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
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!
Jennifer Owens - President, Lakeshore Advantage
What is up on Lake Michigan? The Lakeshore Advantage. See how they are helping West Michigan businesses in Allegan and Ottawa Counties.
Jennifer Owens is the President of Lakeshore Advantage, a non-profit economic development organization that connects businesses to the resources they need to grow in Allegan and Ottawa Counties. With host Ed Clemente, they discuss the ecosystem of advanced energy her team has been cultivating, other manufacturing industries as well as Opportunity Zones, Gentex, workforce and entrepreneurship. Jennifer has a strong pedigree in economic development, as well as a well-rounded career, strong internal and leadership teams, and partners to help make Lakeshore Advantage a successful organization.
Eric Frederick, Vice President of Community Affairs, Connected Nation Michigan
What do global nomads, the digital divide, Starlink & health care have in common? Connected Nation Michigan ties them all together
Executive Director, Connected Nation Michigan Eric Fredrick takes us into the exciting new world economy of how we will be connected for many of our daily activities in the near future. He explains how in the last year this industry has accelerated, and how digital connections impact us all. He discusses the highlights of the growing glossary of connectivity and how we build this out to rural and urban settings alike. Learn a little bit about Digital Nomads, telemedicine, Starlink, broadband, business & workforce opportunities and many other interesting topics.
Maureen Donohue Krauss, President and CEO, Detroit Regional Partnership
How the Detroit Regional Partnership has taken 11 Southeast Michigan counties and is marketing them globally for economic prosperity.
Chief Executive Officer of the Detroit Regional Partnership Maureen Donohue Krauss takes us on tour of what makes up the "Detroit advantage" of how marketing the region to out-of-state and international companies to attract investments and jobs. Find out how it was created, and the stakeholders involved and how it serves Southeast Michigan’s 11-county region. She provides a few anecdotal stories to show the unique process of economic development in action.
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.