USPS Publication Number 16300
T h is C om mu n it y Ne w sp ap er is a publ ic at ion of Es c a mbi a-S a nt a R os a B a r A ss o c i at ion
Se r v i ng t he Fi r st Jud icia l Ci rcu it Section A, Page 1
Vol. 22, No. 40
ITEN WIRED
V isit T he S ummation W eekly O nline : SummationWeekly.com
October 5, 2022
1 Section, 8 Pages
REWIRED FOR 2022
by Carson Wilber
T
he ITEN (Innovation, Technology, Entrepreneurship and Network) WIRED Summit is the Southeast’s premier cybersecurity and IT (information technology) event of the season. Hosted annually by IT Gulf Coast, the event brings together hundreds of like-minded innovators, technologists, entrepreneurs, students and educators to share their expertise, exchange ideas and network over common interests.
ITEN WIRED Summit will return to the Hilton on Pensacola Beach October 5 through 7, where leading industry experts and tech celebrities from across the region will present a crash course on the state of the tech scene. The event showcases the latest trends and best practices in technology within a collaborative environment where local professionals and students are invited to ask questions, engage in activities and learn more about future careers in IT and cybersecurity. The three-day summit will also highlight the area’s cybersecurity, information technology and entrepreneurial communities, while exploring emerging technology and some of the top innovators in start-up tech, artificial intelligence, robotics and other emerging trends and technologies occuring on the national level. This collaborative tech community is what ITEN WIRED is all about, with the event name coming from the ITEN acronym, which stands for Innovation, Technology, Entrepreneurship and Networking along the I-10 corridor.
strides in the past decade. The rate of new startups has skyrocketed across the country in the past few years, and here is no different. Many tech startups that have their roots here have grown into successful businesses, alongside others with an established presence. In recent years, local success stories like AppRiver and Intelligent Retinal Imaging Systems have made headlines by placing on prominent publications such as the Inc. 5000 ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. In addition, companies like Global Business Solutions, Inc. (GBSI), headquartered in Pensacola, Florida, provide both experienced cybersecurity professionals and resources to build incredible tech capabilities for businesses and government organizations alike. As a supporter and sponsor of this year’s ITEN WIRED Summit, GBSI will open their state-ofthe-art Security Operations Center located in downtown Pensacola to both attendees and local students for interactive cybersecurity exercises inside the GBSI Cyber Range. TECHNOLOGY: a field perva-
INNOVATION: the act of devel-
oping a new method, idea, or product. Synonyms include transformation, metamorphosis, and ingenuity. Innovation isn’t exclusive to technology and enterprise, but it’s no secret that these have taken massive
sive across all industries, utilizing the newest developments of science and engineering to make processes faster, more efficient, and more effective. Technology has many forms and the power to revolutionize any industry.
Throughout the summit, attendees will hear from industry experts and technology leaders from across the country representing a variety of industries from cybersecurity, healthcare technology and hospitality to government contracting and artificial intelligence. Each of these sectors are of major importance to the Southeast’s technology industries, which serves as a logistical hub and is home to critical government and military facilities, such as the Center for Information Warfare Training at NAS Pensacola Corry Station and the Department of Homeland Security Network Operations Security Center. ENTREPRENEURSHIP: a sense
of pride in community and industry radiated by philanthropists and business starters. Entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of economic development, fueling the development of startups and the expansion of existing businesses. The entrepreneurial spirit also continues to grow and live on in initiatives throughout the community. Leading the charge are groups such as Florida’s Great NorthWest Entrepreneurship & Innovation Council, which supports and convenes entrepreneurs throughout the Northwest corridor to share resources and programs for business success. The Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) of Florida, headquartered out of Pensacola, also serves as a strong resource for individuals looking to turn their ideas and products – in technology or other sectors – into a burgeoning business.
Pensacola is also home to a number of organizations that were purposely-built to serve as incubators business startups, entrepreneurs and innovators such as the CO:LAB incubator program operated by FloridaWest and supported by Pensacola State College; Jetty IoT, a private coworking space near downtown Pensacola and The Spring Entrepreneur Hub, located in the Studer Community Institute building with the UWF Center for Cybersecurity and SBDC Headquarters. The proximity to each other has enabled an environment of collaborative opportunities and resources unrivaled by other “tech hubs” across the country. NETWORKING: an act of outreach to colleagues and strangers that drives the development of a community. Networking is foundational to the success of every career and business. This year’s ITEN WIRED Summit will kick off on October 5 with a renewed and renamed Career Evolution Expo sponsored by Clark University where students, early professionals and seasoned experts will have the opportunity to network with companies looking to fill a wide range of open positions in cybersecurity and IT. ITGC is the local trade association that backs and organizes the ITEN WIRED Summit each year. This association consists of a consortium of professionals serving as the core of the Planning Committee and utilizing Summit proceeds to award scholarships to deserving students pursuing careers in IT and cybersecurity in schools from New Orleans to Tallahassee.
ITGC also hosts various events for professionals in the Pensacola area throughout the year, featuring guest experts and apprentices from various IT backgrounds to learn and grow together. The ITEN WIRED Planning Committee is also responsible for utilizing the proceeds from the annual summit to award scholarships to deserving IT and cybersecurity students throughout the Southeast. ITGC Membership provides local students and professionals with another avenue to collaborate with fellow techies and discover new opportunities to innovate. ITGC members like Teri Haggerty, who serves on the ITEN WIRED planning committee, will bring valuable insight and training expertise through a series of breakout sessions about critical soft skills needed in the tech industry. The list of notable speakers and companies in Northwest Florida extends much longer than any one article could cover, and ITEN WIRED is a premier event to get to know them all. All of these partnerships, events and the Summit itself culminate into a week that hoists the tech community high, proving why the Gulf Coast is growing into the next big national flashpoint for the continued tech revolution. ITEN WIRED has come a long way in its 12 years, but there is still time to get in on the ground floor. Tickets can be purchased in advance up to the day of the conference or at the door, with discounts available for military and current students. For more information on purchasing tickets for the Career Evolution Expo or for details on the Cyber Range exercise hosted by GBSI, visit itenwired.com. •
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