Vision and Mission The Great Lakes Entrepreneur's Quest aspires to be an engine for the formation of new, high-growth companies in Michigan. The mission of the Great Lakes Entrepreneur's Quest, and its competition, is to continually encourage and educate entrepreneurs on the creation, start up and early growth stages of high-growth businesses within the state of Michigan. This will be accomplished by linking entrepreneurs pursuing high-growth opportunities with access to a statewide network of community resources, expert advice, high quality education, management talent and capital at every stage of development. GLEQ's competition will provide a venue for feedback from successful entrepreneurs and investors on ideas and plans submitted and will recognize the most promising entrepreneurs and their businesses.

Board of Directors Diane Durance, Ex-Officio Jack Ahrens, Chair - Managing Partner, TGap Ventures Judy Johncox, Secretary - Associate Vice President, Technology Commercialization, Wayne State University Michelle Crumm, Treasurer - Chief Business Officer, Adaptive Materials Tom Anderson - Senior Director, Automation Alley Jill Bland - Vice President, Southwest Michigan First Sam Hogg - President and CEO, GiftZip, and Market Specialist, NextEnergy Mark W. Holtz - Assistant Vice President, Bank of Ann Arbor Paul Neeb - President and CEO, RealBio Technology Inc. Carol Lopucki - Executive Director, Michigan Small Business Technology and Development Centers (MI-SBTDC) Bob Skandalaris - Founder and former President/CEO, Noble International, Ltd. Leslie Lynn Smith - Director of Business Acceleration, Michigan Economic Development Corporation Jeff Van Winkle - Partner, Clark Hill, PLC

Executive Director Diane Durance is the executive director of Great Lakes Entrepreneur’s Quest. GLEQ is Michigan-based statewide organization that offers entrepreneurial education and a technology-focused business plan competition for new ventures in alternative energy, life sciences, advanced manufacturing, homeland security and information technology. GLEQ connects early stage ventures to growth capital and business development resources. More