; and Guadalajara, Mexico.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Merodie Hancock, Central Michigan University

The Great Lakes Loons, along with MidMichigan Health, are starting out 2012 by helping Mid Michigan kids get healthier and more active, with the announcement of the new Lou E's Fit Club.

The Loons mascot, Lou E. Loon, is loved by area kids as the head of Lou E.'s Kids Club at Dow Diamond baseball games. The new Fit Club takes that concept and adds information and resources to keep kids ages 6 to 12 in the Great Lakes Bay region active and physically fit.

Some of the benefits of the club include an email newsletter with ways to be active, upcoming events, and fun updates; a activity watch that tracks exercise, movement and heart rate and can help kids earn rewards for physical activity; and, of course, a kickoff party, which is coming up at the end of this month.

The Fit Club kickoff party is from 6 to 8 p.m., Feb. 21 at Dow Diamond, hosted by Lou E. Loon and MidMichigan Health.

"Lou E's Fit Club will provide a fun way to not only provide healthy news and information for children, but opportunities to become more active," says Stephanie Leibfritz, community education coordinator for MidMichigan Health. "Our goal is to increase physical fitness and reduce childhood obesity rates by increasing the frequency, duration and intensity of physical activity of all area youth. Lou E's Fit Club provides an avenue for making this happen for our region."

A new fitness trail also will be unveiled at Dow Diamond, where Lou E Loon demonstrates various exercises kids can do at six stations, getting kids up and moving.
 
Membership in the club is free and kids can sign up online or at guest services during any home game. The activity watch costs $15 and can be obtained at Dow Diamond.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Stephanie Liebfritz, MidMichigan Health

It's been less than six months since Isabella Pellet opened its doors and started manufacturing wood pellets.

The company, which received a $1.2 million business and industry loan from the USDA's Rural Development program, makes the soft pellets out of red pine. The end result is more BTUs--meaning between 10 and 20 percent more heat--with less ash when compared to the hardwood pellets that initially saturated the market for pellet-burning stoves. The red pine the company uses is procured right here in Michigan. Isabella Pellet also never uses whole logs, instead getting their source material from sawmills located throughout central and northern Michigan--material sawmills were initially disposing of as waste.

The cleaner-burning pellets are exactly what the company wanted to create for eco-friendly consumers.

"We are passionate about pellets and the environment," says Brock Gutierrez, sales manager for the plant. "Our product is renewable and eco-friendly, and that is important to us."

The company is located at 6900 W. Baseline Road. In addition to the home-heating pellets, the company also makes animal bedding.

The Isabella plant is the first in Michigan to manufacture premium softwood pellets. A list of dealers in the state can be found here.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Brock Gutierrez, Isabella Pellet

Mount Pleasant city manager Kathie Grinzinger is one of six Michigan officials recently named as the newest members of the Michigan Municipal League board of directors.

Six officials from across the state were selected to the board at the end of January. The selections included Battle Creek mayor Susan Baldwin; Rogers City mayor pro tem Debra Greene; Jackson councilmember Daniel Greer; East Lansing mayor pro tem Nathan Triplett; Kingsley village manager Adam Umbrasas; and Grinzinger.

"We are honored to have these members serve on our board," says league president Karen Majewski, who is also the mayor of Hamtramck. "We feel that each person selected will do an excellent job representing his or her community and region and helping further the league’s mission to restore Michigan to prosperity."

The league focuses on Michigan’s future economic prosperity, which the organization has indicated is dependent on having vibrant places and communities where people want to live, work and have fun.

In total, there are 19 members of the league's board.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Karen Majewski, Michigan Municipal League

It may not have been obvious to Michigan viewers of the Super Bowl, but there was a little piece of Michigan at the big game--other than former University of Michigan players and New York Giants David Bass and Mario Manningham--and in fact, it went home with those who attended.

The Great Lakes Bay Regional Convention and Visitor's Bureau was one of the sponsors of the official Super Bowl program, so the estimated 67,000 fans who watched the Super Bowl in person in Indianapolis' Lucas Oil Stadium were treated to a full-page ad helping them envision Pure Michigan.

"This is a tremendous opportunity for Michigan's Great Lakes Bay Region to gain national exposure and reach a captive audience of sports enthusiasts and leisure travelers. By partnering with the Holland CVB and leveraging the power of the Pure Michigan brand, we were able to secure this prominent placement for our region and launch our regional tourism brand to an entirely new audience," says Annette Rummel, president and CEO of the CVB.

The ad, which also appears on the official program online, features the Great Lakes Bay Region's golf fairways, along with images of windmills in Holland, Michigan -- a view of Michigan leisure travel from east to west, according to the ad.

It should get an even wider audience online, where about 590 million people were expected to see the program.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Annette Rummel, Great Lakes Bay Regional Convention & Visitor's Bureau

Three students at Saginaw Valley State University are getting funding from the college to pursue some creative research projects like studies on brain trauma, reproductive systems and species dominance.

The funds come from SVSU's Student Research and Creativity Institute, which awards up to $10,000 to eligible student research projects, and other creative projects.

The first project, researching traumatic brain injury in rats, is led by Sarah Fluharty, a psychology major who will receive $9,968 to conduct her research at the university's brain research lab. She will test the impact of an enriched environment on rats' recovery from brain injury. Each project is approved by an adviser. Fluharty's adviser, Jeffrey Smith, says the project "is well designed and will be an important addition to scientific literature."

Nancy Lackey, a biology and Spanish major, will receive $4,500 to study endocrine-disrupting chemicals on sperm competition in rats. Her goal is to explore reproductive health and its relation to environmental pollutants.

Finally, Matthew Wolf, a biology major, was awarded $4,168 to research the use of urine in crayfish as a signal of dominance. He collected about 250 male crayfish from the Cass River, and will study how they compete for resources like food, shelter and mating preference. He plans to publish his findings, as well as base an honors thesis on them.

Wolf is "an intelligent and ambitious individual" who "has displayed impressive levels of knowledge and determination that have contributed to his success as a college student," according to biology professor Arthur Martin.

The projects are chosen by a field of judges from varying academic departments on campus. The university commits $50,000 annually to fund student research and creative projects.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Saginaw Valley State University

If you're looking for a family weekend vacation this spring, look no further than down the road. Zehnder's of Frankenmuth just got voted the best destination for a family getaway by Metro Parent magazine -- or at least, its Splash Village Hotel and Waterpark did.

It was chosen in the magazine's Parent Picks survey, which asked parents from Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne counties to choose the best stores, services and locations in Michigan that fit families.

"We are extremely honored that Splash Village was voted number one by parents in southeastern Michigan," says Al Zehnder, the CEO and chairman of Zehnder's. "Last year was a real winner with more than 130,000 guests exceeding our 2011 projections and generating the best occupancy in the last five years. We strive to make Splash Village a year-round, safe and family-fun destination."

It does so by offering a 30,000-square-foot, indoor waterpark that's open year round and includes two four-story slides, a "lazy river" and water play areas for all ages. A café and snack bar, video arcade, and free shuttle service to downtown Frankenmuth round out the offerings that attracted so many families last year.

"Without snow for Michigan skiing late last year, our guests opted for an indoor vacation spot close to home. Our location in Frankenmuth is key to our present and future success in appealing to families of all ages," says Zehnder.

The hotel doesn't miss an opportunity to serve families, with special packages, birthday celebrations, and roomy suites. And, if you're really chilled by Michigan winter temperatures, keep in mind that the waterpark keeps a cozy 82-degree temperature going year-round.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Al Zehnder, Zehnder's of Frankenmuth