Summer 2009 Chaldean Commerce Newsletter

INSIDE

ChalDEaN FEStIval FuN

GolF outING SCorES

mEmbEr NEwS

Official Newsletter of the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce

CHALDEAN COMMERCEsum

mer

2009

Chaldean Community Foundation

Assists Refugees

the

BUSINESS of

HELPING

For a Ribbon-Cutting CeremonyAs We Officially Open Our New Office

Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce29850 Northwestern Highway (at Inkster)Southfield, MI 48034 THurSdAy, SepTeMber 106:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres

Please Join Us

please rSVp to Lisa Kalou: (248) 538-3700 or [email protected]

SUMMER 2009 CHALDEAN COMMERCE �

CHALDEAN COMMERCEOfficial Newsletter of the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce

calendar

message

briefings

cover story

legislative update

socials

business spotlights

business advice

membership

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45

6

8

9

10

1415

16

1718

Mark the Dates

From the ChairmanFrom the Executive Director

Keeping Our Culture AliveUnemployment Continues to SoarVisiting DignitaryCASCA Advocates for Iraq’s ChristiansMembers in the News

The Business of Helping

Help for HomeownersTax Hikes Coming?Attention RetailersMissing Medicaid MoniesBeware Counterfeit Coupons

Fun ‘Fore’ All City ConfidentialSeven UpBank On ItFestive Festival

Frankenmuth BreweryBlue Tel

Use the 80/20 rule to make your money work harder

New MembersRenewing Members

summer 2009

GreetinGs

from the chairman

mark the dates

august 27Quarterly

Networking Meeting

6-8 p.m., Comcast Newsmakers Studio, 27800 Franklin Road,

Southfield

september 10New Office

Ribbon-Cutting6:30-8:30 p.m.,

29850 Northwestern

Highway, Southfield

september 17Industry Outlook: Social Marketing

6:30 p.m., Shenandoah Country Club

october 15Business Forum

Luncheon11 a.m.-2 p.m., Shenandoah Country Club

october 21Chaldean Day

in Lansing

december 10Holiday Party

6-8 p.m., location TBA

The Chaldean community is known for its strong sense of community, and nowhere

was that more evident than during the Chaldean Festival June 5-7. It’s truly remarkable to measure the festival’s growth year after year in attractions, activities and attendance. It was a success on all fronts, and a great outlet for the many restau-rateurs and merchants who took booths at the event. The festival is a good metaphor for our chamber as a whole – constantly growing, evolv-ing and improving with the times.

Speaking of improving, we are eager to show off our new office space at our September 10 ribbon cutting. The move was only across the street but is actually a world away in terms of space and amenities for you, our members. Among the features of the new office is meeting space our members can use.

I get a great sense of pride every time I drive by our new space on Northwestern Highway and see the Chaldean Chamber logo on the site. How much we have accom-plished since the chamber’s inception in 2004!

Another notable event this summer was the Sixth Annual Golf Outing for the Chaldean Community Foundation, the chamber’s charitable arm. Held on June 18 at Shenandoah Country Club, the event was once again a sell-out. A highlight this year was the live auction with unique features like a ride aboard a news traffic helicopter and the services of a private chef for a dinner party. It was a lot of fun as at times the bidding became fast and furious.

In May, I was privileged to attend the Mackinac Policy Conference with the chamber’s executive director, Martin Manna. It was a great opportunity to showcase the chamber among Michigan’s most important movers and shakers at the beautiful Grand Hotel.

Looking forward to seeing you all at the ribbon cutting!

Frank Jonna, Chairman

FrANK JONNA

Follow Your Chamber on FacebookDid you know you can now keep up with the latest chamber news and happenings on Facebook? View photos, watch videos and receive the latest news from around the globe that matters to your friends, family and colleagues. Just type Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce in the search box and click the Become a Fan link. You can also help your chamber grow by suggesting our page to your friends.

� CHALDEAN COMMERCE SUMMER 2009

Open for Business!

Celebrate our new office with a ribbon-cutting event on Thursday, September 10. See page 2 for details.


from the executive director

Summer has brought long, sunny days; much-needed vacations and therapeutic time in the garden – but not,

unfortunately, any brighter economic news. This is especially apparent here in Metro Detroit, where unemployment reached 17.1 percent in June – the highest big-city rate in the United States, according to the U.S. Labor Department.

But while the economy hurts, the chamber continues to look for ways to help our members in these tough times. Our Industry Outlooks, for instance, give concrete information on business trends. These events are free of charge to members, and I encourage you to take advantage of them.

The Chaldean Community Foundation, the chamber’s chari-table affiliate, reached a milestone this summer: the opening of an office in Madison Heights to service refugees in need of men-tal health services. I’m proud of the work being done thanks to the $500,000 grant the foundation received from the State of Michigan. Read all about it on page 8, and if you’re in the Oakland Mall neighborhood, drop by the office to see for yourself the good we’re doing for this very vulnerable group of individuals.

To call Iraq’s dwindling Christian population vulnerable is a vast understatement. A renewed spate of church bombings in July drove home the point that the Iraqi Government seems uncon-cerned with providing the nation’s indigenous peoples a safe haven. That’s why economic devel-opment in the north, particularly the Nineveh Plain, is so vital. The chamber will conduct the first-ever trade mission to the area later this year to ascertain needs and develop a concrete plan. Not only is this necessary to the survival of our people in Iraq, real money-making opportunities await for those savvy enough to invest in this untapped region. What a wonderful opportunity for Chaldean entrepreneurs to do good works and good business at the same time!

Both of these can also be achieved here on the local level by giving jobs to those who need them the most – Christian refugees from Iraq. Hundreds are in need of employment as they begin their new lives in America – and we all know you can’t beat a Chaldean when it comes to dedica-tion and hard work. Please consider the refugees when hiring and encourage others to do so.

Martin Manna, Executive Director

MArTIN MANNA

The Chaldean-American

Chamber of Commerce

is a partnership of

Chaldean businesses and

professionals working

together to strengthen

members’ business,

increase job opportunities,

encourage expansion

and promote Chaldean

business and culture.

The Chamber seeks to

service and represent

Aramaic-speaking people,

including Assyrians,

Chaldeans and Syriacs.

mission statement

pubLISHerSChaldean AmericanChamber of Commerce

Interlink Media

edITOrJoyce Wiswell

ArT dIreCTOrAlex Lumelsky

GrApHIC deSIGNSKY Creative, Inc.

CHALdeAN AMerICAN CHAMber OF COMMerCe29850 Northwestern Hwy.Suite 250Southfield, MI 48034Phone: (248) 538-3700Fax: (248) 932-9161www.chaldeanchamber.com

Chaldean Commerce LLCis published quarterly by the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce


BriefinGs

Keeping Our Culture AliveThe Chaldean Community Foundation has held several fruitful meetings with educational leaders to help advance Chaldean language, culture and history. With our people fleeing Iraq at an alarming rate and scattered throughout the world, it is imperative to put a plan in place to help preserve our ancient language and culture.

The foundation is raising $27,000 to help Oakland University establish two courses: Aramaic language and the history and culture of the Assyrian Chaldean Syriac people; and Eastern Christianity (the Orthodox, Coptic, Syrian and Chaldean communities of the eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East and their tra-ditions). The tentative start date is January 2010.

Also under discussion is the establishment of a comprehensive undergraduate program in Middle Eastern Studies at OU, and an intern-ship program with participation from Chaldean businesses and civil and service organizations.

Chamber members welcomed Dr. Jay Noren, president of Wayne State University, at a Meet the CEO event on April 2. The university is in the process of creating the Wayne State University Center for Middle-Eastern Diplomacy, and we discussed our support for the addition of Aramaic language and history classes.

Much of the discussions focused on the influx of Iraqi Chaldean refugees to our area and the tools needed to help retrain the newly arrived population. A potential starting point is a proposal to the U.S. State Department that would seek funding for employment education and recertification.

Our next step is to identify a core committee of four to six individuals who can meet monthly to develop an action plan for the above items. A larger group can meet quarterly to help execute our plans.

Unemployment Continues to SoarMetro Detroit has achieved a dubious distinction, becoming No. 1 in unemployment in the nation. Job-lessness in the area jumped from 14.9 percent in May to 17.1 percent in June, according to the U.S. Labor Department.

“We’ve seen continued deterioration in the entire state of Michigan,” said Ken LeVasseur, a senior econo-mist for the Bureau of Labor Statistics. “The entire state did not come out of the 2001 recession.”

Michigan became the first state in 25 years to suf-fer an unemployment rate exceeding 15 percent. The state’s unemployment rate rose to 15.2 percent in June – the highest of any state since March 1984, when West Virginia’s unemployment rate exceeded 15 percent. Michigan has had the highest unemployment rate in the nation for 12 months in a row. Michigan also recorded the highest yearly increase at 7.1 percentage points.

Rhode Island had the second highest unemploy-ment rate at 12.4 percent, followed by Oregon at 12.2 percent.

The national unemployment rate rose for the ninth straight month in June, climbing to 9.5 percent from 9.4 percent, and hitting another 26-year high. Nearly 3.4 million jobs have been lost during the first half of 2009, more than the 3.1 million lost in all of 2008.

Visiting DignitaryThe chamber hosted Nimrud B. Youkhana, Kurdistan’s Minister of Tourism and a member of the Assyrian Patriotic Party, on June 30 at Shenandoah Country Club. Minister Youkhana talked of his support for the Nineveh Plain region – a proposed autonomous region established for Iraq’s Christians – and economic op-portunities in northern Iraq.

CASCA Advocates for Iraq’s ChristiansIn May, the Chaldean Assyrian Syriac Council of America (CASCA) appointed John P. Kuriakuz as its Executive Director. He will work primarily in Wash-ington, DC, in collaboration with board members in Michigan, Illinois and California, to advocate on behalf of the Chaldean Assyrian Syriac community.

The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations approved $20 million in funding in June to support the needs of ethnic minorities in the

The Chaldean Community Foundation is raising $27,000 to help Oakland University establish courses on Eastern Christianity and Assyrian Chaldean Syriac culture and history, including a study of the Aramaic language.

Nimrud b. youkhana

BRiEFiNgS contiuned on page 7

Judy and Frank Jonna listen to a point from Wayne State university’s dr. Jay Noren.


MeMBers in the news

Sharon Hannawa, a chamber board mem-ber, has been appointed to the Southfield To-tal Living Commission for a three-year term. The commission is comprised of volunteers who make recommendations to City Council to promote Southfield as a place in which to live, work, raise and educate a family.

The law office of Randal Toma & Associ-ates has moved from Southfield to Birming-ham. The new address is 185 Oakland Av-enue, Suite 210, Birmingham, MI 48009. Call (248) 948-1500 or visit www.tomalaw.com.

Susan Kattula won reelection to the Warren Consolidated Board of Education in the May 5 election. She won her seat by the largest majority in the history of the school board, with 5,322 votes – 46 percent – and beating her closest opponent by 741 votes.

New chamber member Veronica (Vera) Denha has joined AFLAC Insurance as an independent sales agent.

Valerie Cholagh has joined the Chal-dean Chamber/Foundation as a receptionist. She is a recent graduate of the University of Michigan-Dearborn with a degree in pre-law.

The Chaldean Community Foundation has made two new hires: Rita Jonna as community outreach coordinator and Najat Hamama as administrator in the Madison Heights office. Read more about the CCF on page 8.

The Law Offices of Garmo & Associ-ates, PC, has opened a new eastside office at 33200 Dequindre Road, Suite 100, in Sterling Heights. The firm, which specializes in immigration law, also has offices in Farm-ington Hills and El Cajon, California.

2009 Board of DirectorsCHAIrMANFrank JonnaCEO, Jonna Companies

exeCuTIVe VICe CHAIrMANJacob BacallPartner, Bacall Development

VICe CHAIrMANPaul AskerPartner, Asker & Perlmuter, PLC

TreASurerEvan BahouraCPA, Bahoura & Barringer, PLC

SeCreTArySandra HannaChemist, NSF International

IMMedIATe pAST CHAIr/ exeCuTIVe bOArd MeMberDave NonaPartner, Triangle Development

DirectorsSaad HajjarChief Executive Officer, Advanced Technology Systems

Sharon Hannawa

Kevin JappayaSales Associate, Thomas A. Duke Company

Mark KassaOwner, Heartland Market

pubLICATION COMMITTee CHAIrJohnny Oram

Chamber Staff and SupportMartin MannaExecutive Director

Lisa KalouDirector, Operations & Events

Paul AlraihaniController

Najat Hamama Foundation Office Administrator

2009 Partners

Tony KonjaPresident, Artistic Outdoor Services

Sonya KoryAssistant VP & Banking Office Manager, Huntington Bank

Johnny Oram

Amar Toma

Jay YassoPartner, Hertz Schram

Janice KizyTri-Lingual Therapist/ Translator

Rita JonnaCommunity Outreach Coordinator

Joyce WiswellPublications

Valerie Cholagh ReceptionistNineveh Plain. CASCA has been work-

ing with members of Congress on strate-gies that will ensure the most effective use of this funding.

In July, CASCA met with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in Washington, DC and expressed its concerns over the plight of Iraqi Christians, pressing the Prime Minister on the need for an autonomous region in northern Iraq for Iraqi Christians. Following a series of

church bombings in mid-July, CASCA presented Prime Minister al-Maliki with a letter condemning the attacks and demanded increased security measures.

CASCA has also been in contact with representatives of the Kurdish Regional Government regarding a provision in its draft regional constitution guaranteeing a right of autonomy to ethnic minorities.

A Chaldean Assyrian Syriac cultural festival is tentatively planned for early October in Chicago.

BRiEFiNgS contiuned on page 6

sharon hannawa

susan Kattula

veronica (vera) denha

valerie cholagh

najat hamama

rita Jonna

steve garmo


Imagine the stress of moving to a brand-new country and

try to reestablish your life. Now imagine that challenge when you’ve fled your old home in fear of your life with just the clothes on your back. That is the unfor-tunate reality for thousands of Iraqi Christian refugees who are resettling in Metro Detroit after being forced from their homeland by Islamic fundamentalists.

The refugees need a seeming-ly endless list of things — a place to live, a job, transportation and a way to learn English, just to start. Many also need help dealing with the trauma of war and the stress of forced relocation. That’s where the Chaldean Community Foundation (CCF) — the chari-table subsidiary of the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce — has stepped in.

Last October, the foundation was awarded a $500,000 grant for one year from the Michigan Department of Community Health. The grant targets recent Iraqi refugees, most of whom are victims of ethnic intimidation, torture and the witnessing of bru-tality because of their religious beliefs. In addition to free mental health therapy and psychiatric services, the grant provides free psychiatric medication for refugees without insurance, and helps the newcomers adjust to life in America.

The foundation has subcon-tracted with other organizations to execute the funding including St. John Eastwood Clinics and the Chaldean American Ladies of Charity (CALC).

Although many are fearful of other community members knowing they need mental health treatment, the clients seeking treatment are guaranteed complete confidentiality. That’s important in a culture where asking for help is often considered taboo.

In January the CCF hired Janice Kizy, LMSW, a Chaldean-

and Arabic-speaking licensed social worker, to work in con-junction with St. John Eastwood as an interpreter between clients and therapists. She has since been working with CALC and Eastwood to identify, inform and provide mental health services to the refugee community.

The CCF opened an outreach office on June 1 at 32620 Con-cord Drive in Madison Heights, on the ground floor of the apartment complex where sev-

eral refugee families live. State Representatives Gary McDowell and Vincent Gregory attended the grand opening to get a closer look at how the grant is being implemented.

“This office is being used to provide a safe, non-threatening environment for refugees to ask questions and obtain resources

and information. Informational events and therapy sessions can be held in this office as well,” said Kizy.

CCF has also hired Rita Jonna as a community out-reach coordinator to work with churches, agencies and refugees to provide outreach services and events to inform refugees and the overall Chaldean com-munity on the importance of

Cover story

The Business of Helping

Najat Hamama, rita Jonna and Janice Kizy go over paperwork at the Chaldean Community Foundation’s office in Madison Heights.

HELPiNg contiuned on page 9

How You Can HelpNot surprisingly in these economic times, finding employment is a major hurdle for Iraqi refugees. Many were accomplished professionals in Iraq but lack the necessary certifications to resume their careers here in the United States. Others were business owners or responsible employ-ees who need help in making a new start in a new land.

If your business is in need of employees, please give the refugee community serious consideration. You’ll be making a real differ-ence to this vulnerable population – but it’s not charity. Chaldeans are known for their strong work ethic and business smarts, so you know you’ll be making a worthwhile hire.

If you have a job to offer a refugee, call the CCF at (248) 538-3700 and we’ll help get the ball rolling.


mental health services. In addi-tion, Najat Hamama has come on board as the administrator in the Madison Heights office.

To date, more than 1,200 people have been touched by the mental health grant.

CALC assists with outreach, coordination, charitable assis-tance and mental health refer-rals. The organization has three people working on the grant:

Gloria Mansour Yousif, MA LLP, as the Refugee Outreach Orien-tation Team Services (ROOTS) case manager; Karen Konja as a case worker; and Clair Konja as an outreach coordinator.

Those working on the grant also organize counseling ses-sions at various schools around Metro Detroit during school hours. “The school administra-tors, counselors and teachers have been very supportive of our sessions,” said Clair Konja.

The refugees’ stories are heart-breaking and without the grant, these children would not get the mental health support and treat-ment they need, Konja added.

“These children are dealing with more trauma, depression, peer pressure and social isola-tions than what we could have ever imagined,” said Konja. “We think they are just kids and they don’t know what is really going on but that is not true. They understand every-

thing and they feel the pressure their parents are under because they don’t have jobs and have trouble paying the bills. They ask us all the time to help their parents.”

To learn more about mental health counseling, call Janice Kizy at (248) 288-9655 or Eastwood’s Jihan Daman at (248) 288-9333. The Chaldean News’ Vanessa Denha-Garmo assisted with this article.

Help for HomeownersOn July 5, a 90-day extension went into effect to help struggling Michigan homeowners stay in their homes. This law only pertains to those who are at risk of losing their home. Moreover, they must express a will-ingness to mediate their issues with their lenders and seek financial aid counseling to come to a solution to their problems. Those who need counseling can get it for free through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and through the Michigan State Housing Authority. The plan was signed by Governor Jennifer Granholm in May.

Tax Hikes Coming?Despite a campaign promise that wowed millions of Americans with the slogan no new taxes for the middle class, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and National Economic Adviser Larry Summers can not rule out raising taxes on Americans. As our na-tional budget is spiraling out of control and President Obama pushes his plan to fund healthcare, the talk of tax hikes is taking center stage in Washington.

Attention RetailersSome retailers may not know this, but in June the Michigan Food Laws were amended to require vari-ous retail establishments to employ certified manag-ers. The managers must know the food law’s new temperature controls, be knowledgeable in food allergens, and so on.

These new measures, implemented by the Michi-gan Department of Agriculture, pertain to the follow-ing establishments under MDA’s rules:

1) a food services establishment within a retail grocery — hot foods made fresh on site such as submarine sandwiches for immediate service, fried chicken sold by the piece, hamburgers, tacos, etc.

2.) extended retail food establishments — grocery stores that

have a deli and seating inside the premises. To meet certification requirements, you must pass an

ANSI/CFP nationally accredited examination once every five years. You can learn more about certification through your local health department or by contacting the Michi-gan Department of Agriculture at (800) 292-3939. Or visit this link, which directly outlines this information: http://www.michigan.gov/mda/0,1607,7-125-1568_21390_21391_21399-182605--,00.html.

Missing Medicaid MoniesA State Auditor’s General Report recently concluded that the State of Michigan is not recovering Medicaid expenses from a handful of insurance companies or not seeking recovery of such funds in a timely manner. The audit found that there was more than $213 million in outstanding bills. Auditor General for the State of Mich-igan, Thomas McTavish, presented his findings to the House Committee on Government Operations, which showed these funds available to the state through the Department of Community Health (DCH). The Health Insurance Cost Avoidance and Recovery Section of DCH failed to timely recover medical costs from various car-riers. State Representative John Walsh (R-Livonia) has introduced legislation to ease the state budget crisis by investigating these monies owed to the state.

Beware Counterfeit CouponsA counterfeiter who has illegally scanned Pepsi cou-pons and manipulated them by allowing a consumer to redeem a free 16.-oz four-pack of AMP Energy has been circulating on the Internet. Please be advised the retail-ers should not accept this counterfeit coupon; contact your local law enforcement agencies if you do see some-

one in possession of such coupons.

Enjoy the rest of your summer, chamber members, and see you in the next issue of Chaldean Commerce.

LeGisLative roundup

by JOHNNy OrAM

HELPiNg contiuned from page 8

Michigan Food Laws were amended to require various retail establishments to employ certified managers who must be familiar with new regulations.

10 CHALDEAN COMMERCE SUMMER 2009

Fun ‘Fore’ All

For the fourth year in a row, the Chal-dean Community Foundation’s annual golf outing was a sell-out. After an enjoyable day on the beautiful links at Shenandoah Country Club, more than 200 members and guests enjoyed din-ner and a live auction. Many thanks

to our major sponsors: Country Fresh, the Central Intelligence Agency, Bank of Michigan and Sherwood Foods. Birdie sponsors were 7 Bar & Grill, Beaumont Hospitals, Citizens Bank, Comerica Bank, Detroit Pistons, DTE Energy, FB Transport, Fred Lavery Company, Frito Lay, Huntington Bank, Heaven Hill Distilleries, L.A. Insur-

ance, Michigan First Credit Union and Pepsi.

This was the sixth year for the outing and the first time that the team from L.A. Insurance did not take home the cup. Congratulations to the four-some from 7 Bar & Grill, which came in first this year. Mark the date: Next year’s golf outing is set for June 17.

soCiaLs

City Confidential The government is keen on support-ing projects in urban areas rather than ongoing sprawl. That was the message heard by some 50 people at Shenan-doah Country Club on July 21, for an Industry Outlook on “Finding Money for Urban Restoration,.” sponsored by Chase Bank. Thanks to our informa-tive speakers, Brian Holdwick of the Detroit Economic Growth Corpora-tion, (pictured above, left) and Tom Wackerman of ASTI Environmental (right). The chamber can help mem-bers tap into funding sources for busi-ness expansion, façade improvement and new developments. Visit www.chaldeanchamber.com.

Seven UpChamber members enjoyed an evening of camaraderie and tasty treats at the new 7 Bar & Grill in Southfield on May 21 (above). The next Quarterly Networking Meeting is August 27.

Bank On ItAbout 30 community members gathered on April 14 for our popular Meet the CEO series. Our guest that evening was Kieth Cockrell, executive vice president of the Bank of America. Members of the chamber, Chaldean Cultural Center and Chaldean Federa-tion of America discussed ways in which Bank of America and the Chal-dean community can work together.

12 CHALDEAN COMMERCE SUMMER 2009

Festive Festival

The Fourth Annual Chaldean Festival, sponsored by the Chaldean Community Foundation and the City of Southfield, was a big hit. This year saw the addition of car-nival-style rides from Mid-America Midway and also added hours with the addition of Friday night. Both were well received by the thousands in attendance.

Many thanks to our sponsors: Bob Evans, Central Intelligence Agency, the Chaldean News, the Chaldean Voice,

Country Fresh, Comerica Bank, DTE Energy, the FBI, Ford Motor Company, I & K Distributors, MBN TV & Radio, the U.S. Army and the U.S. Intelligence Community. Appreciation also goes to the chamber’s director of operations, Lisa Kalou; the dozens of hard-working volun-teers; and the Festival Committee: Mark Kassa, Sandra Hanna, Sharon Hannawa, Sonya Kory, Janice Najor, Jason Najor and Saher Yaldo.

Next year’s festival is set for June 4-6. Don’t miss it!

soCiaLs

1� CHALDEAN COMMERCE SUMMER 2009

Anmar and Haithem Sarafa were not looking to get into the beer busi-

ness, but what started out as a simple real estate investment soon morphed into owning and operating the historic Frankenmuth Brewery, which just re-opened on July 1.

Anmar is CEO and Haithem is managing director of Birmingham-based Steward Capital Management, an inde-pendently owned money management firm. When the two learned of an invest-ment opportunity in the Frankenmuth Brewery, they intended to purchase it as a landlord to a major tenant like An-heuser-Busch. But when that company was bought by a foreign interest, the brothers decided to open the brewery themselves.

“What started out as a pure real estate play has turned into an operating opportunity,” said Haithem, noting that this business is owned by the brothers, not Steward Capital Management.

The Frankenmuth Brewery has a storied past. Established in 1862, it’s been operated by many different owners under many different names. At its pro-duction peak in 1996, it was shipping 13,000 barrels a year to 25 states – but that all ended when it was destroyed by a tornado on June 21, 1996.

The brewery reopened in 2003 but just three years later, that owner’s bank-ruptcy forced its closure once again. It sat empty until the Sarafas came on board.

The Sarafas put an operating team

in place, including Jeff Coon, an ex-perienced brewmaster who is also an ordained Christian minister. “I call him Friar Tuck,” said Haithem with a chuckle.

While they’re new to beer, the broth-ers do have experience in dealing with the public, having opened the Oakland Athletic Club in Birmingham 13 years ago. That facility just closed on June 30 – coincidentally one day before the Frankenmuth Brewery reopened.

The brewery has four levels that seat 432 on the inside and another 350 on outside decks during warm weather. “The phone’s been ringing off the hook” for weddings and other special events, Anmar said, though he added with a laugh, “We’re still too small for a Chaldean wedding.”

The Sarafas are enjoying Franken-muth, the Bavarian-themed town that is a top Michigan tourist destination. “The people,” Anmar said, “have been nothing short of wonderful.”

Haithem visits the brewery in person a few times a week and speaks daily with his managing staff. Future plans include kegging the beer for restaurants and bars beginning October 1, and, in a year or so, making it available to retailers.

“We’re finding a lot of interest,” An-mar said. “The Frankenmuth name does carry some weight.”

The two are delighted to invest back into Michigan.

“Michigan’s economy is so decimated in recent years we felt it’s important to recycle some of the dollars we man-age back into our own backyard,” said Anmar. “It’s absolutely great to do something positive for Michigan and its economy.”

Frankenmuth Brewery425 South Main StreetFrankenmuth, Michigan 48734 (989) 262-8300www.Frankenmuthbrewery.com

Frankenmuth Brewery: Rebirth of a landmark

Business spotLiGhts

Anmar and Haithem Sarafa toast to their success.

SUMMER 2009 CHALDEAN COMMERCE 1�

Everyone wants to be liked, but Randy Ayyar is happy to note that

he’s not very popular with the telephone companies.

“Phone companies hate us,” he said. “We are making them fight amongst each other.”

Ayyar is CEO of Blue Tel, which assists businesses in finding the right telecommunications company for their needs. After five years at AT&T, Ayyar started the company in 2008 and is going gangbusters every since. “Every single month we are doubling and tri-pling our customer base,” he said.

Blue Tel helps companies of all sizes find the right system by doing the research for them. “A business owner does not have the time or experience to know the technology that’s out there,” Ayyar said. “And because of brand-name recognition, they are only calling the highest-priced companies. Most people don’t know that anything exists outside of AT&T and Comcast, but we have more than 50 different phone companies as part of our network.”

After meeting with a client, Ayyar and his team research and negotiate the best plan for that business. The business owner is presented with the three best possible deals and chooses from that. Best of all for owners, Blue Tel’s services are free.

“We are paid by the phone com-pany,” said Ayyar, “There are no hidden fees or charges, and businesses will never see a bill from Blue Tel.”

Blue Tel’s services don’t end upon selection. “One of the biggest com-plaints we hear is that once you sign the contract, you never hear again from the salesperson,” Ayyar said. “We take it a step further – walking and talking clients through the whole installation period. We hold their hand to make sure things go as simply as possible. When there are issues, wouldn’t it be nice for

you to have someone on your side who communicates with the phone company and solves the problem?”

Ayyar likens his firm to Progressive Car Insurance and Expedia.com, which allow consumers to research and buy products and services by having provid-ers compete to offer the lowest price. “This is not a new business model, but we are pioneers at doing this within the telecommunications industry,” he said.

If Ayyar looks familiar, you may have seen him on television as the host of “Technology and Business” on MBN (Channel 667 on Comcast). Aired at 8:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and 11 p.m. on Saturdays, the program reveals the secrets of the phone companies. For example, Ayyar said, consumers who

phone up a company’s 800 number after watching its TV commercial often get hit with the highest possible price, even if it’s touted as a promotion.

When it comes to telecommunica-tions services, Ayyar said there is no such thing as a standard price. And, he said, there is nothing like competi-tion to save businesses money. “Phone companies will be more aggressive with their price to beat out another phone company,” he said. “We don’t even call them quotes – we call them bids.”

Blue Tel LLC5119 Highland Road, Suite 216Waterford, MI 48327248.698.4690www.bluetelnetwork.com

Blue Tel: Dialing up savings

Sales are soaring for randy Ayyar.


erIC yOuNAN

Business adviCe

In today’s economy, many businesses are asked to do more with less. This includes reduced advertising,

marketing and public relations budgets. By applying the 80/20 rule of marketing, business owners can con-tinue to achieve strong results even if they are forced to work with a contracted communications campaign.

The 80/20 rule states that 80 percent of a business’ revenue is generated from 20 percent of its customer base because these customers are heavy users. This en-compasses a business’ most loyal and repeat clientele.

To gauge its effectiveness, think about it for a few moments. Eighty percent of the clothes in your closet and food in your pantry come from 20 percent of the retail establishments you visit or are located near your home or office. Business owners are sure to recognize that 80 percent of all sales come from 20 percent of their product line.

Know Your MarketThe first step in strategically marketing to your target audience is to identify which 20 percent of your customers are responsible for 80 percent of your sales and what they have in common. Do they reside in the same geographic area? Are they a certain age, ethnicity or gender? Are they bound together by similar hobbies, go to the same school or congregate at the same place of worship?

Define your market. Once you do, it becomes time to focus your efforts on keeping these customers happy and increasing business transactions and interaction with them.

Your most loyal customers are most likely to give you referrals. It is often said a happy customer will tell approximately three people about a good business ex-perience — and more than 10 people about a bad one.

Communicate to Your MarketOnce you have identified your market you can cast a narrower net to try and capture your share. With a tar-get market, businesses can save money on advertising costs by buying less media, postage fees from direct mail and e-marketing costs. Once your market has been defined, your communications efforts become leaner and meaner.

The next step is to communicate to this niche audi-

ence. It becomes time to answer the questions posed above. If your targets are from the same area, you can advertise in the town’s small community newspaper, cable TV show or become involved in its Chamber of Commerce or Rotary Club.

If they are a certain age, ethnicity or gender, research the radio stations to which they are listen-ing. You should also think about online advertising via Google Ad Words and other sites they visit.

If your audience consists of students, consider tak-ing an ad in the school’s football or theater programs. Sponsoring special events and festivals is another good option to market toward those with similar interests. Google advertising could also influence this group be-cause it can directly target your ad toward specific sites based on interests.

If your customer base worships together, it may be wise to advertise in the local church bulletin or make a donation to one of its causes.

Continue Your EffortsThe biggest mistake business owners make during their initial launch to their target market is reaching out, then pulling back or ceasing their efforts when they are not seeing immediate results. That is the worst thing to do. Engaging your target market is a linear and perpetual effort that takes time. It is a marathon, not a sprint.

It costs far less money to keep a current customer than find a new one. Plus, your competitors are con-stantly seeking to capture a part of your market share and actively trying to engage your customers.

In these challenging economic times, it becomes more important to communicate to your existing and potential customers. By being strategic and researching your target market, your money can work smarter, not harder.

By applying the 80/20 rule, you can reduce your marketing budget because you are focusing on the 20 percent of customers who contribute the most to your success while paying less attention to the 80 percent who only account for 20 percent of your sales.

Eric Younan is a senior account executive at Marx Layne & Company, a full-service marketing and public relations agency in Farmington Hills.

Use the 80/20 rule to make your money work harderBy Eric Younan

The 80/20 rule states that

80 percent of a business’ revenue is

generated from 20 percent of its customer base

SUMMER 2009 CHALDEAN COMMERCE 1�

NEW

mem

bers

New Corporate MemberspepSI bOTTLING GrOupMike Quinn 730 Isabell StreetHowell, MI 48843(248) 829-5821Soda Bottler

WAyNe STATe uNIVerSITyAhmad Ezzeddine656 W. KirbyDetroit, MI 48202(313) 577-2200 Higher Education Institution

New Business Members5 LINxAntanette Allen15710 Fairfax StreetSouthfield, MI (313) 525-2850Telecommunications

bANd COMMerCIAL reAL eSTATe COMpANySteven Band18700 W. 10 Mile RoadSouthfield, MI 48075(248) 423-1133Commercial Real Estate

bONeyArd bbQGordon Djordevic31006 Orchard Lake RoadFarmington Hills, MI 48334(248) 851-7000Barbecue Restaurant

CHurCHILLS OF bIrMINGHAMNash Zaitouna142 Old WoodwardBirmingham, MI 48009(248) 647-4555Tobacco and Fine Gifts

CHurCHILLS OF SOuTHFIeLdNash Zaitouna24545 West 12 Mile RoadSouthfield, MI 48034(248) 948-9100Tobacco and Fine Gifts

COMFOrT KeeperSDoug Beamgold4115 Orchard Lake RoadOrchard Lake, MI 48323(248) 504-4974In-Home Non-Medical Senior Care

CreATIVe brICK pAVING & LANdSCApING CONSTruCTION John Ketty 1739 S. Telegraph RoadBloomfield Hills, MI 48302 (248) 808-3300 Landscape Construction

KeSSLer & ASSOCIATeS, p.C. Charles Kessler 31800 Northwestern HighwayFarmington Hills, MI 48334(248) 855-4224 Tax, accounting and financial planning and consulting

KING COLe FOOdS Salam Manni 40 W. ClairmontDetroit MI 48202(313) 872-0220 Grocery Store

LA MArSA Fidel Gannouni 35558 Grand River AvenueFarmington Hills, MI 48335 (248) 615-1900Middle Eastern Restaurant

MANJu, INC.Walid Manju3491 W. 12 Mile RoadBerkley, MI 48072(248) 545-5300 Dairy Queen Operator

OAKLANd uNIVerSITy Dean Ronald Sudol101 N. Foundation HallRochester, MI 48309(248) 370-2100Higher Education Institution

rOSS TOWING Sam Baki 13301 Inkster RoadLivonia, MI 48150 (248) 460-3073 Towing Services

SHred IT uSAKevin Somers 2741 ElliottTroy, MI 48083(248) 588-1993 Document Security and Destruction

SpArTAN SeALCOATING, INC. Kevin Westlake 9690 Andersonville Road Clarkston, MI 48347 (248) 625-1575Pavement Maintenance

STerLING CLeANING SOLuTIONS, INC.Dan Fitzgerald 1080 Naughton RoadTroy, MI 48083 (248) 457-9300 Janitorial, Windows, Carpets, Floors and Supplies

SuNSeT STrIpWilliam Thomas5978 Hickory Tree TrailBloomfield Hills, MI 48302Retail Strip Mall in Southfield

uHy, INC.Pat Gregory26200 American Drive, Suite 500 Southfield, MI 48034 (248) 355-1040International Accounting Firm

WeST bLOOMFIeLd TOWNSHIpMichelle Economou 4550 Walnut Lake RoadPO Box 250130West Bloomfield, MI 48325 (248) 451-4842Government Office

WTC deTrOIT/WINdSOr ASSOCIATION Sam Danou 16630 Southfield RoadPO Box 637 Allen Park, MI 48101(313) 388-2345 International Trade Association

ZeerCO deVeLOpMeNTMichael Zeer 6230 Orchard Lake Road West Bloomfield, MI 48322(248) 683-9966 Development Company

New Non-Profit MemberWeST bLOOMFIeLd LIbrAryClara Bohrer 4600 Walnut Lake RoadWest Bloomfield, MI 48323 (248) 682-2120 Public Library

New individual MembersVeronica denhaAsaad Farajbassim ShallalTonino Zaccagnini

MeMBers

Did You Know?Nearly 60 percent of Chaldeans own at least one business, and 39 percent own two or more.

MeMBers

Renewing Corporate MembersAT&TLori Doughty444 Michigan AvenueRoom 1670Detroit, MI 48226(248) 483-5951 Telecommunications Company

CITIZeNS bANKDaniel Montes15023 21 Mile RoadShelby Township, MI 48315(586) 566-3267 Full-Service Banking

dOLLAr CASTLeEddie Denha23840 W. Eight Mile RoadSouthfield, MI 48034(248) 350-1300 Dollar Store Chain

FIFTH THIrd bANKByna Elliott1000 Town Center, Suite 1300Southfield, MI 48075(248) 603-0415 Full-Service Banking

Fred LAVery COMpANyAli Haji-Sheikh34602 Woodward AvenueBirmingham, MI 48009(248) 645-5930 Porsche, Audi and Land Rover Dealer

Renewing Business MembersAMerICAN reNTALSStacy Hart4901 W. Grand RiverLansing, MI 48906(800) 637-1110Party and Event Tent Rentals

ANTONe, CASAGrANde & AdWerS, p.C.N. Peter Antone31555 W. 14 Mile Road, Suite 100Farmington Hills, MI 48334(248) 406-4100 Immigration Law Firm

ATLAS MArKeTNeil Abro2645 W. DavisonDetroit, MI 48238(313) 868-2000Grocery Store

bOJI GrOupRon Boji124 West Allegan, Suite 2000Lansing, MI 48933(517) 377-3000 Real Estate Development

eLITe VALeT pArKINGRichard Abbo4609 WendrickWest Bloomfield, MI 48323(248) 821-7424 Valet Parking Services

FOOd 4 LeSSRay Kalasho14020 Grand RiverDetroit, MI 48227(313) 272-4500 Grocery Store

exOTIC GrANITe & MArbLeHarmiz Allos51508 SchoenherrShelby Township, MI 48315(586) 405-7912Custom Fabricators and In-stallers of Natural Stones

FOOd MAxNick Sandiha27333 Cherry Hill RoadInkster, MI 48141(313) 562-7900Supermarket

THe FrANKeL OrGANIZATIONLaurie Frankel3200 Legacy CourtWest Bloomfield, MI 48323(248) 626-3150 Residential Home Construction

GeOrGe eNTerprISeSMichael George30777 Northwestern Highway, Suite 300Farmington Hills, MI 48334(248) 851-6990 Residential and Commercial Property Managers

GuArdIAN ANGeL HOMe CAreSam Kassab1715 Northfield DriveRochester Hills, MI 48309(248) 293-2400 Full-Service Provider of Home Health Care

HurON eNVIrONMeNTALFred Abdou25315 DequindreMadison Heights, MI 48071(248) 546-7250 Environmental Consulting

LAW OFFICeS OF AMer S. HAKIM & ASSOCIATeSAmer Hakim30500 Van Dyke AvenueWarren, MI 48093(586) 558-8250 Legal Services including Im-migration, Personal Injury, Criminal Defense and Real Estate

INVeSTICO deVeLOpMeNT COrpOrATIONNed Hakim22580 Telegraph RoadSouthfield, MI 48034(248) 356-1230 ext. 10 Real Estate Developers and Managers

LeVINe, beNJAMIN, p.C.Lorenzo D’Agostini100 Galleria OfficentreSuite 411Southfield, MI 48034(248) 352-5700Social Security Disability, Workers Compensation and Criminal Defense Attorney

LIberTy INTerNATIONAL WHOLeSALeMike Dikhow21535 Hoover RoadWarren, MI 48098(586) 755-3629 Wholesaler of Grocery, Bever-age, General Merchandise, Candy and Spices

LOdGING eNTerprISeS.Faiq Konja4257 Margate LnBloomfield Hills, MI 48302(248) 865-8802Hotel Management

MArx LAyNe & COMpANyEric Younan31420 Northwestern HwySuite 100Farmington Hills, MI 48334(248) 855-6777Full-Service Marketing and Public Relations

MeKANI OrOW MeKANI SHALLAL & HINdO pC Lillian Shallal21711 W. 10 Mile Road, Suite 237Southfield, MI 48075(248) 223-9830Full-Service Law Firm

MICHIGAN FIrST CredIT uNIONZephry Brown27000 Evergreen RoadLathrup Village, MI 48076(248) 395-4021 Full-Service Credit Union

NAMOu, eAdeH & ASSOCIATeSAkram Namou24775 Greenfield RoadSouthfield, MI 48075(248) 557-9030Tax, Accounting and Business Consulting

NOrTHWeSTerN MuTuAL FINANCIAL NeTWOrKChristopher Abbo901 Wilshire Drive, Suite 300Troy, MI 48084(248) 244-6187Guidance on Insurance, Invest-ment Products and Services, Retirement and Estate Planning

OrCHArd LAKe AuTOMOTIVe CeNTerPeter Mona28799 Orchard Lake RoadFarmington Hills, MI 48334(248) 553-3302 Full-Service Auto Repair

pALACe SuperMArKeTAmer Sandiha1942 VenoyWestland, MI 48186(734) 721-3030Supermarket

pArKWAy FOOdSLouay Nona13210 E. Jefferson AvenueDetroit, MI 48215(313) 823-2444Grocery Store

peNTACLe TeCHNOLOGIeSEd Babbie185 Oakland Avenue, Suite 210Birmingham, MI 48009(248) 542-2076 Full-Service IT Consulting

rOberT W. SWANSON, CpA20793 Farmington Rd., Suite 17Farmington, MI 48382 (248) 476-8226 Certified Public Accounting Services

TOp THAT TAbLeLawrence Yaldo29310 Stephenson HighwayMadison Heights, MI 48071(248) 431-8786 Luxury Linen Rental and Full-Service Event Design and Production

WOrLd OF erHArdLeslie Rhodes38700 Grand River AvenueFarmington Hills, MI 48335(248) 306-6800 BMW and Land Rover Dealer

Renewing individual MembersHarry barashLayth barashrenee denhayousif HermizCarmen Husaynu-MaffezzoliSimon JonnaJohn KuriakuzFrank Mannapaul Sapirbrian yaldoo

REN

EWiN

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embe

rs


2009 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

chaldean american chamber of commerce29850 Northwestern Highway, Suite 250Southfield, MI 48034

PRSRT STDUS POSTAGE

PAIDPERMIT NO. 83

FARMINGTON HILLS, MI

august 27Quarterly

Networking Meeting

6-8 p.m., Comcast Newsmakers Studio, 27800 Franklin Road,

Southfield

september 10New Office

Ribbon-Cutting6:30-8:30 p.m.,

29850 Northwestern

Highway, Southfield

september 17Industry Outlook: Social Marketing

6:30 p.m., Shenandoah Country Club

october 15Business Forum

Luncheon11 a.m.-2 p.m., Shenandoah Country Club

october 21Chaldean Day

in Lansing

november 11Board Elections and

Annual Meeting, Shenandoah Country Club

december 10Holiday Party

6-8 p.m., location TBA

Summer 2009 Chaldean Commerce Newsletter

Documents

Transcript of Summer 2009 Chaldean Commerce Newsletter