Going Global in Oakland County

Oakland County is a lot more international than we might think. Thanks to the work of the Oakland County Economic Development & Community Affairs and its relationship with the Consular Corps of Detroit, the county is now home to more than 730 foreign firms from more than 37 countries.

"A key component of Oakland County's economic development strategy has always been international business attraction," says Maureen Krauss, director of that department.

A large number of these foreign firms are automotive-based, yet they are an integral component when diversifying Oakland County's economic landscape.

"I think these foreign firms helped (Oakland County) weather the cyclical nature of the automotive industry and the recession fairly successfully," she says. "It's a global economy and this show's we're part of that."

A gateway to these international businesses is the Consular Corps of Detroit, a state organization that brings together foreign consulars and their interests. So, for instance, when a foreign company wants to do business in Michigan or set up shop here, they'll contact the Consular Corps and they'll point the firms in a direction.

"We recognized early on that the Consular Corps was a group to know," Krauss says.

Due to some of these 730-plus firms having separate divisions, 900 individual companies call Oakland County home. "About 100,000 people work in foreign firms in Oakland County," Krauss says.

Krauss says that it's important to remember that it isn't just helping foreign firms get a foothold in Oakland County; it's helping Oakland County get a foothold in the world.

In the past, she says, companies would send a sales person to set up an office, look for technicians, look for manufactures. Now they come here looking to partner with already established, local companies. In a sense, bringing the idea and the OC company will create it.

An example Krauss gives is PowerMat, an Israeli-based company. PowerMat is the technology that allows you to charge multiple devices simultaneously by placing them on this an electronic mat. The Israeli company contacted Krauss, had the idea, but didn't have the essential means to produce and manufacture it. PowerMat was introduced to Oakland County-based HoMedics and a partnership began. Now you can purchase your very own PowerMat here.

These partnerships not only open Oakland County to the world but also strengthen the companies that already exist here.

"We're not just taking care of Oakland County but taking care of local companies and taking care of local residents," she says. "We want to make sure they have opportunities, too."

Another example Krauss gives is the German-based Behr, an automotive supply company. When she started, a little more than ten years ago, Behr America had 13 people working in Walled Lake and a headquarters in South Carolina. Nine years ago they moved that headquarters to Troy (you've probably seen it if you've ever driven on I-75 between 14 Mile and Big Beaver). Today Behr directly employs between 600 and 700 people in Oakland County.

"Our greatest selling point to these international firms," Krauss says, "is showing them the list of companies from their countries already doing business here. If a company from Korea comes here I show them a list of all the Korean companies already here, that's a draw."

Krauss has seven people working in international markets and, she says, gets full support from Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson.

"Brooks knows the importance of the global economy," she says, "and its importance to Oakland County."

To help solidify relationships with foreign firms and the Consular Corps, Oakland County holds an annual networking and relationship-building event. It used to be a golf outing but, as Krauss explains it, not everyone is a golfer. So for the past two years a fully sponsored event featuring the Detroit Symphony Orchestra has been held at Meadow Brook.

"We can have a conversation with everyone and show off one of Oakland County's gems," Krauss says, referring to Meadow Brook. "We've refined relationships with this event and (the event) has also helped us in our international relations."

With more than 900 foreign companies from 37 countries, and 100,000 employees working in foreign firms across Oakland County, it's safe to say that relationship is healthy.