October 11, 2016
Public sector construction spending declines faster than private
Nonresidential construction spending fell for a second consecutive month in August, according to an analysis of U.S. Census Bureau figures. Nonresidential spending totaled $686.6 billion on a seasonally adjusted, annualized basis for the month, which is 1.1 percent lower than July’s total of $694.1 billion (revised down from $701 billion) and 1.3 percent below August […]
Public Record
MORTGAGES Selected mortgages filed with Kent County Register of Deeds STARNER, Seth D. et al, Chemical Bank, Cambridge Add., Lot 6, $408,000 ALGOMA ASSOCIATES LLC, Ladder Capital Finance, Algoma Twp., 24-9-11, $960,000 FASE, Steven J. et al, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Cannon Twp., 7-8-10, $324,000 PUTTERMAN, Rand et al, Grand River Bank, Condo-River Isle, $395,450 […]
Change Ups: Anderson receives FPA Medal
Dixie Anderson, executive director of the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan, received the Foreign Policy Association Medal at the Harvard Club of New York for demonstrating responsible internationalism and expanding public knowledge of international affairs. Anderson has served as the WAC’s executive director for more than 20 years. For nearly 100 years, the Foreign […]
Downtown’s center has new owners
Sam Cummings had his eyes on the Fifth Third Center for a long time. Now, Cummings and his partners at CWD Real Estate Investment have the building and their sights are set on the bigger picture of Grand Rapids. CWD closed on the acquisition of the Fifth Third Center — two buildings and a 723-parking […]
Delabbio retires with no regrets
At 31 years old, Daryl Delabbio had his dream job. Ten years following a visit during a 1974 internship at Plainfield Township, Delabbio fell in love with Rockford and decided he was going to be city manager. In 1984, he received a call as assistant city manager of Garden City. On the other end was […]
ArtPrize grants endless opportunities for sponsors
David VanTongeren, director of retail for Ferris Coffee & Nut Co., said while his company has operated its coffee cart during ArtPrize for the past three years and opened a pop-up shop last year to take advantage of the throngs of people visiting downtown during the 19-day art competition, this year was the first year […]
Leadership conference encourages women to ‘sit at the table’
In 2010, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg recorded a TED Talk titled, “Why we have too few women leaders,” where she encouraged women to “lean in” and “sit at the table.” The Ted Talk became so popular that in 2013, Sandberg published a book, “Lean In,” expounding upon the primary reasons she believes women are in […]
Street Talk: Pieces of a bigger pie
When a Chinese student comes to the United States and studies at a university, it’s an export for the American economy. Service exports, such as education, have potential to grow substantially, especially when the trade partner is China, according to Erin Ennis, senior vice president of the US-China Business Council. Ennis speaks to World Affairs […]
Salespeople have questions — Jeffrey has answers
Jeffrey, as you often suggest, my company is going to start filming client video testimonials. There will be some clients we would not invite to give a testimonial due to their less-than-stellar reputation in our community. What is the diplomatic response to such clients if they ask, “How come you didn't ask me to do […]
Better metrics needed to measure student success
The results from Michigan’s new, more rigorous standardized test were released recently. The results showed low proficiency rates across the board, which led to a renewed debate between those in favor of more rigorous tests and those in favor of less rigorous tests. Several years ago, I would have been one of those urging the […]
Contentious cases send attorney solo
A former Warner Norcross & Judd attorney hung up his own shingle in August. John Bursch left the firm where he’s spent almost the entire two decades of his career — minus three years he spent as Michigan solicitor general — to start Bursch Law PLLC, a boutique law firm focused on appellate cases. Bursch […]
Don’t limit yourself to outdated and easy business practices
In this age of technology, people believe most questions can be answered. We have instant assessments on everything from credit scores, election surveys that predict who will be president, to knowing what designs on an ad will be most appealing to college graduates over 42 years old. Some results come after only talking to 35 […]
‘Leadership’ deserves high praise
Western Michigan University Cooley Law School has created a new course in partnership with the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids, one deserving of commentary as even discussion of the word “leadership” is ever more woefully mired in its antithesis. The program may have even better use in the general community or as […]
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ArtPrize offers testing ground for retailers
(As seen on WZZM TV 13) Retailers interested in signing a long-term lease downtown are using ArtPrize as a testing ground. This year, Moosejaw, a retailer from Madison Heights, set up shop ahead of ArtPrize to find out if Grand Rapids has the customer base to support a full-time store, and Kendall College of Art […]
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Owner envisions new concept for Brandywine
For more than 35 years, Brandywine was a Grand Rapids breakfast staple in Eastown. Last month, the restaurant closed with plans to reopen in December as a new concept, still staffed by the same people. Earlier this year, Eric Chaitin purchased the restaurant and observed how the business functioned for approximately six months. As he […]
Strong Beginnings to pilot pay-for-success model
Over the past 11 years, the Strong Beginnings program, which is administered by Spectrum Health in Kent County, has helped reduce infant mortality and adverse birth outcomes by 50 percent for African-Americans. The Strong Beginnings program is a partnership of eight community agencies. It focuses on improving health and early childhood development outcomes for high-risk […]
Former Sheriff’s deputy raises the bar on private security
In his time in law enforcement, Ryan Woodford had his share of encounters with private security. As a police officer and Sheriff’s deputy, it wasn’t uncommon for Woodford to be called to assist private security firms with situations they were unequipped or unqualified to handle. And though he enjoyed being on the front lines, the […]
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Bissell Homecare evolves over 140 years
It’s oft repeated “necessity is the mother of invention” and in the case of Bissell Homecare Inc., it was a case of really bad allergies that led to the invention of the carpet sweeper, which would become the company’s first product. Melville R. Bissell owned a crockery shop in Grand Rapids and needed a way […]
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Inside Track: Sharing West Michigan’s stories
Rick Jensen has the opportunity to share some of the most amazing stories in pediatric medicine with the West Michigan community and beyond. For the past two years, Jensen has worked as a senior communications specialist with Spectrum Health, where he was hired to manage media relations and public relations for Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. […]
