Attracting More Immigrant Entrepreneurs to Pittsburgh Would Spark New Jobs and Economic Growth, Expert Tells Regional Leaders at GlobalPittsburgh Conference

Making the Pittsburgh Region more welcoming to immigrant entrepreneurs and focusing on immigrant innovation could help create new jobs and economic growth in the region. That was the message heard during a Dec. 20, 2011 conference coordinated by GlobalPittsburgh titled “Boosting Global Innovation - A Roundtable Discussion on Immigration.”

Richard T. Herman

Designed to launch a discussion on improving local attitudes and policies regarding immigration, the invitation-only conference featured Richard T. Herman, co-author of Immigrant, Inc. - Why Immigrant Entrepreneurs are Driving the New Economy and How They Will Save the American Worker, in addition to several of the region’s most prominent and successful international innovators and job creators who embody the value and importance of foreign-born entrepreneurs to the economic growth and cultural diversity of the Pittsburgh region.

Herman's research shows that rather that take jobs away from American-born workers, statistics show that immigrant entrepreneurs create new jobs by starting their own companies, and that other cities, states and even other countries are working hard to attract immigrant entrepreneurs to help boost their economies and create jobs.

Foreign-born entrepreneurs are more than twice as likely as the native-born population to start businesses that create jobs and economic growth, which benefit the entire region and all of its residents, Herman said.

For this event, which was held in the offices of sponsor Tucker Arensberg P.C., 35 of the region’s most prominent thought leaders and influencers came together for an on-the-record conversation about immigration designed to lead to a better understanding of the benefits of attracting and retaining international entrepreneurs, and set the stage for a constructive discussion on steps that can be taken to bring about positive change.

Participants included:

Adriana Dobrzcyka – Community Outreach and Inclusion Manager, Vibrant Pittsburgh

Rich Fitzgerald – Allegheny County Executive-Elect
Bill Flanagan – Allegheny Conference on Community Development
Brenda Frazier – Board member, Pittsburgh Partnership for Neighborhood Development; Former
member, Allegheny County Council
Evan Frazier – Senior Vice President Of Community Affairs, Highmark
Melanie Harrington - Executive Director, Vibrant Pittsburgh
Razi Imam – Founder, 113 Industries, Former President, TiE Pittsburgh
JoAnn Kazimer – Pittsburgh Field Office, US Citizenship & Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security
Pradeep Khosla – Dean, CMU College of Engineering
Jim Lamb – President, Ireland Institute of Pittsburgh, Honorary Consul for Ireland in Western PA
Frank Li – Merrill Lynch; Co-founder, Pittsburgh Chinese Chamber of Commerce
Tom Lippard - Executive VP and Senior Vice President, General Council, Tube City IMS
Jennifer Liptak – Chief of Staff, County Executive-Elect Rich Fitzgerald
Janine F. Macklin – CEO, Macklin Group
Gonzalo Manchego - Manager International Standards & Regulations at Center for International Regulatory Assistance at Duquesne University
Ganesh Mani – Global Innovation Center
Ralph Manning – Tucker Arensberg
Rajen Mookerjee – Professor of Economics, Pitt and Penn State
Tom Peterson – Managing Partner, Tucker Arensberg
Jonathan Raso  – Southwest Regional Manager for U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey
Natalia Rudiak – Member, Pittsburgh City Council, District 4
Audrey Russo – President & CEO, Pittsburgh Technology Council
Ken Service – Executive Director, Pittsburgh Council on Higher Education
Piyush Seth – Tucker Arensberg
Krishna Sharma – Sherman Metals
Gail Shrott – Director of International Programs, GlobalPittsburgh
Steve Sokol – President, World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh
Xiaoyan Zhang – Founder and CEO, Kit Solutions

For more information about the Immigration Roundtable, contact Thomas Buell, Jr., GlobalPittsburgh Director of Marketing, at 412-392-4513 or 412-720-2218, or by email at tbuell@globalpittsburgh.org.
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GlobalPittsburgh Presents International Bridge Awards to Foreign-Born Executives for Creating Jobs

GlobalPittsburgh today presented its International Bridge Awards to two executives in the Pittsburgh region who have built important connections between Pittsburgh and the rest of the world, symbolizing the importance of foreign-born entrepreneurs to the region’s economic and cultural vitality.

Priya Narasimhan
Yinzcam, Inc

Receiving the GlobalPittsburgh International Bridge Award for New Company Executive was Priya Narasimham, founder and Chief Executive Officer of YinzCam, Inc., an interactive application for sports fans, and associate professor at Carnegie Mellon University, for “securing or creating jobs locally at a startup through global growth and also enhancing the reputation and international strength of the Pittsburgh region,” from Giselle Leonardo, Chairperson of GlobalPittsburgh.

Receiving the GlobalPittsburgh International Bridge Award for the Corporate Member Executive was Raymond S. Kalouche, Chief Operating Officer of Tube City IMS and President and Chief Operating Officer of the company's Mill Services Group, for “securing or creating jobs by creating company growth globally and thereby also enhancing the reputation and international strength of the Pittsburgh region,” from Chairperson Giselle Leonardo.

Narasimhan was born in India and raised in Africa, and came to the United States to study at UC Santa Barbara before coming to CMU. She created YinzCam based on her belief that Pittsburgh should exploit its unique combination of high-tech capability and sports mania. Yinzcam also developed the first smartphone application for Pittsburgh drivers to report potholes to the city roads department. The company now employs 10 people in Pittsburgh, a number that increases during peak sports seasons.

Raymond Kalouche
Tube City IMS

Kalouche was born in Lebanon and was sent by his parents to the United States at the age of 18 to escape the war in his home country and to pursue a college degree. He earned his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Civil Engineering from The Ohio State University before joining IMS in 1989. IMS combined with Tube City in 2004 to form Tube City IMS.

Tube City IMS is the largest provider of outsourced industrial services to steel mills in North America, with 79 customer sites in 10 countries, and operations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Trinidad, United Kingdom, Belgium, France, Serbia, Slovakia, the Middle East and Taiwan. The company employs approximately 300 people in Western Pennsylvania and 2,200 nationwide.

GlobalPittsburgh, formerly the Pittsburgh Council for International Visitors, is a non-profit organization that engages international delegations, groups and individuals by creating itineraries and facilitating introductions through the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) and other international programming agencies in many fields, including energy and environment, life sciences and medicine, education, business and technology, clean/green design, advanced manufacturing, arts and culture, government and finance, social services and law, and other areas.

GlobalPittsburgh welcomes individuals and families to engage in citizen diplomacy as dinner and home stay hosts, tour guides, office and event volunteers, and greeters for visiting delegations and individuals, and also provides activities for internationals and globally-minded residents through the GlobalPittsburgh Connect program.

GlobalPittsburgh also recognized six members for hosting the most international visitors in their homes during 2011 and for “long and continuous service as a host or volunteer.” Receiving the GlobalPittsburgh Citizen Diplomat Awards were Rosemary Coffey, Ron Gaydos, Eva Hui, Adam Gubitosi, Christine Weaver and Clyde Weaver. The awards were presented by Chairperson Giselle Leonardo and Vice Chair Harry Edelman IV.

The organization also honored two of its partner resource organizations for hosting the most visiting delegations during the year. Receiving the awards were Project Olympus at CMU, a new partner resource, and the University of Pittsburgh, a longstanding partner resource whose Swanson School of Engineering met with numerous during 2011. The awards were presented by Chairperson Giselle Leonardo and Vice Chair Harry Edelman IV.

The GlobalPittsburgh International Bridge Awards have been presented since 1993 to recognize individuals and companies that have distinguished themselves in connecting Pittsburgh with the rest of the world, engaging in activities that benefit the Pittsburgh region and the countries in which they interact and do business.

Previous International Bridge Award recipients include Manchester Craftsman's Guild, Westinghouse Electric, Omnyx, the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, Medrad, Vivisimo, the H.J. Heinz Company, Alcoa, The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Sony Electronics, Fallingwater and the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, and former Gov. Richard Thornburgh.

The awards were presented during GlobalPittsburgh’s Annual Dinner held at LeMont on Mt. Washington. The event featured Richard T. Herman, co-author of Immigrant, Inc. – Why Immigrant Entrepreneurs are Driving the New Economy and How They Will Save the American Worker.

For more than 50 years, GlobalPittsburgh, formerly known as the Pittsburgh Council for International Visitors, has forged relationships between the Greater Pittsburgh Region and the global community through citizen diplomacy – connecting people and institutions in the region with audiences around the world through a wide range of hosting, training, networking, educational and outreach programs and services. For more information, go to www.globalpittsburgh.org.
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Skilled Immigrants Create Jobs for U.S. Workers, According to New National Study with Bipartisan Support

For Every 100 Foreign-Born “STEM” Workers with Advanced Degrees from U.S. Universities, Analysis Shows that an Additional 262 U.S. Workers Have Jobs

Data Point to Legislative Proposals that Would Boost U.S. Employment

A new nationwide study with bipartisan support on Capitol Hill offers new evidence that skilled immigrants create jobs for American workers, and that immigrants with specific skill types do not compete with native workers, but complement them and improve their employment outlook.

The study by the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) and the Partnership for a New American Economy analyzes the impact of immigration on the American economy based on a multi-year statistical analysis.

At the release of the study at AEI’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., Congressman Tim Griffin (R-AR), a member of the House Judiciary Committee, called the report important evidence for reforming immigration policy with a focus on skilled immigrants. During a discussion led by AEI fellow Nick Schulz, Sudhakar Shenoy, the Indian-born, U.S.-educated CEO of technology-consulting firm IMC, Inc. spoke about the link between immigration and jobs.

The report – “Immigrants and American Jobs,” by economist and professor Madeleine Zavodny – analyzes the relationship between the foreign-born workforce and the employment rate for native U.S. workers. It focuses on two groups often seen by policymakers and employers as critical to the economy: foreign-born adults with advanced degrees and foreign workers here on temporary-employment visas.

In both cases, the analysis shows that more foreign-born workers means more jobs for U.S. natives – as many as 262 more native-born workers employed for every 100 foreign-born workers with advanced U.S. degrees who work in science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) fields. The report also looks at the fiscal impact of the foreign-born and finds that, on average, all immigrants pay more in taxes than they receive in benefits, particularly for highly educated immigrants.

Together, the data shows that policy reforms designed to accommodate more of these categories of immigrants would boost employment, while making a positive contribution to government budgets. The report is available at www.RenewOurEconomy.org/aeireport.

“At a time when job creation should be our highest priority, the study released today casts light on some of the greatest potential areas for growth, at no cost to taxpayers,” said New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, co-chair of the Partnership for a New American Economy. “It’s time for Washington to restart the conversation on immigration reform – and to center it on our economic needs.”

“We have a shortage of STEM graduates with advanced degrees here in the United States, which hinders American job creators’ ability to grow their businesses and hire additional employees,” said Congressman Griffin. “Many highly skilled immigrants study in the U.S. but are forced to return home after graduation, where they work to strengthen their home nation’s economy to compete against ours. I am working on legislation that will change the system so that we can keep the best and the brightest, which will strengthen our economy and create jobs here in America.”

“Research shows skilled immigrants complement American workers and bolster the American workforce,” said Nick Schulz, DeWitt Wallace Fellow at AEI and a commentator on immigration and the economy. “The result is higher productivity and capital investment. Skilled immigrants are a net plus for the U.S. economy.”

“This report adds important evidence to the case that economists have been making for years: that identifiable categories of immigrants unquestionably give a lift to native employment,” said Madeleine Zavodny, economics professor at Agnes Scott College and author of the report for AEI and the Partnership. “But I hope it’s not just economists who take note – the study offers insight for legislators who need to know what’s at stake in immigration policy.”

To identify the employment effect of immigration, the study analyzes annual data going back to the year 2000 from the U.S. Census Bureau and from applications for temporary-worker visas – to ask whether having a higher share of foreign-born workers in a given state increases or decreases the employment rate among U.S. natives there. This approach permits an analysis that identifies the employment effects of specific categories of foreign-born workers, as well as the aggregate effect of all immigration. The analysis controls for key variables, especially the possibility that immigrants might be disproportionally attracted to areas that have strong economies (and therefore higher native employment rates), a factor that might otherwise make the results misleadingly positive.

One of the definitive findings is that immigrants with advanced degrees boost employment for native U.S. workers. This effect goes beyond just the 2.62 jobs for every STEM worker with an advanced degree from U.S. universities: An additional 100 immigrants with advanced degrees working in STEM fields – regardless of where they earned the degree – creates an additional 86 jobs for U.S. natives. And an additional 100 immigrants with advanced degrees – regardless of field or where they obtained their degrees – creates an additional 44 jobs for U.S. natives.

Currently, there is no employment visa designed for students who earn advanced degrees in the U.S. after graduation, only a “training” program that allows them to work for a limited period. All of the analyses of foreign-born advanced-degree holders cover the period 2000 to 2007.

The report also shows clear job creation from foreign workers on temporary-employment visas: Adding 100 workers in the H-1B visa program for skilled workers – a program that exhausts its arbitrary numerical limitation each year, including this year – results in an additional 183 jobs among U.S. natives. Likewise, adding 100 workers in the H-2B program for less-skilled non-agricultural labor results in an additional 464 jobs for U.S. natives.

And looking at all foreign-born workers in the aggregate, the report’s analysis yields no evidence of any negative impact on U.S. employment – even under the current immigration system, which is not designed to maximize job creation. Finally, the study finds that highly educated immigrants pay far more in taxes than they receive in benefits.

In 2009, the average foreign-born adult with an advanced degree paid over $22,500 in federal, state, and Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA, or Social Security and Medicare) taxes, while their families received just $2,300 in benefits, or just over one-tenth of their fiscal contribution. And, in fact, looking at all immigrants, the average adult paid $7,826 in federal, state, and FICA taxes, while their families receive $4,422 in cash and in-kind transfers from major government programs.

Based on the data, the report calls for specific legislative proposals that could create jobs for U.S. workers:

- Give priority for foreign workers who earn advanced degrees from U.S. universities, especially those who work in STEM fields.
- Increase the number of green cards (permanent visas) for highly educated workers.
- Make available more temporary visas for both skilled and less-skilled workers.

Today, only 15 percent of green cards are set aside for employment needs – and the real number is more like seven percent when you exclude a worker’s spouses and children.

The American Enterprise Institute, founded in 1943, is one of the nation's premier non-profit public policy research institutions. AEI is dedicated to preserving and strengthening the foundations of a free society: limited government, competitive private enterprise, vital political and cultural institutions and vigilant defense. More at  http://www.aei.org/.

The Partnership for a New American Economy is a national bipartisan group of more than 400 business leaders and mayors who are making the case that smarter immigration laws would create jobs for Americans today. The Partnership’s members include mayors who represent more than 35 million residents in large and small cities across the country and business leaders who employ more than 4 million people in all sectors of the economy. More at http://www.renewoureconomy.org/. READ FULL ARTICLE

GlobalPittsburgh Hosting Roundtable Dec. 20 on Role of Immigrant Entrepreneurs in Region's Economic Growth

GlobalPittsburgh is hosting a conference titled “Boosting Global Innovation - A Roundtable Discussion on Immigration” on Tuesday, December 20, 2011 in the offices of sponsor Tucker Arensberg Attorneys.

Richard T. Herman

The invitation-only event will feature Richard T. Herman, co-author of Immigrant, Inc. - Why Immigrant Entrepreneurs are Driving the New Economy and How They Will Save the American Worker, in addition to several of the region’s most prominent and successful international innovators and job creators who embody the value and importance of foreign-born entrepreneurs to the economic growth and cultural diversity of the Pittsburgh region.

For this event, 30 of the region’s most prominent thought leaders and influencers will come together for an on-the-record conversation about immigration designed to lead to a better understanding of the benefits of attracting and retaining international entrepreneurs, and set the stage for a constructive discussion on steps that can be taken to bring about positive change.

Ever since Scotsman Andrew Carnegie revolutionized both the steelmaking process and the global corporate model, Pittsburgh has been a hotbed of international innovation. Creative minds from around the world still gravitate to the three rivers region to refine their ideas in business and academia, creating companies that employ thousands of people, and solidifying the foundation that underlays Pittsburgh’s economic and social bedrock.

In recent years, the topic of immigration has become controversial, although statistics show that foreign-born entrepreneurs are more than twice as likely as the native-born population to start businesses that create jobs and economic growth, which benefit the entire region and all of its residents.

For more information about the Immigration Roundtable, contact Thomas Buell, Jr., GlobalPittsburgh Director of Marketing, at 412-392-4513 or 412-720-2218, or by email at tbuell@globalpittsburgh.org.
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GlobalPittsburgh Hosting Monthly Series of Updates on Global Digital Television Trends With Andrew Thornhill

Digital Television Report
Opportunity Analysis & Update
Thursday, March 1, 2012 - 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM
$50 Per Person - Advance Reservations Required

To Register: http://dtr-opportunity-january-2012.eventbrite.com

Andrew W. Thornhill

To help shed light on international trends in digital television, GlobalPittsburgh has partnered with Andrew W. Thornhill, a Pittsburgh native now living in Seattle who has become a recognized authority on the subject, to offer monthly reality-based seminars to review his Digital Television Report & DTR Support.

This is an extension for the business community of our presumption that by creating awareness of the expansive digital television marketplace that we also open the eyes of creative corporate pioneers in Pittsburgh and worldwide.

"By using real DTR examples, we present what we believe in, and provide a start for participants investigating this new dynamic," says Thornhill.

Main Venue:
GlobalPittsburgh
650 Smithfield Street, Suite 1180, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
(412) 720-2218 – www.globalpittsburgh.org

Moderator: Andrew W. Thornhill
www.seattle24x7.com/community/people/2011/03/20/andrew-thornhill-is-at-the-dtv-tipping-point/
http://journalism.indiana.edu/news/thornhill-offers-predictions-on-effects-of-digital-tv-transition/

Special Guests For The Launch Event - To Be Announced
Sponsor - To Be Announced

Opportunity Details By Section for The Digital Television Report & DTR Support
DTR BOOKS, Andrew W. Thornhill, THE DTR NATIONAL TOUR, Presenter
THE DTR GLOBAL MARKETPLACE, Presenter, DTR MEDIA, Presenter
THE DTR RESOURCE CENTER, Presenter

Monthly Through 2012 – With An Exclusive Printed Program

Introducing Downtown Pittsburgh
Throughout The DTR Opportunity Analysis & Update You Will Learn About The Best Lunchtime Restaurants and Happy Hour Locations!

GlobalPittsburgh improves the region's global competitiveness by creating long-term relationships connecting the Greater Pittsburgh community with international leaders and influencers.

The Digital Television Report & DTR Support
Since 1993
digitaltvreport@hotmail.com - www.linkedin.com/in/dtrmedia
Copyright © 1993 – 2011, Andrew W. Thornhill, All Rights Reserved

The Digital Television Report
The Digital Television Report is a book describing the past and future of the greatest change in communications in our documented history. Andrew W. Thornhill is the author and principal researcher for the legally protected Digital Television Report. There are no other representatives of his 20 years of research, the book, nor the detailed story in any of its forms.

When the communications industry changed our engineering standards to accommodate a more efficient digital platform for television, we subtly changed all commercial communications, media financial structures, global business development, mass education and the nature of certain intellectual assets.

DTR Support
Through the years of digging, learning and presenting, Andrew W. Thornhill has made tremendous personal and financial investments in the future of digital media and the proprietary products from his dedication.
To deliver the established knowledge base from the years of accumulated information, DTR Support was born.

DTR Support is a dynamic series of media properties, informative lectures/seminars and special events. Our objective: To create greater awareness of the companies, personalities and expectations in the emerging world of digital and user-manipulated television. We do this through collaboration and strategic partnerships.

On June 13, 2009 our nation crossed into the “Digital Television” era. Our inventory at DTR Support is based on continuing research and input from literally hundreds of crew members, associates, industry information sources and potential partners. Look for these division and product titles:

DTR BOOKS / SINCE 2008
“The Digital Television Report”
“Digital Television Channels”
“Digital Television In Your State”
Theme Discussions

THE DTR NATIONAL TOUR / SINCE 2002
University Lectures, Community Colleges, Lecture NotesIndependent Seminars Including Marketplace Assistance From: Los Angeles Imagination, The Florida Collaboration, Pittsburgh Connections & Seattle Review Conferences, Interactive Exhibits & Special Projects

THE DTR GLOBAL MARKETPLACE / SINCE 2009
Research, The International Toast, The International Digital Television Transition Schedule, The DTR Global Marketplace Conference

DTR MEDIA / SINCE 2008
The DTR Media Editorial Roundtable
DTR Journey – Print & Interactive Program Guide
DTR News – Radio – “The News”, “Digital Channels”
DTR News – Television – “The News”, A Digital Channel
The DTR Internet Channel
DTR Digital Media Devices
DTR Design Continuity

THE DTR RESOURCE CENTER / SINCE 2007
The DTR Opportunity Analysis & Update, Exhibit,Space, Master Plan, Archives, Communications, Environment, Development
digitaltvreport@hotmail.com

The Digital Television Report, Including DTR Support, Is a Component of Thornhill News
Copyright © 1993 – 2011, Andrew W. Thornhill, All Rights Reserved
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