StrateSphere Successfully Launches Executive Education Programs in Saudi Arabia through CEEDE
February 17, 2009Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
StrateSphere LLC, an Active Capital firm located in Columbus, Ohio recently completed its second executive education symposium in Rayadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
One of StrateSphere's newest ventures, the Center for Executive Education, Development, and Excellence (CEEDE - www.ceede.org), recently completed its second executive education symposium in the Kingdom. The most recent symposium, focused on Strategic Management, was delivered by the world renowned Dr. Jay Barney, a Professor of Management and Human Resources at The Ohio State University.
Combined with the first symposium delivered in January 2009 on Corporate Governance, CEEDE has generated momentum in a region that is craving executive education and training in an effort to address human capital shortfalls that exist in the Kingdom. Upcoming symposiums that are either in development or already scheduled include IT Strategic Management, Negotiation and Conflict Management, Logistics and Supply Chain, Women in Business, Leadership, and Family Enterprising. CEEDE currently has relationships with several Universities and Colleges in the United States including The Ohio State University, Emory University, and Babson College.
"The executive education market in the Middle East is craving quality programs from world-class institutions," said Damon Caiazza, a partner with StrateSphere. "The pace of growth in the region has put a premium on educating executives and future leaders. The current demand cannot be met by the existing institutions in the region, nor do they (existing institutions) carry the same prestige and experience as elite U.S. business schools. For this reason, there is a tremendous opportunity for CEEDE to achieve rapid growth and success."
About StrateSphere
StrateSphere, an Active Capital firm, is a unique blend of a Private Equity and a Management Consulting firm, with a primary competency of enabling SMEs to maximize their enterprise value in local and global markets.
StrateSphere aims to be a vested-interest partner of choice for SMEs in providing a comprehensive solution to their needs. In essence, StrateSphere has set out to carve a new niche in the Private Equity market. Our aim is to evolve the traditional Venture Capital model by blending it with aspects of Management Consulting, thus providing a synergistic and comprehensive offering that enables SMEs maximize their potential. StrateSphere has coined the term Active Capital to describe this new level of a comprehensive business proposition.
About CEEDE
CEEDE is a leading center in the Middle East focused on the education and development of today's executives and tomorrow's global leaders of the region. Through a network of world-class educational institutions and curriculum providers, CEEDE delivers corporate and executive learning solutions including open enrollment courses and custom corporate programs. It develops and delivers programs through partnerships with U.S. Universities and Colleges including The Ohio State University, Emory University, and Babson College.
If you would like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with StrateSphere, please call Damon Caiazza at +1 614-416-8001 or email pr@StrateSphere.com
Back To TopStrateSphere Gains Interactive Education and Training Capabilities Through Strategic Acquisition
January 30, 2009Columbus, Ohio
StrateSphere LLC, an Active Capital firm located in Columbus, Ohio recently completed the acquisition of local interactive media company, tracermedia (www.tracermedia.com), to broaden its capabilities in the education and training space.
Tracermedia, has a long history of delivering innovate rich media training and education programs to educational providers including McGraw-Hill Companies, corporate clients including Ross Labs and Sterling Commerce, and government agencies including eTech Ohio and the Ohio Department of Agriculture. In addition, the company has recently entered the growing field of educational gaming in which it has immediately established a presence through the development of educational games for audiences ranging from pre-k to the adult workforce.
"Tracermedia is the ideal company we seek out for acquisition," said Damon Caiazza, a partner with StrateSphere. "They have a quality product, strong list of clients and accomplishments, and the ability to expand their presence not just domestically in the United States, but globally as education, training, and workforce development continues to be in high demand."
The acquisition had been something that tracermedia founder and CEO, John Geiger, and Damon Caiazza had been discussing for several months. Momentum to complete such an acquisition picked up in late summer of 2008 as StrateSphere began to get more involved internationally in education and training projects that represented a good complement to tracermedia's existing experience.
About StrateSphere
StrateSphere, an Active Capital firm, is a unique blend of a Private Equity and a Management Consulting firm, with a primary competency of enabling SMEs to maximize their enterprise value in local and global markets.
StrateSphere aims to be a vested-interest partner of choice for SMEs in providing a comprehensive solution to their needs. In essence, StrateSphere has set out to carve a new niche in the Private Equity market. Our aim is to evolve the traditional Venture Capital model by blending it with aspects of Management Consulting, thus providing a synergistic and comprehensive offering that enables SMEs maximize their potential. StrateSphere has coined the term Active Capital to describe this new level of a comprehensive business proposition.
If you would like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with StrateSphere, please call Damon Caiazza at +1 614-416-8001 or email pr@StrateSphere.com
Back To TopStrateSphere Signs Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to Develop KAEC Plastics Valley in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
June 10, 2008Columbus, Ohio
StrateSphere LLC, an Active Capital firm located in Columbus, Ohio has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Emaar, The Economic City (EEC) in collaboration with PolymerOhio, Inc and the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA).
As per the MOU, StrateSphere and PolymerOhio, the association of the world's leading polymer and plastics manufacturers representing Ohio as a global center of excellence in polymers and advanced materials, along with EEC and SAGIA will pursue the development of KAEC Plastics Valley. The goal is to position KAEC Plastics Valley as a global center of excellence in the plastics sector, like Ohio.
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin AbdulAziz AlSaud unveiled the KAEC Plastics Valley, a key component of the Industrial Zone, during his recent tour of the mega-project. The objective of the KAEC Plastics Valley is to position KAEC as the regional hub for the fast-growing plastics industry by employing sustainable growth technologies. Several plastics industries are expected to set base in the Plastics Valley cluster shortly with investments expected from several countries across the world.
The details of the current collaboration will be announced during the Global Competitiveness Forum to be held in Riyadh in January 2009. In the meantime, EEC will undertake strategic planning to identify the various features of the KAEC Plastics Valley.
Mr Fahd Al-Rasheed, Chief Executive Officer and Board Member, Emaar.E.C; Mr Tariq Farwana, Managing Director of StrateSphere Enterprises, a private corporate group with varied business interests, signed the agreement in the city of Jeddah in The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia recently.
His Excellency Mr Amr Al-Dabbagh, SAGIA Governor said: "KAEC has established itself as the preferred regional investment destination offering growth opportunities in high-growth sectors. The recently unveiled KAEC Plastics Valley is another initiative that will further establish KAEC as a magnet for investments in plastics and advanced materials. Ohio is regarded as the birthplace of the plastics industry and our collaboration with PolymerOhio will not only bring in best practices to KAEC, it will position Saudi Arabia as the regional centre of excellence in the plastics sector."
Mr Al-Rasheed said: "The twinning memorandum of understanding with PolymerOhio will ensure that the knowledge base of Ohio's plastic manufacturers is seamlessly transferred to KAEC plastics industries thus creating a parallel hub for the industry. The association is doubly significant given the advances that PolymerOhio has made in sustainable thinking and strategies for the plastics industry. These best practices will serve as a model for KAEC to develop the Plastics Valley."
Ohio's polymer industry has over 2,800 companies that collectively position Ohio as a global centre of excellence in plastics & advanced materials production, plastics products manufacturing, research & development and educational programs.
Mr Farwana of StrateSphere explained: "KAEC is at the forefront in ushering in a new era of industrial growth in the Kingdom, and the partnership with PolymerOhio will ensure that the project has a truly world-class polymer industry. This will act as a hub in attracting investments from across the region to KAEC Plastics Valley."
KAEC is the single largest private sector development project in the region and has six zones: the Sea Port, Industrial Zone, Central Business District, Educational Zone, Resort District and Residential Communities. The first phase of the project including phases of the Industrial Zone, Sea Port and Residential Communities has been launched to strong investor response. Work on the project is currently ongoing at an accelerated pace.
About StrateSphere
StrateSphere, an Active Capital firm, is a unique blend of a Private Equity and a Management Consulting firm, with a primary competency of enabling SMEs to maximize their enterprise value in local and global markets.
StrateSphere aims to be a vested-interest partner of choice for SMEs in providing a comprehensive solution to their needs. In essence, StrateSphere has set out to carve a new niche in the Private Equity market. Our aim is to evolve the traditional Venture Capital model by blending it with aspects of Management Consulting, thus providing a synergistic and comprehensive offering that enables SMEs maximize their potential. StrateSphere has coined the term Active Capital to describe this new level of a comprehensive business proposition.
About Emaar, The Economic City
Emaar, The Economic City (Emaar.E.C), established in September 2006, is a Saudi joint stock company managed by Emaar Properties PJSC, one of the world's largest property developers, and a number of high profile investors from Saudi Arabia. Emaar.E.C has a share capital of SR8.5 billion consisting of 850 million shares of nominal value SR10 each. Thirty per cent of the equity, worth SR2.55 billion, was offered for public subscription.
Emaar.E.C leads the master-planning and development of the 168 million sq m King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC), a project being built on a pristine location off the Red Sea in the north of Jeddah. SAGIA (Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority), the body responsible for inward investments into the Kingdom, is the prime facilitator for KAEC.
KAEC, a New Age City being built today for tomorrow's generation of Saudi citizens, has six components - sea port, industrial district, educational zone, central business district with commercial, mixed-use, retail outlets and financial island, resorts and residential area. The mega-project works closely with the Kingdom's on-going drive to expand the economy, create employment opportunities for its youthful population and function as a catalyst to attract foreign investment, global trade, commerce and industry. Based on initial forecasts, the project and its several components will create up to one million employment opportunities in the various industries and service-oriented companies that will open in KAEC. It will also be home to 2 million residents.
About PolymerOhio
PolymerOhio is focused on enhancing the global competitiveness and growth of Ohio's plastics, rubber and advanced materials industry. It provides a broad range of value-added programs and services to its member companies and Ohio's polymer industry. PolymerOhio resources have a deep understanding of the polymer materials and processes and the products derived from these materials. PolymerOhio members include the entire value chain of production from design, materials and equipment through toolmakers and processors to OEM's. PolymerOhio's partner organizations range from academic institutions, economic development resources to enterprise companies and service providers that enable our industry to continually improve and grow.
If you would like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with StrateSphere, please call Damon Caiazza at +1 614-416-8001 or email pr@StrateSphere.com
Back To TopStrateSphere Expands Capabilities through the Acquisition of Local Information Technology Company
March 1, 2006Columbus, Ohio
StrateSphere LLC, an Active Capital firm located in Columbus, Ohio recently completed the acquisition of Tracerdigital, a local IT consulting and professional services firm.
The acquisition provides StrateSphere an expanded client base including several state agencies, extended capabilities in the areas of IT Management, Procurement, and Development, and a Federal GSA and Ohio State Term Schedule with will enable StrateSphere to expand its work in the government sector.
As a result of the acquisition, Damon Caiazza, CEO and Founder of Tracerdigital, will become a partner in StrateSphere focusing on business strategy, business development, and operations. StrateSphere and Tracerdigital will be combining office in New Albany, Ohio within the next few months at which point they will begin aggressive expansion plans that include domestic and global initiatives.
"The acquisition of Tracerdigital provides additional services to our existing portfolio of SME clients," said Tariq Farwana, Managing Partner of StrateSphere. "Technology will be key enabler in many, if not all, of the global growth strategies that we develop and execute moving forward. Tracerdigital gives us experience and resources in this area to execute on critical IT strategies."
About StrateSphere
StrateSphere, an Active Capital firm, is a unique blend of a Private Equity and a Management Consulting firm, with a primary competency of enabling SMEs to maximize their enterprise value in local and global markets.
StrateSphere aims to be a vested-interest partner of choice for SMEs in providing a comprehensive solution to their needs. In essence, StrateSphere has set out to carve a new niche in the Private Equity market. Our aim is to evolve the traditional Venture Capital model by blending it with aspects of Management Consulting, thus providing a synergistic and comprehensive offering that enables SMEs maximize their potential. StrateSphere has coined the term Active Capital to describe this new level of a comprehensive business proposition.
If you would like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with StrateSphere, please call Damon Caiazza at +1 614-416-8001 or email pr@StrateSphere.com
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