SustainableWork

Young Chinese scholars to visit Iowa County Economic Development

2012-05-25T06:03:00.000-05:00

In an earlier post I wrote about elite young Chinese scholars visiting our Iowa County Area Economic Development work and the Wisconsin Innovation Kitchen this summer. I am very excited to meet these new Chinese friends and welcome them to our work in creating safe, effective regional food systems.

The Environment and Public Health Network for Chinese Students and Scholars (ENCSS) began in 2006 and now connects friends in over 20 top American Universities with members in more than 60 disciplines, connecting 23 states in the U.S. with 27 Provinces in China.

The future President of China, Mr. Xi Jinping, first visited our area in 1985 on a visit to study agriculture in the Upper Midwest. He stayed in beautiful Muscatine, Iowa, just south of us on the Mississippi River. Our region was very honored to welcome Mr. Xi back earlier this year, in February, 2012.

Being able to celebrate Mr. Xi's understanding of our region, with the enthusiasm of these young Chinese scholars - likely visiting our area for the first time - seems like a great opportunity to build collaborative projects in the future. I am hoping we can inspire and enable sustainable agricultural enterprises in both countries through the economic development work we have pioneered in Iowa County at the Wisconsin Innovation Kitchen.

The full schedule for this summer's visit will be completed and posted in the near future, but here is the growing list of friends - and those I want to get to know - who will host our visitors to make this a success. They include:

Northwestern University and the Northwestern University Center for Talent Development, Jack Palmer
The Field Museum, Kristin Willcutt
The Chicago Metropolitan Water District, John Robinson
Blackhawk College, Mary Shuda
Augustana College, Dane Rowley and Norm Moline
University of Iowa and the U of Iowa Mississippi River Station at Muscatine, Douglas Schnoebelen
Muscatine High School, Douglas Schnoebelen and Carol Kula
City of Muscatine, Mayor DeWayne Hopkins and Sarah Lande
Corps of Engineers, Angela Freyermuth
River Action, Kathy Wine
Quad Cities Chinese Association, Mary Shuda
Western Illinois University and the W. Illinois University Institute for Environmental Studies, Roger Viadero
Iowa Department of Natural Resources and its water program, Dave Bierman and Tammie Krausman
US Geological Survey and the Mississippi River lab, Yao Yin
Mississippi River National Museum and Aquarium, Ginger Sakas and Missie Wersinger
Wisconsin Innovation Kitchen, Rick Terrien
University of Wisconsin-Platteville and the Confucius Institute at the UW-Platteville, Marian Maciej-Hiner
University of Wisconsin-Madison Research Park, Mark Bugher
Aqua Most Technology, Todd Asmuth
Devils Lake State Park and Sauk Prairie School District, Mike Mossman
Ho Chunk Nation, Fremina Funmaker and Mark Thiel
Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, Norm Monson
Crave Farm, Norm Monson and Karl Gutknecht
Ripon College, Jack Christ
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Jeff Smoller
Horicon Marsh International Education Center, Elizabeth Herzmann
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Air Management Program, Bart Sponseller
International Crane Foundation, Cullie Shelton
Edgewood College, Ed Taylor and Melissa Hamer
Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, Deborah Mahaffey
Youth Shakespeare Theater, Wendy Vardaman
Tesomas Boy Scout Camp, Scott Domino
Trees for Tomorrow, Jack Palmer
Fishing for the Future, Jack Palmer
Lawrence University, Marty Finkler
Milwaukee School of Engineering, Caleb Black

What a fun summer this will be for these young Chinese scholars. What an honor for those of us who have the opportunity to visit with them.

We look forward to welcoming our Chinese friends!

What a day!’ Savvy, friendly, powerful ... Xi Jinping made quite an impression on his ‘old friends’ in Muscatine. The Muscatine Journal. February 15, 2012.

Mr. Xi Jinping. Wikipedia.

Environment and Public Health Network for Chinese Students and Scholars (ENCSS).

Download the ENCSS brochure. PDF

Iowa County (WI) Economic Development. Come Grow With Us.

Wisconsin Innovation Kitchen

My family ties to great friends in China.

Great M7 FaB network gathering in Milwaukee

2012-05-18T21:09:00.000-05:00

Wisconsin has an amazing tradition of making safe, wholesome foods and beverages. I love this history and momentum.

Our Milwaukee regional economic development group is M7 - for the 7 great counties that comprise their region. M7 has a vibrant food and beverage (FaB) network. We gathered last Tuesday for the M7 FaB / Grant Thornton Executive Food Forum.

I am honored to be involved as an M7 FaB Advisory Council member.

It was fun to catch up with old friends and make many new friends.

The Milwaukee region is an amazing, globally relevant, food processing resource. Celebrate. Join us.

M7 FaB. Milwaukee 7 Food and Beverage site.

Grant Thornton Milwaukee. Thank you!

Creating a life of opportunity. The age of the DIY Innovator is here.

2012-05-13T09:03:00.000-05:00

This blog is about humankind entering the Renaissance age of entrepreneurship and how we create sustainable enterprises to meet and maximize this opportunity. This future is arriving faster and brighter every day.

Here is a Ted Talk is by Peter Diamandis, founder of the X PRIZE that celebrates this fact. Mr. Diamandis offers a realistic and positive perspective that builds on the vision of Dr. Buckminster Fuller, among many others, about where we are and where we are going. We are creating ever increasing abundance for ever more people at ever more more accessible costs. We are welcoming ever increasing numbers of people to participate in this global advance. We are creating economies that can support all of us. We are creating sustainable work globally. We are slaying dragons along the way. Sounds like a plan to me.

You can't watch Mr. Diamandis' and not get a sense of just how widespread this amazing global entrepreneurship opportunity is right now. The day and age of the DIY (Do It Yourself) Innovator is here - right now.

Mr. Diamandis' wrote about his Ted Talk for CNN:

The future is brighter than you think.

By Peter Diamandis, Special to CNN:

"...four emerging forces give us the potential to significantly raise global standards of living over the next two to three decades,

• exponentially growing technology,

• the DIY (Do It Yourself) Innovator,

• the new breed technophilanthropist and

• the rising billion, the poorest of the poor who are finally plugging into the global economy."

"Abundance for all is actually within our grasp."

Amen. Thank you Peter Diamandis. Forward. Everyone.

CNN original story.

X PRIZE Foundation. Revolution through Competition.

Buckminster Fuller

Wisconsin - Food for the World

2012-05-08T21:09:00.000-05:00

My friend Nick George is President of the Midwest Food Processors Association. Nick is featured in an article entitled 'Food for the World' in the May issue of Corporate Report Wisconsin.

Some great quotes from this article:

"But mankind does not live by cheese alone. While the dairy industry accounted for state exports of $231 million in 2011 (up from $213 million the year before), it is only the fourth largest food category export for Wisconsin. Cereal grains lead the way doing $380 million in business and beverages came in second with $318 million — not counting ethanol. Miscellaneous foods such as soups, sauces and the like are third with a $249 million export value in 2011, dairy is fourth and fifth is baking-related items (mixes and dough), reporting a value of $226 million."

"Food shipments out of Wisconsin have increased by 71.7 percent since 1997, according to the Midwest Food Processors Association. In 2010, that meant the state saw $35 billion in receipts."

"'It’s amazing what comes out of this state,' says Nick George, president of the processors association. 'I think the food industry everywhere just doesn’t get the credit it deserves.'"

"Wisconsin, he adds, is second in the nation behind California for total value of processed vegetable crops."

"George says Wisconsin food producers have a strong work ethic working in their favor. Regardless of the constant changes in the industry, the world knows the resourcefulness and resilience of the American Midwesterner."

'The challenges are amazing, but the industry adapts and keeps moving forward,' says George."

Thanks Nick and Corporate Report Wisconsin and to DATCP Secretary Ben Brancel for a great look at Wisconsin agriculture and regional business opportunities.

What jumps out at me is that specialty foods, such as soups and sauces, are ahead of dairy in total exports from Wisconsin. Amazing. Food processing facilities like the wonderful Wisconsin Innovation Kitchen can grow this story in many good directions. As we say in Wisconsin... Forward!

Food For the World. Corporate Report Wisconsin. May 2012. By Jen Bradley. Photo and quotes - credit Corporate Report Wisconsin. Thank you CRW.

Midwest Food Processors Association

Wisconsin Innovation Kitchen

New Friend - UW Extension Chancellor Ray Cross

2012-05-02T21:02:00.000-05:00

Senator Dale Schultz visited Iowa County today and some of us gathered for lunch at the Buzz Inn Cafe in Barneveld to talk about opportunities in our region.

I made a great new connection during this lunch with the Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin Colleges and UW Extension Dr. Ray Cross.

It was flat-out energizing to talk about regional food systems with Chancellor Cross. He has previously managed many of the issues we're dealing with in Iowa County and Wisconsin right now. Chancellor Cross understands the job creating opportunities in regional food systems are big and yet to be tapped wisely.

Dr. Ray has practical, hands-on experience with something Wisconsin needs. What fun to share stories today.

Great to meet you Chancellor Cross!

Dr. Ray Cross bio

Wisconsin Senator Dale Schultz. Thanks for a great visit Dale and friends!

The Buzz Inn Cafe, in beautiful Barneveld, WI

Sector67 and House of Brews - Thanks everyone for a good visit as part of Entrepreneur Weekend, Madison 2012

2012-05-01T06:37:00.000-05:00

What great fun at Sector67 in Madison last night!

I had a chance to make a presentation about food entrepreneurship with my new friend Page Buchanan, founder of of Madison's House of Brews.

Young friends and those helping young people - check out this cool offer from Sector67:

Sector67: Application. Free 2012 summer internships/memberships - 18 or younger.

"Sector67 is happy to offer 2012 summer makerships to area youth (opportunity available to anyone 18 or younger)! A makership is a 4 month opportunity to use Sector67 with a free membership and $100 for project materials as well as a mentor to help you complete your project. We’ll be taking applications through June 18th, but early submission is encouraged so we’re able to find sponsors and mentors for projects"

Thank you Sector67 for creating opportunities for young and old. Forward!

Sector67 in Madison.Thanks for the invitation, Chris and friends!

House of Brews. "Fermentation may have been a greater discovery than fire". David Rains Wallace.

Madison Startup Weekend 2012

Wisconsin Innovation Kitchen

Good food is good economic development. Photos from our Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship are in.

2012-04-27T22:53:00.000-05:00

Good food is good economic development.

More than 600 people pre-registered for our First Annual Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship. More than 1,200 people attended from at least 6 states.

Professional photos of the event are linked below.

Here are a couple of economic development quotes the Dodgeville Chronicle just included in a nice piece about the event:

"Iowa County continues its leadership in creating innovative economic development opportunities around local agriculture and our wonderful quality of life in Iowa County."

"The 2012 Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship was a huge success and shows just what kind of strong interest people have in our area from across the region and neighboring states. This is a great place to live and work and these kind of events help highlight that fact."

Good food is good economic development. Check out the new professional photos of our First Annual Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship.

First Annual Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship photos

Photo credit Tyler Ensrude, Dodgeville, WI. Many thanks Tyler!

Dodgeville Chronicle article written by Jane Berns Jones. Thank you Dodgeville Chronicle.

Iowa County Area Economic Development. Come grow with us. Thanks ICAEDC Board Chair Lorin Toepper for creating this event and special thanks to my friend Beth R. for organizing and managing!

Thank you Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board for your sponsorship of the First Annual Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship.

The Madison region is open for business! Startup Week/Weekend and our Capital Entrepreneurs.

2012-04-25T06:03:00.000-05:00

I'm looking forward to sharing a presentation on food entrepreneurship at Sector 67 as part of Capital Entrepreneurs Week and the Startup Weekend in Madison (WI) next Monday.

My new friend Chris Meyer is the Founder at Sector 67 in Madison. Chris created the beautiful 'Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship' toast pictured here for last weekend's First Annual Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship.

My family just met Chris and they concluded he's the perfect guy to rationalize putting metal things into plugged-in toasters to create food art. Don't try this at home.

Sector 67 represents amazing possibilities for economic development in our region and beyond.

"Sector67 is a non-profit collaborative space in Madison, WI dedicated to providing an environment to learn, teach, work-on, build, and create next generation technology; including software, hardware, electronics, art, sewing, pottery, glass, metalwork, iPhone/Android applications, games, etc."

I'll be making a presentation on food entrepreneurship at Sector 67 next Monday, April 30, along with House of Brews Founder Page Buchanan. Join us!

My Capital Entrepreneurs presentation at Sector 67 along with House of Brews Founder Page Buchanan

Visit Sector 67. Thanks Chris and friends for your sponsorship of the First Annual Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship and the upcoming startup events in the Madison area this week.

Capital Entrepreneurs

Wisconsin State Journal story about Startup Weekend

Thrive in our region. Advance Now.

2012-04-23T20:10:00.000-05:00

On Wednesday of this week, our regional economic development group, Thrive, will meet to launch a new strategic initiative called Advance Now. Thrive represents the 8 counties of the Madison (WI) region.

My presentation will focus on the Thrive Region's plans to advance innovation and entrepreneurship. I have the good fortune of presenting this innovation strategy with Kevin Conroy, CEO of Exact Sciences.

The Madison region, with its world renowned university research budget, exceptional workforce, and the spectacular beauty of our natural environment make this a place you want to grow your life.

Our strategic physical and digital location make this one of the best regions in the world to create and grow globally relevant new enterprises.

Join us for our Madison region Advance Now strategy roll out this Wednesday, April 25.

Thrive. Economic development for the Madison Wisconsin region.

Exact Sciences.

First Annual Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship a resounding (and delicious) success!

2012-04-21T22:08:00.000-05:00

What a wonderful day. What a great celebration of Wisconsin cheese and the glorious grilled cheese sandwich.

This competition was created by our Iowa County Area Economic Development Board Chair, Dr. Lorin Toepper, and supported and promoted by our entire board (as in sweeping floors and setting up tables - thank you!).

Our First Annual Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship was resoundingly supported today in Mineral Point by a wonderful community of grilled cheese lovers from near and far.

I know of people that visited today's event from at least 6 states. It also felt like most everyone from Iowa County and the Madison area were there too. This was really fun.

I'll report back on a full list of the competitors and winners as well as grilled cheese sandwich details soon.

Congratulations to all the competitors! Many thanks to all the grilled cheese lovers who joined us today in Iowa County for the First Annual Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship.

What a fun launch of an exciting new tradition!

First Annual Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship.

Iowa County Area Economic Development Corp. Come grow with us.

Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship - Saturday - Iowa County Fairgrounds. Be able to tell your friends you were at Wisconsin's first annual grilled cheese competition!

2012-04-17T23:07:00.000-05:00

"April 21: Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship, Mineral Point. The name says it all, as amateurs and pros compete. There will be lots of grilled cheese sandwiches, tomato soup, beer and wine available for purchase, along with music. Free."

First Annual Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship

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"The season opener of food culminates with the inaugural Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship in Mineral Point. Both amateur and professional chefs will take part in this griddle-top contest, all looking for top honors in four categories: classic, classic plus one, classic plus extras, and classic dessert.

Organized by the Iowa County Economic Development Corporation, the championship is a showcase of Wisconsin cheeses, and multiple exhibitors will be on hand through the event. Attendees hungry from watching the contestants will be able to purchase grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup. Iowa County Fairgrounds, Fair St., Mineral Point, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., free admission. See Facebook, and call 608-341-6797 for more info."

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This one’s for all the cheddar: Prepare for the Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship

"April is National Grilled Cheese Month and, as with all things cheese, Wisconsin obsesses best.

Proof? The Iowa County Area Economic Development Corporation will host the first Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship this Saturday, April 21, (10 a.m.-2 p.m.) at the Iowa County Fairgrounds in Mineral Point. Competitors will vie, with spatulas at the ready, to prepare the most appetizing combination of bread, butter, and real Wisconsin cheese.

The ICAEDC created the event to promote regional agriculture and local products, says event coordinator Lorin Toepper. “We’re celebrating the grilled cheese. We’re celebrating Wisconsin’s dairy heritage, and we’re saying thank you to our farmers,” Toepper says. “We get what you do and appreciate what you do, and most importantly, we’re saying we understand without farmers out in these rural parts of Wisconsin our economy would be really bad off.”

There’s no better time to celebrate the simple charm of the grilled cheese sandwich, according to Lorin. “We see this trend repeating itself through history all the time. Whenever the economy tanks, people retreat back to the familiar comfort foods,” Lorin says.

Participants will compete as an amateur or professional in one of four categories depending on the complexity of their sandwich recipes. They will be awarded points for taste, appearance, and style.

Admission is free to watch the competition unwrap one slice at a time, visit the exhibits area, and listen to live music, all while experiencing a cheese overload. Of course, grilled cheese’s eternal partner in crime, tomato soup, will be available for purchase, along with beer and wine.

The grilled cheese sandwich is a part of the shared American experience, Lorin says. “For me that’s what Wisconsin’s all about. We’ve got cheese, we’ve got milk—some simple pleasures like that—and it’s good for you.”

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Viewers of Channel 27′s Wake Up Wisconsin were treated to examples of delicious grilled cheese sandwiches prepared by Dr. Lorin Toepper, executive director of economic and workforce development at Madison College and chair of Iowa County Area Economic Development Corporation (ICAEDC).

Anchor Dani Maxwell, who will also be one of the judges at the competition, interviewed Dr. Toepper about the Championship and then enjoyed several freshly prepared sandwiches featuring local Wisconsin ingredients.

Toepper cooked a sandwich representing his take on each of the four categories: Classic, Classic Plus One, Classic Plus Extras, and Classic Dessert.

For the Classic, Lorin featured Otter Creek’s Organic White Cheddar and Ramp on Oakhouse Bakery’s White Bread, along with real Wisconsin Butter! For the Classic Plus One, Toepper paired 5-year old Hook’s Cheddar with crumbled bacon from Neuske’s Applewood Smoked Meats (this was a favorite of meteorologist Brian Olson1) on the Natural Bakery’s Wheat Bread. Taking a French twist on the Classic Plus Extras, Toepper featured some President Brie on Madison Sourdough Wheat Bread with sauteed mushrooms from HiddenValley and fresh tarragon. Finally, Dr. Toepper paired Uplands Cheese’s Pleasant Ridge with Quince and Apple’s Strawberry and Rosemary Preserves for his take on the Classic Dessert sandwich.

Thanks to WKOW-TV’s entire crew for supporting our event!

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Spatulas up! In conjunction with the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board (WMMB), the Iowa County Area Economic Development Corporation (ICAEDC) will celebrate National Grilled Cheese Month by hosting the first annual Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship (WGCC) on Saturday, April 21.

Amateur and professional grilled cheese makers will compete in pursuit of the perfect grilled cheese sandwich from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Iowa County Fairgrounds in Mineral Point, Wis.

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Lorin will also be on Wisconsin Public Radio's Joy Cardine show this Friday 4/20 from 6 to 7 AM talking about this great event.

Join us at the First Annual Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship! This Saturday. Iowa County fair grounds, Mineral Point, Wisconsin.

Register for free tickets to the First Annual Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship.

Visit Iowa County Wisconsin. All kinds of great lodging options

Iowa County Area Economic Development Corporation (ICAEDC).

Iowa County Poultry seminar was great!

2012-04-15T19:02:00.000-05:00

What a great launch for our Iowa County Poultry project. About 100 people came to our first seminar on Saturday, April 14, from every corner of our beautiful Iowa County, Wisconsin region.

If you would like to buy or even pre-order beautiful pasture raised poultry from our area, please contact me.

Also if you missed the seminar but would like to learn more, please get in touch.

This is a great opportunity to continue to develop an effective platform for local foods-based economic development. Our economic development organization is buying and renting a mobile poultry processing unit to help develop this opportunity.

We met many friends at the seminar who are going to start or expand local poultry flocks. There were also a number of people present who are interested in using the rental poultry processing equipment to start their own businesses offering poultry processing services to local farms.

Here is the list of topics that were covered in Saturday's seminar:

“Raising Meat Poultry for Fun and Profit”

Selecting a Breed
How to Start Chicks
Food: Organic vs. Commercial
Supplies/Requirements
Raising Chickens for Market
Marketing
Health Benefits
Economic Benefits
Financial Benefits
Making Portable Pens
Processing Chickens
Chicken Finance 101

The presentation was led by ICAEDC Board members Dr. Lorin Toepper, and Steve "The Slayer" Christianson, along with legendary local farmer John Adametz. John, owner of A to Z Percherons, near Highland, WI is a two-time world logging champion and has recently been named Midwest Horseman of the Year for 2012. On hand was another great Iowa County farmer Scott Palan who helped launch the project in 2011.

In John Adametz's portion of the presentation he bragged how he was promoted from being the designated "cleaner," to a "gutter," and finally an "eviscerator" without ever leaving his chair!

This great event was organized in large part by my good friend Beth Rosenthal. Thanks Beth!

Thanks to everyone who participated in this year's Iowa County Poultry Processing seminar!

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Iowa County Economic Development Poultry Project

A to Z Percherons. Congratulations 2012 Horseman of the Year John Adametz!

40 Years of Life Lessons in Entrepreneurship

2012-04-12T06:12:00.000-05:00

I'm committed to finding new ways to do sustainable work. We are in the renaissance age of entrepreneurship globally, and it's just beginning.

I started these posts when growing our last business into one of the most honored startups in the country.

Today is the seventh anniversary for this Sustainable Work blog. What a ride.

My business partner Dave and I invented and manufactured some very cool ways to recycle industrial fluids in heavy industrial plants. In 2005 we were awarded the Small Business New Product of the Year, by the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE). NSPE certifies the highest engineering standards in the world.

We had wonderful customers on 6 continents including many of the best manufacturers in the world, like Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne (photo credit).

We ran this amazing business and manufactured some of our best products right in the county where I live. We also had employees across multiple states. We exported worldwide.

We sold that company in 2007. I started a software company while I developed and taught courses on starting and growing micro-enterprises. I taught these through the great Small Business Center at Waukesha County (WI) Technical College, and online nationwide.

Recently I've had the wonderful opportunity to work directly in economic development across big regions. In one sense it's an entrepreneur's dream job (at least mine) - a great opportunity to create positive change in turbulent times. The Dow dropped 700 points on my first day on this job, and the great recession was officially declared that day.

I remember starting our first business in the early 1970s, when the idea of entrepreneurship was treated as some kind of learning disability. When we sold that enterprise 25 years later, we'd raised our wonderful daughters in the business and helped them through college and into new lives. And we're still all great friends!

Then Dave and I created our green manufacturing startup in a completely new field.

A post from earlier this year sums up my current thinking about the core work of entrepreneurship: "Entrepreneurship is the pursuit of opportunity without regard to resources currently controlled."

Opportunities for creating solutions to important problems are within reach of everyone. I wrote the masthead for this blog seven years ago today and haven't changed it since. You can do it. Welcome.

Happy 7th Anniversary Sustainable Work!

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Photo courtesy of Pratt and Whitney Rocketdyne. Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS-110). Pratt & Whitney chose our inventions for industrial fluid recycling when they re-tooled their two main space manufacturing plants in California creating a global best practice for green manufacturing. Thank you for your patronage Pratt & Whitney, and all our other great manufacturing friends worldwide.

Thanks to all the thousands of customers, friends, co-workers, mentors, and competitors I've had the great honor to work with through 40 years of entrepreneurship. I'm especially honored by my current affiliation with the amazing Wisconsin Innovation Kitchen and of course, our Iowa County (WI) Economic Development Corp.

'The Coming Jobs War' and what entrepreneurship can do about it.

2012-04-04T21:09:00.000-05:00

Welcome to a challenging new book by Jim Clifton, Chairman of the Gallup organization. His book is called 'The Coming Jobs War. What every leader must know about the future of job creation.'

The Coming Jobs War is an important contribution to entrepreneurship, governance and job creation: "This changes everything for world leaders. Everything they do – from waging war to building societies – will need to be in the context of the need for a good job."

First some excerpts about the premise of this book, then quotes for Mr. Clifton's chapter on Entrepreneurship VS Innovation and how both fit into the solution.

From 'The Coming Jobs War'

"Six years into our global data collection effort, we may have already found the single most searing, clarifying, helpful, world-altering fact."

"What the whole world wants is a good job."

"This is one of the most important discoveries Gallup has ever made. At the very least, it needs to be considered in every policy, every law, every social initiative. All leaders – policy makers and lawmakers, presidents and prime ministers, parents, judges, priests, pastors, imams, teachers, managers and CEOs – need to consider it every day in everything they do."

"That is as simple and as straightforward an explanation of the data as I can give. Whether you and I were walking down the street in Khartoum, Cairo, Berlin, Lima, Los Angeles, Baghdad, or Istanbul, we would discover that the single most dominant thought on most people's minds is about having a job."

"Humans used to desire love, money, food, shelter, safety, peace and freedom more than anything else. The last 30 years have changed us. Now people want to have a good job. This changes everything for world leaders. Everything they do – from waging war to building societies – will need to be in the context of the need for a good job."

"Creating good jobs is tough, and many leaders are doing many things wrong. They're undercutting entrepreneurs instead of cultivating them. They're running companies with depressed workforces. They're letting the next generation of job creators rot in bad schools."

The following solutions are quotes from Mr. Clifton's chapter, Entrepreneurship VS Innovation:

"What the U.S. needs more than anything in its quest to win new good jobs in its cities is that rare talent to start companies or to create business models that work, that grow organizations - big ones, small ones, medium-sized ones, sustainable ones."

"Here is a Gallup economics finding that few leaders anywhere know: Even the best ideas and inventions in the world have no value until they have a customer."

In Mr. Clifton's concluding chapter he cites America's - and everyone's - need to master 10 global demands. My favorite is #4:

"Entrepreneurship is more important than innovation. The supply and the demand is backward here: Almost all countries, states, and cities have bet everything on innovation. Innovation is critical, but it plays a supporting role to almighty entrepreneurship. The investments should follow rare entrepreneurs versus worldwide oversupply of innovation. Put another way, it's far better to invest in entrepreneurial people than in great ideas."

The Coming Jobs War, by Jim Clifton, Chairman and CEO of Gallup

Great Forbes interview with Jim Clifton about 'The Coming Jobs War.'

Sustainable Work first post. April 12, 2005. Dubuque, Iowa.

Wisconsin Innovation Kitchen

Welcome! First Annual Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship - April 21 - Mineral Point, WI

2012-04-01T17:40:00.000-05:00

Oh my, what fun! The First Annual Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship will be held April 21 in Mineral Point.

You should register for a free ticket now and join the fun!

Heard of flash mobs? Let's turn this into the world's first Grilled Cheese mob!

Come to the First Annual Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship. Show your support for Wisconsin cheese makers and rural Wisconsin. Enjoy a wonderful weekend of learning, eating, and growing your regional food economy.

Our Iowa County Area Economic Development Corp. (ICAEDC), is hosting this wonderful event.

Sponsors of the First Annual Grilled Cheese Championships include the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, Regal Ware, Madison College (MATC), Wisconsin Cheese Originals, Sector 67, Channel 27 WKOW, Driftless Market, Melthouse Bistro, Wisconsin Cutlery and Kitchen Supply, Sterno, Kessnich's, Neuske's Meats, Green County WI Tourism, and our Iowa County Area Economic Development Corporation.

Come for the weekend if you can. Iowa County, just west of the Madison area in beautiful Southwest Wisconsin is an amazing venue. We have great hotels and beautiful B&Bs to accommodate your visit. Hike our state parks. Learn about and enjoy the opportunities of the region. Join us for a great weekend in beautiful Iowa County, Wisconsin.

Here's the quick look at the First Annual Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship:

WHEN: Saturday, April 21, 2012 10am-2pm

WHERE: Iowa County Fairgrounds, Mineral Point, Wisconsin

JOIN US: Free Admission to General Public

COMPETITORS: Competitors Must Pre-Register

GOOD FOOD: Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Tomato Soup, Beer, Wine available for purchase all day long

MUSIC: Live country music by Ben Biser and Whiskey River

EXHIBITORS: Over 20 Wisconsin exhibitors

We've got great prizes for our Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Champions.

To enter as a Grilled Cheese Championship competitors, it's only $10 to register as an amateur and $20 to register as a professional. Imagine the great bragging rights you'll earn by winning. Don't miss this cool promotional opportunity for yourself or for your food establishment.

Our ICAEDC Board Chair Dr. Lorin Toepper and my friend Beth Rosenthal have done all the heavy lifting for this great event. Well done Lorin and Beth!

Join us for the First Annual Grilled Cheese Championship in Mineral Point, WI, April 21, from 10 AM to 2 PM. See you there!

Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship

Register for your FREE ticket to the First Annual Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championships.

Great lodging options in Iowa County.

Show your support. Buy great gear with the great Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship logo. You'll always be able to say yours is from the First Annual!

Iowa County Area Economic Development.

Elite young Chinese scholars to visit Iowa County Economic Development and the Wisconsin Innovation Kitchen

2012-03-23T19:29:00.000-05:00

I'm honored to learn our Iowa County economic development work has been selected by an elite group of young Chinese scholars for a visit this summer. They are being sponsored by the The Environment & Public Health Network for Chinese Students and Scholars (ENCSS).

We especially look forward to discussing our economic development work with local foods and regional food systems at the Wisconsin Innovation Kitchen.

This effort can make significant contributions to environmental and public health issues.

Here are some quotes from the ENCSS web site (below)...

"Fifty elite Chinese sophomores and juniors with 'Key High School' status will take part in an environmental research and enrichment program in the Midwest this summer."

"The 18-day program -- now planned for Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois – will unite the Chinese students and some of their teachers with American peers for the program established by the Environment and Public Health Network for Chinese Students and Scholars (ENCSS), headquartered at the University of Wisconsin-Madison."

"The Environment & Public Health Network for Chinese Students and Scholars (ENCSS) is a network that connects students, scholars, business, and government institutions in China, U.S. and other countries to improve the environment and public health. We share knowledge, opportunity, resources, and responsibility by facilitating collaboration, sustainable relationships and the development of people and organizations."

It is my understanding that our visitors will be from Key High Schools in Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shandong, Guangdong, and Hubei.

I look forward to joining this wonderful conversation. I believe environmental, public health, and economic development issues are closely tied together. If the world can improve these collaboratively and sustainably, this century will be ranked among the most positive in history.

I can't wait to meet our young scholars from China! Welcome!

Environment and Public Health Network for Chinese Students and Scholars (ENCSS).

Download the ENCSS brochure. PDF

Iowa County (WI) Economic Development. Come Grow With Us.

Wisconsin Innovation Kitchen

My family ties to great friends in China.

I think the ENCSS logo show above is very effective. Created by Population Design.

Congratulations Milwaukee Region Food and Beverage Industry Network launch!

2012-03-19T21:30:00.000-05:00

The Milwaukee region is a global food capital with many of the best opportunities in the world for growing food companies and brands.

I shared a great evening last week in Milwaukee with old and new friends at the launch of the new Milwaukee 7 Food and Beverage Industry Network.

What a wonderful roll-out of a great new effort for the Milwaukee region and Wisconsin!

Thanks to my friend, Shelley Jurewicz, Executive Director of FaB Milwaukee, and Advisory Council Co-Chairs Eric Olesen (Co-Owner/President, O&H Danish Bakery), Giacomo Fallucca, (President/CEO, Palermo's Pizza), and Cathy Henry, (President/COO, Sysco Food Services).

Here is how FaB Milwaukee describes their wonderful approach:

"LOCALLY GROWN. REGIONALLY MADE. CONSUMED AROUND THE WORLD."

"We are the growers, makers, bakers, brewers, bottlers, innovators, educators, owners, scientists, farmers, distributors, grocers and restaurateurs that bring us, and the world, our food and drink. Are you hungry for more?"

Check out these amazing Milwaukee region stats:

12 global food companies have their world headquarters here.

7 of the 11 world's largest food manufacturers are here.

#1 - Highest concentration of workers in the food industry.

#3 - Third highest concentration of food scientists in the U.S.

243 Food Manufacturers call this home. 14,170 food and beverage manufacturing employees. $582 million in food and beverage payroll.

#1 region in U.S. for water supply. Milwaukee designated by United Nations as a world center for freshwater expertise.

#1 Best metro location from natural disasters.

Nation's leader in urban agriculture.

Supported by our amazing Wisconsin stats:

#1 for cheese, beans, cranberries and ginseng

#2 for butter, milk, dairy cows

#2 for organic production

#3 for carrots, potatoes, peas, sweet corn

#4 for maple syrup, oats, tart cherries

#5 for cucumbers, mint

#5 for food manufactured products

#9 in agricultural products shipped.

The Milwaukee M7 / FaB core strategies call for our region to lead in sustainable food industry innovations including Innovation Kitchens. Great opportunities and partnerships are emerging in one of the most exciting cities and regions in the world, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Congratulations Milwaukee area Food and Beverage Industry Network! Forward!

FaB Milwaukee Congratulations on an inspiring launch!

Direct link to FaB Milwaukee video

FaB Milwaukee Core Strategies /Targeted Outcomes / Targeted Actions. PDF format.

Wisconsin Innovation Kitchen

Little Free Libraries and the Innovation Kitchen

2012-03-15T07:02:00.000-05:00

My friend Rick Brooks (photo) helped bring the remarkable Little Free Library phenomenon to life. They started this amazing idea in the Madison, WI neighborhood where we raised our family.

Little Free Libraries are just that - small (20-30 book) libraries put up and cared for by private citizens and organizations around the world.

Rick and friends just received significant and well deserved media attention for their work.

At the link below you can hear and see many great recent shout-outs to the Little Free Library, including NBC Nightly News (Using Books to Build Community), and USA Today (Little Free Libraries are taking root on lawns).

Rick and I got to catch up at a Something Special from Wisconsin event in Milwaukee this week.

What a great mission the Little Free Library is on: "Building a sense of community and a love of reading. A worldwide movement to promote literacy, libraries and more."

We'll make Little Free Libraries part of our Innovation Kitchen story going forward. Congratulations Rick and Little Free Libraries!

Little Free Library. Keep up the great work!

Wisconsin Innovation Kitchen

Something Special from Wisconsin

The key to sustainability in food or any business

2012-03-11T15:33:00.000-05:00

Organizations don't get a bottom line until they can create and grow a top line.

That means revenue.

No organization can survive on wishful thinking. You have to sell something. You have to create continuing revenue. You have to fix a problem, provide a needed service, or create innovations that make life better.

Without sales and revenue coming in, the idea of a sustainable bottom line is a myth.

That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

The Wisconsin Innovation Kitchen offers a powerful tool for food based businesses, especially restaurants, to grow sales and revenues by creating and selling their own private label food brands. More options mean more ways for customers to buy. More options. More customers. More revenue.

You don't get a bottom line until you create and grow a top line.

Innovation Kitchen

Iowa County Wisconsin Poultry!

2012-03-07T17:55:00.000-06:00

Iowa County, Wisconsin is an amazing place with wonderful economic development opportunities unfolding every day, especially in sustainable agriculture and regional food systems.

Our Iowa County Poultry group is moving to the next level in 2012.

This is a fun bunch, including some of our Iowa County Economic Development Board members.

I believe deeply in this kind of local economic development. Our Iowa County poultry group is growing right into a big regional opportunity. Thanks to all involved!

Save the date: Our Iowa County poultry group is sponsoring a free seminar on April 14th in Dodgeville, WI:

“Raising Meat Poultry for Fun and Profit”

Selecting a Breed
How to Start Chicks
Food: Organic vs. Commercial
Supplies/Requirements
Raising Chickens for Market
Marketing
Health Benefits
Economic Benefits
Financial Benefits
Making Portable Pens
Processing Chickens
Chicken Finance 101

When: Saturday, April 14, 2012

Where: Sam and Maddies Restaurant, Dodgeville, WI

Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Registration: Eventbrite

Many thanks to our Iowa County Poultry group for a great launch of a very cool enterprise. This is really going to be fun!

Local foods and effective regional food systems are a great economic development asset for all involved. Iowa County, Wisconsin continues to lead in many areas of this work.

Download our Iowa County Poultry seminar info.

Register for this event via Eventbrite

Iowa County Area Economic Development, my wonderfully diverse day job.

An inspiring evening with the Inspiration Corporation!

2012-03-03T21:00:00.000-06:00

I greatly enjoyed a wonderful evening with new friends at the Inspiration Corporation's annual fundraiser, 'One Inspired Evening', Friday in Chicago.

It was an inspiring gathering in a really cool setting. I'm flat-out smitten with the amazing work of their Inspiration Kitchens in Garfield Park and Uptown. What a creative and effective vision for community based economic development and social change.

The Inspiration Corporation provides many other valuable and much needed community services. I love their tag line: Inspiration Corporation. Catalyst for self-reliance.

I met many new friends including the Inspiration Corporation's Board Chair, Neal Kulick, their amazing founder, Lisa Nigro (photo), and Executive Director and CEO, Shannon Stewart.

The 'Welcome' page in this year's event handout gives a great overview of the Inspiration Corporation's valuable work:

"In an atmosphere of dignity and respect, Inspiration Corporation helps people that are affected by homelessness and poverty to improve their lives and increase self-sufficiency through the provision of social services, employment training and placement, and housing."

"Last year we are proud to say that Inspiration Corporation assisted more than 3,000 individuals that faced homelessness, poverty, and other barriers to self-sufficiency such as recent incarceration."

Thank you for the invitation and thanks to all the event organizers including Honorary Chair, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

I could not be more inspired about the vision of the Inspiration Corporation and especially their Inspiration Kitchens! Thank you for all your great work. Forward!

Inspiration Corporation. Thank you Inspiration Corporation for One Inspired Evening!

Inspiration Kitchens. Thank you Lisa Nigro for your vision and entrepreneurial spirit! My kind of sustainable work!

Earlier post about the Inspiration Kitchens. Dine well. Do good.

Lisa Nigro's wonderful new non-profit, Transform U. Transform U supports individuals with cognitive disabilities in achieving fitness goals and in becoming certified peer fitness trainers for other individuals with cognitive disabilities. A spectacular social enterprise startup that's needed worldwide.

Wisconsin Innovation Kitchen. An amazing community-based food processing facility in Iowa County Wisconsin, owned by the Hodan Center, a 501c3 Non-profit serving the goals of people with disabilities.

Inspiration Corporation's wonderful event 'One Inspired Evening' was hosted at the Chicago Journeymen Plumbers Union Hall, in the West Loop. This is a really beautiful venue!

Food and jobs - "Don't Mock the Artisinal Pickle Makers"

2012-02-26T18:12:00.000-06:00

Our Wisconsin Innovation Kitchen is helping pioneer new business models for developing sustainable artisan food businesses. We are helping to create new tools and markets for growing businesses and creating jobs through local foods and regional food systems.

There was a great story in the New York Times recently, by Adam Davidson of NPR's Planet Money.

This idea of small batch manufacturing has been emerging and getting better all my life. It was the core of our business model for the 25 years we ran our first startup.

Now I have the honor to work with the emerging capacity of the Innovation Kitchens to make small batch artisan foods for safe, legal, commercial sale to the public.

This is a great way to grow new businesses, create jobs, and rebuild the economy.

The quotes below are from the New York Times (emphasis added).

Don't Mock the Artisinal Pickle Makers

"It's tempting to look at craft businesses as simply a rejection of modern industrial capitalism. But the craft approach is actually something new — a happy refinement of the excesses of our industrial era..."

"As other countries move into mass production, the United States, even in the depths of economic doldrums, has a level of wealth that translates to fewer people willing to do dreary, assembly-line work at extremely low wages. More significant, we're entering an era of hyperspecialization. Huge numbers of middle-class people are now able to make a living specializing in something they enjoy, including creating niche products for other middle-class people who have enough money to indulge in buying things like high-end beef jerky."

"When it comes to profit and satisfaction, craft business is showing how American manufacturing can compete in the global economy. Many of the manufacturers who are thriving in the United States (they exist, I swear!) have done so by avoiding direct competition with low-cost commodity producers in low-wage nations. Instead, they have scrutinized the market and created customized products for less price-sensitive customers. Facebook and Apple, Starbucks and the Boston Beer Company (which makes Sam Adams lager) show that people who identify and meet untapped needs can create thousands of jobs and billions in wealth. As our economy recovers, there will be nearly infinite ways to meet custom needs at premium prices."

The Innovation Kitchen model can help artisan food entrepreneurs from across the US and from around the world operate legal, safe, food enterprises in North America while supporting great jobs for people in need. Get ready to expand your existing food business. Start one of your own. Join us!

Don't Mock the Artisinal Pickle Makers. New York Times

The new artisan economy, (an earlier blog post) quoted a great study to conclude, "The next ten years will see a re-emergence of artisans as an economic force."

Wisconsin Innovation Kitchen

Graphic artist John Hendrix did the great graphic for the NYT piece shown above. John is a fabulous graphic artist with many credits and a great gallery at his site!

Congratulations Dr. Tim Lindsey and Caterpillar!

2012-02-22T18:09:00.000-06:00

Amazing. Two friends from two completely different parts of my business life just joined forces.

In my recent business, we built oil and fluid recycling systems for industrial manufacturing plants around the globe. Among our best customers was Caterpillar. My wife's family also ran a manufacturing business that supplied Caterpillar for decades.

It's been great fun and a great learning experience to get to know my friend Dr. Tim Lindsey through our shared love of economic development via food and agriculture. Tim's recent work at the University of Illinois was done at a size and scale and quality that can transform the globe.

I believe he just got the chance. Tim has just joined Caterpillar as their Global Director of Sustainable Development.

Congratulations to all involved!

Here is a description of Tim's goals for Caterpillar from LinkedIn:

"Lead Caterpillar’s efforts to build a culture of sustainable development in all internal business units as well as with suppliers and customers. Team with Caterpillar business units and divisions to expand existing markets through strategies that improve system sustainability. Identify and create breakthrough opportunities for sustainable development that are not currently established."

I worked with Caterpillar for many years as a vendor of fluid recycling systems. Our first Caterpillar installations were at Aurora, IL, in their heat treating department. We rocked it, and the metallurgical engineers from Cat that managed our systems loved them. Caterpillar Aurora was one of the installations highlighted in our United States Small Business New Product of the Year Award from the National Society of Professional Engineers

I was on a panel with Tim at a recent conference in Chicago earlier this month.

I had the fun chance to tell the audience that the trouble with the placement of my presentation was that I was the only thing that stood between them and the amazing Dr. Tim Lindsey.

Congratulations Tim. Congratulations Caterpillar. It's a great honor to know you both. Rock it!

Caterpillar Sustainability

Dr. Tim Lindsey at LinkedIn

National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE)

Wisconsin Innovation Kitchen

Thank you Again! The World's 50 Most Innovative Companies.

2012-02-18T09:39:00.000-06:00

Fast Company magazine's listing of the world's 50 most innovative companies is out in their March issue.

A few years ago, Dave and I started and grew a new business with an investment of $3,000 each. We successfully designed, patented and manufactured amazing industrial fluid recycling systems during a significant decline in American manufacturing. We had great customers on 6 continents.

We were awarded Fast Company's Fast 50 Award in 2004.

The following year, we were honored by being chosen as the United States Small Business New Product of the Year Award, by the National Society of Professional Engineers.

I believe the work of the Wisconsin Innovation Kitchen is breaking new ground at this level. Annette (Food Service Director and Mistress of the Universe) and her team at the Innovation Kitchen are remarkable. This effort is creating good jobs for people with disabilities and new opportunities in the world of local foods. I could not be more inspired by the amazing new friends and co-workers I've made through the Hodan Center!

Congratulations to this year's Fast Company 'World's 50 Most Innovative Companies.' And thanks for the shout-out in 2004!

Fast Company full article

Fast Company direct to full list

Our 2004 Fast 50 Award

Wisconsin Innovation Kitchen

Hodan Center Thank you! The Hodan Center owns and operates the Wisconsin Innovation Kitchen.

Inspiration Kitchens. Dine well. Do good.

2012-02-11T13:53:00.000-06:00

I just read an article about the Inspiration Kitchens in Chicago and I was beyond inspired.

It was my first introduction to this wonderful enterprise. Great idea. Amazing execution.

Then 'out of the blue' I made a cool new friend with strong connections to this organization.

Here is a short intro from the Inspiration Kitchens' site:

"We look forward to welcoming you to Inspiration Kitchens, the social enterprise restaurant of Inspiration Corporation! You'll enjoy contemporary American cuisine prepared and served by students and graduates of our award-winning food service training program.

Join us for memorable meals, friendly service, stylish atmosphere and the joy of giving hope and opportunity to students working to achieve self-sufficiency. Inspiration Kitchens has helped hundreds of individuals gain the skills they need to find employment and exit homelessness and poverty."

I believe there are many areas of possible collaboration between the Inspiration Kitchens and the Innovation Kitchens. The potential for building valuable, replicable, economic development outcomes for people in need through these kinds of joint efforts is significant and sustainable.

The Inspiration Kitchens idea was pioneered by Lisa Nigro. Ms. Nigro is now focusing on helping helping people with disabilities achieve personal and job goals. My kind of hero.

What wonderful stories are circulating and enriching our lives. Dine well. Do good. Thank you Inspiration Kitchens!

Inspiration Kitchens. You're going to love this.

Chicago Tribune article about this great enterprise. "On West Side, unemployed get chance to learn a recipe for success. Gourmet restaurant in struggling neighborhood offers free training."

Join this year's 20th Annual One Inspired Evening, March 2, 2012, a fundraising event for the Inspiration Corporation with honorary Chair, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. I hope to see you there!

Our Wisconsin Innovation Kitchen salutes the great work of the Inspiration Kitchens. Forward!