Contents Overture Executive Summary Projects & Services Core Competencies Stakeholder Coordination Contacts
regional competitiveness. REGIONERATE has been a contractor
Overture
to federal government agencies, including the Department of REGIONERATE is one of the leading Community Restoration
Labor and the Department of Commerce.
Consulting firm in the U.S., servicing a number of municipalities, businesses, government agencies and city regions, which have a demand for the types of services in which it provides to the general public.
Since founding REGIONERATE, Linda has led the development and deployment of “strategic doing�, a strategy discipline designed for loosely joined networks and clusters. Initially developed by Ed Morrison at the Purdue Center for Regional
REGIONERATE also is a great destination for organizations in the public/private
arena
that
may
need
a
company
(like
REGIONERATE) which offers an array of readily available information online, which can be acquired while they surf our website.
With
the
Development (PCRD), strategic doing provides the agile strategy framework to identify collaboration opportunities quickly. PCRD has contracted with REGIONERATE to support its work in strategic doing and to develop new tools and teaching materials to support this discipline.
growing
demand
for
high-quality,
consulting
companies who can meet the demand of the changing economic conditions in our nation, REGIONERATE capitalizes on the expertise of its key person, Linda Fowler, to build a core group of well-served clients. REGIONERATE believes that it offers clients the best possible solutions in the industry that are complimented with its strong relationship approach, as well as timely follow-up procedures that its clients have come to count on to enjoy their experience with REGIONERATE .
REGIONERATE has contracted with State government agencies, including in Colorado and Maine.
REGIONERATE has served
multiple cities and their regions, including: Flint, MI; Detroit, MI; Toledo, OH; Youngstown, OH, Erie, PA; Milwaukee, WI; and Evansville, IN. In addition to working with government at the federal, state, and local levels, REGIONERATE has many clients in other sectors, including: individual manufacturing companies, manufacturing
consortia, universities,
community
colleges,
regional clusters, local economic development organizations, national funders, and community foundations.
The company, established in 2009, is currently based in Bethesda, Maryland, and is a woman-owned firm. The company is a single employee firm, with other firms and universities providing
products
and
services
to
support
economic
development, with a particular focus on federal, state and regional innovation.
REGIONERATE is a partner in a new venture, Strategy-Nets, LLC, which was formed in 2010. Strategy-Nets, a venture-funded spinout
from
Purdue
University
Center
for
Regional
Development, provides Web 2.0 technology platform that integrates strategic advisory services with powerful Web 2.0 tools. REGIONERATE uses this platform to support clients
REGIONERATE specializes in asset mapping and strategy development and execution to expand regional capacity and to facilitate community networks and clusters to accelerate
engaged in developing strategy for open innovation networks and clusters.
strengthening the competitiveness of small and mid-sized
Executive Summary
manufacturers in the United States. Linda Fowler is Founder and President of REGIONERATE. Linda has developed a div ersified, nationwide consulting service that is dedicated to regional collaboration and innovation. Linda has a
strong
background
acceleration,
and
in
civic
economic
networking,
technology
development.
Linda
is
currently consulting with many regions across the country on
In this role, Linda
collaborated with the private sector to build and test a novel process of technology transfer and deployment; in addition, Linda played a key role in the development of a virtual Innovation
Marketplace
and
a
Technology
Acceleration
System. Linda also played a leadership role for the NIST-MEP workforce strategy.
establishing networks to address workforce development, economic
development,
education
transformation,
and
entrepreneurship opportunities.
From 2005 to 2007, Linda was on detail with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), where she worked closely with the Assistant Secretary to enhance programs within Employment and Training
Linda
is
providing technical
assistance
to several
auto
communities in the Midwest on redeploying their intellectual assets. She is also working with eight state utility consortia for a Gates Foundation investment that is focused on creating
Administration (ETA). At DOL, Linda directed many activ ities for the Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) initiative, including Strategic Partnerships and SectorFocused Communities of Practice.
energy career pathways for young adults. In a separate project, Linda is coordinating a national network of community college leaders who are focused on auto community recovery strategies.
Prior to her federal government career at NIST/DOL, Linda was a management consultant for Restructuring Associates, Inc., based in Washington, DC.
In this capacity, Linda advised
Fortune 100 companies on the design and implementation of In another major focus, Linda directed a US Department of Commerce
pilot
project
that
supported
the
market
organizational and technological change, human resource development, and labor-management cooperation.
diversification efforts of small manufacturers in NE Ohio and the Milwaukee 7 region.
In related projects, REGIONERATE has
partnered with Economic Modeling Specialists, Inc. (EMSI) and the Institute for Open Networks to conduct comprehensive analyses of occupational
competencies for high growth
industries and high demand occupations in regions.
Linda graduated magna cum laude from Kalamazoo College (MI) where she received awards of excellence in Engl ish, Philosophy, and Psychology. Subsequently, Linda completed graduate work at the University of Michigan in the School of Public Administration and Industrial and Labor Relations. During this interval, Linda also worked as a project engineer in the auto
In the decade prior to founding REGIONERATE, Linda was the Senior Advisor with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP); NIST-MEP is a Department of Commerce program focused on
industry for General Motors Corporation.
identify
Projects & Services
pilot
(manufacturing REGIONERATE: Brevard County Space Shuttle Transition Planning (Brevard County Workforce Board)
with Strategy Nets to facilitate three regional forums for Space Coast stakeholders, including representatives from government, education,
private
and
involving
other
the
businesses),
private
sector
university
and
community college leadership, government (including MEP and local government leadership), and nonprofit sectors. Strategy
From April 2010 to September 2010, REGIONERATE partnered
workforce,
participants
sector,
and
economic
development. The regional roundtables generated new insights
sessions and locally based meetings focused on identifying specific steps to build a manufacturing growth strategy and aligned green workforce. The pilot brought together networks and built deeper connections across the key public/private sectors involved in regional development.
and strategies for a regional plan to support entrepreneurship networks, a Clean Energy Cluster, and Talent Marketing initiatives.
The Clean Energy Consortia was launched at the
Florida Solar Energy Center on the Brevard campus of the University of Central Florida in mid- September.
Since then,
REGIONERATE has supported the development of their cluster plan, identified
opportunities
for partnerships
with Gates
Foundation and Florida’s Energy Workforce Consortia, and identified funding sources for ongoing support.
Metro Denver WIRED Sustainability Initiative From March 2009 to October 2009, REGIONERATE and its partner, Thomas P. Miller and Associates (TPMA), provided research of model practices and sustainability planning for a regional talent development system for Metro Denver.
The
project team conducted an internal and external scan of distinctive national models and a gaps analysis of the required talent development model attributes and approaches.
The
assessment included the scope and activ ity of the region’s REGIONERATE: Market Diversification Pilot for Auto Suppliers (NE Ohio and Milwaukee) From August 2009 to April 2010, REGIONERATE and her strategic partners, Stone and Associates and Chicago Manufacturing Center were engaged by the U.S. Department of Commerce to lead a market diversification pilot for auto suppliers to create real and lasting growth and prosperity in two regions (NE Ohio and SE Wisconsin). The consulting team engaged regional leadership in these regions to build on ongoing relationships and
many programs, networks, and organizations with an existing focus on economic development and talent development. Based on this input, REGIONERATE and TPMA developed a dynamic framework for program and policy connections among industry, economic development, education, and the workforce system. The sustainability plan included alignment of state
and
federal
initiatives
and
examples
opportunities to support regional prosperity.
of
funding
REGIONERATE: Reengagement and Reemployment Strategy
development.
Development, U.S. Department of Labor
manufacturing
From June 2009 to January 2010, REGIONERATE and I-Open
including Defense and Energy and helping the region access
deliv ered fiv e strategic doing forums focused on development
federal funding opportunities including EPA, HUD, EDA, and SBA.
of
development
With assistance from REGIONERATE, the Mid-Michigan region
In addition, the
was awarded HUD and EDA funds for planning and economic
job
creation
strategies
for
workforce
professionals and their regional partners.
consulting team developed train the trainer workshop materials
In this role, REGIONERATE is supporting a consortia
move
into
new
supply
chains,
development activ ities.
for national, state, and local workforce administrators and practitioners to facilitate the growth and development of regional innovation strategies.
These workshops included the promotion of innovation across education, workforce development, small business assistance, research and development, government, and collaboration REGIONERATE: Regional Workforce Alliance (RWA) Competency
across organizational and political boundaries.
Study (Wisconsin) In fall 2009, EMSI, I-Open, and REGIONERATE completed a comprehensive industry, workforce, and competency study for the
Regional
Workforce
Alliance
(RWA) of Southeastern
Wisconsin and Northeastern Illinois. The project identified core “in-demand� occupational knowledge, skills, and abilities within the region, determined focus industries and occupations, and REGIONERATE: Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy
looked at ways to develop clearer career pathways and bridge
and Execution for Mid-Michigan Region
the
(Greater Flint Region, Michigan)
professionals.
Since June 2010, REGIONERATE has been engaged by Mott
report and presentation.
Foundation to facilitate public-priv ate partnerships between universities, private companies, non-profits, elected officials, economic
development
development
providers
organizations, to
create
a
and
workforce
highly
conduciv e
environment for innovation and entrepreneurialism, emphasizing the
commercialization
investment,
technology
of
innovations
transfer
and
through
capital
human
capital
gap
between See
workforce,
business,
and
education
http://www.milwaukee7-rwa.org/wiki
for
Core Competencies REGIONERATE LLC is a national consulting firm that supports
and distinctive practices for cluster policy and practice.
Deliv erables include:
Within the course of a four to six hour session, we design
(1) Several
an initial strategic action plan for the RIC (the “Alpha
regional transformation by connecting new civ ic processes with
plan”). Participants in the workshop begin implementing
offerings that build local capacity for long-term competiv eness
the Alpha plan immediately.
and prosperity. Three specific company strategies are used to promote
regional
development.
The
President
of
-
provides consulting services for sustainability and organizational sustainable
manufacturing
supply
chain
performance, business innovation and workforce practices, stakeholder
communications,
and
the
development
of
Advanced Cluster workshop | This step identifies the
industries will be well identified and assessed. Advanced cluster workshops will be more concise and focused on
Initial Assessment | At this stage we develop workshops
revising the alpha plan and practicing the disciplines of
and advisory services for each cluster.
strategic doing within the RIC. As strategic action plans evolve, they become more focused, clear, and concise.
Cluster asset mapping | An indispensable component of
The process of linking, leveraging and aligning assets
the service pack, cluster asset mapping looks for
toward new opportunities becomes faster.
specialized assets within the region that can support the -
Advanced follow-up support services | These advanced services are designed to accelerate the continued “linking and leveraging” of specialized assets from outside the region to strengthen the RIC. These services may include, for example, scheduling presentations to
introduces the initial core members of the RIC to models
sustainable; and
assets, and shared outcomes.
and global trends that are most likely to affect the
Typical Products and Services to support regional innovation:
Introductory cluster workshop | The initial workshop
initiatives that result from each forum that includes
These associations often serve as clearinghouses for
the wealth of information on the target clusters, national
developers, entrepreneurship support organizations.
-
(2) A compendium of identified possible joint investment
region can support clusters with information, intellectual
market and industry analysis. With this experience and
developers, local elected officials, consortia, economic
programs, and the like.
locations;
representativ es from target cluster industry associations.
trends. The Project Team has extensiv e experience in
(2) Working relationships with regional educators, workforce
facilities, skilled professionals, education or training
cluster
and specific information on how organizations in the
industries and interview them about national and global
federal funders and national foundations; and
Cluster (RIC). These assets can include technologies,
key
identified industry clusters by identifying and contacting
international experts and analysts on target cluster
growth and development of the Regional Innovation
at
(3) Each potential investment initiative will include overview
project team will also identify the best national and
(1) Ongoing dialogue and professional relationships with
-
centered
national trends and global driv ers that may impact
information on key industry issues. REGIONERATE and the
public/private sector partnerships.
-
forums
potential projects that are replicable, scalable, and
REGIONERATE, Linda Fowler, is an expert in the field who
leadership,
regional
foundations or federal labs.
Stakeholder Coordination REGIONERATE has been asked to support an interagency federal team focused on Technical Assistance for Regional Innovation Clusters
(TARIC).
TARIC has
requested
that
REGIONERATE be part of their Space Transition Planning team. NASA is supporting REGIONERATE to present at meetings at Space Shuttle sites, including Johnson Space Center on November
15-16,
2010.
In
addition,
Linda
Fowler
of
REGIONERATE was asked by TARIC to organize a site visit of federal representativ es to the Space Coast in the January timeframe.
As a founder and activ e member of the Interagency Network of Enterprise Assistance providers, a group of federal agencies that
REGIONERATE
meets monthly to discuss strategies, policies, and programs to
Workforce Board and has established relationships with many of
support small enterprises, REGIONERATE has access to the
the local stakeholders in the region, including TRDA, the Space
current priorities of the Administration as they relate to
Coast Energy Consortia, Space Coast Economic Development
supporting regional clusters and is made aware of upcoming
Organization,
funding opportunities as well as technical assistance available
Development Group.
to cluster companies in the Space Coast.
Access to these
federal programs and agencies will be leveraged to provide guidance on applications
for funding for regional
plan
implementation. REGIONERATE consults with the Small Business Administration and Commerce on their Regional Innovation Cluster Development Strategies. Linda Fowler also has a close working relationship with EPA and Department of Energy.
As a subcontractor to the Gates Foundation, REGIONERATE is working closely with several Florida state entities, including the Florida State Utility Consortia, STEM Florida, and the Florida Workforce Board as a technical assistance provider for the Gates Foundation to support career pathways in STEM and Energy.
has
and
also contracted with Brevard
Kennedy
Space
Center
County
Business
Contacts REGIONERATE Primary Intermediary Linda Fowler / CEO Web and Electronic Communications: www.REGIONERATE.com lindmariefowler@gmail.com