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Lasting Partnership

Michigan and Israel
economic partnership
continues to grow
thanks to MIBA.

Sandy Selinger

JUDY GREENWALD CONTRIBUTING WRITER

T

Hadas Bernard

Beth Gotthelf

David Kurzmann

Mark Davidoff

20

he Michigan Israel Business Accelerator
(MIBA), a bi-national nonprofit chamber
of commerce formed in 2017 dedicated
to increasing economic ties between Michigan
businesses and Israeli companies, is continuing
its efforts to strengthen and improve successful
partnerships initiated by its 10-year predecessor,
the Michigan Israel Business Bridge (MIBB).
The MIBA is a public-private partnership
funded by state dollars through the Michigan
Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) as
well as foundations, corporations and individual
donors.
The MIBA recently appointed Israeli-born
Sandy Selinger as its first chief executive officer.
He plans to address the group’s commitment to
improve the Michigan economy by expanding
collaboration with Israeli businesses, fostering
relationships in areas such as advanced manu-
facturing, mobility, cyber security, health and life
sciences, water technology and defense.
“Michigan businesses have unlimited potential
to work with Israel-based businesses and vice-
versa,” Selinger said. “As CEO, I plan to elevate
Michigan as the destination Israeli entrepre-
neurs think of when considering expanding busi-
ness operations into the United States.”
Selinger, a London School of Economics
graduate with 20 years’ experience building and
expanding the U.S. operations of Israeli start-
ups, recently relocated with his family to Grosse
Pointe Park from New York.
Previously, he was the head of website devel-
opment platform Wix.com’s Manhattan office,
overseeing its marketing team and increasing its
national presence. He also spearheaded opera-
tions and finance at Pysop Inc., a commercial
production company, overseeing its growth to
an international design and production firm
with 120 employees in New York, Los Angeles
and London. Selinger also served in the Israel
Defense Forces as a rescue and evacuation unit

May 17 • 2018

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operations officer and squad leader.
“I was born in Israel and grew up there,” he
said, “and over the years, I’ve seen Israel develop
into a technological and innovation world
leader. I now live in Michigan, where the poten-
tial and momentum for growth are palatable.
Israeli companies can gain much from being
in Michigan, which offers a business-friendly
environment, world-class academic institutions,
engineering and manufacturing, and access to a
standard of living that’s hard to match.”
This economic cooperation has been the focus
of MIBA and the MIBB before it. Former MIBB
Executive Director Hadas Bernard explained her
role in expanding the MIBB’s viability and its
membership, as well as promoting the successful
transition to its expanded impact as the MIBA.
“I was hired to be the ‘change agent’ for the
MIBB,” Bernard said. “My mission to increase the
scope and purpose of the organization included
organizing 300-plus business meetings between
Israeli and Michigan companies, creating new
partnerships and jobs. For example, a recent
meeting resulted in an Israeli company opening
a new office in Oakland County.”
Bernard’s efforts also resulted in networking
events in Tel Aviv, Detroit and Grand Rapids that
featured speakers such as Israeli cyber specialist
Rami Efrati and Crain’s Detroit Business Group
Publisher Mary Kramer.
A significant accomplishment was the 2017
Israel Michigan Cyber Mission, led by Gov. Rick
Snyder, and the Michigan Israel Defense Mission,
coordinated with SIBAT (Israel’s International
Defense Corporation), Israel’s Ministry of
Defense, Macomb County and the Michigan
Economic Development Corporation. In addi-
tion to meeting with Michigan companies, Israeli
defense participants met with the governor, U.S.
Sen. Gary Peters, the Israeli Deputy Counsel of
the Midwest and Macomb County Executive
Mark Hackel.
Beth Gotthelf, who served as MIBB president
from October 2015 until January 2018, recalled
the overwhelming success of the mission.
“It was the first time the Israeli Ministry of
Defense held a weeklong mission with a state,
rather than with a country,” Gotthelf said. “The
ministry describes the Michigan mission as the
gold standard it now measures all other mis-
sions against. Our missions have included auto-
motive companies, and we’ve expanded to areas
such as cyber security and mobility, and more.”

Selinger accentuated the importance of such
cooperation to expand opportunities in cutting-
edge concerns.
“MIBA is a catalyst focused on the economic
betterment of Michigan,” he said. “We have excit-
ing plans moving forward, including leading
a delegation to Israel in early May focused on
mobility with the American Center for Mobility
(a newly opened, Ypsilanti Township-based test
ground for intelligent vehicle technology) and
other Michigan companies.”
The importance of the Michigan-Israel rela-
tionship is evident in Detroit’s Jewish popula-
tion, especially when viewed through the eyes of
such advocacy groups at the Jewish Community
Relations Council/American Jewish Committee.
“The MIBA demonstrates practically how
Israel is producing startups and innovative
companies that greatly benefit the world,” JCRC/
AJC Executive Director David Kurzmann said.
“I’m delighted to see the increased collaboration
between Michigan and Israel, and all the good
the MIBA does fostering this relationship.”
MIBA Board Chairman Mark Davidoff also
indicated his support for the organization’s
efforts, support that was formed over 25 years of
association with the cooperative economic agen-
da between his home state and the Jewish state.
“The term ‘accelerator’ was coined to capture
the idea that with this new organization, we’re
going to take all of the energy created over the
past 25 years of Michigan-Israel economic devel-
opment and drive it forward, accelerate it.
“MIBA is the single portal for business-to-
business connections between Michigan and
Israel,” he continued, “driving our economic
development and providing Israeli companies
the opportunity to leverage the deep industrial
base here. It’s a win-win, for Michigan’s economy
and Israel.”
And what positive aspects does Selinger see
going forward with the MIBA?
“We’re in an amazing, privileged position of
supporting business owners that can affect an
economic revolution in Michigan,” he concluded.
“I have the envious position of meeting doers
who are passionate about what they’re creating,
and I’ll need to find ways to focus on creating
economic opportunities to help them do more. I
work at making connections, opening doors and
promoting two parts of the world I’m excited
about. This really is a great job!” •