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
Trista Van Tine, Co-founder & Executive Director, Michigan Founder Fund
Listen to Trista Van Tine, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Michigan Founders Fund. This nonprofit network of high-growth entrepreneurs in Michigan develops unique programming to help with venture success, community needs, and ensuring portions of success contribute to the prosperity of Michigan. Since 2020, she created the state's first Social Impact Startup Pitch Competition, first Founders Retreat for early-stage companies, and the first Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Internship Program to pair underrepresented college students with Michigan-based tech companies and VCs.
Diana Callaghan, Managing Director, Endeavor
Diana Callaghan, Managing Director of Endeavor, leads the organization's Great Lakes efforts. Founded in 1997, Endeavor promotes economic growth by selecting, mentoring, and accelerating the growth of entrepreneurs leading high-performing companies with the most potential to create economic impact. Additionally, she and Ed discuss the University of Michigan alumni's global path to get to this key leadership position.
John Walsh, President & CEO Michigan Manufacturers Association
Join John Walsh, President and CEO of the Michigan Manufacturers Association as he discusses the manufacturing industry and the next generation of innovators driving Michigan into a future that will continue to shape our state’s economy, communities, businesses, and more. He also shares his unique career path from the legal world to advisor to the Governor and everything in between.
Steven Dyokas, Director of the U.S. APEC Host Secretariat within the U.S. Department of State
Steven Dyokas, Director of the U.S. APEC (Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation) Host Secretariat within the U.S. Department of State, discusses the historic visit to Detroit, and all the elements to this unique global organization. Hear how Michigan’s private, public, NGO, and higher education sectors are helping drive that agenda with mobility, manufacturing, international trade border crossings, energy transition, health, digitization, and much more.
Jeff Lambert, Chairman and Founder of Lambert
Jeff Lambert founded Lambert at age 26 and has led the firm through 21 straight years of growth to become Michigan’s largest PR firm, a top-40 PR firm in the U.S., and a top-15 firm nationally in investor relations and financial communications. Hear Jeff discuss his 3 future trends: Artificial Intelligence x factor, globalization, and speed of technology adaption. plus a new venture with Tiicker.
Claude Molinari, President and CEO of the Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau
Claude Molinari, president and CEO of Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau, discusses activities going on in Metro Detroit and the Bureau’s Visit Detroit initiative. Visit Detroit promotes the region as a convention, business-meeting and tourism destination. They organization works with the Detroit and Windsor business community, civic organizations, local government offices and more.
Adam Tomasek, Supervisory Division Chief in the Private Sector Engagement Hub of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
Adam Tomasek, supervisory division chief in the Private Sector Engagement Hub of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), disscusses how he helps carry on USAID’s long history of working with the private sector on a broad range of development priorities around the world. As a U of M alumni, he holds experience with the World Wildlife Fund, U.N., World Bank, World Economic Forum, Peace Corps, and more.
Roberta Dall’Olio, Director of EURADA
Hear Roberta Dall’Olio, Director of the European Association of Development Agencies (EURADA) as she discusses how the association facilitates the cooperation among regional economic development practitioners, is tasked with building out and advocating for European Union projects and more. Roberta has established strong ties with the International Economic Development Council alongside Michigan Native Nathan Ohle.
Richard Florida, Renowned Urbanist and Author
After recently speaking at the Mackinac Policy Conference, world leading urbanist, Richard Florida, discuss his 3 Pillars of Focus: Tech, Talent, and Place. He is the international best-selling author of “The Rise of the Creative Class” and the founder of the Creative Class Group. He also advises companies such as BMW, Starwood Hotels, Facebook, Bloomberg, Microsoft and others.
Special Episode: Mackinac Policy Conference 2023 Day 2
Join host Ed Clemente for a special The Michigan Opportunity Podcast live from Mackinac Island for day two of the Mackinac Policy Conference. Hear from Michelle Grinnell, Senior Vice President of Marketing & Communications at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and Maureen Donahue Krauss, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Detroit Regional Partnership. Ed also chats with Lisa Lunsford, CEO of GS3 and Glenn Stevens, Executive Director of MICHAuto and VP Automotive & Mobility Initiative, as well as Jennifer Hayes, Senior VP Operations & Policy, at Invest Detroit, Linzie Venegas, President, The Ideal Group and Michele Economou Ureste, Executive Director, Workforce Intelligence Network.
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.