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Small Business Innovation Awards Recognize Michigan Entrepreneurs

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

A recent competition sponsored by The Detroit News, the Small Business Association of Michigan, Old Kent Bank, and the Eli Broad College of Business at Michigan State University recognized outstanding innovation in small businesses across the state. Four Michigan small businesses won significant awards for their innovative products and services. American Commodities, Inc. won the Small Business Product of the Year award for its Enviraloy process, which uses recycled plastic to make new automobile bumper brackets. Educational Enhancements of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, received the Small Business Service of the Year award for its distance education services.

The competition also recognized two other firms with special Innovation Awards: Artic Technologies International, Inc. won the Consumer Innovation Award for its Artic WinVision 2 software program, which helps visually impaired computer users access programs and data, and Thermal Wave Imaging, Inc. won the Technology Innovation Award for its EchoTherm system, which uses infrared video imaging to detect subsurface defects.

Key Takeaways:

  • American Commodities, Inc. won the Small Business Product of the Year award for its Enviraloy process, a process that uses recycled plastic to make new automobile bumper brackets.
  • The Enviraloy process is trademarked and patent pending, and relies on a nationwide network of participating dismantlers and junkyards to provide materials for the process.
  • American Commodities' largest customer is Ford Motor Company.
  • Educational Enhancements of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, received the Small Business Service of the Year award for its distance education services, which include needs assessments, on-site college coursework, and consulting services.
  • The firm's distance education services are used by Ford Motor Company to manage and administer a customized distance education program for its Vehicle Operations group.
  • Artic Technologies International, Inc. won the Consumer Innovation Award for its Artic WinVision 2 software program, which helps visually impaired computer users access programs and data displayed in the Windows environment.
  • Thermal Wave Imaging, Inc. won the Technology Innovation Award for its EchoTherm system, which uses infrared video imaging to detect subsurface defects in metals, composites, and ceramics.

Statistics:

  • Four Michigan small businesses won Small Business Innovation Awards in the competition.
  • Nearly 50 entries were received prior to the May 15 deadline.
  • The judges were a seven-member panel consisting of John Rutherford, director of minority business at Kmart; Dennis Roudi, vice president of small business services at Old Kent Bank; Rob Risser, CEO of two Ann Arbor high-tech firms, ChromatoFast, Inc. and Picometrics, Inc.; Greg Northrup, director of economic development affairs at Consumers Power Company; Nolan Finley, business editor at The Detroit News; Jane Archer, senior vice president at the Small Business Association of Michigan; and Glenn Omura, professor of marketing at Michigan State University.
  • The awards will be presented to the winning companies on July 21 at the annual convention and banquet of the Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM), held this year at Shanty Creek Resort, Bellaire.

Sources:

  • The Detroit News
  • The Small Business Association of Michigan
  • Old Kent Bank
  • The Eli Broad College of Business at Michigan State University
  • American Commodities, Inc.
  • Educational Enhancements, Inc.
  • Artic Technologies International, Inc.
  • Thermal Wave Imaging, Inc.
  • Kmart
  • Consumers Power Company
  • Michigan State University

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