South Florida Tech HubSouth Florida Tech Hub
13
Mar, 2023

By Nikki Cabus

OZ is Advancing Diversity and Opportunity in Tech for Hispanics

Read Time 3 Minutes

OZ, a South Florida-based digital consulting firm, announced its Chief Solutions Officer Emmanuel “Manny” Ramos has joined the Hispanic Technology Executive Council’s Board of Directors. 

HITEC is a premier global leadership organization which seeks to “create a more inclusive and diverse technology workforce.” Their mission is “to empower Hispanic technology professionals to accelerate leadership capacity through access to a network of business leaders and decision-makers at the highest levels of the global economy.”

The HITEC Foundation is dedicated to investing in the next generation of Hispanic technology professionals through scholarships, mentorship and career opportunities.  The Foundation and partners help young, bright students get the education they need to achieve their dreams. Since 2017, the Foundation’s scholarship program has awarded 163 scholarships totaling $815,000. Scholars also have access to mentorship through HITEC.

Corporate partners include companies such as Capital One, IBM, Dell Technologies, Microsoft and many other national and international brands. These organizations are committed to equity and inclusion by investing in the professional development of their current diverse talent while accessing the HITEC network and providing opportunities to the familia at large.

“I’m honored by the invitation to join the Hispanic Technology Executive Council and look forward to learning from and lifting up the next generation of Hispanic tech leaders,” Ramos says. “As Hispanic professionals, we have come so far, yet the potential is there to do so much more. It’s a transformational moment—and we should not let it pass us by.”

Born and raised in Puerto Rico where his family still resides, Ramos had the opportunity to move to the U.S. for college. Ramos took time to master the English language as he attended UMass, or the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Ramos stated, “I have been blessed with acceptance and opportunities in the US.”

When asked what he hopes to accomplish, Ramos told South Florida Tech Hub that he’s “interested in connecting with fellow Hispanic technology executives and most importantly pay it forward with the younger generation.”

Ramos is also a member of the Forbes Technology Council and an accomplished senior executive with more than 30 years of experience leading business operations, P&Ls, and professional services in a diverse range of industries. He is a Startup Mentor at the Tampa Bay Wave incubator, a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), and Certified Agile Leader.

As Chief Solutions Officer at OZ, he leads the Global Digital Technology Consulting practices providing thought leadership to clients, strategic direction for our practices, manages relationships with technology vendors, and partners with other departments at OZ to drive sales, recruiting, consulting, and operational efficiencies. He is responsible for the overall execution of business and technology consulting across a breadth of expertise areas including digital technology strategy & innovation, intelligent workflow automation, data analytics, AI, SAAS, and DevOps.

“Here at OZ, embracing next-gen innovation and fostering transformative collaboration are a part and parcel of our core values,” OZ Chief Executive Officer Amjad Shamim says.

“Manny embodies those values as a leader in our company every single day. I know he will be an amazing resource for the Hispanic Technology Executive Council as it does the important work of expanding opportunity and nurturing rising talent. I’m excited to see the results.”

OZ is a global digital technology consultancy and software delivery & development partner founded to enable business acceleration by leveraging modern technologies I.e., Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Analytics, Business Intelligence, Micro Services, Cloud, RPA & Intelligent Automation, Web 2.0/3.0, Azure, AWS, and many more.  To learn more about OZ, visit followoz.com

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06
Mar, 2023

By Riley Kaminer

Here’s to another 13 years of healthtech innovation for Modernizing Medicine

Read Time 3 Minutes

The US healthcare sector is rife with inefficiencies – from uneven care to overworked medical professionals to outdated digital systems. In a country that spends almost 20% of our GDP on healthcare, there remains a large opportunity to create better outcomes for patients and better working environments for providers.

For the last 13 years, Boca Raton-based Modernizing Medicine, now known as “ModMed.” has worked tirelessly to improve the tech tools that keep us healthy. They have developed a wide range of specialty-specific electronic health record (EHR) systems and solutions, practice management platforms, revenue cycle management software, and more.

And in an interview with South Florida Tech Hub, co-founder and CEO Daniel Cane said that this is just the beginning for the 3,400-person company.

“You can expect to see more growth, including coverage of more specialties throughout the US – and we will certainly become international,” Cane said of his plans for the company’s next 13 years. 

As for what accomplishment he is most proud of in Modernizing Medicine’s history thus far, Cane said that it was “creating an incredible culture and environment for all our team members.” Building a strong company culture creates lots of work and is a top down effort at ModMed, with Cane still personally meeting every new member of the team.

So is Cane ready for his next venture? Not quite yet. The entrepreneur, who previously co-founded EdTech giant Blackboard, said that he is still laser focused on tackling some of the many issues still plaguing the healthcare industry. “I’ve got a lot more work cut out for me, fixing healthcare and making sure that ModMed is incredibly successful.”

Of course, ModMed has already reached a level of success that most companies will never see. It has 3,400 employees around the world – 700 of whom are based in Modernizing Medicine’s headquarters at the Boca Raton Innovation Campus, IBM’s former R&D facility.

So what advice would Cane give to budding entrepreneurs?

“100% of big companies you see today started off as a small company, so remember to dream big.” Cane also admitted that he has had more failed companies than successful ones, and that is normal. “If you’re going to fail, fail fast. You can learn a lot from those failures.” He noted that while someone might be born an innovator, entrepreneurship – building, running, and scaling businesses – requires a specific set of skills that can be taught.

As ModMed has grown over the last 13 years, so has South Florida’s tech ecosystem, noted Cane. But he urged us to recall that South Florida has had a long tradition of innovation, not least of which includes IBM’s storied past in Boca.

“South Florida is on the map as a strong entrepreneurial hub,” he asserted. This is despite any turbulence caused, for example, by the decline of crypto.

“Our biggest challenge is our geography,” said Cane, noting that South Florida is very long but not very wide, and lacks a main downtown area. “South Florida Tech Hub is essential for bringing all of our amazing companies together.”

 

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22
Feb, 2023

By Nikki Cabus

Silicon Valley’s LeverX relocates HQ to South Florida and expands internationally

Read Time 4 Minutes

Global system integrator LeverX announced the relocation of its corporate headquarters to South Florida. The company believes that by moving from California to Florida it enables them to better meet the needs of customers and collaborate with our partners in the U.S. and globally as they continue to expand internationally.

“Miami’s tech space is growing at a rapid pace, with companies such as LeverX choosing South Florida as the next logical step for their business,” said Laura DiBella, Florida Secretary of Commerce and President & CEO of Enterprise Florida. “Florida was ranked #1 for new tech business establishments in 2021 by CompTIA, and we only expect to see more growth occur in the years to come. With our tremendous quality of life, skilled workforce, and business-friendly environment, Florida is primed to support the flourishing tech industry.”

Apart from a thriving tech and business culture, LeverX will benefit from Miami’s location. Thanks to global accessibility, Miami International Airport is now one of the busiest airports in the world, making the city a convenient place for business operations and meetings. Miami’s convenient central location will allow LeverX to increase the effectiveness of communications with customers across multiple countries and time zones and streamline operations between its offices across North America, Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East.

LeverX was founded in Silicon Valley in 2003 and has since become a global system integrator that provides SAP implementation services and custom software development to companies of all sizes. The company supports clients in North America, Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East with over 1600 employees in 14 offices across 10 countries. LeverX Group unites two teams: LeverX and Emerline. Some of the primary industries they work with are automotive, metals and mining, retail, fintech and healthcare.

A Cushman & Wakefield representative told South Florida Tech Hub that the new LeverX headquarters is located at 333 S. E. 2nd Avenue, Suite 2000, Miami in the prestigious Wells Fargo Center in a Regus Group executive suite. This building has become one of Miami’s preeminent business addresses and stands 47-stories tall in the heart of Downtown Miami, making it the fifth tallest building in Florida. This fabulous fabulous tower building comes with terrific views across the city and Biscayne Bay.

“Miami is a natural fit for a global tech leader like LeverX,” said James Kohnstamm, EVP, Miami-Dade Beacon Council, the County’s official economic development organization. “One of the fastest growing innovation hubs in the country, Miami is a diverse community that is entrepreneurial at its core and is invested in the success of companies that choose to call it home. Boasting local, national and international talent with strong SAP expertise, we look forward to having LeverX engage with our thriving tech cluster and contribute to its continued growth.”

Recent explosion in business and technology has made Miami and surrounding South Florida an increasingly desirable place to live, work, and travel. With an intention to offering innovative, cutting-edge digital solutions, LeverX presence is excited to be a part of Florida’s growing tech hub and Miami’s growing business and tech scene.

“Miami-Dade is a connected and global gateway, teeming with stories of talent, innovation, and drive. As we build a Miami-Dade that is workforce, idea, and future-ready – we’re excited to welcome tech leaders like LeverX, so that together, we can author the next chapter of tech in America,” – said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava.

LeverX’s Co-founder and Chairman of the Board, Dr. Victor Lozinski, commented on the decision to choose Miami as the new location for the company’s headquarters stating that “After exploring possible locations, we have selected Miami, Florida, as the new site for our LeverX Global Headquarters. Its welcoming environment and popular attractions make Miami an appealing setting to host corporate events and customer meetings. Our new home will enable us to better meet the needs of our customers and collaborate with our partners, both in the U.S. and around the world. We are excited to become part of Miami’s growing tech community and look forward to the next chapter in the company’s history,” said Dr. Victor Lozinski.

The LeverX office in Mountain View, California will continue working with clients  on the West Coast, while offering cutting-edge technologies and building innovative solutions for startups and established companies. For more information, please visit https://leverx.com/.

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30
Jan, 2023

By Nikki Cabus

What Does 2023 Have in Store? A Review of New Technology Trends.

Read Time 4 Minutes

As January draws to a close, most of us have settled back into our daily routines. While 2022 was a year of transition, we believe 2023 will usher in new opportunities — and new challenges. Rick Mancinelli, Founder & CEO of C3 Complete, gives us a look into what 2023 might look like.

Rick Mancinelli is the CEO of C3 Complete, a technology consultancy he founded in 2009. He has nearly 30 years of experience in all phases of information technology management, including software development, network architecture, and corporate IT management.

Rick gives us insight into:

  • The Future of Work
  • The Future of Security
  • The Future of Cloud Services
  • The Future of Mobility
  • The Future of Computing
  • The Future of the Economy

The Future of Work

The Covid-19 pandemic resulted in an unprecedented transition for the global workforce. Work-from-home technologies such as web and video conferencing, virtual desktops, zero trust network access, and Hosted PBX solutions grew rapidly both in use and functionality. In 2022, with the Covid-19 virus better understood, workers began to take their first steps back into the office environment.

As 2023 begins, we believe this will be the year that determines the very future of how we work. While the technologies mentioned above are surely here to stay, it will be those that learn to truly capitalize on their potential that will ultimately have the greatest success. The question for you is, how can your organization leverage these technologies to achieve your goals?

This is an especially important question when placed against the backdrop of exactly how employees will work in the future. Are employees working from home for good, headed back to work full-time, or going hybrid? Will there be a mass callback to the office? Most importantly, how do forward-thinking organizations secure, support, and manage the new extended office environment?

The Future of Security

A lot has changed in the security arena, as well. As emerging threats become more sophisticated, so too are the tools used to keep you safe. The traditional VPN has given way to ZTNA; SD-WAN is fast becoming SASE. Cybercriminals are leveraging AI (artificial intelligence) to construct and deploy new and never-before-seen malware, while leading security vendors leverage the same AI to defend against them.

Even Uncle Sam is paying attention to Information Security now. Recent changes to Federal Trade Commission policy pose major ramifications for any business that fails to safeguard consumer information. Even if you run Mary Lou’s flower shop down the street, you can be fined — maybe enough to put you out of business. With a maximum fine of $11,000 per day per occurrence of non-compliance, and up to $43,000 per day per consent violation, the risk is very real. Can your business afford to be exposed to this level of risk? Do you have the right security strategy in place to minimize these new threats?

For these reasons — as well as a litany of additional security threats — the trend of double-digit growth in cybersecurity spending will likely continue. In fact, it’s not unusual for us to see customers budgeting twice as much on security services in 2023 as they did in 2022. This is particularly true as remote work continues to entrench as the new normal, and cloud-based services continue their massive year-over-year growth.

The Future of Cloud Services

Despite the growth of Cloud, we’re seeing some pullback from the big public Cloud services. While “Big Cloud” is still growing hand over fist, some customers are exploring the many benefits of alternative cloud services. Other customers, driven by regulatory requirements, performance issues, and as a mechanism to control Cloud Sprawl, have begun to explore data repatriation: moving data back to on-premise or collocation-based systems.

Enter the new “Multi-Cloud” paradigm, where the question is no longer to Cloud or not to Cloud, but rather which type of Cloud(s) is right for your organization? Public? Private? Hybrid? Big Cloud? Alternative Cloud? Moreover, is your technology partner equipped to have this conversation and provide the guidance you need?

 

To read Rick’s insights into The Future of Mobility, Computing, and the Economy, click here.

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26
Sep, 2022

By Nikki Cabus

CITY Furniture announces equity stake in Palm Beach County-based PeakActivity

Read Time 3 Minutes

Broward-based CITY Furniture, a family-owned American furniture and mattress retailer, fine upholstery manufacturer, and one of America’s Top 20 furniture retailers, announced it has recently taken an equity stake in PeakActivity, a digital acceleration and technology services company based in Palm Beach county that enables progress for businesses at every point of their digital journey through modernization, optimization, innovation, and engineering services.

As long-time partners, CITY’s equity stake, which represents a minority position, is a win-win for both parties. For CITY, this investment solidifies their position as a pioneer in Home Tech, integrating technology into everything they do. PeakActivity will use this investment to accelerate their overall growth and fund further innovation in the home furnishings category.

With shared goals and shared financial outcomes, the partnership between the companies will be strengthened to a level they have not had previously and is a testament to the quality of the work they have done together over the past five years.

“CITY is working hard to build a world class organization that is best in class in technology. The future of the home industry and all industries hinge on technology and innovation,” said Andrew Koenig, CEO of CITY. “Our partnership with PeakActivity is more important now than it has ever been. We are convinced that taking a position in PeakActivity will accelerate our technological advantages in the market and result in a better customer and associate experience overall.”

CITY Furniture operates over twenty-two showrooms from Miami through Vero Beach, and in Southwest and Central Florida, as well as fourteen Ashley Home Store showrooms as the brand’s Southeast and Southwest Florida licensee. The company is one of the country’s top furniture retailers and continuing to grow.

As technology becomes more and more fundamental to everyday business and everyday living, CITY looks to embrace it and actively learn about the opportunities that tech provides businesses. CITY looks to be a driving force in taking the home furnishing world from “old school” to “industry cool” by investing in their long-time tech partner, PeakActivity.

As part of its investment, CITY looks forward to their ability to share knowledge, ideas, and strategies, while leveraging both companies skilled tech teams to work on some of the best home projects in the industry. Given their long-standing client-agency relationship, the companies are already working on several projects together in the areas of ecommerce, AR Design, CITY Moves, and more, that will continue to grow and expand as their relationship advances in the months and years to come.

“CITY has been one of our longest standing and best clients, driving us to innovate, to think, and work both faster and better,” said Manish B. Hirapara, CEO of PeakActivity.

“With this investment, our relationship becomes even more significant and is unlike that of any other client relationship we have. I expect that we continue to grow together and thrive together in the future. We are stronger than we’ve ever been before now as true partners.”

PeakActivity is a digital strategy and implementation company, partnering with businesses to accelerate their growth through eCommerce, Digital Marketing, and Technology solutions. By leveraging its unique methodology of Dream, Deliver, Elevate, PeakActivity simultaneously focuses on short-term wins with a constant eye towards longer-term innovation and business growth.

This relationship with PeakActivity just further reinforces CITY’s long-time commitment to being tech forward for both their internal stakeholders and external stakeholders. For CITY, seamless technology integration is just as important to a customer looking to furnish their living room in Miami, as it is to a warehouse worker in Orlando and a corporate employee in Tampa. Over the years, the company has enjoyed significant success building out their own tech department, making all of areas of the company better, faster, easier, and safer, while building out teams for e-commerce, data analytics and cybersecurity.

With tech at the forefront of CITY’s business strategy from the start, this relationship is an investment in the success of CITY’s tech-focused future and a step towards achieving their long-term goals.

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OZ is Advancing Diversity and Opportunity in Tech for Hispanics
Here’s to another 13 years of healthtech innovation for Modernizing Medicine
Silicon Valley’s LeverX relocates HQ to South Florida and expands internationally
What Does 2023 Have in Store? A Review of New Technology Trends.
CITY Furniture announces equity stake in Palm Beach County-based PeakActivity