DIA-OFA officer Melissa Roy featured in Crain's Detroit Business logistics article

Logistics dream: Chamber wants to remake region's roads, rail, airports into global hub
By Bill Shea (Crain's Detroit - 10/13/09)

Three hundred years ago, the Detroit region was a thriving trading post of fur trappers and frontier settlers, a strategic gateway into the virgin American interior and worthy of geopolitical maneuvering by the great powers of the day.

Now, the Detroit Regional Chamber wants to remake the region into a modern inland air-sea-rail-ground port worthy of its colonial history through an economic development and jobs-creation initiative designed to take advantage of U.S. logistics spending forecasted to grow to $14 trillion from $4 trillion now.

To do so will require money, time, patience and cooperation. [more]

Melissa Roy (DIA-OFA vice president) is the Detroit Regional Chamber's senior director of government relations and the point person on the Translinked effort.

Reminder: DIA-OFA Tigers Outing October 2nd

Tonight Fernando Rodney earned his 33rd save to help keep the Tigers 4 1/2 games ahead of the Minnesota Twins. The home team defeated the Kansas City Royals 4-3. It appears this Pennant Race will go right down to the wire!

Don't forget to come out and join the DIA-OFA to cheer on the 1st place Detroit Tigers against the Chicago White Sox on October 2nd at Comerica Park. We still have tickets available. Invite your customers, co-workers, family and friends!

Click here to download your reservation form.

Let's Go Tigers!!!

Annual DIA-OFA Tigers outing - 1st place Detroit Tigers vs. Chicago White Sox - October 2nd

The Tigers are still in first place. They have four All Stars. It looks like Chicago and Minnesota will be fighting the Tigers right to the finish. This will be a very interesting second half of the season.

Come out and join the DIA-OFA to cheer on the Tigers against Chicago on October 2nd at Comerica Park. We have returned to the Mountain Dew Deck this year and have 120 spots available. Invite your customers, co-workers, family and friends.

Click here to download your reservation form.

Let's Go Tigers!!!

DIA-OFA Golf Outing Flyer

DIA-OFA updates & upcoming events

The DIA-OFA team has had a busy start to 2009. The website has been updated and we have added a new email broadcast list. Feel free to subscribe at DIA-OFA.org Most of this year's events have been scheduled. In fact, the DIA-OFA calendar is full through the Fall. Following is the latest news.

Website sponsors and membership list updates: We have updated all sponsor links going back to our last golf outing. If you are interested in becoming a featured sponsor please contact one of our officers. The member database has also been cleaned up. Only current members are listed. See the DIA-OFA website for a membership application if you are interested in joining or renewing your membership.

Event topics survey: We had a great turnout for January's US Customs event. The DIA-OFA is interested in learning what other topics are of interest to our guests and members. Look for a online survey coming soon.

Scholarship and Internship meeting: The DIA-OFA will re-introduce its annual scholarship meeting on May 7th. This meeting will also feature valuable information regarding new and easy ways for small and mid-sized businesses to access interns from local universities. Stay tuned for copies of this year's scholarship nomination forms.

Golf Outing: The annual DIA-OFA golf outing will return the the Golden Fox in Plymouth on June 18th.

Tigers Outing: The DIA-OFA returns to the "Dew Deck" for a Friday game at Comerica Park. Come out and cheer on the Tigers as they face the Chicago White Sox.

Don't miss the US Customs & Border Protection Meeting on January 22nd

The DIA-OFA is proud to welcome US Customs & Border Protection Operations Specialist Ben Anderson on Thursday, 1/22/09 at the Lakes of Taylor. Anyone interested in Customs rules, regulations, enforcement, and/or penalties is encouraged to attend. Click here to download the event flyer/registration form.

As you see from his bio, Specialist Anderson is uniquely qualified to answer virtually any question related to this important agency.

Ben Anderson began his career with U.S. Customs as entry level Inspector in Detroit in 1971. He was promoted to Senior Inspector in 1974, First Level Supervisor in 1977 and Chief Inspector in 1986. He served in several capacities as a Chief Inspector:

- Bridge Station Chief
- Enforcement Chief
- Administrative Chief
- Fort Street Cargo Station Chief (during 9/11)

Ben was featured representing U.S. Customs in the TIME Magazine one-year 9/11 Anniversary Issue (September 9, 2002).

Ben transferred to an Operations Specialist Position in the Detroit Field Office in 2004.

He began his 39th year with Customs on January 18, 2009.

DIA-OFA Christmas Party - 2007

The DIA-OFA celebrated Christmas at the International Banquet Center in Greek Town. As usual the generous attendees delivered plenty of toys and gifts for Toys for Tots. A great time was had by all!

Thanks for welcoming me to DIA-OFA!

Hi DIA-OFA members!

Thanks for a very warm welcome into your organization. If the events are half as fun as the pictures appear - that's an achievement in itself. Hopefully I can bring some value from my everyday job in government advocacy at the Detroit Regional Chamber. Right now we're fighting the service tax - which really hit a number of industries - but especially logistics. Courier service, warehousing and travel arrangements are just a few of the categories targeted in the new beast. Here is a link to all of the SIC codes that will be taxed December 1st.

I'm very excited to meet everyone - see you at the next event or the Christmas Party on December 13th!

The DIA-OFA Welcome's Melissa Roy as a New Officer

The DIA-OFA is proud to welcome Melissa Roy as our newest officer. She is sure to bring a new perspective and energy to our group. Thank you, Jeanne Heilman for recruiting Melissa as our new Secretary.

In her day job - Senior Director, Government Relations Detroit Regional Chamber - Melissa manages transportation policy and government relations. Her responsibilities at the Chamber include managing the transportation policy committee, advocacy and monitoring emerging issues that may impact trade and infrastructure within Southeast Michigan.

Within government relations, she is responsible for federal, state and local government relationship management. Transportation issues within the chamber include media positioning of important projects and forging partnerships along Detroit’s regional trade routes. Melissa is an eight year Detroit Regional Chamber veteran. Before government relations, she worked in economic development.

She welcomes the opportunity to learn more about the intermodal industry and join the party as a new DIA-OFA officer.

Melissa graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in economics and German.

DIA-OFA Annual Detroit Tigers Outing

Over 100 DIA-OFA members and guests were at Comerica Park last Friday evening to witness pitchers Justin Verlander and the Detroit Tigers hitters dominate the Seattle Mariners 6-1.

Golf Outing Photos

The annual DIA-OFA Golf Outing on June 28th sold out and filled Fox Hills in Plymouth, MI. A great time was had by all!

Beer Tasting & More

Our first ever beer tasting event sponsored by Rave and Associates was a great success! Rudy Zunich had both international and Michigan beers available to sample by the large group as we learned about the brewing process and laws of distribution. In the "spirit" of the evening several of our membership companies agreed to be sponsors for our upcoming golf outing!!! Maybe next year we will have wine tasting???

MARK YOUR CALENDARS! - If any other companies would like to sponsor, please either send in the form or contact Jeanne Heilman - jheilman@portofvirginia.com. There are opportunities for Silver and Gold Sponsors as well as hole sponsors. Get your foursomes together as this event typically fills up!!!

FYI - The Transportation club of Detroit is having a symposium on Tuesday, May 15th. Follow this link for more information if you are interested in attending.

Jeanne

New Meeting Announcements - Tiger Game and Party Time

DIA-OFA Members & Guests!!!

1) Meeting next week - Thursday, March 22, 2007

We look forward to seeing you all at our meeting next week!!! Timothy Cotter from the USDOT will provide us an update from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) with emphasis on the Recent Notice of Proposed Rule Making: “Requirements for Intermodal Equipment Providers and Motor Carriers Operating Intermodal Equipment.” The flyer is attached for your information. Please bring your business associates, customers, friends and family members. If you could RSVP by Friday of this week it really helps with the planning of the event!!!

2) Annual Tiger Game - September 7, 2007

We are able to get our block of tickets on the Mountain Dew/Pepsi Deck again. This year we are booked for the Seattle Mariner's game on September 7th. This is the Friday after Labor Day, and as usual, they will have fireworks after the game. The tickets will be about under $60/person and again will include dinner, a seat and an area to network on the deck. Last year we sold out at 100 tickets. We can probably buy up to 119 tickets this year for the event. If any of you are interested in a large block, please advise at the soonest possible - jheilman@portofvirginia.com. Details to follow later…….

3) Christmas Party - December 13, 2007

We have booked the date for 2007's Christmas Party. We have decided to bring the event back to Downtown Detroit. Last year we maxed out the room at the Dearborn Inn with a great response from all of you. Our banquet room at the International Banquet Center in the heart of Greektown, can probably hold up to 250 people - http://www.internationalbanquets.co m/. A block of hotel rooms will be held for early bookings at a discounted rate at the Atheneum Suites Hotel and the Hilton Garden Inn. We are also looking into a DJ for after the dinner. Early paid reservations will also receive discount coupons for Greektown Casino. Don't forget to put it on your calendar!!! - Details to follow later.
Check our website for flyers on additional events, membership information and updates on the calendar. There are also events in April, May and June to attend! - www.dia-ofa.org (Beer tasting, Scholarship meeting Golf, etc.)

Thanks for your support!!

Jeanne G. Heilman

DIA-OFA Launches News Blog

The DIA-OFA launched this news blog to share more information about our past, present, and future events.

Let us know what you think.