WMU HOME > ABOUT WMU > WMU NEWS

WMU News

Are industry clusters a passing fad?

Jan. 24, 2005

KALAMAZOO--Dr. Stuart A. Rosenfeld, president of Regional Technology Strategies Inc. in North Carolina, presents "Industry Clusters: Business Choice, Public Outcome or Passing Fad?" at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 2, in Room 3508 of Knauss Hall at Western Michigan University.

The presentation is part of the Werner Sichel Lecture-Seminar Series for 2004-05 on the general topic of regional economic development. It is free and open to the public.

Rosenfeld previously served as deputy director of the Southern Growth Policies Board and director of the Southern Technology Council. He also organized and manages the Trans-Atlantic Technology and Training Alliance, a consortium of U.S., European, and South African colleges undertaking cooperative innovation and learning activities. His areas of interest include collaborative and cluster based economic development, workforce development, and technology diffusion.

Prior to joining Southern Growth, Rosenfeld was a senior associate at the National Institute of Education, where he co-authored a national assessment of vocational education for the U.S. Congress.

Rosenfeld has published numerous books and articles, including "Competitive Manufacturing: New Strategies for Regional Development," "Smart Firms in Small Towns," "Significant Others: Exploring the Potential for Manufacturing Networks," "Industrial-Strength Strategies: Regional Clusters and Public Policy," "Overachievers: Business Clusters that Work" and many others. He has advised or testified before more than a dozen panels and committees of the U.S. Congress, the National Academy of Sciences and the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development.

Rosenfeld earned a Ed.D. degree in Education Planning, Social Policy and Administration from Harvard University and received his undergraduate degree cum laude in chemical engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

The Werner Sichel Lecture-Seminar Series is co-sponsored by the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research in Kalamazoo.

Media contact: Thom Myers, 269 387-8400, thom.myers@wmich.edu

WMU News
Office of University Relations
Western Michigan University
1903 W Michigan Ave
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5433 USA
269 387-8400
www.wmich.edu/wmu/news