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Cheryl Chandler
From new hires and promotions to industry awards, here’s a roundup of achievements by businesses and individuals in the greater Ann Arbor area:
• Cheryl L. Chandler, an attorney and shareholder with the Ann Arbor office of law firm Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge, was chosen for Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s Leaders in the Law, Class of 2013. The list of Leaders in the Law consists of 30 top attorneys who practice in Michigan. Selections are based on the nominees’ records of legal success, community and legal achievements, and also each nominee’s passion and activity on behalf of clients and the community. An awards luncheon will be held March 21 at the Detroit Marriott in Troy.
• Gross Electric received the 2012 Shade Job of the Year Award from Lutron Electronics. The award, which is part of a national competition among lighting showrooms, was presented at the 2013 Dallas International Lighting Market in January. Mike Feather, Lighting Controls Specialist at Gross Electric, was responsible for implementing Lutron shading systems for a remodeling job in Toledo. Gross Electric is a family-owned and operated lighting and electrical supply distributor with stores in Toledo and Ann Arbor.
• University of Michigan professor Michael Traugott, a nationally recognized expert in political communication and polls, is assisting the Gallup Organization with reviewing its survey methodology used in political polling. According to Gallup officials, they will review their methodology used over the years in the context of last November's elections. Some aspects include cell phone sampling, registered voter and "likely voter" screening processes, measurement of early voting and the impact of campaign contact and get-out-the-vote efforts on the final voting electorate.
• Saline District Library teen librarian Katie Mitchell was chosen to serve on the Amelia Bloomer Project, an American Library Association Social Responsibilities Round Table Task Force. The 2013 Amelia Bloomer List was announced at the conclusion of ALA’s midwinter meeting in Seattle in late January. The task force consists of 10 librarians throughout the country who review books with significant feminist characters and content.
• Tecumseh Products Co., an Ann Arbor-based manufacturer of compressors and related products, recently named Stephanie Hickman Boyse to the company's board of directors. Boyse has served as president and CEO of Brazeway Inc. since 2007. Brazeway manufactures frost-free evaporators for household refrigeration, and extruded aluminum tubing and heat transfer components for the HVAC and other industries.
• Paul Krutko, president and CEO of Ann Arbor SPARK, has been named March of Dimes chair for Washtenaw County.
• Investment firm, First American Securities recently announced the opening of a new office in Ann Arbor. Joining the firm is financial advisor Phillip C. Mekas. Additionally, Linda Gmeiner has joined the firm supporting Mekas as his sales assistant.
• Atlanta-based AutoTrader Group, a digital automotive marketplace and provider of marketing services and software to automotive dealers throughout the U.S., has acquired Automotive Information Systems, a provider of auto incentive integration, headquartered in Ann Arbor.
• Darby Kolano was promoted to sales manager of Charles Reinhart Company Realtors’ Saline office.
• EP2 Investment Holdings LLC Feb. 4 announced that its proposal for the IHA Domino’s Farms Medical Center to be located on the grounds of the Domino’s Farms Office Park has been approved by the Ann Arbor Township Planning Commission and will commence in April 2013 with a ground-breaking ceremony at the location on Whitehall Road. IHA is a large multi-specialty physicians group based in Michigan. Lindhout Associates of Brighton was selected as the architectural firm, and AIMS Group Inc. of Livonia will construct the three-story, 44,000 square-foot facility. The project has an estimated completion date of spring 2014.
• Ann Arbor creative firm Hile Design received a gold ADDY in the category of "Elements of Advertising: Visual - Animation or Special Effects" for its "Open Doors" animation promoting Scio Township. The animation went on to take "Best in Show" across all categories in the regional competition featuring firms from the greater Flint and Ann Arbor areas.
• In a joint effort, the Milan Football Boosters and local auto dealership Schultz Motors teamed up to raise $2,600 for the boosters’ coffers in a single afternoon by hosting a “Ride and Drive” event featuring new Dodge vehicles. The vehicles were displayed outside Joe O'Donnell Field while test drives took place on Milan High School’s Big Red Drive. The national program, sponsored by Dodge, provided $20 to charity for each drive.
• Arbor Hospice and The Arbor Hospice Foundation recently welcomed new officers and members to their boards of directors for 2013. Joining the Arbor Hospice board of directors as new members are Keith Burmeister of St. Joseph Mercy Health System in Ypsilanti; the Rev. Rodrick K. Green of Ypsilanti; Dr. John Nicklas of Ann Arbor; Dr. Susan Urba of the University of Michigan Health System in Ann Arbor; and Swatee B. Kulkarni of Saline. Newly-elected officers to The Arbor Hospice Foundation board of directors are Todd Kephart of Retirement Income Solutions Inc. in Ann Arbor, chair; Kirk Albert of KeyBank in Ann Arbor, vice chair; and Anthony Derezinski of Ann Arbor, secretary. Joining them on the Arbor Hospice Foundation board of directors as new members are Brian Campbell of Campbell Industries in Ann Arbor, Rosemary Frenza of Legacy Law Center in Ann Arbor and Elena Stegemann of NuStep in Ann Arbor.
• The Ypsilanti Area Jaycees were honored by the Michigan Junior Chamber for attaining Blue Chip status at the Jaycees' 2012 Year-End Assembly held here on Feb. 8-10. The Blue Chip designation is given to chapters in recognition of balanced programming across the Junior Chamber areas of opportunity. Members of the Ypsilanti Area Jaycees were also recognized for outstanding accomplishments in several areas. Joseph Auker was recognized for the Business Relations Project of the Year by the Michigan Jaycees. Heather Durio's Cake Decorating project was recognized at the Personal Development Project of the Year. Additionally, several Ypsilanti Area Jaycees members took home honors as statewide competitions winners for 2012. James Dreher was named the Prepared Write-Up winner for the Michigan Jaycees. Lindsey Hall took home state honors in the Jay-Tube competition, a video competition that allowed members to create a video about any aspect of the Junior Chamber movement. The team of Joseph Auker, Amelia Deschamps and Robert Haeske were named the Michigan Junior Chamber's Debate winners for the year. The Michigan Jaycees' Chapter Activities Project of the 3rd Trimester was awarded to Ypsi's Play Date, chaired by Jennifer Vroom. Toni Auker and James Dreher were both recognized in the Michigan Jaycees' Auxiliary Officers Parade for the third trimester. Auker placed fifth, and Dreher placed third in the parade.
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