Our roundup of the latest news from metro Detroit and Michigan businesses as well as announcements from government agencies. To share a business or nonprofit story, please send us a message.
Roost Detroit Makes Travel & Leisure’s Top 100 Hotels List
Roost Detroit, the hotel at the iconic Book Tower has been included on Travel & Leisure’s 2023 Top 100 Hotels list as one of the best new affordable luxury hotels in the world.
In addition, Trip Advisor named Roost Detroit as the No. 1 hotel in downtown Detroit.
“Tucked inside Detroit’s iconic Book Tower, this Roost location merges the comforts of a contemporary home with the elegance of a bygone era,” Travel & Leisure writes. “The building’s past and future blend seamlessly, thanks to a transformative renovation by the real estate firm Bedrock Detroit.
“The painstaking restoration, conducted over a seven-year period, invokes the structure’s Italian Renaissance–revival style, originally conceived by architect Louis Kamper in the 1920s, which includes awe-inspiring arches and a romantic rotunda that now floats above an all-day café and wine bar.”
Blue Bird Extends Roush CleanTech’s School Bus Collaboration to 2030
Blue Bird Corp., a Georgia-based manufacturer of electric and low-emission school buses, has extended its exclusive clean school bus collaboration with Ford Component Sales and Roush CleanTech in Livonia to 2030.
Blue Bird is now the only school bus manufacturer in the United States to offer propane- and gasoline-powered school buses that will meet more stringent emission standards taking effect in 2027.
Ford Motor Co. in Dearborn continues to supply its 7.3L V-8 engine exclusively to Blue Bird. Roush CleanTech integrates Ford’s engine into low-emission powertrain options for propane- and gasoline-powered school buses. Blue Bird, Ford and ROUSH CleanTech began working together in 2012. Since then, Blue Bird has deployed more than 40,000 alternative-fuel powered school buses.
Atlantic Impact Skilled Trades Competition May 9 at Eastern Market
As many as 50 skilled trades trainees from area high schools and vocational schools will compete in the first Build Detroit youth skilled trades competition staged by Atlantic Impact, a Detroit-based workforce development nonprofit that provides skilled trades training and hands-on learning opportunities, May 9 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
The student competitors will be tasked with completing a project tailored to their trade. They will have a set time-period to complete the work and will be judged based on accuracy, quality of workmanship, safety practices, adherence to industry standards, and other factors.
Winners will receive prizes including tools of the trade and other forms of recognition, providing them with opportunities to further their education and career development in the skilled trades.
To learn more or participate, contact: [email protected]
Henry Ford College Pre-engineering Team Named National Challenge Finalist
The National Science Foundation (NSF) and the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) has named Henry Ford College (HFC) in Dearborn as one of 12 finalists in the national 2024 Community College Innovation Challenge (CCIC).
Now in its eighth year, the CCIC seeks to strengthen entrepreneurial thinking among community college students by challenging them to develop innovative solutions to real-world problems. It also enables students to discover and demonstrate their capacity to use STEM to make a difference in the world and to translate that knowledge into action.
Each CCIC team consists of two to four students and a faculty mentor who guides the team. This year’s HFC team comprises pre-engineering students Abeer Alhassan, Brendon Bonner, and Ronnie Rabah-Nasr. Their mentor is HFC Pre-Engineering Program Director Hassan Mohseni Nameghi. Their project is Stay Vigilant with Source Alert. This is an application that connects to internet search engines and word/image processing services to detect the source of information and display it to the user in real time. It can also raise public awareness about potential misinformation.
CCIC finalists attend an Innovation Boot Camp in June and interact with entrepreneurs and experts in business planning, stakeholder engagement, strategic communication, and marketplace dynamics. The Boot Camp culminates in a Student Innovation Poster Session on Capitol Hill with STEM leaders and congressional stakeholders and a pitch presentation to determine the first, second, and third-place winning teams.
Comerica Bank, Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship Launch National Partnership
Comerica Bank is expanding its regional partnership with the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) to multiple markets within its geographical footprint.
This $100,000 investment will provide entrepreneurship education programming to more than 25,000 middle and high school students in under-resourced communities who participate in NFTE’s Aspiring Entrepreneurs Program in California, Florida, Michigan, and Texas.
Comerica also will serve as a World Series of Innovation Challenge sponsor, which introduces young people to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and gives them an opportunity to explore ideas of social and environmental justice while using entrepreneurial skills to develop solutions to the most serious challenges facing humanity.
“By igniting their entrepreneurial mindset, young people who complete NFTE’s program are more likely to engage in learning, achieve their educational and career goals, launch new businesses, have increased lifetime earnings, and feel greater job satisfaction,” said “Our increased support of NFTE is an invaluable investment in our future entrepreneurs, innovators, problem-solvers and leaders.”
NFTE appointed LaToya Rowell, Comerica’s national community affairs manager, to its national board earlier this month for her longtime support of the organization as well as the vital role she has played in leading this regional partnership. Since 2023, nearly 200 Comerica colleagues have served as guest speakers, coaches, and judges, logging more than 600 volunteer hours to help guide 11,000 youth participating in NFTE’s programming. In 2022, NFTE named Comerica its South Region Corporate Volunteer of the Year for the bank’s support.
Student-designed Murals Unveiled for Detroit Grand Prix
The Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear Wednesday unveiled murals created by young students from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan that will be displayed trackside during the Grand Prix, May 31-June 2.
Utilizing advanced digital technology, students ranging in age from 12 to 16, created the unique mural designs that honor the diverse neighborhoods in Detroit. All eight murals capture the spirit of the Motor City while reinforcing the strong connection the Grand Prix has with the community.
Measuring 24 feet long and three feet high, each of the murals will be placed on the barrier walls surrounding the downtown Detroit race circuit, in front of the viewing platforms on Jefferson Avenue that will be open and accessible to fans completely free of charge all weekend long at the Grand Prix.
The murals were created by students in the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan (BGCSM) Digital Design Club. The young artists learned about the history of the Detroit Grand Prix, dating back to 1982 and the event’s heritage on the streets of downtown Detroit.
Downtown Street Eats Food Truck Rally Returns to Cadillac Square May 6
The Downtown Detroit Partnership’s Downtown Street Eats program rolls back into downtown Detroit May 6 to kick off the 2024 season.
The food truck rally offers a wide variety of cuisine options, everything from Asian to Greek to Mexican, and will feature returning favorites, as well as several new food trucks, which account for 25 percent of this year’s lineup.
Cadillac Square and the Woodward Esplanade will play host to the region’s best food trucks from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. each weekday through Oct. 10, and during special events such as the Detroit Grand Prix, Detroit Tree Lighting, headline concerts, and more.
Created, programmed, and managed by the Downtown Detroit Partnership and curated by Ask Jennyfer, Downtown Street Eats is Michigan’s largest weekly food truck experience, attracting more than 2,500 people a day and continues to draw new and mainstay trucks, carts, and local restaurant pop-ups, offering multiple quick and convenient lunchtime options to satisfy the cravings of Detroiters, downtown employees, and visitors alike.
Patrons are encouraged to take advantage of an array of surrounding seating options to enjoy their meal in an urban, open-air setting.
For a schedule of food trucks and other events happening in Detroit parks, visit DowntownDetroit.org/events.
GLWA Continues Second Phase of Infrastructure Improvements Near Eight Mile Road
As a part of continuing infrastructure work being performed by the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) to provide redundancy in the regional system, Eight Mile Road will be closed to through traffic under the I-275 overpass (1/4 mile east of Haggerty Road) from approximately 6 p.m. today through roughly 5 a.m. on May 13. This closure is in addition to traffic control already in place in the area.
During the closure GLWA will be installing a 54-inch transmission main across Eight Mile Road and restore the section of roadway within this work area. This is the last section of the 7.5 miles of transmission main to be installed between 14 Mile and Eight Mile as a part of this project.
Included in the closure will be the:
- Southbound I-275 ramp left turn lane to eastbound Eight Mile Road (Closure already in place)
- Eastbound Eight Mile Road ramp to northbound I-275
- Westbound Eight Mile Road ramp to Southbound I-275
Detour routes for traffic during the closure are as follows:
- Eastbound Eight Mile Road through traffic will be directed south on Haggerty Road to Seven Mile Road, then east on Seven Mile Road to Newburgh Road, then North on Newburgh Road back to Eight Mile Road.
- Eastbound Eight Mile Road traffic headed to NB I-275 will be directed south on Haggerty Road to Seven Mile Road, then east on Seven Mile Road to the NB-I-275 ramp.
- Westbound Eight Mile Road
- Westbound Eight Mile Road through traffic will be directed south on Newburgh Road to Seven Mile Road, then west on Seven Mile Road to Haggerty Road, then north on Haggerty Road to Eight Mile Road.
- Westbound Eight Mile Road traffic headed to I-275 South will be directed south on Newburgh Road to Seven Mile Road, then west on Sevem Mile Road to the I-275 south ramp.
Synergy Longevity Centers Offer Executives Disease Prevention, Early Detection Services
Synergy Longevity Centers (SLC) in Novi is bringing a new health care approach to executive leaders in metro Detroit, focused on the prevention and detection of illness with a goal of improved wellness and aging.
Founded by Dr. Anthony Oraha and Dr. Michael Zielinski, Synergy Longevity Centers is the Midwest’s first comprehensive preventative health and longevity center, offering personalized, state-of-the-art screenings, and evaluations to detect heart disease, cancer, nutritional deficiencies, gut health issues, and more.
While Synergy Longevity Centers welcomes all patients, they also provide the Ultimate Executive Physical, designed especially for the stress-laden lives of corporate leaders. “It’s a personalized, comprehensive evaluation designed for executives, entrepreneurs, and business owners to gain insight into their health status,” says Dr. Oraha. “In addition to standard services you would find at major institutions such as the Mayo Clinic or Cleveland Clinic, the Ultimate Executive Physical includes our proprietary whole-body MRI and multi-cancer DNA detection test.”
Other tests include:
- Echocardiogram
- Electrocardiogram
- Coronary calcium score
- Boston heart blood tests
- Macro and micro-nutrient testing
- Stool immunochemical testing
- Other testing as determined by patient evaluation
With SLC’s executive services, leaders are “able to gain insight into their current health status, get benchmarks for future tests, and create a plan to improve their health and wellness,” says Oraha.
The SLC team will partner with companies to create customizable screening packages for individuals or larger numbers of team members within the organization, creating an added employment benefit for leaders.
If results reveal medical issues requiring specialized follow-up care, the Synergy Longevity Centers team can refer patients to their comprehensive list of specialists “who understand our clientele and the urgency with which they need to be seen,” says Dr. Oraha. “We offer expedited access to specialty physicians, ensuring minimal wait times for our patients. They typically wait less than one week to be seen by a specialist.”
If testing reveals issues such as elevated cholesterol, nutritional deficiencies, or other situations that can be addressed with lifestyle modifications, medications, and other preventive measures, the SLC team will work with patients to put them on the road to wellness and refer them to specialists, if needed.
SLC patients also enjoy personalized care rarely seen in most medical practices. “All of our patients get my cell phone number so they can call me with any questions they have,” Oraha says. “When patients have my cell phone number, they have the comfort of knowing I am one call or text away with any questions they have.”
Ultimately, the Synergy Longevity Centers team works hard to support the health and wellness of those who are working hard for others. By providing proactive medical assessments to the region’s leading executives, the SLC team aims to help CEOs and entrepreneurs feel their best and enjoy peace of mind while working to grow and elevate their businesses.
“Wellness is a holistic view of your health, encompassing physical, mental, social, and spiritual well-being,” says Oraha. “It goes beyond the traditional focus of medicine – treating illness and disease – to optimizing our health.”
Milwaukee’s Wipfli Acquires Certain Assets of Southfield’s Harbour Results
Wipfli, a Milwaukee-based advisory and accounting firm, has agreed to acquire certain assets of Harbour Results, Inc. in Southfield. Fourteen associates will join Wipfli as a result.
Harbour Results is an advisor in the manufacturing industry, providing benchmarking, assessments, strategic development, and operational improvements to more than 60 clients.
The Harbour Results team will bring to Wipfli its proprietary benchmarking service, which delivers data that drives strategy and operations for manufacturers.
Combined with Wipfli’s data and manufacturing practice, the united teams are expected to bring additional value to their manufacturing clients.
Born in Detroit Popup Store in Downtown Detroit to Stay Open Through July
Farmington Hills-based Born In Detroit Apparel opened its first pop-up storefront in the heart of Detroit at 1275 Woodward Ave. across from the Shinola Hotel, in March. The storefront for this local small business was going to be open through the NFL Draft weekend, however due to overwhelming support, it will remain open through July 31.
The debut of the Detroit pop-up venue marks Born In Detroit’s inaugural standalone store, showcasing exclusive designs, including an extended collection of attire catering to women and children, alongside cherished fan favorites. The apparel range encompasses hats, t-shirts, sweatshirts, crossbody bags, tumblers, glassware, and an array of other items. Teaming up with Michigan’s top furniture retailer, Gardner White, the brand has curated a trendy Detroit urban vibe within the store, furnished to offer shoppers and visitors a chic lounge experience.
For more information about Born in Detroit, visit here.
Six U-M Faculty Elected to National Academy of Sciences
Six University of Michigan professors are among 120 new members inducted into the National Academy of Sciences for distinguished and continuing achievements in original research.
Those elected include:
Kent Berridge, the James Olds Distinguished University Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, has a research lab that seeks answers to questions about the brain, particularly regarding “wanting” and “liking.”
Lee Hartmann, the Leo Goldberg Collegiate Professor of Astronomy, emeritus, studies how vast cold clouds of gas and dust fragment and then collapse, forming stars and their surrounding disks. His research examines how planets form within these disks. Using models that link observation and theory, Hartmann looks at how variations in initial conditions and the physical processes that dominate a star’s evolution contribute to the variety of systems we observe—from binaries to planetary systems like our own.
Jeffrey Lagarias, the Harold Mead Stark Distinguished University Professor of Mathematics, has contributed to number theory and theoretical computer science. At U-M, he has been active in the number theory group over the last few years, with additional contributions to many other fields.
Vonnie McLoyd, the Ewart A.C. Thomas Collegiate Professor of Psychology, researches the role of parental behavior and family relations as paths through which economic conditions such as poverty, parental job loss, and parental work characteristics influence youth’s socioemotional adjustment. She also studies processes that protect youth from, or increase youth’s vulnerability to, the effects of experiences in peer and neighborhood contexts known to compromise socioemotional adjustment (e.g., neighborhood violence, peer victimization, racial discrimination).
Jonathan Overpeck, the Samuel A. Graham Dean and William B. Stapp Collegiate Professor, School for Environment and Sustainability. An interdisciplinary climate scientist, Overpeck is an expert on climate change, climate-vegetation interactions, Earth history, environmental science, and sustainability.
Henry Wellman, the Harold W. Stevenson Collegiate Professor Emeritus of Psychology, has research interests that focus on children’s acquisition of foundational knowledge – early acquired understandings that shape and frame later cognitive developments – studied via naturalistic and laboratory studies with infants and young children.
Those elected bring the total number of active members to 2,617 and the total number of international members to 537. International members are non-voting members of the academy, with citizenship outside the United States.
Children’s Center Presents Detroit Manufacturing Systems with Hero of Hope Award
The Children’s Center of Wayne County has honored Detroit Manufacturing Systems (DMS) with its inaugural Hero of Hope Award.
DMS, a contract manufacturing and assembly company based in Detroit, encourages its team members to come together throughout the year to help residents in the surrounding communities through donations and charitable acts.
In 2024, Donna Schultz, executive vice president of business process excellence at DMS, and her team coordinated efforts to raise $45,500 for The Children’s Center of Wayne County.
DMS’s support is an ongoing effort. During the 2024 Power of Possibilities Breakfast, May 7 at the Motor City Casino, DMS will receive recognition for the Hero of Hope Award and be acknowledged for their Envision Sponsorship of The Children’s Center. The funds for this program will ensure that children and families are supported with mental and behavioral health resources to heal, grow, and thrive.
Goldfish Swim School in Troy Launches Annual Safer Swimmer Pledge
Goldfish Swim School in Troy has launched its fourth annual Safer Swimmer Pledge initiative, a commitment to observing five essential rules of water safety in honor of National Water Safety Month in May.
The Safer Swimmer Pledge comprises a set of commitments designed to instill smart water practices in children and adults alike:
“Whether I’m at home, the beach or pool, I will play it cool and follow the rules.”
“When it comes to swimming, water safety is key, that’s why I will always have an adult with me!”
“When I’m around water or on a boat, I can wear a life jacket to help me float.”
“No matter how deep the water may be, I’ll always jump in with my feet.”
“If I see a swimmer in need, I know how to help them indeed! First, I’ll throw them something to float, and then I’ll go and get an adult.”
Olympic Gold Medalists, World Champion swimmers, and Goldfish Swim School Ambassadors Ryan Murphy and Cullen Jones will once again join the challenge, inspiring little swimmers nationwide to make waves for water safety by encouraging friends, classmates, families, and community to take the Safer Swimmer Pledge.
Goldfish Swim School also is excited to partner with LEGOLAND® New York to enhance pledge participation with new prizes. Families who take the online pledge will receive an exclusive offer to visit any LEGOLAND Resort or Discovery Center, and will be entered to win a Grand Prize of three nights and two days at LEGOLAND NY Resort, $2,024 in GOLD-hard cash, and LEGO products. Other prizes include a year of free swim lessons, pool parties at local Goldfish Swim School locations, LEGO products, and more. Additionally, the Goldfish Swim School location with the most pledges will win a VIP pool party with Murphy and Jones to celebrate water safety and their community.
Genuine Parts Co. Acquires Largest NAPA Independent Store Owner in the U.S.
Genuine Parts Co. in Atlanta has acquired Motor Parts & Equipment Corp. in Illinois, which operates 181 locations across Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.
MPEC is the largest independent owner of NAPA Auto Parts stores in the U.S.
Tech Soft 3D Strengthens Purchases Detroit’s Actify SpinFire Business
Tech Soft 3D in Oregon has acquired the Actify core business including SpinFire, CAD Publisher and Centro from Actify Inc., a Detroit-based provider of advanced CAD viewing and collaboration technology. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
The move underscores Tech Soft 3D’s commitment to accelerate growth, as it establishes an End-User Solutions division and broadens its product portfolio through further acquisitions.
Wolverine Worldwide Advances Transformation with New Licensing Agreements
Wolverine World Wide Inc. in Rockford has entered into two global licensing agreements as part of its ongoing transformation into a brand-led growth company.
Under the first agreement, Vida Shoes International will become the global Merrell and Saucony licensee for kids footwear with rights to these products in almost all markets subject to existing licenses. Vida is one of the company’s key partners, having licensed the Stride Rite brand from Wolverine Worldwide since 2017, and currently sources more than 20 million pair of kids footwear annually in several categories.
The company also agreed to license the global rights for Merrell apparel and accessories – including packs, bags, and hats – to Centric Brands in almost all markets subject to existing licenses. Centric has deep licensing experience and currently serves as the apparel and accessories partner for more than 100 global consumer brands.
The new partnerships will be managed by Bornie Del Priore, Wolverine Worldwide’s president of global licensing. Del Priore has decades of licensing experience, including with the company’s Hush Puppies and Stride Rite brands and in her prior leadership roles at Tommy Hilfiger and Ralph Lauren.
Global Detroit Hosts STEM Talent Fair Friday at Newlab in Corktown
Global Detroit is hosting a Global STEM Talent Fair Fridayat NewLab at Central Station, 2050 15th St. in Detroit from noon-3 p.m. This hands-on event is designed to bridge the gap between leading companies and top-tier international talent with STEM concentrations in a dynamic, interactive hiring environment.
With a focus on fostering connections that inclusively expands corporate talent pipelines, the fair will feature a curated selection of international talent candidates who align with the specific needs of participating employers. This approach ensures that companies will meet not just any talent, but the right talent to propel their innovation and growth.
The event is free for all participating companies, providing a unique opportunity to engage with a diverse group of candidates from across the world who have come to Michigan to further their studies in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields. The Global Detroit’s Talent Initiatives team has tailored the recruitment process to match the specific talent needs of each company, enhancing both efficiency and effectiveness in the hiring process.