Regional Economy
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.”
After 35 years producing theatrical performances in rented spaces, the Near West Theatre finally is getting its own place. The community theater broke ground on its first-ever permanent home on November 27, and its supporters are happily looking ahead to the first show at the stand-alone building.
It will be about two years before the Detroit-Shoreway theater opens at W. 67th Street, just north of Detroit, says chief operating officer Hans Holznagel. Until then, Near West Theatre will continue to operate out of its longtime rented home on the third floor of a hall owned by St. Patrick's Church at W. 38th Street and Bridge Avenue in Cleveland's Ohio City neighborhood.
The new 25,000-square-foot theater will have extra seating and increased stage space. It also will have rehearsal space and air conditioning, two amenities the current facility has done without for years.
"It opens up all kinds of possibilities for us," says Holznagel.
Hundreds of people from the Gordon Square Arts District, the Detroit Shoreway neighborhood and the local theater community were invited to celebrate the theater's groundbreaking. The project will cost nearly $7 million -- a portion of the $30 million Gordon Square Arts District campaign set aside to revitalize the Detroit Shoreway neighborhood using the arts as an economic catalyst.
A new space won't detract from the intimacy that Near West Theatre shows are known for, promises Holznagel. When it opens in fall 2014, the space will offer the professionally produced, large-scale shows long-time fans have grown to love.
"We're excited to be part of a diverse, vibrant community that matches with the mission of our theater," Holznagel says.
SOURCE: Hans Holznagel
WRITER: Douglas J. Guth
It will be about two years before the Detroit-Shoreway theater opens at W. 67th Street, just north of Detroit, says chief operating officer Hans Holznagel. Until then, Near West Theatre will continue to operate out of its longtime rented home on the third floor of a hall owned by St. Patrick's Church at W. 38th Street and Bridge Avenue in Cleveland's Ohio City neighborhood.
The new 25,000-square-foot theater will have extra seating and increased stage space. It also will have rehearsal space and air conditioning, two amenities the current facility has done without for years.
"It opens up all kinds of possibilities for us," says Holznagel.
Hundreds of people from the Gordon Square Arts District, the Detroit Shoreway neighborhood and the local theater community were invited to celebrate the theater's groundbreaking. The project will cost nearly $7 million -- a portion of the $30 million Gordon Square Arts District campaign set aside to revitalize the Detroit Shoreway neighborhood using the arts as an economic catalyst.
A new space won't detract from the intimacy that Near West Theatre shows are known for, promises Holznagel. When it opens in fall 2014, the space will offer the professionally produced, large-scale shows long-time fans have grown to love.
"We're excited to be part of a diverse, vibrant community that matches with the mission of our theater," Holznagel says.
SOURCE: Hans Holznagel
WRITER: Douglas J. Guth
LaunchHouse showed off the inaugural 10 tech startup companies in its LaunchHouse Accelerator (LHX) Showcase Day on Wednesday, November 28, as the companies made their first public pitches to attendees and potential investors.
LaunchHouse selected the 10 companies from a pool of more than 50 initial applicants last summer. The LHX companies received an initial $25,000 investment and participated in a 12-week program to grow their companies to the validation point.
“We took a customer-centric approach to our accelerator,” explains LaunchHouse founder Todd Goldstein. “We’re different than the typical, ‘I have an idea, I’m going to build it and then sell it to customers.’ We took the idea, identified who the customer was, and who was going to buy the product.”
This customer-centric approach meant that many of the LHX companies altered their original ideas as they talked to potential customers and develop their products. “They started with one solution and ended up with something completely different,” says Goldstein.
For instance, Tagora originally had an idea for an online marketplace like Craigslist or eBay. “What they found was there were 20 other sites out there trying to be a marketplace,” says Goldstein. “After talking to 200 strangers from all walks of life, they developed an aggregate site, providing one-stop shopping for posting all second-hand commerce online.”
Goldstein says the customer-centric approach works for both the companies and the region. “We really believe this is the way to do it -- for job creation, for wealth creation,” he says. “All 10 companies started at the same time, and they started feeding off each others' ideas and helping each other.”
More than 140 investors from across the country came to Showcase Day to hear the 10 pitches.
Source: Todd Goldstein
Writer: Karin Connelly
LaunchHouse selected the 10 companies from a pool of more than 50 initial applicants last summer. The LHX companies received an initial $25,000 investment and participated in a 12-week program to grow their companies to the validation point.
“We took a customer-centric approach to our accelerator,” explains LaunchHouse founder Todd Goldstein. “We’re different than the typical, ‘I have an idea, I’m going to build it and then sell it to customers.’ We took the idea, identified who the customer was, and who was going to buy the product.”
This customer-centric approach meant that many of the LHX companies altered their original ideas as they talked to potential customers and develop their products. “They started with one solution and ended up with something completely different,” says Goldstein.
For instance, Tagora originally had an idea for an online marketplace like Craigslist or eBay. “What they found was there were 20 other sites out there trying to be a marketplace,” says Goldstein. “After talking to 200 strangers from all walks of life, they developed an aggregate site, providing one-stop shopping for posting all second-hand commerce online.”
Goldstein says the customer-centric approach works for both the companies and the region. “We really believe this is the way to do it -- for job creation, for wealth creation,” he says. “All 10 companies started at the same time, and they started feeding off each others' ideas and helping each other.”
More than 140 investors from across the country came to Showcase Day to hear the 10 pitches.
Source: Todd Goldstein
Writer: Karin Connelly
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
moca buzz continues to roll in
In an article titled "A Bold New Home for the Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland" in Architectural Digest, writer Samuel Cochran highlights the stunning new home for MOCA Cleveland.
“Designed by London-based architect Farshid Moussavi, the new home for the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Cleveland cuts a fine and enigmatic figure. Situated at an unassuming uptown intersection, the recently opened, nearly 34,000-square-foot, four-story structure (Moussavi’s first in the U.S. and first museum commission) rises in geometric planes from a hexagonal footprint, tapering and tilting to reach a square roof.”
Stunning photographs of the museum add additional interest to the visual tour that highlights the smooth sheen of the exterior as well as the vibrant graphics of the interior walls.
Check out the complete piece here.
“Designed by London-based architect Farshid Moussavi, the new home for the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Cleveland cuts a fine and enigmatic figure. Situated at an unassuming uptown intersection, the recently opened, nearly 34,000-square-foot, four-story structure (Moussavi’s first in the U.S. and first museum commission) rises in geometric planes from a hexagonal footprint, tapering and tilting to reach a square roof.”
Stunning photographs of the museum add additional interest to the visual tour that highlights the smooth sheen of the exterior as well as the vibrant graphics of the interior walls.
Check out the complete piece here.
"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
Seven is a lucky number for North Collinwood's burgeoning arts community, as a like-numbered group of the neighborhood's creative thinkers recently received grants from the Community Partnership for Arts and Culture (CPAC).
The seven artists, most working out of North Collinwood's Waterloo Arts and Entertainment District as part of CPAC's "Artists in Residence" initiative, will get a total of $45,000 in funding for projects including a music education series for local children and an "intergenerational story circle" starring some of the community elderly residents, says CPAC strategic initiative director Seth Beattie.
The grants will address community priorities through arts activities between this month and the end of March. Overarching themes of the grant cycle are residents, community assets and youth involvement. CPAC is awarding the grants in conjunction with the nonprofit Northeast Shores Development Corporation.
"We had 30 proposals this time around," says Beattie of CPAC's second of three grant periods; the third round will come next spring. "These particular ones rose to the top."
The grants are a component of the Artists in Residence program, which is using the North Collinwood neighborhood as "a laboratory" for increasing artists’ engagement with the population, says CPAC president and CEO Tom Schorgl. Area painters, sculptors, videographers and musicians are given perks like affordable housing with the hope they will be a major participant in neighborhood revitalization.
"Artists want communities where they can live affordably with a great quality of life," says Beattie. "They can be a tremendous force in absorbing space in the neighborhood. Collinwood is poised to see a dramatic turnaround in the coming years."
The Waterloo Road arts district can be part of that transformation, with CPAC's latest granting round a good beginning on getting that done, believe the organization's leaders.
"We're marrying strengths here," Beattie says. "It's about money and developing a system of support that helps artists build up projects now and in the future."
SOURCE: Tom Schorgl, Seth Beattie
WRITER: Douglas J. Guth
The seven artists, most working out of North Collinwood's Waterloo Arts and Entertainment District as part of CPAC's "Artists in Residence" initiative, will get a total of $45,000 in funding for projects including a music education series for local children and an "intergenerational story circle" starring some of the community elderly residents, says CPAC strategic initiative director Seth Beattie.
The grants will address community priorities through arts activities between this month and the end of March. Overarching themes of the grant cycle are residents, community assets and youth involvement. CPAC is awarding the grants in conjunction with the nonprofit Northeast Shores Development Corporation.
"We had 30 proposals this time around," says Beattie of CPAC's second of three grant periods; the third round will come next spring. "These particular ones rose to the top."
The grants are a component of the Artists in Residence program, which is using the North Collinwood neighborhood as "a laboratory" for increasing artists’ engagement with the population, says CPAC president and CEO Tom Schorgl. Area painters, sculptors, videographers and musicians are given perks like affordable housing with the hope they will be a major participant in neighborhood revitalization.
"Artists want communities where they can live affordably with a great quality of life," says Beattie. "They can be a tremendous force in absorbing space in the neighborhood. Collinwood is poised to see a dramatic turnaround in the coming years."
The Waterloo Road arts district can be part of that transformation, with CPAC's latest granting round a good beginning on getting that done, believe the organization's leaders.
"We're marrying strengths here," Beattie says. "It's about money and developing a system of support that helps artists build up projects now and in the future."
SOURCE: Tom Schorgl, Seth Beattie
WRITER: Douglas J. Guth
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.
Cleveland’s contemporary art scene is thriving and growing, serving as a magnet for tourism while proving an economic engine for revitalizing the region. Newly reenergized by momentous advancements at CMA and MOCA -- and nurtured along by CIA -- the progressive arts scene is enjoying a renaissance.
wall street journal previews art exhibit at cma
In a recent Wall Street Journal article, writer Judith H. Dobrynsk previews an upcoming art exhibit at the Cleveland Museum of Art.
“As Susan E. Bergh walked through the special exhibition galleries of the Cleveland Museum of Art one day last week, she was surrounded by wooden crates -- some empty, some opened, some still locked. Inside were many of the objects with which she will reveal an ancient culture that is all but unknown to most Americans but is now recognized as the first great empire of the Andes,” writes Dobrynsk.
The exhibit, "Wari: Lords of the Ancient Andes," is the first North American exhibit focused on this people, which thrived from around 600 to 1000 A.D.
“Ms. Bergh, Cleveland's curator of the arts of the ancient Americas, has assembled about 150 objects -- intricate textiles, ceramic vessels, colorful featherwork hangings and four-cornered hats, inlaid ornaments, and stone and wood sculptures -- from 45 museums and private collections in the Americas and Europe.”
"I want people to understand that civilization in the Andes way predates the Inca and that the Wari was a very complicated, sophisticated civilization," Bergh is quoted in the piece. "And I want people to see how beautiful and enchanting it is."
The interesting story goes on to discuss Bergh’s background, history of the Wari people, and a plethora of details about the exhibit itself.
“As Susan E. Bergh walked through the special exhibition galleries of the Cleveland Museum of Art one day last week, she was surrounded by wooden crates -- some empty, some opened, some still locked. Inside were many of the objects with which she will reveal an ancient culture that is all but unknown to most Americans but is now recognized as the first great empire of the Andes,” writes Dobrynsk.
The exhibit, "Wari: Lords of the Ancient Andes," is the first North American exhibit focused on this people, which thrived from around 600 to 1000 A.D.
“Ms. Bergh, Cleveland's curator of the arts of the ancient Americas, has assembled about 150 objects -- intricate textiles, ceramic vessels, colorful featherwork hangings and four-cornered hats, inlaid ornaments, and stone and wood sculptures -- from 45 museums and private collections in the Americas and Europe.”
"I want people to understand that civilization in the Andes way predates the Inca and that the Wari was a very complicated, sophisticated civilization," Bergh is quoted in the piece. "And I want people to see how beautiful and enchanting it is."
The interesting story goes on to discuss Bergh’s background, history of the Wari people, and a plethora of details about the exhibit itself.
John Carroll University is hosting the fifth annual Government Career Fair today, November 8, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Dolan Center for Science and Technology. The fair, sponsored by Cleveland Federal Executive Board and co-hosted by six other area schools, is designed to give attendees in a variety of disciplines insight into landing a government job.
“We’re here to educate the public and students about the process, because it is different than applying for a [private sector] job,” explains Barb Koeth, assistant director of the Center for Career Services at JCU. “There are thousands of jobs available on the local, state and federal level.”
Fifty-two government agencies will be on hand to recruit for internships and open positions. For the first time this year, the State Department will be in attendance. Workshops specifically for students and recent graduates, veterans, and working for Ohio will be held throughout the day. Informational sessions will be hosted by the Northeast Ohio Regional Fusion Center, the Federal Reserve Bank and the Ohio Legislative Service Commission.
The Legislative Service Commission, for instance, has 34 fellowships open each year. “They are in every demographic, for 13 months with full state benefits,” says Koeth.
Keynote speaker Stephen Anthony, special agent in charge of the Cleveland FBI office will talk at noon.
The event and parking are free and open to the public. The other schools involved are Baldwin-Wallace College, Case Western Reserve University School of Law, Cleveland State University, Hiram College, Notre Dame College and Ursuline College.
Source: Barb Koeth
Writer: Karin Connelly
“We’re here to educate the public and students about the process, because it is different than applying for a [private sector] job,” explains Barb Koeth, assistant director of the Center for Career Services at JCU. “There are thousands of jobs available on the local, state and federal level.”
Fifty-two government agencies will be on hand to recruit for internships and open positions. For the first time this year, the State Department will be in attendance. Workshops specifically for students and recent graduates, veterans, and working for Ohio will be held throughout the day. Informational sessions will be hosted by the Northeast Ohio Regional Fusion Center, the Federal Reserve Bank and the Ohio Legislative Service Commission.
The Legislative Service Commission, for instance, has 34 fellowships open each year. “They are in every demographic, for 13 months with full state benefits,” says Koeth.
Keynote speaker Stephen Anthony, special agent in charge of the Cleveland FBI office will talk at noon.
The event and parking are free and open to the public. The other schools involved are Baldwin-Wallace College, Case Western Reserve University School of Law, Cleveland State University, Hiram College, Notre Dame College and Ursuline College.
Source: Barb Koeth
Writer: Karin Connelly
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.
By design, the life of a celebrity looks effortless. But the engine that drives that lifestyle is a non-stop schedule that would sap the strength of far weaker men. I know, because I tried to keep up with celebrity chef Michael Symon during a recent visit home that included business meetings, book signings, restaurant visits and too-brief social get-togethers.
JumpStart, NorTech and the Greater Cleveland Partnership (GCP) each were recognized by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) for their work in economic development efforts in the region with gold excellence in economic development awards.
JumpStart received the award for entrepreneurship, NorTech received the award for technology-based economic development, and GCP received the award for its business retention and expansion program.
Although each organization won in different categories, JumpStart director of communications Samantha Fryberger says it shows the unified effort put behind Cleveland’s economic success. “I think it shows a collaborative regional approach to economic development,” she says. “It recognizes that the approach we’re taking is innovative. The framework is set for a community that comes together collectively as a model.”
JumpStart’s efforts to support and grow technology entrepreneurs earned the organization honors. NorTech was recognized in particular for its innovation cluster models, which identify and foster growing industry groups. In the first half of 2012, the GCP’s business retention and expansion team completed 17 projects that resulted in 2,010 jobs created and 3,492 jobs retained. Thirty-three projects are now in the works.
Fryberger is pleased that each organization’s efforts are being recognized on a national level. “There’s a collaborative spirit of regionalism and it’s starting to get noticed,” she says. “And that’s really a great thing.”
Source: Samantha Fryberger
Writer: Karin Connelly
JumpStart received the award for entrepreneurship, NorTech received the award for technology-based economic development, and GCP received the award for its business retention and expansion program.
Although each organization won in different categories, JumpStart director of communications Samantha Fryberger says it shows the unified effort put behind Cleveland’s economic success. “I think it shows a collaborative regional approach to economic development,” she says. “It recognizes that the approach we’re taking is innovative. The framework is set for a community that comes together collectively as a model.”
JumpStart’s efforts to support and grow technology entrepreneurs earned the organization honors. NorTech was recognized in particular for its innovation cluster models, which identify and foster growing industry groups. In the first half of 2012, the GCP’s business retention and expansion team completed 17 projects that resulted in 2,010 jobs created and 3,492 jobs retained. Thirty-three projects are now in the works.
Fryberger is pleased that each organization’s efforts are being recognized on a national level. “There’s a collaborative spirit of regionalism and it’s starting to get noticed,” she says. “And that’s really a great thing.”
Source: Samantha Fryberger
Writer: Karin Connelly
Patrick Ciamacco loves the theater scene in Cleveland. However, he sometime finds himself visiting a venue only once a season, as programming tends to run with similar themes to the point where if Ciamacco has seen one show, he's seen them all.
There's nothing inherently wrong with that approach, but the Brunswick native wanted something more out of the stage experience. Thus, the creation of Blank Canvas Theatre, a so-called "Theatre for the People," which is wrapping up its inaugural season on Cleveland's West Side.
Ciamacco, Blank Canvas' founder and artistic director, says that 2012 has been a fun if stressful year. The theater opened in January with The Texas Chainsaw Musical, and is closing the year with Debbie Does Dallas: The Musical. In between all the blood-letting and singing were three additional shows, including the John Steinbeck classic, Of Mice and Men.
A wide range of shows available at affordable prices has attracted a young, diverse crowd to the new venue, says Ciamacco. "It takes years to build an audience, but with the quality of work we're doing, there's a kind of, 'If you build it, they will come' feeling," he says.
Ciamacco founded Blank Canvas partly as a performance space for The Laughter League, his Cleveland-based sketch-comedy group. The 78th Street Studios, an arts complex bustling with 40 galleries and studios, seemed like a great place to plant a new artistic foothold within the city.
The space is intimate, with no seat more than 15 feet from the stage. Starting off, Ciamacco received support from Cleveland's theater community in the form of tools, lighting and emotional support. The coming year will be spent improving the venue's infrastructure and bringing in a variety of new shows. There already are plans to bring back fan favorite Texas Chainsaw Musical next Halloween for a revival.
Eclectic programming will always be Blank Canvas Theatre's calling card, maintains Ciamacco. "We're going to have something to attract the atypical theater-goer, while trying to get the normal theater fan to go outside the box," he says.
SOURCE: Patrick Ciamacco
WRITER: Douglas J. Guth
There's nothing inherently wrong with that approach, but the Brunswick native wanted something more out of the stage experience. Thus, the creation of Blank Canvas Theatre, a so-called "Theatre for the People," which is wrapping up its inaugural season on Cleveland's West Side.
Ciamacco, Blank Canvas' founder and artistic director, says that 2012 has been a fun if stressful year. The theater opened in January with The Texas Chainsaw Musical, and is closing the year with Debbie Does Dallas: The Musical. In between all the blood-letting and singing were three additional shows, including the John Steinbeck classic, Of Mice and Men.
A wide range of shows available at affordable prices has attracted a young, diverse crowd to the new venue, says Ciamacco. "It takes years to build an audience, but with the quality of work we're doing, there's a kind of, 'If you build it, they will come' feeling," he says.
Ciamacco founded Blank Canvas partly as a performance space for The Laughter League, his Cleveland-based sketch-comedy group. The 78th Street Studios, an arts complex bustling with 40 galleries and studios, seemed like a great place to plant a new artistic foothold within the city.
The space is intimate, with no seat more than 15 feet from the stage. Starting off, Ciamacco received support from Cleveland's theater community in the form of tools, lighting and emotional support. The coming year will be spent improving the venue's infrastructure and bringing in a variety of new shows. There already are plans to bring back fan favorite Texas Chainsaw Musical next Halloween for a revival.
Eclectic programming will always be Blank Canvas Theatre's calling card, maintains Ciamacco. "We're going to have something to attract the atypical theater-goer, while trying to get the normal theater fan to go outside the box," he says.
SOURCE: Patrick Ciamacco
WRITER: Douglas J. Guth
Last weekend, the city of Cleveland celebrated the 100th birthday of the West Side Market in style. Thousands of locals and visitors made their way to Ohio City to take part in one or more events held in the Market's honor. Fresh Water photographer Bob Perkoski covered the events for the magazine.
NASA will showcase its best developments in its Space Technology Program November 28-30 at NASA Technology Days, held at Cleveland Public Auditorium. The event will allow the public to see what technological developments come out of NASA Glenn Research Center, many of which could be adopted and implemented in the private sector.
NASA Glenn is working with NASA’s Office of Chief Technologies, which conducts ground experiments to further space technology. “Ninety-nine NASA technologies will be showcased,” says Joe Shaw, deputy director of NASA’s Office of Technology Partnerships and Planning. “We want to demonstrate the existing technologies.”
Attendees will have the chance to see technologies ready for commercialization, learn about opportunities to partner with NASA on technology development and meet with major research companies.
The technologies featured can be transferred into a variety of industries, says Shaw, such as advanced energy, automotive, human health and innovative manufacturing. “These are technology experts showing off their technologies,” says Shaw. “Even though they were developed for space aeronautics, they can be broadly used across many sectors. These industries are extremely important, not just for Northeast Ohio, but for to the Midwest. There are a large number of people in these sectors.”
The hope is Technology Days will build partnerships and foster technology transfer between NASA and local businesses. “These technologies can be moved quickly to the commercial sector, which creates economic development, which creates jobs,” says Shaw. This will give companies a chance to learn about the opportunities.”
The event is free and open to the public.
Source: Joe Shaw
Writer: Karin Connelly
NASA Glenn is working with NASA’s Office of Chief Technologies, which conducts ground experiments to further space technology. “Ninety-nine NASA technologies will be showcased,” says Joe Shaw, deputy director of NASA’s Office of Technology Partnerships and Planning. “We want to demonstrate the existing technologies.”
Attendees will have the chance to see technologies ready for commercialization, learn about opportunities to partner with NASA on technology development and meet with major research companies.
The technologies featured can be transferred into a variety of industries, says Shaw, such as advanced energy, automotive, human health and innovative manufacturing. “These are technology experts showing off their technologies,” says Shaw. “Even though they were developed for space aeronautics, they can be broadly used across many sectors. These industries are extremely important, not just for Northeast Ohio, but for to the Midwest. There are a large number of people in these sectors.”
The hope is Technology Days will build partnerships and foster technology transfer between NASA and local businesses. “These technologies can be moved quickly to the commercial sector, which creates economic development, which creates jobs,” says Shaw. This will give companies a chance to learn about the opportunities.”
The event is free and open to the public.
Source: Joe Shaw
Writer: Karin Connelly
foodbeast goes gaga for noodlecat's clam chowder udon
In an item titled, "This is What Clam Chowder Udon Looks Like," Dominique Zamora writes about Noodlecat for the popular blog Foodbeast.
“Earlier this week I had a chance to fly out to Cleveland, Ohio, for Certified Angus Beef’s 2012 Culinary Ideation and Trends Session," she begins. "The post for all that is coming soon, but while I was there, I also caught wind of at least one food item I never thought I would hear about, ever.”
“Clam. Chowder. Udon.”
Zamora is awestruck by the Noodlecat dish, a fusion creation that combines udon noodles, potatoes, celery, onions, and bacon in a creamy clam broth.
"This explosion of East meets . . . further . . . East comes from Cleveland-based restaurant Noodlecat, which opened in August 2011. Branded as a 'slurpalicious Japanese-American mash-up from Chef Jonathon Sawyer,' much of Noodlecat’s menu looks like what happens when a college student decides to go to culinary school and comes back to make the exact same foods he made before, only a million times better."
Read the full Foodbeast post here.
“Earlier this week I had a chance to fly out to Cleveland, Ohio, for Certified Angus Beef’s 2012 Culinary Ideation and Trends Session," she begins. "The post for all that is coming soon, but while I was there, I also caught wind of at least one food item I never thought I would hear about, ever.”
“Clam. Chowder. Udon.”
Zamora is awestruck by the Noodlecat dish, a fusion creation that combines udon noodles, potatoes, celery, onions, and bacon in a creamy clam broth.
"This explosion of East meets . . . further . . . East comes from Cleveland-based restaurant Noodlecat, which opened in August 2011. Branded as a 'slurpalicious Japanese-American mash-up from Chef Jonathon Sawyer,' much of Noodlecat’s menu looks like what happens when a college student decides to go to culinary school and comes back to make the exact same foods he made before, only a million times better."
Read the full Foodbeast post here.