Change Ups: Airport coin containers raise nearly $4K for homeless

Change Ups: Airport coin containers raise nearly $4K for homeless

From left: Tara Hernandez, marketing and communications director at Gerald R. Ford International Airport; Abbey Sladick, VP of communication at Mel Trotter Ministries; and Alexis Reame, community relations manager at Lake Michigan Credit Union.

Coin containers installed in the fall of 2018 at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport’s standard security screening area, as well as at the TSA pre-check point, have netted $3,501 to Mel Trotter Ministries. The program, called “For GRReat Change,” will help provide meals, shelter, and various programs and services to assist men, women and children to overcome homelessness. Lake Michigan Credit Union matched all of the funds raised.

ADVERTISING & MARKETING

LEAD Marketing Agency hired Bryn Coan as digital media manager.

ARCITECTURE & ENGINEERING

Christie Doty joined AMDG Architects as an associate.

ASSOCIATIONS

The Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce is sending out a survey to identify the needs of minority-owned businesses in Muskegon County as part of its Livability Lab: 100-Day Challenge. The survey asks minority-owned businesses less than 10 questions about their business and what needs they could benefit from. Email livabilitylab@gmail.com for more information.

AWARDS

Madison Martinez, event coordinator at the Grand Rapids Downtown Market, won a 2019 WAVE (Way Above Visitor Expectations) Award from Experience GR in the Retail & Services category. The WAVE Awards were created to recognize excellence in hospitality in Grand Rapids and Kent County.

The Kent County Road Commission received an Award of Merit from the Asphalt Pavement Association of Michigan and the Michigan Department of Transportation for two of its 2019 improvement projects: Reconstruction of Lincoln Lake Avenue from the northern city limits of Lowell to McPherson Street and the reconstruction of Whitneyville Avenue between 48th Street and 66th Street, both completed by contractor Superior Asphalt.

BANKING

Arbor Financial Credit Union in Kalamazoo hired Chris Jacobs as the organization’s vice president of consumer lending.

BUSINESS SERVICES

Kalamazoo-based Gallagher Uniform employee Cindi Roth won the ACE (Associate Committed to Excellence) Award during the company’s annual meeting. Roth, who has worked for the company since 1976, began working in the steam tunnel and then transitioned to the folding station, ensuring all uniforms are pressed, prepared and polished before delivery.

FOOD & BEVERAGE

Malamiah Juice Bar & Eatery opened a 1,177-square-foot store at Studio Park, 435 Ionia Ave. SW, Suite 128. The business sells juices, smoothies and acai bowls, and will eventually add oatmeal, tigernut flour waffles, Ferris Coffee, teas, Sacred Springs Kombucha, toasts, bagels, salads, sandwiches and more. Catering services are available.

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Grand Wealth Management has more than doubled its downtown offices into a new space in Bridgewater Place. The wealth management firm designed its new space with certain physical and psychological features in mind to provide its high net worth clients with a more comfortable and collaborative experience.

HEALTH

Hackley Community Care in Muskegon announced Dr. Leslie Kingsley, MD, was appointed its chief medical officer. Kingsley joined Hackley Community Care in 2015 as a family practice physician.

Skytron announced the availability of its new Sterling P1000 washer-disinfector. The machine streamlines the decontamination process with easy-to-operate touch panel with swipe function, showing all relevant information of the program needed by the operators. P1000 has the lowest energy and water consumption in its class, to keep operating costs at a minimum and contribute to a clean environment. P1000 comes with a wide range of racks and modules and holds up to 12 DIN baskets. All data from the P1000 is exchangeable with common computer systems.

INSURANCE

Justin Norcross, president of L Squared Insurance Agency of Grand Rapids, recently was awarded the designation of Certified Professional Insurance Agent, a professional designation conferred by the American Insurance Marketing and Sales Society. Norcross successfully completed three Insurance Success Seminars. The CPIA designation stands for professionalism, commitment to sales training and results, and technical knowledge.

LEGAL

Professional Research Services selected 34 Warner Norcross + Judd LLP attorneys from the Grand Rapids and Muskegon offices to be featured in Grand Rapids Magazine as 2019 Top Lawyers. Attorneys representing 14 different practice areas were selected for the award. Results are published in the magazine’s December issue.

Jason P. Colvin joined Miller Johnson as an associate in its Kalamazoo office. He works in the litigation section and in the family law practice group. Colvin earned his J.D. magna cum laude from Western Michigan University Cooley Law School in January 2016.

LEISURE & RECREATION

Experience Grand Rapids announced the economic impact in Grand Rapids via the projected December meetings and conventions: Total No. of meetings: 6; total attendees: 9,395; total hotel nights: 4,456; and total estimated spending: $7,574,822.01. Meetings include Michigan Farm Bureau’s 2019 Annual Show; Grand Rapids Gymnastics’ 2019 Gymnastics on the Grand; Greater Michigan Ford Dealers Board Meeting; 2019 Mary Free Bed Invitational Adult Wheelchair Basketball Tournament; 2019 Great Lakes Fruit & Vegetable Farm Market Expo; and Michigan Republican Party’s December Committee Meeting.

West Michigan Tourist Association launched its West Michigan Live Camera Gallery, providing live video feeds of what’s happening right now across the West Michigan area. Camera feeds will continue to be added to the gallery moving forward, expanding the available views of the West Michigan area. Current camera feeds range from Mackinac Island to Muskegon to Traverse City and beyond. Details: wmta.org/live-west-michigan-camera-gallery.

MANUFACTURING

Holland-based Composite Builders was approved as a supplier for Austin, Texas-based Firefly Aerospace Inc. an in-space mobility vehicle company. Composite Builders will manufacture carbon fiber components used on Firefly’s space vehicles. Firefly is developing a family of launch vehicles and in-space services.

National Nail’s STINGER partnered with the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety's FORTIFIED Home program, specifically highlighting the STINGER NailPac. The NailPac seals out moisture and provides superior holding power in up to 150 mph hurricane-force winds. NailPac meets the standards required of a FORTIFIED Roof — a level of protection in the FORTIFIED Home program that ensures water will stay out of the house in the event of severe weather.

NONPROFITS

Kimberly Dimmett joined Every Woman’s Place Inc. in Muskegon as executive director.

Mel Trotter Ministries served Thanksgiving meals at no cost to 1,500 homeless individuals and families with the help of nearly 800 volunteers at DeVos Place Convention Center.

The Ronald McDonald House of Western Michigan named Ellen Carpenter as its executive director.

SUSTAINABILITY

The city of Grand Rapids received the Michigan Green Communities Network’s highest honor — gold certification — for the second year in a row in the Michigan Green Communities Challenge, for creating a sustainability roadmap and establishing benchmarks for the Grand Rapids community’s progress toward sustainability initiatives.