Sterling Heights

The Metiss Group leverages national growth to hire staff

By Newsroom

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January 30, 2014

The Metiss Group always grew steadily when it was only based in Metro Detroit. But the staffing consulting firm saw its growth go national after it opened an office in North Carolina seven years ago. Today the firm services a broad range of clients across the U.S., ranging from property managers to architecture firms. The 17-year-old consulting firm helps other businesses make smart hires that fit their needs and cultures. "You name the industry and I believe we have worked in it," says Cyndi Gave, president of The Metiss Group. That has allowed the Sterling Heights-based firm to consistently notch double-digit gains over the last five years. It spiked its revenue 29 percent in 2013 off of organic growth. About 30 percent of that revenue expansion came from new businesses. The growth has allowed The Metiss Group to add to its staff. The firm currently employs six people after hiring an office manager and a content delivery person over the last year. It is also looking to hire a business development executive. "We're really searching to find the right person," Gave says. She adds that her firm expects to have a staff of nine people by the end of the year. Source: Cyndi Gave, president of The Metiss Group Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

U-M Dearborn’s eCities study recognizes Sterling Heights for supporting entrepreneurs

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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November 21, 2013

U-M Dearborn's iLabs has selected Sterling Heights as one of eight cities statewide that goes above and beyond to foster entrepreneurship. Excerpt: “These communities are being recognized for the best practices they utilize, which include the right mix of tools and resources for their business community,” said Tim Davis, director, iLabs. “They listen to companies, help them with governmental processes, connect them with other companies and listen to what both new and existing businesses are saying. They are the definition of partners in the process and not just a service provider.” More here.

Former franchisee starts mobile-repair biz, MiPhone Repair

By Newsroom

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Entrepreneurship

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October 17, 2013

Chad Reiss worked as a franchisee for Subway for 25 years. Then an influential relative who worked at the company retired and Reiss took it as an opportunity to take on a new challenge in life. So he opened his own mobile-device repair business, MiPhone Repair. Reiss didn’t know much about putting smart devices back together at first. He has had a fascination with computer technology and other gadgets since high school and enjoys where technology is going. Plus, the learning curve for mobile device repair isn't known to have a lot of barriers. "It's really easy to get involved with because there aren’t a lot of certifications," Reiss says. "I taught myself over six months before leaving Subway." The Sterling Heights-based business launched nine months ago and currently employs two people. It specializes in fixing a broad range of Apple products (iPhone, iPod and iPad chief among them) and some Android devices, such as the Samsung Galaxy. MiPhone Repair can fix shattered touch screens, smart phones that got wet and a number of other problems that plague mobile devices. "I want to learn about every phone I can get my hands on," Reiss says. Source: Chad Reiss, owner of MiPhone Repair Writer: Jon Zemke

Biz consultant starts Vidorum consultancy in Sterling Heights

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Entrepreneurship

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August 15, 2013

Quentin Forgues loved his work as a business consultant in the corporate world. The serial entrepreneur loves the aspects of building businesses and helping them improve so much that he wanted to do it on a bigger scale, so he started his own consulting firm, Vidorum. "It's my passion," Forgues says. "It's like the saying of throw your heart over the bar and your body will follow." Vidorum is doing a lot of work with companies in the Macomb-OU INCubator in Sterling Heights where it is based. "I like to just observe for a while," Forgues says. "I can pick up on where they need to improve." The 8-month-old company is also creating a consulting software platform called ImpACT. The web-based platform focuses on improving accountability, control, reporting and time management for businesses. Its release will include a mobile app of its platform. Source: Quentin Forgues, president of Vidorum Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Green start-up Terra-Telesis aims to capture feral energy

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Environment & Sustainability

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August 15, 2013

Ever feel the breeze when a bus passes, or watch something get knocked over when a jet engine takes off? That phenomenon is called wake vortex or jet blast, but Al Khavari sees it as the basis of a new alternative energy start-up. Terra-Telesis is working on technology that can harness this feral energy, such as through a turbine. "We are trying to repurpose energy," Khavari says. The Sterling Heights-based company (it calls the Macomb-OU INCubator home) is currently working on a model of the technology. Khavari and his team of two people expect to continue demonstrating the technology's effectiveness and raise a seed capital round later this year and into 2014. "We have reached the point that with two more tests and money we will be able to test the technology in a wind tunnel and the real world." Terra-Telesis is currently looking to raise $750,000 and expected to build its first prototype within the next year. Source: Al Khavari, founder of Terra-Telesis Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

UHY accounting firm moving to larger Mount Clemens location

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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August 8, 2013

Macomb County's largest accounting firm is keeping up with growth by expanding its office in Sterling Heights and adding signage to signify the renaming of the office on Hall Road to the UHY Building. UHY, a licensed CPA firm that provides audit and tax services and various speciality accounting consultants, hired 39 employees in Sterling Heights in the last two quarters of 2012 and the first two quarters of 2013 to keep up with demand. Another 23 employees were hired in other Michigan offices. To make room for the new employees, UHY is expanding, renovating and modernizing the office at 12900 Hall Road. Renovations began in June and are expected to be completed by the end of the year. The changes will increase the office size from 26,000 to 38,000 square feet and add technological upgrades, including conference rooms, new lighting, wall coverings, additional windows and open workspaces with workstations that accommodate three computer monitors and a new UHY Cafe. Writer: Kim North Shine Source: Shannon Gnesda, Marketing Coordinator, UHY LLP

KTISIS powers forward with natural gas work

By Newsroom

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Economic Development

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July 25, 2013

Stephen Chue got his start as an intern at his last job at an engineering firm and eventually worked his way up to its executive ranks. That wasn't enough for Chue. He wants to run a company that takes bigger risks and adapts early to new technology. "It's a different direction and dream that couldn't be filled at my old company," Chue says. That different direction is KTISIS, a start-up based in the Macomb-OU INCubator that offers consulting services for everything from alternative fuels to automotive technologies. The 6-month-old company is currently working to help introduce more natural gas usage to automotive fleets. "It's been going pretty well," says Stephen Chue, principal of KTISIS. "We're profitable and we're looking for our first employees, a couple of engineers." That new workforce will help other local companies adopt to new technologies and stay ahead of the technology curve in the marketplace. Source: Stephen Chue, principal of KTISIS Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

The (less than) skinny on Detroit Chocolat

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Community Development

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June 27, 2013

File under "Things That Make You Say Yum." A teacher starts his day, every day, as an up n coming chocolatier. Excerpt: "Chocolate runs in his blood: He’s a fourth-generation chocolatier (the great-grandson of Ervin and Julia Morley of Morley Candy Makers) and he spent a decade working for Morley. Even though he’s a full-time elementary school teacher, Petz was unable to resist the pull of chocolate and in 2010 started Detroit Chocolat in Sterling Heights (to the delight of his mother and his wife whom he calls a “chocolate addict.”)" Read the rest here.

Coupon Wallet helps biz coupons transition to digital

By Newsroom

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Entrepreneurship

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June 20, 2013

A new start-up at the Macomb-OU INCubator aims to help businesses make the leap from paper to digital when it comes to the savings they offier. Coupon Wallet is developing a software platform that help small businesses create digital coupons, helping them reach a larger audience. The technology includes managed marketing services and point-of-sale integration. "It's meant to help brands transition out of the paper world and into the digital world," says Christopher Papa, chief marketing officer & partner of Coupon Wallet. The Sterling Heights-based company was spun out of PocketCents Network, which has been advertising online for several years. The Coupon Wallet will focus on enhancing creating digital coupon but also aggregating information that will help users make more constructive business decisions. Coupon Wallet was launched last fall and has grown to team of five employees and three interns. It recently tok up residence at the Macomb-OU INCubator to help help grow the business and leverage the business accelerators numerous assets. "The rent is very cheap and everything is included," Papa says. "There is also being surrounded by professionals." Source: Christopher Papa, chief marketing officer & partner of Coupon Wallet Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

$1 million in redevelopment grants coming to Macomb County

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Community Development

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June 13, 2013

The Environmental Protection Agency is sending $1 million Macomb County's way so that local economic development officials can redevelop brownfield property that may be contaminated. A brownfield is land that can be difficult to redevelop, reuse or expand because of pollution or perceived pollution. The upside is that brownfields let developers use municipal infrastructure that's already in place and also preserve open space. “Brownfield sites create special challenges due to the expense involved with environmental cleanup,” says Stephen Cassin, executive director of Macomb County Planning and Economic Development. “These funds will help put some of our vacant properties back into new use while creating investment and new jobs in our key industrial areas.” Macomb County and one of 240 communities nationwide, and the only county chosen in Michigan, to receive the grant from the EPA's Revolving Loan Fund. In coming weeks and months, county officials will begin to identify and prioritize sites that have the most redevelopment promise. Writer: Kim North Shine Source: Stephen Cassin, executive director, Macomb County Planning and Economic Development