Former 2011 Stateline FastPitch Competition presenter, Tim Wambach, Handicap This Productions! was featured on the front page of the Chicago Tribune. The article and video highlights how Tim and his friend Mike Berkson “deliver onstage laughs and wisdom about life with Cerebral Palsy.” Their journey has resulted in a book, speaking engagements and the formation of Keep On Keeping On, a nonprofit foundation to help others with physical disabilities.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-disabled-friends-show-20110920,0,7551674.story?page=1

Congratulations to EIGERlab’s client and tenant, Blake Hamilton of TerraPlants on their first, impressive sale to Franchesco’s Ristorante. For more information regarding TerraPlants, please see page six of The Voice article (link).

 

TerraPlants Inc. is a web-based, e-commerce business designed to provide commercial, industrial and residential customers with a simple source for high quality, direct shipped, indoor plants and containers that can be shipped anywhere in North America with a focus on hospitals, restaurants, banks, schools, colleges and universities looking to go GREEN.

 

 

*CNC Machine Training Instructor Opening*
TechWorks’ Fast-Track CNC machine training is experiencing a record-level numbers of students. Because of the demand and the number of job openings in the region, EIGERlab would like to hire additional instructors (ad below). **Please consider reposting.

TechWorks at EIGERlab is seeking a PT CNC instructor to provide a variety of teaching/learning activities that prepare students for basic machining skills. Classroom and hands-on coursework includes blueprint reading, shop math and GD & T. A minimum of five years CNC machining experience with excellent presentation skills are required. Instructor experience is a plus. Please send your resume to TechWorks, 605 Fulton Avenue, Rockford, IL 61103.

earning activities that prepare students for basic machining skills. Classroom and hands-on coursework includes blueprint reading, shop math and GD & T. A minimum of five years CNC machining experience with excellent presentation skills are required. Instructor experience is a plus. Please send your resume to TechWorks, 605 Fulton Avenue, Rockford, IL 61103.earning activities that prepare students for basic machining skills. Classroom and hands-on coursework includes blueprint reading, shop math and GD & T. A minimum of five years CNC machining experience with excellent presentation skills are required. Instructor experience is a plus. Please send your resume to TechWorks, 605 Fulton Avenue, Rockford, IL 61103.

Thank you to Mori Seiki and Ellison Technologies for donating a two axis, lathe machine to EIGERlab’s TechWorks CNC training program. This will enable the program’s instructors to train on state-of-the-art equipment. We’re proud to share that TechWorks classes are filled through the end of 2011. Currently we are searching for an instructor so we’ll be able to train additional students (entry level-machinists) in order to fill the extraordinary demand of CNC machinists with companies in the Northern IL/Southern WI area.

 

 

Student presentation-Technical Center for the Arts at EIGERlab

Students Matt Kennedy and Joel Walter presented an overview of their student residency experience today at EIGERlab (E-L). They were both thrilled to be able to work with the technical-minded, creative people at E-L, not to mention the “big boy” machinery they were able to access. In addition to the students presenting, Mike Miller, Joel’s professor who experienced the residency in 2010 also shared an overview of his work and comments regarding the program. The students’ PowerPoint presentations will be available on the EIGERlab Web site.

WIFR media coverage on TechWorks’ Fast-Track CNC Machine Training results

Successful F-T graduates possess a NIMS credential, WorkKeys ACT assessment and Job Readiness instruction totaling six weeks of comprehensive training. These graduates are highly desirable candidates for the large number of starting-level CNC machinist’s positions in the Northern IL area. If you know anyone who is unemployed or underemployed and is interested in a career in advanced manufacturing, please repost; for more information phone 815.965.3522.

http://www.wifr.com/searchresults?searchKeywords=michael+techworks&group1=phrase&time=30&sort=date

EIGERlab's StartUp Accelerator #5 Receives 5 Star Rating

Having been to countless conferences, conventions, meet-ups and networking events ad nauseam...the "unconference" AKA startup Accelerator #5, held April 30th, in Rockford, at the EIGERlab was inspirational and fun, and proved to be a great resource for inventors, independent business folk and would-be entrepreneurs. The structure of the event actually mirrors the iterative process of new product development and creating a new business. Typical conferences have a set agenda with predetermined experts to meet an anticipated but often unconfirmed need of the participants. The "unconference" format encourages the participants to voice the topic of their choice or choose from suggested topics. All voices are heard, sessions are scheduled, and experts attracted to the event share in navigating discussions to address a given topic. The amount of structure in the discussions varies but more often than not seems appropriate. In contrast to traditional conferences you don't have to sit in the back of the room to sneak out if the topic or presenter proves of no interest to you. At the "unconference" you are encouraged to vote with your feet with no offense taken or implied by the person that votes.
The event(s) seems to attract a productive mix of people seeking help and resources, along with various experts that attend because they enjoy giving and assisting the community of aspiring inventors and entrepreneurs. The Bizstarts staff does a great job of moving things along and James Carlson of Bucket Works adds his expert facilitation skills to the mix to make the event even a bit more memorable.
Lots of positives from this well executed event. I left knowing that innovation and entrepreneurship are alive and well in Rockford. The event was also intended to erase the perception that the state border be a boundary of consequence for doing business between Illinois and Wisconsin. To that end, I left with this feeling and new twist on an old acronym; FIB really means Friendly Illinois Brethren.

Reed Felton