Corridor NEWS RELEASES

Florida’s “Faces of Technology” Highlighted in florida.HIGH.TECH 2010

Magazine Offers Compelling Stories about Florida’s High Tech Corridor, its Researchers, Entrepreneurs and Technology Breakthroughs

HEATHROW, Fla. (March 10, 2010) –Central Florida’s most in-depth guide to the high tech community is taking a new approach in 2010, highlighting entrepreneurs in the region that are developing innovative technologies with the potential to revolutionize the industry.  These “Faces of Technology” share their stories inside florida.HIGH.TECH 2010, an annual magazine published by the Maddux Business Report in partnership with the Florida High Tech Corridor Council (FHTCC).

florida.HIGH.TECH 2010 features a variety of compelling articles about high tech industry in the Corridor, including the recurring feature highlighting 16 “Faces of Technology,” such as:

David Corey – CEO of Lakeland-based Solicore, a world leader of embedded power solutions, offering ultra-thin flexible lithium polymer batteries for powered cards, RFID devices and micro medical devices;

Dr. Sudipta Seal – Professor of Materials Science & Engineering at the University of Central Florida and founder of nSolGel, a company that is developing a cement substitute called Zerocrete from flyash, a byproduct of coal-burning smokestacks;

Lou Oberndorf – CEO of METI (Medical Education Technologies Inc.), a Sarasota-based developer of human patient simulators that provide true-to-life health care learning opportunities;

Dr. Rainer Meinke – Founder and Chief Scientist of the Advanced Magnet Lab, a research and development company in Palm Bay that designs powerful coils and magnet systems with applications in medicine and renewable energy; and,

Dr. Ryan Kern – President of Optima Neuroscience, an Alachua company that uses high tech monitoring systems in analyzing brainwaves to accurately predict seizure activity.

“These Faces of Technology profiles showcase the extraordinarily diverse high tech sectors in the region through the eyes of industry experts,” said Randy Berridge, president of the Florida High Tech Corridor Council.  “They stand as testaments to the Corridor’s potential to significantly impact entire industries, if not the world.  We are so proud that they call Florida’s High Tech Corridor home, and we salute their passion and commitment.”

Now, through the Faces of Technology YouTube channel, http://www.facesoftechnology.com, viewers can watch these dynamic individuals tell their own stories.  Each of these professionals discuss how they are using technology to facilitate the growth and development of creativity in the region. 

In addition to the Faces of Technology profiles, the magazine contains a special feature on FHTCC’s efforts in Economic Gardening (GrowFL.com), spotlighting its entrepreneurial and incubator support, as well as articles on the technologies coming from the three Corridor universities, the University of Central Florida (UCF), the University of South Florida (USF) and the University of Florida (UF).  Most exciting, this issue catalogs the 13-year history and milestones of FHTCC’s Matching Grants Research Program, which surpassed 1,000 projects funded this year.

For nine years, the Maddux Business Report has published the magazine in partnership with the Florida High Tech Corridor Council, highlighting its successes in research, workforce development and marketing.  In addition to including the organization’s annual report, this year’s magazine features in-depth stories on the downstream value of the Matching Grants Research Program, the economic impacts of UCF’s Business Incubation Program and the high tech companies that relocated to the area because of Corridor partnership opportunities.

Copies of the magazine are distributed to trade groups and professional associations listed in the magazine, as well as to sponsors and advertisers.  Corridor Council development groups distribute the magazine nationwide as they work to grow high tech industry and innovation in the region.  Copies are available through the Maddux Business Report for $15 to cover the cost of tax, shipping and handling.  To obtain a copy, contact Marcia Turner at Marcia@Maddux.com or (800) 226-4394.  The content is also available for download via http://www.floridahightech.com/resources/directory.html.

About FHTCC

The Florida High Tech Corridor Council (FHTCC) is an economic development initiative of the University of Central Florida (UCF), the University of South Florida (USF) and the University of Florida (UF) whose mission is to grow high tech industry and innovation through research, workforce and marketing partnerships.

A partnership involving more than 20 local and regional economic development organizations (EDOs) and 14 community colleges, the Council is co-chaired by the presidents of UCF, USF and UF.  The Council includes the presidents of two of the community colleges, the president of Florida Institute of Technology and representatives of high tech industry. 

The unique partnership has resulted in a strategic approach to high tech economic development that involves matching funds research, workforce development and a marketing program leveraging governmental, EDO and corporate budgets on a regional rather than local basis.

For more information, visit www.floridahightech.com.