Jackson News Briefs October 7, 2022

Governor Names Monique Zantop to Michigan Parents’ Council

 Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced Monique Zantop, of Jackson,  has been named to the Michigan Parents’ Council, an advisory group the governor established to more formally bring parents into the education budget process for the first time in Michigan history. The council will build on Governor Whitmer’s inclusion of the parent perspective in the most recent education budget she signed for the current 2022-2023 school year. The council represents parents from across Michigan, as well as parents of students with a variety of educational needs. The council will convene a series of regional parent roundtables to gather input.  

“Parents are their children’s first and most important teacher, and we need their input to help our kids thrive in school,” said Governor Whitmer. “Today, I am proud to announce the members of the Michigan Parents’ Council who will represent the parent perspective and ensure that parents have an empowered seat at the table in Michigan. We need parents’ perspectives to help our kids learn in-person, tackle unfinished learning, and get on track for long-term success. The bipartisan education budget I just signed delivers record resources to our schools, and with the input of Michigan parents, we can help schools implement this historic funding.” 

 Zantop, of Jackson, a co-founder of Birthbrite, is among the 11 Michigan parents appointed by the Governor.  “I excited about my appointment to the Parents Council and I am ready to serve. As a parent I am always looking for ways to improve the lives of children in our community” said Zantop.

Alro Steel acquires Access Metals

Alro Steel completed the acquisition of Access Metals in Baltimore, Maryland, on September 30, 2022. Founded in 2006 by Yolanda Drenner, Access Metals is a service center specializing in small orders with quick and competitive service to customers in manufacturing, machining, and fabricating. This purchase will allow Alro to grow our customer base in the eastern United States while providing improved service for cut-to-size metals. Access Metals is located at 8893 Kelso Dr., Essex, MD 21221.

“I’m pleased to announce that, effective September 30, 2022, ownership of Access Metals will transfer to Alro Steel. It’s a well-established, family-owned business, founded in 1948. Alro shares my philosophy to exceed customer expectations through superior service and teamwork.” said Yolanda Drenner, Access Metals

Randy Glick, CEO, Alro Steel said,  “We are excited to welcome Access Metals to the Alro family.  Access Metals has a reputation for superior customer service with a strong base of manufacturing customers in Maryland.”

CMS Energy Announces New Executive Team Members

  CMS Energy and its principal subsidiary Consumers Energy, announced that Guy Packard, vice president of Electric Operations will retire after 37 years with the company and Chris Laird will be named vice president of electric operations effective September 16. Chris will be responsible for overseeing the construction, operation and maintenance of the company’s electric system that provides safe, reliable energy service to 1.8 million electric customers.

The company also created a new executive position, vice president of renewables development and enterprise project management and named David N. Hicks to that role, effective September 21.

“Chris Laird’s strong commitment to the company’s safety and reliability goals will continue to benefit our customers and communities,” said LeeRoy Wells, Jr, senior vice president of operations. “Guy Packard has served this company well and was a great champion to our safety and reliability values. I look forward to working with Chris as we continue to improve our electric system for customers in a safe and affordable manner.”

Chris previously served as the executive director of electric operations and low voltage distribution. He joined the company in 2000 and held increasingly responsible roles within the company’s electric operations, customer operations and scheduling and dispatch departments. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Ferris State University and a master’s degree in business administration from Grand Valley State University. 

David comes to Consumers Energy from Indeck Energy Services, Inc. where he was vice president of business development since 2014. He has over 25 years in the energy field in positions such as business development and renewable energy procurement and energy storage project development at Florida Power & Light, NV Energy and Diamond Generating Corporation. He has a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Hawaii and a master’s in economics from the University of California – Santa Barbara. He also has completed executive courses in contract negotiation and executive leadership at Harvard, Stanford University and Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.

“David’s wealth of experience in the renewable energy industry, with over 11,000 megawatts of clean energy projects developed, will be a great addition to our team,” said Tonya Berry, senior vice president of transformation and engineering. “The company’s Clean Energy Plan is our long-term strategic blueprint, and we are excited for the build out of over 8,000 megawatts of solar and 550 megawatts of battery storage to our generating portfolio by 2040.”

American 1 Credit Union Announces New Branch Location in Calhoun County

 American 1 Credit Union is pleased to announce they will open a new branch location in Calhoun County in 2023.

The new-construction branch, located at 106 Winston Dr in Marshall, is scheduled to open in late 2023.

“We are happy to find a new location in Calhoun County to replace the Battle Creek Branch that we closed earlier this year, said Martha Fuerstenau, President and CEO of American 1 Credit Union. “Our Calhoun County members remain a priority for us, and providing new branch locations where there is significant demand is one of the most important ways we give back to our members.”

The branch will feature teller stations, member service areas, drive-thru lanes, and two convenient ATMs. The new branch is American 1’s 17th branch location in southern Michigan.

Consumers Energy Upgrades Freedom Compressor Station, Key to Meeting Michigan’s Winter Heating Needs

With winter heating season fast approaching, Consumers Energy has upgraded a critical piece of the system safely supplying affordable, reliable natural gas to Michigan homes and businesses.

The company finished installing five new units this fall to safely transport natural gas to customers and storage fields as part of a $260 million overhaul to the Freedom Compressor Station in Washtenaw County. The project is part of Consumers Energy’s Natural Gas Delivery Plan, a 10-year, $11 billion road map to make its gas system even more safe, reliable, affordable and clean.

The new, high-tech compressor units ― which replaced equipment dating to the 1940s ― will help Consumers Energy monitor and adjust gas flow more easily and run more efficiently to reduce air emissions.

“The upgrades at Freedom Compressor Station are a win for our customers, the communities we serve and the planet,” said Dennis Dobbs, Consumers Energy’s vice president of gas engineering and supply. “Since 2018, we’ve invested about $1 billion annually to modernize our system — a commitment we plan to continue in the coming decade. We are committed to creating a cleaner and more resilient natural gas future for Michigan.”

Each of Freedom’s five compressors are enormous V-12 engines, capable of generating more than 3,750 horsepower. They’ve replaced 13 aging units the company has retired and plans to remove in 2023.

Consumers Energy safely operates approximately 30,000 miles of natural gas pipeline, as well as one of the nation’s largest underground storage system comprised of 15 fields and nearly 1,000 wells, totaling 309 billion cubic feet of gas storage capacity.

Freedom Compressor Station, a key piece of the system, takes in natural gas purchased for customers at lower prices, then boosts pressure to push supplies to the transmission network as well as underground storage fields, which provide up to 80 percent of the natural gas needed on the coldest winter days.

“We provide natural gas to more than 4 million people in 45 counties and we’re working to shield those customers from price volatility,” Dobbs said. “Our vast storage system allows us to buy large amounts of natural gas when it’s cheapest and pass those savings along to customers during the winter when demand is highest. Freedom Compressor Station and our compression fleet are an invaluable component of that equation.”