Automation Alley Global Trade Mission offered in Macomb for the first time!

Macomb County Department of Planning & Economic Development was pleased to participate in the first ever “Automation Alley Global Trade Mission” held in the county during the first weekend of April.  Hosted by the Macomb Intermediate School District, 110 students from 16 area high schools participated in the event including Chippewa Valley, Dakota, DeLaSalle, Eisenhower, Henry Ford II, Mt. Clemens, Stevenson, East Detroit, South Lake, Richmond, Roseville, Career Prep Center, Cousino, Warren Mott, Sterling Heights and Harper Woods. 

According to Karen Johnston, Program Director at MISD, “The reason we were so excited to bring GTM to Macomb…it was an event that was the sum total of what teachers work to bring to the classroom…blending rigor, relevance and relationships into every learning experience.   The GTM gave students a global perspective and the opportunity to gain relevant working experiences in their own back yards.  Students were given the tools necessary to become knowledgeable about how the global market works, how to work in teams across diverse backgrounds, and how to live and compete in a global economy.”

The purpose of GTM is to expose students to international business in an interactive and competitive format.  Through the experience, students were able to learn skills for global citizenship, develop business solutions to Trade Challenges using tools and information of the global marketplace, work side-by-side with business trade experts, develop team dynamics to work effectively with people from diverse backgrounds, explore emerging careers in southeast Michigan and explore career options in the global economy.

As students arrived, there were placed in small, cross-school teams and assigned “Trade Challenge."   These included:

“Dream Cruise” – design a car or a car-based public transportation system or an automotive improvement to the respond to the needs of the future consumer, future state of the environment and the availability of future resources.

“Access Denied” – create a new security device or service and determine which market you will target  such as government, corporate security, computer security or personal/personal identity security.

“Bionic Doctors” – select either nano- or bio-tech arena as a focus and develop an idea for making people and products better, faster and stronger.  Examples include a biosensor for tracking vital signs in the elderly, monitoring the fat, calorie and sugar intake in schoolchildren or the obese.

“Roll Call for Global Class” -  create communication and information technologies to assist educational partnership develop a new “global citizenship” class for the world’s next graduating class. 

“Great Lakes . . . Great State” – propose a plan to complement and follow the current initiatives for the Great Lakes State’s renaissance.  How will you entice new industries, businesses and learning institutions while keeping those that are already here vibrant?

Each theme was presented with background information, questions to ponder and a challenge to assemble a presentation for a panel of investors.

The success of the event is very dependant on the willingness of the business community to get involved.  In all, 68 volunteers stepped up to serve as “coaches” to provide insight directly related to a specific industry, financing and/or marketing.  Others were “ambassadors” that shared their personal knowledge about doing business in a culturally competent manner.  Volunteers also made up the mock investors panel that evaluate team presentations.  Some volunteers committed just a few hours also evaluated team presentations as part of a mock investors panel.  Some committed a few hours; others were involved in the entire event. 

Several MCPED staffers participated in the event including Steve Cassin, Don Morandini, Bob Tess, Justin Robinson and Jim Ahee. 

According to Don Morandini MCPED Deputy Director and Regional Director for Macomb Small Business & Technology Development Center, “I was thoroughly impressed by the commitment of high school students to develop a marketing plan over a two-day period.  The presentations were well thought our and professionally delivered.  These students gained valuable experience that I hope will help lead them to a successful career in the very near future.”

Sorry you missed it?  The date for next year’s Automation Alley Global Trade Mission has been set!  Mark your calendars for April 23-25 and plan to be involved next time!