4111111111111111111111111111111P BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL entrepreneur Fostering Business Partnership brings StartupNation to a national PBS audience. Shelley Ragnone Special to the Jewish News eff and Rich Sloan, Detroit Public Television and Lisa and Hannan Lis of West Bloomfield have joined forces to bring the Sloan brothers' expertise in entrepre- neurial mentoring to a national Public Broadcasting Service audience. The Sloans' program, StartupNation: Open for Business, was taped locally and airs at 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 16, on DPTV (PBS). Originally from Flint, the Sloan broth- ers, who are Jewish, are inventors and entrepreneurs with a reputation for being passionate and committed in their mis- sion to foster business success stories. In high school, the Sloans had already stepped into the business arena, buy- ing and selling U.S. Housing and Urban Development homes. A few years later, they successfully developed, patented and promoted products like the Battery Buddy, which was licensed by Masco Corporation in Taylor. j Brothers Jeff and Rich Sloan share their entrepreneurial expertise on a March 16 PBS show. Through the years, the Sloans contin- ued to launch businesses that drew upon Michigan innovation. One they're par- ticularly proud of is VetGen, a leader in veterinary genetic disease research and diagnostic services. The company has helped breeders literally eradicate genetic diseases in certain breeds of dogs. They Talent Plus! Local businesswomen merge companies. Robyn Gorell Special to the Jewish News W ilat picture do you conjure up when you hear the term "mergers and acqui- sitions?" It's probably not a successful local businesswoman acquiring the company of another equal- ly successful businesswoman. But Margery Krevsky, owner and CEO of Productions Plus Talent Management Agency, did just that late last year. She pur- chased the Talent Shop from Jacqueline Kagan, its owner. Kagan was ready to retire and this Margery merger suited both. Krevsky The expanded corn- pany now operates as Productions Plus—the Talent Shop, with Krevsky as full owner. The transaction 32 March 11 2010 resulted in an international company with offices in Bingham Farms, Chicago and Los Angeles. With current revenues of $20 million, it is the largest full-service talent manage- ment agency in Michigan and one of the biggest nationwide. By adding the Talent Shop's holdings and seasoned perform- ers, a 20 percent growth is anticipated. Krevsky of Bloomfield Hills, a former fashion industry executive, co-founded the company in 1981 with Harriett Fuller and became sole proprietor in 2000. The consummate entrepreneur, Krevsky launched Purely Pro Cosmetics, a line of mineral and classic makeup products for models, acting talent and the film indus- try, in 2006. She is the award-winning author of the book Sirens of Chrome: The Enduring Allure of Auto Show Models. The Talent Shop was founded in 1982. Kagan owned it with her husband, Edward, and ran it by herself for the last created Sloan Ventures, a development firm focused on launching technology- based companies, in the mid-'90s. Founding StartupNation in 2002, the Sloans began to focus their mission in earnest. They have reached out to the public through their Web site, www. StartupNation.com , through articles in the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times as well as their nationally syndicat- ed radio show. They have guided poten- tial and existing business owners through the fears, questions and complexities of starting and growing a successful busi- ness. During their PBS program airing in March, the Sloans share the inspirational stories of people who've changed their lives for the better by starting up. They also walk through step-by-step startup advice designed for anyone with a great idea. Beginning with "Life Planning," Jeff and Rich make an instant connection with the audience by tapping into a cru- cial yet often overlooked aspect of creat- ing a successful and lasting business: "Be true to you." A sea of heads nod as the audience agrees that to know your- self, your passions, your talents as well as those tasks that don't "call to you" lays the foundation for a dream business. The intensity rises as the Sloans get "personal" with audience members dur- ing their exhilarating "Two-Minute Drill" segments. By listening and asking targeted ques- tions, they give quick-hitting guidance about business models: brick and mortar, Web-based, home-based or a combina- tion. They prompt audience members to define their role in their business: Will you be on the front lines or behind the scenes? The brothers advise on game- changing marketing strategies that could transform the kernel of an idea into a dream business. All of this is dispensed rapid fire within a two-minute countdown. Local sponsors Lisa and Hannan Lis are recognized supporters of entrepre- neurship and innovation. 16 years. The Orchard Lake resident and professional businesswoman is retired. Productions Plus is SAG (Screen Actors Guild) certified and Michigan's largest SAG-franchised talent agency. The company has more than 10,000 indi- viduals in its nationwide and Canadian talent database, with plans to aggres- sively market its exclusive talent on the East and West coasts. "Positioning Productions Plus for future growth and maximizing our poten- tial is what this acquisition is about," explained Krevsky. "With three regional offices, our talent now has an agency with a broader scope of contacts and wider professional opportunities. Our talent experts know the business, have industry credibility and are well thought of by our clients." Since the Michigan film industry began flourishing approximately two years ago, Productions Plus has been a major source of talent. The agency has secured roles for its exclusive talent in major studio films shot in the state, including Alleged, America, Flipped, Gifted Hands, Intent, Stone, Up in the Air, Crave, Vanishing on 7th St., Domino Effect, Little Murders and What If. The company plans to expand its film division. "This is such an exciting time for the movie industry in Michigan and we are the leading source for high-caliber talent for Hollywood producers and casting directors," said Krevsky. "Our base of professionals here rivals Hollywood." Productions Plus also provides talent for auto and trade shows, conventions, promotions and product demonstrations, automotive marketing and dealer meet- ings, It specializes in talent for voice- overs, runway, print, film, television and commercial projects. Krevsky added, "For more than 28 years, Productions Plus focused on doing business on national and interna- tional levels and the Talent Shop con- centrated on Detroit and Michigan. Now, we're one of the strongest contenders in the Midwest for film, print, TV, com- mercials, voice-over, auto shows, events, staffing and fashion. We wanted to do more to help local talent." Kagan said, "Productions Plus is the only agency I would consider selling my company to. I miss working with all the talent and my wonderful staff, but it is good for Michigan to have a powerful talent agency." ❑ Robyn Gorell is vice president of Marx, Layne & Co., a Farmington Hills market- ing and public relations firm.