You are viewing this article in the AnnArbor.com archives. For the latest breaking news and updates in Ann Arbor and the surrounding area, see MLive.com/ann-arbor
Posted on Thu, Jul 14, 2011 : 5:15 a.m.

People & achievements in the greater Ann Arbor area, including Community Alliance and NextEnergy

By AnnArbor.com Staff

Kathy.jpg

Kathy Grant

The following is a list of achievements by businesses and individuals in the Ann Arbor area:

• Ypsilanti-based nonprofit Community Alliance recently announced the hiring of Kathy Grant as the new director of operations and customer service. Most recently, Grant worked for The Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA), where she served as a homeownership counseling specialist. Community Alliance consists of three initiatives: community residence corporation, community living network and community housing alternatives.

• NextEnergy announced June 30 that Ned Staebler has joined the company's board of directors. Staebler is vice president for economic development at Wayne State University. Staebler served previously in a variety of senior roles with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, where he was most recently vice president for entrepreneurial and capital services. NextEnergy is headquartered in Detroit’s Alternative Energy Renaissance Zone and serves to accelerate energy security, economic competitiveness and environmental responsibility through the growth of advanced-energy technologies, businesses and industries. Staebler is a resident of Ann Arbor.

• New board members and officers for the University Musical Society were elected at the annual meeting of the UMS board of directors on June 21. The new members and officers begin their appointments on July 1. David Herzig, who has served on the UMS Board since 2007 and as the vice chair for the past two years, was elected for a one-year term as UMS board chair. Other officers who were elected for one-year terms include Stephen G. Palms (vice chair), Anne Glendon (secretary) and David Parsigian (treasurer). The six new board members are Richard F. Gutow, retinal surgeon and former director of retinal service for the University of Michigan Department of Ophthalmology (1968-1981); Daniel Herwitz, director of the U-M Institute of Humanities; Frank Legacki, director of Fletcher Spaght Ventures; Agnes Moy Sarns, a 20-year veteran of the fashion retail and catalog industries; Rick Sperling, founder and CEO of Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit; and Susan R. Fisher, ex-officio board member and president of the UMS Advisory Committee. In addition, Martha Darling, Junia Doan, Chris Genteel and Robert Macek were all re-elected to a second three-year term. In related news, the UMS board recognized seven retiring members for their outstanding service to UMS: These include board chair Jim Stanley as well as Wadad Abed, Carol Amster, Robert Buckler, Joetta Mial, Roger Newton and Edward Schulak.

• Dr. Zhenhua Huang has been promoted to vice president of Asia Automotive operations at Coherix. Coherix, headquartered in Ann Arbor, is a supplier of high-speed, high-definition 3D visualization programs for the automotive and semiconductor industries. Dr. Huang retains his responsibilities as Chief Technology Officer of Coherix's Asia Automotive Business. Huang is a native of China and lives in Ann Arbor.

• The Washtenaw Intermediate School District board of education elected new board members in early July: Gregory A. Peoples as president, Dayle K. Wright as vice president, Diane B. Hockett as secretary and Mary Jane Tramontin as treasurer for 2011-2012. In related news from the Washtenaw Intermediate School District, WISD Superintendent Scott Menzel has received the Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators’ President's Distinguished Service Award. The award is given to a member of the statewide professional organization who has demonstrated exceptional service to the association, its members and public education.

• Dykema, a national law firm, has added Roselyn Parmenter to its health care practice, as a member in the firm’s Ann Arbor office. Prior to joining Dykema, Parmenter was a principal at Miller Canfield in Health Law. A former registered nurse and hospital administrator, Parmenter has 25 years of experience in health care law, working primarily with nonprofit organizations and governmental entities.

Jessica Sprovtsoff recently joined law Miller Canfield as an associate in the law firm's Ann Arbor office. Her practice covers all areas of business and commercial litigation, focusing on complex commercial cases and class action litigation.

Uproar Communications, an Ann Arbor-based business specializing in media and marketing services, received national re-certification as a Women’s Business Enterprise by the WBEC Great Lakes, a regional certifying partner of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council. To earn the certification, businesses must go through a process that includes an in-depth review of the business and site inspection. The certification process is designed to confirm the business is at least 51 percent owned, operated and controlled by a woman or women.

• Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP recently announced that Leonard M. Niehoff joined the firm as of counsel in its litigation department. Niehoff lives in Chelsea and will work in the firm's Ann Arbor office. He serves as a professor from practice at the University of Michigan Law School, where he teaches civil procedure, evidence, media law and legal ethics and will continue in this position while with Honigman.

Eastern Michigan University's Division of Communications has won three awards in the International Association of Business Communicators Detroit's Renaissance Awards competition, sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. The awards were presented in June at the Renaissance Center in Detroit. The "Going to the Ground Game" campaign for the football team won in Category 10 Multi-Audience Communication. The "Saved by Zero: EMU's Bold 0 Percent Tuition Increase Communication Campaign" won the Category 8 Marketing Communication award, while the "You Rock: EMU Science Complex Open House Campaign" won the Category 12 Small Budget Special Events honor. Each of the three EMU marketing entries earned an Award of Excellence and "Going to the Ground Game" also won for Best of Show.

Carlisle/Wortman Associates recently named David Scurto as a principal owner of the firm. Additionally, Benjamin Carlisle has been hired as a community planner. Carlisle/Wortman Associates, based in Ann Arbor, provides community development services to local governments.

• Thomson-Shore, a book manufacturer based in Dexter, recently expanded its team with the addition of Ken Fultz as its vice president of operations and distribution.

• Local real estate brokerage firm, Charles Reinhart Co., Realtors recently announced the addition of five new agents. Joining Reinhart are Jennifer Borton, Bob Miller, Maura Rains, Ron Simon and Mike Thompson.

Email items for People & Achievements to business@annarbor.com. Sign up for the weekly Business Review email newsletter here.