Karin Connelly Rice
Stories by: Karin Connelly Rice
Karin Connelly Rice enjoys telling people's stories, whether it's a promising startup or a life's passion. Over the past 30 years she has reported on local community members and businesses for publications such as Inside Business, Cleveland Magazine, the Rocky River/Lakewood edition of In the Neighborhood, and the Amherst News-Times. At Fresh Water Rice focuses on Clevelanders who are shaping and embracing Cleveland—especially those making positive changes in the city's underserved neighborhoods.
As local artists with a common love of vintage art tools, friends Jamye Jamison, Elizabeth Emery and Wendy Partridge decided there was a need for some uniquely Cleveland promotional goods. So they formed CLE Collectiv, which produces a line of handmade note cards that celebrate all things Cleveland.
The trio creates the cards at Zygote Press using handset, vintage metal and wood type printing materials on 1950s-era Vandercook proofing presses. The cards are two-color and they can print up to 350 cards in one print run. All the paper is sourced from off-cuts that would otherwise be thrown away. Cards are folded and assembled by hand.
“We kind of started it as a little bit of a hobby,” says Jamison. “Just because we felt there was a void of interesting letterpress cards about Cleveland."
Current designs include “CLE - the place to be,” “CLE - full city, half price,” “I (heart) Cleveland” and “Cleveland - gentrify this!” Due out in June are “West Side Market - makin' bacon since 1912”
and “Cleveland - it grows on you.”
“We’ve been trying to come up with funny, quirky sayings about Cleveland, whether positive or poking sly fun at the city,” says Jamison.
The different cards feature vintage images found at Zygote, such as the Terminal Tower from around the time it was built, or a Tremont steel mill.
The cards are $5 each, three for $14 or 5 for $20. They are available at CLE Clothing Co., duoHOME, Heights Arts, Room Service, and Zygote Press. They can also be found on the CLE Collectiv Etsy page.
Source: Jamye Jamison
Writer: Karin Connelly
The trio creates the cards at Zygote Press using handset, vintage metal and wood type printing materials on 1950s-era Vandercook proofing presses. The cards are two-color and they can print up to 350 cards in one print run. All the paper is sourced from off-cuts that would otherwise be thrown away. Cards are folded and assembled by hand.
“We kind of started it as a little bit of a hobby,” says Jamison. “Just because we felt there was a void of interesting letterpress cards about Cleveland."
Current designs include “CLE - the place to be,” “CLE - full city, half price,” “I (heart) Cleveland” and “Cleveland - gentrify this!” Due out in June are “West Side Market - makin' bacon since 1912”
and “Cleveland - it grows on you.”
“We’ve been trying to come up with funny, quirky sayings about Cleveland, whether positive or poking sly fun at the city,” says Jamison.
The different cards feature vintage images found at Zygote, such as the Terminal Tower from around the time it was built, or a Tremont steel mill.
The cards are $5 each, three for $14 or 5 for $20. They are available at CLE Clothing Co., duoHOME, Heights Arts, Room Service, and Zygote Press. They can also be found on the CLE Collectiv Etsy page.
Source: Jamye Jamison
Writer: Karin Connelly
MedWish International, a Cleveland company that recycles medical supplies and equipment discarded by local hospitals, medical device companies and individuals by redistributing them to developing nations in desperate need of such items, won the $100,000 technology upgrade grand prize in Toshiba’s Helping the Helpers Technology Makeover.
MedWish beat out 150 U.S. non-profit charities by submitting a two-minute video to Toshiba for Good Facebook page, explaining how they would benefit from a technology makeover. Finalists and the winner were decided by a nationwide vote of Facebook users who watched the videos.
“All of the Helping the Helpers contest finalists were worthy organizations that we felt were deserving of the technology makeover,” says Bill Melo, vice president of marketing, services and solutions, Toshiba America Business Solutions. “MedWish’s video excelled at meeting the criteria we established for the contest, but it was our 10,000-plus fans on Facebook who ultimately decided on MedWish as the grand prize winner.”
MedWish will receive Toshiba products and services that include new color multifunction copiers, desktop computers, laptops, televisions, camcorders, telephone systems and energy-saving LED light bulbs. Also included is the Encompass fleet optimization program -- an analysis that will help uncover hidden cost savings throughout the workplace.
“Honestly, this prize will allow MedWish to focus more on our work of saving lives and conserving our environment, and less on unjamming printers and dealing with ancient computers,” says Matthew Fieldman, MedWish director of development. “Even the little details can make a big difference; like now we can show our orientation video, which is seen by over 2,000 volunteers annually, on an HD television instead of a TV from the 1980s.”
MedWish recruited its network of the 5,300 people on its email list, including over 3,500 past volunteers, to vote for them and ultimately win the contest.
Source: Matthew Feldman, Bill Melo
Writer: Karin Connelly
MedWish beat out 150 U.S. non-profit charities by submitting a two-minute video to Toshiba for Good Facebook page, explaining how they would benefit from a technology makeover. Finalists and the winner were decided by a nationwide vote of Facebook users who watched the videos.
“All of the Helping the Helpers contest finalists were worthy organizations that we felt were deserving of the technology makeover,” says Bill Melo, vice president of marketing, services and solutions, Toshiba America Business Solutions. “MedWish’s video excelled at meeting the criteria we established for the contest, but it was our 10,000-plus fans on Facebook who ultimately decided on MedWish as the grand prize winner.”
MedWish will receive Toshiba products and services that include new color multifunction copiers, desktop computers, laptops, televisions, camcorders, telephone systems and energy-saving LED light bulbs. Also included is the Encompass fleet optimization program -- an analysis that will help uncover hidden cost savings throughout the workplace.
“Honestly, this prize will allow MedWish to focus more on our work of saving lives and conserving our environment, and less on unjamming printers and dealing with ancient computers,” says Matthew Fieldman, MedWish director of development. “Even the little details can make a big difference; like now we can show our orientation video, which is seen by over 2,000 volunteers annually, on an HD television instead of a TV from the 1980s.”
MedWish recruited its network of the 5,300 people on its email list, including over 3,500 past volunteers, to vote for them and ultimately win the contest.
Source: Matthew Feldman, Bill Melo
Writer: Karin Connelly
The Downtown Cleveland Alliance (DCA), a civic education and engagement program, named 17 new city advocates for 2012. “It’s a chance to know the Downtown Cleveland Alliance and get the inside scoop on what’s going on downtown,” explains Laura Kushnick, DCA’s director of development and community relations.
The advocates serve a two-year term. They have access to DCA staff and community leaders to learn what it takes to facilitate civic change in the city. The advocates are encouraged to bring their own ideas to the table. Past projects have included happy hours and social events, building playgrounds and dog parks, and updating the city’s Wikipedia pages.
“There are a whole range of things people do,” says Kushnick. “We try to encourage people to be ambitious, but think about what they can do in small groups. We really view the program as an opportunity to learn what it takes to get things done.”
This is the fourth class in the program. Applicants come from all walks of life. “We cast as wide a net as we can” says Kushnick. “We put the word out through young professional groups. We try to assemble a strong group of people with a wide array of interests and professional backgrounds. Most of the advocates either work or live downtown.”
The 17 members were selected by a committee of DCA staff and board members who reviewed the written applications and interviewed a group of 30 finalists. They join 11 current advocates who are in their second year.
Source: Laura Kushnick
Writer: Karin Connelly
The advocates serve a two-year term. They have access to DCA staff and community leaders to learn what it takes to facilitate civic change in the city. The advocates are encouraged to bring their own ideas to the table. Past projects have included happy hours and social events, building playgrounds and dog parks, and updating the city’s Wikipedia pages.
“There are a whole range of things people do,” says Kushnick. “We try to encourage people to be ambitious, but think about what they can do in small groups. We really view the program as an opportunity to learn what it takes to get things done.”
This is the fourth class in the program. Applicants come from all walks of life. “We cast as wide a net as we can” says Kushnick. “We put the word out through young professional groups. We try to assemble a strong group of people with a wide array of interests and professional backgrounds. Most of the advocates either work or live downtown.”
The 17 members were selected by a committee of DCA staff and board members who reviewed the written applications and interviewed a group of 30 finalists. They join 11 current advocates who are in their second year.
Source: Laura Kushnick
Writer: Karin Connelly
Urban Community School's science lab made a move into the 21st century last week thanks to a $22,000 grant from Cargill Incorporated that provided 12 MacBook computers and a Promethean ActivBoard. The equipment provides interactive learning skills to help prepare the school’s fifth through eighth graders for when they move on to area high schools.
“It’s technology that many kids are exposed to,” says Sr. Maureen Doyle, director of Urban Community School. “Our kids are thoroughly engaged in science activities using this ActivBoard. These are tools the kids know how to use, and will need to know how to use in high school.”
Cargill made the donation after touring the school last year, which focuses on a Montessori model of individualized teaching for low-income students. “Cargill is a great neighbor to many people, and a great organization that does outreach,” says Doyle. “They are concerned about the environment and they are also concerned about education.”
Ninety-two percent of Urban Community School graduates go on to graduate from high school, and 60 percent continue on to college.
So far the students have embraced the new technology. “They all love it,” Doyle says. “The kids are very favorable to it. It’s a great learning opportunity for them. They are engaged, and that’s key.”
Source: Maureen Doyle
Writer: Karin Connelly
“It’s technology that many kids are exposed to,” says Sr. Maureen Doyle, director of Urban Community School. “Our kids are thoroughly engaged in science activities using this ActivBoard. These are tools the kids know how to use, and will need to know how to use in high school.”
Cargill made the donation after touring the school last year, which focuses on a Montessori model of individualized teaching for low-income students. “Cargill is a great neighbor to many people, and a great organization that does outreach,” says Doyle. “They are concerned about the environment and they are also concerned about education.”
Ninety-two percent of Urban Community School graduates go on to graduate from high school, and 60 percent continue on to college.
So far the students have embraced the new technology. “They all love it,” Doyle says. “The kids are very favorable to it. It’s a great learning opportunity for them. They are engaged, and that’s key.”
Source: Maureen Doyle
Writer: Karin Connelly
Ohio City Inc. was named the inaugural winner of the Enterprise Community Innovation Awards, held on Tuesday, March 6 at CSU’s Levin College of Urban Affairs. The event, hosted by Enterprise Community Partners, which helps find affordable housing options, was sponsored through KeyBank. It was designed to recognize organizations creating new and lasting community development solutions in Greater Cleveland.
Ohio City received a $25,000 grant to support its Market District Initiative, which promotes the growth of smaller businesses throughout the West Side Market neighborhood. The initiative targets investment in local artisan businesses and leverages the local food movement through the re-development of vacant land.
Four finalists were chosen by a panel of judges from 11 submissions. The other three finalists were the city of South Euclid for its green neighborhoods initiative, CWRU’s Center on Urban Poverty and Community Development’s neighborhood stabilization web application developed to help with the foreclosure crisis, and Western Reserve Revitalization Management Corporation’s Kinsman neighborhood revitalization plan.
"There was pretty clear agreement that these were the four best programs based on criteria for innovation, leadership and impact on the community," says Mark McDermott, Ohio director of Enterprise. "We were excited to see that there was a diversity of organizations around the issues."
The four finalists are good examples of work that can be duplicated in similar neighborhoods. “We were glad to find projects we could hold up to the community at large and say, ‘here are solutions to some of the most challenging problems and they can be replicated in the community,” says McDermott.
Source: Mark McDermott
Writer: Karin Connelly
Ohio City received a $25,000 grant to support its Market District Initiative, which promotes the growth of smaller businesses throughout the West Side Market neighborhood. The initiative targets investment in local artisan businesses and leverages the local food movement through the re-development of vacant land.
Four finalists were chosen by a panel of judges from 11 submissions. The other three finalists were the city of South Euclid for its green neighborhoods initiative, CWRU’s Center on Urban Poverty and Community Development’s neighborhood stabilization web application developed to help with the foreclosure crisis, and Western Reserve Revitalization Management Corporation’s Kinsman neighborhood revitalization plan.
"There was pretty clear agreement that these were the four best programs based on criteria for innovation, leadership and impact on the community," says Mark McDermott, Ohio director of Enterprise. "We were excited to see that there was a diversity of organizations around the issues."
The four finalists are good examples of work that can be duplicated in similar neighborhoods. “We were glad to find projects we could hold up to the community at large and say, ‘here are solutions to some of the most challenging problems and they can be replicated in the community,” says McDermott.
Source: Mark McDermott
Writer: Karin Connelly
Local jobs in the biomedical field are plenty and area companies are having trouble finding qualified people to fill them. To help remedy that, Global Cleveland and BioEnterprise have teamed up to host a virtual biomedical job fair March 26-30 to attract talented people in the field to the region.
“One of the consistent complaints we hear is that small and large biomedical companies in the region are not getting enough talent to meet their growth desires,” says Baiju Shah, president and CEO of BioEnterprise. “There are many, many open positions.”
Interested candidates from around the country can register for the job fair and create a profile. Participants can then log in during the fair to search available openings. The fair is free for attendees. Twenty four employers will be participating.
“What we have designed here is an attempt to attract people from around the country,” says Shah. "We thought it was an incredibly important to present a holistic picture of the industry.”
Global Cleveland plans to host similar events in the IT software, financial services and healthcare fields.
"The region is rife with opportunity,” says Shah. “We want to create a momentum, if not a stampede, of individuals returning to Cleveland to take these positions.”
Source: Baiju Shah
Writer: Karin Connelly
“One of the consistent complaints we hear is that small and large biomedical companies in the region are not getting enough talent to meet their growth desires,” says Baiju Shah, president and CEO of BioEnterprise. “There are many, many open positions.”
Interested candidates from around the country can register for the job fair and create a profile. Participants can then log in during the fair to search available openings. The fair is free for attendees. Twenty four employers will be participating.
“What we have designed here is an attempt to attract people from around the country,” says Shah. "We thought it was an incredibly important to present a holistic picture of the industry.”
Global Cleveland plans to host similar events in the IT software, financial services and healthcare fields.
"The region is rife with opportunity,” says Shah. “We want to create a momentum, if not a stampede, of individuals returning to Cleveland to take these positions.”
Source: Baiju Shah
Writer: Karin Connelly
Freshbag, which offers corporate wellness programs and an online fresh foods-shopping and delivery service, is growing faster than founders Ian Wong and Max Wilberding anticipated. The company is adding to its current six pickup locations and forming new partnerships.
Later this month, Freshbag will add 1-2-1 Fitness, on the Case campus, as a new pick up location. Wong says more locations are in the works. Furthermore, the company is expanding its chef repertoire with Scott Groth of the Chubby Cook and his network of chefs. Freshbag hosts events that illustrate how healthy foods can also taste good, and wellness nutrition events that bring dietitians and chefs on site with tips and cooking classes.
Wong is thrilled with how their concept has taken off. "We certainly weren't expecting to grow this rapidly,” he says. “But the way we see it: it takes a long time to reach a critical mass, but once we get there, things start running faster and faster.”
Freshbag is also looking for an operations and logistics specialist to handle acquisitions operations (finding ways to become more efficient), and deliveries.
Source: Ian Wong
Writer: Karin Connelly
Later this month, Freshbag will add 1-2-1 Fitness, on the Case campus, as a new pick up location. Wong says more locations are in the works. Furthermore, the company is expanding its chef repertoire with Scott Groth of the Chubby Cook and his network of chefs. Freshbag hosts events that illustrate how healthy foods can also taste good, and wellness nutrition events that bring dietitians and chefs on site with tips and cooking classes.
Wong is thrilled with how their concept has taken off. "We certainly weren't expecting to grow this rapidly,” he says. “But the way we see it: it takes a long time to reach a critical mass, but once we get there, things start running faster and faster.”
Freshbag is also looking for an operations and logistics specialist to handle acquisitions operations (finding ways to become more efficient), and deliveries.
Source: Ian Wong
Writer: Karin Connelly
OnShift Software, a leader in web-based staff scheduling and shift management software for the healthcare industry, closed $3 million in series B financing. The funding will help OnShift meet the rising demand to manage healthcare costs.
OnShift is experiencing fast, significant growth, having achieved a 400 percent increase in annual revenue in 2011. The company’s customer base has surged to more than 600 in the past year. The funding will be used to accelerate OnShift’s sales and marketing strategies and expand its presence in the healthcare industry.
“The healthcare market is under a lot of pressure to get costs under control,” says OnShift CEO Mark Woodka. “Our customers need to manage their labor costs in long-term care and senior living. That collection of customers is primarily doing it manually. This funding will allow us to meet the demand, accelerate our growth and continue to deliver world class, innovative solutions to our healthcare clients.”
With OnShift, providers control labor costs by preventing overtime, managing open shifts, and operating with appropriate staffing levels
OnShift has 36 employees and plans to grow to 55 or 60 this year.
Source: Mark Woodka
Writer: Karin Connelly
OnShift is experiencing fast, significant growth, having achieved a 400 percent increase in annual revenue in 2011. The company’s customer base has surged to more than 600 in the past year. The funding will be used to accelerate OnShift’s sales and marketing strategies and expand its presence in the healthcare industry.
“The healthcare market is under a lot of pressure to get costs under control,” says OnShift CEO Mark Woodka. “Our customers need to manage their labor costs in long-term care and senior living. That collection of customers is primarily doing it manually. This funding will allow us to meet the demand, accelerate our growth and continue to deliver world class, innovative solutions to our healthcare clients.”
With OnShift, providers control labor costs by preventing overtime, managing open shifts, and operating with appropriate staffing levels
OnShift has 36 employees and plans to grow to 55 or 60 this year.
Source: Mark Woodka
Writer: Karin Connelly
Thanks to a grant from the Cleveland Foundation, the Cleveland Public Library has plans to open six new learning centers that will serve patrons of all ages. A $162,000 grant from the Cleveland Foundation will help fund the learning centers, which will be established at the Fleet, Fulton, Sterling, Collinwood, Eastman and Langston Hughes library branches.
“I’m really excited about the learning centers,” says CPL executive director Felton Thomas. “We looked at two components: The mornings will be available for our youngest children and parents to help learn language, while adults looking for jobs and doing their resumes or getting their GEDs can use the centers in the afternoons.”
The centers will also offer homework help, tutoring and college prep classes. The learning center locations were chosen based on community involvement and interest. “We really looked for communities that had high participation in the homework help,” says Thomas.
To best meet the technology gap many patrons face, each center will provide new laptop computers for onsite use. CPL will team with key educational partners including Cleveland State University, Cleveland Institute of Music, and The Music Settlement to help provide tutoring and literacy focused programming.
The new centers are modeled after the existing Rice Branch Learning Center, which served nearly 1,200 students in the homework lab in 2011. The new centers will serve over 5,000 children and young people across the city.
Source: Felton Thomas
Writer: Karin Connelly
“I’m really excited about the learning centers,” says CPL executive director Felton Thomas. “We looked at two components: The mornings will be available for our youngest children and parents to help learn language, while adults looking for jobs and doing their resumes or getting their GEDs can use the centers in the afternoons.”
The centers will also offer homework help, tutoring and college prep classes. The learning center locations were chosen based on community involvement and interest. “We really looked for communities that had high participation in the homework help,” says Thomas.
To best meet the technology gap many patrons face, each center will provide new laptop computers for onsite use. CPL will team with key educational partners including Cleveland State University, Cleveland Institute of Music, and The Music Settlement to help provide tutoring and literacy focused programming.
The new centers are modeled after the existing Rice Branch Learning Center, which served nearly 1,200 students in the homework lab in 2011. The new centers will serve over 5,000 children and young people across the city.
Source: Felton Thomas
Writer: Karin Connelly
Global Cleveland officially opened its Welcome Hub doors in February with the goal of attracting new residents to town over the next 10 years. The center opened on February 7 with a ribbon cutting ceremony at its home on 200 Public Square.
"The opening of the Welcome Hub is an important milestone for Global Cleveland. Our objective is to attract 100,000 newcomers in the next 10 years," says Global Cleveland president Larry Miller. "It is important to us that there be a place where we can meet newcomers face-to-face and say 'Welcome, you've come to the right place.' We will use the space to help newcomers find resources that can help them as they look for employment and a place to live in our region."
Global Cleveland has seven full-time employees and four part-time consultants. The number of volunteers will fluctuate depending on programming. A partnership has been reached with Cleveland Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) to staff the Welcome Hub during strategic business hours.
Hopes are the Welcome Hub will serve as the gateway to new business and growth in the area.
"Strong and growing companies in the region are drawing talent to the area," says Miller. "We want to work with our employers to help make the region attractive to the candidates they need to hire. Cleveland is becoming very attractive, especially to people who live in large urban areas in the East, such as New York. As these people start to learn more and visit the area, it is important that we are ready to reach out to them, provide them with information and resources, and help them connect with Cleveland."
Source: Larry Miller
Writer: Karin Connelly
"The opening of the Welcome Hub is an important milestone for Global Cleveland. Our objective is to attract 100,000 newcomers in the next 10 years," says Global Cleveland president Larry Miller. "It is important to us that there be a place where we can meet newcomers face-to-face and say 'Welcome, you've come to the right place.' We will use the space to help newcomers find resources that can help them as they look for employment and a place to live in our region."
Global Cleveland has seven full-time employees and four part-time consultants. The number of volunteers will fluctuate depending on programming. A partnership has been reached with Cleveland Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) to staff the Welcome Hub during strategic business hours.
Hopes are the Welcome Hub will serve as the gateway to new business and growth in the area.
"Strong and growing companies in the region are drawing talent to the area," says Miller. "We want to work with our employers to help make the region attractive to the candidates they need to hire. Cleveland is becoming very attractive, especially to people who live in large urban areas in the East, such as New York. As these people start to learn more and visit the area, it is important that we are ready to reach out to them, provide them with information and resources, and help them connect with Cleveland."
Source: Larry Miller
Writer: Karin Connelly
Photo: Bob Perkoski
NorTech has announced 14 finalists in its 12th annual Innovation Awards. The winners will be announced at a ceremony on Thursday, March 22 at LaCentre in Westlake.
The awards, which for the past four years have been co-sponsored with Crain’s Cleveland Business, honors the top innovations in technologies such as advanced energy, advanced materials, bioscience, flexible electronics and instrument controls.
“The NorTech Innovation Awards showcase breakthrough technologies being developed and commercialized in Northeast Ohio,” says Rebecca O. Bagley, NorTech president and CEO. “We believe these innovations will have a positive impact on the region’s economy through job creation, capital attraction and overall business growth. Ultimately, the organizations being recognized this year are laying the foundation for a strong economic future for our region.”
NorTech received more than 40 applications this year. A panel of nine judges will evaluate the finalists on creativity, feasibility and triple bottom line impact. South estimates nine winners will be chosen. The panel of judges is selected to represent a broad range of expertise from academia, venture capital, private industry and economic development from throughout the Northeast Ohio region.
Source: Rebecca Bagley
Writer: Karin Connelly
The awards, which for the past four years have been co-sponsored with Crain’s Cleveland Business, honors the top innovations in technologies such as advanced energy, advanced materials, bioscience, flexible electronics and instrument controls.
“The NorTech Innovation Awards showcase breakthrough technologies being developed and commercialized in Northeast Ohio,” says Rebecca O. Bagley, NorTech president and CEO. “We believe these innovations will have a positive impact on the region’s economy through job creation, capital attraction and overall business growth. Ultimately, the organizations being recognized this year are laying the foundation for a strong economic future for our region.”
NorTech received more than 40 applications this year. A panel of nine judges will evaluate the finalists on creativity, feasibility and triple bottom line impact. South estimates nine winners will be chosen. The panel of judges is selected to represent a broad range of expertise from academia, venture capital, private industry and economic development from throughout the Northeast Ohio region.
Source: Rebecca Bagley
Writer: Karin Connelly
CitizenGroove has changed the way music schools take applications. CEO John Knific and three CWRU classmates wanted to solve the paper problem involved with applying to music schools.
“We were initially inspired by the problem music school were having -- they were getting 1,500 to 3,000 DVDs with bundles of paper,” recalls Knific. “We thought, every kid who is applying to music school knows how to use YouTube and FaceBook and other social media.”
So, in 2010, CitizenGroove emerged as a streamlined way for students to upload auditions and present them to the schools they were applying to. The idea took off. The company of eight is split between New York and Cleveland -- four of which are located in Lakewood offices. Knific hopes to double his staff this year, and the company continues to launch new tools and improve on its product.
CitizenGroove is continuing to grow in popularity among music schools. “We went from 12 schools to 50 schools and we’re hoping for 100 schools by the end of the year,” says Knific. “We went from using arm wrestling maneuvers to get schools to choose us to now schools are calling us.”
CitizenGroove is a finalist in the Intel Innovation Awards. They are rallying people to vote for them on the company’s FaceBook page in hopes of winning the $100,000 prize.
Source: John Knific
Writer: Karin Connelly
“We were initially inspired by the problem music school were having -- they were getting 1,500 to 3,000 DVDs with bundles of paper,” recalls Knific. “We thought, every kid who is applying to music school knows how to use YouTube and FaceBook and other social media.”
So, in 2010, CitizenGroove emerged as a streamlined way for students to upload auditions and present them to the schools they were applying to. The idea took off. The company of eight is split between New York and Cleveland -- four of which are located in Lakewood offices. Knific hopes to double his staff this year, and the company continues to launch new tools and improve on its product.
CitizenGroove is continuing to grow in popularity among music schools. “We went from 12 schools to 50 schools and we’re hoping for 100 schools by the end of the year,” says Knific. “We went from using arm wrestling maneuvers to get schools to choose us to now schools are calling us.”
CitizenGroove is a finalist in the Intel Innovation Awards. They are rallying people to vote for them on the company’s FaceBook page in hopes of winning the $100,000 prize.
Source: John Knific
Writer: Karin Connelly
LifeServe Innovations, which is developing a percutaneous tracheostomy introducer dilator, recently
received $75,000 from the Lorain Innovation Fund. The device allows medical personnel to place a tracheotomy tube with greater ease and with fewer procedural complications than existing systems.
Co-founders Zach Bloom and Rick Arlow first came up with the idea as a class assignment while attending Lehigh University. “We were looking for problems to solve in emergency or critical care,” recalls Bloom. “We ultimately developed a safer and much more user-friendly approach.”
While they each went on to graduate school, they took their intellectual property and decided to bring their device to market. LifeServe Innovations was born in 2009. Bloom and Arlow chose Cleveland for its balance of medical and entrepreneurial support. “Cleveland is an entrepreneurial community and a medical community,” Bloom says.
The process of developing the dilator was one of trial and error. “It’s the nature of any startup -- the product you ultimately come up with is never the original,” says Bloom. “We kept designing products for surgical airways until we found something that met the need.”
LifeServe will use the grant money to manufacture and test their dilator. “We hope to have the product cleared for market by the end of second quarter,” says Bloom. While the company has volunteers helping them, Bloom hopes to hire two to three people in the near future. “As the growth begins to come and we see success in our investment, we want to bring income to Cleveland.”
Source: Zach Bloom
Writer: Karin Connelly
received $75,000 from the Lorain Innovation Fund. The device allows medical personnel to place a tracheotomy tube with greater ease and with fewer procedural complications than existing systems.
Co-founders Zach Bloom and Rick Arlow first came up with the idea as a class assignment while attending Lehigh University. “We were looking for problems to solve in emergency or critical care,” recalls Bloom. “We ultimately developed a safer and much more user-friendly approach.”
While they each went on to graduate school, they took their intellectual property and decided to bring their device to market. LifeServe Innovations was born in 2009. Bloom and Arlow chose Cleveland for its balance of medical and entrepreneurial support. “Cleveland is an entrepreneurial community and a medical community,” Bloom says.
The process of developing the dilator was one of trial and error. “It’s the nature of any startup -- the product you ultimately come up with is never the original,” says Bloom. “We kept designing products for surgical airways until we found something that met the need.”
LifeServe will use the grant money to manufacture and test their dilator. “We hope to have the product cleared for market by the end of second quarter,” says Bloom. While the company has volunteers helping them, Bloom hopes to hire two to three people in the near future. “As the growth begins to come and we see success in our investment, we want to bring income to Cleveland.”
Source: Zach Bloom
Writer: Karin Connelly
Shaker LaunchHouse, the pre-seed investment fund and business accelerator, is hosting a gala on Saturday, February 18 at the Cleveland Skating Club to raise awareness of the more than 200 entrepreneurial activities hosted by LaunchHouse each year.
“All of the stuff that we do, a lot of the costs are incurred by LaunchHouse,” explains founder and managing partner Todd Goldstein. “So we decided to put on the gala to raise awareness.” Events include Whiteboard Wednesdays, Job Hunters Coffee and Donuts, and regular seminars and lectures.
In addition to the programming LaunchHouse has created more than 20 paid college internships in the past two years.
Organizers hope to raise $50,000 at the gala to help meet their goal of $250,000 this year. “Any money raised from the gala is used to support entrepreneurial activities,” says Goldstein. “None of it will be used for salaries.”
The event is sponsored by the Shaker Heights Development Corporation and included dinner, dancing and silent auction. The band Shout will play, which Goldstein describes as “one of the hottest bands in Northeast Ohio.” Auction items include lighting from Kichler Lighting, a vault tour of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, dinner at Maxi’s in Little Italy, and a gift certificate to Paysage.
Tickets are $125 per person or $1,000 for a table. Contact LaunchHouse for an invitation.
Source: Todd Goldstein
Writer: Karin Connelly
“All of the stuff that we do, a lot of the costs are incurred by LaunchHouse,” explains founder and managing partner Todd Goldstein. “So we decided to put on the gala to raise awareness.” Events include Whiteboard Wednesdays, Job Hunters Coffee and Donuts, and regular seminars and lectures.
In addition to the programming LaunchHouse has created more than 20 paid college internships in the past two years.
Organizers hope to raise $50,000 at the gala to help meet their goal of $250,000 this year. “Any money raised from the gala is used to support entrepreneurial activities,” says Goldstein. “None of it will be used for salaries.”
The event is sponsored by the Shaker Heights Development Corporation and included dinner, dancing and silent auction. The band Shout will play, which Goldstein describes as “one of the hottest bands in Northeast Ohio.” Auction items include lighting from Kichler Lighting, a vault tour of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, dinner at Maxi’s in Little Italy, and a gift certificate to Paysage.
Tickets are $125 per person or $1,000 for a table. Contact LaunchHouse for an invitation.
Source: Todd Goldstein
Writer: Karin Connelly
The inaugural Manufacturing EXPO will take place at the Galleria on February 14 and 15, showing off the inner workings of the manufacturing world and promoting the many components that go into creating a product.
“In America, there are 300,000 manufacturers and this will allow the American public to realize the strength of the parts and pieces in manufacturing,” says Mary Kaye Denning, president and founder of the Manufacturing Mart. “It’s these parts and pieces companies that we want to introduce to the American public so they can increase those companies’ growth rates.”
More than 3,000 industry-related professionals from the United States and Canada are expected to attend the event, which will feature more than 175 exhibitors from virtually every type of manufacturing. The point is to illustrate that even if a product is not assembled in America, most likely the many components that make up the product were.
Additionally, the Manufacturing EXPO will feature experts in the industry who will speak on changing trends and challenges in manufacturing.
Attendees must pre-register for the event. Denning encourages the general public to attend and learn more about the manufacturing world.
“Most manufacturing trade shows are usually in space apart from everyday life and are industry specific,” she says. “We have an expo representing all industries that make equipment. Northeast Ohio has all of these extraordinary capabilities and we should make people aware of that.”
Source: Mary Kaye Denning
Writer: Karin Connelly
“In America, there are 300,000 manufacturers and this will allow the American public to realize the strength of the parts and pieces in manufacturing,” says Mary Kaye Denning, president and founder of the Manufacturing Mart. “It’s these parts and pieces companies that we want to introduce to the American public so they can increase those companies’ growth rates.”
More than 3,000 industry-related professionals from the United States and Canada are expected to attend the event, which will feature more than 175 exhibitors from virtually every type of manufacturing. The point is to illustrate that even if a product is not assembled in America, most likely the many components that make up the product were.
Additionally, the Manufacturing EXPO will feature experts in the industry who will speak on changing trends and challenges in manufacturing.
Attendees must pre-register for the event. Denning encourages the general public to attend and learn more about the manufacturing world.
“Most manufacturing trade shows are usually in space apart from everyday life and are industry specific,” she says. “We have an expo representing all industries that make equipment. Northeast Ohio has all of these extraordinary capabilities and we should make people aware of that.”
Source: Mary Kaye Denning
Writer: Karin Connelly
Explorys, a rapidly growing healthcare database company spun out of the Cleveland Clinic, is celebrating two years in business with a party. They will take over the House of Blues on Wednesday, Feb. 1 from 5 to 10 p.m. to celebrate the advancements in healthcare from their technology, show off what's next for the company, and offer a place for healthcare and IT professionals to network.
"We're almost two years old and we've been running really hard since we got started," says Explorys president and CTO Charlie Lougheed. "This is our way to say thanks to our employees, customers and partners."
While drinks will flow and CEO Stephen McHale's band will perform, the networking event is designed to present Explorys' developments, promote Cleveland as a great place for technology jobs and attract the top high-tech talent to the company. Lougheed says they will continue to grow their employee base.
"It's a good way to get word out among possible job candidates," says Lougheed. "If you're in technology or data, it's a great time in your career. We really believe Cleveland is a great place to start a company and we don't want to have brain drain. If you have a connection to the tech community we encourage you to come."
Interested people must pre-register for the event.
Source: Charlie Lougheed
Writer: Karin Connelly
"We're almost two years old and we've been running really hard since we got started," says Explorys president and CTO Charlie Lougheed. "This is our way to say thanks to our employees, customers and partners."
While drinks will flow and CEO Stephen McHale's band will perform, the networking event is designed to present Explorys' developments, promote Cleveland as a great place for technology jobs and attract the top high-tech talent to the company. Lougheed says they will continue to grow their employee base.
"It's a good way to get word out among possible job candidates," says Lougheed. "If you're in technology or data, it's a great time in your career. We really believe Cleveland is a great place to start a company and we don't want to have brain drain. If you have a connection to the tech community we encourage you to come."
Interested people must pre-register for the event.
Source: Charlie Lougheed
Writer: Karin Connelly
Photo: Gus Chan, The Plain Dealer
Rene Polin, president and founder of Balance Product Development in Chagrin Falls, likes to find solutions to problems. The product design house was formed in 2004 and has developed products for a number of other companies. But Polin wanted to create something out of his own ideas.
That idea came when Polin watched his seven-year-old daughter playing with his iPad. “Rene would come home and hand over this expensive piece of equipment to his daughter,” recalls Polin's partner Anthony DeMore, Balance vice president of strategy and business development. That’s when the idea hit to make a foam case to protect the iPad from accidental drops and other damage.
After seeing his iPad slide off the kitchen table one too many times, Polin and DeMore developed the Fomation iPad2 case -- a soft but durable foam protective case. The foam material, which is often used in commercial applications like airplane seats and roller coasters, protects the iPad from the bumps, bruises, shakes and rattles of everyday life.
“We wanted to create an elegant, beautiful, but very protective foam case,” says Polin. “When we started researching, we found that there were foam cases, but they were made overseas and typically were made with unsafe chemicals and processes.” The Fomation is made out of foam manufactured safely by a Lorain County manufacturer.
Balance put the Fomation idea on Kickstarter.com to secure funding for the product, and the company is in talks to secure a partnership with a local college that provides iPads to all first-year students. Balance plans to launch Fomation even if they don’t meet their goal on Kickstarter.
Source: Rene Polin and Anthony DeMore
Writer: Karin Connelly
That idea came when Polin watched his seven-year-old daughter playing with his iPad. “Rene would come home and hand over this expensive piece of equipment to his daughter,” recalls Polin's partner Anthony DeMore, Balance vice president of strategy and business development. That’s when the idea hit to make a foam case to protect the iPad from accidental drops and other damage.
After seeing his iPad slide off the kitchen table one too many times, Polin and DeMore developed the Fomation iPad2 case -- a soft but durable foam protective case. The foam material, which is often used in commercial applications like airplane seats and roller coasters, protects the iPad from the bumps, bruises, shakes and rattles of everyday life.
“We wanted to create an elegant, beautiful, but very protective foam case,” says Polin. “When we started researching, we found that there were foam cases, but they were made overseas and typically were made with unsafe chemicals and processes.” The Fomation is made out of foam manufactured safely by a Lorain County manufacturer.
Balance put the Fomation idea on Kickstarter.com to secure funding for the product, and the company is in talks to secure a partnership with a local college that provides iPads to all first-year students. Balance plans to launch Fomation even if they don’t meet their goal on Kickstarter.
Source: Rene Polin and Anthony DeMore
Writer: Karin Connelly
Last year, Kasumi, a local filmmaker, artist and associate professor at Cleveland Institute of Art, won a Vimeo award in the Remix category for her film short, “Breakdown, the Video,” which recasts old footage from the 1940s and 1950s. Since then, her career and reputation have soared. She returns to Vimeo this year as a judge.
“It was a total shift in how I thought about my work being online,” says Kasumi of winning the award. “Having my work online exponentially expands the audience. After winning the Vimeo Award, 'Breakdown' has been screened in scores of film festivals throughout the world, on countless blogs, and played almost 2.5 million times in 150 countries.”
Kasumi is now working on her next masterpiece, “Shockwaves.” “'Shockwaves' is the impressionistic story of two lovers, both victims of traumatized childhoods,” she explains. “By weaving a unique cinematic tapestry out of archival found footage, modern cinematic techniques, and original dance choreography, the film follows the lovers’ journeys as each seeks answers to the origins of their abuse through a surrealistic Mobius strip of alternate realities, shifting times, and multiple dimensions.”
The Vimeo award has motivated Kasumi to keep exploring her distinctive approach to film. “It made me realize that my unique style was now in peoples' consciousness -- in a big way,” she says “It gave me the courage to forge ahead with more exciting work, knowing that there was a substantial audience for it.”
Image from Shockwaves ©kasumifilms
For more info, click here.
Source: Kasumi
Writer: Karin Connelly
“It was a total shift in how I thought about my work being online,” says Kasumi of winning the award. “Having my work online exponentially expands the audience. After winning the Vimeo Award, 'Breakdown' has been screened in scores of film festivals throughout the world, on countless blogs, and played almost 2.5 million times in 150 countries.”
Kasumi is now working on her next masterpiece, “Shockwaves.” “'Shockwaves' is the impressionistic story of two lovers, both victims of traumatized childhoods,” she explains. “By weaving a unique cinematic tapestry out of archival found footage, modern cinematic techniques, and original dance choreography, the film follows the lovers’ journeys as each seeks answers to the origins of their abuse through a surrealistic Mobius strip of alternate realities, shifting times, and multiple dimensions.”
The Vimeo award has motivated Kasumi to keep exploring her distinctive approach to film. “It made me realize that my unique style was now in peoples' consciousness -- in a big way,” she says “It gave me the courage to forge ahead with more exciting work, knowing that there was a substantial audience for it.”
Image from Shockwaves ©kasumifilms
For more info, click here.
Source: Kasumi
Writer: Karin Connelly
Two local student-led teams, NanoHarv Technologies and Amplified Wind solutions, have made it to the semifinals of the Clean Energy Trust’s Clean Energy Challenge.
NanoHarv Technologies, a group of graduate students in CWRU’s Science & Technology Entrepreneurship Program (STEP), investigates new techniques that could potentially deliver cost efficient methods for the production of algae biofuels and other valuable by-products.
Amplified Wind Solutions is a group of CSU students and professors who have developed a wind speed amplification system that, when installed on a cylindrical structure such as a silo or water tower, can provide three times the electricity production of a typical wind turbine in low or marginal wind areas.
“The quality of the applications was fantastic,” says Amy Francetic, executive director of the Clean Energy Trust. “We had over 100 applications.” Only 16 teams were chosen to move on to the finals and present their business plans in Chicago on February 29 and March 1.
“This is a great opportunity for us to gain insight into the challenges of business plan development and new venture creation,” says Justin Isaacs, co-founder of NanoHarv. The winners in Chicago will go on to the national competition in Washington, DC, this summer to compete for $150,000.
While Niki Zmij, CEO of Amplified Wind Solutions, would like the prize money to help bring her company to commercialization, she is also happy in the lessons she’s learning.
“Whether we win or not this competition has been an incredible lesson in entrepreneurship,” says Zmij. “I’m a firm believer that we all learn best by doing -- and this process has allowed me to gain a very clear picture of what it takes to develop a new technology, start up a company, and put forth the dedication and hard work that it takes to make it successful.”
Source: Amy Francetic, Justin Isaacs, Niki Zmij
Writer: Karin Connelly
NanoHarv Technologies, a group of graduate students in CWRU’s Science & Technology Entrepreneurship Program (STEP), investigates new techniques that could potentially deliver cost efficient methods for the production of algae biofuels and other valuable by-products.
Amplified Wind Solutions is a group of CSU students and professors who have developed a wind speed amplification system that, when installed on a cylindrical structure such as a silo or water tower, can provide three times the electricity production of a typical wind turbine in low or marginal wind areas.
“The quality of the applications was fantastic,” says Amy Francetic, executive director of the Clean Energy Trust. “We had over 100 applications.” Only 16 teams were chosen to move on to the finals and present their business plans in Chicago on February 29 and March 1.
“This is a great opportunity for us to gain insight into the challenges of business plan development and new venture creation,” says Justin Isaacs, co-founder of NanoHarv. The winners in Chicago will go on to the national competition in Washington, DC, this summer to compete for $150,000.
While Niki Zmij, CEO of Amplified Wind Solutions, would like the prize money to help bring her company to commercialization, she is also happy in the lessons she’s learning.
“Whether we win or not this competition has been an incredible lesson in entrepreneurship,” says Zmij. “I’m a firm believer that we all learn best by doing -- and this process has allowed me to gain a very clear picture of what it takes to develop a new technology, start up a company, and put forth the dedication and hard work that it takes to make it successful.”
Source: Amy Francetic, Justin Isaacs, Niki Zmij
Writer: Karin Connelly
SparkBase, a leading loyalty program and gift card processor, launched a new way for merchants to reach their customers through smart phones. Paycloud allows customers to sign up for loyalty programs on their phones, eliminating the need for plastic cards and key tags to take advantage of special offers.
“One of the things we heard repeatedly is the cost of cards -- it’s expensive -- and the time it takes to sign up for a loyalty card,” explains Doug Hardman, SparkBase CEO. “With Paycloud you only need five things: Zip code, email address, first and last name. Then you tap in the merchant’s name and go from there.”
Paycloud is designed to improve customer retention and easily attract new customers. “It’s a really great way for merchants to build up customers,” says Hardman. “Merchants can learn more about customers but also give customer discounts.”
SparkBase already launched Paycloud in Chicago with more than 100 businesses reaching thousands of customers. This week, Paycloud launched in Cleveland with high expectations. “We have 50 to 100 merchants in Cleveland and would like to have 200 by the time we go to Columbus in three weeks,” says Hardman.
The launch of Paycloud only adds to SpakBase’s rapid growth. “We’re going to be hiring like gangbusters in the next six weeks,” says Hardman. SparkBase currently has 36 employees and is interviewing for 30 to 50 open sales reps positions.
Source: Doug Hardman
Writer: Karin Connelly
“One of the things we heard repeatedly is the cost of cards -- it’s expensive -- and the time it takes to sign up for a loyalty card,” explains Doug Hardman, SparkBase CEO. “With Paycloud you only need five things: Zip code, email address, first and last name. Then you tap in the merchant’s name and go from there.”
Paycloud is designed to improve customer retention and easily attract new customers. “It’s a really great way for merchants to build up customers,” says Hardman. “Merchants can learn more about customers but also give customer discounts.”
SparkBase already launched Paycloud in Chicago with more than 100 businesses reaching thousands of customers. This week, Paycloud launched in Cleveland with high expectations. “We have 50 to 100 merchants in Cleveland and would like to have 200 by the time we go to Columbus in three weeks,” says Hardman.
The launch of Paycloud only adds to SpakBase’s rapid growth. “We’re going to be hiring like gangbusters in the next six weeks,” says Hardman. SparkBase currently has 36 employees and is interviewing for 30 to 50 open sales reps positions.
Source: Doug Hardman
Writer: Karin Connelly