Recently in People Category

John Heiss is using social innovation to improve the economy in Michigan by creating a network of double-bottom line organizations. Additionally, he has plans to revive and improve a fading, but promising market.

Like this? Let us know with a $5 donation, so we can do more

Filed under: John Heiss | People | Social Ventures Network

Recently I had the honor to interview John Heiss of the Southeast Michigan Social Ventures Network. As a social innovator, Mr. Heiss is using the Internet with its “open source infrastructure” to bring together a “network of a network” where organizations are “applying the network technology to get things done.” Various types of organizations including “capital networks, deal flow, entrepreneurship, for profits, and non-profits,” get together to achieve a double bottom line. A double bottom line is where the first bottom line is to make money, and the second one is to fulfill social responsibilities. He is bringing together local organizations with goals to “generate jobs and social purposes” to share ideas, information and resources.

When I asked Heiss about Michigan’s future, he  pointed out that we have to look at what resources and strengths we have to offer, as a state.  One example he mentioned was the creative class in Florida; where the arts are supporting a good portion of the economy there.

In the next part, Mr. Heiss reveals his innovative ideas to kick-start a fading, but promising market in Michigan.  

There are many jobs available in Michigan, even though there have been cutbacks in the auto-industry. Job seekers may have to shift their focus to information technology, since there many open positions in Michigan in some areas in this field.

Like this? Let us know with a $5 donation, so we can do more

Filed under: Education & Training | Information Technology | Jeffrey Livermore | People

Recently I had the privilege of interviewing Dr. Livermore, a professor who teaches information technology courses at Walsh College. He enlightened me about the job market in Michigan for Information Technology (IT) professionals. And surprisingly enough, I learned through our conversation that there is a shortage of Computer Information Systems (CIS) professionals here in Michigan. Yeah, I think I know what you are thinking; "haven't we lost a lot of computer jobs through outsourcing them overseas?"

Yes we have, but as Dr. Livermore pointed out there are some computer jobs that can be easily outsourced to other countries, such as computer programming and data entry. However, many computer related careers are safe right here at home since they require the IT professional to be on site. For instance, especially in computer networking where a group of computers have to be physically connected through wires or wireless connections, as well as all the necessary programs installed on them, need to be done in person. Additionally, many times computer networking includes security, so the IT professional would have to install anti-virus programs, firewalls, anti-spyware, and the updates that go along wtih these, along with running regular backups, maintaining the system, etc., so the IT professional would need to be on-site, or readily accessible nearby.

In the next part of this series, I will reveal the most sought after IT field. Companies who seek out these specific IT professionals will definitely have the competitive advantage.

One famous innovator was raised in Port Huron, Michigan. He invented the phonograph just over a century ago. So when you listen to your favorite CD, think of where it all started.

Like this? Let us know with a $5 donation, so we can do more

Filed under: Innovation | People | Thomas Edison

I am listening to my new Coldplay CD, Viva La Vida, for the first time. Since there were some days that I missed it on the radio, I had to go out and buy it in spite of my limited budget, so I can listen to it any time I want to. I have Coldplay and Thomas Edison to thank for this.

Thomas Edison was born in Ohio. However, it was in Port Huron, Michigan where Thomas Edison was nurtured to adulthood.

Edison is the inventor of many things that have changed our lives. One of my favorites, especially now, is the phonograph or as Edison called it, the “automatic repeater”. It is tough to believe that the phonograph was invented in 1877, just 131 years ago! Additionally, it is especially astounding that this technology made a significant leap in innovation, since there was nothing like it before.
 

Before the phonograph was developed further, the only way people could listen to music was through live performances. This was not very often, nor affordable for most people. Music is mathematics, and listening to it, and even learning it, improves one's IQ (Intelligence Quotient), especially during childhood. So it could be said that Edison's invention, the phonograph, is an innovator enabler! 

It is my opinion that the phrase “ahead of his time” definitely was inspired from Thomas Edison. In the next part of this series, I will point out other life-changing innovations Edison created.

Michigan has a rich history in innovation. Many of which have made major changes all over the world, not to mention, the foundations of how we live our modern lives today. In this part, I start with the innovator, Henry Ford, who manufactured the Ford Model T automobile one hundred years ago in 1908!

Like this? Let us know with a $5 donation, so we can do more

Filed under: Automotive | Henry Ford | Industries | Innovation | Manufacturing | People

The other day I was flipping through my AAA Living magazine, and came across a snippet about a discount for AAA members to the Henry Ford Museum, Greenfield Village and Ford Rouge Factory Tour.

This discount is to celebrate the 100th year anniversary of the Ford Model T rolling “off the assembly line”. So as we drive to work in our modern cars, it is astonishing to think that it was only 100 years ago that the Model T was created. And it goes without saying that this invention made significant changes all over the world. This is one reason why Detroit, Michigan is called Motor City and Motown. 

I have been lucky enough to visit all these places, and people here in Michigan don’t seem to realize how fortunate we are to have these most unique and best museums in the world! And it all started in Michigan’s rich history of innovation.

In the next part of this series, I will bring up more innovators in Michigan’s history.

 

Here is Part 1 of my interview with Susan Goodell, Executive Director of Crain's Best-Managed Non Profit, Forgotten Harvest. Some of the information in this blog is from an article in Crain's Detroit Business.

Like this? Let us know with a $5 donation, so we can do more

Filed under: Forgotten Harvest | People | Susan Goodell

Key reasons Forgotten Harvest (FH) is Crain’s Best-Managed Nonprofit:

• The FH operating model makes it easier for grocery stores and restaurants to donate food. FH truck drivers do daily pickups where they load the truck with food from donor agencies that work well with the donors’ schedules, and in the same day, take the food to soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters, etc. Additionally, the donors don’t have the throw the food away, resulting in reduced dumpster fees. This is also environmentally friendly, since space for garbage is running out.
• Forgotten Harvest knows how to staff their operation effectively. If you visit their offices, everyone is busy working intently and with purpose. People are extra conscientious of not wasting resources, and using what resources they have to their full advantage to help FH help those in need.
• FH also focuses on utilizing the talents and expertise of “its board members and other volunteers”
• Operates “on a cash budget”, so there are no finance charges.