Taking Measure of Your Business

Free. That sounds good, doesn’t it? In truth, free is more than good, it’s great, and it’s the price of a professional Business Energy Consultation (BEC) from DTE Energy. No business owner can afford to pass up this opportunity to reduce energy costs and increase profitability.  When it comes to improving the energy efficiency of your business, DTE is committed to helping Michigan business owners reduce energy costs. If you succeed, Michigan succeeds. We can’t think of a better reason to offer this free consultation.

The BEC is for every business owner and it can help anyone save on energy costs. It doesn’t matter if your enterprise is large, small or in between. This detailed and extensive energy
consultation service is available to all our customers, both natural gas and electric.

Request your Free Business Energy Consultation

What’s not to like about a free BEC that can demonstrate how you can improve the energy efficiency and profitability of your business? Our energy educators will install free upgrade equipment in your place of business and provide a complete energy analysis. To schedule your free BEC today, call a DTE Energy Consultant at 855-234-7335. Find out more.

Get a free subscription to EnergySmarts for Michigan Business magazine.

David Merritt graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelors degree in Sports Management and also served as a Radio Color Commentator for the Michigan IMG Sports Network from 2009-2013.

Since his time at Michigan, Merritt recently launched a cause-based fashion brand and storefront called Merit. Every Merit purchase shapes the fate of students in need and helps send them to college (20% of all purchases fund college scholarships for youth in Detroit).

David Merritt was born on February 26th, 1986 in Detroit, Michigan. He grew up in West Bloomfield, MI and attended West Bloomfield High School, where he graduated with academic honors and was an All-State basketball player. Merritt then accepted an academic scholarship to the University of Michigan, and later was selected as a walk-on to the Men’s Basketball team in 2006. During his last year in 2008-2009, he served as a Captain, and Michigan reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time in eleven years. Merritt graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelors degree in Sports Management and also served as a Radio Color Commentator for the Michigan IMG Sports Network from 2009-2013.

Fay Poissant joined the Ann Arbor Jaycees in July 1999. Since then, Fay has taken full advantage of all the opportunities the Jaycees have to offer. Locally, she served on the Board of Directors for three years before being elected Chapter President in 2003. After that, Fay got involved at the state level, holding a number of positions, including State President in 2009. Following her service to the Michigan Jaycees, Fay took her experience to the national level. She was recently elected to serve as National President of the United States Junior Chamber in 2014. The knowledge and skills Fay learned through her early experiences with the Ann Arbor Jaycees has helped her excel within the organization and give back to thousands of members across the country.

The Ann Arbor Junior Chamber (Jaycees) is a group of dynamic young professionals between the ages of 21 and 40. Since 1936, this organization has been providing their members with opportunities to develop as leaders and create positive change in the Ann Arbor area. A variety of programming is offered, including personal and professional development, community and civic involvement, networking, fundraising and socials. The Ann Arbor Jaycees have a number of signature projects that benefit the community each year: Easter Egg Scramble, Summer Carnival, 4th of July Parade and Holiday Helpers. The chapter runs these annual favorites while incorporating new programs that come from the needs and interests of the members and the community. Through active involvement in planning projects, serving on committees and serving on the Board of Directors, members learn skills needed to be leaders in their careers, government and beyond.

The Ann Arbor Jaycees is part of a much larger organization. There are more than 30 chapters in Michigan and approximately 650 chapters throughout the United States. In addition, Jaycee chapters are in close to 120 countries around the world, making the organization the leading global network of young active citizens.

Beal Properties, LLC was founded by Stewart W. Beal in 2002. The company manages 300 apartments and office spaces in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Detroit, and Toledo.

The company specializes in purchasing distressed properties and renovating them and holding them for the long term. Beal Properties also provides extensive property services to clients including management, marketing, maintenance, and development.

Rachelle Smith is the principal of Positive Creative Infusion Consulting, LLC. Her services include marketing and sales consulting/coaching/training, copywriting, personal branding, and public speaking. Positve Creative Infusion Consulting, LLC is based in Metro Detroit, Michigan, and accept clients across the United States, and around the globe.

Rachelle Smith’s collegiate background includes a bachelors degree from LSU-S (Shreveport, LA), and dual masters degrees from Florida International University (Miami, FL), and world renowned Marketing education trailblazer, Northwestern University (Evanston, IL). Smith began her career with marketing and branding powerhouse General Mills (Minneapolis, MN) in the Betty Crocker Division. She went on to have a successful career, including Sales, in corporate America for several more years, which included other Fortune 500 companies. In her spare time, Smith is a dedicated non-profit volunteer with several organizations. Smith’s passion is to make a difference in the world by volunteering her time and talents.

Smith’s unwavering and undeniable vision is to help solopreneurs, business owners, organizations and individuals to market and sell themselves and their respective companies or organizations with consistency, clarity, and confidence.

At Positive Creative Infusion Consulting, LLC, you can expect three things:
(1) positive energy
(2) creative concepts
(3) an infusion of innovative ideas!

Pop Up A2, LLC provides art consultation for businesses, seeks to promote engagement with artists and creates pop-up exhibits in Ann Arbor. Stephanie Wottreng founded Pop Up A2 in 2012, as a way to connect the community of Ann Arbor with its unique and ever-growing art scene.

Pop Up A2  hosts various “pop-up” exhibits throughout the year, to further advance the careers of Ann Arbor’s talented artists. The artists’ paintings, sculptures, and photographs are often placed in unexpected places, such as businesses and various office buildings.  These temporary exhibits are showcased for a few hours or up to several days. Pop Up A2’s  goal is to use a unique approach to support local artists and advance Ann Arbor’s vibrant art community.

Be Somebody’s Hero for Life. Donate Plasma!

Blood plasma is used to create life-saving medicines, and people decide to donate for many reasons. Some donors have friends or family members that benefit from plasma products. Others enjoy both the extra compensation and the satisfaction of helping patients.

Whatever the reason, donors are making an important commitment to their families and communities. They are heroes, saving lives through the simple process of donating plasma.

Through a process very similar to giving blood, you will help someone who so desperately needs the life-giving substance that you provide.

www.OctapharmaPlasma.com
734-483-2084

The Michigan Eye-Bank is a nonprofit human service organization dedicated to preserving and restoring sight through corneal transplantation and support for eye and vision research. We help people see, whether its again or for the very first time.

Headquartered in Ann Arbor since we were founded in 1957, we are the state’s only eye bank, and have the privilege of helping more than 2,000 people each year receive the gift of sight through eye tissue transplants. Many more benefit from our support for research into blinding eye diseases. Our services are made possible by the generosity of eye donors and their families. Much of our work relates to raising awareness about the importance of joining the Michigan Organ Donor Registry, and so we invite you to visit our website at www.michiganeyebank.org to learn how you, too, can join the Registry if you do not currently have a red heart on your driver’s license to signify your wish to give in the hopes of helping others.

Heather Steenrod is the Development Director for the Ann Arbor-based nonprofit organization, Ozone House Youth & Family Services. Established in 1969, Ozone House was a pioneer in the U.S. in the area of helping run-away youth in crisis. Today, Ozone House offers supportive services for young people who are homeless, at risk of becoming homeless, experiencing extreme crisis, or running from unsafe situations. It is the only youth shelter in Washtenaw County.

As Development Director, Heather’s responsibilities include stewardship, fundraising initiatives, event planning, public speaking and community relations. Her current project is managing the sixth annual Evening at the Farmer’s Market fundraiser for Ozone House which takes place September 13th at the Ann Arbor Farmer’s Market.

Heather has been a part of the Ozone House team for nine years, and has served as Development Director for the organization for two years. She’s an active volunteer for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the Heinz C. Prechter Bipolar Research Fund.

Prior to her work at Ozone House, Heather was with Borders Group, Inc. for 12 years in the role of Sr. Manager for corporate and educational sales.

To learn more about Ozone House or the Farmer’s Market fundraiser, visit www.OzoneHouse.org.

KeyBank and the A2Y Chamber would like to congratulate Caroline on 25 years of service. Caroline is responsible for administering all types of trust and asset management accounts, including revocable and irrevocable trusts, individual retirement accounts, custody, conservatorships and estates. Prior to joining Key, Caroline was a paralegal for seven years in the probate and estate planning areas of a law firm in Saginaw.

Caroline is a graduate of Ferris State University where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and an Associate Degree in Legal Assistant. She is also a graduate of the Cannon Financial Institute Trust School.

For information on how Caroline can assist you, please contact her at
caroline_chipman@keybank.com or 734-747-7974.