Innovate Tampa Bay Volume 2

VOLUME 2 I n n o v a t i o n s O f T h e W o r l d . c o m

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“Imagine working in a place that feels like being on vacation every day of the week.”

- SANTIAGO C. CORRADA

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A UNIQUE COMBINATION OF CULTURE AND HISTORY SANTIAGO C. CORRADA, PRESIDENT AND CEO - VISIT TAMPA BAY

Imagine working in a place that feels like being on vacation every day of the week. Now pair that image with a unique combination of culture and history, an amazing and innovative food scene, a community founded on creativity and dedicated to making things happen. You’ve just discovered Tampa Bay. At Visit Tampa Bay, we are focused on bringing visitors from around the world to experience the excitement and fun found here in the hip, urban heart of Florida’s west coast. Tourism has a multi-billion-dollar local footprint in terms of employment and government revenues.

But its true impact spreads farther than that: every visitor who makes a special memory during their stay in Tampa Bay becomes an ambassador for the destination when they return home.

And when it comes time to look for a new job or to expand or relocate their business, they’ll remember the fun they had with their family and friends under the warm Florida sun here in Tampa Bay. Tourism is a key part of our community’s soft power: The same things that make Tampa Bay such a great place to visit – the blue skies, the sparkling water, the amazing food, the craft beer – also make it a great place to live year-round and operate a business.

Every day, Visit Tampa Bay works closely with our colleagues at the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation on “Make It Tampa Bay,” a joint initiative that builds on our success marketing this destination to residents of the Northeast, Midwest, and Texas.

Make It Tampa Bay follows that same path but fine-tunes the message to Millennial entrepreneurs and investors looking for new opportunities and a community that has thrived on innovation since the days of Don Vicente Martinez Ybor and Henry B. Plant.

Visitors find that innovation in thousands of new hotel rooms on the rise, in the boundless creativity of our chefs and brewmasters, in the cheering crowds at a professional sports game, and in the repeated reinvention of experiences at our family-friendly attractions. Those changes reflect a community that remains pointed in the direction of progress and continually inviting the world to join it in the journey.

Treasure awaits.

“Imagine working in a place that feels like being on vacation every day of the week.”

Phone: 813-223-1111 Email: SCorrada@VisitTampaBay.com @SantiagoCorrada

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INNOVATE TAMPA BAY TO INNOVATIONS OF THE WORLD SVEN BOERMEESTER - FOUNDER/CEO, INTERNATIONAL GROUP PUBLISHER

Welcome to volume 2, almost 400-pages showcasing the people, companies, products, services and initiatives within Tampa Bay’s innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem. Before you start reading the book please download our GLOBAL VILLAGE AR app to your mobile phone to be able to view all the videos that are embedded in our pages.

When you see a play button on an image, scan that image with your phone using our app and see it magically come to life just like Harry Potter’s newspaper.

The 1st edition of Innovate Tampa Bay created such excitement in the market and among our global publishing partners that we are now producing the Innovation book in more than 20 cities in the US and around the world. The beauty for Tampa Bay is that they are all walking around with our Innovate Tampa Bay book under their arm as the template book to launch each city.

Tampa Bay is the 1st book of the global Innovation series and now with vol 2 in hand is proud to lead the way for other cities to follow.

International Group Publisher, Sven Boermeester

Finally, I would like to thank the team from Synapse for their support as our partners, Red Wall Marketing for their hard work in designing our new website and all the participants for being part of this incredible story. And most importantly, for everyone buying and distributing lots of books which is what makes this all possible in the first place.

Innovate Tampa Bay can also be viewed in our global eBook library www.GlobalVillage.world as well as our new dedicated Innovation site which has just launched www.InnovationsOfTheWorld.com. Our end goal is to publish the Innovate book in over 200 cities around the world as well as launch Innovation books that will focus on specific Industries from Agribusiness, Healthcare, Finance, Blockchain, Construction, Defense to name a few. The opportunities to grow the series are quite literally limitless.

Callie Van Graan Global Village CEO

Belinda van Graan Project Manager

Sven Boermeester Founder/CEO International Group Publisher

John Weatherby Photography

Shannon Pastizzo Research and Selection

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Brian Kornfeld Publishers Partner

JR Griggs Web Development Partner

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The “Innovate Tampa Bay� Team would like to give a special thanks to all the participants and the following companies for their support and assistance in making this project a reality.

Meet the people that are building a better Tampa Bay for tomorrow

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BRINGING INNOVATION PARTNERS TOGETHER MARC BLUMENTHAL - EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SYNAPSE FLORIDA PARTNER, FLORIDA FUNDERS

events, challenges and digital tools to find and connect with the ones who can help you grow your business.

We’ve already demonstrated that by working together the rising tide really is lifting all boats.

The 2018 Synapse Summit was a tipping point when more than 3,300 innovators, entrepreneurs, and community members, along with 250 companies, came together to celebrate, educate and inspire each other. The impact was real. Investors found deal flow. Founders met partners. Companies found talent. Students saw a path to a career. The Synapse Summit made it clear that innovation does, in fact, live here.

Synapse Challenges are igniting the innovation ecosystem and fueling the talent pipeline, as hackers and makers from coast to coast participate in solving real-world problems. Like designing a chatbot so that Metropolitan Ministries can help the homeless and hungry in urgent need who reach out on social media. Or the juniors at Florida Polytechnic University, whose solution to a blockchain challenge resulted in an unexpected prize: a job. Or the enthusiasm from SunTrust Bank Foundation, Guidewell Florida Blue, Grow Financial Federal Credit Union and others that will launch Synapse Challenges in 2019 because they see the value they have for their own companies and for inspiring the innovation community.

Together we are shaping our own destiny.

Together we are demonstrating that “Innovation Lives Here.”

It is hard to believe that it’s been two years since the launch of Synapse.

Every day since then has been a validation of our mission: to connect Florida’s innovation communities in a meaningful, purposeful way. As I’ve traveled the state I’ve seen first hand the passion and creativity that have created an incredible tapestry of innovation and opportunity in Florida.

The proof lies on every page of this book.

Synapse Connect will continue to become the primary online space for innovators to quickly curate meaningful connections, reducing the degrees of separation between what you have and what you need. This platform will continue to expand enabling the incredible number of people, organizations, and resources to find and be found, think Match.com meets Netflix purpose-built for Florida’s innovation communities.

Florida has a lot to celebrate: a population growing by nearly 2,000 people per day; business-friendly laws that support innovation; research institutions producing innovation ready for commercialization; some of our country’s best universities and colleges with hundreds of thousands of students ready to build their careers; innovation in industries from biotech to cybersecurity, from manufacturing to virtual reality, from space exploration to egaming; and a growing cadre of serial entrepreneurs who continue to reinvest both by building new businesses and by paying it forward as mentors to the next generation of entrepreneurs. Major companies and organizations have invested hundreds of millions of dollars to build manufacturing centers, innovation spaces, Fab Labs, wet labs and simulation centers available to innovators and entrepreneurs, hackers and makers.

We are so thankful to the enthusiastic and generous community that has come together to make the Synapse movement possible. The companies and community partners that have stepped up to be on the Synapse Board represent our most passionate advocates and important leaders that will shape our movement’s future.

But, this is only the beginning. We still have work to do.

Synapse is building bridges - in person and online - connecting innovation communities, shrinking the state and making resources visible and accessible, turning the vastness of our geography into our greatest asset.

Individually, these are great resources. Together they are a powerful engine of growth. In so many ways, Florida has more to offer innovators and entrepreneurs than most anywhere else in the country. The challenge is enabling the talent and resources anywhere in the state to easily find each other.

Florida is one of the best places to build a life, career, and company. Together we are shaping our own destiny. Together we are demonstrating that “Innovation Lives Here.”

Synapse is meeting that challenge by bringing innovation partners together within a thoughtful framework. We are building a community that enables these resources to collaborate and accelerate success across our state by making these people, companies, and resources more visible and using our

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06 26 60 84 116 CHAPTER ONE

FUTURE CITIES AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

CHAPTER THREE

TECHNOLOGY

CHAPTER FOUR

HEALTHCARE

CHAPTER FIVE

SPORTS & HUMAN PERFORMANCE

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CONTENTS

THOUGHT LEADERS

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CHAPTER ELEVEN

BLOCKCHAIN

International Group Publisher Sven Boermeester Callie Van Graan Publishers Partners Mark Blumenthal Andy Hafer Brian Kornfeld Project Managers Belinda van Graan Gia Bischofberger Art Direction and Design Peter Batistich Deep Fried

CHAPTER T WELVE

PRODUCT INNOVATIONS

Editing and Production Marion Garassino Rachel Penny Darralynn Hutson Graeme Ferreira Claire Renken Meghan Percy Research and Selection Sven Boermeester Brian Kornfeld Daniel McDonald Shannon Pastizzo Photography John Weatherby Visit Tampa Bay

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CHAPTER THIRTEEN

SOCIAL INNOVATIONS

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

MARKETING, SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT & DESIGN

Email: info@globalvillage.world www.GlobalVillage.world www.InnovationsOfTheWorld.com Copyright © GlobalVillage Partnerships ISBN: 978-1-949677-02-7 Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in The ‘Innovate Tampa Bay’ vol 2. Neither ‘Innovate Tampa Bay’, Proudly Florida nor Global Village assume any responsibility for errors or omissions. All rights reserved: No part of this publication shall be reproduced, copied, transmitted, adapted or modified in any form or by any means. This publication shall not be stored in whole or in part in any form in any retrieval system.

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122 142 156 174 194 CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

FINTECH AND SECURITY

DEFENSE

CHAPTER EIGHT

BUILDING, DESIGN & URBAN PLANNING

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

INNOVATIONS IN EDUCATION

GAMING

274 300 310 334 370 CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Be Your Brand Focus on Profits as well as Revenue Engage in Strategic Planning Secure More Funding Before it is Essential for Survival

Develop a Business Succession Plan

Resolve Disputes Prior to Litigation Whenever Possible

Keep Detailed Company Records File Annual Reports for your Entity on Time

Monitor Your Financials Monthly, Quarterly and Annually Comply with Employment Laws

Prepare an Employee Handbook and Job Descriptions

Develop Operations Manuals for Your Business Obtain Insurance to Manage Your Risk Open a Business Bank Account Obtain your Federal Tax ID (EIN) Obtain Required Federal, State or Local Business Licenses Have a Business Plan

FUNDERS, ACCELERATORS INCUBATORS & EDUCATION & MENTORS ENTREPRENEURIAL SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS (ESO’S)

Have an Attorney Prepare Written Contracts to Use with Partners, Customers, Vendors, Contractors & Employees

Understand Your Federal, State and Local Tax Obligations Protect Your Intellectual Property (file patents, copyrights)

Set Up an Accounting System

Form the Most Suitable Business Entity

Select and Protect (Trademark) Your Company’s Name Create a Budget

Obtain Start-Up Funds

Engage an Experienced Business Attorney, CPA, and Insurance Advisor

PROFESSIONAL CONSULTING, LEGAL, HR, ACCOUNTING, SALES

EVENTS & MEDIA

IT’S A KIND OF MAGIC...

DOWNLOAD THE GLOBALVILLAGE AR APP TO VIEW 100 AUGMENTED REALITY VIDEOS IN THIS BOOK! To experience the future of print, download the Global Village AR App from the IOS or Android App stores. Open the App and hold it about 30cm above any page that contains an image with the “play” Icon.

Make sure your back camera is pointing at the page. Click the Play button that appears onscreen and immerse yourself in the latest updated content with reference to that page.

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“Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.”

- STEVE JOBS

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ALL GREAT CITIES HAVE GREAT RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES JUDY GENSHAFT - PRESIDENT, USF SYSTEM As the state’s first public research university to be located in a metropolitan region, the University of South Florida System has always been proud of its relationship with the Tampa Bay community we serve.

We live in an era when the public increasingly depends on research universities to be a key driver of global innovation. In response, our researchers and scholars are bringing incredible new ideas to life as they help students prepare to share their creative talents locally and globally.

It is that passion for making life better that powers our commitment to innovation and invention. USF is the nation’s fifth leading public university in generating new United States utility patents, and ranks 12th among universities worldwide in this key measure of innovation. We continue to stand with some of the world’s most prestigious institutions in this highly competitive arena, including the University of California System, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University and Stanford University. On a global scale, 2018 was the eighth year that USF ranked in the top 20.

USF faculty members have invented new technologies to assist people with disabilities and fight cancer with nanotechnology. Their innovations are converting waste to liquid fuel and they are creating the systems that run robots and augmented reality. Our faculty is making significant contributions to our understanding of neurodegenerative diseases and brain injury, helping find solutions to potentially life-threatening food allergies, and developing ways of ensuring the sustainability of coastal communities and essential resources such as food, energy and water. These are just a few of the many ways USF is shaping the future.

USF ranks 25th among public universities for research spending – a metric used to chart the level of research activity at American institutions – according to the National Science Foundation. Ranking in the top 25 nationally reflects USF’s dramatic rise as a public research university. In 2017, USF’s annual research expenditures were $558 million, more than triple the amount from the early 2000s.

The NSF ranking is a key indicator of our commitment to life-changing research. So is our designation by the Florida Board of Governors as a Preeminent State Research University – one of only three in the state. It is truly a new era of progress and success at USF, and we are just getting started. We are making significant investments in our residential, academic and research facilities, including our new USF Health Morsani College of Medicine and Heart Institute in downtown Tampa. This project, in the heart of the Water Street redevelopment project, symbolizes who we are and what we stand for as a university and a community.

“USF ranks 25th among public universities for research spending.”

USF’s talented and passionate faculty, staff and students share an unwavering commitment to improving lives here in Tampa Bay and around the world. As we work together to solve some of our most pressing challenges, we make an immeasurable impact for generations to come.

Thank you for your support.

GO BULLS!

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CHANGING THE WAY THE WORLD WORKS AND PLAYS KREG SCHMIDT, ACCENTURE

I have the best job in the world. Every single day, I work with business leaders around the world to change how people and processes work and play through innovation.

As Accenture’s global go-to-market lead for our IoT Practice within Accenture Digital, I help companies design and implement new smart products and services to drive market value and define ways for intelligent machines to make life easier and more productive for humans. It’s all about new hyperpersonalized experiences.

Smart technology is transforming our world. Take Carnival Corporation, with whom we worked to create the Medallion. With it, guests can make reservations or order a drink from anywhere on their cruise ship.

They do not need identification or credit cards thanks to the Medallion — and it allows the ship crew to understand guests’ individual preferences better. Imagine a vacation where your needs are anticipated without you saying a word — how amazing is that?

Humans and machines, working together, working seamlessly, frictionless, in all aspects of life is the Next Big Thing. Everything from devices monitoring worker fatigue to prevent accidents (think airplanes, factories, rescue workers) to your own personal Digital Concierge finding you parking, buying your coffee, booking your travel, ordering your favorite pizza, all without ever touching your phone. The once “art of the possible,” is the “reality of now.”

140 Fountain Parkway, Suite 400 St. Petersburg, FL 33716 Phone: 727-897-7000 Email: kreg.j.schmidt@accenture.com www.accenture.com

The best innovation comes from collaboration. Cross-functional teams are ideating on how to improve experiences in everyday life, both personally and professionally. Think of the possibilities for our city with all the innovators coming together to make its upcoming development, Water Street Tampa, a smart worldclass town. Where interactions and transactions at your office, retail, restaurants, entertainment, hotels, and universities become frictionless, in a 100% digitally enabled urban OS. The possibilities for innovation are endless.

Look out, Tampa. I see exciting times ahead!

Bio: Kreg Schmidt currently leads Accenture’s Industry X.0 IoT and Analytics areas globally. He has also served as the Chief Technology Officer for Accenture’s Smart Buildings Solution, where he established a Tampa operations center servicing dozens of Smart Buildings clients globally. In his free time, Kreg enjoys being a home chef (Cafe LeKreg) but mostly looks forward to spending time at the beach with his wife and two precious daughters.

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EMBARC COLLECTIVE LAKSHMI SHENOY

destination for startup talent. From my vantage point, there are three main challenges to address: 1) Building Our Regional Startup Brand: Outside of Tampa Bay, we aren’t known as a viable place to grow a startup business because we aren’t telling our story outside of our region. Promoting the latest rankings about Tampa Bay stories won’t change the perception. What will change the perception is telling the stories of the people and the companies at the forefront of change, much like what this book does. It’s sharing these teams’ successes, but also showing how they remain resilient through the face of inevitable startup hardship, supported by a community that backs them during the ups and downs. These people and companies and their successes shape the story of our region’s startup identity.

2) Increasing the Density of Startup Opportunities: Building a startup is incredibly difficult. 75% of venture-backed startups fail. That means even if you’ve created a company and are one of the few who successfully manage to raise investment to scale your business, you still only have a 25% chance of success. If a region’s startup identity is formed by its notable success stories, we need to build a bigger pipeline so that more companies can make it through and beat the odds against them. It’s simple math – the more we can get into the top of the funnel, the better the chance that one company will make it through the funnel and achieve success. That means increasing the volume of new ventures that are founded in Tampa Bay and the volume of companies that grow in Tampa Bay. 3) Being Patient and Persistent: People often look to Austin as a non-Silicon Valley startup region success. The reality is that SXSW started 21 years ago.

Building a regional startup identity takes patience and persistence. Even Boulder has been at it for well over a decade. Since moving to Tampa Bay, I’ve been excited by all the activity occurring through groups including the Tampa Bay Wave, which is helping startups with mentorship and readiness for capital raises through its accelerator program; the Florida Israel Business Accelerator, which is bringing Israeli startups to Tampa Bay and in turn, creating global connectivity for our region and a soft landing for companies that are looking to grow in the United States; and Synapse, which is digitally connecting members of the innovation community to opportunity through their growing platform. We need to keep at it and continue to support these efforts to build and grow our entrepreneurial community.

As a newcomer to the Tampa Bay region, I’ve had the opportunity to spend the past year immersing myself in the entrepreneurial community that has been growing here. Locals understand that Tampa Bay is a great place to live and get to experience that life each day. However, beyond the functional benefits: weather, economy, etc., there is a mindset advantage that exists here.

This community is open to growth, optimistic about this region’s potential and “all in” to help in this effort. This is distinct to Tampa Bay and should not be something we take for granted. It should be celebrated and leveraged, as many regions resist the type of growth and change that we embrace.

The mission of Embarc Collective, the newest supporter of the Tampa Bay entrepreneurial community, is to help make Tampa Bay a prime destination for diverse startup talent to make an impact. This is a big vision and takes all of us, the collective – entrepreneurs and their teams, investors, supporters, prospective startup talent and the broader Tampa Bay community to make this happen. But if there is one region that can make this vision a reality, it’s Tampa Bay.

While we have the mindset and many functional benefits on our side, there is a still a great amount of work to be done to make Tampa Bay a prime

Email: lakshmi@embarccollective.com @lshenoy @embarccollectiv www.embarccollective.com 10

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BUILDING THE TAMPA BAY INNOVATION COMMUNITY, ONE CONNECTION AT A TIME BRIAN KORNFELD

Over the two years with Synapse, I have been asked time and time again about my story: where I came from and why nobody knew my name. While the long answer involves transitioning from life as a rocket scientist to a business leader, the heart of the story comes back to the value of connections I’ve made.

Why does connectivity matter? Simply, connectivity creates opportunities, which breeds success. The more you can give and receive help and support, the less you are required to rely on serendipity and hope. This puts you in the driver’s seat for opportunity. This matters to our entire community as we continue to hear the narrative in the Tampa Bay region that connectivity is challenging and holding us back from becoming a powerhouse innovation ecosystem. There are actions that we all can take to help connect each other which in turn will provide the necessary connectivity for Tampa Bay to continue its upward innovation trajectory.

This information is not top secret and you don’t need a security clearance, I can share my successful path and hope it helps you along yours.

I have built my network and connections under the single hypothesis of offering value and asking for nothing in return. While this approach may seem backwards, I find it to be the best path to success. By helping others without expectations, people are more apt to trust my intentions. There are no subliminal motivations or desires in my “why” – but to keep a strong focus on helping our community grow successfully.

"I have built my network and connections under the single hypothesis of offering value and asking for nothing in return."

There are many other schools of thought here, none of which are wrong. Often, people will value numbers in networking over depth and personal relationships. Others will try to find a mutual exchange of value. I’ll scratch your back if you scratch mine. Some people just take from others, tossing aside connections when the value is no longer present. Finally, there are the self-contained bunch, who prefer to work solo.

As more leaders step up in the Tampa Bay innovation community, let’s think about the bigger picture. Reassess your connections and ask yourself what you expect to get and what you expect to give. The more you give, the more valuable your connections and relationships become and the more you can grow as a leader. When you take that lead and set that example, you encourage others to do the same, thereby creating a more connected community and a stronger Tampa Bay. I truly believe that if everyone in this community takes the unselfish approach: be the provider of value, we will see stronger leaders, greater connections, and a more unified ecosystem. With this approach, we will all drive more support and build wider networks. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to see that strong connections lead to success; but linking to one on Synapse Connect won’t hurt either.

brian-kornfeld-mba-53613030 | @therocketmanbk synapseFL | synapsefl | synapsefl | synapseflorida synapsefl.com 11

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LET’S ALL PULL TOGETHER

ANDY HAFER - CEO AND FOUNDER OF DYNAMIC COMMUNITIES

“Last year at the Synapse Summit 2018, I had a moment on stage to share my thoughts of the status and the trajectory of the Early Stage Ecosystem in Florida. What I said then, is what I say now - Florida has all the elements in place to be one of the world’s most thriving Early Stage Economies. Are we there yet? Not quite...

I use this analogy: Think of the Florida Early Stage Ecosystem as a hay wagon.

One of those old-fashioned, horse-drawn hay wagons. Imagine it is piled high with hay. That pile of hay represents the abundance of resources that we have for innovation in Florida, including Entrepreneurs, Investors, Talent, Capital, Higher Education, Enablers, Support, and a willing Government.

Now imagine that that hay wagon, loaded with abundant resources, has hundreds of ropes tied to the hitch. A rope that each of us can grab hold of and pull toward our goal. As we each eagerly grab our rope, put our heads down, and start pulling, we notice that we aren’t making great progress. We look up and see that we are pulling in a direction different to the person next to us. And the person next to them is pulling in yet another direction. Then we yell in unison: ‘Hey guys! Let’s all pull in the same direction!’ And that’s where Florida is now on our journey toward being one of the world’s most thriving Early Stage Economies.

I am grateful to all the voices who have been part of the dialog of figuring out how best to pull in unison. I’ve founded and grown several companies and non-profits in Florida and have relied on many for mentoring, capital, know-how, and everything else. I know that much of that has been luck and serendipity. Watching the Synapse phenomenon help to organize the wagonpullers has been exciting. I feel the wagon moving more smoothly now and I plan to keep pulling!”

Andy Hafer has had a long career in technology and has founded several startups and non-profits, including Dynamic Communities, DCE Productions, Cornerstone Community, and Village of Hope – Haiti. Andy was instrumental in the start-up of Synapse and holds a position on the board. He has seen, first-hand, the opportunities for ecosystem players to collaborate together in a world-class way.

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TOGETHER WE WILL MAKE TAMPA BAY THRIVE ALEX SINK Investment in Innovation

What we see in our startup community is so inspiring. There are so many entrepreneurs building companies with exciting technology and creative thinking. Problems are being solved and doors being opened. Tampa Bay is a community of great opportunities and wonderful people. It is the community that I have called home for 30 years and it is a community that is ambitious and growing.

Tampa Bay has not historically invested in innovation-driven or technologybased businesses. Despite being home to companies like TechData and Jabil Circuit, our community has been primarily built around tourism and the real estate market. In 2008, our local economy came to a dead halt as a result of the Great Recession. We certainly don’t want to see history repeat itself so we must build a more diverse economy.

For many years, my passion has been to work diligently to help raise the level of economic opportunity across the state and right here in Tampa Bay. One thing that I have seen in that time is that communities, like ours, grow when there is innovation, diversity, and collaboration.

This is why we need to encourage our investor community to engage in our technology ecosystem. There are many opportunities for traditional investors to participate in the growth of our technology community. We need our investment community to diversify and part of that diversification needs to be a focus on technology.

Diversity is an Asset One of the things I love about Tampa Bay is how varied we are as a community.

If you look around our region, you can see how each city and town is a little different from the next. Each area has a unique history and culture and we enjoy them because they are different from our own. There are so many wonderful and creative things happening around the Bay that would not exist without diversity.

I believe that diversity goes well beyond the cultural, gender, and racial definitions we apply to it. Diversity gives us different perspectives and it gives us the space for new ideas. Diversity is vital to an innovation-driven economy and we need to actively curate it. Diversity is an asset because it creates value.

I also believe that if we nurture it, diversity can bring us all together.

Collaboration is Currency Across our community, I see a need for even greater collaboration. We need to get involved and we need to be more engaged. Our ecosystem is on the rise and Tampa Bay is being recognized as an emerging market for technology and innovation. We need stronger partnerships and closer communication in order to tackle the challenges ahead. Participation and commitment on the part of the government, higher education, nonprofits and the private sector will be critical to our long-term success. As our community continues to grow, I see a remarkable opportunity for Tampa Bay to become a dynamic and diverse 21st-century economy. If we bring our resources together, we have the potential to make Tampa Bay one of the leading innovation hubs in the United States.

Please join me in this effort. Find a way to get involved and contribute. If you are already engaged, thank you. I look forward to working together with you.

500 E. Kennedy Blvd, Suite 300 Tampa, Florida 33602 Phone: 866-928-3066 tampabaywave tampa-bay-wave www.tampabaywave.org 13

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CURIOSITY, AUTHENTICITY & ABUNDANCE

Characteristics for a successful life and a thriving community.

SHERYL HUNTER, ESQUIRE - FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT

INSATIABLE CURIOSITY. People with an insatiable curiosity are observant and stay ahead of trends. They engage in lifelong learning, daily. In the world of lawyers, we must be highly skilled in our chosen practice areas, but we also need to be effective issue spotters, educated about our clients’ industry and mindful of a broad array of subjects in order to consider more than the obvious issues at hand. In any business or profession, to be a good leader, a true advisor, and a valued contributor you must explore new concepts, read about your craft, and discover on a deeper level who people are and what they care about, so you can meet their needs and collaborate effectively.

AUTHENTICITY. I often advise younger people to develop and maintain a personal and professional brand that is rooted in truth and consistency. My favorite quote is “Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a secondrate version of somebody else” by Judy Garland. Once you have a grasp of your unique talents and niche, you can also discern how to engage in your highest and best use, delegating that in which you do not excel to others. In his book Key Person of Influence, Daniel Priestly identifies the “entrepreneur’s sweet spot” as the intersection of (a) do what you love; (b) do what you’re good at; and (c) do what makes money. Well said.

PERSPECTIVE OF ABUNDANCE. To develop a high achieving company culture and a growing client roster, have a perspective of abundance.

Share contacts, make introductions, and advocate and promote clients and colleagues. While there is certainly a place for protecting company assets and valuing your time, do not lose sight of the benefits of co-opetition over competition. A scarcity mentally that results in hoarding clients, contacts and especially knowledge is not a long-term strategy for opportunity to knock on your door. Think Karma.

Sheryl Hunter, Esquire - Founder and President

After 23 years of practicing law, working with hundreds of entrepreneurs and running my own businesses, I have observed 3 characteristics that contribute to the success of individuals and which are also fundamental to a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem.

These same characteristics of successful people can be said of successful communities. For innovators to come and stay in Tampa Bay we need to be an educated, skilled, lifelong learning community where the best and brightest are welcomed, engaged and inspired. We need an authentic community brand - how are we unique and captivating as compared to other areas of the country? Florida Funders has its mission embodied in its tagline “Sunshine State to Startup State”, while the tagline of Synapse is “Innovation Lives Here.”

We are building these positive identities with each new grant awarded to Tampa Bay WaVE, with the opening of Embarc Collective, and with the addition of venture-like funds launched by universities to provide capital to their enterprising students and alumni.

Sheryl Hunter is the President of Hunter Business Law – The Entrepreneur’s Law Firm – which serves growth-focused entrepreneurs and their business enterprises, from newbie founders to serial entrepreneurs and angel investors. In addition to managing her growing six attorney firm, Sheryl is actively engaged in the entrepreneurial ecosystem as counsel to and investor in Florida Funders, board member of Synapse, and mentor and chair of the advisory board of “GEMS” (Girls Empowered Mentally for Success) and its social venture, Transitions Candles. She is celebrating 20 years married to Gabe and raising two terrific teens, Logan and Aspen.

If we can take the knowledge that comes with insatiable curiosity and couple it with authenticity and then foster true co-opetition by and between all of the members of the entrepreneurial ecosystem, our community can be as successful and inspiring as individuals who have these characteristics.

Phone: 813-867-2640 Email: hunter@hunterbusinesslaw.com www.hunterbusinesslaw.com 14

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A CULTURE OF CONNECTION

RACHEL FEINMAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE FLORIDA-ISRAEL BUSINESS ACCELERATOR

Although I spent most of my childhood and adolescence in Tampa, I returned home in 2008 after several years living and working in New York City. On top of my own personal adjustment, it was a challenging time – not just in Tampa Bay, but across the country – as the impact of the Great Recession was really starting to unfold. I am pretty sure I was the very last corporate lawyer hired in the country, and that first year there were not many deals to close.

But as we all emerged from the rubble of the Recession, things really started moving in Tampa Bay again, and just a decade later, I am amazed at the growth and opportunity.

Of course, there is the growth we all see – cranes towering above and new skyscrapers and condo buildings breaking ground. But there is also the growth that is harder to see – unless you are paying close attention. There is a feeling in Tampa Bay right now – a constant buzzing of activity, innovation and progress – that is unlike anything we have seen here before. This “buzzing” is precisely what prompted me to leave a 15+ year career in the law to join Florida-Israel Business Accelerator (FIBA) and dive headfirst into the innovation ecosystem.

Spending a year introducing Israeli startups to Tampa Bay, has allowed me to see this community through a new prism. One of our greatest strengths – and why, I believe – we will emerge as a top destination for tech talent, entrepreneurs and investors, is our open and engaging business culture. We have a relational approach to business. We also have a fundamental lack of cynicism, and we tend to approach opportunity and introductions with optimism and curiosity. We also have a strong desire to connect with and to one another. These characteristics are a part of who we are, ingrained in our culture, and serve as a constant, quiet undercurrent contributing to our collective success.

Israeli entrepreneurs often ask why they should consider Tampa Bay – a region of the country known for tourism, rather than business or innovation – for their US operations. While I think there are many reasons for growing Israeli companies to choose Tampa Bay, I believe our culture of connection tops the list and, when leveraged correctly, can yield tremendous success. I look forward to what the future holds for Tampa Bay – it is bright!

522 N. Howard Ave. Tampa FL 33606 | Call us: 813-291-2300 | Email: office@fiba.io fibatampa | fiba_tampa | Learn more: fiba.io 15

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HELP PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES ACHIEVE BETTER HEALTH PAT GERAGHTY, GUIDEWELL

GuideWell is driven by our mission to help people and communities achieve better health, which is why our enterprise is not content that today’s health care industry will serve the needs of people tomorrow. Better health demands better interactions with consumers, deeper knowledge of what health needs are, and better systems of care.

I can summarize my leadership philosophy at GuideWell in just one statement: “be bold!” You don’t win consumer loyalty and share of wallet if you deliver anything less than an Amazon-like experience. Your competition isn’t planning for incremental gains, and you’ll lose if you do. Now is the time to become obsessed with the customer, and plan all you do – from hiring, to product development, to service, to ongoing engagement – around their needs. Anticipate what your customer wants and deliver it in the manner they’d want to receive it. This philosophy is how I’ve transformed the GuideWell enterprise from an $8 billion- to nearly $17 billion-business in just six-and-a-half years. And I’ll continue to be bold as GuideWell pushes the boundaries of the health care industry in Florida and beyond.

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WHERE VISION IS BECOMING REALITY RANDY K. AVENT – PRESIDENT OF FLORIDA POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY

It’s not every day you get to build a university from scratch. When I came to Florida Polytechnic University in 2014, we had yet to open our doors to students. In fact, we were just putting the finishing touches on the Innovation, Science and Technology Building – the iconic structure that anchors our Lakeland campus just off of I-4.

We’ve come a long way in four years. Between obtaining regional accreditation to graduating our first four-year class, Florida Poly is well positioned to become a premier STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) university known for producing highly desirable graduates and new technology solutions.

As the only member of the State University System of Florida dedicated exclusively to STEM, we’re committed to growing the state’s economy by not only educating skilled engineers but also by creating a system by which they choose to remain in the state following graduation.

Our mission is to serve students and industry through excellence in education, discovery, and application of engineering and applied sciences.

We want each and every student who passes through our doors to take part in a transformative educational experience.

Bringing together academia, industry and government is a recipe for meaningful and long-term economic growth – not just for Polk County but for the region, state and beyond. In Florida Poly 2.0, a part of our vision is to be a catalyst in the creation of a research park adjacent to campus. This park will create a “live-work-play” environment incorporating academic buildings, and research partnerships with high-tech companies, a town center, restaurants, shopping and more.

This is such an exciting time in our history. It’s critical we keep this momentum going and focus our efforts on producing the most talented and successful STEM minds in the state, the nation, and the world. We want Florida Poly to be a top destination for both prospective students as well as industry dependent upon the high-tech skills we provide.

Dr. Randy K. Avent is the founding president of Florida Polytechnic University, the newest of the state’s 12 public universities and the only one dedicated exclusively to STEM. As Florida Poly’s inaugural president, Avent is responsible for the development and operation of the university and is committed to strategically developing Florida Poly as a research and jobs university, an agent for growth and a beacon for the economy. His career exemplifies the qualities of innovation, leadership, and entrepreneurship the university seeks to instill in students. An accomplished academician, senior administrator and research scientist, Avent has an extensive background teaching and directing research at higher-education institutions dedicated to STEM.

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WHEN I THINK ABOUT INNOVATION AND WHAT DRIVES SUCCESS, I THINK OF CULTURE. TONY DIBENEDETTO

There are many values to consider when talking about building a culture of innovation, but I believe the most important one is passion.

The dictionary defines passion as “an intense, driving or overmastering feeling of conviction,” or “a strong desire for or devotion to some activity or concept”.

People often interchange passion and drive, but they are not the same. Passion is what pulls you towards a project or cause, regardless of your current situation or feeling. Passion is something you can’t fight or really even create; it’s what builds the drive we need to succeed in our ventures.

“Passion is something you can’t fight or really even create; it’s what builds the drive we need to succeed in our ventures.”

Tony DiBenedetto a 30-year executive, serial entrepreneur and thought leader, Tony is the former CEO of technology company Tribridge, where he led the strategic direction, development and vision for 19 years. He also served as CEO of Concerto Cloud Services, a subsidiary of Tribridge. He is currently Executive Entrepreneur-in-Residence for Tampa Bay Wave and on the board of several fast growing companies.

Tony co-founded Tribridge in 1998 and led the company through the acquisition and integration of several companies, resulting in a compounded annual growth rate of over 40 percent each year. He was most recently recognized with the Community Dedication and Leadership Award by Tampa Bay Tech and named among the Top 25 Technology Disrupters in the country

by CRN magazine.

If you follow drive first, chances are your venture(s) are a means to an end.

Drive can mean that you are hellbent on being successful now so you can pursue your passions in life. But I think that is misguided. Drive should be an effect of passion. Don’t follow a project because you have to, follow a project because you feel it. No matter what, you feel something that few others, if anyone, will ever understand.

In the long-haul, passion will drive the strategy and longevity of the business.

It sometimes surfaces as the company mission, the why we exist as a business.

Passion will excite investors, team members, customers and everyone who comes in contact with the company.

Companies that have passion will outperform companies that don’t.

Finding the passion is about selfawareness: what drives you to do things or get excited over and over again. For me, it was an early recognition that I

liked to help people. This led me to my first job in consulting and ultimately to our mission at Tribridge, which was to improve the lives of others by serving them. This mission gave everyone purpose and allowed us to be more creative, work harder and build greater profitability.

Passion is infectious. The team will work harder and be more thoughtful towards clients when they are passionate. Clients will be impacted. They will want to do more business with you when they see the passion the team has for the business.

You have to really love the product or service you are selling, because it’s passion that will help you overcome obstacles. Running or starting a business is a 24/7 job and can put a lot of stress on your relationships. You will have some self-doubt and question whether you are doing the right things. There will be times when the numbers don’t look good, often as a result of how you and the team executed the plan. Remembering what you are passionate about will get you through the tough times.

Passion will also impact how successful you are in recruiting. Potential team members will want to work for your company when they see and hear how passionate the team is. And your team members will be more comfortable recommending people they know when they are passionate. This will lower the cost of attracting good people and increase the chances for better retention It’s not the plan, the product or even the talent that drives innovation; it is the passion. Go find yours and use it!

tony-dibenedetto-8ba0588 TonyTribridge 18

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FIVE REASONS TO INVEST IN EARLY STAGE TECHNOLOGY TOM WALLACE - MANAGING PARTNER FOR FLORIDA FUNDERS Early stage innovation and technology companies are one of the best investment opportunities available today. Florida is at the forefront of a blooming technology landscape and Florida Funders, a hybrid of a venture capital fund and crowd-funding platform that invests in emerging trends, has a passion for growing the next generation of Florida tech companies. Led by an experienced team of serial entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and experienced angel investors, Florida Funders has a proven track record for finding strong investment opportunities in early stage companies.

mile delivery platform for large or heavy retail products. Consumers are going to continue to purchase big-ticket items, such as furniture and mattresses.

Often times, retailers are unable to fulfill large and/or heavy products conveniently enough to meet the needs of today’s consumers. With PICKUP, customers can select their items, request delivery at the checkout and have their goods delivered to the room of choice in as little as one hour.

Early stage technology provides a diverse portfolio. Technology is more than just an electronic device or software. Today’s technology companies are innovative disruptors to very classic industries and business problems. In some ways, tech is any business that can scale and create significant differentiation by leveraging things like mobile apps, AI, Augmented Reality and big data.

Our portfolio features a vast array of innovative startups throughout the state. In addition to PICKUP, we’ve invested in Homee, a Tampa, Florida based on-demand mobile application responsible for connecting customers with local service providers. Homee provides homeowners, property managers, offices, restaurants, hotels and more with access to handymen, electrical, HVAC, plumbing service providers through the Apple and Android application. Or, take Rep Scrubs as an example. RepScrubs, a Sanford, Floridabased smart scrub solution for modern medical facilities. RepScrubs provides a vending machine system that distributes disposable scrubs for medical device representatives inside of hospitals to create a more sterile solution for healthcare. Between PICKUP, Homee and RepScrubs alone, we have an expansive reach of companies that are affecting various markets.

If you’ve been sitting on capital and you’re looking for a new way to experience growth, Florida Funders has five reasons you should invest in early stage technology: Be one of the first to invest in in the most innovative, emerging Florida companies. Florida Funders has a strong team of leaders that work tirelessly to find the best technology companies throughout the state. In many of our recent investments, Florida Funders has been the first institutional money into our portfolio companies, this gives all our investors a tremendous opportunity to get in on the ground floor and help the company to grow and develop through our time, talent and our treasure.

Today, wealth is created in the private market, not the public market.

Companies are waiting longer to go public because there’s so much money in the private equity market. By the time they go public, they are worth billions and it is very hard to generate more wealth in the public market. Uber, a private company, is valued at over $68 billion-dollars. Once they decide on an IPO, investors won’t make near the return that the earlier investors made.

Imagine if you had invested in Uber at $50 million, $500 million, or even $5 billion-dollars, and its forecasted to go public at $120 billion, early investors will see returns between 50 and 2,500 times their investment. Florida Funders investors can not only gain access to Florida’s best early stage companies, they can spread their investment capital across enough private companies for intelligent diversification.

Support the future of Florida. Our mission is to turn the Sunshine State into the Startup State. By investing in Florida companies, you’re supporting the economic growth of our state to help make our communities throughout Florida become one of the best places to build a great business, career and life. For every great technology company and technology job that is added to our state, there is a significant growth in non-tech, service-related jobs, such as hospitality, insurance, and real estate. We’ve partnered with key players within Florida to support technology growth statewide. Recently, we’ve acquired Florida Angel Nexus (NEXUS), an Orlando-based firm that has facilitated more than $20 million in funding to Florida startups. We’ve also been selected by the Institute for Commercialization of Florida Technology to enter into contract negotiations to serve as Private Fund Manager to manager their portfolio of funded companies, which consists of businesses in all segments of the innovation economy including the life sciences, digital information, clean energy and other emerging sectors. Through June 30, 2018, funded companies had raised in excess of $255 million in private investment capital, a ratio of 10:1 to State funds invested, and the overall economic impact of the Institute since 2011 is over $1.4 billion (Washington Economics Group 2018 Study). We believe it’s imperative to get involved throughout the community to stay on top of the latest opportunities.

Tom Wallace co-founded his first company at the age of 23 and has been involved in starting, growing and building businesses since. He has been an active tech angel investor for the past 25 years. Prior to joining Florida Funders, he served as the CEO for Vector Solutions, a SaaS company providing services in the online training compliance space in which he invested in 2003. In 2016, Vector Solutions was purchased by Providence Equity Partners, a $40 billiondollar private equity firm.

Assets are non-correlated to the current market trends. We invest in companies that are not directly impacted by current stock market and industry trends. For example, we’ve recently invested in PICKUP, an agile last

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Phone: 813-775 6990 | Email: info@floridafunders.com | floridafunders | FloridaFunders | floridafunders.com

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FLORIDA’S BUSINESSES: BUILDING A BETTER WORLD ED KOPKO - CEO OF BOLD BUSINESS GROUP

The services and products companies create are the largest driver of improvement of the human condition throughout the world. Business breakthroughs and products help us live longer, eat better, communicate (think iPhones and internet) and travel. For me, I have been fascinated on how these product wonders get delivered to the world and how most people underestimate the good business does.

Business is not just a balance sheet and income statement. It is about serving others. Business and the people running them have a soul. At the core of every business is service, helping customers. People buy from businesses voluntarily to improve their lives in small or large ways. My passion for understanding how business helps the world led me to create a publication that reports on its many stories. It is based here in Florida. We call it Bold Business, for companies that are boldly helping the world.

Business helps Lives Breathe Easier Businesses in Florida are diverse and are helping many aspects of the world.

The top 5 growth industries are Aviation and Aerospace, Life Sciences, Manufacturing, Security and Technology. Breakthroughs in these industries are dramatically improving the human condition. There will be more breakthroughs in the future!

Florida Business, the 4th largest U.S. State economy, is helping many lives breathe easier. I am proud to be part of its community.

“To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ed Kopko is CEO of Bold Business Group, a media and technology services enterprise that serves companies and markets worldwide. He has a passion for business, economics and media. A serial entrepreneur, Ed launched the publication Bold Business, www.boldbusiness.com, to help broadcast the great accomplishments that come from business and entrepreneurial activity.

He believes the very real and amazing Bold Impacts that these companies have created also make a compelling micro economic case for trade and commerce. Ed previously served 23 years as Chairman and CEO of Butler International, a worldwide provider of engineering and technical services that employed approximately 5000 people in over 20 countries. Ed’s previous media experience was as CEO, Publisher and Owner of Chief Executive Magazine and its related media activities. He has been published in many media venues including the Wall St. Journal, Detroit Free Press and Forbes. com. He has also been a sought-after commentator and appeared numerous times on CNBC, MSNBC, Fox News and other media outlets. He has a B.A. in economics from University of Connecticut and a M.A. in economics from Columbia University. He is a resident of St. Petersburg, FL.

Florida is going through an exciting transition. It is attracting and encouraging more business growth in our lovely state. The Chief Executive “Best and Worst States to Grow your Business Survey”, that I created in 2004, has Florida rated the 2nd best state in the U.S for 2018. Businesses are coming to Florida! Yet with it some people may worry about how more business will affect Florida’s soul. I believe this growth is full of good news. Florida’s businesses are helping lives.

I have had a passion for business my entire life yet not just in the way most would think. Yes, I like the challenge, creativity and the potential rewards business can provide to me personally, yet my passion has grown immensely from looking at how businesses help the world.

263 13th Ave S, St. Petersburg FL 33701, USA bold-business theboldbusiness TheBoldBusiness TheBoldBusinessNews www.boldbusiness.com 20

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“TAMPA BAY INNOVATORS SIMPLY NEED TO CONTINUE CHALLENGING THE “WHAT IS”, LEVERAGE THE, EVER EXPANDING, RESOURCES OUR REGION HAS TO OFFER TO DELIVER THEIR VISION OF “WHAT IT CAN BE;” TRY NEW THINGS. BE WRONG. LEARN FROM IT. AND ALWAYS LOOK FOR BETTER SOLUTIONS.” CHUCK PAPAGEORGIOU, ENTREPRENEUR, CEO OF INTERNATIONAL SCREENING SOLUTIONS, MANAGING PARTNER OF IDEASPHERE PARTNERS. which messed up other local signals for a couple of weeks, baffling the local authorities, until they figured out what was going on and called my school. I got into a little trouble over that, but my love for technology endured and I continue building electronics and writing software.

Fast forward a few decades; past my tour as a Sergeant in the Cyprus Army, in special services, a couple of attempts at a corporate career, a couple of startups, leading transaction for over $9Bn in M&A, and driving some major turnarounds all over the world, and I ended up back building some cool technology for the global risk space, WorldWatch Plus® (www. worldwatchplus.com), with my company International Screening Solutions (www.intlscreening.com).

For many years, I never really considered myself an innovator because I was the operator, the solver, the builder, or the fixer, but not the “idea guy”. Then a professor friend of mine pointed out that finding creative ways to solve big problems, was doing just that. After all, being an innovator means shaking things up from time to time, and always looking for improvements. Now that I look back, I’ve been doing this for most of my life.

Of course, as much as I love the field, technology, and innovation by themselves don’t always make commercial sense, and over the years I had my share of failures. But being occasionally wrong is also part of the fun. It’s where change happens. People need to realize that being an innovator simply means refusing to accept the status quo, being open to looking at problems and challenges from multiple angles, and willing to try things even if it means being wrong. Becoming a successful innovator also requires going beyond this and being curious, pursuing continuous learning across many disciplines, and learning to use the tools that can translate ideas into plans, strategies, products, and solutions.

It started early on when, as a 16-year-old student, I built my first FM radio transmitter. I followed the process, mostly, and applied for a license for a 10W school radio station based on an old military design. I decided to modify the design to boost one of the factors, and ended up building a 1,000W station,

Chuck is an operator. From building and leading his own successful company, International Screening Solutions, to taking on turnarounds of global companies with thousands of employees. He is a mentor for entrepreneurs and inventors, both at the University of Tampa and the Tampa Bay Wave; and volunteers his time annually to the St. Petersburg College Business Plan competition. Life balance and finding time for family and self is important to Chuck. In addition to spending time with his wife and two beautiful daughters, Chuck finds time to meditate, practice Martial Arts, fish the Tampa Bay waters, and enjoys time in his woodworking shop, designing and building furniture pieces.

I love the Tampa Bay region and have been actively engaged in building our ecosystem for over a decade. And it has been a great base for me, ISS, and Ideasphere. I have built friendships with many of the local innovators, who are always willing to bounce ideas around that help me improve our products.

And when, for the first time ever, I decided to raise outside capital for ISS, the lead investors were all local. This region is becoming a hotbed of innovation and I am thrilled to be part of it!

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A REVOLUTIONARY TRACKING SYSTEM THAT REDUCES PATIENT WAIT TIMES SHAMIT PATEL, ALPHA NODUS; GRAVITY HEALTHCARE SYSTEM

appointment. Years ago when I needed to see a doctor for a painful condition I was told I had to wait three weeks for an appointment. I finally went to a clinic, walked in and waited three hours until a doctor would see me. I was incredulous. We wait for an appointment and then we wait once we arrive at the appointed hour. It is a frustrating, unsustainable, system in dire need of a makeover and I am determined to be the one to provide it.

“Never give up.

If you believe in something go to the ends of the earth to make it happen.”

The next important innovation for healthcare will be one that automates the old, sluggish, manual processes that remain the mainstay of too many physician practices. They are the root of these scheduling obstacles. I believe that kinks in the healthcare industry can be solved by technology. We need to use the tools and technologies that already exist to develop a system that introduces a high degree of automation into physician offices and removes the manual processes that serve as obstacles to patient’s access to care.

Shamit Patel is the CEO of Alpha Nodus, developer of the Gravity Healthcare system, a revolutionary tracking system that reduces patient wait times, improves physician practice workflow and productivity and protects revenue.

Healthcare is a fundamental right for all people. Every day I am inspired to use technology to make it more accessible to people. Healthcare must be available when and where people need it, without delay. I want to build the tools and solutions that increase effectiveness and efficiency for those who provide important care.

VISION My vision for healthcare is that the United States will someday have a system befitting a developed nation. We spend more money on healthcare than the entire GDP of India - yet we wait weeks, sometimes months, for a doctor’s

I am proud to be a first generation American. As a teenager I became enamored with technology when Bluetooth was first developed. I ate Ramen noodles for six months to save $370 to buy the first phone that used Bluetooth; the Sony Ericsson T68i, only to find that it wasn’t connected to anything. After a twoyear odyssey of saving money and buying more and more technology just to use the phone, I made it my goal in life to develop interconnected technology.

That was my epiphany and the driving force of my career.

interconnectivity didn’t exist so providers couldn’t analyze data. Our project created remote care and telemedicine before its time. We achieved that 15 years ago and yet today we are still only scratching the surface of that functionality.

It was a view of what was to come, but that still has to be realized today.

I could list the many successes I have had, but instead I would like to relate the most transformative moment of my career – one of abject failure. I was responsible for shipping a product rated by Business Insider as the worst product of the decade; the IoGear Wireless USB HUB. I am very proud of that experience because it taught me to do what I know is right (I could have stopped it from shipping); that lack of quality has consequences, and that when determined, follow one’s gut.

Since that time, I have gained 15 years of wireless startup experience. I have exits with acquisitions by Intel, Qualcomm & Alereon and I was the founding chair of the Ecosystem for IoT Standards Body. We scaled products to more than 100 million users.

Interconnectivity created the most exciting moment in my career. Actually, it was my senior design project as an undergrad student at Rochester Institute of Technology. We developed medical devices that connect remotely from patient to the physician and showed it was highly functional. At that time, the

Life comes down to what my father always taught me; “Never give up. If you believe in something go to the ends of the earth to make it happen.” That is the philosophy he lived by and the one that instructs me today, every day.

shamitpatel

| AlphaNodus www.alphanodus.com

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“UBIQUITOUS COMPUTING”

DAVID ROBINSON - CEO - DSM TECHNOLOGY CONSULTANTS “There’s never been a faster rate of change of what makes businesses work - from the way they sell, to the way they go to market, to the way they run their operations.”

People say there’s nothing new under the sun, and I completely disagree.

If you look at things from a macro- or micro-perspective, cloud computing is merging with mobile computing and that’s going to form what I call “Ubiquitous Computing”—meaning your computing is everywhere. If you think about your business, your Apple watch, your smart scale—the whole world is now measuring, and it is computing for you. When we couple this technology with 5G communication technology, you have continuous ubiquitous communication, meaning we are never on the face of this earth without being measured, being sampled, being computed, being calculated, being stored.

Companies that don’t innovate to accommodate these advances will become dinosaurs. They will die. There’s never been a faster rate of change of what makes businesses work - from the way they sell, to the way they go to market, to the way they run their operations; you have to be automating and using machine learning. AI—all of these things that seemed like science fiction 10 or 15 years ago – are in today’s market. You have to embrace them, you have to have a good understanding of them, you have to know how it’s going to set your company apart... If you are doing the same thing you did last year, let alone 5 years ago, you will be out of business.

The ability to access data and the ability to sift through that data is ushering in what I see as the era of Bots. Service agents which can go out there and do work for us. We use them already to find the best flight deals, the best hotel deals, and so on. Bots, using machine learning and AI, will become undifferentiated from a personal assistant. Maybe they can’t personally bring you your coffee, but they can order it and have it delivered to you.

I’ve started over 15 companies, many in Central Florida, all in tech, so Central Florida has been a great place and has allowed me to attract talent from all over the world because of its wonderful weather and location.

The challenge, though, is getting enough well-trained technical people.

Fortunately, Florida universities are cranking out great interns who we get a chance to mold and grow. If we can do a better job at one thing, it would be educating and retaining this next generation. People don’t realize what’s in our backyard, but we are committed to bringing about that awareness.

Maybe that’s scary, but that’s the world we’re living in. We’re entering the age of the bots, entering the age of ubiquitous computing, and it’s a fun time to be in technology. And think about where it all started, how far we’ve come. I saw my first computer when my dad, who served in Vietnam, took me with him to pick up his paycheck from a U.S. Army facility. The computers there had eight-inch tapes and punch cards, and to me that was awe-inspiring.

When you think about that and think about today, where computing is going and taking us—we don’t even think about computers being embedded in any device, or about the computing power in things smaller than a cell phone.

So, we have an exciting world ahead of us; more computing, more data, more information, and more measurement going on. We’re going to understand more about our physical world than we ever have in the past. It’s exciting.

Phone: 877-376-6381 Email: hello@dsm.net david-robinson-74386317 @DSMTechnology www.dsm.net 23

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BUILDING A TRULY COORDINATED CARE MODEL

SAM A. BEELER SERVES AS SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER FOR THE APPLIED SCIENCE AND PERFORMANCE INSTITUTE of news regarding nutrition, exercise, cognitive performance, etc. and emphasize how fundamental they are to our health. Instead, I chose to get involved in the creation, validation, and application of the science behind it.

To create a new ecosystem that delivers unprecedented results and provides broad application.”

ASPI’s operating model is not dissimilar from what I built in healthcare which was a coordinated care model where the primary care physician and specialists collaborated and worked together within one organization for the benefit of the patient. At ASPI, we’re bringing together different, yet critical, areas of academia with subject matter experts from each field collaborating in a way that has never been done before. There are companies that specialize in clinical research, others that specialize in human performance, and of course those that specialize in healthcare. However, no entity has ever substantially tied all three together and provided individualized practical applications for the client. We are doing so and using science based, data driven algorithms to lead the way. We also make it challenging and fun for the client.”

WHY TAMPA? START IN HEALTHCARE

“First and foremost, I went to where the intellectual capital is housed. We have some impressive equipment and unique technology on-site but our most important asset is the incredible intellectual capital that we have here in Tampa.”

“My background is in healthcare. I started in a clinical capacity as a perioperative autologous transfusionist. I worked in the operating room on a variety of cases including ruptured triple A’s, lumbar decompression and spinal fusion, joint replacements and more. Business opportunities kept presenting themselves to me and eventually I transitioned over to the management side of health care. I began securing hospital-based contracts where I managed Emergency Departments, House Physician programs, Hospitalist programs, and resident Physician Assistant programs within the NY metro area. I then put my foot on the other side of the fence and began working with large multi-specialty private practices. These facilities were almost as large as hospitals with advanced diagnostics, laboratory services, office-based surgery and nuclear medicine in-house. In my last post, I served as the Vice President of Operations and Ancillary Services for Advantage Care Physicians in Manhattan. Under my purview were 38 of these very large medical facilities, eight administrative offices, and three call centers. It was a multi-billion operation. I was also an Ambassador for the Clinton Foundation and their world health initiatives.”

“Secondly, Tampa is a vibrant and growing economy. When you add strong population growth to economic growth, you have a city that’s primed it’s infrastructure for business. We believe in Tampa, both the leadership as well as the people.”

“Tampa is still an emerging market with lots of blue ocean.”

Sam Beeler serves as SVP and Chief Operating Officer for the Applied Science and Performance Institute. As a co-founder, he brings with him more than 16 years of executive leadership, operational excellence, and innovation.

Previously, Sam served as VP of Operations and Ancillary Services for Advantage Care Physicians, the largest private multi-specialty outpatient practice on the east coast. Prior to ACP, he was appointed Chief Operating Officer at Staten Island Physician Practice, the region’s largest private medical group accounting for the care of 20% of the borough’s population. Sam was also a Director with The Advisory Board Company and a VP for Pivot Health.

Sam is a passionate ambassador for The Clinton Foundation and assists with their population health initiatives benefiting millions around the world.

He has also served as a volunteer at the Merck Bioethics Institute where he collaborated with Physicians, Scientists and Healthcare Administrators to further the guiding principles of ethical and responsible research and care.

Sam has studied at Columbia and Rutgers Universities where he has graduated with highest honors and garnered multiple academic accolades including the Charles Biederman and Norman C. Miller Awards.

“The experience I gained at the highest levels, hospital-based medicine as well as private practice, clinician as well as administrator, gave me intimate insight to what healthcare was lacking. In short, an incredible opportunity to take health and human performance to the next level.”

PHILOSOPHY “My thought process was that I needed to get involved with something that takes a different approach. I didn’t want to just participate in the delivery

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DISRUPTING THE GLOBAL BOOK BUISNESS FOUNDER/CEO, INTERNATIONAL GROUP PUBLISHER - GLOBALVILLAGE.WORLD How is the commercial book publishing world being disrupted?

Some clients joke with us that we are bringing back a dying art form as books are cool again. The business model however has changed completely, gone are the days of pay to play by selling advertorials or advertising. A great book on an ecosystem or industry needs to be authentic and all encompassing of all the major players sharing their story, not just who ever paid to be in there. To finance that we moved to a crowd funded book buying model where the market and the participants buy the books in bulk to use as gifts to clients, visitors, investors and employees. You also need to add technology to the printed book by embedding augmented reality videos into its pages, we do that by hiding QR codes behind the images that a mobile phone can read to activate a video. The books also need to be available online as ebooks, a blog and ultimately a forum where all the participants can communicate with each other.

How do you set up your business in new cities and countries?

We look for skilled marketing professionals in each city that know their community well and form 50/50 partnerships with them where they collect the stories and we design and print book. We are a fast growing tribe of fun and energetic publishing entrepreneurs, partners and friends. We all share a passion for innovation, beautiful places and cultures that we want to embrace, share and showcase with the rest of the world. We are always looking for marketing entrepreneurs to join our team, please reach out to me on LinkedIn or info@globalvillage.world.

How do you set up a global business quickly?

My advice is to set up a small branch in Dubai and spend some time there if you have the means to do that. Dubai even more so than Singapore is the crossroads of the world for many reasons. The top three reasons being, Dubai has more than a million business savvy expats living there from 120 different countries.

When you network in Dubai you network with the world. Going Global means you have to fly constantly. When it comes to flying, the world is flat and Dubai is in the middle, you can reach more than 80% of the globe with a direct flight.

That is a big deal when you add up cost, time and jet lag. Last but not least, Dubai is a tax-free country with no business or personal taxes. That being said you cannot beat the lifestyle of Tampa Bay so the head office will always remain right here.

Sven Boermeester is a global publishing entrepreneur with a career that spans over 20 years with stops in more than 100 countries. He was Born in Antwerp, Belgium and grew up in South Africa. After completing his business studies in Cape Town, he opened his first media company and started publishing the trade and industry directories for South Africa followed by the launch of the Best of the World publishing series in Dubai.

Fast forward 20 years and 183 ‘Best of’ editions across 60 countries, Sven now lives in Tampa, Florida with his wife and young son. He is working on disrupting the publishing business by mapping out the Innovation ecosystems of every major city, in the U.S. and around the world, through his latest Innovation books and augmented reality video series.

Email: info@globalvillage.world sven-boermeester-8605823 www.GlobalVillage.world www.InnovationsOfTheWorld.com 25

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FUTURE CITIES AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT 26

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“For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack.”

- RUDYARD KIPLING

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SYNAPSE FLORIDA: CELEBRATING THE SUCCESS OF OUR INNOVATION COMMUNITIES

SERENDIPITY DOESN’T SCALE. THAT’S WHY WE BUILT SYNAPSE. Synapse Florida, the nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization connecting innovation communities across Florida, was founded on the premise that serendipity doesn’t scale. By building a state-wide movement, Synapse is enabling innovation partners throughout Florida to find each other and develop relationships in a way that hasn’t existed before.

entrepreneur

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corporation innovation enabler ESO

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“If you want to accelerate success and build flourishing, sustainable economies, it needs to be done in an intentional, meaningful, and purposeful way,” says Marc Blumenthal, Executive Director of Synapse.

Connections: Framework for Fueling Innovation Synapse believes that connections are the key to accelerating thriving innovation communities and driving Florida’s economic growth, while attracting and retaining top talent—now and for generations to come.

By creating a framework to connect entrepreneurs, talent, investors, corporations, educational institutions, and other business stakeholders, Synapse helps people find what they need and share what they have in three ways: •• Synapse Connect – An online, customized platform that allows innovators to easily and quickly connect with the resources they need anywhere across the state. Synapse Connect only shows you the opportunities, partners, news, companies, and events that are relevant to your changing needs and goals.

•• Synapse Challenges – A crowdsourcing solution for organizations to solve real-world problems and create new opportunities for forward-thinking businesses and people—efficiently and cost-effectively. Challenges inspire our state’s most talented creators and makers to innovate and fuel the talent pipeline.

•• Synapse Programming – Throughout the year, Synapse hosts purposedriven programming online and in-person. The capstone event is the Synapse Summit—a live two-day celebration of innovation where visionaries, doers, and success-makers connect with the latest transformational innovations across all industries to educate and inspire.

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Providing value Synapse helps to break down the silos of industry, encouraging people to connect and engage easily with purpose and provide guidance to accelerate success. “It’s an example of our core values,” comments Andy Hafer, Synapse Florida Co-founder. “Members of our community are incredibly generous of their time and support to help talented people, entrepreneurs, and startups get to the next level. We celebrate each other’s successes. As the saying goes, the ‘rising tide lifts all boats.’”

In just one year, the impact Synapse has made on our state is palpable. “We are proud that Synapse has already made a positive impact on so many in our community,” says Lauren Prager, Vice President of Communication and Programming.

“Every week, we hear from another person who found an investor, a client, a new team member, a career opportunity, and important bit of inspiration, or valuable connection through Synapse. This is what we are built to do.”

“We were built to enable better connections across the state,” added Marc. “An investor or 30

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entrepreneur should not be limited by time and space to find the partner they need to succeed. We’re proud that Synapse has a solution that is beginning to fix the problem.”

Synapse is truly a community movement, led by a Board representing Florida’s leading innovators and run day to day by unbelievably dedicated staff and volunteers. “It is truly remarkable to have such great leaders on one board, all with one common goal, to make Florida the best place to innovate, build a business, career, and life,” says Brian Kornfeld, President of Synapse. “We are grateful to the talented, resourceful Synapse staff and volunteers who are fostering the connections for innovation, helping to create the success stories that will let the world know that Innovation Lives Here.”

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Synapse Board Synapse extends sincere appreciation and gratitude to its inaugural board, representing Florida’s leading entrepreneurs, investors, corporate executives, and principals of educational institutions, entrepreneur support organizations, and government, who are supporting the state’s thriving innovation communities.

Chairman of the Board, Tim Schar, SunTrust Bank •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• ••

Ark Applications BayCare Health System BNY Mellon Wealth Management Cherry Bekaert ConnectWise Dali Museum Deloitte Dynamic Communities Embarc Collective Feldman Equities Florida Funders Florida Israel Business Accelerator Florida Polytechnic University Florida State Representative Jamie Grant •• Guidewell Florida Blue •• Grow Financial Federal Credit Union •• Hillsborough County Economic Development EDI2

•• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• ••

Holland & Knight Hunter Business Law !P Innovation Partnership Jabil McIntyre Thanasides Morgan Hill Partners PAR, Inc. Publix Metropolitan Ministries Qualified Meetings Reliaquest Schifino Lee Advertising & Branding Skoda Minotti Straz Center for Performing Arts SunTrust Bank Tampa Bay Business Journal Tampa Bay Innovation Center Tampa Bay Tech Tampa Bay Wave Tucker Hall Major General David Scott (Ret.) Ultimate Medical Academy 32

•• •• •• ••

USF College of Engineering USF Muma College of Business USF Research & Innovation University of Tampa

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For more information about Synapse Florida, please visit: synapseFL synapseflorida synapsefl www.synapsefl.com and www.synapsesummit.com.

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TAMPA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT A LEGACY OF INNOVATION

When Tampa International Airport as we know it today opened in 1971, it was heralded as the most modern airport in the world. Featuring a hub-andspoke design, TPA put people first by limiting walking distances and using a never-before-seen automated people mover system to transport travelers from the Main Terminal (the hub) to airsides (the spokes) to catch their flights.

This architectural wonder was featured in such publications as Life magazine, Popular Science, and U.S. News and World Report and lauded as the most passenger-oriented terminal complex in operation.

Today’s travelers still benefit from the ground-breaking design, and Tampa International Airport consistently is listed among the top airports in the country for satisfaction.

The Airport is continuing to build on its legacy of innovation with a three-phase expansion program that will allow Tampa International to accommodate 34 million passengers each year, doubling the capacity from when the first dirt was turned for the project in 2014.

In 2018, the Airport served more than 21 million passengers – an Airport record – and completed the $981-million first phase of the expansion. The expansion included a new Rental Car Center connected by a 1.4-mile people mover to an expanded Main Terminal with an entirely new concessions program.

In the Rental Car Center, a remote bag check and boarding pass kiosks that serve multiple airlines offer a one-of-akind passenger amenity that means rental car customers don’t have to manage their luggage after they return their rental cars. The popularity of the service also means fewer passengers use the ticket counters in the Main Terminal, improving the Airport’s efficiency.

SkyConnect, the name given via a community vote to the new people mover system, includes a stop at the Economy garage, providing a major customer service improvement to users of the most affordable Airport parking product. In the past, Economy parkers had to wait for up to 15 minutes for a van to take to them to the terminal, which also required 34

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“The Airport is continuing to build on its legacy of innovation with a three-phase expansion program that will allow Tampa International to accommodate 34 million passengers each year.�

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maneuvering luggage up the steps into the van. With the SkyConnect, which arrives about every three minutes, it’s simply roll-on, roll-off.

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The new concessions program has already won industry awards for its outstanding design and unique offerings that include such familiar national brands as Hard Rock Cafe, Chick-fil-A, Wendy’s, Starbucks, Illy, Tommy Bahama, Ron Jon and Quiksilver, and a huge variety of local restaurants and products that give travelers a taste of Tampa Bay.

Reaching speeds of nearly 50 miles per hour, the 12 SkyConnect vehicles are each wrapped with images of native birds – six in total. The birds include the Great Egret, Black Skimmer, Bald Eagle, Roseate Spoonbill, White Ibis and the American White Pelican. The bird theme is particularly fitting to the Airport. More than 500 bird species either live year-round in Florida, stay here for the winter or use the state as rest stops as they migrate. Many are found here in Tampa Bay. The featured birds were chosen with help from the Tampa Audubon Society.

The Columbia Restaurant, whose Ybor City storefront is the oldest continuously operating restaurant in Florida, has a full-service restaurant in Airside E, as well as a significant presence in a food court in Airside C. Other Tampa Bay flavors included the Irish pub Four Green Fields, pizza from Bavarro’s, Greek fare from Louis Pappas and fine dining from Mise En Place.

The Main Terminal expansion includes outdoor seating areas, one by the food court and two others outside the Hard Rock Cafe and P.F. Chang’s.

These beautiful spaces feature high-end furniture, plenty of shade and cooling fans so guests can enjoy the Florida outdoors year-round.

Work has already begun on the second phase of the Airport expansion, which includes commercial development around the Rental Car Center, to create a sort of “airport city,” and additional curb space at the Main Terminal

“One of the region’s most beloved institutions, Tampa International Airport is also a lynch pin in its economic vibrancy, with an impact of more than $8 billion every year and more than 10,000 workers on the Airport campus.”

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to accommodate continued passenger growth as well as adapt to the changing transportation landscape shaped by ridesharing and the inevitability of automated vehicle use by the general population.

One of the region’s most beloved institutions, Tampa International Airport is also a lynch pin in its economic vibrancy, with an impact of more than $8 billion every year and more than 10,000 workers on the Airport campus. Growing air service supports the region’s tourism industry, and assists with recruitment of businesses looking to relocate or expand in the Tampa Bay region.

With development all around Tampa Bay, TPA looks to continue to grow to better serve the area and create a memorable first and last impression for millions of travelers each year.

4100 George J Bean Pkwy, Tampa FL 33607, USA www.tampaairport.com 37

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What is Embarc Collective?

Embarc Collective is a physical 32,000 square foot space in downtown Tampa, dedicated to helping make Tampa Bay a prime destination for diverse startup talent to make an impact – professionally and personally. It is built to be the central landing zone for entrepreneurial activity for the Tampa Bay region.

The focus of Embarc Collective is on the tech startup founder and their team. They are the protagonists of the startup story – thoughtful, 38

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focused, and never satisfied. They are hungry to solve a problem, build a competitive product, and succeed as a business.

• It creates support amongst founders and their teams that is both organic and extremely curated.

Embarc Collective is located at 802 E Whiting Street in downtown Tampa.

The model of a physical innovation hub has been used in other places. Our CEO, Lakshmi Shenoy, helped to build 1871, Chicago’s innovation hub. The Embarc Collective team has been inspired by other hubs around the world, including Station F in Paris and Startup Lisboa in Lisbon.

How do physical innovation hubs help a region?

While there is quite a bit of startup activity occurring in our market, the Tampa Bay region is so spread out that it becomes difficult to get a handle on all that is happening and how it fits together. By creating a central landing zone, members of the community know where to find the densest population of startups, investors, supporting partners and events.

• It creates a sense of place within the tech entrepreneurship space that is identifiable and approachable for locals and prospective transplants to our region.

• It creates a community of forward-thinking founders and their teams to support each other through their growth.

• It creates inclusivity because people are opting in to sit at the metaphoric table rather than having to wait to be invited to the table.

• It creates speed and efficiency because founders know where and how to find growth-oriented resources for their startup. And others know where to find them.

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What’s the meaning of the name?

At Embarc Collective, our focus is on the tech startup founder and their teams, who are embarking on their journey to solve a critical problem for the world. To support them takes all of us, it takes a collective. Embarc Collective is bigger than one founder, one startup or one organization – we need a diverse group at the table to be able to create the conditions for startup success in the Tampa Bay region.

What will happen at Embarc Collective?

• For founders and teams, our focus is on the startup team’s growth and providing the best support and resources possible that will help teams hit their upcoming milestones.

• Product – We have technical support as an in-house resource, and our goal is to eventually bring in an in-house development shop to help build tech products.

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How does Embarc Collective measure success?

• Talent & Culture – We have an in-house recruiter to help companies grow, and we have best-in-class space for companies to work and build as part of a community of other teams.

• Customers & Capital – We leverage the global network of customers and sources of capital that we are continuing to build. For startups, our team is their team. Startups can leverage us as they grow their customer base and sources of capital.

• Coaching – Experienced startup operators are part of the Embarc Collective team and are trained as startup coaches who work with our founders to stay focused on forward progress.

Our success is based on the success of our local startups. And that means we want to provide the resources they need, when they need them. No single person has all the answers to every challenge a new venture faces along the way. The best founders ask for help – and we want to be there to help them find the answers.

We’re not afraid to roll up our sleeves and get into the weeds to help our exceptional teams reach their full potential. Whether it means having a dedicated coach to help them reach their growth milestones, creating space

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for teams to work and meet, making key introductions to prospective investors, helping recruit the best talent possible, guiding leaders through appropriate KPIs, or even providing a top-notch space to produce high-end content like podcasts, that’s what Embarc Collective is here for.

Ultimately, we exist to support people in our community, because it’s people who have the ideas, who join the teams, who do the work. People will invest in the scaling of companies and use the products and services that are created. So the evolution of our entrepreneurial community is our success metric – to what extent are we able to create new opportunities for people? This means having the density to retain the great talent that’s here, attracting new talent to add to our community and developing anyone who wants to engage in the topics around innovation, technology and entrepreneurship. We want our people to be cutting-edge, to be future-proofed, so that they can withstand and excel during changes in business and life overall.

Embarc Collective is excited to open its doors to the Tampa Bay community and beyond in 2019.

Email: lakshmi@embarccollective.com @embarccollectiv www.embarccollective.com

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USF IS BOTH ATTRACTING THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST TO ITS STATEOF-THE-ART FACILITIES WHILE ALSO BOLSTERING ITS SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.

OUR STORY Three recent and major projects in Tampa and St. Petersburg demonstrate the depth and consideration of USF’s planning and care for the communities of which USF is part.

The university system has forged powerful and never-before-seen partnerships, to the benefit of students, faculty, and residents.

The USF Health Morsani College of Medicine and Heart Institute will find a new home in Water Street Tampa, a revitalized area of downtown along Hillsborough Bay. The waterfront area is the world’s first WELL-certified city district, meaning it provides— among meeting other criteria—a number of healthy eating options, access to community gathering spaces (as for group exercise classes), and an emphasis on residents’ health. The Health Morsani College of Medicine and Heart Institute

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will be an anchor of the district, and the move will bring 1,800 students, faculty, researchers, and staff nearer to its primary affiliate Tampa General Hospital and also the USF Health Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation, among other facilities.

Such a robust presence of medical researchers and providers promises to bolster each institution, in the way that iron sharpens iron. Every dollar of funding from the National Institute of Health, for example, is predicted to spark $2.35 in local economic activity, and the attractiveness of the area and facilities ensures both an increase in medical school applications— and thus in applicant quality—which in turn helps retain more physicians eager to make a home in the area. Thanks to USF’s involvement, Water Street Tampa is fast becoming a thriving ecosystem of symbiotic relationships.

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Meanwhile, on USF’s main campus, the opening of five new residence halls have increased the population of students residing on campus to 6,300, pushing the percentage of degree-seeking undergraduates living in university-owned, controlled or affiliated housing to over 25%. These numbers may seem insignificant, but consider, national research shows that students who live on campus for at least one year are more likely to graduate—and sooner—than their counterparts who never live on campus.

The residence halls—Beacon, Summit, Endeavor, Horizon, and Pinnacle— represent a real investment in students’ wellbeing.

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The halls’ amenities show a real attentiveness to students’ holistic wellbeing in their inclusion of The Hub and The Fit. The Hub, a Green-certified building, features nearly 500 indoor and outdoor seats, a coffee shop, and an onsite, registered dietician onsite to provide free nutritional counseling for meal-plan holders. Smart Tables, private collaborative spaces, and a 30top dining room available by reservation are just a few of the amenities available for students.

The Fit, a state-of-the-art, 19,000 square foot facility, offers cardio- and weight-training equipment, an outdoor swimming pool, and a Center for Student Wellbeing, which makes available electronic massage chairs, nap pods, sleep packs, bean bags, soothing music, InBody composition analysis, and wellness tips and information from trained staff.

The residence halls are also a landmark collaborative event in Florida’s history: the $134 million public-private partnership with CapstoneHarrison Street (a partnership in turn of Capstone Development Partners, LLC, and Harrison Street Real Estate Capital) is the largest in the existence of the State University System. It is also the single largest student-housing project the Florida Board of Governors has ever approved.

On the campus of University of South Florida St. Petersburg, the studenthousing initiative continues. Once complete, the newest residence hall

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at USFSP will enable 20% of enrolled students to live on campus—a 70% increase in the overall capacity to do so.

The development’s funding was part of the Florida Board of Governor’s decision on the USF housing project, showing just how cohesive the USF system really is. Plans for development also include an affordable dining hall with a variety of menus, meal-plan options, and longer opening hours.

The USF System has paved the way for Tampa and surrounding areas to become sought-after places to live and study, and the support it has leveraged from the state government and local private companies should prove its viability to even the most skeptical of residents and observers alike. In considering cities of the future, Tampa is a forerunner and a beacon the country and world over.

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THE LOWTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP CENTER THE UNIVERSITY OF TAMPA

In a recent ranking by Bloomberg BusinessWeek, The University of Tampa’s Lowth Entrepreneurship Center was ranked as the No. 34 entrepreneurship program in the country. This award follows numerous accolades ranging from international awards such as the 2017 NASDAQ Global Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence to local recognitions like the 2018 Coolest Office Space in Tampa Bay. These distinctions, according to center director, Rebecca White, can be attributed to the center’s focus on a unique combination of curriculum design, physical space, technology and ecosystem engagement to provide an experiential learning opportunity that prepares students to thrive in today’s economy.

As a part of the Sykes College of Business, the Lowth Center’s foundation is built upon growing students’ entrepreneurial mindsets so they have the right skills and experiences to further pursue their entrepreneurial career in an evolving economy. The program engages students and the regional business community in mutually beneficial learning experiences, including research opportunities focused on student engagement and entrepreneurship pedagogy.

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Students and members of the entrepreneurial ecosystem have multiple opportunities to get engaged in a wide variety of diverse learning experiences. These include networking events with local business leaders and entrepreneurs, pitch competitions, accelerator and incubator programs, speaker series led by entrepreneurial leaders from all over the nation, coaching from entrepreneurs-in-residence and education seminars.

Located within the Daly Innovation and Collaboration Building, the Lowth Center is housed in an exceptional facility that was created with experiential leaning in mind. The space is creatively designed to bring together prospective student entrepreneurs, educators and experienced executives to generate, define and develop entrepreneurial concepts and to launch new ventures.

For the past two years the Lowth Center has also been the hub of research focused on Tampa Bay’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. The “State of the Tampa Bay MSA Entrepreneurial Ecosystem” report, initially funded by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, has determined that Tampa area entrepreneurial ecosystem is overcoming challenges to grow a diverse field of new ventures, support organizations and investment.

Rebecca J. White, Ph.D. is the Walter Chair of Entrepreneurship, Professor of Entrepreneurship and Director of the John P. Lowth Entrepreneurship Center at The University of Tampa. White is a thought leader in entrepreneurship education, where her research is based at the intersection of entrepreneurial ecosystems, opportunity recognition, entrepreneurial mindset and competency-based education.

“At the most basic level, innovation centers are about economic development. However, high-performing entrepreneurial ecosystems lead to increased knowledge spillover and innovativeness, and the opportunities that emerge influence a region’s ability to attract and retain the best and brightest talent. Innovation centers are nourished by a number of economic actors including investors, corporations, governments, startups and educational institutions. A catalyst in virtually all highly functioning entrepreneurial ecosystems, universities serve as a primary source of intellectual talent, research and innovation.

Strong universities are designed to solve complex dynamic problems, and as such, often take leadership roles in building entrepreneurial ecosystems. Moreover, university entrepreneurship centers, like The University of Tampa’s Sykes Business College Lowth Entrepreneurship Center, provide a place for innovation and creative intersections to occur.

Fortunately, the Tampa Bay region is blessed with a wide variety of strong academic institutions that provide learners a range of opportunities, from community-based learning to post graduate level, with a wide range of academic missions, from teaching to basic research.”

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The University of Tampa’s entrepreneurship major, housed in the Lowth Entrepreneurship Center, is one of the largest majors on campus and provides students with skills that are critical for anyone who wants to be an entrepreneur or think like one.

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Undergraduate degree programs include majors in entrepreneurship and international business and entrepreneurship and a minor in entrepreneurship. Graduate degree programs include an MBA with a concentration in entrepreneurship and an M.S. in entrepreneurship.

Launched in 2016, the M.S. program utilizes design thinking, systems thinking, collaboration and prototyping to help students move from concept to business in 12 months.

Through its programs, the Lowth Center brings together prospective student entrepreneurs, educators and experienced entrepreneurs to generate, refine and develop business concepts and to launch new ventures. Through a combination of classroom study and applied learning with the local business community, students learn how to develop an entrepreneurial mindset, recognize business opportunities, conduct marketing research, prepare executable business plans, identify financial needs, acquire funding, maintain liquidity, manage cash flow and much more.

The Lowth Center’s incubator and accelerator programs typify the center’s learning modality. The Spartan Accelerator is designed to help current students grow their business ideas. The Spartan Incubator is a live lab for up to nine early-stage community businesses and alumni. Business owners in the Spartan Incubator receive expert guidance from faculty, venture 48

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capitalists and entrepreneurs-in-residence, attend seminars on campus and work with student consulting teams assigned to assist them.

The Lowth Center also fosters collaboration with students majoring in other disciplines. For example, the Department of Film, Animation and New Media, along with Entrepreneurship, have recently begun an initiative

John P. Lowth Entrepreneurship Center Sykes College of Business The University of Tampa 401 W. Kennedy Blvd.

Box 2F, Tampa, FL 33606-1490 Phone: 813-257-3702 ecenter@ut.edu utecenter www. ut.edu/entrepreneurcenter 49

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to bring students together to create sizzle reels for products and animated shorts that support entrepreneurship students with current projects. The goal is to promote a true interdisciplinary collaboration between worlds that have many characteristics in common, such as a risktaking attitude, a never-ending curiosity, and a sense that we can change the world for the better.

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TWO ENTREPRENEURIAL BUSINESSES BUILT IN THE LOWTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP CENTER’S SPARTAN ACCELERATOR AND SPARTAN INCUBATOR PROGRAMS

ADventure Marketing

ADventure was founded in 2017 by two University of Tampa graduates who noticed a gap in the digital marketing field. Alicia Waldner and Zach Gresham, coming from technology and medical marketing firms in the Tampa Bay area, left their 9-5 jobs to pursue the idea of owning their own firm.

One year later, ADventure has grown into a team of 10+ employees, creating digital excellence for many well-known brands in the Tampa area including the likes of Armature Works, Boca, McDonald’s, Tampa Laundry Company and more.

ADventure’s creativity is what sets them apart. Whether it is high-quality images, dynamic and sharp videography or futuristic, highly-engaging websites, the content created is at the forefront. Keeping their client’s goals and industries in mind, ADventure creates digital strategies and executes on them across multiple verticals and touchpoints. Creating ROI has become one of the largest drivers behind what they do, no matter the industry.

“I believe the biggest part about being an entrepreneur is surrounding yourself with passionate, driven individuals,” Gresham said of building the business in Lowth Center Spartan Accelerator. “Coming into an office with dozens of other hard working individuals, being able to converse with other entrepreneurs about struggles and successes, and learning from them has made a huge impact in the growth of our own brand.”

Gresham said he is focused on becoming Tampa’s leading digital firm responsible for innovation in the way businesses outsource marketing. He sees repositioning sales to move towards social media instead of website.

“I’m inspired to create a brand that not only creates opportunity and success for our clients, but brings together individuals passionate about marketing and giving them the tools to succeed,” Gresham said.

ADventure Marketing: Tampa’s Creative Firm. From web development and search engine optimization to innovative videography and social media management, we take our client’s needs in mind and create personalized digital packages that drive growth and revenue.

Learn more about how Lowth Entrepreneurship Center Spartan Incubator company, ADventure Marketing, is repositioning sales and creating opportunities for businesses.

adventure.marketing adventuremarketinginc connect@adventuremarketinginc.com adventuremarketing.co

Zach Gresham and Alicia Waldner Founders 50

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Signature Lacrosse

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“Lacrosse is hard enough as it is to pick up, so your equipment should not be holding you back,” Soviero said.

Soviero remembers picking up an old lacrosse ball that had been worn, torched by friction and UV rays. He realized no one was trying to make a better ball, but there was definitely a demand for one. Soviero researched and partnered with a rubber chemist and ball manufacturer. The newlyformed team worked together to change the ball manufacturing process altogether. By standardizing the manufacturing process and improving the chemical make-up, the team created a premium ball that is stronger, safer and lasts longer. To say it was a hit would be an understatement.

Signature Lacrosse sold 100,000 balls in its first month of business, and currently there are over 4 million of the company’s premium balls in the market. Signature Lacrosse balls are now the official ball of the National Lacrosse League, the FIL World Games, and top NCAA programs across the country.

Now, Signature Lacrosse is on a mission to rethink and improve every piece of lacrosse equipment from the ball, to the stick, to the goals themselves.

Next in line being the complete stick.

At Signature Lacrosse, we are always working towards a better tomorrow for the lacrosse community. Who knows the game, faults and all, better than the actual players on the field? That’s why everything we do starts on the lacrosse field. Every idea, every product, comes from the game itself and solves the needs of its players. We’re working to revolutionize the landscape of lacrosse by dynamically propelling the progression of the equipment, the athletes, and the experience of the sport, one step at a time. “For the players. By the players.” as we like to say.

The company’s affiliation with the Lowth Entrepreneurship Center has fostered success. “The Lowth Center has been pivotal in enabling Signature to grow by surrounding our team with resources that we would have otherwise never had access too,” Soviero said. “Including having access to some of the best entrepreneurial minds in the world.”

Moving forward, rigorous testing with a focus on practicality is what makes the Signature Standard for quality different from anything else in the sport.

“The Signature Standard is us pushing our own boundaries – we are trying to best our personal best,” Soviero said.

Dan Soviero, founder of Signature Lacrosse, jokes that school was never his thing. But that’s only because of where he is now. Through a series of ah-ha moments, Soviero recognized and capitalized on an untapped niche when he was in high school, when he picked up his first lacrosse stick. He came to a crossroads nearing the end of his college playing days and was forced with a tough choice: complete his degree at The University of Tampa or drop out to grow his burgeoning business. He chose the latter, and it immediately proved to be the right decision.

The same approach is taken for every piece of lacrosse equipment the company releases. No matter how innovative the material is, the most important thing to the Signature Lacrosse team is making sure their equipment can stand up to all of the different elements that might show up on any lacrosse field in the U.S. Learn more about how Lowth Entrepreneurship Center Spartan Incubator company, Signature Lacrosse, is growing the game.

Saying lacrosse is an emerging sport in the United States is an understatement.

For 12 consecutive years, overall lacrosse participation increased by 20,000 players or more annually. From 2011-2016 the number of high schools and NCAA schools sponsoring the sport grew by 27 percent and 33 percent, respectively.

“We don’t want to just be an equipment brand that watches the game grow and grows with the game.,” Soviero said. “We want to be the reason why the game goes from growing at a five percent rate annually to 10 percent rate annually.”

Using the mission to drive the progression of lacrosse as his beacon, Soviero is focused on innovating the sport’s equipment one piece at a time. Staffed by former/current players and coaches who understand the points of everything “lax,” they’ve adopted the slogan, “For the players. By the players.” The reasoning: better gear allows the player to have more success early, and in turn, the sport has better retention.

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theflock@signaturelacrosse.com signaturelacrosse Dan Soviero www.signaturelacrosse.com

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INNOVATION AS A GROWTH STRATEGY

A PROGRESSIVE CORPORATE CULTURE PLANTS THE SEEDS OF SUCCESS FOR GROW FINANCIAL FEDERAL CREDIT UNION

CULTURE OF INNOVATION Innovation goes to our roots, beginning with the handful of original employees who had the bright idea to establish Grow Financial as the first credit union dedicated to serving the civilian and military personnel of MacDill Air Force Base. Why? Because until 1955, no one else in Tampa Bay thought of doing so.

Today, the bright ideas just keep coming from our employees.

Grow conducts an annual Innovation Challenge, where teams compete for cash prizes in a format similar to “Shark Tank,” presenting actionable proposals for improving our services to a panel of judges representing business units within the credit union.

It’s just one way to answer a question we constantly ask ourselves: How can we do better? As a local financial cooperative up against bigger players in the highly competitive consumer banking marketplace, innovation has been our growth strategy from the start.

And it’s always been about the experience of our members, making connections with the lives we touch.

That connection can take the form of an app which enables our members to conduct their banking business conveniently and securely. Or by designing store interiors to create a welcoming, comfortable environment. Or by being a participating sponsor at events important to the community, such as Tampa Pride and the St. Jude Walk/Run.

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“We’re probably bigger than we would be if we had not taken some risks,” said Bob Fisher, who has been Grow’s CEO since 1993. He cited two recent examples: the expansion into South Carolina, where the credit union has five stores serving the Columbia/Charleston areas; and allocating more marketing dollars to non-traditional channels, reaching out to younger members where they are via social media.

We make sure our employees know where we’re going so everybody is on the same page.

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At Grow Financial, innovation is driven by the need to stay relevant, and that’s simply doing what matters most for the membership.

Robert Fisher, CEO,

Grow Financial Federal Credit Union

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GROWING AGILE

The Innovation Challenge is just one example of employees embracing the Grow mantra: Be Bold. Be Great. Have Fun.

The digital revolution is driving the pace of change in consumer banking, so in 2013, we decided to get ahead of change by improving communication between teams and more effectively connecting the strategic goals of the organization with the daily, tactical execution of the business units.

“That didn’t come from a book,” said Thomas Feindt, President of Grow Financial. “It didn’t come from a consultant. It came from conversations with employees about what makes us a great place to work.”

Grow went Agile, embracing this project management system originating from Silicon Valley.

Employees also express their opinions about Grow during another annual event, the Top Workplaces survey of companies conducted by the Tampa Bay Times. More than 70% of Grow employees regularly participate, and this year, the credit union finished first among large employers (500 or more employees).

In the Agile methodology, departments work in two-week “sprints.” Projects are prioritized according to organizational goals, then broken down by tasks. Teams give daily progress updates and at the end of the sprint, completed work is submitted for review by the stakeholders.

What’s the secret?

Agile is proving to be especially advantageous for identifying and resolving issues early on, and for ensuring constant communication and continuous integration between departments. Here again, the emphasis is on transparency, with Agile enabling the rapid exchange of ideas and inspiring innovative problem solving.

“We put our employees at the top of the list,” said Mr. Fisher.

“We have members to take care of, but if I don’t have happy employees, that’s not going to happen.”

Yes, Grow does offer a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits. However, money alone doesn’t guarantee happy employees. Special emphasis is placed on professional development, and on fostering a culture where diversity is welcomed.

“By adopting Agile,” said Mr. Feindt, “we now have a better sense of connection between our VP level group and our senior executives around what are the key initiatives that are important to the organization. Projects are getting done faster, and employees are a lot happier.”

Most important of all is communication. “Keeping the Lines Open” is one of our key Guiding Principles. Management maintains transparency through such venues as live, bi-weekly “Text the Exec” sessions, in addition to regular updates via email and an internal video magazine.

“Nothing beats strong communication,” said Mr. Fisher, “to keep employees engaged.”

Insured by NCUA marketing@growfinancial.org facebook.com/growfinancial instagram.com/growfinancial twitter.com/growfinancial linkedin.com/company/grow-financial-federal-credit-union www.growfinancial.org 53

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SUPERIOR SKILLS, PROVEN PERFORMANCE ANDREW WILSON, PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF QUIET PROFESSIONALS What would you say is a single achievement or contribution to the community you find the most rewarding? Why? Standing up the Tampa Satellite Chapter of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) was one of the achievements I am very proud of. There is no doubt that Tampa will be a leading city for innovative unmanned systems technology. Assisting to educate local government, commercial industry, local academia and the defense industry with the latest international initiative in all things unmanned will certainly pay dividends to the successful economic growth in our region.

Andrew Wilson currently serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Quiet Professionals, LLC. He is married to Cindy Wilson and has three children and three grandchildren. He is an accomplished inventor holding a current patent on innovative navigation technology. He is a valorous combat decorated retired Sergeant Major of the United States Army, with 20 years of service working as a Senior Special Operations Non-commissioned Officer, 14 of which were served in 1st Special Forces Operation Detachment – Delta. Andrew also has over 10 years of proven Executive Leadership in various positions.

What was the biggest challenge you faced?

Trying to self-teach the art of starting and building a successful business.

What did you do to try to solve this challenge?

Know that you must learn something new every day. Understand that you will be knocked down‌a lot. Standing back up when you have been knocked down and learning from the experience. Giving back to others the lessons that you learned the hard way. Never quitting and always taking the hard right instead of the easy wrong. All of these things brought me through the hard path that led to building great businesses.

After military retirement, Andrew established a company to provide specialized subject matter expert services to the Department of Defense and commercial customers. He successfully obtained a government facility security clearance for two of his companies to facilitate sourcing cleared personnel for classified contracts, conducted business development and strategic planning, and successfully grew his first company. With just over two years in that business his company reached more than seven million dollars in gross annual revenue. Andrew successfully negotiated and completed the sale of his personal membership interest in his first defense contracting business.

You believe MacDill Air Force Base (AFB) is a substantial economic driver for innovation in Tampa? Why and what are you doing to help?

It is no secret that the Tampa business and political communities understand the value that MacDill AFB brings to the local economy. According to usaspending. gov, Hillsborough Country businesses were awarded 186.1 billion dollars spread over 238,363 prime contracts in 2018; continuing consistent government spending growth since 2014. MacDill AFB is the only U.S. military installation that hosts two, four-star Combatant Commands, U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) and U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). The combination of these factors creates a fertile breeding ground for the defense contractor industry. It is imperative for the Greater Tampa Bay business and political communities to stay involved with and provide mutual support to MacDill AFB in order to maximize potential for innovative economic growth.

One year later, Andrew launched Quiet Professionals, LLC in order to continue providing opportunities for seasoned experts in the defense industry field and to meet the ongoing demands of both the US Government and the commercial industry for a qualified and competent professional workforce. Since starting Quiet Professionals, the company has enjoyed more than 100% annual growth consecutively since 2013.

Q and A with Andrew What inspires you?

The single most inspirational part of my life is living in a country that affords me the freedom for limitless growth in innovation and opportunity. I am mostly inspired by listening to the tremendous accomplishments of others in their personal and professional lives. I am inspired by the speed of technological advances in everything from transportation to modern medicine to the advancement in space initiatives.

The Tampa Chamber of Commerce recently asked me to act as the co-Chair for their Military Council for 2019. The purpose of the Military Council is to develop strategic collaboration with military organizations, veterans and the local defense industry to foster economic vitality in the Tampa Bay region.

The goal is to provide policy recommendations to the Chamber that support the defense industry, MacDill AFB, and military families. In this position I will act as a conduit between the MacDill AFB defense force and our business/ political communities. My overall plan is to help translate government innovation requirements to our local community stakeholders ultimately driving economic stimulation and growth.

Is there a particular moment or memory that stands out for you?

As a retiring Sergeant Major who had primarily performed in an operational role, transitioning to civilian life was both exciting and terrifying. Trying to translate a lifetime of government military service into the commercial space was challenging. I quickly learned that I was a serial entrepreneur. I knew I wanted to be in business for myself and was challenged every day to learn new things. I find great satisfaction in both giving back by mentoring other transitioning service members and bridging the translation gap between commercial and defense industries.

2701 North Rocky Point Drive, Suite 175 Tampa, FL 33607 | Phone: (813) 902-3557 Email: andy@quietprofessionalsllc.com quiet-professionals-llc QuietProfessionalsLLC www.quietprofessionalsllc.com 54

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THE ASSOCIATION FOR UNMANNED VEHICLE SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL (AUVSI)

The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) is the world’s largest nonprofit organization devoted exclusively to advancing the unmanned systems and robotics community. It represents more than 7,500 members from more than 60 countries involved in the fields of government organizations, industry, and academia. AUVSI members work in the defense, civil, and commercial markets. The new Tampa satellite chapter, part of the long-established AUVSI Florida Peninsula Chapter, is strategically located to draw support from greater Tampa Bay and other metropolitan areas along Florida’s southwest coast that are creating a growing technology hub.

“My goal is to make the AUVSI Tampa Satellite Chapter an active and inclusive organization dedicated to the goals of AUVSI and the Florida Peninsula Chapter, including fostering greater learning and awareness of unmanned vehicles and exploring solutions that benefit the community,” Wilson said. “I always look forward to engaging with local and regional companies, entrepreneurs, government agencies, and academic institutions to capitalize on the momentum for unmanned systems that is already building throughout the state.”

When asked, “Why Tampa”, Wilson responded with, “Florida is a technological leader, with world class academic institutions, Fortune 100 tech companies, and a business-friendly climate. Tampa benefits from a significant defense footprint that attracts innovative and technology companies and talent.

AUVSI Tampa is the only association to bring together the automation and robotic communities for air, maritime, and ground systems. I saw the growing nexus of human talent and technology in Tampa and wanted to service that community by becoming a convener of that marketplace. I quickly learned that the interest extends beyond technologist, but other industries that want to be served, or benefit from automation and robotics including insurance, real estate, architecture, engineering, construction, public safety, environmental, and the list goes on.”

AUVSI Tampa is focused on building awareness and dialogue about unmanned systems and robotics among the region’s defense, government, commercial and education sectors. It will also bring together leading corporations in the field and create opportunities for public-private partnerships with state and local government and academic entities. The Tampa chapter will bring strong, convincing, and respected voices to the local industry intending to provide significant impact on federal rule making. Through AUVSI headquarters in Washington, this organization offers impactful advocacy at national, state and local levels. AUVSI leaders are recognized as thought leaders and spokesmen/women who can convene likeminded businesses, government, and academia.

Tampa resident Andrew Wilson, owner and CEO of Quiet Professionals, will serve as the satellite chapter’s director. A retired highly decorated Special Forces veteran, Wilson learned the value of UAS for defense and law enforcement operations during his decades of leadership and experience in the U.S. Army.

Anyone interested in unmanned systems and robotics technology is welcome to join the Tampa Satellite Chapter.

The Tampa Satellite Chapter of AUVSI | Phone: 703-845-9671 www.auvsitampa.com 55

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PHILANTHROPY IS AN INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY MARLENE SPALTEN, PRESIDENT & CEO OF THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF TAMPA BAY

I’m a steadfast believer in the idea that philanthropy is the heart of a thriving, vibrant community.

Philanthropy creates hope for those who need help, and it creates a stronger connection between those who give and our community.

The Community Foundation makes giving easy. We’re matchmakers who connect donors looking for a cause to support, community leaders working to solve a complex issue, business leaders wanting to strengthen their corporate giving, or someone desiring to volunteer time and talents.

Philanthropy is an investment in our community.

The Community Foundation of Tampa Bay connects “investors” and other leaders in order to tackle our region’s most pressing issues. We’ve been in the Tampa Bay area for more than 25 years, and we’re continuously evaluating ways to make our community stronger, through projects like the Regional Competitiveness Report, and identifying the people who are best equipped to address the issues.

The Tampa Bay area is growing, and an influx of new people brings new ideas. This, combined with the strong foundation of thought leaders born and raised in the Tampa Bay area, positions us for success.

The creative, innovative thinkers who are making exciting developments in the business world are assets when it comes to philanthropy and identifying creative solutions to community issues. Philanthropy can be a great vehicle to become connected. Our community is open to new ideas, is creative, and has many who care about continuous improvement.

I’m bullish on the future of philanthropy in the Tampa Bay area because of these innovative thinkers and doers. We can create positive changes by engaging more people. I encourage every local resident – especially entrepreneurs, business owners, people who are early in their careers, and retirees – to find a way to get involved and give back. Philanthropy is simply good business.

4300 W. Cypress Street, Suite 700, Tampa, FL 33607 Phone: 813.282.1975 Email: info@cftampabay.org CFTampaBay cftampabay.org 56

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PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS FOR ALL: THE ULTIMATE HIRING SUCCESS INDICATOR? PATRICK VALTIN – CEO AND FOUNDER OF HIREBOX

Vision Can happiness have an impact on performance, productivity and employee loyalty? Harvard Business Review recently dedicated a special edition to demonstrate that when people are happier, they’re healthier and they strive to accomplish more— teamwork is stronger and they’re more immune to burnout. It’s a guaranteed strategy for success. Ask the expert…

Patrick Valtin has worked for the last 32 years with one goal in mind: to raise happiness in the workplace by helping clients surround themselves with loyal, productive and dedicated people who are willing to contribute to their team’s success and happiness.

Patrick is a people person. Figuratively and literally. As a global innovator in personnel selection, he has helped more than 5,230 companies recruit, assess, hire, onboard and retain top talent—people that will ultimately expand a business and contribute to its success. His goal is to train the world on the fine points of talent acquisition. By all accounts he’s close, having trained more than 130,000 people in 35 countries around the globe.

His research of over 25,000 applicant evaluations concluded that the “odds of a successful hire are very low if the universal personnel selection criterion of happiness is missing. “As he suggests, “The willingness AND ability to contribute to one’s team success & happiness is by far the best predictor of an individual’s performance at work.” He distilled six major drives which lead people to be happier and contribute to success and happiness at work. They make up the Happiness Contribution IndexTM: • • • • • •

Purpose – commitment to long-term career development Talent – determination to develop more skills and competencies Performance – awareness that a willingness to be accountable for performance is key Exchange – is money the key motivator?

Service – key to a competitive edge is being service-oriented Team – team drive is the engine of competitiveness and contributor to happiness

In a media interview with HR Dive, Patrick Valtin pointed out that “Analyzing a candidate’s personality is a trend that has peaked in the last few years, fueled by the evidence that soft skills have a higher impact on employee success than technical capabilities.” The 6 drives above are obviously vital soft skills every employer wants to see in their new hires!

Patrick Valtin is the CEO and Founder of HireBox as well as an international speaker and author. Armed with a background as an international business consultant, he founded HireBox, an exclusive pre-assessment online platform that evaluates job candidates’ soft skills, and No-Fail Hiring, a practical recruiting methodology. His book, No-Fail Hiring 2.0, is a best seller on Amazon. For more information visit http:// patrickvaltin.com.

Phone: 877-831-2299 Email: service@hirebox.com nofailhiring.com patrickvaltin.com Like us on Facebook www.hirebox.com 57

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COMMUNICATING WITH TECHIES

GREG ROSS-MUNRO - FOUNDER, CEO AT SOURCETOAD, FOUNDER, CTO AT DATA & SONS

What to Look for in a Digital Agency Whether you want to augment an in-house team or bring an entirely new product to life, odds are, you’re going to entertain the idea of hiring an agency. By an “agency”, I mean everything from advertising companies offering digital design services to pure propeller-head 58

software engineering firms. As long as they do “work for hire” jobs, where the client ends up owning the intellectual property and there is more than one person working there, we’ll call them an agency.

Agencies come in all shapes and sizes. It’s not unusual for an agency to have most of

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the staff and expertise you’ll need to take your application from concept to launch and beyond. They will have programmers, graphic designers, project managers, and even someone to bring you tea while you wait in their lobby. This is the type of organization I run day to day, minus the person to bring you tea. Sorry.

Other than the stability a larger organization brings you over individual freelancers, there are three main factors to look for in an agency: location, specialization, and reputation.

LOCATION Having your developers close enough that you can be in their offices within half a day might sound like an old-fashioned idea. In this age of telecommuting and virtual offices, why should you care about where someone works?

Sharing a common geography also means you share a common culture, language, and frame of reference. Odds are, your end users are also in either the same or a similar locale. If a developer were building new ATM software for a bank, it would help tremendously if the design team could spend a few days watching existing customers use the old systems.

Nothing drives home a point about user experience more than watching a pensioner struggle with a badly designed interface, just so they can withdraw some cash to go shopping.

Empathy breeds good design. It humanizes the code an engineer writes, because now it becomes personal. Teams can instantly see how their creations touch the lives of the very real people who use them. This is especially important in engineering, where most problems are so abstract that concerns become almost entirely practical and programmers forget that actual human beings will interact with their systems. That’s hard to do when your development agency is in Canada and your bank is in Mexico. It also helps if you can drive to your developer’s

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offices and yell at them when things don’t go right. Okay, okay, it might not help, but it offers some catharsis.

SPECIALIZATION Specialization requirements are often the driving factor in a software engineering hiring decision. Specializations can be industry specific or technology focused, or both. For example, my team focuses on application development in the hospitality field, with a technology focus on crossplatform development.

If you’re a startup in the food service industry looking to build your stack in Java, there is probably a company out there for you. They might not be close by, but their expertise would outweigh location considerations.

Keep in mind that specialists always cost more. If you get to pick the type of work you do and call yourself an expert in your field, that means you can – and certainly will – charge a premium.

REPUTATION Portfolios or client testimonials are important, regardless of whether you hire a two-person freelance shop or a 500-person strong New York design firm. One of the problems you might run into with an agency is that the majority of their work may be under NDAs or white-labeled as another firm’s property.

Do some behind-the-scenes vetting by asking about the company’s reputation and see if you can talk to some of their previous customers.

Sadly, some of the coolest things my team has ever built will remain a secret forever.

If you hire a software firm to build your medical health records security system, you don’t want to have them advertise it on their website! Even worse, we’ve built awardwinning systems only to watch our clients go and claim their Webby Awards. We did get a thank-you email, though.

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Be careful of: “Our developers have worked with these major brands,” a favorite of the shady agency. Basically, this is the weasel’s way of saying, “Some of the people who work here used to work for companies that worked for those companies, or they worked for those companies themselves at some point.”

Their sentiment is technically accurate, but also misleading. Just because your current graphic designer served coffee at Starbucks in college, that doesn’t mean your agency built software for them.

So, if you are planning on building out your next great idea using an agency, make sure you assess them on location, specialization, and reputation. Choosing wisely will ultimately mean success for your project.

Keep in mind that it is much more expensive to have to build something twice because the first team you hired couldn’t deliver!

gregrossmunro gregdrm sourcetoad.com

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“Software innovation, like almost every other kind of innovation, requires the ability to collaborate and share ideas with other people, and to sit down and talk with customers and get their feedback and understand their needs.�

- BILL GATES

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ACCENTURE IS A GLOBAL MANAGEMENT CONSULTING AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FIRM THAT TAKES AN INNOVATION-LED APPROACH TO HELP CLIENTS

“IMAGINE AND INVENT THEIR FUTURE.”

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Stuart Brown, head of Accenture Tampa Bay

Through strategy, consulting, digital, technology and operations services, their 459,000 employees around the world help companies in 120 countries solve business challenges through innovation and in-depth industry knowledge.

“Innovation doesn’t just happen,” says Stuart Brown, head of Accenture’s Tampa Bay office. “It must be nurtured.” The company is making a science out of that nurturing. A critical asset in making this happen is Accenture’s Innovation Architecture. Accenture puts significant and consistent investment into its network of research labs, growth ventures, design studios, and innovation centers to drive continuous innovation and adoption of new capabilities.

With this philosophy, it’s not surprising that Accenture’s Tampa Bay office is thriving. Long-time local resident, Jason Warnke, leads Accenture’s global social enterprise. He ensures employees based here and all over 63

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the world have the tools and capabilities they need to provide high-end digital services to clients no matter where they are located – at home, at client locations or in any of Accenture’s offices or world-class Innovation Hubs.

Jason says, “running technology for one of the world’s largest technology companies brings me to all parts of the globe, but there’s something special about the people and innovation fostered in Tampa Bay. There’s a genuine sense of collaboration here, and it’s so exciting to see the platform for innovation being built in our backyard. I’m thrilled to be a part of it.”

DIVERSITY + INCLUSION = INNOVATION Accenture believes that a culture rich in diversity drives innovation and that when people feel that they can be themselves at work, they’re happier, more productive and more creative. The company’s stated ambition is to be the most diverse and inclusive company on the planet, and Thomson Reuters recognized them as #1 on their 2018 Diversity and Inclusion Index.

Jason Warnke, leads Accenture’s global social enterprise

Accenture was also recently recognized right here in Tampa Bay by the Tampa Bay Business Journal with the 2018 Business of Pride Award.

While humans will always be the heart and soul of a company, Accenture is helping other companies prepare for the new, larger equation of humans plus machines. The company uses their own global business as a case study, having automated nearly 20,000 roles over the past two years. Technology manages the processes that can be automated, enabling the people in those roles to focus their efforts on work that requires human ingenuity, creating a more productive workforce doing more interesting work.

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FUTURE FOCUSED Innovation is about the new and undiscovered, and Accenture is committed to fostering the next generation of talent. “Technology is core to how the world works and lives. We partner with the Tampa Bay STEM Network and organizations including Junior Achievement and Girls Who Code to inspire students by connecting real-world jobs with what they are learning in the classroom,” says Accenture’s Tampa Bay Corporate Citizenship Lead, Maria Wilson. “It’s so inspiring to see doors being opened in the students’ minds to career paths they’d never thought of before.”

140 Fountain Parkway, Suite 400, St. Petersburg, FL 33716 Phone: 727-897-7000 accenture @Accenture www.accenture.com

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WHO IS CONNECTWISE?

ConnectWise is a culture-driven software company that is changing the industry by constantly challenging the status quo. In 1982, Arnie Bellini-who was raised alongside the growing IT industry-saw incredible opportunities for business innovation with the rise of the personal computer. As the company grew, Arnie recognized that the success of his organization was dependent on hiring top talent. Since then, hiring collaborative and innovative individuals has been a top priority, and we firmly believe our colleagues are the key to our continued success.

ConnectWise was founded on the belief that culture is everything. Putting culture first means turning traditional boardroom conversations upside down and letting every colleagues’ voice be heard. We are focused on creating a culture that nurtures our colleagues career growth, all while creating technology that helps make the world a better place.

HOW WE GIVE BACK OUR GLOBAL REACH ConnectWise has 7+ offices across 3 continents.

COMMUNITY We strive to give back to the communities around us, and at the core of each initiative is our underlying mission: exposure to technology, education in STEM and mentorship.

COLLEAGUES In addition to competitive benefits, we offer annual training, culture, and talent programs to keep our colleagues supported and engaged.

PARTNERS We reinvest in our partners by fostering the development of new ideas through a variety of programs that support partner success.

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ConnectWise.com As a recent graduate, I wanted to work for a software company with strong roots, where I could enjoy my time at work and see a clear career path for the future.

A company that values me and what I’m doing, where I feel connected to my team and my leaders, that’s what I was looking for in a career. I found the perfect fit in ConnectWise.

ZACKARY WILLIAMS

JOSH BERGERON

ASSOCIATE APPLICATION DEVELOPER

MANAGER, FINANCE

BORN HERE, GROWING HERE WORK HARD, PLAY HARD

ConnectWise was founded in Tampa, Florida

by Arnie Bellini in 1982.

ConnectWise employs over 1,000 colleagues.

Connectwise is repeatedly voted a Top Workplace in Tampa Bay.

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OCCAM TECHNOLOGY GROUP WAS FOUNDED IN 1999 AS A MEDICAL DEVICE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT COMPANY. Today, the company is a full-service global contract engineering design and development firm with clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies and commercial enterprises to universities and entrepreneurs.

Through creative and effective problem solving, Occam Technology Group helps companies at any stage of the development lifecycle with expertise ranging from embedded systems engineering to design and development services for products, medical devices and IoT solutions as well as secure system design. Its team of specialized engineers brings unique and multidisciplinary skills to the table, including software, mechanical, electrical and biomedical engineering, and can take products from initial concept through software and hardware design, verification and validation, quality, prototyping, and simulation.

As part of the greater Tampa Bay community and with its offices located within the University of South Florida’s Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation (CAMLS), the company has been involved in many areas of the city’s growing technology landscape. In 2017, Raymond Carr, the company’s founder and Chief Technology Officer, was awarded Technology Executive of the Year at the 14th Annual Tampa Bay Tech Awards. Through Ray’s guidance and a fully dedicated team, the company was able to

“In 2017, Raymond Carr, the company’s founder and Chief Technology Officer, was awarded Technology Executive of the Year at the 14th Annual Tampa Bay Tech Awards.”

develop a groundbreaking class III medical device, the bionic pancreas. In February 2018, the firm officially entered the Internet of Things (IoT) product market with its offering of LPWAN-focused products under the OccamSmart brand, which includes the mPCIe Smart Gateway Card, the 8-Channel RF Concentrator, an Uplink Protocol Analyzer and a fully functional LoRaWAN stack launched on the Google Cloud Platform. Occam Technology Group entering the product market comes as a result of two years of internal research and development, and as a realization of the growing need for IoT infrastructures.

Spreading the love for technology is also a big part of Occam Technology Group’s mission.

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Through the Occam STEM Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring the next generation of STEM leaders, the company encourages future engineers to develop a passion for STEM careers at a young age and helps maintain their interest in these fields throughout their lives and careers. The Occam STEM Foundation supports the encouragement and mentoring of elementary, middle, high school and college students such as the local VEX Robotics Florida State Champion team, the 6430 Trinity Dragons, as well as other teams throughout the country. The foundation is also working closely with the University of South Florida College of Education in organizing a summer workshop to help train high school STEM teachers on IoT technologies which can then be taken back to the classroom to further broaden student STEM experiences in new, cuttingedge technologies.

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Power Wide-Area Network (LPWAN) on the USF Tampa Campus. It creates a “wall-less” IoT laboratory intended to benefit the real-world, handson research, development and deployment of IoT technologies across all academic disciplines.

With active involvement in the Tampa Bay community and a team that is passionate about the company’s mission, Occam Technology Group is honored to be part of one of the fastest-growing tech hub regions in the US. Occam Technology Group – Contact Information 124 South Franklin Street, Tampa, FL 33602 Email: info@occamtechgroup.com Phone: +1 844 622 2663 occam-technology-group/ @occamtechgroup www.occamtechgroup.com

Additionally, through the USF IT Department and USF College of Engineering, Occam Technology Group has donated and installed a Low69

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ELEVATOR PITCH DSM is a cloud-computing company, guiding businesses as they migrate their data to the cloud. As Florida’s predictable cloud provider, DSM prides itself on relieving clients of their IT burden so that they can focus on their business, and not the technology that runs it. With cloud nodes across Florida, and nation-wide, DSM can meet client cloud needs nearly anywhere.

THE STORY David Robinson, CEO of DSM, will tell you that the future looks like the science-fiction movies of ten to fifteen years ago with the increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) and bots in everyday business. He will even concede that such a clear comparison can be scary, but for David and the DSM team, this evolving IT landscape is not scary, it’s exciting.

The company leverages, among other things, something that David calls “ubiquitous computing” to help clients achieve immediate access to their data, whenever they need it. To the layman, that can sound Big Brother-y, but DSM proves that the power of data can be used for good.

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“The paradigm of the last forty years was to build computers and data centers, all local,” he elaborates. “But companies are rapidly migrating from those in-house computing systems, to cloud based systems that are secure, ubiquitous, and highly available. We’re helping make that journey possible for our clients.”

DSM’s clients represent a healthy split between government organizations and private companies, with a wide range of sophistication

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in their IT departments—which is where DSM comes in. Their years of experience serve as the perfect guide to those IT teams (big or small) on their “journey into the cloud,” as David describes it.

It’s DSM’s goal to help clients not only leverage automation technology so that they can focus on their business, instead of its technological infrastructure, but also to help them achieve miruma, or peace of mind. In fact, their cloud

solutions are aptly named Miruma to reinforce that idea.

“We’re constantly reinventing ourselves and pushing ourselves to be better than we were last year and the year before,” David says.

“Companies that don’t innovate in this way will fade out. Our customers are also innovative, and constantly pushing the technology curve, driving us to stay ahead of the game through automation and technology.”

David Robinson - CEO, DSM Technology Consultants

DSM, and its emphasis on reinvention and ubiquitous computing is surely what draws in clients. What keeps those clients at DSM, however, is DSM’s understanding of the power of personal connection. “You have to be in a relationship with your clients,” David says.

“The client has to know they can trust you, that you’re available, and that you’re staying in step with technology.”

David also says that prioritizing personal relationships in business isn’t really innovative, but in an age where even social media can lead to depression, DSM’s desire to truly understand its clients is an approach that appears to be quickly fading out. It is a reminder of the first-known use of data collection: getting to know someone, and using that knowledge to help them.

DSM – Predictable Cloud 5650 Breckenridge Park Dr Suite 201, Tampa, FL 33610 Phone: 877-376-6381 Email: hello@dsm.net www.dsm.net

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INZATA

THE FIRST, FULL-SERVICE, DATA ANALYTICS PLATFORM POWERED BY ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR POWERFUL AND REVOLUTIONARY INTEGRATING, EXPLORING, AND ANALYZING DATA OF ANY KIND, FROM ANY SOURCE, ON A MASSIVE SCALE.

Go from raw data to insightful analytics in under 30 minutes!

THE STORY Inzata’s patented aggregation engine helps users quickly load, blend, and model raw and unstructured data, and turn it into insightful enterprise data models, actionable real-time analytics, and engaging visualizations. They help people discover the immense value of their data with tremendous speed, accuracy and customer support.

Founded in 2016, Inzata was designed with the vision of changing the way companies view the large volumes of cluttered data that they have, and how much monetary value it actually represents. They quickly noticed how many ‘data analysis’ platforms are already available, but how so many of them lack something. With this in mind, the idea was born to create a full-service platform with every tool needed for every data analysis task, including the following: 72

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Collection Preparation Enriching (over 20+ enrichments included on our platform) Modeling Visualizations Monetization

They didn’t stop there, though. By inventing and installing their patented aggregation engine, Inzata was able to harness the power of speed up to 10x that of any existing platform, allowing for real-time analytics without processing lag and system failures.

In the past couple of years, they have attracted clients in a variety of industries, including consulting, politics, insurance, etc.

TESTIMONIAL

Companies in every industry are capable of unleashing immense value in their data, yet each of these companies requires a customized approach and the system to do so. Inzata prides itself on its white-glove relationship with each of their clients, making sure that they are readily available to guide them through in-depth data analysis projects, while also providing a userfriendly platform, and AI-powered experience for their day-to-day tasks.

“In today’s business world where a level of engagement and relationshipbuilding needs to take place before a sale, the Inzata platform allowed our organization to increase sales by 100%. By educating the industry with raw data, it allows us to establish a position of ‘educator’ among our customer base, which has led to increased sales. The entire Inzata team has surpassed our expectations and we consider them our TOP partner as an organization ready to disrupt multiple industries. In the foxhole together, we are reshaping a landscape that is starving for data, analytics, and trends.” - Jason H. Becker, PGA, Chief Executive Officer: Golf Life Navigators, LLC

Tampa has an incredibly tight-knit community that truly wants to see its companies succeed. The natural friendliness and support of both large and small companies in Tampa in helping startups succeed is highly encouraging.

Inzata’s advice to those wanting to build a business is to always start with a vision and a plan. Have a solid plan for everything, whether it’s for development, marketing or sales, and use it to guide your thinking toward achieving your goals.

5650 Breckenridge Park Dr. #201, Tampa, FL 33610 Phone: (813) 485-4579 | www.inzata.com 73

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SIMPLY RELIABLE HAS DEVELOPED SIMPLE, EASY-TO-USE, BUSINESS PROCESS SOFTWARE FOR SMALL- TO MEDIUM-SIZED TECHNOLOGY BUSINESSES. Business owners in this segment frequently find themselves trying to operate with disparate software applications. As a result, their businesses are operationally inefficient, financially limited, and difficult to grow. Our initial market is the five million smart home integrators, representing a $6 billion annual market opportunity. We already have hundreds of paying companies succeeding through using our business process solutions.

THE PROBLEM WE SOLVE As small businesses attempt to grow, their lack of repeatable processes and business automation software creates operational chaos, drives up costs, kills profits, and cripples their ability to grow.

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THE ORIGIN Simply Reliable was founded on the principal that a successful business needs repeatable processes best delivered through software. The software must embody best practices to ensure optimal operational and financial results, providing business owners with sustainable profitability, controllable growth and satisfied, referenceable customers.

Founded by experienced technology business owners, Simply Reliable is the only company to create a single, integrated, affordable platform for small businesses that automates workflow from first contact through to final invoice.

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THE CI4C4 PROCESS Simply Reliable has developed deeper integration of the business workflow process for a large subset of small businesses that sell and install Control4 home automation products. Starting from the point of design, creating a proposal in smartOFFICE for a potential Control4 prospect takes only minutes with the customized quickSPEC and proposal process. Once the proposal is exported to designMACHINE, the user can assign drivers and create a Control4 file ready for implementation. designMACHINE can then automatically produce the necessary documentation, for example, wiring diagrams and cable schedules. Ci4C4 (Control Integration for Control4) eliminates days of work and opens opportunities to double or triple the efficiency of the integrator, and this can translate into dramatic sales increases and reduced labor needs.

Simply Reliable’s smartOFFICE offers a complete and simple end-to-end business process workflow solution for small businesses. It assists the business in managing people, products and money, thereby reducing expenses, increasing revenue, speeding up the sales cycle and improving cash flow. It is both easy to learn and to use. smartOFFICE is designed as a guide, moving integrators from sales to installation, meanwhile helping users to accurately make the next move through every process. smartOFFICE ultimately delivers the truth to the business owner, allowing them to make informed decisions based on fact versus gut feel.

The patented (US 8,719,758 B1) designMACHINE automates the creation of drawings and documentation. designMACHINE provides a process that allows the integrator to prove that their proposal design is functionally sound. It allows for the creation of floor plan layouts to convey where devices should be installed and automatically creates a schematic drawing and cable schedule to provide visual instruction for connecting devices, in addition to being able to pull a myriad of reports. This functionality can save the average tech company an average of two days of labor per project.

TESTIMONIAL I really do love the way the Ci4C4 process works with my integration process. The time saved creating a final delivery platform, with scope, proposal, detailed engineered drawings and business documents, has reduced hours spent in front of a PC and has allowed me to be in front of my client selling and implementing more solutions.

It’s good stuff and really has helped me save time, money and energy!

Lewis Franke, LED Systems, LLC in Frisco, Texas

10460 Roosevelt Blvd. North, Suite 238, St. Petersburg, FL 33716 Phone: (800) 209-9332 simplyreliable SimplyReliable simply-reliable-software www.simplyreliable.com 75

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ELEVATOR PITCH Cardinal Solutions delivers innovative technology solutions to clients across the country. We lead with our experience and expertise in digital solutions across cloud, data and analytics, mobile, and web to help businesses work better, smarter, and easier.

THE STORY A few forward-thinking people started Cardinal Solutions in Cincinnati, OH in 1996.

We saw an opportunity to create powerful solutions that help advance the business of companies in a variety of industries including healthcare, financial, and retail organizations. We quickly expanded our reach and today have eight office locations across the Midwest and Southeast regions. We have proudly been a part of the Tampa Bay Tech Community since 2013.

With over 22 years of experience, we have continually evolved our solution offerings to adapt to the changes in technology and the needs of our customers. We collaborate with clients through an agile process that allows organizations to be more creative and 76

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flexible in responding to user and stakeholder feedback. Additionally, we develop strategic partnerships with companies including Microsoft, Red Hat, HashiCorp, Cloudera, Sitecore, and Scrum.org to help us create and deliver the best solutions for our clients.

MEET OUR TEAM Our creative solutions are the result of dedicated employees who take pride in their work. Committed to designing an organization that values people as much as great solutions, our employees are the right combination of smart, savvy, and friendly. We keep our team satisfied by giving them training and mentoring opportunities, community causes to support, and outlets for fun. When we’re not collaborating with clients our employees can be found engaging in Lunch & Learns, re-energizing at the foosball table, or supporting the community at events. Our culture is one that fosters creativity and fun that gets the job done!

MILESTONES Our focus on digital transformation continues to drive growth opportunities within our local branches and nationwide. As a result, our teams have been recognized within the technology industry. We have been a Microsoft Certified Partner since 2001 and are also a part of their National Solution Provider Program. In 2015 we were named Central Region Partner of the Year – Building the Intelligent Cloud, in 2017 we had the distinct honor of being named Microsoft Worldwide Partner of the Year – Open Source on Azure, and in 2018 we received the inaugural Microsoft U.S. Partner Award for Apps & Infrastructure – Open Source Applications & Infrastructure on Azure. Additionally, we are a member of Microsoft’s Mixed Reality Partner Program.

We are also honored to be recognized for more than our technology capabilities. Our offices have repeatedly been named Best Places to Work and Top Workplaces by local media publications. We take great pride in giving our people space to learn and space to play so they can develop better ideas and smarter solutions and enjoy doing it.

Better Together In August of 2018, Insight Enterprises announced the acquisition of Cardinal Solutions to create even more exceptional digital experiences. Incorporating Cardinal into Insight’s Digital Innovation solution area expands Insight’s ability to drive differentiation, competitive advantage, and loyalty for clients. Insight and Cardinal share the same fundamental values, combined with the same passion for client relationships and driving business outcomes, and are committed to making meaningful connections to help businesses run smarter.

Learn more at www.insight.com

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302 Knights Run Ave., Suite 1175 Tampa, FL 33602 @InsightEnt InsightEnterprisesInc Insight www.insight.com

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FLEXENTIAL: The Power of People in a Technical World

OUR VALUE Flexential provides colocation, connectivity, cloud, managed solutions and professional services to thousands of organizations in the Tampa Bay, State of Florida and across North America, enabling these businesses to optimize IT transformation while balancing cost, scalability, compliance and security.

THE STORY Flexential delivers increasingly critical IT services at a time when corporate digital transformation initiatives continuously challenge internal IT resources.

The company helps organizations solve their most complex connectivity challenges with 100% network, power, and bandwidth uptime commitment. Its FlexAnywhere network fabric enables companies to reach end users through high capacity, low latency and secure connectivity from the data center and the cloud to the edge of their businesses.

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Flexential got its start in Tampa in 2002 as Peak 10, a colocation and managed services provider that began as a single data center housing and managing mission-critical IT infrastructure. As its customers’ IT environments expanded over the years, so too did Flexential’s service footprint. In 2015, Flexential built a second, enterprise-class data center in Tampa; a 65,000-square-foot North Tampa facility built to withstand a Category 5 hurricane.

By 2017, Peak 10 acquired Denver-based colocation provider ViaWest and formed Flexential a year later.

Today, Flexential is a coast-to-coast, hybrid IT provider helping customers meet their evolving IT requirements with 41 highly redundant and connectivity-rich data centers and 13 cloud pods in 21 geographic markets. But beyond an expanding roster of data facilities, core to Flexential’s mission of delivering advanced IT solutions to its 4,200 customers, are its people.

Flexential demonstrates the power of people in a technical world, accelerating customer success through tailored solutions, trusted relationships and reliable, value-added services. The company’s local engineers and service staff, proven experts in managing and optimizing infrastructure, work 24/7 to enhance, scale and safeguard the systems and applications powering global business. Additionally, Flexential’s security professionals help customers in highly regulated industries navigate increasingly complex compliance mandates. Flexential has 1,000 employees, of which 75% are engineers and 625+ are ITIL certified.

This combination of dedicated people and innovative technology enables Flexential to stay ahead of customer growth, meet ever-evolving market needs and deliver modern cloud and colocation solutions.

MILESTONES Flexential was named as the Best Place to Work by Florida Trend magazine for seven consecutive years. Its North Tampa data center was named Project of the Year for the Florida region of the Design-Build Institute of America in 2015. In 2016, it received the Best Sustainability Project award by the Tampa Chapter of NAIOP.

TESTIMONIALS “Flexential has proven to be more than just a vendor for us. The Flexential team has been a partner in delivering crucial colocation services and support to further our mission of preventing, treating and curing cancer. When we made the decision to move our primary data center off-site, the opportunity to take advantage of the Flexential Tampa facility and its many advanced features sealed the deal.”

John McFarland, Director of Architecture and Engineering - Moffitt Cancer Center

8350 Parkedge Drive Tampa, FL 33637 Phone: 800-371-2059 Cheryl.kleiman@flexential.com flexential www.flexential.com 79

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THE MOST CUTTING-EDGE IT SERVICES COMPANY YOU’VE NEVER HEARD OF - 20 YEARS IN THE MAKING. In 2018, VasoTechnology, a.k.a. NetWolves Network Services (NetWolves) celebrated 20 years in the technology sector with a host of new products and services in line with its origins as a cyber security company. Our flagship offering is a unique look at Enterprise IT supporting our extensive managed services business. This “new view” is going to change the way companies approach their IT ecosystem and will make outsourcing a much more transparent and viable option.

with a mix of several thousand business and residential customers and a single facility partner, namely, Sprint. Today, our network aggregation business boasts more than 15,000 business locations globally – delivering both primary and disaster-recovery networks from over 150 different facility partners, including wireline, wireless, fiber and satellite products.

Throughout the 2000s, the company continued to diversify itself and made its mark as a managed service provider (MSP) by committing to customerfocused solutions – not only by incorporating its patented proprietary technology, but also by bundling in other “best-in-class” solutions that organizations required but didn’t have the capacity to deploy and manage.

Once again, the Company would have its resolve tested in the market collapse of 2007 and determined that a private vehicle would be the best structure to weather the storm. From 2008 through 2015, the Company was able to grow by 65% and deliver year-on-year profitability. Commenting

NetWolves launched into the network security appliance market in the late 1990s when it went public via a reverse merger. While the Company achieved early successes with banking and logistics customers, it needed to diversify quickly in the wake of the “Dot-com-bubble” and sought expansion with a service offering. The Company achieved this transformation in 2002 with the acquisition of Norstan Network Services, an FCC-licensed common carrier. This Minnesota-based telecommunications provider came 80

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on this, Peter Castle, Company President, stated, “Throughout our history, our success and longevity has been attributable to several factors:, first and foremost our customers who stood by us through thick and thin, as we have stood by them. Additionally, I want to recognize our employees, many of whom work tirelessly, as if it were their own business. Finally, our flexibility and nimbleness, which has so often put us ahead of market trends and always diversified our risk.”

and significant cash investments, it has delivered in three short years in excess of $18 million in gross contract value. Further commenting, Mr. Castle stated, “None of this would have been possible without the support from and partnership with our sister organization, VasoHealthcare (VHC), GEHC’s largest partner selling imaging systems on an exclusive basis predominantly to the healthcare middle market, and our parent, Vaso, who maintains a strong cash position and the vision to fund this strategy.”

Once again, we found ourselves in the midst of a transformation, this time during an “up market”. We were acquired by Vaso Corporation (Vaso), in June 2015, with the intention of creating VasoTechnology, our current entity, and the flagship growth engine for Vaso. At the core of the new business unit are the operations of NetWolves Network Services and VasoHealthcareIT (VHCIT). VHCIT is a healthcare application valueadded reseller (VAS) launched in late 2014 after signing the first National Specialty VAR agreement with GEHC. This marriage not only provided the NetWolves MSP model access to applications management, but more importantly access to the Healthcare vertical market, both of which were key elements of the company’s strategic roadmap.

2018 is not only a bookmark signifying 20 dynamic years in the technology industry, but will also usher in a new era and see the beginning transformation from a Technology Services Bureau to a Data Services Bureau. More will be shared on our future strategy and plans over the course of the year. At the center of our vision, “The New View into Enterprise IT”, is the ability to give all levels of management transparency and accountability across the entire IT ecosystem, or as we refer to it, “All-things-connected” (ATC). Our vision is focused on the increasing rate at which the enterprise is connecting machines, adding complexity and creating data. IT departments are falling behind the curve in Network, Applications, Compute & Security, and the sensible solution is to get out of the IT management business and turn it over to a purpose-built organization designed around maximizing a company’s ability to see the benefits and effectiveness of outsourcing noncore IT functions.”

While there have been many challenges associated with launching a Healthcare Applications VAR, for example, slow revenue pull-through

Phone: (813) 579-3200 Email: suzie.mcgugin@netwolves.com netwolves vasohealthcareit www.VasoTechnology.com www.NetWolves.com 81

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THE NATION’S LEADING PROVIDER OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SOFTWARE

A TRAILBLAZER IN THE INDUSTRY, GEOGRAPHIC SOLUTIONS DEVELOPS WEBSITES THAT CONNECT JOB SEEKERS, EMPLOYERS, TRAINING PROVIDERS, AND CAREER CENTER STAFF IN OVER 30 STATES.

Experience Counts Founded in 1992, Geographic Solutions is a software development firm that specializes in the design of custom online solutions for workforce development, labor market information, and unemployment insurance agencies. Since inception, the company has launched over 75 websites that collectively serve millions of job seekers and employers in states all across the country, far surpassing the experience of any other vendor in the industry.

Over 26 Years of Innovation Geographic Solutions has a rich history of ‘firsts’. These achievements include the launch of the nation’s first website to provide labor market statistics for public and government use. The company is also credited with developing the country’s first website designed specifically for career centers, which included tools to assist staff managing individuals benefiting from U.S. Department of Labor public assistance programs. To keep up with changing times, Geographic Solutions also developed custom mobile applications and staff efficiency tools to simplify the day-to-day processes of career centers.

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“As a Florida-based company, we are proud to partner with the state to make available hundreds of thousands of quality jobs to Florida’s talent pool. Employ Florida helps job seekers find suitable, high-paying jobs that closely match their skills and background.”

Another notable company achievement was the development of the country’s first modernized unemployment insurance software solution, which combined workforce and unemployment benefits into one website. Initially launched in Louisiana, the website provides individuals claiming benefits with labor market information, job search, and training opportunities to help them get back to work at a faster rate. Other states have followed suit and have partnered with Geographic Solutions to streamline their employment programs.

– Paul Toomey, President of Geographic Solutions

Over the past 13 years, Employ Florida has provided job seekers and employers free access to a complete set of employment tools designed for all levels of computer experience. A virtual ‘one-stop shop,’ the website assists job seekers with résumé creation, career exploration, skills assessments, job applications, training resources, and more. Employers can also post job listings and search for qualified candidates. In addition, Employ Florida is linked to online specialty portals designed to target returning veterans, those with disabilities, and other hard-to-serve demographics to help them in their quest to find a suitable career.

Florida’s #1 Resource for Employment Locally, Geographic Solutions has contributed significantly to Florida’s workforce development efforts by partnering with the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity to provide a statewide online job system known as Employ Florida (www.employflorida.com). Since its launch in 2005, the website has successfully linked regional workforce boards and CareerSource centers across the state, making it the most utilized resource for employment in Florida.

Making a Nationwide Impact with Local Talent Headquartered in Palm Harbor, Geographic Solutions employs over 300 professionals in the fields of software architecture, development, analysis, project management, marketing, and administration. A proud member of Tampa’s technology hub, the company has seen tremendous growth and success by attracting local talent, as well as maintaining a fun and rewarding working environment. Looking to the future, Geographic Solutions plans to stay true to its mission of providing effective software solutions that will continue to have a positive impact on the nation’s workforce.

Phone: 727-786-7955 geographicsolutions @geosolutionsinc geographic-solutions www.geographicsolutions.com 83

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“If something is important enough, even if the odds are against you, you should still do it.�

- ELON MUSK

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Each day, our employees around the world work together for patients – it drives everything we do.

We deliver for patients today while discovering and developing transformational medicines for patients tomorrow.

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Together, we make the difference.

Bristol-Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company with a unique strategy that leverages the reach and resources of a major pharma company and pairs it with the entrepreneurial spirit and agility of a biotech firm. We work every day to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases.

Across our company, we focus on innovation and collaboration to drive new ideas and develop transformative solutions to help patients with their unmet medical needs. Our highly skilled workforce at our North America Capability Center, located in Tampa, Florida, provides strategic capabilities to support our customers, patients and colleagues. Our diverse workforce and inclusive culture is vital for innovation and essential to deliver our mission. We empower our colleagues to pursue innovative ideas to improve the way we work and to grow to their fullest potential. With our patients at the center of everything we do, we strive every day to make a difference for them, and for the communities in which we live and work.

4931 George Road, Tampa, FL 33635 @bmsnews @BristolMyersSquibb Bristol-Myers Squibb Bristol-Myers Squibb www.BMS.com 87

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ELEVATOR PITCH GuideWell is a not-for-profit, mission-driven family of companies dedicated to helping people and communities achieve better health. As a health solutions enterprise, we work to keep care affordable, accessible and consumer-centered through payer, care delivery, marketing and government-based businesses.

INNOVATION STORY With roots in Florida going back nearly 75 years, GuideWell has a profound understanding of the health industry and can read change over time. As an employer with 12,123 employees in 29 states, we strive to attract the best talent. As a federally regulated organization, we service stakeholders with agility because laws, policies, and reimbursements are uncertain and dynamic.

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In this environment, the need to innovate isn’t optional – it’s essential. To outperform what non-health companies like Amazon and Apple promise, GuideWell delivers by developing tools, processes and relationships that solve stakeholder problems such as: • Streamlining member service interactions: Until 2017, our payer’s service associates were forced to access information from 24 different sources, leaving our employees frustrated and our members waiting too long for issues to be resolved. An internal team stood up a humancentered design prototype in five months and launched at month six an entirely new interface that’s made service interactions more efficient and satisfying.

• Bringing care into the home: Our acquisition of PopHealth Care allows us to provide hands-on, high-value care in the home for members with acute care needs. This helps keep consumers healthier – and out of the hospital – which makes health care costs lower for everyone.

• Making information more accessible: “Flora” is our AI-backed, voicebased service platform that gives consumers easy access to answers they might have otherwise needed to find online or call to retrieve.

• Delivering culturally-competent care: Nothing is quite as personal as your health, which is why we partnered with ColSanitas out of South America to open medical clinics in south and central Florida. These clinics offer comprehensive, integrated care for Hispanic communities.

Success today does not guarantee relevance tomorrow. At GuideWell, our “consumer obsession” creates a dynamic tension that pushes us to reinvent products, build partnerships and source solutions that solves stakeholders’ problems and maintains our market-leading position in the health industry.

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ELEVATOR PITCH Florida Blue, Florida’s Blue Cross and Blue Shield company, has been providing health insurance to residents of Florida for nearly 75 years. Driven by its mission of helping people and communities achieve better health, the company serves more than five million health care members across the state. In total, Florida Blue and its affiliated companies serve 16 million people in 29 states. Headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, it is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

INNOVATION STORY Florida Blue has become a leader in the transformation of health care from a feefor-service model to one focused on value outcomes. Value-based health care is a health care delivery model in which providers, including hospitals and physicians, are reimbursed by insurers based on patient health outcomes. It differs from fee-for-service, in which providers are paid based on the amount of health care services they deliver.

The continued success of these programs is a testament to the power of the company’s strong provider relationships and its willingness to invest in innovation and growth. Florida Blue realized early on that it needed to leverage its leadership in the local market to address the fragmentation of the health care system and escalating costs. In response to these issues, it developed a strong foundation for value-based care and has since rapidly expanded these efforts.

Providers can earn financial incentives based on the total cost of care for attributed patients after meeting quality goals. These include a variety of nationally recognized metrics related to preventive, chronic and acute care. More than 10,000 providers participate in the company’s value-based arrangements, and these models impact care delivery for more than one million Florida Blue members.

The company has established 22 accountable care organizations (ACOs) and a statewide patient-centered medical home (PCMH) model delivering higherquality care at lower cost. ACOs and PCMHs are groups of doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers, who coordinate on high-quality care for their patients. The goal of coordinated care is to ensure that patients get the right care at the right time, while avoiding unnecessary duplication of services and preventing medical errors.

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The programs rely on advanced technology and data sharing.

For example, the company offers a robust provider portal that gives physicians access to information about gaps in care, utilization, patient treatment and care plans. The portal helps providers track their performance and identify opportunities to improve care delivery. For example, practices receive timely clinical notifications about hospital admissions, discharges and readmissions, which can drive effective transitions of care.

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PROGRAM OUTCOMES PCMH:

ACO:

• 1.2 percent lower costs • 7 percent fewer ER visits • 4 percent lower hospital admissions • 21 percent higher healthquality scores

• 2.2 percent lower medical costs • 6 percent fewer ER visits • 5 percent lower hospital admissions • 6 percent higher cervical cancer screenings

floridabluehealth

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| flblue | BCBSFlorida www.floridablue.com

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SINCE ITS INCEPTION, THE CORIN GROUP HAS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF ORTHOPAEDIC INNOVATION, PROVIDING A MORE POSITIVE, AND MORE ASSURED RETURN TO QUALITY OF LIFE FOR PATIENTS ALL OVER THE WORLD.

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congresses. In 2018, results have been presented at industry meetings, including the AAOS (New Orleans), ISTA (London), ICJR (Houston), AOA (Perth) and AAHKS (Dallas).

The Group offers a unique combination of clinically-proven hip and knee solutions that make use of their unique technologies. The Optimized Positioning System (OPS™) enables a unique understanding of how the patient moves off the operating table. This information assists in planning the position of implants with the aim of optimizing functional implant alignment and improving surgical outcomes.

The Corin Group is excited to announce that the Optimized Positioning System (OPS™) has now been expanded to include a femoral pre-operative analysis and resection guide, designed to precisely control key variables including the patient’s post-operative leg length. Recently granted 510k clearance by the FDA, this complements the already available OPS™ acetabular planning and delivery system. This technology provides a major breakthrough for surgeons in the Tampa Bay region, who can now explore its benefits and make use of the full range and scope of this groundbreaking technology.

THE STORY Developed in conjunction with a team of expert biomedical engineers and orthopedic surgeons, the OPS™ technology uses specialized software to analyze how a patient’s hip joint moves through a range of daily activities.

Since 2013, Corin’s Optimized Positioning System (OPS™) has been used in almost 10,000 total hip replacement surgeries in many different countries around the world, enabling preoperative functional analysis for each patient. The Corin Group enables surgeons to be closely and continuously connected with every patient after the operation.

Their dedicated team of engineers and clinical experts are committed to creating a hip replacement that is truly tailored to suit each patient. The product is continuing to be released more widely as interest continues to grow in key markets around the globe. Importantly, the technology continues to be supported by a strong foundation of clinical research, with multiple case series being exhibited at a number of key orthopedic

Tristan Jones – Director – Procedural Technologies 12750 Citrus Park Lane | Suite 120 | Tampa | Florida 33625 | USA Main: 1 (813) 977-4469 | Mobile: 1 (813) 538-0960 Email: tristan.jones@coringroup.com corintechnology | coringroup | www.coringroup.com 93

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FIVE Labs is an organization that is at the intersection of medical device technology development and the education of surgeons and healthcare professionals.

In 2014, FIVE Labs retrofitted and existing office building in the Westshore area to create a state-of-the-art surgical training lab and conference center.

THE STORY FIVE Labs was founded as an extension of the educational mission of the Foundation for Orthopaedic Research and Education (FORE). FIVE Labs was designed to provide environments specific to learning and practicing with new surgical technologies. There’s a learning curve associated with any new technology but in the medical device field, the stakes are high. New medical technologies are often quite sophisticated, and some require training even for experienced surgeons. Ultimately, our goal is to reduce complications and improve patient outcomes by conducting these trainings.

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Derek Pupello Founder and CEO of FIVE Labs

In addition to the training environments, FIVE Labs works with medical device companies, design surgeons, and engineers to develop new technologies. Using the latest software and onsite 3D printing and machining capabilities, we can quickly create and test working prototypes.

This allows for rapid development and vetting of medical devices.

MILESTONES Nearly 5,000 healthcare professionals have been to an event at our facility since the opening of FIVE Labs in 2015. World-renowned physicians from across the U.S. and the world have served as faculty and taught the next generation of surgeons at our facility. Additionally, since 2015, we have had 14 patents issued for technologies developed in partnership with surgeon collaborators right here in Tampa Bay. Joe Leonard Lab Director Christopher Griffin Lab Supervisor

The surgical training lab can accommodate up to 30 surgical stations and over 100 people.

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Lexi Betances Phone: 813-545-9734Â Â 4115 W Spruce St., Tampa, FL 33607 FIVELabs fivelabstampa five-labs FiveLabsTampa.com

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ELEVATOR PITCH CareValet is an on-demand uber-ized healthcare solution. Wherever you are, the CareValet app can geolocate you, triage your healthcare needs, and point you to the right care facility or professional. This kind of care can usually be done by communicating directly with a physician on your smartphone, so that you can get clinical advice and even have your prescription called in to your pharmacy, if necessary.

If you do need to see a doctor in person, you can use the app to schedule an appointment when it is convenient for you. After your consultation, you can share your experience with other CareValet members, so that they can seek doctors, based on your feedback, who take good care of their patients.

Founded in 2016 by Joe Hodges, a Florida Native who recently sold another healthcare company with over 700,000 members, CareValet makes it easier for people to find doctors and providers in their network wherever they are. You could be driving around and your child suddenly becomes ill and needs a doctor - you could simply pull up the CareValet app and find the closest treatment center or telemedicine doctor.

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CareValet users can schedule a doctor’s appointment and speak to healthcare professionals in real time it’s a real-time convenience app and web portal that also speaks to those who are moving away from making telephone calls and are more likely to use a mobile application.

INNOVATION In an emergency or when there is a need for urgent care, CareValet uses geolocation to help you find an in-network provider or facility closest to you, in just two clicks. If you are too ill to drive, the app can also interface with UBER to arrange a ride for you.

Members can, of course, also speak to a physician in a face-to-face phone chat to check whether they need urgent treatment, but often their condition can be treated virtually.

We also use choice architecture to help remind and guide our members to use telemedicine as their first option. Our app is designed to provide a gentle reminder of this no-out-of-pocket-cost option whenever they are seeking care. For example, if you click on the Find an Urgent Treatment Center link, CareValet provides a quick link to telemedicine. 60%

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of the time, the virtual doctor can diagnose and prescribe something without your having to visit an urgent treatment center, which is often a significant time commitment.

CAREVALET STARTS WITH CUSTOMERS FIRST We believe that you should be in control of your healthcare and that you are best able to make informed decisions about care with your doctors. With CareValet, you are empowered to disrupt the old model of trying to obtain care. You will be able to make the best decisions for your health based on accessibility, cost, quality, and other considerations. Additionally, we feel it is important that you are in control of your care, needs and appointments, and should have the ability to rate and comment on your provider experience. At CareValet, we’ve placed all of these options at your fingertips in an easy-to-use app for your mobile phone and the web.

“Jackson’s Bistro, one of Tampa Bay’s most established and well-liked restaurants in the city, was one of our first clients,” says Aaron Kessinger, Lead Client Consultant. “We used our API connections to load their health plan network of doctors and facilities into the app.” CareValet is digitally connected to over 450 provider networks across the country, so it connected Jackson’s employees with their providers of care and created instantaneous decision-making tools that simplify accessibility: appointment setting, transportation, communication, information, as well as provider rankings and cost comparisons.

“CareValet allows us to provide a valuable healthcare benefit to our employees to make it easier for them to find the care they need,” says Jamie Prockop, General Counsel at Jackson’s. “Telemedicine is especially useful because it saves time and money.”

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ALPHA NODUS

ALPHA NODUS IS A HEALTHCARE TECHNOLOGY COMPANY THAT PROVIDES INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO PHYSICIAN PRACTICE MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES.

The company developed Gravity Healthcare, an industryleading practice management solution powered by artificial intelligence. It employs advanced analytics in real-time to streamline practice workflow and increase productivity. In a nutshell, Gravity Healthcare delivers the future of patient experience and clinic productivity by reducing wait times and automating the collection of productivity data.

The company is led by Shamit Patel, a technology expert who has 15 years’ wireless startup experience and exits with acquisitions by Intel, Qualcomm and Alereon. He was founding chair of Ecosystem of IoT Standard Open Connectivity Foundation and scaled products to more than 100 million users. Now he uses his expertise and experience to solve the problem that creates the majority of patient complaints – in-office patient wait times.

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Gravity Healthcare achieves that goal through an integrated system that collects real-time practice data to improve scheduling of patients, reduce wait times, maximize productivity and increase throughput for physician practices. Importantly, Gravity reduces the time physicians spend on onerous electronic medical/health record (EMR/EHR) documentation requirements. EHR documentation can soak up 20 hours of patient care productivity per year per patient, resulting in $12,000 of lost revenue per clinic.

Gravity improves patient throughput and productivity by collecting real time data through a system of sensors installed in the physical practice.

Sensor tags are given to staff and patients, attached to equipment and plugged into wall sockets. The HIPAA protected system collects real-time

data for equipment, exam rooms, waiting rooms, staff and patients that are shown on a dashboard for quick analysis and decision making. Patient wait times, physician and staff location, equipment use and more are constantly updated and the productivity of doctors, nurses, and equipment are analyzed. As the dashboard shows bottlenecks in patient flow, it provides staff with the up-to-the-minute data they need for decision making and flow improvements.

Gravity has succeeded in reducing the patient check-in and check-out process to five seconds.

In addition, the Gravity system allows physician practices to notify patients of wait times via text message and offer scheduling options. The system prevents loss of revenue, reduces patient wait times, and patient risk due to lost or misplaced equipment. The result is improved patient satisfaction, retention and revenue.

Currently, Gravity is implemented in large, multi-physician practices in multiple specialties including radiology, surgery, dermatology, plastic surgery and others.

600, Congress Ave, 14th Floor, Austin, TX 78701 AlphaNodus www.alphanodus.com 99

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HEALTHAXIS GROUP

REVOLUTIONIZING THE DIGITAL FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE THROUGH TECHNOLOGY-ENABLED SERVICES

As value-based care and value-based reimbursement gain momentum within the healthcare industry, healthcare delivery organizations must adapt quickly to the changing landscape. They are expected to provide better information and greater access to quality and superior care and outcomes for its members, all at a lower cost. The obstacles many companies face when trying to meet this demand stem from coordination challenges, outdated legacy technology, and inefficient information management.

HealthAxis Group is an innovative partner for those who want to revolutionize healthcare services and become leaders in the industry. Headquartered in Tampa, HealthAxis Group has charted an appropriately unique and intriguing course to blur the lines between a 50+-year-old company and a cutting-edge startup. The oldest company that now makes up HealthAxis Group was founded in 1965 and in the late 1970s became the industry’s first SAAS-based\hosted enterprise application administration system. Far more recently, the company launched the most advanced application suite for healthcare administration, care management, and data and analytics. HealthAxis Group breaks the mold by being simultaneously the most experienced and the most modern technology company in its space.

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Shilen Patel is the Chief Executive Officer and founder of HealthAxis Group, as well as a serial entrepreneur and investor who has spent his entire career leading companies in the Healthcare IT space.

Prior to founding HealthAxis Group, Mr. Patel was a top executive and part owner of Visionary Healthware for nine years. Under his leadership, Visionary Healthware achieved 30x growth and received recognition as one of America’s 100 largest healthcare IT companies before being acquired by an international public company.

He is also an active early stage and private equity investor in various ventures, as well as founding multiple other enterprises of his own. His investments range from tiny startups to more visible and remote assets such as ownership in Bologna FC, a soccer team competing with the likes of Juventus and AC Milan in Italy’s Serie A. In 2017, Shilen became a co-founder and Chairman of the TiE Tampa Bay Angel Fund, a $3 million fund established to financially support Florida startups, improve understanding and awareness of angel investing among Tampa Bay investors, and help startups fulfill their potential as value drivers and community assets. Mr. Patel is also highly active in the management and formation of the Drs. Kiran and Pallavi Patel Family’s Office, which holds a nine-figure portfolio of real estate, direct and indirect investments, and marketable securities. He also recently agreed to chair the Creative Entrepreneurship Lab, a non-profit initiative related to the Tampa Innovation Alliance which will support entrepreneurial activity in the USF area and at the Uptown (former University Mall) site. Additionally, Shilen is a founding Director of Central Bank, a community bank which services Tampa, St Augustine, and Winter Park.

The comprehensive platform includes enterprise software, a multitude of portals for all types of healthcare stakeholders, a robust private cloud, and services around analytics, data management, and associated BPO services.

These enable healthcare organizations to increase administrative efficiency, lower cost, and improve the quality and delivery of patient care. Plus, it is highly customizable–tailoring logic, workflow, and interfaces to meet each client’s unique strategy. As more models for healthcare delivery are tested at the federal, state, and employer levels, HealthAxis Group’s platform can be a single solution through it all. The core system can efficiently and effectively manage appeals and grievances, credentialing, medical management, care coordination, provider directories and more.

In 2013, Mr. Patel graduated from the EMBA-Global programme at the Columbia University Graduate School of Business and the London Business School with an MBA from both institutions. He received his undergraduate degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Entrepreneurship at Babson College in 2002.

HealthAxis Group solutions are built upon the proven success of its collective leadership and the experience of over 230 employees who aim to advance modern healthcare software and bring innovative solutions to the industry. The team is well equipped to deliver the next generation of healthcare software and resolve key business challenges for the clients they serve: Managed care organizations, commercial and private health plans, third-party administrators, risk-bearing provider organizations and medical providers.

Shilen credits much of his success and opportunity to extraordinary role models. His parents, Drs. Kiran and Pallavi Patel, are two of the Tampa Bay Area’s most successful and well-known businesspeople and philanthropists.

“To remind ourselves to be open, dynamic and innovative in serving our customers, our mindset is that our clients are not really clients,” says Shilen Patel, CEO “rather, they are our partners.”

Mr. Patel has always appreciated the power of business to transform lives and communities by creating prosperity and carries with him a strong sense of responsibility to make good things happen for others in any pursuit of personal achievement.

“Our success is dependent on their success and sustainability within the rapidly changing healthcare system. This means not just delivering software and writing code; but using our creativity, curiosity, and capabilities to collaboratively provide alternatives to crippling legacy technologies and outdated ideologies.”

5509 W Gray St. Suite 200 Tampa, FL 33609 Tel: 888-974-2947(AXIS) Email: info@healthaxis.com www.healthaxis.com

Our Vision and Mission: • Our vision is healthcare rebooted as a completely efficient, informationdriven and cooperative institution.

• Our mission is to ceaselessly improve the speed and quality of information and decisions in healthcare.

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Our focus at Green Earth Medical Solutions (GEMS) is prevention, not treatment. We’re passionate about saving lives and, through hard work, determination, and worldclass state-of-the-art technology, our dream has become a reality. That’s why we created PathO3Gen SolutionsTM.

PathO3Gen Solutions™ Footwear Sanitizing Station (FSS), employs its patented Solestice 3/15 Technology™, utilizing UVC and Ozone (O3), to penetrate and destroy 99.9% of the capsid/outer wall and DNA of deadly pathogens before they can contaminate an area C:0 M:0 Y:0 K:79 C:95 M:40 Y:61 K:20 C:76 M:27 Y:0 K:0 and spread. This is all done in as little as 4 seconds. The stations are designed to complement existing infection control protocols to reduce the microbial level of pathogens often associated with an increased risk for healthcare-associated infections. In addition to infection rate reductions, users of the footwear sanitizing station should experience improved hospital economics by reducing readmission rates, lowering the cost of care and reducing reimbursement penalties.

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“Patient, employee, and visitor safety is our top priority. Our team sees the benefit of new technologies like the PathO3Gen Solutions Footwear Sanitizing Stations. In consideration of partnering with Green Earth Medical Solutions, we will be able to establish new protocols to proactively prevent infections that will benefit our patients, staff, and community.”

Debi Martoccio, Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, Florida Hospital Connerton

Our team of entrepreneurial minded professionals are humble, hungry and smart. Our offices are located on the 22nd floor of the 200 North Central Ave building in beautiful downtown St. Petersburg, Florida. We love to hang out as a team either at a game, restaurant or listening to live music. We all have a passion to save lives and work hard every day to make that happen!

“As a former Hospital CEO, the safety of one’s life in your hospital is a BIG responsibility especially when 1 – 20 inpatients will contract a healthcare-associated infection (HAI). The addition of a footwear sanitizing station that addresses floors is a promising technology that is needed to complete an effective Infection Control Program. With the technology’s ability to kill the DNA of pathogens and not allow it to regenerate, this is a game changer!”

Celeste Wiggins, MBA - Healthcare Consultant

(Left to Right: Bob Mueller - VP/Sales & Marketing, Scott Beal – COO, Kelli Anderson – Executive Assistant, Dave Weber – Controller, Steve Humphries – Director of HR) 103

200 Central Ave. Suite 2200 St. Petersburg, FL 33701 Phone: 727-300-1069 Email: info@patho3gen.com www.patho3gen.com

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AT THE NEXUS OF IMPROVING HEALTH: ONE PILL AND PATIENT AT A TIME

WITH MEDICATIONS NOW THE GREATEST PERCENTAGE OF MEDICAL COSTS WITH THE LARGEST POTENTIAL FOR ERROR AND WASTE, RXLIVE TAKES A FRESH APPROACH TO COORDINATING AND IMPROVING HEALTH. Pharmacist Kristen Engelen was frustrated. Imbued with a deep dedication to improving the health of others, she came to recognize that the current retail pharmacy environment couldn’t provide her with the satisfaction to be a personal, professional resource — one that could spend time with individual patients to evaluate all of their prescriptions and over-the-counter meds and discuss options that could potentially save them money and lead to a healthier, happier life.

The St. Petersburg-based RxLive was born. Partnering with her husband Mark, a Harvard Business School graduate with in-depth knowledge of healthcare and health information technology, they recognized the value of a concierge pharmacist service — one that freed pharmacists from the grind of filling prescriptions so they could really get to know each patient and provide the personal touch that used to be routine, particularly for the small-town pharmacists of old.

Making a healthy difference “That’s why people like me entered the profession to begin with: to use our knowledge to spend one-on-one quality time with each patient to discuss their unique needs and the opportunities for health improvement,” Kristen noted. “I honestly found being a retail pharmacist unfulfilling. There was almost no time to check for all but the most significant drug interactions, discuss medication adherence or educate patients on potential cost-saving opportunities. I usually was unaware 104

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of what medications patients filled elsewhere, or what OTC products they were taking...all of the factors that come together to potentially help or hurt their health.” Kristen adds “Now, my RxLive colleagues and I can gather complete information, develop and privately discuss a patient’s plan, and truly make the difference in people’s lives like we always dreamed of.”

with the patient and their families at the center of the equation.

RxLive is a national network of experienced, carefully chosen clinical pharmacists who counsel patients and advise them on medications and care options using a secure, private telehealth platform. The service is being marketed primarily to large medical practices that increasingly are being paid on a “fee for value” basis — proving how they’re keeping their patients healthier — rather than the traditional “fee for service” where each medication, test or office visit carries a cost, regardless of its effect on a patient’s health.

Pilot programs are already well underway with several provider groups around the nation, including in Oregon and New Jersey, proving the value of the new service. “We can’t wait to share the case studies of our sites’ successes in lowering costs, improving clinical outcomes and increasing patient satisfaction.”

At the nexus of improved health “So many providers today are part of large groups that are accountable care organizations, or a patient-centered medical home, where they’re paid for the positive outcomes tied to the services they provide,” Mark said. “Despite the best of intentions, current models of population health management can feel disconnected and like a ‘factory’ from the perspective of the patient. We see an opportunity to create a more personalized, consumer-oriented experience

“Within a complex and disjointed healthcare system that includes different information systems and the prevalence of specialists, a pharmacist can truly sit at the nexus of this personal experience,” he added.

The next generation is here: Pharmacogenomics Nowhere does genetics play a more significant role in optimizing health than in prescribing and the potential effects of medications. “Physicians are taking the broad-based, best-guess option for prescribing medications — based on which options are safe and effective for large groups on patients. But study results may not be pertinent for each individual. This leads to a “therapeutic odyssey” — until providers hit upon a medication that proves effective for a particular patient, with hopefully no harm done along the way,” noted Robert Kropp, MD, an RxLive advisor. That’s why RxLive is also offering pharmacogenomic counselling — to 105

get a much deeper understanding of what’s likely to be effective based on an individual’s genetics. It’s an area that’s well-established but not particularly well understood by many, so we’re anxious to spread the word and expand its usage.”

Dr. Kropp is a highly respected Tampa Bay area adult and pediatric neurologist. After founding his St. Petersburg practice and dramatically expanding it up and down the Gulf Coast, he saw the value of emerging population health initiatives and received advanced certification in that regard from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. Dr. Kropp went on to gain invaluable insights in care management and population health roles at industry giants Aetna and CIGNA, now consulting with and investing in innovators like RxLive because he recognizes its value to improve health outcomes.

“We’re extremely proud to have the support of Dr. Kropp and all of our investors and advisors who are equally as passionate as Kristen and I about what RxLive brings to the table,” Mark noted. “We’re also all committed to delivering these services from our base in St. Petersburg, and being part of the burgeoning innovation community here.”

Email: mark@RxLive.com www.RxLive.com

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STAY IN STEP

STAY IN STEP IS A 501 (C) (3), NOT FOR PROFIT RECOVERY CENTER DESIGNED TO PROVIDE STATE-OF-THE-ART RECOVERY AND THERAPY TO SPINAL CORD INJURY (SCI), TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY (TBI), AND PARALYSIS CLIENTS IN TAMPA BAY AND SURROUNDING AREAS. We serve a wide range of clients including active military, veterans, and civilians. Our mission is to provide our clients with a step forward toward recovery through world-class rehabilitation and collaboration. Our program is modeled after the Activity Based Exercise and Therapy principles (ABE&T), which utilizes the body’s natural movement and body weight as stimulus. We exist only to serve a segment of the population that is marginalized or overlooked by traditional medicine and our current healthcare system. Not only do we have state-of-the-art equipment, we have trainers who are passionate about working with clients with spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries and who are creative in using the equipment in innovative ways to achieve remarkable results.

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the back of the neck shattering his C3 vertebra. With his wife, Gabby by his side, Romy endured a number of surgeries only to find out that he was paralyzed from the trapezius muscles and below. For many, it would have been a diagnosis of despair but, for the Camargo’s it began a journey of hope and inspiration.

As the primary caregiver for her husband, Gabby learned all that she could about spinal cord injuries and rehabilitation. Gabby and Romy would travel to Orlando which was the nearest facility up to 5 days per week fighting traffic on I-4 making a 2-hour therapy session an all-day event. It was the Camargo’s dream to open a center in Tampa that was open to the public as well as veterans, would assist with subsidizing the cost burdens for clients and would include the client’s family in the therapy and recovery process. On June 20 2015, Stay in Step was founded, a unique organization doing fantastic work providing long-term, subsidized cost, SCI/TBI rehabilitation for civilians and veterans in Tampa Bay, Florida.

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Romy’s story was featured on the History channel’s, The Warfighters - Season 1, Episode 7, The Green Berets of 7115, which aired on November 11, 2016. You can watch this incredible story at http://www.history.com/ shows/the-warfighters Stay In Step’s 4500-sq. ft. recovery center features state-of-the-art equipment, such as the RT 600 and the RT 300, from Restorative Therapies, an industry leading researcher and manufacturer of some of the most innovative and technologically advanced rehabilitation using electrical stimulation of the muscles to complete the mobility therapy. It is remarkable to see patients on elliptical trainers and hand bikes that are paralyzed.

The objectives of the Stay In Step Recovery Program are to: 1. Reduce client incidence of medical complications and hospitalizations due to SCI and TBI. 2. Improve the overall health and wellness of clients.

3. Improve client quality of life.

4. Keep the family unit together during the therapy.

5. Offer a supportive and encouraging environment supporting them physically, emotionally, and socially.

According to a 2016 Report by the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center: “About 30% of persons with SCI are re-hospitalized one or more times during any given year following injury. Among those re-hospitalized, the length of hospital stays averages 22 days.” The leading causes of hospitalization are diseases of the genitourinary system and diseases of the skin.

The Stay In Step Program focuses on preventing and in many cases reversing the deterioration that results from the lack of sustained physical activity and causes these diseases thereby improving overall health and wellness and reducing diseases and re-hospitalizations. This not only results in a better quality of life for clients but reduces the emotional and financial burden on families and caregivers.

Stay In Step clients’ rehabilitation therapy is complex, and there is set up involved for each mobility exercise. Each program is individually tailored to the patient and with as many as three trainers and one physical therapist, the average therapy session is 2-3 hours in length. The staff is passionate, creative, and knowledgeable

about how to use the equipment in unique ways to keep the rehabilitation exciting. Stay In Step also has a children’s playroom and a family room where families may relax while their loved ones are in therapy. Stay In Step offers clients and their families a long-term, subsidized-cost, physical therapy program combined with a close-knit support group and mental strength training on their path to recovery.

This therapy dramatically improves clients’ quality of life and, in many cases, extends their life expectancy. We encourage you to take a moment to look at the Stay In Step website (https://stayinstep.org) to see what Romy, together with the unwavering support of his wife, Gaby, has built to fill an unmet need and provide an invaluable service to the Tampa Bay community. Since opening our doors in June of 2015, we have been blessed and grateful to have been able to treat over 120 clients and provide over $300,000 in subsidized therapy. Stay In Step relies on the generous contributions of both corporate and private donors.

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10500 University Center Dr, Ste 130 Tampa, Florida Phone: (813) 977-7999 stayinstepcenter stayinsteporg UCFBIgd5VAo1DneQvZ-YQ-vw stayinstep.org

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TM

ELEVATOR PITCH Verapy’s platform utilizes virtual reality (VR) technology to empower patients to participate in their physical therapy treatments. This immersive experience turns mundane exercises into fun and engaging games improving efficiency in the clinic, while increasing patient retention and compliance.

THE STORY CEO and co-founder Jonathan Truong invisioned Verapy from his personal pain points in physical therapy. He had a total of 5 different surgeries and suffered from meningitis and a stroke at an early age, requiring extensive physical and occupational therapy that he regrets not doing.

Jonathan met his business partner Tad Svendrys during Startup Weekend Tampa Bay and placed 4th out of 12 business ideas back in November 2016. They both shared the pain points of the boring and repetitive nature of physical therapy and felt compelled to tackle this universal challenge.

Verapy works with therapists to ensure that the games align with the therapy protocols. The immersive experience allows participants to enjoy their therapy, where more often than not, participants will complete their therapy without even thinking about it. As part of the compliance, we track key metrics such as range of motion and pain level enabling therapists to view participants’ progress; an increase in range of motion and decrease in pain.

MILESTONES From humble beginnings in 2016, Verapy joined the Tampa Bay Wave and the University of Tampa Accelerator, tremendously impacting their growth. We’ve developed prototype games for upper extremities such as shoulder and wrist, acquired letters of intent from local physical therapy clinics & institutions, partnered with game development studios, and all accomplished by adopting the lean startup methodology.

University of Tampa athlete playing one of Verapy’s games for shoulder flexion and extension exercise.

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We have participated in Tampa Bay Wave’s Demo Day in which we pitched to their vast investor network, selected to partake as one of 7 startups out of 90 accelerators in GAN’s first virtual demo day and won the 2nd place in the University of Tampa New Venture Expo. We’re looking to

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Verapy team spent time in Orlando to participate in Mega Health Jam.

As patients complete their prescribed exercise games, they can view their progress, unlock achievements and view a goal setting roadmap.

continue pressing forward and making an impact in the community with the events and partners such as Synapse, MegaHealthJam, Florida Health Innovators, Cade Museum and many others.

Ultimately, every idea, workflow and execution is geared toward creating better patient experiences and outcomes. Our long-term strategy is to be in every physical therapy facility helping young and old, athlete or a stroke patient and many others. Restoring lives, creating jobs and fostering entrepreneurial passion is a win-win for everyone in the greater Tampa Bay.

From left to right: Jonathan Truong and Tad Svendrys showcasing in the Disrupting Healthcare event hosted at Florida Hospital in Orlando.

500 E. Kennedy Blvd., 3rd Floor, Tampa, FL 33602 Email: info@verapytherapy.com Like us @ Verapytherapy Follow us @ Verapytherapy www.verapytherapy.com 109

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ELEVATOR PITCH NoMo Bands are the first and only essential oil infused acupressure wristbands that instantly relieve nausea and vomiting, as well as headaches and migraines. Soothing essential oil aromatherapy combines with gentle acupressure in a comfortable, stylish, and waterproof wristband for safe, effective, fast-acting, long-lasting, natural relief that works for your whole family.

THE STORY Our story began almost four years ago when I became the patient instead of the medical provider. The anesthesia from my emergency C-section left me sick and vomiting for days. Surprisingly, none of the traditional medications worked for me. Luckily, I tried Eastern medicine practices of acupressure 110

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and aromatherapy and I rejoiced in finding the perfect remedy. But, my search for a similar product in stores turned up empty. So, my first product, NoMo Nausea, was born.

Then I thought, if it helped me, how many others can it help? Now I have five product lines both internationally and domestically, and we want to keep growing. The more we grow, the more people we can help. We are changing people’s lives for the better, one band at a time.

MEET THE TEAM At NoMo Nausea, we pride ourselves on being a truly small, bootstrapping business that has become a family. Our core management team is only four people. I oversee the business and find new ways to continue our progress. Sara, my VP, is my right-hand woman. She effectively actualizes my ideas and oversees our sales team. Stan, my husband, and COO, manages everyday operations and supervises our fulfillment center.

Pam, my office manager, and her wealth of knowledge about retail sales keeps us all organized. Dr. Orbegoso, my Chief Medical Officer, is an anesthesiologist with 26 years of experience and conducts our clinical research. Our family wouldn’t be complete without our team of student interns. We embrace our partnerships with Tampa universities so students can use their skills in “the real world.” For three years, our interns have supplied innovative and contemporary ideas, amplifying the success of the company.

MILESTONES NoMo Bands’ uniqueness has garnered significant attention. In 2015, Kiwi Magazine, Surgical Products, and even national sports teams recognized us. I also began my annual campaign, “Buy a Band, Give a Band”, where for every band purchased during October, we donate a band to a patient undergoing chemotherapy.

In 2016, I was given the PharmaHero award and nominated as Business Woman of the Year by the Tampa Chamber of Commerce. I also won Shark Tank’s The Big Pitch when my NoMo Migraine band stopped the judge’s migraine in two minutes.

Our products hit the shelves of nationwide retailers like Bed Bath and Beyond, BuyBuy Baby, and CVS in 2017. I also introduced my hilarious and informative Pregnancy Pukeology podcast and was featured in Forbes magazine. Finally, last month, I won the inaugural 2018 PepsiCo Choice competition at the WBENC National Conference and Business Fair. We can’t wait to see what’s in store for 2019!

Write Us: info@nomonausea.com Call Us: 813-528-8877 Like Us: nomonausea Follow Us: nomonausea www.NoMoNausea.com 111

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ELEVATOR PITCH OMNA: The toughest tourniquets for any condition. The worlds only Maritime Tourniquets and Tourniquet Water Sports Leashes designed to be used in and out of the water. Providing unparalleled versatility, comfort, and ruggedness in a compact, wearable configurations for water sports and marine professions. Whether you surf, dive, fish, boat, or live near the water OMNA has an innovative tourniquet or first aid solution for you.

THE STORY OMNA Inc. was founded in 2014, but its inception began in late 2012. A surf trip to a remote surf break was the catalyst that led to identifying that water sports and marine environments needed marine specific first aid equipment. After an evening surf session in distant Central America, and facing a paddle across a river mouth known for crocodiles in pitch-black darkness the idea wheels began to spin. Luckily, nothing happened that night (Although someone did lose a leg to a crocodile in the same location 6-months later). What did happen then was the realization that no one had any tourniquets or equipment for first 112

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aid. Tourniquets and first aid kits are commonly carried or readily available in numerous professions, except for water sports and maritime occupations. No one had ever thought to integrate an actual tourniquet with a surfboard or paddleboard leash, nor had they made any tourniquets or first aid kits to actual marine specifications. At that moment OMNA was born and the journey began.

The unique things about OMNA are our tourniquet / first aid integrations into common water sports accessories. We’ve integrated tourniquets into wearable configurations for boating, kayaking, free diving, scuba diving, leashes for surfing, paddle boarding, and even underwater photography.

OMNA tourniquets are the only tourniquets made to 100% marine specification and designed specifically for marine environments. Our proprietary marine materials offer the highest resistance to saltwater, UV rays, and other aquatic factors that deteriorate other tourniquets.

Furthermore, military and different surf life-saving tests have shown that when it comes to tourniquet use in the water the older style windlass bars that you twist are impossible to apply in the water, hence why OMNA uses a ratcheting system. Water sports and Marine Professions present a unique challenge for first aid; what works on land doesn’t necessarily work in the water, but now OMNA first aid solutions keep you prepared even in the water.

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OMNA Inc. St. Petersburg, FL, USA omnainc @omna_official @OMNAInc

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PRACTICE FORCES

KUNAL JAIN AND PARUL GARG ARE THE IMMIGRANT BUSINESS POWER COUPLE OF TAMPA BAY WHO HAVE ACHIEVED THEIR SUCCESS THROUGH MUTUAL COLLABORATION AND SUPPORT. They came to the U.S. in 2003, with a few hundred dollars, and a burning desire to make a name for themselves in the land of opportunities. Kunal had a legacy to live up to; his father was a prominent social activist in the state of Rajasthan, India. Parul was the pioneer of her family, and both knew they wanted to make their family in India proud.

In January 2004, a few weeks after his arrival in the U.S., Kunal started PracticeForces with a vision to provide bespoke medical billing management services to medical practices and hospitals in the U.S. Parul shared Kunal’s passion for the business and joined the venture within the first month.

Phone: 727-771-1300 imax73 kunaljaintampa www.practiceforces.comÂ

Since then there has been no looking back. Along with an enthusiastic team at PracticeForces, the company has grown from a local business catering to medical practices in Florida to a national provider.

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Kunal says, “I am a lucky man. Every day I get the opportunity to make lives better for my clients, to improve their business profitability, whilst creating employment for people within my company. The lessons I have learned in my business, have helped me evolve as a business investor and mentor to other Startups in the region.”

As for partnering with his life partner in business, Kunal feels that what has helped them is a clear demarcation of who is responsible for what. While Parul handles the business and operations of PracticeForces, Kunal handles marketing and strategic development. They have set up three companies in the health and wellness space and has generated employment for over 300 people in the U.S. and India.

Parul holds an MBA and is an AAPC-Certified Coder (The American Academy of Professional

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Coders). She has also held position at local AAPC chapter as a board member.

Kunal has also been instrumental in curating the Tampa chapter of TiE, which is a strong advocacy organization for Startups in the Tampa Bay area since 2012. Proving that one can always learn more, in 2015 Kunal attended the executive program in Global Healthcare Innovation from Harvard Business School.

In April 2018, the couple received the prestigious USF Fast 56 award, which recognizes the fastest growing businesses owned or operated by alumni of the University of South Florida.

The couple is strongly involved in community building efforts both in the U.S. and in India.

They support non-profit organizations like Ekal Vidhyala, TiE Tampa Bay and Akshay Patra.

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Kunal is also the founder and chairman of the Kaushalam Foundation, a non-profit organization registered in Rajasthan, India.

The motto for the foundation is, ‘Building India, through Skilling India’.

The couple’s do-it-all approach seems to have rubbed off on their young son and daughter. Both parents agree that seeing their kids demonstrate qualities of wisdom, intelligence, and empathy, is one of their biggest accomplishments.

So how do they run a business, mentor other entrepreneurs, manage a young family, and still find time to give back to society?

Kunal says he is blessed with an abundance of energy and never tires. Parul believes her number one tip for other mompreneurs is working smart and spending quality time with family.

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“The only way you survive is you continuously transform into something else. It’s this idea of continuous transformation that makes you an innovation company.”

- GINNI ROMETTY

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OUR MISSION Is to challenge current dogma in the health and human performance realms with new insight to effectively promote a healthy lifestyle and optimize physical performance. We work in conjunction with the top scientific minds, physicians, performance specialists, and resourceful innovators in the world to create science-driven evidencebased programs that deliver unprecedented results. We don’t just use science, we create it!

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OUR STORY Our bespoke program is the genesis of a new healthcare and human performance paradigm. Our innovation occurs at the intersection of three critical, yet traditionally disparate, disciplines: clinical research, human performance and healthcare.

This comprehensive coordinated care model is a science driven, evidence based multidisciplinary approach. We utilize the most advanced research equipment capable of testing the full spectrum of molecular and whole-body changes in both human performance and healthcare applications. Our groundbreaking work is conducted in our state ofthe-art research and human performance facility and performed by world renowned experts in highly-specialized fields.

Committed to extending our knowledge and the limits of human performance and health, we work across key areas of mitochondrial function, cognition, biomechanics, nutrition and digestive health. We can apply this research to advance health and wellbeing not only to the individual client but also to worldwide population health initiatives such as antiaging and longevity.

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OUR FACILITY

OUR SERVICES

Located in beautiful Tampa, Florida, the Applied Science and Performance Institute (ASPI) is a 21,000 ft. research and performance facility dedicated to bridging the gap between science and application. ASPI utilizes the latest research equipment capable of testing the full spectrum of molecular and whole-body changes in both health and human performance applications.

Anyone looking to increase performance, improve their health, change body composition, rehab from injury or simply improve their quality of life can benefit from our services.

THEASPI TheAppliedScienceandPerformanceInstitute THEASPI.COM

Our core competencies include research, education, diagnostics, training, and specialty product development.

In addition to our consumer clientele, we have a broad base of Fortune 500 clients including major supplement manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, professional sports teams and equipment manufacturers.

ASPI collaborates and partners with numerous organizations in different clinical, academic, and corporate settings. In partnership, we conceive, design and implement ground breaking scientific initiatives.

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OUR LABORATORIES In addition to our expansive training floor, ASPI has eight clinical research laboratories on-site. These worldclass labs utilize bleeding-edge equipment along with advanced testing protocols to measure and objectively quantify health and human performance.

• • • • • • • •

Whether it is improving athletic performance, enhancing cognitive acuity, relearning a motor function or improving neurological disorders, ASPI is the new benchmark.

We are continually increasing our understanding of key physiologic mechanisms and cognitive factors.

With this information, we develop more robust diagnosis and treatment protocols to address various “quality of life” initiatives that advance health and human performance.

Neurophysiology Body Composition Metabolic Analysis Cognitive Acuity Food Sciences Blood Chemistry Recovery Therapy Sports Simulation

Often referred to as the neurophysiology “Disneyland”, ASPI knows no bounds in its ability to test, measure and apply supra-physiological markers.

We work with a broad array of clientele including Olympic medalists, elite NFL/MLB/NHL athletes and the United States Navy Seals. ASPI’s mission is further demonstrated with our clinical population clients suffering from concussions, trauma brain injury, PTSD and neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Sarcopenia. Our high-performance executive clientele includes international stars as well as local business owners.

No other laboratory in the world contains the equipment and intellectual capital necessary to accurately gage the neuromuscular determinants of an individual’s power, speed, mechanical efficiencies and other potentiating factors that maximize human performance.

ENGINEERING

THE HUMAN PERFORMANCE

BLUEPRINT

WITH SCIENCE

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“It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.�

- CHARLES DARWIN

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ELEVATOR PITCH Headquartered in Orlando, Florida. Mercury Cash is a company born two years ago, with the vision of becoming the leader in the electronic money institution field, starting as a Cryptocurrency Trading Platform.

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THE STORY Mercury Cash Wallet is a live hosted wallet solution with a current customer base of 8,000+ users and allows for the real-time liquidation and transfer between cryptocurrency and fiat assets seamlessly and intuitively.

The Mercury Cash Wallet is available to download on iOS and Android devices and provides the ability to link a bank account, credit or debit card to be able to convert digital currency to and from US Dollars.

Mercury Cash raises the compliance bar by ensuring that we are fully licensed and certified, being one of the first to register as a Money Transmitter through Florida’s Office of Finance Regulation and Money Services Business through the US Department of the Treasury. Mercury Cash looking to 30+ states in the United States in the near future. In addition, Mercury Cash’s advanced roadmap includes becoming an Electronic Money Institution (EMI/eMoney) under the U.K.’s Financial Conduct Authority, allowing for legal operations in the 23 states that comprise the European Economic Area. Mercury cash is already correctly incorporated in UK looking very soon to start operation with EUR pair.

Mercury cash started the registration process to become an SEC-registered FINRA Member Broker-Dealer and a registered-and-licensed Alternative Trading System (ATS) with the idea to cover the market need of Florida and LATAM for securities.

Mercury Cash founders and team members have been working together since 2008 and come from a wide range of backgrounds and a variety of industries. The team’s vision of the future utilizing innovations and new technologies produced the evolution of their ideas to improve the world economy. Our staff is our biggest asset, but our customers, clients, and vendors are at the core of all our ideas and decisions.

The tokenization of the market is revolutionizing the financial industry. The company has launched its own token, MCEX. These tokens represent units of ownership or equity securities. This is the same concept as units of an LLC or shares of a corporation.

106 E. Dakin Ave., Kissimmee, FL 34741 Phone: 407-483-4057 mercurycash mercury-cash c/mercurycash www.mercury.cash 125

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CORPORATE TRADE COMPANIES HAVE USED TRADE CREDIT SINCE THE 60’S TO PURCHASE UNDERPERFORMING ASSETS, UNSOLD INVENTORY, EQUITY, AND EXCESS PRODUCTION OR CAPACITY.

Companies enjoy the benefits of Corporate Trade to receive full value for underperforming or troubled assets, which greatly enhances liquidity and bottom line profitability.

TradeBanc leverages the vast domain expertise of its founders to utilize AltCurrency Tokens for the acquisition of assets pursuant to Corporate Trade smart contracts. The end result provides liquidity for challenged assets and excess capacity to transform it into new sources of revenue that is utilized towards purchasing.

Corporate Trade enables new possibilities in industries as diverse as venture capital, health care, supply chain, hospitality, advertising, media, and retail, as well as many others. It facilitates new forms of tradable assets that make it possible to monetize illiquid assets.

The History of Corporate Trade

Underperforming assets such as equity, real estate, excess hotel room inventory, empty seats in restaurants and unsold perishable media is sold for AltCurrency. The AltCurrency is used just like cash towards payment for purchasing and capital expenses at the same pricing as if it was an all cash transaction, traded for other cryptocurrency, or even converted to cash.

Large companies, municipalities and governments trade products and services through accounts receivable trading, relying on a corporate trade company to purchase inventory offered for sale with trade credits and subsequently to fulfill the credits by providing products and services requested by the seller. The corporate trade company acts as a principal in the barter transaction as buyer and seller and becomes the purchasing agent for clients to spend their trade credit.

TradeBanc brings corporate trade to a higher standard by combining reciprocal trade expertise with financial transaction modeling and blockchain technology to expand liquidity options for companies that desire to monetize challenged assets and excess capacity.

Corporate trade as it is practiced today originated in the late 1960’s. At that time, corporate trade was primarily a financial tool - a way for companies with excess or obsolete inventories to recover costs and receive full wholesale value for inventory. Today, corporate trade remains a profitable

ALTCURRENCY TOKENS

ASSET BACKED

SMART CONTRACTS

PREPAID EXPENSES

AltCurrency (ALTC) is spendable just like cash towards the payment of products, services or capital expenses.

AltCurrency backed by assets acquired in Corporate Trade transactions enhances liquidity and valuation.

Leveraging Blockchain to generate Smart Contracts reduces contract negotiations and execution from days to minutes.

AltCurrency received for illiquid assets becomes a balance sheet current asset booked as a prepaid expense.

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alternative to markdowns or liquidation and provides a valuable way to expand a company’s advertising and marketing budget using the leverage of a barter transaction. Corporate trade also facilitates foreign trade with countries that have goods and services to exchange but lack hard currency.

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Building a better tomorrow by leveraging 60+ years of combined Reciprocal Trade experience, TradeBanc is well positioned to advance corporate trade to a higher level of success for its trading partners. By assisting corporate partners, companies and governments with leadership in trading, commerce and payment platforms to improve commerce, TradeBanc with its native AltCurrency (ALTC) utility token enhances transparency, reduces fees, and brings new advantages to participating in corporate trade.

Corporate trade is practiced in transactions such as: excess unsold capacity, unfilled trucking on return trips, idle plant equipment, excess inventory, years on a lease when a company moves, and even equity in a firm or early stage company. Privately held companies can sell restricted stock for trade credit to offset marketing costs that will help build name recognition and market share, or to purchase technology development, consulting or hard assets.

TradeBanc’s online proprietary web enabled transactional software, intellectual assets, global infrastructure, core relationships, business model and industry domain expertise are available to be integrated into corporate and financial sectors throughout the world.

The Evolution of Corporate Trade TradeBanc’s founders have a history of being early adopters of technology and are expanding the future of corporate trade utilizing blockchain.

While retail trade exchanges have made significant strides in minimizing the problems associated with direct trading, TradeBanc is improving transactions and liquidity utilizing automation, transparency, and smart contracts.

The key to a successful asset or capacity remarketing transaction is scale: a well-defined distribution channel and a large number of strategic vendors and trading partners. TradeBanc addresses all industry market sectors, and assists clients with marketing strategy, business process implementation and fulfillment.

435 12th Street W, Bradenton, FL 34205, USA Phone: 888-224-9101 Email: info@tradebanc.com tradebanc.com 127

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The Recipico concept began over two decades ago.

We were idealistic young entrepreneurs trying to help businesses alleviate financial challenges and succeed. Our trade exchange startup soon grew to more than 700 business members, as we helped companies increase sales and reduce their cash requirements for purchasing.

Our small band of merry men and women actually helped improve a business member’s bottom line and offered owners a better lifestyle. It was a beautiful thing!

We were short on cash for our new startup, so we used the same solution we were providing our clients for our own business. By virtue of earning trade credit for sales, marketing, and business consulting services, we were able to pay for things with trade instead of cash.

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It didn’t take long for our startup to become cash flow positive, and we were living the life of entrepreneurs that earned much more than we did.

We earned trade to pay for vacations, dining & entertainment, and even construction & renovation services for our office. Fixed expenses such as office rent, furniture, office machines, supplies, and printing were also paid for with trade. We even leveraged the trade we earned for legal and accounting services, and advertising to grow our business.

We were able to totally minimize the cash requirements needed to run a business, and we enhanced our standard of living without the need for cash!

There was also another, huge benefit: the relationships we developed with local businesses and service providers were uplifting and sincere, as the services we offered helped each other prosper.

You don’t need money to create value.

All you need is the ability to provide a service, or leverage excess unsold capacity into a new asset, and a desire to do something different that makes a lot of sense. Businesses that accept trade typically enjoy about a 15% increase in sales.

We were a small band of revolutionaries trying to fix a much larger problem.

commerce. We believed it might provide a more sustainable solution for the issues that plague businesses, so we architected the tools to help break down the barriers to global trade.

Trade is extraordinary, but most people’s concept of trade and barter is a direct trade between two people or companies.

Arranging direct one to one trades can be pretty difficult. You may need the service of a company, but they may not need what you have. You might provide a service thinking that one day you’ll use the service of the other person, but often times, you end up being owed a service that you never use.

Multi-party trading is the ticket!

We facilitated over $16 million in annual transactions for our business members. We received awards, and we shared the stage with business leaders at numerous conferences. And yet, it never felt like enough. No matter how much we did, it wasn’t fundamentally changing a system that left many businesses struggling to survive.

We thought that there must be a better way.

We moved on to the development of technology that was needed to transform the world into a collaborative network of cashless trade

So here we are, launching Flippitt a new trade commerce platform for global communities.

We are blown away by the quality of people, companies, and exchanges the virtual trade commerce platform is attracting, and the range of possibilities they’re creating for commerce with each other.

Trade commerce offers a collaborative network of barter exchanges and hundreds of thousands of trading partners to easily facilitate multiparty trades and cross-border transactions using Trade Credit.

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Trade credit isn’t cyber currency like Bitcoin that has severe volatility and nothing backing it, but rather it is a business network community currency that is backed by the products and services of all participating businesses in the network.

This community is still young, but it’s powerful and it’s growing every day!

Together, we’re about to realize a paradigm shift.

Recipico’s gateway technology leverages crypto tokens to make them spendable online and at the point of sale.

We hope to help you make the shift to revolutionize your company, product or service with technology that will change the way people work, collaborate and transact business around the world.

The possibilities are endless, so welcome to our story and thank you for joining the evolution of business!

435 12th Street W | Bradenton, FL 34205 Phone: 941-845-6020 Email: info@recipico.com recipico www.recipico.com

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IMPULSE

AN INNOVATIVE SECURITY COMPANY, ADDRESSING THE CHALLENGES OF DATA BREACHES STEMMING FROM NETWORK ACCESS AND ENDPOINT DEVICES.

With the exponential growth on the number and types of devices accessing an organization’s network and systems, network security has become essential across all industries.

Impulse has been helping companies address the challenges of network access control for BYOD, IoT, and Guest Devices since 2004, enabling regulatory compliance, consistent authentication, and an intuitive end-user experience.

Helping organizations keep their networks secure and available for those permitted to use them, Impulse prevents access to those who are not. This not only ensures that the network is available when needed, but also that the organization’s data is protected, and that end-users’ devices are not compromised. Impulse’s flagship product, SafeConnect enables complete visibility, security, and control for the myriad of devices attaching to an organization’s network, while providing the flexibility to adhere to each organization’s unique computing policy philosophies.

Impulse continues to stay on the forefront of emerging technologies with the introduction of SafeConnect Software Defined Perimeter (SDP). While the Internet is a marvelous achievement in its ability to share information instantaneously across the globe, it is that same openness and collaborative nature of the Internet that now represents its most challenging impediment to continued growth and sustainability – security. Today, people 130

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access applications from anywhere (office, home or other remote locations) to anywhere (data center, co-lo, cloud or SaaS), which means the traditional definition of a Network Perimeter is going away. Impulse, through SafeConnect SDP is helping customers secure their New Perimeter by ‘hiding’ enterprise application and data resources from the Internet, and adhering to a ‘verify first, connect second’, Zero-Trust access model, as compared to today’s ‘connect first, authenticate second’ approach. A key component of SDP entails rendering an organization’s critical IT infrastructure “invisible” or “dark.” After all, you can’t hack what you can’t see.

Impulse is an innovative, leading provider of Contextual Intelligence and Network Security Orchestration in support of BYOD and IoT enabled enterprises. Impulse securely and efficiently automates BYOD by combining real-time, context-aware and simplified access-control architecture, remote cloud-managed support services, and customer-centric business philosophy to enable customer freedom. And now, Impulse provides this support both inside and outside of the traditional perimeter with SDP. Their customers know this as the Impulse Experience.

Laura Ellis, COO

Russ Miller, CTO

Impulse’s advice to those who want to build a successful business goes back to its user-centric business philosophy. Design a product, deliver it, and support it for your customers. Ultimately the success of your business relates back to the user and his/her experience with your product and your company.

Impulse is recognized as a leading Network Access Control (NAC) provider in a multitude of industry analysis, including Garter’s Market Guide and Frost & Sullivan’s annual report.

Impulse was founded in the Tampa Bay area – and its first customers are still here. There is a burgeoning tech community and they are proud to be a part of it. Additionally, Impulse taps into the strong pool of technical talent from local universities.

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Email: sales@impulse.com | ImpulsePoint | impulse-point www.impulse.com

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THE STORY Cyber Florida was formally established as the Florida Center for Cybersecurity through Florida Statute 1004.444 in July 2014, hosted by the University of South Florida for the benefit of the entire SUS and the state.

Led by Director Sri Sridharan, a seasoned expert and entrepreneur, the goals of the center are to assist in the creation of jobs, enhance the existing workforce, act as a cooperative facilitator between industry and higher education, seek out partnerships with major military installations, and attract cybersecurity companies to the state.

ELEVATOR PITCH The Florida Center for Cybersecurity, also known as Cyber Florida, is a state-funded organization dedicated to positioning Florida as a national leader in cybersecurity through education and workforce development; innovative, interdisciplinary research; and community outreach. Hosted at the University of South Florida, Cyber Florida works with all 12 State University System of Florida (SUS) institutions as well as industry, government and defense to build partnerships and develop programs that grow and strengthen Florida’s cybersecurity industry.

Guided by a nationally recognized Board of Advisors with former Director of National Intelligence Vice Adm. (Ret.) Mike McConnell as chair, Cyber Florida first focused on enhancing Florida’s cybersecurity talent pipeline to meet the overwhelming demand for cyber professionals. The center created a platform for collaboration among the 12 SUS institutions by establishing the SUS Cybersecurity Advisory Council and acts as a liaison with private industry to ensure academic programs align with industry 132

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needs. Additionally, Cyber Florida has invested more than $1.4 million to help fund 24 of these new programs through its Capacity Building Award Program. With Cyber Florida’s support, the SUS has expanded academic programs specific to cybersecurity from a handful in 2014 to more than 40 as of 2018, with several hundred graduates and thousands more enrolled.

And because the hands-on-keyboard experience is such a vital component of a successful cybersecurity educational program, Cyber Florida launched the Florida CyberHub in January 2018. This virtual learning lab provides a cyber range, secure sandbox, capture-theflag, course catalog, and desktop-as-a-service to facilitate and enhance cyber education and research initiatives throughout the state.

The center also has laid the foundation for a robust research ecosystem in Florida through the Collaborative Seed Award Program, which funds research projects led by investigators from at least two SUS institutions. Cyber Florida has invested more than $2.3 million in 44 cybersecurity research projects led by 65 researchers so far, and these projects are highlighted at an annual Research Symposium where both scholars and practitioners can explore the cutting-edge research being done at Florida’s universities.

In tandem with these initiatives and others, Cyber Florida has continued to grow its signature event year after year, the annual conference. Each year, the Florida Cyber Conference connects hundreds of cybersecurity stakeholders from students, educators and policymakers to CISOs, hands-on practitioners, and members of the defense and law enforcement communities. Held in Tampa each October and coming up on its fifth year, Florida Cyber Conference has rapidly grown to become one of the most popular and valuable industry events for Florida’s cybersecurity community.

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TRANSFORM YOUR NETWORK & PROTECT YOUR BUSINESS WITH VOLOGY’S PROVEN MANAGED IT, SECURITY & CLOUD SERVICES. Technology has become an integral part of business success — yet it’s increasingly challenging for organizations to keep up with rapidly evolving network infrastructure and modern IT. Rather than harnessing new technology for innovation and growth, these businesses are bogged down with mundane IT tasks and straining to maintain basic operations with their in-house team.

When you partner with Vology, a leading Managed IT, Security and Cloud Services Provider, you’re choosing to take control of your company. Vology offers best in class, end-to-end solutions to design, build, monitor and protect your IT network in and under the Cloud, on any device.

With Vology’s focus on ensuring your IT keeps pace with next-generation technologies, you can concentrate on: • Managing and growing your business more

efficiently and cost-effectively • Reducing IT costs by 20-30% • Increasing productivity, customer satisfaction

and profitability “As we double our size, Vology is going to be the one to help us get to the next platform. We’re not

experts in IT and we don’t want to be, that’s why we have Vology as a partner to help us,” says Ray Rowland, Chief Financial Officer of Kimmins Contracting Corp.

Founded in 2001, Vology is headquartered in Clearwater, Fla. and employs more than 300 people, over half of whom are certified technical professionals and engineers. Vology currently monitors, manages and maintains 260,000 devices at 32,000 customer sites, providing 24/7/365 support through its U.S.-based Network and Security Operations Centers and nationwide network of 2,200 fully vetted field technicians.

“When issues arise that require even higher levels of expertise, we know Vology has dedicated team members readily available to help us,” states Lynn Craver, Vice President of Care Navigation & IT at Empath Health.

In 2018, Vology launched a full breath of Managed Security Services and a 24/7/365 Security Operations Center designed to protect against every aspect of security and compliance threats. Vology also broadened its Cloud Services offering, providing expert assessments, consulting and migration services for organizations choosing to take advantage of the security and scalability of the Cloud.

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Additionally, Vology became a Cisco Gold Partner in 2018. Of the more than 12,000 Cisco resellers in the U.S., Vology is now part of the one percent to be designated a Gold Partner. In addition to Cisco, the company partners with countless hardware and software vendors to deliver enterprise-class IT solutions. Vology is a Citrix Platinum Solution Advisor, HP Gold Partner, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Platinum Partner, Juniper Networks Elite Partner, Microsoft Gold Partner and VMware Premier Solution Advisor.

Vology is ranked No. 21 on the 2018 MSP 501 list of the best Managed IT Services Providers worldwide, and was also recognized on The Channel Company’s 2018 editions of CRN’s MSP 500, Tech Elite 250 and Solution Provider 500.

IT can and should be viewed as a source for innovative business process automation and improvement, a value-add and a competitive advantage. Vology can help you make that happen in your organization quickly and affordably with unprecedented quality and unmatched service.

To discover more benefits of partnering with Vology, call 888-808-2199 to speak with one of our IT experts today.

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“With what Vology has helped us build, our eyes are open and we’re finding the next steps to make things better, so we’ll be here for generations to come.”

Matthew Sokolowski, Vice President of Great Bay Distributors

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15950 Bay Vista Dr. Clearwater, FL 33760 Phone: 888-808-2199 company/vology /vology /vology www.vology.com

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CYBERSECURITY AND REGULATORY COMPLIANCE EXPERTS Abacode is fundamentally different from most Cybersecurity providers. We address company risk from a business strategy first and cyber-technologies second. This methodology ensures your technical and non-technical leadership are able to make strategic decisions that positively impact the entire organization.

Historically, companies have thought of security as a single product or point solution and have used an average of 30+ different vendors to purchase all of their Compliance and Cybersecurity products or services. This has led to increased confusion, limited cohesiveness, and zero cost-controls for businesses. Abacode was built to solve this problem.

As one of the few solely dedicated full-service Cybersecurity firms, we provide companies with a single trusted source for all cybersecurity products, solutions, and managed services. Regulatory Compliance and Cybersecurity is not a part of what we do. It is our sole focus. This matters a great deal to our clients and alliance partners.

We understand businesses may have a favorite product supplier or solution. Chances are, we work with them too. Our Cybersecurity Applied Research Lab (CARL) and Security Operation Centers (SOC) provide unbiased decision-making for all cyber–risk and compliance needs.

Is your cyber-risk balance sheet in order? Do you have the right governance in place to make good enterprise business decisions?

Abacode has become one of the fastest growing Managed Security Services Providers (MSSP) by empowering companies to have a Cyber Capability Maturity Model (CCMM) and consolidate all initiatives under one roof.

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This is a key reason that the Tampa Bay Lightning™ and Amalie Arena chose Abacode as its sole provider for all Compliance and Cybersecurity product & services needs.

Whether you engage Abacode directly or through one of our many trusted alliance partners (PoweredBy Abacode), we declutter the complex landscape of Compliance and Cybersecurity and place strategic planning and delivery back into the decision-making process.

Our no-cost security evaluation could save you thousands of dollars in time and money and provide the level of visibility you have not seen before.

Offices in the Americas and in Europe.

Abacode Cybersecurity Experts Email: insight@abacode.com | Phone: 869-596-9020 abacode-llc | | abacode_cyber www.abacode.com 137

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ELEVATOR PITCH Cienaga Systems’ DejaVu helps organizations mitigate risk from tomorrow’s cyber-attacks, today. Leveraging recent advances in machine learning, DejaVu continuously generates and evaluates new, innovative cyber-attacks and preemptively searches networks for indications of the same. Its threat-hunting-as-a-service model with turn-key deployment makes DejaVu the ideal solution for organizations to roll out world-class cyber threat management capabilities.

THE STORY Cyber attacks today cost an estimated $400B worldwide and affect everyone, from payment processing systems in large enterprises to appliances in our kitchens and even devices in our children’s bedrooms.

At Cienaga Systems, our team of software engineers, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence experts is changing this dynamic, enabled by recent advances in machine learning.

Over the past few years, we have built our proprietary Genetically Engineered Cyber Security™ engine. This is an innovative technology that continuously runs scenarios on new and unknown cyber threat vectors. These simulated attack patterns are learned and then used on organizations’ networks. In other words, it looks for tomorrow’s attacks, today.

Our cloud-based threat-huntingas-a-service solution is called

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“The result is an ever-evolving threat hunting machine which leverages intelligence from billions of real and potential attack scenarios and helps organizations stay abreast of future malicious attacks.”

DejaVu because its purpose is to alert when it recognizes a behavioral pattern that matches what has previously been imagined by the Genetically Engineered Cyber Security engine.

DejaVu is able to sift through enormous data volumes and analyze quantities of potential hypothetical outcomes at speeds and accuracy levels that are impossible for humans to match. The result is an ever-evolving threat hunting machine which leverages intelligence from billions of real and potential attack scenarios and helps organizations stay abreast of future malicious attacks.

Today, our solution is commercialized to organizations under 2,000 employees in the Americas and Europe, through Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs), Managed Service Providers (MSPs), Value-Add Resellers (VARs) and security ecosystem partners.

MILESTONES In 2015, Cienaga Systems was recognized as one of only a dozen of threatmanagement firms in Cybersecurity-500, a merit-based listing of the world’s hottest cyber-security companies. As we deepened our collaboration with strategic partners with a global footprint, we were awarded The Bronze Softshell Vendor Award further recognizing our expansion in European markets (2018).

5024 Brickell Park Cv, Lakewood Ranch, FL 34211 Phone: +1-941-676-3417 Email: sales@cienagasystems.net cienagasystems cienagasystems cienaga-systems www.cienagasystems.net 139

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INTERNATIONAL SCREENING DEVELOPS SOLUTIONS FOR MANAGING GLOBAL RISK HOW GOOD IS YOUR ROLODEX?

For decades in business, the measure of networking prowess was defined by the content of a spinning wheel of index cards. Could you imagine relying on a Rolodex of business cards and pencil scratches to manage your relationships today? Hardly. Now imagine a global risk business tool relying on manual updates to track millions of known terrorists, human traffickers, and money launderers.

Fortunately, the team at International Screening Solutions imagined a different solution. While the market was

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focused on watchlists created regionally, maintained manually, and updated sporadically, ISS co-founders Chuck Papageorgiou and Eric Beach envisioned an automated global risk information exchange (GRIX) that could locate, aggregate, curate, and deliver risk data directly from the source. “As more countries and agencies identified money laundering, human trafficking, and terror financing, the manually-updated tools couldn’t keep pace with all the

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“Money laundering is inextricably linked to the underlying criminal activity that generated it. Laundering enables criminal activity to continue.”

new information being shared,” said Papageorgiou. “The old tools were okay when the blacklist alerts streamed from a handful of sources, but today it is more like a river of risk data. When a money launder is sanctioned in one location, they will often resurface somewhere else.”

Supported by customers including the world’s largest payroll and background screening companies, ISS developed GRIX to locate, aggregate, curate, and deliver information drawn from the “river of risk data” each day.

ISS created a selective search engine to access validated information about individuals and businesses restricted from commercial activity because of their criminal activity. Algorithms dissected adverse information from structured and unstructured data, then indexed everything to accommodate customer-specific searches.

Businesses everywhere need “know your customer” (KYC) and anti-money laundering (AML) programs to protect against the growing global risk.

According to the Financial Action Task Force, human trafficking alone generates $150 billion annually in black market revenue. From a recent FATF report:

Delivery came in the form of WorldWatch Plus® - a customer-designed platform with case management, reporting, and custom filtering, available in a SaaS portal or integration with existing customer systems. Launched in 2015, utilization doubled each of the last three years, and ISS was named a Top 10 KYC Solution Provider by Banking CIO Outlook for 2017, and an Inc. 5000 entry for both 2016 and 2017.

ISS continues to build on four pillars of differentiation: casting a wider net, timely and relevant results, unmatched partnering and customer service, and a customer-friendly economic model. With customers on-boarding from around the world, the Rolodex at ISS is doing just fine. @intlscreening intlscreening www.intlscreening.com 141

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“This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.”

Photo courtesy of MacDill AFB

- ELMER DAVIS

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THE UNITED STATES SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND (USSOCOM), LOCATED ON MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE IN TAMPA, FLORIDA IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES (SOF) OPERATING AROUND THE WORLD.

THE STORY From its roots in the legendary Office of Strategic Services (OSS) in World War II, USSOCOM champions a culture that embraces and supports innovation in research and development, operations, and bringing diverse communities together to rapidly invent and field new capabilities.

industry, individuals and other “non-traditional” partners together to innovate for USSOCOM’s most challenging problems. The goal was to create a place where they could harvest the “return on collision” by bringing a diverse set of experts together to rapidly solve problems, as well as reduce barriers to enable anyone with an idea to collaborate with USSOCOM.

THE INNOVATION

USSOCOM recognized that it was becoming difficult to reach entrepreneurs, small businesses, and creative talent outside the traditional defense industry market, as well as have a place where the SOF operator, acquirer, and inventor could collaborate and think about the challenges of the future. To address this issue, USSOCOM and The Doolittle Institute, a 501 3(c) nonprofit, entered into a Partnership Intermediary Agreement.

Today, SOFWERX, located in Historic Ybor City in Tampa, FL attracts hacker/makers, university students and professors, inventors, small businesses, and more to support the Special Operation Forces. An interactive venue for innovative ideas, SOFWERX has become the premier incubator for innovative thinking in Tampa Bay.

This partnership created a unique collaboration venue, SOFWERX, designed to bring academia,

They host several types of events including: rapid prototyping, collaboration & capability sessions,

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prize challenges (www.teamwerx.org), hackathons, and more to get the “best of breed” ideas and emerging technologies to USSOCOM. SOFWERX also supports Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) programs with K-12 schools in the Tampa Bay area. Providing tours/briefs, project development support, professional development, technical expertise and more, SOFWERX can inspire the next generation of incredible innovators to solve USSOCOM’s toughest future problems.

SOFWERX facilitates collaboration with a variety of academic organizations, including maintaining a very close relationship with the University of South Florida (USF). College interns, industry fellows, graduate students, collegiate faculty, startups, and foreign partners also collaborate daily in this truly unique innovation environment. SOFWERX accepts intern applications from across the country to fulfill slots ranging from marketing, to cybersecurity, to electrical engineering, and more.

SOFWERX, and the collaboration it has inspired in the Tampa community, has become the recognized standard of how the military, academia, entrepreneurs, traditional defense suppliers, and everyday citizens can work together to create immense value in numerous ways – improving capabilities for our military and first responders, improving education of our high school and college students, and providing access to new markets for start-ups and small businesses.

1925 E. 2nd Ave, Suite 102, Tampa, FL 33605 Phone: 813-693-5599 sofwerx @sofwerx @SOFWERX UCjg_-U81wxjsHhjRerEUwnQ www.sofwerx.org

Join the SOFWERX Ecosystem today and stay connected: www.sofwerx.org/ecosystem.

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QUIET PROFESSIONALS

OUR PRIMARY FOCUS IS IN THE GOVERNMENT DEFENSE SPACE. TO SET THE FOUNDATION FOR TAMPA, WE STARTED BY OUTLINING THE UNITED STATES MILITARY COMMANDS. There are 10 unified combatant commands - six have regional responsibilities and four have functional responsibilities. Out of the 50 states in the US, Florida is home to three of these unified combatant commands and Tampa alone is home to two of the three.

Tampa is the only city in the US that is home to two of only 10 unified combatant commands.

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Tampa continues to experience a rich growth in defense contracting that is tied to the needs of the decision-makers in charge of these two commands. Ever-evolving technology and the military requirement to stay on the cutting edge is driving young talent to the Greater Tampa Bay region. “My vision is to capitalize on our operational experience and bridge

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the gap between defense contracting, innovation, and the commercial marketplace. We will help to ensure that our government receives the very best, brightest and most experienced workforce available. We will drive ideas through the research and development process with complete and innovative solutions. We will assist in bridging the gap between local government leaders, business leaders and academia with the military industry and growing demands for innovative solutions to never-ending requirements,” says Andrew Wilson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Quiet Professionals.

Wilson says the next innovation that’s going to change the industry is Artificial Intelligent (AI). He says autonomous unmanned systems are tied at the hip with AI. “There are already tremendous milestones being reached within this vast relatively new field of work. The world is beginning to see the seemingly limitless possibilities for innovative uses of all things unmanned both good and bad. Driverless vehicles will soon consume our roadways. Drones will replace manned delivery vehicles and begin a new surge in air transportation. AI will tie in with unmanned systems to create an automated and synchronized global network of transportation.

Nefarious groups around the globe will exploit these advances in technology for personal monetary or ideological goals.” All of these things must be continuously studied to ensure all of the good that can come to society is maintained and all the bad influencers are mitigated through well planned countermeasures.

2701 North Rocky Point Drive, Suite 175, Tampa, FL 33607 Phone: (813) 902-3557 Email: andy@quietprofessionalsllc.com quiet-professionals-llc QuietProfessionalsLLC www.quietprofessionalsllc.com 147

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ELEVATOR PITCH Alakai Defense Systems, Inc., headquartered in Tampa Bay Florida, has invented, developed, manufactured, and deployed world-record setting sensor systems to protect deployed soldiers and first responders from bombs and other threats.

They specifically specialize in laser-based remote sensing systems for the detection of bombs, IEDs, truck bombs, Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD), narcotics, and numerous other hazardous materials at long-range for the defense and security space.

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THE STORY Alakai’s motto since founding in 2004, is “We were Soldiers, our children are Soldiers, our Mission is to protect the Soldier.” The current incarnation of Alakai was established in Florida in 2006 by Ed Dottery, a West Point graduate and Army officer who commanded in the Infantry and Special Forces before returning to the West Point physics faculty, after an applied physics degree from Stanford University.

Mr. Dottery has made it his lifelong mission to serve and protect soldiers through next generation sensor development. These sensors detect bombs and other threats farther, faster, and safer than the current state of the art.

Alakai’s first true product was for fixed sites or vehicle mounted– the Check Point Explosive Detection System (CPEDS), which can detect threats at football field distances and as of this writing has been deployed by the US Army for over two years, and other organizations are following suit. The CPEDS is an extreme standoff range system for Entry Point Security such as a port, military installation, or any other use that requires an extremely long-range detection.

A man-portable variant, PRIED, for Portable Raman Improvised Explosive Detector was then developed by Alakai for the US Special Operations Command. PRIED is contained in a backpack with a handheld wand design to quickly detect various hazards such as explosives, narcotics, and chemical warfare agents. Alakai’s PRIED was cited by SPIE (International Society for Optics and Photonics) in 2016 as one of the top 3 most innovative optical sensor in the world in a Silicon Valley ceremony.

MILESTONES Alakai has been the recipient of various awards and recognitions including: the Florida Governor’s Business Diversification Award – Entrepreneurship (Major Market), Emerging Technology Company of the Year, Florida Companies to Watch, Florida Fast 50, and three years on the Inc. 5000 list. In addition to its Florida base of operation, Alakai maintains offices in Fort Leonard Wood, MO and the Washington DC metro area.

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Florida’s aerospace and defense industry first enabled mankind to leave this world and set foot on another. It hasn’t been idle since. Florida has twenty major military installations and three unified combatant commands. It’s also the home of space exploration. As a result, Florida enjoys a robust defense and aerospace economy anchored by industry leaders Boeing, Embraer, Raytheon, Honeywell, General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman - all proud members of the Florida Defense Contractors Association, Inc. (FDCA).

Florida aerospace and defense industry innovations in mechanical engineering, electronics engineering, information engineering and computer science are legendary. These industries

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include the inventors, thinkers, and builders who developed the predecessor to our modern-day global positioning system (GPS) in 1960; the first computer mouse in 1964; and the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET) - the Internet precursor - in 1969. These are obvious examples of the many technical innovations civilians use every day. A deeper review illustrates their extraordinary contribution in the scientific fields of aviation, robotics, optics and photonics.

The pursuit of excellence and innovation in flight, engineering, electronics, laser and optical science brings three additional benefits to Florida: the manufacturing of

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aerospace and defense products and components; a highpaying, high-tech workforce; and a premier university system offering advanced training in technical areas with a basis in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

The future of the aerospace and defense industry in Florida is bright. The unified focus of leaders in business, government and higher education will continue to attract and produce innovative technologies, jobs and investment to the state.

The FDCA’s mission is to make Florida the premiere state where defense contractors conduct business, create jobs and expand operations. Our members live that mission every day, from the largest employers to the smallest subcontractors. If your firm would like to be a part of our mission, we invite you to join us.

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PROJECT TRANSITION USA

HELP US KEEP MORE OF OUR TRANSITIONING SERVICE MEMBERS HERE IN TAMPA BAY!

THE CHALLENGE It’s sad but true - LinkedIn is the #1 employment and professional networking tool in the civilian world, but it’s virtually unknown to our transitioning U.S. military troops!

Although many of our U.S. troops have high-level technical and leadership skills, they know very few civilians. Business networking is a new concept, so they have great difficulty discovering where their skills will best fit in.

OUR SOLUTION Project Transition USA, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, is the only organization that focuses on teaching our U.S. military heroes how to use LinkedIn to form new alliances and find their next mission - a meaningful and rewarding civilian career!

We were the first to conduct a LinkedIn Job Search Workshop for active duty troops and families on any U.S. military base worldwide on November 16, 2012, at MacDill AFB.

OUR NEW VETERAN SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM Since then over 2,500 transitioning troops have successfully completed our free monthly training on MacDill, and our Tampa Bay Business Community has benefitted dramatically as a result.

Veteran success stories abound with local employers such as Amazon, PwC, ConnectWise, and Moffit Cancer Center – while many other attendees have found employment with more distant companies such as Disney and Tesla.

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The goal of this new program is to provide advanced, one-onone training to transitioning U.S. military and their spouses from MacDill AFB, who want to stay in Tampa Bay. Many of our workshop attendees who are nearing retirement need more training than our monthly, 7-hour LinkedIn training can provide!

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NANCY LAINE, CO-FOUNDER & PRESIDENT

OUR ROOTS Project Transition USA was co-founded by Nancy Laine, daughter of an Army Chaplain. An expert LinkedIN trainer for over 10 years, she began teaching LinkedIN to the military after being asked to do so by military leaders who had struggled during their own transition.

OUR VISION We intend to expand our paid team of “Veterans Training Veterans”!

TESTIMONIALS FROM MACDILL AFB GRADS: “I honestly don’t think I’d be where I am now if I wasn’t so active on LinkedIn – it’s a powerful tool that works! I networked with folks currently in the position I was interested in, and that’s what led me to getting noticed by Amazon.”– Leon Snow, Amazon “Little did I know PTUSA’s LinkedIn class on MacDill AFB would prepare me for a successful interview with Tesla! They helped me set up a professional profile that caught Tesla’s eye and many other companies as well!” – Jarod Castenada, Tesla

Over 2,500 have attended our MacDill AFB LinkedIN Workshop since 2012

HOW YOU CAN HELP Donate to our 501c3 nonprofit: www.ProjectTransitionUSA.org

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SOF TRANSITION ASSISTANCE RESOURCE American Patriots assisting American Heroes successfully transition into the civilian world. have unselfishly devoted their time and efforts to ‘give back’ to our STAR Operators, whose selfless service keeps us safe. This special relationship reflects mutual admiration, respect, and gratitude which helps create deep military-civilian connections and strengthens our Tampa Bay community.

The STAR Network is grateful to and appreciative of the senior leadership at the United States Special Operations Command at MacDill Air Force Base for their encouragement and support.

The STAR Network assists our transitioning special operators in 5 primary ways.

1. STAR Dinners - The lasting connections within the STAR Network initially developed through monthly dinners, which provide an environment conducive for mentoring and networking, Through these events, operators gain a more meaningful and deeper appreciation of the civilian culture, build a business network (key for landing their next career), rehearse their 60 second elevator pitch and translate military experience into industry skills and value. These interactions serve as a military to corporate language immersion course, while helping operators understand different industry sectors and career paths, find a trusting sounding board for life issues and interact with highly successful local business leaders.

2. Speaker Series - This initiative provides an opportunity for our military heroes to benefit from subject matter experts on how to best address key transition challenges. Topics include gaining insights from lessons learned, transition success stories (for example, how I went from wearing a uniform to landing a 6-figure civilian job), resume writing, LinkedIn, 2-minute elevator pitch, building and leveraging networks. how to be an entrepreneur, conducting effective negotiations, financial gut-check and how to tell your warrior story.

3. Job Shadows - Experiencing a day in the life of a STAR civilian leader provides an opportunity for our STAR operators to better understand potential career paths, which leads to more informed choices of industries that align with their capabilities and passion. STAR Operators have expressed that full-day engagements in different industries and professions are one of their most meaningful and powerful experiences.

4. The STAR Network is partnered with Tampa Bay Job Links (TBJL), which is a non-profit organization that provides professionals with career guidance and job-search coaching. TBJL offers veterans a comprehensive career transition program at a nominal cost.

5. Partnership with LinkedIn - Nancy Laine runs Project_Transition_ USA (ProjectTransitionUSA.com) and teaches a free monthly LinkedIn course at MacDill Air Force Base.

ABOUT US The term “Special Operations Forces” or “SOF” refers to our nation’s most elite group of warriors from our US Department of Defense that includes Army Green Berets, Night Stalkers and Rangers; Navy SEALs and Combatantcraft Crewman; Marine Raiders; and Air Force Pararescueman and Combat Controllers. These Operators possess invaluable leadership skills and have exceptionally high degrees of integrity, self-motivation, creativity, focus, discipline and drive. Their “no fail” mindset gets projects done right on time with high quality. Their senior executive leadership skills sharpened under incredible circumstances in ambiguous complex and in many cases, dangerous environments enables them to compete for C-Suite executive positions in the private sector.

Military transition into the civilian world can be extremely stressful and challenging for a variety of reasons. Experienced mentors can provide them with the much-needed assistance. Starting with listening to their needs, assisting them with how and where to begin the transition process, translating their military experience into skills and value, developing a personalized transition plan to track progress, guiding them on challenging careers that best leverage their capabilities and passion and helping them network with the right business leaders to seize career opportunities.

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SOF Operators - Leadership Competencies • • • • • • • •

Self Motivated with a Can Do Attitude Breakthrough Thinking Straight Talk & Genuine Leaders Decisiveness Developing Talent Team Leadership Personal Accountability Drive to Achieve

Help strengthen Tampa Bay! Our STAR civilians are eager to participate in local business and professional events, initiate operator panels and roundtables with Tampa Bay C-Suite executives to make them aware of the leadership skills and business value our STAR operators can immediately provide.

“Through STAR, I learned of an opportunity at Moffitt Cancer Center that matched my expertise, skills, and core values. I now proudly serve as Moffitt’s Senior Planning Consultant and support the design, development, and execution of its strategic plan, and further its mission of contributing to the prevention and cure of cancer. Special Operators bring unique leadership, team-building, and critical thinking skills that not only add immediate value, but also create entirely new opportunities for your organization.” (Health Care Sector) Dan Hodne, Retired US Army Colonel (Special Forces)

“The STAR Program exposed me to a network of successful business professionals who made my military transition a priority. These industry leaders helped me understand my value in the marketplace, which equates to success outside of the military. I now serve as the Chief Business Development Officer at KAATSU Global, Inc., where our focus is Injury Rehabilitation, Human Performance & Sports Recovery.” (Retail Sector) John Doolittle, Retired US Navy Captain (SEAL)

“Success depends on networking and translation of the experience that SOF Operators have and that businesses need. STAR helps Operators build/enhance a network and translate skills to demonstrate value to business leaders. I gratefully serve as VP of Operations for Grow Financial Federal Credit Union, and my boss tells me every day: he hired me for my leadership; that he can teach me the details of the financial services sector.

Hundreds of leaders transition from MacDill every year.” (Financial Services Sector) Kent Paro, Retired US Navy Captain (SEAL)

STAR Team Chief Executive - Vijay Lund (vjlund@gmail.com) Co-Founders: Mark Rosenthal, Anthony Weiss American Heroes - 100+ highly accomplished SOF Operators from SOCOM at MacDill AFB have signed on to STAR since its inception.

American Patriots - 100+ successful local business leaders, who represent diverse industry sectors, volunteer their time and effort to assist our American Heroes.

If you are interested in learning more about the Star Network, contact the Chief Executive, Mr Vijay Lund at vjlund@gmail.com

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Strengthen our STAR Civilian Team by recruiting additional business and professional leaders from all Tampa Bay growth markets while doubling our capacity in 3 years.

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BUILDING, DESIGN & URBAN PLANNING 156

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“There’s no shortage of remarkable ideas; what’s missing is the will to execute them.”

- SETH GODIN

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STRATEGY The Beck Group has a unique approach to architecture and construction. They create teams across all departments and areas of expertise work on a common goal – their clients’ projects. They believe that a better process and outcome result from working together. Many companies who work with Beck come to share this opinion.

HISTORY The Beck Group’s history in Florida dates back to 1961, when they built the first launch facility at Cape Canaveral. With a Florida headquarters established in Tampa over 30 years ago, Beck delivers projects that touch every aspect of life in Tampa Bay, from travelers passing through TPA’s Consolidated Rental Car

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Facility (ConRAC) and Automated People Mover (APM), to visitors exploring the renowned Dali Museum and The James Museum; from students living and studying at The University of Tampa, to physicians practicing cutting-edge technology at USF Health’s Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation (CAMLS); and from diners enjoying a meal at Ulele, to the thousands of employees working at the Sykes Building.

Beck has taken the concept of design-build to a new level, by merging construction and design under one roof. Because they are builders, they are more knowledgeable architects. Because they are architects, they are contractors who better understand design.

In addition, their sustainability and technology practices innovate to solve problems and their program management practice allows busy owners to focus on what they do best. “Great design and great construction go together. Only when we rise to the level of

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CARING

true teaming, taking responsibility for each other’s work, can we address the fundamental inefficiencies and the waste involved with delivering buildings,” says Beck CEO, Fred Perpall. Beck’s sense of community spills over into their working environment, making them a “Best Place to Work” in the Tampa Bay Business Journal, Florida Trend Magazine and Tampa Bay Times. Beck is committed to continuing to serve Florida for decades to come.

Showing concern, empathy and compassion for others, ourselves, and our environment. Beck’s concern shows in their commitment to Safety First in all they do, and never compromising on it.

INTEGRATION Working unselfishly toward common goals across disciplines, teams, departments and regions. Beck believes that their collective contributions are greater than individual skills.

VALUES

INNOVATION INTEGRITY

Never being too comfortable with the status quo, by developing new ideas and applying those solutions that differentiate Beck in valuable ways. The company strives to maintain an environment where they foster new ideas and encourage changes that can help them improve.

Doing the right thing when no one is looking and behaving with uncompromising honesty. Beck believes in maintaining lasting relationships based on honesty, consistency and with the highest ethical standards. This creates credibility in their personal and professional relationships.

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REAL BUILDING CONSULTANTS

REAL BUILDING CONSULTANTS PROVIDES SERVICES TO THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY – RAINGING FROM BUILDING OWNERS, REAL ESTATE DEVELOPERS, ARCHITECTS AND CONTRACTORS TO PUBLICLY TRADED COMPANIES AND CORPORATIONS – TO HELP THEM DESIGN AND BUILD INNOVATIVE, ENERGY-EFFICIENT, HEALTHY AND SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS. From the project visioning to early design, through construction and operations REAL Building Consultants works with developers and building owners to make sure that their project is designed, built and operated to reduce it’s impact on the environment and maximize return on investment.

THE STORY Founded by Taylor Ralph, REAL Building Consultants has been in business since 2008. A couple of years before the start of the consulting firm, Ralph started a design/build company with his co-founder/business partner Darren Brinkley—designing and building net zero energy, LEED platinum, custom built homes and working on very innovative projects in the residential space. Soon after, Ralph started to get a lot of attention around the innovative, third-party certified projects being developed and commercial developers and building owners began to call, asking if he could consult on their projects. He was smart enough to say “yes,” when asked for help. Before he knew it, he had started a commercial consulting practice within the residential design-build firm, and in 2008 REAL Building Consultants was officially formalized.

In 2012, the consulting business had grown so much that Ralph ended up selling the ownership in the original design-build company to work full-time on the consulting side.

From the early days, REAL Building Consultants worked on some of the most cutting-edge green building projects, and helped their clients exceed their expectations in building performance. In 2008, the green building market was still in its early stage of growth, and REAL was there to help many of their clients build some of the first LEED certified projects in the Tampa Bay region.

Over the years REAL Building Consultants helped to define what green building was to the market, and developed a system of performance goals that helped their clients realize the business case for sustainable buildings. REAL 164

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Building Consultants has helped clients reduce their energy and water use in the buildings, while also promoting alternative transit use and the health and productivity of a space for it’s occupants.

REAL Building Consultants has always tried to maintain a diverse set of clients, working with the most well known developers in the market that are doing important projects for the region, while also helping Tampa Bay to grow into a more mature green building market. Traditionally, the firm works with developers, institutional owners like universities, publicly traded companies, as well as non-profits, small businesses, community institutions and governmental agencies. They cover the entire spectrum inside the commercial development sector, including multi-family projects that realize that their buyers and renters are demanding a home that is environmentally conscious, efficient and healthy.

USGBC Team Award

Taylor Ralph, Founder

When a company or developer wants to develop a project in a sustainable manner, REAL Building Consultants helps them to define what that means based on their financial goals and mission; making sure that they are actually designing a project in a responsible, efficient and healthy manner, and achieving the goals they have set up for their business. REAL works to ensure that their clients are building buildings that are making a positive impact on the health and productivity of it’s occupants, while also reducing the building’s environmental impact.

REAL Building Consultants team also works to help clients and the market in general better understand sustainability practices, and how to holistically develop a “green building,” sharing lessons learned while speaking at events, offering educational sessions and volunteering with various real estate-based non-profits. With over 60 years of experience combined in building design, functional performance and construction, REAL Building Consultants is making a major contribution to the green building movement.

University of Tampa Jenkins Hall Courtesy of Eric Kreher

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REALBuildingConsultants | realbldgconsult | real-building-consultants | realbldgconsult www.realbuildingconsultants.com

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INNOVATIONS IN COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE ID PLANS HAS BEEN A PIONEER IN THE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT INDUSTRY FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS

When you buy a new car, you get an owner’s manual.

When you buy a shopping center, you get the shopping center – and maybe a set of outdated blueprints if you’re lucky.

Jeff Landry, CEO of ID Plans

With that disconnect in mind, Jeff Landry and Mike Rustenberghe created ID Plans in 1999. Their goal was simple – to make property management more efficient by creating detailed, accurate site plans that identified and mapped all vital data points on a property. Everything on the site was included, from HVAC units to irrigation systems to parking spaces, providing a clear snapshot of the property’s assets along with their locations.

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waste time or money tracking down irrigation information or finding meter numbers because they already had all the details of their property at their fingertips. Instead, they could focus on taking a more proactive approach to site management and head off challenges before they became problems.

ID Plans has come a long way since its early years, when site plans were printed on paper and distributed to property managers. In 2005, the company launched an interactive online platform to view the plans, and in 2012, an iOS application was created that allowed property

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managers to access their data on their iPhones and iPads.

As industry needs grew and evolved, the ID Plans software changed along with them, moving to a cloud-based online platform that could be accessed at any time, from any place, on any device. This data could also be updated in real time with unlimited photos and documents and easily shared with vendors, potential tenants, and team members across the globe.

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ID Plans has firmly established itself as a pioneer in the commercial real estate space, but the story doesn’t end there. With an eye on the future, the technology team at ID Plans continues to develop cutting-edge software solutions to meet the needs of their customers and the industry at large. Connecting the software to the Internet of Things is a goal, along with an increased focus on analytics. It’s all part of a larger vision of creating a more efficient, streamlined process to give property managers and owners the power to protect their investments and manage their assets more effectively.

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ID Plans Email: sales@idplans.com Phone: 866-657-2545 idplans @idplans id-plans idplans.com

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Based in Tampa, FL, Homee is an on-demand property maintenance app that provides users with immediate access to electricians, plumbers, heating and cooling technicians and handymen from their smartphone.

Request a Homee Just tell Homee what you need done and add your notes and photos.

The Right Pro, Right Away Get matched with a background-checked pro you can get started right away. Watch your Homee travel to the location with real-time GPS.

THE STORY Homee On Demand leads the way in giving users immediate access to background-checked service professionals who are ready to get started on your project in about 30 minutes. Handle the whole process in the app - including timing, pricing and payment. We guarantee great providers and great results. To ensure we have the most qualified, knowledgeable experts in the field, Homee screens service professionals for a criminal record, SSN verification, and trade license status. For total piece of mind, every job is covered by our $1,000 service quality guarantee.

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Get the Project Started Complete jobs on a timer, billed right down to the minute and only pay for the time pros are on-site and working.

Review & Pay The entire transaction is completed in the app! Your job is Done. Right. Now.

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Doug, CEO and Co-Founder

Dave, CTO and Co-Founder

MEET THE FOUNDERS Homee was founded back in 2016, by Doug Schaedler and Dave Theus. Prior to founding Homee, Doug and Dave both worked at inno360, Inc., Dave as Chief Product Officer and Doug as President and CEO. Dave has a Master’s degree in Aerospace Structures Engineering from the University of Cincinnati with a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Dayton. Doug holds an M.B.A. in Finance and Economics from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a B.A. in Economics from Tufts University.

“Homee is a category-leading, on-demand property maintenance platform that is changing the way homeowners and property managers find, contract, and pay for qualified heating and air conditioning, plumbing, electrical, and general handyman services.”

- Doug Schaedler, CEO

MILESTONES “We are excited to partner with Homee and believe the Company is addressing fundamental pain points in the industry.”

- Michael DeRosa, Managing Director at Activate

In June 2018, Homee On Demand announced that it closed an $11 million financing, bringing the total invested in the Company to $15 million. Activate Capital Partners, LP led the financing round with the participation of The Home Depot (NYSE: HD), as well as the Company’s existing investors, including Florida Funders, FAN Fund, and Bialla Venture Partners. Engage, a venture fund backed by The Home Depot and 10 other leading corporations, also participated in the round.

Homee-On-Demand has been featured in NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX and Washington Street Journal.

For more information or to install the Homee app, search for Homee on demand in the app stores or visit www.homeeondemand.com If you have any questions, email us at info@homeeondemand.com Follow us on @homeeondemand | Follow us on @Homee | Follow us on @homee_on_demand 169

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ELEVATOR PITCH COI Energy is an energy-on-demand platform for utilities and their business customers to identify, manage, optimize and monetize flexible energy resources to drive building efficiency and power the electric grid. The platform provides utilities with real-time information on resources available to purchase energy, as well as the quality and cost of those resources to help solve grid imbalances. Benefits are also available to businesses that have flexibility and are able to support the grid through improved energy efficiency.

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inefficiencies and recommendations that go directly to the customer. The analysis show how and where energy is wasted and how to monetize the waste. Ultimately, it helps users save money and make money.

In the next five years, the electricity industry will not look the same; COI Energy is helping to build the narrative by enabling more options than just going to your local utility company to purchase power, you’ll be able to buy your power right from your mobile phone, from your neighbor or the market.

COI stands for ‘Circle of Influence”, which means that the people around us can make a difference in our success. This innovative startup creates a climate-friendly world by enabling low-cost, clean and flexible energy resources with the COI Optimizer™ platform for utilities and business users, including high-profile companies, such as a $3 billion utility in Florida.

The COI Optimizer™ unlocks the power of energy assets in the building to generate cash.

The solution is an integrated hardware enabled software platform that combines the following four modules: OptimizeDR™ (Demand Response), OptimizeEE™ (Energy Efficiency), OptimizeRE™ (Renewable Energy), and OptimizeIR™ (Incentives and Rebates). Together, these four modules enable clean, low-cost, flexible energy resources to improve the performance of the electric grid. The Software as a Service platform provides two-way communication, allowing real-time data collection with optional manual or automated control functionality.

allows the monetization of those resources. The energy assets include renewable energy (such as solar, coupled with battery storage), energy efficiency (such as LED lights and VFD motors), and demand response (such as production equipment and chillers). COI Energy is like Lyft for the electricity sector.

The utility company of the future will be an energy bank, enabling customers to cash in on unused electric capacity by making it available to other customers who need it. Utilities will be the intermediary facilitating the transaction and reducing energy waste in the process. So believes SaLisa Berrien, a Bethlehem native, 1987 Allen High School graduate, former PPL engineer, and now the entrepreneur who launched the startup COI Energy Services in early 2016.

INSIGHT “Women typically have to break glass ceilings, climb over walls and push open doors to get to the table. We developed our confidence by overcoming each barrier put before us.” Berrien believes it is her job to create a seat at the table “because there is no time to wait for someone to pull out the chair.”

Based at the University of South Florida’s Tampa Bay Technology Incubator, COI Energy offers software that helps utility companies and businesses take full advantage of the smart grid and electrical supply networks that can react to patterns and changes in energy usage.

Berrien calls it the “Wingi of Energy” which means the abundance of energy in Swahili.

HER STORY An electricity-industry veteran, Berrien has spent the last 25-plus years driving engineering and business development for leading companies. The impressive list includes PPL, PECO Energy, Con Edison Solutions, EnerNOC, Enbala, and Wipro EcoEnergy.

What Berrien observed from studying utilities was that the electricity sector was ignoring the No.1 rule in business: it’s all about the customer.

With that lesson in mind, she decided to put the customer at the center of the COI Energy Services platform.

Email: coi@coienergyservices.com | Phone: 813-501-4814 coienergyservices | coi-energy-services | COIoptimizer COI Energy www.coienergyservices.com

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ECONCRETE BRINGS CONCRETE TO LIFE ®

ECONCRETE® HAS DEVELOPED THE WORLD’S FIRST PROVEN BIO-ENHANCING CONCRETE PRODUCTS FOR URBAN, COASTAL AND WATERSIDE CONSTRUCTION. ECOncrete® offers innovative, highly durable and environmentally sensitive concrete solutions, designed to encourage rich and diverse marine life as an integral part of urban, coastal, and marine infrastructure, for example, seawalls, breakwaters, bridge foundations and urban waterfronts.

The patented technology is based on three core elements: bio-enhancing concrete compositions, complex surface textures, and science-based designs, which work in synergy to decrease the ecological footprint of concrete infrastructure while enhancing their strength and durability.

Dr. Shimrit Perkol-Finkel, CEO & Chief Scientist Shimrit@econcretetech.com Dr. Ido Sella, CTO & Head of Field Operation Ido@econcretetech.com

ECOncrete®, a trendsetter in ecological design, is an interdisciplinary science-based company with a unique blend of biologists, ecologists, environmental engineers, designers, and concrete technology specialists. Our bio172

enhancing admixtures and designs have been validated in a variety of marine ecosystems across the globe, yielding excellent results.

Sustainable Solution With over 50% of the world’s population settling along coastlines, the accelerated development will inflict severe stress on natural ecosystems. With growing threats of sea-level rise and increased storminess, coastlines require development, retrofitting and intensive maintenance.

COncrete® provides the only sustainable solutions for coastal and marine infrastructure that provides fully constructive, cost-effective concrete products, with significant structural, biological and environmental advantages.

Bioprotection – Growing Resiliency Apart from its clear ecological significance,

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biological enhancement also provides structural and socio-economic benefits. Biogenic growth of organisms like oysters, corals or barnacles acts as biological glue that strengthens the structure and adds stability and longevity. This form of bioprotection can reduce the magnitude and frequency of structural maintenance, which translates into improved ecological stability on one hand (reduced anthropogenic intervention), and higher ROI on the other (lower maintenance costs).

Tailor-made Products & Services ECOncreteÂŽ products are manufactured using our patented Bio-Enhancing concrete admixtures with tailor-made Forms & Form

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liners. The company’s current line of products includes Bio-enhancing Armoring Units, Enhanced Seawall and Anchoring Systems, Tide-Pools for beach stabilization, Ecological Pile Encasement (for pile repair/protection), Marine Mattresses for erosion control and protection of UW pipes, and Bio-active Wall (for nonaquatic applications). In addition, we are in the process of developing new products, including prestressed piles, retaining walls, and ecological solutions for bridge foundations and offshore energy facilities.

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detailed design and product fabrication, to installation supervision and post-installation biological monitoring. This is a win-win solution where ecology and engineering work together to form thriving ecosystems that yield supreme structural performance.

Website: econcretetech.com Email: info@econcretetech.com Find us also on:

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“The User Group community has been a huge enhancement to my career. It has given me an excellent avenue to continually learn about Microsoft Dynamics and the Power platform and what’s new in upcoming releases. And I’m excited to start sharing more about what I have learned about Dynamics 365 with the community!” – User Group Member

DYNAMIC COMMUNITIES STRIVES TO MEET A SIMPLE GOAL - TO UNITE PEOPLE OF ALL LEVELS THROUGH COMMUNITY. THE COMMUNITIES PROVIDE PEER-TO-PEER KNOWLEDGE-SHARING AND NETWORKING IN AN INNOVATIVE, LEARNING-BASED ATMOSPHERE TO HELP ALL SOFTWARE USERS ACHIEVE BETTER PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE AND BUSINESS SUCCESS. The value members find in these communities is based on the foundation of excellence that began in 2004, when a small group of CIOs discovered great value in sharing knowledge and experience with each other about their ongoing system and business strategies. Over the last 14 years, Dynamic Communities has established many user communities and brought their community best-practices to other associations seeking to optimize value to their members.

“Our goal at Dynamic Communities is to create vibrant communities where users can grow their knowledge, competency, and confidence with their technology systems and business applications,” said Janet Lampert, President and CEO Dynamic Communities.

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“I love giving back to the community, and I challenge myself by trying to answer Open Forum questions. I do a little research, and if I can provide guidance to someone, I’ve learned something and feel good about it! In a word, it’s the true meaning behind “Community!”

- User Group Member

disciplines, and software applications. By facilitating value exchange among members and providing business and event management, Dynamic Communities enables volunteer leaders to focus entirely on cultivating rich community engagement and delivering authentic member value.

innovation and servanthood. Employees are encouraged to ‘fail forward,’ meaning taking, smart risks to drive innovation and garnering learning from failures. By being constructively dissatisfied, Dynamic Communities continues to drive new ideas and experiences for the user communities.

Volunteers are the driving force of the Communities: delivering content, sharing their knowledge, and helping to shape the future direction of the community. There are over 1,500 volunteers dedicating their time and sharing their knowledge to grow the communities. Microsoft recognizes Dynamic Communities as their go-to partner for organizing and supporting global user groups for many of their enterprise products. Dynamic Communities founder, Andy Hafer cultivates a rich company culture of

To learn more about Dynamic Communities and to find out how to get involved, visit: www.dynamiccommunities.com/about

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PIKMYKID WAS FOUNDED WITH THE VISION TO SIMPLIFY THE STUDENT DISMISSAL PROCESS, INCREASE SAFETY AND SECURITY, EASE TRAFFIC, AND REDUCE THE CHAOS IN SCHOOLS AND NEIGHBORHOODS. PikMyKid is the only company in the United States that provides a comprehensive dismissal solution that addresses all of the dismissal needs of a school without the need to purchase, install, or support ANY additional hardware. As a true “Software as a Service” platform, teachers and staff are able to use their existing devices to manage PikMyKid. PikMyKid has partnered with Florida Department of Transportation to use predictive congestion planning to ease traffic around schools with traffic bottleneck around dismissal times. PikMyKid also uses machine learning to influence driver behavior in order to lower peak traffic loads in a very cost effective manner.

With PikMyKid’s rapid adoption among schools, we are increasingly being used as the de facto channel for communication by schools for reaching out to their parent community through push notifications. We are quickly evolving from being a standalone solution for a single problem to becoming a platform where other products and services are offered to our impassioned community. This is possible due to rapid adoption from the parent community averaging over 85% in every school with a very high end user engagement on our platform on a daily basis.

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PikMyKid system is sold as an Annual Site License to single schools, school districts, after school programs, YMCAs, etc. Our highly qualified in-house development team is constantly working to improve the PikMyKid program using cutting edge innovations regularly. As a part of the Annual Site License, each client also receives all of the future product enhancements and innovation.

for administrators

PikMyKid Schools regularly see 85% to 95% parent adoption within four weeks of launch. PikMyKid also includes an integrated Parent Notification System. Every successful student dismissal prompts a push notification automatically to each parent. Schools are also able to send custom notifications for any reason; late bus, emergencies, cancellations and any other reason.

Set-up, Training and Support is included in the Annual Site License for Staff & Parents. PikMyKid has a team of 100% USA based support reps ready to help. Support is 24 hours a day, seven days a week 365 days a year for our schools and families.

PikMyKid Platform was designed with a simple idea: provide a safer dismissal process using the school’s existing devices and infrastructure, eliminating any need for costly expenditures on hardware, scanners, servers, ID cards and other consumables. PikMyKid is able to effectively manage all the above without tracking students using biometrics, scanning cards/codes or any form of additional hardware requirements.

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ELEVATOR PITCH Script is a workflow automation solution that processes and digitizes paperwork for schools so that the focus can be on what’s really important, teaching. Process automation was previously only available to large corporations with multi-million dollar IT budgets, however now it can be perfectly tailored for schools at an affordable price. Whether approving purchase orders from principals or sending Human Resources paperwork to new teachers, it is the solution to achieving a more effective and efficient way of dealing with administration. Schools around the nation are using Script to eliminate rooms of filing cabinets, increase efficiency, save money and achieve new levels of financial accountability. Script is the best way for schools to spend more time teaching and less time doing paperwork.

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THE STORY Script was founded by Aaron White and Patrick Cahill two years ago, while Aaron was the IT Director in the Florida school system. Aaron saw the growing need for all the administrative functions of running a school to be streamlined and automated. This paved the way for the Script App to be developed with the help of his co-founder, Patrick Cahill. The app caters for both the school and the parent. The parent app allows parents to manage their children’s emergency contacts, sign permission slips, pay for field trips and make payments for things like yearly fees and tuition. Teachers can easily plan and manage school activities by using a student roster to automatically route notifications, payments and release forms to the correct parent. Every payment, permission slip and parent response can be viewed in the Script dashboard so that everyone, from teachers to bookkeepers, has the data they need to do their jobs more efficiently.

One of the tools of the app is the Individual Digital E-File Automation (IDEA) Model which delivers actionable insight to determine how process efficiency impacts both the school’s and district’s administrative procedures. Until recently there has not been a standard to evaluate procedure efficiency in the central office of education.

What has been missing is a Standards-Based approach to assessing an entire district’s current state of affairs, and a comprehensive solution to bringing the district into the 21st century. School district workflow automation streamlines digital asset management, which facilitates the adoption and coordination of impressive software, such as personalized learning programs, dynamic assessment tools, digital curricula, and more. Solutions such as Script work with a district to analyze their current workflows and look for areas of improvement. Additionally, the IDEA model can be used and adapted for colleges as well as independent education associations. Districts who have adopted workflow automation have seen increases in efficiency across the board, and teachers who utilize a student performance dashboard report higher student growth, along with feelings of confidence and high morale. With less time spent grading and tracking performance, the teacher has more time to facilitate collaborative discussions and hands-on projects that engage students.

Aaron and Patrick envisage growing Script organically and making this app available to schools both nationally and internationally, so that the administration function can be focused on student safety, building relationships with stakeholders, and at the same time be freed from the time-intensive burden of paperwork. Script will strive to continue creating and improving on standards for school process efficiency.

Contact: Aaron White, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer Patrick Cahill, Co-Founder & Chief Technology Officer Phone: 1 (888) 607-2747 Email: info@scriptapp.com scriptedu ScriptEdu scriptapp www.scriptapp.com 181

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Photo credit: Michelle Stoker Photography

KNACK WAS LAUNCHED IN 2016 BY FOUR FOUNDERS WHO SAW THE NEED TO INSERT RELEVANCE, EFFECTIVENESS, AND ENJOYMENT INTO TRADITIONAL UNIVERSITY TUTORING SYSTEMS.

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VALUES AND MISSION

Knack is a Florida-based EdTech startup that has caused the university peer support marketplace to drastically evolve. The reason Knack gives online-tooffline peer support new meaning is because it allows academically sound university students to sign up and offer one-on-one tutoring/mentoring sessions on their campuses. In turn, the company builds competency or ‘knack’ profiles on their students, thus providing potential employers with vetted potential entry-level hires. Aside from providing just archaic resumerelated details, Knack is able to offer employers human insight into each tutor via the feedback provided after every tutoring session.

The company’s proposed mission is to equip students to be able to discover their knack whilst simultaneously getting people to empower each other to become lifelong learners from those around them. At Knack, academic inegrity, relevant and professional tutors, and immediate action are vital to the experience.

The aim of Knack is to ultimately build a physical community of students through technology.

Certain companies do make an innovative impact, and Knack is surely one of them. First and foremost, since the official launch of the company in the Fall of 2016, it has achieved a 145% semester-over-semester growth rate. The company has also gone live in over 50 campuses. To date, it has processed thousands of tutoring sessions with a staggering 98% satisfaction rate. Aside from other partnerships, Knack is affiliated with Arizona State University as a portfolio company.

FUTURE-FORWARD

Company CEO, Samyr Qureshi, started the business based on his lifelong goal to ensure that every motivated student, regardless of their social and economic background, was given the chance to acquire the skills required for university and beyond. Through tutoring with Knack, students’ communication, collaboration and critical thinking skills improve, thus making them valuable assets for companies like PWC and Connectwise.

It should come as no surprise that Knack is gaining a good number of public and private partnerships. University of Arizona State University Enterprise Partners Chief Executive Officer, R. F “Rick” Shangraw Jnr., has also expressed his excitement in collaborating with and investing in Knack.

According to Jennifer Locklear, Chief Talent Officer at Connectwise, “Partnering with Knack was an easy decision. It not only gives us the chance to engage with top-tier talent, but also to invest in our future workforce leaders who will, in turn, help us create a better tomorrow.”

With a dedicated team of six full-time Tampa Bay-based employees, the company is sure to exceed the $1.5M in seed funding that they have already raised.

Most universities have on-campus tutoring centers, but what sets Knack apart from all the others is that it fills the gaps that other tutoring courses have, by increasing course coverage for tougher upper-level courses that onsite centers may not be able to cover due to budgetary and resource constraints.

“We realized that peer tutoring is about much more than one student helping another with an academic subject; it is two students coming from different places, learning to complete a task together. And we view it as a training ground for students to further develop the soft skills necessary to be valued members of today’s workplace,” asserts Qureshi.

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COACH THE WORLD Your global marketplace for experts and influencers

CoachTheWorld (CTW) is a virtual coaching platform. CTW brings together people who need support with the experts and influencers who can provide it, connecting them instantly.

Our software matches users with experts based on specific user needs, not geographic proximity, allowing users to find the very best fit for their needs.

Coaching sessions can be booked and take place 24/7 through our platform, utilizing video chat through our app or desktop web browsers. Coaches can exponentially increase their client base by earning potential clients and streamlining their services with our booking, payment, and chat integration.

In the past, you looked through the internet jungle to find help in solving a problem or finding answers. Do you remember the time when you were trying to find a solution to your serious problems and challenges by looking on the internet – then finally trying to get in touch with a human being and waiting for a response? This was your reality, and that is why we created a solution to this, with CoachTheWorld or in short CTW.

Our Vision We provide the ultimate place for people from all over the world to connect and help each other by selling and buying the most essential service in the world, KNOWHOW.

What is CoachTheWorld?

CTW is a platform or marketplace that: • enables clients to find the best coach for their problem without geographic limitation • provides a stable online workplace for coaches, including automation of invoicing and payments • enables coaches to coach worldwide whenever they want • offers superior technology for every topic • allows buying and selling knowledge with your category of choice • promotes life coaching, business coaching and influencers

Your daily marketplace for knowledge and experience: • Visual display of real-time availability • Minimal administration effort for coaches due to enhancing your account system • State-of-the-art whiteboard and share-screen/video chat service, single or in group • Virtual Workplace (Cockpit/Dashboard) for Coaches • Rating system to secure quality and to encourage users to become coaches • Your new online office • The dream of working from back home to every area in the world • Selling your ideas, your hobbies, your knowledge 184

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Our Team is promoting out of Tampa We are an innovative, international mixed, future-oriented team who cares about people.

Helping, finding solutions, education, and know-how - this is the focus of CoachTheWorld.

Benefits for experts and those seeking expertise: • Secure; privacy, discretion, and security with no personal contact information in your own virtual space • Streamlined; integrated video/communication channels offer a “virtual office” • Accessible; online, international reach with multilingual experts • Trustworthy; peer rating system for experts, influencers, and customers • Free for Experts; CTW charges no monthly fees and no subscriptions for services offered • Experts; can set their own rates • Seekers; can choose every type of expert, for whatever knowledge they seek and what they’re willing to pay on a pay-as-you-go basis • Rewarding; delivers new clients to Experts without Experts having to source them • Cost-effective; no need for physical office space by using CTW’s online office portal for consultations • Convenient; open 24/7, both Experts and Seekers can choose their own time and virtual space • Flexible Availability; timeslots from 15 minutes upwards Email: info@coachtheworld.com @coachthestars @coachtheworld @coachtheworld @coachtheworld_ 185

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THE FOUNDATION OF INNOVATION THE FOUNDATION FOR COMMUNITY DRIVEN INNOVATION (FCDI) IS A 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THE SPIRIT OF INNOVATION THROUGH INSPIRING PROGRAMS, ACTIVE LEARNING AND ENGAGING HANDS-ON PROJECTS. FCDI’s mission is two-fold: • To provide a talent pipeline with training and certification programs for Science, Technology, Engineering and Manufacturing careers in the Tampa Bay and Central Florida regions.

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• Hardware and software to support K-to-Gray STEAM education through: »» Professional Development for educators including Curriculum and Standards Alignment resources, training in Diversity and Inclusion in science, technology, and manufacturing education and more. »» Programming, design and engineering classes and training for youth and adults.

Through our collaborative partnerships FCDI seeks to promote higher paying skill-based careers and learning opportunities to help people achieve personal fulfillment and economic success, and move us from passive consumerism to an active, productive, and creative economy.

• To inspire young people to become STEM, Manufacturing and Industry leaders by engaging them in exciting mentor-based, diverse and inclusive programs that build science, engineering and technology skills, inspire innovation, and foster well-rounded life skills, including self-confidence, communication, and leadership.

The way forward is pure and simple: Collaboration in our communities – leveraging existing resources where possible, and partnering with others, to develop new avenues for success and economic impact where needed, with the conviction that we lift as we rise.

FCDI is a member of the federally created ARM (Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing) Institute, the Urban Manufacturing Alliance and the DigiFabAlliance. FCDI works in partnership with the University of South Florida, St. Petersburg College, SOFWERX and other fine academic and corporate partners to deliver STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Math/Manufacturing) education projects and programs for all ages. This includes the annual ROBOTICON Tampa Bay event and the development of the Tampa Bay Advanced Manufacturing & Robotics Center (AMRoC).

Seeded by an Argosy Foundation grant, with support from the St. Petersburg College Foundation, SOFWERX, and the Lightning Foundation and set to open in mid 2019, AMRoC - Fab Lab at University Mall will feature:

FCDI Media Contact: Terri Willingham

Terri@FFCDI.org

• Industry standard manufacturing equipment, including CNC, milling, lathes, drill presses, and more.

• A full-scale permanent FIRST Robotics Competition field for high school level competitions, FIRST Tech Challenge field, for middle and high school programs and FIRST LEGO League playing tables for elementary and middle school programs.

FFCDI.org FFCDI FFCDI company/10315267

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Just Learn has developed PlanetBox, a living model of our planet that fits inside any classroom. PlanetBox uses the sciences of aquaponics ecosystem to expose students to the water, carbon and nitrogen cycle. This is important because now is the time to understand the role that society and technology play on the natural environment and yet, the upcoming generation is the least connected to the outside world!

PlanetBox is a powerful tool of engagement, and that’s why Just Learn has also developed supporting curricula for it called “Think Outside The Box”. Just Learn’s lesson plans are in alignment with the Next-Generation Science Standards and empower educators with the subject matter expertise and confidence to teach inquiry-based instruction on multiple topics like water chemistry, plant anatomy, photosynthesis, and electricity to name a few. When combined, PlanetBox and Think Outside the Box take affordable and practical, hands-on, project-based learning experiences to a whole new dimension!

Just Learn is an EdTech spin-off of Just Grow (justgrow. com) that was born in the Lowth Entrepreneurship Center of The University of Tampa at the end of 2016. In 2017, Just Learn initiated an academic pilot with the aim of testing and refining the pedagogical potential of its ecosystem and curricula while also impacting under-served schools of the Tampa Bay area. Thanks to sponsors like Ciccio Restaurant Group, Canterbury School of Florida and Segrest Farms, Just Learn was able to include title 1 schools in its pilot! Just Learn recruited local instructional designer Yvonne Franco, Ph.D. to structure components of the pilot as well as host a curriculum development workshop with local champion educators.

Upon completion of the pilot, Just Learn went on to iterate its product and curriculum to make it market-ready and currently remains as a non-resident incubator startup at the Lowth Entrepreneurship Center, while also being admitted to LearnLaunch, a premier incubator focused on education technology based in Boston.

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Email: info@justlearn.io Phone: 813-770-9616 justlearn.io www.justlearn.io 189

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STUBY

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IS AN APP THAT ALLOWS STUDENTS TO CONNECT WITH STUDY BUDDIES AROUND THEM THROUGH AN EFFICIENT STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES MATCH-MAKING SYSTEM.

ELEVATOR PITCH Once a student creates a profile they can then swipe through other students within their area who are also looking for potential study buddies. If two students swipe right on each other they can then instantly start a conversation, as well as post on interactive student support feeds. By allowing students to efficiently connect with their entire classroom, Stuby aims to help increase the academic interactions between students across America.

THE STORY Many college students face a similar problem when it comes to education in a college setting- they cannot grasp the difficult concepts taught in the classroom. Therefore, they must spend long hours in the library attempting to refine their skills and achieve a level of understanding that allows them to pass their classes.

For Stuby founder, William Rondon, these hours of studying were spent with friends, but most of his friends were business majors. Seeing as though William Rondon is an Industrial Engineering major, he consistently found himself having to study in solidarity during extensive hours of the day. On one of these nights William created an idea for an app that connects students with other students around them to study using a swiping selection process.

By matching students based off their academic strengths and weaknesses as well as certain personality traits, students will never have to endure those long rigorous study nights alone. Over the summer of 2017 William further developed this idea and produced a rough prototype 190

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that he later showed to his long time friend and fellow student, Chad Townsend who specialized in coding on different platforms.

Combining their skills, Chad and William where later accepted into the USF Student Innovation Incubator through which they have been mentored by various USF alumni and local business owners.

Since the initial development of the app, Stuby has grown from a simple platform to one that integrates group messaging as well as a well refined strength and weakness matching algorithm.

These strides have been rewarded within the USF community through an article feature in the USF Oracle as well as a radio segment on 89.7 radio.

The team has also been awarded the Daveler Fellowship Entrepreneurship award, which will aid in the official app release in the Fall of the 2018 semester.

Using the tools provided by the USF incubator Chad and William intend to impact the college population and increase nationwide student success through a simple app that allows study buddies to become connected faster and more efficiently than ever.

MILESTONES • • • •

3802 Spectrum Bouevard Tampa, FL 33612 786-547-0695 stuby stuby_app stuby.co

2018 Daveler Fellow Entrepreneurship Award 2018 Governors Cup Participant WUSF 89.7 radio segment feature Tampa Bay Oracle Article Feature

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Find your perfect study buddy!

Find your perfect study buddy

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COURSE ALIGN

COURSE ALIGN ENABLES UNIVERSITIES TO CREATE A DATA-DRIVEN CURRICULUM THAT ALIGNS COURSEWORK WITH RELEVANT JOB SKILLS. Course Align enables universities to create a data-driven curriculum that aligns coursework with relevant job skills. Course Align is the story of a recent college graduate who entered the job market and found that employers today require experience for an entry-level position. How does one begin a new career in a field if companies are not willing to hire new graduates without experience? This is an oxymoron. Acquiring experience for an entrylevel role is impossible to accomplish.

This painful experience led me on a journey of discovery where I became determined to create entry-level opportunities, and what occurred next, I found upsetting. Despite recruiting individuals who had acquired certifications and degrees in line with the specific roles, I realized that they lacked the basic skills to complete the required tasks of employment.

In today’s job market, the average time that an employee spends in a role is 1.8 years.

This, combined with the cost to train a new hire, greatly impacts the ability of small- and medium-sized businesses to hire unskilled labor. Ultimately, 98% of the job market is represented by small and medium-sized businesses, and this has aptly been named the skills gap.

Recognizing this skills gap, I set out to create courses that filled the gap, and educational programming that provided individuals with the skills that employers expect from employees. I found great success in creating these programs, though the scope was small, i.e. a few individuals being trained every few months with the required skills from employers. To create a solution with a largescale impact, I needed to understand how higher education created curricula.

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Course Align took shape from this research as we found that most universities teach curricula 10 years past relevancy. Universities base what they teach on macro reports generated from survey data that is, on average, three-plus years old. Course Align believes that universities want to be relevant, but they lack modern tools to assist in this process.

We believe that through the use of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, universities can create relationships with the relevant employers and truly understand their market needs with a higher level of market intelligence than ever before.

Course Align creates a world in which professors and employers work together to create curricula that allow students to become employable – employers want to hire them because they know that the students have learned the curricula needed to successfully complete the required tasks at work.

Over the past year, Course Align pitched all around the country, participated in numerous accelerators, including the Tampa Bay WAVE, UF Veterans Program, Veterans Florida, Bricks Capitol, and Collision. Our next year is poised to be even more exciting, with our full-scale MVP coming out in the first quarter of 2019 and the first full-scale implementations going online.

Course Align is looking for individuals who are inspired to change the future of education and universities that are looking to validate the impact that their curricula changes have made.

Robert Blacklidge Founder, Course Align INC Phone: 813 763 2049 Robert@courseAlign.io | courseAlign.io 193

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“There’s no good idea that cannot be improved on.”

- MICHAEL EISNER

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PROVEIT

PROVEIT is the world’s first mobile arcade where players compete for cash in their favorite casual games.

Welcome to the New Vegas!

The duo quickly realized that offering a pay-to-play game involved a very complex regulatory environment, but after 18 months, they had secured legal, regulatory, app store and advertising approvals. PROVEIT is now approved for gameplay in 34 states and counting.

The company launched in November 2016 as a trivia-focused iOS app and was called “one of the most exciting mobile games ever played” by TechCrunch. PROVEIT has now evolved into a competitive arcade for the mobile generation, with dozens of game styles and competition formats.

Whether you like trivia, puzzles or arcade games, PROVEIT has a game for you!

Prior to launching, Prem and Nathan raised $2.0 million from Florida attorney, John Morgan, who made the perfect strategic investor, given his legal background, network and appetite for high-risk verticals. Since then, the team has grown to over 10 members, most of which are mobile developers.

How It All Started

PROVEIT at SXSW

The company was founded when Prem Thomas asked Nathan Lehoux “Why can’t we play Jeopardy for money on our phones like Fantasy Sports?”

Nathan liked the idea of monetizing a game of skill like trivia, and the team quickly got to work developing the first version of PROVEIT, with a seed investment from the founder of a successful poker website.

The team ran its first major tournament at South by Southwest in 2018, complete with $30,000 in prizes, a PROVEIT-branded armored truck and a street time that took over Austin.

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No Ads Ever!

Unlike traditional ad-supported mobile games, PROVEIT generates revenue on every gameplay, resulting in a much stickier and more valuable user base. PROVEIT’s thousands of users deposit cash to enter head-to-head or multiplayer challenges against friends and random opponents. Entry into each game ranges from $0.50 to $10.00 and winners take a cash prize, less a fee to PROVEIT. The company donates a portion of its revenue to charities that focus on education, literacy and underprivileged students.

Let’s Collaborate Think you can help out or you have a passion for mobile games? Hit us up at whatup@playproveit.com or visit our website at www.playproveit.com.

Phone: 919-452-7317 whatup@playproveit.com playproveit www.playproveit.com 197

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PROJECTMQ AS TOLD BY MARCUS HOWARD

ELEVATOR PITCH ProjectMQ is a multimedia search engine, for the world’s BEST independent video games. Similar to IMDB, or Rotten Tomatoes, gamers worldwide trust ProjectMQ, to help them quickly find amazing indie games. My twin brother and I got Super Mario Bros 3 when we were 6, and we’ve been playing video games ever since.

Like independent music and film, indie games are much more creative and niche-focused, than their big-budget peers. Independent game makers, knowns as “indie devs” for short, create nearly 70% of the industry’s games, including eSports, mobile, and VR titles. You may have heard of a video game called Minecraft; it too was created by indie devs. The gaming industry is larger than the movie and music industries combined and is expected to reach $180B by 2021. Unfortunately, the average indie dev makes less than $500 of revenue

ProjectMQ founders, Malcolm and Marcus Howard (Photo cred Paul Schnaittacher)

per year. With over 100,000 games on the market today, finding the perfect game is like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

ProjectMQ helps indie devs make more money, and helps gamers find video games they’ll love.

THE STORY Marcus Howard (Photo cred Sadiee Bean Photography)

Malcolm and I have been playing video games ever since we were six. Video games inspired us to learn about technology at an early age, and we even started building our 1st video game in the 9th grade. Fast-forward about 10 years, past thousands of hours playing more video games, to March 2013. I have a degree in Information 198

Technology, Malcolm has a degree in Computer Science. We were regularly discussing - well, complaining, depending on who you ask how inconvenient it was to quickly find video game images and videos online. After years of waiting for someone else to come up with a solution, we finally decided to build our own: ProjectMQ. Many big budgets, Triple-A game studios, and publishers are also publicly-traded companies and can afford TV ads and other expensive marketing channels, so it’s easier for them to get the word out about their games. Unfortunately, the majority of independent game studios don’t have that luxury. Independent game developers typically have day jobs and build their games on nights/weekends.

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Indie studios generally don’t have a marketing budget, and certainly can’t pay for those TV advertisements that you see for games like Madden and Fortnite.

The gaming industry is a pay-to-win ecosystem, where those who can’t afford to reach their audience lose.

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ones that can afford TV commercials, non-gamers think that all video games are about violence and destruction. First, we teach gamers that indie games can be just as entertaining as popular games like Madden. Then, using indie games, we teach non-gamers that video games can have several educational, psychological, and cultural benefits. For example, we recently organized an indie game arcade in Savannah, Georgia that was free to the public. There, kids and their parents got a chance to enjoy unique, interactive experiences from excellent indie games that we’ve curated from around the world.

INNOVATION Game discovery has been broken for decades; it’s a complex problem with many layers. In order to fix game discovery, our solution needed layers too: tech and social. The tech part of the solution is the website we’ve built. There, you can easily find amazing indie games from around the world, for any platform or game genre. Let’s say you want to find the perfect horror game for your mobile device, or an excellent racing game for your Nintendo Switch; we’ve got an (upcoming) app for that. While building the website is by no means an easy task, the social part of the solution is much more complicated.

ProjectMQ is now iHeartMedia’s official Esports partner. They’re the #1 media company in the United States, with over 150 markets across the country, and we’re building all of their gaming events nationwide. This exciting partnership allows us to provide great exposure to indie games from around the world, and improve representation for minorities in the gaming industry.

Malcolm and I see video games as an excellent resource to help educate, excite, and inspire youth about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) career opportunities.

Our social solution is two-fold: we have to simultaneously educate gamers AND non-gamers, about the value of indie games. On one side, most gamers don’t know that blockbuster hits like Minecraft, Rocket League, Clash of Clans, and League of Legends were all created by independent game developers. On the other hand, because games like Fortnite and Grand Theft Auto are the only

Phone: 740-625-1963 Email: marcus@projectmq.com | projectmq | medium.com/@projectmq projectmq | whatisprojectmq www.ProjectMQ.com

ProjectMQ

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“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

- THOMAS EDISON

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ELEVATOR PITCH BlockSpaces is a specialized education and development center for blockchain technology. Founded in Tampa, Florida in early 2018, the space was built organically by the community in response to the needs of the rapidly emerging industry. It quickly became known as a trusted hub of information about cryptocurrency/blockchain technology from knowledgeable, experienced professionals in a friendly environment.

THE STORY In 2013, a little known, fringe technology called “bitcoin” caught the interest of Gabe Higgins and Rosa Shores. After months of research, with little available information and a desire to meet others who understood this new thing referred to as “cryptocurrency”, the couple decided to organize a meetup and, in early 2014, the Tampa Bay Bitcoin meetup was born. Although attendance would spike and was based on the price of bitcoin throughout the years, a solid core of attendees began to settle as understanding

and promise of the potential of blockchain technology and adoption of cryptocurrencies grew. In 2017, blockchain entered a hyper-growth phase as meetups began attracting hundreds of new enthusiasts and developers interested in learning and working together. It became obvious that a dedicated space was needed to answer the needs of the community, and with their support, BlockSpaces opened its doors in March 2018.

In a collaborative learning environment, BlockSpaces is now home to several blockchain startups and offers a variety of cryptocurrency/blockchain related meetups, educational classes, bootcamps, workshops, and hackathons daily, in addition to blockchain development services.

BlockSpaces is truly a community working together for a shared vision, which is realizing that cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology could be one of the most important discoveries in history. BlockSpaces has managed to attract some of the best and brightest minds in the Tampa area to achieve that vision and to encourage others to invest in knowledge to gain an understanding of blockchain technology and it’s wide range of potential applications.

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The founders say; “Our team is our community. We invite all interested individuals to bring their skills, knowledge, and resources to BlockSpaces and work with us to learn, grow and maybe even create a better, more decentralized future.�

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Email: team@blockspaces.io | blockspaces_io | BlockSpaces blockspaces.io

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INTERNET OF PEOPLE OUR VALUE Internet of People (IoP) is a digital cooperative with chapters in over 36 countries. IoP chapters have a shared vision for a free world and collaborate to create and promote privacy-enabled applications and a decentralized internet that everyone can use.

IoP members include software developers and programmers, entrepreneurs, leaders and future thinkers, educators, and other diverse groups from various backgrounds. IoP uses block chain and peer-to-peer technologies to fulfill this vision.

OUR STORY IoP USA South is an IoP chapter operating in the southern United States, with a presence in Tampa Bay. IoP USA South promotes IoP’s vision of empowering people, embracing sustainability, and building a better future for those living within the Southern USA region, as well as globally.

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At IoP USA South, we focus on educating about decentralization and distributed ledger technology and giving people the tools and resources they need to contribute to the local community and to further IoP’s vision of decentralization and privacy. In this way, IoP is unique in providing a sustainable model for incubating people and promoting global collaboration between local teams.

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provide tools, resources, and “people power” to improve the local community, with a particular focus on decentralizing systems and processes to increase privacy and/or efficiency.

Our chapter is always open for talented and ambitious individuals to join and sharpen their skills, as well as learn new ones and navigate this brand new decentralized environment inside this booming industry. Individuals that share a similar vision, or simply wish to learn more should contact us, no previous experience or knowledge about cryptocurrency or block chain is required. We will provide the support and resources to get you started to dive head first into this exciting new world!

IoP also works in close partnership with Libertaria, a global movement working towards a freer, fairer, and more decentralized world. Libertaria provides IoP with infrastructure and technology. Among the many projects that the IoP community and Libertaria has under its belt, the most notable are Mercury, Titania, and Hydra.

Mercury is a revolutionary protocol which enables decentralized applications (dApps). dApps give privacy and ownership of data back to the end users, rather than large centralized entities and malicious actors.

Titania is the first ever OS for crypto, providing everyone easy access to dApps and crypto.

Hydra is a next-generation ledger protocol designed to support a true peerto-peer global economy.

All three projects provide essential infrastructure and tools that IoP uses to carry out its vision. In the Tampa Bay Area, IoP USA South will continue to

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ELEVATOR PITCH We are building tools and infrastructure that make it easier for developers to build blockchain applications. Similar to how Amazon Web Services made it easy for application developers to access core components such as storage and compute, Pocket Network is the core infrastructure layer that gives the ability for developers to access any blockchain they choose to work with. We do this by building an open source blockchain that anyone can use, along with a set of open source tools that any developer can put in their application to communicate to the blockchain.

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or company. This value is created when the system is used, and instead of paying fees like a traditional business, a cryptocurrency is created and sent to whoever did work in the blockchain.

into consideration and thought about deeply. Blockchains are contained, economic experiments, and as a protocol builders we have to understand the social and economic decisions being made.

We believe there will hundreds or thousands of blockchains governing our lives in the future. It makes no sense for each one of them to reinvent the wheel when it comes to hosting critical infrastructure for their developers.

With Pocket Network, a blockchain would just need to write a simple plugin, and they will have access to a market of thousands of nodes to run their infrastructure.

Pocket originally began as an idea called “TelCoin”, where we wanted to tokenize all cell phone data. This meant that I could be a T-Mobile customer in the US, and if I flew to Paris I wouldn’t have to get a new sim card or buy a new phone to communicate. We dove deeply into the problem and quickly realized that the infrastructure to create TelCoin didn’t exist - it was too early. We saw the need for this critical layer of giving developers access to the blockchains, and that’s how we came up with the idea for Pocket Network and started to build a company around it.

THE STORY

The Pocket Network was started with four partners: Michael O’Rourke, Luis C. De Leon, Pabel Nunez and Valeria Benitez Florez. As of writing, the founding team has grown to 16 people, including people dedicated to economic research, software engineering and communications.

Building in blockchain space exposes you to computer science, cryptography, economics, psychology, governance and game theory. When you’re creating your own blockchain, all of these factors need to be taken

POKTnetwork pokt-network slack-pokt pocket-network www.pokt.network 207

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“I am thankful for all of those who said no to me. It’s because of them I’m doing it myself.”

- ALBERT EINSTEIN

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LUXURY TRAVEL PILLOWS TO BEAT ALL OTHERS

THE STORY Creator Dr. Micheal Majette tells the story of why he decided to combine his wants and needs as a traveling consumer with his knowledge and experience as a physician to create the perfect allin-one pillow: “Since I was a child I have had a spirit of serving others. I have always been concerned with the comfort of those around me and have found that helping a person in need brings me great joy. That same spirit has benefited me well as a physician. Like many of my colleagues, I often find myself treating the same conditions of chronic neck and back pain repeatedly. My goal is always to help each patient achieve a better quality of life through a combination of in-office care, suggestions for at-home care and products that aid in expedited recovery.

“A common complaint I am presented with by many patients is pain associated with travel. As an avid traveler myself, I was always on the pursuit to find products, especially travel neck pillows, that enhance the “getting there” part of the travel experience. I have tested hundreds of different travel pillows hoping to find one I could not only use

myself but also recommend to patients. This goal seemed simple, but after over a decade of searching, I learned nothing like that existed.”

“What I found through my research is that there are endless amounts of neck pillows on the market, but none were exactly what I wanted. Most are made of cheap materials and don’t offer the structural integrity and design required for long-term use. I greatly value the artisanal skills and passion that go into creating a product by hand. That one of a kind quality you can only achieve with non-mechanized production. This lack of focus in design quality is a common theme among most travel pillows on the market today.

“This is where my story begins. My search for the perfect all-in-one pillow has led me to the creation of MyJet Luxury Travel Pillow. Hand-made of quality materials with a patented inner skeletal system for ultimate support, the MyJet Luxury Travel Pillow stands the test of time and has been thoughtfully designed with the same level of care that I show all my patients.

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I love this product because its uses have become unlimited. It has revolutionized the way we think of the common travel pillow. Whether it’s used for flying across the country, watching TV in the comfort of your own home or to relieve neck tension after a long day at work, I truly hope this product enhances your life as much as it has mine.”

Each pillow will be shipped with: • Extra foam blocks for adding or subtracting additional padding/support to create the perfect fit for you.

• One elastic 3-button strap, allowing for connection to any headrest or existing pillow.

• Lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects.

Pillow types: • Coach class: Will consist of 2 color schemes, all breathable, lightweight, durable cloth material. You can always upgrade your pillow to a higher level cover at any time.

• Business class (the most popular): Will consist of 4 different leather and cloth combinations. Also features a black suede inner-lined pocket on the top half to add temperature control packs for heat or cold and LED light.

• First class: Coming soon. This version creates a user experience unlike any other. Includes all the above items, custom leather cover, superior Bluetooth remote phone and speakers and first of its kind surround sound.

What makes the MyJet Travel Pillow Unique: • Customizable to all body shapes and any seat position using adjustable foam levels.

• Adjustable patented internal frame and elastic strap not only hold the neck and head in perfect position, but also help to decompress nerves in the neck and shoulder to relieve pain.

• The high-quality materials used in creating the handmade covers improve with time and use.

• The ability to make the pillow warm or cold without the use of batteries or power provides an unmatched level of comfort.

TESTIMONIALS “I can’t say enough about this pillow! Last year I took it on a mission’s trip to Africa. After 16 hours in my economy seat, I was so thankful to have this pillow with me. My favorite feature is the strap that connects it to the back of your headrest. Anyone who’s been on an airplane knows it’s impossible to get comfortable in an economy airline seat and the typical travel pillow doesn’t prevent you from falling over onto your neighbor’s shoulder. With this pillow, I was able to comfortably fall asleep without worrying about my head shifting to the side. Definitely one of my best travel purchases!!”

- Patsy C. “I have had issues with my neck for over 20 years. Even after surgery, I still suffer from pain. I don’t travel that often, but my Doctor recommended the MyJet pillow for when I’m at home relaxing and watching TV. It really helps relieve the pressure and tension on my neck.” - Tom B. Phone: 813-463-3401 Email: info@myjetpillow.com

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MALEKTRONIC

WHAT STARTED AS A DESIRE TO BRING A NEW PRODUCT TO THE MARKET 5 YEARS AGO HAS NOW TURNED INTO A WELL-KNOWN TAMPA-BASED ELECTRONICS COMPANY WITH A GLOBAL REACH. Ben Malek, the founder was on a business trip in Asia when him and his wife accidentally discovered the powerful sound coming out of a portable wireless speaker. Within days, they started a company to produce high quality portable audio products and sell them all over the world.

While the initial intent was to sell the products online only, the demand led to retail stores asking to sell their products across the country and eventually around the world. So Malektronic had to learn not only how to manufacture, but also to import, distribute and most importantly market their products successfully.

One of the surest marketing partnerships was to work with a local sports team with a vast reach. As it happens, Malektronic signed an agreement and began working with the Tampa Bay Lightning and they struck gold. It just happened that on their first year on their 212

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deal, the Lightning made it all the way to the NHL Stanley Cup finals and they were receiving a lot of attention.

Malektronic also found a way to capitalize on that, by having their astronaut mascot called the Malektronic Rocketman become more famous as the Lightning mascot. Within days, videos and pictures of Rocketman were appearing all over the news, TV and social media which led him and Malek to be invited to sit in on ESPN SportsCenter. From there, many sports marketing organizations started to use this as a prime example on how to perform organic marketing growth.

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While those competitors are backed by multi-billion dollar organizations, Malektronic is backed by a community of customers that love their products.

They have a trademark for the term “Sounds Perfect” and strive every day to make sure every one of their products matches that slogan.

Follow Malektronic on social media @malektronic and Rocketman @truerocketman

While Rocketman still continues to do his thing, Malektronic continues to produce more advanced products to compete with some better known worldwide companies, like Bose, Sony, JBL or Beats.

Because Malektronic is smaller, they’re able to bring new technologies to the market faster than those companies. “We had wireless speakers and headphones 2 years before Bose or Beats- we were selling waterproof speakers long before JBL decided to get into portable speaker market” said Malek.

Email: support@malektronic.com @malektronic malektronic.com 213

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THE STORY Sandbar is a lifestyle brand aimed to inspire people to enjoy their “sandbar” wherever, whatever, whomever that may be.

“Where’s your Sandbar” originated when the owner, Chris McCormick, found himself thinking about the place he’d rather be. The area where all his worries and troubles were non-existent. Chris had been wondering if the people surrounding him had similar thoughts; if they would instead be doing the things they enjoy, be in a place they enjoy, or simply being around people they enjoy. He aimed to create a brand that encourages those to take the time and appreciate the moments and the activities that bring fulfillment to our lives.

For Chris, this place was a sandbar right outside of his hometown that his friends and family would visit during the weekends. This place became a home away from home for himself, his family and his friends, which is where the company got its name. Chris was in college when the idea came about, and the first shirt was made on May 5th, 2016. Chris and his dad stayed up designing and screen-printing until the “original tee” was created and perfected. Selling to his teammates on the University of Tampa Baseball team, the brand soon made its way around the school. Now Sandbar is currently sold in stores across Florida and is continuing to grow and spread its message. Chris, along with Sandbar Clothing Company, recently completed the University of Tampa’s accelerator program for entrepreneurship. In this program, Sandbar was given the tools, and direction, to expand accordingly and efficiently.

Everyone’s Sandbar is different and we all have something that we’re passionate about. It’s easy to get lost in our daily routines and look past what’s important but Sandbar is about finding time for that passion and enjoying it more often than not. Whether you are hiking to the top of a mountain or enjoying a book in the comfort of your own home, your Sandbar is waiting for you.

Where’s your Sandbar?

ELEVATOR PITCH Sandbar is a clothing line that represents a lifestyle that everyone can relate. It’s for the adventurers, musicians, daydreamers, artists, athletes and everything in between, whether you’re hiking, out on your boat or just reading your favorite book on the couch. It’s a way to remind ourselves of what makes us happy. An idea to open our eyes to what we’re all passionate about and more importantly, finding time for that passion. Your sandbar is wherever, whatever, or whoever brings you happiness.

So, where’s your sandbar?

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Photos by: C-Rose Media

Call us: 727-808-5383 Sandbar Clothing Company @sandbarclothing Email: SandbarThreads@gmail.com wheresyoursandbar.com 215

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GUESTBOX

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LUXURY ESSENTIALS FROM OUR BOX TO YOUR GUEST ROOM

Shuchi knows how vital it is to give guests the best possible experience and offer something extra and unexpected. She spent a year traveling the world and found inspiration in basic human connections and feeling the warmth of genuine hospitality. In 2017, she decided to pitch her idea at Startup Weekend (a Techstars Initiative), and the concept of GuestBox took shape and grew from there. GuestBox mainly focuses on boutique hotels and strives to help clients achieve five-star reviews, ultimately encouraging guests to return.

Soon, friends began asking her to help them set up their own unique welcoming ideas and concepts. After meeting and interviewing brand partners that share her vision, Shuchi established GuestBox, and she is now helping hosts bring joy to their guests. She does extensive research on her brand partners as they play a key role in her overall success. She is always on the lookout for new products and brand partners to include in GuestBox. One of the brands you can expect to find in your Guestbox is Poo Pourri.

These delightful, all natural toilet/room sprays was developed by founder Suzy Batiz. An inspirational woman, who grew Poo Pourri to a multi-million dollar company. Suzie conceived the idea for Poo Pourri after growing tired of not being able to find any genuinely natural bathroom sprays. She used her knowledge of essential oils to create the first all-natural toilet odor spray, utterly free of any harmful chemicals. Poo Pourri also contributes to upliftment programs for women all over the world.

Another example you can find in your Guestbox is Shea Moisture. Sofi Tucker started selling Shea Nuts at the village market in Bonthe, Sierra Leone in North Africa in 1912. By the age of 19, the widowed mother of four was selling Shea Butter, African Black Soap, and her homemade hair and skin preparations all over the countryside. Sofi was the founder of Shea Moisture and left behind an amazing legacy with her grandchildren running the business today. Shea Moisture was created with minorities in mind, but the high-quality and market leadership of the products resulted in Shea Moisture becoming a mainstream brand. The parent company of Shea Moisture, Sundial, was bought last year by the Unilever Group. All the Shea butter used in Shea Moisture products is sourced directly from 15 women cooperatives in Northern Ghana.

ELEVATOR PITCH GuestBox is a service for Hotels, Vacation Rentals and Airbnbs who want to make a special impression on their guests. The brainchild of Shuchi Vyas, GuestBox was conceived after a stint as an Airbnb host.

Shuchi thought about ways of making her guests feel special by giving them a welcoming gift on arrival. GuestBox is a selection carefully chosen luxury brands, which include toiletries, skin care products, healthy snacks, as well as some more decadent and delicious treats.

It’s a great way of welcoming guests and increase customer satisfaction - which boost occupation and revenue.

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Photo Emily Bowers

GuestBox is a web-based platform and will continue investing in new technology. Shuchi envisages the team growing and the company going from strength to strength. She keeps the operational process simple. The products in GuestBox are designed to be easily stored and require no refrigeration. Shuchi even customizes the packages for clients ordering 100 or more GuestBoxes. She shares in the goal of her clients to manage profitable listings. One-time and monthly orders are shipped free within two business days of purchase by USPS Priority Mail. Larger orders require a minimum of one week, and volume orders with customization take just a few weeks. GuestBox ships to all 50 U.S. states.

ACHIEVEMENTS AND ACCOLADES • A graduate of two world-renowned accelerators: MassChallenge’s first Austin cohort and Tampa Bay Wave’s first-ever Nielsen-backed TechDiversity Accelerator as one of ten companies to be accepted.

• First place in pitch competitions: Startup Challenge North Florida 2018 ($10,000 equity-free cash prize), SBA InnovateHER Challenge Florida winner ($500 in equity-free cash prize).

• Second place in pitch competition: AKKA 2018 Innovation Challenge in Dallas ($3,000 equity-free cash prize), Techstars Startup Weekend second place (only company to incorporate from the competition).

• Selected to pitch at Booking.com as one amongst the top five companies innovating in the hotel/hospitality space.

• Selected to pitch at Spanx Headquarters as a part of the Fearless Moguls competition for minority women entrepreneurs.

• Global Accelerator Network (GAN) named GuestBox as one of the top ten female-led companies to know: https://www.gan.co/blog/10-womenrun-startup-founders-know/ Phone: 646-719-0487 | Email: contact@guestbox.co shopguestbox | shopguestbox | shopguestbox www.guestbox.co 217

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“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.�

- ANNE FRANK

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SOCIAL INNOVATIONS 219

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CONNECTS PEOPLE AND RESOURCES TO INSPIRE CHARITABLE GIVING AND CREATE A MEANINGFUL, LASTING IMPACT ON OUR REGION Since the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay was founded in 1990, we’ve awarded more than $210 million in grants in our community – covering Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando, and Citrus counties.

The Community Foundation of Tampa Bay works to build a better community through creative and innovative philanthropy, vision and leadership. Some of the ways that we help provide opportunities for everyone in our region to prosper and thrive include: • Bringing together leaders and resources for positive change.

• Helping donors meet their charitable goals and make inspired gifts.

• Creating efficient and effective strategies for gifts to have a lasting impact.

• Supporting the work of nonprofits by awarding grants and providing endowment management and activities.

• Leveraging and growing charitable gifts.

We’re continuously innovating in order to have a lasting impact on our region, and we work closely with local leaders to stay on top of emerging issues and potential solutions. For example, we’ve created a Big Idea Grant to fund creative projects with impact in our community and joined Social Venture Partners in presenting its Fast Pitch Competition to help local nonprofits create social enterprises.

Second Chance Tiny House Manufacturing Company THE NEED: Ex-offenders need training for jobs that pay more than minimum wage to support their families. Meanwhile, construction companies need skilled labor.

THE OPPORTUNITY: Tiny houses are the next big thing in housing.

They provide options for affordable housing for the homeless, elderly and others who may be living in substandard homes.

The Community Foundation awarded $50,000 to Pinellas Exoffender Re-entry Coalition (PERC) for its Second Chance Tiny House Manufacturing Company. The 2017 Big Idea Grant focused on social enterprises, which help nonprofits build a sustainable revenue stream.

THE RESULT: A year later, PERC has agreements with the city of St. Petersburg, Pinellas County and others for tiny houses. The first tiny houses will go to homeless veterans.

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The Community Foundation of Tampa Bay worked with six other local nonprofits to set up the Tampa Bay Disaster Relief Fund before Hurricane Irma in 2017 to allow it to provide immediate support to local nonprofits that would aid in local relief and recovery efforts.

After the hurricane, ABC Action News hosted a telethon that raised $45,000 for the fund and local relief efforts.

Fast Pitch Tampa Bay THE NEED: Many nonprofits struggle with sustainable funding.

THE OPPORTUNITY: In 2017, the Community Foundation joined forces with Social Venture Partners to help nonprofits develop social enterprise ideas and strategies with Fast Pitch Tampa Bay. The Fast Pitch program includes a free two-month training and mentoring program led by local experts and culminates in a Shark Tank-style pitch night. The winner receives thousands for their social enterprise.

ECHO of Brandon, a nonprofit working to end hunger in southeastern Hillsborough County, won the 2017 Fast Pitch Competition. Its idea was ECHO Handmade where ECHO’s clients turn used clothing donations into accessories like purses, key chains, and jewelry. The accessories are sold online and through local retailers.

THE RESULT: ECHO Handmade’s sales increased approximately 400 percent between 2017 and 2018, thanks in large part to the grant seed money and the strategic financial plan developed throughout the Fast Pitch program.

4300 W Cypress St. Suite 700 | Tampa, Florida 33607 Phone: 813 - 282 - 1975 | Email: info@cftampabay.org CFTampaBay | community-foundation-of-tampa-bay cftampabay.org 221

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BE ROBIN HOOD ELEVATOR PITCH Be Robin Hood is an online clothing brand and collection of merchandise where you aren’t shopping for just yourself. Everything you see on the site is either a Be Robin Hood branded product or an altruistically minded company that we have formed a partnership with. Why are we different? Together, we share one vision — to help those in need. By supporting and promoting our partners, we have an opportunity to provide the essentials of life to the less fortunate.

THE STORY The definition of a hero is a vague term since anyone can find their personal hero and role model in anyone who has had an impact on their specific life. Why strive to create a company that is named after a childhood story book character? At Be Robin Hood we believe that anyone can be a hero to the people who are less fortunate. We provide and promote products from reputable clothing brands who donate part of their profit to those in need or similarly a good cause. Robin Hood was known to live by the motto of “taking from the rich and giving to the poor”. Our 222

interpretation of the story is a little different, but our philosophy is similar. Anyone who has the luxury to eat warm food, drink clean water and buy new clothes is fortunate and in the eyes of the poor considered rich. We urge YOU to be Robin Hood.

Whether we know it or not, everyone has an internal sense of purpose to better not only ourselves but those around us. This intrinsic motivation to offer a helping hand can produce a refined version of our personas, and give us a sense of purpose in life amongst many other things. We have created an online merchandise and accessory source that gives such a feeling when shopping for apparel.

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Be Robin Hood is more than a clothing brand. It is more than a store or a company. More than a marketplace or charitable collection. Be Robin Hood is a lifestyle.

It is a challenge and a dare. We have a vision to create something amazing and each person who joins in makes that much more of a difference. Together as one, we can Be Robin Hood.

MILESTONES Be Robin Hood’s founder was recognized as a Bay News 9 Everyday Hero.

Email: rmarton@berobinhood.com Phone: 630-624-9478 BeRobinHood be_robin_hood www.berobinhood.com 223

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LIFELINK LIFELINK® FOUNDATION, INC. IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION, DEDICATED TO THE RECOVERY OF LIFESAVING ORGANS AND TISSUE FOR TRANSPLANTATION THERAPY. During its more than 30-year history, over 50,000 patients throughout Florida and the U.S. have received life-saving organ transplants, and more than a million patients have improved their quality of life through tissue transplantation. All patients benefit due to the selfless donors who provide the gifts of life, and their families, who support that decision. The Foundation, headquartered in Tampa, FL, has five divisions, including three organ procurement organizations – LifeLink® of Florida, LifeLink® of Georgia and LifeLink® of Puerto Rico – LifeLink® Transplantation Immunology Laboratory and LifeLink® Tissue Bank. In addition, the LifeLink Legacy Fund® develops philanthropic resources to support the organ recovery and transplantation activities of LifeLink®.

LifeLink organ recovery organizations are dedicated to serving patients in need of transplant therapy, and their families. They collaborate with hospitals, medical professionals, medical examiners, law enforcement and the public to save lives.

LifeLink Tissue Bank is the largest non-profit tissue bank in the Southeastern United States and provides more than 40,000 allografts annually to orthopedic surgeons and neurological specialists. The staff specializes in the processing and distribution of spine, sports and general orthopedic grafts.

The LifeLink Transplantation Immunology Laboratory matches potential organ donors with patients waiting on a transplant, protects patient safety and improves organ transplant outcomes. The LifeLink Transplantation Immunology Laboratory works rigorously to ensure that transplant recipients receive the best possible outcome after they receive a transplanted organ.

A.J., Kidney Recipient

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LifeLink supports research efforts to enhance the available supply of organs and tissues for transplant patients and to improve patient clinical outcomes after transplantation, and participates in partnership with organizations whose projects and objectives complement our life-saving mission.

A few of those whose lives are impacted by an organ and/or tissue donor include: • Steve - partially paralyzed, ruptured his bicep, which was devastating due to his already limited mobility. A tissue transplant allowed Steve’s arm movement to return and for him to regain control over his life. “As a paralyzed individual, my arms are so important,” says Steve. “I will be forever grateful to my donor family for my gift of mobility.”

• Marquita - was a dancer, until she was diagnosed with a chronic liver disease. She received a life-saving liver transplant and, following recovery, started a non-profit Arts company that presents dance performances. She says: “I am grateful for this precious gift. I think of my donor family and their loved one daily. I strive to honor them through my efforts to be the best person that I can be.”

• And the family of A.J. – a toddler who underwent dialysis for two-anda-half years before his life-saving kidney transplant. Now A.J. is able to do normal toddler activities. “We cannot thank his donor family enough for the opportunity for A.J. to have a normal childhood,” shares his mom.

Marquita, Liver Recipient

Steve, Tissue Recipient

® 9661 Delaney Creek Blvd.

Tampa, Florida 33619 Phone: 813-253-2640 www.lifelinkfoundation.org 225

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PROVEN TO DELIVER...

What makes us different We Listen Listening to understand is a skill. We listen to you.

Developing a successful plan starts with knowing what you want and how accomplishing those goals will impact your team and your customers.

Simplicity is key. After 20 years of analyzing organizations, we have found a common thread complexity stifles, confuses and stalls progress; simplicity engages, clarifies, and fuels progress.

We help you simplify to optimize positive outcomes.

Impactful Corporate Citizenship Using innovation to solve social issues we take your CSR program beyond volunteerism and philanthropy. Together, we make Tampa Bay the key place to live, play and do business.

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Diversity Begets Innovation When your team is clear on the goals and tactics, engaged, activated, and empowered with tools to measure and benchmark their success - goals are achieved and innovation thrives. We help build or activate your team so everyone has a voice and you benefit from the collective impact.

Success starts with a Business Assessment A business assessment is one of your most valuable tools. We will assess the current state of your business, survey your customers, conduct a SWOT analysis, help define your desired state and create a priority map. Knowing the health of your business and identifying areas for potential growth will position your organization to remain competitive, be innovative, and set the trend.

Business Development Do you get caught up on a project and realize that you haven’t spent time filling the pipeline with new prospects? Do you just need a little help with follow up or follow through to increase customer retention and new business? We can become an extension of your team. Let us help you with the work you don’t seem to have time to do, or secure key relationships so that you can take the next steps to grow your business. It’s all about planning and prioritizing, which we happen to be pretty good at.

We help establish and simplify processes, streamline your management structure, leverage innovative technology solutions, grow your market share, optimize your results and enable deeper engagement with your team, your customers and your community.

Whether it’s broad planning and strategic focus in a traditional consulting role, or rolling up our sleeves and filling in the gaps your team may be challenged with, we help you focus on how to maximize the following: • • • • • • • • •

Donor Cultivation Impact Messaging Annual Giving Social Media Donor Relations Marketing / Public Relations In-kind and Volunteer Recruitment Major Gift Investment Opportunities Planned Giving

Cause Marketing Do you have a brand that is looking for a “good cause” to link with and support? Or are you a non-profit that could use some additional awareness and community support but need a business with which to partner? We can create the perfect match and a plan to grow businesses’ brands while giving back.

Photos by Imani Lee

Secure Resources You do not need to carry the organizational planning, development or marketing on your own.

We work with you and your team to assess your current and desired state.

We believe that life is what you make of it and that every day can be a Good Day. Our personalized approach is centered around you, your goals, your team and your success.

Good Day Solutions Jamie Renee, CEO JRenee@GoodDay.Solutions 813-440-8031 www.GoodDay.Solutions 227

Marketing & Business Solutions Merrill Stewart, CEO Merrill.Stewart@mymabs.com 941-726-0173 www.mymabs.com

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THINK BIG FOR KIDS – ON A MISSION TO HELP UNDERPRIVILEGED TEENS DISCOVER UNTAPPED POTENTIAL

Think Big for Kids was formally announced as the premier teen program of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay during a press conference on June 6, 2018. Pictured left to right: representatives from the Dover Boys & Girls Club; Jeff Preide, owner of JDP Electric, Tony DiBenedetto, founder; Ann Shaler, senior vice president, Enterprise Business & Community Engagement, Bank of America; and Chris Letsos, president and CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay.

graduation goals for employment. The program engages Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay students from sixth to 12th grade through the completion of on-the-job training, trade school certification, or a two-year or four-year degree, depending on their chosen career track.

Think Big for Kids is a program that aims to help 2,000 Tampa Bay youth become workforce-ready by 2022. Tech entrepreneur, Tony DiBenedetto, brings his proven mantra of “thinking big” to a venture with a mission to help underprivileged youth unlock their full potential and become the next generation of local talent in high demand.

The idea behind Think Big for Kids came to DiBenedetto after visiting teens at several Boys & Girls Clubs and observing a general lack of career awareness and preparation for life after high school. At one club, he met with 80 high school students and only three raised a hand when he asked if they had plans for post-graduation education. DiBenedetto, whose own

THE BIG IDEA Think Big for Kids introduces teens from low-income households to a wide variety of career opportunities and assists them in achieving post228

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childhood was marked by poverty and upheaval, felt compelled to put his time and resources behind formalizing a program to help at-risk kids.

an eye toward building their respective job pipelines with known talent they have already invested in.

“Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay have a 98% high school graduation rate, but they can’t do it all. I realized our community wasn’t doing enough to help disadvantaged teens prepare for the future,” said DiBenedetto. “At the same time, I consistently heard from CEOs that finding great talent continues to be one of their biggest challenges. Think Big for Kids is a convergence of two major needs in our community, with the potential to make a tremendous humanitarian and economic impact.”

Volunteers and partner companies begin working with Think Big kids in middle school, when statistics show they are at greatest risk for peer pressure and lagging behind academically. By keeping them engaged in their early teens at the Boys & Girls Clubs, Think Big for Kids has a platform to introduce different careers, industries and companies across the area, identify general interests and begin to shape individualized career tracks.

The focus is on educational preparedness, whether that means going to trade school or navigating college admissions.

THE BIG GOAL: 2,000 BY 2022

“We work with kids who are often overlooked, under-challenged and would otherwise wind up in low-wage jobs with very little chance of career advancement,” said DiBenedetto. “This program doesn’t just focus on the ‘A’ students. We help all kids find a path to success that fits their passion, regardless of their grades or background. Our goal is to prepare 2,000 teens served through Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay for the workforce by 2022.”

Think Big for Kids partners with area businesses representing high-growth industries to offer field trips, career showcases, mentorship, internships, scholarships and ultimately job offers. From electrical contracting and nursing, to cyber security and technical design, partner companies provide a long-term commitment that will see the teens through the program, with

Tony DiBenedetto Tony.Dibenedetto@outlook.com

Jeff Preide, owner of JDP Electric, introduces Boys & Girls Clubs students to the concept of electrical contracting by helping them build their own lamps.

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Business has only two functions marketing and innovation.�

- MILAN KUNDERA

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MARKETING, SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT & DESIGN 231

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ELEVATOR PITCH Pletra is a dynamic advertising platform for Virtual Reality. Our software aims to create a harmonious relationship between developers, advertisers, and consumers. We design and integrate high-quality 3D objects seamlessly into any 3D environment in a non-intrusive manner. External developers are then able to accept advertisement in their systems from 3rd party businesses in a holistic approach.

OPPORTUNITY Pletra gives advertisers the capability to run product-placement marketing campaigns on virtual platforms. Businesses can now reach a new audience in a new medium and run brand awareness and, or call-to-action campaigns.

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What is Virtual Reality?

Virtual Reality (VR) is the creation of a computergenerated environment with which a user can interact. If correctly executed the virtual environment is difficult to distinguish from the real world environment. Generally, VR is achieved through the use of an opaque headset that blocks the user from seeing the real world in front of them and instead replaces their field of vision with an engineered world. As technology improves, developers will be able to completely manipulate a user’s motor-perceptions and give the user the ability to “travel” freely within a sandbox environment.

What is Pletra?

Pletra is a dynamic advertising platform that creates a harmonious relationship between developers, advertisers, and the consumers experiencing the 3D environments. We design and integrate high-quality 3D objects seamlessly into any environment in a non-intrusive manner. With the advertising dashboard we’ve created, both publishers and advertisers can manage their campaigns to increase monetization and conversion rates respectively.

Our software allows developers to integrate the script in specific regions or spaces in their platform by customizing the “holonodes” (hologram advertising space) we provide them.

This script then calls data (objects) that match

the appropriate criteria identified during the customization process, which then requests for 3rd party advertisers to display productplacement or interactive models.

The software can be integrated with a variety of VR/AR/360 products and will evolve with the technology as the industry develops

further. The result is a seamlessly interactive advertisement that mimics a product placement model to subconsciously or directly (depending on the level of interaction) influences consumer behavior and creates an additional Call-To-Action (CTA) campaign within a 3D environment.

For example, a potential homebuyer will take a VR tour of homes that are staged with various products; i.e. furniture, paintings, electronics, etc. Due to its dynamic nature, our system rotates 3D objects (ads) based on a variety of information; the user, the relevancy, the location, and any identification matched with the placement. This creates a unique experience that harmoniously works with the system for every user.

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Michael Rapoport Pletra.io Phone: 347-450-7071 Tampa, FL Pletra.io

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SOURCETOAD

SOURCETOAD IS A TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION COMPANY THAT SPECIALIZES IN DELIVERING SOFTWARE AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES FOR THE CRUISE INDUSTRY. THEIR FLAGSHIP PRODUCT IS CRUISE DIRECTOR, A PLATFORM FOR SYNCHRONIZING AND MANAGING GUEST AND CREW SYSTEMS. Designing software for cruise lines can be tricky. Cruise ships are strange beasts; they have all the amenities and systems you would expect to find in high-end hotels, as well as those you would find in restaurants, amusement parks, performing arts centers, casinos, and shopping malls. On top of that, they are built to withstand the trials of intercontinental ocean travel and even arctic exploration.

Most software developers have never written code for such a broad, and yet specific, use case. Designing a calendar system for reservations is not a difficult task for most programmers. But designing a calendar system for reservations where the time zone can change up to three times a day is a different matter. Add in the fact that ship time isn’t actually related directly to a time zone, and most developers would stare blankly at the drawing board.

This is where Sourcetoad comes in. “That’s the kind of engineering challenge that’s really fun for us, is rewarding, and keeps us engaged,” says Greg RossMunro, founder and CEO of Sourcetoad.

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There are always lots of new projects, especially working in the cruise and ferry niche. We work best as small teams in a startup-like environment to deliver on projects that really have a massive reach. We’re working on solutions that are out on display for the world to see and to enjoy on their next cruise.”

Time zones are not the only challenge in developing solutions for seafaring vessels. “Cruise ships are extremely complex floating cities, without the usual crutch of a constant Internet connection,” adds Ross-Munro. “If you want to build a basic app for passengers, you need to talk to restaurant booking databases, weather systems, GPS trackers, Wi-Fi portals, and guest services. On one ship alone, we pull and push data to over 20 subsystems and make the whole experience seamless, even when there isn’t a stable web connection.”

Once all the data from disparate systems is streamlined through Sourcetoad’s Cruise Director system, the company then helps their clients use it in powering other applications.

“The most exciting aspect of Cruise Director for me is that we can add custom modules to it,” says Justin Weber, CTO and partner at Sourcetoad. “We’ve built modules to allow our clients to run their digital signage systems, interactive TV interfaces, and mobile apps. With everything streamlined, we can build apps that would have normally taken a year to make and launched them in three months.”

Sourcetoad celebrated their ten-year anniversary in 2018. During the last few years, the company has gone from being a relatively small consultancy to being ranked number 1,523 on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing

companies. They are now a 30-employee organization, with an additional office in Perth, Australia. But Sourcetoad have no intention of moving their Tampa headquarters.

“Tampa is an exciting hub for startups and small businesses like Sourcetoad to thrive,” says Nick DeMelas, a Sourcetoad partner and the Director of Projects. “Tampa offers a convenient airport, a supportive community, great weather, and traffic that you don’t want to commit suicide in – those are all contributing factors as to why Sourcetoad can attract such good talent.”

Ross-Munro adds: “Also, there are a ton of people who have a computer science degree and impressive technical backgrounds, who don’t want to work in a cubicle for a huge company, cranking out disembodied code every day for the rest of their lives. They want to work for a company of maybe smaller repute, but one that encourages them to think critically, to solve real-world problems, and to contribute meaningful work toward true innovation – and that’s what Sourcetoad is about.”

Phone: 1-888-801-TOAD (8623) Email: info@sourcetoad.com sourcetoad www.sourcetoad.com 235

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Our mission is to create digital experiences that amaze and delight.

HANEKE DESIGN

Haneke Design, started in 2002 by Jody Haneke as an interactive design agency, was designing for desktops and mobile phones, preiPhone. Think back to the early days of browsing the Internet on your Motorola Razor; the challenge of designing for these different screen sizes was the Wild West of mobile design. But with this challenge, came the realization that mobile was the next frontier in all things tech. We thought, “If it’s this hard, it’s definitely worth something.” When Haneke Design began, we were designing for the screen, but not physically building the back-end development.

Haneke Design is a custom software development company focused on delivering user-centered solutions for connected devices. Our core services center on iOS and Android mobile application design and development and website/web application design and development.

Since the shift from being an interactive design-focused firm to a full-stack development house, we aim to use the latest technologies and expand our services based on the needs of our clients and community.

Haneke Design has been designing and developing mobile applications when the iOS and Android platforms were first made available and has been designing interactive digital user experiences for the web for over fifteen years. The Haneke Design team is comprised of a cohesive, creative and dedicated group of designers, developers, and project managers all collaborating in our downtown Tampa office.

We have expanded to creating mobile apps, websites, and custom digital solutions. In all industries, but especially in the tech space, being ahead of the curve is critical to a company’s success. The goal is to stay in Tampa and be a technology company that thrives in this unique market.

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When you are a tech company outside of the major industry hubs like California or New York, you automatically face an uphill climb, but we have fought to put Tampa on the map for this type of work. The first challenge is finding good talent.

There were years where finding developers was nearly impossible in Tampa.

But now with Tampa being a hub for young people, facilitated by our wonderful universities and local coding academies, the tide is turning for our city.

When we create these digital experiences, they should be as delightful as possible, easy to use, and become a part of the user’s day-to-day life.

Our office culture is very unique in that our employees are highly motivated by their work. At Haneke Design, we keep our employees on their toes by the type of work we bring through the pipeline.

We like to keep a variety of clients. Our client base ranges from start-up companies, to small to medium sized organizations, all the way to Fortune 500 companies.

This allows our designers and developers the opportunity to work with the latest technologies and motivates them to always continue learning and pushing their comfort zone.

Our goal is for everyone in the organization to become a mentor in a specific subject or technical skill. We will support the training and materials they require to become an expert in the discipline they’ve chosen. In turn, each mentor will become the agency’s go-to resource on that topic, responsible for educating and assisting colleagues as needed.

As we grow to become a nationally recognized company, it is so important that we stay in Tampa to achieve this mission. We are just one piece of the up-andcoming tech companies in the Tampa Bay area.

We are all working together towards a day when someone asks about getting quality technology, and the answer they get is: “You need a mobile app? Oh, Tampa is the place for that”.

Phone: 813-605-3586 Haneke Design, 306 East Tyler St. 3rd Fl. Tampa, FL 33602 www.hanekedesign.com twitter.com/hanekedesign facebook.com/hanekedesign @HanekeDesign linkedin.com/company/haneke-design 237

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ONE WORLD EXPLORER The One World Explorer iPad application is an interactive tablet experience created for visitors to the new One World Trade Center in New York. The One World Observatory, on the 101st floor of the tallest building in the western hemisphere, includes various interactive and innovative technologies, immersing visitors in an informative and engaging environment where they can experience New York City like never before.

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Haneke Design was asked to create a unique, interactive iPad experience for guests and a profitable offering for the client. Guests can rent the customized iPads, preloaded with Haneke Design’s application, to orient themselves with the city and take virtual helicopter tours of over 40 New York landmarks.

THE REQUIREMENT The One World Observatory Explorer iPad application was one of Haneke Design’s most challenging app development projects to date. It had to be embraced by an extremely diverse group of visitors of all ages, interests, education, and language backgrounds, during the day and at night, and provide a 360-degree view of the New York City skyline in clear weather, as well as fog, rain, and other poor visibility conditions.

“This is by far the most exciting and emotionally meaningful mobile app project we’ve ever created,” said Jody Haneke, president of Haneke Design and a New Jersey native. “It’s an honor for my team and me to have the opportunity to design and develop the One World Explorer app and bring New York City’s skyline and rich history to life for today’s visitors.”

OUR SOLUTION The team devised a solution that would give visitors the ability to explore over 40 points of interest as they strolled around the observation deck.

As opposed to pure augmented reality, using a 360-degree panorama shot during peak visibility allows visitors to see a pristine view, regardless of the weather conditions outside. Adding to the immersive experience is a digital video shot from a helicopter flown from the tower to each of the points of interest.

To create a heightened sensory experience, the Explorer app includes a 3D sound engine capable of providing binaural audio. The sound engine can adjust sounds based on the viewer’s orientation in order to manage and maintain a rich audio landscape within limited device memory.

As the visitor scans the city below with the iPad Explorer app, the app automatically implements an algorithm for accurately calibrating the view in the display with the direction the tablet is pointing, thus maintaining a high level of accuracy. As points of interest pop up in the frame’s panoramic view, they’re highlighted, and with the tap of a finger, visitors ‘fly’ into the locations for a closer look, via virtual helicopter tours narrated by famed American novelist Jay McInerney.

THE RESULTS Client Joel Baumwoll, CEO of One World Explorer Productions, was extremely satisfied with the final product. “Haneke Design worked with us from the inception of this project,” he said. “Their user interface is excellent, and the application program functions beautifully. They brought creativity and technical expertise to the table at the highest level. I could not have asked for a better partner on this important and highly visible project than the Haneke team.”

The One World Explorer app can be experienced exclusively at the One World Trade Center Observatory. In the first summer, over 100,000 visitors rented iPads preloaded with the Explorer app for $15, and it continues to be a hit with visitors on top of New York City’s most iconic new building.

Phone: 813-605-3586 Haneke Design, 306 East Tyler St. 3rd Fl. Tampa, FL 33602 www.hanekedesign.com twitter.com/hanekedesign facebook.com/hanekedesign @HanekeDesign linkedin.com/company/haneke-design

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Elevator Pitch Sparxoo is a digital marketing agency that delivers strategic, creative impact to accelerate growth for industry-leading brands. The agency helps businesses reimagine their marketing strategy, share their story so that people will listen, craft experiences that delight customers, and drive omnichannel marketing performance.

STRATEGY. CREATIVITY. DIGITAL MARKETING.

The Story Sparxoo was founded in 2010 as a digital-first agency with big goals and even bigger ideas. Now in its 8th year of rapid growth, Sparxoo is a testament to founder David Capece’s vision of creative and strategic balance powered by a nimble, innovative, and collaborative team.

Sparxoo is organized into three centers of excellence, all guided by the strategy team. Experience hosts web and mobile developers, Performance leads ROI-focused digital media buying, and Storytelling brings together writers, designers, animators, art directors, video specialists, and other creatives.

Rather than offering up a checklist of marketing services, the Sparxoo team starts with smart listening and strategic planning before creating a custom solution. And it doesn’t stop there—Sparxoo’s dedicated experts are in it for the long haul. Even while producing beautiful content and driving results, the agency’s digital marketing specialists never stop learning from the data to tweak and optimize for the ever-evolving digital landscape.

David Capece, CEO

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The way we work is just as important as the work we do.

Milestones It’s an exciting time at Sparxoo. Three-year growth of 271% earned the agency a position on the Inc 5000 ranking of America’s fastest-growing private companies for two consecutive years, as well as the Tampa Bay Business Journal’s Fast 50 and the Business Observer’s Top 500 list.

With a growing client list including the likes of Tech Data, Weight Watchers (recently rebranded to WW), Red Hat, Florida Atlantic University, and Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, Sparxoo is poised to represent Tampa well on the worldwide stage of creative agencies.

Contact Us sparxoo.com 813.402.0208 450 Knights Run Ave, Suite 1 Tampa, FL 33602 241

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Alfred Goldberg - President

ABSOLUTE MARKETING SOLUTIONS MORE THAN YOUR MARKETING PARTNERS, WE’RE YOUR PROFESSIONAL PROBLEM SOLVERS Absolute Marketing Solutions has been delivering best-in-class digital marketing services to our clients for over 18 years. Our portfolio spans world-wide, but we are especially proud of the work we do for Tampabased companies. Located in the heart of downtown Tampa, we thrive working with a variety of local businesses and Tampa Bay staples that include Alessi Bakery, Ciccio Restaurant Group, ZooTampa and The Florida Holocaust Museum. We view our clients as partners whom we collaborate with to achieve business goals.

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When you’re a digital agency, you can never be comfortable with what you knew yesterday, as it might not be relevant today.

Technology and the way consumers interact with brands are constantly changing.

However, we believe that change brings opportunity. We pride ourselves on not only keeping up with change but creating it.

Our diverse, award-winning team members range from website developers to graphic designers, to content strategists, so we’re able to provide expertise in every aspect of digital marketing.

A good way to understand how we do business is to look at our company values. These values are not meaningless aspirational statements, they are at the core of who we are. We rely on our values for everything from hiring decisions to how we conduct ourselves with customers, partners and vendors.

These values are summarized by the acronym REACH and are as follows: RESULTS - We are not content with simply meeting standards, we strive for the optimal outcome. Every decision, from layout to navigation, is driven by this mindset of

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achieving results. If our client’s approach does not achieve optimal results, we advise the necessary changes.

EDUCATION - It is important for our clients to understand what we do, why we do it and how we do it. Our staff constantly pursues and promotes knowledge. From giving monthly employee presentations to attending and leading workshops, we make every day an opportunity to learn, for both our staff and our clients.

ACCOUNTABILITY - Every team member involved is held accountable for the overall success of a project. You will never hear an Absolute employee saying ‘that’s not my job’ - we all pitch in to ensure the success of every project as a whole.

CREATIVITY - Creativity is paramount in everything we do. We look at things in new ways in order to innovate and explore new solutions.

HUMOR - Don’t worry, we won’t answer every call with a knock-knock joke, but this means we can make light of any situation.

We believe that by having fun with our work, our team and our clients get the most value.

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500 East Kennedy Blvd. Suite 401 Tampa , FL 33602, US Phone: 813 908 6862 AbsoluteMarketingSolutionsAgency absolute_mktg absolutemarketingsolutions www.absolutemobilesolutions.com

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RED WALL MARKETING IN THE BUSINESS OF HELPING PEOPLE Red Wall Marketing was started from the ground up with one goal in mind: Helping people. Founder and President JR Griggs began working with local businesses one at a time to see how he could help them truly grow their business. He would dissect their business, locate problem areas, and strategically build a plan to solve them. The best way to help them was to remove the jargon and focus on what 244

the business needed, not on just selling them something.

As word spread from clients having success, Red Wall’s client base began to grow. JR never intended to build an agency, nor had he ever worked for one, so he wasn’t sure if this was the path he wanted to take. Eventually, however, there came a point where a decision

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had to be made: continue to work one on one with clients, or build an agency. An agency it was.

When the decision was made to build a team and grow roots here in Tampa, the overall goal was still the same. There were just more goals now, bigger goals.

Help people - The overall goal is the same throughout each area of Red Wall Marketing: help people. The reality is, we don’t really work with businesses, we work with people. From the owner to the employees, to the customers they serve, we’re helping people. We also don’t hire employees, we hire people. People with dreams and problems. People who want to be seen, heard, and valued. We are all people, and therefore always want to be investing in the lives of those we serve.

Build a great place to work - Work, in general, can have enough stress on its own, even if it is someone’s passion, but having a good work environment can help alleviate some of that stress, not add on to it. The goal was to build a company people would want to work for: one that was fun and dedicated to building up the team members.

Continue to help businesses in any way possible - We want businesses to be successful, regardless of what that takes. They don’t always know what they need, so by truly dissecting a business, we are able to reveal any areas a business needs the most help, even if that help is not coming from us.

Give - We want to always be giving in some way, whether that is serving our community, helping non-profits, or just being available to those who need help but cannot afford it. We want to be known as a giving company.

Educate and be transparent with every client - The more they know, the more they understand why we do what we do. We want to be as transparent as possible with our clients so they can solely focus on their business, not worry about their marketing.

500 E Kennedy Blvd #307 Tampa, FL 33602 Phone: 813-530-1122 RedWallMarketing.com 245

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URBAN BUFFALO MARKETING

INNOVATION IN MARKETING, ULTIMATELY, ALL COMES DOWN TO ONE WORD: UNDERSTANDING. There are so many ways technology is helping marketers and businesses reach future customers.

From analytics to AI, tech is changing the way that we execute on every front. This new immersion has led many companies to forget the core of what makes marketing truly successful.

Urban Buffalo Marketing stands at the forefront of bridging technology and human psychology.

“It’s simple; marketing is analytics put to human interaction. But the core is understanding the human interaction first”, says co-founder Wes Lehman.

For Urban Buffalo, the first step in any project is diving deep to learn about who the subject is that they working with. It goes far beyond just understanding an industry for this team. “We want the full story”, Wes continued, “We’ll ask questions like what kind of music do you like? That’s the music we’ll listen to during the design process.

What actors would you imagine would play you in a movie? That’s likely the voice you want your brand to sound like… Context is everything. When you truly understand where someone is coming from it’s easier to take them where they want to go.”

Armed with the double-entendre of “Recreating the world online” Urban Buffalo reflects on the identity and story of their clients every step of their marketing journey. While UBM does do one-off projects in multiple specialized marketing arenas, many of their clients fall comfortably under their “full-spectrum digital marketing” umbrella and allow Urban Buffalo to manage their entire marketing efforts. “We kind of consider ourselves your ‘out-of-house, in-house marketing team’”, Wes joked. “We’re in it with you for the long haul.”

Starting as a social media agency Urban Buffalo rapidly scaled their model to include branding, web design, graphic design, copywriting, SEO, photography, and videography. While working with clients that vary from local startups to the Fortune 500 list, one of the “brand babies” Urban Buffalo is most proud of is Synapse. Synapse is a facilitator of Florida’s innovation movement helping to connect people around the state. Naming and developing the exploding Synapse brand and the Synapse Summit over the last year and half has been a whirlwind for the Urban Buffalo team.

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“Naming Synapse was simple. Synapse [the organization] bridges the gap between people with innovative ideas. A synapse [physiologically] is the bridge between two neurons that allows an idea to pass in order for it to be put into action”. This was just one of many examples of how Urban Buffalo pinpoints and understands the identity of who they’re marketing.

The team said they are so excited to continue to power and manage the Synapse marketing efforts for years to come.

Phone: 813-727-5941 | Email: wes@urbanbuffalo.marketing | urbanbuffalo.marketing 247

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GreenBar is a full-stack web design and development agency that’s been delivering websites that work for startups and small businesses since 2014.

Standing apart from traditional agencies, GreenBar builds long-term relationships with clients to continuously improve how you use technology to address the day-to-day opportunities in your business. Your website can be your hardest working salesperson, customer service rep, and more.

For startups, GreenBar builds totally custom web apps that enable you to rapidly iterate new ideas, test assumptions, and validate your product.

With multiple startups as clients, they are experienced with supporting marketers, salespeople, board members, other developers, and all the other stakeholders involved in your startup. Using Agile methodologies like the Scrum framework, GreenBar ships working code every week to our clients live systems.

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“We love startups! Our greatest joy is when we can embed one of our developers into your team. That person serves as a part-time technical co-founder while representing a larger team of incredibly talented developers who can get the work done,” says Gregg Hilferding, founder and CEO of GreenBar, “Your startup will speed up like you’ve never seen before!”

For existing small businesses, GreenBar uses off-theshelf tools to rapidly deliver great looking websites and then iterates with the business on a monthly cycle to track performance and update functionality.

“It’s a personal mission of mine to help small businesses run more efficiently with better use of technology,” says Hilferding. “This matters to me because my mother ran our family screenprinting business when I grew up. As a computer nerd, I was always looking for ways that technology could save her some time and frustration each day. As we improved our processes and the business

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grew to 40+ employees, I realized I could start an agency that leverages my 20 years of technology experience building my own family business to help more small businesses.”

A major focus of GreenBar’s work is leveraging best-ofclass products and services. A list of past integrations they’ve created is on their website and includes accounting, customer relationship management, analytics, search engine marketing, mapping, social media, email marketing, event, chat, A/B testing, and SMS messaging platforms.

GreenBar was founded in Tampa Bay and their 100% locally based team is passionate about contributing to the most important part of our local economy, the small businesses, and startups that provide the majority of new jobs and the most exciting opportunities for our region.

For more information, visit www.greenbarsites.com

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ELEVATOR PITCH Marketing Matters is a PR/marketing agency that partners exclusively with technology firms to propel our clients’ products by increasing visibility and profitability. For the past 20 years, we’ve been the choice for companies like Bose and Sharp to launch new technology. We’ve helped take a startup company to $200 million in sales in seven years. We’ve also won 66 design and publishing awards for the work we’ve done.

THE STORY Founded in 1997 by Coleen Sterns Leith, a CEDIA, AVIXA (formerly InfoComm) and Consumer Technology Association (CTA) industry expert, Marketing Matters employs a multidisciplinary team of public relations specialists, marketing services experts, programmers, writers and graphic designers to offer concept-throughcreation communications and marketing services to clients both big and small.

We specialize in a wide range of technology industries and businesses, from consumer electronics, custom installation, startups and high-end home goods to professional services, consumer marketing, security, and B2B.

OUR METHOD One of the biggest challenges high technology firms face is that they spend millions of dollars to create jaw-dropping, life-changing, technology marvels then face a huge disadvantage in marketing these tech features for the benefit of the consumer. The effect of this is that they have spent their launch investment and still have a huge warehouse of unsold product inventory.

Marketing Matters solves our clients’ problems by employing our proprietary 5-step TWD (Total World Domination) system where we maximize media exposure by eliminating the gap between what the engineers created and what the customer wants.

If you speak with our customers, they will tell you that our passion, drive, creativity and relentless follow-up creates the buzz and publicity that moves products off the shelf. We’re known for taking inventory reports and turning them into reorders.

TESTIMONIALS “Coleen is one of the easiest and most understanding people I’ve ever worked with. We worked together on an interesting and challenging software product, for a totally new market concept. Coleen was constantly engaged and helped remove project blockers at every stage all while being extremely professional. I couldn’t recommend Coleen and 250

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Marketing Matters strongly enough to anyone who was looking for innovative thinking and great execution.” – Gregory Ross-Munro, Founder, CEO at SourceToad “I have worked with Marketing Matters on and off for over 10 years. The Marketing Matters team is professional, exceptionally well-rounded, and an extremely cost-effective agency partner. If you decide to partner with them, I believe you will find them to be a valuable and viable partner, regardless of your brand.” – Joyce Townsend, New Products Marketing Director, National Tobacco Company “The folks at Marketing Matters are great professionals – experts at all that that would define (but not confine) a marketing firm. Their experience in planning, developing & executing PR campaigns around product launches, for us, has proven to be successful time and time again. The staff are extremely ‘hands-on’ and always go above and beyond what your typical agency would even dream of doing. Highly recommended – Bravo, Marketing Matters!” – Stephanie Scola, Director of Marketing, KEF America

204 37th Avenue N., Suite 329 St. Petersburg, FL 33704 Phone: 954-925-1511 Email: coleen@marketingmatters.net mmatterspr marketing-matters www.marketingmatters.net 251

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B2 COMMUNICATIONS TAKES A STRATEGIC APPROACH TO ITS WORK, EXECUTING A CUSTOMIZED PUBLIC RELATIONS PROGRAM FOR EACH CLIENT. B2’s success is based on clients staying with the firm for the long term. And that success is reflected in the firm’s growth: Since B2’s founding in 2010, the firm has become one of Tampa Bay’s top PR agencies.

Some of the strategies that we use to amplify organizations’ stories include: • Messaging strategy: Strong messaging sets the foundation for all communications from the organization.

• Media coaching: Training clients to shine at interviews, speaking engagements or networking events.

• Media relations: News media coverage positions an organization and its executives as thought leaders and provides third-party credibility.

• Content development: Concise and powerful content delivered through websites, blogs, newsletters, and other channels that reach targeted audiences.

Missy Hurley and Kyle Parks co-founded the firm in 2010 after recognizing a need in the market for strategic communications.

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Kyle Parks is an expert in crisis communications. He presented on the topic at Urban Land Institute (ULI) Florida’s Summit in 2016.

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B2 works with clients like the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay to raise visibility and awareness through media relations. Wilma Norton (right), vice president of marketing and communications for the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay, and Bailey Nicholas (center), executive director of High Risk Hope, were interviewed about their organizations’ impact on the community by “Positively Tampa Bay” host Lissette Campos (left).

Missy Hurley and Alana Siceloff worked with Synapse on marketing for the 2018 Innovation Summit, which had more than 3,500 in attendance.

• Social media: Strategies for using Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and others to connect with target audiences.

• Crisis communications: Reputation management counsel when it matters the most – when the organization is preparing for or managing a crisis situation.

B2 supports organizations that are making an impact, like the Poynter Institute. The B2 team attended Poynter’s Bowtie Ball, which honored PBS NewsHour anchor and managing editor Judy Woodruff, in 2017.

Our clients are working on a local, regional and national scale. Our communications strategies on behalf of Sunstar Paramedics, Colliers International, SPCA Tampa Bay and Ybor City Development Corp. have won awards from national industry groups and statewide PR associations.

Find out what strategic public relations can do for your business.

B2’s often tapped for its PR expertise and local knowledge by its counterparts in PRConsultants Group, a network of leading public relations firms in the nation’s top 50 markets. Our work is bold enough to have a national impact, but our team is small and nimble enough to retain our local touch.

Phone: (727) 895-5030 Email: info@b2communications.com b2comm B2Communications b2-communications b2communications www.B2communications.com www.TheTampaBay100.com

One way our team stays current on the local landscape is through The Tampa Bay 100. B2’s talented team produces the bi-weekly digital publication, which includes 100-word stories about local businesses and nonprofits, events, breweries, restaurants and history. The Tampa Bay 100 has more than 18,000 subscribers.

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BAKE MORE PIES

“WE HELP CLIENTS SOLVE BUSINESS PROBLEMS BY FUSING TECHNOLOGY, CREATIVITY, INNOVATION, AND STRATEGY.”

ABOUT US At Bake More Pies, we have the recipe for digital marketing and advertising success. We’re committed to helping our clients outperform their competition, by taking market share through more creative storytelling across all emerging media. We are ahead of the curve and want to bring our clients along!

Our cutting-edge mix of marketing solutions includes artificial intelligence, hyper-targeted media buying, comprehensive social media, custom KPI dashboards, proactive content creation, online video production, SEO, SEM, database segmentation, website development and in-house studios. Our clients can rest easy knowing they have the most advanced strategies and team executing on their behalf!

OUR HISTORY In 2014, Bake More Pies started out as a theory about how to deliver marketing and advertising in such a way that all stakeholders would gain the most. Instead of thinking of markets and budgets as “slices of the pie”, which assumes a zero-sum environment, we created a new recipe for success. We help clients grow faster by acquiring more new customers at a lower Cost Per Acquisition, enabling them to scale their business.

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OUR CULTURE From day one, culture has been our bedrock, and is crucial to our success.

We’ve always invested in our people and the technology that helps power them, and it’s important to us that our office should feel like home.

We offer a creative work environment, with a positive and collaborative atmosphere, encouraging innovation, leveraging team member strengths and fostering the “think like an owner” mindset.

OUR STUDIOS When we couldn’t find video production space in Tampa Bay that met our requirements, instead of settling, we decided it was time to create our own. With hard work and a lot of elbow grease, we created the most advanced digital studio in town. A studio space that fosters creativity for our staff, our clients, and our community.

We offer a temperature-controlled, state-of-the-art facility, featuring a 3,000 sqft studio space, including a 65’ x 14’ white cyc wall. We also have a podcasting studio with power up and stream broadcast quality equipment.

OUR LOCATION We are conveniently situated in the Westshore Business District. With our studio’s extensive soundproofing, there is no need to worry about air traffic, exterior street noise, or Tampa’s infamous storms.

OUR AMENITIES

MARKETING AND CREATIVE SERVICES Marketing

Content & Creative

Technology

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Digital Media Buying Email Marketing Traditional Media Buying SEO / SEM PPC Local Listings Artificial Intelligence Geo-Fencing Geo-Targeting Behavioral Targeting Social Advertising Content Marketing Retargeting

Thought Leadership Video Production Live Streaming Blogging Copywriting Podcasting Social Media Management Branding Design UI / UX Photography

Web Design & Development Website Hosting CRM Integrations Requirements Gathering Process Improvement Software Selection Technology Consulting

• • • • • • • • • •

Wardrobe & Make-up Room Private Restrooms Executive Suite with Glass Viewing Window Set Storage Area Craft & Catering Area Equipment Rentals Green Screen Camera Equipment Audio Equipment Lighting Equipment 5019 W Nassau St, Tampa, Florida 33607 Phone: (813) 308-0300 Email: info@bakemorepies.com bakemorepies.com

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healthcare, software, logistics, banking, quick service restaurants, and more.

Are you diligently building upon your brand’s story?

Or letting it wither?

Your brand’s story is now a living entity that has to perpetually evolve and grow in response to customer input, social media commentary, cultural influences, and data learnings.

To say the advertising industry is in a constant state of upheaval right now is no exaggeration.

Brands are literally lost in a wilderness of new technologies, media platforms, analytics tools, and slick marketing gimmicks. They desperately need a guru, a guide, a strategic sherpa to help them find their way forward.

Enter Schifino Lee Advertising + Branding with our focus on the fine art of brand story-building.

Experience has shown us it’s not enough to be mere storytellers anymore.

Of course, all of this is moot if you don’t have the right creative partner to craft a truly memorable, strategically-sound big idea as the foundation for your brand story. Because despite all the dramatic changes in marketing, great story-building still begins with a great idea based on a smart consumer insight. Only then can technology, analytics, and media opportunities be applied to bring it to life like never before—producing highly measurable results.

You can’t just put out a story and leave it be.

That traditional approach just won’t cut it for companies in highly competitive (ie: pretty much all) industries. We’ve seen this in

So, you have to ask yourself: Am I going to be an innovative marketer that keeps evolving my brand, or one that lets it wither and die?

If you’re ready to innovate, give us a call.

Digital

(813) 258-5858 x 210

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schifinolee.com

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hello@schifinolee.com

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ADVENTURE MARKETING

ADVENTURE MARKETING ISN’T YOUR TRADITIONAL MARKETING FIRM. FOUNDED IN 2017 AT THE LOWTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP CENTER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TAMPA, ADVENTURE MARKETING HAS EMERGED AS ONE OF THE MOST INNOVATIVE DIGITAL MARKETING FIRMS IN THE TAMPA BAY AREA. Zach Gresham and Alicia Waldner, graduates of the University of Tampa’s Sykes College of Business and the Co-Founders of the firm, noticed a gap in the Bay area for digital marketing services. Although the market is fully saturated with advertising and marketing firms, the results just aren’t being delivered. ADventure bases our efforts on the data: analysis, coordination and implementation is the three-step approach we take with the transparency of results and a promise of success with each and every client.

With no set price list, each contract is fully customized to the specific necessities of each firm we work with.

cover many aspects of the market. With digital marketing at the forefront of the current trends, ADventure can provide a range of in-house services including:

Serving as the ‘one-stop’ digital marketing shop, ADventure offers a wide variety of services to

Each of these services provides incredible value to our clients and are tailored directly to each

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• Website Design and Implementation • Search Engine Optimization/PPC Advertising • Social Media Optimization, Management and Advertising • Branding and Graphic Design • Professional Photography • Professional Videography • Content Creation and Management

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of their clientele. At ADventure, we believe these individualized service packages and offerings create an all-in-one experience that drives real results. With our team comprised of millennial talent, we can work one-onone with each specific client. Our videos are creative and dynamic, photos sharp and effective, and websites fresh and results-driven.

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So, don’t hesitate! Connect with us today to see what value we can provide for your marketing endeavors by heading over to our website to view our portfolio and a breakdown of our services at www.adventuremarketinginc.com

Email: connect@adventuremarketinginc.com Phone: 860-305-4090 ADventure Marketing  ADventure Marketing Inc @ADventure.Marketing adventuremarketing.co

In a growing digital world, ADventure believes in staying ahead of the curve. With professional technologies, drones, photo/video gear and analytics-tracking software, we work to provide the best experience for our clients who have experienced nothing but headaches from traditional marketing firms.

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DATA-DRIVEN VALUE. DELIGHTFULLY CREATIVE.

DIGITAL MARKETING SERVICES

ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT

SpotOn Digital Media works with growing businesses to amplify their reach and message, supporting sales, and overall business goals. They seek and accept clients that align with their values and use technology and innovation to enhance human connection, solve problems, and make an impact. By utilizing a deep level of online research, competitive comparisons, audience and industry knowledge, SpotOn establishes the optimum website foundation, then drives traffic for conversion. Ongoing data analysis leads the way while creative messaging and strategic distribution channels attract qualified leads.

Founder, Robyn Spoto left the corporate environment in 2011 and was exposed to true entrepreneurship when a group of investors asked her to join them on a mobile venture. Her heart was stolen to the process, pain, and satisfaction of starting a company, building a team and growing a business.

Together, they launched the MamaBear App in 2012. As a co-founder and president leading the way, Robyn and her team gained hundreds of thousands of users around the world in less than two years. Curious Minds named Robyn one of five top-emerging women in tech, alongside Uber’s general counsel and Flickr’s founder.

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After the sale of MamaBear to Grom Social, Robyn began SpotOn Digital Media to serve innovative companies who are looking to grow and effect change in their industries while supporting SpotOn team members on their personal and professional growth journeys.

Since January 2015, Robyn has built a team of skilled marketing experts looking for a deeper client/agency relationship that positively impacts the business as a whole.

The SpotOn team is quite selective with the clients and projects they accept, using an internally developed “good partner” score – holding true to the core mission of partnering with kind people at innovative businesses that are making a difference. All SpotOn clients receive a customized team and plan, to serve their unique market and needs. The result is real productivity, very satisfied clients, happy colleagues, and quality relationships.

Robyn Spoto, Founder

A SPOTON PROCESS

SUPPORTING ENTREPRENEURS Robyn is an Entrepreneur In Residence at Tampa Bay Wave, leading women entrepreneur initiatives and facilitating monthly peer forums to bring the peer mastermind structure to Tampa Bay Wave accelerator companies.

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Content Creation &

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Email Marketing & Automation

Social Media Management & Engagement

Online, Mobile & Social Advertising

Analytics Reporting & Evaluation

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“Our SpotOn team takes the time to truly understand the nuances of what can be a complex topic and is committed to helping us achieve our overall demand generation goals. We value our partnership established over the past few years with this very creative, talented, intelligent and easy-to-work-with group of professionals.” - Caitlin Bailey, Physician Marketing Lead at Moffitt Cancer Center “SpotOn’s ability to advise on best practices, prioritize what matters most, and hold the team accountable significantly contributed to a timely and successful brand and website launch. Their expertise has been exemplary, and we are confident in SpotOn’s capabilities to continue to support the growth of our brand.” - Victoria Zambito, SVP Content & Communications at Vector Solutions

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INVASION DIGITAL MEDIA

ELEVATOR PITCH Invasion Digital Media is a creative agency specializing in digital product creation, automation, and sales funnels. We work as an end-to-end solution specifically for influencers and high traffic businesses on their digital presence and strategy.

THE STORY There are always new opportunities that arise when there are gaps left in emerging markets.

Invasion Digital Media (IDM) was born after partners, Jake Hoffman and Chris Sassouni, noticed a trend within the already booming digital marketplace. Social media usage, digital purchasing, and overall internet reliance have continued to climb to astronomical levels. With 262

the rise in popularity, it has brought a new brand of celebrity or “influencer� not just to the internet, but to the business community as well.

Most big brands and businesses have utilized influencers the same way they have in traditional advertising; by paying them to endorse products and be photographed using the product. On the flip side, creators and artists have historically been under-compensated, if not taken advantage of for their talents.

Invasion Digital Media partners with influencers to provide them with the tools and services to create a fully functioning business model for utilizing their platforms. In short, we enable creators to become business owners. On the more traditional business end, we also enable companies to improve their digital strategy by implementing the same tactics used by the most prominent online businesses and digital marketers in the world.

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IDM creates, builds, and markets full digital campaigns for businesses in a way that few others can; by utilizing those that are inventing the newest trends. We focus on selling 100% digital products such as courses, books, and membership websites so that no inventory needs to be purchased.

OUR TEAM In the first year, our team has grown to 10 full and part-time employees comprised of photographers, videographers, digital strategists, copywriters, advertising specialists, web developers, and digital marketers. Unlike many traditional agencies, we don’t take work to build out projects and move on to the next, but instead we offer a full solution to individuals and businesses looking to invade the online space for the long term.

MILESTONES The first campaign we launched was a little over a year ago in 2017. Since then our total follower reach is a combined 19 Million people with over 500,000,000 video views. Two of our influencer partners have received YouTube’s Golden Play Button Award for acquiring over 100,000 subscribers. Our videos, clips, and interviews have been featured nationally on ESPN, UFC, NBC, ABC, CBS, Oxygen, MTV, Fox, and many more.

Our current partners include a list of professional athletes and sports agents, fitness & health personalities, digital marketing influencers, professional fishermen, blockchain companies, and more.

To see our work and more information, please visit www.invasiondigitalmedia.com Phone: 561-282-8753.

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ELEVATOR PITCH LotVantage has carved out space in the digital world by being a leading provider of digital marketing solutions delivered via its award-winning SaaS (software as a service) platform. With a rich history in software development and digital marketing, LotVantage has paved the way over the last decade for manufacturers, brands and their retailers to promote brand awareness and sell online. “Online classified marketplaces, video, and social media sites have historically been difficult and expensive to manage for brands and retailers as it involves a tremendous amount of effort, that’s what LotVantage solves” -said Matthew Brown, President and CEO of That’s Us Technologies (a holding company for LotVantage). LotVantage has a proven track record with its software platform and onboarding processes which handle connectivity to these online destinations. With these connections, LotVantage seamlessly flows inventory and content which has delivered low costs to generate sales. Today LotVantage serves over 6,700 retailers.

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THE STORY What sets LotVantage apart is the focus on the connection of its technology and reporting between manufacturers and retailers. In late 2017 LotVantage released its Patent pending technology for manufacturers called “Brand Manager.” This Brand Manager software connects a brand’s content to its retailer’s social media and advertising outlets. LotVantage refers to this content as ThumbStopper™ content.

ThumbStopper™ content is anything that stops a person’s thumb from scrolling further.

“The Brand Manager product has taken off like a rocket for us. I am continually amazed by how disconnected the manufacturers and brands have been with the retailer’s online presence. I became obsessed with how LotVantage would help solve this problem, and we have” stated Matthew Brown.

BRIDGING THE BRAND GAP Try and Picture yourself as a Chief Marketing Officer for a large OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) or Brand. One thing that would probably keep you up at night is wondering what your customers are learning about your brand when they visit your local retailer’s social media pages. How are your digital assets and inventory being promoted via sites that consumers are on?

lotvantage

One of the main problems with social media marketing is brand consistency. LotVantage solves this issue for dozens of brands. One of LotVantage’s key differentiators is completely handling the onboarding of each unique manufacturer and retailer and creating a mass adoption when going to market with new partners. This technology connects a brand’s message, images, videos, hashtags, and promotions to where it matters most, the local retailer’s Facebook page. The Patent pending software takes into consideration a retailer’s specific inventory, product lines, geography (among other things) that are specific to generating historically high ROI. Moving forward, The LotVantage team see opportunities for growing their customer base and expansion that continues even beyond their current partner industries. In fact, they have identified 7 other industry verticals that are now being targeted accordingly.

Yeah, That’s Us. LotVantage extends the same dedication to its employees as it does to its clients, promoting a work-hard, play-hard environment that encourages family and health above all. Whether it be late night development project deliveries, team members in the gym, games at the pool table/arcade machines or off-site meetings and events, LotVantage is a great place to be.

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Email: jjabaay@lotvantage.com | Phone: 813-470-7094 | lot-vantage | lotvantage | lotvantage.com

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DIRECTMAIL2.0, LIKE MOST START-UPS, WAS BORN TO SOLVE A PROBLEM. THAT PROBLEM WAS FIGURING OUT HOW TO TRACK AND IMPROVE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF DIRECT MAIL MARKETING.

DirectMail2.0 was launched in 2015 after local direct mail agengy, PostcardMania, beta tested a new integrated marketing strategy and had incredibly promising results.

A seasoned leadership team was assembled to advance, sell and market the product to the print industry. Within months it was standing on its own with its own advanced technology platform and signed over a hundred partners around the country delivering tens of thousands of campaigns.

The business continues to evolve, adding new marketing technology to improve the effectiveness of print marketing. The current suite of technology includes:

MAIL TRACKING Know when individual pieces will arrive to the recipient just like package tracking.

INFORMED DELIVERYÂŽ Bradley S. Kugler, CEO DirectMail2.0

In partnership with the US Post Office, deliver a clickable message to the email of the recipient without even having an email address!

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LEADMATCH True attribution of direct mail by disclosing who came to the website that was on the mailing list.

It’s a well known fact most sales take place after the 8th to the 12th interaction. DirectMail2.0 takes a single piece of mail and ensures the recipients get those impressions and ultimately results with its patent pending technology described above.

CALL TRACKING Capture every incoming call as well as caller demographics and reports.

ONLINE FOLLOW-UP After the recipient goes to the website ads will be shown to them as they surf the web reminding them of the offer they received in the mail.

SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOW-UP Same as Online Follow-Up except the ads will be shown on Facebook and Instagram.

SOCIALMATCH Send digital ads via Facebook and Instagram to the same people receiving the mailing.

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| @directmail2

| Email: bradk@dm20.com | www.dm20.com

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ELEVATOR PITCH Motion State Media is a full-service video production agency here in Tampa Bay. We specialize in commercial and corporate visuals that take a business’s branding to levels that set them far apart from the rest. It’s our goal to create videos that positively impact our viewers’ lives while delivering the product our clients need.

THE STORY Motion State Media was founded in 2014 by Cam Simon with the purpose of creating a way to do what he loved for the rest of his life. Filmmaking and entrepreneurship had been his passion for many years and had always been something he wanted to make a career out of. At first, it was just Cam and his partner, Chris Sassouni, in a small bedroom office with a large whiteboard full of goals. After many long days and late nights, they established a solid client base and finally opened the Motion State Media Studio in Downtown Clearwater in 2015. Fast forward to 2018 and we’ve become one of the premier video production agencies in the Tampa Bay area, creating over 1,000 videos for our clients who range from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies.

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We’ve grown our team to a large family of likeminded, talented and passionate individuals as well as having claimed the title of “Best Local Filmmaker 2016”.

We believe there are a few things that set us apart from the rest. The first being that filmmaking and photography isn’t our only skill or focus. We’re artists who are knowledgeable, passionate and experienced with producing, marketing, advertising, social media, and entrepreneurship. We take all of these aspects into consideration while creating a video, making it more effective and unique as opposed to something cookie cutter.

Secondly, we provide a large spectrum of services for our clients to make the experience as easy and stressfree as possible. From writing scripts and treatments, storyboarding, location scouting, casting, scheduling, directing, shooting and editing, all is precisely calculated to deliver an effective product.

Lastly, the passion. This isn’t “just a job” for anyone here at Motion State Media - it’s our passion. When you look forward to coming into work every day, you’re working with a purpose and creating something meaningful. We believe the key to creating excellent content is having your passion show through your work.

WHY IS OUR WORK SO IMPORTANT? The answer is simple. The quality of our work and our anti-cookie-cutter beliefs, create branding that stands out from the rest and helps our clients reach their greatest potential. If you had two businesses side by side with the same exact product, one could be a multi-million-dollar company and the other could be a six-figure company. The difference is one company’s branding is better. Their overall image, ads, campaigns, commercials, and connection to the world is better. In conclusion, Motion State Media is where your visions are brought to life.

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614 Grand Central Street, Clearwater, Florida 33756 Phone: 727-417-6593 motionstatemedia motionstatemedia.com

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“I JUST REALLY LOVE THE PROCESS OF CREATING, WHETHER THAT’S HELPING MANIFEST A CLIENT’S VISION INTO A REALITY, OR EXPRESSING MYSELF THROUGH A PERSONAL PROJECT OR MY PHOTOGRAPHIC ARTWORK.” While completing his degree in Advertising at the University of Tampa, John worked at a local restaurant, taking on a side role managing the company’s social media accounts. In the process of mastering social media, John quickly came to learn the importance of quality photography for advertising and sales.

John purchased his first DSLR camera and developed an instant passion for creating. Starting out photographing food, John eventually ventured outside of the restaurant taking photos of his beautiful hometown, Tampa Bay. When these photos started getting noticed and shared by residents of the community, including Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, John began to 270

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receive a high volume of requests for his photographic services. This was all the confirmation needed to propel John to turn his passion into a career.

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John’s specialties include commercial, lifestyle and fine art photography, but if you ask him what his favorite genre is, he’ll tell you that’s really not an easy question.

Upon graduation, John started his company, Weatherby Photography, and has since worked with clients such as Uber, the Home Depot, Cushman Wakefield, Hilton, the University of Tampa, and the Edwards Group to name a few.

“I just really love the process of creating, whether that’s helping manifest a client’s vision into a reality, or expressing myself through a personal project or my photographic artwork. I feel very blessed to have discovered something that I am so passionate about, that not only fulfills me, but brings joy and value to other people’s lives and businesses.”

John is best known for his vivid photos and stunning timelapse photography, often playing off of unique perspectives, lighting, and reflections. His photography has built him a following within the community and has been highlighted and recognized by Creative Loafing’s annual “Best of the Bay” awards, as well as the Tampa Bay Business Journal’s “Best in the Biz.”

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ELEVATOR PITCH MP Studios specializes in working with business professionals who need to make the best first impression possible through professional headshot photography. By coaching and educating their subjects, MP Studios can capture an image that accurately represents the individual’s personal brand and highlights confidence, authenticity, and trust.

MP Studios focuses on the psychology behind what it takes to make a lasting impression. The foundation of a quality headshot all comes down to authentic expression.

When business professionals step in front of a camera, it can be a daunting task to produce an image that looks good and grabs the attention of potential clients; that’s where MP Studios simplifies the entire process by applying our three-step method for the picture perfect headshot.

Step 1: Persona The process begins with a consultation to learn about the client, their business, and target market. Each headshot is individually crafted to make the strongest impact by appealing to the emotions of their target market.

Step 2: Pose Every person is unique, and at MP Studios we know which angles will look good in front of the camera for that particular person and how to coach them into different positions and expressions.

Michael P. McCoy, owner

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Step 3: Perfection Once the client has chosen their favorite images, the editing process begins. We remove any blemishes or distractions while keeping it real. Over retouching causes a trust barrier.

Simply put, if someone is “lying” about the way they look in pictures, people might wonder what else they could be lying about.

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In Sheryl’s words, “I feel my headshots enhance my overall ability to get more speaking opportunities. Having a portfolio of headshots that I feel great about enables me to confidently pursue speaking engagements and TV appearances.”

One of my favorite client success stories comes from Sheryl Hunter. Sheryl is a beautiful young attorney and no stranger to the camera, but every professional headshot she’d had before was missing something, and it was one simple highlight.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY “Michael’s headshots capture both my personality and my passion for what I do. I’ve never worked with a photographer who made me feel so confident in front of the camera.” - Sarah McDugal

In Sheryl’s old headshots she had a gorgeous, full smile that conveyed a high level of approachability, but no confidence. Her level of confidence in the courtroom and in every meeting she participated in is unparalleled, but you would never have guessed it from her previous headshots.

“I’m so impressed with the quality and service of MP Studios, I send all my employees and colleagues to Michael without hesitation. Even if they have an existing headshot, unless Michael took the picture, it’s never up to the standard I expect.” - Topher Morrison

By toning down Sheryl’s smile and teaching her how to engage her eyes and look through the camera, we were able to get a headshot that highlighted the quality of work she is known for.

“I regularly appear on national television and my headshot is the anchor of my career. I trust only the critical and precise eye of MP Studios.” - Cory Bergeron

Sheryl was asked to speak at a conference after the publication of her new headshot, and the event organizers had her headshot published as one of the event’s speakers. Unfortunately, she wasn’t able to speak at the event, but when she noticed that her headshot was still being used to advertise the conference, she inquired as to why.

412 E. Madison St., Suite 800, Tampa, FL 33602 Phone: 813-334-8152 mpstudiostampa @mpstudiostampa MPStudios.com

She was told that a picture of that quality would help event attendance as well as Google analytics, ensuring more ticket sales. After the conference, she was asked back the following year, which goes to show that a picture perfect headshot can have a lasting impact.

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“Without change there is no innovation, creativity, or incentive for improvement. Those who initiate change will have a better opportunity to manage the change that is inevitable.�

- WILLIAM POLLARD

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THE COMPANY

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STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

Florida Funders, founded in 2013, is a hybrid venture capital fund and crowd-funding platform that invests in early-stage technology companies in Florida.

Florida Funders has drastically expanded their outreach over the last year by partnering with key organizations throughout Florida. Florida Funders completed acquisition of Florida Angel NEXUS, an angel investment group.

Florida Angel NEXUS is a statewide network of accredited angel investors, funds, and family offices focused on investing in early-state high-growth ventures.

The firm is led by an experienced team of serial entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and experienced angel investors with a proven track record of successful exits and a shared passion for growing the next generation of Florida tech companies.

In addition, Florida Funders was selected by the Florida Institute for Commercialization of Public Research to provide growth to emerging technology companies in Florida. The portfolio from the Institute for Commercialization of Florida Technology provides Florida Funders with a $22 million-dollar portfolio and 64 Florida-based technology companies to grow and create value for the State of Florida and Florida Funders stakeholders.

Working with individual investors, Florida Funders creates special investment vehicles as an LLC to represent the investors once the investment minimum has been reached. Florida Funders sees a large number of deals per month and puts them through a rigorous vetting process to find the very best companies to invest in.

SUCCESS STORIES

Post-funding, the firm treats its portfolio companies as partners, providing value-added resources to help their businesses grow. The firm uses its partners, their networks, and its investors to provide coaching, industry advice, and introductions to potential customers as well as later-stage venture capital firms. These resources give start-ups the best chance to succeed at building a break-out technology company.

Within the last year Florida Funders has invested $5.7M into 8 exciting early stage technology companies. Florida Funders has completed investments in emerging Florida startups, including PICKUP, Peerfit, Homee, RepScrubs and ClassWallet.

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Florida Funders completed a $1.22 million-dollar investment in PICKUP, an agile last mile delivery platform for large or heavy retail products that features Good Guys - a trusted network of military veterans, first responders and handy professionals. With Florida Funders investment, PICKUP announces plans to continue expansion.

Lastly, Florida Funders invested $735,000 in Miami-based ClassWallet, a highly practical and powerful web-based spend management tool especially designed for the vast educational market. More than 2,000 schools nationwide currently use ClassWallet to automate processes for transactions for over 63,000 teachers and principals.

Additionally, Florida Funders announced two follow-up investments, totaling $575k, in Peerfit , a Tampa-based health technology company that provides a digital platform for employers to offer employees health and fitness benefits.

PICKUP, Peerfit, Homee, RepScrubs and ClassWallet are just five of many key investments Florida Funders has completed within the last year as they continue to fulfill their mission of turning the ‘Sunshine State’ into the ‘Startup State’. Florida Funders will continue to partner with new organizations and invest in growing startups throughout the upcoming year, meanwhile, growing the economy in the state of Florida.

Florida Funders completed a $1 million-dollar follow on investment in Homee, an on-demand mobile application responsible for connecting customers with local service providers. Homee provides homeowners, property managers, offices, restaurants, hotels and more with access to handymen, electrical, HVAC, plumbing service providers through the Apple and Android application.

1311 North Westshore Blvd, Suite 101 Tampa, Florida 33607 Phone: 813-775-6990 flfunders company-beta/3279995 FloridaFunders www.floridafunders.com

Florida Funders announced a $1.1 million-dollar investment in RepScrubs, a Sanford, Florida-based smart scrub solution for modern medical facilities.

RepScrubs provides a vending machine system that distributes disposable scrubs for medical device representatives inside of hospitals to create a more sterile solution for healthcare.

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GAZELLE CAPITAL

AT GAZELLE CAPITAL, NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN STRATEGIC GROWTH. WE LOVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP, ENGAGING WITH DIVERSE GROUPS TO BUILD HIGH-GROWTH BUSINESSES, AND HELPING THOSE BUSINESSES REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. “WE ADD VALUE”.

Whether you’re considering selling your business, preparing for your next investor pitch or simply looking for clear visibility into future cash flow, our dynamic team will help you navigate through the toughest business challenges. “We Control Risk”.

Our brain-trust understands what makes your business unique, which is why we take the most intimate approach in identifying our client’s needs.

“We are Genuine.”

We carefully listen to your objectives, aspirations, challenges and frustrations so we can establish a continuum of solutions to help get you where you want to be. “We Create Structure.”

Whether you’re looking for help in Finance, Operations or Strategy, we step in as deep and expansive as you need. “We Are Growth Catalysts!”

What is a Gazelle Company?

A Gazelle Company is a high-growth company that increases its revenues by ≥ 20% annually for four years or more. This growth pace means that the company has effectively doubled its revenues over a four-year period. Gazelle companies are characterized by their rapid growth pace, rather than their absolute size therefore, can range in size from small companies to very large enterprises.

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ARK APPLICATIONS

ELEVATOR PITCH

THE STORY

Ark Applications is a family office located in Tampa, Florida that is focused on private equity investment, consulting, and community engagement. We view ourselves differently than most family offices, in that not only do we provide funding, but we also offer our collective garnered experience to our partners in the form of “mentorship capital” to be deployed into our portfolio companies and partnerships to help them become more successful. We feel that it provides a more successful outcome and maximizes the personal growth the founders and their teams’ experience. Our expertise can provide insight to the companies and help with the typical challenges that occur during the entrepreneurial journey. We love enabling other people to be successful, and get satisfaction in being the catalyst to their success.

The Company was founded by Daniel Greco, Justin Smith, and Bob Smith, during a dinnertime discussion about wanting to get involved in helping businesses become more successful. All three of the founders had very different areas of experience in business, and each could add something unique to our mentorship recipe.

Our focus is investing in great companies within the greater Tampa region and positively impacting their trajectory, which has been evident with Peerfit, Script and RAS Learning.

Daniel Greco’s experience in operations, supply chain, and business strategy provided greater opportunity to ensure operational efficiency.

Justin Smith’s background is in marketing/branding/software development and project management.

Bob Smith started his own business and grew it from the ground up, which provided him 40 years’ experience running a company.

The team wanted to use their collective abilities to help others and maximize the outcome of their investment in companies that had significant potential.

Ark Applications’ viewpoint of providing mentorship to the founders, as well as seeing the investment as a partnership, is a unique value proposition to the companies we work with. In addition, on our consulting side of the business, we treat it as a partnership, where our goal is to see them as successful as possible, even if it means providing insight or 280

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work outside of the scope of what we were hired for. We have had consulting agreements where we notice other areas where improvements can be made and will include those in our report because above all we want to see them succeed.

We treat everyone with whom we do business as an extension of our family. We feel it is important to love our work and what we do, and want to ensure that we are excited every day to work on the projects in which we are involved. It’s all about creating meaningful partnerships with the people we work with.

Ark Applications has made strategic investments in Tampa based companies and is proud to be a contributor to the local ecosystem. Overall we are very happy with our trajectory and have had the opportunity to work with many of the local startups, whether through mentorship or networking.

arkapplications | ark-applications | https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/ark-applications#section-overview https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=557389685 | www.arkapps.com

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CEA GROUP CELEBRATES 45 YEARS OF INVESTMENT BANKING & PRIVATE EQUITY HISTORY CEA Group, headquartered in Tampa, Florida, is celebrating its 45th year of capital markets advisory and investment success. The boutique firm has withstood the test of time, by providing clever and well-planned services to complete transactions during economic expansions and contractions.

As opportunities arose in the advisory field, CEA grew and expanded to ultimately become a respected national and international investment bank. The transaction services transcended many industries, including healthcare, infrastructure, business services and cybersecurity. CEA’s corporate headquarters has been a cornerstone on the 33rd floor of the Bank of America building in downtown Tampa since 1988. Additional office locations include New York and London, with representatives located in New Orleans, Dallas, Philadelphia and Singapore.

CEA Group has continued to evolve with the times, addressing needs and providing advisory services through many types of transactions.

Additionally, it has added its institutional real estate investment funds to the family, the Atlantic American Opportunities Funds.

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CEA Group focuses on current emerging markets and innovative, diversified industries. By combining the execution ability of a reputable and long-standing financial firm along with its knowledge and expertise in merger/ acquisition strategies, capital markets transaction financing, strategic advisory and related services, the firm has triumphed over the “peaks and valleys” of the cyclical financial industry.

CEA’s reputation and ability to complete transactions speak for themselves. The firm has completed over 900 transactions valued at approximately $45 billion. The experienced professionals are laser-focused as industry changes emerge with the team utilizing the vast skills, expertise, resources and varied talents of each of its professionals.

Today’s Investment Banking team is spearheaded by Beth Cahill, Senior Managing Director and Michael Johnson, Managing Director. The firm continues the legacy of its founding principals, with its sustaining ability to address the capital market needs of businesses globally.

Atlantic American Partners’ funds are managed by Gar Lippincott, Robert Moreyra, Brad Snyder and Ming Jung. The funds traditionally invest in new construction opportunities, including multi-family housing, student housing and hotels. The funds are dedicated to foreign investors participating in the US Investor Visa program (EB-5). To date, Atlantic American Partners has invested approximately $300mm of EB-5 money into 28 development projects, totaling approximately $1.2 billion in the aggregate with 100% approval in meeting the EB-5 visa requirements.

For the past four-and-a-half decades, CEA Group has worked with heads of state, captains of industry and founder-based firms to achieve the desired results for the parties involved.

J. Patrick “Rick” Michaels, Jr. Mr. Michaels is a financial giant and pioneer in the cable industry, founding Communications Equity Associates (CEA Group) in 1973.

CEA Group focused primarily on private equity investments in media, entertainment and telecommunications industries. Mr. Michaels continues to be an active participant in all facets of the firm he founded and offers insight and direction, along with a global collection of top ranking relationships.

101 E. Kennedy Blvd., Suite 3300 | Tampa, FL 33602 | Phone: 813-226-8844 To learn more about our firm, please visit our website at www.ceaworldwide.com CEA Atlantic Advisors, LLC Member FINRA/SIPC

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RECOGNIZING THE LACK OF FUNDING OPTIONS FOR CONCEPT STAGE COMPANIES IN FLORIDA, DAVID CHITESTER FOUNDED SEEDFUNDERS IN ST. PETERSBURG WITH THE EXPRESS PURPOSE OF INVESTING IN PRE-REVENUE, SCALABLE TECHNOLOGY STARTUPS.

Clearly, startup activity in Florida has grown significantly, yet we still lag behind other States in producing venture capital ready companies. This is largely due to an inhospitable and disjointed seed and early stage funding environment, a problem which Seedfunders was created to correct.

Led by a group of leading visionaries, Seedfunders is paving the way for technology startups throughout the State. Seedfunders’ team of experienced entrepreneurs, talented financial professionals and seasoned industry executives, provides not only funding, but connections, mentoring and guidance for early stage companies.

Additionally, in order to strengthen their mutual commitment to bridge the seed to early stage funding gap and invest in high potential technology startups in Florida, Seedfunders and the Adrenaline Venture Fund of Naples recently formed a strategic partnership. By combining Irv Cohen - Founding Member

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financial, technological and intellectual resources, the firms are the preeminent funding source for concept stage companies in the State.

Founded less than a year ago, Seedfunders has already gained traction by adding several exciting young companies to its portfolio. They represent a broad range of industries, from health insurance, to senior living, to weather reporting, all based on a strong technology component. Dealflow continues to be impressive, with numerous promising concepts under consideration for funding.

With a laser focus on pre-revenue technology startups, backed by a group of equity partners committed to creating successful outcomes, Seedfunders is changing not only the investment landscape in Florida but the State’s profile. Our mission is to unleash hundreds of new technology companies and establish Florida as a capital of innovation in the United States.

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David Chitester - Founding Member

INVESTING IN TOMORROW’S TECHNOLOGY TODAY

Ruth Ross - Partner

Joe Hamilton - Partner

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A PASSPORT TO GLOBAL INNOVATION

THE FLORIDA-ISRAEL BUSINESS ACCELERATOR (FIBA) CONNECTS THE FLORIDA BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO HIGHPERFORMING ISRAELI TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES, IN ORDER TO ADDRESS AND SOLVE THEIR MOST CHALLENGING PROBLEMS.

FIBA team and 2018 cohort companies celebrating the conclusion of the program at FIBA's annual event Innovation Fusion 2018 [Left to right top to bottom: Shaike Schatzberger (UCCare), Tomer Schatzberger (UC-Care), Oren Rosen (eProc Solutions), Shalom Nakdimon (WiseShelf), Dr. Ido Sella (Econcrete), Roy Heller (Nucleon), Rakefet Bachur (FIBA), Oren Kedem (Intervyo), Shaked Lev (Say), Rachel Feinman (FIBA), Andrew Rella (Econcrete), Carmi Peleg (GlobeKeeper) and Pam Miniati (FIBA).]

ELEVATOR PITCH Our mission is to establish Florida as a global innovation hub. Technology startups thriving in our local economy attract new talent, drive new investment opportunities, and enhance the region’s reputation as a competitive, fertile ground for business. By encouraging Israeli startups to enter the US market with Florida as their base of operations, we connect individuals and companies to job opportunities, high-skilled talent, technological solutions, and innovation, showcasing the region as a key center of excellence in healthcare, urban development, and security/defense.

FIBA leverages its strong network of business executives, investors, government officials and leaders from the Florida business community, to provide market knowledge and validation, and access to investors and large corporations necessary to grow Israeli startup companies in the U.S.

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SUCCESS STORIES FIBA has introduced 16 Israeli companies to Tampa Bay since its inaugural cohort in 2017. Some notable successes include: • StemRad established N. American headquarters in Tampa and hired Tampa-based employees following a $6 million investment from Tampa investors. StemRad also is developing and is soon to launch a medical product in partnership with Tampa General Hospital.

• WeissBeerger was acquired by Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world’s largest beer brewer.

• eProc Solutions signed its first contract with a global corporation headquartered in Tampa. eProc Solutions completed pilots with over 10 additional potential customers.

• Econcrete is working with the Port of Tampa on a pilot project. The company hired a local sales representative and a key strategic advisor, and leased storage space in the St. Pete Innovation District.

• Tevatronic secured a pilot project with the largest commercial grower of strawberries in Florida and is currently in discussions with a key strategic partner to expand sales throughout the U.S. • GlobeKeeper had a successful joint pilot with the local police and sheriff departments and has hired a Floridabased sales representative to cultivate over a dozen opportunities facilitated through the FIBA program.

• UC-Care established a US subsidiary in Florida and leased office and storage space in Oldsmar. The company has gained the priceless advice and mentorship of a former U.S. President of an Israeli medical device company.

Left to right: Dave Bevirt (SPP), Dr. Robert Bishop (USF), Kari Goetz (Tampa International Airport), Lakshmi Shenoy (Embarc Collective) and Ronald Ciganek (Valley National Bank) discussing innovation in Tampa at Dinner Fusion 2018

Shaked Lev (Say) presenting at Innovation Fusion 2018

Left to right: Rachel Feinman (FIBA) moderating a conversation about innovation at Port Tampa Bay between Dr. Ido Sella (Econcrete) and Chris Cooley (Port Tampa Bay) at Innovation Fusion 2018

TESTIMONIALS AND PRESS In only two years, FIBA has received praise from its portfolio companies, local entrepreneurs and investors and the Florida Governor, Rick Scott.

“FIBA is like having a partner in the U.S. who will always open doors for you and help you make progress at every stage.” Yaniv Shneiderman, Founder of BlazePod, FIBA portfolio company.

“The FIBA team presented us with business opportunities that completely changed our go-to-market strategy in the U.S.” Bob Reish, Operations Manager at WeissBeerger, FIBA portfolio company.

“FIBA has become one of the highest quality programs in Florida, and is clearly unique in its approach. I have personally invested in one of the companies and believe that Tampa Bay will become the U.S. headquarters to many Israeli companies over the next few years.” Marc Blumenthal, Florida Funders, Partner.

“My support for the Israeli companies stems from the fact that I believe that these companies can create many qualitative jobs and develop the state’s high tech. The FIBA project and the Jewish community will contribute both to the local and the Israeli economy.” Governor Rick Scott, The Times of Israel, December 2017.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott recognizing FIBA and cohort company, StemRad (Jack Ross and Dr. Oren Milstein), for bringing hi-tech to Florida in Israel in December 2017.

522 N. Howard Ave. Tampa FL 33606 | Call us: 813-291-2300 | Email: office@fiba.io fibatampa | fiba_tampa | Learn more: fiba.io 287

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HELPING LEADERS AND ORGANIZATIONS GROW KEY ASSOCIATES (KA) SERVES AS A TRUSTED ADVISOR AND PROVIDES PEER FORUMS, INDIVIDUAL AND TEAM EXECUTIVE COACHING, AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS. One of our most innovative offerings is the Key Women’s Leadership Forum. The purpose of the women’s forum is to elevate the careers and lives of executive women through the synergy and support of like-minded peers. The participants focus on aligning mind, body, spirit and career with what is purposeful for them.

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Mary Key, Ph.D., President

KA has worked with Fortune 500 companies, Inc. 500 winners and government entities.

Locally, we have served as coaches and facilitators to some of Tampa Bay’s best CEOs. In that work, we noticed that the dynamic of “it’s lonely at the top” brought entrepreneurs together because they could receive unbiased feedback and ideas from peer CEOs who had no other vested interest in an outcome aside 288

from wanting to share their knowledge and experience with others. Noticing that women in leadership roles experience the same feeling of isolation at times, we started the Key Women’s Leadership Forum in 2014.

Another dynamic that we address in our forums is how to handle the pressure to perform. In 2016, KA conducted a survey of executive women in Tampa Bay. In our survey, about 50% of our 105 female executive respondents reported that pressure to perform is the foremost or second most important challenge in their careers. Comments in the survey often reflected that women feel a greater need to prove themselves at work.

We now have multiple Key Women’s Leadership Forums running facilitated by the KA team of certified executive coaches and

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Here’s what some of our clients say: “Being a part of the Forum has been a great way to get to know other women in leadership and form close relationships fast. The facilitation, introduction of tools, real-life discussions, and group problem solving are so helpful.

Being able to candidly discuss and get feedback from other executive women in a confidential, secure environment is not easy to find.”

Kathy Killingsworth, VP, Governance, Compliance & Risk – Concerto, A DXC Company

expert facilitators. Our vision is to be the executive women’s organization of choice for leadership development in Tampa Bay and beyond. Seeing the support our members receive from each other and how they have reinvented themselves brings meaning to their lives, and ours. Here are some of the program highlights: • Peer coaching in a small group of other female executives and entrepreneurs • Professional facilitation and support in a confidential setting • Tools and strategies for success and fulfillment • Monthly, half-day meetings with forum size of 8 - 12 women with quarterly individual coaching • Annual Key Women’s Leadership Forum

Retreat – a weekend away to spend together with your core Forum group • Annual Key Women’s Leadership Forum Summit – a half day of learning and growing for all Forum members and invited guests

MILESTONES KA has been featured in the Tampa Bay Business Journal and Dr. Mary Key, President, has been interviewed on Bloomberg TV, CNN and multiple media outlets around the country. Her blogs and articles have appeared in many publications and professional journals. Her most recent books include: CEO Road Rules and Rise: How Women Surface to the Top. 289

“I’m excited about the Key Women’s Leadership Forum because it brings together like-minded women in leadership roles to share challenges and explore new possibilities. Our coaching work together has helped me grow as a leader and develop meaningful plans.”

Brooke Evans, CEO - CFO Alliance, Inc.

Mary Key, Ph.D. Email: mary@keyassociatesinc.com Phone: 813-831-9500 keyassociates Mary_KeyAssoc in/marykey MaryKeyAssoc keyassociatesinc.com

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MAKING INFORMED DECISIONS, WITH THE RIGHT INFORMATION, AT THE RIGHT TIME,

PUTTING IT ALL While many financial professionals provide executive services in their day-to-day jobs, it takes a certain level of passion to work with companies of many different sizes in multiple industries, where levels of internal expertise vary significantly and where learning is an everyday experience. The Nperspective team is built with professionals who have a passion for learning new businesses, applying years of knowledge and expertise, and building companies. Each member of our team brings a portfolio of experience over a wide range of industries and companies, from start-ups to some of the largest companies in the world. This diversity of experience fosters a “best practices” environment that is easily deployed throughout Nperspective’s client base.

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Gary Colbert, President

Bill Long, Partner

Sergei Galeano, Principal

In 2008, Gary Colbert joined Nperspective to establish an office and bring much-needed financial expertise to the small business community in the Tampa Bay area. Gary brings 35 years of experience that began in the Fortune 100 world, primarily in international business, and transitioned into the middle market in more recent years. Possessing the requisite educational background (MBA in Finance/Marketing), professional certifications (CPA, CMA, CGMA) and having developed sophisticated financial and business management skills in companies that are worldwide market leaders, he is able to assist smaller companies in understanding how they too can operate successfully in many different business environments.

In 2010 Bill Long joined Nperspective. Bill is a Florida CPA and senior level financial executive with over 35 years of experience in both public accounting and private industry. Bill leads the firm’s litigation support practice and has been involved in various financial capacities for numerous civil litigation and bankruptcy cases in the Middle District of Florida. He has been engaged to provide expert witness testimony, financial consulting to Trustees and Liquidating Agents and Chief Restructuring Officer services and has also assisted clients that have successfully resolved their financial issues without needing a bankruptcy filing.

Sergei Galeano brings over 25 years of experience in the small to mid-size business market in industries ranging from steel service, distribution, manufacturing to bioscience. Sergei has dealt with all aspects of the business cycle including growth, turnaround and liquidation.

Having worked in both public accounting and private industry, Sergei understands both the internal and external expectations for financial reporting. Sergei’s key to success has been his ability to serve as a business partner and trusted advisor to ownership and executive management, which means not only understanding the financial and accounting needs of an organization, but also understanding the strategies necessary for success.

Bill McMahon, Principal

Steve Martindale, Principal

Bill McMahon joined Nperspective in March, 2017 to expand the firm’s bankruptcy, turnaround and crisis management services, adding capabilities to assist business owners with operational and business transition issues in distressed environments. Bill’s many years of serving as a consultant in a national turnaround advisory firm as well as serving in-house in senior executive capacities add additional strength to Nperspective’s distressed management services. Bill earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from DePaul University.

Steve Martindale joined Nperspective in September, 2018 to respond to increased demand for the firm’s services in larger, complex environments and to add capabilities in the insurance and financial services sectors. Steve has served as Chief Financial Officer in both private and publicly-traded companies as well as having served as Chief Financial Analyst and Chief Regulatory Officer for the Ohio Department of Insurance. Steve holds a CPA license in Ohio and earned his Bachelor of Arts in Accounting and Business Administration from Otterbein University.

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2202 North Westshore Blvd Suite 200 Tampa, FL 33607 Phone: 813-507-3600 Email: info@nperspective.net www.nperspective.net

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What if?

It’s a simple phrase with a vast world of potential outcomes.

It’s a question that our innovation consultancy keeps forefront in our minds with every unique conversation.

What if artificial intelligence becomes a more advanced part of day to day business? What if an even greater number of services offered realtime health monitoring for our families? Or if a solution was found to eliminate pollution in our waters? The opportunities for every innovator to impact today and shape tomorrow are endless, and those opportunities are our passions.

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Rooted in entrepreneurial spirit, Cognis Group has become an indispensable resource in helping companies make sense of data and trend implications for their intellectual property pipeline, and for finding the right licensing partners to forward the commercialization path of those science and tech innovations.

“Over several years, the team has supported our partnering, technology scouting, and IP analytics needs.

Their team has developed a keen understanding of our industry and has brought their knowledge to bear on some of our key R&D issues.” Lynn Winterton, Alcon Laboratories, Inc.

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We offer broad access to experts across an expansive number

of industries, making us a full-service partner for clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies like BASF, Conagra, GM, Intel, Novartis, Hershey’s, Syngenta, and Purina to research universities including Harvard, University of Florida, and John Hopkins, to leading federal institutions and individual inventors.

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SuperCooler Technologies commissioned Cognis Group to find the right partner for their supercooling N1 Nucleator, resulting in their relationship with Coca-Cola and a national rollout of ‘Arctic Coke’.

Our carefully crafted team includes consultants and researchers with specializations ranging from engineering and biopharmaceuticals to futurist-insight and academia. On the Intellectual Property side, we focus on IP Landscaping, delivering commissioned reports to help company leaders understand their existing IP positions in the marketplace and how to optimize them. We also provide IP Analytics to help entities project the commercial potential of their technologies, patents, and portfolio.

Combining the power of these analytics with our Commercialization services helps to take these opportunities from development to deployment through Partnering Searches and Scouting Services.

From Pharmalicensing.com, our selfservice technology marketplace for the life science, pharmaceutical, and medical device industries, to tailored engagements facilitated one to one through our team, we help make market potential a viable reality.

We also understand that having a robust pipeline today is only a part of the equation. To truly make an impactful difference far into the future, companies need the best inspiration to fan the flames of innovation. Our seasoned futurists are that spark, curating commissioned reports unique to our client needs and new reports for FutureinFocus.com, our subscription site dedicated to providing concise, intelligent, and insightful research about the future of consumers, technology, and business.

“I’ve worked with Future in Focus over the past few years, and the trend insights I’ve had access to have helped tremendously with forming our strategic plans. The team is a pleasure to work with and you can tell they are passionate about trends forecasting.” Ruth Waters, ConAgra Foods

At Cognis, we are proud to be part of a team that can provide companies with an exhaustive perspective on what true innovation can be. It is our mission to continue helping our partners answer those endless ‘what if ’s’, and our purpose to keep building the runway for all the creators and disruptors of tomorrow.

550 North Reo St, Suite 200, Tampa FL 33609 Email: info@cognisgroup.com www.cognisgroup.com

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ELEVATOR PITCH Morgan Hill is an innovative business partner that helps tech and tech-enabled companies, from startup to scaleup, improve shareholder outcomes.

We blend the best of two worlds by combining Venture Capital (entrepreneurial sophistication) and Management Consulting (problem-solving tenacity) to help scale organizations by providing fractional executive expertise with a proven methodology.

In a market known for high-stakes competition and even higher failure rates, Morgan Hill closes the gap between founders and investors to help businesses accelerate value creation and achieve success. We work shoulderto-shoulder to the clients we serve to drive towards the vision of the organization.

Our curated network of senior executives and our proprietary Path-to-Value platform are both proven to help clients predictably build, innovate and accelerate growth. By investing a portion of the firm’s fees, we align firm performance with client outcomes.

Our vision is to relentlessly transform businesses. We will stem the high tide of failure among promising startup and scale-up companies, and our proven approach will propel the next generation of innovators, disruptors, and investors to achieve greater success.

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Our mission is to accelerate startup and scale-up value creation. Our innovative services will help clients achieve improved market, financial and business performance which in the end results in greater shareholder value.

Morgan Hill is an innovative business partner that prides itself on being trusted partners, experienced managers, innovative operators, with a successful and results-driven approach to business.

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THE STORY The founding team at Morgan Hill came together when they were brainstorming the question: “If I were a fast-growing startup, what would the ideal partnership look like?�

The answer is what drives our actions at Morgan Hill everyday.

The clients that we work alongside have an unrelenting passion to realize the vision for their organization. By working alongside these types of teams, we are able to push forward through the common obstacles that derail many startups in a systematic way backed by proven methodologies.

Attracting and working with coachable entrepreneurs enables the Morgan Hill team to live out our vision of pushing the world to new heights through technological innovation!

PROOF POINTS Morgan Hill Partners is an exclusive team of executives and operating partners with extensive leadership expertise and in-depth technical knowledge. Armed with a proven platform and playbook spanning all operational disciplines, they lay the foundation and set the course towards ensuring optimal client outcomes.

This team has transformed over 250 companies and helped excel their growth, including Evite, Convene, Binary Tree, Tickr and many more.

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TAMPA BAY WAVE 2018 BOB FRANCIS MENTOR OF THE YEAR SCOTT WINSTON

Since arriving in Tampa Scott Winston has been actively engaged with the Tampa Bay Wave helping to mentor and advise businesses. Scott is an entrepreneur, visionary leader, and co-founder of an International Business Ecosystem Incubator.

Making The Move To Tampa Becoming a Part of the Ecosystem Scott, his wife Jackie and their three son’s Zach, Alex and Jack moved from Seattle Washington in late 2016 after living in the Seattle area for 13 years.

Following a family vacation to Florida in July 2016 to visit Jackie’s Dad who lives in The Villages, Scott and his family decided to move to Tampa. In early August 2016, Jackie and the three boys were on a Red Eye to Tampa, so the boys could start school. It took Scott until January 2017 to join the family full time in Tampa.

A Chicago native, Scott spent the earlier part of his career working for Motorola in the early days of the mobile industry, moved to PricewaterhouseCoopers focused on M&A and post-merger integration followed by working for Accenture in their Venture Launch group. Scott relocated to Seattle Washington in 2004 to launch a Six Sigma program and run Customer Research for Washington Mutual’s Retail Distribution Network that grew from 1,650 retail store locations to over 2,150 stores, with 24,000 employees. During his time at Washington Mutual Scott deployed Six Sigma across the Retail Bank, training over 5,000 employees in Six Sigma and launched several innovative programs including introducing Life Cycle Mystery Shopping to the Banking Industry, spearheading programs to eliminate paper from bank branch processes and helped to stream line processes across the bank.

After leaving Washington Mutual Scott launched Winston Consulting Group where he provides strategic business advisory to fortune 100 companies and runs transformation programs for companies.

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Scott has advised some of the top companies in the world in turning around their operations, growing their business and addressing organization and growth challenges. Companies like Microsoft, Alcoa, Crown Castle, US West, Bell Atlantic, Bell South, McDonald’s, Motorola, and The Reynolds Metal Company have been his clients.

In 2013 Scott Co-Founded Business Impact Networks (BIN), an International Business Ecosystem Incubator and Consultancy. BIN partners and grows locally focused networks of leaders and companies who collaborate to build healthy sustainable communities across the globe. BIN has worked with the government of Iraq to revive agriculture in the region.

Since 2011 Scott has served on the Advisory Board of Educational Business Strategies (EBS) an educational 501c3 based out of Seattle that provides practical business teaching to entrepreneurs, business owners and students in 15 countries in developing nations in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and South America.

Passion for Entrepreneurs Scott has a passion for entrepreneurs and helping them drive growth in their businesses. Over the last 12 years, Scott had the opportunity to consult, teach and train Business Owners and Entrepreneurs of small and growing companies in The United States and Canada, Eastern Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.

“The Tampa Bay Wave’s mentor network is one of our greatest assets and benefits to our companies. We are fortunate to have many entrepreneurs who have successfully sold their companies as well as C-Level executives actively mentoring our companies. The Bob Francis Mentor of the Year award goes to someone who has unselfishly given an incredible amount of time and talents mentoring Tampa Bay Wave member companies and embodies servant leadership.

Scott is an entrepreneur, investor, mentor and business advisor dedicated to growing the business ecosystems in the Tampa Bay region and around the world. Learn more about Scott and the Winston Consulting Group at www.winstongroup.biz and connect with Scott on LinkedIn: https://www. linkedin.com/in/scottwinston.

We couldn’t be more proud of the 2018 recipient, Scott Winston, and how much he has served the Wave and our companies this year. Scott is also a member of our Accelerator & Mentor Relations Committee, he Chaired our Accelerator Scalability Study, is a member of our Friends of Wave giving program and has hosted several strategic planning and sales training sessions for companies. He modeled the way for our Mentor Network this year and we look forward to his continued impact on the Wave for years to come” Email: scott.winston@winstongroup.biz scottwinston | leadthemnow www.winstongroup.biz

Rich Heruska, Interim Accelerator Director, Tampa Bay WaVE

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strategy at Florida Funders was offered to me, I was excited to dive in because this was my chance to create scalable processes and find innovative technology companies to invest in.

OF MORGAN HILL PARTNERS

Speaking with hundreds of early-stage companies at Florida Funders, I began to see the challenges that run rampant in that ecosystem. This led me into my next two endeavors: StartUp Solutions and Morgan Hill Partners.

StartUp Solutions was my independent consulting company that was centered around helping tech startups put the right strategy and processes in place to raise capital.

The Learning Journey Morgan Hill Partners (MHP) is the evolution of my effort with StartUp Solutions, teaming up with two other serial entrepreneurs. The vision of MHP is utilizing a proven “playbook” and executive talent to help startups predictably build, innovate, and accelerate growth. We started MHP in early 2018 and have already assembled an experienced team of executives combined with some of the top young consultative talent throughout the country.

To sum it all up, success to me has been the “learning journey” to get to where a person wants to be in their life. My learning journey is above, but the biggest takeaway is the success of being comfortable and excited across every aspect of life.

Biography Jim Barnish is a strategic change leader with over 15 years of leadership experience in global and integrated operations, M&A, and strategic go-tomarket planning. Over the course of his career, Jim has successfully worked with companies undergoing roll-up mergers and acquisitions, accelerated business development, process improvement, change management, and operational transformation initiatives – guiding organizations in the effort to reinvent themselves and spur growth.

My Mantra “The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential, these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence” - Confucius “Trust the process” - A phrase that has become popular in sports, but is applicable to any organization. Building out and truly living by an organizational process is key to success. If you don’t have a roadmap (playbook) for your company in place, how can you expect your people to follow it?

As General Partner and Founder at Morgan Hill Partners, his responsibilities include: Productization of the Path to Value playbook, client delivery, operations, and partnerships from StartUp to ScaleUp, talent recruitment, and development, as well as business development through digital marketing and sales optimization.

“Be your own client” - Morgan Hill was built from the perspective of a startup.

As the company evolved, the vision we were working towards remained the same: “As an early-stage company, what would the ideal partner look like?”

Morgan Hill’s key differentiators (from other consultancies) are our Path to Value playbook, pricing model (cash, deferred cash, and equity) and fractional executive expertise, which were all formed on the basis of that question.

The World of Technology “I started working in strategy [acquisitions] and operational roles at an early age and continued down that path throughout college. After college, I worked as an operational district manager before making my way into the coalescing world of technology and consulting at Tribridge. This is where I really hit my stride. Starting out in a strategy role in the Human Capital Management division evaluating acquisitions and improving business processes, my role soon evolved into a corporate role, working for the CFO to create new solutions, evaluate new workloads, and drive additional strategic initiatives.

“If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room.” - This quote is integral to any person trying to build a business. Surrounding one’s self with a brilliant team will yield exponential results. Self-awareness and knowing your gaps allow you to hire and partner with the right people to drive success at anything you do.

Why we chose St. Petersburg Florida St. Pete has been a great place to build out a business. The local startup ecosystem has allowed Morgan Hill to align ourselves with mutually beneficial partnerships, driving a lot of value for all parties. Referrals to exciting, tech/ tech-enabled startups have resulted in a system that propels growth for both the Tampa/St. Pete ecosystem as well as Morgan Hill Partners.

Working in a high-growth technology environment at Tribridge, I became obsessed with leveraging innovation and technology to improve strategy and business processes. When the opportunity to build and run the investment

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FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT JR GRIGGS - RED WALL MARKETING I’ve had a passion for startups and innovation for a very long time. Actually, ever since I was just a little kid I’ve had that entrepreneurial spirit. I was the kid selling candy at school and mowing lawns on weekends and during summers. I always knew I would own a business someday, and am a huge fan of anyone starting a business or innovating in any way.

I believe in people following their passions and solving problems.

We have amazing people in this world with great ideas. A business exists to solve a problem or fill a need, and this is how we are able to grow as a society.

I say often that in today’s world, you really need to be starting something, or be a part of starting something. We grew as a nation with people either doing something or being an apprentice to doing something. Businesses solved problems and filled needs.

You learned the skills so you could do it yourself someday. We’re getting back to that in many ways, except it’s a much bigger playing field now with so much more capability.

You don’t have to be stuck in a cubicle at a company where you feel like just a replaceable number. It’s a time like no other. The tools and resources available are infinite! You can now start a business, have a website, invoicing system, and office tools all in the same day, and for free or ridiculously cheap. You can broadcast to tens of thousands of people, also for free or ridiculously cheap.

Yes, it’s not necessarily easy, but it is possible.

I started my company while painting garage floors. I worked for two bad companies in a row and decided I’d had enough. I began doing anything I could to learn: listening to podcasts and audiobooks, reading marketing materials while waiting for a floor to dry, staying up as late as I could to work on my business. If I wasn’t doing my day job, I was working on building a business. I used any free time I had, and found all of the amazing resources available to start my business.

Too many people complain about their life, or something they want, not existing. There’s no excuse not to go out and do something you want or have a passion for. If you’re not happy and want to start your own thing, go and do it. Make it happen! If you see a problem no one is solving, go and solve it. Now is your time.

Stop looking for permission. It’s time to start something, innovate, solve problems, make the world a better place!

500 E Kennedy Blvd #307 Tampa, FL 33602 Phone: 813-530-1122 RedWallMarketing.com 299

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INCUBATORS & ENTREPRENEURIAL SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS (ESO’S) 300

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“Build your own dreams, or someone else will hire you to build theirs.”

- FARRAH GRAY

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USF CONNECT ELEVATOR PITCH There are innovators, and there are innovators who pave the way for other innovators. USF Connect is the latter.

THE STORY It’s easy to think of universities as microcosms of thought whose impact is limited to academia itself. But through its support of local technology and bio-life startups, USF Connect is sharing the wealth—and to considerable ends.

Begun in 2001, USF Connect forms the lynchpin between three initiatives: the Tampa Bay Technology Incubator

(TBTI); the USF Student Innovation Incubator (SII); and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council’s (The Corridor) Matching Grants Research Program. USF Connect provides new businesses access to everything from laboratories and scientific equipment to experienced mentors and networking events, not to mention every amenity available to USF faculty, staff, and students.

In 2017 alone, USF Connect aided 77 startups and accepted 25 others into the Student Innovation Incubator. Its economic impact on the Tampa Bay region for that year—23 counties in all—is estimated at $395 million.

The variety of companies under USF Connect’s umbrella is as impressive as the support it provides them. Take KeriCure, a line of all-natural wound-care products for humans and animals alike. Dr. Kerriann Greenhalgh, a USF alumna, created KeriCure after her husband-to-be nearly lost his hand to a small but infected cut; the over-the-counter methods they’d tried failed them completely. Anyone who’s heard of liquid bandages has likely come across KeriCure.

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Another company in the USF Connect incubator is Molekule, a revolutionary indoor-air filtration system first developed to mitigate inventor Dr. Yogi Gaswami’s son’s asthma. Existing HEPA filters only trap the largest of spores and impurities, and after becoming saturated, simply release many of these undesirable particles back into the air. Conversely, Molekule’s Photo Electrochemical Oxidation (PECO) technology targets and destroys pollutants 1,000 times smaller than traditional HEPA filters, and all it releases into the air is carbon dioxide, water, and trace elements.

In the same way that Molekule’s and KeriCure’s innovation lies in their pure and noninvasive solutions, so does NeuX use thoughtful technology to solve a common but serious problem—in this case, chronic pain. NeuX, a medical technology and health and wellness company, developed Interactive Neuromuscular Stimulation (INS) as a non-addictive, non-pharmaceutical, and non-invasive means of treating chronic pain of nearly any cause.

Says Valerie Landrio McDevitt, USF’s associate vice president for technology transfer and business partnerships: “Their [NeuX] goal to help people of all ages live a more active lifestyle, free of pain and injury through continued clinical studies and biomedical engineering research, is an easy mission to get behind.”

But like a port upon the ocean, an incubator is not meant to house its occupants forever. And so, when companies like Agilis Biotherapeutics are scooped up by larger companies eager for the incubated ones’ technologies, it is a sure sign that USF Connect is fulfilling its mission.

Agilis Biotherapeutics developed a platform for gene therapy that targets AADC deficiency, Friedrich’s ataxia, and Angelman syndrome, each of which presents as a debilitating neurological disorder. Now, they have been acquired by PTC Therapeutics, an international powerhouse with a mission to treat patients with rare disorders.

“We...have had a very positive experience in the Incubator program and with USF,” said Mark Pykett, DVM, Ph.D., and President and Chief Executive Officer of Agilis Biotherapeutics.

“The TBTI resources and people, along with funding opportunities like the Florida High Tech Corridor’s Matching Grant program, can help companies progress to the next level.”

Nomenclature like “incubator” or “accelerator” can make a layperson believe that an incubator or accelerator’s impact is simply beyond comprehension, that their work takes place on a level that is meaningless outside of the lab. But just a glance at the companies under USF Connect’s umbrella reveals that something they all—including USF Connect—have in common: they provide innovations that change people’s lives, for the better, every day.

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TAMPA BAY WAVE

TEN YEARS OF DRIVING INNOVATION AND BUILDING COMMUNITY In 2018, Tampa Bay Wave celebrated ten years of leadership in Tampa Bay’s growing tech startup community. For the past decade, we have made it our mission to foster collaboration, drive innovation, and become a leading advocate for technology startups in Tampa Bay. As a “for entrepreneurs, by entrepreneurs” organization, we serve a multitude of companies as we work toward our mission of building breakout technology companies in Tampa Bay.

Tampa Bay Wave began in 2008 as a meet-up of local CEOs and founders of technology startups. Founder and current President/ CEO, Linda Olson set out to provide a resource to an underserved population of business leaders looking to innovate and grow.

Linda recently said, “Community is key to success in our region.”

She believes that building a community around technology and innovation was the foundational first step to what Startup Genome has recently recognized as an ambitious and growing ecosystem.

Ecosystems require many contributing elements and a diverse set of ideas. We serve this need by focusing on collaborative partnerships and diversity. With our recent TechDiversity accelerator program in collaboration with the Nielsen Foundation, we have had the pleasure of working with ten companies from around the United States all owned or founded by women, minorities, veterans, or LGBT. At the heart of Tampa Bay Wave is our accelerator program.

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connectivity to provide participating companies with the resources necessary to move confidently through those pivotal early stages that are so vital to success.

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Because helping entrepreneurs is at the heart of Tampa Bay Wave’s mission, we will continue to expand our services to assure we are contributing value to the Tampa Bay entrepreneurial community. Whether it is more education, leadership, and/or capital investment opportunities, Tampa Bay Wave is committed to building companies and growing the Tampa Bay area’s ability to support a thriving technology and innovation community.

Tampa Bay Wave’s accelerator focuses on a hands-on approach that moves startups from the build stage to an investment-ready business in just ninety days.

Combined with support resources like mentorship, a growing investor network, and meaningful peer relationships built during the program, Wave has evolved to meet the needs of local startups and has begun to attract many companies from outside of Tampa Bay and from cities like New York and Austin. Running two to three accelerator programs annually, Tampa Bay Wave serves more than 100 entrepreneurs per year. We also have a variety of post-accelerator opportunities including close mentorship from Executive Entrepreneurs-in-Residence (EIRs) like Tony DiBenedetto and Steve MacDonald to help our companies continue their journey toward success.

There are a variety of ways to engage with the Wave community. Whether you are an entrepreneur interested in our accelerator programming, a “solopreneur” or small company looking for co-working space, or a large company looking to support innovation and economic development, visit us at www.tampabaywave.org to get involved.

500 E. Kennedy Blvd, Suite 300 Tampa, Florida 33602 Phone: 866-928-3066 tampabaywave tampa-bay-wave www.tampabaywave.org

Tampa Bay Wave’s accelerator program has been recognized by a variety of organizations including being the only GAN (Global Accelerator Network) member in the state of Florida and a member of InBIA (International Business Innovation Association). Beyond recognition, we are incredibly proud to serve our community and the entrepreneurs who are helping to grow that community.

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SPARK GROWTH

INNOVATION AND CREATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING SERVICES

Leaders Conference Workshop Report - Stacy Prouty and Sara Hand

WE DESIGN AND ORCHESTRATE EXPERIENCES, CREATING ENVIRONMENTS RIPE FOR INNOVATION AND CHANGING THE WAY PEOPLE THINK. Spark Growth is an innovation consulting firm whose projects take shape across cultures, time zones, industry clusters and business sectors, leveraging expertise across the innovation value chain from idea stage to exit. Spark Growth works alongside our clients to identify potential and possibilities for growth and to develop authentic solutions specific to each client’s needs.

Our specialty is in identifying your specific strategic needs and helping you to see things that you cannot see and connecting you with the resources needed to successfully implement your project. Our experience provides unique insight and perspective without traditional constraints, and when necessary we draw on global connections to build a team of talented resources picked specifically for your project needs and goals.

Sara Hand - CEO, Visionary Leader Spark Growth

Knowing that you need to make changes and bringing those changes to fruition are very different things. For the future of your organization, how you manage change is as important as knowing what changes to make. At Spark Growth, we design experiences and create environments ripe for innovation, the development of community, and that change the way people think while inspiring them to act upon their new learnings. With Spark Growth, results matter!

“If you want better answers, ask better questions.” At Spark Growth our diverse expertise gives us a unique perspective delivering different results.

Thought Leadership – In an information-rich world, context is critical, and insight is invaluable. Convening like-minded leaders across sectors to connect, share best practices and work together to change the world.

Identify Potential and Possibility

Smart Cities/Innovation Districts – Asking the important question, “How do we better serve our citizens?” By focusing on quality of life and work, smart communities harness technology with answers as unique as each city.

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Strategic Doing Workshop working session Tampa Bay Wave

Stan Schultes - Chief Innovation Architect Spark Growth

Founded by Sara Hand and Stan Schultes in 2013, Spark Growth notably co-produces Smart Cities Innovation Accelerators with The Innovator’s Forum, an initiative of the Technology and Entrepreneurship Center at Harvard (TECH). These agile strategy workshops empower city decision makers to develop strong alliances with their peers – enabling them to make more informed decisions, create project scalability, and improve their ROI. Workshops are supported by expert industry partners, helping city decision makers by offering a broader perspective of successful strategies, and in turn learning firsthand the many issues cities face, and how they can better serve the needs of their city customers.

Leaders Conference Panel - Change, challenge and the future - Glenn Wintrich, Tony Collins and Stan Schultes

Spark Growth has developed and actively runs several community-building efforts including DaVinci’s Faire, an interactive and multi-generational event now in its 10th year, Station 2 Innovation a cowork and community space for entrepreneurs, and the Thought Leader Exchange which convenes like-minded leaders across sectors to connect, share best practices and tackle emerging issues in society, technology, and innovation.

Numerous opportunities for Spark Growth’s participation in global ecosystem development include: U.S. State Department Friends of Global Entrepreneurship Program, the United Nations’ launch of Women’s Entrepreneurship Day, Dell/Harvard Future-Ready Economies Summit, Telefonica/Harvard Digital Life in Latin American Cities, Startup India Rocks competition grand finale, and the 2018 Global Center for Executive and Entrepreneurship Development (CEED) Conference in Tunisia.

Today’s Decisions. Tomoorow’s Future. Conference Panel. Ed Chiles, Jacki Dezelski, Nick Choate, Rae Dowling, Sara Hand

Community Engagement – Where community members are treated as more than sources of input by becoming part of solution generation and delivery.

Sara’s goal in life is to work with cool people on cool projects that make a difference. Stan’s is to work on interesting problems at the convergence of technology, business and community that make an impact on the places we work and live.

Business/Economic/Entrepreneur Development – Identifying opportunities for growth, and fostering wealth creation by connecting people, ideas and capital to create value in the marketplace.

Email: Info@SparkGrowth.net Phone: 941-877-1599 | spark-growth | sparkgrowth.net

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THE TAMPA BAY INNOVATION CENTER IS AN INCUBATOR WITH THE MISSION TO ACCELERATE ENTREPRENEURIAL SUCCESS. DESIGNED FOR REAL OUTCOMES, THE INNOVATION CENTER SUPPLIES RESOURCES THAT TECH STARTUPS NEED TO SURVIVE AND SUCCEED.

The Innovation Center provides tech innovators/entrepreneurs dedicated coaching, specialized mentoring, access to capital and much more all in a professional office environment.

15 years of Accelerating High-Tech Enterprises In our 15th year of operation, we take pride in reaching an important milestone by serving as a valuable resource for innovators and entrepreneurs. Our ever-growing list of graduates is a testament to our ability to nurture successful high-tech entrepreneurial ventures in West Central Florida.

When we launched the Innovation Center in 2003, the concept of an incubator as a vital part of regional economic development was not yet top-of-the-mind for most people. It surely wasn’t as trendy as it is today to coach, mentor and support startups. We were pioneers in understanding how important it is to assist and nurture entrepreneurs.

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Building on Our Success After only four years at our newest location in downtown St. Petersburg, we had outgrown our facility. In mid-2018, we more than tripled our size and expanded our footprint to 20,000 SF in a new downtown location.

We continue to assist emerging and entrepreneurial companies in the technology and manufacturing sectors by providing a unique mind-tomarket model for working with entrepreneurs from concept through exit strategy, dedicated coaching, mentoring services, shared equipment, conference and office space, educational workshops and access to funders.

Clients can access services either onsite or virtually.

Today we continue to improve our program by incorporating the best features and practices of the most successful programs throughout the country. By continuing to focus on the individual entrepreneur, we can address specific needs with specific skill-sets, helping to move the young startup more quickly to revenue and success.

A Catalyst for Spurring the Entrepreneurial and Innovation Eco-system We are very pleased to report that we’ve been laying the groundwork for a purpose-built Innovation Center – a technology hub in St. Petersburg’s Innovation District and Pinellas County. With emphasis on life and marine sciences, the new facility will provide tomorrow’s technology business leaders access to the resources, services, networking and mentors they need while also fulfilling our vision of creating high-tech high-wage jobs within the region. The Innovation Center will serve as a focal point where startups, entrepreneurs, innovators, and investors can work in a collaborative environment bringing forth new innovations with a shared vision.

Much of our success can be attributed to an outstanding staff with experience in launching and growing tech companies, as well as a group of professionals who volunteer their time to serve as board members, as mentors to our clients or as presenters at one of our events. We are fortunate to count numerous well-respected individuals from funding and venture capital organizations, defense program offices, law offices, accounting firms and many more for community support. Together they make a significant contribution in helping us foster innovation and growth in the high-tech economy in the St. Petersburg and Tampa Bay marketplace.

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“Learning and innovation go hand in hand. The arrogance of success is to think that what you did yesterday will be sufficient for tomorrow.”

- WILLIAM POLLARD

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ELEVATOR PITCH It’s difficult to imagine an academic system more engaged with and devoted to local and global communities than the University of South Florida is.

THE STORY To think of Tampa isn’t to think automatically of a college or university town. But in taking a closer look at the University of South Florida, perhaps Tampa doesn’t seem like the “town to the gown” because USF has so seamlessly integrated itself in its local and regional communities.

Yet the University of South Florida focuses on global research and it is the state’s leading metropolitan research university. Its curriculums, regardless of college, reflect this, as does its commitment to interdisciplinary projects and studies. At the heart of USF’s mission is innovation to the benefit of all.

Take for instance the university’s Suncoast Nursing Accelerated Pathway. First made

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available as a course of study in 2017, the program enables students on USF’s SarasotaManatee and St. Petersburg campuses to earn Bachelor of Arts degrees in nursing and in biology over the course of five years. This double-degree offering creates excellent value for nursing students, regardless of whether they decide to enter the field as soon as possible or to continue their studies on completion of the degree. The program brings students from USFSP and USFSM to the main campus in Tampa, where they experience and work with state-of-the-art equipment as part of their training, but clinical rotations take place closer to the students’ home campuses; that is, in Pinellas, Sarasota, or Manatee Counties.

“Coming together as the USF System enables us to create this type of important educational program,” says Donna Petersen, ScD, and interim dean of USF’s College of Nursing, “optimizing the best elements of the component parts, maximizing the benefits of the system, and meeting compelling community needs across the Tampa Bay region.”

The advent of the Suncoast Nursing Accelerated Pathway is just one of many ways USF’s College of Nursing is “preparing 21st-century nurses

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to promote health and wellness in our community and around the world.”

The college is ranked number one in the state, and 22nd in the country, for funding from the National Institute of Health, and its global nursing initiative allows students to earn credits while providing health and wellness outreach in Panama, Scotland, and St. Croix. Back at USF’s campus, simulation laboratories prepare nursing and other medical students for real-world medical situations long before they enter the workforce. USF is the only fully accredited university in Florida in all areas of assessment, research, system integration, and teaching and education, a designation awarded by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare.

Other colleges of USF Health are no less innovative. The College of Pharmacy’s Healthcare Imaginarium for Exponential Technologies™ (HEIT™) is, in its scope and ambition, exactly as exciting as it sounds. A bid to ensure the college’s continuing and absolute relevance, the HEITs™ represent the interdisciplinary collaborations and community partnerships that set USF apart.

One HEIT™ incorporates virtual-reality content, supplementing existing curriculums of the College of Pharmacy with life-like simulations. The digital imagery comes courtesy of a partnership with local digital content creator MediaLab 3D Solutions and also with BioLucid, and exemplifies USF’s eagerness to find solutions within its community.

Center for Drug Discovery and Innovation, and other companies in and outside of Tampa, for the purpose of discovering evidence-based benefits of noneuphoric cannabis. Collaborators in the latter category include ANANDA Scientific, a manufacturer of nonpsychoactive and nonabusive oral cannabinoid health products, and also the UCLA Cannabis Research Initiative, one of the first academic programs to investigate cannabis in order to inform decisions of public policy and public health.

Students control the virtual experiences by means of handheld devices paired with a set of VR goggles, and the combination places them almost literally inside the human body. For example, the goggles’ field of vision might be a larger-than-life artery clogged with plaque, and the student can watch as a stent is placed to allow the blood to flow once more. Such three-dimensional and immersive experiences cater especially to visual learners, for whom textbooks and even videos fail to fully convey meaning, but regardless of their learning style, every student will have come as close as they can to real-life medical procedures, similar to how their College of Nursing peers will have done in their simulation labs.

Other HEITs™ include a collaboration between the Muma College of Business and the College of Pharmacy known as the Entrepreneurial Academy, where future pharmacists can learn to think like entrepreneurs in order to improve health outcomes and improve the cost efficiency of their practices.

The College of Pharmacy has also partnered with the College of Engineering to explore the use of nanotechnology in dispensing medications, so that both the target site and the amount are optimal for the patient. Finally, WE-CARE (Workgroup Enhancing Community Advocacy and Research) and the College of Pharmacy have combined forces to increase the number of “minority and medically underserved populations” in clinical trials on genomic research.

Another HEIT™ garnering attention and support is the establishment of the Botanical Medicinal Research Consortium, which brings together researchers and clinicians of the Colleges of Pharmacy and Medicine, USF’s 314

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The forethought and compassion of these initiatives is obvious, and these qualities define other programs and partnerships throughout USF’s colleges.

The College of Marine Science, for example, partnered with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to send an autonomous robotic glider—think of one of those torpedo pool toys but at least five times that size—to seek out the organism K. brevis, which creates the red tides the Gulf and Florida coasts are often subject to. The team sent the glider 25-50 miles out from Clearwater Beach, tracking its progress along the continental shelf between Pasco and Sarasota Counties, where they suspected the organisms had drifted.

For 20 out of the past 25 years, Robert Weisberg, PhD, and Distinguished University Professor of Physical Oceanography, and his team have been able to account for those years’ redtide blooms, or the lack of them, and their research monitors the K. brevis that surrounds the coast. Currents, storms, and human activity have roles to play in the organisms’ travels— 315

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discovered “the core repertoire of essential genes” in the world’s deadliest strain of the malaria parasite. Their findings were published in the May 2018 issue of Science.

Plasmodium falciparum is responsible for 90% of malarial fatalities and 50% of all cases of malaria, which proves the potency of its threat.

“What our team has done is develop a way to analyze every gene in this parasite’s genome,” says Dr. Adams. “Using our genetic analysis tools, we’re able to determine the relative importance of each gene in the genome for parasite survival. This understanding will help guide future drug development efforts targeting those essential genes.”

The genes Dr. Adams mentions number in the thousands: 6,000 to be exact.

By analyzing, identifying, and ranking each one, the teams discovered that 3,300 of the parasite’s genes are essential to its survival—though 1,000 of those have functions yet to be discovered.

Still, as author on the study Dr. Jenna Oberstaller notes, “This parasite is traditionally very difficult to genetically manipulate in the lab for a number of technical reasons. So, we’ve effectively gone from knowing only a few handfuls of this parasite’s essential genes, to defining essentiality of the entire genome.”

and its blooms—and Dr. Weisberg and his team tell that story. It is an especially important one because of the red tides’ effect on fish, seabirds, and sea mammals; the neurotoxins released during K. brevis’ blooms can cause illness or death, and humans who ingest contaminated shellfish can experience severe reactions. To know when and where to expect these blooms helps an ocean-dependent state to plan for and mitigate the red tides’ effects, and USF’s College of Marine Biology generates much of this information.

Meanwhile, in Florida’s interior, other USF scientists have turned their attention to a far less scenic feature than the state’s oceans: its landfills.

Thanks to a $1.8 million grant from the Department of Energy, a team led

by Drs. Babu Joseph and John Kuhn has been working to extract biogas to be converted into biofuel. Currently, landfills’ biomass (mainly comprising food scraps, lawn clippings, and agricultural waste) is converted to energy through burning, then converting that heat into electricity. But converting the landfills’ methane and carbon dioxide into biofuel results in so many more uses, since biodiesel can be used almost anywhere. In any case, the biomass found in landfills is an existing resource—and an unsavory one— which makes it the perfect candidate for energy conversion, especially since the gas it releases is harmful to the atmosphere. The one billion tons of biomass produced annually could, once converted, replace up to 30% of the petroleum consumed in the U.S. Currently, converting biogas to biofuel is a two-step process; the first step uses a catalyst to create carbon monoxide from the methane and carbon dioxide, and the second uses a different catalyst to then convert the carbon monoxide to biofuel. Dr. Joseph and Dr. Kuhn hope to find a way to make it a one-step process, “making the entire method more efficient and feasible to be scaled up,” Dr. Kuhn explains.

USF’s College of Public Health is also attending to a pressing matter that could have enormous and positive consequences globally. International researchers from the Wellcome Sanger Institute, led by Dr. Julian Rayner, and a team of USF scientists, led by Dr. John Adams and Dr. Rays Jiang, have 316

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With multidrug-resistant strains on the rise, this breakthrough is certain to increase the efficacy of future treatments and diminish the danger the parasite presents.

Though it’s nowhere in the university’s mission statement, it’s hard not to feel like the University of South Florida’s goal is to save the world. The scope of its collaborations and projects reach far beyond Tampa, and every innovation to its curriculums or to its degree programs empower students to find not simply jobs but vocations—which in turn improve the lives of those they touch. Its commitment to community, both local and global, set an example that anyone anywhere would be wise to follow.

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INNOVATION IS OUR PASSION

Environmental Engineering Professor Dr. Daniel Yeh, stands with the NEWGenerator that his research team invented with funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The solar-powered machine, which is ready for commercial use, is part of an effort to solve global sanitation concerns.

The College of Engineering at the University of South Florida is at the forefront of engineering research and education, cultivating knowledgeable, passionate engineers who are dedicated to needs-based, solutions-oriented engineering. We are innovators. We are explorers.

in the evolution of high-tech innovation in Tampa Bay. With hundreds of patents issued to both faculty and students, it’s fair to say that innovation is our passion. As a result of our entrepreneurial mindset, more than 200 patents have been issued to our engineering faculty in the past five years.

the next generation of engineers and fostering innovative solutions that will positively impact lives. The Department of Computer Science and Engineering launched a new bachelor of science in cybersecurity to prepare students for careers in one of the country’s fastest growing industries.

For us, it’s all about helping people. As the only engineering research and teaching institution in Tampa Bay, our urban setting provides the college with a unique opportunity to attract creative and innovative talent.

Building upon four pillars of success – Experiential Learning, Impactful Discovery, Community Partnerships and Educational Leadership – we are educating a diverse group of engineers and problem-solvers to tackle global challenges. By providing our students with hands-on experience in realworld situations, a cutting-edge education, and significant research opportunities all driven by community partnerships, we are cultivating

Each day we work harder to shape our understanding of mathematics and science for the greater good. We’re proving again and again that engineers have the willpower and capacity to directly and positively impact the world around us. Our commitment to partnering with industry is unyielding. We continually seek to promote the influential nature of our achievements through effective partnerships.

After more than fifty years of pursuing excellence in engineering, we remain young in spirit and full of hope for the future. Alumni, students, and faculty are playing a pivotal role

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key areas that support the SOCOM mission. Our partnership is characterized by speed and agility — key attributes of a robust solutions-focused initiative with energetic creativity and innovation.

Students in the Neuro-Machine Interaction Lab control drones with their mind while wearing an EEG device that detects brainwaves and signals the drone to move.

Students in the Robot Perception and Action Lab work to bring intelligent robots into daily life as well as medical robots, unmanned aerial vehicles and neurorobotics.

Our success is a reflection of both the quality of education we offer and the rate by which we balance change with adherence to our foundational ideals and values. Our evolving vision to foster a global approach to engineering by capitalizing on the international perspectives and diversity of students and faculty is driving value in the community.

and present their research at scientific conferences, it’s no surprise that our student retention rate from first to second year is over 92 percent. We are producing a world-class talent pool for the emerging Tampa Bay high-tech community, especially critical to attracting topnotch start-ups and established companies looking for a highly creative environment.

With our engineering enrollment skyrocketing to over 7,000 students in recent years, it is evident that the best and brightest minds are choosing USF to pursue an engineering education. Providing students with the opportunity to engage in real-world research, study abroad, innovate and collaborate across disciplines

The College of Engineering is partnered with U.S. Special Operations Command and the Doolittle Institute at SOFWERX to craft a highly innovative environment that includes student interns, faculty fellows and emerging research in small satellite, unmanned aerial systems, cybersecurity, resilient communications and other 319

We are pushing the boundaries in innovation at the leading edge of biomedical engineering, environmental engineering, audiology, transportation, rehabilition robotics, design and prototyping, wireless and microwave technologies, materials, clean energy, nanotechnology and entrepreneurship. Our new Department of Medical Engineering offers a unique experience for students with faculty comprised of both engineers and physicians. The Global Center for Hearing and Speech Research is the number one research center in the world for age-related hearing loss. Our Center for Urban Transportation Research is an internationally-recognized resource for policymakers, transportation professionals and the public. Our environmental engineering program is an internationally-recognized provider of water and wastewater solutions. The Center for Assistive Rehabilitation and Robotics Technologies engages in life-changing prosthetic research increasing independence and community reintegration of individuals with reduced functional capabilities.

The center works with patients throughout Florida and locally at the Haley Veterans Hospital. The Mini Circuits Design for X Laboratory is a unique, collaborative maker space for students to pursue meaningful multidisciplinary engineering projects that move ideas from design to prototype. The Institute of Applied Engineering is partnering with government organizations to perform research in autonomous systems, human performance enhancement, cybersecurity and electromagnetic specrum security, transporation and energy infrastructure and large scale data analytics and operations research.

The USF College of Engineering is uniquely positioned as a key member of a vibrant preeminent research university to provide both engineering solutions and well-educated engineers and innovators to the Tampa Bay area.

4202 E Fowler Ave, Tampa, FL 33620, USA Phone: +1-813-974-3780 usfengineering EngineeringUSF usfengineering 4505243 usfengineering www.usf.edu/engineering

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FLORIDA POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY FLORIDA POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2012 AND OPENED ITS DOORS IN 2014 AS THE ONLY MEMBER OF THE STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF FLORIDA DEDICATED EXCLUSIVELY TO STEM (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATH).

President Randy K. Avent

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providing passive lighting inside the second-floor atrium. The ovalshaped structure is ringed by curved metal pergolas that shade its outer terrace and walkways. The building has won global awards and was recently named one of the most breathtaking buildings in the world.

FLORIDA POLY 1.0 Florida Polytechnic University was established in 2012 and opened its doors in 2014 as the only member of the State University System of Florida dedicated exclusively to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math). With an enrollment of around 1,400, Florida Poly offers a unique environment for students where they work closely with faculty and can take advantage of a hands-on approach to learning.

Milestones during these first few years of the University’s existence included the construction of the Innovation, Science, and Technology (IST) Building, the centerpiece of Florida Poly’s campus in Lakeland. The 162,000-square-foot, white-domed building is a moveable and functional work of art, with a louvered roof system that moves throughout the day

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Another major milestone was obtaining regional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) ahead of schedule in July 2017. Less than a year later, Florida Poly graduated its first four-year class with over 200 students receiving degrees. The University began by offering six undergraduate degrees along with two graduate degrees, all focused on high-tech disciplines.

With small class sizes and a true project-based curriculum, Florida Poly is positioned to provide industry-aligned programs in fast-growing areas like autonomous vehicles, machine intelligence, nanotechnology, logistics, and supply chain management and renewable energy.

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FLORIDA POLY 2.0 With the creation, start-up and graduation of its first class complete, Florida Poly is now embarking on the next pivotal chapter of its existence.

Priorities include the creation of three new degrees, as well as increasing our programs and concentrations. This will allow Florida Poly to continue to build a prominent presence with high-paying industries in the region.

Florida Poly 2.0 also includes the construction of another iconic building on its campus – the Applied Research Center – which will house faculty research, laboratories, student design spaces, and faculty offices. In all, this new building will create 150 offices, 21 research laboratories, and seven teaching laboratories.

Creating strong partnerships with companies throughout Florida is another key to providing industry-aligned majors and fueling the state’s economy.

That’s why the University is constantly adding to the many internships already available to students so they can truly take part in a world-class STEM education.

The growth around the Florida Poly campus is key in further developing the University and bringing the Florida Poly 2.0 vision to life. Florida Poly’s long-term success grows exponentially when supported by an adjacent research park which will serve as a magnet for the industry.

Today’s problems are complex and multi-dimensional, and economies grow most significantly when they bring government, industry, and academia together to commercialize innovation. This research park will be the catalyst for bringing financial and facility capital to the area. There will be academic buildings in the park and industry partners on campus. The park will be a live-work-play environment with apartments and homes, office buildings that house high-tech companies, a town center with restaurants and shops, schools and golf courses and hiking trails. It will be a place of creative collisions, where companies come to the park to gain access to our high-quality students and talented faculty.

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Florida Poly also looks forward to the completion of SunTrax, a large-scale, cutting-edge facility dedicated to the research, development, and testing of emerging transportation technologies in safe and controlled environments. SunTrax is a long-term partnership between Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise and Florida Poly and includes a 2.25-mile oval track on a 400-acre site near Florida Poly’s campus. This adds to Florida Poly’s focus on the rapidly evolving field of autonomous and connected vehicles. Its place as a leader in this area was demonstrated at the national level when Randy K. Avent, Florida Poly’s president, testified before a Senate committee on autonomous vehicles in 2018.

Between the foundation provided by Florida Poly 1.0 and the growth outlined in Florida Poly 2.0, Florida Polytechnic University has positioned itself to provide a world-class STEM education in a way that not only prepares students to productively enter the workforce, but to provide them with lifetime employable skills aimed at having an immeasurable impact on local and state economies.

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INNOVATE AT UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA – INNOVATION ACADEMY RANKED #8 IN THE TOP 10 FOR PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES

BY US NEWS AND WORLD REPORT

The Innovation Academy (IA) is a leadingedge undergraduate program that is poised to provide students with the skills of the 21stcentury worldwide economy. We are proud of the foundation and culture of innovation we are delivering to all of our IA students.

Our curriculum provides a clear path towards gaining a competitive advantage in today’s global marketplace - complete with four years of specifically designed courses in creativity, entrepreneurship, ethics, and leadership. Earning the Innovation minor along with a degree provides for a powerfully launched career.

Along the way, we host compelling guest speakers, work with sophisticated prototyping tools, showcase projects at competitions, and leverage university resources such as incubation space and an app. development lab. Being an academic program centered on creatively designing human-centered innovations to solve large and small problems provides a tremendous opportunity for students to excel in forward thinking and turn their ideas into reality.

Dr. Jeff Citty, Director

Dr. Jeff Citty, Director

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Many majors, one minor

Think of us as an exhilaration academy.

The Innovation Academy (IA) is the University of Florida’s groundbreaking undergraduate programs, located at one of its most dynamic research universities that attracts unique students from dozens of majors and integrates them into a spring-summer cohort filled with energy, collisions that become ideas and one common minor: Innovation.

Learning to leverage the risk-taking process and get great results is thrilling — and a rare, breathtaking skill once mastered.

David Nassau – Member Of The Inaugural Ia Cohort, Class Of 2017

The draw “I was interested in the opportunities the program provides. I was excited to meet other highly motivated, like-minded individuals and get involved as a UF student. Ultimately, I wanted to explore the possibility of establishing a nonprofit to raise awareness and provide funding for multiple sclerosis research before I graduated.”

From the unique curriculum to the collision of ideas to the flexibility of the spring-summer cohort, the Innovation Academy is not your average program. A minor in innovation is not for everyone. It is for that special breed of competitive, forward-thinking student. A student willing to explore both the arts and sciences to cultivate the skills needed to land a rewarding job and build a successful career in the modern global economy.

Innovation Academy attracts Innovators. Risk takers. Entrepreneurs. Idea people.

The experience “Participating in IA’s living-learning community, first as a student resident and later as a resident assistant, provided leadership opportunities and taught me to work well with others. Presenting each year at Catalyst gave me the confidence to promote my work and an appreciation for the work of my peers. Creating my first nonprofit, Hopping 4 A Cure, taught me how to involve others in a project and gave me the satisfaction of knowing I was helping people.”

The Competitive Edge you are looking for comes with UF IA students at the Innovation Academy at UF: + Collaboration with experts and peers + Experience with a vital mix of disciplines + Learned strategic risk-taking

The payoff

+ Experimentation with rapid prototyping

“IA’s core classes helped me build a foundation of unique abilities that serve me in my job as product marketing manager for PC and virtual reality gaming at Intel. I am able to apply, daily, the principles I learned in IA’s Creativity, Ethics,

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REQUIRED COURSES: 1.

2.

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4.

5.

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Creativity in Context Creativity in Action Principles of Entrepreneurship Fostering Innovation through Leadership Conduct, Change & Consequences: Making Ethical Decisions Innovation Academy Senior Project

TOTAL CREDITS: 15-16

Catalyst Challenge Catalyst is Innovation Academy’s summer showcase that serves as a launching point that inspires students to move their ideas forward beyond the classroom and apply their innovative solutions to the communities they live in after the second Innovation minor course ends. IA students in the Creativity-in-Action course present their ideas, prototypes, informational posters, and persuasive pitches at Catalyst. Innovation Academy holds one showcase at the end of Summer A and one at the end of Summer B every year. The Innovation Academy invites members of the community, family, friends, fellow innovators and people passionate about innovation to attend.

Program Perks & Benefits + IA LLC IGNITE LIVE, LEARN, LEAD where INNOVATION thrives @ Beaty Towers The IA Living Learning Community (LLC) at Beaty Towers is open to students admitted to the Innovation Academy, and allows students in the same academic program to live and study together year round, if they choose. The IA LLC aims to create an environment that invites opportunities for formal and informal interactions between residents, staff, and faculty through programs and activities that integrate in-class and out-of-class experiences.

Entrepreneurship and Leadership classes. IA prepared me extremely well to effectively communicate, work with individuals of varying backgrounds and speak confidently to large audiences.”

+ 3D Printing

The Curriculum

+ App Development

3D printing is available at UF libraries and at the Infinity Hall Fab Lab.

The UF Innovation Minor is exclusive to IA students. The Innovation Minor courses are designed to provide a core knowledge base and a skill set to prepare IA students for the 21st century economy.

Mobile App Development Environment (MADE) at UF is a university initiative to provide students with the necessary equipment & training to develop apps.

+ Competitions IA students enter their ideas and creations into various competitions such as The Big Idea, MuniMod, and many more!

UF Innovation Academy | 321 Infirmary Building | P.O. Box 117545 | Gainesville, FL 32611 | Phone: 352-294-1785 | Email: iacademy@ufl.edu

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+ Incubation Space UF encourages interested students to apply to use incubation space at the Gator-Hatchery or the Launchpad Scholars program to foster innovation and growth

Join Us Any prospective UF freshman can apply to the Innovation Academy Program as part of the University of Florida application. To apply to the Innovation Academy, freshman applicants should indicate interest in the Innovation Academy and complete the additional essay on their UF undergraduate admission application. For more information, visit https:// admissions.ufl.edu/apply/freshman/

+ Study Abroad The fall semester off is ideal for study abroad, giving students a large window of time to work with when studying abroad and increased opportunities.

+ Employment

Support Us

IA has caught the attention of many employers and leaders who have sought upper-level students to work for them full-time in the Fall when all other students return to campus or can only work part-time.

The next generation of Gator Innovators need your support. Giving to the UF IA Innovation Fund is a unique opportunity to invest in a distinct new way of teaching and learning. This funding helps to provide immersive student experiences, curriculum development and materials, and co-curricular programming that move our vision forward in graduating innovators who utilize design thinking to solve global challenges through experimental and creative problem solving. When supported, innovation blossoms: Support us today at: http://ufl.to/t4

+ Internship Opportunities IA offers a very successful Fall Internship program with local startup companies in Gainesville where students work in teams and earn 4 credits in the process. IA also offers an independent internship database to support students looking for opportunities nationally.

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HEADQUARTERED IN TAMPA, FLORIDA, UMA IS A COMPREHENSIVE HEALTHCARE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION WITH A NATIONAL PRESENCE.

THE STORY Ultimate Medical Academy was founded 25 years ago as a nonprofit school with a single campus in Clearwater, Florida. Today, UMA is a comprehensive healthcare educational institution with a national presence.

Institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES), UMA has more than 45,000 alumni. The school offers contentrich, interactive online courses to 15,000 students across the country as well as campus-based training to hundreds of students at its Clearwater Campus.

With a mission to equip and empower students to excel in healthcare careers, the UMA experience includes individualized student services throughout all phases of the student journey, from admissions to the job search. UMA students have access to academic advising, one-on-one or group tutoring, resume and interview coaching, job search assistance, technical support, and more. The school also supports alumni in finding new jobs, progressing in their current positions, and enhancing their skills to remain competitive in the job market.

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As an employer of 2,000 faculty and staff in the Tampa Bay area, UMA looks forward to building relationships and telling others about the work we do to equip and empower students to excel in healthcare careers. In fulfilling our mission, we are also helping to drive upward mobility for families and communities while helping to fill the healthcare skills gap in the Tampa Bay area and across the nation.

HISTORY UMA was founded in 1994 as Ultimate Learning Center, Inc., a nonprofit educational institution serving the Tampa Bay community’s need for trained nursing assistants and other healthcare professionals.

Over time, UMA recognized the growing need for trained professionals in other healthcare specialties and employers’ needs for multi-skilled staff, so it began to offer a wide range of programs focused on developing allied healthcare professionals. In 2009, UMA launched online allied healthcare courses to students throughout the U.S. In 2015, UMA added a continuing medical education (CME) division that includes Global Education Group, Med Learning Group, and Complete Conference Management. These divisions create innovative and awardwinning programming to maximize the learner experience and, ultimately, improve patient outcomes. UMA’s CME division provides CME to physicians and other healthcare professionals. Maintaining active credentials is a mandatory requirement for most practicing physicians, and UMA provides education that meets the diverse needs of this busy professional community.

Each year UMA convenes passionate local and national healthcare and education experts to participate in dynamic conversations on perspectives in innovation. Most recently UMA hosted the inaugural 2018 360 Summit: Perspectives on Healthcare Innovation, which followed on the success of its inaugural 2017 K-20 Education Summit.

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Phone: 813-676-6175 | Email: media@ultimatemedical.edu | UltimateMedical | UltimateMedicalAcademy UltimateMedical | UltimateMedical.edu

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SUNCOAST DEVELOPERS GUILD

ELEVATOR PITCH Suncoast Developers Guild is the only not-for-profit coding school in the state of Florida, aiming to provide students with the digital tools they need for success.

The Suncoast Developers Guild runs multiple cohorts each year, and the threemonth program at the Academy offers a comprehensive curriculum designed to prepare students for the workplace. Encompassing both front- and backend development, students, graduate with the knowledge needed to build and maintain websites and applications.

We collectively further our goals of creating a workforce prepared with the digital tools they need to thrive. New students enter our doors with each cohort, eager to learn and improve their lives through coding.

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THE STORY The Suncoast Developers Guild story originated from the Tampa Bay campus of the largest national code school providing hundreds of students with the tools needed to meet their personal and career goals.

When the opportunity arose to form its own entity in Tampa Bay, The Suncoast Developers Guild stepped up to the challenge and chose to move forward while refining its vision and shifting its focus. By expanding the curriculum and sharing our collective coding knowledge we created a model that focuses on what’s essential: educating the community.

We will: • Expand our reach in the community • Build Suncoast Developers Guild to meet the Tampa Bay area’s growing tech needs • Continue to improve our program to prepare our students for an evolving tech scene By giving our students the tools they need to achieve their goals, their current and future projects will foster an environment teaming with opportunities for the community.

Suncoast Developers Guild serves as a hub for the local tech scene, providing a network of alumni, employers, and organizations. We present students with the opportunity to meet others in the field and build connections.

With the community’s support, we can further propel our growing student base in the Tampa Bay tech scene.

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While the process will continuously evolve with the community’s help by having an open source curriculum, there is still more work to be done in discovering how we can best expand to help more potential students in the local area.

SuncoastDevelopersGuild suncoastio suncoast-developers-guild suncoastdevelopersguild suncoast-developers-guild suncoast-devs.slack.com www.suncoast.io

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AT KEY PERSON OF INFLUENCE USA, INNOVATION OF BUSINESS IS OUR FOCUS. KEY PERSON OF INFLUENCE USA, POWERED BY PERSONOFI, IS AN EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP FIRM.

We are uniquely focused on accelerating the growth of successful, service-driven companies by building the brand identity of the founder or CEO, and then leveraging that brand to grow and scale their company.

When people speak about business innovation, they often are referring to technology; as in the latest app or time-saving automation hack. Technology doesn’t define innovation, although it can often drive it.

Innovation, by definition is taking something that is mainstream, or even outdated, and transforming it into something contemporary and fresh. Look at it this way; if a new technology doesn’t make your life better, it probably isn’t innovative.

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to develop five core soft skills that effectively positions them to be recognized as industry leaders. Once their industry recognizes them as a voice of authority, exciting things happen—the community recognizes them as a thought leader, the media recognizes them as an industry expert, and work days become much more fun and lucrative.

Our goal is for our clients to double their revenue in 12 months or less, to create more jobs, and to work less hours.

We recognized that industry influencers possess these 5 core soft skills which are:

CLARITY. The market knows, without a doubt, what is it that they do and who they do it for.

At Key Person of Influence, we guide companies to innovate through workflow efficiency, not necessarily through technology.

CREDIBILITY. They are known as the industry leader, the go-to

The growth trajectory of an established company can be accelerated through the innovative thinking of its leader and the strategic redesign of corporate methodologies. Yet these innovations are often nothing new; they are simply the strategic implementation of tried-and-true business principles, restructured to assimilate with today’s business environment.

SCALABILITY. They are able to take on additional work and continue to deliver an excellent client experience.

Our methodology is based upon the notion that those who are most influential, in any industry, get the lion’s share of the business and are awarded the most exciting opportunities. We have all witnessed people lining up to do business with industry experts or thought leaders; and because of that, thought leaders can charge a premium for their services while experiencing a much shorter sales cycle. At Key Person of Influence, we have cracked the code on what it takes to be recognized as an industry influencer.

CONNECTIVITY. They partner with other industry leaders, and

expert in their field.

VISIBILITY. They are known in the community, are featured in the media, and have a strong on-line presence.

the best opportunities are awarded to them first.

At Key Person of Influence USA, our business revolves around fostering relationships with people of influence. We work with business leaders who have remarkable solutions to their client’s very real problems, and we make them recognized—not just locally, but nationally; and in some cases, internationally. With our efforts and with the support of other local growth accelerators and incubators, many of Tampa’s already-successful business leaders are being transformed into industry-recognized thought leaders, on a global scale.

Our 5-step process to create industry influencers is a perfect example of business innovation. We work with successful executives and entrepreneurs

OfficialKPIUSA KPITampa KeyPersonOfInfluence kpiusa key-person-of-influence-usa keypersonofinfluenceusa.com

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THE BUILDING BLOCKS FOR A Be Your Brand Focus on Profits as well as Revenue Engage in Strategic Planning Secure More Funding Before it is Essential for Survival

Develop a Business Succession Plan

Resolve Disputes Prior to Litigation Whenever Possible

Keep Detailed Company Records File Annual Reports for your Entity on Time

Monitor Your Financials Monthly, Quarterly and Annually Comply with Employment Laws

Prepare an Employee Handbook and Job Descriptions Have an Attorney Prepare Written Contracts to Use with Partners, Customers, Vendors, Contractors & Employees

Develop Operations Manuals for Your Business Obtain Insurance to Manage Your Risk Open a Business Bank Account

Understand Your Federal, State and Local Tax Obligations

Obtain your Federal Tax ID (EIN)

Protect Your Intellectual Property (file patents, copyrights)

Obtain Required Federal, State or Local Business Licenses Have a Business Plan

Set Up an Accounting System

Form the Most Suitable Business Entity

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SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS

Engage an Experienced Business Attorney, CPA, and Insurance Advisor

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LEGAL KNOW-HOW

EXPERIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION HELPS HOLLAND & KNIGHT CRAFT CUSTOM SOLUTIONS FOR CLIENTS Holland & Knight lawyers provide representation in litigation, business, real estate, and governmental law.

Interdisciplinary practice groups and industry-based teams provide clients with access to attorneys throughout the firm, regardless of location. Founded in Tampa, Fla., Holland & Knight is a global law firm with more than 1,300 lawyers and other professionals in 28 offices throughout the world.

The firm believes it is essential to offer its clients the broad range of perspectives that a diverse team brings, thus encouraging innovative thinking and creative solutions to its clients’ business needs.

Guidance for Startups and Entrepreneurs Companies developing industry-disrupting, converging technology rely on Holland & Knight to achieve success. The law firm’s attorneys are wellversed in addressing the legal issues involved in developing a young company to its full potential.

They will work with you through the entire life cycle of your company, offering strategic, timely advice at every stage to help you understand issues, and identify potential pitfalls. Holland & Knight’s team has relationships with investors and entrepreneurs, enabling the law firm to unite companies seeking to raise funding with investors seeking opportunities.

The law firm’s technical and legal knowledge spans the innovations driving its clients’ businesses, from the 5G technology making the Internet of Things possible to distributed ledger (blockchain) technology, autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.

Holland & Knight’s attorneys and professionals help clients seize opportunities and overcome challenges where new technologies and established industries converge. It provides clients with comprehensive insight on what it takes to compete in today’s evolving marketplace.

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HK Deal Flow®

HKLab: An Innovative Legal Team Holland & Knight founded HKLab – a skilled team of lawyers who double as a software development group and forward-thinking legal innovators within a law firm. By leveraging technology and innovation, the HKLab facilitates a well-coordinated and high-tech approach to addressing the challenges its clients face, resulting in optimum delivery of legal services in the most cost-effective manner possible. Through the HKLab, the law firm builds prototypes and proof of concept software solutions and then works with client engineers to industrialize software solutions, adding key features and resources.

In addition, Holland & Knight’s Innovation and Technology Committee works with the firm’s lawyers, staff and clients to find better and more cost-effective ways to deliver services and, ultimately, to increase the value of those services. Through this effort, the law firm has launched a host of technology solutions, including a contract analytics platform for due diligence in mergers and acquisitions, a contract management tool powered by artificial intelligence, a financial pricing analytics service and custombuilt databases that allow its legal practice groups easy access to vital information.

“Law firms should view disruption as an opportunity rather than a threat, so long as they are willing to evolve.”

HK Deal Flow®: Dealmaking by Design Competition for quality deals is extremely high, with a large amount of capital in the market chasing too few deals. In September 2018, Holland & Knight launched HK Deal Flow to enhance and supplement the deal-sourcing strategy of private equity, family office, lender and other institutional investor clients. The program is a proprietary deal generation service that leverages the law firm’s expansive network of lawyers and other professionals to generate deal leads and strategically match those leads with clients seeking opportunities. HK Deal Flow is a perfect complement to the firm’s suite of innovative client solutions.

“Holland & Knight is committed to finding innovative ways to deliver more value to its clients through technology solutions and other non-traditional means of delivering legal services.”

- Innovation Committee Partner Joe Dewey

A Law Firm for Innovators Those who partner with Holland & Knight receive comprehensive representation, insightful guidance and innovative solutions aimed at helping them attain business goals. The law firm strives to provide exceptional client service and tools to help companies and individuals succeed.

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100 North Tampa Street, Suite 4100 Tampa, FL 33602 Phone: 813-227-8500 | Holland_Knight | HollandKnightLLP www.hklaw.com

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JOHNSON POPE

THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX

THE STORY Over the past four and one-half decades, Johnson Pope has been committed to helping our business clients seize opportunities and solve problems in a high quality, timely and cost-effective manner.

Many of our attorneys are business owners themselves and that experience sets us apart and allows us to assist our business clients with a greater understanding of the path they are walking.

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one day, the adventure took them down a boat guided tour through greenhouses and according to Kaercher, something just clicked when he realized he could build something very similar. He recalls, “I would build hydroponic systems and then tear them down after I ran it through the season and then build a new system until I knew I was onto something sustainable.”

Johnson Pope’s first office was opened in Clearwater 45 years ago, started by young entrepreneurial attorneys who saw the business opportunity of an underserviced legal market in Pinellas County.

Johnson Pope Tampa opened its office 36 years ago, and over 20 of our 70 lawyers are based in Tampa. Our other offices in Clearwater and St. Petersburg are of similar size and strength. Regardless of the office or legal practice area, our lawyers work together as a team to produce superior results for our clients.

And a little over one year later, that vision has become a reality. Kaercher Family Patrick Traber Farms is up, running and thriving. The farm started growing microgreens and then added many varieties of lettuce according to the needs and wants of local chefs.

Throughout our 45-year history, the firm has consistently focused on having the best attorneys in the areas of practice most critical to business clients – tax, corporate law, securities and capital formation, intellectual property, as well as, real estate and land use, health care, and business litigation. The firm’s depth of talent and experience allows us to provide new or existing clients the team they need at all critical points in the business-life-cycle.

With the sudden growth pattern, Kaercher inquired to friends about legal guidance and was put in touch with Patrick Traber, which was a natural fit from the beginning. Patrick’s experience with startups and capital raising enabled him to assist his new client with some basics when starting a new business. Patrick functions as an outside general counsel and strategic advisor.

The growth of Tampa, particularly the downtown renaissance, is an exciting time. Johnson Pope will continue to guide new and existing clients through their growth and prosperity throughout the Tampa Bay area and beyond.

ONE CLIENT’S INNOVATION STORY

The future looks bright for Kaercher Family Farms as they are developing the property and bringing in European automation and robotics to alleviate the burden of tiresome labor. By the end of this year, the implementation of this cutting-edge technology will be the first of its kind in Florida – and allow the Kaercher Family Farms to efficiently increase its productivity.

Patrick Traber, a partner with Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns, LLP, helps focus the firm’s efforts and involvement in the innovation and technology community in Tampa. Patrick and the firm are constant champions and connectors for their clients. Each has a unique story to tell, like Kaercher Family Farms, an urban farming company located in Largo, Florida.

401 East Jackson Street Suite 3100, Tampa, FL 33602 Phone: 813-225-2500 www.jpfirm.com

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LEVERAGING INNOVATION AT EVERY TURN TO HELP TAMPA BAY BUSINESSES GROW

AS A NATIONAL BUSINESS ADVISORY FIRM DEDICATED TO HELPING OUR WIDE RANGE OF CLIENTS GROW AND ACHIEVE FINANCIAL SUCCESS, SKODA MINOTTI’S COMMITMENT TO INNOVATION RESIDES AT THE HEART OF OUR CLIENT SERVICE APPROACH AND INTERNAL CULTURE — AND IT PERFECTLY ALIGNS WITH THE SPIRIT OF INNOVATION THAT’S DRIVING BUSINESS GROWTH THROUGHOUT TAMPA BAY. Our region is experiencing transformative evolution like never before.

Specifically, Tampa Bay’s business community is booming; outside companies continue to relocate to our business-friendly – and sunny – climate, while startups emerge daily. As new and established companies seek to grow and innovate, they turn to the innovation experts at Skoda Minotti to help them thrive in ways they never imagined.

Since our founding in 1980, we have steadily evolved from our roots as an accounting and tax firm to encompass an unrivaled family of services that today includes: • • • • • • •

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Accounting and tax, Risk advisory services, Financial planning and wealth management, Information technology, Human Resources services, Strategic marketing, and Valuation and litigation support

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Today, we offer innovative, results-driven approaches to client service in every facet of our business. Our risk advisory services, as just one example, are designed around newly implemented, leading-edge strategies and systems that help clients effectively manage risk and meet the continuously evolving compliance requirements of their respective industries.

The spirit of innovation that drives us to help clients achieve success also has earned us multiple awards for our firm’s culture, continued revenue growth, and client satisfaction. In 2018, Skoda Minotti was

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again named one of the Best Places to Work by the Tampa Bay Business Journal—our fourth consecutive appearance on this prestigious list.

As a key part of our commitment to innovation, the firm offers proprietary leadership and professional development programs, a comprehensive training platform and a variety of community-based activities yearround. As a result, employees enjoy teamwork, camaraderie, and collaboration among all levels of the employment base, while clients gain the benefit of advisors whose knowledge and insight are continually ahead of the curve.

alliance delivers the ultimate in client service— no matter what your accounting, financial or business advisory needs may be, you’ll receive unparalleled access to the knowledge, skills, and experience of a global network of experts.

As a firm with local roots and national reach, Skoda Minotti is listed on Inside Public Accounting’s 2018 Top 100 firms nationwide.

This is the fifth consecutive year the firm has been ranked on the industry’s prestigious list.

Additionally, we are a member of The Leading Edge Alliance, the second largest international professional association encompassing 220 accounting, financial and business advisory firms that operate in 106 countries. This unique

To learn more about Skoda Minotti and our approach to helping businesses innovate and grow, visit skodaminotti.com or call (813) 288-8826.

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Our culture of innovation, combined with our deep and longstanding ties to the Tampa Bay community and organizations like Synapse, Florida Funders, and Leadership Tampa Bay, positions Skoda Minotti as the ideal firm of choice for Tampa Bay businesses that seek new levels of growth and profitability.

Phone: (813) 288-8826 Email: info@skodaminotti.com SkodaMinotti skoda-minotti skodaminotti.com

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ELEVATOR PITCH AEGIS Law is an innovative, business-focused, modern law firm that offers integrated professional services to both emerging and established companies around the globe.

Like their clients, AEGIS Law is driven by a fierce entrepreneurial spirit that is exemplified by their willingness to work harder, faster, smarter.

Positioning itself to address the needs of the ever-growing innovation and technology ecosystem in Tampa Bay, AEGIS Law offers clients business counselors and lawyers with significant practical experience in business operations and law.

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Matthew Welker, Attorney

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Marshall J. Kobrin, Attorney

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Leila Ros, Paralegal

Walk Law was named to the Law Firm 500 fastest growing firms in both 2017 and 2018, a feat that is difficult to accomplish year after year. Ms. Walk credits the growth to a talented team of lawyers and their expertise in the high growth area of e-commerce and technology.

15 years ago, AEGIS launched a revolutionary idea: if you create a law firm culture that prioritizes the needs of attorneys, clients will reap the benefits, creating a win-win situation for both.

That vision is enshrined in the company name which is derived from the Greek mythological symbol for sponsorships and protection. The modern model for delivering legal services has indeed disrupted the legal game as AEGIS law has become a dominant player in venture capitalism, banking, securities, real estate, construction as well as, general corporate law; ranking among the top 50 fastest growing companies in its region.

AEGIS Law has developed an innovative disruptive business model that flies in the face of the politics and limitations of traditional firms with key characteristics that include; a collegial approach to servicing clients allowing associate attorneys to support other attorneys’ clients efficiently and effectively thereby helping all of the lawyers solve problems better while saving the clients money.

The combination with Walk Law made sense with their similar approach to ensuring that lawyers focus on client need and the endgame, encouraging a collaborative approach while managing fees and client experience.

The unmatched responsiveness is a streamlined structure allowing AEGIS Law to respond to client concerns and questions with exceptional speed, taking a practical yet creative approach to problem-solving.

THE STORY

Rooted and focused on representing businesses, business owners and entrepreneurs. AEGIS Law offers a broader range and larger bandwidth of attorneys with a heavy emphasis on mergers and acquisitions in the rapidly-growing entrepreneurial e-commerce and tech industries of Tampa.

In July 2018, AEGIS Law joined forces with Tampa Bay-based Walk Law Firm to meet the high demands of an ever-growing ecosystem. Walk Law, led by Rochelle Friedman Walk, has played a significant role in innovation and acceleration of businesses in Tampa Bay and around the world. The Firm’s unique niche as the go-to lawyers for e-commerce and technologybased businesses, especially in the mergers and acquisitions area, and the depth of Ms. Walk’s personal experience in working with both investors and entrepreneurs made Walk Law a perfect fit for the St. Louis-based AEGIS Law.

aegisps attorneywalk aegis-professional-services rochellewalk www.AEGISLaw.com 343

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Who is Your Best Business Partner?

A GOOD BUSINESS PARTNER FINDS SOLUTIONS TO YOUR PROBLEMS

PROMOTES YOUR BUSINESS PROTECTS YOUR INTERESTS, TREATS YOU FAIRLY

ANSWERS YOUR CALL FOR HELP

OPENS DOORS TO NEW OPPORTUNITIES GIVES YOU PERSPECTIVE, SEES WHAT YOU OVERLOOK

BUILDS YOUR CONFIDENCE

PROVIDES SOUND ADVICE COMES TO YOUR DEFENSE CELEBRATES YOUR VICTORIES

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Shouldn’t this be exactly what your business attorney does for you?

WE SURE THINK SO.

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THE STORY In 2013, Sheryl Hunter rebranded her firm to attract the clientele she has served with the most passion for two decades as a business attorney – entrepreneurs.

“I view entrepreneurs as individuals with a unique approach to life and work, as opposed to people who are in a certain phase of their business.” Hunter explains. “Entrepreneurs often wear the hat of start-up founder, but they also advance to growth and exit stages and many do it all again as serial entrepreneurs, or they engage with early stage companies as mentors and angel investors. These are the people we serve, and we are equally committed to developing the ecosystem in Tampa Bay to encourage innovators to start and grow their companies here.”

The firm has been developed by Hunter with the unique needs of entrepreneurs in mind, both in terms of its practice areas which include corporate and contract work, securities, intellectual property and M&A, but also in terms of hiring lawyers who are highly responsive and who are adept at blending legal protection with business pragmatism. “Our relationship with our business clients is like that which is expected of in-house legal counsel. Our team of attorneys are interested, engaged, and dedicated counselors to our clients. We are accessible, without the full-time payroll obligations of in-house counsel. We may not be down the hall, be we are your counsel on call.”

“At Florida Funders we have come to rely on Hunter Business Law for much of our legal advice and counsel. Sheryl and her team are awesome to work with and we know that we can always count on them for responsiveness, for creative and entrepreneurial thinking, and for giving us practical legal opinions that take into consideration the business aspects of any situation. Hunter Business Law is a true business partner of Florida Funders, in every sense of the word.” ~ Tom Wallace, Managing Partner of Florida Funders.

Exclusively Working With Growth-Focused Entrepreneurs and Their Business Enterprises.

“Hunte r Busin ess Law balanc e betw has the een bu perfec acume siness n so m and leg t y busin not on al ess dea ly succ lings a essful, rate of re but ha closing ve a hig . Shery is shar her l perso p, brigh nally t and sm pleasu re t art and is a ~ Char o work with .” les Hu tchinso InSync n, CFO Health at care So lutions , LLC

yl on king with Sher luxury of wor e th arios. d en ha sc e ve pl “I ha s and multi on si ca oc t en at several differ ce someone th at you experien ss as if ne si bu ur It isn’t often th yo t you and ec ot pr to gh fe w I have lt in cares enou is is exactly ho Th n. ! She ow r he it were r Business Law yl and Hunte er ely Sh h em it tr w ex g dealin tailed and e attentive, de ar yl er am Sh te r d he en and ly recomm with. I strong s.” easy to work business need for any of your am te l r ita he ap d C an azelle , Founder at G ~Ashby Green

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119 S Dakota Avenue, Tampa, FL 33606 813-867-2640 Info@hunterbusinesslaw.com hunterbusinesslaw.com

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THE LEGAL GO-TO GUIDES FOR YOU OR YOUR BUSINESS

At McIntyre Thanasides, relationships are the cornerstone of our business philosophy. We take pride in establishing enduring relationships, and many of our clients have been with us for over 20 years. Our firm handles a wide variety of legal issues for both individuals and businesses, and we strive to be the only law firm you need for legal advice or representation.

We can help you with your legal issues at work, ranging from breach of contract cases to asset acquisition. Our attorneys serve on the boards of many start-ups, so we understand the difficulties 346

that often arise. We also understand that legal matters affecting your business can be a significant distraction and may even hinder your ability to achieve long-term success.

We are devoted to helping prevent any costly mistakes, by providing effective and efficient solutions. Our lawyers are always ready to help when it comes to personal matters too. We recognize that family is everything, and we want to be there for you if you are faced with making difficult decisions to protect your and your family’s interests.

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Our services include, but are not limited to: appeals, bankruptcy, commercial litigation, criminal defense, estate planning, family law, immigration, intellectual property, sinkhole claims, student loan debt, and traffic law.

Regardless of what life throws at you, our attorneys will provide you with the best legal representation possible. Our legal experts are highly sought-after and nationally recognized for their experience and expertise.

The McIntyre team has achieved success for thousands of companies and individuals, and they can be seen as go-to guides for you or your business.

We strive to build the strongest relationships and bring value to you at every turn. The law can affect you in many complicated ways. At McIntyre, we want to help you make the right decisions to efficiently solve existing problems,

while ensuring that future problems don’t occur. For many of our clients, we’re their first call in times of trouble, or when opportunity strikes. We work hard at cultivating a deep level of trust and becoming an indispensable member of your team.

We have many national clients and currently work from our Florida offices located in Tampa, Lakeland, and Sarasota. We would love to hear from you. Please give us a call if you have any questions about our team or services.

500 E. Kennedy Blvd Suite 200, Tampa, FL33602 Phone: 844-511-4800 | Fax: 813-899-6069 mcintyrefirm | McIntyrefirm 2BiLmOr | 2zdiNjV www.mcintyrefirm.com 347

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STANTON IP LAW FIRM

STANTON IP LAW FIRM IS A TAMPA BASED LAW FIRM FOCUSING ON PROTECTING, ENFORCING, AND MONETIZING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS FOR THEIR CLIENTS BY OBTAINING PATENTS BOTH IN THE U.S. AND ABROAD, TRADEMARKS AT BOTH THE FEDERAL AND STATE LEVELS, COPYRIGHTS ON WORKS OF ART, AND KEEPING TRADE SECRETS CONFIDENTIAL.

Founded by Thomas H. Stanton, Stanton IP Law Firm leverages over 15 years in the technology industry to revolutionize the traditional law firm model in order to deliver results oriented, client centric representation to clients ranging from startups to Fortune 500 companies.

At Stanton IP Law Firm, we focus on protecting, enforcing, and monetizing your Intellectual Property rights. We can assist you in obtaining patents both in the U.S. and abroad, trademarks at both the federal and state levels, copyrights on your works of art, and keeping your trade secrets confidential.

Having many years of experience in both the startup and high-tech sectors, we bring a unique perspective to our clients. One that focuses not just on the legal aspect of the solution, but also the business impact and the overall effect on the organization. This can include software development agreements, licensing contracts, service level agreements, cloud computing agreements, and other technology related agreements for our clients.

While we have a strong focus on the high-tech sector, we also have skillsets in a variety of other areas including mechanical, chemical, biotechnology, and electrical. Contact us today to see how we can help you own, protect, and monetize your Intellectual Property!

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As former President of BrixTec, Tom Stanton is the classic example of a leader with an entrepreneurial spirit that took a risk for the American Dream, by starting a technology company with his friend and business partner Rolland Lucas before graduating from college and passing up lucrative corporate positions being offered. In 2010 he took advantage of a merger with IT Authorities where he ran the sales department until April 2013.

After spending 10 years in the IT field, and at the ripe age of 35 Tom decided to make a career change and become an attorney. He attended Stetson University College of Law and acquired an LLM in International Economic Law from the University of Toulouse, France. He is now a licensed patent attorney in both New York and Florida with focus on cutting-edge computer technologies and related intellectual property protection. He is the Managing Partner of Stanton IP Law Firm, P.A. which specializes in the area of Intellectual Property and high-tech startups.

201 E Kennedy Blvd #825, Tampa, FL 33602, USA Phone: +1 813-421-3883 stantoniplaw.com 349

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PARADIES IP SOLUTIONS LLC

FOUNDED BY CHRIS PARADIES, A FLORIDA BAR CERTIFIED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ATTORNEY AND U.S. REGISTERED PATENT ATTORNEY WITH DECADES OF EXPERIENCE IN INNOVATION AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW.

Chris’ efforts as a volunteer economic development leader have been recognized by the Florida Economic Development Council, as the Tampa Bay Region Volunteer of the Year in 2014, and Chris was selected as an Outstanding Leadership Finalist in the 2011 by Tampa Bay Tech. He serves on boards and is the current Chair of the Board for the Tampa Bay Innovation Center. He offers free IP advice to entrepreneurs at monthly “Startup Exchange” meetups and volunteers as a co.Starters facilitator, helping new entrepreneurs to get started right.

His vision is to provide innovative solutions to small businesses that reduce costs to own, protect and grow the value of intellectual property, which includes trademarks, patents, copyrights, trade secrets, domain names, and trade 350

dress. These are the most valuable assets of a successful company in this age of innovation. Nearly 80% of the value of the companies listed in the S&P 500 is attributable to intangibles such as intellectual property. Intellectual property or IP is a complicated and legally evolving area of law requiring expert assistance, which usually costs tens of thousands of dollars. In the Tampa Bay region, many small businesses can’t afford the traditional way of protecting their IP, and good alternatives have not been available until now. IPmasterclass started as the IP Workshop, live courses presented to packed rooms. However, the need was much greater than live training could satisfy. So, Chris developed IPmasterclass, an online video tutorial that only requires about an hour a week of an entrepreneur’s precious time and at a cost any startup can afford.

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The purpose of IPmasterclass is to prepare innovative startups for success by mastering their intellectual property (IP) without having to become an IP master. The reviews have been extraordinary. Even those entrepreneurs that choose to employ an intellectual property attorney to assist them rave about the training. The focus of IPmasterclass is ownership, because owning your IP and the IP created for you by others, while not infringing IP owned by others, is critical to any small business. IPmasterclass is a work in progress, because IP law and the needs of startups continue to evolve rapidly.

Now there is a solution for cash-strapped startups that know how important IP is to creative and innovative businesses. Go to IPmasterclass.com for more information.

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DIANGELO LAW

EQUIPPING INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESSES WITH SOLUTIONS FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF INNOVATION.

In this day and age, our most valuable assets can no longer be protected by lock and key to a brick and mortar building with a security system. That is because much of the value now comes from intellectual property and data stored electronically. Today, protecting your company means ensuring the proper contracts are in place with your vendors, employees, contractors, and anyone else that deals with the business. It also means acquiring legal ownership of your intellectual property, setting up your business to successfully bring and defeat legal actions when necessary, and planning ahead to prevent liability.

At DiAngelo Law, we provide the modern-day lock and key to protect your assets through high quality, personalized legal representation to small businesses, startups, and entrepreneurs.

Founding attorney, Erica DiAngelo, is a native to the Tampa Bay area. Over the years, she has watched the area flourish with new businesses and creative minds. Seeing this emergence of startups and entrepreneurs further ignited her passion for helping those who demand progress. In 2015, Erica founded DiAngelo Law, a firm dedicated to the advancement of innovation nationwide and the legal protection of individuals and businesses.

Some of the services DiAngelo Law offers are: • Trademark Applications • Business Formation and Starter Packages • Contract drafting & negotiation • General Data Protection Regulation consulting • Contract Disputes • Business Legal Consulting DiAngelo Law Phone: 813-551-2484 Email: info@diangelolaw.com www.diangelolaw.com

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BECAUSE DATA THIEVES’ #1 TARGET IS SMALL BUSINESS, RESPOSNE36 IS HERE TO PROTECT YOU. You can have peace of mind with our Small Business Plan and: • • •

Prepare to help prevent data breaches affordably.

React compliantly to data breaches with one phone call to Resposne36.

Reduce financial risk with $100,000 (after first $1,000)* of data breach Risk Protection.

The cost of a security breach is always higher than the cost of protection.

Have you evaluated the cost of data breach protection vs. the cost of having a data breach?

Lack of compliant preparation and response can result in: • $38,000 average cost for a small business to respond to a data breach.

• Governmental fines and penalties and card association assessments.

• $20,000 average cost to a small business for forensic investigation.

• 57% of customers lose trust in the brand. 31% terminate the relationship.

Our affordable plan fits any budget.

Affordable for your business and simple and easy to implement, Response36’s Small Business Plan is a comprehensive plan delivered through an online platform. Once you enroll, we automatically send you a welcome email, with a link to login and access your benefits.

Prepare with solutions to help avoid a data breach.

React compliantly and effectively to minimize the negative impacts of a data breach.

Reduce financial risk with $100,000 (after first $1,000)* of data breach Risk Protection. *FWT Risk Protection benefits are backed by an insurance policy issued by a member company of American International Group, Inc. (AIG) to FWT. Purchasers of the Small Business Plan receive this benefit from FWT and are not insured under the insurance policy.

The description herein is a summary and intended for informational purposes only and does not include all terms, conditions and exclusions of the benefits described. Please refer to the Summary of Benefits for detail

Gary C. Dambach Jr. Decisive Merchant Solutions, President

Jason Harris Sleepsana Founder/CEO

Erica DiAngelo DiAngelo Law Attorney/Entrepreneur

“As a lawyer helping businesses protect their most valuable assets, it was imperative I find a solution for the growing data breach problems and evolving legislation.” -Erica DiAngelo

1-855-360-4784 Response36.com sales@Response36.com

OUR PROUD PARTNERS:

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INNOVATIVE TALENT ACQUISITION STRATEGISTS PATRICK VALTIN – CEO AND FOUNDER OF HIREBOX

ELEVATOR PITCH HireBox talent acquisition and retention specialists are driven by a grand vision: to raise happiness in the workplace! They accomplish this by helping their clients to attract and select ONLY applicants who are willing and able to contribute to their organization’s success & happiness.

THE STORY HireBox guarantees that the individuals they help clients to hire will make them happy or they will continue to work until they are. Also, when hiring sales professionals, the firm provides a guarantee of performance, thanks to their unique online & live training program, systematically offered to every new sales rep. That’s a mighty big pledge—with a commitment that matches: they share their expertise by teaching how to attract talent that is willing to commit to a culture of happiness and success.

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Why? Over 30 years of experience and evaluation of more than 25,000 applicants for more than 5,000 clients have provided the answer. The success of a business relies on its people as its most valuable resource.

Hiring, training and retaining valuable employees is, therefore, tantamount to success, only second to the ultimate goal of ensuring people’s happiness at work – as evidenced by recent research.

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In an article for Entrepreneur Magazine, Patrick Valtin pointed to another risk. “Small business owners know that a primary condition for expansion is their ability to attract and select great talent. But what many of them might ignore is that lack of compliance with employment-related laws could represent a serious threat to their business’s profitability and, worse, its survival.”

To protect small businesses against costly trouble with the E.E.O.C., Hirebox also provides training & coaching programs that ensure all legal obligations are satisfied in order to guarantee compliance with applicable regulations.

HireBox directly works with clients to provide: • Recruitment process outsourcing – acting as a client’s HR department to handle pre-selection • Pre-hire assessment – identify personality characteristics that can negatively affect productivity, effectiveness, and group morale • Training & coaching – teaching business clients successful talent acquisition through our No-Fail Hiring system and Hire-Master Training Kit • Sales talent acquisition program – recruiting, onboarding and training top salespeople, paired with a guarantee on their performance

MILESTONES Patrick Valtin has been a business consultant for the last 30 years and has gained international recognition for his thought leadership in helping & training small businesses. He’s worked with over 5,000 clients, including Coca Cola, Motorola, Ford Motor Company, IBM, Mercedes, BMW, USPS, Group Accor, and Century 21. In 1994, Patrick created the No-Fail Hiring System and the Hirebox Testing Platform, to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) expand by surrounding themselves with the best. In the last 17 years, Patrick has operated his international headquarters in the Tampa Bay, Florida. He is the Bestseller of “No-Fail Hiring 2.0” and the developer of “The Hire-Master” Training Program.

Over 55% of business failures and 84% of serious business crises are not due to unfavorable economic environments or lack of marketing – they are due to bad hiring decisions. The cost of hiring mistakes has been calculated at $25K-$50K per person considering the costs of recruiting, interviews, training and orientation, salary, healthcare and other benefits.

Victoria Zambito, SVP Content & Communications

Phone: 877-831-2299 Email: service@hirebox.com nofailhiring.com patrickvaltin.com Like us on Facebook www.hirebox.com 355

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EVERYBODY HATES RECRUITERS WE’RE AIMING TO CHANGE THAT

WE’RE FULL STACK TALENT, A TAMPA-CENTRIC RECRUITING AGENCY FOCUSED ON TECHNOLOGY AND BEING AWESOME. We’ve set ourselves apart from other recruiting agencies by nurturing our relationships with our candidates and clients and keeping as much as we can within the greater Tampa Bay ecosystem.

Our staff all comes from a tech background - whether it be in development, infrastructure, or tech sales - we speak intelligently to your tech stack. At the end of the day, we’re a bunch of nerds who are passionate about technology and filling the employment gaps in Tampa. We love our time in the office, and it reflects in our work.

When we say we love Tampa, we mean it. We have an actual crush on Tampa Bay . We’re at all the events, whether in an organizer, volunteer, or participant capacity. In the past year, we’ve been involved with Startup Week, Startup Weekend, Synapse, BarCamp, Ignite!, Code for Tampa Bay, poweredUP, numerous hackathons, Girl Develop It’s ‘100k Members’ event where we sponsored an awesome taco bar, and even more (we’ve lost count!).

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You’ll see us around at a bunch of local tech-centered and taco-centered meetups. And beer. We like beer.

Our work with clients is diverse: we help businesses, from one-person development shops to Fortune 500 companies, find their dream team - whether it be full-time, part-time, contract, etc. If you need it, we’ll find it. Michael Sunderland, our leader, champions an open office where everyone collaborates on projects and initiatives. As a small team, we’re able to work in a more dynamic and innovative way than the bigger firms we each came from.

813-517-8488 jobs@fullstacktalent.com @FullStackTalent www.fullstacktalent.com

Contact us via email: jobs@fullstacktalent.com or visit our website at www.fullstacktalent.com - we’re excited to become your IT department’s new best friend.

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THE HR GAME CHANGER IS SETTING UP SHOP IN TAMPA

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Paul J. Sarvadi Chairman and CEO, Insperity

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ELEVATOR PITCH

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We understand how difficult it is to start, grow and maintain a successful business. It takes grit and determination to keep moving forward. We also know that it’s not just about where you are today, but where you’re going and where you want to be.

Insperity will redefine everything you thought you knew about HR outsourcing. Conquer HR challenges and achieve the dreams you have for your business. Whether you choose our complete co-employment solution or our comprehensive human capital management software, Insperity is a true HR partner. We run the journey with you, providing support and follow-through that are unmatched in the industry.

Our HR services go beyond transactional solutions. Insperity helps you focus on strategic initiatives that make a difference in your organization.

We stand shoulder to shoulder with you to align your business strategy with your people strategy and propel your business to the next level.

Be confident in the face of human resource challenges. Hurdle past HRrelated compliance issues. Insperity meets you where you are right now and maximizes your growth potential with HR that makes a difference in your business today, tomorrow and 20 years down the road.

THE STORY Insperity began with the vision of one entrepreneur who had an office, a telephone and a passion to make business owners’ lives easier by taking HR and administrative burdens off their plates. Since then, we’ve helped more than 100,000 clients achieve their goals.

MILESTONES

There are other companies in the HR space, but Insperity is a category of one. No one else delivers on the breadth and depth of services, or the level of care, that we provide. It’s what helped us grow from our entrepreneurial beginnings to a $3 billion public company. And the solutions that drive our success are the same ones we give your company to go further, higher, faster.

• Gold Stevie Award for Employer of the Year in Business Services: 2016, 2017 • Stevie Award for HR Technology Solution Provider of the Year: gold in 2016, bronze in 2017 • ESAC bonded and accredited

“No one can rival the breadth and depth of our services or the level of care we provide.”

– Paul J. Sarvadi, Chairman and CEO, Insperity

Phone: 813-534-0642 Insperity insperity www.insperity.com 359

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CHERRY BEKAERT

HELPING TAMPA BAY’S INNOVATORS AND ENTREPRENEURS ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS, MAKE A DIFFERENCE, AND PAY IT FORWARD.

Dear Innovators and Entrepreneurs: Congratulations on your decision to make Tampa Bay – and its thriving technology community – the starting point for your future growth and success.

I am Chris Rux, the Central Florida managing partner for Cherry Bekaert.

We are a full-service accounting and consulting firm with a footprint throughout the Southeast.

Our Tampa team is engrained throughout all facets of our community – continuing a tradition of involvement and service that began at our origin as a successful hometown firm and extends into the present day.

We have been and continue to be energized by the ideas, talent, and enthusiasm found throughout the Bay Area and believe everyone benefits when we tap into and share our strengths with one another.

How we help is just as important as the services we offer.

Expertise and resources are obvious reasons clients choose Cherry Bekaert.

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reason our clients retain Cherry Bekaert for the long term and recommend us to others.

Firm-wide, our shared values guide all of our interactions: Uncompromising Integrity, a Passion for Excellence, Mutual Respect, and One Firm.

I believe in these values and strive to live them daily. It’s a simple concept, but I can honestly say I’ve witnessed, time and again, how doing right by others positively impacts our working relationships and ripples throughout the community.

Perpetuating success by paying it forward.

Personally and professionally, I also firmly believe in the concept of Paying It Forward.

This idea can take many forms, including time, talent, and treasure. It not only applies to special occasions and projects but – perhaps more importantly – to our ongoing, everyday interactions.

Supporting civic organizations and addressing the needs of the greater community is one way to do this.

We recently held our annual volunteer week, where every person in the firm took a day off to give back to our communities. Locally, our Partners and Associates spent the day volunteering for three great civic organizations – Feeding Tampa Bay, Metropolitan Ministries, and Ronald McDonald House.

Beyond our obligation to our community, I feel it is equally important to realize that very few of us got to where we are without a little help. We’ve all had mentors, formally or informally, whether we realized at the time (or not). And we can return the favor by helping others as someone once helped us.

My challenge to you.

Let’s create a cycle of connection, collaboration, and success that allows your organization, other innovators, and our entire community to thrive.

I challenge you to share your time, talents, and treasure with others every day! Collectively, let’s leave a legacy that makes the Tampa Bay a better place tomorrow than it is today.

Our team at Cherry Bekaert is up for the challenge. The question is: Are you?

As you continue your journey, if there is ever any way I – or, by extension, our team at Cherry Bekaert – can help, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me any time.

Best,

Pay It Forward! Mentor an up-and-coming person or company, recognize talent, offer opportunities, or impart experience. By sharing our knowhow, successes, and failures – from generation to generation – we allow others the opportunity to succeed.

Christopher F. Rux, CPA Managing Partner, Central Florida Chery Bekaert LLP

It all adds up.

401 East Jackson Street, Suite 1200, Tampa, Florida 33602 Phone: 813-251-1010 | Email: crux@cbh.com | cbh.com

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About CLA CLA is a professional services firm delivering integrated wealth advisory, outsourcing, audit, tax, and consulting services to help our clients succeed professionally and personally. Our professionals are immersed in the industries they serve and have deep knowledge of their operating and regulatory environments. With more than 5,300+ people, more than 110 U.S. locations, and a global affiliation, we bring a wide array of services to help clients in all markets, foreign and domestic. For more information visit CLAconnect.com.

What’s special about doing business in Tampa Bay: “We create opportunities for our clients and our people by giving back to the communities where we live and do business. Our goal is to help improve this wonderful community that we have the privilege to call home,” says Jeff Bonick, Managing Principal of the Tampa office.

What makes CLA Special: CLA is Focused on Turning Disruption Into Opportunity Fast-paced, collaborative teams building an inclusive and innovative culture is driving CLA’s entrepreneurs to explore new ideas. We have created a “think tank” called FIT (Future Innovation Team) which is responsible for gaining first-generation knowledge of potential disruptors and opportunities which may impact our clients or our firm. FIT promotes a culture of innovation throughout CLA and analyzes how best we can serve today and beyond.

Innovation in the marketplace and building our internal culture

CLA’s Future Innovations Team is dedicated to keeping the firm on the cutting edge of new technology and disruptors that impact clients, communities, and the CLA team. A great example is the surge of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technologies, FIT is taking action to elevate CLA’s knowledge in order to help meet the needs of clients and the marketplace both now and in the future.

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How CLA is participating and driving change: Wall Street Blockchain Alliance

CLA is proud to collaborate with the Wall Street Blockchain Alliance (WSBA) as a corporate member. CLA will be an active participant on WSBA’s working groups and advising CLA clients as well as the accounting industry on blockchain developments and cryptocurrency transactions impacting our markets.

CLA Intranet and Social Site Promoting Continual Employee Engagement

As a professional services firm, our next service or industry focus will start as an idea from our people. We are a firm made up of entrepreneurs at all different stages of development. Whether an idea is for a new CLA service, industry focus, or innovative idea, our professionals will find the support and guidance they desire through our unique intranet and internal social platform that empower our professionals to share ideas and we find a way to support them.

Celebrating the Best of the Best

CLA also hosts an annual event internally, intended to be a final destination for tested and scaled innovative ideas that can change the course of CLA. This program is not about just investing in incremental product features or enhancements; we are investing in new business models or altering the customer experience beyond the core products.

CliftonLarsonAllen LLP Phone: 813-384-2700 Email: Jeff.bonick@claconnect.com cliftonlarsonallen CLAconnect CliftonLarsonAllen www.claconect.com 363

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NENSEY & ASSOCIATES

WHEN STARTING A BUSINESS, THE DETAILS MATTER. WHAT YOU DEVOTE YOUR TIME TO - MATTERS. AND IN THE BUSINESS WORLD, THE LESS TIME YOU SPEND ON COMPLIANCE, THE MORE TIME YOU WILL WASTE LATER ON TO RECTIFY OVERSIGHTS AT THE START. Taking away valuable time you could’ve spent on the core products and services that make your business successful.

At Nensey & Associates CPAs, our policy is simple - we take care of the legal and financial details so that you don’t have to. Our priority is to give you all the information you need to help you make the best business decisions - which is not something all CPA firms do. Indeed, many CPA firms place a focus on merely reporting the financial statements and filing a tax return every year - and stopping there.

Our policy is that this isn’t enough. As CPAs, we can give you more information. We ask the hard questions. Is a product or service profitable?

Is it something that isn’t profitable, but attracts customers to other, more profitable products? Is your business doing the right things to make it grow?

Our approach is that rather than just CPAs, we are financial consultants, and it is our responsibility to partner with you on solutions that build your business beyond simple tax reporting considerations.

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In addition to our regular financial, tax, and consulting services, we also offer fully digital solutions for consultations and conference calls, including Zoom, Skype, and of course traditional email and phone calls. In our modern digital age, we place a priority on being able to do business any place, any time. Our staff have conducted appointments digitally for clients nationwide, a service which we look forward to offering to you.

With the availability of technology, the office is no longer just a physical location - it’s wherever you are.

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Along with our regular services, we also offer research and tax planning, which is something, not every CPA offers. In fact, our Managing Partner, Zain Nensey, CPA is a published author of IRS continuing education material and can work with you to find value-added tax solutions whenever necessary.

We look forward to working with you in the future!

Thank you for considering us for your financial advisory needs!

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Phone: 813-702-6772 Email: znensey@nenseytax.com nenseytax www.nenseytax.com

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TAMPA MAYOR, BOB BUCKHORN, FREQUENTLY STATES: “IT IS OUR TIME.” ELEVATE, INC. WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREES WITH THE MAYOR’S STATEMENT AND IS COMMITTED TO TELLING THE WORLD WHY #TAMPAHASSWAGGER! Tampa stands on the precipice of becoming America’s next great city thanks to the people of this amazing town who are propelling the city to new heights. Residents and business professionals are inviting, collaborative thinkers who truly embody Elevate, Inc.’s values of Be Bold, Be Brave, Be You. It is an exciting time to live, work and play in the powerhouse that is Tampa. As a business consulting firm in Tampa, Elevate, Inc. is tremendously committed to the continued growth of the city. We envision Tampa as a vibrant town, teeming with innovation and intrigue. Our mission is to help our clients learn about the community, connect with others, and grow their bottom line, using our creative service offerings and existing relationships.

consultant getting my start in Tampa, I needed connections and clients – and I needed them fast. Aakash and his team plugged me into the community and immediately expanded my social circles with targeted introductions to high-level prospects.” We accomplish our mission by differentiating ourselves in Tampa as the team that believes in the power of a firm handshake, being present, and having a genuine interest in others.

Another client – Copeland More, fourth-generation owner of La Segunda Central Bakery – recognizes the impact Elevate, Inc. has on the community and its clients: “We contracted Elevate, Inc. to help celebrate our 100th anniversary and they exceeded our expectations. Their success came from using an innovative process, different from the standard public relations firm, that gave the bakery a constant presence in the eyes of the community.”

Client Shawn Rhodes, President of Shoshin Consulting, recognizes the integral role Elevate, Inc. plays in the local business community: “As a 366

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learn. connect. grow. # elevate TAMPA elevate-inc.com

Tampa is a flourishing community, expanding and developing in more ways than one. Elevate, Inc. has the pleasure of witnessing the area’s growth firsthand. Tampa’s urban core is being transformed to an exciting place for residents and visitors alike. Restaurants are relocating to the area, nightlife is becoming more vibrant, and public spaces continue to grow in beauty and use. A once disjointed Downtown Tampa is now seamlessly connected by the Tampa Riverwalk which has opened public access to the waterfront, numerous outdoor gathering spaces, hotels, museums and restaurants.

Entrepreneurs and technological innovators have transformed the region into a hotbed for innovative startups.

Needless to say, Tampa is catching fire! Our vision is that, by strengthening the ties among regional businesses and communities through networking and relationship building, our city will continue on its path of development.

Tampa is on track to become a more united community offering endless opportunities for all who seek a fulfilling life, both personally and professionally, under the Florida sunshine.

4115 W Spruce St, Tampa, FL 33607 Phone: 813-364-GROW | Email: info@elevate-inc.com elevate-inc-/ | Elevateinc | elevate_inc/ | Elevate_Inc www.elevate-inc.com 367

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Offerings include; one-on-one personal consulting, weekly bit-sized fifteenminute sales training podcasts with expert guests and learning manuals that provide easy access to tried and true tips and techniques for sales teams or fledgling salesmen and women struggling with closing. They also offer a sales assessment tool that can help provide insight when looking to hire the right candidate for the right sales role. Recently they have also added a more in-depth sales training program for larger corporate clients.

ELEVATOR PITCH Serial Entrepreneurs Rick and Nancy Monsipapa have a passion for sales. With over 40 years of combined experience in retail, wholesale and insurance, the Monsipapa’s have built a name for themselves as entrepreneurial sales trainers and motivators.

THE STORY

Their company Nail the Sale is the product of their combined passions, offering tools and services to other entrepreneurs who are eager to move their enterprises forward.

Rick Monsipapa has been in sales since he graduated from California State University - Chico. Having been a lifelong entrepreneur since the age of eleven, he has started and operated several successful businesses, with his chain of coffee houses being his claim to fame.

Nail the Sale was founded to motivate and inspire both new and established business owners and give them the specific sales training needed to take their ventures to the next level.

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Rick met his wife, Nancy when they were both employed by a construction software company.

He was the corporate sales trainer responsible for onboarding new sales staff selling an online tool.

Rick wrote a sales guide for home sellers looking to sell their properties quickly, entitled 9.5 Ways to Sell your Home in 30 Days: The Home Seller’s Guide to SOLD! On the other side of America, Nancy was matriculating at Miami University of Ohio when she realized that sales were in her DNA. Upon graduation, she answered an advertisement in the local paper for Cutco Knives and started selling specialty cutlery to homeowners right in the comfort of their own homes.

Moving from employment roles in retail, not-forprofit, restaurants, and entrepreneurship, Nancy found her way back into sales and has made a name for herself mentoring and motivating other women.

Helping them focus on developing their skill sets and growing their businesses.

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The dynamic duo has co-authored the book, Nail The Sale: Sales Training For Entrepreneurs, in which they give easy to use tips and techniques for entrepreneurs to move their businesses forward. The book is an informal conversation between them and the reader, to make it easy to apply immediately. The sales manual includes their mistakes as well as successes to allow the reader to laugh and have fun as they absorb the tips and tricks.

The two can be found in Tampa Bay and St. Petersburg sharing their sales insights at special events including; local workshops, Innovation Summits and on their weekly “Nail the Sale” Podcast.

nailthesale https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/nail-the-sale/id1229898393?mt=2 https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/nail-the-sale https://tunein.com/podcasts/Business--Economics-Podcasts/Nail-The-Sale-p1055669/ www.NailTheSales.com 369

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“The history of innovations is the story of ideas that seemed dumb at the time.”

- ANDY DUNN

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ELEVATOR PITCH Before Ticketlabel, there was Mind Blowing Productions, a Live Entertainment Agency created in 2006 which focused on providing bookings, tour management and production for musicians, with the added offering of marketing and promotions. After many years of experiencing different types of ticketing companies for their projects, the founders saw that the ticketing companies were not providing all the necessary tools for event organizers in order for them to be successful.

So Nestor Jimenez (Co-Founder) and his European partners decided to create their own platform to sell event tickets, which included all of these extra tools necessary to make an event successful which include maximizing sales and streamlining the production of events

TICKETLABEL IS AN INNOVATIVE ONLINE DIGITAL PLATFORM THAT MAXIMIZES AND PERSONALIZES EVENT TICKETING AND EVENT PRODUCTIONS - EVEN BETTER THAN ITS PREDECESSORS.

THE STORY The Ticketlabel platform provides an innovative way to personalized experiences through white-label online shops, providing musicians and event organizers with effective tools to maximize databases and boosting each event’s marketing campaign. Similarly, Ticketlabel’s platform educates clients on ways to promote their events through social media, official websites, affiliates and partners. The platform has so many added benefits that event organizers can explore all event ticketing needs within one centralized platform. This helps event organizers minimize time on ticketing so that they can focus on other event logistics that really matter when creating a successful event.

Ticketlabel started in the Netherlands two years ago, when the founders tested it with European-region specific partners, adding modifications like promo codes, waiting queues to prevent overload crashes and global payment providers accepting over 50+ currencies. Ticketlabel is now available in Europe, North and South America.

“I believe that there are people who are born with those entrepreneurial genes; they don’t conform to the normal rules that society has put down on them. Some people gravitate towards this way of living naturally and can feel that spark and passion inspiring them to do what they really want to do,” believes Nestor Jimenez. “I started Mind Blowing Productions using Myspace. Every night I’d come home after working in a pizza restaurant, studying people’s profiles and their markets helping me build a strong network which today covers all continents of the world. I met and became friends with many musicians most of them from South America and Europe and it was at this point in life that I realized I wanted to make a living out of my passion for Music” Having years of experience in the music industry, the founders saw an untapped need while working in Europe, North and South America large ticketing companies were not servicing their clients. They knew early on, that successful companies were the ones that were fully integrated into technology through their operations. The founders used their personal savings and experience from working in the music industry and decided to put a certain amount of time and financing into building the Ticketlabel platform, working with the best in creating the precise technology with patented applications.

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GLOBAL EXPANSION Ticketlabel has recently registered the company in South America.

Colombia will be the physical headquarters for the Latin American operations. The platform offers multi-currency and multilingual capabilities based on its global reach. The brand’s inception is prime for developing countries welcoming new technologies and innovative ways of ticketing.

Headquartered in Tampa, FL Ticketlabel is now up and running and ready to bring its own approach to the mundane event ticketing industry.

Email: support@ticketlabel.com info@ticketlabel.com Phone: 813-389-3985

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STARTUP TAMPA BAY IS A NONPROFIT THAT EMPOWERS ENTREPRENEURS AND INSPIRES THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS IN TAMPA BAY. Startup Tampa Bay was founded in 2016, but the non-profit spirit was born in 2010 when Tampa hosted its first Startup Weekend. Since then, hundreds of volunteers have come together to host events that have impacted tens of thousands of people. United by a common belief that entrepreneurs shape the future of their communities, the organizers, volunteers, and business partners of Startup Tampa Bay serve as a foundation for our community by creating opportunities, encouraging collaboration, and providing support to entrepreneurs from all walks of life. The organization believes these efforts will

embolden entrepreneurs to solve meaningful problems, build innovative technology, create jobs, excite our systems, attract topnotch talent, and develop Tampa Bay into a national, entrepreneurial focal point.

Startup Tampa Bay’s cornerstone event is Startup Weekend. Known globally for its ability to cultivate innovation, this event brings together developers, designers, and hustlers to pitch ideas, form teams, and launch companies over the course of 54 hours. On the

final day, the teams pitch what they’ve created to the judges, and then the top three return home with prize packages designed to jumpstart their companies. Two standout companies that have formed from Startup Weekend Tampa Bay since its inception include the ticketing platform Eventjoy acquired by Ticketmaster in 2014, and Zapier, which connects apps and automates workflows for businesses. In an effort to bring the lean startup lessons of Startup Weekend to a younger audience, Startup Tampa Bay hosted its first Startup Weekend Youth in 2014, which is a weekend-long crash course in creativity and entrepreneurship for children ages 10-12.

As a testament to the growth of the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Tampa Bay, Techstars selected our community to host Startup Week in 2015, now in its 5th year, which has empowered over 20,000 attendees so far.

This community-curated conference packs over 100 free, public events into 5 days that cover a

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variety of topics. Past workshops have included coding boot camps, legal counsel for businesses, marketing, veterans entrepreneurship, pitch competitions, investor Q&A, one-on-one mentoring, graphic design and much more.

Last year’s event brought in keynote speaker Gary Vaynerchuk! Entirely supported by local businesses and volunteers, Startup Week Tampa Bay is a crowdsourcing platform for knowledge sharing and community engagement.

Startup Tampa Bay launched Tampa Bay Hackathon in 2017, with the purpose of hosting hackathons that solve problems here in Tampa Bay. These hackathons are designed to allow partner companies to present challenges to a community of problem solvers, then over the course of a weekend, teams form to build new technology to address these problems.

The winning teams then go home with some generous prizes. The organization also hosts startup socials, which are casual meetups that

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alternate between Tampa and St. Petersburg to create collisions that spark innovation.

The nonprofit exists as a platform for passionate individuals and businesses to get involved with the growth of Tampa Bay’s entrepreneurial community. It was founded by Ryan Sullivan, Gracie Stemmer, and Trey Steinhoff, and has recently added Allison Barkley and JR Griggs to the board as well. This organization as a whole is both volunteer-driven and community-backed.

Recently, the organization has begun partnering with other events to bring even more to the community, making sure every industry and every individual has access to each event and resource. They welcome collaborations of all kinds!

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ROBOTICON TAMPA BAY STEAM POWERED SPORT FOR THE MIND!

ROBOTICON Tampa Bay is a high energy K-12 STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Manufacturing) showcase and FIRST Robotics Competition off-season event organized by Eureka! Factory, a Tampa company specializing in educational and creative event and program development. ROBOTICON is produced in collaboration with the Foundation for Community Driven Innovation, a non-profit educational organization, in partnership with the University of South Florida and Hillsborough County, Florida, with live event coverage by PLuGHiTz Live of Largo, Florida.

The mission of ROBOTICON is to increase public awareness of and engagement in the power of hands-on, mentor-driven youth engineering and robotics programs like FIRST, and to provide participating youth with a low stress, high-quality, competitive event with opportunities for skill building, networking, and college and career readiness experiences. The free event, which draws over 3,000 people each year, started in 2013 and had been held at the University of South Florida’s Sun Dome Arena since 2016.

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ROBOTICON Tampa Bay provides students and guests with an opportunity to enjoy a full-scale FIRST Robotics Competition event featuring high school student built robots that weigh up to 120 lbs., as well as companion programs for youth in elementary through middle school. Guests can tour Team Pits to see team members working on their robots, and have a chance to talk to students. Visit the Innovation Fair to enjoy STEAM demos, vendors and organizations; learn about the Tampa Bay Advanced Manufacturing & Robotics Center (AMRoC) and about technical, industrial, and science careers and college opportunities.

Through ROBOTICON: • Participating competition teams become prepared for their new season.

• New scholarship providers and team sponsors are identified • $60,000 - $80,000 is invested into the local economy as a result of the event each year, including hotel rooms, dining, shopping, and event production.

ROBOTICON annually features: • • • • •

FIRST Robotics Competition off-season competition K-12 FIRST scrimmages and program workshops University of South Florida Engineering Showcase STEAM Fair with drones, industrial robotics and more Science & Tech workshops

In 2019, ROBOTICON is also launching a new post-high school competitive robotics platform called NEXT, developed by the PLuGHiTz Corporation with Tampa Bay FIRST Alumni.

ROBOTICON Tampa Bay is leveraging the private sector and the vast resources Tampa Bay already offers, to create a unique event that maximizes all our academic and business communities have to offer. Bringing industry leading experts from local businesses, startup accelerators, and the educational system together to share their talents, collaborate on ideas, and plan for the future with those who will be driving the future - students.

Teams from around Tampa Bay, Florida, the nation and international teams are invited to join in the fun and learning each October in Tampa!

ROBOTICON Media Contact: Steve Willingham - Steve@WillinghamLLC.com Parent organization: Eureka! Factory (EurekaFactory.net) in partnership with the Foundation for Community Driven Innovation (FFCDI.org) ROBOTICON on FIRST Looks: 2017 Interviews: http://plughitzlive.com/ events/54-roboticon-tampa-bay-2017.html ROBOTICON 2017 video from USF: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=uTev59LAEps ROBOTICON.net RoboticonTampa RoboticonTampaBay

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CREATING AMAZING EVENTS DCE PRODUCTIONS SINCE ITS INCEPTION JUST FIVE YEARS AGO, DCE PRODUCTIONS LOOKS AT THE WORLD OF LIVE EVENT PRODUCTION THROUGH A DIFFERENT LENS.

Dissatisfied with the status quo of audio visual services received for events they were managing in hotels and convention centers, DCE’s founders decided they could do the job better on their own. With no prior A/V production company experience, they applied professional strategic planning and execution skills and started investing in equipment and people. And one event at a time, DCE Productions began delighting meeting and event planners with technically sophisticated shows.

Today, DCE has produced some of the most spectacular events in the Tampa Bay region and has a hand in producing more than 450 events a year for hundreds of customers. According to CEO Paul Harris, their work begins months, or even years, before the event. “One of the key differentiators of DCE vs. the alternatives is our involvement in the planning process. The sooner we can start brainstorming and collaborating with our client’s event team, the more dynamic the end-product. We tend to cause our clients to raise their goals and elevate their game when it comes to events.”

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DCE Productions is dedicated to developing, designing, planning and producing successful events for organizations across the country. They pride themselves on helping companies and organizations communicate their message using technology in both live event environments, in creative video production projects, and with hybrid in-person / remote attendee events using the latest in live streaming and web conferencing. Their resources include the sharpest, technically savvy producers, videographers, video editors, graphic artists, event experience designers, technical directors, project managers, audio engineers, video engineers, lighting directors, IT specialists, audience response technicians, webcasting technicians and digital signage technicians. “We roll up our sleeves early and develop concepts that ensure memorable experiences for each events’ attendees,” said Harris.

A key to DCE’s formula is rooted in one of its founding tenents: Become a vital part of the customers’ event

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management team. Most AV companies serving live events begin by compiling a detailed list of equipment and seeing how fast they can inflate a number on the bottom line of a price quote. DCE approaches each project asking “What is the objective of this event?”

By assuming an interest in the overall success of each event, they become accountable to their customers on a different level than in-house AV providers or momand-pop AV companies.

“It’s all about providing an event experience that motivates and inspires the audience while maintaining the integrity of the event,” added Harris.

Regardless of the scope of the event or the size of the audience, DCE applies its formula for success.

From a meeting for 25 people to a keynote for 10,000.

And based on overwhelmingly positive customer satisfaction, Tampa-based DCE Productions has clearly succeeded in re-inventing the live production business.

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5415 West Sligh Ave., Suite 102 Tampa, Florida 33634 Phone: 813 606-4107 Email: heidi@dcelive.com @DCElive DCELive www.dcelive.com

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Elevated Events LLC is an award-winning event management company offering services that create meaningful, engaging, and flawless corporate events in the Tampa Bay area. We specialize in award galas, charitable fundraisers, conferences, luncheons, festive parties, trade shows, grand openings, and much more. Elevated Events is different than most event planning companies. We like to ingrain ourselves into your team, learn exactly who you are and why you exist, ask the right questions and listen to the answers in order to truly understand what you are trying to achieve. You don’t just hire us to make a room look pretty or handle registrations. We want 380

to be an extension of your company, help you reach your goals, and grow with you. We thrive on incorporating your brand and purpose into all aspects of your event. We are always thinking outside the box on how we can create a unique experience for your guests instead of just doing what has worked in the past.

Kimberly Wander is the Owner of Elevated Events and has over a decade of experience planning corporate events. She was born and raised in Tampa and loves this city. She began her career at the Tampa Bay Technology Forum (now called Tampa Bay Tech) and managed their events for 7 years. In April

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2013, she was named the Association Event Planner of the Year by BizBash magazine. She was selected as the #8 Favorite Event Planner by the Tampa Bay Business Journal’s Readers’ Choice Awards in 2015. Most recently, she was chosen by the editorial team at Connect Corporate for their prestigious “40 Under 40” list of top event professionals around the country under the age of 40.

She was a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) from 20122017 which is an accreditation given by the Events Industry Council for having met high standards of proficiency in meeting management as demonstrated by substantial professional experience and superior examination performance. Mrs. Wander graduated from the University of South Florida with a B.A. in marketing. She is the Secretary of the Board of Directors at the Westchase Charitable Foundation. She is passionate about giving back to the Tampa Bay community and volunteers regularly.

Clients include: • ReliaQuest: IT cyber security firm • Beat Nb: non-profit dedicated to finding a cure for neuroblastoma cancer in kids • Hays: recruiting firm • Tampa Bay Startup Week: five days of education, parties, and networking for entrepreneurs • Caregiver Accelerator: 6-week program for founders in the caregiving industry to determine the viability of their idea or innovation • Tampa Bay Woman of the Year: women compete for 8-weeks to win the title and raise the most money all in the name of charity

Phone: 813-967-5965 Email: kwander@elevatedevent.com elevatedeventsllc | KimKWander kimkwander | elevatedeventsbykw www.elevatedevent.com 381

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TAMPA BAY BUSINESS JOURNAL

FOR THREE DECADES, THE TAMPA BAY BUSINESS JOURNAL HAS BEEN THE “GO-TO” SOURCE FOR EXCLUSIVE BREAKING BUSINESS NEWS AND BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS MARKET INTELLIGENCE IN THE SEVEN-COUNTY TAMPA BAY REGION.

The TBBJ provides the latest breaking business news, updated throughout the day, plus weekly stories in the print edition. Our newsroom is on top of the latest commercial real estate deals, retail trends, tourism, travel, health care, public companies, C-level moves, and transportation, along with startups, venture capital, innovation and the local tech scene.

Each week, there’s a deep-dive cover story, from extensive economic data and national trends to features on local businesspeople making deals in Tampa Bay. There’s also a weekly list ranking everything from the top hospitals in the area and commercial real estate brokers to the highestpaid CEOs and the wealthiest ZIP codes. At the end of each year, the TBBJ publishes the Book of Lists, a digest of information, leads and data that sits on local CEOs’ desks for the entire year.

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Subscribers can access all of the daily and weekly content digitally, often finding more searchable data and visuals online.

Readers are able to access 42 other local business publications owned by our parent company, American City Business Journals, as well as other Business Journals sites with more information for the busy businessperson.

Our email products include daily business news updates and the latest networking and marketing alerts. We regularly ask readers for their opinions on local news, providing insight for others into what Tampa Bay businesspeople are thinking about the latest news.

American City Business Journals is the largest publisher of local business news and data in the United States, reaching more than 3.6 million readers each week. We also offer specialty publications for sports fans, sports business readers and classic car enthusiasts.

The TBBJ also hosts regular events and awards, which provide exclusive networking opportunities and recognize those businesses and businesspeople making a difference in the local economy and at their workplaces. Readers can then find all the information about those award honorees in a special publication inserted into the weekly edition.

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Contact us to find out how to become a regular Business Journal subscriber and receive information about how to become a Business Journal advertiser.

We look forward to hearing from you!

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TAM PA BAY BUS INES S JOU RNA L August 31, 2018 Vol. 38, No. 35, $4.00 4890 W. Kennedy Suite 850 Blvd.

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Newly released statewide information shows how Uber can complement transit in Tampa Bay. JANELLE IRWIN, 6

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Epicurean Hotel kicks off Epic Chef Showdown to benefit Feeding Tampa Bay. PAGE 41

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TAMPA BAY BUSINESS JOURNAL July 27, 2018 Vol. 38, No. 30, $4.00 4890 W. Kennedy Blvd.

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TECHNOLOGY

What two CEOs say to each other

MARGIE MANNING, 10

TRANSPORTATION

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Assessing doable transit systems

In Tallahassee, lawmakers are forming opinions about bus rapid transit as an option. JANELLE IRWIN, 8-9

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FLA. PORTS & AIRPORTS TAMPA BAY BUSINESS JOURNAL June 1, 2018 Vol. 38, No. 22, $4.00 4890 W. Kennedy Blvd.

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TAMPA BAY INNO

TAMPA BAY INNO, LAUNCHING JANUARY 2019, IS A BRAND NEW DIGITAL MEDIA AND EVENTS COMPANY FOCUSED ON LOCAL INNOVATION.

Tampa Bay Inno is a brand new digital media, events and data company committed to covering, connecting and catalyzing local startups and technology. We’re the latest property from American Inno, a growing network of local innovation intelligence currently operating in Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Colorado, DC, Minneapolis, Rhode Island, Richmond and Wisconsin. American Inno is owned by the American City Business Journals, making us a sister site to the esteemed Tampa Bay Business Journal.

We’re here with one goal in mind — to add value.

Inno aims to help strengthen Tampa’s ecosystem through four core products — a fun, twice-a-week newsletter — authoritative, insightful, and original editorial, social, engaging events and meetups, and comprehensive directories and data. In every market we’re in, we’re in awe of the founders, 384

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entrepreneurs and executives that are driving their local innovation economies forward and we pledge to hustle as hard as they do, keeping our communities connected, informed and growing.

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onboarding tool for people and businesses that are new to the ecosystem.

Inno’s Guides are designed to offer comprehensive looks at resources that are available to the community, from accelerators to incubators, VCs to angels, and beyond. If it’s local and innovative, it’ll be in Tampa Bay Inno.

We love to tell stories about the people behind the companies, ideas and organizations that are shaping the present and future of the Tampa Bay business landscape. Know a startup or entrepreneur we should be in touch with? Let us know at TampaBayInfo@AmericanInno.com.

We also have several directories to help you further navigate and discover this burgeoning ecosystem. On the Inno Pages, you’ll be able to filter through hundreds of local startups by funding, stage, size, industry and more. And on the Events and Careers directories, you can browse through upcoming events and recent job postings respectively.

On Inno, you’ll also find longer looks into the trends and topics that are impacting and influencing the region’s reputation as an emerging tech hub, as well as resource-driven lists, multimedia and much, much more.

The best way to stay connected to Inno is to sign up for the newsletter and we’ll see you in your inbox on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Can’t wait to get started.

Email: TampaBayInfo@AmericanInno.com

And, along with daily news and analysis that will help those in the community stay informed and plugged in, Inno will also serve as an 385

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Ed Kopko

BOLD BUSINESS

Bold Business was started by a group of diverse leaders with crossfunctional global industry experience. Our mission is simple.

BOLD BUSINESS IS A GLOBAL MEDIA, TECHNOLOGY, MARKETING, AND SERVICES COMPANY.

WE HELP BOLD LEADERS AND THEIR ORGANIZATIONS MAKE INNOVATION HAPPEN. The Bold Business team accomplishes this by developing and delivering new products and services at global scale. We work with top executives and decision leaders to help them make better decisions, convert those decisions into actions and deliver sustainable success.

At Bold Business, we live and breathe commitment – in everything we do, in everything we are, in our people. We advocate an atmosphere where we take pride in developing individuals and teams to maximize their full potential and take their career paths to the next level, two steps at a time.

We are a globally diverse group who embodies the united spirit of living life BOLDLY. We’re filled with an unquenchable need to discover, to flourish, to conquer, to constantly demonstrate we’re 386

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Project Bold Life, a newly launched online publication that delivers engaging content that educates, motivates and inspires you to take action, create positive change and live a successful, purposeful and Bold Life.

Bold Business Services is our consulting

the best. At Bold Business, no idea is too big or too small. We are honest, transparent, and, of course, we know how to have a good time!

We BOLDLY pursue our Goals The company publishes two modern platforms Bold Business and Project Bold Life. We are committed to producing journalism that meets the highest standards of accuracy, fairness, and transparency. We aim to inform, delight, provide unique insights, that ultimately help our readers and viewers make innovation happen.

We believe that our products, graphics, videos, and opinions must reflect the highest standards of quality and integrity. At Bold Business, we recognize that our reputation depends on upholding these journalistic values.

and services arm. Our team brings together leaders with years of industry experience in, media, technology, training, software, and digital marketing. Surrounded by a global team of writers, editors, web developers, video producers, designers, project managers, subject matter experts, and industry partners.

We provide services and products in four primary areas: Digital Marketing, Technology, Training and Operations Transformation Bold Business has also developed a new type of training we call Bold Training Nuggets. Unlike competing systems, our training is designed as micro-learning and is delivered in short, easy to understand videos that are quick to digest.

Our modular training can be customized to your company or topic of interest. We have successfully installed the system in companies large and small. They have found it to be easy to install, reliable, and inexpensive to operate.

All we do is in service of the customer. Every bold solution we build comes out of their needs.

Every customer we work with becomes a part of the team. Collectively we face the challenges and rejoice in the victories.

Our promise is built on optimism, knowledge and the valued teamwork of our people. It’s how we deliver on that promise that differentiates us.

When you want a creative, edgy and grounded partner, think Bold!

Bold Business!

Bold Business, an online publication that tells the stories about how business is changing the world for the better. Our publication includes articles by a variety of writers, including influential subject matter experts, as well as videos and interviews on topics of interest to leaders in business, politics, and academia.

Handling over $7B in service solutions, we are passionate about achieving better results for our clients! For more than 25 years, we’ve been delivering results that go beyond financials. Our revenue enhancing, and cost-saving services allow you to do more for less.

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263 13th Ave S, St. Petersburg FL 33701, USA bold-business theboldbusiness TheBoldBusiness TheBoldBusinessNews www.boldbusiness.com

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It started with a crab cake. MyArea Network founder, Scott Conlon was in Baltimore, Maryland, and he wanted to know where the locals go to get the city’s best crab cake. But, he couldn’t find a good, reliable resource online to tell him.

“As a local, I set out in search for the best. I didn’t want a chain. I wanted to go to the top local spot,” recalls Conlon. “I later realized I wasn’t alone. So many people want authentic, local flavor, and they don’t know where to get it.”

Since an easy, accessible digital platform of stories about local businesses written by local residents didn’t exist -- Scott built his own. After moving to Tampa, he created the ultimate online source of all things local he wanted in Maryland. He built 813area.com, the first of what would become 150 sites across the country under the MyArea Network brand.

Each MyArea Network site, named for their unique area code, does what Conlon envisioned. They create, curate, and publish authentic local content written by locals that’s fresh, relevant, and 388

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engaging for today’s digital consumers. But, MyArea Network has quickly grown into so much more than that. It utilizes real-time analytics, virtual reality, and personalization to create impressive experiences via stories and videography, and next year, they’re launching a new mobile app.

MyArea Network has also expanded their vision beyond just helping locals and visitors find great things to do, places to go, and what makes the area special. They’re focused on helping communities as a whole.

“Local businesses are the backbone and core of any great community,” says Conlon. “So we’re making MyArea Network an engagement platform that’s useful to both local residents and local businesses so we can help communities thrive and remain unique.”

MyArea Network now offers marketing services that help local businesses adopt digital technology and grow and succeed in their community faster.

The model, which is on pace to do $1 million in sales this year, includes “digital marketing in a box” solutions that allow local businesses to simplify their online marketing and find easier, more cost effective, and more authentic ways to reach local customers.

By combining relevant local content and cutting-edge technology to connect residents, visitors, and businesses, MyArea Network is focused on building stronger, more influential and unique communities nationwide and also, guiding people to find the area’s best crab cake.

MyArea Network founder, Scott Conlon

MyArea Network By the Numbers

150 Markets

1M

Monthly Page Views

250K

Registered Users

110K

Registered Businesses

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KEEPING YOU PLUGGED IN PLuGHiTz Live is an online publication that covers the worlds of gadgets, gaming, internet and media through news, reviews and previews. Founded in 2007, PLuGHiTz Live has spent the past decade helping people to understand technology and make the news of the day more relatable. The flagship show, F5 Live: Refreshing Technology, features Scott Ertz, Editorin-Chief of PLuGHiTz Live, and Avram Piltch, Editor-in-Chief of Tom’s Hardware, discussing some of the news of the week. Unlike other platforms, F5 Live has the goal of explaining how the topics apply to the average technology consumer.

the products and services featured to those who cannot attend. Through interviews with vendors, exhibitors and sponsors, those companies can bring their products and services to a new audience. In the past, products such as GoSun Stove (which was later featured on Top Chef), BenjiLock (which was later featured on SharkTank) and Tennibot (which was later featured by Time) have been featured before they became widely known.

In addition to industry events, PLuGHiTz Live also travels to FIRST Robotics competitions, such as ROBOTICON Tampa Bay, and produces a series called FIRST Looks. FIRST produces competitions globally for students ranging from kindergarten to 12th grade, with a new game and new objectives annually.

The show’s goal is to bring awareness both to the FIRST programming as

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well as to the teams involved in the competitions. With a greater awareness comes a greater ability for teams to find funding to help them compete, as well as help recruit new members.

Over the past 11 years, PLuGHiTz Live has changed a lot. Starting with 2 team members and a single weekly show, the publication currently has 10 regular contributors and produces 7 shows with about 400 episodes, 600 written articles and dozens of product reviews and previews per year.

Editor-in-Chief Scott Ertz has had the opportunity to speak at several events and is becoming an industry voice on how to avoid common podcasting mistakes.

Phone: 727-386-8863 Email: contact@plughitz.com @plughitzliveradio @plughitzlive plughitz-live plughitzlive plughitzlive.com 391

INDEX Abacode Security 136 Absolute Marketing Solutions 242 Accenture 9,62 Adventure Marketing 46,258 Aegis Law 342 Alakai Defense Systems 148 Alex Sink 13 Alpha Nodus 22,98 Andrew Wilson 54 Andy Hafer 12 Applied Science & Performance Instityte (ASPI) 24,118 ARK Application 280 B2 Communications 252 Bake More Pies 254 Be Robin Hood 222 Beck Group 158 Blockspaces 202 Bold Business 20,386 Brian Kornfeld 11 Bristol Myers Squib 86 Cardinal Solutions 76 CareValet 96 CEA Group 282 Cherry Bekaert 360 Chuck Papageorgio 21 Cienaga Systems 138 Clifton Larson Allen 362 Coach The World 184 Cognis 292 COI Energy Services 170 Community Foundation of Tampa Bay 56,220 Connectwise 66 Course Align 192 Cyber Florida 132 David Robinson 23 DCE Productions 378 Diangelo Law 352 Direct Mail 2.0 266 DSM 23,70 Dynamic Communities 12,176 Econcrete 172 Ed Kopko 20 Elevate 366 Elevated Events 380 Embarc Collective 10,38 Envision 162 FIVE Labs 94 Flexential 78 Florida Blue 90 Florida Defense ContractorsAssociation 150 Florida Funders 19,276 Florida Israel Business Accelerator (FIBA) 15,286 Florida Polytechnic University 17,320 Foundation for Community Driven Innovation (FCDI) 186

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Full Stack Talent 356 Gazelle Capital 278 Geographic Solutions 82 Global Village 25 Good Day Solutions 226 Green Earth Medical Solutions (GEMS) 102 GreenBar 248 Greg Ross-Munroe 58 Grow Financial 52 Guestbox 216 Guidewell 16,88 Haneke Design 236 HealthAxis Group 100 HireBox 57,354 Holland & Knight 336 Homee 168 Hunter Business Law 14,344 ID Plans 166 Ideasphere 21 Impulse 130 Insight 76 Insperity 358 International Screening Solutions 140 Internet of People 204 Invasion Digital Media 262 Inzata 72 Jim Barnish JR 298 Johnson Pope Bokor Ruppel & Burns 338 JR Griggs 298 Judy Genshaft 8 Just Learn 188 Key Associates 288 Key Person of Influence 332 Knack 182 Kreg Schmidt 9 Lakshmi Shenoy 10 LifeLink 224 Lotvantage 264 Lowth Entrepreneurship Center 42 Malektronic 212 Marc Blumenthal 3 Marketing Matters 250 Marlene Spalten 56 McIntyre Thanasides 346 Mercury Cash 124 Morgan Hill Partners 294 Motion State Media 268 MP Studios 272 My Area Network 388 My Jet Pillow 210 Nail The Sale 368 Nensey & Associates 364 Nomo Nausea 110 nPerspective 290 Occam Technology Group 68 Omna 112 One World Explorer 238 Paradies IP Solutions 350 Pat Geraghty 16 Patrick Valtin 57 Pik My Kid 178 Pletra 232 PLuGHiTz Live 390 Pocket Network 206 392

Practice Forces 114 Project MQ 198 Project Transition USA 152 ProveIT 196 Quiet Professionals 54,146 Rachel Feinman 15 Randy K. Avent 17 Real Building Consultants 164 Recipico 128 Red Wall Marketing 244,298 Response 36 353 Roboticon Tampa bay 376 RX Live 104 Sam Beeler 24 Sandbar 214 Scott Winston 296 Script 180 Seedfunders 284 Shamit Patel 22 Sheryl Hunter 14 Shifino Lee Advertising 256 Signature Lacrosse 47 Simply Reliable 74 Skoda Minotti 340 Sofwerx 144 SourceToad 58,234 Spark Growth 306 Sparxoo 240 SpotOn Digital Media 260 Stanton IP Law Firm 348 STAR 154 Startup Tampa Bay 374 Stay In Step 106 Stuby 190 Suncoast developers Guild 330 Sven Boermeester 25 Synapse 3,11,28 Tampa Bay Business Journal 382 Tampa Bay Inno 384 Tampa Bay Innovation Center 308 Tampa Bay Wave 13,304 Tampa International Airport 34 The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems (AUVSI) 55 The Corin Group 92 The Winston Consulting Group 296 Think Big For Kids 228 Ticketlabel 372 Tom Wallace 19 Tony Dibenedetto 18 TradeBanc 126 Ultimate Medical Academy 328 University of Florida Innovation Academy 324 University of South Florida 8,42,312 University of South Florida Connect 302 University of South Florida Engineering 318 University of Tampa 46 Urban Buffalo Marketing 246 Vaso Technology 80 Verapy 108 Vology 134 Weatherby Photography 270

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THERE ARE TWO REALLY AWESOME BENEFITS THAT COME WITH PUBLISHING THE INNOVATE SERIES GLOBALLY: #1 We get to find out about the coolest innovations. #2 We get to travel the world!

There is some serious science behind My Jet Pillow but that wasn’t what sold me on it. The love affair started the first time I put it around my neck and leaned back in my seat - full disclosure: this wasn’t on an airplane, it was on my very comfortable couch and to this day I regularly use My Jet Pillow while watching TV.

Traveling is fun! Getting to see and experience new places is something everyone loves. But, let’s face it - there are parts of traveling that is not that much fun….

14 hours on a plane, crappy airline headphones, paperwork, defective luggage, getting lost in translation, and a myriad of other little travel issues that can drive you up the wall and make parts your travel experience “less Fun” (To put it mildly)

While you would be 100% correct in thinking “a comfortable couch isn’t a airplane seat” I can assure you that the effect of My Jet Pillow has on your neck/head comfort is exactly the same on the couch and in an airplane seat. I don’t fly without my Jet pillow anymore.

Don’t despair though - as seasoned travelers we have decided to share our travel hacks with the rest of our Innovate Family.

We created www.globaltravelinnovations.com to share our unique insights on making traveling easier with you, our family of global villagers.

Normally My Jet Pillow sells for $275 but Dr. Mike agreed that we can offer it to our Innovate family at the discounted price of $200 so if you are planning on flying (or watching TV on the couch) head on over to www.globaltravelinnovations.com and pick up your own My Jet Pillow at this highly discounted rate.

We don't only share travel tips and tricks but we also introduce you to some of the new and innovative products we discover around the world and that we use to take some of those travel pains away and make the experience so much better.

The product featured here was created by Tampa Local Dr. Michael Majette and has made an enormous impact on our comfort levels during flights.

Happy travels!

At first glance, it looks like just another fancy, expensive neck-pillow but once you look at the science behind it, you realize that it is so much more than that. A simple, patented aircraft alloy insert combined with the use of high-quality materials allows you to mold My Jet Pillow to perfectly support your neck during those long flights. Dr. Mike used his extensive knowledge of the human body to create a pillow that supports and aligns the neck the way it should be.

Callie Van Graan Global Village CEO

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“Tampa Bay, a region where people flock to dream, create, build and play.”

- SVEN BOERMEESTER

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“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

- NELSON MANDELA

Copyright © GlobalVillage Partnerships ISBN: 978-1-949677-02-7