Innovation + Job News

Some new soda choices will soon be on U.P. retail shelves, since Griffin Beverage has signed a new agreement with Reed's, Inc. which makes specialty ginger ales, root beers and natural sodas.

They make Reed's and Virgil's brands of natural sodas, which are the top-selling sodas in natural food stores in the U.S. Griffin says it plans to distribute the brands to all their retail customers, large and small, in the U.P. and northern lower Michigan.

"We continue to responsibly and methodically build out our distribution system throughout the US and Canada. The addition of Griffin Beverage Co. as new partners will help us penetrate deeper into all channels of business in the Michigan market. This is a consumer demographic that will truly appreciate the strength and uniqueness of our Reed's Ginger Brews and Virgil's Root Beer," says Neal Cohane, senior VP of sales and marketing at Reed's.

The announcement comes after Reed hired a new central region VP of sales, David Howard, who Cohane credits with opening up many new distribution opportunities in the Midwest for the company.

As for the products you might soon see on store shelves, they include six non-alcoholic ginger beers that are brewed, rather than manufactured like typical soda. They use fresh ginger, spices and fruits in the brewing process, according to Reed's. They also make Virgil's Root Beer and China Cola, two leading natural sodas, and ginger candies and ice cream.

Griffin Beverage is based in downstate West Branch and has office and warehouse locations in St. Ignace and Marquette in the U.P., in addition to its three downstate locations. The company was founded in 1967 and serves almost half of Michigan.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Neal Cohane, Reed's, Inc.

It looks like the workers over at Enstrom Helicopter Corp. aren't going to have to worry if there are any jobs on the horizon anytime soon--their company has been very busy securing contracts that guarantee production for the next few years.

The company, which is based in Menominee, signed a contract recently to deliver 28 TH-480B helicopters to the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force. The helicopters will be used as the JGSD's primary training helicopter, replacing the Kawasaki-built OH-6 models currently being used. The production of the helicopters is expected to last into 2014 with deliveries to Japan expected to start in June. Eight helicopters are expected to be delivered by year's end, followed by 10 in 2013 and 10 in 2014.

"This contract award affirms the fact that the TH-480B is the right choice of helicopters to train the next generation of JGSDF pilots," says Jerry Mullins, Enstrom’s CEO and president. "The fact that the first aircraft delivered went through extensive testing and evaluation, and the JGSDF was extremely pleased with the results, is testimony to the product and support structure that has been put into place in Japan."

The sale is the largest single sale in this history of the company. In addition to the new contract with the Japanese, Enstrom is currently working on an existing, 16-aircraft contract with the Royal Thai Army.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Jerry Mullins, Enstrom Helicopter Corp.

An Upper Peninsula team of students and professors won $5,000 and the Judge's Choice award in the annual Michigan Clean Energy Venture Challenge. Under the name Superior AquaSystems, the group from Lake Superior State University competed against 21 other Michigan university teams for $50,000 in seed money to fund their ideas.

Their idea is one that might come naturally if you spend your days looking out over the St. Marys River. It's for a sustainable small fish farm that would enable small-scale culture of healthy seafood. The team has come up with a cost-effective recirculating system using renewable energy, biologically sound water purification, and clean technologies to help maximize fish production.

The competition is geared toward business ideas that address issues of rural poverty, unemployment, and aim to develop new sustainable growth industries.

The LSSU team's idea addresses two issues in traditional aquaculture; environmental impact and the cost it takes to raise seafood. Their localized model reduces energy cost and conserves water at the same time.

Student members of the team are Zachary Prause, Tyler Jackson, Garret Price, Noel Granger, Alexander Schroeder, and Daniel Walker. They are from several departments; biological sciences, international business, electrical engineering and computer sciences. Advisors are Barbara Evans of LSSU's biological sciences department, Ralf Wilhelms from the international business department, Paul Weber from the electrical engineering department, and Roger Greil, manager of the LSSU Aquatic Research Lab. Outside advisors were Diane Durance from the Great Lake Entrepreneur's Quest, Jesse Trushenski from SIUC Illinois Aquaculture Center, and Michele Walk from MSU Extension.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Lake Superior State University

Now, you may think of engineering degrees when you think of Michigan Technological University in Houghton, but the school has some pretty impressive offerings in other fields as well, and that's highlighted by the recent listing of Tech's online MBA program as among the top 25 in the U.S.

The ranking comes from SuperScholar, an education and career website, which placed Michigan Tech's program No. 20 out of 25 top online MBAs.

It was cited particularly "for its emphasis on innovation, technology and entrepreneurship" in the MBA program online, which is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

It's not the first time the program has gotten such notice, either; the U.S. News and World Report ranked it on a list of honor roll online MBA programs in the magazine's first such listing of online education programs.

"Our Tech MBA Online has once again been recognized as a top MBA program internationally. It also confirms that we are aligned with the changing trends in our global economy by offering a flexible, online learning environment focused on innovation and technology management with an international business perspective," says Darrell Radson, dean of the school of business and economics at Tech.

To make the SuperScholar list, schools were ranked on quality, marketability and affordability of the degree.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Darrell Radson, Michigan Technological University

Portage Health in Houghton has a new director of marketing and communications, Kevin Store.

He's not a newbie to the hospital or the area, having been Portage's medical staff recruiter since 2009, with a successful physician development plan to his credit at that position. Store's new job will be focusing on the health system's marketing and communications department.

"I look forward to this new opportunity and intend to build upon what has been done," Store says. "I have a lot of ideas, which I believe will influence the growth of our organization, as we further promote the high-quality healthcare services we offer and create greater awareness about our impact within the community."

His other previous positions have included being the executive director at Vocational Strategies, Inc. and the deputy facility administrator of Keweenaw Academy. That's only more reason to name Store to the position, says Portage Health president and CEO Jim Bogan, who praises Store's experience in business development, strategic marketing communications, public relations, consultation and training, and program development.

"Kevin has been a great asset to our organization," says Bogan. "We have high expectations of him in this new position."
    
Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Kevin Store, Portage Health

Orvana Minerals is one step closer to opening a copper and silver mine on its Copperwood project, near White Pine in the western Upper Peninsula.

The company released the results of a feasibility study this week that tried to best project the income Orvana can receive from the resources there over the expected 13-year life of the mine. They also outlined a choice to change engineering details like pillar size and entry design in order to be able to extract more minerals.

The mining would be underground, room-and-pillar style, using flotation to extract the copper, as is familiar to many U.P. residents from underground iron ore and copper mining of the past.

"A review of the mine plan resulted in redesign of entries and pillar dimensions to allow for a higher percentage of extraction on advance and a lower percentage of pillar recovery on retreat," says Jim Jacques, Orvana's VP of operations. "The redesign of the mine plan reduces dilution, improves grade, and results in a higher percentage of resource being mined."

Orvana says based on the lowest projected copper and silver prices, the net value of the mine's resources is about $30.8 million. If copper and silver prices remain as high as they are currently, that value is more like $313 million.

The study also accounted for taxes and fees, but ended up concluding that in the worst case, with the lowest copper and silver prices, the mine would pay for itself in a little more than six years. At the higher prices, it would pay for itself in just less than four years. The mine is projected to cost $213.5 million.

"The results of this feasibility study demonstrate the viability of this copper project," says Jacques.

The total mine production is expected to be about 1.5 million short tons of copper, but Orvana's sights also are set on nearby copper deposits that, according to the company's surveys, may be as much as 25 million metric tonnes. The Copperwood mine currently is in the process of permit applications through the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Jim Jacques, Orvana Minerals Corporation

It's about that time -- that stir-crazy point in the winter when you need to go do something active, get out of the house, maybe dress up a little. Like in a superhero cape and Spandex, right before you jump through a hole in the ice into some really, really cold water.

Yup, it's Polar Plunge time again. You can find one almost anywhere in the U.P. to participate in, and the tradition has even become a charity event, benefiting Special Olympics of Michigan.
    
For instance, the one planned this Saturday, Feb 18, at St. Mary's River in Sault Ste. Marie is hosted by the 2012 Law Enforcement Torch Run. Registration starts at 9 a.m., you take the plunge at 10 a.m., and are receiving awards by 11:30 a.m. (Those take place in the warm indoors of Zim's, by the way.)

All you have to bring is a $75 donation (often sponsored by friends and family), a crazy costume to jump in the water with, and a good dose of cabin-fever courage. Last year, more than 50 people participated, raising more than $5,000 for Special Olympics of Michigan.

You also can pre-register online here if you prefer, but on-site registrations are welcome too. And, if the whole thing is a little too insane for you, you can still collect donations, attend the post-plunge party, and get a "Too Chicken to Plunge" t-shirt in honor of your contributions.

Other Polar Plunges are planned January through March in Alpena, Battle Creek, Belleville, Brighton, Caro, Cheboygan, Chippewa Lake,  Clarklake, Detroit, Edwardsburg, Fenton, Gaylord, Grand Rapids, Holland, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Lansing Capitol,  Lake City, Marquette, Monroe, Mount Pleasant, Muskegon, Stanton, Traverse City and Ypsilanti.

In Sault Ste. Marie, the event also is sponsored by Sam's Club, Tau Kappa Epsilon, Fox 23 News, Zim's, LSSU Student Government, and 9&10 News.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Special Olympics Michigan

Marinette Marine just keeps ticking along with new contracts coming through their doors at least yearly, it seems. One of the shipyard's major customers, the U.S. Coast Guard, just signed on for another 40 boats to be built by the Wisconsin-based company.

While these won't be built at Marinette Marine's closest shipyards in Marinette and Menominee, they will mean a stronger presence for the company and guaranteed income through the next several years.

The 40 new boats are medium response boats, valued all together at about $89.6 million, and Marinette Marine will build and deliver them to the Coast Guard as part of a multi-year contract that gives the Coast Guard the option to commission up to 250 such boats. The whole contract could bring in up to $600 million in the long term.

"Marinette Marine looks forward to continuing its strong partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard," says Chuck Goddard, president and CEO of Marinette Marine. "They are a valued customer, and we are proud to build an additional 40 RB-Ms in support of their mission requirements."

Twenty of them will be built not too far away, at ACE Marine in Green Bay, while the other 20 will be built by another partner shipyard, Kvichak Marine Industries near Seattle.

The boats are scheduled to begin delivery to the Coast Guard in the second quarter of 2013. They are not the first installment on the contract, either; the newly-announced 40 boats actually bring the number of these response boats Marinette Marine will build up to 166.

Other major contracts the 70-year-old company has snagged currently include building littoral combat ships for the U.S. Navy, a regional research vessel for the University of Alaska--Fairbanks, and a fisheries survey vessel for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Chuck Goddard, Marinette Marine Corporation

There's an old saying that goes something like: If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Cliffs Natural Resources, which owns two mines in the Upper Peninsula, announced recently that is has decided to dissolve its Michigan Iron Nuggets joint venture with Kobe Steel and focus, instead, on its time-tested iron ore pellets.

The joint venture was originally formed in 2007 to explore the viability of constructing a plant to produce iron nuggets. The plant was designed and permitted for construction next to the Empire Mine in Palmer. Cliffs indicated in a recent press release that throughout the life of the venture it had conducted a number of feasibility studies on the possibility of pursuing a commercially viable process, but ultimately concluded that given its strategic priorities to focus on its core business, continued work on the project should be ended.

"We are disappointed that we are not able to move forward with the iron nugget facility, but remain very appreciative of the efforts made by federal, state, county and township officials who worked with Cliffs over several years on this project," says Joseph Carrabba, the chairman, president and CEO of Cliffs. "We are grateful for their support in the exploration of this potential industrial operation in Michigan."

Cliffs had less than 10 employees exclusively working on the joint venture. The company's press release states it plans to reassign "nearly all" to other positions within the company.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Cliffs Natural Resources

Michigan Technological University and the MTEC SmartZone will once again join forces, this time thanks to a $750,000 grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

The grant, which is part of a $6 million statewide fund, was given to support high-performance business incubators and accelerators in Michigan.

The SmartZone and MTU will work together to help commercialize innovations and tech that is coming out of the classrooms and laboratories at the university.

"This grant is particularly exciting because it recognizes the bond between Michigan Tech and MTEC SmartZone," says David Reed, vice president for research at MTU. "This opportunity will continue to strengthen that relationship and positively impact our local economy."

The new grant will also help support the Technology Commercialization Assistance program, which helps identify capabilities within existing companies and match them with university-based technology programs in Michigan, enabling the creation and commercialization of new technologies.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: David Reed, Michigan Technological University

Job growth is paramount to the survival of a region, which is exactly why UP Second Wave touts any job news it comes across. But the publication isn't the only one cheering on local jobs and is joined in the effort by many programs, such as the Plus One Program.

This year, the program, which is a partnership between the Lake Superior Community Partnership and Michigan Works!, recognized that in Marquette County alone there were 462 new jobs created by 37 businesses.

"The Plus One Program is great for Marquette County and is of significant importance since most new jobs come from businesses already located in the community," say Lindsay Hemmila, director of marketing for the LSCP. "It reminds local businesses that Michigan Works! and the Partnership are their allies, and it gives recognition to those trying to make a difference."

The Plus One Program is designed around the premise that an employer adding just one employee contributes to the economic development in Marquette County. The goal of the program is to support and recognize a 1-percent increase in the Marquette County workforce each year.  Since the inception of the program five years ago, Marquette County businesses have created 1,488 jobs.

The businesses recognized in 2011 were: Alzheimer’s Association, Upper Peninsula Health Plan, Child & Family Services of the U.P., Marquette Regional History Center, QuickTrophy, Marquette-Alger Great Start Collaborative, Barry J. Polzin Architects, Superior Extrusion, WBUP-ABC 10, VAST, Checker Bus, Superior Contact, Adult Learning Systems, Argonics, Toarmina’s Pizza, Charter Communications, Kendricks, Bordeau, Adamini, Chilman & Greenlee, P.C., Lake Superior Hospice, Lone Wolf Cleaning, Marquette County Community Foundation, Marquette County Juvenile Court, Marquette General Hospital, Marquette Motor Lodge, OB GYN Associates of Marquette, Peninsula Fiber Network, Ramada, Rio Tinto – Kennecott Eagle Minerals Company, Steward & Sheridan, PLC, U.P. Family Solutions Inc., U.P. Rehab Services, Veridea Group, YMCA of Marquette, Midway Rentals and Sales, The Up North Lodge, Huron Mountain Bakery and Blackrocks Brewery.

Anyone interested in participating in the Plus One Program should contact Hemmila via email.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Lindsay Hemmila, Lake Superior Community Partnership

Being honored within the community you live, work and volunteer is a big moment, and the Lake Superior Community Partnership helps create those moments with the organization's annual Distinguished Service Awards, which are sponsored by the Marquette County Ambassadors.

The LSCP announced recently the awards this time around are being given to VAST in the business category and to Mike Roy as an individual award recipient.

The awards will be presented at the LSCP's annual dinner celebration March 16 in the Great Lakes Rooms at Northern Michigan University.

"Each year, one of the highlights of our annual dinner has been the opportunity it presents to recognize companies and individuals who make significant contributions to our community and to the Lake Superior Community Partnership," says Tom Edmark, LSCP chairman. "This year is no exception and I am very pleased with the selection committee’s choice for these prestigious awards.  I have had the pleasure of working with both recipients over the last several years and believe they are well deserving of the recognition."

The annual award selection process uses specific criteria that include recipients making a strong contribution to the betterment of Marquette County, helping the Lake Superior Community Partnership reach its community and economic development goals and demonstrating leadership within the community.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Tom Edmark, Lake Superior Community Partnership

Manistique-based mBank had a really good year in 2011, despite taking on the responsibility and some of the financial burden of the once-failing Manistique Papers.

That move actually solidified mBank in the eyes of some U.P. residents as a committed, homegrown bank that would treat its customers--and communities--right. It's now active in the process of negotiating with a buyer to keep the mill open, which is planned for early 2012.

Regardless of the reasons, mBank and its holding company, Mackinac Financial Corporation, reported a net income of $1.45 million for 2011. That's a big change from its results in 2010, which ended up with a net loss of $1.2 million.

mBank itself recorded a net income of $2.7 million for 2011, which compares well to it's much smaller net income of $83,000 in 2010.

President and CEO Kelly George says the reasons include improvements in several categories, like better credit quality, core deposit growth, and a decrease in loan losses and write-offs.

The bank's Texas Ratio, a measure of its credit asset performance, dropped to 18.43 percent in 2011, making it one of the lowest of the 15 largest public banks in Michigan. George says this also should mean better results in 2012.

Deposits at mBank locations grew by $58 million, mostly in the Upper Peninsula and northern lower Michigan, but with growth in all the bank's markets. The bank was able to repay higher-cost wholesale deposits with that growth, making its overall financial portfolio more stable.

Loan production was another high point of the report, as mBank did about $173 million in new loans, between commercial lending and consumer mortgages. $95 million of that was in the U.P.

"The continued use of the various government lending programs such as the SBA, USDA, and also the MEDC, have enabled the Corporation to be a catalyst for the on-going rehabilitation of a state that was significantly damaged by the recession and real estate downturn in the late 2000's, by providing the needed capital and lending resources to help clients grow and purchase stable Michigan businesses," says George. "We have also allocated additional resources and lending focus on growing and providing increased funding for consumers to acquire, or refinance their primary residence, and other retail related assets."

And, a bright spot on the report for at least a few U.P. families: mBank added the equivalent of six new full-time employees throughout 2011.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Kelly George, mBank

Michigan Tech is going to be one of seven universities participating in a national rail transportation consortium headed by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

The new consortium, NURail, is funded by a $3.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, which is making a mission out of researching the critical transportation challenges facing the U.S., including its rail systems. Other grants are funding nine other university-based transportation research centers nationwide.

Tech was chosen because of its Rail Transportation Program, says David Reed, VP for research at Tech. It will be headed at Tech by four faculty members: Pasi Lautala, director of the Rail Transportation Program and a research assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering; Devin Harris, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering; Paul Sanders, assistant professor of materials science and engineering; and John Hill, assistant professor of mechanical engineering-engineering mechanics.

"Michigan Tech's Rail Transportation Program has developed under Dr. Lautala's leadership into a preeminent university rail research and education program," says Reed. "Its education programs have been strongly supported by the rail industry. NURail builds on this work and related efforts at other institutions in a national center joining university, industry and state governments to further develop rail transportation in the United States."

The other members are MIT, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, the University of Illinois at Chicago, the University of Kentucky and the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. In collaboration with state transportation departments and industry partners, Tech will contribute research on rural freight rail and multimodal transportation improvements, human factors and rail safety, infrastructure evaluation and assessment, high performance materials for railroad infrastructure preservation, and renewal and improved materials for rail industry.

The university also will establish a rail transportation and engineering certificate program for students, and commit to increasing undergraduate rail design projects and summer internships.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: David Reed, Michigan Technological University

A yo-yo made out of something new is the latest offering to come out of Lake Superior State University's Product Development Center, and it might just be an award-winning one, if Jon Spencer, the student who created it, gets his wish.

Spencer, a mechanical engineering student from West Branch, Mich., entered his yo-yo in a milling competition from Roland DG, a Japanese manufacturer of micro-milling equipment, such as that used to create the yo-yo. The PDC offers students the resources and equipment they need to make and test new products at their Sault Ste. Marie facility, and that's what Spencer did when he heard about the competition.

The Roland DG Creative Awards start with 14 regional competitions; Spencer entered the North American region. His entry is a yo-yo inscribed in binary code, which spells out "LSSU" on one side and a design representing the PDC's mechanical engineering services on the other side.

He started out with a design based on a Duncan yo-yo model, but made it from something completely different, says David Leach, project manager at the PDC.

"We're always looking for ways to keep costs down for our clients," says Leach. "Jon worked with a liquid urethane and mineral composite. The major benefit of the composite is the cost. It is less expensive than solid plastic. It starts out as a liquid that is poured into a mold and formed a more efficient shape. Jon was able to make a block for machining that was less than a third the cost."

Spencer then cut, filed and sanded each yo-yo part, and sealed the surface with a clear Krylon coating. He also machined and threaded an aluminum connector to allow the two yo-yo halves to spin.

Spencer plans to refine the design further; the amount of sand used in the milling is hard on the equipment, and the yo-yo itself weighs more than he would like.

Winners get a trip to Japan to visit the company's headquarters and participate in its 30th anniversary celebration, and the university would get a new micro-milling machine from Roland. They'll be judged on creativity, innovative use of Roland equipment, and excellence in execution of their design. Roland judges will select regional winners Feb 15, and those winners will compete for a world grand prize in April.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: David Leach, Lake Superior State University