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Event Notices From Oct. 28

LTU entrepreneurial venture series features LTU alum, now NASA contractor: The next Lawrence Technological University Blue Devil Entrepreneurial Venture Series event will be held Tuesday, Nov. 19 from noon to 1:15 p.m. in Room M218 of the Buell Management Building on the LTU campus, 21000 W. 10 Mile Road in Southfield. The event will feature Javad Mokhbery, president and CEO of Futek, on the company's sensors used on NASA's Curiosity Mars rover. Twenty five years ago, Futek was just an idea. But behind this grand idea were two persistent, eager, innovative, and risk-taking men -- Javad Mokhbery and his brother Mohammad, both LTU alumni. They wanted Futek to become a game-changer -- and it is. They wanted to play in the big leagues with the big boys -- and they do. The company's first few years were rough (the office was an apartment in Fullerton, Calif.), but the brothers' work ethic, loyalty, and perseverance paid off. Futek now makes sensors for the aerospace, medical, robotics and automation, and automotive industries. The company develops load cells, torque sensors, pressure sensors, multi-axial sensors, and related software for low-temperature and vacuum environments. Futek partners include Raytheon, MIT, Lockheed Martin, and NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab. Test your insight and decision-making skills with Mokhbery as he poses a few of the challenges he has faced as president and CEO -- both in technology and organizational development. More at www.ltu.edu/venture.

Symposium To Examine State Of Recycling In Michigan: Leaders in Michigan's business and residential recycling industries will discuss current best practices, ongoing challenges and future initiatives in a one-day symposium Wednesday, Nov. 13 in Southfield. "Recycling's Role in a Sustainable Economy" presents experts from business, government and non-profit organizations in a format that includes presentations and a panel discussion, followed by a tour of one of Michigan's largest recycling centers. The event will be hosted by the Southeast Michigan Sustainable Business Forum and the Michigan Recycling Coalition. Guest speakers scheduled to appear are Matt Flechter, from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality; Kerrin O'Brien, director of the Michigan Recycling Coalition; Matthew Naimi, founder of Detroit's "Recycle Here!"; Bill Gurn, facilities manager of Haworth Inc.; Rachel Klegon, director of Green Living Science; and Mike Csapo, general manager of the Material Recovery Facility that will be visited in the afternoon. The event will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn in Southfield. Tickets are $40 ($35 for SMSBF and MRC members and students), which includes refreshments, lunch and a tour of the recycling plant. More information, including biographies and event registration, is available at www.smsbf.org.

MMIC Sets November Events

The Mid-Michigan Innovation Center Monday announced the following events in November across central and northeast Lower Michigan and the Thumb region.

The Nightmare on IP Street Intellectual Property Workshop and Potluck
Thursday, Oct. 31: In 2011, the U.S. Congress adopted patent reform known as the America Invents Act. The law changed the centuries-old "first to invent" system to award patents to whomever files first, bringing the U.S. in line with international practices. In this program, you'll learn how the recent law is affecting the economy, get firsthand legal views on intellectual property, and discover strategies to protect your company's IP. Bring a dish to pass at this special Halloween event. For more information, please contact Christopher Smith at (989) 839-2337. Panelists include John T. Carter, Witzke Berry Carter & Wander, PLLC, Attorneys and Counselors; John Di Giacomo, Attorney/Partner, Newburg Law, PLLC; Founding Partner, Revision Legal; Christopher John Rudy, Patent Attorney; Reed Schick, Founder and Director of Intellectual Property, Intellectual Property Matrix. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. More at this link. 

MMIC Offers Best Shot-Sales Pitch Competition In Marlette
Wednesday, Nov. 6: At the Best Shot Competition, you'll test your business savvy by getting in front of customers in a real live environment. An expert panel of guest judges critiques your pitch while a supportive audience cheers you to victory. Winners receive valuable prizes along with MMIC and their sponsor's expert guidance to: locate target customers, arrange presentations, assist with consumer websites, develop sales channels, advise on legal and accounting issues, help with PR and marketing and more. Entrepreneurs give a four-minute presentation before a panel of expert judges. Each presenter is allowed to use one slide as a "sell sheet" and must identify the ideal customer, explain the ideal sales channel/s and deliver the winning pitch (think infomercial!). Judges will ask three questions to test their sales ability and knowledge Please register to compete, sponsor or attend this exciting event. We will contact each registrant who wishes to be considered for the competition. For more information, please contact: Heather Fortin, (231) 995-7119, fortin@mmic.us. The event will run from 5 to 8 p.m. at Thumb Works, 3270 Wilson St, Marlette, and it's free. More at this link. 

MMIC Offers Best Shot Workshop In Alpena
Tuesday, Nov. 19: Registered participants of "The Best Shot Workshop," will receive instruction from industry experts and attend a panel discussion including lunch. The "Best Shot: Reaching Your Target Market Workshops and Competitions," is a recently created program. Any entrepreneur, small business owner or innovator at any stage will benefit from this sales crash-course. An interactive overview will be provided by MMIC. In this session attendees will be better able to identify the target market for their product or service and define the ideal distribution channel/s. The panel luncheon, an interactive sales-pitch building activity, will highlight an area success story and allow attendees to ask questions relating their experiences and trials while bringing their product/service to market. In addition, there will be an area service provider to feature what they can do to assist the participants in making it to market more effectively and efficiently. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library, 211 N. First Ave., Alpena, and it's free. More at this link. 

MMIC Offers Innovator's Spotlight With Barb Muessig
Tuesday, Nov. 19: In 1996, Barb Muessig started Rocky Bay Communications, a public relations and small business consultancy focusing on strategic planning and implementation. Her clients range from major corporations to small businesses, hospitals and nonprofits. Barb provides expert services including research, program planning and implementation, presentation skills and training, program proposals, Web sites, brochures, speeches and reports. The event runs from noon to 1 p.m. at the MidMichigan Innovation Center, 2007 Austin St., Midland. The cost is $10. More at this link.

Best Shot Workshop: Delta/Midland
Wednesday, Nov. 20: Registered participants of "The Best Shot Workshop," will receive instruction from industry experts and attend a panel discussion including lunch. The "Best Shot: Reaching Your Target Market Workshops and Competitions," is a recently created program. Any entrepreneur, small business owner or innovator at any stage will benefit from this sales crash-course. An interactive overview will be provided by MMIC. In this session attendees will be better able to identify the target market for their product or service and define the ideal distribution channel/s. The panel luncheon, an interactive sales-pitch building activity, will highlight an area success story and allow attendees to ask questions relating their experiences and trials while bringing their product/service to market. In addition, there will be an area service provider to feature what they can do to assist the participants in making it to market more effectively and efficiently. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Michigan Small Business Technology and Development Center at Delta College, 1961 Delta Road, University Center, and it's free. More at this link.

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