Mobile Monday Launches Lansing Chapter
DETROIT -- Mobile Monday Michigan Tuesday announced the mobile technology education and networking group's expansion into mid-Michigan with the launch of a new chapter, Mobile Monday Lansing.
Mobile Monday Michigan is the state's branch of the Helsinki, Finland-based International Mobile Monday organization. MoMoMichigan is sponsored state-wide by the Mobile Technology Association of Michigan, the state's non-profit trade association for the mobile and wireless technology industry.
The organization launched its first chapter in Ann Arbor in June 2009, and have since added Detroit and Grand Rapids, along with more than 1,500 members statewide.
"Michigan is quietly becoming a leading player in the U.S. mobile-wireless technology industry," said Mobile Monday Michigan co-founder and MTAM executive director Linda Daichendt. "As we have conversations with industry insiders on a national and international scale they are often quite surprised at the amount of growth and dynamic work taking place here. We're not surprised; it's easily reflected in the substantial growth we're seeing in Mobile Monday Michigan chapters in Detroit, Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, and now Lansing, as well as the increasing number of Michigan-based firms that are winning national awards and doing mobile-wireless-related work for national and international companies."
The Lansing chapter of Mobile Monday Michigan will be led by Brennan Hayden, vice president of East Lansing-based Wireless Developer Agency; Matt Tubergen, mobile special projects consultant for Okemos-based TechSmith Corp.; and Patrick Hale, CTO of Lansing-based Sparrow Health System.
"The Lansing area is thriving with organizations seeking to innovate in mobile," Tubergen said. "MSU, TechSmith and many other high-tech organizations understand the impact mobile is having on the way we create, share and consume content. The TechSmith team and I have fully embraced the opportunities currently and soon to emerge and we intend to help our region grow as we share our own learnings, and learn from others through MoMoLansing and surrounding chapters."
Sparrow's Hale added: "Mobile technology is no longer leading edge, it is foundational. Mobile-enabled applications are critical to getting quality care to the patient bed-side. As we continue to attract top IT talent from around the world, Sparrow is very pleased to evangelize best practices in mobile right here at home through Mobile Monday Lansing."
WDA's Hayden addressed an issue that many Michigan mobile firms are experiencing: "Like many vibrant, successful companies in Michigan, WDA is a well-kept secret. But who wants that? Let's get the word out, especially to each other. Mobile Monday Michigan provides a proven, social-media driven model to connect with like-minded nearby people in the mobile industry. WDA is pleased to join with other leading firms to introduce this valuable and exciting forum."
The Lansing chapter expects to begin holding meetings on February 27. Meeting location and details will be announced soon.
All Mobile Monday Michigan chapters are free to join, and the monthly meetings are free to attend as well. Those interested in joining the new Lansing chapter may sign up now at http://meetup.com/MoMoLansing to insure they receive meeting details directly as soon as they become available. Those interested in other chapters may go to the website at http://MobileMondayMichigan.org.
Mobile Monday Michigan will continue its' expansion throughout the state, with plans to add chapters in additional Michigan cities in 2012. The organization's goal is to bring together all of those in Michigan who are working in the mobile-wireless technology industry, interested in learning more about mobile and how it may benefit their business, and those who would like to see the sector grow to facilitate increased job creation in the state.
For more information about the organization or its' statewide sponsor the Mobile Technology Association of Michigan, please email info@GoMobileMichigan.org.
