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Thank you for your interest in innovation-based economic development (IBED) in West Virginia. We hope you join us in celebrating the state's technology sector and in working towards a more robust and diverse economy across the Mountain State.
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EDA Officials Join Congressional Delegation for Entrepreneurs Roundtable
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Sen. Jay Rockefeller, Mr. Fernandez, Rep. Shelley Capito, Chancellor Brian Noland, Sen. Joe Manchin, EDA Regional Director Willie Taylor, EDA WV Rep. Anne Cavalier
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John Fernandez, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for the Economic Development Administration, joined Senator Jay Rockefeller, Senator Joe Manchin, and Rep. Shelley Capito in a roundtable discussion with entrepreneurs at the West Virginia Education, Research & Technology Park on March 24. EDA Regional Director Willie C. Taylor and West Virginia's EDA Representative Anne Cavalier also participated in the forum. Eight members of TechConnect's board joined in the discussion, which was hosted by the WV Higher Education Policy Commission and Chancellor Brian Noland.
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Dr. Duane Dombek (L) of MATRIC leads Mr. Taylor (center) and Mr. Fernandez (R) on a tour of labs at the tech park.
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Mr. Fernandez said that "public-private partnerships and cluster development are what it takes to expand the innovation economy." He stressed the importance of "soft infrastructure" in tech-based economic development, citing venture development organizations such as INNOVA as one example. Another "must" is federal investment in R&D, he said.
Entrepreneurs from around the state shared their concerns, including the demand for more seed and venture capital, rising energy costs, the need for increased investment in high quality graduate students, and lengthy delays in the patent application process. |
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| 3 Elected to TechConnect Board of Directors |
Charlotte Weber, Elizabeth Kraftician, and Ryan Wall were elected to the Board of Directors of TechConnect at the group's quarterly meeting.
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Charlotte Weber
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Ms. Weber is Vice President for Federal Programs at Marshall University and Director of the Robert C. Byrd Institute for Advanced Flexible Manufacturing. Prior to joining Marshall University in 1993, she worked for U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd in his Washington office. She is an expert in helping manufacturing firms become more competitive, and through her efforts, RCBI has expanded to four locations in West Virginia.
"Charlotte Weber understands what it takes to improve the competitiveness of West Virginia manufacturers. Under her leadership, RCBI has proved that innovation is the key to re-tooling our economy," TechConnect Executive Director Anne Barth said.
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Elizabeth Kraftician
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Ms. Kraftician co-founded Touchstone Research Laboratory, Ltd. in 1980 in the basement of a monastery in Wheeling. Since then, the materials research and technology product development firm has expanded to four buildings at the Millennium Centre in Triadelphia. Touchstone has won numerous Small Business Innovation Research contracts from the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy, NASA, and the National Science Foundation. The firm owns more than 40 patents, including in carbon foam technology, and has a number of patents pending. In 2007, Touchstone won an "Oscar of Invention" for its CSTONE, a coal-based product prized for its lighter weight, reduced maintenance and affordability.
"Elizabeth Kraftician is a recognized leader in innovative small business management in West Virginia and the nation," Barth said.
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Ryan Wall
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Ryan Wall is the Director of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center at Wheeling Jesuit University, where he is responsible for managing and growing a new technology-based economic development program. He is experienced in project management, marketing, and international business, and has expertise in running a software business specializing in mobile applications (apps). A native of Glasgow, Scotland, he holds a Bachelors degree in Political Science from Rio Grande University (Ohio), a Masters degree in International Relations from the University of Essex (UK), and is currently completing a Masters in Business Administration.
"Ryan Wall has direct experience in project management, marketing, and international business, and will bring a unique perspective to our operations," Barth said.
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Business Opportunity Session at NETL
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The National Energy Technology Laboratory, in collaboration
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DeeDee Newlon, TechConnectWV Board; White House Deputy Assistant Michael Strautmanis; Anne Barth, TechConnectWV; Anthony Cugini, NETL Director
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with the U.S. Small Business Administration, held a Business Opportunity Session on March 31 at its Pittsburgh facility. Speakers included Daniel B. Poneman, Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Dept. of Energy; Michael Strautmanis, Deputy Assistant to the President, White House Small Business Procurement Group Initiative; and Dr. Anthony Cugini, Director of NETL.
In his remarks, Dr. Poneman said small businesses are the key to reducing the nation's reliance on foreign oil, and he touted the Administration's "America's Next Top Energy Innovator" Challenge, which will give start-up companies the opportunity to license technologies developed at the federal labs for $1,000.
Dr. Cugini noted that NETL has 100 years of experience as a developer of new technologies and an incubator for new businesses, and encouraged small businesses to work on developing partnerships with NETL. The forum also provided one-on-one business sessions and a networking opportunity for small businesses to learn how to partner with the agency in contract agreements.
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DeeDee Newlon, TechConnectWV Board; Greg Henthorn, TechConnectWV Board; Carey Butler, Team KeyLogic
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White House Deputy Assistant Michael Strautmanis; James Estep, President & CEO, WV High Tech Consortium Foundation
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Spotlight on Success in West Virginia --
The "Chicken Switch" Story
After years of working as a chemical plant electrician, Charles (Mark) McClung had an idea for a way to more safely operate high-voltage circuit breakers, where arc flash can be deadly. As he developed the memorably-named "Chicken Switch" (the name is trademarked), he did much of his own patent research in addition to product development. Later on in the process, he worked with RCBI on engineering design, prototyping, and manufacturing.
Now his company, MarTek Ltd., produces all of the metal components used in the "Chicken Switch" at RCBI. The WV Small Business Development Center helped Mr. McClung and his partner, Russ Safreed, move into full-scale production. Who uses the "Chicken Switch" to improve worker safety? Clients include utilities, oil and gas firms, the Department of Defense, chemical companies, the aerospace industry, and railroads, to name just a few. MarTek Ltd. is adding to its product line and demonstrating to the world that great ideas can and do happen right here in West Virginia.
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Upcoming Events......
April 7 - Cyberinfrastructure Day, Marshall University
April 7 - Eastern Panhandle Entrepreneurs Forum, The Inn at Charles Town, Charles Town, WV
April 7 - Professional Development Workshop Series--Project Management I; at the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center at Wheeling Jesuit University, Wheeling
May 25 - Opportunities in Innovation for Undergraduate Institutions, hosted by the WV Higher Education Policy Commission, Embassy Suites, Charleston
June 1-2 - Teaming to Win, hosted by Teaming to Win, Inc. and TechConnect, Stonewall Resort
June 27-30 - BIO 2011, Washington, DC
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| | SBIR-STTR-CPP Extended Through May 31 |
SBIR, STTR, and CPP programs have been extended through May 31, 2011 as a result of a continuing resolution--HR 366--approved by both the House and Senate and signed into law by President Obama on February 3, 2011. All stays "as is" during the extension.
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Want to learn more, get involved, or become a TechConnectWV sponsor?
Contact ...
Anne Barth
Executive Director
304-444-2918
anne@techconnectwv.org
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