ANN ARBOR - Bradley Smith, an intellectual property attorney with the Ann Arbor office of Brinks, Hofer, Gilson & Lione, provides an update on copyright law. He’ll answer questions such as - What can someone copyright? What does a person need to do to get copyright protection? Who owns the copyright, the author or the author’s employer? How does a person enforce a copyright?
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ONEKAMA - Jennifer Alverado, executive director of the Michigan Energy Fair, recaps the fourth annual Michigan Energy Fair held June 25-28 at the Manistee County Fairgrounds in Onekama, a tiny town on the Lake Michigan coast south of Traverse City.
ONEKAMA - Azure Dynamics has developed a series of hybrid powered electric buses, vans and other work vehicles that reduce greenhouse gases and improve fuel mileage. Azure, based in Southeast Michigan, displayed its vehicles at the Michigan Energy Fair.
EAST LANSING - Kinetic Wave Power, which has developed technology to generate electricity out of crashing waves in the ocean, was named the grand prize winner in the 2009 Great Lakes Entrepreneur’s Quest business plan writing contest. Kinetic Wave Power won $25,000.
EAST LANSING - RateMyStudentRental.Com, a web site for students to critique their rentals and landlords, was the runner up in the New Business Idea category of the 2009 Great Lakes Entrepreneur’s Quest contest.
EAST LANSING - Lambert Technologies, which has developed a coating that lets engineers and designers seee where the weak points are in parts under stress, was the runner up in the Emerging Business category for the Great Lakes Entrepreneur’s Quest business-plan writing contest.
EAST LANSING - Advanced Battery Concepts was a triple winner in the 2009 Great Lakes Entrepreneur’s Quest business-plan writing contest. The clean tech company won first place in the New Business Idea category, plus won the special Automation Alley Advanced Manufacturing and Next Energy green business concept awards.
ANN ARBOR - John Lingl, an Intellectual Property law attorney with Brinks, Hofer, Gilson and Lione, discusses in this Brinks channel legal update what is patentable, how is that determination made, and what you need to write in your patent application.
EAST LANSING - Phil Powers, former newspaper mogul, serial entrepreneur and angel investor, says Michigan’s political and policy system is broken. So now he’s leading the citizen agenda for Michigan’s transformation.
DETROIT - The United Way of Southeast Michigan expects to work with close to 400,000 needy people this year and they way the non profit charitable agency will do that is through the increased use of technology.
DETROIT - Michigan Chief Information Officer Ken Theis said the state government is transforming itself through the use of technology that not only includes business Internet access, but also personal Internet access now in development.
DETROIT - TechOne Printing not only serves TechTown, the Wayne State incubator and accelerator, but also has become one of its newest tenants.
AUBURN HILLS - Plex Systems CEO Mark Symonds said his factory automation software system can help food manufacturers avoid problems like the peanut butter salmonella scare earlier this spring.
TROY - Mobile, which is developing mobile ads that will appear on the Google G-1 Android smart phones, also is creating developer friendly residuals to make everyone money.
DETROIT - Stout Systems, a contract and outsourced software development company in Ann Arbor, has been working closely with Wayne State University’s TechTown to mentor the next wave of entrepreneurs in Michigan.
AUBURN HILLS - Plex Systems, the maker of Plex Online, a factory automation software tool, continues to win clients in a down economy. Plex Systems CEO Mark Symonds explains why in this Plex Systems edition of Newsmaker Interview.
ANN ARBOR - What does a company need to know about Trade Secrets? Katie Blakley Goedertier
an Intellectual Property Attorney with Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione’s Ann Arbor office provides a Trade Secrets update in this Brinks edition of Newsmaker Interview.
TROY - Jeff Stanislow, founder of Motor City Interactive, is the ConnecTech Member of the Month. Stanislow is a member of the Livingston ConnecTech Chapter.
TROY - Roger Rehm, Chief Information Officer at Central Michigan University, is the ConnecTech Mentor of the Month. To learn more about this innovative program, which pairs aspiring CIOs with experienced ones, listen to this ConnecTech edition of Newsmaker interview.
DETROIT - The May 28 monthly meeting of TiE, formerly the Indus Entrepreneurs, will feature an expert who will tell US businesses how they can get India and China right - that is tips on the culture and business styles found in these booming markets.
DETROIT - Shrader Analytical & Consulting Laboratories moved from a rougher Detroit neighborhood to the friendlier confines of Wayne State University’s TechTown to continue providing its Mass Spectrometry investigative services.
BRIGHTON - Jeff Stanislow is the ConnecTech Member of the Month. The founder of Motor City Interactive is a member of the ConnecTech Livingston Chapter.
YPSILANTI - Doug Given, a partner with Bay City Capital in San Francisco, toured the former Pfizer research lab in Ann Arbor before he gave his keynote speech at the Michigan Growth Capital Symposium and now calls it a “Rare Opportunity” for providing the biotech industry worldwide a one-stop shopping experience at the University of Michigan that is backed by a state now very motivated to reinvent the new economy. The U-M is about to close the deal to buy the sprawling, state-of-the-art research and development center, which includes incubator space.
YPSILANTI - University of Michigan Finance Professor David Brophy, who has been running his Michigan Growth Capital Symposium for 30 years, also has been saying for about the same length of time that as long as the auto industry was doing great in Michigan, the state’s economy would never become entrepreneur friendly. Now that the auto industry is struggling for its life, Brophy contends the state legislature and economic development officials will be forced to make the changes necessary to once again make Michigan a haven for entrepreneurs and investors, much like it was when the auto industry was born a century ago.
LANSING - Despite the difficult economic times in Michigan, which has forced the state legislature to abandon the 21st Century Jobs Fund competition this year, Michigan must still play offense if it wants to grow its technology sector, which includes biotech, homeland security, clean technologies and advanced manufacturing, said Greg Main, new president of the Michigan Economic Development Corp.
YPSILANTI - The Michigan Venture Capital Association released its second annual update last week at the Michigan Growth Capital Symposium, a big investor conference hosted by the University of Michigan. MVCA Chairman Mina Sooch of Apjohn Ventures said, while the private equity finance sector in Michigan still has a long ways to go before it can compete with the likes of California, the industry in Michigan is improving.
DETROIT - Great Lakes Angels, which once was housed in TechTown, is returning to the Wayne State University incubator. Rick Galdi, president of the angel investing group, gave this exclusive interview at the Michigan Growth Capital Symposium to MITechNews.Com Editor Mike Brennan.
AUBURN HILLS - Mark Symonds, CEO of Plex Systems, provides a glimpse of what Plex users can learn if they attend the Plex User Conference this summer in Cleveland.
DETROIT - Wayne State University’s TechTown is the home of the Wayne County Stem Cell Commercialization Center, where researchers will initially work with skin cells to develop new ways to fight diseases and other ailments.
DETROIT - Quick To Lean, developed by a TechTown entrepreneur, is technology aimed at urban schools help them cut costs and be more responsive to students educational needs The first urban school to ge this new technology is the Detroit Public Schools.
WARREN - The National Automotive Center, part of the US Army’s sprawling TACOM command in Warren, Michigan, is launching a reorganization that will realign NAC into two distinct groups. The Energy/Alternative Energy Group will be an integral piece in TARDEC’s role as a hub of energy excellence. The Industry, Government, Academia and International Group’s focus is establishing the infrastructure to allow innovative ideas to quickly enter the TARDEC pipeline. NAC Director Paul Skalny outlines these changes in the Newsmaker Interview.
ANN ARBOR - Ventech, maker of a revolutionary rapid heating system known as the Liquid Heat Generator, can provide almost instant heat for school buses, reducing fuel consumption, and idle time. But the potential applications go into many other vehicles as well. To learn more about this innovative Michigan start up, a keynote presenter at the April meeting of the New Enterprise Forum, listen to this NEF channel podcast.
Ann ARBOR - A Michigan start up is developing a timely technology that will allow anyone to keep electronic copies or their medical records. Well SPINN Personal Health Records can do just that. SPINN
was a showcase presenter at the April 16 meeting of the New Enterprise Forum.
ANN ARBOR - What is it that investors look for in a potential deal? What can an entrepreneur do to make sure her or she has positioned their company to raise money? Long time investor and entrepreneur Tom Porter, Entrepreneur in Residence at the University of Michigan Ross School fo Business talks about this vital business information in a special NEF channel podcast.
ANN ARBOR - Design patents are that esoteric twist in a product that makes it unique. And for companies, it is the difference that sets them apart from the competition, what makes the customer want to buy. So protecting these design patents is vital to a company’s profits. Kelly Burris, an intellectual property attorney with Brinks, Hofer, Gilson & Lione’s Ann Arbor office provides all the details in this special Brinks Channel podcast.
DETROIT - Soft Landing is a program developed by Wayne State University’s TechTown that makes it easier for international companies to do business in Southeast Michigan.
DETROIT - TechTown, Wayne State University’s business incubator also has a facet of its accelerator program that pairs up experienced entrepreneurs with first-time or inexperienced entrepreneurs to get them and their businesses up to speed more quickly.
CHICAGO - How can you use Intellectual Property to make your company an attractive acquisition target? Well Brinks, Hofer, Gilson & Lione attorney Scott Slavick will tell you how in this special Brinks edition of Newsmaker Interview.
ROCHESTER HILLS - Michael Thibideau, CIO at Webasto North America, is the ConnecTech Mentor of the Month. To learn more about this mentorship program, which pairs verteran CIOs with up and comers, listen to this Newsmaker Interview.
TRAVERSE CITY - Brian Hall, vice president of the ConnecTech Grand Traverse Bay chapter, is the April member profile on the ConnecTech Channel.
DETROIT - Al Bacon, Director of Finance for Wayne State University’s TechTown incubator, is hosted a Faith-Based Business Forum April 14 to teach non profits how to act like for-profit businesses. He’ll also discuss how non-profits can get qualified advice on finances.
CHICAGO - What can a company do to strengthen its trademark? Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione Attorney Scott Slavick explores this topic in a podcast interview.
AUBURN HILLS - What will be the evolving needs of manufacturers over the next five years? Mark Symonds, CEO of Plex Systems, answers that question in this Plex channel podcast.
ANN ARBOR - Great Lakes Entrepreneur’s Quest set a record on March 30 when 170 teams applied to compete in the spring 2009 business-plan writing contest. The previous mark was 111 applications set in in winter 2008. GLEQ also heard on this week that the Michigan Economic Development Corp. will provide the contest with two more years of funding.
DETROIT - Smart Start, an innovative business-growth program created by Wayne State University’s TechTown to kick start entrepreneurs, is accepting applications for its July class. The program includes mentoring, financing and incubator space.
DETROIT - Wayne State University’s TechTown offers entrepreneurs help to make their dreams come true in the Smart Start program. Hear all about this innovative program from TechTown tenant and Smart Start program client IC Data Communications.
ANN ARBOR - Physicians are rapidly moving from paper patient records to electronic medical records, boosted earlier this year by President Obama’s stimulus package, which earmarks $22 billion to make the conversion. March New Enterprise Foundation showcase sponsor, Dermanaut, which is bringing to market the first friendly electronic medical record application with a visual workflow for use in dermatology.
AUBURN HILLS - How do manufacturers manage their operations abroad? Plex Systems CEO Mark Symonds explains one way they can do it is using Plex Online, a software as a service aimed at manufacturers.
CHICAGO - Is Issuing IP Bonds a Good Move for your Company? Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione Attorney Scott Slavick explores this topic in a podcast interview. He discusses the history of companies issuing IP bonds; the risk of issuing IP bonds; what your company can do with the added revenue from issuing the IP bonds; and proper valuation of the subject IP.
TROY - Automation Alley last week was awarded about $2 million in federal grants to funding R&D on a new more handicapped friendly commuter bus, manufacturing job training and to complete a feasibility study for a 4000 square foot expansion of its Troy headquarters. The Alley’s Charles DeVries explains what the money will buy in this News Maker Interview.
DETROIT - If you’re a Wayne State University student and you have an idea for a new business you only have until close of business on March 18 to appy for the E2Challenge grant program that will pay the winning team up to $45,000 this summer to help fund salaries and patent application costs.
DETROIT - Wayne State University TechTown First Friday program on April 3 will feature an update by Toby Dahm of Hennessey Capital on the options start up businesses have for financing, including the asset based (as in accounts receivables) financing provided by his company.
FLINT - Deb McKerracher, a marketing executive with TGI Direct in Flint, is the March ConnecTech Member of the Month. TGI is a marketing support services company that specialize in developing web-based solutions including variable data imaging, print on demand, fulfillment (print or product), email marketing, and web hosting. In addition, TGI Direct offers full warehousing, distribution, and direct mail services.
DETROIT - Con Vida, Spanish for With Life, searches the Americas - North, Central and South - for art made by natives, primarily low income folks outside the major cities. Then Con Vida packages the art up for exhibit in the United States and on its web site, ConVida.Org - a different wrinkle for the usual technology-focused start up at TechTown.
ANN ARBOR - March 20 isn’t just the day before spring. It’s the day the funding tries up for SBIR and STTR grants used by innovative technology companies to provide early stage seed funding from the federal government. But Lisa Kurek Managing Partner of Biotechnology Business Consultants in Ann Arbor has been urging her clients to write their US Senators and Congressmen to urge them to continue funding for this federal program.
AUBURN HILLS - What’s the role of technology in the medical device manufacturing sector? That’s a question answered by Mark Symonds, CEO of Plex Systems, in this special edition of the Plex Systems podcasting channel.
AUBURN HILLS - What does it take to survive in a really difficult business environment? Plex Systems CEO Mark Symonds explains on this Plex Systems podcast channel interview.
ANN ARBOR - Best Presentation of 2008: SciTech Development. Earl Holsapple, President, accepted the award. SciTech Development is an oncology drug company that has developed an intravenous drug-delivery platform for insoluble drugs used in the treatment of eight kinds of cancer.
ANN ARBOR - Best Business Model of 2008: Torrey Path. Sean Ainsworth accepted the award for Peter Dressler, President & CEO, who could not attend. Torrey Path facilitates drug discovery by combining information technology and statistical analysis into research decision support tools.
ANN ARBOR - Ted Dacko, President of HealthMedia, an Ann Arbor company developed by a University of Michigan professor who created a methodology and technology that emulates a health coaching session, without the coach, was named the 2008 New Enterprise Forum Entrepreneur of the Year.
ANN ARBOR - AureoGen Biosciences, which is developing a genetic-engineering technology for the discovery and production of cyclic peptide-based drugs, was named the Best Technology Company of 2008 by the New Enterprise Forum.
DETROIT - If you need to upgrade your technical skills, or you’d like to get them, Pixel It Productions at Wayne State University’s TechTown can give you the training you need. One of the hottest new tech jobs in Michigan is doing 3D animation for the burgeoning movie business - says founder Lori Autrey.
DETROIT - What’s your carbon footprint? How much greenhouse gases do you burn, or does your company burn. Well Carbon Credits Environmental Services can tell you and also mitigate the gases you do create by planting carbon dioxide eating trees. Carbon Credits is based at Wayne State University’s TechTown.
GRAND RAPIDS - For the past decade, West Michigan technologist Keith Brophy has presented his top 10 technology trends list. This year’s list focuses on the growing power of social networking, not as a gossip fence for teenage girls, but as a networking tool for business. Brophy also talked about how the new network computers would rapidly replace desktop and laptop computers at the communications tool of choice - along with smart phones.
AUBURN HILLS - Plexus Systems is no more. The company has changed its name to just Plex Systems to reflect its Internet domain name, Plex.Com. The SaaS ERP provider to the manufacturers has also renamed its ERP product, Plexus Online, to Plex Online. In this interview, Plex Systems CEO and President Mark Symonds talks about what’s behind the name change.
PORT HURON - Rene Stephan, the ConnecTech February Member of the Month, wears many hats while working for the Economic Development Alliance of St. Clair County and the Michigan Small Business and Technology Development Center. She is a member of the ConnecTech Port Huron Chapter.
ANN ARBOR - Virtual Products, won third place in the Emerging Business Category of the Great Lakes Entrepreneur’s Quest business-plan writing contest. Virtual Products has developed a very low cost, patent-pending plastic “Exergaming” ramp that allows full body interaction with any digital environment such as video games, computer games and Second Life.
ANN ARBOR - Hygieia, which is developing a glucose meter for diabetics that works as n endocrinolgist-to-go, won first place in the Emerging Business Category of the Great Lakes Entrepreneur’s Quest business-plan writing contest. In this GLEQ channel interview, co-founder Israel Hodish talks about how his technology allows doctors to modify a patient’s treatment plan on an as-needed basis to reduce the complications of diabetes.
ANN ARBOR - Meadowlark Builders and Architectural Resource is working with an Ann Arbor homeowner to create the nation’s third LEED Platinum residential remodel - a unique home that features such CleanTech features as heavily insulated walls, energy efficient windows, special heating and cooling systems that together generate monthly energy bills of around $40.
DETROIT - SciTech Development is working on a new drug delivery system that could help attack eight different types of cancer, including some of the real bad ones such as pancreatic and breast. In this TechTown channel interview, SciTech President Earle Holsapple discusses the company’s R&D efforts and its attempt to raise $7 million to fund further development.
DETROIT - Wayne State University’s TechTown has won a $750,000 grant from the Wayne State University Land Bank to finish the third floor of the TechOne building. TechTown also is hoping to win some funding from President Obama’s Shovel-Ready projects to finish TechTwo and build a vertical parking structure to relieve the congestion around this downtown campus.
DETROIT - Detroit Micro-Enterprise Fund is looking for some business start ups to loan money or provide grants to take them to the next level. The Fund also is working with Wayne State University’s TechTown to offer grants and loans to tech-based companies.
ANN ARBOR - LegalEase Solutions, a business process outsourcing for legal services and advice, was named the winner of the fall 2008 Great Lakes Entrepreneur’s Quest business-plan writing contest.
ANN ARBOR - GiftZip.Com, a vitural gift card kiosk developed by a Michigan State University student, was named the second place winner in the New Business Category of the fall 2008 Great Lakes Entrepreneur’s Quest business-plan writing contest.
ANN ARBOR - Diane Durance, the executive director of Great Lakes Entrepreneur’s Quest business-plan writing contest, provides an overview of the huge expansion of the contest, and a list of all the winners just announced in January at the Annual Collaboration for Entrepreneurship in Ann Arbor.
HOUSTON - Dan Lohrmann, acting Chief Technology Officer for the State of Michigan, and a frequent speaker at SecureWorld Expo conferences, will keynote the second day of the Houston SecureWorld Expo on Feb. 12. His topic will be “E Reputation: Virtual Decisions in a Web 2.0 World.” To get a quick overview of what Lohrmann will discuss, listen to this special edition of the SecureWorld Podcasting Channel.
PORTLAND, OR. - SecureWorld Expo is promoting and contributing to a Security podcasting channel, published by MITechNews.Com, that will explore cyber security issues with national experts and reach a national audience.
TROY - Doug Stratton, president of the Stratton Foundation, has been selected as the ConnecTech January 2009 Member of the Month. Stratton is a member of the ConnecTech Greater Detroit Chapter.
DETROIT - Ford Motor Company is rapidly rolling out a bevy of hybrid plug-in electric vehicles, starting with a commercial van in 2010. A Focus Battery-electric car is due in 2011 and even more electric-powered cars and trucks in the years to come, as Ford, like GM and Chrysler, gets electric.
DETROIT - Not to be outdone by General Motors and Ford Motor Company, Chrysler also showcased its electric concept vehicles that will be rolling on the automakers’ ENVI (short for Environment) electric powertrain, which provides 40 miles on a single electric charge and 400 miles of total driving range.
DETROIT - With Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm serving as the head cheerleader, GM on Sunday rolled down an improvised red carpet at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit 17 vehicles GM CEO Rick Wagoner said represented the company’s present and future - the emphasis was heavily on enviro friendlier electric and hybrid gasoline-electric cars in part to please Congress, which has loaned GM billions of dollars. John Lockner, GM vice president of global program management, talks about GM’s cleaner tech vehicle line up in this News Maker interview.
DETROIT - While other automakers at the North American International Auto show proudly displayed their latest hybrid gasoline-electric powered vehicles, or concept plug-in electric cars and trucks, California-based manufacturer Tesla Motors showed off its electric-powered Rodster that can accelerate from zero to 60 miles per hour in around 3 seconds and travel more than 250 miles on a single charge.
DETROIT - General Motors announced Monday at the North American International Auto Show that the factory to build the new Chevy Volt battery packs will be built in Michigan. In this interview at the Detroit auto show, Jim Epolito, president of the Michigan Economic Development Corp., provides the details in this interview with a pack of reporters after the annoucement.
DETROIT - Will Chrysler become the electric car and truck company. Certainly more so than today, says Frank Klegon, executive vice president, Product Development. Chrysler at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit rolled out four electric-powered, plug-in-charged cars, trucks, Jeeps and minivans. Now it’s up to the public - and maybe even Congress - to decide which, if any, Chrysler puts into production.
GRAND RAPIDS - As much as 20 percent of your heating bills can be from poorly insulated foundations. So Great Lakes Superior Walls, which uses foam and other insulating properties, can save homeowners a lot of money each year on their energy bills.
GRAND RAPIDS - If you want to save hundreds of dollars each year on your heating and cooling costs, perhaps upwards of one thousand dollars, you ought to have a home energy inspection done, says home energy auditor Gary Hammerlund of www.homeenergyinspections.com.
DEARBORN - Joseph Dittmar a World Trade Center survivor, told his moving story at the SecureWorld Detroit 2008 Expo at the Dearborn Conference. Dittmar was one of only seven insurance executives at a meeting of 54 that made it out of Tower Two alive. The biggest life lesson he said he learned was “don’t sweat the small stuff.”
DEARBORN - Charles Cresson Wood, CISA, CISM, CISSP, a keynote speaker at the Secure World Detroit Expo said its vital for all companies to implement an information security policy to keep the bad guys - both inside and outside the company - from stealing your company’s secrets and intellectual property. Cresson Wood is the author of the tome “Information Security Policies Made Easy.”
GRAND RAPIDS - JF New’s Michigan office has been very busy in 2008, despite the down economy. It seems ecological restoration, and sustainability are big sellers in the state. A case in point is the new Metro Health Hospital in Byron Center which sports a green roof that better controls rain water run off, as well as insulates the sprawling complex.
GRAND RAPIDS - If you want to go green, you may have to go blue instead. Or at least that’s what Cotton Insulation hopes. The company recycles old blue jeans into cotton insulation that’s then stuffed into walls to not only reduce heat loss in winter and air conditioning loss in summer, but also noise year round. Now the company is shopping in the Midwest for a factory to recycle jeans in the heartland.
GRAND RAPIDS - Standale Lumber, a long time building contractor in West Michigan, has gone green in a big way. The company has developed a line of clean, environmentally friendlier building products, plus hosts an annual Green Builder’s Expo that showcases all the sustainable builders in the Western half of the state. The next Expo is now scheduled for February in Grand Rapids.
HOWELL - The ConnecTech Member of the Month for November hails from the Livingston chapter. He is Elson Liu, the director of technology for Brighton Area Schools. Liu said its time for Michigan to leave the assembly line approach on educating students and move to what the Detroit Three automakers are adopting, more flexible production.
KALAMAZOO - With employees, managers and executives using more and more mobile devices to link back to the network at the office, mobile security threats are increasing exponentially. Rebecca Herold, a noted Security expert, discussed the growing mobile security threat in November at a ConnecTech Kalamazoo seminar.
TROY - Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson said life sciences, and health care are both big business in Oakland County and growing rapidly. Patterson was a keynote speaker at the MichBio Expo in Novi. Patterson also talked about the importance of bailing out the Detroit Three automakers, and other changes afoot in the second most populous county in Michigan.
ANN ARBOR - Deadlines to enter two additional business-plan competitions hosted by groups other than Great Lakes Entrepreneur’s Quest loom on Nov. 21, says GLEQ Executive Director Diane Durance. Both the Society of Automotive Engineers and the University of Michigan are hosting contests in December.
ANN ARBOR - Rick Snyder, one of the state’s most successful venture capitalists and entrepreneurs, said clean tech cars and trucks, lead by plug-and-run electric vehicles, could make Michigan one of the world’s top alternative energy-production regions in the years ahead. He also said the state needs to change its current tax policies to make this dream happen.
TROY - Ken Rogers, Executive Director of Automation Alley, talks about the tremendous job growth in Life Sciences in Southeast Michigan, and how Automation Alley rivals tech job growth found in more well known clusters nationwide, such as Silicon Valley and Route 128.
TROY - Patrick Anderson of the Anderson Economic Group in East Lansing talks about the Fourth Annual Technology Industry Report: Driving Southeast Michigan Forward, which shows the average wage for workers in the Life Sciences sector grew 4.4 percent to more than $97,000. Also growing at a heady rate was Life Sciences jobs, plus technology jobs in general in Southeast Michigan.
LANSING - Stephen Potter is the new chairman and president of the Michigan Homeland Security Consortium, a non-profit organization dedicated to driving the growth of the Homeland Security Industry in the State of Michigan. Potter’s day job is as president of PatriotServices in Walled Lake. To learn more about MIHSC and PatriotServices listen to this special Security channel edition of News Maker Interview.
LANSING - Dan Lohrmann, Michigan’s Chief Information Security Officer, has won yet another national award - Governing Magazine’s 2008 Public Official of the Year. He was the only security official named. Lohrman talks about the award and about a group he works with to protect the public and private security infrastructure, called Michigan InfraGard, in this News Maker interview.
ANN ARBOR - David Cole, Chairman of the Center For Automotive Research, said a new clean-tech era will soon transform the auto industry with the advent of plug-in electric vehicles that do not use petroleum product for power. Cole, a keynote speaker at the TechKnow Forum 2008 in Ann Arbor, also said the economic turmoil that is helping drive down auto sales will eliminate about 20 million units of excess world manufacturing capacity, making the survivors very strong competitors in the year to come.
TROY - ConnecTech partnered this year with the Troy Chamber to recognize the best of the web, with new awards that replaces the former ICE Awards. Four categories were offered this year: Web Copywriting, Web Application Development, Graphic Design and Blogging. ConnecTech Network Manager Danielle DeLonge talks about the new awards and about the upcoming Job Fair with Microsoft.
DETROIT - TechTown, the Wayne State University incubator, has partnered with Automation Alley and the Detroit Regional Chamber to office a soup-to-nuts incubation, business service partnership. But with hundreds of thousands of square feet of prime space available in downtown Detroit, and millions of square feet of shuttered factory space in the region, TechTown now is actively recruiting Chinese, Indian and other foreign auto parts makers who want to work with GM and Ford. TechTown Director Randal Charlton provides the details in this News Maker Interview.
DETROIT - EcoV, a family of electric cars from EnVironmental Transportation Solutions, needs some investors to step up to take these cars into production. In this News Maker interview with CEO Richard Marks, we find out these electric cars, which retail from $10,000 to $15,000, get up to 100 miles on a charge.
DETROIT - Think you have what it takes to become an entrepreneur? Bryan Hirn, president of Gallagher/Rains benefit specialist, is a serial entrepreneur. He’s been in the trenches from startup to exit and knows what it takes to join this elite club. Hirn was the final speaker at E2Detroit, the day-long entrepreneurs conference held last week at Wayne State University.
ANN ARBOR - If you’re an entrepreneur and serious about attracting potential investors, you’ll want to enter the fall 2008 Great Lakes Entrepreneur’s Quest Business Plan writing contest. Only a solid business plan will catch the eye of angel investors and venture capitalists. GLEQ Executive Director talks about what GLEQ contestants need to know, and how they can win thousands of dollars to pump into their Michigan-based companies in this special GLEQ edition of News Maker Interview.
TROY - Marshall Rice, co founder of MichiganMall.Com, talks about the success of the Celebrate Michigan Expo on Sept. 29, and what MichiganMall.Com’s plans are for another expo next year in this special Elevator Pitch edition of News Maker Interview.
DETROIT - The E2Detroit conference on Oct. 8 at Wayne State University promises to provide any aspiring entrepreneurs with the knowledge they’ll need - and the power networking they must have - to build their businesses. Marketing Director Kathleeen Norton Schock also provides more details on the admission discounts available to E2Detroit for partnering groups, including MITechNews.Com.
LANSING - Jim Epolito, CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corp., discusses the final phases of the 2008 21st Century Jobs Fund, a program that will provide $30 million in financing to 15 or so promising technology companies in Michigan. About 50 are left after the final cut, but only two in alternative energy, a new business sector identified by Gov. Jennifer Granholm as vital to Michigan’s economic future. Epolito also talks about what tools the MEDC needs to win the economic development wars with much better financed competitors, like Texas.
LANSING - Michigan Ballot Proposal 1, which would legalize the use of marijuana for chronically ill patients under a doctor’s care, appears poised for approval by voters in November. Two polls this week showed overwhelming support for Proposal 1. Dianne Byrum, a spokeswoman for the Coalition for Compassionate Care, the grassroots organization that placed the measure on the ballot, talks about what it will do, and not do, in this special BL Government Affairs edition of News Maker Interview.
TROY - Jim House has been named Mentor of the Month for October by ConnectTech. House works closely with an aspiring CIO to teach her the ropes and hopefully accelerate her career. To learn more about House and this innovative program listen to this special edition of NewsMaker Interview.
TROY - Duane Hopkins, member of the Greater Detroit ConnecTech chapter, has been named Mentor of the Month for October. After only three months in ConnecTech, Hopkins has had a busy schedule with the tech networking group. To learn more, listen to this ConnecTech edition of Newsmaker Interview.
GRAND RAPIDS - Next week, the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce is teaming up with the West Michigan Chamber Coalition to host the 2008 West Michigan Regional Policy Conference. Jared Rodriguez Vice President Public Policy & Government Affairs for the Grand Rapids Chamber discusses this coalition of chambers from Kalamazoo To Traverse City To Lansing and what regional problems they will tackle in this special BL Government Affairs edition of Newsmaker Interview.
MANISTEE - Southern Exposure Renewable Energy has developed the Windspire, with vertical rotors that catches wind energy and drive a high efficiency generator to produce electric power. A built-in smart inverter converts this power into a regulated form that is readily connectable with the electric grid. To learn more about this urban friendlier wind-power generator listen to this GreenTech edition of News Maker interview recorded at the Michigan Energy Fair.
MANISTEE - Holdfast Technologies constructs energy efficient buildings that build an eco sandwich with insulating foam on the outside and concrete on the inside. Learn how they do it in this special GreenTech edition of News Maker interview recorded at the Michigan Energy Fair.
MANISTEE - Corn has a lot of potential uses from food, to animal feed to motor vehicle fuel, in the form of Ethanol. But there’s a lot of misinformation out there as well with some critics contending corn can’t be used to feed people and propel cars. Jody Pollok-Newsom, the executive director of the Michigan Corn Marketing Program, sets the record straight in this special GreenTech edition of News Maker Interview.
HIGHLAND - The LaFontaine Buick Pontiac GMC in Highland is one of the first auto dealers in Michigan, and the first GM dealer nationwide, to qualify for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. The dealership has taken a variety of steps to reduce with its ground breaking new facility to limit energy consumption, including a geothermal heating and cooling system that uses groundwater to maintain indoor temperatures and solar panels that help run lighting systems. Susan Docherty, General Manager of Buick Pontiac GMC, talks about GM’s green efforts in this News Maker Interview.
LANSING - In Michigan, where House seats tend to be in very safe Democrat or Republican districts, winning the primary almost assures candidates they’ll win the general election, so says political analyst Brendan Ringlever of BL Government Affairs. Listen to what’s likely to happen in the primary on Aug. 5 in this special BL Government Affairs edition of News Maker Interview.
ANN ARBOR - Great Lakes Entrepreneur’s Quest has launched a new paid training service for entrepreneurs who sign up to compete in the business-plan writing contest. It’s called Cantillon. Miche Suboski, a small business advocate who works with GLEQ.Org, provides details in this special New Maker Interview on the GLEQ channel.
TROY - Bob Montgomery, Executive Director of Information Technology, Oakland Community College, is the July 2008 Mentor of the Month. To hear more about the program, and what Montgomery gets from it, listen to this special edition of News Maker Interview on the ConnecTech channel.
DETROIT - Tony Scott, the former chief technology officer for General Motors, who now works as the chief information officer for Microsoft, talks about the five fundamentals all CIOs need to know. Scott was a keynote speaker at the Midwest Technology Leaders Conference.
DETROIT - Tim Cox, CIO at OnStar, talks about the technology at use for this General Motors in vehicle telematics prodict, and the new wrinkles that will be rolled out in September. Cox was a keynote speaker at the recent Midwest Technology Leaders Conference.
DETROIT - Phil Bertolini, CIO for Oakland County, was one of three recipients of the Corporate Commitment To Michigan Award, at the Michigan Technology Leaders Conference. In this News Maker Interview, Bertolini talks about all the technology and Internet communications tools the state’s second largest county is using to make it easier for residents to access government services.
MANISTEE - Tom Stanton, who heads up the Michigan Public Service Commission’s Renewable Energy Program, talks about the 30 percent federal tax credit that is available through Dec. 31 for anyone who buys energy saving products for their homes. Hear all about it in this GreenTech edition of Newsmaker Interview.
MANISTEEE - Another bright alternative energy idea from the Michigan Energy Fair - Bright Idea Energy Solutions of Chicago offers a different twist on generating wind energy, using a vertical cone shaped blade rather than propellers. To learn more about this product, listen to this GreenTech edition of Newsmaker interview.
MANISTEE - Joan’s Company has an innovative green friendly solution to keeping your house warmer in those very cold Michigan winters - solar window warmers. Joan also has other energy efficient and very low cost ways to keep your toes warm as well. Lean all about it in this special GreenTech edition of News Maker Interview.
MANISTEE - An Ann Arbor architectural firm is designing the first green-certified restaurant in the United States, complete with LED lighting, eco friendly heating and cooling and much more. Best of all, it’s located in Michigan, in Rochester. To learn more, listen to this GreenTech edition of News Maker Interview.
TROY - ConnecTech and the Troy Chamber are partnering this fall to offer awards for web excellence, but instead of giving them to web development companies, they’ll go to individuals. This year’s ConnecTech categories include individual awards for excellence in Graphic Design, Copy Writing, Application Development and Blogging. To learn more, listen to this special ConnecTech edition of News Maker Interview.
GRAND RAPIDS - The latest generation of Apple’s smart phone, called the iPhone 3G (Third generation) made its debut on Friday morning across the country at AT&T corporate stores. Bill Bendetti, director of sales for AT&T in West Michigan and Northern Indiana, talks about what this smarter, faster, and less expensive phone has to offer consumers and businesses in this edition of News Maker Interview.
ANN ARBOR - Two veteran venture capitalists, Jack Aherns from TGap Ventures, and Tom Churchwell from Midwest Venture Partners, discuss the state of Venture Capital in Michigan. Both men also are coaches for Michigan’s Great Lakes Entrepreneur’s Quest business-plan contest. Listen to what they have to say in this special Entrepreneur’s Corner edition of News Maker Interview.
ANN ARBOR - Daixo, a new business idea category participant in the spring 2008 Great Lakes Entrepreneur’s Quest business plan writing contest, delivers the July 2008 elevator pitch. Daixo is a web-based electronic medical record system to be custom-built initially for dermatologists who need to better manage their work flow.
MANISTEE - Eclipse Distributing, at the June Michigan Energy Fair, demonstrated a line of energy efficient, yet environmentally friendly stoves that burn pellets, wood, biodiesel and other sources of energy. To find out more, listen to this GreenTech edition of News Maker Interview.
MANISTEE - Standale Lumber has created an insulated log to make a more energy efficient log home. The yet unnamed product, dubbed the Buzz Log at the Michigan Energy Fair, is just one of many ways Standale Lumber can help homeowners and businesses use less energy to heat and cool their buildings. Get all the details in this News Maker Interview.
MANISTEE - Mary Bigelow, an exhibitor at the Michigan Energy Fair, also will help businesses and homeowners figure out what alternative energy methods, products and services are right for them. She’s also the coordinator of a monthly mixer for the green tech players in the greater Grand Rapids area. To learn more, listen to the News Maker Interview.
MANISTEE - Jennifer Alverado, executive director of the Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association, talks about recent legislation passed by the Michigan Senate to establish a renewable energy portfolio. The Senate version would mandate just 7 percent of the state’s electrical grid come from renewable energy, while the House version would mandate 10 percent. A conference committee will iron out the differences.
MANISTEE - Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association Executive Director Jennifer Alverado discusses what her organization is and does and how it lobbies for more renewable energy standards in the Michigan Legislature. GLREA just wrapped up its annual Energy Fair at the Manistee County Fairgrounds.
TROY - A recently passed law requires private detectives and investigators to be licensed by the State of Michigan. In addition to traditional gumshoes, the law also applies to those engaged in investigating computer forensics such as the consultant your organization might retain to assist you in the event of a network security breach. ConnecTech is hosting a webinar on July 8 that will feature security professionals and state officials who will explain what the new law means to the Security community.
DETROIT - Ruthanne Largent is the Vice President of Information Systems at MGM Grand in Detroit, and has more than 25 years of experience in the IT industry. Largent also is mentoring ConnecTech member/mentee Kristi Susko of AT&T. Largent has been named ConnecTech Mentor of the Month. To listen to why she is taking the time to coach Susko, listen to this special ConnecTech edition of News Maker Interview.
LANSING - ConnecTech Lansing member William Ives is the Strategic Account Manager at TDS in Jackson. He has been named June member of the month for his efforts to start a chapter in Jackson. Listen to what Ives is up to in this special ConnecTech edition of News Maker Interview.
LANSING - Michigan Sen. Patty Birkholz (R-Saugatuck Twp.) talks about where the negotiations stand on the Great Lakes Compact, which would preserve water resources in the Great Lakes region. The package, which will end up at 12 bills including all of the House bills and all but one of the Senate bills, maintains much of the permitting and water use thresholds that had passed the Senate, but also provides for public input into the permitting process. Listen to Birkholz in this BL Government Affairs edition of News Maker Interview.
GRAND RAPIDS - Michigan entrepreneurs have yet another resource they can use to make their dream companies become reality - the Accelerating Michigan Entrepreneurs project developed by the Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center. Harry Blecker, director of the new entrepreneurial resource, talks about how entrepreneurs can get thousands of dollars worth of services each month for just $100.
LANSING - OcuSciences, an Ann Arbor technology start up, has won the $25,000 Grand Prize in the Emerging Company category of the Great Lakes Entrepreneur’s Quest. OcuSciences was co-founded by Drs. Victor Elner and Howard Petty from the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center and has developed a rapid and unique non-invasive imagining technique to detect retinal diseases earlier than current methods. The OcuSciences plan was pitched by Matthew Field, who participated in this special GLEQ edition of News Maker Interview.
DETROIT - ConnecTech Detroit is hosting an RFID update program June 19 that will feature experts from Lowry Computer. Company founder Mike Lowry outlines what attendees will learn in this special ConnecTech Channel News Maker Interview.
DETROIT - Thomas Peck, chief information officer for the MGM/Mirage corporation, talks about how he manages technology innovation at the largest resort and gaming company in the world. Peck was one of the speakers at the Midwest Technology Leaders conference at the Detroit MGM Grand Hotel.
MANISTEE - Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm will speak June 27 at the Michigan Energy Fair at the Manistee County Fairgrounds. Allan O’Shea, fair co-chairman, talks about Granholm’s appearance and also about the incredible interest in alternative energy technologies this year - driven by high energy prices. O’Shea’s alternative energy construction business has seen demand triple this year.
DETROIT - Continental CIO Bill MacFarlane is the ConnecTech May Mentor of the Month. He is paired with ConnecTech member/mentee Angela Brown. To hear what MacFarlane said are the best reasons for working as a CIO, and for mentoring up and coming CIOs, listen to this special ConnecTech edition of Newsmaker Interview.
DETROIT - On June 4 at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Detroit, you’ll be able to meet and greet some of the area’s prominent technology and community leaders at the cocktail reception while contributing to two great Foundations - SIM (Society of Information Managers) and the Michigan Council of Women in Technology. On June 5, a day-long event for Directors of IT and CIOs, with guest speakers including Tony Scott, CIO of Microsoft, John Crary, CIO of Lear, Timothy Cox, CIO of OnStar and Tom Peck CIO of MGM Mirage, Las Vegas. Midwest Technology Leaders Founder Tracy-Ann Palmer discussed both in this News Maker Interview.
LANSING - Michigan on Monday released its four-year IT strategic plan, which will spend more than $400 million to continue consolidating the state’s Information Technology infrastructure. Michigan Chief Information Officer Ken Theis details what he has in store for the state in this News Maker Interview. Theis replaced former CIO Terri Takai who was recruited in January to become CIO in California.
GRAND RAPIDS - American manufacturers want change, and they want the three candidates for US president to not only hear them, but also deal with their demands, said David Brousell, editor and chief of Managing Automation magazine. Brousell will detail on Wednesday during PowerPlex the results of a survey of 2000 manufacturers his magazine conducted. Brousell is the keynote speaker during Plexus Systems user conference at the Marriott Hotel in downtown Grand Rapids. Listen to what he’ll tell the audience in this News Maker interview.
YPSILANTI - The task for four accomplished and veteran investors and entrepreneurs, come up with a business plan for a self sustaining, green-friendly, island community in less than 10 minutes. Yes, the second annual Battle of the Elevator Pitches at the New Enterprise Forum had a Gilligan’s Isle flavor to it and in the end Ann Arbor’s Biggest Gilligan won, Dick Beedon, CEO of Mac Beedon Group, won, for the second time in a row. Beedon bested Ron Reed of Seneca Partners, Roger Newton, Co-Discoverer of Lipitor and Founder of Esperion, and Rich Sheridan, CEO of Menlo Innovations. A tongue-in-cheek News Maker Interview captured the spirit of this event.
YPSILANTI - Diane Durance, executive director of Great Lakes Entrepreneur’s Quest, outlines what’s next for the 79 teams that submitted business plans for the Spring 2008 cycle. The business-plan submission deadline was May 15. The awards ceremony is June 12 in Lansing.
YPSILANTI - You wouldn’t think of Michigan would be home to an Internet wine sales company that wants to take the wine eCommerce market by storm, but that’s the game plan for WineBuys.Com. Two long-time friends and business partners are behind this business plan, which calls for $10 million in sales over the next 18 to 24 months.
YPSILANTI - Rick Galdi, long time investor and entrepreneur, is the new President of Great Lakes Angels, replacing David Weaver who moves up to Chairman. Galdi, in this News Maker Interview, talks about the changes he wants to make to one of the state’s largest angel investing groups and how he hopes his investor-members will serve as mentors to the companies in which they invest. Galdi also wants to steal a page from Ohio angel groups and get the state of Michigan to match investments in Michigan companies.
ANN ARBOR - Diane Durance, Executive Director of the Great Lakes Entrepreneurs’ Quest, discusses the overwhelming registration success of the spring cycle 2008. Some 79 entrepreneurs or teams of entrepreneurs have registered for the business-plan writing contest, nearly double the former record of 46. GLEQ is a sponsor of ConnecTech and the ConnecTech channel.
DETROIT - ConnecTech has launched a new feature on the ConnecTech channel, the Mentor of the Month profile. The April Mentor is
Joe Sawasky, CIO, Wayne State University Background: Prior to joining Wayne State University, he was the Chief Information Officer of the University of Toledo. Joe is mentoring Terrance Campbell.
GRAND RAPIDS - Davenport University has introduced a new specialty in Global Project Management within the Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems. While coursework and experiential learning will focus primarily in the information systems and technology area, the program also provides students with the opportunity to explore and apply the concepts in other areas such as finance and healthcare. The program will help prepare students to complete the Project Management Institute certification exam. Reid Gough, Dean School of Technology and Davenport University Online, provides more details in this special ConnecTech edition of News Maker Interview.
LANSING - New legislation developing a Michigan Renewable Portfolio Standard has been captured by the state’s major utilities and will result in less green-powered energy for more money, argues Barry Cargill, Executive Director of the Customer Choice Coalition. Cargill also said the Michigan Democratic Party delegation, eager to retain and expand unionized jobs, has fallen under the spell cast by DTE and Consumer’s Energy. The state’s Republicans, on the other hand, remain proponents of competition and will likely mitigate some of the Democrats bad legislation. Listen to this special BL Government Affairs edition of Newsmaker Interview now.
ANN ARBOR - It’s not too late to sign up for the spring cycle of the Great Lakes Entrepreneur’s Quest business-plan competition, where first prize is $25,000 in cash. The deadline to sign up - not submit your business plans - is Friday April 18, says GLEQ Executive Director Diane Durance. For all you tech entrepreneurs or would-be tech entrepreneurs you’re going to want to get all the details in this special GLEQ channel edition of News Maker Interview.
LANSING - Andy Such, Executive Director, Michigan Sustainable Energy Coaltion, discusses the Michigan renewable portfolio standard that would require that at least 10 percent of the state’s energy came from renewable sources by 2015. This special edition of New Maker Interview is sponsored by BL Government Affairs.
ANN ARBOR - Tibetan karma (part 3) There is always karma for individuals and for a collective group of people. So the unrest in Tibet is therefore a result of karmic consequences. This News Maker Interview is with Tibetan Master Gelek Rimpoche, founder of the Jewel Heart educational and cultural institute of Ann Arbor, Michigan.
ANN ARBOR - Tibetan karma (part 2) But His Holiness The Dalai Lama has called for an international investigation into the beatings during this unrest, which The Dalai Lama has said reminds him of the 1959 takeover of Tibet by China. This special edition of News Maker Interview is with Tibetan Master Gelek Rimpoche, founder of the Jewel Heart educational and cultural institute in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
ANN ARBOR - Tibetan karma (part 1) Chinese Communist government diistrustful of Buddhist Monk-lead unrest in Tibet, which was not sanctioned by His Holiness The Dalai Lama, who is a spiritual rather than political leader. This special edition of New Maker Interview is with Tibetan Master Gelek Rimpoche, founder of the Jewel Heart educational and cultural institute in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
CHICAGO - The Secure World Expo Chicago program details are nearly complete, and Secure World Expo spokeswoman Amy Einstein talks about what will be seen and heard during the two-day exhibition May 21-22. She also announces that MITechNews.Com subscribers get big discounts, so you’re doing to want to listen to this New Maker Interview.
TROY - ConnecTech will host its fourth technology webinar this year on April about Assitive Technologies, and how the invention of tools such as screen-readers, text enlarging devices and Web interface programs increases the quality of life for people with disabilities. In this NewsMaker Interview Cathy McAdam, who is blind, talks about how she uses this technology to communicate on the Internet.
DETROIT - Brian Shay is a member of ConnecTech Greater Detroit, and is someone who is committed to uniting the technology community here in Michigan. He’s so interested in what the Network makes possible for technology professionals that he’s invited a group of his friends and colleagues to participate in his chapter’s upcoming event. Listen to Shay’s recruitment ideas in this ConnecTech Channel of NewsMaker Interview.
DETROIT - AT&T will spend $46 million this year in Michigan to upgrade its network and expand its G3 capabilities in the lower half of the lower peninsula. ATT. Brian Durcharme who runs ATT’s Michigan and Indiana operations talks in this News Maker Interview about the new video and audio capabilities that will be available for ATT customers this year.
ANN ARBOR - Tibetan Master Gelek Rimpoche, founder of the Jewel Heart educational and cultural institute, provides more details about the April 19-20 visit of His Holiness The Dalai Lama, who will be in Ann Arbor, Michigan, to provide insight into Tibetan Buddhism teachings, as well as deliver a lecture on Earth Day on Sustainability. This special edition of News Maker Interview is on the Voice of Jewel Heart channel.
GRAND RAPIDS – The Iserv Company Thursday introduced its all-new telephone service for West Michigan business and residential customers: Iserv Digital Voice, providing an alternative to AT&T, Comcast and Charter. Victor Shepherd, Iserv CEO, talks about his new service and the rapid growth of his company in this News Maker Interview.
KALAMAZOO - Information Technology and eCommerce attorney Vincent Polley of KnowConnect PLLC will give an attorney’s perspective on how to both prevent and respond to information security breaches April 1 at the Kalamazoo M-TEC. The event is co sponsored by ConnecTech Kalamazoo and Michigan InfraGard. It is free to the public.
TROY - Nan Poulios, director of the Walsh College Information Security Center, provides an update on this Security channel podcast on what’s happening at the IAC. Walsh is offering security internships, developing a new IT Society, developing Global security links and planning four rounds of CISSP training. You can hear the update in this special security channel News Maker interview.
GRAND RAPIDS - Eric Hendrickson, Senior Vice President Mortgage Manager, Fifth Third Bank Western Michigan, discusses Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox proactive efforts to solve the state’s growing mortgage foreclosure crisis. Cox recently hosted three foreclosure forums around the state offering mortgage loan workshops for people facing foreclosure. Fifth Third was one of the banks that participated. To learn about some of the solutions offered, listen to this News Maker Interview.
Part 5: ANN ARBOR - This special edition of News Maker interview, a segment of a talk given in February by Gelek Rimpoche, founder of Jewel Heart, a Tibetan Buddhism educational and cultural institute in Ann Arbor, discusses themes that will be explored during the April 19-20 visit of his Holiness the Dalai Lama to Ann Arbor, Michigan. The theme of this podcast is how Americans have compassion ingrained in them.
Part 4: ANN ARBOR - This special edition of News Maker interview, a segment of a talk given in February by Gelek Rimpoche, founder of Jewel Heart, a Tibetan Buddhism educational and cultural institute in Ann Arbor, discusses themes that will be explored on April 19-20 when his Holiness The Dalai Lama hosts several seminars in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The theme of this podcast is caring is the essence of compassion.
Part 3: ANN ARBOR - This special edition of News Maker interview, a segment from a talk given in February by Gelek Rimpoche, founder of Jewel Heart, a Tibetan Buddhism educational and cultural institute in Ann Arbor, discusses more of the themes that will be explored on April 19-20 when his Holiness The Dalai Lama visits Ann Arbor, Michigan. The theme of this podcast is the need to have compassion for ourselves.
Part 2: ANN ARBOR - This special edition of News Maker interview, a segment of a talk given in February by Gelek Rimpoche, founder of Jewel Heart, a Tibetan Buddhism educational and cultural institute in Ann Arbor, outlines some of the themes that will be explored April 19-20 when his Holiness the Dalai Lama visits Ann Arbor, Michigan. The theme of this podcast is the meaning and power of compassion in one’s life.
Part 1: ANN ARBOR - This special edition of News Maker interview on the new Dali Lama Visit channel is a talk given in February by Gelek Rimpoche, founder of Jewel Heart, a Tibetan Buddhism educational and cultural institute in Ann Arbor. He discusses the April 19-20 visit of his Holiness the Dalai Lama to Ann Arbor, Michigan, who is coming at the personal invitation of Lama Rimpoche.
TROY - ConnecTech on March 11 will host its third webinar - the focus will be When IT Becomes HR. Rick Sabatos, an IT expert, will discuss the technical side of the issue. The webinar will outline employer rights as they relate to employee Web surfing, and how IT employees can keep themselves out of a sticky situation if they’re ever asked to implement the software. To learn more about this webinar listen to this ConnecTech channel program.
TRAVERSE CITY - ConnecTech on March 11 will host its third webinar - the focus will be When IT Becomes HR. Rachel Roe, an employment attorney, will discuss the legal side of the issue. The webinar will outline employer rights as they relate to employee Web surfing, and how IT employees can keep themselves out of a sticky situation if they’re ever asked to implement the software. To learn more about this webinar listen to this report on the ConnecTech podcast channel.
YPSILANTI - Skip Lawver, director of Eastern Michigan University’s IAC Center, provides his February update. He talks about a new Security speaker series that will culminate with a recruiting visit by federal intelligence agencies. Scholar ships available for students interested in careers in Security management. Reaching out to the high school to recruit college security majors. Listen to this update on this Security Channel edition of News Maker Interview.
SOUTHFIELD - Data Center Solutions is offering a new Michigan-made network security appliance that can perform up to 14 functions, protection from hackers, spammers, the lot. The company’s Steve Beers describes the new product as enterprise security for a small business price. To learn more, listen to this Security channel edition of News Maker Interview.
LANSING - The Michigan Community College Association is in talks with Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s Administration to develop a couple of very innovative programs that would help the state train more tech savvy workers, including nurses, and new hires for existing or newly recruited technology companies in Michigan. Mike Hansen, President of the Michigan Community College Association, outlines those efforts in this special BL Government Affairs edition of News Maker Interview.
KALAMAZOO - Only a few more spaces are left for Great Lakes Entrepreneurs Quest’s FastTrac TechVenture six-week intensive business plan contest hosted by Southwest Michigan First in Kalamazoo. Diane Durance, Executive Director of GLEQ, discusses this innovative program that can help your technology or life sciences start up attract investors in this special GLEQ edition of News Maker Interview.
LANSING - Gov. Jennifer Granholm presented the broad brush strokes of her proposed 2008-2009 budget during her State of the State address in January. Last week, she provided the fine print for the Michigan legislature. BL Government Affairs’ Brendan Ringlever takes a close look at her legislative priorities in this special edition of News Maker Interview.
LANSING - There’s a movement afoot in Lansing to blend all the state’s business and sales taxes into one super Fair Tax that would not only hit folks paying taxes now, but also people in the underground economy - including cash only deals from criminals and illegal aliens - plus tourist that visit the state. Brendan Ringlever of BL Government Affairs outlines what the Michigan Fair Tax is all about in this special edition of News Maker Interview.
KALAMAZOO - GlobeFunder is a secure, online lending marketplace where Borrowers are in control. By eliminating the traditional middleman, this unique lending platform offers lower costs to Borrowers for fast, efficient loans. Co Founder and President Ben Decio talks about the company and its business plan to build a billion dollar loan portfolio in this Elevator Pitch.
ANN ARBOR - GeneVivo creates transgenic – or genetically modified – animals for biomedical research. The transgenics market is $750 million and growing at 12percent - 13 percent per year. GeneVivo’s proprietary method enables the company to expand the market by genetically modifying strains of mice (analogous to breeds of dogs) that were not amenable to transgenesis by previous methods, opening up a much-needed new chest of tools to the research community. Sean Ainsworth, CEO, discusses the company in this Elevator Pitch.
LANSING - Brendan Ringlever of BL Government Affairs’ Lansing office analyzes Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s State of the State Address Tuesday night. Granholm usurped some common Republican themes by pushing for jobs for every worker, no new taxes or fees, and one-stop shopping for businesses looking to relocate or expand in Michigan. To find out more, listen to this special BL Government Affairs edition of News Maker Interview.
TROY - What would happen if a Chemical tanker overturned in your community making it impossible for your employees to get to work? Or if that much talked about flu pandemic kept millions of Michigan workers from getting to the workplace? On Feb. 12 at noon, the ConnecTech network will host a live webinar that will discuss those various scenarios and how your business can prepare for them. On the panel will be Cisco Systems’ Steve Gutschow. To get a preview of Steve’s talk, listen to this special ConnecTech Channel edition of News Maker interview.
TROY - What if a Pandemic flu strikes Michigan, infecting millions of people, including a huge percentage of your work force. What can you do? Patriot Services Vice President Scott Hiipakka will outline how at least you can prepare for this possibility in a live webinar Feb. 12 at noon at ConnecTech.Org. To get a preview of Hiipakka’s comments, listen to this special ConnecTech edition of News Maker Interview.
Michelle Zellen, communications director at Automation Alley, talks about the technology networking group’s Business To Business Development Program. Seasoned business professionals will teach entrepreneurs, small businesses and even mature businesses how to operate better.
GRAND RAPIDS - Carol Lopucki, the state director the Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center, talks about what her SBA-backed organization can offer entrepreneurs and small business in terms of training and support. If you’re in need of better business knowledge, you don’t want to miss this News Maker interview.
ANN ARBOR - Great Lakes Entrepreneur’s Quest in January announced its Phase 1 winners in both the New Business and Emerging Company categories during the ACE 2008 expo. To find out which companies won, and how your start up can sign up for the Phase II stage of the business-plan writing contest, which starts Feb. 1, listen to this News Maker interview.
ANN ARBOR - Ron Suarez, founder of LoudFeed, a digital music promotions company for independent record labels, is headed to Cannes, France, this week for the world’s largest independent music convention. Suarez, also founder of MediaRica.Com, the podcast partner of MITechNews.Com, hopes to ink some contracts in Europe with record labels that will propel his company to the next level.
DETROIT - Ford Motor Company’s hybrid fuel-powered fleet is increasing rapidly, riding a wave of consumer demand for GreenTech and environmentally friendly cars and trucks. Nancy Gioia, Ford’s Director of Sustainable Mobility and Hybrid Programs, talks about Ford’s future alternative energy plans in this special edition of News Maker interview from the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
DETROIT - E85 Ethanol fuel, the latest green friendly derivative, is growing in popularity although major issues, such as getting gas stations to carry it, remain. Still within a half dozen years, about half the cars and trucks on American roads will be burning this alternative energy fuel that boosts performance and cuts green house gas emissions, predicts Mary Beth Stanek, Director of Environmental, Energy & Safety Policy for General Motor’s Public Policy Center. This special GreenTech interview was done at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
TROY - Jennifer Bowden, manager of the Information Security Regional Skills Alliance, in this Automation Alley channel edition of News Maker Interview discusses her security organization mission along with an outline of the major projects underway currently. These projects include a security awareness initiative, an information security toolkit, and an educational outreach program.
GRAND RAPIDS – Jerry Brown, current president of Lawrence Productions, a West Michigan video production company, has purchased the company from founder John Lawrence. Terms were not announced.
To read the rest of this story, click on MITechNews.Com
TROY – Ken Rogers discusses a new report released Monday by Automation Alley says information technology professionals in southeast Michigan earned a 5.1 percent average wage increase from 2004 to 2005, despite the region losing some 6.1 percent of overall technology jobs – suggesting Southeast Michigan has been attracting or generating a fair amount of high-paying tech jobs.
GRAND RAPIDS - Reid Gough, Dean School of Technology and Davenport University Online, discusses the schools new Master’s Degree in Information Assurance. The degree work helps train the next generation of security professionals and is offered both at the Grand Rapids campus and online. Soon it will be offered at Davenport’s Livonia campus.
HOLLAND – Looking for a job in information technology? Want to move to West Michigan? You could be in luck according to the latest staffing survey done by Paragon Recruiting.
To read this story, click on MITechNews.Com
KALAMAZOO - The Southwest Michigan Innovation Center and MichBio have teamed up to offer a quarterly series of networking and educational events for life sciences companies in southwest Michigan. The first event is scheduled for Jan. 15 at the Southwest Michigan Innovation Center.
To read this story, click on MITechNews.Com
TROY - Barry Demp of Barry Demp Coaching will serve as a coach and facilitator for a new Mentoring Program that will be offered in early 2008 by ConnecTech, the successor organization to the GLIMA Network. To learn all the details about this innovative new program listen to this special edition of News Maker Interview.