Innovation + Job News

Houghton is a pretty good place to start a tech company, especially with the help of the MTEC SmartZone. Four local women are on their way to doing just that.

All are part of a program called Activate, a ten-month course that starts at idea generation and goes through the launch of a business. It's guided by MTEC SmartZone CEO Marilyn Clark and Michigan Technological University president Glenn Mroz and organized by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

It's based on solving the issue that women faculty members typically don't commercialize their research and technology at the same rate male faculty members do, says Clark.

"Activate provides a valuable opportunity for professional women of the Keweenaw to use their career skills and become entrepreneurs," she says.
    
The four participants are Tech assistant professor of biomedical engineering Megan Frost, associate director of the Institute for Leadership and Innovation Mary Raber, associate professor of chemical engineering Adrienne Minerick, and Lynn Elaison, director of manufacturing, finance and human resources at GS Engineering of Houghton.

The group have regular video conferences, and go to Dearborn once a month for Saturday sessions.

"Activate has helped me bridge the gap between my technology and the practical place it has in the market," says Frost.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: MTEC SmartZone

Upper Michigan Law in Marquette and Escanaba has a new attorney on staff with a familiar name.

Katie Clark, an Escanaba native, will join the firm, also known as Clark, Bray and Cameron, P.C., where her father, Richard Clark, also is an attorney.

Clark is a 1993 graduate of Escanaba High School, and went on to receive degrees from Kalamazoo College and Hamline University School of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota.

She has practiced law for nearly 10 years in Minneapolis and now is returning to her home, the Upper Peninsula. She will work in the firm's workers' compensation division, representing workers' rights cases.

"It's exciting to return to my hometown and practice law in my dad's firm," Clark says. "Not only do I get to work with my dad, I get to work with such a talented and energetic group of people."

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Upper Michigan Law

Elizabeth Means has been hired at the Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce, as its new communications specialist.

The Houghton-based chamber of commerce's marketing head, Karyn Olsson, says the hire is reflective of the chamber board's direction.

"Our board has worked so hard over the past few years to find direction and develop a vision which ultimately is reflected in our brand to support, attract and develop business in the Keweenaw," says Olsson. "Having someone on staff with Elizabeth's talents starts to lay the foundation for building our future and getting us closer to our vision."

Means has experience in graphic design, web design, social media and writing, and will be responsible for updating the chamber's website with news and events, creating visibility for members, writing press releases and articles, and building social media presence, as well as working on membership and recruiting.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce

The Dickinson Pediatric Clinic has added a new physician assistant, Vanessa Mitchell.

It's a homecoming for Mitchell, who is a 2004 Kingsford High School graduate. She earned a bachelor's degree from Hope College and a degree in physician assistant studies at Central Michigan University.

She says she was always interested in a medical career, but actually was inspired to pursue becoming a physician assistant by a Dickinson Memorial Hospital PA, David Tucker.

"I came into the after hours clinic as a patient when I was 17, and he took care of me," Mitchell says. "He inspired me because he was so thorough and explained things so well; I decided then that I was going to be a PA."

Mitchell has experience in clinical studies in internal medicine, pediatrics, family practice, psychology, women's health, emergency medicine and general surgery.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Dickinson Pediatric Clinic

Lake Superior State University and Moran Iron Works in Sault Ste. Marie have announced a partnership that will not only train workers and students, but also means collaboration on academic and industrial projects.

Moran Iron Works is a large-component metal fabricators, headquartered in Onaway. Some examples of things the university and company might collaborate on: senior engineering projects, internships and co-op experiences for both faculty and students; lectures on LSSU's campus, and consulting on management, marketing and business administration topics.

"The agreement grows and consolidates a natural fit between the academic and applied," says David Finley, dean of LSSU's College of Engineering and Business. "Our students and faculty will migrate classroom and laboratory experiences into the industrial metal fabrication business, where Moran Iron Works flourishes."

Moran creates metal products for clients all over the world, and has facilities in Onaway, Cheboygan and Rogers City. It was recognized in 2012 as one of Michigan's 50 Companies to Watch.

Other companies LSSU has partnered with include 3M, Continental Automotive, AMT Robotics and Essar Steel Algoma.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Lake Superior State University

Ameriprise Finanical Services in Stephenson is welcoming a new financial advisor.

Christopher Kruck has joined Ted Jenkins in his office, where he will help clients with financial needs and objectives as an associate financial advisor.

Kruck is a graduate of Southern Door County High School in northern Wisconsin, and holds a bachelor's degree in business administration and accounting from the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point.

He's welcoming new clients at the Ameriprise office at S223 Railroad Street in Stephenson.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Ameriprise Financial

As Marquette General Hospital and Superior Health Partners have grown, the hospitals are taking on a new leadership structure as well.

The health system announced Ed Banos will be the new president and chief operating officer for Marquette General, allowing CEO Gary Muller to focus on overseeing Superior Health Partners, which includes nine affiliates and a partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.

Banos was most recently president and CEO of Good Shepherd Medical Center in Texas. He will take on much of the daily operational responsibility at MGH.

He holds a master's degree in health administration and a bachelor's degree in health records administration.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Marquette General Hospital

Range Bank has two new employees in leadership roles, giving them new ways to serve the bank's customers.

At the bank's Kingsford office, Charles Munk has been named VP and commercial loan officer. He'll serve loan and other customers throughout the Dickinson County area.

Adam Bonsall has been named a trust and wealth management representative for the bank, and will work with senior VP Danny Dawidowski to serve trust and wealth management clients across the Upper Peninsula.

Range Bank has 12 offices in Marquette, Dickinson and Houghton counties.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Range Bank

CCI Systems in Iron Mountain announced a new director for one of its departments. Brian Reath will be director of managed services, operations and technology. That includes the recently-launched BandWise service, developed by CCI engineers.

Reath has been a former application development lead at CCI, and has focused on both technical and non-technical aspects of developing software solutions for service providers, like BandWise, throughout his career.

BandWise uses key features of the Cisco Intelligent Services Gateway to integrate with any network, which complements CCI's offerings of communication services across providers and network.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: CCI Systems

Water's Edge Chiropractic in Gladstone recently announced it has added a new massage therapist to its staff.

The company, which is located at 922 Delta Ave., has hired Debbie Sebeck.

Sebeck is a graduate of the Marquette School of Massage, which she began attending last August. She has a background in the medical field, having spent 12 years working as OSF St. Francis hospital in Escanaba.

The goal of her massage therapy is to give clients other options for relief or elimination of pain outside of surgeries. She has dedicated herself to the research, study and application of manual lymphatic drainage, used for relief or prevention of lymphedema.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Water's Edge Chiropractic

The Allure Dance Company may have just started in 2011, but the business has already grown so much that it has had to find two different studios to house the rapidly expanding classes.

The company, owned by Ashley Corbiere, recently picked a new downtown studio location on the empty second floor of the Back Door building on Ashmun Street in Sault Ste. Marie. There, Corbiere will teach over 115 students in a wide variety of dance styles that include ballet, jazz and hip-hop as well as movement and introduction to dance.

The Allure Dance Company has openings in a variety of classes and is open to children ages three to 18 years old.

The company is expecting to host an open house at its studio this summer and will showcase it's curriculum-based lessons as well as highlight the fact that the studio's students have the opportunity to be tested by the British Association of Teachers of Dancing on a yearly basis.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Sault Ste. Marie Downtown Development Association

The Iron Mountain-Kingsford Community Federal Credit Union has a new marketing director, Suzanne Anderson.

She brings four years of experience in radio sales and 18 years in newspaper sales to her new role. She also is an ambassador with the Dickinson Area Chamber of Commerce and chairs the promotions committee for the Iron Mountain DDA's Main Street program.

"We are excited to bring Suzanne's marketing expertise to our credit union," Brad Swee, president and CEO of Iron Mountain-Kingsford Community Federal Credit Union.

Anderson has a degree in English and education from Northern Michigan University.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Iron Mountain-Kingsford Community Federal Credit Union

There is a new marketing and communications coordinator at the Greater Ishpeming-Negaunee Chamber of Commerce.

Ashley Geist recently accepted the position at the chamber.

She currently lives in Negaunee with her husband, Andy, and three-year-old son, Breylen. She is originally from Wisconsin, having moved to the Upper Peninsula in 2007 when she began attending Northern Michigan University. There, Geist earned her bachelor's degree in electronic journalism with a minor in English.

Her responsibilities include communications with members of the GINCC, as well as marketing for the chamber and its various activities and publications.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Greater Ishpeming-Negaunee Chamber of Commerce

There is one new face and a newly-promoted employee at Range Bank as the financial institution recently made the decision to hire Adam Bonsall and advance Michele Kontio.  

Bonsall has joined Range Bank as a trust and wealth management representative. He originally hails from Kingsford and is a graduate of Northern Michigan University with a bachelor's degree in finance. Additionally, he holds securities and insurance licenses and has three year experience in consulting and investment.

Kontio, who has been with Range Bank since March 2012, has more than 25 years of banking experience. She was recently promoted to the position of senior trust administrator and will serve the bank's trust and wealth management clients.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Range Bank

Among the Stars of the Year awards handed out for 2013 by the Michigan Lodging and Tourism Association was one that came home to the Upper Peninsula.

Linda Hoath, executive director of the Sault Ste. Marie Conventions and Visitors Bureau, was awarded the 2013 CVB Star of the Year.

The achievements that were honored by the award were her 10 years of work at the CVB, including working to increase investment in the Pure Michigan campaign, creating collaborations in the eastern U.P., and rising visitor counts to Sault Ste. Marie.

For instance, more than 10,000 people visited the Sault during Soo Locks Engineer's Day in 2012, versus 5,000 in 2011.

The Star of the Year CVB award, which was presented to Hoath in Detroit, goes to a director, office manager or staff member who shows commitment to marketing effectiveness and models stellar promotion of their destination and the state of Michigan.

Other Star of the Year awards went to individuals and tourism organizations in Acme, Bellaire, Birmingham, Dearborn, Detroit, East Lansing, Gaylord, Lansing, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and Traverse City.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Sault Ste. Marie Conventions and Visitors Bureau