Innovation + Job News

Four West Michigan businesses will invest $15.7 million in expansions that could bring some 465 new jobs to the state's economy. The Michigan Economic Development Corporation announced nearly $2M in incentives awarded through the Michigan Business Development Program to encourage the companies to stay in West Michigan and develop employment opportunities here.

The companies are: Center Manufacturing (Byron Center), a metal stamping company serving the transportation and industrial markets; Huntington Foam (Greenville), a supplier of custom foam shapes for the furniture, plumbing and other industries; MedDirect, Inc. (Grand Rapids), a provider of customer services and billing services for healthcare systems; and Muskegon Castings Corporation, part of Port City Group (Muskegon), a manufacturer of aluminum and zinc castings, plastic injection molding, and aluminum recycling and smelting, as well as other services.

Center Manufacturing plans a $1.02M expansion and 80 new jobs, including equipment operator positions, craftsmen positions, management jobs and some administrative positions.

Huntington Foam will create 30 new jobs as a result of a $2.56M facilities expansion. The company elected to remain in Michigan after considering several neighboring states.

MedDirect, Inc., will invest $2.1M to create some 300 new jobs over the next three years, including data analyst positions, managerial positions and customer support jobs. The company chose Michigan over sites in Ohio and Illinois.

Muskegon Castings will establish a new $10M facility in Muskegon, expanding its operations and creating 55 new advanced manufacturing jobs. Despite a competing site in Indiana, the company elected to expand in Michigan.

"These investments prove that the West Michigan economy can grow and is growing on a diversified basis," says Tim Mroz, VP of communications at The Right Place, an economic development organization that worked with Center Manufacturing, Huntington Foam and MedDirect and the MEDC to keep the companies in Michigan.

"We have growth in a whole host of industries including healthcare services and advanced manufacturing, not just in one area," Mroz says. "These projects are examples of regional collaboration at work."

Source: Tim Mroz, Right Place, Inc.; Media Release, Michigan Economic Development Corporation
Writer: Deborah Johnson Wood, Development News Editor

Amway Corporation will invest some $81 million in a new state-of-the-art vitamin, mineral and dietary supplement manufacturing facility at its Spaulding Avenue site in Ada, which will create 200 jobs over the next three years.

The company will develop the facility to manufacture its Nutrilite brand of products, the first Michigan-based facility for Nutrilite, which will continue to be produced at existing plants in Buena Park, CA and Quincy, WA. Expansions at those two facilities, combined, will total $74 million and produce 30 jobs in Quincy.

Construction in Ada will begin in early 2013 and will be complete in 2015, says George Calvert, VP of supply chain and R & D. The jobs created span a variety of skill sets, including plant management, equipment management, process management, chemical engineering, materials planning, materials purchasing, inventory control, tableting and softgel encapsulation.

"Manufacturing will use advance work systems where we flow people to the work," Calvert says. "Our technicians will be cross-trained across a variety of skill sets; the people we hire will get a lot of training and we'll work to enhance their skills."

Calvert says Nutrilite is the world's number one selling vitamin brand and sales represent 45 percent of Amway's business. A company media release states that Nutrilite sales were $4.7 billion in 2011.

"Nutrilite grew 17 percent last year and we're out of capacity in California and Washington," Calvert says. "We looked at building in California and in the southeast and southwest of the United States, but the better thing for us and for the community was to put the plant right there on Spaulding."

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation approved a $1.6 million incentive from the Michigan Business Development Program to support construction of the new facility.

Source: George Calvert, Amway Corporation; Media Release, Michigan Economic Development Corporation
Writer: Deborah Johnson Wood, Development News Editor

Women's Lifestyle Magazine owner, founder and publisher Victoria Upton couldn't be more excited. The success of her 14-year-old endeavor to create a magazine for women in Greater Grand Rapids has, in turn, created a need for 15 new staff members and freelance employees. In addition, the magazine is now available in over 450 locations throughout the region, up from 400 locations just six months ago.

"Businesses call us to put magazines in their stores, and that's always increasing," Upton says. "There's no way we can accommodate every request -- we'd have to print a lot of magazines!"

But that popularity is precisely what has driven the magazine's need for 13 additional freelance writers, a full-time graphic designer/webmaster and a full-time sales and advertising person.

Besides the local magazine for the Grand Rapids area, Women's Lifestyle Magazine also syndicates the magazine to publishers in Detroit, Lansing, Kalamazoo and Muskegon who use their own local content to customize the publication for their readers.  

The magazine, which is always free, is also available in its entirety on a new interactive website.

"The website puts us on an equal playing field with the rest of the media because we can use social media and can create audio and video content," Upton says. "We're very retail-friendly and we fill a need for local boutiques, shops and one-of-a-kind businesses to have a place to promote their businesses in an affordable manner. We're also a great source for resources, information and positive inspiration. We let you know that there are all these things that are fun to do in our community and you're invited."

Source: Victoria Upton, Women's Lifestyle Magazine
Writer: Deborah Johnson Wood, Development News Editor

Good things are coming in threes for DVS, a West Michigan-based integrated marketing firm.

First, the firm has added three very talented individuals since the beginning of the year: Robin Karnes, corporate receptionist / administration assistant, Charlie McGrath, manager, DVS Interact and Craig Cockrill, designer/developer, DVS Interact.

Second, DVS has a launched an entirely new visual identity including logos and marketing sites for its three divisions now clearly aligned under the DVS brand. The new sites are DVSCreative, DVSCustom and DVSInteract.

According to Paul La Vigne, president, the restructuring reflects a shift to providing more services to its customers. "We now help our clients with the entire strategic process," says La Vigne, who noted that the hires of McGrath and Cockrill were directly related to the new organizational structure and product offerings.   

The new identify was rolled out with a soft launch over the weekend and was formally announced at the annual DVS open house on May 23.

To learn more about DVS and the three department sites, you can click here.

Source: Paul La Vigne, DVS
Writeri: John Rumery, Innovation and Job News Editor

Gammy's Pies, a Holland-based, family owned and operated company that features both fruit and artisan-style savory pies, is cooking.  

Entering its second full year, the pie company sells its products via farmers' markets from Kalamazoo to Grand Rapids and has also begun the process of building its wholesale network. Owner Matt Campbell forecasts sales at 17 different markets this summer. The company currently employs 10 individuals and is looking for more sales help to support this growth.

"The business idea came from a fourth generation crust recipe," Campbell says. "My mother is from a long line of German pie makers, all whom were wives of farmers and growers. Our family has a back ground in the restaurant business and it was a dream of my mother to put together a pie company. Three years ago, my mother got out of restaurant business, wrote up a  business plan, began working on products and secured the initial financing."

All the fruit pies have ingredients sourced through Michigan farms, while about 60-65 percent of the savory pies' ingredients are sourced locally, with a long-term goal of having 100 percent of the ingredients coming from Michigan-based farms.

The name 'Gammy's Pies' is a nod to Campbell's mother. "My partner in the madness is my mother, and my children call her 'gammy.' It is her recipe for the heirloom crust, and it symbolizes the generations of pie makers that came before her."

To learn more about Gammy's Pies, you can visit their site here.

Source: Mark Campbell, Gammy's Pies
Writer: John Rumery, Innovation and Job News Editor

What started as "couple of young kids with few resources" and a search for more parking evolved into a viral, community-centric campaign to bring more green space to downtown Muskegon.

Brett Gilbert, founder of Fatty Lumpkins, recalls eyeing a vacant space near his neighborhood eatery as a possible solution for a parking issue as his customer base and staff continued to grow. 

After exploring several options and discussing ideas with city planners to purchase some extra property, Gilbert was approached by Sarah Rooks from the nearby Watermark Center to try an alternative approach with the vacant lot.

The idea turned out to be the Fat Garden Project, an entree into the state-wide Let's Save Michigan contest that has so far captured the hearts and souls of almost 4000 voters in the competition that ends on June 1.

Gilbert has been stunned by the early reaction. "I called the city and explained that we didn't mean to go around their back, but the project just took on a life on its own."

Besides Gilbert, the sandwich shop now employs five people and will be continuing to add help as he explores options to expand the business without having to move from his present location. "I want to bridge the gap between downtown Muskegon and the lakeside district by creating a new neighborhood business district," says Gilbert, who envisions a thriving downtown Muskegon, connected by unique neighborhood communities.

To learn more about the Fat Garden Project, you can visit the site here. For more information on Fatty Lumpkins, including contact information, you can visit their Facebook site here.

Source: Brett Gilbert, Fatty Lumpkins
Writer: John Rumery, Innovation and Jobs News Editor.

Grand Rapids-based ArtPrize, the nonprofit entity that oversees the world's largest open art competition each September and October, is growing. With that growth comes the need for a full-time director of development to develop relationships with donors and help the organization succeed financially.

"This is a high level position and a unique opportunity for the right person," says Amelea Pegman, community volunteer director. "We're looking for someone with a wealth of experiences and who has a passion for what we're doing."

ArtPrize operates with a small staff of 15 and has recently added four part-time contractors: an exhibitions coordinator, an events assistant, a volunteer assistant and a digital media specialist. In addition, there are several unpaid internships available for 10 to 20 hours each week of the summer through the end of ArtPrize 2012 (Sept. 19 through Oct. 7, 2012).

"We're looking to fill intern positions that include communications and marketing, logistics support and educational programming," Pegman says. "We have our interns manage important projects so they can get valuable experience and college credit. We'll do anything they need to help them fulfill their college requirements."

Pegman also says ArtPrize needs 500 new volunteers for the event this year. The event operates with some 1,500 volunteers who give 10,000 hours to the community in pre-event planning and in-event tasks. This year, Pegman is busy developing responsibilities for a new Lead Volunteer effort for volunteers who want to offer a bit more time and commitment by helping to coordinate teams of volunteers.

For more information on the director of development position, click here.
For more information on internships, click here.
For more information on volunteering, click here.

Source: Amelea Pegman, ArtPrize
Writer: Deborah Johnson Wood, Development News Editor

Up until the last few years, a large storefront at 2162 Plainfield Ave. NE was best known as The Cheshire Restaurant. Now, after changing hands and menus a few times, then sitting vacant awhile, another traditional family restaurant is back in the space -- The Cheshire Grill.

Owner Eric Vorpi opened The Cheshire Grill in January, featuring real, old-fashioned sodas made by hand at the soda counter, and made-from-scratch foods like sausage gravy, French rolled omelets and homemade jams.

Vorpi says he filled 18 cook and server positions when the restaurant opened, and hopes to add another four or five when he adds a dinner shift. Right now, he's working to build up a regular clientele for breakfast and lunch hours, and hopes to open for the dinner hour as soon as the business is ready.

"All the loyal customer following was let go during several rebuilds, and we have to build it back up," Vorpi says. "We wanted everything dialed in before we went crazy with what we wanted to offer."

Inside, the restaurant still has its checkerboard floors, the soda/ice cream counter and three main dining rooms. The front door still connects to Sweetland's Candy Shop next door, like it has for decades. Vorpi says the place is beginning to attract business and church groups as a regular gathering spot for breakfast and lunch meetings.

Hours: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., daily.

Source: Eric Vorpi, The Cheshire Restaurant
Writer: Deborah Johnson Wood, Development News Editor

A new restaurant in Grand Rapids' Creston business district has done more than bring the area its only Mexican restaurant -- it has also brought jobs. La Huasteca, owned by Jose and Flor Torres, opened last week with three employees filling existing positions, and more jobs to come as the eatery grows.

Flor Torres, 30, says she decided to bring authentic, fresh Mexican cuisine to the neighborhood (1811 Plainfield Ave. NE, next to Screaming Needle Tattoo) after attending the business management program at Grand Rapids Community College. Jose, 31, who owns and operates Torres Tire Shop (830 Lafayette Ave. NE), already has several years' experience running his own business, and that gave them the confidence to start a second venture.

"We serve authentic Mexican food," says Flor Torres. "Everything we make, we cook from scratch. We buy the meat in bulk and cut it ourselves. How much fresher can you get than that?"

The restaurant hired a full-time cook and a prep cook, plus a server. Flor is also a server and is on the premises to welcome guests. The small eatery's focus is on take-out orders, but also has space to seat 15 diners.

Both Jose and Flor were born in Mexico and came to the U.S. when they were nine years old. They've lived in Grand Rapids over 20 years. Flor named the restaurant after a waterfall in Mexico. The family traveled there two years ago to baptize their youngest child and "fell in love with the place," Flor says.

Restaurant hours: Mon. - Thurs., 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Fri. and Sat., 10 to midnight.

Source: Flor Torres, La Huasteca
Writer: Deborah Johnson Wood, Development News Editor

Following a recent update on Peopledesign's subtle shift toward a more strategic consulting focus, Kevin Budelmann, founder, says their new designer, Detroit native Emily Cowdrey, is the result of finding the right talent at the right time. "She was looking for an opportunity to return to Michigan," Budelmann says. Cowdry came highly recommended from a design firm in Chicago Peopledesign does business with. "She had just completed her internship and they thought she would be a good fit here," Budelmann says.

The other new addition is an intern from Ferris State University recommended by a professor (an ex-Peopledesign employee) for a unique project. "We are creating an iBook for the Apple Store, which is an experiment for us. It is a specific project with a three-month window."

Although there is no formal plan to add new positions in the near future, Budelmann says the team at Peopledesign is always reviewing resumes and looking for talent. "We hire based on talent, potential and the business case. Some of our best hires are when we happen on a talented individual without actively recruiting."

To learn more about Peopledesign, you can visit their site here.

Source: Kevin Budelmann, Peopledesign
Writer: John Rumery, Innovation and Job News Editor

You need look no further than ProgressiveAE for signs of job growth in West Michigan.

According to Melissa Versluis, Sr. HR manager, the Grand Rapids-based architectural firm has hired over 40 positions in the past six months and currently has at least eight open positions still needing to be filled.

"The growth has been due to a couple of things," explains Versluis. "The economy is improving and companies are investing in new projects and renovation." She adds that a positive "word-of-mouth" and ProgressiveAE's good reputation have been significant factors in contributing to new work, much of it on a national level.

The growth sectors include retail, where several national chains continue to expand throughout the country, and healthcare.

For the most part, Versluis has been able to find top-notch talent locally, but they do recruit nationally for many specialty positions, especially for health care projects. "Because we have been growing and working on really cool projects, the word on the street has been very positive," says Versluis.

To learn more about ProgressiveAE, you can visit their site here.

Source: Melissa Versluis, ProgressiveAE
Writer: John Rumery, Innovation and Jobs News Editor.

Since its profile in Rapid Growth Media almost a year ago, The Standard Pizza Company has served over 3000 pizza pies from its specialty wood-fired oven.

"When we bought the oven last year, we had a goal of five events. That turned in 15 events, then 20, and we never slowed down," says co-owner Matt Parrott.

The specialty oven, which cooks a pizza in less than two minutes, is all ready on track to easily eclipse its 2011 sales. "In January of 2012, the phone started ringing. We now will be at the Fulton Street Farmers Market for lunch on Tuesday and Wednesday. Beginning in June, we will be at Jazz at the Zoo on Mondays. We have very few open weekends left through October," Parrott says.

To support the growth, Parrott has just hired his first full-time employee and expects to add 5-6 part-time positions this summer.

Parrott also indicates that Standard Pizza is in the early stages of exploring many other options for growth including the possibility of working with Intermodal, adding another oven, finding a permanent space for prep work and adding new products such as artisan breads. 

To follow the Standard Pizza story, you can join their Facebook page here.

Source:  Matt Parrott, Standard Pizza Company.
Writer: John Rumery, Innovation and Jobs News Editor.

Over the past year, Grand Rapids-based design firm Visualhero, has grown from four employees to 12 by providing innovations solutions to its clients in both West Michigan and on the West Coast.

"A lot of our business is in Silicon Valley, both through startups and large corporations," says founder/art director Andy Van Solkema. "We built a relationship with them in the last two years and now 50 percent of our work comes from the West Coast." They also, he adds, have a growing client list in Michigan.

Van Solkema describes his firm as "technology agnostics," explaining their focus is on providing their clients with the best possible solution and can work with any technology that is best for the project. "We have a multifaceted team: graphic designers, user design and experience, design research and data visualization. Some are industry veterans and others are just one to two years out of school."

Although non-disclosure agreements won't allow the identification of several of his West Coast clients, Van Solkema is very proud that a number of those companies in Silicone Valley have sought out their services. 

"We are in a managed growth mode. We are constantly keeping an eye on good people," adds Van Solkema.

To learn more about Visualhero, you can visit their website here.

Source: Andy Van Solkema, Visualhero
Writer: John Rumery, Innovation and Jobs News Editor.

The renovation of 11 longterm care semi-private rooms at Metron of Forest Hills into 11 private rooms for sub-acute care patients has created a need for more nurses and certified nurse assistants at the facility.

Metron of Forest Hills opened at 1095 Medical Park Dr. SE, just off Cascade Rd., 35 years ago, and the demand for separate sub-acute care rooms spurred the company to create a space specifically for those patients who still need nursing care before going home, but don't require longterm care. The renovations include new lobby areas, entrances and technology upgrades. The remodeled wing opened to the public this week.

"We are hiring now, and have ads in the papers and on our website," says LauraAnn Gordon, executive director. "We're adding five registered nurses and 10 certified nurse assistants for the sub-acute care section. As we're able to build up patient flow, the number of nursing and CNA positions will increase."

Gordon says the parent company, Metron Integrated Health Systems, is privately owned with other locations in Belding, Greenville, Cedar Springs, Big Rapids and Lamont. The Forest Hills location is licensed for 123 patients; sub-acute care patients stay an average of 28 days.

"The environment is an upscale facility that very warm, caring and compassionate," Gordon says. "And it's very conducive to the skills we're asking the nurses and CNAs to perform."

For more information on the jobs or to apply online, click here.

Source: LauraAnn Gordon, Metron Integrated Health Systems
Writer: Deborah Johnson Wood, Development News Editor

This summer, visitors to Holland will be greeted by a team of "ambassadors" who will not only welcome everyone with a smile, but be a source of detailed knowledge of all that downtown merchants  have to offer.

The Downtown Ambassador Program is an extension of activities like the Groove Walk and street performers. "It's about making the city more vibrant," says Mimi Fritz, marketing director for Downtown Holland.

To support this new program, the city is looking to hire 3-6 "ambassadors" who will be trained in restaurant fare, hotel amenities and the various shopping experiences.

The roving ambassadors will be easy to spot with their own uniform including a pith helmet, messenger bags and bright colored shirts.

Fritz adds that this position is perfect for anyone, especially students and retirees. "We need someone is personable, has a lot of energy and loves talking to people."

To learn more about the program, you can visit the official website here.

Source: Mimi Fritz, City of Holland
Writer: John Rumery, Innovation and Job News Editor.