sdPhotonics Nears Completion of Second Phase of Contract to Develop High Power Laser for U.S. Air Force

ORLANDO, Fla. – sdPhotonics is nearing completion of the second phase of a research and development contract to develop a specialized high-powered laser for the U.S. Air Force.

Dr. Sabine Freisem, president of sdPhotonics, said she expects to complete the work in March.

Dr. Dennis Deppe, chief executive officer of the firm, said the contract is worth $850,000.

“The work we are doing represents a major breakthrough in laser technology,” Dr. Deppe said.

Researchers from UCF spin-off sdPhotonics, in collaboration with the College of Optics and Photonics/CREOL at the University of Central Florida, have now demonstrated what may become the most reliable laser diode technology ever developed. Recent laboratory measurements show that the new laser diodes pass unprecedented stress testing, and the new approach provides important insights into why other laser diodes fail. The new technology may ultimately produce the most reliable laser diodes ever developed, with failure times that could reach 10 M hours (1000 years) or more. The new technology could reduce testing and lower the cost for laser diodes.

The new laser diodes represent a sharp departure from past commercial devices in how they are made, especially that they can be made smaller while eliminating the need for non-semiconductor materials around their active light generating part. The most surprising aspect of the new technology is how it responds to high internal temperature and high current stress. The new devices show almost no change in operation under stress conditions that cause commercial devices to rapidly fail. Although the research team was expecting the new laser diodes to be more reliable, actually reaching high reliability can be a tedious process in laser development, requiring extensive optimization of numerous separate fabrication steps. The new laser diodes did not require these steps, and their unique characteristics are now shedding new insights into just why existing commercial laser diodes fail.

The team is currently perfecting other aspects of the new laser technology, including its efficiency and beam properties. They believe that one of the most important applications could be for laser diodes in space. These laser diodes will require very high reliability, and defects caused by space radiation can play a major role in their failure. By reducing the flow of point defects in the crystalline semiconductor of the new technology, these could prove the most resistant laser diode yet to space radiation, making them useful on earth and in space because of their high reliability.

High power laser diode technologies that sdPhotonics is developing provide improved power, efficiency, brightness and reliability, Dr. Deppe said.

Dr. Freisem, a native of Germany, is a graduate of Leiden University in the Netherlands and has more than six years of experience in laser technology. She is currently senior research scientist for the College of Optics and Photonics at the University of Central Florida.

Dr. Deppe, a graduate of University of Illinois has more than 20 years of experience focused on laser physics, semiconductor lasers and materials, nanostructures and quantum optics. He is currently endowed chair / professor of the College of Optics and Photonics at the University of Central Florida.

sdPhotonics is located at the University of Central Florida Business Incubator-Photonics in the Center for Research & Education in Optics & Lasers (CREOL) on the University’s main Campus in East Orlando.
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For more information contact: Sabine Freisem, President, sdPhotonics 407-929-6675, sfreisem@cfl.rr.com; Dennis Deppe, Chief Executive Officer, sdPhotonics, 407-823-6870. ddeppe@creol.ucf.edu; Gordon Hogan, Director of Operations, UCF Business Incubation Program, 407-882-1577, ghogan@mail.ucf.edu

About the UCF Business Incubation Program: Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 160 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.

Fitness Technology at Saperia Fitness Center is Unique in Central Florida

ORLANDO, Fla – Saperia Fitness Center, which recently opened in the Windermere Business Center on Conroy and Turkey Lake Rds. in Southwest Orlando, is introducing new fitness technology in Central Florida for the first time.

Ben Saperia, owner of Saperia Fitness Center, has served as personal trainer for NBA stars Tracy McGrady and Al Harrington as well as several English pro soccer stars.

Saperia said he is the only fitness center in Central Florida to offer the new Woodway Curve Treadmill and one of only a few with a Concept 2 Ski Erg.

“Sports Scientists are designing new fitness technology to help top professional athletes achieve maximum abilities,” Saperia said. “Many of those new technologies can significantly improve the ability of fitness conscious non-athletes reach top conditioning faster, safer and more sustainably,” Saperia said.

Saperia said Saperia Fitness Center has seen a flurry of new members since opening recently.
Saperia Fitness Center is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday
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For more information about this press release, contact: Ben Saperia, Founder / Owner, Saperia Fitness Center, 407-996-2522, ben@saperiafitness.com; Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142 lvershelco@aol.com

OptiGrate Receives Florida Companies to Watch Award

ORLANDO – OptiGrate Corp has been recognized as a recipient of the 2011 Florida Companies to WatchSM award, an honor presented by GrowFL, the Florida Economic Gardening Institute, in association with the Edward Lowe Foundation. The 50 companies were chosen after evaluating more than 310 nominations for the awards, represent industries ranging from alternative energy development to food production and industrial gear makers to information technology firms.

“It is truly an honor for us to be a part of the inaugural class of 50 Florida Companies to Watch,” says OptiGrate’s Chief Executive Officer Dr. Alexei Glebov. “A strong presence of high-tech companies in the group is a sound indicator of the changing face of the Florida’s economy and OptiGrate is excited to contribute to it with our dedication to new technologies and innovation”.

Florida Companies to Watch is an awards program that celebrates privately held second-stage companies headquartered in the state. Awardees are selected for demonstrating the intent and capacity to grow based on employee or sales growth, exceptional entrepreneurial leadership, sustainable competitive advantage or other notable strengths.

“This statewide event lauds the success of business leaders who have taken their operations to the "second-stage" of growth and hold the potential to continue to create new jobs in their communities and industries, thereby making a difference in regional communities”, says Dr. Tom O’Neal, vice president for Research & Commercialization at the University of Central Florida.

The companies will receive their awards at an awards gala on Thursday, Feb. 17 at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando, Florida.

About OptiGrate Corp: OptiGrate Corp, founded in 1999, pioneered and successfully brought to market the innovative technology of volume Bragg grating based optical filters. The unique micro-optic components made by OptiGrate enable dramatic performance improvement of laser systems, vast miniaturization and cost reduction of analytical instruments and ultrafast lasers for medical, pharma, defense, nanotech, and other applications. OptiGrate supplies custom builds as well as volume orders of diffractive optical components to more than 200 customers on 5 continents, including government contractors, key industrial and academic players in optoelectronics, analytical, and semiconductor industries. Additional information about the company can be obtained at www.OptiGrate.com.

360 Software Corp. to develop simulator software for Arab Academy for Science & Technology in Egypt

ORLANDO - 360 Software Corp., an Orlando based simulation developer, was recently awarded a major contract to develop simulator applications and equipment for the Arab Academy for Science and Technology and Maritime Transport in Alexandria, Egypt.

Gus Perez-Poveda, president of 360 Software Corp., said the simulator 360 Software it is developing will help the Arab Academy teach maritime technicians how to operate the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS), which links shipboard, satellite and terrestrial communications to provide instant automatic alerts in the event of a marine emergency.

Poveda said Global Simulations, Inc., and MPRI, a division of L3 Communications, Inc., awarded 360 Software the contract.

“The GMDSS simulator is a highly realistic, low cost device to train sailors to handle emergencies efficiently, Poveda explained.

360 Software’s GMDSS simulator employs touch-screen technology and virtual GMDSS equipment.

“Our GMDSS simulator allows the instructor to create realistic multi-channel communications scenarios with a virtual device that looks and functions like the real GMDSS equipment,” Poveda said.

360 Software, a client company of the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program located in the Central Florida Research Park in East Orlando, is a leading provider of photo-realistic virtual equipment that simulates the look and functions of the real hardware to train technicians to operate communications equipment and aircraft and transportation gauges, panels, and displays.
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For more information, contact: Gus Perez-Poveda, Chief Executive Officer, 360 Software Corporation 407-380-6322; gpoveda@360softwarecorp.com; Carol Ann Dykes, Site Manager, UCF Technology Incubator 407-882-0211, cdykes@mail.ucf.edu; Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142 Lvershelco@aol.com
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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 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.

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.

Former Developer Launches Green Technology Company with eye on Important Industry Niche

APOPKA - Michael Young, who headed Pelican Bay Development’s Orlando operations and oversaw construction of the Windermere Business Center in southwest Orlando, has launched a new green technology company that could play a big role in an important industry niche and save commercial property owners millions of dollars.

American Soda Blast Company, based in Apopka, cleans and strips surfaces---from building exteriors to food service equipment to antique cars---using highly pressurized sodium bicarbonate and dry ice.

Young said his process replaces traditional sand blasting---a century-old technique that scores and gouges surfaces with pressurized sand crystals---with a kinder, gentler surface stripping process that won’t harm the underlying substrate and utilizes common, easily biodegradable materials.

“Sodium bicarbonate is one of the most common compounds found in nature, and dry ice is frozen carbon dioxide, which is what we exhale,” Young said.

Young said pressurized soda and dry ice can clean building exteriors or strip the paint from cars without harming the surfaces underneath. Scientists used the soda stripping process to restore the Statue of Liberty in the 1980s, Young said, but the stripping industry has been slow to give up its traditional sand blasting process.

“Sand blasting has always been the benchmark even though everyone knows it pits and scores the surface underneath,” Young said.

Young said American Soda Blast Company processes have a wide range of applications, from restoring the surfaces of technology equipment to stripping paint or molds from building exteriors.

“This process removes every bit of mold, paint or finish without harming the environment or the surface underneath,” Young said. “Weighed against chemical strippers, it is far safer and less toxic, and it is far less harmful to the object surface than sand blasting,” Young said.
Young said he expects first-year revenues to exceed projections.
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For more information, contact: Michael Young, American Soda Blast Co. Apopka, Florida; 407-931-6191; Michael@americansodablast.com

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.

University of Central Florida Eyes Future Biomedical Incubator, New Osceola County Facility over Next 12 Months

ORLANDO - One of the nation’s most promising economic development initiatives is expanding at the University of Central Florida.

The UCF Business Incubation Program, which recently opened a new incubator facility in downtown Sanford, will open its seventh incubator facility at Stevens Plantation in St. Cloud early next year when construction of the 14,000 square foot facility is completed.

Dr. Tom O’Neal, founder and executive director of the UCF Business Incubation Program, said administrators are studying the feasibility of a new biomedical incubation program to support emerging enterprises that will surround the new Medical City under development in southeast Orlando.

“We can conservatively project dozens of new enterprises to develop and commercialize emerging biomedical technologies once Medical City is operational,” Dr. O’Neal said.

That could prove a big boost for the Central Florida economy: a major U.S. study shows that successful business incubation programs rank as the most cost-effective strategy to develop local economic expansion.

“Business incubation focuses on new small business enterprises that evidence strong potential to expand and provide more jobs,” O’Neal explained.

“We provide expertise in planning, administration, marketing and business development to help new enterprises expand at an accelerated pace,” he said.

The UCF Business Incubation Program provides a wide variety of services to client companies, including:
•Mentoring and advising in all aspects of business development and growth including business and strategic planning, legal counsel, accounting/tax, human resources, government contracting, strategic partnerships, marketing and PR, financing, grant preparation, insurance, and risk management;

•Educational programs;

•Marketing and Public Relations Support;

•Networking opportunities with peer groups, area professionals, university faculty and support organizations;

•Complimentary memberships in a variety of professional and trade organizations;

•Adaptable space and flexible leases in several locations in Central Florida;

•Shared reception, office equipment, conference rooms, and other support services.

“Most new jobs created by incubation client companies stay in the community,” Dr. O’Neal said.
Since it opened in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has served more than 120 emerging companies that have created more than 1,600 jobs and currently generate revenues in excess of $500 million.

The UCF Business Incubation Program currently encompasses more than 100,000 square feet of office space in six locations at Central Florida Research Park, the UCF campus, the City of Orlando, the City of Winter Springs, Leesburg and downtown Sanford.

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For more information about this release contact:
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 UCF Incubation Program:
Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 130 emerging companies (including over 80 current clients) create over $500 million in annual revenue and more than 1,600 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With six 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, Lake County, the City of Leesburg, City of Sanford, and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu.

Data Transfer Solutions Awarded Major Contract to Design, Deploy GIS Mapping Program to Monitor Health of U.S. Forests

ORLANDO, Fla. - Data Transfer Solutions, LLC based in downtown Avalon Park was recently awarded a major contract by the U.S. Forest Service to design and deploy a GIS mapping system to monitor the health of forests in the U.S.

A.M. “Trey” Fragala III, AICP, chief operating officer at Data Transfer Solutions, said the IDIQ (Indefinite Quantity, Indefinite Delivery) contract was awarded by the U.S. Forest Service’s Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team (FHTET), created in 1995 to develop and deliver forest health technology services to field personnel in public and private organizations.

“Our job is to design, develop, implement, and maintain web-based GIS applications that will support the monitoring and analysis of forest health throughout the United States,” Fragala said.

Fragala said the new system will play a big role in monitoring the effects of global warming on the nation’s forests and measuring the volume of renewable forest resources.

Fragala said the contract is valued at up to $800,000 over the next four years.

Based in Orlando, Data Transfer Solutions, LLC, provides Geographic Information Systems (GIS), transportation planning, asset management, Web design, database applications, and video and multimedia production services to local governments and regional and state agencies throughout the U.S.

For more information, contact:
A.M. “Trey” Fragala, III, AICP, Chief Operating Officer, Data Transfer Solutions, 3680 Avalon Park East Blvd., Suite 200, Orlando, 32828; 407-382-5222; tfragala@edats.comJ

ade Winfrey, Marketing Coordinator, Data Transfer Solutions, 407-382-5222; jwinfrey@edats.com

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

NAI Realvest negotiates new long term industrial lease of 14,400 square feet for Event Technology at Airport Commerce Center

ORLANDO, Fla. - NAI Realvest recently completed a new long-term lease agreement for 14,400 square feet of industrial space at 1629 Prime Ct. in the Airport Commerce Center off Parkline Blvd. and McCoy Rd. in South Orlando.

Robert Blackwell, SIOR principal at the firm, associates Sean DuPree, CCIM and Jim Murr negotiated the transaction representing the tenant, Orlando-based Event Technology, LLC, a full service technology provider for meeting planners, conventions and tradeshows.

The landlord Buckhead-Airport Commerce Center Associates, LLC, based in Boston was represented by Eric Schwetje with CB Richard Ellis.

About NAI Realvest:
NAI Realvest, covering all of Central Florida, is a fully integrated commercial real estate operating company specializing in brokerage, development, investment, leasing and management, consulting and research services in the U.S. and worldwide. NAI Global is an international commercial real estate network with over 325 offices spanning the globe. Since 1978, clients have built businesses on the power of NAI Global’s expanding network. Extensive services include multi-site acquisitions and dispositions, sublease, tenant representation, lease administration and audit, investment services, due diligence and related consulting and advisory services. To learn more, visit www.NAIRealvest.com.

For more information, contact:
Robert Blackwell, SIOR or Sean Dupree, CCIM or Jim Murr at NAI Realvest 407-875-9989; rblackwell@realvest.com, sdupree@realvest.com or jmurr@realvest.com

Patrick Mahoney, Chief Operating Officer, NAI Realvest 407-875-9989 pmahoney@realvest.com

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

Engineering & Computer Simulation among Inc. Magazine’s Top 500 picks

ORLANDO, Fla. - Engineering & Computer Simulation, Inc. (ECS), the Orlando-based firm that develops simulation technology for corporate, academic and military training programs, was recently named to Inc. magazine’s list of “Top 500” fastest growing U.S. companies.

ECS, which reported $11.6 million in revenues last year, has deep roots in Central Florida and is an active participant in the Edward Lowe Foundation’s economic gardening initiative – the CEO Nexus/PeerSpectives™ program, according to Steve Quello, president of CEO Nexus.

A public-private initiative affiliated with the University of Central Florida Department of Research and Commercialization, CEO Nexus brings together local second-stage business leaders in a forum with successful mentoring CEOs of companies in the region.

“ECS’s achievement as one of this year’s Inc fastest growing is a genuine testimonial to economic gardening’s benefits, especially accelerating business growth cycles,” said Dr. Tom O’Neal, associate vice president of the UCF Department of Research and Commercialization.

ECS, located at The Quadrangle on University Blvd. and Alafaya Trail near the UCF Campus, is part of the simulation cluster that the UCF Business Incubation Program and CEO Nexus are helping to cultivate, Quello said.

For more information, contact
Steve Quello, President/Principal, CEO Nexus 407-590-6101; squello@ceonexus.com

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; lvershelco@aol.com

About ECS:
ECS (Engineering & Computer Simulation, Inc.) creates high impact solutions to improve training and education across the spectrum of corporate, academic and military training domains. Our design professionals and engineers work closely with clients to provide solutions that can be tailored to people from diverse backgrounds and that are capable of providing graphic simulated experiences that can be shared with geographically dispersed teams of people.

About CEO Nexus:
CEO Nexus is a public-private initiative that provides second-stage business leaders—owners, CEOs and presidents—with practical tools and techniques designed specifically for growing second-stage companies. Sponsors include The Edward Lowe Foundation, the Florida High Tech Corridor Council, the University of Central Florida Office of Research & Commercialization, Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission, Enterprise Florida and the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce.

BioTraits, Inc. Launches Biotraits PC-ID to Provide Workers with Secure Computer Access from Off-Site Locations

BioTraits, Inc. Launches Biotraits PC-ID to Provide Workers with Secure Computer Access from Off-Site Locations

ORLANDO, Fla. - BioTraits, Inc., the six-year old biometric technology firm that provides corporate and government agencies with state-of-the-art security and accounting systems that accurately recognize and verify unique human characteristics, has launched BioTraits PC-ID, a security software component that provides employees with secure off-site access to online accounts and files.

Peter A. Wengert, founder and chief executive officer of the firm, said BioTraits PC-ID utilizes some of the same technology BioTraits developed in conjunction with the world’s leading security firms to verify the identity of workers entering or leaving secure areas.

“With BioTraits PC-ID, companies can give workers secure access to internal files from any location in the world and record their time, activities, job codes and accounting for billing purposes,” Wengert said.

“BioTraits PC-ID provides an accurate accounting of all work performed with job codes, times and other data, and provides employers with all the necessary human resources accounting data so that employees can be accurately compensated for their efforts,” Wengert said.

BioTraits PC-ID can also be used to secure certain files from specific workers or divisions, Wengert said.

“BioTraits PC-ID can be easily configured to grant different levels of secure offsite access to individual workers or to divisions within the company,” Wengert said.

Wengert said BioTraits PC-ID was developed to take the virtual workplace to a new level of security and automation.

“With PC-ID, a company can establish highly secure, fully automated virtual offices with employees all over the world,” Wengert said.

BioTraits Inc. is a University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program client in the Central Florida 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 Business Incubation Program, 407-882-0211, cdykes@mail.ucf.edu

Thomas 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 www.biotraits.com.

About the UCF Business 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 1600 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, Lake County, the City of Leesburg and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu.

BioTraits, Inc. expands its workforce management suite with software to create worldwide automated secure virtual office

BioTraits, Inc. expands its workforce management suite with software to create worldwide automated secure virtual office

ORLANDO, Fla. - BioTraits, Inc., the biometric technology firm that provides corporate and government agencies with state-of-the-art security and accounting systems that accurately recognize and verify unique human characteristics, has developed new software that extends the firm’s workforce management suite of software solutions to help employers create a totally automated, secure virtual office worldwide.

“Our new products measure human experiences to help companies increase revenues, increase profits and protect their assets and their security,” said Peter A. Wengert, founder and chief executive officer of BioTraits, Inc.

Wengert explained that the new services will help businesses on several levels.

“With the new software we can move templates and clock people in and out, schedule people, do job coding and job costing,” Wengert said.

Biometric sensors enable corporate CEOs and HR managers to open a secure virtual office on any desktop anywhere in the world.

“Anywhere you have an employee working remotely, or a whole staff of employees working on a PC or network, you can keep track of their time, the projects they are working on and their billable hours, all job-coded and configured to assure that both billing and worker compensation are calculated accurately.,” Wengert said.

“The new software enables workers to verify access to the company’s VPN, to clock in and out from the remote desktop anywhere in the world and securely transmit data back to payroll so that all the proper accruals — vacation time, etc. — are accounted for,” Wengert explained.

BioTraits is a University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program client in the Central Florida 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 Business Incubation Program, 407-882-0211, cdykes@mail.ucf.edu

Thomas 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 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 www.biotraits.com.

About the UCF Business Incubation Program:
Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 120 emerging companies (including nearly 70 current clients) create over $500 million in annual revenue and more than 1600 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, Lake County, the City of Leesburg and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu.

BioTraits, Inc. Appoints Todd Folds President of Consumer Protection Division

BioTraits, Inc. Appoints Todd Folds President of Consumer Protection Division

ORLANDO, Fla. - BioTraits, Inc., a biometrics technology development firm, has appointed Todd Folds as president of the new BioTraits Consumer Protection Division.

Peter A. Wengert, founder and chief executive officer of BioTraits, Inc., said Folds is a graduate of Indiana State University with a degree in Aerospace Technology and has more than 16 years of experience in computer and online security.

BioTraits, a client of the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program in the Central Florida Research Park, launched its Consumer Protection Division recently to offer state-of-the-art software to prevent identity theft and protect children from web-based predators.

For more information, 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

Thomas 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 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 UCF Business Incubation Program:

Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 120 emerging companies (including nearly 70 current clients) create over $500 million in annual revenue and more than 1600 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, Lake County, the City of Leesburg and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit http://www.incubator.ucf.edu/.

BioTraits, Inc. Enters Distributor Contracts to Market Panasonic Systems Solutions

BioTraits, Inc. Enters Distributor Contracts to Market Panasonic Systems Solutions

ORLANDO, Fla. - BioTraits, Inc., the biometric technology company that provides customized biometric software and turnkey security/IT solutions for a wide range of clients, recently signed contracts to distribute Panasonic security products.

Peter A. Wengert, founder and chief executive officer of BioTraits, Inc., said the distribution contracts establish important new business lines for the firm, which is currently expanding to accommodate more than $1 million in upcoming contracts.

“Panasonic System Solutions Company is a division of Panasonic Corporation of North America,” Wengert explained.

Panasonic offers a wide range of IP and analog video surveillance equipment, imaging devices for the medical, industrial, and entertainment industries, point-of-sale and drive-thru communications systems for food service and hospitality industries, and large-screen LED digital signage and digital sports coaching systems.

BioTraits Inc. is a UCF Business Incubation Program client in the Central Florida 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 Business Incubation Program, 407-882-0211, cdykes@mail.ucf.edu

Thomas 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 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 www.biotraits.com.

About the UCF Business Incubation Program:
Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 120 emerging companies (including nearly 70 current clients) create over $500 million in annual revenue and more than 1600 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, Lake County, the City of Leesburg and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu.

Biotraits, Inc. Establishes Online Consumer Protection Division to Protect Families and Children, Fight Identity Theft and Guard Home Computers

Biotraits, Inc. Establishes Online Consumer Protection Division to Protect Families and Children, Fight Identity Theft and Guard Home Computers from Predators

ORLANDO, Fla. - BioTraits, Inc., the six-year old biometric technology firm that provides corporate and government agencies with state-of-the-art security and accounting systems that accurately recognize and verify unique human characteristics, has launched a Consumer Protection Division that will focus on preventing identity theft and protecting children from web-based predators.

Peter A. Wengert, founder and chief executive officer of BioTraits, said the new division will develop and market Family ID Guard and Kids Web Guard to families for use on home-based computers.

“We have worked with the world’s leading security companies to develop some of the most advanced security configurations on the market today,” said Wengert. “We are focusing some of that advanced technology on an area of critical concern to most Americans---protecting our identities and protecting our children,” he said.

Wengert appointed Todd Folds president of BioTraits Consumer Protection Division. Folds, a graduate of Indiana State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Technology, has more than 16 years of experience in computer and online security.

BioTraits Inc. is a University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program client in the Central Florida 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 Business Incubation Program, 407-882-0211, cdykes@mail.ucf.edu
Thomas 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 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 www.biotraits.com.

About the UCF Business Incubation Program:
Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 120 emerging companies (including nearly 70 current clients) create over $500 million in annual revenue and more than 1600 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, Lake County, the City of Leesburg and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu.

BioTraits, Inc. Appoints Chief Financial Officer in Face of More Than $1 Million in Upcoming Contracts

BioTraits, Inc. Appoints Chief Financial Officer in Face of More Than $1 Million in Upcoming Contracts

ORLANDO, Fla. - BioTraits, Inc., the biometric technology company that provides customized biometric software and turnkey security/IT solutions for a wide range of clients, has appointed Patrick J. Jannotti chief financial officer.

Peter Wengert, founder and chief executive officer of BioTraits, Inc., said Jannotti has a masters degree in Business Administration from the University of Central Florida and more than 15 years of experience in software and information technology. Most recently, Jannotti was senior financial director for Tech Grant Management Consultants and director of strategic alliances for SunGard/HTE.

Wengert said BioTraits anticipates significant growth through the end of this year.
“Currently, we have contracts valued at more than $1 million in process and needed to expand our management team to handle the growth we are experiencing. Patrick will fill the critical role of overseeing all of our financial strategies and activities,” Wengert said.

BioTraits Inc. is a University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program client at the 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 Business Incubation Program, 407-882-0211, cdykes@mail.ucf.edu

Thomas 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 www.biotraits.com.

About the UCF Business 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 1600 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, Lake County, the City of Leesburg and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu.

Data Transfer Solutions, LLC Playing Big Role Shaping GIS Technology as an Everyday Household Appliance

Data Transfer Solutions, LLC Playing Big Role Shaping GIS Technology as an Everyday Household Appliance

AVALON PARK, Fla. - Lead GIS software architect Brian Noyle at Data Transfer Solutions, LLC, which provides professional asset management, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software engineering and web development services to local and state government agencies from offices in eight U.S. cities, is playing a leading role in a worldwide effort to reshape GIS technology into a more practical, user-friendly and powerful tool for consumers.

“As web mapping technologies become more ubiquitous through the efforts of vendors like Google and Microsoft,” Noyle said, “it becomes incumbent upon the software development community to satisfy the increasing expectations of users regarding how easily and how fast they get information. Our goal is to produce software systems that are as ubiquitous and easy to use as Google, Twitter, and the iPhone,” he said.

“Put simply, traditional GIS technology has long enabled the user to locate anything with a spatial context on a map, and perform analyses related to the data” Noyle explained. “At first, GIS provided benefits to government agencies, land managers, infrastructure providers and technology specialists who need to know where assets and their customers are located, where impacts to the landscape are occurring, or other specific scientific questions,” Noyle explained.

“Initially, GIS applications were developed from the engineer’s perspective, and it took a fair amount of expertise to utilize the technology.”

Now, Noyle is a leader in a worldwide movement to make GIS mapping technology accessible to a wider audience, including anyone with a cell phone. The potential, Noyle said, is enormous.

When power lines go down during a hurricane, repair crews need to know what has been impacted and how to get there quickly. Both police officers and pizza delivery vans need to know their way around unfamiliar neighborhoods without having to learn GIS technology, Noyle said.

“In the developing world, this new approach to distributed mapping technology can better the lives of millions of people in just a few years,” Noyle explained. “Right now, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is funding a program in Africa that links small plot farmers using cell phones to a data base that collects information on irrigation, fertilizing, planting and harvesting decisions.

The end result will be better productivity and more food for hungry populations. But the key benefit is to achieve these ends at affordable costs, without a huge government bureaucracy, while providing information to users in a paradigm that they already understand” Noyle said.

Data Transfer Solutions engineers have developed a mapping application that tracks the spread of influenza virus. “It’s global in scope, fully internationalized, and highly specialized---it does one thing very, very fast,” Noyle said. “Rather than providing generalized GIS toolsets to our users, we simply ingest data and show disease incidence on map for the individuals around the world who need this information.”

Noyle and Dave Bouwman, chief technology officer at Data Transfer Solutions, lead the DTSAgile division, which focuses on developing cutting-edge geospatial solutions concentrated on usability and performance. (http://dtsagile.com/staff/Dave) and (http://dtsagile.com/staff/Brian).

Noyle and Bouwman made big waves recently when they presented papers during the ESRI 2009 Developer Summit in Palm Springs, Calif. ESRI, Inc., ranks as the world’s foremost developer of GIS software, and conference participants included most of the major corporate and government GIS users. (http://www.dtsagile.com/Media/Presentations)

“Our whole focus was on how to bring GIS mapping into the 21st century and make it accessible to everyone,” Noyle said.
They were a smash hit.

Almost immediately, ARCUser Magazine---a leading U.S. industry journal on GIS mapping technology---commissioned an article outlining Noyle and Bouwman’s design and development philosophies and two additional articles ran in the same issue addressing the summit presentations. Directions Magazine, a leading professional journal in the GIS field, then commissioned a series of articles to expand on Noyle and Bouwman’s usability ideas.

A.M. “Trey” Fragala III, ACP, chief operating officer at Data Transfer Solutions, headquartered at Orlando’s Avalon Park, said Noyle and Bouwman are rising quickly to the top ranks of GIS technologists.

“Dave Bouwman and Brian Noyle are creating a major impact on GIS mapping technology with their developments,” Fragala explained. “The technology revolution under way in the field of GIS mapping will have profound effects on the ability of public agencies to manage public assets efficiently and effectively, and on end users---average citizens---to create new ways to address age-old problems,” Fragala said.

“The solutions we are developing are playing a major role in an important technological evolution,” Fragala said.

For more information, contact:
A.M. “Trey” Fragala, III, AICP, Chief Operating Officer, Data Transfer Solutions, 3680 Avalon Park East Blvd., Suite 200, Orlando, 32828; 407-382-5222; tfragala@edats.com;

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

Data Transfer Solutions Awarded Major Contracts from Florida Department of Transportation

Data Transfer Solutions Awarded Major Contracts from Florida Department of Transportation

ORLANDO, Fla. - Data Transfer Solutions, LLC (DTS), the Downtown Avalon Park firm that provides professional GIS and technology services to government agencies, was recently awarded several major contracts from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).

A.M. “Trey” Fragala III, AICP, chief operating officer at Data Transfer Solutions, said the contracts include:

•FDOT District 4 in Fort Lauderdale awarded DTS a contract for continued data repository support for land use modeling;
•FDOT District 5 in Orlando awarded DTS a contract to develop GIS applications for its interchange System Operational Analysis Report program;
•FDOT’s Central Office at 605 Suwannee Street MS90, Tallahassee, awarded DTS a contract that reauthorizes FDOT’s bus stop database support contract through July, 2010;
•FDOT’s District 6 in Miami-Dade County awarded DTS a contract for ETDM Support as part of the Corradino Team.

Fragala said the contracts have a combined potential value of $500,000.

For more information, contact:
A.M. “Trey” Fragala, III, AICP, Chief Operating Officer, Data Transfer Solutions, 3680 Avalon Park East Blvd., Suite 200, Orlando, 32828; 407-382-5222; tfragala@edats.com

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

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.