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
Awenate Cobbina, CEO - Bedrock Manufacturing Company & Chair, MEDC Executive Committee
From pro-sports to presidents, to a legal career to wearable fashion, MEDC’s Executive Committee Chairman Awenate Cobbina has had an exciting and eclectic career.
Dale A. Robertson, President and CEO – Grand Rapids Public Museum
The Grand Rapids Public Museum is changing the way people experience education. As the only XQ Super School in the Midwest, the museum is setting the pace to move and blend the future of knowledge jobs and sense of place.
Dave Lorenz, Vice President, Travel Michigan
Hear about Michigan’s roughly $22 billion tourism economy and the how the future is happening now, and maybe how Michigan is the “Alaska” of the Midwest!
Join our guest Dave Lorenz who serves as Vice President of Travel Michigan alongside our host Ed Clemente as they discuss the business of tourism and its economic impact in jobs, ROI and attraction for knowledge jobs. Dave also oversees the award-winning Pure Michigan tourism campaign, and his potential disruptions and trends for the future of his profession.
Randy Thelen, President & CEO - The Right Place
From Lake Erie to Lake Michigan, to the plains of Omaha and the Rocky Mountains of Denver, Randy Thelen has done Economic Development throughout, and listen now how he brings that expertise back to the Grand Rapids region.
Join Randy Thelen, President & CEO of The Right Place, and host Ed Clemente as they discuss the myriad of business projects going on in the Grand Rapids region. Hear about how greater Grand Rapids is Michigan’s second-largest city and a hub for research, innovation and a thriving regional economy. Randy has pretty good credentials in the Economic Development world with stints at Monroe’s EDO, MEDC, Lakeshore Advantage, Omaha’s EDO, and most recently in Denver. With all those varied places he has honed in on what it takes attract, retain, and expand commerce, and like-wise, talent.
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!
Chris MacInnes, President Crystal Enterprises, Inc.
“Learn about Chris MacInnes Interesting life journey and business devotion that brought her back to Michigan!”
Join Chris MacInnes, President Crystal Enterprises Inc, and host Ed Clemente, for a four seasons conversation on doing business with evolving challenges, with emphasis on the quality of life and the future. Chris is passionate about discussing the relations her business has with nature, design, and the family recreational experience for all ages! She has lived all around the U.S., east and west coasts, but she and her husband chose to live in Benzie County. Also, hear about the unique connection to the College for Creative Studies and the Legacy Art Park!
Olga Stella, Executive Director – Design Core Detroit & VP of Strategy and Communications – College of Creative Studies
Learn about the institution’s core mission, not only the aspirations for their students, but it’s fabled history in the automotive and design world.
Join Olga Stella, Executive Director, Design Core Detroit & VP of Strategy and Communications for the College of Creative Studies and host Ed Clemente, for a creative discussion on design, form & function, art, business, international footprint, and a rich learning history! The college educates visual artists and designers, knowledgeable in varied fields, who will be leaders in creative professions that shape society and advance economic growth. CCS alumni are entrepreneurs, they are working artists, Fortune 500 companies hire them, and the impact CCS alumni are making in the art/design world.
Robin Terry, Chairwoman & CEO, Motown Museum
“You’ll be “Dancing in the Streets”, when you hear the Motown story from Ester Gordy’s granddaughter Robin Terry, Chairwoman & CEO of the Motown Museum.”
Join Robin Terry, Chairwoman and CEO for Motown Museum, and host Ed Clemente as they talk about the exciting future of the Motown Museum and the bigger ecosystem it is creating. The Motown Museum is the ongoing heartbeat of the Motown legacy, a global tourist destination for music and history fans that celebrates their story, from the humble beginnings to its emergence as the “sound of young America." Learn about the exciting 50,000 ft. Motown Museum expansion and the $55 million dollar expansion program and how you can be a part of it, as well as the economic impact it will have for Detroit and Michigan’s youth, entrepreneurship, innovation, performing artists, academics, and even the fresh new campus, while preserving the architectural history. Learn about some of the organizations who have helped make this possible including, Berry Gordy, Ford Motor Co/UAW Ford, Ballmer Group, Kellogg Foundation, William Davidson Foundation and many more. Plus, hear about all the legacy artists: The Supremes, Smokey Robinson, Funk Brothers, Temptations, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, etc.
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.
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.