BRIGHTON – Corporate leaders from across Michigan have formed the Michigan Homeland Security Consortium to help home grown Homeland Security companies grow.
The first meeting attracted 28 representatives from business, education and economic development organizations. Its mission is to support Michigan-based developers and manufacturers of Homeland Security products and technologies.
?This effort was conceived over a year ago,? said Thomas Hines, president of SecureMatrix, and MIHSC co founder. ?We saw the need to create strength in numbers; to shine the spotlight onto Michigan?s nascent Homeland Security industry in order to give it the prominence it deserves.?
MIHSC now seeks to recruit members, provide networking opportunities and promote appropriate public policy initiatives. In the longer term, MIHSC will support other activities, such as conferences, a speaker?s bureau and information outlets. While remaining decidedly independent, MIHSC will affiliate with other state and national organizations that represent the Homeland Security or related fields.
?Michigan has a strong industry sector, and it needs a strong advocate,? said Keith Brophy, president of NuSoft Solutions, and co founder of MIHSC. ?We?ve been loosely organized in the past. We want to draw attention and investment to Michigan.?
MIHSC will help the state?s revitalization efforts by providing a targeted forum to diversify the economy.
“Michigan has a very vibrant, but often not visible business community that focuses on Homeland Security technology,? said Carol Lopucki, Director of the Michigan Small Business and Technology Development Center. ?It?s exciting to see MIHSC emerge as a collaborative community of peers to jointly promote their activity, and a sign of the Michigan’s momentum in this arena.?
