UrbanaArchive for the ‘’ Category

New International Trade Specialist Joins Local Small Business Development Center

 

The Illinois Small Business Development Center at Champaign County Economic Development Corporation has hired Kathie Cravens as its International Trade Specialist for the new International Trade Center, a partnership with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Cravens was the top candidate following a search and comprehensive evaluation that included the SBDC, Champaign County EDC, University of Illinois, and DCEO.

Ms. Cravens, a seasoned International Trade Specialist with years of exporting experience, has traveled and lived abroad, worked closely with numerous international dealers and distributors, and has attended several international trade shows. She has advised small to medium sized companies on their export practices and has been directly involved with exporting numerous shipments of U.S. manufactured goods to every continent around the world. “I’m excited about the opportunity to assist Central Illinois companies with their expansion into the international market in an effort to expand international trade opportunities in the region and create new jobs,” stated Cravens.

She will provide in-depth advice on international trade techniques, export processes, and international market opportunities to local companies. In addition, she will provide research support for new markets and products and referral assistance for export related activities, licensing, certification, legal and financial consultation, logistics and customs issues.

“We are excited that a professional with significant international experience has joined our team,” said Greg Gonda, Director of the Small Business Development Center. “Her expertise will be an asset in expanding the array of services we offer and assisting companies with their expansion into foreign markets.” Cravens joins Gonda and Tim Montague as the third staff member.

To contact Ms. Cravens and learn more about the International Trade Center, please contact her at 217-378-8535 or kathie@champaigncountyedc.org.

Anheuser-Busch InBev Unveils ‘Bud Lab’ at the University of Illinois Research Park

Article Source: UI Research Park

LEUVEN, BELGIUM – August 30, 2013 – AB InBev, the leading global brewer has announced a partnership with the University of Illinois, and will open the Bud Lab, a state of the art data analytics center, at the University of Illinois Research Park at the beginning of next month.

The Bud Lab will focus on data analytics, developing data research and innovation to solve problems ranging from assortment optimization, social media and market trends to large scale data initiatives, bringing together the University of Illinois’ top talent with the company’s portfolio of leading beer brands in a vibrant environment designed to stimulate innovative thinking.

“Our dream is to be the Best Beer Company in a Better World.  To achieve our dream we need to constantly innovate and attract the best talent, and our collaboration with the University of Illinois provides a tremendous opportunity to work with the best and brightest in the field,” said Claudio Garcia, Chief People and Technology Officer for AB InBev. “Through our permanent presence on-campus we will be at the edge of leading research and innovation, working together with some of the best minds in key fields including statistics, computer science, business and engineering. We strongly believe that our collaboration will put forth new and exciting solutions and insights, and we look forward to working closely with the team here.”

Rafael Pinterich will serve as the Director of the Bud Lab, and will focus on selecting and implementing experimental projects.  Prior to joining the collaboration with University of Illinois initiative, Rafael served several different roles within AB InBev such as Project Specialist, Regional Finance Manager and People & HR Lead for Latin America North. In his role as director, Rafael will focus on selecting and implementing experimental projects. He will also be working closely with students, guiding their work and providing them with experiences that will complement university knowledge.

Through the Bud Lab, AB InBev will provide students the opportunity to enhance their University of Illinois education with real-life projects addressing key global product challenges. The University of Illinois has a long and distinguished history in data systems, artificial intelligence, systems and networking, architecture and parallel computing, which make a strong partnership for AB InBev to pursue applications in analytics from data-intensive researches to support a data-driven world.

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Chancellor Phyllis Wise said, “As a truly global institution, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is pleased to welcome AB InBev, a world leader in consumer products, to our Research Park. We have a long tradition of international relationships and collaborations, one that is further advanced with this new analytics lab. We are excited about the new research and learning opportunities this partnership will create for our students and faculty and about the new insights around global products and international business that will follow.”

More press coverage:

– Photos from Grand Opening of Bud Lab, Champaign County EDC Facebook Page

EnterpriseWorks Named a College-Town Incubator to Watch by Inc. Magazine

Article Source: UI Research Park

An article in the June 2013 issue of Inc. Magazine declares EnterpriseWorks, the technology business incubator at the University of Illinois Research Park, as one of three college-town incubators worth watching.

The article highlights some of the incubator’s strengths, including entrepreneur counseling and support. It also mentions that EnterpriseWorks clients and graduates have raised more than $550 million in outside capital. The article calls out one of EnterpriseWorks tenants, IntelliWheels, “a company that has created a patent-pending gear system for manual wheelchairs, was awarded a grant from the National Institutes of Health and has raised more than $500,000 in funding.”

The other college town incubators featured are Arizona State University’s Furnace Technology Transfer Accelerator and the USC/Columbia Technology Incubator out of the University of South Carolina.

This isn’t the first time that EnterpriseWorks has received recognition from the Inc. “family”. In 2011, Inc.com named EnterpriseWorks one of 10 Start-up Incubators to Watch in the U.S.

2013 Innovation Celebration Winners

Innovation Celebration Logo

Over 200 people gathered at the National Center for Supercomputer Applications for the Eighth Annual Innovation Celebration on the evening of February 28th to recognize those individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions, taken risks, and provided leadership to ensure the continuing economic success of Champaign County, the ongoing success of the University’s economic development mission, and the growth of entrepreneurial talent and energy in the community.

Innovation Celebration is not merely an award for accomplishment, but a benchmark of success for those outstanding individuals, organizations and corporations who are nominated and selected to receive this prestigious award. Additionally, Innovation Celebration serves as a tangible collaboration between the University of Illinois, Parkland College and the community.

Award Winners

Innovation Discovery Award (University of Illinois Award) – Martin Burke

Innovation Transfer Award (University of Illinois Award) – Yoram Bresler

Innovation in Engagement Award (Parkland College Award) – Don Bergfield

Social Entrepreneurship Award – Illinois Green Business Association (IGBA)

Entrepreneur Advocacy Award – Andrew Singer, U of I Technology Entrepreneur Center

Economic Development Impact Award – Champaign Organization of Developers and Engineers (CODE)

Entrepreneurial Excellence in Management Award – Chris Harbourt, Waterborne Environmental, Inc.

Longevity through Innovation Award – Cobalt Digital

Student Startup Award – Oso Technologies

New Venture Award – Spinlight Studio

The winners were chosen out of more than 150 nominations.

The event was sponsored by the Champaign County Economic Development Corporation, the University of Illinois’ Technology Entrepreneur Center, Research Park, Office of Corporate Relations, Office of Technology Management, and Office of the Vice President for Research, along with NCSA, Parkland College, Singleton Law Firm, Serra Ventures, Hanson Financial, Ramshaw Real Estate and Surface 51.

Thank you to 40 North for producing the videos for all the winners.

Buzz about the event:

News-Gazette Article

News-Gazette Photos

Storify (#InnCel2013)

Champaign County EDC Photos

SASE TV Video (Awards Ceremony)

Contact:

Carly McCrory, Communications Director
Champaign County EDC
217-359-6261
carly@champaigncountyedc.org

Champaign County High Schools Win Exceptional Honor – U.S. News Rankings

Two Champaign County high schools have earned the bronze ranking from U.S. News and World Report among the nation’s best high schools for student performance.  Urbana High School (UHS) and Heritage High School in Broadlands.  This is UHS’s second bronze award since 2010.   UHS has also earned a place two years in a row on the College Board’s AP Honor Roll, which recognizes gains in how students can access Advanced Placement classes and how well they score on AP tests.

Local Press:  The News Gazette
Full Report: U. S. News and World Report

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