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LTU Spring Newsletter
LTU Spring Newsletter 1200 800 sccadmin

It was a busy winter at Lawrence Technological University, and an even busier spring is almost upon us!

Shortly after the New Year, LTU hosted a Michigan Mobility exhibit at CES, the international consumer electronics show in Las Vegas. The exhibit showcased seven cutting-edge startups in electrification and mobility.

The pavilion provided a global stage for Electric Outdoors, developers of off-grid, solar-powered “glamping” equipment; Lectric Boil, developers of energy efficient electric water heaters; LIVAQ, makers of all-electric ATVs for sustainable off-roading; Modal Motors, developing advanced electric motor technology; Neumo, developers of neurotechnology-driven in-cabin driver monitoring; Voltaic Marine, developing electric boats and charging infrastructure; and WheelMe, developers of intelligent wheel technology for automation.

Centrepolis officials said the event generated major business opportunities and new connections for these startups, and showcased LTU’s Centrepolis Accelerator as a national hub of innovation.

Looking ahead, there are several major events on the LTU spring calendar that welcome attendance and participation from the community.

LTU’s fifth annual Giving Day philanthropy event will be held Tuesday, April 8.
More at https://ltu.edu/academics-calendar/giving-day/.

LTU’s annual Cisler Lecture, featuring Jane Heffernan of York University speaking on “The Mathematics of Infection and Immunity,” is Tuesday, April 15.
More at https://ltu.edu/arts-and-sciences/research/lectures/wlcm-lecture-series/.

Research Day, a celebration of the increasing depth and sophistication of research at LTU, will be Friday, April 25.
More at https://ltu.edu/research-day/.

LTUX, the university’s annual gaming, Esports, and anime celebration featuring student designed games and much more, is Saturday, May 3.
More at https://www.ltuexpo.com/.

LTU Spring Commencement will be held at the Don Ridler Field House on Saturday, May 10.
More at https://ltu.edu/commencement/.

The world championships of Robofest, LTU’s global robotics competition, will be held on campus May 15-17.
More at https://www.robofest.net/.

LTU’s second annual Scholarship Gala, themed “Innovation Through the Ages,” is Saturday, May 17 at the historic Michigan Central Station in Detroit.
More at https://ltu.edu/academics-calendar/scholarship-gala/.

LTU’s College of Architecture and Design will present ShowLTU CoAD, a celebration of student work and LTU’s industry ties, May 8-10.

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Fall Was Busy at LTU, Winter Will Be Too
Fall Was Busy at LTU, Winter Will Be Too 1200 800 sccadmin

The Fall 2024 semester was a productive one at Lawrence Technological University, with LTU attracting several major grants for research, celebrating its successes, and adding new research and academic programs.

Among the highlights:

LTU added new benefits for its valued alumni: The ability to audit LTU courses at a low cost of $400 per class, and a 35 percent tuition discount for some of its career-boosting graduate programs, including Master of Business Administration, Master of Information Technology, Master of Healthcare Administration, Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence, Master of Science in Business Data Analytics, Master of Art in Design and Technology, Master of Engineering Management, and a combined MBA/Master of Engineering Management.

LTU’s College of Health Sciences added a new online Doctoral Program in health sciences.

LTU received a grant from the PNC Foundation to establish a new Motorsport and Mobility Center, which will include outreach to Detroit and surrounding K-12 schools.

A DENSO North America Foundation grant to LTU will fund new research into integrating acoustic data into autonomous driving systems.

LTU’s Centrepolis Accelerator and three industry partners will collaborate on a $2.4 million federal project to develop lower-energy, greenhouse-gas-free porcelain enamel and paint curing for manufacturing.

In ceremonies, LTU celebrated national awards for its Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering, and the seventh straight national championship in self-driving cars for its team at the Intelligent Ground Vehicle Competition.

LTU also hosted the first-ever meeting of the board of its Healthcare Violence Reduction Center, an interdisciplinary effort to reduce violence experienced all too often by healthcare providers.

More information about all these events can be found at www.ltu.edu/news.

Winter 2025 promises to be a busy semester as well, with lectures and seminars on a wide variety of topics available to the general public.

And don’t forget that Southfield is a college town, and that means college sports! LTU’s men’s and women’s basketball teams are in full swing at the Don Ridler Field House, men’s volleyball will start in February, and lacrosse in March, including LTU’s nationally ranked women’s team. Check out the schedules at ltuathletics.com.

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Fuddruckers Evergreen Bar & Grill Reopens, Better Than Ever
Fuddruckers Evergreen Bar & Grill Reopens, Better Than Ever 1200 800 sccadmin

When Randy Bahoora opened his Fuddruckers restaurant on Evergreen Road in Southfield in 2015, he —like most other business owners — never dreamed things would come to a virtual standstill because of the pandemic. But Bahoora and his business partner, Saad Habba, somehow made ends meet.

Fast forward to 2024 and the future is looking much brighter for the franchise owners.

ALL ABOUT TIMING

When Bahoora learned of an available liquor license in the city of Southfield, he knew the time was right to take his restaurant to the next level. Now called Fuddruckers Evergreen Bar & Grill, he’s still serving up the same great burgers and strawberry milkshakes Fuddruckers has become known for — and more.

“If it wasn’t for the liquor license, I don’t think we would have survived another year,” Bahoora says. “We were awarded the license and began remodeling the restaurant in time for our grand reopening on October 8th.”

The grand opening event was attended by City of Southfield officials, including Mayor Kenson Siver, Council President Ari Mandelbaum, Council President Pro Tem Nancy Banks and councilpersons Yolanda Haynes and Charles Hicks as well as Police Chief Elvin Barren and area businesses owners, among others.

GROWING THE BUSINESS

While employees of nearby businesses are still working from home for a portion of the work week, Bahoora says his lunch crowd is growing, and his happy hour and dinner business has taken off.

“We have two happy hours a day where we discount food and liquor,” he says. The first happy hour is from 3 to 6p.m. and 9 to 11p.m. The restaurant also features happy hours for both college and NFL football games, along with Karaoke nights and Family Fun nights, Bahoora says.

“We’ve added snacks and appetizers, like breaded mushrooms, potato skins, quesadillas and sliders and we also have a choice of entrees with two sides.”

The restaurant features 12 large screen TVs, a new bar and comfortable seating for families and friends to gather.

SOUTHFIELD TIES

Bahoora has strong ties to Southfield, growing up in the city and graduating from Southfield Lathrup High School. “Southfield has been good to us. It’s a great city to do business in. We’re right in the middle of the City Center, the heart of all of it all,” he says.

Bahoora and his staff are looking forward to even more business as the word about

Fuddruckers Evergreen Bar & Grill spreads. He says he’s grateful for his restaurant’s resurrection. “Every day is better than the day before.”

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Collins Einhorn in the Spot Light
Collins Einhorn in the Spot Light 1200 800 sccadmin

Southfield-based Collins Einhorn is one of the Michigan’s most prestigious law firms specializing in defense of large insurance companies and their clients as well as corporate entities.

According to the firm’s CEO, Kellie Howard, Collins Einhorn’s boutique practice groups have set the firm apart since its founding in 1971. She points to professional liability, insurance coverage, appellate and toxic tort practice groups as prime examples.

AN IDEAL LOCATION

For the last 40 years, the firm has operated from its location in the 4000 tower of the Southfield Town Center — an ideal location, according to Howard.

“A lot of our client base is in the metro Detroit area, and we’re sitting right in the center of it for our clients and employees. Geographically, it’s a very desirable location for us.”

The Town Center’s connection to a major hotel is an added amenity, making it convenient for the firm’s visiting business partners and clients.

“The physical image of our business is important,” says Howard. “Clients want to feel like we’re successful as a law firm. The Southfield Town Center and all its amenities allow us to present an image that reflects our level of practice.”

ADDRESSING A NEW CULTURE

While the firm’s location has remained unchanged for some four decades, Howard says its culture is transitioning to address today’s younger workforce.

In fact, the change began to take shape with Howard’s appointment as chief executive officer in January 2024, making her the firm’s youngest and first minority CEO.

“I was slowly integrated into the position by the then CEO. So it was a year of shadowing and understanding all the processes of business and things of that nature,” she says.

Howard attributes her impressive climb to CEO status to hard work, commitment to clients and her ability to connect with younger employees searching for a stronger work/life balance.

“To run a business today, you need to have an appreciation and an affection for people because these are very challenging hiring markets. What does everybody need? Is everyone healthy? Is everyone whole? Is everyone thriving? And that’s always something that I’ve cared about,” Howard says.

“You can’t run this business without the people who are here — from the clerks to my fellow shareholders. They all matter. You have to figure out a way to develop a culture where employees feel like they belong as people and as employees.”

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LTU, Partners in Federal Project for More Efficient Industrial Coatings, Paints
LTU, Partners in Federal Project for More Efficient Industrial Coatings, Paints 1200 800 sccadmin

Lawrence Technological University’s Centrepolis Accelerator and three industry partners will collaborate on a $2.4 million federal project to develop lower-energy, greenhouse-gas-free porcelain enamel and paint curing for manufacturing.

The project was one of just 16 awarded federal funding nationwide, part of a $38 million program of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office.

In the project, LTU and partners aim to validate and pilot a lower-energy, laser-based powder coat curing technology for industrial coatings to replace existing inefficient natural gas curing ovens. The technology was identified via Centrepolis Accelerator’s Industrial Decarbonization Innovation Challenge that scouted for best-in-class emission reduction technology for manufacturing operations.

LTU and Centrepolis officials said that in addition to improving energy efficiency and reducing on-site greenhouse gas emissions, the technology has the potential for improved curing cycle times and reduced cooling requirements, which would improve throughput and reduce the physical footprint of the curing process.

LTU’s partners in the effort are IPG Photonics, a fiber laser manufacturer based in Oxford, Mass.; PPG Industries, the Pittsburgh-based paint and coating manufacturer; and Whirlpool Corp., the St. Joseph-based appliance manufacturer.

Co-principal investigators on the grant are Robert Fletcher, professor in LTU’s A. Leon Linton Department of Mechanical, Robotics, and Industrial Engineering, and Pedro Guillen, Centrepolis Accelerator chief operating officer. Fletcher has master’s and Ph.D. degrees in chemical engineering from the University of Michigan, teaches a variety of energy-related courses at LTU, and researches optimization of energy systems. Guillen has a 20-year background in automotive manufacturing and business development.

Fletcher said the project came about through the corporate partnership between Centrepolis—one of a handful of manufacturing-focused business accelerators in the nation—and Whirlpool.

“When a company like Whirlpool makes a washing machine or a dryer, they have exterior paneling that’s a metal skin, and they either use a powder coat paint or a porcelain coating that has to be cured in place,” Fletcher said. “So they have these giant rooms that are basically giant ovens, heated by natural gas, that achieve the temperatures needed to cure the paint or coating—we’re talking several hundred degrees, and these ovens run almost constantly. That’s a tremendous amount of energy. Our process is basically to use a much more economical energy source, a laser, that sweeps across the exterior paneling of the appliance and cures it very quickly, literally within seconds, so there’s no CO2 production from the giant ovens.”

Fletcher said Whirlpool, IPG and PPG “have done some preliminary testing on small metal samples and the process works great. The idea now is to scale this to a working pilot plant to show that it can function and do the job on a large scale.”

The Centrepolis Accelerator, housed in Lawrence Technological University’s Enterprise Center in Southfield, is 6,300 square feet of business assistance for physical product developers and manufacturing companies, a unique niche among accelerators in Michigan. Clients include climatech, manufacturing startups, and existing companies looking to move up to the next level in product innovation. Services include product design, engineering, and prototyping, as well as business planning services, office space, co-working space, workshops, mentors and events. For more information about the Centrepolis Accelerator and its programs, visit www.centrepolisaccelerator.com.

Lawrence Technological University is one of only 13 independent, technological, comprehensive doctoral universities in the United States. Located in Southfield, Mich., LTU was founded in 1932 and offers more than 100 programs through its Colleges of Architecture and Design, Arts and Sciences, Business and Information Technology, Engineering, and Health Sciences, as well as Specs@LTU as part of its growing Center for Professional Development. PayScale lists Lawrence Tech among the nation’s top 11 percent of universities for alumni salaries. Forbes and The Wall Street Journal rank LTU among the nation’s top 10 percent. U.S. News and World Report list it in the top tier of the best Midwest colleges. And LTU is included in the Princeton Review’s “The Best 390 Colleges 2025 Edition,” a list of the nation’s top 15 percent of colleges and universities. Students benefit from small class sizes and a real-world, hands-on, “theory and practice” education with an emphasis on leadership. Activities on Lawrence Tech’s 107-acre campus include more than 60 student organizations and NAIA varsity sports.

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Landscape Design Camp Honored
Landscape Design Camp Honored 1200 800 sccadmin

The 2024 “Placemaking Through Landscape Design” summer camp recently received the President’s Honor Award for Significant Support of Landscape Architecture. The award was presented at the Michigan American Society of Landscape Architects (MI ASLA) Conference held in Detroit on September 12.

The mid-July annual camp, held at Lawrence Technological University’s Southfield campus, marked its third year. The camp was hosted by Lawrence Technological University and organized by the Michigan Chapter of American Society of Landscape Architects’ Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, the City of Southfield Planning Department and Southfield City Centre.

“The success of this program is because of the many volunteers who shared their time, experience and talent leading up to and during the week-long program, “said Terry Croad, AICP, ASLA, Director of Planning for the City of Southfield and organizer of the camp.

Croad also acknowledged the eight participating students from Michigan and Chicago who were “extremely focused and excited to learn about landscape architecture as a possible career.”

For more about the Placemaking Through Landscape Design” summer camp, visit  https://southfieldcitycentre.com/landscape-design-camp-inspires-students/

 

L to R: Southfield Mayor Kenson Siver; Michigan American Society of Landscape Architects (MI ASLA) Awards Chair Stacey Tobar; Southfield Director of Planning Terry Croad; and Southfield Sustainability Planner Souzan Yousif display the President’s Honor Award for Significant Support of Landscape Architecture. The ASLA award recognizes of the 2024 “Placemaking Through Landscape Design” summer camp (see related article). Terry Croad, organizer of the summer camp, also recently received the MI ASLA Distinguished Member Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Profession.

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Landscape Design Camp Inspires Students
Landscape Design Camp Inspires Students 1200 800 sccadmin

The 2024 “Placemaking Through Landscape Design” summer camp was a resounding success, with eight students participating in the week-long camp held at Lawrence Technological University’s Southfield campus in mid-July.

The high school students, ranging in age from 15 to 19, each had their own expectations of what the landscape design camp would offer them. In the end, when certificates of completion were presented, their sense of achievement was apparent and expectations exceeded.

The annual camp, now in its third year, was hosted by Lawrence Technological University and organized by the Michigan Chapter of American Society of Landscape Architects’ Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, the City of Southfield and Southfield City Centre.

Seven students from southeast Michigan and one from as far away as Chicago gathered each day on the LTU campus to learn about landscape design as a potential future career choice.

Under the leadership of Terry Croad, AICP, ASLA, Director of Planning for the City of Southfield and organizer of the camp, students visited downtown Detroit, where they experienced the Riverwalk, Dequindre Cut, Spirit Park and Campus Martius Park. The SmithGroup, a global architectural firm, hosted lunch and provided a tour of their office space in the historic art deco Guardian Building.

“Our goal was to showcase a wide array of landscape architecture in an urban setting,” says Croad.

Back on the LTU campus, volunteer design professionals shared their expertise and advice with students throughout the week. For example, one afternoon featured visual artist/landscape designer Stephanie Onwenu, ASLA, whose presentation focused on creating 3-D models of a prospective landscape design. “We’re all artists,” she told the group as she facilitated a workshop aimed at teaching students how to create a 3-D landscape design.

Following a visit to nearby Carpenter Lake Nature Preserve in Southfield, students were divided into two groups of four as they began a hands-on project that had them creating a master design plan for the park. The students then created 3-D models of individual vignettes representing their overall design, with Onwenu and Croad helping them realize their vision.

Students expressed their favorite camp experiences – from walking the Detroit Riverfront to the hands-on 3-D modeling project and presentations by design professionals.

“Students learned about all the elements that go into a project, including landforms, canopies, enclosures, sculptures, water features and green spaces, along with the importance of understanding the role of the entire landscape design process,” says Croad.

On the last day of the Placemaking Through Landscape Design camp, both groups presented their master design plans to Joane Slusky, landscape architect and owner of Juno Solutions, LLC; Thomas Paison, Southfield Deputy City Planner; and Jamie McArdle, business developer for Victor Stanley. Each provided professional feedback to the groups.

After learning about landscape architecture and design, many of the students said they’ll consider pursuing a career in the field. One student had already chosen landscape architecture as her college major and will begin her studies at Michigan State University this fall. Another student, who planned to pursue mechanical engineer in the fall, said the camp has made him rethink his major. Oher students expressed interest in exploring artistic opportunities in related careers.

“All in all, it was a successful week,” notes Croad.

Here’s what students had to say:

Ghost: “I liked the hands-on aspect of the camp. It makes me want to pursue a career in design at LTU.”

Josh: “I really liked the 3-D aspect. I want to pursue a career in landscape architecture, maybe as a contractor.”

Bridget: “The camp met my expectations. It gave us a good idea of what landscape architecture is all about.”

Lauren: “I learned a lot in a few short days.”

Osvaldo: “It was a good experience – very eye-opening.”

Tim: “I liked learning about the structure of things.”

David: “I didn’t’ really know what landscape design was – but now I really like it.”

Marcell: “Overall, I like the concept of landscape architecture and how it relates to my artistic background.”

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Manufacturers/students benefit from SME PRIME
Manufacturers/students benefit from SME PRIME 1200 800 sccadmin

Students at Southfield High School for the Arts and Technology are playing a part in reducing the skills shortage in Michigan and beyond. With an estimated two million U.S. manufacturing jobs predicted to go unfilled by 2030 (according to a study by Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute), these students and others like them throughout the country are learning about advanced manufacturing technology and acquiring skills that will prepare them for future jobs.

It’s all thanks to the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) PRIME® program, which is spearheaded by the SME Education Foundation. The foundation is the philanthropic arm of SME, the Southfield-based organization focused on advancing manufacturing tech and talent in North America.

SME PRIME (Partnership Response In Manufacturing Education) students are exposed to hands-on manufacturing and engineering skills that will equip them to meet the hiring needs of local manufacturers. The SME Education Foundation develops SME PRIME curriculum in partnership with the Michigan Manufacturers Association (MMA) to ensure manufacturer participation in assessing local workforce needs.

To date, the SME PRIME program is available in 50 schools throughout Michigan, providing equipment, curriculum, teacher training, student scholarships and funding for manufacturing-related extracurricular activities and program sustainability. The program is aligned with state educational standards.

“SME PRIME paves the way for students to develop specialized skills in advanced manufacturing and puts them on a career path to make a livable wage right here in Michigan,” says SME Education Foundation vice president Rob Luce.

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“The Key” Makes its Debut
“The Key” Makes its Debut 1200 800 sccadmin

A permanent art installation known as “The Key” was recently unveiled on the campus of Lawrence Technological University at the northwest corner of 10 Mile and Northwestern Highway. The carbon steel and hand-cast glass sculpture was created by Michigan artists Erik and Israel Nordin of the Detroit Design Center in Midtown Detroit and sponsored by the Southfield City Centre. Standing 14 feet high and weighing several thousand pounds, the piece is inspired by a topographical map of the city. Its overall shape further symbolizes a skeleton key and blends art deco and brutalist styles.

For more information visit www.detroitdesigncenter.com.

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A Weekend of Jazz
A Weekend of Jazz 1200 800 sccadmin

The sound of jazz filled the air in Southfield the weekend of August 9th and 10th — all part of the annual Kimmie Horne Jazz Festival, one of the city’s premier events. Marking its 8th year, the popular festival attracted some 7,000 jazz lovers who gathered on the lawn of the Municipal Center to hear renowned performers, including Freda Payne, Duane Parham and other musical talent. The event is the inspiration of Horne and producer Michael Cash, whose goal is to bring the gift of music to the community.

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