Last week the Downtown Kissimmee Area Council awarded their September/October Downtown Beautification & Innovation Award to TechCentral, part of the Osceola Library System. The Downtown Beautification Award has recently been renamed to include “Innovation,” a nod to the fact that sometimes the most impactful improvements to our downtown are not strictly visual. This award recognizes the efforts of Downtown businesses to make physical improvements or innovative enhancements to Downtown Kissimmee.
TechCentral is a high-tech maker space that is part of the Osceola Library System. Found on the second floor of Hart Memorial Central Library in Downtown, it is accessible to anyone who lives, works, or attends school in Osceola County. “Not everyone can afford a Mac computer, and certainly not everybody can have their own virtual reality headset,” said Library Director Amy Jones-Lee, “We’re happy to make that available so everybody can experience technology and what technology can do to better your life.”
When a visitor first enters TechCentral, they find themselves in the Virtual Reality Lobby. A TechCentral facilitator explained that after a training session, patrons can book the area and experience virtual reality, and a selection of headsets are available. The rest of the space offers a smorgasbord of tech options, including a sewing room, photography studio, recording studio, 3D printer, Mac computer stations, and a soundproof booth. While the goal is to teach users to be self-sufficient with the technology, TechCentral staff is on site to provide guidance to users. The space is perfect for those looking to explore potential career, or career enhancement, options. “It gives people the chance to come in and try something out before you want to completely dive in,” said Candice Casey, who oversees the project for the Library, “Maybe you want to try that as a new career, or maybe you don’t. So it’s the chance to try it first.”
The Mac Lab is located in a central area that supports the other rooms. Seven Mac desktop computers are available for use. They are loaded with Adobe Creative Suite and 3D printing software and any other programs needed to work on projects created in other rooms in the space.
In the recording studio we met up with Osceola County Commissioner Cheryl Grieb, who has already booked guitar lessons at TechCentral. When she perfects her new instrument, she can come in and record tracks. The recording studio includes recording equipment, a drum machine, industry-standard mics, various software, and much more. “I own a guitar and one of my bucket list items was to learn how to play that guitar,” Commissioner Grieb explained. The County Commission and County admin staff were instrumental (no pun intended) in bringing TechCentral to life.
In the photography studio, we spoke to LaVell Monger with RTW Photography. LaVell has partnered with TechCentral as a guest teacher. “It’s remembering how it was when I was younger and I first started. How can I do my part in the photography industry of cutting the next generation of photographers’ time in half – of learning the technical skills as well as giving them the eye?” said LaVell. The photography studio features high-end cameras that might be too pricey for most individuals along with professional lighting equipment and an assortment of backdrops, including a green screen. There is also a full, four wall, floor-to-ceiling, green screen room.
After a training session, library patrons may book each TechCentral feature for up to an hour at a time. Visit OsceolaLibrary.org/TechCentral to book. The Library’s YouTube page also features pre-visit instructional videos to get you prepared for your session. View our visit to TechCentral with Positively Osceola and the DKAC below.
Photos courtesy of RTW Photography.
On August 13, the Kissimmee/Osceola County Chamber of Commerce and The Chamber Foundation celebrated business at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort with our first ever Champions Jubilee. This event included the graduation of the Leadership Osceola Class of 2021, as well as the announcement of the winner of our Distinguished Leader Award and the business recipient of the Business Champion Award.
Leadership Osceola, which was born at the Chamber in 1989, just completed its first full year back under the Chamber umbrella in over two decades. Each year, a class of about 30 community leaders immerses themselves in Osceola County through interactive programming and hands-on experience. This year marked the 31st year of celebrating Leadership Osceola at Walt Disney World. 33 graduates of the program were honored this year and each received a certificate of completion from Chamber Vice President of Strategic Initiatives Sue Ring and 2019 Leadership Osceola graduate, and President, General Manager, & CEO of Kissimmee Utility Authority, Brian Horton. Class representative Abismael Abreu, Business Navigator with the City of St. Cloud, spoke about the class’s unconventional program year.
The 2021 Distinguished Leader Award was then presented by 2019 Distinguished Leader Mike Steigerwald, Kissimmee City Manager. After a nomination process, three finalists were selected for the 2021 Distinguished Leader Award. This award has been presented since 1992 to a Leadership Osceola graduate who has demonstrated community leadership, supported the Leadership Osceola County Program’s aims and goals, and empowered others to lead. The 2021 award went to Belinda Johnson-Cornett, CEO of Osceola Community Health Services over fellow finalists Kelly Trace, CEO of REACH, and Osceola County Tax Collector Bruce Vickers.
As “Champions for Business and Community,” the Chamber found it fitting to recognize a Small Business Champion with a new award this year. This Business Champion should possess many of the same qualities we celebrate in our individual leaders: spirit of service, engagement, and initiative. These businesses are woven into the fabric of our community creating jobs, providing opportunity, and often giving their time and resources for the greater good. The finalists for this inaugural award were Kathy Pierson Communications, RTW Photography, and Re/Max Premier Properties – Gladys Thayer. The award went to Kathy Pierson Communications.
Watch below for a recap of Leadership Osceola in 2021 and an overview of the graduating class of 2021:
The Chamber is brining you a new series highlighting some of our members who specialize in business consulting, business services, or personal & professional organization as they offer tips and tricks for managing your workday, workplace, employees, and more! This by members, for members series will feature members JKL Associates, Mantis Shrimp Consulting, and others with helpful tips and new ways of thinking for employers and employees to use in their professional lives. If you feel you have something to offer your fellow members, reach out to us at the Chamber by email or call 407-847-4145.
The first installment of this series will run Tuesday, August 31 on the Kissimmee/Osceola County Chamber of Commerce Facebook page. It will also be available on our YouTube Channel once it airs. This first outing will feature Larry Klimek with JKL Associates as he explains the Status Quo Matrix and why it’s important to keep yourself, your employees, and your customers or clients both motivated and competent to maximize the positive energy and outcomes at your company or organization.
Future topics in this new educational and motivational series will include:
The series will also give the Chamber team the opportunity to share Chamber “how-tos” on our ChamberMaster Member Information Center, registering for events, paying invoices, and other topics that will help you maximize your membership investment. As always, if you have greater interest in any of the topics featured on a Chamber webcast, please contact us so we may organize a deeper dive into the topic, or set you up with one of our member consultants or service providers one-on-one.
