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Jim Northey, co-owner of Lasalletech and KEDA (Keweenaw Economic Development Alliance) loan recipient, stated,
“The loan allowed us to rethink our growth strategy. The investment into the business helped us expand our
global market.” Lasalletech has created partnerships with companies around the world who act as resellers of
Lasalletech software products. Working closely with the MTEC SmartZone marketing agency partner, Lasalletech
continues to develop strategic marketing efforts around the globe.
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Xeratec was developed as a small company providing professional IT service to help its customers meet their business
needs. Xeratec’s success soon required additional personnel. KEDA provided Xeratec with a loan which allowed owners
Steve Hillstrom and Steve Kangas, the ability to expand their business and their services. “The opportunity to hire
more people was exactly what Xeratec needed to grow,” said Steve Hillstrom. “KEDA’s loan was the assistance we needed
to further develop as a company.”
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The “original” Upper Michigan SmartZone company, GS Engineering, has graduated from smart zone offices. On June 22, 2008,
the company premiered its new innovation center headquarters to accelerate delivering advanced engineering solutions for
military and commercial transportation.
GS Engineering credits SmartZone support as one of the drivers of success. “The smart zone helped create critical links between
our local business community integration and global focus,” says Glen Simula, President and CEO of GS Engineering. SmartZone
support included patent, financing, legal and marketing assistance. To see more, go to GSengineering.com
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Why is Extreme Tool in the Michigan 50?; Through innovation, hard work and seizing opportunity. Why has Extreme Tool pushed its
growing plastics technology division to the SmartZone?; The proximity of talent from the partner university (Michigan Tech)
and the cost effectiveness for doing business created by the MTEC SmartZone team. It’s a winning combination that is already
showing ROI and competitive advantages for Extreme. To see more, go to extremetool.com
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Combine the MEDC lead, a world-class technological university (Michigan Tech) and SmartZone facility incentive with fortune 100
interests…. What do you get? Answer - global corporate business committing to a multi-year deal/packages with SmartZone to utilize
up-and-coming engineering talent from the university to perform volume project work.
The concept is fueling global competitive advantages for companies such as GE Aviation and Ford Motor Company in the way they get
targeted engineering projects completed most effectively and efficiently.
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Consistacom helps make the worlds largest telephony company products (Avaya) perform to their potential in call centers. But making
a dent in a multi-billion dollar global network to tell your story is far from easy. But when you are Steven Fitzgerald, President
and CTO and Upper Michigan SmartZone marketing partners have developed a brand image, marketing and promotional program that has
Consistacom making big noise, with sales to the biggest call center operations in the world. To see more, go to www.consistacom.com
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The Upper Michigan SmartZone offers networking combinations that make it possible for great ideas to be born and flourish. Working closely
with Michigan Technological University, both professors and students alike are interfacing with the SmartZone infrastructure to develop
their product and business ideas further. Critical support starts with embracing teams and nurturing next-level thinking. Advice, input
and sometimes execution in the areas of legal, financing, communications and marketing all come into play.
A standout project in this area is one group’s hospital mattress venture – which has gone through concept and prototype development, and
is now patented with business models for production being developed.
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The Upper Michigan SmartZone now has interest in 3 properties that support high tech business growth opportunities – for entrepreneurs and
corporate ventures. Just recently, the property at the Portage building reached capacity, and opened the doors to “phase 4”, which involves
a brand new collaboration with Michigan Tech to share space recently purchased from the Upper Peninsula Power Company.
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3D Consulting
Consistacom
Endres Machining Innovation
Extreme Tool & Engineering
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Gridalogy
Hawk Technologies
LaSalle Technology Group
Plastic Flow
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Xeratec
Up and Running
U.P. Steel
XMatic Technical Services
GE Aviation
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"When our companies are sccessful,
we're successful. Success is happening."
-Carlton Crothers, CEO
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