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Investing in Ohio’s Future
New programs and partnerships offer opportunities for students and businesses
In the newspaper, on the radio, on television — no matter where you turn, Ohio’s economy is a frequent topic of discussion. Multiple solutions have been suggested to address the state’s financial issues, but one common theme has emerged — the importance of investing in Ohio’s human capital and keeping talented Ohioans in the state by creating rewarding, high-paying jobs for them. Kent State University has a long history of sustaining partner-ships and cooperative ventures to advance that goal — by helping students compete in the real world and by helping businesses succeed.
The new programs and initiatives described here are just a few of the ways Kent State is investing in Ohio’s future.
A PROTOTYPE FOR THE REAL WORLD
School of Technology merges theory and practice
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| Clifton Mills (right), a mechanical designer with USA instruments, works with Joseph Murphy, manager of high-field coils, on a housing for an MRI head coil. Kent State's School of Technology collaborated with USA Instruments on this project. |
Fitzsimmons teaches in the Applied Science Division of the school. Equipment purchased recently — two three-dimensional (3-D) printers — has enabled her not only to prepare students for the real world of manufacturing, but also to help area businesses compete on a global level.
The 3-D printers are used for a process called “rapid prototyping,” in which images created in computer-assisted design programs are turned into actual prototypes, sometimes in a matter of only a few hours. That’s a far cry from more traditional methods of making prototypes, which can take up to 16 weeks, Fitzsimmons says.
While the technology itself isn’t brand new, it rep-resents a new opportunity for the School of Technology. “It makes our students that much more ready to step in and take positions in manufacturing,” Fitzsimmons says. “They learn the entire process, from concept to drawings to determining the materials needed and then on to the manufacturing process.”
A recent project involved working with USA Instruments Inc. of Aurora, a wholly-owned subsidiary of General Electric.
USA Instruments is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of coils for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines for the medical field, says Joseph Murphy, manager of the Advanced Technology Group for the company. The project involved creating MRI coils for research that will then be used for the7 Tesla whole-body MRI system at the National Institutes of Health.
“The collaboration with the School of Technology allows us to make prototypes quickly. We can look at a component to see how well it’s going to function, make adjustments if necessary, and then make another version,” Murphy says. The combination of low cost and quick turn-around time is a great help in the development of the product, he adds.
Additionally, the 3-Dprinters use materials that are economical, recyclable and environmentally safe, easing the burden of use in an academic setting.
“Students are excited about using the machines. We can’t get them enough time” on the devices, she adds. “This is a good example of how students can learn that theory merges with day-to-day work. The students graduate very well equipped,” she says. —Jim Szatkowski,’80, M.A. ’94
WANTED: A CAN-DO ATTITUDE
College of Business Administration to offer new resource for entrepreneurs
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| Industrial Technology student Nate Barnhill takes measurements from a part made on the School of Technology's new 3-D printer. HTe piece being measured was created for an MRI machine. |
Realizing that entrepreneurs are valuable to today’s global economy, the College of Business Administration set out to create a program that would not only aid businesses, but also enlist the help of successful entrepreneurs who can share their experiences with students and others in the entrepreneurial community.
Programs like this in universities throughout the United States prepare students for careers in entrepreneurial ventures and as future entrepreneurs, and contribute greatly to the development of the respective regional economies, Messing explains.
Because entrepreneurs can be found in any field, the academic program will not be limited to business majors. Initially, the program includes a short list of courses in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. In the longer term, an undergraduate would be required to take an introductory course and a capstone course in the field, along with several entrepreneurial electives to receive a minor in entrepreneurship.
Fundamental to this program and its philosophy of experiential learning will be an Entrepreneurial Laboratory, says Dr. George E. Stevens, dean of the College of Business Administration. This lab will provide consulting services, on a contract basis, to start-ups, family businesses and others. Under the guidance of faculty and an Entrepreneur-in-Residence, students will assist with market research, data acquisition and business planning.
“The Entrepreneurial Lab will expose faculty and students to businesses and business leaders, keeping them abreast of changing factors in the marketplace. These links are critical to sustaining entrepreneurial activity in Northeast Ohio and beyond and connecting our students and faculty with the business world,” Messing says.
The college also offers expert advice from top-notch professionals through the endowed Michael D. Solomon Lecture Series in Entrepreneurship. With the gift from Solomon, ’74, a marketing major, the university has been bringing entrepreneurs to campus since 2000, and students and others have benefited from the connections, Messing says.
Sometimes the connections are made quickly. And in cash.
At a Solomon lecture in April 2005, Messing put together a program, moderated by Ray Leach, the president of Jumpstart Inc.(an organization that identifies and invests in early-stage entrepreneurial ventures; seethe following article), and three panelists: Mark Brandt, founder and president of The Maple Fund; Nancy Kramer, founder and CEO of Resource Interactive; and Gary Trinetti,’76, president and CEO of Garick, a manufacturer and distributor of natural-resource products.
In the informal sessions with students after the presentations, Brandt pledged $1,000to the Kent Entrepreneurial Association, a student group, to set up a fund to invest in the best student-designed business plan. Trinetti then matched the pledge. The members of the student association are working to raise another $8,000 to bring the fund total to $10,000.
But beyond direct financial benefits like this, Messing sees this type of interaction between students and entrepreneurs as the very heart of the entrepreneurship program and the College of Business efforts.—Jim Szatkowski, ’80, M.A. ’94
INNOVATION GETS A JUMPSTART
New partnership supports entrepreneurs and creates jobs
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| Ray Leach, president and CEO of JumpStart, Inc. |
Jumpstart is a nonprofit organization that identifies, advises and funds high-growth businesses and entrepreneurial ideas with high-growth potential.
“Jumpstart uses a rigorous process to identify businesses and entrepreneurs with good ideas and great potential, and then invests in their start-up,” says Dr. Patricia Book, Kent State’s vice president for regional development. “Kent State University has strengths in research, technology transfer, education and training to further support the development of those young companies. Together we help entrepreneurial ventures and businesses with the greatest growth potential to thrive, provide jobs and have a positive impact on our economy.”
JumpStart serves 15 counties in Northeast Ohio, but lacks the personnel and funding capacities to have a physical facility in each county, says Ray Leach, the company’s president and chief executive officer. He adds, “Kent State already has a presence and a trusted reputation in many of those areas.”
Through the agreement, JumpStart and its clients have access to Kent State resources through the Center for the Study and Development of Minority Businesses; the Entrepreneurial Academy; the Center for Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation; Regional Corporate and Community Services; Workforce Development Offices; and Small Business Development Centers. Entrepreneurs can conveniently receive assistance at the nearest Kent State or JumpStart facility.
In return, Kent State students and faculty maybe able to take advantage of internship or fellowship opportunities with JumpStart’s portfolio companies. The university also will collaborate with JumpStart to reach hundreds of businesses and entrepreneurs through a series of educational pro-grams and networking events as part of JumpStart Exchange, says Book.
Three times yearly, JumpStart accepts applications from entrepreneurs for intellectual assistance and investment capital. JumpStart experts review and critique the plans and provide feedback to individual entrepreneurs; for a small group of those entrepreneurs, they assist and invest in the company to help it get started. Specifically, JumpStart seeks to accelerate the growth of any idea that has the potential of becoming a$30-million to $50-millioncompany within five to seven years. Any capital made from JumpStart’s investments is returned fully into investing in more new companies, says Leach.
Additionally, the North-east Ohio start-ups may receive workforce training and collaborative research and technology-licensing opportunities through the partnership.
“We’re trying to change the culture of Northeast Ohio,” says Leach. “The ability to attract capital to our area through entrepreneurship is critical to the economy.”
Leach says JumpStart-invested companies will help employ thousands of Northeast Ohioans in the next 10 years. They are already off to a good start; in the last nine months, they have created and supported more than 50 new, high-paying positions.
Greg Wilson, Kent State associate vice president for economic development and strategic partnerships, says, “We’re trying to retain and support existing companies in the area and attract new businesses from other regions, but helping to start new companies through our partnership with JumpStart is also important.” He adds, “Entrepreneurship is going to be a key factor in Ohio’s revitalization.” —Melissa Edler, ’00
GAINING THE COMPETITIVE EDGE
Regional development programs promote success
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| Adjunct instructor Bob Skillman conducts a Lean/Six Sigma Black Belt Certification class for Kent State University at the Geneva State Park Lodge and Conference Center. |
“By training and coaching Northeast Ohio employers on Lean and Six Sigma approaches, we can help sustain them,” says Amy Lane, ’85, M.Ed.’97, executive director of regional corporate and community services. “It helps employers to become more competitive, more productive and more profitable.”
Earlier this year, the Ashtabula Campus began offering the Lean/Six Sigma Black Belt Certification Program at the Kent State Center at Geneva State Park Lodge and Conference Center in Geneva-On-The-Lake, Ohio. Programs like this further the mission of Kent State’s Division of Regional Development, which includes a commitment to strong partnerships between higher education, business and industry, says Dr. Patricia Book, vice president for regional development.
Kent State offers a variety of programs, including Lean and Six Sigma, at locations across Northeast Ohio, either on a contract or an open-enrollment basis, says Lane. Contract programs are customized for each client, while open-enrollment programs are offered to everyone. Other topics presented in Kent State programs include leadership, communication skills, technical skills, supply-chain management, marketing and project management.
While Lean and Six Sigma both focus on organizational improvement, Lean focuses on driving out waste in the organizational process, and Six Sigma focuses more on meeting customers’ needs and quality expectations.
Investment in Lean and Six Sigma programs provides a significant return, Lane says. Once an organization decides to go through with a program, it can see results almost immediately. Then employers are willing to invest even more in the process. These programs are becoming some of the more popular outreach activities that the university offers, says Lane. In fact, the Ashtabula Campus has received inquiries from people as far away as Texas.
Book says proactively building relationships with area businesses is critical. These relationships open up new opportunities for Kent State, such as student intern-ships, partnerships and funding possibilities.
“Kent State wants to become one of the primary providers for programs like Lean and Six Sigma,” says Book. “The goal is to pro-vide programs and services that sustain employers’ viability and increase their competitiveness.” In the last year, more than 15,000 employees and professionals have attended programs offered through Kent State’s regional outreach, she adds.—Beth Baldwin, Kent State Public Relations Student