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Ensuring Success for Your Wellness Program

By Sandra Kuhn Wellness programs have emerged as an important component of medical benefit offerings. Over the years, there have been a number of different strategies suggested, tried and rejected all in an attempt to manage the cost of delivering this employee benefit. Will the inclusion of education, prevention and targeted action programs prove to be a worthwhile effort and demonstrate its value over time? The potential certainly exists; but there are several important considerations to keep in mind as you either begin a program or refine your offering. Organizational culture. Understanding your organizations ability to support wellness efforts goes beyond affordability. Will senior management actively participate and promote wellness efforts? Are catering and vending practices consistent with wellness messages? Can the vision of the wellness program be linked to organizational commitment to employee well being? Understanding the health of your population. Depending on the size of your organization and budget for wellness, employers often use on site biometric screenings and health risk assessments to assess the current health status and risks within their population. The results can provide meaningful insight to programming needs and ultimately customize the wellness program to the areas of targeted change needed for your population. Employee readiness for change. A well designed health risk assessment tool will address employee (or participant) readiness for change. However, even before launching efforts to understand the health status and risk of the population, employers may consider an employee survey targeted to assessing overall employee interest, health concerns, willingness to participate, key motivators and preferred activities to support wellness efforts. Do employees prefer on-line programming or is access to the internet a barrier? Do employees understand the need for improved health and are they willing to make personal change to achieve certain goals? What motivates behavior change? Understanding some of the key drivers for change within the population will enable more customization of your wellness offering. Budget and resources. As with any benefit offering, careful consideration of cost and resources needed to manage the program is critical to a long lasting and meaningful program offering. As with the design of the program itself, there is a wide spectrum of budget and administrative options. Health plans typically offer wellness tools and programming and sometimes at little or no cost. Third party vendors play a large role in providing corporate wellness, offering a la cart services to comprehensive risk assessment and programming support. Successful wellness programs can clearly come in all shapes and sizes. One of the most overlooked components in offering wellness programming is the amount of corporate support and identity that is given to the program. Regardless of whether a program is fully administered in-house or outsourced to a third party vendor, there is still a tremendous need for broad based participation in delivering services. Many organizations identify wellness champions within the organization. These individuals are the messengers of the vision for the wellness program. They often help organize local activities and generate excitement and energy to engage their colleagues in change and in feeling supported for their efforts. Moving from awareness of wellness issues to engaging employees in meaningful lifestyle changes. It makes sense that new wellness offerings begin with raising awareness of health and wellness education. Our medical system has been geared toward treating disease; not necessarily preventing it, so the learning curve is steep. However, raising awareness of wellness wont necessarily drive behavior change. Only through understanding key motivators and offering a broad array of programming choices will you move your population from being more aware to actually making lifestyle changes to improve their overall health. When reflecting on high levels of participation in biometric screenings and health risk assessments this fall, ask yourself whether individuals are just participating (perhaps to avoid a higher employee contribution) or do you see meaningful change occurring? Tracking data and measuring results. The ability to track and measure results will differ by the size of organization and the type of programming that is offered. Larger employers utilizing self funding strategies will likely have much better access to information. For employers whose medical programs are fully insured, obtaining data to prove the ROI

of the wellness program may not be readily available. However, remember that wellness programs can impact not only medical costs but also have been identified with improved productivity and reduced absenteeism both contributors to the business bottom line. If you are limited in measuring the impact on the medical claims, then consider analyzing the impact on absenteeism. Promoting the value of wellness as a broad based business strategy will open the possibilities of restating results, and likely improve the ability to gain the buy in and commitment of senior executives. Sandra Kuhn, MSW, is a health care consultant at The Campbell Group, a division of Acrisure, LLC. She has over 20 years experience in working with employers of all sizes in managing their employee benefit programs and offers specific technical expertise in worksite wellness programs.

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Ready...Set...Go. O-A-K On The Move

Pop quiz. What do the following West Michigan organizations have in common? - Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum - Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park - Van Andel Institute, Phase II - Grand Rapids Civic Theatre - Kent County Courthouse Give up? The correct answer is that all of the above have been built by OwenAmes-Kimball Co. (aka O-A-K). Founded in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1891, the local construction company has quite the portfolio. But these landmarks were not built overnight. In fact, O-A-K is celebrating their 120th anniversary in business this year. And they are celebrating the only way they know how. With commitment. "As an employee-owned corporation, we feel a genuine commitment to the communities where we build and we're fortunate to be able to demonstrate that commitment every day, in a number of ways," says Frank Stanek, Director of Operations and Equal Opportunity Employment. For starters, O-A-K is demonstrating their commitment to both the local employees and the City of Grand Rapids with an extreme office makeover, complete with state-of-the-art technology, collaborative workspace design and a welcoming glass entryway. The company has been headquartered in downtown Grand Rapids since its founding in 1891. Their current building, located at 300 Ionia NW, has not undergone remodeling since the mid-80s. Maroon decor and non-handicap accessible entryways were no longer acceptable in 2011, so the options were: a) relocation; or b) renovation. Although option "a" could have been far less expensive, option "b" made more sense for the future. "I'd like to say the renovation was a no-brainer. The truth is, a lot of urban offices have gone suburban over the past few decades, and for appealing reasons. But at the end of the day, that's not the kind of message we wanted to send. We love this City and we plan to remain downtown for decades to come," commented Bill Schoonveld, O-A-K President. In addition to revamping their corporate office, O-A-K is thanking the community through an anniversary campaign they're calling GIVE 120. Each month throughout 2011, they are donating much-needed resources to local organizations, whilst cleverly incorporating the number 120. For example, in February they donated 120 books to Brookside Elementary School in Grand Rapids. They also donated to the school in April, with 120 white pine trees for Earth Day. In June, they created a $120 scholarship, allowing two children to attend the Civic School of Theatre Arts' Kidsplay Kamp and they sponsored the musical Hairspray. O-A-K's commitment to the community does not stop with a giving campaign. Because the company prides itself in hiring people based on attitude and training for skill, most of the employees are actively involved with local organizations outside of work. From little league coaching to serving on non-profit boards, O-A-K encourages their employees to be active and engaged. "It's been that way for 120 years. The values that our founders held remain a major part of our company culture," says Stanek. This encouragement also acts as an internal morale booster, which they firmly believe has an affect on the average employee's longevity. Currently, the median employee within O-A-K's Michigan operations has been with the company for 16 years. That's 11.8 years longer than the average American in the construction industry. (According to the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median tenure for a construction employee with current employer in 2010 was 4.2 years. That longevity also contributes to their high number of repeat clients, which was 95% in 2010. "That's one of the most exciting things about O-A-K. The majority of the people we hire end up retiring from our company decades later," says Schoonveld, who has been with the company for 33 years. Despite global economic hardships, O-A-K has continued to hire new talent over the past few years. In fact, they've had zero layoffs in 2011. "We are managing to keep lots of people at work. And we aren't taking that for granted," says Stanek. O-A-K attributes a great deal of their recent success to the relationships they've built with their clients. Because so many of their employees have been with the company for decades, they get to know their clients on an individual basis. Many of those clients, like Rockford Public Schools and Frederik Meijer Gardens, work with the same O-A-K employees on all capital improvement projects. But it's not just capital improvements that they build. O-A-K provides General Contracting, Construction Management, Design Build and skilled labor for projects both large and small. "Have you been to the Grand Rapids

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Art Museum?" jokes Bill Ogden, Director of Operations and Safety. "We didn't build that one, but we did change the light bulbs!" Although O-A-K has managed the construction for some of the most iconic projects in West Michigan and has overseen additional projects in 37 of the 50 United States, they are not above rolling up their sleeves. In fact, they frequently remind themselves that their founders' resumes were written in the lines of their hardened, calloused hands. So, what does the future hold for O-A-K? They envision a future much like their past. Where technology and innovation are balanced with conservative financial practices. Their field staff recently began carrying smart phones, so they can access the company's web-based project management system from virtually anywhere in the world. Also, being employee-owned has and will continue to help O-A-K exercise responsible financial decision making, keeping the company strong and lean. One of their core values is to never compromise the long-term condition for short-term gain. This has paved the way for success in West Michigan for more than a century. O-A-K expects to continue to build landmark buildings throughout the country for another 120 years, at least. Rachael Ritzema is a freelance writer. She is a member of the American Marketing Association and holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Grand Valley State University.

Contributing Writers: Sandra Kuhn, Rachael Ritzema, Jevon Jackson, Kurt Wagner, Dan Santonocito, Scott Montgomery, Bill Tate, Patricia Saenz, Amy Cygan, Donald De Groot, Jan Frantz, Dianna Stampfler Managing Editor: Carol M. Kralapp Associate Editor: Jamie Thras Printing/Distribution: News Web Printing Accountant: Michael Tawney & Company
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Rain Barrel Program Distributes 1,000th Barrel

Grand Rapids - West Michigan Environmental Action Council distributed its 1,000th rain barrel earlier this month as part of an event in honor of Coca-Colas 100th anniversary at John Ball Zoo. Some 60 barrels were distributed in just under an hour. As of the end of August, WMEACs rain barrel program has distributed 1,023 rain barrels to the West Michigan community. Last year, WMEAC distributed 508 barrels through the program, enough to remove 9 million gallons of stormwater runoff from local waterways. Since 2009, WMEAC has offered free or low-cost rain barrels to Grand Rapids residents as part of a partnership with the City of Grand Rapids, Coca-Cola and other partners. The barrels are distributed through WMEAC and citizenhosted Rain Barrel Parties. Rain barrels collect storm and rain from rooftops for watering of lawns and gardens. The barrel is generally attached to the gutter system of a building and a screen is installed between the downspout and the barrel to collect debris and prevent mosquitoes from contaminating the water. An overflow pipe is attached near the top of the barrel to prevent excess water from flowing out. Keeping the rain on the property prevents the water from washing into storm drains and contaminating local waterways with the yard waste, sedimentation and chemical pollutants common to all city residences and streets. Stormwater runoff is the leading source of water pollution in West Michigan.

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EmploymentGroup: Providing Better Employees 5 to Fuel West Michigan Businesses

By Jamie Thrams Grand Rapids While much of the country struggles to come out of a continuing recession, the recent success of West Michigans EmploymentGroup shows that the region is a bright spot in terms of job growth. Founded in 1958, EmploymentGroup is based in Battle Creek and Grand Rapids, and specializes in recruiting, training, and placing permanent and temporary field associates in contract, administrative, professional, technical and light industrial positions. In addition to temporary help staffing, EmploymentGroup provides managed services to help corporations with non-strategic functions, such as mailroom centers, document management and archival services. With each of these components, EmploymentGroup seeks to improve both the efficiency and bottom line of their clients. Though company offices are located in Michigan and Illinois, EmploymentGroup has partnered with both local and global Fortune 500 companies to provide staffing solutions and business services. EmploymentGroup seeks to understand the work culture of the client to ensure that they are identifying the best possible prospective employees for each individual company. Mark Lancaster, EmploymentGroup CEO has been with the company for 25 years (the last decade in his current role) and recognizes the strength of West Michigan businesses as fueling the strong job market in what is a tenuous economic time: The way they [companies in West Michigan] are run and the values they are based on has positioned them well for the first part of the new decade. Lancaster also points to the importance of the auto industry in driving the West Michigan economy, even though the region has seen some diversification of industries. American auto suppliers lead 2010 job growth both locally and nationally. Also indicative of local economic strength is the recent success of EmploymentGroup: over 1900 temporary employees provided by EmploymentGroup have been hired on full-time in the last 18 months, and the company enjoyed 63% growth in 2010. Even with these positive signs, Lancaster warns of the uncertainty lying ahead, due to questioning of the recovery and indications that the country may have not begun to trend upward. He points to the nuclear disaster in Japan, the downward trending of the GDP and change of the United States credit rating by Standard and Poors as cause for concern. Of the current economical climate, Lancaster said things are continuing to chug along, but were still facing very interesting times. Although concerns persist regarding the national and local economy, EmploymentGroup has shown significant growth over last quarter. The firm reported a 10% increase in second quarter 2011 sales as compared to the yearago period. In addition, EmploymentGroup clients have hired on more than 900 temporary associates provided by EmploymentGroup as fulltime employees in 2011. Lancaster said that he is curious to see if the success of EmploymentGroups temporary staff will continue, as he sees temporary to fulltime employment as a barometer for economic confidence: The whole temporary help industry goes as Gross Domestic Product goes. According to Lancaster, EmploymentGroups success is borne out of the intense focus placed on delivering measurably better employees to customers and following up with fanatical customer support. To provide better employees, EmploymentGroup uses a proprietary 12-step screening process to assess both attitude and aptitude, including cognitive and personality testing. While these components are foundational to EmploymentGroups approach to staffing, Lancaster recognizes the need to continue to adapt and shift with the market by continually evaluating both the processes utilized by the company and the employees they provide. When asked what needs employers are presenting most frequently to EmploymentGroup, Lancaster cited the a high level of need in the skilled trades, as the skilled worker population in West Michigan has started to retire and there have not been significant numbers to fill those positions. Lancaster has seen a real shortage of skilled machinists, journeymen and die-makers as fewer high school graduates are electing to go into the skilled trades, choosing instead to pursue four-year degrees. Furthermore, Lancaster noted the increased need as West Michigan companies employing skilled workers continue to see improving business. Currently, EmploymentGroup is recruiting temporary associates for a variety of positions in a variety of industries, including automotive, healthcare, and furniture manufacturing. The demands presented by EmploymentGroup clients run from entry level through skilled and professional positions. Regardless of industry, EmploymentGroup seeks to work with job-seekers who bring a great attitude and the willingness to improve their skills and add value to a potential employer. As Employment group looks toward the future, they will continue to provide solutions-oriented staffing and better employees for their clients. Even given the uncertainty of what lies ahead in both the local and national economy, EmploymentGroup remains committed to continued measurement of their employees to connect them with the needs of West Michigan companies. The reason we get out of bed every day is to help people succeed, Lancaster said. With continuous growth and a strong showing thus far in 2011, EmploymentGroup has shown its ability to provide solutions for both job-seekers and companies in Western Michigan.

6 Finance/Insurance Briefs
Grand Rapids - Plante & Moran, PLLC named Ken Julien and Dori Draytona as partners in the firms Grand Rapids office. Julien focuses on providing strategic planning, performance incentive systems, operations improvement, technology selection and deployment services to clients in the real estate and construction industries. Draytona focuses her practice on investment and wealth planning, and preservation strategies for high net worth individuals, companies and governmental entities. Grand Rapids - Lisa Raniga has joined Independent Bank, at the East Beltline office in Grand Rapids, as a sales representative with Independent Title Services. Raniga brings over seven years of experience to the position. Lansing - Accident Fund Insurance Company of America recently donated $5,000 to Phoenix Society of Burn Survivors, and $5,000 to help sponsor Disability Advocates fifth annual Invest in Ability fundraising event, to be held held at Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park on October 24, 2011. East Lansing - Chelsey Otto has been promoted to banking office manager at Independent Banks East Lansing office. Otto has been with Independent Bank for more than nine years and most recently served as the assistant banking office manager. Grand Rapids Baird, an international wealth management, investment banking, asset management and private equity firm, has added Jeffrey Walsh as a financial advisor at its Grand Rapids wealth management office. Walsh will work with The Braun Walsh Group. Prior to joining Baird, Walsh worked for John Hancock as a retirement plan sales associate. Kentwood Regal Investment Advisors has hit $250,000,000+ in assets under management. Regal ranks in the top independent 250 nationally. Grand Rapids David McLeod has joined Varnum LLP as a counsel attorney in the Novi office. McLeods practice will focus on the representation of lending institutions in real property, acquisition, and commercial financing transactions. Kalamazoo - Economic Development Foundation announces Jos E. Santamaria has joined EDF as a Loan Officer in the Kalamazoo and Southwest Michigan areas where he will be responsible for all business development in for the Economic Development Foundation in those areas. Grand Rapids- Rhoades McKee announced that Rebecca M. Smith has joined the firms litigation practice group as an associate. Holland Jennifer Siler has joined Macatawa Bank as Retail Credit Lending Administrator. In this position, Siler will be underwriting and making credit decisions through all retail lending channels. Grand Rapids - Varnum has named attorney Joy Fossel as the firm's Diversity and Inclusion counsel. Fossel's will lead the coordination of Varnum's external diversity scholarships, and community initiatives and donations. Grand Rapids - Price, Heneveld, Cooper, Dewitt & Litton LLP has shortened its name to Price Heneveld LLP. Muskegon James Griffith has joined Waddell and Reed as a personal finance advisor. As a personal financial advisor, Griffith will help develop customized financial plans, recommend investment strategies and counsel clients throughout the area. Grand Rapids Plante Moran Financial Advisors, an independent investment advisory firm, was ranked in the top 10 of registered investment advisors by Financial Advisor magazine for the sixth year in a row. Grand Rapids Blackford Capital LLC announced the addition of as Abigail Hoekzema an Analyst. Hoekzemas responsibilities include conducting financial and operational reviews of new investment opportunities as well as monitoring current portfolio companies. Grand Rapids HNi Risk Services of Michigan LLC is a recently founded firm formed as a result of a partnership between four proven insurance and risk management professionals (Jim McKinley, Randy Phelps, John Rogers, and Nathan Steffen) and HNi Risk Services located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to be a non-traditional advisory firm that specializes in turning insurance into a strategic tool. Grand Rapids Plachta, Murphy & Associates partners with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation by contributing $500,000 of legal services over the next four years to help offset the costs of starting or expanding West Michigan businesses in response to Governor Snyders Pure Michigan Business Connect initiative. Muskegon - John Oblak has been promoted to assistant vice president and bank office manager of Independent Banks Muskegon offices. Oblaks career with Independent Bank includes serving as mortgage underwriter and a mortgage originator. Grand Rapids Varnum Consulting's Jennifer (Dowling) Maxson has been named a 2011 Athena Young Professional Award nominee. Maxson is the practice group leader, consultant and coach at Varnum Consulting, where she has served as a business consultant for a variety of clients since 1996. Grand Rapids Melissa Papke, a partner in Varnum's real estate group, has been appointed to represent Michigan and serve as the State Chair of the American College of Mortgage Attorneys; Papke was also elected to serve on the Council of the Real Property Law Section of the Michigan Bar Association. Grand Rapids Peopledesign announced its placement in the 2011 Inc. 500|5000 list of fastest growing private companies in America. Grand Rapids - Miller Johnson reports that Mary V. Bauman was named by Michigan Lawyers Weekly as a 2011 Michigan Women in the Law. Holland The Bank of Holland, announced the hiring of Mike Eling as a Credit Analyst. Eling has banking experience and will be involved with The Bank of Hollands Professional Development Program. Big Rapids - Lerner Csernai & Fath Financial Group, LCF, has announced the selection of Cambridge Investment Research, Inc. as its Broker/Dealer which processes its investment business. This choice by LCF allows for even better opportunities to provide excellence in client relationships, service and support. Grand Rapids Jeff Case has joined Independent Bank as an assistant vice president of treasury management. He will be located out of the Rockford office and serve customers in Southwest Michigan including Big Rapids, Newaygo, Muskegon, Grand Rapids, Ionia, Portland and Carson City.

Is Your Business Prepared If Disaster Strikes?

As September is National Preparedness Month, West Michigan companies need to ask themselves if they are ready to survive a damaging weather event. While West Michigan may not be in Tornado Alley or sit on a fault line, businesses in the region still need to take seriously the potential danger in natural events that can cripple a small business. The tornado that destroyed Joplin, Missouri is a sobering example of what Mother Nature is capable of and the importance of preparing for severe weather events. If your business is not prepared for such an event, it should be. Of all business that close following a disaster, 43% never reopen, and an additional 29% close permanently within two weeks. Would your business be one of the 28% that can survive? If your company does not have a Disaster Recovery Plan in place to communicate with employees, assess resources and ensure business continuity, please refer to the websites below to get started. Links: www.ready.gov/business/index.htm l - Resources to start your preparedness plans www.preparemybusiness.org Provides planning documents and informative webinars http://www.fema.gov/pdf/about/org /ncp/cat.pdf - Community Assistance Tool document

7 Health Insurance
Health insurance. Fewer things strike fear in the hearts of people these days as much as those two words. Add to them, Health Care Reform Act, and they become downJevon Jackson right terrifying. With the constant change of the health care landscape, and the more than one million pages of new legislation governing it, companies and non-group sponsored individuals are struggling to make heads or tails of something so confusing, frustrating, but at the same time, necessary. A Reliable Guide Owners, human resource departments, chief financial officers, and others with greater responsibility within an organization have found that they have neither the time, nor training needed to learn hundreds of new laws, become familiar with countless carriers, or to understand thousands of different plan configurations. They are in need as never before of a reliable guide, someone who can represent them, and be the valued resource that can help them navigate these waters. A local independent insurance agency that has partnered with numerous companies can provide this needed direction. The Health Insurance Solution Not too far in the distant past, companies would pay 100% of employee premium and sponsor the most comprehensive of plans. However, due to the rising cost of insurance, these same companies have now demanded that employees contribute more to their plan, at times requiring the employee pay all dependent premiums. The unpopular strategy of lowering plan benefits has also been used to manage costs. The driving force behind premium increases, which can be from 10-50% annually, is utilization. Interestingly, the cumulative cost of major medical services such as cancer treatments, organ transplants and others, pale in comparison to the total cost of claims involving nonemergency situations, this being due to the sheer volume of these types of claims. In order to curtail the unnecessary use of benefits there has been a movement that encourages consumer responsibility. The concept calls on the insured to take more responsibility for their health care by contributing more toward medical expenses up to an agreed upon amount. So instead of a trip to the emergency room for a sprained ankle, which could cost $1000 or more after x-rays and painkillers, the insured first considers his financial exposure, contacts his family doctor, and decides to ice and elevate the ankle as an alternative. Responsible decision made. Of course one should not decline needed medical attention, but the idea is that the everyday nicks and scratches that occur be cared for by the insured, not the insurance company. A more responsible approach regarding the use of benefits results in fewer claims and lower overall premiums. About thirty percent of all Fortune 500 companies have moved to some variation of the consumer driven health plan. However, these types of plans are not limited to large companies; they can be purchased by groups with one or two employees, or as an individual policy not sponsored by an employer group. An Ounce of Prevention Although a plan with more exposure for the insured may seem scary; health care reform requires that qualified health plans provide preventive services rated A or B by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force without cost-sharing, co-pays, or deductibles, as long as the services are in network. Recommended immunizations, preventive care for infants, children, and adolescents, and additional preventive care and screenings for women, such as mammograms, pap smears, and PSA (prostate blood antigen exams) for men are included. Taking advantage of these wellness benefits can accomplish 3 things: 1) Encourage individuals to avoid or delay disease by healthy living; 2) identify and treat conditions the insured may not have been aware of previously; 3) Prevent further disability of individuals with established disease. By taking advantage of these wellness visits the insured may avoid serious illness in the future thereby shielding him from potentially enormous medical bills, and the insurance company from expensive claims. There are also plans that provide a lump sum cash benefit in the event of serious illness such as cancer. These critical illness cash payments may be used to satisfy higher plan deductibles and coinsurance amounts. Employer requirements, Medicare, medical loss ratio, high risk pools, these are but a few of the many facets of health insurance and its reform, and learning each aspect of it is a formidable endeavor. Having an agent as a guide has proven to be an invaluable resource for countless groups and individuals. Dont go it alone. Contact your local independent agent. The PCE Insurance Agency has established its reputation for being customer-focused. When it comes to insurance coverage whether for personal, business, life or health insurance PCE knows that people need to become educated consumers. As a local independent agency, PCE. jevon@pceinsurance.com

$500,000 to Assist Entrepreneurs and Businesses

Grand Rapids - The law firm of Plachta, Murphy & Associates, P.C., understands the obstacles and concerns that are presented to small business owners. One of the biggest problems faced is the cost of legal services it takes to get a business up and running, or continuing the growth of an existing business. In response to Governor Snyders Pure Michigan Business Connect initiative asking that Michigan businesses step up to the plate and help other Michigan businesses, Plachta, Murphy & Associates is proud to partner with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation by contributing $500,000 of legal services over the next four years to help offset the costs of starting or expanding West Michigan businesses. Plachta, Murphy & Associates Business Law attorneys have more than 25 years of expertise and will be helping by providing free initial legal service packages to qualifying start-up companies including: Business Entity & Formation Tax Compliance & Regulations Employment Law Corporate Minutes Employee Handbooks & Procedures Contracts/Negotiations The $500,000 will be given over a four year period at $125,000 annually. The annual $125,000 will be divided into 50 small business packages for qualified start-ups or existing businesses needing legal assistance. Each qualified business will receive $2500 of free initial legal services provided by Plachta, Murphy & Associates Business Law attorneys. After the free service package the business can continue working with Plachta, Murphy & Associates, P.C. or have the freedom to seek counsel elsewhere. There are clear guidelines established to obtain free legal services. For example, candidates must have a strong business plan, a need for legal assistance, and a commitment to remain in Michigan for at least five years. Full guideline information can be found on the Pure Michigan Business Connect (www.michiganadvantage.org/BusinessConnect). Prospective small business owners that fit these guidelines may apply through that website portal.

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8 The Costly Mistake of Misclassification

By Kurt Wagner The Department of Labor (DOL) has recently increased its efforts to reduce the misclassification of employees and is letting employers know the emphasis they are placing in this area. In fact, the DOL recently announced the hiring of 350 additional wage and hour investigators to enforce this agenda and established the We Can Help campaign exclusively designed to help employees file complaints. One reason for the increased efforts: according to DOL statistics, over 70% of organizations are out of compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Since 2001 they have helped collect over $1.4 billion in back wages for over 2 million employees. A large percentage of these recovery efforts were due to the misclassification of employees. The following paragraphs address what it means to misclassify an employee and steps that can be taken to ensure FLSA compliance. The DOL has focused its efforts on two main types of misclassifications. The first is the misclassification of an employee as an independent contractor. While this is a problem, it is not the focus of this article. Instead, this article focuses on the misclassification of non-exempt employees as exempt. Exempt positions get their name because they are exempt from both minimum wage and overtime pay. Unfortunately, several organizations have the misconception that salary and hourly employees are synonymous with exempt and non-exempt. This is not the case. Even though an individual is paid a predetermined amount, he or she is still entitled to overtime pay unless they meet the specific tests for one of the overtime exemptions established by the FLSA. The exemptions fall into the following categories: Executive, Administrative, Professional, Computer, Outside Sales, and Highly Compensated. Below is information specifically pertaining to the Executive and Administrative Exemptions as these are the ones that employers struggle the most to correctly classify: Executive Exemption Compensated on a salary basis at a rate not less than $455 per week Primary duty must be managing the enterprise, or managing a customarily recognized department of the enterprise Must customarily and regularly direct the work of at least two or more other full-time employees or their equivalent Must have authority to hire or fire employees, or the employees recommendations as to hiring, firing, advancement, promotion, or other change of status to employees must be given particular weight Administrative Exemption Compensated on a salary basis at a rate not less than $455 per week Primary duty must be the performance of office or non-manual work directly related to the management of general business operations Primary duty includes the exercise of discretion and independent judgment pertaining to significant matters To learn more about these exemptions or for information on the Professional, Computer, Outside Sales, or Highly Compensated Exemptions please visit the Wage and Hour website at http://www.wagehour.dol.gov. To classify a position as exempt, it must pass a salary level test, a salary basis test, and a job duties test. The salary level and basis test is straightforward and ensures that the individual earns $455 per week and is paid on a salary basis. Deductions from the salary are not permitted based upon variations in the quality or quantity of work performed and the individual generally must be paid a full salary for any week in which any work is performed. The duties test is more complex for employers to understand. One reason is that job titles do not determine status as an exempt or non-exempt employee, but instead actual job duties performed. Ensuring compliance: Conduct a review of your classifications and identify who your organization has classified as exempt (not paying overtime). Ensure each individual has a current job description that outlines the actual job duties they perform (remember job titles are not relevant). Familiarize yourself with the tests associated with each exemption. Review the job duties outlined in each job description to determine if they meet the tests for one of the exemption criteria. Each exemption also has a salary basis of a minimum of $455 per week that must also be met. Make the necessary changes where misclassification exists. Be prepared to explain which exemption the position falls under in case this is challenged by the DOL. Reclassifying positions can be a challenging task. However, the consequences of not reclassifying can be severe. Organizations could be liable for overtime back-pay awards extending back two years (three years in cases of willful violations), liquidated damages, attorney fees and ongoing litigation costs. With the increased attention given to this area, employers can no longer afford to bury their head in the sand and hope that they do not have any problems with employee classification. The burden is on the employer to maintain appropriate records to show that exempt employees are properly classified and compensated fairly. Kurt Wagner is Operations Manage at Acrisure Business Outsourcing Services, Kurt has served in various roles in the outsourcing sector for the past six years. To contact: kwagner@acrisure.com

STEM Jobs Offer Higher Pay, Lower Unemployment

Washington - The U.S. Department of Commerces Economics and Statistics Administration (ESA) recently released a report that profiles U.S. employment in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. STEM: Good Jobs Now and for the Future offers an inside look at workers who are driving our nations innovation and competitiveness, and helping America win the future with new ideas, new companies and new industries. In 2010, 7.6 million people, or 5.5 percent of the labor force, worked in STEM occupations. Key findings from the report show that over the past 10 years, growth in STEM jobs was three times greater than that of non-STEM jobs, and STEM jobs are expected to grow at a faster rate than other jobs, in the coming decade. Meanwhile, STEM workers are also less likely to experience joblessness. Further findings show STEM workers command higher wages, earning 26 percent more than their non-STEM counterparts. STEM degree holders also enjoy higher earnings, regardless of whether they work in STEM or non-STEM occupations. Likewise, college graduates, no matter what their major, enjoy an earnings premium for having a STEM job. In comparison to the average worker, STEM workers are highly educated. More than two-thirds of STEM workers have at least a college degree, compared to less than one-third of non-STEM workers. STEM: Good Jobs Now and for the Future is based on analysis to date from the U.S. Census Bureaus American Community Survey and Current Population Survey. In this report, STEM jobs are defined to include professional and technical support occupations in the fields of computer science and mathematics, engineering, and life and physical sciences. The STEM occupation list contains 50 detailed occupation codes.

Communication & IT
Social Media for Businesses
By Dan Santonocito Before the Internet, social media consisted of people gathering and casually sharing ideas and opinions with each other. In the early days of the Internet, chat rooms and message boards were considered social media. Now, there are hundreds of sophisticated social media outlets to share your message with the world. Messages that used to take weeks to pass from person-to-person, now take minutes and travel by hundreds of people at a time. Mention the term social media to a business owner and they tend to simply think of Facebook and Twitter, but many fail to realize the dozens of other methods that exist. Internet advertising, payper-click, mobile applications, and search engines can all be considered social media. Other grassroots efforts include blogger relationships, site partnerships and user forums. Businesses have more reach than ever before, and its important that they implement and maintain a strong social media campaign to take full advantage of the opportunity. Simply setting up a Facebook page or company blog is not good enough. You have to first set goals for what you are trying to achieve. Are you looking to increase awareness in a specific product or service? Are you trying to learn more about your customers wants and needs? Second, you have to engage your audience. Ask them questions about what they would like to see from your business. Also, spend a few minutes a day sending individual responses to your followers. Third, and most important, listen. Listen to what your audience is, and isnt, saying to you. If your followers are not commenting or responding to your message, maybe its because the content isnt relevant to them. Are your competitors getting more responses and communication from their social media outlets? What sites and methods are you using? Not every social media site is for every business. Its important to have a proper strategy in place. Social media is here to stay, and will only get quicker and more important as time goes on. Mobile applications now

10
allow users to share opinions instantly, and a good or bad opinion can spread like wildfire whether you are watching or not. Businesses that start good social media campaigns now will have the upper hand on their competition moving forward, and will have the opportunity to forge longlasting relationships with their audiences that will not be easily broken. Dan Santonocito: Dan Santonocito is one of the two co-founders of Basso Design Group an interactive marketing agency located in Troy, MI that specializes in web development, mobile applications, social marketing and internet marketing.

Building Secure Guest Network WiFi into Healthcare Facilities

by Scott Montgomery A growing trend in healthcare technology is to implement guest wireless networks within and around the healthcare facility. However, this trend does poise some potential security concerns, if not implemented after considerable planning. This article provides some pointers, but cannot be considered a comprehensive guide to securing wireless technologies. The primary concern in the creation of a guest wireless network should be isolation. Isolation of the wifi network from all production networks, and isolation from the production internet connection are both critical. Our experience has shown that this is often overlooked in an effort to establish a guest network quickly and economically. Without isolation, a visitor using the guest network may have the ability to establish connectivity to critical systems, or eavesdrop on communications. This is obviously of great concern within healthcare. Planning for a separate internet connection is also necessary. Because the internet connection is often an important communication link in healthcare, sharing this connection with visitors is not a good idea. Visitors may use a considerable amount of bandwidth as they watch videos, surf the web and play online games. This additional bandwidth usage may have adverse effects your production environment. But bandwidth is only one concern. A visitor may also perform unauthorized internet activity that could result in a major security concern for the organization. Because you dont have control over what the visitor is doing, you dont want to take the responsibility for this persons activities. The guest network should be named so that the SSID is clearly named for guest and visitor identification. For example, use a name like ABCHEALTHVISITOR-WIFI or ABCHEALTHGUEST. Clearly naming your network will reduce confusion. Requiring that a visitor acknowledge a usage policy for your guest wireless network is also a good idea. Use this policy to communicate what you indend to have this guest network used for. A policy web page can be displayed in the visitors internet browser prior to being provided access to the internet. The organization should also consider limiting or restricting bandwidth speeds. Guest networks are often used to download copyrighted materials such as music and movies. Not only are these files large, their downloading/uploading is often tracked by the copyrighted owner. If your guest network is used regularly for distributing copyrighted materials, you may find that your Internet Service Provider will disconnect you. Implementing Port Isolation is also highly recommended. This process restricts one wireless device communicating with another wireless device. The practice is recommended because it reduces the ability to spread worms and viruses. Your guest network should also not be used by other health care providers such as visiting physicians. Because a guest network is normally not encrypted, a physicians use of the network could result in a HIPAA breach by exposing ePHI to other user of the guest network. To summarize, a guest wifi network should consider the following: Continued on page 14

11 Avoid Wolves in Volunteers Clothing at School

By Bill Tate The successful operation of a K-12 school requires capable administrators to provide instructional leadership and manage the day-to-day activities of our schools. Administrators with bottom line responsibilities often encourage parents and other responsible adults to volunteer to offset the budget challenges that many schools face. While these volunteers do not teach class or assign grades, they often step in to assist with extra-curricular activities, field trips, special events and after-school programs. The practice of background checks for school employees is standard issue for all employees with access to children. Background checks reduce organizational liability, and help protect children. So why should this practice differ with school volunteers? More and more districts across the country are adopting policies that ensure that volunteers are screened through a criminal background check before working with children. School districts in Charlotte, Nashville, Seattle and San Antonio, for example, actively screen volunteers who will interact with students. In 2007, the Board of Education in Norwalk, Connecticut, adopted a policy requiring that adults, who volunteer to assist Norwalk Public Schools, in certain situations, submit to a background check that includes fingerprinting and a national criminal database review for criminal records or involvement with Child Protective Services. While a growing number of public and private schools across the country have implemented strict background screening policies for volunteers, others believe that background checks on school volunteers will reduce volunteer involvement. But every school needs to carefully consider who they allow to interact with their students on school grounds and at school-sponsored activities. Background checks on school volunteers may reveal that someone has a criminal history or is living under an alias. Administrators should work in concert with the Board of Education and the schools parents association to ensure there is a high level of security established at each school with volunteers. When developing or reviewing a school background screening policy, the answers to these questions may help identify areas in need of improvement: Does the school have a policy in place to ensure background screening for all employees of the school? Are teachers, crossing guards, teaching assistants, nurses, cafeteria workers, maintenance people virtually, all paid employees screened? What type of background screening is conducted on employees? Is a national criminal background check conducted? Is the school conducting drug and alcohol testing? Do you permit parents, grandparents and other family members to act as volunteers? Do you permit non-familial relations (i.e., area residents, nannies, family friends) to act as volunteers? Is there mandatory background screening for all school volunteers whether they are family members or non-familial relations? While some schools engage only in limited county or state checks, the national criminal background check offers the most comprehensive way to investigate someones criminal history within the United States. A national criminal background check searches for criminal and county court records, correctional facility records, and sex offender, terrorist and most wanted criminal records. National criminal background reports show current and historical felony convictions and misdemeanor offenses. Federal and state laws strictly regulate drug testing procedures in order to protect the interests and rights of employers and employees. Should teachers be randomly drug-tested? Practices vary across the country. Teacher drug testing was the subject of court cases in North Carolina and West Virginia, where educators argued that time and costs associated with random tests would be better spent in the classroom. Hence, it is no surprise that if our nations teachers are not subject to drug screening, the volunteers are also getting a free pass. Every school should include a careful review of its states law, as well as teachers contracts and union agreements, when developing a background screening policy. The school is likely to be held responsible if a child is placed in danger from a volunteer or an employee. For the safety of the students, the parents peace of mind and the fiscal health of the school, it makes sense to implement a comprehensive background screening program. It is important that schools establish criteria for background checks, and guidelines for unsupervised access to children, before accepting volunteer applicants. Administrators, along with parents associations, teachers, school officials and unions should work together to develop policies and processes to help safeguard students. Children are our most precious resource, and they must be vigorously protected. Ensuring that wolves in volunteers clothing dont enter our childrens vulnerable world is of paramount importance. William Tate is president of HR Plus, a leading provider of comprehensive employment and background screening solutions and a division of AlliedBarton Security Services, and can be reached at WTate@hrplus.com.

Lawyers have one of the Highest Employment Rates

Lansing Drawing on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Thomas M. Cooley Law School today announced preliminary results from a ten-year study of employment in the legal profession, showing that lawyers had among the lowest unemployment rates of all management and professional occupations in 2010. According to 2010 data reported in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Current Population Survey, the national unemployment rate was 9.6% for all occupations, while the unemployment rate for lawyers was 1.5%. Among the ten categories of management and professional occupations established by the Bureau, legal occupations had a combined unemployment rate of 2.7%, the second-lowest rate. Health care and technical occupations topped the list with a slightly lower combined rate of 2.5%. Bureau data also showed that between 2001 and 2010, the economy supported an additional 246,000 jobs for those in legal occupations, including 123,000 additional positions for lawyers. Even during the recession and modest recovery, the number of employed lawyers grew by 3.9% or 1.3% per year. From 2009 to 2010, the number of unemployed lawyers fell by 33.3% -from 24,000 to 16,000 nationwide. The School decided to release the study in a series of separate reports in order to insert the nations most authoritative data into the public dialogue about the national legal employment picture. Report One covers the national employment data compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Report Two will cover the national employment data for recent law school graduates released by the National Association for Law Placement. Report Three will review the salary information available from these and other sources.

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12 Education Briefs
Grand Rapids The West Michigan Science & Technology Initiative (WMSTI) announced the addition of Christopher Jarman as business and community relations associate and Emily Terrill as communications and marketing associate. Jarman will support the outreach WMSTI conducts to life sciences entrepreneurs and researchers in promoting its new mini-labs program. Terrill will conduct marketing and public relations for the mini-labs program. Battle Creek Kellogg Community College is now offering an Associates Degree in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) through the efforts of the Michigan Radiologic and Imaging Science (MiRIS) Consortium. Grand Rapids - Calvin College has been included in the 2012 edition of the Princeton Review's annual college guide: "The Best 373 Colleges." Only about 15 percent of the nation's four-year colleges are included in the guide. Grand Rapids - Forbes ranked Calvin 218th on their annual college guide list of 650 schools that were among the top 20% of all undergraduate institutions, while the 2012 edition of the Fiske Guide to Colleges featured Calvin among the 315 best and most interesting colleges and universities in the U.S., Canada and Great Britain. West Michigan - The West Michigan Internship Initiative received a $10,000 grant from the Grand Rapids Community Foundation, to support outreach to nonprofit employers in Kent County. The Initiatives 2009 goal was to create 3,000 new internship opportunities in the region by the end of 2011, of which 1,500 internships have been established. Flint Baker College Center for Graduate Studies has received specialized accreditation for its business programs through the International Assembly of Collegiate Business Education (IACBE) located in Lenexa, Kansas, USA. The following programs in the following degrees are accredited by the IACBE: Masters in Business Administration. Muskegon Baker College of Muskegon is adding a new Cisco broadband/health care IT certificate program to its curriculum this fall. The program focuses on broadband, network security, wireless and health care IT training skills. Lansing - The $58.8 million renovation of Michigan State Universitys Brody and Emmons Halls have been successfully completed in time for the start of the 2011-2012 school year. Clark Construction served as Construction Manager for the Brody/Emmons projects. Grand Rapids - Calvin biology professor Anding Shen has landed a $300,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health to study the role of endothelial cells in HIV infection. Grand Rapids - Calvin College is recognized among the best colleges and universities in the nation in both Forbes' annual college guide and the latest edition of Fiske Guide to Colleges. Grand Rapids Grand Rapids Community College officials announced that their newly renovated arena will be named the Gordon Hunsberger Arena after the longtime GRCC athletic director, football coach, faculty member and alumnus. The arena is located within the Gerald R. Ford Fieldhouse. The announcement kicked-off the College's opening day festivities, the annual gathering of GRCC's faculty and staff to introduce the new academic year. The arena underwent a $1.1 million overhaul, including installation of a new floor, plus lighting, sound and acoustics improvements in 2010, as a part of the GRCC Works.Ask Anyone Capital Campaign. In addition to being the home court for GRCC athletic teams, the Gordon Hunsberger Arena is used by the community for various purposes and special events. Over 3,900 students use the arena each semester for GRCC wellness courses. Big Rapids Ferris State University has announced that it was awarded LEED Gold as established by the U.S. Green Building Council for its East Campus Suites buildings. LEED is the nations preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. Grand Rapids Grand Valley State University has selected Varnum Consulting to provide two programs as part of the University's Full-Time Integrated Masters of Business Administration curriculum. Lansing The Thomas M. Cooley Law School announced that the American Bar Association accepted the recommendation of the Accreditation Committee to consent in the Thomas M. Cooley Law Schools application to open a Tampa Bay-area campus in Riverview, Florida. Grand Rapids Aquinas College has been recognized as one of the nations top 100 coolest colleges by Sierra Club. West Michigan - The West Michigan Internship Initiative was awarded a $5,000 grant from the Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area, Vision Fund.

Growth Amidst Financial Uncertainty

By Patricia Saenz Michigan residents are well versed in the realm of financial crises. The state of Michigan has faced economic hardship for many years, often singled out for having high unemployment rates and dying cities. Even with the June 2011 unemployment rate showing a sparkle of growth, having dropped 2.1% compared to last years numbers, there are still many who are skeptical of accepting this as a sign of change. The recent drop in the Dow in August doesnt help matters, with many worried about Standards & Poor downgrading the United States rating from AAA to AA+ and much debate over raising the debt ceiling. To make matters considerably more complex, the United States isnt the one treading murky financial waters. Economic hardships in Europe and Asia also pose a serious risk to world growth. Amidst the current global financial uncertainty, it is pertinent to focus on the good that is happening around the world, particularly in West Michigan. The Right Place, Inc. is a regional nonprofit economic development organization specialized in building wealth and creating economic opportunity in West Michigan. One of The Right Places three strategic priorities is to strengthen the global competitiveness and innovation of our existing regional manufactures. They also provide information on all the international companies currently residing in right here in West Michigan. Many may not realize the large number of international companies currently in West Michigan. In the report provided by The Right Place, as of June 2011 there were 83 international companies in West Michigan, many hailing from Germany as well as many other European countries as well as many from Canada and Germany. Among these companies there are many who report to a parent company located abroad. These companies have several different concentrations, from manufacturing to technology and are located throughout West Michigan. International business is not limited to overseas companies bringing jobs to West Michigan. Local companies reaching and growing abroad is another important aspect of international business growth. CeeTox Inc., a West Michigan contract research company, plans to join the group of West Michigan businesses that have expanded their business here and abroad. CeeTox was founded in 2003 in Kalamazoo and has risen above its own economic hardships to become a thriving business. In August, CeeTox was awarded a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant that will allow them to add employees and to expand into Europe. Michigan may be used to economic hardship, but many West Michigan businesses and residents continually strive to make Michigan better for the next generation. The decrease of the unemployment rate and CeeToxs grant may be seen as small victories compared to the current national and global financial issues. However, small victories still must be acknowledged and celebrated, as they may all add up to a big victory in the future. Patricia Saenz is a freelance writer and blogger based in West Michigan. Email: pljsaenz@gmail.com

13 ChooseMyPlate Aids Borgess Experts in Preventing Heart Attacks, Strokes

By Amy Cygan The reign of the Pyramid has ended. The 1992-established Food Guide Pyramid retired its four-tiered design in 2005replaced by MyPyramid which, six years later, would change its name and swap out its triangular shape for a circular pattern: A plate. In June 2011, and based on consumer research, the United States Department of Agriculture unveiled the simpler, but eye-catching plate icon. ChooseMyPlate serves up four colorful pie-slices, each representing a specific food category: Fruits (20 percent-Red slice), vegetables (30 percent-Green), grains (30 percent, at least 15 percent should be whole grains-Orange), and lean proteins (20 percent-Purple). Half of the plate constitutes fruits and veggiesthe other half, grains and proteins. And what about dairy, you ask? A smaller blue circle off to the upper right (imagine a glass of milk next to your breakfast plate) symbolizes the dairy group (3 cups daily, preferred). Other ChooseMyPlate recommendations stress protein variation; food enjoyment, although portion controlled; and reduced sodium and sugar intake levels. Skim or 1% milk is favored and, of course, exercise goes without saying. All in all, the information regarding what to eat and how much to eat hasnt significantly changed from the MyPyramid. And for those who teach nutrition education and awarenesslike Borgess Healths Joyce Ross - registered dietician and Cyndi Kochevar - manager of the Borgess Heart Attack and Stroke Prevention Program the primary information still speaks to the same fundamentals: Proper nutrition (and exercise) promotes healthy living. Or to reverse the psychology a bit: Nutrition equals Prevention. The new plate visual is helpful for many people, notes Ross. The plate concept presents a way of changing food intake without counting, weighing or measuring anything. I have had people lose 10 pounds in one month simply by incorporating the plate ideology. Many of us can remember the ambiguous 1992 guidelines for measuring out our portionsin servings. ChooseMyPlate references portion size in ounces and cups (just like MyPyramid did), but takes into consideration factors of age, gender, and physical activity. Whereas older food guides reference a blanket-population, the newer strategy aims to take individual circumstances into account. And yet, the top three nutrition problems that Ross sees today are ones that have been commonly talked about for years: Pop, juice, energy drinks, coffee drinks, flavored watersevery week I speak to someone drinking 1,000 calories daily, says Ross. If this were the only change made, the person would lose two pounds per week. Most people, she continues, are also not eating enough vegetables, so they tend to lack the phytochemicals that protect against heart disease and cancerand fish should be eaten twice a week. Kochevar points out that proper nutrition promotes healthier skin and hair, lessens the signs of aging (both externally and internally), boosts the immune system, and helps prevent disease. According to the American Heart Associations (AHA) Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics2011 Update, says Kochevar, 100 percent of individuals with cardiovascular disease met three or fewer of the five components of the healthy diet score. Also according to the AHA, cardiovascular disease is preventable for the vast majority of people; an individuals risk can be lowered by up to 80 percent through proper nutrition, and by moving more and not smoking. Because heart attacks and strokes can be reduced and/or prevented through better nutritional eating habits, nutritional education, screenings, and risk assessments, the Borgess Heart Attack and Stroke Prevention Program was created. The program caters to all adults, regardless of gender, but also houses the original gender-specific Borgess Womens Heart Program. The DASH diet and the TLC diet are the primary eating plans that the Prevention program utilizes, in addition to observing the ChooseMyPlate model. Kochevar explains some of the nutritional recommendations: Be portion conscious: Portion sizes today are way out of line with what they used to be 10-20 years agocompare the size of a bagel from the 80s with one from today! Restaurant portions are double to triple what an actual portion should be. Check labels note what the recommended portion is of a given food. Eat more whole foods and less processed foods: This translates to a higher intake of fiber and nutrients, while oftentimes, consuming fewer calories. Watch sodium levels: The vast majority of the sodium we consume comes from canned, packaged, and processed foods. Reduce consumption of these. Continued on page 14

14 New Mercy Health System to Improve Care, Strengthen Links between Grand Rapids and Muskegon
Grand Rapids & Muskegon Saint Marys Health Care in Grand Rapids and Mercy Health Partners in Muskegon today announced their intention to establish a multi-location healthcare system in West Michigan under the name Mercy Health. The Mercy Health system will provide more services across the region, better communication with patients and healthcare providers, and easier access to specialists. The system will include all hospitals, outpatient clinical service sites, and physician network locations that serve the Grand Rapids metro area and the lakeshore. The system will offer the expertise of more than 1,000 physicians and other providers at: Saint Marys hospital, The Lacks Cancer Center, and The Hauenstein Neuroscience Center, and The Wege Institute for Mind, Body and Spirit, all in downtown Grand Rapids Saint Marys Southwest in Byron Center Advantage Health / Saint Marys Medical Group, with locations throughout the Grand Rapids metro area Mercy Health Partners General, Hackley and Mercy campuses, and the Johnson Family Cancer Center, all in Muskegon Mercy Health Partners Lakeshore Campus in Shelby Mercy Health Partners Lakes Campus in Norton Shores Mercy Health Partners Physician Network, with locations throughout the lakeshore area And outpatient clinical services such as workplace health, outpatient rehab, home health, and hospice. The decision to create a formal regional system was made after discussions among the founding hospital systems, supported by market research, revealed that a unique opportunity exists because of a shared vision, mission, and values, as well as commitment to personalized health care. Working together, we can offer better service, better communication between patients and providers, and more access to services and to specialists, commented Roger Spoelman, Regional Executive, Mercy Health and President and CEO of Mercy Health Partners. The healthcare organizations are developing a structure that will enable them to better coordinate care. We are already known for our commitment to care that is centered on the patient; commented Philip H. McCorkle, Jr., President and CEO of Saint Marys Health Care. Coming together as a system will enable us to work more closely together to deliver even better service for our patients and an experience thats right for them. Each organization will retain its own identity, culture, medical staffs, management structure, and commitment to local communities. Together they will focus on finding ways to deliver a wider range of services in each market. The organizations will acknowledge the regional system through use of a tagline indicating membership in Mercy Health (e.g., Saint Marys Health Care a Member of Mercy Health). Mercy Health was selected as the name because of the shared history of the Mercy name in all organizations. The name Mercy connotes a culture that is grounded in a spirit that focuses on bringing healing to all in need and caring for others with a genuine hospitality, compassion, and inclusivity. Mercy takes us back to the founding of both healthcare organizations, said McCorkle. It reminds us and our communities of the fact that not only do we have expertise in delivering care, but also deliver our care with compassion. The new Mercy Health system will be phased in over the next 12 to 24 months and be guided by representatives from Saint Marys Health Care and Mercy Health Partners. A committee composed of board members and physicians from each organization has been working to develop a plan that will outline strategies to create stronger alignment for the organizations. The plan will be completed this fall. Spoelman noted that Mercy Hospital Cadillac and Mercy Hospital Grayling will join the Mercy Health system later this year, and that Mercy Health will continue its established history of collaboration and partnership with Munson Healthcare in Northern Michigan.

Own the Bone

Kalamazoo - The Borgess Bone & Joint Institute has implemented the American Orthopaedic Associations Own the Bone Program. The program is aimed to better identify, evaluate and treat patients that suffer from an osteoporosis or low bone density-related fragility fracture (a broken bone that results from a fall from standing height or less). The program brings focus to the severe health implications of fragility fractures and the multi-faceted approach hospitals or clinics can employ to ensure these patients receive the most comprehensive care. Statistics surrounding this health issue are alarming! According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF), up to 50% of all women and 25% of men over the age of 50 years will sustain fragility fractures in their remaining lifetime. The American Bone Health Prevalence Report states that more people in the United States suffer a fragility fracture each year than are diagnosed with a heart attack (MI), stroke or breast cancer combined and is projected to significantly increase as the population ages. Studies show that patients who have had a fragility fracture are 2 to 4 times more likely to experience another fracture than those who have never had a fracture. That is, once a patient experiences a fracture, they are very like to get another one. According to the National Committee for Quality Assurance, only 1 in 5 Medicare patients have received the osteoporosis care they needed after a fracture. The Own the Bone Program is a national Web-based quality improvement registry that incorporates 10 measures for reducing future fractures and provides the Borgess Bone & Joint Institute with immediate feedback on program performance to measure the Borgess Bone & Joint Institutes success and helps benchmark our institution against other institutions. With Own the Bone, The Borgess Bone & Joint Institute reduces this huge treatment gap and ensure that our patients with fragility fractures are screened and appropriately treated for low bone density or osteoporosis. By following recommendations on patient education, testing, and treatment of osteoporosis, and entering information into the Web-based data registry, health care providers can begin to see how their actions are positively affecting patient care, said Mary Vajgrt, MD, Primary Care Sports Medicine Specialist with the Borgess Bone & Joint Institute. The program is able to produce internal and external benchmarking results that reflect how Borgess Bone & Joint Institute patients with fragility fractures are being positively affected by Own the Bone.

Building Secure WiFi into Healthcare Facilities

Continued from page 10 Clearly name the guest wifi network for quick recognition by visitors and guests. Isolate the guest network from your organizations private internet connection and all other production networks. Implement a Privacy and Policy Statement Web Page that requires the visitor or guest to acknowledge the statement prior to gaining access to the internet. Communicate via the Policy Statement that the guest network is for the private use of the organizations visitors and guests that that the organization takes no responsibility for its use. Communicate via the Policy Statement that the guest network is not intended to be used by a healthcare provider for business use. Implement Port Isolation to reduce the spread of worms, viruses and eavesdropping. As always, verify that this network is included in your annual Information Technology Security Assessment process. Regularly testing the network for vulnerabilities and security weaknesses is necessary to assure your organization is exceeding HIPAA Security Standards. Scott Montgomery joined OST in the spring of 2009 as the Manager of the OST Security Practice. Scott comes to OST with over 25 years of IT and IT Security related experience.

15 Use of Stem Cells to Prevent Leg Amputations

Grand Rapids Spectrum Health is participating in a clinical trial evaluating the use of a patients own stem cells in preventing leg amputations and improving circulation for people who suffer from end-stage peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Spectrum Health currently is the only health system in Michigan participating in the trial and is currently recruiting individuals from West Michigan. PAD, a serious disease which affects about 8 million Americans, occurs when extra cholesterol and fat circulating in the blood collects on the walls of the arteries that supply blood to the limbs. The clinical trial will test the safety and effectiveness of the MarrowStim P.A.D. Kit, a new investigational treatment strategy designed to improve blood flow in the legs by attempting to increase blood flow by enhancing the bodys own ability to grow new blood vessels, a process called angiogenesis. This involves extracting stem cells from bone marrow and delivering them into the leg through multiple injections. About one in every 20 Americans over the age of 50 has PAD, a condition that raises the risk for heart attack and stroke, says study principal investigator Christopher Chambers, MD, PhD, a vascular surgeon with the Spectrum Health Medical Group. Most patients with PAD can be treated with lifestyle changes, medicines, and endovascular or surgical procedures.However, despite advanced techniques and technology, about 10 to 20 percent of people with severe PAD do not respond to these measures and are at risk for lower limb major amputation. Im hoping this new investigational technology will give these patients another option. Because of the location and extent of the blockages in certain individuals, standard treatments such as surgical bypass (insertion of a vein or synthetic graft to redirect blood flow around the blockage) and angioplasty (insertion of a balloon through the artery to open the blockage) will not improve blood flow to the leg, and amputation is the only alternative. Trial sponsor Biomet Biologics recently completed a first-phase study of 30 subjects to evaluate the safety of using bone marrow aspirate in this fashion. The results of that study were used to advance the companys MarrowStim concentration technology into the current, FDA-approved, pivotal trial. Overall, the trial will enroll 152 patients at up to 20 investigational sites in the United States. Patients will be randomized to receive either the investigational treatment involving the MarrowStim P.A.D. Kit (75 percent chance), or a placebo control involving a sham procedure (25 percent chance). Patients will be regularly evaluated for a year after the procedure. Only those patients meeting the predefined approved inclusion/exclusion criteria are eligible for this clinical trial. To learn more about this clinical trial and to see the qualifications for participation, visit www.clinicaltrialspotlight.com or call toll-free at 877-788-3972.

ChooseMyPlate Aids Borgess Experts in Preventing Heart Attacks, Strokes

Continued from page 13 Reduce consumption of processed sugar and sugar additives: Both have been shown to negatively influence weight and contribute to disease development. Watch out for hidden sugars in packaged and processed foods. And remember that sugar, especially processed sugar, can be listed under many different names. Include plenty of Omega 3 rich foods: Salmon, flax seed, and nuts are examples. Replace unhealthier fats (saturated and trans fats) with healthier monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats (like the superstar Olive Oil). Moderate meat consumption: Choose lean meats or non-meat proteins, and follow the plate method to keep the proper balance between the food groups. Read labels: If you dont understand the ingredients that are listed, you probably shouldnt be eating them. Look for ingredient lists that are smaller, with names you recognize. With obesity and diabetes on the rise, todays patients (as well as everyday consumers) are more aware than ever of the importance of a healthy and balanced diet. Choosing healthier food options, however, still remains a challenge, as Kochevar notes: People are more aware that they should be eating healthier, but are sabotaged from a lot of directions. For example, restaurant portions are huge, and the food is often loaded with sodium and fat. Consumers are also bombarded with marketing strategies, some of which promote highly processed products, and energy bars, meal bars and snack bars foods that dont resemble anything that comes from the ground, a tree or an animal. A vast amount of coupons target packaged productschanneling in profitability for the food companies. Additionally, trends making foods sound healthier have cropped up. For a while, everything was low-fat. Then we had made from whole grain, which doesnt mean the final product is whole grain, just that it was made from whole grain. On the flip side, Kochevar has noticed an increase in Farmers Markets, an emphasis on locally-grown products, a wider selection of whole grain cereals and pastas, and fewer all you can eat restaurant buffets. While the Borgess Health programs remain committed to bringing awareness to the health incentives of a healthy diet, Ross reminds us that ChooseMyPlate offers a great starting point for individuals seeking to simply lose weight, or seeking to prevent the onset or recurrence of a critical medical condition. Individuals may request a physician referral to consult with a registered dietitian at Borgess for Medical Nutrition Therapy. Amy Cygan is a freelance writer pursuing a Bachelors in Creative Writing at Grand Valley State University. She can be reached at 616.848.0780.

Cosmetic Surgery Market Mirrors Economic Growth

By Jamie Thrams As the national economy eyes slow and gradual improvement, the cosmetic procedure industry has seen similar growth. Dr. Jonathan Sykes, current president of the AAFPRS (The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery) states, "The increased interest in aesthetic plastic surgery parallels the rebound in our economy. The demand for plastic surgery procedures increased almost 9% in 2010 to an average of 1,063 procedures per surgeon. Felmont Eaves III, MD, Aesthetic Society President foresees continued growth, as the recession eases and baby boomers and their offspring begin to explore surgical and nonsurgical options. With Americans spending nearly $10.7 billion on cosmetic procedures in 2010 and optimism for future growth, it is clear that the cosmetic procedure industry has a significant and undeniable presence in the American economy. Cosmetic Surgery Resources The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery www.aafprs.org The American Soceity for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery www.surgery.org American Society of Plastic Surgeons www.plasticsurgery.org

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16 Q & A WITH EXXEL ENGINEERING

Question: I was notified by our mortgage company that I needed to add flood insurance coverage on my home. Even though Ive already paid a two year premium, Ive heard theres a way to opt out of the flood area. Please help! John P.; Cascade Answer: John, this issue certainly warrants investigation. We have helped many home owners and businesses obtain release from the requirement and expense of carrying flood insurance. As part of the National Flood Insurance Program, the Federal Government has authorized the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) the task of mapping the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), otherwise known as the 100-year flood plain, over practically the entire country. While some previouslymapped areas have been updated, other areas will be mapped for the first time. As these maps become effective, lending institutions will be notified of the maps effective date. These lending institutions, either by federal mandate for federallybacked loans or based on their own criteria, will require that all property determined to be in the SFHA must carry flood insurance. This requirement applies to all future mortgages; it also applies to existing mortgages. Because maps are either being updated or created for the first time, your property may now be in the SFHA. FEMA develops its maps using the best information it has available. Unfortunately, limitations in the information FEMA uses may cause areas to be shown in the SFHA, even though the property is at, or above, the elevation of the 100-year floodplain. If this is the case, in order to remove your property from the SFHA so that you are no longer required to carry flood insurance, FEMA has adopted a process referred to as a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA). This process requires accurate survey information, and completion and certification of LOMA forms by a Professional Engineer or Surveyor. Filing a LOMA with FEMA often can be completed for less than one years premium for flood insurance. Lets investigate whether your property can be released from the Special Flood Hazard Area. Donald De Groot, P.E. is a professional engineer in Michigan and New Jersey; has worked as a civil engineer for 29 years; and has been employed for 22 years as a project manager at Exxel Engineering, Inc., a civil engineering/land survey firm. De Groot is Exxels engineering department manager and can be reached at: 616.5313660. Please contact Exxel or the publisher to have your question answered here next month.

MSU Brody and Emmons Hall Renovations Completed

Lansing - The $58.8 million renovation of Michigan State Universitys Brody and Emmons Halls have been successfully completed in time for the start of the 2011-2012 school year. Construction costs for the Brody/Emmons projects remained within the established budgets. Both projects have been registered for LEED silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Clark Construction served as Construction Manager for the Brody/Emmons projects. It was extremely rewarding for our team to meet the challenge of completing projects of this complexity within the timeframe provided. Work had to be completed with minimal disruption to ongoing services, making precise planning and logistics a priority. said Gary Ciampa, Project Director for Clark Construction. We actually constructed a 12,000-square-foot temporary dining room that served 4,000 meals per day, while we were building a major new dining facility at the same time. Brody Hall is in the center of MSUs 2,600-student Brody complex. The $49.8 million renovation and expansion work at Brody included: Re-configuration of the 65,000square-foot dining hall and kitchen from cafeteria style to a marketplace concept with nine separate dining venues capable of serving 7,000 meals per day; $3.6 million in food service equipment consisting of over 800 food service items, 17 ventilation hoods and 14 walkin coolers/freezers; Construction of a new convenience store and adjoining caf; and Construction of a 15,000-squarefoot atrium lobby Addition to provide student gathering areas; Renovation of the first floor to provide administrative offices, student project areas, classrooms and computer labs. The 100,850-square-foot Emmons Hall renovation project included major mechanical, electrical and ventilation upgrades and replacements with the four-story building. The renovations included life-safety systems including 100 percent automatic sprinklered space, ADA code-required modifications and upgrades, new elevators, lighting upgrades, flooring and ceiling replacements and lobby renovations.

Construction Briefs
Grand Rapids - C. D. Barnes Associates, Inc. welcomes Jill Heyboer as director of business development. Heyboer, with over 7 years of experience in sales and marketing, will broaden the firm's client base, lead corporate marketing strategies, and develop new client relationships. Grand Rapids - Progressive AE announced that Craig Hondorp, ASLA, LEED AP has been appointed the Michigan contact and events organizer for the American Society for Landscape Architects (ASLA) nationwide public awareness campaign. Muskegon Jim Olsen of Signature Associates has negotiated the lease of 1,420 square feet of retail space located at 2437 W. Sherman Boulevard, Muskegon, Michigan to Harold Jackson. Grand Rapids Kathie Rademacher has joined Colliers International | West Michigan as marketing manager. Rademacher will be responsible for leading day-to-day marketing activities, including the creation and distribution of marketing materials to support the commercial real estate services firm. Grand Rapids Owen-Ames-Kimball Co. announces its Director of PreConstruction Services, Frank Bartoszek, LEED AP, has been elected to serve as a Board member for the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre for the 2011-2012 term. Denver, Co In this years study, The J.D. Power and Associates 2011 Home Buyer/Seller StudySM, home buyers and sellers rated RE/MAX as the highest in providing overall consumer satisfaction. Kalamazoo - David Weingart has joined CSM Group as a Construction Manager working on the Food & Beverage delivery team. He will be responsible for directing and verifying contract compliance by the trade contractors. Traverse City - The Builders License Training Institute, a Michigan licensed and EPA Accredited Proprietary School now offers online, and in cities throughout Michigan, both the 60hours of state-approved prelicensure education and the continuing competency courses. Bloomfield Hills - Mark Balon has joined Hubbell, Roth & Clark, Inc. to expand its Pavement and Facilities Management Program regionally and nationally. Balon has over 22 years of professional experience with commercial, retail, municipal, healthcare and industrial projects. Lansing - Hobbs+Black Architects announce the promotion and growth of our Mid Michigan office with the following additions to the firm: Robert Daverman, AIA, LEED AP has been promoted to the Director of the MidMichigan Office; George (Buddy) Huyler, AIA, LEED AP has joined as a Project Manager; Bill Swanson, PE, LEED AP, has joined as an Electrical Engineer; Tim Bosma, PE, has joined as a Structural Engineer. The Lansing office is also announced the hiring of the following Project Assistant/CAD Technicians: Don Buczkowski, Teresa Brown, Amy Rydleski, Associate AIA, and Peggy Wyrembelski.

17 Michigan CAT Named Authorized Dealer of Exodus Wheeled Material Handers

Michigan - Michigan CAT has announced a new dealer agreement, which names Michigan CAT as the exclusive authorized distributor of Exodus wheeled material handlers in Michigans Lower Peninsula. In providing and supporting this product for the scrap and recycling industries, the dealer feels it is meeting a high-demand niche for the Exodus product throughout its territory. The agreement fulfills a need for both organizations: Michigan CAT was seeking purpose-built machines for industrial customers, and Exodus desired a dealer who could provide best-in-class product support. Terry Erickson, Michigan CATs sales manager, views this agreement as an excellent opportunity for customers to enjoy greater productivity and profitability within a market segment that remains a vital component of Michigans recovery. Exodus sees a dealer with unmatched competitive advantages in this territoryfrom experience with the scrap/recycling industry to CATs statewide shop footprint and field service capability. For our part, we get to offer a unique machine with excellent capabilitiesmanufactured here in the United States, Erickson said. Unique features and benefits of the Exodus machine include: Ground level cab entry and ease of transport, without removing the stick or catwalks. An electronic monitoring system, which provides alerts, preventative maintenance reminders, and optimized updates on safety conditions, via position sensors of the stick etc. Machine utilization of proven parts and common components for ease of logistical support. A strong warranty of 2 years or 4000 hours. Support from the manufacturer is provided by the engineers who built the machine. Customers have access to the experts when specing and receiving support. Exodus currently fields a model in the 100,000 pound class, with a larger 125,000 pound offering coming later in 2011. Michigan CAT will have their first machine introduced to dealer staff in early August.

Construction Briefs
West MI Signature Associates leased or sold the following spaces in West MI: INDUSTRIAL: 2,500 SF-Byron Center (landlord-Mainstreet Group, LLC); 12,550 SF-Ludington (landlord-SGS North America/tenant JWK Land, LLC); 2,400 SF-Wyoming (landlordGrand Rapids Corporate Center, LLC/tenant-Comfort Temp Heating and Cooling, Inc); 3,863 SF-Wyoming (landlord-Wendal Swanson/tenantFranks Snack Shack). OFFICE: 1,001 SF-Kalamazoo (landlord-Vander Weele Design/tenant-Contract Land Staff); 2,160 SF-Muskegon (landlord-Gene S. Logan Trust/tenant-Kevin Johnson). RETAIL: 10,866 SF-Grand Haven (sellerPrescient Asset Management/buyerWatermark Church); 5,250 SFKentwood (landlord-J & P Property Management, LLC/tenant, True Holiness Ministries); 3,100 SF-Portage (tenant-Hometown Urgent Care); 3,000 SF-Grand Rapids (landlordFindling Law Firm/tenant-Hendrick Automotive); 3,000 SF-Grand Rapids (landlord-Rex Troost Trust/tenant, Queen Bee Quilt Shoppe, LLC). Grand Rapids West Michigan Environmental Action Council distributed its 1,000th rain barrel earlier this month as part of an event in honor of Coca-Colas 100th anniversary at John Ball Zoo. Last year, WMEAC distributed 508 barrels through the program, enough to remove 9 million gallons of stormwater runoff from local waterways. Grand Rapids - Signature Associates has negotiated the lease of 10,000 square feet of industrial space located at 5130 Patterson Avenue SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Cathy Bottema and Steve Burman, of Signature Associates represented the landlord, Alexandria, LLC. Gene Szpeinski, of Signature Associates represented the tenant, Corporate Transit of America. Grand Rapids Progressive AE announced the addition of three new interior designers to its staff that continue to build on the firms breadth of experience: Sara M. Molina, Senior Interior Designer; Todd D. Emeott, Interior Designer; and Brittany B. Boos, Interior Designer. Kalamazoo - KAR Laboratories, Inc. announces their KARkit H2O Assure Drinking Water Test Kit. This drinking water sampling kit is designed to be an easy, accurate, sensitive, and affordable way to monitor the purity of your drinking water. Grand Rapids - C. D. Barnes Associates, Inc. announces it has been awarded the construction of Bagger Daves Legendary Burger Tavern. Construction is expected to reach completion in Mid-October. Grand Rapids Jeff Tucker and John Mundell of Signature Associates has negotiated the lease of 6,489 square feet of office space located at 507 36th Street SE, Wyoming, Michigan to Consumer Services, Inc. Battle Creek - Stetler Construction is now Battle Creeks leading 203K Contractor/Builder. Stetler works with homeowners who utilize HUDs 203K loan programs, which help with the purchase or refinance of a property by rolling-in the costs of repairs and improvement. Kalamazoo - Steve Jones has joined CSM Group as a Construction Manager working on the Food & Beverage delivery team. He will be based out of Seelyville, Indiana and will be responsible for directing and verifying contract compliance by trade contractors.

18 Health Care Briefs

Kalamazoo - Yahya Bakdalieh, MD, a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist has joined Borgess Spine, a part of the Borgess Brain & Spine Institute. Grand Rapids Spectrum Health is participating in the Medtronic CoreValve U.S. Clinical Trial to evaluate a transcatheter alternative to open-heart surgery for patients with severe aortic stenosis who are at high risk or are ineligible for open-heart surgery. The trial, expected to last five years, is underway at the Fred and Lena Meijer Heart Center, one of about 40 U.S. participating hospitals. Big Rapids Dr. Matthew Maki assumed the role of president of the Michigan Optometric Association Board of Directors in July. Maki will oversee all officers and trustees as the organizations 2011-12 board now is set. Gaylord - Otsego Memorial Hospital (OMH) in Gaylord has joined Helen DeVos Childrens Hospitals Partners in Childrens Health, becoming one of 31 affiliated hospitals. The affiliation provides for pediatric-specific continuing medical education programming, and advocacy for childrens health and safety in Gaylord, among other allowances. Grand Rapids - Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services has joined Helen DeVos Childrens Hospitals Partners in Childrens Health in an effort to enhance the care of infants, children and adolescents throughout Michigan. Grand Rapids Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services hospital based services recently initiated the CareAdmin barcode medication administration scanning system that allows the nurse to electronically match a drug to the patient. Grand Rapids - An independent evaluation by SRA International of the Childrens Healthcare Access Program in Kent County has found the program is succeeding in significantly reducing the number of expensive emergency room visits and hospital admissions while improving kids health. Big Rapids - Mecosta County Medical Center announced that Srikanth Nallan, PT received certification in the McKenzie Method of therapy by the McKenzie Institute International. Nallan will work with patients to not only eliminate back and neck pain, but to prevent the pain from occurring in the future. Muskegon Consumer Reports, September issue, ranked West Michigan Cardiothoracic Surgeons at Mercy Health Partners among the top-rated heartbypass surgery groups in the country. Grand Rapids Spectrum Health is participating in a clinical trial evaluating the use of a patients own stem cells in preventing leg amputations and improving circulation for people who suffer from end-stage peripheral arterial disease. Holland Holland Hospitals cardiology program has been awarded the Gold Performance Achievement Award by the National Cardiovascular Data Registry and American College of Cardiology Foundation. Only 167 hospitals nationwide received the Gold Performance Achievement Award for 2011. Grand Rapids - Alternatives in Motion recently celebrated the major milestone of providing mobility and independence to their 1,000th recipient since 1995. This accomplishment represents over $4.1 million raised in cash and in-kind donations benefiting 673 individuals from 133 Michigan cities and 21 states. Grand Rapids - Saint Mary's Doran Foundation has elected four new Trustees, whose three-year terms: George Aquino, Karen Custer, Carl Jandernoa, Gil Padula, MD. New officers elected for are as follows: Joe Schmieder, Chair; Judson Lynch, ViceChair; Blair Sharpe, Treasurer; Paul Farr, MD, Secretary; Deb Bailey; Latricia Trice. Lansing - Michigan hospitals participating in the Michigan Health & Hospital Association Keystone: Intensive Care Unit collaborative prevented 3.4 to 7.2 central-line-associated bloodstream infection deaths per year at each hospital examined during a 3-year period, according to a study released yesterday in the American Journal of Medical Quality. Lansing Gov. Rick Snyder appointed Concha Allen, Francesca PerniceDuca, Kathleen Jager and Richard Wampler to the Michigan Board of Marriage and Family Therapy. The board licenses and regulates the practice of marriage and family therapy in Michigan. Kalamazoo - The Borgess Heart Institute has been designated an Aetna Institute of Quality Cardiac Care Facility for comprehensive heart and vascular treatment. Muskegon - Health Plan of Michigan recently recognized MERCY HEALTH PARTNERS Westshore Family Medicine of Muskegon for their outstanding quality and service. Westshore Family Medicine is among twenty-five healthcare practices throughout Michigan to receive the distinction. Honored healthcare providers were identified as the top primary care offices in the state through a rigorous selection process based on Health Plan of Michigans 2010 Quality Incentive Plan. Bethesda, MD The Association for Molecular Pathology, an international medical professional association dedicated to the advancement, practice, and research of clinical molecular laboratory medicine, has retained Lambert, Edwards & Associates to provide public relations services for the Association and the rapidly growing field of molecular diagnostics Grand Rapids Sachin Kunde, MD, MPH, joined the Spectrum Health Medical Group as a pediatric gastroenterologist. Dr. Kunde treats children in his office located at 35 Michigan Street NE and at Helen DeVos Childrens Hospital. Dr. Kunde provides care for infants, children and adolescents with digestive disorders. He has clinical and research interest in Crohns disease, ulcerative colitis, liver diseases and allergic gastrointestinal diseases. Grand Rapids - Grand River Cardiology practice will join Saint Marys Health Care; and the Grand River Cardiology providers will become employees of the Advantage Health/Saint Marys Medical Group. Wyoming Metro Health Hospital welcomes Dr. Michael Jakubowski - physical medicine and rehabilitation services; and Dr. James Spoto - ear, nose and throat specialist. Wyoming Metro Health announced that Dr. Fadi A. Saab has joined its growing practice in heart and vascular medicine.

Borgess Programs Help Employees, Employers

Kalamazoo - In an era of increasing economic stresses and rising health care costs, the Borgess Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and the Borgess CorpFit Wellness Program are now available to area businesses. The same types of problems exist for small and large organizations, as they did 30 years ago, said Dr. Frank Jeremy, who helped to initiate the Borgess EAP in 1978. However the high unemployment rate and ballooning health care costs are now twice as imposing to both employees and employers. More than 80 percent of Americans say their lives are more stressful today than five years ago, with work as the primary cause, Jeremy said. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 75 percent of employees healthcare costs and productivity losses are related to employee lifestyle choices. An employees health problem or personal problem easily becomes a workplace problem, according to Jeremy. The stressors usually show up in time and attendance issues, and with sick time usage, on-the-job accidents, conflict with co-workers, and decreased engagement in the workplace, Jeremy said. Early action and intervention is a key in responding to problems before they reach a crisis point. The cost of utilizing an EAP, like the Borgess Employee Assistance Program, is small compared to the $10,000 to $30,000 replacement costs of an employee, or the high costs of employee absenteeism. EAP services are traditionally offered as part of the employee benefit package and are offered at no charge to employees and to their immediate family members.

19 Configura Inc.: Tech Company Plugs into Traditional West Michigan Industry
West Michigan - Those who have experienced a West Michigan winter often equate it with days of gray. But for Sweden native Peter Brandinger and others who joined him six years ago in opening a Grand Rapids office for Configura Sverige, the outlook is bright: West Michigan is lower on the latitudinal than Sweden, so daylight hours in the winter are longer here; and figuratively since landing in the USA, Configura has grown a high-tech niche that plugs into the regions long-established contract furniture industry. Configura, founded in 1990, is headquartered in Linkping, Sweden, hometown of founders Sune Rydqvist and his son Gran, and Johan Lyreborn who is the companys CEO. Configura makes design and specification software for four industries: kitchen and bath, material handling, industrial machinery and contract furniture. The company counts more than 8,300 users across the globe. Its the contract furniture industry that brought Configura to North America. And its the industrys giants that made opening an office in West Michigan the logical move. We started in Chicago because thats where NeoCon is but the more we learned of the North American contract furniture industry, the more we knew that West Michigan was where we needed to be, said Brandinger, who is Configuras North (and now also South) American vice president of business development. It was at NeoCon in 2000 that Configura landed its first North American contract furniture clients Spacesaver and Borroughs and plans began to open a U.S.-based office. Best-laid plans Just as Brandinger and others prepared to uproot and move to the United States, the tech bubble burst, 9/11 occurred and the economy tanked. Configura put on hold its plans to open an office in the U.S. but continued to serve Spacesaver and Borroughs from Sweden while pursuing more new business in the States. In 2005, they signed Haworth. Haworth was our first major client on a new platform we were starting CET Designer software thats based on Configura Extension Technology, Brandinger said. With CET Designer, manufacturers like Haworth would benefit from Configuras core platform while investing in an Extension loaded with their own product symbols. Based on PGC The software originally was born of founder Sune Rydqvists need for an easier ordering process. Rydqvist had owned an office furniture company and used CAD-based tools to design and specify, but these tools didnt solve the problem of the myriad technical details in specifying complex products. Sune asked his son Gran then a computer science student to develop a better solution. Gran wrote a new programming language built on the concept of Parametric Graphical Configuration (PGC), a term coined by the company to mean intelligently designed space. Sunes company became the first client to use the software. Other European clients followed, including Marbodal, Electrolux, Kinnarps and DeLaval. With its growth in European contract furniture market, the move into North America was a natural. Doors open Partnering with Haworth was a huge door-opener for us, CEO Johan Lyreborn said. After that, Peter [Brandinger] and his team were on a roll. Lyreborn and Brandinger selected Grand Rapids as the site for its U.S.-based operations with help from the Swedish Trade Council and The Right Place. Configuras Grand Rapids operation is in a renovated downtown building nestled against the S-curve. The office has 20 employees a blend of Swedes and Americans. The company as a whole has 80 employees. Larry Lee, who works in Global Information Services for Haworth, traveled to Configura headquarters in Sweden to investigate the solution before committing to it. I found Configuras developers especially keen in their approaches and innovative in their solutions to issues, said Lee. Continued on page 20

SETTING THE PACE FOR TOMORROW

Harbor Posts Largest Increase

Burns Harbor, IN - The Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor posted the largest increase in international cargo of all the Great Lakes ports during the 2010 navigation season, earning it the prestigious Robert J. Lewis Pacesetter Award from the U.S. Department of Transportations Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (SLSDC). SLSDC Administrator Terry Johnson presented the award today to Port Director, Peter Laman of the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor. In 2010, the port registered an increase in tonnage of 73 percent over the 2009 navigation season. The port handled 351,600 metric tons of international cargo, primarily comprised of wind components, steel and construction equipment. In addition to the international tonnage, the port shipped 14 times more project cargo in 2010 than the previous year, resulting in a 43 percent increase in overall shipments and a total tonnage of 1.8 million metric tons. The largest shipment of project cargo in the ports history occurred during the 2010 season as 134 complete wind turbine units arrived on 11 different ships from various Great Lakes locations. Last year, the port also handled its first outgoing shipment of windmill components as two ships loaded with wind turbines were exported through the port to New Brunswick, Canada. The Pacesetter Award is presented annually to U.S. Great Lakes Seaway ports that register increases in international overseas cargo tonnage shipped through the Seaway during the navigation season. Originally known simply as the Pacesetter Award, the name change honors long-time Seaway trade analyst Bob Lewis who passed away in 2001.

Lacks Trim Systems Lacks Wheel Trim Systems Plastic-Plate, Inc.

Manufacturer of plastic components for the Automotive, Business Machine, Electronics, and Telecommunications Industries.
5460 Cascade Road Grand Rapids, MI 49546 616-949-6570

20 Michigan Tower Clock Manufacturer Brings Swiss Precision to Timekeeping

Grand Rapids - Lumichron Clocks of Grand Rapids, Michigan, is extremely happy to collaborate in the USA with the manufacturer of the world famous, iconic Swiss Railway Clocks MOBATIME of Switzerland. Lumichron will present a genuine Swiss Railway clock, digital/system clocks, and time systems at the American Public Transportation Associations tri-annual Expo, October 3-5 in New Orleans. Family owned since 1938, MOBATIME is the supplier of rail station and airport clocks for Switzerland, France, Germany, other European and global clients and is the premier brand for innovative time display, time distribution and synchronization systems. Lumichron, owned and operated since 1984 by Ian Macartney, is a Grand Rapids, Michigan manufacturer of commercial clocks, and will be incorporating and distributing the remarkable Swiss equipment. Lumichrons projects range from a single exterior building clock, to multi-faceted tower clocks, to synchronized clock systems used in rail stations and airport terminals. American mass transit infrastructure is in the midst of an amazing renewal and redevelopment. For example, the FRA in August awarded the Northeast Corridor $745 million for improvements, and DOT awarded Dearborn, MI $28.2 for rail facilities. ?With gas prices on the rise and congestion clogging our roads, more and more Americans are choosing to travel by train,? said Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph C. Szabo. ?With our population expected to grow by 100 million more people between now and 2050, we are investing in a high-speed rail system that connects to other modes of transportation, reduces congestion and improves the efficiency and reliability of travel in America.? These projects create a unique opportunity to modernize public transportation in the United States, to make it amenable to public usewith one additionsimple, basic analog clocks and the sophisticated technology to accurately run them. Moser-Baer has developed and perfected the technology to link clocks on a network with a master clock, which uses a universal GPS/DCF time code that automatically updates to be in sync with GPS time, over LAN/WAN with Ethernet cable, for a complete transit system.

Industrial Briefs
Holland LeanLogistics, a global solutions provider of transportation management system (TMS) applications and supply chain services, announced the launch of LeanFleet, fleet routing and optimization technology. Milwaukee, WI - JPRS New Way, a pallet recycler in Lannon, WI, sold its assets on May 12 to an investor group led by Blackthorne Partners Ltd. Through an organic growth and acquisition strategy, Blackthorne and the investor group aim to increase both sales and profits at the newly-named Pallet USA, LLC. Walker - Tubelite Inc. announces that Sage Architectural Products, LLC of Austin, Texas, will serve the state's central and southern region. As manufacturer's representatives, the firm will provide Tubelite's clients with storefront, curtainwall, entrance and daylight control systems for commercial building needs. Lansing Gov. Rick Snyder appointed Jim Federighe and James Lewis and reappointed Robert Hutsell to the Board of Boiler Rules. Lansing Gov. Rick Snyder appointed Donald Purdie Jr. and Mark Smith to the Elevator Safety Board. Zeeland - Gentex Corporation has appointed Ken Horner to vice president of quality. Horner totes 13 years of experience in electronics, program management, and quality. Holland - The Holland Board of Public Works has announced that General Manager Loren Howard has accepted a new position and will be leaving the utility after nearly 25 years of service. Howard, announced that he is leaving the Holland BPW to accept a new position as chief executive officer of the San Luis Valley Rural Electric Cooperative in Monte Vista, Colorado. Hilbert, WI - Veolia Environement North America held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the commencement of operations for its new landfill gas-toenergy project (LFGTE) at the Veolia ES Hickory Meadows Landfill, located in eastern Wisconsin. Holland - Gentex Corporation plans to invest approximately $160 million over the next five years to expand its facilities and add new production equipment in the City of Zeeland and Holland Charter Township. Allegan - Perrigo, a leading pharmaceutical supplier, announced that Maurizio LaFranca has been hired as the companys pilot. Zeeland - Gentex Corporation teamed with Hyundai to develop an automaticdimming rearview mirror that acts as the interface for Hyundai's new Blue Link technology, which provides a significant number of automated services aimed at making the driver's life easier. Holland The Holland Board of Public Works has announced that Tim Hemingway was re-elected to serve as chairperson, and Diane Haworth as vice chairperson. Paul Elzinga, Philip D. Miller and Jim Storey also serve on the Board of Directors. City Manager Soren Wolff serves as an Ex Officio member and Robert Vande Vusse is Council liaison. Grand Rapids - Summits DOT/CSA: Profiled in Safety, is now available in Summits interactive, online training format.

Configura Inc.
Continued from page 19 Together, Haworth and Configura developed Haworths CET Designer Extension, dubbed Canvas, and went on to receive a Best of NeoCon Silver Award in 2007 for the product. Steelcase watched what was happening with the Haworth-Configura collaboration and weighed the benefits of the software becoming an industry-wide solution. When youre developing a new Best Practice, theres strength in numbers, Steelcases Steve Eriksson said. Steelcase and Configura collaborated to produce an Extension dubbed SmartTools. In 2008, CET Designer and its Extensions took Best of NeoCon Gold Award in the technology category. Configura has added Teknion, Spacefile, KI, Inscape and Aurora Storage Products to its list of customers in North America, and Carvajal Espacios and Solinoff in South America. The company intends to become the solution of choice for contract furniture manufacturers and their dealers across the globe no small feat when so many designers are rooted in CAD. The challenge comes in being willing to change in being willing to learn something new that enhances ones expertise and efficiency, Brandinger said. Personally, I love change moving [to West Michigan] has been a great adventure, and we are making a difference in the contract furniture industry. More information about Configura can be found at www.configura.com.

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21 Foreign-Trade Zones Benefit US Firms

By Jan Frantz Global sourcing its benefits and shortcomings dominates trade conversations. Yet in 1934, the United States lost manufacturing jobs to the prohibitive cost of importing essential raw materials and low-value-added, unfinished components. Jobs fled to the offshore sources of these inputs. Americans welcomed the ForeignTrade Zones (FTZ) Act of 1934 as a savior of domestic industrial strength. Since that auspicious beginning, the U.S. Foreign-Trade Zone program attracted investment, supported economic development, and generally contributed to the creation and retention of U.S. manufacturing jobs. Some commodities, of course, are simply not indigenous or available from North American suppliers. Parts or components often derive little economic value from U.S.-based production. With FTZ designation, a U.S.-based factory operates as if it were located, for U.S. Customs purposes, at the foreign source of the imported goods. While U.S. labor transforms the inputs into finished products, a U.S. manufacturer could consider its operations to be outside the United Statesfor Customs purposes. Exports from U.S. FTZs totaled $28 billion in fiscal 2009. During the same fiscal year, FTZs employed 330,933 persons, with 2,523 firms actively served by FTZ services. In Michigan alone, annual volume of FTZ activity increased 46.9 percent, with exports increasing 22.1 percent to $662.79 million.* The FTZ program continues to adapt and meet the need of U.S. industry. The benefits regularly surprise those unfamiliar with FTZs: Elimination of U.S. Customs duty. Through an odd, but not uncommon, set of circumstances, imported, unfinished goods carry a higher duty rate than when incorporated into a finished product. An importer of titanium tubes, for instance, would be assessed about 15 percent duty on the products. If the importer brings those tubes into a U.S. factory with FTZ designationincorporating the tubes into a civil or military aircraftthe titanium tubes become duty-free. The same holds true for exported aircraft. Waste and scrap on imported raw materials typically become duty-free. When destroying imported products because they dont meet quality specifications, consider destruction in an FTZ, to eliminate the U.S. Customs duty. Similarly, foreign inputs consumed during research (and not entering the U.S. for consumption) are duty-free, too. Reduction of U.S. Customs duty. Sometimes transformation of a foreign input into an American-made product reduces the U.S. Customs duty obligation, instead of altogether eliminating it. While the savings may be less dramatic, it impacts profit margins and keeps U.S. industry on a level playing field with foreign competitors. Delayed payment of U.S. Customs duty. When goods are admitted to a Foreign-Trade Zone upon arrival at a U.S. port (or transported in bond inland, to a port such as Battle Creek), they may be stored indefinitely in the FTZ. No U.S. Customs duty or excise taxes are due until the goods are transferred out of the FTZ for U.S. consumption. If the merchandise never enters the domestic commerce, no duties or taxes are paid at all. For example, imported industrial machines are assessed a duty of approximately 4.4 percent, on a value often exceeding $100,000 per machine. The importer may store, test, exhibit or demonstrate the machines to potential customers in an FTZ without paying duty, until the machines are sold and shipped from the FTZ. If the machines are shipped across the border to a foreign customer, the importer pays no duty to U.S. customs. Reduced transit time with direct delivery at an FTZ-approved location. With authorization from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, it is not necessary to break the seals or file import documents until the goods arrive at the FTZ facility. Logistical benefits with weekly entry filing summaries. Qualified FTZ users receive merchandise into their facilities, prior to filing Customs entry documents and triggering payment of duty. When merchandise departs the facility, one entry summary covers the entire business week of shipments. Foreign-Trade Zones must be affiliated with Customs and Border Protection ports of entry. In Michigan, locations include not only FTZ 43 serving West Michigan from the Port of Battle Creek, but also FTZ 16 at the Port of Sault Ste. Marie; FTZ 70 based in Detroit; FTZ 140 for Saginaw, Bay City, and Flint; FTZ 189 for Kent, Ottawa, and Muskegon counties; FTZ 210 at Port Huron; and FTZ 275 in Lansing. Foreign-Trade Zones could be in your industrial tool chest, and part of your solution for success. *The impact of Foreign-Trade Zones on the 50 states and Puerto Rico, FY 2009, National Association of ForeignTrade Zones Jan Frantz, executive director of the Battle Creek/Calhoun County/Kalamazoo County Inland Port Development Corporation, administers Foreign-Trade Zone 43 at the U.S. Customs Port of Battle Creek. Frantz serves on the board of directors for the National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones. A licensed US Customs broker, Frantz is appointed by the Secretary of Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative to serve as an advisor to President Obama on the Industry Trade Advisory Committee for Customs Matters and Trade Facilitation.

Mold Not Just a Problem in the Home

By Jamie Thrams September has been designated Mold Awareness Month, and while many are aware of the risks of mold in the home, mold can also be a dangerous intruder into commercial and industrial buildings. Molds can be found almost anywhere, mostly commonly found inside of HVAC units and exterior walls of heating climate locations. Respiratory complaints are the primary symptoms associated with mold, but more severe reactions do occur. The presence of mold can be costly, not only in the costs of remediation, but also the potential effects on employees. Please view the resources below to assess and prevent mold in your workplace. Links http://www.epa.gov/iaq/largebldgs/pdf_files/iaq.pdf - Building Air Quality PDF http://www.epa.gov/iaq/largebldgs/i-beam/index.html - The Indoor Air Quality Building Education and Assessment Model http://www.epa.gov/mold/mold_re mediation.html - "Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings"

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22 Inn Reflects Historic Charm of Bygone Days

By Dianna Stampfler When I think about The Belvedere Inn in Saugatuck, I imagine it the center of social activitymuch like in my favorite novel, The Great Gatsby, where Nick Carraway, Tom and Daisy Buchanan, and Jay Gatsby gallivant around during the Roaring 20s. I picture cocktail parties that spill out onto manicured gardensa canopy of stars above, the soft echo of voices blending in with the buzz of cicadas, a hot summer night. A hopelessly romantic setting. The Belvedere Inn property dates back to the mid-1800s, but it wasnt until 1897 that the Comstock family of Chicago acquired the site with dreams of building their summer get-away. Eventually, a large wood-framed house was constructed, along with a barn, gardeners cottage and several outbuildings, on what became a working fruit farm. In the spring of 1912, the farm was sold to Mr. and Mrs. John D. Williamson. However, less than six weeks later, the stately mansion was struck by lightning and burned to the ground. The family rebuilt a fireproof home on the propertyinspired by the Prairie style of famed architect, Frank Lloyd Wright (and designed by his colleague, architect Dwight Perkins). The new house was named Belvedere, which is Italian for beautiful viewand that it certainly is. Over its longstanding history, The Belvedere Inn has welcomed several owners and has been used for various purposes. In the 1990s, the house was restored to its grandeur and converted into a bed and breakfast inn. The current owners, Shaun Glynn and Pete Ta, acquired the property in May, 2003. With more than 25 years combined in the hospitality industry, Glynn and Ta have enhanced the overall lodging and dining experience. The Belvedere boasts 10 stylish guest rooms, each decorated with a flare of Old World European charm. Even the room names sound austerethe Balmoral, Canterbury, Cambridge, Abbey and Windsor. And yet, comfort abounds. Cozy up next to the fireplace, or relax in the whirlpool, in the second-floor Belvedere Suite, which also offers a separate living room, and dressing rooms. Or snuggle up with a good book on the dormer-style window loveseat in The Friston room. No matter which room you stay in, a full breakfast in the morning is included. The year-round restaurant, open to inn guests and the general public, serves up a wide array of gourmet fare on its four-course menu. Start with Beet and Anjou Pear Carpaccio or Mussels in Pernod Cream, and then move onto Gazpacho or a Classic Caesar Salad, before indulging in a main course like Conchiglie (jumbo pasta shells stuffed with spinach and cheese, baked in tomato sauce, and finished with toasted pine nuts and fresh parmesan cheese). Chef Shauns signature dishes feature the Butternut Squash Crabmeat Bisque and Chateaubriand for Two (aged filet, carved and served with pan jus and classic barnaise sauce, and scallop creamed potatoes). Sweet treats complete the meal, such as Warm Tart Tatin, Gelato, and Chocolate Cheesecake. The Belvedere Inn has garnered quite a collection of national awards, as well as countless positive reviews on online sites, such as Yelp.com (five-outof-five stars, based on six posts). Reviewers on TripAdvisor.com ranked the Belvedere #3 of 24 B&Bs in the area, with 37 reviews over the past few years. My husband and I cant speak too highly of the Belvedere, writes a guest from East Chicago, Indiana. Everything about it is wonderful: the rooms, the grounds, the breakfasts and dinners, and the staff. It has all the charm of a European five-star inn, without the hassle of flying to Europe. For more information about the Belvedere Inn, call 877-858-5777 or log onto www.thebelvedereinn.com.

Hotels/Restrauants Briefs
Rockford - Chef Glenn announced this week that Lance Climie will join Reds on August 9, 2011 as Reds Front of the House manager. Climie has more than 25 years experience and management expertise, and will oversee front of the house operations. New Buffalo Four Winds Casino Resort announced that it won a total of 34 awards from trade and regional media. Earlier this year, Four Winds was voted Best Casino by readers of the South Bend Tribune in its 2011 Readers Choice awards and Best Hotel in the Times of Northwest Indianas 2011 Best of the Region awards. Acme - Grand Traverse Resort & Spa announced the opening of the new Dylans Candy Bar Candy Caf in the 20,000-square-foot Gallery of Shops located on the hotels lobby level. Grand Rapids - Travel Leaders was named one of America's Top 10 travel companies in the "Power List" by Travel Weekly. Travel Leaders moved up one spot to #9 based on the company's wholly-owned annual sales volume of nearly $1.8 billion last year. Saugatuck - The Starring family celebrates the 30th anniversary of West Michigan attraction Saugatuck Dune Rides. Grand Rapids The Grand Rapids Griffins announced that the Detroit Red Wings have hired John Bernal as the Griffins new athletic trainer. In addition, the Griffins announced the hiring of: public relations manager Kyle Kujawa, ticket operations manager Amanda Gillard, and group sales account executives Ashley Binning and Zack Krywyj. Washington, D.C. - Wyndham Hotel Group will become the third major U.S. hotel company, along with Carlson Companies and Hilton Worldwide, to sign The Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism. Wyndhams decision to sign comes after nearly 14,000 travelers signed a petition on Change.org, a global social action platform.

Off Center Gallery hosts GR artists

Grand Rapids The Green Well Gastro Pub has created the Off Center Gallery in the restaurant to benefit both local artists and its new non-profit partner Friends of Grand Rapids Parks. The Gallery is hosting and selling local artists work on their walls for guests to browse and buy. Each artist has committed to giving 10% of their profits to Friends of Grand Rapids Parks. Off Center Gallery now has three artists displaying their work and plans to continue taking applications from artists who are interested in participating. The application can be found on The Green Well website. Last month, The Green Well teamed up with Friends of Grand Rapids Parks and closed their restaurant for one day to give Cherry Park a good clean-up. The staff spent the day weeding, painting, tightening equipment, mulching and repairing the horseshoe pit. Plans to maintain the park and raise money for new equipment are in the works. The Green Well, an Essence Restaurant Group establishment, serves honest fayre with local flair in a green, neighborhood setting that keeps customers coming back. The innovative gastro pub is green beyond its name with a LEED certified building that is ultra efficient and leaves behind the smallest possible carbon footprint. Its creative, ever-changing menu features a global range of eclectic flavors prepared with ingredients from local farmers, and the beverage offering includes a wide array of local craft brews and wines, all to support our local economy.

Does Your Travel Agent Pr ovide Your Company :

A company Frequent Flier program that compliments personal frequent fliers plans. A 24 hour grace period after tickets have been issued to avoid the airline penalty of $150 A corporate car rental program that guarantees a car even when locations are sold out An evening and weekend emergency center staffed 24 hours. A corporate rate hotel program with over 120,000 properties. If not call Mike Malaney at Travel Leaders 616-942-2860.

Corporate Information
Troy Dynamic Advisory Solutions welcomes to its new advisory board, the following members: David Farbman, CEO/founder - Outdoor Hub; Stephen Gross, Detroit managing member McDonald Hopkins PLC; and John Bower, CEO/founder - The Bower Companies. Grand Rapids - Womens Resource Center has selected Floriza Genautis to chair the agencys Board of Directors through the 2012 term. Floriza takes over from chair Denise Sherwood. Grand Rapids The Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce has announced the addition of Jordan ONeil to its staff as Director of the Center for Community Leadership (CCL). ONeil will be responsible for facilitation and day-to-day management of CCLs programs, fundraising and the strategic growth of the portfolio of leadership development and community orientation programs New York- The International Council of Shopping Centers announced its volunteer officers for the state of Michigan. Those representing West Michigan are: Earl K. Clements, Colliers International, Grand Rapids, State Director; Ann Marie Bessette, Grand Rapids Downtown Development Authority, Grand Rapids, has been appointed the Alliance Public Sector CoChair. All appointments are for the 2011-2012 term. Kalamazoo - The Southwest Michigan Chapter of the American Marketing Association announced its board of directors for the 2012 fiscal year, including: Dr. Wes Martz, president; Danielle Rohrer, president-elect; Alyssa Jones, secretary and treasurer; vice presidents John Stap and Nancy Struck. Grand Rapids - The Kent County Aeronautics Board expresses its sincere appreciation and gratitude in announcing the retirement of James Koslosky, executive director of the Gerald R. Ford International Airport, effective January 1, 2012. Holland/Zeeland Jane Clark, Holland Area Chamber President and Jim Schoettle, Zeeland Chamber President announced the results of their recent joint member survey to measure the interest of Chamber members in continuing the collaboration and potential interest in eventually creating one Chamber. Lansing - The Mobile Technology Association of Michigan announced that it has partnered with the Small Business Association of Michigan to offer enhanced membership benefits to its members. Grand Rapids Custer Studio, a design firm founded in 2006 in collaboration with Steelcases 3D Rendering Department and later became a division of Custer Workplace has changed Its name Dart Frog Creative. Comstock Park - GMD Foodservice Marketing headquartered in Comstock Park, MI was selected by Rubbermaid Commercial Products as the exclusive Sales Representative for Michigan and Indiana. The contract is estimated to exceed $5 million in sales, year one, with a projected annual increase of 15% or more. GMD Foodservice Marketing is a full-service distributor and manufacturers representative of foodservice equipment and smallwares with a second location in southeast Michigan (33548 Lipke, Clinton Township). Rubbermaid Commercial Products 2011-2012 product line includes more than 3,000 items ranging from cleaning equipment, washroom supplies, utility refuse and recycling containers to skin care dispensers, foodservice equipment, material handling trucks and carts, and trash, and smoking receptacles. Grand Rapids The West Michigan Chapter of the American Marketing Association released its 2011-12 board of directors line-up: Sheri StetsonCompton (President), Lisa Young (Secretary), Laura Pecherski (Programming Chair), Shannon Cunningham (Membership Chair), Shelby Reno (Finance Chair), Mindy Kalinowski-Early (Collegiate Relations Chair), Jaime Beckstrom (Technology Co-Chair), Jorri Smith (Technology CoChair), Jason Dodge (Communications Co-Chair), Kristen Meyers-Chapman (Communications Co-Chair), Jenn Bumstead (Special Events Co-Chair), Sarah Lilly (Special Events Co-Chair). Grand Rapids - In the 2010-2011 fiscal year, the Grand Rapids Public Library has seen a record number of materials circulate and a record number of visitors. Over 1.3 million people visited the Grand Rapids Public Library or used our web branch in the 2010-2011 fiscal year, and the 1,754,621 items circulated represents a 9.53% increase from the previous year. Grand Rapids - The Grand Rapids Public Library Foundation has granted $55,396 to the Grand Rapids Public Library. The funds will support library program, materials and services. Wyoming The Wyoming Police Departments Community Service Unit is distributing 500 copies of ComputerCOP Parental Internet Monitoring Software free to parents as part of its community outreach initiative to help parents protect their children from internet predators and cyber bullies. Parents receiving the software will also be enrolled in a supplemental internet safety class. Grand Rapids - Dan Cardosa has joined Paul Davis Restoration of Western Michigan as the company's associate. Cardosa will be responsible for construction estimating and project management, and customer service. Grand Rapids Local First has announced new board officers for the 2011-2012 term: James Berg, Essence Restaurant Group, Chair; while Emily Loeks, Celebration! Cinema, ViceChair. Outgoing chair Doris Drain, will continue to serve the Local First board as a trustee. Both Chris Lampen-Crowell, Gazelle Sports and Craig Clark, Clark Communications, will continue to serve as treasurer and secretary, respectively. Grand Rapids Brian Obits, Land Conservancy of West Michigan development officer, has been named interim executive director of the organization as a search for a new executive director is launched.

23
Howell DisplayMax Merchandising Services, an in-store merchandising services company for retailers and consumer package goods manufactures, has announced an office relocation and expansion has moved its offices from the Chilson Crossing office building to a new location at 2829 E. Grand River Ave. Grand Rapids - The Area Community Service Employment and Training Council (ACSET) announced that Sylvia Hopson has replaced the recently retired Beverly Drake as executive director, and Dave Smith has been elected as the ACSET Workforce Development Board (WDB) Chair, replacing Win Irwin. The Board has also elected Jay Dunwell, President of Wolverine Coil Spring Co. and longtime WDB member to be ViceChair. Lansing - Gov. Rick Snyder appointed Mike Busley and Jon Nunn and reappointed Roger Curtis to the Michigan Travel Commission. Grand Rapids been named to Inc. 5000 list, fastest-growing Kantorwassink has Inc. magazines annual a list of the nations private companies.

Grand Rapids Lambert, Edwards & Associates (LE&A), a leading Michigan-based public relations and investor relations firm, announced it has been ranked #2,333 by Inc. magazine for its fifth annual Inc. 5000 list.