MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY CELEBRATES GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY

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MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY CELEBRATES GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY
THE MONTHLY NEWS MAGAZINE OF THE LANSING REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE • JUNE 2018

                             MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL
                              SPEEDWAY CELEBRATES
                              GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY

IN THIS ISSUE:
LRC-PAC READY TO MAKE
AN IMPACT IN 2018
LEADERSHIP LANSING CELEBRATES
GRADUATION OF 2018 COHORT
FOCUS ON SMALL BUSINESS:
SMART OFFICES/SMART HOMES
MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY CELEBRATES GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAMBER

                        Delivering Business Value
                        ONE OF THE MANY STRENGTHS OF SUCCESSFUL BRANDS is the ability to continuously reinvent themselves. From Disney and Apple,
                        to Coca Cola and Microsoft, these businesses are focused on staying connected to changing lifestyles, technology and the desires
                        of their customers.

                        The Chamber, like all businesses we serve, has experienced a world of change in just a few short years. The memories are fresh
                        from the recent recession, which caused us all to take a hard look at how we conduct business and how we must remain focused on
                        staying connected and meeting the needs of our customers. No matter what business you are in, success comes down to delivering
                        value to your customers.

                        The concept of delivering business value has come through loud and clear during the strategic planning process our organization
TIM DAMAN               has been undergoing since the first of the year. We will have more details when we announce the full plan later this summer, but,
President and CEO       suffice to say — connecting with our members in ways that support business growth is at the heart of our new strategic mission.
Lansing Regional
Chamber of Commerce     There are also several exciting new member-driven programs that
                        we are launching or have put into place in recent months. We are                The Chamber exists to serve our
                        introducing a new member-to-member discount program, called
                        Chamber Deals, which is a platform for our members to market                    members. Your success is our
                        their products and services to customers throughout the region by
                        offering exciting deals and special discounts. This month, we are
                                                                                                        business. Our pledge is to work
                        excited to announce another Member Benefit Program through                      hard every day to help our members
                        Office Depot. You can read more about this new partnership on
                        page 18.                                                                        connect, grow and thrive.
                        The Chamber and Dale Carnegie are proud to jointly announce a new partnership that will bring a best-in-class talent development
                        solution to all Chamber members throughout the Greater Lansing region. Members now have access to a globally recognized
                        training program at a reduced rate.

                        We have also upgraded our online directory, the Lansing Marketplace, which now includes a new enhanced search engine feature
                        and expanded opportunities for connecting members to other members as well as potential customers.

                        Our members have told us how much they value the educational programs we provide. We recently rebranded our successful
                        Business Education Series. Chamber University features high-profile panels and experts on topics including how to generate
                        earned media, reducing the clutter and managing your inbox, and many other topics focused on helping your business grow
                        and thrive.

                        The technology revolution has greatly impacted our communications programs as we continue to help our members promote
                        their products and services through our robust social and digital media platforms. Our marketing team is in the final stages of
                        introducing a new bi-weekly email newsletter that will consolidate many of our member updates into a single message.

                        It is important to note that though we modify the way in which we execute, our mission remains the same. The Chamber
                        exists to serve our members. Your success is our business. Our pledge is to work hard every day to help our members connect,
                        grow and thrive. As always, we value your feedback to help us stay on course in supporting the growth of your organization
                        and our region. n

                                                                                       TRANSPORTATION
                                                                                                                        ABOUT THE
                                                                                                                    LEADERSHIP CIRCLE
                                                                                                                 Leadership Circle members are proven
                                                                                                                  business and community leaders. We
                                                                                                                  value their commitment and applaud
                                                                                                                  their efforts to strengthen our region
                                                                                                                  with their leadership and appreciate
                                                                                                                     the important role they play in
                                                                                                                       advancing our organization.

2   FOCUS / JUNE 2018
MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY CELEBRATES GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY
MARK YOUR CALENDAR

                                                                              DON’T MISS! LANSING OPEN
      2018 Board of Directors                                                 Tuesday, August 21, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
                                                                              Location: Eagle Eye Golf Club
Officers                                                                      Tickets: lansingchamber.org
Board Chair                           Legal Counsel
April Clobes / MSU Federal            Steve Owen / Foster, Swift, Collins   TUESDAY, JUNE 5 / GRUB CRAWL 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. Location: REO Town, between E. Elm St. and E.
Credit Union                          & Smith, P.C.
                                                                            South St. The Lansing Regional Chamber Grub Crawl, presented by the Lansing Board of Water
Past Chair                            Treasurer
Deb Muchmore / Kandler, Reed,         Jeff Fineis / Andrews Hooper
                                                                            & Light, is taking over REO Town on June 5th! Join us and our friends from Saddleback BBQ,
Khoury & Muchmore                     Pavlik PLC                            Good Truckin Diner, Shove It Pizza Truck, The Crafted Bean, Fire & Rice Food Truck, Picnic
Chair Elect                           President                             Food Truck, REO Town Pub, and Blue Owl Coffee as we enjoy everything REO Town has to offer.
Patrick Dean / Dean Transportation    Tim Daman / Lansing Regional          Use this event to get together with family, friends or colleagues to enjoy a night out. Purchase your
                                      Chamber of Commerce
                                                                            ticket today and the next one is on us!
Division Directors
Marketing and                         Government Relations
                                                                            WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6 / DELTA GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COMMITTEE 8 a.m. – 9 a.m. Location: Delta
Communications                        Matt Resch / Resch Strategies         Township Library, 5130 Davenport Drive, Lansing. The Delta Government Relations Committee
Lisa O’Connor / Publicom              Member Services                       meets the first Wednesday of each month to provide a forum for business leaders to discuss important
Regional Initiatives                  Michelle Massey / Dewpoint            issues affecting Delta Township. To ensure adequate seating, please RSVP to Steve Japinga at
Steve Notar Donato / General Motors
                                                                            sjapinga@lansingchamber.org.
At-Large                                                                    THURSDAY, JUNE 14 / CHAMBER 360 8 a.m. – 9:30 a.m., Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce
Lauren Aitch / Our Own Products       Van Martin / CBRE|Martin              Insurance Capital Board Room, 500 E. Michigan Ave., Suite. 200, Lansing. Chamber members are
David Baker / Farm Bureau             Tonia Olson / Granger                 encouraged to attend Chamber 360 to learn how to maximize your Chamber benefits, meet our staff
Insurance Company                     Steve Quinlan / Neogen                and network with other members. This is a FREE event, but space is limited. To register for this
Bill Beekman / Michigan State         Joe Ruth / Sparrow
University                                                                  event, please contact Michelle Rahl at 517-853-6457 or mrahl@lansingchamber.org. Sponsored by
                                      Tom Stewart / Common Wealth           Providence Consulting.
Denise Droscha / Two Men &            Enterprises
A Truck
                                      Bill Woodbury / Auto-Owners
David Ferguson / Ferguson             Insurance, Co.                        WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20 / EAST LANSING AND MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE 8 a.m. – 9 a.m.
Development                                                                 Location: Plante Moran, 1111 E Michigan Avenue, East Lansing. The East Lansing and Meridian
                                      Mike Zamaira / Niowave
Glenn Granger / Granger                                                     Township Business Roundtable meets the third Wednesday of each month to provide a forum for
Construction                          Kevin Zielke / AF Group
                                      David Zyble / Jackson National Life   business leaders to discuss important issues impacting East Lansing and Meridian Township. To
Wendy Hamilton / TechSmith
                                      Insurance                             ensure adequate seating, please RSVP to Steve Japinga at sjapinga@lansingchamber.org.
Teri Hull / Dart Container
Casey Kandow / McLaren Greater
Lansing                                                                     TUESDAY, JUNE 26 / CHAMBER UNIVERSITY: MANAGING YOUR INBOX 8 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Location:
                                                                            Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce, Insurance Board Room, 500 E. Michigan Ave., Suite
Board Partnerships                                                          200, Lansing. Do you feel overwhelmed by the amount of email that you deal with each day? Do
                                                                            you fail to quickly and easily find messages that you sent or received? Do you have more than 50
LEAP, Inc.                            Lansing Black Chamber
Bob Trezise / LEAP, Inc.              of Commerce                           unread messages in your Inbox? If you answered YES to any of these questions, this workshop
Grand River Connection                Dr. Alane Laws-Barker / Sparrow       for you! Learn how to keep your Inbox under control, save time processing email and scheduling
Katherine Japinga / Michigan State    Greater Lansing Hispanic              meetings, and advice on how to better manage the email clutter.
Senate                                Chamber
ATHENA WIN                            Jose Yanez / Full Circle Financial
Jenn Sturdy / PNC Bank                Planning

FOCUS
Editors                               Cover Story Photography
Ross Woodstock                        Courtesy Michigan
Eric Dimoff                           International Speedway
Design                                Photography
Tandem Studios                        Hanna VonAchen
Printing                              Mailing
BRD Printing, Inc.                    BRD Printing, Inc.

STAY CONNECTED. STAY SOCIAL.
           facebook.com/LansingChamber

           twitter.com/LansingChamber

           @LansingRegionalChamber
                                                                               2 0 1 8                      For more information about Chamber events, tickets or sponsorships, contact
                                                                                                               Travis Richardson at 517-853-6463 or visit lansingchamber.org/events.
           Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce                                 LRCC EVENTS

                                                                                                                                                                LANSINGCHAMBER.ORG 3
MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY CELEBRATES GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY
THANK YOU RENEWING MEMBERS

7C Lingo                        Liquid Web, Inc.                  WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
Access Bidco                    Little Caesar’s (Grand Ledge)
                                                                  CORNERSTONE CONCRETE &                    KELLIE’S WOODEN SKATE
Alerus Retirement Solutions     Little Caesar’s (Holt)            CONTRACTING LLC                          1259 W. Grand River
Alliance Interiors              Little Caesar’s (Mason)           11245 Stoney Brook Dr.                   Okemos MI, 48864
                                                                  Grand Ledge MI, 48837                    517-220-2159
The Apothecary Shop             McDonald’s, Okemos
                                                                  517-927-8620
Arcadia Ales                    Michigan Association of School                                              LOS TRES AMIGOS
Big Brothers Big Sisters          Boards                          CRICKET WIRELESS - LANSING               1322 Rensen St., Ste A
                                Michigan Company                  3415 E. Saginaw St.                      Lansing MI, 48910
Big John Steak & Onion                                            Lansing MI, 48912                        517-908-0072
                                  Incorporated
Black Barn Vineyard & Winery                                      517-220-2930
                                Michigan Education Trust                                                    MCONNEXIONS
Breslin Student Events Center
                                Michigan State University         CRICKET WIRELESS - OKEMOS                15851 S. Old US 27, Suite 22
Buffalo Wild Wings - West                                         1858 Grand River Ave.                    Lansing MI, 48906
  Lansing                       Michigan State University         Okemos MI, 48864                         231-412-7763
                                  Athletics Department            517-708-0333
Cameron Tool
                                Michigan State University                                                   MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES’
CW Leadership                                                     CRICKET WIRELESS - WEST                   RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF MICHIGAN
                                  College of Law
Dakkota Integrated Systems,                                       LANSING                                   (MERS)
                                Michigan State University         6209 W. Saginaw                          1134 Municipal Way
  LLC
                                  International Business Center   Lansing MI, 48917                        Lansing MI, 48917
DeWitt Area Chamber of            & Global Business Club of       517-657-2653                             517-703-9030
  Commerce                        Mid-Michigan
Doggy Daycare and Spa                                             EXPERIMAC                                 U.S. ARMY RECRUITING BATTALION
                                Michigan State University,
                                                                  4790 S. Hagadorn Rd.                     6500 Mercantile Way
Draft House                       College of Human Medicine       East Lansing MI, 48823                   Lansing MI, 48911
Dykema Gossett                  Mid-Michigan Mechanical           517-580-3997                             517-887-5782
The First Tee of Mid-Michigan     Contractors Association
                                                                  GRANDHAVEN MANOR II
Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr &      The Moulton Team                  3225 W Mt Hope Ave
  Huber, Inc.                   MSU Forest Akers West Golf        Lansing MI, 48911
Flavored Threads                  Courses                         517-367-8990

Gillespie Company, LLC          NAI Mid-Michigan/TMN
                                  Commercial
Granger
Hope Sports Complex
                                The Peanut Shop                   CHAMBER MILESTONES
                                Personnel World, Inc.
Hungry Howie’s Pizza - Holt                                       We’d like to offer a special salute to these great organizations that reached
                                Piper & Gold Public Relations
The Huntington National Bank                                      milestone anniversaries as Chamber members this month. Thank you for
                                Pro-Tech Mechanical               your continued support through the years!
Impression 5 Science Center
                                Public Policy Associates, Inc.      ART CRAFT DISPLAY,             EQUITY PLUS             LANSING SANITARY
Insty-Prints Downtown
                                Retractable Solutions                      INC.                       25 YEARS                SUPPLY, INC.
ITC Holdings Corporation                                                  55 YEARS                                                  5 YEARS
                                Smart Homes Inc.                                               NORTH GRAND RIVER
The James B. Henry Center for
                                Specialty Eye Institute           DEAN TRANSPORTATION,          COOPERATIVE, INC.          MICHIGAN POLYMER
  Executive Development
                                                                          INC.                        20 YEARS               RECLAIM, INC.
Kellogg Catering - Spartan      St. Vincent Catholic Charities            40 YEARS                                                  5 YEARS
                                                                                                 IMAGE BUILDERS
  Hospitality Group             Tavern & Tap
                                                                     FIFTH THIRD BANK              UNLIMITED               SUPERIOR ASPHALT,
Kellogg Hotel & Conference      Thatch Computer Consulting                40 YEARS                    10 YEARS               INC. – LANSING
  Center                        Thrun Law Firm, P.C.                                                                            DIVISION
                                                                     MULDER COMPANY              H INCORPORATED                     5 YEARS
Lake Lansing Road Mobil         Troppo                                    40 YEARS                    5 YEARS
  Service, Inc.
                                Truscott Rossman                     ANDREWS HOOPER               KLUG LAW FIRM
Lake State Landscaping &                                                PAVLIK PLC                    5 YEARS
                                The University Club at the
  Snow Removal LLC                                                        25 YEARS
                                  Henry Center Complex
Lakewood Apartments -                                             Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce members have unparalleled access
                                WKAR TV/Radio
  Monarch Investment                                              to their company and staff profiles on the LRCC website. To access and
                                Young Brothers & Daley            update this information at any point, visit lansingchamber.org and enter your
LEAP (Lansing Economic Area
                                                                  username and password. If you have not yet logged into the site, please follow
  Partnership)                                                    the simple password reset instructions. Call 517-487-6340 with any questions.

4   FOCUS / JUNE 2018
MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY CELEBRATES GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY
FOCUS ON SMALL BUSINESS

Smart Offices and Smart Homes
BY SOPHIA CHARBONEAU, KOLT COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
JOHN GILLULY LIKES TO STAY BUSY. He loves being                                                                        right seat to make them happy, and make sure that
outside biking, camping and fishing. When Gilluly                                                                      the bus is pointed in the right direction – to make our
isn’t exploring the great outdoors, you can find him in                                                                customers happy.”
in his office doing what he does best, running a very
successful technology business.                                                                                        SOSH works on residential homes and businesses as
                                                                                                                       well. Gilluly mentioned, that one of his favorite and
Smart Offices / Smart Homes (SOSH) is located                                                                          memorable projects that the team has accomplished
on Moore Street in Okemos. SOSH is a technology                                                                        was with an insurance company in Lansing. They
company that excels in services such as home                                                                           created a smart conference center for the company.
automation, video conferencing and website design.                                                                     The center has 17 different room combinations with
SOSH’s mission is to bring the best and most cost-                                                                     removable walls that set up automatically for lighting,
effective technology-based solutions to their clients.                                                                 speakers, microphones, video, HVAC and control,
                                                                                                                       according to the design for the day. All the separate
Gilluly received a degree in material science and                                                                      systems work without any intervention and seamlessly
engineering and spent 28 years helping small                                                                           synchronize the rooms so people do not spend time
businesses improve their quality systems and processes.                                                                setting up the center for training and meetings.
He also spent time teaching businesses improvement
techniques to compete in the global economy. It wasn’t until a friend mentioned              Smart homes also recently finished a major renovation project at Lansing
an idea about making residential homes and offices a bit “smarter,” that his                 Community College with their partner, F.D. Hayes, where they installed two
company SOSH was born.                                                                       173” diagonal high definition video walls and a laser projector in the Conference
                                                                                             Center of the Gannon Building.
“Our company is focused on helping people in our community use technology
 to make their lives better,” said Gilluly.                                                  SOSH’s market is growing at a rapid rate, “exploding” as Gilluly likes to say.
                                                                                             Smart technology overall creates a more productive environment. Gilluly
This company would not be possible without their team members. Each                          mentioned that they have a very aggressive growth strategy and plan. SOSH’s
member goes through more than 100 hours of structured training per year, every               future consists of bringing more services to the community in both the
year. Smart Homes is a team-based organization where everyone shares in the                  residential and commercial areas.
success of the company. Gilluly mentioned that their organization runs with an
inverted organization chart, where he is on the bottom and their clients are on              “We hope to continue to grow as a company and bring more and more of the
the top, making them the number one priority. It’s Gilluly’s job to make sure                 new time and money saving automation technology to our customers,” said
that his team has the right training and tools to ensure quality and efficiency               Gilluly.
to get the job done. A little saying that Gilluly has when it comes to hiring the
right staff is:                                                                              Nothing is for sure in this world, but with the passion that the Smart Homes
                                                                                             and Smart Offices team has for its customers, continued success looks to be in
“We carefully hire to get the right people on the bus, make sure they are in the             the future of the company. n

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                                                                                                                                                    LANSINGCHAMBER.ORG 5
MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY CELEBRATES GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY
MEMBER NEWS

Indian Trails: Setting the Pace
for 108 Years
LRCC MEMBER INDIAN TRAILS, INC., recently invested more than $3 million in eight new motor coaches for
the comfort and safety of its charter groups. One of its guiding principles for 108 years has been to pour
profits into new equipment so its fleet remains among the newest and largest in Michigan.

Indian Trails’ motor coaches are chartered by professional sports teams, corporations, universities, trade
associations, churches, and other groups for trips whatever destinations they choose in the Continental
U.S. or Canada.

The four new full-size
coaches — all Prevost
H3-45s — can each carry
up to 56 passengers. The
deluxe vehicles exceed
EPA standards with engine
technology that reduces
exhaust pollutants to near
zero while achieving 240
passenger miles per gallon.
The four new mid-size
coaches, built by Temsa,
each have 34-passenger
capacity. They, too, are
environmentally     friendly
and fuel-efficient, with a
range of 760 miles per tank
of diesel.
                                                                                                                Become a business
The coaches have comfort                                                                                        Become
                                                                                                                member today!
                                                                                                                Become          a
                                                                                                                                a business
                                                                                                                                    business
features comparable to
a     commercial     airline’s                                                                                  member
                                                                                                                member
                                                                                                                •
                                                                                                                                today!
                                                                                                                                today!
                                                                                                                  Business checking and savings
business-class      reclining
seats, individual overhead                                                                                      • Business checking
                                                                                                                •          VISA® creditandcard
                                                                                                                                            savings
                                                                                                                                                options
lighting and climate controls, outlets for charging mobile devices, free Wi-Fi, a DVD player and flat-          • Business checking and savings
screen color monitors, an on-board lavatory, and overhead storage racks. Safety features include antilock       • Business
                                                                                                                •          VISA® credit
                                                                                                                  SBA-guaranteed          cardloans
                                                                                                                                     business   options
                                                                                                                • Business VISA® credit card options
brakes, automatic traction control, GPS tracking, three-point seatbelts for each passenger, and an engine       • SBA-guaranteed
                                                                                                                •                    business loans
                                                                                                                  Treasury management/ACH
fire-suppression system.                                                                                        • SBA-guaranteed business loans
                                                                                                                • Treasury
                                                                                                                • Businessmanagement/ACH
                                                                                                                           lines of credit
                                                                                                                • Treasury management/ACH
Two “Million Mile Safe Drivers” Honored                                                                         • Business lines of credit
                                                                                                                Whether
                                                                                                                •       you’re
                                                                                                                  Business linesa of
                                                                                                                                  budding
                                                                                                                                     credit entrepreneur
Besides group charters, Indian Trails operates daily scheduled runs throughout Michigan and into Chicago,       or a generations-old
                                                                                                                Whether              shop, entrepreneur
                                                                                                                         you’re a budding   CASE Credit
Duluth and Milwaukee. The two drivers who most recently earned its “Million Mile Safe Driving Award”            Whether
                                                                                                                Union    you’re a budding
                                                                                                                       has a businessshop,  entrepreneur
                                                                                                                                       solution for Credit
                                                                                                                                                    you.
                                                                                                                or a generations-old        CASE
— Mike Pelto and Bill Wilson — provide scheduled route service in the Upper Peninsula. They join 27             or a generations-old shop, CASE Credit
                                                                                                                Union
                                                                                                                Call   has a business
                                                                                                                     517.393.7710,     solution
                                                                                                                                    visit       for you.
                                                                                                                                          casecu.org
other elite drivers since 1989 who’ve been honored for going the distance without an avoidable accident.        Union  has a business  solution for you.
                                                                                                                or stop
                                                                                                                Call    into one ofvisit
                                                                                                                     517.393.7710,  our seven branch
                                                                                                                                         casecu.org
Pelto and Wilson both achieved their records in 10 years. Wilson’s route begins in St. Ignace and takes         Call 517.393.7710,
                                                                                                                locations for more visit casecu.org
                                                                                                                                    information.
                                                                                                                or stop into one of our seven branch
him to Milwaukee and back again with stops along the way. Pelto starts in Houghton-Hancock, and then            or stop into one of our seven branch
heads to Duluth and back.                                                                                       locations for more information.
                                                                                                                locations for more information.

“Driving through northern Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota presents risks that most drivers don’t face
 as often,” says Jeremy Rugenstein, Indian Trails Safety and Driver Education Manager. “Their routes are
 over 400 miles each way, typically in the dark. They must avoid wildlife of all sorts, and deal with longer,   Our service. Your success.
 harsher winters that bring snow, ice and high winds. So these are remarkable achievements.”                    Our service.
                                                                                                                Federally             Your success.
                                                                                                                          Insured by NCUA
                                                                                                                Our service.          Your success.
                                                                                                                Equal Opportunity Lender
                                                                                                                Federally Insured by NCUA   casecu.org
For perspective, one million miles equates to 40 trips around the Earth.                                        Federally Insured by NCUA
                                                                                                                Equal Opportunity  Lender   casecu.org
                                                                                                                Equal Opportunity Lender    casecu.org
To learn more about Indian Trails, visit indiantrails.com. n

6   FOCUS / JUNE 2018
MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY CELEBRATES GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY
MEMBER NEWS

Work
safer,
smarter,
together.
5%
Up-front savings on
workers’ compensation
                                         Design-Build and Consultant Teams
premiums and potential
to earn a dividend.
                                         Announced for McLaren’s New
As a member of the Lansing Regional
                                         Hospital Project
Chamber of Commerce, you can take
advantage of savings on premiums,
                                         COMMUNITY INPUT SURVEY STARTING SOON
loss prevention tools, convenient
                                         A JOINT VENTURE between Lansing-based The Christman Company and Southfield-based Barton Malow
billing options, the potential to earn
                                         will be the construction managers of McLaren Greater Lansing’s new hospital adjacent to Michigan State
dividends, and more. So join us          University. Detroit-based Harley Ellis Devereaux and the Chicago office of CallisonRTKL will be the
and see how we make workers’             architects of the acute care hospital, officials announced recently.
compensation work for you.
                                         “McLaren is honored to be working with such a talented team to create a hospital that exceeds the expectations
                                          of clinicians and staff, improves safety, and transforms health care for patients and their families,” said
                                          Daniel Medrano, Vice President of Facility Management for McLaren Health Care, a native and resident
                                          of Lansing. “By combining the talent of companies in Lansing and throughout Michigan with national
                                          expertise, we have assembled a unique team to design and build the health care campus that will care for our
                                          community for generations to come.”

                                         McLaren Greater Lansing is also working with the following Michigan-based companies on the new
                                         hospital project:

                                         •    Kramer Management Group (Lansing, Michigan) is providing program management services as an
                                              extension of the hospital.
                                         •    Pace Howe Design (Lansing, Michigan) is serving as a consultant to the hospital to guide the selection
                                              and design of interior finishes. PHD will also be leading the furniture and artwork planning, selection
FIND AN AGENT NEAR YOU.                       process and installation.
                                         •    C2AE (Lansing, Michigan) is providing civil engineering consulting services to the hospital related to
AccidentFund.com/Groups                       offsite infrastructure.
                                         •    PEA (Troy, Michigan) is providing the civil engineer design services for the new development site.
                                         •    Thermal Tech (Richland, Michigan) is providing consulting and commissioning services related to the
                                              oversight of the mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems on the project.
                                         •    IMEG (Wixom, Michigan) is providing consulting and coordination services related to medical
                                              equipment planning and technology planning for the project.

                                         McLaren launched a community input survey in May to gather feedback on the hospital’s design, the health
                                         care delivery process, and offer an opportunity to make suggestions about the project. n

                                                                                                                              LANSINGCHAMBER.ORG 7
MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY CELEBRATES GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY
FOCUS ON TALENT

2018 Leadership Lansing graduates, front row left to right: Barb Whitney (Lansing Art Gallery), Anna Bates (Two Men & A Truck), Sarah Ferguson (McLaren Greater Lansing), Amy Hanson (Independent Bank), Lyndsay Torres (Michigan.com), Michelle Massey
(Dewpoint), Allison Lowe (First National Bank of America), Sue Webster (Michigan State University), Jill Rinckey (Techsmith), Megan Wills (Sparrow), Cindy LaFountain (Sparrow), Erin Davis (General Motors), Eric Waggoner (Waggoner Group Inc), Justin
Sheehan (Lansing Promise). Second row: Mark Pawlowski (On Target Living), Justin Huan (Lake Trust Credit Union), Chris Harkins (Jackson), Robert Johnson (MSUFCU), Mike Nelson (Farm Bureau Insurance of Michigan), Joe D’Alessandro (FD Hayes Electric),
Teresa Vicary (McLaren Greater Lansing), Erin Carter (Michigan State University), Josh Irving (Lansing Board if Water and Light) and Kyle Schafer (Maner Costerisan). Back row: J. P. Buckingham (Triterra), Mike Maurer (AF Group), Brice Blossom (Thrivent),
Patrick Harrison (Dean Transportation), Grant Snyder (Eaton Federal Savings Bank), Ryan Larson (LAFCU), Sean McHugh (Granger Waste Management Services), Mic Shupe (LAFCU), Michelle Reynaert (Sparrow Foundation), Eric Musser (Auto-Owners), and Eric
Dimoff (Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce). Missing: Juan Loaiza (AJ Boggs), Emily McElmurry (Peckham), Jason Ballah (Peckham), Nicole Perry (Dart Bank), Matt Bozung (Granger Construction) and Tim Mielak (MSUFCU).

Leadership Lansing Celebrates Graduation of 2018 Cohort
THE 42 OUTSTANDING LEADERS that participated in the 2017-18 Leadership                                                              In the final workshop for this year’s cohort, participants spent time working on a
Lansing have completed the seven-month program following graduation                                                                 personal vision for their future. The group also discussed ways in which graduates
ceremonies held in May at the Gannon Conference Center at Lansing                                                                   from this year’s program can work together with other Leadership Lansing
Community College. Participants in this year’s cohort become part of a growing                                                      alumni to achieve great things in the region.
Leadership Lansing alumni base, which after just three years totals 114 leaders
from the Greater Lansing region.                                                                                                    WLNS-TV news anchor Sheri Jones served as the graduation speaker. The
                                                                                                                                    award-winning journalist and community advocate challenged the Leadership
The Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce created Leadership Lansing as                                                              Lansing cohort to find their own passion and use that passion to serve the
a talent initiative designed to equip the next generation of community leaders                                                      greater community.
in the region. Participants enjoyed seven training days from October 2017 to
May 2018, in which they were exposed to key institutions, leaders and issues of                                                     The 2018-19 Leadership Lansing cohort will commence in October 2018. The
importance in the region.                                                                                                           Chamber expects to open enrollment for the program in June. n

8    FOCUS / JUNE 2018
MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY CELEBRATES GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY
Congratulations Leadership Lansing Class of 2018!

SEAN MCHUGH               ANNA BATES                  CHRIS HARKINS              ERIC MUSSER                 ERIN DAVIS                  MIKE MAURER               MIKE NELSON             PATRICK HARRISON
Granger                   Two Men and A Truck         Jackson National           Auto-Owners                 General Motors              Accident Fund/AF Group    Farm Bureau             Dean Transportation

ROBERT JOHNSON            SUCHITRA WEBSTER            ERIC DIMOFF                AMY HANSON                  CINDY LAFOUNTAIN            DAYANA ALFONSO            GRANT SNYDER            JUAN LOAIZA
MSUFCU                    Michigan State University   Lansing Regional Chamber   Independent Bank            Sparrow Health System       Lake Trust Credit Union   Eaton Federal Savings   AJ Boggs

JUSTIN HAUN               MEGAN WILLS                 BARB WHITNEY               BRICE BLOSSOM               EMILY MCELMURRY             JASON BALLAH              JOE D’ALESSANDRO        J.P. BUCKINGHAM
Lake Trust Credit Union   Sparrow                     Lansing Art Gallery        Thrivent                    Peckham                     Peckham                   FD Hayes Electric       Triterra

JUSTIN SHEEHAN            KYLE SCHAFER                LYNDSAY TORRES             MARK PAWLOWSKI              MATT BOZUNG                 MICHELLE MASSEY           MICHELLE REYNAERT       NICOLE PERRY
Lansing Promise           Maner Costerisan            Michigan.com               On Target Living            Granger Construction        Dewpoint                  Sparrow Foundation      Dart Bank

SARAH FERGUSON            TERESA VICARY               TIM MIELAK                 ERIN CARTER                 ALLISON LOWE                ERIC WAGGONER             RYAN LARSON             JOSH IRVING
McLaren                   McLaren                     MSUFCU                     Michigan State University   First National Bank of MI   Waggoner Group Inc.       LAFCU                   LBWL

                                                                     Interested in participating in the 2018-2019 Leadership
                                                                      Lansing program? Applications are available online at
                                                                                        lansingchamber.org.
MICHAEL SHUPE             JILL RINCKEY
LAFCU                     Techsmith

                                                                                                                                                                                     LANSINGCHAMBER.ORG 9
MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY CELEBRATES GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY
FOCUS ON TALENT

Personal Coaching: The New Competitive Edge in Business
BY JOHN M. COLLINS, CRITICAL VICTORIES
AS AN EXECUTIVE-LEVEL ADMINISTRATOR in a high-
stakes, high-pressure occupation, I spent a lot of money
sending employees to training workshops and seminars.
I’m glad I did. But if I could do it all over again, I’d
take just 20 percent of that money and spend it on
professional coaching. Had I known about the value
of coaching 15 years ago, I could have dramatically
accelerated the growth and maturity of my teams.
                                                           John Collins
Personal effectiveness is the foundation of all professional
success. Unfortunately, we live and work in an impatient world saturated
with information that enables young employees to master their professional
competencies far faster than they can master their personal selves. And
when promoted into their first managerial positions, the responsibilities
thrust upon them rarely come with the kind of personalized mentoring that
is so vital to the development of new leaders.
                                                                               Simply put, coaching helps people become better. Better people produce
Personal coaching, however, has now emerged as the great competitive           better results.
advantage in modern business. Why? Because coaching teaches people how
to master the single-most important resource in their professional lives –     You might say that coaching is continuing education on steroids, where the
themselves. In my experience, people who work with a professional coach        client is both the student and the primary topic of discussion. But more
become clearer thinkers, better communicators, stronger advocates for their    importantly, coaching holds clients accountable for taking the steps and
teams, more patient and approachable, and more encouraging as leaders.         making the decisions that are necessary to grow. To the extent that all of us
These gains translate into elevated business performance.                      struggle at times to hold ourselves accountable, quality coaches provide us
                                                                               an opportunity to get out of our own way, allowing us to enjoy impressive
In recent years, studies have estimated the return on investment from          degrees of success and satisfaction much sooner than we might by trying to
coaching, which have largely validated its use for the improvement of          go it alone.
business competitiveness.

In 2001, for example, a case-study was published by MetrixGlobal, LLC          John M. Collins is a leadership consultant and executive coach at Critical Victories
on the ROI for executive coaching, which is the coaching of clients for        (www.criticalvictories.com), specializing in the development of people, teams, and
the development of higher-level administrative skills. According to the        organizations in high-stakes, high-pressure industries. Based near Lansing, Michigan,
report, coaching produced an ROI of approximately 529 percent. But when        John holds a master’s degree in organizational management and is formally certified
the financial benefits of higher employee retention were included in the       as a senior HR professional by the Society for Human Resource Management. John
calculation, the ROI increased to an amazing 788 percent.                      can be reached at 517-803-4063 or john@criticalvictories.com. n

                                                                          What’s your plan?
                                                                          BRAND FORWARD WITH PUBLIC RELATIONS

                                                                              • Gain awareness through earned media
                                                                              • Stay top of mind with your target audience
                                                                              • Manage your reputation

                   group                                                                  517.203.3333
                                                                                        www.m3group.biz

10   FOCUS / JUNE 2018
FOCUS ON TALENT

Talent Development Means Learning New Behaviors
BY MATTHEW D. ANDERSON, ENGAGED EDUCATION
THERE I WAS, SITTING AT MY COMPUTER one evening, looking for training                                      Twelve weeks later, after learning about self-confidence and how to
on how to deal with the difficult employee I was contemplating firing.                                     make others feel confident in my presence, to appreciate and work well
After a decade of managing restaurants with an iron fist, I had earned the                                 with other people, to communicate concisely and to drive action, to be
nickname, “The Hammer,” and a reputation for being a jerk with little                                      a true leader for myself and those around me, and how to control my
patience. I was in a new role, and after a few months, I’d decided that                                    attitude while dealing with stressful situations - I realized that my biggest
my top sales person had an attitude that I wasn’t willing to work with                                     challenge was that I needed to communicate with others differently. I
any longer. Firing him would have been seriously painful to the business                                   was too focused on results and not enough on the human being that I
and our goals, though. After a lot of thought, I decided to try and figure                                 was using to achieve those results. I was hurting people by not treating
out if I was the problem – if I was just too quick to fire people instead of    Matthew Anderson           them like individuals with feelings. Learning this about myself helped me
developing them.                                                                                           to change directions entirely and to go from being “The Hammer” that
                                                                                               people feared, to the leader that people now seek for guidance and counsel.
With a quick search, I discovered the Dale Carnegie Course. I had heard of it before
but knew nothing of it. After seeing that people like Warren Buffet, Emeril Lagasse,           If my story sounds like you or someone on your team, I challenge you to have them
CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta were all graduates of the program, I decided to dig in a bit            participate in the Lansing Regional Chamber’s partnership with Dale Carnegie
deeper. I learned that the course was designed to help people to be more successful            this  fall! Send that person to the only program that teaches them how to live
and live the life they want to live. I was also drawn to the fact that two of the main         an  intentional   life and the change it will make in their behavior will deliver you
tenets were focused on leadership and communication. These stuck out to me as                  incredible   outcomes!
areas I might benefit from growing.

I went to the owner of the company the next day and said, “I think I need to learn            Matthew D. Anderson is a Dale Carnegie Course Instructor and Chief Brand Officer for
how to work differently with this person on my team. I’d like you to send me to               Engaged Education. n
this course.” He was so surprised that I was willing to learn new tools to be better at
working with others that he didn’t even think twice about sending me!

  Creating College and Career Opportunities for Students
  CREATING A CAREER AND COLLEGE-ATTENDING                                                                                  To create this culture, the college adviser, Mary
  CULTURE in high schools is an idea that is well                                                                          Wilson, has introduced initiatives and programs
  understood in Michigan. For students attending high                                                                      into the school. Students have visited Lansing
  school in a traditional school setting, the experience                                                                   Community College, Downtown and West Campus
  is expected. Post-secondary education is the logical                                                                     and Douglas J Academy to learn about college
  and anticipated next step for the majority of students.                                                                  academics and specific programming. Also, students
  That culture and vision has not always been as strong                                                                    are required to take a career readiness course in which
  in alternative education settings. Relevant Academy                                                                      they build a resume, participate in mock interviews
  of Eaton County set out to change that when the                                                                          and job shadows in their career choice and present
  Academy opened its doors in 2011. The Academy                                                                            to a panel their findings at the end of their course.
  was designed around the belief that all people are                                                                       These activities allow students to engage in their
  natural learners. In fact, the Academy’s mission                                                                         success transitioning from high school to their future
  includes the phrase: WE BELIEVE that all people                                                                          endeavors.
  are natural learners, redefining school will redefine attitudes, and with enough
  support, all types of learners can achieve their goals. Students who choose                 Relevant Academy is committed to making sure every student has the opportunity
  Relevant Academy are students who may not have found success in a traditional               and resources to pursue a post-secondary education or be provided guidance
  setting. Some students have adult responsibilities such as jobs, their own homes,           in entering the workforce, especially during the application and financial aid
  or children. Some students have enjoyed high school but are interested in an                processes. Moving forward, Relevant Academy plans to continue to work on
  accelerated path to a diploma. Some students prefer a blended on-campus and                 Educational Development Plans to help guide students in making decisions that
  online experience where they are included in decisions regarding coursework and             will help them be successful members of their community.
  pacing and where they are free to be themselves while pursuing their education.

  Relevant Academy has made a commitment to create a career and college-                      Eaton Regional Education Service Agency serves as the fiscal agent for Relevant
  going culture within the school. The Academy has made it a goal that juniors                Academy. Relevant Academy supports high school students in completing their high
  and seniors currently make plans to attend a university, community college, or              school diploma and transitioning to the work-force or post-secondary opportunities.
  credential-bearing program or invest time in researching careers.                           Jen Varney is the Executive Director of Relevant Academy. n

                                                                                                                                                          LANSINGCHAMBER.ORG 11
MIS CELEBRATES
                                                                       GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY

N      estled on 1,400 acres in the beautiful Irish Hills in southeastern Michigan,
       Michigan International Speedway (MIS) sits as one of Michigan’s
       landmark destinations. 2018 marks the 50th anniversary of MIS, which
is not only one of the racing world’s most popular venues, but also the site of
numerous events year-round.
                                                                                      During Penske’s ownership, the grandstands were expanded from 25,000 to more
                                                                                      than 125,000 seats, and numerous buildings were added to the property, including
                                                                                      three garages, 28 pit terrace suites, an administration building, two ticket offices,
                                                                                      a maintenance building, a warehouse, a sign shop, an entertainment shop, a
                                                                                      Competition Tire building, and a Motorsports International building.

The economic impact of MIS is felt well beyond the southern Michigan region           In July of 1999, Penske Motorsports, Inc. was purchased by the country’s leader
in which is sits. A recent study conducted by the University of Michigan found        of motorsports entertainment – International Speedway Corp (ISC). ISC was
that MIS created a $414 million economic impact in the state. The study also          founded by another visionary – Bill France – who built the world-famous Daytona
found that MIS pays $2.4 million in local property taxes and more than $83            International Speedway and founded NASCAR, the country’s most popular
million in state sales and use taxes. The total economic footprint of MIS produces    racing series. ISC now owns 12 different motorsports venues, including former
$226.6 million in earnings and 5,413 jobs. Approximately 400,000 people visit         Penske speedways in addition to Daytona International Speedway, Talladega
MIS annually, more than half of whom are from outside of Michigan. The track          Superspeedway, Darlington Speedway, Homestead-Miami Speedway, Richmond
employs 40-50 full time team members and have as many as 2,500 to 3,000               International Raceway, Watkins Glen, Phoenix International Raceway, Martinsville
people working during a race weekend.                                                 Speedway, Kansas Speedway and Chicagoland Speedway. The vision and impact of
                                                                                      LoPatin, Penske and France are evident in what MIS has become today.

A History of Vision in Leadership------------------------------------------           “Over 50 years a lot has changed. Everybody involved along the way has had a
                                                                                       tremendous impact,” said Rick Brenner, president, Michigan International
Like any successful venture, the history of MIS is filled with tales of visionary      Speedway. “Three folks had different visions at different times. It has become a
leaders. The early years were filled with challenges, but successes began to take      fabulous success and a great contributor to Michigan and the economy.”
root quickly.

Groundbreaking took place on September 27, 1967. Over 2.5 million yards of            A Premier NASCAR Facility----------------------------------------------------
dirt were moved to form the D-shaped oval designed by Charles Moneypenny,
who previously designed the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway.                                    Today, Michigan International Speedway is considered one of
                                                                                                        the country’s premier racing facilities, a favorite for millions of
The prime mover in the venture was Lawrence H. LoPatin, a Detroit-area land                             NASCAR fans and for drivers who travel the NASCAR circuit.
developer who built the speedway at an estimated cost of $4-6 million. LoPatin
has been called a visionary and a man well ahead of his time. In an era well                           “We have the fastest track in NASCAR and the best drivers in the
before motorsports became part of mainstream America, he dreamed of owning                              world here,” said Brenner. “The fans enjoy that as well.”
speedways in Michigan, Georgia, Texas, California and New Jersey - all hot
spots for speedways today. LoPatin selected the land MIS sits on today for its        Brenner            Cale Yarborough won the first NASCAR race at the speedway
proximity not only to Detroit, the Motor City Capital of the World, but to                               on June 15, 1969, in a thrilling duel with LeeRoy Yarbrough.
Chicago, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Canada and the entire Midwest.                      The two drivers battled door-to-door for most of the final 150 laps. On their final
                                                                                      circuit, they touched twice-entering turn one, with Yarbrough brushing the outside
In 1973 – when the oil crisis and rising gas prices threatened all of racing –        wall. They then drafted down the back straight, and through turn three. But while
Roger Penske envisioned turning MIS into a premier motorsports facility. After        coming out of the final turn, LeeRoy Yarbrough spun and crashed just 300 yards
purchasing the deed to the speedway off the Lenawee County courthouse steps           from the finish line, handing the victory to Cale Yarborough.
for an estimated $2 million, Penske went right to work to improve MIS to his
standards. He invested millions of dollars on one capital improvement project         Since then, MIS has hosted a number of historic races and many legendary
after another with a goal of making Michigan International Speedway one of            drivers. Richard Petty, Mark Donohue, A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, Parnelli Jones,
the best speedways in the world.                                                      Gordon Johncock, Emerson Fittipaldi, Al Unser, Bobby Allison, Buddy Baker,
12   FOCUS / JUNE 2018
Neil Bonnett, David Pearson, Davey Allison, Rick Mears, Dale Earnhardt, Buddy         Fans can enjoy free concerts on Saturday night of race week, go to church on Sunday,
Rice, Alex Zanardi and Jeff Gordon all have celebrated wins in Victory Circle at      bingo or a movie night, bus trips into the local communities and more. This year,
Michigan International Speedway. MIS has honored these drivers and all of its past    MIS has introduced a new food court and bar area plus live entertainment in the
champions in the Walk of Champions area in the AAA Motorsports Fan Plaza.             fan plaza.

NASCAR fans will flock to MIS once again this year for two great weekends of          “We will facilitate an all-night spring break party on one night and in another
racing in 2018, June 8-10 and August 10-12. The first Monster Energy NASCAR            campground, we’ll have a family movie night,” said Brenner. “There are a lot of
Cup Series race weekend is June 8-10. The FireKeepers Casino 400 will be on            different things going on and there is really something for everybody.”
June 10. The ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards will start the weekend
with the ZOMONGO 200 on June 8 and the NASCAR XFINITY Series LTi
Printing 250 will be on June 9.                                                       MIS Cares: Making an Impact in the Community----------------
During August 10-12 the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series will return to the           MIS and its sister company Americrown combined to donate a total of $907,587 to
NASCAR’s fastest track. Monster Energy Series practice and qualifying will be on      local service groups and organizations through cash donations, in-kind donations,
August 10 and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series LTi Printing 200 is               work programs, grants and sponsorships, as well as tickets and merchandise that
scheduled for August 11. The Consumers Energy 400 will wrap up the NASCAR             clubs raffled to raise money in 2017. MIS Cares’ mission is to assist and inspire
racing season at MIS on August 12.                                                    youth within our community.

Brenner attributes the                                                                “Everybody understands how important our youth are to the future,” said Brenner.
popularity of the track, in       “You also can’t ignore the spirit                   “It is important for corporate citizens like us to find ways to give back to the region.”
part to the location, in
close proximity to the              of Michiganders in supporting                     MIS Cares established a scholarship program a few years ago. The scholarships are
population rich southeast         their own and the great pride the                   part of an ongoing initiative to promote learning among students at all educational
Michigan market.
                                    area has in this facility. What                   levels by MIS Cares and Michigan International Speedway. The scholarship was
                                                                                      open to any graduating senior in Jackson or Lenawee County who is entering a
“You also can’t ignore the           MIS brings to the state and                      STEAM-related (science, technology, engineering, art, mathematics) field at
 spirit of Michiganders in
 supporting their own and
                                 surrounding communities has a lot                    a college, university or trade school in Michigan. Thanks to support from the
                                                                                      community, MIS Cares has been able to award $49,000 in scholarships to local
 the great pride the area has      to do with the overall success.”                   high school students in the first four years of the program.
 in this facility,” said Brenner.
“What MIS brings to the                                                               “In addition to the financial contributions we continue to look for ways to use this
 state and surrounding communities has a lot to do with the overall success.”          facility year around in ways that benefit the community,” said Brenner. “Local police
                                                                                       departments use the track for training purposes. We host the state cross country
                                                                                       championships every year. These are just a few of the things that are an important
The MIS Race Week Experience is a Family Affair---------------                         part of our company culture and to everyone here.”

For racing fans, NASCAR and the MIS experience is much more than the race itself.
Hundreds of thousands of fans eagerly decide to spend some of their vacation time     Celebrating the 50th--------------------------------------------------------------
coming to the track days in advance of the race. MIS features nine campgrounds
and 9,000 individual camping sites. Racing week is a family affair with virtually     Michigan International Speedway is partnering with
non-stop activities.                                                                  Consumers Energy to recognize its 50th anniversary
                                                                                      with a celebration of events and activities throughout
“We have world-class entertainment throughout the week,” said Brenner. “The           the racing season. The track has created a special car
 race is the marquee event, but there is so much more. There are generations of       and memorabilia display that features the history of
 folks for which this is their vacation in the summertime. Folks can enjoy the lush   racing at MIS for fans to enjoy both race weekends
 Irish Hills and the beautiful lakes combined with the opportunity for people to      in the New Holland Fan Plaza. Throughout the
 come out and enjoy a week’s worth of entertainment capped off with one of best       season, the track will feature all the great drivers and
 races in the world.”                                                                 moments on its social media channels and website.
                                                                                                                                                 LANSINGCHAMBER.ORG 13
MIS CELEBRATES GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY
Michigan International Speedway will host the inaugural MIS Charity Dinner
presented by Consumers Energy on June 9. Fans will enjoy a night of entertainment
in the track’s 50 Years of Racing Exhibit presented by Consumers Energy in the
fan plaza.

The event, a first of its kind will feature a strolling dinner, dessert and drink stations,
live and silent auctions, music, a photo booth and much more. It will take place
during the FireKeepers Casino 400 weekend allowing fans to watch nonstop racing
on track with the LTi Printing 250 and a unique racing experience that evening.

“We’re proud to celebrate 50 years of MIS, not only powering a terrific fan
 experience but supporting this special anniversary Charity weekend,” said Brian
 Rich, Consumers Energy’s senior vice president of customer experience. “As a
 company with roots that reach back 130 years, Consumers Energy appreciates the
 important role that MIS has in enriching Michigan, and we are privileged to be
 part of this inaugural event that showcases MIS’s special brand of fun while helping
 two great charitable causes.”

Taking the Vision Forward------------------------------------------------------
Sports fans have many options on how to spend their discretionary dollars, which
will be a challenge for all sports and entertainment venues like MIS in the future.
Fans have many more choices than ever plus the added benefit of watching premier              “That’s the whole facility and not just the race track,” said Brenner. “We have to
events on big screen televisions with theater quality sound in the comfort of their            continue to find ways to have a positive impact on the region and the state and
family rooms.                                                                                  continue to find ways to use what we have here for the betterment of Michigan.”

Brenner feels that the ticket to success at MIS going forward will be to continue to          More information of Michigan International Speedway and its 2018 event schedule
look for ways to leverage the asset they have as a year around facility.                      can be found at mispeedway.com. n

              When my business burned down, my
              employees depended on me. Auto-Owners
                                                                                                              For whatever lies ahead,
              and my agent got us up and running... fast.                                                       we’re always there.
              – Steve Schroder, Business Owner

                                                                                                                  LANSING • 517.321.4600
                                                                                                                www.DavidChapmanAgency.com

14   FOCUS / JUNE 2018
VOICE OF BUSINESS

Ingham County Voters Asked to
Fund New Millage
THE INGHAM COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS approved a new millage that will be placed on the August 7th
ballot for Ingham County voters to support or oppose a new Ingham County jail, including new administrative
offices and district court facilities. The millage rate would be 0.85 mills for 20 years ($6.2 million per year),
which will raise $70 million. In addition, a percentage of the tax will go to fund treatment for addiction and
mental health.

The Chamber’s Policy Committee has been proactive on better
understanding the need to ask voters for additional funding to for a new         WHAT IS A MILLAGE?
                                                                                                                         LRC-PAC Ready
jail complex. In April, the Policy Committee took a tour of the Ingham
County jail facilities and was provided a presentation on the plan to            A rate (as of taxation)
build a new jail. Currently, Ingham County has nine special millages that        expressed in mills per
are levied on property owners, on top of the operational millage, which
collect more than $24 million.
                                                                                 dollar.
                                                                                                                            for 2018
Why does the Chamber care about this issue?
                                                                                                                       THE LANSING REGIONAL CHAMBER-PAC (LRC-
Ingham County ranks in the top five most taxed counties in Michigan – number one to be exact. It’s important           PAC) is the political advocacy arm of the
that our region continues to be competitive and affordable for both businesses and residents to locate, grow and       Chamber and it’s members. The mission is to
thrive. In addition, with less money coming from the state to local municipalities, it’s imperative that our elected   elect candidates for local and state office that
officials prioritize spending on areas of the greatest need such as aging infrastructure and fixing roads. n           align with the business community’s priorities.
                                                                                                                       Those priorities are simple – create a tax and
                                                                                                                       regulatory environment that lets economic
                                                                                                                       development, business expansion and job
                                                                                                                       growth happen.

                                                                                                                       To make a secure and smart contribution to the
                                                                                                                       LRC-PAC efforts, visit lansingchamber.org/
                                                                                                                       donations or mail your contribution to: LRC-
                                                                                                                       PAC 500 E. Michigan Avenue Suite 200 Lansing,
                                                                                                                       MI 48912.

                                                                                                                       Please note: No member dues are used
                                                                                                                       whatsoever for political purposes. All LRC-
                                                                                                                       PAC funding is raised from Chamber members
                                                                                                                       who give voluntarily. n

                                                                                                                          WHAT’S ON THE BALLOT
                                                                                                                          THIS NOVEMBER?
   Senator Gary Peters Meets With                                                                                        n        Governor

   Chamber Members on Regulatory                                                                                         n
                                                                                                                         n
                                                                                                                                  U.S. Senate
                                                                                                                                  Congress
   Relief                                                                                                                n        State House
   U.S. SENATOR GARY PETERS met with Chamber members, local community banks and credit unions to
   discuss the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief & Consumer Protection Act. The legislation provides
                                                                                                                         n        State Senate
   targeted and much needed regulatory relief, specifically for community banks and credit unions that                   n        Clinton, Eaton and Ingham
   are a significant source of capital in rural and underserved communities, helping businesses start and                         County Board of
   grow, enabling farmers to get loans, and supporting families as they achieve the American dream of                             Commissioners
   homeownership. n

                                                                                                                                              LANSINGCHAMBER.ORG 15
#LOVELANSING

The GLCVB Wants You to #LoveLansing
BY BRENDAN DWYER
THE GLCVB ORIGINALLY INVESTED in the Greater                                                                     President and CEO of the GLCVB. “Fortunately,
Lansing community over 50 years ago when it became                                                               the GLCVB offers numerous ways to get behind
the leading voice for marketing the Capital Region as                                                            this infectious positivity and show love for Lansing in
a destination for visitors. Over that time, significant                                                          ways that inspire others.”
progress has been made. Not only have GLCVB staff
numbers risen from three to almost 30 but the visitation                                                         Want to become a part of the momentum? Take
numbers to the community have shown measurable                                                                   our four-hour class and become a Greater Lansing
growth – setting a record in 2017 to be exact.                                                                   Certified Tourism Ambassador. Do you have an
                                                                                                                 idea for a meeting or event that could be held in the
Each year the Greater Lansing region welcomes over                                                               Capital City? Work with the GLCVB to bring it to
4.8 million visitors to the community for everything                                                             town and be recognized as a Community Champion.
from conferences and conventions to festivals, fairs and                                                         Are you part of a local business that serves visitors like
sports tournaments. When these visitors come into the                                                            a restaurant, gallery, boutique or brewery? Become
community we call home, they leave behind over $600                                                              a member of the GLCVB and let us promote your
million in the cash registers of local businesses. Across                                                        business to the millions of visitors that make our
the board Greater Lansing businesses benefit vastly                                                              hometown their home away from home every year.
from visitor spending. For that reason, the GLCVB is asking the community to
take part in this important opportunity for positive collaboration.                   Love Lansing like a local and be sure to use the hashtag “#lovelansing” to support
                                                                                      the campaign. To learn more or to view the new “Love Lansing Like a Local” TV
“As the GLCVB’s mission is to attract visitors from outside of the region,            spot visit lansing.org/things-to-do/lovelansing.
 historically we focus the bulk of our advertising dollars outside of mid-Michigan.
 However, with our new vision statement and 30 second leisure ad, we wanted
 residents to see what we were doing, take pride in the message we’re spreading       Brendan Dwyer is the Manager of Marketing and Communications at the Greater
 and hopefully encourage locals to become a part of it,” said Jack Schripsema,        Lansing Michigan Convention & Visitors Bureau. n

16   FOCUS / JUNE 2018
#LOVELANSING

                                                               Lansing Promise Student
                                                               Scholars Honored
Welcome Home.                                                  IN FOUR YEARS, THE LANSING PROMISE has
                                                               awarded 750 scholarships to Lansing students.
                                                               Many of those recipients were recognized as
                                                               part of the fourth annual Lansing Promise
                                                               Dinner, attended by nearly 1,000 people at
                                                               the Breslin Center in April. The event raised
                                                               money for the Lansing Promise, a scholarship
                                                               that helps Lansing graduates take up to
                                                               65 credits at Lansing Community College
                                                               for free or receive the equivalent in fees and
                                                               tuition to attend Michigan State University or
                                                               Olivet College.
Arrive in style with Dean Black Car.
                                                               The Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce has been actively involved in sponsoring
Dean Black Car provides a safe, professional and comfortable   the Lansing Promise Dinner in each of its four years. Many in the audience at this
                                                               year’s event were business leaders that understand the ability to develop and retain
environment to get you and your team where you need to go.
                                                               great talent in the region is paramount to being able to fill jobs that will be available
                                                               in the coming years.
Whether traveling from the airport or to a special event,
Dean Black Car can take you there.                             “As leaders in the community, our members understand the importance of preparing
                                                                our young people to be the workforce of tomorrow,” said Tim Daman, LRCC
Call today or visit us online to book your next trip.           president and CEO. “The education that Lansing students receive as a result of the
                                                                Lansing Promise scholarship will provide the next generation of talent our employers
                                                                need to effectively compete in the global economy.”

                                                               Lansing Promise is helping fulfil the dream of a college education for many students
                                                               who might not otherwise have that opportunity, as evidenced during the inspirational
                                                               and emotional evening at the Breslin Center.

                                                               “The reality is when the community gets under one roof because they believe in a single
                                                                cause, which is success of Lansing by investment of its future talent, investment in its
                                                                kids…lives are changed,” said Justin Sheehan, Lansing Promise executive director.
deanblackcar.com | (800) 282-3326
                                                               To learn how you can make a difference by making a contribution to the Lansing
                                                               Promise, visit lansingpromise.org. n
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