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‘A buzzing hive’: Florida Tech relaunching underused CAMID space as Vertex, a high-tech hub

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‘A buzzing hive’: Florida Tech relaunching underused CAMID space as Vertex, a high-tech hub


During Florida Institute of Technology President John Nicklow’s interview activities leading up to his April 2023 hiring, he toured CAMID, the university’s sprawling 100,494-square-foot manufacturing-design complex on Palm Bay Road.

“Initially, I was so excited. ‘We have this facility out here, and it’s fantastic.’ And then I went inside — and I thought, ‘It’s half empty,’ ” Nicklow recalled.

“And it could be so much more,” he said.

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To that end, Florida Tech has relaunched the underutilized Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Innovative Design as Vertex, a new “applied innovation hub.” Rather than function as a traditional academic building, Vertex’s office space, manufacturing and clean rooms will host business tenants, contracted research and development work, facility rentals, workforce training and more.

“If we do our jobs right, and you come back a year from now, this place is going to be a buzzing hive,” Vertex Executive Director Samantha Miles said, seated in a second-floor conference room inside the complex.

Born in Melbourne Beach and hired in November, Miles previously held leadership positions with a research company and a business school in Dubai in the United Emirates; served as student experience coordinator at the University of Southern Queensland in Australia; and held student-centric posts at Florida Atlantic University.

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“Right now, we’re in a big transition period. Because not only are we improving the space and making it more industry-facing, we’re redesigning our labs. We’re redesigning our communal spaces. We’re upgrading our equipment A-to-Z,” Miles said.

As of today, Vertex houses CAMID, the Florida Tech Research Institute and four businesses: the Larsen Motorsports jet dragster racing team; SafeSky Systems USA and Zeal OTM (drone and surveillance companies); and Solar Transport Systems (a solar-powered electric car company).

Miles said unused second-story space above the Larsen Motorsports shop is under construction for future drone testing and for a composites laboratory. This area will also house ASCEND, an acronym for AeroSpace Cybersecurity ENgineering Development. In June, Florida Tech announced it will receive $5 million in state funding for ASCEND.

“A pet peeve of mine is when we’ve not capitalized properly or fully on an asset — in this case, space. And so, that was the idea: How could this best be used to serve our community, to serve the institution?” Nicklow asked.

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Intersil donated building, land in 2013

Vertex is located off the intersection of Palm Bay Road and Robert J. Conlan Boulevard, about a 3½-mile drive from the Melbourne-based STEM university campus.

Harris Semiconductor constructed the building in 1977. It later housed Intersil Corp. integrated-circuit and telecommunications facilities for government, defense, aerospace and commercial programs until 2009 — the building was known as Fab 54.

In September 2013, Intersil donated the complex and five acres of land with nearly 300 parking spaces to Florida Tech — a gift valued at $13.1 million. This large-scale donation occurred during a Florida Tech expansion era when the university added facilities and programs on- and off-campus.

Florida Tech’s nearby Panther Bay apartment complex had just opened that year on Palm Bay Road, a little more than a mile to the west. And the new Panthers football team also debuted in September 2013 with a 20-13 win over Stetson at Palm Bay High’s Pirate Stadium. The football program got dropped for fiscal reasons during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Florida Tech announced a $1.4 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration in October 2015 to open the former Intersil complex as CAMID. Installed equipment includes computer-driven manufacturing equipment like a prototype fabrication bay, microelectronics tools, water-jet and plasma metal-cutting bays, and 3D printers.

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Jason Jones operates SafeSky Systems USA and Zeal OTM, and he builds drones inside Vertex. He displayed a black quadcopter drone that recently flew over flame-blackened wildfire areas near Pasadena, California.

“With what we’re doing and the way the center’s growing, it gives us capabilities that we never thought we’d have,” Jones said.

Vertex to open for tours on March 28

Florida Tech officials will offer free tours of Vertex during an Innovation Ecosystem Expo from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. March 28.

The address is 2495 Palm Bay Road N.E., and the public is invited. The expo includes an indoor-outdoor showcase featuring booths from Vertex partners, along with 30-minute workshops.

Rick Neale is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Neale at Rneale@floridatoday.com. Twitter/X: @RickNeale1

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‘You’ll get capped:’ New viral challenge could get teens shot in Florida, sheriff warns

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‘You’ll get capped:’ New viral challenge could get teens shot in Florida, sheriff warns


FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. – A recent viral trend — dubbed the “Door Kick Challenge” — has been causing issues as of late in Central Florida.

The challenge involves teens covering their faces, kicking or pounding stranger’s front door when it’s dark outside, and sprinting off into the night.

[WATCH: FCSO releases footage of ‘Door Kick Challenge’ in action]

But on Wednesday, Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly warned there could be deadly consequences.

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According to the sheriff’s office, these pranks may come across as an attempted home invasion for some, and with Florida being a “Stand Your Ground” state, neighbors have the right to treat it as such.

[ Central Florida deputy consoles 12-year-old accused in door-kicking incident]

“Parents, keep an eye on your children. We know they want to have fun, but they are taking huge risks when they mask up and kick strangers’ doors,” Staly said. “Be the sheriff of your own home, talk to your kids, know their friends, and make sure they know the risks associated with doing what the internet tells them to do.”

But in a release, the sheriff’s office delivered the message in a “language” that teens may better understand:

“This door kick ‘challenge’ is not the side quest you think it is.

It’s trendslop, pure brain rot straight off the FYP. You think you’re the alpha chad of the cul-de-sac? Nah bruh, you’re one hoodie masked-up sprint away from priors. The kind of rap that gets you cancelled before you ever stack any clout. Zero drip in our jail’s barbershop-looking mugshots.

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Okay, real talk. Florida is a Stand Your Ground state. A NPC wakes up to two randos kicking their door at 1 a.m. wearing sheisties — they don’t see a flex, they get the ick, and think your side quest is a home invasion. And no cap, you’ll get capped.

Taking an L on TikTok? Recoverable. Taking a round to the chest? There’s no respawn.

So skip this one, chief. Find clout elsewhere.”

Flagler County Sheriff’s Office

Copyright 2026 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.



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Jacksonville 18-year-old vanishes during bicycle trip to Florida Keys, deputies are now asking for your help

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Jacksonville 18-year-old vanishes during bicycle trip to Florida Keys, deputies are now asking for your help


Jasper Frohock (St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office)

The St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in locating a missing Jacksonville 18-year-old who was last seen in Fort Pierce.

Jasper Frohock was reported missing June 15. According to family members, Frohock left his Jacksonville home on a solo bicycle trip to the Florida Keys, traveling several miles each day and camping overnight in a tent, often at local parks along the route.

The last known location associated with Frohock was in the 1900 block of Crestview Drive in Fort Pierce. The exact date and time of that location update are unknown.

Frohock is described as a white male, 18 years old, 5 feet 8 inches tall and approximately 150 pounds, with red hair and brown eyes.

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Anyone who has seen Frohock or has information about his whereabouts is asked to contact St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office Detective Corporal Alba at 772-462-7300, or email CrimeInfo@stluciesheriff.com. Anyone who sees Frohock and believes he may be in immediate danger should call 911.




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South Florida shark diving operators push back against Florida Safe Seas Act: “There’s a huge double standard here”

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South Florida shark diving operators push back against Florida Safe Seas Act: “There’s a huge double standard here”


Shark diving operators in South Florida are raising concerns that a bill currently moving through Congress could wipe out their industry.

The Florida Safe Seas Act, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this month, is now headed to the Senate for consideration. If enacted, the legislation would prohibit the use of bait to attract sharks in federal waters off the Florida coast, though it would include an exception for shark fishing.

Supporters argue the bill will improve safety for swimmers, beachgoers, and anglers. Opponents, however, contend the measure would effectively dismantle the multimillion-dollar shark diving tourism industry in South Florida.

“This industry has created a natural guardianship for sharks; it is showing people that sharks are worth more alive than dead; it’s showing people the importance of sharks, really,” said Tanner Mansell, who operates Tanner Underwater Charters out of Jupiter.

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Mansell argues that banning bait would leave operators with no viable alternative. “It would completely eliminate the industry because if we could go out there and swim with sharks without using bait, I would, I would be more than happy to do that,” he said.

He noted that his charters typically operate 3 to 4 miles offshore, well away from beachgoers, and argued that shark fishing from the beach presents a greater safety risk.

“So they’re taking the same chum that we use to attract sharks offshore, but you can put it on a hook and throw it at the beach and lure sharks in if you want to catch them right next to beachgoers, so there’s a huge double standard here,” Mansell said. He also disputed claims that dive charters are responsible for drawing sharks closer to shore, pointing to the high volume of recreational fishing boats in the area.

Conversely, the Bonefish & Tarpon Trust supports the legislation, citing the need to address shark depredation—a situation where sharks target hooked fish or fish being released back into the water.

“I think anything we can do to address the shark depredation issue is going to pay dividends in the long run,” said Kellie Ralston, the organization’s vice president for conservation and public policy.

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Ralston highlighted research indicating that more than 40% of breeding permit fish, a key recreational fishery in the state, were being lost to sharks during the catch-and-release process. “I think couched in kind of this larger focus on shark depredation, I think we’re poised to see some really positive results out of this that’ll benefit our anglers, our boaters, our waters and our fisheries to be sustainable for the long term,” she added.

The bill is sponsored by Rep. Daniel Webster, R-Clermont. A spokesperson for Webster’s office stated that the legislation mirrors existing Florida state law prohibiting shark feeding off the coast.

“The bill would extend these protections to federal waters, aligning with existing federal law surrounding Hawaii and Pacific territories,” the spokesperson said. “With the bill passing the U.S. House of Representatives on June 2, it now goes to the Senate for consideration.”


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