For nearly 25 years, Andrea Wesser-Brawner is a trusted voice within international technology economic and workforce development. She has assisted thousands of entrepreneurs, research faculty and others in starting technology companies, pursuing federal funding for R&D, and generating revenues. She built and led seven technology accelerator programs, some with federal partners such as U.S. Department of Energy and Economic Development Administration, as well as global partners like the European Union. She has led several local government innovation and technology deployment programs while Chief Innovation Officer for both Orange and Seminole Counties, bridging the gap between futuristic solutions to address real-time challenges for water utilities, solid waste management, capital improvements, as well as constituent assistance programs. She also handled business development and large federal grant management for BRIDG, an industry-led consortium for the manufacturing of sensors and photonic devices based in Osceola County. She recently joined The Corridor as their Chief Strategy Officer, where she oversees the strategic roadmap deployment of the organization’s innovation ecosystem and workforce development efforts across 23 Counties within Florida.
Andrea has a passion for developing our nation’s STEM talent pipeline, encouraging new generations of inventors and innovators – both professionally through creating funding vehicles to support regional workforce boards, and also as a volunteer. She is a proud Board of Trustees member of the Orlando Science Center, serves on the Boards of the Manufacturing Association of Central Florida and FIRST Robotics Orlando Regional, and advises on modern curriculum needs through the Industrial Advisory Board of the University of Central Florida’s Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department. Andrea has also been an entrepreneur in an executive role for a number of micro- and nano-technology based start-up companies. She graduated with Honors from the University of Central Florida with her Masters and Bachelor’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering.