tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51515418548640380282012-02-16T03:46:18.399-08:00Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14685833223252301741noreply@blogger.comBlogger11100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5151541854864038028.post-47700707913862575302009-03-02T22:20:00.000-08:002009-03-02T22:38:49.130-08:00It has been some time since I blogged but the bug has hit again and now I have a story to tell!<br /><br />Today started with an interesting breakfast meeting to talk about building a new website for OC Innovation. The discussion was about the strategy and mission-vision of the organization. We talked about the roots of the organization and how do we make a difference. We decided to building the site as the connection bub for organizations in Orange County California.<br /><br />[The Following is my personal understanding of OC Innovation] The association has had the goal of promoting Orange County as an innovation hotbed and a great place to invest your money, business, personal career and live. In the early days of the association we talked about the four basic drivers behind successful businesses and the people that make the business successful:<br /><ul><li>Business leadership</li><li>Technology leadership</li><li>Higher Education</li><li>Arts</li></ul><br />Business leadership and strong source of managers is important. Orange County has some of the most vibrant venture capital groups, such as Tech Coast Angels, OCVG, TCVN, TechBiz Connections and Forum for Corporate Directors (personal disclosure - I am a board member of FCDOC and founding member of both TechBiz Connections and OC Innovation). These are but a few local associations (get the Redbook OC <cite><a href="http://www.ocredbook.org/">www.<b>ocredbook</b>.org</a></cite> to find many more).<br /><br />Technology leadership is demonstrated by the many successful startups, such as Allergan, Broadcom, PowerWave, the large number of medical device companies (second largest world concentration) and the thriving electronic gaming industry.<br /><br />Higher Education is abundant with more Universities located with 50 miles of Orange County than any other location in the world. From major Universities in San Diego to UCLA in the north, first tier education is all around the county. USC, UCI, Chapman Universities have some to the top leading business schooks, art schools and lead the world in research (I also must disclose that I am on the Computer Sciences Industry Advisory for Chapman University and the mentorship Executive MBA program at UCI).<br /><br />Arts are also in abundance from the many local dinner theatres, music venues to the new music hall and the Pond - second world leading venue for performing arts.<br /><br />You might ask then why should OCI promote OC with such a rich environment. It came down to politics - the County went bankrupt in the mid 90's and has had no promotional funding since!<br /><br />Tomorrow I will talk about where we are going and the interesting lunch I had.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5151541854864038028-4770070791386257530?l=michaelspeak.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14685833223252301741noreply@blogger.com0