Event Notices From September 21

GR Groups Sponsoring Business Idea Valuation Event: The West Michigan Science and Technology Initiative and the Grand Rapids Investors Network plan to meet Tuesday, Oct. 11 for a session on "Valuing Your Idea." The event begins with networking at 6 p.m. followed by the presentation from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Presenters Rick Adamy and Mike Suman will tell attendees how to find out what their idea is really worth, what the value of cash received over several months is, and what the value of future profits is. The meeting will be held in Room 119 of the Grand Valley State University Cook-Devos Center for Health Sciences, 301 Michigan St. NE, Grand Rapids. Parking is available across the street in Lafayette lot.  Please register by email ahead of time so that a free parking permit can be sent prior to the event. More at www.wmsti.org.

AimWest Sets Discussion Of IT And Innovation: AimWest, the association for technology professionals in the Grand Rapids area, will present "Leading, Not Following:
IT's Shifting Role in Innovation" on Tuesday, Sept. 27 at Western Michigan University's downtown Grand Rapids campus, 200 Ionia Ave. SW. Networking begins at 5:15 p.m. and the program at 6 p.m. Post-event networking will take place at Tavern on the Square, 100 Ionia Ave. SW. Traditionally, IT has been seen as a support function in most businesses. Even today, the IT department is often supporting innovation instead of being given a chance to lead innovation within an organization. But the role of IT is much more important, and the best-run organizations have recognized that they can't separate IT from "the business." Given these challenges, and the politics inherent in all organizations, how can IT leaders drive change and innovation? And how do we as a community convince other business leaders to stop seeing IT as an "add-on" to real business activities and start embracing its role in marketing, communications, product delivery, and every other bottom-line activity a company does? Panelists include Dave Baarman, CTO of Fulton Innovation, Stuart Berman, security architect at Steelcase, Kevin O'Halla, CIO at Grand Rapids Community College, and Jim VanderMey, CTO at OST. Register at www.aimwest.org/event-registration.