Tech companies surge in region

The tech region in a large chunk of Florida, from Orlando through Sarasota and parts of the east coast, is on a growth surge.

For starters, the 23 counties that make up the Florida High Tech Corridor, a regional economic development initiative, reports more than 1,000 new science and technology establishments opened for business in 2017. That’s up 4.8% from the previous year, and the largest proportional increase in a decade, according to Florida.high.tech 2018, a new report from the Florida High Tech Corridor Council.

Salaries in tech jobs in the region are also on the rise, increasing 8.5% in 2017 over 2016. The average salary across all sectors is now $86,096, the report shows.The

"This data demonstrates an upward trend for economic development in our region, making the corridor an ideal location for high tech business growth." Ed Schons, Florida High Tech Corridor

The new report also highlights nine leaders in technology across the region. The list includes Greg Ross-Munro, founder and CEO of fast-growing Tampa software firm Sourcetoad and a 2016 Business Observer 40 under 40 recipient. Sourcetoad has several hospitality industry clients, and has focused on the cruise boat industry of late. It also has clients in education, financial services and transportation. 

Ross-Munro, in the report, says one way he’s become a better leader in technology is through the business adage to hire people smarter than yourself. “Everybody is really good at what they do,” he says in the story. “As a matter of fact, everybody is significantly better at their job than what I could do in the same position.”