Kissimmee Vice Mayor Art Otero Endorses Feature-Length Film “365 Decision Time” set for Production in Kissimmee this year

– Golden Brothers Studios, UCF Incubator Company produced the film -

KISSIMMEE, Fla.- Kissimmee Vice Mayor Art Otero recently endorsed 365 Decision Time, a feature-length film set to start production in the Kissimmee area later this year by Kissimmee-based Golden Brothers Studios.

“I am delighted to be a part of this project and to endorse a family-oriented film production in the Kissimmee area,” Otero said.

365 Decision Time, to be directed by Ariel Santiago, tells the story of a typical middle-class American family faced with divorce, abortion, adultery and a murder charge.

“They are buffeted by crises that threaten to destroy their unity, and the film focuses on the hard decisions they make and the way those decisions change all their lives,” Santiago said.
Giovanni Reyes, a producer of the film and a principal at Golden Brothers Studios, said the film examines how the family’s Christian values and indomitable spirit help them survive strife, misfortune and tragedy.

365 Decision Time is now auditioning, Reyes said. For further information, contact Golden Brothers Studios at 407-558-5783, visit www.365DecisionTime.com or email talent@goldenbrothersstudios.com.

Golden Brothers Studios is a member of the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program located at 111 Monument Ave. in Kissimmee.
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For more information, contact: Giovanni Reyes, Ariel Santiago or Benjamin Guadalupe, Golden Brothers Studios, 407-558-5783 info@goldenbrothersstudios.com; Rafael Caamano, Site Manager Kissimmee UCF Business Incubation Program, 407-343-4300 Rafael.Caamano@ucf.edu

About Golden Brothers Studios: Golden Brothers Studios, based in Kissimmee, is an independent filmmaking company founded by three professionals with more than 50 years of combined experience in the audiovisual and multimedia medium. The mission of the company is production of feature films and television programs that convey a positive, uplifting message to a cultural society who frequently witnesses the disintegration of the family unit and lacks positive role models and spiritual foundation. It strives to produce films and programming with the latest technological advancements available to present relatable life issues, providing solutions that will positively change lives.

About the UCF Business Incubation Program: Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 160 assisted emerging companies (including nearly 100 current clients) create over $800 million in annual revenue and more than 1,600 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With eight – and soon nine – facilities opened across the Greater Orlando community, the Business Incubation Program is a collaboration in economic development between the University of Central Florida, Orange County, the City of Orlando, Seminole County, the City of Winter Springs, The City of Sanford, Lake County, the City of Leesburg, Osceola County, the City of Kissimmee, City of St. Cloud, the Florida High Tech Corridor Council and will be adding Volusia County. For more information, please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu.

UCF Business Incubator in St. Cloud to Host Discovery Tour Open House for Entrepreneurs March 30

ST. CLOUD, Fla. --- The UCF Business Incubator in St. Cloud will host a Discovery Tour Open House for entrepreneurs from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 30, in the Corporate Campus building at Stevens Plantation, 3201 Budinger Ave. in St. Cloud.

Jim Bowie, site manager at the UCF Business Incubator in St. Cloud, said the Discovery Tour event is open to established business owners and potential entrepreneurs who are considering new business startups.

Bowie said a formal presentation of how the Incubator can help grow your business will begin at 5:20 p.m.

“The Discovery Tour is a brief overview of the services and facilities offered at the UCF Business Incubator to see whether a new business startup is the right fit for our program,” Bowie explained.

Bowie said recent studies show that 87 percent of entrepreneurs who launch their business startups in an incubator facility are still in business after five years.

“The UCF Business Incubator offers facilities, a network of community partners dedicated to the support of emerging enterprises and business coaching,” Bowie said. “Our goal is to help promising startup enterprises accelerate their growth and flourish,” Bowie said.

No RSVP is required, Bowie said. For more information about the Discovery Tour Open House, contact the UCF Business Incubator in St. Cloud at 407-498-0432 or visit www.incubator.ucf.edu.
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For more information, contact: Jim Bowie, Site Manager UCF Business Incubator St. Cloud 407-498-0432, Jim.Bowie@ucf.edu; Gordon Hogan, Director of Operations, UCF Business Incubation Program, 407-882-1157; Gordon.Hogan@ucf.edu

About the UCF Business Incubation Program: Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 160 assisted emerging companies (including nearly 100 current clients) create over $800 million in annual revenue and more than 1,600 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With eight – and soon nine – facilities opened across the Greater Orlando community, the Business Incubation Program is a collaboration in economic development between the University of Central Florida, Orange County, the City of Orlando, Seminole County, the City of Winter Springs, The City of Sanford, Lake County, the City of Leesburg, Osceola County, the City of Kissimmee, City of St. Cloud, the Florida High Tech Corridor Council and will be adding Volusia County. For more information, please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu.

UCF Incubator in Kissimmee to Host St. Patrick’s Day Networking Reception for Area Entrepreneurs

KISSIMMEE - The University of Central Florida Business Incubator in Kissimmee will host a networking reception for area entrepreneurs from 5 to7 p.m. on Thursday March 17.

Rafael Caamano, site manager at the UCF Business Incubator in Kissimmee, said the St. Patrick’s Day reception is a chance for entrepreneurs with startup businesses to meet and discuss issues in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere.

The event is free and open to all entrepreneurs, Caamano said.

The UCF Business Incubator in Kissimmee is located on the fourth floor of the Kissimmee City Centre, 111 Monument Ave. in Kissimmee
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For more information, contact: Rafael Caamano, Site Manager Kissimmee UCF Business Incubation Program, 407-343-4300 rcaamano@mail.ucf.edu

About the UCF Incubation Program: Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 160 emerging companies (including 100 current clients) create over $800 million in annual revenue and more than 1,600 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With eight – and soon nine – facilities opened across the Greater Orlando community, the Business Incubation Program is a collaboration in economic development between the University of Central Florida, Orange County, the City of Orlando, Seminole County, the City of Winter Springs, The City of Sanford, Lake County, the City of Leesburg, Osceola County, the City of Kissimmee, City of St. Cloud, the Florida High Tech Corridor Council and will be adding Volusia County. For more information, please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu.

Brand Advance Names Well-Traveled International Affairs Graduate as Account Executive

ORLANDO – Brand Advance, an Internet marketing and web-design business, has named Alexandra Gramatikas?a world traveler who had backpacked through 15 countries by the time she was 18 and reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro when she was 20?as an account executive with its marketing team.

Gramatikas, a recent Florida State University graduate, majored in international affairs and minored in business with an emphasis in marketing. During her time at FSU, the Dean’s-list student and Zeta Tau Alpha leader gained valuable experience heading up marketing efforts that helped raise more than $400,000 for the Children’s Miracle Network and $50,000 for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

Her accomplishments, which also include a Best in Show ribbon from the Maitland Art Festival and a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, are not limited to the college campus, says Brand Advance Chief Operations Officer Robert Urban.

“Alexandra’s strong will, devotion and determination knows no boundaries, as is evidenced by her numerous life experiences,” Urban said.

“Her accomplishments at such a young age–backpacking through Third-World countries, scuba diving in more than 100 of the world’s most exotic waters, and hiking through jungles to count monkeys for an Amazonian research center–are indicative of a positive attitude and a strong work ethic that can only complement Brand Advance’s free-spirited team,” he said.

Brand Advance – headed up by Chief Executive Officer David Brim – is a client company in the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program and is based at its Orlando location at 3218 East Colonial Drive.

About Brand Advance: Brand Advance LLC is a full-service web-design, development and marketing company based in Orlando, Fla. Led by industry veterans David Brim and Robert Urban, the company’s goal is to advance brands, websites and ventures. Brand Advance has the perfect mix of talented designers and developers, as well as marketing professionals to help grow businesses. For more information, please visit www.brandadvance.net

About the UCF Business Incubation Program: Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 140 emerging companies (including 90 current clients) create over $800 million in annual revenue and more than 1,600 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With eight facilities across the Greater Orlando community, the Incubation Program is a collaboration in economic development between the University of Central Florida, Orange County, the City of Orlando, Seminole County, the City of Winter Springs, The City of Sanford, Lake County, the City of Leesburg, Osceola County, the City of Kissimmee, City of St. Cloud, and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu.

For more information about this release, please contact:David Brim CEO or Robert Urban COO, Brand Advance, 407-219-0031, or david@brandadvance.net, robert@brandadvance.net;Melissa Wasserman, Site Manager, UCF Business Incubation Program-Orlando, 321-281-8384, mwasserm@mail.ucf.edu; Charlene Hager-Van Dyke, Larry Vershel Communications, 386-532-8862 or 407-644-4142; chagervandyke@yahoo.com

Nano Discovery, Inc. Wins $100,000 Florida Technology Grant

ORLANDO - Nano Discovery, Inc., a medical research bioassay company headquartered in southeast Orlando was recently awarded a Florida Technology Transfer and Commercialization Partnership Grant.

Dr. Qun Huo, founder and chief executive officer of Nano Discovery, LLC, and an associate professor at University of Central Florida’s NanoScience Technology Center, said the $100,000 grant will help further her efforts to develop a new bioanalytical technology for biomolecular and research and medical diagnosis using gold nanoparticles.

Nano Discovery expects to commercialize this new technology to the biomedical research community in 1-2 years and diagnostic market in 3-5 years.

Nano Discovery exhibited its latest technology products last month during the Particle 2010 conference on Medical/Biochemical Diagnostic, Pharmaceutical, and Drug Delivery Applications of Particle Technology at the Regal Sun Resort at Lake Buena Vista.

Nano Discovery LLC is a client of the UCF Business Incubation Program in the Central Florida Research Park.
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For more information about this release contact: Dr. Qun Huo, Chief Executive Officer, Nano Discovery, Inc, 407-770-8954 huo@nanodiscoveryinc.com; Carol Ann Dykes, Site Manager, UCF Business Incubation Program, 407-882-0211, cdykes@mail.ucf.edu

About the UCF Business Incubation Program: Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 140 emerging companies (including 90 current clients) create over $800 million in annual revenue and more than 1600 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With seven facilities across the Greater Orlando community, the Incubation Program is a collaboration in economic development between the University of Central Florida, Orange County, the City of Orlando, Seminole County, City of Sanford, the City of Winter Springs, Lake County, the City of Leesburg, Osceola County, The City of Kissimmee, the City of St. Cloud and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu.

Compendium Software Systems to Provide Fuel Conservation Technology for Trial Use on City of Sanford Vehicles

SANFORD - Compendium Software Systems, LLC was recently awarded a contract to install its Fuel Clinic.com® Fleet System fuel conservation and risk reduction technology on select City of Sanford vehicles on a trial basis.

Michael Bragg, president of Compendium Software Systems, LLC, said the Sanford Economic Development Office played a big role in shaping the agreement.

Compendium Software Systems’ FuelClinic.com® Fleet System closely records real-world driver behavior and provides data analysis and reporting.

“FuelClinic.com® Fleet System provides a fuel efficiency report card for drivers and vehicles that will enable the city’s fleet of vehicles to achieve maximum fuel efficiency while reducing fleet risk,” Bragg explained. “The goal is to show how FuelClinic.com® Fleet System can help the City save money by reducing the fuel consumption of normal fleet operations.”

Bragg said the trial project will be conducted in two phases. Each phase will include data collection and analysis, he said.

Bragg said installation of the monitoring equipment will commence in July.

Compendium Software Systems LLC is a client company of the UCF Business Incubation Program and headquartered at the Incubator on West First Street in downtown Sanford.

Compendium specializes in advanced information systems for use in driver behavior analysis.
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For more information, contact: Michael Bragg, Compendium Software Systems LLC 407-545-2200 or 800-706-2499, Michael.Bragg@compendiumusa.com; Rafael Caamano, UCF Business Incubation Program-Sanford 407-407-4297, rcaamano@mail.ucf.edu; Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142 or LvershelCo@aol.com

About the UCF Incubation Program:
Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 140 emerging companies (including nearly 100 current clients) create over $800 million in annual revenue and more than 1,600 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With eight facilities across the Greater Orlando community, the Incubation Program is a collaboration in economic development between the University of Central Florida, Orange County, the City of Orlando, Seminole County, the City of Winter Springs, The City of Sanford, Lake County, the City of Leesburg, Osceola County, the City of Kissimmee, City of St. Cloud and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu.

GeoMotion Group Welcomes Marianna Clampett as an Advisory Board member

Orlando - GeoMotion Group Inc recently named Marianna Clampett as an advisory board member. Clampett, based in Raleigh, N.C., is a seasoned business executive with a rich background in sales and marketing management, consulting, and general operations. She held several executive positions at SAS, one of the world’s leading software companies, including president of the Americas, vice president of Commercial Sales, and vice president of various industry, market, and geographic segments.

Clampett, who has a passion for improving fitness and academic success in children, will be instrumental in forwarding GeoMotion Group’s partner relations with private foundations, corporations, government agencies and like-minded individuals.

GeoMotion Group Inc. is an innovative fitness and learning leader, providing fun, safe and easy methods and products to encourage learning, physical activity and fitness. GeoFitness, Dance and Learnercise products and curriculum are movement-based, developmentally appropriate, easy to use and cost effective to increase fitness and academic achievement.

Based in Orlando, GeoMotion Group, Inc. was founded in 2002 by Dr. Debby Mitchell, Ed.D. Curriculum & Instruction, BA/MA Physical Education, associate professor and coordinator of Sports and Fitness, College of Education, University of Central Florida. Dr. Mitchell started GeoMotion Group because of her passion to get children more physically active while learning.
GeoMotion Group is a client of the UCF Business Incubation Program located in the Central Florida Research Park in east Orlando.

About GeoMotion Group: GeoMotion Group is an innovative fitness and learning company which offers a variety of programs for pre-school, schools, and active seniors. They include: Nutrition Education, Active Learning, Choreography, Integrated Academics and Games, Hip Hop, Partner and Latin Dance, Cardiovascular Activities. The company, based in Orlando, Florida, was founded in 2002 by Dr. Debby Mitchell, UCF Associate Professor. To learn more about GeoMotion Group please visit: www.geomotiongroup.com or call 407-275-0510

About the UCF Incubation Program: Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 140 emerging companies (including 90 current clients) create over $800 million in annual revenue and more than 1600 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With seven facilities open across the Greater Orlando community and one more underway, the Incubation Program is a collaboration in economic development between the University of Central Florida, Orange County, the City of Orlando, Seminole County, the City of Winter Springs, The City of Sanford, Lake County, the City of Leesburg, Osceola County, The City of Kissimmee, The City of St. Cloud and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu

UCF Business Incubator-Sanford Welcomes City, County Officials to Open House Showcasing Expanded Facilities

SANFORD - The UCF Business Incubator-Sanford recently hosted local business leaders and city and county officials during an open house to showcase its newly expanded facilities at 110 W. First St. in Sanford.

Rafael Caamano, point of contact for the UCF Business Incubator-Sanford, said the facilities at the UCF Business Incubator-Sanford have grown from 3,800 square feet of office space to 5,700 square feet and is currently housing five client companies.

Caamano said the UCF Business Incubator-Sanford expects to add one more client company within the next two weeks, and with the expansion there is now available space for a couple more new companies.

The University of Central Florida’s Business Incubation Program operates eight business incubation sites at the UCF campus, Research Park and E. Colonial Drove in Orlando, as well as Sanford, Leesburg, Winter Springs, Kissimmee and St. Cloud.
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For more information, contact: Rafael Caamano, UCF Business Incubation Program, 407-407-4297, rcaamano@mail.ucf.edu; Gordon Hogan, Director of Operations, UCF Business
Incubation Program 407-882-1577, ghogan@mail.ucf.edu;

About the UCF Incubation Program: Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 140 emerging companies (including 100 current clients) create over $800 million in annual revenue and more than 1,600 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With eight facilities across the Greater Orlando community, the Incubation Program is a collaboration in economic development between the University of Central Florida, Orange County, the City of Orlando, Seminole County, the City of Winter Springs, The City of Sanford, Lake County, the City of Leesburg, Osceola County, the City of Kissimmee, City of St. Cloud and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu.

Orlando’s InBusiness Inc. Hires Four New Employees and Expands into Larger Quarters at UCF Business Incubator - Orlando

ORLANDO - After the hiring of four new employees, Orlando’s InBusiness Inc. has expanded from one to two office suites at the University of Central Florida’s Business Incubator–Orlando on East Colonial Drive.

Founded last summer by CEO Rod Vargas, a seasoned engineer, author and business consultant, and David Wolf, a young business entrepreneur, InBusiness Inc. is an Orlando-based company that specializes in both business consulting and Internet marketing.
InBusiness joined the University of Central Florida’s Business Incubation Program last fall and has continued to grow ever since, according to Wolf.

“When we started, we knew there were a large number of companies that could not afford the expertise we posses in-house full time. Outsourcing these activities makes sense for both parties. We continually strive to improve our service to customers and our four new hires will only make that trend continue.”

While the firm’s growth spurt may surprise some, it’s what others, including the Orlando incubator’s site manager, have been preparing for.

“InBusiness started in a down-turned economy and yet they’re prospering like current big and strong founded companies, such as Disney, which also started in a similar period in the 1930s,” Interim Site Manager Henriette Schoen remarked. “Their accomplishments are a result of hard work, a huge talent pool, and especially having an ability to be very flexible in the adaptation of new business models for their business. This is one company that’ll be very interesting to watch grow, and the UCF Business Incubator-Orlando is supporting this fast-paced company as much as possible by accommodating its rapidly changing needs,” Schoen said.

Vargas – a professional engineer and an advisory board member of the Small Business Development Center at UCF and Valencia Community College – spent more than 17 years running Apex Environmental Engineering in Orlando and O’Brien & Gere Engineers in Cape Canaveral.

Florida’s Small Business Administration named him Man of the Year in 2007. He currently is an adjunct professor at the Orlando campus of the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico, a member of the Technical Assistance Committee for the Hispanic Business Initiative Fund, and chairman of the Disney Entrepreneur Center 100 Club.

Wolf – who serves as InBusiness Inc.’s vice president of marketing strategies – has business and finance degrees from Valencia Community College and the University of Central Florida, respectively. He was the leader of the winning team of the prestigious Capstone Competition at UCF and routinely placed in the top three for entrepreneurial competitions during his academics.
Wolf has consulted over 50 companies on how to better utilize their companies intellectual property and assets to achieve business growth. He gives marketing seminars regularly which focus on the topic of online marketing for businesses that generate under 20 million in revenue annually.

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About InBusiness, Inc.: InBusiness Inc. is an Orlando-based company that specializes in business consulting and Internet marketing. What makes InBusiness different is the approach they take in helping the companies they work with. Everything is geared toward focusing on a company’s strongest attributes and growing from there. InBusiness is separated into two divisions that work together to create a complete business growth solution. The concept allows companies to benefit either one of their services independently, or benefit from the exponential growth effects of combining the two. Their solutions are price competitive and affordable even for small businesses.

About the UCF Incubation Program: Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 140 emerging companies create over $800 million in annual revenue and more than 1600 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With eight facilities across the Greater Orlando community, the Incubation Program is a collaboration in economic development between the University of Central Florida, Orange County, the City of Orlando, Seminole County, the City of Winter Springs, The City of Sanford, Lake County, the City of Leesburg, Osceola County, the City of Kissimmee, City of St. Cloud, and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit.
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For more information about this release, please contact: David Wolf, Vice President of Internet Marketing at InBusiness Inc., dwolf@inbis.us or 407-284-1992; Henriette Schoen, University of Central Florida Business Incubator–Orlando Interim Site Manager, hschoen@mail.ucf.edu or 407-882-0107; Charlene Hager-Van Dyke, Larry Vershel Communications, chagervandyke@yahoo.com, 386-532-8862 or 407-644-4142 or lvershelco@aol.com

4PSA opens U.S. Headquarters in Orlando, Appoints Veteran Telephony Executive Mike Ross as President

ORLANDO - 4PSA, a leading global provider of cloud computing software and infrastructure based in Bucharest, has opened its U.S. headquarters at the Central Florida Research Park in southeast Orlando and appointed veteran U.S. telephony executive Mike Ross as President
Ross, whose industry credits span a 25-year career and a pioneering role in the development of voicemail and VOIP, a computer-based telephone system that is rapidly expanding around the world, formerly served as a top executive with Dialogic Corporation, Rhetorex/Octel, Aculab USA, Esnatech, Acredo Technologies, and Conversif.

“VOIP is the future of telephone communications,” Ross said. “The integration of cloud computing with the software infrastructure developed by 4PSA will revolutionize voice communications at a fraction of the cost of telephone service today,” Ross said.

The U.S. headquarters of 4PSA is a client company of the University of Central Florida Incubation Program in the Central Florida Research Park.
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For more information contact: Mike Ross, President, 4PSA; 850-250-1118, mross@4PSA.com; Carol Ann Dykes, Site Manager, UCF Business Incubation Program, 407-882-0211, cdykes@mail.ucf.edu

About 4PSA: 4PSA is a leading innovative software development company specializing in applications that run on computer clouds. The company provides, under the 4PSA brand, solutions that help service providers and enterprises better manage their IT infrastructure, automate processes, and improve communications services.

About the UCF Business Incubation Program: Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 140 emerging companies (including more than 90 current clients) create over $800 million in annual revenue and more than 1600 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With eight facilities across the Greater Orlando community, the Incubation Program is a collaboration in economic development between the University of Central Florida, Orange County, the City of Orlando, Seminole County, City of Sanford, the City of Winter Springs, Lake County, the City of Leesburg, Osceola County, The City of Kissimmee, the City of St. Cloud and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu.

Osceola County Partners Break Ground on UCF Incubator in Kissimmee at City Centre

KISSIMMEE – Osceola County, City of Kissimmee and University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program officials participated in the ground breaking of the UCF Business Incubator–Kissimmee recently at the City Centre, 111 E. Monument Avenue.

The University of Central Florida partnered with Osceola County, the City of Kissimmee and Kissimmee’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) on the facility that will offer support services to help start-up companies accelerate their growth and generate jobs in downtown Kissimmee.

“This incubator highlights everything that is making downtown Kissimmee a must-visit destination,” said County Commission Vice Chairman Brandon Arrington, whose district includes the incubator. “Just around the corner there will be a SunRail stop to help connect us with the rest of the region. Simply put, this incubator delivers on all the planning that has been going on locally and regionally for a number of years to link jobs and transportation in our urban core,” added Arrington.

“This is a win-win situation for the City as we partner with UCF and Osceola County. The City is committed to reviving the downtown and attracting more enterprises, such as the UCF Incubator,” said Kissimmee Mayor Jim Swan.

The City and County are making matching contributions totaling $405,000 each for three years. Additionally, onetime payments are being made by the City for $57,000 and $183,000 from the CRA for the facility’s build out. The incubator will be managed by the University of Central Florida.

Gordon Hogan, director of operations for the UCF Business Incubation Program, said the new 8,000 square foot facility to be built out on the fourth floor of the City Centre Kissimmee will open in September with office and administration space for promising enterprises selected to join the UCF Business Incubation Program.

Research has shown that 87 percent of incubator graduates are still in business five years after graduating from an incubation program, said UCF’s Business Incubation Program Founder/Executive Director Dr. Tom O’Neal.
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For more information about this release, please contact: Maria G. Toumazos, Osceola County Economic Development Administrator 407-742-4200, mgru@osceola.org; Gordon Hogan, Director of Operations, UCF Business Incubation Program 407-882-1577, ghogan@mail.ucf.edu; Dr. Tom O’Neal, Executive Director, UCF Business Incubation Program 407 882-1120, oneal@mail.ucf.edu; Carla Banks, Manager of Communications, City of Kissimmee 407-518-2314, cbanks@kissimmee.org; Osceola County Public Information Office, 407-742-4200, www.chooseosceola.com

About the UCF Incubation Program: Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 140 emerging companies (including nearly 100 current clients) create over $800 million in annual revenue and more than 1600 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With eight facilities across the Greater Orlando community, the Incubation Program is a collaboration in economic development between the University of Central Florida, Orange County, the City of Orlando, Seminole County, the City of Winter Springs, The City of Sanford, Lake County, the City of Leesburg, Osceola County, the City of Kissimmee, City of St. Cloud, and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu.

Orlando’s InBusiness Inc. Wants Local Charities to Benefit from their “Coolest Guy in Orlando” Contest

ORLANDO – InBusiness Inc., a local business consulting and Internet marketing company, aims to help charities raise more money by offering charity patrons the opportunity to nominate someone they know or themselves as the "Coolest Guy In Orlando."

The company-sponsored, on-line contest offers that chance for anyone to be found when you Google "Coolest Guy in Orlando." To try it, go to Google.com type in "Coolest Guy In Orlando," and click the "I’m Feelin´ Lucky" button. The contest will allow charity patrons to bid for the title of "Coolest Guy in Orlando" in an auction in increments of $1. Whoever has the highest bid at the time will stay the "Coolest Guy in Orlando" for the rest of 2010 or until someone else steps up with a higher donation for their charity of choice, according to InBusiness Inc. co-owner David Wolf.

“The results of this contest are two-fold,” said Wolf, who co-founded the business last summer with seasoned business consultant Rod Vargas. The two have since become affiliated with the University of Central Florida Business Incubator–Orlando on East Colonial Drive.

“Charities will have a great reason to let past donors know they have an opportunity to help, while getting something unique in return,” Wolf said. “We expect a heated battle around Fathers Day.” A "Coolest Woman in Orlando" is also in the works.

The contest is off and running with Wolf naming Commissioner Tony Ortiz, from Orlando District 2, as the Coolest Guy in Orlando as a token of appreciation for his dedication and continued support for the incubator InBusiness is housed in, the UCF Business Incubator– Orlando on East Colonial Drive.

Now, all that’s needed is for more local charities interested in generating some more donations to get involved and spread the word to their networks. Would-be cool cats don't have to wait for their favorite charities to get wise either. One up the last bidder, and state which charity you would like the money to go to, and InBusiness will contact them to set up the donation account via PayPal.

“It will all be done through PayPal accounts and the funds will go directly to the charities as soon as anyone makes a donation,” Wolf said.

To check it out, make a nomination, or suggest a new category, go to coolestguy@inbis.com. Or visit Coolestguyinorlando.com.

About InBusiness, Inc.: InBusiness Inc. is an Orlando based company that specializes in business consulting and Internet marketing. Unlike most firms, they have the ability to help companies improve by more effective marketing, and improving efficiency in the way a business operates. InBusiness is separated into two divisions that work together to create a complete business growth solution. The concept allows companies to utilize either the business consulting expertise and increasingly demanded Internet marketing consulting separately, or in tandem to create a complete business overhaul solution.

About the UCF Incubation Program: Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 140 emerging companies (including 90 current clients) create over $800 million in annual revenue and more than 1600 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With eight facilities across the Greater Orlando community, the Incubation Program is a collaboration in economic development between the University of Central Florida, Orange County, the City of Orlando, Seminole County, the City of Winter Springs, The City of Sanford, Lake County, the City of Leesburg, Osceola County, the City of Kissimmee, the City of St. Cloud, and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu.
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For more information about this release, please contact:
David Wolf, Vice President of Internet Marketing at InBusiness Inc., dwolf@inbis.us or 407-284-1992; Henriette Schoen, University of Central Florida Business Incubator–Orlando, Interim site manager, hschoen@mail.ucf.edu or 407-882-0107; Charlene Hager-Van Dyke, Larry Vershel Communications, chagervandyke@yahoo.com, 386-532-8862 or 407-644-4142 or lvershelco@aol.com

Florida Economic Gardening Institute names Fran Korosec Director of Client Services

ORLANDO - The Florida Economic Gardening Institute has appointed Fran Korosec director of client services.

Dr. Tom O’Neal, executive director of the Florida Economic Gardening Institute, said Korosec earned his undergraduate degree from Clarkson University and his master’s degree from State University of New York at Binghamton.

Korosec has more than 24 years of experience in corporate management, including executive positions at Bell & Howell, Lockheed Martin and IBM.

“The Economic Gardening Institute is a critical effort to provide promising second stage companies with the resources to accelerate their growth and expand employment throughout Florida,” Dr. O’Neal said.

“Fran Korosec is a seasoned executive with a unique combination of business development/sales, program management, and technical expertise. We expect him to play a major role in the growth and success of the Economic Gardening Institute.

Funded by the Florida Legislature at the University of Central Florida, the Florida Economic Gardening Institute is a joint venture of the University of Central Florida, the Florida Development Council, Enterprise Florida, Workforce Florida, Florida High Tech Corridor Council and others working to identify and cultivate hundreds of growth companies.

Visit www.GrowFL.com
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For more information, contact:
Fran Korosec, Director of Client Services, Fla. Economic Gardening Institute; 407-882-0210; Fran@Growfl.com; Dr. Tom O’Neal, Executive Director Fla. Economic Gardening Institute; 407-882-1120; oneal@mail.ucf.edu

Orlando’s OC Grant Consulting Offers New Series of Classes to Help Faith- and Community-Based Organizations Attain Non-Profit Status

ORLANDO – Olivette Carter, owner of OC Grant Consulting Associates, will conduct the next in a Spring series of seminars on attaining non-profit status and grant funding Saturday May 8, at the University of Central Florida Business Incubator-Orlando.

The session, titled “Board Development for New Non-Profits,” will be held from 9 a.m. to noon at 3218 E. Colonial Drive.

OC Grant Consulting is a client company of the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program, one of the program’s eight business incubators throughout the Central Florida area.
Designed for executives, administrators, managers and other leaders of aspiring or new start-up grassroots organizations, the series began earlier this month with “How to Start a Non-Profit and Obtain 501(c)3 Status” seminar.

Additional Saturday seminars are: “Program Design and Planning,” May 15; and “Introduction to Grant Writing,” May 22.

The cost of each class is $35.00. To register, call 321-281-8346 or go on-line at ocgrantconsulting.com. Please resister by the Wednesday prior to each seminar.

For more information about this release, please contact:
Olivette Carter, owner, OC Grant Counseling, 321-281-8346 or ocgrants@obdc2.fdn.com; Henriette Schoen, UCFBI-Orlando site manager, 321-281-8383, hschoen@mail.ucf.edu; Gordon Hogan, director of operations, UCF Business Incubation Program, 407-882-1157; ghogan@mail.ucf.edu; Charlene Hager-Van Dyke, Larry Vershel Communications, 386-532-8862, 407-644-4142; Lvershelco@aol.com or chagervandyke@yahoo.com

About the UCF Business Incubation Program: Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 140 emerging companies (including 90 current clients) create over $800 million in annual revenue and more than 1,600 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With eight facilities across the Greater Orlando community, the Incubation Program is a collaboration in economic development between the University of Central Florida, Orange County, the City of Orlando, Seminole County, the City of Winter Springs, City of Sanford, Lake County, the City of Leesburg, Osceola County, The City of St. Cloud and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu.

UCF, St. Cloud, Osceola County to Host Grand Opening April 28 for New Business Incubator

ST. CLOUD, Fla. - University of Central Florida, The City of St. Cloud and Osceola County officials will participate in the grand opening of the new UCF Business Incubator–St. Cloud facility at 3201 Budinger Ave. in St Cloud on April 28 from 4 to 6 p.m.

Gordon Hogan, director of operations for the UCF Business Incubation Program, said the new 14,000 square foot facility will launch an exciting new addition to economic development activity in Osceola County.

Four incubation client companies plan to locate offices in the new facility immediately, Hogan said, and the UCF Business Incubation Program expects to name a full time site manager within the next 30 days.

Eventually, the UCF Business Incubator-St. Cloud could accommodate as many as 20 client companies.

“We provide a wide range of services that accelerate the growth of promising young companies so they can play a greater role in economic expansion in the local area,” Hogan explained.

The UCF Business Incubation Program currently supports nearly 90 full-time client companies, Hogan said, and ranks as one of the premier university-based incubation programs in the U.S.

Since 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 140 emerging companies generate more than $800 million in annual revenues and more than 1,600 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000,” Dr. Tom O’Neal, founder of the UCF Business Incubation Program, said.

Incubators are a great place to start a new company. They significantly increase your chances of success. In fact, research has shown that 87 percent of incubator graduates are still in business five years after graduating from an incubation program.

“In these tough economic times, it is essential to grow our own companies. The new UCF St. Cloud incubator is not only a great resource for our entrepreneurs, but also a great tool to add to our economic development tool box,” said Maria Grulich Toumazos, Osceola County Economic Development Administrator.

“St. Cloud is very excited to have one of the premiere incubation programs in the country in St. Cloud. The UCF Business Incubator-St. Cloud will not only assist in growing our own companies, but will help to achieve the long-time goal of diversification in the local job markets and the overall economy,” said Ernie Gearhart, Economic Development Consultant for the City of St. Cloud.

The St. Cloud incubator facility is one of seven in the University of Central Florida’s Business Incubation program. Additional incubator facilities are located at UCF Campus, Research Park in east Orlando, and in Orlando, Sanford, Winter Springs and Leesburg.
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For more information about this release, contact:Gordon Hogan, Director of Operations, UCF Business Incubation Program, 407-882-1577, ghogan@mail.ucf.edu; Dr. Tom O’Neal, Executive Director, UCF Business Incubation Program, 407 882-1120, oneal@mail.ucf.edu;Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142 or LvershelCo@aol.com.

About the UCF Business Incubation Program:Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 140 emerging companies (including more than 90 current clients) create over $800 million in annual revenue and more than 1600 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With seven facilities across the Greater Orlando community, the Incubation Program is a collaboration in economic development between the University of Central Florida, Orange County, the City of Orlando, Seminole County, the City of Winter Springs, The City of Sanford, Lake County, the City of Leesburg, Osceola County and the City of St. Cloud, and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu.

Leesburg’s UCF Business Incubator to Host Open House Tuesday, Feb. 23 from 4 to 6 P.M.

LEESBURG - The UCF Business Incubator-Leesburg will host an open house on Tuesday, Feb. 23 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the program’s headquarters facility at 600 Market St. in Leesburg.

Incubator site manager James Spencer said six client companies have already joined the Business Incubation Program in Leesburg and the facility currently can accommodate seven client companies.

The UCF Business Incubator-Leesburg houses the UCF Business Incubation Program as well as UCF’s Small Business Development Center. It is a joint project of the University of Central Florida in Orlando, the City of Leesburg and Lake County, Spencer said.

The Leesburg Business Incubator provides technical assistance and office space to help promising new enterprises accelerate their growth, Spencer explained.

“Our job is to help grow local businesses to create more local employment and improve the local economy,” Spencer said.

The University of Central Florida Incubation Program, which opened 10 years ago, ranks as one of the most successful incubation programs in the U.S.

For more information about this release, please contact:
James Spencer, Site Manager, UCF Business Incubator-Leesburg, 352-315-1846, jspencer@mail.ucf.edu; Gordon Hogan, Director of Operations, UCF Business Incubation Program, 407-882-1157; ghogan@mail.ucf.edu

About the UCF Incubation Program:
Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 130 emerging companies (including nearly 80 current clients) create over $500 million in annual revenue and more than 1600 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With seven facilities across the Greater Orlando community, the Incubation Program is a collaboration in economic development between the University of Central Florida, Orange County, the City of Orlando, Seminole County, the City of Winter Springs, The City of Sanford, Lake County, the City of Leesburg, and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit http://www.incubator.ucf.edu/

Compendium Software Systems, LLC Launches Web-Based Fuel Efficiency Clearinghouse FuelClinic.Com

SANFORD - Compendium Software Systems, LLC recently launched FuelClinic.com, a web-based information clearinghouse that focuses on improving fuel efficiency by improving driving techniques.

Michael Bragg, founder and chief technical officer at Compendium Software Systems, said FuelClinic.com is a global web community with more than 3,300 registered users in the U.S., Canada, Australia, Brazil, the U.K., and Europe. FuelClinic.com should host more than one million users worldwide within five years, Bragg projects.

“If we can grow to help a million motorists improve their fuel efficiency by just 5 or 10 percent, imagine the impact that would have on fuel costs and emissions,” said Bragg.

Registration at FuelClinic.com is free for non-commercial use. The site offers a wide range of information about methods for improving fuel economy, online tools to track users actual fuel mileage over time, and training materials and provides the important performance feedback to motivate motorists to continue to improve their fuel efficiency, Bragg said.

“The easiest way to immediately start saving gas money and reduce dependency on fossil fuels is to learn how to get the most out of every drop of fuel we burn,” Bragg explained. “FuelClinic.com provides users information on how to maximize fuel economy, cut fuel costs and carbon emissions, while reducing vehicle operating costs, traffic congestion, insurance rates and accidents,” Bragg explained.

A commercial version of the software is currently in development.

Compendium Software Systems is a client company of the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program and headquartered at the UCF Business Incubator on West First Street in downtown Sanford.

About the UCF Incubation Program: Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 130 emerging companies (including nearly 80 current clients) create over $500 million in annual revenue and more than 1600 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With six facilities opened and one under construction across the Greater Orlando community, the Incubation Program is a collaboration in economic development between the University of Central Florida, Orange County, the City of Orlando, Seminole County, the City of Winter Springs, The City of Sanford, Lake County, the City of Leesburg, and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu

Grayman Construction Management Service Appoints Clinton Cooper Director of Business Development

SANFORD - Grayman Construction Management Service, LLC, headquartered at the UCF Business Incubator in Sanford, recently appointed Clinton Cooper director of business development.

Timothy Grayman, president of Grayman Construction Management Service, said Cooper has more than 17 years of experience in banking and finance, construction, land acquisition, and community development.

Cooper formerly worked in project management, land acquisition and development, and purchasing with Ryland Homes in the Orlando region and was a financial specialist with First Union National Bank.

Cooper graduated from the University of Florida and is currently working toward his MBA.

For more information, contact: Timothy Grayman, President, Grayman Construction Management Service, LLC. 786-449-9871; Rafael Caamano, UCF Business Incubation Program, 407-407-4297, rcaamano@mail.ucf.edu

About Grayman Construction Management Service: Grayman Construction Management Service, a full service construction company established in 2005, currently has offices in Sanford, Miami and Port Charlotte, Fla. The principals have significant background and expertise in high-end retail, mixed-use development, educational, healthcare, aviation, restaurant and residential projects.

About the UCF Incubation Program: Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 130 emerging companies (including nearly 80 current clients) create over $500 million in annual revenue and more than 1600 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With six facilities opened and one under construction across the Greater Orlando community, the Incubation Program is a collaboration in economic development between the University of Central Florida, Orange County, the City of Orlando, Seminole County, the City of Winter Springs, The City of Sanford, Lake County, the City of Leesburg, and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu

BDG Construction Services Awarded Contract to Build Orange County Recreation Facility at Barnett Park

WINTER SPRINGS - BDG Construction Services, LLC based in Winter Springs, was recently awarded a design-build contract from Orange County worth $273,318 to build a public “splash park” at Barnett Park off S.R. 50 in Orlando.

Kevin Guffee, principal at BDG Construction Services, LLC, said the facility will include a 1,900 square foot water play area and 2,000 square feet of surrounding hardscape. Most of the facility will be built underground.

“The splash park incorporates a complex of pumps and drains to create a healthy, exciting water-themed recreational facility for young people,” Guffee explained.

BDG renovates and builds commercial facilities throughout Florida. Recent clients include Lillibridge Healthcare Services, The City of Winter Springs, Jones Lang LaSalle, Scottrade and Wal-mart Stores of Bentonville, Ark.

BDG Construction is a client company of the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program located at the Seminole County/Winter Springs Incubator on E. State Road 434 in Winter Springs.
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For more information, contact:
Kevin Guffee, Principal, BDG Construction Services, LLC, 407-951-7451, kguffee@bdgcs.comEsther Vargas-Davis, Site Manager, UCF Incubator-Seminole County, 407-278-4881, evargasd@mail.ucf.edu

About the UCF Incubation Program: Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 130 emerging companies (including nearly 80 current clients) create over $500 million in annual revenue and more than 1600 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With six facilities open across the Greater Orlando community and one more underway, the Incubation Program is a collaboration in economic development between the University of Central Florida, Orange County, the City of Orlando, Seminole County, the City of Winter Springs, The City of Sanford, Lake County, the City of Leesburg, and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu

bioTRAiTS Finds Windows 7 Easy Upgrade For Time Management, Security Applications For Global Market

ORLANDO - bioTRAiTS, Inc., the Orlando-based biometric engineering company that markets bioTRAiTS Time Manager and bioTRAiTS PCID corporate security systems worldwide along with a wide range of professional and consumer IT products, successfully completed integration of MicroSoft Windows 7 into its principal applications and is now shipping bioTRAiTS Time Manager V.7 and bioTRAiTS PCID V.7 to bioTRAiTS UK.co, a European distributor.

Peter A. Wengert, chief executive officer of bioTRAiTS, Inc., said integration of Windows 7 was a simple process.

“Our product worked almost seamlessly with the 32 bit version, and only had a few minor adjustments to make with the 64 bit version,” Wengert said.

bioTRAiTS Programmer Kyle Webb said Windows 7 user access controls presented minor challenges. “Adapting the user access controls was annoying for both versions but they constitute excellent security precautions,” Webb explained.

“Windows 7 provides plenty of documentation on how to work with the new operating system, and that made the transition fairly painless,” he said.Ricardo Aguilar, chief operating officer at bioTRAiTS, said the firm’s specialists have already begun upgrading clients in the field.

“Compared to Vista, integrating Windows 7 was a walk in the park,” Aguilar said. “We’ve had no problems upgrading existing systems in the field.”

bioTRAiTS Inc. is a University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program client located at the Central Florida Research Park in East Orlando.

For more information about this release contact: Peter A. Wengert, CEO bioTRAiTS, Inc. 3267 Progress Drive, Suite 103, Orlando, FL 32826; 866-815-0888 or peter@biotraits.com; Carol Ann Dykes, Site Manager, UCF Business Incubation Program, 407-882-0211, cdykes@mail.ucf.edu

About bioTRAiTS: bioTRAiTS, Inc. is a biometric technology company committed to helping companies protect assets, increase profits and increase revenue. bioTRAiTS, Inc. provides customized software solutions to meet time, attendance and access control needs via recognition and verification of unique human characteristics. With over seven years experience in the field of electronic security, bioTRAiTS, Inc. consistently delivers an excellent return on investment and receives high marks for customer service.

About the UCF Incubation Program: Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 130 emerging companies (including nearly 80 current clients) create over $500 million in annual revenue and more than 1600 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With six facilities open across the Greater Orlando community and one more underway, the Incubation Program is a collaboration in economic development between the University of Central Florida, Orange County, the City of Orlando, Seminole County, the City of Winter Springs, The City of Sanford, Lake County, the City of Leesburg, and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu.