Metromode Media

Making a Ripple Rather Than a Blast

2013-05-16T04:00:00Z

Hans Hegge was into texting before anyone knew the meaning of "LOL." It's hard to believe but six years ago text message technology was an open frontier. And Hegge's Text Ripple was an early pioneer. Today the Auburn Hills-based text marketing company has clients in 38 states and big plans for the next tech innovation.

Thanks for listening, Michigan!

2013-05-16T04:00:00Z

People across the state have helped "the Prosperity Agenda" radio show on Detroit news/talk 760 WJR win international acclaim.

Grosse Pointe Athletic Club expanding space, adding classes

2013-05-16T04:00:00Z

The Grosse Pointe Athletic Club is adding 2,000 square feet of space and introducing classes at the 18-year-old business that maintains a loyal following of locals who gravitate toward hometown entrepreneurs. Dr. Carlos Borrego, a lifelong Grosse Pointer who left radiation oncology several years ago to earn an MBA and become a consultant, was first an investing partner in the private club. In 2006 he took over as owner operator. "I was between jobs and took over the job of streamlining the club, making it paperless, building in efficiencies," he says. "I was enjoying it so much." It gave him the opportunity to offer trainers who could specialize in clients' needs, depending on age, activities, and injuries, as well as tie their training and workout to healthy lifestyles. "This was never really on my radar," he says, "but it's been a wonderful thing. The thing about GPAC is it's really a neighborhood business and with a very loyal customer base who see it as a part of the community, which was all the more reason to expand and become a bigger part of the community." The club at the corner of Fisher Road and Maumee in the Fisher Road shops will increase from 3,500 to 5,500 feet by taking over a former hair salon. Borrego is replacing most equipment with new models in the the current space and using the new space for classes, most likely spinning, yoga, zumba and pilots, he says. The new club will open Sept. 1. There will be additional trainers and instructors in the new space, a former hair salon. The building's owners are redoing the facade, the streetscape and landscape and there will be more parking and free parking in front and in back. "It will be new inside and outside," he says. Writer: Kim North Shine Source: Dr. Carlos Borrego, owner/operator, Grosse Pointe Athletic Club

Deck Art celebrates skateboards as art in downtown Rochester

2013-05-16T04:00:00Z

Skateboarders and downtown shops have had a rocky relationship through the years, but downtown Rochester is celebrating skateboarding -- and art -- with Deck Art 2013. Deck Art invites anyone to buy a blank board -- the canvas -- for $20, decorate it and have it displayed in local businesses for special public exhibitions. Deck Art is May 16 and 17 and starts with an art crawl beginning at the South Street Skateshop. It takes visitors in and out of businesses, which will offer special promotions. They can see more than 200 pieces of skateboard art spread throughout downtown. The South Street Skateshop is the host. The city and the Rochester Downtown Development Authority supports and helps promote it as Deck Art nights are a way to fill downtown, bring in business and give the community something to do just as the weather turns nice. There will be food trucks each day, and entertainment. Writer: Kim North Shine Source: Rochester Downtown Development Authority

Advanced Amputee Solutions start-up tackles prosthetic pain

2013-05-16T04:00:00Z

Prosthetics have come a long way since the days of The Fugitive with Dr. Richard Kimble trying to track down a one-armed man. Ask Gordon Maniere and he will tell you there is still a long way to go, even with a man racing with prosthetic legs in the Olympics. So the certified prosthetist is turning that journey into a start-up, Advanced Amputee Solutions. "No one has really tackled the problem of where the bone meets the prosthetic," Maniere says. "That's the biggest problem because the amputee won't wear the prosthetic if it causes pain." Advanced Amputee Solutions is developing its I.E.P. technology, specifically a polymer that cushions the cut bone of the amputee. It applies exoskeletal principles endoskeletally, killing the pain problem at the point of contact. I.E.P. is applied during the amputation surgery so it protects the amputated bone and seals the bone marrow. This eliminates the problem of trying to make a rigid tool (the prosthetic) comfortably fit with a human body that is never the same two days in a row. "The tissue is constantly changing shape everyday," Maniere says. "Eating salt can cause a wide variety of size in the tissue." Maniere and his co-founder, Jack Wheeler, are working to build their start-up team and raise a $500,000 angel round of seed capital. Maniere will present his company's technology at the Michigan Growth Capital Symposium next week to help further its fundraising. "It's really kind of a coming out party," Maniere says. Source: Gordon Maniere, CEO of Advanced Amputee Solutions Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Downtown Northville has a new bridge to Main Street

2013-05-16T04:00:00Z

An elevated walkway that connects downtown Northville's Main Street to a parking area is done, later than expected, but to the excitement of city and DDA officials who see it as a way to make the central business district more accessible and attractive. The nearly $800,000 project, the Comerica Community Connection, is a pedestrian bridge styled with an historic downtown feel that connects the Marquis parking lot to Main Street near Comerica Bank and keeps downtown visitors from cutting through businesses or having to go around the block. The walkway, which was first planned about five years ago, is one of several improvements for downtown and was spearheaded by the Northville Downtown Development Authority. There are also street scape enhancements, new downtown signage and electric car charging stations done or on their way. Writer: Kim North Shine Source: Northville Downtown Development Authority

Detroit's Lafayette Coney Island is among America's hot dog gods

2013-05-16T04:00:00Z

With Memorial Day upon us and baseball in full swing, USA Today scouted the country for America's best hot dogs and found a winner in Detroit! Excerpt: "Greek immigrants in Michigan concocted a cinnamon-rich beef chili that came to be known as Coney sauce, but it has nothing to do with Coney Island, while 'michigans' are big in Upstate New York but have nothing to do with the state." Of Lafayette Coney Island, USA Today says: "The hot dog has a juicy, salty, smoky snap, the Coney sauce is spot-on, and the fries are crispy, but it's the experience that puts it over the top in our book..." More here.

One Team US adds 12 employees, releases dining out app

2013-05-16T04:00:00Z

One Team US traditionally makes custom mobile apps for clients, but the 3-year-old firm is expanding more into retail apps with its newest offering, Highway Dining. The idea is that traveling motorists know what restaurants are coming up at the next exit, but not much after that. A family looking for the best option to satisfy everyone often wants to know what all of its options are in the near future. Highway Dining, which is priced at $0.99, does that. "The app tells where you are right now but also where you will be in 20 minutes and 30 minutes and tells you where you can eat," says Kris Gazley, director of business development for One Team US. "It's quite useful." The Troy-based company has produced 250 mobile apps for Apple products and another 80 for Android. The company currently has four in the process of being developed, including one that a local plastic surgeon plans to use to educate patients on their options. "We're always putting out more apps," Gazley says. "We always have three or four in development." One Team US currently employs 30 people after hiring a dozen over the last year. Gazley attributes that expansion to organic growth from good old word-of-mouth marketing. Source: Kris Gazley, director of business development for One Team US Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Metro Detroit high schools score in national rankings

2013-05-16T04:00:00Z

Odds are, you can get a good education in Metro Detroit. About 30 of them are in Metro Detroit, and seven others in Washtenaw County, rank in the nation's top 2,000, according to the Daily Beast. See the list here.

FilterD: May 16 - 22

2013-05-16T04:00:00Z

Hamtramck sculptor Graem Whyte created a new dodgeball-esque game that is also a fab piece of art. Join him and check it out at MOCAD's Family Day this Sunday. Details in FilterD.

Beaumont Hospital garners national environmental excellence award

2013-05-16T04:00:00Z

A sick person is often decribed as having a green pallor, but green is healthy and well at Beaumont Hospital. Excerpt: "Beaumont has received the 2013 “Partner for Change” award from Practice Greenhealth, the nation’s leading health care membership community that empowers its members to increase their efficiencies and environmental stewardship while improving patient safety and care.... Some of Beaumont’s sustainability efforts include: Supply chain - Beaumont has worked with suppliers to reduce excess packaging and materials to achieve less waste. The hospital also works with vendors who offer “green” office supply products; 30 percent of Beaumont’s purchases are made from eco-friendly materials. Transportation/commuting - Beaumont offers an employee carpool program and has more than 150 participants. The hospital also encourages bike riding. The campus has clearly marked bike lanes and provides employees bikes to use and covered racks to store bikes." More here.

Schechter Wealth Strategies opens NYC office, adds 5 jobs

2013-05-16T04:00:00Z

Schechter Wealth Strategies opened an office in New York City late last year as the Birmingham-based firm looked to capitalize on a growing economy. The new office in Midtown Manhattan is the second satellite office for the 74 year-old wealth management firm, which also has an office in the Flint area. Schechter Wealth Strategies has notched close to 30-percent growth in the last two years. It has a goal of 15-percent growth this year and 65-percent growth by 2015. "We felt that now is the right time with the economy on the upswing," says Stephen Blocki, COO of Schechter Wealth Strategies. The New York City office is staffed by one person, who is one of the company's five new hires over the last year. Blocki was recently brought on as the company's new COO and Jimmy King (of the University of Michigan's Fab Five fame) as the new vice president of business development. The firm now employs 30 people. Robert Langer is the managing director of Schechter Wealth Strategies' New York Office. Blocki says the firm decided to make the investment in a New York office as a way to replicate the firm's business model in new territory. "Our goal is to grow into any market that has access to a network of high-net-worth individuals," Blocki says. Source: Stephen Blocki, COO of Schechter Wealth Strategies Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Dimensional Control Systems expands software portfolio

2013-05-16T04:00:00Z

Dimensional Control Systems released its latest version of software last year and is in the process of expanding the next version. The Troy-based business provides quality software solutions for engineering tasks, like analysis, and quality management systems, mostly for manufacturers. It also offers consulting services. Dimensional Control Systems' principal products are 3DCS (an analysis tool) and QDM (a quality management system). The two tools can be interconnected to close the loop on an organization's ability to carry quality initiatives from design all the way through execution. "We're looking for sales to pick up later this year," says Ben Reese, marketing specialist with Dimensional Control Systems. The 19-year-old business is currently working on the sixth version of 3DCS (3DCS V6) and is Beta testing it. It hopes to release the new version later this year while it also works to further develop its QDM. Dimensional Control Systems has hired seven people over the last year, upping its staff to 110 employees and two interns. "We're very excited to see this (software system sales) picking up," Reese says. "We are looking forward to this becoming a much bigger enterprise." Source: Ben Reese, marketing specialist with Dimensional Control Systems Writer: Jon Zemke

Lee Industrial Contracting hires 80 people in last 2 years

2013-05-16T04:00:00Z

Lee Industrial Contracting has one of those business models that defies the region's cyclical economy. The Pontiac-based business specializes in providing turn-key solutions for industrial projects, such as moving machines or installing alternative energy systems. The firm's systems work to minimize downtime and miscommunication to streamline the process of completing the project. So when a downsizing manufacturer needs to turn three facilities into one, Lee Industrial Contracting can make that happen. And when those same manufacturers need to expand and turn one facility into three, Lee Industrial Contracting makes that happen, too. That has meant big growth for the company over the last two years. Its revenue was up double digits two years ago and single digits last year while the company executed its "planned management growth strategy." "We want to to continue to put processes in place that would allow us to operate the company in an efficient manner," says Ken LaBruyere, COO of Lee Industrial Contracting. The 25-year-old business has hired 80 people over the last two years, including 25 in the last year. Of those new hires, 20 work in the field and the other five in administration for the company. It now employs 250 people and has a few interns in its IT department. The company regularly promotes its interns into full-time employees. Source: Ken LaBruyere, COO of Lee Industrial Contracting Writer: Jon Zemke

Speaker Event: Freshwater Metropolis

2013-05-16T04:00:00Z

Join us May 23 on the campus of Lawrence Technological University to hear from a panel of experts, activists, and business owners about how green and blue infrastructure is transforming our region and learn what you can do to be a part of this movement.

Dubai investors and Farbman Group upgrade Parklane Towers in Dearborn

2013-05-16T04:00:00Z

A 1970s-era office complex in Dearborn is under new ownership and management as plans to transform the Parklane Towers into a full-service, amenity filled-office and retail center unfold. The 490,000 square-foot buildings that are perhaps the city's tallest, most prominent structures, are now owned by Dubai-based Fairlane Ventures and will be managed by the Farbman Group from Southfield. "Fairlane Ventures has ties to Dearborn and has been looking to invest in a quality asset in the state of Michigan for sometime," says Michael Kalil, COO of the Farbman Group. The plan is to make changes to the building that make it more attractive to current and prospective tenants looking for amenities such as a new fitness center, a new, larger conference center, a redesigned lobby and tenant services such as on-site dry cleaning and child care that comes with special rates and accelerated placement at the nearby Rainbow Childcare. “We are thrilled to leverage our best-in-class services to increase occupancy and further improve overall operations for these dynamic, recognized buildings. It’s the perfect opportunity for us to partner with savvy investors from overseas who believe in the strength of southeast Michigan and the ongoing revitalization of Detroit,” Kalil says. “To advance our strategic growth, we will continue forging new international relationships as more investors and developers from around the world recognize the opportunities offered right here in Detroit.” In addition to managing the Parklane Towers for Fairlane Ventures' investors, Farbman will also manage 15 buildings totaling 500,000 square feet at the Fairlane Commerce Park in Dearborn. Writer: Kim North Shine Source: Andrea Trapani, IdentityPR, and Michael Kalil, COO Farbman Group

Dynamic Intelligent Solutions grows optical measurement services biz

2013-05-16T04:00:00Z

Dynamic Intelligent Solutions is pivoting its business model to expand its sales and grow staff. The Clinton Township-based firm specializes in optical measurement services when testing products under extreme climatic conditions, dimensional stability, and durability in the automotive, aerospace, government, marine, recreational vehicle and consumer goods markets. It allows researchers to see how extreme temperatures impact the auto parts. "We're going from the service side to selling equipment," says Jim Arnone, managing partner with Dynamic Intelligent Solutions. That equipment is a chamber camera, specifically one made by Aicon 3D Systems. Dynamic Intelligent Solutions is selling Aicon 3D Systems' products to complement the one that it uses in its optical measurement services. "We built a system that surrounds their product," Arnone says. "It puts a camera in the chamber." The 3-year-old business currently employs four people after hiring a replacement technician last year. It's also looking to add two interns this summer. Source: Jim Arnone, managing partner with Dynamic Intelligent Solutions Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Guest Blogger: Julie Wood

2013-05-16T04:00:00Z

With its concentration of defense industry companies, southeast Michigan is a cornerstone of the U.S. defense industry. Julie Wood, president of Women in Defense's Michigan chapter, discusses how the industry is forging on despite the financial pressure of sequestration.

Michigan ranks 8th nationally in economic development success

2013-05-16T04:00:00Z

Call Michigan the nation's comeback kid. Site Selection magazine just named it 8th best for job creation and economic development. Excerpt: "Michigan advanced eight spots in this year’s Competitiveness Awards, up from 16th in 2011. The state's many business climate changes have resulted in other noteworthy improvements, including: No. 1 for states that recovered most from the Great Recession. No. 4 in the nation for most new corporate expansions or building projects in 2012. Third most business-friendly tax ranking among the nation’s 12 largest states. Third in the nation for high-tech growth." More here.

Metro Detroit schools tops in country for music education

2013-05-09T04:00:00Z

Strike up the music! The NAMM Foundation has called out the school districts of Berkeley, Bloomfield Hills, Dearborn, Ferndale, and Troy, as being among the best in the nation for music education. Read the full list here.

Corp! magazine lauds Detroit region's tech and science innovations

2013-05-09T04:00:00Z

From the Clarkston-based Mobile Technology Association of Michigan to Wayne State University's College of Engineering, high-tech breakthroughs are garnering attention. Excerpt: Michigan companies are leading the way in innovation focused on digital, scientific and technological pursuits. To recognize those companies and individuals pushing the boundaries of science, technology and the digital world – Corp! magazine inaugurated the Business of Science and Technology Awards in 2010 and added a separate Digital Award category the following year. For the fourth annual DiSciTech awards, 40 companies were honored April 18, 2013, during a breakfast and networking event at Oakland Community College in Auburn Hills. More here.

After 20 years, American cars are hot again

2013-05-09T04:00:00Z

While Detroit has changed much for the better in terms of start-up activity and economic diversification, its renaissance is also circling back to the four-wheeled heritage the city was built on. Excerpt: "Detroit's boom-and-bust history was built on a dependence on big, fuel-thirsty vehicles. Now, with freshly stocked showrooms of new cars and more-efficient trucks, U.S. automakers are gaining ground on their Asian competitors with the best lineup in a generation. "No matter what the economy does, no matter what fuel prices are, I've got a car for all seasons," said Chuck Eddy, a Chrysler dealer in Youngstown, Ohio, who is seeing sales boom for Dodge Dart compact cars and Ram 1500 pickups. "I didn’t have that in ’09." "Detroit is arguably much more competitive than they have been, from the broad spectrum of their lineup, in a decade or more," said Jeff Schuster, an analyst with researcher LMC Automotive. "Right now, Detroit has the momentum." More here.

Laurus Strategies expands staffing by 75 over last year

2013-05-09T04:00:00Z

Laurus Strategies is 8 years old but it has really hit its stride in the last two, hitting 200 employees and a handful of interns in that time. "We used to be a really small company," says Cassie McDonagh, a marketing consultant for Laurus Strategies. "Over the last two years we have almost doubled in size." The human resources consulting firm has hired 75 people in the last year. It currently has between 10-15 open positions. The company's headquarters is in Brighton but it also has offices in Chicago, Louisville, Dallas and Illinois. It has also acquired a couple of human resource tech firms in Chicago and Milwaukee over the last year to help boost its service offerings in an attempt to offer a more comprehensive solution. "Laurus has some unique infrastructure that can handle the whole employee life cycle," says Scott Slyfield, principal with Laurus Strategies. The company has been focusing on building out its business in the middle of the country in recent years and its looking at continuing that aggressive growth by capitalizing on the re-emergence of Metro Detroit's automotive market. "The next five years are going to be busy for us," McDonagh says. Source: Scott Slyfield, principal with Laurus Strategies and Cassie McDonagh, marketing consultant for Laurus Strategies Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

FilterD: May 9 - May 15

2013-05-09T04:00:00Z

Whydontweownthis.com advocacy group is hosting a get together at its downtown Detroit base this Friday to discuss use of a community mapping service. Get the lowdown in this week's FilterD.

Commercial Progression moves to larger office in downtown Northville

2013-05-09T04:00:00Z

A Northville website design and development company that's just turning five is celebrating its success with a move into a larger office in downtown Northville. Commercial Progression's new office at 115 North Center Street, Suite 203, brings together the company's team of web developers, graphic designers and freelancers who specialize in Drupal, a content management system for mobile or desktop uses. The firm calls itself The Drupal Experts. A motto of Commercial Progression is to "help you leverage and turn great ideas into reality." Alex Fisher founded the company in 2008 and not only helps businesses and entrepreneurs build websites they can manage but guides them through digital strategy that speaks to long term goals and success. "We're a full-service Drupal shop, providing assistance at every step," Fisher says, "from before there's even a test site to many years hence." Clients include National Geographic Ad Sales, TRW micosites event platform, the University of Michigan School of Kinesiology and School of Nursing, Motawi Tileworks and many others. The company is hiring as more clients sign on. Writer: Kim North Shine Source: Alex Fisher, founder, Commercial Progression

Vectorform hires 20 in Royal Oak, stays ahead of tech curve

2013-05-09T04:00:00Z

Vectorform is recovering nicely from the worst of the economic downturn, expanding its staff and experimenting with new technologies. The Royal Oak-based tech firm has hired 20 people over the last year, expanding its employee count to 100. Those hires were made possible by 20-percent revenue growth in the last year and similar gains since 2009. It now services 20 Fortune 500 companies, among its growing clientele. "We have doubled our staff since 2009," says Trevor Anulewicz, director of creative & content strategy for Vectorform. Vectorform also has a half dozen interns. The company has made a habit of turning its interns into employees. An average of 80 percent of its interns are promoted to full-time employees. "That's a great opportunity," Anulewicz says. "We try to have these folks come in and make an impact and stay." The 14-year-old company's leaders attribute the company's current growth trend to staying ahead of the tech curve. It has carved out a nice niche creating mobile apps and mastering new software platforms, such as Windows 8. It is also one of the early tech firms to get its hands on Google Glass. "We will be procuring the device in the coming weeks and we have six great ideas we will be employing with it," says Kevin Foreman, director of product vision for Vectorform. Source: Trevor Anulewicz, director of creative & content strategy for Vectorform and Kevin Foreman, director of product vision for Vectorform Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Grove Street to get $1.1M makeover in downtown Farmington

2013-05-09T04:00:00Z

Construction started this week on a project to turn a beat up, outdated main street in downtown Farmington into a boulevard streetscape of greenery, decorative lighting and stamped walkways. The $1.1-million Grove Street Reconstruction Project will also add parking to downtown and make over a tired strip retail center as well as connect it to a major pedestrian crosswalk that will lead to another shopping center. Water mains will also be replaced and a plaza space with seating will be part of the new downtown layout. The goal of city officials and the Downtown Development Authority is to make downtown more attractive, walkable, and busy as well as match it to a streetscape already redone. The plans call for turning a swath of pavement into a boulevard separated by a center island with angled parking along parts of it. Mayor Tom Buck says the project is as much about attracting families to downtown as it is attracting small businesses and boosting the local economy. The project will completely remove and replace Grove Street from Grand River to Main Street. The work was delayed in 2009 due to the costs. It is expected to be completed in two phases over a 10-week period and ready to use sometime in July. Writer: Kim North Shine Source: Annette Knowles, executive director, Farmington Downtown Development Authority

Snogo mixes up self-serve ice cream concept

2013-05-09T04:00:00Z

A new self-serve, self-top ice cream bar with a smorgasbord of choices has opened on Fisher Road in Grosse Pointe Farms. Serving your own ice cream from a wall of different flavors and picking out the toppings, from cookies to fruit to sauces and nuts, is trendy but not so new. Snogo, however, is taking some of the bite out of the concept, which usually has consumers paying by weight and paying a pretty penny for it. At Snogo there is no weighing, just a set price per cup, to keep it more affordable and fun, says owner David Cracchiolo. Snogo seems to be in an ideal location, across from a high school with a swimming pool and athletic facilities that go seven days a week at all hours. Snogo opened a few weeks ago and has been so busy more employees are already being hired. Writer: Kim North Shine Source: David Cracchiolo, owner, Snogo

Metro Detroit's Hottest Home Markets

2013-05-09T04:00:00Z

Houses are selling before they're listed. Buyers are getting into bidding wars. Sound familiar? No, it's not a return to the crazed real estate market of 2003... but a few metro Detroit communities are coming back with a vengeance. Why? Well, vibrant urban cores have a lot to do with it.

Training firm We Teach continues clientele expansion

2013-05-09T04:00:00Z

Rob Battaglia wasn't inspired to start his own company because he lost his job in the recession or to realize a lifelong dream of owning a business. He started We Tech 24 years ago because he worked for a computer company and saw them giving away the training, which he considered the real business opportunity. "I decided to start my own company," Battaglia says. "That has grown to training and training support and sales. It then grew into a Dell partnership and now we're an HP partner." The Holly-based business started out as a computer training company in 1989. It has moved into IT support, desktop support and software sales to small- and medium-sized customers on top of its normal training services. We Teach has been Battaglia's full-time gig for more than two decades. It not only provides him with a job but steady work for four independent contractors. Battaglia prefers to keep his business small and nimble by employing contractors, which gives both them and his business flexibility to do the work the best way they can see fit. "I can find best in class," Battaglia says. "I want to find the best trainers I can find. I am very picky about who I put in a classroom." Source: Rob Battaglia, owner of We Teach Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Downtown Birmingham's First Thursdays offer nighttime shopping

2013-05-09T04:00:00Z

Birmingham's business development officials have been studying shoppers and retail trends for many months now, trying to figure out how to improve on downtown Birmingham as a shopping and free-time destination. One question asked: When do you want to shop? The answer: evenings, after work or school. That's when many downtown shops are closed. So in the interest of finding out if nighttime shopping will actually generate traffic, about 45 downtown stores will stay open until 9 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month, says John Heiney, director of Birmingham's Principal Shopping District. The response will show if a mostly daytime downtown -- other than restaurants and movies -- will fly. First Thursdays will run through September during the summer months, when strolling store to store at night is more likely. There will be a theme each month along with sales and special events and activities in stores and around downtown to promote First Thursdays. Birmingham's Principal Shopping District, which is made up of downtown businesses and employs a retail consultant to keep downtown thriving, is hosting the event and "wants to get shoppers thinking about shopping in the evening," Heiney says. Writer: Kim North Shine Source: John Heiney, director, Birmingham Principal Shopping District

UHY adds nearly 20 jobs in Farmington Hills, Sterling Heights

2013-05-09T04:00:00Z

UHY, an accounting firm, has traditionally scored its revenue gains from word-of-mouth marketing for most of its 40-plus years of doing business. Now the Farmington Hills-based firm is helping buffet its current growth streak with some more conventional marketing efforts. "We have done a lot of branding over the last couple of years," says Dennis Petri, partner with UHY. "We have done a billboard campaign highlighting some of the principals in the firm." That work has allowed the company to notch significant revenue gains (either high single digits or low double digits) in each of the last few years. Last year it hit 8-percent growth and is on track to do it again in 2013. UHY specializes in providing financial, tax, and business consulting services to mid-sized and larger companies. It has been able to attract a number of new clients in the last year, which has allowed it to hire nearly 20 people in the last year. The company now has 260 employees and more than a dozen interns, most of which are in its Farmington Hills headquarters and its Sterling Heights office. "We have an excellent recruiting program," Petri says. "We have a couple of excellent individuals who do recruiting for us, most of which occurs at college campuses." Source: Dennis Petri, partner with UHY Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Taking the "Home" Out of Homework: Clintondale's Flipped High School

2013-05-09T04:00:00Z

Why do athletes who struggle in the classroom succeed on the playing field? Could it be because the coach is there to guide them every step of the way? What if that same approach was applied to academics? That's what Clintondale's Flipped program did - with remarkable success.

Detroit area fares well in national comparison of drop in unemployment rates

2013-05-09T04:00:00Z

Metro Detroit's 1.1 percentage-point decline in the unemployment rate from 2011 to 2012 puts it in the top half of the nation's largest metro areas in terms of improving job markets. See the national stats here.

Axis CrossMedia grows staff as it evolves with tech times

2013-05-09T04:00:00Z

Axis CrossMedia knows that once it grows comfortable in its space, it will soon become uncomfortable whether it likes it or not. The Troy-based creative agency has continued to grow in recent years by working to stay ahead of the technology curve. "Constant reinvention. Constant keeping up with market demand and being able to assimilate with new technologies," says Lee Kirchner, principal & creative director of Axis CrossMedia. "There isn't a lot we don't do in house." The 14-year-old company started out by providing creative services for print media. That evolved into web development and then mobile. It also keeps its creative chops sharp. Today the only thing the company doesn't do is print production. Axis CrossMedia recently hired an art director/designer, a move that expanded its staff to 10 people. Source: Lee Kirchner, principal & creative director of Axis CrossMedia Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Troy beats out NYC, Chicago for The Frameworks' headquarters

2013-05-09T04:00:00Z

Metro Detroit made quite the impression on Lawrence James when he worked in the region more than a few years ago. The United Kingdom expatriate referenced that experience when he convinced his current company, The Frameworks, to set up shop in Metro Detroit. "I found Michigan to be a really great place," says James, senior partner with The Frameworks. "The people are amazing. The economy goes up and down but there is a solid infrastructure in place." Of course there were some good business reasons for making the decision, too. James' partner wanted to set up the global branding firm's North American headquarters in either Chicago, San Francisco or New York City. James made the argument about why expanding in Metro Detroit made better business sense. "There are great people here. That's talent," James says. "The cost of entry is affordable and the people here are warm and welcoming." That decision was made in 2010 and the London-based firm set up shop in Troy. It now employs a dozen full-time employees, three part-timers and an intern after making six hires over the last year. That staff now services some big client names, such as IBM, Bloomberg and Toshiba Americas. IBM has expanded its business with The Frameworks, which now works with the multi-national corporation's safety and technology groups. Source: Lawrence James, senior partner with The Frameworks Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.