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 Tom Anderson - Senior Director, Automation Alley Jill Bland - Vice President, Southwest Michigan First Sam Hogg - Former President and CEO, GiftZip; and Director, Venture Development, NextEnergy Mark W. Holtz - Assistant Vice President, Bank of Ann Arbor Ken Kousky - Chief Executive Officer, MidMichigan Innovation Center; President/CEO, IP3, Inc.; Executive Director, BlueWater Angels Investment Network Paul Neeb - President and CEO, RealBio Technology Inc. Remos J. Lenio - Founder and Principal, Hartwick Capital Group Carol Lopucki - Executive Director, Michigan Small Business Technology and Development Centers (MI-SBTDC) Paula Sorrell - Managing Director, Entrepreneurial Services, Michigan Economic Development Corporation Jeff Van Winkle - Partner, Clark Hill, PLC Kapila Viges - Director of Entrepreneurial Strategies, Inforum Center for Leadership

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