On the Move features and celebrates Flint & Genesee businesses’ grand openings, staff promotions, new hires, recognition, and milestones
(Featured above) 2nd Street Learning, 1102 Mackin Road in Flint, June 3
Promotions, New Hires and Recognition
Dr. Bobby Mukkamala has been named president-elect of the American Medical Association (AMA), the nation’s largest physician organization. Mukkamala is an otolaryngologist from Flint who graduated from the University of Michigan Medical School and completed residency at Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago. After a year-long term as president-elect, he will be installed as AMA president in June 2025.
Fessler & Bowman, Inc. has promoted Janice Addison to vice president, Jay Hutchins to vice president of Human Resources, and Nicholas Percy to vice president of Estimating.
Fifteen local leaders have successfully completed and graduated from Leadership Flint & Genesee, an eight-month leadership development program from Flint & Genesee Education & Talent. They include Kaylah Baker of Sylvester Broome Empowerment Village; Ruth Banks of the YMCA; Raymond Barry of GST Michigan Works!; Amanda Blackburn of the Flint & Genesee Group; Tracy Butcher, a local entrepreneur; Lindsay Dinsmore of Vienna Township Business Development Authority; Marquetta Hall of the Power Initiative; Jessica Hill of Michigan Vascular Center; Travis Howell of the Davison Chamber of Commerce; Laura Mauck, a local educator; Christina Pichey of the Michigan Vascular Center; Jill Sodt of Mott Community College; Kristen Trevarrow of S.C. & Company LLC; Ja’Shawna Whitmore of 100K Ideas; and Paul Zehnder of 100K Ideas.
McLaren Flint has named Kelly Jakubik, a registered nurse, as the 2024 McLaren Flint DAISY Nurse Leader. This award recognizes people who are not directly involved in the care of patients but who work to create an environment of compassionate and skillful care. Additionally, Vanessa Whipple was recognized with the 2024 McLaren Nursing Excellence Award. Whipple is a caregiver on the cardiac stepdown unit and has been described as someone that goes above and beyond in delivering the care her patients need.
Outgoing Mott Community College President Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea has been named the director of the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLeap). Established by executive order, MiLEAP is tasked with improving outcomes from preschool through postsecondary so anyone can “make it in Michigan” with a solid education and a path to a good-paying job. The new department oversees several early learning, higher education, and education partnership functions.
Rowe Professional Services Company welcomed several new staff members to its team. This includes Thomas Abbott, a talent acquisition specialist, Chris Vaclavik as senior engineering technician, Brandon Jonas as planner II, and Skyler Winkle as engineering technician II.
Sedgewick + Ferweda Architects has hired Krystal Alexander as its new marketing director.
THA Architects Engineers has made several changes to its executive leadership team. Architect David Bennett has been elected as the firm’s president. He has been with THA Architects Engineers for 19 years and is a member of the American Institute of Architects Flint section and the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards.
Additionally, Karl Strine, director of engineering, has been elected as THA’s vice president, and Joshua Steere, architectural designer, promoted to architect.
Laurence Alexander has been approved as the University of Michigan-Flint‘s next permanent chancellor by the University of Michigan Board of Regents. He was most recently the chancellor of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. His five-year appointment at UM-Flint began July 1.
Helen Garbarino has been hired as a communications specialist with the University of Michigan-Flint College of Health Sciences.
Molly Baade, account executive with WNEMTV5/Gray Media, was recognized as the first account executive at WNEMTV5 to have a million dollars in direct business sales in 2024.
Business News
Crossroads Village & Huckleberry Railroad has announced a partnership with Frankenmuth Brewery to introduce two new sodas that will be sold at the popular park. The two new drinks are Huckleberry Handcrafted Root Beer and Crossroads Citrus Crush Orange Soda and are produced by the nearby brewery.
ELGA Credit Union (ELGA CU) has agreed to acquire Marine Bank & Trust Company (Marine Bank). This acquisition will combine ELGA CU’s consumer and low-income lending expertise with the commercial and treasury management offerings of Marine Bank. Once the acquisition is completed, ELGA CU will have total assets of nearly $2.2 billion, serve 105,000 members, and expand to serve people throughout Florida and Michigan with 18 branches.
Financial Plus Credit Union has partnered with Peckham’s Growth Opportunities (GO) program to aid participants with financial literacy, coaching, and services. The GO Program is a nonprofit dedicated to working with people to help them overcome disabilities and other employment barriers. The goal is to guide participants as they discover career interests, find training opportunities, and develop leadership skills through mentorship.
The Flint & Genesee Economic Alliance was recognized by Business Facilities, a site selection publication, with a 2024 Economic Development Organization (EDO) Award. The award recognized the Economic Alliance, a division of the Flint & Genesee Group, for its work to attract a job-creating project to the Advanced Manufacturing District of Genesee County. The division was among six mid-sized economic development organizations representing an area with 100,000-500,000 residents recognized by the publication and one of 24 from across the country.
The Genesee County Land Bank has announced the Gatehouse Condominiums in Carriage Town. These 16 condominiums will feature a blend of market-rate and income-restricted units that will help create a more diverse and equitable community.
The Hilton Garden Flint Downtown has been named as one of the 2023 Annual Brand Winners and was awarded the Hilton Award of Excellence.
Prestige Promotions has been selected for digitalundivided’s BREAKTHROUGH Detroit program, sponsored by JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s Advancing Black Pathways. Designed for women founders and entrepreneurs, BREAKTHROUGH provides participants with grant funding and a deeper understanding of their customers, startup funding, growth marketing strategies, and networking opportunities.
Redwood Steakhouse has taken over the food and beverage operations at the Gateway Hotel & Convention Center. Redwood will serve as the exclusive caterer for the facility and oversee bookings for the space. The restaurant located in the Gateway Hotel & Convention Center has been renamed “Basil and Olives” and will feature an Italian and Mediterranean menu.
Engineering News-Record (ENR) has named Rowe Professional Services Company an ENR Top 500 Design Firm. ENR is a well-regarded construction industry source for news and analysis.
The University of Michigan-Flint (UM-Flint) and Flint Cultural Center Academy (FCCA) have partnered to include a high school in FCCA’s offerings. The university and FCCA have entered into a three-year lease agreement to house the new high school at Northbank Center starting this fall. Currently, FCCA offers students a K-8 education at its campus Robert T. Longway Boulevard campus. The plan is to place 50 ninth graders at the UM-Flint campus come fall, with additional grades to be added in subsequent years.
View Newspaper Group has acquired J-Ad newspapers which covers Middleville and Caledonia, Mich. J-Ad newspapers are nearly 80 years old and bring the total of newspapers View offers to 21, and its circulation to over 330,000 per week. This is View’s largest acquisition since 2009.