Livonia’s Business Connection January/February

2017

It’s really simple when you look at it.

About one-third of future jobs will require a bachelor’s degree or more. About two-thirds of future jobs will require an associate’s degree or other training – mostly in a skilled or technical trade.

Yet, all our young people will have many school days this spring filled with the anxiety of standardized testing. Policy mandates that teachers focus their classrooms on these tests, as it plays a role in their performance evaluations.

The focus on these tests leave students feeling their life’s prospects hang on the results of these series of questions. University-bound students generally do well with testing, but what about the other students? For them, this process can be demoralizing.

This is one of the major disconnects here in Michigan between education and career preparedness.

The focus on standardized testing centers around college preparedness, yet only a minority of high school graduates will need a four-year degree in the workforce.

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder is looking at new ideas to boost student interest in skilled and technical trades. As part of his 2018 budget, he announced $20 million will be available for school districts to apply for funding for capital improvements to career-technical centers.

With this focus, he recently visited the William Ford Career-Technical Center in the Wayne-Westland School

District. This facility provides training for high school students aspiring to be welders, auto mechanics, heating and cooling technicians, computer technicians, fire-fighters, and other skilled fields. Many of these students are ready for the workforce upon high school graduation.

“These are great career opportunities,” Snyder said. “It is not just that they learning skills, they are also learning to work together as a team, and that is valuable as well.”

The center is source of pride for Superintendent Michele Harmala, but despite the necessity of this center, its future is never certain because of the flux in student enrollment which funds such programs. With so many core classes required for graduation – and such an emphasis on college preparedness – many students and their families may not recognize the opportunities in the skilled trades. Thus, enrollment and the finances to run the program can vary from year to year.

There are similar funding challenges with the Livonia Career Center, where students get training in programs such as auto repair, medical services, and construction.

NEED TO SHIFT FROM EDUCATION’S “CONVENTIONAL WISDOM”

INSIDE Upcoming Events................2 New Chamber Members.......3 Ribbon Cuttings..................4 Renewals...........................5

Young Inventors Showcase..8 Leadership & Awards.........10 Amazon Comes to Livonia..12 Ambassador Briefs............15

CHAMBER OFFERS THREE

BIG EVENTS IN MARCH

March is filled with three great events and opportunities for chamber members!

First, Attorney General Bill Schuette will be speaking at a lunch on Monday, March 6 at the I t a l i a n A m er i c a n C l u b . Sponsored by RFT Search Group and Beaumont Health, Schuette is expected to run for governor in 2018, but he has yet t o m a k e a n o f f i c i a l announcement.

Sponsored by AlphaUSA, St. Mary Mercy Livonia, Zeal Credit Union, Schoolcraft College & NYX, Inc, the annual Livonia State of the City Address will follow on Thursday, March 16 at Laurel Manor. This is one of the biggest events of the year with nearly 500 attending last year to hear Mayor Wright.

The 7th annual Livonia Home Show concludes the month on Saturday, March 25 at the Livonia Recreation Center. Presented by Masco Corp., the show is free admission to the public and exhibit spaces are still available.

Visit www.livonia.org for m o r e d e t a i l s o r e m a i l tahmouch.@livonia.org

Column continues on page 6.

Dan West, President/CEO

Career-technical education leaders from Livonia, Wayne-Westland, and Plymouth-Canton schools spoke at recent

I-275 Industrial Council meeting.

Chamber News

2017 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Chair DAN LAIBLE NYX, Inc.

Chair Elect PAUL BOHN Fausone Bohn

Treasurer CHARLES DARDAS AlphaUSA

BRENDA DURLING Schoolcraft College/VisTaTech Center

KAREN SANBORN Madonna University

2017 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

JEREMIAH C. BELTON PNC Bank

TERRY CROUSON The Growth Coach of West Metro Detroit

VANESSA DENHA-GARMO Denha Media Group

CHERYL DOELKER Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches

DENISE FAIR Henry Ford-Livonia Medical Center

CLAY HILLENBURG MASCO

JOHN HILTZ OHM Advisors

JAMISON JANDA Detroit Metro Airport Marriott

JOE MCCALLION Lis, McCallion, Raymor & Co., P.C.

JOHN MURPHY Commercial Lawnmower

ANDREA OQUIST Livonia Public Schools

DAVID SPIVEY St. Mary Mercy Livonia

MARK TAORMINA City of Livonia

BEN TISEO Tiseo Architects

KIMBERLY VAN VLIET Ford Motor Company

STAFF

DAN WEST President/CEO

DAWNNE TOPPA Vice President/CCO

DEBBIE FERENSIC Office Manager

LAURA TAHMOUCH Director of Marketing & Events

RACHEL FETTER Marketing Assistant

LIVONIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 33300 Five Mile Road, Suite 212

Livonia, MI 48154 734.427.2122

734.427.6055 (Fax) www.Livonia.org

Chamber News

NEW MEMBERS FOR DECEMBER 2016– JANUARY 2017

Congratulations to the following organizations for recently investing in the work of the Livonia Chamber of Commerce.

2

Upcoming Events

Login and register for events at www.livonia.org.

Need to setup your login or forgot your password? Email Toppa@livonia.org

Read more about the many things you can do logged in with the new website on page 9.

MARCH

Monday, March 6 Attorney General Luncheon Sponsored by Beaumont Health

and RFT Search Group Italian American Club Banquet Hall

(39200 W. Five Mile Road) 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. $28 per Member

Hear from Attorney General Bill

Schuette

Thursday, March 16

2017 Livonia State of the City Address Sponsored by AlphaUSA, St. Mary

Mercy Livonia, Zeal Credit Union, Schoolcraft College & NYX, Inc

Laurel Manor Banquet Center (39000 Schoolcraft Road) 11:30 a.m. -1:30 p.m.

$30 per Attendee Join Mayor Wright as he discusses

challenges and projects from 2016.

Saturday, March 25

Livonia Home Show Sponsored by Masco Corp.

Jack E. Kirksey Recreation Center (15100 Hubbard Road)

9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Free Admission & Parking

APRIL

Wednesday, April 19 Neighborly Networking Detroit Metro Airport Marriott

(30559 Flynn Drive, Romulus ) 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

$5 per Member Join us for some networking with the Dearborn Area, Westland,

Romulus and Southern Wayne

Regional chambers of commerce

SAVE THE DATE!

31st Annual Livonia Business Expo

Thursday, May 11

Business Breakfast Roundtable

Detroit Marriott Livonia

8:00 - 9:30 a.m.

Expo Hall Laurel Park Place Mall

10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Tastefully Livonia Detroit Marriott Livonia

5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

www.facebook.com/ LivoniaChamberofCommerce www.youtube.com/

TheLivoniaChamber

@djwest777 @livoniachamber

Chamber News Chamber News 3

Allstate Insurance Josh Shunk Agency

Category: Insurance Contact: Josh Shunk 34391 Plymouth Rd.

Livonia, MI 48150 734-425-2525

AMDG Financial Category: Financial Planning

Contact: Chris Carlson

218 S. Plymouth St. Plymouth, MI 48170

734-737-0866 www.amdgservices.com

Black Label Tavern Category: Restaurant Contact: Greg Marselis

34117 Plymouth Rd. Livonia, MI 48150

734-469-2400

www.blacklabeltavern.com

Burke Architectural Millwork

Category: Manufacturing Contact: Kelly Victor-Burke

30940 Industrial Rd.

Livonia, MI 48150 734-744-9492

www.burkearchitecturalmillwork.com

Dunkin Donuts

Category: Coffee Cafe

Contact: Vijay Patel 34899 Plymouth Rd. Livonia, MI 48150

248-761-5139

Exclusive Cleaning Services

Category: Cleaning– Residential and Commercial Services Contact: Deborah Crowley

28929 W. Seven Mile Rd. Livonia, MI 48152

248-888-7806 www.exclusivecleaningservices.com

Goodyear Category: Automobile

-Repair Shops Contact: Earl Sides

12661 Middlebelt Rd.

Livonia, MI 48150 248-476-0900

www.goodyear.com

Jeff Adair Coaching Category: Coaching

Contact: Jeff Adair 39111 Six Mile Rd, Suite 122

Livonia, MI 48152 734-591-1272

www.AdairCoaching.com

Leader Business Equipment

Category: Office Equipment

Contact: Steve Kohler 12760 Allen Rd. Taylor, MI 48152

734-287-3500 www.leaderbusines.com

Marriage Enrichment Center Category: Counseling

Contact: Dr. Steven Monaghan

37705 Pembroke Ave. Livonia, MI 48152

877-400-9335

www.MarriageEC.com

Maxima Salon

Category: Hair Salon Contact: Kelly Shea

32618 W. Seven Mile Road

Livonia, MI 48152 248-473-5720

Nauts McKinney & Garbarino, PLLC

Category: Attorney at Law

Contact: Dick Burke 38777 Six Mile Rd. Suite 101

Livonia, MI 48152

313-964-4500 tnmglaw.com

Pure Chiropractic Category: Chiropractors

Contact: John Thomas 34730 Plymouth Rd. Livonia, MI 48150

734-680-8661 www.gopurechiropractic.com

Regency Consulting, Inc. Category: Consultants

Contact: Althea Lockridge

25538 Schoolcraft Rd. Redford, MI 48239

313-333-4208

Republic Services

Category: Waste Services Contact: Carrie Macki

5400 Cogswell Rd.

Wayne, MI 48184 734-727-2128

www.RepublicServices.com

Simple Mortgage

Category: Mortgage Lender

Contact: Jason Morello 21898 Farmington Rd. Farmington, MI 48336

231-920-4541 www.jmorello.simplemortgage.cc

Statera Professional Services Category: Accounting-Bookkeepers

Contact: Erin Lowrey Ondercin

35439 Richland St. Livonia, MI 48150

313-600-5870

www.staterapro.com

Thunder Bay Resources

Category: Staffing Contact: Karl Carter

42201 E. Ann Arbor Rd.

Plymouth, MI 48170 734-259-4114

www.ThunderBayResources.com

WoW Business

Category: Telecommunications

Contact: Jason Tyler 26035 Northline Taylor, MI 48180

248-259-2331

NEW MEMBERS FOR DECEMBER 2016– JANUARY 2017

Congratulations to the following organizations for recently investing in the work of the Livonia Chamber of Commerce.

Chamber News 4

LIVONIALIVONIALIVONIA RIBBONRIBBONRIBBON CUTTINGSCUTTINGSCUTTINGS!!!

Consumers Energy celebrated their grand opening on December 1.

They are located at 11801 Farmington Road

Livonia, MI 48150.

www.consumersenergy.com

Premier Pet Supply celebrated their grand opening on December 9.

They are located at 15399 Merriman Road

Livonia, MI 48154.

www.premierpetsupply.com

Liberty Tax Service celebrated their grand opening on December 9.

They are located at 32013 Plymouth Road

Livonia, MI 48150.

www.libertytax.com

Zukin’s Rib Shack celebrated their grand opening on December 15.

They are located at 33897 Five Mile Road

Livonia, MI 48154.

www.zukinsribshack.com

Black Label Tavern celebrated their grand opening on January 13.

They are located at 34110 Plymouth Road

Livonia, MI 48150.

Dunkin’ Donuts celebrated their grand opening on January 27.

They are located at 34899 Plymouth Road

Livonia, MI 48154.

www.dunkindonuts.com

Chamber News 5 Chamber News

Thank you to the following organizations for continuing to invest in the Livonia Chamber.

RENEWALS DECEMBER 2016 - JANUARY 2017

A Wireless-Verizon Wireless

AAA Life Insurance Co.

AAA Michigan

Alta Equipment Company

Annie’s Family Restaurant and Bake Shop

Applied Process, Inc.

Arc of NW Wayne County

Bar Louie

Budget Blind of Livonia

Brookfield Academy

-Livonia Campus

Catholic Vantage Financial

Century Instrument Company

Coach’s Corner Bar & Grill

Commercial Lawnmower, Inc.

Concentra Medical Care

Conci Painting LLC

Consumers Energy Co.

Country Fresh

Cruz Clinic

Detroit Bagel Factory

Dumont Financial

Fausone Bohn, LLP

Flemings Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar

George Matick Chevrolet

George Murphy’s at the Creek

Gerry Weinberg & Associates

Graye Electrical Services, Inc.

HR Solutions Group/JVS

Independent

Financial Advisors, LLC.

Italian American

Banquet & Conference Center

Jimmy John’s

King Brothers Collision

Leda’s Coney Island

LegalShield

Livonia Civic Chorus

Livonia Community Foundation, Inc.

Livonia Goodfellows

Livonia Lions Club

Livonia PTSA Council

Livonia Self Storage

Mama Mia Restaurant

Mann’s Family Funeral Home

Mario A. Tomei, DDS P.C.

Marygrove Awning

MedPost Urgent Care

Metro Work Space

Midas

M.I. Slingers

Montessori

Center of Our Lady

Powers Building

Printwell, Inc.

Pure Chiropractic

Republic Services

RightWay Automotive Credit

Rosenbaum,

Rollins, & Olah, P.C.

Sleep Number

St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church

Suburban Door Company

Sunflower Productions

Technology Solutions

The Growth Coach

of West Metro Detroit

The Village of Redford

Time Saver, Inc.

TomPromo Marketing

Trademark

Home Inspection, LLC

Trinity Health

Unity of Livonia Spiritual Center

Westland Nursing

& Rehabilitation Center

Wonder Janitorial Service, Inc.

Woodhaven Retirement Community

Chamber News 6

We need a shift in education policy: Less focus on testing and more on employable skills. Let’s introduce more applied learning techniques to the classroom. Let’s use computer-aided drafting (CAD) as a geometry class. Let’s introduce techniques in welding to algebra classes.

Speaking of welding, Matthew Gibb, a deputy executive for Oakland County, recently made a powerful statement: “Aside from advanced law, advanced business, and advanced medicine, a welder will out-earn everybody.”

Let’s stop comparing “two-year kids” with “four-year kids,” as income levels in the skilled trades continue to surpass most jobs held by those with bachelor’s degrees in liberal arts.

With some overtime, a good welder can easily earn a six-figure salary. But “conventional wisdom” may discourage an interest-ed student from exploring such skilled trades. Many parents remain convinced their kid child has to get a four-degree to get a good job.

Yet, 16% of bartenders held a bachelor’s degree or more in 2012. Remember: Only 33% of future jobs require a bachelor’s degree or more, according to a Harvard University study.

The business community can also be helpful in changing “conventional wisdom.” Business leaders need to do a better job of explaining what they need, and sharing the skills they seek from schools and policy makers. The leading complaint we hear from local employers is they cannot find the experience and talent to fill job openings. We need these employers to lead the conversation and advance the cause.

Locally, we took a big step in boosting education-business relationships across Western Wayne County with the February gathering of the I-275 Industrial Council. Some 90 people gathered to learn about skilled trades and STEM program at Livonia, Wayne-Westland, and Plymouth-Canton schools. This led to productive dialogue with dozens of human resource managers from local companies.

It was an energizing gathering, but more of this needs to hap-pen. More business-education chats and less “conventional wisdom” will encourage more young people to explore their passions for careers, and provide a better foundation for our region’s economic development.

‘CONVENTIONAL WISDOM’ SHIFT Column continued from cover.

Chamber News Chamber News 7

Chamber News 8

A fear of needles led Jillian Downey to think of an idea to conceal them.

That idea was enough to earn her second place in the annual Young Inventors contest, held among middle school students in the Livonia Public Schools, C larencev i l l e Communi ty Schoo ls and Wayne-Westland Community Schools districts.

The idea is to conceal a shot given to a child, hiding the syringe in a case that looks like a small animal such as a frog, bird or chameleon.

"It would basically have a hollow cylinder in the middle, so you can basically slip it over the needle," said Jillian, an eighth-grader at Stevenson Middle School in Westland. "You can slide it back when you actually give the shot, so you can actually use the needle."

The contest this year took place across the six middle schools, which included Franklin and Stevenson middle schools in the Wayne-Westland district for the first time. The contest is designed to encourage students to think of an idea that could be useful and create a concept board describing the idea. The top students from the six middle schools were invited to the Young Inventors Banquet Showcase, which took place Tuesday, January 24 at VisTaTech Center at Livonia's Schoolcraft College.

The overall winner of the competition was Franklin Middle School's Steven Smith, who designed a toothbrush that

contained some toothpaste that would emerge from the handle onto the brushes. Sharing third place was Emerson Middle School student Ryan Taylor, who came up with an earpiece that could translate foreign languages into someone's ear; and Frost Middle School's Danny Jakubowski, who came up with a device that could quickly scan food items and detect for allergens in foods.

Chuck Dardas, the COO at Livonia's AlphaUSA who helps oversee the contest, said adding the two Wayne-Westland middle schools was a great addition and increased the submissions to more than 600 this year.

"I'd like to get to 1,000," he said.

It's his goal to try to incorporate more area schools into the contest in the coming years as well, bringing the program to places such as Plymouth-Canton Community Schools.

The inventions ranged from lifesaving measures to inventions to help with health. But some were invented to help out the students' peers. One such invention was the Capener, thought up by Emerson Middle School student Eric Polzin.

The invention would place a cap on the tip of a pencil that would allow him to sharpen a pencil at his desk and not have to get up during class. The eighth-grader, who lives in Westland, said the idea dawned on him during a test in one of his classes.

"One day, I was taking a test and I kept breaking my pencil. And I had to get a sharpener, but she doesn't let me sharpen my pencil during a test," he said. "I thought I could just make something that I could just put on and if it breaks, I can just sharpen it. I don't have to take it off or nothing."

AlphaUSA’s David Lawrence talks about the importance of skilled trades to students at the Young Inventors Showcase in January.

YOUNG INVENTORS IN LIVONIA, WESTLAND SHOWCASE IDEAS

Eric Polzin, a student at Emerson Middle School in Livonia, with his project, a pencil cap that protects the lead from

breaking and doubles as a sharpener. Photo credit: Livonia Observer

Article from Livonia Observer: David Veselenak

Chamber News Chamber News 9

The Livonia Chamber of Commerce was thrilled to unveil our new website and member portal in February. The new website offers a cleaner look with a more user-friendly functions. The new website also comes with a new member portal for all of our chamber members to take advantage of and many benefits; including: • Multiple logins per chamber member

• Change your own business listing and enhance the listing with images and videos

• Post current job openings

• Pay membership renewal and register for an events online and securely store credit card for future use

• And more!

Visit the website at www.livonia.org! Contact us at toppa@livonia.org or tahmouch@livonia.org with any questions!

CHAMBER LAUNCHES

NEW WEBSITE &

MEMBER PORTAL

Chamber News 10

It built Wonderland Mall, then redeveloped the space into Wonderland Village.

It built three restaurants as part of the major dining and retail development along Middlebelt Road south of I-96. It is building the new headquarters for MASCO near Schoolcraft College.

These are just some of the recent developments in Livonia produced by Schostak Brothers and Co. The four-generation, Livonia-based property development and management firm has left a mark on the city, and it was honored as the 2017 Outstanding Large Business of the Year.

The Livonia Chamber of Commerce honored Schostak Brothers and Co. during the 13th annual Leadership and Awards Celebration held at Laurel Manor on Thursday, February 9. The Celebration was sponsored by Embassy Title Agency, AlphaUSA, St. Mary Mercy Hospital and Madonna University.

The Chamber also honored Tail Waggers 1990 as the 2017 Outstanding Small Business of the Year; McLaren Engineering and O’Malley’s – Supper, Spirits and Song with Community Enhancement Awards; and Brian Schuessler from Edward Jones as the chamber’s ambassador of the year.

“Each of these companies have a compelling story of growth and community involvement,” said Chamber President Dan

West. “We are looking forward to honoring these companies.”

Schostak Brothers, which dates back to 1920, also devel-oped Laurel Park Place Mall, Laurel Park Place Office Building, and the S e v e n M i l e -F a r m i n g t o n Shopping Center. T h e co m p a n y employs 100 at its corporate office, and 155 people at its three restaurants on Midd lebe l t (Applebee’s, MOD Pizza, and Del Taco).

Outside of Livonia, Schostak Brothers are involved in a number of build-to-suit, mixed-use and retail projects cross metro Detroit and in 24 states.

“In business, having great community and civic partners are key to long-term success, and Livonia has been one of the best civic partners we could have ever asked for,” said Jeffrey Schostak, a fourth-generation executive with the company. “We feel blessed to receive this award, and want to thank everyone at the city…who has helped us be successful.”

Along with his decades of development success, Schostak Brothers has been generous with support to a number of community causes such as the Livonia Public Schools Education Foundation, Livonia Symphony Orchestra, and the Livonia Chamber of Commerce.

Tail Waggers 1990 is the Outstanding Small Business of the Year. Laura Zain, inspired by her aunt who was an active supporter of the Michigan Humane Society, started the nonprofit group out of her garage 27 years ago. With money raised at an annual bowling event, Tailwaggers initially provided free pet food for cash-strapped pet owners.

As her mission gained notoriety, Zain solicited more donations and later wrote grants that allowed the organization to move from her house into a small retail space nearly six years ago.

“When the economy was down 10 years ago, we were able to help a lot of people who were struggling financially with food or care for their pets,” Zain said. “We were later able to provide

McLaren, O’ Malley’s grab enhancement awards

CHAMBER HAILS SCHOSTAK, TAIL WAGGERS 1990 WITH 2017 BUSINESS OF YEAR AWARDS

Laura Zain and Dr. Amy Nicol accept the 2017 Outstanding Small Business

of the Year for Tail Waggers 1990.

Award winners pictured, from left: Arthur Colling III, Ken Wagner, Scott Maxwell, Amie Van Horn-Gabel, Frank and Janice Grisa, Gary Deschenes, Louise McGhie, Karen Bright, Natalie Cadotte, Laura Zain, Dr Amy Nicol, Jacob Schostak, Kit Tennyson, Jeffrey Schostak, Tom Carmody, Brian Schuessler, and Anthony Altovilla.

Photo: Livonia Observer

Chamber News Chamber News 11

price breaks for people who wanted to spay or neuter their pets and get other treatments. We continue to raise money to support these types of programs.”

Today, the operation expanded into several store fronts in a strip center on Five Mile Road at Harrison to offer many pet care programs with a staff of 25 people.

“Years ago, we would raise money to pay veterinarians to take care of pets,” Zain added. “Now, we have our own veterinarians.”

The Tail Waggers staff also played a key role in moving Livonia city officials to open a dog park at Bicentennial Park, which is scheduled to open later this year.

McLaren Engineering and O’Malley’s received this year’s Community Enhancement Award, which honors Livonia companies that invest in a construction project that makes a visible difference to their property and the community.

McLaren invested more than $20 million in 2015-16 to expand their operations on Eight Mile Road between Merriman and Farmington and support their engineering, product development, and research and development capabilities. The project turned a series of older manufacturing buildings into a modern, high-tech campus with 160,000 square feet of offices and shops.

The expanded facility grew the workforce at the site from about 80 to 200 employees, with plans to add more jobs in the future. McLaren is a division of Ontario-based Linamar Corp., a global manufacturer of engineered products for on-road and off-road vehicles and energy systems.

“It is a much nicer work environment, and all our staff is together in a more collaborative environment,” said McLaren Operations Manager Scott Maxwell. “It makes a really good impression to our customers and prospects, as it looks like a place they want to do business.”

Frank Grisa’s family owned the O’Malley’s property on Five Mile and Farmington Roads since the late-1970s. Grisa and his

wife, Janice, took over as operators for the popular establishment a little more than three years ago.

For more than four months in 2015, they were c l o s e d t o c o m p l e t e l y rebuild the inside of O’Malley’s, which included new furniture, flooring, bar, stage for live bands, added seat ing, and

fixtures unique to an Irish p u b . T h e project cost more than $500,000.

“People are really excited to have such a comfortable, h o m e t o w n bar, and that’s what we were really going for , ” s a id Frank Grisa. “Both of us have been in Livonia all our lives, we are p r e t t y entrenched here, so it really wasn’t a big decision to do it.”

The Chamber’s Ambassador of the Year, Schuessler, is a financial advisor with Edward Jones. He earned the honor as the chamber’s leading volunteer, supporting grand openings, chamber events and providing membership leads throughout 2016. The Livonia resident and his wife, Jenni, have three children and are expecting a fourth.

He enjoys his involvement in the chamber because “it gives me a chance to be active in the community and meet a lot of great people,” Schuessler said.

The Chamber also issued a new award to two long-time successful business owners and community supporters as they prepare to retire this year. The Livonia Legacy Awards went to Ken Wagner, from State Farm Insurance, and Kit Tennyson, from Feldman Chevrolet – formerly Tennyson Chevrolet.

Other awards presented that evening:

• Clarenceville School District presented their Teachers of the Year: Anthony Altovilla and Tim Carmody.

• Livonia Public Schools honored Donald Stromberg, Arthur Colling III and Amie Van Horn-Gabel with their Teachers of the Year awards.

• The Livonia Garden Club awarded the Livonia Garden Club with their 2017 Livonia Greenleaf Award.

• The Livonia Observer honored Gary Deschense with their First Citizen award for his volunteer work in the Livonia community. They also awarded Churchill High School’s Natalie Cadotte with their Outstanding Youth honor.

Gary Deschenes accepts the 2017 First Citizen award from the Livonia Observer.

Scott Maxwell accepts the Community Enhancement Award on behalf of McLaren Engineering from Livonia Chamber’s Dan West.

Photo: Livonia Observer

Chamber News 12

News of Amazon bringing a product fulfillment center to Livonia pumped energy into the community as the company’s plans became public on Dec. 20.

The Livonia Chamber of Commerce office received a bunch of phone calls with curious inquiries. Many excited residents and business owners circulated articles about the news on social media. In many corners of town, you could sense Livonians felt pride that such a significant company is bringing at least 1,000 jobs to Livonia.

If all goes according to plan, Amazon will open a newly constructed, one million-square-foot building on the corner of Eckles and Amrhein next fall with 1,000 employees. That would immediately make Amazon one of the city’s top 10 employers.

This is great for Livonia, but it is also great for our neighboring communities in western Wayne County and southern Oakland County. These new workers and vendors to the Amazon site will spark new shopping and dining activity, and attract some new residents and spin-off businesses to our region.

The Amazon announcement is exciting, but it is just the latest in a series of sizable economic development projects coming to our city. In 2016, Livonia saw a busy year highlighted by the following:

Residential real estate transactions continued to surge in Livonia, despite a reduction in available housing inventory. RealComp reports that Livonia home sales closings climbed 3 percent, median prices rose 6.1 percent, and days on market went from 33 to 28 days in the first 11 months of 2016, compared to same period in 2015.

MASCO, the parent company for a number of home improvement products, is nearing completion of a new 90,000-square-foot building near Schoolcraft College to serve as its new corporate headquarters.

Ford Motor Company, the city’s largest taxpayer and employer, continues to add employees as it expands its footprint in Livonia. The automaker leased another 750,000 square-foot building to store parts on Schoolcraft east of Middlebelt. Two additional buildings, totaling 900,000 square feet, are being constructed near the new Ford site.

McLaren Engineering completed a $23 million project this year to expand and modernize its automotive operation on Eight Mile Road, and expanded its workforce at the site from 80 to some 200 employees.

Three new hotels are in the works in Livonia, in response to a spike in overnight stays at Livonia’s existing hotels.

A $12 million renovation progressed at the former GM Powertrain plant on Middlebelt north of Plymouth to make way for four new industrial tenants – and a number of jobs – at property now known as the Livonia Distribution Center.

When you combine the Livonia Distribution Center with the Amazon development, there is two million square feet of new

business activity at two long-shuttered, former GM sites. It continues a recent trend of refreshing Livonia with redevelopment.

This list just names a few Livonia highlights from 2016, but it provides an impressive reading on the economic growth in our city and region. It also fuels optimism heading into 2017 as we look forward to what’s coming next.

AMAZON PLAN CONTINUES LIVONIA'S REDEVELOPMENT

Large concrete walls have quickly been raised at the new Amazon location at Eckles and Amrhein Roads.

Column by Dan West, President/CEO, Livonia Chamber

Chamber News Chamber News 13

LIVONIA HOME SHOW 7th

Annual

Sponsored by

Saturday, March 25 • 9 AM - 4 PM

Livonia Rec Center

Free Admission & Parking!

Contact us for more information, 734.427.2122 or Tahmouch@livonia.org

Chamber News 14

Photo: Michael Shuster Photography

CHAMBER SNAPSHOTS

Thank you to all our

Landmark Businesses

& Trustee Members

for their continued support!

More than 50 chamber members attended our Crisscross Networking lunch on February 3 at O’Malley’s - Supper,

Spirits and Song. After enjoying lunch today, members played a networking game that encouraged them to meet as many people as possible in the 90 minutes!

State Representative Laura Cox presented Livonia Chamber’s

President/CEO Dan West with a proclamation for his 10th anniversary with the chamber.

UNDERCOVER SELF STORAGE

13995 Haggerty Road, Plymouth, MI 48170

734-354-9855 • www.undercoverselfstorage.com

Lighted & Fenced

Gated Entry & Climate Control Units

Short & Long Term Rental

Extended Access Hours 7 Days a Week

Locks, Boxes & Packaging Supplies Available

Security Alarms with Every Rental

Undercover Self Storage is

expanding to better serve

the Livonia area!

We have just broken ground to build

additional indoor storage units.

We are also adding outdoor parking

for boats, RVs and campers.

Chamber News Chamber News 15

These featured members are honored as Ambassadors of the Month for their volunteer time for member

retention, member development and Chamber events.

JANUARY

AAAMBASSADORSMBASSADORSMBASSADORS OFOFOF THETHETHE MMMONTHONTHONTH

FEBRUARY

Bill Abram

Detroit Commercial Photography (734) 513-8100

www.DetComPhoto.com

Gerald is President of Aadvise Consulting, LLC, a business coaching and consulting firm. He coaches small and mid-sized companies in leadership and organization development, strategic planning and customer relationship management. He combines 30 years of experience in sales and general management with a holistic approach to help people and companies grow and thrive. He holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA. He serves on the board of Seedlings Braille Books for Children, Chairs the Sunset District of the Boy Scouts. He is a member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church of Livonia, the Society of Automotive Engineers International, the Livonia Chamber of Commerce and the Local Business Network.

Gerald Bricker

Aadvise Consulting, LLC

(248) 974-1537 www.aadviseconsultingllc.com

Bill started Memorable Moments Photography 30 years ago to serve families. Soon Bill was photographing families, children, high school seniors, babies, weddings and family events. Currently in the process to reflect the commercial sector more, Bill has changed the name of his business to Detroit Commercial Photography. For the last eight years, Bill has been working more in the commercial sector specializing in head shots, food, product and corporate event photography. Last year, he created new headshots for Mayor Dennis Wright, five members of city council, treasure and city clerk of Livonia. One of the factors in the commercial sector is that all work is 100 percent guaranteed.

If you are interested in advertising in

Chamber News contact Laura Tahmouch at

734.427.2122 or email tahmouch@livonia.org

Don’t forget to ask about discount

with a full year of advertising.

Advertising Rates

Business Card 2 x 3.5 $100.00 per issue

Quarter Page 4 x 5 $200.00 per issue

Full Page Inset $200.00 per issue

Half Page 5 x 8 $350.00 per issue

Full Page 8 x 10 $700.00 per issue