2011 MSU-CIBER Annual Advisory Board Meeting

MSU-CIBER Advisory Board Members

The MSU-CIBER advisory board met on September 7, 2011, at the Henry Center. The 2011 meeting consisted of a business meeting followed by a Global Business Club of Mid-Michigan luncheon, in order to give board members more hands-on experience with CIBER programming.

The main topic for the board, which is mandated by the U.S. Federal Government as part of CIBER being a National Resource Center, was funding, with a discussion of the federal funding picture and new, potential funding opportunities, particularly centered around the Obama administration's National Export Initiative.

Tomas Hult, MSU-CIBER's director, discussed the re-focusing of the Center's mission in light of the changes to the funding model. He noted that the Center would be increasingly focused on Michigan businesses and industry, with the Michigan Export Growth Program and globalEDGE becoming a larger part of the Center's portfolio.

Dean Stefanie Lenway then spoke to the board, reiterating her interest in and support for international programming. Reflecting on her decision to come to Michigan State, she noted that she as at the Broad College in part because of the CIBER and her engagement with the Academy of International Business.

Following the business meeting, the board adjourned to the Global Business Club of Mid-Michigan program. The day's program, which marked the beginning of the 2011-2012 series, featured Peter Walters, Chairman of the Board of Guardian Industries. Mr. Walters highlighted the opportunities, as well as the challenges, that international business presents. His experiences in Russia, India, and Venezuela were especially enlightening for the audience.