CEG Executive Vice Board Chair and Siena College Executive Director of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Michael J. Hickey will be a delegate to the Clinton Global Initiative’s “CGI America” conference from June 7-8, 2012, a convening of national leaders devoted to creating and implementing innovative solutions for economic recovery and job creation in the United States.
This Chicago conference hosted by CGI—established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton—will be a working meeting that brings together leaders from the business, foundation, NGO, and government sectors to develop solutions that address unemployment, prepare Americans to be competitive global citizens, and rethink current models that shape our economy and society.
Hickey will participate in the Entrepreneurship workgroup focused on designing optimal strategies for building successful ecosystems for high-growth entrepreneurship. Recognizing that young companies are responsible for nearly all net job creation in the United States over the last 30 years, the workgroup will address topics such as commercialization, access to capital, workforce training, and mentoring programs.
CEG will also be closely monitoring other workshops including STEM Education and Workforce Development. GLOBALFOUNDRIES and CEG are leading a Workforce Development and 21st Century Education Initiative in the Capital Region. Other Capital Region delegates to CGI America include workforce development organizations, higher education institutions, unions, and area businesses.
Bob Blackman, chair of CEG’s Board of Directors, called the meeting “an excellent opportunity to share Tech Valley’s experiences and advance our regional approach to fostering entrepreneurialism and innovation.”
As part of the Clinton Global Initiative’s “commitment to action” model, CEG will utilize the workgroup discussions to formalize a plan to expand the role and functions of Accelerate518, a new collaboration of Tech Valley’s business incubators, regional colleges and universities, and the Center for Economic Growth.
“Accelerate518 is about leveraging our current portfolio of capabilities and collaborating on future opportunities in incubation and related services in Tech Valley,” said Hickey. “The CGI America process affords us a great opportunity to learn best practices and help us achieve our goals of accelerating the growth of regional businesses and entrepreneurial capacity.”
Hickey has played a significant role in Tech Valley’s entrepreneurial and start-up community. In addition to serving as the executive director of Siena College’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE), he was also one of the founding members of Accelerate518. He is an investor and member of the Eastern New York Angels, an investment fund for business start-ups administrated by CEG. Hickey also mentors many regional businesses on strategy, operational execution, and executive coaching.
With over 25 years of experience in technology businesses, most notably as President and COO of MapInfo and Pitney Bowes Software, Hickey has developed a successful track record for growing businesses.
CEG President F. Michael Tucker noted Tech Valley’s rising profile as a hub for innovation and high-tech industries. “President Obama just visited our region for the third time in his presidency to hold us up as a model for the revitalization of American high-tech manufacturing and high-paying jobs. It’s important that we continue to be at the national table discussing how to ensure that next-generation research and development takes place here, that we innovate here, and that advanced manufacturing takes place here.”
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About CGI America and the Clinton Global Initiative: CGI America is a meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) devoted to economic recovery and job creation in the United States. Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, CGI convenes global leaders to create and implement innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges. CGI Annual Meetings have brought together more than 150 heads of state, 20 Nobel Prize laureates, and hundreds of leading CEOs, heads of foundations and NGOs, major philanthropists, and members of the media. To date CGI members have made more than 2,100 commitments, which are already improving the lives of nearly 400 million people in more than 180 countries. When fully funded and implemented, these commitments will be valued at $69.2 billion.
About the Center for Economic Growth: CEG is the premier economic development organization in New York’s Tech Valley and serves as the Capital Region’s designated Regional Technology Development Center. A private, non-profit, membership-based organization, CEG creates economic impact by working with partners in business, government, and education on strategic initiatives to grow local companies, attract new industry and investment, and prepare communities for future growth.
