The Mining Journal, Wednesday, March 30 — 5A
PROGRESS2016
NMU
approves budget
‘A Catalyst for Conversation’ Forum highlights entrepreneurship efforts
President obtains raise NMU President Fritz Erickson
By MARY WARDELL Journal Staff Writer MARQUETTE — The Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees in July approved a $108 million general fund operating budget for the current school year, an increase of about $400,000 or 0.4 percent from the previous year, according to an NMU press release. The budget factors in increased expenses related to contractual obligations, health care costs, minimum wage increases and other inflationary costs. Most of those will be offset by cost-saving reductions realized through restructuring and operational adjustments, according to the release. The board also approved an executive committee recommendation to increase President Fritz Ericksons base salary by 2 percent consistent with the increase for non-represented NMU employees, according to the release. Within the contract guidelines, the board offered Erickson a $20,000 performance bonus for his achievements in his first year. Ericksons contract, originally set to expire in 2016, will be extended to 2018. In other action at the meeting, the board:
In other action at the meeting, the board: Approved a distance education fee of up to $50 per credit hour for all online courses Approved the universitys sexual misconduct policy, a modified version of the former sexual assault policy. Universities and colleges are developing or revising their policies in response to changes in federal laws and regulations Authorized the purchase of a new $280,000 nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer for the Chemistry department Approved the following capital and long-term maintenance projects: New Science Facility heat recovery and coil replacement, $300,000; and Learning Resources Center and West Science classroom renovations, $560,000
At left, Gov. Rick Snyder speaks via live-stream at a campus forum about entrepreneurial development at Northern Michigan University. Above, A panel of entrepreneurs, investors and business leaders participated the forum aimed at promoting entrepreneurship. Pictured, from left, is moderator Ray Johnson, CEO of the Innovate Marquette SmartZone; Invent@NMU Founder David Ollila; Megan Frost, an associate professor of biomedical engineering at Michigan Technological University and cofounder of FM Research Management, LLC; Jeff Nyquist, CEO of Home Health & Hospice and creator of NeuroTrainer; Robert Mahaney, president of the Veridea Group, LLC; and Chris Rizik, CEO and fund manager of Renaissance Venture Capital Fund. (Journal photo by Mary Wardell)
By MARY WARDELL Journal Staff Writer MARQUETTE — While the Upper Peninsula doesnt always bring to mind cutting-edge technological advancements, efforts are underway to change that perception and the local economic landscape. One Marquette man has developed virtual brain-training technology. A Houghton woman has invented a medical polymer that could save lives and billions of dollars. Both shared their stories at a forum last month on the campus of Northern Michigan University. Gov. Rick Snyder, via internet live-stream, and a panel of entrepreneurs, investors and business leaders participated in “A Catalyst for Conversation: Driving Entrepreneurship in Northern Michigan,” moderated by Ray Johnson, CEO of the Innovate Marquette SmartZone. Innovate Marquette is a Michigan Economic Development Corporationdesignated SmartZone with a mission to help position Marquette County and the wider U.P. as a world-class entrepreneurial ecosystem. Snyder congratulated the U.P., NMU and other organizations — like Invent@NMU, 40 Below Marquette County Young Professionals and the Angel Network of local investors — for promoting innovative opportunities and partnerships. Snyder said creating an environment of innova-
tion and entrepreneurship requires at least five key elements: technology, talent, capital, infrastructure and a culture of success. “This is a team sport. Trying to do things on your own is not the best answer. Its how you reach out and build networks and relationships that count,” Snyder said. The region has improved dramatically, Snyder said, but he encouraged stakeholders to continue on that path. “Hopefully, you can see Im fired up about this stuff, and I am fired up about your opportunity in Northern Michigan,” Snyder said. “I want to get up there; I want to learn more from you. So as you go through this, if youve got more questions for me, line them up. Im happy to talk more about this because I see a great opportunity for success in Northern Michigan.” Invent@NMU is a unique campus space helping local inventors bring their ideas to market, while offering students a training ground to propel them into the job market. Founder and Director David Ollila, one of Fridays panelists and an inventor with 12 patents, said the center gets a new idea walking through the door on average every three days. Four other panelists also shared their stories about the conversations that served as catalysts for their success. Megan Frost, an associate professor of biomedi-
cal engineering at Michigan Technological University and cofounder of FM Research Management, LLC, developed a nitric oxide-releasing polymer with life-changing applications for medical devices. Frost became motivated to research and develop the product after getting an infection from having her wisdom teeth out. Jeff Nyquist is the CEO of Home Health & Hospice and president and sole owner of NeuroTrainer, which offers athletes advanced brain training through virtual technology to improve their performance. Nyquist, who has a Ph.D. in cognitive neuroscience from Vanderbilt University, also helped develop two multimillion dollar non-profit corporations: the Trillium Hospice House of Marquette County and the Western Marquette County Health Foundation. “The goal is not so much about having a conversation,” Nyquist said. “The goal is to learn from people that have already gone through things and figure out how to fail quicker and to learn quicker and to succeed quicker.” Chris Rizik, CEO and fund manager of Renaissance Venture Capital Fund, is also the founder and publisher of SoulTracks.com, the most popular online soul music magazine in the U.S. Finally, Robert Mahaney, president of the
Veridea Group, LLC, has a long professional history of corporate banking and successful start-ups, in addition to being a local Angel investor and serving on the NMU Board of Trustees. Steve Arwood, CEO of the MEDC gave the keynote address, saying that he is also “fired up” about the entrepreneurial efforts happening in Northern Michigan. Arwood called Invent@NMU one of the freshest things he has ever seen in the U.P. But the U.P. has one other major advantage: a sense of place, he said, adding that nobody that grows up or goes to school here seems to want to leave. “Its an incredible sense of place, something that you dont find in other parts of the state — and a community of excellence,” Arwood said. “If you look at Marquette and Houghton and across the U.P., that place and that undeniable attachment to the natural beauty and attraction of the setting gives rise to these opportunities that we see right in front of us. “So congratulations on moving the conversation to this level, and I ask that we keep the conversation going.”
Mary Wardell can be reached at 906-2282500, ext. 248. Her email address is mwardell@miningjournal.net.
Estate Planning Isn’t About Death,
It’s About Life
Approved the following reorganization: NMU concessions, previously under Intercollegiate Atheltics/Recreational Sports, will now be under Dining Services in the finance and administration division Approved a request by Francis Reh Academy in Saginaw, one of NMUs charter schools, to add an additional site that will be used for grades 7-12 Appointed the following board members at NMUs public school academies (terms expire June 30, 2016 unless otherwise indicated): Richard Hotchkin, East Shore Leadership Academy; Patricia Edwards, Experiencia Preparatory Academy; and Charles Wandahsega, Nah Tah Wahsh Public School Academy (June 30, 2018) Adopted revisions to the NMU Board of Trustees bylaws Extended the external auditor contract of Anderson, Tackman & Company PLC through June 30 2017 Granted professor emeritus status to Kenneth Janson, business, and Steven Oates, education
Mary Wardell can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 248. Her email address is mwardell@miningjournal.net.
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