Blogs
Thursday, March 08, 2012
State Rep. Jim Townsend has introduced a bill to create a regional transit authority in southeast Michigan; by some counts, this is the 24th attempt to create such an entity. Rep. Townsend writes this week on clearing the road for mass transit. Let's hope no. 24 is the charm.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
A motor home for the homeless comes with sleeves and a zipper, thanks to a Detroit inventor and a cadre of formerly homeless seamstresses. Veronika Scott, founder of The Empowerment Plan, maker of a combo coat-shelter, discusses how a school project morphed into a sustainable manufacturing career.
Thursday, February 09, 2012
Metro Detroit's entrepreneur ranks are burgeoning. But startups are well advised to keep a legal-eye view on going into business. John Simon, attorney and partner at Foley & Lardner, LLP, gives the rundown of legal issues to which great minds must heed, such as corporate form and intellectual property protection.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
There's a reason why "customer" begins with "custom". Rebecca Aughton, owner and founder of Bra-vo intimates, discusses how retailers can tailor service to their clientele and at the same time unify to create thriving downtowns.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Social responsibility has grown from business school curriculum and boardroom gab into a customer expectation. Brian Elias, founder and president of 1-800-HANSONS, says that when customers buy a company's products, they're also buying its stance on community involvement.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Metromode received an abundance of provocative and inspiring ideas via our guest bloggers throughout the year, and it's our pleasure to share with you a selection of the most compelling.
Thursday, December 08, 2011
It's not just Occupy Wall Street protesters that are concerned about the top 1%. Eleanore Eveleth, community development project manager for D3 (Data Driven Detroit) writes on how equity before wealth makes for more perfect, sustainable economic community outcomes.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
In Detroit, arguably even more important than dollars is the currency of social entrepreneurship. Keeping both financial and human capital circulating regionally are Rishi and Anuja Jaitly, co-founders of the Michigan Corps and co-launchers of Kiva Detroit. This week they give us the crash course on organizing for social change.
Thursday, November 03, 2011
How does the Great Lakes State become the Great Conservation State? This week Lisa Wozniak and Ryan Mark-Griffin of the Michigan League of Conservation Voters unroll an environmental health and safety blueprint for 2012.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
It'll be a transportation field day when you can check out a bike in Detroit as easily as you can a book from the library. Detroit Bike Sharing co-founders Stephanie Lucido and Jenna Przybycien share their plans for how the Motor City can be a cycle city.
Thursday, October 06, 2011
The Tigers are at bat in the American League Series, and it's no stretch to say the city of Detroit is going to bat for a variety of businesses. This week, George W. Jackson, CEO of the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, discusses the city's investment, job numbers, and its game plan for the Belleview site and extension of downtown's RiverWalk.
Thursday, September 01, 2011
If Clear Channel Radio had had its druthers, Detroit's 104.7 The Oasis smooth jazz channel would've been static buzz. This week radio broadcaster and station owner Tim Martz talks guerrilla radio strategy and on how Detroiters effected 104.7's reversal of misfortune.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Lowering regional energy usage isn't just one-off municipal LED lighting or solar power projects; cities now see that information sharing is power. We check in with Jordan Eizenga and Michael Stepniak, interns from the UniverCities program of the Michigan Suburbs Alliance charged with helping Metro Detroit cut back energy usage 25% by 2015.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
The $528 million Woodward Light Rail is finally coming to pass, but we may be in for a jiggly ride. This week Megan Owens, executive director of Transportation Riders United, provides a rail platform for leadership to follow.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Who can forget the great bailout of banker George Bailey in the classic It's a Wonderful Life? Bruce Rosenblat, chief marketing officer of Main Street Bank, writes on the hyper-local focus of the region's community banks and why these pillars are not pulling up stakes here.