Zella Jackson Hannum, Ph.D. earned her first three degrees from Michigan State University: M.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering, M.B.A. degree in Production Control/Operations Management, and B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering. She completed her Phd in Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering from Western Michigan University. She is the founder of her own consulting firm, Novasearch Consultants & Publishing, which specializes in entrepreneurial start-ups and small business development. The firm is noted for successful start-up and expansion of fine art firms and new-technology ventures. She is author of The Art of Being an Entrepreneurial Woman. Ferris State University awarded her firm an 18-month contract to set-up and lead their Entrepreneurship & Small Business Development Institute.

She is the founder and co-producer of International Art Business Symposium. This is an educational trade conference and business-to-business sales venue for art gallery owners, artists, and art publishing firms. It has been successfully produced in the mid-west and on both US coasts

She has published over 100 fine art industry articles. As contributing editor for the international art trade journal, Art Expressions, her articles were cover features for over ten years.

New Tech Venture Expert: Her firm was awarded the contract for North American Advanced Manufacturing Research & Education Initiative (NAAMREI) to devise a regional tech-based entrepreneurial economic development plan. NAAMREI is a consortium of 47 public and private enterprises from a variety of business and education sectors, funded by a government grant from the US Department of Labor, to promote regional economic growth and transformation. As Sr. Consultant, conducted on-site interviews with major stakeholders then analyzed the regional needs, objectives and capabilities to create a Technology-Based Entrepreneurship Infrastructure to be implemented throughout the RIO South Texas Region. Devised and installed the Academy, Symposia, and Support of Entrepreneurism and Technology (ASSET™)

Hannum was also awarded a National Science Foundation research grant to investigate manufacturing process management practices in new technology ventures. This multi-year project resulted in: (1) A newly devised manufacturing process improvement management system for use by high-tech product developers and (2) A proven five-step methodology that affords quality engineers the capability to investigate and devise an indigenous manufacturing process improvement management system that is applicable for a variety of industrial sectors. Hannum compiled her research results for publication in her sixth book, which was released October 2014 entitled, New Technology Venture Balanced Scorecard Derived From Product Quality Factors. This volume provides a performance management system that enables engineering managers to effectively manage the launch of a new technology.

Prior to her private consulting practice, she worked as a commercialization engineer for Dow Chemical and was the systems operations manager for IBM’s General Products Division. Hannum has received numerous honors and awards including 2013 Leadership & Professional Achievement, Global Directory of Who’s Who; 2007—20012 AGEP Professoriate Fellowship Award, National Science Foundation; 2002 Co-Chairperson of the Economic Business Advisory Council in Washington D.C.; 2000 Bronze Award for The Art of Being an Entrepreneurial Woman, Writer’s International Network; 2001 Californian of the Year Award; and the 1982 Young Career Woman of the Year or the state of Hawaii, National Association of Business & Professional Women.