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Florida Polytechnic University hosts first Innovation Speaker Series lecture

January 24, 2019

Florida Polytechnic University debuted its Innovation Speaker Series, Jan. 17, at its Innovation, Science, and Technology Building. The University welcomed Jim Thomas, the chief executive officer of the Central Florida Tech Alliance (CFTA), who spoke to a gathering of students, faculty, and community members.

The theme of Thomas’ lecture centered on Central Florida’s position as a global tech leader in several high-tech industries and how Florida Poly is strategically positioned to cultivate and help propel that growth.

“Five years ago, Florida Poly wasn’t even here. Now it’s becoming one of our great universities and a shining point in Florida,” said Thomas.

He gave examples of how technology is on the verge of revolutionizing the way we live, and pointed to the importance of lowering costs for basic needs like housing, food, transportation, and energy.

“If you look at Central Florida from a macro perspective, four and a half million people, seven counties, we’re one of the most technologically diverse places in the whole country,” he said. “We are a global leader in several areas like space simulation, health and wellness, and gaming.”

The lecture series takes place the third Thursday of every month during the academic year and features speakers who have created a product, service, or organization that has resulted in substantial impact in their market or community.Learn more about the Innovation Speaker SeriesLearn more about the Innovation Speaker Series

 

Florida Polytechnic University hosted its first Innovation Speaker Series lecture, Jan. 17, 2019. Jim Thomas, chief executive director of the Central Florida Tech Alliance, kicked off the monthly series, which takes place the third Thursday of the month during the academic year.

“The goal of the Innovation Speaker Series is to support the culture of innovation at Florida Poly by bringing professionals with local, regional and national ties to talk about different aspects of innovation,” said Bob Kennedy, director of development at Florida Poly.
The series is free and open to the public. Information, including the schedule and future speakers, can be found on the Florida Poly website.

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Contact:
Lydia Guzman
Assistant Director of Communications
863-874-8450

Session Details

This session will demonstrate that practical risk management is for everyone, regardless of a formal program. Attendees will learn actionable and simple strategies that are easy to implement, enabling them to start immediately by focusing on their top risks to build greater operational resilience and ensure the sustained success of their auxiliary enterprises.

Presenter Profile

Michelle Powell serves as the pioneering Risk Manager at Florida Polytechnic University, the state’s sole 100% STEM-dedicated institution. Having been with the university for nearly 11 years, Michelle transitioned from a leadership role in Admissions in October 2023 to establish and evolve the risk management function from the ground up. In this solo capacity, Michelle builds robust frameworks for our dynamic, young university, overseeing our insurance portfolio, consulting on third-party and event risks, and developing critical campus-wide training programs. Michelle has obtained the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations (COSO) Enterprise Risk Management certificate and the Associate in Risk Management (ARM) and Construction Risk and Insurance Specialist (CRIS) designations. Her distinct background in mathematics and engineering, combined with extensive higher education leadership, brings an analytical and strategic approach enhancing the institution’s resilience.