Miami University : Innovation + Job News

Entrepreneurship programs at three Ohio universities ranked among top 25 in the nation

Thursday, September 22, 2011

The next generation of Ohio entrepreneurs is in good hands, according to a prestigious ranking of college and university entrepreneurship programs.

The Princeton Review and Entrepreneur Magazine surveyed more than 2,000 entrepreneurship programs, and ranked three Ohio universities among the top 25 undergraduate programs in the U.S. The University of Dayton's Entrepreneurial Leadership Program is ranked no. 12, followed by Miami University's Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership at no. 15, and Xavier University's Sedler Family Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at 25.

The survey covered the 2010-2011 academic year, and ranked schools based on features inside and outside of the classroom. That included academics and requirements, percentage of students enrolled in entrepreneurship programs, and percentage of graduates and faculty had run, started or bought a successful business. The survey also looked at schools' partnerships with other institutions to allow access to the entrepreneurship program, and budgets for clubs and organizations that support entrepreneurship.

The results put the universities in the company of number one-ranked University of Houston, as well as Baylor University, Syracuse University and Brigham Young University.

At the three universities, there are a total of 865 students enrolled in entrepreneurship programs, who have access to 21 entrepreneurship organizations and clubs and 14 mentor programs.

Sources: Debora Del Valle, Director for Public Relations Xavier University; and University of Dayton communications
Writer: Feoshia Henderson

Accptd sets out to change the game in digital video college applications

Thursday, May 05, 2011

Two University of Cincinnati marketing and entrepreneurship grads have created web-based software designed to make it easier for university professionals to manage video applications for creative and sports programs.

Acceptd is nearing the Beta testing stage. Co-founders Don Hunter of Oakley and Derek Brown of Columbus are working with UC, Miami University and other local institutions to test the tool that can be tailored to individual programs and colleges.

"It's designed to be a simple, web-based management tool. It allows the users to screen video applications that are used in performing arts programs or athletic programs where they view highlight reels," Hunter said.

Today administrators contend with a hodgepodge of formats from DVDs to YouTube links. They can be difficult to manage, share and compare, Hunter said.

"This will format all of the videos, and the decision makers can rate them and collaborate with other decision makers in real time. This will streamline the process," Hunter said. Acceptd can be modified for individual college programs.

"Each program will have a public branding landing page, a welcome note from the dean, programs available and requirements for it," Hunter said.

There is also a dashboard for applicants who can upload their videos and send them to multiple colleges or universities. Students can add their social media pages, a bio and more for viewing. The social media component also lets students connect through Facebook and see where their friends are applying. Accptd will notify students by email or text when their video has been received, viewed and commented on.

Hunter believes Accptd can be a leader in the emerging video application trend, which is becoming more popular with the ease and ubiquity of recording technology. He and Brown are preparing for a limited fall launch before introducing it to the wider college community.

Source: Don Hunter, Accptd
Writer: Feoshia Henderson

You can follow Feoshia on Twitter @feoshiawrites

This story originally appeared in hiVelocity sister publication Soapbox.

MilAIR adding jobs as revenues rise

Thursday, July 29, 2010

In a competitive industry where it's hard to keep your footing, MilAIR has developed and manufactured cooling units for military use since 2006.

Revenues at this built-from-scratch company have jumped annually, from $233,000 in its first year to a projected $5 million in 2011, says Director of Sales John Lyons. The company currently employs 45 and plans to add new workers at a rate 10 percent each year as revenues continue to climb, Lyons says.

MilAIR manufactures heavy duty air conditioners, dehumidifiers, chillers, heat exchangers, generators and power converters for the military market. MilAIR moved to Milford, just northeast of Cincinnati, shortly after being broken from its parent company Burtek, Inc., in Michigan, which modifies trucks and other transportation equipment for the military. Burtek's former owner Bruce Burton also owns MilAir.

The company relocated from Michigan to Ohio largely on the strength of the area's workforce, Lyons says.

"There are a lot of people in the greater Cincinnati area that are very experienced in military air conditioning. So I thought, we should locate close to the people we want to hire," says Lyons, who is from the Cincinnati area and a 1977 graduate of Miami University College of Engineering. "Clermont County did give us some incentives and there is an ample supply of manufacturing space here, but workforce was the primary draw."

The company's innovation was recently recognized by Cincy Magazine with a 2010 Manny Award in manufacturing excellence. The magazine recognized the company's use of 3D computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) to better design refrigeration components in the desert.

Source: John Lyons, MilAIR
Writer: Feoshia Henderson