August 12, 2013
Looking in the crystal ball: Aligning organization and skills
In my last article I raised the issue of having the right skills for organization requirements. It was an attempt to focus thinking on the fact that many organizations will not have the quality of skills they need to be competitive in a world economy or even a domestic industry. Since most organizations have been […]
Public Record
MORTGAGES Selected mortgages filed with Kent County Register of Deeds DUNCAN, Frank Y. III et al, Chemical Bank, Van Singel Farms No. 2, Lot 51, $508,000 ASPEN PROPERTY MANAGEMENT LLC, Celtic Bank Corp., Vineland Plat, Lot 7, $207,000 PIERCE, Gregory J. et al, MMS Mortgage Services, Lowell Twp., 14-6-9, $233,447 TRINITY EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH OF […]
It’s a commercial version of David vs. Goliath
A national commercial real estate conglomerate has entered the West Michigan market and the local Commercial Alliance of Realtors is out to defend its turf. The CoStar Group bills itself as one of the largest providers of information and marketing services to commercial real estate professionals across the nation and in the United Kingdom. The […]
Record earnings in Q2 for ChoiceOne Bank
ChoiceOne Financial Services (OTCBB: COFS) in Sparta, parent company of ChoiceOne Bank, reported net income of $1,312,000 for the second quarter, compared to $1,021,000 in the same period in 2012. Earnings per share were 40 cents, compared to 31 cents in the second quarter of 2012. Net income for the first six months of 2013 […]
Street Talk: Spectrum queues up for 1.2 million people with no health care insurance
Why the health care insurance issue won’t go away A new clinic that Spectrum Health just opened in Grand Rapids for people who don’t have a primary care doctor – mainly because of lack of health insurance – is directly linked to the Affordable Care Act. That might not sit well with tea party supporters […]
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City’s EDC receives more EPA dollars
The Grand Rapids Economic Development Corp. revealed last week it now has enough federal dollars on hand to assist with the remediation cost to redevelop a vacant downtown building. The office’s Jonathan Klooster told board members the corporation has received an additional $260,000 in grant funds from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in the EPA’s […]
MDOT trying to reduce delays on highways
The Michigan Department of Transportation’s Grand Region, which maintains more than 3,000 miles of state roadways in West Michigan, told the Grand Valley Metro Council recently it has a goal to reduce non-reoccurring delays on heavily-traveled I-96 and US-131 by 10 percent. “We’re on target with that goal,” said Grand Region engineer and director Roger […]
What you listen to can determine your mood and your fate
Everyone has their own time machine. The only question is: how are you using it? The time machine I’m referring to is music — the music you grew up with and the music you listen to every day. I refer to it as the “music transportation department” because the right song can transport you back […]
Chemical Bank forms new Government Lending Program for small business
During the darkest days of the recession, there was a bad joke about banking making the rounds among businesses vainly seeking capital: the only time the bank called was when they called your loan. Things are better now, according to a commercial lending professional at Chemical Bank. With headquarters in Midland, it is a very […]
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Change Ups: West Michigan residents destined for U.S. sled hockey team
Grand Rapids Sled Wings’ adult sled hockey defenseman Tyler Anderson, of Jenison, and forward Robert Thrailkill Jr., of Grand Haven, have been named to the 2013-14 U.S. National Developmental Sled Hockey Team. The 22-year-olds were among 67 players who took part in USA Hockey’s two-day tryout camp near Buffalo, N.Y. Of the 17 players elected […]
Bank of Holland named SBA Diversity Lender of the Year
The U.S. Small Business Administration has advised The Bank of Holland that it has been selected as the agency's Michigan SBA Diversity Lender of the Year. The award goes to a bank that best demonstrates a commitment to providing guidance and capital to Michigan businesses owned by veterans, women, and minorities. “The Bank of Holland […]
Transitions and transformations of successful leaders
For years, industry was successful because of the “10 percent inspiration, 90 percent perspiration” philosophy. Hard work and a little luck launched many a career and founded many a company. Those days gave way in the mid-1990s to organizations that were successful — sometimes more in spite of themselves than because of careful planning — […]
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Increases in hiring may uncover embezzlements
A Plante Moran embezzlement expert says that as the economy improves and hiring increases, there may be more discoveries of cases like that in South Haven, where the former bookkeeper of the Village Market Food Centers chain was sentenced to 87 months in prison for stealing about $6.5 million from the company. With employers’ confidence […]
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CAA makes sound decision for theater
Fans of local performance art are likely to have their experiences enhanced a bit when they visit DeVos Performance Hall this season. The Convention and Arena Authority recently agreed to make $3.3 million worth of upgrades to DeVos Place, which houses the hall, and Van Andel Arena. Twenty-six projects are on the board’s to-do list. […]
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New Preferred CU will cover 28 counties
Grand Valley Co-op Credit Union of Grand Rapids and Preferred Federal Credit Union of Greenville have announced the result of their July merger will give the new entity six full-service locations from Kalamazoo to Ludington. The combined credit unions will be called Preferred Credit Union, which will be headquartered in the former home of Grand […]
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Learning From Scratch: a true community endeavor
(As seen on WZZM TV 13) Former special education teacher Betsey Hamm knew that the students she worked with, and others like them, needed hands-on projects to be successful in the classroom, but unfortunately, materials were costly and hard to come by. “I wanted to set up something for teachers in the community where they […]
Judgments confirm debt, not payment
A judgment in favor of a plaintiff who is owed a debt is not a promise that the debtor will pay. This aspect of litigation is often misunderstood, and the possibility of never collecting on the debt should be a big part of an individual’s consideration of whether or not to file suit. Judgments confirm […]
Regional MDOT partnership on the right road
Michigan Department of Transportation Grand Region representatives updated Grand Valley Metropolitan Council members on planned road improvement projects for the coming year. One could read that sentence with some measure of optimism — there are projects — or with focus on the word “planned.” In any case, such plans are of thin cloth, tenuous threads […]
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616 Development heads down the aisle
The distinctive neo-Gothic structure that once served as a place of worship has all the possibilities to become one of the most unique places to call home in one of the city’s most noted neighborhoods, Heritage Hill. 616 Development revealed last week that it will convert the former Bethlehem Lutheran Church at 253 Prospect Ave. […]
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Inside Track: A self-described dreamer lands her dream job in an urban setting
She readily admits that she is a lifelong dreamer and a learner who wants to be as fully involved as possible with those around her. As director of community development for 616 Development, Monica Clark devotedly serves as the bridge between the firm’s urban development arm and its property management brand, 616 Lofts — where […]
