Florida woos tech talent

By MADHUSMITA BORA, On Technology
Published March 1, 2008

---

College students, Florida is honored that you grace our beaches, hotels and restaurants for spring break.

But, how about showing some real love and hanging with us year-round?

Well, that's the mantra tech officials are chanting as they woo the best talent from across the country.

This week, career center directors from more than 70 universities descended here for a speed-dating-like event at the Tampa Convention Center. The second annual career expo, organized by the Florida High Tech Corridor Council, paired university officials from prestigious colleges such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Cornell University with Florida companies fishing for talent.

"I think it's an educational issue," said Mark Savage, director of engineering and cooperative education and career services at Cornell. "They students don't know about the opportunities here. I was impressed after talking to some of the employers."

The expo jells with Florida's refrain that it's now a global player and it's done playing the younger sibling to Boston and Silicon Valley. The state needs fresh, bright talent to be competitive, and it's getting aggressive.

The new talent could help recruit and retain companies such as Quadrant Software, which moved to Tampa from Boston two years ago. But the council may have to go beyond the role of playing matchmaker.

Silicon Valley and Boston are still the hallowed tech meccas. And most 20-year-olds are more ensnared by big city lights than white sand and warm weather.

Madhusmita Bora can be reached at mbora@sptimes.com or (813) 225-3112.