This is What We Do.

It’s what we are talking about in this town:

Did you see that Chrysler commercial?

The “Imported From Detroit” ad has rallied supporters worldwide around our city, its story, its people.

Reinvention, a living reality Detroit has become famous for,  is a clearly featured theme of the ad and its focus on Detroit as a gritty hardworking city– highlighting our region’s trip to “hell and back.”

The most important and moving aspect of the ad was its focus on Detroit’s talent. It paints a picture of Detroit through its dedicated citizens.  The stalwart Detroiters you see embellishing the cityscape aren’t make believe. They are a real part of our community, our mission.

Chrysler invested in the two minute, longest-ever SuperBowl ad of course with the intention of selling vehicles. What they ended up doing was telling our story of determination to upwards of 100 million people.  And we are proud.

This is the Motor City. This is what we do.

Tags: "This is What We Do.", Chrysler, Chrysler 200, detroit, Eminem, Fox Theatre, Imported From Detroit, Motorcity

Honoring Officer Nehasil

Last week,  Livonia Police Officer Larry Nehasil was killed in the line of duty, investigating a burglary.  Larry followed a suspect into the backyard, shots were fired, and both officer and suspect were found dead.

The loss of Officer Larry Nehasil has struck a heartstring with many in our community, and has reminded us that our police force takes the risk of life for us every time they go to work.

The community has reached out in a multitude of ways offering support to Larry’s family. Read about these heartwarming community efforts in today’s Observer.  Alpha is taking part in the efforts of the Livonia A.M. Rotary and Chamber of Commerce, who have worked together to organize the PATROL for Us (Police Always Taking Risk Of Life for Us) pledge-a-thon challenge. The pledge-a-thon is designed with a snowball effect in mind. Each participating organization impacts the amount the other organizations will donate, growing and growing a larger overall donation (to take part click here). Some organizations have already stepped up to the challenge. Among the first were Merribowl Lanes,  Mid-5 Auto Supply, and Big Boy.  In March, we will be wrapping up the Pledge-a-thon at Merribowl, where they will be hosting an event in support of the Larry Nehasil Memorial Fund.

We encourage you to get involved with these efforts and to keep a look out for more updates!

Tags: Community Support, Fallen Officer, Fire, Larry Nehasil, Livonia, Livonia AM Rotary, Livonia Chamber of Commerce, Police

Livonia Change-Makers

Last night, Alpha attended the Livonia Chamber of Commerce Leadership & Awards Ceremony. We were introduced to many community change-makers. Awards honored businesses, students, and individuals who contribute in unique ways to better our Livonia community.

My favorite quote of the evening was from small business of the year winner, Dominic Soave,  of Primo’s Pizza “I make better pizzas than speeches,” after which he went on to give an entertaining and touching account of all the people that helped contribute to Primo’s success. Other organizations honored were Bill Brown Ford, Madonna University, and Angela Hospice.

As a past honoree and community member, Alpha was happy to be a part of celebrating Livonia, and proud that we have been able to call it home for fifty years.

For a full list of the winners, along with profiles, please see the Chamber’s press release.

Tags: Angela Hospice, Bill Brown Ford, Dominic Soave, Livonia Chamber of Commerce, Livonia Chamber of Commerce Leadership & Awards Ceremony, Madonna University, Primo’s Pizza

Inch-vesting

“Investing” brings to mind a large financial commitment in something valuable, bringing in profit over time. However, a more innovative approach could be small.

Mary Lorene Carter and Jerry Paffendorf are the brains behind Loveland and the apparent inventors of micro-investing. Their idea: everyone can help revitalize Detroit by purchasing a single inch of the city, receiving a little deed in the mail. Inches are purchased online, viewable on a virtual map, and directly accessible via a drive to the city. Anyone can have a stake in the city “microhood”.

Loveland teaches a common lesson for any project: the effectiveness of working piece by piece. Last week at the Livonia A.M. Rotary Club meeting, members discussed some seemingly overwhelming social issues. Then Chuck, fellow rotary member & Alpha’s COO, cited the Loveland micro-investing concept, to encourage members to simply “do what you can”, nothing is going to be solved in one swoop.

We can all be challenged to inch-vest in our own communities, not to literally buy a chunk of vacant lot, but to give a piece of free time or make a small donation to a worthy organization.

You can help grow the value of your own community, inch by inch.

screen shot of a "microhood" from the Loveland website.

 

Tags: conceptualization, Inch-vesting, Loveland, TEDx

NextGen Conceptonators

Recently, Alpha hosted some special guests, members of the Livonia Public School’s FIRST Robotics Competition team. Bob Stewart, Director of Engineering and Product/Process Development, guided them around our manufacturing and engineering facilities, discussing conceptualization and day-to-day life at Alpha.

The “For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology” Program is about fostering science and technology skills while inspiring innovation. FRC was founded by Dean Kamen, inventor of the Segway PT; he refers to FIRST as a “sport for the mind”.

The local team includes students from all of Livonia’s high schools, and has about two dozen members. The students are enthusiastic about the different FIRST Robotics games and events and gave technical explanations of the event rules. Each team constructs a robot, designed to compete in several events over a six week period.

Alpha plans to support the team in their endeavors through our willingness to supply steel components and other services to help with their projects.  We are excited to help mentor such an ingenious program.

These inventive, prospective engineers or others like them will literally be the “NextGen” of Michigan’s innovative future.

Bob Stewart guiding a tour of Alpha's Manufacturing Facility.

 

The team members posing on steps in the Engineering Center.

Pictured: Bob Stweart (Alpha), Kaho Hasebe (Stevenson), Tom Lang (leader/board member), Gary Komora (Churchill), Hope Winkles (Churchill), Anna Carlini (Stevenson)

 

Tags: FIRST Robotics, Livonia Public Schools, Livonia Warriors

How to Achieve the Lightbulb Effect

A familiar meme is the animated light bulb popping up above a cartoon character’s head at that “aha!” moment. In reality, ideas are not floating apparitions in the form of a Phillips 40W, they are somewhat more elusive.

Here at Alpha, we are innovators and thinkers, putting our own spotlight on idea creation. We have a whole group of “conceptonators”, who are continuously focused on innovating new products. Alpha prides ourselves on inventing and adapting ideas to new situations.

Always on the lookout for other conceptualization efforts, an interesting blog that might help you capture that eureka feeling is Andre Ivanchuck’s, a self proclaimed “Vision-pusher, focused on innovation and creation. Check out Andre’s Idea Management System , to help you identify and strategize your own vision.

Tags: Andre Ivanchuck, conceptonators, Lightbulb

Heart of the Hero

Jessica Drakeford, Alpha Administrative Assistant

Alpha is a veteran-owned military supplier and many of our employees have served or have family in the service. When we hear about sacrifices made by our servicemen and women, it hits home.

We recently heard such a story through fellow Rotarian Roger Moore, a former marine. This October, Marine Corps 1^st Lieutenant Jack Barghusen was injured by an IED while serving his second tour in Afghanistan.  Shrapnel struck him on the left side of the body, injuring his face, leg and most severely his arm. Jack endured a nearly eleven hour surgery to reconstruct his arm, the first of many he will undergo.

It is men like Jack to whom we owe thanks, for protecting us and our country. Alpha and the Livonia AM Rotary are working together to express our sincere appreciation for Jack’s sacrifices. With the help of the Madison, Wisconsin Horizons Rotary, we will be presenting Jack with a Heart of the Hero Award and proclamation, created to honor his selfless actions and willingness to put himself in danger, in the name of Freedom and Justice.

Alpha's Chuck Shimko signing in the facility.

Tags: Jack Barghusen, Livonia AM Rotary, Madison, US Marine Corps, WI