Coming to Florida Tech Oct 9: Second Annual Florida TechXpo, Florida’s Premier Technology Innovation Exposition

MELBOURNE, FLA.—The Melbourne Regional Chamber of East Central Florida will present the second annual Florida TechXpo, sponsored by General Electric Transportation, Oct. 9, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hosted by Florida Institute of Technology, the TechXpo will be held in the university’s Clemente Center for Sports and Recreation. Event organizers seek more exhibitors.

The event is an exposition of the technology and innovations created by 100 technology and manufacturing companies throughout Florida. These companies with advanced technologies and innovations will display their products and services to other companies looking for resources and suppliers.

Florida TechXpo 2012 will showcase “hot” industries. These include: aerospace, composites, consumer products, emerging technologies, homeland security and defense, healthcare, information technology, manufacturing, robotics, simulation, telecommunications and transportation.

Offering companies access to international markets, TechXpo has invited the Aerospace & Defense Office of the Consulate General of Canada in Miami, Enterprise Florida and the U.S. Export Assistance Center. By appointment, those attending can schedule one-on-one meetings with representatives of these organizations. Additionally, an international panel will present at a special V.I.P. Luncheon at Florida Tech that day. Separate tickets are available.

In addition, breakout sessions will be free to exhibitors, sponsors and attendees. For those wanting to expand their exporting capabilities, the morning breakout session features the topic “Taking Your Technology Company International,” presented by John Fay, commercial officer, U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration U.S. Commercial Service. He will be joined by Cynthia Flores, first vice president of SunTrust Global Trade Solutions, who will cover export financing strategies. Her presentation will include programs offered by the Export-Import Bank of the U.S., the U.S. Small Business Administration and other vehicles for obtaining export financing and securing payment for export sales. This session will be held 10:45 -11:30 a.m. in the F.W. Olin Engineering Building, Room 118, adjacent to the Clemente Center.

The afternoon breakout session will be held 2:30 – 3:15 p.m., also in Room 118. Don Platt, program director of Florida Tech’s Space Systems Master’s Degree program and a program instructor since 1998, will lead the breakout session.

He is the founder and president of Micro Aerospace Solutions Inc, a small engineering consulting business specializing in space and commercial product design and development. The topic, “Changing Frontiers on the Space Coast,” will explore the transition of Space Coast business after the shuttle program, the impact of commercial enterprises and new opportunities for the high-tech work force.

A new benefit for exhibitors this year is inclusion in the October issue of Space Coast Business magazine. This will feature a 16-page TechXpo insert, complete with a listing of all exhibitors, a facility map, breakout session details and advertising. Over 2,000 copies of this high-gloss, 8.5” x 11” advertising section will be distributed at the event.

The exposition kickoff will be an exclusive reception and V.I.P. Awards Dinner, hosted by Embraer, the jet aircraft manufacturer with an operation in Melbourne. The banquet will be held at the Hilton Rialto in Melbourne on Columbus Day, Oct. 8, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. The banquet speaker will be John Mulholland, vice president and program manager for Boeing Commercial Program, Space Exploration.

Participating in TechXpo as communication partners to date are: Brevard Workforce, British American Chamber, Central Florida Partnership, EDC of Florida’s Space Coast, Enterprise Florida, Florida Institute of Technology Continuing Education, Florida MEP, Florida Tech Research Park, Melbourne International Airport, National Center for Simulation, Rollins College and University of Florida.

To participate as an exhibitor, sponsor, or attendee, visit the 2012 Florida TechXpo website at http://www.floridatechxpo.com/ for complete details and to register.The exhibition is free to Florida Tech faculty and staff and all students with valid IDs, but all must register online. For more information, call (321) 724-5400.