The Corridor helps fill gap within Team Orlando

Team Orlando recently announced the addition of the Florida High Tech Corridor Council as its fourth liaison member to the board of directors. The Corridor is a regional economic development initiative of the University of Central Florida, the University of South Florida and the University of Florida. Its mission is to grow high tech industry and innovation through partnerships that support research, marketing, workforce and entrepreneurship.

“The Florida High Tech Corridor fills a gap in Team Orlando’s community liaison coverage targeted specifically at the growth of high tech interests in our region,” said Kent Gritton, JTIEC Director. “We are excited about the knowledge and experience they bring to Team Orlando, and the enhanced opportunities that will emerge as a result.”

“The Corridor is a natural fit to serve as a liaison member to Team Orlando because of the simulation industry’s influence on the other high tech fields that are prominent in both Metro Orlando and the entire 23-county Corridor region,” said Randy Berridge, president of the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. “Becoming more deeply engaged in the MS&T community will strengthen ties with the digital media industry, the medical simulation field and STEM-related organizations in general.”

From its inception in 1996, The Corridor’s primary focus has been to foster applied research between Corridor universities and their high tech industry partners. Today, the organization concentrates on four focus areas:

• A Matching Grants Research Program that pairs faculty with industry for applied Research & Development;
• STEM-focused workshops/programs to cultivate tomorrow’s workforce;
• Entrepreneurial support of incubators and a comprehensive Web portal resource; and,
• Marketing efforts for the 23-county region and its thriving high tech industries.

Capt. (Ret) Steve “Snak” Nakagawa, former Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division commander, serves as its director of Workforce Programs, and will man The Corridor’s seat at the monthly strategy sessions.

“I’m looking forward to continuing my affiliation with Team Orlando in this new role representing The Corridor,” said Nakagawa. “Serving in this capacity helps to achieve our mission of growing high tech industry—starting with simulation.”