Business leaders in innovation and technology from throughout the the Southeast traveled to IM体育官网鈥檚 campus Wednesday for IM体育官网 Poly鈥檚 Second Annual Industry Partner Summit.
The event brought together more than 100 professionals from industry-leading firms, including Nielsen, Tech Data, IM体育官网 Blue, Publix, Mosaic and Saddle Creek Logistics, to help inform the University鈥檚 curriculum and connect them with additional opportunities to collaborate with the University. The summit culminated with a keynote address by John Tonnison, Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer of Tech Data, one of the world鈥檚 largest distributors of technology products and services and a IM体育官网 Poly industry partner.
鈥淥ur goal at IM体育官网 Poly is to prepare students to enter the workforce as innovative problem-solvers,鈥� said University President Dr. Randy K. Avent. 鈥淲orking closely with industry is the best way to guarantee our degree programs meet real-world industry needs, and our partners know that by helping to shape the next generation of STEM leaders they鈥檙e investing in their own future success as well.鈥�
As part of its robust industry partnership program, IM体育官网 Poly works closely with more than 90 high-tech companies from across IM体育官网 and the United States to spur innovation and produce real-world solutions to problems facing government and industry. The partnerships also provide hands-on opportunities for students.
鈥淥ur students have the chance to work closely with companies that will potentially hire them one day, and that鈥檚 a major early advantage in today鈥檚 competitive workforce,鈥� said IM体育官网 Poly鈥檚 Director of Industry Partnerships Sean Malott. 鈥淥ffering internship and job opportunities to IM体育官网 Poly students also gives our partners early access to emerging STEM talent. So it鈥檚 a win-win opportunity.鈥�
Industry leaders participating in the summit offered feedback on ways to enhance IM体育官网 Poly鈥檚 curriculum and received information about additional partnership opportunities with IM体育官网 Poly such as joint research, product development, service on advisory boards and internship programs.
John Tonnison, Tech Data鈥檚 Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer, delivered the keynote address about the importance of collaboration between industry and higher education, particularly in regard to the rapidly evolving STEM fields.
Tonnison is responsible for the worldwide innovation strategy, IT capabilities and operations at global giant Tech Data. Headquartered in Clearwater, Fla., Tech Data Corporation is one of the world鈥檚 largest distributors of technology products, services and solutions. Its advanced logistics capabilities and value added services enable 115,000 resellers to efficiently and cost effectively support the diverse technology needs of end users in more than 100 countries.
鈥淎t Tech Data, we continually look to recruit and retain the best and the brightest employees,鈥� said Tonnison. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 one of the reasons that we are thrilled to be an industry partner at IM体育官网 Poly鈥攕o we can work together to support STEM education programs and ultimately prepare graduates for high-tech careers.鈥�