Change Ups: Hopkins appointed Safe Haven’s director

Change Ups: Hopkins appointed Safe Haven’s director

Megan Hopkins was appointed Safe Haven Ministries’ executive director. She worked as the nonprofit’s interim director since May. Hopkins first became involved with Safe Haven two years ago as a volunteer, supporting its capital campaign. She also provided professional development and leadership training to the Safe Haven staff. Safe Haven is a comprehensive domestic violence agency in Grand Rapids that offers emergency shelter, nonresidential support services, prevention and education.

ARTS

Muskegon-based Lakeshore Art Festival’s Keepin’ It Green initiative was recognized by the Muskegon Area Sustainability Coalition with a 2017 Sustainability Champion Award. The Festival piloted this year a new program that allowed guests to fill reusable cups at a free water station instead of buying water bottles. Food vendors were required to utilize compostable or post-consumer serving ware, diverting tons of waste from landfills through recycling and composting efforts, and an environmental education booth was hosted in the Children’s Lane.

AWARDS

Doyle & Ogden Insurance earned a 2017 Safeco Insurance Make More Happen Award for its volunteerism to make positive change happen in their community. The award includes $5,000 to use toward its community work with Del J. & Jean B. Doyle Family Foundation.

The Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce announced the winners of its 2017 Diversity Visionary Awards: Small Business Division: Four Star Recipient, Grand Rapids Community Foundation; Three Star Recipient, Kids’ Food Basket; Rising Star Recipient, Center for Arts and Technology, Mind over Music and Grand Rapids Opportunities for Women. Large Business Division: Four Star Recipient, Grand Valley State University and Herman Miller; Three Star Recipient, Rockford Construction; and Rising Star Recipient, Mercy Health.

Jodi Gruner of Byron Center is the recipient of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Front Line Ambassador Award.

The Kent County Purchasing Division is the recipient of the Michigan Public Purchasing Officers Association’s 2017 Agency of the Year Award.

BUSINESS SERVICES

DK Security was awarded a five-year contract to provide security officer services for Consumers Energy’s headquarters in Jackson and several other facilities throughout the state, including its power-generating plants. DK also will provide security services to Consumers Energy construction projects throughout the state of Michigan; locations and duration of these projects will vary.

Norton Shores-based Nichols acquired Spectrum Janitorial Supply, expanding their geographic footprint to include Indianapolis, Indiana and Decatur, Illinois.

OnSite Wellness launched Small Business Solution and Small Business Solution Plus wellness packages for businesses with less than 100 employees. The programs are designed to help increase retention, boost productivity and foster thriving workplace cultures.

CONSTRUCTION

CD Barnes Construction selected subcontractor DeJong and Potter Electric from Wayland for its Key to Our Success Award for DeJong’s work on CD Barnes’ Timberview Apartments project in Grand Haven.

Elzinga & Volkers in Holland earned a dual certification for firestop standards by third-party testing and certification services, FM and UL, which helps companies demonstrate safety, confirm compliance, enhance sustainability and deliver quality and performance. The certifications make E&V the first member in Michigan and the eighth member of the Firestop Contractors International Association in the U.S. to earn this achievement.

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Matthew S. Smartt, wealth advisor for Belmont-based Henrickson Nauta Wealth Advisor, was authorized by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards to use the Certified Financial Planner and CFP certification marks in accordance with CFP Board certification and renewal requirements.

GOVERNMENT

The Kent County Health Department created accesskent.com/health/pfas/belmont.htm, which links to other sites and fact pages. Residents also can sign up to receive weekly newsletter updates by emailing kcpfas@kentcountymi.gov.

Plainfield Township appointed Cathleen Postmus as its new clerk. Postmus previously worked for the Grand Rapids Police Department for more than 27 years.

GRANTS

W.K. Kellogg Foundation of Battle Creek funded a $750,000 three-year grant to Generations United, in partnership with National Indian Child Welfare Association and A Second Chance Inc., to recruit and prepare family caregivers to join Generations United’s GrAND Voices network, a group of family caregiver advocates who educate, represent and testify on behalf of grandparents and other relatives raising children.

MANUFACTURING

Dematic announced it will consolidate the Egemin Automation and NDC Automation brands into a single global Dematic brand. Starting in 2018, all of Egemin’s and NDC’s warehouse automation solutions will be globally branded and available to the market as Dematic.

Lindberg/MPH in Riverside announced the shipment of two electrically heated Pacemaker integral quench furnaces that will be used for carburizing and hardening applications.

Medizone International Inc. in Kalamazoo announced the appointment of Philip A. Theodore as executive vice president — operations and administration, general counsel and corporate secretary. It also announced it has entered into an agreement for the introduction and distribution of AsepticSure in the Nordic Region. Medizone granted Aglon as exclusive distribution rights for the AsepticSure®system in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland. 

Hilliard, Ohio-based VARGO hired Eric Vander Zee as a systems engineer who will be based out of the company’s Walker office.

Ranir completed a 5,000-square-foot addition on the second floor of the company’s headquarters, aimed at creating and launching new products in a more collaborative, innovative way. Ranir manufactures store-brand oral care products and value-branded oral care products under the Plackers and REMBRANDT trademarks.

PUBLIC RELATIONS

SeyferthPR announced the promotion of Jill Simpson to senior account executive. Simpson, who joined the firm about a year ago, comes from an extensive background in integrated marketing, social media and brand communications from within agency and corporate settings. 

REAL ESTATE

Bradley Co. moved to the Waters Center, at 161 Ottawa Ave. NW, Suite 308, overlooking Grand Rapids’ Central Business District.

NAI Wisinski of West Michigan announced investment specialist Russ Bono earned the Certified Commercial Investment Member designation. NAI Wisinski now has seven agents that hold the CCIM designation. CCIM designees can help their clients minimize risk, enhance credibility, make informed decisions and close deals.

RESTAURANTS

Meritage Hospitality Group’s Wendy’s of Michigan announced their Change a Child’s Life campaign that runs through Dec. 31 will give customers the option to round up their bill by 50 cents, buy a pin-up for $1 or text “CARE” to 41010 for $10 donations to help provide children with their patient care at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. Customers receive coupons for a free small chili, Jr. Frosty, and value drink for future visits.

SPORTS

Michigan State University and University of Georgia men’s basketball teams recently presented a check for $339,448.90 to the American Red Cross before an exhibition basketball game at Van Andel Arena. The game became a last-minute addition to the schedule to raise funds to support disaster relief efforts.

Midwest United Soccer Fields recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for their new soccer fields due to be ready spring 2018 at 3450 36th St. SE, Kentwood.

SUSTAINABILITY

The city of Grand Rapids was recognized by the Energy Services Coalition – Michigan Chapter with the 2017 Leaders in Energy Efficiency Award for its $6.3-million project at the Lake Michigan Filtration Plant that included replacing boilers and piping, exterior and interior lighting, and installation of a geothermal HVAC system. The changes are expected to annually save $108,657.

E3M Solutions announced CWD’s Brass Works Building in Grand Rapids earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR certification for superior energy performance.

TECHNOLOGY

EarthTronics in Muskegon introduced a new multifunctional plug-in LED bulbs designed to replace pin-based compact fluorescent lamps in a variety of popular applications, including general office, medical and hospitality.

Grand Rapids Business Journal Top Women Owned Business nominee GreenCup Website Services celebrated its fifth anniversary.

Terryberry announced a new feature to its 360 Recognition Platform’s Organizational Communication is designed to engage executive teams more deeply in the recognition process and provide a channel to communicate high-level company goals to employees.

Open Systems Technologies was named a 2017 IoT Innovator by CRN, a brand of The Channel Company. OST is one of only 22 solution providers in North America to be honored with the inaugural award.

Software application designer Atomic Object was named to the Detroit Free Press’ 2017 Top Workplaces list.

Vista IT Group, a 31-year-old national technology provider and systems integrator, announced it was named a partner in Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s strategic Replacement Parts Business program.

Zeeland-based Extol and CEMAS reached an agreement that appoints Extol as the sole distributor of CEMAS’s vibration and hybrid vibration welding machines in the United States and Canada. Customers in the U.S. and Canada can purchase from CEMAS’s wide selection of vibration welding machines through Extol, and Extol will build and provide tooling, stock and supply spare parts, and offer service and support.