CEO's of small but growing Central Florida companies could have been singing the memorable Fiddler on the Roof tune this week during the Grow FL Second-Stage CEO Summit. This first-ever event, designed specifically to address the needs of companies with 10 to 50 employees and looking to grow, was held at the Embassy Suites in downtown Orlando on Wednesday. Over 240 attendees made this fast-paced and interactive event standing-room-only.

Making the right connections can be a critical success factor in the evolution of smaller companies. This event -- presented by the University of Central Florida's Florida Economic Gardening Institute in partnership with the EDC and other community partners including CEO Nexus, Disney Entrepreneur Center, Florida High Tech Corridor Council, Manufacturers Association of Central Florida, Orlando Inc. and Rollins College Center for Advanced Entrepreneurship - was designed to encourage just that. Volunteers from established local companies, many of them EDC investors and board members, served as "concierges" or "ambassadors" who worked to ensure the second-stage company CEOs met with representatives of companies they were looking to connect with through one-on-one matchmaking sessions. Second-stagers were also given one-minute of time behind the microphone to share their company's story in a series of "rapid fire" pitches.

If you are a company in the second-stage of development - 10 to 50 employees; generating at least $1 million but not more than $25 million in annual revenue; and looking to grow - the EDC can help connect you to GrowFL. For more information, contact Kerry Symolon.

When you tune in to watch sports nowadays, you are able to see every single blade of grass or every sweat bead on your favorite athlete thanks to high definition television. This is the result of research in the optics and photonics industry, much of which has taken place in Orlando.

At the University of Central Florida's College of Optics and Photonics (CREOL), research is continuously being conducted to bring the industry to the next level. The next level being, anywhere from 3D television to medical devices that can more efficiently detect tumors. UCF's College of Optics and Photonics has strong partnership ties with industry leaders such as Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin, based in Orlando, as well as with organizations such as the Florida Photonics Cluster.

Shin-Tson Wu, a researcher at the University of Central Florida, has worked vigorously with his team in developing new products for the next generation of technology. Wu was recently recognized by the nation's premier optics society with the Joseph Fraunhofer/Robert M. Burley Prize for exceptional contributions to optical engineering. Most of us do not realize how much our everyday life is affected by the photonics and optics industry and the type of technology that Wu and his team at UCF are constructing is bound to change the way we view this.

With a flip of a switch or a push of a button we have the hard work of the optics and photonics engineers at our fingertips. Cell phones, television sets, computer screens, medical devices and so much more are continuing to be re-vamped and updated which makes things like the flat screen television produce the "real life" images families can enjoy everyday.

The 19th Annual Florida Film Festival - a 10 day celebration of the best in independent films - wraps up this weekend in Orlando. In its history, this "home grown" festival has become a marquee international event. On average, more than 23,000 people attend each year, where they experience premieres of the best in cutting-edge cinema; a star-packed attendee list; and a mix of industry parties and special events. The eyes of the world's film industry are upon us, and the EDC's Metro Orlando Film & Entertainment Commission has learned to take full advantage of the spotlight.

Again this year, our Film Commission participated in and sponsored two events: a panel discussion on "The Art of the Producer" with veteran film producers and a VIP party for filmmakers whose work is showcased during the festival. Past participation has paid dividends leading to additional filming in the region.

The Florida Film Festival is a program of the Enzian, a Maitland-based nonprofit organization which exists to entertain, educate, inspire and connect the community through film.

Metro Orlando is known worldwide as a leader in entertainment. We're also known for our $13.4 billion technology industry. Thanks to the synergy and collaboration found in this region, many of our industries are blending together, including entertainment and technology. The fusion of these two industries results in the digital media industry. We believe each of the ingredients for success in this industry sector is found here - workforce, education and a nurturing creative environment. We believe this so strongly, in fact, that our goal for this industry is simply stated: "Global Domination!"

The newly released edition of the EDC's award-winning Texture magazine focuses on our lofty goal of global domination of the digital media industry. And the spring 2010 Texture that is on its way to you this month outlines why there's nowhere better positioned to reach this goal than Metro Orlando.

In this issue you'll discover the creative collection of companies that are found here, including Electronic Arts - Tiburon, House of Moves, n-Space, Helios Interactive, IMI Labs and IDEAS, as well as the schools where the professionals who work in this industry train. From music to film to art, you'll learn about some of the festivals held throughout the year and the museums in Metro Orlando.

This issue introduces you to Mary Spio, President of Gen2Media and a true digital diva who is having a profound effect on the digital media industry, and a Lake County innovator, Pranam Ben, CEO and Founder of Visions@Work, a company that could transform the healthcare industry though its online file sharing system between doctors, hospitals and patients. You'll also learn how Jim Jardon, CEO of JHT, Inc. and Marty Rubin, President and CEO of Smart City Holdings, are keeping their technology firms in growth mode, despite tough times. And so much more!

Texture is published semi-annually. The EDC's production partner is the everything ink team of the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau. Special thanks to Orange County, University of Central Florida and Florida High Tech Corridor Council for their sponsorship of this valuable community marketing resource. Click here to view Texture online!

A rash of entrepreneurial Central Florida companies are taking advantage of federal and state grant programs to help them grow. This is good news for the region's economy, as it ultimately translates into job creation and community investment. Interestingly, all of these companies are either current or former clients of the UCF Business Incubation Network.

NR Electronics, a growing Seminole County company located in the UCF Business Incubator in Winter Springs, has been certified as a U.S. Small Business Administration 8(a) Business Development Program participant. In layman's language, that makes the firm eligible to participate in a wide range of federal government contracts. This Metro Orlando-based international exporter company procures and distributes obsolete and hard to find electronic components -- ranging from microchips to circuit breakers - worldwide. The SBA 8(a) certification is an incentive program available to minority business entrepreneurs.

Two UCF Technology Incubator clients, Acudyn Inc. and United Materials and Systems, have been selected for Phase "0" program assistance through Enterprise Florida. This program awards small businesses with up to $3,000 to help them prepare proposals for Phase 1 grant funding, which is available through federal agencies such as the departments of Agriculture, Defense, Education, Energy, Homeland Security, Transportation, and NASA, as well as the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation. Acudyn is a scientific research and engineering company specializing in the advancement of energy and automation technologies. United Materials and Systems is developing advanced polymer derived ceramic material applications.

Three other local companies are among five in the state of Florida to have secured Phase 1 grants, which can amount to $100,000 and support efforts to test the technical feasibility of a new product or service idea. Red Lambda Inc., based in Longwood, is a network security company that specializes in computer system firewalls and intellectual property right protection. NeoCytex Biopharma, co-founded by UCF Professor of Molecular Biology and Microbiology Dr. Kiminobu Sugaya, is developing novel therapeutics to promote the repair and rejuvenation of damaged tissues. And Datanautix Inc., located in UCF's Winter Springs Incubator, has pioneered innovative analytical tools and data to help their clients with operational improvements in call center and back office operations.

And in other good news, former UCF Incubator client Engineering & Computer Simulations Inc. (ECS) has been selected to receive the U. S. Small Business Administration's 2010 Florida Small Business of the Year Award. Based in Orlando, ECS is a leading provider of "serious games" used in training by the military, emergency responders, and others.

Congratulations to each of these dynamic companies, and to our partners at the UCF Incubator. Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 130 emerging companies create over $800 million in annual revenue and more than 1600 new jobs. Incubator facilities are located in Orange, Seminole, Lake and Osceola counties.