Designation
-- Kathy Wittbrodt, an agent with Piper Realty of Elk Rapids, has been awarded the National Association of Realtors' Green Designation, following 18 hours of course work in Sarasota, Fla., and Chicago to fulfill the requirements. For details on green properties in the area, contact Kathy at 264-0546, wittbrodt@charter.net, or visit www.kathywittbrodt.com.
Expansion
-- AT&T; expanded its 3G mobile broadband network in the Traverse City area. The 3G service is now available in the Traverse City area and other area communities including Grawn and Williamsburg and along major roadways including US. 31, M-72, M-37 and M-22. The addition of 3G technology to cell sites in Grand Traverse County will strengthen wireless voice quality and data speeds and enhance in-building coverage for area businesses, company officials said.
-- Verizon Wireless has activated a new cell site in Kalkaska County. The site is equipped with a permanent backup generator for emergencies and provides continuous voice and data coverage along M-72 between Kalkaska and Grayling. The company has invested $1.3 billion on improvements to its wireless network in Michigan since 2000.
-- Two new tenants opened offices in the CenterPointe Building along M-22 in Greilickville. JGB Distributing Inc., the world's largest distributor of Invisible Fence brand products, opened an office under CEO Bill Miltz. Personal trainer Beyleon Alejandro also opened Beyside Fitness LLC providing personal training and fitness services in the building's fitness center.
New business
-- Eco-Building Products opened a new retail store at 130 Hall St. in the Warehouse District of downtown Traverse City. The company specializes in environmentally safe building products including paint, adhesives and sealers, flooring, wind turbines and solar collectors and other products. A grand opening event is set for Sept. 22 from 4 to 7 p.m.
-- The M 22 Cafe Arcadia is open in the former home of Northwood Cafe at 17201 M-22 in Arcadia. It serves breakfast and lunch daily and is open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. under manager Rick Lannin. The business features locally grown food products and a bakery, and a Web site and Wi-Fi will be available soon. The telephone number is 889-0290.
-- Third Coast Couriers is open in Traverse City offering eco-friendly courier service by bicycle in the downtown area. It specializes in delivery of legal and medical documents, architectural prints and plans, personal items and more. Co-owners are Kris Lagraff and Darren Cartledge and more information is available at www.thirdcoastcouriers.com
Fundraising
-- Golden Shoes of Traverse City will donate $3 to the Father Fred Foundation for each pair of TOMS Shoes that are sold. More information is available at www.fatherfed.org.
-- The TBAISD Career-Tech Center will host its 15th annual Scholarship Golf Outing on Sept. 29 at the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa. Proceeds will benefit student scholarships for the CTC and more information is available from Jason Jeffrey at 922-6280 or Brent Boerema at 922-6369.
Personnel
-- Ben Ream is the new district manager for four Sprint stores in mid-Michigan, including Traverse City. Ream is a five-year employee at the company and worked in sales in the Holland area and in central Illinois.
-- Lewis Adams was named manager for the Odawa Hotel at the Odawa Casino Resort in Petoskey. Adams was the beverage manager for the resort, owned and operated by the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians. He has 11 years of experience in Native American gambling facilities.
-- WD Web, an Internet marketing and design firm in Traverse City, hired Suzan Moody as operations officer. She has 15 years of Internet marketing and management experience, and previously worked as a sales and marketing manager for the company. Krystal Comber also was hired as a technical support specialist. She's studying visual communications and Web site development at Northwestern Michigan College, and is a 2005 graduate of Charlevoix High School.
Recognition
-- Two local wineries were among the winners at the inaugural Michigan Cabernet Franc Wine Challenge held in August at the historic Park Club in downtown Kalamazoo. The winner of the competition and the coveted Harding's Cup was the 2007 Artisan Series Cabernet Franc from Brys Estate Vineyard & Winery on the Old Mission Peninsula in Traverse City, where Coenraad Stassen is the winemaker. Brys also took the bronze third place medal for its 2007 Cabernet Franc. The silver medal for second place was presented to Cornel Olivier from 2 Lads Winery, also on the Old Mission Peninsula, for its 2007 Reserve Cab Franc. These two wineries were the only in the state to submit two wines each for judging. A total of 22 wines from 18 Michigan wineries and one wine from the Chinon region of the Loire Valley of France (all 2007 vintage), were evaluated by a panel of judges.
-- Cara Nader, barista and manager of Cuppa Joe in Horizon Books in Traverse City, was selected to compete in the Millrock Free-Pour Latte Art Championship on Sept. 25 that's part of the annual Seattle Coffee Fest. She's among 40 participants selected for the competition.
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