South Florida Tech HubSouth Florida Tech Hub
08
May, 2023

By Adam Elitzur

18th annual SoFlo DevCon brings together developers, designers, tech professionals and educators

Read Time 7 Minutes

Just last month during #SoFloTechMonth, South Florida’s month-long celebration of all things tech and innovation across the region, South Florida Tech Hub hosted its 18th annual SoFlo DevCon once again bringing hundreds in attendance for the event.

Held at Nova Southeastern University in Davie, the location was a perfect place to bring together those from Miami, Broward, Palm Beach, Martin County and even a few from the west coast of the state. In attendance were software developers, designers, engineers, tech professionals and event school district teachers and college professors from across South Florida.

The event is the only fully regional tech education event FREE and open to the public with classes and sessions running all day long that are completely geared towards STEM and innovation. The event was free to attend, thanks to the support of community partners and sponsors such as this year’s Presenting Sponsor, Cognizant.

The day kicked off with breakfast (sponsored by FAU’s College of Engineering) and 8:30 AM sessions. The first 300 guests through the door were also given a free conference t-shirt (sponsored by Streann Media), and a pizza party lunch was provided for all attendees sponsored by CITY Furniture.

This year’s event featured a Leadership Track and Leadership Lunch in collaboration with Cognizant, CITY Furniture and SIM South Florida. Jeffrey Richman, Customer Relationship Manager and Kishore Dandu, Client Partner of Energy & Utilities at Cognizant addressed the audience as Presenting Sponsor. Kishore spoke about the importance of events such as SoFlo DevCon in the tech community and how proud they are to give back to a local organization helping build the local tech talent. With hundreds of thousands of employees across the globe, Cognizant employs many technical and sales people in the South Florida region. As tech in South Florida continues to blossom, they are happy to be a contributing part of the ecosystem.

Rebecca Bakels, Software Engineer and Tech Community Advocate at CITY Furniture, highlighted that CITY Furniture is more than just a furniture company. CITY Furniture employs hundreds of people in technology and is using all sorts of innovative tech such as AR, data science, and app development all in-house to ensure the best customer experience. CITY Furniture also gives back thousands of dollars towards local community programs and nonprofits each year.

Rebecca is a benefactor of local tech initiatives and the South Florida Tech Hub community. As she began her journey into tech in 2020, she connected with South Florida Tech Hub, completed Software Engineering course with Boca Code, became an intern at CITY Furniture and then was offered a full time role to continue with the company. Rebecca is now involved with many nonprofit organizations and initiatives in the tech space in the region.

Each year, the conference attracts almost 1000 attendees and over 100 speakers, sponsors and exhibitors. The event featured 6 time slots for workshops and 12 seperate tracks to choose from such as mobile/web development, professional development, entrepreneurship, AI/ML, blockchain & web3, UI/UX, and more. These tracks included a range of topics and workshops, including Machine Learning, AI, VR/AR/MR, IoT, .NET, DevOps, MVC Framework, JavaScript, JQuery, SQL Server, Business Intelligence, Software Testing, Xamarin/Mobile Development, Azure/Cloud, Business/Career Development.

  • In the Web Development track, Todd Albert, Lead Instructor and Founder at Boca Code remarked, “This year, we added several code-along workshops to our lineup, including Next.JS and ChatGPT by Jonathan Sanchez, building a game in Unity with SoFlo DevCon’s youngest speaker, 19-year-old Idan Fischer, and my talk where we live-coded a mobile app in React-Native. Each year, the conference seems to be more energetic and attended by more people. It’s always a great place to expand our knowledge and our networks.”
  • In the AI/ML track, Founder of Indulgent Gifts and Thrivve Group, Roberta Barbosa, and US Managing Director of Exo Mindset, Bruno Savoca Albors, spoke. Barbosa presented the workshop Intro to Intelligent RPA. The workshop covered “the fundamentals of intelligent process automation and how it is helping businesses become more efficient and increase employee engagement. It also shared the RPA leaders in the industry, the tools available on the market, and the most common use cases.” Albors delivered a talk on the evolution of AI and ML, tracing its journey from early beginnings to the present day. He highlighted key milestones, including the emergence of machine learning as a subfield of AI, the rise of neural networks and deep learning, and the transformative impact of the digital age on AI and ML. Albors showcased modern applications across industries such as healthcare and finance and addressed ethical considerations and challenges, including bias and privacy. In conclusion, he provided a future outlook for AI and ML, emphasizing their significance in solving complex problems and shaping the future of technology.
  • In the Web Development track, Todd Albert, Lead Instructor and Founder at Boca Code remarked, “This year, we added several code-along workshops to our lineup, including Next.JS and ChatGPT by Jonathan Sanchez, building a game in Unity with SoFlo DevCon’s youngest speaker, 19-year-old Idan Fischer, and my talk where we live-coded a mobile app in React-Native. Each year, the conference seems to be more energetic and attended by more people. It’s always a great place to expand our knowledge and our networks.”
  • In the blockchain track, ApparelMagic CEO and cryptocurrency veteran Brandon Ginsberg, and Azure Migrate & Modernize Lead at Microsoft and Co-Founder of Nebulai, Renatto Garro were two of the presenters. Ginsberg spoke about recent developments in the Ethereum ecosystem, including The Merge, Shanghai updates, and ERC-4337. His talk highlighted the importance of these updates in enhancing Ethereum’s scalability, security, and efficiency, and their potential implications for decentralized applications and the broader cryptocurrency landscape. Garro led the workshop Unlock the Power of Decentralized Identities. “Decentralized Identities promise to change the way we use the Internet giving us more control, security, and the ability to monetize our data,” Garro stated. “We discussed about solutions from Microsoft like Entra and PolygonID, among others. It is truly inspiring what developers can start building with this technology.”
  • In the AR/VR track, Principal engineer at Microsoft for Mixed Reality, Denise Mendez, Head of Emerging Tech & Innovation Division at PeakActivity, Rob Petrosino, and Harshal Sanghvi, Doctoral Candidate at Florida Atlantic University and Research and Development Specialist at Advanced Research LLC, presented workshops. Mendez talked about the scale of the XR industry, its value in the South Florida economy, and well as how to get started building cross-platform XR experiences in Unity. Petrosino spoke about AI & its impact on 3D, AR & XR. “Generative AI has changed how most organizations and teams will approach visualizing information, floor plans and their standard operating procedures without additional technical teams.” Sanghvi discussed the impacts of AI & AR on Medical Interventions and Imaging as diagnosing and treatment methods.
  • In the Leadership track, Founder of B-Grade Media and Technology Advisor at Leafplanner, Q. Wade Billings led the session on “How to engineer a thriving engineering culture”. “In 2019, I had the opportunity to build an engineering culture from scratch, which is more complicated than it might sound,” Billings remarked. “To help my team and me in the effort, we designed a framework called the “Cultural Development Lifecycle (CDLC)” modeled after the well-known Software Development Lifecycle. This framework enabled us to conceive of, plan, develop, test, and measure our thriving engineering culture. My sincere hope and goal are that presenting the CDLC at SoFlo DevCon will inspire others to think about culture in a new and exciting light.”
  • In the Entrepreneurship track, was a session, “Practical Steps to Turn Your Idea Into a Revenue Generating Business”, Managing Partner at Argent Strategies and CSO of Doxci, Aaron Chavez, covered everything from ideation to product development to early-stage scaling activities. His talk emphasized the significance of proper solution validation, as well as a heavy focus on non-capital-intensive activities that are accessible to all founders. During his talk, he stressed the significance of South Florida’s idea-rich founder economy and the need for said founders to progress by taking practical and cost-effective steps to move their ventures forward.

One of the unique aspects of SoFlo DevCon is that it is open to anyone interested in the tech and innovation community in South Florida. Attendees did not need to be developers to participate in the conference. Designers, project managers, creatives, entrepreneurs, founders, and anyone connected to the tech industry were all welcome to attend.

Software engineer and game developer presented the workshop ‘Unleashing Your Creativity: Unity game development.’ “Participants learned how to create a game where the player collects coins while avoiding obstacles,” Fischer explained.

“We went through the process of making a game, from making game objects to making scripts to control our objects. Overall, speaking at SoFlo Devcon was an amazing experience, especially for my first time speaking anywhere and first time at SoFlo Devcon. Thank you to everyone who came!”

Idan was also voted the audience favorite receiving the Scott Katarincic Speaker Award, in remembrance of Scott who recently passed this year. He was a major part of planning past SoFlo DevCon events and working with all the speakers to ensure a successful event. It was only fitting that our youngest speaker ever at only 19 years old received the award and on his birthday, no less! The award was presented to Idan by Naomi Gayz, Scott’s girlfriend, and Annette Katarancic, Scott’s mother.

SoFlo DevCon 2023 was a huge success, bringing together the South Florida tech community and providing a platform for learning, networking, and collaboration. The day ended with an after-party happy hour and karaoke!

South Florida Tech Hub’s Dev Con 2023 was made possible because of its sponsors: Presenting Sponsor, Cognizant, T-shirts, Streann Media, City Furniture provided lunch and Telerik by Progress sponsored ASL interpretation. Thanks to the supporting sponsors, including Florida Atlantic University, OZ Digital Consulting, NRG Way, Boca Code, SIM, Algorand, Agile Infoways, Total Wine & More, Amazon Web Services, Microsoft TEALS Program, Code Magazine, FPL, Office Depot, Carrier, Modernizing Medicine, Florida Crystals, Social Mobile, Verizon, and Dedicated IT, for their contributions to the event.

See more photos here.

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08
May, 2023

By Nikki Cabus

TEDxBocaRaton announces this year’s lineup of IMPACT speakers

Read Time 5 Minutes

The highly anticipated annual event, TEDxBocaRaton announced the impressive line-up of speakers who will address this year’s theme: IMPACT.

The speakers are making an impact in the lives of others and creating ripple effects that can help to influence the world in positive ways for generations to come. These thought-leaders make up a new era of change-makers in fields such as mental health, technology, entrepreneurship, wellness, mindset, and more. The event will bring a variety of ideas and experiences that are sure to impress.

TED events began in 1984 as a conference where Technology, Entertainment and Design converged and today it spans a multitude of worldwide communities and initiatives exploring everything from science and business to education, arts and global issues. Aside from the hundreds of TED Talks curated from annual conferences and published on TED.com, they produce original podcasts, short video series, animated TED-Ed lessons and TV programs that are translated into more than 100 languages and distributed via partnerships around the world.

TED is on a mission to discover and spread ideas that spark imagination, embrace possibility and catalyze impact. Our organization is devoted to curiosity, reason, wonder and the pursuit of knowledge — without an agenda. We welcome people from every discipline and culture who seek a deeper understanding of the world and engagement with others, and we invite everyone to engage with ideas and activate them in your community.

Under the TED brand, each year, more than 3,000 independently run TEDx events bring people together to share ideas and bridge divides in communities on every continent. In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TED Talks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.

This year’s event will take place on Saturday, May 20th from 3:00 to 6:00 PM at the Boca Raton Innovation Campus.

“The Boca Raton Innovation Campus (BRiC) is a valued partner to TEDxBocaRaton and a wonderful place to host our event this year,” said Erik Mintz, TEDxBocaRaton organizer. “BRiC is the former IBM campus and birthplace of the PC, so as a former IBM-er I am forever connected to this property. It’s inspiring to see the 1.7 million square foot facility still thriving so many years later as a business innovation and research hub –– housing companies and organizations across a range of industries from technology, healthcare to finance to cybersecurity.”

Erik Mintz and Cindy Metzler, TEDxBocaRaton organizers are taking their knowledge, network, and passion to spearhead a high-caliber series of speakers sure to make TEDxBocaRaton an acclaimed experience once again. The independently produced event, operated under a license from TED, presents a program of discussions, demonstrations, and performances by leading thinkers, innovators, artists, philosophers, and entertainers from diverse fields such as technology, the arts, education and more.

This year’s speakers include:

• Steve Edwards is an Army veteran and the founder of Premier Virtual, an innovative technology company helping businesses host successful virtual hiring events, meetings and career fairs. Steve is also a dedicated husband a father to two boys that are 5 and 8. Family first is his motto and everything he does at work is to better his family life.

• Michelle Cordeiro Grant is a serial entrepreneur, angel investor, and podcast host. She spent much of her career at household names in retail including Victoria’s Secret. In 2016, Michelle founded LIVELY, and in just three years, grew the brand’s community to 165,000+ members, expanded their footprint across the country, launched a retail partnership with Target, and closed a $105M acquisition. Michelle founded GORGIE, in 2022, a wellness energy drink disrupting the status quo.

• Natasha Graziano is best known as the #1 female motivational speaker under 40 as seen in Forbes Magazine, Wall Street Journal Best Selling Author, host of a TOP 10 Podcast show on Apple and rated one of the top 10 keynote speakers alongside Michelle Obama and Oprah. Natasha loves helping people unlock their full human potential and become superstars.

• Joy McAdams career started at NBC television 23 years ago. It was this first job, that grew her love for video communication. She was drawn to the healthcare industry and saw its need for growth in marketing. Social media became a key part of communication. Joy is a leader in this field. She is a LinkedIn Influencer with a community of over 250,000 followers that reaches 2 million viewers monthly.

• Marc Nudelberg is a coach, author and entrepreneur. He leverages his experiences as a Division 1 football coach and President of On the Ball to help individuals and their team to adopt the 1% better mindset. Marc delivers energy, passion and competitive drive while focusing on the details and developing processes that produce results. Marc is a dedicated husband and father to two boys.

• Dr. Margaret Rutherford is a clinical psychologist with 30 of experience. She’s also an author and podcaster. Her book, Perfectly Hidden Depression: How to Break Free from the Perfectionism That Masks Your Depression, has impacted thousands in the US and internationally with translations from Korea to Italy, Turkey to Germany. Her podcast, SelfWork, has been rated one of the best podcasts for mental health.

• Sean Shea is the founder and CEO of ViB, a B2B software company that uses a proprietary community-based model to provide high-quality leads for technology companies. Today, ViB stands strong with a community of over 10 million IT decision-makers. ViB has generated hundreds of thousands of new opportunities for clients, with revenues doubling year over year since 2019. As an avid philanthropist, Shea leads the ViB team to partner with organizations making an impact.

“We are thrilled to showcase the best and the brightest entrepreneurs and thought-leaders in South Florida at TEDxBocaRaton,” said Cindy Metzler, TEDxBocaRaton Organizer. “Among seven speakers this year, we are beyond excited to have two local tech founders: Steve Edwards, founder and CEO of Premier Virtual online recruiting platform and Sean Shea, founder and CEO of Virtual Intelligence Briefing (ViB), a B2B lead generation technology company.”

Steve Edwards shared his sentiments with South Florida Tech Hub stating, “TEDx has been a dream of mine for a long time.  Finally getting on this stage shows that hard work, preparation and believing in yourself can make your dreams come true.”

Want to attend TEDxBocaRaton 2023? Tickets are $60, but the first 25 South Florida Tech Hub community members can get 35% off using ‘Techhub.’

Register Today!

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04
May, 2023

By Nikki Cabus

Watson Institute is launching a fully-funded Venture Accelerator program for next-generation entrepreneurs

Read Time 3 Minutes

The Watson Institute is launching a fully-funded Venture Accelerator program for next-generation entrepreneurs with the skills, resources, and experience to scale the impactful ventures they are building. 

Fellows will learn advanced skills in entrepreneurship and leadership, have the opportunity to earn seed funding (up to $6,000), garner experience, and build a global network, as they lay the foundation to empower many more individuals and transform their communities. This program is offered with virtual and in-person components. 

Watson Institute is a place where next generation entrepreneurs and leaders can find their community, discover their calling, and accelerate their careers. They provide the tools, network, mindset, and courage for the next generation to solve the toughest challenges facing the world, launch successful careers, and lead impactful lives.

Watson Institute has locations in Boulder, Colorado, and at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida and runs accelerators for leading corporations including Ford Motor Company Fund and Western Union Foundation. They are now building partnerships with innovative corporations and institutions of higher education in the US and globally.

With over 400 scholars and alumni representing almost 70 countries, they have raised over $175 million, created over 1,500 part or full-time jobs, and impacted over 5 million people around the world through initiatives they help lead. Watson Institute Alumni have been selected to Y Combinator, the Echoing Green Fellowship, and six have been named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 lists. Alumni continue their education at Harvard University, Princeton University, and Oxford Saïd’s Business School.

The Watson Institute students “major in their mission” as they obtain a Bachelor of Science in Social Impact and Entrepreneurship from Lynn University. They intern at leading corporations and nonprofits while developing the skills to lead successful careers or even launch their own ventures.

The Watson Institute Venture Accelerator is a 16-week program designed for impact-driven entrepreneurs seeking to elevate their ventures with access to a global network, training designed to strengthen skills, and mentorship with seasoned professionals, venture capitalists, and executives. The program will kick off with an in-person Immersive in Boulder, Colorado from July 20th – July 28th. The remaining 14 weeks is virtual and provides award-winning training, committed mentorship, and a powerful community of peers for next-generation entrepreneurs to advance their impact-focused ventures and lives. The time commitment for the 14 weeks is approximately 6–8 hours per week. This program is designed to complement the entrepreneurs’ existing venture work, allowing them to implement learnings in real-time.

Eligible participants will be entrepreneurs leading an early-stage social impact venture with demonstrated impact metrics and traction, those able to commit to the 16-week program including the in-person Immersive in Boulder, Colorado and can be from any geographical location with a preference to applicants from the USA, Brazil, China, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania.

Learn more and apply here.

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03
May, 2023

By Nikki Cabus

Verizon drives enhanced connectivity at the Formula 1 Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix

Read Time 3 Minutes

Verizon is bringing private wireless network solutions to this year’s Formula 1 Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix.

The company deployed a Private Managed Wireless Solution at the track that enables venue management solutions including ticket scanning, digital sign management, multiple point of sale terminals for various merchants, and immediate uploads for photographers looking to cover the action as it unfolds. With nearly a quarter of a million people expected to attend the three-day event, a dedicated private network delivers high-speed, high-capacity, and low-latency for these applications as well as reduced interference and greater privacy and security.

Private networks provide enhanced location flexibility at large scale events eliminating the need to run fiber cabling inside and around venues to support network connectivity. This wireless venue platform allows stadium operators and the infrastructure providers they work with to reduce infrastructure costs and increase efficiency. Verizon will also have a portable private wireless network at the race to showcase various real-time communications applications that can be used in racing, whether it’s race team communications or venue operations. Private managed wireless network solutions are part of the broader Verizon Business Connected Venue approach, which is rooted in its 5G investment in more than 95 large public venues in the United States, including some of the most iconic major sports and music venues.

“With private networks, venue operators are improving existing operations, allowing fans to quickly get into the venue, purchase merchandise, and get to their seats,” said Kyle Malady, CEO of Verizon Business.

“ In a sport like racing, no one wants to miss a second of the action, and fans will not only benefit from the private network, our 5G Ultra Wideband network is blanketing the Hard Rock Stadium area so attendees can stream, tweet, and share their experiences quickly and reliably.”

Verizon Upgrades Network for Race Fans

Last year, Verizon customers attending the event used 19 TB of data and Verizon engineers are expecting even greater usage this year. To prepare the area, engineers have deployed additional 4G and 5G service to the Bowl, back of the house, parking area, and throughout the Miami International Autodrome. Engineers have used a variety of spectrum to provide these upgraded services. For 5G services, Verizon is using a combination of C-band, its mid-band spectrum designed for excellent coverage and mmWave, its premium, high-band spectrum which allows for massive capacity.

Engineers have increased bandwidth on fiber feeding the area as well. Verizon has increased the capacity on the fiber connections by adding 864 count fiber strands to the northeast, southwest and northwest corners of the Distributed Antenna System at Hard Rock Stadium as well as in the west lot. Fiber was also expanded throughout the outdoor areas to increase capacity for the Outdoor Distributed Antenna System. Lastly, engineers expanded fiber for cell sites along the track course.

In the parking area, Verizon added a performance enhancement technology that divides crowds into sectors like slices of a pie. Each slice or sector can be adjusted individually to handle wireless traffic. This technology gives Verizon engineers more leeway to adjust performance based on where customers move and how they use data inside the stadium.

Verizon recently announced upgrades to the entire Miami area where 94% of customers now have access to 5G Ultra Wideband service.

The Formula 1 Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix takes place May 5-7, 2023 at the Miami International Autodrome located at Hard Rock Stadium, home of the Miami Dolphins, University of Miami football team and the Miami Open presented by Itaú. Fans can also visit the Hard Rock Stadium Express Shop, powered by Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband and mobile edge compute, which allows event attendees to avoid long lines and quickly grab snacks, and beverages, and go.

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02
May, 2023

By Nikki Cabus

Interstellar engineering; Student uses NASA-supplied simulated lunar soil to 3D print out-of-this-world housing

Read Time 4 Minutes

NASA is working to build a research base on the moon to send the first astronauts to Mars. Along the way, a new industry is coming to life: construction on surfaces beyond Earth. This is where master’s student Brandon Aguiar ’21 is launching his promising career. 

Aguiar is advancing a 3D printing technique that makes durable structures out of lunar dust. He has produced igloos, building blocks and cubes with complex angles and curvatures.

Essentially, Aguiar is researching a material that could be the backbone of interstellar engineering. 

“It’s very expensive to ship supplies to space. One pound of material can cost thousands of dollars,” says Aguiar, a life-long fan of space exploration.

“Just imagine what it would cost taxpayers to ship entire houses to the moon. Instead, we can use the material that is already there to build infrastructure.” 

Lunar dust is a powder consisting of tiny, irregularly shaped rocks. It covers the moon and can present a potential hazard for astronauts. In previous missions, the dust has eroded spacesuits and sensitive equipment. 

Aguiar’s research would flip this hazard into an asset. Using a lunar dust simulant provided by NASA, he is working with a material that has approximately five times the hardness of mild steel. Now, the College of Engineering and Computing student is focusing on how to make his 3D-printed objects withstand all the perils of the moon, including radiation, asteroids and temperature swings.

Aguiar works under the guidance of engineering experts at FIU’s Plasma Forming Laboratory. One of those experts is Ambreen Nisar, a research assistant professor who researches ceramic materials used for space exploration and hypersonic vehicles.

“On Earth, temperatures are very different depending on where you go. The weather in Miami is super hot, but somewhere in the northwest, it’s still freezing. The same happens when you are on the moon,” Nisar said. “Any material that is used needs to withstand extreme thermal shock.”

Aguiar joins other researchers around the country who are focused on making structures out of lunar dust. In particular, Aguiar is focused on finding a way to manufacture the structures to withstand the harshest elements of space. The key is getting the parameters of the 3D printing and treatment process right. He mixes the dust with a resin, which is like a glue, to bind the small rocks together. Then, he 3D prints the material and puts it through a furnace to acquire the desired shape and to burn away the resin.

It’s like cooking, Aguiar says; the ingredients and parameters must be exactly right. He learned it from Professor Arvind Agarwal, director of the Plasma Forming Laboratory. 

“When I’m teaching my new students, I always use the example of cooking to explain materials engineering,” Agarwal says. “You can make a chicken into either grilled chicken or fried chicken. The taste is completely different, but the starting material is the same. The same goes for lunar dust used in Brandon’s research. By modifying how he ‘cooks’ the dust, he can completely change how his structures perform.”

Aguiar will continue his research on a Presidential Fellowship as a Ph.D. student at FIU this fall. His 3D-printing method and parameters are pending patents and were recently published in a journal. 

Aguiar’s research is a continuation of a senior project done by FIU Ph.D. student Kazue Orikasa, who is now researching how plastics could be used to protect technology in space. 

You can read more about Brandon here.

 

 

This article was originally written by David Drucker ’18 who is an account manager for FIU’s College of Engineering and Computing, where he writes about research and technology. Drucker has been a contributor to FIU News since 2018. In 2021, he led the launch of Panther Personalities, a podcast highlighting members of the FIU community. In his spare time, David enjoys fishing, golfing and putting his Paws Up for the Panthers at university events. The article was posted with Drucker’s permission. 

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02
May, 2023

By Nikki Cabus

CEO and Founder of Social Mobile was named an Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2023 Florida Award finalist

Read Time 3 Minutes

Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) today announced that Robert Morcos, CEO and Founder of Social Mobile was named an Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2023 Florida Award finalist.

Now in its 37th year, Entrepreneur Of The Year is one of the preeminent competitive business awards for transformative entrepreneurs and leaders of high-growth companies who are building a more equitable, sustainable and prosperous world for all by unstoppable entrepreneurs. These visionary leaders deliver innovation, growth and prosperity that transform our world. The program engages entrepreneurs with insights and experiences that foster growth. It connects them with their peers to strengthen entrepreneurship around the world. Entrepreneur Of The Year is the first and only truly global awards program of its kind. It celebrates entrepreneurs through regional and national awards programs in more than 145 cities in over 60 countries. National Overall Award winners go on to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year™ title.

Robert was selected by an independent panel of judges. Entrepreneurs were evaluated based on their demonstration of building long-term value through entrepreneurial spirit, purpose, growth and impact, among other core contributions and attributes.

“As the CEO and Founder of Social Mobile, I am honored to be selected as a finalist for Entrepreneur of the Year,’ said Robert Marcos. Twelve years ago, I embarked on a journey to build a technology company that would make a meaningful impact on the world. Today, we are recognized as a global leader in enterprise mobility, and I am proud of the hard work and dedication that our team has put in to make this dream a reality. Thank you to EY and to all those who have supported us on this incredible journey.”

Regional award winners will be announced on June 8, during a special celebration. The winners will then be considered by the National judges for the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards, which will be presented in November at the annual Strategic Growth Forum®,one of the nation’s most prestigious gatherings of high-growth, market-leading companies. The Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner will then move on to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Award in June 2024.

The Entrepreneur Of The Year program has recognized more than 11,000 entrepreneurs throughout the US since its inception in 1986, and it has grown to recognize business leaders across 145 cities in over 60 countries around the world.

Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards include presenting sponsors PNC Bank, N.A.; SAP America; and the Kauffman Foundation. In Florida, sponsors also include – regional Platinum sponsors, Cresa, and DLA Piper.

EY exists to build a better working world, helping create long-term value for clients, people and society and build trust in the capital markets. Enabled by data and technology, diverse EY teams in over 150 countries provide trust through assurance and help clients grow, transform and operate. Working across assurance, consulting, law, strategy, tax and transactions, EY teams ask better questions to find new answers for the complex issues facing our world today.

EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. Information about how EY collects and uses personal data and a description of the rights individuals have under data protection legislation are available via ey.com/privacy. EY member firms do not practice law where prohibited by local laws. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com.

As Advisors to the ambitious™, EY Private professionals possess the experience and passion to support private businesses and their owners in unlocking the full potential of their ambitions. EY Private teams offer distinct insights born from the long EY history of working with business owners and entrepreneurs. These teams support the full spectrum of private enterprises including private capital managers and investors and the portfolio businesses they fund, business owners, family businesses, family offices and entrepreneurs.

Congrats, Robert!

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28
Apr, 2023

By Nikki Cabus

Broward College’s President Haile is the only higher education leader selected for U.S. Talent Task Force

Read Time 4 Minutes

Broward College President Gregory Adam Haile, J.D. has been selected for the U.S. section of the newly created U.S.-EU Trade and Technology’s (TTC) Talent for Growth Task Force, which will encourage public and private sector initiatives to drive development of the talent and skills needed for emerging and existing technologies.

In addition to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, the other TTC Co-Chairs include U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai, European Commission Executive Vice-President and European Union Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, and European Commission Executive Vice-President and EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis.

The individuals serving on the Task Force will collaborate with the European Union members to collectively provide actionable and specific recommendations directly to the TTC Co-Chairs on how to expand innovative, employer-based training in the United States and the EU. This will help Western countries achieve a well-trained workforce, critical to maintaining global leadership in the wake of emerging and existing technologies such as AI and robotics.

According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, “The Trade and Technology Council (TTC) is a key mechanism to support stronger transatlantic relations and to deliver concrete outcomes. We reaffirm that international rules-based approaches to trade, technology, and innovation that are founded on solid democratic principles and values can improve the lives of our citizens and generate greater prosperity for people around the world. Through the TTC’s ten working groups, we are supporting sustainable, inclusive economic growth and development, promoting a human-centric approach to the digital transformation, and ensuring that international norms and the international trade rulebook are respected and reflect our shared values. We will continue to work together to modernize and reform the World Trade Organization (WTO) as set out in the WTO MC12 Outcome Document.”

President Haile is one of seven Americans named to serve on the Task Force, and the only one to head a public college or university. The other Task Force members consist of leaders from business, labor, and organizations that support training from the U.S. and the EU who will exchange information to learn from each other and prepare concrete and specific recommendations for the TTC Co-Chairs on how to expand talent development and training in the U.S. and the EU. Further, its work is intended to catalyze public and private sector initiatives to improve workforce development on both sides of the Atlantic.

“At Broward College, we have fully embraced the obligation to ensure that all human capital is fully optimized with workforce training that will lift the lives of individuals, our local communities, and our nation. Serving on the TTC will be an honor beyond measure. I look forward to supporting the TTC Co-Chairs and engaging my fellow task force members to fortify and accelerate the talent development of the U.S. and EU nations,” said President Haile.

Serving approximately 56,000 students annually, Broward College provides residents with certificate programs, two-year university-transfer degrees, two-year career degrees, and baccalaureate degrees in selected programs. The mission of the College is to provide high-quality educational programs and services that are affordable and accessible to a diverse community of learners.

In addition to awarding associate and bachelor’s degrees in numerous majors, Broward College offers more than 97 vocational and technical certificates in addition to micro-training programs in a variety of fields from data analytics, cloud computing, and automation to airport operations management, nuclear medicine technology, and film production to the 56,000 youth and adult learners it serves. Broward College consistently ranks among the Top 10 Best Community Colleges in the nation according to the prestigious Aspen Institute. The College was recently recognized by U.S. News and World Report for its students having the least amount of debt of any college or university in the Southeastern United States.

According to the TTC, the U.S. and EU share the goal of expanding skills training so all workers and companies, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), can succeed in the global economy. The Task Force will help inform leaders of all sectors on how millions of workers can get the skills needed to continue to power our mutual economies, which are built on ever-changing technological innovation.

The Task Force strategy and work plan will be developed by its members and will include undertakings to:

  • Create opportunities across sectors to share best practices, including strategies for collaboration, taxonomies, and tools for training.
  • Showcase training opportunities between the U.S. and EU.
  • Identify barriers to knowledge about in-demand technology jobs, and barriers for women and others, notably young people, from underrepresented communities to consider these jobs.
  • Promote a shared understanding of specific skills that could inspire training programs in American and European companies.
  • Identify and promote talent development programs for SMEs.
  • Communicate the benefits of participating in careers in technology sectors.

For more details about the Task Force and the full list of members, please visit the U.S. Dept of Commerce’s website.

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11
Apr, 2023

By Nikki Cabus

Entrepreneur’s reality show ‘Elevator Pitch’ features Florida startups; now casting for season 9

Read Time 5 Minutes

The first 60 seconds of a business pitch might matter more than anything else when trying to grab the attention of an investor. On a streaming pitch show brought to you by Entrepreneur Media, entrepreneurs are put to the ultimate pitch test on “Elevator Pitch.”

In each episode of the show, entrepreneurs are challenged to pitch their business, product and/or idea . . . on camera . . . in an elevator . . . to a board of prestigious investors such as former CEO of Netflix, Marc Randolph. If the team of investors like what they hear, the business owner is invited into the board room to see if they can strike a deal.

Speaking in front of investors of this caliber is already nerve wracking in itself, but the pitches are on a timer and must also be one minute or less. The entrepreneurs can’t see the investors or their reactions as they pitch. The entrepreneurs have to get it right the first time or their opportunity is cut short.

After each pitch, the investors each vote whether they want to hear more from that entrepreneur or not. If the investors likes what they hear, the elevator doors open to reveal the boardroom, and the business owner/executive is invited into the board room to discuss further and negotiate. Contestants have the chance to walk away with life-changing funding, mentorship from the smartest minds in business and a personal and brand-defining moment.

Launched in 2017, the show has since accumulated 208 million views and counting across YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and, EntrepreneurTV. After 5 1/2 years, 350 entrepreneurs have been accepted onto the show and 15 contestants were based in Florida just last season.

Here are some of those Florida entrepreneurs:

  • Rob Kornaherns, CEO of PowerPanel, an innovative solar power company (Ft. Lauderdale)
  • Edward McGovern from CERA, a critical response app (Davie)
  • Lisa and Mark Burginger from Quibits, an educational toy company that encourages creativity and building (Orlando)
  • Issac Hicks from SlipBot Inc., SaaS for reinsurance slip-processing (Miami)
  • Anthony Tranchida and Scott Mobley, Founders of  Grill Rescue, a grill brush company (Ft. Lauderdale)
  • Jared McCluskey and Alec Tremaine, The Mirror, open-source gaming creation and play platform (Miami)
  • Ashland Stansbury, Because Intelligence, a no-code platform to optimize Shopify messaging and product updates (Tampa)
  • Emily Alexandra Guglielmo, American Mermaid, planet- and ocean-friendly cosmetics (Orlando)
  • Gina Scorza, Dope Minerals, a magnesium and CBD cream that helps with body pains, cramps and headaches (Sanford)
  • Johnny Maghzal, Togal.AI, a construction estimation software platform that reduces tedious work from taking weeks to minutes (Miami)
  • Brandon Feinstein of Fit Oven, healthy and hot vending machine meals (Delray Beach)
  • Jarrod Stoldt of Skin the Tix, an innovative day spa (Melbourne)

More than $2 million were secured in deals on season 8 and some of those companies were from right here in South Florida. From Miami to Delray Beach, founders found themselves walking out with deals from investors who were ready to help fund and grow their companies. 

In a money-flowing episode, Jared McCluskey and Alec Tremaine from The Mirror were able to convince our investors that the metaverse is where the money is and what the difference between a “want to have” and “need to have” is. They took home $150k on $37.5 M valuation and an opportunity to work with speaker, marketing maven and investor, Swan Sit.

Sometimes a pitch moves investors to tears, and sometimes it moves them to dance. Togal.AI, has an innovative product that has their sights set on disrupting the decades-old construction industry. The company landed a deal for $50k on $30 M cap with investor Swan Sit.

Impressively, with offers from all three investors, Brandon Feinstein from Fit Oven took home a deal worth $100k for 15% and a chance to work with investor Swan Sit. She is on fire!

The largest of the deals closed was for our South Florida entrepreneurs was Isaac Hicks from SlipBot Inc.

Teaching moments abounded in this episode. When one investor suddenly changed their offer mid-deal, see how the Isaac responded under pressure winning over investor Marc Randolph, Co-Founder & Former CEO of Netflix for a deal worth $200k for 5% of the company at a $4 M valuation.

In a recent Entrepreneur Media article, Isaac explained, “We are solving a very simple problem in heavily regulated industries: There is this enormous paperwork burden and very highly paid people are spending hours a day doing tedious data entry tasks. At Slipbot, we have developed an intuitive little AI tool that turns this huge burden into a simple drag-and-drop.”

When asked what he plans to the with the investment funds, Isaac responded, “going to build out our technical team a bit more and step on the gas as far as product maturity is concerned. We have a huge vision for where we can take this technology, and the investment is going to add more fuel to that fire.”

With 5 1/2 years and 84 episodes under their belt, Entrepreneur Media is now casting for season 9. They are in search of good companies with a great business, product and/or idea with entrepreneurs that are dynamic and have interesting stories. The company must be active and have a professional look. Entrepreneurs who have products or services that are ready for investment and who have a specific plan for how that investment can help them grow are invited to apply to pitch.

If you are you a serious and passionate entrepreneur with a business, product, or idea that’s ready for the ultimate pitch – in an elevator – you can apply today. Although not everyone is chosen, we have found that even if a company is not selected they still are given great exposure from being on television. Are you ready to blow open those elevator doors and change your life forever!!

Isaac’s advice to any entrepreneurs on the fence about applying to pitch, ‘Do it, 100%. The worst case is that you get some good feedback and learn from it. The best case is that you get the money, validation and clout associated with having a titan of industry sign off on what you are doing.”

He continued, “It’s one thing to say ‘Here is my business’, and quite another to say ‘here is my business, and here is someone with monumental success who believes in what I’m doing.’ The key to winning in this game is learning and growing as fast as possible. If the thought of going on a show like this scares you, and if you don’t feel ready, that means you should probably go ahead and do it.”

Applications are now open for Entrepreneur Media’s Elevator Pitch Season 9 – APPLY HERE!

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09
Apr, 2023

By Nikki Cabus

Lisa Lutoff-Perlo retires from Celebrity Cruises welcoming a new President

Read Time 4 Minutes

Just days ago, Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL) announced that after an illustrious tenure at the helm, Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, current President and CEO of Celebrity Cruises, will be stepping down from her role. 

Lisa will transition to Vice Chair of External Affairs for Royal Caribbean Group, effective May 1, 2023. In her new role, Lutoff-Perlo will continue reporting to Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason Liberty. Laura Hodges Bethge will become the next brand President of Celebrity Cruises.

Celebrity Cruises’ iconic “X” is the mark of a fleet of 15 relaxed luxury resorts at sea taking guests to the world’s best places on the world’s best places. Celebrity revolutionized the industry with its cool, contemporary design and accommodation; dining, spa, and entertainment experiences for modern tastes; and culturally rich and diverse destination experiences, all complemented by warm, personalized service. Driven by wanderlust and a passion for opening the world, Celebrity journeys to all seven continents, visiting nearly 300 destinations in more than 70 countries. Celebrity Cruises is one of five cruise brands owned by one of the leading cruise companies in the world, Royal Caribbean Group.

“Lisa has been instrumental in transforming the Celebrity Cruises brand to what it is today,” said Jason Liberty, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group.

“From helping us introduce the revolutionary Edge Series of ships to advancing the role of women in maritime careers, Lisa has had an incredible career during her time leading Celebrity Cruises, and multiple parts of our Royal Caribbean International brand. I have had the pleasure of working with Lisa for almost 18 years, and I know her expertise will be invaluable as she transitions to serve as my Vice Chair, External Affairs.”

Lutoff-Perlo’s remarkable career with Royal Caribbean Group began in 1985 with her first role as a district sales manager and she went on to trailblaze a legacy of firsts. Along the way, she also led Celebrity Cruises to record growth, revenue, and profit, and she championed the brand’s evolution into the incredible cruise line it is today. Under her leadership, Celebrity Cruises welcomed four new award-winning ships, and underwent the Celebrity Revolution, one of the largest fleet revitalization projects in the industry.

In 2005, Lutoff-Perlo became Celebrity’s first female senior vice president of hotel operations. In 2012, she was named executive vice president of operations for Royal Caribbean International, the first woman in the industry to oversee both hotel and marine operations. Two short years later, she was the first woman appointed to president and CEO of one of Royal Caribbean Group’s brands.

“I would also like to congratulate Laura for her appointment as the next brand president of Celebrity Cruises,” Liberty added. “With her operational experience, business acumen and deep understanding of our company and the cruise industry, I know Laura is the right person to lead Celebrity Cruises to its next phases of growth.”

“It has always been difficult for me to imagine leaving the incredible Celebrity brand, but the time is right for me to start an exciting new chapter and turn the helm over to a new leader,” said Lisa Lutoff-Perlo.

“It has been my great honor to lead this brand and work alongside the phenomenal Celebrity shoreside team and crew. Together, our accomplishments have been extraordinary. I’m excited to now work closely with Jason on broader initiatives as we sail toward an even brighter future.”

In a recent social media post, Lisa thanked the community around her for supporting her through some wonderful achievements and important milestones such as being “the first woman at the Royal Caribbean Group to hold the President and CEO position, launching the extraordinary Edge Series of ships to great acclaim, helped catalyze gender equity on the bridges of our ships, sail through a pandemic and come out on the other side with Celebrity Edge leading the way for the industry’s triumphant return, and then become the first cruise brand to earn the coveted Forbes Travel Guide star rating.”

“Throughout it all, you were steadfast champions of me and this brand. In fact, we wouldn’t be the strong, remarkable brand we are today without your support,” she wrote in her post to the community. “And, if I can ask anything of you as I prepare to pass the baton at the end of the month, it is to continue to champion this great brand, its new leadership and the team.’

Laurie Sallarullo, President & CEO of Junior Achievement of South Florida, commented, “You are a tremendous inspiration to so many Lisa Lutoff-Perlo! From the moment I met you, heard your story and felt your passion I was enamored!!! You have broken the mold and removed barriers for women! I wish you fun, freedom and fulfillment in this next chapter. Thank you for your friendship! Congratulations!”

Laura Hodges Bethge, currently Executive Vice President of Shared Services Operations, will become the next brand President of Celebrity Cruises. She has been with the company more than 23 years and has held senior positions in many different areas including product development, hotel and marine operations, sales, marketing, product innovation, market development and investor relations.

Laura is an exemplary leader with a long history of success at the company. Previously, she was Senior Vice President of Product Development for Royal Caribbean International, and led the teams conceptualizing their groundbreaking ships, private island destinations, and new experiences introduced throughout the award-winning fleet, including the first island in Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day Island Collection – Perfect Day at CocoCay.

“Now 15 ships strong, this is an exciting time for Celebrity Cruises,” said Laura Hodges Bethge.

“This year alone, we’ll be welcoming Celebrity Ascent, and reaching key construction milestones in the yet-to-be-named fifth ship in the revolutionary Edge Series. I look forward to building on the incredible achievements of Lisa and this world class team, as we continue to break boundaries and chart new courses in the industry.”

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09
Apr, 2023

By Nikki Cabus

Crown Castle’s new Miami office is now open for business.

Read Time 3 Minutes

Last week, Crown Castle opened a beautiful new office located at One Park Square in Doral, FL.

One Park Square is a 231,500 square foot class A office building designed to accommodate today’s corporate client with features such as an onsite fitness center, conference center, car charging station and complimentary valet parking. It’s nestled next to CityPlace Doral, a master-planned, mixed-use development ​in Doral’s dynamic employment center putting you at the epicenter of the city with total connectivity and seamless walkability.

Over 150,000 employees commute to work every day to Doral. The city is home to Fortune 500 companies and government headquarters. Carnival, Univision, Brinks, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida are just a few of the companies who have made Doral their headquarters. The city has also been certified as a platinum level “Smart City” by World Council on City Data. The city offers services such as the Freebee which is a free door-to-door, on-demand transportation service with vehicles that are 100% electric and frequent connections to the Doral trolley.

According to the City’s website, “The City of Doral’s Smart City strategy is focused on the idea that the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) can enhance the quality of services, transform city operations and infrastructure, engage citizens and accelerate innovation. The City of Doral adopted the Smart City approach since the Strategic Planning Session of June 2015 to enhance accessibility, sustainability, livability, and transparency.”

The City was featured in an Crown Castle video highlighting their partnership and Smart City successes with reliable high-speed data network. These kinds of events encourage job creation and entrepreneurship, since encouraging new technologies the City is investing in opportunities, in a marketplace of innovation and ideas.

The new Doral Crown Castle office is actually a renovation. The company has been working with and within the City for quite some time. The office just needed a little face lift which the team certainly got.

“It was very fulfilling to see the smiles on the faces of our teammates as they walked into their new space,’ wrote Rick Perkins, Regional Vice President, Implementation & Operations – South, in a recent social media post.

“Upgrade is an understatement!” he replied in a comment. “It’s been a long journey which was worth the wait.”

Over the last decade technology has completely changed our world and how we interact in it. From having a smart phone in our hand at all times to a smart watch on your wrist. Emerging technologies such as 5G and smart city tech promises one thing – more jobs. Crown Castle’s towners, small cells and fiber help keep everything running and connected.

Crown Castle has nearly 100 offices across the country and thirteen of those in Florida. The locations span from West Palm Beach to Tampa and Orlando. The Miami location houses much of the technology staff and the company has been actively hiring. From Project Managers to Fiber Engineers to Agile Coaches, Crown Castle has on-site and hybrid opportunities.

With more than 40,000 towers, approximately 85,000 route miles of fiber and approximately 120,000 small cells on air or under contract, Crown Castle is the nation’s leading provider of communications infrastructure. The company is in a unique position to support continued innovation and help manage all private and cloud-based network architectures and next gen networks like 5G.

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09
Apr, 2023

By Nikki Cabus

Research Park at FAU recently announced the launch of The Smartest Place initiative

Read Time 5 Minutes

The Research Park at Florida Atlantic University® (the “Research Park at FAU”) recently announced the launch of The Smartest Place, an initiative to partner with FAU’s Institute for Sensing and Embedded Networks Systems Engineering (“I-SENSE”), creating a physical place for emerging IoT technologies to blend with real-time infrastructure, testing new technologies and locate deployment teams addressing common objectives.

Strategically located in Boca Raton, at the center of South Florida – the ninth largest metro area in the US – and adjacent to FAU’s flagship campus and leveraging a multi-million dollar, multi-year National Science Foundation (“NSF”) Engineering Research Center (“ERC”) grant to Florida Atlantic University along with four other collaborating universities and colleges, to create a rich ecosystem of streetscape applications built upon real-time, hyper-local intelligence to advance livable, safe, and inclusive communities, the Research Park at FAU will become a natural home and living test bed for the next generation of real-world smart infrastructure.

“We are excited to launch The Smartest Place initiative,” said Andrew Duffell, president of the Research Park at FAU.

“We’re determined to bring the right partners to the Research Park at FAU and will be providing common shared office and laboratory space which will be set aside for participating smart infrastructure and IoT technology companies to use on a part-time or full-time basis.  In addition, we will aide in the deployment and trial use partners’ solutions and technology.”

The Research Park at FAU is creating a place for emerging IoT technologies to blend with real-world infrastructure, offering flexible office space to become not only a place to trial technologies but a place for companies to locate engineering and deployment teams in collaboration with their peers to address the needs and objectives of the NSF grant.

The Research Park at Florida Atlantic University® is home to technology companies and research-based organizations working to support the research and development activities of Florida Atlantic University and to foster economic development and broaden the economic base of Broward and Palm Beach counties. The Research Park at FAU hosts Global Ventures, an international soft-landing center for second-stage technology companies and FAU Tech Runway, a South Florida public-private partnership that serves as a hub to accelerate technology development and incubate startup companies.

The Research Park at FAU is a 70-acre destination for R&D companies to thrive, established in 1985, it is widely regarded as South Florida’s laboratory for new entrepreneurial ideas and technologies. The Research Park at FAU is governed by the Florida Atlantic Research and Development Authority, an independent special district created by Palm Beach and Broward counties in partnership with Florida Atlantic University, organized under Chapter 159, Part V, Florida Statues.

A primary benefit of locating in the Research Park at FAU is the ability to collaborate with FAU’s research faculty and student body: Smartest Place partners will have the opportunity to work with I-SENSE faculty and equipment as well as commercial real-world spaces to deploy and study the outcomes of the technology.

“The Research Park at FAU has been a critical partner for I-SENSE since the institute’s inception in 2015. Today, we could not be more excited to see this partnership strengthened even further. The Smartest Place initiative reflects an incredible opportunity to deliver new tools and services to Research Park at FAU tenants, while fostering the future of public space, public interest technologies through the new NSF ERC for Smart Streetscapes (CS3). Access to this proving ground is an absolute game changer,” stated Jason Hallstrom, Ph.D., Founding Executive Director of I-SENSE (currently on IPA assignment).

FAU’s College of Engineering is among the top three fastest improving engineering colleges in the United States, sitting in the increasingly important South Florida marketplace. South Florida is one of the fastest growing regions in the United States, rich in diversity and with a technology aware population in close proximity to the Latin America markets.

The IoT M2M Council, or “IMC,” is the largest community of qualified IoT adopters constantly measuring the pulse of their 25,000 rank-and-file members. They will be partnering with Florida Atlantic University. The IMC is comprised of companies providing solutions from all parts of the global Iot/M2M ecosystem as Sustaining Members. The organization has brought together large-scale connectivity providers, more dedicated network operators, systems integrators, equipment manufacturers, and chipware maker giants.

“Our data shows that the biggest hurdle the industry faces is getting IoT projects from proof-of-concept to larger scale, so the IoT sector needs more initiatives like The Smartest Place at Research Park at Florida Atlantic University®,” says IMC Executive Director Keith Kreisher. “We look forward to cooperating with industry participants of the Research Park at FAU initiative by providing access to IMC’s digital media channels and events in order to share The Smartest Place research, use cases, and success stories.”

IMC Adopter Members are qualified individuals that deploy IoT/M2M technology at companies as diverse as Fedex, Hyundai, Siemens Medical, Tata Group, Saudi Aramco, and the US Department of Defense. As of this writing, the IMC can claim to be the largest and fastest-growing IoT/M2M organization in the world, with over 25,000 Adopter Members on four continents, and growing at a rate of 300 Adopters per week.

The Iot Evolution Expo team will also be partnering with Florida Atlantic University. The recently hosted FAU at the expo in February as part of the larger annual ITEXPO to help make the announcement publicly. From IoT location solutions to securing the supply chain, IoT Evolution focuses on the IoT use cases around automation, security ESG, healthcare and more. There focus has been on AI and analytics and the role that plays in launching new innovative IoT solutions.

“The team from IoT Evolution Expo has been dedicated to fostering and growing the IoT ecosystem and South Florida market for many years. As the organizers of IoT Evolution, the industry’s longest continuously running annual trade show and educational event focused on IoT held each year in Fort Lauderdale, we were pleased to host the Research Park at FAU as they made their announcement from our keynote stage,” said Carl Ford, co-founder of IoT Evolution and conference co-chair. “As a trusted partner in the IoT ecosystem, IoT Evolution is delighted to collaborate with the Research Park at FAU as it creates a South Florida destination for IoT innovators.”

Interested IoT or smart infrastructure companies should contact Ryan Lilly at SmartestPlace@Research-Park.org or by telephone at +1 561-416-6092 Ext. 1401.

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08
Apr, 2023

By Nikki Cabus

CAI accelerates business totaling $1.05 billion; Fortune 500 Clients & expanded programs

Read Time 4 Minutes

CAI announced accelerated momentum into 2023 with year-over-year growth. The firm increased employee count by 23.2% and experienced 11% revenue growth totaling $1.05 billion.

CAI is a global technology services firm with over 8,500 associates worldwide and a yearly revenue of $1 billion+. We have over 40 years of excellence in uniting talent and technology to power the possible for our clients, colleagues, and communities. As a privately held company, we have the freedom and focus to do what is right—whatever it takes. Our tailor-made solutions create lasting results across the public and commercial sectors, and we are trailblazers in bringing neurodiversity to the enterprise.

With this expansion, Tom Salvaggio, CAI’s President since 2015, was appointed the new title of CEO, President at CAI. And with growing workforces in the U.S., India and the Philippines, the company enhanced and rebranded service offerings, improved market position, maximized industry benefits with select partners and earned service and employer awards at the regional and national levels.

“Throughout our 40-year history, our mission has not wavered,” said Tom Salvaggio, CEO, President at CAI.

“We elevate service delivery excellence through IT support and neurodiversity employment while serving the communities where we live and work. Forging ahead in the new year, we will continue to stay diligent in our clients’ success and invest in our passionate and talented associates who make it possible. We have had many pivotal chapters in our story which have contributed to CAI’s solid foundation today. That foundation will drive exponential growth in the future.”

To reflect the company’s growth and current solutions, CAI refined its messaging:

  • About: CAI is a global technology services firm with over 8,500 associates worldwide and a yearly revenue of $1 billion+.
  • Mission: We unite talent and technology to power the possible for our clients, colleagues, and communities.
  • Tagline: We power the possible™

CAI enhanced its end-to-end neurodiversity employment program, CAI Neurodiverse Solutions (formerly known as Autism2Work), to help organizations realize the benefits of neurodiversity. The program employs neurodiverse talent in a wide range of skillsets and creates more career opportunities for a broader range of individuals with neurodiverse conditions including but not limited to autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia and ADHD.

The program’s updates are captured in its new messaging:

  • About: CAI Neurodiverse Solutions manages the end-to-end process for private and public organizations to realize the benefits of neurodiversity.
  • Mission: Building innovative business solutions that deliver results while developing rewarding careers for the neurodiverse community and leading the way to an inclusive workforce environment.

This program hits home for Jen Boyer, a Senior Client Executive with CAI whose nephew has special needs. In a previous interview, she noted the high levels of un- and under-employment that neurodiverse people tend to face.

“It’s important to highlight the useful skills they can bring, like creativity and analytical thinking.” Boyer explained that employers are not typically used to hiring neurodiverse talent; however, with CAI’s help, they are able to identify tasks well suited to those with autism” providing them a pathway to “thrive on their own while obtaining a meaningful career.”

CAI added a cybersecurity curriculum to its neurodiversity employment program for individuals interested in entering the field. The curriculum builds critical thinking skills and educates on how to operate systems, identify vulnerabilities and secure data. With strengths in attention to detail, problem solving and pattern recognition, neurodivergent individuals have the skillsets for careers in cybersecurity.

Higher education institutions signed agreements with CAI to help neurodivergent students build career foundations. Landmark College and Marshall University’s West Virginia Autism Training Center entered alliances with CAI to create a more diverse and inclusive workforce and provide real-work experience to neurodivergent students and employment opportunities for neurodivergent graduates.

CAI was recognized nationally for workplace diversity and disability employment with Forbes Best Employers for Diversity 2022 and the maximum score on Disability:IN’s 2022 Disability Equality Index. It also earned three Top Workplace awards for Chicago, Delaware and Lehigh Valley. It was the third win for Chicago, a first for Delaware and a nine-year-long standing title for the Lehigh Valley. The firm’s leaders were honored by OnCon as a top 10 professional in their fields: Chief Human Resources Officer, Tammy Harper, and Chief Technology Officer, Matt Peters.

CAI Neurodiverse Solutions was recognized by the Quality Services for the Autism Community with the Change Maker Award. CAI also achieved technical accreditation with UiPath Services Network certification for advanced delivery skills and expertise in building end-to-end automated solutions.

To learn more about CAI Neurodiverse Solutions, visit www.cai.io/neurodiverse-solutions

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08
Apr, 2023

By Nikki Cabus

Miami Metro Region has the lowest unemployment rate in the Florida – below national average

Read Time 4 Minutes

The Miami Metropolitan region (Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach) came in with the overall lowest unemployment rate in the state at 2.2%!! 

Last month Governor Ron DeSantis announced that Florida’s economy continues to work for Floridians with February’s unemployment rate remaining at a low 2.6 percent, while the national rate increased to 3.6 percent.

Furthermore, Florida’s unemployment rate has decreased by 0.7 of a percentage point over the year and has remained lower than the nation for 28 consecutive months since November 2020. In February 2023, Florida’s private sector employment grew by 5.0 percent (406,600 jobs) over the year. Between February 2022 and February 2023, Florida’s labor force grew by 247,000 (2.3 percent), which is faster than the national labor force growth rate of 1.5 percent during the same time period.

“Florida’s economy continues to be number one in new business formations while growing our labor force and creating jobs faster than the national rate,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “As the federal government continues to flounder on key issues like inflation, Florida will continue to get the fundamentals right.”

All ten major industries experienced positive over-the-year job growth in February. Florida’s private sector employment increased by 0.4 percent over the month (+34,800 jobs) in February 2023, faster than the national rate by 0.2 percentage point over the month and 2.0 percentage points over the year. In February 2023, Florida employers have added jobs for 33 months since May 2020, with the exception of October 2022. Florida’s over-the-year private sector job growth rate has exceeded the nations’ job growth rate for 23 consecutive months since April 2021.

“Thanks to Governor DeSantis’ ongoing commitment to investing in infrastructure enhancements and workforce development initiatives across the state, Florida’s economy continues to fire on all cylinders,” said Meredith Ivey, Acting Secretary of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO).

“Florida gained nearly 35,000 jobs over the month in February 2023 and our state’s unemployment rate remains consistently low. DEO is committed to continuing to champion Governor DeSantis’ mission through its partnerships and programs to ensure Florida sustains its economic success.”

In February 2023, trade, transportation and utilities gained the most jobs among all major industries, adding 12,800 jobs (+0.7 percent) over the month, followed by education and health services, adding 11,400 jobs (+0.8 percent), and leisure and hospitality, adding 10,700 jobs (+0.8 percent).

Data from the month of February continues to indicate there are many job opportunities available for Floridians throughout the state, with more than 409,000 jobs posted online.

The industries gaining jobs over the year included:

  • leisure and hospitality (+104,700 jobs, +8.7 percent)
  • education and health services (+89,400 jobs, +6.5 percent)
  • professional and business services (+67,300 jobs, +4.4 percent)
  • trade, transportation, and utilities (+62,100 jobs, +3.3 percent)
  • financial activities (+25,200 jobs, +3.9 percent)
  • total government (+20,800 jobs, +1.9 percent)
  • construction (+19,700 jobs, +3.3 percent)
  • other services (+18,300 jobs, +5.4 percent)
  • manufacturing (+16,700 jobs, +4.1 percent)
  • information (+2,400 jobs, +1.6 percent)

Floridians in search of work and new job opportunities are encouraged to turn to the CareerSource Florida network for help. Floridians can find guidance on how to register with Employ Florida and search listings of available local job openings. Career seekers also can improve their employability by perfecting resume writing and interviewing skills, establishing career goals, and pursuing customized career training. These services are provided at no cost to job seekers.

In February 2023, Monroe County had the state’s lowest unemployment rate (1.6 percent), followed by Miami-Dade County (1.7 percent), St. Johns County and Gulf County (2.2 percent each), and Wakulla County and Okaloosa County (2.3 percent each). In February 2023, all of 24 metro areas in Florida had over-the-year job gains. The areas with the largest gains were Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater (+68,700 jobs, +4.7 percent), Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford (+68,300 jobs, +5.0 percent), and Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall (+53,800 jobs, +4.4 percent).

The entire Southeast Florida region, or Miami Metro region, came in with the overall lowest unemployment rate in the state at 2.2%!! The Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall metropolitan division came in first for the lowest unemployment rate in the state at 1.7%. The Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach-Deerfield Beach tied for second place for the lowest unemployment rate in he state at 2.5% and West Palm Beach-Boca Raton-Delray Beach came in at th8ird -place for the lowest unemployment rate in the state at 2.6%.

To view the February 2023 employment data, visit: www.floridajobs.org/labor-market-information/labor-market-information-press-releases/monthly-press-releases. Visit Florida Insight for more information on labor market and economic data. Additionally, the Department has provided a video to assist users in explaining the data provided through Florida Insight.

 

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30
Mar, 2023

By Nikki Cabus

ADT and Miami Marlins announce historic, multi-year partnership

Read Time 4 Minutes

The Miami Marlins and ADT announce a history-making partnership highlighted by the club’s first-ever jersey patch.

Additionally, ADT becomes the newest ‘Pillar Partner’ of the Marlins organization as well as the Official Smart Security Partner and Official Solar Energy Partner of the Miami Marlins.

The partnership connects two premiere South Florida-based organizations committed to providing the best service and positively impacting the communities where their employees live, work and serve. The three-year deal is worth $5 million annually, according to Sportico.

Headquartered in Boca Raton, ADT has been a safety innovator for 148 years calling South Florida home for more than two decades. The company is currently the No. 1 smart home security provider in the U.S.

ADT provides safe, smart and sustainable solutions for people, homes and businesses. Through innovative products, partnerships and the largest network of smart home, security and rooftop solar professionals in the United States, we empower people to connect and protect what matters most.

With the extensive partnership, ADT becomes the first official jersey patch partner of the Marlins, with the company’s iconic blue octagon to be worn on the sleeves of Marlins jerseys starting with the 2023 season. ADT will also have a significant brand presence inside the MLB team’s loanDepot park, the Home of Béisbol and South Florida’s jewel events.

“The Miami Marlins and ADT are the perfect teammates for the historic partnership that will have an impact on the field, in the ballpark, and in our community,” said Caroline O’Connor, Marlins President of Business Operations.

“We are two South Florida companies aligned with shared values — innovation, safety and first-class service — and the commitment to exceed expectations of our customers. As our franchise celebrates our 30th anniversary all season long, we are just as excited to launch this impactful partnership ahead of ADT’s 150th anniversary next year.

We are proud to wear ADT’s iconic blue octagon on our sleeves everywhere we go, and especially when we are safe at home!”

The Miami Marlins of Major League Baseball combine the tradition of America’s pastime with the energy and excitement of South Florida. As an organization that lives through its values, the two-time World Series Champion Marlins are dedicated to building sustained success on and off the field as a world-class entertainment venture, while making a positive impact on our community. The Marlins play their home games at loanDepot park, one of South Florida’s jewel venues and an entertainment destination serving as host to best-in-class local, national and international events each year. The state-of-the-art facility is LEED Gold Certified and WELL Certified.

The partnership will showcase the commitment from ADT and the Marlins in a shared belief that everyone deserves to feel safe. Throughout the partnership, the two local organizations will identify areas at loanDepot park to use ADT’s industry-leading smart security products to help keep fans, players and visitors safe at home when they visit the ballpark. Additionally, the two organizations will work together to create impactful programs across South Florida, providing resources to educate and assist residents in underserved areas by integrating ADT security products and technology.

“We’re thrilled to partner with the Miami Marlins and have ADT show up in a new way for customers, sports fans and the local community,” said DeLu Jackson, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at ADT.

“We look forward to working with the Marlins to bring ADT’s safe, smart and sustainable solutions to even more people and places in the South Florida community, the home of our company headquarters and hundreds of ADT employees.”

During the 2023 season, fans will have a chance to win ADT giveaways when they visit a new dedicated space at loanDepot park to learn about ADT’s smart security platform. Fans can also look forward to special offers on ADT products and services available soon.

The Marlins are the latest MLB franchise to secure a jersey patch partner, joining the likes of the Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Angels, Arizona Diamondbacks, and the Cincinnati Reds as having deals in place for the 2023 campaign after MLB followed the National Basketball Association (NBA) and National Hockey League (NHL) in allowing its organisations to sign partnerships in this category. In April 2022, the San Diego Padres became the first franchise to agree a jersey patch deal, penning a multi-year pact with Motorola that is worth US$10 million annually according to SportBusiness.

“ADT is a trusted industry leader in smart home security that has called South Florida home for more than two decades, and we are excited to welcome ADT as our newest Pillar Partner and member of the Marlins family,” said David Oxfeld, Marlins Chief Commercial Officer. “They have a track record of dependability, and we share a common vision of being consistent and reliable.”

Fans will get their first look at the new Marlins jerseys with the ADT patch tonight, March 30th, on opening day when Miami hosts the New York Mets at 4:10 p.m. at loanDepot park. The new jerseys will be available for purchase throughout the first homestand, March 30–April 5.

Score your tickets now at Marlins.com/Tickets.

 

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30
Mar, 2023

By Nikki Cabus

Social Mobile Secures $35 Million Credit Facility from Citi®

Read Time 3 Minutes

Social Mobile is pleased to announce that it has secured a $35 million senior credit facility from Citi.

Social Mobile is a mobility solutions provider focused on providing services critical to organizations looking to deploy and/or bring to market innovative mobile products. They design, engineer, and manufacture turnkey solutions that enable clients to bring smart devices to market quickly and efficiently, while also taking the burden of deploying and supporting these devices off their plate.

“Social Mobile has never received outside capital to grow its business until now. This credit facility from Citi is a significant milestone for our company,” said Benjamin Yogel, Chief Financial Officer of Social Mobile. “It will allow us to accelerate our growth plans and put us in a position to enter the M&A space that will further strengthen our market position.”

Already a major player in the enterprise mobility space, Social Mobile has over 11 million users worldwide in Europe, USA, Canada, Africa, and Latin America. They have developed custom mobile devices and mobility solutions servicing a wide range of industries from healthcare and retail, to government and non-profits and include clients such as DoorDash, Uber Eats, the U.S. Air Force, and more.

Social Mobile is approximately 1 of only 100 a Google Mobile Services (GMS) partners, offering new and innovative ways to leverage the Android operating system that have enabled them to pioneer new products and solutions that many have never seen or considered possible. Recognizing the power and flexibility of the Android OS, they supercharge it by creating solutions dedicated to the unique and challenging environments in which their clients operate, and offer the option to use their proprietary mobile device management system.

Through Social Mobile’s work as an OEM, managed service provider, and consultancy, Social Mobile has become the industry’s best aggregator of resources, helping clients control their own destiny for over a decade. Some of the company’s strategic partners are android, Google, AT&T, Honeywell, and Tech Mahindra, among others.

CEO, Robert Morcos, founded Social Mobile in 2011. A Floridian at heart, Robert grew up in Miami, attended Florida State University on an academic scholarship, and now headquartered Social Mobile in Hollywood, FL. Robert has been involved in every aspect of the business, including manufacturing, design, development, retail, distribution, and consulting.

The drastic growth of the company over the last decade has allowed Robert to hire some pretty impressive new leadership including President, Ed Shulman, CTO Mike Burr and and recent hire, Jai Rao, Social Mobile’s Chief Engineering Officer, who has worked with several multinational OEMs launching world-class products.

He has also attracted new Advisory Council members such as Douglas Smith, who previously was appointed by President Barack Obama to serve as the Assistant Secretary for the Private Sector at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Both Jai and Douglas are key to Social Mobile’s strategic growth; Jai from a product design and development perspective and Douglas from a policy/government relations perspective.

Social Mobile’s funding announcement comes at a time when headlines are dominated by layoffs in the technology industry, and a looming recession and reduced spending by businesses on both talent and IT are under scrutiny. Social Mobile leadership has ensured that the company is in a strong position both financially and strategically to continue its growth into the future.

Citi is a preeminent banking partner for institutions with cross-border needs, a global leader in wealth management and a valued personal bank in its home market of the United States. Citi does business in nearly 160 countries and jurisdictions, providing corporations, governments, investors, institutions and individuals with a broad range of financial products and services.

The company also recently launched Social Mobile ONE, a DaaS offer combining its hardware, software, managed services, and wireless connectivity solutions into a monthly, per device subscription. With IT budgets under increased tightening and a looming recession, enterprises can benefit from an OpEx based model and still secure mobile devices for their business without heavy capital expenditure.

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