Capital Gains - Blog

Post No. 3

Andrea Kerbuski — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Just as the flowers bloom and the earth becomes a brighter color palette, so should your wardrobe. There are plenty of ways to liven up your clothing ensembles by incorporating some of the season’s hottest trends of patterns, prints and fun silhouettes.

One of the biggest trends I’ve been inspired by is the pastel and nude hues gracing the runways. It’s the perfect shade to feel fresh and renewed. I incorporate these hues more subtly within my favorite black and grey pieces through a nail polish color or a pale-colored undershirt.

Thanks to Karl Lagerfield from Chanel, clogs are making a serious comeback. This time they’re back with playful and sometimes whimsical prints along with thick wooden heels and platforms. Other designers such as Marc Jacobs, Miu Miu or even more affordable Jeffrey Campbell or Steve Madden are picking up the trend. Wedges are adding wooden heels as well, so if you’re interested in that route, wedges are still a hot trend.

Floral prints and abstract patterns are making a statement this spring as well. The versatility of these pieces is what most excites me. By changing up the shoes and accessories, a floral dress can be transformed from a professional work look with a pair of simple heels and a boyfriend blazer to a grunge look by switching out the blazer with a leather jacket and a pair of lace up military inspired boots.

As the weather begins to heat up, it may be time to shed the layers and wear what’s traditionally considered inner wear as outerwear such as lace and other sheer fabrics. The brave fashionista can try a tube bra underneath a sheer button up such as these from American Apparel. Layered sheer skirts are another option if you’re not willing to bare it all.

Jumpsuits and rompers have been slowly making their way into trend and I anticipate frolicking around and wearing these throughout the spring and summer months. For the lazy, but fashion conscious individuals, slipping into a bright colored or patterned romper is time efficient and easy. Just add a pair of nude heels and you’re good to go!

If you’re interested in staying in tune with fashion trends, sign up for daily email fashion tips from Who What Wear or Rachel Zoe Report. It’s where I get my fashion fix and inspiration.

Post No. 2

Andrea Kerbuski — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0400

I first scoffed at the idea of Lansing having any sort of fashion scene. While not many others share my taste of Alexander Wang, Marc Jacobs, leather, studs and the color black, I do see creative individuals in this city piece together vintage looks, mix colors and put effort into exercising their own personal style. Fashion is subjective and there are plenty of people in this town who care about personal style and make it their own.

There is a fashion scene in Lansing. Amazing shops such as Grace, October Moon, Scavenger Hunt, Mad Eagle or even American Apparel have laid roots here to meet this community’s fashion demands.

There is such variety of shops in the area, from the traditional malls to small, niche boutiques to vintage and consignments shops—which makes Lansing a shopping Mecca. Plus, the location of Lansing is situated between Grand Rapids and Detroit—two great places to make a quick travel to shop, which I frequently do.

With Michigan State University (MSU) and Lansing Community College (LCC) in such close proximity, it brings a constant source of fresh ideas and young designers here where they can showcase their work. Lansing residents have the opportunity to view new fashion created by local college students. MSU’s Student Apparel and Design Association (SADA) hosts a fashion show each year in Lansing, bringing in nationally recognized personalities to judge and host.

It’s really something I believe Lansing residents need to become more engaged in and support. Just as New York Fashion Week re-energized me, this can have the same effect on our community.

Lansing may not be New York City or Los Angeles. However, anyone can still enjoy the same clothing and style by making the quick drive to Detroit, shopping online or shopping locally for less expensive versions.

This area serves as a great place for fashion inspiration as well. I’m inspired by other forms of art and culture and Lansing has plenty it. Sources of inspiration can come from the local music scene, various venues, local art, diversity and picturesque areas from the downtown urban area to the natural elements of the riverfront.

My fashion blog has helped connect me with more locals who are also interested in fashion and I’ve learned there are so many people in the area who share the same passion. If you’re interested in connecting with me or other locals interested in fashion, hit me up at kerbuski@gmail.com or check out my blog.

Post No.1

Andrea Kerbuski — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0400

I was brought up to view clothing as strictly utilitarian. Sometimes I ask my mom if I really came from her womb and she always answers “of course!” as she sits there in her mom jeans she found in the clearance bin five years ago at a local Tractor Supply Company. Thanks to her, my style remains simple, utilitarian, yet with an edge thanks to dad.

To this day, my dad rocks the leather jackets and vests, black jeans, motorcycle boots and leather cuffs inscribed with the Blue Oyster Cult initials. Friends always thought he was some sort of escaped convict, but he was just simply a badass. And I find myself drawing from his personal style aesthetic to inspire my own.

For more than three years I’ve been passively participating in the world of fashion through observation. After much hesitation, I finally jumped into several online fashion communities last year, and this year started my own fashion and personal style blog.

I’ve developed more confidence and gained support from my readers and fellow bloggers who have influenced my style. When the opportunity came to meet some of these girls in person, learn more about how to successfully run a fashion blog and experience New York Fashion Week, I jumped on board.

I registered for a conference during New York Fashion Week through Chictopia, which is one of the fashion communities I’m a member of. I was surrounded by influential bloggers such as Jane Aldridge from Sea of Shoes, fashion editors and up-and-coming designers.

I was also invited to be a part of a Girls Night Out party sponsored by Dove, and hosted by mega-fashion blogger Jessica Schroeder of What I Wore. At this exclusive event, I met girls from around the country and put my photography skills to work. We enjoyed drinks and food before heading out in a limo to tour downtown New York City. By documenting the night, I was able to gain exposure through sharing these images with the bloggers. This experience allowed me to combine elements of photojournalism and fashion—two loves of my life.

I was also invited to the Academy of Art fashion show at Bryant Park during New York Fashion Week. The fashion show was by far the highlight of my stay in NYC. I photographed the models, personally experienced a true fashion show and was surrounded by inspiration and others who shared my enthusiasm for fashion. This further fueled my passion for photography and fashion.

I’ve been a silent observer for so long and now I’ve realized it’s time for me to take a risk and get more involved and channel this energy into the Capital region.

Post No. 2

Betsy Weber — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Peanut butter and banana sandwiches, shag carpet and the Jungle Room. These are just a few things I experienced on our drive down from Lansing to Austin! One of our clues on our Chevy Road Trip challenge led Team Lansing to Graceland!

I couldn't pass up a tour of Gracland. While waiting in line for the shuttle bus, I met a man, Chuck Moffit. He spent some time up in Lansing in the 80s. He supplied GM with carts. I'm always curious what the outside world thinks or knows about Lansing, Mich. Chuck shared his story with me! Check out the video below.

Note: there is some smacktalk about football teams. It was a little hurtful!

We also had to do a challenge where we got a temporary tattoo of our team's hashtag.

Post No. 3

Betsy Weber — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0500

When you drive over 1,400 hundred miles, you're bound to run into some interesting people! One of our clues on the Chevy SXSW road trip challenge led us to Classic Chevrolet in Grapevine, Texas. Classic Chevrolet is Texas sized. I mean, it is huge! I couldn't believe the number of Chevy Traverse's I saw there! Rows and rows!

I met the General Manager of Classic Chevrolet, Hagen Durant. He shared with me how their dealership is using Twitter (@classic_chevy), what the reaction is to the Chevy Traverse in Texas plus a message to Lansing.

Post No.1

Betsy Weber — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Yesterday I embarked on a road trip from Lansing to Austin as part of Team Lansing for Chevy's SXSW road trip challenge.

Chevy has given eight teams from around the country, a car to drive to SXSW. And to make it fun, they've given us 50 challenges to complete on our drive that range from arm wrestling a cook at a diner to getting our picture in front of a stadium to picking up trash at a park.

Team Lansing has the honor of driving a Chevy Traverse that is made right here in Lansing! I'm so proud to drive a car made in right here in my hometown!

Along the way, I'll share with you stories from the road, pictures and interviews. What should I ask people that I meet along the way? What do they know about Michigan?

Want to know where we are or what shenanigans we're pulling? Follow us at http://teamlansingsxsw.tumblr.com (hashtag: #LanChevySXSW) Or, better yet, call Team Lansing in our car and help keep us awake! 313-498-3466.

Post No. 3

Daniel Hogan — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0500

When I moved to Lansing back in 2005, I toyed with the idea of moving Downtown to be closer to work. The obvious benefit would be that I could walk to work and not only save on gas but the monthly fee I have to pay to park for work, which is something I hate.

Being fresh out of college and not accustomed to living in an urban setting, I instead chose an apartment complex on Lansing’s Westside. Whenever my lease comes up for renewal, I think about relocating. I try to decide if I should move Downtown—and when gas hit over $4 a gallon this summer, I seriously considered it.

Downtown has its fun draws: Thirsty Thursdays at Lugnuts' games, the City Market and all of the tasty restaurants to name a few. However, I wish there was more than that.

When I visit other cities, such as Royal Oak, Ferndale or (gasp) Ann Arbor, I think to myself, “If only downtown Lansing was like this.” All of the happening night spots, the stores and the scores of people.

Not that Downtown doesn’t have people around—during the summer there are some great events like Common Ground, and I’m a big fan of Blues on the Square. However, I wish there were more to bring folks Downtown on a regular basis.

I do like that groups and companies are investing in Downtown. A great example is the Stadium District. I think this is a great idea, because drawing young people Downtown to live in these apartments is an excellent way to encourage more interest in Downtown living. My only complaint of the Stadium District apartments is that they are rather pricey, at least for someone with my salary.

I originally thought they would have a hard time leasing these apartments, but after a quick visit to their Web site it appears as if most of the units are rented. That’s encouraging. The only units available are the condos on the fourth floor, according to the Web site.

The Stadium District apartments are a good starting point, but what else can be done?

Jobs that would draw young Michiganders to the city would be a good start. I recall hearing about a possible movie studio being built in or near downtown that would take advantage of Michigan’s new film incentives. As someone who studied film in college, I know how great this would be for Downtown. If this actually happens, a studio like that would draw lots of creative minds here for work. With all of these creative types around, I’m sure more businesses would start popping up.

I’d love to see Downtown Lansing comparable to a Royal Oak, especially for those in my age range. East Lansing is fun and all, but I’d like something closer and hanging out in college bars ain’t always my thing. Old Town is a step in the right direction with regard to what Downtown Lansing could be like—in Old Town you have a great mix of the arts and dining.

I’d love Downtown Lansing to have some kind of art house movie theater, or even more types of shops in Washington Square and not so many restaurants. I like the variety of dining (the Knight Cap is a favorite), but it really hit me how few shops there are in Washington Square when I was Christmas shopping last month.

I really miss the Way Station used bookstore Downtown. I’d spend my lunch hour looking through the old novels, hoping to find a lost gem—and I usually did. Quirky shops such as this are a great draw to Downtown and make it unique.

Or instead of an art house theater, how about a “brew and view” place? Somewhere you can watch films and have drinks? And I’d prefer seeing old movies at a place like this, not new releases. Watching Escape from New York over beers with friends? Yes, please.

It will take a lot of effort to make Downtown Lansing comparable to a Royal Oak or an Ann Arbor, but I believe that the community is taking steps in the right direction.

Post No. 2

Daniel Hogan — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Christmas, for me, is a sort of bittersweet holiday. I enjoy the family aspects of the holiday and giving gifts to my loved ones. But on the other end of the spectrum, I hate the actual buying of said gifts. I hate the crowds. And I hate buying someone yet another DVD or gift card.

So this past Christmas season, I tried to do things just a little bit differently. I decided to avoid the big box stores and only shop at local Lansing businesses.

Easier said than done. But, always up for a challenge and a way to make Christmas shopping more interesting, I decided to go for it, and I was happy I did. I came up with a mental list of places I wanted to check out, mainly shops in downtown Lansing that I could visit during my lunch break.

First on my list was Michigania, a shop that specializes in Michigan products. I visited the wine section of the store and ended up grabbing a few bottles of blueberry wine. It was something different and unique—another of my goals with this endeavor. Trolling through the food section, I also bought some cherry salsa and chai tea. As I checked out, I told the clerk that I was trying to shop local for Christmas, and he thanked me.

Next, I hit up Clem’s Collectibles to look for games. I noticed a card game which I remembered playing somewhere and enjoying. Taking a chance, I bought it. As before, I informed the clerk of what I was trying to do and was once again thanked.

After work, I made a couple more stops on Lansing’s Westside, near the Lansing Mall. Needing another game for my sister and brother-in-law, I stopped by Evolution Games, which had a great selection. Finding a game to my liking, I finished and paid a visit next door to Pages in Time, a scrapbooking shop. Knowing next to nothing about scrap booking, I asked an employee for suggestions and mentioned a gadget my mom owned. I bought one of the accessories the employee suggested along with some holiday stickers.

A few days later, and still needing gifts for my girlfriend, I went back to Downtown Lansing. I wanted to get her a bracelet of some kind, so I visited the Lansing Art Gallery first. Not having any luck there, I went back to Michigania where I found her a nice bracelet made with Lake Superior beach glass. I also got her a copy of the book, Weird Michigan (which was on her list).

Days before Christmas, I visited Legends Sports & Games in the Lansing Mall and picked up a Red Wings photo for my dad. After that, I visited Horrocks Farm Market for chocolates, a jar of pickled eggs and more Michigan wine.

My final purchases were made at the Everybody Reads Bookstore, where I found some Michigan apple salsa and a bag of chocolate covered cherries. Afterwards, I enjoyed a nice lunch at Gone Wired Café next door.

I told every one ahead of time I was trying to shop localand to keep that in mind when they opened their gifts. Thankfully, all of my gifts were a success and everyone appreciated my efforts to support local businesses.

What I took away from this exercise was that it is possible to shop locally for gifts and avoid the crowds at the big box stores.

The adventure in commerce also led to me enjoy Christmas shopping for the first time ever. Part of my enjoyment came from knowing that I was helping support local small businesses own by Lansing residents, instead of nationwide big box stores.

Post No. 1

Daniel Hogan — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0500

I’m not a Lansing native. I’m originally from the Detroit area and attended college near Grand Rapids. After graduating, I found a job in Lansing. Being on my own in a new city was equal parts scary and interesting.

The problem I faced after moving here was finding people my own age to spend time with. I was too old for the Michigan State University (MSU) crowd and too young for my married-with-children co-workers.

Being a bit of an introvert, I have difficulty striking up conversations with strangers or even just approaching them.

However, there is a bit of irony here: I have no problem speaking in public or addressing large groups. I was a part of live, improv comedy shows in college, and I’ve been a guest panelist at several sci-fi and fantasy fan conventions around the state.

Impersonating a seasick pirate during an improv game in a packed coffee house? Easy. Talking to a roomful of people about horror writers from the 1920’s? Cake.

Approaching strangers and striking up a conversation? ERROR. DOES NOT COMPUTE.

I needed to find an easy way to meet others. I scoured the newspapers for ideas and eventually found a young professionals networking group. I had heard of these before and thought I would give it a chance, hoping that my social phobias didn’t get in the way too much.

The events I attended were fun and I did end up meeting quite a few people. The group was a decent size, big enough to not have to talk to the same few people but not overwhelming. I quickly became a regular at the events, making connections and friends.

Over the months I attended meetings, the attendance swelled from around 30 or so to more than 100. Meetings became increasingly cramped, crowded and overwhelming. The larger crowds were the main reason I stopped going.

The main goal of the group was to network, in order to help you career-wise. No problems there; I’m a firm believer in that networking is a good thing. Sadly, as the group grew, I was approached more and more by folks who were only interested in me buying their products or services.

I will say that I benefited more from the smaller meetings than the larger ones. With too many people crammed into one spot, it can be difficult to talk and hear each other (especially at events in bars).

I would recommend that a new transplant find smaller group events—perhaps a book club or at least something where you don’t have to yell over a crowd—to meet people. But, larger groups do offer more of a variety when it comes to meeting people, so trying a little of both is a good idea.

Another way to find friends is to go to events dealing with your interests. Say you like films. Go to a film festival or find a film discussion group. I attended such group once, and we discussed the film The Third Man.

Fear not, my fellow transplants, there are ways to meet people outside of work. Check the newspapers or even Web sites like Craigslist and Facebook to find groups to meet people. Some of my closest friends in Lansing are those I met through these kinds of groups.

Post No. 3

Maggie Striz Calnin — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0500

It is clear that our country is in trouble in terms of our dependency on foreign petroleum. Petroleum imports cost us more than $5.7 billion a week—money that could be well spent on sustainable alternatives made right here in the U.S.

However, what isn’t as clear is that the individual driver can make a significant difference in the effort to mitigate this issue, both by decreasing our dependency on foreign oil and reducing individual carbon footprints.

We know that burning one gallon of gas creates 20 pounds of carbon dioxide. That means if one driver cuts down fuel use by one tank of gas every month, either by carpooling, walking, riding a bike, or using public transportation, that person alone could prevent 3,360 pounds (for a 14 gallon tank) of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere a year.

If we crunch the numbers, there are about 303,824,640 (July 2008 est.) people in the United States, 57 percent of whom are drivers. That brings us to 173,180,045 drivers. If one out of every five drivers cut down by one tank every month, we could save more than eight million pounds of carbon dioxide gas from entering the atmosphere in one year! (Numbers are based on a 14 gallon tank of gas and are compiled from Car Talk and the CIA.)

In Lansing alone, if one out of every five of the more than 115,500 people who live here use one less tank of fuel every month for an entire year, the city could save nearly 78,000 pounds of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere (numbers based on 2005 population, www.idcide.com.)

What these numbers boil down to, is that every single driver can make a difference, a difference that adds up quickly when we all join the effort.

According to www.fueleconomy.gov, some ways to start saving some fuel, and some money, include:

Drive Sensibly. Speeding, rapid acceleration/breaking and general aggressive driving wastes gas and can lower your gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and by five percent around town. Driving sensibly can save you five to 33 percent on fuel economy and $0.09-$0.62/gallon on gasoline.

Observe the Speed Limit. While each vehicle reaches its optimal fuel economy at a different speed (or range of speeds), gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds higher than 60 mph. It is safe to say that each five mph you drive more than 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.24 per gallon for gas. By observing the speed limit, you not only will be a safer driver, but can save from seven to 23 percent in fuel economy, which translates to $0.13-$0.43/gallon in gasoline savings.

Check and Replace Air Filters Regularly. Your car's air filter keeps impurities from damaging the inside of your engine. Replacing a clogged air filter can improve your car's gas mileage by as much as 10 percent. Not only will replacing a dirty air filter save gas, it will protect your engine, allowing for savings of up to $0.19/gallon.

Keep Tires Properly Inflated. You can improve your gas mileage by around 3.3 percent by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure. Under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.3 percent for every one psi drop in pressure of all fourtires. Properly inflated tires are safer and last longer, allowing for up to a 3 percent fuel economy benefit, and up to $0.06/gallon.

Consider Alternative Vehicles. If you are in the market for a new vehicle, choosing one that offers better fuel economy will help save you money and reduce emissions.The difference between a car that gets 20 MPG and one that gets 30 MPG amounts to $473 per year (assuming 15,000 miles of driving annually and a fuel cost of $1.89). That's $2,363 extra in fuel saving over five years!

While alone, each of these tips yields a small amount of savings per car, it is clear that they add up quickly. Individual drivers and their driving habits will be a large factor in the future of our dependence on foreign petroleum, as well as in reducing our nation’s carbon footprint.

We are all part of a larger community that together can do small things, to change our daily routine, to collectively make a very big difference for ourselves, our region, and entire global community. About 150 million people live in counties where monitored air pollution levels in 2007 reached unhealthy levels, according to www.fueleconomy.com.

Our efforts here can affect positively well beyond our own neighbors and even our own country, but the entire earth.

(Note: All cost savings are based on an assumed fuel price of $1.89/gallon.)

Post No. 2

Maggie Striz Calnin — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Our future energy resources have to be renewable and diverse. They also have to be paired with energy conservation practices to ensure air quality and energy security for generations to come.

Transportation is one area where we have plenty of room to improve, providing opportunity to create a big impact from adopting alternatives. To get away from one, non-renewable fossil fuel, it’s especially important for the every day driver, as well as large vehicle fleets, to approach new, cleaner transportation fuels with an open mind.

Many innovative options are on the horizon, and rather than depending on one fuel, it’s key to look at an entire portfolio of alternative fuels.

Companies throughout Mid-Michigan and the rest of the state are looking at conventional biofuels, cellulosic fuels, compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG, better known as propane), hydrogen and electricity as a way to encourage sustainability and economic development.

In East Lansing, Greater Lansing Area Clean Cities (GLACC) member Working Bugs, LLC., converts natural feedstocks like wood, grass and even algae into cellulosic fuel. The process of fermentation used to make this biofuel is similar to the fermentation used in cheese, wine and penicillin. Microorganisms (“bugs”) such as yeast, bacteria and fungi work to convert the raw materials into fuel, creating a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels.

Lansing-based waste management company, Granger, is exploring another option. Granger captures the methane produced from its landfills for electricity. This methane also has the potential to be used as a transportation fuel. Compressed natural gas (CNG) used as motor fuel primarily takes the form of methane gas. CNG is considered renewable when produced as “biogas” which is captured from municipal solid waste and landfills.

Michigan State University (MSU) is working on long term plans to incorporate plug-in parking spaces for electric cars in campus parking garages. MSU has a charging station in the Communication Arts parking garage oncampus, which is intended for electric vehicles for MSU Parking Services that are currently on order. Campus electric cars will test the initiative and MSU will use those results to plan eventual plug-in parking spaces for the public in campus parking garages.

Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) can be used in internal combustion engines and has more recently been used in diesel engines. Varieties of LPG bought and sold include mixes that are primarily propane, mixes that are primarily butane, and the more common, mixes including both propane (60 percent) and butane(40 percent), depending on the season. LPG is non-toxic, non-corrosive and lead free. LPG burns cleanly and most importantly is free of harmful particulates. Though not a Capital region based company, GLACC member Schwan’s Fine Frozen Foods has used propane fuel in delivery trucks for more than 20 years, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, vehicle maintenance costs and fuel costs.

This broad portfolio of alternative fuel options will supply energy to move us from place to place in the future. We now have a responsibility and the capability to address environmental and public health issues related to the way we travel and move goods.

Initial research and development fostered through government initiatives along with public acceptance is crucial for the success of young alternative energy industries. Incentives help the public and the business community access alternatives to petroleum, and help companies that produce alternative fuels and vehicles develop products that benefit public health and the environment.

The work of Michigan companies, research institutions and organizations – like GLACC and members – is incredibly important to create a supportive environment for new fueling infrastructure.

Options like biodiesel and ethanol replace petroleum diesel and gasoline. Biodiesel is non-petroleum-based diesel fuel made from vegetable oil, soy beans, or animal fat (tallow), which can be used alone or blended with conventional petro-diesel in unmodified diesel-engine vehicles.

Most vehicle manufacturers support the use of biodiesel blends up to 20 percent biodiesel/80 percent petro-diesel. Similarly, conventional ethanol can be made from crops such as sugar cane and corn to replace gasoline.

Ethanol is the same type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages, but is not intended for consumption and blended with fuel additives. Farmers across Michigan are finding new markets by growing these renewable resources, which are being used by local companies.

Post No. 1

Maggie Striz Calnin — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0500

In working to mitigate our dependence on foreign petroleum, it is clear that we won’t be able to turn to a single answer to save us; a silver bullet won’t do. Michigan’s efforts show that our solution will rather be more like silver buckshot, taking the form of a diverse set of alternatives to petroleum that must be employed collaboratively and simultaneously.

Greater Lansing Area Clean Cities (GLACC) members are working today to advance a variety of fuel options. Meridian Township near East Lansing is looking into the feasibility of local and regional biodiesel production from recycled restaurant vegetable oil for use within the region. The Township’s diesel vehicles could use the fuel, and surplus biodiesel could be sold to public or private fleets or individual diesel drivers. Art Santa Cruz of local restaurant, El Azteco, is already recycling his business’ used vegetable oil to produce biodiesel.

In the shadow of the struggling auto industry, officials in Flint, Michigan and Kettering University have begun to work with Swedish Biogas International to plan a joint facility to convert the city’s wastewater into biogas. Biogas burns 95 percent cleaner and can cost up to 20 percent less than gasoline. Producing methane from sewage, landfills and manure is common in the United States. It’s often burned onsite to produce electricity rather than compressed and purified for use by vehicles. The Flint plant will be one of the first in the nation to follow Sweden, which already has 100 biogas fueling stations, making up about two percent of the country’s fuel emissions.

Similarly, Michigan waste management company Granger uses the methane from local landfills to produce electrical energy. While the Granger methane recapture is not currently used for transportation fuel, this type of production has the potential to help meet motor fuel needs.

Michigan State University (MSU) is making great advances in the development of a bioeconomy, a future in which people rely on renewable resources to meet society’s need for energy. Rooted in decades of research, the MSU Office of Biobased Technologies is working to identify, encourage and support research programs that will position Michigan State University as a world leader in the development of the bioeconomy.

Lansing Community College (LCC) offers a national Alternative Fuels Training Consortium as a component in their Automotive Technology Program. This state of the art program allows fleet managers and automotive service technicians to get training through LCC’s National Alternative Fuels Training Center to service vehicles that run on alternate sources of power. The consortium “strives to improve air quality and decrease the dependence on foreign oil by promoting, supporting and expanding the use of alternative fuel vehicles,” which is not only beneficial for the environment but offers much-needed good news for employment opportunities in Michigan.

As a young industry sector, alternative fuels and advanced vehicles can succeed best through collaboration to raise awareness about these products and their benefits to the economy as well as public and environmental health.

A diverse fuel portfolio helps to stabilize fuel prices and availability of fuel. Moving toward alternative fuels helps us all by reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector. It’s important to remember that a stable economy, a healthy environment and public health are all interwoven, and respond to each other. Through working locally on a diverse range of options to alleviate our dependency on petroleum, we are working to improve all of these simultaneously.

Post No. 3

Anne Harcus — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0500

As a Lansing native, I vividly recall this city’s Downtown as it once was, when both children and adults actually dressed up to shop in its stores, dine in its restaurants or go to one of its movie theaters.

By the time I was a teenager in 1969, construction on both the Lansing and Meridian Malls was underway, as it was on the I-496 interchange that, when completed, would offer a way for travelers to easily bypass Downtown Lansing.

Back then, the only time I ventured Downtown was to pick up my mother at the end of her night shift at the post office (it was the bargain we struck so I could use the car). I did land a job downtown at Knapp’s Department Store one summer between semesters in college. I still love that building’s facade.

I say all this as someone who remembers Lansing as it once was, how it changed over the years, and who’s been excited to witness its slow but steady rebirth.

For me, and I suspect for so many others, it’s not just about new development in the works, but a new energy that’s palpable and driven by people who have the vision, optimism and desire to help the area move forward.

And they’re ready, willing and able to help others find professional success here.

Any entrepreneur can tell you that starting a business requires a huge leap of faith. In retrospect, we can’t think of a place that would have been better for us to start a business in 1993 than in the Capital region.

This region has abundant resources available for any budding entrepreneur, starting with the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce. The plentiful networking opportunities it offers alone are well worth the price of membership. The area also has a wealth of service clubs, like Rotary, Kiwanis and Jaycees, that also offer a way to get together with other business professionals on a regular basis to network and to do good things for the broader community.

New entrepreneurs have even more potential pathways to success with the emergence in recent years of such organizations as Leap, Inc.and Prima Civitas, whose raison d’etre is to help guide the Capital region to greater economic prosperity.

Our firm has benefited immensely from our present and past association with professional organizations like the Central Michigan Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America and the Mid-Michigan Creative Alliance. Organizations like these have afforded us the opportunity to get together with our peers, attend workshops and hear guest speakers on subjects relevant to our profession.

Participation in these organizations has enabled us to meet and work with so many talented and remarkably creative people—graphic designers, illustrators, writers, photographers, printers, Web developers and others—who’ve chosen to work right here, in the Capital region. Their creative talent has been instrumental to our success as a firm and its ability to deliver exceptional results for our clients.

When openings arise in firms like ours, we’ve had the good fortune to find gifted newcomers in the fields of public relations,advertising, marketing, Web development, graphic design and the like, thanks to stellar programs offered by Michigan State University (MSU), Lansing Community College (LCC) and other fine Michigan institutions of higher learning.

Some folks may think that real creative talent can be found only in big cities like Detroit, Chicago and New York.

It exists there, to be sure, but it would be a mistake to overlook all the creative talent that can be found right here in our own backyard.

Post No. 2

Anne Harcus — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Since I’m an avid Spartan basketball fan, one of the great perks of working in the virtual environment is my ability to schedule work in a way that guarantees I won’t miss any critical game of the annual NCAA college basketball tournament.

There’s no need for me to take vacation or personal time off to watch the games, nor do I have to rapidly minimize the broadcast on my computer screen to avoid the disapproving eyes of others.

Of course, I’m available if a client suddenly finds him or herself in need of crisis communications counsel or simply wants to send a press release right away (thank you, TiVo).

In my virtual working world I meet my project deadlines, work with clients and put the time and effort into helping my company grow. But I also determine my own schedule for when that all gets done.

As a former newspaper reporter, my company’s setup suits me just fine. I like the sense of freedom—that I’m not “chained” to my desk in a 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. world with a couple of breaks and an hour for lunch. In my environment, I can concentrate fully on the work before me without the distraction of co-workers popping by my office.

What’s been an advantage for us since we first started our company back in 1993 is that ability to work at any time—well into the night, or on weekends—because our office is located in the place where we live.

However, the technology that’s come along in the 15 years since we started our business has blurred the distinction between where and when I do my work, and how it’s done by peers who work in an office setting.

There are so many more of us, nowadays, who aren’t really locked into a Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. world anymore. We can be reached anywhere, anytime.

If you’ve got a laptop, a BlackBerry, or a home computer, you’re probably tied to your office in your “off” hours, too—early morning, at night, on weekends. How many of us check our business e-mail and are available to the office by cell phone in off hours? Or bring our laptops along with us on our vacations?

In an office or virtual work setting, there’s got to be balance. One of the key things I had to learn early on was to walk away from my “office” and enjoy my home. Just because the work is always there doesn’t mean I have to always be working.

If an opportunity arose for you to work in a virtual environment, you’d really have to know yourself. Would you be too easily distracted by things that need to be done at work, and things that need doing at home? Would you miss the stimulation of interacting with co-workers in an office setting? Are you prone to procrastination? Do you work best only when you’re answerable to someone on a day-to-day basis? Are you such a workaholic that it would be hard to call it quits for the day?

If so, working in a virtual environment may not be for you.

Post No. 1

Anne Harcus — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0500

According to P.C. Magazine’s definition, a “virtual company” or corporation is an “organization that uses computers and telecommunications technologies to extend its capabilities by working routinely with employees or contractors located through the country or the world.”

Wikipedia says that the advent of computer technology created the opportunity to “build the environment for virtual work in teams, with members who may never meet each other in person. Communicating by telephone and e-mail, with work products shared electronically, virtual teams produce results without being co-located.”

This pretty much defines how we operate at Stony Point Communications, the public relations and marketing firm that my partner, Mark Holoweiko, and I founded in 1993.

Although we don’t routinely work with employees or contractors located throughout the world, in all other aspects we’re a virtual corporation that’s also set up on a network model of operation.

In a nutshell, that means the staff of Stony Point works in home offices on computers that are connected to a central server. We work in teams, communicate by telephone, e-mail and instant message, share work products electronically and produce results without being co-located.

The network model we’ve established enables us to choose from a wide array of highly talented, creative partners for work on large-scale projects for clients. Besides us, these “virtual teams” can include writers, editors, opinion and market researchers, newswire services, graphic designers, illustrators, photographers, web developers, printers, mail houses, media buyers . . . you get the picture.

And while there are some team members in our extended network of talent that we’ve never met in person—but who help us on behalf of clients—our core staff members absolutely know each other. We meet regularly as a staff to strategize on behalf of our clients, keep each other up-to-date, and to simply enjoy some time together.

Quite honestly, 15 years ago we didn’t really promote the virtual aspect of our company.

There was a concern about folks greeting the news with a dismissive, “Oh, you work from home?” as if we weren’t serious public relations professionals with the education, credentials and years of experience to back that claim up.

Or, that we were somehow not quite legitimate unless we did business in an expensive and well-appointed office building.

Yet 15 years, a solid body of work, and countless clients later, no one bats an eye anymore about Stony Point’s set-up. Our clients and peers know we’re for real—not public relations avatars operating in a “Second Life” type of virtual world.

Nowadays, it’s not uncommon for us to encounter a kind of “virtual” envy from those who are new to working with our firm; who wonder aloud how much more productive they might be without the daily distractions that occur in an office setting, and how they might really enjoy it.

The difference between when we started in 1993 and how it is today, is that how we operate isn’t that unusual anymore. Countless others do it, too.

Yet working in a virtual environment isn’t for everyone. And that’s a story for another day.

Post No. 3

Nikki Schippel — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

It would be an understatement to say that neighborhood revitalization efforts would be impossible without support from a cohesive and determined group of local residents and business owners. Quite frankly, the idea of revitalization wouldn’t reach the lips of local politicians if it weren’t for neighborhood residents and local grassroots organizations rallying together for a common goal.

The question is, “How do neighborhood leaders and grassroots organizations lead a successful revitalization effort in a very diverse community?”

While I may not have all the answers, I can recommend a style of engagement that helps break down barriers that inhibit communication between residents, including differences in race, ethnicity and income-level.

I have never run into a person that wasn’t interested in creating jobs, keeping a roof over their head and putting food on the table. I also haven’t met anyone disinterested in improvements that make their neighborhood and roads safer for their kids, or finding ways to kick back and enjoy the people in their lives that they love the most.

I like to assume that these values transcend worldwide, but communication is key.

Cross-cultural differences certainly exist—and thank goodness! However, communication between residents increases when we remember that, despite our differences, the most fundamental human needs are the same regardless of where you come from or how much money you make. In creating conversation and showing compassion toward those elements of the human condition, communication and trust will likely increase and neighborly bonding will follow.

Much of my internship at Westside Alliance tends to be conveying a mouthful of information to the business owners and their employees. Whether I need to tell them about new developments regarding the road diet or clean ups, convince them to attend an event, a workshop, or to fill out a survey, or would like their window space for an advertisement, I have found my message goes much further if I first inquire about their day or catch up on what was going on in their lives last time I stopped in. The relationships I’ve formed as a result of this personal engagement give my work purpose.

I have found in my experience as an advocate for place-making along the Saginaw corridor, that if you want to connect with every resident in a neighborhood, you need to deliver your message by hitting on the needs and answering the concerns of each individual or group. If the point is to convey information in a way that garners support, you need to break down the technical terms and definitions and tell residents exactly why something matters to them.

And there isn’t a resident not worth reaching out to. After a low turnout rate at the first Design Lansing meeting for the Saginaw/Oakland corridor, I was told to organize groups throughout the entire Westside. As a result of our effort to reach the entire community, we achieved more than an 80 resident turnout. The groups provided a face for the information and residents were able to ask questions about the meeting and the proposed corridor changes in a way that pertained to them.

Methods of instigating communication and bringing residents together can include affordable family events and youth-based projects such as creating public art, performing community service, or creating excitement in local schools with a garden program.

The 2008 Westside Summer Fest drew an incredibly diverse crowd of 5,000 people. This day of family and friends truly celebrated community and diversity, and according to the Lansing State Journal, helped move the neighborhood beyond its negative reputation from the past—a community-driven improvement in itself! The Westside neighborhood also engaged young people by asking them to create an update Westside mural.

The ideas behind successful revitalization efforts, as I have seen so far from my internship and life experiences, is to increase communication and interaction between members of the community, and to remember that every single citizen counts in moving an idea forward—not just those that read the newspaper everyday.

Post No. 2

Nikki Schippel — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

As Lansing moves further into the process of place-making to attract new residents and industries to the area, concerns will arise about the negative impact that revitalization efforts can sometimes have on neighborhood diversity.

“Gentrification” is used to describe the arrival of wealthier people into an existing urban neighborhood. Often times, this is followed by increased rents and property values that can make the neighborhood unaffordable for lower-income residents.

It is important to remember that 50 percent of city residents in the United States moved between 1995 and 2000, suggesting that city neighborhoods see turnover in their population quite often. The reasons for this turnover often vary and may have nothing to do with gentrification and many individuals’ distaste for it.

However, there are methods and practices that citizens can engage in to keep a neighborhood from erasing living space for lower-income residents.

Policy Link, which is a research and advocacy group, suggests that cities need to regulate the private housing market to prevent low-income residents from being displaced. Many feel that devaluation of property by the government would be going too far. Thankfully, there are other much more creative options available, including tools such as nonprofit development companies and limited-equity affordable housing co-ops.

Nonprofit development companies can purchase houses while property values are still low. The Westside of Lansing is fortunate to have this type of involvement in the form of the Greater Lansing Housing Coalition (GLHC). By utilizing both public and private funds, the GLHC has purchased, renovated and sold existing homes to income-eligible neighbors who are looking to purchase their first home. The positive implications of ownership include better upkeep of the home and a greater involvement with neighbors and the community.

The only issue in solely encouraging homeownership is that once the property is turned over, it is not guaranteed that it will be sold below its appraised worth to another lower-income family. The GLHC is a catalyst in creating new development with the intention of renting the units out to very low, low and moderate-income families.

Another option is a limited-equity affordable housing co-operative, in which the individual household owns a share of the co-operative housing corporation. By owning a share, the household has the right to lease a unit and acquires co-op voting rights. Upon moving, the share owner may sell his or her share for either a restricted price, or the income of the possible purchaser, depending on rules that the co-op members create.

Similarly, limited-equity condominiums offer households the chance of owning a unit while a condo association owns the rest of the building. The advantage of having this type of affordable housing development is that households reap owner benefits that come with having a mortgage, including tax benefits. Because the condo association owns the building, there are restrictions on selling prices for units if residents choose to move.

The Westside doesn't technically have a limited-equity co-operative, but many neighbors meet to discuss Westside issues. They also share a community garden. Though this isn't a formal limited-equity co-operative, it draws from components of this option.

Residents of all incomes should view diversity among income levels in a neighborhood as a positive. A diversity of income levels in a neighborhood erases the negative effects associated with concentrated poverty, and improves the tax base, allowing for increased government services. It also promotes better understanding across income levels.

In some instances, current residents may feel angered or threatened by a change in the character or culture of their neighborhood. But carefully managed, increasing cultural diversity can intensify the charm that attracted new residents to the area in the first place.

Post No. 1

Nikki Schippel — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

With only a year and half until I graduate from college, I constantly hear the buzz between friends and classmates discussing their plans to move to New York City, Los Angeles and especially Chicago. What is interesting to note is that they are not moving to these great cities solely in search of a better job market.

They’re moving to these cities because they have a city design that suits the lifestyle they wish to lead. My generation is putting off having kids, parking their cars with a sense of permanence, and searching for a great nightlife to enjoy after work.

Planners realize this, and so do companies engaged in the knowledge economy that are looking to offer careers to some of the nation’s brightest.

Revitalization in the form of place-making—or creating a sense of place—is imperative for Detroit and Lansing if the state wishes to rebound from the loss of manufacturing jobs that built our once great cities. With the idea of manufacturing having a greater presence in our history books rather than our urban communities, it is important for Michigan to look at ways to attract the creative class and the younger generation that bring knowledge economy jobs, including but not limited to biotechnology, health services, etc.

Place-making is happening right now in Lansing. Anyone that has been keeping up with the progress of Lansing’s new master plan may have heard the term “road diet” used in regard to the Saginaw/Oakland corridor.

A road diet is urban planning jargon that means reducing the lanes of an existing road that are operating under capacity. This creates space that can be retrofitted to create a comfortable place for pedestrians, bicyclists and community activities. A road diet is a tool used in place-making.

Project for Public Spaces described the situation like this: “If you plan for cars and traffic, you get cars and traffic. If you plan for people and places, you get people and places.” The car-centric planning of the past 60 years has used our streets merely to connect our communities. Transportation planners passed up the opportunity to use road design as a method of creating places people want to be and shaping our communities for the better.

The Westside neighborhood of Lansing is trying to cut down the number of lanes on the Saginaw/Oakland corridor to remake the thoroughfare that rips through the center of the neighborhood, turning it instead into the heart of the community. Streetscape enhancements might include planting of trees, investing in planters and trash receptacles, installing small street lamps and allowing for on-street parking.

A successful road diet includes making space for bike lanes and widening sidewalks. Multi-modal traffic supports variation in activities that can be done along the road. It supports the transportation needs of all income levels and encourages a healthy lifestyle because people have the option of walking to destinations.

Interestingly, studies have also shown that, in most cases, reducing one-way streets down a lane has not inhibited the flow of traffic.

So place-making creates an area for the current surrounding community to enjoy. And it also supports the recent trend of migration to urban areas across the country.

With strong, cohesive community action and research into options available that make infrastructure improvements less expensive, advocating for place-making tools like road diets are certain to work toward better satisfying current residents, attracting the new working class and bringing new jobs.

Post No. 3

Mara Willemin — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Recently I began completing my college applications. In doing so, I began to take note of the schools to which my classmates were sending applications.

While most students are applying to the largely acclaimed universities in Michigan, many are applying to smaller universities in Chicago, Ohio, and even places as far away as Georgia. Whether my classmates’ decisions are derived from academic interest, sports influence, or weather, most students claim to be afraid of a future in Michigan.

While high school students are thought to focus primarily on the glamorous life of Lauren Conrad in Los Angeles, or follow Bret Michaels on his path to finding a soul mate, teens are actually thinking about the ongoing problems with Michigan’s economy. Students are quick to take notice of the lack of jobs and tax increases. While the thought of financial futures seem distant, being unable to pay off college loans due to a decrease in job availability turns away many teens.

Besides being able to find jobs in different states with better pay, benefits, and security, many are interested in entertainment. The big cities with bustling streets and ongoing commotion draw students to the fancy night life and constant activity. Others are looking for more liberal environments than what (they perceive) Michigan can provide, such as the art schools of Chicago and New York City.

While students are interested in leaving Michigan for many individual reasons, familiarity is among the most common. I simply cannot begin to explain how many times I’ve overheard the phrase, “I just can’t wait to get out of here.” But the issue of familiarity also brings some perspective to why some students stay in Michigan. Personally, I find comfort in knowing the campus I’ve grown up next to. While many like the adventure of a new city and new faces, just as many are willing to live the life they know.

For as many students that are eager to leave, there are just as many who are willing to stay. Not everyone who stays in Michigan lives a life of unstable financial means, and many students are aware of this. Michigan has access to many exceptional colleges and universities. In fact,this alone draws thousands to the state every year. Of those who remain in Michigan, there truly are students interested in spending their lives dedicated to making a difference in Michigan.

Many students are simply unaware of the opportunities that Michigan has to offer. Companies in fields like IT and biotechnology provide plenty of jobs to Michigan residents, and will have plenty to offer in the future. Most students are not informed of job opportunities such as these. Personally, I was completely unaware of the prospect for jobs in these companies.

To keep students in Michigan and interested in these jobs, employers need to start “reaching out” to students as young as high school to influence their career pathways while they are deciding on colleges to attend. By doing this, many students will not only be inclined to stay in Michigan, but will help stabilize the struggling economy by keeping jobs in the state.

Post No. 2

Mara Willemin — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Many businesses are unaware of how reliant high school and college students are upon technology. By becoming conscious of these dependencies, employers may use social networking to appeal to this particular generation.

Take, for instance, the social connections of Facebook. All a business has to do is to create a “Group" comprised of information regarding an available position, a job description and some informative means of inquiry. All it takes is a quick “send” to a particular network of people and the business will reach several potential employees. Business can even choose students from particular high schools and colleges to market the positions to the correct demographic.

Besides using social connection networks such as Facebook, many high school students check a business’ Web site to find jobs. For instance, Eastwood Towne Center’s “Employment” section, offers a complete updated listing of stores currently hiring, the job position and contact information. I have personally used this site many times and also directed peers to the site.

If businesses were able to effectively update a system such as this, they would be able to reach out to the high school and college student population with greater success.

Another means of reaching out to this generation with current technology is through online scholarship and internship sources. During my recent search for college scholarships, I set up an account with an online program called Fastweb.

Through this program, students are able to set up apersonal account with detailed information, from their location to their interests. When scholarships match the student’s profile, they are notified. Similarly, when a business within a range of the student’s location is in search of employment, students are notified. Using programs such as these also helps to reach out to a generation becoming more technologically dependent.

By “getting on their level” or using their means of social networking, employers will be able to reach out to high school and college students more effectively. Through technology and by providing larger benefits, businesses will then be able to reach the high school and college students who will one day become the next working force of America.

Post No. 3

David Hollister — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400

What do Boston, Madison, Austin, Indianapolis, Columbus, the triangle in the Carolinas and Silicone Valley have in common? We know they are all thriving, but there is more to the story.

First, each of these communities has an innovative, entrepreneurial and engaged college or university that is partnering in the growth.

Second, each of these communities is thriving as an economic region, not as a single municipality. The region is being defined by the international marketplace and the labor force, not by some arbitrary configuration mandated by law or some governmental agency.

Third, because these areas are thriving by regions, they are being led by business people, not political leaders. The local political leadership must be involved and at the table, but the actual leadership is coming from the business community.

Fourth, in each of the thriving communities, the business community has created a multi-jurisdictional, non-profit, non-governmental organization (NGO) to advance the region’s agenda. NGOs can do this because state laws creating them allow great flexibility and, consequently, they are more nimble than state and local governments and bureaucratic agencies.

Finally, the communities that are thriving also have high concentrations of people with advanced degrees. The higher the number of degrees, the higher the per capita income and the more robust the regional economy. Diversity also helps fuel prosperity as people from around the world come to these innovative colleges and universities to acquire knowledge and skills that drive the new economy. Smart communities figure out how to attractand retain this foreign talent pool.

The formula is easy! An Engaged University + Regionalism + Business Leadership + NGOs + Talent = Prosperity. It is that simple!

Doing it is hard. That’s the challenge Mid-Michigan faces today.

Post No. 2

David Hollister — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400

As few as 10 years ago, Lansing was identified as an economic region supported by three pillars: State Government, General Motors and Michigan State University (MSU).

Today, state government is still present but smaller; General Motors is challenged, but locally-produced goods are doing well; and MSU is emerging as the engine driving the growth for the new economy.

Neogen is one example of a highly successful spinoff company from the university, doing high-end research, making products sold throughout the world to ensure the safety of food and animals. Neogen recently announced that it surpassed $100 million in annual income and now employs more than 450 employees in multiple U.S. and international locations.

Niowave is another spinoff company from the university. This company, located in the old Walnut Street School, is manufacturing components for the cyclotron and was originally expected to employ eight to 10 people in 2008. Today, Niowave employs 20 people — most of them retrained auto workers who quickly adapted to the advanced manufacturing operation. By seeking new markets and industry innovation, this relatively new company is already planning to expand its current operation and facility.

MSU is also driving the emerging information technology sector with its 350 companies rapidly becoming the newest pillar of our regional economy. A report from the Capital Area Michigan Works! specifically outlines how IT opportunities are growing in the capital area.

For example, between 1998 and 2004, IT grew by 20 percent, about seven times faster than the rate for all jobs. Earnings in the IT industry alone are 75 percent higher than the average for all industries. The vitality and opportunities available within the local IT industry are often overlooked —or completely off the radar—among capital area businesses and residents.

Another recent study by the Capital Area Michigan Works! documents the addition of the insurance and financial sector as another growing and stabilizing pillar. It shows that the capital area is home to several major insurance carriers — Accident Fund, Auto-Owners, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Delta Dental of Michigan, Farm Bureau Insurance of Michigan, Jackson National Life, Michigan Millers, Citizens Insurance, AP Capital and FinCor Holdings, Inc. (parent of MHA Insurance Company).

The insurance and financial industry is the second-fastest growing sector and is one of only four private sector industries adding jobs between 2000 and 2006, when it expanded by nearly 1,600 jobs. Average pay in insurance and financial services ($53,885 annually) in the capital area is nearly 50 percent higher than the average for all private sector industries ($37, 087). The industry is having difficulty finding workers in several occupations, especially in college-degreed areas, and is concerned about scarcity of workers in the future.

The creation of the Office of Bio-Based Technologies by MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon has already resulted in a federal grant of more than $50 million, the assembly of one of the most talented bio related staffs and the recognition of MSU as a leader in the bio-economy. It is just a matter of time before we experience new business sprouting up as a result of this effort.

Lansing is no longer dependent on an economy shaped like an unstable three-legged stool, but is emerging as a more diversified and stable six-legged table.

Post No. 1

David Hollister — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400

One can hardly escape the drumbeat of bad news as it relates to Michigan’s manufacturing-based economy. It’s true that Michigan has the highest concentration of manufacturing of all states, and that sector is undergoing a stressful transformation.

But it is also true that manufacturing is not going away.Yes, we are losing low tech, high volume, basic manufacturing to low cost countries. But high tech advanced manufacturing is doing quite well.

In this region, the two new General Motor plants, Demmer Corporation, Spartan Motors, Neogen, Niowave, the Woodbridge Group, Magnesium, Dowding Industries, Emergent BioSolutions, Bekum and Hardtech are all thriving. They are growing and thriving because each has adopted advanced technology, developed new markets, and cultivated a skilled workforce.

These high tech, advanced manufacturing operations are something to behold. They are not the greasy, loud, dirty and physically exhausting assembly operations that my father and father-in-law experienced.

These new operations are quiet, clean, and operated by computers and robots. Instead of toiling to keep up with the assembly line, today’s workers monitor, maintain, and repair the robots, computers and lasers that are the essence of these advanced operations.

Today’s workers are ready and anxious to be trained and retrained, and they constantly interact with management to seek new ways to innovate, increase productivity and serve new markets around the world. The distinction between labor and management is blurred as all employees are expected to be essential members of the team.

The foundation for our successful advanced manufacturing means adopting a culture of innovation, technology and life long learning. It seems simple, but changing a culture is hard work!

Post No. 1

Mara Willemin — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Any high school or college student will likely tell you their cell phone never leaves their side and Facebook is a default homepage for their Internet browser. It’s second nature for my generation to sleep with charging cell phones next to our pillows, and to use text messaging as our No. 1 means of communication.

Until recently, I hadn’t really even noticed how reliant my generation is on technology. Walking on Michigan State University’s (MSU) campus, I was surprised to find that nearly every person I passed either had headphones in their ears, or cell phones in their hands, including myself. No different than any other student, I too fit into this “always connected” category.

I carry my phone with me everywhere. Whether heading downstairs to let my dog out or running an errand, my phone is always within reach. I even have my phone with me when I fall asleep. (Yes, it probably reads as pathetic as it feels; however, all laughs aside, it’s something I consider “normal.”) In the car, if I’m not sending a text message, I’m playing songs on my iPod library.

I even reviewed my previous month’s phone bill to check my text-to-call ratio. I was shocked to find only 34 minutes of call time, yet 3,486 text messages sent and received.

It goes without saying that I’ve heard, “Can’t you put your phone down for just one second? or “Do you always have to be connected to the world? Why can’t you just turn it off?” multiple times. But my generation doesn’t know anything else.

Like every new trend, technology has its own controversies, especially within the generation it surrounds. Mine, for example, faces debates over whether our technological dependency allows us to communicate effectively. I used to believe this idea was ridiculous. It wasn’t until this weekend when I was able to fully realize the truth of this accusation.

My best friend and I were expected to meet some people at 7:00 p.m. for the football game, but due to a long gas station line, we were running late. We both agreed to call our friends and explain we were going to be late. However, when she picked up her phone, she changed her mind and said, “I’ll just text her. I hate calling people.”

Technology certainly has had a large impact upon the lives of students socially, yet it has also affected the educational upbringing of today’s generation. Within the last 10 years, technology has become increasingly influential on education.

Simple homework assignments leave students resorting to Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia, for information. Class syllabi used to be printed on paper and report cards were sent home quarterly. Today, students use online databases such as DeWitt High School’s “Infinite Campus,” or Michigan State University’s “Angel” to check grades and look for rubrics and assignments. Parents are allowed to access behavioral and disciplinary conduct recordson-line. Even elementary schools are shifting gears to using PowerPoint and online games as learning tools.

Although these technological advances have many benefits for connected communication or as educational tools, my generation has reached an age of technological dependency. It’s not uncommon to see students as young as fifth and sixth grade carrying around iPods or cell phones.

Technological engineers continue to come up with additional ways for our generation to be connected, and we continue to use Pix, Flix, and Video Messaging (to send a picture or video through a phone), Facebook’s Wall-to-Wall and Web Cams to communicate.

It’s what we know. Lifestyles based on technology are here to stay, and businesses need to adapt to this "always connected" mentality.

Post No. 4

Bunmi Akinyemiju — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400

In today’s global world, collaboration is a critical tool for new ideas and innovation.

Collaboration encourages scientists from one side of the world to partner in real time with scientists on the other end of the world. It allows a manufacturer or a consulting company in Bangalore to sell not just products, but high-end services in the United States. It enables Google—one of the darlings of the tech sector—to have its California employees work alongside thousands of co-workers at Google China on a single product.

This has occurred because today’s communication infrastructure has evolved to a level of sophistication that has impacted every industry. Information and communication technology platforms have evolved and been accelerated by the proliferation of high speed Internet and technological advancements.

These advancements have helped “flatten” the world, making widespread collaboration possible. Today, email, text messaging, video conferencing and instant messaging are standard teamwork tools. Social networking (Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, etc.) is fast becoming a new innovative way that high performing teams are creating new value today.

There are examples of successful collaboration in various industries:

* Software: The open source community has leveraged worldwide collaboration to deliver innovative software that competes with software developed and owned by multi-billion dollar entities.

* Medicine: Collaboration enables a specialty brain surgeon in London to perform surgery on a dying child in Zaire, Africa.

* Academia: The most creative research and concepts—neuroscience, cybernetics, biomedical engineering—have come out of interdisciplinary research and collaboration between different fields of study.

Instead of the classic command-and-control model or one-person “hero” model, where teams depend on one individual for success, today’s winning teams are the ones that share information, communicate effectively, are location-independent and leverage the best collaboration tools.

Why? When a team’s composition and/or location is diverse, the richness of the team and its ability to develop innovative solutions is greatly enhanced.

In the same light, teams with multi-disciplinary talents are the most productive in the workplace. Teams with multi-cultural backgrounds have a creative edge. Teams with the best tools, technology and processes for sharing ideas are the most effective. These teams will consistently out perform their counterparts, who may even have a higher level of individual talent.

New business models are being created as a result of mass collaboration. For example, Google recently released a version of Google Maps that uses a new Web business model called “crowd sourcing.” Google invites mass collaboration from disparate users—in this case, allowing anyone on the Internet to correct the geo-location (latitude, longitude) of any address on their map—who gradually contribute to data aggregation or system improvement.

So, they are getting data entry work done for FREE! The same can be said of Wikipedia’s existence, which is another classic example of “crowd sourcing” and mass collaboration.

One of the newest tools that we use for collaboration is Twitter. Based on a remarkably simple idea, Twitter is a service for friends, family and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: “What are you doing?”

This social networking tool allows users to send updates or "tweets" (text-based posts up to 140 characters long) to theTwitter Web site via a multitude of methods (SMS, email, IM, phone, etc). Twitter allows us to carry out a private or group conversation over the Internet and mobile phones simultaneously, with seamless integration between team members using different systems.

Our sales team uses Twitter to maintain a group dialog all day long—a much more efficient solution than email, which might get lost or overlooked. Messages can be delivered via phone, text message, IM, email, orany transport mechanism supported—based on your choice or the person you “follow” on Twitter. (To follow Bunmi on Twitter click here.)

Twitter is just one example of how the flattening of the world can be used to our strategic advantage.

The days of phone communication (which can be disruptive) and email (plagued by information overload) are passing. With Twitter as part of your communication and collaboration platform, you determine how you want tobe reached; you respond at your own pace; you provide updates to people proactively. It’s quite easy—after all, you have to keep it under 140 characters!

In today’s world, you can’t afford to isolate yourself. Collaboration using Twitter, or tools such as Microsoft Office SharePoint Server (MOSS) is the way that organizations, teams and companies will continue to innovate in the future.

Over the next few years, any team’s success will depend on its ability to embrace change, support an entrepreneurial discipline and willingness to adopt a culture of collaboration. This shift towards innovation through collaboration will have enormous ramifications for managers, customers, partners and employees.

Come along—it’s time to work together.

Post No. 3

Bunmi Akinyemiju — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400

In a twist of fate, the growth in Michigan’s population that occurred as a result of high paying jobs back in the good ol’ days is the same thing that is hurting us now.

The auto industry’s growth was driven by a few very large companies which have a tradition of being very bureaucratic, political and non-agile. People employed in Michigan over those darling years naturally adopted a big company type of culture—high expectations from the establishment, low sense of individual impact, and a low tolerance for risk and growth.

Contrast this environment with that of today’s typical start-up company, where each employee quickly comes to understand that their contribution can make or break the company.

In the new model, it’s about the employee who is delivering the most value for the least money. Information is now more important than seniority—you get paid for what you know, not how long you have been around or if you went to college.

Michiganders should be ready to adapt to this change. But we will need to make some major changes, and make them quickly.

The world has changed drastically in recent years. We are entering a totally different phase of economic dynamics: the “experience” economy. This new economy is driven by talent, and combines products, servicesand a unique customer experience.

Talent and knowledge are the currency of this new economy. Some people call it the “Starbucks economy” where, as a company, you have to sell more than the features and benefits of your solution. You have to stage an experience!

Staging an experience requires everyone involved coming up with out-of-the-box ideas. Knowledge workers are expected to think, innovate and present new ideas that help their company innovate.

In Michigan, entrepreneurship is not in our fabric anymore. We lost it a long time ago. It will take us at least a decade of rebuilding to regain the throne.

I believe we can do it. I also believe it will be very hard and painful. Hard work and pain are good. We learn more from pain anyway—it’s the best tool for motivation.

As an illustration, picture a child that grew up in an environment where getting two, bare-bones meals a day was a huge accomplishment. When such child is in an environment where there is plenty, he or she is very likely to hold on tight and do everything to not go back to the past.

This may be why a lot of foreigners tend to be very successful when they relocate to a new country. America was built this way. It is because their past is full of pain, inconvenience, sometimes poverty. When they come to a new environment, they have an open mind. They have no expectations; they are completely free of the baggage of entitlement. And this helps them to think and succeed.

This kind of thinking is what most entrepreneurs possess.

In order to rebuild, we must all think like entrepreneurs. To neutralize any biases that we have in this region because of our history, we must embark on a journey that involves parents, mentors and focuses on our youth.

We must show our young people that it’s okay to think big and take risks. From a young age, Michiganders must come to understand that by developing and relying on their individual abilities, they can shape their economic future.

This is what the new economy is about—it is driven by an entrepreneurial way of thinking.

Employees must think in “value-add” terms—it’s not about what the company can do for them, nor is it about the effort they put in from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. It’s truly about the unique experiences and innovations they candeliver to propel the company to new heights.

We have to expect opportunities only when we deliver value to others. If we can be successful at ingraining this thinking, especially at a young age, we will be ready to lead the next wave of economic success globally.

Our future is in the hands of a new breed of Michigan entrepreneurs. They will understand the new economy way of thinking. Their products will target a global audience. They will compete and win globally.They can adapt to change at a pace that the world has yet to experience. They will have a unique ability to spot the diamond in the rough. They will be relentless, and will never take no for an answer. To them, “impossible is nothing.”

Post No. 2

Bunmi Akinyemiju — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400

From the most fundamental perspective, the biggest challenge that we all face today is realizing, accepting and embracing the concept of change.

The idea of “change” is not foreign to anyone. In fact, it is one of the few inevitable realities in life. The human race and every other surviving organism must naturally evolve to avoid extinction.

Why is it then that we still resist change? Why is it that we sometimes get complacent with the status quo, instead of striving to do more, be more, find a better way?

I propose that the critical battle that we all fight today—as individuals, organizations, companies, countries—is syncing our “clock” of change with that of the times around us.

Today, knowledge and information become stale extremely quickly. Organizations and individuals must be open to change. Their strategies must adapt, evolve and change at the pace determined by their marketplace, competitors, neighbors, environment, etc. Individuals and organizations must keep in sync with the pace of change required by the times we live in.

Imagine you are a business leader in the year 2008, and you believe you are the first to market with a new product. You have no competitors. Then, tomorrow, you suddenly realize a new company in Bangladesh provides the same product, with better quality, at a fraction of the cost.

Most low-performing individuals or organizations have a wave pattern (think sine wave) that is slow, sluggish or inconsistent with that of the life around them; they cannot keep up. Thus, they become irrelevant and forgotten.

In order to survive our fast-paced, knowledge driven world, first and foremost you must embrace change within yourself and your organization, so that you can stay relevant. In fact, you must learn to thrive on change by refabricating the genetics of your organization.

“Be open to change” is one of the famous mantras of management in the past decade.

But being open to change is no longer enough. This is not about accepting, tolerating or adapting to change. Rather, it is living, loving and thriving on change.

The most groundbreaking ideas, companies and organizations come out of abandoning conventional wisdom and making fundamental changes in how things are done.

There have been several studies on what it takes to be successful as an individual and an organization in this global world. My take is that you must adopt the following three principles:

1. Realize the world is flat and your next competition could be on the other side of the world

2. Adopt a culture of discipline and entrepreneurship

3. Surround yourself with a team that gets it—individuals who understand the need to think globally, and who thrive on finding a new and better way

Why is the pace of change today so fast? Some of the key drivers are the world’s “flatteners,” as Thomas L. Friedman describes in his book "The World is Flat:" global competition, outsourcing, the China Boom, knowledge economy and telecommunication.

When these drivers are coupled with the constant advancements in technology, the result is higher productivity, easier access to information and exponential growth in emerging markets. All of these trends are leveling the international playing field. But by adopting the principles outlined earlier, we can stay relevant.

At Artemis Solutions Group, we strive to ride on the coattails of change. Rather than approaching change with resistance and fear,we embrace it. We love it. We find that the best way to adapt to change is by continuously reinventing ourselves. We listen to our instincts and take action.

In order to support our craving for change, we’ve engineered an effective process to develop new ideas and concepts. We hold bi-weekly innovation sessions, where ideas for products, add-on modules, future services, practices and processes are vetted. From there, we advance to there search and development phase, and an initiative champion pushes the concept into production as quickly as possible.

And we seek to help our clients achieve the same. Many of our clients are now used to the concept of meeting frequently—several times per year—just to ask themselves, “What could we be doing better? How could we use technology to leverage our organization’s asset to make us best in class?”

Because we are not afraid of treading new ground, we know we will make mistakes. But we also know that we will learn from them, and those mistakes will make us stronger. Although uncharted territory is unnerving, the truth is that the greater risk lies in mediocrity.

Is your change cycle in sync with the wave of life? What about your business, or our beloved state of Michigan?

If not, there’s no time like to present to ask ourselves what we can do to get up to speed.

Post No. 1

Bunmi Akinyemiju — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400

From my early days in biology class, I remember the saying from Charles Darwin: “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the ones most responsive to change.”

I think we need to ask ourselves the question, “How has our favorite state of Michigan reacted or adapted to change?”

First, a little background: My attachment to Michigan runs deep in the family lines. I was born in Lansing, so my initial contact with Michigan was not by choice. But my still being here is definitely by choice.

At 31, I have spent exactly half of my life in West Africa (where my parents are from), and half of my life in EastLansing/Lansing. This gives me an interesting perspective on our region’s history, potential and current state. I think that the unique perspective could be beneficial.

I am a passionate Michigander—I live, work and play here and I love it. In the gloom that looms in the economy, I strongly believe exciting opportunities exist. For example, people are taking advantage of the low cost of living, easy access to universities (and brilliant interns), and access to large insurance and health care-related companies. So, even while I identify challenges, I am a true champion of Michigan.

After World War II, Michigan was truly the center of innovation and growth. As people moved here, where the jobs were, our population grew in double digits—at one point doubling in a decade! We set the pace for innovation, job growth, economic development and success. We were the Silicon Valley of the 60s and 70s.

Today, unfortunately, that era is gone—but we must adapt and position ourselves for that next cycle of change. The key question is: How are we faring?

Let’s start with the good news. Michigan has done much inrecent years to reposition itself to recapture the glory of the past. I am extremely impressed at several initiatives going strong at the state level, as well as in several communities.

In the past year or two, the Mid-Michigan area has also stepped up. We’ve seen more activities, innovation and collaborative partnerships here recently than in the past 10 years combined.

The creation of two brand new Angel Investment groups inthe area is a great move. Without an ecosystem of investors, entrepreneurs (a key ingredient in the new talent-driven economy) will move away or decay—as they have done in the past. The Angel Investment groups can help prevent that.

Mid-Michigan’s launch of LEAP Inc., a unique public-private partnership to reposition the economy, is also a great accomplishment. There are very few communities in the country that have been able to pull together 30 of the largest companies and organizations in the community with one vision to drastically improve the economy of the region by supporting new enterprises.

We have also seen the Lansing Chamber of Commerce reinvent itself, investing in its leadership talent pool, innovation and a new value-driven approach to serving local businesses.

The Capital Area IT Council is another illustration ofthe uncommon methods being used to rethink business. This council is a unique collaboration of all technology-related companies in the area, coming together to solve the IT talent acquisition and retention problems faced by the region and, in fact, the country as a whole.

At the state level, Governor Granholm and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation are making bold moves. The launch of the 21st Century Job Fund proves that our leaders understand the state’s needs and are willing to take the necessary risks to invest in our future.

These are just a few of the investments currently underway. Each one is a key ingredient in the adaptation necessary for the region and state to keep up with rapid change.

Michigan is doing the right things, and many efforts are underway to help us reposition and adapt. However, while the necessary efforts are underway, I believe we are responding late—which is why we feel the impactof our slow response so deeply. While the change hit a while ago, only in the last few years have we started reacting with the level of aggressiveness required.

Michigan as a region has seen the writing on the wall fora while, and has tried its best to adapt and reposition itself. But just like a large elephant trying to turn around and change direction, changing our state’s direction is very hard. There are cultural barriers to correct, new attitudes to develop, and new economies that must be seeded.

And the catalyst for this change is talent driven, entrepreneur-focused, and motivated by community and collaboration.

I start my day thinking about strategic ways to leverage my talents, resources and regional assets to deliver value. Each one of us must think that way to remain relevant.

Hungry entrepreneurs— and states—understand that the cheese won’t come to them; they have to go find new cheese every day.

Let's go find that new cheese — or work on making our own.