Plymouth

Delphinus Medical Technologies brings on new CEO to ramp up growth

By Newsroom

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October 2, 2014

One of Metro Detroit’s most promising startups has a new leader who comes with a history of shepherding biotech companies through to acquisition. Delphinus Medical Technologies has hired Mark Forchette as its president and CEO. Forchette served as OptiMedica Corp’s president and CEO before taking the job. The company specialized in ophthalmic medical devices. He led OptiMedica Corp. through commercialization, successfully completed multiple rounds of financing, and oversaw the company’s acquisition by Abbott Laboratories last year. He says he sees the same sort of potential with Delphinus Medical Technologies. "I see an incredible technology that can improve women's health," Forchette says. Delphinus Medical Technologies makes SoftVue, a "whole breast ultrasound tomography system" that helps diagnose breast cancer more effectively than traditional mammograms. The technology spun out of Wayne State University and the Karmanos Cancer Institute in 2009. It has raised a $12 million Series A round in 2010 and a $11 million Series B last year. It has since hired 15 people, expanding its staff to 35 employees. "We're in position now where we have on-boarded a lot of talent," Forchette says. "We're really excited about that." That team will work to gain technical credibility with doctors and health systems, enabling them to thoroughly adopt the SoftVue technology. "We have to do that clinically," Forchette says. "It's a process of incorporating physicians deeply within the company." Source: Mark Forchette, president & CEO of Delphinus Medical Technologies Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

RedViking’s engineers score awards as firm adds staff

By Newsroom

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Economic Development

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September 25, 2014

RedViking likes to think of itself as the home to some of the top engineering talent in Metro Detroit. Now it has some hardware to back it up. Three of the Plymouth-based testing company’s employees (Chris Lake, Greg Giles, and Jason Stefanski) recently were recognized in Plant Engineering's "Engineering Leaders Under 40" class for 2014. The awards recognize up-and-coming talent in the engineering sector of manufacturing. "Each of those guys has a strong background in engineering," says Randy Brodzik, president & CEO of RedViking. "As we have grown they have grown with us and helped us grow." The 31-year-old company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Superior Controls, builds testing systems for manufacturers in the automotive, defense, and aerospace industries. The testing systems, which often focus on power train systems, are quite precise and require extensive engineering. RedViking has experienced a significant bump in growth in recent years on the strength of manufacturers, including automotive. Aerospace work has supplied its biggest gains over the last year. That has allowed RedViking to hire a number of people. The company currently has a staff of about 200 employees and half a dozen interns. It has added 15 jobs (mostly engineers) in the last year and is looking to hire another 10 people right now. Those jobs include engineers, sales, and project managers. The company is holding a job fair at its headquarters (46247 Five Mile Road in Plymouth) between 4-8 p.m. on Oct. 23. More info here. "One of the things we have been successful at is recruiting strong engineering talent," Brodzik says. Source: Randy Brodzik, president & CEO of RedViking Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Beet Analytics Technology doubles staffing in Plymouth

By Newsroom

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General

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September 25, 2014

Beet Analytics Technology software for manufacturers is gaining traction. The Plymouth-based startup has doubled in size over the last year as its software platform has established itself in the market, and the firm is on target to continue that growth streak. "If things go as planned we should double our size in the next 6-12 months," says David Wang, CEO of Beet Analytics Technology. The firm provides diagnostic and analytical tools that accelerate problem solving in complex manufacturing and automation operations. Its software improves problem identification and reduces production downtime so the user can optimize productivity gains. "The market we are looking at is hidden from everyone," Wang says. "The potential is very, very large. Probably billions of dollars." The 3-year-old company has landed a couple of contracts with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) from around the world. Beet Analytics Technology now claims to have landed contracts or is in talks to sign with half of the 10 largest OEMs in the world. "We are on the verge of winning a contract for another large OEM," Wang says. That has allowed Beet Analytics to more than double its staff over the last year. The firm has hired seven people in senior automotive engineering and intellectual property professionals, expanding its staff to a dozen employees and one intern. Source: David Wang, CEO of Beet Analytics Technology Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

DFCU Financial breaks ground on Plymouth branch

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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September 11, 2014

DFCU Financial, Michigan's largest credit union, is opening a new branch in Plymouth. Ground was broken in late August on a 4,583-square-foot facility that will open in the first quarter of 2015 at Ann Arbor Road and Main Street. The branch will be the 25th for the credit union that formed in 1950, started by seven Ford Motor Co. engineering employees. President and CEO Mark Shobe says the Plymouth location will serve more than 4,000 families. The branch, which will sit on about one acre of land, will have two drive-through teller lanes, a drive up ATM and full services inside. DFCU currently has branches in Detroit, Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids and Lansing. Source: Peggy Richard, spokesperson, DFCU Financial Writer: Kim North Shine

Plymouth business asks customers to sit, roll, play

By Patrick Dunn

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Community Development

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August 21, 2014

Opening a brick and mortar business in today's on-demand, technology-driven economy is a risky roll of the dice. Opening a business that insists on slowing down and unplugging from the net is, well, a whole other game. Which is exactly the point Chris Erwin and Angela Space are trying to make at 3 & Up, their newly opened board game lounge in Plymouth.

RBD Creative moves to larger office in Plymouth

By Newsroom

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General

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August 21, 2014

For RBD Creative’s first seven years, it called the carriage house of one of Detroit's oldest structures home. Today the company has matured to a traditional office in a new home in the suburbs. The marketing company made the move to Plymouth in March. The new home puts it closer to core clients, such as the University of Michigan and Genesis Genetics, which is also based in Plymouth. "That's part of the reason we moved to Plymouth," says Dorothy Twinney, president & owner of RBD Creative. Also necessitating the move is RBD Creative's growth making it into a different and bigger company. When it launched it had three people. Today it has a staff of a dozen employees and the occasional intern after making two hires over the last year. The new office in Plymouth is much bigger, measuring out to 2,000 square feet. It also has a conference room. "Now we have a much bigger conference area," Twinney says. RBD Creative is looking to add more clients in the food and academic sectors both this year and next. "For whatever reason these two areas seem to be our thing," Twinney says. Source: Dorothy Twinney, president & owner of RBD Creative Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Loc Performance scores new military contract, to add 40 jobs

By Newsroom

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Economic Development

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August 7, 2014

Loc Performance Products has been working to diversify its client base for years, slowly but steadily adding private-sector clients to its long-established military work. That's changing this year after the Plymouth-based firm landed a big defense contract. The 43-year-old company established itself with defense contracts consisting mainly of manufacturing large CNC machined components and assemblies for military and industrial applications. With cutbacks in military spending in recent years, Loc Performance Products began adding more and more commercial clientele, so much so that private sector customers comprised more than 50 percent of the firm’s revenue. "This year we will be more than 50 percent commercial," says Wayne Dula, director of business development for Loc Performance Products. "In 2015 we will be more than 50 percent military." That's thanks to Loc Performance Products landing of a $161 million defense contract to restore lost mobility to the Bradley Fighting Vehicle. The contract calls for Loc Performance Products to install kits for tracks, shock absorbers, vehicle suspension support systems, and heavy weight torsion bars. As such, Loc Performance Products is looking to hire 40 people right now. The company has added a couple of positions over the last year, bringing its staff to 186 people. That number is going to go up significantly soon. "Now we have a big push to hire people," Dula says. The Bradley Fighting Vehicle contract will create more than enough revenue over its four-year span to offset other shrinking military contracts and push its revenue up. Loc Performance Products is still pushing to bring in more private-sector work in the heavy-truck, heavy-equipment, agriculture, rail, and oil-and-gas industries. "All of these markets are opportunities," Dula says. Source: Wayne Dula, director of business development for Loc Performance Products Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Metro Detroit home prices climb 20% in June

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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July 24, 2014

The spring home-buying season proved to be a bountiful one for regional property values as buyer confidence increased. Excerpt: "The median selling price in Metro Detroit rose on an annual basis for a 16th straight month in June, according to figures released Monday by Farmington Hills-based Realcomp, the multiple listing service for southeast Michigan and a small portion of northern Ohio. The median selling price in Metro Detroit climbed 20.2 percent year-over-year to $149,000 in June. Realcomp defines Metro Detroit as Oakland, Wayne, Livingston and Macomb counties." More here.

Delphinus expands staff as it preps to commercialize tech

By Newsroom

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General

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June 26, 2014

Delphinus Medical Technologies is aiming to hit a trifecta of growth for a bio-tech startup this year. The Plymouth-based firm has added a new board member, hired a few new employees and is making preparations to raise more venture capital as it closes in on commercializing its technology. The Wayne State University spin-out’s principal technology is being branded as SoftVue, a platform that helps detect breast cancer by submerging the patient in a tub so as to get a more complete picture of the breast. Delphinus Medical Technologies refers to it as a "whole breast ultrasound tomography system." The company received its first FDA clearance last December is is aiming to come to market in the first quarter of next year. "We're in the final stages," says Mark Morsefield, CEO of Delphinus Medical Technologies. To help get it there, the company has hired four people over the last year. It now has a staff of 30 employees and five interns. It's currently looking to hire seven more people, primarily technicians and clinical managers. Delphinus Medical Technologies is also starting to prepare to raise a Series C round of venture capital. The exact amount hasn't been determined but Morsefield did indicate it would be in the millions of dollars. Delphinus Medical Technologies raised $11 million in a Series B last year and $12 million in a Series A round in 2010. Delphinus Medical Technologies has also added Ronald Ho to its board of advisors. Ho served as president and CEO of U-Systems, developer of the somo•V automated whole breast ultrasound system. U-Systems achieved the first and only FDA approval for a breast ultrasound screening indication and was subsequently acquired by GE Healthcare. Ho will play an active advisory and consulting role in the company. Source: Mark Morsefield, CEO of Delphinus Medical Technologies Writer: Jon Zemke

MMS Holdings launches science internship at Wayne State

By Newsroom

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Education

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June 19, 2014

MMS Holdings is helping beef up the talent pipeline in Metro Detroit with the creation of a science internship program at Wayne State University. The Canton-based clinical research organization specializes in regulatory submission support in the pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device industries. For the company, filling the local talent pipeline with more STEM graduates does nothing but help its bottom line. "It's a good way to collaborate with the university so we have a healthy pipeline of college graduates," says Prasad Koppolu, vice president of MMS Holdings. The Broadening Experience in Scientific Training program will focus on providing workplace opportunities at MMS Holdings for graduate students in the scientific fields from Wayne State University. These paid positions will focus on the areas of regulatory operations, medical writing, data management, clinical programming, and pharmacovigilance. The hope is these internships will open doors to a growing number of opportunities in the scientific research realm. MMS Holdings has a staff of 500 people globally (including 80 in Metro Detroit) that primarily work on regulatory submissions for drug development. It has completed 45 new drug development applications in its seven years. The company has hired about 15 people over the last year, including positions in medical writing and clinical programing. It currently has two summer interns from the Broadening Experience in Scientific Training program, and is looking at adding co-op students to the program. "Each year we could have around six people," Koppolu says. Source: Prasad Koppolu, vice president of MMS Holdings Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.