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Elevator Up - A Random Update

This Issue

Featured Designer

Adam Murphy

Adam is a Grand Rapids native interactive designer who is focused on the user experience and strives to detangle web interaction. In a world of copycat designers, he hopes to keep the web fresh and lively with new and improved ways for the user to interact. Check out what he's tweeting about on his site So-Ridiculous!

 

Join us at aimWest

In preparation for the Momentum investor demo day, later this summer, each of the Momentum companies will be giving a dry run of their investor pitch at the aimWest event on June 17th at the WMU Downtown Grand Rapids Campus. Come out and show your support!
More info here.

Momentum Ideas

We like to say that we're just a group of guys, hanging out, making cool stuff and this summer Momentum is helping us take that to the next level. Earlier this spring we were fortunate to have two new ideas accepted into their program. Momentum is a new firm based in West Michigan that is investing in web based technology start ups. With this investment the founders are put through an entrepreneur boot camp of sorts to guide them in how to build sustainable and profitable businesses.

So this summer, alongside our awesome client work, we're quickly building two new companies that we hope will peek your interest.

Public Collections

Getting paid for the work you completed is always important. Especially in this economy. When clients aren’t paying up and even worse, stop taking your calls, it may seem your only option is to go to small claims court or turn their information over to a collection agency. But that can be a time-consuming and complicated process. Public Collections provides an online outlet for “the owed” to post who owes them and how much, bringing awareness to problem clients.

Downstream

Downstream is digital life given back. Our lives are increasingly played out online, important pieces of ourselves scattered about the cloud. What happens if that information isn't available? What do we lose by fragmenting our identity? Downstream helps pull yourself together. It brings down your digital life and hands it back to you, in a variety of online and offline ways. Downloads, hard drives, flash cards, annual reports, Downstream lets you better your life by giving your digital life back to you. It's your data. Your pocket. Your life. 

New team members

Mac Fowler

Account Manager
http://macfowler.com/

Mac joins as our new go-to-guy and all around organizer of stuff. When asked what Mac's new job entails, Aaron has been overheard as saying "Everything". Mac brings a diverse background from large enterprise consulting down to several small startups. He has a heavy interest in the coworking movement and how people work. Mac will be keeping tabs on our projects while driving us to stay organized and grounded as we push through with all the fun stuff we have on our plates now, and in the future.

Chris Chocko

Intern Extraordinaire

Chris is joining us for the summer to get a taste of how the real world works, little does he know what he's in for here at the Elevator Up offices. A film and video major at Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids, Chris is going to be helping us out with putting together a bunch of content around coworking, Downstream, Public Collections and just what Elevator Up is all about. Chris will also be helping out with our client projects and getting his feet wet in the web development world while picking up as much awesomeness as he can over the next couple of months.

The Garage

DescriptionAs the weather continues to (hopefully) warm up, so is the activity in The Garage. We have a couple of sweet events coming up over the next couple of weeks...and one this evening if you're looking for some last minute geeky'ness.

Git-Together

Since the first Git-Together was such a hit, we're throwing another one! Come talk with us about Git the Fast Version Control System.
Date: June 11, 2009
Time: 6:00 - 8:00pm
Location: The Garage (Map)
More Info: Here

Geeks Group

Date: June 16, 2009
Time: 5:30 - 8:30pm              
Location: Fricanos Pizza (Map)

An evening in The Garage

Taking team work to a new level - A discussion of Kolbe A Presented by Mari D. Martin, Master Kolbe Consultant
Date: June 23, 2009
Time: 5:30 - 8:30pm
Location: The Garage (Map)
More Info: Here

West Michigan tech events calendar

DescriptionWest Michigan tech events calendar - Looking for a way to keep track of all the great events happening around town? Check out our new calendar to see what's going on around you. Or, if you have any events you'd like to add it, please let us know and we'll add it so everyone will know. Check it out here.