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Building Technology in Tampa Bay Presented by Kortek

  • August 06, 2025
  • 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
  • 12345 Starkey Road Suite A, Largo FL 33773

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Building Technology in Tampa Bay Presented by Kortek

Date: August 6, 2025
Time: 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Location: 12345 Starkey Road Suite A, Largo 

Chief Executive Officer and EaseAlert co-founder, Blake Richardson, will lead an engaging presentation on the development journey of the EaseAlert Firefighter Alerting System (FFAS)—a dual-use technology designed to deliver heart-smart alerting for firefighters, reducing stress-related health risks while enhancing response efficiency. Over a few hours, we’ll dive into the full arc of bringing FFAS from concept to production, sharing insights on fundraising, manufacturing, and achieving product-market fit. With complimentary food and drinks, we aim to immerse BAMA’s diverse membership in a story of innovation, resilience, and community impact

What you will Learn:

The EaseAlert FFAS exemplifies the power of Tampa Bay’s manufacturing ecosystem. Starting as a college project inspired by Blake Richardson’s personal connection to the firefighting community, FFAS evolved into a patented, made-in-the-USA solution that protects firefighters from the cardiovascular risks of jarring alarms. The presentation will walk through:

·       Concept to Prototype: How the team identified the need for heart-smart alerting and leveraged RDM’s engineering expertise to design wearable and bedside devices.

·       Fundraising Realities: Navigating ongoing fundraising to fuel innovation, including partnerships and grants like the National Institutes of Health study supporting FFAS.

·       Manufacturing Excellence: Scaling production with in-house capabilities and local talent to deliver rugged, reliable IoT and electromechanical systems.

·       Product-Market Fit: Iterating based on firefighter feedback to ensure FFAS meets real-world demands, now deployed in departments like St. Augustine Fire Department.

Why Attend:

·       Inspire BAMA members with a case study of local innovation.

·       Share practical insights on product development, from ideation to manufacturing.

·       Foster networking and collaboration among Tampa Bay’s manufacturing community.

·       Highlight Kortek’s commitment to supporting those who serve, aligning with BAMA’s mission.

Who Should Attend:

  • Manufacturers and Business Owners
  • Engineers and Product Developers
  • Supply Chain and Operations Managers
  • Entrepreneurs and Startups
  • Workforce Development and Education Leaders
  • Firefighting and Public Safety Advocates
  • Economic Development and Policy Stakeholders
  • BAMA Committee Members

3 Key Takeaways:

·  Navigating the Product Development Journey: Learn how to take a product from concept to market by balancing innovation, fundraising, and user feedback. Kortek’s experience with FFAS—turning a college project into a patented, firefighter-focused technology—offers a roadmap for overcoming R&D hurdles, securing funding (like NIH grants), and iterating for product-market fit, applicable to any industry.

·  Leveraging Local Manufacturing for Impact: Discover the power of in-house production and regional talent to create high-quality, mission-critical products. Kortek’s made-in-Largo approach to building rugged IoT and electromechanical devices showcases how Tampa Bay’s manufacturing ecosystem can drive efficiency, reliability, and community growth.

·  Designing for Real-World Needs: Understand the value of user-driven design in creating solutions that solve pressing problems. By prioritizing firefighters’ health with heart-smart alerting, Kortek demonstrates how to align technology with end-user demands, offering lessons for developing customer-focused products in competitive markets.


Bay Area Manufacturers Association

1936 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Suite 428

Wesley Chapel, FL  33543

727-536-5809

admin@bama-fl.org


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