http://techczar.blog.com Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:42:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 en hourly 1 LimeRibbon.com Launch Party http://techczar.blog.com/2009/11/18/limeribboncom-launch-party/ http://techczar.blog.com/2009/11/18/limeribboncom-launch-party/#comments Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:36:46 +0000 Tech Czar http://techczar.blog.com/?p=5180969 lr_partyad

Hope you will join us at the Cool Cleveland Launch Party for LimeRibbon.com - Cleveland’s newest social media website. The event will take place on December 7th, 2009 from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm at Crop Bistro & Bar. Come share the excitement of one of the coolest social media launches, not just in Cleveland, but in the nation!

What is LimeRibbon.com all about?

  1. Add gifts you want to your LimeRibbon - Your “ribbons” are gift lists where you can add items you desire for your birthday, holiday or special occasions.
  2. Share your “Ribbons” with friends! LimeRibbon makes it simple to post your gift lists on other networks like Facebook and Twitter, so that all your friends and family get your gift wish list.
  3. Show Off! Flaunt what you buy and want and see what cool stuff others are purchasing instantly.

The Launch

The LimeRibbon.com launch party at Crop Bistro & Bar will include heavy hors d’oeuvres, free beer and free Crop Punch! Multiple terminals will be placed through out the bar so that you can start creating your own “ribbons” on site! And of course, there will be giveaways including two free tickets on Air Tran courtesy of Akron Canton Airport! This is a great way to start the Holiday Season by creating your gift lists like good little boys and girls.

Register

Tickets are only $10! Register today at Cool Cleveland: https://coolcleveland.net/tickets/lr09/index.php.

When: December 7th, 2009. 5:30pm to 7:30pm

Where: Crop Bistro & Bar - West Sixth Street

About LimeRibbon.com

LimeRibbon.com is a Cleveland, OH-based social media site that specializes in the creation of gift lifts, or “ribbons,” that can be shared on other social media networks like Facebook and Twitter. One can also purchase items off these gift lifts, or “ribbons,” with trusted retailers through the LimeRibbon website.

Board Members of LimeRibbon.com include:

]]> http://techczar.blog.com/2009/11/18/limeribboncom-launch-party/feed/ Rapid Fire Radio- Week Three http://techczar.blog.com/2009/11/01/rapid-fire-radio-week-three/ http://techczar.blog.com/2009/11/01/rapid-fire-radio-week-three/#comments Sun, 01 Nov 2009 17:38:19 +0000 Tech Czar http://techczar.blog.com/?p=5180967 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.

]]> http://techczar.blog.com/2009/11/01/rapid-fire-radio-week-three/feed/ My Friend in New York http://techczar.blog.com/2009/10/14/my-friend-in-new-york/ http://techczar.blog.com/2009/10/14/my-friend-in-new-york/#comments Wed, 14 Oct 2009 20:24:11 +0000 Tech Czar http://techczar.blog.com/2009/10/14/my-friend-in-new-york/ 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

]]> http://techczar.blog.com/2009/10/14/my-friend-in-new-york/feed/ Third Frontier Funding Available http://techczar.blog.com/2009/10/07/third-frontier-funding-available/ http://techczar.blog.com/2009/10/07/third-frontier-funding-available/#comments Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:11:25 +0000 Tech Czar http://techczar.blog.com/?p=5180957 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:

Michael C. DeAloia – LNE Group
mdealoia@lnegroup.com
216.212.4067 (M)
Katie Hill – LNE Group
khill@lnegroup.com
216.781.9000 (O)
Learn more at www.lnegroup.com.
]]> http://techczar.blog.com/2009/10/07/third-frontier-funding-available/feed/ Tech Czar Talk http://techczar.blog.com/2009/09/14/tech-czar-talk/ http://techczar.blog.com/2009/09/14/tech-czar-talk/#comments Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:32:22 +0000 Tech Czar http://techczar.blog.com/2009/09/14/tech-czar-talk/ 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.

]]> http://techczar.blog.com/2009/09/14/tech-czar-talk/feed/ Cleveland Professionals Networking Initiative http://techczar.blog.com/2009/08/07/cleveland-professionals-networking-initiative/ http://techczar.blog.com/2009/08/07/cleveland-professionals-networking-initiative/#comments Fri, 07 Aug 2009 02:38:04 +0000 Tech Czar http://techczar.blog.com/?p=5180947 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.

]]> http://techczar.blog.com/2009/08/07/cleveland-professionals-networking-initiative/feed/ The New Cleveland Aquarium http://techczar.blog.com/2009/06/24/the-new-cleveland-aquarium/ http://techczar.blog.com/2009/06/24/the-new-cleveland-aquarium/#comments Tue, 23 Jun 2009 22:26:55 +0000 Tech Czar Cool History of Cleveland - I wrote passionately about the old Cleveland Aquarium, which can still be seen while driving east on I-90 near E. 79th. It was a beautiful old structure and I hope that someone will come up with an idea for the old facility. 

Nonetheless, the Jacobs Investments group should be applauded. This is a genius idea. The facility is slated in the summer of 2010 as is expected to bring 400,000 to 500,000 visitors annually to the aquarium. I approve of the location - a big aquarium right on the banks of the Cuyahoga River. This really could be a special development. A development, I hope, that spurs further redevelopment of the Flats. I suspect my only disappointment is the rather diminutive size of the facility at a rather paltry 55,000 square feet. However, I suspect that the Jacobs Investment group has additional plans for the aquarium and the PowerHouse. We will see but in the interim the City should rally behind this critical development. 
]]> Last week Cleveland received a jolt of good news when it was reported in the Plain Dealer that local development group - Jacobs Investments announced a decision to build an aquarium at its PowerHouse facility in the Flats. This is an awesome announcement. I have been a huge proponent of an aquarium. On my other blog - Cool History of Cleveland - I wrote passionately about the old Cleveland Aquarium, which can still be seen while driving east on I-90 near E. 79th. It was a beautiful old structure and I hope that someone will come up with an idea for the old facility. 

Nonetheless, the Jacobs Investments group should be applauded. This is a genius idea. The facility is slated in the summer of 2010 as is expected to bring 400,000 to 500,000 visitors annually to the aquarium. I approve of the location - a big aquarium right on the banks of the Cuyahoga River. This really could be a special development. A development, I hope, that spurs further redevelopment of the Flats. I suspect my only disappointment is the rather diminutive size of the facility at a rather paltry 55,000 square feet. However, I suspect that the Jacobs Investment group has additional plans for the aquarium and the PowerHouse. We will see but in the interim the City should rally behind this critical development. 
]]> http://techczar.blog.com/2009/06/24/the-new-cleveland-aquarium/feed/ Live Blogging @ Opera Cleveland http://techczar.blog.com/2009/06/08/live-blogging-opera-cleveland/ http://techczar.blog.com/2009/06/08/live-blogging-opera-cleveland/#comments Mon, 08 Jun 2009 11:44:29 +0000 Tech Czar
Make this experience yours! It is a wonderful opportunity to wander through the theatre and backstage - while a performance is in progress - and to share your unique view through your blog or Twitter account.

Listen, you do not have to be an opera aficionado to join this event. It is simply a way for Opera Cleveland to make opera more accessible through social media. And I for one thinks this is one of the coolest things ever. Let's get a ton of bloggers and Twitter afficionados in attendance.

To RSVP or for more information, please contact Lisa Hofmann at hofmann@operacleveland.org or at 216.575.0903. ]]> Calling all Cleveland area bloggers. You and a guest are invited to blog - live - at the final dress rehearsal of Falstaff on June 17th, from 6:15pm until the final curtain. This is a great opportunity to blog and tweet about one of Cleveland’s great cultural assets from “behind the scenes.” Kudos to Opera Cleveland for creating this awesome event and here’s to hoping other cultural institutions begin this really cool initiative.

Make this experience yours! It is a wonderful opportunity to wander through the theatre and backstage - while a performance is in progress - and to share your unique view through your blog or Twitter account.

Listen, you do not have to be an opera aficionado to join this event. It is simply a way for Opera Cleveland to make opera more accessible through social media. And I for one thinks this is one of the coolest things ever. Let’s get a ton of bloggers and Twitter afficionados in attendance.

To RSVP or for more information, please contact Lisa Hofmann at hofmann@operacleveland.org or at 216.575.0903.

]]> http://techczar.blog.com/2009/06/08/live-blogging-opera-cleveland/feed/ Social Media ROI http://techczar.blog.com/2009/06/01/social-media-roi/ http://techczar.blog.com/2009/06/01/social-media-roi/#comments Mon, 01 Jun 2009 01:25:47 +0000 Tech Czar Orange Envelopes - is a great source of business strategy, design thinking and social media marketing. Anyway, we were talking about the way many "old economy" executives tend to look at defined statistics for business success when the discussion about measurements of social media entered the fray. 

There is this great exuberance around social media and yet many social media "experts" fail to quantify the social media experience. Big mistake. There are ways to measure success on the social media platforms we elect to pursue. So enjoy our discussion on the Social Media ROI:

]]> I was minding my own when my best friend, and budding cinematographer, John Heaney met up with me at Panera in Golden Gate (I know… me in the suburbs). John’s blog - Orange Envelopes - is a great source of business strategy, design thinking and social media marketing. Anyway, we were talking about the way many “old economy” executives tend to look at defined statistics for business success when the discussion about measurements of social media entered the fray. 

There is this great exuberance around social media and yet many social media “experts” fail to quantify the social media experience. Big mistake. There are ways to measure success on the social media platforms we elect to pursue. So enjoy our discussion on the Social Media ROI:

]]> http://techczar.blog.com/2009/06/01/social-media-roi/feed/ TechNic - The Summer Extravaganza! http://techczar.blog.com/2009/05/28/technic-the-summer-extravaganza/ http://techczar.blog.com/2009/05/28/technic-the-summer-extravaganza/#comments Thu, 28 May 2009 14:33:17 +0000 Tech Czar
  • Food and Beverages
  • Music and Merriment 
  • Fun and Frolic (well, not too much Frolic) 
    • The event will be held at St. Sava's Picnic Grove (under the large pavilion) in Parma, OH (2300 West Ridgewood Drive). Musical entertainment includes the Dan Shaw Trio - playing the best jazz this side of Lake Erie - and Ted Wallingford, guitarist extaordinaire. The pavilion includes a full kitchen and modern restrooms. The picnic grounds have a sand volleyball court and a playground.

    Register at www.boundlessflight.com website and click on the "Sign Up" button or call Heidi Hooper at 216.469.1163. I have no doubt this event will reach mythic legend in the coming years. And what a great way to enjoy the outdoors with some cool people in the tech industry. See you there, my friends. 
    ]]>     Just heard some great news that a number of local tech companies are getting together and sponsoring TechNic - a summer picnic for the IT players and participants in the Cleveland area. It is like a who’s who list of Cleveland tech groups - Boundless Flight, BlueBridge Networks, Best Technology Strategy, Cleveland Java Users Group and Pradco - and they are inviting you to join them at TechNic on June 20th from 10:30am to that mythical time of “whenever.” You will enjoy:

    • Food and Beverages
    • Music and Merriment 
    • Fun and Frolic (well, not too much Frolic) 

    The event will be held at St. Sava’s Picnic Grove (under the large pavilion) in Parma, OH (2300 West Ridgewood Drive). Musical entertainment includes the Dan Shaw Trio - playing the best jazz this side of Lake Erie - and Ted Wallingford, guitarist extaordinaire. The pavilion includes a full kitchen and modern restrooms. The picnic grounds have a sand volleyball court and a playground.

    Register at www.boundlessflight.com website and click on the “Sign Up” button or call Heidi Hooper at 216.469.1163. I have no doubt this event will reach mythic legend in the coming years. And what a great way to enjoy the outdoors with some cool people in the tech industry. See you there, my friends. 
    ]]>     http://techczar.blog.com/2009/05/28/technic-the-summer-extravaganza/feed/