January 30, 2017
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Street Talk: Stage presence
One of the fun things about awards ceremonies where the winners are revealed at the event is the unscripted “acceptance” speeches from the honorees. The Business Journal’s 2016 Newsmaker of the Year breakfast before a sold-out crowd at Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park featured many such instances when winners in 16 categories took the […]
The ethical landmines of the Constitution’s emoluments
Whatever one may think about America’s prospects under the Trump administration, it seems clear already that his time in office will provide Americans with ample opportunities to learn history, ethics and civics lessons we might have otherwise ignored (sorta like “Hamilton,” but without the music). One such lesson, ongoing, is what, exactly, the emoluments clause […]
Public Record
MORTGAGES Selected mortgages filed with Kent County Register of Deeds JOLLANDS, Brian et al, Guaranteed Rate, Condo-Bluffs At Rivertown Park, $208,000 DEFOUW, Deborah L. et al, Huntington National Bank, Condo-Avalon Pointe Condominiums, $215,275 BOER, James M. et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Condo-Tapestry Square Townhomes, $213,750 NEUENFELDT, Gregg et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Copperfield […]
Employment increase is smallest in four years
National construction employment declined by 3,000 net jobs on a seasonally adjusted basis in December, according to analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data by the Associated Builders and Contractors. The industry added 102,000 net new jobs on a year-over-year basis, the smallest increase in more than four years. Of the five subsectors, only […]
Change Ups: Director receives Rising PR Star award
Lambert, Edwards & Associates director Amanda Passage is a winner of the 2016 PR News’ Rising PR Stars 30 & Under Awards. The annual competition showcases top talent and budding PR leaders who make communications matter in the marketplace. Passage joined LE&A in 2008 and has since become one of its youngest directors in the […]
Results of possible tax reform hard to predict
My mind has been on cable news overload in recent weeks given the election, transition, inauguration and confirmation process. There has been a lot of information to digest; trying to filter the hype from reality often takes some effort. Trade and tax policy were some of the hot-button issues that gathered some of the media […]
Attorneys: Visa program needs new life
A visa program that was created to allow employers access to highly skilled, highly educated foreign professionals is not meeting demand, according to two local attorneys. The H1-B is a temporary, nonimmigrant visa category that allows employers to petition for highly educated foreign nationals to fill jobs that require a bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience, […]
Appealing property tax assessments requires attention to the details
January in Michigan gives us a few things to look forward to: Newsmakers of the Year, more snow, holiday bills — and property tax assessments. Whether you own residential or commercial property, or both, you will be receiving a notice of assessment that assigns a value to your property for tax purposes. Should you disagree […]
Lack of skilled workers will hamstring economy
Construction season in Grand Rapids must move “just in time” in less than 30 days, but there are not enough skilled construction workers in the field with iPads and instruction. The tech sector is preparing for a growth spurt with Switch in Gaines Township but still is looking for employees with skill sets. The real […]
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Muskegon joins pop-up shop craze
(As seen on WZZM TV 13) The city of Muskegon is thinking inside the box — one measuring between 90 and 150 square feet — to inject a retail presence in the downtown. Construction is underway on a cluster of nine or 10 pop-up shops, or chalets, to house small retail outlets on Western Avenue […]
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Drone services company flying high
Great Lakes Drone Company’s viral aerial video of a frozen lighthouse in St. Joseph in December put the new company on the map. The footage, picked up by The Washington Post, NBC, the Chicago Tribune and several news outlets in the U.K., attracted so much attention that the Watervliet-based unmanned aerial videography, photography and survey […]
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Inside Track: Seibold finds you can go home again
Amna Seibold said when she graduated from East Grand Rapids High School and headed off to Albion College she was sure of one thing: She’d never move back to her hometown. “It turns out it’s a nice place to raise a family,” she joked. Today, not only does Seibold reside in the community where she […]
National firms putting GR on radar
KC Conway has worked in Atlanta for the past 35 years, but he’s ready to move to Grand Rapids. The senior vice president of SunTrust Bank said when he started working with Colliers International in Grand Rapids a few years ago, the quality of life quickly appealed to him, almost so much he’d be ready […]
Construction industry nears tipping point
With a pipeline full of projects and a workforce still recovering from the Great Recession, the Michigan construction industry might be nearing a bottleneck. For more than two years, construction professionals have stressed the lack of trade workers but companies were able to make do with available resources. Now as general contractors near spring, when […]
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Middleville Tool & Die takes on investment partner
Just prior to the close of 2016, family-owned Middleville Tool & Die made a significant decision; the company signed an agreement with an investment partner to help support its growth going forward. The Bayer family is located on the east side of the state and operates a series of metal working businesses, including Bayloff Stamped […]
