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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 Technology
Incubator. 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 Power Generation, 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.
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.
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.
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.
Siemens Power
Generation, Inc. While Germany is the headquarters home
for Siemens Worldwide, Metro Orlando is the headquarters for
Siemens Power Generation, Inc. It is the regional business entity
in the Americas for Siemens Power Generation’s global fossil
power generation business, which has an installed fleet of nearly
550,000 megawatts worldwide. With more than 26,000 employees
worldwide, the company offers a full spectrum of innovative,
environmentally friendly, cost-effective power generation products,
and an unparalleled level of service and support.
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.
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