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Professional Highlights from the Great Lakes Bay Area

Third Season of Michigan Sugar Co. Public Tours to Begin

The Michigan Sugar Co. wrapped up its second season of public tours at its sugar beet processing plant in April. More than 80 tours were offered at their factory at 2600 S. Euclid Ave. in Bay City.

“Our 2018-2019 tour season proved to be busier than ever. Interest in tours and learning more about Michigan Sugar Co. has continued to grow, and we are so glad to accommodate as many people as possible,” said Elizabeth Taylor, ag relations and communications manager for the Michigan Sugar Co., who oversees the plant tour program. “We have a unique opportunity to educate our community members on agriculture, food processing and food packaging all in one tour. Our Bay City factory has been part of the area’s landscape for more than 110 years, and we are always excited to show people what we do.”

Season three is expected to start this month. Dates will be made available online at michigansugar.com/factory-tours/

Goedert Retires at 1st State Bank President and CEO

On April 12, Rick Goedert retired as president and chief executive officer of 1st State Bank. Goedert joined 1st State Bank in 2003 during the organization of the bank as executive vice president and senior business lender. He played a critical role in helping to raise the bank’s initial capital. Goedert was promoted to president and CEO in summer 2007.

Jim Milroy was appointed by the board of directors to succeed Goedert as the bank’s president and CEO. Milroy has served as chief financial officer of 1st State Bank for the past 12 years. Milroy joined 1st State Bank in 2007 as senior vice president and CFO. He was promoted to executive vice president in 2014 and appointed to the 1st State Bank board of directors in 2018.

Savant Labs Celebrates 50 Years Serving the Lubrication Industry

Midland-based Savant Labs recently celebrated 50 years in business. The family-owned-and-operated business was founded in 1969 by Theodore Selby as a materials-consulting firm with an emphasis on lubrication. It evolved over the years into a multi-thousand-square-feet facility, with a vast assortment of lubrication testing equipment and a crew of dedicated chemists, technicians and customer service personnel.

“We are very proud of our heritage and long history,” said Selby. “Savant Labs has lived up to its values of being wise servants for our customers, our company and each other. The next decade will prove to be quite challenging for everyone with the evolution of the electrically powered vehicles and the impact on fuels and lubricants, and we look forward to continued collaboration with leaders in the industry.”

Saginaw Valley State University Recognizes Six Nurses

Saginaw Valley State University recognized the excellence, dedicated care and leadership delivered by six registered nurses in the Great Lakes Bay region on May 16 during the ninth annual Carleen K. Moore R.N. Nursing Excellence Awards ceremony.

Recognized as one of the top nursing programs in the Midwest, SVSU’s department of nursing annually honors exceptional nurses in multiple career paths. The awards were established through generous support provided by Terry Moore and his wife, Carleen K. Moore

The 2019 recipients include:

• Renee Dittmar, a house supervisor at Ascension St. Mary‘s Hospital, is the 2019 recipient of the Nurse Educator Award.
• Kelly Jo Foster , a nurse at the medical intensive care unit department at MidMichigan Medical Center-Midland, is one of the two recipients of the Nursing in the Acute Care Award.
• Sue Gatza, a registered nurse at Ascension St. Mary’s Hospital, is the recipient of the Nursing in the Community Award.
• Lisa Kukla, a labor and delivery nurse at McLaren Bay Region, is the recipient of an Acute Care Nursing Award.
• Cathy Lelo, a nurse at Ascension St. Mary’s Hospital, received the award for Nursing Excellence as a Staff Nurse.
• Nicholas Seliskar, who works in Covenant, is one of the two recipients of the Nursing in the Acute Care Award.

Warner Norcross + Judd LLP Celebrate Groundbreaking of New Detroit Office

Warner Norcross + Judd LLP, with several offices including a location in Midland, celebrated its new Detroit office at a groundbreaking event in the District Detroit.

Located at 2715 Woodward Ave. in the District Detroit area surrounding Little Caesar’s Arena, the new building will further enliven downtown Detroit by transforming a surface parking lot into a five-story, 127,000-square-foot office building. The groundbreaking was celebrated by Warner attorneys and staff along with representatives from Ilitch Holdings and Olympia Development of Michigan, who were joined by representatives from anchor tenant the Detroit Medical Center.

“The Detroit Medical Center and Warner Norcross + Judd are two world-class organizations, and we are thrilled to welcome them to the District Detroit,” said Christopher Ilitch, president and CEO of Ilitch Holdings. “Projects like this continue the progress and momentum in our city and in the District Detroit. We are excited to have both companies in the neighborhood and contributing to Detroit’s resurgence.”

The space will feature more than 70 offices and conference rooms, with room to grow as Warner expands its presence in southeast Michigan.

“Warner is excited to be making this investment in the city of Detroit,” said Managing Partner Douglas A. Dozeman. “The new office, centrally located in the District Detroit, demonstrates our commitment to the city and will help us to more efficiently serve our clients and provide additional growth opportunities.”

N.E.M. Honors Hall of Fame Inductees at Annual Reunion

The annual N.E.M. (Northeastern Michigan Baseball League) Reunion took place July 21 at the N.E.M. Museum at the Arenac County Historical Society Museum in Omer.

Guest speakers included former Detroit Tiger pitcher and team member of the 1984 World Series team Dave Rozema and former Tigers trainer Pio DiSalvo.

Each year at the reunion, former players, umpires or officials from the N.E.M. are elected into the N.E.M. Hall of Fame and inducted the following year. This year’s honorees from the Northern Division were Bill Sageman, John Unkovich and Duane Hall. The honorees from the Southern Division were Bob Escamilla, Art Shoultes and Keith Sivier. Posthumous honorees were Elmer Erickson and Less Keeley.

Special posthumous honors were given to the eight Pavelka brothers – Steve, Frank, Joe, Tony, John, Tom, Mike and Andy – who all played over many years in the N.E.M.

Greater Michigan Construction Academy Graduates 40

The Greater Michigan Construction Academy honored students who completed their training from six different construction trades including electrical, carpentry, industrial maintenance mechanic, insulating, pipefitting and plumbing at a graduation banquet for its Midland graduates May 16 at the GMCA Midland Campus.

Lansing graduates were honored at a Lansing-area ceremony.

“These students are the future of our industry,” said Stephanie Davis, vice president of the Greater Michigan Construction Academy. “They are a vital part of our community and our economy, and need to be commended for their accomplishments.”

For more information, visit gmca.edu.

Residential Building Trades Scholarship Recipients Announced

The Professional Women in Building Council of the Home Builders Association of Saginaw announced the 2019 Residential Building Trades Scholarship recipients. Each year, the council honors local students of residential building trades with a scholarship. This year, the council honored seven students:

• Katelyn Wiles of Hemlock, attending the Greater Michigan Construction Academy for carpentry.
• Gabe Gransden of Midland, attending Greater Michigan Construction Academy for electrical.
• Austin Robishaw of Frankenmuth, attending Ferris State University for construction management.
• Alexandria Van Sickle of Saginaw, attending Greater Michigan Construction Academy for electrical.
• Amanda DiMercurio of Saginaw, attending Greater Michigan Construction Academy for carpentry.
• Isaac Grimshaw of Vassar, attending Delta College for residential construction.
• Steve Hemgesberg of Freeland, attending Michigan State University for construction management.

The Professional Women in Building Council hosts events and fundraisers to donate to this scholarship each year.

“As the building trades industry grows, so must the interest of the future generations,” said Michelle Revette, executive officer. “These students are hardworking and determined, and will help this community prosper. Our goal is to encourage students of any age to realize that the building trades is an honest and viable career choice with many prosperous options.”

Since 1955, the Home Builders Association of Saginaw has been a trusted resource of building industry professionals dedicated to supporting the dream of homeownership and taking pride in the development of the community. It provides members with education, resources and opportunities to better themselves, their businesses and their passion for their craft.

For more information on fundraising events, or on being involved with the Home Builders Association of Saginaw and/or its educational partners, contact the office at (989) 793-1120, or visit hbas.org.