Tom Zyer

NKU Alumni, are you looking to continue your professional development in your current careeer? Take advantage of the Professional Development Series sponsored by NKU Alumni Association - this months topic is Emotional Intelligence which will be held in November 21st. Details below on how to register. #NorseUp #NKUAlumni #ProfessionalDevelopment

5

Our CEO and President Kevin Lewis sat down with Kansas City leaders and the Kansas City Business Journal to discuss what’s driving economies at every level. From the 2024 election to #AI and essential business tools, the conversation offered insights for success in 2025 and beyond. Learn more here.

3

Had a great day at IMTS in Chicago today! I learned a lot about how AI is being applied in industrial applications along with other new approaches to drive productivity forward. If you want to hear about my thoughts on AI and EtherNet/IP, you can check out the latest IEB special report here: https://lnkd.in/ek33___E #IMTS #Chicago #AI #EtherNetIP #ODVA

40

As baby boomers retire, how can manufacturers attract the next generation of talent? This article highlights the importance of marketing manufacturing careers to younger generations: “We need to let young people know these jobs exist, and they’re good-paying, stable careers.” Programs like the one in Chicago connecting high school students with manufacturing opportunities are a step in the right direction. But the challenge remains: building a sustainable pipeline of engaged talent. 👉 What are you doing to connect with the workforce of tomorrow? Share your strategies in the comments! ⬇️ #Manufacturing #TalentPipeline #FutureOfWork Here's a link to the full article: https://lnkd.in/edgyrTsC

12

Join us for an insightful discussion on the Lean Startup methodology with Kellogg Professor Jeffrey Eschbach and a panel of successful founders. Discover the key principles behind building a scalable and sustainable business, and gain valuable insights from experienced entrepreneurs. Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn from the best in the industry. See you there!" #LeanStartup #Entrepreneurship #KelloggSchoolOfManagement #FoundersPanel

2

1 Comment

Just over a week ago, Generac was honored to host a group of students from Pewaukee High School for a career exploration experience. I was asked to give a brief presentation about my career path, my education path, share examples of projects I've have worked on, any advice I'd give to those interested in the field. It can be difficult to capture the attention of a high-school aged human (I can say that because I live with one). However, I believe I struck a chord when I said I was a college dropout. Although my path isn't the norm, and I've had to prove myself time and time again, I'm proud to be a product of my own hard work and perseverance. College isn't for everyone. I'll type that one again. College isn't for everyone. And that's okay. This industry would collapse if we didn't have people that chose a path outside of the standard four-year degree. Am I bashing higher education? Not at all. In fact, I couldn't have been more proud than when our daughter was accepted into college. Her chosen path is specific and requires a degree for her to pursue her passion. I admire those who know exactly what they want and follow the steps to get there. As for me, I'm still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up. I can promise you that I will never stop learning and growing along the way as I figure it out. My advice to the group I met with was, "Whatever you choose to do, be really good at it. Better yet, be the best at it. But never get comfortable. It's those times of unease that really make you grow."

111

12 Comments

Attended the Venture Innovation Summit put on by Interstate Fusion Ventures last night at Bounce Innovation Hub in Akron. Here are 5 key takeaways from the night for the Ohio ecosystem: -Collaboration across Ohio is how we compete with the coasts - We need early investors in the ecosystem. Full stop. - Our sweet spots of HealthTech, manufacturing, and fintech are beach heads that make us standout in startup space - We need government support to win - grants, tax incentives, programming are all necessary - Our geography, resources, cost of living make us an exceptional spot for founding. Fresh water access? Check. Able to reach 50% of US and Canadian population within 10 hours? Check. **Bonus takeaway: Major corporations call Ohio home. They can support through being early investors, codevelopers, and first customers. Overall I’m quite happy to be building pigybak here in Cleveland. What do you think about the opportunities in the Silicon Foothills? #founderlife #foundermode #fundraising #venturecapital Bill Manby Colleen Kelly Elad Granot 🟦 Jessica Sublett, J.D., LLM Kim Vergottini, Founder of SMART-LE Medical/Nursing VR Steven Burns John Bogart

37

13 Comments

Join Sportsdigita on April 30th for a collaborative and energetic conversation on the most effective ways to drive revenue through customization. Sports Industry leaders from the Brooklyn Nets, Minnesota Twins, and San Diego Seals will be discussing the best practices for personalized ticketing, marketing, and sponsorship experiences through digital content. Learn about simple and effective ways to transform content while driving revenue. Check out the link in the comments below ⬇ and see you there!

14

1 Comment

🤓 I read a case study on the St. Louis Startup Ecosystem in 2016... → The themes they found are good for Wisconsin to reflect on ⤵️ 👥 Prioritize Mentorship (Biggest opportunity IMO) Leverage the experience of local entrepreneurs to provide context-specific advice and support to new startups. Experienced mentors are crucial for guiding young companies through their unique challenges. 🌱 Shape a Supportive Entrepreneurial Culture Develop a culture of risk-taking, learning, and mutual support by encouraging more interaction and mentorship among startups and seasoned entrepreneurs. This type of thing is usually more informal. Founder-led and not "events." Ultimate goal 👉 Founders just getting together without events. 🔗 Build Strong(er) Connections Encourage more collaboration between support organizations and entrepreneurs. A well-connected ecosystem leads to stronger startup networks and better resource allocation. 🏢 Support Organizations as Hubs Organizations like Arch Grants and Capital Innovators in St. Louis act as vital hubs. Wisconsin’s support organizations should continue to offer mentorship, networking, and resources to help startups thrive at all stages. There is space for more orgs to step up in new ways though. (Biggest issue here IMO is awareness of resources/hubs) Would love any thoughts! I'll drop the case study in the comments.

8

6 Comments

🌟The importance of attending industry conferences🌟 At ToucanTech, we know the value of staying connected and informed in the association management space. That's why we're headed to ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership's annual meeting and expo in Cleveland this weekend! Here’s why we make conferences a priority: 🤝 Building Relationships: Conferences allow us to connect with industry professionals, understand your needs, and build strong partnerships. 💻 Showcasing Innovation: We love demonstrating our latest features and getting real-time feedback to ensure our software meets your challenges. 📈 Gaining Insights: Attending sessions keeps us updated on industry trends, helping us continuously improve our solutions. 👨‍💼 Learning from Experts: Engaging with thought leaders inspires our product development and strategic direction. 🤳 Networking and Collaboration: Conferences are perfect for networking with other vendors, partners, and potential clients, fostering collaboration and innovation. Conferences are not just about showcasing ToucanTech—they’re about listening, learning, and growing together with the association management community! Are you headed to ASAE this weekend in Cleveland? Let us know and set a time to come check out our booth! #AssociationManagement #AMS #ASAE #ToucanTech #Innovation #Networking #IndustryConferences

13

In an exciting development, Illinois is stepping into the future by investing $200M in a Quantum Computing Hub, which is a partnership between University of Illinois and the University of Chicago. This endeavor will not only revolutionize technology but also promises to be a major boost for the commercial real estate market. The Quantum Exchange hub will attract high-tech businesses, innovative startups, and foster a dynamic ecosystem that can influence the real estate landscape of the region. The ripple effects of this investment are vast. The Quantum Hub will be a magnet for talent, business, and innovation, thereby increasing the demand for commercial space in the region. Consequently, it has the potential to reshape the commercial real estate market. This is an example of how technology and real estate can work hand-in-hand to drive economic growth. #QuantumComputing #CommercialRealEstate #InnovationInIllinois

8

1 Comment

This is an amazing case study about real transformation and having a deliberate strategy.

3

🚀 Exciting Opportunity for Entrepreneurs in Southeast Wisconsin! 🚀 I'm thrilled to announce the launch of the 2024/25 Founders Night Series, a monthly event dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs and business leaders in our community. Whether you're just starting out or looking to scale your business, this series is designed to provide the tools, knowledge, and connections you need to succeed. 📅 Mark Your Calendar: October 23rd at the Kenosha Emerging Leaders Academy (KELA) Join us for our Kick-off and Business Scaling Workshop where you'll: Network with fellow entrepreneurs Dive into a hands-on workshop on business optimization Meet experienced mentors ready to guide you Engage in collaborative group activities to address your unique business challenges Who Should Attend? This event is perfect for anyone who is: Looking to start or grow a business Interested in learning from industry experts Excited to connect with like-minded individuals in our community Why Founders Night Out? Founders Night Out is more than just an event series—it's a community. Hosted by Tech-Prize and supported by local organizations like the Kenosha Innovation Network and Racine Economic Development Corp, we’re building a network of passionate, driven entrepreneurs who are committed to making a difference. Get Involved: We're always looking for new venues to host our monthly gatherings. If you'd like to bring the energy of Founders Night Out to your location, let us know! Let’s come together to learn, grow, and shape the future of entrepreneurship in Southeast Wisconsin. See you on October 23rd! #FoundersNightOut #Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #CommunityBuilding

5

2 Comments

🚀 Exciting Opportunity for Entrepreneurs in Southeast Wisconsin! 🚀 I'm thrilled to announce the launch of the 2024/25 Founders Night Series, a monthly event dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs and business leaders in our community. Whether you're just starting out or looking to scale your business, this series is designed to provide the tools, knowledge, and connections you need to succeed. 📅 Mark Your Calendar: October 23rd at the Kenosha Emerging Leaders Academy (KELA) Join us for our Kick-off and Business Scaling Workshop where you'll: Network with fellow entrepreneurs Dive into a hands-on workshop on business optimization Meet experienced mentors ready to guide you Engage in collaborative group activities to address your unique business challenges Who Should Attend? This event is perfect for anyone who is: Looking to start or grow a business Interested in learning from industry experts Excited to connect with like-minded individuals in our community Why Founders Night Out? Founders Night Out is more than just an event series—it's a community. Hosted by Tech-Prize and supported by local organizations like the Kenosha Innovation Network and Racine Economic Development Corp, we’re building a network of passionate, driven entrepreneurs who are committed to making a difference. Get Involved: We're always looking for new venues to host our monthly gatherings. If you'd like to bring the energy of Founders Night Out to your location, let us know! Let’s come together to learn, grow, and shape the future of entrepreneurship in Southeast Wisconsin. See you on October 23rd! #FoundersNightOut #Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #CommunityBuilding

3

1 Comment

I had the opportunity to attend the TechPoint June Board Meeting and Community Happy Hour with Chris Hutchinson and Karen Mangia from The Engineered Innovation Group yesterday. It was an inspiring experience with several key insights about the potential and future of technology in Indiana. As I reflect on the discussions and interactions, I believe these three takeaways are important, especially to the younger generation of the workforce like myself: 1️⃣ Indiana as a Technological Hub I was impressed by the diversity and potential within Indiana's tech landscape that Ting Gootee, CFA, CAIA and Dennis Trinkle shared. Many bright individuals and organizations are collaborating to solve problems and drive development in the state. This reminds me to stay curious and open-minded to the vast opportunities in this community. 2️⃣ Approaching AI with the Right Mentality While there's a consensus that AI will augment rather than replace jobs, more open dialogue is needed to shift general attitudes toward AI. As an employee who once feared being replaced by AI, I believe it's crucial to advance these discussions among students and employees of various levels to understand our roles and shape the future of technology together. 3️⃣ Believing in My Voice and Value Overcoming imposter syndrome and confidently raising my voice has been challenging for me. However, my conversations with Ting Gootee, CFA, CAIA, Dennis Trinkle, Christopher (Toph) Day from Elevate Ventures, Luke Zhang, Heather Polivka from Awesome People Leaders, Steve Johns of OneCause along with Chris and Karen’s encouragement, have reassured me that a continuous learning attitude is my greatest asset. Therefore, I should never hesitate to ask questions and express my opinions, as my generation's fresh perspectives are always valued. #ai #tech #indiana #learning #student #intern #networking #community

79

14 Comments

More positive news about Purdue University. Purdue continues to earn stellar rankings from various publications in a wide range of areas. A few of the following rankings caught my attention: - U.S. News & World Report named Purdue as a top 10 Most Innovative school for the sixth consecutive year, placing the university as No. 7 Most Innovative in the nation. - Purdue was also in the top 100 of the 2024 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, coming in at No. 9 among U.S. public land-grant universities. - Purdue recently placed fifth internationally and in the top four for U.S. universities in U.S. patents received for the second year in a row. - In the most recent Global University Visibility rankings, Purdue was ranked the No. 3 most recognized public university in the U.S. and No. 10 worldwide. Purdue University https://lnkd.in/gGWVRibV #Purdue #BoilerUp #Boilermaker

18

1 Comment

Discover the strategic journey of WeightWatchers in our latest Breakout Learning Original, the very first authored by our marketing practice leader Kelly Goldsmith of Vanderbilt University - Owen Graduate School of Management. Learn about the challenges of market segmentation, brand extension and reshaping perceptions in the health and wellness sector💪. Essential #insights for #marketing #students and #professionals. #BrandStrategy #MarketingInnovation #HealthandWellness #BusinessEducation #AI #edtech #marketsegmentation https://hubs.li/Q02xYwx70

2

The 8th Connected Manufacturing Forum will be taking place in St. Louis June 23-24th Sponsorship is now available, I'm currently having meetings with potential sponsors to discuss the conference. In my meetings and calls with potential sponsors, one of the most common wants I hear is “we want leads” “we want to talk to a lot of people”, and that's a big reason to sponsor a conference, take senior product and sales person off work, to take 2 or 3 days from the office to go network with potential clients. There is no magic formula, and for that reason, I always try to play to the strengths of the organization and person I am talking to. The most important thing when sponsoring is making your presence felt, how you go about that can be different depending on the strengths of the team that you send to the show to representing your company. Is it networking? Demos? Giveaways? Thought leadership? However, there are things that you should always strive to do at a conference: Have a plan Put in the work BEFORE the show Divide and conquer, once at the conference Be proactive Talk to as many people as you get a chance to #connectedmanufacturing #industry4.0 #supplychain #digitaltransformation #digitaltwin #industry5.0 #networking #conference Rachael Berkoff Lauren B. thanks for helping me with the edit :)

15

1 Comment