Sterling Casino Lines Announces New Sewage Treatment Plan
WFTV Channel 13 News.com, August 2007

Dragonfly creates buzz in cruise ship industry
Florida Today.com, August 2007

Free from NASA: Rocket-science expertise for businesses
NASA offers 40 hours of free technical advice to businesses

BY MICHELLE KEARNS
THE BUFFALO NEWS

August 21, 2007 – The call from Cape Canaveral, Fla., came faster than Kathy Olenick expected. She had typed up the request for free business help from NASA's rocket scientists, thinking it would be months.

Instead, six weeks later she had a proposal for keeping the room with her company's four kiln furnaces cool with air ducts, not expensive air conditioning.

"They basically educated us on how to think of the room differently," said Olenick, a general manager at ENrG Inc., a developer of ceramic membranes for fuel cells, with headquarters in an old factory at 155 Rano St. "We're all engineers, but it's not our expertise."

The federal government's six-year-old Space Alliance Technology Outreach Program, with a district office in Syracuse, was set up by Congress to help small businesses use "rocket science" to make business better. SATOP, with a $3.2 million annual budget, reviews requests for 40 hours worth of help for free. It then connects designers and manufacturers hired by National Aeronautics and Space Administration with companies that make of all sorts of things—window shutters, life rafts and brakes for super jumbo jets.

"For people like me, it's fun," said Harland Hyde, an engineer and vice president of AJT & Associates Inc. on 8910 Astronaut Blvd. in Cape Canaveral, home of the Kennedy Space Center. While his designs are usually related to space exploration—such as the control room for the space shuttle and a launch system for rockets—working on a plan for ENrG's Tonawanda kiln room was a welcome break.

"We get these little projects that are mind bending—that get your creative juices flowing," Hyde said. SATOP's Syracuse office, one of four nationwide, works with companies from Michigan to New England to match them with NASA contractors who might be able to help. Requests come in on the Web site SATOPNY.com. Numbers have been growing gradually since the program began—from 130 in 2001 to 177 last year, said A.J. Lucas, the deputy program director in Syracuse.

"Here's a free service. Completely free. No strings attached . . .More people should know about it," he said. "I know were having an impact on those small businesses' success."

His list includes company from Hoosick Falls, N.Y., that learned how to make a simpler version of its window insulation panels so that they could be sold by a mass market retailer such as Home Depot.

Another company in Maplewood, N.Y., couldn't figure out how to ship its window shutters so they arrived undamaged. A NASA engineering design contractor in Texas did stress test analysis and discovered the shipping boxes needed reinforced corners.

A Boeing engineer with adhesive expertise at the Kennedy Space Center advised a Florida life raft company how its order backlog could be fixed. Production sped up when room temperatures were raised so adhesive on raft parts dried quicker: Curing time went from seven days to one.

Sepac, an Elmira company, won a contract to make brake parts for a new 500- seat super jumbo jet for Airbus after SATOP referred its request. "It opened a door with a major aerospace supplier," said Curran Sekella, an engineer and president of Sepac, a 30-employee company. "We do hope that as this airplane grows in production, our business will grow."

At first when he bid on the job, Airbus wanted a lighter version. Then a Connecticut computer-modeling firm that has worked on flight hardware and a space telescope used its software. It calculated how thin Sepac's composite material could be and still be strong enough.

Sepac can now make the brake part as light and strong as Airbus wanted. The analytic principles Sekella learned can be applied to other work, too.

"It gave us a versatile tool," he said, remembering the trade magazine that led him to SATOP. "They have this cute little ad where they say, 'Wouldn't you love to have a rocket scientist for a day?' "

Kevin Colvin, of Lancaster, got help from a NASA-funded research and development team at New Mexico State University after he met someone from SATOP at a Rochester tool show. Colvin, who makes gear tools at the American Axle & Manufacturing plant in Buffalo, invented a drill that lasts longer than others by holding fluid at the tip—the liquid then protects the metal, forms a "cushion" and helps the tip last.

The patented design, intended for factory work, has yet to sell, but the group of academics demonstrated how it endures by running tests. The report they prepared showed a regular drill stopped working after drilling 64 holes in 2-inch-thick stainless steel. Colvin's had minimal wear after 100 holes.

Colvin, who once worked in the drill department at Moog Inc., was impressed. "It gave me a chance to interact with research scientists and professors," he said. "They really gave me a taste of what it's like to work with the next level and actually applying an invention."

Now as his axle-maker employer prepares to shut down this year, and Colvin looks for work, he wants to use his drill know-how in his next job. He thinks the liquid- protecting principle he discovered will work on other tools as well.

"I have a lot of tooling ideas," Colvin said, "and this is one."

Olenick of ENrG said she first got the idea to fill-in the SATOP application when her colleague Venkat Venkateswaran seemed dangerously overheated when he left the kiln room. "He can put up with a lot of heat because he's from India," she said, "but he was dripping."

The SATOP office assigned ENrG's room design problem to Hyde because he had worked on factory design at a previous job. He understood ENrG's need to keep its factory space clean—cooling fans would blow dust and lead to impurities and cracks in the ceramic squares ENrG makes for fuel cells, a sort of battery that uses gas.

His suggestion: clustering the kiln furnaces, rather than lining them up against the wall. That way the heat is contained in one spot. The kilns can be linked together with air ducts that suck in cool outdoor air and send hot air out. Now at it's hottest, the room is a bearable 85 degrees, Olenick said.

Since Hyde's 2005 solution, the company has asked for assistance with another problem that Olenick declined to discuss because it was too proprietary. Still, she said, she and her co-workers make a point of trying to think of more questions for SATOP: "Once a year we go around the table and say, 'What could we do with them?' "

Economic Development Commission makes Contact with emerging market of Romania
International Trade Grant lends exposure to growing defense & aerospace community

AL DIA TODAY

ROCKLEDGE – July 21, 2007 – Representatives from the Economic Development Commission of Florida's Space Coast embarked on a trade mission to Bucharest, Romania, April 23-27, 2007 for the Black Sea Defense & Aerospace Exhibition and Conference, sanctioned by the US Commercial Service.

Through an International Trade Grant the EDC was awarded by Enterprise Florida, local companies were offered the opportunity to participate in this program. Joining EDC President & CEO, Lynda Weatherman and EDC Director of Business Recruitment, Robert Salonen, was AJT & Associates Director of Marketing & Business Development, Monica Teran.

Romania was highlighted as an appropriate international trade destination due to the country's unique growing market environment. With a military and defense budget increasing annually, an economy beginning to intertwine with its new EU members and its growth to NATO standards, significant possibilities exist for future opportunities. Participation in this event allowed the EDC to explore existing export opportunities in the market that may be of interest to local companies.

The exposure for Teran was immeasurable. Her company was able to participate in the US Commercial Services Gold Key Service which matched the capabilities of AJT & Associates, a scientific and technical-services company with close ties to NASA, the U.S. military and the nation's airports, with Romanian companies vetted by the US Commercial Service. The Hispanic owned company came away with several solid leads and has plans for a future trip back to Romania to meet with potential clients.

"I never would have considered the country of Romania as a viable trade partner had it not been for the grant the EDC was granted from Enterprise Florida", said Teran. "The contacts made through the commercial service were invaluable and will be of assistance as we further our company's reach on an international level."

The EDC has researched and compiled a list of Romanian contacts for local companies interested in exploring the country's varying markets. Such information could prove beneficial in learning about and entering into the Romanian marketplace. Interested companies can contact Robert Salonen, EDC Director of Business Recruitment at RSalonen@SpaceCoastEDC.org to obtain more information.

"We have already seen that international trade missions can be successful but the key is getting the Space Coast in the public eye," said Lynda Weatherman, President & CEO of the EDC of Florida's Space Coast. "This grant is important in further sustaining our community by shedding light on new foreign opportunities for our current aviation and defense companies and recruiting new ones to our area."

Opportunities still exist for international trade programs. The next trade mission the EDC will be participating in is the Dubai Aerospace Exposition being held in the United Arab Emirates, November 11-15, 2007. Companies interested in exploring opportunities in UAE should also contact Salonen.

The EDC is a private, not-for-profit organization committed to the economic stability and growth of Brevard County, Florida. Our stakeholders are existing business and industries whose leaders are dedicated to maintaining a strong business environment while preserving our community's unparalleled quality of life. The EDC's staff of professionals is prepared to assist business in all relocation and/or expansion phases…from choosing an ideal site through production start-up. As always, there is never a fee for our services and we respect the confidentiality of all inquires.

For more information, contact Kimberly Eye at (321) 638-2000 or visit www.SpaceCoastEDC.org.

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Turning Black Water Green

BY ALFREDO TERAN, AJT/AGRIMOND
FOGHORN MAGAZINE

July, 2007 – Picture a cruise boat with 250 guests in the afternoon. The crew is on board a couple of hours before the guests begin to arrive and a new kind of onboard black water treatment system has already treated the wastewater from the day before. The portion of the system that processes and treats the black water is activated. The cruise takes approximately five hours. After the guests have left but before the crew leaves the vessel the second portion of the process is activated. There are approximately 500 gallons of water in the black water holding/treatment tank with this new kind of black water treatment installed and already doing its magic. The next morning as the crew inspects the vessel, the black water holding tank is now at its lowest level and has full capacity available to store today's waste. In the reuse tanks, 500 gallons of treated and disinfected water awaits the next cruise. This is not fiction. This new system requires no dumping, no pumping, no handling and no discharge. The treated water has no odor, is safe, clear and it's very hard to distinguish between it and tap water. In fact, the treated water has potential non-potable uses. With the addition of the proper in-line filter(s), the treated water can be used for many other applications such as washing/rinsing the boat, cleaning the deck and cooling, etc.

Issues involving the offshore dumping of black water have been in our local papers for years. In the Port Canaveral area, the local population is upset that the dumping has increased due to the cruise and the entertainment ships that operate out of Port Canaveral. As a result, approximately two years ago, Alfredo Teran, the founder of AJT/ Agrimond, received a call from Ms. Penny Flaherty. Flaherty owns the famous Indian River Queen (IRQ) a riverboat cruise ship based in Cocoa, Florida. She had seen an article in the local paper about AJT/Argimond's Dragonfly fitted portable land-based toilets. She wanted to know if a Dragonfly system could be converted into a marine system and installed in the Indian River Queen. IRQ Captain Jim Georges and AJT/Argimond's engineers went to work on obtaining Coast Guard approval for the MSDIII required modifications. After implementing the modifications, the ship became the first vessel to operate in the Intercoastal Waterways with a totally self-contained black water treatment and reuse system. It has been one year since the system was installed and there has been no need to pump or dump its black water since installation. Needless to say, the project attracted a great deal of attention from the local population, politicians and the Coast Guard. There has never been a system like it in any vessel.

How does the system work?

The owner of the Indian River Queen wanted a "green" boat. The environmental consequences of this revolutionary marine black water treatment system ranked as high on her list as being able to run more cruises by not having to take the time to pump out the black water holding tanks. The engineers at AJT/ Agrimond describe "green" process as the combination of two different aspects:

The first aspect – Biological Consumption: the biological consumption and breakdown of waste material by specially selected microorganisms results in this task being performed quickly and efficiently. Just like some of the most effective systems that treat waste in land based installations, as well as large marine sanitation systems, the Marine Dragonfly utilizes an aerobic (requires/consumes oxygen) based biological treatment process. Unlike anaerobic treatment systems, such as septic tanks, aerobic systems are extremely fast, efficient and they do not stink. Aerobic systems require oxygen/air to speed up the process.

The Second aspect – Reclamation: reclamation and disinfecting of the water to be reused to flush the toilets. The disinfection technology used in the Marine Dragonfly is different than what is typically used such as chlorine tablets, bleach, and other available chlorine products. The Marine Dragonfly systems use oxygen and ozone. Accordingly, there are no toxic residues, and it is an extremely efficient biological process that uses air as the source for the oxygen. The table below shows the environmental benefits and other important advantages of using ozone versus chlorine.

In the Marine Dragonfly system both aspects are completely and effectively integrated into an environmentally friendly system.

OZONE – MORE THAN JUST A DISINFECTANT
 
CHLORINE/
CHLORINE PRODUCTS
OZONE
Oxidation Potential 1.36 2.07
BOD Reduction/Elimination Unlikely High
Color Removal Fair Excellent
Odor Removal Fair Excellent
Disinfection Moderate Excellent
Residual or by-products Yes No
Carcinogen Formation Most Likely Unlikely
pH Effect Variable Minimal
Micro Flocculation None Moderate
Environmentally Friendly No Yes

Compliance with Coast Guard Regulations

Creating the cruising flexibility of not being restricted by the black water tank capacity was a major benefit of the system for the Indian River Queen's owner. But just as important to Flaherty and Captain Georges was U.S. Coast Guard approval. This new system has qualified as an MSD III device.

Modifications on Retrofit

Typical modifications to retrofit a vessel include:

a) Addition of a sub power panel for the operation of the Marine Dragonfly

b) Modifications to the MSD III Tank

c) Modifications to the plumbing system to separate the toilet and urinal water supply from the potable water supply system of the vessel

d) Installation of the Marine Dragonfly

  1. Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) & relay bank
  2. Secondary water supply system (pump and pressure tank)
  3. Installation of a sewage pump and aeration system
  4. Addition of a clarifier system connected to the black water holding tank
  5. An oxygen/ozone treatment system

e) The development of engineering drawings and specifications

f) Operating procedures of the Marine Dragonfly

Both boat owners and the company officials acknowledge that installations designed and installed during manufacturing of a vessel will save considerable cost and time over a retrofit. In addition, Coast Guard approval will make it easier to obtain for a new vessel installation on the production line. The results from these current installations have boat manufacturers and shipyards inquiring into the possibilities.

New Black Water System Knows No Limit

This same technology can be applied to small vessels and private yachts all the way to today's largest cruise ships. In fact, the Marine Dragonfly system is currently being installed on the world's largest gambling ship. This ship, Sterling Casino's Ambassador II, operates two cruises-per-day, seven days a week, and is based out of Port Canaveral, Florida. It sails with more than 1,700 passengers and crew on each cruise. The system was designed to process up to 10,000 gallons per day of black water. Just like the smaller Indian River Queen application, the system allows for 100% recycling of the water and the sludge from the black water tank. The installation was again an adaptation to an existing system. All of the existing tanks were utilized with minor modifications and the new equipment was installed in a small room (approximately 10ft X 12ft).

The Future is Promising

We can thank NASA's space program and the federal government for this latest technology. This technology and the company that offers it have been in operation for almost 20 years with its roots solidly based in the U.S. Space Program. The technology began almost 15 years ago, when NASA tasked AJT/Agrimond to develop a system to "recycle" wastewater used to clean the Shuttle's solid rocket boosters. From that moment on, this technology has been in use in almost every continent in the world and every region of the U.S. as AJT/ Agrimond continues to research and develop unique wastewater treatment systems.

The first human waste system of this kind was installed in a Department of Defense mobile facility almost five years ago. It processed the wastewater of two toilets and three sinks. Like the current marine application, there is zero discharge, 100% reuse of wastewater.

Use of reclaimed water is a standard practice in many communities in the U.S. and around the world. However, it is typically found in huge multimillion-dollar municipal wastewater processing plants. This same capability has been duplicated on a much smaller scale with significant technologies that allow for the key features of the company's Marine Dragonfly system to be used. It enables reuse of the water and recycles biomass so as to eliminate the need to dispose of nasty solids from the system. It is science, biology, chemistry, computer programming and clearly a great deal of experience and ingenuity that stands behind the company's Marine Dragonfly. The company is now working on a variation of the marine Dragonfly system that can process the gray water. You could say the future of marine waste water is looking very environmentally "green" thanks to the tenacity of passenger boat owners like Penny Flaherty and the company that made her vision come true, AJT Agrimond.

Alfredo Teran, is the CEO & President of AJT/Agrimond.

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50 MOST INFLUENTIAL BUSINESSES IN BREVARD COUNTY

BY JOSH FIELD
SPACE COAST BUSINESS

April, 2007 – You don't have to spend a lot of time around the Space Coast to distinguish an area experiencing rapid change. Growth in numerous business and economic sectors combined with evolving demographic trends has transformed Brevard County into a significant force - not only throughout the state of Florida, but by putting this little rocket-launching beach town onto the global map.

The road to international recognition and local prosperity hasn't happened, and won't continue to happen, due to maintaining the status quo. Growth, change, progress occur because of the actions of people and their pursuit of something different and better. Numerous companies, government agencies, local organizations and individuals work independently and in tandem to improve the life of themselves, their employees, their neighbors and community.

By raising the bar and setting standards higher than the norm, many local businesses affect the future of Brevard. These influential businesses not only demonstrate extraordinary performance beyond their core competencies, but also impact the county in other ways.

To compile a list of the 50 Most Influential Businesses in Brevard County, the editorial staff of Spacecoast Business solicited the input of a representative sample of leaders throughout the county. Representing large and small companies, not-for-profit organizations, government agencies, educational institutions and private business owners, we evaluated hundreds of organizations to best understand their ability to be "influential" - i.e. their ability to effect the actions, opinions or behaviors of others.

Our criteria included leadership, community service, economic impact, political strength, employment, visibility, innovation, external (or global) impact, technology and social responsibility. And we didn't limit our list to traditional businesses headquartered locally; rather we chose to include profit and not-for-profit businesses, organizations, institutions and government agencies based, or with a significant presence, in Brevard County.

Some of the businesses that ultimately made the list may appear obvious - e.g. Harris Corporation, Kennedy Space Center and The Viera Company. Others, on the other hand, may be less apparent, but nonetheless leave a significant impression on those that are impacted by their contributions. Regardless, you will hopefully observe a few common, recurring themes that bind these companies together.

The first theme is vision - whether it's companies giving forward to the next generation of kids, through education or career assistance, or to the next business lifecycle, through sponsorship of new ventures, support for minority owners, etc; or giving back through programs for the elderly or the disadvantaged or by conservation or urban renewal efforts.

Another theme is excellence. Our Top 50 businesses have all recently (and in many cases, consistently) been recognized for leading edge products and services or for exceptional employees, great customer service, extreme reliability, etc.

As former U.S. Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas once said, "The great and invigorating influences in American life have been the unorthodox: the people who challenge an existing institution or way of life, or say and do things that make people think."

Here at Spacecoast Business, we salute them, thank them and encourage others to learn from them so Brevard County can continue down the road to prosperity for all our future generations.

THE 50 MOST INFLUENTIAL BUSINESSES IN BREVARD COUNTY (in alphabetical order)

1. AJT & Associates 18. Downtown Melbourne Redevelopment 36. Mercedes Homes
2. AuthenTec, Inc. 19. DRS Technologies 37. MH Williams Construction
3. Bayside Lakes 20. Economic Development Commission 38. NASA/Kennedy Space Center
4. Berham Hopkins Wright LaHam CPAs 21. Florida Institute of Technology 39. Northrop Grumman
5. Boeing Company, The 23. Florida Power & Light 40. One Senior Place
6. Brevard Community College 24. Harris Corporation 41. Parrish Medical Center
7. Brevard County Public Schools 25. Health First 42. Premier Theaters Oaks Stadium 10
8. Brevard Zoo 26. Holiday Builders 43. Ron Jon Surf Shop
9. Bright House Networks 27. Hoyman Dobson 44. United Space Alliance
10. BRPH Companies, Inc. 28. Hubbs Sea World Research Institute 45. United States Military (45th Space Wing)
11. Canaveral Port Authority 29. IAP Worldwide Services 46. United Way of Brevard
12. Cancer Care Centers 30. Joyal Construction 47. Viera Company, The
13. Cocoa Village 31. Junior League 48. Wachovia Bank
14. Community Educators Credit Union 32. King Center 49. Wesche Jewelers
15. Coy Clark Companies 33. LEAD Brevard 50. Wuesthoff Health System
16. Dean Mead 34. Melbourne Greyhound Park  
17. Delaware North Companies/KSC Visitor Complex 35. Melbourne Palm Bay Chamber of Commerce  

AJT & Associates
Corporate Headquarters: 8910 Astronaut Boulevard Cape Canaveral, FL 32920
URL: www.ajt.com
Industry: Technical, scientific and engineering services
Business Type: Private

Description: Founded in April 1988, AJT & Associates, Inc. is a technical services, engineering and scientific company providing services to federal, state, and local government, aerospace prime contractors, and commercial clients. The company is well known in the industry as a premier designer of aerospace facilities and is nationally recognized by NASA, Lockheed Martin, Small Business Administration and others. Their staff is composed of licensed engineers, architects and project managers, as well as an experienced medical and environmental science team.

Why They Made The List: While AJT originated and is still heavily involved in aerospace, they are also diversifying into varied, often unrelated, industries sometimes through innovative, commercial uses for technical applications (e.g. a NASA solid rocket booster parachute cleaning technology is now being used in commercial laundry services).

The company has numerous proprietary and patented water and wastewater treatment systems that can help protect Space Coast waterways and other fragile ecosystems worldwide (see Spacecoast Business, February 2007). Their Dragonfly Water Treatment System offers an environmentally safe alternative to toxic chemicals commonly used in waste treatment.

AJT is a Platinum partner in support of SATOP (Space Alliance Technology Outreach Program) ventures. The company offers their technical resources to other companies, including many local and start-up operations. For instance, an AJT engineer recently helped a Houston chiropractor and bicycle enthusiast design a stronger split bicycle seat.

Lead by CEO Alfredo Teran, AJT is a minority business success story, including a long-term ranking in the Hispanic Business 500. Alfredo's wife, Monica, who serves as the company's Director of Marketing/Business Development, was recently appointed by Governor Jeb Bush to the District Board of Directors at Cape Canaveral Hospital.

AJT corporate executives are actively involved in the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the American Institute of Architects (AIA), especially when legislative issues affecting either or both professions are being considered at the state level. They also serve on the Board of Advisors at Florida Tech and are Board members of the Economic Development Commission of Florida's Space Coast.

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Protect our beaches
Port's pump-out station is smart start, but dumping ban is a must

FLORIDA TODAY
Our Views

September 23, 2006 – Space Coast residents might part on many issues, but there's one thing we're sure they agree on: No one wants to swim in an ocean that's being used as a cesspool. That's why we commend the Port Canaveral Authority.

On Wednesday, it OK'd a sewage pump-out station designed to give ships an alternative to dumping thousands of gallons of partially treated sewage into the seas off our coast.

The system is designed primarily for Sterling Casino Lines and Sun Cruz Casinos, day-cruise gambling ships that are allowed to dump wastewater and sewage when they are three miles off shore.

Combined, the two ships carry nearly 1 million passengers annually, and protest by the public, environmental groups and the Space Coast League of Cities is rising against that 18,000-gallon-a-day flood being let loose a few miles out.

The port is spending $50,000 for the pump-out station, to be finished by spring, but says no law now allows them to require any ships to use it.

There should be.

That's why it's unfortunate a bill proposed by state Rep. Bob Allen, R-Merritt Island, requiring pump-out at the port, was derailed by the action of Rep. Mitch Needelman, R-Melbourne.

Needelman – who has an admirable record attacking Indian River Lagoon pollution – says there are state-federal jurisdiction issues that must be resolved, and we're glad when he says he's working to find a solution.

But we agree with Cocoa Beach City Councilman Tony Sasso, who says other states have passed such laws. It's time for Florida to do so.

Having the pump-out station and pipes to a municipal treatment plant ready if a law is passed next year to ban dumping is a smart move by the port.

And yes, we know the ships respond to such efforts by saying they treat their sewage before dumping. But the public isn't happy about the situation and neither are we.

If they balk at the estimated $154,000 connection fee and $27,000 a month for Sterling, and $56,000 connection and $10,000 monthly fee for SunCruz, we say that's the price of doing business in Brevard County.

It's nothing compared to the millions Space Coast tourism and property values would lose should the image of local beaches be fouled by bad publicity over gambling-ship effluent.

"One of the lines may use a different system for cleanup," says Alfred Teran, head of AJT & Associates. His company makes a system called the Dragonfly, which he says cleans the sewage water enough for the ship to reuse.

If so, and certified by the Coast Guard, great.

But we say again, using the sea as a toilet should be banned.

While the ships have agreed to go beyond the three-mile limit to dump, residents worried about the water they swim in are in no mood to buy it.

It makes no more sense to let ships dump black water off our shores than to let local businesses throw their treated effluent onto the sidewalk.

Allen's bill should be passed when the Legislature meets in March. As for the port, if it takes the revenue from gambling ships, it should face up to the responsibility that goes with it.

That means it, too, should push for a dumping ban.

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AJT named 'partner of year'
Firm honored for assistance to small businesses

BY SCOTT BLAKE
FLORIDA TODAY

Cape Canaveral – July 5, 2006 – AJT & Associates, an engineering and scientific research firm in Cape Canaveral, has won the "Florida Alliance Partner of the Year" award for providing assistance to small businesses.

The award was presented under the Space Alliance Technology Outreach Program, or SATOP. It's a cooperative program involving the states of Florida, New Mexico, New York and Texas, with the goal of promoting the transfer of space technology to the private sector.

AJT has been a NASA contractor, but has branched out into additional lines of business.

Alfredo Teran founded the company in 1988.

Teran came to the Untied States from Cuba with his parents when he was a boy. After getting a degree in mechanical engineering, he landed a job as an engineer with NASA in the 1970s. He later went to work for NASA contractor EG&G Technical Services before he started his own firm.

The assistance AJT provided to receive the award included efforts by chemical engineer Nidal Samad, the company's research-and-development director. He provided technical advice to a designer of an automatic dilution system that uses light to measure the amount of various particles in water.

In another project, Samad provided a Virginia-based kettle popcorn maker with production, according to AJT.

AJT has been through some changes in recent years, scaling down its work force from about 160 employees to between 50 and 60, partially because the company has less contract work with NASA.

Paul Secor, director of technology transfer for the Titusville-based Technological Research and Development Authority, which helps run SATOP, said the program is a way for AJT to "give something back from the NASA contracts they've won through the years."

In addition, there's also some promotional value in participating in the program, Secor said. "It's a way to get some visibility," he added.

The company received the award during an event in Washington, D.C.

"AJT gets to give back to the community by helping small businesses succeed," said Monica Teran, Alfredo's wife and the company's spokeswoman. "Eight to 10 of our engineers have participated in the program…Engineers love to play, and this is very interesting work to them."

AJT has solved a host of other SATOP challenges, ranging from creating a new baby-stroller locking mechanism, to removing mold and mildew problems from a hotel and improving the design of a tracheal tube.

The company has been a SATOP partner for more than five years. The company is one of four platinum partners in the program, a status that requires a pledge of 2,000 hours of engineering support to small businesses over a two-year period.

AJT's regular work includes:

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AJT receives "Florida Alliance Partner of the Year" Award

SPACE COAST CHRONICLE
Vol. 2, Issue 7

July, 2006 – AJT & Associates, Inc. an industry-leading scientific and technical services company based in Cape Canaveral has received the prestigious "Florida Alliance Partner of the Year" Award from the Space Alliance Technology Outreach Program (SATOP).

The award was presented at the 5th Annual Alliance Partner Appreciation event held recently in Washington, D.C. Recognition was given to SATOP's 55 partners nationwide for providing outstanding technical assistance to small businesses during the last year.

AJT, a premier designer of aerospace and aviation facilities, airport traffic control towers and the state-of-the-art Dragonfly Water Treatment System, has been a SATOP partner for more than five years. The company currently is one of only four platinum partners in the NASA-funded program, a status that requires a pledge of 2,000 hours of engineering support to small businesses over a two-year period.

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Tech company expands
AJT spins off construction business

BY WAYNE T. PRICE
FLORIDA TODAY

Cape Canaveral – November 7, 2004 – AJT & Associates Inc., a scientific and technical-services company with close ties to NASA, the U.S. military and the nation's airports, is expanding into the construction business.

AJT, founded 15 years ago by Alfredo Teran, announced that it is spinning off an independent contracting company called AJT Construction Services Inc.

The new company will bid on government, aviation and commercial construction contracts, a field in which AJT already has extensive experience.

AJT's clients include NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the Air Force and Orlando International Airport.

The development of the construction-services company coincides with the increase in construction contracts over the past 10 years. The U.S. Census Bureau reported receipts in that industry of more than $1.14 trillion in 2002, up 32 percent from 1997.

The damaging hurricanes in Florida was another impetus for AJT starting the spinoff company. It created a great demand for qualified contractors who can provide the construction expertise.

"AJT has subcontracted several million dollars in design and construction over the last few years," Teran said. "With the resources we have accessible to us, we feel we can serve as a full-service company, offering design/build, construction management and contracting services."

Fabian Hurtado, a Florida general contractor, was tapped to support the firm's expansion. Hurtado has extensive background in construction management, industrial and commercial design/build projects, will head AJT Construction Services as vice president of construction operations.

"Combining his international and local experience, AJT will continue to compete successfully on construction and design-build projects for our growing list of clients worldwide," Teran said. "His success on projects in Latin America, the Middle East, Asia and the United States will lead AJTCS to be a leader in the general-contracting industry."

A company like AJT starting a construction business, while not commonplace, probably makes good economic sense, said Davin Hattaway, executive administrator for the Alexandria, Va.-based American Institute of Constructors.

"You don't see it happening every day," Hattaway said. "But it happens frequently enough that you're not terribly shocked by it. For some businesses, the way their markets are set up, it's really beneficial for everyone involved to do such a split."

AJT has been on Hispanic Business magazine's list of the Top 500 Hispanic-owned companies in the United States since 1992. In the latest ranking -- which is based on 2003 sales -- AJT is listed at No. 333 on the Top 500.

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AJT & Associates Introduces Mobilis Systems

Melbourne, Fla. – February 23, 2004 – Leading scientific and technical services company, AJT & Associates has unveiled its newest and most advanced product line, Mobilis Systems. These self-contained, mobile, sterile facilities have been developed over the past two years for the United States government and are being offered for the first time to the medical and scientific community as well as the private sector.

Mobilis Systems designs and produces customizable sterile facilities and clean rooms by combining state-of-the-art environmental systems with revolutionary water management capabilities. These water management capabilities include re-sterilization of potable water, biological treatment of wastewater and disinfection of recycled water.

Able to operate in extreme climates and severe weather conditions, Mobilis Systems provides customizable laboratory facilities in a safe, clean and transportable environment. The units are completely independent and have no impact on surrounding or adjacent facilities. Mobilis Systems offers HEPA filter systems, room pressurization, advanced data recording and computer management systems, and unlimited layout configurations. Mobilis Systems units are ideally suited for countless applications, including biological/chemical analysis, medical diagnostics, infectious disease control and holding facility, WMD/HAZMAT command and control isolation facility, decontamination, and field testing.

AJT & Associates, Inc. is a scientific and technical firm that has been in operation for over fifteen years. With extensive experience in environmental control systems; water and wastewater management and treatment; design and development of airport control towers and aerospace facilities; and construction management and design/build services, AJT serves federal, state and local government, aerospace prime contractors, and commercial clients. For more information, visit www.MobilisSystems.com or www.AJT.com or call 321.783.7989.

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AJT & Associates Immortalized in LEGOS

Cape Canaveral, Fla. - January 5, 2004 – The LEGO Company recently released a LEGO Discovery™ play set called "Mission to Mars" featuring a replica of the Boeing Delta II rocket, the rocket's launch tower and a Mars rover and orbiter. AJT & Associates, a Cape Canaveral-based technology, science services and engineering firm, provides environmental services, engineering, security, and other technical support to the Delta Program and other NASA missions launched from this pad. AJT, along with other prominent support firms, are featured on the actual launch tower, as well as the LEGO model.

The release of this product is designed to celebrate the launch of the twin rovers to Mars. Boeing Delta II rockets launched the twin rovers to Mars -- Spirit launched June 10, 2003 and Opportunity on July 7, 2003. Spirit landed over the weekend and began beaming back images early this morning. Opportunity is scheduled to arrive on the planet later this month.

"LEGO products inspire young people to explore their design and engineering skills at an early age," says Alfredo Teran, president of AJT & Associates. "Many of our engineers built with LEGOs as children and we find it truly fitting that their engineering talents have come full circle in a LEGO toy inspired by a program they are so passionate about. Collaborations like that of the LEGO Company and our partner The Boeing Company make very positive steps toward using the Space program to excite young people about pursuing math, science and technology fields."

The Trademark and Copyright Licensing group of the Boeing Intellectual Property Business developed the licensing agreement with The LEGO Company. Other LEGO Discovery™ products which feature real life space missions such as the International Space Station, Saturn V Moon Mission, Lunar Lander and Mars Exploration Rover. The "Mission to Mars" set retails for $29.99 and is available in local retail stores or online at www.LEGO.com

LEGO® products are sold all over the globe and are one of the world's largest toy manufacturers and the largest in construction toys. According to the LEGO Company, during the past 40 years, more than 300 million children have played with LEGO bricks. For more information on The LEGO Company, contact Melinda Carter at 860.763.6696 or melinda.carter@america.lego.com.

AJT & Associates, Inc. is an engineering and science services company that has been in operation for over fifteen years. The airport control tower design/build business segment is based at the company's headquarters in Cape Canaveral, Fla. The group has designed and built air traffic control towers for regional airports and military installations across the country including the Cheyenne Airport, Garden City Regional Airport, Lake City Municipal Airport, Vandenberg Airport and the NASA Space Shuttle Landing Facility. AJT has offices in Cape Canaveral and Orlando, Fla. as well as Huntsville, Ala. AJT currently employs a staff of over 150 serving an international customer base including NASA, U. S. Air Force, Northrop-Grumman, SAIC, Jacobs-Sverdrup, Boeing, and other government and commercial organizations.


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