Stephen Rapundalo
From new hires and promotions to industry awards, here's a roundup of achievements by businesses and individuals in the greater Ann Arbor area:
• MichBio, the biosciences industry association in Michigan, announced that its president and CEO Stephen Rapundalo participated in the White House Business Council and Business Forward briefing held on June 1. The White House Business Council hosted business leaders from Michigan at the White House to discuss the state of Michigan's business landscape and how to get the private sector and government collaborating more effectively to foster innovation and job creation within the state. MichBio is a trade association based in Ann Arbor, with the aim of driving growth in Michigan's biosciences industry. Also attending was Fluency Media CEO Tim Schaden. Schaden is an active angel investor in Michigan startups and participates on several economic development panels including SPARK, Ann Arbor's economic development and business incubator. Ann Arbor-based Fluency Media develops and implements online marketing programs for mid-to-large sized companies and institutions.
• Since April, The Chop House in Ann Arbor has been the pilot location for a unique web-based menu system, called Menuvative interactive menu tablets. A 10-inch digital screen displays an interactive menu that includes a chef’s full description with an accompanying photograph, food and wine pairings and the potential to offer nutritional and allergy information. The Chop House's parent company, Mainstreet Ventures, will next launch Menuvative at its Chop Houses in Grand Rapids, Annapolis, Md. and Charleston, W.Va. Menuvative is soon to launch at the Real Seafood Company in Ann Arbor as well.
• LifeSecure Insurance Co. partnered with the Livingston County Senior Nutrition Program sponsored a June 2 race event, called Miles for Meals, to support the local Meals on Wheels program, which serves seniors in Livingston, Washtenaw and Oakland counties. The June 2 event took place at Kensington Metropark in Milford. LifeSecure Insurance Company is based in Brighton.
• Detroit international Auto Salons hosted a press conference on May 24 in Dearborn, announcing the expansion of the Detroit International Advanced Manufacturing Technology Show (headquartered in Ann Arbor) during its second year and the creation of a new auto show, the Detroit International Classic Car Show. DICCS focuses on classic cars, aftermarket auto parts and special equipment. DIAMTS debuted last year, and organizers expect even larger attendance at an auto show aimed at allowing manufacturers of advanced technology from Michigan and the United States to show off their products. Last year, DIAMTS attracted more than 1,000 overseas purchasers to Detroit.
• Ann Arbor-based ReCellular Inc. announced May 30 that it has entered into an agreement with OVATION Wireless Management to be their exclusive provider of data security and wireless device recycling services. ReCellular will use its Data Eraser software to clear personal data and then resell wireless handsets and other portable electronics. In related news from ReCellular, Woody Anderson joined the company's senior leadership team as vice president of e-commerce. Additionally, ReCellular announced May 31 that it has joined the Device Renewal Forum as an executive board member. The DRF is open to companies and organizations worldwide that want to make a positive and significant impact on the environment and future of the wireless industry.
• Ann Arbor-based Edward Surovell Realtors was recently ranked as the top real estate agency in the Ann Arbor area by industry magazine Real Trends 500. The ranking is based on transactions closed. Edward Surovell Realtors was ranked nationally as 155th largest residential real estate company, as measured by the number of closed transactions reported in 2011. Among other rankings published in Real Trends 500, Edward Surovell was listed as the nation’s 57th largest independent company (not franchised) by number of transactions. Edward Surovell Realtors was also ranked 157 out of 300 on a report from another real estate industry magazine, RIS Media’s “Power Broker Report.” Founded in 1982, Edward Surovell Realtors today has 10 offices in Ann Arbor, Chelsea, Manchester, Jackson, Tecumseh, Adrian, Manitou Beach, Monroe, Carleton and Northville.
• Huron Valley Financial, a mortgage business based in Ann Arbor, recently added two to its staff. Bryan L. Ely joined HVF as a DE underwriter. Robin Fahmie joined HVF in Ann Arbor as loan officer.
• The University of Michigan was recently named to The Princeton Review's Guide to 322 Green Colleges: 2012 Edition, which profiles institutions of higher education in the United States and Canada that demonstrate notable commitments to sustainability in their academic offerings, campus infrastructure, activities and career preparation.
• The University of Michigan Health System was recognized among 319 companies as one of the top places to work in the nation in a survey conducted by WorkplaceDynamics Inc. The national winners were selected from among 30 regional top workplaces programs. The full list is available at http://www.topworkplaces.com/frontend.php/national/standard.
• Copywriter Ryan Gast recently joined the creative team at re:group, an independent marketing agency located in Ann Arbor.
• Employees of Chelsea State Bank recently provided a donation to local nonprofit Faith in Action when FIA put out a call for help restocking its food pantry in the wake of the mid-March tornado that destroyed dwellings in Dexter and put an extra-heavy burden on local social service organizations. In July, Chelsea State Bank employees kicked off a casual day fund-raising effort, Blue Jeans for Charity, in which employees kicked in $3 per person to allow them to wear jeans to work on the second and fourth Friday of the month. Over the course of the fundraiser, bank employees raised $650, which was donated to FIA to help restock staple foods. Chelsea State Bank is a full service financial institution with offices in Chelsea and Dexter.
Email items for People & Achievements to business@annarbor.com. Sign up for the weekly Business Review email newsletter here.