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Fresh Water managing photographer Bob Perkoski was on hand to capture these evocative images from last Saturday's demonstration in Downtown Cleveland, which was attended by some 15,000 people.
The Global Student Entrepreneurs Awards (GSEA) will host a Qualifying Competition on Thursday, Jan. 26 at Kent State University School of Podiatric Medicine, 6000 Rockside Woods Blvd N in Independence, starting at 1 p.m. GSEA, a program of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO), is an awards program for student entrepreneurs, providing students the opportunity to form relationships with fellow enterprising students and the judges.
“Over the course of the past several years, the GSEA awards have been responsible for launching and fostering the entrepreneurial efforts of many local students” said Brain Sprafka, Chair of Cleveland’s GSEA Awards, in a statement. “We look forward to hearing the presentations from these enterprising individuals.”
As qualifying criteria for the program, the four student finalists are in currently enrolled in their undergraduate studies of a recognized college or university and have been primarily responsible for operating a business for no less than six consecutive months. The four presenting students are enrolled at Kent State University, The Ohio State University, and Cuyahoga Community College. The presentations will focus on their business efforts in emergency medicine, software, locally sourced food, and fashion with a philanthropic cause.
The winner of this competition will be sent to compete at the Qualifying Competition in Kansas City, MO, on March 8 – 9, and will also receive business services and prizes totaling more than $20,000 from Brouse & McDowell, Compass Packaging, Licata Law, Northcoast Angel Fund/Todd Federman, Post-Up Stand, Sales Concepts Inc., Studiothink, and Technical Assurance, Inc.
The winner of the Qualifying Competition will attend the GSEA Finals in Frankfurt, Germany on April 27-29, 2017 to compete with the world’s top student entrepreneurs and have a chance to win over US $400,000 in cash and donated business services.
“Over the course of the past several years, the GSEA awards have been responsible for launching and fostering the entrepreneurial efforts of many local students” said Brain Sprafka, Chair of Cleveland’s GSEA Awards, in a statement. “We look forward to hearing the presentations from these enterprising individuals.”
As qualifying criteria for the program, the four student finalists are in currently enrolled in their undergraduate studies of a recognized college or university and have been primarily responsible for operating a business for no less than six consecutive months. The four presenting students are enrolled at Kent State University, The Ohio State University, and Cuyahoga Community College. The presentations will focus on their business efforts in emergency medicine, software, locally sourced food, and fashion with a philanthropic cause.
The winner of this competition will be sent to compete at the Qualifying Competition in Kansas City, MO, on March 8 – 9, and will also receive business services and prizes totaling more than $20,000 from Brouse & McDowell, Compass Packaging, Licata Law, Northcoast Angel Fund/Todd Federman, Post-Up Stand, Sales Concepts Inc., Studiothink, and Technical Assurance, Inc.
The winner of the Qualifying Competition will attend the GSEA Finals in Frankfurt, Germany on April 27-29, 2017 to compete with the world’s top student entrepreneurs and have a chance to win over US $400,000 in cash and donated business services.
While Congress floats a proposal to raise the full Social Security retirement age to 69, the impact will hit hardest in Cleveland's urban neighborhoods, where life expectancy is as low as 70—nearly nine years shorter than the national average.
Ridding the city streets of zombies—long abandoned vacant properties—has become one local entrepreneur's ongoing battle. His fiercest weapon is a product that literally changes the face of foreclosure.
The Ohio Federal Research Network brings colleges and universities together to increase research funding, industry collaboration, and technology commercialization for job growth and economic development.
Wilbur Ross, Trump's Commerce pick, offshored thousands of jobs, including some in NEO
From Andy Sullivan for Reuters:
"Billionaire Wilbur Ross, chosen by Donald Trump to help implement the president-elect's trade agenda, earned his fortune in part by running businesses that have offshored thousands of U.S. jobs, according to Labor Department data attained by Reuters."
The article goes on to say that one of those companies, Canton, Ohio, based International Automotive Components Group, closed in 2016 "and shifted production of rubber floor mats to Mexico, eliminating the final 16 jobs in a factory that once employed 450 workers."
Get the whole story here.
"Billionaire Wilbur Ross, chosen by Donald Trump to help implement the president-elect's trade agenda, earned his fortune in part by running businesses that have offshored thousands of U.S. jobs, according to Labor Department data attained by Reuters."
The article goes on to say that one of those companies, Canton, Ohio, based International Automotive Components Group, closed in 2016 "and shifted production of rubber floor mats to Mexico, eliminating the final 16 jobs in a factory that once employed 450 workers."
Get the whole story here.
As a small-business owner, Mark D’Agostino knows firsthand the difficulties of staffing a human resources department. All too often, HR employees are overworked, undertrained and unsupported by company leadership, he says.
To address these issues, D’Agostino launched ConnectedHR, a professional services firm that provides its 30 clients with experienced HR consultants. ConnectedHR personnel work on-site at companies—albeit off their payroll and benefits programs—diving into the complex realm of workers' compensation claims, employee engagement and other duties beholden to an in-house HR operation.
"We go out to organizations and become their HR entity on a part-time basis," says D’Agostino, who started his Independence-based business in 2014. "We have one young woman who works at five different organizations each day of the week."
Company "technicians" are spread out to diverse industries such as biotech, childcare and law. Cleveland law firm The Rathbone Group and drug discovery company BioMotiv are among the entities currently hosting a ConnectedHR staff member. Client business models may differ, but human resources basics are similar across industries, D’Agostino notes.
"Our technicians have an agenda and structure they follow very closely," he says. "It's streamlined enough that they know what aspects to focus on."
Businesses that enlist D’Agostino's services generally don't have an HR strategy in place. The company founder and president understands how that goes, as he didn't have a human resources staff at the business supply distribution company he ran prior to launching ConnectedHR. Visiting other offices at the time revealed HR's dispersal throughout harried personnel groups. From there, a vision for a new employee engagement approach came into being.
Since its inception, ConnectedHR has steadily grown its client base and topped $1 million in annual revenue. D’Agostino enjoys working with an established clientele that have reached a stage of growth where a level of HR professionalism is needed.
"I'm also excited about my team," D’Agostino says. "There's such an energy and vibrancy with them. They're a very educated, experienced group."
Ensuring worker well-being is especially satisfying in a region where small business is an economic driver.
"I'm passionate about supporting these organizations, because I'm a small business owner, too," says D’Agostino. "My clients want to be a good employer for their employees."
To address these issues, D’Agostino launched ConnectedHR, a professional services firm that provides its 30 clients with experienced HR consultants. ConnectedHR personnel work on-site at companies—albeit off their payroll and benefits programs—diving into the complex realm of workers' compensation claims, employee engagement and other duties beholden to an in-house HR operation.
"We go out to organizations and become their HR entity on a part-time basis," says D’Agostino, who started his Independence-based business in 2014. "We have one young woman who works at five different organizations each day of the week."
Company "technicians" are spread out to diverse industries such as biotech, childcare and law. Cleveland law firm The Rathbone Group and drug discovery company BioMotiv are among the entities currently hosting a ConnectedHR staff member. Client business models may differ, but human resources basics are similar across industries, D’Agostino notes.
"Our technicians have an agenda and structure they follow very closely," he says. "It's streamlined enough that they know what aspects to focus on."
Businesses that enlist D’Agostino's services generally don't have an HR strategy in place. The company founder and president understands how that goes, as he didn't have a human resources staff at the business supply distribution company he ran prior to launching ConnectedHR. Visiting other offices at the time revealed HR's dispersal throughout harried personnel groups. From there, a vision for a new employee engagement approach came into being.
Since its inception, ConnectedHR has steadily grown its client base and topped $1 million in annual revenue. D’Agostino enjoys working with an established clientele that have reached a stage of growth where a level of HR professionalism is needed.
"I'm also excited about my team," D’Agostino says. "There's such an energy and vibrancy with them. They're a very educated, experienced group."
Ensuring worker well-being is especially satisfying in a region where small business is an economic driver.
"I'm passionate about supporting these organizations, because I'm a small business owner, too," says D’Agostino. "My clients want to be a good employer for their employees."
Online event to focus on uncertain future of historic tax credits
Per the Cleveland Restoration Society (CRS), last month, several people responded when word circulated that the House Ways and Means Committee Republicans were meeting to discuss tax reform legislation. CRS members and staff heard from numerous constituents about how the historic tax credit leverages private investment in underutilized historic buildings and their request for it to remain part of the tax code.
A very incomplete list of local projects that have benefitted from the state and federal historic tax credits includes the ongoing West 25th Street Lofts, the boutique Kimpton Schofield Hotel, Heinen's Downtown and the Wagner Awning Building.
To follow up on the issue, the National Trust for Historic Preservation is holding a free webinar on Thursday, January 19 from 2 – 3 p.m. to share the results of interested parties' efforts and to discuss follow-up actions. President and CEO of the National Trust, Stephanie Meeks, will initiate the conversation and describe steps the National Trust is taking to address these and other policy challenges. A panel of top Washington advocates will be on the call to describe the legislative environment and what should be done to protect the historic tax credit.
The webinar is free but registration is required. Click here to register. Click here for more information.
Per the Cleveland Restoration Society (CRS), last month, several people responded when word circulated that the House Ways and Means Committee Republicans were meeting to discuss tax reform legislation. CRS members and staff heard from numerous constituents about how the historic tax credit leverages private investment in underutilized historic buildings and their request for it to remain part of the tax code.
A very incomplete list of local projects that have benefitted from the state and federal historic tax credits includes the ongoing West 25th Street Lofts, the boutique Kimpton Schofield Hotel, Heinen's Downtown and the Wagner Awning Building.
To follow up on the issue, the National Trust for Historic Preservation is holding a free webinar on Thursday, January 19 from 2 – 3 p.m. to share the results of interested parties' efforts and to discuss follow-up actions. President and CEO of the National Trust, Stephanie Meeks, will initiate the conversation and describe steps the National Trust is taking to address these and other policy challenges. A panel of top Washington advocates will be on the call to describe the legislative environment and what should be done to protect the historic tax credit.
The webinar is free but registration is required. Click here to register. Click here for more information.
Come join the City of Cleveland, Downtown Cleveland Alliance and North Coast Harbor for Ice FEST this Monday, Jan. 16. The wintry action will take place between the Great Lakes Science Center and the Roll Hall starting at 10 a.m. This event is free and open to the public.
More than a dozen ice displays will be set up on the walk way between the Science Center and Rock Hall. In addition, both venues will host free admission for the day.
Full details and scheduling here.
More than a dozen ice displays will be set up on the walk way between the Science Center and Rock Hall. In addition, both venues will host free admission for the day.
Full details and scheduling here.
From Annie Knox and Kim Palmer, with additional contributors, for Reuters:
President-elect Donald Trump aims to open up federal lands to more energy development, tapping into a long-running and contentious debate over how best to manage America’s remaining wilderness.
The U.S. government holds title to about 500 million acres of land across the country, including national parks and forests, wildlife refuges and tribal territories stretching from the Arctic to the Gulf of Mexico. They overlay billions of barrels of oil and vast quantities of natural gas, coal, and uranium.
The article goes on to include the Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) as one federal holding pertinent to the controversy. The CVNP is one of the nation's few parks that already allows drilling on account of privately owned mineral rights.
Per this article by Kabir Bhatia for wksu, however, park officials do not foresee an expansion:
Right now, there are 91 wells within Cuyahoga Valley National Park’s 33,000 acres. Last fall, the rules governing those wells* were overhauled to give the parks more control. Lisa Petit, head of resource management for the park, says she doesn’t foresee new wells being added in the next several years; instead the focus will be bringing the existing wells in-line with the new rules.
The greenspace is a local mecca for hikers, bikers and those who enjoy watersports on the Cuyahoga River. It is Ohio's only national park.
Further reading: 100 miles of the Towpath Trail, one step at a time
*link added
President-elect Donald Trump aims to open up federal lands to more energy development, tapping into a long-running and contentious debate over how best to manage America’s remaining wilderness.
The U.S. government holds title to about 500 million acres of land across the country, including national parks and forests, wildlife refuges and tribal territories stretching from the Arctic to the Gulf of Mexico. They overlay billions of barrels of oil and vast quantities of natural gas, coal, and uranium.
The article goes on to include the Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) as one federal holding pertinent to the controversy. The CVNP is one of the nation's few parks that already allows drilling on account of privately owned mineral rights.
Per this article by Kabir Bhatia for wksu, however, park officials do not foresee an expansion:
Right now, there are 91 wells within Cuyahoga Valley National Park’s 33,000 acres. Last fall, the rules governing those wells* were overhauled to give the parks more control. Lisa Petit, head of resource management for the park, says she doesn’t foresee new wells being added in the next several years; instead the focus will be bringing the existing wells in-line with the new rules.
The greenspace is a local mecca for hikers, bikers and those who enjoy watersports on the Cuyahoga River. It is Ohio's only national park.
Further reading: 100 miles of the Towpath Trail, one step at a time
*link added
While the Cleveland Renaissance rises all around us in gleaming fashion, Fresh Water takes a steely look inside five spots that evoke the Rust Belt's hey day.