1. Grand Vision of Life
2. Leaders Connect Live with Danny Ellis, CEO of SkySpecs
3. Mike Samuelson’s Iconic Ann Arbor Photography Book Debut
We all know the Beatles song, “With a Little Help from My Friends“. Well, today is my birthday, and I’m going to change the words to “I Get Wise with a Little Help from My Friends”.
Two of my high school friends and I been having a series of wide-ranging text conversations which have lasted over six months. Without actually seeing each other or even talking on the phone. Nick Luxon, John Mattson, and I have shared stories about ourselves and our upbringing. This has been a fascinating conversation about race and class in our very diverse high school in Ferndale, Michigan. We have also shared our personal stories since high school. This has included the good, the bad, and the ugly. Recently one of the members asked us to think about the concept of “what is our grand vision of life”. This is a deep philosophical question which puzzles us all.
As I was pondering this challenging question, I received a birthday card and the new Bob Dylan book from my friends in Cleveland, Eileen, and Barry Gordon. The Gordons and the Pasicks have been best friends since graduate school in Boston. This year we will be celebrating 50 years of friendship. We always send birthdays to each other with personal notes or poems included.
As I read their card and their notes, I realized that they had answered for me the question of “what is my grand vision of life”. I found that two of their sentences totally revealed to me what my grand vision has been.
Through a generous spirit, humor, and caring, I try to help and support my family, friends, and clients to be the best they can be, and to leave the world a better place.
Deep thanks to all of my friends for helping me to understand who I am and what I am about. I hope I can live up to these words.
Here is your challenge for the week:
Begin the process of defining your own personal “Grand Vision for Your Life”.
Leaders Connect Live
Leaders Connect Presents Danny Ellis, Founder, and CEO of SkySpecs, a Renewable Energy Company. The event will take place at Zingerman’s Roadhouse from 8 – 9:30 am on Friday, December 2, 2022.
SkySpecs is one of the highly successful spin-outs from the University of Michigan, College of Engineering. Started only 10 years ago, building upon the process of autonomous drone blade inspection. Today SkySpecs has grown and developed several renewable asset management solutions. The founder and CEO of SkySpecs, Danny Ellis, will share the story of how he and his team have reshaped the renewable energy world.
SkySpecs manages approximately 118 gigawatts of renewable energy assets across over 30 countries. The company monitors about 45% of all North American wind turbine blades, with more than 300,000 blades inspected. SkySpecs has more than 200 employees globally, ranging from robotics engineers, financial advisors, and data analysts, to graphic designers, resource managers, drone operators, and product developers.
Here’s what you will gain from attending this event:
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After a two-year hiatus caused by the Covid virus, participants will be able to reunite with and meet other leaders to talk about new developments in our communities.
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Participants will learn about advances in renewable energy.
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Participants will learn how four students from the University of Michigan have been able to collaborate to build a successful business.
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You will learn how the local effort to build renewable energy infrastructure, requires global collaboration.
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You will learn about the challenges and processes involved in finding funding for a start-up.
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You will learn how Mike Samuelson created and published his book, Iconic Ann Arbor.
Register for the event here.
Mike Samuelson’s Iconic Ann Arbor
Mike Samuelson’s newest photography book, Iconic Ann Arbor is almost here. Read the below excerpt for his upcoming release.
ICONIC ANN ARBOR
A²
Celebrating Ann Arbor’s Unique Institutions, Culture, Diversity,
History and Architecture
Ann Arbor is well known for the University of Michigan and the town’s annual high ranking as one of the most desirable places to live, but there is so much more. For visitors, former and current residents, students, and faculty, Ann Arbor stirs memories formed, forming, and edited that are difficult to explain but keenly felt. This book is a return ticket, a gateway to those treasured moments in time.
This book invites exploring beyond the headlines for those old and new to Ann Arbor. It is a portal to a town named in 1823 for Ann Allen and Mary Ann Rumsey, the wives of John and Elisha. The photos are all current, but the historical notes and reflections help the reader time travel across years, decades, and centuries.
“ICONIC ANN ARBOR by Michael Samuelson reminds me why there is no place I would rather be than Ann Arbor, Michigan.”
Lloyd Carr
Former University of Michigan Head Football Coach
Member, National Football Foundation, Hall of Fame
Click this link to fill out the Early Notification Form to be alerted when the book becomes available.