SSTI Digest

Pennsylvania invites all SSTI conference attendees to a networking reception at the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens Tuesday, Sept. 14. Guests can immerse themselves in 17 distinct botanical experiences while exploring this thriving attraction that showcases advanced green-building practices, sustainable gardening and a new environmental awareness. The event promises to be a wonderful environment to reconnect with colleagues and network with conference attendees, speakers, and our local hosts over cocktails, delicious hors d'oeuvres and an array of innovative food stations. Transportation to and from the Omni William Penn and the event will be provided, beginning at 6:15 PM. The reception is made possible by the support of the conference's 27 Local Sponsors.

The way we interact with our colleagues has forever changed in the face of social networking, teleconferences, and email. But the need for personal, one-on-one interaction to ask questions, bounce ideas off one another, and share best practices is still very much alive. SSTI and our host sponsors have assembled nationally recognized experts in six key areas related to TBED in a one-of-a-kind workshop designed to open the paths of conversation for candid questions and discussion in speed dating format — minus, of course, the uncomfortable gaffes and awkward silences in real speed dating. Now that we've piqued your interest, here's how it works: the workshop begins with each of the experts revealing their top four insider tips for success. Then, each of the experts will move to private tables, providing a comfortable and informal setting for practitioners to directly ask their most pressing questions. At points, you may find yourself in a small group with individuals seeking the same advice as you, or you may be one-on-one with the expert. Our Power Roundtable gives you direct access to people who know the answers you need to improve your TBED practice. The six…

Andre Pettigrew, the director of the Denver Office of Economic Development, will become the first executive director of Climate Prosperity Inc., a Washington, D.C., climate-change think tank. LaCharles Keesee, the city's deputy chief financial officer, will assume an interim role as head of the city's economic development department until a final replacement is named. The Ohio Development of Department has named Karen Shauri director of the Small Business Development Centers of Ohio. Terri Shelton, director of the University of North Carolina Greensboro Center for Youth, Family, and Community Partnerships has been named the vice chancellor for research and economic development. Leslie Wisner-Lynch has been named interim president and CEO of the Tennessee Technology Development Corp. The appointment, which is for a one-year period, follows the recent resignation of former TTDC president and CEO Eric Cromwell. Steve Zimmer has been appointed executive director of the United States Council for Automotive Research LLC. He succeeds retiring USCAR executive director Don Walkowicz.

Sponsorship opportunities are designed to help your organization build awareness and develop beneficial relationships with the nation's top state and regional tech-based economic development decisionmakers. You can join with our great sponsors already onboard to take advantage of this powerful networking and outreach opportunity by contacting Noelle Sheets, SSTI director of membership services, at sheets@ssti.org or 614.901.1690. Please contact SSTI as soon as possible to request the 2010 sponsorship benefit information, as all national sponsorship opportunities are on a first-come, first-served basis. The deadline for inclusion in the conference brochure is June 30. SSTI's 14th Annual Conference, Accelerating Innovation: The Road Ahead for Tech-based Economic Development will be held Sept. 14-16 in Pittsburgh. SSTI would like to thank our current National Sponsors:   Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development Innovation Works Greater Oklahoma City Chamber Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer Lytmos Group, Inc. NIST's Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program NIST's Technology Innovation Program United…

 JumpStart Inc. invites applications for the position of president, JumpStart Advisors. This is an exciting opportunity for a business leader who has significant experience in providing direct consulting services, as well as managing multiple consulting project teams, and would like to lead a nationally significant effort that has the promise to transform the way regions think about their innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystems.

A nationally recognized nonprofit organization creating economic transformation in Northeast Ohio, JumpStart Inc. provides resources to entrepreneurs leading high potential, early-stage companies. JumpStart CEO Ray Leach discusses how the organization has successfully partnered with regional organizations and philanthropic institutions to achieve its tremendous success. Download the interview ...

"It is just as important to tell the community and your stakeholders what you are doing as it is doing it." - Ray Leach Click here to listen to SSTI's Interview with Ray Leach of JumpStart SSTI has an effective new learning tool for TBED policymakers and practitioners seeking guidance in approaches to building and sustaining tech-based economies. Through exclusive interviews with Excellence in TBED Award recipients, find out first-hand how these award-winning initiatives successfully responded to a critical need by applying innovative approaches to generate substantial economic gains for their region. 2009 Winner for the Increasing Access to Capital category Established in 2004, JumpStart is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization creating economic transformation in Northeast Ohio by securing and providing resources to entrepreneurs leading high potential, early-stage companies. JumpStart's primary service is providing entrepreneurs with intensive entrepreneurial assistance in order to help them rapidly achieve the key milestones of growth, such as raising capital and creating globally-sustainable jobs.…

On Tuesday, voters approved a four-year, $700 million bond to extend funding for the Ohio Third Frontier initiative through 2016. Established in 2002, the initiative offers programs for emerging and established high-tech companies, including grants for pre-seed funding, research initiatives, product development and commercialization.  Read more about the program ...

CEOs and directors of some of the nation's most successful TBED organizations agree... SSTI's Excellence in TBED Award is great way to distinguish your initiative as a best practice and inform key stakeholders of your success. In today's economic climate, we know the importance of effectively communicating the value of your program, and having national recognition to back it up can give you a competitive edge. SSTI now is accepting applications for the 2010 Excellence in TBED Awards, and we want to hear your story. Deadline to apply is June 1. For more information, visit: www.ssti.org/Awards. Read what they're saying: "Innovation Works has won two SSTI best practice awards. Having a respected third-party organization like SSTI recognize our programs as industry best-practices has been an invaluable tool in helping Innovation Works demonstrate the quality of our initiatives to key stakeholders. It has also proved helpful in our efforts to raise funds for our organization. I encourage other technology-based economic development organizations to consider applying to SSTI for a best practice award." - Rich Lunak, President & CEO, Innovation Works…

The TechColumbus TechStart Program supports and develops viable entrepreneurial companies from their earliest phase through their launch as significant economic contributors. SSTI's exclusive interview with Will Indest of TechColumbus digs deeper into the mechanics of the program to find out how the organization's impressive pipeline for entrepreneurs has led to the creation of high-wage jobs throughout the region. Download the interview ...

Now is the time to highlight your organization's impact and gain high-profile exposure as a recipient of SSTI's national award for excellence in technology-based economic development (TBED). Recipients of this coveted award are showcased as best practices throughout the TBED community and promoted for their exceptional achievements in approaches to building tech-based economies and demonstration of outstanding results. SSTI invites applications for the 2010 Excellence in TBED Awards in the following categories: Expanding the Research Capacity Commercializing Research Building Entrepreneurial Capacity Increasing Access to Capital Enhancing the Science & Technology Workforce Improving Competitiveness of Existing Industries   Award Selection Criteria The initiative must: Have specific and measurable outcomes; Serve as a model that can be replicated; Demonstrate effective partnerships and leadership; and, Illustrate effective approaches and stand out among others in its field.   Winners will be recognized during SSTI's 14th Annual Conference, Sept. 14-16…

Bryan Allinson has joined Ohio University as director of technology transfer. Martha Connolly, director of the Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute Maryland Industrial Partnership program (MIPS) at the University of Maryland, was given the President's Award at the Greater Baltimore Committee's fifth annual Bioscience Awards ceremony. In 2007, the MIPS program received an SSTI Excellence in TBED Award in the Improving Competitiveness of Existing Industries Category. Stephen Cross has been selected as Georgia Tech's executive vice president for research. Cross has served as vice president and director of the Georgia Tech Research Institute since 2003. Tony Jeff has been selected as the Mississippi Technology Alliance's new president and CEO. Jeff previously served as vice president and chief operating officer and director of MTA's Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell tapped State Rep. Samuel Nixon to become Virginia's CIO. Nixon, who will take over April 5, becomes the third person to serve as state CIO in the past nine months, following George Coulter and Lem Stewart. OCTANe and the Orange County Venture Group…