Kevin Butler - Mystery Man Behind Fitz!'s Fake Newspaper

[dl meckes]

Lori:

Domain Name: GREATLAKESSTRATEGIES.COM
Registry Domain ID: 1385032875_DOMAIN_COM-VRSN
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Registry Registrant ID: FAST-12926611
Registrant Name: MATTHEW GOLDEN
Registrant Organization: GREAT LAKES STRATEGIES
Registrant Street: 1638 PEPPERTREE
Registrant City: LANSING
Registrant State/Province: MICHIGAN
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[Bridget Conant]

That's a no longer in existence Michigan company that apparently wants to keep the domain.
They were bought out by a company that begins with a C - I posted it before so I'll find it.

Butler and Fitzgerald registered that name in Ohio. I'm sure they'd like that web name but it looks like whoever owns it isn't parting with it.

Funny thing, on one of Summers' campaign filings he listed GLS but with the Michigan address of the related and defunct Michigan GLS.

[Lori Allen _]

Thanks Bridget. I must have overlooked where the Michigan address was listed on Mr. Summers campaign filing. I question the legality of this. If Fitz! & Butler's company was not operating out of Michigan, would that not be listing a false address, and therefore, a campaign violation?

Perhaps this needs to be checked out. I'll get right on it!

[Lori Allen _]

Almost four months later and still nothing out of Great Lakes Strategies. No company website, no BBB profile, no telephone number, nada.

Apparently, Fitz! And Butler altered the name of their business slightly. It is now called Great Lakes Economic Development Partners, LLC.

The only mention of either company is on Fitz!'s Linkedin page.

Fitz!:

Any testimonials?
Any website or phone number where your company can be contacted?

Perhaps someone should go to their mailing address (1621 Euclid Ave. #1700) and see what is going on up there.

Hands up! Step away from your desks and exit the building in a calm, orderly fashion!

[Mark Kindt]

There is no mystery here.

https://www.greatlakeseconomicdevelopment.com/about/

These gentlemen have a business and a worldwide web presence.

[Bridget Conant]

Competence.

Diligence.

Wasn't too diligent in acquiring a drivers licenses for 10 years running.

[Lori Allen _]

I hate to inform you all, and I hate to be toxic, but Great Lakes Development Partners, LLC does not appear to be completely on the “up-and-up”. I stopped into the office building where Fitz!'s “company” is supposedly located and had a friendly conversation with the security guard in the lobby. I had some business to do in the area anyway.

According to the security guard in the building, unit 1700 (where Fitz!'s, business is supposedly located), is vacant. I will say that again. The unit that Fitz!'s business is supposedly run out of is vacant, according to the security guard in the lobby.

The security guard checked both the directory on the wall and his “roster” of tenants in the building, and confirmed that unit 1700 is vacant, and that no “Great Lakes Strategies” or “Great Lakes Development Partners” exists anywhere in the building. He even pulled up the website on his desk terminal to confirm I was in the right place, with no results. In fact, the only business on the 17th floor is in unit 1710, which is an insurance benefits office.

In addition to the unit being vacant, the telephone number provided on the website is a “non-fixed VIOP” (Voice over internet protocol) line provided by Google Voice. Google Voice is a web-based telephone service provided by Google. While VIOP lines are becoming increasingly popular, most businesses I know have either a fixed landline or VIOP line. I have seen very few businesses using Google Voice as their telephone provider.

In summary:

1. Fitz!'s company is supposedly located at 1621 Euclid Ave. #1700. According to the security guard in the lobby of that building as well as the building directory, unit #1700 is vacant and has been for “quite a while” according to the guard. In other words, Fitz! is apparently not actually running the business out of this location. The building owner/super should know that his address, as it appears, is being falsified.

2. Fitz! Apparently uses Google Voice as the telephone provider for this business.

[Bridget Conant]

How Interesting!

The website clearly states his address.

Could it be a SHAM?

I hope people read the company description and Ed Fitzgerald's "bio," its better than Saturday Night Live!

[Dan Alaimo]

Excellent work, Lori. Thanks.

[Lori Allen _]

Also, it appears that the website was just thrown together....maybe yesterday. Before yesterday, I was unable to locate any website. Mr. Kindt recently brought it to my attention only yesterday afternoon.

As far as the security guard knew, there were no plans for anyone moving into that suite either.

If the address is indeed being falsified (it appears so), that seems highly unethical to me. Is it even legal? It would seem illegal to "spoof" an address that is not yours, and could lead to a world of trouble, both for the alleged "spoofer" and the person (s) or companies victimized by any alleged spoofing.

Again, I'm sure the building owner/super would be very interested in this. The security guard seemed very interested himself.

Finally, "Great Lakes Economic Development Partners, LLC" is not registered with the Secretary of State, only "Great Lakes Strategies". I was under the impression that any business name changes or aliases had to be registered with the SOS.