Selected Project Descriptions

 

Conducted Research and Created a Strategic Plan for the establishment of a Manufacturing Innovation Hub for the Quad Cities: Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa; and Rock Island, Moline, and East Moline in Illinois, January 2014 to September 2014

• O'Neill Research was part of a consulting team that conducted the research and created the strategic plan for the Quad Cities Manufacturing Innovatin Hub.  The Hub will focus on promoting innovation in advanced manufacturing in the metals and multimaterials sectors.  These setors include over 300 manufacturers in the Quad Cities region.  The plan sets objectives and action plans in the following key areas:
  
  • Research & Innovation
  • Supply Chain Improvement
  • Workforce Training & Support
  • Export & Foreign Investment
  • Operational Improvement & Access to Capital
  • Infrastructure & Site Development

Conducted a Health and Human Services Needs Assesment for Howard County, Indiana, January 2012 to May 2012.

• The purpose of the assessment was to identify priority needs and gaps in the provision of services for vulnerable populations.  We conducted both secondary and primary research on human needs in the community and on capacities of social service agencies to address those needs.  In addition, this study was designed to serve as a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) for the Howard County Health Department and for Howard County’s two not-for-profit hospitals: Howard Regional Health and St. Joseph Hospital.

• The partnering agencies included
  
  • The City of Kokomo
  • The Community Foundation of Howard County
  • Howard County Health Department
  • Howard Regional Health Hospital
  • Ivy Tech
  • St. Joseph Hospital
  • The United Way of Howard County

Served as principal manager for establishing Indiana’s Homeland Security Districts, May 2007 to June 2009:

• Revised Indiana District Planning Council Guidance and developed templates for emergency response planning in key preparedness areas including district response strategy, crisis communication, and mutual aid; responsible for organizing District Planning Oversight Committees (consisting of elected officials) and District Planning Councils (consisting of emergency management professionals and first responders) in each of the ten districts in Indiana; responsible for designing governing framework for district organizations; responsible for organizing district summits for briefing county commissioners and mayors on new homeland security responsibilities; developed communications materials including flyers, white papers, media releases and PowerPoint presentations.

Conceptualized and assisted in the organization of a statewide conference on methamphetamines in rural counties – as consultant for the Southern Indiana Rural Development Project (SIRDP), November 9, 2005: 

• The conference, which was hosted by SIRDP and the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI) with support by Hoosier Energy REC, was attended by nearly 200 people. Experts in the fields of law enforcement, treatment, prevention, education, local government and agriculture were assembled to offer insights into the “meth” problem.