President: Alexandre Y. Fong, M.Sc., MBA, C.Eng., Optronic Laboratories and ChromoDynamics Inc.
afong@olinet.com
Alexandre Fong is Senior Vice-President , Life Sciences and Instrumentation, Optronic Laboratories, Inc. and ChromoDynamics, Inc. He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in Experimental Physics from York University in Toronto, Canada, an MBA from the University of Florida and is a Chartered Engineer. Alex is a published author and lecturer in the fields of precision light measurement, life sciences imaging, remote sensing, applied optics and lasers, an active member of the American Physical Society, Optical Society of America (OSA), SPIE—The International Society for Optical Engineering, International Commission on Illumination CIE), Council for Optical Radiation Measurement and the Institute of Physics. He is also a member of the OSA Public Policy Committee. Prior to joining Optronic Laboratories, Inc. Alex held senior business and technical management positions at ITT Industries, Newport Corporation and Honeywell International. Alex is the current president of the Florida Photonics Cluster.
Vice President: Geoff Burdge, Ph.D., Harris Corporation
gburdge@harris.com
Dr. Burdge is a Senior Scientist at Harris Corporation where his research is focused on free-space laser communications and fiber optic components for telecommunications. Prior to joining Harris, Dr. Burdge worked at theNational Security Agency (NSA) for over 30 years developing advanced optical techniques and components. While at NSA, Dr. Burdge was a visiting scientist at the University of Colorado, the University of Southampton, UK and Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill, NJ. Throughout his NSA career, he served as a technical advisor on a number of National Programs; and as a Senior Executive, he directed NSA’s Laboratory for Physical Sciences. Upon retirement from NSA, Dr. Burdge helped form Optium Corporation, builder of 10Gbps transponders for telecommunications, where he served as Vice President for Advanced Components. Optium was acquired by Finisar in 2008. Dr. Burdge received all of his degrees in Electrical Engineering from the University of Maryland, and he is a member of OSA and SPIE, and a Senior Member of IEEE. Throughout his career he has published more than 60 papers in refereed journals, filed four patents, served as Program Chair of an OSA Topical Meeting on Spatial Light Modulators, and chaired numerous IEEE CLEO conference technical sub-committees.
Secretary-Treasurer: Dennis R. Pape, Ph. D., AlphaLaunch
dpape@alphalaunch.com
Dennis R. Pape is President of AlphaLaunch in Orlando, Florida. He graduated from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY with
an A.B. degree and Duke University in Durham, NC with a Ph.D. in Physics. He began his career in the Central Research Laboratories at Texas Instruments in Dallas, TX where he worked on optically addressed spatial light modulators. He then became a Group Leader in acousto-optics at Harris Corporation in Melbourne, FL. In 1987 he founded Photonic Systems Inc. (PSI) in Melbourne, FL. He wrote the business plan for the company and secured venture capital from a top-tier VC firm. The company developed state-of-the-art optical information processing systems, primarily for the government. Throughout his technical career he has been involved in advancing the state-of-the-art in various optical technologies which have resulted in publications in OSA, SPIE, and IEEE journals and presentations at those societies’ conferences. More recently he has been involved in starting-up new optics companies, both at Milcom Technologies in Orlando, and now with his own consulting firm, AlphaLaunch.
Voting Board Members
Randy Berridge, Florida High Tech Corridor Council
randy.berridge@floridahightech.com
Randy Berridge serves as the president of Florida High Tech Corridor Council, where he manages a team whose mission is to attract, retain, and grow high tech industry to Florida’s High Tech Corridor. Other current management roles he maintains include president of Berridge Consulting Group, and serving as an advisory board member at SunTrust Bank, N.A. In addition, Mr. Berridge’s community involvement spans the academic arena on the University of Central Florida’s Foundation Board to economic development commissions in several Central Florida regions and serving on the Board of Directors of Workforce Florida.
Jason Eichenholz, Ph.D., Ocean Optics, Inc.
jason.eichenholz@oceanoptics.com
Jason Eichenholz is VP of Research & Technology at Ocean Optics, Inc. Eichenholz has more than 15 years of laser and photonics research and product development experience. He has written more than 30 papers and been granted six US patents relating to solid-state lasers, displays and photonics devices. A member of SPIE, IEEE-LEOS and OSA, he chairs the OSA Laser Science and Engineering Technical Group and is a member of the OSA Science and Engineering Council. Eichenholz earned master's and doctorate degrees in optical sciences and engineering from the College of Optics and Photonics at the University of Central Florida, Center for Research and Education in Optics and Lasers, and a bachelor's degree in physics at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y.
Dennis K. Killinger, Ph.D., University of South Florida
killinge@cas.usf.edu
Dennis K. Killinger is the Distinguished University Professor and Professor of Physics aan expert in laser and optical remote sensing/Lidar, applied laser spectroscopy, laser physics, and Free Space Optical (FSO) laser communication. Research includes: radar analysis and microwave atmospheric propagation while employed as a research physicist at the Naval Avionics Facility, and he was on the research staff at Quantum Electronics at Lincoln Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology conducting. In 1987, he joined the Physics faculty at the University of South Florida and is director of the Laboratory for Atmospheric Lidar and Laser Communication Studies, and past Technical Director of the Technology Deployment Center working on technology transfer for the University and regional industries. He received a “B.A.” from the University of Iowa, “M.A.” degree from De Pauw University. He also received his Ph.D. in Physics, from the University of Michigan.
Ray Malcom, JENOPTIK Optical Systems
ray.malcom@jenoptik-inc.com
Ray Malcolm is Vice President, Sales and Marketing for JENOPTIK Optical Systems in Jupiter, Florida.
M.J. Soileau, Ph.D., University of Central Florida
mj@mail.ucf.edu
Dr. Solieau is Vice President for Research and Professor of Optics, ECE & Physics and provides oversight and management to the Office of Research and Commercialization at UCF. He began his career as at UCF as Founding Director of CREOL – the Center for Research and Education in Optics and Lasers in 1987 and led its development into the School of Optics/CREOL in 1998 before assuming his current duties as Vice President for Research for UCF. Along with extensive research and development projects, his community involvement in laser/optic and research-based organizations has enhanced Central Florida’s standing as an international photonics leader. At the University of Southern California, he received his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering/Quantum Electronics and a M.S. in Physics/Optics from the University of Utah. His research interests include the nonlinear optical properties of materials and laser-induced damage. He is a Fellow of IEEE, the SPIE--The International Optical Engineering Society, the Optical Society of America, and the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences. He is the recipient of the SPIE Gold Medal in 2008 and the Esther Hoffman Beller award from the OSA in 2007.
Eric Ushkowitz, Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission
eric.ushkowitz@orlandoedc.com
As Director of Technology Business Development, Eric Ushkowitz's main area of responsibility is photonics, biomedical and life sciences with the focus of retaining, growing and recruiting companies within the high-tech industry. Prior to joining the EDC, Mr. Ushkowitz spent a year as the Director of Business Development for Odyssey Creative, a local Corporate Theater and Digital Multimedia Company. In addition he was the Regional Sales Manager for Verizon Wireless, formerly PrimeCo Personal Communications, for over five years covering the Central Florida area. He was responsible for the Business to Business sales team covering Orange, Lake, Osceola, Seminole, Volusia and Brevard counties for the largest wireless service provider in the United States. Eric holds a B.A. in Communications from the University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL
Robert Wayne, Northrop Grumman Laser Systems
robert.wayne@ngc.com
Bob Wayne is Manager, New Business Process & NCTA for Northrop Grumman Laser Systems in Apopka, Florida. Bob’s current activities focus on Business Acquisition Processes, Proposal WIN Center, and Non-Contractual Technical Activity (NCTA) management, Intellectual Property, and Long Range Strategic Planning for the organization. Bob began his career at United Technologies Research Center where he developed coherent laser systems for pulsed Doppler lidars for atmospheric sensing, lasers for isotope separation, endoatmospheric target discrimination, and novel high power RF gas lasers for military applications. He was granted thirteen US patents in laser devices and systems while at UTRC. He then went on to co-found CLS Laser Systems, which was subsequently acquired by Litton Industries to ultimately transition state of the art technologies to Litton’s laser production facility in Florida. At CLS/Litton he served as Director of Engineering and System Development , creating advanced laser sensors for ground, airborne and space applications. He moved to Litton Laser Systems in Florida to serve as Director of their IRCM laser business area. After Northrop Grumman acquired Litton, his management responsibilities broadened to their current scope. He has over 40 years of experience in technical program management, engineering design, research & development, production and testing of military lasers and electro-optical systems. Much of his early work has been presented at various classified Military Sensing Symposia and he is currently a member of SENSIAC – the Military Sensing Information Analysis Center. He graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with BS and MS degrees in Electrical Engineering with a special interest in laser physics.
Ray Williamson, B.S., Ray Williamson Consulting
raywilliamson@verizon.net.
Throughout his 35 years in the precision optics industry, Ray Williamson has built a reputation as a practical, astute, and original problem-solver, skilled educator, and multidisciplinary advisor. His main areas of concentration include optical fabrication, metrology, polarization optics, and system configuration and design. Following his positions as Engineering Manager and Quality Manager for several well-regarded firms, he has built a consulting practice characterized by responsiveness, honesty, communication, solution-orientation, and discretion. He has a BS in Physics (Optics Concentration).
Non-Voting Board Members
FPC Executive Director: Jim Pearson, Ph.D., University of Central Florida
jpearson@mail.ucf.edu
Dr. Pearson is Director, Research & Administration, CREOL, The College of Optics and Photonics and Special Assistant to Vice President for Research University of Central Florida. He received his PhD in Electrical Engineering & Physics in 1972 from the California Institute of Technology. In his duties at UCF, he is responsible for marketing and industry outreach of CREOL, The College of Optics and Photonics, and for the development and maintenance of effective relationships with a wide variety of individuals, companies, and organizations for the purpose of establishing research partnerships and funding in areas of interest to the UCF faculty. He leads the evaluation of selected partnership opportunities and related proposal efforts, and supports other UCF programs related to the objectives of the UCF Office of Research and Commercialization. Prior to joining UCF in February 2004, Dr. Pearson held the positions of Executive Director of ISA – The Instrumentation, Systems, & Automation Society from 1999 – 2004, and Executive Director of SPIE – The International Society for Optical Engineering from 1993-1999. From 1976 – 1993, he held several positions within United Technologies Corporation, including Chief Scientist at United Technologies Research Center, and President & General Manager of United Technologies Optical Systems. He is a Life Fellow of SPIE, a Fellow of OSA, and a Senior Member of IEEE.
Carol Ann Dykes, University of Central Florida Technology Incubator
cdykes@mail.ucf.edu
Ms. Carol Ann Dykes manages the University of Central Florida Business Incubator at Research Park. The Research Park Incubator is part of the UCF Business Incubation Program - a university-community partnership that builds high-growth business opportunities into successful business ventures in Central Florida. Prior to joining UCF, Carol Ann was a member of the University of Florida (UF) faculty in the College of Engineering where she served as Associate Director of the Southern Technology Applications Center supporting companies, federal laboratories and universities across nine southeastern states in their technology commercialization activities. She also served as Director of the UF EDA University Center facilitating partnerships between Florida companies and entrepreneurs with the State's universities for joint technology commercialization activities. Prior to that, she served as Vice President for Information Services at Technology Strategic Planning Inc. in Stuart, FL, providing global competitive technology analysis for Fortune 50 clients and as an Information Specialist at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock. Carol Ann is a member of the National Business Incubation Association, the Florida Business Incubation Association, and BioFlorida. She has served as Board member and President of the University Economic Development Association. She is 2007-20010 chair of the Blanchard Park YMCA Board and 2008-2010 Chair of the Florida Hospital East Orlando Foundation Board. She is a graduate of Leadership Orlando Class 67. She was one of five finalists for the Orlando Business Journal's Women Business Executive of the Year in 2005, Volunteer of the Year for the Blanchard Park YMCA in 2006. In 2007 she was the recipient of the Orlando Women's Executive Council Achievement Award in Education.
Bahaa Saleh, Ph. D., University of Central Florida
director@creol.ucf.edu
Dr. Saleh is Dean & Director, Professor of Optics, CREOL, The College of Optics and Photonics at the University of Central Florida and received the B.S. degree from Cairo University in 1966 and the Ph.D. degree from the Johns Hopkins University in 1971, both in electrical engineering. He held faculty and research positions at the University of Santa Catarina in Brazil, Kuwait University, Max Planck Institute in Germany, the University of California-Berkeley, the European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Columbia University, University of Vienna, and the University of Wisconsin- Madison where he was a faculty member from 1977 to 1994 and served as Chairman of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering from 1990 to 1994. He was appointed Dean of the College of Optics and Photonics and Director of CREOL at the University of Central Florida, beginning January 2009. His research contributions cover a broad spectrum of topics in optics and photonics including statistical and quantum optics, optical communication and signal processing, nonlinear optics, photodetectors, image processing, and vision. He is the recipient of the 1999 Optical Society of America Esther Hoffman Beller Award for outstanding contributions to optical science and engineering education, the 2004 SPIE BACUS award for his contribution to photomask technology, the 2006 Kuwait Prize for his contributions to optical science, and the 2008 Distinguished Service Award of the Optical Society of America.
Edward Schons, University of Central Florida
eschons@mail.ucf.edu
As the Director of University Economic Development, Ed is directly involved in the creation, attraction and retention of high technology based companies throughout the UCF’s area of service and that of the Florida’s High Tech Corridor. He has been actively involved with many economic development organizations in Florida including the Metro-Orlando EDC and the Tampa Bay Partnership. He works closely with the executive director of the Central Florida Research Park. He has been an integral part of the Florida High Technology Corridor Council (FHTCC) since 1996 and provides its President, Randy Berridge with management oversight of corridor activities. Ed is a member of CoreNet Global and serves on the Orlando Chapter Board. He has been an active member of the Florida Economic Development Council since 1977 and today serves as a member of this organization’s Executive Committee. He has also been an active member of the Florida Chamber and is a member of the Board of Governors and is actively involved with the Florida Chamber Foundation’s “Innovation Caucus. Ed is also a delegate to the Stakeholders Council of Enterprise Florida Inc and is a member of the Enterprise Florida Legislative Policy Committee. He is a past recipient of the Florida Chamber President’s Award for Outstanding Service and the Leadership St. Pete Alumni Association's “Leadership Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Community". Ed is also the recipient of the prestigious "Eunice Sullivan Economic Development Professional Award" from the Florida Economic Development Council for Outstanding Dedication and Commitment to the Economic Development Profession.
