bodman plc
bodman plc and susan m. kornfield recognized for trademark law excellence by managing intellectual property
bodman plc was named to the state bar of michigan’s 2012 “pro bono circle of excellence. ”
the bodman plc law firm takes a broad view of diversity that goes beyond hiring and retention issues .
on aug. 3, 13 bodman plc attorneys and summer associates teamed up with detroit - based nonprofit life remodeled to lend a helping hand in a detroit neighborhood. photo from bodman plc' s facebook
with more than 150 attorneys in offices throughout michigan, bodman plc has delivered extraordinary results to our clients for more than 85 years .
the law firm bodman plc has been named to the 2015 state bar of michigan’s circle of excellence for its commitment to pro bono and community service .
do not send us confidential information unless and until you have established a formal attorney - client relationship with bodman plc and received authorization from one of our attorneys to send us confidential information .
bodman volunteers spend dr. martin luther king, jr. day serving the community
section and learn why bodman is a great place to start or continue your career .
bodman is one of only two firms in michigan to employ a dedicated to pro bono counsel. kimberley paulson. paulson joined bodman in 2012 to focus on the firm’s pro bono efforts and works directly with individuals and organizations to coordinate these activities .
bodman began its success story with attorneys who played key roles in one of history’s greatest achievements - the birth of the automotive industry .
international work: bodman represents many international clients with business interests in michigan and elsewhere within the united states. bodman attorneys regularly handle a broad range of sophisticated international legal matters: m & a and real estate transactions, joint ventures between us and foreign partners, complex supply arrangements, and international arbitrations .
bodman has deep roots in the motor city. formed by in - house attorneys at ford motor in 1927, today bodman is considered one of detroit' s top firms, and its practices run the gamut, including banking, business, construction, intellectual property, municipal law and finance, real estate and tax .
in 1976, the firm became the first major tenant of an iconic piece of the detroit skyline: the detroit renaissance center. beyond relocating to the renaissance center, the firm went through several changes throughout the 1980’s and 1990’s; the ann arbor firm of dobson, griffin, austin & berman joined bodman in 1988, forming the basis of the firm’s ann arbor office, and the firm became known as bodman, longley, & dahling. shortly after in 1990, a firm called conboy, fell, stack, lieder & hanson became bodman’s northern michigan office, located in cheboygan. the conboy firm’s solid bank regulatory practice strengthened bodman’s ties to michigan’s banking industry. by the end of the millennium, bodman had over one hundred attorneys and was playing a significant role in the development of ford field, the new home of the detroit lions .
bodman' s litigation department is structured so that new attorneys can gain courtroom experience quickly and participate in large litigation matters in meaningful ways as a young associate .
david serves in various leadership roles at the firm. he is a member of bodman’s finance committee, using his expertise internally to help set the strategic direction of the firm’s financial resources .
please do not include any confidential, secret, or sensitive information regarding any potential or actual legal matter in this e - mail message. unsolicited e - mails do not create an attorney - client relationship, and confidential or secret information included in such e - mails cannot be protected from disclosure. bodman plc does not have a duty or a legal obligation to keep any information that you provide to us confidential. our attorneys do not seek to practice law in any jurisdiction in which they are not properly authorized to do so .
“bodman is committed to pro bono work. pro bono assignments allow young attorneys to gain valuable experience, expand their legal skills, and make connections with clients in ways they probably never imagined. ”
in 1933, longley and the firm represented edsel ford in the formation of manufacturers national bank. from its inception to present day, the bank, now known as comerica bank following a merger in 1992, has remained a bodman client. throughout the 1950s, bodman continued its streak of high - profile clients by beginning the firm’s relationship with the detroit lions, who we have continually represented through present day .
bodman is one of michigan’s largest business law firms with more than 150 lawyers in four michigan offices, including one in troy at 201 w big beaver road suite 500. for more information, visit urltoken .
as bodman has grown and expanded through michigan, the firm has adapted with the times as well. in response to the environmental crisis, the firm has recycled 40 tons of office paper since the initiation of their own recycling program in march 2009. u. s. news ranks the firm as a leader in detroit in the banking and finance, commercial litigation, corporate law, employment law, environmental litigation and real estate law arenas. in 2016, benchmark litigation named bodman as the michigan firm of the year and the best lawyers in america named eight bodman attorneys as 2016' s
lawyers of the year .
soon after, bodman’s detroit office made the move from the riverfront renaissance center to its new location: ford field. in recent years, the firm has made significant changes including the formation of several practice groups to better serve our clients and the opening of our west michigan office in grand rapids. today, with ralph e. mcdowell as chairman, bodman continues to uphold a strong standard of legal knowledge, professionalism, and client service .
mr. scavone is chair of bodman’s real estate practice group. he has represented banks and other financial institutions in a wide variety of complex, multi - million dollar, secured loans and other financial arrangements involving real estate .
the state bar recognized bodman at the “leadership level, ” a designation given to firms that contribute more than 30 hours of pro bono work per attorney or give at least $ 500 per attorney in financial donations to approved organizations .
bodman’s business practice group offers a collaborative environment where associates work on a wide range of projects, from serving as an integral part of m & a deal teams to documenting corporate finance transactions to advising on securities law matters .
bodman is committed to diversity in the workplace at all levels of the firm. this commitment to diversity guides our efforts to recruit, retain and advance the best and brightest. to read more about our pledge and activities, visit our
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bodman has been a destination for talented summer associates, lateral candidates, and partners who want to find a home and not merely a stepping stone or point of passage. we look to add outstanding people to our team. our diverse client base and broad practice areas offer many opportunities for those who embrace the bodman commitment to the highest quality legal work and superior client service. we are proud of the work we do and we expect those who join us will share that same pride .
“our diversity programming has also allowed us to enhance our internal culture, creating a greater sense of community, ” said bodman chairman ralph e. mcdowell. “working together as a community, we have implemented programs that enhance inclusiveness and promote community service. ”
before joining bodman, ms. sahu worked as a corporate financial analyst for nationsbank (now bank of america) in charlotte, north carolina. in law school, ms. sahu was the co - article selection coordinator for the michigan journal of gender and law .
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bodman is also strong in municipal matters and public financing, as evidenced by its work for the downtown detroit stadium project. once the stadium was built, the firm stayed in the game by helping the nfl enforce its trademarks and prevent the sale of counterfeit merchandise at the stadium. as if helping erect the home of the detroit lions wasn' t enough for the inhabitants of the great lakes state, bodman also served as bond counsel to the state of michigan in its issuance of one - year notes to fund general operating and education expenses .
major publications have honored bodman attorneys recently for leadership in the profession and in the community. crain’s detroit business recognized michelle thurber czapski and wendy l. zabriskie as “notable women lawyers in michigan” and michigan lawyers weekly honored kathleen o’callaghan hickey as one of the state’s leading “women in the law. ”
we foster a firm culture that emphasizes teamwork, collegiality, and diversity. maintaining a pleasant and inviting atmosphere is the best way to attract and retain the best lawyers, paralegals, and staff. the effectiveness of our approach is proven. many bodman employees have enjoyed careers of forty years or more with the firm .
bodman’s grand rapids office, headed by western michigan attorney floyd e. gates, jr. , has expanded! floyd has been joined by darren j. burmania, banking attorney, and john david gardiner, litigation attorney. the grand rapids office allows the firm to continue to meet and exceed our clients’ needs and expectations across the state .
in 2014, bodman attorneys devoted more than 5, 400 hours of pro bono work to dozens of organizations and individuals. highlights of the firm’s recent efforts include founding and coordinating a legal clinic at detroit’s capuchin soup kitchen and helping launch the wayne county ppo assistance project, which assists victims of domestic violence obtain and defend their personal protection orders .
bodman’s pro bono program has once again been recognized by the state bar of michigan as a member of the 2017 circle of excellence. the firm’s diverse pro bono efforts include direct representation of low - income individuals through referrals, participation in free legal clinics, and service to non - profit organizations and organizations that seek to defend individual civil and constitutional rights .
after working alongside automotive legend henry ford on the ford motor company legal staff, wallace r. middleton and clifford b. longley founded their own firm in 1929. several years later, henry e. bodman, general counsel to the packard motor car company, joined them. henry ford became one of the firm’s first clients, and they were on their way to building a strong reputation for leadership, integrity, and quality .
mr. barton is co - chair of the financial institutions committee of the state bar of michigan’s business law section. he is a member of the business law and real estate law sections of the state bar and has served as president and treasurer of the cheboygan county bar association. mr. barton also serves as a consultant to the michigan bankers association general counsel and commercial lending committees. he serves as the chair of bodman’s community bank industry team .
for over 30 years he has acted as general counsel and trusted advisor to many of michigan’s community banks, working closely with bank ceos and senior management on their day to day legal issues. through his experience and familiarity with the community banking industry and the regulated environment in which it operates, mr. barton is able to quickly and efficiently identify issues and draw upon the diverse expertise and resources of his many bodman colleagues to address any issue or need of our community bank clients .
she is a member of bodman’s executive committee, which manages the firm’s day to day business affairs. she is a member of the state bar of michigan and the state bar of california. she is currently serving as the vice president and treasurer of the board of directors of university yes academy in detroit and volunteers with vip mentoring. she is a past board member of the los angeles chapter of the risk management association and a past board member of african - american attorneys in downtown firms (aaadf) .
the year the model t made its first appearance, wallace middleton and clifford longley, two in - house attorneys at the ford motor company, bid adieu to mr. ford to form their own law firm. the parting was apparently on good terms, as the firm has represented the ford family since 1929. henry bodman, the firm' s namesake, was an attorney for the packard motor car company before joining the practice early in its history. in 1933, the firm helped found the manufacturers national bank of detroit and has since represented the institution, which became comerica incorporated .
as chair of bodman' s automotive and industrial team, mr. deitch oversees the firm’s representation of automotive oems, tier - 1 suppliers, and other major industrial businesses on a global basis. his interdisciplinary team provides comprehensive legal services to automotive clients including corporate organization and governance, automotive commercial matters, litigation and dispute resolution, labor and employment matters, environmental matters, real estate transactions and management, corporate financial matters, and troubled supplier relations. mr. deitch has represented numerous foreign suppliers in connection with their entry into the u. s. market and has been a key advisor on cross - border m & a and joint venture transactions involving parties located throughout the u. s. and in japan, india, mexico, and europe .
clients: bodman has a diverse client base that includes individuals and businesses in a variety of industries, with emphasis on financial services, automotive, real estate, non - profit and charitable institutions, health care, general manufacturing and other sectors. representative clients include: aig / american general; american axle & manufacturing; archdiocese of detroit; bank of america; bharat forge limited; blue cross blue shield of michigan; cerberus capital management; charles stewart mott foundation; citizens bank; city of ann arbor; city of grosse pointe park; comcast cablevision; comerica bank; csx transportation, inc. ; dart energy; the detroit lions, inc. ; fca - us llc (fiat chrysler automobiles); federal - mogul motorparts; flagstar bank f. s. b. ; ford estates; freudenberg north america; grupo kuo; the guardian life insurance co. ; the henry ford; the huntington national bank; lear corp. ; memorial healthcare; meridian health plan; novares us llc; outfront media; pnc bank; pricewaterhousecoopers llp; primerica financial services; pulte homes of michigan; saga communications, inc. ; sparton corporation; st. marys cement corporation; sun pharmaceutical industries; terumo cardiovascular systems corp. ; titan international, inc. ; wells fargo bank .
if you view the accomplishments and listen to the leaders of corp! magazine’s 2015 salute to diversity award winners, it becomes abundantly clear that diversity is far more than a buzzword in the michigan business community .
that said, the definitions of diversity are as varied as the differences among people. however, when this year’s award winners were asked to describe their diversity initiatives, a few common themes emerged :
for some businesses, diversity is so fundamental to their operations that they describe it as being part of their dna — oftentimes literally, such as at the bartech group inc. , whose founder, john w. barfield, was the grandson of alabama sharecroppers who dropped out of school at the age of 16 .
diversity leads to better decision - making outcomes. “as the ‘globe shrinks’ because of technological advances, having an inclusive workplace will help in understanding our differences that would not only help the company be more competitive but also profitable, ” says floriza genautis, ceo of management business solutions .
a diverse workforce helps companies better serve diverse target markets. “our customer community is diverse, so our business model tries to accommodate this reality, ” said alan young, ceo of alan c. young & associates pc .
building a workforce with diversity in mind widens a company’s talent pool. “diversity is much more than race, ” says william pickard, ceo of vitec inc. “to remain competitive, we must hire and retain employees with technical backgrounds and strong work experience. innovation and creativity is required for rapid problem resolution and technology leadership. our experience validates including diverse candidates in our recruiting process does not limit but instead enhances our talent pool. ”
corp! honored this year’s salute to diversity award winners during a sept. 10 conference at the mgm grand detroit in three categories :
diversity focused company, a company that clearly defines and monitors diversity success and demonstrates how diversity efforts add value to the company .
diversity business leader, an individual who is a diversity role model or top officer of a minority - owned business .
diversity champion, a nonprofit or community organization that creates or promotes special programming, education or other initiatives that focuses on diversity .
farmington hills urltoken airea is a preferred haworth office furniture dealer and a minority business enterprise certified business. the company says that it is devoted to developing environments that reflect today’s working culture while planning and forecasting for future change. its workforce is a multidisciplinary group from all walks of life. “we work in customer - focused teams comprised of individuals with diverse backgrounds and strengths that when combined make great things happen, ” the company’s website states .
detroit urltoken diversity is seen in the faces of the principals and other staff members at alan c. young & associates pc, a certified public accounting and consulting firm that counts blacks, whites and people of indian and asian pacific descent among its workforce .
“our customer community is diverse, so our business model tries to accommodate this reality, ” said ceo alan young. “our internal knowledge base is also tremendously enhanced from having so many varied backgrounds in the problem - solution process. for these reasons and more, diversity is important to me and i have made it a mission throughout the firm. ”
the biggest staff event is a multicultural potluck where staff members sample food offerings from many countries, young said, adding that staff retention is high because workers are encouraged to feel comfortable representing their cultural background. young also is proud of the diverse pool of applicants interested in working at the firm .
the bartech group inc. likes to say that diversity is in its dna. its founder, john w. barfield, was the grandson of alabama sharecroppers who dropped out of school at the age of 16. while serving as a custodian at the university of michigan for $ 1. 75 an hour, he promoted the idea that people would pay for his expertise in janitorial services. in 1954, he and his wife, betty, established barfield cleaning company. with numerous contacts within the auto industry, barfield incorporated john barfield & associates in 1977 to provide technical staffing services to the big three automakers. the company changed its name to the bartech group in 1984. bartech was one of the nation’s first minority - owned and operated firms specializing in technical staffing .
“diversity is critical for bartech’s ability to innovate and adapt in a global environment, ” said ceo david w. barfield. “diversity is essential to growth, innovation and success of bartech. we created ‘diversity delivers’ to manage and enhance our clients’ diversity supplier development goals and objectives. bartech is able to provide its clients with increased visibility into their supplier diversity program, access to a wider variety of local, national and international diversity providers, and new strategies for achieving workplace diversity. ”
bartech also prides itself on the contributions the company and its employees make to improve the community. bartech has completed community service projects with the detroit rescue mission ministries, race for the cure, march of dimes, operation good cheer, forgotten harvest, p. a. w. s. of michigan, children’s miracle network, wreaths across america and midnight golf program .
“as a minority - controlled firm, we take our role in the community very seriously and understand the value supplier diversity brings to our clients, ” barfield said. “though our clients are able to count all bartech dollars as tier i diversity spend, we have a strong commitment to helping develop tier ii supplier diversity programs at our client sites with qualified mwbe companies. ”
as a certified woman - owned business, blue chip talent understands that diversity is a key component of this staffing solutions company .
this year, blue chip talent started an intern program specifically for young women. “our goal is to introduce them to the interworking of a business in all areas, ” said ceo nicole pawczuk. ” this supports our priority of promoting women - owned businesses and mentoring young women to be future owners. with this mindset, blue chip talent provides a diverse - friendly atmosphere where every employee is comfortable and their values are respected. ”
businesses that don’t promote a diverse workplace are missing out on an incredible talent pool, pawczuk said .
“not only that, if they did offer a supportive diverse workplace, they would give current employees an avenue to be educated on worldly cultures that they may not get in other parts of their lives, ” she said. “also, we would convince them that knowledge of the unknown / new can only enrich a workplace and result in better or more business. ” the entire blue chip talent team is peer trained through everyday work experiences. the company often has roundtable discussions on how to effectively communicate with potential diverse candidates and to educate employees on the different cultures they experience. blue chip’s paid - time - off program allows employees to use personal time as needed to honor their culture. in addition, the company has quarterly lunches that celebrate different ethnicities and heritages where all team members share a dish that represents them .
“from the first phone call all the way through the interview process, the blue chip talent team is sensitive to any language barriers and / or culture requirements, ” pawczuk said. “this allows for continuous growth and understanding to our entire company. ”
its plan includes supporting local law schools and community organizations. for example, it has conducted employment interview and resume writing skills programs for the black law students association at wayne state university law school and the university of detroit - mercy law school. it also participates with the wolverine bar association, a detroit - based predominantly african - american organization, to identify qualified applicants for its summer law clerk program .
examples include featured faces, a program developed by the firm’s diversity committee that allows colleagues to become familiar with each other through personality profiles that are circulated firmwide and posted on the firm intranet, and interactive diversity training led by an outside consultant .
“the business world is becoming increasingly diverse, ” mcdowell said. “having a talented and diverse workforce expands our ability as a business to connect with the diverse leaders of the business world. also, our existing and prospective clients are placing greater emphasis on diversity and expect demonstrable efforts and results in diversity from their service providers. ”
as a certified minority business enterprise and one of the country’s largest african - american owned firms, bridgewater interiors has a unique obligation to, as its company mission states, “fulfill the ideals of minority business enterprise leadership, ” said ronald e. hall sr. , ceo of the automotive interiors manufacturing company .
“economic opportunity for historically disadvantaged communities is an ongoing challenge, ” he said. “alongside its stakeholders, bridgewater interiors has sought to play a positive role on multiple sides of this societal issue. through providing employment, corporate philanthropy, industry thought leadership and community service from its entire leadership team, bridgewater interiors strongly represents the positive power of diversity and inclusion. ”
since its inception, bridgewater interiors has a been a certified minority business enterprise (mbe), designated as such by the national minority supplier development council. it has received the largest contracts, as measured by revenue, ever awarded an mbe up to that point by each of general motors corp. (1998), ford motor co. (2003) and honda manufacturing of america (2003) .
in 2015, the company became the first black - owned firm to endow a full tuition scholarship at the university of michigan. the bridgewater interiors lead scholarship is now awarded annually to a deserving racial minority candidate from one of the three metropolitan regions where bridgewater conducts business operations .
more than 60 percent of the company’s workforce consists of racial minorities, and more than 30 percent of employees are female. it has proved to be a training ground for racial minority management talent, and many such individuals have been promoted into management from within .
“‘diversity’ and ‘inclusion’ are watchwords at bridgewater interiors, ” hall said. “these are company values that permeate the firm — including entrenchment in its hiring, retention and ongoing training processes — and very much define its culture. current and potential employees, regardless of their race, know that internalizing these concepts is integral to success at the company. from our perspective, the ‘best and brightest individuals’ for the business include persons of every background who embrace these concepts as values. ”
when marcie brogan hit the glass ceiling at a larger agency in the 1980s, she left the corporate world to open her own agency, brogan & partners convergence marketing inc. , which creates and converges advertising, social media and mobile media with an emphasis on brand engagement and a specialty in marketing to women .
brogan was founded in 1984 with the goal of creating opportunities for women and minorities. in addition to its hiring practices, it gives back to organizations that benefit the multicultural population in southeast michigan, including pro bono work for winning futures, a school - based mentoring program, and pro bono work for susan g. komen race for the cure. brogan’s leadership team also sits on boards and committees and volunteers time for organizations that impact a diverse population, including agency volunteer work at cots (coalition on temporary shelter) .
“in order to successfully communicate with a multicultural population, it’s important to have an understanding of that population, ” said ellyn davidson, managing partner. “by employing and working with a group of people that come from different places — including gender, religion, race and ethnicity — we can have a greater understanding of the people that make up the world around us. this understanding gives us greater insight into successful communications programs that bring our clients the results they are looking to achieve. ”
the company stays vigilant in promoting an inclusive workplace by participating in programs such as the multicultural leadership series, a program by new detroit designed to open the dialogue and conversation between detroit’s many cultural groups .
“this program provides education along with networking opportunities to find talent from different backgrounds, ” davidson said. “it gives us an opportunity to tap into different communities when we are looking for new employees. we also do fun programs at the agency such as potlucks where employees are encouraged to bring in a dish representative of their culture. this provides an opportunity for the team to develop a deeper understanding of the cultures that make up the agency. we informally measure the progress by getting regular feedback from our employees. ”
brooks kushman pc is an intellectual property and technology law firm, serving clients nationally and internationally from offices in michigan and california. brooks kushman represents clients of all sizes, ranging from some of the world’s largest corporations to small startups, and provides legal counsel on patent prosecution, ip litigation, post - grant proceedings, trademarks, trade secrets, open source compliance and ip due diligence. company leaders say diversity and inclusiveness are fundamental tenets of the firm. over the years, brooks kushman has been recognized by many legal publications for its diversity efforts. it also was among the select few law firms recognized as a 101 best and brightest company to work for and a top work place in detroit. chief diversity officer sangeeta shah has also received various awards for her efforts and plays an instrumental component in building the practice .
camaco - amvian is the largest independent supplier of engineered seating solutions for the global automotive industry. the company notes on its website that it prides itself on combining advanced engineering, manufacturing expertise and financial strength. it says that its facilities and offices are located strategically around the world to ensure timely distribution. it employs 2, 000 workers in six countries where it has eight factories and four sales and engineering offices .
as one of the world’s largest b corporations – a certification from the nonprofit b lab verifying that a company has met rigorous standards of social and environmental performance – cascade engineering works to transform long - held beliefs about people who may be different into values that stimulate productive alliances within workplace peer groups .
“a culture of inclusion allows people to feel comfortable contributing, encourages new perspectives, and makes the most of each person’s potential, ” said mark miller, ceo of the manufacturer comprising 11 strategic business units serving a variety of industries including automotive, agriculture, commercial truck and bus, solid waste and recycling, furniture, and material handling processes .
the company is committed to advancing and recruiting a diverse workforce. it has developed community partnerships to help increase the number of diverse resumes and candidates for open positions, and internal promotions are monitored and tracked to ensure goals are meet. the company also offers several opportunities for job rotation, special assignments and community involvement .
“cascade engineering continues to purposefully discuss and deepen the understanding of race and racism, ” miller said. “training and educational opportunities continue for all facets of the business, knowing that not everyone is at the same place on this journey. we continue to orientate new employees to help get them acclimated to our expectations by attending diversity awareness training and a new diversity theatre every three years, and all leaders are expected attend institute for healing racism. ”
cascade’s diversity efforts are driven from both top and bottom, miller said. employees are free to get involved at their own level. a diversity champion is assigned as liaison between the diversity coordinating council and the executive management team to keep managers informed of the council’s progress, and anyone in the organization is free to anonymously submit a question or thought to the office of the president with the click of a button .
the goal is to create and maintain an environment where employees feel safe to discuss race and the importance it has on the organization and on lives outside work .
metrics and goals are established annually and tracked monthly. a voluntary affirmative action plan is in place and a perceptual survey is completed regularly to ensure that the organization is “walking the talk, ” miller said .
since its founding in 1989, diversity has been a cornerstone of chemico’s core principles, as well as being key to its growth, said ceo leon c. richardson .
“while certainly being a diverse business has provided chemico with access to opportunities that may not have occurred otherwise, an even more important element of diversity that has contributed to chemico’s growth is diversity in its employees and partners, ” he said. “by embracing diversity, chemico has been able to leverage ideas and concepts across many different experiences and ways of thinking that undoubtedly has increased our innovation, and therefore ability to succeed. ”
the chemico group of companies consists of two main business units — chemicomays and chemico systems. chemicomays is a provider of chemical management solutions, providing a full range of chemical life - cycle management services from procurement and sourcing to inventory management and logistics through waste and water management. chemico systems is a provider of environmentally friendly paint maintenance products and specialty cleaners, as well as the leader in coating removal services for the automotive industry .
“the chemico plan has proven, specific results where mbes, wbes and veteran - owned businesses have benefited not only from the business opportunities presented, but have grown outside of the scope of work performed with chemico to form stronger, more sustainable businesses, ” richardson said. “in addition, the numerous causes chemico supports that are associated with diverse businesses, from charitable and philanthropic activities to education and mentoring to advocacy of diverse causes, further demonstrates the priorities we at chemico uphold. at chemico we believe that in supporting the greater good, we all will benefit. ”
dakkota integrated systems llc, a joint venture between majority partner rush group llc and magna international inc. , manages the complete assembly and sequencing of integrated automotive interiors for original equipment manufacturers. it was formed in 2001 “to create a minority contract supplier that could thrive in a fast - paced, cost - competitive environment to support original equipment manufacturers, ” according to its website. rush group is headed by andra rush, a native american who also founded detroit manufacturing systems .
devon industrial group is a limited liability company formed in 1998 by devon construction inc. and walbridge. dig provides construction management, general contracting, preconstruction, decommissioning and facility management services for clients in the automotive, commercial, health care, industrial process and education fields, according to its website. devon construction founder david burnley sr. is active in community affairs and is a board member of the michigan black chamber of commerce .
the mission of driversource is to be the world’s premier supplier of top - quality commercial truck drivers and support staff personnel, according to the company’s website. founded in 2001 by jinan and kelly dalloo and david j. olshansky, the company now employs 300 people at its three regional centers, in dearborn, baltimore and richmond, va. driversource is a member of the women’s business council and is certified as a women’s business enterprise .
epitec inc. attributes its almost 25 years of continuous year - over - year growth to the opportunities it has secured as a minority business enterprise .
“we don’t use our status as a crutch, but we do promote the fact that our diversity is a tool that should be leveraged by our customer base offering significant value and competitive positioning, ” said jerome sheppard, ceo of the $ 70 million staffing and custom software development company that provides services throughout the united states .
epitec has a 15 - year supplier diversity program that is focused on building and developing small women - and minority - owned organizations so that they too can be looked upon as vendor resources and not just another supplier, sheppard said .
“besides building up significant supplier purchasing scenario’s with our mbe partners, we are proudest of our mentoring programs, ” he said. “we have enabled several mbes the ability to be sustainable and leverage many of the same resources … that large organizations use to build their businesses. ”
epitec’s corporate social responsibility initiatives are directly connected to the success of its business, sheppard said .
“over the past 37 years. epitec has built and sustained a culture of inclusion and diversity, ” he said. “we’ve found that extending our inclusion and diversity efforts to suppliers has been important and effective. transitioning our knowledge and best practices internally to our employee base and externally to our mbe vendor base creates a sustainable situation that will positively contribute to the future of our surrounding community, which ultimately effects everyone. ”
based in auburn hills, where it opened its new north america headquarters and seating technical center in july 2014, faurecia north america supports four business groups: automotive exteriors, automotive interiors, automotive seating and emissions control technologies. according to the company’s website, faurecia is determined to diversify talent and promote gender equality, especially by attracting more female employees .
established in 1998 by glenna and mike field, field’s fire protection inc. has grown into a nationwide, full - service fire protection company with branch locations in michigan, illinois and indiana. products include portable fire extinguishers, backflow devices, special hazard systems and exit and emergency lighting. a woman - owned business, field’s fire protection aims to give employees opportunities to excel and achieve personal success, its website states .
no line of financial services is beyond first independence bank’s charter as long as the bank is serving the financial needs of businesses and families in its community, according to the first independence website. after its customers, the bank considers its employees its most important assets. “a second mission of this bank is to operate the bank in ways that maximize the positive aspects of bank employment, ” the first independence website states. “all bank employees will be treated with dignity and respect. ”
g - tech services inc. , a recruitment and placement firm that provides staffing solutions to a nationwide client base, is a women - owned business certified by both the women’s business enterprise national council and the national women business owners corporation. president and ceo theresa ghafari was named a wbe star by the women’s business enterprise national council in 2009, and she was recognized as a woman of achievement by vista maria, a nonprofit organization that transforms the lives of girls who have faced abuse and neglect .
gongos describes itself as a decision intelligence company. it partners with global 1000 corporations to build competency in making consumer - minded decisions. gongos says that its innovation strategy is to identify societal and technological trends that shape the future of its industry. enlisting the multidisciplinary skills of researchers, data scientists and curators, the company fuels a culture of learning both internally and within its clients’ organizations. it serves clients in the consumer products, financial services, health care, lifestyle, retail and automotive spaces .
harvey industries has been an aluminum casting, machining, assembly, testing and producer since 2007, with headquarters in livonia and a plant in wabash, ind. according to a michigan chronicle profile, company president and ceo jerome harvey grew up an only child in albion, where he developed the self - reliance that has aided in his achievements as a businessman. he spent eight years at general motors before leaving to launch harvey industries .
hercules & hercules inc. , otherwise known as hhi, is one of the leading suppliers of janitorial supplies and daily building maintenance supplies across detroit and the great lakes region. hercules & hercules works individually with clients to develop a sustainable approach to building maintenance, its website states. in addition to traditional cleaning supplies and equipment, it carries lines of green cleaning products. the company is also a sponsor of the michigan green schools program. company founder hercules jefferson sr. worked for years as a custodial supervisor with the federal government and with the city of detroit as a maintenance superintendent before, in 1964, starting a janitorial company out of his home on the northwest side of detroit to supplement the family’s income .
established in 1990, htc global services is an inc. 500 hall of fame company and one of the fastest - growing asian american companies in the united states, its website states. as a global provider of it solutions and business process outsourcing services, htc boasts a client base that spans several global 2000 organizations. htc manages it environments, it applications and business processes of customers, focusing on providing transformational benefits. htc is a minority business enterprise recognized by the michigan minority supplier development council .
iconma, a professional staffing services and it consulting firm, has become certified as a woman - owned organization by the national woman business owners corp. and women’s business enterprise national council .
“the certifications opened many doors for iconma, ” said ceo claudine s. george. “the most obvious are opportunities with customers who encourage supplier diversity. these same customers also encourage iconma to have partnerships with other minority - and women - owned companies. ”
iconma is fortunate that it is in an industry where it is easy to find a diverse group of qualified professionals, she said. additionally, iconma has received a number of diversity awards within the staffing industry and clients .
“diversity is important to iconma and is a main focus of our business goals, ” george said. “in order to improve company processes, policies and procedures, we need a diverse group of individuals to collaborate and create innovative solutions. iconma promotes its own diversity, as well as partners with other minority - and women - owned businesses in the community. if we didn’t encourage diversity, we would lose the ideas of the majority of the population. ”
george notes that plenty of research has shown a correlation between a diverse workforce and growth and profitability. “as long as everyone is qualified (not hired because they are a woman or minority), doing the right thing is profitable, ” she said .
innovative learning group, founded in 2004 by ceo lisa toenniges, creates custom training and tools for fortune 1000 companies that help their employees do their jobs more effectively. it is a 100 percent woman - owned business that has maintained its women’s business enterprise certification since 2008 .
“as a wbe - certified company serving highly diversified vertical markets, we are listed as a preferred supplier for many corporations that value having a diverse supply base, ” toenniges said .
toenniges is also proud of ilg’s employee retention rate of 95 percent over the life of the company .
“one of ilg’s vision statements is to attract talented people who want to work with us, do good work and enjoy what they do, ” she said. “ilg accomplishes this by hiring the most qualified individuals — those who have the right skills and who are a good cultural fit. ilg’s working environment is one of collaboration, accountability, taking initiative and treating one another with respect. ”
having a company culture that promotes inclusion leads to individuals who enjoy their jobs and look forward to coming to work every day, toenniges said .
“when employees are happy with their work environment, they are also more creative and dedicated, and they produce quality work, ” she said. “the cost of hiring and onboarding employees is expensive. when employees are satisfied with their work and workplace, they are more likely to stay at a company, which decreases the expense of hiring and onboarding. ”
jeanette m. abraham is founder, president and ceo of jma global llc, a 100 percent minority and woman - owned company whose expertise is procurement, warehousing, kitting and distribution of fastener components. founded in 2001, jma global is a tier one supplier to the automotive industry. customers include general motors, gestamp, magna, martinea and several other large tier one automotive suppliers .
keo and associates inc. was founded in 1994 by chris onwuzurike to provide general contracting, construction management, design - build and construction technical services. its website states that it has completed numerous commercial, residential, institutional and municipal projects valued at more than $ 200 million. keo, a michigan department of transportation - certified minority business enterprise, became a member of the u. s. green building council in 2007 .
mahar tool supply co. is headed by ceo and chairman barbara mahar lincoln, who has served in her role since 1978 when her husband, james wells mahar, died. since then, mahar tool supply has evolved from a michigan corporation to an international operation, according to profile of lincoln on the inforum website. mahar tool supply has been listed among the “big 50” largest industrial distributorships internationally by industrial distribution magazine. mahar tool supply and lincoln were also named one of the top 50 women - owned businesses in michigan. mahar tool is iso certified and certified as a women business enterprise .
diversity is one of the core values at management business solutions, says floriza genautis, ceo of the minority - owned staffing placement company with women business enterprise and women owned small business certifications .
“we believe that our differences have allowed us to better understand the various needs of our clients’ staffing challenges, ” genautis said. “also, being part of various minority organizations … has allowed us to be competitive in delivering staffing solutions. ”
the collective thoughts of employees from different backgrounds yield better solutions because of the wide range of ideas contributors bring to the decision - making process, genautis said .
“as the ‘globe shrinks’ because of technological advances, having an inclusive workplace will help in understanding our differences that would not only help the company be more competitive but also profitable, ” she said .
management business solutions further measures it success as an inclusive workplace by creating opportunity for employees to become future owners of the company .
“we are committed to guaranteeing success of our organization by creating diverse future leaders that are vested to the growth of the organization, ” genautis said. ”
all internal employees hired at management business solutions have gone through a stringent screening process, internship and / or training and direct mentoring from the leaders of the organization. values, accountability and commitment to client and candidate satisfaction are a few necessary traits we look for in the next owners of our organization. ”
marvel technologies inc. is a rapidly growing it company serving customers using sap software. the minority - owned company is certified by the women’s business enterprise council. its customers and their needs are as diverse as the industries they serve, the company states on its website, which also says marvel technologies works to address every element of a business transformation project by establishing strategic partnerships with additional service providers .
michigan operation freedom outdoors (miofo) is a collaborative partnership whose mission is to provide outdoor recreation opportunities to wounded veterans and individuals with health challenges and to coordinate a support network that facilitates their recovery through connecting with nature. miofo activities are centered on the dnr - managed sharonville state game area and the neighboring camp liberty property. the properties are near several population centers: ann arbor, jackson, lansing and detroit. the partners in this effort include the department of natural resources, camp liberty, brain injury association, zero - day, the passing along the heritage (path) foundation, the eisenhower center, safari club international foundation, michigan building and construction trades council, michigan united conservation clubs, disabled american veterans and the american legion, according to the dnr website.
bodman plc is a business law firm headquartered in ford field , located in downtown detroit , michigan . founded in 1929 by two former ford motor company lawyers , wallace r. middleton and clifford b. longley , the firm is one of the state ’s largest , with more than 150 lawyers in five offices : ann arbor , cheboygan , detroit , grand rapids , and troy . bodman has long been known for its close associations with the automotive and financial services industries and for its long-term relationships with significant clients . for example , the firm has maintained a continuous client relationship with members of the ford family since 1929 and with comerica incorporated since it assisted in the formation of manufacturer 's national bank , which later merged with comerica , in 1933 . the firm represents more than 80 financial institutions in michigan and across the u.s. as well as tier-1 , -2 and -3 automotive suppliers and oems on a national and international basis . 
bodman plc is a business law firm headquartered in ford field, located in downtown detroit, michigan. founded in 1929 by two former ford motor company lawyers, wallace r. middleton and clifford b. longley, the firm is one of the state ’s largest, with more than 150 lawyers in five offices: ann arbor, cheboygan, detroit, grand rapids, and troy. bodman has long been known for its close associations with the automotive and financial services industries and for its long-term relationships with significant clients. for example, the firm has maintained a continuous client relationship with members of the ford family since 1929 and with comerica incorporated since it assisted in the formation of manufacturer's national bank, which later merged with comerica, in 1933. the firm represents more than 80 financial institutions in michigan and across the u.s. as well as tier-1, -2 and -3 automotive suppliers and oems on a national and international basis.
bodman plc is a business law firm headquartered in ford field, located in downtown detroit, michigan. founded in 1929 by two former ford motor company lawyers, wallace r. middleton and clifford b. longley, the firm is one of the state ’s largest, with more than 150 lawyers in five offices: ann arbor, cheboygan, detroit, grand rapids, and troy. bodman has long been known for its close associations with the automotive and financial services industries and for its long-term relationships with significant clients. for example, the firm has maintained a continuous client relationship with members of the ford family since 1929 and with comerica incorporated since it assisted in the formation of manufacturer's national bank, which later merged with comerica, in 1933. the firm represents more than 80 financial institutions in michigan and across the u.s. as well as tier-1, -2 and -3 automotive suppliers and oems on a national and international basis.