Downtown
'do good, eat good' raffle can turn $5 into lots o' dining dollars
For four years now, Michelle Venorsky has organized a delicious raffle that benefits Veggie U, the non-profit arm of the Chef's Garden that educates fourth-graders around the country on making better eating choices. The program funds education kits and lesson plans for teachers in our area and others.
To date, the raffles have raised $11,750 for the program.
As always, Venorsky -- aka Cleveland Foodie -- has assembled an impressive list of participating restaurants, all of which have generously donated gift cards.
Here's how it works: By donating as little as $5 to Veggie U, you will automatically be entered to win one third of $1,850 worth of gift cards. By upping the donation to $10, $25, $50 or more, you can increase your odds of victory. The more you donate, the better the chance of winning.
To donate and enter, simply call Veggie U directly (419-499-7500, M-F, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and reference Cleveland Foodie when donating. Or, click here to make your donation online.
Deadline is Noon on December 21. The drawing will take place shortly thereafter.
Here's the tasty lineup:
Fahrenheit $100
Paladar $50
Noodlecat $50
Greenhouse Tavern $50
Fire $50
Western Reserve Wines $50
Blue Canyon $50
Pura Vida $50
Light Bistro $50
Spice Kitchen & Bar $50
AMP 150 $50
Flour $50
Umami $50
Momocho $50
Hodge’s $50
Washington Place Bistro & Inn $50
Mahall’s $50
Melt $25
SOHO $50
Urban Herbs 14-jar gift set
Miles Farmers Market $50
Burntwood Tavern $50
Veggie U sampler box
CVI dinner $100 value
Welshfield Inn $50
87 West $50
Flying Fig $50
Cedar Creek Grill $50
Luna Bakery $50
Deagan’s $50
Lola $50
Parallax $50
L’Albatros $50
Chinato $50
Cowell & Hubbard $50
For more info, click here.
To date, the raffles have raised $11,750 for the program.
As always, Venorsky -- aka Cleveland Foodie -- has assembled an impressive list of participating restaurants, all of which have generously donated gift cards.
Here's how it works: By donating as little as $5 to Veggie U, you will automatically be entered to win one third of $1,850 worth of gift cards. By upping the donation to $10, $25, $50 or more, you can increase your odds of victory. The more you donate, the better the chance of winning.
To donate and enter, simply call Veggie U directly (419-499-7500, M-F, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and reference Cleveland Foodie when donating. Or, click here to make your donation online.
Deadline is Noon on December 21. The drawing will take place shortly thereafter.
Here's the tasty lineup:
Fahrenheit $100
Paladar $50
Noodlecat $50
Greenhouse Tavern $50
Fire $50
Western Reserve Wines $50
Blue Canyon $50
Pura Vida $50
Light Bistro $50
Spice Kitchen & Bar $50
AMP 150 $50
Flour $50
Umami $50
Momocho $50
Hodge’s $50
Washington Place Bistro & Inn $50
Mahall’s $50
Melt $25
SOHO $50
Urban Herbs 14-jar gift set
Miles Farmers Market $50
Burntwood Tavern $50
Veggie U sampler box
CVI dinner $100 value
Welshfield Inn $50
87 West $50
Flying Fig $50
Cedar Creek Grill $50
Luna Bakery $50
Deagan’s $50
Lola $50
Parallax $50
L’Albatros $50
Chinato $50
Cowell & Hubbard $50
For more info, click here.
rock hall changing of the guard covered in l.a. times
Writing for Pop & Hiss, the L.A. Times music blog, Randy Lewis reports on the changing of the guard at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. At the end of this year, current vice president of development Gregary Harris will take over the top post from Terry Stewart, who is retiring after 13 years.
"Overall, we want to take what’s a wonderful regional treasure and make it a little more national without giving up the great regional base,” Harris is quoted as saying in the article. "One goal will be boosting attendance at the Cleveland facility itself, which sees about half a million visitors annually."
Also in Harris' plans is expanding the base.
"We’ve been building this great base and want to make it better,” Harris said. “We want to expose more people to it, and we’re working to find ways to be relevant and to stay relevant to younger audiences. By definition, this museum focuses on older acts, in that to be inducted you have to have made a record 25 years ago. So that’s part of what we’re looking at.”
Read the rest of the liner notes here.
"Overall, we want to take what’s a wonderful regional treasure and make it a little more national without giving up the great regional base,” Harris is quoted as saying in the article. "One goal will be boosting attendance at the Cleveland facility itself, which sees about half a million visitors annually."
Also in Harris' plans is expanding the base.
"We’ve been building this great base and want to make it better,” Harris said. “We want to expose more people to it, and we’re working to find ways to be relevant and to stay relevant to younger audiences. By definition, this museum focuses on older acts, in that to be inducted you have to have made a record 25 years ago. So that’s part of what we’re looking at.”
Read the rest of the liner notes here.
To succeed as a region, Cleveland needs hungry, highly skilled immigrants willing to risk it all for a chance to build their dreams. With an estimated 30,000 open positions in high-skill industries in the region, the time is now to market Cleveland as a place friendly to outsiders. Fortunately, Radhika Reddy and others are on top of it.
Donna Lee, CEO of MascotSecret, has always eyed with envy the vacant good seats at sporting events. She thought there had to be some way to get those unused good seats into the hands of those sitting in the cheap seats. So Lee and co-founder Jennifer Jeng set out to find a way.
“This is the problem we had growing up -- we always wanted better seats,” says Lee. “You go to the game, you see all the empty seats, and we thought there has to be a better solution.”
This past summer, Lee and Jeng moved to Cleveland from San Francisco to develop MascotSecret through Bizdom, a non-profit startup accelerator founded by Dan Gilbert, founder and chairman of Quicken Loans and majority owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers. “It allows you to upgrade your seats during game time through your mobile phone,” explains Lee. “All you need to do is open the app, put in how many tickets you want to upgrade, and then move to your new seats.”
Lee says the price to upgrade might be cheaper or more expensiver than face value depending on availability, the game, and other factors.
So far, MascotSecret has been testing the app at Cavs games. As a Bizdom company, they have gotten the support from Gilbert and Veritix. “We’ve had a really great response so far," says Lee. "Customers who have heard about it want to try it.”
MascotSecret recently received a $25,000 grant from the Lorain County Community College Foundation Innovation Fund, which they will use to further develop the app. The company is beginning talks with the Indians to use the app. The goal is to sell the app to markets across the country.
“Of course we want to expand as quickly as possible,” says Lee. As they expand, the company will be looking for technical and marketing talent.
Source: Donna Lee
Writer: Karin Connelly
“This is the problem we had growing up -- we always wanted better seats,” says Lee. “You go to the game, you see all the empty seats, and we thought there has to be a better solution.”
This past summer, Lee and Jeng moved to Cleveland from San Francisco to develop MascotSecret through Bizdom, a non-profit startup accelerator founded by Dan Gilbert, founder and chairman of Quicken Loans and majority owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers. “It allows you to upgrade your seats during game time through your mobile phone,” explains Lee. “All you need to do is open the app, put in how many tickets you want to upgrade, and then move to your new seats.”
Lee says the price to upgrade might be cheaper or more expensiver than face value depending on availability, the game, and other factors.
So far, MascotSecret has been testing the app at Cavs games. As a Bizdom company, they have gotten the support from Gilbert and Veritix. “We’ve had a really great response so far," says Lee. "Customers who have heard about it want to try it.”
MascotSecret recently received a $25,000 grant from the Lorain County Community College Foundation Innovation Fund, which they will use to further develop the app. The company is beginning talks with the Indians to use the app. The goal is to sell the app to markets across the country.
“Of course we want to expand as quickly as possible,” says Lee. As they expand, the company will be looking for technical and marketing talent.
Source: Donna Lee
Writer: Karin Connelly
There’s a new cab company in town, and owner Ray Ibrahim boasts that his cabs are decked out with the latest technology. Ibrahim, who has logged 30 years in the taxi business in Chicago, moved to Cleveland this past October to expand his Wolley Taxi Company.
“The city is growing and so we came here to help out,” says Ibrahim, who sees demand for speedy cab service in Cleveland. “On Fridays and Saturdays, people wait over an hour to get a cab. It shouldn’t be that way.”
Based downtown, Wolley Taxi has 40 cars equipped with televisions, GPS and credit card readers. “They’re brand new cabs -- nice and clean. We will take people anywhere they want. We’ve trained our drivers to be very nice.”
Ibrahim has appealed to the city this week for permission to serve Hopkins airport. He says the airport could use an additional cab company as customers often have to wait for cab service. “We need these people here to do business,” he says. “We should be waiting for them, they shouldn’t be kept waiting for us.”
Right now Wolley employs 40 drivers and eight to 10 office personnel. Ibrahim expects to create another 20 to 25 jobs, as well as add another 40 to 60 cabs, if he gets a contract to service the airport.
Ibrahim has some family here, and has been impressed with Cleveland’s growth. Best of all, he enjoys the food the area has to offer. “I like the steak a lot here,” he says. “It’s better than Chicago.”
Source: Ray Ibrahim
Writer: Karin Connelly
“The city is growing and so we came here to help out,” says Ibrahim, who sees demand for speedy cab service in Cleveland. “On Fridays and Saturdays, people wait over an hour to get a cab. It shouldn’t be that way.”
Based downtown, Wolley Taxi has 40 cars equipped with televisions, GPS and credit card readers. “They’re brand new cabs -- nice and clean. We will take people anywhere they want. We’ve trained our drivers to be very nice.”
Ibrahim has appealed to the city this week for permission to serve Hopkins airport. He says the airport could use an additional cab company as customers often have to wait for cab service. “We need these people here to do business,” he says. “We should be waiting for them, they shouldn’t be kept waiting for us.”
Right now Wolley employs 40 drivers and eight to 10 office personnel. Ibrahim expects to create another 20 to 25 jobs, as well as add another 40 to 60 cabs, if he gets a contract to service the airport.
Ibrahim has some family here, and has been impressed with Cleveland’s growth. Best of all, he enjoys the food the area has to offer. “I like the steak a lot here,” he says. “It’s better than Chicago.”
Source: Ray Ibrahim
Writer: Karin Connelly
Boards are shaping the nonprofit sector in unprecedented ways. The Cleveland BVU: The Center for Nonprofit Excellence is aiming to mold prospective board members to meet the trials and opportunities facing organizations today.
On December 7, BVU will host The Role of the Board, a seminar for current board members or those just thinking of joining a board. Speakers including David Goodman of Cleveland law firm Squire Sanders will discuss the roles and responsibilities of those that sit around the big table. Insight on leading an organization through change will also be shared, says BVU executive vice president Elizabeth Voudouris.
"We're providing people with practical training," she says. "We want to inspire them to service, too."
In general, boards are designed to hire and support a CEO, set the mission of the organization, and give financial oversight, among other duties. Modern pressures like shrinking resources have altered these best practices, Voudouris says.
"Good boards take a lot of work," she says. "There are significant strategic and financial challenges no matter what [a board's] size."
BVU officials expect the seminar to draw about 80 attendees representing nearly 40 businesses. Over half of the expected audience members currently are going through BVU’s board matching program and are planning to serve on a board in the near future. The December 7 event is sold out, but BVU hosts a handful of seminars a year for people looking to get educated about board life.
"It's a great introduction to nonprofit leadership," says Voudouris.
SOURCE: Elizabeth Voudouris
WRITER: Douglas J. Guth
On December 7, BVU will host The Role of the Board, a seminar for current board members or those just thinking of joining a board. Speakers including David Goodman of Cleveland law firm Squire Sanders will discuss the roles and responsibilities of those that sit around the big table. Insight on leading an organization through change will also be shared, says BVU executive vice president Elizabeth Voudouris.
"We're providing people with practical training," she says. "We want to inspire them to service, too."
In general, boards are designed to hire and support a CEO, set the mission of the organization, and give financial oversight, among other duties. Modern pressures like shrinking resources have altered these best practices, Voudouris says.
"Good boards take a lot of work," she says. "There are significant strategic and financial challenges no matter what [a board's] size."
BVU officials expect the seminar to draw about 80 attendees representing nearly 40 businesses. Over half of the expected audience members currently are going through BVU’s board matching program and are planning to serve on a board in the near future. The December 7 event is sold out, but BVU hosts a handful of seminars a year for people looking to get educated about board life.
"It's a great introduction to nonprofit leadership," says Voudouris.
SOURCE: Elizabeth Voudouris
WRITER: Douglas J. Guth
Staying put in the 216 for the holidays has never been so easy -- nor so much fun. Thanks to a bevy of new attractions and eateries, combined with wonderful old traditions, locals and visitors alike will have no shortage of festive holiday fun. In this colorful slideshow, Fresh Water photographer Bob Perkoski highlights some of the season's best eats, treats, and places to be.
steelers fans offered taste of cleveland
Offered as a sort of travel guide to travelling Pittsburgh Steelers fans, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette recently ran a feature titled "On the road with the Steelers: Cleveland."
Writer Gretchen McKay does a great job providing tips on where to eat, drink and enjoy the scene in Cleveland.
"A growing foodie destination with a landmark public market and a lively arts community, there's plenty of fun in store for the weekend traveler. So much, in fact, that Travel and Leisure named it one of America's 'favorite cities' in 2009 for affordability and its rockin' music scene: in addition to one of the world's best-known music museums, it boasts a renowned orchestra," writes McKay.
As for foodie-friendly spots, McKay writes:
"Many of the best tastes of Cleveland can be found in its historic West Side Market in an arched NeoClassical/Byzantine building in the Ohio City neighborhood. In October, the public market celebrated its 100th birthday with a parade, but every day here feels like a celebration for food lovers. Home to more than 100 vendors that show off the city's ethnic diversity -- you'll find everything from Old World smoked meats and pierogies to produce and gourmet cheeses to a French creperie serving to-order sweet and savory crepes -- it's been featured on the Travel Channel and Food Network."
"Even though Cleveland and Pittsburgh have similar demographics, Cleveland's food scene has a higher national profile. As former PG restaurant critic China Millman pointed out in a 2010 travel story, the food here really rocks."
Read the rest of the article here.
Writer Gretchen McKay does a great job providing tips on where to eat, drink and enjoy the scene in Cleveland.
"A growing foodie destination with a landmark public market and a lively arts community, there's plenty of fun in store for the weekend traveler. So much, in fact, that Travel and Leisure named it one of America's 'favorite cities' in 2009 for affordability and its rockin' music scene: in addition to one of the world's best-known music museums, it boasts a renowned orchestra," writes McKay.
As for foodie-friendly spots, McKay writes:
"Many of the best tastes of Cleveland can be found in its historic West Side Market in an arched NeoClassical/Byzantine building in the Ohio City neighborhood. In October, the public market celebrated its 100th birthday with a parade, but every day here feels like a celebration for food lovers. Home to more than 100 vendors that show off the city's ethnic diversity -- you'll find everything from Old World smoked meats and pierogies to produce and gourmet cheeses to a French creperie serving to-order sweet and savory crepes -- it's been featured on the Travel Channel and Food Network."
"Even though Cleveland and Pittsburgh have similar demographics, Cleveland's food scene has a higher national profile. As former PG restaurant critic China Millman pointed out in a 2010 travel story, the food here really rocks."
Read the rest of the article here.
The musCLE house may not be a gym or cable-access bodybuilding show, but it does give Cleveland students the opportunity to flex their musical talents in exchange for a bit of their free time.
Students taking part in the program receive one hour of free music lessons in exchange for volunteering one hour toward philanthropic involvement or community service, says musCLE house co-founder Eric Kogelschatz.
The Detroit native created the program with his wife Hallie Bram Kogelschatz and Cleveland Institute of Music alums Ariel Clayton and Carlos Javier. The musCLE house works with students from Cleveland Municipal School District, although its co-founder would like to expand the program to other districts.
"Music is a basic building block of intelligence," Kogelschatz explains. Due to school districts cutting music programs, "not enough young people have exposure to it."
The musCLE house launched its fundraising campaign this week. Kogelschatz aims to raise $55,000 over the next two months to finance more than 600 hours of music lessons from paid instructors, along with the procurement of instruments, sheet music and more.
With its volunteerism aspect, the program has the tenet of community building at its core, says Kogelschatz. Adding music to the mix is a bonus for the Shaker Heights resident, who grew up playing the saxophone and clarinet.
"We're encouraging kids to get involved with their communities," he says. "Students get to see the change taking place around them, and they're getting a reward."
SOURCE: Eric Kogelschatz
WRITER: Douglas J. Guth
Students taking part in the program receive one hour of free music lessons in exchange for volunteering one hour toward philanthropic involvement or community service, says musCLE house co-founder Eric Kogelschatz.
The Detroit native created the program with his wife Hallie Bram Kogelschatz and Cleveland Institute of Music alums Ariel Clayton and Carlos Javier. The musCLE house works with students from Cleveland Municipal School District, although its co-founder would like to expand the program to other districts.
"Music is a basic building block of intelligence," Kogelschatz explains. Due to school districts cutting music programs, "not enough young people have exposure to it."
The musCLE house launched its fundraising campaign this week. Kogelschatz aims to raise $55,000 over the next two months to finance more than 600 hours of music lessons from paid instructors, along with the procurement of instruments, sheet music and more.
With its volunteerism aspect, the program has the tenet of community building at its core, says Kogelschatz. Adding music to the mix is a bonus for the Shaker Heights resident, who grew up playing the saxophone and clarinet.
"We're encouraging kids to get involved with their communities," he says. "Students get to see the change taking place around them, and they're getting a reward."
SOURCE: Eric Kogelschatz
WRITER: Douglas J. Guth
"Reading is fundamental" is a message that's been transmitted to the nation's children for years. Research shows that's no empty slogan: Kids who are not reading proficiently by third grade are four times more likely to leave school without a diploma, says Robert Paponetti, executive director of the Literacy Cooperative of Greater Cleveland.
Enter the Literacy Cooperative's STEP (Supporting Tutors Engaging Pupils) program, an in-school tutoring program designed to help build reading and language skills in underperforming K-3 students. Young participants are taught in one-on-one, structured tutoring sessions that coordinate with classroom curriculum.
The students chosen for the program usually are close to their grade's reading level, says Paponetti. Lessons are delivered twice a week and are designed to develop fluency, vocabulary development, comprehension and word knowledge.
"Reading to a child is one thing," Paponetti says."We are working with the child."
STEP started as a pilot program for first-grade students at Marion-Sterling School in Cleveland during the 2010-2011 school year. Shoreview Elementary was added to the mix for 2012-2013. There's also an after-school program taking place at Warrensville Heights Library this year.
The program, funded by Cleveland Foundation and several other groups, has resulted in positive gains for its young readers, notes Paponetti. Participating students at Marion-Sterling, for example, showed improvement in all measures of reading skills compared to non-tutored students.
Further success will see future expansion of the program. "There's a beautiful simplicity to structured tutoring intervention," says Paponetti. "It could be a real tool for helping children."
SOURCE: Robert Paponetti
WRITER: Douglas J. Guth
Enter the Literacy Cooperative's STEP (Supporting Tutors Engaging Pupils) program, an in-school tutoring program designed to help build reading and language skills in underperforming K-3 students. Young participants are taught in one-on-one, structured tutoring sessions that coordinate with classroom curriculum.
The students chosen for the program usually are close to their grade's reading level, says Paponetti. Lessons are delivered twice a week and are designed to develop fluency, vocabulary development, comprehension and word knowledge.
"Reading to a child is one thing," Paponetti says."We are working with the child."
STEP started as a pilot program for first-grade students at Marion-Sterling School in Cleveland during the 2010-2011 school year. Shoreview Elementary was added to the mix for 2012-2013. There's also an after-school program taking place at Warrensville Heights Library this year.
The program, funded by Cleveland Foundation and several other groups, has resulted in positive gains for its young readers, notes Paponetti. Participating students at Marion-Sterling, for example, showed improvement in all measures of reading skills compared to non-tutored students.
Further success will see future expansion of the program. "There's a beautiful simplicity to structured tutoring intervention," says Paponetti. "It could be a real tool for helping children."
SOURCE: Robert Paponetti
WRITER: Douglas J. Guth
Amplified Wind Solutions, a Cleveland State University company behind a wind amplification system that can produce up to six times more electricity than a typical wind turbine, won second place and $600 in the student business competition at JumpStart’s Entrepreneur Expo November 13.
The AWS founders are targeting the telecommunications industry. “This system can be placed on top of cell phone towers in remote and urban locations, and be used to power the equipment on site,” explains CEO Niki Zmij. “In today's world, wireless communication is growing explosively and as a result more and more towers are going up in the U.S. and abroad. Each new tower has to be powered.”
Amplified Wind Solutions was founded in February 2012, based on technology invented by Majid Rashidi, chair of CSU’s engineering technology department. Zmij is working on her MBA. Other company members include Terry Thiele, director of sustainable product strategies at the Lubrizol Corporation. The team recently added Jon Stehura, financial manager at Laird Technologies and former CFO of ParkOhio.
AWS has two prototypes -- one at CSU and one at Progressive Field -- and a third prototype in the works that will be the version marketed to the telecommunications industry.
Zmij was so busy at the Entrepreneur Expo that she didn’t sit down all day. “It really helped AWS gain exposure within our community as well as make important connections that will support our business development,” she says, adding that she might have found some investment leads as well. “I did speak with a few individuals in the venture capital space who thought our idea was a compelling one and are interested in learning more about our plans.”
In addition to the $600, AWS has the opportunity to receive mentoring from JumpStart. “The mentoring alone has an incredible value for our business development,” says Zmij. Student teams from CWRU and Kent State were also winners in the competition.
Source: Niki Zmij
Writer: Karin Connelly
The AWS founders are targeting the telecommunications industry. “This system can be placed on top of cell phone towers in remote and urban locations, and be used to power the equipment on site,” explains CEO Niki Zmij. “In today's world, wireless communication is growing explosively and as a result more and more towers are going up in the U.S. and abroad. Each new tower has to be powered.”
Amplified Wind Solutions was founded in February 2012, based on technology invented by Majid Rashidi, chair of CSU’s engineering technology department. Zmij is working on her MBA. Other company members include Terry Thiele, director of sustainable product strategies at the Lubrizol Corporation. The team recently added Jon Stehura, financial manager at Laird Technologies and former CFO of ParkOhio.
AWS has two prototypes -- one at CSU and one at Progressive Field -- and a third prototype in the works that will be the version marketed to the telecommunications industry.
Zmij was so busy at the Entrepreneur Expo that she didn’t sit down all day. “It really helped AWS gain exposure within our community as well as make important connections that will support our business development,” she says, adding that she might have found some investment leads as well. “I did speak with a few individuals in the venture capital space who thought our idea was a compelling one and are interested in learning more about our plans.”
In addition to the $600, AWS has the opportunity to receive mentoring from JumpStart. “The mentoring alone has an incredible value for our business development,” says Zmij. Student teams from CWRU and Kent State were also winners in the competition.
Source: Niki Zmij
Writer: Karin Connelly
vision for local food system outlined in artsy animation
This animated video premiered at the 4th Annual Sustainable Cleveland Summit in September.
"It illustrates the vision for a local and sustainable food system in the Cleveland region, and how people can get involved," explains Jenita McGowan of the Mayor's Office of Sustainability "As part of the Sustainable Cleveland 2019 year of local foods celebration, we wanted to create a video that is fun, simple and easy to understand. It is our goal that this video resonates specifically with residents of Northeast Ohio using recognizable icons, such as the West Side Market.”
This animated video premiered at the 4th Annual Sustainable Cleveland Summit in September.
"It illustrates the vision for a local and sustainable food system in the Cleveland region, and how people can get involved," explains Jenita McGowan of the Mayor's Office of Sustainability "As part of the Sustainable Cleveland 2019 year of local foods celebration, we wanted to create a video that is fun, simple and easy to understand. It is our goal that this video resonates specifically with residents of Northeast Ohio using recognizable icons, such as the West Side Market.”
Big River helps organizations get the most out of their online giving campaigns with a simple theory: Appeal to what the potential donors react to and they will donate. The theory apparently proves correct. The 18-month-old cloud-based online fundraising platform has won accolades from clients such as the Cleveland Museum of Art and Lorain County Metro Parks in Big River’s ability to increase online giving.
“It’s almost like the last 17 years of e-commerce hasn’t made itself accessible to nonprofits,” says Big River founder and CEO Ron Cass. “Nonprofits haven’t done more than PayPal. The Big River product puts the most effective appeal in front of the donor at the right time to maximize that donation.”
The key is telling donors what the impact of their donations will be. “They want to know what their money does,” explains Cass. “They want to know what impact their gift is going to have. We allow organizations to create donation products, and then target those asks based on the donor’s history with the organization.”
Big River has eight customers of varying sizes and is already generating revenue. The Cleveland Museum of Art is one fan of Big River, reporting that membership has doubled since they hired Big River.
One of the first companies to be a part of Bizdom’s Cleveland operation, Big River is expanding within the Bizdom offices. JumpStart announced on Tuesday, November 13th a $250,000 investment in Big River to further expand.
“Any time you get an investment it changes the slope of the company,” says Cass. “We are going to focus on sales, marketing and product development.”
In addition to adding some new tools and bringing some ideas to reality, Cass also hopes to expand his staff. “A big part of the investment is hiring -- rapidly,” he says. “Around the order of four people in marketing and development.”
In the meantime, Cass was impressed with the connections he made at JumpStart’s Entrepreneur Expo this week. “I spoke to a lot of people who said, ‘I know someone with this organization,’” he says. “I got about 20 leads. I was very impressed.”
Source: Ron Cass
Writer: Karin Connelly
“It’s almost like the last 17 years of e-commerce hasn’t made itself accessible to nonprofits,” says Big River founder and CEO Ron Cass. “Nonprofits haven’t done more than PayPal. The Big River product puts the most effective appeal in front of the donor at the right time to maximize that donation.”
The key is telling donors what the impact of their donations will be. “They want to know what their money does,” explains Cass. “They want to know what impact their gift is going to have. We allow organizations to create donation products, and then target those asks based on the donor’s history with the organization.”
Big River has eight customers of varying sizes and is already generating revenue. The Cleveland Museum of Art is one fan of Big River, reporting that membership has doubled since they hired Big River.
One of the first companies to be a part of Bizdom’s Cleveland operation, Big River is expanding within the Bizdom offices. JumpStart announced on Tuesday, November 13th a $250,000 investment in Big River to further expand.
“Any time you get an investment it changes the slope of the company,” says Cass. “We are going to focus on sales, marketing and product development.”
In addition to adding some new tools and bringing some ideas to reality, Cass also hopes to expand his staff. “A big part of the investment is hiring -- rapidly,” he says. “Around the order of four people in marketing and development.”
In the meantime, Cass was impressed with the connections he made at JumpStart’s Entrepreneur Expo this week. “I spoke to a lot of people who said, ‘I know someone with this organization,’” he says. “I got about 20 leads. I was very impressed.”
Source: Ron Cass
Writer: Karin Connelly
"Wayfinding,” the use of signs, maps and other graphic sources of information to navigate one's surroundings, has become a vital issue in the redevelopment of our city thanks to splashy new developments and the increasing popularity of old ones.
NorTech received one of seven Regional Innovation Cluster contracts from the Small Business Administration to grow its flexible electronics cluster FlexMatters. The four-year, $385,000 contract will allow NorTech to train and assist small companies in the FlexMatters cluster in attracting larger market leaders as customers through its Anchor Customer Engagement (ACE) Academy.
“One of the really important things about this contract is it gives us recognition on a federal basis,” says NorTech vice president Byron Clayton. “Being nationally recognized as an emerging cluster helps us bring more federal funding to the region.”
This is the fourth time the FlexMatters cluster has been recognized on a national level. The ACE Academy will help give the region an upper hand in terms of both jobs and securing the first customers for new technologies.
“It’s designed to help small, emerging businesses capture the first significant customers,” says Clayton of the academy. “It helps them be prepared so if they do get that opportunity to present themselves, they put their best foot forward. The goal is to go away with something concrete.”
Success of these businesses translates into more jobs in the region. “It really helps small businesses grow and create high paying jobs in growth industries,” says Clayton. “We’re already seeing success, and we’re just getting started.”
The SBA award is for one year, with a four year renewal option.
Source: Byron Clayton
Writer: Karin Connelly
“One of the really important things about this contract is it gives us recognition on a federal basis,” says NorTech vice president Byron Clayton. “Being nationally recognized as an emerging cluster helps us bring more federal funding to the region.”
This is the fourth time the FlexMatters cluster has been recognized on a national level. The ACE Academy will help give the region an upper hand in terms of both jobs and securing the first customers for new technologies.
“It’s designed to help small, emerging businesses capture the first significant customers,” says Clayton of the academy. “It helps them be prepared so if they do get that opportunity to present themselves, they put their best foot forward. The goal is to go away with something concrete.”
Success of these businesses translates into more jobs in the region. “It really helps small businesses grow and create high paying jobs in growth industries,” says Clayton. “We’re already seeing success, and we’re just getting started.”
The SBA award is for one year, with a four year renewal option.
Source: Byron Clayton
Writer: Karin Connelly
eater does 'heat check' on cleveland dining scene
Eater, a national website covering food, drink and chefs, published a list of the go-to places in Cleveland to eat right now.
“It's been over a year since we last looked at Cleveland's hottest restaurants, so today we circle back and focus on ten new openings that have been garnering serious buzz,” writes Gabe Ulla of Eater.
Food writer and Fresh Water managing editor Douglas Trattner clues Ulla in on some of the newest, hottest dining spots Cleveland has to offer.
“Among the choices: a very tasty restaurant that borrows from Korea, Japan, and several other Asian countries (Accent), an excellent sit-down taco and margaritas spot (Barrio), food truck man Chris Hodgson's new brick-and-mortar (Hodge's), and a place that bills itself as "pan-Southern" (SoHo Kitchen and Bar).”
“It's been over a year since we last looked at Cleveland's hottest restaurants, so today we circle back and focus on ten new openings that have been garnering serious buzz,” writes Gabe Ulla of Eater.
Food writer and Fresh Water managing editor Douglas Trattner clues Ulla in on some of the newest, hottest dining spots Cleveland has to offer.
“Among the choices: a very tasty restaurant that borrows from Korea, Japan, and several other Asian countries (Accent), an excellent sit-down taco and margaritas spot (Barrio), food truck man Chris Hodgson's new brick-and-mortar (Hodge's), and a place that bills itself as "pan-Southern" (SoHo Kitchen and Bar).”
Check out the full piece chock full of information and details here.
wash post covers chuck berry show, exhibition at rock hall
In an article titled "Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum honors rock music pioneer Chuck Berry," the Washington Post covers the recent award and tribute concert.
"Still rockin’ at 86, music legend Chuck Berry promised a comeback Saturday with six new songs, some written 16 years ago."
"To mark the American Music Masters award presentation, the rock hall has mounted a special exhibition with items including Berry’s stage clothes, a guitar and his 1958 Chess Records recording contract."
"The rock hall’s new library and archives has a separate exhibit with items including Berry’s 1964 British tour program and a handbill promoting his appearance with the Grateful Dead in 1968."
"Berry, the museum’s first inductee in 1986, called the award and enshrinement in the rock hall a great honor. “You can’t get any higher in my profession than this building or this reason for this building,” he said.
Read the rest right here.
"Still rockin’ at 86, music legend Chuck Berry promised a comeback Saturday with six new songs, some written 16 years ago."
"To mark the American Music Masters award presentation, the rock hall has mounted a special exhibition with items including Berry’s stage clothes, a guitar and his 1958 Chess Records recording contract."
"The rock hall’s new library and archives has a separate exhibit with items including Berry’s 1964 British tour program and a handbill promoting his appearance with the Grateful Dead in 1968."
"Berry, the museum’s first inductee in 1986, called the award and enshrinement in the rock hall a great honor. “You can’t get any higher in my profession than this building or this reason for this building,” he said.
Read the rest right here.
recent crime fiction convention lands in pages of library journal
Bouchercon, the world’s leading convention for crime fiction readers and writers, was recently held in Cleveland. The annual event was brought here thanks to local librarian Marjory Mogg, who won her bid for the Cleveland convention two years ago in San Francisco.
In an item titled "Librarian Brings Bouchercon to Cleveland -- and $1M+ to Its Economy," the Library Journal describes the weekend's festivities.
"The Cleveland Bouchercon 2012, which was held October 4-7, brought in about 1,500 mystery fans, authors, and publishers, who left $1-2 million behind when they returned home after four days of festivities."
Bouchercon, named after famed mystery critic Anthony Boucher (rhymes with voucher), has held a conference annually since 1970 in various cities.
"The main Cleveland Public Library sponsored a Nancy Drew scavenger hunt, a talk by author Linda Fairstein, and several displays. The opening ceremonies, with over 1,000 in attendance, were held at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on the Cleveland lakefront, which one Bouchercon board member called the best venue the conference has ever had for its opening celebration. The Private Eye Association’s Shamus Awards were presented during a dinner cruise on Lake Erie."
Read the rest here.
In an item titled "Librarian Brings Bouchercon to Cleveland -- and $1M+ to Its Economy," the Library Journal describes the weekend's festivities.
"The Cleveland Bouchercon 2012, which was held October 4-7, brought in about 1,500 mystery fans, authors, and publishers, who left $1-2 million behind when they returned home after four days of festivities."
Bouchercon, named after famed mystery critic Anthony Boucher (rhymes with voucher), has held a conference annually since 1970 in various cities.
"The main Cleveland Public Library sponsored a Nancy Drew scavenger hunt, a talk by author Linda Fairstein, and several displays. The opening ceremonies, with over 1,000 in attendance, were held at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on the Cleveland lakefront, which one Bouchercon board member called the best venue the conference has ever had for its opening celebration. The Private Eye Association’s Shamus Awards were presented during a dinner cruise on Lake Erie."
Read the rest here.