Betsey Merkel

Program and Communications Specialist

betseymerkel@gmail.com

Summary
Betsey builds global knowledge networks to connect research and industry. She specializes in
knowledge management, programs and communications to engage regional social and economic
assets for Open Source Economic Development (OSED).

Betsey understands how to implement civic engagement programs for communities, organizations,
and entrepreneurs to generate networks and collaborations for business development.

Betsey's an experienced coach, mentor and trainer and publishes to the Institute for Open Economic
Networks (I-Open), a not-for-profit educational economic organization.

Specialties
Research and industry networks; Internet research; civic, business, government, academic
engagement; broadcast conversations for education, economic and workforce development; business
development.

Web 2.0 publishing; blogging and microblogging; web site and collaborative workspace design;
communications & social media outreach; technical support & consulting.

Experience
Co-Founder & Director at The Institute for Open Economic Networks (I-Open)
July 2005 - Present (5 years 6 months)
Betsey is a coach, mentor and trainer for entrepreneurs in new practices and tools for Open Source
Economic Development and specializes in collaborative leadership, network building and project
management. Her work is team based and focuses on rebuilding and strengthening local
community network infrastructure (social, resources and capabilities) for national and global reach.
Betsey's work experience is rooted in developing and deploying face-to-face and online community
building process accelerated by Web 2.0 tools for PR 2.0. Betsey identifies and connects innovation
and enterprise activity in academic, civic, business and government sectors to strengthen open
economic networks.
4 recommendations available upon request

Global Media Strategist & Connector at COINs2010 Conference

May 2010 - October 2010 (6 months)
Betsey represented I-Open (The Institute for Open Economic Networks) as a co-sponsor and

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 member of the Organizing Committee for the 2nd International Conference on Collaborative
Innovation Networks COINs 2010 hosted by the Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD) in
collaboration with MIT Center for Collective Intelligence, Wayne State University School of
Engineering - Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, and SCAD. Her work focused on
executing a social media interface, digital publishing, strengthening collaborative community
cohesion, and ongoing associated project work to engage and expand global audiences for
research and industry innovation. View (below) or download a copy of the COINs 2010 Steering
Committee Letter of Recommendation at http://scr.bi/dTGSN8

"We would like to thank Betsey Merkel from I-Open for her invaluable contributions to the success
of the conference. In preparing the conference, Betsey was instrumental in organizing a social
networking campaign on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media, which greatly increased the
international appeal and perception of the conference, while reaching a new audience that was
previously unaware of the conference. Betsey organized and ran live video streaming of all
conference sessions, serving as a reporter and news anchor during the sessions and connecting
with a live audience joining the conference through Livesteam from all over the world...she also did
excellent video interviews with key participants. These videos are now a lasting legacy to the
success of the conference. Betsey’s activities greatly contributed to the success and lasting impact
of the COINs2010 conference (www.COINs2010.com)!" - Christine Miller, Ph.D. Professor Design
Management, Savannah College of Art and Design; Ken Riopelle, Research Professor Wayne
State University; Julia C. Gluesing, Research Professor Wayne State University; Peter A. Gloor,
Ph.D. Research Scientist MIT Center for Collective Intelligence

Marketing & Communications at Case Western Reserve University

2002 - 2005 (3 years)
Responsible for researching innovative leaders in academia, business, civic and government;
building network connections to those leaders and engaging them in collaborations between
University constituents and off-campus organizations. Created the Civic Forum process in a 17
month period to engage over 3000 leaders in civil discourse for the purpose of civic engagement,
knowledge sharing, and enterprise and economic development in Northeast Ohio. All activity
funded by SBC Global Corp.
1 recommendation available upon request

Network Strategist & Communications at Center for Regional Economic Issues

April 2002 - July 2005 (3 years 4 months)
Marketing and communications, community, regional and national network development, civic
forums process development, marketing coordination, Internet marketing, project support,
partnership strategy & development
1 recommendation available upon request

Managing Director at Wildefields Equestrian Training & Education Center

July 1998 - January 2001 (2 years 7 months)

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 Co-Founder and Managing Director of Equestrian Training and Education Center and Co-Director
Historic Facility Restoration, Hunting Valley, OH.
1 recommendation available upon request

Managing Director & Harpist at Coryton & Co.

April 1983 - May 1987 (4 years 2 months)
Chamber music ensemble toured nationally, Alaska and in China. Designed and produced
concerts, residencies and master classes. Supported by the Ohio Arts Council. Commissioned and
performed new compositions and arrangements. Self-directed, self-managed ensemble of mixed
traditional Western instrumentation and world music ranging in size from 2 to 23 performers. Mixed
genres performed.
Letter of recommendation from Dr Paul Gothard III, Director (former), Music, Lake Erie College,
Painesville, OH
Link: http://www.scribd.com/doc/28591733/Betsey-O-Hagan-Merkel-Recommendation-Letter-2000

Child Life Worker at University Hospitals of Cleveland

September 1979 - December 1983 (4 years 4 months)
Worked with chronically and terminally ill children and their families living with cancer, scoliosis, and
cystic fibrosis assisting medical staff and supporting patient adaptation to disease and chronic
disease management.

Education
Case Western Reserve University
BA, music, 1977 - 1983

Cleveland Institute of Music

BM; MM, Music, Education, 1974 - 1983
Activities and Societies: Carlos Salzedo Harp Scholarship: 1976 - 1983
Attended Case Western Reserve University as Ph.D. scholar in Music Education, 1983

The University of Connecticut

Plant Anatomy, Music, 1975 - 1977

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Honors and Awards
High School:
Graduating Class Science Award, Leadership Award, and Art Award

College:
Salzedo School Performance Scholarship Award
Case Western Reserve University, Ph.D. Program Scholarship

Professional Honors:
- 1995 Ohio Arts Presenters Award of Merit
- 1992-1997 Office of the Governor of the State of Ohio, Public Education Seminar
- 1995 People's Republic of China, Guest of the Government, Performance and Teaching Tour

Interests
Music, gardening, science, historical places, international cultures

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Betsey Merkel
Program and Communications Specialist
betseymerkel@gmail.com

7 people have recommended Betsey

"Betsey Merkle is one of those rare individuals who can not only see the big picture, but will also
cover all the details. We have collaborated on several projects since we met at the REI forums
when she was at Case Western Reserve University, and I have been a friend and a fan of her work
ever since. If Betsey asks, "Are you interested?", I'm there."
— MaryBeth Matthews, Core Team Member, Women's Enterprise Network, was with another
company when working with Betsey at The Institute for Open Economic Networks (I-Open)

"Betsy is creative and energetic and totally committed to building new approaches to building
communities through open networks. She devotes herself without hesitation to exploring new
connections and applying new tools to the task of creating more vibrant and sustainable
communities."
— Ed Morrison, Principal, I-Open, worked directly with Betsey at The Institute for Open Economic
Networks (I-Open)

"Betsey is gifted in many ways. One of them is that she sees trends before anybody else and
begins very early to figure out and to put into place implementations around them. She is an
innovator who sets the open standards and best practices and shares them freely. She
understands the benefits of collaboration in a networked world."
— Tim Ferris, citizen and taxpayer, City of Cleveland, worked with Betsey at The Institute for Open
Economic Networks (I-Open)

"I believe that Betsey's previous experience in the complex world of classical music prepared her
well for her work at Case Western Reserve University's Center for Regional Economic Issues as
their Network Strategist & Development Person. I feel that Betsey learned the value of individual
musical voices as part of a self-directed and self-managed musical ensemble performing both
nationally and internationally. This listening ability distinctly enabled her to respect the unique and
heartfelt ideas and topics that were being communicated in the open minded forum that was the
Center for Regional Economic Issues at Case Western Reserve University. These days, Betsey still
retains those abilities, and has even tuned them more finely since the days at REI. I hereby
recommend Betsey as an orchestrator, a collaborator, an editor, a (constructive) critic, as a
cooperative worker, as a (part-time) muse, and as a friend."

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 — Bill MacDermott, Former ES&H Manager, Braden Sutphin Ink Company, was with another
company when working with Betsey at Case Western Reserve University

"Betsey Merkel is a one-woman literacy program in digital networking. I am not technology-fluent,

but Betsey was willing to take considerable time out of her day to explain to me how online
networks can be created, why they are valuable and how she could continue to help me become
adept at using them. Her skill and generosity are spectacular, but what especially amazed me was
the supportiveness she showed for me as an entrepreneur and the passion she demonstrates for
creative economic development and the power of connectedness. Betsey is one of the people who
will pull Northeast Ohio onto the cutting edge of the technology economy."
— Carolyn Jack, Owner/Director, The Genius Group LLC, was with another company when
working with Betsey at Wildefields Equestrian Training & Education Center

"Want to learn more about economic development in our region? Well, Betsey is the go to person.
She is very passionate about economic development and the need to build collaborative
partnerships between the private and public sectors. She is very involved in NEO and surrounding
areas and is creating new and innovative programs to bring people and services together."
— Bonnie Dick, Employment Consultant, CGI, worked with Betsey at Center for Regional
Economic Issues

"Betsey's passion for I-Open's work is evident in everything she does. She is an ardent supporter of
Cleveland's urban areas and is committed to their revitalization. She is a great asset to our region."
— Bethany Hilt, was with another company when working with Betsey at I-Open

Contact Betsey on LinkedIn

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