Grad Students Seek Business and Community “Pain Points”

Real-world issues sought – to be addressed in new one-year graduate program at ASU focusing on innovation and venture development

What’s the biggest, most urgent or most complicated problem facing your local or regional community, your business category, the nation or even the international scene?

Leaders of a new graduate degree program at Arizona State University (ASU) are seeking pain points – critical issues facing the business and community leaders.

Your submission of a specific pain point may be the foundation of a new enterprise beginning this fall semester, as students will work in teams to create new business ventures that help solve some of society’s most urgent problems.

The 12-month Master of Science in Innovation and Venture Development (MSIVD) program is a cross-disciplinary partnership between the ASU Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, W.P. Carey School of Business and Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts.

“New challenges, unimaginable just a few months ago, are now top of mind. We’re asking leaders and exciting thinkers to share the challenges they’d like MSIVD teams to address – a pain point, a need, what they hope someone will invent to solve a problem,”

says Chery Heller, MSIVD program director.

The pain points submitted by business and community leaders in Arizona will be evaluated, ranked and presented to the student teams as possible projects to work on.

Pain point issues can be submitted by completing a short online questionnaire at https://bit.ly/2UuaUkv no later than Friday, July 31.

“Teams may work to solve a full spectrum of challenges, from for-profit to non-profit, social ventures to digital innovation, local problems to international,” Heller added. “Students literally become entrepreneurs the first day they walk into the MSIVD program.”

The only academic degree of its kind in the U.S., combining resources from three separate schools, the MSIVD program is funded by a gift from ASU alumnus Tom Prescott, former president and CEO and current director of Invisalign Technologies.

“We’re challenging each student to grow in their ability to lead, innovate and create solutions to issues facing businesses and communities in today’s world,” says Prescott. “Since each student team will have the opportunity to present their venture to potential investors before graduation, we believe many will have a good chance to be funded.”

To learn more about the MSIVD program, visit https://design.asu.edu/degree-programs/innovation-venture.

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For More Information, Contact:

Ed Brachocki, MSIVD Advisory Board Member

edward.brachocki@asu.edu

Nomination Criteria

Application Guidelines

All honorees must be employed by hotels, attractions, tourism businesses, hospitality or other supporting businesses that are of the Arizona hospitality industry.

Who can enter?

The Stars of the Industry awards competition is open to all Arizona hospitality businesses, hotels, and tourism employees.

Who can nominate a Star?

Anyone! A nominator can be an employer, a manager, a friend, regular customer, or anyone else who knows a Star in Arizona’s hospitality industry who deserves recognition.

What does it cost to enter?

Entering or nominating for the Stars of the Industry Awards is free.

What do nominees receive?

All nominees will receive an AzLTA Stars of the Industry Recognition Certificate.  The winners of each award will be announced at the Stars of the Industry Awards Luncheon on June 16, 2023 and receive an engraved plaque at the awards presentation.  All winners will be announced in AzLTA’s Industry Insider newsletter, by a press release, and on the AzLTA website. Winners will automatically be entered in the American Hotel and Lodging Association’s national Stars of the Industry Awards program. It is AzLTA’s privilege to celebrate the accomplishments of all the nominees and winners presented each year.

Nominations and Eligibility

The nomination process begins in April and we’ve made it easy.  Simply complete the online nominee application form and email the application to AzLTA explaining why the nominee deserves the Star award in their category.

Rules & Judging Criteria

Nominees must have served in the industry for a minimum of two years (please state total number of years in description) and will be judged on performance beyond normal job responsibilities, professionalism, and outstanding and unusual service to the property, guests and the community.

Using no more than three double-spaced pages, describe why your nominee should be honored. Give examples of:

  • Extraordinary support to fellow employees.
  • Specific event(s) that best describes the nominee’s exceptional service.
  • Outstanding leadership qualities, heroic deeds or actions that consistently add to the general well-being of guests.
  • Other great accomplishments to the industry or community.

Include photos and any materials substantiating the award entry, such as letters of commendation, guest comment cards, news clippings and other support materials received during 2021-2023 for the judges’ consideration.

2022 HONOREES