Cool Cleveland People
Michael DeAloia
Senior Executive for Technology Development, Department of Economic Development, City of Cleveland

The word "Czar" is the most commonly used in American vernacular to soften the blow of the word “tyrant." Michael DeAloia is hardly an autocrat, but he’s definitely an authority—in demand and on command. He’s the Senior Executive for Technology Development, a.k.a. the “Tech Czar,” for the City of Cleveland. With this role, he is responsible for Cleveland’s economic development around technology-based companies.

Before his present position, DeAloia was the Chief Financial Officer of BlueBridge Networks, LLC, Business Development Director for regional accounting firm Saltz, Shamis & Goldfarb (SS&G), and gained substantial experience with Ernst & Young and National City Bank. He’s also a Case Weatherhead School of Management grad.

Between meetings on a long, muggy Tuesday afternoon, he took time to speak with Cool Cleveland about what a typical “Tech Czar” week is like, Bloggapalooza, Ingenuity, and why Clevelanders should care about the sophomore effort of the festival. Why, we even found out that DeAloia is something of a poet… but heck, we’ll let him tell you. Here’s how our afternoon coffee break (sans coffee) went:

Cool Cleveland: Thanks for taking the time. So, level with us: what does a typical “week in the life” of the Cleveland Tech Czar look like?

Michael DeAloia: Controlled chaos. That’s what things are like! (laughs) At this point in time, we’re probably working on about 30 to 40 or more projects at once… as you can see from my big board back there [motions behind me to a whiteboard with a huge list of entities]. And really, that’s just the development side.

CC: (gawks at dry erase board). Geez. There’s a lot of names there. Lots of calls—

MD: Once you get beyond that list, then there’s the political side, which obviously covers the Mayor’s office, City Council… we’ve got a lot of work to do, but every project helps bring people, technology and functionality together. It’s hectic, but we’re rough and ready and that’s the reason why I come into work every day with a smile on my face.

CC: Being a part of the Department of Economic Development, I’m sure I can guess what your professional opinion is about the Ingenuity Festival. How do you feel about it from a personal standpoint?

MD: Let me tell you, one of the best days I’ve ever had in my life in Cleveland was last year in September during the first Ingenuity Festival. Seriously. It was just really rewarding to see the festival sprawl over Euclid Avenue and see all of the great camaraderie out there. Crowds out in the street were phenomenal, the bands were all great and we had really great weather that day, which really made it.

CC: Do you have a highlight from last year's festival?

MD: Getting to check out the [Cleveland Trust] Rotunda and the tech show there was phenomenal. And that really was such a huge component of what was presented—in terms of the festival’s scope, helping Clevelanders re-identify with a landmark and for them to recognize Cleveland is still a beautiful place to be.

CC: Tell me about your involvement with Ingenuity this year. You’re really out in front!

MD: Well, we [the City] upped our level of commitment for this year’s festival, which is great. Personally, I’m certainly going to be attending. I’ll be at the CoolCleveland.com kickoff events Thursday, both shows for that. I’m also going to be at the VIP Party Thursday night. So, I have two of those events, one of which I am co-headlining. (laughs) I can’t tell you how many emails I have sent out personally, asking everyone I know to attend.

CC: Now, are you going to be doing any of your poetry and prose at Ingenuity?

MD: No, that’s strictly for the Bloggapalooza street festival, which you know is coming up in a couple weeks. I have a book—mostly prose—which is coming out in August, so I’ll be doing some of that… So, did George [Nemeth] put you up to this? (laughs)

CC: Nope, this was all my idea, Michael. (laughs)

Editor’s note: For those who haven’t heard, Bloggapalooza is an event celebrating the first anniversary of http://www.MeetTheBloggers.net and will feature many of the city’s citizen activist/journalist/bloggers. You can read more about the event here.

CC: From your unique perspective, why should Clevelanders care about Ingenuity?

MD: It’s a celebration. People should care because it’s a celebration of everything that makes Cleveland great. Great people, great ideas, great concepts and merging all of that together into one big festival is an absolutely amazing thing. Absoultely amazing. So, people should really take advantage of that.

CC: What do you hope that people come away with from the festival?

MD: It’s my hope that all Clevelanders take away the understanding that you can create unique and successful entertainment and economic development projects in the city from the ground level up. I hope that Ingenuity helps residents realize that a Renaissance is under way here in Cleveland—revitalization driven by a new generation of leaders, who are stepping up to push the city in a new direction for a new generation.

From Cool Cleveland Managing Editor Peter Chakerian peterATcoolcleveland.com (:divend:)