Innovation + Job News

Two University of South Florida faculty members were recently awarded funds from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to research the impact of extreme weather events such as droughts, storms and heat on air and water quality. The projects are among 14 selected nationally to receive nearly $9 million to conduct similar research.

The goal is to better prepare air and water quality management systems to handle extreme weather, thus protecting critical ecosystems and the public. 

Jason Rohr, associate professor at USF's Department of Integrative Biology, was awarded $374,936 to develop tools that predict the affect of extreme climate changes on water quality. The research team will take a closer look at the impacts of these shifts on water-borne diseases, such as e. coli and salmonella. ??"Our long-term goal is to predict when and where the risk of infection to people might be problematic,'' says Rohr. The results could help people make decisions about when to visit the beach or other bodies of water, as well as allow public health managers to be proactive in their response. 

A second grant in the amount of $750,000 was awarded to Frank Muller-Karger, professor of Biological Oceanography and Remote Sensing at the USF College of Marine Science. The research team, which includes the Tampa Bay Estuary Program, will study satellite images of estuaries in the Gulf of Mexico and Puerto Rico that measure things like water temperature and color. The team will look at nearly 20 years of satellite images and 100 years of meteorological records to study the frequency and synergy of extreme weather events.

The goal is to eventually create a mobile platform that will allow scientists and researchers to easily access the data in real time.

"We want to keep pushing the envelope to improve the water quality because it's so important for our economy and our health,'' says Muller-Karger.

Writer: Megan Hendricks
Sources: Jason Rohr and Frank Muller-Karger, USF

Tampa Bay's communities offer eclectic blends of culture, creativity and ways of life. A new website uses photographs to profile the people and places that contribute to this vibrancy.

Snapshot Tampa Bay looks at what makes Tampa Bay the cultural mecca that it is -- its people. The project is a labor of love by two local residents and creative advocates, Bryan Hunt and Julia Gorzka Freeman.

"It's our way of spotlighting people, events and places that are going on here in a novel way, to provide a glimpse into how we live,'' says Bryan Hunt.

The inspiration for the website came from their realization that there is lots going on in Tampa Bay that people don't know about. The site offers a different way of looking at people, by taking images inside their homes and businesses to show how they live.

They plan to highlight different neighborhoods to help people discover new restaurants, organizations and people, like Larry and Charlie Schiller of Schiller Salvage in Odessa. The Schillers travel the country to find the neatest and most quirky salvage items to sell in their store.

Other features will include the realm of Tampa Bay's creative economy, from someone living in a condo on the beach to a farmer in the rural areas of Brandon. Future plans include an "explore'' page that will help people navigate the Tampa Bay region and find cool places to go and things to do.

"We're creating a place for people to look at Tampa Bay in a new light,'' says Hunt.

Writer: Megan Hendricks
Source: Snapshot Tampa Bay, Bryan Hunt

Rev-Tech Manufacturing Solutions, a division of Plasma-Therm in St. Petersburg, plans to add 10-15 manufacturing jobs in 2013.

Rev-Tech manufactures semiconductor chips that are used in many retail products, including LED televisions, cell phones and hard drives. With the growing popularity of smart phones, Plasma-Therm is seeing their product sales soar.

"With the rapid penetration of smart phones such as the Galaxy S3 and iPhone 5, we see an increase in demand for our products,'' says Abdul Lateef, CEO of Plasma-Therm. "With a combination of increased focus on the customer, and the expansion of our distribution worldwide, we have been able to capture a larger market share.''

Since 2011, the company has added 16 new employees to its Rev-Tech subsidiary, and close to 50 people to the Plasma-Therm parent company.

"We anticipate the business to continue on a growth trajectory, and as such we expect to add another 10-15 people to the Rev-Tech team, and an even higher number to the overall company,'' Lateef says.

The company is looking for CNC programmers and operators, mechanical workers, welders and sheet metal fabricators.

Qualified candidates can apply for open positions here through the company’s website.

Writer: Kimberly Patterson
Source: Abdul Lateef, Plasma-Therm

Are you an entrepreneur or small business with an idea, but aren’t sure about next steps to get it off the ground?

Tampa Bay Innovation Center hosts its Fall 2012 IDEA Camp Wednesday, November 14, 8 am - 2:30 pm at Collaborative Labs, St. Petersburg College. The goal of the collaborative event is to help Tampa Bay businesses and individuals in technology fields create a winning pitch and add value to their concept, positioning them to move their idea forward.

The full day workshop provides advice, direction and one-on-one assistance from volunteer business consultants, investors, lawyers and entrepreneurs to help participants refine an idea into a 60-second pitch.

“Often someone who is deep into their idea can’t look at it from the 60,000-foot level,” says Danielle Weitlauf, New Venture Manager for the Tampa Bay Innovation Center. “The event helps open the door to whatever type of partnership they are trying to get.”

IDEA Camp participants will leave with a refined business model, credibility for their product or idea, confidence to deliver an effective value proposition, new contacts and a plan for next steps.

The event has taken place since 2009 and has assisted many companies with getting their ideas off the ground. One such idea is Head of Lettuce Media, this year’s social media sponsor. The company was launched at IDEA Camp in 2009 and is now growing and thriving in the Tampa Bay area. 

“The event is part of supporting the full entrepreneurship ecosystem in Tampa Bay,” says Weitlauf. “It could be a launch pad to getting a great idea off the ground.”

The event is open to 15 concepts, with one to two attendees per concept. If selected, the cost to attend is $99. The deadline to apply is Friday, October 26. Click here for more information, and to apply.

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

The University of South Florida and New College of Florida are among just under 500 public colleges and universities across the nation pledging to raise the number of bachelor's degrees awarded by the year 2025.

Project Degree Completion, a joint program of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) and the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU), joins with the Lumina Foundation and other national organizations to increase the number of Americans with college degrees by 3.8 million, or to 60 percent of the U.S. adult population.

Among other things, the commitment pledges the institutions to reach out to students who took classes in the past but didn't finish their degree. A similar local effort began in March of this year as part of the Graduate Tampa Bay initiative led by the Tampa Bay Partnership.

"By signing on to Project Degree Completion, we publicly commit USF to doing its part to achieve these goals and add our collective voice to others calling for a renewed partnership between colleges and universities, states and federal government to restore 'best in the world' status to American higher education,'' says Dr. Paul Dosal, VP for student success at the University of South Florida.

The institutions signing the commitment also agreed to minimize expenses while making sure educational quality is enhanced, uphold quality student access, success and diversity, reduce the amount of time it takes to graduate and to support economic growth in the local regions including research and innovation. 

AASCU is highlighting innovative partnerships and programs on its website through initiatives such as the Innovations Exchange, an online forum for sharing information.

"New College of Florida is committed to providing students with a high quality, affordable, public liberal arts education which allows them to uniquely impact the world around them. The College has several initiatives underway to improve student success and thus help with the larger goal of reaching 60 percent degree attainment for the country,'' says Dr. Raymonda Burgman, associate provost for New College of Florida.

Writer: Megan Hendricks
Sources: Paul Dosal, USF; Raymonda Burgman, New College of Florida

The Mobile Medical Clinic (MMC) at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital is crossing the Bay to expand its free services to children in Pinellas County.

The arrival in Pinellas will take place October 18 from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Neighborhood Family Center in Clearwater. Appointments are required by calling 727-442-5355.

The MMC began in 2004 with the goal of providing required immunizations for children who weren't able to receive them due to health care or financial constraints. The service was so popular and critical to the community that additional services such as physical exams were added the next year.

"We're seeking to fill the healthcare gap, especially for people who don't have health insurance,'' says Kate Kennedy, child advocate for St. Joseph's Children's Advocacy Center and the MMC's coordinator. "We strive to be a bridge to care to give families the services they need at a time and place that's convenient for them.''

The 40-foot bus is staffed with nurses, a childhood specialist, a bilingual child advocate and volunteer pediatricians. Services include: well child physicals and immunizations, developmental screenings, and education and referrals about other community programs for those who have additional needs. Children are also assessed for unintentional injury risks. In 2011, the MMC assisted just under 1,000 children in Hillsborough County, from infants to 18-year-olds.

The expansion into Pinellas County is funded by a grant from Allegany Franciscan Ministries. Future plans include taking individual services off the bus when specific needs are identified in a particular community.

Children must be 18 years old or younger to participate. Parents much accompany children and provide a current vaccine record.

Writer: Megan Hendricks
Source: Kate Kennedy, St. Joseph's Children's Hospital

Power Quality International (PQI), a manufacturer of transformers and filters in Pasco, was recently listed on GrowFL’s "50 Companies to Watch.'' The company doubled its workforce this year and plans to continue to grow and hire over the next few years.

PQI manufactures highly energy efficient transformers and filters that help various types of facilities reduce energy costs. The green products are well suited for LEED facilities, which has played a vital role in the company’s growth.

"PQI has grown due to a deep understanding of the nuances of energy efficiency within facilities such as commercial buildings, hospitals, schools and data centers,'' says Shaun Ferguson, president of PQI. "By applying industry leading products in a solutions approach that provides real and significant savings to building owners, both in new construction and in retrofit scenarios, we are able to provide value added products and services to the market and enjoy growth and new market penetration.''

As PQI continues to add clients and projects, the company plans to hire additional workers with industry expertise.

"PQI expects to add technically oriented power-systems engineering positions, as well as other support positions as growth dictates over the next couple of years,'' says Ken Sparks, VP of sales and marketing.

In addition to the company’s listing on GrowFL’s Companies to Watch roll, PQI will be recognized at a special awards gala ceremony Friday, Oct. 19, at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando.

Writer: Kimberly Patterson
Source: Shaun Ferguson & Ken Sparks, Power Quality International

Leaders of the local technology community have come together to create a task force that will target qualified IT professionals. The task force recently held in-depth interviews with business and academic leaders, sent out surveys to IT professionals in the local workforce, in addition to conducting focus groups with students, executives, HR professionals and educational institutions. The purpose of their research was to discover what challenges the IT community faces both now and in the future in regards to ensuring a steady flow of qualified workers for future economic growth.

The task force discovered several areas for improvement, including making the Tampa Bay area more marketable to IT professionals, ensuring students receive the necessary education and training needed to succeed in the field, and bridging the gap between educational institutions and local businesses.

Heather Kenyon, CEO of the Tampa Bay Technology Forum (TBTF), is on the task force and will be taking the lead on the action plan set forth by the task force to resolve the issues that were raised in the report.

"The TBTF has taken the lead on the recommendations because this issue affects all of our members, particularly the small- and medium-sized companies that comprise the majority of the area’s businesses,'' Kenyon says.

TBTF has already embarked on various initiatives such as student chapters at local colleges and intern fairs, in addition to working with the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce on a strategy to help veterans get the training needed for a career in IT. She has also been given a secured commitment from industry partners to take on interns and newly graduated college students.

Writer: Kimberly Patterson
Source: Heather Kenyon, TBTF

24 straight hours of branding, marketing, strategizing, design and community service. That’s what Lakeland-based Madden Brand Agency is planning for its 2nd Annual Brandathon, November 8 at 8 am.

The company's entire team of eight employees will work through the night to provide pro bono services for selected nonprofit organizations in Polk County. Deliverables will include logo redesign, branded collateral, strategic development or advertising campaigns.

"We really have a culture here about giving back,'' says Michelle Ledford, director of client services for Madden Brand Agency. "We get requests for pro bono work quite often, and this gives us an opportunity to go all in with a focused effort.''
 
Fourteen projects were completed during last year's inaugural event, with overall donations valued at $54,000. Projects included a brochure design for Volunteers in Service to the Elderly (VISTE), which provides meals and visits to seniors, and a logo design for Achievement Academy, which assists children with special needs. They also developed a donor development strategy for SPCA Florida in Lakeland. 

The company will provide a live feed with a web cam on their website and will also be posting updates to their blog and Facebook page to keep people up to date during the event.

Interested nonprofit organizations can submit an application by Wednesday, October 17, at 5 pm. Organizations must be a 501(c)3 located in Polk County and have an active Board of Directors who meets on a quarterly basis.
For more information or to submit an application, visit: http://brandmadden.com/brandathon

Writer: Megan Hendricks
Source: Michelle Ledford, Madden Brand Agency

The Center for Transformation and Innovation (CTI) has experienced tremendous growth and is planning to hire three additional employees by the end of the year. The company, which offers coaching and training to individuals and organizations, was started in 2005 within the USF College of Health. Since its inception, the company has grown more than 1,000 percent and earlier this year became a standalone company from the university, although the business remains close to USF.

"We have grown fast, achieved profitability and expect more growth next year,'' says Mohamad "Mo'' Kasti, CEO of CTI. "We hired seven people this year and plan to hire one to two additional sales people as well as a client manager.''

CTI works with clients in various fields including healthcare, government, energy and manufacturing. The business team and coaches offer classes and workshops on leadership, sales and marketing, strategic planning and innovation, among several others.

"We offer services nationally to many organizations by transforming their leaders and their cultures,'' Kasti says.
While CTI has clients throughout the U.S., the company has made an impact on local businesses as well. Kasti says his organization has helped the Heartbeat Foundation and Tampa International Airport by transforming their business strategies.

CTI also offers an annual workshop for local leaders.  

"Our Executive Leadership Institute of Tampa (ELI) for local executives and leaders helps local leaders transform the way they lead their teams and organizations,'' Kasti says. "We are launching another ELI class in January and will have more success stories locally working with local leaders.''

Writer: Kimberly Patterson
Source: Mohamad Kasti, Center for Transformation and Innovation

Local entrepreneurs and startups now have an ally in their hunt for success. The Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce is starting a new initiative known as the Startup Scholars Program, which will focus on helping innovators and entrepreneurs access the resources needed to succeed.

"The chamber is in a unique position to unite entrepreneurs with the many isolated resources that are across the Tampa Bay region,'' says John Wakefield, business innovation subcommittee chair for the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce. "We feel the chamber can play a role in helping entrepreneurs by offering needs assessments and offering our resources to help them.''

Wakefield says the Chamber is looking for startups or entrepreneurs who are in the early stages of development for their product or service. Once entrepreneurs are chosen. they will be provided guidance and assistance in three major areas the Chamber has identified as crucial to a company’s success: seed capital, best management practices and sales growth.

In addition to receiving an assessment, the Chamber will also offer those chosen entrepreneurs membership to their organization, as well as a mentor.

The program is open to entrepreneurs in any industry sector. The Chamber’s mission with the Startup Scholars initiative is to ultimately help the greater economy.

"Our mission is to improve the likelihood of success for entrepreneurs,'' Wakefield says. "If we have more entrepreneurs and startup successes the result will be more jobs and economic development, as well as innovation.''

Applications are being accepted until October 19 and can be completed through the Chamber’s website. Entrepreneurs will be selected by the end of November.

Writer: Kimberly Patterson
Source: John Wakefield, Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce

The University Area Community Development Center (UACDC) honors Breast Cancer Awareness Month with its sixth annual "Day of Pampering'' event, Saturday, October 20, from 8 am to 2 pm. The event takes place at the University Area Community Center, 14013 North 22nd Street in Tampa. The goal is to educate women about prevention and early detection of breast and cervical cancer and wellness.

"This event empowers women to take charge of their health with screenings and workshops that are both free and fun," say Martine Dorvil, event organizer and director of community outreach at UACDC.

More than 300 women are expected to attend the free event to participate in on-site screenings for cholesterol, blood pressure, glucose and other common health concerns. Workshops will provide information on cancer prevention and early detection, healthy lifestyle and nutrition, overcoming stress and resources for cancer survivors.

The event has touched the lives of more than 1,500 women since it began five years ago. Attendees enjoy the interaction and sharing with other women, many who are going through treatment for cancer and other ailments. Their stories and positive attitudes are inspiring and contagious.

Funding is provided by donations and groups including the USF College of Public Health, Tampa Bay Community Cancer Network and Hillsborough County Health Department.

The focus is on the university area community, where there is a critical need to address health care issues and provide opportunities for quality, compassionate and accessible care. It is open to the public, and those who qualify based on income will also receive referrals for free mammograms and pap smears.

Activities will be conducted in both Spanish and English, and other translators will be available.

Pre-registration is encouraged; walk-ins will be allowed as space permits. To register, call the Hillsborough County Health Department at 813-307-8015, ext. 7112 or 3502. The registration deadline is October 12.

Writer: Megan Hendricks
Source: Martine Dorvil, UACDC

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens' Museum of Botany and the Arts in Sarasota is featuring the photography of environmental photojournalist and Clearwater native Carlton Ward Jr. now through November 27.

A gallery walk and talk will be hosted October 17 from 5 to 6 pm. RSVP here for the special tour or call 941-366-5731, ext. 237.

The exhibit will feature 20 original photographs taken during the recent Florida Wildlife Corridor Expedition, of which Ward participated along with three other Floridians. The 1,000-mile expedition took place over a 100-day period beginning in January of this year with the goal of raising public awareness and generating support for the Florida Wildlife Corridor Project.

The project connects natural lands, waters, farms, forests and ranches from the Everglades to Georgia to protect the health and welfare of the people, wildlife and watersheds. This ultimately ensures the sustainability of Florida's water supply, as well as agricultural heritage and economies.

"Selby Gardens shares a common mission of environmental conservation with the Florida Wildlife Corridor Expedition. We are invested in the success of the Corridor from the perspective of native plant conservation,'' says Jeannie Perales, director of education at Selby Gardens.

The exhibit promises to provide a unique opportunity to see the beauty of Florida in its many facets, most of which have never been seen by the general public. The vivid images of water, plants and animals will allow viewers to feel as if they are standing in the actual Florida Wildlife Corridor.

The exhibit will also include select images from Ward's Gulf Coast Collection, including shots of the sun setting and moon rising over Tampa Bay.

Writer: Megan Hendricks
Source: Jeannie Perales, Selby Gardens

Young professionals in Tampa Bay recognize that regional cooperation helps advance the strength of our communities and future opportunities for everyone.

In an effort to promote this cooperation and further the conversation, several young professionals groups are coming together for the second annual Tampa Bay Young Professionals Summit on Friday, October 12, from 1 to 5 pm at Hillsborough Community College's Ybor City campus, room 204 in the Ybor Building.

The event is presented by Emerge Tampa Bay and the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, with Clearwater Young Professionals and St. Petersburg Chamber Young Professionals.

The interactive Summit will feature a slate of local guest speakers and presenters as well as breakout sessions to energize participants about the future of Tampa Bay.

Presenters and participants will answer questions like:
-- How can we improve the current business climate and encourage rapid growth?
-- How can young professionals take an active role to improve the region?
-- What would be a game changer for Tampa Bay?

The focus will be on five industry sectors: urban growth/environment, medical tech and healthcare research, entrepreneurship and high tech, cultural impact and education.

"The main goal of the Summit is to educate, engage and gather ideas from Tampa Bay's young professionals for improving the regional economy,'' says Brian Seel, public policy chair for Emerge Tampa Bay and chief organizer of the event. "This is a unique collaborative opportunity to advance the priorities of our generation.''

The Summit will produce a 10-item Economic Action List which will serve as a guiding framework for young professionals to continue to contribute to the regional economy in a meaningful way.

A Happy Hour will also be hosted immediately following the event at New World Brewery in Ybor City.

Cost is $25 per person. Pre-registration at this link is encouraged.

Writer: Megan Hendricks
Source: Brian Seel, Emerge Tampa Bay

Novation Companies, Inc., which acquires and operates technology-based startups, plans to create 200 local jobs in the Tampa Bay region through two new small businesses.
 
Novation’s startups are Mango Moving, a residential and corporate mover, and Advent Financial, which provides prepaid credit cards for those without bank accounts. New jobs will be created in both.

"We expect to add approximately 100 employees to Advent Financial, and another 100 or so employees to Mango Moving over the next year,'' says Steve  Haslam, COO of Novation.

Haslam says a majority of the approximate 200 positions will be in the areas of sales, quality control and customer service.

Novation currently operates a home appraisal management company known as StreetLinks, which arrived in Tampa last year and has 200 employees. Haslam expects StreetLinks to expand as well as the housing market rebounds

While Novation is headquartered in Kansas City, MO, the company has two Tampa locations: 9314 E. Broadway Ave. and its most recent addition at NetPark office complex on East Hillsborough Avenue. Haslam credits the area’s pro-business climate for Novation’s expansion in Tampa.

"We chose a present and future expansion strategy in Tampa because of the positive hiring environment, positive facilities pricing and availability,'' Haslam says. "The Florida Economic Development folks worked with us closely as well, and we felt very welcome here by Governor Scott and his economic team.''

Writer: Kimberly Patterson
Source: Steve Haslam, Novation