This is Orlando

If you have been paying any attention to the local Orlando tech scene for the past few years then Jim Thomas is a name that you certainly recognize. Through his work with the Orlando Tech Association and the Orlando Chamber of Commerce he has provided a voice for our community on both a local and national level. Go to any of the ubiquitous tech themed meet ups around town and you will most likely find Jim spreading the word.

2017 was a year of growth and with growth comes many challenges.  As Jim settles into his role as CEO of the OTA he has a lot on his plate. Tech has infiltrated every corner of our society and Orlando is being positioned as a major hub on a national scale. We continue to see growth in Gaming, Enterprise, Military and Medical Simulations and Jim has been tasked with finding a way to unite, promote and evangelize on behalf of all Central Florida Tech, AR, VR and Interactive Media. Herding cats is more like it. 

We caught up with Jim Mid January to find out what's in store for 2018 but more importantly what can we do to support the cause. There are many questions and even more opinions but as a wise man once said, "if you are not a part of the solution you are a part of the problem". You can start by getting involved. The OTA meets monthly and a schedule is posted on their Meetup page here. 

Thanks Jim for taking the time to meet with us and share your wisdom. On behalf of our community thanks for all of your hard work and dedication to helping make Orlando a top tier tech hub and something we can ll be really proud of. 

Before I let you go I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year and say thanks again to my pal Carlos Ivan for all of his help, support and especially that jaunty podcast introduction countdown. Be sure to check out Carlos work and pick up a copy of his latest The Pulse Diaries Vol. 2 available wherever fine records are sold (or should I say downloaded?) . 

Thanks also to you, the listeners and supporters of this podcast. Please continue to spread the word and let me know what ideas you have for future guests. Let's make 2018 a year to remember and as always GET INVOLVED! 

Our 10th podcast of 2017 ends our year with a bang. This is the essence of what we do and preach day in and day out. If you are interested in a career in tech or ways to continue growing your career then you need to listen to what Alysse has to say. 

Her book, The Recruiting Snitch has helped countless people navigate the terrain of the professional recruiter. In fact it is required reading for all students in the UCF Business Program. She currently serves as the Sr. Recruiter at The Experience Engine and is visible throughout our Central Florida Tech community. She will soon be hosting a series of resume workshops and is also working on the second edition of The Recruiting Snitch which is expected by the end of 2018. 

It's always refreshing for me to sit down with another Career expert and compare notes. In this episode we discuss topics ranging from resumes, following up, staying in touch and how to grab the attention of a recruiter through social media and meet ups. We share stories of the do's and don'ts of a job search and she even schools me on the legalities of corporate job posting. If you listened to our podcast with Sr. EA Recruiter Alan Ashby you will start to see trends in common with recruiters and hiring managers. If you are not paying attention you are doing yourself a disservice. 

As 2017 comes to a close I want to wish you all a Happy Holiday and say thank you for all of your support throughout the past year. We have a lot to accomplish in 2018. Our Central Florida Gaming and Tech communities continue to grow and I hope to be able to continue to provide the conduit for all, whether your are looking to advance your career, sourcing for open positions at your company or looking to hire a team of developers for your media project perhaps I can help. You know where to find me. 

Last month when we were wrapping up Episode 8 with David Glass Carlos turned to me and asked if I have ever met John Lux from Film Florida. He went on to tell me that John and I were kindred spirits and he too shared the same passions and ideals. Carlos made the introductions and thankfully John agreed to come down and meet me here at The Gamespace to talk about his work with Film Florida. Carlos was correct. Not only did I hear John echo back to me many of my own thoughts but I learned a lot about his involvement in our community and the fact that we are all in this together. 

John's primary focus as Executive Director is to support his constituents while evangelizing the benefits of our community. He networks tirelessly to help companies find the connections and manpower to successfully complete projects and support the infrastructure of our Central Florida community. It's interesting to find that our industry divides no longer exist. Film and TV productions now require the talents of our technical community. Opportunities are everywhere for programmers, artists and VR/AR enthusiasts too. 

John take a very positive and proactive approach. Rather than focus on what isn't he focuses on what is. He spends is days supporting the community through social networking and his involvement in many legislative and community organizations. There are many ways for you to get involved. Start bu heading to the Film Florida web page for more details on meetups and events happening frequently throughout the state. 

Thanks John for taking the time to sit down with me and thanks always to Carlos for making it happen. 

Being a Tech Evangelist in Orlando often feels like preaching to the choir. We all know what a passionate and dedicated community we belong to but that's not always enough. Orlando's David Glass has worked tirelessly over the past 5 years to provide opportunities and education to our community while raising our nation profile as a top tier tech destination here in the U.S. 

September 2018 is the target date for the next iteration of OrlandoiX. Although the past three OiX' have been well received it has not come without a ton of elbow grease and hard work. It takes an incredible amount of time and effort to secure space, wifi, speakers and dollars to plan an event of this magnitude. 

In this episode we discuss the foundation and vision of the OiX brand and some of the difficulties encountered within the community to pull of an experience that benefits both the consumer and the tech devotee. 

Ask David if it's easy and you will be met with a scowl but ask him if it's worth it and he breaks into a smile. "Absolutely it's worth it" In spite of the obstacles he will not slow down. The goal is to create a brand that unites all of Orlando's thriving tech community, developers, gamers, entrepreneurs and the people that consume their products.  

Last years OiX featured representatives from Microsoft, HTC Vive, Doghead Simulations and a plethora of local game and interactive media companies. 2018 promises much more and we can't do it without everyone's support. If you are interested in hearing more about next years conference be sure to sound off. We are now accepting submissions for speakers, presenters and expo booths. Sponsorship's are also available. 

Thanks David for your ongoing passion and hard work on behalf of our community. It may not be easy but we appreciate your dedication and ongoing commitment to making Orlando a tech city of the future. 

As always, special thanks to Carlos Ivan Marquez for making it happen. 

One of the anchors of our Game Development community here in Orlando is without compare EA Tiburon. Located in Maitland and employing over 700 they work tirelessly each year bringing us the latest iteration of Madden, NCAA and FIFA as well as contributing to many other titles in the EA stable. 

I invited Sr. Recruiter Alan Ashby over to the Coble Ranch to talk about his role and to fill us in on a day in the life of a recruiter for one of the largest AAA studios in games. During our conversation he explains the entire process from soup to nuts including answers to questions such as;

How he sources new candidates.

What he looks for on resumes. 

What it is that makes candidates stand above the rest.

The three interview process from phone screen to technical interview and in person white board challenges.

Throughout the conversation he makes one thing absolutely clear, it's not just your technical skills that get you noticed but how you communicate and interact that makes the first impression. Alan is faced daily with hordes of resume submissions that he has to comb through and sort. Now is your chance to learn how to add your application to the top of the stack and then position yourself as the candidate that the rest of the team will want to work with. 

For a list of current openings at Tiburon click here. Be sure to keep an eye out for Alan at the many meet ups and conferences here in Orlando and be sure to reach out and extend a hand. He is always looking for good talent and is interested in expanding his network. 

The video below was shot 2 years ago but gives you a peek behind the curtains at the Maitland offices. 

I hope you enjoy and learn a lot from episode 7 of the This Is Orlando podcast. If there are any topics or guests that you would like to hear from in the future be sure to reach out to me anytime at [email protected] and follow me on Facebook at Rob Coble Career Management and on Twitter @robcoblecm

Now, without further ado here's Alan

At the heart of our thriving community we will find Amanda Roche and Sheena Fowler working tirelessly on behalf of our Game and Tech communities. That's not all they do however, their main goal is to preach the gospel of Central Florida and this includes all of what makes Central Florida great. 

Our area has changed since I first began coming here in 1979. Orlando was two things, Disney World and Orange Groves. The northern border game to a halt around Longwood and the Kissimmee area around Disney was wide open space. Now we see growth all the way through the bedroom communities north to Daytona Beach and south into Dr. Philips and Windemere. UCF area has exploded and we have become one of the best regions for education boasting a half a million students within a 100 mile radius of downtown featuring world class facilities and an incredible talent pool that is raising eyebrows across the region.

Our quality of life has become something we boast about rather than tolerate. We have an abundance of great restaurants, live venues and museums and the culture to support them. Orlando City and Pride soccer games are seeing people fill our new Camping World Stadium and major touring acts are frequenting the Amway Arena. 

Amanda and Sheena sat down with me recently to discuss the mission of the Orlando Economic Partnership and why living and working in Orlando has become a national topic. I get a sense that we have only just begun. Our downtown area is being rejuvenated by the addition of the Creative Village and the UCF Downtown Campus which is sure to fuel the continued growth and focus on our great city.

I urge you to be a part of the excitement by contributing to the #thisisorlando social media push. Add the #thisisorlando hash tag and help spread the word on why you choose Orlando as your place to live and work. It's true when they say, Orlando - You Don't Know The Half Of It! 

For more on the Orlando Game and Tech scene be sure to check out the This is Orlando page of this website. If you are looking for ways to get involved within our community drop me a note. Orlando iX is coming up in less than two weeks and I hope to see you there. 

I am sure you have heard me talk about Indienomicon many time before. If you are anywhere close to the Video Game Industry in Orlando then you already know about the awesome work they do. For over 4 years now they have spearheaded the gaming community in Orlando through their monthly meetups and annual game jams. This year sees them regroup with a new board and some exciting new initiatives to help continue bringing The City Beautiful more recognition in the global games community. 

Keep in mind that these folks volunteer their time while holding down full time positions in the games and tech fields. They do this out of love and passion for our community and the industry. If you are interested in learning more about Indienomicon and how you can get involved you can find them all via email or Twitter. Feel free to reach out, they love hearing from you and are always on the lookout for volunteers, sponsors and anyone who is interested in attending their monthly meetups and game jams. 

Kunal Patel - [email protected] @KunalPatel

Necole Pynn - [email protected] @NecolePynn

Chad Hoover - [email protected] @chadmhoover

Kyle Morrand - [email protected] @kymorrand

Robert Torres - [email protected] @bobbyt0318

Jack Henkel - [email protected]

I am fortunate to work part time with Thinkful, an incredible Online Coding Bootcamp that teaches both web development and Data Science. I had the opportunity to chat via Skype with the Director of Education Grae Drake and get his take on education in general, networking, overcoming social fears and what it is he looks for in people during the interview phase. 

I have been doing career services for 13 years now and I have to say I was blown away by Thinkful's perspective on sharing the employment responsibility with their students as well as Grae's perspective on what it means to provide guidance and encouragment. 

Grae is a programmer, educator, and recovering corporate attorney. He joined Thinkful as employee #4 to build the mentorship program and now leads Thinkful's education department, including career services and employer relations teams. He's coached a number of Thinkful graduates through the job search and negotiation processes, and splits his free time between wrangling his two year old son and solving problems on Project Euler. Follow him on twitter at @Grae_Drake.

Let me know your thoughts - @robcoble

It's always fun to get with the lads from Doghead Simulation and this recording was no exception. We braved the elements to get through this one including my wife's liquor cabinet and my poorly trained misbehaved yellow lab Maggie. 

Doghead Simulations was founded by my three guests,

Elbert Perez - Microsoft, HTC Vive

Chance Glasco - 2015, Infinity Ward

Jameson Durall - Oddworld, EA, Deep Silver Volition

They recently relocated their home base to Orlando in order to take advantage of the thriving local tech scene and their relationship with Full Sail University where all three are members of the schools elite Hall of Fame. 

In this podcast we discuss Dogheads current state and plans for the future, What's new in Virtual Reality, the Orlando tech scene and how these three longtime game industry veterans have successfully managed their careers from their first jobs in the industry to founding their own company. 

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