Largo, Fla. – (Oct. 6, 2008) – Alaka’i Consulting & Engineering, Inc., a resident client at the STAR Technology Enterprise Center (STAR TEC), has received the Governor’s Business Diversification Award for Entrepreneurship in the Mega Market category (county population of 800,001 and higher).
The awards recognize business achievements that advance the state’s economy through job creation and distinctive community involvement and capital investment. Awards are presented in the six leadership categories of business expansion, entrepreneurship, export excellence, innovation, newcomer and green-to-gold.
“Since opening operations at STAR TEC in 2006, Alaka’i has grown to seven employees in Florida, with an average annual salary much greater than the county average,” says Tonya Elmore, STAR TEC executive director. “This is a real success story that expresses STAR TEC’s mission of “Accelerating Entrepreneurial Success.”
Alaka’i is a high technology business whose core research and development interests are in standoff detection and remote sensing of trace molecules that include explosives and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), the #1 killer of American soldiers and coalition forces. The firm is also applying its efforts to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats.
“Nothing we found in other states matched what Florida did to help us grow and thrive,” says Ed Dottery, Alaka’i president and co-founder. “Here we found the right mix of talent, infrastructure, business climate and networks – along with the STAR TEC accelerator – to help our revenues triple the first year. We’re on track to double revenues in our second year.”
Alaka’i principals Dottery and Guy Ontal, vice president, are West Point graduates who met while on the faculty of the West Point physics department, following more traditional Army career paths in the Infantry, Special Forces, Corps of Engineers and Army Acquisition Corps. The firm works principally, though not exclusively, for military services and their contractors.