X-ology Magazine - Spring 2014 by X-ology Magazine

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EXPLORING MICHIGANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S EMERGING TECH SECTORS SPRING 2014 $3.99

ReNewABLe eNeRGy IN MIChIGAN

Growing a green economy

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EXPLORING MICHIGAN’S EMERGING TECH SECTORS

features

people profile Irene Dimitry: perspectives on renewable resources

business profile Accio Energy powers up new alternative energy source

focus on technology Renewable energy: growing Michigan’s green economy

lifestyle Golfing in the footsteps of history

departments 4

editor’s letter

tech+design A helmet for the ages

alley update Views and news from Automation Alley

education kaleidoscope Keeping our homegrown grads home

trends Calling STEM students

expert outlook Collaboration key to Michigan’s automotive future

making the scene Southeast Michigan tech events

metro retro Treadmills – still in the running health+tech Wearable biosensors; wiping out cancer cells; artificial pancreas; help for epileptic patients; lower cost colonoscopies

LoG oN FoR the LAteSt MIChIGAN teCh NewS

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spring 2014 voluMe 8, nuMber 2

editor'sletter ANGIE BAAN

www.xologymagazine.com

e di tor i a l

ith spring representing a season of renewal, it seems natural that our featured technology in this issue of X-OLOGY Magazine is renewable energy. It’s an industry that has created tens of thousands of jobs and supports nearly $10 billion in annual economic activity in Michigan, according to one leading expert in the field. As you’ll read about in our Focus on Tech feature article, the state’s renewable energy industry is ripe for entrepreneurs looking to make an impact. One company already making an impact is Accio Energy, the subject of our Business Profile. The company is developing an innovative green energy solution that moves wind through water-misting panels to generate power. According to Accio president Jen Baird, the unique system has the potential to help provide energy security for the United States and other countries. Its location in Michigan, she says, gives the company access to great engineering and manufacturing talent. And speaking of talent, our People Profile features Irene Dimitry, vice president of marketing and renewables at DTE Energy. Under Dimitry’s leadership, the company is committed to supplying 10 percent of electricity sales from renewable resources by 2015 — and they’re currently ahead of schedule, she says. Read more about Dimitry’s perspectives on the future of DTE Energy and Michigan. Industry leaders in Michigan’s tech industries also have an eye on the state’s future, which is why they’re committed to keeping talent here. Many have turned to the Small Company Internship Award Program for help. As you’ll read in our Education Kaleidoscope article, the program provides funding for Michigan small businesses to hire university students as interns to work on projects in STEM fields. The program is proving to be a successful matchmaker for businesses and graduates — and a good thing for Michigan. Another good thing for the state are the many golf courses that beckon both tourists and Michiganders this time of year. For those eager to hit the links, our Lifestyle golf feature highlights some great destinations in Michigan’s northern reaches, including Mackinac Island and the Upper Peninsula. These courses offer breathtaking scenery and legendary locales for golfers everywhere. I hope you enjoy this issue. Please feel free to share your thoughts about X-OLOGY, and visit us at XOLOGYmagazine.com for more tech-focused news.

editor | Jane Racey Gleeson editorial advisors Ken Rogers Kelly Kozlowski Erin Sommerville copy editors Nicole Kampe

Erin Sommerville

contributing Writers Julie Baumkel Susan Pollack Nicole Kampe Matthew Totsky Leslie Mertz Stephanie Vozza c r e at i v e creative director | Alex Lumelsky contributing photographers Max Wedge Jeffrey Wang production | SKY Creative p u b li s h i ng published by rde enterprises inc. publisher | R. David Eick printed by arboroakland group vice president | Chuck Rymal operations | Joseph P. Pietrangeli a dv e rt i s i ng Managing director, sales and Marketing | R. David Eick account Managers Scott Cooper Cal Moore For advertising: 248.231.8067 or 248.549.0981 david@xologymagazine.com X-OLOGY IS A qUARTERLY MAGAzINE PUBLIShED FOR AUTOMATION ALLEY. ThE MISSION OF X-OLOGY IS TO UNCOVER ThE MOST SURPRISING AND RESONANT STORIES ABOUT ThE PEOPLE, COMPANIES, TEChNOLOGIES AND IDEAS ThAT ARE TRANSFORMING SOUThEAST MIChIGAN. X-OLOGY IS DISTRIBUTED TO 10,000 hOMES AND 5,000 BUSINESSES ThROUGhOUT EIGhT COUNTIES; 2,500 ARE DISTRIBUTED FOR RECRUITING IN ThE TECh SECTOR AND 2,500 COPIES ARE SOLD IN STREET SALES. FOR SUBSCRIPTIONS, PLEASE CALL: 248-549-0981. COPYRIGhT © 2014, RDE ENTERPRISES

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SPRING 2014 • X-OLOGY

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automationalleyupdate

the 2014 automation alley technical talent development program challenge Fund awardees include: ACE Controls (farmington hills) AMT (orion) Baker College (Auburn hills campus) Compuware Corporation (detroit) dASI Solutions (Pontiac)

automation alley $1M training grant Automation Alley recently awarded $1 million in technical training to 24 local companies through the second round of its Technical Talent Development Program (TTDP) Challenge Fund, helping to ensure that Southeast Michigan’s information technology workforce is among the most skilled in the nation. The 24 companies awarded a portion of the $1 million are projected to train 472 local workers for new and existing high-tech jobs in 2014 and include both large corporations and small to medium-size businesses from across Southeast Michigan. Above: Secure-24 Launched in 2012 with two em- was among the ﬁrst ployer partners, hP Enterprise Servic- round of technical talent Developes of Pontiac and Lakeside Software, ment Program Inc., of Bloomfield hills and Ann ArChallenge Fund bor, TTDP is made possible through awardees. Pica $5 million grant from the U.S. De- tured: IoC Security Analysts tim Mulpartment of Labor, Employment and vany (standing) Training Administration, awarded to and Matt Janik. Automation Alley to create jobs and retrain workers within Southeast Michigan’s tech industry. In 2013, Automation Alley awarded 13 local companies a portion of $750,000 in training funds through the first round of the TTDP Challenge Fund. Automation Alley member companies with immediate IT training needs were eligible to apply for the funds. As a result, 287 new and existing employees participated in training in 2013. “Automation Alley serves a vital role in supporting workforce development in Southeast Michigan. Through the Technical Talent Development Program, Automation Alley offers people in our community the opportunity to train for ‘in-demand’ careers in IT,” says Linda Kruso, director of workforce planning at Beaumont health System. “Beaumont health System is pleased to serve as an employer partner. This funding benefits our health system and the community by helping to increase the supply of well-qualified healthcare IT talent.” The Automation Alley Technical Talent Development Program is made possible by a $5 million grant funded by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, and is an equal opportunity program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. 6

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detroit Labs, LLC (detroit) ESG Automotive uSA (Troy) future help designs (Pontiac) General Motors (warren) hirotec America (Auburn hills) Logic Solutions (Ann Arbor) Mobile Comply (Pontiac) MoBIS North America, LLC (farmington hills) oakland Schools (waterford) Pixo Group (Southfield) Plastipak Packaging (Plymouth) r & E Automated (Macomb Twp) research Into Internet Systems [rIIS] (Troy) Saline Lectronics (Saline) Softura (farmington hills) Stout Systems (Ann Arbor) Total Solutions (Brighton) w3r Consulting (Southfield) ZenaComp (farmington hills)

about automation alley® Automation Alley is a technology business association driving the growth and image of Southeast Michigan’s economy through a collaborative culture that focuses on workforce and business development initiatives. Since its founding in 1999, Automation Alley has expanded to include nearly 1,000 businesses, educational institutions and government entities from the City of Detroit and the surrounding eight-county region. Automation Alley promotes regional prosperity through entrepreneurial and exporting assistance, workforce development and technology acceleration. For additional information, visit www.automationalley.com.

mission Automation Alley exists to grow the innovation cluster of Southeast Michigan. We believe in a bright technology future for our state that is innovation-led and driven by exporting. We create business development opportunities and results for our members and stakeholders who share our values. By helping our members achieve success, Automation Alley increases the quality of life in Michigan.

Automation Alley Trade Mission

Farnborough International Airshow Farnborough, England | July 12-17, 2014

For more information or to register, please visit automationalley.com or contact Lisa Lasser at 248-457-3283 or lasserl@automationalley.com.

SHAPING THE FUTURE OF MANUFACTURING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

Automation Alley has partnered with THE BIG M to showcase how technology in Southeast Michigan is moving manufacturing forward across the country. Join us at THE BIG M and experience innovation in action. Don’t miss these Automation Alley activities at the event: Automation Alley Modeling, Simulation & Visualization (MSV) Innovation Factory MSV Panel Discussion Summer Member Networking Event (members only)

JUNE 9-12, 2014 COBO CENTER, DETROIT

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X-OLOGY • SPRING 2014

automationalleyupdate

automation alley releases technology industry report Automation Alley has released its annual Technology Industry Report, providing an in-depth analysis of Southeast Michigan’s technology economy and its key industries. With data compiled by Lansing-based Anderson Economic Group, the report benchmarks the Greater Detroit region against the nation’s other high-tech hubs and also serves as a tool for attracting talent and investment to the region. As Automation Alley celebrates its 15th anniversary, the technology business association kicked the report’s debut up a notch with a Technology Industry Outlook Luncheon on March 27 at the Detroit Marriott Troy, where regional experts discussed the report’s key findings. To download the full report, visit automationalley.com.

5 Key Tech Report Findings 1

Tech industry employment in metro Detroit is up 15 percent from the previous year’s study, while Silicon Valley shows a 4 percent drop.

Metro Detroit’s technology sector added more than 30,000 jobs, while Silicon Valley’s technology sector lost 10,000.

Schools in the metro Detroit region graduated more students in the areas of engineering and engineering technology than any other region in the study, with more STEM graduates and computer science graduates than Silicon Valley.

Michigan leads the nation in the advanced automotive industry, with a concentration of employment in metro Detroit that is 6.5 times the national average and a concentration in Grand Rapids that is 3.5 times the national average.

Nearly 10 percent of total employment in the metro Detroit area is tech-related.

automation alley opens product lifecycle management center at ou Automation Alley announced the opening of the Automation Alley Product Lifecycle Management Center at Oakland University, Feb. 20, at an exclusive event attended by media and technology business leaders from across the region. The center will address the tremendous need in Southeast Michigan for affordable training and certification of local employees, students and individuals in product lifecycle management (PLM). Located inside OU INC. a SmartZone business accelerator on the campus of Oakland University, the Automation Alley Product Lifecycle Management Center — in partnership with Siemens, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Geometric Solutions, solidThinking, Inc., (an Altair company) and Oakland University’s School of Engineering and Computer Science — will offer affordable training and PLM certification using cutting-edge equipment and software, including computer-aided design (CAD), computer-aided engineering (CAE) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), as well as other state-of-the-art PLM technologies, including digital factory simulation, 3-D scanning and 3-D printing. 8

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Ken Rogers addresses media and technology business leaders at the Product Lifecycle Management Center event at Oakland University.

In addition, the center will help to grow the talent pipeline for Michigan’s small to medium-sized manufacturers. A consulting and technical services program will help companies move from traditional design and manufacturing methods to the latest in digital processes. And a matching program will create an education pipeline, pairing job seekers and students trained in PLM with local manufacturing companies interested in hiring interns and employees. “Our desire for the center is to educate the workforce in order to better serve industry. And what better place to do that than here, in such close proximity to both the educators and the industry? What better place to explore innova-

tive new technologies than in this historic, collaborative space?” Automation Alley Executive Director Ken Rogers said at the grand opening. PLM is the process of managing the lifecycle of a product from its conception and design, through manufacture, to service and disposal. It integrates people, data, processes and business systems and is a vital process for all digital design and manufacturing of the future. The Automation Alley Product Lifecycle Management Center is located at One Golfview Lane, Rochester, MI 48309. To learn more about the center, contact Automation Alley Product Lifecycle Management Center Director Alex Violassi at 248-648-4701 or violassia@automationalley.com.

Automation Alley Foundation Members

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Automation Alley would like to thank its foundation Members for their regional leadership and support in contributing to the success of the organization. All Covered Altair Arab American and Chaldean Council Automotive design & Production Baker College Blue Cross Blue Shield Butzel Long Central Michigan university Chrysler Group LLC City of Troy Crainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s detroit Business delphi Corporation detroit Economic Growth Corporation detroit Manufacturing Systems detroit regional Chamber dickinson wright PLLC dTE Energy fourstream uSA General Motors GlobalAutoIndustry.com Goodwill Industries Grand Circus Greater Media detroit Grid4 Communications hP Enterprise Services ITC holdings, Corp. Johnson Controls Inc. Just Energy Corporation keaton Publishing Group kelly Services, Inc. kettering university Lakeside Software, Inc. Lawrence Technological university Macomb Community College Macomb County Government Macomb Daily Meeting Coordinators, Inc. Meritor, Inc. Michigan Economic development Corporation Microsoft oakland Community College oakland County oakland County workforce development Board Oakland Press oakland Schools oakland university Plante Moran Plex Systems, Inc. Quality Metalcraft rave Computer rehmann Salesforce.com SMArT SMZ Advertising The resource Network, Inc. Troy Michigan works! u.S. Army TArdEC/NAC walsh College wayne County

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metroretro

treadmills — still in the running By StePhANIe VozzA

f working out on a treadmill feels a little like drudgery, there’s a good reason. The treadmill was originally used by laborers and animals to harness power and by prisoners as punishment. There were no false expectations of fun when treadmills originated. When in roMe Also known as a “treadwheel,” the treadmill first appeared in the late first century A.D., during the height of the Roman Empire. The concept was invented by the Romans to lift heavy objects. Men would walk within the rim of a large diameter wheel to power a lifting crane. The invention, which allowed a smaller team of workers to lift twice the amount of weight, began to catch on. doWn on the FarM The treadmill was also used in 18th-century agriculture. Powered by cattle or horses, the device was used to raise water and harvest or grind crops like wheat and grain. The treadmill worked so well with large jobs that smaller versions were created to tackle domestic operations. Using the power of smaller animals — dogs, sheep and goats — treadmills helped with such tasks as churning butter and sharpening knives. poWer and punishMent In 1818, treadmills found their way into prison labor camps when English civil engineer William Cubitt invented the prison treadmill. Prisoners were forced to walk on the wheel for up to six hours a day, traveling more than three miles on average. Like its use on a farm, the prisoners’ efforts would process grain or pump water, although sometimes it was used solely as a torturing device. Combined with a poor diet, the prisoners’ work on a treadmill often led to injury. The Prisons Act of 1889 declared this hard labor to be too cruel, and it put into effect regulations that required work to have a more constructive purpose. shaping up The treadmill began its role as a type of exercise apparatus in 1952 when Dr. Robert Bruce (known as the “Father of Exercise Cardiology”) and Dr. Wayne quinton, both of the University of Washington, developed a machine that could help doctors evaluate, diagnose and monitor various heart and lung conditions. The procedure is known as the stress test. Years later, Dr. Kenneth h. Cooper, of Oklahoma, was one of 10

SPRING 2014 • X-OLOGY

the first physicians to research the health benefits of anaerobic exercise. In 1968, he wrote the book “Aerobics” about his findings. At the time, treadmills were expensive and only available in medical facilities. William Staub, a New Jersey mechanical engineer, read Cooper’s book and decided to develop an affordable household treadmill. he called his invention the PaceMaster. Staub and Cooper worked together to bring the first home exercise treadmill to market. Not as sophisticated as the models used by doctors for stress tests, they were also much cheaper, selling for about $399 in the 1970s. Today, millions of treadmills are sold throughout the world every year. They reflect a new generation with hightech features that Staub and Cooper most likely could never have imagined. Anti-gravity versions, originally developed by NASA to train astronauts, incorporate air pressure to slightly lift the user, reducing the amount of body weight the legs have to carry and allowing users to walk or run at less than their actual weight. Experts say one of the treadmill’s biggest benefits is reducing stress on weakened or injured joints. Other state-of-the-art treadmills have devices to monitor heart rate, provide trainer support with pre-programmed workouts and stream media to built-in screens. Some even incorporate a desktop for the health-conscious office worker who wants to work and workout simultaneously. Despite all these attractive bells and whistles, a treadmill is a treadmill — you’re still going to sweat.

Clockwise from top: Roman treadmill, late ﬁrst century A.D. Prison treadmill, early 1800s Farm treadmill, 18th century today’s AlterG anti-gravity treadmill

X-OLOGY • SPRING 2014

health+tech

wiping out cancer cells

artificial pancreas gets Fda approval The world’s first artificial pancreas was recently approved by the Food & Drug Administration. Developed by Medtronic, one of the world’s largest medical technology and therapy companies, the MiniMed 530G is a breakthrough artificial pancreas designed for diabetes patients. The system automatically stops insulin delivery when sensor glucose values reach a preset level and when the patient doesn’t respond to the system’s alarm. The MiniMed 530G incorporates an Enlite sensor, a continuous glucose sensor that has proved to be extremely accurate. Katie Szyman, president of the company’s diabetes business, says the MiniMed 530G with Enlite will help people gain better control of their diabetes when compared with multiple daily injections.

curbing costs of colonoscopies Colonoscopies are considered the most expensive screening test in the United States, in large part due to anesthesia services. In fact, it’s been estimated that eliminating anesthesiologist services could cut costs by over $1 billion a year. A solution might be found in a new computer-assisted personalized sedation device expected to be introduced this year. The device administers the drug propofol for sedation via intravenous infusion, and can be monitored by a nonanesthesia professional during colonoscopies and other procedures provided the person has professional training and uses the machine where there is immediate availability of an anesthesia professional. The technology is expected to enable healthcare facilities to make better use of their resources in the healthcare environment. 12

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Approximately 90 percent of cancer deaths are related to metastases, the spread of cancer cells from a primary tumor to another organ. But Michael King, Cornell University professor of biomedical engineering, and his team of researchers have discovered a potential new way to stop cancer cells from spreading throughout the bloodstream. Currently being tested in animals, the process involves attaching a protein to white blood cells to create killer white blood cells that eliminate cancer cells from the bloodstream. The study, “TRAIL-Coated Leukocytes that Kill Cancer Cells in the Circulation,” was published earlier this year in the online journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. CANCeR CeLL

ADoPtoSIS oF CANCeR CeLL

tRAIL DeAth ReCePtoR

LIPoSoME

e-SeLeCtIN LIGAND e-SeLeCtIN

LEukoCyTE

help for epileptic patients An estimated 30 percent of Americans diagnosed with epilepsy are unable to control their seizures with medication or other treatments. But a new treatment option is earning high marks from an FDA neurological device advisory panel. The neurological device is implanted in the skin to significantly reduce the number of epileptic seizures in patients. It works by recording electrocorticographic patterns via electrodes that are placed in the patient’s brain. When an oncoming seizure is detected, short electrical pulses are delivered to stop the seizure.

wearable biosensors detect illness The socks or shirts we wear may one day let us know if infection or other illness is lurking in our bodies. Peter Lillehoj, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Michigan State University, recently received a $400,000 National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award to focus on developing wearable biosensors that can be incorporated Peter Lillehoj into clothing to detect illness and monitor health. Lillehoj intends to use the funding to advance wearable sensor technology, currently limited to measuring physiological parameters such as heart rate and blood pressure. “This technology will lead to lightweight and unobtrusive sensing systems that can be directly integrated onto fabrics and garments,” he says. In addition to his research activities, Lillehoj also plans to use the NSF CAREER Award to develop new courses and outreach programs that promote microtechnologies and nanotechnologies for biomedical applications. his hope is that more high school and college students become interested in this field as well as other STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) disciplines, preparing them for future careers in biomedical research.

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X-OLOGY • SPRING 2014

tech+design

helmet for By JANe GLeeSoN

ith one of the snowiest winters on record thankfully in the rearview mirror, it won’t be long before motorcyclists take to Michigan roads. And while bikers in Michigan now have the freedom to feel the wind in their hair — thanks to the repeal of the state’s helmet law two years ago — Skully helmet’s new high-tech design might have them thinking twice about that option. The newest Skully helmet, the P1, is being called the Google Glass of motorcycle helmets by enthusiasts. It features a heads-up display for GPS maps and navigation, always-on rearview camera, Bluetooth connection to your smartphone for music streaming and handsfree phone system via voice command.

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the Scully helmet features an advanced situational awareness system, showing navigation and blind spot data.

The helmet’s electronics are powered by a lithium-ion battery, with a single charge lasting up to nine hours. Although some may consider these new bells and whistles driver distrac-

tions, the company claims that safety is behind the creation of the P1. Conflicting views aside, one thing is certain: This helmet offers motorcyclists a very different kind of riding experience.

the ages the diFFerence is in the details • heads-up system. Skully’s P1 Synapse™ intelligent heads-up display (hUD) system features advanced situational awareness capabilities. Translation: The system gives riders turn-by-turn navigation directions and blind-spot information so they can stay focused on the road. Powered by the Android operating system, data images, like GPS mapping, are displayed in the corner of the visor and appear to float about 20 feet in front of the rider, just outside of his or her line of sight. • panorama views. The Skully P1 also has an integrated rearview camera system with a 180-degree view-

ing angle. Similar to the way maps are displayed in front of the rider, the rearview camera feeds video to the hUD to give the rider views of what’s going on peripherally and behind for safer lane changes and traffic merges. • smartphone integration. The helmet also pairs Bluetooth and voice control for mobile devices. Using voice command, the rider can control music, send texts, make phone calls and change destinations. unveiling a Winning design The Silicon Valley-based company was awarded the “DEMOgod Award” at DEMO 2013. This popular annual San Francisco conference

introduces cutting-edge technologies. The helmet was officially unveiled at the conference by Skully CEO Marcus Weller, who created the P1 after being involved in a motorcycle accident on the streets of Barcelona a few years ago while searching for road signs. The distraction led to a collision with another vehicle. Though unhurt, Weller’s experience drove his commitment to create a helmet capable of giving directions so riders could keep their eyes on the road. A few years later, the P1 was born. Skully helmets will soon be betatesting the helmets with an anticipated market release this spring. www.skullyhelmets.com

Above: Scully helmet features include GPS mapping, a 180-degree rearview camera and smartphone integration.

X-OLOGY • SPRING 2014

educationkaleidoscope

keeping our

homegrown grads at home By MAtthew totSky

or years, Michigan companies large and small could agree on one thing: Local college graduates are one of the state’s greatest resources. With that in mind, many smaller companies have placed a high priority on keeping Michigan’s best and brightest talent right here in the state, noting that this practice is key not only to their economic survival, but also to the state’s. The Michigan Corporate Relations Network (MCRN) is a unique collaboration among six of Michigan’s leading research universities and was formed to create the first statewide network in the country that provides a critical tool for business growth and attraction. Supported by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and the Michigan Strategic Fund Board (MSF), MCRN is comprised of the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Michigan State University, Wayne State University, Michigan Technological University, Western Michigan University and the University of Michigan-Dearborn. These six universities have banded together to develop the Small Company Internship Award Program (SCIA). This program provides funding for Michigan small businesses to hire university students as interns to work on projects in the science, technology, engineering and math fields that benefit the 16

SPRING 2014 • X-OLOGY

From left: Dennis Atkinson, Lori Simoes and Stephanie Fries are instructors in wayne State University’s Front Door program, part of the Michigan Corporate Relations Network.

employer and are relevant to the student. Through SCIA, each MCRN university has a pool of $25,000 in matching funds per year to be applied to internships that last between 10 and 16 weeks. a Mutually beneFicial experience “Small companies can’t afford to make bad hires,” says William Endres, president of houghton, MI-based Endres Machining Inno-

vations, LLC (EMI). “The internship program gave EMI the opportunity to see if an intern was a good fit for us, and we ended up working with Ryan Kroll (Michigan Technological University). We liked his work ethic, his hunger and drive for excellence and the skills he brought to the team.” “Thanks to the internship program and my experience as an intern with EMI, I was able to gain the knowledge and experience that

other MCRN Programs Along with the Small Company Internship Award Program (SCIA), the Michigan Corporate relations Network (MCrN) offers other programs designed to help small business and further bolster Michigan’s economy.

was mandatory for me to bring value to the company on my first day as a full-time employee,” says Kroll. “It gave EMI a chance to try me out and made me infinitely more competitive for my full-time position.” “Sometimes you have to make the leap of faith that you need to invest in good talent when you find it, even if you’re not completely ready,” says Endres. “Ryan now has a permanent position as a production engineer and is growing as a leader in our company. “Since Ryan’s internship,” Endres says, “we’ve formed a new manufacturing company (Lendrex, LLC) to go into production on the first product line based on an EMI-developed technology. Ryan has been a big part of that transition and is a leading element in establishing Lendrex, LLC. Both companies look forward to the next opportunity to host an intern and the potential of a long-term fit with our growth needs.” Eric Stief, senior vice president of Detroit’s Autoharvest Foundation, agrees with this approach. “The MCRN program came at a perfect time for our organization,” he says. “We strongly value our university ties, and having a student intern, with funding support from MCRN, helped us access a bright mind with solid technical acumen when we were building out specific function in our beta system and working closely with many new groups as beta users. Our intern, Thaki Chowdhury (Wayne State University), wasn’t afraid to ask tough questions. he forced me to rethink certain projects from a fresh point of view.” Chowdhury found significant benefits as a participant in the MCRN program. “It really is the optimal vehicle for students to experience real-world, experiential learning,” he says, noting that the mentoring he received as a result of the internship was as critical to his professional growth as the jobs he was given. “My experience with MCRN and the SCIA program has been pivotal in widening my professional horizons. The internship I received as a result of working with the program led to a full-time position, and the experience I gained led to greater career opportunities.” positive Feedback Response to the SCIA program has been overwhelmingly positive. Based on statewide and nationwide internship experiences, 85 percent of employers and interns reported having a positive internship experience. After the internships were completed, nearly 50 >>

• the Small Company Innovation Program (SCIP) provides matching funds to Michigan small businesses to help cover the cost of conducting a research project at a university within MCrN. The program was designed to help companies overcome a common challenge faced by entrepreneurs: getting research needs met so they can get to commercialization faster. often, universities have the expertise and facilities that the company needs, but small companies may not be able to afford the cost of conducting research at a university. SCIP provides matching funds to help cover the cost of projects that will help a small company meet its development goals. The program aims to introduce companies to the benefits of working with a university and to increase the number of university/ industry collaborations across the state. • the expertise and Resource Portal is an easy-to-use searchable website featuring available university researchers and related resources at facilities such as university research centers. The MCrN Expertise and resource Portal is a single point of access website to serve businesses both within Michigan and around the globe. Combined with the business outreach services at each MCrN-associated university, the portal provides a means for businesses to take advantage of the resources available at a single university, collaborations of universities or the entire MCrN network of six universities. • the Instant Innovation Program supports implementation of structured and facilitated sessions in which companies can work with technical experts from multiple MCrN university partners to investigate significant technical challenges and identify potential technologies and/or solutions. The sessions can lead to generation of new ideas and thinking, solve significant and persistent problems and potentially lead to new commercial offerings and other revenue or cost-reduction opportunities for participating companies. university research personnel are involved in “instant innovation” sessions as technical consultants. Matching funds are available through MCrN to cover consulting fees and expenses for conducting the sessions (e.g., facilitators, venue, food for participants). • Michigan Information transfer Source (MItS) and MCrN and have teamed up to provide eligible Michigan small businesses a flat fee for each standard article or book loan. MITS provides businesses with access to literature to support business plans, discover trends or inform research. As registered participants, any costs beyond this nominal fee, including royalties and shipping, are covered. rush services are available for an additional fee. requests may be limited. • • • • • • •

The MITS “document delivery” program provides access to: Journal articles Book loans Technical reports Book chapters Government documents Patents Industry literature

X-OLOGY • SPRING 2014

educationkaleidoscope

percent of interns were hired where they interned, and 90 percent remained at the same company after one year. But even if a company does not immediately hire the intern they worked with through SCIA, the program still can prove beneficial to both the intern and the company. “In May 2013, we were in the early stage of designing new circuit boards and embedded software for one of our customers,” says Greg Mason of Unique Systems Design, Inc., of Bloomfield hills, MI. “The intern got to see the design process move from prototype to production and was able to work hands-on with our senior engineers. It was a rewarding mentoring opportunity for the engineers to take time to explain how coursework gets applied in industry. By the end of the summer, our intern was excited to get back to school and learn more about embedded software development and electronics.”

“My experience with MCRN and the SCIA program has been pivotal in widening my professional horizons. the internship I received as a result of working with the program led to a full-time position, and the experience I gained led to greater career opportunities.” – ThAkI Chowdhury

SPRING 2014 • X-OLOGY

groWing Michigan’s econoMy: a Win-Win situation The impact that SCIA is having on the local economy has been apparent from the get-go. “The program addresses two specific needs in the local business community: that of companies who are looking to draw from a capable, educated talent pool but want to diversify their risk, and that of a prospective college workforce looking to gain entry into industry,” says Chowdhury. “This kind of approach is integral to helping new talent find opportunities within the region and helping Michigan find and retain talent at home.” Paula Sorrell, vice president, entrepreneurship, innovation and venture capital at MEDC, says these Michigan university initiatives to share resources and best practices to help the state’s small businesses collaborate on technical projects have been “beyond our expectations. We’re looking forward to this program evolving and growing to continue building bridges between universities and industry to the benefit of Michigan.”

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X-OLOGY • SPRING 2014

peopleprofile 20

SPRING 2014 • X-OLOGY

irene dimitry vice president of Marketing & renewables, dte energy

“there’s a saying I like that applies equally to running and to succeeding in business: ‘Not everyone who starts can win, but it is even harder to win if you don’t start.’”

WoW Factor Irene Dimitry is vice president of marketing and renewables at DTE Energy. Under her leadership, the company has built a portfolio of nearly 1,000 megawatts of renewable generation, enough to power 400,000 homes — or a city six times the size of Ann Arbor. “Our goal is to supply 10 percent of electricity sales from renewable resources by 2015, and we’re currently ahead of schedule in meeting this goal. Projects built or contracted for will deliver 9.6 percent of DTE’s electricity sales in 2015. Work is about to begin on a new wind farm project that will close that last small gap to 10 percent.” passion For industry “DTE Energy is the perfect fit for me. The products and services we provide are absolutely vital to the safety and welfare of the people and communities we serve. It’s been exciting for me to start up a whole new business line within this century-old electric utility business, and I like the fact that our renewable energy program delivers both environmental benefits and economic benefits to local communities.” vieW FroM the top “Some people think that all of Michigan’s electricity should come from renewable energy, but that just won’t work — at least not yet. Wind energy is the most economic and abundant renewable energy resource in Michigan — but the wind doesn’t blow on demand. Energy storage technologies are still too expensive to build on a large scale and will remain so for many years to come. Until then, we still need generating sources that can produce power on demand whenever a person flips on a light switch or a business turns on its manufacturing equipment. Renewable energy makes a lot of

sense as a part of a diverse portfolio of generation because we need to make sure Michigan has enough reliable, affordable energy to fuel a vibrant and growing economy.” corporate cliMb While working as the director of strategy for DTE’s electric utility in 2008, Dimitry was involved in negotiations for legislation that established goals for renewable energy and energy efficiency within Michigan. She was then tapped to lead DTE’s renewable program with a goal to increase the company’s renewable electricity sales from 1 to 10 percent by 2015. Dimitry has stayed close to the renewable program over the last six years, even as her role has expanded. In 2010, DTE’s energy efficiency programs were added to her responsibilities, and in 2012, she was promoted to vice president, keeping her prior responsibilities for renewables and energy efficiency while adding marketing functions to her scope. credentials • Bachelor’s degree, business administration, Wayne State University, Detroit • MBA, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor • Named one of Michigan’s “Women to Watch” in 2009 by Crain’s Detroit Business • Board of directors for Michigan Saves (a nonprofit focused on promoting energy efficiency) and for the Detroit chapter of the American Red Cross voice oF experience “Customer needs and expectations evolve constantly. To succeed, businesses — and their leaders — must also change and evolve. True leaders never stop growing, never stop learning and never stop improving.” — Interviewed by Matthew Totsky

X-OLOGY • SPRING 2014

businessprofile

game changer new alternative energy source powers up By LeSLIe MeRtz

Michigan company is changing the face of alternative energy. Accio Energy, based in Ann Arbor, is develop-

ing a completely new power source that takes its cue from thunderstorms. The company expects to be doing commer-

cial trials as early as next year. “This is a green energy solution that not only cuts costs, but also has the potential in the long term to be cost-competitive with natural gas on an unsubsidized basis,” says Jen Baird, Accio Energy CEO. A very scalable technology, the new system will be initially targeted to utility- or distributed-scale power generators. distinctly diFFerent The Accio Energy system is unique among alternative energy sources available today. It utilizes the wind, but that’s where the similarity to a wind turbine ends. Wind turbines use the wind to push huge blades and generate energy, but Accio’s technology has no blades at all. 22

SPRING 2014 • X-OLOGY

In the Accio system, wind moves through water-misting panels to generate power (see sidebar). “It’s stationary, so it’s wildlife-friendly and radar-friendly,” says Baird. It also has no negative effects on the water it uses. “We don’t pollute the water, and we don’t heat the water, so it can go right back into the ecosystem where it came from with no change,” Baird says. building on an idea The Accio system is based on the science of electrohydrodynamics, which was first conceived as a potential energy source in the 1970s. The idea never really got off the ground until engineer Dawn White, Ph.D., co-

ResearchS cientist Vladimir orlyanchik (left) and Master electronics technician Mike Bosserman continue to reﬁne Accio’s wind panels. to be marketed as early as next year, a single Accio energy wind panel is the height and length of a standard shipping container and could produce 2.5–3 kilowatts (kw) of rated power when deployed in utility-scale arrays.

founded Accio in 2008. It took only two years for White and her team to jump the first major hurdle: creating a system that was net energy positive, or produced more energy than it was using. “Since then, it’s been an accelerating process of increasing efficiency,” says Baird. The physicists, engineers and other members of Accio’s nine-person team have continued to boost performance. “In the last two years, we’ve used advanced analytical modeling to multiply that efficiency eight times and are now at the point where we have commercially viable energy efficiency.” In fact, Baird adds, “Most recent performance levels, if deployed in a full-scale system, would be similar in cost/watts to existing offshore wind turbines. And that’s on an unsubsidized basis.” The company measured performance with controlled wind-tunnel experiments in its labs and then verified them with outdoor testing. The Accio team was thrilled to find that the outdoor tests showed the panels worked even more efficiently than the indoor experiments suggested, Baird says. “Natural wind was actually better than what we could produce in our wind tunnel.” Additional improvements are in the works. Accio hopes to double efficiency again in 2014 through refinements to the panel design. “We have multiple markets for this technology, but our favorite is offshore wind. It looks in the near term like we >>

how DoeS It woRk? Accio Energy’s system uses the power of electrohydrodynamics (Ehd), the phenomenon that yields thunderstorms. In the latter, water droplets in clouds jostle against one another, causing the existing positive and negative charges in the droplets to separate. This results in an electrical field and, if conditions are right, can produce lightning. The field in Accio’s system carries far less power — nothing remotely near that of a thunderhead — but the physics is the same. Accio’s Ehd system is basically an array of panels, and each panel is composed of a collection of narrow, hollow tubes. The tubes are dotted with small holes, through which a mist of fine water droplets is released. when wind passes through the panel, it pushes around the water droplets and — as in a storm cloud — separates the Senior engineer Francis Mills helped charges. “That drives a voltage, and develop the Accio technology and we are able in a controlled manner continues to improve its efﬁciency. to harvest that energy off of our panels as a high-voltage direct current,” says Accio CEo Jen Baird. Accio’s panel design became a game-changer. “Nobody else had ever been able to make hardware for this that was net-energy positive,” Baird says, noting that the company received three patents for the technology in 2013. “It’s just so exciting that we are the world leader in developing this technology, and we’re right here in Michigan.” X-OLOGY • SPRING 2014

businessprofile whAt’S IN A NAMe? “when the company was first starting up, there was some discussion that our technology seemed a little like magic because we are summoning energy out of the air, so somebody said that’s just like the summoning spell, accio, that harry Potter uses. And that’s how the company got its name,” says Jen Baird, Accio Energy CEo. Even the company’s logo recalls the fictional character. It includes a small lightning bolt, which is a reference to the thunderstorm physics that underlies the technology, and is also a nod to harry Potter’s lightning bolt scar on his forehead.

SPRING 2014 • X-OLOGY

the nine-member team at Accio energy is developing a new form of wind energy that utilizes panels (shown at right) that are stationary, wildlife-friendly and radar-friendly.

can cut 50 percent off the costs for offshore wind (compared to large-scale wind turbines),” Baird says. “That means we can provide cost-effective green energy that is climate-friendly — and that will help to provide energy security for the United States as well as other countries.” the Michigan advantage A big part of the company’s success is its location in Michigan, Baird says. “One of the reasons we like being in this state is that we use automotive heritage manufacturing to build our panels. We can make them very efficiently with the kind of manufacturing that is used for cars, as opposed to the massive specialty manufacturing process necessary for making something as bulky as a wind turbine.” The size of the panels — they fit in a standard container truck or train car — also makes them much easier to ship than wind turbine blades. In addition, the workforce in the Great Lakes State is perfectly suited to Accio’s product, says Baird. “Michigan has a lot of people who know a great deal about innovation and how to engineer it. We have people in our company who have 20 and 30 years of engineering experience, and we have physicists who can figure out how everything can come together to make our technology work.”

Making a diFFerence It was the opportunity to work with innovators on a promising technology that brought Baird to Accio in 2010. She holds a bachelor’s degree in organizational psychology and an MBA in strategy and finance, has experience in management consulting and had already had success helping to guide another startup company, Accuri Cytometers (a medical device firm that was sold for $205 million). “Basically, I specialize in building teams, tackling tough problems and making sure that companies are funded and strategically focused,” she says, describing Accio as primarily an angel-funded startup. Accio presented a captivating opportunity for Baird. “We have a great team that is just getting better and better; we’re working on a hard and significant problem; and we’re trying to bring a whole suite of solutions to that problem,” she says. “We think we can develop a system that will make a difference in the world in terms of energy generation.” That’s no small thing. “If you think about it, the difference between Third World developing nations and First World nations is energy availability. If you don’t have access to cheap power, it undermines economic growth and development,” says Baird. “It’s very exciting to have the chance to add another energy source to the portfolio of choices. That’s what inspires us every morning.”

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focusontech

renewable energy growing michigan’s green economy

By JULIe BAUMkeL

he promise of a clean, green and profitable energy future is beckoning Michigan’s entrepreneurs. As many as 1,000 or more Michigan companies are now working on clean, green renewable energies in the areas of solar, wind, geothermal, energy storage and biomass, notes Liesl Eichler Clark, a clean energy and environmental consultant for 5 Lakes Energy LLC who also serves as vice president of policy and business engagement for the Michigan Energy Innovation Business Council. >>

SPRING 2014 • X-OLOGY

wind turbines stand tall in a Michigan cornďŹ eld. According to the American wind energy Association, Michigan has the 18th best wind resource in the U.S.

X-OLOGY â&#x20AC;˘ SPRING 2014

focusontech

Detroit-based Nextenergy — which serves as a catalyst for advanced energy technology demonstration and commercialization — has a recognized presence at industry events.

While precise numbers on Michigan clean energy-related businesses are difficult to come by, Clark, whose Lansing-based firm has compiled a proprietary list, can safely say the clean energy economy has created tens of thousands of jobs and supports nearly $10 billion in annual economic activity. Perhaps the largest number of green jobs was in Southeast Michigan, reported in a 2010 update to the initial 2009 Michigan Green Jobs Report. And, the growth of green jobs is yet to explode, according to a 2014 update by Michigan’s Public Service Commission, which shows that while Michigan’s overall private sector jobs are 3.2 million, green jobs now only represent 3 percent of the total. The Commission’s February 2014 “Report on the Implementation of the P.A. 295 Renewable Energy Standard and the CostEffectiveness of the Energy Standards” concludes the 109,067 total green jobs cited in 2009 “show the potential for the growth of the green economy.” The economic benefit of renewable energy continues to grow in Michigan, with millions in potential funding from the federal government; with advocacy, awareness and support from groups like NextEnergy in Detroit, 5 Lakes Energy LLC in Lansing and a mid-Michigan-based non-profit organization, the Great Lakes Renewable Energy 28

SPRING 2014 • X-OLOGY

Association (GLREA); and with the acumen of university-based business incubators provided to startups. As of 2010, experts say the shift from regional reliance on aging coal-based power plants to natural gas and wind energy has been spurred by favorable natural gas prices and policy support for renewable energy. Others point out that policy support, especially in Michigan, remains critical. a look at the big picture At the federal level, February 2014 saw a hotspot of activity in funds offered by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for solar and geothermal power. The DOE offered $25 million in new funding to boost domestic solar manufacturing and speed up the commercialization of efficient, affordable photovoltaic (PV) and concentrating solar power technologies. These funds are designed to lower the cost of solar electricity, support a growing U.S. solar workforce and increase U.S. competitiveness in the global clean energy market. The DOE notes the average price for a utility-scale PV project has dropped from about $0.21 per kilowatt-hour in 2010 to $0.11 per kilowatt-hour at the end of 2013. The DOE SunShot Initiative is a national collaborative effort to make solar energy fully cost-competitive with traditional sources of

energy by 2020. Also in February, the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System, the world’s largest concentrating solar power (CSP) plant, officially opened in California, a state recognized as a leader in renewable energy activity. Ivanpah is one of five projects that have received loan guarantees from the DOE. When the five projects are completed, they will provide a combined 1.26 gigawatts of electric capacity across the country. The same month also saw the DOE announce $3 million in funds for research and development to help grow low-to-moderatetemperature geothermal resources and support a domestic supply of critical materials, such as lithium carbonate and rare earth elements, used to power many of the high-tech products Americans use daily. Michigan’s green scene Closer to home, Del Bachert, the executive director of the non-profit Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association in hastings, MI, says the group he now leads offers a business directory, referral and networking opportunities and general guidance for companies pursuing renewable energy in the state. he is currently updating the group’s list of members. “Our mission is to promote renewable energy in the state and to educate the general public about the benefits of a clean, green Michigan,” says Bachert. In addition to its business role, Bachert says GLREA also plays a valuable role in counseling communities about how to develop economically feasible “community” wind and solar projects in their area using comprehensive guides available at its website and provides guest speakers to inform the work. Bachert, who holds a doctorate in education and most recently guided the Battle Creek Outdoors Education Center, is committed to one day providing a comprehensive list of educational institutions with green career offerings on the site. >>

Collaborating on fuel cell technology General Motors and the u.S. Army Tank Automotive research, development and Engineering Center (TArdEC) have worked together on fuel cells periodically for more than 15 years, with the two organizations jointly evaluating GM’s fuel cell electric vehicles in hawaii and testing the automaker’s exportable power take-off technology for potential military applications. Now, a recent Cooperative research And development Agreement (CrAdA) marks a further expansion of GM and herb dobbs, TArdEC’s program lead for fuel cell testing, says hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle power trains are one element that interests

CourTESy u.S. ArMy

TArdEC’s collaboration.

both entities. The agreement also enables TArdEC to deter-

reduces a vehicle’s thermal signature, minimizes

mine exactly how the automotive Proton Exchange

noise and virtually eliminates visible exhaust

Membrane (PEM) technology GM is developing

emissions (exhausting only water vapor). fuel

can benefit military ground vehicles. until recent-

cell-equipped vehicles produce their own electric-

ly, its potential use was limited only to administra-

ity onboard. Therefore, they can be deployed as

tive non-tactical vehicles.

mobile generators. GM’s EPTo vehicle serves as a

however, he says, since GM’s automotive fuel cells have advanced so much in the last few years, more detailed study is needed to determine more

25 kw generator when connected to a building or field-deployed equipment. freese says that hydrogen is not really a fuel, but

precisely how automotive PEM fuel cells compare

is better described as an energy carrier. So, hydro-

with current engine-based vehicle propulsion and

gen can improve vehicle range while using energy

electric power systems.

derived from nearly any source (wind, solar, nuclear,

on the commercial side, the collaboration could

petroleum, natural gas, geothermal, coal, etc.).

help GM use emerging fuel cell technology to lower

onboard hydrogen tanks can be refilled quickly and

its production costs and improve fuel cell perfor-

allow electrified vehicles to travel farther than could

mance, promoting fuel cell vehicle introduction and

otherwise be accomplished with advanced batteries.

gradually reducing the demand for petroleum fuels.

Both leaders say that any solution that helps

Charles freese, General Motor’s fuel cell leader,

improve efficiency, provides a workable petroleum

says that only recently have petroleum-free alterna-

alternative and meets civilian and/or military user

tives started to show sufficient promise, with hydro-

needs will ultimately benefit the overall global ener-

gen fuel cell electric vehicle technology offering

gy economy and improve u.S. energy security.

one such option. fuel cells can do a few additional things that are important to note, he says. The technology

The current CrAdA expires in feb. 2016. If both entities agree, the program could be extended for another three to five years.

(Left to Right) Dr. Paul Rogers, tARDeC director; U.S. Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI); Charlie Freese, GM executive director of Global Fuel Cell Activities; and U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI) conduct a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Detroit Arsenal's Ground Systems Power & energy Lab, where GM and tARDeC will share three Fuel Cell Automated testing Systems to evaluate and demonstrate hydrogen fuel cell technology.

focusontech

wANt to FIND oUt MoRe ABoUt

Clean energy

The Great Lakes renewable Energy Association (GLrEA) has a speaker’s bureau that can address many of the energy questions and issues that interest citizens, businesses and institutions. Some of the topics include: • Renewable Energy Basics • Introduction to Solar Energy • Introduction to Wind Energy • Renewable Energy: Incentives & Economics • Michigan’s Energy Future • Wind Siting and Zoning Issues • How to Do a Renewable Energy Site Assessment • What Questions to Ask Before Selecting a Solar or Wind Energy Installer • How to Build a Solar Cooker • High Performance Buildings • Green Energy Jobs There is no speaking fee, but it is expected that travel expenses will be covered for speakers. A donation to GLrEA is also appreciated. To request a speaker, contact del Bachert, GLrEA executive director, at glrea.info@gmail. com or call 517-646-6269.

he also is proud to note that the board of the nonprofit recently approved funding for 10 scholarships to benefit high school students interested in pursuing green careers. Bachert says the GLREA’s 2014 Michigan Energy Fair (June 27 and 28) at the Ingham County Fairgrounds in Mason, MI, will be a showcase of renewable energy, with representatives from local, state, regional and international businesses providing information on all forms of renewable energy including geothermal, solar, wind and biomass. Representatives from green organizations in the state will be on hand at the summer event. Visit glrea. org to register. incubating green Amy Butler, executive director of Oakland University’s business incubator, OU INC, in Rochester, MI, notes that local residents can see renewable energy in action much closer to home. For instance, Oakland University’s first green building project, the geothermal/solar thermal human health Building (hhB) opened last fall. The hhB is OU’s first geothermal heat pump installation, and it 30

SPRING 2014 • X-OLOGY

includes an innovative cooling system powered by one of the largest solar thermal energy systems in the U.S. A $2.75 million DOE grant helped fund the innovative green building concept. The university also has plans to improve energy savings and energy efficiency for an array of buildings with wind and biomass projects tentatively planned for the future. OU’s School of Engineering and Computer Science is home to the Clean Energy Research Center (CERC), also part of OU INC. A variety of clean energy research and development projects and educational activities take place at the CERC, which offers an environment that fosters commercial partnerships, provides an educational platform for student research and clean energy curricula development and promotes tech transfer and commercialization of new technologies within the OU research and development community. Multiple projects — in such areas as energy efficient buildings, solar, combined heat and power, biomass and wind energy — have been completed or are in various stages of development. “We help early and late stage startups prove out their technology so they can launch into the market,” says Butler. “We make sure they know the policies and incentives that are available to them in our state. We also make sure they get connected to the right players. Venture capital is not something they will get at the start so we connect them to a number of programs that can provide critical support. “Our strong suit is that we (here in Michigan) have always been innovators,” she says. “That’s augmented by the strong expertise of our educational institutions and the good technical skills of our residents.” on the education Front Not far from OU INC, Robert Fletcher, Ph.D., serves as the director of the Alternative Energy program at Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, MI. The chemical engineer is also an active contributor to the Wind Working Group with the State of Michigan’s Energy Office. he has been working with DTE Energy in the design, installation operation and optimization of its hydrogen Power Park in Southfield, a photovoltaic, biomass, water electrolysis, hydrogen storage, hydrogen vehicle fueling

eNeRGy

FASt FACtS

station and fuel cell power demonstration project, funded by the DOE. “My focus is to train engineers in the field of renewable energy,” says Fletcher. his expectations are that LTU’s engineers will be increasingly sought out to deal with the various capabilities, performances and utilization of all the new various renewable energy systems. Their education requires this preparation. Sometimes, however, innovators are seeking out the “new” at a cost when what’s been around for a while might work astonishingly well, says Fletcher. U.S. solar entrepreneurs were caught off guard, for instance, when China began pumping out solar panels at a fraction of their initial cost, causing the price to plummet from $1,000 to $200. “It was good if you were a consumer but bad if you were a solar manufacturer,” he says. Fletcher believes entrepreneurs may need to rethink renewable opportunities, pointing to the potential for the growth of the geothermal industry as an example. he says it’s a no-brainer here in Michigan, where summers are hot and winters are cold. “We can use the technology of a geothermal heat pump system to provide a heat source in winter and let it act as a heat sink in summer,” he says. “It may not be a sexy topic but it doesn’t involve new systems or innovation. The technology has been around for 30 or 40 years, but I’ll wager over the next decade that all kinds of municipal and public school buildings will be implementing this model. It’s just not something that has been on people’s radar screens.” What about Wind? When it comes to wind energy, Fletcher says the development of the industry faces two real concerns: ice in the Great Lakes and shipping lanes. Despite those factors, Michigan’s wind energy capacity has boomed in recent years, although it pales in comparison to the world’s largest ventures. Michigan made top 10 lists in 2012 for the most capacity additions and fastest growth rate, reported by the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). According to the AWEA, Michigan has the 18th best wind resource in the U.S. with a substantial development in the thumb area and western parts of the lower peninsula. Fletcher says DTE has partnered with

agribusiness in the thumb to develop this industry. high-quality lubricants developed only in the past five years have played a role in improving the sound concerns some had about wind turbines, virtually eliminating this issue, says Fletcher, noting that placement and design of the turbines remains essential to wildlife protection, although good design has excelled in addressing this concern. Bats, however, critical to agriculture and insect control, still face harm from the turbines and more research in this area is required. Fletcher believes Michigan has a great role to play in the future of wind energy storage. on the Front lines oF energy storage Coincidentally, energy storage just happens to be where Kelly Jezierski is focusing her latest efforts these days. She is an engineer with NextEnergy, one of the nation’s leading accelerators of advanced energy technologies, businesses and industries and responsible for attracting $1 billion in new investment to Michigan for renewable energy growth. Jezierski earned a degree in chemical engineering and a certificate in alternative technology, both at Wayne State University in Detroit, and now serves as NextEnergy’s manager for the energy storage sector. “There’s just so much opportunity for growth in this sector,” says Jezierski, noting that Michigan, along with New York and California, has the most potential and expertise to capitalize on the federal and state funding opportunities in energy storage. Venture capital is much more heavily involved in California’s energy industry, she says. For example, there are great opportunities to enhance the energy efficiency and storage capacity of the lithium-ion batteries now found in our autos, our computers and our phones. Jezierski says the strength of Michigan’s manufacturing base and quality control expertise could allow innovations in energy storage to increase the efficiency and manufacture of these batteries tenfold. Energy storage is critical to efficiently store the power created by renewable energies such as wind or solar, since peaks and valleys naturally occur in demand. Energy efficiency, making the products and buildings that exist more efficient in their energy use, lately has also been a clean energy trend.

• In 2008, the U.S. became the largest producer of wind power in the world. • The Lake Michigan coast and the “thumb” areas of Saginaw Bay are some of the best locations in the country for wind turbines. • On a yearly average, Southeast Michigan has more than 4.2 hours of clear sun per day. • Michigan’s climate creates more voltage per sunlight hour than hotter climates like Southern California, Arizona and florida. • Silicon cells, the major component of solar panels, manufactured from one ton of sand, can produce as much electricity as burning 500,000 tons of coal. • Americans account for five percent of the world’s population but consume 25 percent of the world’s resources.

SourCE: MIChIGAN SoLAr SoLuTIoNS wEBSITE

X-OLOGY • SPRING 2014

lifestyle Bay harbor Golf Club offers stunning views that can make it challenging to focus on the actual game of golf.

SPRING 2014 â&#x20AC;˘ X-OLOGY

golﬁng in the

footsteps of history and other memorable northern Michigan golf experiences By SUSAN R. PoLLACk

tanding on the elevated first tee of Mackinac Island’s Wawashkamo Golf Club, golfers may imagine the scene 200 years ago this summer when American troops advancing up the hill were met with British cannon fire. The Americans were seeking to retake Mackinac — and the lucrative Great Lakes fur trade — two years after the British had seized control of the island in the early days of the War of 1812. But the Americans’ mission was thwarted that hot summer day, Aug. 4, 1814, when they were ambushed by Native American warriors, allies of the Redcoats, hiding in the woods. The remains of 10 U.S. soldiers killed in the Battle of Mackinac Island are buried in a mass grave in the rough between Wawashkamo’s fifth and sixth fairways.

And that explains the chill I felt golfing there last summer as my husband searched for a lost ball near the sacred ground. That’s just one of many memorable experiences awaiting golfers who head up north, like we did, to play some of Michigan’s first-rate golf courses. We brought back scorecards not only from the historic, links-style Wawashkamo but from Sweetgrass, Greywalls and TimberStone in the Upper Peninsula, plus three gems in the northwestern lower peninsula: Bay harbor, Forest Dunes and Manitou Passage. WaWashkaMo Dating to 1898, Wawashkamo is one of Michigan’s oldest active golf courses — and one of the >>

X-OLOGY • SPRING 2014

lifestyle

Above: 1 & 2. wawashkamo golf course on Mackinac Island is one of the oldest courses in the state and offers ample opportunities to relax. 3. Sweetgrass Golf Club features Native American legends at each hole. 4. Island Resort & Casino is home base for affordable, threeseason packages. 5. Bay harbor Golf Club towers above 100-plus foot bluffs.

SPRING 2014 • X-OLOGY

nation’s only courses where golfers arrive by horse-drawn taxi. That, of course, is in keeping with Mackinac Island’s traditional ban on most motorized vehicles. It’s also fitting for a course whose Indian name means “Crooked Trail” and that still follows the natural contours of the land. Named one of America’s historic Golf Landmarks by Golf Digest in 1996, the 9-hole course was built with horse-drawn equipment and shovels — no modern earth-moving machines. After World War I, a second set of tees was added to facilitate an 18-hole round. Among Wawashkamo’s throwback features are socalled “chocolate drops” — piles of earth-covered rocks left scattered about as hazards — and a grassy ridge known as the “circus ring” that loops around the 3rd green, designed to make golfers loft the ball rather than play it on the ground. And, on the first hole, there’s even a bucket of sand for players to build their own sand-hill since wooden tees didn’t exist when Scottish architect Alex Smith, a two-time U.S. Open winner, designed the course. “Our goal is not to be perfect, but natural, the way it used to be, something that would suit Mackinac Is-

land,” says Chuck Olson, Wawashkamo’s golf pro. In other words, don’t expect a typical fancy northern Michigan golf course. Rather, Wawashkamo offers a quaint though challenging experience that celebrates the history of both the game and the island. Power carts may be rented but walking is encouraged and old-fashioned clubs, including hickory shafts, mashies and niblicks, are available to rent. sWeetgrass Even high-handicap golfers are guaranteed a brush with eagles at Sweetgrass Golf Club in harris, 13 miles west of Escanaba. It happens on the 13th hole where a pair of carved bald eagles overlooks the green. The dramatic tree trunk sculpture is designed to honor the bird the Potawatomi regard as the messenger between the Creator and his people. It’s just one of the Native American legends highlighted on each hole of Sweetgrass, which is named for the aromatic plant used to clear the mind and attract positive energies in sacred Indian healing rituals. Golfers will need all that and more to tackle this

PLAN yoUR GetAwAy

sometimes windy, par-72 championship track that stretches 7,275 yards from the tips. Ranked among Golf Digest’s best new courses in 2009, Sweetgrass also is an annual tournament stop for women golf pros competing in the “Road to the LPGA” Symetra Tour, slated for June 27-29 this year. With five tee boxes, slick greens and a “risk vs. reward” design by architect Paul Albanese, the course is operated by the hannahville Indian Community on the grounds of its modern, 314-room Island Resort & Casino. Bunkers shaped like rabbits and deer, a turtleshaped island on the signature 15th hole and a firekeepers’ pit made of birch logs on the edge of No. 10 are in keeping with the Indian theme. Five iron bridges repurposed from spots around the UP add visual interest to the rolling, manicured course. greyWalls and tiMberstone Island Resort & Casino is home base for affordable, three-season stay-and-play packages that include rounds at Sweetgrass and two other top UP courses: Mike DeVries’ storied Greywalls at Marquette Golf

wawashkamo’s annual Battle day golf tournament, staged on the first Saturday in August (Aug. 2 this year), will include special activities commemorating the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Mackinac Island. winners’ names will be inscribed on a large cannonballshaped trophy. Stay-and-play packages, with a special commemorative gift, will be offered throughout the summer at five Mackinac Island hotels: the Chippewa, Lilac Tree, Island house, Mission Point resort and Stonecliffe Inn. Souvenir apparel with 200th anniversary commemorative logo is available for purchase throughout the year. Check www.wawashkamo.com for golf rates and package details. Elsewhere on the island, fort Mackinac plans a re-creation of the “Battle of Mackinac Island” sometime that weekend. Check www.mackinacparks.com for information. Island resort & Casino in harris offers three-season stay-andplay packages with Sweetgrass, TimberStone and Greywalls golf courses. The most popular is a two-night/three-course summer package that starts around $354 per person and includes golf, taxes and fees. Early- and late-season rates are less. Check sweetgrassgolfclub.com/packages or call 906-723-2252 or 877-ISL-GREEN. Check these websites for more information: Bay harbor: bayharbor.com/golfclub forest dunes: forestdunesgolf.com Manitou Passage: manitoupassagegolfclub.com

Club, with breathtaking views of Lake Superior, and Jerry Matthews’ TimberStone at Pine Mountain in Iron Mountain, near the Wisconsin border. Greywalls and TimberStone each stretch nearly 7,000 yards from the back tees and offer what can be best described as extreme golf. Think sheer rock walls, rugged granite outcroppings and mountain-to-valley elevation changes at Greywalls and a similarly treelined, 240-acre mountainous track at TimberStone. The latter comes with a periscope on No. 18, a long downhill par-5, whose name, “Double Black Diamond,” brings to mind skiing rather than golf. That’s not surprising, considering that the resort also is home to the Pine Mountain Ski Jump and an international ski jump competition each February. bay harbor golF club Pack a camera and extra golf balls for Bay harbor Golf Club in harbor Springs, where 27 Arthur hills-designed championship holes — divided into three nine-hole courses — stretch along 2.5 miles of Lake Michigan coastline. The Links, reminiscent of an Irish seaside golf >> X-OLOGY • SPRING 2014

lifestyle >>

course, offers six holes on the water, with 140foot bluffs and rolling sand dunes. Carved through an abandoned limestone quarry, the quarry challenges players with its dramatic elevation changes, a 40-foot gorge with shale cliffs, natural ponds and a waterfall. And the Preserve winds through stately hardwoods, grassy meadows and wetlands before opening up to a breathtaking view of Little Traverse Bay. Golfers may relax afterward in the golf clubhouse or retire to the Victorian-style Inn at Bay harbor, a Marriott Renaissance resort with restaurants, spa and great views from balcony rooms. Forest dunes golF club Tucked into the huron National Forest near Roscommon, Forest Dunes Golf Club routinely is regarded among Michigan’s top bucket-list courses. With five sets of tees stretching to 7,141 yards, the Tom Weiskopf design cuts through acres of natural white sand, rolling grassland and stands of birch trees and pine. A bragging rights’ challenge for good golfers, it’s also surprisingly friendly from the forward tees thanks to generous landing areas and grassy greenside bailouts. A huge practice facility, 2.5-acre putting course and a 19th hole with a mid-green bunker for settling bets enhance the experience. Off the pristine course, golfers gather in the bar and restaurant of a soaring Adirondack-style clubhouse 36

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before retiring to the new, course-side Lake Au Sable Lodge. Nearby, the Au Sable River is a favorite fly-fishing and kayaking destination. Manitou passage golF club Located in Leelanau County, 20 minutes northwest of Traverse City, Manitou Passage Golf Club is just a longiron or two from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, voted No. 1 in Good Morning America’s “Most Beautiful Places” contest a few years ago. The Arnold Palmer signature design, ranked among Golfweek’s “Best New Courses” in 2010, winds through rolling northern terrain, with tree-lined fairways, native grasses, deep sand bunkers and manicured greens. Elevated tee boxes on the 8th hole offer dramatic views in the distance of Lake Michigan’s shipwreck-studded Manitou Passage, for which the course was named. Golfers settle bets afterward in the Craftsman-style clubhouse, with its stone fireplaces, Oriental rugs, original art and patio. Some take advantage of stayand-play packages at The homestead nearby, with its hilltop spa, pools and the dune-fringed beach.

Susan R. Pollack is an award-winning travel journalist who has golfed in 14 states, including Alaska and hawaii, and as far away as Scotland, Ireland and Australia. her travel/golf stories have appeared in numerous publications.

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trends

calling steM students By JANe GLeeSoN

ccording to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Michigan currently has 155,100 tech jobs that pay an average annual salary of $74,213. And many of the state’s 9,700 tech-based businesses are seeking skilled workers to fill existing jobs. Looking forward to 2018, the Bureau predicts an estimated 274,000 STEM (science, technology, engineering and math)-related jobs in Michigan, and 8,654,000 total STEMrelated jobs in the U.S. This demand for tech workers is expected to continue to outweigh supply, even four years down the road. STEMConnector.org reports that 25.8 percent of Michigan high school students are interested in STEM. But experts say this number isn’t nearly enough to meet the demand for STEM-related talent. Michigan ACT test scores indicate the need to promote STEM involvement in K-12 education. In an ACT.org study of 120,451 Michigan students, only 35 percent of the ACT-tested 2013 high school graduates achieved the mathematics college readiness benchmark of 22, and only 33 percent met the science benchmark of 23. While promoting interest in STEM subjects has been on the national agenda since 1983 when “A Nation at Risk” was published, progress has been slow. here in Michigan, many organizations and educators are working to change that, including the following: • next generation science standards. A passionate group of Michigan science leaders is taking an active role in bringing performance-based expectations to K-12 students through Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). The initiative includes goals statements that reflect what students should know and be able to do to show proficiency in science, and is designed to shape skills readiness levels in schools throughout 38

SPRING 2014 • X-OLOGY

52% 45% 30% Percentage of high school seniors who met college readiness benchmarks in 2011 ■ ■ ■

SCIENCE MATh rEAdING

TEACh.CoM

Michigan. The state was one of 26 that participated in developing the standards. According to Susan Codere, NGSS project coordinator at the Michigan Department of Education/OEII, “The new science standards represent a shift from text book-memorization toward performance-based learning.” Joseph Krajcik, director of the CREATE for STEM Institute and professor of science education at Michigan State University, points to the significant need for change, citing National Scientific Education Standards from 1996 as “outdated guidelines” currently in use. “We need to use new standards that will allow students to compete and to be on the cutting edge. We are now in a knowledgeusing world, and we need students who are able to use their knowledge creatively.” Krajcik says students who can problem solve,

collaborate and accept new ideas are the ones who will be successful in a knowledge-based world. The goal of NGSS is to put into practice a system that identifies today’s science standards for all students, says Codere. “We want to engage kids in a way that encourages them to see the opportunities in STEM fields. We want them to understand science, apply it and be open to and prepared for the possibilities of a tech career.” NextGenScience.org • square one education network. Getting K-12 students interested in tech fields is also the primary agenda item of Square One Education Network. The organization focuses on teacher education supporting innovative programs that encourage student involvement in STEM fields. Karl Klimek, executive director of Square One, sees student interest in STEM growing throughout Michigan, the result of his organization’s nearly 20 years of activity in the state. One example is Square One’s investment in a program that brought teachers from all over Michigan together at Michigan Technological University to learn about 3-D printing tech by building their own 3-D printers. These printers were then taken back to the classroom, where teachers and students experience concept-toproduction manufacturing — all in the space of a few hours — on a regular basis. Currently, 12 schools have use of these teacher-built 3-D printers. And, at the relatively low cost of $600-$700, the printers are giving students experiences they would not necessarily have had, says Klimek.

our fuTurE dEMANdS STEM EduCATIoN Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

“This is just one example of leading-edge technology that really is a ‘wow’ point for students and teachers. It’s a way to promote creativity and innovation in our students — to give them the freedom to discover new interests in tech subjects.” The ultimate goal, says Klimek, is to get them excited about STEM fields, where they’re likely to discover unlimited possibilities for future careers. SquareOneNetwork.org • Michigan steM partnership. Another K-12 STEM talent initiative is the Michigan STEM Partnership. Launched by the state, it is made up of educators, businesses, communities and government. The Partnership was formed to create a society that promotes innovation, elevates student interest and achievement in STEM to ensure career- or college-readiness and supports the development of the 21st century workforce through highquality STEM education. The vision of the Partnership is to build and retain a STEM-literate population by connecting public-private STEM champions into dedicated partnerships that establish Michigan as a national leader in economic and talent development, innovation and prosperity. This year, the STEM Partnership plans to offer competitive grants that support a hands-on, cross-disciplinary and project-based culture of learning — a new approach to education intended to nurture the development of skills required by today’s employers. mistempartnership.com

of jobs in the next decade will requre technology skills

The u.S. department of

16%

Labor has projected that the u.S. will have more than

1.2 MILLIoN JoBS oPENINGS in STEM fields

BY 2018

only 16% of bachelor’s degrees in 2020 will specialize in STEM.3

STEM occupations are growing by 17% while others are growing at 9.8% 4

17%

9.8%

STEM

oThEr

why do parents think STEM should be a priority? 5

53%

stay competitive in global market

51%

produce next-generation innovators

30% fulfilling careers

SourCES: 1. “why the focus on STEM?” the Massachussets STEM Advisory Council; 2011 2. “Occupational Employment projections to 2018;” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; November 2009 3. “Help Wanted: Projections of jobs and education requirements through 2018;” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2010 4. “STEM: Good Jobs Nowand for the future,” u.S. department of Commerce, Economics and Statistics Administration, July 2011. 5. “STEM Perceptions: Students & Parent Survey; “ Harris Interactive online survey of 500 STEM collecge students and 854 parents of K-12 students. May 2011.

expertoutlook

collaboration key to Michigan’s automotive Future By NIGeL FRANCIS

the Michigan Automotive Office, or the past century, Michigan’s which I have the honor and priviposition as the industry’s globlege to lead. This timely action gave al automotive center has been an official and prominent place to the envy of 49 states and many the profound role of the automocountries around the globe, and tive industry in all facets of Michitoday, competition to attract and gan’s economic and cultural life. grow automotive investment and The Michigan Automotive Ofjobs has never been more fierce. fice’s prime goal is to be a focal The true Michigan story is about Nigel Francis point in distilling key issues, chalthe legacy of bold ideas and technolenges and opportunities facing logical know-how that has produced far greater automotive manufacturing and R&D the automotive industry while serving as a catalyst for growth. Specifically, the office capabilities than anywhere in North America. The importance of the automotive promotes retaining Michigan automotive industry — for its creation of economic val- businesses and attracting new ones. Under a mandate from Gov. Snyder, the ofue, high-paying jobs and technological innofice is implementing and executing a comprevations — is recognized worldwide. Everyone wants a piece of the industry — hensive strategic plan to drive Michigan’s automotive industry forward with the clear goal Michigan’s automotive industry. As international competition and change of remaining the world’s automotive capital. The recently announced “Automotive Straintensify — driven by customers, regulations, technology and new entrants into the global tegic Plan: Think Globally, Act Locally,” develOEM and supplier markets — Michigan will oped in coordination with industry, academic lose ground if we don’t adapt and evolve and other stakeholders, offers a bridge to successfully confront today’s consumer, engineerrapidly. Michigan’s call to action is clear: We must ing, material and logistical demands while becontinue to be the global center of the auto- ing prepared for tomorrow’s challenges. The plan’s three core areas of focus are: motive industry and lead the evolution that is coming. Our legacy of innovation must drive capital, technology and talent. Michigan automotive stakeholders need our intellectual leadership for tomorrow’s the right capital at the right time. Through technologies. This won’t happen by itself and a strong public-private partnerships, we are pushing effort involving private and public sector is for new ways to increase federal funding resources to the state, invest in collaborative needed. An integral step was taken in September infrastructure and accelerate and focus priof 2013 when Gov. Rick Snyder established vate equity and VC investment. 40

SPRING 2014 • X-OLOGY

Automotive vehicle technologies are the future of the industry. The goal is to make Michigan globally best-in-class through the development of connected and automated vehicles, advanced light-weight material vehicles, advanced powertrain and propulsion systems and an integrated and connected supply chain. Ultimately, talent will be the key to our shared success. Michigan has one of the largest concentrations of available educated and highly skilled workers. The state ranks number one nationally for the highest concentration of engineers with more than 65,000 experts in the engineering fields of industrial, mechanical and electrical; 70,000 R&D professionals; and more than 181,000 skilled trade workers. Retaining, attracting and developing the best and brightest are the keys to Michigan’s automotive future. Rather than consider the state’s automotive industry as a range of independent components, the plan we have in place offers a coordinated approach whereby each business is strengthened by playing a common role in bolstering the state’s automotive industry as a whole. Businesses may be competitors in the marketplace, but everyone must be collaborators in order to ensure a bright automotive future in Michigan.

Nigel Francis is senior automotive adviser to the state of Michigan and senior vice president, Automotive Industry Office, Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

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X-OLOGY • SPRING 2014

makingthescene

the sMe technology interchange, 3

PhoToS CourTESy of NASA

a joint initiative of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers and the New Economy Initiative for Southeast Michigan, was held Feb. 19 at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit. The forum featured NASA technologies and brought together stakeholders from industry, education and the U.S. government to explore opportunities for technology collaboration and innovation. The event shared 25 NASA technologies that are currently ready for co-development, collaboration and commercialization with Detroit-area companies in such sectors as advanced energy, automotive and innovative manufacturing. The interchange also included a special keynote presentation from Gregory E. Peterson of Lotus Engineering.

1. SMe technology Interchange morning session 2. Ashley kratzke and Addie Langford of techShop Detroit 3. Dr. Robert J. Shaw of NASA, Gregg Peterson of Lotus engineering and Debbie holton of SMe 4. eric Clark, NASA researcher, discusses high-temperature, low-melt resins for liquid molding 5. Sandi Miller, NASA researcher, discusses nanoreinforcement technologies 6. Marisabel Lebron-Colon, NASA researcher, discusses polymer matrix nanocomposites 7. Raymond Beach, NASA researcher, discusses flywheels, an advanced energy storage technology 8. Sal oriti, NASA researcher, discusses Stirling Cycle Machines

hosted its annual Chinese New Year Gala in the Riverview Ballroom at Detroit’s Cobo Center on Feb. 27. The event, celebrating the Year of the horse, featured a VIP reception, cocktails, dinner, entertainment and networking opportunities for political, business and community leaders as well as dozens of international guests. Speakers included Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, DCBA President Jerry Xu, Shinola President Jacques Panis, hai’an, China, Mayor Weidong Lu and General Motors CDO Kenneth Barrett, among others. The DCBA is a Michigan-based nonprofit organization that fosters business relationships between U.S. and Chinese companies.

1. Jacques Panis of Shinola 2. the DCBA team 3. Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder and Jerry Xu of DCBA 4. the traditional fan dance has been a part of China’s heritage for over 2,000 years 5. Jason Rauhe, Andrew Rose and David tang of Rehmann and Benjamin wu of Butzel Long 6. the traditional Chinese lion dance dates back thousands of years 7. traditional lion dance drumming

SPRING 2014 • X-OLOGY

JEffrEy wANG, ZIff PhoToGrAPhy

the detroit chinese business association (dcba)

MIChIgan ConduCtS MorE aCtIvE ClInICal trIalS than CalIfornIa. Who EMployS MorE pEoplE In lIfE SCIEnCES than ChICago or thE ClEvEland ClInIC?

a: It’S not a StatE. It’S oaKland County, MIChIgan. There is a county in Michigan where a community is advancing life sciences. Where research, development and manufacturing resources are outpacing those in Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. A county where an educated and diverse work force is growing. Exponentially. In fact, it’s one of the top 10 counties in the country with the highest job growth since June 2010. Come see why life sciences thrive on Medical Main Street – right in the heart of Oakland County, Michigan.

Life sciences and Michigan are working together.

Source: EMSI Covered Employment - 2011.4

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