Premier Partner and
Host of E2detroit 2008

Wayne State University

Wayne State University is Michigan's only urban research university, fulfilling a unique niche in providing access to a world-class education at a great value. Wayne State is a comprehensive university with 11 schools and colleges offering more than 350 major subject areas to 33,000 graduate and undergraduate students.

WSU is located in the heart of Detroit's University Cultural Center, the home of renowned museums, galleries and theatres, most within walking distance. The WSU main campus encompasses 203 acres of beautifully landscaped walkways and gathering spots, linking 100 education and research buildings. The five extension centers in the metropolitan area provide convenient access to a wide selection of courses.

Accretive Solutions

Accretive Solutions (formerly known as Dickson Allan or Horn Murdock Cole) is a nationwide executive search and consulting firm that specializes in accounting and finance, enterprise governance, and technology. Accretive has made a name for themselves by delivering lasting results through exceptional people.

Today's rapidly evolving business environment requires knowledgeable leaders and forward-thinking professionals who can make things happen. Never before has it been more critical for organizations to hire the very best - individuals with the ability to make a significant and lasting contribution. Accretive Solutions' Executive Search group specializes in bringing together these types of individuals with companies - both large and small - across Southeast Michigan. Through vision, industry experience, a proven search process, and expert assessment, Accretive Solutions can efficiently help companies hire results-driven professionals with the leadership skills and character that align with their corporate values and entrepreneurial culture.

The wealth of experience provided by the Accretive Consulting group delivers a significant value proposition to Accretive Solutions clients. That is why in these days of "doing more for less", Accretive Solutions has emerged as a premier consulting partner within their large and growing client community.

Accretive Solutions has proudly served the Southeast Michigan community since 1981.

Client Case Study
Corporate Partner

Clark Hill PLC

Clark Hill is a full service law firm serving clients in the business, government, and nonprofit sectors, in addition to our representation of individuals. Our experienced attorneys and leading-edge technologies consistently deliver client-centered solutions.

Clark Hill clients expect the best, and we deliver by responding quickly to their needs, understanding their business issues, and providing outstanding legal advice.

Since 1890, our attorneys have proudly represented a diverse range of clients ranging from individuals and new entities to Fortune 500 corporations. These are just a few of the reasons why our firm is repeatedly chosen and recommended by our clients.

Detroit Investment Fund

The Detroit Investment Fund is a $50 million for-profit, private capital fund that provides financing to growth-oriented businesses, high-impact real estate projects and strategic projects in Detroit. The Fund provides low-cost, patient capital of between $500,000 and $2 million which will leverage owner equity so that the contemplated transaction will merit traditional financing.

Domino's Pizza

Founded in 1960, Domino's Pizza is the recognized world leader in pizza delivery operating a network of company-owned and franchise-owned stores in the United States and international markets. Domino's Pizza's Vision illustrates a company of exceptional people on a mission to be the best pizza delivery company in the world.

Dykema

Dykema, with over 450 attorneys and professionals, is a leading national law firm with a Midwest heritage. The firm is consistently recognized as one of the top 150 law firms in the United States. Dykema has become a strategic partner and the firm of choice for many Fortune 1000, middle-market and start-up companies.

Emagine Entertainment

Emagine Entertainment operates three state-of-the-art movie theatres with 46 screens in Michigan: Cinema Hollywood in Birch Run, Emagine Novi, and Emagine Canton. Two new Michigan facilities are scheduled to open in 2009. Emagine was the first motion picture exhibitor in the world to install digital projection systems on all screens. Voted best theatres in Michigan 2005, 2006, and 2007.

Great Lakes Entrepreneur's Quest

GLEQ links Michigan entrepreneurs to resources, expert advice, quality education, and capital. The annual GLEQ statewide business plan competition features cash prizes, extensive media exposure and core business services for its winners. Register by October 31, 2008.

Past winners include Velcura Therapeutics, Adaptive Materials, SensiGen, Accuri Cytometers, Compendia Bioscience, ElectroJet, and Envigia. Visit this inspiring and supportive initiative at www.gleq.org or call 734-255-3183 for further information.

Ilitch Holdings, Inc.

Ilitch Holdings provides all the companies owned by Michael and/or Marian Ilitch with professional and technical services. The individual companies who comprise Ilitch Holdings include Little Caesars Pizza, the Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Tigers, Olympia Entertainment, Olympia Development, Blue Line Foodservice Distribution, Champion Foods, Uptown Entertainment, Little Caesars Pizza Kit Fundraising Program, and a variety of venues within those entities.

The Ilitch Holdings family of companies is dedicated to creating extraordinary and memorable entertainment and sporting experiences in the heart of downtown Detroit's Sports and Entertainment Foxtown District. Ilitch Holdings' goal is to consistently provide the value, taste and spirit that makes a meal special and brings families together. Additionally, the overriding Ilitch mission is to generate growth and opportunity for the community; to remain a leader in the international restaurant industry; and to promote the City of Detroit as an exciting and profitable place in which to conduct business.

Premier Economic
Development Partner

Michigan Economic Development Corporation

The MEDC is Michigan's one-stop resource for businesses seeking to grow in Michigan. Formed in 1999, the MEDC consolidates all of Michigan's economic development programs into an organization that runs like a business. As a public corporation created through a cooperation between state and local governments, the MEDC is a liaison with local communities and agencies across the state. It is guided by a board comprised of members who represent a cross-section of the state economy, business owners and executives, local economic developers and college presidents. At the individual company level, the MEDC is a supplier of customized economic development services delivered by account managers. At the community level, it is working to assure that Michigan's cities and towns are prepared to compete in the new high-technology environment. The MEDC is also actively promoting the growth of companies in the emerging high technologies: alternative energy, life sciences, homeland security/defense and automotive/advanced manufacturing.

Microsoft Small Business

Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software --- any time, any place and on any device.

Pillar Technology

Pillar Technology is a 10 year old, Michigan-based high-end boutique consulting firm and leading software development company. With an innovative agile approach (branded as "Speed to Value") Pillar boasts a team of 70+ consultants with hundreds of years in combined experience. From a former NASA employee to an Apache helicopter pilot, Pillar Technology experts come from all types of industries and backgrounds, bringing an unrivaled breadth of experience to the table to solve clients' business problems.

Growing at a rate of 35% per year, Pillar's success stems from the fact that its team understands business value, and knows how to use technology to deliver it quickly. Pillar has assembled a comprehensive suite of tools designed to help virtually any company, in any industry, in any corner of the world meet complex business challenges faster than ever thought possible. With a national client base, a supplemental team of contractors complementing its employees, and many Fortune 100 clients, Pillar Technology is proud to offer smart IT training, consulting, mentoring and staffing solutions to clients of all sizes in a wide variety of industries.

ShoreBank Enterprise Detroit

ShoreBank Enterprise Detroit (SED) is a non-profit 501(c)3 community development organization affiliated with ShoreBank Corporation. Created in 1998, SED had a mission of helping revitalize an economically distressed target are in Detroit's far eastside neighborhoods. For several years, SED provided down payment assistance and credit counseling. Beginning in 2007 and through today, SED operates throughout the entire City of Detroit.

In 2001, SED's small business loan fund began operation and has grown and evolved substantially since that time.

Premier
Corporate Partner

TechTown

Located in the heart of Detroit, TechTown is a unique community of entrepreneurs, investors, mentors, service providers and corporate partners creating an internationally recognized entrepreneurial village. TechTown has developed a remarkable track record of propelling entrepreneurs to greater success, serving as both an incubator to provide support and access to capital for high tech companies and a developer, facilitating commercial and residential projects.

Airfoil Public Relations

Airfoil is a growing public relations agency for fast companies, from Silicon Valley to the nation's heartland, from the business centers of Manhattan to the storefronts of the Midwest. Their work is built on speed, process and measurement; and their results move companies to market more rapidly and efficiently. Airfoil brings Higher Thinking™ and new perspectives to the way businesses communicate. They lift awareness of early stage companies and expand marketplace preference for the nation's most recognized brands in business-to-business technology and services, consumer products and services, automotive and manufacturing technology, and healthcare.

ConnecTech

ConnecTech is Michigan's premier network for technology professionals, offering members the opportunity to discover the latest technology trends, meet with other professionals, and advance their careers through various professional development initiatives. Powered by Automation Alley, ConnecTech represents a community of more than 700 technology-minded professionals through its eight statewide chapters.

Detroit Young Professionals

Detroit Young Professionals (DYP) is a service organization dedicated to making Detroit a better place to live and developing the region';s next generation of leaders. DYP designs and executes grassroots business, social and civic development initiatives that stimulate professional, personal and community growth. As Detroit's economy evolves, attracting and retaining the emerging talent that will fuel our regional renaissance is critical. DYP is a trusted leader in the cultivation of a diverse, creative and caring network of young professionals and entrepreneurs throughout the metropolitan area.

Inforum

Inforum is one of the largest and most prestigious business forums for women in the nation, with more than 2,000 members, representing a broad cross-section of Michigan's business community. The mission of the organization is to strengthen the business environment in Michigan by creating opportunities for women to lead and succeed. Inforum provides opportunities for businesswomen to forge alliances, discuss vital civic and business issues and make connections that help accelerate careers. Programs include nationally known speakers who address relevant business and social issues; networking activities for women, who share interests; and leadership development workshops and courses. The organization's non-profit research and education arm is the Inforum Center for Leadership. Founded as the Detroit Women's Economic Club in 1962, Inforum has affiliates in Grand Rapids and Lansing, Michigan.

Michigan Council of Women in Technology (MCWT)

The Michigan Council of Women In Technology (MCWT) is the premier association for professional women in Michigan's technology community. It welcomes members who would like the opportunity to network with others in the high-technology arena, share hopes and practical issues, and find answers to business and personal career-oriented challenges.

The MCWT 501(c) 3 non-profit Foundation is dedicated to correcting the growing gender disparity gap in information technology, and strengthening Michigan and its corporations by encouraging diversity in the field.

MichiganMall.com

MichiganMall.com has become Michigan's largest and most recognized Internet-based search directory. A Michigan-only, targeted directory, it gives company websites wide visibility on the Internet and augments their other marketing endeavors. It is truly cost effective marketing giving small businesses some of the marketing advantages enjoyed by larger businesses with bigger budgets.

MITechNews.com

MITechNews.com is a web portal site that features stories, information and events listings about Michigan technology companies and entrepreneurs. MITechNews.com is owned by Michigan News Network, a corporation based in Grand Rapids, MI.

Michigan Association for Female Entrepreneurs (MAFE)

The Michigan Association for Female Entrepreneurs (MAFE) is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization that addresses the unique needs of women entrepreneurs. MAFE's focused mission is to advance the growth and success of Michigan women business owners by providing resources and services through education, networking, and public advocacy to empower women both personally and professionally. MAFE proactively fulfills its mission by offering training, business development opportunities, and strong support for new and existing Michigan-based women business owners.

MAFE is a Michigan network of the National Association for Female Executives, one of the nation's largest businesswomen's associations, founded in 1972, with over 60,000 members and more than 200 networks across the United States. The goal of MAFE is to provide women with professional and educational content in an environment in which women can build business alliances and have the opportunity to make connections with like-minded business professionals.

Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

The Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is a 501(c ) (6), not-for-profit membership association dedicated to promoting economic development in the Hispanic community through the growth of its member companies. Headquartered in Southfield, Michigan, the Chamber is governed by a 30-member Board of Directors. Day-to-day operations are the responsibility of an administrative staff comprised of full-time association professionals. Membership of the Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is comprised of Hispanic owned enterprises; automotive OEM's, Tier One suppliers and non-automotive, Fortune 500 corporations. Hispanic-owned companies represent 84% of the total membership and are involved in the automotive, business services, construction and retail industries.

The Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce has a strong and focused two-fold purpose:

• To create business opportunities for its member companies
• To act as a vital link to the assets and resources of the Latino community by facilitating relationships to enhance supplier diversity, community economic development, philanthropic initiatives, and workforce diversity initiatives.

Michigan India Chamber of Commerce

The Michigan India Chamber of Commerce (MIICC) is a Greater Detroit-based professional and business networking organization promoting networking with and within the Asian Indian community throughout the state of Michigan. The MIICC meets on the 2nd Wednesday of each month from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM. Members include companies like Dykema Gossett, Lotus Bank, India Spice and many others that encompass information technology companies, lawyers, accountants, and other service providers focused on the needs of large and small businesses, alike.

Motor City Connect

Motor City Connect is Detroit's business networking engine. Providing extensive interaction opportunities, Motor City Connect is where some of Southeastern Michigan's top professionals come to understand and connect with the people, the events and the advice they need to grow their businesses.

National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO)

The National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), headquartered in Washington, DC is the only dues-based national organization representing the interests of all women entrepreneurs in all kinds of businesses. The organization currently has 90 chapters in the United States, and is affiliated with Les Femmes Chefs d' Enterprises Mondiales (World Association of Women Business Owners).

The Greater Detroit Chapter, chartered in 1980, is made up of 430 of the finest entrepreneurial women in the area who share their experience and empower each other through NAWBO membership. Their businesses range from sole proprietorship operations to those with nearly 200 employees. Among them are lawyers, financial consultants, printers, media specialists, event planners, manufacturers and property managers. They all share the Association's clear and common goal - the growth and success of women in the business arena.

NETPODS

NETPODS, a unique and innovative community of connections, was started by mother/daughter "power-team" Linda and Chris Lakatos in October, 2005. Focused on the Metro Detroit area, over the last 3 years, Network Pods has hosted many upscale business-to-business events and utilized its online community to connect thousands of business professionals. Currently, NETPODS is enhancing its search component to lead in the industry of aggregation and online search tools. The new NETPODS will launch in 2009 and will be focused on furnishing answers to the key questions for which people need answers.

Vista Latinos

Vista Latinos, a Detroit-based consultancy, helps corporations reach a very complex market derived of three generations (tres generaciones) of Latinos living in the U.S. - Foreign Born Spanish-Speaking, U.S. Raised Bilingual Speakers, and U.S. Born English Speakers. Vista Latinos' goal is to maximize its clients' profits by ensuring that corporate marketing and advertising execution reaches the nation's largest minority group. Latinos have a purchasing power of $650 billion today, and that is expected to grow to $1 trillion by the end of the decade.