March 31, 2014
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Baby boomer wealth leads to business for DWH
DWH, a Grand Rapids business advisory firm launched in 2006 by Doug Wilterdink, has gone from a two-person staff to 30 and just opened an office in Detroit at the request of wealth management companies that refer DWH to their clients. The firm also has added a new partner, Kirk Koeman. The growing firm, headquartered […]
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Change Ups: Enslen joins delegation to Vietnam, Thailand
Miller Canfield’s legal legacy spans 162 years, with a global focus for two decades. Principal Pamela Enslen of Kalamazoo continued the firm’s international outreach when she was part of an American Bar Association delegation of mediators and arbitrators who traveled to Vietnam and Thailand to promote international dispute resolution. Miller Canfield has offices in Michigan, […]
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It’s a tale of two economies for Michigan’s exporters
The worldwide economic recovery advances at two uneven speeds, according to the latest Interim Economic Assessment published this month by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, a Paris-based think-tankof the 34 richest economies in the world. Depending on the destination of their foreign sales, Michigan’s exporting companies are experiencing either a strengthening or weakening […]
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Public Record
MORTGAGES Selected mortgages filed with Kent County Register of Deeds LUEBS, Thomas et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Condo-Flat River Forest, $206,250 KOS, Margaret et al, Fifth Third Mortgage, Tammarron No. 3, Lot 114, $232,500 THOMAS, Brett W. et al, Huntington National Bank, Vergennes Twp., 34-7-9, $241,900 RIGGS, Roger et al, Huntington National Bank, Condo-River […]
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The questions that matter most in a sales presentation
When you’re giving your sales presentation, do you really know what the customer is thinking or what they’re asking themselves as you’re presenting? I doubt it. You’re too busy trying to sell. Shake the hand. Smile the smile. Show the slides. Talk the talk. Do the demo. Ask the superficial questions. Try the close. Try […]
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Street Talk: For conventions, it’s GR vs. Detroit, not Muskegon
Doug Small’s job is to sell Grand Rapids to the convention and tourism industries. As president and “chief experience officer” at Experience Grand Rapids, the convention and tourism bureau, Small and his staff are overjoyed every time the once-famous Furniture City makes a prominent national list of cool places. Last week, Small was on WGVU’s […]
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Persistent fraud activity presents opportunities
Bank fraud is a prevalent problem for both personal and business accounts. There are multiple strategies in place to deter and reduce bank fraud, but industry officials say the activity remains persistent. The 2013 Identity Fraud Report published by Javelin Strategy and Research noted 12.6 million individuals were victims of fraud in 2012 and more […]
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Comic-Con boldly goes into its second year
The sophomore year of Grand Rapids Comic-Con is expanding at warp-speed. This year’s event has been extended from last year’s one day to three days, will be held at a larger venue, and will include a star from a storied sci-fi television and movie franchise that challenges explorers to boldly go where no one has […]
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Trade with Latin America is a tough nut to crack
Latin America tends to be overlooked as a market for U.S. exports, with Europe and Asia getting the most hype, according to a high-ranking officer of the U.S. Department of Commerce. “The money is being made here,” said Walter M. Bastian, referring to the Western Hemisphere. He is deputy assistant secretary for the Western Hemisphere […]
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Bridge on track for 2020 completion
The new international bridge between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, remains on track for 2020 completion, according to Mark Butler, senior communications advisor for Transport Canada. Butler said although the United States government has not yet appropriated the $250 million for the U.S. Inspection Plaza, it is fully expected the funding will be allocated in the […]
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People’s core values predict what can be expected from them
Predictability: It’s almost never found — not in the weather, stock market, government, or almost any other facet of life. There is one area of life where predictability is crucial to your well-being, and that is the predictability of people. We make many decisions in life based on an assessment of the predictability in a […]
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Game on, for women pursuing corporate boards
A Michigan-based professional development and networking organization for women is highlighting the author of “The Board Game” at an upcoming event. Inforum, a professional women’s alliance with regional offices based in Grand Rapids and Detroit, is featuring author Betsy Berkhemer-Credaire at an April 3 event at Cascade Hills Country Club, 3725 Cascade Road SE, Grand […]
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Managing Social Security — and your lottery jackpot
Americans who make it to age 62 have a major financial decision to make: start drawing Social Security benefits now? Or wait? On the other hand, very few of us will ever face the dilemma after winning a big lottery jackpot: take it as a lump sum or over 20 years? The Business Journal asked […]
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The value of a four-year degree is over an entire career
The Grand Rapids Business Journal reported that Gov. Rick Snyder, at the economic summit he hosted in Grand Rapids, said: “Michigan education is “too often focused on a diploma or a degree, and not saying, ‘Are you career ready?’” The Business Journal writes: In determining Michigan’s economic future, “probably the single most important issue is […]
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GR Makers and The Factory join forces
Individuals seeking collaborative and creative work environments can now take advantage of a new partnership between two local facilities. Two community-driven co-working spaces based in Grand Rapids are partnering to offer discounted rates for members interested in obtaining access to both spaces and corresponding networks. GR Makers, an open community lab, and The Factory, a […]
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Look and listen before spending on projects that don’t serve public needs
Transportation issues are certainly a focus point in regional (and state) planning this year, bringing to the forefront initiatives and plans discussed for almost a decade — and bringing back discussion of old errors. Regional hearings hosted by the Michigan Department of Transportation rekindled those debates and were given the benefit of prior experience and […]
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Streetcar study should be completed this year
(As seen on WZZM TV 13) The possibility of a streetcar line in Grand Rapids is again under consideration. The idea was first proposed in 2008, but quickly dissolved due to the economic downturn. Recently, however, a new committee was formed, and a study now is underway to determine the viability of a streetcar line […]
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MDOT looks at options for U.S. 131 and I-96
Earlier this month the Michigan Department of Transportation held two public meetings to gather feedback regarding stretches of U.S. 131 and I-96. The department is responsible for the preservation of both highways and said that, while no construction timeline has actually been set for either stretch of roadway, it will be necessary in the future. […]
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Inside Track: Helping kids with disabilities gain control of their lives
The accent is what most people notice first about Andrea Benyovszky. Many guess that it’s French or Russian, she said, but few can correctly pinpoint the Hungarian in her w’s pronounced like v’s. What most people probably notice next, however, is that she has a big heart for children with special needs. That passion was […]
