Humboldt State University -- A North Coast business connection

BYLINE: Maggie Gainer

Humboldt State University has long been a launching pad for new business ventures. Many of the North Coast's best known and most successful manufacturing enterprises, natural resources consulting firms, retail stores, and bed and breakfast inns have been started by HSU's faculty, staff, students and graduates.

In recent years, I've observed a growing number of HSU students planning to start businesses. There's a heightened awareness among HSU students that locally and nationally, entrepreneurship is the key to healthy economic development, and can be the route toward greater personal satisfaction. Two years ago, HSU business major, Brandon Hemenway, founded a new student club, Sustainable Entrepreneurs Network, with other students who share his passion.

Hemenway said that he thinks more students "see entrepreneurship is not only a means to pursue your dream and ideal way of earning a living; it's a way to put your values to work."

Several HSU departments are responding to student interest with more entrepreneurship education and increased services to nurture student entrepreneurs. New course sequences are being offered in the School of Business and Applied Technology to directly address this need for entrepreneurship education and technology transfer.

HSU business faculty member Nancy Vizenor, and Chris Gaines, College of the Redwoods Business faculty member, co-taught a course this semester that guided students in preparing their business plans. Vizenor said "student response was overwhelmingly enthusiastic."

The HSU Career Center has library and on-line resources available for students pursuing entrepreneurship. HSU Career Center counselor, Pamela Godwin, said that their "counselors are well-versed in this start-your-own-business path, and are tuned into community resources like North Coast SBDC that can help students who want to go into business."

While HSU student internships have traditionally been in nonprofit and government agencies, more students are seeking internships and study assignments within local companies because they want the business experience. The HSU Office for Economic and Community Development works with local businesses to match up their interests with faculty and students so that a student placement in a company is both a learning experience for the student and beneficial to the business.

The HSU Department of Economics involves a number of students in research projects, including the longterm Humboldt Index of Economic Activity. Economics department chair, Erick Eschker, is seeking support to add measurement of North Coast entrepreneurial activity to their ongoing research of the region.

Of course, the proof is in the pudding. Are there more new local business ventures created, innovation and technology transfer from the human capital at HSU? Here are just a few examples!

Well beyond start-up mode, StreamGuys, a cash-flow positive company, is one of the local business successes to point to. StreamGuys is a content delivery network and a streaming service to distribute audio and video signals via the internet. Started in 2000 by HSU grads and staff, they now have clients all over the world and continue in a growth mode. Their clients range from Cisco and Pfizer and international media companies like ABS-CBN to Chicago Public Radio and the North Coast's own AM-FM stations.

Creyr Publishing, Inc. was established in fall 2004 by HSU recreation administration professor Craig Riordan, to work with local authors and businesses to publish, promote, and sell books and material that reflect the culture, history, natural beauty, and uniqueness of the North Coast. Beyond publishing and selling books, the underlying philosophy of Creyr Publishing is to have a positive impact on the geotourism (cultural and nature based tourism) of this area.

Cognisense Labs was founded in 2005 by a former professor-student team. The two built a strong working relationship over two years of conducting research at HSU. By the end of their teacher-student relationship, it became apparent that both had interest in continuing their work in robotic landmine clearing while also pursuing other projects focused on solving environmental and business problems. The founders of Cognisense Labs were recognized as one of five international 2004 Laureates of The Tech Museum Awards in the Intel Environment category for their invention of a vehicle guidance, mapping, and verification system for Humanitarian Demining Vehicles. They were the sole cash prize recipient of the Intel Environment Award.

This month, HSU's former Learning Management Systems projects manager Michael Penney, a leading innovator in the Moodle open software community, has accepted a position as managing director of Moodlerooms, Inc. Established locally, he'll focus on West Coast sales and training, as well as the development of integration and customization projects. Penney has worked independently with the Intel Corporation on designing and developing Moodle tools and features. The Intel Teach program has empowered more than three million teachers in 35 countries. Their recent Moodle LMS development with Penney places Moodle as a significant engine within Intel's program resources.

Driving innovation and new business start-ups, HSU and the knowledge-based industry cluster will continue to contribute to the development and strengthened competitiveness of high growth businesses across industry clusters of the North Coast.

Stay tuned for the next wave of new ventures!

Maggie Gainer is director of the Office for Economic & Community Development, Humboldt State University.