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 Gray, Superintendent of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, NOAA
Hear from Jeff Gray, Superintendent of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, NOAA, as he talks about underwater preservation, diving the great lakes, and educating the public on the state’s marine history. We also get a sneak preview of Innovation with the Underwater Robotics World Championship coming to Michigan’s marine sanctuary.
Qiong Sun, Vice President & GM of Global Automotive E-mobility, TE Connectivity
Michigan-based Qiong Sun talks about her 28 years of mobility experience. As the Vice President & GM of Global Automotive E-mobility at TE Connectivity, her specialties include product development, planning and strategy. Sun shares about her life growing up in Shanghai, her time at Michigan Tech University, and future trends she sees in the mobility and technology industries.
Michigan Tech Week 2024
Join our host Ed Clemente as he speaks with key figures at Michigan Tech Week. Guests include Chris Nolte of Bloom, Crystal Brown of CircNova, Kellie Crawford of Taste of Tech, and Rishi Moudgil of Michigan Founders Fund. Michigan Tech Week is a week-long event that brings together Michigan's tech industry, entrepreneurs, investors, and innovators to discuss, connect, and build relationships.
Ernestine Lyons, Global Entrepreneur In Residence Program Manager, Global Detroit
Ernestine Lyons, Global Entrepreneur in Residence (Global EIR) Program Manager at Global Detroit, talks about how the Global EIR program works with immigrant tech entrepreneurs to start businesses in Michigan and helps them grow in scale. Global Detroit is a non-profit working to revitalize Metro Detroit’s economy by pursuing strategies that strengthen Detroit’s connections to the world and making the region more attractive and welcoming to immigrants, internationals, and foreign trade and investment.
David Washburn, CEO, MSU Research Foundation
Hear from David Washburn, CEO of the MSU Research Foundation, as he discusses how the foundation manages an endowment built from decades of licensing revenue and is a key partner in the Michigan State University (MSU) innovation ecosystem. In addition to providing over $10 million in research funding at MSU annually, this non-profit is focused on technology commercialization, economic development, and placemaking.
Donald Hillebrand, Deputy Associate Laboratory Director, Argonne National Laboratory
Don Hillebrand (native Michigander), Division Director at Argonne National Laboratory, walks us through mobility, drones, advanced energy, batteries and much more. Argonne is at the forefront of scientific innovation in the United States, addressing some of the world's most challenging scientific problems. Also references to the Oppenheimer Movie and his love for Oakland University!
Johnnie Turnage Co-Founder, Black Tech Saturdays
Listen to Johnnie Turnage, Co-Founder of Black Tech Saturdays, share his journey on creating a unique career path along with his wife, Alexa. Their vision is to empower black tech communities nationwide, while closing racial wealth gap through tech-focused initiatives, drive economic growth, and foster diversity within the industry to ensure prosperity for all.
Robert S. Li, Co-Founder and Owner, University FM & Professors.fm
Hear Robert S. Li, CO-Founder and Owner of University FM and Professors.fm, explain the great concept in podcasting. With so much media vying for our attention, it can be hard for institutions to communicate stories. However, podcast storytelling has the power to cultivate deeper relationships within communities and share compelling and authentic stories.
Dr. Norman Beauchamp, Executive Vice President for Health Sciences MSU & Marc Corriveau, VP & Chief Government Relations Officer at Henry Ford Health System
Marc Corriveau of Henry Ford Health and Dr. Norman Beauchamp of Michigan State University team up to discuss how their organizations’ innovative partnership is helping elevate Detroit as a world-class destination for health, research, tech transfer, training and so much more. A must-listen on all of the facets and opportunities this partnership is bringing to the city.
Tu Le, Managing Director, Sino Auto Insights
Sino Auto Insights Founder and Managing Director, Tu Le, brings an abundance of experience from both the high-tech and automotive sectors having spent time living & working in Detroit, Silicon Valley, and China. Passionate about helping companies become difference-makers in the mobility space, Tu is recognized as an automotive & mobility expert in Asia by respected media outlets such as The Economist, Wall Street Journal, BBC, Reuters and more.
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.