Posts Tagged ‘ clean-tech ’

Pericles & People

November 18, 2011

Having knowledge but lacking the power to express it clearly is no better than never having any ideas at all. — Pericles

Corduroy styleI think knowledge is on the upswing. That’s invigorating. I have some terrific opportunities to see behind-the-scenes. Lately, I’ve been impressed by some  outstanding new technologies and the companies behind them. There are pressing global issues and it seems that American ingenuity responds well to pressure.

There’s more than just technology, of course, looking for clear distinction. In fact, we like to keep our hands in the consumer market, too. And our eyes open. It keeps us sharp.

It turns out that sophisticated businesses are actually people too. They read articles, watch YouTube, scan blogs, Twitter, Google … and strive to do their jobs better. Clarity and consistency are more important than ever before in this bountiful age of info.
Communicating to people requires engagement and relevancy. Working in the consumer market helps keep us on our toes in the B-to-B space.

One particular consumer client has some great ideas, real American ingenuity, and the audacity to buck the industry-wide’s reliance on overseas workers. They’re supporting the bike movement in cities and are imbued with a sustainable outlook on life. It’s an important value today.

So, that’s why we were in Manhattan last week at the Corduroy Appreciation Club. It was a smart strategy for that particular client to connect with important (albeit quirky) influencers in Manhattan. Amy Sedaris was the keynoter. Film maker Wes Anderson was recognized and a corduroy messiah was anointed. There was also a fashion show segment that we managed to wrangle into.

We were there in NYC last week as a duty. Ok? In case my wife asks.

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Green Chemistry & Bunratty’s

August 4, 2010

It is my pleasure to serve as vice-chairman for the Sustainability Forum.  It’s one of two special interest groups within the North Shore Technology Council.  We have a large membership of executives, engineers, attorneys and venture capitalists.  Our objective is to do our part here north of Boston.  We are also uniquely affiliated with a clean-tech incubator – the Cleantech Innoventure Center (CIVC) in Lynn

 Today, we had a kickass speaker: Dr John Warner, the father of Green Chemistry.  Green Chem is a newly emerging area with some profound implications for the toxic soup of molecules that surround us.  But equally fascinating is John Warner.  He’s no ordinary nerd.  He has hundreds of patents & papers; relationships with presidents, prime ministers and corporate heads; he’s even been tapped by Swarzenegger to help California rise above the mess. 

 But what’s really remarkable about John Warner?  Well, I’ve written a little bit about him here.  It’s our Sustainability Forum blog.  You won’t believe it, but John was once just another UMass Boston kid, a music major in fact.  Chemistry was just for nerds.  Really an incredible guy, working on an incredible cause. 

 He also happened to mention it’s really Massachusetts that has the distinct opportunity to be the “Silicon Valley of Sustainability.”  Music to our ears.

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