The University of South Florida Polytechnic’s SFP Blue Sky Incubation Program will host a seminar on the Florida High Tech Corridor Council’s Matching Grants Research Program Nov. 15 at 9 a.m. at Blue Sky East, 199 Avenue B NW, Suite 240, Winter Haven (Six Ten Plaza/formerly Verizon Building). University faculty, entrepreneurs, and executives of established firms interested in discovering and commercializing new technologies should plan to attend.

Randy Berridge, president of the FHTCC, and Tracey Swartz of USF Connect will explain how area companies can take advantage of grant funds available to commercialize university research technologies. Companies can partner with university faculty to take advantage of new market opportunities. Partnerships may be available with faculty from across the University of South Florida, University of Central Florida, and University of Florida campus systems.

RSVPs are requested. For RSVPs or information, contact Eddie Hill at eddiehill@poly.usf.edu.

The Florida High Tech Corridor Council is a regional economic development initiative of the University of South Florida, the University of Central Florida and the University of Florida whose mission is to grow high tech industry and innovation in the region through research, workforce, and marketing partnerships.

USFP’s Blue Sky facilities are the first public business technology incubators in Polk County. They focus on attracting and nurturing entrepreneurial businesses in an innovative environment where USF Poly faculty, staff, and students can work with businesses to develop innovative technology. Incubated companies benefit from the proximity to and resources of a national research university as well as the assets of economic development networks.

Jessica James was one of twenty-two Polk State College students hosted by the attendees at the Chamber Foundation’s 8th Annual Economic Summit. Attendees reserve tables of six and two Polk State students join them at their table. Following the breakfast a random drawing was held and Jessica’s name was drawn to win an iPad2 courtesy of the Chamber Summit and Wal-Mart Store #968 on Cypress Gardens Boulevard.

Jessica is in her Junior year at Polk State pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. She has two semesters to go! Congratulations and good luck! The 8th Annual Economic Summit was sponsored by Morgan Stanley Smith Barney and Polk State College.

(L to R) Chamber President Nelson Kirkland, Wal-Mart Store Manager Nathan Owens (presenting iPad2 to) Polk State student Jessica James, and Electronics Department Manager, Robert Barclay

But – even more than an amazing building (built, I will remind you, on-time and on-budget!) – I want you to join us in affirming the incredible mission of Polk State Chain of Lakes Collegiate High School.

Yes, LEEDS certification is cool (or, in the winter months, appropriately warm).

But how much cooler is it that this high school owns a 100% graduation rate?!?!

Yes, it’s awesome to talk about the building’s state-of-the-art classrooms and labs.

But how much awesomer (yes, that is an approved word at Polk State) is it to talk about the fact that over 80% of this public high school’s graduates earn honors? Or the fact that close to half of this public high school’s graduates leave with not only a high school diploma – but also a fully accredited associate’s degree? Or the fact that students at this public high school have consistently been among the leaders not just in Polk County but in the entire state in terms of FCAT science scores?

As we like to say around here: “It’s good to be us!”

One of seven classrooms in the new Chain of Lakes Collegiate High School. The building meets "Leadership in Energy and Evnironmental Design" (LEED) certifications standards with several features intended to minimize its environmental impact.

The ceremonies were directed by Polk State Provost Dr. Sharon Miller, and included remarks from Principal Bridgette Fetters and Senior Class President Naomie Laroche. Laroche began her remarks professing “butterflies in her stomach” but gave powerful testimony to her Chain of Lakes High experience. She began her junior year at the school apprehensive as to wether she would be accepted within the college community. Those fears were immediately dispelled as she found that she was treated “as an adult and that my opinions and perspectives were respected. I found my teachers encouraged me to challenge them when I disagreed.” She also noted that “attending the school allows you to complete four years of study in two — graduating with an A.A. or A.S. degree at the same time she receives her high school diploma.” Laroche also drew appreciate laughter from the audience when she noted  that Chain of Lakes students can earn those two years of college in a public high school setting that means “two years of no tuition costs for college.”

We would agree … that is indeed “awesomer!”

Polk State also has a collegiate high school on its Lakeland campus.

Several hundred people attended the dedication filling a tent to overflowing. A large number of students and faculty were on hand as well.

S. Todd Baylis

Todd Baylis is a person that was a Silver Garland Award winner in mathematics, Valedictorian of his high school, graduated Summa Cum Laude from Florida State University — he holds a U. S. Patent for a method of establishing a secure e-mail link.

If you ask about his greatest professional achievement, he’ll point to Qgiv — a software that is an online donation platform for non-profits, faith-based and political organizations that allows them to take donations, event registrations and recurring gifts. As one of the founders and current president, he takes great pride in what they have been able to accomplish in a few short years. National clients include Kiwanis International Foundation and the AKC Canine Health Foundation located in 46 states. In his words, “I’m privileged to work with an exceptional team of young professionals at Qgiv who have been able to execute and build such a successful and thriving company.”

Among the attributes that have enabled him to advance professionally is his ability to attract and retain great team members for his companies. He also prides his decision-making ability and points to a favorite quote from George S. Patton that he lives by:

“A good plan, violently executed now, is better than a perfect plan next week.”

When it comes to being involved in his community he walks the walk. And while he’s been involved in multiple organizations over the past few years, he is particularly proud that he led Campfire USA’s Sunshine Council as President of their Board. Elected in 2007 — challenging economic times — he immediately faced a 10% funding cut. Despite the hard choices and decisions they faced, he fostered a culture of strategic thinking within the Board and organization — changes that are still a part of the organization today.

His other community involvement includes serving on the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Emerge lakeland Steering Committee member, Vistage member, United Way of Central Florida Board of Directors, Lakeland Vision Steering Committee Member, Lakeland Rotary Club and the Habitat for Humanity Capital Campaign Committee. He is a graduate of Leadership Lakeland Class XXV and was recognized by The Ledger as one of 20 Young Professionals to Watch Under the Age of 40.

Among the many people he admires he includes Carolyn Jackson with the Lakeland Chamber through her help and guidance with Emerge Lakeland Young Professionals Group as well as her personal commitment to help young professionals outside her normal Chamber duties.

We’re proud to honor S. Todd Baylis President of both Qgiv, Inc. and Cipher Integrations, Inc. — Lakeland-based technology companies.

“A centralized focus on economic development for Winter Haven is our primary reason for forming the Winter Haven EDC.” said Ingram Leedy, President/CEO of Elephant Outlook and Chairman of the Transition Team heading up the EDC effort.

“We’ve identified target industries best suited for recruitment to and expansion in the Winter Haven area, such as medical services; software and information technology; and logistics and distribution facilities. General business and professional services would be on that list, as well as agribusiness. Those are niches we will be directing our development efforts towards.” Leedy said.

Charter Board Members of the new EDC include representatives from the 6-10 Corporation, Collany Properties, Elephant Outlook, Envisors Engineering, The Landings, Polk State College, Tampa Electric, Tucker Construction, USF Polytechnic, and Winter Haven Hospital. Legal and accounting services to establish the EDC have been donated by Sharit, Bunn & Chilton, P.A. and LarsonAllen, LLP, respectively. The EDC Board intends to develop a membership program, solicit additional board members, raise funds and hire a new Executive Director/CEO by the end of 2011.

“We have built tremendous momentum for the EDC with great interest and commitment from Winter Haven business leaders and city officials. The formation of the EDC would not have been possible without the support of the City of Winter Haven. ” Leedy said, adding that efforts by the organization will complement new economic development in the area by CSX, LEGOLAND Florida and more.

Leedy noted,  “The creation of the Winter Haven Economic Development Council is a culmination of hard work and real visioning for our community and we expect great things from this important public/private partnership.”

Once again a Winter Haven-based technology expert is delivering tech connections on a national scale. Ryan Roberts served as Network Architect for the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Conference, June 26 – 29 in Philadelphia, Pa. As Network Architect, Roberts designed a wireless network at the Pennsylvania Convention Center which simultaneously supported more than 16,000 users. The project required more than six miles of network cable providing 260 Mbps of internet bandwidth.

Formerly called the National Education Computing Conference, ISTE is considered the world’s premier educational technology event. Attendees from 60 countries gathered in the 440,000 square foot venue to see the latest learning and teaching technologies with product demonstrations and special topic workshops. Roberts used more than 500 wired drops and 498 wireless radios, both Cisco and Xirrus, for the conference rooms and common areas.  Roberts’ custom network provided uninterrupted service for a group of high-tech users equivalent to the population of a city larger than Auburndale. He has more than 10 years experience in network engineering.

Winter Haven’s downtown technology sector has grown from a handful of individuals ten years ago to more that 25 companies with more than 250 employees. Downtown is also home to the USF Polytechnic Business Accelerator. Downtown features one of the largest concentrations of fiber optic internet access in the southeastern U.S. and includes Lambda Rail, a high speed internet  access able to move massive amounts of data quickly — highly desired by education and medical professionals.

Roberts is employed by ePolk, a Winter Haven-based technology company.

After lengthy discussion the Board approved the following resolution directed to the City of Winter Haven.

RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF THE
GREATER WINTER HAVEN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

“THE LANDINGS”

The Board of Directors of the Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce strongly urges the City of Winter Haven to take the necessary steps to relocate the community facilities currently located on the Chain of Lakes Complex property at the intersection of US 17 and Cypress Gardens Boulevard.

The Board believes that the successful repurposing of this property featuring hotels, restaurants and retail is of critical importance to the long term economic well being of the business community including LEGOLAND Florida, and the citizens of Winter Haven.

As this community aspires to become a world-class tourism, technology and logistic center, the aging facilities located on this important parcel deserve to be recreated to serve a new and vibrant economy.

Toward this end the Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce pledges our support in working to create community partnerships that can assure the successful realization of this important vision.

Unanimously approved this 25th day of February 2011.

Cynthia Price, President

Ed. Note: The Chamber’s resolution does not preclude reconstruction Chain of Lakes facilities on that site where feasible. The primary concern is replacing aging inadequate facilities while expediting the construction of hotels, restaurants and specialty retail to complement the LEGOLAND Florida theme park as well as Winter Haven’s amenities.

Kochan

More than 140 business leaders and Polk State students joined together today to hear both a national and local speaker discuss the economic outlook for 2011.  Both James Kochan and Dr. Carl Brown agree that the housing construction nosedive and mortgage crisis are big factors in the slower than normal economic recovery. Kochan is Chief Fixed Income Strategist at Wells Fargo & Company and Brown is Professor of Economics at Florida Southern College in Lakeland.

Both men presented a variety of charts on factors from car sales to unemployment — each displaying drastic downward or upward trends  (in the least desirable directions) but most showing some moderation in the most recent 2010 quarterly reports. Dr. Brown publishes the quarterly “Polk Progress” report. He is awaiting retail sales information to complete the 2010 third quarter report. You can access his economic reports here.

Both speakers predict flat or modest improvement in main indicators through late 2011.

Brown

Justin Bean, student body president at the Polk State Lakeland Campus asked of the speakers, “What can I and my classmates of 2013 and 2014 expect to find when we graduate and enter the workforce. Kochan counseled that students should look to fields where the U. S. holds a competitive edge such as technology and medicine. He also noted that the days of holding one job in a particular discipline for a lifetime are gone.

(Ed. Note: Winter Haven should fare better than average as Merlin Entertainments makes a $100 million + investment in the historic Cypress Gardens property. Furthermore a $140 million project “The Landings” is proposed for the Chain of Lakes complex and adjoining property on the west side of US 17.  The downtown area of Winter Haven is emerging as one of the most sophisticated technology and communication crossroads in the southeast. In addition, The 2007 Industry Cluster Study commissioned by the Central Florida Development Council listed High Tech and Life Sciences and Medical Services among Polk’s primary industry clusters  – both have a big presence in Winter Haven and should be well positioned for our future graduates.)

The program was presented by the Winter Haven Chamber Foundation and sponsored by Morgan Stanley Smith Barney/Winter Haven Branch and Polk State College.

“Its proximity to the Inland Fiber & Data Technology Park, the USF Polytechnic Blue Sky Accelerator, the New Media Lab and the planned City parking garage make this a great location for a wide range of businesses and end–users,” said Angela Harwell, Broker for 6/10 Commercial, Inc. Harwell stated a number of lease commitments are already in place.

“It’s a great building. It just needs some work and we intend to do a very nice renovation,” said John Jebens, CTO and staff architect for the 6/10 Corporation. “It may be an older building but it will be equipped with the latest technology. We will extending some of the digital infrastructure available on the Inland Fiber campus to this building.”

The first floor consists of street retail and office space. A conference room, break area, copy/print/scan services and interior and al fresco common areas are planned for the second floor, and additional office space is offered on the third floor. Office amenities include a common conference room, fiber optic service to the building, Wi-Fi availability, and voice-over IP phone service is planned.

For further information contact Angela Harwell at (863) 595-0237, www.610commercial.com