Innovation + Job News

The Pasco Economic Development Council (EDC)'s community-based microloan program is helping  to grow small businesses in the county.

The microloan program has funded 15 jobs since its inception in April 2012. Aimed at companies that have a difficult time obtaining traditional loan funds (mainly due to size), the revolving loan continues to support businesses as funds are paid back.

"It's really important to support start-up and small businesses and give them access to capital to help them grow and hire," says Krista Hakes, economic development manager for Pasco Economic Development Council.

Eight small businesses have received funding thus far:

BVT Products, manufacturer of the Go Caddy multicompartment carry all bag, is using the funding for inventory support.

Good Faith Insurance, a health and life insurance brokerage firm specializing in educating retirees about their Medicare choices and benefits. The owner was the first Hispanic and woman-owned business to receive a microloan, which was used to hire an additional staff member to help with recent growth.

The first loan recipient, Dr. Jay Harvey at Personal Pediatric Care, is fueling growth and a change in business plan.   

Statewide Blinds, a mobile company that installs window treatments and cleans and repairs blinds across the state, is purchasing a trailer and other equipment.

Suncoast Fire Safety, offering training to help businesses stay in compliance with state and local fire safety laws, is growing inventory and upgrading equipment.

Tampa Bay Urodynamics, serving local physicians through mobile medical testing and therapy, purchased equipment and expanded services.

United Underwriters of Tampa Bay, a woman-owned insurance firm covering auto, homeowners, business and motor vehicle insurance, purchased marketing collateral and created a new part-time office position.

And the newest recipient, 301 Designs is an online retailer offering apparel and electronics products.

Pasco EDC partners with SCORE to walk applicants through the loan application process. Recipients also continue to receive technical assistance after the loan is dispersed.

Writer: Megan Hendricks
Source: Krista Hakes, Pasco Economic Development Council

A showcase event in Tampa aims to teach businesses how to leverage technology to enhance performance and increase innovation.

Tampa Bay Technology Forum’s (TBTF) third annual BizTech Innovation Summit takes place March 14 at the A La Carte Event Pavilion in Tampa. The summit and expo will bridge questions from the business community as well as showcase some of the cutting-edge technologies being developed and used in and around Tampa Bay.

"The objective is to marry business with technology," says Heather Kenyon, president and CEO of TBTF.

Keynote speaker Murray Wright, president, the Americas for Tech Data, will speak about the future of technology and why it’s important to business.

About 400 participants are expected, including business owners, entrepreneurs and anyone who wants to learn more about using technologies such as VOIP or mobile applications to become a competitive differentiator.

Exhibitors will display innovative emerging technologies such as:

The University of Central Florida’s Office of Technology Transfer will have a four-foot-tall iPhone display to demonstrate apps such as Combat Lifesaver, a card game that reinforces learning and procedures that help save lives on the battlefield, and a virtual retail employee training program.

Rapid Prototyping Services will have a 3D printer on site to demonstrate the creation of 3D mechanical prototypes used for cad modeling, appearance models and tooling.

PowerPatent Inc. will demonstrate ProvisionalBuilder, a patent-creation software tool that allows inventors, entrepreneurs, startups and universities to draft and file high-quality patent applications.
 
"We want to promote the idea of using local companies, forge partnerships and raise the bar for everybody," says Kenyon.
 
Writer: Megan Hendricks
Source: Heather Kenyon, Tampa Bay Technology Forum

For two years in a row, Crystal Clear Technologies has been on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing companies. Since the company started in 2002, it has grown from 5 to 32 employees -- and is still growing.

Crystal Clear Technologies (CTT) is a certified woman-owned small business that provides IT services and data communications to government agencies. The company's services in strategic product sourcing, professional services and IT enterprise help to support mission-critical objectives of the U.S. Department of Defense. The IT Enterprise division is adding several new positions in 2013. Additionally, to support the growth of contractual needs for that division, the plan is to add program managers and administration to its team.

"It is likely that we can grow to 50 or more employees pretty quickly,'' says COO John Lescarbeau.

In the recent years, CCT has focused on maintaining business relationships coupled with strategic partnerships to achieve organic growth. CCT and its mentor partner SRA International recently received the 2012 GSA Mentor-Protégé Award designed for large businesses to support and mentor small businesses like their own.

"We will be able to do about $25 million in revenue in 2013, if not more,'' says Lescarbeau. "We want people to understand who we are and the value that we bring.'' CCT's continued growth, he says, has been a combination of valued relationships and partnerships, consistent performance and innovative hiring.

"We've brought some really talented people into the organization'' and provide an innovative, fun environment where people want to work, he says. CCT recently expanded to a high-tech, 5,000 square-foot building on Central Avenue in St. Petersburg and plans to keep its existing space for future company growth.

For information on CCT and hiring opportunities, visit the company website.

Writer: Kaye Brown
Source: John Lescarbeau, Crystal Clear Technologies

What do Legos, Disney, musicians and improvisation have in common? They’re all part of the learning experience at the 10th Annual Florida Creativity Weekend, March 1st to 3rd in Sarasota. 

The Florida Creativity event begins on Friday, with intense immersion workshops to allow for intimate exploration of a selected topic. For example, Christine Alexander of the Florida Studio Theatre Improv and Lazy Fairy Improv Troupes, will help participants find their inner voice and discover new possibilities through the use of Improvisation and theater games. Jane Goldwasser of New Directions Consulting will help participants translate their dreams into an action plan, solve a great problem or get through the initial hurdle of starting a business on their own.

Friday evening, Sarasota-area musician Scott Blum will engage people in a musical experience by creating a band using conference participants.

Saturday and Sunday’s programming will feature speakers such as David Lunken from Cedarcroft Advisors, who will guide teams through the use of LEGO bricks to improve individual and organizational performance. Gert Garman, Global Creative Development Manager for Disney Destinations, will explore how to tell your own story through the use of creativity and senses.  

The goal: Participants might walk away with a new skill, a renewed sense of self, practical ways to make their business or team more productive or innovate, or even see themselves as creative for the first time.

“We are all potentially creative as human beings, and yet too many people do not realize that positive potential,” says Katherine Heusner, PhD, chair of Florida Creativity Weekend. “Having opportunities to unlock our own creative energies, finding ways to empower others. What a difference this can make in our lives, our region and our world.”

More than 200 participants are expected, including entrepreneurs, teachers, students, nonprofit professionals and artists.

The conference will be held at the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee and Florida Studio Theatre.

Writer: Megan Hendricks
Source: Katherine Heusner, Florida Creativity Weekend

Hillsborough County is opening up data from several of its departments to the Tampa Bay technology community to see who can build the best app on top of the data. The Hack-a-thon is first event of its kind for the county government.

Tampa-based Citizinvestor is being used to collect funds that will go toward prizes for the competition. Citizinvestor is an online service that allows municipalities to submit projects that have already been approved but are in need of funding in order to come to fruition. The crowd-funding idea is to encourage citizens to invest their own money in the projects they care most about, letting local governments know where they most want to see funds spent. Credit cards are not charged until 100 percent of the funds are received for each project. 

Past funded initiatives include a project in Boston that put iPads into the hands of blind students who were able to control them by voice.

The Hack-a-thon is the first project in Tampa Bay to be funded through Citizinvestor. The county is seeking $2,700 in total funding. 

"Anything the community can be doing to promote civic innovation is a good thing,'' says Jordan Raynor, co-founder of Citizinvestor. "This particular project is exciting for transparency sake, making government more open. It's also another way to showcase Tampa’s technology talent.'' Raynor is also happy to see the county using a homegrown business to help others in the technology community.

The Hack-a-thon will take place April 12 -- 14, 2013 at Hillsborough Community College’s Brandon campus.

"This is a really big moment for Hillsborough County," says Raynor. "A lot of places talk about innovation. Hillsborough County is actually doing something about it.''

Writer: Megan Hendricks
Source: Jordan Raynor, Citizinvestor

Radiant Power Corp. is expanding for the second time in less than a year. The introduction of a new product line will add 16 jobs to their current staff, making room for engineers, quality control specialists, assembly technicians, test technicians, and administration and sales representatives to join the Radiant team.

Radiant Power’s services include providing products and subsystems for emergency power, data acquisition, power distribution and control, and passenger comfort to the air transport, aerospace and aviation markets. The company currently produces the back-up battery for the flight data recorder, commonly known as the black box. They will now begin to manufacture the acoustic beacon pinger for the black box, which emits ultrasonic sound waves in the event the aircraft crashes into water.

"We are definitely in a growth mode,'' says Kim Oliver, human resources manager. Radiant is growing their current product lines and the integration of beacons.

The recent expansion includes an $80,000 state Qualified Target Industry tax incentive and a $16,000 match from the Manatee Board of County Commissioners, allowing Radiant to acquire the product line from a company owned by their parent firm HEICO Corporation, and manufacture it locally in their Sarasota offices.

Through a unique partnership, Enterprise Florida, Inc., Manatee County EDC and Manatee BOCC were instrumental in bringing the project to life in Florida.

"We had the option to leave the product line in Illinois, but the incentives made the decision easier'' to move the development of the product to Florida, says Oliver. "It makes it more functional to have it here since everything specific to it will now be in one facility.''

For more information on the company's expansion and hiring opportunities, visit Radiant’s website or email resumes here.

Writer: Kaye Brown
Source: Kim Oliver, Radiant Power Corp.

Children who enjoy playing sports can now translate that fun into learning as they take a closer look at the principles of science and mathematics involved.
 
Team Up! Explore Science & Sports at the Glazer Children’s Museum in Tampa makes learning fun for children of all ages through sports such as football, basketball, tennis and soccer. The new interactive, hands-on exhibit teaches kids geometry, physics, force and friction as they relate to their favorite sports.
 
Museum visitors can learn geometry by studying the way the angle of a tennis rack affects where the ball will go. A radar equipped pitching booth teaches the science of measuring and tracking speed. Kids can also learn about trajectory angles by shooting a mini-basketball or play soccer or snowboard in a virtual reality environment.
 
“It’s a fun exhibit,” says Antonio Hill, manager of marketing and communications for the Glazer Children’s Museum. “It’s something for the whole family to enjoy, not just the children.”
 
The exhibit fits the museum’s mission to help kids learn and discover through free play, with the ultimate goal of becoming lifelong learners. The additional fun factor of being sports-related allows children to experience learning at their own pace. “It’s free play and discover, which is how kids learn best,” says Hill.
 
The exhibit opens to the public on February 2, with a sneak preview for museum members on February 1. The exhibit will be at the museum until April 30.
 
Writer: Megan Hendricks
Source: Antonio Hill, Glazer Children’s Museum

Are you a technology entrepreneur with a great idea, but you need that extra boost to get to the next stage? Tampa Bay WaVE is accepting applications for the inaugural class of its FirstWaVE Accelerator Program.

Participants will go through three stages: Build, Launch and Grow. The Build stage provides one-on-one coaching from Entrepreneur in Residence Christy Chadwick, who will help the company solve their biggest challenge. The Launch stage uses an advisory team of mentors to help build the business. In the Grow stage, companies engage with funding and relationship coaches, helping them refine their pitch and meet local contacts to help get the business off the ground. All in all, the program takes approximately one year.

Other benefits include a full-day venture bootcamp, 24/7 access to coworking space in the FirstWaVE Venture Center, dedicated advisors, access to student interns, quarterly “live pitch” events and access to FirstWaVE’s business network.
“One thing we hope to accomplish is a one-stop shop and collaborative resource for entrepreneurs in the Tampa Bay region,” says Jennifer Metz, program director for FirstWaVE. “To be able to work with such a great entrepreneurship ecosystem in this region is an exciting opportunity for Tampa Bay WaVE.”

Participating companies must have a unique and innovative idea with some type of technology component and the potential for future job growth.

The program is funded, in part, by a $1 million grant from the U.S. Commerce Department designed to support early stage technology ventures.

The deadline to apply for the inaugural program is Feb. 1 Applications are accepted each quarter.

To apply for the FirstWaVE Accelerator Program, download the forms here from the Tampa Bay WaVe website.

Writer: Megan Hendricks
Source: Jennifer Metz, Tampa Bay WaVE

A new digital artbook features Tampa Bay artists that were part of the Leave a Message exhibition at the Morean Art Center in St. Petersburg in June and August 2012. The urban contemporary exhibit showcased graffiti art, illustration, graphic design and other pieces from artists whose work is a combination of street and gallery art. The artbook contains over 50 unique images as well as artist bios and links to their websites.

The book is part of the Artbook Archive iPad app available in the iTunes store, which features digital artbooks from Tampa Bay and other areas. The initial app is free, with the books costing $.99 each. The app and books were created by HD Interactive, a St. Petersburg company that produces websites, software, video games and apps. Artbook’s users span 32 different countries.

“We’re doing this because we love art and want to promote the arts community,” says Kevin Hohl, chief strategy officer for HD Interactive.

Sometimes referred to as a “new medium” for art, a digital artbook is more than a way to look at pictures on a screen. It’s a high definition retina display designed as a digital coffee table book, where users can swipe through the art piece by piece.  

The first book, Artbook Tampa Bay, was launched in March 2012 and contains 880 pages of art from 86 local artists. There were so many submissions for the first book, a second edition is being created. Submissions are currently being accepted from local artists, with a target launch of March 2013.

Writer: Megan Hendricks
Source: Kevin Hohl, HD Interactive

The biotechnology cluster in Tampa Bay continues to grow and flourish, with the 2013 Business of Biotech Conference on February 11. Hosted by Moffitt Cancer Center, the seventh annual event is themed “Partnering for Success” because of the focus on collaboration and networking.
 
Participants can expect opportunities for business development, talent management and business to business collaboration. They will also learn about new research and innovation happening at Moffitt Cancer Center, such as progress in the area of personalized medicine – a tailored approach that caters to each person’s individual disease.
 
Keynote speaker Bob Ingram, general partner with Hatteras Venture Partners will discuss how to attract capital from venture capital firms and Big Pharma.

The Moffitt Momentum Award, which recognizes elected officials for their support of the fight against cancer, will be presented to Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn during the event.

“He has been incredibly supportive of all of our needs and concerns, as well as our growth,” says Jarrett Rieger, director of the Office of Technology Management and Commercialization at Moffitt Cancer Center and Stetson Law School alum.

Last year’s event drew over 300 attendees from biomedical companies and startups, as well as individual entrepreneurs and investors, mostly from the Tampa Bay area. 

“There are a lot of smart people and strong businesses in the community,” says Rieger. “This signature event for Tampa Bay allows the various ingredients that are necessary for the biotech cluster to come together, partner and turn the area from a strong biotech area to a great one.”  
 
Attendance is free, but registration is required. For more information, and to register, visit this link.

Writer: Megan Hendricks
Source: Jarrett Rieger, Moffitt Cancer Center

Entrepreneurs and innovators in the Tampa Bay technology community now have a chance to hear success stories and lessons learned from other successful Tampa Bay-made entrepreneurs.

The new quarterly series, titled “Diary of an Entrepreneur,” is part of TECH Talk’s monthly speaker lineup. Now in its 4th year, TECH Talk is a networking and education event hosted by the Tampa Bay Innovation Center. Participants include people involved in all phases of the entrepreneurship cycle, as well as service providers, consultants and established professionals.

“These entrepreneurships have a lot of information to share that’s very relevant to others who are at the beginning stages,” says Danielle Weitlauf, new venture manager for Tampa Bay Innovation Center. “This is our opportunity to get those successful CEOs to share.”

The kickoff event takes place January 29 from 8:30 to 10:30 am at Microsoft’s headquarter offices in Tampa. The speaker will be Mark Swanson, co-founder and CEO of Tampa-based Telovations, a cloud communications provider. Swanson’s presentation, “Five things you need to know about starting a business in Tampa Bay in 2013,” will focus on the unique aspects of starting and growing a business in the local technology arena.

Swanson has over 20 years experience in the technology realm, having founded and grown six multimillion dollar companies in cities across the U.S., including Silicon Valley, New York and Tampa.  His latest venture, Telovations, was sold to Bright House Networks in December 2012.

“It’s great to be able to have these successful entrepreneurs who are also giving back and sharing their experiences,” says Weitlauf.

Writer: Megan Hendricks
Source: Danielle Weitlauf, Tampa Bay Innovation Center

The entrepreneurship ecosystem in Tampa Bay is gaining even more national traction with a recent award from the United States Association for Small Business Entrepreneurship (USASBE).  The College of Business at USF St. Petersburg’s (USFSP) Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Innovation Alliance (SEIA) was recently named 2013 Outstanding Emerging Entrepreneurship Program.  

The USASBE, the largest collective group representing more than 500 universities from around the country, supports the advancement of entrepreneurship education. The honor is given to one school per year, and is awarded based on seven pillars: innovativeness, quality, potential viability, comprehensiveness, depth of support, sustainability and impact. USFSP was selected as one of three finalists, along with the University of Maryland and University of Rochester. Winning programs must be less than three years old and demonstrate considerable success through an application process and 20-minute pitch at the annual conference.

 “It really resounded with the judges and the audience that we could do so much with so little, so quickly,” says Daniel James Scott, associate director of the SEIA at the USFSP College of Business.

One thing that made the program stand out is student wins. The biggest of these wins was in 2012, when a team of students won the National Collegiate Entrepreneurship Organization’s CEO Startup Simulation Challenge. The challenge involved business simulations with a variety of decision possibilities, and students were asked to select their best decision. The SEIA also features a number of programs that directly connect students with the community.

“This national recognition really brings the spotlight to the region, if not the entire state,” says Maling Ebrahimpour, Ph.D., dean of the USFSP College of Business. “It helps us show students that there’s a path forward here in this region. If they come to school here, they’re able to stay here and be successful.”

Writer: Megan Hendricks
Source: Maling Ebrahimpour and Daniel James Scott, University of South Florida St. Petersburg College of Business

Three Pinellas County nonprofit organizations are expanding their staff and seeking directors, program facilitators and case managers to accommodate their developing community growth initiatives. ALPHA House of Pinellas County, Inc., Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce, and Homeless Emergency Project, Inc. are amongst a passionate hub of nonprofits dedicated to providing sustainable, secure futures for individuals and businesses.

ALPHA House of Pinellas County, Inc. is adding a new position for a part-time development director. With an emphasis in providing supportive services to homeless pregnant women and teens, new mothers and families experiencing crisis pregnancies, ALHPA House is seeking to expand itsresources and network of collaborative partnerships. The development director will network within the community, initiate new relationships and focus on creating and increasing sources of revenue through available grants and other associations. Interested professionals should have a two- to four-year degree or equivalent developmental experience. Resumes may be faxed to Jennifer Stracick at 727.821.4378 or sent by email.

Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce is hiring a new governmental affairs and leadership program facilitator. Tampa Bay Beaches recently launched an affiliate program to better focus on policies that affect the growth and success of businesses in beach communities. The role of the facilitator will “allow us to be readily available to act on behalf of our businesses and to enhance our advocacy efforts in a more grassroots way,” says CEO Robin Sollie. For information, contact Sollie at 727.360.6957 or by email.

Homeless Emergency Project, Inc. (HEP) is hiring for several new positions including a resource development director to secure private and corporate funding and case managers to provide structured goals and supportive services for program participants. HEP’s mission is to provide homeless and very low-income individuals and families with housing and services necessary to become self-sufficient and have improved quality of life. HEP is also hiring an activities coordinator to support a new program that provides “transitional housing for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans having post-traumatic stress disorder,” says Vice President Libby Stone. For a full list of available opportunities and to apply, visit HEP’s website.

Writer: Kaye Brown
Sources: Jennifer Stracick, ALPHA House of Pinellas County; Robin Sollie, Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce; Libby Stone, Homeless Emergency Project

With a focus on building a value system of trust with clients and the community, Construction Services, Inc. (CSI) of Tampa used its existing customer relationships to create a niche market and is now adding project managers and junior superintendents to its staff. CSI is a small, locally owned design-build firm specializing in the construction management of medical facilities, offices, warehouses, and restaurants.

CSI is expecting to hire project managers to oversee design-build projects from start to finish including project administration and field staff management; junior superintendents will complete field operations. The company employs just 10 people, but creates employment opportunities for over 1,000 individuals who are connected through each of their construction projects.

“We’re a small company that is helping with the economic impact of our community,” says President Fred Lay.

Although the economy changed profits and forward direction for many small businesses, CSI has consistently added staff over the past four years and recently completed a 5,000-square-feet office expansion.

As the economic climate shifted, CSI began to focus their efforts on philanthropic involvement and created CSI Cares, an initiative that rallies to keep employees personally involved in the community. Ultimately, giving back and committing to the community’s needs resulted in new contacts and increased business opportunities for CSI. Through their community service initiatives, CSI additionally contributed over $100,000 in 2012.

For information on hiring opportunities, follow this link.

Writer: Kaye Brown
Source: Fred Lay, Construction Services Inc.

Many businesses in Tampa Bay may not be aware of state and regional funds available for training grants and tax incentives. Harak Associates, a Tampa-based consulting team, helps companies not only navigate the often complicated application process for these grants but also steps in to assist with the ongoing paperwork needed to receive reimbursement.

The company is the brainchild of Donna Harak, a Tampa native and graduate of the University of South Florida. Harak saw a need for such services based on her past work with the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce. Companies expressed a desire to take advantage of training grants, but they didn't have the resources to complete the extensive paperwork required to apply for the grants, she says.
 
"We look at what's out there that companies ought to be taking advantage of that will help them find good talent and bring money to their bottom line,'' says Harak, president of Harak Associates.

Opportunities for tax incentives include the State of Florida Sales Tax Exemption Program and Enterprise Zone Programs -- for companies moving into a designated zone. Companies expanding their workforce by at least 10 percent or meeting other qualifying criteria involving new high-wage jobs may be eligible for a minimum tax refund of $30,000 from the Qualified Targeted Industry Tax Refund. Available training grants include the Incumbent Worker Training Grant and Employed Worker Training Grant, for which companies maybe be reimbursed for 50 percent of associated costs.
 
Harak Associates helped bring in close to $1 million in training dollars to companies in the Tampa Bay area in 2011-12. Clients span across multiple industries such as maritime, healthcare, technology and manufacturing.

"It's all about job creation, job growth and retaining good talent,'' says Harak. "At the end of the day, if you're really trying to grow your company you've got to keep the skills of your employees.''

Writer: Megan Hendricks
Source, Donna Harak, Harak Associates