DBusiness Daily Update: Oakland University’s NCAA Tourney Star Jack Gohlke Gets Bobbleheads, and More

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Oakland University’s NCAA Tourney Star Jack Gohlke Gets Bobbleheads

Jack Gohlke, the three-point shooting star of Oakland University’s 2024 NCAA Tournament run, is being honored with a pair of bobbleheads by the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum in Milwaukee.

The bobbleheads, one of Gohlke shooting and another of him posed in celebration, are on sale at the museum’s online store for $30, plus $8 shipping. Only 2,024 will be made and orders are expected to ship in October.

Standing on a basketball court base bearing his name, the first Gohlke bobblehead is wearing a black Oakland Golden Grizzlies uniform and firing up a shot from behind the three-point line. The second Gohlke bobblehead also is wearing a black No. 3 Oakland Golden Grizzlies jersey. He is posed in the celebration that was shown in the “One Shining Moment” musical montage that capped off the NCAA Tournament.

In a first-round NCAA Tournament matchup against third-seeded Kentucky before a crowd of 18,586 at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Gohlke led the 14th-seeded Golden Grizzlies to a 80-76 victory. Gohlke connected on 10 three-pointers — one short of the single-game NCAA Tournament record — and finished with a career-high 32 points against the heavily favored Wildcats.

In the second round, Gohlke made six more three-pointers and finished with 22 points, but Oakland was denied a trip to the Sweet 16 as NC State pulled out a 79-73 victory in overtime.

ROC Partners with Grand Valley to Open Computer Vision Lab in Grand Rapids

ROC, a developer of computer vision and biometrics, announced its latest expansion into western Michigan with a center of excellence for fingerprint and object recognition based on its top-ranked computer vision software.

ROC has long-standing ties to research and academic hubs, including the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at Michigan State University and the Applied Computing Institute (ACI) at Grand Valley State University (GVSU). This expansion leverages these relationships and the top-tier engineering talent that resides in the Grand Rapids metro region.

Citizens and UNCF Team Up to Award $50K in Scholarships for High School Seniors

Citizens and the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) announced the establishment of the first Citizens Helping Citizens Scholarship to build accessible pathways, while providing opportunities of cultural awareness, understanding, and leadership nationally for high school students who are pursing postsecondary education.

The program provides $50,000 in scholarship to 10 high school students entering a two- or four-year accredited college, university, or trade school in the fall of 2024, ensuring students have the proper resources and knowledge to help them thrive and reach their full potential.

The partnership between Citizens and UNCF has provided value beyond the scholarship, with key investments, mentorship, and workforce development initiatives for students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

The Citizens Helping Citizens Scholarship was established to make postsecondary education accessible for all students, especially those in low-income and underrepresented communities. With the right skills, individuals can gain employment to fill critical roles and earn a livable wage and achieve financial stability.

The scholarship application is now open and all students are encouraged to apply here by midnight on May 13.

International Truck Integrates Allison Fully Automatic Transmissions with S13 Engine

Allison Transmission, an Indianapolis-based auto supplier with an electrification engineering center in Auburn Hills, announced that International Truck, a Navistar brand, has integrated Allison fully automatic transmissions into S13-equipped trucks.

Through the partnership’s continued collaboration, the Allison 3414 Regional Haul Series (RHS) is now available to order in International RH trucks equipped with the S13 engine. Additionally, the Allison 4000 Series also is available to order with S13-equipped International HX trucks.

Comerica Bank Livestreams Provides Insights to Michigan Small Businesses

Comerica Bank Michigan Small Business Director Meghan Storey and Detroit-based Troy A. King, vice president of Small Business Administration (SBA) lending, will celebrate National Small Business Week (April 28-May 4) by providing insights, solutions, and practical advice to help Michigan small businesses thrive via livestream events.

The livestreams via Comerica’s Facebook page will be designed to arm small businesses statewide with the skills needed to elevate their businesses.

The first, “How Small Businesses Can Accelerate their Businesses with SBA,” will take place at 1 p.m. on April 30.

The second, “How Small Businesses Can Leverage their Bank for Business Success,” will take place at 2 p.m. on May 1.

Flow Specialty Emerges from Capitola Insurance Rebrand with New Leadership

Capitola Insurance has rebranded to Flow Specialty and David Derigiotis has joined the company in Detroit as president of brokerage and head of insurance.

Derigiotis brings more than 20 years of specialty insurance industry experience from Embroker, Burns & Wilcox, Argo Group, and Markel.

“Joining Flow marks an exciting new chapter in my career journey, one that will give me the opportunity to help reshape the levels of service expected in specialty insurance and pioneer new pathways,” says Derigiotis. “Moving forward, my vision is clear: to provide the most responsive, intuitive, and expertise driven solutions to help our agent and carrier partners grow.”

Derigiotis is responsible for overseeing the strategic direction for the next-gen specialty wholesale insurance brokerage, and will focus on building deep relationships within the insurance community with agents, carriers, and other key stakeholders.

For more information, visit flowspecialty.com .

Ann Arbor Summer Festival Announces KidZone, Retreat, Annex Series at Top of the Park

The Ann Arbor Summer Festival (A2SF) has announced its full lineup of KidZone, Retreat, and Annex series events taking place at Top of the Park June 14-30.

KidZone — 5 p.m. nightly storytelling events from Booksweet and Black Men Read. Plus engaging art and educational activities.

Retreat — 5 p.m. at Power Center Lawn. Yoga, tai chi, Tango, kickboxing, and other wellness classes taught by local experts every night.

Annex Series — This year’s events and performances include spoken word, a “Dirty 30” music producer competition, comedy night, and a Juneteenth art exhibition. AADL returns with Nerd Nite and Trivia, and the season ends with Maker Works’ the Great Maker Race. Visit the Annex by the fountain.

Events at Top of the Park will take place between June 14-30

For more information, visit a2sf.org .

CADIA’s Annual Rev Up 2030 Event to Take Place May 22

CADIA, a Livonia-based mission-driven organization focused on advancing talent in the automotive, transportation, and defense industries in a diverse and inclusive way, will host its seventh annual Rev Up 2030 event from 8:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. on May 22, at the Michigan State University Management Education Center in Troy.

Built around the theme “Transforming Perspectives in Diversity: DEI Strategies for a New Era,” the agenda will include a workshop, panel discussions, and networking opportunities.

The Rev Up 2030 agenda includes a morning workshop focused on improving retention as a new recruitment strategy. Panel discussions and presentations throughout the day will include leaders from Amsted Automotive Group, Aptiv, Bloomberg, Bosch, Denso, The Detroit Regional Partnership-Global Epicenter for Mobility, Discount Tire, Eaton, Gallagher, GM, Harman, Honda, and Martinrea.

To see the full Rev Up 2030 agenda and to register, visit automotivediversity.org or contact info@automotivediversity.org. For information about sponsoring the event, please contact Jennifer Harding at jennifer@automotivediversity.org .

Habitat for Humanity to Host Neighborhood Revitalization Event in Madison Heights

Habitat for Humanity of Oakland County will be joined by corporate and community volunteers for a two-day neighborhood clean-up event from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on May 2-3 in Madison Heights.

Rock the Block is a community initiative by Habitat Oakland, uniting homeowners, volunteers, corporate and community partners, as well as staff to drive neighborhood revitalization efforts. This series comprises four two-day events, each designed to bring immediate and visible change to multi-block areas.

Volunteers work with Habitat’s construction staff to perform yard clean-up including leaf removal (front and backyards), trash removal (dumpsters on site for residents to utilize), limited branch trimming, hedge trimming, lawn mowing, and edging. Rock the Block aims to ensure that homeowners reside in safe and appealing environments. The program not only contributes to the enhancement of home values but also plays a crucial role in fostering neighborhood stability.

The event begins each day at Madison Height City Hall (300 W 13 Mile Road).

Pontiac Skatepark to Open May 3

The city of Pontiac will officially open the Roberto Duran Rodriguez Skatepark at Oakland Park (392 E Montcalm St. in Pontiac) at 4 p.m. on May 3.

The opening, after a year of construction, is the result collaborative efforts between the city of Pontiac, The Pontiac Skatepark Project (a group of local activists and skate enthusiasts), the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation, the Oakland County Commission, and The Skatepark Project (formerly known as the Tony Hawk Foundation).

Earlier this year, the new skatepark was named the Roberto Duran Rodriguez Skatepark in memory of the avid skater who lived in that neighborhood and enthusiastically advocated for its development.

Washtenaw Community College Participating in May 1 Apprenticeship Fair

Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor will join the Job Developers Alliance (JDA) and its inaugural Apprenticeship Fair May 1 to showcase work-learn opportunities for students and partner with employers.

The event is designed to connect those who want to earn trade or professional skills through hands-on experiences with local employers. The fair will be from 4-7 p.m. at Skyline High School (2552 N. Maple Road) in Ann Arbor.

Representatives from local employers, including Michigan Medicine Department of Pathology, ZOLLER, E & E Manufacturing, and CVS Health, among others, will be on hand to answer questions.

Everyone is welcome at the fair, and attendees are encouraged to prepare their resume ahead of time and dress professionally.

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