GRAND RAPIDS Judy Joppie, marketing director for Collins & Associates Employee Benefits Division, was the lone candidate for the post of glimaWest president. Two board seats expiring also had one candidate each. Joppie previously served on the board of directors of the West Michigan Telecommunications Association, as membership director for over 10 years. Other organizations
DETROIT Without the Iraq war dampening the states economy this year, the Michigan Business Activity Index, complied by Comerica Bank, closed up 2.4 percent from the first quarter of 2003. The Index in March closed at 113, unchanged from February, but 7 points higher than March 2003. "March was 7 percent above a war-depressed year-earlier
LANSING Republicans in the Michigan House are drafting a constitutional amendment that would protect certain funds, such as those for waterway development and snowmobile trails, from getting raided by future legislators hunting for cash to pay for budget shortfalls. House Majority Floor Leader Randy Richardville (R-Monroe) said he hopes to have his proposal approved by
DETROIT - General Motors is planning to continue the communications offensive that has become one of the cornerstones of the company's corporate strategy ever since the "Keep America Rolling" campaign was launched back in the autumn of 2001 as the U.S. economy recovered from the aftershocks of 9/11. But GM hopes to get more ads
LANSING - The Public Service Commission is looking forward to filings this month on proposed rate changes for telephone competitors that could eliminate some charges, including the last mile fee. MPSC Commissioner Robert Nelson said AT&T has offered an alternative to current wholesale rates paid by competitors to SBC and Verizon that would push those
ANN ARBOR - Online Technologies Corporation announced Wednesday it will open a nearly 5,000 square foot data center in downtown Ann Arbor, more than quadrupling OTC's data center capacity. OTC is opening the data center in response to market demand and strong sales growth. It was originally built by Choice One Communications and includes state
DETROIT With EDS master IT contract set to expire at General Motors in two years, EDS announced Wednesday it has signed a multi-year IT agreement with DaimlerChrysler Corporation. Financial terms were not disclosed, but EDS said the deal is one of the largest it has signed this year. Under the agreement, EDS will manage the
DETROIT In yet another sign that the Michigan economy is strengthening, Comerica reported Tuesday its Detroit Area Business Activity Index jumped 21.6 percent from a year ago, with real growth 12.9 percent above the first quarter of 2003. The Index registered 114 points in March, compared to a year earlier index reading of 94 points.
FLINT - Baker College Center for Graduate Studies has been Ranked as a "Top 25 Best Buy MBA" designation for the Baker Online MBA program by GetEducated.com, the only Michigan-based distance learning MBA program to crack the list. The designation for Baker, a member of glimaEast, means it has been judged to deliver a high
BATTLE CREEK Climax Telephone has partnered with an IT start up called SafeStream to offer an advanced version of the Application Service Provider model for companies that have web based programs they rent to other businesses. Climax provides access to a fiber optic ring recently developed around Battle Creek, in conjunction with Battle Creek Unlimited