November 5, 2012
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Inside Track: After retirement, a sudden plunge into career No. 2
After 32 years as an employee of the court system, Pat VerDuin thought 2008 was the right time to retire as director of the Juvenile Services & Adult Drug Treatment Program of the 20th Circuit Court in Grand Haven. Like many new retirees who have wrapped up a long career, she decided to do something […]
Expectations running high for holiday season
LANSING — Three out of four Michigan retailers expect to increase sales this holiday season, many by more than 5 percent, according to the Michigan Retail Index, a joint project of Michigan Retailers Association and the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. “Michigan retailers are bullish on the holiday season,” said MRA President and CEO James […]
Public Record
MORTGAGES Selected mortgages filed with Kent County Register of Deeds LANGAN, Jean et al, JP Morgan Chase Bank, Condo-Thousand Oaks, $500,000 RDR PROPERTIES INC., Mercantile Bank Mortgage Co., Wyoming, 28-6-12, $500,000 FBL PARTNERSHIP, Live Oak Banking Co., Western Add. Grandville, Lot 7, $118,640 FBL PARTNERSHIP LLP, Oak Banking Co., Western Add. Grandville, Lot 7, $118,640 […]
Dealing with a cash-strapped business: Keep it ordinary
One of the first lessons a child is taught is that you can't take things that belong to someone else. This lesson is pretty straightforward — no matter how severe the tantrum, you can't take the other kid's toy. But every adult knows that things in our world are a bit more complicated. Anyone who […]
A dozen books you should own and read — at least once
When Jim Rohn said, “All the information you need to succeed already exists; the problem is you haven’t exposed yourself to it,” it was one of the most challenging and eye-opening statements I had ever heard. I immediately made a lifelong goal to read a thousand books. I have not reached that goal yet, but […]
Change Ups: Attorney inducted as Trial Attorney Fellow
Miller Johnson announced David J. Gass was inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. After careful investigation, fellowship is extended by invitation only to those experienced trial lawyers who have mastered the art of advocacy and whose professional careers have been marked by the highest standards of ethical conduct, professionalism, civility […]
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New developer revives old building into apartments
(As seen on WZZM TV 13) Mike Jacobson may be a new developer in downtown, but he isn’t a newcomer to the district. Jacobson’s firm, LC Companies LLC, is historically renovating the Century Furniture Building — the former Baker Furniture Building at 40 Logan St. SW — at a cost of $18.5 million. When the […]
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Bad, bad bug bodes badly for blueberries, buyers
LANSING — It’s the bug to keep your eyes open for — if you can even see it. Measuring at less than one-sixteenth of an inch, the spotted wing drosophila is taking a tough toll on next year’s blueberry season. The tiny insect was first spotted in the state in 2010 and has been plaguing […]
Architects involved in more than project design
When someone outside the field thinks of architects, they likely think of design and not of legislation. But architects do think of legislation. Not only do they think about bills, resolutions, conference committees and the rest of the minutia that comprise legislation, they also wade into the waist-deep process that can disappoint and contain unexpected […]
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Federal Building celebrates redevelopment award
Walking through the Federal Building at 17 Pearl St. NW in downtown Grand Rapids, one might never be able to tell it was once considered a crumbling, abandoned eyesore. The Grand Rapids landmark’s ugly-duckling transformation is what earned project leaders Ferris State University and Kendall College of Art and Design the win for this year’s […]
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Architects change name by design
The local chapter of the American Institute of Architects revived a few bylaws and changed its name this year. Instead of being known as AIA Grand Valley, the organization is now known as AIA Grand Rapids. The name change occurred in August when 76 percent of the membership approved it. The decision to drop the […]
Partnerships strengthen area’s real estate risk-takers
For the second time in 26 years, Grand Rapids is the host and beneficiary of the University of Michigan/Urban Land Institute annual meeting. The two-day conference this week highlights professional issues and trends in Michigan and the U.S., and it brings students from U-M and other Michigan universities to the city for an architectural/development competition […]
Voters are no longer stupid about the economy
In 1992, James Carville, the political strategist for Bill Clinton’s presidential campaign against the incumbent George H.W. Bush, coined the phrase “the economy, stupid,” which was later amended to include the word “it’s.” Today, just like in 1992, the economy is still the foremost election issue in the battle for the White House between President […]
Street Talk: For construction, it’s all about the ethics
A few weeks ago, the American Subcontractors Association of Michigan celebrated general contractors from throughout the West Michigan region. Prior to its annual event, the membership independently sent ballots to Beene Garter to tally for the award of Contractor of the Year. The subcontractors vote on the basis of bid ethics, safety, jobsite supervision, communication, […]
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Give Camp heaps tech support on nonprofits
Imagine the factory space at 38 W. Fulton St. in Grand Rapids turned into a ceaseless flurry of nonprofits and technicians collaborating on technology enhancement projects. That is the chaotic beauty of what Give Camp is and was during the Oct. 26-28 weekend. Grand Rapids’ third annual Give Camp event, a nationwide group that brings […]
Weiss scores big with GVMC members
If the Grand Valley Metro Council had a Dean’s List, Executive Director John Weiss would have made it easily. “While I’ve never seen a perfect performance appraisal, this is a pretty good one,” said Michael Young, Rockford’s city manager, who heads the council’s Executive Committee. That committee evaluated Weiss’ performance as the organization’s director for […]
Sarbanes-Oxley Act impacts privately held companies
2002’s Sarbanes-Oxley Act doesn’t apply to privately held companies, yet many are starting to take up some of its provisions voluntarily. That’s because of the best practices resulting from the Act’s implementation by publicly held companies, according to Jeff Ott, partner at law firm Warner Norcross & Judd. SOX was adopted by the U.S. Congress […]
Bills flow through legislature with little chance of passage
LANSING — The end of the political year is coming soon, but some lawmakers are still proposing bills, even if they might not pass this term. “It is not impossible, but it is hard, really hard,” said Sen. Roger Kahn, R-Saginaw, “especially for a newly introduced bill.” Kahn introduced a bill on Oct. 17 to […]
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Kerkstra celebrates a half-century of supplying precast concrete
Little did Larry Kerkstra know he would be digging up gold when he began installing septic tanks for residential projects back in 1962. Today, his business, Kerkstra Precast, is a leading concrete supplier to the construction industry. It celebrated its Golden Anniversary last week. Over those years, Kerkstra Precast has developed a reputation for producing […]
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Rooks wins top award from UM/ULI
Jon Rooks, owner and founder of Parkland Properties development company in Grand Rapids, has been selected for the top award of the year presented by the statewide University of Michigan/Urban Land Institute Real Estate Forum. Rooks will be presented with the Real Estate Excellence Award at the annual UM/ULI Real Estate Forum Nov. 7-8, which […]
Holidays are shaping up well for Michigan retailers
LANSING— Snowy weather and holiday cheer might seem far off for most shoppers, but Michigan retailers are already optimistic about a shopping season that experts say could be the most fruitful in more than a decade. October, November and December make up a key sales period for retail businesses, often accounting for at least 20 […]
UM-ULI judges choose from among several projects
Eight judges from across the state were enlisted to determine this year’s University of Michigan-Urban Land Institute Excellence Awards, the first year of a more formalized approach to judging. The judges included: Rick Chapla, vice president of business development for West Michigan’s The Right Place Inc. Eric “Dusty” Duistermars, national attraction manager for Michigan Economic […]
One Second Epic becomes successful app
It’s a moment every entrepreneur dreams about. For Joe Johnston, Eric Loehfelm and Christian Saylor, Oct. 25 will forever be the day that dream became a reality. It was the day their new app, One Second Epic, became available as a $1.99 smartphone download with Apple’s app users. The app, referred to by some as […]
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Third Coast boys are back in town
It’s been a while since Third Coast Development Partners has taken on a project in what is, essentially, its backyard. But partners Dave Levitt and Brad Rosely are back in the thick of it and back on their home turf again. Levitt and Rosely established their reputation and presence as local developers about five years […]
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Record crowd projected for festival
The Convention and Arena Authority and Showspan Inc. are projecting that more than 14,000 people will attend their Grand Rapids International Wine, Beer and Food Festival at DeVos Place this Thursday through Saturday. If so, the crowd would establish a new attendance record in the annual event’s fifth year and top the previous mark of […]
Colliers International cited yet another time
When the University of Michigan and Urban Land Institute convene their Real Estate Forum this week at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, one of the many event highlights will be the awards presentations. The honors are highly coveted by those in the commercial field because winning one engraves a lasting mark of industry excellence on […]
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Ford Airport hires firm to design de-icing system
Gerald R. Ford International Airport is taking steps to remedy a storm-water runoff issue caused by its annual use of de-icing fluids. With two years left before the airport must be in compliance with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality’s directive to eliminate its contribution of propylene glycol to a neighboring river, known as Trout […]
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Businesses are new focus of Michigan Works!
West Michigan businesses are becoming the focus of Michigan Works! in Kent and Allegan counties. The work-force development agency announced it is undertaking an assessment and strategic planning process to become a “demand-driven” system. “There have been studies done and other work-force agencies across the nation that have done some tweaking of their systems, and […]
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Small businesses invest millions in city
The Neighborhood Business Alliance celebrated the backbone of the city’s economy last week with the 23rd edition of its annual Neighborhood Business Awards. Eighty-nine very diverse small businesses were highlighted as award nominees last Thursday evening at a celebratory event held at Wealthy Street Theatre and hosted by Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell. The nominees […]
Calvin College faces budget shortfall by 2017
Calvin College has a money problem on its hands. Like many higher education platforms these days, the private Christian school’s budget has eroded slightly due to faltering investments, and could be facing a budget shortfall by 2017. “There are people at Calvin College who’ve been concerned about this for a long time, especially since the […]
