Our roundup of the latest news from metro Detroit and Michigan businesses as well as announcements from government agencies. To share a business or nonprofit story, please send us a message.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan to Move HQ Back to Detroit
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan (BGCSM) announced a new collaboration with Michigan Central to expand BGCSM’s workforce and entrepreneurship program Industry Club and that it’s moving its headquarters back to Detroit with occupancy in Newlab at Michigan Central.
“We’re excited to partner with Michigan Central to expand our Industry Club programming, and to bring our headquarters back to Detroit,” says Shawn H. Wilson, president and CEO at BGCSM. “This expanded partnership puts our youth at the forefront of technology, mobility, and the innovation economy.”
The new partnership will build on BGCSM’s previous success collaborating with public figures and organizations like musician Big Sean, author Shaka Senghor, and the BGCSM program Ponyride to provide workforce development opportunities for young people interested in the future of mobility, entrepreneurship, and careers in technology, fashion, literary arts, urban planning, and entertainment and more.
“In order for Detroit to truly succeed, we must be intentional about providing opportunities for the city’s youth,” says Nate Wallace, director of civic partnerships at Michigan Central. “The Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan is a national leader in empowering young Detroiters and preparing them to become leaders themselves. This partnership will not only introduce our youth to the future of technology, it will help them be a part of it.”
Detroit Dental Spa opens in Corktown’s Elton Park
Soave Real Estate Group has opened a new dental office — Detroit Dental Spa — at Elton Park in Detroit’s Corktown neighborhood. This is the first and only Dental Spa in Corktown, located in the Checker Cab building.
Owned by Corktown resident Dr. Ban Nacy, the Detroit Dental Spa is a full-service dental office, dedicated to providing the healthiest and most beautiful smiles. Nacy says she offers the most advanced and current care to her patients, offering the latest in dental implants and cosmetic dentistry.
The spa also offers in-office whitening as well as emergency dental care. Detroit Dental Spa has six operatories and state-of-the-art CBCT, sterilization, and lab centers. Nacy has created a lobby that feels more like a cozy little coffee shop to make her patients more relaxed and comfortable throughout their visit.
“I really thought through every aspect of the design of the Detroit Dental Spa,” says Nacy. “A visit to the dentist shouldn’t be something that people fear or avoid. We wanted to make sure our patients and visitors are as relaxed and comfortable as possible, and creating an inviting atmosphere is a huge part of that.”
Horizon Robotics and StradVision Join Forces for Efficient ADAS Solutions
StradVision, a South Korea-based AI vision processing technology company for autonomous vehicles and advanced driver assistance systems with North American headquarters in Sterling Heights, is partnering with Horizon Robotics to provide high-quality driving assistance solutions for the Tier 1s and OEMs.
StradVision’s SVNet provides vision-based object detection and recognition, even in challenging weather conditions, and has been optimized on Horizon’s Journey computing solutions via its easy-to-use Horizon OpenExplorer software development toolkit. The companies say their solution offers best-in-class performance, power, and cost efficiency in advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) solutions to the Tier 1s and OEMs, and ultimately will bring safety and convenience to the end-consumers and their families during their journey.
StradVision’s SVNet is now available on Horizon Robotics Journey series computing solutions. Together, both companies will work together to accelerate the mobility transformation of the automobile industry and bring more value to consumers with an enhanced driving experience that prioritizes safety, convenience, and enjoyment.
“Horizon’s Journey computing solutions, renowned for their industry-leading compute efficiency and minimal power consumption, have been meticulously crafted for ADAS/AD applications,” says Junhwan Kim, CEO of StradVision. “This strategic collaboration underscores StradVision’s commitment to our mission of delivering highly adaptable vision perception technology. We empower automotive players to seamlessly integrate our technology with a spectrum of hardware options, thereby expediting the evolution towards software-defined vehicles.”
Visit Detroit Announces 27th ROSE Award Winners
Excellence in hospitality and service was honored by Visit Detroit at the 27th Recognition of Service Excellence (ROSE) Awards, Aug. 31 at the Sound Board Theater at the MotorCity Casino Hotel in Detroit.
The 145 ROSE Award nominations were provided by clients, guests, supervisors, and the general public. One winner in each of the six categories was chosen. Additionally, one overall service champion, selected by a panel of expert hospitality professionals, was also recognized.
“Visitors are coming back to southeast Michigan in the millions after the pandemic and spending billions of dollars to support our region’s economy,” says Claude Molinari, president and CEO of Visit Detroit. “The Talyor Swift and Beyonce concerts, the Movement Festival, our incredible culinary scene, and our welcoming hotels and attractions are not possible without the dedication of hospitality industry professionals that Visit Detroit is honored to recognize at ROSE Awards.”
The 2023 category winners were:
The 2023 Overall Service Champion was Kitty Whitfield, small business engagement manager for the Downtown Detroit Partnership. During the pandemic, Whitfield was on the frontlines working with hospitality and small businesses to help them get the support and resources they needed to stay in business.
Detroit’s Global Telecom Solutions Adds Ascend Technologies to Partners
Global Telecom Solutions (GTS), a professional consulting firm for business technology in Detroit, has announced a partnership with Ascend Technologies in Auburn Hills.
This venture aims to deliver best of breed cybersecurity technology backed by highly trained and certified security experts at Ascend’s U.S.-based security operations centers (SOCs). GTS is currently the only Technology Solutions Distributor able to offer Ascend’s services.
The partnership will add Ascend’s cybersecurity intelligence to GTS’s IT solutions portfolio, which includes threat detection and prevention as well as response technologies and services.
Ascend Technologies offers a full suite of managed and consulting IT services, helping business leaders across a broad range of industries gain visibility and enhanced utilization of their deployed infrastructure and applications while maintaining, monitoring, and managing day-to-day operations.
“We’re so proud to be working with Ascend Technologies,” says Mark Stackpoole, CEO of GTS. “Their innovative technology and security talent will accelerate our vision of enabling our clients/partners with effective cybersecurity solutions.”
GTS Clients and Partners will have access to Ascend’s full lines of managed services to include cybersecurity, infrastructure, help desk, and Microsoft support.
Stellantis’ Windsor Plant Marks Production of 100,000th Chrysler Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid
The 100,000th Chrysler Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid rolled off the production line Aug. 31 amid a gathering of employees at the Stellantis Windsor, Ontario, Canada Assembly Plant to celebrate the milestone model of the first and still the only plug-in hybrid in the segment.
Production of the Chrysler Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid began on Dec. 1, 2016, with a 2023 Brilliant Black Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid Touring L model serving as the 100,000th produced.
The Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid remains the only minivan eligible for a full $7,500 federal tax credit, as well as any available state and local tax credits. It is the No. 3 top-selling plug-in hybrid since launching in 2016 and the fifth best-selling plug-in hybrid over the last 10 years.
“Congratulations to the entire team at Windsor Assembly Plant on production of the 100,000th ultimate family vehicle, the Chrysler Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid,” says Chris Feuell, CEO of the Chrysler brand for Stellantis. “The Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid jump-started the Chrysler brand’s electrified journey, and we continue to build on this foundation to deliver the first all-electric Chrysler vehicle in 2025 and an all-electric Chrysler brand portfolio in 2028.”
CannaCon Detroit 2023 to Take Place Oct. 6-7 at Huntington Place
CannaCon Detroit, the premier event for the cannabis industry, is back and promises to bring together cannabis professionals, experts, and enthusiasts, providing a platform for networking, learning, and exploring the latest innovations in the rapidly evolving industry.
One of the highly anticipated seminars at CannaCon Detroit 2023 features Calvin Johnson Jr. and Rob Sims, both former NFL players who have transitioned their careers from the football field to the cannabis industry.
CannaCon Detroit 2023 also will feature an expo hall showcasing the latest products, technologies, and services within the cannabis sector.
Topics of other seminars will include legal and regulatory updates, market trends, sustainability practices, and advancements in cannabis research. Including a special presentation on grow tips and tricks from Mike the founder of Exotic genetics.
Registration is open here.
Report Outlines Charging Infrastructure Markets for Commercial Vehicles
ResearchAndMarkets.com, based in Ireland, has published a report titled “Charging Infrastructure for Heavy Commercial Vehicles in Europe and North America – 1st Edition.”
The report serves as a resource for various stakeholders, including vehicle manufacturers, charge point operators, technology vendors, investors, consultants, telecom operators, and government agencies, providing insights derived from research.
Among the findings are that in North America, both regional and international companies offer DC chargers for commercial vehicles. Key players like ChargePoint provide comprehensive solutions encompassing hardware, software, and CPO services. Other significant regional hardware providers include ABB, Blink Charging, BorgWarner, and Siemens.
In Europe, the installed base of dedicated charging points is projected to experience growth, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 67 percent. Starting from 6,400 in 2022, this figure is forecasted to reach an impressive 390,000 by the year 2030. Meanwhile, in North America, a similar trend is anticipated, with the total number of dedicated charging points expected to rise from 4,150 in 2022 to a substantial 378,000 by 2030, driven by a CAGR of 76 percent. This count encompasses both public and non-public charging stations.
The commercial vehicle charging infrastructure sector is identified as being in its early stages of growth, signaling a phase that is likely to span decades. Mega-challenges like vehicle emissions and climate change are compelling investments in electric commercial vehicles and charging infrastructure, creating a promising outlook for the market. Notably, stringent emission regulations from European and North American governments are acting as catalysts for market growth.
For more information about this report visit here.
Editor: R.J. King
Associate Editor: Tim Keenan
