The Michigan Opportunity Podcast

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.

Kevin Johnson, President and CEO, Detroit Economic Growth Corporation

Detroit Economic Growth Corporation: Find out why Kevin Johnson is up to the challenge of advancing the economy for all residents.

Kevin Johnson is the President and CEO of the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation. The mission of the DEGC is to design and implement innovative solutions that attract investment, create jobs and advance Detroit’s economy for all residents. Join Kevin and host Ed Clemente to learn about neighborhood small-business growth, the new Stellantis/Fiat Chrysler Detroit Assembly Complex, Buy Detroit, international economic strategies and Detroit Means Business. He will also get into what the International Economic Development Council is, and his definition of what economic development means to compete. Overall, a very substantial and visionary discussion on Detroit and more!

Marty Fittante, CEO, Invest UP

Invest UP has a big job bringing prosperity to the 15 counties of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Hear how they’re doing it from the iron range to the Soo Locks!

Martin (Marty) Fittante is the Chief Executive Officer for InvestUP. InvestUP is the lead regional economic development organization for Michigan's Upper Peninsula, with the mission of driving prosperity across the entire region through collaboration, proactively leveraging relationships, and thoughtful leadership aimed at producing results. Join host Ed Clemente for a conversation with Marty about all the unique opportunities involved by attracting, retaining, creating and expanding industries with intellectual property for talent infrastructure, defense, medical devices, electronics and pharma. With support from several Economic Development Organizations and partners, InvestUP is improving internet access, creating higher education, leveraging natural resources, promoting tourism and much more. Also, find out what is going on at the Soo Locks, and the other former military air bases. Either way, the UP has lot going on!