By Dayna Teakell

More than 200 golf courses, seven theme parks, and an average of 300 days of sunshine each year make Orlando, Fla., an ideal destination for tourists from around the world or those looking to spend the winter months in its subtropical climate.

While many consider this central Florida metropolis a place where fantasy meets reality, others simply consider it the place they call home.

"The warm weather and nearby beaches were actually what attracted me to Orlando," said Don Seymour who, until 1993, spent the majority of his life in Utah and Arizona. "Canoeing on the rivers in central Florida can make you feel as if you are in the Amazon."

Two become one

Technical Project Manager Don Seymour joined Rockwell Collins Simulation & Training Solutions via our acquisition of the simulation assests of Evans & Sutherland in May 2006.
Photo by Kristen Bartlett, Gainesville, Fla.

A technical project manager for Rockwell Collins Simulation & Training Solutions Visual Programs, Seymour is one of about 200 employees who joined our company in May 2006 via our acquisition of the simulation assets of Evans & Sutherland.

A leading provider of visual simulation solutions for military and commercial customers, Evans & Sutherland offered a complete line of visual simulation solutions designed to meet the demanding requirements of military training.

In addition, the company was the world's leading supplier of visual systems for flight simulators used to train commercial airline pilots.

As part of this $71.5 million deal, our company gained facilities in Salt Lake City, Orlando, and Horsham and Preston, United Kingdom.

Also located in Orlando at the time of this acquisition was a business that became part of Rockwell Collins in December of 2003, when our company acquired the former NLX.

Known today as Rockwell Collins Simulation & Training Solutions (STS), the former NLX was an internationally recognized provider of simulation and training systems and related services. Key products included Weapons Systems Trainers, Full Flight Simulators, Ground Vehicle Simulators, Part Task Trainers, Maintenance Trainers, and related support services.

Instead of maintaining two separate facilities in Orlando, each with similar capabilities, senior leaders late last year decided to combine the operations of each business into one location.

In January of 2007, employees from each facility moved into a new, 18,378-square-foot building nestled in an area of Orlando commonly referred to as "Innovation Way."

The building now houses our Visual Programs group, which designs and builds simulation image generators and visual databases; and our Army Programs group, which provides simulators, training hardware and software, and logistical product support primarily for U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF).

Software Engineer Brent Terwilliger joined Rockwell Collins Simulation & Training Solutions via our acquisition of NLX in 2003.
Photo by Kristen Bartlett, Gainesville, Fla.

"Moving these two facilities to one location has really made things easier for our employees," said Brent Terwilliger, who joined our company via the NLX acquisition in 2003. "The development process for simulation solutions has definitely improved.

"If Army Programs needs to find out what our visual capabilities are, we simply walk over to the Visual Programs group and inquire about the limitations we might face," he added. "It's much more convenient."

Seymour agrees. "This is the only place where we have both our Visual Products group and our Army Programs group in the same building," he said. "This provides us with a unique opportunity to explore new ideas and to find ways to work better together."

Making an impact

Not only are employees making an effort to build relationships with each other in the workplace, they also are spending time together in their community where they are striving to make more than just an economic impact in the area.

Sponsoring tables at military balls, supporting scholarship golf tournaments, and supporting the Army Aviation Association of America social event which is held each September, are just a few of the ways these employees are making a difference.

Providing local support on an annual basis to the Interservice/Industry Training Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC) - the largest training and simulation conference in the world - is another way of displaying our company's brand in the marketplace.

Rockwell Collins Simulation & Training Solutions employees in Orlando, Fla., are housed in this 18,378-square-foot facility in an area referred to as 'Innovation Way.'
Photo by Kristen Bartlett, Gainesville, Fla.

Most recently, more than 55 of our employees and their families participated in the Orlando Corporate 5K run/walk. Proceeds from this event - which attracted more than 8,000 runners and walkers - benefited several organizations, particularly those supporting youth and youth athletics.

"I really enjoy working here in Orlando," said Seymour. "Many of our customers are located near our office, which gives us a better opportunity to understand their requirements and training needs and to help them resolve issues.

"But I also really enjoy living here," he continued. "My family and I fell in love with the Orlando area when I first moved here on temporary assignment, and we all agreed when I was asked to stay that this is where we would make our home."

- Dayna Teakell was a summer intern in Enterprise Communications at Rockwell Collins. She is now a senior at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.