The China Business Tour sponsored by the Department of Business was a tremendous opportunity to learn more of China and network with professionals from a different country. As noted in the first installment of this journal, we saw beautiful landscapes and met many people, and came to further appreciate the gains made by the government, which in recent years has embraced a limited form of capitalism.  

Monday, June 22

We visited a steel mill and saw six inch by ten inch by 40 feet long bars of molten metal forged into one inch diameter reinforcement rods for the city’s construction projects.  While the tour was of real interest to many students, it was a dirty and unsafe foundry facility that would never pass OSHA inspection and thus allow for tourists to visit the site. The afternoon comprised free time to explore the city and take in some sites of personal interest, like shopping for souvenirs.  

Tuesday, June 23

We flew two hours west to Xian, where we toured museums and received lessons in Chinese calligraphy. We were shown four different theatric masks: a white one in particular was known for “duplicity”. This caused one to reflect on the past relationships this culture may have had with Caucasians as Silk Road traders, as well as the Westerner colonizing and opium introduction experiences in their history.   

Xian was famous as an early dynasty capital and represented the eastern end of the Silk Road that for two millennia ran all the way west to the Mediterranean Sea.  Here we viewed temples and the archeological digs known as the Emperor’s Terra Cotta Warriors.  For centuries it was well known that a nearby mound was the burial ground of an earlier emperor. However, it was not until 1974 that a farmer, cleaning his well, discovered chards of earthen figurines.  The government has since built stadium-sized structures over archeological digs that have to date discovered more than 6,000 examples of these life size warrior figurines representing infantry, archer, and cavalry soldiers.  This subterranean army apparently was intended to join the emperor in his afterlife.  “National Geographic” presented a documentary a few years ago on these findings.  These figurines were remarkable in their detail and uniqueness.   

Wednesday, June 24

On this day we toured a Pharmaceutical company.  The main products of this company include various cleansing agents, including everything from laundry soaps to hand lotions. They displayed their diversity statements that included gender, the unemployed and a couple other categories, but nothing about race. The Han people group is by far the largest, with several smaller minority groups like the Cantonese and Di. In the afternoon we flew from Xian in the west to Guilin in the south of China. 

Thursday, June 25.

We took a four hour cruise down the river Li from Guilin to Yangshuo.  Of special interest was the fact that this river ran along the floor of a remarkable limestone canyon.  If one could imagine some of the canyons of the American west and southwest, rather than being dry and arid, but instead being covered by jungle, one would have a little perspective as to this experience.  The local populace came out to our cruise vessel standing on bamboo logs lashed together as rafts and attempted to sell us their souvenir wares.  The culture here is in stark contrast from those in the cities of Beijing and Xian.  

Here were poor fishermen and rice paddy farmers scraping out a livelihood. The fisherman would use a duck sized diving bird to actually catch their fish in their mouths and fly back to their owner’s. These birds are unable to swallow their catch due to string wrapped around their necks. However, they were able to swallow small minnows. Numerous water buffalo roamed the area and worked the fields for planting.

Rice farmers showed us how they prepared and irrigated their fields on a continuous basis.  It was known that while one farmer would have difficulty surviving on their own, working in a communal environment would guarantee enough for them and a little left over to sell to others.  It was also interesting to note that although the appearance was of an impoverished community, many of those who had left this area for jobs in major cities had returned to these fields because they were unable to survive on minimum wage scales because of the associated expenses of housing and daily transportation.  The topography in this region with the acres of growing rice paddies and limestone outcroppings covered by jungle were a unique scene and duly imprinted on some Chinese currency.   

Our guide took us to the home of a grandmother in a local village who had three separate mud block buildings for her kitchen, barn, and living quarters.  Although living in an apparent impoverished state with hand-operated grindstones to make her tofu and a small garden for her soy beans and long yellow wax beans seemed challenging, she did have a color television and small dishwasher within her living quarters.  She prominently displayed her pictures of Chairman Mao and Premiere Zhau En Lai, and her grandchild’s certificates of accomplishment from school.  She was very gracious in providing orange slices to all of us on the tour, while the dog being butchered in the backyard was neither offered nor desired. 

Friday, June 26

We left Yangshuo and traveled by bus back to Guilin.  On the way we stopped to view Reed Flute limestone caverns, which included multi-colored light displays.  If one has seen such caves as Mammoth Cave in Kentucky, one can visualize this experience.  

That afternoon we flew from Guilin to Shanghai.  In the evening, we walked along a district known for its British Bund District showing the old colonial impact in the buildings representing nineteenth century British, Dutch, German and American influence.  Directly across the river from this was the brand new financial district of Shanghai and China as a whole, represented by modern sky scrapers outlined in multi-colored lights.   

Saturday, June 27

We visited a Jade Buddha Temple and gardens.  We also took a trip outside the city to Shanghai Lixin University of Commerce.  Our students enjoyed the one-on-one discussions with their university counterparts.  This university has approximately the same enrollment size as Kettering. Since they moved the university within the last 20 years, they had all modern buildings, including a library reminiscent of the Roman Coliseum in its architecture.  One of the highlights of the experience was a cross-cultural team building exercise which had all of the students making Chinese dumplings that were subsequently cooked and eaten together.   

Later that afternoon we visited a silk factory.  It was amazing to see how silk was gathered from silk worm cocoons and assembled into a variety of commercial products such as ties, scarves, sheets and pillowcases.   That evening we saw an entertaining gymnastic performance in a local theatre. 

Sunday, June 28

We went to the aforementioned financial district and ascended to the 88^th floor observation deck of the Jin Mao Tower to view the surrounding city of Shanghai.  Again, of interest was the many brand new sky scrapers intermingled with huge massive apartment complexes.  The population of Shanghai has been estimated to be over 22 million and they are eagerly preparing for World Expo 2010. 

That afternoon we visited the local headquarters of efTours, our tour organizer and employer of our guide.  Again, our students were able to spend time in dialogue with many of the Chinese students in this English language training facility.  Later that afternoon we toured a personal estate. Many years ago a former wealthy financial consultant to the city had created this beautiful setting for his parents’ retirement as well as his own. However, his son lost it all gambling. Fortunately, the city has acquired the property and maintained its elegance. 

We also interviewed the vice president of Procurement for Trane Air Conditioning manufacturing.  This executive shared his experiences of being an American expatriate in China for the last ten years.  It was interesting to hear from this American, raised in Detroit and educated at Arizona and Thunderbird universities, and how much he appreciates the work ethic and life style of the Chinese, as well as his acclimation to this life style.  

Monday, June 29

By 7AM we were at the Shanghai Airport for our 9:50 a.m. flight to Tokyo, Minneapolis and Detroit.  We arrived home at approximately 6 p.m. the same day, but having gained the time we had lost before by passing through the same twelve time zones.  

Concluding Thoughts

Every day was enlightening on our China Business Tour. We were well guided around the sites of interest and had enjoyable lunch and dinner meals at various restaurants.  The hotel accommodations were really quite nice and all transportation means worked efficiently (although heart stopping in some congested situations.) efTours and their guide Simon made the tour successful and cost effective.  A more detailed critique of our learning experiences and recommendations for further Global Business Tours by the Department of Business is currently under development.

The China Business Tour sponsored by the Department of Business was a tremendous opportunity to learn more of China, a highly influential country of 1.3 billion people. We were able to see firsthand a few of the diverse landscapes and groups of people in this land, and to realize the gains made by this totalitarian government, which in recent years has embraced a limited form of capitalism. While one can gain a great deal of information from a recent documentary TV broadcast such as CNBC’s “China: A Republic of Profit,” until one experiences the pleasant picturesque surroundings and communicates with these friendly, dedicated people of China firsthand, it’s difficult to grasp the change taking place there. As Napoleon Bonaparte once remarked in 1803, “Let China sleep. For when she wakes, she will shake the world.” The hope is that this journal will enlighten others and encourage them to engage in similar global awareness experiences.

Thursday, June 18

Seven Kettering students and I left Thursday, June 18, at 3:10 pm. on a Northwest Airlines flight from Detroit Metropolitan Airport.  After transferring planes in Tokyo, we arrived in Beijing, China, at approximately 10:30 p.m. June 19, loosing 12 hours in time zone crossings.  One of our students was quarantined for the night and released 24 hours later due to a slight fever. The medical team at the Beijing Airport was concerned about the swine flu pandemic and therefore required him to undergo testing.  While at the airport, we met the other university tour groups that would join us. There were 11 from Marylhurst University in Oregon and 10 from South Carolina State University. In total we were 24 undergraduate and graduate students, four faculty, one faculty member’s young son and Zhau Liang (Simon), our tour guide.

Saturday June 20

Saturday was our first full day in China. The day was spent in Beijing, a population center of 18 million. The name of the city means “North Capital.” We began our tour at Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City/Emperor’s Palace.  The name Tiananmen Square means “Gate of Heavenly Peace,” and reminds one of the capital mall in Washington DC, which runs from the Capital Building to the Lincoln Memorial. Although some have claimed that Tiananmen Square is the largest square in the world, it is not as elegant as the one in Washington, because it doesn’t have reflecting pools and a green lawn, but instead a huge cement, expansive surface. Some of the prominent buildings were the Great Hall of the People where governmental officials meet and the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall where people lined up to view their revolutionary hero’s embalmed body. 

Next to Tiananmen Square is the Forbidden City, which at one time had nine gates leading to and from the Emperor’s Throne and private quarters during the Ming and Qing Dynasties.  Of particular note is the beautiful pagoda architecture on some of these buildings that includes detailed ornamentation and multiple colors.  In addition, there are totem poles comparable to the Indians of the Northwest United States, including winged eagles and carved reliefs.  This palace was built between 1406 and 1420 and has been marvelously maintained.  It includes quarters not only for the Emperor, but separate quarters for the empress, his concubines and children.  A total of 24 emperors lived here in the Ming and Qing Dynasties.  We also toured the inner private grounds of the Emperor’s quarters, which include beautiful gardens, trees and a lake.  One highlight is a long covered boardwalk with ornate paintings and carvings on the north shore of the private lake and in front of a Buddhist Temple. 

Sunday, June 21,

We took an hour bus ride north from the city to the Badaling Section of the Great Wall.  We spent a good hour walking uphill through three sections of the Great Wall to the highest point in the area to view the surrounding landscape.  The wall was built two millennia ago to keep marauding hordes of Mongols from invading the now unified China.  The Great Wall was started in the 5^th century B.C. and runs along the crest of the mountains, splitting at various points and rejoining as it meanders for 3,000 miles to the west. In fact, just recently new sections have been discovered in some of the remotest areas.  Another 45 minutes was spent descending from our observation point and another half hour to rest from the 95 degree temperatures and high humidity.  Upon reflection, it was a wonder that invasions were a concern because of the naturally difficult terrain.

The bus then took us to the Olympic Center where the 2008 Olympics took place.  We were able to view the Birds Nest (which housed the opening ceremonies and the track and field events), the swimming facilities and several modern architectural buildings.  Again, many gorgeous gardens were interspersed throughout the grounds. Of note were the architectural contrasts between some of the older heavy, reinforced concrete buildings versus the modern western glass facade structures.

After the Olympic Center tour we had a tea ceremony where we tried three different types and flavors of teas.

That evening we all took a rickshaw ride through Hutong District, which is a poorer section of Beijing with many alleyways between residences and small businesses.  We stopped at one individual’s home, which was comprised of four separate rooms around a plaza.  Each room was adjacent to someone else’s building on its back wall.  Although the owner had no bathroom or washing facilities, they were very proud of their multi-generational residence.  Through the translation of our guide, we understood the Chinese characters the owner wrote with water on the plaza floor indicating a hope for good relationship between China and the United States. 

The evening was spent in downtown Beijing noting the modern commercial district.  Of special interest was one street blocked off for customers to walk by at least thirty vendor stalls supplying customers with everything to eat from seahorse to lamb’s kidneys, to snakes, to scorpions, to fried ice cream. 

Our hotel rooms were quite nice and would have cost well over $100 a night.  From my hotel room in Beijing I could see older styled, plain looking concrete apartment complexes and office buildings interspersed now with western style skyscrapers.  A dozen construction cranes were easily visible from my window indicating a massive construction emphasis in this capital city. However, right beneath my window one could see a ghetto area sectioned off by bill boards, denying commercial traffic from viewing this slum area.

Written by Dr. Norm Irish, visiting professor of Management. A second installment of this travel journal will appear on the News and Information Website in the near future.

See the conclusion of the China Tour Journal at: http://www.kettering.edu/visitors/storydetail.jsp?storynum=2904

‘Entrepreneurship Across the Curriculum’ rolls over Kettering’s campus

What makes an innovator and an entrepreneur?  What can universities do to prepare students for an economy and world that depends on innovation? What learning will lead to an enhanced economy and the creation of new jobs?  And how do you develop and enhance entrepreneurship and innovation capacities through an entire university to prepare to lead the nation?

Ask Kettering University.

“Kettering has developed the intellectual and practical capacity to be the national leader in the preparation of entrepreneurs and innovators, who also have exceptional technical and scientific knowledge,” said Dr. Michael Harris, provost and vice president of Academic Affairs.  “We are building on our tradition and heritage to do it.  We have the intellectual capacity to shift our learning from the needs of a knowledge economy paradigm to an entrepreneur and innovation paradigm.

“We began this shift several years ago,” Harris explained.  “This year we developed, designed and implemented a program that is cutting edge, current and like no other program in the nation -- 'Entrepreneurship Across the Curriculum' -- that involves the professional development of our entire faculty. 

The results will be a learning experience through the entire academic experience for all our students.  Our program develops a graduate who sees the world not only as a technical expert, but also as an innovator.  This program is supported by a $225,000 grant from the Kern Family Foundation,” Harris added.

“Our faculty and staff are the key," said Dr. Massoud Tavakoli, professor of Mechanical Engineering and the provost’s coordinator of Entrepreneurship and Innovation.  Kettering’s first cohort of 20 faculty members completed the first “Entrepreneurship Across the Curriculum” workshop on June 10, a workshop that promises to be a national model for other universities. 

Next, these faculty members will teach a module within a class that incorporates the workshop’s concepts, followed by an assessment of the student learning from that module.  The second workshop will start in July. 

“Our vision is to continue these workshops until the majority of Kettering faculty and staff members have been exposed to the value of an entrepreneurial mindset,” Tavakoli added.

“Twenty faculty members have already come together to collaborate on changing the campus mindset,” said Dr. William Riffe, professor of Manufacturing Engineering and the program administrator for “Entrepreneurship Across the Curriculum.” 

Riffe said in a few years no student will be able to complete their studies at Kettering without being exposed to entrepreneurship and innovation concepts multiple times during their college years.  “It’s a cultural shift that opens everyone’s eyes to the creative ways we can change our culture,” he said.

The first faculty cohort to complete an eight-week forum/workshop on “Entrepreneurship Across the Curriculum” include:

• Dr. Basem Alzahabi, Mechanical Engineering,

• Dr. Andy Borchers, Business,

• Dr. David Benson, Mechanical Engineering,

• Dr. Michael Callahan, Liberal Studies,

• Dr. Boyan Dimitrov, Mathematics,

• Dr. Ezekiel Gebissa, Liberal Studies,

• Dr. Doug Melton, Electrical and Computer Engineering,

• Dr. Juan Pimentel, Electrical and Computer Engineering,

• Dr. Badri Rao, Liberal Studies,

• Dr. Corneliu Rablau, Physics,

• Dr. William Riffe, Manufacturing Engineering and program administrator,

• Dr. Laura Rust, Electrical and Computer Engineering,

• Dr. W.L. Scheller, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering,

• Dr. Yuri Sikorski, Physics,

• Dr. Richard Stanley, Mechanical Engineering,

• Dr. Massoud Tavakoli, Mechanical Engineering and the Provost’s coordinator of Entrepreneurship and Innovation,

• Dr. Kevin TeBeest, Mathematics,

• Dr. Saroja Kanchi, Computer Science,

• Dr. Lihua Wang, Chemistry/Biochemistry and

• Dr. David Vineyard, Computer Science.

To read more, see “Pitching Innovation” at: http://www.kettering.edu/visitors/storydetail.jsp?storynum=2862

Written by Patricia Mroczek

810.762.9533

pmroczek@kettering.edu

Michael M. Wood, who is originally from Flint and is the former U.S. Ambassador to Sweden, will offer the Commencement address when Kettering University hosts graduation ceremonies at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 13.  The event is open to the public in the Connie and Jim John Recreation Center.

Kettering will graduate 198 undergraduate and 97 master’s candidates during graduation services.  About 180 undergraduates and 55 graduate students are expected to march at the ceremonies.  University President Stan Liberty will preside and Dr. Henry Kowalski, professor of Mechanical Engineering, will be the grand marshal.  Undergraduate student speaker will be Tyler Finnegan of Elyria, Ohio, who will earn a bachelor’s degree in Management. 

Here are the highlights of the upcoming ceremony:

Saturday, June 13, 2009, 11 a.m.
Connie and Jim John Recreation Center 
No tickets required to attend Commencement 
The event is free and open to the public
Allow 1 1/2 hours for the ceremony 
Presiding: Kettering University President Stan Liberty
Parking is free and available in all campus parking lots 
Information center will be located on the 1st floor of the CC (outside BJ's Lounge, behind the elevators) from 8:30 - 10:45 a.m.
There is no graduation rehearsal
Total graduates: 198 undergraduates, 97 master’s candidates 
Graduates expecting to march: 180 undergraduates, 55 graduate 
Expected number of guests: 1,600 
Faculty will host a light breakfast in the International Room, Fifth Floor of the Campus Center, 8:30-10 a.m. 
Recreation Center doors open at 9 a.m. for visitors to arrive and be seated 
Faculty and staff members assemble for the Processional between 10-10:55 a.m. in the Third Floor, Recreation Center 
Graduates assemble on the first floor of the Campus Center (just outside BJ's Lounge) between 10:30-10:55 a.m.  
Formal processional begins at 11 a.m.

HONORARY DEGREE RECIPIENT: 1
Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters
Michael M. Wood
Former U.S. Ambassador to Sweden
Chair, Redwood Investments, LLC 

Michael M. Wood is a son of Flint.  He grew up in the area and attended Flint’s Whittier Middle School.  After graduating from Yale University, he helped found the leading media company for the housing and construction industry.  His national service included organizing a housing industry round table in 1984 for U.S. President Ronald Reagan and representing the United States during the presidential inauguration in Ecuador in 2003.  In 2006, Mr. Wood was sworn in as the U.S. Ambassador to Sweden.  

Ambassador Wood was very helpful in developing the international collaboration between Kettering, Linkoping University in Sweden and others that is currently creating a waste-to-energy bio-methane center at Flint's wastewater treatment facility. Mr. Wood was also instrumental in hosting the royal visit of His Majesty Carl XVI Gustaf, King of Sweden, to campus on Sept. 26 last year.  Kettering will award Mr. Wood an honorary doctor of Humane Letters.  Read his bio (http://www.kettering.edu/visitors/storydetail.jsp?storynum=2882) and more about the “Crowning event” that brought a king to Kettering’s campus (http://www.kettering.edu/visitors/storydetail.jsp?storynum=2805). 

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT SPEAKER: 1

Tyler Finnegan of Elyria, Ohio, is the undergraduate student speaker and will offer comments on “Resilience and Revolution” to his graduating class.  He will receive a bachelor’s degree in Management.  His co-op was at Delphi Corporation.  He is a 2005 graduate of Elyria Catholic High School in Ohio.     

A student leader and outspoken advocate for cooperative education, he has often represented Kettering in the media, including being interviewed by the New York Times for a national news story on the University.  At Kettering, Finnegan has been involved in Robot Leadership Honor Society, he was president of the Professional Leadership Honor Society, director of KSG Academic Council, a team leader for Student Ambassadors, an RA in Thompson Hall, an active employee at the Recreation Center, a regular contributor to the SuccessZone incoming student portal as the StickMan, College DECA, and a volunteer in the Flint community as part of Junior Achievement and Michigan High School DECA.  He also has served on numerous committees including the Friends of the Library and Archives, Commencement Committee and the WAG-GPA Task Force.   

He has accepted a full-time job at Guardian Industries and will join its leadership development program in Geneva, N.Y. 

OUTSTANDING THESIS AWARD: 1
The Outstanding Thesis Award winner for Spring 2009 goes to Brian L. Dorney of Holly, Mich. He is an Applied Physics major, whose co-op was at Argonne National Laboratory in Argonne, Ill.  His thesis is "Hydrogen Storage by Adsorption in Polymer Materials.” His faculty adviser is Dr. Yuri Sikorski of Physics.  Dorney will be among those feted during the Commencement Honors Breakfast on June 13. 

PRESIDENT'S MEDAL WINNERS: 4
Willy Joseph, Freeport, Bahamas
Kelly Lynn Okapal, Sylvania, Ohio
Scott Michael Skelton, Belleville, Mich.
Abdrahamane Traore, Bamako, Mali, Africa

SOBEY SCHOLARS: 6
Willy Joseph, Freeport, Bahamas
Kelly Lynn Okapal, Sylvania, Ohio
Jarrad Pouncil, Flint, Mich.
Tracy Schmitz, Shelby Township, Mich.
Abdrahamane Traore, Bamako, Mali, Africa
Angela Tremble, Detroit, Mich. 

ACADEMIC HONORS:
Summa Cum Laude (97.0-100): 9
Magna Cum Laude (94.5-96.9):  18
Cum Laude (92-94.4): 28 

TOTAL GRADUATES, BY DEGREE:
Bachelor's Degrees
Applied Mathematics: 1
Applied Physics: 1
Biochemistry: 1
Business Administration: 4
Chemistry: 2
Computer Engineering:11
Computer Science: 2
Electrical Engineering: 31
Industrial Engineering: 20
Management: 4
Mechanical Engineering: 115
Dual Electrical Engineering and Applied Mathematics: 1
Dual Mechanical Engineering and Applied Physics: 2
Dual Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering: 2
Dual Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Engineering: 1
BACHELOR'S TOTAL = 198

Master's Degrees
Engineering: 23
Engineering Management: 6
Information Technology: 5
Manufacturing Management: 8
Manufacturing Operations: 38
MBA: 9
Operations Management: 6
Dual Engineering Management and MBA: 1
Dual Operations Management and Manufacturing Management: 1
MASTER'S TOTAL = 97

FOR MORE ON COMMENCEMENT, visit:
http://www.kettering.edu/registrar/commencement_information.jsp  

HOTELS/RESTAURANTS: Contact the Flint Area Convention and Visitors Bureau: 1-800-24-FLINT or (810) 232-2211.

CAN WE HELP? 1-800-955-4464, ext. 9585, or 810-762-9585. 

Written by Patricia Mroczek
810.762.9533
pmroczek@kettering.edu

The Michigan Small Business and Technology Development Center (MI-SBTDC) has teamed with the Genesee/Shiawassee Michigan Works-Career Alliance to bring the FastTrac® NewVenture™ entrepreneurship training course to displaced workers in mid-Michigan.

The six-week program will be held at Kettering University, corner of Chevrolet and University Avenues on Tuesdays from 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., May 26 through June 30. Registration is limited to 30 participants and the deadline to register is Tuesday, May 19. To register, visit www.misbtdc.org/training or call the Region 6 office of MI-SBTDC at 810-762-9660.   

Eligible dislocated workers will receive a 100 percent scholarship of the $700 tuition fee through “No Worker Left Behind” funding. Eligibility is determined by Michigan Works-Career Alliance and participants must be pre-registered. To determine eligibility, contact Carol Piesko at the Flint Career Alliance office, 810-233-5974, ext. 348.  Eligible participants must complete an orientation on Tuesday, May 19, from 2-4 p.m. at the Michigan Works-Career Alliance office at 711 N. Saginaw in Flint. 

The training is also open to anyone interested in completing a comprehensive business planning course, is appropriate for early stage businesses as well as pre-start planning, and limited scholarship assistance is available through other sponsorships. The sessions will be facilitated by Harry Blecker and Marsha Lyttle of the Region 6 MI-SBTDC. 

The course offers a ten-step planning process covered in six weeks, in which participants will develop their business concept. Readings and research, activities and action steps in and out of class will guide entrepreneurs to plan and analyze their business vision by creating a thoroughly researched and actionable business plan. It offers non-traditional, experiential learning with hands-on coaching sessions. Opportunities to network and learn from peers as well as the facilitator, business consultants, and guest speakers are a key part of the experience.

The NewVenture™ for Dislocated Workers program is a partnership with the Kauffman Foundation and the Michigan Small Business and Technology Development Center, whose headquarters are located at Grand Valley State University Seidman College of Business.

About MI-SBTDC:

The Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center provides counseling, training and advocacy for Michigan’s new business ventures, existing small businesses, expanding new businesses, new technology companies, and innovators. The MI-SBTDC is located at the Grand Valley State University Seidman College of Business in Grand Rapids, Michigan. As host of the MI-SBTDC State Headquarters, the Seidman College of Business oversees the twelve-region MI-SBTDC network. Entrepreneurs and small business owners may access the services of their nearest MI-SBTDC by calling (616) 331.7480 or visiting www.misbtdc.org.

And the winner is …. SweetPackageDude.com

Student Alex Dudick won the top prize of $1,000 during the 2009 Innovation Challenge at Kettering University.  His idea and video featured a concept for a college student registry called “SweetPackageDude.com.”

“It’s like a bridal registry for students to direct friends and family members to if they are interested in sending supplies, food or gifts that the student indicates is needed or desired,” said Dudick, a fourth year Mechanical Engineering student from South Lyon, Mich.

See SweetPackageDude.com and all the video pitches at the Kettering channel on YouTube.com at http://www.kettering.edu/orgs/kuinnovation/

The Innovation Challenge has two phases – innovation and commercialization, according to Art DeMonte, professor of Entrepreneurship at Kettering.  “Each phase is in separate teaching terms,” he said.

In the Commercialization Phase, students will provide more details on how to build their idea into a commercial opportunity and a video pitch, DeMonte said.  They will also submit a five-page executive summary that covers marketing and financial projections.

“We just love the Web 2.0 aspect of this,” DeMonte continued.  “The YouTube pitch and student voting made this a fun way to experiment with entrepreneurship and get students thinking how they can innovate, create and build a product or company.  Innovative thinking will make our graduates a very sought after commodity.” 

Two runner-up innovation pitches won $500 each. Uttam Dharanappa, an MBA student from Australia, pitched a free wireless service based on sponsored advertising –  called ZurfTurf.  Eric Binnendyk, a fourth year Mechanical Engineering student from Zeeland, Mich., pitched a free GPS navigation unit for autos – Nada Navigation – which would highlight sponsored locations in real time.

Honorable mentions went to FlexBooks team of Andrew Young and Mathieu Setliff, and Presence Sensing Technology in Automation Safety team of Chandramouli Venkatesan and Kevin LeCureux.

Kettering President Stan Liberty and Provost Michael Harris awarded the three top awards March 25 in the University’s Great Court of the Campus Center. 

For more information, contact Art DeMonte at ademonte@kettering.edu or Sunny Park at spark@kettering.edu

Bexar County, Texas, sits at the crossroads of trade.  The U.S. national freeway system Xs at San Antonio, logistically connecting the community from the Pacific to the Atlantic and from Mexico to Canada. The Texas railway network is robust, which is also part of why one of every six jobs created in the U.S. last year was created in Texas.  Texas has been the #1 exporting state in the nation for seven consecutive years.

Bexar County (pronounced “bear”) is big.  It’s the size of a small U.S. state and it’s very old (founded by Spain in the 1600s).  Yet, the average age of Texans (33) is younger than the U.S. national average (36 years old).

Bexar County’s manufacturing and business sectors have economic momentum, but the region needs more engineers and expert technical talent – lots of them, in fact, said David Marquez, executive director of Bexar County's Economic Development Department.

Paraphrasing former Texas demographer, Dr. Steve Murdoch, Marquez said, “the Texas of today is the U.S. tomorrow. Bexar County has a strong tax base and Texas and Northern Mexico are growth areas,” he explained.  “We have active manufacturing here and 200 OEM Tier 1 supplies in a nascent automotive manufacturing corridor that includes those Mexican states that border Texas.

"This Texas-Mexico Automotive SuperCluster has final assembly facilities from GM, Toyota, Chrysler, BAE Systems, Freightliner, Peterbilt and more.  Texas added 153,700 jobs in December 2007 to 2008.  And the Texas economy has out performed the national economy since 2005.”

But, Marquez said, San Antonio employers report a need for talent in five critical areas:

• Mechanical Engineers,
• Industrial Engineers,
• Manufacturing Engineers,
• Management specialists and
• Electro Mechanical experts.

“It’s stable here, with a bright future,” Marquez added.  “We can offer strength amid the recession, but we need to stop poaching trained workers from each other.  We need a larger educated workforce who will consider Texas home.”

San Antonio’s needs and opportunities have been keeping Kettering’s Bob Nichols busy for months.  Nichols, who is Kettering’s director of external affairs, has been meeting with Marquez, Kyle Burns, president and CEO of the Free Trade Alliance of San Antonio, and others to see how the region’s workforce needs can align with what Kettering has to offer.

Nichols started in Texas with focus group research conducted by Galloway Research Service of San Antonio.  “Pat Galloway completed a market research study among San Antonio’s key business and industry executives and found some very positive conclusions, worthy of further study,” Nichols explained.  Briefly:

• San Antonio has developed a large manufacturing base and has a notable number of large employers that are global leaders in their respective industries.
• The concentration of military bases in San Antonio has historically attracted various government contractors, with needs for a technically trained workforce in science, engineering and managerial positions. 
• The need for R &D in medical and manufacturing sectors has been growing and diversifying at a rapid pace in the region.  The need for highly educated science, technical and engineering personnel far exceeds the community’s ability to supply them locally.

Employers in the research study said that the need for technically educated personnel will continue to grow over the next five to 10 years, and that an annual growth rate of 300 to 400 new jobs was conservative, Nichols reported.  Job growth in “hot sectors,” such as bio-technology and aerospace, will be much more rapid.  “Employers in our research study were unanimous in stating that they would prefer to recruit local personnel in the undergraduate fields they need,” Nichols added.

That’s why on March 16 the presidents of San Antonio College and Kettering, along with the vice chancellor of the Alamo Community Colleges in Texas, signed a fully articulated academic agreement to develop and build a stronger pool of technical talent for the San Antonio region
 
San Antonio College President Robert E. Zeigler joined Kettering President Stanley R. Liberty and Alamo Community Colleges Vice Chancellor for Economic & Workforce Development Federico Zaragoza in forming a unique academic partnership. 

The alliance is intended to ensure a smooth transition for San Antonio students, who will begin their college studies and co-op experiences locally and then transfer into the country’s most advanced professional co-operative education program.  Students will spend their first two years at San Antonio College and their final 2 ½ years in Kettering’s unique baccalaureate program.

"This partnership creates a collaborative model for a new concept in engineering education," said Zeigler.  "The joint efforts of community colleges and four-year institutions will produce adaptable 'industry-ready' engineers for the unpredictable 21st century economy."

Liberty said, "An alliance between San Antonio College and Kettering University will provide a unique educational opportunity for local students and an opportunity for San Antonio businesses to establish an early connection with local talent.  Kettering is very pleased to join with San Antonio College in this endeavor and looks forward to helping the region address its future technical workforce needs."

At Kettering, students will spend three months in academic classrooms and then return to Texas for three months to work in professional co-op jobs at a variety of San Antonio businesses.  Students are paid during their co-op terms.  At the end of the three months, students will return to Michigan to begin the three-month academic cycle again.

As the largest single-campus community college in Texas with more than 21,000 students, San Antonio College (SAC) is approved and accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Designated a Hispanic-Serving Institution, SAC is also one of the Alamo Community Colleges. 

The 2005 book "Enhancing the Community College Pathway to Engineering Careers" from the National Academy of Engineering and the National Research Council considers San Antonio College an exemplary institution and recognizes the college's engineering program.  In fact, with direction from Coordinator Dan G. Dimitriu, Ph.D., PE, SAC's Engineering program has more than doubled its enrollments in the last eight years from 230 students in fall 1999 to 489 students in fall 2007.  

Dimitriu also coordinates a summer bridge program for high school students interested in Engineering, and partners with industry and other universities to help students continue their education and ultimately embark on Engineering careers.  
 
Kettering University, founded in 1919, has long been a leader in the preparation of technical and managerial leaders for industry and society and is a national leader in professional co-operative education.  It is the only co-op school in the country that sends its entire student body into professional co-op jobs.  Income from the co-op term is a significant resource to help pay college expenses.  

For more on San Antonio College, visit www.accd.edu/sac/

Written by Patricia Mroczek

810.762.9533

pmroczek@kettering.edu