NICOLE NASSIF APPOINTED 24 GRILLE GENERAL MANAGER

DETROIT, MI – Nicole Nassif has been appointed general manager of 24 grille, a restaurant located at the historic Westin Book Cadillac Detroit. The announcement was made today by Jon Grabowski Entourage Restaurant Group (ERG) partner. ERG is the ownership group for spa1924grille. The 120-seat restaurant opened in January 2009. The 7,000 square foot property includes spa 19, a full service rejuvenating day spa. 

How to Read Your Credit Report

DETROIT - Understanding how to read your credit report is necessary to insure there are no errors and to be sure that your financial history is accurate. Creditors report your payment history and inquiries to one or all of the three credit reporting bureaus: Transunion, Equifax and Experian. It is important to monitor all three bureaus since the information can be dramatically different from one Bureau to the next.

Personal Information
The first section on your credit report is identifying information. 

FINANCIAL FRAUD ENFORCEMENT TASK FORCE LAUNCHES STOPFRAUD.GOV

WASHINGTON – President Obama’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force today announced the launch of StopFraud.gov. StopFraud.gov is a one-stop shop for the American people to learn how to protect themselves from fraud and to report it wherever - and however - it occurs. It will also serve as a hub of information about the task force’s work.

President Obama established the interagency Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force to wage an aggressive, coordinated and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes.  More

U.S. COMMERCE DEP. SEC. DENNIS HIGHTOWER VISITS WITH WITH MICH SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS

Diamond Moba Corporation rep. in Farmington Hills, discusses company business plans with U.S. Commerce Deputy Secretary Dennis Hightower and U.S. Congressman Gary Peters. (Photo by HB Meeks/Tell Us Detroit)

DETROIT (Tell Us Det) – U.S. Commerce Deputy Secretary Dennis Hightower joined Rep. Gary Peters on Monday in Farmington Hills, Mich. to meet with local small business owners, representatives from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, and the Detroit Regional Chamber, to discuss the current business climate, growing manufacturing jobs and spotlight initiatives that are working to help improve Michigan’s economy.  More

Top 2010 Marketing Strategies

DETROIT (Tell Us Det)  - Small business owners can now compete with big business by infusing technology into their marketing campaigns. The Internet has brought large and small companies to a leveled playing field, especially when it comes to using marketing strategies that reach customers anywhere and anytime. Marketing is everything you do to place your product or service in the hands of potential customers. In 2010 entrepreneurs will be expanding their use of the internet as part of their marketing plans.  More

U.S. Supreme Court rules corporations and unions can spend freely to shape future elections

WASHINGTON DC - Bitterly divided, the Supreme Court ruled Thursday that big business can spend its millions to directly support or oppose candidates for president and Congress, a decision that sharply reverses a century-long trend to limit the political influence of corporations and labor unions. It remakes the political landscape just as crucial midterm election campaigns are getting under way.

The court, in a 5-4 split, overturned two earlier decisions and threw out parts of a 63-year-old law that said companies and unions can be prohibited from using money from their general treasuries to produce and run their own campaign ads. The decision threatens similar limits imposed by 24 states.

It leaves in place a prohibition on direct contributions to candidates from corporations and unions.  More

ATLAS WHOLESALE FOOD COMPANY RECEIVES NATIONAL AWARDS

Detroit-based Atlas Wholesale Food Company has received two awards from Golbon, a national purchasing and marketing group for independent foodservice distributors. The awards were presented last month at the Golbon’s Fall Partners Conference in Jacksonville, Florida.

Atlas Wholesale Food Company received both the 2009 Golbon Logistics Services Award and the 2009 Distributor of the Year Award. Chief Operating Officer Mike Kotsis accepted the awards for his third generation family business. “We are honored to win these awards over the 160 Golbon members from across the country,” said Kotsis. “It’s great to be recognized for all the hard work we’ve done over the past few years, even in a very tough economy.”   More

FORMER NEW BALANCE PRESIDENT JIM TOMPKINS TO LEAD PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT AT SPIRA FOOTWEAR

EL PASO, TEXAS -- El Paso-based Spira Footwear announces the hiring of Jim Tompkins, the former President and Chief Operating Officer of New Balance Athletic Shoe Inc., in an advisory role to direct the development and expansion of the patented WaveSpring-inspired Spira brand.

In 25 years at New Balance, Tompkins' unique leadership delivered positive results in numerous executive positions, both in the United States and Europe. He served the past nine years as President and Chief Operating Officer until stepping down in June 2009. When Tompkins took the helm in December of 1999, New Balance employed more than 2,000 people and reported worldwide sales in 1998 of $630 million. Under Tompkins' leadership, New Balance doubled its global workforce and reported worldwide sales in 2008 of $1.63 billion.   More

PRODUCTIONS PLUS PURCHASES THE TALENT SHOP
Strategic Acquisition Strengthens National Presence

BINGHAM FARMS, Mich. - Productions Plus Talent Management Agency, an international company with offices in Detroit, Chicago and Los Angeles, has acquired Bingham Farms, Michigan-based The Talent Shop. The company will now operate as Productions Plus – The Talent Shop. Margery Krevsky, owner and CEO of Productions Plus, made the announcement today. Krevsky will continue in her management role as full owner of the combined company.  More

FIRST GM RIDE AND DRIVE EVENT


DETROIT (Tell Us Det) – The newest Chevrolets, Buicks, GMCs and Cadillacs were available for a ride and drive at the Hartford Memorial Baptist Church on Sunday, April 18 following worship services.
The purpose of the event, sponsored by GM Minority Suppliers and Dealers is to give attendees an opportunity to experience GM vehicles and ask questions without pressure. But if there are questions about purchasing or leasing a vehicle, loan officers from Comerica Bank and Chase Bank were there to answer questions, and GMAC discussed financial literacy. The goal of the event was to build new relationships in the community and highlight the contribution of minority suppliers and dealers to the community and local economy.

Slowly, most Americans are regaining their lost wealth



WASHINGTON (AP) - Americans are recovering their shrunken wealth — gradually. Household net worth rose last quarter, mainly because the healing economy boosted stock portfolios. But the gain was slight. And it was less than in the previous two quarters.

The Federal Reserve said Thursday that net worth rose 1.3 percent in the fourth quarter to $54.2 trillion. It marked the third straight quarter of gains. But economists say consumers would need a stronger and more prolonged increase in their wealth to persuade them to ratchet up spending. More

Tech Town expands footprint in Detroit's New Center area


DETROIT (Tell Us Det) - Detroit’s legendary Dalgleish Cadillac dealership, closed in September 2009, will be the future home of Tech Town II, an expansion of the research and technology park, which plans to launch 400 new business startups over next three years. At Tech Town’s monthly First Friday event, some 250 attendees were given a sneak peek inside the dealer showroom at Cass and Amsterdam where Cadillacs were sold for over 50 years.   More

Black, Hispanic  joblessness expected to spiral in 2010

The recession has compounded a decades-long problem for black and Hispanic workers, who began the downturn facing a far higher jobless rate than the general population and have fared worse since.

WASHINGTON – Unemployment for blacks is projected to reach a 25-year high this year, according to a study by an economic think tank, with the national rate soaring to 17.2 percent and the rates in five states exceeding 20 percent.

Blacks as well as Hispanics were far behind whites in employment levels even when the economy was booming. But throughout the recession, the unemployment rate has grown much more quickly for blacks and Hispanics than for whites, according to the study the Economic Policy Institute released this month. Moreover, the unemployment gap between men and women has reached a record high – with men far outpacing women in joblessness.  More

Sun sets on Saturn: GM kills fading star brand


(AP) - For those who expected General Motors' once-funky Saturn brand to live on with a new owner, there has been a sad twist. Saturn, once billed as a different kind of car company, appears as dead as Pontiac and Oldsmobile.

At the brand's 350 remaining dealers around the country, there were high hopes that a deal would be announced for GM to sell the brand to former race car driver and auto industry magnate Roger Penske.  More