Karin Connelly Rice
Lisa Dunn is socially conscious with an artistic flair. As owner of Revive boutique in Cleveland Heights and Lyndhurst’s Legacy Village, Dunn showcases the works of artisans from around the world, all while making sure they earn a fair wage for their work.
The two stores carry eco-fashions for children, women and men, as well as products for the home. The handcrafted pieces hail from more than 30 countries and are made of various sustainable materials, such as organic cotton and hemp, vegetable dyes, recycled glass and magazines, shells and seeds.
“What’s unique about our boutique is that everything we sell is fair trade,” says Dunn. “And I design about 20 percent for what we sell.” While Dunn communicates regularly with her artisan groups via the internet, she also travels one to three times a year to visit the artists with whom she works. “It helps refresh and ground me in the mission of why we are doing this,” she says. “I really try to focus on the long-term relationships with the artisan groups we work with.”
Dunn just returned from Guatemala before the grand re-opening of the Legacy Village store in a new location and a speaking engagement at the Ohio Fair Trade Expo at John Carroll University last weekend.
In the five years she has been in business, Dunn has grown her business from one store with one employee (her, pulling 100-hour weeks) to two stores with nine employees.
“Every year we’ve grown,” she says. “And my employees are so committed and dedicated to the mission of fair trade.” Additionally, she hires four to six interns a year and plans to hire another one in November.
Source: Lisa Dunn
Writer: Karin Connelly
The two stores carry eco-fashions for children, women and men, as well as products for the home. The handcrafted pieces hail from more than 30 countries and are made of various sustainable materials, such as organic cotton and hemp, vegetable dyes, recycled glass and magazines, shells and seeds.
“What’s unique about our boutique is that everything we sell is fair trade,” says Dunn. “And I design about 20 percent for what we sell.” While Dunn communicates regularly with her artisan groups via the internet, she also travels one to three times a year to visit the artists with whom she works. “It helps refresh and ground me in the mission of why we are doing this,” she says. “I really try to focus on the long-term relationships with the artisan groups we work with.”
Dunn just returned from Guatemala before the grand re-opening of the Legacy Village store in a new location and a speaking engagement at the Ohio Fair Trade Expo at John Carroll University last weekend.
In the five years she has been in business, Dunn has grown her business from one store with one employee (her, pulling 100-hour weeks) to two stores with nine employees.
“Every year we’ve grown,” she says. “And my employees are so committed and dedicated to the mission of fair trade.” Additionally, she hires four to six interns a year and plans to hire another one in November.
Source: Lisa Dunn
Writer: Karin Connelly
Steve Orlando wants to make cell phones free for all. He plans to do that through advertising. The CEO of Cell-A-Spot started the company in 2009 with the idea of selling ad space for cell phone apps and the concept has been growing ever since.
“We essentially are implementing advertisements in mobile phones,” Orlando says. “It started with a couple of ideas, but when we got our first customer we created our first app.”
Cell-a-Spot has created patent pending technology that couples a one-to-one interactive targeting for advertisers with the ability to generate revenue streams for mobile providers. Cell-A-Spot’s first app builds ads into a cell phone’s 411 service. Instead of paying for 411, the costs are offset by ads.
“Say you call 411 to search for pizza places... Ads for places like Pizza Hut will come up,” Orlando explains. “A lot of plans right now charge a fee to call 411. The way we built this app, it’s free.”
Orlando moved his business into Shaker LaunchHouse last April and has found the resources there to be invaluable in growing Cell-A-Spot. They became a LaunchHouse portfolio company about a month ago. “We’re lean, we’re small and we are able to keep our overhead really low,” he says. “Working in LaunchHouse, we get a lot of resources there.”
As Cell-A-Spot grows Orlando plans to build a full staff, from a sales team to accountants and administrative assistants. “My goal is to in three to four years have 12 employees,” he says. “But maybe we’ll get to 40 or 50 employees.”
Source: Steve Orlando
Writer: Karin Connelly
“We essentially are implementing advertisements in mobile phones,” Orlando says. “It started with a couple of ideas, but when we got our first customer we created our first app.”
Cell-a-Spot has created patent pending technology that couples a one-to-one interactive targeting for advertisers with the ability to generate revenue streams for mobile providers. Cell-A-Spot’s first app builds ads into a cell phone’s 411 service. Instead of paying for 411, the costs are offset by ads.
“Say you call 411 to search for pizza places... Ads for places like Pizza Hut will come up,” Orlando explains. “A lot of plans right now charge a fee to call 411. The way we built this app, it’s free.”
Orlando moved his business into Shaker LaunchHouse last April and has found the resources there to be invaluable in growing Cell-A-Spot. They became a LaunchHouse portfolio company about a month ago. “We’re lean, we’re small and we are able to keep our overhead really low,” he says. “Working in LaunchHouse, we get a lot of resources there.”
As Cell-A-Spot grows Orlando plans to build a full staff, from a sales team to accountants and administrative assistants. “My goal is to in three to four years have 12 employees,” he says. “But maybe we’ll get to 40 or 50 employees.”
Source: Steve Orlando
Writer: Karin Connelly
Cleveland’s young professionals are charged with shaping the future of the city. And while there are more than 70 organizations catering to the 15,000 young professionals in the area, there isn't one dedicated to uniting these groups to make a difference and make a change. Engage! Cleveland is striving to do exactly that.
“These organizations are extremely important because they integrate young professionals with the community,” says Andrew Bennett, president of the Cleveland Professional 20/30 Club. “But think about the full-time resources and coordinating all of the work they are doing. What would it look like if young professionals were fully integrated into the community?”
Engage! Cleveland grew out of Cleveland ConneXion, which sought to provide a unified voice for Cleveland’s YP organizations. It has continued to evolve over the past year as a forum to engage the area’s young professionals, make them want to stay in Cleveland and work at creating a thriving, vibrant business community that people actually want to be in.
“The private sector employers are interested in attraction and retention issues, the public and the non-profit sectors need a better understanding of what young people want. What do they really think? What do they really want?” says Bennett. “Right now there is no go-to central location to tap into the community.”
That’s where Engage! Cleveland comes in.
“I’m constantly asked, ‘How do I get tapped in to the community,’” says Bennett. “We’re trying to make Engage! Cleveland that hub to better enable and capitalize on all the great things happening here.”
Source: Andrew Bennett
Writer: Karin Connelly
“These organizations are extremely important because they integrate young professionals with the community,” says Andrew Bennett, president of the Cleveland Professional 20/30 Club. “But think about the full-time resources and coordinating all of the work they are doing. What would it look like if young professionals were fully integrated into the community?”
Engage! Cleveland grew out of Cleveland ConneXion, which sought to provide a unified voice for Cleveland’s YP organizations. It has continued to evolve over the past year as a forum to engage the area’s young professionals, make them want to stay in Cleveland and work at creating a thriving, vibrant business community that people actually want to be in.
“The private sector employers are interested in attraction and retention issues, the public and the non-profit sectors need a better understanding of what young people want. What do they really think? What do they really want?” says Bennett. “Right now there is no go-to central location to tap into the community.”
That’s where Engage! Cleveland comes in.
“I’m constantly asked, ‘How do I get tapped in to the community,’” says Bennett. “We’re trying to make Engage! Cleveland that hub to better enable and capitalize on all the great things happening here.”
Source: Andrew Bennett
Writer: Karin Connelly
Michael Christoff and Bradley Fink are all about using imagination to create the unthinkable. That’s the idea behind the Cleveland Design Competition. Now in its fourth year, the competition invites people to address the city’s underused sites and come up with new architectural ideas for their uses.
Every year, the competition has brought entries from around the world. This year’s project was the Cleveland K-12 schools of the future. “Our intent is to get people to look at the different problems at hand,” says Christoff. “We involved education experts and asked participants to produce a public school of the future.”
This year, 92 submissions from 20 countries came in -- 11 from Ohio. Submissions explored how the design of better learning environments -- and their ability to connect with the city -- might help to slow or reverse the population exodus from the public school system in Cleveland and many other urban areas throughout the world.
The winning design this year was submitted by Michael Dickson from Brisbane, Australia. He received $8,000 for his entry. The winners were selected by a jury of representatives from the architectural and educational fields. “The whole idea is to get people to say, ‘wow, I never thought about it that way,’” explains Christoff. “It’s a different way to think about problems.”
Christoff and Fink are already thinking about next year’s competition theme: What should be done with the upper and lower levels of the Detroit Superior Bridge.
Source: Michael Christoff
Writer: Karin Connelly
Every year, the competition has brought entries from around the world. This year’s project was the Cleveland K-12 schools of the future. “Our intent is to get people to look at the different problems at hand,” says Christoff. “We involved education experts and asked participants to produce a public school of the future.”
This year, 92 submissions from 20 countries came in -- 11 from Ohio. Submissions explored how the design of better learning environments -- and their ability to connect with the city -- might help to slow or reverse the population exodus from the public school system in Cleveland and many other urban areas throughout the world.
The winning design this year was submitted by Michael Dickson from Brisbane, Australia. He received $8,000 for his entry. The winners were selected by a jury of representatives from the architectural and educational fields. “The whole idea is to get people to say, ‘wow, I never thought about it that way,’” explains Christoff. “It’s a different way to think about problems.”
Christoff and Fink are already thinking about next year’s competition theme: What should be done with the upper and lower levels of the Detroit Superior Bridge.
Source: Michael Christoff
Writer: Karin Connelly
Tremont Electric is developing a new energy source with its recently patented nPower Wave Energy Converter (WEC). The four-year-old Cleveland company made a huge splash with its nPower PEG, a pint-size power plant that allows people to charge their hand-held devices while walking, running or biking. Their new product uses the waves of Lake Erie -- and ultimately larger bodies of water -- to generate commercial-scale electricity.
“We put it in something like a buoy and it rides the waves and is able to convert the waves to electric power,” explains Tremont Electric inventor, founder, and CEO Aaron LeMieux.
While other energy companies are exploring wave energy around the world, LeMieux says Lake Erie provides a great testing ground. “We can do the same thing here, but we can do it much more quickly because we can do it in a small boat versus a 200-foot research vessel,” he says. “The wave profile in Lake Erie -- higher frequency waves -- means faster test results.”
Roughly the size of an automobile, the nPower WEC is poised to help reinvent the manufacturing base of the Midwest into the clean energy job creator of the future.
"Our vision is to put Northeast Ohio at the top of the new clean energy economy," says LeMieux. “This is a brand new industry. It could be compared to the automobile industry.”
LeMieux says that jobs could be created across the board in manufacturing within the next two years as Tremont Electric secures funding and further develops the converter.
Source: Aaron LeMieux
Writer: Karin Connelly
“We put it in something like a buoy and it rides the waves and is able to convert the waves to electric power,” explains Tremont Electric inventor, founder, and CEO Aaron LeMieux.
While other energy companies are exploring wave energy around the world, LeMieux says Lake Erie provides a great testing ground. “We can do the same thing here, but we can do it much more quickly because we can do it in a small boat versus a 200-foot research vessel,” he says. “The wave profile in Lake Erie -- higher frequency waves -- means faster test results.”
Roughly the size of an automobile, the nPower WEC is poised to help reinvent the manufacturing base of the Midwest into the clean energy job creator of the future.
"Our vision is to put Northeast Ohio at the top of the new clean energy economy," says LeMieux. “This is a brand new industry. It could be compared to the automobile industry.”
LeMieux says that jobs could be created across the board in manufacturing within the next two years as Tremont Electric secures funding and further develops the converter.
Source: Aaron LeMieux
Writer: Karin Connelly
In an effort to inspire area students to think about clean energy, this year's Clean Energy Challenge will be open to local college students. NorTech is heading up Ohio’s participation in the business plan contest, sponsored by Clean Energy Trust in Chicago.
“The point of the challenge is to institute more technology transfer out of the universities,” explains Dave Karpinski, NorTech vice president. “It’s a business plan competition that focuses on clean energy technology.”
Students from Ohio colleges are invited to submit their plans in five categories: renewable energy, low-carbon transportation, Smart Grid, energy efficiency and carbon abatement. Participants in the first round submit their ideas and video presentations to compete for $10,000. The top three teams from Ohio will then go on to the regional competition, where they will receive extensive mentoring and compete for $100,000.
“They have an intense mentoring team and help fine tune their ideas,” says Karpinski. “They get lots of support behind them to develop their ideas. That’s what’s really exciting about this competition.”
Although there is a cash prize involved, Karpinski says the competition is really about encouraging new ideas and encouraging students to think about clean energy technology. “It’s not about the prize, it’s that students can get exposure to the different sectors,” he says. “It’s a great and noble mission.”
Source: Dave Karpinski
Writer: Karin Connelly
“The point of the challenge is to institute more technology transfer out of the universities,” explains Dave Karpinski, NorTech vice president. “It’s a business plan competition that focuses on clean energy technology.”
Students from Ohio colleges are invited to submit their plans in five categories: renewable energy, low-carbon transportation, Smart Grid, energy efficiency and carbon abatement. Participants in the first round submit their ideas and video presentations to compete for $10,000. The top three teams from Ohio will then go on to the regional competition, where they will receive extensive mentoring and compete for $100,000.
“They have an intense mentoring team and help fine tune their ideas,” says Karpinski. “They get lots of support behind them to develop their ideas. That’s what’s really exciting about this competition.”
Although there is a cash prize involved, Karpinski says the competition is really about encouraging new ideas and encouraging students to think about clean energy technology. “It’s not about the prize, it’s that students can get exposure to the different sectors,” he says. “It’s a great and noble mission.”
Source: Dave Karpinski
Writer: Karin Connelly
SironRX Therapeutics, which spun out of Juventas Therapeutics and the Cleveland Clinic almost a year ago, is finding marked success in healing wounds. The company received $1 million in Third Frontier funding to continue clinical trials in wound healing.
“What we observed at Juventas in treatments for heart disease, we have observed in wound treatment with the same product,” explains Rahul Aras, SironRX president and CEO. “With SRX100, we accelerate treatment in dermal wounds and prevent scarring. While normal healing occurs in about 21 days, healing occurred 20 to 30 percent faster with significantly less scarring with our product.”
The product will be used in post-surgical incisions, chronic diabetic ulcers and burns. SironRX’s goal is to develop a cost-effective interactive wound therapy that can be topically administered with the potential to significantly improve function of the damaged tissue.
“It’s a great concept, applying concepts that make the body heal,” Aras says. “Repairing injured organs to heal themselves, I think that’s pretty exciting.”
As clinical trials continue, SironRX will be ramping up a full-time management teams, including a full-time CEO, and operational staff.
Source: Rahul Aras
Writer: Karin Connelly
“What we observed at Juventas in treatments for heart disease, we have observed in wound treatment with the same product,” explains Rahul Aras, SironRX president and CEO. “With SRX100, we accelerate treatment in dermal wounds and prevent scarring. While normal healing occurs in about 21 days, healing occurred 20 to 30 percent faster with significantly less scarring with our product.”
The product will be used in post-surgical incisions, chronic diabetic ulcers and burns. SironRX’s goal is to develop a cost-effective interactive wound therapy that can be topically administered with the potential to significantly improve function of the damaged tissue.
“It’s a great concept, applying concepts that make the body heal,” Aras says. “Repairing injured organs to heal themselves, I think that’s pretty exciting.”
As clinical trials continue, SironRX will be ramping up a full-time management teams, including a full-time CEO, and operational staff.
Source: Rahul Aras
Writer: Karin Connelly
Young, tech-based companies have a major impact on Northeast Ohio’s economy. In a report created by Cleveland State University and commissioned by JumpStart, 90 startup companies generated $155 million in revenue and created 1,000 jobs in 2010.
“Our objective with this report is to make sure people know why entrepreneurship is important to the community,” says Cathy Belk, chief relationship officer with JumpStart. “These are all early-stage companies. There were no mature companies or public companies included."
The study asked nearly 200 JumpStart client companies for feedback on revenue and jobs. The survey results are based on the 90 who responded. “This report is a real benefit to the community,” says Belk. “These numbers really make that quantitative and understandable.”
The companies surveyed increased state and local tax revenues by $7.5 million and federal tax revenues by $10.8 million, for an overall 2010 tax impact of $18.3 million. “The companies themselves are sometimes beneficiaries of state and federal monies, and that money is being returned to the government as the companies grow.”
Belk sees the report as an optimistic view of the future for the entrepreneurial climate in Northeast Ohio. “This offers a lot of promise,” she says. “A lot of these companies are going to continue to grow and continue to create jobs. Imagine what this will look like in five years.”
Source: Cathy Belk
Writer: Karin Connelly
“Our objective with this report is to make sure people know why entrepreneurship is important to the community,” says Cathy Belk, chief relationship officer with JumpStart. “These are all early-stage companies. There were no mature companies or public companies included."
The study asked nearly 200 JumpStart client companies for feedback on revenue and jobs. The survey results are based on the 90 who responded. “This report is a real benefit to the community,” says Belk. “These numbers really make that quantitative and understandable.”
The companies surveyed increased state and local tax revenues by $7.5 million and federal tax revenues by $10.8 million, for an overall 2010 tax impact of $18.3 million. “The companies themselves are sometimes beneficiaries of state and federal monies, and that money is being returned to the government as the companies grow.”
Belk sees the report as an optimistic view of the future for the entrepreneurial climate in Northeast Ohio. “This offers a lot of promise,” she says. “A lot of these companies are going to continue to grow and continue to create jobs. Imagine what this will look like in five years.”
Source: Cathy Belk
Writer: Karin Connelly
The Council of Smaller Enterprises (COSE) is holding its seventh annual small business conference on October 19th and 20th at the I-X Center in Cleveland. The event is the only one of its kind designed specifically for small business owners looking for an opportunity to learn, network and work together with other small businesses.
“Basically we put this together because we saw a gap in the marketplace for this kind of conference,” says Steve Millard, COSE president and executive director. “There aren’t a whole lot of places you can go as a small business owner. This two day conference is a chance to come together and be with other small business owners who understand the pressures of what they go through.”
The conference will feature 55 workshops on sales, marketing, HR, money, social media, technology, as well as personal and professional development. There will also be a 75-booth trade show, networking opportunities, interactive learning labs, and peer-to-peer roundtables on topics pertinent to small businesses.
Keynote speakers will be Daymond John, creator of FUBU and panelist on the ABC reality show “Shark Tank” and Jeffrey Rapport, a digital marketing, sales and e-commerce expert and founder and chairman of Marketspace, LLC.
Additionally, a panel of four local successful business owners will share their stories and the ups and downs of becoming successful. “It’s an opportunity to learn from others,” says Millard. “It’s a lot of energy, a lot of fun.”
The conference has earned a national reputation, and attendees have come from as far as California and Canada, says Millard. Organizers expect 2,000 small business owners to attend this year.
Source: Steve Millard
Writer: Karin Connelly
“Basically we put this together because we saw a gap in the marketplace for this kind of conference,” says Steve Millard, COSE president and executive director. “There aren’t a whole lot of places you can go as a small business owner. This two day conference is a chance to come together and be with other small business owners who understand the pressures of what they go through.”
The conference will feature 55 workshops on sales, marketing, HR, money, social media, technology, as well as personal and professional development. There will also be a 75-booth trade show, networking opportunities, interactive learning labs, and peer-to-peer roundtables on topics pertinent to small businesses.
Keynote speakers will be Daymond John, creator of FUBU and panelist on the ABC reality show “Shark Tank” and Jeffrey Rapport, a digital marketing, sales and e-commerce expert and founder and chairman of Marketspace, LLC.
Additionally, a panel of four local successful business owners will share their stories and the ups and downs of becoming successful. “It’s an opportunity to learn from others,” says Millard. “It’s a lot of energy, a lot of fun.”
The conference has earned a national reputation, and attendees have come from as far as California and Canada, says Millard. Organizers expect 2,000 small business owners to attend this year.
Source: Steve Millard
Writer: Karin Connelly
Cleveland State University is part of an economic impact study of shale in Ohio and its potential to give a big boost to the state’s economy. Ohio State and Marietta College are also participating in the study, commissioned by the Ohio Chamber of Commerce on behalf of the Ohio Shale Coalition.
The study focuses on the economic impact of drilling for gas and oil in the Utica Point Pleasant and Marcellus shale formations that run along the eastern half of the state. “It would be a nice change for Ohio to be making money in gas and oil instead of losing it,” says Andrew Thomas, executive in residence in the Energy Policy Center at CSU’s Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs.
The group does not yet have concrete numbers on the oil and gas potential, but should have them by next year. But they do know that the natural resource could have a significant positive impact on a variety of industries in the area, from the steel and construction companies to manufacturers and associated businesses.
This study could improve industry across the board if the potential in shale proves to be what speculators believe it to be. “The big benefit and early benefit will be with the land owners,” says Thomas. “We’ve been exporting money out of the state for a long time. It would change the economy of Ohio.”
Source: Andrew Thomas
Writer: Karin Connelly
The study focuses on the economic impact of drilling for gas and oil in the Utica Point Pleasant and Marcellus shale formations that run along the eastern half of the state. “It would be a nice change for Ohio to be making money in gas and oil instead of losing it,” says Andrew Thomas, executive in residence in the Energy Policy Center at CSU’s Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs.
The group does not yet have concrete numbers on the oil and gas potential, but should have them by next year. But they do know that the natural resource could have a significant positive impact on a variety of industries in the area, from the steel and construction companies to manufacturers and associated businesses.
This study could improve industry across the board if the potential in shale proves to be what speculators believe it to be. “The big benefit and early benefit will be with the land owners,” says Thomas. “We’ve been exporting money out of the state for a long time. It would change the economy of Ohio.”
Source: Andrew Thomas
Writer: Karin Connelly
The Cleveland Council on World Affairs (CCWA) will once again be hosting former U.S. Undersecretary of Commerce, Frank Lavin tonight in its speaker series at the Union Club of Cleveland. Lavin, who recently co-published the book "Export Now," will talk about strategies for success in exporting to a global market.
“He is a great speaker and a great resource for organizations in the area,” says Jana Krasney, director of speaker programs for CCWA. “What Frank Lavin says in his book is that small and mid-sized companies are hesitant to go global because they might not think they have the resources, but they do and it’s very important.”
As chairman of public affairs for Edelman Asia Pacific, Lavin has worked with over 2,000 US companies to formulate export strategies. His talk will center on five keys to going global, in particular in the Asian market. “Lavin points out that US exports to China have grown tremendously in the last decade,” says Krasney. Tonight he will share his knowledge and expertise with companies and individuals interested in tapping that market.
CCWA is expecting about 50 to 75 participants in tonight’s presentation. Krasney says intentionally keep the audience small for plenty of one-on-one participation. “Lavin always stays to make sure people who want to ask specific questions will have an opportunity to do so,” she says.
The cost is $20 for members, $30 for non-members and $10 for students. People can registers on CCWA’s website. Registration begins at 6 p.m., followed by the program at 6:15 p.m. and a reception.
Source: Jana Krasney
Writer: Karin Connelly
“He is a great speaker and a great resource for organizations in the area,” says Jana Krasney, director of speaker programs for CCWA. “What Frank Lavin says in his book is that small and mid-sized companies are hesitant to go global because they might not think they have the resources, but they do and it’s very important.”
As chairman of public affairs for Edelman Asia Pacific, Lavin has worked with over 2,000 US companies to formulate export strategies. His talk will center on five keys to going global, in particular in the Asian market. “Lavin points out that US exports to China have grown tremendously in the last decade,” says Krasney. Tonight he will share his knowledge and expertise with companies and individuals interested in tapping that market.
CCWA is expecting about 50 to 75 participants in tonight’s presentation. Krasney says intentionally keep the audience small for plenty of one-on-one participation. “Lavin always stays to make sure people who want to ask specific questions will have an opportunity to do so,” she says.
The cost is $20 for members, $30 for non-members and $10 for students. People can registers on CCWA’s website. Registration begins at 6 p.m., followed by the program at 6:15 p.m. and a reception.
Source: Jana Krasney
Writer: Karin Connelly
LineStream Technologies is growing by leaps and bounds in the automated software control market. The company was created in 2008 as a spinoff out of research done by CSU’s Zhiqiang Gao, director of the Center for Advanced Control Technologies and focuses on commercializing and simplifying control software.
Basically, LineStream products increase efficiency, are easy to implement, and therefore improve the performance of automated systems.
“Any product using a motor, we look to improve energy efficiency and life of that motor,” explains David Neundorfer, LineStream president. “We simplify the design process and lop off weeks of [development].”
The company is getting attention from some of the major players in the automation industry. They just licensed their software to Texas Instruments. “We’re going to be putting software in a chip platform in motor and motion controls,” explains Neundorfer.
The deal adds to the company’s rapid growth. “It’s very exciting and a large deal for us,” says Neundorfer. “Some of the larger companies in the industrial space are interested in our technology.”
LineStream has grown to five employees this year, expects to be at eight to 10 by the end of the year, and double in size again next year. “We’re hiring and ramping up to establish a relationship with Texas Instruments.”
Source: David Neundorfer
Writer: Karin Connelly
Basically, LineStream products increase efficiency, are easy to implement, and therefore improve the performance of automated systems.
“Any product using a motor, we look to improve energy efficiency and life of that motor,” explains David Neundorfer, LineStream president. “We simplify the design process and lop off weeks of [development].”
The company is getting attention from some of the major players in the automation industry. They just licensed their software to Texas Instruments. “We’re going to be putting software in a chip platform in motor and motion controls,” explains Neundorfer.
The deal adds to the company’s rapid growth. “It’s very exciting and a large deal for us,” says Neundorfer. “Some of the larger companies in the industrial space are interested in our technology.”
LineStream has grown to five employees this year, expects to be at eight to 10 by the end of the year, and double in size again next year. “We’re hiring and ramping up to establish a relationship with Texas Instruments.”
Source: David Neundorfer
Writer: Karin Connelly
Justin Bibb, special assistant for education and economic development for Cuyahoga County executive Ed FitzGerald, was looking for a way to make sure his generation is heard in the business world. That’s when he founded YP Nation, a group of young professionals who want to play an active role in the nation’s policies and views.
“There’s a movement as baby boomers retire to engage millennials,” Bibb says of his generation. “Rarely is our voice elevated.” Today he is regional director of YP Nation, encouraging other young professionals to get involved and make their voices heard.
Founded in 2009, YP Nation has 3,000 members nationwide and access to half a million people through networking groups. Membership gives access to resources, information and services to help advance the next generation.
“Our core goal is to give young professionals a voice," says Michael Eisenstadt, the organization’s president. “There’s a lot of structural imbalance out there and we think it’s important for young people to get together and voice their ideas. The more we can get involved, the better it is for everyone.”
YP Nation’s website is chock full of articles and blogs meant to empower its readers to take action and make a change.
“These are tough times,” says Eisenstadt. “We just want more opportunity. Our goal is to coalesce this voice from younger Americans.”
Additionally, for $99 a year, members can get a YP Rewards card, which gives holders more than $3,500 in discounts on things that serve the young professional lifestyle.
Source: Michael Eisenstadt and Justin Bibb
Writer: Karin Connelly
“There’s a movement as baby boomers retire to engage millennials,” Bibb says of his generation. “Rarely is our voice elevated.” Today he is regional director of YP Nation, encouraging other young professionals to get involved and make their voices heard.
Founded in 2009, YP Nation has 3,000 members nationwide and access to half a million people through networking groups. Membership gives access to resources, information and services to help advance the next generation.
“Our core goal is to give young professionals a voice," says Michael Eisenstadt, the organization’s president. “There’s a lot of structural imbalance out there and we think it’s important for young people to get together and voice their ideas. The more we can get involved, the better it is for everyone.”
YP Nation’s website is chock full of articles and blogs meant to empower its readers to take action and make a change.
“These are tough times,” says Eisenstadt. “We just want more opportunity. Our goal is to coalesce this voice from younger Americans.”
Additionally, for $99 a year, members can get a YP Rewards card, which gives holders more than $3,500 in discounts on things that serve the young professional lifestyle.
Source: Michael Eisenstadt and Justin Bibb
Writer: Karin Connelly
Although just barely eight months old, ImageIQ has found a niche in the medical imaging field. The company, which is a spinoff of the Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute, takes a qualitative approach to diagnostic imaging.
“Anybody who acquires an image during a bio-science event, it’s a subjective process for anyone who looks at that image,” says ImageIQ CEO Tim Kulbago. “We build custom solutions to get quantitative scientific data.”
Kulbago likens ImageIQ’s capabilities to a police officer’s speed radar gun. Without it, people in the medical industry are just estimating their findings. The company has three areas of expertise: pharmaceutical, medical devices and research.
While the company still is in its infancy, the folks behind the research at Image IQ have years of experience. “We feel like we’re on the leading edge of actual medical imaging,” says Kulbago. “Our team has been doing this for over 10 years. Now we’re taking the idea of this service to market.”
ImageIQ has developed working relationships with NASA, MIT and, most recently, Anderson Orthopaedic Research Institute (AORI) to enhance the ongoing joint replacement research. ImageIQ and AORI will apply state-of-the-art 3D imaging analytics to improve the assessment of the structural integrity and performance of various biomaterials in orthopedic implant wear studies.
ImageIQ has grown from four people on staff to eight in just eight months. “Now were at a point where word is starting to get out,” says Kulbago. They are prepared to grow as the company grows. Kulbago plans to host a webinar in November, “60 in 60: Speed Dating for Imaging Analytics,” which has already produced significant interest.
Source: Tim Kulbago
Writer: Karin Connelly
“Anybody who acquires an image during a bio-science event, it’s a subjective process for anyone who looks at that image,” says ImageIQ CEO Tim Kulbago. “We build custom solutions to get quantitative scientific data.”
Kulbago likens ImageIQ’s capabilities to a police officer’s speed radar gun. Without it, people in the medical industry are just estimating their findings. The company has three areas of expertise: pharmaceutical, medical devices and research.
While the company still is in its infancy, the folks behind the research at Image IQ have years of experience. “We feel like we’re on the leading edge of actual medical imaging,” says Kulbago. “Our team has been doing this for over 10 years. Now we’re taking the idea of this service to market.”
ImageIQ has developed working relationships with NASA, MIT and, most recently, Anderson Orthopaedic Research Institute (AORI) to enhance the ongoing joint replacement research. ImageIQ and AORI will apply state-of-the-art 3D imaging analytics to improve the assessment of the structural integrity and performance of various biomaterials in orthopedic implant wear studies.
ImageIQ has grown from four people on staff to eight in just eight months. “Now were at a point where word is starting to get out,” says Kulbago. They are prepared to grow as the company grows. Kulbago plans to host a webinar in November, “60 in 60: Speed Dating for Imaging Analytics,” which has already produced significant interest.
Source: Tim Kulbago
Writer: Karin Connelly
Theravasc, a Cleveland based research and development company that focuses on repurposing existing drugs for other uses, has just completed a phase I clinical trial on reversing the effects of peripheral artery disease (PAD) in diabetic patients.
Patients with PAD have in the past had little hope for treatment, let alone a cure – until Theravasc started researching the effect of a drug used to treat cyanide poisoning. The drug, called TV1001, showed promise in the trial, which included 12 diabetic patients.
“People with PAD can’t walk and are in pain, and there’s nothing doctors can do,” explains Tony Giordano, Theravasc president and CEO. “This drug causes new blood vessels to grow in that leg, and only that leg. In animal studies it was doing exactly what we wanted it to do.”
The next step is a IIA trial followed by a third trial, to test the effects of giving the drug chronically. Giordano says if all goes well, TV1001 would hit the market in 2015. He thinks about his father-in-law and a 84-year old Shreveport, LA woman who was ranked seven on the tennis circuit – both affected by PAD – when he thinks about the positive possibilities of the drug.
“I think there’s a high likelihood that we’re going to see success in humans,” Giordano says. “I think this is going to work, and I know this is not going to hurt them. It will give them an opportunity to lead a better life and start walking again. I’m excited about that.”
Source: Tony Giordano
Writer: Karin Connelly
Patients with PAD have in the past had little hope for treatment, let alone a cure – until Theravasc started researching the effect of a drug used to treat cyanide poisoning. The drug, called TV1001, showed promise in the trial, which included 12 diabetic patients.
“People with PAD can’t walk and are in pain, and there’s nothing doctors can do,” explains Tony Giordano, Theravasc president and CEO. “This drug causes new blood vessels to grow in that leg, and only that leg. In animal studies it was doing exactly what we wanted it to do.”
The next step is a IIA trial followed by a third trial, to test the effects of giving the drug chronically. Giordano says if all goes well, TV1001 would hit the market in 2015. He thinks about his father-in-law and a 84-year old Shreveport, LA woman who was ranked seven on the tennis circuit – both affected by PAD – when he thinks about the positive possibilities of the drug.
“I think there’s a high likelihood that we’re going to see success in humans,” Giordano says. “I think this is going to work, and I know this is not going to hurt them. It will give them an opportunity to lead a better life and start walking again. I’m excited about that.”
Source: Tony Giordano
Writer: Karin Connelly
Quality Electrodynamics (QED) was one of the local recipients of Ohio Third Frontier funding for the development of an imaging system that will improve the way doctors evaluate whether a kidney is viable for donation.
The Cleveland-based company, working with the Cleveland Clinic’s Glickman Urological Institute, CWRU, Toshiba Medical Systems and Canon, received $1 million for the development of specialty MRI coils for imaging donor kidneys before transplant to determine viability.
Currently, potentially viable kidneys are sometimes rejected for transplant, or there are complications after transplant. This technology will improve the chances of success as well as reduce the number of kidneys that are thrown away.
“The program will result in a turnkey system of equipment, analysis software and clinical protocols which will be marketed to transplant centers on a worldwide basis,” says John L. Patrick, chief technical marketing officer for QED.
“Recipients of kidneys from deceased donors would benefit in several ways: Higher confidence level that the transplanted kidney can be viable and better knowledge of its condition; increase of transplanted kidneys by reducing the number of viable kidneys discarded will increase the number of patients able to benefit from transplantation.”
Patrick says the technology should be on the market in less than two years, depending on how clinical trials go. QED expects to begin hiring additional people for development of the technology in the next few months.
“In the proposal we stated that 38 jobs would be created at QED within 3 years,” says Patrick. “In fact, we believe that number to be quite conservative.”
Source: John L. Patrick
Writer: Karin Connelly
The Cleveland-based company, working with the Cleveland Clinic’s Glickman Urological Institute, CWRU, Toshiba Medical Systems and Canon, received $1 million for the development of specialty MRI coils for imaging donor kidneys before transplant to determine viability.
Currently, potentially viable kidneys are sometimes rejected for transplant, or there are complications after transplant. This technology will improve the chances of success as well as reduce the number of kidneys that are thrown away.
“The program will result in a turnkey system of equipment, analysis software and clinical protocols which will be marketed to transplant centers on a worldwide basis,” says John L. Patrick, chief technical marketing officer for QED.
“Recipients of kidneys from deceased donors would benefit in several ways: Higher confidence level that the transplanted kidney can be viable and better knowledge of its condition; increase of transplanted kidneys by reducing the number of viable kidneys discarded will increase the number of patients able to benefit from transplantation.”
Patrick says the technology should be on the market in less than two years, depending on how clinical trials go. QED expects to begin hiring additional people for development of the technology in the next few months.
“In the proposal we stated that 38 jobs would be created at QED within 3 years,” says Patrick. “In fact, we believe that number to be quite conservative.”
Source: John L. Patrick
Writer: Karin Connelly
OnShift has found its groove. The Cleveland company continues to build success as a software developer for the senior living market.
“We specialize in healthcare organizations who want to manage their staffing and labor costs,” says CEO Mark Woodka.
Tapping into the senior living market happened by accident for the company, which was founded in 2007.
“Our founder (Gene Groys) was building a communications platform and was hosting a dinner party when an administrator of the nursing home expressed an interest in it,” says Woodka.
OnShift launched their first product in 2009 and has been building momentum ever since. “Our business is growing,” says Woodka. “The market we sell to is under-served. Historically, our customers haven’t had the technology to manage their staffs. We were in the right place and the right time.”
OnShift had 175 customers by the end of 2010, and expects to grow to 600 by the end of this year. They just hired four people to their 32-person staff, still have six open positions in a range of fields, and expect to grow to 55 to 60 total by the end of 2012.
“We’re growing like gangbusters here,” says Woodka. “And we’re an incredibly fun place to work.”
Source: Mark Woodka
Writer: Karin Connelly
“We specialize in healthcare organizations who want to manage their staffing and labor costs,” says CEO Mark Woodka.
Tapping into the senior living market happened by accident for the company, which was founded in 2007.
“Our founder (Gene Groys) was building a communications platform and was hosting a dinner party when an administrator of the nursing home expressed an interest in it,” says Woodka.
OnShift launched their first product in 2009 and has been building momentum ever since. “Our business is growing,” says Woodka. “The market we sell to is under-served. Historically, our customers haven’t had the technology to manage their staffs. We were in the right place and the right time.”
OnShift had 175 customers by the end of 2010, and expects to grow to 600 by the end of this year. They just hired four people to their 32-person staff, still have six open positions in a range of fields, and expect to grow to 55 to 60 total by the end of 2012.
“We’re growing like gangbusters here,” says Woodka. “And we’re an incredibly fun place to work.”
Source: Mark Woodka
Writer: Karin Connelly
Four Northeast Ohio organizations are one group of just 20 national winners of the Obama administration's $37 million Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge, a multi-agency competition to support the advancement of high-growth industry clusters across the country.
NorTech, JumpStart, MAGNET and Lorain County Community College came together to cooperatively apply for the $2 million grant that will help create jobs in the region. The program, the Northeast Ohio Speed-To-Market Accelerator (STMA), is designed to accelerate the speed-to-market for near-production or pilot-production prototypes in the advanced energy and flexible electronics industry clusters in Northeast Ohio.
The fact that the groups collaborated on the project is no surprise.
“There’s a history of organization in this region -- we work together collaboratively all the time,” says Cathy Belk, chief relationship officer with JumpStart. “The fact that we already knew each other made it easy to identify the needs and work together on the proposal.”
Each organization will assist in its area of expertise, from company advising to workforce development. The STMA consists of three components, explains Byron Clayton, vice president of NorTech. “The first step is holding outreach workshops to let companies know the service areas we are targeting. The second step is one-on-one counseling and a path-to-market analysis. The third step is to deliver the services.”
Aside from offering expertise and guidance, the four groups plan to speed up the jobs creation process within new companies. “We are asking what can we do to help you to speed this process up,” says Clayton. “We’re working together as a region, as a network of nationally-recognized organizations.”
Sources: Cathy Belk, Byron Clayton
Writer: Karin Connelly
NorTech, JumpStart, MAGNET and Lorain County Community College came together to cooperatively apply for the $2 million grant that will help create jobs in the region. The program, the Northeast Ohio Speed-To-Market Accelerator (STMA), is designed to accelerate the speed-to-market for near-production or pilot-production prototypes in the advanced energy and flexible electronics industry clusters in Northeast Ohio.
The fact that the groups collaborated on the project is no surprise.
“There’s a history of organization in this region -- we work together collaboratively all the time,” says Cathy Belk, chief relationship officer with JumpStart. “The fact that we already knew each other made it easy to identify the needs and work together on the proposal.”
Each organization will assist in its area of expertise, from company advising to workforce development. The STMA consists of three components, explains Byron Clayton, vice president of NorTech. “The first step is holding outreach workshops to let companies know the service areas we are targeting. The second step is one-on-one counseling and a path-to-market analysis. The third step is to deliver the services.”
Aside from offering expertise and guidance, the four groups plan to speed up the jobs creation process within new companies. “We are asking what can we do to help you to speed this process up,” says Clayton. “We’re working together as a region, as a network of nationally-recognized organizations.”
Sources: Cathy Belk, Byron Clayton
Writer: Karin Connelly
Bizdom U, a business accelerator that trains, mentors and funds innovative, growth-oriented startup companies, kicks off its inaugural class in less than two weeks. Based on a similar program in Detroit that was launched three years ago by Quicken Loans owner Dan Gilbert, Bizdom U hopes to kindle a new wave of entrepreneurial spirit in Cleveland.
Aeroscena is tapping into the world of aromatherapy with Ascents -- little sachets of essential oils that creators say not only smell nice, but help with everything from weight loss and insomnia to energy and relaxation. Aeroscena CEO Mark Kohoot says the idea was inspired by the 18th and 19th century trend of women wearing their own personal scents around their necks.
“Ascents are an innovative way to experience aromatherapy in a portable diffuser,” explains Shannon Gibb, product manager. “They are all natural, made with essential oils."
There are five different scents, each of which comes in a little packet. Unseal the packet and inhale the scent up to 500 times. The five signature blends are: Sleep, Energize, Calm, Focus, and Curb for weight loss.
Founded a little over a year ago, Aeroscena employees telecommuted from home until June of this year, when the company opened offices in the Leader Building downtown. Ana Sorel was just hired as marketing manager and Aaron Cornell was brought on as the new CFO. Gibb says the next step is to build a solid sales rep staff.
Ascents are available on the company’s website, at Nature’s Bin in Lakewood and at 360-5 Wellness Store at the Cleveland Clinic. The Clinic also gives Ascents to participants in their online sleep program, Go! to Sleep.
Source: Shannon Gibb
Writer: Karin Connelly
“Ascents are an innovative way to experience aromatherapy in a portable diffuser,” explains Shannon Gibb, product manager. “They are all natural, made with essential oils."
There are five different scents, each of which comes in a little packet. Unseal the packet and inhale the scent up to 500 times. The five signature blends are: Sleep, Energize, Calm, Focus, and Curb for weight loss.
Founded a little over a year ago, Aeroscena employees telecommuted from home until June of this year, when the company opened offices in the Leader Building downtown. Ana Sorel was just hired as marketing manager and Aaron Cornell was brought on as the new CFO. Gibb says the next step is to build a solid sales rep staff.
Ascents are available on the company’s website, at Nature’s Bin in Lakewood and at 360-5 Wellness Store at the Cleveland Clinic. The Clinic also gives Ascents to participants in their online sleep program, Go! to Sleep.
Source: Shannon Gibb
Writer: Karin Connelly