business SPOTlight

brought to you in partnership with 
B I R M I N G H A M

 

30 | JUNE 13 • 2024 
J
N

here’s to

A 

group of 10 women 
leading Israel’s 
trailblazing mobility 
sector visited Michigan in 
May.
The first-ever Women 
in Mobility delegation to 
Michigan, an initiative 
spearheaded by Israeli smart 
mobility community leader 
Orlie Gruper, toured Metro 
Detroit businesses, exchanged 

ideas and forged 
new relationships 
between the two 
tech hubs.
The delegation 
was also made 
possible thanks 
to partnerships 
with Michigan Israel Business 
Accelerator (MIBA), Michigan 
Economic Development 
Corporation (MEDC), and 

the Office of Future Mobility 
and Electrification (OFME) of 
the State of Michigan.
During their weeklong 
stay, the Women in Mobility 
delegation explored Detroit’s 
automotive industry, engaging 
with industry giants such as 
Stellantis, General Motors 
and Ford, as well as suppliers 
like Magna, investors and 
innovation leaders.
It was a packed agenda that 
included business meetings, 
lunch-and-learns, tours, 
community dinners and, of 

course, witnessing mobility 
technology being used first-
hand.
Many discussions and 
business goals focused 
on advancements in 
electrification, sustainable 
mobility and innovative 
materials being used for 
modern mobility solutions.
Delegation members also 
learned about Michigan’s 
celebrated mobility history, 
which began with the auto 
industry and has since 
branched out into numerous 

Lori Klisman Ellis authored 
a new book called Fairy the 
Friendly Fawn: From Rescue to 
Rehabilitation to Release. This 
is a nonfiction book about an 
orphaned deer. Jeff Francois 
rescued her. He posted her story 
on Instagram. Jeff works for the Wild Hearts 
Animal Sanctuary in Ontario, Canada. This 
book is appropriate for adults and youth; it 
includes an educational section for children. A 
portion of all sales of this book will go directly 
to help Jeff and/or the Wild Hearts Animal 
Sanctuary so he can continue his important 
work with the animals. 

Attorney Eric Steinberg 
began his tenure as the 
72nd president of the 
Michigan Association for 
Justice (MAJ). Steinberg’s 
one-year term started June 
1, 2024. He is an attorney 
with the Law Offices of Lee Steinberg, 
PC and represents plaintiffs in all areas 
of personal injury law, with a focus on 
automobile negligence, recovery of 
Michigan no-fault benefits and premises 
liability. Steinberg joined MAJ in 2006 
and serves on the organization’s 
Executive Board and Amicus Committee. 

Crain’s Detroit Business 
editors recently announced 
2024 Excellence in HR award 
winners. Among them was the 
Bloomfield Hills-based JARC, a 
nonprofit that assists adults with 
developmental difficulties. Their 
new initiatives of note were: 
regular meetings for employees, 
ensuring open communication; 
employee recognition 
programs; competitive benefits 
and compensation; and 
implementation of mentorship 
programs.

Orlie 
Gruper

Israeli women tech leaders forge new 
connections in Metro Detroit.

Israel’s Women in Mobility 
Delegation Tours Michigan

ASHLEY ZLATOPOLSKY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Members of the Women in 
Mobility delegation that visited 
Detroit in May.

