JUNE 2022
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®
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2022 EDISON AWARDS
Innovation opens young eyes and minds to a world of opportunity
Special to SWFBT Submitted by: Karen P. Moore, Publisher
As always, the future sits with the youth of today. And in 2022, the Edison Awards conference fully embraced our future with several events devoted to igniting and encouraging that spark of innovation within the young people of today. Southwest Florida students were the luckiest recipients of this wealth of knowledge, culled from some of the finest minds in the world who Photo by Luminaire Foto took part in the Edison Awards this year. The Edison Awards conference devoted several events Attendees heard from the amazing Young Edison to encouraging the spark of innovation in youth. Challenge winners, chosen from 60 applications received and administered by the Charlotte Community launches cube satellites into space; to a virtual reality Foundation, from students in 10 countries and 13 states. product intended to teach students about robotics and Moreover, it was announced at the Edison Awards aerospace programs and created specifically to give acGala by Clint Robinson of Black & Veatch, an Edison cess to students with the least resources; to developing Awards sponsor, that the first school district in Florida an energy-conserving (and energy-creating) door closer to become part of the national Center for Advanced Pro- presented by Dunbar High School student David Liu. fessional Studies network will be at Babcock Ranch, The two judges included Southwest Florida develadministered by the Charlotte Community Foundation. oper and business investor Danny Aguirre of Blue WaCAPS is one example of the global experiential learning ters Development Group. He said to the students, “Your movement impacting all levels of education. ideas are incredible and you are incredible for making Robinson serves on the CAPS team. “Fundamental- this presentation at your age in front of all these people! ly,” he notes, “it’s about kids getting real world learning, “As you develop your idea into a business, rememreal world experience. And the cool thing is that each ber to plan your work and work your plan.” community can create its own customized CAPS proThe two judges offered to have a monthly Zoom call gram to match the workforce needs and economic driv- with each presenter to help them develop their vision. ers within the community it serves.” Also taking place the last day of the conference was For the last event of the last day of the conference, a professional athlete “pitch panel,” moderated by the “Experiential Learning Day,” youth pitch competitors founder of the only Southwest Florida-based venture presented to a panel of judges in front of an awestruck capital fund, Tim Cartwright of Fifth Avenue Family Ofaudience. The 3 funding request presentation topics fice. Panelists included: Josh Childress, retired profesranged from supporting a student-based program that sional basketball player; Byron Jones, Miami Dolphins;
Derrick Morgan, former linebacker for the Tennessee Titans; and Brandon Rule of Rule Enterprises. These panelists had the full attention of their young audience. Cartwright asked, “How did innovation drive your success?’ Jones replied, “It all starts with curiosity— that’s what drove me to want to understand finance as part of my responsibility to myself, my others.” Morgan chimed in, “I knew I needed to have something going for ‘life after football.’ I didn’t want to be another pro athlete who goes broke. So I got into real estate to diversify my revenue streams.” He continued, “I grew up a renter so I saw the power of real estate ownership. Today, I give back to help others, maybe like yourselves, get educated about how money works.” South Fort Myers High School student Miguel Guerrero asked pitch panelist Jones, “What advice would you give your younger self or other young people like myself who want to make a difference in their community?” Jones replied, “Learn what you’re passionate about, take those steps today. Learning doesn’t just happen in school: check out Google topics and ask questions. But if you’re not reading books, that’s stupid. Get exposure to more things, people, ideas.” He continued, “Don’t be embarrassed by what you don’t know. Be uncomfortable so you have to ask questions to understand.” (More on GUERRERO on PAGE 18) In the true spirit of innovation and the Edison Awards, one of the panelists told the audience, “Look at us on this panel. We came from the same places you do, maybe not as good as some of the places, maybe better than others. But look at what can be achieved when you believe in the impossible!”
EDISON AWARDS
Dare to Dream
THE NEXT BIG IDEA The City of Fort Myers was proud to host the 2022 Edison Awards, a monumental gathering of some of the world’s most inspired thinkers, innovators, and inventors across many industries. This year, Edison Awards went one step further and created a program aimed to foster a passion for innovaaon among our own students in this community. Students were extended the opportunity to experience firsthand award-winning invennons. They also had the chance to meet a panel of NFL football players who invest in such advancements. Someday, our own powerful and driven children will lead the way to concei conceive and develop the next ingenious concept that will connnue to improve all of our lives – but that begins with the commitment to educaaon we show them today. I cannot wait to see this program grow next year and call upon all of us to come together to challenge, moovate and SUPPORT our students so that they can dare to dream the next big idea! Sincerely,
Mayor Kevin Anderson CITY OF FORT MYERS
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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®
JUNE 2022 JUNE 2022
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®
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THE EDISON AWARDS GALA The 35th annual Edison Awards gala was held at the Caloosa Sound Convention Center & Amphitheatre in downtown Fort Myers. Guests, both local and from 33 states and 13 countries, attended the global event this year. It will take place in Fort Myers next year as well. Right: Fort Myers Mayor Kevin Anderson welcomes the Edison Awards finalists, winners, organizers, sponsors and supporters to the awards dinner and celebration. Below right: Dr. Sandra Kauanui (center, in blue), Director, 2021 Edison Award Winner FGCU School of Entrepreneurship, mingles with guests at the Gala reception. Below center: Guests make new connections at the event. Below left: Lifetime Achievement Recipients Bracken Darrell (l) and Carmichael Roberts (r) shown here with Edison Awards Executive Director Frank Bonafilia. Left: Horizon Foundation Immediate Past President Dan Eveloff and 2022 Horizon Council Chair Holly Smith share opening remarks.
WELCOME RECEPTION
Above: An opening night gathering was held for 2022 Edison Award finalists and other guests at the Edison Ford Estates in Fort Myers. Left top: Tatum Walker (3rd from left), Lee County Economic Development, visits with guests. Left bottom: Byron Jones (center), Miami Dolphins, enjoying the event. Below: Edison Awards Executive Director Frank Bonafilia addresses the gathering.
Event Photos courtesy of Luminaire Foto
The Edison Awards is an annual competition honoring excellence in new product and service development, marketing, human-centered design and innovation.
LEWIS LATIMER FELLOWSHIP
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING DAY YOUNG EDISON CHALLENGE Winners (L-R): Bronze, Maggie Zhang, Overland Park KS; Silver, Sonia Patel, Naples FL; Gold, Pria Sawhney, MA; Presenter, Ashley Maher, Charlotte County Foundation. These students brought to life Edison’s values by providing innovative solutions to challenges in their local communities.
Above left (L-R): Student Pitch Judge Danny Aguirre connects with Brent Kettler and Frank Nater of Ensite. Above right (LR): Pro Athlete Pitch Panelists Brandon Rule; Josh Childress, Retired Professional Basketball Player; Byron Jones, Miami Dolphins; Derrick Morgan, Former Linebacker, Tennessee Titans Left: South Fort Myers High School student Miguel Guerrero asked pitch panelist Jones, “What advice would you give your younger self or other young people like myself who want to make a difference in their community?” Right: Local students mingle with each other and visiting Edison Award winners.
Above: (l-r) Latimer Fellows Dr. Asegun Henry, Dr. Andrea Bowen, Dr. Ayana Arce, Dario Calmese and Byron Jones shown here with Fellowship co-founder Jon Cropper (4th from left), Carmichael Roberts (center) and Fellowship co-founder Frank Bonafilia (2nd from right).Right: 2022 Edison Awards Lifetime Achievement Honoree Carmichael Roberts Below: Latimer Fellow Dr. Ayana Arce with Edison Awards Executive Director Frank Bonafilia.
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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®
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2022 EDISON AWARDS When individuals, businesses and nonprofit organizations win awards, we all celebrate. Their success contributes to our region’s success. Local awards programs recognize the region’s top entrepreneurs, business owners, female leaders, young professionals, public service workers, charitable causes and other high-achieving individuals, companies and organizations. Winning an award is a public acknowledgement that you’re doing things well and doing things the right way. Southwest Florida also won an award, although there is no trophy or plaque to display the achievement. We won the Edison Awards. Specifically, we won by hosting the Edison Awards, a global competition previously held in New York City that honors excellence in new product and service development, marketing, human-centered design and innovation. The Horizon Foundation helped recruit the Edison Awards, and its members are already working diligently to make Southwest Florida its permanent home. For three days in April, hundreds of the world’s top minds in technology, engineering, science, manufacturing, sustainability, education and other disciplines descended on Fort Myers for an incredible celebration of innovation and business success. The Horizon Foundation proudly supports the Edison Awards along with a dozen other organizations and businesses. Southwest Florida is home to postcard-perfect beaches, year-round sunshine and unspoiled natural amenities, yet the Edison Awards’ Steering Committee chose Fort Myers for a reason other than tourism – Southwest Florida also is a hotbed for innovation and entrepreneurship. Two years ago, when the Edison Awards announced Fort Myers would be hosting future awards celebrations, the organization noted “the city has a rich history of innovation and is a natural fit to continue the Edison Awards mission: To serve
as a leader in globally recognizing, honoring and fostering innovation and innovators to create a positive impact on the world.” More than a century ago, the likes of Thomas Edison, Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone spent time in Southwest Florida. In the decades since, thousands of businesses large and small have gotten their start here. Mega-companies like Hertz, Chico’s, NeoGenomics and Gartner chose Lee BY CHRISTOPHER County as their world headquarters. SPIRO World-class systems like the School Guest Columnist District of Lee County and Lee Health continue to thrive, and Florida Gulf Coast University continues to innovate through additions like the Daveler & Kauanui School of Entrepreneurship, The Water School, Institute for Technological Innovation and Small Business Development Center. We want the world to see these assets in addition to our abundant sunshine, seashells and sand. Lee County will again be hosting the Edison Awards in 2023, and perhaps next year, an entrepreneur or innovator from Southwest Florida will be among those honored on the world stage for their achievements. We know the talent is here; now it’s time for the rest of the world to hear about it Christopher Spiro is President at the Horizon Foundation, a charitable 501(c)(3) organization that provides a funding vehicle for businesses to invest in Lee County’s long-term economic development and vitality. For more information, please visit HorizonCouncilFoundation.com or call (239) 533-6800.
Economic impact of awards
For 35 years, the Edison Awards have been putting a spotlight on innovations, inventions and new products from around the globe. The awards have also made a substantial economic impact on the Southwest Florida region, one of the reasons Lee and Collier counties continue to support the awards and the influx of visitors they bring to the area each year. This year’s event was hosted at the Luminary Hotel and the Caloosa Sound Convention Center in the Fort Myers River District. Top innovators from around the world came to Fort Myers in April to participate and experience Southwest Florida. The awards help leverage innovation, invention and the rich history of Thomas Edison in Fort Myers. “The more economic expansion we bring to the community, the more opportunities we create to recognize the innovators,” Tasman said. “It also means better and stronger branding and clustering of innovation we end up being able to promote.” In addition to fueling economic expansion, this also helps increase the quality of life and business-friendly environment for which Southwest Florida is known. “The Edison Awards are all about inventions and innovations that change people’s lives,” Tasman said. “Being part of a positive future is beneficial for our area.” Leveraging the Edison Awards and continuing to focus and brand them around the startup and technology industry is definitely a positive for Southwest Florida. “It’s important to grow and diversify the economy and maintain economic and environmental sustainability,” Tasman said. “The Edison Awards will influence our educational component. Growing and improving our systems here will continue to help exacerbate opportunities as well.”
EDISON AWARDS
THANK YOU FOR SHINING A LIGHT ON INNOVATION Lee County is thrilled to host the 2022 Edison Awards, which has honored the world’s leading innovators and innovations for 35 years. Special thanks to the Horizon Foundation board members for helping to bring this inspiring event to our community and for working diligently to make Southwest Florida its permanent home.
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INNOVATION
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