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Faces of
Metro Orlando International Business
Metro Orlando: home to numerous successful business leaders who
hail from all parts of the globe, and a U.S. headquarters base for
foreign-based companies. Below are profiles of just a few of these
leaders and organizations:
Dr. Najeeb Zuberi -
neurologist. After nearly 10 years of R&D work, this
Pakistani native and well known neurologist has patented a unique
pillow designed to stop snoring and moderate sleep apnea. Zuberi, a
board-certified doctor in neurology and psychology, received FDA
approval for his ‘Sona Pillow,' which is manufactured and
distributed through a local family company called Sleep Devices
Inc.
Dr. Bruce Chai – Crystal
Photonics. This Taiwan native came to the U.S., earned a
PhD from Yale University and began his career with Allied Chemical
in New Jersey, supervising the materials research center. It was
there that he learned to grow crystals and earned a blossoming
reputation as a leader in the industry. The University of Central
Florida lured Chai to join its Center for Research and Education in
Optics and Lasers (one of only a few centers in the country) as a
tenured professor. From here, Chai founded Crystal Photonics with
$150,000. Today, the company is a world leader in manufacturing
optical crystals for use in things like PET Scanners which detect
cancer and missile early warning systems found in Apache
helicopters. And, Dr. Chai has been recognized as an Ernst &
Young Entrepreneur of the Year.
Beat Kahli – developer,
entrepreneur. This Switzerland-born developer and
entrepreneur has become a major force in Metro Orlando’s community
development. Kahli is the developer of one of the region’s new
communities called Avalon Park—a $3.1 billion, 1,800+ acre
community that has attracted more than 11,000 residents and
hundreds of new homes and businesses. In addition, this successful
entrepreneur owns and is involved with more than 50 projects and
companies across the country, including concrete plants, a
landscape company, restaurants and a newspaper.
Mansooreh Mollaghasemi –
Productivity Apex, Inc. (PAI). Mollaghasemi is a native of
Iran with an extensive background in industrial engineering. In
2001, she founded Productivity Apex, which resides in the
University of Central Florida’s top-ranked Business Incubation
Program. The company uses the sound principles of industrial
engineering and operations research to help commercial enterprises
and government agencies improve their productivity and maximize
their efficiencies. PAI has a wide range of software development
and consulting services in areas of simulation modeling and
analysis, supply chain management, data mining and artificial
intelligence, and process optimization. Clients include NASA,
Duracell and Siemens Energy, Inc.
Dimitri Nikitin – Lazer
Photonics (formerly known as PTG Industries). Nikitin, who
comes from Russia, founded Precision Technology Group America (now
Lazer Photonics) in 1997. The company is a world leader in
laser-based material processing equipment and industrial laser
cutting machinery. Clients include those in the industries of
semiconductor manufacturing, telecommunications, aerospace and
automotive. The company holds several worldwide licenses and
patents for innovative and ‘unique to the industry’ laser products
and technologies, and has offices throughout the globe. Prior to
founding PTG Industries America, Nikitin owned and operated
Prazisionstechnologie GmbH (PTG Industries Austria) and Fonon
Technology Ltd. England.
Lina Viveros – Inter
Bio-Lab, Inc. Lina, who is originally from Mexico, took
over the company when her husband died. Founded in 1992, Inter
Bio-Lab, Inc. is an established international provider of
high-grade reconditioned diagnostic, laboratory equipment. The
company distributes these refurbished instruments, which include
hematology and coagulation analyzers, at an excellent value to
hospitals and specialty medical offices around the globe.
Adacel. Adacel
Technologies is a leading developer of advanced simulation and
software applications and services for market segments including
aviation, defense, telecommunications, corporate and government.
The company was established in 1987 and listed on the ASX in 1998.
Since then, it has grown rapidly and now has operations in North
America and Europe, as well as Australia.
GENICON.
GENICON is recognized as an emerging leader in the design,
production, and distribution of patented surgical instrumentation
focused exclusively on laparoscopic surgery, a form of minimally
invasive surgery. Founded in 1998 and based in Orlando, Florida,
GENICON distributes their products in the U.S. and abroad,
including Western Europe, Central and South America, as well as
through several countries in the Pacific Rim and the Middle East.
GENICON is a privately held firm in which several of its
shareholders are surgeons who utilize their products. GENICON
remains today as it originated: a company driven to meet the needs
of modern-day healthcare through the harmonization of clinical
needs and the economic demands of a global healthcare system.
Indra Systems,
Inc. Headquartered in Madrid, Spain with a worldwide
employee base of more than 5,000, Indra Systems opened its first
U.S. office in Metro Orlando. The company specializes in three main
lines of business: information technologies, simulation and
automatic maintenance systems, and defense electronic equipment.
The U.S. Navy has awarded the Orlando office a contract worth more
than $12 million to develop a complete mission simulator for the
Marines’ AV-8B Harrier vertical takeoff aircraft.
Mitsubishi
Power Systems, Inc. This Orlando-based division of Japan’s
Mitsubishi corporation provides a broad range of products and
services, including power systems, air-conditioners, machinery for
industrial and general use, aerospace systems and more. In addition
to the Orlando corporate headquarters, Mitsubishi Power Systems
also operates a power systems service and manufacturing center in
the region.
Quadrant Systems
and Lightmaker. Both U.K.-based companies maintain their
U.S. operation bases in Orlando. Quadrant is a industry leader in
flight simulation for both the military and civilian markets.
Lightmaker specializes in the development of Internet design,
management, integration and application services. Its clients
include Cartoon Network Europe, Nintendo Europe, Universal Pictures
and Electronic Arts.
Siemens Energy,
Inc. While Germany is the headquarters home for Siemens
Worldwide, Metro Orlando is the headquarters for Siemens Energy,
Inc. Siemens Energy is the regional entity in the Americas for the
global fossil power generation business, which has an installed
fleet of more than 697,000 megawatts worldwide. The
company offers a full spectrum of innovative, environmentally
friendly, and cost-effective products. In addition, the
company offers an unparalleled level of service and support for the
power generation market – including gas and steam turbine-generator
technology, world-class process control and power management
systems operations and maintenance support, power plant
modernization and upgrades, wind power and air pollution control
technology.
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