This presentation was prepared by ICAD and helps describe the "WHY" behind the need for a culture of innovation. Slides 1 and 19 are interactive and provide video links that support this message.

1. IQuest The “WHY” And a little about the “how”

2. Starting backwards from The Ultimate Goal: The region currently known as “The Corridor” becomes internationally recognized as a hub for innovation, education, entrepreneurship and culture. A place where people want to live, companies want to locate and from which globally relevant ideas spring.

3. What DOES THAT FEEL LIKE?

4. Who are the role models we should look to?

5. Smarter People? Common Theme?? Ocean View? Mountains?

6. Common Theme = Culture These areas have cultivated a culture of openness, collaboration, entrepreneurship, calculated risk taking and creativity. In short: Connected Community They have learned to embrace non-traditional thought at the personal, organizational, educational and governmental levels; accepting the status quo is not sufficient to be recognized as a leader.

7. Taking Stock of our Regional AssetsStrong economy with low unemploymentOne of the highest educational attainment levelsDiverse mix of international people & industryMajor research universityTop tier community collegeWriter’s Workshop / City of LiteratureVibrant art and cultural sceneLow cost of livingSafe, engaging communitiesMetro and rural living optionsMidwestern values, civic pride, compassionLogistics and locationAwesome weather (at least 20 days a year)

8. What we Lack… Aside from Mountains, Beaches and Smog

9. What we Lack… Aside from Mountains, Beaches and Smog a culture of innovation

10. The Challenge The Essence of our “Good to Great” moment Embrace the best of our Midwestern culture, while moving past its limiting factors.

12. Our concern for each other can be overly protective and parental

13. It can be difficult to express differences directly, opting instead for parking lot conversations

14. Many times we jump to the “How” before we grasp the potential of the “Why” (credit the Pacific Institute)

15. Often we see our turf as mutually exclusive and needing to be protected

16. Symptom vs. Cause problem solving

17. Excessively humble when we need to be more proud

19. Examples of our Macro Bubbles More separation than overlap

20. Examples of our MIcro Bubbles How much potential do we squander with separation?

21. We still look at driving 25 minutes as a insurmountable obstacle. Then we have Regional Bubbles

22. All these bubbles Lead to: Limited spheres of influence Competition Redundancy Disconnectedness

23. We need to change how people interact, engage and collaborate To Change Our Culture: WE NEED TO CONNECT

24. Midwestern Mind check: Raise your hand if some variation of the following thoughts / questions occurred to you? BUT HOW??? You can’t change culture… Do we have to start some new organization now to do this? What does this have to do with economic development? This is long term stuff, we need to focus on the immediate. What is this going to cost? I thought there would be a real breakfast. Things are just fine the way they are, why mess with it? These guys are dreamers, we need a practical approach. We should hire a consultant to help with this And.. This is all a load of garbage (because I really don’t get it)

25. We start to change the culture in three Simple Ways: Encouraging innovative ways for people to connect and engage Leverage existing connections to foster meaningful relationships Create physical spaces within the region which embody this new mindset where people can interact

26. The “HOW”First Task: Create and Manage one Unified Brand which embodies our Quest to realize a new culture of innovation, Collaboration, openness, entrepreneurial thinking, and connectedness. This brand cuts across all bubbles and becomes the master distribution list for everything innovative and cool in the region.

27. The How Continued… Our need is to create a brand which speaks to our Quest to Cultivate a Culture of Innovation

28. Engagement

29. IQ Events- Exemplified by their ability to bring diverse minds together for enriching, interactive experiences. Unlike submissive, one sided presentations, these gatherings will create opportunities for idea sharing, collaboration and exposure to innovative and unique concepts and ideas. Some will be novel local endeavors, others will build on nationally known platforms such as Jelly’s, Ignite, Tech Brews, BarCamp, Fishbowls and ultimately our area will hold internationally recognized events such as Startup Weekend and TEDx. When an activity is recognized as an IQuest Event – it will be innovative engagement of the highest quality. If done right, Clay Jones, Sally Mason, the guy with tattoos all over his face, students, retirees and other open minds will attend these events because they genuinely want to, not because they feel obligated to do so. Still need to think in bubbles?? IQ becomes the overarching mega bubble for all the innovative efforts of the area.

30. Connections

31. IQ Sherpa – A collaborative environment is characterized by individuals who are willing to help others make linkages and open doors. Sherpa will know: the who, what and where in the corridor. Sherpa will embody the culture of innovation spirit. Experts at the local terrain, individuals earning the Sherpa designation will help build the collaborative networks necessary for our region to become and remain relevant in an increasingly unforgiving global economy. Think High School: Sherpas are the Cool Kids, everyone wants to be a part of what the cool kids are doing. Sherpas will drive interest and excitement while connecting people to others in the region they will benefit from knowing.

32. Space

33. IQ CoLabs – Physical spaces in the region where innovation will live on a daily basis. CoLabs will play host to nontraditional incubation efforts, coworking spaces and be the home for a wide array of work styles, events, people and ideas. Linked by novel and existing social networking platforms, these spaces will model new ways of engagement, collaboration and productivity. Located around the region, they will serve as the bridge connecting traditional economic development efforts to next level opportunities and business growth. These spaces accelerate serendipity by providing a daily environment for people to work, meet and share.

34. Outcomes: Topophilia is strengthened. Innovative thinking improves our organizations, businesses, governments and cultural entities. New companies form. Outside industry locates here . People recognize the region globally and want to be a part of what we have built.

35. Back to the EnD Goal – a.K.A.the elevator Pitch

36. Questions?? Topophilia= the bond between people and place. Examples: That longing you have for your grandmother’s kitchen when you were six and she was baking, that corner booth in the bar you hung out in college, the spot someone proposed, or the way people talk about living in NYC. We need people to have this feeling about the corridor.

37. Thank YOU Our Quest has begun