Jackson News Briefs January 26, 2024

 American 1 Credit Union Announces the Addition of Haley Hemmig as Community Partnership Manager 

American 1 Credit Union is pleased to announce the addition of Haley Hemmig as their new Community Partnership Manager.

Hemmig brings an extensive background in marketing and event management through her education and experience. A graduate of Leadership Jackson and recipient of Jackson Magazine’s 30 and Under award, Hemmig also volunteers for many organizations including Junior Achievement, in which American 1 was named the 2023 Corporate Partner of the Year.

“American 1 is a prominent name in the community, offering many contributions to make all of the communities they serve a better place,” stated Haley Hemmig. “Once the opportunity of Community Partnership Manager became available, I knew that I wanted to be a part of this growing organization. I cannot wait to use my experiences to continue the development of American 1’s Community Partnership team.”

Hemmig officially accepted the position in November of 2023 and is part of the Communication Team reporting to Kelly Grygiel, Vice President of Communications.

“We could not be more excited to welcome someone as community-oriented as Haley to the team,”

stated Kelly Grygiel, Vice President of Communications. “Haley’s community focus, along with her strong management skills, will undoubtedly guide our team in the right direction and connect American 1 to all three key stakeholders: our community, members, and employees.”

 American 1 Credit Union Announces the Addition of Vanessa Kast as Digital Services Manager 

American 1 Credit Union is pleased to announce the addition of Vanessa Kast as Digital Services Manager.

Kast brings to American 1 an extensive background in banking management through her various leadership roles with several financial institutions.

Kast in her new role is responsible for overseeing the digital services for American 1, including the American 1 Online Banking & Mobile App.

“I truly cannot wait to watch this department grow,” stated Kast. “American 1 strives to make banking convenient and uncomplicated. With the growth of the digital services department, we hope to make our services even more accessible.”

Kast officially accepted the position in July and reports to Anna Holroyd, Vice President of Payments.

“Digital services, including our remote banking options are extremely important to keep our members connected with their finances.” stated Holroyd. “We are looking forward to the growth and development that Vanessa and her experience will bring to this brand-new department to continue to make our banking experiences convenient and uncomplicated for our membership.”

Henry Ford Health Recognized for Outstanding Consumer Experience with Two Prestigious Press Ganey Awards

 Henry Ford Health has earned two distinguished recognitions, the HX Pinnacle of Excellence Award® and HX Guardian of Excellence Award®, both in the category of Consumer Experience and granted by Press Ganey, a leading organization focused on patient experience measurement and healthcare performance improvement. These awards reflect Henry Ford Health’s unwavering commitment to providing an exceptional care experience for each of its patients and their families.

“We are immensely proud to receive the Pinnacle of Excellence and Guardian of Excellence Awards from Press Ganey,” said Bob Riney, President and CEO of Henry Ford Health. “These awards symbolize our deep-rooted commitment to transforming patient care. Every day, our team strives to exceed expectations, not just in clinical excellence, but in creating an experience that is compassionate, empathetic, and responsive to the needs of our patients and their families. When we put patients first, excellence follows.”

The Pinnacle of Excellence Award recognizes the overall top performer for online Consumer Experience. The Guardian of Excellence Award is given to organizations that have achieved the top 99th percentile or higher performance for online Consumer Experience. Press Ganey works with more than 41,000 healthcare facilities in its mission to reduce patient suffering and enhance caregiver resilience to improve the overall safety, quality and experience of care.

“We are committed to being relentless advocates for those we serve – making the impossible, possible – every day,” said Heather Geisler, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing, Communication & Experience Officer of Henry Ford Health. “These recognitions are not only a measure of patient satisfaction, but also of the impact we make and the depth of the relationships we’ve built with those patients. Beyond metrics, it gets to the heart of what we do. As we celebrate these achievements, we remain focused on innovating and elevating the patient experience while ensuring that every patient feels heard, valued and cared for.”

The Pinnacle of Excellence and Guardian of Excellence Awards by Press Ganey are prestigious recognitions in the healthcare industry, awarded to organizations that demonstrate exceptional commitment to enhancing the patient experience.

“Each day, Henry Ford Health exemplifies dedication to their patients and workforce, showcasing a commitment that extends beyond the boundaries of their facilities,” said Patrick T. Ryan, Chairman and CEO of Press Ganey. “In prioritizing both their employees and the communities they serve, Henry Ford Health sets a remarkable standard for compassionate healthcare. It is with great honor that we stand as partners, celebrating the outstanding achievements of Henry Ford Health.”

The Pinnacle of Excellence Award is based on a comprehensive evaluation using advanced analytics, including a scoring model that integrates data from over 100 online sources. This award is a hallmark of consistent excellence in key performance indicators such as provider attitude, thoroughness of examination, and clarity of instructions. It highlights organizations that not only meet, but consistently exceed, industry standards in patient care.

The Guardian of Excellence Award is given to healthcare organizations that have achieved the top 1% of performance in consumer experience. This award is a testament to achieving the highest standards of patient care and satisfaction. Winning this award signifies that Henry Ford has excelled in critical aspects of patient experience, reflecting an extraordinary level of commitment from its team members and management.

Consumers Energy Foundation to Award $50,000 for Three Small Towns in Put Your Town on the Map Competition

The Consumers Energy Foundation is calling for entries in the annual Put Your Town on the Map pitch competition, which will provide $50,000 in grant funding for three projects to help small communities in Michigan grow and thrive. Communities with up to 10,000 residents can submit proposals through Feb. 15.

“For many of Michigan’s small communities, funding for one big project can make the difference for years of business attraction, economic development, and population growth,” said Brandon Hofmeister, president of the Consumers Energy Foundation. “The Consumers Energy Foundation is proud to sponsor this competition to help enable creative ideas from passionate community members to give new life to small towns across the state.”

The Put Your Town on the Map competition seeks to reward innovative ideas that attract visitors to downtowns, advance housing, education or employment, cultivate community pride and more. Community leaders can learn more and apply here.

The Consumers Energy Foundation and the Community Economic Development Association of Michigan (CEDAM) will select 10 finalists to make their pitches at the Small Town and Rural Development Conference in June. The top three winners will receive grants worth $25,000, $15,000 and $10,000, respectively.

Consumers Energy started the competition in 2019. In 2023, grant dollars were awarded to Fennville to install bilingual community wayfinding signs, Reed City for the Crossroads Recreation Connection, and Harbor Beach to expand community gardening.

“I can imagine Hart a year from now with 75-100 visitors a day to see the Tin Man, walking through our artisan marketplace and reviewing local products, and shopping in Hart,” said Jim Evans, Hart City Council member. The City of Hart was a 2022 grantee for its Hart Project Initiative to bring more art, including a 20-foot tin man sculpture holding a huge heart, in the city’s downtown. 

Consumers Energy Foundation Planet Awards to Provide $500,000 to Environmental Projects

The Consumers Energy Foundation is calling on nonprofit organizations across the state to submit letters of intent for the 2024 Planet Awards. The grants will provide as much as $250,000 to two or more Michigan nonprofits or municipalities aiming to make a positive impact on Michigan’s land, water or air. A total of $500,000 will be awarded through this grant program.

The Planet Awards are the first of three $500,000 signature grant rounds in 2024, totaling $1.5 million, with the winners announced in April. Additional requests for proposals will be announced later in the year for the People Awards  and the Prosperity Awards. Letters of intent must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 9, to be considered for the next phase of the application process.

This year, the Foundation is seeking letters of intent to support projects improving Michigan’s environment in the following categories:

·       Land: projects that aim to protect, preserve, and restore land in Michigan, which includes protecting and improving the state’s natural beauty and wildlife habitat.

·       Water: projects seeking to preserve and improve water quality in the Great Lakes, and the freshwater bodies that flow into them.

·       Air: projects seeking to reduce carbon in Michigan’s air and improve air quality.

Last year, the Consumers Energy Foundation’s Planet Awards helped the Nature Conservancy and the Genesee Conservation District protect threatened and endangered species, and create natural spaces.

The Consumers Energy Foundation is the charitable arm of Consumers Energy. In 2023, the Consumers Energy Foundation, Consumers Energy, its employees and retirees contributed more than $11 million to Michigan nonprofits. 

City of Jackson Receives Water Fluoridation Quality Award

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Oral Health Program announced the City of Jackson as a Water Fluoridation Quality Award recipient from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fluoridation is the adjustment of fluoride in drinking water to a level that is effective for preventing tooth decay. The award recognizes communities that achieved excellence in community water fluoridation by maintaining a consistent level of fluoride in drinking water throughout 2022.

“Fluoride is a mineral which prevents tooth decay and supports healthy bones,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive. “These awards demonstrate the commitment to quality by these community water systems. Water fluoridation benefits all residents and it has demonstrated its effectiveness in preventing tooth decay throughout an individual’s lifetime.”

“Water fluoridation is one of the best investments that a community can make in maintaining the oral health of its citizens. It is equally as effective in preventing cavities in children and adults,” stated Gina Thornton-Evans, DDS, MPH, Acting Director, CDC Division of Oral Health. “Fluoridation is also highly cost effective. Studies continue to show that for every $1 a community invests in water fluoridation, $20 are saved in dental treatment costs.”

Community water fluoridation has been recognized by CDC as one of 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century. CDC recommends water fluoridation as one of the most practical, cost-effective, equitable, and safe measures a community can take to prevent tooth decay and improve oral health.

In 2022, a total of 1,209 public water systems in 27 states received these awards, including 75 systems in Michigan.

CNB Community Bancorp, Inc. Reports 2023 Results

CNB Community Bancorp, Inc. (OTCQX: CNBB), the parent company of County National Bank, today announced earnings for the three months and twelve months ended December 31, 2023. Earnings during the fourth quarter of 2023 totaled $2.5 million, a decrease of $603,000 from the $3.1 million earned during the three months ended December 31, 2022. Basic earnings per share decreased to $1.17 during the three months ended December 31, 2023, down $0.28 from $1.45 during the fourth quarter of 2022. For the year ended December 31, 2023, CNB Community Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) reported net income of $10.6 million, a decrease of $1.6 million, or 13.1%, from the $12.2 million earned during the year ended December 31, 2022. Basic earnings per share decreased to $4.91 during the year ended December 31, 2023, down $0.77 from $5.68 during 2022.

The annualized return on average assets (ROA) decreased to 0.83% for the three months ended December 31, 2023, down 27 basis points or 24.5% from 1.10% for the three months ended December 31, 2022. The annualized return on average equity (ROE) decreased to 10.63% for the current quarter, down from 14.31% for the fourth quarter of 2022. ROA decreased to 0.89% from the 1.06% for the year ended December 31, 2022. ROE decreased to 11.55% for 2023, down from 14.63% during the year ended December 31, 2022. Book value per share increased to $43.91 at December 31, 2023, up $3.14, or 7.7%, from $40.77 at December 31, 2022.

Joseph R. Williams, President and Chief Executive Officer of CNB Community Bancorp, Inc. and County National Bank, stated, “Although we did not match our record year in 2022, we continue to invest in growing our brand and developing our people, while taking the long-term view of growing our franchise value. A great example of this occurred in 2023 with our investment in the Kalamazoo market as CNB is bringing that same community-oriented banking approach to Kalamazoo County that has been the basis for our operations in Hillsdale, Lenawee, Jackson, and Calhoun counties since 1934. Furthermore, the Company results demonstrate that this model works as CNB surpassed $1.25 billion in assets in 2023 and improved our Net Interest Margin to 3.62%.”

Jackson County Seeks Advisory Council Member

 The Jackson County Board of Commissioners is accepting applications to fill a vacancy on the Department of Aging Advisory Council.

Each Committee will review applications at their February 12, 2024 meeting at the time designated above. Appointments will be made February 20, 2024 (7:00 p.m.) at the Board of Commissioners meeting.

The application deadline is 4:00 pm on February 8, 2024.

Applications are available and can be submitted on-line at the Jackson County Website: www.mijackson.org . They are also available on the 1st floor of the County Tower Building, 120 W. Michigan Avenue and can be left in the lobby drop box. Applications can be mailed to the above address, faxed to 517-780-4755 or emailed to kwhiteaker@mijackson.org