DAVID BLOOM:
 
DAVID BLOOM




 
 
 
 
 
Principal of Factotem, a global business incubator and accelerator in Chelsea, and Executive Director of the Ann Arbor SPARK Innovation Network for regional economic development in Ann Arbor. Bloom has 25 years of technology, marketing, and business development expertise in IT, biomedical, cleantech, transportation, and homeland security. At Factotem, Bloom leads new investment and turnaround projects in software and online business, marketing research, and financial services. Clients include Acxiom, Bellemead, Hilgraeve, HKOMedia, Optimization Group, Pixel Velocity, Safe Travel and Zingerman’s. At SPARK, he organizes centers of excellence in optics/photonics, IT, and marketing and coaches startups at the SPARK business incubators. He works one-on-one with entrepreneurs on product development, organizational development, and business development challenges. In October 2007, he received the Innovation Michigan award for innovative business strategy from Michigan Business Review. Bloom received his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering and a master's in industrial engineering and operations research, both from the University of Michigan.


WHERE BORN: "Detroit."

MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSONS: "My mentor, L.W. 'Roy' Beers, who was the vice president of engineering for Burroughs, later Unisys. Roy energized everyone around him with a sense of purpose, integrity, and pragmatism. My friend Frank Arcori, the Detroit serial entrepreneur who bootstrapped a dozen global businesses and always kept his promises. My wife, Diane, a solid business operations executive, a sharp medical device engineer, and a consummate team player."

LAST BOOK READ: "Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die by Chip and Dan Heath."

WORDS THAT DESCRIBE ME: "Listener, networker, catalyst."

WHERE MY FIELD/INDUSTRY IS HEADED: "In the post-information age, products are services, employees are contractors, and vendors are partners. An economic ecosystem thrives on connectivity – bringing people and resources together to create value. With the right business network, each company can focus on what it does best, meaning ‘do what you do, don't do what you don’t do.’ There’s a wealth of talent and opportunity in Southeast Michigan. The challenge is in building connections and creating artificial gravity so we can all do well together."

FAVORITE TECHNOLOGICAL GADGET: "My Chumby (a device that uses the Internet to connect people with the Chumby network, along with other features)."

FAVORITE PLACE: "Anywhere with my family."

FAVORITE HOBBIES: "Girl Scouting. No, seriously – I'm a Girl Scout leader."

FAVORITE FOOD: "Whatever’s on the blackboard at the Common Grill in Chelsea."

MY HIDDEN TALENT: "Doo-wop singer."

HOW I WANT TO BE REMEMBERED: "I don’t want to be remembered. I want every interaction to matter, here and now."

Grant Thornton Website At the annual awards reception in April 2009, one Leader & Innovator from the previous 12 months will be selected as the Grant Thornton Leader & Innovator of the Year.