Monthly news, events & updates |
Building a Rainforest in the Desert | December 2022 |
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Meet Zachariah Ben, New Tribal Liaison for the New Mexico Tribal Entrepreneurship Enhancement Program |
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Zachariah Ben is one of the newest Tribal Liaisons to join the New Mexico Tribal Entrepreneurship Enhancement Program.
UNM Rainforest Innovations was awarded an Economic Development Administration (EDA) American Rescue Plan Economic Adjustment Assistance grant in April to help break down barriers and generate opportunity through entrepreneurship in historically underserved communities in New Mexico with a primary focus on coal-impacted tribal communities. Through this grant, the program aims to create new jobs, higher incomes, and inclusive growth through entrepreneurship by linking resources and assisting entrepreneurs in filling voids.
Tribal Liaisons are an essential part of the program, and their main mission is to connect with established and aspiring entrepreneurs within tribal communities across the state. They serve as navigators, dedicated mentors, and connection points to identify barriers and seek solutions through resources within the state’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Zach is a member of the Navajo Nation and is a sixth-generation traditional farmer and sand painter in Shiprock, New Mexico. He is of the “Giant People,” born for the “Red Running into Water” clan. His maternal grandfather’s clan is the “Red House People,” and his paternal grandfather is of the “Salt People.” Zach has over 10 years of experience in traditional farming and is the owner and founder of Bidii Baby Foods, LLC, a Navajo-registered business that sells organic, indigenous baby foods. In addition to working as a Tribal Liaison, he is a member of the state-led Family Leadership Council where he works with other families to address early childhood issues through action and advocacy.
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In the Spotlight - Featured UNM Inventor |
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Jonathan Owen, M.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Internal Medicine
The University of New Mexico
Dr. Owen’s research interests include:
- Percutaneous endovascular arteriovenous fistulas
- Hypertension
- CO-Investigator on the TRIDENT study which is creating a tissue database for research into diabetic nephropathy
- CO-Investigator on the REGEN study examining stem cells in diabetic nephropathy
- Safety and best practices of kidney biopsies
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Rainforest Accelerator Program Supports Entrepreneurial Faculty and Students in Developing UNM Technology |
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UNM Rainforest Innovations has launched a new program called the Rainforest Accelerator. The 10-week long program follows the footsteps of the UNM I-Corps Program and trains teams of entrepreneurial-minded faculty and students on how to transition their STEM-related technology to the marketplace.
The original I-Corps program was funded by an NSF grant starting in 2017 and was co-hosted by UNM Rainforest Innovations and UNM’s Innovation Academy. The UNMRI Board of Directors currently funds the program.
“In addition to developing innovative technology, the process of transitioning that technology to the marketplace can be daunting for many people,” said Cara Michaliszyn, Director of Economic Development. “The Rainforest Accelerator is meant to support teams wherever they’re at on their entrepreneurial journey and link them to mentors and resources to help them along the way.”
Throughout the program, teams learn how to determine value propositions, customers, size of market, and market trends for their respective technologies. They are also equipped with $3,000 in seed funding to support market discovery efforts and proof-of-concept prototyping. Teams consist of UNM faculty, staff and/or students, entrepreneurs, and a mentor provided by the program. Meetings take place once per week in the afternoon at the Lobo Rainforest Building Seminar Room and online via Zoom meetings.
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Reach Customers Online with Google
New Mexico Rainforest Webinar
December 6 | 12 - 1 p.m. (MST)
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Learn how you can improve a website's visibility with SEO, Google Business Profiles, Google Trends, Search Google Ads, and more.
Henry Jake Foreman MCRP is a specialist in facilitation, development, and implementation of engaging learning experiences for students of all ages and has created a variety of curricula around education, health, and entrepreneurship. He is the founder of Karuna Colectiva, a social enterprise that delivers principles of engagement, innovation, and application through mentorship, bicycling, and cooperative economics. He is also the Program Director of New Mexico Community Capital and manages the Financial & Business Basics course that is designed to help build a solid foundation to form and grow business ideas with a personal financial plan for success.
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This event will be held virtually via Zoom. Please register to receive the meeting link. |
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Student Interns @ UNM Rainforest Innovations |
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Daeun (Dana) Jung
Innovation Intern
Our featured intern this month is Daeun (Dana) Jung who currently works as an Innovation Intern. “I was born and raised in Seoul, South Korea… but when I was nine, I lived in Bloomington, near Indiana University for two years. Ever since then, I developed an interest for international subjects and was able to expand my thoughts beyond the country I was born in.”
Later, Dana decided to attend a foreign language high school in Korea. “…(It’s) a special high school where you learn foreign languages in depth and learn more about the global world. There, I was able to learn English and Spanish and about different cultures that I did not get to experience in Seoul.”
When she was ready to attend college, Dana enrolled at the Ewha Womans University in Seoul and is double majoring in international studies and business. “I came to UNM as an exchange student because I knew it was my only chance to live and study abroad as a college student in Korea. It was a must for me since I wanted to surround myself with new things and learn more about different lives and about myself in the process.”
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UNM Rainforest Innovations 2023 Calendar Has Arrived |
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The UNM Rainforest Innovations 2023 calendar is now available! Twelve UNM faculty members from both HSC and Main Campus are highlighted with information on their technologies and research areas. Congratulations to our featured inventors!
We will be mailing out these calendars to our UNM inventors and business community. To ensure that you receive a calendar or if your address has changed, please contact: Savanah Romero at sromero@innovations.unm.edu.
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Attend Upcoming Open Office Hours
Providing Mentoring for Your Startup/Idea
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Rainforest Mentor Hours with Stacy Sacco |
Join Stacy Sacco to discuss your startup or idea and gain valuable resources.
For the past 20 years, Mr. Sacco has taught entrepreneurial studies at the UNM Anderson School of Management, and served as the Director of the UNM Small Business Institute. He currently is the President of Sacco Connections, a management consulting firm, and hosts a free, informational website, with 3,000+ links to local jobs, events and resources.
Mr. Sacco will be available for one-on-one mentoring where he will give guidance, coaching and perspective to enhance entrepreneurship and provide connections to resources at UNM and in the community. There are many resources available to those who have ideas that they may want to turn into a business!
These are hybrid office hours. Stacy will be available to meet IN-PERSON at the Lobo Rainforest Building or VIRTUALLY via Zoom depending on your own personal preferences.
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SCORE Mentors Offer Support for Aspiring and Established Entrepreneurs at the Lobo Rainforest Building |
UNM Rainforest Innovations collaborates with SCORE to offer mentoring and confidential discussions for aspiring and established entrepreneurs, inventors, students, and start-up companies. SCORE’s certified mentors are successful business people and entrepreneurs with the goal of giving back to the community by helping other entrepreneurs become and stay successful. SCORE has been helping small businesses start and grow in the Albuquerque area for over 50 years through mentoring.
IN-PERSON at the Lobo Rainforest Building. Click "Sign up here" to select the time frame you plan to attend.
SCORE Mentors:
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Dar Johnson
Dar retired after 20 years with the US Air Force and has over 36 years in the aerospace private sector including over 36 years in senior and “C-suite” level management positions. He has been responsible for achieving growth nation-wide, obtaining new customers, cost containment, turning around marginal operations, increased profitability, customer satisfaction, staffing, and policy and procedure development. He has also worked in business development, proposal support, capture manager and proposal manager and has owned a successful consulting business.
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Vic Berniklau
Vic retired from the U.S. Department of Energy as Senior Executive after filling positions in Technical and Administrative Leadership. He started two small businesses in electronic security with his wife and son and grew them to 30 employees with $2M in sales. He is a consultant in technology management and business management and is an instructor at the University of New Mexico at the Graduate Level in Public Administration (Research Methodology) and Business Administration (Management of Technology).
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Mentoring for Entrepreneurs with Mytegia Lee |
Come to virtual 1:1 mentoring with Mytegia Lee where she will provide guidance, coaching, perspective, and connections to enhance entrepreneurship and connections to resources at UNM and in the community. There are many resources available to those who have ideas that they may want to turn into a business! Join Mytegia on Zoom and learn more about what is available and which connections are the best fit for you.
Ms. Lee is the Executive Director of the Southwest Native Assets Coalition (SNAC). Prior to joining SNAC she worked in the commercial banking and financing services industry providing credit analysis, financial education as well as small dollar loan origination and servicing throughout western New Mexico.
These are VIRTUAL office hours, please register to select the time frame when you can attend your meeting on Zoom. After you register, a Zoom link and calendar invitation will be emailed to you.
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ADVANCED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
LEADERSHIP PROGRAM
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Job creation across America faces numerous, challenging, contemporary issues. Today’s successful economic development professional must make intelligent decisions and provide unparalleled leadership as communities vie for new, quality jobs and economic growth.
The core curriculum of the Advanced Economic Development Leadership program is built on a foundation of exploring innovation, managing change, and surviving disruption in the unique field of economic development. We know each of you is facing new challenges unique to your city or region and shared by others in your field, and we have prepared topics to help you navigate your evolving role in uncertain times. Learn more below about the newest topics in curriculum and how AEDL is your professional development partner every step of the way.
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JOIN THE 2023 COHORT
May 22−25, 2023 at Texas Christian University
Fort Worth, Texas
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UNM Rainforest Innovations | Website
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