Event Notices From August 3
Midland Solar Entrepreneurship On Display: Midland's MidMichigan Innovation Center will host a luncheon networking program Wednesday, Aug. 18 to hear from a trio of mid-Michgian solar energy entrepreneurs. Steve Ellebracht, John Bartos and Ted Skinner will tell how they started Midland Solar Applications and built Midland County's first residential-grid-connected and first industry-sized solar arrays. Tickets, which include lunch and the program, are $15 per person and can be purchased on line at www.mmic.us or by calling the MMIC at (989) 839-2336. Pre-registration is appreciated, but walk-ins are welcome. With diverse backgrounds -- Skinner a retired Dow Corning executive, Bartos an entrepreneur as founder of Three Rivers, and Ellebracht a retired Dow solar champion -- the three came together when they independently joined the BlueWater Angels, a group of individuals interested in investing in entrepreneurial ideas and start-ups in the region and when they served together on several area charity boards and committees. Their backgrounds, knowledge, skills and connections seemed like a natural fit as the three explored common interests and began to conceive of their own entrepreneurial venture as another way to contribute to the community and experience first-hand, the ups and downs of starting a business. Midland Solar Applications is a relatively new start-up, and they have already built Midland County's first solar array, and are selling power back to Consumers Energy. At the event, which runs from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., the three will share their insights, answer questions and hypothesize on the future of solar in the Great Lakes Bay region. The event is open to the public and is especially suited for participation from others involved and terested in the solar industry, for those interested in starting related businesses, or for people interested in growth and development in this region.
Green conference coming to GR: The Grand Rapids economic development agency The Right Place Inc. and several partners are hosting the "Green Growth Conference and Expo -- Growth and Innovation Strategies for a Sustainable Future" on Oct. 13 and 14 at Grand Valley State University's Eberhard Center on East Fulton Street in downtown Grand Rapids. The conference and expo is an intensive two-day event that will provide West Michigan manufacturers and companies with specific, innovative strategies to help them achieve business growth through sustainable business practices. Keynote presenters are to include David Rinard of Steelcase Inc., Paul Murray of Herman Miller Inc., Craig Throne of Wolverine World Wide Inc. and Charles Reid of Charter House Innovation and the City Flats Hotel. Workshop presentations are scheduled from Amnon Levav of Systematic Inventive Thinking and Bill Fluharty of Design and Innovation Consulting. For information on sponsorship and exhibition opportunities, contact Natalia powers at (616) 771-0327. For more information or to register, visit www.rightplace.org/g2. Other presenters of the event are the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center and Innovation Works. Full conference sponsors are MiBiz, Grand Rapids Community College, the law firm of Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge, and Business Review West Michigan.
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