Saturday, December 25, 2010

SPIE's Medical Imaging meeting in Lake Buena Vista 12-17 Feb2011

To: Florida Photonics Cluster members

I'm sending you the information below on SPIE's Medical Imaging meeting because I think you or someone from your company may be interested in attending this excellent meeting, which is being held in 2011 in Lake Buena Vista (and again in every odd year in the future).

Jim

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Attend SPIE Medical Imaging—a multidisciplinary forum that seeks to advance medical imaging technologies in the areas of medical physics, image processing, CAD, visualization and modeling, PACS, perception, ultrasonic imaging, and biomedical research. With over 1,000 paper presentations, poster sessions, opportunities to take courses, and a variety of networking events, Medical Imaging is an important conference for medical physicists. Plenary speaker Bill Hendee, Medical College of Wisconsin, will discuss the Expanding Role of Physics and Engineering in Medical Imaging. Come to SPIE Medical Imaging, 12-17 February 2011, Lake Buena Vista, Florida. See the full program and register at http://spie.org/medical-imaging.xml?WT.mc_id=RMI11UCFCREOLBVE

Lunch & Learn "Banking with Benefits"

Lunch ‘n Learn @ St. Cloud Incubator

“Banking with Benefits”

Presented by: Ms. Sadia J. Marsch, VP, BB&T

Presentation
  • New Exclusive Banking Opportunities with Benefits
  • Banking Product Options, Features & Discounts
  • Employee Benefits: – Medical - Prescription – Vision
  • HR Programs: - Payroll – Tax - Pre-employment Screening
  • Retirement Products: - 401(k) – Institutional Services
  • Bonus Services: – Insurance - Security - Travel
“Not the Same Banking Your Papa & Mama Did!”

  • Date: Tuesday, January 11, 2011; 11:30 am – 1:30 pm
  • Location: UCF Business Incubator – St. Cloud
  • 3201 Budinger Ave, St. Cloud Fl 34769
  • Cost: No Charge to Incubator Clients and FPC Members; $20 for all others

To Reserve a Space, please email Jessica: jfilter@mail.ucf.edu or 407-498-0432
Ms. Sadia J. Marsch is the Financial Center Leader for Branch, Banking & Trust (BB&T). She manages the South Orlando Office located on the corner of Michigan and Orange Avenue. Sadia has been in banking for over 9 yrs and with BB&T for 3yrs. BB&T has been around since 1872, 140 yrs. They have over 1800 locations and are Safe and Sound. The bank is very much values driven. All employees promise to be Reliable, Responsive, Empathetic and Competent.
Sadia assists Retail and Business Clients through: Banking, Insurance, Investments, Loans, Capital Formation, Payment Services, Employee Benefits, Risk Management and with many Life Changes. Our mission is to help our clients achieve economic success and financial security through excellent client service.

Florida Companies to Watch Event Celebrates Companies thatCreate Growth and Foster Innovation

To: Florida Photonics Cluster members

I thought you would be interested in this announcement. Only a couple of companies that are photonics-related, although one is Optigrate Corp., a spin-out of CREOL. I hope to see more photonics companies in next year's competition and awards, including some of our FPC member companies. A full list of the honored companies and info on the awards event is also on the web at http://www.growfl.com/pdfs/newsreleases/Florida Companies to Watch Winners Release 12-17-10.pdf

Best regards and Happy Holidays!

Jim Pearson

FPC Executive Director
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50 FLORIDA COMPANIES TO BE HONORED

Florida Companies to Watch Event Celebrates

Companies that Create Growth and Foster Innovation

Awards Event Recognizes Companies That Positively Impact Florida’s Future

ORLANDO, Fla. (December 17, 2010) – Fifty companies from 18 Florida counties have earned a place in Florida’s inaugural class of “Companies to Watch.”The accolade, presented by GrowFL, the Florida Economic Gardening Institute at the University of Central Florida and ACG Florida, in association with the Edward Lowe Foundation and funding support from The Governor’s Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development, recognizes the state’s privately held businesses that employ up to 99 employees and have between $750,000 to $50 million in annual revenue or capital.

“Firms like these named ‘Companies to Watch’ continue to be the catalyst that is fueling Florida’s emergence from a turbulent national economy,” said Randy Berridge, President of the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. “Congratulations to this exemplary group of Florida businesses that continue to invest in their communities and create new jobs in all corners of our state.”

The “Florida Companies to Watch,” which were named after evaluating more than 310 nominations for the awards, represent industries ranging from alternative energy development to food production and industrial gear makers to information technology firms. The combined impact of the fifty chosen companies is $423 million in total annual revenue; 1,972 full-time equivalent employees and 510 new net jobs created compared to 2009. From 2006 through 2010, these companies generated $1.4 billion in revenue and added 1,153 employees (both in Florida and out of state), reflecting a 162 percent increase in revenue and 141 percent increase in jobs for the five-year period. That translates into a 32 percent annual revenue growth and 28 percent annual growth in employees.

With major sponsorship support from the Florida High Tech Corridor Council, the Florida Business Incubation Association, Fowler White Boggs, P.A. and the University of Central Florida, the “Florida Companies to Watch” awards program is an initiative developed by the Cassopolis, Mich.-based Edward Lowe Foundation. The foundation hosts similar programs in Michigan, Indiana, Colorado, Wisconsin, and North Carolina. Additional sponsors include Gulf Power Company, Nperspective, Osceola County Economic Development Department and the University of South Florida.

The fifty “Florida Companies to Watch” will be honored at the awards celebration on February 17 at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando. Tickets for the ceremony and dinner are still available and may be purchased online at www.florida.companiestowatch.org or by calling Lynn Aitken at 407-823-6384.

“Florida Companies to Watch takes a whole-business approach, identifying companies across the state that represent Florida’s future, not just major metropolitan areas,” says Dr. O’Neal. “It shows the economic potential of the entire state as demonstrated by the successes of second-stage companies. Being selected for the Florida Companies to Watch awards program provides growing businesses the credibility and recognition that distinguish them among their competitors. This statewide event lauds the success of business leaders who have taken their operations to the "second-stage" of growth and hold the potential to continue to create new jobs in their communities and industries, thereby making a difference in regional communities.”

In addition to the recognition of being named a Florida Companies to Watch award winner, companies have the opportunity to participate in a leaders retreat attended by former Companies to Watch award recipients from other states at the Edward Lowe Foundation’s Big Rock Valley retreat facility in southwestern Michigan.

List of 2011 Winners:

A.G. Findings & Mfg. Co. Inc. (Broward)

Aerostar Environmental Serivces, Inc. (Duval)

Airon Corporation (Brevard)

Alinean, Inc. (Orange)

Analytics Partners (Duval)

Ark Naturals Products for Pets (Collier)

atLarge, Inc. (Sarasota)

Avalex Technologies Corporation (Escambia)

B3 Solutions, LLC (Duval)

Bari Furniture (Seminole)

Bit-Wizards (Okaloosa)

Blue Streak Couriers (Duval)

Carter-Health (Orange)

Compass Solar Energy (Escambia)

DGG Taser and Tactical Supply Inc (Duval)

E3 Spark Plugs (St. Johns)

eBridge Solutions (Hillsborough)

Engineered Lining Systems (Duval)

Engineering & Computer Simulations (ECS) (Orange)

Enporion (Hillsborough)

FreightCenter (Hillsborough)

GiftRAP Corporation (Martin)

H2 Performance Consulting Corporation (Escambia)

Haynes Corporation (Collier)

Hixardt Technologies Inc (Escambia)

Impact Lighting Inc. (Orange)

IMS ExpertServices (Escambia)

Industrial Lighting Products, Inc. (Seminole)

Innovative Data Solutions, Inc. (Orange)

JVI Appraisal Division, LLC (Seminole)

Keystone Water Company (Highlands)

Lakeside Medical Centers (Pinellas)

Media Vista Corporation (Collier)

Millennium Luxury Coaches (Seminole)

NRI (Palm Beach)

OmniPoint (Hillsborough)

OptiGrate Corp (Orange)

Pharmaworks (Pasco)

Phoenix Ink Corporation (Sarasota)

PlusOne Solutions, Inc. (Orange)

Power Grid Engineering, LLC (Seminole)

Pro Poly of America, Inc. (Marion)

ReStockIt.com (Broward)

SCB Marketing (Brevard)

Securboration Inc. (Brevard)

THAT! Company (Lake)

The DiSTI Corporation (Orange)

The Kimball Companies (Orange)

The Launch Pad (Pasco)

VaxDesign Corporation (Orange)

ABOUT THE EVENT ORGANIZERS

About GrowFL and the Florida Economic Gardening Institute

GrowFL is the official Economic Gardening Technical Assistance Pilot Program for the State of Florida and a program of the Florida Economic Gardening Institute. Created in 2009 to stimulate investment in Florida’s economy by providing technical assistance for expanding businesses in the state, the Florida Economic Gardening Institute is headquartered at the University of Central Florida under contract with The Governor’s Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development. Additional information is available at www.GrowFL.com.

About ACG Florida

ACG Florida is a statewide collaboration of the four Florida chapters of the Association for Corporate Growth - Orlando, North Florida, South Florida and Tampa Bay. ACG is the global community for middle market M&A dealmakers and business leaders focused on driving growth. ACG members have access to data, content and networking to access capital, make deals and drive corporate growth. Founded in 1954, ACG has grown to more than 13,000 members organized in 55 chapters throughout North America, Europe and Asia. For more information, please visit http://www.acg.org/florida

About the Edward Lowe Foundation

The Edward Lowe Foundation inspired the creation of the Companies to Watch program to celebrate second-stage entrepreneurs and their companies. Established in 1985, the Edward Lowe Foundation is a Michigan-based nonprofit organization that supports entrepreneurship through recognition, education and research with a focus on second-stage companies—those that have moved beyond the startup phase and seek significant, steady growth. The foundation also encourages economic gardening, an entrepreneur-centered strategy providing balance to the traditional approach of business recruitment. For information about the Edward Lowe Foundation, visit www.EdwardLowe.org.

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Free Online Webinar Series Available for GrowFL Companies for FPC Members

Free Online Webinar Series Available for GrowFL Companies

“Contagious Leadership”
Everything you do as a leader is Contagious!


The ten steps to transition from a mere manager to a leader who develops employees that stay longer, complain less, and produce more.

Presented by:
Monica Wofford – CEO, Contagious Companies
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

About the Presenter:
Monica Wofford founded her training career and company on the premise that a leader does not have to be born, but can be developed. Since that time she has expanded leadership to include working the employees, customers, and even the voices in your head. The author of Contagious Leadership, as well as numerous other books and learning tools, Monica’s strategies, techniques, and powerful insights into effective leadership, masterfully transform managers and employees into people who lead better, stay longer, complain less, and produce more.


This is the first in a series of six webinars to be held the fourth Thursday of each month.
Additional webinars will include: Presentation Skills, Communication Across Generations & Body Language, Contagious Confidence, Media Training Basics, and Contagious Customer Service.

To attend this free webinar for FPC Members, please register at
www.growfl-contagiousleadership.weebly.com

GrowFL is the official Economic Gardening Technical Assistance Pilot Program for the State of Florida and a program of the Florida Economic Gardening Institute. The Florida Economic Gardening Institute is headquartered at the University of Central Florida under contract with the State of Florida’s Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development under the Executive Office of the Governor.

Florida Economic Gardening Institute, 12201 Research Parkway, Suite 200, Orlando, FL 32826

Friday, December 17, 2010

50 Florida Companies to be honored by "Companies to Watch"

Fifty companies from 18 Florida counties have earned a place in Florida’s inaugural class of “Companies to Watch.”
The accolade, presented by GrowFL, the Florida Economic Gardening Institute at the University of Central Florida and ACG Florida, in association with the Edward Lowe Foundation and funding support from The Governor’s Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development, recognizes the state’s privately held businesses that employ up to 99 employees and have between $750,000 to $50 million in annual revenue or capital. The fifty “Florida Companies to Watch” will be honored at the awards celebration on February 17 at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando. Tickets for the ceremony and dinner are still available and may be purchased online at http://www.florida.companiestowatch.org/ or by calling Lynn Aitken at 407-823-6384.
Among the 50 companies recognized this year is Optigrate, a photonics company spin-out of CREOL, The College of Optics & Photonics. The full list of honored companies and information on the awards event is at http://www.growfl.com/pdfs/newsreleases/Florida%20Companies%20to%20Watch%20Winners%20Release%2012-17-10.pdf

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

TRDA Kauffman FastTrac Bootcamp on Jan 14-15

The TRDA is pleased to offer the FastTrac® NewVenture™ Entrepreneurship Program (a Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation Initiative) for Florida-based technology entrepreneurs. Practical and hands-on, FastTrac® NewVentureTM is a two-day entrepreneurship boot camp that will provide the tools and hands-on mentorship to help participants understand the business behind successful technology companies. The workshop will help technology entrepreneurs develop a business plan, market strategy, and an investor pitch, and will also help participants understand how to finance technology ventures via angel or venture capital.

In addition to having access to the nationally recognized FastTrac® NewVenture™ Program curriculum and business planning materials, attendees will be actively mentored during the boot camp by experienced technology startup executives that have founded technology companies and raised venture capital for their companies. These mentors will be joined by experienced legal, accounting and operations professionals that understand the dynamics of early-stage technology companies. The boot camp will also include up to five hours of 1:1 mentoring at the TRDA by experienced entrepreneurs to help participants develop their business plans and investor presentations.

The boot camp will be held on January 14 and 15, 2011 from 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM at the TRDA Business Innovation Center in Melbourne, Florida.

The cost for the boot camp is $399, which includes five hours of one to one mentoring for participants that complete both days of the boot camp sessions. For more information and to register on line go to http://www.trda.org/events/index.asp or call 321-872-1050, ext 103.

Technological Research and Development Authority 1050 W. NASA Boulevard, Melbourne, Florida 32901
www.trda.org

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Industry leaders discuss topics to help you thrive in today'sbusiness climate

Looking to enhance your leadership skills? The Monday Brief is a new webinar series exclusively for TechAmerica member company CEOs and Presidents. Each month you can participate in a timely, relevant discussion hosted by industry leaders on topics sure to help you thrive in today's business climate. And you don't have to leave your desk to participate! Reserve your spot today at these free, member only webinars. The next Monday Brief is scheduled for December 6, 2010 at 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. - Eastern (11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. - Central; 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. - Pacific).

Monday Brief

December 6, 2010

Ten Reasons Strategies Fail

What defines a good strategy? Can you predetermine a strategy's success? How do you minimize a strategy's chance for failure? Join us for a look at why strategies fail.

Join guest speaker and our discussion leader Michael Krauss of the Market Strategy Group LLC for this interactive and lively discussion.

Register today!

http://www.techamerica.org/Events/eventDetail.cfm?eventid=a0E4000000F6dUcEAJ

Advance registration is required by December 3, 2010 and there is no cost for TechAmerica member company CEOs or Presidents to attend! Call in and log on information will be sent prior to the meeting on December 6.

Questions or having trouble registering, call Maryann Fiala at 407-513-4704.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

PR: Gooch & Housego Receives IRS Grant

Gooch & Housego
The Old Magistrates Court
Somerset, , TA19 0AB, United Kingdom

Press release date: November 24, 2010

The Life Sciences Division of Gooch & Housego (formerly ChromoDynamics) has been awarded a grant of $244,479 under the qualified therapeutic discovery project program of the Internal Revenue Service. This grant will support continued development of a novel cervical cancer assay including both PAP stain and multiple biomarker labeling using an automated hyperspectral imaging slide reader based on Gooch and Housego's proprietary HSi-300 acousto-optic imaging system.

Gooch & Housego 4632 36th Street Orlando, FL 32811