Female-Owned Defense Developer Selected to Participate in State-Funded Economic Gardening Program
TAMPA, Fla. (March 25, 2011) – Defense Technologies Inc., a female-owned intelligence software and robotics developer for the U.S. Department of the Defense, has been selected to receive free technical assistance from the Florida Economic Gardening Institute’s GrowFL program.
Founded in 2003, Defense Technologies, Inc. (DTI) primarily develops command and control software for unmanned vehicles and integrates software products to support military personnel. The eight-year-old, Tampa-based company has grown to 14 employees at its offices in Tampa and Lexington Park, Md., said President and CEO Maryann Carlton.
“DTI is committed to growing business in robotics and commercializing command and control technologies to help provide high-tech jobs, enhance Florida’s technical footprint, and keep the United States technically innovative,” she said.
Chief Engineer Aaron Judy said the company is proud to be a part of GrowFL.
“We believe now is the best time to introduce technologies and help grow our engineering force. More than ever, the U.S. needs low-cost innovative solutions to help protect our homeland and military, and provide humanitarian assistance around the world. We’re ready to provide this and excited that GrowFL is helping us achieve these goals.”
GrowFL, part of the state-funded Florida Economic Gardening Institute, was created in 2009 by the Florida Legislature and is based at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. When selecting businesses the institute looks for ones that have the potential to be successful, according to Dr. Tom O’Neal, executive director of the Florida Economic Gardening Institute.
“Defense Technologies was selected because it has shown that it has the potential to grow, and for its success in working with other businesses,” said O’Neal, who also is associate vice president of UCF’s Office of Research and Commercialization.
GrowFL will support Defense Technologies through a number of free services, including access to market research and technology, strategy analysis, CEO roundtables and forums, database research and website optimization.
CEO Carlton said her executive team is looking forward to the company’s next stage of growth.
“A program like GrowFL provides the market research, outside perspective, and mentorship needed by a small business like DTI. Our 2012 goal is to double our employees and revenue, and begin commercializing technology.”
About Defense Technologies Inc.
Defense Technologies Inc. is a female-owned small business that provides engineering services to the federal government and its contractors. The company develops command and control software for unmanned vehicles, develops and integrates software products to support the modern-day war fighter, and trains government and/or military personnel in the use of command and control systems. For more information, visit www.dtiworld.com.
About the Florida Economic Gardening Institute
The Florida Economic Gardening Institute was created by the 2009 Florida Legislature as the Economic Gardening Technical Assistance Program to stimulate investment in Florida’s economy by providing technical assistance for expanding businesses in the state. Qualified companies must be engaged in the following sectors to receive no-cost technical assistance: Manufacturing; Finance & Insurance Services; Wholesale Trade; Information Industries; Professional, Scientific & Technical Services; Management Services; and, Administrative & Support Services. Additional information is available at www.GrowFL.com.
For more information about this release, please contact:
Maryann Carlton, President/CEO Defense Technologies, 813-286-7606, mcarlton@dtiweb.net
Linda Nelson, Outreach Services, GrowFL 407-882-0046 Linda@Growfl.com
Charlene Hager-Van Dyke, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142, chagervandyke@yahoo.com & Lvershelco@aol.com