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By JOSEPH SZCZESNY Of The Oakland Press Reliance One, a Clarkston-based job placement firm, is looking to hire dozens of people for temporary jobs as test drivers. Chad Toms, a Reliance One spokesman, said Wednesday the temporary employees will work from Auburn Hills on a large-scale test for a major automotive supplier. Reliance One is not allowed to identify the supplier, but the test could run until next summer and will involve hundreds of hours of driving. “Retirees and students are ideal for this program,” he said. However, many of the drivers hired for the program will be hired for 40 hours per week, he said. “There are two shifts available, and a part-time schedule is possible. By December, we may need to hire closer to 500 test drivers for this client for the test, which could involve as many as 350 vehicles. “Ideally, they want to start by next week,” Toms said. Toms said driver candidates can send a resume to drivers@reliance-one.com or fax it to 248-922-5660. Candidates mus...

DTE Energy names new chief executive to take over Oct. 1 DTE Energy President and Chief Operating Officer Gerard M. Anderson will become president and take over as chief executive officer Oct. 1. The 52-year-old Anderson is taking over from Anthony F. Earley Jr., DTE’s current CEO, who will remain with the company as executive chairman of the board with particular responsibility for relationships with external constituents, DTE said. Anderson, who has served as DTE Energy president and chief operating officer since 2005, has assumed increasing responsibility for key business functions over the last few years and was elected to the board last year, Earley said. Anderson joined DTE in 1993 as vice president of non-utility businesses. He became executive vice president of DTE Energy in 1997, directing the company’s power generation, power marketing, fuel supply and marketing activities. Earley has been CEO and chairman of the board since 1998. —...

ROCHESTER HILLS Information technology company launches HireGenics Atlanta-based American CyberSystems Inc., a multinational information technology services company, has formed HireGenics Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary, based in Rochester Hills, to expand payrolling and workforce risk mitigation services. HireGenics will offer workforce compliance, risk mitigation, payrolling services and related consolidated payments. HireGenics employs five local professionals in Rochester Hills and is supported by a team of more than 300 American CyberSystems employees. HireGenics’ president is Barry Olson, who possesses more than 30 years of experience and innovation in the professional services industry. Charles Halash is executive vice-president. For information, visit www.hiregenics.com or call 248-809-4854. Innovative Learning Group awarded consulting project Innovative Learning Group Inc. has been awarded a consulting project to assist new client Terumo Cardiovascular Systems Corporation wit...

FARMINGTON HILLS DG Technologies holds open house DG Technologies, provider of vehicle network solutions for automotive, heavy-duty truck and bus, military, construction, and agricultural vehicles, held an open house at their 33604 W. Eight Mile Road headquarters in Farmington Hills Sept. 23 with presentations relating to their 45 percent growth over the past two years. Speakers: Mark Zachos, DG Technologies, president and CEO, SAE Board of Directors; Greg Main, president of the  Michigan Economic Development Corp. and Michigan Economic Growth Authority; Gilda Jacobs, State Senator 14th District; Udi Naamani, University of Michigan Dearborn Connected Vehicle Proving Center; Rick Rachner, SAE International Automotive Center. The event had vehicle demonstrations relating to Controller Area Networks, Local Interconnect Networks, FlexRay, and wireless vehicle data. For information, visit www.dgtech.com. MACOMB Henry Ford names new human resources VP Jason Desentz is the new vice presid...

The Partner Event this past week was a blast for us at Azox who were fortunate enough to participate. We thought we would go over the top three reasons why The Partner Event was a worthwhile time for us. A Boatload of Workshops and Valuable Keynotes With specific tracks for Marketing, Sales and Leadership there was no shortage of sessions that helped each member of our team gain new insights as to how to better market and sell our product as well as lead our organization forward. In addition, the keynotes provided attendees with knowledge of how to engage a company's workforce to ensure workers are satisfied at work. Other areas of focus during the keynote centered on the economy and the difficulties many companies faced in regards to innovating in a down economy and what companies need to do post survival to move ahead. Each of the workshops were worthwhile investments that are sure to give each of our team members the ability to reevaluate where we are as a company and how we c...

Novi company donates laptops to entrepreneurs Bizdom U entrepreneurs (from left) Azmat Latif, Jimmy Tomczak, Bryan Kunka, Jonathan Smith, Lauran Hornes and Birgit Keil are pictured using six of Macprofessionals’ 26 donated Macbooks. Macprofessionals, a Novi-based computer integration and servicing company, has donated 26 Apple Macbook laptops to the Detroit-based entrepreneurial training program, Bizdom U. Bizdom U is a program that is focused on empowering entrepreneurs to start-up and lead successful Detroit-based businesses. The program was founded in January 2007 by Dan Gilbert, founder and chairman of Quicken Loans Inc. and majority owner of the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers. Macprofessionals, located in Novi, donated the new Macbooks to supply entrepreneurs and program leaders with state-of-the-art technology with the goal of enhancing local comm...

TROY ArvinMeritor to invest in China, Europe ArvinMeritor Inc. plans to invest nearly $60 million in Europe and China to expand its sales of components for heavy-duty vehicles. The Troy-based maker of vehicle components plans to invest $42 million in Europe to solidify its leadership position in foundation brakes and in the development of future generation braking technology and new manufacturing processes, as well as customer service, ArvinMeritor officials said. The company recently announced plans to invest $15 million to expand its capabilities in Nanjing, China, with a technical center and manufacturing facility. DETROIT Financial advisor honored Marie A. Vanerian, an institutional consultant at Merrill Lynch’s Detroit Office, was named to the Barron’s 2010 list of “Top 100 Women Financial Advisors.” Vanerian has been ranked on the list consecutively the past few years. Rankings were based in part on the volume of assets under management, quality of service and revenue generated.

CLARKSTON Weingartz teams with Gleaners to ‘Mow Down Hunger’ Weingartz is accepting nonperishable food donations to benefit Gleaners Community Food Bank through Oct. 18 at 6585 Dixie Hwy. in Clarkston. With its “Mow Down Hunger” program, Weingartz is also matching monetary donations made to Gleaners through that date. For information, call 248-620-5258. Donations can be made by phone at 866-GLEANER or by mail to: Gleaners Community Food Bank, P.O. Box 1380, Troy, MI 48099-1380, include Mow Down Hunger in the memo and make check payable to: Gleaners Community Food Bank. AUBURN HILLS FBI appoints Cooley Law School professor to advisory board FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III has appointed Cooley Law School Associate Professor Alan Gershel to the Criminal Justice Information Services Advisory Policy Board. Gershel will represent the prosecutorial sector of the criminal justice community. Gershel joined Cooley’s faculty in 2008 after serving the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of...

FARMINGTON HILLS TiE Detroit presents TiE20 Midwest startup awards The Detroit chapter of TiE, also known as Talent, Ideas, Enterprise presents its annual TiE Midwest: Business Karma 3.0, 10 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Oct. 28 and 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Oct. 29 at The Henry Hotel, 300 Town Center Drive, Dearborn. TiECon 2010 Midwest features various activities throughout the two-day event; including Extreme Power Connect; multiple sessions based on a mixture of content areas including technology, healthcare and emerging businesses; TiE 20 awards, keynote speakers from numerous organizations and the annual Business Plan Competition. Keynote speakers include: Sandy K. Baruah, president and CEO of the Detroit Regional Chamber and Gururaj “Desh” Deshpande is the chairman of Sparta Group LLC. TiECon Midwest 20 Awards acknowledge excellence among 20 Early Stage Startups within four industry verticals: Internet, Software, Mobile, and Media. The last date for nominations is Thursday, Sept. 23. Visit www.tie conmi...

FARMINGTON HILLS Vo2 Ventures hosts training Vo2 Ventures LLC, a newly formed venture capital firm, will be hosting research proposal preparation training on Thursday, Sept. 23, and Friday, Sept. 24, which will be led by Ann Arbor-based Biotechnology Business Consultants, a business that develops life science companies. The Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer Research proposal preparation training will take place at Vo2’s new 14,000-square-foot facility at 30375 Northwestern Hwy., Farmington Hills. Vo2 Ventures LLC is a spin-off from Davis and Davis CPAs. To register online, visit www.bbcetc.com or call Kris Bergman at 734-930-9741. TROY Free health care seminar offered AGIS, a full-service insurance agency in Birmingham, will host a free seminar titled “Health Care Reform: Impact on Employers,” Tuesday, Sept. 21, at the Troy Community Center, located at 3179 Livernois Road, Troy. Breakfast and registration are from 8:30-9 a.m., with the event directl...

SOUTHFIELD HIPAA workshop for health care providers offered Practice management panelists present “Are You HIPAA Compliant?” is 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 22 at The Westin Hotel, 1500 Town Center, Southfield. Panelists will discuss HIPAA’s newest regulations and how to meet them, practical and effective routes to HITECH dollars and effectively implementing electronic health records. Panelists include Deborah Williamson, JD, health care law attorney at Warner Norcross & Judd with special expertise in HIPAA; Nathan Steed, JD, attorney at Warner Norcross & Judd with expertise in federal health privacy compliance and technology law; Michele Morlock, RN, JD, of Morlock-Noren with expertise in the legal, business and clinical aspects of health care administration and operations and Melissa Noren, BS, of Morlock-Noren with extensive expertise in health care information technol...

WARREN Macomb college forges apprenticeship agreements Macomb Community College has reached an agreement with construction union groups, Detroit Carpenter Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee, Local 80 Sheet Metal Training Center, Michigan Laborers Training and Apprenticeship Institute, Millwright Local 1102 Apprenticeship Program and Greater Detroit Cement Masons Joint Apprenticeship Committee. Under the agreement, each of the organizations will provide credit to apprentice workers for training received by the opposite partner, so that a graduate apprentice could receive up to 32 credit hours at Macomb for completion of the apprenticeship training. Students who complete engineering and advanced technology courses at Macomb and then enter an apprenticeship program with one of the partners could  receive credit of up to one year of related training instruction. TROY LEGO Store opens at Somerset Collection Shoppers can help a Master Model Builder construct an eight-foo...

STERLING HEIGHTS Symposiums to focus on marketing, doing business in 21st century The Sterling Heights Regional Chamber presents two symposiums: “Marketing in the 21st Century 2.0” is 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 6 and “Doing Business in the 21st Century” is 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 19. The symposiums will be held at Macomb Intermediate School District,  44001 Garfield Road, Clinton Township. The Oct. 6 symposium highlights social network marketing, website optimization and newspaper advertising. The social media segment will be presented by Kevin Outland, president of Pure Energy Advertising. Don Holland, president of Five Sparrows LLC, will share how to get the most from your business website. Changes in newspaper advertising will be presented by Roger Hages, advertising director of The Macomb Daily and The Daily Tribune newspapers. The Oct. 19 symposium covers topics such as the effect and tax ramifications of the new health care bill on business, the need for a busines...

Partner Event in Fargo, ND from September 19-21. The Partner Event is the premier opportunity for Microsoft Dynamics Partners to build sales, marketing, and leadership skills by networking and learning from each other and industry experts. We look forward to networking with other Microsoft Dynamics Partners and learning from industry experts on what the industry future holds and how to prepare for upcoming changes. We will be posting our top takeaways from the event next week, so stay tuned. For more information about the event visit http://www.thepartnerevent.com/

TROY Dynamic Advisory opens new location Dynamic Advisory Solutions will open its second office in Ann Arbor. Business professional and outdoor adventurer Rob Marshall will serve as managing director of the Ann Arbor office. The company offers businesses a comprehensive financial management solutions, helping clients plan for the future, manage overall business performance and achieve their growth and profitability goals. Marshall will be celebrating the launch of his new office by giving away 250 copies of Ren Carlton’s new book “Profitpreneurship – Creating a Business that Produces Outstanding Financial Results” at the Ann Arbor Chamber of Commerce office 7:30-10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 21. Carlton is president of Dynamic Advisory Solutions and works at the Troy location. For more information, call 734-417-2624 or visit www.daspc.com . EASTPOINTE Dentist marks first year with new name RK & Associates is hosting a one-year anniversary and the launch of a new name for the practice, ...

DETROIT Free student tickets for social media forum The 140 Characters Conference, which explores the effects of the emerging real-time Internet on business, is coming to The Fillmore Detroit on Wednesday, Oct. 20, and its founder, Jeff Pulver, is offering at least 250 student tickets for free. Graduate and undergraduate students with a valid university or college e-mail address are invited to register for the conference at http://detroit2010.140conf.com/students . Similar conferences have been held in cities around the world, including Los Angeles, Boston, Tel Aviv, London and New York City. Nonstudent tickets are available for $140. To view a list of scheduled speakers for the Detroit event, visit http://detroit2010.140conf.com/schedule CENTER LINE Elite Ink Tattoo holds Pink Ink fundraiser Elite Ink Tattoo Studio at 25543 Van Dyke in Center Line is sponsoring the second annual Pink Ink fundraiser, taking place on Sept. 23 at Elite Ink Tattoo Studio, 25543 Van Dyke Avenue, Center Lin...

ROYAL OAK Northwestern Mutual donates $10,000 to South Oakland Shelter Birmingham resident and  Peter Kreher was named a top volunteer by Northwestern Mutual for his dedication to the South Oakland Shelter in Royal Oak. Northwestern donated a $10,000 grant on his behalf. Kreher is a financial representative with The Wilshire Financial Group in Troy. He is one of 25 financial representatives being recognized nationally as top volunteers by the Northwestern Mutual Foundation. DETROIT Miller Canfield lawyer inducted into Litigation Counsel of America Miller Canfield principal Irene Bruce Hathaway has been selected as a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America for her effectiveness and accomplishment in litigation and trial work. In more than 25 years of practice as a litigator, she has handled more than 100 trials, dozens of arbitrations and more than 200 appeals or applications. She works in the Detroit office. ROCHESTER HILLS Centro Properties Group announces lease with Emagine T...

ANN ARBOR   U-M unveils lineup for Entrepalooza 2010  Bringing together members of the business community and leaders in entrepreneurship and venture capital, The Samuel Zell & Robert H. Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business will host Entrepalooza, its annual Entrepreneurial Symposium, Sept. 16-17 at the University’s Blau Auditorium. This year’s expanded event will offer attendees inspirational success stories from serial entrepreneurs, Fortune 100 executives and venture capital leaders. Panel discussions and keynote presentations will provide insight into the current exit climate, opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurial success, as well as perspectives on emerging trends such as social entrepreneurship and alternative financing. Visit www.epalooza.bus.umich.edu . MOUNT CLEMENS JoMomma’s Kitchen opens, with offerings of home cooking JoMomma’s Kitchen has opened at 39 Main St., across from the Macomb Count...

Even though the use of meta tags in determining ranking order by search engines has decreased in importance over the years, properly using the meta description tags is still a very good practice for a number of reasons. The meta description, as highlighted above in orange, is located under the title tag on the search results page, and should appear between the tag in the HTML. A Meta Description Tag is important because it will describe your website in more detail than the title tag. It will appear on the search engine results pages (SERPs) of queried keywords so it is important to display them properly. Creating a well written description tag will help provide visitors information about your site and encourage them to click and explore for more details. Tips for Meta Description Tags Keep Character Length in Mind - Just like title tags, search engines limit the number of characters that are displayed on the SERP. In the image above you will notice the description concludes with an el...

Inforum hosts women making transformation Detroit business forum, Inforum, is hosting “Extreme Change: Four Women, Four Sectors, Total Transformation,” featuring four women leaders, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 17 at Motor City Casino Hotel, 2901 Grand River Ave, Detroit. Carol Cain, business and politics columnist for the “Detroit Free Press,” will moderate. Featured speakers are: Susie Ellwood, CEO of Detroit Media Partnership; Carol Goss, president and CEO of The Skillman Foundation; Barbara L. McQuade, attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan and Mary Zuckerman, chief operating officer of the Detroit Medical Center. The cost is $55 for Inforum members; $65 for non-members. Register at www.InforumMichigan.org or call 313-578-3244. Moran Chevrolet hosts child safety event Moran Chevrolet is hosting Operation Kidsafe National Safety Tour from 2-7 p.m. Friday and 9-3 p.m. Saturday at the dealership at 35500 South Gratiot Ave., in Clinton Township. The event offers parents a ...

TROY Panera Bread and United Way hold free family fun day Panera Bread of Southeast Michigan and United Way for Southeastern Michigan will host a free family fun day from 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 11, at Panera Bread in the Troy Commons Plaza at 823 E. Big Beaver Road. The event is open to all ages. United Way will share information with parents about the free resources available through its Early Learning Communities — a program that helps ensure children start school prepared and ready to learn. Children will have the opportunity to participate in reading activities and craft projects. To learn more about United Way for Southeastern Michigan, visit www.liveunitedsem.org . MOUNT CLEMENS Dr. Nouha Alammar joins medical center staff Dr. Nouha Alammar, D.O., has joined the medical staff of Mount Clemens Regional Medical Center as an ear, nose and throat specialist. She also performs facial plastic surgery. Dr. Alammar received her degree from Michigan State University College of Ost...

NORTHVILLE Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel collects backpacks for students Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel’s Northville/Novi office collected nearly 40 backpacks for children and teens heading back to school. The backpacks were presented to the Northville Civic Concern, an organization that provides services and distributes goods to those in need in the Northville area. Lori Crysler, sales manager of the Northville/Novi office said, “The Northville Civic Concern wants to let people know, however, that they are always in desperate need of food and monetary donations. The address of the organization is 42951 Seven Mile Northville, MI 48167, and their phone number is 248-344-1033. TROY Gibb named communications VP for CPA association The Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants announced Debbie Gibb of Lake Orion has joined the association as vice president of communications. Gibb is responsible for the oversight of association communications and public relations initiatives including...

DETROIT DTE named one of nation’ top utilities DTE Energy recently was named among the nation’s top utilities for economic development by Site Selection magazine. The designation is based on calendar year 2009 performance in four categories — capital investment, job creation, capital investment per capita and jobs per 10,000 in population. It also takes into account innovative programs and services that meet the needs of industrial customers, creativity and flexibility in working with corporate clients to facilitate project activity, the input of leading site selection consultants, and extensive interviews with company executives who have located deals. DETROIT Comerica Bank contributes to Oakland County nonprofits As part of an ongoing commitment to communities in Michigan, Comerica Bank recently announced its contribution of more than $1.4 million to Michigan nonprofits during the first half of 2010, including several Oakland County-based organizations. Donations to local organizat...

Auburn Hills College students welcomed back with free food, music The City of Auburn Hills is welcoming back all college students who attend the five colleges and universities based in Auburn Hills with a celebration on Sept. 17. College Fest will feature free food and live music from 3 to 8 p.m. at Riverside Park, near the corner of Squirrel and Auburn Roads in downtown Auburn Hills. “College Fest gives us the opportunity to show our appreciation for the hard-working students that make up our college community — Baker College, Central Michigan University–Auburn Hills Center, Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Oakland Community College and Oakland University,” said Stephanie Carroll, Auburn Hills coordinator of community relations and legislative affairs. The outdoor event will feature the retro musical talents of That 80’s Band, as well as free food from Stan’s Bar and Grill and The Post Bar. Beverages will be provided by Pepsi. Students who attend college in Auburn Hills ...

TROY Event to educate entrepreneurs Automation Alley will hold its “Capital Successes: Educating Entrepreneurs on Funding Solutions” event on Sept. 16 at Automation Alley’s Headquarters in Troy. Jeffrey Prough, president and CEO of Critical Signal Technologies (CST), will talk about the avenues he chose while searching for funding, what worked and what didn’t, and the obstacles encountered along the way. Attendees will learn what plans must be place, what to ask and what to present to an investor in order to secure funding. As the nation’s largest independent provider of personal emergency response systems and one of the most innovative and respected providers of telehealth monitoring systems, CST is inventing cost-effective solutions for better health care. Prior to forming CST, Prough was president of one of the country’s largest independent security companies, Guardian Alarm Company, and president of their three subsidiaries. The event is sponsored by Hennessey Capital...

Waterford Twp. Colossal Closeouts sells brand names for less With the economy being stressful to consumers in the Detroit area, Colossal Closeouts was created to provide customers a place to shop for new brand name merchandise at very low pricing. They said they do not compare their store to the big box discounters like Kmart and Walmart or resale shops. The shop carries many items that upscale boutiques, department stores, university sport shops, and golf clubs carry at closeout prices. The owners purchase goods from stores that have closed or manufacturers that overproduced. The store’s inventory is constantly changing, they said. Colossal Closeouts is at 4396 Dixie Hwy in Waterford Township, just west of Sashabaw Road in the Rite Aid Center next to Papa Romano’s. For more information, call 248-461-6170. HIGHLAND TWP. Huron Valley Schools names new human resources director Huron Valley Schools recently appointed Jim Baker as the new executive director of human resources. Baker comes ...

STERLING HEIGHTS Chamber offers ‘Fall Grub Crawl’ Eleven restaurants will offer samples of their fare at the Sterling Heights Regional Chamber’s Fall “Grub Crawl” on Sept. 22. This year’s fall event features top restaurants along Hall Road and M-59 west of Schoenherr. The restaurants will offer their specialties to those attending from 5:30 through 9:30 p.m. “This is one of the most fun events that our chamber puts on,” said chamber President Wayne Oehmke. “We want to invite all members of the community to join us.” There is a free shuttle service going between all the restaurants or you can drive to each. The cost is $25 per person. Register online at www.shrcci.com and click on the “Grub Crawl” banner or call the Chamber at 586-731-5400 extensions 10 or 13, before 3 p.m. the day of the event. TROY Business association names title company among ‘best and brightest’ Troy-based eTitle Agency, Inc., a full-service title and closing company, has been named one of Metropolitan Detroit’s 1...

WARREN SCORE offers business starter workshop Detroit SCORE Chapter 18, in cooperation with Michigan Business and Professional Association, presents a workshop for people thinking about starting their own business. “Could I Should I Start My Own Business” will be held 8:45-11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 7, at 27700 Hoover Road in Warren. The cost is $10. To register, call 313-226-7947. TROY Automation Alley holds funding solutions seminar “Capital Successes: Educating Entrepreneurs on Funding Solutions” is 5 p.m. Sept. 16 at Automation Alley Headquarters, 2675 Bellingham in Troy. The evening’s speakers include Jeffery Prough, president and CEO of Critical Signal Technologies, and his finance team. Hors d’oeuvres and cocktails will be served. Pre-registration is $20 for Automation Alley members and $40 for non-members. At the door, the cost is $30 for members and $50 for non-members. For information, call 248-457-3200 or visit www.automationalley.com . ROCHESTER HILLS Tom Ford trunk show held a...