The Michigan Opportunity Podcast

Chetan Koradia (CK), Chief Executive Officer & Founder, Transphere Inc. and Pranadhi Koradia, Chief Operating Officer & Owner, Transphere Inc.

Join guests Chetan and Pranadhi Koradia, a father and daughter team who manage Transphere Inc., as they discuss the interesting world of international trade through their 2nd generation minority and woman-owned freight-forwarding and logistics company.

Jeff Thompson, Partner/Product Design Engineer and co-founder, Shaggy's Copper Country Skis

Listen to Jeff Thompson, Co-Founder of Shaggy's Copper Country Skis, and host Ed Clemente, explore the unique ski manufacturer and how the Thompson family keeps their heritage alive in Boyne City, Michigan. 

Gina Thorsen CEO and Co-Owner, Jacquart Fabric Products, home of Stormy Kromer

Join Gina Thorsen CEO and Co-Owner, Jacquart Fabric Products, home of Stormy Kromer hats, and host Ed Clemente, as they discuss this fascinating unique manufacturing and outdoor recreation industry that makes much more than hats. 

Josh Freeney, Partner YETi CGI, Grand Rapids Public Museum

YETi, not the mythologic Himalayan creature, but a global CGI company based in Grand Rapids. Yeti is active with recruiting talent to Michigan and reimagining education with the Grand Rapids Public Museum.

Jonathan Quarles, Founder and CEO – BTL Group & Quartz Water Source

Who is a serial entrepreneur, angel investor, founder and CEO of two companies, author, global connector, and runs a foundation for entrepreneurial high school kids? Jonathon Quarles “JQ”, that's who!

Dawn Batts, Capital Strategist - TechTown Detroit

The quest for 200 new diverse angels are being recruited in the great lakes area, out of Detroit’s TechTown, and a little anthropology to boot!

Join our guest Dawn Batts, Capital Strategist at TechTown Detroit and host Ed Clemente as they discuss angel investors, and the diverse community of investors who seed scalable consumer, enterprise and life science companies. Dawn has an experienced background in finance and anthropology and is a co-founder of Commune Angels. Learn how she is using her experience to find 200 new angels in the great lakes area.

Wafa Dinaro, Executive Director - New Economy Initiative

13 foundations help fund the New Economy Initiative, find out how Wafa Dinaro’s international path has positioned her to be its new leader! Join our guest Wafa Dinaro, Executive Director for the New Economy Initiative, and host Ed Clemente as she explains this unique foundation and how its mission assists small businesses and much more.

The New Economy Initiative (NEI) is a philanthropic collaboration and special project of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan working to build a regional network of support for entrepreneurs and small businesses. Their mission is to grow an inclusive culture of entrepreneurship in southeast Michigan that benefits all residents and strengthens the regional economy. Wafa has had an exciting career path from Dearborn, to the state legislature, to federal government, as well as international work and economic development with Wayne County Executive, Warren C. Evans.

Brandee Cooke-Brown, Executive Director - 100K Ideas

Learn about this unique organization helping Flintstones and other to reach their full potential in innovation and entrepreneurship through a series of sector partnerships. 

Join our guest Brandee Cooke-Brown who is the Executive Director of 100K Ideas, and host Ed Clemente as they discuss how to really assist innovation and entrepreneurship in Flint. 100K Ideas a non-profit with the mission to assist innovators and entrepreneurs move their ideas forward. They are a community of hobbyists, thinkers, and inventors with the mission of helping passionate innovators create products, services and startups of their own through mentorship. Learn about how they assist in: benchmarks, trademark, patent and domain searches, market trends/analytics, purchaser and end user information. Also learn a little about AmeriCorps and how its changing people’s lives, including Brandee's. You can also read the transcript from our conversation.

Denise Graves, University Relations Director at MEDC

Hear MEDC expert Denise Graves on entrepreneurship, innovation, university tech transfer and much more in this unique space driving Michigan forward for talent, higher education and business creation.

Join Denise Graves, University Relations Director at Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), and host Ed Clemente as they dive into the complex but rewarding world of tech transfer. In her role, she interacts with Michigan’s 15 public universities, key entrepreneurial stakeholders and investors, to manage statewide programs that support collaboration and the commercialization of early-stage technology. She shares how university professors and the private sector work together for innovation. Learn about her recent appointment to a key group at Ferris State University.

Michelle Grinnell - MEDC Senior Vice-President & Host Ed Clemente, Senior Advisor for Trends and Development

The Michigan Opportunity Podcast is celebrating it’s one year anniversary! Join Michelle Grinnell, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications for MEDC who puts Ed on the hot seat with a ‘year in review.’

Join Michelle Grinnell, MEDC Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications as she grills host Ed Clemente about the 50+ economic development guests over the last year. Though Ed has a very nontraditional background, it “uniquely” compliments MEDC’s The Michigan Opportunity Podcast. Learn the sage advice from the many economic development guests, especially in areas of their unique career paths, their elevator speeches, future trends and disrupters, career advice and what they like best about Pure Michigan. Listen to the many stories of the Michigan geographic ecosystems and trends observed over the year such as: variety small business, connectivity, mobility, talent, higher education, finance, Industry 4.0, digital nomads, supply/block chain, edge computing, international footprints, digital nomads, BIO R&D, infrastructure, CED and what Michigan could look like by 2050! And so much more!