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When TOA Technologies began in 2003, founders Yuval Brisker and Irad Carmi had one goal in mind: To eliminate that seemingly endless waiting time for home service calls.
“The company founders' reason to start TOA was to use technology to solve the problem of waiting at home for a delivery,” says John Opdycke, vice presidents of worldwide marketing. “The whole company’s purpose is to make sure people arrive on time.”
TOA’s ETAdirect Mobility App provides accurate, up-to-the-minute workforce management at the user’s fingertips. The app works on any browser, making it flexible for anybody. “The device is agnostic, no matter what you’re doing,” says Opdycke. “As long as it’s browser based, you can use it.”
ETAdirect currently manages more than 60 million appointments annually for many global brands in the satellite/cable/broadband, telecom, insurance, home services and retail industries. The app’s ease of use and accuracy earned it the Best Mobile App award at NEOSA’s Tech Week last month.
“It’s nice to win and get recognized for your accomplishments,” says Opdycke. “It’s nice to share with our employees as they work on the advancement of our product.”
TOA employs 40 people in its Greater Cleveland headquarters and has more than 320 employees on staff worldwide. They are actively hiring in Cleveland, in particular on the company’s marketing team.
Source: John Opdycke
Writer: Karin Connelly
“The company founders' reason to start TOA was to use technology to solve the problem of waiting at home for a delivery,” says John Opdycke, vice presidents of worldwide marketing. “The whole company’s purpose is to make sure people arrive on time.”
TOA’s ETAdirect Mobility App provides accurate, up-to-the-minute workforce management at the user’s fingertips. The app works on any browser, making it flexible for anybody. “The device is agnostic, no matter what you’re doing,” says Opdycke. “As long as it’s browser based, you can use it.”
ETAdirect currently manages more than 60 million appointments annually for many global brands in the satellite/cable/broadband, telecom, insurance, home services and retail industries. The app’s ease of use and accuracy earned it the Best Mobile App award at NEOSA’s Tech Week last month.
“It’s nice to win and get recognized for your accomplishments,” says Opdycke. “It’s nice to share with our employees as they work on the advancement of our product.”
TOA employs 40 people in its Greater Cleveland headquarters and has more than 320 employees on staff worldwide. They are actively hiring in Cleveland, in particular on the company’s marketing team.
Source: John Opdycke
Writer: Karin Connelly
las vegas looks to cleveland casino with appreciation
"Ohio's first casino opened Monday night with long lines of gamblers ready to roll the dice, a glitzy music video instead of a traditional ribbon cutting and a taste of Las Vegas with two bare-midriff showgirls wearing plumed hats and sequined tops," begins this Las Vegas Review-Journal piece on Cleveland's brand new Horseshoe casino.
Toledo's casino will open in two weeks, with Cincinnati and Columbus to follow suit by next year.
"Las Vegas-based Caesars Entertainment owns 20 percent of the $350 million project and will receive fees for managing it on behalf of majority owner Rock Gaming LLC."
Read all the news right here.
Toledo's casino will open in two weeks, with Cincinnati and Columbus to follow suit by next year.
"Las Vegas-based Caesars Entertainment owns 20 percent of the $350 million project and will receive fees for managing it on behalf of majority owner Rock Gaming LLC."
Read all the news right here.
How does an incorrect soda price at a retailer lead to an emerging tech company? Just ask Case student Mark Lorkowski, who came up with the idea for an electronic shelf display system while shopping for a case of Mountain Dew. With Lorktech, he hopes to drink up a portion of the $250 billion flexible electronics market.
Tremont has always been a popular neighborhood for animal lovers, with amenities like Lincoln Park, the Clark Field dog park and pet-friendly restaurants and bars adding to the appeal. The neighborhood also has two shelters, a doggie day care and an active community of animal rescue advocates.
Now a new business, Tremont Tails, will allow dog and cat lovers to buy basic goods for their pets without traveling outside of the neighborhood. It also will promote rescue and adoption programs in Cleveland, carry art and gift items, and even allow owners to indulge their pets with massage sessions on special occasions.
"You go out at five o'clock and there's dogs everywhere, and many are rescued," says Lisa Turner, a court reporter who is launching her business based on her passion for animals. "Now they can walk to a retail store with their animals."
Turner, who is originally from the Tremont neighborhood, recently won the Tremont Storefront Incubator competition. She will open Tremont Tails in a 378-square-foot storefront owned by the Tremont West Development Corporation, which is using the space to spur new businesses that fill an unmet need.
"I would never be able to open my store without this program," says Turner, who will receive three months of free rent and six months of reduced rent as part of the special program. "They're also helping me to market my business."
After Tremont Tails "hatches" from its incubation period, Turner hopes to find a larger storefront and finally turn her passion for animals into a full-time day job.
Source: Lisa Turner
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Now a new business, Tremont Tails, will allow dog and cat lovers to buy basic goods for their pets without traveling outside of the neighborhood. It also will promote rescue and adoption programs in Cleveland, carry art and gift items, and even allow owners to indulge their pets with massage sessions on special occasions.
"You go out at five o'clock and there's dogs everywhere, and many are rescued," says Lisa Turner, a court reporter who is launching her business based on her passion for animals. "Now they can walk to a retail store with their animals."
Turner, who is originally from the Tremont neighborhood, recently won the Tremont Storefront Incubator competition. She will open Tremont Tails in a 378-square-foot storefront owned by the Tremont West Development Corporation, which is using the space to spur new businesses that fill an unmet need.
"I would never be able to open my store without this program," says Turner, who will receive three months of free rent and six months of reduced rent as part of the special program. "They're also helping me to market my business."
After Tremont Tails "hatches" from its incubation period, Turner hopes to find a larger storefront and finally turn her passion for animals into a full-time day job.
Source: Lisa Turner
Writer: Lee Chilcote
flee to the cleve: symon picks hometown faves
Where does chef Michael Symon send out-of-town visitors when they come to town? The New York Post asked and he answered, ticking off a list of 10 can't-miss stops.
#1 West Side Market
“One of the most special places where I bring all my chef friends when they visit," Symon says in the article. “Regardless of whether I bring in chefs from New York or San Francisco or another country, it just blows them away.”.
#2 Great Lakes Brewing Co.
“Microbreweries are very hot right now; this has been there [almost] 30 years and is arguably one of the best."
#3 Velvet Tango Room
“It was so ahead of its time,” he says. “It’s been open 18 years; they were doing all the cool things long ago."
#4 ABC the Tavern
Symon recommends this bar for its cheap drinks and great burgers.
Also mentioned: Banyan Tree, Beachland Ballroom, Big Al's Diner, Greenhouse Tavern, Happy Dog and Superior Pho.
Read the entire list here:
#1 West Side Market
“One of the most special places where I bring all my chef friends when they visit," Symon says in the article. “Regardless of whether I bring in chefs from New York or San Francisco or another country, it just blows them away.”.
#2 Great Lakes Brewing Co.
“Microbreweries are very hot right now; this has been there [almost] 30 years and is arguably one of the best."
#3 Velvet Tango Room
“It was so ahead of its time,” he says. “It’s been open 18 years; they were doing all the cool things long ago."
#4 ABC the Tavern
Symon recommends this bar for its cheap drinks and great burgers.
Also mentioned: Banyan Tree, Beachland Ballroom, Big Al's Diner, Greenhouse Tavern, Happy Dog and Superior Pho.
Read the entire list here:
Life Core Technologies received a $250,000 investment from JumpStart for its Excel disposable cerebral cooling system, a device that reduces chances of death in a medical emergency.
“Excel has a cooling element that cools the brain 1.5 to 2 degrees Celsius very quickly after cardiac arrest, stroke, or traumatic brain injury,” explains Life Core CEO Mike Burke. “The cooling allows the brain to use less oxygen and prevent oxygen depletion and swelling.”
The technology was developed by cardiothoracic surgeon Aqeel Sandhu in the late 1990s. “He discovered though his work with animals that cooling the brain can reduce the metabolic rate and several hours later they came back,” explains Burke. “In 2010, the American Heart Association came up with guidelines stating the cooling as soon as possible after cardiac arrest increases the chances of survivability and retained mental capacity."
The JumpStart investment will allow Life Core to conduct additional scientific studies. “We are working with a number of organizations to do additional studies,” says Burke. “We are proving the effectiveness.”
Burke is proud that the product is manufactured by a local company and assembled by Patriot Packaging, which employs veterans.
Life Core currently has five employees. “We will be expecting to grow as we attain commercialization,” says Burke. “We expect to grow internally with two people and also grow externally through distributors in Northeast Ohio.”
Source: Mike Burke
Writer: Karin Connelly
“Excel has a cooling element that cools the brain 1.5 to 2 degrees Celsius very quickly after cardiac arrest, stroke, or traumatic brain injury,” explains Life Core CEO Mike Burke. “The cooling allows the brain to use less oxygen and prevent oxygen depletion and swelling.”
The technology was developed by cardiothoracic surgeon Aqeel Sandhu in the late 1990s. “He discovered though his work with animals that cooling the brain can reduce the metabolic rate and several hours later they came back,” explains Burke. “In 2010, the American Heart Association came up with guidelines stating the cooling as soon as possible after cardiac arrest increases the chances of survivability and retained mental capacity."
The JumpStart investment will allow Life Core to conduct additional scientific studies. “We are working with a number of organizations to do additional studies,” says Burke. “We are proving the effectiveness.”
Burke is proud that the product is manufactured by a local company and assembled by Patriot Packaging, which employs veterans.
Life Core currently has five employees. “We will be expecting to grow as we attain commercialization,” says Burke. “We expect to grow internally with two people and also grow externally through distributors in Northeast Ohio.”
Source: Mike Burke
Writer: Karin Connelly
moca, 'london architect's first united states project'
Construction is progressing on the Cleveland Museum of Contemporary Art, which Clifford A. Pearson of the Architectural Record bills as architect Farshid Moussavi’s first United States project. The museum, located in University Circle, is scheduled to open this October.
Both the inside and outside will feature some very unique characteristics.
“Inside, they painted the perimeter walls and ceiling a deep blue, which will create 'the sense of an endless, boundary-less space' quite different from the white rooms found in most museums and galleries today," the article quotes the architect.
“The building shifts from a six-sided floor plate at street level to a rectangular plan on the top floor where the main gallery will enjoy daylight entering from above.”
On the exterior "the form changes with each side, so to fully comprehend it, you need to move all around it."
When completed it will be a far cry from the current incarnation of Cleveland’s MOCA.
“MOCA, which was founded in 1968 in a storefront, has rented a second-story space from the Cleveland Play House since 1990. Jill Snyder, MOCA's executive director, says the museum asked Moussavi for an iconic building that embraces cutting-edge technology, is environmentally friendly, and works with its context. The building, which has geo-thermal wells for heating and cooling, is expected to achieve at least a Silver LEED rating.”
Read the full story here.
Both the inside and outside will feature some very unique characteristics.
“Inside, they painted the perimeter walls and ceiling a deep blue, which will create 'the sense of an endless, boundary-less space' quite different from the white rooms found in most museums and galleries today," the article quotes the architect.
“The building shifts from a six-sided floor plate at street level to a rectangular plan on the top floor where the main gallery will enjoy daylight entering from above.”
On the exterior "the form changes with each side, so to fully comprehend it, you need to move all around it."
When completed it will be a far cry from the current incarnation of Cleveland’s MOCA.
“MOCA, which was founded in 1968 in a storefront, has rented a second-story space from the Cleveland Play House since 1990. Jill Snyder, MOCA's executive director, says the museum asked Moussavi for an iconic building that embraces cutting-edge technology, is environmentally friendly, and works with its context. The building, which has geo-thermal wells for heating and cooling, is expected to achieve at least a Silver LEED rating.”
Read the full story here.
This Friday night, Tremont is hosting the grand opening for a new business, Tremont Tails, as well as a Preview Night that will welcome eight new businesses that opened in the past year.
This diverse roster of new businesses is adding to the vibrancy of the neighborhood's growing retail mix, says Cory Riordon, Executive Director of Tremont West Development Corporation.
"We're creating new retail options so that residents don't have to travel outside of the neighborhood to buy things, and that also will appeal to people visiting the neighborhood," he says. "It shows that the neighborhood is desirable."
The new businesses that will be featured during the Preview Night event are Churned Ice Cream Shop, Miranda's Vintage Bridal, Chard Gallery, Ginko Restaurant, Kevin Busta Industrial Furnishings, The Nest and Bozalodz.
The Tremont Art Walk will also take place on Friday, May 12th from 6-10 pm.
Source: Cory Riordan
Writer: Lee Chilcote
This diverse roster of new businesses is adding to the vibrancy of the neighborhood's growing retail mix, says Cory Riordon, Executive Director of Tremont West Development Corporation.
"We're creating new retail options so that residents don't have to travel outside of the neighborhood to buy things, and that also will appeal to people visiting the neighborhood," he says. "It shows that the neighborhood is desirable."
The new businesses that will be featured during the Preview Night event are Churned Ice Cream Shop, Miranda's Vintage Bridal, Chard Gallery, Ginko Restaurant, Kevin Busta Industrial Furnishings, The Nest and Bozalodz.
The Tremont Art Walk will also take place on Friday, May 12th from 6-10 pm.
Source: Cory Riordan
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Shelley Freed, co-founder of Ashton Business Solutions, a consulting group specializing in research-based business strategies, admits that she relies on technology just as much as the next person. But amidst all the emails and text messages, Freed’s goal is to put the human touch back into ABS’s strategic marketing and positioning.
“I do a lot of market research and strategic research for companies,” says Freed. “I get to interact with companies’ internal teams about how customers impact their businesses. Inevitably, I end up interacting with their databases.”
In doing so, Freed found that many companies do not have complete data on their customers, and therefore can’t make informed decisions on how to make improvements to their customer service.
“Very few companies have really solid data,” says Freed. “So I started thinking, wouldn’t it be great if companies would update their records -- throw in an extra question as a customer service touch point, like, Is there anything we can do for you today?"
The thought prompted the creation of ABS’s Customer Service Outsource Center. “And it’s a real person on the phone,” says Freed. “People still want to be able to talk to a human being. It makes a big difference. It’s all about humanity in business, even if it’s sometimes easier to send off an email.”
ABS is rolling out the center, including a secret shopper service. “This, then, is more than a data bank for customer information; it is intended to be an invaluable resource that can help companies discover new and highly successful ways of growing their businesses,” explains Freed.
ABS has several part-time people on staff now and Freed is interviewing for the call center. They recently hired someone to lead the telemarketing aspect of the company.
“The initiative for Ashton this year is to push the humanity back into business,” Freed says. “Business is about relationships. That means getting on the phones to talk with customers, prospects and referral sources on a regular basis all the time. We’re hoping by the end of the year to have a handful of people in permanent part-time positions.”
Source: Shelley Freed
Writer: Karin Connelly
“I do a lot of market research and strategic research for companies,” says Freed. “I get to interact with companies’ internal teams about how customers impact their businesses. Inevitably, I end up interacting with their databases.”
In doing so, Freed found that many companies do not have complete data on their customers, and therefore can’t make informed decisions on how to make improvements to their customer service.
“Very few companies have really solid data,” says Freed. “So I started thinking, wouldn’t it be great if companies would update their records -- throw in an extra question as a customer service touch point, like, Is there anything we can do for you today?"
The thought prompted the creation of ABS’s Customer Service Outsource Center. “And it’s a real person on the phone,” says Freed. “People still want to be able to talk to a human being. It makes a big difference. It’s all about humanity in business, even if it’s sometimes easier to send off an email.”
ABS is rolling out the center, including a secret shopper service. “This, then, is more than a data bank for customer information; it is intended to be an invaluable resource that can help companies discover new and highly successful ways of growing their businesses,” explains Freed.
ABS has several part-time people on staff now and Freed is interviewing for the call center. They recently hired someone to lead the telemarketing aspect of the company.
“The initiative for Ashton this year is to push the humanity back into business,” Freed says. “Business is about relationships. That means getting on the phones to talk with customers, prospects and referral sources on a regular basis all the time. We’re hoping by the end of the year to have a handful of people in permanent part-time positions.”
Source: Shelley Freed
Writer: Karin Connelly
Although Vitamix's commercial-grade blenders and mixers eat up a good chunk of change -- around $500 on average -- that hasn't stopped consumers in the U.S. and more than 80 countries abroad from snatching them up at record rates.
They don't call it a "super blender" for nothing -- Vitamix is the iconic company that brought us the smoothie, yet its machines are now used by chefs and health-conscious consumers to make everything from soups to soy milk. In Taiwan and many other countries, sales are up 80 percent over the past three years as the growing middle-class becomes increasingly health-conscious.
Bolstered by demand, the company recently broke ground on a $10-million, 51,000-square-foot expansion to its Northeast Ohio headquarters. This development is on top of a $6-million, 40,000-square-foot expansion in 2010. Overall, sales have doubled in the past three years, the company says.
Vitamix manufactures all of its products at its Olmsted Falls headquarters, and sources parts locally, as well.
"Our product helps people to eat more whole foods and choose a healthier lifestyle all over the world," says Jodi Berg, the great-granddaughter of W.G. Barnard, who founded the company in 1921. "A lot of Western diseases and ailments can be controlled and prevented by the fuel and food we put into our bodies."
"Vitamix allows you to take whole healthy foods and turn them into what Martha Stewart calls 'velvet on your tongue.' Healthy, wholesome and easy to make."
Source: Jodi Berg
Writer: Lee Chilcote
They don't call it a "super blender" for nothing -- Vitamix is the iconic company that brought us the smoothie, yet its machines are now used by chefs and health-conscious consumers to make everything from soups to soy milk. In Taiwan and many other countries, sales are up 80 percent over the past three years as the growing middle-class becomes increasingly health-conscious.
Bolstered by demand, the company recently broke ground on a $10-million, 51,000-square-foot expansion to its Northeast Ohio headquarters. This development is on top of a $6-million, 40,000-square-foot expansion in 2010. Overall, sales have doubled in the past three years, the company says.
Vitamix manufactures all of its products at its Olmsted Falls headquarters, and sources parts locally, as well.
"Our product helps people to eat more whole foods and choose a healthier lifestyle all over the world," says Jodi Berg, the great-granddaughter of W.G. Barnard, who founded the company in 1921. "A lot of Western diseases and ailments can be controlled and prevented by the fuel and food we put into our bodies."
"Vitamix allows you to take whole healthy foods and turn them into what Martha Stewart calls 'velvet on your tongue.' Healthy, wholesome and easy to make."
Source: Jodi Berg
Writer: Lee Chilcote
DXY Solutions is working with historical societies around the country to put historical information, pictures and maps on iOS and Android systems for a complete and informative history while roaming the city.
“We started this about a year and a half ago with Cleveland State and Epstein Design Partners,” explains DXY’s Dan Young. “We use iOS and Android to connect people who are out and about with historical information."
Known as Curatescapes, the free apps allow for easy access to the troves of historical information collected by these organizations. “We’re one of the first platforms in the world where you can walk down the street and say, Wow. I didn’t know that. Now you not only have historical neighborhoods, you can hear interviews with people and see pictures.”
The Cleveland app has been available for about a year with Cleveland Historical. Young is in the process of rolling out similar apps with five historical societies, including Medina and Geauga counties. Outside of Ohio, Young has launched apps for Spokane, Washington Historical and is about to launch apps in New Orleans and Baltimore.
“The grand vision is: Say you’re taking a cross-country trip and you want to drive Louis and Clark’s trail,” Young says. “You can actually connect to data from our different historical societies.”
Young’s future plans will allow users and organizations to upload their own information to the tours. “In the future we will allow people from the community to upload their own content and comment on their own version of historical places,” says Young. “And historians will go through it and make sure it makes sense.”
Source: Dan Young
Writer: Karin Connelly
“We started this about a year and a half ago with Cleveland State and Epstein Design Partners,” explains DXY’s Dan Young. “We use iOS and Android to connect people who are out and about with historical information."
Known as Curatescapes, the free apps allow for easy access to the troves of historical information collected by these organizations. “We’re one of the first platforms in the world where you can walk down the street and say, Wow. I didn’t know that. Now you not only have historical neighborhoods, you can hear interviews with people and see pictures.”
The Cleveland app has been available for about a year with Cleveland Historical. Young is in the process of rolling out similar apps with five historical societies, including Medina and Geauga counties. Outside of Ohio, Young has launched apps for Spokane, Washington Historical and is about to launch apps in New Orleans and Baltimore.
“The grand vision is: Say you’re taking a cross-country trip and you want to drive Louis and Clark’s trail,” Young says. “You can actually connect to data from our different historical societies.”
Young’s future plans will allow users and organizations to upload their own information to the tours. “In the future we will allow people from the community to upload their own content and comment on their own version of historical places,” says Young. “And historians will go through it and make sure it makes sense.”
Source: Dan Young
Writer: Karin Connelly
Fixing up an older home can be a daunting task. These days, many homeowners don't know a wrench from a pair of pliers, and even if they are handy, both their tools and their skills may be a little bit rusty.
That's where the Home Repair Resource Center (HRRC), a 40-year-old nonprofit organization based in Cleveland Heights, can help. HRRC offers how-to classes for residents throughout Cuyahoga County and a tool-loan program geared to residents of Cleveland Heights.
"We want to empower people to fix their own homes, especially now because there's such a need," says Kathryn Lad, Executive Director of the HRRC. "We teach people how to do it themselves or to hire the right person for the job."
Since the HRRC was founded out of a church in Cleveland Heights, the group has facilitated over $14 million in home improvements. Lad recalls with pride a class geared towards women that spurred a group of friends to build their own garage. The group also offers foreclosure intervention services, financial education and financial assistance programs for low-income homebuyers.
"Everybody is having a tough time right now, and money is tight," says Lad. "People tend to be doing more repairs in reaction to emergencies than remodeling projects. We help people take care of things they have to take care of."
The HRRC has an ongoing series of Tuesday night classes and is also offering a new series entitled "Practical Sustainability: New Thinking for Older Homes."
Source: Kathryn Lad
Writer: Lee Chilcote
That's where the Home Repair Resource Center (HRRC), a 40-year-old nonprofit organization based in Cleveland Heights, can help. HRRC offers how-to classes for residents throughout Cuyahoga County and a tool-loan program geared to residents of Cleveland Heights.
"We want to empower people to fix their own homes, especially now because there's such a need," says Kathryn Lad, Executive Director of the HRRC. "We teach people how to do it themselves or to hire the right person for the job."
Since the HRRC was founded out of a church in Cleveland Heights, the group has facilitated over $14 million in home improvements. Lad recalls with pride a class geared towards women that spurred a group of friends to build their own garage. The group also offers foreclosure intervention services, financial education and financial assistance programs for low-income homebuyers.
"Everybody is having a tough time right now, and money is tight," says Lad. "People tend to be doing more repairs in reaction to emergencies than remodeling projects. We help people take care of things they have to take care of."
The HRRC has an ongoing series of Tuesday night classes and is also offering a new series entitled "Practical Sustainability: New Thinking for Older Homes."
Source: Kathryn Lad
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Crowdfunding, the process of raising money for startups, small businesses or charities, has become an increasingly popular way to get investments for products or ideas that wouldn’t otherwise get off the ground through traditional lending institutions.
But under the Jobs Act, the rules and restrictions on crowdfunding are changing. JumpStart and Ulmer & Berne will host a seminar, Crowdfunding: From Legislation to Reality, on Monday, May 15 to discuss why the legislation was necessary and what it means for small businesses.
“We’re going to go through the nuts and bolts of what the legislation permits and what it doesn’t permit,” says Sean T. Peppard, counsel with Ulmer & Berne. “Essentially, the idea of crowdfunding is raising small amounts of money over the internet."
“Right now, crowdfunding is viewed as a savior for startups and I think there are a lot of people in the community pre-buying because they care about what’s being made," he adds." It’s people investing in small business.”
The seminar will feature a panel of experts with various experiences in startup fundraising -- from angle and venture investors to small successful businesses.
Panelists include Peppard; Michael Belsito of eFuneral; Todd Federman of North Coast Angel Fund; Candace Klein of Bad Girl Ventures and SoMoLend; Chris Sklarin of Edison Ventures and Richard Stuebi of Early Stage Partners.
The free event will be held at the Ulmer & Berne offices, 1660 West 2nd Street, Suite 1100, from 3:30-6:15 pm. Parking at Tower City will be validated. If the demand is great enough, Ulmer & Berne will repeat the event later this spring.
Source: Sean T. Peppard
Writer: Karin Connelly
But under the Jobs Act, the rules and restrictions on crowdfunding are changing. JumpStart and Ulmer & Berne will host a seminar, Crowdfunding: From Legislation to Reality, on Monday, May 15 to discuss why the legislation was necessary and what it means for small businesses.
“We’re going to go through the nuts and bolts of what the legislation permits and what it doesn’t permit,” says Sean T. Peppard, counsel with Ulmer & Berne. “Essentially, the idea of crowdfunding is raising small amounts of money over the internet."
“Right now, crowdfunding is viewed as a savior for startups and I think there are a lot of people in the community pre-buying because they care about what’s being made," he adds." It’s people investing in small business.”
The seminar will feature a panel of experts with various experiences in startup fundraising -- from angle and venture investors to small successful businesses.
Panelists include Peppard; Michael Belsito of eFuneral; Todd Federman of North Coast Angel Fund; Candace Klein of Bad Girl Ventures and SoMoLend; Chris Sklarin of Edison Ventures and Richard Stuebi of Early Stage Partners.
The free event will be held at the Ulmer & Berne offices, 1660 West 2nd Street, Suite 1100, from 3:30-6:15 pm. Parking at Tower City will be validated. If the demand is great enough, Ulmer & Berne will repeat the event later this spring.
Source: Sean T. Peppard
Writer: Karin Connelly
When the Metroparks were planned in the early 20th century, they were envisioned as a chain of connected reservations encircling (but not in) the city of Cleveland -- hence the name “Emerald Necklace.” But as more residents move to the urban core, the Metroparks knew the time was right to follow them.
cnn names severance hall 'top 10' music venue
"Nothing beats the adrenaline, the exhilaration of watching an amazing performance live in a beautiful space, or the rush of discovery that comes with witnessing the birth of a newcomer who you know will become a massive star," states this feature from CNN.
Rounding up its picks for the 10 best U.S. music venues, the article states, "these music venues rock the best sound, location and legends."
Along with legendary clubs like the Troubadour in Los Angeles, Tipitina’s in New Orleans, and Red Rocks in Colorado, Cleveland's Severance Hall gets top billing.
"Music lovers call the Cleveland Orchestra’s historic Severance Hall the most beautiful concert hall in the United States. Opened in 1931 and impressively restored in 2000, it boasts a lovely setting in the leafy University Circle neighborhood, a Georgian exterior, and a grand entrance foyer of soaring columns. The 94-rank Norton Memorial Organ, created by Boston’s renowned Ernest M. Skinner in 1930, has some serious pipes -- 6,025 of them, ranging from 18 centimeters to 9.8 meters -- and is considered one of the finest concert organs ever built. This is one gorgeous place to experience not just Mozart and the usual sublime suspects but also the many up-and-comers Severance Hall premieres."
Read the entire list here.
Rounding up its picks for the 10 best U.S. music venues, the article states, "these music venues rock the best sound, location and legends."
Along with legendary clubs like the Troubadour in Los Angeles, Tipitina’s in New Orleans, and Red Rocks in Colorado, Cleveland's Severance Hall gets top billing.
"Music lovers call the Cleveland Orchestra’s historic Severance Hall the most beautiful concert hall in the United States. Opened in 1931 and impressively restored in 2000, it boasts a lovely setting in the leafy University Circle neighborhood, a Georgian exterior, and a grand entrance foyer of soaring columns. The 94-rank Norton Memorial Organ, created by Boston’s renowned Ernest M. Skinner in 1930, has some serious pipes -- 6,025 of them, ranging from 18 centimeters to 9.8 meters -- and is considered one of the finest concert organs ever built. This is one gorgeous place to experience not just Mozart and the usual sublime suspects but also the many up-and-comers Severance Hall premieres."
Read the entire list here.
cle 'antithesis of a dying city,' says the atlantic
Downtown Cleveland is experiencing a population rebound according to Richard Florida, Senior Editor at The Atlantic.
Florida quotes in a Case Western's Center on Urban Poverty and Community Development study: “Over the last two decades, the [downtown] neighborhood's population grew 96%, with residential totals increasing from 4,651 to 9,098. It was the single largest spike of any neighborhood, suburb, or county measured for the two decades under study. Downtown residential occupancy rates now stand over 95% and developers are eagerly looking to meet residential demand.”
“Twenty-somethings are creating a new and potentially powerful housing pattern as they snap up downtown apartments as fast as they become available. Neighborhood life is blossoming on blocks once dominated by office workers and commuters, and people are clamoring for dog parks.”
"The significance of Cleveland’s population shift cannot be exaggerated. As Jim Russell puts it: “the urban core is a net importer of young adults and a net exporter of old adults. That's the antithesis of a dying city."
Read the full story here.
Florida quotes in a Case Western's Center on Urban Poverty and Community Development study: “Over the last two decades, the [downtown] neighborhood's population grew 96%, with residential totals increasing from 4,651 to 9,098. It was the single largest spike of any neighborhood, suburb, or county measured for the two decades under study. Downtown residential occupancy rates now stand over 95% and developers are eagerly looking to meet residential demand.”
“Twenty-somethings are creating a new and potentially powerful housing pattern as they snap up downtown apartments as fast as they become available. Neighborhood life is blossoming on blocks once dominated by office workers and commuters, and people are clamoring for dog parks.”
"The significance of Cleveland’s population shift cannot be exaggerated. As Jim Russell puts it: “the urban core is a net importer of young adults and a net exporter of old adults. That's the antithesis of a dying city."
Read the full story here.
The population of Northeast Ohio's 12 most populous counties fell by seven percent from 4.1 million in 1970 to 3.8 million in 2010. Yet at the same time, suburban areas added 400 square miles of roads, shopping centers, housing developments and office parks.
That unabated trend towards urban sprawl is not sustainable, argues the Northeast Ohio Sustainable Communities Consortium, a new initiative that won a $4.25 million grant from the federal government in 2010 to plan for more sustainable land use patterns across the region. It also wastes resources, harms cities and makes the region less competitive.
So what would a truly vibrant future look like for Northeast Ohio? The NEOSCC hopes to engage young professionals in answering that question at a series of public engagement meetings. The next event is scheduled for Wednesday, May 16th at Brothers Lounge in Cleveland.
"A lot of times, decisions are made without involving young people, and we wanted them at the forefront," says Jeff Anderle, Director of Communications with the NEOSCC. "We keep hearing that they want a competitive economy in the region so that there are more job opportunities. They also want walkable communities and more vibrant downtowns throughout the 12-county area."
Anderle stresses that the NEOSCC is not dictating people's choices -- "We want to educate people so that they understand the big picture infrastructure costs and how they affect everyone," he says -- yet the initiative's impact will come down to how communities throughout the region adopt the NEOSCC's recommendations. The group plans to release an initial report on existing conditions in June.
Source: Jeff Anderle
Writer: Lee Chilcote
That unabated trend towards urban sprawl is not sustainable, argues the Northeast Ohio Sustainable Communities Consortium, a new initiative that won a $4.25 million grant from the federal government in 2010 to plan for more sustainable land use patterns across the region. It also wastes resources, harms cities and makes the region less competitive.
So what would a truly vibrant future look like for Northeast Ohio? The NEOSCC hopes to engage young professionals in answering that question at a series of public engagement meetings. The next event is scheduled for Wednesday, May 16th at Brothers Lounge in Cleveland.
"A lot of times, decisions are made without involving young people, and we wanted them at the forefront," says Jeff Anderle, Director of Communications with the NEOSCC. "We keep hearing that they want a competitive economy in the region so that there are more job opportunities. They also want walkable communities and more vibrant downtowns throughout the 12-county area."
Anderle stresses that the NEOSCC is not dictating people's choices -- "We want to educate people so that they understand the big picture infrastructure costs and how they affect everyone," he says -- yet the initiative's impact will come down to how communities throughout the region adopt the NEOSCC's recommendations. The group plans to release an initial report on existing conditions in June.
Source: Jeff Anderle
Writer: Lee Chilcote
rock hall induction ceremony to premiere on HBO
This Saturday, May 5, the 2012 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will premiere on HBO at 9 p.m. For a sneak peek, check out this awesome trailer featuring Beastie Boys, Chuck D, Guns N' Roses, Green Day, Donovan, Small Faces/The Faces, Stevie Van Zandt, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Chris Rock, Bette Midler and many more.
the avengers (and cleveland) hit screens nationwide this weekend
The Avengers will be released nationwide on May 4, and local theaters are preparing for an onslaught of seat traffic. Some are hosting midnight screenings of the movie.
Giving the movie an "A" grade, E! writes, "Avengers surpasses huge expectations built up by the recent series of pretty great Marvel superhero movies. Iron Man, Captain America, Thor and (best of all) The Hulk are recruited to save our tiny blue planet, and the ensuing action is, in a word, incredible. With snappy writing and a full roster of fleshed-out characters, the whole thing is a smash, from start to finish."
Hollywood Reporter suggests that The Avengers could have the biggest opening weekend of all time based on its mass appeal.
Read the rest of the review here.
Giving the movie an "A" grade, E! writes, "Avengers surpasses huge expectations built up by the recent series of pretty great Marvel superhero movies. Iron Man, Captain America, Thor and (best of all) The Hulk are recruited to save our tiny blue planet, and the ensuing action is, in a word, incredible. With snappy writing and a full roster of fleshed-out characters, the whole thing is a smash, from start to finish."
Hollywood Reporter suggests that The Avengers could have the biggest opening weekend of all time based on its mass appeal.
Read the rest of the review here.
What began in 2005 as a desire to order a Rascal House pizza online rather than over the phone -- as ONOSYS did when launched by college friends Stan Garber, Oleg Fridman and Alex Yakubovich -- has grown into the second largest leader in mobile and online ordering software for the restaurant industry.
Last week, Living Social acquired ONOSYS, a move that fits squarely into Garber’s plans and expectations for the company.
“We we’re talking about the idea of working together for a while,” says Garber. “It just made sense. We definitely had a vision it was going to grow this big.”
ONOSYS has a track record of 100-percent growth annually. They saw $100 million in sales last year and represented more than 75 brands across the nation.
Financial details of the sale were not disclosed. Living Social plans to open offices in Cleveland, which ONOSYS will run. ONOSYS has grown from five people in 2008 to 20 employees today. “Our goal is to get to 35 to 40 by the end of the year,” says Garber. “We’re going to continue what we’re doing.”
The acquisition is not just good for ONOSYS. Garber sees the move as a positive impact on Cleveland as well. “It’s a bright spot for Cleveland,” he says. “It’s more fuel on the fire for attracting more tech companies to Cleveland. This is a good example that young entrepreneurs in Cleveland don’t need to go to New York, Chicago and L.A. to get recognition.”
Source: Stan Garber
Writer: Karin Connelly
Last week, Living Social acquired ONOSYS, a move that fits squarely into Garber’s plans and expectations for the company.
“We we’re talking about the idea of working together for a while,” says Garber. “It just made sense. We definitely had a vision it was going to grow this big.”
ONOSYS has a track record of 100-percent growth annually. They saw $100 million in sales last year and represented more than 75 brands across the nation.
Financial details of the sale were not disclosed. Living Social plans to open offices in Cleveland, which ONOSYS will run. ONOSYS has grown from five people in 2008 to 20 employees today. “Our goal is to get to 35 to 40 by the end of the year,” says Garber. “We’re going to continue what we’re doing.”
The acquisition is not just good for ONOSYS. Garber sees the move as a positive impact on Cleveland as well. “It’s a bright spot for Cleveland,” he says. “It’s more fuel on the fire for attracting more tech companies to Cleveland. This is a good example that young entrepreneurs in Cleveland don’t need to go to New York, Chicago and L.A. to get recognition.”
Source: Stan Garber
Writer: Karin Connelly