The pressing issue nowadays in Michigan is the rising unemployment rate that seems unstoppable. Whenever there is news about a company going under or downsizing, the first reaction is that the unemployment rate is going up again. However, some of these jobs can be saved if they can be put in good hands.
About four months ago, I came across a company called Taylor Systems Engineering (TSE) in Plymouth, Michigan. Its parent company, Red Roller, had filed for bankruptcy in Connecticut, which left TSE without much management structure for months. Employees were in despair and clients were confused. If the company had been liquidated to a company outside Michigan, jobs would have been lost or left Michigan. When I visited the company, my first impression was that even when the parent company was completely out of business, the employees at TSE were holding the company together on their own without any supervision. Everyone still came in to put in their best effort every day. I said to myself, “These are the kind of people that deserve a future.”
Since we bought the assets of TSE, we made sure that critical personnel were given a fair employment opportunity at Logic. We gave the company a new name, Logic Systems Engineering (www.logicsystemsengineering.com). Pam Brown, now the VP of Sales and Marketing of Logic Systems Engineering, contacted all TSE clients to inform them of the transition. Amazingly, we did not lose a single client during this transition. We actually got a few lost clients back! The revenue outlook now looks quite bright.
The State of Michigan has spent a lot of money on incubating new start-ups to transform the sagging economy. While encouraging new start-ups is important, I think it is time to take a hard look at existing businesses. There are certainly many hidden gems out there similar to Taylor Systems Engineering. With some well placed government incentives, healthy companies, such as Logic, can become a strong partner helping these businesses to survive.
With Logic, not only did the employees of the Taylor Systems Engineering get new life, the business itself has grown beyond Michigan’s borders. With new customers in Boston and Atlanta much needed revenue and tax dollars are coming back to Michigan. What a gem for Logic! What a gem for the State of Michigan!