Crain's Conversations

Andy Balaskovitz talks with Rishi Moudgil, executive director of the Michigan Founders Fund, at the 2024 Mackinac Policy Conference.

Andy Balaskovitz talks with Ferris State University President Bill Pink at the 2024 Mackinac Policy Conference.

Kurt Nagl talks with Bob Riney, president and CEO of Henry Ford Health at Mackinac Policy Conference.

Crain's Grand Rapids Business Managing Editor Andy Balaskovitz talks with Acrisure CEO Greg Williams at the 2024 Mackinac Policy Conference.

Crain's reporter David Eggert talks with Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt at the 2024 Mackinac Policy Conference.

Crain's reporter Kurt Nagl talks with David Miller, president of University of Michigan Health System, at the 2024 Mackinac Policy Conference.

Crain's Grand Rapids Business Managing Editor Andy Balaskovitz speaks with ITC Michigan President Simon Whitelocke at Mackinac Policy Conference.

Crain's reporter Kurt Nagl talks with David Egner, CEO of the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation, at the 2024 Mackinac Policy Conference.

Crain's Grand Rapids Business Managing Editor Andy Balaskovitz talks with David Parent, Michigan Managing Principal for Deloitte LLP.

Crain's reporter Kurt Nagl talks with Katy Trudeau, president of the Eastern Market Partnership, at the 2024 Mackinac Policy Conference.

Crain's reporter David Eggert talks with Michigan House Speaker Joe Tate at the 2024 Mackinac Policy Conference.

Crain's reporter David Eggert interviews Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist about the state's business-attraction fund and more at the 2024 Mackinac Policy Conference.

Crain's Executive Editor Mickey Ciokajlo talks with Siebert Williams Shank CEO Suzanne Shank, who is chairing the 2024 Mackinac Policy Conference

David Parent, Michigan managing partner for Deloitte, talks about the future of work with Crain's Executive Editor Mickey Ciokajlo.

Ashley Williams Clark, vice president of Detroit Future City, talks with Crain's Executive Editor Mickey Ciokajlo.

Linda Apsey, chairman and CEO of ITC Holdings, speaks with Crain's Executive Editor Mickey Ciokajlo.

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and Charity Dean of the Metro Detroit Black Business Alliance discuss the mayor's plan to overhaul Detroit's property-tax structure with Crain's Executive Editor Mickey Ciokajlo.

Eric Lupher, president of the Citizens Research Council of Michigan, and Ani Turner, speak with Crain's Managing Editor Michael Lee about Michigan's stagnant population and how to turn the trend around.

Rip Rapson, CEO of the Kresge Foundation, and Richard Florida, urbanist and author of “Rise of the Creative Class,” speak with Crain's Managing Editor Michael Lee about Detroit's advantages and disadvantages in a transforming economy.

Josh Sirefman, CEO of the Michigan Central Innovation District, discusses what is happening now at the district surrounding Michigan Central Station in Detroit's Corktown neighborhood, and what can be expected from the redevelopment of the train station and its environs.

Michigan Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks talks with Crain's reporter Rachel Watson at the Mackinac Policy Conference.

Bob Riney, president and CEO of Henry Ford Health, speaking with Crain's Managing Editor Michael Lee about the health system's $2 billion plan for a new hospital tower and other developments around its Detroit flagship campus.

Crain's Executive Editor Mickey Ciokajlo interviews Skillman Foundation President and CEO Angelique Power; Imani Harris, youth education activist and communications lead of 482Forward; and Evamelo Oleita, youth organizer, co-founder of Black Lives Matter In All Capacities and Skillman Foundation President's Youth Council Member.

Crain's reporter Rachel Watson talks with Grand Valley State University President Philomena Mantella about the university's master plan for its downtown Grand Rapids campus.

Crain's Executive Editor Mickey Ciokajlo interviews 2023 Mackinac Policy Conference Chair Matt Elliott, Michigan Market Leader, Bank of America.

1:03 - His ambitions for Invest Detroit2:05 - What he plans to do with the New Markets Tax Credits Invest Detroit was just awarded.A breakdown of the episode:5:45 - How the changing economic environment impacts his organization7:45 - Why he's concerned about the future of commercial real estate in the next few years9:30 - Where the next wave of investor interest will be in Detroit13:35 - How Invest Detroit is expanding in target neighborhoods15:30 - When he would get involved on the developer side of commercial real estate16:45 - Why Invest Detroit created the Ebiara fund18:55 - What development tools does he wish were accessible in Michigan that aren't yet21:10 - Why he supports reform on tax policy24:10 - How has development financing changed in the last decade30:30 - His biggest failure in business and how he overcame it

1:00 - Why she doesn't have a cell phone1:30 - Her latest vision for Midtown4:30 - Challenges for the neighborhood and how to keep people in homes9:45 - Why the pandemic didn't Midtown as bad as other areas11:30 - Her desire to preserve buildings as part of redevelopment16:05 - Balancing preservation with new construction18:10 - How Cass Corridor became Midtown21:55 - Her succession plan22:30 - What's still on her bucket list24:35 - Her biggest failure in business and how she overcame it.

1:20 - Housing shortage issues and questions of a new recession2:45 - The state of the office market 4:05 - Converting office space into residential7:00 - A glut of office space in the suburbs8:05 - Rising rents 9:00 - An example from Calgary11:05 - What happens when office leases start to come up15:25 - The interview with Mason Ailstock begins

Stories mentioned on airLear CEO Ray Scott looks to make production more local — including in Michigan: https://www.crainsdetroit.com/manufacturing/lear-ceo-ray-scott-looks-make-production-more-localDetroit sees record-breaking cruise ship season: https://www.crainsdetroit.com/hospitality-tourism/detroit-sees-record-breaking-cruise-ship-seasonCarvana sues Michigan to reverse loss of license: https://www.crainsdetroit.com/retail/carvana-sues-michigan-reverse-loss-license  

1:20 - How he balances dual careers 4:15 - The Four Corners Square project6:25 - How he has learned so much in his 20s.8:50 - What he sees as the future of retail10:05 - What is coming next and how he blends his interests in medical and real estate12:15- How to bring creative development from downtown to the suburbs 13:40 - How he balances working with his father16:20 - How he handles when his careers are in conflict and whether he can continue to do both18:05 - Which career is harder18:55 - What he does in his precious free time 19:55 - What it was like to go into residency at the start of the pandemic and did he ever want to quit23:55 - His biggest failure in business

Among the topics Hosey addresses in the podcast:1:30 – Why he feels confident the Fisher Body 21 plant project will succeed.2:45 – Why having the largest black-led development in the city is important.4:05 – What attracts him to historic preservation.6:15 – The one building he would want to take on.7:55 – How financial incentives can be expanded to help development.9:35 – The unique challenges of working in Detroit.11:50 – What more can be done to preserve affordable housing in Detroit.15:40 – Balancing secrecy and transparency on big development projects.21:05 – Why he came back to the city to be a developer.25:55 – How to remove barriers for Black developers.30:15 – His biggest failure in business.

1:10 – Whether he always wanted to join the family business.2:25 – What steps he is taking to make sure the family has a robust staff. 4:10 – How he handles not having elder relatives in the business and whether he's prepping the next generation of Maibachs for the business.9:05 – Why he loves Lego.10:25 – His favorite project that he's worked on.13:10 – How hard it is to innovate in the construction industry. 15:30 – How he diversifies the Barton Malow portfolio.17:40 – How construction will change in the downtown Detroit core in the years ahead after COVID. 20:45 – Why Barton Malow employs a psychologist.23:00 – Why Barton Malow has a chaplain program and offers grants to employees.26:50 –  How to get past the red tape in the regulatory environment.28:55 – What his biggest failure in business was and how he overcame it. 

1:05 -What it was like working for a Coca-Cola bottling plant and what he learned from that experience.3:40 - What has changed in design and architecture throughout his three decades in the business.6:40 -How hybrid work changes workplace designs.11:55 - Why HED is moving to Royal Oak.15:05 - Promoting diversity in the architecture field and what changes should be made to encourage it.21:20 - Why he keeps a photo of the original Microsoft staff in a garage on his desk.24:10 - Why he's a fan of independent filmmaking.26:25 - His biggest failure in business and how he overcame it.

3:10 - Why he goes after public-private partnerships in his projects5:00 - How he dealt with criticism in his Royal Oak project6:40 - What his plans are for Birmingham development12:35 - What other areas he feels are ripe for development13:55 - The status of United Wholesale grocery15:20 - How being an immigrant impacts his business philosophy16:55 - What it was like working with his father and whether his daughters will join the business21:00 - Why he's selling his family's $10 million estate in San Diego23:20 - His politics and why he keeps an open mind26:45 - His biggest failure in business and how he overcame it

Today's guests are Lynnette Boyle and Michael Martorelli of Beanstalk Real Estate Solutions. The firm has residential and commercial properties throughout Detroit, including the Guardian Building, The Marygrove Campus and The Obama Building. After a career that included time with Kirco, Farbman Group, Sterling Group and Bedrock, Lynnette formed Beanstalk in 2016, focusing on property management and brokerage. Recently, Beanstalk joined with Center City Properties to create a multi-family housing division. Michael is the new director of sales and leasing for that side of the business.

Crain's Detroit Business Managing Editor Michael Lee chats with Paul W. Smith on WJR AM 760 about stories from the past week.

Inside its 26th-floor offices at the Fisher Building, Christman Company has a special souvenir that hangs on the wall with ties to an iconic moment of political history.Joe Luther, vice president and general manager of Southeast Michigan Operations, spilled the beans during this week's podcast of how Christman ended up with a piece of the platform where then-president Barack Obama stood during his first inauguration in 2009.“We've got one of the pieces of plywood actually in the Fisher Building… come down to the office and see where Obama stood,” he said. “Two little Sharpie half circles that say left and right. It's just exciting to have that piece where he stood that day.”It's long been known that the Lansing-based general contracting firm builds the platform used by the incoming president at inaugurations in Washington D.C. – they did it for Barack Obama in 2009 and 2013, for Donald Trump in 2016 and Joe Biden in 2020.And they plan to bid again in two years. The whole platform is wood, and several pieces get saved and reused for later years. But for that one piece, it has a place of honor on the wall in Luther's boss's office.“That team out there really enjoys that project. It's a smaller project for that region, but a really exciting, high-profile project. And I think they've got the method now pretty well licked,” he said. “There's a short time to set it up and a short time to tear it down. And we're certainly excited to be a part of it.”Christman, which was founded in 1894 and has been doing business in Michigan for more than 100 years, has plenty of other projects closer to home. They include the renovation of the Michigan Central Station in Corktown, the Accident Fund national headquarters in Lansing, multiple Detroit Public Schools projects and the redevelopment of the GSA Theodore Levin U.S. Courthouse in Detroit. Luther has been with the company since 2008 and said it has grown from 300 employees to almost a thousand across the country during that time. He spoke to Crain's about:1:25 - His career trajectory and how Christman Co. has changed over time2:25 - How they are handling labor shortages3:25 - What is being done to bring new people into the trades7:30 – Overcoming rising building costs9:30 – Delayed projects10:40 – Handling union battles11:50 – Other challenges in the industry12:40 – How they choose their projects14:25 – If preservation strategy in Detroit needs to change16:15 – Christman's tie to the presidential election and a very special souvenir18:05 – Why going after clients is more important than projects20:15 – How to promote diversity in the construction industry22:25 – The importance of mentorship23:35 – Life outside of work24:25 – His biggest failure and how he overcame it

Crain's Detroit Business Executive Editor Kelley Root chats with Paul W. Smith on WJR AM 760 about stories from this week's issue.

What we talked about: 2:00 - The state of McKinley and how the business has changed over 30 years3:05 -Why they are staying in the workforce housing market4:40 - Why they won't be expanding to regions outside of Ann Arbor and Orlando12:40 - How they handle rising rents14:00 - How to improve affordable housing16:50 - How they retain staffers18:10 - What they are doing for a succession plan18:55 - What it was like coming to the U.S as a refugee19:55 - His management style and how he uses social media22:15 - His biggest mistake in business and how he overcame it