Florida Economic Gardening Institute Appoints Analyst Panel for GrowFL Program

July 26, 2010 - PRLog -- ORLANDO, Fla. – The Florida Economic Gardening Institute has selected three industry leaders for an Economic Gardening Team who will serve as technical assistance analysts in support of growing, second-stage companies as part of the GrowFL program.  David Brim, Clay Smithers and Jason Parry will offer expertise to participating companies in Internet marketing, geographic information systems, and market research and competitive intelligence, respectively.

As part of the GrowFL Technical Assistance program, team members Brim, Smithers and Parry will provide GrowFL clients with individualized programs addressing each company’s challenges to help their company grow and succeed.  This free technical assistance complements the entire suite of economic gardening support services GrowFL offers, which also include CEO peer roundtables, CEO forums and referral services to help second-stage companies statewide achieve their potential.

Brim will provide GrowFL participants with Internet marketing services such as Search Engine Optimization, Social Media and Web Strategy to help increase each company’s exposure to potential customers.  Brim is founder and CEO of Brand Advance, an interactive marketing agency located in Orlando, and has worked with companies including Sears, Armani Exchange, British Airways and many others on social media and other online marketing initiatives.  Additionally, Brim is the co-founder of GroupTable, a collaborative software created to enhance group interactions through document management, project planning and communication tools.  He received his bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Central Florida.

Through an advanced mapping technology called Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Smithers will provide GrowFL client companies with a visual representation of customer markets, demographics, and other area information.  He is also currently a GIS developer at WRScompass, an engineering firm based in Tampa.  Prior to his work in the GIS industry, Smithers worked as a consultant and systems analyst for Publix, IBM and PricewaterhouseCoopers.  He earned his master’s degree in geography from the University of South Florida and a bachelor’s degree in management information systems from Florida State University.  

An entrepreneur, market researcher, and consultant, Parry will assist GrowFL clients with competitive intelligence research to assess market conditions and establish a strategic course.  He has experience working with companies from a variety of industries and has worked for North Highland, CSX Transportation, Vistakon, the U.S. Air Force and Alltel Information Services.  Parry earned his M.B.A. from the University of North Florida and bachelor’s degree in political science and philosophy from Florida State University.


The Florida Economic Gardening Institute was created by the 2009 Florida Legislature as the Economic Gardening Technical Assistance Pilot program to stimulate investment in Florida’s economy by providing technical assistance for expanding businesses in the state.  Qualified companies must be engaged in the following sectors to receive no-cost technical assistance:  Manufacturing; Finance & Insurance Services; Wholesale Trade; Information Industries; Professional, Scientific & Technical Services; Management Services; and, Administrative & Support Services.  Additional information is available at www.GrowFL.com.

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GrowFL is a program of the Florida Economic Gardening Institute, funded by the Florida Legislature at the University of Central Florida committed to local delivery of statewide services to help second-stage companies grow to the next level.