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Thursday, Aug. 22, 2013 Health campus planned for Kalamazoo has a full plate of possibilities Can Michigan residents sue magazine publishers who sell their data? Judge to decide Tax law seeks fairness between online, Main Street retailers Talent pool, UM tie prompt Chicago logistics firm to open Ann Arbor office Targeting Medicare fraud in Detroit Chris Gautz Lawmakers may leave roads decision to voters Michigan's top charter school organization to add Detroit schools Michigan tries to be clearer about no-smoking rule at restaurants with outdoor seating Guardianship Services in Wayne County Estimated value of contract: Maximum $900,000 for three years Medical Supplies Estimated value of current contract: $14,182,004 Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Contract Status: Currently out for bid on www.Buy4Michigan.com Moving of Office Equipment and Supplies Estimated value of current contract: $750,000 Crain's highlights these contracting opportunities with the state of Michigan every week in this space. View key details at crainsdetroit.com/contractopps.

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The Marketing and Sales Executives of Detroit (MSED) has announced its officers, board of directors and committee chairs for the 2013-2014 program year.  

 

Named officers for the organization are:

 

•·         President – Thomas VanderLaan, vice president, business dev., AVL  Powertrain Engineering, Plymouth;

•·         Treasurer – Joseph Melnick, strategic business development programs advisor, Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn, Detroit; and

•·         Executive Director – Ann Bruttell, president, Meeting Coordinators Inc., Troy.

 

Elected to the 2013-2014 board of directors are:

 

•·         Director – Gerald Bricker, principal, Aadvise Consulting LLC, Northville;

•·         Director – Tracy Fashing, director, sales and marketing, The Townsend Hotel, Birmingham;

•·         Director – Grant Faulkner, sales director, IHS Automotive, Northville;

•·         Director – Susan Gibson, executive director, sales and community initiatives, Corp! Magazine, Warren;

•·         Director & Awards Committee Chair – David Harries, president, Spartan Marketing Services, Rochester Hills;

•·         Director – Anthony Lovell, global vice president, sales and marketing, Grede Holdings, Southfield.;

•·         Director – Fred Meinberg, president, Techworld Language Services, Troy;

•·         Director – James Seta, vice president, N.A. Chassis, Powertrain and Electrical, SKF Automotive, Plymouth;

•·         Director – Gwyn Starr, sales executive, Priority Health, Farmington Hills;

•·         Director – Wim van Acker, partner, The Hunter Group LLC, Bloomfield Hills; and

•·         Director – Lori Jo Vest, president, LJV Consulting LLC, Troy

 

Named as committee chairs are:

 

•·         Chair, Golf – David Braun, regional account director, Adecco N.A., Southfield; and

•·         Chair, Education Committee – Kathryn Brennan, president, The Brennan Group, Detroit

 

NEWS | CRAIN'S AWARDS | LISTS/RESOURCES | COLUMNS | BLOGS | EVENTS

Brought to you by The Marketing and Sales Executives of Detroit

Thursday, July 25, 2013 Michigan communities mix planning, patience in revival of vacant GM sites National retailers, restaurants look to open and expand in Michigan Rising Michigan Economic Activity Index points to ongoing improvement Chris Gautz Amid legal efforts to block right-to-work, it remains the law MEDC defends awarding out-of-state bid to publish travel guide OTHER VOICES: Biz courts hold great promise for state Perimeter security CCTV and lighting upgrades Contract status: Currently out to bid on Buy4Michigan.com Drug testing, off-site urine screening and confirmation Estimated value of current contract: $900,000 Claims Processing and Administration – Retiree Vision Care Plan Estimated value of current contract: $36,068,000 Crain's highlights these contracting opportunities with the state of Michigan every week in this space. View key details at crainsdetroit.com/contractopps. Advertisement Be recognized for your healthy workplace practices. Nominations are open for the Michigan’s Healthiest Employers Awards. Enter at crainsdetroit.com/nominate. Deadline: Aug. 16.

TROY, Mich., June 25, 2013:  The Board of Directors of the Original Equipment Suppliers Association (OESA) today announced the appointment of Julie A. Fream to president and chief executive officer, effective Tuesday, Oct. 1, at which time she will also join the Board of Directors. Effective on the same date, current President and CEO Cornelius (Neil) De Koker will be named president emeritus.
 
“I am very proud to be chosen to lead OESA,” said Fream. “OESA provides services of critical importance to suppliers. The OESA staff is dedicated to providing outstanding support to its members and that tradition will continue. I am looking forward to working with our members and staff to continue to grow the quality and value of our services to meet the needs for the future of this global industry.”
 
“Today, OESA represents 450 member companies who provide over 70 percent of the products used to build new vehicles in North America. I feel now is the right time to turn over the leadership of the association to Julie Fream,” said De Koker, who served as OESA’s founding president and CEO. “Julie brings a proven track record of building strong, long-lasting relationships and a collaborative nature in working with customers and with staff. I foresee continued growth in member services for many years to come”.
 
“Thanks to Neil’s leadership, OESA has truly become an outstanding asset to the industry and its members,” said Bob McKenna, president and CEO of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA). “Julie Fream is a proven leader. We are confident that, under Julie’s leadership, OESA will continue to be an effective voice for the OE supplier industry,” stated McKenna.
 
Fream has served in a number of positions in her 30 years in the automotive industry including positions in manufacturing, sales and marketing at General Motors Corp.; marketing and product planning at Ford Motor Co.; planning, sales and marketing and business development at TRW; and corporate strategy, global communications, sales and marketing at Visteon where she became a corporate officer in 2004.
 
Fream holds a bachelor of science in chemical engineering from Michigan Technological University and an MBA from the Harvard Business School. She also serves as a trustee on the boards of Oakwood Health, Inc. and the Michigan Technological University.
 
The search to transition OESA’s executive position was successfully conducted by Egon Zehnder, the trusted advisor to many of the world’s most respected organizations and a leading executive search firm with more than 420 consultants and 66 offices in 40 countries across all continents.
 
About OESA
Formed in August 1998, OESA provides a forum for automotive suppliers by addressing issues of common concern through peer group councils, serving as a reliable source of information and analysis, providing an industry voice on issues of interest and serving as a positive change agent to the automotive industry. With 450 member companies having global automotive sales exceeding $300 billion, OESA represents more than 70 percent of North American automotive supplier sales. For more information, visit www.oesa.org. OESA is an affiliate of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association.
 
About MEMA
Founded in 1904, MEMA represents its members through four affiliate associations: Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA); Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association (HDMA); Motor and Equipment Remanufacturers Association (MERA); and, Original Equipment Suppliers Association (OESA). For more information on the motor vehicle parts supplier industry, visit www.mema.org. 

The Marketing & Sales Executives of Detroit (MSED) is accepting nominations of top-performing marketing and sales professionals in southeastern Michigan for the organization’s coveted Platinum Awards.

 

Two Platinum Award winners – one individual and one team – will be honored at MSED’s 20th Annual Black-Tie Gala Dinner in October. The awards recognize work which led to the awarding or generation of new business and/or cost savings from Jan. 1, 2012 through June 1, 2013.  Nomin do not have to be MSED members.

 

Past Platinum Award winners include: Borg Warner; Rugged Liner; Reliance One; Dow Automotive; CSM Worldwide; Priority Health; Grede Holdings; SKF; and Rehmann.

 

The award nomination form can be downloaded through the Platinum Page on the MSED Website. The completed nomination, along with any additional information about the nominee, should be emailed to meetings@meeting-coordinators.com.

 

According to Len Damico, chairman of the 2013 MSED Platinum Awards and executive vice president, H. C. Olsen & Associates, the Platinum Awards celebrate the area’s best marketing and sales professionals with publicity and recognition from their peers in the industry.

 

“In these very challenging economic times, this is an excellent opportunity for individuals and teams from southeast Michigan-based businesses to showcase how their sales and marketing initiatives made a meaningful difference to their companies’ bottom line,” Damico said.

 

Nominees will be evaluated by MSED judges based on their achievements in increasing or maintaining sales, using creative problem-solving methods, reaching or exceeding company goals, impacting a business or industry, and exhibiting exemplary teamwork or leadership as an individual, including distinguishing oneself from the competition during 2012 and the first part of this year.

 

A group of finalists will be selected from the nominees and interviewed by a panel of judges, with the winning individual and team being acknowledged at MSED’s Annual Black-Tie Gala Dinner in October.

 

The Platinum Awards are sponsored again this year by Corp! Magazine.

 

For more information on the MSED Platinum Award nominations, event sponsorships or advertising opportunities, contact Meeting Coordinators at 248-643-6590 or visit the MSED website.

TROY, Mich., March 18, 2013– In a move to strengthen strategic capabilities and consolidate all public relations functions with one organization, Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies has selected Bianchi Public Relations, Inc. to support its corporate and brand communications, including Automotive Seals and Simrit, among others.

 

The announcement was made by Cheryl Eberwein, director, Corporate Communications, Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies, and James A. Bianchi, firm president.

 

The PR firm, which specializes in media relations in the industrial and automotive sectors, has been working with the company’s Simrit sales channel since 2003. Bianchi PR also provided ongoing PR support for Freudenberg-NOK’s corporate and automotive activities from 1992 to 2006. 

 

Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies, with 2012 sales of nearly $1 billion, is part of the worldwide Freudenberg Group, a family-owned group of companies generating revenues of approximately $8 billion annually with more than 37,000 associates in 58 countries around the globe. Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is the Americas joint venture between the Freudenberg Group and NOK Corp. of Japan, and was established in 1989.  The company's products and services support global customers in 32 different industrial sectors through five sales channels:  Freudenberg-NOK Automotive Sales (automotive industry/original equipment); Corteco (automotive industry/independent aftermarket); Simrit (general industry); Merkel (heavy industry); and Process Seals (processing technology).

 

Together with its partners the NOK Corp., Sigma Freudenberg NOK (India) and the NOK-Freudenberg Group (China), the company has a global network focused on supplying customers with products of identical world-class quality no matter where they are doing business.

 

About Bianchi PR

An award-winning PR agency based in Troy, Mich., Bianchi Public Relations is among the top five independent PR firms based in southeast Michigan, according to PRWeek magazine’s rankings. Founded in 1992 by veteran PR professional and PRSA-Detroit Hall of Fame honoree Jim Bianchi, the firm offers national reach and local specialization. It is an affiliate of The PR Collective, a public relations network of more than 25 independent agencies across North America.

 

With special focus on the business-to-business realm, the firm has represented clients in the aftermarket, association, automotive, consulting, defense, design, e-business, education, engineering, industrial, legal, manufacturing, not-for-profit, professional services and technology sectors. For more information, visit www.bianchipr.com or call 248-269-1122.

Corp! Magazine Opinion Page Editorial by Richard Blanchard citing the 2012 MSED Gala.

 

12-01-2012 - Corp! Event Coverage.pdf

In recognition of his contributions to the public relations profession in the Detroit area over the past 30 years, James A. Bianchi, president of Bianchi Public Relations, Inc. of Troy, was recently inducted into the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Detroit Chapter’s Hall of Fame. He was honored at the organization’s annual meeting Thursday, Nov. 8 at the Dearborn Inn.

 

Induction into the PRSA Detroit Hall of Fame is considered the chapter’s highest honor, reflecting a PR practitioner’s significant contribution to the profession, the PRSA Detroit Chapter and the community. Nominees are evaluated and selected for induction by the Chapter’s Senior Council, a group of PR veterans with 20 or more years of experience.

 

“I’m both humbled and honored that my peers have selected me for the Hall of Fame, especially as the group includes some Detroit PR legends I have respected and admired for years,” Bianchi said. “I look forward to continuing our support of PRSA Detroit and I plan to spend the next 20 years trying to live up to this recognition.”

 

Bianchi founded Bianchi Public Relations in 1992, after six years as PR manager with the former Fortune 200 transportation manufacturer, Fruehauf Corporation, and another six years leading automotive and industrial account teams at another Detroit-area PR firm.

 

Recently celebrating its 20^th anniversary, Bianchi PR specializes in the automotive, industrial and business-to-business segments, and has grown to represent such well-known clients as Johnson Controls, TRW Automotive, Cooper Standard, 3M and BASF.

 

In 2003, Bianchi was the first recipient of the Wayne State University (WSU) Department of Communication Alumni Achievement Award. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism, graduating with distinction from WSU in Detroit.

 

Accredited in public relations by the PRSA, Bianchi is a long-time member of the Detroit Chapter of PRSA, the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Sterling Heights Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Troy Chamber of Commerce, the Automotive Press Association, SAE International, the Truck Writers of North America and the Marketing & Sales Executives of Detroit.

 

About Bianchi PR

An award-winning PR agency based in Troy, Mich., Bianchi Public Relations is among the top five independent PR firms based in southeast Michigan, according to PRWeek magazine’s rankings. Offering national reach and local specialization, the firm is an affiliate of The PR Collective, a public relations network of more than 25 independent agencies across North America.

 

With special expertise in the business-to-business realm, the firm has represented clients in the aftermarket, association, automotive, consulting, defense, design, e-business, education, engineering, industrial, legal, manufacturing, not-for-profit, professional services and technology sectors. For more information, visit www.bianchipr.com or call 248-269-1122.

The Marketing & Sales Executives of Detroit (MSED) recently honored several professionals for sales and marketing excellence at the 19^th annual MSED Black-Tie Gala Dinner held Thursday, October 18 at the Roostertail in Detroit.

 

At the Gala, Jay Farner, president and chief marketing officer of Detroit-based Quicken Loans Inc., accepted the MSED Executive Leadership Award. Farner was introduced by Alan Schwartz, vice chairman and partner, Honigman Miller Schwartz & Cohn LLP. Farner was acknowledged for impacting those around him by encouraging them to grow and create.

Farner’s work in the mortgage industry has helped Quicken Loans become the nation’s largest online lender and fourth largest retail lender, closing a record $30 billion in retail home loans in 2011.

 

Saad Chehab, president and CEO, Chrysler Brand for Chrysler Group LLC, received the Trailblazer Award. Chehab was honored in recognition of his ability to create a unprecedented marketing campaign delivering impactful results for his company.

 

Chehab’s leadership on the successful “Born of Fire” commercial and “Imported from Detroit"  campaign resulted in positive attention for the Chrysler brand and the Detroit area.

 

“We congratulate the award winners who have contributed greatly to the successes in their respective industries,” said Dave Harries, chairman of the 2012 MSED Gala and president of Spartan Marketing Services. “It’s important to celebrate the hard work and success of our peers and the Gala gives us that opportunity.” 

 

Also at the Gala, Yannick Greiner, director of international and OEM sales at Rugged Liner, received the individual Platinum Award. The Platinum Award for top team went to Reliance One.

 

Greiner was recognized for creating jobs, expanding manufacturing and building global sales. He started at Rugged Liner in 2010, when it had a purely domestic focus. He has now become the leader in the company’s international growth, while continuing as a member of the East Michigan District Export Council – a position appointed to him by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce – where he helps council Michigan companies in developing export sales.

 

Reliance One, a Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council (MMSDC) certified staffing corporation located in Auburn Hills, was chosen for its successful new marketing initiative created to help the company survive the recent economic downturn. Lead by Jim Beath, president, and Jim Paquette, executive vice president, the initiative helped improved employee productivity and increase revenue over the past year by 50 percent.

 

The Platinum Award finalists were evaluated by a panel of their peers, chaired by Len Damico, executive vice president of sales and marketing at H.C., Olsen & Associates. Factors considered included: nominees’ track records in sales; utilizing new ideas or approaches; meeting challenges imaginatively; exhibiting exemplary teamwork; and impacting a business or industry.

 

The MSED Gala, which is in its 19^th year, celebrates the outstanding achievements of business executives and sales and marketing professionals in southeastern Michigan.  The funds raised by the event allow the organization to provide educational outreach in the metro-Detroit community.

 

“The Gala gives us the chance to do more than acknowledge the accomplishments of the area’s best in marketing and sales,” said Harries. “It also allows us to give back and help future industry professionals through scholarships and education.”

Congratulations to MSED members Damian Gardley, Director of Sales for LG Chem Power Inc., and Sandy Stojkovski, President of Scenaria Inc.  Damian & Sandy were named to the 2012 Crain's List of 40 Under 40.