Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP recently received a Turnaround Atlas Award for its role in the City of Detroit’s Chapter 9 Plan of Reorganization. The Plan of Reorganization was named the “Turnaround of the Year.” The annual Turnaround Atlas Awards honor landmark deals, industry leaders, influential professionals and outstanding firms of the year from the restructuring and turnaround communities worldwide. Global M&A Network, a diversified information and digital media company, presents the awards. Accepting the award on behalf of Honigman at the Field Museum in Chicago, Illinois, were firm partners Judy B. Calton and Scott B. Kitei.

Honigman served as lead counsel for The Detroit Institute of Arts throughout the City's Chapter 9 bankruptcy case. The firm advanced the DIA’s position that the museum art collection could not be used to satisfy municipal debts because the art collection was held in charitable trust and public trust and because donors had placed transfer and sale restrictions on artwork that were enforceable under Chapter 9.

Honigman also represented the DIA in the negotiation and consummation of the Grand Bargain, which was approved by the court. The Grand Bargain involved: (1) the contributions of $366 million by local and national foundations, $100 million by the DIA (through the support of foundations, corporations and individual donors), and $350 million by the State of Michigan; (2) the conveyance by the City of Detroit to the DIA of all of the City’s interests in all museum assets, including the DIA’s encyclopedic art collection and building; and (3) the commitment by the DIA to hold the museum assets in trust for the benefit of the residents of the City of Detroit, counties of Macomb, Oakland and Wayne, and the State of Michigan in perpetuity. 

More than 35 Honigman attorneys and staff helped guide the DIA through the City’s bankruptcy, including representatives of the following disciplines: 1) bankruptcy; 2) corporate; 3) government relations; 4) litigation; 5) mergers and acquisitions; 6) non-profit; 7) real estate; 8) tax; and 9) trusts and estates.

Honigman is proud to be named among the “101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For” and the Detroit Free Press “Top Workplaces.” For more information about Honigman visit www.honigman.com
 

About Honigman
Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP is a business law firm serving clients locally, nationally and internationally from its Michigan base. Headquartered in Detroit with offices in Lansing, Bloomfield Hills, Ann Arbor and Kalamazoo, the firm has attorneys practicing in more than 50 different areas of concentration. Honigman’s highly credentialed attorneys and staff, along with its customer-service focus, provide clients in a wide variety of industries timely and cost-effective counsel.

Honigman is proud to be named among the “101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For” and theDetroit Free Press “Top Workplaces.” For more information about Honigman visitwww.honigman.com.

Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP has announced it is joining with litigation firm, Schopf & Weiss LLP, establishing a Chicago presence as part of a strategic growth plan aimed at better serving clients and expanding its national reach. As part of the expansion, the firm also announced the addition of two partners to the Chicago office as the first step in rounding out the new location’s practice areas. Corporate partner René Ghadimi will join Honigman from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, while Paul Hastings LLP attorney Gregory A. Morris will come on board as a partner in its Intellectual Property Department.

“The combination with Schopf & Weiss, which has a stellar reputation for its litigation prowess, enables us to expand into Chicago to better serve our clients and bolster the firm’s talent base in key strategic areas,” said David Foltyn, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Honigman. “The addition of two experienced partners in René and Gregory is just the beginning of our growth in Chicago, and we look forward to building on a common culture that is as driven, innovative and ambitious as that of the clients we serve.”

Already Michigan’s largest law firm, Honigman now has more than 300 legal professionals in the Midwest and a growing national client base served by prominent practices in intellectual property, private equity, corporate and securities, real estate and litigation, among others.  Effective today, it will be joined by 14 litigators from Schopf & Weiss, augmenting its deep bench of litigation talent and enabling Schopf & Weiss clients to benefit from the resources of a full-service law firm. New Chicago office hire Ghadimi, who has 20-years of experience, will represent a wide variety of clients, including private equity firms, in highly complex U.S. and international financing transactions, while Morris’s practice will focus on patent litigation for a broad range of technologies. Morris will also help lead the firm's Life Science Intellectual Property Litigation Practice, including Post-Grant Proceedings.

“Both firms have drive, good judgment and creative problem solving skills, and are accessible, responsive and proactive,” said Steve Weiss, former Chairman of Schopf & Weiss.

The Chicago office is located at 1 South Wacker Drive. For more, visit honigmangainground.com

About Honigman

Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP is a business law firm serving clients locally, nationally and internationally.  Headquartered in Detroit, the firm recently added a Chicago office to its Michigan locations in Ann Arbor, Bloomfield Hills, Kalamazoo and Lansing. Honigman’s attorneys practice in more than 50 different areas of concentration. The firm’s highly credentialed attorneys and staff, along with its client-service focus, provide clients timely and cost-effective counsel in a wide variety of industries.

Honigman is proud to be named among the “101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For” and theDetroit Free Press “Top Workplaces.” For more information about Honigman visitwww.honigman.com.

About Honigman
Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP is a business law firm serving clients locally, nationally and internationally from its Michigan base. Headquartered in Detroit with offices in Lansing, Bloomfield Hills, Ann Arbor and Kalamazoo, the firm has attorneys practicing in more than 50 different areas of concentration. Honigman’s highly credentialed attorneys and staff, along with its customer-service focus, provide clients in a wide variety of industries timely and cost-effective counsel.

Honigman is proud to be named among the “101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For” and theDetroit Free Press “Top Workplaces.” For more information about Honigman visitwww.honigman.com.

TROY, Michigan -- Meeting Coordinators, Inc., the leading association and meeting management firm in southeast Michigan, announced that its president, Ann K. Bruttell, was honored with a Most Valuable Professional Award from Corp! magazine, presented at a ceremony on Thursday, April 23, 2015 at the VistaTech Center at Schoolcraft College in Livonia, Michigan.

The Most Valuable Professional award was inaugurated by the publication to spotlight C-suite executives and entrepreneurs of distinction, who represent the trailblazer mentality and philosophies that keep Michigan strong.

When asked about her personal vision, Bruttell notes that “the world is run by those who show up. However, many people lack confidence in their own abilities. To show up is risky. It requires courage, pride in yourself, tenacity, moral fortitude and a willingness to learn from others.”

Bruttell founded Meeting Coordinators in 1988 after working for another meeting and association management company. “It was time for the next step in my career by becoming an independent meeting consultant,” she says. “After all, what’s the worst that could have happened? If it didn’t work, I was skilled and employable. Thankfully, it worked!”

Economic conditions from 2007-2010 made it difficult for businesses to remain strong, “but an interesting thing happened — it made those of us who survived stronger,” Bruttell says. “We were willing to break out of traditional modes, learn new modes of operation and form strong alliances. We need to continue this work philosophy as we move forward.”

# # #

Since 1988, Meeting Coordinators, Inc. has been the leading association and meeting management firm in Southeast Michigan. We organize and execute corporate meetings conferences and events from 5 to 30,000 participants on a local, national and international basis. Additionally, we provide association management services for volunteer-led organizations.

For more information, please visit www.meeting-coordinators.com.      

On Monday, March 2nd, Reliance One is celebrating the official opening of their Chicago-Area office. The company is headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan and specializes in engineering and information technology recruiting services. The new office reflects the company's vision of expansion and growth into one of the leading recruiting firms in the Midwest.

Reliance One Inc. is a minority-owned, MMSDC-certified staffing corporation headquartered in Michigan with a focus on matching the ideal professional to a client’s specific needs for both long-term, short-term, or project based positions (including temporary, temporary to direct, or direct).

Reliance One, a minority owned staffing and recruiting firm, was just ranked as the 20^th largest (2013 Revenue) Staffing Firm in Metro Detroit by Crain’s Detroit Business.  

Reliance One broke into the top 20 by increasing (2013) revenue by 36%.  The growth was fueled by strategic alliances with new clients and the opening of another office, located in Bingham Farms. In addition, Reliance One has hired a number of new team members which has helped meet the demand for our customers.

“There is a lot of momentum in Detroit, and our services are more in demand than ever,” said Jim Beath, Chairman and Co-Founder of Reliance One.  We partner with companies that are serious about hiring the right person at the right time.  This partnership allows us to put the right number of team members on our customers’ most critical job openings.  Companies are struggling to find the talent they need to meet their resource demands and unemployment is very low in southeast Michigan for experienced, technical professionals.  Our employees make the difference when it comes to providing great customer service and highly qualified candidates.

Reliance One is currently planning the opening of new offices in markets that are geographically located near current customers with plans of attracting new business.
 
 

Reliance One Inc. is a minority-owned, MMSDC-certified staffing corporation headquartered in Michigan with a focus on matching the ideal professional to a client’s specific needs for both long-term, short-term, or project based positions (including temporary, temporary to direct, or direct).

 TROY, Mich., Oct. 2, 2014 – The Marketing and Sales Executives of Detroit (MSED) will honor top executives Joseph Anderson Jr., chairman and CEO of TAG Holdings, LLC; John Rakolta Jr., chairman and CEO of Walbridge; and Toby Barlow, executive vice president and chief creative officer of Global Team Ford at the annual black-tie Gala to be held at the Detroit Athletic Club on Nov. 20.

 

The 21^st annual black-tie fundraiser, hosted by MSED, celebrates the outstanding achievements of exceptional marketing professionals and business executives in southeastern Michigan. Net proceeds from the MSED event supports scholarships, educational seminars and charitable events.

 

“It’s an honor to award such prestigious business and marketing professionals for their invaluable dedication to their respective industries,” said Dave Harries, chairman of the MSED Gala and president of Spartan Marketing Services. “Each year we look forward to recognizing the accomplishments of outstanding leaders and celebrating the success of our peers.”  

 

Anderson, a highly distinguished military veteran and subject of the Oscar winning documentary “Anderson’s Platoon”, will be the recipient of the 2014 Herb Everss Lifetime Achievement Award. Through his leadership and success in building companies in the United States and Asia, as well as serving on the boards of several other public businesses, Anderson has proven to be an invaluable asset and inspiration to both shareholders and employees.    

 

Rakolta will receive the 2014 Executive Leadership Award. Rakolta held positions of increasing responsibility at Walbridge, where he succeeded his father John Rakolta Sr., as chairman and CEO in 1979. During his tenure, Rakolta has a history of delivering business results as evidenced by the growth of Walbridge from a regional firm to a global entity registering sales of $1.3 billion. Walbridge is recognized as an industry leader in the areas of safety, quality and lean construction.

 

Barlow will be recognized with the 2014 Trailblazer Award. Through his creative leadership at Team Detroit, Barlow blazed new trails for Ford as they navigated their way through the darkest time the automotive industry has ever seen.  In addition, he has made tremendous efforts to make Michigan the primary source for excellent creative talent with efforts like the “Write-a-House” project.

 

The Gala will also recognize southeastern Michigan’s top sales and marketing professionals with MSED’s Platinum award. This year’s event will be emceed by award-winning writer, speaker and consultant, Bryce G. Hoffman.

 

Tickets for the black-tie event cost $150 for MSED members, $195 for non-members, $1,100 for a member’s table of eight and $1,400 for a non-members table. The price includes an elegant cocktail reception, dinner and afterglow reception. For more information on tickets, event details or sponsorship opportunities, contact Meeting Coordinators at (248) 643-6590 or visit the organization’s website at www.msedetroit.org.

 

Meet the Priority Health Sales Team, Winners of a 2012 MSED Platinum Award

Priority Health is an award-winning, Michigan-based non-profit health plan nationally recognized for improving the health and lives of its members. It continues to lead the industry in engaging members in their health, delivering effective health and disease management programs, and working with physicians to improve health care outcomes and performance. Priority Health is one of only 20 health plans nationwide with wellness programs accredited by the National Committee for Quality Assurance, an organization that also rated Priority Health's plans among the best health plans in the nation. Priority Health was also named the benchmark plan by the State of Michigan for all individual and group plans to model.

Priority Health team members Scott Norman, Director of Sales and Client Services; Lenny Brucato, Senior Manager; and Tammie Briscoe, Account Manager accepted the Platinum Award in 2011.

 

MSED: MSED prides itself in being associated with the premiere marketing and sales executives in southeastern Michigan. What did it mean to the team to be awarded with the Platinum Award?

 

PH: Winning this award was a tremendous honor. We were very flattered to be recognized by an organization of marketing and sales professionals as prestigious as MSED.

 

MSED: How did you feel when you heard the team's name announced as a winner at the Black Tie Gala?

 

PH: Very excited. We all put a lot of time and efforts into our jobs and to be recognized like that was very rewarding and very exciting.

 

MSED: Can you share the story about what the team has accomplished to get the award?

 

PH: South East Michigan was a relatively new market for us at the time and we had been working to established ourselves in this area. We were recognized by MSED for those efforts and the resulting membership growth and provider network expansion in South East Michigan.

 

MSED: What advice do you have for aspiring Platinum Award winners who want to achieve success in marketing and/or sales?

 

PH: Know your customer and your sales people. They know what they want and what they need and are more than willing to tell you. You just have to be willing to listen and recognized that you may have to be willing to break from the status quo.

 

MSED: What do you enjoy most about MSED and in what ways, if any, has it helped you in your career?

 

PH: I enjoyed the relationships the most. MSED was how I met people like Susan Gibson, Len Damico and many other great people. They throw some pretty good parties, too!

 

 

 

 

Know of a great individual or team that deserves to be recognized for their excellent marketing and sales achievements? Nominate them for our Platinum Awards here.

 

 

 

Click to learn more about Priority Health

 

MSED: MSED prides itself in being associated with the premiere marketing and sales executives in southeastern Michigan. What did it mean to you to be awarded with the Platinum Award?

MM: Bragging rights, meeting the MSED judges, the other nominees and learning what has made them successful. . . . .

MSED: How did you feel when you heard your name announced as a winner at theBlack Tie Gala?

MM: Honestly, the company I founded and run, was so very different from the other nominees . . . I was not sure whether this was an advantage or disadvantage.  Obviously, I was pleased and thrilled. 

MSED: Can you share your story about what you accomplished to get the award?

MM: I think what set me apart from all the other nominees was the nature of the work, and the fact that without a single dollar available for marketing, I launched our enterprise- The Pink Fund, a non-profit that pays bills for women and men undergoing treatment for breast cancer - by putting a plaster painted cast of my bust on ebay to get attention and donations.  Seventeen newspapers across the country picked up the story and we were on our way.

Other companies have marketing challenges around budget as well, but I don’t think their execs were personally broke and standing in line at the local food bank while trying to launch their ventures. I believe my story had a totally different appeal.

MSED: What advice do you have for aspiring Platinum Award winners who want to achieve success in marketing and/or sales?

MM: Do something crazy and different. Use humor. Emotionally grab your potential customer’s attention.  Stop talking features and benefits and think with your heart.  Once you’ve touched their hearts and have their attention, then you can talk features and benefits. Engage, entertain and educate, in that order.

MSED: What do you enjoy most about MSED and in what ways, if any, has it helped you in your career?

MM: What has been most helpful is the bragging rights  around the award.  Honestly, when others who don’t know you see the value in your work, your creativity and persistence, it is a huge encouragement to keep on going. 

Know of an outstanding individual or team that deserves to be recognized? Nominate them for our Platinum Awards here.

Click to learn more about The Pink Fund.

The Marketing & Sales Executives of Detroit(MSED) is accepting nominations of exceptional marketing and sales professionals in southeastern Michigan for the organization’s coveted Platinum Awards.

Two Platinum Award winners will be honored at MSED’s 21^st Annual Black-Tie Gala Dinner in October. The awards recognize work which led to the awarding or generation of new business and/or cost savings from Jan. 1, 2013 through June 1, 2014. Nominees do not have to be MSED members and the nominations can be made for a team or individual.

Past Platinum Award Winners include individuals or teams from companies such as Borg Warner, Rugged Liner, Reliance One, Dow Automotive, CSM Worldwide, Priority Health, Grede Holdings, SKF, Rehmann and Compuware.

The award nomination form can be downloaded through the MSED website at www.msedetroit.org. The completed nomination along with any additional information about the nominee should be emailed to meetings@meeting-coordinators.com by September 1.

According to Len Damico, chairman of the 2014 MSED Platinum Awards and executive vice president, H.C. Olsen & Associates, recipients of the Platinum Awards are commended by their peers for their top performances in the marketing and sales professions.

“Given the improving economy, this is a great opportunity for marketing and sales professionals to celebrate their business achievements and share their tips for success to help other southeast Michigan businesses,” Damico said.

Nominees will be evaluated by MSED judges based on their achievements in increasing or maintaining sales, using creative problem-solving methods, reaching or exceeding company goals, impacting a business or industry and exhibiting exemplary teamwork or leadership as an individual, including distinguishing oneself from the competition during 2013 and the first part of this year.

A group of finalists will be selected from the nominees and interviewed by a panel of judges, with the winners being announced at MSED’s annual Black-Tie Gala Dinner in October.

The Platinum Awards are sponsored again this year by Corp! magazine.

For more information on the MSED Platinum Award nominations, event sponsorships or advertising opportunities, contact Meeting Coordinators at 248-643-6590 or visit the MSED website at www.msedetroit.org.

Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP earned its fifth Elite award from the Michigan Business and Professional Association at an event recognizing West Michigan’s 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For held in the Grand Rapids area on May 8, 2014. Honigman scored the highest of all 101 companies in the Strategic Company Performance Elite award category, which is one of only 12 award categories.

This is Honigman’s third recognition for Strategic Company Performance, which underscores the affirmative feedback from Honigman’s staff and attorneys. Their survey responses identify how firm leadership effectively and proactively collaborates with them to achieve the established strategic goals and objectives for the firm and its clients.

"We are proud to provide a forum for these select companies to be recognized and honored. It takes dedication and a strong commitment to one's employees to be named an Elite Winner. This year's recipients keep innovative human resource initiatives at the forefront and make it a priority to consider their workforce as an essential aspect in their company success," said Jennifer Kluge, president of the MBPA, which presents the 101 Best and Brightest program.  

For the last several years, Honigman has earned a total of nine regional and three national Best and Brightest Company to Work For awards, three Detroit Free Press Top Workplace in Michigan awards, and five Working Mother magazine and Flex-Time Lawyers 50 Best Law Firms for Women awards.

About Honigman
Honigman is a leading business law firm based in Michigan with an international practice. Headquartered in Detroit with offices in Lansing, Bloomfield Hills, Ann Arbor and Kalamazoo, the firm has attorneys practicing in more than 50 different areas of concentration. Honigman’s highly credentialed attorneys and staff, along with its customer-service focus, provide clients in a wide variety of industries timely and cost-effective counsel. For more information about Honigman visit www.honigman.com.