Hsu Educational Foundation, Northwest Florida State College and Crestview Technology Park LLC Partner to Create a Pathway to Careers in Advanced Technologies
August 23, 2018
NICEVILLE, FL– Thanks to a new partnership between Northwest Florida State College, Hsu Educational Foundation and Crestview Technology Park LLC (CTAP), Okaloosa and Walton County citizens will now have a smoother pathway to high wage careers in aircraft maintenance, industrial maintenance, robotics and logistics through the Advanced Technology Center of Excellence.
This new partnership was announced Thursday, August 23, by NWF State College President Dr. Devin Stephenson, Founder of Hsu Educational Foundation and Owner of Crestview Technology Park Dr. Paul S. Hsu, and Executive Director of Hsu Educational Foundation Amanda Negron. The memorandum of intent was signed during a brief ceremony as a part of TeCMEN Industry Day, hosted by the Economic Development Council of Okaloosa County.
“This partnership is significant because of the impact it will have on area students by opening channels for learning new technologies, while serving as a foundation for development of future partnerships,” said Dr. Devin Stephenson, NWF State College President. “We are committed to cultivating the incubation of new ideas and growth that will stimulate Okaloosa and Walton counties.”
CTAP is making an in-kind donation to NWF State College by not charging rent for the first five years of the partnership on 53,272 square feet of two metal buildings that will become the Advanced Technology Center of Excellence.
“The Advanced Technology Center of Excellence will become a catalyst for economic development in STEM areas by developing a homegrown workforce for industry and innovation,” said Dr. Paul S. Hsu, founder of the Hsu Educational Foundation and owner of Crestview Technology Air Park. “The Hsu Educational Foundation will work collaboratively with Northwest Florida State College to identify potential opportunities for K-12 students to connect with STEM applications matching with future workforce needs.”
CTAP is strategically located within the Okaloosa County Enterprise Zone encompassing a 20 acre privately owned tract of Crestview real estate situated at the end of the 8,000 foot runway of Bob Sikes Airport.
“This partnership holds great promise for the creation of many high technology jobs within the industries of aviation, aerospace, defense and national security in Northwest Florida,” said Amanda Negron, executive director of the Hsu Educational Foundation. “We are very proud to be a partner in workforce development for an area that boasts a pro-business local government, award-winning public schools, Florida’s first STEM middle school, and a myriad of post-secondary education options, including a steady stream of young, technically astute military retirees.”
Photo: (L-R) Dr. Scott Behrens, VP of Teaching & Learning; Amanda Negron, Executive Director of the Hsu Educational Foundation; Dr. Devin Stephenson, President; Dr. Paul Hsu, Founder of Hsu Educational Foundation and Owner of Crestview Technology Air Park; Nathan Sparks, Executive Director of Economic Development Council of Okaloosa County; Barbara Anne Spears, Dean of Career Education