Home Activities December 2008/January 2009 Newsletter
Subject: Michigan Israel Business Bridge - Dec/Jan Newsletter

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Michigan Israel Business Bridge Newsletter

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www.michiganisrael.com
Issue 5
December 2008/January 2009
Upcoming Activities

2nd Annual Michigan-Israel Automotive Partnership Event

January 21-23, 2009
Somerset Inn and Automation Alley (Troy, MI) and other metro Detroit locations

Are you a potential customer or partner for Israeli automotive suppliers and technology companies?

For further information on who should attend, registration, and locations, please visit our EVENT WEBSITE.

This event is presented to you by the MIBB and its partners:

Automation Alley
Michigan Economic Development Corporation
Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute
Government of Israel Economic Mission
Oakland County, Michigan
Ann Arbor SPARK
Detroit Regional Economic Partnership
Officers

Chuck Newman, President
Joseph A. Parini, Vice President
Noam Y. Raz, Vice President
Susan Herman, Secretary
Jeff Chutz, Treasurer
We Thank Our Founders and Corporate Level Partners
Founder's Society

Hannan Lis

Homedics

Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor

Mike Levine

ReCellular

Scott Kellman


Corporate Partners

Elbit Systems of America

Hopen Therapeutics

Jaffe Raitt

Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor

Ralph Gerson


Corporate Sponsors

Automation Alley

The Ayco Company, LP

Israel Export and Economic Development Corporation

Jay Levin

Lansing Economic Area Partnership

MSW Group

Oxford Companies
West Michigan Science & Technology Initiative


Corporate Patrons

Butzel Long

Laurence Consultants
Schostak
Stout Risius Ross

The Identity Source

Virchow Krause

Corporate Members

Accent Reduction Institute

Cantor Colburn

Deloitte

Farbman Group

Gal-Mar

General Linen and Uniform Service


Group Five Management Company

GVA Detroit

Harvey Hohauser & Associates

Lighting Supply Co.

Mark Bernstein

Mark Milgrom

Mass Mutual Financial

McCullough Corporation

Menlo Innovations

NDS

PMV Technologies

Quality Engineering Corporation
Quick Links

Michigan Links

Israel Links

Join Our Mailing List
In This Issue
Upcoming Activities
Leadership Message
Governor Granholm's Israel Mission
Other MIBB News
Job Postings
Membership Information
Chuck NewmanRon Perry

From the President and Executive Director





Dear MIBB Members,

Happy new year and best wishes for a prosperous 2009! While 2008 was a year of significant economic challenges, particularly in Michigan, we at the MIBB remain committed to our mission of facilitating business opportunities that will benefit both Michigan and Israel. The Israeli economy, while also affected by the global economic downturn, is still churning out new companies, products and technologies seeking a home in the US market.  Thankfully, there is no shortage of opportunities to connect Israeli companies and entrepreneurs with counterparts in Michigan, and we are as busy as ever.  

In November, the MIBB helped to facilitate a very successful investment mission to Israel for Governor Jennifer Granholm...

(please note that in the new format of our newsletter we will be truncating articles and providing hyperlinks to the full article. This is being done to enhance readability. To read the remainder of the leadership message, please click here)

Governor Granholm's Mission to Israel
By Ron Perry, MIBB Executive Director

On November 15-18, 2008, the MIBB helped lead a successful investment missiGovernor Granholm in Israelon to Israel headed by Michigan Governor Jennifer C. Granholm and Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) CEO James C. Epolito.

From the perspective of the MIBB I think there were several highlights to the mission:


·    Introducing the Governor's delegation to several Israeli companies with which MIBB is working

·    Hosting a reception between the Governor's delegation and representatives from the Israeli automotive industry

·    Meeting with Project Better Place - Israel's global electric car infrastructure initiative - and other noteworthy Israeli companies.

·    The signing of a strategic cooperation agreement between Israel and Michigan in the area of water technology

·    And last, but certainly not least, having the opportunity to get to know the Governor, Jim Epolito, and their staff "in the van"


(to read the full article, please click here)

Other MIBB News

Project Better Place and Michigan
By Chuck Newman, MIBB President

When you had faith in the mission of the Michigan Israel Business Bridge by becoming a member, you helped set in motion a sequence of events that may have profound and far reaching benefits for the United States and the world.
Chuck Newman with a PBP car
I had occasion to speak to one of my former Hillel International Board members this year and he told me of his role with the Israeli electric car initiative.   He hadn't been able to arrange a meeting with Governor Granholm and Better Place's CEO Shai Agassi and asked for the MIBB's help.  We not only arranged for her to meet with Shai on her recent trip to Israel, but she also...

(to read more, please click here)

MPowered Career Fair

MPowered Entrepreneurship and Center for Entrepreneurship present the MPowered Career Fair, a door to truly experience entrepreneurship. This annual fair is a great opportunity for small businesses to gain exposure and for students across all majors to get jobs and internships with ambitious small companies and start-up firms.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009
11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor at North Campus in Pierpont Commons, Duderstadt Center, Chrysler Center, and EECS building.


Job Postings

To do our part in connecting Michiganders and Israelis with business opportunities, we've created a job networking section in our monthly newsletters. To add a post or to inquire about an existing one below, contact Ron.

- Former CEO of public industrial technology company looking for an opportunity to lead a company, or take on COO or GM position of division of an industrial technology company.  Would prefer to stay in Michigan, but willing to relocate.


- Recent Michigan State University graduate with bachelor's degree in communication, business and PR seeking opportunity that leverages international communications expertise.

- Recent University of Michigan graduate with diverse experience and inventive mind seeks work with local business.

- Israeli citizen moving to Ann Arbor in fall 2009 with 10 years of network administration and QA/testing experience seeking opportunity in a technology company in the areas of customer support, account management, and/or building/managing a QA department.

- Israeli citizen qualified to work in the US, with background in human resources, seeks position in HR or in psychological/social services.

- Israeli citizen (with an EU passport), attorney at law, graduating
University of Michigan Ross MBA program with over 10 years of leadership experiences through military service, entrepreneurial initiatives, legal and business consultancy, and an executive role within an international company seeking a position in business development, internal consulting and/or general management.
Bridge
Membership Information

MIBB has already recruited prestigious businesspeople, venture capitalists, law firms, accounting firms and others to be members. Membership in MIBB is good for Michigan, good for Israel, and good for your business. As a member of MIBB you will be able to play a direct part in improving the economy of Michigan and Israel. MIBB membership will allow you to profit from the matchmaking efforts of its staff and members.

To find out out more about becoming a member click here. To download a membership application, please visit our website or click here.
MIBB Would Like to Thank All Members for Their Support
For more information on becoming a member, please visit our website by clicking here.

MIBB extends a warm welcome to its newest members:

Corporate Sponsor
The Ayco Company, LP (Joel Tauber)

Corporate Members
Accent Reduction Institute (Judy Ravin)
Gary Shiffman
Group Five Management Company (Michael Tobin)
PMV Technologies (Sam Rozenberg)

Professional Members
Ellen Sasson
Michael B. Serling
Irwin Weingarten
Neal Zalenko

MIBB would like to thank those members who recently renewed their memberships: (Note that memberships are renewed on a rolling basis)

Founder's Society
ReCellular (Chuck Newman)

Corporate Members
McCullough Corporation (Stan Meretsky)

Professional Members
Robyn Lederman
Michigan Israel Business Bridge | 3520 Green Court | Suite 450 | Ann Arbor | MI | 48105