The Michigan Opportunity

Michigan’s “Global Ties” Partners map out a Diplomatic Path for International Exchange for Economic Prosperity ! Join Jodi Michaels ( Global Ties Kalamazoo ) and Marian Reich ( Global Ties Detroit ) together with host Ed Clemente to literally cover the globe. Based in Kalamazoo and Metro Detroit areas, these two organizations best exemplify Citizen Diplomacy and share Michigan with the world'...

What does it take to make Michigan a top 10 state in today’s dynamic world? Business Leaders for Michigan has the map for us on this podcast. Join Jeff Donofrio , President and CEO for Business Leaders for Michigan , and host Ed Clemente as they discuss this influential business organization, and their myriad of initiatives. Business Leaders for Michigan, a state business roundtable, is dedicated...

Discover How International Business Development Drives Local Job Creation from “Due East” Asian Regions, including China and Taiwan! Join Brian Connors , Partner, Due East Advisors, who works with companies from Mainland China and Taiwan, as he has a conversation with our host Ed Clemente about the critical role they play in the expanding world of foreign direct investment . Learn about their team...

Listen to MEDC’s CEO lay out his 4-point plan for Michigan’s continued economic recovery, some words of wisdom for Michiganders, businesses and communities for strategic growth opportunities. Join Quentin Messer, Jr. , Chief Executive Officer, President and Chair - Michigan Strategic Fund and host Ed Clemente as they discuss his strategic 4-point plan to keep moving Michigan’s economic development...

“Saginaw Future”, where its headed, success stories and economic opportunities for the Great Lakes Bay Region. Join JoAnn Crary, President of Saginaw Future , and host Ed Clemente as they discuss Saginaw area economic opportunities.  Learn about the unique ecosystem of Saginaw and the balance between urban business district, agriculture, and manufacturing.  She also serves on many other organizati...

Lt. Governor Gilchrist II mission to help leverage technology as a tool to help those in need and help close the Digital Divide. Join Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II and host Ed Clemente as they discuss his early passion for technology and at 16 years old starting a computer Lab in a Detroit Rec Center.  This helped guide him to get UM degrees in Computer Science & Engineering .  Which led hi...

How SEMCOG & MAC will change the face of southeast Michigan for Shared Prosperity, Economic Development and expose its New Future! Join Naheed Huq and host Ed Clemente as they discuss a wide variety of topics from what are SEMCOG and MAC and what they’re doing to support communities and workforce development in southeast Michigan. They discuss the challenges facing talent training , retention...

Find out who was the “Real McCoy,” the real world of patents and inventions and where the trends are heading. The Elijah J. McCoy Midwest Regional Office (MWRO) of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is located in Detroit serving Michigan and eight additional states. Their goal is to promote innovation and stimulate the economy by connecting entrepreneurs to government resources, supporti...

The Michigan Defense Center: From Arsenal of Democracy to Arsenal of Innovation, Building a Good Offense! Join Vicki Selva and host Ed Clemente as they navigate a course though Michigan’s rich historic relationships with the U.S. Defense Department in some of the state's core industries including manufacturing , mobility , aerospace and others. The Michigan Defense Center focuses on the suppo...

Building Bridges: The Future Between Canada & the United States, maybe thanks to “Mr. Hockey” Join Heather Grondin and host Ed Clemente as they take a brief international trip (maybe by foot or bike soon!) through the history of this project, as well as all the complexities of building a cross border bridge in today’s modern world. Created in 2012, Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA) is a...

Mexicantown: How an already vibrant community is moving into a 21st century High Tech region. In 1989, a group of Latino community leaders with expertise in business development and training, unified in the mission to create a Latino-owned and operated agency, Mexicantown CDC . Join Ray Lozano, Executive Director , and host Ed Clemente to learn about how this very diverse community is evolving wit...

Detroit’s Economic Rebound – How P3’s, media, non-profits & higher education helped rewrite the future of Michigan’s largest city. Mary Kramer is Corporate VP, Director of Detroit Homecoming and Special Projects at Crain’s Detroit Business .  Crain’s is one of the largest privately owned business media companies with 21 leading business, trade and consumer brands in North America, Europe and A...

Learn how to start using global trade for your business’s success through the MEDC on guided tour by Natalie Chmiko. Natalie Chmiko is Vice President, Pure Michigan Business Connect (PMBC) & International Trade at Michigan Economic Development Corporation . The PMBC and International Trade programs help Michigan companies grow and diversify their businesses, both domestically and international...

A peek into the future.  Dr. Shi demystifies connected and autonomous vehicles, edge computing and wireless health wearables including how and why all of these will affect you sooner than you think. Dr. Weisong Shi is a professor of computer science and Associate Dean for the College of Engineering, at Wayne State University. He has published books and multiple other publications and has more than...

What do these hot issues of supply chain, logistics, cybersecurity, blockchain and many other moving parts have in common? Professor Dr. Steven Melnyk. Dr. Steven Melnyk is a Professor of Supply Chain and Operations Management, Broad College of Business, at Michigan State University .  He has co-authored 20 books, and over 90 refereed journal articles. Join him and Host Ed Clemente and learn about...

Why MICHauto is the secret ingredient that helps grow and attract companies to the Michigan automotive & mobility ecosystem! MICHauto’s mission is to protect, retain, and grow Michigan’s signature automotive industry and is the state’s only automotive and mobility cluster association. Join Glenn Stevens and host Ed Clemente as they discuss the variety of the parts that make up the mosaic of MI...

The unique relationship of JPMorgan Chase & Co. Detroit and the Entrepreneurs of Color Fund and the moving story of the person who makes it happen. September Hargrove is the Vice President & Detroit Program Officer at JPMorgan Chase & Co . Their data-driven investment in the city builds on the initial progress that helped boost the city’s recovery through the creation of sustainable lo...

Here come the fresh ideas of how we move into the New Economy and Accenture is providing the global pathway options. Accenture has 500,000+ employees globally, they are in 50 counties and have clients in 120 countries.  Accenture's Detroit Innovation Hub is designed to help clients grow, compete and transform in the digital economy through strategic consulting. Follow Dan, Accenture's De...

Come discover the Beverage Culture in Michigan, with over 500 Breweries, Wineries & Distilleries. Representing the tasting worlds of wine, beer, distilleries and ciders, join Jenelle Jagmin of the Michigan Craft Beverage Council , Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and Host Ed Clemente and learn about Michigan’s unique business ecosystem of craft beverages. Learn why Mich...

10 reasons you should be talking about MichBio; everything from wearables to health care, pharmaceuticals to ag bio and medical devices, and much more around the state of Michigan. Dr. Stephen Rapundalo is President and CEO of MichBio , Michigan's official bio-industry association serving the pharmaceutical, medical device, ag-bio, R&D, health IT, and life science logistics sectors in the...

VP Dr. Cunningham walks us through life sciences, mobility, Tech Transfer and much more at the nation’s largest public research university. With a mission and responsibility as the nation's largest public research university, the University of Michigan Office of Research (UMOR) aims to catalyze, support and safeguard U-M research, with the bigger vision for research to serve the world. Join D...

Detroit Economic Growth Corporation: Find out why Kevin Johnson is up to the challenge of advancing the economy for all residents. Kevin Johnson is the President and CEO of the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation. The mission of the DEGC is to design and implement innovative solutions that attract investment, create jobs and advance Detroit’s economy for all residents. Join Kevin and host Ed Cleme...

Invest UP has a big job bringing prosperity to the 15 counties of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.  Heatr how they’re doing it from the iron range to the Soo Locks! Martin (Marty) Fittante is the Chief Executive Officer for InvestUP .  InvestUP is the lead regional economic development organization for Michigan's Upper Peninsula, with the mission of driving prosperity across the entire region thro...

What is the future of drone highways, AirHubs and LAANC?  How Air Space Link is mapping the future in over 23 states. Co-Founder, President & CEO of AirSpacelink , Michael Healander , joins host Ed Clemente on this episode of The Michigan Opportunity . AirSpacelink is the first cloud-based drone platform focused extensively on the needs of state & local government working to expand drone i...

What is up on Lake Michigan? The Lakeshore Advantage. See how they are helping West Michigan businesses in Allegan and Ottawa Counties. Jennifer Owens is the President of Lakeshore Advantage , a non-profit economic development organization that connects businesses to the resources they need to grow in Allegan and Ottawa Counties .  With host Ed Clemente, they discuss the ecosystem of advanced ener...