Lt. Gov. Brian Calley, Justice Richard Bernstein: Hire Michiganders with disabilities

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, March 17, 2015 

CONTACTS:

Laura Biehl, Lt. Governor’s Office

517-335-6397

TJ Bucholz, Justice Bernstein’s Office

517-898-4641 

Lt. Gov. Brian Calley, Justice Richard Bernstein: Hire Michiganders with disabilities 
MI Hidden Talent tour will highlight untapped skills, local hiring resources   

LANSING, Mich. – Lt. Gov. Brian Calley and Supreme Court Justice Richard Bernstein today announced a partnership to highlight the opportunities for hiring Michiganders with disabilities across the state.

The MI Hidden Talent tour aims to showcase the skills of Michiganders with disabilities that are often overlooked. The effort will encourage businesses to develop disability hiring policies while connecting businesses with resources to fulfill workforce needs. 

“Hiring Michiganders with disabilities would change the dynamic for many companies across our state,” Calley said. “There are more than 500,000 working-age adults whose talent could move a company to the next level – but they need to be given a chance first. We are working to implement more inclusive employment policies at the state level and are ready to encourage businesses statewide to do the same with this tour. The time is long overdue to celebrate different abilities in the workplace.”

At each stop, Calley and Bernstein will highlight a local business setting an example for others in hiring as well as local partners available to help other businesses follow suit. 

 “Employers that hire disabled people are ultimately rewarded with team members who bring passion, energy, and loyalty to the workplace. Disabled employees rally their fellow workers and serve as a unified force who can teach the values of resiliency, compassion, and understanding,” said Justice Richard Bernstein. “More often than not, people who have infirm bodies also possess the strongest souls and the most powerful spirits, traits which enhance the workplace and our economy as a whole. People with disabilities are hardworking, energetic, and engaged people who will be loyal to their employer. The offer of employment for a disabled person is a game changer – they do more and achieve more because they are thrilled to have been given an opportunity.”

The tour will include seven stops. The first three include:

Wayne/Oakland County: Monday, March 30; 5-7 p.m. at Embassy Suites, Livonia, MI
Hosted by Livonia, Westland and Farmington Chambers.

Upper Peninsula: Tuesday, March 31; 11 a.m. at Holiday Inn in Marquette
Hosted by the Lake Superior Community Partnership, the Greater Ishpeming Negaunee Area Chamber of Commerce and 40 Below.

Great Lakes Bay: Wednesday, April 1 at 11:30 a.m. at Horizons Conference Center in Saginaw; Hosted by Saginaw Chamber and Dow.

Businesses interested in attending these events should contact host chambers to register. Details for the remaining tour stops will be announced soon.

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Analysis of state vote May 5 to increase sales tax rate to fund road repairs, other programs

Voters are being asked to increase Michigan’s sales tax rate from 6% to 7%, which would increase state revenues by about $2 billion per year, create a series of Constitutional and statutory changes that impact rates and methods for collecting fuel taxes and vehicle registration fees, and mandate spending increases for certain programs. If approved, the proposal would provide at least $1.2 billion more for road and bridge maintenance, $300 million more for school aid, nearly $100 million more for local governments, $130 million more for public transit, increase earned income tax credits for low-income families by $260 million, add $40 million more for at-risk school programs, and revise competitive bidding and warranties for road work.

The Livonia Chamber’s Government Affairs Committee, Executive Committee, and Board of Directors analyzed the proposal and noted there were strong opinions among Chamber members who support and oppose this proposal. Accordingly, the Board of Directors concludes the following:

The Livonia Chamber of Commerce will not take a position involving this matter, but the Chamber prepared this balanced analysis of the proposal to better educate chamber members.

While there is agreement that additional investment is needed to better repair our roads, there are many questions about the long-term impact of the constitutional and statutory provisions in this proposal. We could not find consensus among our membership to take a position for or against the measure. Each side offers debate as to the ways to adequately fund necessary road repairs.

Those who support the measure contend:

•  Michigan invests the least per capita in road repair compared to any other state in the Midwest, and increasing the sales tax to 7% would keep Michigan near the national median for this tax.
• The earmarked increased spending from this proposal is mandated and cannot be manipulated by legislative action. Supporters add there is widespread support for more state investment in the other programs beyond roads and bridge repairs.
• They acknowledge there is no perfect proposal to fund roads, but the roads are in need of repair and there is no alternative plan in place to increase road repair funding if voters defeat this measure.

Those against the measure argue:

• This is a poorly-constructed proposal developed in an 11th hour deal during December’s lame duck legislative session where lawmakers deferred their responsibilities to increase road funding to the voters.
• They are more likely to support a measure to exclusively provide more road repair funding. They do not like the “Christmas Tree” approach to funding several other elements when polling indicates that most residents are in favor of boosting funding only for roads.
• They also fear there are long-term detrimental issues with the Constitutional changes in this proposal which only can be reversed through another statewide referendum.

Prepared March 6, 2015

Job Opportunity at Advanced Satellite Communications

Territory Sales manager– Michigan

This is a direct sales position in which representative will be responsible for introducing Advanced Satellite Communications, Inc. "ASC", to prospective clients who are in the lodging and institutions industry.  Lodging and institution clients include hotels, hospitals, bars, restaurants, nursing homes and casinos.  DIRECTV is the highest quality and most desired Television Programming Service in this market place. ASC is well respected, diverse and offers a top shelf sales and service experience for our clients.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:

• Generate profitable revenues that meet or exceed sales goals supporting the wages, perks and commissions
• Manage all aspects of the industry sales and marketing process: lead generation, prospecting, qualifying, surveys, negotiating and closing the deal
• Tenacity to support existing clients, referrals, prospect, penetrate, and sell ASC and our products to lodging and institutional customers (hotels, hospitals, bars, restaurants, nursing homes and casinos)
• Collaborate with ASC project managers, technicians and administration staff to ensure positive customer outcomes and long term relationships
• Utilize personal and ASC lead generation resources and process
• Continue to learn and develop both your sales and business skills
• Successfully follow a weekly sales activity plan to ensure success in your role
• Learn both the technical and programming products of the business to be able to support designed quotes accurately

REQUIREMENTS:

• Working (2 years minimum) in a B2B sales or business development function, previous experience selling within the hospitality industry is a plus
• Proven track record of selling skills, networking and prospecting/closing new client business
• Valid driver's license with clean driving record
• pass a criminal background and drug test
• Dependable transportation
• able to travel over night occasionally (shows, seminars and prospects)

ADDITIONAL SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Must be responsible, self-motivated, personable, and well-organized
• Proficiency in the use of personal computers including such programs as MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook
• Must be able to read and effectively interpret and support general business documentation (spread sheets, blue prints, letters and emails)

COMPENSATION:

• Commissions & Salary based upon your experience level
• Vacation – PTO
• 401K Program
• Office suite and company phone

Email resume and simple cover letter to aholmes@advancedsat.com or call (800) 983-3333.