DeVos is quoted in this Sunday, Dec. 16, report saying Nov. 6 voting results that defeated Proposal 2 and maintained Republican control of the state Legislature presented the opportunity to pursue right to work in the cradle of U.S. labor, President Obama’s re-election aside.

“A lot of things contributed timeline-wise to this,” said Greg McNeilly, a DeVos associate and Michigan Freedom Fund president. “It had nothing to do with retribution (for Proposal 2), but (that union-backed ballot proposal) did serve a timeliness factor because it made the issue fresh. It put the issue on the agenda.

“They initiated the conversation. (United Autoworkers President) Bob King and (Michigan Education Association president) Steve Cook were as much a catalyst (for right to work) as Dick DeVos was.”

The Times report by Nicholas Confessore and Monica Davey reads like a case study of how GOP donors like DeVos were able to influence conservative legislation in a state with two Democratic senators and a preference for Democrats in the last several presidential elections. It also quotes House Speaker Jase Bolger saying that right-to-work promotion by McNeilly’s Freedom Fund, for example, helped nudge lawmakers forward on the legislation when “there was a lot of caution in starting.”

RELATED: More on right to work

The 2010 election of Snyder, the GOP’s ability to keep a majority in the state House and Senate and the defeat of Proposal 2 all made the Legislature’s recent lame-duck session an opportunity to be seized by DeVos, who lost his own gubernatorial bid in 2006.

“I really owe him a call to congratulate him and thank him for stepping up and doing the right thing,” The Times quotes DeVos saying about Snyder.

Gilbert told about 600 businesspeople from around the state that Quicken Loans Inc. had 8,700 applications from 157 colleges and universities for 600 full-time internships this summer.

In 2013, if major employers coordinated recruiting, “you could have 25,000 interns downtown,” he said.

“There’s nothing better you can do for the future … young 20-somethings aren’t leaving Michigan to go to Schaumburg, Illinois. They leave to go to downtown Chicago or Boston.”

Young adults want to be in cities, he said, and “Detroit sells itself once you get them here.”

In an earlier speech at the Detroit Athletic Club, Gilbert said he hoped to convene a meeting of major employers to try to ignite plans to draw 13,000 interns in the summer of 2013.

Today at the policy forum, Gilbert was part of a panel about urban revitalization. Other panelists were Dan Loepp, CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, and Dick DeVos, chairman of the Grand Action Group, which has led public-private partnerships for major economic projects in downtown Grand Rapids.

Loepp described the decision nine years ago to move Blue Cross employees in the Grand Rapids area into the long-vacant home of a department store icon, Steketee’s.

“It gave us the guts to do what we did in Detroit and Lansing,” Loepp said. Today, 98 percent of Blue Cross employees work in core cities, with 3,000 in downtown Detroit alone.

DeVos described the three-stage process of redeveloping downtown Grand Rapids, beginning with office-only (“You could shoot a cannon down the main street at 5:30 and nobody would be hurt”), to entertainment and convention venues, to the build-out of new residential options.

“People think things are done so much more easily in Grand Rapids,” DeVos said. “But the secret, someone has said, is that we try to agree publicly and disagree privately. I’m not sure that’s what happens in Southeast Michigan.”

Dick DeVos. Photo courtesy of mlive.com

Dan Gilbert, Quicken Loans chairman and Detroit Venture Partners general partner; Dick DeVos, Windquest CEO and Grand Action co-chairman; and Dan Loepp, president and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan will share that message during a joint presentation at the 2012 West Michigan Policy Forum.

The forum will take place Sept. 12-13 in downtown Grand Rapids.

“We are thrilled to have leaders of this caliber join us at the West Michigan Policy Forum,” said Jared Rodriguez, president of the WMPF, in a statement. “Their investments in core communities as well as their philanthropic commitments are helping to revitalize our state’s economy and make our cities more vibrant places to live and work.”

Dan Gilbert. Photo courtesy of mlive.com

DeVos has helped spearhead Grand Action’s work, resulting in a new arena and convention center downtown. He also has worked with his family on major private and philanthropic investments, including the recently opened Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, the Medical Mile and Cherry Street Landing.

Under Loepp’s leadership, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan has invested in modern new offices that brought thousands of its employees into downtown Detroit, Grand Rapids and Lansing, spurring millions of dollars in spin-off economic activity.

Dan Loepp. Photo courtesy of mlive.com

The conference will build on the momentum established at the first two WMPF gatherings in 2008 and 2010. This year’s WMPF will be held at St. Cecilia’s Music Center and the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids.

The WMPF is backed by partner chambers of commerce in Grand Haven, Grand Rapids, Holland, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Muskegon, Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance (Alpena, Benzie County, Charlevoix, Cadillac, Petoskey, Traverse City) and Saginaw along with the support of Business Leaders for Michigan, Detroit Regional Chamber, Michigan Chamber of Commerce and Windsor-Essex Chamber of Commerce.

Along with face-to-face networking and dialog with top business and policy experts, attendees will cast electronic votes to produce an agenda to drive policy actions in by the Michigan Legislature.

So far, more than half the 600 spots have been reserved. Registration costs $425 through Aug. 31, and then bumps up to $500 until Sept. 12.

Carolee Carmello and Edward Watts in an earlier production of the musical “Scandalous,” which was then titled “Saving Aimee.” Photo courtesy of The New York Times

“I can’t even believe the words are coming out of my mouth,” Ms. Gifford said. “A lot of weird words have come out of my mouth over the years, but we’re announcing today that a musical I’ve been writing for going on 13 years now will be coming to Broadway this fall.”

“Broadway!” Mr. Lauer said, applauding.

By using her “Today” platform, Ms. Gifford instantly put “Scandalous” in a national spotlight that other Broadway musicals this fall, like “Chaplin” and “Rebecca,” could only dream about. How often Ms. Gifford rah-rahs her own show on “Today” remains to be seen.

“Scandalous,” based on the life of Aimee Semple McPherson, a colorful evangelist from the early 20th century, has a book and lyrics by Ms. Gifford, herself a born-again Christian who was a gospel singer early in her career. The music is by David Pomeranz and David Friedman, and the production is directed by David Armstrong, the artistic director of 5th Avenue Theater in Seattle. The musical ran there in 2011 under the title “Saving Aimee,” earning mixed reviews from critics.

Broadway musicals based on religious themes have had a tough time lately; the $14 million musical “Leap of Faith” flopped quickly this spring, and the revivals of “Jesus Christ Superstar” and “Godspell” struggled at the box office this year and closed this summer. The musical “Sister Act,” which prominently features singing nuns and a salvation storyline, is due to close in August.

Through a spokesman, the producers for “Scandalous” declined to provide the capitalization amount on Thursday, but it is believed to be in the high seven figures.

The show will star musical theater veteran Carolee Carmello as Aimee; Ms. Carmello was nominated for Tony Awards for her performances in “Parade” (during the 1998-99 season) and “Lestat” (2006), and she is currently starring in “Sister Act” as Mother Superior.

Preview performances are scheduled to begin on Oct. 13 at the Neil Simon Theater.

“We have opening night – pinch me – Nov. 15,” Ms. Gifford added on the “Today” broadcast.

“Kathie Lee Gifford on Broadway, baby,” Mr. Lauer replied.

The lead producers of “Scandalous” include some unusual newcomers like Dick DeVos, a Michigan businessman who ran one of the most expensive races ever for governor in 2006, as the Republican nominee against Democrat Jennifer Granholm (who won). Mr. DeVos is the son of billionaire Amway founder Richard DeVos. Dick DeVos’ wife Betsy is also a lead producer; they have a foundation in their name that provides money primarily to religious groups and to organizations that promote free-market economic policies. Another lead producer is Foursquare Foundation, which provides grants to evangelical churches and ministries.

A spokesman for the show did not immediately reply when asked if Ms. Gifford is putting any of her own money into the show.

A crew member of Windquest of Macatawa Bay Yacht Club stands on the spar at the starting line Saturday, July 14, 2012, in the PHRF A Class of the Bell's Beer Bayview Mackinac sailing race from Port Huron to Mackinac Island, Mich. / AP Photo/The Times Herald, Mark R. Rummel. Photo courtesy of The Detroit Free Press/Mark R. Rummel.

The sponsoring Bayview Yacht Club says the boat with its crew of 20 crossed the finish line at 5:31 p.m. Sunday. Doug and Dick DeVos own Windquest.

The race kicked off Saturday at Port Huron under blue skies and a light wind on Lake Huron.

More than 200 boats are participating in the “Bell’s Beer Bayview Mackinac Race.” The various classes began the race Saturday morning in staggered start times. Winners are determined based on a handicapping system weighting each boat’s ability.

Windquest was the only finisher by 6:15 p.m. Sunday.

The race started just north of the Blue Water Bridge, sponsored by Michigan-based Bell’s Brewery Inc.

Reserve's customers dine the restaurant's modern ambiance, photo originally posted by therapidian.org

Offering some of their best red and white wines, Bowers Harbor Vineyards, a local family-run boutique winery on Old Mission Peninsula in Traverse City, held a wine tasting at Reserve Wine & Food, a local downtown restaurant. Reserve, which serves some of Bowers’ wines, promotes local food and wine through its seasonal menu, which can change up to twice per week. The event showcased Bowers’ multiple-award-winning red wine ‘2896’ and their varietal white wine, Block II Riesling.

The event was held upstairs at Reserve. The restaurant boasts a glasspour list of over 100 wines, currently including Bowers’ ‘2896’, Block II Riesling and also their Wooded Chardonnay. Reserve has only recently begun holding tasting events. Brandon Joldersma, assistant general manager at Reserve, felt that the Bowers tasting event was their most successful one. He believes this is likely due to the increased interest in Michigan wine.

When Bowers Harbor Vineyards asked the group of participants at the Reserve event which wine they favored most, the majority said the 1996 vintage of ‘2896’, a red blend Meritage wine which Justin Leshinsky, Bowers’ director of sales, described as “our pride and joy red.” The name for ‘2896’ comes from their address at their vineyard. The wine comes out of Bowers’ Langley vineyard, named after the Harold Langley, grandfather of Spencer Stegenga, co-owner of Bowers.

The second wine presented was Bowers’ Block II Riesling. Being a varietal, Block II Riesling was made from a single grape variety, Riesling. The name Block II comes from the block of horse pasture which is now their Block II vineyard. Bowers’ Riesling vines, which are imported clones of their high quality German counterparts, are coming to their 21st year of growth. This is one of the reasons Bowers wanted to showcase this wine for the tasting. In the wine world, Michigan is known for its Riesling, which grows well in this area.

Bowers benefits from some of the best “terroir,” in the world, said Leshinsky. This, the French term for “what the earth gives back to vineyard,” he explained, allows our nutrient-rich soil to have an “earthy feel to it that really accentuates the flavor of the wine.” Michigan also enjoys the best growing region on earth since it lies on one of the 45th parallels, along with France and Italy. Here growing seasons are a good four to five months. This richness in soil is particularly true of vineyards such as Bowers situated nearby Bowers Harbor on West Bay.

Reserve: Wine & Food

Joldersma believes buzzwords like “local,” “organic,” and “seasonal” have lost their meaning in the world of marketing today.

In contrast, the idea behind them is something that Reserve takes “very very seriously. We print our menus in-house because if something goes out of season and we’re not able to get it from producers around here it comes off the menu immediately. Something else comes into season and new items go on the menu. The chef is not always satisfied. He doesn’t create a menu and go ‘oh this is perfect. I’m not going to change it for four months,’” Joldersma said. “He’s (The chef’s) always looking to make things better, and improve and change.”

The restaurant is co-owned by Dick and Betsy DeVos and Kameel Chamelly, who also owns Martha’s Vineyard, a local wine and liquor store with a global wine selection. Reserve, which opened the first day of ArPrize 2010, also houses the first ArtPrize winner, “Open Water No. 24”, purchased by Dick Devos, whose son Rick Devos founded ArtPrize.

Reserve was envisioned by The DeVos family through its extensive travel on business. They saw an opportunity to share with Grand Rapids some of their wine and food experiences through a unique wine selection and through the interior design of Reserve.

Joldersma said Betsy DeVos “was instrumental in the process of choosing the way the place looked.” Formerly a bank, “It’s both modern in some respects and it also retains the integrity of the building . . . it still has a lot of the marble molding around the sides — a lot of the original detailing.”

Reserve offers unique wines that are not found anywhere else, made possible through its cruvinet system, a dispensing tool that allows wines to be preserved for future pourings so that expensive wines can be served economically with less waste.

Winemakers are saying that 2011 was an exceptional growing year because of the extensive warmth for ripening the grapes. Michigan can be proud of its great soil, and celebrations such as Bowers’ wine tasting are an appropriate way to celebrate both the land and especially last years’ bounty from it.

In this file photo, Air Tran Customer Service representative Lea Hawley helps a traveler check in for a flight at Gerald R. Ford International Airport. Originally posted by mlive.com

That amount represented a 16 percent increase over the fourth quarter of 2010, when the average fare was $360.34, and was more than the national fourth-quarter increase of 10 percent.

It also gives Ford Airport the 17th highest average fare in the nation, according to the data from the federal Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

By comparison, the average domestic fare at Bishop International in Flint in the fourth quarter of 2011 was $349, a difference of nearly $70 from Ford Airport.

At Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, the average fare for 2011’s last quarter was $387, roughly $30 cheaper than Ford Airport.

Still, the fare increase at Ford Airport between 2010 and 2011 was smaller than or on par with year-over-year price jumps in Flint, Detroit and at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.

The average Ford Airport fare for all of 2011 stood at $400, a 6-percent bump from $377.29 in 2010, according the BTS.

In Detroit, fares jumped 7 percent to $378.55 in 2011. At O’Hare, fares rose by 6 percent to an average of close to $379.

Flint’s average fare rose more than 20 percent to $334.90 last year, according to BTS data.

Brad DiFiore, managing partner of Atlanta-based Ailevon Air Service Consulting, said the fare hikes at Ford Airport and nationwide are attributable in part to the soaring cost of fuel and “simple economics.”

DiFiore, whose firm was hired last year as consultant to Ford Airport, said the industry is in flux, with mergers between airlines up in the air and fuel costs burgeoning.

Ford Airport in recent years has secured the business of multiple low-cost airlines, such as Allegiant Air and AirTran Airways, which in the coming year or two will be overtaken by Southwest Airlines.

That fact, DiFiore said, has helped create competitive pricing, but low-cost carriers at Ford and nationwide are smaller and unable to fill service gaps left by large, “legacy” carriers such as Delta Air Lines and United Airlines.

It is worth noting, DiFiore said, that an improving economy has led to more passengers for airlines. Despite this, he said, airlines are keeping a strong hold on supply as demand grows.

“Delta and United are the biggest airlines in the world, and they both announced last week in their earnings that they’re going to be cutting capacity going into the year,” DiFiore said.

“That gives them leverage. Demand is increasing because the economy is growing. … Because they’re so big, there’s nobody that can make up that difference, so basically they can charge more for their product.”

Increased fares in turn are largely being used to make up for the skyrocketing cost of fuel, DiFiore said.

Ford Airport spokesman Bruce Schedlbauer said although the airport cannot dictate fare prices, it can work to diversify its offerings, such as maintaining the tenancy of low-cost airlines.

“We do have the ability to, and we take advantage of, the opportunity to do what we’re able to do to ensure a mix of air service in terms of traditional legacy carriers versus low-cost carriers,” Schedlbauer said.

“We believe that we have a fairly well-balanced service mix here currently,” he said. “And that’s one of the ways through which we can work to have competitive fares.”

Schedlbauer noted the airport has made strides in becoming less expensive. Throughout much of the past decade, Ford Airport held the less than honorable distinction of being nearly atop the list of most expensive fares nationwide.

It has ambled downward on that list, Schedlbauer said, and has managed to keep its fares within striking distance of rival airports in Michigan and Chicago.

That sentiment was echoed by the Regional Air Alliance of West Michigan, a nonprofit that promotes Ford Airport as a viable travel hub for area residents and businesses.

West Michigan businessman Dick DeVos, who chairs the air alliance, called on representatives of 80-plus West Michigan businesses and corporations during a Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce breakfast earlier this year to fly out of Ford Airport.

During remarks, he argued rising gasoline prices, parking and more make Ford Airport just as attractive as flying out of Detroit or Chicago.

Dan Wiersma, the air alliance’s executive director, said news of the average fare increase last year shows the region is “not immune to rising fuel costs or national fare increases.”

Still, he said, improvements are showing.

“More robust competition at Gerald R. Ford International Airport is holding down cost increases and giving business and leisure travelers more options to get to destinations around the world,” Wiersma said.

Zane McMillin may be reached through email and Twitter.

Both have served as chairman of the DSA board of directors. Dick has been chairman of the World Federation of Direct Selling Associations (WFDSA) and Doug was previously chair of the Direct Selling Education Foundation (DSEF), earning that organization’s Circle of Honor Award in 2009. Doug is currently treasurer of WFDSA.

“The leadership and vision Dick and Doug DeVos have provided to the Direct Selling Association over many years made their induction into the DSA Hall of Fame an obvious choice. The tireless efforts of both of these extraordinary men to serve the interests of not only Amway, but the entire direct selling community, has been a source of inspiration,” said DSA President Joseph Mariano in a news release announcing the honor.

Amway Co-Founders Rich DeVos and the late Jay Van Andel were inducted into the DSA Hall of Fame in 1979 and 1987, respectively.

Kaiser, the president of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, will talk about the artistic excellence and business acumen that have characterized his leadership of the Kennedy Center, as well as the current arts environment and career opportunities in the arts. As the college’s Carr Scholar, Kaiser will be on campus for two days, meeting with students in several classes, including those enrolled in the college’s new arts administration minor. Skidmore is one of the few colleges in the country to offer a minor in arts administration, which helps students prepare for management positions in the visual arts, music, dance, and theater.

At the Kennedy Center Kaiser’s accomplishments have included expanding educational and artistic programming and overseeing a major renovation of most of the center’s theaters. He is responsible for the artistic and financial health of the center’s theater, jazz, chamber music, and dance seasons as well as its affiliates, the National Symphony Orchestra; VSA, the international organization on arts and disability; and Washington National Opera.

Dubbed “the Turnaround King” for his work at numerous institutions, including London’s Royal Opera House, the American Ballet Theatre, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and the Kansas City Ballet, Kaiser has earned renown for his expertise in arts management. He advises performing arts organization around the world, working with arts leaders in nearly 70 countries.

Upon joining the Kennedy Center in 2001 Kaiser created the Kennedy Center Arts Management Institute and renamed the DeVos Institute of Arts Management to recognize the major gift of donors Dick and Betsy DeVos. The DeVos institute aims to train the current and next generation of arts leaders. It features a variety of initiatives and programs, including an online education forum for arts administrators (artsmanager.org) where professionals and students in the field can share experiences, seek employment, and post opportunities.

He founded a program titled “Arts in Crisis: A Kennedy Center Initiative” in February 2009 and embarked on a 50-state tour to spread his arts expertise throughout the country. Kaiser’s most recent books are The Art of the Turnaround (Brandeis, 2008) and Leading Roles: 50 Questions Every Arts Board Should Ask (Brandeis, 2010). He is also a contributor to The Huffington Post, where he blogs regularly about the arts and related issues.

Kaiser’s visit to Skidmore as Carr Distinguished Interdisciplinary Scholar is made possible by the college’s Office of the Dean of Special Programs and the Arts Administration Program.