Tuesday | April 08, 2008

Velocity/2008

Every day companies in Northeast Ohio innovate, compete and succeed in the global marketplace. Velocity/2008 is an event designed to celebrate these companies, highlighting how each one uses innovative processes, procedures and technologies to produce outstanding results.

 The Networking Committee of the Cleveland Professional 20/30 Club along with NEOSA, FIT Technologies and the Sales and Marketing Executives of Cleveland invite you and your company to participate in Velocity/2008 on May 29, 2008 at the Idea Center at Playhouse Square. The event begins @ 4:30pm with open networking. A brief presentation from King Hill, founder of DigiKnow follows @ 6:00pm. Networking will continue until 9pm.

The cost to participate in this event as a company is $299. Each company will receive a table, access to the substantial audio visual equipment within Idea Center, display banner for their area, tickets for your staff, and the ability to network with the other companies and attendees. It is you chance to show off what you do, how you do it and how you are adding to the “velocity” of the economy.

 Velocity/2008 is requesting companies within four primary areas to participate in the show: traditional technology (e.g. software, hardware), materials, manufacturing and bio-technology. Each company will have the opportunity to showcase its innovations and network with each other and the Greater Cleveland community.

If interested in Velocity/2008 please contact Dan Young of DXY Solutions @ 216.375.7974 or at danyoung@dxysolutions.com. This event will rock! Cutting edge companies in a cutting edge facility in Downtown Cleveland – good stuff!
Posted by Tech Czar at 14:37:14 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Friday | March 28, 2008

NOTACON - Get it on!

NOTACON, an annual conference held in Cleveland, Ohio, explores and showcases technologies, philosophy and creativity often overlooked at other "hacker cons". The desire of Notacon is not to supplant other events, but complement them and strike a balance that has gone unnoticed in the Cleveland community for far too long.

With each new year Notacon builds upon the successes and knowledge of the previous years. The goal is to enlighten, educate, and entertain attendees, presenters, and staff alike. The conference tries to accomplish this by finding new ways to apply technology to graphics, art, music, or social interaction.

 I had the honor of speaking to this engaged group a few years back during my days as "Tech Czar," and it was a great event that is critical to the success of Cleveland.

Notacon is creativity: Participate in North America's largest demoparty, Blockparty. Try your hand at powerpoint karaoke.
Notacon is technology: Rural technology, academic internet studies, personal privacy and computer security.
Notacon is music: Learn to create and use circuit bending instruments. Engage in experimental music performances.
Notacon is imagination: Move data using Anything but Ethernet.
Notacon is participation: Talk on Notacon Radio. Create a competition entry. Enjoy interactive art.

Get connected at Notacon.

www.notacon.org
Posted by Tech Czar at 14:47:23 | Permanent Link | Comments (1) |

Friday | February 08, 2008

A Plan to Grow Cleveland's Tech Industry - Part VI

Tonight we have the final entry on the economic development plan that I originally prepared for the Mayor Campbell administration. And the capstone entry deals with the “grass roots” component of economic development which is the recruitment effort necessary to get more tech companies to call Cleveland home. Before we get to the cool details on the “tiger team” concept perhaps we should review – for the last time - the original five policies that were detailed in this series:

      I.        The Cleveland Technology Center (“CTC”) – A collaborative hub of thought and development that becomes the centerpiece of Cleveland’s investment in the tech industry. This is a physical space, a state-of-the-art tech-based facility.
      II.        The Cleveland Ventures Fund (“CVF”) – A technology-centric fund that will invest in promising technologies, partnerships within the City of Cleveland. Goal was to secure $100.0 million to be invested in Cleveland-based tech-companies.
    III.        The “Information Technology” Cradle – Creation of special zones along Euclid, Superior and Carnegie that allow for heavy concentration of tech companies and new real estate development.
    IV.        Cleveland Municipal Schools Tech Vision – The Mayor’s Office and the CEO of the Cleveland Schools creating a special tech-based curriculum for top students.
     V.        “Tiger Teams” – A specialized group formed to target middle-market tech and biotech firms and assist them with the relocation of their corporate headquarters or R&D facilities to the City of Cleveland.

The goal of the “tiger teams” is to form a specialized group to target small and emerging growth tech companies (be they in the software, biotech, or medical device industries) and assist them with the relocation of their corporate headquarters and staff to the City of Cleveland. Given the vast array of alphabet-soup ED groups (NorTech, GCP, NEOSA, TeamNEO, etc) that are charged with recruitment for the region (including Cleveland) – it was wise to form the plan with their participation. So, teams were formed by industry specialization meaning there was to be a “tiger team” for software development companies, another for biotech companies and another medical device companies and so on and so on. Each team would have a member from NorTech, GCP, NEOSA, TeamNEO and others. A lot of travel would be expected.

These teams could then be used to improve the perception of Cleveland as a hub of innovation and commerce while creating opportunities to relocate the tech companies or even their R&D groups to the City. It was imperative, and still is, to craft a target list of technology companies that may be favorable to the Cleveland business environment (one of the first acts I took as “Tech Czar” was to create such a list – it is amazing how many companies on that list finally selected Cleveland as home). And why not be creative and offer a tailored economic package for each company on the list? Not every company needs a low interest loan – but perhaps workforce training credits or rent subsidies might do the trick. The point being to be responsive to the need as opposed to offering the stale slate of incentives that the region provides today. I would even suggest creating a special team or campaign for tech companies operating in high cost areas such as Silicon Valley, New York, Boston, Chicago and the Washington D.C. area. We have a very provocative cost advantage in rent, operational expense (i.e. telecom and connectivity charges), labor expense just to name a few.

 I might even offer the creation of International Tiger Teams that target the tech hotspots around the globe and visit. Tell the story and then recruit, recruit and recruit. I found out the hard way that to recruit companies into the City makes a many influential people a wee bit nervous…but it works well (and especially for the City) if we can create density (much like we did in Playhouse Square with tech companies). If someone wanted to create a lot of buzz in economic development they would create these cross-functional teams and send them around the U.S. to spread the Gospel. The City and, indeed, the region has to be more aggressive (very aggressive) and competitive to foster and create the image that Cleveland is a very progressive and cool place to create and grow companies. We had this image a long time ago and it is absolutely necessary (mandatory, man) to do it again.
Posted by Tech Czar at 21:33:58 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Monday | January 07, 2008

A Plan to Grow Cleveland's Tech Industry - Part III

During my time as “Tech Czar,” I had the privilege of meeting hundreds of entrepreneurs blessed with many, many great ideas. I quickly found that Cleveland and Northeast do not have a dearth of commercial, and yes, financeable ideas. Recently, I started to detail a development plan for the technology sector in Cleveland. The five proposed policies of this plan were:

      I.        The Cleveland Technology Center (“CTC”) – A collaborative hub of thought and development that becomes the centerpiece of Cleveland’s investment in the tech industry. This is a physical space, a state-of-the-art tech-based facility.
      II.        The Cleveland Ventures Fund (“CVF”) – A technology-centric fund that will invest in promising technologies, partnerships within the City of Cleveland. Goal was to secure $100.0 million to be invested in Cleveland-based tech-companies.
    III.        The “Information Technology” Cradle – Creation of special zones along Euclid, Superior and Carnegie that allow for heavy concentration of tech companies and new real estate development.
    IV.        Cleveland Municipal Schools Tech Vision – The Mayor’s Office and the CEO of the Cleveland Schools creating a special tech-based curriculum for top students.
     V.        “Tiger Teams” – A specialized group formed to target middle-market tech and biotech firms and assist them with the relocation of their corporate headquarters or R&D facilities to the City of Cleveland.

The key part of this plan was, in my mind, the Cleveland Ventures Fund (“CVF”) which would be a $100.0 fund that would invest in technology-centric opportunities including partnerships and alliances. The CVF would have at its disposal various investment interests meaning the fund could invest as an equity participant, debt-holder, grants and tax credits. Obviously, a complex fund like this would merit professional management with a mandate to invest in Cleveland-based opportunities. The funding, of course, is problematic but with money being provided by the local foundations, regional financial institutions, the City of Cleveland and perhaps the County. By the by, this is not an unprecedented strategy to be taking by the City. Primus was started as a City supported venture fund in the Mayor White Administration. And recently the City of Ann Arbor created an investment strategy by the same amount. See link at http://blog.mlive.com/ann_arbor_business_review/2007/12/ann_arbor_firms_invest_100m_in.html. Clearly, if the City of Ann Arbor can muster the courage to invest in their own tech sector then why not Cleveland?

Other components of the fund include the necessity of the fund to be evergreen in origin – meaning all proceeds of any investment (post liquidity event) would be returned to the CVF. I have always thought that this could have been such a dramatic tool especially with the creation of the CTC as described in my previous post. Imagine, a constant flow of entrepreneurial companies being accelerated in the CTC, financed by the CVF and finding new residence along the major corridors in Cleveland (i.e. – Euclid Avenue, Superior Avenue, St. Clair Avenue). An amazing synergy for development.

 The original idea for the CVF was developed prior to Jumpstart, as defined by its current structure. I am a strong proponent of Jumpstart – its current financing opportunity of say $30.0 to $35.0 million is fantastic , but when spread out over 12 to 16 counties it offers just a beginning not the ultimate finality that many are looking for. Cleveland, as a city, merits this type of investment alone. Just think of the number of companies and brilliant talent that would flock to here just to have the opportunity to merit investment. Cleveland is experiencing a dynamic change of pace to have venture capital companies moving into the City to participate in the burgeoning deal flow in the regional biotech arena. I believe this is fantastic news. But, I would offer the caveat that our technology companies should not be overlooked either and, hence, the reason for the CVF.
Posted by Tech Czar at 23:16:18 | Permanent Link | Comments (1) |

Tuesday | January 01, 2008

A Plan to Grow Cleveland's Tech Industry - Part I

It has been nearly 90-days since I decided to resign my post as “Tech Czar” at the City of Cleveland and I was reflecting upon my time in the civic realm. A few days past I was going through a few boxes of notes, reports and other personal effects when I came across a presentation that I had put together prior to me interviewing for the post. Some quick history here, my first interview for the “Tech Czar” role was January 7th, 2002. This was soon after Mayor Campbell won in November of 2001. I interviewed twice with Tim Mueller – who was about to become Campbell’s Chief Development Officer. I did not get the job the first time around – the original “Tech Czar” was Tim Moran now at the Cleveland Clinic.

The presentation struck a chord with me, however. Remember, I wrote this presentation in late 2001. (And, in fact, when I interviewed for the post again in 2004 I used the same presentation I did two years prior.) The presentation offered a plan to create a new office within the economic development department called the Office of Technology and Innovation. This Office would then be given the goal of developing an economic environment that would be willing to initiate risk and accept reward; foster a “cycle” of education, creation, commercialization and capital market acceptance of local technology. And thus, create five programs – which I will detail in a moment – that establish Cleveland as a model of private and public partnership; a “case-study” in successful deployment and nurturing of a fledgling technology industry in Cleveland.

 The five proposed policies or programs were:

      I.        The Cleveland Technology Center (“CTC”) – A collaborative hub of thought and development that becomes the centerpiece of Cleveland’s investment in the tech industry. This is a physical space, a state-of-the-art tech-based facility.
      II.        The Cleveland Ventures Fund (“CVF”) – A technology-centric fund that will invest in promising technologies, partnerships within the City of Cleveland. Goal was to secure $100.0 million to be invested in Cleveland-based tech-companies (and by the way, if Ann Arbor, MI can find $100.0 for tech-based investments then certainly Cleveland could do the same).
    III.        The “Information Technology” Cradle – Creation of special zones along Euclid, Superior and Carnegie that allow for heavy concentration of tech companies and new real estate development.
    IV.        Cleveland Municipal Schools Tech Vision – The Mayor’s Office and the CEO of the Cleveland Schools creating a special tech-based curriculum for top students.
     V.        “Tiger Teams” – A specialized group formed to target middle-market tech and biotech firms and assist them with the relocation of their corporate headquarters or R&D facilities to the City of Cleveland.

I still believe that this plan is just as relevant today as when I first proposed it nearly six years ago. Over the coming weeks, I will be adding some detail on each policy/program, why it did or did not work and current strategies in place by other groups. I will try to be as exhaustive as I can be in the detail. I would like to hear commentary from as many people as possible on this plan and others (I have never thought mine was gospel or the only answer). At the end, though, I believe I will have offered a comprehensive plan that could propel the City as a key national player in the tech and biotech sectors.
Posted by Tech Czar at 18:42:55 | Permanent Link | Comments (6) |

Monday | July 16, 2007

The Cleveland Club

Recently, I had the honor of touring the old Tudor Hotel Building which elegantly rests on the corner of E. 105th and Carnegie. The story of the building is fascinating. Once the grand home of the Cleveland Club (a private club similar to the Union Club or the Cleveland Athletic Club) - you can immediately see the wealth once possessed by members of this fantastic venue. You can also see how much wealth has been lost too in this region. Where did all this money go?

A grand wood lobby leads to a second floor area this is beyond description in its grandeur. I walked into a two-story dining room with beautiful woodwork (including a wood ceiling with tremendous arches - looked like a huge alpine ski lodge) and detailed art work on the walls - all perfectly intact. I then walked into the "Rose Room" which was once a glamorous cigar bar. Off of the "Rose Room" is another two-story ballroom (again with unbelievable artwork all in pristine condition) with a large stage. I was stunned by the condition all of these rooms were - meaning they were in good to great condition and with a little "TLC" and imagination one could recreate early 20th century elegance.

The tour continued with a review of two gorgeous old pools, raquet ball/squash courts (with large observation areas), work-out facilities and various other amenties. I believe that the old Cleveland Club can be redeveloped as a boutique or extended stay hotel. A secondary develpment might be as a condo development on the upper-floors wiht a boutique/extended stay hotel on the lower floors.

Ari Maron and his family recently acquired the property and it should be the goal of our community to support him with this development. Ari and his family have had unbelievable success with the E. 4th Street redevelopment. Any and all ideas about the Tudor Hotel Building and the Cleveland Club will be considered, please forward all ideas to me and I will make sure Ari receives them. And if you get a chance to see this facility do so - it will amaze you.

Posted by Tech Czar at 12:38:16 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Sunday | July 08, 2007

Down on Broadway

As many of you know, the best part of my job is the large number of field trips I get to take around the City of Cleveland. By this I mean the hundreds of businesses and buildings I have been honored to meet or tour. A week ago, I was asked by Dennis Althar of All-Tronics Medical Systems to tour a few buildings that he owns near E. 55th and Broadway. This corner is a historic area - part of Slavic Village - but just as important was once considered the "second downtown" of the City. And if you ever get the whim to drive to this area, you can see why many called it as such. Obviously the area has seen better days, but you get the sense that something spectacular is about to happen in this neighborhood. 

Anyway, Dennis was kind enough to have me stop by and tour two of his buildings. The first was a block north of Broadway and at one time was the headquarters of a Slavic Insurance Company. It is a gorgeous two-story art deco facility. The first floor has a lobby that is beyond description with numerous offices surrounding it. There is a large safe room past the lobby as well. The second floor has a board room that suggests that no expense was spared when the building was constructed so many moons ago. Behind the lobby was the living quarters of the Executive Secretary of the insurance company. Gorgeous. All of it. The insurance company moved out many years ago, but the building stands as a testament to how strong, vibrant and wealthy the neighborhoods were in this City.

The second building Dennis owns is actually on Broadway just west of E. 55th and is one of the original Carnegie libragies. In fact, it is one of the last remaining ten-sided buildings left in the U.S. The beautiful lobby that offers a step staircase to the full rotunda and library is stunning. There is a small apartment that was used by the head librarian at one time just off of the full rotunda. In the basement, a full 200 seat theatre. Amazing. 

Both buildings deserve new life. And both once developed are sure to lead a new renaissance along Broadway and E. 55th. Dennis is nearing retirement and wants to sell both buildings and I can only hope that they are purchased by a serious developer who wants to help recreate the City's lost "second downtown."
Posted by Tech Czar at 18:38:48 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Friday | June 29, 2007

Post-Sputnik

A few weeks ago I had a pretty profound conversation with Phillip Lane of New America Energy at the Design Show held at the Cleveland Institute of Art. Phillip is working on a very provocative electric car concept and had a small car factory in the City of East Cleveland. Cool stuff. The car is a beautifully designed vehicle that holds great promise and appeal. What struck me from the conversation was a quick comment from Phillip about how "post-sputnik, there has been only one national policy on manufacturing....to outsource it to other countries." My father is a machinist and for many years he had a steady job at one firm. For the past ten years he has moved from one job to another. He is an amazing craftsman and the instability in the country's manufacturing base has prompted personal reflection.

 Now, I have been blessed with a job that puts me on the front lines of development in Cleveland, and it strikes me daily how robust the manufacturing sector once was in Cleveland. Name one neighborhood in the city that does not have at least one old manufacturing facility literally in the neighborhood. Hell, I live in an old knitting mill that has been converted to gorgeous living space. But, I suspect this region would much rather have the economic output of the factory to modern apartments (a region should anyway). Consider this:

 -City of Cleveland was once the printing capital of the world (most of the buildings along St. Clair and Superior Avenue were printing factories - i.e. - Tower Press Building);

 -City of Cleveland was once the clothing capital for the U.S. - the signs of this are everywhere - just look at the painted sign on the building on the corner of W. 9th and Lake (clothing manufacturing and warehousing);

 -The City of Cleveland and its manufacturing base fed the heavy industries found in Detroit and Pittsburgh (these three cities - Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Detroit - built the U.S., one would think we would get move love), and;

 -Consider all of the manufacturing skill and master tradesmen we have lost in this region because we have not invested and or protected our manufacturing base. Skill merits a high wage and when a region begins to lose its craftsmen wages begin to fall (in many cases in dramatic fashion).

Given that there will probably not be a national manufacturing policy in the near future, we should at least attempt to craft one locally. We cannot affort to lose our last remaining manufacturing base. It is imperative, even for the local and region technology industry to have a stong, growing manufacturing base in the Cleveland area. This goes on beyond national security - truth is the U.S. should have the manufacturing capabilities to protect the defense industries at least - but speaks to the wealth of the country and, for us here in Cleveland, our proud city.

Posted by Tech Czar at 11:45:13 | Permanent Link | Comments (3) |

Wednesday | June 20, 2007

The I-90 Accelerator

A few weeks ago I was finishing up my Bridge Builders class with a presentation at the West Tech Lofts. The West Tech Lofts was an old high school (true story - at one time the largest high school in the state of Ohio) that has been converted into loft apartments. Very, very cool place. As we wrapped up our Bridge Builders session, I took up an offer to tour the facility (a choice move - if you get the opportunity). It is an impressive redevelopment. While on a tour of the top floor I got a choice view of I-90, when I was struck by an endless array of streets that dead-end into the highway with the other half of the street cut from the other side - meaning I was looking at a street that was once unencumbered by the highway. (This made me think of a photo that was presented to me a few weeks back showing President Kennedy in Cleveland, during September of 1962, waving from his limousine. The photo noted that the shot was taken from W. 65th and Detroit Avenue. The reason for the drive was that Detroit Avenue at the time was the only way to get to the airport from Downtown. Quick Note: the limousine was the same one he was in when he was assassinated in Dallas two short months from then. I understand that I-90 does not take you to the airport but it reminded me of how young the highway system is in the U.S.) Street after street die at the hills that overlook the highway. These streets were once connected - full neighborhoods ripe with life and vigor. Long, long streets that had a rich history. Sad to see them cut up for a large highway.

 

Fast forward a few weeks and I am enjoying a fine dinner @ Jak's (W. Sixth and St. Clair - go there) with Jacob, a good friend. During our conversation Jacob mentions that he went to high-school at West Tech and remembers when he could walk from his old street south of West Tech all the way to the school. No highway. The near West Side at the time was a working-class, middle american neighborhood that was torn asunder by a federal highway project. Eminent domain forced thousands, not hundreds mind you, but thousands of tax paying working class out of the culturally rich neighborhoods of Cleveland and into the suburbs. The original plan for I-90 was to also go right through the east side (i.e. - Shaker Heights and Cleveland Heights - but those neighborhoods were a bit more wealthy and more vocal about the highway) but was quickly scuttled. The west side of Cleveland had no such hope. I-90, then, became an accelerator for the loss of the population base for the City. Opened the far west side of Cuyahoga County for development (hey no I-90 no Crocker Park, no Avon Lake, no Westlake). All in the name of progress. I am a bit shocked at the number of people who lost their homes and made way out to the burbs. Thousands! Just imagine the sense of neighborhood that could exist if I-90 were built a few miles south. Instead a great neighborhood with a dramatic history were cut to the bone.

Posted by Tech Czar at 22:52:33 | Permanent Link | Comments (7) |

Tuesday | June 05, 2007

Design is Good

I have to give kudos to David Moss of the Cleveland Institute of Art ("CIA") for putting on a great design show last Friday evening at the Future Center. As many of you know, I am a huge fan of the CIA and Future. David is always on the bleeding edge of design and technology. This may come as a great surprise to many of you but Cleveland is a huge exporter of design and by this I mean the CIA and other great schools in the area are producing degreed design professionals that are then leaving the area to take jobs at Chrysler, ideo, EA Games, Microsoft and various other design shops. Truth is Cleveland has a competitive advantage in design (the new technology frontier).

Recently, there has been a lot of buzz on the District of Design. This District could be a huge economic benefit to Cleveland. I would like to put out the clarion call for everyone to support this concept and to get involved. Volunteer your time to identify great design shops that would be interested in such a concept. Help Cleveland keep its world class talent. Your new mantra should be, "Design is good."

Posted by Tech Czar at 16:53:49 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |
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