Sarasota-based UF partnership hires new leader

The University of Florida’s Sarasota-based engineering extension office, the Innovation Station Sarasota County, has named its first director.

Al Carlson, the former CEO of Sarasota-based Sun Hydraulics, took the position this week, according to a UF release. Carlson will work with the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering to develop the regional engineering workforce and link local companies to student design projects and prototype development programs.

“I am pleased to become a part of UF’s Innovation Station and to help increase and improve the Sarasota region’s technical talent pipeline and future economic development,” Carlson said in the release. “This initiative is important for both established companies, like Sun Hydraulics, and also for startups that need interns, technicians and degreed engineers.” 

As director, Carlson plans to expand the Innovation Station’s staff to include program coordinators focused on industry, workforce development and education collaboration programs.

Following his 16 years as president and CEO of Sun Hydraulics, Carlson is still active in the Florida business community. He is on the boards of Sun Hydraulics Corp. and Tervis Tumbler, the release states. He is also on the board of Mayville Engineering Co. Inc. in Wisconsin and is a regent at the Milwaukee School of Engineering.

The UF Innovation Station launched earlier this year with a $3 million budget of public and private funding. Part of that funding is a $1 million grant from Sarasota County that will be paid out over five years.