Congressman Posey Hosts Entrepreneur Summit

     The Osceola County Economic Development Department coordinated with Congressman Bill Posey in hosting a successful entrepreneur summit in Osceola County on April 27. The event at Workforce Central Florida in Kissimmee showcased six local entrepreneurs to the public and potential investors.
     The event drew a large crowd of interested business leaders, local experts and members of the public.

     “The entrepreneurial spirit is alive in Central Florida,” said Congressman Posey. “This was a great experience and I very much enjoyed the opportunity to listen to the presentations and talk with local business leaders about getting our local economy moving. I would like to thank everyone who helped pull this forum together, for their dedication to our community and their drive to help local businesses and job seekers succeed.”

      “Osceola County is glad to be part of an event that helps identify and nurture entrepreneurs in our community,” said Osceola County Commissioner Frank Attkisson. “This forum is a great way to jump start entrepreneurship – and ultimately help small businesses that will create jobs for Osceola County residents.”

     “In these tough economic times, it is vital that agencies work together to create an environment that allows small businesses to flourish,” said Maria Toumazos, Osceola County Economic Development Administrator. “There’s no doubt that connections made at today’s event will spark new partnerships and employment opportunities for Osceola County entrepreneurs.”
   A VIP luncheon at Valencia Community College was held with the help of the Florida High Tech Corridor Council and other partners.
    More pictures from the Summit here.

SBDC Success Story: In On Cable Installers Inc.

    Mark Hobson, left  and Jeff Austin (far right), the owners of In On Cable Installers Inc. worked with SuntTrust's Asley Caroli, second from the left, and the SBDC's Janice Lopez, third from the left, to position their company for sustained growth in the future.
     While setting the stage for the future by securing capital, In On Cable Installers Inc. is also hiring right now. Sustained financial growth is expected in coming years, company officials said, thanks in part to resources offered through the Small Business Development Center at UCF-Kissimmee.
     Specializing in all areas of low voltage wiring IN ON has evolved from a two-man operation in 1991 to a company with more than 150 employees in becoming one of the largest cable contractors in Central Florida.
     To leverage their business through programs offered by the SBA, Jeff Austin scheduled an appointment with the SBDC -- a program funded by Osceola County, the City of Kissimmee and United States Small Business Administration -- to learn about the different types of SBA Loan Programs.
     After discussing the company's position, the group decided that more cash flow would allow for an increase in employees. The SBDC recognized that the company was financially sound and the key was to make sure that they were prepared before approaching local lenders.
     Once all the documents were in place, the SBDC referred the client to three SBA participating lenders, one of which was SunTrust who was able to provide the necessary financing through an SBA 7(a). Ashley Caroli, from SunTrust, stated that "the fact that In On was prepared, made the loan process that much smoother."
     In On was able to tap into their local resources and save on finance charges, which in turn has allowed them the opportunity to continue hiring more employees. Jeff Austin stated the "SBDC at UCF is a great resource for companies in Osceola County."

Shrek and Pals to Call Gaylord Home.

   Shrek and his pals are about to make themselves at home in one of Central Florida's biggest hotels, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

    Gaylord Entertainment announced a deal Wednesday with DreamWorks Animation to bring the studio's characters to Gaylord hotels across the country, including the Gaylord Palms Hotel & Convention Center in Kissimmee.

    The partnership gives Gaylord access to DreamWorks' stable of cartoon characters, including those in movies such as "Shrek," "Kung Fu Panda" and "Madagascar." In Central Florida, the arrangement could help the company compete with local theme-park hotels by offering amenities such as "character breakfasts" and themed entertainment.

    "We have been looking for a significant way to expand our leisure offerings for some time, and this program with DreamWorks Animation will allow us to offer unique experiences that will enthrall our customers," said Colin Reed, chairman and chief executive officer of Nashville-based Gaylord Entertainment.

(See Video Here.)   
     Hasbro, Inc.’s (NASDAQ: HAS) NERF brand announced that the annual, much-anticipated NERF DART TAG World Championship will take place at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Aug 19-21.
    "The NERF DART TAG World Championship has experienced tremendous growth during only a few years. There are already nearly 15,000 athletes registered for the NERF DART TAG league and it has inspired us to revamp the competition and open it up to our increasing fan base," said Kelly Stone, Director of U.S. Marketing for Hasbro’s NERF brand. “The major changes to the 2011 competition, our alliance with ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, and completely redesigned DART TAG equipment give this unique sporting event the spotlight it deserves and make the NERF DART TAG experience more accessible to our diverse community of NERF athletes across the country.”

Tupperware makes Fortune "Most Admired Companies" list

Tupperware Brands Corporation (NYSE: TUP) has again been recognized in the Home Equipment category of Fortune’s recently released “Most Admired Companies” list. Tupperware was especially noted for its global competitiveness and the quality of its products, ranking third and fourth respectively within the industry in those categories. “This is the fourth year in a row that Tupperware has been named a ‘Most Admired Company’, which is a testament both to the great work our designers are doing in developing innovative new products and the incredible job our millions of consultants around the globe are doing in representing our brand and growing our business,” said Rick Goings, Chairman and CEO of Tupperware Brands Corporation, which is headquartered in Osceola County. 

Unemployment level falls

   Florida’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in March 2011 is 11.1 percent, the lowest since November 2009 when the rate was also 11.1 percent. This represents 1,030,000 jobless out of a labor force of 9,251,000. The state’s rate is down 0.4 percentage point from the February 2011 rate of 11.5 percent and is 0.2 percentage point lower than the March 2010 rate of 11.3 percent. This is the first over-the-year decline in Florida’s unemployment rate since November 2006.
    Florida’s total nonagricultural employment in March 2011 is 7,205,300, an increase of 22,600 jobs (+0.3 percent) from February 2011. The number of jobs in the state is up 51,500 over the year, an increase of 0.7 percent from March 2010. It is the strongest over-the-year growth rate in the state since May 2007 when it was also 0.7 percent.
   “The continued decline in the unemployment rate paired with very positive job growth provides a strong signal that Florida’s economy has turned the corner,” said Agency for Workforce Innovation Director Cynthia R.Lorenzo. “While there are still too many Floridians out of work, our economy is clearly heading in the right direction with Governor Scott’s emphasis on job creation and economic development.”

Channel Intelligence Facebook App

  Celebration-based Channel Intelligence, a developer of e-commerce software and services for manufacturers and retailers, has unveiled CI Where to Buy Facebook, an application to help manufacturers use the social media site to connect potential buyers to retailers that sell their products, Information Week reports.
    The company's latest product joins its CI Boost family, which includes a product-search tool used within Google and Bing; display advertising; shopping engines used on sites such as PriceGrabber.com and Shopzilla.com; marketplaces for discontinued, refurbished, and end-of-inventory items used on sites like eBay and Amazon; e-commerce sites; and Where to Buy, which directs consumers to retail outlets from a manufacturer's site.
    "A lot of manufacturers are still figuring out how to be in the right place at the right time. The popularity of Facebook is undeniable," Alan Fulmer, CI's executive VP and co-founder, said in an interview. "They know they want to be there and interact with their consumers. People are interacting with brands. If you're looking for opportunities with discounts, deals, or coupons, and there's a buying moment, [manufacturers] want to help them close that process and help them buy."
     More than 100 of CI's 140-plus manufacturing clients have a Facebook page, according to the marketing software and service firm's internal research. About 10 of those manufacturers have created a temporary Facebook solution to help guide their customers to retailers, perhaps by adding a list of retail locations that sell their wares, said Fulmer.

Teeing it up at the Annika Academy

  Shaving a few strokes off your handicap is usually the goal of a golf school getaway, but in some cases the payoff can be much greater. Since spending three days in March 2009 at Annika Academy, a golf and fitness retreat in Osceola County, Heidi Happy of Worcester has lowered her handicap by five strokes, she says. More significantly, the 44-year-old corporate manager has lost more than 150 pounds and credits the academy’s fitness and nutrition training for spurring her transformation. “I left there with a new commitment to health and to myself,” she says. Full Boston.com story here.
    Part of the posh Reunion Resort near Walt Disney World, Annika Academy is spearheaded by contemporary golf legend Annika Sorenstam. At her golf school, students get in-depth instruction from her closest advisers. A 40-year-old Swedish pro who retired from the Ladies Professional Golf Association in 2008 after a Hall of Fame career, Sorenstam has long been known for her shot-making as well as her workout routine – hence her academy’s emphasis on both golf and fitness.
    Sorenstam’s longtime swing coach, Henri Reis, and sister, Charlotta Sorenstam – also an LPGA winner – are two of the school’s lead golf instructors, while Annika’s personal trainer, Kai Fusser, oversees the fitness curriculum. Sorenstam herself participates in select schools, offering clinics and then having lunch with guests; the academy’s ultimate experience, the Soren-Slam, includes a clinic, lunch, and nine holes with her.

9th annual National Economic Gardening Conference in Orlando

    The Florida Economic Gardening Institute in conjunction with the University of Central Florida will host the 9th Annual National Economic Gardening Conference in Orlando on May 19-20. The conference’s primary focus is to give business leaders and economic development representatives the tools necessary to develop viable business development programs that will strengthen their communities, regions and states. Practitioners and speakers from across the country will convene to share ideas and teach new ways to stabilize and grow existing businesses, while learning about the Florida model.
   “The theme of the conference this year is going to be focused on the success of the Florida pilot project. We have been able to scale up the Littleton, Colorado program to a state the size of Florida with high fidelity. We will explore all the components that led to that success.” said Chris Gibbons, Co-Creator of Economic Gardening.
   The conference will begin with a networking reception on Thursday, May 19 at Casa Feliz, the beautifully restored Spanish Farmhouse designed by acclaimed architect James Gamble Rogers located in Winter Park. The conference will be held at the state-of-the-art facilities at the UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management. The scheduled sessions will cover a variety of topics including Entrepreneurs in the Florida Pilot Economic Gardening Program, Building Local Engagement, Outreach and Marketing Strategies, Organizational Culture Perspectives, a Panel Discussion on Other State Programs and their Best Practices, along with many others.
   According to Dr. Tom O’Neal, Executive Director of the Florida Economic Gardening Institute, “We look forward to hosting this important and growing event and look forward to the opportunity to share how economic gardening has reshaped the economic development landscape in Florida.”

University of Florida Celebration of Innovation Showcase, April 19

Anyone interested in licensing, commercializing, investing or otherwise taking new discoveries to the market won't want to miss the University of Florida's Celebration of Innovation April 19. It's an exciting year for UF with developments at Innovation Square, and the Florida Innovation Hub opening in the fall. Hear about new discoveries and see presentations from 14 startup companies in two tracks. The agenda also includes a panel of successful Gator entrepreneur alumni. Read more and register here.

Kissimmee's new college

   With colleges in Orlando, Lakeland and Deland, Florida Technical College is expanding its operations to include one the fastest growing communities of Central Florida – Kissimmee. See full story in Osceola News-Gazette. The college recently celebrated the grand opening of its new Kissimmee campus, serving the needs of the ever-growing population of Osceola County and offering post-secondary education in specialized fields, associate degrees and diploma programs for today's fastest growing professions.
   The college, which was honored in 2009 on the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll – the highest federal recognition a college or university can receive for its commitment to volunteering, service-learning and civic engagement – upholds a proud tradition of career training excellence for more than 28 years, college officials stated in a press release. Faculty, staff and students work together toward the common goal of increased career potential and brighter futures.

ESPN WWOS and Full Sail finalize partnreship

   The ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and Full Sail University have finalized a partnership that enables Full Sail to promote its sports curriculum, the Orlando Business Journal reports. As part of the collaboration, Full Sail will be represented throughout ESPN Wide World of Sports, including the complex’s welcome center, on digital signs and in promotional video packages. In addition, guests who are interested in learning more will be able to arrange a tour of Full Sail’s Winter Park campus from the sports complex.
   The agreement follows the university’s recent launch of its new sports marketing and media bachelor of science degree program. The 32-month curriculum, offered both on-campus and online, is designed to help students develop a balanced skill set of technical expertise and content creation.
   Full Sail also has recently collaborated with ESPN in launching a sports broadcast research lab at the university, complementing the current ESPN Innovation Lab located at its Walt Disney World complex. That lab has been critical in the development of ESPN 3D, Ball Track, NBA Player Card and Ultimate Uplink.