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
Agenda:
- 11:15 - 11:45 | Registration
- 11:45 - 12:15 | Technology Tour
- 12:15 - 12:45 | Lunch
- 12:45 - End | Recap and Final Q&A
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.
