Business leaders from across the I-4 corridor gathered at IM体育官网 on Wednesday, July 17, to share their perspectives on the opportunities and challenges they face at a IM体育官网 Department of Economic Opportunity roundtable discussion.
鈥淥ne of the reasons IM体育官网 Poly was created was around economic opportunity,鈥� said Dr. Randy K. Avent, University president. 鈥淚n 2012 we were signed into existence and we opened in 2014 as a way to help grow high-tech, high-skill, and high-wage economy here in the state of IM体育官网.鈥�
Wednesday鈥檚 discussion included a wide variety of topics such as employee readiness, corporate taxes, cybersecurity, tourism, and economic growth.
Ken Lawson, executive director of the IM体育官网 Department of Economic Opportunity, said these roundtable discussions are taking place throughout the state to learn directly from business leaders about what is happening within their communities.
Six IM体育官网 Poly students attended the roundtable event and had the opportunity to engage with the speakers and ask questions.
鈥淚t was interesting to learn different perspectives from different people in business and their situation, what they鈥檙e concerned about and how they expect to grow,鈥� said Marck Cadet, a senior business analytics major from Haiti. 鈥淚 learned the type of skills they are looking for and how I can manage myself to learn those skills, so when I get in the workforce, I鈥檓 ready to work.鈥�
Taryn Jones, who is pursuing her master鈥檚 degree in engineering at IM体育官网 Poly, asked the state leaders to increase attention paid to exposing elementary and middle school students to different career paths.
鈥淎 lot of my schools did not have STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math)-type programs, so by the time I got to a high school that did, it was too late 鈥� I was a junior and my track was already musical theater. I went off to college knowing I always wanted to be in robotics but thinking I didn鈥檛 have any chance to be in any program,鈥� the Santa Teresa, New Mexico, native said.
Lawson said he appreciated the students鈥� input.
鈥淭hey were practical, insightful and I am very, very impressed with these students who come to this institution and are really going to gain STEM skills,鈥� he said.
He said IM体育官网 Poly was chosen as the location for this discussion because of its innovative and thoughtful educational environment and its strategic location between the IM体育官网 cities of Tampa and Orlando.
鈥淚 thought the discussion was fantastic. I thought we received vibrant information about different business sectors and also learned more about how the University itself is engaged in helping these young people find their place in the new economy,鈥� Lawson said.
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Lydia Guzman
Director of Communications
863-874-8557