The Michigan Opportunity

Detroit Lift is part of Manufacturing USA, a national network of 17 institutes for advanced manufacturing. Hear from Joe Steele , Vice President of Communications and Legislative Affairs, explain how LIFT , a Detroit-based public-private partnership, is designed to help develop and deploy advanced lightweight metal manufacturing technologies and implementing education and training programs to bett...

Michigan-based SkySpecs achieves a global reach through office that span 6 continents, a team of 275 and over 200,000 precision wind turbine inspections with the company’s cutting-edge drone technology. Danny Ellis stands at the helm of SkySpecs , a trailblazer in the realm of wind energy technology. Established in 2012, SkySpecs has redefined the landscape of renewable energy asset management, pr...

The MSU Visiting International Professional Program has 315 international participants from 58 countries and five continents and offers programs in more than 10 different U.S. cities. Listen to Xinyu Wu , Director of Visiting International Professional Program ; Director of the Office of China Program ; and Executive Director of Michigan Council of Citizen Diplomacy , as she discusses with Ed this...

Inspired by the soul of Detroit, 313 Presents produces more than 350 concerts, theatrical productions, sporting events and family shows a year. With 2 million attendees annually, the entertainment powerhouse works with six world-class venues across southeastern Michigan, including Little Caesars Pizza Arena , The Fox Theatre , Comerica Park , Pine Knob Music Theatre , Meadowbrook Amphitheatre , Mi...

National Geographic, Netflix, History Channel, BBC, HGTV, Lifetime, TLC, OWN, Discovery +, Disney +, E!, FOX, ABC, and NBC have worked with Ms. MacIntosh,  a Detroit Homecoming Hollywood boomerang entrepreneur . Join our high-energy guest Katie Macintosh , Founder of Mac Worldwide , as she explains to Ed her fascinating career in Hollywood, and around the world in the genre of true docuseries and...

The future of engineering at Michigan State University The future of engineering at Michigan State University (MSU) is rich with diverse opportunities, boasting a comprehensive range of majors that cater to a wide array of interests and career paths. Under the leadership of Dean Leo C. Kempel , the Dennis P. Nyquist Endowed Professor of Electromagnetics and the ninth dean of the MSU College of Eng...

Dan Wyant , Chairman and President at Edward Lowe Foundation , and Rodney Parkkonen , Small Business Consultant at MEDC , discuss their unique and dynamic partnership that assists small businesses to thrive in Michigan. Dan also has experience with many previous leadership roles in state government and policy.  Ed and Darlene Lowe established the Edward Lowe Foundation in 1985 to leverage entrepre...

Unlocking the Earth's Secrets: SME Engineering has 50+ years of excellence behind iconic projects, from Notre Dame Stadium to clean energy initiatives, Hudson/Bedrock Development, Jimmy John's Field, and the Gordie Howe Bridge.  Hear Mark Kramer , President and CEO of SME , describe some unique and iconic projects, as well as the infrastructure under our feet! Geotechnical Engineering an...

London, Nashville and Detroit, Jack White’s innovative business is about pressing Vinyl Records! Listen to Eddie Gillis Operations Manager at Third Man Records , a vinyl manufacturing studio in Detroit.  Third Man Records was launched by Jack White in Detroit in 2001 and in 2009 opened its Nashville location home to label offices, distribution center, photo studio and record store. In 2015 its Det...

The Voices storytelling initiative aims to share perspectives of Michiganders across all 83 counties. Featuring business owners, students, and community members from around the state, these compelling stories showcase what it’s like to live and work in Michigan. From the 4 corners (if we had corners) including the 2 peninsulas, villages, townships, cities and counties, come the unique voices of ou...

Eastern Michigan University, founded in 1849, is moving forward for today’s challenges. Hear how President Smith is charting a bold course continuing the University’s 174-year legacy. Dr. James M. Smith is the 23rd president of Eastern Michigan University (EMU), beginning his duties in July 2016. Since then, President Smith revised the University’s Strategic Plan, created a position of Chief Diver...

Who knew this global German based non-profit R&D organization working with 3 major US universities was based here in Michigan? Listen to Thomas Schuelke , MSU professor and President of Fraunhofer USA , explain this unique global organization and how it’s making business innovation better in Michigan and around the world. Fraunhofer USA, Inc., founded by Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft , is an R&D...

Eight percent of the annual trade between the US and Canada comes through one of the world’s busiest international border crossing.  Colin Bird is at the heart of it in downtown Detroit. Hear Colin Bird discuss Michigan and Ontario’s trade relationship, the busiest between any Canadian province and U.S. state, supporting thousands of jobs on either side. Last year, total trade between Michigan and...

The Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce’s mission is to facilitate business relationships among Asian and U.S. based companies and to promote the economic advancement of Asian Pacific Americans. Join Executive Director Duc Abrahamson as she explains the vision of her organization, her path to this position, and the compelling story on how she came to Michigan. The Asian Pacific American Cha...

Terri Fitzpatrick , a proud member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians , leads the MEDC’s Office of Tribal Business Development . Fitzpatrick is also the chief real estate and global attraction officer for the state’s site readiness and global attraction efforts, helping businesses move to and expand in Michigan. Those two career responsibilities overlap in their focus on building co...

Hydrogen is definitely in Michigan’s future of Mobility: Mach2 & Nel Hydrogen! Zachary Kolodin , Chief Infrastructure Officer and Director of the Michigan Infrastructure Office , and Reuben Sarkar , CEO at the American Center for Mobility — are two key figures in providing insights into the transformative effects of Michigan's newest clean hydrogen hub project. The Midwest Alliance for Cl...

Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center Empowers Economic Growth: 5 Regional Offices, 7,600 Jobs Created and Retained, and 400+ Statewide Clients Ingrid Tighe , President of the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center (MMTC), has an impressive background and deep understanding of the manufacturing industry in Michigan. Her journey from being a veteran to becoming the president of MMTC showcases...

Consumers Energy Empowers 6.7 Million Michigan Customers with Natural Gas and Electricity Across 68 Lower Peninsula Counties: Lauren Snyder Unpacks Their Role in Shaping Michigan’s Future. Listen to Lauren Youngdahl Snyder as she discusses electric vehicles, renewable energy and efficiency with The Michigan Opportunity podcast!  Consumers Energy is an investor-owned utility that provides natural g...

Women owned Renovare Development is disrupting the real estate market from Ypsilanti to Benton Harbor to Munising by focusing on urban communities, rural towns, brownfields, and workforce housing. Renovare provides mixed-income housing and community-based commercial spaces to urban communities, while helping support workforce housing and commercial amenities to support working families. The compan...

The USMCA , also known as "Nafta 2.0", created one of the largest free trade zones in the world. Mexican Consul Roberto Nicolas Vazquez is at the heart of the Detroit-Windsor border crossing, the 2nd busiest in the world! In a recent interview, Consul Roberto Nicolas Vazquez  describes his unique diplomatic post and the services offered at the Consulate of Mexico in Detroit  including pr...

With 650 OHM Advisor team members, this unique company does it all to help build better places, businesses, infrastructure and communities. Join Jon Kramer and host Ed Clemente as they discuss OHM Advisor , a pioneering firm that's creating better places for people. This forward-thinking company includes  engineering , planning, urban design, landscape architecture, surveying and construction...

What do Presidents Biden & Obama, Governor Whitmer & Secretary of Energy Granholm all have in common?  Kerry Duggan has worked directly with all of them all. Kerry C. Duggan , CEO and sustainability expert, founded SustainabiliD to help established organizations anticipate and address climate challenges. With partners like ONE, LuxWall and AeroSeal, SustainabiliD is scaling up innovative c...

The Nature Conservancy of Michigan has worked with private, public, education and non-governmental agencies to help make Michigan’s 83 counties ideal places for people to live, work and play.  Hear Rich Bowman and host Ed Clemente as they discuss this fascinating organization.  As the Director of Policy at The Nature Conservancy in Michigan , Rich has been working with the people of the Great Lake...

What is multicultural marketing and branding, and how can it impact Michigan’s supply chains and the quest to attract talent in this new economy? Listen to Lydia Michael and Kevin Ketels as they explore the growing world of international marketing, branding and supply chain evolution. Blended Collective is a multicultural marketing and brand consultancy focused on the core values of authenticity,...

What do you get when you add the Switzerland based World Economic Forum (including Davos) and the US leader in Industry 4.0, Michigan based Automation Alley? You get the U.S. Center for Advanced Manufacturing based here in Michigan with an international board. Listen to Cynthia Hutchinson as she explains the mission and vision of the USCAM , and its international impact. The USCAM drives state, re...