People & Achievements in the greater Ann Arbor area including Mark Ouimet and Bearclaw Coffee
• Washtenaw County Commissioner Mark Ouimet was honored in early October as a "Key Partner" of the Michigan State University Extension program. Nominated by Washtenaw County Extension Director Nancy Thelen, Ouimet received the award at the MSUE Annual Dinner in East Lansing. Key Partner Awards are given annually to individuals or groups who support MSU Extension programs for Michigan's families, communities, agricultural industry and natural resources. Ouimet was one of 15 statewide recipients honored in 2009.
• ProTect Painters, a professional painting contractor franchise, specializing in exterior, residential painting projects, opened its newest location in Dexter in early September. The new location at 8593 Webster Hills is owned and operated by John Demetriou.
• The Women Business Owners of Southeastern Michigan will present its 2009 Outstanding Woman-Owned Business Award to Debi Scroggins, founder and president of Bearclaw Coffee, at their Celebrate Women in Business Dinner Nov. 10, 2009 at Quarter Bistro and Tavern in Ann Arbor. Recognition for Outstanding Community Service will be presented to Gail Nicklowitz of GN Communications. The Business Growth Award will be presented to Cindy Neam of Preferred Solutions who recently purchased Yogaware. Women's Exchange of Washtenaw founders Carrie Hensel of InnerCircle Media and Debra Power of Power Marketing will be recognized for Cutting Edge Innovation.
• The University of Michigan's Ross School of Business was recently named #2 on a list of top full-time MBA programs in the 2009-2010 edition of Beyond Grey Pinstripes, a biennial survey by The Aspen Institute. The survey examines not just the reputation and test scores coming out of MBA programs but also how well schools are preparing their students for the environmental, social and ethical complexities of modern-day business.
• Mike Bergren, former assistant field operations manager for the City of Ann Arbor, will be the keynote speaker at the Michigan Solid-State Lighting Association Symposium on Nov. 12. Bergren will discuss the city's LED implementation program, which is replacing 1,000 streetlamps with energy-saving LEDs with plans to change all 7,000 Ann Arbor streetlamps to LED.
• Quick Lane of Saline hosted a grand opening ceremony Oct. 26. The new facility is located at Briarwood Ford, 7070 E. Michigan Ave.
• NuStep, a manufacturer of cross-training equipment headquartered in Ann Arbor, announced a pledge to support the spa at Evangelical Homes of Michigan's new Memory Support Center at Brecon Village in Saline at the grand opening celebration of the center on Sept. 20. The pledge brought EHM's capital campaign to more than $1,620,000, exceeding the nonprofit's first goal of $1,600,000.
• The Charles Reinhart Co. kicked off its 14th annual Coat Drive Oct. 18. Staff will collect coats through the month of November and will distribute them to more than 20 area agencies in need. Over the past 13 years, Reinhart has collected and redistributed nearly 12,000 coats. Several area cleaners will collaborate in the effort: Capital Cleaners in Saline, Chelsea Cleaners, 1-Hour Martinizing and Gold Bond Cleaners in Ann Arbor. This year's coordinating committee, led by Jennifer Fry includes Susan Schmunk, Nadine Alpern, Carolyn Knaggs, Lisa Ridha, Susan Underwood, Margaret Delaney, Todd Lands, Greg Uihlein, Sandy Goetz, Rick Taylor, Martha Smith, Nancy Jenkins, Robyn Javornisky, Laurie Buys, Maria Wade and Dani Hallsell.
• The Ann Arbor Area Chamber of Commerce is offering a free discount prescription drug cards to all Michigan residents. The A2 RX PlusCard will provide savings of up to 75 percent on prescription drugs and is accepted at over at more than 50,000 pharmacies across the country. Anyone interested in obtaining a free prescription card can visit the Ann Arbor Area Chamber of Commerce Web site. The A2 Rx PlusCard has no restrictions, including membership, income or age limitations, and residents are not required to complete an application. Additionally, people who have prescription coverage can use this program for non-formulary or non-covered drugs. The A2 Rx PlusCard can also be used by Michigan residents for discounts on eyeglasses, hearing, nutritional supplements and diabetic supplies.
• Michigan Radio, the public radio service of the University of Michigan, exceeded its goal for the fall 2009 on-air fundraiser, which ran from October 14 - 21. The fundraiser generated more than 7,100 pledges totaling more than $850,000 from donors. Contributions exceeded the fund-raising goal of $712,000, even though Michigan Radio reduced the amount of on-air fund-raising time from previous years. The station cut back its fund-raising hours by over 25 percent compared to the 2008 fall drive.
• The Wolverine Venture Fund, part of the University of Michigan's Samuel Zell & Robert H. Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies at the Ross School of Business, announced Oct. 12 that Becton, Dickinson and Co. has signed an agreement to acquire HandyLab Inc. An Ann Arbor company, HandyLab develops and manufacturers molecular diagnostic assays and automation platforms. The company has been part of the Wolverine Venture Fund portfolio since 2000. Since that time, the Wolverine Venture Fund has participated in four rounds of financing in HandyLab. The acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to close during the first quarter of fiscal year 2010. Celebrating ten years of investment and innovation, the $3.5 million Wolverine Venture Fund is the country's first student-led venture fund.
• At their September board meeting, the trustees of the Kresge Foundation, based in Troy, approved 208 awards totaling $43,698,088 for nonprofit organizations in 26 states, the District of Columbia and South Africa in the areas of human services, education, environment, arts and culture, health and community development. Among the grant recipients was the Ecology Center Inc., based in Ann Arbor, which will receive $75,000.
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