This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. Whether its leveraging technology to integrate objects, or the access to data and analytics that describe a user experience, technology is creating new business opportunities and even changing how innovation happens.

Ms. Butler is the Executive Director at OU INC, a business incubator and clean energy center at Oakland University. She embraces its mission to leverage the resources of the university in providing entrepreneurial resources and strategic business solutions for accelerating ideas to market. Her work at OU INC is focused on advanced automotive technology, medical device, energy, and information technology industries serving both domestic and international communities. She is a Certified Incubator Manager through the NBIA and serves on the national board of the Energy Services Coalition, and the Michigan Business Incubator Association. Prior to coming to Oakland, she served as a Senior Advisor to the National Association of State Energy Offices and is principle of her own company Performance Energy Consulting, LLC. Ms. Butler also has 32 years of experience working for the state of Michigan, including the Director of the Bureau of Energy Systems, for the Department of Energy, Labor, and Economic Growth. She has a passion for finding solutions to advance economic development through leveraging partnerships to grow companies, jobs, and talent.

About TEDx, x = independently organized event In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)