Oakland County Launches Tech Collaboration

Oakland County Launches Tech Collaboration

by | Apr 8, 2025 | Regional News

Oakland County Launches Tech Collaboration Featuring Keystone Companies to Strengthen Regional Innovation

Post Date:04/08/2025 2:15 PM
  • The Oakland County Tech Collaboration is an ecosystem of tech companies, innovators, suppliers, academic institutions and county government creating connections and spurring economic growth in robotics integration, IT and computer services, research, engineering and design.
  • Five of the county’s largest tech firms have taken on the role of “Keystone company” to strengthen the tech ecosystem: FANUC America, HTC Global Services, JR Automation, OneStream, and RGBSI. Learn more here: https://youtu.be/u0omSoGZ5L8.
  • The Oakland County Tech Collaboration will host a series of tech collaboration events. For more click on oakgov.com/octechcollaboration.

Pontiac, Mich. – Oakland County has launched the Oakland County Tech Collaboration, a strategic initiative aimed at supporting and accelerating the growth of the county’s technology ecosystem powered by Oakland County Economic Development Business Retention & Growth unit.

“Oakland County is taking bold steps to establish itself as a national leader in technology innovation by strengthening our strategic focus on research, engineering and design, IT/computer services and robotics integration,” County Executive Dave Coulter said.

The Oakland County Tech Collaboration is an ecosystem of tech companies, innovators, suppliers, academic institutions and county government working to create connections, strengthen the ecosystem and spur economic growth in these key areas:

  • Research, Engineering, and Design
  • IT and Computer Service
  • Robotics Integration

These industries are pivotal to establishing Oakland County as a competitive technology hub. Five of the county’s largest tech firms have taken on the role of “Keystone company” to strengthen the tech ecosystem.

The Keystone Companies, including FANUC America, HTC Global Services, JR Automation, OneStream, and RGBSI, represent a wide array of expertise in these industries, from cutting-edge research and product design to AI and advanced IT software solutions. Their collective efforts will support the retention and expansion of the tech industry, attract new talent, and foster a collaborative environment that nurtures innovation and attracts new investments.

“These Keystone Companies are not only leaders in their fields but are committed to building a thriving tech ecosystem that will create new jobs, attract investment and ensure our region’s continued economic growth,” Coulter said.

The Oakland County Tech Collaboration will host a series of events, such as the Edu2B Tech Collaboration Series connecting business with higher education resources and opportunities at the university level connecting small tech companies to larger tech companies. Those events are scheduled as follows:

  • April 17 at Lawrence Technological University, Southfield
  • Sept. 18 at Walsh College, Troy
  • Nov. 6 at Oakland Community College, Auburn Hills

For more information about the Oakland County Tech Collaboration and upcoming events, please visit oakgov.com/octechcollaboration.

“Our focus on strengthening these three key industries is essential to the continued success of our regional economy,” said Greg Doyle, manager of Business Retention & Growth for Oakland County. “By bringing together top businesses in IT, computer services, research, engineering, and design, and robotics, we’re creating a dynamic environment for innovation and fostering the kind of partnerships that will drive economic growth for years to come.”

About Oakland County

Oakland County, located in southeastern Michigan, is a vibrant hub for innovation, research, technology, and manufacturing. With a strong focus on advancing industries such as IT/computer services, robotics, and engineering, Oakland County is committed to becoming a leading technology region in the U.S., offering businesses the tools, talent, and resources needed to thrive.

AG Nessel Issues New Consumer Alert on Bitcoin ATMs

AG Nessel Issues New Consumer Alert on Bitcoin ATMs

by | Apr 8, 2025 | Regional News
Michigan Department of Attorney General Press Release banner

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 8, 2025

Media Contact:
Danny Wimmer

AG Nessel Issues New Consumer Alert on Bitcoin ATMs

LANSING – Today, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel issued a new consumer alert warning residents of scammers using Bitcoin ATMs to defraud unsuspecting victims.

“Because money sent through Bitcoin ATMs is nearly impossible to recover and these machines lack oversight and regulation, they have become an attractive option for criminals engaged in fraud and money laundering,” Nessel said. “Staying informed can protect consumers from falling victim.”

A common Bitcoin ATM scam targeting older adults involves a fraudulent message or phone call. The call might be from someone claiming to be with Apple, Google, or another well-known company, or even law enforcement. The scammer tells the victim that their financial accounts have been compromised. The call recipient is told they need to take immediate action to prevent unauthorized transactions on their account. If the scammer is pretending to be from a law enforcement agency, they may even threaten the victim with criminal prosecution or jail time if the victim doesn’t pay a fine right away.

Victims are then instructed to withdraw large amounts of cash from their bank accounts. They are told to deposit the funds into a Bitcoin ATM. The cash is inserted and converted into Bitcoin. The victim is directed to scan and send a receipt or QR code to the scammer. The moment that transaction is completed, the money is gone —permanently. Traditional bank transfers, wire transfers, or credit card transactions have fraud prevention measures. These measures provide customer protection or financial institution safeguards to stop or reverse the transfer. That is not the case with Bitcoin ATM transactions.

Bitcoin ATMs lack oversight and regulation. For this reason, they are widely used for scamming and money laundering. Some consumers may attempt to use them for legitimate transactions. However, they often come with very high fees. The fees make them an inefficient and costly way to buy cryptocurrency. It’s safer and cheaper to convert cash to cryptocurrency through a licensed and regulated online exchange.

Without regulation, victims of Bitcoin ATM scams have no meaningful consumer protections. Financial institutions have fraud prevention departments that monitor transactions. Banks can file suspicious activity reports (SARs) to investigate potential fraud. Unfortunately, Bitcoin ATMs operate outside these safeguards. They allow scammers to steal money quickly and anonymously.

To avoid becoming a victim of a Bitcoin ATM scam, remember these key points:

  • No legitimate company or government agency will ever ask you to deposit money into a Bitcoin ATM. If someone makes such a request, it’s a scam.
  • Beware of urgent requests. Scammers create a sense of urgency to prevent victims from thinking critically about the request.
  • Do not trust caller ID. Fraudsters can spoof phone numbers to make it appear as though they are calling from a trusted source.
  • Never download unknown software or grant remote access to your devices. This can allow scammers to take control of your personal information.
  • Talk to your bank before making large withdrawals. If you’re instructed to move money in an unusual way, seek advice first.
  • If you believe you have been targeted by a scam, report it immediately. Scams can be reported to the Michigan Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Team and local law enforcement.

To file a complaint with the Attorney General or get additional information, contact:

Consumer Protection Team
P.O. Box 30213
Lansing, MI 48909
517-335-7599
Fax: 517-241-3771
Toll-free: 877-765-8388
Online complaint form
Porter steps down in Southfield

Porter steps down in Southfield

by | Apr 7, 2025 | Feature Writers, High School Sports

Porter steps down in Southfield.

 Written Thursday April 3rd at 8:33 PM

There will be a new boys basketball coach in Southfield this winter.

Terrance Porter has stepped down at Southfield Arts and Tech after three seasons coaching the Warriors. The former Farmington Falcons coach went 20-50 in his three years with the Warriors.

The D-Zone confirmed the news.

Porter has been having a tough time with the program going 10-36 in the last two seasons. Southfield Arts and Tech has been up and down when it comes to program strength.

It will be really interesting to see who replaces Porter at Southfield Arts and Tech.

Stay tuned to OAA Now for the latest on this developing story.

The D-Zone Tweet

https://x.com/TheDZoneBBall/status/1907934320242937905

Porter steps down in Southfield

Oxford has their new Varsity Football Coach

by | Apr 7, 2025 | Feature Writers, High School Sports

Oxford has their new Varsity Football Coach.

Written Friday April 4th at 6:04 PM

Updated Saturday April 5th at 8:44 AM

Oxford went in house with their new Varsity Football Coach.

The Wildcats named Trevor Potts as their new varsity football coach with the move confirmed by Oxford Community Schools Instagram and Facebook pages and also Wildcats assistant Athletic Director Brandon Goredl.

“Oxford football is proud and excited to announce Coach Trevor Potts as our Varsity Head Football Coach. Coach Potts will continue to uphold the culture of leading students to become great young men and to lead to program to successes on the field. Congratulations Coach Potts” the program tweeted on their X page.

Potts takes over for Coach Zack Line who went back to the NFL to be with Coach Sean Payton and the Denver Broncos.

Potts is no stranger to the Red and the Wildcats community. He was the defensive coordinator at Oxford from 2020-2024 under Line and was an assistant at Adams for 15 years learning under Coach Tony Patritto. Potts helped lead the Wildcats to the Red crown and an 21-14 postseason win at Davison last season.

Oxford will have two big returners in quarterback Jack Hendrix and running back Preston Wilder coming back. They also have program strength which should help in Potts first year as head coach along with a brutal non conference which includes Hartland (week one,) Macomb Dakota (week nine,) and that’s not mentioning the Red which has Adams, Clarkston, West Bloomfield, and Lake Orion.

The transition period should be smooth with the players knowing Potts really well but he will have some of his wrinkles to the Wildcats system. It will be really interesting to see what happens.

Stay tuned to OAA Now for the latest on this developing story.

X Tweet announcing the hire

https://x.com/OxfordFBall/status/1908293616432296401

Taxpayers Urged to be Alert and Aware for Scammers

Taxpayers Urged to be Alert and Aware for Scammers

by | Apr 4, 2025 | Regional News

Treasury Logo

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 4, 2025

Contact: Ron Leix, Treasury, 517-335-2167

Treasury: Taxpayers Urged to be Alert and Aware for Scammers

Treasury Safeguards Have Protected Scammers from Stealing
Individual Income Tax Refunds

LANSING, Mich. – With Michigan individual income tax filing season winding down, the Michigan Department of Treasury is reminding Michiganders to be cybersecurity aware and prepared to fight tax-related identity theft.

Cybercriminals are constantly using new tricks and tactics online to obtain personal information so they can fraudulently file state income tax returns and claim refunds on behalf of unsuspecting taxpayers. Typically, cybercriminals try to create a sense of urgency to incite an immediate response from taxpayers. For example, a scammer may allude to taking criminal actions against you for failing to respond.

“Vigilance is really the key to fighting scammers,” said Deputy State Treasurer Kavita Kale, who oversees Treasury’s Revenue Services programs. “Always examine the calls, emails and texts you receive to ensure they’re from a verified source. Scammers will take advantage of our life situations and look for those brief moments when we let our guard down.  Always take the extra steps to confirm you are communicating with an authorized source.”

Often, the taxpayer is already a victim of identity theft when a cybercriminal attempts to claim a state tax refund.

To be cybersecurity aware and prepared to fight tax-related identity theft:

  • Only connect to the internet over secure, password-protected networks.
  • Do not click on links or pop-ups, open attachments or respond to emails from individuals you don’t know.
  • If you are unsure of the email sender, type a website name by hand rather than clicking on an embedded link.
  • Do not respond to online message requests for personally identifiable information. Most organizations–banks, universities, companies, Treasury–do not ask for your personal information over the internet.
  • Limit who you share information with by reviewing the privacy settings of your social media accounts.
  • Trust your intuition. If you think an offer is too good to be true, then it probably is.
  • Password-protect all user accounts and devices that connect to the internet with strong passwords at least 12 characters long.
  • Do not use the same password twice. Choose a password that means something to you and only you. Change your password on a regular basis.
  • If something seems suspicious, report it to the proper authorities.

As an additional layer of taxpayer protection, Treasury sends confirmation quiz letters to some taxpayers to help prevent the loss of state income tax refunds. Refunds are issued after a taxpayer’s identity has been verified. This measure is to protect your refund and ensure it is going to you, not someone trying to fraudulently collect your tax refund. If you receive a confirmation quiz letter, follow the directions.

To learn more about the state Treasury Department, go to Michigan.gov/Treasury or follow @MITreasury on X or LinkedIn. Additional information about state individual income taxes can be found at Michigan.gov/IncomeTax.
AG Nessel Issues New Consumer Alert on Genetic Testing Services

AG Nessel Issues New Consumer Alert on Genetic Testing Services

by | Apr 2, 2025 | Regional News
Michigan Department of Attorney General Press Release banner

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 2, 2025

Media Contact:
Danny Wimmer

AG Nessel Issues New Consumer Alert on Genetic Testing Services

LANSING – Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has issued a new consumer alert on genetic testing services. The new alert comes as she is urging 23andMe customers to consider deleting their accounts to protect their sensitive personal data following the genetic testing company’s bankruptcy.

Attorney General Nessel emphasized in her alert the difference between genetic testing conducted for medical purposes by health care providers and testing performed by private direct-to-consumer genetic testing services.

“While DNA testing conducted for medical purposes by a health care provider is strongly protected by federal privacy laws, results from private direct-to-consumer genetic services are not considered medical records and lack these legal protections,” Nessel said. “Amid the 23andMe bankruptcy, consumers should be mindful of the potential risks of these private services and take steps to protect their data.”

After creating an account and receiving their report, some commercial genetic testing customers may have no more use for the service. They should consider deleting their accounts. Then they should request the destruction of any stored data.

To prevent unauthorized access or misuse of their data, account holders should:

  1. Take steps to delete their account from the company’s website.
  2. Request the destruction of their genetic data.
  3. Revoke permission for genetic data to be used in research, if applicable.

Most genetic testing services should have instructions for completing the above actions on their website.

Consumers who suspect their genetic data has been compromised can report their concerns to the Michigan Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Team:

Consumer Protection Team
P.O. Box 30213
Lansing, MI 48909
517-335-7599
Fax: 517-241-3771
Toll-free: 877-765-8388
Online complaint form