Green Energy Entrepreneur Featured Speaker at 2010 Michigan Celebrates Small Business

Nationally-known green energy entrepreneur (and past SBAM board member) Maria Thompson of Ann Arbor is the featured speaker at the April 29 Michigan Celebrates Small Business event in Lansing.

Ms. Thompson was President and CEO of T/J Technologies, Inc., a nationally recognized Michigan company for proprietary alternative energy technologies that she and her husband, Dr. Levi Thompson, co-founded in 1991. T/J Technologies was acquired by A123Systems Inc. in 2006. She now runs the Government Solutions Group of A123Systems. A123Systems is known internationally for its Nanophosphate™ lithium ion battery technology for electric vehicles, hybrid electric and plug in hybrid vehicles, grid stabilization, power tools, defense and aerospace.

Tickets for Michigan Celebrates Small Business are $135 per person or receive a 20% discount and reserve a table of eight for $850. The evening includes a cocktail reception, an address by Governor Granholm, awards dinner and keynote by Maria Thompson. Black tie is optional. Michigan Celebrates Small Business will be held at the Lansing Center in Lansing. To register by phone, call Pam Lantrip at 800.362.5461 or register online at www.michigancelebrates.biz.

Michigan Celebrates Small Business is a premier annual program to recognize entrepreneurs and small business supporters in a variety of categories. The program is a cooperative effort of the U.S. Small Business Administration – Michigan, the Small Business Association of Michigan, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center and the Edward Lowe Foundation.

Underwriters for this year’s Michigan Celebrates Small Business event are National City (now a part of PNC), Clark Hill PLC, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the Michigan Certified Development Corporation, Accident Fund Insurance Company of America and Dynamic Edge Inc.

Media partners for Michigan Celebrates Small Business are MiBiz, Crain’s Detroit Business, Upper Peninsula Business Today, the Traverse City Business News, Michigan Radio, Mitechnews.com, WWJ Newsradio 950 and the Greater Lansing Business Monthly.