Bios
Paul Secor, President
Paul Secor founded Secor Strategies, LLC in February 2009. The company is focused on finding funding opportunities and managing programs for non-profits, small businesses, and universities. Since its inception, Secor Strategies has coordinated the 2009 Florida Governor’s School for Space Science and Technology, sponsored the NASA Astronaut Glove Challenge, helped draft the winning proposal to create the Minority Innovation Challenges Institute, and undertaken a market research study concerning the Florida Advanced Combustion Center.
Prior to starting his own company, Paul served as the Director of Technology Transfer for the State of Florida’s Technological Research and Development Authority (TRDA). During his eight years at the TRDA, Paul oversaw and managed the Space Alliance Technology Outreach Program (SATOP), a NASA funded initiative that solved more than 2,500 technical challenges for small businesses across the US; The Department of Defense Commercialization Assistance Program, which provided business development assistance to DoD SBIR Phase II companies; the NASA Alliance for Small Business Opportunities (NASBO), which provided grants to assist NASA SBIR companies in commercializing their technologies; and the Florida Disabled Veteran Business Initiative, which worked to register and connect disabled veteran businesses with state procurement opportunities. In addition to these activities, Paul was also responsible for identifying and pursuing new local, state, and federal funding opportunities for TRDA programs.
Prior to joining TRDA, Paul was employed as the President of the Titusville Area Chamber of Commerce. Paul holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communication from the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh. He has completed specialized courses at Georgetown University including Congressional Operations and Advanced Appropriations. He is a graduate of the US Chamber’s Institute for Organizational Management.
Mary Baker, Programs Manager
Mary Baker joined Secor Strategies, LLC in March 2009 as the programs manager. In this role she has coordinated activities for the 2009 Florida Governor’s School, assisted in developing the winning proposal for the Minority Innovation Challenges Institute, and has undertaken planning for the 2010 NSF Day to be hosted at Florida Tech.
Prior to joining Secor Strategies, LLC, Ms. Baker served for over 11 years as a program coordinator for the State of Florida’s Technological Research and Development Authority (TRDA). While at TRDA, she managed the Minority Owned Business/Women Owned Business program, which introduced such businesses to procurement, technology transfer and commercialization opportunities at NASA-KSC and other federal agencies. Ms. Baker also oversaw the Florida Minority Institution Entrepreneurial Partnership. This $1.8 million initiative created a partnership between NASA-KSC, TRDA and six of Florida’s minority colleges and universities. The program exposed students and faculty to real-world jobs and experiences with high-tech small businesses, introduced minority owned businesses to technology transfer and commercialization opportunities, and provided technical business assistance..
Additional programs which Ms. Baker served as a Program Coordinator for include: the Space Alliance Technology Outreach Program (SATOP), the NASA Alliance for Small Business Opportunity (NASBO), The Defense Technology Showcase Initiative, the Florida Disabled Veteran Business Initiative, and Composites Training Workshops in partnership with Brevard Community College and Florida State University.
During her tenure, Ms. Baker coordinated more than 20 events, several on a state and national level sometimes involving attendees upwards of 300 people. The event audiences have included minority-owned businesses, women-owned business, universities, government officials, and congressional representatives.
Ms. Baker holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree from Florida State University.
