- Apr
- 07
- 2008
The Future of Geekdom in Central Florida
By: Robert Dempsey | Tags:One of the more poignant talks of DevDay at BarCampOrlando 2008 was given by Ryan Price of Florida Creatives. Ryan talked about the past, present, and future of the tech industry in Central Florida, which includes Orlando, Tampa, Daytona, and more. Central Florida has a LOT more going on that Disney, oranges, and military simulators. A quick check of the Florida Creatives Wiki shows six tech user groups, six all-purpose groups, three artist and design groups, and two groups for film, television, radio and mass communication.
While there are many user groups and, as evidenced by the turnout for BarCampOrlando 2008, many tech folks in Central Florida, there is still a problem. The problem is one of visibility. The disparate groups don’t all know about each other, and there is little to no linkage between them save a few members who go to more than one user group meeting. In addition, the smaller groups and smaller tech companies don’t have exposure on either a local or national scale. This problem is exacerbated when entities such as the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission only target companies of fifty (50) or more employees. Many of the companies that I know here don’t have fifty people.
Where business meets community
On Dev Day, Dan Kinchen proposed a solution: a tech association that brings together all the groups and provides resources to this under-served and highly important segment. Dan said that this organization could take many forms, just as long as we are working together to share information and helping each other out.
Dan’s proposal did not fall on deaf ears. On Media Day, Ryan’s discussion of “Media in Orlando” turned into a discussion on the future of technology in Central Florida, and Dan told us something interesting.
Dan told us that at the Izea after-party (very fun by the way), he was pulled aside by a member of the Izea management team. He was told that they had been working on forming an advertising association, and that his talk had made them rethink that idea and they were now thinking to start a tech association instead. At first glance that sounds great. A company with resources and influence could help Central Florida tech in a big way. One problem is that the person they intended to insert as the head of the organization was someone who admitted to not being involved in the tech community and to not being a technology person. In addition, it sounded as if they were going to hand-pick the board with no input from the community whatsoever. Do you all see a problem with this? I do, a big one.
Where the rubber meets the road
Any association, no matter who runs it, requires money and effort, and can benefit from influential people. There are many grassroots-level movements here in Central Florida, and an organization that brings them together, takes action on their behalf, and provides information and resources to them would be of great benefit.
Regardless of the form this association would take, the fact is that it needs to include both community members and local businesses. All parties here would be impacted and would have an impact. The job of promoting tech in Central Florida is one that requires all of us to work together. The question here is who will be in charge of the organization. Will it be a specific business that may or may not represent that community, or will it be made up of the community members it will affect.
Your thoughts required
While there are many groups in Orlando for us techies, do you think an association could help not only provide resources to smaller companies but provide exposure on both a local and national level? Do you think it should be a community driven effort? Do you think the board should be voted on by those in the community or simply installed without community input?
If you are involved in Central Florida tech or have experience with the same happening in your area I want to hear your thoughts.
Share this post
Other posts you may enjoy
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
9 Responses to “The Future of Geekdom in Central Florida”
On April 7th, 2008 at 1:05 pm Tara said:
Hi Robert,
I spoke briefly with Dan at the IZEA after-party about the beginning of a Central FL Interactive Marketing & Technology association I am in the process of defining with the help of an advisory group including people from all areas of the interactive industry in Orlando and beyond. I think a subtle point that was missed in our conversation was that we do NOT want the group to be too narrowly focused, which is why we’d like digital brand marketers, developers, agencies, students, entrepreneurs, consultants, start-ups, sponsors and everyone in between to be a part of this group.
I think it is very important to get input from the community and we will be doing our due diligence to solicit feedback and input from those interested in shaping the group and being a part of steering in the future.
If you’re interested, please sign up to get involved, we’d love to have you!
http://floridasbigsecret.com/
On April 7th, 2008 at 1:23 pm Pete Wright said:
Wow, this piece makes it all sound so very underhanded.
First up, I’m the guy from the Izea management team that Dan spoke with. He approached me, by the way, not the other way around. Also, the person you speak of heading up the group is Tara, who commented above. You’ve kind of made a Tara-Pete hybrid there - a Para perhaps?
Anyway, the whole point of the IMA we’re forming is to give a voice to anyone involved in interactive marketing and technology here. We have people involved on the tech side, on the marketing side, we have educators in the group, CEO’s, small independents - you name it.
The idea is to create something that can be a benefit to the whole area, more than just Orlando, and that can bring attention to this region as a growing hotbed of talent. I for one have absolutely no problem with anyone else forming a group, and I certainly didn’t talk Dan out of his idea. I did suggest that if he’s at the early stages of his, as we are with ours, then perhaps we should pool resources to make a greater impact.
Hope that clears some things up. No darkness, no conspiracy, just a group of people of all levels interested in making this area a better place for us all.
On April 7th, 2008 at 1:38 pm Robert Dempsey said:
Pete and Tara,
Thanks for coming forward and clearing things up.
I agree that pooling resources is a great idea, and a necessity as well. All of us have a stake in our future so working together would benefit everyone.
It sounds like we are on the same page in wanting to promote tech (and all associated technologies) not only here in Orlando but Central Florida as a whole. I see Tara posted a link so I will definitely get involved.
Thanks again for the clarification and a great party this past Saturday.
On April 7th, 2008 at 1:48 pm Jennifer Wakefield said:
Robert - I’m not sure where you got the reference about the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission (EDC) only working with companies with 50 or more employees. This is NOT correct. We work with companies who are in targeted industry sectors (listed on our web site)…many of whom are just starting out or have only a few employees. If I can answer any questions, please let me know.
Jennifer Wakefield
EDC PR director
On April 7th, 2008 at 1:55 pm Robert Dempsey said:
Jennifer,
Thank you for the clarification. Someone at BarCampOrlando mentioned that number. It is good to have the facts especially as it appears that people do not have the correct information. Thank you again for setting me on the right path.
Robert
On April 7th, 2008 at 2:09 pm Dan... said:
even though I’m in Gainesville, I’d love to help however possible. Thanks for the summary Robert…Tara, I’ll check out FloridasBigSecret…
On April 7th, 2008 at 4:11 pm Adam Fortuna said:
As for the last part about who would work on things, appoint people and all that — I’d say whoever wants to honestly. Whether they’re installed or elected I’d hope that they would be the people who want to be in that position and enjoy it.
If people gather together to talk about this and bring up ideas there will probably be people who stand out as being more interested and involved than everyone else who would make the best figureheads/organizers. Anyway the cards fall though I think that whoever wants to be involved will be able to in some extent — even just gathering at whatever meetings come from this to provide input and contribute their specific talents. I’d be up for helping out in some way myself and I know a few others here who are as well.
On April 7th, 2008 at 6:04 pm Ryan Price said:
Florida Creatives is not the tech association, but it could be one option if people get on board. I would love to be involved, and if we end up using Florida Creatives as the name for the organization then so be it.
Robert and I have discussed getting a regular conference call together that is recorded so people can listen in and post responses, as well as meetings in person, but I think something like a video or audio recording of these events will help ease everyone’s minds. I think the more open this entire process is, the fewer witch hunts we will see.
Over at FloridaCreatives.com we’re going to be setting up a free tool to help folks get organized, make connections, get a centralized list of events, and have a conversation.
The tools will be similar to those you see on Meetup.com but offered for free to anyone who wants them.
The work we’ve already done starting the wiki will continue with a more user-friendly look and feel, and hopefully the information will become even easier to find, search and import/export. The point is to make the tools free and openly available with a very low barrier to entry.
I’m stoked to hear so many passionate voices. It’s a sign that we’ve arrived as a community and it’s time to take action.
On April 7th, 2008 at 6:17 pm Ryan Price said:
This is a political movement - the word politics is scary, but creating a group like this means a consolidation of power - from individuals, groups and businesses alike, they all wield some influence, some resources, and often times the larger groups are not submitting higher quality volunteers, or more passionate, or even a larger number than the smaller groups. There’s a lot of talk going around about the size of companies, but one passionate and focused person can achieve what a large group of lazy and disagreeable types can.
If we can come to a consensus, philosophically, ethically; set a good example for others to follow, we can be a large group of passionate and focused individuals all going in the same direction.