The New Ventures Healthcare Challenge once again will kick off the Cleveland Clinic’s 2014 Medical Innovation Summit, introducing the world to healthcare information technology companies with new and creative concepts.
 
"We’re looking for anything creative, innovative or inspiring," says Gary Fingerhut, executive director of Cleveland Clinic Innovations (CCI). “We want anything that’s going to revolutionize the health of our patients.”
 
While the summit does not start until October 27, the deadline for the first round of the challenge -- a video submission -- is Friday, May 30. “This year is a much more structured approach, with three rounds,” says Fingerhut. “There is the new video round, which explains what’s unique, why the idea is a game changer and how big an impact it will have." The second round is a web conference presentation. A select group of candidates will then be asked to present at the summit to a panel of experts and venture capitalists."
 
The winning company will work with CCI and its advisory board on commercialization strategies. The team will also demonstrate its product to a select group of Cleveland Clinic caregivers.
 
“Last year, the competition added a lot of energy because we had these really bright entrepreneurs from 40 states and 20 countries,” says Fingerhut. “It’s an exciting way to kick things off.” Eleven teams ultimately presented their concepts to the board.
 
Last year’s winner presented a thermometer that connects to the cloud for predictive analysis of the flu across the country. CCI currently is assisting the team with commercialization end of the product.
 
Applicants must submit a You Tube link to MIS2014@ccf.org  by May 30 to be considered for the video round.
 

Camino, a new Mexican restaurant and "tequileria," has opened on West Ninth Street in the heart of the Warehouse District. Eddy Galindo, the restaurateur behind Luchita’s, opened the venue to provide a casual, everyday option for downtown’s growing residential base.
 
Camino aims to capture the neighborhood’s “up-and-coming and increasingly residential community,” explains manager Lindsey Henderson. The venue, which is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week, serves tacos, wings, burgers, empanadas, salsas and guacamole. On the drinks side is a sizeable selection of tequilas, craft beer and margaritas.

The menu features small plates priced from $3 to $5, including flank steak, mango-chicken, and chicken tacos. Margarita flavors include cucumber and pineapple-chili, but mojitos also are a big crowd pleaser.

Camino's tasty food and drinks are accompanied by a modern, unique dining room. A long communal table sits in the middle of the room, providing guests with the option to dine family style. Spacious tables and a large bar provide plenty of additional seating. Patio seating also is available; Camino is in the process of obtaining a license so that guests can enjoy their margaritas outside.
 
The owners plan to honor regulars and neighbors by implementing a rewards card system that would give benefits and discounts to those who stop by frequently.

Sometimes, even the most adventurous resident can grow a little too comfortable living in the same city after a while. But one can always find something new to discover if we just dig a little deeper. Lucky for us, a number of smartphone apps will help the explorer in all of us get reacquainted with the city we call home.

It's been four and a half years since the first edition of "Moon Handbooks: Cleveland" was published. Considering all that has taken place in Cleveland during that time, author and Fresh Water managing editor Douglas Trattner says that for the second edition, which was released this week, he went back to the starting gate.

From Seattle to Washington D.C., forgotten alleys are being reinvented as people-friendly places. Often perceived as dirty and dangerous, alleys are moving beyond garbage and garages to become havens for pedestrians, public art and small business.

Each summer, throngs of people flock to the streets to partake in arts festivals, art walks and marquee arts events. Many are free and no two are exactly alike. With art mediums that include paintings, sculpture, glassware, photography, leather, jewelry and performance art, there’s something for everybody.

Issue Media Group publications such as Pop City in Pittsburgh, The Line in Minneapolis and Soapbox in Cincinnati cover "what's next" in urban centers. In this recurring feature, we highlight the top stories in urban innovation from across our national network.

In Scene magazine's recent 'Best of Cleveland' awards, Fresh Water was voted by readers as having the Best Photo Content. All of that credit falls on the shoulders of Bob Perkoski, managing photographer since the online magazine's inception. Here we ask the man behind the lens a few questions.

If you're considering a move to Cleveland, there might be no better means to examine the broad range of residential options than by hopping aboard a City Life tour hosted by Cleveland Neighborhood Progress. In a few short hours, participants enjoy an immersive dive into a number of Cleveland's most in-demand neighborhoods.
 

Austin McGuan, an attorney with Squire Sanders, first learned about the City of Cleveland's bike parking ordinance a few years ago. A regular bike commuter, McGuan began inquiring about his own landlord's bike parking facility and learned that it was not in compliance. So he worked with his firm, the landlord and the building management to reach a good solution.

Today, thanks to the efforts of McGuan and other members of the Squire Sanders bike committee, the firm has safe, covered bike parking at the front of the garage, offers employees memberships in the Bike Rack downtown, and sponsors regular bike commuting and recreational events. The firm recently received a silver-level bicycle friendly business designation -- the only company or organization in Northeast Ohio to receive this coveted award, and the fourth in Ohio.

"Before, we had a rim-bender bike rack that was tucked into a dark corner, always in a puddle," says McGuane. "If you want to encourage people to ride a bike to work, you have to provide them with a good and safe place to park their bike. That’s what we’ve done working with building management here."

McGuane says one of the most important aspects of fostering bike commuting is encouraging bike-friendly workplaces. "We wanted to knock down potential barriers that would prevent someone from biking to work," he says of his colleagues at Squire Sanders. "One of them, obviously, is having someplace to shower, clean up and change. We explored providing that within our own building, but instead we decided to do the next best thing, which was to sponsor the Bike Rack."

Jacob Van Sickle of Bike Cleveland says the number of bike commuters has been steadily rising in Cleveland and especially downtown in recent years. It's critical to offer a bike-friendly work environment in order to attract more commuters, he says. Although more is needed, the Bike Rack's growing membership, increasing number of parking lot owners in compliance with the city's ordinance, and newly installed bike racks downtown all are part of the amenity mix falling into place.

 

Welcome to the latest edition of Who’s Hiring in Cleveland?
 
There are plenty of good jobs to be found here in Cleveland. This is the latest installment in a regular series of posts in which we feature companies that are hiring, what those employers are looking for, and how to apply.
 
Here’s the latest Cleveland hiring news:
 
MidTown Cleveland, Inc. is looking for a director of the Cleveland Health-Tech Corridor. This newly created position will be responsible for the development, coordination and implementation of the business and marketing strategy of the Cleveland Health-Tech Corridor. For a complete description, click here. Interested applicants should email their resumes and cover letters to Jim Haviland, MidTown Cleveland executive director.
 
BlueBridge Networks, the region's leading total technology solutions provider, is looking to hire a systems engineer to ensure the stability, integrity and efficient operation of the in-house information systems that support core organizational functions as well as any external customers. The company also is looking for a network engineer. Apply here.
 
InStore Finance, a seller-finance company that is taking off, has a number of open positions, including a merchant optimization manager. This position drives incremental consumer contracts through the merchant by creating training materials, facilitating webinar training classes, motivating merchant employees, creating awareness and establishing accountability. Most important, the person in this position will increase the number of new consumer contracts per merchant location. Email resumes here.
 
Have hiring news that you’d like to share? Email Karin at Fresh Water Cleveland and send us this information or career links!

On Thursday, May 1, Global Cleveland will officially launch its talent attraction campaign at a major event at the Cleveland Convention Center. The event -- like the organization hosting it -- is focused on increasing the population while strengthening the local economy.

In the recently released Best Hikes Near Cleveland, Fresh Water contributor Joe Baur offers readers a deep dive into some of the best local hikes Mother Nature has to offer. Seven of those hikes are urban, taking readers through Downtown, Ohio City, Tremont, Forest Hill and elsewhere. Here's an excerpt -- and an introduction by the author.

Now that we've emerged from our respective huts, it's time to stop squinting towards the sky and go do something. Sure, the usual line-up of outdoor activities awaits -- but aren't there any surprises left in CLE? You bet there are, and we're about to point you in the right direction.

Several Cleveland area companies have some new faces on their staffs. Here’s a rundown of who is in new positions.
 
Bryan Stubbs is the Cleveland Water Alliance’s new executive director. The Cleveland Water Alliance is a collaborative group of companies, academic institutions and public agencies working to create a thriving economy around the global needs of water quality and access. Stubbs’ background is in sustainability and non-profit management, most recently as a consultant with The Oberlin Project.
 
“The Cleveland Water Alliance is about elevating the conversation of water in a way that encompasses the opportunity that our water asset affords both our community and our economy,” explains Stubbs. "It’s about our future as the Water Belt.”
 
Stubbs plans to bring his successes with the Oberlin Project to the Cleveland Water Alliance. "At the Oberlin Project I was tasked with implementing a plan to radically lower greenhouse gas emissions while growing the local economy and jobs, the parts of which are not mutually exclusive,” he says. “I plan on bringing that core concept to the Alliance by working collaboratively with our leading corporations, academic institutions and public agencies.

Project and Construction Services (PCS) named Kevin Lawlor president of the employee-owned professional construction services and general contracting company. Lawlor succeeds 13-year PCS president Robert S. Strickland, who recently retired. Lawlor has more than 38 years of design and construction phase experience and has been with PCS for 22 years, the last 11 years as executive vice president.
 
Cleveland Neighborhood Progress Inc., a private nonprofit community development funding intermediary focused on investing in the revitalization of city neighborhoods, is growing. The organization has added four key staff members since January. Alesha Washington joined CNP as senior director of advocacy, policy and research, and Mordecai Cargill was hired as manager of fund development in January. In mid-march Zoë Taft Mueller joined CNP as placemaking fellow and Daniel Brown was hired as economic opportunity fellow. Later this month, Donald A. Pattison will come to CNP as community lending specialist, Village Capital Corporation.
 
Have a new hire you'd like to share? Email Karin with the details and we’ll help spread the good news!
 

Cleveland Neighborhood Progress and CharterOne Foundation have announced the creation of a Clean&Green Cleveland program, which offers a fully stocked trailer to assist neighborhood residents with beautification projects. The trailer comes equipped with all the tools and equipment necessary to clean up vacant lots, maintain community gardens, tackle neighborhood improvement projects, and more.

The nonprofit introduced the trailer as part of its ongoing efforts to beautify and reimagine vacant properties in Cleveland. The trailer is available on a "first come, first reserved" basis, according to the website. Applications, use forms, waivers and other information all can be found online, and groups are encouraged to apply. The trailer is for use in the City of Cleveland only.
 
In a release, CNP stated that the Clean&Green program will offer opportunities not only for beautification, but also for community building among neighbors.


Source: Cleveland Neighborhood Progress
Writer: Lee Chilcote