Success Stories

ActiGraph

The ActiGraph was originated as a product created to monitor physical activity for Army Rangers under a company called Manufacturing Technology Inc. (MTI), of Fort Walton Beach, FL.

Jeff Arnett, a Vice President with MTI at the time, had a strong urge to work with the ActiGraph, and so, initiated a break off from MTI. In the Spring of 2004, ActiGraph, LLC became a stand alone company, with Jeff Arnett leading as the President. Being a native of the Pensacola area, Jeff wanted to stay to help grow the economy and bring more technologically centered jobs to the locals. ActiGraph is now located in Downtown Pensacola.

The ActiGraph uses the science of accelerometery to detect motion as well as the intensity level of motion. Accelerometery is a technology that measures relative G-Force. Within the past decade, accelerometery (or Actigraphy as it is now commonly known) has been further validated within the focus markets of sleep evaluation, rehabilitation and over-all fitness assessments.

ActiGraph’s current customer base is focused primarily within the research industry with active customers in over 40 countries. Additionally, the ActiGraph has nearly 300 studies that validate efficacy in each of its aforementioned focus markets. ActiGraph’s largest customer is currently the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the NHANES study. ActiGraph has also been used and endorsed by the Cooper Institute. It has been used in Olympic training as well as the NFL and it is considered the Gold Standard within the American College of Sports Medicine. Over the next year, ActiGraph, LLC will launch its brand new consumer-based product, the ActiTrainer. The ActiTrainer will be capable of accurately calculating calorie expenditure, heart rate, step count, and more.

Avalex

In 1992, Tad Ihns started Avalex Technologies Corporation in Atlanta, Georgia. But in 2001, Ihns moved his company from Atlanta to Pensacola. Today, Avalex is a leading innovator in the field of special mission avionics. Innovative solutions such as digital map systems, digital video recorders, sensor pointing systems and airborne surveillance provides services to all branches of the military, most Federal law enforcement agencies and many state and local law enforcement groups including the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.

Avalex used ‘angel funding’ and grew from the man-a-dog-in-a-garage stage to a current staff of over 50 employees located in downtown Pensacola. The company hires a variety of electrical, software and project engineers for positions in its development lab. Avalex continues to leverage its excellent manufacturing base to spin off new products. A new line of digital video test equipment will be the first product of StratJess Technologies, one of these newly created companies.

Hixardt

In May 2001, Hixardt Technologies, Inc was founded by Michael E. Hicks Jr , Robert E. Barnet, and Scott T. Luthardt, to leverage their experience to build a company that was capable of delivering technology solutions as promised. Hixardt Technologies Inc. is a dynamic, fast paced company providing Information Technology (IT) Systems Integration, Engineering, and Consulting services. Located in Downtown Pensacola, Hixardt Technologies recently expanded to a larger facility and doubled their capacity and capabilities to serve their growing customer base.

Hicks has been involved in the field of technology for over twenty years. He received his BS Degree in Computers and Information Systems, from Florida A&M University in 1988 through the Navy’s BOOST program. After receiving his commission, Hicks was accepted into the Naval Flight Program where he was designated a Naval Aviator in October 1989. He became one of a few African American Naval Aviators to obtain a Designation as Electronic Warfare Aircraft Commander from VQ-1, in addition to many other awards.

In June 1987, he established his first commercial business, Pensacola Internet. This company grew to become the second largest ISP in Pensacola FL, and was the first company to introduce new technologies such as 56K modem and wireless access in the Pensacola area. In July 1998, he sold Pensacola Internet’s residential customers to Mindspring and business customers to Network Telephone, a CLEC in Pensacola, FL. In February 1999, he retired from the Navy as a Lieutenant Commander, and went to work for Network Telephone in July 1999 as their IT Director. Here he was responsible for managing the IT needs of a company as it grew from 55 employees to 600+ employees operating in 9 states. In February 2001, he left Network Telephone and started Hixardt Technologies.

Hixardt’s founders are retired Military Veterans with degrees or specialties in Information Technology and Telecommunication. The founders have worked together for several years creating and delivering Advanced Technology Services to organizations in Northwest Florida and Alabama.

iTen Wired

iTen Wired was initiated by the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce in concert with its regional economic development partners in Mobile, Baldwin, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties. The primary goal of iTen Wired is to remain competitive in the global economy by embracing the innovation of entrepreneurs across our region. This effort is done through five economic development partners: The Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, The Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce, Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance, TEAM Santa Rosa and the Okaloosa County EDC.

The innovation efforts of iTen Wired are centered around technology driven entrepreneurship and focuses on bringing people and ideas together. It will connect multiple entrepreneurial groups, technology councils and organizations together for the first time including IT Gulf Coast in Pensacola, FL, TECMEN in Fort Walton Beach, FL and the Gulf Coast Technology Council in Mobile, AL. These groups represent hundreds of technology entrepreneurs across the five county region.