Independent Retailers by Bill & Rod's Appliance

What do you know about independent retailers? Did you know that according to the National Retail Federation that one in five Americans are employed by independent or privately held retail businesses and account for nearly 95% of the industry? Most probably do not.

Some of these retailers are being squeezed though by not being noticed. According to a recent survey of 1000’s of consumers conducted by AllYourRetail.com, a marketing company, showed that 49.2% were able to identify an independent furniture dealer. This same survey showed us only 32.7% could name an independent mattress dealer. Even sadder to me personally as owner of Bill & Rod’s Appliance Inc., in Livonia, MI, was that a measly 19.5% could name an independent appliance dealer. We could also look at this another way, 80.5% of consumers cannot name a currently open independent appliance dealer.

The myth of the “Big Box” stores always having the best prices always is far too wide spread as well. Many independents can not only compete, but hold their own without breaking a sweat. Bill & Rod’s Appliance Inc., for example, is part of national buying group called BrandSource. This allows us to pool our volume with other independents and give us the same amount buying power as the chain stores.

Our one mission is to be the absolute best every single time, and make our customers our family. Without our neighbors coming to work with us we would be sunk. If you are tired of being a number then come join the family of an independent retailer.

What do you know about independent retailers?

Joe Legato

Livonia

Livonia Chamber supports renewal of city’s millages

Protecting police and fire staffing and Livonia’s quality of life are among several significant reasons the Livonia Chamber of Commerce endorses renewal of two city millage requests that go to voters this summer.

Livonia residents will be asked to approve 10-year renewals of a 1.7-mill levy for public safety, and a 0.25-mill levy to support the Greenmead Historic Village and Livonia Senior Center. The election for both millage requests will be held August 2.

Both millages were approved for five years by 75 percent of Livonia voters in August 2011.

The Livonia Chamber’s Board of Directors unanimously voted to endorse both millage renewals at its April meeting. Chamber leaders said renewing these millage proposals would not increase current tax rates to home and business owners.

“If these millages are not renewed, the Livonia Police Department would be forced to cut 35-40 positions, and we don’t believe anyone thinks that is a good idea,” said Dan West, president of the Livonia Chamber of Commerce. “The millage also enables the city to continue the training and purchase the equipment needed to maintain premier police and fire services in our city.”

The chamber also supports renewing the millage for Greenmead and the senior center, because they are popular programs that support quality of life in Livonia.

“Our board feels city leaders have been good stewards of the city’s budget, while keeping Livonia as the second-lowest tax rate of any city in Wayne County,” West added.

The Livonia Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit, non-partisan trade organization that represents 900 businesses and groups. The Livonia Chamber’s 21-member Board of Directors occasionally takes positions on issues that impact the local business community, but the Chamber does not endorse candidates running for office. 

Livonia Home Show returns to Rec Center March 19

A gymnasium full of home improvement ideas will be on display at the Livonia Community Recreation Center next Saturday, March 19, for the annual Livonia Home Improvement Show.

Some 50 exhibitors will be featured in the MAC gym of the Rec Center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission and parking is free. Bob Evans Restaurant will provide free coffee in the morning, and several restaurants will provide food samples during the afternoon.

The sixth-annual home show is coordinated by the Livonia Chamber, and sponsored by Bright House Networks. The Rec Center is located on the corner of Five Mile and Hubbard.

“As spring’s thaw kicks in this week, home owners start thinking about improvement projects and this show is a great way to explore those ideas,” said Dan West, president of the Livonia Chamber of Commerce. “We have a great variety of exhibitors but it is a comfortable environment for show visitors to spend time with experts and get their questions answered.”

Experienced companies that work with landscaping, concrete, heating and cooling, roofing, carpeting and flooring, bathroom and kitchen remodels, and general contractors are among the registered exhibitors.

There are a few spaces left for prospective exhibitors. For more details on the show, contact Laura Tahmouch at 734.427.2122, or Tahmouch@livonia.org.

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Anniversary committee, Livonia Chamber partner to provide Spree information center

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, March 6, 2016

Organizers of Livonia Spree and the Livonia Chamber of Commerce have formed a new partnership to provide easier access to details for prospective vendors and supporters about the city’s annual festival.

The Livonia Chamber of Commerce office will serve as an information center for all businesses and organizations interested in participating in Spree 66, which takes place June 21-26 at Livonia’s Ford Field.

“We’ve grown and we look forward to developing a good relationship with the chamber,” said Rich Skaggs, president of the Livonia Anniversary Committee, the non-profit group that manages Livonia Spree. “We are working together so we can continue organizing this great event that is important to promoting our city.”

During normal business hours, businesses and organizations looking to become a food vendor, provide a business promotional booth, or become a sponsor of the event can get the information they need to apply at the Livonia Chamber of Commerce office, located in Suite 212 of the Civic Center Office Plaza on northeast corner of Five Mile and Farmington roads. The phone number is 734.427.2122.

“We’ve had our fair share of these types of inquiries about Spree through the years,” said Dan West, president of the Livonia Chamber of Commerce. “This new partnership will make it easier for prospective vendors and sponsors to get the information they need, and provide new support to the Spree’s volunteer committee that works an extraordinary amount of volunteer hours each year to organize Livonia’s signature event.”

The plans for band and entertainment are settled for Spree 66, but the Committee continues to look for food vendors, business booths, sponsors, and volunteers.

The Livonia Spree attracts some 500,000 visitors during the annual six-day event, culminating with a premier fireworks show after dusk on Sunday evening. Since its creation in the 1970s, funds raised from Spree have enabled the Livonia Anniversary Committee to donate more than $1 million into many charitable community causes.

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Roush, Embassy Title earn Chamber's 2016 business of year awards

Mendelson's, Mama Mia's garner enhancement awards

Jack Roush started an engine-building operation in Livonia 40 years ago to compete in auto racing.

Over his hall-of-fame career in the sport, his teams won 7 championships in auto racing's leading circuits, but his company's racing innovations expanded into other breakthroughs for all kinds of vehicles. 

Today, Roush has grown into a worldwide operation that's developed propane-powered vehicles, military vehicles, theme-park ride systems, autonomous Google cars, prototype helicopters and fuel systems for rockets - just to name a few. Roush, which employs more than 1,000 people at 16 facilities in Livonia, has received national and state honors in recent years for its outreach to hire military veterans.

The company's latest honor is this year's selection as the Livonia Chamber of Commerce's Outstanding Large Business of the Year.

The Chamber also announced that Embassy Title Agency is the 2016 Outstanding Small Business of the Year; Mendelson's Professional Building and Mama Mia's Restaurantwill earn Community Enhancement Awards; and Emily Bauman from AdviCoach of Michigan  is the chamber's ambassador of the year. All will be honored at the 12th annual Leadership and Award Celebration to be held at Laurel Manor on Thursday, Feb. 11.

"The companies each have a compelling story of perseverance and growth, while being an important part of the Livonia community," said Chamber President Dan West.

Roush operates 28 facilities in southeast Michigan, others facilities and testing centers around the world, and collectively employs 4,300. Steve Sciatto, the company's executive vice president and long-time Livonia resident, said the company is looking to hire more people as Roush is in need of welders, fabricators, designers, technicians and engineers.

"What you see from Roush is just the tip of the iceberg," said Sciatto, who has worked at Roush for 34 years. "Not many people realize how much more we do below the surface. We take a customer's idea and other technologies, and integrate them into a real product."

Roush has long supported education initiatives in Livonia, including the Livonia Robotics Team. The company's extraordinary efforts to hire more than 200 military veterans over the last two years earned Roush the 2015 large business supplier of the year from Disabled American Veterans.

Outstanding Small Business honoree Embassy Title Agency is located on Farmington Road north of Five Mile Road. Owner Kate McCarty grew the company from about 30 transactions a month in 2008 - in the midst of the real estate bust - to some 200 transactions a month in 2015. She credits her personal relationships, work ethic, positive spirit, talented team, and community involvement for Embassy Title's emergence which includes an expansion this year.

"I give 100% of myself to all the people we help," McCarty said. "I seem to have an ability to bring out the best in people to grow our company. Our foundation has always been that we should help people the best we can."

McCarty was forced into entrepreneurship in 2005 when she suddenly lost her office manager job at a title company that folded. She had no personal savings but had a book of business that inspired her to start her own operation. With an infectious energy highlighted her favorite catch phrase: "Love baby love," she developed key real estate connections that gradually directed more closings to Embassy Title.

"We had to work hard to build our relationships with people, and then we always took care of them," McCarty said. "We always tried to make it more about relationships than business."

She worked seven days a week most of the time since she opened Embassy Title, taking her first trip in 15 years last year when she joined her daughter and grandchildren in a trip to Disney World.

After overcoming some personal struggles, she always focused on giving back to the community - even when her business was not as successful. She provided financial and mentoring support to domestic violence victims in the First Step program. She also contributes to the Livonia Family YMCA, Toys for Tots, schools and other nonprofit groups.

"I can't believe I was selected for this," McCarty said about earning the small business honor.

Mendelson's Professional Building and Mama Mia's Restaurant will receive this year's Community Enhancement Award, which honors Livonia companies that invest in a construction project that makes a visible difference in the community.

Mendelson Kornblum Orthopedic and Spine Specialists invested $13 million to redevelop a long-dormant site on the corner of Five Mile and Levan Roads. Dr. Herbert Mendelson started his practice in the 1960s and operated at various Livonia locations through the years, most recently on the campus of St. Mary Mercy Hospital.

CEO Mike Beaubien said the company needed more room and looked at various sites in and around Livonia for several years before deciding on the spot last occupied by Frank's Nursey and Crafts.

"We needed more space but we really wanted to stay in Livonia because this has been our home for so many years," Beaubien said. "We wanted a first-class building that will serve this community for a long time."

They constructed a two-story, 43,000-square-foot building that complimented the new construction across the street at St. Mary Mercy Hospital. In addition to the Mendelson Kornblum practice, the new building houses outpatient surgery and bariatric care facilities for St. Mary Mercy, MRI center for Instant Imagining, and Lakes Urgent Care.  

Dr. Herbert Mendelson's sons, David, Jeffery, Stephen, and daughter-in-law Alice are among the practice's 14 doctors. Beaubien said he needed to add 70 positions to adequately staff the new, larger Livonia location. The practice also has two facilities in Warren and with a total of 225 employees, and plans to add at least three more doctors this year.

Beaubien said the company is honored to be selected for this honor.

"I realized how visible the project is to the community," he said. "It's nice to see the hard work we put in and focus on the details are recognized publicly."

Mama Mia's Restaurant has been a fixture on Plymouth Road near Inkster Road for 63 years. Brothers John and Chris Vardouniotis acquired the property in November 1976, and with the help of their families, Mama Mia's grew into a popular stop for Italian dishes featuring a variety of homemade sauces and pastas.

The family also controls the Mama Mia's location on Beech Daly Road near Grand River Avenue in Redford.

The family invested more than $160,000 last year to revamp the restaurant's exterior to provide a uniform look for the 140-seat restaurant and 225-seat banquet hall that were constructed separately. Other renovations last year included new carpeting and appliances for the kitchen and bar area.

"We will continue to work on some other interior projects," said John Vardounoitis, who turned 80 in December. "The family wants to keep it, so I put some money into it so they can keep it going."

He is on a winter break in Florida, but he plans to return to Livonia in the spring and resume working at 7:30 a.m. each day at the restaurant. John's wife, Catherine; daughters Nancy and Margie; and grandchildren Paul, Katerina, Dominic, and Yanni all work at the restaurant.

"I've always told my grandchildren that whatever you do in life, you should be happy doing it," he said. "It makes me proud to see so many from the family who want to stay involved with the restaurant."

He added he attributes the restaurant's success to fair and consistent service and meals, and the Livonia community.

"I'm very proud to be part of Livonia," Vardounoitis said. "It is one of the best cities in Michigan and I enjoy being here."

Madonna University was selected as the second annual recipient of the Livonia Greenleaf Award. Developed by the City of Livonia's Greenleaf Commission on Sustainability, the panel aims to reward those Livonia businesses that implement strategies that place equal importance on environmental quality, economic prosperity, and social equity. Madonna's Franciscan Center, completed in 2009, became the city's first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified building.

The Livonia Chamber's Ambassador of the Year, Emily Bauman is honored as the chamber's leading volunteer.  She supported chamber members at ribbon-cutting celebrations, welcomed new businesses to the Chamber and referred other prospective new members throughout 2015.

As a business coach for AdviCoach of Michigan, Bauman works with business owners, specifically family-owned, to help take them to the next level.

"What we like to do is help the owners really get back to why they started the business and rebuild that passion," said Bauman. "I have met new people and built relationships and having those connections have been great personally and businesswise."

She credits the Livonia Chamber for helping her meet many people when she was still new to the area. Bauman was raised in New York and lived in Colorado most of her professional life.

Bauman and her husband of nearly 20 years, Bill, have three children and they belong to St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Livonia. She's also a member of the Livonia Civic Chorus.

The business award winners were nominated by Livonia Chamber of Commerce members and community leaders and selected by an anonymous committee who evaluates the nominations.

Also at the Leadership and Awards Celebration, teachers of the year for the Livonia and Clarenceville school districts will be honored, and The Livonia Observer will present its Outstanding Youth and Livonia First Citizen Awards.

The Leadership and Awards Celebration is sponsored by Bright House Business Solutions, Livonia Chrysler Jeep, AlphaUSA, St. Mary Mercy Hospital and Madonna University. Tickets are available at $25 each. Admission includes a strolling dinner and soft drinks. A cash bar will be available. To reserve tickets, call the Livonia Chamber office at 734.427.2122, or via e-mail at tahmouch@livonia.org

ZF moving headquarters from Northville to Livonia

By David Veselenak, O&E Media

Add one more company moving its global headquarters to Livonia. This time, it’s a company that already has a strong presence in the city.

ZF North American, based in Northville, announced during the North American International Auto Show in Detroit this week it plans on moving east to Livonia. ZF Group bought the former Livonia-based TRW about a year ago for more than $12 billion.

The auto parts supplier, which focuses on drive line and chassis technology, as well as autonomous driving technologies, will move into the former TRW headquarters, 12001 Tech Center Dr., in Livonia.

The move will allow employees who work closely with others in similar divisions the opportunity to be closer to one another, said Bryan Johnson, head of corporate communications for ZF North America.

“We’re going to name the Livonia location the headquarters for the region for the global group,” said Johnson, a Canton resident. “It really provides us with the opportunity to bring certain areas of the business together.

“In Livonia, we already had a global operation, so we had a good infrastructure in place for that. And in Northville, it was more of a regional group.”

A transition team will evaluate needs over the next six months and it could take 18-24 months to completely transition from the Northville site to Livonia.

The Livonia office has about 1,200 employees, while the Northville office has about 400; both have employees coming from across the region. No new construction or building enhancements are expected to the current Livonia office to accommodate the move.

The Northville facility will continue to be used, mostly as a sales and engineering facility. The number of employees at each location is not expected to change immediately, though it could in the future with more hiring planned for the company.

“Once we can move out of the corporate people, we already have open positions,” Johnson said. “We’re hiring at both locations.”

The company is the latest in the past year to move its headquarters to Livonia. Taylor-based Masco Corp. announced last summer it would move its world headquarters to Livonia in a brand-new building at Schoolcraft College. That project broke ground in the fall and is expected to wrap up work sometime this year.

John Wilkerson, a senior communications manager with ZF TRW, said with the company being in Livonia since 1993, it has built a strong report with many local entities, including local government and education.

“We have a really good relationship with the school system in Livonia, with the city,” said Wilkerson, who said he formerly sat on the Livonia Chamber of Commerce board. “It’s been an excellent place to work. It has a great location in the metro area, very centrally located. It’s been a really good relationship and it’s something we certainly want to continue.”

dveselenak@hometownlife.com | 734-678-6728 Twitter: @DavidVeselenak

Free Seminar for Small Businesses at Wayne State University

Free seminar for small businesses: Government Contracting 101

Owners of small businesses are invited to join Wayne State University’s Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) for a free seminar about getting involved in the field of government contracting.

The federal government purchases more than $500 billion in goods and services each year, and the State of Michigan uses more than 1,000 multiyear contracts. Learn how to get in on the action by attending Government Contracting 101.

Participants will learn how to become successful contractors and what services and resources are available to help small businesses with the government market.

Opportunities within both federal and state programs will be covered in the three-hour session. 

Participants will learn how to:

·         Classify products and services

·         Apply for small business programs

·         Find opportunities in specific product areas

·         Identify different types of solicitations

·         Master the bid process

·         Register as a state vendor

·         Market products and services

·         Use the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

The seminar will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Jan. 27; March 23; May 18; and June 22 on the Wayne State campus in Suite 3101 of the Maccabees Building, 5057 Woodward Ave., Detroit, 48202.

PTAC is a grant-funded service providing eligible business clients with the marketing and technical assistance needed to sell goods and services to the federal government, particularly the Department of Defense. In the last year, Wayne State’s PTAC worked with more than 270 local companies who have obtained contracts worth more than $40 million.

This seminar is free but advance registration is required. Email PTAC Program Manager Abby Cheatham at a.l.cheatham@wayne.edu to reserve your seat, or call 313-577-0132 for details.

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Grand time to open expanded Livonia chamber office

We had an amazing turnout Dec. 17 to formally acknowledge the opening of our new office for the Livonia Chamber of Commerce.

Our staff and ambassadors have participated in hundreds of ribbon-cuttings and groundbreaking ceremonies to celebrate new and expanded businesses here in Livonia through the years, but it was strange to organize a grand opening for the Livonia Chamber.

We like to make each grand opening a unique celebration of the risk, work and determination of the business owner. But when it comes to a chamber of commerce, particularly in a community-minded place like Livonia, it is truly an acknowledgment of a healthy business community.

It was a good year-end occasion to acknowledge two significant accomplishments for the chamber in 2015. First, we surpassed 900 members for the first time in more than 20 years. This is a tribute to the resilience and growth of the business community in and around Livonia.

This growth enabled us to move into a nice facility at the Civic Center Office Plaza – with double the space – that allows us to better serve our members and promote the Livonia business community.

In an amazing coincidence, our new office was formerly occupied by the Brashear and Tangora law firm, co-founded by William Brashear, Livonia’s first city attorney and third mayor. He was one of the nine original members of the Livonia Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors when it first met in February 1950. This law firm is now known as Crieighton, McLean and Shea, the chamber’s longest-sustained member.

The Livonia Chamber’s first headquarters was in the Six Mile-Merriman area at the home of Eddie Edgar, a legendary sports writer and Livonia advocate. In the early 1960s, the chamber office moved to a location on Farmington Road, just north of Five Mile, which is currently occupied by a State Farm Insurance office.

For the past dozen years, the Livonia Chamber worked out of an office on the city’s Civic Center campus. It was a challenging time for the chamber when it moved into this space in 2003, so city leaders made affordable arrangements for the Livonia Chamber to re-organize, endure the economic downturn of the last decade, develop better ways to serve the business community and position our organization for the growth we’ve seen so far this decade.

Our move this fall into a bigger space enables us to provide a better clubhouse feel and meeting spaces for our members. Our 21-member board and staff are grateful for the continued support of our organization, which comes from so many people who are fully engaged in the unique community spirit that brings us all together here in Livonia.

Dan West is president and CEO of the Livonia Chamber of Commerce. He can be reached at dwest@livonia.org.

DFCU Financial Launches Business Banking

At a variety of scheduled events with local chambers of commerce during the month of October, DFCU Financial formerly announced its the launch of Business Banking. Developed to service small businesses with annual revenues of $5 million or less and shaped in collaboration with Michigan entrepreneurs, DFCU Financial Business Banking offers simplified products, best-in-class technology, and financial education and guidance tailored to the specific needs of small business owners.  

“After listening carefully to Michigan small business owners over a nine-month period of focus meetings and extensive market research, DFCU Financial has developed a simplified, consultative approach to business banking to help our business members meet the unique needs of their firms,” said Mark Shobe, president and CEO, DFCU Financial. “Our Business Banking team is highly specialized, and our simplified portfolio of small business-centric products and educational resources offers support, guidance and convenience to small business owners statewide.”

DFCU Financial Business Banking minimizes transaction and loan turnaround times with best-in-class technology, offering a more personal approach than national banks. DFCU Financial’s consultative approach and local experts throughout the state of Michigan expedite loan decisions, and the organization’s online banking platform streamlines payment, payroll and transactional processes.

To better guide small business owners to the right products and services for their needs, DFCU Financial’s highly trained Business Banking experts are qualified to empower small business owners to use current and future financial assets to their advantage.

Educational guidance is available to small business owners and their employees through one-on-one consultations and ongoing educational seminars at branch locations across metro Detroit, Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids and Lansing.

“The ‘DFCU DNA’ is truly ingrained in our Business Banking practice,” said Lesli Matukaitis, senior vice president, Corporate Banking, DFCU Financial. “We listened carefully to small business owners as we developed our solution and educational offerings, and remain committed to helping our clients take the guesswork out of important financial decisions, helping them attain short- and long-term financing.”

In January 2015, DFCU Financial paid a record-breaking $24 million CASH BACK loyalty reward to its members, the largest payout by any financial institution in Michigan. The largest individual payout was $18,000. Members adding Business Banking to their portfolios may be eligible to receive up to one-half percent (0.50%) CASH BACK on their average yearly business loans and deposit balances from the prior year.

About DFCU Financial

DFCU Financial issues to its clients the largest CASH BACK reward of all credit unions, with more than $181 million issued since 2006. A strong community partner, DFCU Financial continually reinvests in its membership with new branches and financial literacy education for all ages. DFCU Financial currently operates 25 full-service branches in Detroit, Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids and Lansing. For more information, call 888.336.2700 or visit dfcufinancial.com.

Livonia Chamber endorses Schoolcraft College millage

The Livonia Chamber of Commerce will support Schoolcraft College’s millage request that goes to area voters in November.

The Chamber’s Board of Directors voted to endorse the millage, concluding three months of research and analysis by Chamber leaders.  They concluded the added revenue is necessary to keep tuition affordable, while supporting current and new programs that connect students to in-demand jobs sought by local companies.

“There is a lot of value to the community to have access to lower-cost, higher education,” said Board Chairman-Elect Dan Laible, who is the CFO for Livonia manufacturer NYX Inc. “When you look at how Schoolcraft College stacks up to their peers, and the quality of service they provide to our business community, this is a worthwhile investment.”

Schoolcraft College, seeking its first millage increase since 1986, is asking voters on Nov. 3 for a 0.6-mill tax increase over a 10-year period. Schoolcraft President Dr. Conway Jeffress said the added tax capture would help the school add certificate and associate-degree programs for in-demand fields such as additive manufacturing and health care administration.  He added many capital improvements have been frozen in recent years, but Schoolcraft needs to update some of its aging buildings that date back to the college’s opening in 1962.

This millage election impacts voters in the Livonia, Plymouth-Canton, Northville, Clarenceville, and Garden City school districts. If approved, owners of a $200,000 home would pay about $60 more a year in property taxes.

Schoolcraft College serves some 30,000 students and reports 61% of its students graduate or transfer to a university, which is the best rate among community colleges in Michigan. The school has a record of efficiency, providing 263,804 credit hours on a $96.2 million budget in 2013-14, while neighboring Washtenaw Community College provided 250,506 hours for $115.9 million in the same year.

Like many Michigan municipalities, the college lost tax revenue since 2008 with plunging property values in the area, but Jeffress said the Schoolcraft Board of Trustees has limited annual tuition increases up to one percent more than the consumer’s price index (CPI).

“Since the business community stands to gain from this investment, this millage request shares added costs for new programs with the business community,” said Dan West, 

president and CEO of the Livonia Chamber of Commerce. “We believe this will enhance workforce development initiatives sought by our member businesses in recent years, which has emerged as a leading economic development issue for our region.”

The Livonia Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit trade organization that represents nearly 900 companies and community groups in and around Livonia, and advocates for the Livonia business community. In recent years, the Chamber has focused on promoting good career opportunities in high-demand skilled fields such as advanced manufacturing, information technology, electronics, and welding.

Services to Enhance Potential (STEP) Joins Broad Effort to Observe National Disability Employment Awareness Month

Nationwide campaign will take place in October

Services to Enhance Potential will be participating in the National Disability Employment Awareness Month, an annual awareness campaign that takes place each October. The purpose of National Disability Employment Awareness Month is to educate about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of America's workers with disabilities. This year's theme is "My disability is one part of who I am."

The history of National Disability Employment Awareness Month traces back to 1945, when Congress enacted a law declaring the first week in October each year "National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week." In 1962, the word "physically" was removed to acknowledge the employment needs and contributions of individuals with all types of disabilities. In 1988, Congress expanded the week to a month and changed the name to National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

"This year's theme encapsulates the important message that people with disabilities are just that — people," said Jennifer Sheehy, acting assistant secretary of labor for disability employment policy. "And like all people, we are the sum of many parts, including our work experiences. Disability is an important perspective we bring to the table, but, of course, it's not the only one."

Here at STEP we work hard to find opportunities to get the people we serve jobs that will lead to their increased independence and happiness. We offer a wide variety of options and programs to ensure those we serve or ready and comfortable to enter independent employment including retail classes, janitorial classes, supervised work crews, and employment readiness trainings just to name a few.

One thing that we cannot stress enough is something Supreme Court Justice Richard Bernstein said at the MI Hidden Talent event put on by the Livonia Chamber of Commerce, “This is not charity. This is about the idea that if you give a disabled person an opportunity . . . you are going to find the most highly energetic, highly passionate, most incredibly loyal people that you could ever possibly hope to employ.”

One of STEP’s partners had this to say about how giving those with a disability an opportunity has benefited them “DQB industries and STEP have had a mutually beneficial relationship for more years that we can remember. Dan and his crew (from STEP) are an integral part of DQB industries, and we credit our smooth-running packaging operation to all of their hard work and dedication to a job well done.”

Employers and employees in all industries can learn more about how to participate in National Disability Employment Awareness Month and ways they can promote its messages — during October and throughout the year — by visiting www.dol.gov/ndeam. You can also learn more about Services to Enhance Potential by visiting www.stepcentral.org or emailing Steve Slayton at sslayton@stepcentral.org

Livonia Stevenson High School Turns 50 Three-Day Celebration Planned

Thousands of alumni from Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Livonia are expected to celebrate the school’s 50th anniversary with a weekend of activities including the homecoming football game against rival Churchill High School.

“We plan to acknowledge and celebrate the 50 years of the consistently high level of academic, athletic and performing arts achievement as well as our outstanding alumni and our supportive community,” said retired principal Jim Gibbons, who spearheaded the planning efforts for the celebration.

The events will kick off on Thursday, October 22 with a commemorative dedication ceremony at 7 pm in the Stevenson Competition Gym. The event will be attended by school officials, students and local leaders but is also open to the public. A faculty and staff reunion and reception will follow in the north cafeteria.

On Friday, October 23, the Spartans will host Livonia Churchill in the annual Stevenson Homecoming Game at 7 PM. Alumni classes and groups will gather at the stadium before and during the game and some will participate in a parade of alumni around the track by decade and grad year. Local businesses and alumni vendors will be on hand for the evening.

Saturday, October 24, from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM an all class reunion will be held in the Field House and the school building will be available for an open house. The set up will be similar to Friday evening with vendors and alumni gathering in the Field House. Music and Performing Arts, Student Leadership, Global Education and Athletics will host their alumni in designated areas of the school.

“Our events will commemorate Stevenson High School’s unique and high profile beginning as the first high school in the country to be named after Adlai E. Stevenson and to one of a few, if not the only high school, to be dedicated by the sitting Vice President, Hubert H. Humphrey,” said Gibbons.

Several sponsorship opportunities are available. All proceeds will cover the costs of the celebration and anything extra will be donated back to the school. For more information visit Livonia Stevenson 50th Web Page or email shs50@livoniapublicschools.org.

We encourage alumni and former staff members to connect via the Livonia Stevenson 50th Web Page and to spread the word.

"It's a really exciting opportunity to be able to take a look back at a half century of history at a place that I have been associated with for over half my life, between being a teacher and a student." stated Craig Barker, SHS '96.

STATE ADVISOR LISTENS TO LOCAL LEADERS ABOUT FUTURE WORKERS

Business, education, and elected leaders from several western Wayne County communities bent the ear of Governor Rick Snyder’s top advisor on workforce development on Tuesday, July 28.

Michigan Talent Investment Agency’s Stephanie Comai

 and AlphaUSA’s Chuck Dardas listen to the workforce
discussion with leaders from across Western Wayne County. 

Stephanie Comai, director of the newly created Michigan Talent Investment Agency, met for two hours with a group from Livonia, Westland, Wayne, Northville, Plymouth and Canton at Schoolcraft College. The focus was on the state’s shortage of young people pursuing careers in skilled trades, technology, and construction. Most of these positions only require one or two years of post-secondary education, and often pay more than many who earn a bachelor’s degree.

“Locally, statewide and nationally, we are all looking for talent but we are concerned the feedstock is dwindling in our workspace,” said Chuck Dardas, president and COO of Livonia-based manufacturer AlphaUSA.

Comai said her agency, created by the Governor in March, is charged with developing state initiatives that better prepares young people for in-demand jobs.

“We need to overcome the stereotypes that exist about skilled trades,” Comai said. “We plan to begin focus groups with parents to identify what they need to hear so they encourage their children to look at these careers.”

Paul Bohn, a lawyer and partner with the Northville-based firm Fausone Bohn, said there are programming gaps in education and there are unreasonable state demands for professionals to teach career technical education (CTE) classes.

“Guys like Chuck Dardas, who is an accountant and successful chief executive of a manufacturing company for many years is not ‘qualified’ to teach a business class in a Michigan school,” Bohn said.

Comai acknowledged CTE certification requirements are “horrifying.”

Educators detailed challenges they face promoting CTE and science, technology, engineering, and math programs (STEM).  With the need for education cuts in recent years, educators said limited demand for such curriculum made CTE programs an easy target for the budget ax. Additionally, local educators identified other issues:

Mark Bondy, who runs CTE programs for Plymouth-Canton Community Schools, said the district recently used $1.5 million from a bond issue to enhance STEM labs, but there are not enough students using these labs.

Ann Owen, principal of Livonia’s Emerson Middle School, said she consistently sees seventh and eighth graders drop out of school. She suggested more active and engaging classes, such as robust shop classes, might keep these at-risk students in school.

Dr. Michele Harmala, superintendent of Wayne-Westland schools, said technical education is primarily discussed at high school and college level, but it needs to be introduced at younger ages, which may entice more students to these careers. 

Employers like Ted Barker, who runs Livonia-based Shaw Construction and Management Co., said there is a lack of awareness about opportunities in his industry.

“We have a lot of employees who make a very good living working for us, and only two of them have a bachelor’s degree,” Barker said.

Harmala said CTE is a less-expensive option for parents concerned about the costs of their child’s college education. And in many cases, Harmala added a motivated, experienced young worker with an associate’s degree will have a chance to earn a business, engineering, or management bachelor’s degree with the expense covered by their employer. 

Other leaders involved in the discussion included: Dr. Randy Liepa, the outgoing Livonia schools superintendent who will soon lead Wayne RESA; Dr. Michael Meissen, superintendent of Plymouth-Canton schools; Mayor Jack Kirksey of Livonia; Supervisor Phil LaJoy of Canton Township; and Supervisor Shannon Price of Plymouth Township.

‘MOM-AND-POP SHOPS’

There are more in Livonia than many realize

There has been a lot of talk this summer about the concept of creating a downtown Livonia.

The effort by a group of Livonia residents, who call themselves the Livonia Downtown Partnership, started with a focus on a potential redevelopment of the Kmart site at Seven Mile and Farmington. However, the ideas grew to seek trendy retail and restaurant redevelopments at other locations, and a coordinated series of modern redevelopments along all of Farmington Road.

There will be much debate in the future about what can and cannot be done, but this group should be applauded for their enthusiasm and collaboration with a goal of making Livonia a better place.

One common message that came from the ideas gathered by this group was the desire for more “mom and pop shops,” and less chain stores and restaurants. Ideally, their vision of a “downtown-like” development would include several unique stores and restaurants.

Livonia already has a number of family-owned, unique stores and restaurants – they are just scattered across our 36-square-mile city.

Here is a starting list of independently-run operated shops and restaurants in Livonia.

Joe’s Produce, in its 70th year, is one of metro Detroit’s premier food stores. Blazo’s Pie Shoppe offers fresh-made pies and other Michigan-made products next to Senate Coney Island. The recently-expanded Wine Palace includes fresh-made food. Town Peddler on Plymouth Road has been known for its knick-knacks for years. Colleen’s Gaelic Gifts on Farmington Road has featured its Irish inventory for more than a decade.

My Hobby Place on Plymouth at Farmington is a comfortable place to buy toys. Laurel Park Place Mall is a comfortable size shopping center with several independent stores, such as Pro Sports Zone and The Olive Store. The TRI Shop, a triathlete specialty store on Plymouth near Levan. Bill and Rod’s Appliance store on Middlebelt features cooking demonstrations, and d.vine fine wines on Haggerty has a comprehensive focus on unique wines.

Livonia has a number of independently-run restaurants. On Plymouth Road, there is Mama Mia’s, which is undergoing renovations, Annie’s Family Restaurant, Archie’s, Luigi’s Pizza Café, the historic Daly’s restaurant, Las Palapas Mexican Restaurant, and Thomas’ Family Restaurant. There’s Steve’s Family Dining on Middlebelt, G. Subu’s Leather Bottle on Farmington, Tahini Mediterranean Bakery and Grill on Haggerty, and the quaint Blue Plate Diner on Seven Mile.

Livonia features some famous carry-out places with the Detroit Bagel Co., Bates Hamburgers, Tony Baloney’s sub shop, Primo’s Pizza, and the Dairy Barn.

And there is a variety of bars in Livonia: The craft beer selection at One Under, the famous hamburgers at Mason’s, and the revamped sports watching and dining venues at George Murphy’s, Coaches Corner, Time Out Bar and Grill, and O’Malley’s.

This is just to name a few. The bottom line: Livonia has a lot of great places to shop, dine, and have fun – probably more of a selection than most suburban communities. You just might have to take a quick drive to get there. 

Joe’s Produce celebrates 70th anniversary

Today, Joe’s Produce has 31,000 square feet to display fruits,
vegetables, baked goods, prepared meals,
 and variety of beverages.

Livonians have visited the same Seven Mile Road location to buy fruit longer than they’ve been going to city hall.

As one of Livonia’s longest-lasting businesses, Joe’s Produce celebrated its 70^th anniversary Aug. 1 with a customer appreciation.

“We’ve grown with the community,” said Joe Maiorana Jr., the operation’s third-generation owner. “We’ve always had a great customer base here in Livonia, and we would not have lasted this long without our many loyal customers in this town.”

A young Joe Maiorana Jr. stands with her grandmother,
Frances, in front of the Maiorana Orchards
fruit stand on in the early-1960s.

Joe’s grandfather, Gaspare Maiorana purchased a 40-acre farm off Seven Mile in 1945 – five years before Livonia chartered as a city. On this farm, Gaspare built a fruit stand where he sold items he harvested from the farm which was known as Maiorana Orchards.

Gaspare’s son, Joe, built a 6,500-square-foot store on farm property in 1967 and called it Joe’s Produce. The new building enabled the family business to offer more products for its customers, such as vegetables and dairy items. He expanded the store in 1985 with another 12,000 square feet for more refrigerated products and prepared salads.

Owner Joe Maiorana Jr. stands with
Produce Manager George Gjnoaj.

Joe Maiorana Sr. retired in 1997 and turned things over to his son. Joe Jr. oversaw another expansion, completed in spring 2007, which added another 12,500 square feet for larger displays and aisles, new sections for deli, prepared hot and cold meals, specialty baked goods and coffee. The building’s exterior was also renovated. The Livonia Chamber of Commerce recognized Joe’s Produce for this project with a Livonia Community Enhancement Award.

Joe Maiorana Jr. said adding prepared foods enabled the business to branch out and offer more services. A catering operation, Joe’s Gourmet Catering, developed in 2007. Two new food stores emerged in the adjacent strip center in 2012 with Joe’s Meat and Seafood and Art of Bread.

Joe’s Produce expanded its services by adding
 Joe’s Meats and Seafood and Art of Bread in 2012.

“Having the fresh meat and fresh bread available here all the time is good for our customers and our catering operation,” Maiorana said. “Not many catering operations can say everything was made from scratch at one place.”

Dan West, president of the Livonia Chamber of Commerce, said people travel from miles away to shop at any of the Joe’s stores because they know they are buying quality products.

“Joe’s Produce is one of Livonia’s signature businesses,” West said.

Joe Maiorana Jr. stands in front of at the
entrance into Joe’s Produce, featuring an
outdoor display as tribute to the fruit
 stand his grandfather built to
start the family business.

Maiorana credits his staff of 150 employees for the continued success of the store, many of whom are veteran employees such as produce manager George Gjonaj, who has worked at the store for 28 years. He also praises the work of 14 trained culinarians and other conscious managers.

“They are meticulous and take their time to do a good job,” Maiorana said. “They always talk about how they are willing to experiment and try to do things differently, to keep things fresh.”

Seven decades in business is an enormous sense of pride for the Maiorana family, many of whom worked on the farm or in the store. As a boy, Maiorana remembers a poignant comment his father made to him in 1970. He pointed to a Joe’s Produce logo and said: “That’s what you’re going to do.”

Today, Joe Sr. is enjoying retired life in Florida, but visits and embraces the decisions that helped Joe’s Produce evolve from a family farm into one of metro Detroit’s premier food markets. 

“My dad really likes the changes,” Joe Jr. said. “My grandfather would also be impressed.”