About The Edupreneurial Exchange
Indianapolis-based Thomas P. Miller and Associates has launched the Edupreneurial Exchange, which provides a platform for innovators in education to share best and emerging practices in school improvement and education reform at both the K-12 and higher education levels. The Edupreneurial Exchange will provide educators with a social network to discuss, debate and deliberate upon promising practices in the educational arena, explore emerging opportunities, and generally become a collaborative platform for innovation in education.
The firm has named Jerry Israel, former President of the University of Indianapolis as director of the service.
“The goal of the Edupreneurial Exchange is to provide a “go to” place to serve as a digest and clearinghouse for edupreneurial innovation,” said Israel. “We see this platform as a dynamic and ongoing exchange through a web site, webinars, presentations, a blog, and other social media vehicles that will serve to share innovative activities and practices taking place today with other edupreneurs, and hopefully stimulate further edupreneurial activity.
Israel will be assisted by Joe DiLaura, a veteran education communications official who has managed communications and marketing activities at several state and local governmental entities over the last 34 years.
Tom Miller, President and CEO of Thomas P. Miller and Associates noted that various trends taking place across the nation have produced a flurry of innovative practices in both K-12 education and among colleges and universities.
“The ongoing budget crisis has forced our educational institutions to do more with less, and this has encouraged an entrepreneurial spirit that has led to new and more efficient and effective in educational practices,” he said. “State and local policy-makers are also exploring new approaches to education, via charter schools, choice, online and distance learning courses and many others. In addition, technological advancements have led to new education delivery mechanisms. All of this is occurring at a time when education is becoming more and more important to our nation’s economic future. The spirit of educational entrepreneurism is real.”
Miller noted that TPMA’s longstanding focus on the economic development of region’s, states, and communities and the importance of the workforce in economic development has led the firm to work with many universities, community colleges, technical colleges, the K-12 system in what he calls a talent pipeline approach. “The acceleration of innovation in educational at all levels and the increase in collaboration taking place has enabled a rich offering of best practices abnd new opportunities both personally and professionally.
“The bottom line with this new initiative is that we want to become a key resource for innovators, institutions, and communities to address opportunities and priorities in their particular areas of expertise,” said Miller.
The firm has specialized in providing strategic planning services for its economic and workforce development clients, but has also performed work for a variety of K-12 and Higher Education institutions in planning, program review, policy analysis, development and fundraising, and fiscal impact studies. The firm believes that education and training are critical components of successful workforce and economic development strategies.
TPMA has followed a vision of incorporating workforce development and education advancement approaches into the mainstream of economic development strategy. The firm believes that in order to enhance a region’s economic value, workforce development strategies must be cultivated to meet the demands of the 21st century knowledge economy. The firm has offices in Indianapolis, Evansville, Nashville and Lisbon, Ohio.
Jerry Israel served as the President of the University of Indianapolis from August 1998 to August 2005. Dr. Israel served from 1993 to 1998 as the President of Morningside College, located in Sioux City, Iowa. He also served at Simpson College located in Indianola, Iowa, from 1988 to 1993 as its Vice President and Dean of the College. Dr. Israel began his teaching career in 1967 as a visiting Assistant Professor in the History Department at the University of Pittsburgh. Since 2005, Dr. Israel has served as a consultant and Trustee to a number of colleges and organizations focused on innovation in learning.
Thomas P. Miller and Associates
Thomas P. Miller and Associates, LLC (TPMA) is a consulting and management firm based in Indianapolis, Indiana. From its founding in 1989, TPMA has followed a vision of incorporating workforce development and education advancement approaches into the mainstream of economic development strategy. Two decades after its founding, TPMA continues to follow that same basic mission and vision by aligning people, technology and initiatives to enhance the economic value of its clients. By blending the infrastructure of the old economy (community amenities, quality of life, affordable utilities, good transportation and skilled workforce) with the ideastructure of the innovation economy (community, entrepreneurship, collaboration and education), TPMA helps clients identify and capitalize on potential community-building and economic growth opportunities. From initial planning through implementation, TPMA aims to be a partner rather than just a consultant.