"The expectations of a century ago, a decade ago, even a few years ago, are no longer operative. But that is no reason in my view to lament. The catalyst of virtually all future economic progress will be ideas. And I love this. I get asked all the time, “well what is your business?” Well my business is ideas! I don’t produce cars, I don’t produce widgets, I produce ideas and great people who produce ideas. And that is a great calling. And that is the responsibility of our colleges and universities. It is the responsibility of our public schools and our nation to produce ideas through people. And that, I think is where we are going to succeed."

NOCHE Board Chair, and Vice President of FirstEnergy Legal, welcomes attendees to the 2011 Northeast Ohio Talent Dividend Summit.

NOCHE Executive Director, Ann Womer Benajmin, welcomes attendees to the 2012 Northeast Ohio Talent Dividend Summit.

Dr. Mark Sniderman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, discussing the connection between higher education and economic success. 

The audience paying close attention to Dr. Mark Sniderman.

Dr. Chand Midha shares University of Akron data on student retention.

Stephanie Shaw, Executive Director of the Eastern Ohio Partnership for Education, shares her organization's success story. 

Monyka Price, the Chief of Education for Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson, shares information on the Higher Education Compact of Greater Cleveland. 

Dr. Jay Gershen, President of NEOMED, introduces keynote speaker Dr. Gordon Gee.

Dr. Gordon Gee, President of The Ohio State University, sharing stories about the email he receives from students. 

 “Dear President Gee,” this came about two weeks ago, “I was driving around campus and happened to see some deer out on Kenny Road. I was wondering if a student like me could possibly have the opportunity to hunt on Ohio State-owned land.” Now I responded, “Dear Alex,” his name was Alex, “Sorry but no.  Leave the deer alone. Look for wolverines instead.” 

“If you don’t like change, you’re going to like irrelevance even less.” I have it right there, and the deans come in and I show that to them and the faculty colleagues, “If you don’t like change you’re going to like irrelevance even less.” 

"[College completion] is about action. It s about us doing something; about us being diligent; about us being committed; about us being forward thinking. We simply cannot and we must not allow this transformational moment to pass."

"There is something inherent in the American spirit and in our collective responsibility and our collective way of thinking that allows us to do something much different. We lose that - we lose the world. We focus on that, we focus on that notion, and we focus on that energy, creativity, and that we’re not all the same. One of the problems we have in this country and in higher education is the fact that we all are trying to be like each other. We have got to differentiate ourselves."

Dr. Ronald Berkman, President at Cleveland State University, closes the 2011 Northeast Ohio Talent Dividend Summit. 

Conversation in the lobby at Corporate College East

NOCHE Program Manager Brenda Davis Smith discusses NEOIntern with Dave Kaminski of the Canton Chamber of Commerce.