michigan chronicle- stay connected pg. 1

1
SECTION C February 6-12, 2013 BUSINESS BUSINESS By Jackie Berg Once rejected, now connected, Detroit is making a unique footprint on defining urban culture. With the announcement of the M-1 rail system, the city of Detroit is not only on the edge of becoming the business address of 25,000 new down- town residents, 200 new storefront busi- nesses along Wood- ward Avenue and 20,000 new workers, but of developing the kind of street life that demands sister cities take notice. A shadow city no more, Detroit’s reemergence demands immediate 21st century technology up- grades in order to keep pace with devel- opment needs. AT&T’s announcement of its $14 bil- lion investment nationwide to signifi- cantly expand and enhance its wireless and wireline IP broadband networks to GREG CLARK, AT&T regional vice president. Keeping Connected AT&T $14 billion investment expected to yield big dividends in urban areas serve growing customer demand for high- speed Internet access and new mobile, app and cloud services could not be better timed. Detroit needs the kind of instant access that the upgrades will bring. “We’re only scratching the surface of what we can do,” said Greg Clark, AT&T re- gional vice president. “We plan to wire up to one million new locations, including many of Detroit’s new small business locations with the kind of fiber optics the market- place demands.” With 11 planned stops along Woodward corridor, M-1 commuters will have the op- portunity to experience an eclectic array of new shops and restaurants and still arrive to work on time. And AT&T’s technology infrastructure investments will make it easier to keep ev- eryone connected along the way, according to Clark, who is helping lead conversations Powered by Real Times Media michiganchronicle.com See CONNECTED Page C-4 Detroit needs the kind of instant access that the upgrades will bring. Black businesses benefit from Energy efficiency movement By Zack Burgess CHRONICLE EDITOR-AT-LARGE Life is a succession of fortunate cir- cumstances. And when former Governor Jennifer Granholm issued an executive order, just before the 2006 campaign, calling for the creation of a “21st Cen- tury Energy Plan for Michigan” — the mission being to find alternative energy sources and greater energy efficiency — Louis E. James knew he had to get involved. He knew there was an entire com- munity of people he could give back to, people just like him. As the markets changed and after years of running several businesses, James knew that he too had to change. In the end, electricity and gas is some- thing people were going to always need. Consequently, in 2009 James found- ed a company, Solutions for Energy Effi- cient Logistics (SEEL). By June, he had landed a huge customer, DTE Energy. Together they would make wonderful music, as they worked to implement DTE Energy’s efficiency program for electric and natural gas customers in multi-family and commercial properties — an ambitious but doable pilot pro- gram. “Initially, the key for me was diversi- fying outside of the automobile indus- try,” said James. “I knew that energy efficiency would be a reality. And while there are people who look at solar, and they look at turbine and all the other things, energy efficiency is the greatest economic development tool and afford- able for solving certain problems. I was moved by what we are trying to do as a country right now, and that’s conserve energy.” Ask anyone who knows James and they will tell you he is a man who has built a career on an ability to be a in- scrutable, smart and witty, a gentleman who will always grace you with a smile. “It’s not only an education piece to what we do, it’s also a job creator,” said James. “The biggest thing that hap- pened with SEEL was that it created over 125 jobs in the community. We used community leaders and churches and made them aware of how important energy efficiency is and how simple it is. It has been very rewarding for us who live in the community and work in the community. We have people work- ing for us from 19 to 69. I like to say we have turned people from blue collar to green collar.” And while DTE Energy had been in- volved with minority-based programs for 31 years now, receiving many awards for its minority supplier devel- opment efforts along the way, they felt the need to continue to improve minor- ity procurement efforts and get minori- ties even more involved on the supply chain side of their business. The proof was in the numbers. Not only did African Americans make up 82.7 percent of the city’s population, but they had been awarded minority owned contracts well over $114,000,000, an- other $106,000,000 to women, which accounted for well over $220,000,000. It made sense for DTE Energy to get even more involved with the African American business community. The multi-family program and pilots grew to the landing of the Neighborhood Energy Savings Outreach (NESO) and the goal was to target customer areas that were in need of being educated about the need for using lower energy and how it could save them money. The reality is this: the African American community was in desperate need of being taught the value of how to save energy, because low and middle income households were getting hit hard. Furthermore, through the prism of the Pure Michigan Business Connect Initiative that was started by Gov. Rick Snyder and the Michigan Economic De- velopment Corporation (MEDC) in 2011, DTE Energy has spent more than $1.4 billion with Michigan-based suppliers like SEEL, who have also benefited by the program’s support in gaining access to new capital, its business to business services and assistance in leveraging new procurement opportunities. “It has been a tremendously reward- ing experience working with DTE,” said James. “The key is that they have been extremely supportive, every step of the way. And we have performed every step of the way. We were given an opportunity and we have performed at the highest level and they have rewarded us for that. It has been a great marriage between the two companies.” After seeing the figures, there were households where sometimes half their monthly income was going to utility bills. Therefore, SEEL concentrated on community outreach and the need for highly trained installation crews, who would interact on a regular basis with people throughout the community. Thus, James hired and trained over 100 full-time staff to conduct audits and in- stallation, which was required by DTE Energy. “SEEL has shown an entrepreneur- ial spirit and call to action that has propelled them towards important busi- ness awards,” said Tony Tomczak, DTE Energy’s director of Supply Chain Man- agement. “SEEL has exemplified what DTE is looking for when new business development is needed. I would like to See ENERGY EFFICIENCY Page C-4 Michigan Chronicle introduces new business section By Hiram E. Jackson CHRONICLE PUBLISHER No one makes it on their own. And the many great leaders, who walked the halls of the Michigan Chronicle before me, left a last- ing mark on this organization and the community we serve. I am honored to have the opportu- nity to add to the legacy of this great institution. The Chronicle has always been known for its support of positive social change. As a result, we have become smarter, wiser and better for it. I have learned that in- dividuals with great ideas can often accomplish what government or large organizations cannot. That is why I decided that it was time for us to have a section dedicated to business. A section focused on the key innovation that underlies much of the gains that have been made by the African American business com- munity in Detroit and the many companies that have partnered with them in order to make our city great again. It’s important that we recog- nize the role played by entre- preneurs in advancing positive social changes. I don’t mean businesspeople solving social ills, but people spreading new approaches — through nonprof- its and businesses, or within government — to address prob- lems more successfully than in the past. I know that at times, it can be hard to believe that progress is happening, but it is. Unfortu- nately, most of our news focuses on problems, not creative re- sponses to them. One of the most interesting stories in the business com- munity in Detroit today is how much creative problem solving is being done by citizens who are taking it upon themselves to fix things and who, in many cases, are outperforming traditional or- ganizations or making systems work better. Is this something new? No. There have always been people who built organizations that demonstrated new possi- bilities and sparked change. In business, they were given the name “entrepreneurs.” As their role came to be understood, societies instituted a wide array of supports to help them. We will do our best to iden- tify leaders in our communi- ties whose main mission is to employ and help Detroiters, not only get back to work, but find careers vs. jobs. What I want to do is give young African Americans a view of what can be done if they come up with a plan and work that plan to live their dreams.And while a degree certainly pro- vides graduates with an edge in the job market, unemployment statistics have repeatedly shown that one’s race plays a role in securing employment. Fortunately, we seem to be doing something about it. A recent report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics confirmed that Black self-employment has been on the rise. The number of self-employed Blacks grew by 5.7 percent from 2007 through 2009, in contrast to the 3.4 decrease experienced by self-em- ployed Whites. It is our job to show our read- ers that it can be done. I like to believe that African Ameri- cans are a group of people who embody the American promise of success driven by will and resolve. Furthermore, it’s important that we remain transparent as a business community. Our goal is to help people change habits that can hopefully motivate them to pursue greater opportunities. In the end, strategic decisions matter. By turning our atten- tion to habits — those decisions that have profound impact — we know we can change people’s lives. Hiram E. Jackson Louis E. James

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Page 1: Michigan Chronicle- Stay Connected  Pg. 1

section c February 6-12, 2013

BusinessBusiness

By Jackie BergOnce rejected, now connected, Detroit

is making a unique footprint on defining urban culture. With the announcement of the M-1 rail system, the city of Detroit

is not only on the edge of becoming the business address of 25,000 new down-town residents, 200 new storefront busi-nesses along Wood-ward Avenue and 20,000 new workers, but of developing the kind of street life that demands sister cities take notice.

A shadow city no more, Detroit’s reemergence demands immediate 21st century technology up-grades in order to keep pace with devel-opment needs.

AT&T’s announcement of its $14 bil-lion investment nationwide to signifi-cantly expand and enhance its wireless and wireline IP broadband networks to

GreG clark, AT&T regional vice president.

Keeping ConnectedAT&T $14 billion

investment expected to yield big dividends in

urban areas

serve growing customer demand for high-speed Internet access and new mobile, app and cloud services could not be better timed.

Detroit needs the kind of instant access that the upgrades will bring.

“We’re only scratching the surface of what we can do,” said Greg Clark, AT&T re-gional vice president. “We plan to wire up to one million new locations, including many of Detroit’s new small business locations with the kind of fiber optics the market-

place demands.”

With 11 planned stops along Woodward corridor, M-1 commuters will have the op-portunity to experience an eclectic array of new shops and restaurants and still arrive to work on time.

And AT&T’s technology infrastructure investments will make it easier to keep ev-eryone connected along the way, according to Clark, who is helping lead conversations

Powered by Real Times Media

michiganchronicle.com

See connected Page c-4

Detroit needs the kind of instant access that the upgrades will bring.

Black businesses benefit fromEnergy efficiency movementBy Zack BurgessCHRONICLE EDITOR-AT-LARGE

Life is a succession of fortunate cir-cumstances. And when former Governor Jennifer Granholm issued an executive order, just before the 2006 campaign, calling for the creation of a “21st Cen-tury Energy Plan for Michigan” — the mission being to find alternative energy sources and greater energy efficiency — Louis E. James knew he had to get involved.

He knew there was an entire com-munity of people he could give back to, people just like him.

As the markets changed and after years of running several businesses, James knew that he too had to change. In the end, electricity and gas is some-thing people were going to always need.

Consequently, in 2009 James found-ed a company, Solutions for Energy Effi-cient Logistics (SEEL). By June, he had landed a huge customer, DTE Energy. Together they would make wonderful music, as they worked to implement DTE Energy’s efficiency program for electric and natural gas customers in multi-family and commercial properties — an ambitious but doable pilot pro-gram.

“Initially, the key for me was diversi-fying outside of the automobile indus-try,” said James. “I knew that energy efficiency would be a reality. And while there are people who look at solar, and they look at turbine and all the other things, energy efficiency is the greatest economic development tool and afford-able for solving certain problems. I was moved by what we are trying to do as a country right now, and that’s conserve energy.”

Ask anyone who knows James and they will tell you he is a man who has built a career on an ability to be a in-scrutable, smart and witty, a gentleman who will always grace you with a smile.

“It’s not only an education piece to what we do, it’s also a job creator,” said James. “The biggest thing that hap-pened with SEEL was that it created over 125 jobs in the community. We used community leaders and churches and made them aware of how important energy efficiency is and how simple it is. It has been very rewarding for us who live in the community and work in the community. We have people work-ing for us from 19 to 69. I like to say we have turned people from blue collar to green collar.”

And while DTE Energy had been in-volved with minority-based programs for 31 years now, receiving many awards for its minority supplier devel-opment efforts along the way, they felt the need to continue to improve minor-ity procurement efforts and get minori-ties even more involved on the supply chain side of their business.

The proof was in the numbers. Not only did African Americans make up 82.7 percent of the city’s population, but they had been awarded minority owned contracts well over $114,000,000, an-other $106,000,000 to women, which accounted for well over $220,000,000. It made sense for DTE Energy to get even more involved with the African American business community.

The multi-family program and pilots grew to the landing of the Neighborhood Energy Savings Outreach (NESO) and the goal was to target customer areas that were in need of being educated about the need for using lower energy and how it could save them money. The reality is this: the African American community was in desperate need of being taught the value of how to save energy, because low and middle income households were getting hit hard.

Furthermore, through the prism of the Pure Michigan Business Connect Initiative that was started by Gov. Rick Snyder and the Michigan Economic De-velopment Corporation (MEDC) in 2011, DTE Energy has spent more than $1.4 billion with Michigan-based suppliers like SEEL, who have also benefited by the program’s support in gaining access to new capital, its business to business services and assistance in leveraging

new procurement opportunities.

“It has been a tremendously reward-ing experience working with DTE,” said James. “The key is that they have been extremely supportive, every step of the way. And we have performed every step of the way. We were given an opportunity and we have performed at the highest level and they have rewarded us for that. It has been a great marriage between the two companies.”

After seeing the figures, there were households where sometimes half their monthly income was going to utility bills. Therefore, SEEL concentrated on community outreach and the need for highly trained installation crews, who would interact on a regular basis with people throughout the community. Thus, James hired and trained over 100 full-time staff to conduct audits and in-stallation, which was required by DTE Energy.

“SEEL has shown an entrepreneur-ial spirit and call to action that has propelled them towards important busi-ness awards,” said Tony Tomczak, DTE Energy’s director of Supply Chain Man-agement. “SEEL has exemplified what DTE is looking for when new business development is needed. I would like to

See enerGy eFFiciency Page c-4

Michigan Chronicle

introduces new business

sectionBy Hiram E. Jackson CHRONICLE PUBLISHER

No one makes it on their own. And the many great leaders, who walked the halls of the Michigan Chronicle before me, left a last-ing mark on this organization and the community we serve. I am honored to have the opportu-nity to add to the legacy of this great institution.

The Chronicle has always been known for its support of

positive social change. As a result, we have become smarter, wiser and better for it. I have learned that in-dividuals with great ideas can often

accomplish what government or large organizations cannot.

That is why I decided that it was time for us to have a section dedicated to business. A section focused on the key innovation that underlies much of the gains that have been made by the African American business com-munity in Detroit and the many companies that have partnered with them in order to make our city great again.

It’s important that we recog-nize the role played by entre-preneurs in advancing positive social changes. I don’t mean businesspeople solving social ills, but people spreading new approaches — through nonprof-its and businesses, or within government — to address prob-lems more successfully than in the past.

I know that at times, it can be hard to believe that progress is happening, but it is. Unfortu-nately, most of our news focuses on problems, not creative re-sponses to them.

One of the most interesting stories in the business com-munity in Detroit today is how much creative problem solving is being done by citizens who are taking it upon themselves to fix things and who, in many cases, are outperforming traditional or-ganizations or making systems work better.

Is this something new? No.

There have always been people who built organizations that demonstrated new possi-bilities and sparked change. In business, they were given the name “entrepreneurs.” As their role came to be understood, societies instituted a wide array of supports to help them.

We will do our best to iden-tify leaders in our communi-ties whose main mission is to employ and help Detroiters, not only get back to work, but find careers vs. jobs.

What I want to do is give young African Americans a view of what can be done if they come up with a plan and work that plan to live their dreams.And while a degree certainly pro-vides graduates with an edge in the job market, unemployment statistics have repeatedly shown that one’s race plays a role in securing employment.

Fortunately, we seem to be doing something about it. A recent report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics confirmed that Black self-employment has been on the rise. The number of self-employed Blacks grew by 5.7 percent from 2007 through 2009, in contrast to the 3.4 decrease experienced by self-em-ployed Whites.

It is our job to show our read-ers that it can be done. I like to believe that African Ameri-cans are a group of people who embody the American promise of success driven by will and resolve.

Furthermore, it’s important that we remain transparent as a business community. Our goal is to help people change habits that can hopefully motivate them to pursue greater opportunities. In the end, strategic decisions matter. By turning our atten-tion to habits — those decisions that have profound impact — we know we can change people’s lives.

Hiram E. Jackson

Louis E. James