Pennoni Executives Tour Polk State Clear Springs Advanced Technology Center

Posted on by Polk Newsroom

From left, Polk State Corporate College Business Development Coordinator Stephanie Campbell, Polk State Corporate College Director Rob Clancey, Pennoni founder and chairman C.R. "Chuck Pennoni, Pennoni executive vice president and chief administrative officer Nelson Shaffer, and Envisors division manager Steven Elias during a tour of the Polk State Clear Springs Advanced Technology Center on Friday.

From left, Polk State Corporate College Business Development Coordinator Stephanie Campbell, Polk State Corporate College Director Rob Clancey, Pennoni founder and chairman C.R. "Chuck Pennoni, Pennoni executive vice president and chief administrative officer Nelson Shaffer, and Envisors division manager Steven Elias during a tour of the Polk State Clear Springs Advanced Technology Center on Friday.

The Polk State Clear Springs Advanced Technology Center hosted executives from Philadelphia-based Pennoni Associates on Friday morning.

Pennoni, an engineering and design consulting firm, recently acquired Winter Haven-based Envisors, LLC, a civil and environmental engineering firm.

Pennoni founder and chairman C.R. “Chuck” Pennoni spent Friday touring Polk County, and the Polk State Clear Springs Advanced Technology Center was his first stop.

Nelson Shaffer, executive vice president and chief administrative officer of Pennoni, and Steven Elias, division manager at Envisors, accompanied Pennoni.

Polk State Corporate College Director Rob Clancey led the tour, with help from Stephanie Campbell, business development coordinator.

As he toured the ATC’s multimillion-dollar process training unit, 3D-printing laboratory and warehouse simulator, Pennoni expressed excitement over the College’s innovative training programs and partnerships.

“What you’re doing here is a great model that could be replicated in other places … I’m thinking Pennsylvania,” he said.

Pennoni was also particularly impressed by the architecture of the ATC:

“Your building gives the message of looking forward,” he said.

The Polk State Clear Springs Advanced Technology Center, located at 310 Technology Drive in Bartow, opened in January 2014. It houses the Polk State Corporate College and high-tech degree programs such as Engineering Technology and Supply Chain Management. The 47,000-square-foot building was made possible entirely through private philanthropy and the support of local government.