Powerful Education Technologies, Inc. founder Dr. Lesia Crumpton-Young wins White House Presidential Award

Powerful Education Technologies, Inc. founder Dr. Lesia Crumpton-Young wins White House Presidential Award

ORLANDO, Fla. - Dr. Lesia Crumpton-Young, founder and president of PowerfulEducation Technologies, Inc. at the University of Central Florida’s Business Incubation Program, was recently named a recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring.

Dr. Crumpton-Young was singled out by the White House and the National Science Foundation for the award, which includes a $10,000 grant to continue her work.

Dr. Crumpton-Young earned her doctorate from Texas A&M University’s College of Engineering, ranked one of the top 10 engineering programs in the U.S.

Dr. Tom O'Neal, founder and executive director of the UCF Business Incubation Program, said PowerfulEducation Technologies, Inc. is a growing part of the UCF Business Incubation Program that recently launched a statewide pilot study to teach underprivileged and troubled youngsters employment skills.

“Dr. Crumpton-Young has dedicated her career to developing ways to empower young students to out-perform their own expectations. PowerfulEducation Technologies is an outgrowth of her work mentoring students at the University of Central Florida that is showing substantial results. All of us at the UCF Business Incubation Program are proud of her work here and delighted with her recognition,” Dr. O’Neal said.

For more information about this release, please contact:
Dr. Lesia L. Crumpton-Young, President/CEO PowerfulEducation Technologies 407-649-6702; dryoung@powerfuleducation.com

Gordon Hogan, Director of Operations, UCF Business Incubation Program, 407-882-1577; bizdev@mail.ucf.edu

Charlene Hager-Van Dyke, Larry Vershel Communications, 386-837-8780 or 407-644-4142

About the UCF Incubation Program:
Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Incubation Program has helped more than 100 emerging companies (including nearly 70 current clients) create over $500 million in annual revenue and more than 900 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With five 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 and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit http://www.incubator.ucf.edu.

Social Security Advocates LLC Helps More Clients as the Economy Tightens its Grip on Working Residents

Social Security Advocates LLC Helps More Clients as the Economy Tightens its Grip on Working Residents

ORLANDO, Fla. – When the going gets tough, the familiar adage has it that the tough also get going. And, that’s just what representatives at Social Security Advocates LLC have been doing as more and more workers turn to them for help in gaining disability benefits.

“When the economy is in reverse, more people file for disability,” says Jessica Carrasquillo, a former paralegal who started the company in Cleveland, Tenn. in 2005.

And more filings translate into increased business for Social Security Advocates which opened an Orlando location last year at the Orlando Business Development Center on East Colonial Drive, one of five University of Central Florida Incubation Program locations.

“We’re kind of a recession-proof company; we tend to do well in a bad economy,” Carrasquillo says. “Most people don’t know where to turn or what to do to even begin to file for benefits. That’s where we can help.”

Carrasquillo, a paralegal for 20 years, spent 11 years handling Social Security disability claims for a large law firm. Jeanette Roman, who has 18 years of experience in the same field, runs the Orlando office of Social Security Advocates.

Roman met Carrasquillo 15 years ago while working at an Orlando law firm. The two later co-hosted an Orlando radio show for that law firm, which also helped clients with Social Security issues.

They saw the same thing happening again and again for those trying filing claims: Claim denied; appeal denied; client gives up.

“People have real issues and they deserve personal attention,” Carrasquillo said. “Our clients are individuals with unique problems; they’re not just numbers. And, we get to know them and what they’re going through so we can effectively help them.”

A new company website – www.socialsecurity-advocates.com – often is the first step for clients interested in pursuing a claim. There they will find information on what the company can do for them and answers to important questions.

Social Security Advocates does not charge a fee – other than administrative costs – unless benefits are obtained, Roman said. The company also boasts a 97 percent success rate in obtaining benefits for its clients throughout the United States.

As a full-service agency, Social Security Advocates handles everything for the client, including gathering medical records and filling out all forms, communicating with the appropriate agencies and attending hearings on behalf of clients.

“We do all that for them,” Carrasquillo said. “They already have enough to worry about.”
To find out if you are eligible for disability benefits, contact Roman or Carrasquillo at Social Security Advocates, 321-281-8376 or 423-473-6714, or visit the company’s website at www.socialsecurity-advocates.com.

For more information, please contact:
Jeanette Roman or Jessica Carrasquillo, S.S. Advocates, 321-281-8376 or 423-473-6714

Melissa Wasserman, Site Manager, OBDC District 2/UCF Business Incubation Program; 321-281-8383; mwasserman@mail.ucf.edu

Gordon Hogan, Director of Operations, UCF Business Incubation Program, 407-882-1577; bizdev@mail.ucf.edu

Charlene Hager-Van Dyke, Larry Vershel Communications, 386-837-8780 or 407-644-4142

About the UCF Incubation Program:
Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Incubation Program has helped more than 100 emerging companies (including nearly 70 current clients) create over $500 million in annual revenue and more than 900 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With five 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 and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit http://www.incubator.ucf.edu.

University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program Promotes Gordon H. Hogan to Director of Operations

University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program Promotes Gordon H. Hogan to Director of Operations

ORLANDO, Fla. - The University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program has promoted Gordon H. Hogan to director of operations.

Hogan joined the UCF Business Incubation Program ten years ago when it opened and most recently served as business development executive and site manager of the UCF Downtown Orlando Incubator facility and Photonics Incubator. He has a Bachelor’s degree from Fort Hays Kansas State University in Hays, Kansas and attended the University of Kansas.

Dr. Tom O’Neal, executive director of the UCF Business Incubation Program, said Hogan will oversee UCF Business Incubation Program facilities at Research Park, the Orlando Business Development Center, the UCF Seminole County/Winter Springs facility, the Leesburg Business & Technology Center and the UCF Sanford Business Incubator

The UCF Business Incubation Program which currently serves more than 70 client companies that provide close to 2,000 jobs in Central Florida, plans to soon open the incubator facility in Sanford and in the coming months in St. Cloud.

For more information, contact:
Gordon Hogan, Director of Operations, UCF Business Incubation Program, 407-882-1577, bizdev@mail.ucf.edu

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 Incubation Program:
Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 100 emerging companies (including nearly 70 current clients) create over $500 million in annual revenue and more than 900 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With five facilities across the Greater Orlando community, the Incubation Program is a collaboration in economic development between the University of Central Florida, the City of Orlando, Orange County, Seminole County, the City of Winter Springs, and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu.

BDG Construction Services, LLC Completes Renovation of Sony Superstore at Lake Buena Vista

BDG Construction Services, LLC Completes Renovation of Sony Superstore at Lake Buena Vista

WINTER SPRINGS, Fla. - BDG Construction Services, LLC, recently completed a renovation of the Sony Superstore at the Crossroads Center on S.R. 535 across from Walt Disney World Village at Lake Buena Vista.

Jay Brown, P.E., principal at BDG Construction, said the interior renovation was for 1,400 square feet, and was completed for Jones Lang LaSalle of Altamonte Springs, the shopping center owner’s representative.

BDG Construction renovates and builds commercial facilities throughout Florida. Recent clients include The City of Winter Springs, Wal-mart Stores of Bentonville, Ark., and RP Realty Partners of Beverly Hills, Calif.

BDG Construction is a client company of the University of Central Florida Business Incubation program located at the UCF Incubator–Seminole County/Winter Springs on S.R. 434.

For more information please contact:
Kevin Guffee, Principal, BDG Construction Services, LLC, 407-951-7451, kguffee@bdgcs.com
Esther Vargas-Davis, Site Manager, UCF Incubator-Seminole County, 407-278-4881, evargasd@mail.ucf.edu
Gordon Hogan, Director of Operations, UCF Business Incubation Program, 407-882-1577
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142

About the UCF Incubation Program:
Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Incubation Program has helped more than 100 emerging companies (including nearly 70 current clients) create over $500 million in annual revenue and more than 900 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With five 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, and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit http://www.incubator.ucf.edu/.

UCF Business Incubation Program Identifies More Than 1,600 Area Jobs it helped to create with Earnings of More than $70 Million

UCF Business Incubation Program Identifies More Than 1,600 Area Jobs it helped to create with Earnings of More than $70 Million

ORLANDO, Fla. - The University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program, which currently supports nearly 70 startup companies at five Central Florida incubation sites in downtown Orlando, east Orlando, Winter Springs and the UCF campus, reports its efforts have helped to generate more than 1,600 new jobs in the Central Florida region with combined earnings of more than $70 million.

Dr. Tom O’Neal, founder and executive director of the UCF Business Incubation Program, said that’s just a start. “Currently, client companies of the UCF Business Incubation Program employ 340 professionals,” O’Neal said.

Thirty-one Central Florida companies that have graduated from the program currently employ 490 individuals, O’Neal added.

The net effect of that job growth creates almost the same number of “ripple” jobs to support these new businesses, O’Neal said.

Orlando-based Real Estate Research Consultants, Inc. conducted a study of the economic impact of the UCF Business Incubation Program job growth in the region, O’Neal said, and used an industry standard calculation known as RIMS II multipliers to determine the number of “ripple” jobs created.

The UCF Business Incubation Program’s area economic impact goes beyond job growth, O’Neal explained.

“The job growth we helped to create here will generate as much as $14 million in new ad valorem revenues over the next 20 years in Orange County alone,” O’Neal said. In Seminole County, new ad valorem revenues resulting from the UCF Business Incubation Program are estimated at almost $4 million.

In addition, Orange and Seminole County schools will collect more than $28 million from the new job growth, O’Neal said.

The UCF Business Incubation Program, which initially focused on emerging technology companies, has expanded to include startup businesses of almost every stripe except retail and lifestyle.

“Most startup companies can benefit from a successful incubation program, but not all,” O’Neal said. “We aren’t equipped to adequately serve consumer product retail or lifestyle companies because the dynamics of those businesses don’t fit well in an incubator environment,” he said.

The award-winning UCF Business Incubation Program, which opened its doors 10 years ago, now ranks as one of the most successful incubation programs in the U.S.

For more information, contact:

Tom O’Neal. Ph.D, UCF Associate Vice President for Research and Commercialization and Incubation Program Executive Director, 407-882-1120, oneal@mail.ucf.edu

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142 Lvershelco@aol.com

About the UCF Incubation Program:

Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Incubation Program has helped more than 100 emerging companies (including nearly 70 current clients) create over $500 million in annual revenue and more than 900 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With five facilities across the metro Orlando community, the Incubation Program is a collaboration in economic development between UCF, Orange County, the City of Orlando, Seminole County, the City of Winter Springs, and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit http://www.incubator.ucf.edu/.

BioTRAiTS, Inc. Selected to Present at Florida Venture Forum’s Early Stage Capital Conference May 15

BioTRAiTS, Inc. Selected to Present at Florida Venture Forum’s Early Stage Capital Conference May 15

ORLANDO, Fla. – BioTRAiTS, Inc., a biometric technology company that provides private companies and public agencies with customized software and hardware solutions for access control and time & attendance tracking, has been selected to present at the Florida Venture Forum’s Early Stage Capital Conference on May 15 at Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate.

Peter A. Wengert, president of BioTRAiTS, Inc., said their selection represents a significant milestone in the company’s growth.

“The Early Stage Capital Conference is a gathering of potential investors from across the country looking for emerging enterprises that promise substantial returns,” he said.

“We are already in the market with a powerful package of solutions that can benefit almost any business,” Wengert said. “We make access control as well as tracking, accounting and control of worker time, attendance and project responsibilities almost effortless and absolutely accurate,” he said. “Additional capital will enable us to ramp up our expansion and become a major market player.”

BioTRAiTS, Inc., already counts among their diverse customer base The Vue at Lake Eola, a luxury condo development in downtown Orlando, Merrimac Industries in New Jersey, and New York and South Florida based Joseph’s Classic Markets, a specialty grocer. The company recently acquired Orlando-based Reliable Tech Experts.

BioTraits Inc. is a University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program client at the Technology Incubator in Research Park.

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 Technology Incubator, 407-882-0211, cdykes@mail.ucf.edu

Tom O’Neal, Executive Director, UCF 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 BioTraits:
Founded in March 2003, BioTraits, Inc. is a biometric company providing solutions for biometric identification and verification products through its development of a suite of workforce management products and distribution of biometric access control products. For more information, visit http://www.biotraits.com/.

About the Florida Venture Forum:
The Florida Venture Forum offers programs statewide to provide expert counsel, educational advice and managerial assistance to entrepreneurial ventures. The Forum hosts two capital conferences each year. The Early Stage conference in May is focused on companies seeking their first round of equity funding. The Capital Conference in January is focused on high growth companies seeking later stage funding. In the past 18 years, presenters at the Forum’s capital conferences have raised over $1.8 billion. For more information, visit http://www.floridaventureforum.org/.

About the UCF Incubation Program:
Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 100 emerging companies (including nearly 70 current clients) create over $500 million in annual revenue and more than 900 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With five facilities across the Greater Orlando community, the Incubation Program is a collaboration in economic development between the University of Central Florida, the City of Orlando, Orange County, Seminole County, the City of Winter Springs, and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit http://www.incubator.ucf.edu/.

GeoFitness Director Dr. JoAnne Owens-Nauslar wins National Girls & Women in Sports & Fitness award in event sponsored by the AHA

GeoFitness Director Dr. JoAnne Owens-Nauslar wins National Girls & Women in Sports & Fitness award in event sponsored by the American Heart Association

ORLANDO, Fla. – Dr. JoAnne Owens-Nauslar, director of corporate and community development for GeoFitness, Inc., was recently presented with the Ann Campbell Pioneer Award by Star City Sports in Lincoln, Neb. The award was presented in conjunction with National Girls & Women in Sports & Fitness Recognition Day and acknowledges Dr. Owens-Nauslar’s 40-year commitment to equity for girls and women by influencing policy makers and stakeholders.

Dr. Owens-Nauslar is one the nation’s most vocal personalities on issues of physical activity. A reputable teacher, motivational speaker and coach, “Dr. Jo” is determined to help every American understand and enjoy the benefits of healthy active living.

GeoFitness, Inc. is a leading provider of products and programs for education and physical fitness, based in Orlando.

“GeoFitness and Dance, and Learnercise products are designed to increase personal success through learning and physical activity. I believe that every school and every child will quickly see the benefits of such programs,” said Dr. Owens-Nauslar.

“Dr. Jo is a tireless promoter of healthier active living, an inspiration to us and everyone she meets” said Dr. Debby Mitchell, president and founder of GeoFitness, Inc.

American Heart Association, sponsor of this event, writes in the February issue of the Star City Sports Magazine: “Congratulations Dr. Jo on receiving the Anne Campbell Award. Thank you for all you do in promoting wellness and partnering with the AHA to fulfill the mission of building healthier lives free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke.”

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

The company was founded in 2002 by Dr. Debby Mitchell, Associate Professor, Coordinator of Sports and Fitness for University of Central Florida. Based in Orlando, FL, GeoFitness is a client of the University of Central Florida Incubator Program.

To learn more about GeoFitness, Inc. or to order GeoFitness and Dance, and Learnercise products, please visit: http://www.geofitness.com/ or call 407-275-0510.

About the UCF Incubator Program:
Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Incubator Program has helped more than 100 emerging companies create over $300 million in annual revenue and more than 900 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With five facilities across the metro Orlando community, the Incubator Program provides a collaboration environment for economic development between UCF, local cities and counties and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council in Central Florida.

To learn more about the UCF Incubator Program please visit http://www.incubator.ucf.edu/ or contact Carol Ann Dykes, UCF Incubation Program Site Manager, 407-882-1120 or cdykes@mail.ucf.edu;

For more information about this press release, contact
Gabriela Coban, Ten-global, LLC at 407-492-0570 or gcoban@ten-global.com;

or Larry Vershel Communications at 386-837-8780 or 407-644-4142; lvershelco@aol.com.

Eginity Invited to Present at Florida Venture Forum Early Stage Venture Capital Conference May 15

Eginity Invited to Present at Florida Venture Forum Early Stage Venture Capital Conference May 15

ORLANDO, Fla. - Eginity, an Orlando-based company that specializes in Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) technology, has been invited to showcase itself at the Florida Venture Forum 2009 Early Stage Venture Capital Conference May 15 at the Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate.

Rob Allen, president and co-founder of the one-year-old start-up firm, said he’s confident that Eginity’s new EON Platform – an end-to-end WSN solution – will get a lot of attention from venture capital investors.

“The WSN market is substantial,” Allen said. “WSN has already been spotlighted by leading IT researchers as one of the top 10 technology growth sectors through 2012,” he added.

“WSN technology gives an IP-address to an object, making it ‘smart’ – meaning it can gather and transmit information about its condition or environment over the Internet,” explained Allen. “Although WSNs are used extensively in defense and industrial settings, high costs have limited use in other areas. The EON Platform eliminates this issue, paving the way for the development of hundreds of new ‘smart’ commercial applications,” he said.

“Eginity’s EON Platform was designed to be licensed or acquired by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) for incorporation into existing or new products,” Allen said.

“We have expertise at every level of WSN technology, and the resulting uncomplicated design of the EON Platform will make it the cornerstone for new WSN applications,” he added.

EON Platform technology will enable manufacturers to substantially reduce the costs of existing sensor networks, enable current “stand-alone” sensor applications with WSN functionality, or invent and rapidly develop new “smart” solutions.

Eginity is a member client of the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program.

For more information about this press release, contact:
Rob Allen, President, Eginity, 407-745-0097 rallen@eginity.com (http://www.eginity.com/)

Gordon Hogan, Site Manager, UCF Incubation Program-Downtown, 407-882-1577, bizdev@mail.ucf.edu

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications Inc., 407-644-4142, lvershelco@aol.com

About the UCF Incubation Program:
Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Incubation Program has helped more than 100 emerging companies (including nearly 70 current clients) create over $500 million in annual revenue and more than 900 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With five 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, and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit http://www.incubator.ucf.edu/.

UCF Business Incubation Program to Expand to Leesburg, St. Cloud

UCF Business Incubation Program to Expand to Leesburg, St. Cloud

ORLANDO, Fla. - The University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program, which currently serves more than 70 full-time clients in five Central Florida facilities, plans to expand to include programs in Leesburg and St. Cloud.

Dr. Tom O’Neal, associate vice president for the University’s Department of Research & Commercialization and executive director of the UCF Business Incubation Program, said he expects to open operations in St. Cloud and Leesburg by next spring.

Currently, the UCF Business Incubation Program operates two facilities near the University of Central Florida campus in Research Park, and three more – on Orange Ave. in downtown Orlando, in east Orlando on East Colonial and in Winter Springs at S.R. 434 and the 417.

“Effective incubation programs have proved to be the most cost efficient ways to stimulate local economic growth,” O’Neal explained.

O’Neal, who founded the UCF Business Incubation Program and ranks as one of the leading U.S. experts on business incubators, said successful incubation programs offer several common characteristics including: stable, sustainable program funding; a strong market position; entrepreneurial management; affiliation with a major research institution; a blue-ribbon board of directors or advisors; the ability to attract quality client companies; a strong client screening process; measurable goals and objectives; strong value-added services; and access to investment capital and community partnerships.

For more information contact:

Tom O’Neal. Ph.D, UCF Associate Vice President for Research and Commercialization and Incubation Program Executive Director, 407-882-1120, oneal@mail.ucf.edu

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142 Lvershelco@aol.com

About the UCF Incubation Program:
Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Incubation Program has helped more than 100 emerging companies (including nearly 70 current clients) create over $500 million in annual revenue and more than 900 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With five facilities across the metro Orlando community, the Incubation Program is a collaboration in economic development between UCF, Orange County, the City of Orlando, Seminole County, the City of Winter Springs, and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit http://www.incubator.ucf.edu/.

Global Network Solutions, Inc. Earns HIPAA Professional Certification

Global Network Solutions, Inc. Earns HIPAA Professional Certification

WINTER SPRINGS, Fla. - Global Network Solutions, Inc., specializing in data security for small and medium-sized businesses and professional associations, recently earned a coveted professional designation that certifies the company’s ability to meet security compliance regulations of the U.S. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

Bruce Mizell, chief information officer of Global Network Solutions, said the firm recently earned a CHP designation as Certified HIPPA Professionals after completing a rigorous curriculum offered by the HIPPA Academy, a training institute whose participating organizations include the FBI, the U.S. Army and Air Force, AT&T, and Blue Cross Blue Shield.

HIPPA Academy is the only HIPPA training institute endorsed by the American Hospital Association.

“HIPPA Academy is the world’s first institute to introduce a certification and training program built on the HIPAA regulations,” said Mizell.

Global Network Solutions is a client company of the University of Central Florida’s Seminole County Incubator site at 1511 E. S.R. 434 in Winter Springs.

For more information please contact:
Bruce Mizell, Chief Information Officer, Global Network Solutions, 636-352-4113
Esther Vargas-Davis, Site Manager, UCF Incubator-Seminole County 407-278-4881
Tom O’Neal, Ph.D., Executive Director, UCF Business Incubation Program, 407-882-1102
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142

About the UCF Incubation Program:
Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Incubation Program has helped more than 100 emerging companies (including nearly 70 current clients) create over $500 million in annual revenue and more than 900 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With five 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, and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit http://www.incubator.ucf.edu/.

Datanautix, Inc. CEO Interviewed by TechJournal South about helping bring offshored Jobs Back to the U.S.

Datanautix, Inc. CEO Interviewed by TechJournal South about helping bring offshored Jobs Back to the U.S.

WINTER SPRINGS, Fla. – Datanautix, Inc., an innovative technology firm based in Winter Springs, was profiled recently by TechJournal South, a technology business publication for the Southeast region, reaching over 60,000 technology executives each month. Detailed coverage can be found online at the TechJournal South site on this link http://www.techjournalsouth.com/news/article.html?item_id=7156.

Sanjay Patel, the founder and president of Datanautix was interviewed and the company profiled as a viable alternative for firms seeking to reduce costs in the customer service centers without having to resort to moving the calls overseas. Developed over the past three years, Patel explained that Datanautix’ proprietary conversation-mapping technology is designed to leverage the science of consumer behavior and operational analysis to help companies drive breakthrough change in how they manage contact center interactions with their customers.

“Our innovative new technology has been developed at the UCF Technology Incubator,” said Patel, “and has leveraged grants from sources such as the National Science Foundation and Enterprise Florida. Getting coverage like this in technology publications is a strong indication of the timeliness of solutions such as the Datanautix Intelligent Interaction Analytics offering.”

“The economic challenges we face coupled with globalization gaining momentum, it is critical for companies to drive to a level of efficiency and effectiveness. Our solution gives companies a viable alternative to taking jobs offshore” said Patel.
The Datanautix Intelligent Interaction Analytics technology can track more than 200 possible customer experience indicators to capture the context of agent/customer interactions in a call center. “By combining our proprietary measurement toolkit with our data analytics and predictive modeling technology, we are able to pinpoint specific areas of process change and improvement that typically yields a 20-30 percent savings with an overall improvement in customer satisfaction of 15-25 percent,” Patel said.

Datanautix is a client company of the University of Central Florida’s Seminole County Incubator site at 1511 E. S.R. 434 in Winter Springs.

For more information please contact:
Sanjay Patel, Founder & President, Datanautix, 407-349-5330, sanjay@datanautix.com
Esther Vargas-Davis, Site Manager, UCF Incubator-Seminole County, 407-278-4881
Tom O’Neal, Ph.D., Executive Director, UCF Business Incubation Program, 407-882-1102
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142

About Datanautix:
Datanautix Inc. specializes in helping companies drive key business process improvements in the contact center/customer management market. The Datanautix Intelligent Interaction Analytics and “active listening” approach not only improves on traditional QA and CSAT measurement challenges, but goes beyond the ‘traditional’ to uncover customer expectations to help drive process changes to improve customer loyalty and operating efficiencies. Typical results from Datanautix’ business process reengineering deployment yield 20-30 percent in savings while driving overall customer satisfaction scores up by 10-20 percent. For more information, please visit http://www.datanautix.com/.

About Stellar:
Stellar is a leading global call center and business process outsourcing provider, with over 6,000 employees across 19 centers in Australia, UK, USA, Canada and the Philippines. Stellar’s innovative solutions help clients reduce operating costs, improve quality levels and increase revenue and profitability. The company serves a range of clients in the telecommunications, utilities, transport, finance, government and manufacturing industries. In addition to call center outsourcing, Stellar specializes in document management, workflow automation technology and process outsourcing solutions. For more information, visit http://www.stellarbpo.com/.

About the UCF Incubation Program:
Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Incubation Program has helped more than 100 emerging companies (including nearly 70 current clients) create over $500 million in annual revenue and more than 900 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With five 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, and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit http://www.incubator.ucf.edu/.

UCF and City of Orlando Business Development Center on Colonial Drive to Expand

UCF and City of Orlando Business Development Center on Colonial Drive to Expand

ORLANDO, Fla. - The Orlando Business Development Center District 2, (OBDC) a partnership of the City of Orlando and the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program, located at 3218 E. Colonial Drive, will expand over the next 90 days.

Dr. Tom O’Neal, associate vice president for the University’s Department of Research & Commercialization and executive director of the UCF Business Incubation Program, said the center will more than double the size of its facilities from 2,400 square feet of office space to 6,000 square feet.

O’Neal said UCF is currently interviewing applicants to choose a full-time site manager for OBDC, which opened last year directly across from Fashion Square mall.

“Even in this economic slump, we are seeing a steady interest in business incubation from new companies in the community and we are increasing our capacity to serve more entrepreneurial enterprises,” O’Neal explained.

O’Neal said the Orlando Business Development Center was empowered by a recent nationwide study that shows business incubators rank as the most cost effective stimulators of local economic development.

“Job growth and economic activity in the U.S. are largely dependent on the health of small business enterprises, and effective business incubator programs are one of the best ways to stimulate small business growth and development,” O’Neal said. O’Neal said UCF Business Incubation Program client companies are already positioning themselves to take advantage of new funding offered by the U.S. Economic Recovery Act and stimulus programs.

The UCF Business Incubation Program currently serves more than 70 full-time client companies in five locations, and provides a wide range of walk-in services.

For more information contact:
Tom O’Neal. Ph.D, UCF Associate Vice President for Research and Commercialization and Incubation Program Executive Director, 407-882-1120, oneal@mail.ucf.edu;
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142 Lvershelco@aol.com

About the UCF Incubation Program:
Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Incubation Program has helped more than 100 emerging companies (including nearly 70 current clients) create over $500 million in annual revenue and more than 900 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With five facilities across the metro Orlando community, the Incubation Program is a collaboration in economic development between UCF, Orange County, the City of Orlando, Seminole County, the City of Winter Springs, and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit http://www.incubator.ucf.edu/.

UCF Incubation Program eyes U.S. Economic Stimulation grants for client companies, alternative energy, healthcare are big targets

UCF Incubation Program eyes U.S. Economic Stimulation grants for client companies, alternative energy, healthcare are big targets

ORLANDO, Fla. - Many of the more than 60 client companies at the University of Central Florida’s Business Incubation Program could benefit from U.S. Economic Stimulus Program funding grants, loans and incentives, says founder and head of the program, Dr. Tom O’Neal, associate vice president for the UCF’s Department of Research and Commercialization.

But O’Neal cautioned that competition for the incentives could be tough.

“We anticipate there will be hundreds of companies writing grants and presenting proposals, so the competition for new funding should be brisk,” O’Neal said.

Many economic stimulus funding programs seem tailor-made for client companies in the UCF Business Incubation Program, O’Neal said.

For example, the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) has more than $150 million in new funding available to encourage entrepreneurship and innovation.

The National Institute of Health (NIH) received a 30 percent increase in their funding. “If that increases our grant success rate from 10-15 percent, that can be a significant boost,” O’Neal said.

New policy directions announced by the U.S. Department of Defense could aid the UCF Business Incubation’s technology companies as well.

Earlier, U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced his preference for smaller, smarter defense innovations over multi-billion dollar weapons systems.

“That emphasis should effect our client companies,” O’Neal said. “Several companies competing for Small Business Administration SBIR and STTR grants for the defense industry are focused on small, innovative projects that substantially reduce costs and improve defense capabilities,” he said.

For more information contact:
Tom O’Neal. Ph.D, UCF Associate Vice President for Research and Commercialization and Incubation Program Executive Director, 407-882-1120, oneal@mail.ucf.edu;
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142 Lvershelco@aol.com

About the UCF Incubation Program:
Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Incubation Program has helped more than 100 emerging companies (including nearly 70 current clients) create over $500 million in annual revenue and more than 900 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With five facilities across the metro Orlando community, the Incubation Program is a collaboration in economic development between UCF, Orange County, the City of Orlando, Seminole County, the City of Winter Springs, and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit http://www.incubator.ucf.edu/.

Datanautix Inc. Unveils DIAGNOSTIX™ Solution to Help Companies Quickly Discern What Customers Are Experiencing In Their Call Centers

Datanautix Inc. Unveils DIAGNOSTIX™ Solution to Help Companies Quickly Discern What Customers Are Experiencing In Their Call Centers

WINTER SPRINGS, Fla. – Datanautix, Inc., a developer of interaction analytics technologies that optimize customer experiences in small and large-scale contact center environments, recently unveiled its DIAGNOSTIX™ solution to help companies better manage the experiences their customers have when they call into their contact centers for support.

Sanjay Patel, chief executive officer of Datanautix, said the DIAGNOSTIX™ solution builds on years of experience and National Science Foundation funded R&D to bring to market a capability that provides quick insight into the experiences customers go through when they call into a company’s customer service operation. Developed through a process of actively listening to thousands of recorded conversations between call center agents and customers, the methodology allows for a rapid review that identifies sources of potential variability in the overall call process and customer experience.

“Driving an effective customer experience at the lowest possible cost is critical in today’s economy,” said Brendan Conlan, head of National Customer Service Strategy & Process Improvement at Nestle Waters. “Having seen the Datanautix DIAGNOSTIX™ tool in action for our company, I am impressed with how much information Datanautix can derive from a relatively small set of calls,” he said. “Companies that are struggling to drive costs downward and customer loyalty upward should be considering the benefits of the Datanautix offering.”

“The philosophy underlying this solution is that it is important to identify what to measure and how to measure it,” said Patel. “By identifying the right call elements and ensuring they are captured using quantitative measures where possible, it then becomes possible to identify areas of variability in customer experience delivery, and then drive predictable outcomes from change initiatives” he said.

Datanautix is also working on an Expert Quality Assurance Process Evaluator that will be able to quickly assess a company’s quality monitoring and assurance process in contact center environments and discover “blind spots” that lead to an incomplete perspective of the customer’s experience. In addition to identifying the blind spots, the expert system based solution will proactively recommend changes that companies can make during call monitoring to get a more customer-centric perspective. The underlying “intelligence” of this solution comes from Datanautix’ experience in a variety of verticals including technology, telecommunications, financial services and consumer products.

Patel said the Expert QA Process Evaluator will provide call centers with a quick assessment of current quality assurance processes and evaluate the potential of using the process as a leading indicator of customer experience and satisfaction. Combined with tools such as Statistical Process Control (SPC), Lean and Six Sigma, a well executed QA Process can be business transformational.

Datanautix is a client company of the University of Central Florida’s Seminole County Incubator site at 1511 E. S.R. 434 in Winter Springs.

For more information please contact:
Sanjay Patel, Founder & President, Datanautix, 407-349-5330, sanjay@datanautix.com
Esther Vargas-Davis, Site Manager, UCF Incubator-Seminole County, 407-278-4881
Tom O’Neal, Ph.D., Executive Director, UCF Business Incubation Program, 407-882-1102
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142

About Datanautix:
Datanautix Inc. specializes in helping companies drive key business process improvements in the contact center/customer management market. The Datanautix Intelligent Interaction Analytics and “active listening” approach not only improves on traditional QA and CSAT measurement challenges, but goes beyond the ‘traditional’ to uncover customer expectations to help drive process changes to improve customer loyalty and operating efficiencies. Typical results from Datanautix’ business process reengineering deployment yield 20-30 percent in savings while driving overall customer satisfaction scores up by 10-20 percent. For more information, please visit http://www.datanautix.com/.

About the UCF Incubation Program:
Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Incubation Program has helped more than 100 emerging companies (including nearly 70 current clients) create over $500 million in annual revenue and more than 900 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With five 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, and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit http://www.incubator.ucf.edu/.

Now Marketplace Appoints Kate A. Frost as Account Executive

Now Marketplace Appoints Kate A. Frost as Account Executive

WINTER SPRINGS, Fla. - Now Marketplace, Inc., an innovative marketing agency that develops web-based marketing strategies for retail and professional clients, has appointed Kate A. Frost as Account Executive.

Christy Roman, president and chief executive officer of Now Marketplace, said Frost earned her B.A. Degree in Advertising and Public Relations from the University of Central Florida and has more than eight years of experience as a marketing executive.

“Kate Frost is one of the best and brightest young marketing executives in Central Florida,” said Roman. “She was named Employee of the Year by Time Warner in her first position after graduation and she has held progressively more responsible executive positions ever since. We expect her to play a major role in our continued growth,” Roman said.

Most recently, Frost served as Director of Strategic Marketing and Business Development at Toyota Scion of Orlando, the Central Florida region’s largest dealership.

Now Marketplace, Inc. is a one-stop solution that helps businesses realize the potential of the Internet as the most effective advertising vehicle in existence. The firm specializes in online marketing for retail clients, with a focus on auto dealers.

Now Marketplace, Inc. is a client company of the University of Central Florida’s Business Incubation Program in Winter Springs, a partnership that includes the University, Seminole County, the City of Winter Springs and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council.

For more information contact:
Christy Roman, President, Now Marketplace, 407-667-4788
Esther Vargas-Davis, Site Manager, UCF Business Incubator–Seminole County, 407-278-4881; evargasd@mail.ucf.edu;
Dr. Tom O’Neal, Executive Director, UCF Business Incubation Program, 407-882-1120;
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142

About the UCF Incubation Program
Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 100 emerging companies (including nearly 70 current clients) create over $500 million in annual revenue and more than 900 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With five 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, and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit http://www.incubator.ucf.edu/.

Therigy, LLC Launches Internship Program for Pharmacy Students

Therigy, LLC Launches Internship Program for Pharmacy Students

ORLANDO, Fla. - Therigy, LLC, the Orlando-based company that focuses on the specialty pharmaceutical industry, has launched an internship program to provide pharmacy students a first-hand look at the research and development side of the pharmaceuticals industry.

Joseph D. Morse, president of Therigy, said the internship program has already welcomed its first participant, a student at the University of Florida’s College of Pharmacy in Gainesville.

“Our program focuses on the drug information side of the industry and provides students with a unique opportunity to learn about the high growth specialty pharmaceutical segment,” Morse said.

Pharmacy students in Florida are required to complete 11 months of Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) for graduation. Students participate in one-month rotations at a variety of institutions.

Therigy develops information products and provides consulting services to support specialty pharmaceuticals – biotech and high cost medications that require unique distribution, patient support and reimbursement services. The firm works with pharmaceutical manufacturers, pharmacies and payors to assure appropriate use and optimal outcomes.

Therigy is a member client of the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program.

For more information, please contact:
Joseph D. Morse, President, Therigy, LLC, 407-992-8752; Joseph.Morse@Therigy.com;
Gordon Hogan, Site Manager, UCF Business Incubation Program, 407-882-1577; Bizdev@mail.ucf.edu;
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications Inc., 407-644.4142; lvershelco@aol.com.

About Therigy Corporation:
For those who invest in, manufacture, dispense, pay for, and administer specialty pharmaceuticals, Therigy is the healthcare industry’s trusted source for rapidly changing business, clinical, and operational intelligence as well as vital advisory and consulting services that assure appropriate use and optimal outcomes. Therigy’s well-known experts track and report on industry advances delivered through subscriptions as well as providing hands-on engagement to assist organizations in operational evaluation and optimization, planning and development of best-practices and clinical protocols, or a variety of other specialized research and analysis. Therigy clients include Allergan, Cigna, McKesson, PrecisionRx, Prime Therapeutics, and many others.

About the UCF Incubation Program:
Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Incubation Program has helped more than 100 emerging companies (including nearly 70 current clients) create over $500 million in annual revenue and more than 900 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With five 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, and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit http://www.incubator.ucf.edu/.

PowerfulEducation Technology, LLC Launches Statewide Program with Life Skills Centers of Florida

PowerfulEducation Technology, LLC Launches Statewide Program with Life Skills Centers of Florida

ORLANDO, Fla. - PowerfulEducation Technologies, LLC, a client company at the University of Central Florida's Downtown Orlando Incubator that provides educational enhancement for young people, has launched a statewide pilot study to teach underprivileged and troubled youngsters employment skills.

Dr. Lesia Crumpton-Young, president and chief executive officer of PowerfulEducation Technologies, LLC, said the firm is conducting the study program in conjunction with Life Skills Centers of Florida, which operates six alternative high schools for underprivileged and troubled youngsters in Orlando, Tallahassee, Opa Locka (Dade County), and Polk County.

Dr. Young said more than 100 students are participating in the program, which involves a daily workbook that guides them through exercises of participation and concentration on important life skills such as problem solving and personal integrity that are essential to productive and responsible citizenship.

"Our purpose is to use new concepts and technology to help turn troubled youth into productive, progressive members of society," said Dr. Young.

Programs and protocols PowerfulEducation Technologies has developed can reduce school dropouts, teen violence, teen pregnancies and suicides, said Dr. Young, who is also a human factors engineering professor at UCF.

Contacts:

Dr. Lesia L. Crumpton-Young, President/CEO PowerfulEducation Technologies, 407-649-6702, dryoung@powerfuleducation.com

Gordon Hogan, Site Manager, UCF Incubation Program-Downtown, 407-882-1577, bizdev@mail.ucf.edu

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications Inc., 407-644-4142, lvershelco@aol.com

About the UCF Incubation Program:

Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Incubation Program has helped more than 100 emerging companies (including nearly 70 current clients) create over $500 million in annual revenue and more than 900 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With five 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, and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit http://www.incubator.ucf.edu/.

UCF Incubation Program's Seminole County/Winter Springs Incubator Graduates First Company

WINTER SPRINGS, Fla. - Spectrum Bridge, Inc., which provides new internet marketplace and mapping technologies to help the wireless industry identify, lease and make use of underutilized and available radio spectrum, has become the first client company to graduate from the UCF Incubation Program’s Seminole County/Winter Springs Incubator.

Esther Vargas-Davis, site manager at the Seminole County/Winter Springs Incubator, said Spectrum Bridge has started generating revenue and just successfully completed an $8.1 million round of venture capital funding.

The firm joined the Incubation Program in February 2008, and is currently headquartered in Lake Mary.

Seminole County/Winter Springs Incubator currently serves 10 client companies, eight of which are headquartered at the Seminole County/Winter Springs Incubator facility in the Vistawilla Office Center building on East S.R. 434 and the 417.

The Seminole County/Winter Springs Incubator opened its doors in 2008 to serve high growth startup firms in Seminole County and is a partnership of UCF, Seminole County Government, the City of Winter Springs and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council.

For more information contact:

Esther Vargas-Davis, Site Manager, UCF Incubator–Seminole County, 407-278-4881; evargasd@mail.ucf.edu;

Dr. Tom O’Neal, Executive Director, UCF Incubation Program, 407-882-1120;

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142

About the UCF Incubation Program Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Incubation Program has helped more than 100 emerging companies (including nearly 70 current clients) create over $500 million in annual revenue and more than 900 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With five 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, and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit http://www.incubator.ucf.edu/.