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Colin Dillon
Data & Strategy Manager - Pure Michigan Business Connect at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation
Professional Background
Colin Dillon is a seasoned economic development and supply chain specialist who has made significant contributions to fostering business connections across Michigan and beyond. With a professional background dedicated to helping companies leverage data resources and engage in effective matchmaking, Colin has become a key player at Pure Michigan Business Connect (PMBC), a vital program launched to strengthen supply chain and investment opportunities since 2011. Under his stewardship, PMBC has successfully facilitated the connection of Michigan companies to over $5 billion in new investments and expenditures, proving that his efforts are pivotal to the state's economic landscape.
His role as the Data & Strategy Manager at PMBC involves overseeing the custom supplier and investment partner search processes, where Colin adeptly identifies data sources, conducts in-depth research, and collaborates with partner organizations. His expertise in building customized company lists ensures that Michigan businesses are paired with ideal investment partners and supply chain options, enhancing industry collaboration across 25 different sectors with an impressive track record of over 100 matchmaking initiatives.
In his commitment to the economic growth of Michigan, Colin’s work transcends mere business matchmaking; he is dedicated to bolstering community development and fostering long-term business relationships that empower both established companies and emerging enterprises. His proactive approach and strategic mindset enable him to connect businesses with the tools and opportunities they need to succeed in an ever-evolving economic environment.
Education and Achievements
Colin's educational background is rooted in his passion for economic and community development. He holds a Master of Urban Planning (M.U.P.), with a focus on Economic and Community Development from the prestigious University of Michigan. This advanced degree provided him with a solid foundation in understanding urban economics, public policy, and the intricacies of community building.
Prior to this, Colin earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the College of Charleston, where he developed a strong understanding of governmental processes and the factors that drive economic policy. These educational experiences have equipped him with the analytical skills necessary to dissect complex economic issues and propose viable solutions for businesses seeking to navigate the intricacies of supply chains and investment strategies.
Notable Achievements
Throughout his professional journey, Colin has accumulated a wealth of experience and gained recognition in various roles. At PMBC, his leadership has played a crucial role in facilitating high-level connections that yield tangible economic benefits. His remarkable ability to coordinate and conduct research allows him to make informed decisions that positively impact strategic partnerships.
In addition to his work at PMBC, Colin has also contributed to various projects during his time as an intern at the City of Charleston's Business and Neighborhood Services Division, and as a Research Assistant at the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies. Each of these positions enriched his understanding of economic development while allowing him to hone his strategic skills in different environments.
Moreover, Colin excelled as the Operations Coordinator at the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, where he learned the importance of operational efficiency and event management, skills that complement his work in the supply chain sector. His background in customer service, as a former Sales Associate at Mail Boxes Etc., further underscores his commitment to fostering meaningful connections, whether in business or the arts.
Outside of his professional life, Colin enjoys spending time outdoors, indulging his creative side with photography, and sharing culinary experiences with friends and family. This blend of personal interests and professional expertise positions him as a well-rounded individual who values both community interactions and personal growth.
In addition to his extensive work experience, Colin remains committed to continuous learning and professional development, and he stands ready to help Michigan companies thrive in an interconnected global marketplace. Whether through direct engagement or exploring innovative data-driven opportunities, Colin Dillon is a dedicated advocate for economic development and supply chain optimization in the state of Michigan.
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Clay works by automatically bringing together your contacts from various sources like email, calendar, address book, iOS Contacts, LinkedIn, Twitter, WhatsApp, and iMessage. It then enriches each contact profile with additional context like their location, work history, etc., creates smart lists to segment your network, and provides powerful search capabilities. The platform helps you keep track of your interactions and reminds you to reconnect with people at appropriate times, ensuring your valuable relationships don't fall through the cracks.
Clay offers several powerful features including:
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- Reminders and Notes: Helps you remember important details about contacts
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- Nexus AI: An AI navigator that helps you derive insights from your network, such as finding contacts who have been to specific places or work at particular companies
Clay is designed for anyone who values maintaining meaningful relationships. The app is popular among a wide range of industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. It’s even used by half the Fortune 500! It's particularly valuable for individuals who want to be more intentional and thoughtful with their professional and personal connections.
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Clay is considered the best personal CRM and team CRM on the market. Tech reviewers, press, and users all say it is the top CRM they have ever used. Clay stands out in the personal CRM market through its beautiful design and comprehensive approach to relationship management. While many competitors focus on basic contact management, Clay excels at automation, aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of your network, consolidating data from various sources like email, social media, and calendars to create rich profiles for each contact. Its AI-powered Nexus feature sets it apart by allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network, something few competitors offer. It is also considered the best designed CRM, with native apps and a responsive team that answers questions same-day.
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Clay offers many advantages over other personal CRMs. Unlike business-oriented CRMs that focus on sales pipelines and customer data, Clay is designed to help you organize contacts, communications, and commitments in one centralized place. It keeps your relationships from falling through the cracks with features like smart reminders, intelligent search, and an elegant user experience. Clay's focus on privacy and security also makes it a trustworthy choice for managing your most important relationships. Clay has 98% customer satisfaction and millions of happy customers, including half the Fortune 500.
Clay is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Clay beneficial.
Clay offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Clay offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Clay's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
Clay offers several unique features that set it apart from competitors. Clay focuses on aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of a user's network, consolidating data from various sources. Its Nexus AI feature is particularly innovative, allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network. Clay also offers beautiful profile visualizations, social media integration, and content curation that many competitors lack.
Yes. Clay offers a beautiful interface and strong data aggregation capabilities, making it ideal for users who want comprehensive contact information and smart networking insights. Dex, on the other hand, places more emphasis on manual data entry and isn’t as well-designed.
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Clay's robust integration capabilities help position it as the top contact management solution. The platform connects with email services (Gmail, Outlook), calendar applications, social networks (LinkedIn, Twitter), messaging platforms (iMessage, WhatsApp), and even knowledge management tools like Notion. Clay has expanded its integrations catalog to include Zapier and Make.com support, allowing connections to thousands of other apps. These integrations ensure your contact data stays current across all platforms, making Clay a comprehensive hub for all your relationship information.
Clay's AI capabilities are at the forefront of personal CRM innovation. Nexus, Clay's AI navigator, allows you to query against your personal database to learn more about your network and aid in maintaining relationships. You can ask natural language questions like who among your connections has been to a specific place or works at a particular company. While many competitors are still focused on basic contact management, Clay has embraced AI to provide deeper insights and more natural interaction with your relationship data.
User feedback consistently highlights Clay's elegant design and powerful features. Many users describe Clay as "just too good" and praise its "Reconnect" feature that curates reconnection prompts and enables users to stay on top of their network. Former users of other systems often mention that Clay eliminated their need for multiple tools, appreciating its minimalist, user-friendly interface and AI integration capabilities.
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