Steve Fluckiger, Partner with Jones Day and Chair of the Dallas Regional Chamber’s Life Science Council shares his personal connection with innovation.
Tell us what innovation means to you in the comments below or click here to access our micro-site and enter for a chance to win two tickets to attend the 11th Annual State of Technology Luncheon & Innovation Showcase on December 2, 2011 at the Irving Convention Center.
Filed under Business Information and Research, Chamber Communications, Communications, Dallas, DFW, Economic Development, Education, Healthcare, Industry Clusters, Innovation and Industry Clusters, International Business, Leadership, Member Engagement, Membership, Small Business Friendly Programming, Technology Business
Innovation & Technology Council Co-Chair and Vice President of Huawei USA, Yi Zhao explains how his company utilizes “customer centric innovation” as a business tool.
Click here to tell us what innovation means to you and you’ll automatically be entered for a chance to win two tickets to attend the 11th Annual State of Technology Luncheon & Innovation Showcase on December 2, 2011 featuring the CTO and VP of Ford Research & Innovation, Paul Mascarenas.
Filed under Business Information and Research, Chamber Communications, Communications, DFW, Economic Development, Education, Industry Clusters, Innovation and Industry Clusters, International Business, Leadership, Member Engagement, Membership, Small Business Friendly Programming, Strategic Plan, Technology Business
John Antos, President of Value Creation Group, Inc. and active angel investor explains the importance of innovation as it relates to the business ecosystem.
What Does Innovation Mean to You? Tell us your definition in the comments below or click here to access our micro-site and enter for a chance to win two tickets to attend the 11th Annual State of Technology Luncheon & Innovation Showcase on December 2, 2011 at the Irving Convention Center.
Filed under Business Information and Research, Chamber Communications, Communications, Dallas, DFW, Economic Development, Education, Healthcare, Industry Clusters, Innovation and Industry Clusters, International Business, Leadership, Member Engagement, Membership, Small Business Friendly Programming, Strategic Plan, Technology Business
Southwest Airlines and their membership with the Dallas Regional Chamber both turn 40 this year. To commemorate this special occasion Southwest and the DRC are co-hosting a members-only Business After Hours networking event next Wednesday. We are excited to celebrate this great partnership with you – our members. However, this event is limited to the first 200 signups.
Filed under Member Engagement, Membership
The Momentum Dallas Awards recognize companies, organizations or projects that have created positive economic momentum in the Dallas region. This premiere business event is expected to draw an audience of 600 key regional and national corporate executives, economic development partners and legislative leaders.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2011 RECIPIENTS:
Corporate Headquarters Location:
MoneyGram
Corporate Facility Location:
USAA
Job Growth:
TriQuint Semiconductor – Texas
Community Catalyst:
Perot Museum of Nature & Science and
North Oak Cliff Commercial & Neighborhood Revitalization -
(Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce)
Innovation Catalyst:
North Texas Regional Center for Innovation & Commercialization (RCIC)
Global Catalyst:
Qantas Airways LTD and
Texas Instruments – RFAB
The award recipients will be honored during a luncheon at The Fairmont Dallas on Wednesday, October 12, 2011. Citi and Holmes Murphy & Associates sponsor this year’s awards luncheon. This year’s keynote is by Nicole G. Small, CEO of the Museum of Nature & Science and Forrest E.Hoglund, Chairman, Museum of Nature & Science Expansion Capital Campaign. The Museum of Nature & Science is a 2011 Community Catalyst award recipient.
To read the full press release announcing the 2011 recipients, click here. To learn more about the Dallas Regional Momentum Awards, visit www.dallaschamber.org/events or contact Erica Flores at (214) 712-1921.
Filed under Business Information and Research, Chamber Communications, Communications, Dallas, DFW, Economic Development, Education, Healthcare, Industry Clusters, Innovation and Industry Clusters, International Business, Leadership, Member Engagement, Membership, Small Business Friendly Programming, Strategic Plan, Technology Business, Uncategorized, Workforce
Paul Mascarenas, Chief Technical Officer and Vice President of Ford Research and Innovation at Ford Motor Company, will be the keynote address during the Dallas Regional Chamber’s 11th Annual State of Technology Luncheon and Innovation Showcase.
Mascarenas is responsible for leading Ford’s worldwide research organization based in Michigan and Germany, overseeing the planning, development and implementation of the company’s top global technology objectives. Since joining Ford in 1982, he has amassed extensive experience in product development, having held positions in product planning, program management, body engineering and powertrain while on assignments in Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States. Continue reading
Networking is one of the most visible benefits of Chamber membership. Some people see networking like riding a bike… its a little scary at first, but once you’ve got it, you’ve got it for life. Others may see networking like going to the doctor… its highly stressful to anticipate, not too bad while you’re there and a sigh of relief comes when its over because you won’t be back for a year. And finally, many others look at networking like a blind date… you show up, have no idea what to expect and often find yourself making an early exit. The fact is, however, all three of these approaches will leave you walking behind, treating your ailments or single in the business world.
Essentially, business-to-business networking is an extension of your job function. You have to approach the crowd prepared, determined and genuinely concerned about the others in the room. Three easy steps will have to shining among the group at any Chamber networking function.
1. Care more about who your talking to than yourself. Don’t be afraid to be a good listener for a change. Be prepared to give your elevator pitch, but people love to talk about what they have going on. This can also give you a perfect opportunity to ask questions and get to know more about their needs. Can you think of a better follow up… “it was great meeting you last week at the DRC After Hours, I’ve been thinking about it, and I may have found a solution for your printing problems.”
2. Do your homework. Utilize the DRC’s social media tools Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin to start a conversation about an upcoming networking event. “I’m looking forward to Coffee Cup Connections next week, who’s with me?” Members can post their comments and soon you’ll have an attendee list in the making. Its a great way to prepare for who you will meet.
3. Don’t dance with the one who brought you. Ever notice how companies who have more than one attendee at an event all sit together? The point is to meet new people and make new contacts. Unless your company is hosting clients, which is always a great idea, request to spread out your seats among the open seating tables. If you attend with one other person, sit at separate tables. You will have twice the reach and twice the chance of making a great connection.
Networking should be like going to a job interview… make a good impression, prove yourself and use all resources available. It’s not for sissies, but for DRC members, networking can be a fantastic benefit to membership.
To practice these tips and other networking skills, join us at the Chamber Live! orientation and networking event in November. Log on to http://www.dallaschamber.org/events for more information.
Filed under Membership
The Dallas Regional Chamber along with our partners TechAmerica and The University of North Texas are hosting the U.S./Mexico Technology Summit September 30th (with an inaugural dinner on September 29), a forum that will focus on a bilateral partnership that drives innovation and increases economic prosperity in on either side of the U.S./Mexico border.
Today we would like to offer our readership a guest blog from our dinner keynote speaker and participant in the forum, Roberto G. Newell.
Newell is the CEO of the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness, AC, a privately sponsored, independent think tank in Mexico City whose mandate is to analyze and propose policies that will enhance Mexico’s competitiveness in the global economy. During 2003 he served as deputy secretary for agribusiness in Mexico’s federal government. Previously he served in the same administration as CEO of the Fideicomiso de las Empresas Expropiadas del Sector Azucarero. From 1984 to 2001, Newell worked for McKinsey & Company, retiring as director. At McKinsey he served clients in Mexico, the United States, Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Argentina, Spain, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic. He is the author of two books and has published many articles in journals and international professional publications. He currently writes weekly for the Reforma journal. Roberto earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Universidad de las Americas in Mexico and a PhD in economics from the University of Texas at Austin.
The points of view in this column are personal. These are not to be viewed as the position of or opinions of the Dallas Regional Chamber or its staff.
Liberal conviction
Peso Crisis
May 13, 2010
The crisis has been discussed by many analysts. What has drawn most of the attention is the impact it has had on economic growth, trade flows and employment. However, it has triggered other important events. One of them, which has not been discussed enough, is the impact on the commercial terms of trade.
Most analysts use the September 17, 2008 to mark the beginning of the financial crisis. That was the day that the U.S. Treasury intervened Lehman Brothers. Since then, everything changed.
In those days, one dollar bought 0.70 Euros, 6.83 Yuan and 10.69 Pesos. Those were the days of the super-Peso. The country’s currency was revalued on a sustained basis, compounding the problems of competitiveness for exporting companies and exposing thousands of local companies to the challenge of a hyper-competitive offer from China and other countries. All this has changed.
As can be seen in the table below, the crisis transformed trade terms dramatically. Today, the exchange rate helps competitively Mexican exporters and imported goods that reach the country are more expensive, no matter where they come from. The crisis gave a huge competitive edge to all companies which produce locally.
| Depreciation/appreciation post-Crisis(Period: 17/09/08 a 10/05/10) | ||||
| Dollar | Euro | Yuan | Peso | |
| Dollar | 0 | 9.7% | -0.14% | 16.9% |
| Euro | -8.8% | 0 | -9.0% | 6.6% |
| Yuan | 0.1% | 9.8% | 0 | 17.0% |
| Peso | -14.4% | -6.2% | -14.6% | 0 |
Source: International Financial Statistics, IMF.
Mexico has gained competitiveness compared with producers around the world, including China. With respect to these, the crisis improved the country’s competitiveness more than 14%. For companies that produce locally competitive improvement was even more significant: from their perspective, the effect was to make 17% more expensive the imports from China. In one stroke, the crisis caused thousands of companies to recover part of the competitive costs they had lost.
I highly doubt the peso will significantly rise its value in the years to come. Three of the major sources of revenue have lost its momentum: oil production is collapsing, remittances have dropped to reflect the employment situation of Mexicans living in the United States, and consumption of American families is depressed and will possibly not regain its pre-crisis level.
But come what may, the purpose of companies operating in Mexico must be to avoid losing the competitive edge afforded by the current exchange rate. To achieve this, is essential to improve the productivity of all factors used in production. Yes, it can be done: Over recent years, companies in the country have improved its energy productivity, today they consume less energy per unit produced than in 2000. Thus, despite the energy consumed in Mexico is more expensive,this has not affected the competitiveness of most businesses. In contrast, during the same period, the unit costs of labor progressed more quickly than import prices and labor productivity. The last one has been stagnant for years. Urgent actions are required on this front: Labour productivity is the Achilles heel of Mexican companies.
In any case, we are in a unique situation. Historically, the depreciation of the peso have been the result of errors in the management of fiscal and monetary aggregates in the country. This time, the depreciation of the peso is not directly attributable to the government or central bank. The peso lost value even when in general terms no mistakes were made in managing the macro-economy.
It is likely that the current level of the exchange rate reflects the market opinion regarding the general competitive situation in the country. The exchange rate reflects the fact that we are gradually healing of the disease in the Netherlands that kept the peso artificially strong. Today, neither the oil market, or remittances of migrants provide the financial cushion upon which rested the previous terms of trade.
In the absence of these factors, the current exchange rate seems realistic and up wind to the intrinsic conditions to generate foreign exchange in Mexico. The current exchange rate seems more sustainable than it was before the Crisis. The depreciation of the peso partly restored the competitiveness of the real sectors of the economy.
The forces of supply and demand cast their vote. Will the business and public officials know how to take advantage of the new terms of trade?
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Filed under Business Information and Research, Economic Development, International Business, Small Business Friendly Programming, Technology Business
The Dallas Regional Chamber along with our partners TechAmerica and The University of North Texas are hosting the U.S./Mexico Technology Summit September 30th (with an inaugural dinner on September 29), a forum that will focus on a bilateral partnership that drives innovation and increases economic prosperity in on either side of the U.S./Mexico border.
Today we would like to offer our readership a guest blog from our dinner keynote speaker and participant in the forum, Roberto G. Newell.
Newell is the CEO of the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness, AC, a privately sponsored, independent think tank in Mexico City whose mandate is to analyze and propose policies that will enhance Mexico’s competitiveness in the global economy. During 2003 he served as deputy secretary for agribusiness in Mexico’s federal government. Previously he served in the same administration as CEO of the Fideicomiso de las Empresas Expropiadas del Sector Azucarero. From 1984 to 2001, Newell worked for McKinsey & Company, retiring as director. At McKinsey he served clients in Mexico, the United States, Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Argentina, Spain, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic. He is the author of two books and has published many articles in journals and international professional publications. He currently writes weekly for the Reforma journal. Roberto earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Universidad de las Americas in Mexico and a PhD in economics from the University of Texas at Austin.
The points of view in this column are personal. These are not to be viewed as the position of or opinions of the Dallas Regional Chamber or its staff.
Liberal conviction
A lower middle class life
May 29, 2010
European and American families will have to get used to a more austere and modest lifestyle, as the recent crisis made noticeable the fragile economic structures on which their standard of living lay on.
In America as of the nineties, families have spent almost all of their income in consumption. At 2007 only an average of 3% had savings and even millions of these families did not even do that. To maintain their acquisition level, many were heavily indebted, gambling everything on their incomes to continue to rise faster than the cost of servicing their debts. When the crisis came, their average debt amounted more than a year of their disposable income, with a situation so vulnerable that any blow to their profits would necessarily have adverse consequences.
The U.S. financial crisis started at the lowest income segment of the mortgage market, but quickly spread in to the entire real estate market. From 2008 to date, the dwelling value in this country plunged more than 40%. Currently, over three million homes are worth less than the balance of the mortgage debt which funded the assets. All these families lost what they had invested in their houses and the market adjustment has not yet finished.
Their economic prospects are not good. Even though the U.S. economy has been growing for over a year, employment has still not recovered. Accordingly, the disposable income of these families have not returned to the pre-crisis level. To make matters worse, in order to confront and stimulate the economy, the U.S. federal government acquired a huge public debt which eventually will have to pay by reducing public spending and raising taxes, with all that this implies for economic activity, employment and disposable income levels of the families
What became clearer after the crisis is that American families can not resume their life as if nothing had happened. Millions of them lost all they had invested in their homes, a wide proportion is unemployed and may soon have to pay higher taxes. Americans will have to get used to living with a lower consumption level, aligned to a new reality.
At the Eurozone the families were more cautious saving about 15% of their disposable income, and in the wider European community, savings rated 10 percent. One would think that in relative terms, the Europeans were acting more responsibly, but not, for several reasons: First, because before the crisis the Europeans had lower-income than the Americans and were growing slower. Second, because their population is aging faster than the American population and therefore, the working population available to cover the cost of European social benefits package will soon be decreasing. Finally, because the public finances of many European countries (Greece, Italy, Portugal, France, Spain, Belgium, Austria, Ireland and several others) are not enough to address the pensions liabilities which these governments have acquired with their population.
European families face a similar situation as the Americans. They will also have to reduce future living standards. The European dream of working relatively light journeys for a few years, enjoy long holiday periods and retire at a relatively young age, is over.
Whoever wants to achieve this dream will have to save a far higher proportion of his income for many more years than those originally planned.
The recent economic crisis in the Eurozone countries reveals that the premises of the European dream were as false as the premises of the American dream. In both cases people will have to get used to a new reality. The economic crisis in the two continents shows that you can not live outside the parameter without obtaining, sooner or later, a reckoning.
Mexican politicians would do well to review the premises upon which the Mexican dream is built on. They continue acting and taking decisions as if the rubber band could be stretched infinitely.
The technology industry offers enormous opportunity for international collaboration. At the first annual U.S. / Mexico Technology Summit, one of the principal themes will be partnership development. Most of us recognize the importance of good partnerships but the ability to nurture a partnership to its mutually beneficial limits is a rare quality.
In the spirit of international collaboration, the University of North Texas (UNT) established an academic liaison office on its campus for the Autonomous University of the State of Mexico (UAEM) in February of 2005. Since its inception, this program has fostered more than 14 joint publications, numerous degrees granted through distance education and/or graduate programs, the establishment of a dual degree program, many joint events and academic conferences, and much more. I was particularly impressed with the recent launch of a “seed fund” program to support new and existing work between UNT and UAEM. In year one, seven projects were approved, with the possibility of ten selections in 2011.
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