Podcast

GLEQ SmartZone Award Worth $100,000 ANN ARBOR – Diane Durance, executive director of the Great Lakes Entrepreneur's Quest, said she has a new business competition that will award a cash prize of $100,000 in June. The GLEQ awards competition is open to all Michigan entrepreneurs that register to participate by March 5, but selection to compete for the new SmartZone Award requires a SmartZone sponsor.

Current Motor Co 1st Place GLEQ Emerging Business ANN ARBOR – Current Motor Company, an Ann Arbor-based company that designs and manufactures electric motorcycles and scooters, won the top prize in the fall 2009 Great Lakes Entrepreneur's Quest business-plan competition and a cash prize of $5000 in the Emerging Business category.

Global Energy Innovations 1st Place GLEQ New Business ANN ARBOR – Great Lakes Entrepreneur's Quest New Business Category winner was Global Energy Innovations, a Flint-based Kettering University spin-out that commercializes technology to accelerate the transition to the hydrogen and fuel-cell economy. GEI won $2000.

RealKidz 2nd Place GLEQ Emerging Company ANN ARBOR – Great Lakes Entrepreneur's Quest Emerging Company Second Place Award – $2,500. RealKidz, Inc. Represented by president, Merrill Guerra, Ypsilanti-based RealKidz addresses the issue of childhood obesity by offering plus-size clothing to young teens and a social network of support and information for parents.

Nalu Solar 2nd Place GLEQ New Business ANN ARBOR – Great Lakes Entrepreneur's Quest New Business Idea Second Place Award – $1,000. Nalu Solar Software. Represented by president, Jennifer McLaughlin, Ypsilanti-based Nalu Solar Software provides web-based software offering operational support to photovoltaic contractors.

IX Innovations GLEQ 3rd Place New Business ANN ARBOR – Great Lakes Entrepreneur's Quest New Business Idea Third Place Award – $500. IX Innovations/Pocket Pico. Represented by COO, Greg Marek, and CEO, Ian Dailey, Ann Arbor-based iXInnovations produces a portable electronic instrument called the Pocket Pico for use in developing low power devices.

SPINN Wins 3rd In GLEQ Emerging Company ANN ARBOR – GLEQ Emerging Company Third Place Award – $1,500. White Pine Systems, LLC, doing business as SPINN PHR. Represented by president and CEO, Douglas Dormer, Ann Arbor-based SPINN PHR provides a internet-based personal health records system to securely store, manage and communicate personal health information.

Kousky Wins GLEQ Coach Recognition Award ANN ARBOR – Great Lakes Entrepreneurs Quest gave the Coach Recognition Award was presented to Kenneth Kousky, Dow Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Saginaw Valley State University, for his work with three entrepreneurs in the competition and for engaging university students in Michigan's entrepreneurial community.

Dubray Wins GLEQ Spirit Award ANN ARBOR – The Great Lakes Entrepreneur Quest Spirit of Entrepreneurship Award was presented to Loretta Cipkus Dubray, president and CEO of Kalamazoo-based Global Clinical Connections, for her tenacity in building her business and in recognition of her commitment to "have a plan and work the plan."

Chevy Volt Goes Into Production Soon DETROIT – Tony Posawatz, Vehicle Line Director for the Chevy Volt, said the details for the all electric vehicle will be released this spring, including pricing and production schedules. But look for the first Volts on the streets by fall.

Ford To Add Electric Van To Hybrids This Fall DETROIT – Sherif Marakby, Chief Engineer, Global Hybrid Engineering for Ford, said an all electric van will be added to the Ford green vehicle line-up, which includes a myriad of hybrids including the Fusion sedan, named car of the year, by fall.

TechTown Update From Randal Charlton DETROIT – Randal Charlton, executive director of TechTown, talks about all the important new entrepreneurial programs started in 2009 and provides hints on a big expansion in 2010.

TechTown Facilities Manager Faces Unique Office Design Requirements DETROIT – Henry Argasinski, is the real estate and facilities manager for TechTown, at Wayne State University. He said in this Newsmaker Interview that the mix of unique tenants makes his job of assembling the jig jaw puzzle of office design challenging.

FilmEmerge Provides Low Cost Video Ads DETROIT – FilmEmerge, a TechTown tenant, has launched its Commercial Film Challenge, which helps bring small business and film makers together to create 30- and 60-second video commercials for less than $150.

Michigan Israel Business Bridge Hosts Networking Event Dec. 8 At TechTown DETROIT – TechTown Director Randal Charlton will be the featured speaker Dec. 8 when the Michigan Israel Business Bridge, a business networking group, hosts a networking event at the Wayne State University accelerator and incubator.

Women In Technology Disclose Strategy DEARBORN – Janet McQueen, CIO at the Blue Care Network of Michigan, also helps develop strategy for the Michigan Council of Women In Technology. She outlines her game plan in this interview from the MCWT 2009 Signature Event at the Henry Ford Museum.

GET-IT Program Aimed At High School Girls DEARBORN – Marcy Klevorn, president of the Michigan Council of Women in Technology Foundation, talks about the MCWTF's GET-IT Program – Girls Exploring Together Information Technology – which encourages high school girls to consider and ultimately pursue a career in Information Technology.

MCWT Looks To Expand Statewide DEARBORN – Andi Karaboutis, whose day job is working for General Motor's IS&S Organization, talks about how the Michigan Council of Women in Technology are looking to reach out past Southeast Michigan and link up with other women in IT around the state. Karaboutis is MCWT President.

WCWT Looking For Women, Men IT Execs DEARBORN – Jane Sydlowski, president of AMI Strategies, also serves as liaison between the Michigan Council of Women in Technology and its Advisory Board. She seeks to get IT executives, both men and women, to commitment not only their financial resources, but also emotional.

Techtown MIT Forum Oct. 30 Teaches Sales DETROIT - The MIT Enterprise Forum will host a seminar Oct. 30 at TechTown to teach business owners and managers how to close sales.