Press Releases

Battle Creek Unlimited to Lead Michigan Homeland Security Resource Fund

Battle Creek, Mich. – November 13, 2007 – The Michigan Homeland Security Consortium (MIHSC) announced today that it has partnered with Battle Creek Unlimited (BCU), a business development and funding group, to manage and source the new Michigan Homeland Security Resource Fund.

The fund, created by MIHSC and conceived of by the Consortium’s Chairman, Keith Brophy, will support Michigan state-based businesses and entrepreneurs through venture funding and non-monetary resources. BC Ventures, which is the Technology Business Accelerator group within Battle Creek Unlimited, will identify and attract up to $10 million in funding to invest in security and defense businesses.

The MIHSC Board of Directors selected Battle Creek Unlimited as the Fund Manager, based on its expertise in accelerating businesses in aviation and homeland security. By focusing on the areas of security and defense businesses, Battle Creek Unlimited aims to create hundreds of new jobs and many businesses that complement Michigan’s growing homeland security industry.

“Michigan has a rich base of homeland security-oriented organizations, but we need to fuel more growth in order to compete globally,” said Jack Miner, who joined BC Ventures as Managing Director in March 2007.  “In Battle Creek, we’ve already taken steps to augment our homeland security business community. The Michigan Homeland Security Resource Fund is a natural extension of those efforts and will support others around the state.”

For the Fund, BC Ventures will attract private investment and identify federal, state and local funding sources. BC Ventures also assists businesses with mentoring, planning and grant writing through the Small Business Administration.  Battle Creek Unlimited and the MIHSC also have an advisory committee to help oversee the fund, to provide tax and legal advice, and to determine allocations to recipients.

“With this partnership, we look forward to boosting our homeland security industry. Our group has worked hard to make a difference in Michigan, and this is a milestone for helping businesses that are dedicated to staying in our state,” said Keith Brophy, MIHSC Chairman and President of Troy-based NuSoft Solutions.

About Battle Creek Unlimited and BC Ventures:  Battle Creek Unlimited is the economic Development organization that works with the City of Battle Creek to transform and diversify the Battle Creek economy, in part through developing Fort Custer Industrial Park.  BC Ventures is the group within Battle Creek Unlimited that focuses on accelerating development of technology businesses and is Battle Creek’s start up company resource.  BC Ventures’ expertise resides in computer software and services, aviation, e-learning and nutrition.   From Funding sources to Federal, State and Local resources, BC Ventures helps new and existing companies achieve their business goals. For more information, visit www.bcunlimited.org.

 Michigan Homeland Security Consortium Event on September 11

to Focus on Logistics and Maritime Security based in Great Lakes State

Lansing, Mich., September 5, 2007 -- The Michigan Homeland Security Consortium offers attendees of its event on September 11 a presentation focused on logistics and maritime security innovation originating out of the Great Lakes State.

The segment will feature an overview by John Jamian, former acting maritime administrator for the U.S Department of Transportation, appointed by President George W. Bush. Jamian now leads the Seaway Great Lakes Trade Association based in Detroit and now promotes the effective and responsible use of the St. Lawrence Seaway-Great Lakes transportation system. Jamian applies his extensive experience maritime global leadership as a legislator, trade advocate and security ambassador.

The MIHSC program also features a panel discussion on Michigan-based businesses succeeding in international marine and logistics activities. Panelists include Captain Samuel Salloum and Mark Drabenstott of the World Logistics Council and Jonathan Smith of Sylvan Lake-based WhisprWave®.

The program segment is sponsored by Southfield-based Patriot Services, a national provider of consulting and training in emergency preparedness and homeland security. Patriot Services CEO and President Stephen Potter will moderate the segment.

“Michigan is strategically located with a large port operation, several international bridges and tunnels, and over 700 miles of international border with Canada,” said Potter, who also serves on the MIHSC Board of Directors. “This creates abundant opportunities for Michigan-based technology and services companies to help secure this critical piece of the National Infrastructure and ensure commerce continues.”

Other event gold sponsors include Ann Arbor-based Evigia Systems, a provider of highly-integrated Radio Frequency Identification "RFID" solutions. Sponsorship support also comes from Plante & Moran, SpamStopsHere, Second Chance Armor, and The Right Place, Inc.

Registration for the public event begins at 10 a.m. with the program running until 1:30 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel in downtown Lansing. The cost is $25 for members and $40 for non-members. MIHSC members will attend an exclusive meeting at 9 a.m. with Col. Mike McDaniel, Michigan's Assistant Adjutant General for Homeland Security.

Michigan Homeland Security Consortium

Announces 2007 SELECT Award™ Winners

Click here to see profiles of all the award winners

Click here to see the event program guide

 LANSING, Michigan, April 25, 2007-- The Michigan Homeland Security Consortium (MIHSC) proudly announces the first annual SELECT Award™ winners.  The awards recognize leadership, innovation and business strengths among private and public groups.

 Leadership – Extraordinary individual or group dedicated to leadership in Homeland Security.

Winner: Lt. Col. Kriste Etue, Michigan State Police, Lansing

Honorable Mention: Lisa Marks, American Red Cross of Grand Rapids

Security – Excellence in products and services to secure people, property or information.

Winner: Keith Murray, Virtual Emergency Services, Southfield

Honorable Mention: Dennis Carmichael, ERT Systems, Ann Arbor

Technology - Best-in-class technology innovation for Homeland Security products or processes.

Winner: David R. Schneider, PhD, Coventry Diagnostics, Troy

Honorable Mention: Dr. Sridhar Lakshmanan, M-bots, Inc. Ann Arbor

Entrepreneur - Achievement in launching a Homeland Security-related business. This award is sponsored and presented by the Great Lakes Entrepreneur’s Quest.

Winner: Renae Wallace, RS Wallace Electric, Inc., Kingsley

Honorable Mention: Timothy Daley, CrimeCog Technologies, Milford

First Responder – Outstanding individual in law enforcement, fire, EMS or the military.

Winner: Sgt. Steven Schneider, Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, Rochester Hills CERT

Honorable Mention: Chief Michael Reaves, Utica Police Department

Educator/Student - Outstanding individual or group within education dedicated to Homeland Security studies or research.

Winner: Dr. Daniel Shoemaker, University of Detroit – Mercy, Centre for Assurance Studies

Honorable Mention: Blue Marble Security, Michigan Technological University, Houghton

Out-of-the-Box  - Individual or group with a unique idea for Homeland Security.

Winner: David TenBrink, High Tech Industries, Holland

Special Honor – For years of dedication to the economic development of Michigan’s Homeland Security industruy.

Winner: Frederick Grasman, Michigan Economic Development Corporation

The SELECT Award™ event was made possible with the help of valued sponsors, including SpamStopsHere.com, The Right Place, Inc., Cross Border Security Missions, Small Business Association of Michigan, CIT Aerospace, Aerospace and Defense Finance, Cleary University, High Tech Industries and Oakland University. The Entrepreneur Award has been specially sponsored by the Great Lakes Entrepreneur's Quest, and GLEQ Executive Director Art DeMonte will present the award.

Michigan Homeland Security Consortium

attracts venture and angel capital groups to November event

Lansing, Mich. – October 31, 2006 – The Michigan Homeland Security Consortium (MIHSC) is hosting a symposium to bring together nationwide capital sources interested in funding Michigan’s high-tech companies involved in Homeland Security, defense and critical infrastructure.

The event, called the Michigan Homeland Security Venture & Angel Capital Symposium, takes place on Wednesday, November 29 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan.

MIHSC aims to give investors an opportunity to learn more about Michigan’s young and growing Homeland Security industry, including an attractive collection of companies focused on technologies and products solely in this specialized market. The symposium offers individual presentations and a venture/angel capital panel addressing investment opportunities.

The luncheon keynote speaker is Mark Mills, Chairman & CTO of ICx Technologies (Washington, D.C.).  ICx Technologies is a 700-employee player in the Homeland Security space created in 2005 through a series of strategic acquisitions of security technology companies, and a founding partner of Digital Power Capital (Greenwich, CT), a tech-based venture fund with a focus in Homeland Security.

Mills also has published a book -- The Bottomless Well: The Twilight of Fuel, the Virtue of Waste, and Why We Will Never Run Out of Energy (Basic Books, January 2005), and articles on Homeland Security topics in Forbes, Wall Street Journal and New York Times Magazine. He was previously a staff consultant to the White House Science Office under President Reagan.

Michigan Homeland Security Consortium adds two new board officers

Lansing, Mich. – October 11, 2006 – Michigan Homeland Security Consortium (MIHSC) has added two new members to its Board of Directors. Andrew Dailey of GeoCritical LLC and Gayle Jacobs of Global PRC Associates, LLC joined six other industry and industry-related professionals who currently sit on the MIHSC board.

Those six board officers include MIHSC Chairman Keith Brophy of NuSoft Solutions, President Tom Hines of SecureMatrix, Vice President (Membership) Ted Green of Greenview Data, Board Director Ray DeWinkle of The Right Place and MIHSC Executive Director Barry Cargill.

Andrew Dailey is founder of GeoCritical LLC, a critical infrastructure and risk-mapping based consultancy firm near Port Huron, Mich. GeoCritical LLC provides a wide range of data mapping services for business continuity, insurance, security, risk management and supply chain management clients.

In addition to joining the board, Gayle Jacobs will serve as the MIHSC’s Vice President of Sponsorship Development. Jacobs is founder of Global PRC Associates, LLC, a Kalamazoo-based firm that helps clients assess political risk, security vulnerabilities and global trends affecting businesses.

Michigan Homeland Security Consortium welcomes new executive director

Lansing, Mich. – August 8, 2006 – Michigan Homeland Security Consortium (MIHSC) has announced a strong addition to its leadership team with the formalized executive director role of Barry C. Cargill through B. Cargill Associates, an association management and industry advocacy firm headquartered in Lansing.

Principal Barry Cargill will act as MIHSC’s executive director to guide connections with a variety of constituents, including the group’s board of directors, members, sponsors, economic development groups, legislators and regulatory agencies.

“Barry is a proven leader with years of experience promoting Michigan-based businesses. He comes at a time when Homeland Security emerges as a driver in our state’s economy. He’ll help us make a difference,” said Keith Brophy, MIHSC’s acting chairman and president of Troy-based NuSoft Solutions.

Barry has over two decades of experience in lobbying, public policy and association management. Before founding B. Cargill Associates, he was vice president for Government Relations at the Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM). He also served as SBAM’s chief lobbyist, representing the legislative and regulatory interests of the small business community in the state.

“We’re impressed with Barry’s achievements at SBAM. I consider his affiliation with the MIHSC to be a major milestone”, said Thomas Hines, MIHSC cofounder, acting president, and president of Grand Rapids-based SecureMatrix.

“B. Cargill Associates is proud to join the Consortium and support this industry sector. I’ve watched the Homeland Security industry ripen in Michigan. We’re at a critical point where we need to weave together these strong companies with resources to augment their collective growth in Michigan,” said Cargill.

Prior to joining SBAM, Barry served in the state legislative offices of Lt. Governor Dick Posthumus and Congressman Vernon Ehlers. He earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation from the American Society of Association Executives and is a graduate of the U.S. Chamber, Institute for Organizational Management. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from Ferris State University.

Michigan Homeland Security Consortium grows during critical times

Lansing, Mich. – July 12, 2006 – Michigan Homeland Security Consortium (MIHSC), an independent security technology trade group, urges statewide Homeland Security-related businesses and organizations to join forces during the state’s critical economic turning point.

“As we aim to diversify, we’ll see additional companies put confidence in Michigan. More and more of them will select our state to grow their technology-based capabilities,” said Keith Brophy, Acting MIHSC Acting Chairman and President of NuSoft Solutions with dual headquarters in Troy and Grand Rapids.

The organization is attracting members who recognize a vital need to rally around Homeland Security technologies, public policy and economic development. Michigan-based Homeland Security groups should visit the MIHSC website (www.mihsc.org) to become engaged in activities to drive a stronger industry segment in Michigan and protect resources.

“Recent events as far away as India and as close as the New York tunnel system demonstrate the need for innovation and technologies from Homeland Security companies. Our industry in Michigan could be a more important factor in addressing these problems,” said Tom Hines, MIHSC Acting President and Founder of SecureMatrix based in Grand Rapids.

“Michigan has its border concerns -- ports, bridges and tunnels -- that are part of a critical infrastructure. We must continue to partner with global groups to protect them.”

MIHSC will hold its monthly meetings in cities all across Michigan, and the 2006 schedule includes gatherings in Troy, Lansing and Grand Rapids.

Industry Leaders Launch Organization to Support Michigan-Based Homeland Security Industry

Brighton, Mich., June 22, 2006 -- Corporate leaders from across Michigan have formed the Michigan Homeland Security Consortium (MIHSC) to drive development and growth of the Homeland Security industry sector within Michigan.

Twenty-eight representatives from business, education and economic development organizations joined in Brighton to launch a mission that supports Michigan-based developers and manufacturers of Homeland Security products and technologies. Formal officer and board balloting is taking place and will be completed in July 2006.

“This effort was conceived over a year ago. We saw the need to create strength in numbers; to shine the spotlight onto Michigan’s nascent Homeland Security industry in order to give it the prominence it deserves,” said Thomas Hines, president of SecureMatrix, and MIHSC co-founder, acting president and first vice chairman.

MIHSC will immediately recruit members, provide networking opportunities and promote appropriate public policy initiatives. In the longer term, MIHSC will support other activities, such as conferences, a speaker’s bureau and information outlets. While remaining decidedly independent, MIHSC will affiliate with other state and national organizations that represent the Homeland Security or related fields.

“Michigan has a strong industry sector, and it needs a strong advocate. We’ve been loosely organized in the past. We want to draw attention and investment to Michigan,” said Keith Brophy, president of NuSoft Solutions, and MIHSC co-founder and acting chairman.

MIHSC will help the state’s revitalization efforts by providing a targeted forum to diversify the economy.

"Michigan has a very vibrant, but often not visible business community that focuses on Homeland Security technology. It’s exciting to see MIHSC emerge as a collaborative community of peers to jointly promote their activity, and a sign of the Michigan's momentum in this arena,“ said Carol Lopucki, SBTDC state director.