Projects
I-Open is a developer of public-private partnerships to advance regional innovation clusters. As a trusted convener, I-Open designs civic forum process, architects 'open' guided conversations, and specialized communications. I-Open develops web 2.0 tools to connect entrepreneurs and align assets to advance regional industry innovation.
Civic Forum process observes I-Open principles of civilty and trust building, and introduces entrepreneurs to strategic thinking through the lens of the Innovation Framework - a heuristic model of investment in Open Source Economic Development. Civic forums build social networks to "link and leverage" assets, and coach "Strategic Doing"- a simple yet disciplined process to quickly move ideas to action.
You can learn more about Civic Forums in the I-Open projects listed below:
REI.Tuesdays
2003 - 2005 REI.Tuesdays.-- weekly civic forums convened by the Center for Regional Economic Issues (REI) at the Weatherhead School of Management, Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio engaged over 3,000 civic, business, government, and academic leaders from across 23 Northeast Ohio counties. Tuesdays.REI civic forums (Slide #1 above) built open economic networks, identified next generation industry clusters, strengthened organization capacity, and coached entrepreneurs in Strategic Doing (Slide #2), a process to quickly generate transformative initiatives and new businesses (Slide #3). 2003 NEOhio organizations invested in economic development. Map commissioned by REI (Slide #4).
- Funded by SBC Global Ameritech.
- Supported by the Center for Regional Economic Issues, Case Western Reserve University, and 3000 Northeast Ohio business, government, academic, and civic entrepreneurs.
- Deliverables: social capital, web 2.0 platforms, local and global industry networks, generations of learning communties, and transformative industry clusters.
- REI.Tuesdays serves as a model for other forums, such as Fridays@The Corridor, Charleston Technology Corridor, Charleston, South Carolina and Thursdays at the House, Indiana Humanities Council, Indianaoplois, Indiana.
Midtown Wednesdays
2006 Midtown Wednesdays.-- weekly civic forums hosted in partnership with I-Open and Chancellor University in Cleveland, Ohio. Forum conversations led by civic entrepreneurs strengthen urban initiatives, identify urban assets, develop relationships between neighborhood groups, businesses and libraries, and build local to global cultural networks.
- Funded by the Department of Economic Development, City of Cleveland.
- Supported by Chancellor University, I-Open, and Northeast Ohio business, civic, government, and academic leaders.
- Deliverables: social capital, local and global industry networks, collaborative economic development projects, business development.
Midtown Mornings
2006 Midtown Mornings.-- weekly Friday morning discussions led in collaboration with I-Open and Nead Brand Partners, a Cleveland Midtown creative business leader. Midtown Mornings is a "spin out" of Midtown Wednesdays (story above) to connect Cleveland creative technology business leaders and strengthen their transformative enterprise initiatives.
Located in a restored downtown loft, Nead Brand Partners acts as a local incubator. Projects include an urban business index, an on line collaborative community workspace, a custom "Midtown Brews" coffee label, and strategically branded events. Early morning discussions feature good coffee, guided discussions, and next steps to improve Midtown as a sustainable, thriving destination to live, work, and play.
- Supported by Nead Brand Partners, I-Open, Phoenix Coffee, and Midtown creative and technology business owners.
- Deliverables: open economic networks, transformative projects, business development.
Midtown Brews
2006 - 2009 Midtown Brews.-- monthly civic forums supported in collaboration with I-Open, Meet The Bloggers and Midtown technology businesses build social connectivity and strengthen business development. Forums are led by civic, government, business, and academic leaders representing creative digital media; technology; health care; solar and wind power industries; government; city services; biotechnology; water conservation; land stewardship; and many other industries. Midtown Brews conversations increase transparency of civic issues, business innovation and generate regional and global networks.
- Supported by I-Open, Midtown creative, bio tech, and techology businesses, and civic donations.
- Deliverables: social capital, local and global industry networks, business development.
- Learn from the wisdom of civic entrepreneurs in the Midtown Brews Civic Wisdom Library (below).
Women's Enterprise Network
2008 - 2009 Women's Enterprise Network.-- is an intergenerational network of women dedicated to the empowerment of women and their enterprise initiatives. WEN builds social capital, promotes communications, collaborations, and convenes and guides conversations focused on economic development from a woman's perspective hosted by local businesses, libraries and residential living establishments.
- Supported by I-Open, local women business owners, Gypsy Bean Cafe, Cleveland Heights Library, and Judson Living
- Deliverables: communications, social capital, local and global enterprise networks, transformative projects, business development.
- Learn insights from women entrepreneurs in the Women's Enterprise Network library (below).
- View the Women's Enterprise Network screen shot in the slides above.

