Posts filed under 'Technology'
Posted: June 16, 2009: 1:57 pm
Winter Haven-based cnp_studio has joined forces with California-based VOCE (pronounced voe-chey) Communications. Voce purchased the hard assets from Clark/Nikdel/Powell Design and Communications and hired the Web team including Nick Gernert, Sean O’Shaughnessy, Chris Scott, Mike Pretty and Pete Schiebel (the team will remain based downtown). (Clark/Nikdel/Powell continues to offer Web design and support focusing on their local clients.)
Voce and cnp_studio have been long-time business partners and worked on a variety of social media projects since 2006. The firm manages social media programs for a number of firms including Comcast, Disney, ebay, Fujitsu, Intel, Logitech, NetApp, PlayStation, VeriSign, Yahoo! and has teamed with cnp on most of those projects. cnp’s independent projects have included publishing platform work for the “Real Dan Lyons,” MIT Sloan and PlayStation Europe, user interface design work with Symantec and traditional Web site development and intranet work for Platinum Games and Prudential. The firm also specializes in customized blogs using the WordPress platform. And if you like bacon you’ll want to visit Bacolicio.us — used for practical jokes around the world — noted by such organizations as the New York Times and Huffington Post.
cnp_studio Director of Platform Services Nick Gernert notes, “This means good things because Voce has always challenged our team to do great things. Our ability to pursue new ideas, platforms, and technologies is unchanged. Our clients benefit from the expertise of Voce while Voce’s clients benefit from the platform developer working in direct contact with their strategists. Voce believes that the combination of their public relations and social media marketing teams with cnp’s Web development expertise will add value for their clients. The combined group will be known as “Voce Connect.”
Editors note: cnp_studio is one of many fine emerging technology firms growing in downtown Winter Haven. It also happens to involve my son, Nick, and a talented team. The Chamber is currently gathering information and will soon publish a special series of blog posts about our emerging technology hub and the unique reasons that downtown Winter Haven is positioned to help technology-oriented businesses grow and thrive. The recently announced USF Poly business accelerator will further accentuate our strategic technology attributes.
| See other posts filed in: Downtown, Technology
Posted: June 11, 2009: 6:08 pm
Winter Haven to be home to USF Polytechnic technology business accelerator.
In a memo distributed today, June 12, to the Mayor and City Commisioners, City of Winter Haven Community
Development Director David Dickey announced the following information:
In April 2009, the Polk County Commission, in conjunction with the Central Florida Development Council, earmarked $1 million in funding to help establish a high-tech business incubator to be located on the USF Polytechnic campus.
The incubator concept has gained momentum so quickly that the decision was made to establish two locations prior to the completion of the Polytechnic campus. An incubator will be established in Lakeland with a business accelerator to be located in downtown Winter Haven.
Benefits to new companies will include proximity to, and resources of, a national research university; access to operational infrastructure including office space, equipment and technology; faculty experts; technology consultants; and training programs.
The decision to locate this facility in downtown Winter Haven is result of a partnership between the 6/10 Corporation and the City. The 6/10 Corporation will provide rent-free space in the Verizon building located at 199 Avenue B, NW. This building houses the Inland Fiber & Data Technology Park which makes the accelerator a great fit. Subject to approval and funding availability, the City’s CRA would provide $10,000 annually to help offset operating costs.
It is anticipated that the facility will be operational by September 1, 2009 and will initially house from five to ten new companies. The proposed accelerator can be distinguished from a business incubator in that it will target more mature start-ups that still require a degree of support. It is hoped that the companies will grow into adjacent office space and maintain a long-term downtown Winter Haven presence.
This development will further advance the developing technology-based business core downtown. Congratulations to both Lakeland and Winter Haven. The County/CFDC/USF/Lakeland/Winter Haven/Six-Ten partnership is a very positive step in economic recovery. The Polytechnic influence will grow the high-skill / high-wage sector critical to the area’s long-term future.
| See other posts filed in: City of Winter Haven, Commercial Developments, Downtown, Economic Development, Education, Employment Opportunity, Success Stories, Technology
Posted: December 31, 2008: 11:40 am
As 2008 comes to an end we offer our list of ten significant Winter Haven developments from the past twelve months. While the economy has slowed, there is still much positive local activity. A great many developments hold promise for the future. Here’s our selection - each is linked to the original blog post. What would you add?
10. DCA approval of the CSX intermodal rail facility
9. Winter Haven Hospital completes $40 million addition.
8. PCC one of nine community colleges to offer four-year degrees
7. Ledger New York Times buys News Chief
6. Winter Haven opens new airport terminal
5. City plans for Chain of Lakes property
4. Winter Haven Hospital attains Magnet status
3. Six Ten Corporation/T3 Communications “Inland Fiber and Data Technology Park” downtown
2. Winter Haven Parks Grow by 250 acres since 2000
1. Cypress Gardens closes … to reopen in March 2009
What would you add to this list?
The Chamber extends our best wishes for a bright and prosperous 2009. And remember … buy from local merchants, the job you save may be your own!
| See other posts filed in: CSX - Winter Haven, City of Winter Haven, Commercial Developments, Cypress Gardens, Downtown, Economic Development, Health Care, News Media, Parks and Green Space, Perspective, Real Estate, Technology, Tourism, Transportation
Posted: October 8, 2008: 11:38 am
New Winter Haven Company Brings Commercial Real Estate Solar Systems to Central Florida
The 6/10 Corporation, a local commercial building developer, and Rob Krieger, the owner of Krieger Electric, Inc. and Florida Telecom Construction, have announced that their new company, QuickBeam Energy, LLC, will specialize in the sale and installation of photo-voltaic solar energy systems for commercial and large residential buildings.
According to 6/10’s President Bud Strang, “Technical and regulatory developments have now made solar a logical and economical choice. It now makes sense for 6/10’s own buildings, and we are sure that it will make sense to other owners of commercial properties interested in reducing their operating costs.”
6/10 has partnered with Rob Krieger, who has been installing and servicing electrical systems and advanced telecommunication and data processing technologies throughout Florida since 1972. Krieger said “We look forward to the opportunity to show our customers how to establish a significant hedge against rapidly increasing power bills.”
QuickBeam has completed its first installation on the roof of the State of Florida’s Department of Children and Families building located off First Street North in Winter Haven (pictured above left). The 27 kilowatt system will supply about 20% of the electrical needs for that building. At today’s rates and incentives, the system will pay for itself in less than 8 years. With petroleum costs continuing to rise, utility rates are expected to rise as well.
“The math is actually very simple. For every dollar you save on your net operating costs, the value of your building increases by a factor of ten,” said Strang. 6/10 has been implementing a variety of ‘green’ systems into the buildings we own and manage, and solar is one that not only is good for the planet, but also is good for the bottom line.”
QuickBeam has been in operation for almost six months, studying closely the development of California’s booming solar industry, and assembling the vendor contacts and expertise necessary to offer alternative solar energy solutions. QuickBeam will be assisting its customers to remove the technical, regulatory, and financing barriers to solar power, and helping customers make smart alternative energy choices that save money.
Florida’s Public Service Commission has recently moved to adopt a rule requiring electrical utilities to buy power back from customer’s solar energy systems, providing full credit for excess power generated. This net metering facilitates excess energy generated by solar systems to be sold back to the utilities during peak daylight hours, further reducing the effective cost of installing solar energy systems.
Persons interested in learning more about QuickBeam products and services can call (863) 401-2725, email info@QuickBeamEnergy.com or visit the company’s website at www.QuickBeamEnergy.com.
| See other posts filed in: Commercial Developments, Economic Development, Technology
Posted: September 10, 2008: 2:53 pm
City of Winter Haven officials today dedicated a redesigned and upgraded Advanced Wastewater Treatment (AWT) facility at Wastewater Treatment Plant #3 south of the city. The $15+ million upgrade is one of 60 such projects underway throughout the state and the first in Polk to become operational. (Update: 9-12-08: Jacksonville-based Haskell Co. built the $16 million project and Peter Haskell shocked city officials with a $300,000 refund of money his company didn’t spend.) Mayor Nat Birdsong noted, “It is unheard of to receive a refund of this magnitude. It just doesn’t happen.”
It did today.
Birdsong added, “We all watch wastewater go down the drain and, for the most part, would rather forget about it.” He went on to explain that the new AWT capability actually enhances Winter Haven’s sustainability in that the treated wastewater can be used to replace up to 60% of the potable water currently used in irrigation. And with every million gallons of AWT product used for irrigation — there’s a million gallons of potable water available for resident consumption. In the end, something we’d rather forget becomes an invaluable resource to sustain our community.
The AWT project eliminates the spray fields that were previously used at WWTP #3 and allows some 1200 acres to now be used for economic development purposes including the new CSX inter modal rail terminal.
The city’s successful conversion of the plant to AWT status raises the bar once more on their commitment to becoming a “green” community.
The photograph at right shows a structure designed to introduce chlorine into the wastewater to help clean it. The chlorine is later removed in another structure.
| See other posts filed in: CSX - Winter Haven, City of Winter Haven, Economic Development, Real Estate, Success Stories, Technology
Posted: July 31, 2008: 1:19 pm
Bond Clinic, P.A. is featured in the July issue of Exec US digital magazine. The article explores the clinic’s strategy on technology, patient care and customer service.
Exec US magazine is a digital Business-to-Business magazine focused on organizational strategies and operational management techniques. Published by White Digital Media, Exec US targets industries such as construction, energy, food and beverage, healthcare, manufacturing, etc. The magazine has an average of 260,000 subscribers in the US and Canada who receive the magazine through e-mail communications and blog postings. Sixty-eight percent of the publication’s subscribers are companies with more than $50 million in annual revenue.
The photographs in the article are by local photographer, Mike Potthast of Potthast Studios. Founded in 1948, Bond Clinic is currently celebrating its 60th Anniversary.
You can view the digital publication here.
At the link provided, you can read the article in plain text or click on the thumbnail of the cover of the magazine to view the digital version of the article with photos. To view the entire Exec US magazine, click on Magazine in the left side column.
| See other posts filed in: Health Care, Success Stories, Technology
Posted: July 7, 2008: 1:30 pm
Recent decisions to brand the new Polk County USF Campus with the “Polytechnic” term were followed by the release today of a new logo for the facility shown below in the horizontal format.
The campus received preliminary funding from the legislature this year and, to date, the Central Florida Development Council, City of Lakeland and Lakeland Regional Medical Center have announced approximately $10.5 million in additional support. The campus will be Florida’s first polytechnic center within the state university system. Considering this focus it seems reasonable to expect that industry looking for graduates from this curriculum will seek to locate in this area.
USF Polytechnic should serve as an exciting new addition to Florida’s public university system and wonderful asset to Polk and Central Florida. We look forward to the Phase I ribbon cutting and welcome the development of this outstanding new educational asset.
| See other posts filed in: Economic Development, Education, Success Stories, Technology
Posted: June 10, 2008: 7:32 am
Center Opens in Six Ten Corporation’s “Inland Fiber and Data Technology Park”
Located Downtown
T3 Communications, Inc. based in Fort Myers has opened its second data center in Winter Haven. Together with 6/10 Corporation, T3 Communications has designed its data center (pictured at right) to serve SMB, Enterprise, Government and carrier customers as well as others in need of a secure site for IT infrastructure and disaster recovery needs. This data center features redundant power and cooling systems, high-speed fiber connectivity to the Internet and 24/7 monitoring and surveillance. Located downtown the structure is category 4 hurricane wind load certified and more than 140 feet above sea level.
The technical description of the new center is carrier neutral data and enterprise collocation data center. Adam Sewall, president and CEO of T3 notes, “In order to meet the demands for expansion of advanced data and voice services to businesses in Florida, Winter Haven has proven to be an ideal location.”
Carl J. Strang, III, president of the 6/10 Corporation said, “T3 has built an advanced data center in our Inland Fiber and Data Technology Park located in downtown Winter Haven. We are pleased to add T3 to the growing list of technology companies that have chosen to locate in Polk County. Our inland location and proximity to the Tampa and Orlando markets make Polk County a logical choice for next generation technology providers such as T3.”
| See other posts filed in: City of Winter Haven, Commercial Developments, Commercial Renovations, Downtown, Economic Development, Technology
Posted: January 11, 2008: 4:45 pm
Winter Haven Web develpment firm cnp_studio, a division of Clark/Nikdel/Powell Advertising has just completed consulting work providing blog technology to Yahoo!. The company’s revised and redesigned “Yodel Anecdotal” blog was unveiled Friday, January 11 just after noon PST.
cnp_studio worked with California-based Voce to produce the new blog platform, touted with their first post “Now with more cowbell.” The cnp_studio team included Nick Gernert, Sean O’Shaughnessy, Mike Pretty and Pete Schiebel. Josh Hallett, a part of the Voce team was also involved with the project. This is the second major blog platform the local company has completed having been involved with the Sony Playstation Blog in 2007.
| See other posts filed in: Downtown, General Announcements, Technology
Posted: October 30, 2007: 9:34 am
Construction is set to being in January 2008 on this 45,000 square foot $4.8 million Health and Science complex at the Ridge Career Center on Lucerne Park Road (SR 544). The two-story facility will include classrooms and other meeting space designed to serve the school’s growing health and science professional sector.
The new facilities should be ready for occupancy by fall 2008.
| See other posts filed in: Education, General Announcements, Technology
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