The Michigan Opportunity
Through dynamic discussion, The Michigan Opportunity markets the state and promotes Michigan as a world-class business location. The podcast serves as a forward-thinking voice for Michigan as a conduit to global trends and applications in the new global economy.
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PreviousEpisodes
Jeff Donofrio, President and Chief Executive Officer - Business Leaders for Michigan
What does it take to make Michigan a top 10 state in today’s dynamic world? Business Leaders for Michigan has the map for us on this podcast.
Join Jeff Donofrio, President and CEO for Business Leaders for Michigan, and host Ed Clemente as they discuss this influential business organization, and their myriad of initiatives. Business Leaders for Michigan, a state business roundtable, is dedicated to making Michigan a Top Ten state for jobs, personal income and a healthy economy.
Brian Connors, Partner, Due East Advisors
Discover How International Business Development Drives Local Job Creation from “Due East” Asian Regions, including China and Taiwan!
Join Brian Connors, Partner, Due East Advisors, who works with companies from Mainland China and Taiwan, as he has a conversation with our host Ed Clemente about the critical role they play in the expanding world of foreign direct investment. Learn about their team of bilingual experts and about how the MEDC works to attract international businesses to Michigan. Learn how this Harvard-educated entrepreneur with boots on the ground in Beijing learned how to build relationships through the small businesses he owned and operated there.
Quentin L. Messer, Jr., MEDC CEO and President and Chair of the Michigan Strategic Fund
Listen to MEDC’s CEO lay out his 4-point plan for Michigan’s continued economic recovery, some words of wisdom for Michiganders, businesses and communities for strategic growth opportunities.
Join Quentin Messer, Jr., Chief Executive Officer, President and Chair - Michigan Strategic Fund and host Ed Clemente as they discuss his strategic 4-point plan to keep moving Michigan’s economic development needle. Some excellent career advice boiled down to three key guidelines and insight on career path advancement. Quentin shares his passion and his focus on “getting it done!” by raising the tide for all people and communities in the state of Michigan. He also gives us his view of the state on his whirlwind travels to all the corners of the state, of the great people, organizations, companies, and communities that make up the tapestry of Michigan.
JoAnn Crary, President, Saginaw Future
“Saginaw Future”, where its headed, success stories and economic opportunities for the Great Lakes Bay Region.
Join JoAnn Crary, President of Saginaw Future, and host Ed Clemente as they discuss Saginaw area economic opportunities. Learn about the unique ecosystem of Saginaw and the balance between urban business district, agriculture, and manufacturing. She also serves on many other organizations, including being on board for Saginaw Valley State University, helping assist one of her top priorities of talent retention and attraction. Also, she has been actively involved in the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) especially in Inclusive Economic Development. They also chat about the great history of Michigan-based Hemlock Semiconductor as well as other businesses in the Great Lakes Bay Region.
Ray Lozano of Mexicantown Community Development Corporation
Mexicantown: How an already vibrant community is moving into a 21st century High Tech region.
In 1989, a group of Latino community leaders with expertise in business development and training, unified in the mission to create a Latino-owned and operated agency, Mexicantown CDC. Join Ray Lozano, Executive Director, and host Ed Clemente to learn about how this very diverse community is evolving with support from many non-profits and private and public groups working together to solidify this Southwest Detroit region. Learn how the Ford Motor Company mobility innovation district in Corktown, located around the renewed Michigan Central Station, is also affecting the rest of the Southwest region in how they live, work and play. Discover the interesting biography of our guest from his challenging Latino roots, on being a Vietnam Veteran, and running the Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, his work with DTE and his many other career paths. Mr. Lozano also discusses some future trend predictions and experienced career advice.
Mary Kramer of Crain’s Detroit Business
Detroit’s Economic Rebound – How P3’s, media, non-profits & higher education helped rewrite the future of Michigan’s largest city.
Mary Kramer is Corporate VP, Director of Detroit Homecoming and Special Projects at Crain’s Detroit Business. Crain’s is one of the largest privately owned business media companies with 21 leading business, trade and consumer brands in North America, Europe and Asia. Join her and Host Ed Clemente to hear about the backstory of her career, her Grand Rapids roots and the incredible growth of one of the leading business publications. See how Mary identified early challenges in the business community in metro Detroit, statewide, nationally and even internationally. She then identified opportunities for key business stakeholders to work together to improve the regional economy. She will identify some new trends including the growth of the Detroit Homecoming, Digital Nomads, non-profits, 40 under 40, 20 in their 20’s and many other topics. She also dispenses some sound career advice and how some ex-pats view Detroit and Michigan as opportunities move to economic needle.
Natalie Chmiko, VP Pure Michigan Business Connect and International Trade, MEDC
Learn how to start using global trade for your business’s success through the MEDC on guided tour by Natalie Chmiko.
Natalie Chmiko is Vice President, Pure Michigan Business Connect (PMBC) & International Trade at Michigan Economic Development Corporation. The PMBC and International Trade programs help Michigan companies grow and diversify their businesses, both domestically and internationally. Learn from Natalie about the assistance you can receive from MEDC, including facilitated matchmaking in more than 100 global markets, international technical assistance, supplier preparedness programming and more. Join her and Host Ed Clemente as she highlights manufacturing trends, especially related to Industry 4.0 and the Michigan partners available to support your business. Also hear about her unique background that led her on this international path, and some advice for people and their career paths.
September Hargrove, Vice President & Detroit Program Officer, JPMorgan Chase & Co.
The unique relationship of JPMorgan Chase & Co. Detroit and the Entrepreneurs of Color Fund and the moving story of the person who makes it happen.
September Hargrove is the Vice President & Detroit Program Officer at JPMorgan Chase & Co. Their data-driven investment in the city builds on the initial progress that helped boost the city’s recovery through the creation of sustainable loan programs for small businesses. This includes the Entrepreneurs of Color Fund and increased access to affordable housing and job training, which targets the gaps in the city’s economic recovery. Join September and host Ed Clemente and learn about this tremendous $200 million investment and discover all the varied partners, stakeholders and end-users who make up this unique financial program for those that have been underserved. Learn about VP Hargrove’s background, which makes her uniquely qualified to implement and benchmark this program. Additionally, she will help identify the trends and opportunities that are on the horizon for these financial efforts.
Daniel Garrison, Office Managing Director, Accenture, Detroit Innovation Hub
Here come the fresh ideas of how we move into the New Economy and Accenture is providing the global pathway options.
Accenture has 500,000+ employees globally, they are in 50 counties and have clients in 120 countries. Accenture's Detroit Innovation Hub is designed to help clients grow, compete and transform in the digital economy through strategic consulting. Follow Dan, Accenture's Detroit Office Managing Director, as he sees the future and the opportunities for Michigan, and how everything from digital nomads to Starlink will change the way how we live, work and play in the future. Along the way, learn a little bit about quantum computing, innovation and digitization, as Dan was an international work traveler seeing how the world of business is evolving first hand.
Jenelle Jagmin, Director, Michigan Craft Beverage Council and Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
Come discover the Beverage Culture in Michigan, with over 500 Breweries, Wineries & Distilleries.
Representing the tasting worlds of wine, beer, distilleries and ciders, join Jenelle Jagmin of the Michigan Craft Beverage Council, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and Host Ed Clemente and learn about Michigan’s unique business ecosystem of craft beverages. Learn why Michigan's climate is so conducive to growth of the industry and the supply chain of products. Find out some of the numbers and geography of where all these unique businesses are located throughout the state, and their growing trends. Learn more about Michigan's growing hot spot sector, agritourism.
About the Host: Ed Clemente
Ed Clemente joined the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) in 2020 as the Senior Advisor for Trends and Development.
From 2012-2020, Clemente served as a two-term governor appointed Hearing Commissioner for the Michigan Liquor Control Commission (MLCC). Executing over 7,000 judicial Orders/Decisions, over the tenure of service. Prior joining the MLCC, Clemente launched Michigan’s Energy Innovation Business Council (EIBC) establishing it as 501c3 and 501c6 entity and serving as its first President.
Ed Clemente was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in 2004 representing parts of southern Wayne County. During his three terms in the State House (2004-2010) he led task forces on electric vehicles, biosciences, film industry, Brownfield restoration, economic development, quality of life and advanced energy. Before his tenure as a public official, Clemente held several leadership roles at the Southern Wayne County Regional Chamber of Commerce, including President and Director Economic and Business Development. He also previously chaired the Economic Development Committee of the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments and was elected as a Trustee for Wayne County Community College District, serving four terms.
Clemente has earned degrees from Ferris State, Michigan State University and Sienna Heights Universities. Clemente was awarded with a prestigious fellowship to the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and The National Judicial College for Administrative Law. He graduated from several political leadership development programs, including Leadership Detroit, Michigan Political Leadership Program, and Leadership 21. He is a previous small business owner and has taught at Northwood University. Additionally, he hosts a “Critical Conversations” podcast and is a member of the Workforce Advisors for Wayne County Community College. Ed serves on the Board of Directors for Global Ties Detroit and the Motor Cities National Heritage Area. An avid traveler, Ed has visited more than 80 countries and territories, 150+ UNESCO World Heritage sites, many to play rugby tournaments, others for professional exchange and some for just intellectual curiosity.
The Michigan Opportunity is brought to you by Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). In collaboration with more than 100 economic development partners, MEDC markets Michigan as the place to do business, assists businesses in their growth strategies and fosters the growth of vibrant communities across the state.