Change Ups: Grant will promote Native American wellness

Change Ups: Grant will promote Native American wellness

A consortium of three Potawatomi tribes received a $4,198,250 grant from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The five-year pilot program is intended to promote wellness in young children from birth through age 8, expectant mothers and families of both. The Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi, Pokagon Band of Potawatomi and Gun Lake Tribe of Pottawatomi formed a consortium to apply for the program called Project Linking Actions for Unmet Needs in Children’s Health. Project LAUNCH uses culturally appropriate curricula, including Positive Indian Parenting developed by the National Indian Child Welfare Association and Families of Tradition produced by the White Bison Society.

ACCOUNTING

Hungerford, Aldrin, Nichols and Carter PC  announced the addition of Heather Halligan to the new position of marketing specialist.

ARTS

Maureen Fitzgerald Penn, proprietor of Penn & Ink Communications, has been appointed to a second term as Fund Development Board chairperson for Kent District Library.

ASSOCIATIONS

The American Association of State Colleges and Universities announced the appointment of Ferris State University President David Eisler to its board of directors.

Great Lakes Caring, one of the largest home health and hospice providers in the Midwest, announced music therapist Rebecca Findley has been voted vice president-elect for the Great Lakes region of the American Music Therapy Association.

The American Subcontractors Association Inc. has appointed Kent Companies CEO Jeffrey VanderLaan to its national board of directors. VanderLaan currently serves as president of ASA’s Michigan chapter.

AWARDS

The Honorable Daniel Zemaitis has been honored at the Michigan Court Appointed Special Advocates Conference as 2012 Judge of the Year. The honor is bestowed to a Michigan judge who has demonstrated leadership and innovation in promoting CASA within the judicial community and to the public and has made significant contributions to the advancement of children’s issues and exemplified exceptional leadership in furthering quality representation of children.

BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION

Cosmopolitan Home Magazine honored Eastbrook Homes with four 2012 Awards of Excellence for its participation in the Fall Parade of Homes. Categories it won: Best Interior Elements, Best Kitchen, Best Floor Plan and Best Curb Appeal.

Owen-Ames-Kimball Co. announced the appointment of Jeff Weber to director of operations. Weber will oversee quality control, logistics management, project scheduling and team guidance for the company’s Michigan operations.

Triangle Associates Inc. announced the additions of Rick Van Til Jr. as marketing coordinator and Michael Hawarny as architectural draftsman.

EDUCATION

Kent Career Tech Center Hospitality/Culinary Program announced it has received Green Certification from the Green Restaurant Association, becoming the first 3-Star Green Certified Restaurant in Michigan.

FINANCIAL SERVICES

VantagePointe Financial Group announced the addition of Dan Ferwerda as investment advisor representative.

Norris, Perné & French announced Chad Dutcher, CFA, has been promoted to portfolio manager. He joined NPD in 2007 as a research analyst.

HEALTH

Dr. Katherine Heineman has joined Holistic Care Approach. Heineman completed her residency in neuromusculoskeletal medicine and osteopath manipulative medicine at Mercy Health Partners in Muskegon. She will also serve as HCA’s medical director.

Dr. William G. Dodds, founder of The Fertility Center, has received recognition through a peer nomination process as one of the best doctors in reproductive endocrinology. The Fertility Center celebrated its 20th anniversary, with over 10,000 births and a success/cost efficiency rate in the top 5 percent nationally.

INSURANCE

Acrisure announced the promotion of Brad Rutgers to corporate risk manager.

Doyle & Odgen Insurance announced the addition of Pamela Smits to its employee benefits department as life and health administrator.

Timothy J. Bremer has joined Hastings Mutual Insurance Co. as vice president/chief information officer.

LEGAL

Jonathan J. Siebers, attorney/shareholder with Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge, is the first attorney in Michigan to become a Certified Merger & Acquisition Advisor.

Plunkett Cooney, which has an office in Grand Rapids, received a top AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, a leading legal services peer and client review service. The rating is an objective indicator of a firm’s high ethical standards and professional ability.

Warner Norcross & Judd LLP: announced the additions of six attorneys: Kelechi E. Adibe, Emily E. Bakeman, Adam J. Benitez, Elinor R. Jordan, Laura Rogers-Raleigh and Margaret Stalker Jozwiak.

U.S. News Best Lawyers honored four Varnum attorneys as Lawyer of the Year in their respective areas of practice: banking and finance, Ron DeWaard; litigation-municipal, Randall Kraker; banking and finance law, Joan Schleef; and labor law-management, John Patrick White.

LOGISTICS

Capital Region Airport Authority announced the grand opening of the Port Lansing Global Logistics Centre, 2350 Port Lansing Road. The $6 million center is the first phase in the CRAA’s plan to spur more than $20 million in private development at the 110-acre site during the next decade.

MANUFACTURING

Cascade Engineering announced the promotion of DiAnna Stephens to vice president of legal and business systems. Stephens will provide executive leadership for the key legal and internal system services she has managed as director of legal and risk management, including corporate-quality, IS and environmental, safety and sustainability.

Kellogg Co. announced the election of Mary A. Laschinger to its board of directors. Laschinger is senior vice president of International Paper and president of its xpedx distribution business.

Perrigo announced the additions of Bhanu Singh, SAP business analyst, and Mary McAlister, senior global human resource technology analyst for the human resources team. It also announced the promotions of Ken Humbarger, cost analyst for the operations finance team; Perry Truitt, corporate black belt, lean sigma, for the continuous improvement program office; and Katie Flage, operations management trainee for the Allegan logistics center britestock team.

PUBLIC SERVICE

Amy L. VanDyke, an associate of the law firm Mika Meyers Beckett & Jones PLC, was elected to the Spring Lake Township Planning Board.

TECHNOLOGY

NeXt I.T. announced Eric Ringelberg was honored by Corp! Magazine as a 2012 Entrepreneur of Distinction. Ringelberg was honored for his stamina, creative insight and forward thinking to establish, maintain and grow NeXt I.T.

Trivalent Group announced the six selection committee members who will determine the recipients for Compassion IT, a philanthropic initiative that will provide $30,000 in technology equipment and support to Michigan nonprofits. The seventh spot is reserved for a public vote of the top five nonprofit organizations starting Nov. 15 (www.TGCompassionIT.com). The six committee members are: Candace Dugan, Warner Norcross & Judd; Judi Sullivan, Community Bankers of Michigan; Quincy Williams, School of Public, Nonprofit & Health Administration, Grand Valley State University; Larry Andrus, Trivalent Group; Bjorn Bylsma, Trivalent Group; and Phil Catlett, Better Business Bureau of Western Michigan.

TRAVEL & TOURISM

Tulip City Air Service Inc. announced it has named Dwight Quenga director of operations and Rex Bartlett chief pilot.