Success Stories Press Release
August 14, 2002The sixth installment of A QUIET CRISIS is a revealing portrayal of five successful entrepreneurs -- examining how their business acumen and experience in Northeast Ohio have defined their success, and how they've continued to maintain it through these difficult economic times.
A QUIET CRISIS: Success Stories airs in a special 90-minute broadcast to be simulcast on WVIZ/PBS and 90.3 WCPN® ideastream Thursday, September 5 at 9 p.m. A rebroadcast will air on 90.3 WCPN Thursday, September 12 at 8 p.m.; and on WVIZ/PBS Sunday, September 8 at 3 p.m. and Monday, September 9 at 11 p.m. Special coverage will appear in the Forum section of the Sunday edition of The Plain Dealer on Sunday, September 8. A transcript of the entire panel discussion will be made available on wviz.org, wcpn.org and Cleveland.com websites.
The featured panel of entrepreneurs include Ed Yenni, President, LogiSync Corporation; Gil Van Bokkelen, Chairman, President and CEO, Athersys, Inc.; Dr. Olu Lafe, CEO, QuikCAT Technologies; Joseph P. Keithley, Chairman, CEO and President, Keithley Instruments, Inc.; and Carol Latham, President and CEO, Thermagon, Inc. Dave Pignanelli, News and Information Director for ideastream hosts the program. Joe Frolik, Associate Editor of The Plain Dealer, moderates the panel discussion.
WVIZ/PBS and 90.3 WCPN go beyond the studios and into the streets of Northeast Ohio focusing on the five entrepreneurs in their place of business. Taped segments of one-on-one interviews explore the who, what, when and where of each success story. The short vignettes also reveal how and why each business became successful; what made their experience unique; what role their family and friends played; whether there was a special person in their life who influenced, inspired or advised them; and whether the government was a help or a detriment to the success of their business.
In the new extended format, these short profile segments will segue into the traditional roundtable discussion with the entrepreneurs. The panelists will focus on the commonalities of their individual experiences, along with the common problems and challenges they've encountered, and what can be learned from them. They will also discuss what resources each has had to draw upon, and the core ingredients essential in creating a successful business.
A QUIET CRISIS is an on going, multimedia project involving WVIZ/PBS, 90.3 WCPN® ideastream and The Plain Dealer. Its goal is to better inform viewers, listeners and readers about how the region's economy affects their lives.
Support for the ongoing series A QUIET CRISIS comes from FirstEnergy Foundation, the Nord Family Foundation, and Eva L. and Joseph M. Bruening Foundation, proud supporters of public broadcasting in Northeast Ohio.
ideastream is an organization dedicated to public service and education through multiple media, including radio, television and the Internet.