Big topics and great commentary for this week’s Rapid-Fire Radio (www.rapid-fireradio.com). Dial into to WHK-1420AM and listen (and hopefully engage) to John Heaney and I talk about:

• “Cash For Clunkers” - the real numbers
• New Home Tax Credit Fraud
• New GDP figures were released this week. What does it all mean?
• Decline of newspaper circulation
• What is the new Health Care Plan all about?

Remember Rapid-Fire Radio starts at 6 pm at the home of intelligent talk radio WHK-1420AM!  Check us out on Twitter (@rapidfireradio) and on the web at www.rapid-fireradio.com.

The following video details a great dialogue as read by my friend and former CIO of the Cleveland Museum of Art, Len Steinbach. It was part of the monthly Monologues and Madness series, curated by Tulis McCall. It took place at the Cornelia Street Cafe in Greenwich Village on Oct 5, 2009.

Bastrop by Len Steinbach

The State of Ohio through its Third Frontier program has announced two new RFP’s for the Sensors Program and Advanced Materials Program. The Third Frontier Program is a $1.6 billion comprehensive and professionally managed initiative to build world-class research capacity, promote interaction between research and industry and commercialize R&D. These RFP’s provide a $1.0 million matching grant opportunity to those groups, universities and companies selected by the State of Ohio. This is a magnificent vehicle in which to propel any R&D and commercialization opportunities your enterprise may have.

Sensors Program

The goal of the Ohio Third Frontier Sensors Program (“SP”) is to accelerate the development and growth of the sensors industry in Ohio by direct financial support to organizations seeking to: investigate near-term specific commercial objectives with respect to products, processes, or services; commercialize new products, commercialize manufacturing processes or technologies, or adapt or modify existing components or systems that can reduce the cost of sensor systems or address technical and commercialization barriers; or demonstrate market readiness. While this program is open to any sensors projects, preference is being given to projects that address key Ohio industries including motor vehicles, aerospace/aviation, advanced energy/environment, biosciences/bioproducts, advanced materials and agriculture/food processing.

Advanced Materials

The goal of the Ohio Third Frontier Advanced Materials Program (AMP) is to accelerate the development and growth of the advanced materials industry in Ohio by direct financial support to organizations seeking to: investigate near-term specific commercial objectives with respect to products, processes, or services; commercialize new products, commercialize manufacturing processes or technologies, or adapt or modify existing components or systems that can reduce the cost of advanced materials systems or address technical and commercialization barriers; or demonstrate market readiness. While this program is open to any advanced materials projects, preference is being given to projects in polymer and carbon nano-materials, liquid crystals, and bio-based materials.

LNE Group

LNE Group is a federal, state and local government bi-partisan advocacy and grant writing firm. With offices in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, Washington DC and Berlin, Germany – LNE Group has the ability to serve the advocacy and grant writing needs of clients at all levels of government. The firm’s office in Berlin, Germany represents companies doing business at the European Union and European national government levels. The firm’s principals are registered to represent 60 clients. To date LNE Group has completed 20 Third Frontier proposals and have an extraordinary 16 funded. That is an 80% success rate. This equates to over $22.0 million in Third Frontier funding on behalf of our clients. We have great expertise in the Third Frontier RFP process and can offer invaluable advice during this process.

For more information please contact:

I hope you will join me on September 21st @ 11:30am as I will be the guest speaker at the Sales & Marketing Executives luncheon series. The title of my presentation is Social Media: Changing Paradigms for Your Business. In this presentation I will be discussing the new paradigms of customer engagement, the basics of social media and the core business strategy you should be utilizing to get the most out of your social media strategy.

The Particulars:
When: Monday - September 21st, 2009
Where: Windows on the River
Time: 11:30am - 1:15pm

RSVP at SME Cleveland at 216.341.7632 or online at www.smecleveland.com.

See you then, Cleveland.

As many of you know, I totally dig the Cleveland networking scene. Very few cities can match the depth of Cleveland’s professional groups, clubs and varied interests. So when the Cleveland Professionals Group’s - 2009 Cause Networking Initiative came my way, I thought it was important to share to my peeps. I hope you will join us at the Ritz Carlton Riverview Room. The event will be held on August 13th, from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. What makes this professional gathering so special is that the proceeds from tickets will go to support the Diabetes Association of Greater Cleveland.

The first Cleveland Professionals event was widely considered a successful venture with over 80 of Cleveland’s best and brightest in attendance. So join us at this affair as an opportunity to give back to the community while promoting and advancing your company. Tickets are $40 in advance and $50 the day of show. Click here to register. Heavy hors d’Oeuvres will be in abundance and a cash bar will be provided. I love events like this; so many great people in Cleveland to meet. See you there, Cleveland.