Member News – April 12, 2019

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Raquel R. Robinson

The Ruth Mott Foundation is pleased to announce that Raquel R. Robinson has been hired as the new vice president of programs, effective March 18. Robinson brings to the foundation over 20 years of management and program experience in higher education, human service organizations and philanthropy, including three years as president & CEO of the Southfield Community Foundation. She most recently served as the interim executive director of Michigan Campus Compact, a statewide association that builds civic engagement into campus and academic life.

Robinson fills the vacancy left by Raquel Thueme, who was promoted to president in November. Robinson will provide executive leadership and strategic vision for the Foundation’s grantmaking, community engagement and capacity building programs.

“With her experience in strategic plan development, providing technical assistance to neighborhood organizations, and cultivating community partners across multiple sectors, Raquel is well suited to advance our work in north Flint,” Thueme said. “We are thrilled to welcome her to the Ruth Mott Foundation team.” News Release.

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(L to r) Zack Garza, Alex Lutanski and Kyle Gibbs

Spud Software recently welcomed three new developers – Alex Latunski, Zack Garza and Kyle Gibbs. These young developers are an exciting acquisition and offer a unique dimension to Spud’s culture, according to a company statement.

  • Latunski joined Spud after graduating from the University of Michigan with a degree in computer science. At UM, he participated in research on image recognition and autonomous drone movements, as well as working as a student technician for the IT Department.
  • Garza is a graduate of Kendall College of Art and Design, with a degree in graphic design and a minor in photography. Throughout his academic career, he honed his skills in photography and merchandising as a freelance graphic designer.
  • Gibbs is currently finishing his degree in computer science from the University of Michigan. Spud is his first position in software development, although he has worked steadily in the retail environment, focusing on customer relationships.

Spud is continuing to look for new additions to the team in sales, development, and administration to be a part of our growing company. More information is available at www.spudsoftware.com. Email resumes to .

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American Airlines announced new nonstop flights to Charlotte, N.C., from Flint’s Bishop Airport. Tickets will be available for sale on April 15 at aa.com.

“This is a game-changer for Flint Bishop Airport,” said Airport Director Craig Williams. “The entire region will have nonstop jet service to the East Coast with easy connections up and down the seaboard, as well as internationally. All of this in addition to American’s current service over Chicago O’Hare.”

The new Charlotte flights connect well to popular domestic destinations like Asheville; Boston; Bangor; Baltimore; Memphis; Newark; Philadelphia and Savannah, along with international hot spots like Aruba; Barcelona; Dublin; Madrid, Montego Bay, and the new flight to Munich.

“American is in the business of making the world more accessible,” said Dec Lee, vice president of Charlotte Hub Operations. “We are excited to be able to connect customers from Flint to more than 160 destinations in 25 countries, with as little as one stop through the Queen City.”

Charlotte is American’s second-largest hub and the sixth-busiest airport in the country based on aircraft movement. The airline plans to operate more than 700 daily flights out of Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) by the end of this year.

On April 1, United Airlines launched its fourth daily flight from Flint to Chicago O’Hare, increasing its seats in the market by almost 25 percent. The new flight, which will depart Flint at 2:15 p.m., is perfectly timed to connect to one of United’s most popular international flight banks. Williams said, “more United flights from Flint mean that not only is it easier to get to and from Chicago, but overseas destinations like London, Hong Kong and Munich will be just one stop away.”

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The winners of General Motors’ Dealer of the Year Award for 2018 have been announced and the Al Serra Auto Plaza has garnered this prestigious honor for both Chevrolet and GMC. This marks the 18th straight year Al Serra Chevrolet has accomplished the feat, making them one of only a handful of dealerships nationwide to receive the award every year since its inception in 2000.

The GM Dealer of the Year program honors a few select dealers from across the country, based on exceptional performance in sales, service and customer satisfaction. Dealers play a pivotal role in the carmaker’s overall success and their commitment to delivering exceptional service must be best in the industry. Dealer of the Year Award winners go above and beyond to build lasting relationships with their customers by providing the best possible total ownership experience.

“The 18-year streak is great, but I can’t emphasize enough the importance of taking it one day at a time!” said Matt Serra, executive manager of the Al Serra Auto Plaza. “Every day I come to work, I am surrounded by an incredible group of dedicated and talented people. And every single day we all are looking for ways to improve our performance and do what’s best for our customers.”

The team concept of putting the customer first was put into practice when his grandfather first opened the doors at Al Serra Chevrolet in Grand Blanc in 1973, said Serra. It’s a tradition that was taken to the next level by his father, Joe Serra, and now the torch has been passed to a third Serra generation.

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Bellevue University, one of the nation’s leaders in preparing students for lifelong success with career-relevant knowledge and skills and a partner with Mott Community College, announced the launch of a new 100 percent online Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management degree program. The program prepares students for diverse careers in event venues, resorts, hotels, and restaurant and food service companies, and provides a holistic foundation for the business of hospitality.

“Our B.S. in Hospitality Management brings together the fundamentals of customer service, talent management and marketing all of the services involved in today’s broad and diverse hospitality industry, and provides students with the business framework they need to succeed in a rapidly changing world,” said Rebecca Murdock, dean of Bellevue’s College of Business.

According to a 2018 industry analysis by Deloitte, travel and tourism is one of the world’s fastest-growing sectors and now account for more than 10 percent global Gross Domestic Product and 2017 industry bookings of $1.6 trillion make it one of the largest and fastest-growing sectors in the world.

Murdock said the university’s hospitality management degree consists of 36 general education credits, 51 elective credits and 40 major credits. Interested students can obtain more information from Bellevue University Relationship Manager Ashley Weiss on MCC’s campus at 810-762-0451 or .

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Break Out the Bow Ties & Fancy Hats! All are invited to attend the 2nd Annual Ascension Genesys Foundation Oak Tree Gala featuring a “Night at the Derby” theme on April 26 at 5:30 p.m. The event will feature unique twists and turns while raising funds to support the Ascension Genesys’ bariatric program. Weight loss surgery has helped millions of people shed excess weight and live healthier lives.

The festive evening scheduled at Genesys Conference & Banquet Center includes decadent hors d’oeuvres, open bar, a strolling southern gourmet feast, casino gaming, silent auction packages, best dressed awards and much more.

Attendees should plan to wear a bow tie and/or derby hat to be eligible for the best dressed awards. Call or e-mail Tammy Weighman at or 810-606-6031 for tickets or sponsorship information.

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Flint & Genesee Chamber welcomed new members in March:

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