Five Questions

The Gulfshore could become a thriving technology center with help from the new Southwest Florida Regional Technology Partnership. The public-private partnership arose from Florida Gulf Coast University’s Distinguished Lecture Series, which was held last fall. Urged by Collier County economic development leaders, WilsonMiller Web architect Kevin Barnhill is coordinating the initiative, which so far represents about 45 business, academic and economic development interests. The hope is to form a technology cluster—interconnected and interdependent businesses, institutions, suppliers and other entities—to create jobs, compete effectively and diversify the local economic base.

1. What elements are needed to build a cluster?

Networking, [outlets] showcasing our successes, a common voice, identifying roadblocks. Keeping talent in the area [has been a challenge]. They’ll stay in [cluster cities]; they can hop from job to job. Here, there aren’t that many possibilities. [Yet] a lot of people don’t realize how much tech there is here.

2. What goals does the group have?

[According to] Gary Jackson, FGCU economist, technology is the second-highest paying job [category] here next to financial, yet it’s one of the smallest. [As a measure of success], there is a ratio: For every technology or innovation service that we consume here, does it come from our region or does it come from outside of our region? Our number, which should be 1, is .2, so for every service we consume here, four are from outside our region.

3. Why do we stand a chance of building a technology cluster here?

We have quality of life—that’s why Micros-Fidelio is here. Our retired executives have capital, connections and knowledge from all fields, and they [often] get involved with [local businesses or universities]. With software, you don’t have to worry about a lot of infrastructure, like parts manufacturing or distribution routes. And now our housing is getting more affordable. The universities are graduating some good talent and we’re working with the universities to get more software engineers.

4. With funding cutbacks, is software engineering on the priority list for [FGCU]?

It’s our job to get it on the priority list. [The partnership gives voice to local] IT leaders when they say they can’t find talent here, and to make sure the leadership at the university knows what the talent needs are. We need the jobs, we need the people for the jobs, and we need the university to be cranking out the people. Computer science students go to work [at places like] the Department of Defense, Lockheed, Centers for Disease Control. We don’t have much of that down here. We have [companies] doing business software, so we need more software engineers.

5. What are some technology companies here that people might not know about?

Internet Office is a key one. Web 2.0 is a huge market, and Internet Office does Web 2.0 stuff. Micros-Fidelio [is] the No. 1 producer of hotel-reservation and point-of-sale systems for restaurants. A lot of companies here are below the radar or they sell nationally, like [Fisher International] or TrueHa, an online-reservation system. Software developers aren’t very good at marketing and PR, and we’re really too busy to network, and that’s what I’m trying to change here, trying to get people out to network and create partnerships.