Disher Attends 2016 Ann Arbor SPARK Annual Meeting
May 27, 2016
Written By:
Cynthia VanRenterghem | Marketing Project Manager
Dayna Beal | Business Lead - Discovery and Marketing
Business is strong in Ann Arbor thanks in large part to the Ann Arbor SPARK organization and partners like Disher who is a Funding Member. At the Annual Meeting on May 16, the Disher team was pleased to learn just how impressive SPARK’s economic-development impact is including: 30 company growth projects with $238 million in new investment commitments; 1,279 new jobs announced; and 253 new start-ups assisted. From 2006 through 2014, over 2,629 companies have been assisted with 10,324 job postings. For the past 11 years, SPARK has been dedicated to innovation using their resources to attract, develop, strengthen, and invest in driving industries in Ann Arbor.
Members and guests in attendance heard from Dr. Mark Schlissel, President of the University of Michigan. In Schlissel’s keynote speech, he addressed the amazing synergy Ann Arbor is experiencing between a great research university and a thriving business and investment community. This public/private partnership is creating an innovation ecosystem that is a mutually advantageous driver of progress in our region. The discovery research and intellectual property created by university professors and students find a pathway to the marketplace through the entrepreneurial culture fostered in the region.
Disher is thrilled to play a part in this vibrant growth and innovation throughout Southeast Michigan. If you haven’t been to Disher’s Ann Arbor office, please drop by for a visit! Just like Ann Arbor, our office is expanding– from three people to 20 in the last 18 months. Disher has enjoyed fostering many positive relationships with local businesses who are part of the SPARK community. Let us know if you are interested in a free Whiteboard Wednesday ideation session, some product development work, or advice on a business strategy. We exist to help your company succeed. “We are pleased to have Disher as a Funding Member of SPARK,” stated Paul Krutko, President and CEO. “We appreciate the investment they are making in our organization and our region.”
