The Collaborative Group Blog

On Thursday, March 25^th we welcomed Scott Hocking, internationally recognized artist, entrepreneur, and respected thought leader.  Scott shared the inspiration for his artwork and told the story of Detroit through the eyes of an artist.

Scott began his story by explaining how, growing up in a blue-collar neighborhood outside of Detroit, he always desired leaving the area, but was constantly drawn to the city.  In time, he realized that Detroit was the place where he could express himself most freely and creatively. 

While in school at College for Creative Studies, Scott began collecting Detroit relics to use in his artwork.  His sculptures and photography featuring these relics have been displayed at the Detroit Institute of Art, at many local galleries, and in various publications including most recently in Time Magazine. 

While seeking relics, Scott discovered places across the city no one else knew, and he began to recognize the city’s reversion back to nature and the emerging places of solace.  Scott noted that Detroit is not special or unique in this abandonment.  Using an example from a city in China, he expressed these characteristics of emptiness and change as a human condition and worldwide phenomenon. 

Understanding this natural lifecycle, Scott uses his artwork as a response to his surroundings, recognizing that his art will evolve as Detroit evolves.  Therefore, his art is a practice in humility where he must relinquish control.  He sees it as an experiment of human reaction.  To Scott, art is honesty.

On Tuesday, March 9^th we welcomed members of the leadership team and entrepreneurs-in-training from Bizdom U.  Launched by Dan Gilbert in 2007, the non-profit boot camp trains, mentors and finances young entrepreneurs and their start-up businesses in the city of Detroit.  Bizdom U’s mission is to usher in a new, prosperous era of entrepreneurship by empowering entrepreneurs to launch innovative, growth-oriented, Detroit-based businesses. 

Bizdom U’s Executive Director, Ross Sanders, explained that the organization provides 4-months of full-time education for entrepreneurs.  The team seeks individuals with good entrepreneurial potential and strong business ideas and aids in the development of a plan for their Detroit-based business.  Mentors and trainers with real-life experience guide the program, guaranteeing success.  Bizdom U even funds the businesses – up to $100,000 – and takes part ownership.

Dan Izzo, Training Leader for the program, expressed that, with Dan Gilbert’s family of businesses supporting the organization, the entrepreneurs are trained in a culture of success.  Bizdom U takes on a real world approach ensuring that their entrepreneurs can sell their ideas and launch their businesses.

Tamiko Ogburn presented her idea for a business called Accredisure.  With so many requirements and regulations for career schools and training centers, accredidation is often a time consuming and expensive process.  Tamiko’s business will smooth and lessen the expense of accredidation by providing an online system.  Having spent years working with various institutions and accreditors, Tamiko recognizes that Accedisure can facilitate the process, cut costs, and make accreditation possible.

Alex Linebrink, Munaf Assaf, and Brandon Darling introduced an idea that will simplify business expense reporting to just one-click.  Core Expense works with an individual’s business credit card to provide electronic receipts on their mobile device.  Once the expense information is validated, accounting staff can easily process it.  The team has interviewed potential users and providers, and plans to license Core Expense to banks directly.  With much interest already garnered, competition and feasibility evaluated, Core Expense plans to launch in the near future.