June 2005 - Orlando, Inc.

w w w. o r l a n d o. o r g
INSIDE
Establish Credibility
Orange County Schools Fiscally Fit
Cut! Print! Check the Gate!
FOCUS ON | WORKFORCE
Growing With the Flow
With resources such as UCF and the tech
incubator, Central Florida provides the ties
that bind new tech companies to the region.
THE COMMUNITY SOURCE
FOR SMART BUSINESS
JUNE 2005
volume 8 number 6
EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER —
ORLANDO REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
PRESIDENT & CEO JACOB V. STUART
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT ROBERT RECKER
ADVISORY BOARD SCOTT FAGAN
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RUTH MUSTIAN
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KRISTINE VORPAGEL SHIELDS
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PUBLISHER — KNIGHT IMAGES INC.
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JOE KILSHEIMER
SCOTT WALLIN
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on the cover:
Establish Credibility 7
Orange County Schools Fiscally Fit 16
Cut! Print! Check the Gate! 18
Growing With the Flow 21
CONTENTS 06.05
F E AT U R E
10DRAWN TOGETHER
COVER STORY
With resources such
as UCF and the tech
incubator, Central
Florida provides the
ties that bind new
tech companies to
the region.
by Scott Wallin
NEWS INDEX
BIO-key International 10
Lake Wales Country Club 9
Bright House Networks 38
Lockheed Martin 10
Broad Street Partners 8
Metro Orlando Economic Development
Commission 7, 10, 14, 18
Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association 7
Central Florida Research Park 6, 10, 12
Churchill Development Group LLC 8, 24, 25
C.T. Hsu + Associates 8
Downtown Development Board 25
Electronic Arts-TiburonStudio 12, 13
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University 6
Enzian Theater 18
First Marketing Corp. 22
Florida Citrus Mutual 9
Florida Department of Transportation 12
Florida High Tech Corridor Council 34
Florida Institute of Technology 6
Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy 13
Florida Space Research Institute 6
Frost & Sullivan 8
Gartner Inc. 9
Harris Corp. 8
Haywood Properties 25
Healthy Community Initiative of
Greater Orlando 6
Hispanic Business Initiative Fund of
Greater Orlando 8
Metro Orlando Film and Entertainment
Commission 18
Myregion.org 6
National Cash Register (NCR) 14
Northrop Grumman Corp. 8
Orlando Ballet School 8
Orlando Magic 32
Orlando Regional Association of Realtors 8, 24
Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce 7, 26, 32
Orlando Regional Healthcare 26
Orlando Science Center 8
Orange County Public Schools 16, 26
Osceola Regional Medical Center 9
6
7
8
16
18
24
26
30
32
35
38
UPFRONT CENTRAL FLORIDA: VITAL AND GROWING
21
FOCUS ON | workforce
TRADE SECRETS HOW TO ESTABLISH CREDIBILITY
REGIONAL WRAP
LIVE AND LEARN ORANGE COUNTY SCHOOLS FISCALLY FIT
STATE OF THE ARTS CUT! PRINT! CHECK THE GATE!
ON LOCATION SAFETY FIRST
LEADERSHIP INSPIRING OTHERS: BETSY CULPEPPER
SPIN BUILDING A BLOG
ISSUES WATCH MIXED RESULTS
CHAMBER INSIGHT
PARTING SHOTS CHRIS FENGER, BRIGHT HOUSE NETWORKS
As Central Florida basks
in growth, workforce
issues have become
more important than
ever. Knowledge and
access to information
can help businesses
make optimal
workforce decisions.
by Jack Roth
Real Estate Research Consultants 6
RE/MAX Select 24
Renaissance Orlando Resort 21
Rollins College 22
Science International Corp. (SAIC) 10
Seminole Community College 6
Sparta Inc. 10
Sprint 9
Stetson University 9
Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport 7
The Vue at Lake Eola 24, 25
Hyku LLC 30
United Arts of Central Florida 38
Institute for Simulation and Training (IST) 12, 14
University of Central Florida 6, 10, 12
Jackson Lewis LLP 22
Valencia Community College 6, 8, 22
Keller Williams Homestead Realty 24
Westgate Resorts 22
Kelley Management Consulting Group Inc. 21
Workforce Central Florida 21, 22, 23
Kinetics Inc. 14, 34
D E PA RTM E N T S
CO R R E C T I O N
In the story, Big Tips for Small Business, May 2005, p. 25, Mercantile
Commercial Capital is the correct name of the company.
Don’t make the same mistake we did when translating our English phrases
to Spanish. We relied on an Internet translation service that incorrectly
translated some of the phrases used on p. 11 in the May 2005 cover story,
¿Se Habla Espanol?. Proof that it pays to have a professional translate your
marketing materials.
THE FIRSTMONDAY MISSION
FirstMonday gives you positive, credible and compelling stories that focus on the key trends, people, businesses and events that drive Central Florida’s growth and progress.We aim to build a strong, vibrant and diverse community.
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UPFRONT
Central Florida: Vital and Growing
HIGH-SKILLED, HIGH-VALUE, HIGH-WAGE JOBS CAN BE A CORNERSTONE FOR CENTRAL FLORIDA’S FUTURE.
AS I’VE TRAVELED the seven-county region
also indicates the region’s success in becoming
scientific, technical and engineering in nature.
learning from, and in a few cases teaching,
less fragmented and better coordinated. The
The new Regional Indicators Report states that
government, business and community leaders
indicator system also seeks to quantify Central
within the region, there are more than 100,000
about the importance of working together, it’s
Florida’s progress toward, or away from,
jobs in the high-tech field, constituting over
become crystal clear that we must embrace
‘sustainability’ defined as long-term human,
20 percent of Florida’s high-tech employment.
the opportunities that high-tech industries
social, economic, and ecological health and
Orange County has the largest number of
can provide.
vitality,” according to the report. All of this
high-tech jobs in the region (46,534) and the
will depend on the ability of regional leaders
highest percentage of the total work force in the
Space Center, Florida Space Research Institute,
to think long term, plan adequately for the
high-tech sector (4.73 percent). Brevard and
Florida Institute of Technology, Embry-Riddle
future and wisely manage our resources.
Seminole counties follow close behind with
“The University of Central Florida, Kennedy
Aeronautical University and Brevard, Valencia
Did you know, for example, that the Central
4.47 percent and 3.77 percent, respectively.
The Central Florida Regional Indicators Report,
and Seminole Community Colleges are providing
Florida Research Park is recognized in the Top
leadership in the expansion of the region’s
Ten Research Parks in the United States with 90
which includes a wealth of other data points
technology infrastructure through education,
companies and 9,000 jobs? Or, that the average
relating to economic leadership, education,
research, business incubation and commercial
annual high-tech wage in Brevard and Orange
environment, quality of life and smart, quality
application of products and services.”
counties is approximately $55,000? International
growth, is available online at www.myregion.org
recognition has also been given to the University
or www.orlando.org.
That’s what the introduction to the high-tech
For the first time, our region has identified a
industry section of the new Central Florida
of Central Florida through its School of
Regional Indicators Report says. The report was
Optics/CREOL (Center for Research and Education
series of “vital signs,” or quantitative measures,
unveiled at a recent meeting of the myregion.org
in Optics and Lasers), its new Rosen School for
that will be used by myregion.org not only to
Board of Directors held in St. Cloud.
Hospitality Management, its Institute for
gauge progress, but also to inform decisions on
Simulation and Training (IST), its Florida Solar
further action. This indicator system, based on a
of Greater Orlando, in partnership with Real
Energy Center (FSEC), its National Center for
limited number of measures indicating the status
Estate Research Consultants for myregion.org,
Forensic Science and its Florida Photonics
of the whole, is considered a work in progress, and
this important new report “establishes a regional
Center of Excellence.
future iterations will be more complete and even
Prepared by the Healthy Community Initiative
key indicator system that not only measures
progress in the myregion.org priority areas, but
According to the Monthly Labor Review,
high-tech occupations are those that are
more reflective of the region’s progress.
High tech is no longer something that we
dreamed about growing up — Buck Rogers, Jules
Verne, Star Wars or the Jetsons — it’s here now,
and it’s right in our back yard!
Jacob V. Stuart
President
Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce
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TRADE SECRETS
Patrica Engfer
How to Establish Credibility
BUILDING AN ENDURING RELATIONSHIP WITH CLIENTS AND
EMPLOYEES GOES A LONG WAY TOWARD CONTINUED SUCCESS.
GETTING CUSTOMERS IN the door is one thing. Getting them in the door on a regular basis is another,
and the main reason business owners and managers strive to keep every experience positive. The same
can be said with employees. If you establish early on what you expect from them; your chances for
success skyrocket. Pat Engfer, general manager of the Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport,
knows that better than anyone. She’s been in the business (and with Hyatt) for some 28 years and
knows that her credibility is key to her success. “As a hotel general manager, I want people to have
conferences and social events here,” she says. “We want them to think of us as the place to hold
special events, and we want them to come away from the event feeling as though it was hassle-free,”
says Engfer.
Here are her tips for building credibility with both customers and employees.
1
2
BE A STRAIGHT SHOOTER
“If you’re gong to build credibility with
employees and customers, you must be
honest,” says Engfer. “You have to be
a straight shooter, and you must be
partners.” She says, “You’re never going
to win over employees or customers
without that honesty.”
3
BUILD PARTNERSHIPS
“When I’m selling the hotel or a banquet,
we’re [the customer and the hotel]
partners,” says Engfer. After all, she says,
everyone wants the same thing — a
successful function that is a pleasurable
experience. “Go at it from a partnership
standpoint, rather than [like you’re]
negotiating a contract,” she says.
The same goes for employees. “Determine
the goals of the employee that you’re
hiring. Part of your responsibility is to
help them reach their life goals as well
as the companies’ goals.”
“There’s a lot of
pressure on the
service industry to
make a positive
lasting memory.”
ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION
At the Hyatt Regency, when there’s a large
event, such as a 2,000-person banquet,“it
doesn’t matter what department you work
in or what job you do, everyone works the
event,” says Engfer. Job descriptions go out
the window when there’s work to be done
and expectations are clear from the get-go.
“We work as a team,” she says. “From
banquet managers to housekeeping
managers, everyone pitches in.”
Of course, that means you must hire the
right people for the job. “Hire for attitude
and train for skills,” says Engfer. “Almost
every one of our managers started out as a
line employee. The only difference between
a hotel general manager and one of his or
her employees is perhaps the number of
years of experience. Everyone starts out
checking customers in and waiting tables.”
4
DELIVER WHAT YOU PROMISE
These tips seem so basic, but not every
company gets it right.“Customers have to
be happy with the product you sold. In our
case it’s an experience and that makes it
even harder,” says Engfer. She describes it
like this: If you go to a store and you have a
bad experience with the cashier, at the end
of the day you still go home with the
sweater you wanted. If you have a bad
experience at a hotel, you go with the
memory of the bad experience.“We can
only provide excellent service,” she says.
“There’s a lot more pressure on the service
industry to make a positive lasting memory.”
5
GET INVOLVED
“Our goal is very specific,” says Engfer.
“We want to be the premier business
hotel in the region, so it makes good
business sense to be involved in the
community. As [the community] grows,
so does our business.” Engfer is on the
Boards of Directors for the Metro Orlando
Economic Development Commission
and the Orlando Regional Chamber of
Commerce and is past chair of the
Orlando/Orange County Convention &
Visitors Bureau.
“Our hotel is very involved in adopting
a school — McCoy Elementary. We also
hold blood drives and are involved with
the Central Florida Hotel and Lodging
Association,” says Engfer. “The hotel
association supports the Orange County
Public School system by offering new
teachers moving from out of state a
place to stay for a few weeks while they
find a home.” Of course, the Hyatt is one
of the hotels that offer free rooms to
incoming teachers.
Quality customer service — the
phrase may be overused, but the
concept isn’t. Build your credibility by
following these tips and your business
will thrive.
PATRICIA ENGFER
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REGIONAL WRAP
FROM BREVARD COUNTY TO VOLUSIA COUNTY, BUSINESSES
ARE THRIVING. HERE’S A SEVEN COUNTY VIEW OF WHAT’S
GOING ON IN THE REGION.
GIVE US THE SCOOP
FirstMonday and myregion.org want
to hear about your partnerships, new
technology, community awareness
and more! Help myregion.org bring
together the business, government and
institutional leadership representing
the seven-county Central Florida region
to ensure Central Florida's success in
the 21st century global marketplace.
To submit your information,please
e-mail editor-in-chief Tracey Velt at
[email protected].
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BREVARD COUNTY
Northrop Grumman Corp. recently launched the
Under Vehicle Inspection System (UVIS), which
provides high-resolution color images and dynamic
database search functions for a safer and more
thorough way to view the underside of a vehicle
and scan for hidden contraband and explosives.
Residential houses continued to sell at a fevered
pitch, as more homes changed hands in March
than ever before, according to the Orlando
Regional Association of REALTORS. However,
rising interest rates and an increase in the
county’s median home price may begin to
slow the flurry.
Harris Corp., a supplier of tactical radios for
defense forces worldwide, has been awarded the
2005 Competitive Strategy Leadership Award
from Frost & Sullivan, a business consulting firm.
Harris was selected for its outstanding performance in the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)
tactical military communications market.
Orlando Ballet School, of which Peter Stark is
director, won “Best School,” competing against
major ballet schools from across the world at
this year’s International Youth America Grand
Prix Competition in New York City. Orlando
Ballet students placed with two gold medals.
LAKE
Lake County remains proactive in training, planning
and implementing a strong regional network for
effectively using unaffiliated volunteers in disaster
response and recovery efforts.
ORANGE
The Hispanic Business Initiative Fund of Greater
Orlando, Inc (HBIF) will offer free seminars to local
Hispanic business owners. Presented in Spanish
by local professionals, the sessions will help
Hispanic entrepreneurs improve their skills as
small business owners. Upcoming seminars are
"International Trade" on Friday, June 10, from
8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and "Everything You Need to Know
About Marketing," on Friday, July 8 from 8 a.m. to
1 p.m. For more information, visit www.hbiforl.org.
Broad Street Partners (BSP), a local real estate
developer, will donate $1 million to three area
schools. The parent-teacher organizations
at Dommerich Elementary, Lake Sybelia
Elementary and Maitland Middle will divide
the funds equally.
The East Campus of Valencia Community
College is growing by leaps and bounds.
Designed by C.T. Hsu + Associates, Building 8
has high-tech classrooms, chemistry labs,
physical science labs and faculty offices.
The Orlando Science Center has an extra
$46,100 thanks to a local fund-raising effort
held at Reflections of the VUE. Developer
Churchill Development Group LLC invited local
charities to sell $100 tickets to the event, with
the provision that the charities would keep 100
percent of the proceeds of their ticket sales.
REGIONAL WRAP
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OSCEOLA
Osceola County Commissioners opened a new
park in Buenaventura Lakes in April. Royal Palm
Park, located at the intersection of Royal Palm
Lane and Turpin Lane, includes a picnic pavilion,
basketball court and playground. Built at a cost
of over $89,000, the park replaced Pavilion Park.
Osceola Regional Medical Center implemented
the program Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) Safety
Zone. DVT Safety Zone is a national program
designed to help reduce the risk and raise
awareness of DVT, a potentially life-threatening
condition that affects more people than breast
cancer and AIDS combined.
POLK
Florida Citrus Mutual, a lobbying group for the
citrus-growing industry, applauded the state
citrus commission’s narrowed focus and plans to
concentrate primarily on growing the market.
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The decision to concentrate on marketing will
likely win the support of the citrus growers.
A 16.5-cent tax per box of juice oranges largely
funds the state’s $56 million Department of
Citrus budget.
The Lake Wales Country Club hosted the
Rotary Club of Lake Wales’ Annual Charity Golf
Tournament. Proceeds benefit Lake Wales Care
Center, Lake Wales High School Scholarships,
the Lake Wales Arts Council, the Lake Wales
Family YMCA, the Gulf Ridge Council of the
Boy Scouts of America, the Girl Scouts, H.E.A.R.T.
Missionary Training Institute, the Salvation
Army, the American Red Cross and other
organizations such as the Humane Society.
SEMINOLE
Sprint reached a milestone in its effort to become
a more environmentally friendly company. The
U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) awarded the
From left: 1. Local real estate developer plans to build a new
downtown retail and condominium development. 2. Orlando
Ballet School student Anne Sandefur was invited to perform
her solo “little bird” from Peter and the Wolf at the Youth
America Grand Prix Gala at New York’s City Center. 3. These
boys enjoy test-flying their own model airplanes at Orlando
Science Center’s Touch the Sky aviation exhibit.
company the Leadership in Energy Efficiency
Design (LEED) Certification for new construction.
The research firm Gartner Inc. recently published
its J2EE Application Server Management 2005
Magic Quadrant report listing VERITAS Software
Corp. in the “leaders” quadrant. The evaluation of
each company in the “Magic Quadrant” is determined by the comprehensiveness of its vision
and ability to execute as well as the importance
of each factor in the marketplace.
VOLUSIA
For the fourth time, Stetson University’s Roland
George Investments Program took top honors in
a student portfolio competition at the University
of Dayton’s [Ohio] Redefining Investment
Strategy Education (RISE) Symposium. The
Stetson team placed first in the Fixed Income
Management category.
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COVER STORY
With resources such as UCF and the tech incubator,
Central Florida provides the ties that bind new tech
companies to the region.
BY SCOTT WALLIN
IF
you ever have the unpleasant
experience of being pulled over for
speeding, chances are your license
and name will be run through a computer
system that’s accessed on site by the law
enforcement officer.
Protecting and serving now mean that
officers must be proficient with laptop
computers, handheld Palm Pilots or pocket
PCs that can instantly let them know if they
have more than a speedster in their midst.
The good guys — and the bad ones —
have a Central Florida technology company
to thank (or blame) for
such ingenuity. BIO-key
International developed
this wireless mobile data
solution that helps law
enforcement be more
effective in the fight
against crime.
“As an engineer, [you
don’t always] get that
sense [that] you’re really
doing something that’s
going to have a direct
and immediate benefit
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for society and for people who are out
there risking their lives,” says Eric Chrisman,
a senior software engineer with BIO-key.
Realize it or not, Central Florida engineers
and tech experts not only are benefiting
Central Florida, but also are making an
impact nationally and, in some cases,
globally. According to the Metro Orlando
Economic Development Commission,
the region has some 5,000 high-tech
companies, employing more than 85,000
workers at starting annual salaries of
about $54,000. And, thanks to resources
such as the Central Florida Research Park
and UCF technology incubator, which
helps start-up tech companies establish
their businesses, the region expects the
industry to continue to grow.
With the creation and manufacture
of products ranging from real-life war
games to lifelike video football games,
the region has quickly grown into a hub
of cutting-edge technology.
IT’S YOUR VIRTUAL REALITY
Central Florida is home to several
distinct technology industries, most
Bio-key’s wireless mobile data solution is helping fight crime across the country.
notably simulation, a complex, computerdriven re-creation of the real thing. The
Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines all either
build simulators locally or contract such
work out to any of 130 area simulation
companies, led by heavyweights Lockheed
Martin and Science Applications
International Corp. (SAIC).
But this isn’t really anything new to
Central Florida. In fact, we have a founding
father of simulation — Luis de Florez, who
in 1941 was a naval commander/Admiral
in Orlando. He worked in the engineering
division of the Navy’s Bureau of Aeronautics
and championed the use of “synthetic
training devices” to increase readiness.
Throughout World War II, de Florez
helped lead the development of training
devices that included the use of motion
pictures to train aircraft gunners.
Simulation had its beginnings in Central
Florida, and through the years it’s built
quite a reputation, according to those
who work in the industry.
“Orlando is like the Silicon Valley of
simulation,” says Roger Smith, chief
engineer with Sparta Inc., an Orlando “What we really do is figure
out what the community
needs. By doing that, we
have aligned our technical
expertise and talent with
area industry. We’re much
more in tune with what
they’re doing, and we can
serve the industries better.”
DR. TOM O’NEAL, UCF
COVER STORY
simulation company that handles
contractual work for the Army. “This
is the place with the highest concentration of companies and government
agencies that build simulation [in the
state]. If you go somewhere, they know
Orlando for Disney, and they know us
for building simulations.”
And there seems to be no limit to the
ingenuity. Smith describes a weapons
system that’s in the design phase
called Future Combat Systems (FCS).
It’s expected to replace a dozen or more
pieces of training equipment (i.e., tanks,
artillery, medical vehicles, command
vehicles) that are in the field right now.
Smith uses a “good guys vs. bad
guys” scenario to describe how FCS will
ultimately help the nation’s soldiers in
combat. Basically, the simulator will
create a virtual world with combatants,
an authentic city and terrain, and plans
for running the new equipment.
It’s [the virtual world] all then placed
into simulation, the simulated war
begins, just as it would in the real world,
and soldiers go through commands and
maneuvers. Along the way, simulators
discover mistakes that are corrected,
at a cost lower than that incurred
with conventional training and, more
importantly, at no cost in human lives.
“It’s just like any sports practice,”
Smith says. “It looks good on the chalk
“We’re one of the top studios in Electronic Arts, and
there continues to be a big investment in Central Florida
. . . we’ve had great support from the city of Orlando to
commit to creating a long-term video game industry
within Central Florida.”
STEVEN CHIANG, EA-TIBURON STUDIO
board, but when you go out and do it,
you realize this guy should have moved
ahead sooner or I didn’t have enough
covering fire over here, just like
I needed more blockers (in football).
“There are usually hundreds of
variables in play at the same time.
A human can’t figure out how to do six
different experiments, changing 100
variables all at one time. Humans will
be mentally blacked out, so you put it
into simulation, and [the simulator]
can handle the consumption of bullets,
the consumption of fuel, the speed of
the vehicles. It can handle things like
morale and aggressiveness. And when
one of these variables proves to be a
weakness to the mission, it will show
you that the good guys are losing really
badly. [And so you have to figure out]
‘Why is that?’”
A HOMEGROWN TALENT POOL
Many of the area’s high-tech
companies have prospered thanks
to a homegrown talent pool
of University of Central
Florida (UCF) graduates.
Many UCF graduates
head into a working
world where they
are in demand in
fields ranging from
simulation to optics
to robotics.
The university’s professors in these
fields agree that this is the result of
President John Hitt’s commitment to
becoming a research-oriented campus
and his goal of being America’s leading
partnership university. UCF has committed $100 million to research, the
majority of which is geared toward
high-tech endeavors. As a result, the
university attracts its share of quality
students and faculty.
“If you talk about high-tech, it all
starts with research,” says Dr. Tom
O’Neal, UCF’s associate vice president
for research and commercialization.
“That forms the foundation. It’s what
I call the raw materials for new
technology start-ups.”
O’Neal applauds UCF’s efforts to
create a reciprocal relationship with
area industries.
“What we really do is figure out
what the community needs,” he says.
“By doing that, we have aligned our
technical expertise and talent with area
industry. We’re much more in tune with
what they’re doing, and we can serve
the industries better.”
RESEARCH PARK A BOON
The Central Florida Research Park
sits south of the UCF campus and
houses nearly 6,000 employees and
more than 80 organizations, most of
them high tech in nature. Among them
is the Institute for Simulation and
Training (IST), an internationally
recognized facility that was founded
in 1982 as a research unit of UCF for
defense and commercial applications.
The 70,000-square-foot facility
employs close to 100 full-time
researchers and support personnel.
Randy Williams, an assistant director
of IST, also sees a great partnership
resulting from work the organization
does in collaboration with UCF professors and students.
“The fact that the university is
here and the high-tech industry can
just pick up the phone or head down
the street and talk to somebody that
is doing research in their kind of
industry is a real plus,” he says.
IST has its share of projects that
will shape the way companies and
industries function in the future. For
example, UCF students conduct robot
research. One of their goals isn’t so
much creating a robot that can “wash
your dishes,” as Williams says, but
rather understanding how people
interface with a robotic device.
“What does a robot need to look like
in order for people to trust it?” he says.
“Or what would make people not trust
it and not rely on the robot’s capability?
We’ve got people looking into those
kinds of things and researching those
subjects. It’s more involved than just
winding it up and letting it go.”
TEN-FOUR, GOOD BUDDY
The IST also has been contacted
by the Florida Department of
Transportation (DOT) to create
simulations that would expedite the
process of certification and license
renewal of commercial truck drivers.
The DOT sought a method that would
save money and reduce the average
six months’ waiting time.
“They wanted to figure out whether
simulation would work as a substitute
fm 06.05
12
COVER STORY
[to actual road tests],” Williams says.
“We’ve had people developing and
testing those simulations to see
whether they really do train like a
driver in a real truck would.
“You can’t really train in a snowstorm in Central Florida, but the way
the simulator program works, you can
simulate a snowstorm with the slick
roads, limited visibility and extended
stopping distance [required]. You can
actually familiarize drivers with what
would happen to their truck if they
were driving on a slick road.”
investment in Central Florida,” Chiang
says. “As we’ve gotten bigger and more
mature, we’ve had great support from
Gov. Bush, and we’ve had support from
the city of Orlando to commit to creating
a long-term video game industry within
Central Florida.”
The Florida Interactive Entertainment
Academy, a joint program of EA and UCF,
was created to identify the next round
of talented video game designers.
Chiang welcomes the help as he says
it’s challenging to maintain pace with
requests that come from the military
and even from NFL coaches for assistance with simulation.
Coaches, it seems, are looking for
sways to help players better grasp a
team’s playbook. And since most grew
up playing Madden, why not create
something similar, with a team’s FUN AND GAMES
At times, Central Florida’s
high-tech industry can sound like
fun and games, and for international
video game giant Electronic Arts
(EA), that’s all in a day’s work. The
company is headquartered in the
San Francisco Bay Area, but it has
major design studios in London,
Vancouver, Los Angeles and Orlando.
Steven Chiang, general manager
of Orlando’s EA-Tiburon Studio, says
Central Florida was a logical place to
grow the company. He cites affordable living, proximity to beaches,
ideal weather and no state income
tax as reasons EA headed here.
Chiang says EA is eager to
expand its Central Florida work
force as it’s steadily done over the
last few years. He recalls a time
when EA had one programmer and
an artist designing early editions
of its signature product, Madden
NFL Football, now in its 16th year
of production.
These days, he says, it’s multiple
teams of 20 programmers and 20
artists that are needed to also
develop EA-Tiburon’s other major
brands: NASCAR Racing, NCAA
Football and NFL Street. After all, the
name of the game is reinvention to
stay ahead of the competition, and
Chiang says EA is committed to
giving its customers far more than
just the standard update of team
rosters for their $50. For example,
Madden 2005will contain the exclusive launch of a new Blink 182 song.
As a result of these efforts, the
company employs 420 people at its
Maitland office, with more than 100
game designers and programmers
having been hired over the last year.
“We’re one of the top studios in
EA, and there continues to be a big
fm 06.05
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COVER STORY
entire playbook, that players can relate to and
learn from?
Makes sense, says IST’s Williams.
“If you’re enjoying what you’re doing, you
tend to remember it better,”Williams says.
“That’s the whole object of (simulation) training
— to build these memories so you get better at
what you’re doing.”
HIGH FLYING
Building memories of a different kind was
David Melnik’s intent. Melnik set out to create
positive experiences in the airport. He noticed
the high stress level that was associated with
the preflight check-in routine.
“More than a decade ago, I assembled a small
team of travel professionals and built a relationship with national technology company NCR
(National Cash Register) to build a business
focused on improving the archaic distribution
channels of the airline industry,” says Melnik.
“The idea literally evolved from my second
bedroom. I had worked selling airlines tickets
to small businesses, and I wondered why this
couldn’t be done through ATM machines,”
he says.
Before long, Melnik had a concept for
self-service airline check-in, and as a result,
getting a boarding pass and seat assignment
is only a touch screen and seconds away. His
idea — self-service kiosks at airport check-in —
eventually changed the way travel is done.
When you slide your credit card into the kiosk
machine, it automatically pulls up your airline
reservation on a touch screen, allows you to
choose the number of bags you want to check
(continued on page 34)
CENTRAL FLORIDA’S LEADING TECH INDUSTRIES
film & television production
Well known as the world’s premier tourist
destination, Metro Orlando is also a leading
destination for film, television and commercial production. State-of-the-art soundstages
and unique venues have helped the region
become one of the busiest production centers
in the United States.
With skilled crews, diverse locations,
world-class studios, and specialized service
companies, the Orlando region offers the very
best to film and television producers. It’s no
wonder that, in the past 15 years, this region
has grown from a $2.5 million to a $586 million
annual production market. Today, more than
350 Metro Orlando companies are engaged
in film and television production-related
activities. Complementing this high-profile
industry is a significant, emerging digital
media sector that will broaden the base of this
community’s creative development offerings.
life sciences & biotechnology
Metro Orlando’s emerging biotechnology
and life sciences sector has sprung from
a renowned regional healthcare system,
comprising some of the top hospitals in
the country. The sector has also spun off
from a prominent agricultural base and
the collaborative efforts of the region’s
established photonics and modeling,
simulation and training sectors.
The region’s strength in agriculture,
combined with an established high-tech
base, have spurred an agrotechnology boom
that is integrating advanced processes for use
in everything from industrial food ingredients
to cosmetics to plant reproduction. Today, the
sector features more than 500 biotechnology
and life science companies; 42,000 workers;
and an estimated $3.6 billion in earnings
The biotechnology and life sciences sector
is augmented by several educational and
research centers such as the Mid-Florida
Research and Education Center, the University
of Central Florida’s Biomolecular Science
Center and the Central Florida Research Park
manufacturing, warehousing
& distribution
The region’s central location positions it
as a hub with exceptionally quick, easy
access to air, land, water and space
transportation routes. This distinctive
geographical advantage makes the region
an ideal location for general manufacturing,
warehouse and distribution businesses.
A full range of manufacturers and warehouse/
distributors are represented in Metro Orlando,
supplied by a deep, diverse talent pool of
experienced employees. Major corporations
headquartered in the region include
Mitsubishi Power Systems Inc. and locally
founded Fortune 500 company Hughes
Supply Inc. A growing number of mid-sized
manufacturers and distributors further fuel
the region’s economic engine.
modeling, simulation
& training
Metro Orlando has long been established as
the nation’s epicenter for modeling, simulation
and training (MS&T) technology. The industry
has evolved over the past 40 years from its
roots in military training to provide invaluable
applications in such diverse fields as aerospace,
medicine, emergency services, transportation,
education and entertainment. More than 100
MS&T companies are located in Metro
Orlando, employing more than 16,500 people
and generating an estimated $1.3 billion in
annual revenue in the community.
Backing the MS&T industry in Metro Orlando
are a number of renowned research, support
and educational facilities, such as the
National Center for Simulation, the University
of Central Florida’s Institute for Simulation
and Training and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical
University’s aviation simulation programs.
Metro Orlando’s strong MS&T standing has
earned the region the distinction of being
designated a National Center of Excellence
for Simulation and Training.
photonics
The Central Florida area is a nationally
recognized leader in the photonics and laser
optics industries. Since the early 1960s, the
photonics industry has grown from a vastly
specialized military pursuit to one of the
strongest, most diverse industries in the
region. Today, Metro Orlando boasts
approximately 80 photonics companies,
employing more than 20,000 people and
generating annual revenue between $20
million and more than $50 million, and the
industry shows no signs of slowing down.
software & hardware
Led by companies serving the financial
services industry, more than 1,000 businesses
specializing in software development and
service, data processing and information
retrieval are based in the region. Employing
approximately 12,000, these companies
generate nearly $1 billion in annual revenue
and serve such distinct industries as
banking and finance, government, education,
consumer products and utilities automation.
The software sector also crosses over into the
well-established modeling, simulation and
training, and digital media clusters, which
are heavily involved in developing programs
for use in such applications as film and
television, interactive entertainment, military
exercises and transportation planning.
SOURCE: METRO ORLANDO ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION; 2005
METRO ORLANDO PROFILE
LIVE AND LEARN
Expect more school construction
as OCPS invests in the region.
Orange County Schools Fiscally Fit
AN UPGRADED FINANCIAL RATING MEANS BETTER BORROWING RATES
FOR ORANGE COUNTY SCHOOLS.
GOOD NEWS FOR Orange County Public Schools.
Moody’s Investors Service affirmed a rating
High credit ratings from Standard and Poor’s
of A1 for OCPS, upgraded from an A2 and Fitch’s
(S&P), Moody’s Investors Service and Fitch’s
Investors Services affirmed a rating of A+. All
Investors Services means more money for
rating agencies rated the district as having a
construction and other school needs. All three
stable financial outlook. These ratings are
agencies recently rated the school system
considered “very high quality,” and they offer
with AA-, A1 and A+, respectively. OCPS shares
the district lower overall borrowing costs and
equivalent ratings with only three other school
a wider selection of investors.
districts in the state of Florida — Hillsborough,
Palm Beach and Sarasota.
“The improved credit rating provides for
lower borrowing costs to the district, leaving
us with more money that can be allocated to
construction, providing new and improved
Here are some of the reasons cited by the
rating agencies for upgrading the district’s
credit rating:
Conservative fiscal policies with well-managed
finances.
better address the high-growth areas of Central
Sufficient reserves that have been historically
maintained with expectations of continuing
these trends in the future. (Reserves are
required to maintain stability during times
of economic instability or during unforeseen
financial downturns.)
Florida as we attempt to keep up with growth
Manageable debt position.
where additional schools are needed,” she adds.
Strong tax base growth.
schools,” says Jo Ann Clark, senior administrator,
Office of Management and Budget for Orange
County Public Schools (OCPS). “Having more
money available for construction enables us to
Additional schools obviously help the
economy by employing workers both in the
“This is confirmation that our innovative,
construction industry and in the school district
yet conservative fiscal policies approved by our
after the schools are constructed, according to
school board are well received on Wall Street,”
Clark. It just snowballs from there. “Better
said Dr. Henry Boekhoff, chief financial officer
schools attract better business and make Central
for OCPS. “We believe that Orange County Public
Florida a [more] desirable place to live. And, from
Schools is a great investment for our students,
an investor’s point of view, the improved credit
our community and the financial community;
rating will also make the school district more
the recent ratings upgrades support that belief.”
attractive,” she says. This will make it “easier to
Rating agencies evaluate the overall credit
market our bonds when we borrow,” says Clark.
risk of the borrower (in this case, OCPS). Credit
Standard and Poor’s (S&P) upgraded its rating
ratings are revised and updated by the rating
to AA- on upcoming 2005 Certificates of
agencies on an ongoing basis through surveil-
Participation (COP) issuance of $192 million
lance. Analysts from the rating agencies are
and all outstanding COPs of $862 million. COPs
continually reviewing statistics concerning the
are financial instruments that permit the OCPS
district’s overall stability. Surveillance allows the
to borrow at relatively lower interest rates than
rating agencies to stay informed about current
last year, providing for new school facilities and
developments and potential risks faced by OCPS.
helping accommodate Orange County’s rapid
They also maintain surveillance concerning the
growth in enrollment.
overall economy of Orange County and the state
of Florida.
fm 06.05
16
“The improved
credit rating provides
for lower borrowing
costs to the district,
leaving us with more
money that can be
allocated to construction,
providing new and
improved schools.”
JO ANN CLARK
ORANGE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Photos: Rose Wind Photography
STATE OF THE ARTS
Left: Paul Reiser accepts
his Artistic Achievement
Award at the FFF Revel.
Center: Patrick Warburton
(Seinfeld's Puddy) with
special guest after
accepting the Grand
Jury Award for Best
Narrative Feature for The
Civilization of Maxwell
Bright. Right: Actress Joan
Chen, Garry Jones, Enzian
Executive Director Peg
O'Keef and Saving Face
director Alice Wu on
opening night.
Cut! Print! Check the Gate!
CENTRAL FLORIDA’S FILM INDUSTRY IS BURGEONING, AND THE FLORIDA FILM FESTIVAL’S SUCCESS IS PROOF.
INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS ARE starting
last year.” The Enzian Theater founded the
to flock to Central Florida, and that’s just
Florida Film Festival in 1992 and continues
Florida Film Festival is drawing even more
the way the region likes it. Not only are
to sponsor it each year.
recognition. “We continue to challenge
they coming to submit their films to the
Florida Film Festival, but they’re also here
for the great climate, local accessibility and
is this year’s 14th annual Florida Film
working to become a hot spot for
Festival.
independent filmmakers as well as a
show independent filmmakers from all
film to the region,” says Lacek. “The public
is becoming more receptive.”
THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS
This year, the film festival started some
great location for shooting national
new programs that bring “challenging new
television commercials.
forms of digital media to community,” says
“We’re at the tail end of a busy commer-
Lacek. It also offered, for the third year,
over the world [what the region is capable
cial season,” says Allen. “Both national and
NextArt, an integral aspect of the
of],” says Suzy Allen, managing director of
international commercials for companies
festival that celebrates the cutting edge of
the Metro Orlando Film and Entertainment
such as Volkswagen and Mercedes were
creativity developed by current visionaries
Commission, a division of the Metro
filmed locally.”
— with special emphasis on work that
Orlando Economic Development
Credit that to a change in the Film and
blends media into new forms. “We’re trying
Commission. “This year, we had some 146
Entertainment Commission’s approach to
to tap into where our market is going and
films accepted that were made in Florida,”
attracting filmmakers. “We’ve seen huge
combine technology with the entertainment
she adds. “That’s huge because there are
growth since we changed our target areas.
component,” says Allen.
submissions from all over the country and
Five to 10 years ago we went after the
the world, and the [Florida films] were
large-budget feature films,” says Allen.
a convergence between technology and
accepted on their own merit, production
“That’s an expensive and time-consuming
interactive entertainment. [The region]
value, story line and content. That’s a won-
process. We realized that the smart
is moving into other aspects of film, and it’s
derful statement [about] the quality of our
investment was reaching the independent
being driven by the applications technology.”
film industry,” she says.
filmmaker, anything that isn’t studio based
Shannon Lacek, director of marketing
and media for the Enzian Theater in
18
Not only is the film festival becoming
world renowned, but the region is also
“The film festival in years past has been
fm 06.05
ourselves to bring the best of independent
A NATIONAL SUCCESS
inviting atmosphere. Proof of that success
a wonderful opportunity for this market to
And, the continued work on the
She says the film commission is “seeing
Whether it’s integrating technology into
and has a budget of up to $10 million,”
entertainment or offering independent
she says.
filmmakers incentives for producing films
Maitland, agrees. “This year was great,”
That new focus is working. Recently
she says. “We had more sold-out shows
Moviemaker magazine ranked Central
and more screenings than in years past.
Florida as a top 10 destination for inde-
Attendance was up and consistent with
pendent film, according to Allen.
here, the Central Florida region is fast
becoming a national force in the film world.
workforce | FOCUS ON
“I VALUE THAT you’re here.” That,
successful leadership organizations,
says Janet Lapp, Ph.D., is the most
which include modeling the way,
important thing you can say to an
inspiring a shared vision, challeng-
employee.
ing the process, encouraging others
It sounds like simple advice, but
many companies simply don’t do
to act and encouraging the heart.
Other issues addressed during
it, and they wind up losing good
the summit included safety
employees. “Be positive with your
programs, emotional intelligence,
employees,” adds Lapp. “Motivate
nonprofit board responsibility,
by what is right and good.”
diversity, employment law,
Lapp is a specialist in areas
disaster planning, selecting
of fast personal and cultural
quality employees, building a
change. She offers innovative
responsibility-based culture and
strategies and practical guidelines
developing leadership from within.
for excelling with workforce
“Communication skills are very
issues during these intensely
important in this line of work,” says
competitive times.
Ray Couch, a marketing associate
This is just one example of the
with Renaissance Orlando Resort.
simple yet sage advice recently
“Unfortunately, [these skills are]
given to local business leaders and
developed over time. You can’t
GROWING WITH THE FLOW
AS CENTRAL FLORIDA BASKS IN GROWTH, WORKFORCE ISSUES HAVE BECOME MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER.
KNOWLEDGE AND ACCESS TO INFORMATION CAN HELP BUSINESSES MAKE OPTIMAL WORKFORCE DECISIONS.
by Jack Roth
human resource professionals
expect a recent college graduate or
during Workforce Central Florida’s
trade school graduate to handle
(WCF) State of the Workforce 2005
communications with customers at
Summit held in Orlando.
a high level right away. Personality
“We’ve never had such an
can’t be taught, but job-specific
educated, diverse workforce,”
training can help enhance these
says Frann Kelley, Ph.D., an
skills,” he adds.
organizational development
Developing solid communication
consultant, trainer and mediator
skills in employees is just one of the
with Kelley Management
challenges employers face today.
Consulting Group, Inc. “Create
a spirit of community, and give
your employees an opportunity
ASSESSING THE ISSUES
In the spring of 2004, WCF
to grow and recognize their
conducted a survey entitled “State
individual goals.”
of the Workforce: Central Florida,”
Kelley, who designs and
in an attempt to assess the region.
implements strategic change
The incredible growth in Central
to improve organizational
Florida has created a need for
performance, discussed the
up-to-date information that
common denominators for all
business owners can use to “Create a spirit of
community, and give
your employees an
opportunity to grow
and recognize their
individual goals.”
FRANN KELLEY
KELLEY MANAGEMENT CONSULTING GROUP, INC
fm 06.05
21
FOCUS ON | workforce
address tangible employer challenges, industryspecific growth possibilities and the various
methods of dealing with these challenges.
The study, which surveyed more than 500
businesses in the five-county area, sought
Your Greatest Challenges
FINDING SKILLED EMPLOYEES AND LACK OF BASIC TRAINING
HAVE EMPLOYERS WORKING OVERTIME TO FIND SOLUTIONS.
1. What are the workforce challenges facing
employers in the next three years? The survey
showed that skills, or lack thereof, present the
most important challenge overall, with necessary
basic education (basic skills) and availability of
skilled workers ( job skills) accounting for the
majority of the responses. “Qualified labor is a
challenge. Unemployment rates are low and
will continue on that trend,” says Gary Earl,
president and CEO of WCF. “Businesses are
challenged when it comes to recruiting because
it’s an employee market right now. The HR
[human resources] business is not an easy one
these days.”
PE
RC
EN
T
answers to the following workforce questions:
What difficulties has your company encountered
due to your inability to find skilled employees?
Nearly 50 percent said that overall productivity
was being limited due to not being able to hire
appropriately skilled employees.
Soft skills captured in attitude, work ethic and
customer service abilities represent the
third-highest concentration of responses.“There’s
a disconnect between soft-skill training needs and
what training is being offered. Another key concern
for companies involves improving education and
increasing general training,” says Stephanie DeWolf
Tipton, special projects manager at WCF.
2. What are the most effective means of recruiting
workers? Contacts through educational
organizations, the Internet, professional
associations and networking are the most
commonly used methods of recruiting employees.
Staffing agencies account for less than 5 percent
of the hires. “It’s the employer’s responsibility to
hire people who meet societal standards and [to]
conduct an adequate background check,” says
Donald Works III, partner in the Orlando office of
law firm Jackson Lewis LLP. “If not [done], the
employer is liable.”Works teaches human resource
management and employment law classes at
Valencia Community and Rollins colleges.
3. What are the specific occupational and skill
needs of employers? The survey found that 48
percent of establishments plan to expand their
workforce in the next year and that 56 percent
plan to do so in the next three years.
Most new jobs will be in services, retail trade
and construction services. “We’re constantly
expanding, and we need people who are skilled
in certain creative disciplines such as graphic
arts. We would prefer to hire locally, and so far
it’s been a mixed bag,” says Jon Kleckner, vice
president of communications, Westgate Resorts.
“We get some transplants from other parts
of the country who have good portfolios,” he
says, “but there are a number of very talented,
qualified individuals who are getting their
training locally, which is beneficial to everyone.”
fm 06.05
22
Overall, what skills or competencies do your
existing employees need to improve or obtain?
The lack of basic, technical and soft skills is the
greatest challenge.
4. How can training and development be leveraged
to meet employer demand for a skilled workforce?
Work ethic/work readiness, basic skills (reading,
writing, math and science), communication skills
and job-specific education/training are the
most needed.
“I think companies need to be better at basic
skills training,” says Jon Sumple, vice president of
sales, First Marketing Corp. “In other words, you
hire [people for what] they bring to the table,
Employers who
hire for work
ethic and energy
can train for
specific skills.
but there’s always a learning curve specific to a
particular company and job. Employers should
WCF hopes that training facilities in the area
develop training programs designed specifically
will be able to use this information to help with
to meet their needs. As long as [employees have]
skill development and that employers will be
some basic skills, you can teach them specific or
able to use this information to move ahead
specialized skills from within,” he says.
in the right way with training and other
Many current employees have skill deficits
related to work readiness (soft skills) as well as
those that are job specific.
workforce issues.
“This study acts as a great catalyst piece,”
says Tipton. “It gives business owners the tools
workforce | FOCUS ON
to say, ‘Look at what we know now, and look at what
local schools and economic development organizations,
and provide workforce resources that enhance the
we can do about it.’”
the community stands to benefit from its efforts.
community.”
The study is ongoing and represents a regional
“The local workforce has to be strong in order to
resource that helps inform businesses. As WCF recognizes
lure and grow business here,” says Earl. “Our goal is
new trends and continues to establish partnerships with
to continue to evolve with the needs of businesses
For a full copy of the report, contact Workforce
Central Florida at (407) 531-1234 or go to
www.WorkforceCentralFlorida.com.
REGIONAL PROFILE
Projections suggest that the total
population of the five-county area
will reach almost 2 million by 2005.
The civilian labor force in the
five-county area has increased
from 387,062 in 1980 to more
than 990,000 as of 2003.
The largest number of employers
work in services, retail trade and
public administration
Manufacturing, wholesale trade
and finance pay the highest wages.
There are more than 45,000
business establishments in the
five-county area.
The highest industry growth
will occur in public administration/
social services followed by
building materials, financial
institutions, hotels and lodging,
security/commodity brokers,
business services and health
services, respectively.
Increasing immigration and
population growth is creating a
greater need for English as a
Second Language (ESL) instruction.
More than 400 organizations provide educational services. Technical
and trade-based schools make up
the second-largest subgroup of
educational service organizations.
Tourism plays a critical role in
economic as well as labor market
success. However, business and
health services continue to grow
as critical subindustries for
diversification.
Gary Earl
fm 06.05
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ON LOCATION
Safety First
MORE HOME, CONDO AND OFFICE BUYERS
ARE LOOKING FOR HIGH-TECH SECURITY.
“SAFE AND SOUND.” “Snug as a bug.” These are adages that have lived on
for generations. Next to food, safe shelter is one of our most basic needs.
Today’s homebuyers are not unlike the Neanderthals, who roamed the
earth seeking shelter — the roaming has just been replaced by surfing the
Internet. And like our ancestors, we don’t seek just any old place to live —
we seek a safe haven.
“In general, buyers are seeking more security,” says Realtor® Marty Kaiser
of Keller Williams Homestead Realty in Orlando. “I don’t believe, however,
this has become an overwhelming priority with the average middle-class
buyer, but many buyers do prefer some type of security system.”
Kaiser says he sees more state-of-the-art technology for security, such as
very sophisticated video surveillance equipment, in higher-priced homes.
“Generally speaking, in an upscale condo community, with [fewer]
children and either older demographics or owners who travel extensively,
more sophisticated equipment is more often either offered or requested by
occupants,” says Kaiser
Gary Balanoff, broker of RE/MAX Select in Oviedo, believes residents
enjoy having more security if it’s necessary and affordable.
“Like everything,” he notes, “costs have gone up [for security]. Given a
‘safe neighborhood,’ buyers would rather pay more for the home and opt
out of the security system. For [some areas], however, I think the awareness is that you need to have as much security as possible.”
TAKING SECURITY TO A NEW LEVEL
The VUE at Lake Eola, a new project that’s just broken ground in
downtown Orlando, will be the first in town with a “James Bond” type
TECHNOLOGY PROMOTES SAFETY
Security is an important consideration for apartment and
condominium dwellers, especially in urban areas.
But, security technology doesn’t always mean high tech or new tech.
Sometimes old tech works just fine. Here are some examples:
Access Control —This includes fences, gates, windows, doors, locks,
and common area lighting.
of security system, which will soon be copied elsewhere. The centerpiece of
its coordinated security system is the biometric fingerprint scanner. Since
every fingerprint is different, these machines allow each user to scan his or
her fingerprint to gain access to a building.
Hope McCampbell, vice president of marketing for The VUE, says the
biometric fingerprint scanner system that will be used at The VUE (when it
Security Gates — Automatic gates and formidable wrought-iron
fencing are the most common high-profile access control system
added during new construction of garden apartments. Gated
communities are desirable to most prospective residents and
most properties change a premium rent for it.
Card Access Systems — Electronic card access technology is still the
best system for opening locked common area doors and gates.
Key Control — With a card access system, key control of common
area doors is easier and cheaper to manage. If an access card is lost
or a resident moves out, the card can be deleted from the system
with a few keystrokes.
In the coming years, expect to see increased demand for security
amenities, especially on upscale properties. Alarms systems, electronic
access control, adequate lighting, and a visible security presence will
be desirable amenities that apartment dwellers will seek.
SOURCE: SECURITY EXPERT CHRIS E. MCGOEY, CRIMEDOCTOR.COM
fm 06.05
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Biometric fingerprint scanning machines are
the wave of the future for condo security.
opens in 2007) is the idea of
developer Mike Murray of
Churchill Development Group LLC.
“It provides not only very
good security, but it also acts as
From left: Mike Churchill,
Marty Kaiser and Gary Balanoff
a convenience for residents,”
says McCampbell. She adds that
the system also allows condo
management and/or landlords
to track who’s coming in and
out of the building.
McCampbell says the biometric
scanning devices will be used for
residents to enter the building,
parking garage and resident-only
areas but not for their individual
units. She says the technology
is fairly popular in Europe but
hasn’t caught on here yet.
“As more developers learn
about the new technology, I
suspect we’ll be hearing about
it more in the United States,”
she says. “This high-tech
security measure is popular in
the banking industry and in the
government sector, but has only
recently started to be used in
condominium projects. In fact,
only a handful of developers
have started offering this
technology across the nation.
To my knowledge, no one else
is using it in Orlando.”
Frank Billingsly, executive
director of the Downtown
Development Board, agrees. He’s
not aware of any business or
condo using this type of high-tech
security. However, Deborah Huss,
of Haywood Properties, says
that many businesses are using
keycard-access technology and
security cameras; the Regent’s
Plaza and the Landmark Center
are examples.
“The scanners and fingerprintrecognition technology are probably the [coolest] security [items]
out there,” agrees Balanoff.
And while the days of
unlocked doors and windows
may now be part of our recent
history, it appears that today’s
technology will help keep us safe
and sound. Or snug as a bug.
fm 06.05
25
LEADERSHIP
Inspiring Others: Betsy Culpepper
TO HAVE A STRONG COMMUNITY, YOU MUST HAVE STRONG PARTICIPANTS.
HERE’S HOW ONE CENTRAL FLORIDA LEADER HELPS BUILD A ROBUST REGION.
INSPIRATION. THAT’S WHAT Betsy Culpepper found
The best part, according to Culpepper is, “they go out
after going through Leadership Orlando in 1996 and
wanting to make Orlando a better place to live. This is,
that’s what she hopes to give to others in the community.
after all, our home.”
After the communications director for Orlando
Regional Healthcare enrolled in the Leadership Orlando
Betsy Culpepper believes in
the power of volunteerism.
(LO) Class 36 in 1996; she returned to serve as chair of
CONTINUING THE TRADITION
In 2003-04, Culpepper took on the job of chair of
Class 44 and inspired three of her fellow classmates to
Leadership Alumni Board of Directors, where she helped
take on the chair’s role in subsequent classes. “Seeing
launch the Chamber’s successful “Listening to Leaders”
people do something immediate as a result of being in
program series.
the Leadership Orlando class is fantastic,” she says. “I
It’s not surprising, then, that Culpepper has taken her
heard a story about a Leadership attendee who, after
leadership skills to other organizations throughout Central
spending the day at the jail with his Leadership class,
Florida, including the Downtown Orlando Foundation,
started a program to help integrate those released back
Junior League of Greater Orlando and St. Michael’s
into the workforce.” Inspiring — you bet!
Episcopal Church in College Park. She credits her ability to
Leadership Orlando is the nation’s largest community
be involved to the flexibility her company allows her.
leadership program, developed by the Orlando Regional
“Orlando Regional believes that leadership development,
Chamber of Commerce, designed to make Central Floridians
education and participation is vital for our community’s
become connected and engaged community leaders.
future. I’m thankful to work for a company who recognizes
the value of community service,” says Culpepper.
ONGOING LEARNING
Whether attending as a member or as a facilitator,
Culpepper, a lifelong resident of Orlando, says the
Leadership Orlando has made its mark on Culpepper. “I
program continues to teach her new things about the
really believe in the program,” she says. “It continues to
community. Culpepper recently served as chair of LO Class
create that necessary connectivity our community needs
66, by virtue of Orlando Regional Healthcare’s financial
to stay vibrant. Everyone I know who’s been through
support of the program.
Leadership Orlando is empowered to “plug in” and take
Her LO 66 class recently visited the Community
Education Partnership School in northwest Orlando.
those servant-leader roles that we need throughout
Central Florida.”
The two-year-old, privately owned school, in partnership
with Orange County Public schools, hopes to improve
academic skills for students who are truant, disruptive
or academically challenged.
“I didn’t know [the school] was there before Leadership
Orlando introduced it to me,” Culpepper says. “It’s such an
eye-opening experience. It made us [the class] aware of
“If you want
to lift yourself
up, lift up
someone else.”
BOOKER T.WASHINGTON
both the challenges our schools face and the absolute
dedication of educators to make a difference in these kids’
lives. For me, it was both educational and inspirational.”
TRANSFORMING THE COMMUNITY
Of course, the impact of community involvement
stays with many forever. Friendships are formed
and community awareness is heightened. “It
fascinates me to see how Leadership Orlando
transforms people,” Culpepper says. “As the
class progresses, you get to watch the process
of people ‘buying into Orlando.’ Whether
they’re new to town or they’ve lived here
their whole lives, they gain an entirely new
view of the place where they live.”
fm 06.05
26
For more information on Leadership Orlando and to get involved,
go to www.orlando.org.
SPIN
Monday, June 6, 2005
Connect with Customers
LOOKING FOR A NEW WAY TO PERSONALIZE YOUR BUSINESS AND BOND
WITH CUSTOMERS? CONSIDER A WEB BLOG TO BOOST YOUR BUSINESS.
BLOG — IT’S A funny term, but one that makes
BLOG RESOURCES
Read what customers are
saying about you — today. The
following search engine’s dig
through thousands of blogs to
pull up the ones most relevant
to your interests.
www.technorati.com
www.feedster.com
www.faganfinder.com/blogs
www.pubsub.com
Want to start your own blog?
Try these sites for help:
www.blogger.com
www.typepad.com
www.movabletype.org
Here are Hallett’s tips to developing a
sense when you realize it’s simply a shortened
well-read Web blog:
version of Web log. “It’s simply the term for an
Start reading. “Before developing your own blog,
I suggest you go out and read other blogs,” says
Hallett. “It’s a great way to listen to the marketplace.” Hallett says to search (technorati.com is
one blog search engine) for your company’s name
to see what customers are already saying about
you. “If it’s positive, use [it] as a testimonial. If it’s
negative, then use it to educate your staff on
better ways of doing things,” he says. Another
useful search engine is pubsub.com. “Spend some
time and figure out what some of your favorite
blogs are doing right,” he says.
online journal,” says Josh Hallett, owner of Hyku
LLC, an Orlando-based information architecture
and Web usability firm. “A blog is frequently
updated, and posts are made in chronological
order,” he adds.
So, what does this have to do with your
company? A lot, if you’re willing to spend the
time posting interesting tidbits about your
company and highlighting new products and
services. “Blogs are not for everyone, but if you’re
a business owner who wants to put a human
face on your company as well as get people
visiting your site frequently, then you might
consider this investment,” says Hallett.
The way it works is that you dedicate an area of
your company’s Web site to the blog. Each day, the
business owner, manager or an employee writes a
few short sentences detailing a new product, a
new service, an interesting sales call, recent
awards or any other topic relating to the business.
Customers can come to the site and read the
blog. The key is to offer a creative and interesting
message to readers. “You have to know the subject
and be passionate about it,” says Hallett. “That’s
why this works so well with small family-owned
businesses.”
Consider it an addition to the publicity
your public relations firms gets you, says
Hallett. And, now there’s software out there
that makes it easy and affordable for even the
most techno-unsavvy person.
Budget your time. A blog doesn’t have to be
time consuming, but it must be something
you’re willing to update at least three to four
times a week. “It doesn’t have to be a lot of work,”
says Hallett. “It can be two or three sentences,
highlighting something that benefits the community. If you’re monitoring what’s going on, you
can point to existing things as well, such as ‘Hey,
check out the article about us in the Life & Times
section of the Orlando Sentinel,’” says Hallett.
Don’t stress about the writing. Remember, says
Hallett, you’re creating your own blog, and it
should be your words. “Write it just like you
talk, in a conversational format,” he says. “By
running a blog you bypass the media filter and
draw readers.”
Content is key. From studies pertaining to your
business to information about new-product
launches, topics on your blog can run the gamut.
Hallett suggests you write about information
pertaining to your business, industry information, awards won, new products and services,
and even personal stories about employees who
went above and beyond.
Promote it. Get the word out about your blog.
Hallett says to put out a news release and also
include information about it in your traditional
marketing pieces. “Spend two weeks reading
blogs, “ says Hallett. “You can tell who’s
influential on the blogging scene. Then, send
e-mails to those people and post comments
with a link back to your blog.” That, says Hallett,
will help drive traffic to your blog as well.
“It’s a slowly building thing,” he says. But, in
this competitive marketplace, it’s well worth the
time and effort to give your business a leg up
and build your brand effectively.
fm 06.05
30
fm 06.05
31
ISSUES WATCH
Mixed Results
LIKE MOST LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS, THIS
ONE ENDED WITH MANY LOOSE ENDS.
WHEN THE TRADITIONAL handkerchiefs fell adjourning the
2005 Legislative session there was a mixed bag of results for
the business community, our region and Gov. Jeb Bush —
who was frustrated at times by an increasingly independent
No decision was made to implement
voter-approved gambling in Broward County.
legislature. With the 2006 election just over the horizon, it's
clear that the governor is drawing nearer to the end of his
final term in Tallahassee.
Here in our region we can take heart over passage of
the legislation providing for trauma center funding by
increasing penalties for running red lights. But there’s no
constitutional amendments going to the voters in
solace for supporters of the legislation to provide Orange
2006, while plans to tighten up the constitutional
County with a sales tax rebate from its Convention Center
amendment process died on the calendar.
along with the initiative to gain sales distributions to
certain sports franchises, including the Orlando Magic,
session as major components of the tort reform
as both measures were bottled up in the closing days of
package, including class action, elimination of
the session.
joint and several liability and product liability
In analyzing the impact of the 2005 legislative
streetlights liability and asbestos exposure
Ketchum stated, “A legislative session always brings some
reforms passing.
On the taxation front, while there were some
the leadership shown by Rep. Dean Cannon and House
positive developments with the repeal of the
Majority Leader Andy Gardiner in steering to passage
Substitute Communications Tax, a halving of
important legislation which, if signed by Gov. Bush, will help
the remaining Intangibles Tax and renewal of the
insure our trauma center remains open to serve our region.”
Sales Tax Holiday, there was disappointment over
Two of the governor’s top priorities — growth manage-
the failures of the Research and Development
ment and Medicaid Reform got some traction in the session
Equipment Sales Tax Exemption and the Alcoholic
as compromise legislation passed to attempt to better
Beverage Surcharge repeal.
control the state’s spiraling growth and to begin the
With the legislature’s inability to reach a
shifting of Florida’s costly existing Medicaid program to
consensus on implementation and regulation
a managed care system in a few pilot counties first before
of the voter-approved gambling in Broward
going statewide.
County, this will have to wait for yet another
For the Florida Chamber’s critical “Business Agenda,”
32
fell by the wayside in Senate with only the
session,Chamber Vice President for Public Policy Mike
disappointments but one of the bright spots this year was
fm 06.05
Further, there was little tort reform seen this
legislative session or perhaps a court to render
some important successes were tempered by several major
a ruling in the interim on this controversial
disappointments. The ballot reform package resulted in only
matter which could have some far reaching
one measure, raising the bar to 60 percent for approval of
implications for the state.
“Plans to
re-structure the
constitutional
amendment
process lost a
spot on the
tight schedule.”
MIKE KETCHUM
ORLANDO REGIONAL
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
fm 06.05
33
COVER STORY (continued from page 14)
GOING HIGH TECH
and gives you a seat map of the
plane you’re boarding, so you can
see where your seat is and which
seats are still open, allowing you to
pick a better one if you want. Once
the transaction is complete, the
machine prints out your boarding
pass and you’re on your way to
check your bags, if necessary, and
go through security.
Melnik, president and CEO of
Kinetics Inc., headquartered in Lake
Mary, sees less stress whenever he
visits an airport, vividly recalling a
time when he watched a harried
businesswoman scurry in, no
doubt dreading the check-in
process. Melnik stepped aside and
watched his technology transform
the woman’s body language.“She
just rushed right in, and boom,
boom, boom, 20 seconds later she
was out of there,” Melnik says.“The
minute that boarding pass went
fm 06.05
34
into her hands, she just walked
with a leisurely pace to the
security line.”
Today, there are more than
4,000 airline self-service units in
more than 258 airports around
the world. In October 2004, NCR
acquired Kinetics to further
grow the company. Now Kinetics
is introducing its touch-screen
machines to fast-food restaurants, rental car companies,
cruise lines and hotels.
“I can’t tell you how many
times people have said, ‘I just love
you guys,’” says Melnik. “It really
helps people transform their lives.
Anytime you can give people back
control of their time, it’s just a
very powerful thing.”
And just one more way Central
Florida companies are making a
high-tech difference.
The Florida High Tech Corridor Council (FHTCC) was established by the Legislature
in 1996 to attract, retain and grow high-tech industries and to help develop the
work force to support those industries in the 23-county service areas of the
University of Central Florida, the University of South Florida and the University of
Florida. The Council is made up of the presidents of UCF, USF and UF, the presidents
of two community colleges who serve on a rotating basis, the president of the
Florida Institute of Technology, and up to 24 representatives of high-tech industry.
“The Florida High Tech Corridor Council began 2005 with a bang by welcoming
the University of Florida as a full partner. We’re
excited about all that’s in store — new research
capabilities, emerging industry, additional
partnerships and just an overall enthusiasm
for high-tech industry across all 23 counties.”
says Randy Berridge, president of the FHTCC.
More than 75 percent, or nearly $90 million,
of the $120 million in combined funds from
Corridor companies and the Legislature have
been used over the nine-year period since
the Council’s establishment to engage 1,000
graduate and doctoral students and research
assistants and 300 faculty members in
side-by-side research with scientists and
engineers from 225 companies on a total of
550 research projects.
RANDY BERRIDGE, FHTCC
SOURCE: FLORIDA HIGH TECH CORRIDOR COUNCIL
new members | CHAMBER INSIGHT
1st 2nd Mortgage Company
841 Altaloma Avenue
Suite B
Orlando, FL 32803
Ms. Jennifer Starling
Mortgage Bankers or Brokers
Global Medical Research, LLC
250 Park Avenue South
Suite 360
Winter Park, FL 32789
Mr. Gray Morrison
Research and Testing Services
Springdale Group, LLC
8767 Wittenwood Cove
Orlando, FL 32836
Ms. Cynthia M. Middleton
Business/Performance
Improvement Consultants
Washington Mutual Bank Casselberry
1395 Semoran Boulevard
Casselberry, FL 32707
Mr. Frank Colasuono
Banks
Washington Mutual Bank
Orlando/Bay Hill
7674 Dr. Phillips Boulevard
Orlando, FL 32819
Ms. Sheila Porreta-Doria
Banks
Washington Mutual Bank Clermont
ADP
5728 Major Boulevard
Suite 100
Orlando, FL 32819
Ms. Melissa Vingiano
Payroll Services
GMAC Mortgage
258 East Altamonte Drive
Altamonte Springs, FL 32701
Mr. Patrick Mars
Mortgage Bankers or Brokers
The E2 Project
1600 Sarno Road
Suite 119 E
Melbourne, FL 32935
Mr. Emmett Gatson
Graphic Design/Illustrators
Bill Heard Chevrolet
Agility Advisory Group, LLC
1071 Caesars Court
Mount Dora, FL 32757
Mr. Bill Cotta
Business/Performance
Improvement Consultants
Aloha Carpet Cleaners
P.O. Box 300069
Fern Park, FL 32730
Mr. John Talamayan
Carpet and Rug (Cleaning)
127 North Oregon Street
Sanford, FL 32771
Mr. Ed Weatherford
Automobile Dealers (New and Used)
Inaara MedSpa of Orlando
4104 Millenia Boulevard
Suite 100
Orlando, FL 32839
Ms. Lauren Knickman
Health Services and Products
The Morganti Group, Inc.
200 East Robinson Street
Suite 1220
Orlando, FL 32801
Mr. Gerry Kelly
Construction (Management)
The Plymouth Retirement Center
1550 Gay Road
Winter Park, FL 32789
Mr. Ed A. Searl
Retirement Homes/Assisted Living
304 West Colonial Drive
Orlando, FL 32801
Ms. Jennifer Sanchez
Hotels, Motels and Resorts
1855 West State Road 434
Longwood, FL 32750
Mr. Heath Ritenour
Insurance
T-Mobile
4640 East Colonial Drive
Orlando, FL 32803
Mr. Carey M. Carter
Cellular Communications
Key Partners USA, Inc.
Barbara Ifshin Consulting, LLC
1110 Southwest Ivanhoe Boulevard
Suite 17
Orlando, FL 32804
Ms. Barbara Ifshin
Advertising (Agencies/Consultants)
388 Woodstead Circle
Longwood, FL 32779
Mr. Ed Cardetti
Computer (Consultants)/Computer
Technology Solutions
Tropical Business Integrators, Inc.
3956 Town Center Boulevard
Suite 161
Orlando, FL 32837
Mr. Roberto Damianik
Computer (Systems Integrator)
Moneycorp
Billings Photography & Design
10363 Windermere Chase Boulevard
Gotha, FL 34734
Mr. Rick Billings
Photographers
Brinks Home Security
5422 Carrier Drive
Suite 305
Orlando, FL 32819
Mr. Brad Inklebarger
Security (Systems/Services)
215 Celebration Place
Suite 500
Kissimmee, FL 34747
Ms. Laura Dickinson
International Business
Orlando Federal Credit Union
4500 South John Young Parkway
Orlando, FL 32839
Ms. Gisela Campos
Credit Unions
Orlando Federal Credit Union
CarMax
5751 Eagle Vail Drive
Orlando, FL 32822
Mr. Ron Whitener
Automobile Dealers (New and Used)
2150 South Semoran Boulevard
Orlando, FL 32822
Ms. Linda O’Connor
Credit Unions
Orlando Federal Credit Union
Christensen Financial
2484 West State Road 434
Longwood, FL 32779
Mr. Kevin Adams
Mortgage Bankers or Brokers
1117 South Westmoreland Drive
Orlando, FL 32805
Mr. John M. Neusaenger
Credit Unions
Papacy Productions
Community Bank of Florida
3221 South Florida Avenue
Lakeland, FL 33803
Ms. Amy Benison
Banks
Cornerstone Imaging
318 Lake Dora Road
Mount Dora, FL 32757
Mr. Gil Duff
Computer (Software Development)
CorPlan Services, LLC
7147 Yacht Basin Avenue
Suite 133
Orlando, FL 32835
Ms. Karin Lindsay
Event Planning and Production
Expetec Technology Services (East
Colonial Drive)
16031 Corner Lake Drive
Orlando, FL 32820
Mr. Christian Markham
Computer Technology Solutions
1000 Universal Studios Plaza
Building 22-A
Orlando, FL 32819
Mr. Wade Pena
Video (Production)
Paradise Living
7909 North West 128th Lane
Parkland, FL 33076
Mr. Tim Donohue
Corporate Housing
RayyaNet
6239 Edgewater Drive
Suite N2-3
Orlando, FL 32810
Mr. Alan Stevens
Web Design and Development
Return To Work America
P.O. Box 541535
Orlando, FL 32854
L. Stuart Cody, MHS, CRC, LMHC
Human Resources (Employee Benefits)
RoofMaster of Central Florida, Inc.
Fifth Third Bank
250 North Orange Avenue
Orlando, FL 32801
Mr. Gary Howlett
Banks
1904 West Colonial Drive
Orlando, FL 32804
Mr. Trevor D. MacGowan
Roofing
Sonny’s Franchise Company
Florida Bank of Commerce
(In Organization)
P.O. Box 3033
Orlando, FL 32802
Mr. Craig E. Polejes
Banks
2605 Maitland Center Parkway
Suite C
Maitland, FL 32751
Ms. Monique R. Yeager
Catering/Restaurants
Washington Mutual Bank
Clermont East
16705 State Road 50
Clermont, FL 34711
Ms. Olivia Barajas
Banks
Washington Mutual Bank
Hunters Creek
3924 Town Center Boulevard
Orlando, FL 32837
Ms. Esperanza Braz-De-Luz
Banks
Washington Mutual Bank
Orlando/Pine Hills
801 Deauville Drive
Orlando, FL 32808
Ms. Vicki Cooper
Banks
Washington Mutual Bank
Orlando/South Semoran
4530 South Semoran Boulevard
Orlando, FL 32822
Mr. Miguel Maldonado
Banks
Washington Mutual Bank Sanford
4190 West State Road 46
Sanford, FL 34787
Ms. Rosa Perez-Reder
Banks
Washington Mutual Bank Isleworth
Insurance Office of America
Americas Best Value Inn
220 Citrus Tower Boulevard
Clermont, FL 34711
Mr. John Whiffen
Banks
Universal Technical Institute
9751 Delegates Drive
Orlando, FL 32837
Mr. Dwight Berry
Schools (Private)
University of Central Florida
Technology Incubator
12565 Research Parkway
Suite 300
Orlando, FL 32826
Mr. Gordon H. Hogan
Business (Development)
Washington Mutual Bank
Altamonte Springs
500 East Altamonte Drive
Altamonte Springs, FL 32701
Mr. Raoul Alcordo
Banks
Washington Mutual Bank
Altamonte Springs/Gateway
851 South State Road 434
Altamonte Springs, FL 32701
Ms. Karen Noboa
Banks
Washington Mutual Bank
Altamonte Springs/Wekiva
4876 South Apopka Vineland Road
Orlando, FL 32819
Mr. Mark Lins
Banks
Washington Mutual Bank
Kissimmee/Buenaventura Lakes
1004 Buenaventura Lakes Boulevard
Kissimmee, FL 34743
Mr. Arcenet Velez
Banks
Washington Mutual Bank
Kissimmee/Poinciana
875 Cypress Parkway
Kissimmee, FL 34759
Ms. Maria Mayfield
Banks
Washington Mutual Bank Seminola
3385 Highway 17-92
Suite 285
Casselberry, FL 32709
Mr. Michael Mele
Banks
Washington Mutual Bank
South Kissimmee
3193 South John Young Parkway
Kissimmee, FL 34746
Ms. Judy Crawford
Banks
Washington Mutual Bank St. Cloud
4355 13th Street
St. Cloud, FL 34769
Ms. Starla Gama
Banks
Washington Mutual Bank Lake Mary
3801 West Lake Mary Boulevard
Lake Mary, FL 32746
Ms. Sherri Moran
Banks
Washington Mutual Bank Tuscawilla
5601 Red Bug Lake Road
Winter Springs, FL 32708
Ms. Michelle Knight
Banks
Washington Mutual Bank Longwood
929 West Highway 434
Longwood, FL 32750
Ms. Venita Phifer
Banks
Washington Mutual Bank Winter Park
1870 Aloma Avenue
Winter Park, FL 32789
Mr. Greg Heiser
Banks
Washington Mutual Bank Ocoee
1784 East Silver Star Road
Ocoee, FL 34761
Ms. Darlene Rhodus
Banks
Washington Mutual Bank
Orange City
Washington Mutual HLC
807 West Morse Boulevard
Suite 100
Winter Park, FL 32789
Ms. Jennifer Gay
Banks
2596 Enterprise Boulevard
Orange City, FL 32763
Ms. Nanette Valeri
Banks
931 North State Road 434
Altamonte Springs, FL 32714
Ms. Kelly Gonzalez
Banks
Washington Mutual Bank Americana
5113 South John Young Parkway
Orlando, FL 32839
Ms. Karen DeJesus
Banks
Washington Mutual Bank Apopka
One East Main Street
Apopka, FL 32703
Ms. Shelley Myles
Banks
April’s new members. Find May’s
new members in the next issue.
Washington Mutual Bank
Apopka/Rock Springs
1450 Rock Springs Road
Apopka, FL 32712
Ms. Xiomara Cabus
Banks
Washington Mutual Bank
Apopka/Wekiva
2111 East Semoran Boulevard
Apopka, FL 32703
Mr. Matthew Verboncoeur
Banks
Regional Board of Advisors
Chamber Trustees
Small Business Chamber
fm 06.05
35
June 05
8
9
Leadership Orlando
Class 65 Graduation
Puerto Rico Business &
Community Exchange
7:30 am–5:00 pm
Contact Rebecca Cone at 407.835.2487 or
[email protected]
Pre-Departure Breakfast
8
Contact Vilma Quintana at 407.835.2520 or
[email protected]
Leadership Alumni
Board Meeting
So Social Networking
Happy Hour
5:30–9:30 pm
The Westin Grand Bohemian
325 South Orange Avenue, Orlando
(corner of Orange and Jackson)
15
11:45 am–1:30 pm
Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce Boardroom
75 South Ivanhoe Boulevard, Orlando
Contact Scott Bender at 407.260.5200 or
[email protected]
Leadership Orlando Class 66
Quality of Life (Healthcare)
Contact FeLisa Kirk at 407.835.2523 or
[email protected]
7:30 am–5:00 pm
Sponsor: LYNX
20
05
15
8:00–9:30 a.m.
Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce Boardroom
75 South Ivanhoe Boulevard, Orlando
Contact Rebecca Cone at 407.835.2487 or
[email protected]
Signature events are designed to engage and educate our community through several unique formats. From the Hispanic Summit and
Community Fly-Ins to Tallahassee, and Washington D.C., to the Orlando Magic "Tip-Off" Luncheon and Regional HobNob, you'll have the
opportunity to meet, communicate and network with some of the top professional and community leaders in Central Florida.
Signature Events
Visit www.orlando.org for detailed
information on upcoming events
UCF
COMMUNITY
KICKOFF
LUNCHEON
May 17-19, 2005
March 3-4, 2005
January
February
January 21-23, 2005
CHAMBER
LEADERSHIP
RETREAT
fm 06.05
36
March
April
March 16-17, 2005
May
June
August 30, 2005
July
August
June 23-26, 2005
September
October 17-23, 2005
October
October 20, 2005
AKERMAN SENTERFITT
REGIONAL
HOBNOB
"POLITICS IN THE PARK"
November
December
October, 2005
ORLANDO MAGIC
"TIP-OFF"
LUNCHEON
16
22
23–26
Small Business Chamber
Board of Directors Meeting
Leadership Orlando Class 67
Ropes Course
2005 Puerto Rico Business &
Community Exchange
11:45 am–1:30 pm
Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce
75 South Ivanhoe Boulevard, Orlando
8:00 am–5:30 pm
Wyndham El Conquistador Resort & Spa
Las Croabas, Puerto Rico
Contact Rebecca Cone at 407.835.2487 or
[email protected]
Contact Lisa Dishman at 407.835.2451 or
[email protected]
Special thanks to our Co-Sponsors: Robert W. Baird &
Co. Incorporated and Up-A-Tree Interiorscaping, Inc.
Leadership Orlando Class 67
Orientation
22
4:00–7:00 pm (Special Time)
Tupperware Headquarters
Kissimmee (Special Location)
Pricing: $1,750 per Delegate, $2,250 per Couple
Includes all Registration Fees, Accommodations,
Ground Transportation, Air Travel, Meals, Exclusive
Briefing, Gala Banquet and All Meeting Materials
and Applicable Sales and Resort Taxes.
Contact Lisa Winkelbauer at 407.835.2448 or
[email protected]
Special thanks to our Sponsor:
Tupperware Corporation
7:30 am–6:00 pm
Contact Rebecca Cone at 407.835.2487
or [email protected]
April / July / September
OUT
Official Airline of the 2005 Puerto Rico Business &
Community Exchange: PanAm Clipper Connection,
Operated by Boston-Maine Airways
Board of Governors Meeting
21
Contact Vilma Quintana at 407.835.2520 or
[email protected]
SOLD
February / May / September / November
January / March / May / July / September / November
January / March / May / July / September / November
LEADERSHIP FORUMS
COMMUNITY LUNCHEONS
LISTENING TO LEADERS
BUSINESS@BREAKFAST
Regional Leadership Forums give Chamber
Members the opportunity to work together with
other top community leaders to define and
resolve our regions most important issues.
Regional Leadership Forums begin with a
Continental Breakfast, followed by the Leadership
Forum - and conclude with Lunch and a Guest
Speaker. Regional Leadership Forums are a
commitment of the Regional Chamber to properly
advance and discuss the projects and programs
that affect Chamber Members and the
communities in which we live, work and play.
Regional Leadership Forums are offered by
invitation only to the Regional Board of Advisors
and their Special Guests.
Community Luncheon give Chamber Members the
opportunity to Hear top-notch speakers from
around the country as they discuss issues important
to our community. These powerful Community
Luncheons are designed specifically for CEO's and
Senior Executives to come together to share and
learn about our region’s future. Community
Luncheons are offered by invitation only to
Chamber Trustees and their Special Guests.
Listening to Leaders give all Chamber Designed
Members the opportunity to continue the learning
experience that started with Leadership Orlando,
speakers offer insights into the practices that have
helped them achieve success in their fields, define
leadership lessons taught in their segments of the
community, and offer suggestions on strategies those
attendees can use to become better leaders. Listening
to Leaders are for all Chamber Members and their
Special Guests, everyone is welcome to attend.
Business@Breakfast give all Chamber Members
the opportunity to Network with other Central
Florida Business Leaders and to enjoy a
program featuring business speakers, focused
on our region's hottest topics. What It’s a great
way to help your business grow. Come and
learn. Meet new friends and build relationships.
Business@Breakfast are for all Chamber
Members and their Special Guests, everyone is
welcome to attend.
Visit www.orlando.org for detailed
information on upcoming events
This year’s All Access “Ticket to Ride” Tour is packed full of community celebrations and educational forums. From Business@Breakfast and Listening to
Leaders Networking Forums, to Regional Leadership Forums and Chamber Trustees Community Luncheons, All Access Tour Events give you the
opportunity meet and do Business with professional just like you, as well as keep abreast of the latest happenings with the Chamber.
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PARTING SHOTS
쑺쑺 CHRIS FENGER
President, Central Florida Division, Bright House Networks
Facilitating the
Information Flow
Photo: Ricard0 Aguilar
DEDICATED TO ACTIVE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION AND SUPPORT,
BRIGHT HOUSE NETWORKS PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA.
CENTRAL FLORIDA CONTINUES to grow, and
the need for a smooth flow of information and
quality communication services is more critical
than ever. Enter Bright House Networks, a company
that provides these services in a civic-minded
manner that enhances the community.
As president of the Central Florida division, Chris
Fenger oversees the provision of cable television
entertainment and high-speed Internet access to
more than 770,000 customers in a nine-county
area. He leads a battle-hardened team that was
We’ve been recognized five times with a top award
for Corporate Support of the Arts by United Arts of
Central Florida. We’ve also received a Business
Partner Recognition Award from the Orange/
Osceola/Valencia School-to-Work Partnership.
FM: WHAT DO YOU DO ON A DAILY BASIS?
FENGER: No day is ever the same here. I deal with
operating issues such as call volume, completion rates
in the field, employee training and creating product
development with my team. I look at what’s going on
in telecom space from a product standpoint.
severely tested last summer when three hurricanes
ravaged the region.
“There’s a mind-set of accomplishment, of pride,
of coming through it,” Fenger says. “The employees
worked hard in trying circumstances. Could some
things have been done better? You bet. But given
the magnitude of damage, we did a good job.”
FirstMonday asked Fenger why it’s essential for
FM: WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SMALLER
COMPANIES WHO WANT TO GET INVOLVED IN
THEIR COMMUNITY?
FENGER: First and foremost, do something! Second,
align what you can bring to what’s needed within the
community, and third, get involved with organizations
like the Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce or
the United Arts.
CLOSE UP
companies to be involved and maintain roots in the
community. Here’s what he had to say:
FM: HOW DO YOU STAY IN TOUCH WITH WHAT
YOUR CUSTOMERS WANT?
FM: WHY DO YOU THINK IT’S IMPORTANT TO
MAINTAIN ROOTS IN THE COMMUNITY?
FENGER: We conduct blind phone surveys that
allow us to measure the perception and image
our customers have about us. We also measure
customer satisfaction and products people want
that we may or may not already have. We test all
of our advertising before the public sees it, using
focus groups that consist of existing and non
existing customers. The stakes are high in this
business; you don’t want to put a message out
there that lays an egg.
FENGER: From a philosophical standpoint, I think
community ties are important to sustaining a vibrant
community. It can’t be done with just public and
citizen dollars. Citizens and corporations have to play
a part, and Bright House believes that everyone
brings something to the table.
FM: HOW IS BRIGHT HOUSE INVOLVED IN THE
COMMUNITY?
FENGER: We recently sponsored the 17th Annual
Fiesta Medina, the region’s largest Hispanic festival.
I actually worked in the company’s booth.
With our Cable in the Classroom program, we
provide free cable connections to schools that allow
access to more than 500 hours of commercial-free,
educational programming.
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FM: WHAT KIND OF IMPACT HAS BRIGHT HOUSE
HAD IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY?
FENGER: We facilitate the economic impact of the
flow of information. People are making decisions
that drive our local economy based on what they see
on TV. Take the hurricanes, for example. This has
value to me beyond dollars. The services we deliver
are a motivation for me.
Fenger came to Bright House
Networks in Oct. 2003 after
serving as senior vice president
of operations for the Western
Division of St. Louis-based
Charter Communications.
There, he was responsible for
managing a region serving
2 million customers.
At Charter Communications,
Fenger oversaw the upgrade of
the cable system to fiber-optic
technology, opened regional call
centers and enhanced customer
service programs.
Fenger holds a bachelor's
degree in public relations and
a master's degree in media
management from Syracuse
University in New York.