Keeping it Clarkston

Involvement in Clarkston SCAMP can come about in many ways. Marlene Stone, 2008 president, became acquainted with the group five years ago as a business consultant.
Stone, founder and president of Intellitrends, a market vision and strategy company from Independence Township, was asked to oversee a meeting of the SCAMP board. Stone’s company, in the business of helping others grow, spurred her own involvement with SCAMP, introducing her to the organization as the two worked together.
‘It’s a fabulous group of people,? Stone said.
‘It’s amazing how many people are extended from SCAMP and know someone who is involved with SCAMP.?
At the time, Stone and her family had lived in Clarkston for about 15 years, but had yet to come in contact with the group.
‘I had heard the name, but didn’t really know about them,? Stone said.
‘It’s becoming bigger and bigger. The schools are a great conduit. It’s a great way for us to increase awareness at a base level here.?
SCAMP begins at the end of June and will continue through the beginning of August at Clarkston Junior High School. The camp gets about 300 SCAMP-ers each year, Stone estimated.
In May, Stone chaired the annual SCAMP Walk and Roll for the fourth year. The event raised about $25,000 for the program, she said. The Stone family, Marlene’s husband Keith, daughter Lindsay, 16, and son Forrest, 13, volunteers their time for the annual Homes Tour, held two weeks ago.
Lindsay and Forrest will also be volunteering at the camp this summer.
In addition to Forrest and Lindsay, the Stones? eldest son Brent lives in Boston and used to serve in the United States Navy.
Stone has been a part of the 17-member SCAMP board for five years. As the head of the group next year, she hopes to work heavily with acquiring donations for the group. She aims to implement a database system to organize volunteers, sponsors and donors to facilitate funding.
She would also like to create more awareness for SCAMP and increase attendance at SCAMP events such as the Walk and Roll and the Clarence Catallo 5K Run.
‘We have so many people with arms and legs in SCAMP to some degree and it’s really important to know who those people are.
‘I’m still surprised that even though SCAMP has been in the community for so long, there are so many people who still don’t know what it is. It’s a tremendous organization and I would really like to see increased awareness for SCAMP.?
Attendance at SCAMP events may be taking a cue from the local schools and their ‘Fun Run? events.
‘I see the tremendous turnout they get that and I think, ‘We could have more of that for SCAMP.??
Her plan also includes continuing an already established SCAMP-ership program for campers.
‘It’s a great way for a company or an organization to be directly involved with the children, versus just making a donation. That’s a program I’d like to see expanded, there’s a lot of potential there,? she said.
‘We’re the funding organization, (children) are the heart of SCAMP,? she added.
Stone enjoys meeting positive people associated with the organization.
Marlene, who was born in Sarnia, Ontario, received her bachelor’s degree in 1985 from University of Western Ontario in political science and an honors degree in French. She worked for a member of Canadian parliament from Toronto for the next year prior to moving to Michigan.
Marlene met Keith while he was sailing as a crewmember in the Port Huron to Mackinac race. The couple has now been married for 21 years.
In 1990, Marlene started Intellitrends from her family’s home. The transition from politics to consumer research wasn’t tough for her because she was still gauging personal perspectives with her new career.
Intellitrends clientele includes the likes of Daimler Chrysler, Little Caesars Enterprises and Macomb County.
Keith has worked in various high-tech positions for more than 30 years and joined Intellitrends five years ago as vice president.
Recently, the company published a research project entitled, ‘Go Green,? about saving the environment. The study has been picked up nationally and will become a quarterly study, Stone said.
‘It’s a very conscious topic. It’s a topic a lot of people are interested in, and this takes it a little bit further,? she said.
The idea for ‘Go Green? came from brainstorming efforts at Intellitrends. The group also looks at the public’s use of media, the number of television channels available to consumers, impact of rising gasoline prices and analyzing the Hispanic population.
‘I love what we do because things change every day,? Stone said.
Stone had a choice to make three years ago after outgrowing their original office in the Clarkston Mills business complex on Washington Street. After reviewing ideas to move out of town, Stone and Intellitrends were able to move to another building, on M-15 north of I-75.
‘We needed more space and we were looking to expand,? Stone said.
‘We loved the community so much and having been downtown, we wanted to stay in the area and stay close.
‘It offered us a lot more flexibility and we enjoy the environment. There is a different pace of life in the community you live in as opposed to a larger, more business oriented community.?
Staying in the Clarkston community reinforces her company’s desire to have personal connections in the business community as well.