Roskopp to Lead General Dynamics Land Systems’ Community Relations Efforts
General Dynamics Land Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics, has appointed Jacqueline M. Roskopp to the position of Protocol and Community Relations Specialist.  The appointment is effective immediately.  In her new role, Roskopp is responsible for interfacing with community groups and local chambers of commerce, as well as executing the company’s community outreach and charitable giving programs.  She will continue her role as protocol officer and meetings and events planner.

Roskopp, a native of Macomb County, joined General Dynamics in 1982.  She holds a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Administration from Central Michigan University.   She is a member of the Association of the United States Army, the National Defense Industrial Association and the Daughters of Macomb.

 

General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Va., employs approximately 83,500 people worldwide and reported 2007 revenues of $27.2 billion.  The company has leading market positions in mission critical information systems and technologies, land and amphibious combat systems, shipbuilding and marine systems, and business aviation. 

 

Administrative Assistants Represented at UCS Career Expo
Members of the Macomb Chapter, International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP), participated in the March 11, 2008 Utica Community Schools Career Expo which was held at Eisenhower High School.  The career reps provided information on how to land a job in the administrative field, writing resumes and cover letters, advanced skills needed to excel in today’s workplace and they also focused on the workplace of the future.  The Macomb Chapter IAAP has sent a representative to the UCS Career Expo for the past eight years or so.  “We had more traffic than usual this year.  We also had numerous inquiries about IAAP’s Certification program for Administrative Professionals,” cites Karen Herman, one of the career reps.  For more information about IAAP’s Certification Program which can translate into college credits, contact Michelle Trosper, CPS/CAP at 586.566.0749 or via email at … mjtcap@comcast.net

AEW employees add new skills to better serve their clients
 Anderson, Eckstein, and Westrick, Inc. (AEW), Shelby Twp. is proud to announce that Jason Arlow has successfully completed the State of Michigan’s licensing requirements. Jason is and will continue to be a great asset to the firm. Jason completed his Bachelor of Science Degree and Master Degree of Architecture from Lawrence Technological University. "We are pleased to have been part of his intern development program (IDP) training," commented Edward Neiman, Director of Architecture. "Jason has demonstrated his dedication and commitment to the profession of Architecture."

 

In addition, Mike Dolan, a survey staff member at AEW, completed and passed the Level 3 Certified Survey Technician program through the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS). "Having worked with Mike for several years, I know that he is a qualified surveyor. And now, AEW's clients can be certain that they are receiving top-notch knowledge, with experience," stated Craig Amey, Professional Surveyor for AEW.                     

Students Plan to Raise a Million Pennies for Charity
On February 20, 2008 the local press and members of the New Haven community joined Merritt Academy staff, students and parents to kick off their Million Penny Drive.  Students at Merritt Academy, a Michigan charter school, plan to raise one million pennies for their Community Giving Tree, a holiday program sponsored by Citizens State Bank, which benefits underprivileged children in the Anchor Bay area. 

 

Students will monitor progress throughout the Drive as collections are regularly dumped into a specially designed plexiglass box that was installed at the school. Once the box is full, it will be transported to the Drive’s sponsor, Citizens State Bank, where it will be deposited into the Bank’s Community Giving Tree fund.  Art teacher Mr. Gabridge, researched specifications to construct their collection box.  They decided that the community need for financial assistance was greater than our own, and that the Citizens State Bank Community Giving tree was a worthwhile local charity that they could make a great impact in their own back yard.

 

Universal Ambulance gets Detroit Casino Contract
 The Detroit City Council approved a $985,500 contract to Sterling Heights based Universal Ambulance Service Inc. to provide ambulance service for the three Detroit Casinos. The city uses private ambulance providers instead of city-run emergency medical services because it avoids tying up city ambulances at the casinos. Even though the City approves the contracts the casinos pay for the service. Universal has been serving the casinos since June with a contact.

 

McLeodUSA is now PAETEC
 We have some exciting news to share with the members of Sterling Heights Area Chamber. Effective February 8, 2008 a merger was complete between McLeodUSA and PAETEC. The merger created one of the largest nationwide communications service providers in the U.S.
 
PAETEC is personalizing communications solutions for business customers across the United States. We offer a comprehensive suite of data, voice and IP services, as well as enterprise communications management software, CPE and managed services. Matching your business needs with our personalized service and broad portfolio of products creates real world solutions. PAETEC adheres to four key values - Caring culture, Open Communication, Unmatched service and Personalized Solutions.  For more information visit www.paetec.com and/or contact your local representative Mike Metcalf at 248.530.2166 to hear more about the ways PAETEC can help you move your business forward.
 
 AT&T responds to community needs
Local and state officials, representatives from the nonprofit community, business leaders and other community representatives joined Gail Torreano, AT&T Michigan president, and other AT&T officials at the Covenant House of Michigan in Detroit to make this announcement. This contribution is for more than $450,000 in support of Michigan nonprofit organizations to improve technology for youth, seniors, people with disabilities, minorities and other underserved communities. “This is an incredible show of generosity, and it will help our organization serve our community and will certainly help all the other groups as well,” said Sam Joseph, executive director of Covenant House Michigan. “It can be difficult to keep up with the pace of technology, especially with limited funding, so contributions such as this will exponentially improve our ability to help those in need.”

 

Rapid prototyping gives boy ability to see new home
Tim Gornet, a University of Louisville engineer and Society of Manufacturing Engineers’ (SME) RAPID 2008 conference advisor and presenter, had the opportunity of a lifetime to showcase Rapid prototyping technology for a good cause on a recent airing of the hit ABC show, “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.” Gornet was part of a dedicated team of engineers at the University’s Rapid Prototyping Center that helped a blind young man, Patrick Henry Hughes “see” his family’s new and more accessible home. Hughes, who was born without eyes, was able to feel the shape and layout of a plastic, perfectly scaled-to-size model of his family’s new home during the show’s famous “Move that bus!” big reveal.

MSU Prof Asks For day off From Personal Electronics

Despite the proliferation of wireless communications devices such as cell phones, Blackberries, and laptop computers that were meant to free us from the shackles of our cubicles and enhance our personal and professional lives by allowing us to work from anywhere at anytime -- one Michigan State University professor says the results are anything but good.

According to Ellen Kossek, professor, researcher and author from MSU, more people than ever are unhappy with their work-life relationships and feel unfulfilled both personally and professionally, even though many are more technologically connected to work and family than ever before.To draw attention to what she sees as a growing cause of concern, Kossek has declared March 10 as "Rewire Your Life Day," where she is asking everyone to turn off their cell phones, Blackberries and laptops and reconnect with friends and family in more traditional ways. (Lil's unsolicited Opinion Dept. On a Monday? Yeah, right, as soon as I eat this apple!

 

Building a solid support system for foster children
Currently over 1,160 Macomb County children live in foster care.  The reasons for children needing to live in a foster care setting are many including drug dependency and mental illness.  In other cases, financial problems that exist within the family make it impossible for some parents to provide for their children. 

 

Macomb County is participating in a nation wide initiative that is focusing on providing supports and interventions for families that may allow children to stay in their homes or, at the very least, be able to be reunited with their parents sooner.  Family to Family, funded, in part, by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, has identified core strategies that support families through neighborhood collaboration.  Currently, two neighborhood collaboratives, that meet at Mt. Calvary Church in Warren and Sacred Heart in Roseville, pool resources to support foster families and birth parents who have their children living in foster care.  Some of these resources include helping parents access parent education, substance abuse treatment, adequate housing and employment.

 

Clinton Township is in the process of developing a neighborhood collaborative and will share information at a meeting scheduled to be held on Tuesday, March 11 at Robbie Parker School at 22055 Quinn Road between Gratiot and Harper.  The meeting will begin at 6:00 p.m.  Interested community leaders, county residents, and parents are invited to attend.