June 11, 2025 • 47 mins
The untapped potential sitting on laboratory shelves across South Florida could revolutionize how we protect our oceans while creating jobs and economic growth. Katie O'Fallon, Executive Director of the Marine Research Hub, reveals how this nonprofit is transforming research-based solutions into marketable products that address critical marine and coastal challenges.
Founded when marine industry leaders realized oceanographic research wasn't making it out of university labs and into real-world applications, the Hub now serves as the vital connector between scientific innovation and commercial viability. Katie explains how they're building Florida's "blue economy" – the sustainable use of ocean resources that balances environmental protection with economic development. From coral reef preservation to coastal infrastructure resilience, these solutions address South Florida's most pressing environmental challenges while creating business opportunities.
The conversation explores the Hub's partnership with Ocean Exchange, an accelerator program offering significant funding to marine technology startups through a "Shark Tank on steroids" pitch competition strategically scheduled before the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. Katie shares success stories of companies developing corrosion-resistant technologies, carbon-sequestering concrete, and bio-based preservatives derived from coral reef microbes – all solutions with both local impact and global potential.
Katie challenges the outdated notion that environmental protection and profit-making are mutually exclusive. "You can invest in these solution-based companies, make money AND do good for the environment," she explains, highlighting how the marine industry often leads environmental stewardship efforts. As the Hub scales its university partnerships and educational initiatives, including a collaboration with the Museum of Discovery and Science, they're creating pathways for the next generation of blue economy innovators. Subscribe today to learn how you can be part of this growing movement connecting marine science, sustainable business, and environmental protection.
For additional information on this topic, please click the link below:
Marine Research Hub: https://marineresearchhub.org/
Wards Marine Electric
https://www.wardsmarine.com/
Wards Way YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@WardsWay75
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Kristina Hebert (00:00):
Welcome to the Season 3 Wards Way podcast,
where we're covering the hotlegislative topics of 2025.
From tariffs to tunnels andbridges, from foreign trade
zones to workers' compensation,to the Fort Lauderdale
International Boat Show, to theMarine Research Hub, industry
(00:22):
experts and clarification on theB-1, bb2 visas.
Join us as we celebrate 75years in business and we're just
getting started.
Well, welcome everybody.
We're here today on the WardsWay podcast, season three, and
I'm here today with KatieO'Fallon, and she is the
executive director of the MarineResearch Hub.
(00:42):
Welcome, thank you.
Thanks for having me.
Yes, so tell everybody what isthe Marine Research Hub?
I know we hear a lot about itand there's a lot of exciting
stuff going on.
Talk to me, tell me a littlebit about it.
Katherine O'Fallon (00:54):
Let me tell you a little bit about the hub.
So the Marine Research Hub is anonprofit organization that is
working to really create morecollaboration and communication
across various sectors to buildthe blue economy.
So the idea of takingresearch-based solutions, so
solutions that are currentlysitting in the labs that are
(01:15):
doing some really good work, butreally getting them
commercialized and creatingmarketable solutions to create
jobs, build business butultimately take care of our
greatest asset, which is ourmarine and coastal environments.
Kristina Hebert (01:27):
And see, I didn't know about.
I had no idea, just as aregular American consumer, that
there were these researchstudies done on shelves that
just don't have the funding togo through.
So tell me, do you have anexample of one?
Well, maybe there's many.
Katherine O'Fallon (01:45):
There's definitely many, and I think
that's kind of where the hubstarted was because when you
look at research institutions, alot of universities have tons
of research that is going on,but most of the research is
being done to maybe publish apaper, continue sharing data
research information, publish apaper, continue, you know,
(02:07):
sharing data researchinformation, um, but a lot of
people don't necessarily look atthat research as
commercializing it and making itinto a business that can solve
some of our greatest challenges,and so that's really where the
hub kind of started from?
no, I agree, and it actuallystarted untapped resources
sitting out there answers to ourproblems, sitting on the shelf,
pretty much um, and that'sreally where the hub started
with Phil Purcell, president ofMarine Industries Association,
(02:30):
and Bob Swindell, who is thepresident of the Greater Fort
Lauderdale Alliance, who's alsoboth are on my board they were
at the boat show.
Fort Lauderdale InternationalBoat Show, probably the best one
, biggest one, best in waterboat show in the world.
Yes, show, um, probably that onebiggest one, best in waterboat
show in the world.
Yes, um, they was probablyaround.
Um, they probably had theconversation around 2015 2016
(02:51):
for sure, started chattingprobably one of those.
You know, those napkin ideasthat happen, um.
But phil and bob were justtalking and basically said you
know, we're surrounded by thesegreat oceanographic institutions
, specifically oceanographicyeah, we've got flor, atlantic
University, floridaInternational University, nova
Southeastern University andUniversity of Miami just the top
(03:11):
four here, not including allthe other universities doing
amazing stuff.
But he said, you know where isthe research leaving?
the laps, like I don't see thesolutions getting out into our
waters and tackling some of ourgreatest challenges that we have
, and that was kind of the startof the hub and it seems so
(03:32):
simple yeah, so now how does itplay out?
Kristina Hebert (03:35):
So I would imagine you need funding.
So where does the funding comefrom for the research hub?
Katherine O'Fallon (03:40):
Well, so probably start with.
So that started it.
So, phil and Bob, basicallylet's start the organization
with the help of the MarineIndustries Association team and
the alliance.
They brought together all threeof the economic development
organizations across Miami theBeacon Council, palm Beach has
(04:03):
the board development and thenBroward has the alliance.
So they brought all three EDOstogether Marine Industries
Association and then theybrought all four of the
presidents of those universitiesto the boat show in 2017 and
signed an MOU that creating thehub and working together to
basically elevate thesesolutions and get them out of
(04:25):
the lab.
And everyone was like kumbaya,sign it, yay, and then went back
to their worlds and nothing waskind of really done, because
they're also, in that sense,funding wasn't there.
So over the years, MISF and theAlliance kind of kept it going,
you know, with Kelly SkidmoreRepresentative Skidmore now was
(04:46):
at MISF Patience Con, everyonekind of doing stuff from the
Alliance side to just keep itgoing.
Sure, they went after someappropriation funding from the
state three times, third time'sthe charm, I like to say, and
thanks to Representative ChipLaMarca, I got some funding and
that's actually how I was ableto be brought on board.
(05:06):
I was going to say, and that'sprobably what brought you, that
was what brought me to the table, and so in 2022, that's when I
joined the organization as theexecutive director.
So yeah, just over almost threeyears, I would have actually
thought it was longer than that.
Kristina Hebert (05:21):
I feel like you've been a part of the Marine
Research Hub.
It's your face, you're theexecutive director and I've seen
you at so many different events.
So trying to yeah, we're.
I think you're getting traction.
I think we are definitelygetting traction.
Katherine O'Fallon (05:36):
We we needed that, that funding, but pretty
much the now we've we'veexhausted our grant funding.
That was just for one year andnow we're all partnership and
board initiative drivensponsorship.
So we have partners andsponsors from Broward County is
part Port Everglades.
We have some philanthropicfunding as well from various
(05:59):
donors family donors, familyoffices, businesses in the
community like Total MarineSolutions, d'angelo Water, taxi,
sail Plant I know I'm going tomiss somebody, so I really do.
I don't want to go too far intoall of them individually Alini
Water, everyone who is kind ofin this space that has an
(06:20):
opportunity to benefit butelevate this industry as well.
And the solutions, because theidea of supporting these
solution-based companies isgoing to build up our entire
economic stability here.
But it's going to bringsolutions to the forefront that
we need, sure, that are neededspecifically for Broward County.
(06:41):
That's why they are a sponsorand such a big supporter is
because it's going to createjobs and businesses.
And the solutions that we needfrom coastal infrastructure,
water quality, aquaculture thoseare just to name a few of
things that we are going to needfor South Florida.
We're at, you know, the center,sure, you know a lot of people
look at South Florida as,basically you know, ground zero
(07:04):
for climate impact sea levelrise, heat, water quality,
everything Coral, you know thecoral reef third largest barrier
reef is in our backyard.
Coming from education, I've beentalking about it for many years
, about our amazing coral reefs,but there's still a huge number
of people that don't realizethe economic benefits of that
(07:27):
coral reef and tourism is a hugepart of it.
But if we don't have a coralreef anymore?
It protects usinfrastructure-wise from storms,
storm surge, wave impact, butit also provides food.
It provides that economictourism.
It could provide more medicalapplications that we don't know.
(07:48):
Yet you know preservatives,things that are.
You know we're putting so manychemicals into our body.
We could look to the ocean fora lot of solutions that are
nature-based.
Kristina Hebert (07:59):
So talk to me about this blue economy.
Talk to me about what does thatmean?
Katherine O'Fallon (08:04):
I've heard this buzz.
What does it mean?
I've heard that.
Talk to me about what does thatmean.
I've heard this buzz.
What does?
Kristina Hebert (08:07):
it mean, I've heard that, and yeah, what does
it mean?
What does that stand for andwhat does it all encompass?
Katherine O'Fallon (08:12):
So blue economy is basically a term
that's only been around for.
I mean, it's not surprisingthat not many people know about
it, unless you're kind of inthat space a little bit more.
Kristina Hebert (08:28):
Because it's probably been around since the
early.
You know early, I want to saylike 2012, 2010.
Oh goodness, I didn't knowabout it that long.
Katherine O'Fallon (08:30):
Don't hold me to that exact number, but
it's really the idea of thesustainable use of our resources
.
It's about having a livelihoodwith the ocean while not taking
too many resources from it.
But it's also they've kind ofadded this data portion to it.
Okay, because to make decisionson how we are going to use our
(08:51):
resources, we've got to havedata in order to drive those
decisions.
But we've got to use ourresources in the right way.
If we take too much.
What's going to happen?
They're just going to be gone,and so it's really about the
sustainable use of the resourcesin our coastal and marine
environments.
Kristina Hebert (09:09):
And I also feel like the marine industry at
times gets not necessarily a badreputation, but oftentimes you
know we're using the waters,we're dirtying the waters, we're
the dirty water manatee problemand guzzling, whatever it might
be.
And there are no greaterstewards of the water and of our
(09:30):
natural resources than I findin boaters, yes, and in boating
I mean, people want to be out onthat water, protect that water,
and I have yet to run into aboater that's not interested in
that and participating.
Are you able to really draw inthe overall general community?
Are there community events thatare being done that people can
be a part of?
Katherine O'Fallon (09:51):
So yeah, First, I think the boating
industry is one of the biggestproponents of supporting it.
Huge, it's just that it's kindof an understated Like you're
not out there, like shouting tothe rooftops.
Kristina Hebert (10:03):
Well, it's not a problem, we're just trying to
maximize the resources andbenefit from that.
Katherine O'Fallon (10:11):
Get people out there, yep.
And the reason people are outon boats is and boating and the
whole community is because theywant to be out in the
environment.
They want to expect to get inthe water and catch fish or
snorkel and dive and see thisamazing and have it be clean,
and so I think, yes, it is kindof this misconception, I think,
(10:31):
of the boating industry, andthat's where we also feel like
we can help support that andtell the story, because it is
now an opportunity as well toengage the boating community in
it and a lot of businesses whoare in the marine space they're
doing their part.
It's just not their mainbusiness.
And so we want to help also getthe message and that word out
(10:53):
there.
So two years ago we partneredwith FLIBS, so with the Fort
Lauderdale International BoatShow, misf and FORMA, to create
a Marine Research Hub Innovationand Sustainability Award at the
show for the businesses and theexhibitors at the show.
Kristina Hebert (11:10):
Oh, that's great.
To specifically give them alittle bit of a platform and
kind of like a shout out forwhat they're doing.
Katherine O'Fallon (11:17):
And so, looking at that, we'll be in our
third year.
This year it's really about theexhibitors to say you're doing
your part.
You might be doing somethingwhere you're recycling your
materials in a unique way thatpeople just don't know about.
But others could learn from youtoo.
So it's giving them the kudosand the shout out for the things
that they're doing.
It's not your business plan,it's just something you're doing
(11:41):
because you want to do theright thing, but it's going to
give an opportunity for othersto also say I can do, that you
might be a marina that'sincorporating some really new
innovation on recycling or yourwaste trash.
Kristina Hebert (11:57):
Well, sustainability and upcycling are
all buzzwords but, also bigcomponents of seminars and
gatherings for our industry.
So they're all part of thetopic anyway, and people are
participating and people want tolearn and we don't want to
reinvent the wheel.
No.
Katherine O'Fallon (12:13):
That's the thing it's like we can all learn
and elevate and work together.
And that's what the hub isreally about is kind of creating
that ecosystem from theuniversities to the new startups
that are coming out workingwith incubators and accelerators
that are in this space,bringing in investors into these
new solution-based companies aswell, and then bringing in the
(12:34):
workforce, because that is whatthis is all about, and then also
education, communityengagements.
So we have created, we've doneover the couple of years.
We'll do a summit, we'll havesome different events.
Kristina Hebert (12:48):
We have an event that we haven't done in a
little while, just because,timing wise, everyone's
schedules seem to be so busy andso many things going on and, by
the way, it's May.
Katherine O'Fallon (12:59):
How are we in May?
I don't know where the month ofApril went actually.
I was all over the place, butwe've done some events, kind of
what I call connecting the dots,basically bringing the research
, the impact and the solutionskind of to the table together,
because we really have to haveall sectors working together,
because that's the only waythings are going to get done.
(13:21):
If one area, if people aredoing things over here but they
are not communicating over here,it's not going to have as much
of an impact and traction behindit.
And so that's where bringingthe business community into
these solutions and alsoshowcasing that these are
solution companies that aregoing to create a lot of jobs
(13:42):
while taking care of, you know,some of our biggest challenges
that are going to not onlycreate more, um, more
opportunity for workforce andjobs that are not, maybe, your
traditional thinking job.
It's going to create moreresearch and data that's going
to drive more decisions, um, andit's going to be here in our
backyard businesses that aregood paying jobs as well.
Kristina Hebert (14:05):
Absolutely.
Katherine O'Fallon (14:06):
And it's not everyone has to be a
environmentalist or has to be amarine biologist or has to be,
you know, go to a four yearuniversity or anything like that
.
In order for a lot of thesesolutions to work and be
deployed, you're going to need avariety of experts can be
deployed.
You're going to need a varietyof experts, and one of the
(14:27):
things when I talk to peopleabout you know environmental
companies as well is I'm likeyou do know they're a business,
which means they have to havefinancial, they have to have
marketing they have to have HR,maybe depending on how big they
are, but they have to have allof those people and all the
skill sets, and so that's also anew opportunity for the future
workforce to say I can work fora company that I also align with
(14:49):
socially, Sure, and I want Ican have you know, have my
impact and do my part and feelconnected to that job and feel
like you're making an impact onthe community or on the industry
that you care about.
I agree.
And water, you know waterquality, food, aquaculture.
Kristina Hebert (15:04):
Those are all important things to all of us,
just as a human society.
Katherine O'Fallon (15:07):
Yeah, we need all of them, and if we're
going to live here in SouthFlorida, and enjoy the beautiful
environment that we have.
We have to have solutions.
Infrastructure is a big thingwhen we talk about, you know,
coastal resiliency.
All of that kind of overlapsinto a lot of solutions and
we're seeing more and morecompanies that are in this space
and the goal the goal is is tobuild companies up out of our
(15:30):
university technology andresearch, but also attract
companies sure because whatbetter place to test and pilot
and deploy in south florida oracross the entire state?
we have so many assets I wasgonna say the sunshine state,
the sunshine state, and what'sdifferent?
What assets?
I was going to say the SunshineState, the Sunshine State, and
what's different?
what's unique down here in SouthFlorida is we have, like I
mentioned earlier, the coralreef, the coral reefs, but if
(15:51):
you go up into the Pensacolaarea you've got Apalachicola and
oyster beds and that protectionand that food source and you
know that environment that hasdifferent needs and different
solutions.
And so there's that workingtogether across the entire state
is going to just elevate andkind of plant the flag that
Florida should and could beleading the way in the blue
(16:14):
economy.
Kristina Hebert (16:15):
And what about international partners?
I feel like there's a lot ofother countries that are out
there doing trying to worktogether so we can.
The world can become a smallerplace.
Are we working together?
I say we.
Katherine O'Fallon (16:27):
I'm part of the team, you're in it, you live
here You're in the backyardYou're part of, uh, you know,
marine Industries Associationhuge, uh, you know, supporter I
couldn't do this without.
I mean, we're kind of inlockstep.
I'm always involved with themat this um, on different events
and stuff.
Um, so one of the thingsinternational is huge.
Yes, because a lot of otherparts of the world are doing it
(16:50):
a little bit more quickly thanwe are.
So what would be great is tohave more of those companies
also coming here.
And so one of the first thingsthat Marine Research Hub board
did before I even joined wasbringing an accelerator to South
Florida, which is called OceanExchange.
Ok, ocean Exchange is anaccelerator pitch program
(17:11):
nonprofit that was based inSavannah, georgia.
Kristina Hebert (17:13):
What's in it Wait a minute An accelerator
pitch program.
What does that do so?
Katherine O'Fallon (17:18):
it basically .
I guess the best way I candescribe it is it's like a shark
tank on steroids.
Kristina Hebert (17:23):
I was just going to say is it a shark tank?
Katherine O'Fallon (17:25):
That's the best way to say it to explain it
, but I love that Because it'sreally.
The event itself is kind oflike a shark tank, but it's over
two and a half days and so it'sbringing solutions to the
forefront.
So you're pitching for funding.
So Ocean Exchange gives out.
Last year they gave out three$100,000 award prizes Wow and
(17:48):
two $10,000 collegiate awardsokay.
So the difference is is thatthe main awards we call them um
are for new they're still earlystage solutions, but they have a
prototype, they have a moreestablished business plan.
They may already be in um,maybe a pre-production, they may
be in a pilot phase.
(18:08):
So they're pretty far alongthey're established Still early,
not quite maybe a small four tofive, maybe six person team
maybe even less.
The collegiate level is still anidea stage, and the requirement
for the collegiate level isthat one member of your team has
to be enrolled at a university,either undergraduate or
(18:29):
graduate, in North America rightnow.
But that's still an idea.
You may not have a prototypeyet, you may not have even a
clear business plan yet, but the$10,000 could help you get to
that next level, and so that'skind of the difference between
the two.
And then the main award isactually global.
(18:49):
So we get solutions from withOcean Exchange when I say we,
we're part of Ocean Exchangebecause Marine Research Hub
sponsors a portion of one of theawards.
And then I'm also on the reviewteam, so we have a huge review
team of experts and industrypeople from all over helping to
narrow down to the ones thatwill pitch in person at I was
(19:11):
going to say how many ideas came.
So last year I believe we hadclose to 130 applications for
the main award and we narrowed.
The review team narrows it downto 15 solution based companies
that will pitch here in FortLauderdale, right before the
Fort Lauderdale International.
Kristina Hebert (19:29):
Boat Show Was it hard to get it down to 15?
.
Katherine O'Fallon (19:32):
You know, it's a crazy process because we
have over probably around 60 to70 people who review.
So we kind of assign differentthings to review and then as a
group we get together virtuallyto discuss and kind of narrow it
down.
And I think it can be kind ofhard to narrow it down and
(19:52):
sometimes I'm like wait, Ireally want mine.
But, then you kind of heareveryone's feedback and you
realize it's not.
You know there might be analignment in terms of where
they're at or differentcompanies, and it can be hard,
but one of the great things isthat all of the companies get
some feedback and there's beenones who've reapplied.
Kristina Hebert (20:11):
I was going to say, do they come back the
following year and they tweak it?
Katherine O'Fallon (20:14):
a little bit .
Yeah, they can tweak it a bit.
That's good, though I mean andthat's an encouragement.
Kristina Hebert (20:17):
You want people to feel like maybe you didn't
make it this time, but next timeyou're in you'll get the
funding and sometimes it justdepends on where they're at and
stuff.
But you always want toencourage everybody.
Katherine O'Fallon (20:36):
Yes, because you never know where that
solution can go, and there'salso this case of dual purpose.
You might think that yoursolution is perfect for one
thing, but once you find out andmaybe get some feedback, you
realize that it can apply toanother whole, different sector
that you never even thoughtabout.
Kristina Hebert (20:54):
Isn't that the absolute core of science and
research?
You know, my, my former fatherin law was a research scientist
and he did a lot.
He was a nephrologist and so hedid a lot with kidney failure
and all of that.
But you know, some of the thedrugs and studies that they did
that they patented for for renalfailure actually helped salmon
(21:15):
farming and reproductive growthin fish areas and and other
natural population.
That, like these, were medicalfindings that you had no idea
could help in a, in a fishingpopulation.
That would be good for theeconomy, so perfect example.
Katherine O'Fallon (21:32):
Yeah, perfect example there.
Exactly Good for theenvironment and vice versa.
Like you can find solutions forthe environment that in the
medical and like you saidthere's.
Kristina Hebert (21:40):
There's probably hundreds, if not
thousands, of ideas that aresitting out there unexplored
that maybe this funding can do.
I didn't know about it.
Is this something?
So this year it will be atFlibs.
Katherine O'Fallon (21:51):
So it happens right before Flibs.
So it's the weekend rightbefore the Fort Lauderdale boat
show and it was very strategic.
So when Marine Research Hub,the board members including Phil
, helped them relocate down hereto Fort Lauderdale, they were
in Savannah, they werestruggling a little bit.
(22:13):
It's like well, you should be inFort Lauderdale, we're at the
heart of it and they came andrelocated in 2019 and have been
continuing to grow and it wasvery strategic in his planning
because of the high net worthindividuals and the people who
are attending Flibs are also theones who could be, and should
be, looking to invest in some ofthese solutions now Agreed, and
(22:35):
so it's also anotheropportunity to tell a story and
get people involved in it whohaven't been in this space,
because a lot of people have,when they thought about the
environment in the past, thoughtabout it as a philanthropic
effort Like you just gave moneyand just hoped it did really
good.
You know.
Now we have this opportunity totell the story that you can.
You can invest in thesesolution based companies, make
money and do good for the, andthat's not a bad thing.
(22:56):
It's not a bad thing yeah, it'snot a bad thing.
It's actually a really goodthing, because now you're
investing, you're making money.
Then you can give more backinto other things that you want
to give philanthropically orgive back into the environment
as well.
Kristina Hebert (23:08):
I think, in and of itself, that is one of the
number one results coming out ofthe Marine Research Hub that I
think could be ever-changing.
Because if the more people thatyou can get involved in
environmental causes and I haveto say I at times can be guilty
of that that you say, oh well,do I have to drive a Prius and
(23:29):
only wear cotton clothing andyou know, and otherwise I'm
perceived as the enemy.
You know, if I'm not, if Idon't have my recycle bag or my,
and I don't think people needto feel bad, it's just you need
to do your part.
Yeah, and if we love ourindustry and our industry is 100
percent dependent on anenvironmental resource- and if
(23:49):
we don't protect it.
We're not doing any of ourselvesany favor.
Yeah right.
Katherine O'Fallon (23:54):
The industry will collapse if you don't have
people.
I mean, that's why I think whenyou, when we said earlier, you
know the marine industry lovesthe marine environment, correct,
it's just everyone's doingtheir part and you may not
always see what your part is,but I think that's the important
thing.
I used to say it all the time.
So my background is education.
I was 17 years in BrowardCounty Public Schools taught
(24:17):
marine science.
I was at a marine magnet middleschool.
I was the magnet coordinatorfor that program.
Kristina Hebert (24:23):
I feel like you would have made marine science
fun.
I tried, I definitely tried Getkids to relate to it, because I
feel like you have such apassion, oh, it's one of the
it's.
Katherine O'Fallon (24:31):
The reason I kind of stepped out and came
into the hub was because I wastelling my students that you can
solve all of these challengesand have we.
They're not problems if youlook at them as opportunities.
You know like there there's achance to solve them and not be,
(24:53):
you know, doom and gloomthere's, but we get enough of it
.
But they're.
They're there because they lovethe Marine environment, for
whatever reason it might be.
They came.
A lot of them came to school tothe Marine magnet program
because they were passionateabout Marine.
Others just kind of fell intoit because it was the school
that they were at and then theyrealized how much they loved it.
And our goal was to get themout into their environment, to
get them out of their backyardto go snorkeling, to go kayaking
, canoeing.
(25:13):
I took them shark tagging withNSU really to get them out.
Kristina Hebert (25:17):
What a great experience.
Katherine O'Fallon (25:20):
I still love it.
I still support, I love thisschool.
I didn't leave because I didn'tlove it.
I left because I saw a gap I sawan opportunity because I was
telling my students we'rebuilding out all these classes
and electives that are all tiedto Marine and the
entrepreneurship part was thehardest, because my teacher that
was teaching at the time shesaid no one picked a Marine
(25:40):
themed company.
And I said because they don'tknow what they don't know, we
have to teach it to them.
But then I also realized, likeshe's right, there's the marine
industry around here but there'snot the solution-based
companies yet.
We hadn't given them theexamples to see themselves in
that industry yet and that'swhere the hub was already, you
know, kind of formed.
(26:01):
It was starting and then I wasable to just step in and
thankfully, you know, kind ofbuild it up to where we're at
now and continue to build.
We had to get those companies.
I had to find those you knowexamples to start showing this
is the pipeline of going from anidea to being in an incubator,
(26:21):
like we have a few down here inSouth Florida, one called
Seaworthy Collective that's alsowith Ocean Exchange, and then
you have a company you knowyou're building up these
solutions that that can beanywhere in the world, and they
can be right here in yourbackyard, and so you can be
environmentally protective andenvironmentally friendly and
still make money.
Kristina Hebert (26:41):
Make money, and it doesn't make you a bad
person.
Katherine O'Fallon (26:43):
Yes at all.
Kristina Hebert (26:44):
And I think that that's a tremendous lesson,
because I do feel like growingup, um, that wasn't always an
option.
It was like you were either acaring environmentalist or you
wanted to make money and youwere there to dog and, and I
think that you didn't fullybelieve and we can see it that
that there's a way to have boththere's a way I'm happy that
you're drawing attention to that.
Yeah, so talk to me about theflorida legislature now we're
(27:06):
just coming out of the 2025.
Any active legislation in there?
That's that you're looking at.
Katherine O'Fallon (27:12):
So not well, there is something from last
year.
So, last year, in 2024, weestablished and supported the
Office of Ocean Economy.
It was a bill that was putforth last year by
Representative Chip LaMarca andRepresentative Kelly Skidmore,
and we supported it.
Kristina Hebert (27:30):
They're like a dynamic duo.
They are.
Katherine O'Fallon (27:32):
They actually are the reason I'm
sitting in this role.
It's bipartisan too.
Kristina Hebert (27:34):
Bipartisan.
They're like a dynamic duo.
They are.
They actually are the reasonI'm sitting here in this role.
Katherine O'Fallon (27:36):
It's bipartisan too.
Bipartisan, they're the reasonI'm here.
Kelly Skidmore helped establish.
She was with MISF, she wroteall the stuff to basically
establish the hub and then Chipgot me the funding.
So then I was able to step in.
So without them I wouldn't besitting here today.
Funding so then I was able tostep in, so without them I
wouldn't be sitting here today.
But what they, kelly, had triedto put forth, the Office of
(27:57):
Blue Economy, a couple years ina row and then kind of with the
help of the hub and the MISF,said why don't you guys partner
together?
Kristina Hebert (28:07):
now you did great separate.
Katherine O'Fallon (28:08):
Let's, let's get you together.
And so they did.
They put forth the Office ofBlue Economy.
I went up to Tallahassee andtestified at one of the first
committee hearings to show oursupport, and then it got passed,
signed into bill.
There was no funding for it, sothey had to find a house for
this office, and so the Officeof Ocean Economy is what it is
(28:30):
called, and it's housed atFlorida Atlantic University.
So it's it is not only.
Florida Atlantic University.
It is basically just a theshingles hang in the sign that
this is where it's going to behoused, but it is across the
entire state of Florida and thegoal of the office is to really
establish, identify what are theresources that we have, what's
(28:51):
the research and solutions thatwe have that could be
commercialized.
That's kind of the first goal,but then beyond that will be the
workforce that's needed toestablish it and really identify
what do we got in our state sothat we can get them to that
level of building the jobs andthe businesses to tackle some of
our greatest challenges.
(29:12):
This year the Office of OceanEconomy, housed at FAU, is
looking for some appropriationfunding from the state, so
hopefully they will get some ofthat funding to really ramp up
what we're trying to do.
Kristina Hebert (29:26):
And what about just local businesses?
Could I be more involved in theMarine Research Hub?
How could I be more involved?
Katherine O'Fallon (29:33):
Well, definitely.
First of all, like I said, wehave sponsorship and partnership
from all.
Any.
Any business can be a part ofsupporting Marine Research Hub
as a nonprofit, you know it'stax deductible as well.
But we have events that happen,like around the boat show.
So we do the Marine ResearchHub Innovation Sustainability
(29:55):
Award.
We've got some sponsors to justkind of, you know, do the
events.
Um, so that's a way to getinvolved.
But then also just being kindof engaged following us on
social media LinkedIn Um, okay.
What are the hashtags.
We got to get those out, so,okay, I don't.
I'm not very good atremembering my hashtags, so I'm
going to have to put them uplater, producer Jordan will find
them for you.
(30:15):
Producer Jordan will find themfor me because it's at Marine um
, marine hub on some of them andsome change with FL and hub and
things like that.
But um, basically also justbeing aware of what's going on
in the community, um, and ifthere's a solution, you know you
meet somebody, connect them tome and then I can connect Um.
(30:36):
It's really it's been amazingto see some of the connections
that have happened with, likeD'Angelo and uh, a startup
company called Sailplan.
Kristina Hebert (30:45):
Okay.
Katherine O'Fallon (30:46):
Um, and they basically met at a Marine
Research Hub event at the boatshow, ocean Exchange finally got
to talk and they partneredtogether on basically
implementing this new technologyfrom Sailplan into D'Angelo's
exhaust system so it can be moreenvironmentally friendly but it
also can create another revenuestream for them.
(31:07):
So those partnerships and thosediscussions wouldn't have
happened if they weren'tattending a marine research hub
event or ocean exchange and kindof just being aware of some of
the solutions that are out thereand then looking at how can I,
you know, how can it apply to mycompany, how can it apply to my
backyard, can I support some ofthe initiatives that are
happening from the county levelsor the municipality level.
(31:31):
When it talks about sea walls,you know a lot of people around
here.
Our sea walls have to be raised.
We have, you know, the bigrainstorms that we've had.
So, dealing with infrastructureneeds, there's a lot of
solutions that can be moreenvironmentally friendly and
protect our coastalinfrastructure and not the
(31:52):
traditional concrete seawall.
So we've got companies in SouthMiami-based company Kind Design
, that has basically created 3Dprinting the seawall so that it
creates nooks and crannies likea mangrove, so you can have more
marine life recruitment on thatstructure.
Or a company called SmartSeawall Technology.
(32:14):
That's kind of like buildingblocks.
Kristina Hebert (32:15):
Are they local?
I didn't even.
They are local.
That is incredible.
They are local.
I love to hear things like thatand they're kind of building up
in this space.
Katherine O'Fallon (32:21):
I mean, we weren't even talking about some
of these solutions five yearsago.
Wow, we didn't know thembecause they weren't out there
yet.
Kristina Hebert (32:28):
Do you ever have an event with the companies
that have come about throughthe Marine Research Hub?
Katherine O'Fallon (32:33):
So we have had.
We've had some events.
We're starting to do a podcastseries Very exciting and the
goal of the podcast it's on theBlue Economy podcast is going to
be coming out and the goal isto get high level kind of
overview of what's going on inthe space on conservation and
(32:54):
ocean and the blue economysolutions, but then also get
into some of the local impacts.
And why is Broward Countyinvolved in this?
Why is Port Everglades involved?
What are their needs, so thatthe community also understands
what's going on.
And then we'll also profilesome of the new startup
companies as well.
Kristina Hebert (33:10):
I think that's incredible.
I think that would be great.
I can't wait to tune in.
Katherine O'Fallon (33:17):
Connecting all of those dots and all of
those sectors so that people canstart seeing how they can plug
in and how they can get involvedas well.
Kristina Hebert (33:19):
Well, I came up with a way and I wanted to
announce it on the podcast withyou being here, and I have to
say that I had some assistancein talking with Marine
Industries Association but Ithink, as you know, our company
is turning 75 this year, whichyay third generation, family
business and for our big 75thanniversary event.
(33:41):
We wanted to do we're doing acasino type event and we wanted
to have a charity component toit and we've decided that any
money that's raised is going tobe donated to the Marine
Research Hub for our 75thanniversary.
It's October 3rd.
Katherine O'Fallon (33:56):
Oh my gosh.
Kristina Hebert (33:56):
So the entire industry, the city, local
politicians, federal politiciansgoing to invite President Trump
, ron DeSantis.
I hope they all can make it.
Katherine O'Fallon (34:05):
Oh my gosh.
Kristina Hebert (34:06):
But we would love for it to benefit and
promote the Marine Research Huband all of its endeavors, and
the blue ocean economy.
Katherine O'Fallon (34:14):
Well, thank you, I'm so excited.
Oh my gosh, I've got likegoosebumps here right now.
Well, and you heard it herefirst so I appreciate your
coming.
No, I mean it's.
Kristina Hebert (34:23):
I think we all, as I stated, you know, as I've
been very blessed my family hasbeen blessed that we have been
part of such an amazing industry.
The Marine IndustriesAssociation of South Florida has
also been so helpful to us, andwe all need to be concerned
with the environment, butproactive, and let's encourage
(34:43):
businesses to do all that we cando to extend the life of our
industry and have it be hereforever.
I look forward to our 100thanniversary.
I will for sure be retired.
Katherine O'Fallon (34:50):
And I won't say how old I'll be, but it'll
be an even better party.
Kristina Hebert (34:53):
Yes, and I'm looking forward to that.
So I believe, as companies, weneed to give back, and so we're
pledging that and we hope thatit's a success oh well, thank
you.
That is so exciting, so we'llbe working together and I look
forward to it and I look forwardto learning more.
I will say that during the FortLauderdale International Boat
(35:15):
Show, both Phil and the BrowardAlliance, Bob, get together.
I started to say Bill, and I'mlike I know it's not Phil and
Bill.
So who's?
Katherine O'Fallon (35:25):
Phil and Bob .
Bill Walker is a big supporteras well.
Okay, you're right, bill Walkeris there.
You can throw him in there.
All right, I can do it.
Kristina Hebert (35:37):
Phil and Bill does.
You can throw them in there.
All right, I could do it.
Fill and build.
That's just kind of flow offthe tongue, but they do.
The global business luncheonand I learned was it last year
or it could have been the yearbefore that there was a
gentleman that came up with thislaundry detergent that was
discovered through the coralreefs and that can be used on
and, forgive me, I could begetting it wrong but it was
environmentally like absolutelyfriendly and it can be used.
Katherine O'Fallon (35:58):
It might have been before me, so I'm not
sure exactly.
Kristina Hebert (36:00):
So maybe it was two or three years ago, but I'm
always, because HowardGreenberg does the emceeing
usually of that luncheon and hesits on your board, yep.
Katherine O'Fallon (36:09):
Howard's on my board as well, and so Marine
Research.
Hub is always.
Kristina Hebert (36:13):
We try to bring all the solutions into the
space it's always in it, butit's the most unique topic and
whenever it's a new businessthat they're highlighting.
Somehow it came about throughthat, but anyway, I've learned a
lot about those and I find themto be super interesting.
Katherine O'Fallon (36:26):
So anything that we can do to be supportive,
One of the things I love isjust creating those connections,
and one of the things I love isjust creating those connections
.
And you know, one of the thingsthat Phil always says is our
relationship capital is sovaluable.
Um, everyone has, you know,their phone with all these
people who don't know aboutthese things.
So that's also another way thateveryone can support is your
relationship capital.
(36:46):
You may not be, it may not be acompany that you're interested
in, but you know people who are,who would want to invest or
they got space.
You know it's.
There's just so many differentways that people don't realize
that you can actually support byjust utilizing some of the
resources you already have atyour disposal and talking to
people and talking to people andsharing the message.
(37:07):
Um, and we do a summit at theboat show as well.
So the global business luncheonson Wednesday.
On Thursday morning we do aMarine Research Hub summit and
last year was, I think, one ofmy favorite years.
I mean, I've been doing thisjust a couple of years, but last
year it just kind of came tothis kind of perfect everything.
I wanted it to happen and be.
Because we had over a hundredpeople in the audience breakfast
(37:30):
.
I had three companies that wereall florida-based companies
okay, um.
One of them was a finalist atocean exchange as well, but one
was dealing with corrosion okayum.
And another one is dealing withcarbon in concrete material and
basically you can additive thatcan absorb and sequester more
carbon in concrete, so as you'rebuilding materials.
(37:51):
And then the third one wasdealing with, um, basically
preservatives getting microbesfrom the coral reef to create
alternative um preservatives,and by um, what is it?
It's bio.
They're using theirbiotechnology to create, you
know um, different chemicalsthat go into, um, our cosmetics
(38:12):
different things, so basicallymore environmentally friendly,
getting away from petroleum.
Kristina Hebert (38:16):
Yes, yes, gotcha, all of that.
Katherine O'Fallon (38:17):
So it was very three different sectors.
Kristina Hebert (38:19):
Completely.
Katherine O'Fallon (38:21):
And what was so great is that, you know,
Port Everglades was there, GlennWiltshire was, like you know.
I think we could probably do areally cool pilot.
Kristina Hebert (38:30):
I want to know about this corrosion one,
because we do corrosion surveys.
I mean, that's one of myfather's biggest research.
He's a pioneer in that.
Katherine O'Fallon (38:38):
Oh my gosh.
So yes, so it is called SinMatters and they were based.
They're based up in Orlandoarea and they basically have a
product that can go into paintmaterials that will inhibit and
slow corrosion.
Kristina Hebert (38:51):
That's amazing.
Katherine O'Fallon (38:52):
A crazy amazing stuff.
So Glenn, you know, said soGlenn said let's see if we can
do a little pilot and put it onsome of our cranes and start
there.
And then the concrete material.
Mayor of the City of FortLauderdale, dean Trent Alice was
like.
I think we need your card, weneed to talk to you.
We're building a new buildingover here, so that's Carbon
Limit.
They're based in Boca.
(39:12):
And then the over here with thecon, so that's carbon limit.
They're based in boca.
And then, um, the cordeliabioscience.
There was someone you know, acouple people in the audience
who's like I may have aconnection to a cosmetics
company.
I'd love to introduce you, andso it was like oh, this perfect
it did all those connections anddifferent things that were
happening that you want tonaturally you know happen took
place at that breakfast so whocan get invited to the summit?
Kristina Hebert (39:33):
I mean, I know it's limited.
Well, of course you're gonna beinvited.
I got invited.
Yay, I'm excited.
Katherine O'Fallon (39:40):
What we're trying to do is just grab you
know people from all differentsectors.
So really the goal is obviouslyI can only have you know so
many people I can hold on theboat but we have people who are
our partners and sponsors, areobviously going to be have been
in attendance.
We've got county, municipality,good.
Kristina Hebert (39:58):
So we've got those government people, we've
got the university people, I wasgoing to say the university Yep
, the university Industry.
Katherine O'Fallon (40:03):
Partners Industry, business community,
all different sectors.
That's the goal, is you've?
Got to get all of them in theroom together and see how all of
these solutions can beimpactful to them.
Kristina Hebert (40:16):
And I have to say we tend to be very insulated
as an I think all industries dothat you tend to meet with the
same people that are within yourindustry or and even within
your specific field sometimes,and and then you know you're
always going and you say you'reactive and you're involved.
But I have to say every time Igo to like an exterior industry
(40:38):
event, so it's not just puremarine industry, it's with
people outside that I alwaysmake a connection and at some
level I feel like at some leveleverybody's connected to the
marine industry.
You know we always say that orwhat do they say?
There's your two degrees awayfrom Kevin or you're six degrees
from somebody else, but I feellike everybody knows somebody in
(40:59):
the marine industry,specifically in the state of
florida.
Yeah, with all the amount ofjobs I know phil would be very
disappointed in me right now.
I'm going to say a number like138 000 jobs in broward county
alone I should probably know thenumber too, because I see it
all the time.
I'm better with the economicimpact it's like $18.5 billion.
Okay, Tri-County $18.5 billion.
There you go, so I'm betterwith that and 50% of the jobs
(41:22):
are in Broward County and theother 50 are divided between
Palm Beach and Miami-Dade.
I do know that part Broward'sgot for um and with the.
Katherine O'Fallon (41:39):
You know it's over 142 000, 142 000 you
weren't bad, jordan.
Kristina Hebert (41:41):
I forgot to reach out.
You weren't bad, right up.
I know I was close, 138 it was142.
Katherine O'Fallon (41:44):
Sorry, not bad broward, but it's like you
know, the south florida regionis, you know, got all of these
assets and all these resources,and that's the goal is, if we
can work together, create morecollaboration, more
communication, we're going toaccelerate these solutions that
we need.
I always I tell a lot of peoplethat my, my job is to make
connections and then get out ofthe way so things can get done,
(42:06):
but don't forget about me too,because I have to.
I have to give you know myboard.
I have to give some, somemetrics to my board to say I'm
doing a good job so that I cankeep getting more funding, but
that's it.
There's all these companiesthat are big, small, it doesn't
matter the impact and theirability to say I want to support
(42:27):
this ecosystem because it'sgoing to be good for my
community.
It's going to be good for mycommunity, it's going to be good
for my business, but it couldalso bring me some solutions
that I could either impact mybusiness or I could invest in
and, you know, perpetuate thecycle of more solutions going on
.
Kristina Hebert (42:45):
So, katie?
One last question what makes asuccessful 2025 for the Marine
Research Hub?
Katherine O'Fallon (42:52):
Well, we're definitely scaling up with our
university partnerships which.
I'm super excited about.
Our goal is to get more ofthose collegiates that I said at
Ocean.
Kristina Hebert (43:02):
Exchange.
Katherine O'Fallon (43:03):
I want a winner for all the finalists to
represent our differentuniversities.
So we're really working thisyear.
So for me, success would be isto create more exposure at the
university level.
So that we can get some ofthose solutions to come right
out of our universities and sayyou know like this is happening
at, you know, um and NSU and FIUand FAU, and so we're working
(43:27):
with some of our partners, allthe universities.
We've got some different thingsin the book, in the works
cooking right now for next year.
So I'm really excited about that, and we're working with one of
our newest family offices thatare going to be helping us
really get some pitch type ofthings going on at some of our
(43:48):
universities.
So all this new stuff that I'mjust super excited about,
because that's really what itcomes down to is I want more
exposure, I want more people toknow what we're doing, and I
want more solutions and I wantthem to be for our backyard.
Kristina Hebert (44:05):
Excited about the blue economy.
Katherine O'Fallon (44:06):
And not just our backyard.
But the thing is is that if wecan deploy them here, they have
global impact.
And that's really what I thinka lot of people forget is that
if we can do it here, we can doit anywhere.
Absolutely Anywhere in theentire world, and that's really
I think.
I'm excited about 2025 and justthe opportunities we have.
(44:27):
Oh, and this might be I mean, Idon't know if- I'm jumping the
gun.
Kristina Hebert (44:31):
It's exclusive, let's do it.
Katherine O'Fallon (44:32):
But so there's MODS Museum of Discovery
and Science.
Okay, we are partnering withthem.
They have a new hub forresilience, they'll have a new
exhibit, oh wow.
And so we're in the works onhopefully having some marine
research hub opportunities forengagement at their new exhibit,
which will be in 2026.
(44:53):
So we're still working on allthe details, oh but that'll be
exciting.
Kristina Hebert (44:56):
But I'm super excited.
I look forward to that event.
Katherine O'Fallon (44:58):
Yeah, that's going to be so much fun because
that's going to now incorporateK through 12.
Kristina Hebert (45:04):
I was just going to say you just got even
the youngest ones.
Yeah, but they should bethinking about that.
It is in their backyard, it isin their neighborhood.
Katherine O'Fallon (45:21):
And if their backyard, it is in their
neighborhood and if it startshere, it goes global.
It has such a globalopportunity and I, I will always
have a heart for um educationand getting more of our, you
know, young people to seethemselves in these career
pathways and that's why ourpartnerships are so important.
Um, even guy harvey foundationpartnering, because I love the
education side.
I, I do, but I know I can't doit all, and so, but that's where
you know Mods and Guy HarveyFoundation and the counties and
the municipalities.
And you know the businesses yes, the universities, the
(45:44):
investors, the family offices.
Everyone is an important pieceto this whole ecosystem, but we
just have to elevate ourresources and not reinvent the
wheel.
Work together and we're goingto create some really positive
change that's going to be goodfor the environment ultimately,
(46:05):
but good for our community andgood for business, and we want
to live here for the next 50years, so we have to find some
solutions.
Kristina Hebert (46:13):
Well, we appreciate all that you're doing
and thank you for all your hardwork, katie.
Katherine O'Fallon (46:16):
Thank you and marineresearchhuborg.
Yes, marineresearchhuborg, Igot that one.
Kristina Hebert (46:21):
The social media.
Katherine O'Fallon (46:22):
And hashtag blue economy.
Kristina Hebert (46:23):
And hashtag blue economy.
Well thank you for coming today, Katie.
Thank you, it was a pleasuregetting to about this Marine
Research Hub.
I look forward to it and we'regoing to be working together now
.
Katherine O'Fallon (46:33):
Oh, we are.
Kristina Hebert (46:34):
I'm so excited we're going to have this event
and I look forward to maybejoining your podcast to hear all
about the new things thathappened in 2025.
And we'll tune in.
Yes, Thank you so much.
Katherine O'Fallon (46:44):
Christy, I really appreciate it.
Yeah, we love it.
This is so much fun it doesn'teven feel.
I hope you'll be back again.
I hope to come back and havemore news to share.
Okay, share on some of thecompanies that are building up
in this space.
Okay, well, you heard it here.
Kristina Hebert (46:58):
Thank you, thank you, thank you for joining
us this season on season threeof the Ward's Way podcast.
Be sure you subscribe, becausethere's much more to come.
Welcome to the Season 3 Wards Way podcast,
where we're covering the hotlegislative topics of 2025.
From tariffs to tunnels andbridges, from foreign trade
zones to workers' compensation,to the Fort Lauderdale
International Boat Show, to theMarine Research Hub, industry
(00:22):
experts and clarification on theB-1, bb2 visas.
Join us as we celebrate 75years in business and we're just
getting started.
Well, welcome everybody.
We're here today on the WardsWay podcast, season three, and
I'm here today with KatieO'Fallon, and she is the
executive director of the MarineResearch Hub.
(00:42):
Welcome, thank you.
Thanks for having me.
Yes, so tell everybody what isthe Marine Research Hub?
I know we hear a lot about itand there's a lot of exciting
stuff going on.
Talk to me, tell me a littlebit about it.
Katherine O'Fallon (00:54):
Let me tell you a little bit about the hub.
So the Marine Research Hub is anonprofit organization that is
working to really create morecollaboration and communication
across various sectors to buildthe blue economy.
So the idea of takingresearch-based solutions, so
solutions that are currentlysitting in the labs that are
(01:15):
doing some really good work, butreally getting them
commercialized and creatingmarketable solutions to create
jobs, build business butultimately take care of our
greatest asset, which is ourmarine and coastal environments.
Kristina Hebert (01:27):
And see, I didn't know about.
I had no idea, just as aregular American consumer, that
there were these researchstudies done on shelves that
just don't have the funding togo through.
So tell me, do you have anexample of one?
Well, maybe there's many.
Katherine O'Fallon (01:45):
There's definitely many, and I think
that's kind of where the hubstarted was because when you
look at research institutions, alot of universities have tons
of research that is going on,but most of the research is
being done to maybe publish apaper, continue sharing data
research information, publish apaper, continue, you know,
(02:07):
sharing data researchinformation, um, but a lot of
people don't necessarily look atthat research as
commercializing it and making itinto a business that can solve
some of our greatest challenges,and so that's really where the
hub kind of started from?
no, I agree, and it actuallystarted untapped resources
sitting out there answers to ourproblems, sitting on the shelf,
pretty much um, and that'sreally where the hub started
with Phil Purcell, president ofMarine Industries Association,
(02:30):
and Bob Swindell, who is thepresident of the Greater Fort
Lauderdale Alliance, who's alsoboth are on my board they were
at the boat show.
Fort Lauderdale InternationalBoat Show, probably the best one
, biggest one, best in waterboat show in the world.
Yes, show, um, probably that onebiggest one, best in waterboat
show in the world.
Yes, um, they was probablyaround.
Um, they probably had theconversation around 2015 2016
(02:51):
for sure, started chattingprobably one of those.
You know, those napkin ideasthat happen, um.
But phil and bob were justtalking and basically said you
know, we're surrounded by thesegreat oceanographic institutions
, specifically oceanographicyeah, we've got flor, atlantic
University, floridaInternational University, nova
Southeastern University andUniversity of Miami just the top
(03:11):
four here, not including allthe other universities doing
amazing stuff.
But he said, you know where isthe research leaving?
the laps, like I don't see thesolutions getting out into our
waters and tackling some of ourgreatest challenges that we have
, and that was kind of the startof the hub and it seems so
(03:32):
simple yeah, so now how does itplay out?
Kristina Hebert (03:35):
So I would imagine you need funding.
So where does the funding comefrom for the research hub?
Katherine O'Fallon (03:40):
Well, so probably start with.
So that started it.
So, phil and Bob, basicallylet's start the organization
with the help of the MarineIndustries Association team and
the alliance.
They brought together all threeof the economic development
organizations across Miami theBeacon Council, palm Beach has
(04:03):
the board development and thenBroward has the alliance.
So they brought all three EDOstogether Marine Industries
Association and then theybrought all four of the
presidents of those universitiesto the boat show in 2017 and
signed an MOU that creating thehub and working together to
basically elevate thesesolutions and get them out of
(04:25):
the lab.
And everyone was like kumbaya,sign it, yay, and then went back
to their worlds and nothing waskind of really done, because
they're also, in that sense,funding wasn't there.
So over the years, MISF and theAlliance kind of kept it going,
you know, with Kelly SkidmoreRepresentative Skidmore now was
(04:46):
at MISF Patience Con, everyonekind of doing stuff from the
Alliance side to just keep itgoing.
Sure, they went after someappropriation funding from the
state three times, third time'sthe charm, I like to say, and
thanks to Representative ChipLaMarca, I got some funding and
that's actually how I was ableto be brought on board.
(05:06):
I was going to say, and that'sprobably what brought you, that
was what brought me to the table, and so in 2022, that's when I
joined the organization as theexecutive director.
So yeah, just over almost threeyears, I would have actually
thought it was longer than that.
Kristina Hebert (05:21):
I feel like you've been a part of the Marine
Research Hub.
It's your face, you're theexecutive director and I've seen
you at so many different events.
So trying to yeah, we're.
I think you're getting traction.
I think we are definitelygetting traction.
Katherine O'Fallon (05:36):
We we needed that, that funding, but pretty
much the now we've we'veexhausted our grant funding.
That was just for one year andnow we're all partnership and
board initiative drivensponsorship.
So we have partners andsponsors from Broward County is
part Port Everglades.
We have some philanthropicfunding as well from various
(05:59):
donors family donors, familyoffices, businesses in the
community like Total MarineSolutions, d'angelo Water, taxi,
sail Plant I know I'm going tomiss somebody, so I really do.
I don't want to go too far intoall of them individually Alini
Water, everyone who is kind ofin this space that has an
(06:20):
opportunity to benefit butelevate this industry as well.
And the solutions, because theidea of supporting these
solution-based companies isgoing to build up our entire
economic stability here.
But it's going to bringsolutions to the forefront that
we need, sure, that are neededspecifically for Broward County.
(06:41):
That's why they are a sponsorand such a big supporter is
because it's going to createjobs and businesses.
And the solutions that we needfrom coastal infrastructure,
water quality, aquaculture thoseare just to name a few of
things that we are going to needfor South Florida.
We're at, you know, the center,sure, you know a lot of people
look at South Florida as,basically you know, ground zero
(07:04):
for climate impact sea levelrise, heat, water quality,
everything Coral, you know thecoral reef third largest barrier
reef is in our backyard.
Coming from education, I've beentalking about it for many years
, about our amazing coral reefs,but there's still a huge number
of people that don't realizethe economic benefits of that
(07:27):
coral reef and tourism is a hugepart of it.
But if we don't have a coralreef anymore?
It protects usinfrastructure-wise from storms,
storm surge, wave impact, butit also provides food.
It provides that economictourism.
It could provide more medicalapplications that we don't know.
(07:48):
Yet you know preservatives,things that are.
You know we're putting so manychemicals into our body.
We could look to the ocean fora lot of solutions that are
nature-based.
Kristina Hebert (07:59):
So talk to me about this blue economy.
Talk to me about what does thatmean?
Katherine O'Fallon (08:04):
I've heard this buzz.
What does it mean?
I've heard that.
Talk to me about what does thatmean.
I've heard this buzz.
What does?
Kristina Hebert (08:07):
it mean, I've heard that, and yeah, what does
it mean?
What does that stand for andwhat does it all encompass?
Katherine O'Fallon (08:12):
So blue economy is basically a term
that's only been around for.
I mean, it's not surprisingthat not many people know about
it, unless you're kind of inthat space a little bit more.
Kristina Hebert (08:28):
Because it's probably been around since the
early.
You know early, I want to saylike 2012, 2010.
Oh goodness, I didn't knowabout it that long.
Katherine O'Fallon (08:30):
Don't hold me to that exact number, but
it's really the idea of thesustainable use of our resources
.
It's about having a livelihoodwith the ocean while not taking
too many resources from it.
But it's also they've kind ofadded this data portion to it.
Okay, because to make decisionson how we are going to use our
(08:51):
resources, we've got to havedata in order to drive those
decisions.
But we've got to use ourresources in the right way.
If we take too much.
What's going to happen?
They're just going to be gone,and so it's really about the
sustainable use of the resourcesin our coastal and marine
environments.
Kristina Hebert (09:09):
And I also feel like the marine industry at
times gets not necessarily a badreputation, but oftentimes you
know we're using the waters,we're dirtying the waters, we're
the dirty water manatee problemand guzzling, whatever it might
be.
And there are no greaterstewards of the water and of our
(09:30):
natural resources than I findin boaters, yes, and in boating
I mean, people want to be out onthat water, protect that water,
and I have yet to run into aboater that's not interested in
that and participating.
Are you able to really draw inthe overall general community?
Are there community events thatare being done that people can
be a part of?
Katherine O'Fallon (09:51):
So yeah, First, I think the boating
industry is one of the biggestproponents of supporting it.
Huge, it's just that it's kindof an understated Like you're
not out there, like shouting tothe rooftops.
Kristina Hebert (10:03):
Well, it's not a problem, we're just trying to
maximize the resources andbenefit from that.
Katherine O'Fallon (10:11):
Get people out there, yep.
And the reason people are outon boats is and boating and the
whole community is because theywant to be out in the
environment.
They want to expect to get inthe water and catch fish or
snorkel and dive and see thisamazing and have it be clean,
and so I think, yes, it is kindof this misconception, I think,
(10:31):
of the boating industry, andthat's where we also feel like
we can help support that andtell the story, because it is
now an opportunity as well toengage the boating community in
it and a lot of businesses whoare in the marine space they're
doing their part.
It's just not their mainbusiness.
And so we want to help also getthe message and that word out
(10:53):
there.
So two years ago we partneredwith FLIBS, so with the Fort
Lauderdale International BoatShow, misf and FORMA, to create
a Marine Research Hub Innovationand Sustainability Award at the
show for the businesses and theexhibitors at the show.
Kristina Hebert (11:10):
Oh, that's great.
To specifically give them alittle bit of a platform and
kind of like a shout out forwhat they're doing.
Katherine O'Fallon (11:17):
And so, looking at that, we'll be in our
third year.
This year it's really about theexhibitors to say you're doing
your part.
You might be doing somethingwhere you're recycling your
materials in a unique way thatpeople just don't know about.
But others could learn from youtoo.
So it's giving them the kudosand the shout out for the things
that they're doing.
It's not your business plan,it's just something you're doing
(11:41):
because you want to do theright thing, but it's going to
give an opportunity for othersto also say I can do, that you
might be a marina that'sincorporating some really new
innovation on recycling or yourwaste trash.
Kristina Hebert (11:57):
Well, sustainability and upcycling are
all buzzwords but, also bigcomponents of seminars and
gatherings for our industry.
So they're all part of thetopic anyway, and people are
participating and people want tolearn and we don't want to
reinvent the wheel.
No.
Katherine O'Fallon (12:13):
That's the thing it's like we can all learn
and elevate and work together.
And that's what the hub isreally about is kind of creating
that ecosystem from theuniversities to the new startups
that are coming out workingwith incubators and accelerators
that are in this space,bringing in investors into these
new solution-based companies aswell, and then bringing in the
(12:34):
workforce, because that is whatthis is all about, and then also
education, communityengagements.
So we have created, we've doneover the couple of years.
We'll do a summit, we'll havesome different events.
Kristina Hebert (12:48):
We have an event that we haven't done in a
little while, just because,timing wise, everyone's
schedules seem to be so busy andso many things going on and, by
the way, it's May.
Katherine O'Fallon (12:59):
How are we in May?
I don't know where the month ofApril went actually.
I was all over the place, butwe've done some events, kind of
what I call connecting the dots,basically bringing the research
, the impact and the solutionskind of to the table together,
because we really have to haveall sectors working together,
because that's the only waythings are going to get done.
(13:21):
If one area, if people aredoing things over here but they
are not communicating over here,it's not going to have as much
of an impact and traction behindit.
And so that's where bringingthe business community into
these solutions and alsoshowcasing that these are
solution companies that aregoing to create a lot of jobs
(13:42):
while taking care of, you know,some of our biggest challenges
that are going to not onlycreate more, um, more
opportunity for workforce andjobs that are not, maybe, your
traditional thinking job.
It's going to create moreresearch and data that's going
to drive more decisions, um, andit's going to be here in our
backyard businesses that aregood paying jobs as well.
Kristina Hebert (14:05):
Absolutely.
Katherine O'Fallon (14:06):
And it's not everyone has to be a
environmentalist or has to be amarine biologist or has to be,
you know, go to a four yearuniversity or anything like that
.
In order for a lot of thesesolutions to work and be
deployed, you're going to need avariety of experts can be
deployed.
You're going to need a varietyof experts, and one of the
(14:27):
things when I talk to peopleabout you know environmental
companies as well is I'm likeyou do know they're a business,
which means they have to havefinancial, they have to have
marketing they have to have HR,maybe depending on how big they
are, but they have to have allof those people and all the
skill sets, and so that's also anew opportunity for the future
workforce to say I can work fora company that I also align with
(14:49):
socially, Sure, and I want Ican have you know, have my
impact and do my part and feelconnected to that job and feel
like you're making an impact onthe community or on the industry
that you care about.
I agree.
And water, you know waterquality, food, aquaculture.
Kristina Hebert (15:04):
Those are all important things to all of us,
just as a human society.
Katherine O'Fallon (15:07):
Yeah, we need all of them, and if we're
going to live here in SouthFlorida, and enjoy the beautiful
environment that we have.
We have to have solutions.
Infrastructure is a big thingwhen we talk about, you know,
coastal resiliency.
All of that kind of overlapsinto a lot of solutions and
we're seeing more and morecompanies that are in this space
and the goal the goal is is tobuild companies up out of our
(15:30):
university technology andresearch, but also attract
companies sure because whatbetter place to test and pilot
and deploy in south florida oracross the entire state?
we have so many assets I wasgonna say the sunshine state,
the sunshine state, and what'sdifferent?
What assets?
I was going to say the SunshineState, the Sunshine State, and
what's different?
what's unique down here in SouthFlorida is we have, like I
mentioned earlier, the coralreef, the coral reefs, but if
(15:51):
you go up into the Pensacolaarea you've got Apalachicola and
oyster beds and that protectionand that food source and you
know that environment that hasdifferent needs and different
solutions.
And so there's that workingtogether across the entire state
is going to just elevate andkind of plant the flag that
Florida should and could beleading the way in the blue
(16:14):
economy.
Kristina Hebert (16:15):
And what about international partners?
I feel like there's a lot ofother countries that are out
there doing trying to worktogether so we can.
The world can become a smallerplace.
Are we working together?
I say we.
Katherine O'Fallon (16:27):
I'm part of the team, you're in it, you live
here You're in the backyardYou're part of, uh, you know,
marine Industries Associationhuge, uh, you know, supporter I
couldn't do this without.
I mean, we're kind of inlockstep.
I'm always involved with themat this um, on different events
and stuff.
Um, so one of the thingsinternational is huge.
Yes, because a lot of otherparts of the world are doing it
(16:50):
a little bit more quickly thanwe are.
So what would be great is tohave more of those companies
also coming here.
And so one of the first thingsthat Marine Research Hub board
did before I even joined wasbringing an accelerator to South
Florida, which is called OceanExchange.
Ok, ocean Exchange is anaccelerator pitch program
(17:11):
nonprofit that was based inSavannah, georgia.
Kristina Hebert (17:13):
What's in it Wait a minute An accelerator
pitch program.
What does that do so?
Katherine O'Fallon (17:18):
it basically .
I guess the best way I candescribe it is it's like a shark
tank on steroids.
Kristina Hebert (17:23):
I was just going to say is it a shark tank?
Katherine O'Fallon (17:25):
That's the best way to say it to explain it
, but I love that Because it'sreally.
The event itself is kind oflike a shark tank, but it's over
two and a half days and so it'sbringing solutions to the
forefront.
So you're pitching for funding.
So Ocean Exchange gives out.
Last year they gave out three$100,000 award prizes Wow and
(17:48):
two $10,000 collegiate awardsokay.
So the difference is is thatthe main awards we call them um
are for new they're still earlystage solutions, but they have a
prototype, they have a moreestablished business plan.
They may already be in um,maybe a pre-production, they may
be in a pilot phase.
(18:08):
So they're pretty far alongthey're established Still early,
not quite maybe a small four tofive, maybe six person team
maybe even less.
The collegiate level is still anidea stage, and the requirement
for the collegiate level isthat one member of your team has
to be enrolled at a university,either undergraduate or
(18:29):
graduate, in North America rightnow.
But that's still an idea.
You may not have a prototypeyet, you may not have even a
clear business plan yet, but the$10,000 could help you get to
that next level, and so that'skind of the difference between
the two.
And then the main award isactually global.
(18:49):
So we get solutions from withOcean Exchange when I say we,
we're part of Ocean Exchangebecause Marine Research Hub
sponsors a portion of one of theawards.
And then I'm also on the reviewteam, so we have a huge review
team of experts and industrypeople from all over helping to
narrow down to the ones thatwill pitch in person at I was
(19:11):
going to say how many ideas came.
So last year I believe we hadclose to 130 applications for
the main award and we narrowed.
The review team narrows it downto 15 solution based companies
that will pitch here in FortLauderdale, right before the
Fort Lauderdale International.
Kristina Hebert (19:29):
Boat Show Was it hard to get it down to 15?
.
Katherine O'Fallon (19:32):
You know, it's a crazy process because we
have over probably around 60 to70 people who review.
So we kind of assign differentthings to review and then as a
group we get together virtuallyto discuss and kind of narrow it
down.
And I think it can be kind ofhard to narrow it down and
(19:52):
sometimes I'm like wait, Ireally want mine.
But, then you kind of heareveryone's feedback and you
realize it's not.
You know there might be analignment in terms of where
they're at or differentcompanies, and it can be hard,
but one of the great things isthat all of the companies get
some feedback and there's beenones who've reapplied.
Kristina Hebert (20:11):
I was going to say, do they come back the
following year and they tweak it?
Katherine O'Fallon (20:14):
a little bit .
Yeah, they can tweak it a bit.
That's good, though I mean andthat's an encouragement.
Kristina Hebert (20:17):
You want people to feel like maybe you didn't
make it this time, but next timeyou're in you'll get the
funding and sometimes it justdepends on where they're at and
stuff.
But you always want toencourage everybody.
Katherine O'Fallon (20:36):
Yes, because you never know where that
solution can go, and there'salso this case of dual purpose.
You might think that yoursolution is perfect for one
thing, but once you find out andmaybe get some feedback, you
realize that it can apply toanother whole, different sector
that you never even thoughtabout.
Kristina Hebert (20:54):
Isn't that the absolute core of science and
research?
You know, my, my former fatherin law was a research scientist
and he did a lot.
He was a nephrologist and so hedid a lot with kidney failure
and all of that.
But you know, some of the thedrugs and studies that they did
that they patented for for renalfailure actually helped salmon
(21:15):
farming and reproductive growthin fish areas and and other
natural population.
That, like these, were medicalfindings that you had no idea
could help in a, in a fishingpopulation.
That would be good for theeconomy, so perfect example.
Katherine O'Fallon (21:32):
Yeah, perfect example there.
Exactly Good for theenvironment and vice versa.
Like you can find solutions forthe environment that in the
medical and like you saidthere's.
Kristina Hebert (21:40):
There's probably hundreds, if not
thousands, of ideas that aresitting out there unexplored
that maybe this funding can do.
I didn't know about it.
Is this something?
So this year it will be atFlibs.
Katherine O'Fallon (21:51):
So it happens right before Flibs.
So it's the weekend rightbefore the Fort Lauderdale boat
show and it was very strategic.
So when Marine Research Hub,the board members including Phil
, helped them relocate down hereto Fort Lauderdale, they were
in Savannah, they werestruggling a little bit.
(22:13):
It's like well, you should be inFort Lauderdale, we're at the
heart of it and they came andrelocated in 2019 and have been
continuing to grow and it wasvery strategic in his planning
because of the high net worthindividuals and the people who
are attending Flibs are also theones who could be, and should
be, looking to invest in some ofthese solutions now Agreed, and
(22:35):
so it's also anotheropportunity to tell a story and
get people involved in it whohaven't been in this space,
because a lot of people have,when they thought about the
environment in the past, thoughtabout it as a philanthropic
effort Like you just gave moneyand just hoped it did really
good.
You know.
Now we have this opportunity totell the story that you can.
You can invest in thesesolution based companies, make
money and do good for the, andthat's not a bad thing.
(22:56):
It's not a bad thing yeah, it'snot a bad thing.
It's actually a really goodthing, because now you're
investing, you're making money.
Then you can give more backinto other things that you want
to give philanthropically orgive back into the environment
as well.
Kristina Hebert (23:08):
I think, in and of itself, that is one of the
number one results coming out ofthe Marine Research Hub that I
think could be ever-changing.
Because if the more people thatyou can get involved in
environmental causes and I haveto say I at times can be guilty
of that that you say, oh well,do I have to drive a Prius and
(23:29):
only wear cotton clothing andyou know, and otherwise I'm
perceived as the enemy.
You know, if I'm not, if Idon't have my recycle bag or my,
and I don't think people needto feel bad, it's just you need
to do your part.
Yeah, and if we love ourindustry and our industry is 100
percent dependent on anenvironmental resource- and if
(23:49):
we don't protect it.
We're not doing any of ourselvesany favor.
Yeah right.
Katherine O'Fallon (23:54):
The industry will collapse if you don't have
people.
I mean, that's why I think whenyou, when we said earlier, you
know the marine industry lovesthe marine environment, correct,
it's just everyone's doingtheir part and you may not
always see what your part is,but I think that's the important
thing.
I used to say it all the time.
So my background is education.
I was 17 years in BrowardCounty Public Schools taught
(24:17):
marine science.
I was at a marine magnet middleschool.
I was the magnet coordinatorfor that program.
Kristina Hebert (24:23):
I feel like you would have made marine science
fun.
I tried, I definitely tried Getkids to relate to it, because I
feel like you have such apassion, oh, it's one of the
it's.
Katherine O'Fallon (24:31):
The reason I kind of stepped out and came
into the hub was because I wastelling my students that you can
solve all of these challengesand have we.
They're not problems if youlook at them as opportunities.
You know like there there's achance to solve them and not be,
(24:53):
you know, doom and gloomthere's, but we get enough of it
.
But they're.
They're there because they lovethe Marine environment, for
whatever reason it might be.
They came.
A lot of them came to school tothe Marine magnet program
because they were passionateabout Marine.
Others just kind of fell intoit because it was the school
that they were at and then theyrealized how much they loved it.
And our goal was to get themout into their environment, to
get them out of their backyardto go snorkeling, to go kayaking
, canoeing.
(25:13):
I took them shark tagging withNSU really to get them out.
Kristina Hebert (25:17):
What a great experience.
Katherine O'Fallon (25:20):
I still love it.
I still support, I love thisschool.
I didn't leave because I didn'tlove it.
I left because I saw a gap I sawan opportunity because I was
telling my students we'rebuilding out all these classes
and electives that are all tiedto Marine and the
entrepreneurship part was thehardest, because my teacher that
was teaching at the time shesaid no one picked a Marine
(25:40):
themed company.
And I said because they don'tknow what they don't know, we
have to teach it to them.
But then I also realized, likeshe's right, there's the marine
industry around here but there'snot the solution-based
companies yet.
We hadn't given them theexamples to see themselves in
that industry yet and that'swhere the hub was already, you
know, kind of formed.
(26:01):
It was starting and then I wasable to just step in and
thankfully, you know, kind ofbuild it up to where we're at
now and continue to build.
We had to get those companies.
I had to find those you knowexamples to start showing this
is the pipeline of going from anidea to being in an incubator,
(26:21):
like we have a few down here inSouth Florida, one called
Seaworthy Collective that's alsowith Ocean Exchange, and then
you have a company you knowyou're building up these
solutions that that can beanywhere in the world, and they
can be right here in yourbackyard, and so you can be
environmentally protective andenvironmentally friendly and
still make money.
Kristina Hebert (26:41):
Make money, and it doesn't make you a bad
person.
Katherine O'Fallon (26:43):
Yes at all.
Kristina Hebert (26:44):
And I think that that's a tremendous lesson,
because I do feel like growingup, um, that wasn't always an
option.
It was like you were either acaring environmentalist or you
wanted to make money and youwere there to dog and, and I
think that you didn't fullybelieve and we can see it that
that there's a way to have boththere's a way I'm happy that
you're drawing attention to that.
Yeah, so talk to me about theflorida legislature now we're
(27:06):
just coming out of the 2025.
Any active legislation in there?
That's that you're looking at.
Katherine O'Fallon (27:12):
So not well, there is something from last
year.
So, last year, in 2024, weestablished and supported the
Office of Ocean Economy.
It was a bill that was putforth last year by
Representative Chip LaMarca andRepresentative Kelly Skidmore,
and we supported it.
Kristina Hebert (27:30):
They're like a dynamic duo.
They are.
Katherine O'Fallon (27:32):
They actually are the reason I'm
sitting in this role.
It's bipartisan too.
Kristina Hebert (27:34):
Bipartisan.
They're like a dynamic duo.
They are.
They actually are the reasonI'm sitting here in this role.
Katherine O'Fallon (27:36):
It's bipartisan too.
Bipartisan, they're the reasonI'm here.
Kelly Skidmore helped establish.
She was with MISF, she wroteall the stuff to basically
establish the hub and then Chipgot me the funding.
So then I was able to step in.
So without them I wouldn't besitting here today.
Funding so then I was able tostep in, so without them I
wouldn't be sitting here today.
But what they, kelly, had triedto put forth, the Office of
(27:57):
Blue Economy, a couple years ina row and then kind of with the
help of the hub and the MISF,said why don't you guys partner
together?
Kristina Hebert (28:07):
now you did great separate.
Katherine O'Fallon (28:08):
Let's, let's get you together.
And so they did.
They put forth the Office ofBlue Economy.
I went up to Tallahassee andtestified at one of the first
committee hearings to show oursupport, and then it got passed,
signed into bill.
There was no funding for it, sothey had to find a house for
this office, and so the Officeof Ocean Economy is what it is
(28:30):
called, and it's housed atFlorida Atlantic University.
So it's it is not only.
Florida Atlantic University.
It is basically just a theshingles hang in the sign that
this is where it's going to behoused, but it is across the
entire state of Florida and thegoal of the office is to really
establish, identify what are theresources that we have, what's
(28:51):
the research and solutions thatwe have that could be
commercialized.
That's kind of the first goal,but then beyond that will be the
workforce that's needed toestablish it and really identify
what do we got in our state sothat we can get them to that
level of building the jobs andthe businesses to tackle some of
our greatest challenges.
(29:12):
This year the Office of OceanEconomy, housed at FAU, is
looking for some appropriationfunding from the state, so
hopefully they will get some ofthat funding to really ramp up
what we're trying to do.
Kristina Hebert (29:26):
And what about just local businesses?
Could I be more involved in theMarine Research Hub?
How could I be more involved?
Katherine O'Fallon (29:33):
Well, definitely.
First of all, like I said, wehave sponsorship and partnership
from all.
Any.
Any business can be a part ofsupporting Marine Research Hub
as a nonprofit, you know it'stax deductible as well.
But we have events that happen,like around the boat show.
So we do the Marine ResearchHub Innovation Sustainability
(29:55):
Award.
We've got some sponsors to justkind of, you know, do the
events.
Um, so that's a way to getinvolved.
But then also just being kindof engaged following us on
social media LinkedIn Um, okay.
What are the hashtags.
We got to get those out, so,okay, I don't.
I'm not very good atremembering my hashtags, so I'm
going to have to put them uplater, producer Jordan will find
them for you.
(30:15):
Producer Jordan will find themfor me because it's at Marine um
, marine hub on some of them andsome change with FL and hub and
things like that.
But um, basically also justbeing aware of what's going on
in the community, um, and ifthere's a solution, you know you
meet somebody, connect them tome and then I can connect Um.
(30:36):
It's really it's been amazingto see some of the connections
that have happened with, likeD'Angelo and uh, a startup
company called Sailplan.
Kristina Hebert (30:45):
Okay.
Katherine O'Fallon (30:46):
Um, and they basically met at a Marine
Research Hub event at the boatshow, ocean Exchange finally got
to talk and they partneredtogether on basically
implementing this new technologyfrom Sailplan into D'Angelo's
exhaust system so it can be moreenvironmentally friendly but it
also can create another revenuestream for them.
(31:07):
So those partnerships and thosediscussions wouldn't have
happened if they weren'tattending a marine research hub
event or ocean exchange and kindof just being aware of some of
the solutions that are out thereand then looking at how can I,
you know, how can it apply to mycompany, how can it apply to my
backyard, can I support some ofthe initiatives that are
happening from the county levelsor the municipality level.
(31:31):
When it talks about sea walls,you know a lot of people around
here.
Our sea walls have to be raised.
We have, you know, the bigrainstorms that we've had.
So, dealing with infrastructureneeds, there's a lot of
solutions that can be moreenvironmentally friendly and
protect our coastalinfrastructure and not the
(31:52):
traditional concrete seawall.
So we've got companies in SouthMiami-based company Kind Design
, that has basically created 3Dprinting the seawall so that it
creates nooks and crannies likea mangrove, so you can have more
marine life recruitment on thatstructure.
Or a company called SmartSeawall Technology.
(32:14):
That's kind of like buildingblocks.
Kristina Hebert (32:15):
Are they local?
I didn't even.
They are local.
That is incredible.
They are local.
I love to hear things like thatand they're kind of building up
in this space.
Katherine O'Fallon (32:21):
I mean, we weren't even talking about some
of these solutions five yearsago.
Wow, we didn't know thembecause they weren't out there
yet.
Kristina Hebert (32:28):
Do you ever have an event with the companies
that have come about throughthe Marine Research Hub?
Katherine O'Fallon (32:33):
So we have had.
We've had some events.
We're starting to do a podcastseries Very exciting and the
goal of the podcast it's on theBlue Economy podcast is going to
be coming out and the goal isto get high level kind of
overview of what's going on inthe space on conservation and
(32:54):
ocean and the blue economysolutions, but then also get
into some of the local impacts.
And why is Broward Countyinvolved in this?
Why is Port Everglades involved?
What are their needs, so thatthe community also understands
what's going on.
And then we'll also profilesome of the new startup
companies as well.
Kristina Hebert (33:10):
I think that's incredible.
I think that would be great.
I can't wait to tune in.
Katherine O'Fallon (33:17):
Connecting all of those dots and all of
those sectors so that people canstart seeing how they can plug
in and how they can get involvedas well.
Kristina Hebert (33:19):
Well, I came up with a way and I wanted to
announce it on the podcast withyou being here, and I have to
say that I had some assistancein talking with Marine
Industries Association but Ithink, as you know, our company
is turning 75 this year, whichyay third generation, family
business and for our big 75thanniversary event.
(33:41):
We wanted to do we're doing acasino type event and we wanted
to have a charity component toit and we've decided that any
money that's raised is going tobe donated to the Marine
Research Hub for our 75thanniversary.
It's October 3rd.
Katherine O'Fallon (33:56):
Oh my gosh.
Kristina Hebert (33:56):
So the entire industry, the city, local
politicians, federal politiciansgoing to invite President Trump
, ron DeSantis.
I hope they all can make it.
Katherine O'Fallon (34:05):
Oh my gosh.
Kristina Hebert (34:06):
But we would love for it to benefit and
promote the Marine Research Huband all of its endeavors, and
the blue ocean economy.
Katherine O'Fallon (34:14):
Well, thank you, I'm so excited.
Oh my gosh, I've got likegoosebumps here right now.
Well, and you heard it herefirst so I appreciate your
coming.
No, I mean it's.
Kristina Hebert (34:23):
I think we all, as I stated, you know, as I've
been very blessed my family hasbeen blessed that we have been
part of such an amazing industry.
The Marine IndustriesAssociation of South Florida has
also been so helpful to us, andwe all need to be concerned
with the environment, butproactive, and let's encourage
(34:43):
businesses to do all that we cando to extend the life of our
industry and have it be hereforever.
I look forward to our 100thanniversary.
I will for sure be retired.
Katherine O'Fallon (34:50):
And I won't say how old I'll be, but it'll
be an even better party.
Kristina Hebert (34:53):
Yes, and I'm looking forward to that.
So I believe, as companies, weneed to give back, and so we're
pledging that and we hope thatit's a success oh well, thank
you.
That is so exciting, so we'llbe working together and I look
forward to it and I look forwardto learning more.
I will say that during the FortLauderdale International Boat
(35:15):
Show, both Phil and the BrowardAlliance, Bob, get together.
I started to say Bill, and I'mlike I know it's not Phil and
Bill.
So who's?
Katherine O'Fallon (35:25):
Phil and Bob .
Bill Walker is a big supporteras well.
Okay, you're right, bill Walkeris there.
You can throw him in there.
All right, I can do it.
Kristina Hebert (35:37):
Phil and Bill does.
You can throw them in there.
All right, I could do it.
Fill and build.
That's just kind of flow offthe tongue, but they do.
The global business luncheonand I learned was it last year
or it could have been the yearbefore that there was a
gentleman that came up with thislaundry detergent that was
discovered through the coralreefs and that can be used on
and, forgive me, I could begetting it wrong but it was
environmentally like absolutelyfriendly and it can be used.
Katherine O'Fallon (35:58):
It might have been before me, so I'm not
sure exactly.
Kristina Hebert (36:00):
So maybe it was two or three years ago, but I'm
always, because HowardGreenberg does the emceeing
usually of that luncheon and hesits on your board, yep.
Katherine O'Fallon (36:09):
Howard's on my board as well, and so Marine
Research.
Hub is always.
Kristina Hebert (36:13):
We try to bring all the solutions into the
space it's always in it, butit's the most unique topic and
whenever it's a new businessthat they're highlighting.
Somehow it came about throughthat, but anyway, I've learned a
lot about those and I find themto be super interesting.
Katherine O'Fallon (36:26):
So anything that we can do to be supportive,
One of the things I love isjust creating those connections,
and one of the things I love isjust creating those connections
.
And you know, one of the thingsthat Phil always says is our
relationship capital is sovaluable.
Um, everyone has, you know,their phone with all these
people who don't know aboutthese things.
So that's also another way thateveryone can support is your
relationship capital.
(36:46):
You may not be, it may not be acompany that you're interested
in, but you know people who are,who would want to invest or
they got space.
You know it's.
There's just so many differentways that people don't realize
that you can actually support byjust utilizing some of the
resources you already have atyour disposal and talking to
people and talking to people andsharing the message.
(37:07):
Um, and we do a summit at theboat show as well.
So the global business luncheonson Wednesday.
On Thursday morning we do aMarine Research Hub summit and
last year was, I think, one ofmy favorite years.
I mean, I've been doing thisjust a couple of years, but last
year it just kind of came tothis kind of perfect everything.
I wanted it to happen and be.
Because we had over a hundredpeople in the audience breakfast
(37:30):
.
I had three companies that wereall florida-based companies
okay, um.
One of them was a finalist atocean exchange as well, but one
was dealing with corrosion okayum.
And another one is dealing withcarbon in concrete material and
basically you can additive thatcan absorb and sequester more
carbon in concrete, so as you'rebuilding materials.
(37:51):
And then the third one wasdealing with, um, basically
preservatives getting microbesfrom the coral reef to create
alternative um preservatives,and by um, what is it?
It's bio.
They're using theirbiotechnology to create, you
know um, different chemicalsthat go into, um, our cosmetics
(38:12):
different things, so basicallymore environmentally friendly,
getting away from petroleum.
Kristina Hebert (38:16):
Yes, yes, gotcha, all of that.
Katherine O'Fallon (38:17):
So it was very three different sectors.
Kristina Hebert (38:19):
Completely.
Katherine O'Fallon (38:21):
And what was so great is that, you know,
Port Everglades was there, GlennWiltshire was, like you know.
I think we could probably do areally cool pilot.
Kristina Hebert (38:30):
I want to know about this corrosion one,
because we do corrosion surveys.
I mean, that's one of myfather's biggest research.
He's a pioneer in that.
Katherine O'Fallon (38:38):
Oh my gosh.
So yes, so it is called SinMatters and they were based.
They're based up in Orlandoarea and they basically have a
product that can go into paintmaterials that will inhibit and
slow corrosion.
Kristina Hebert (38:51):
That's amazing.
Katherine O'Fallon (38:52):
A crazy amazing stuff.
So Glenn, you know, said soGlenn said let's see if we can
do a little pilot and put it onsome of our cranes and start
there.
And then the concrete material.
Mayor of the City of FortLauderdale, dean Trent Alice was
like.
I think we need your card, weneed to talk to you.
We're building a new buildingover here, so that's Carbon
Limit.
They're based in Boca.
(39:12):
And then the over here with thecon, so that's carbon limit.
They're based in boca.
And then, um, the cordeliabioscience.
There was someone you know, acouple people in the audience
who's like I may have aconnection to a cosmetics
company.
I'd love to introduce you, andso it was like oh, this perfect
it did all those connections anddifferent things that were
happening that you want tonaturally you know happen took
place at that breakfast so whocan get invited to the summit?
Kristina Hebert (39:33):
I mean, I know it's limited.
Well, of course you're gonna beinvited.
I got invited.
Yay, I'm excited.
Katherine O'Fallon (39:40):
What we're trying to do is just grab you
know people from all differentsectors.
So really the goal is obviouslyI can only have you know so
many people I can hold on theboat but we have people who are
our partners and sponsors, areobviously going to be have been
in attendance.
We've got county, municipality,good.
Kristina Hebert (39:58):
So we've got those government people, we've
got the university people, I wasgoing to say the university Yep
, the university Industry.
Katherine O'Fallon (40:03):
Partners Industry, business community,
all different sectors.
That's the goal, is you've?
Got to get all of them in theroom together and see how all of
these solutions can beimpactful to them.
Kristina Hebert (40:16):
And I have to say we tend to be very insulated
as an I think all industries dothat you tend to meet with the
same people that are within yourindustry or and even within
your specific field sometimes,and and then you know you're
always going and you say you'reactive and you're involved.
But I have to say every time Igo to like an exterior industry
(40:38):
event, so it's not just puremarine industry, it's with
people outside that I alwaysmake a connection and at some
level I feel like at some leveleverybody's connected to the
marine industry.
You know we always say that orwhat do they say?
There's your two degrees awayfrom Kevin or you're six degrees
from somebody else, but I feellike everybody knows somebody in
(40:59):
the marine industry,specifically in the state of
florida.
Yeah, with all the amount ofjobs I know phil would be very
disappointed in me right now.
I'm going to say a number like138 000 jobs in broward county
alone I should probably know thenumber too, because I see it
all the time.
I'm better with the economicimpact it's like $18.5 billion.
Okay, Tri-County $18.5 billion.
There you go, so I'm betterwith that and 50% of the jobs
(41:22):
are in Broward County and theother 50 are divided between
Palm Beach and Miami-Dade.
I do know that part Broward'sgot for um and with the.
Katherine O'Fallon (41:39):
You know it's over 142 000, 142 000 you
weren't bad, jordan.
Kristina Hebert (41:41):
I forgot to reach out.
You weren't bad, right up.
I know I was close, 138 it was142.
Katherine O'Fallon (41:44):
Sorry, not bad broward, but it's like you
know, the south florida regionis, you know, got all of these
assets and all these resources,and that's the goal is, if we
can work together, create morecollaboration, more
communication, we're going toaccelerate these solutions that
we need.
I always I tell a lot of peoplethat my, my job is to make
connections and then get out ofthe way so things can get done,
(42:06):
but don't forget about me too,because I have to.
I have to give you know myboard.
I have to give some, somemetrics to my board to say I'm
doing a good job so that I cankeep getting more funding, but
that's it.
There's all these companiesthat are big, small, it doesn't
matter the impact and theirability to say I want to support
(42:27):
this ecosystem because it'sgoing to be good for my
community.
It's going to be good for mycommunity, it's going to be good
for my business, but it couldalso bring me some solutions
that I could either impact mybusiness or I could invest in
and, you know, perpetuate thecycle of more solutions going on
.
Kristina Hebert (42:45):
So, katie?
One last question what makes asuccessful 2025 for the Marine
Research Hub?
Katherine O'Fallon (42:52):
Well, we're definitely scaling up with our
university partnerships which.
I'm super excited about.
Our goal is to get more ofthose collegiates that I said at
Ocean.
Kristina Hebert (43:02):
Exchange.
Katherine O'Fallon (43:03):
I want a winner for all the finalists to
represent our differentuniversities.
So we're really working thisyear.
So for me, success would be isto create more exposure at the
university level.
So that we can get some ofthose solutions to come right
out of our universities and sayyou know like this is happening
at, you know, um and NSU and FIUand FAU, and so we're working
(43:27):
with some of our partners, allthe universities.
We've got some different thingsin the book, in the works
cooking right now for next year.
So I'm really excited about that, and we're working with one of
our newest family offices thatare going to be helping us
really get some pitch type ofthings going on at some of our
(43:48):
universities.
So all this new stuff that I'mjust super excited about,
because that's really what itcomes down to is I want more
exposure, I want more people toknow what we're doing, and I
want more solutions and I wantthem to be for our backyard.
Kristina Hebert (44:05):
Excited about the blue economy.
Katherine O'Fallon (44:06):
And not just our backyard.
But the thing is is that if wecan deploy them here, they have
global impact.
And that's really what I thinka lot of people forget is that
if we can do it here, we can doit anywhere.
Absolutely Anywhere in theentire world, and that's really
I think.
I'm excited about 2025 and justthe opportunities we have.
(44:27):
Oh, and this might be I mean, Idon't know if- I'm jumping the
gun.
Kristina Hebert (44:31):
It's exclusive, let's do it.
Katherine O'Fallon (44:32):
But so there's MODS Museum of Discovery
and Science.
Okay, we are partnering withthem.
They have a new hub forresilience, they'll have a new
exhibit, oh wow.
And so we're in the works onhopefully having some marine
research hub opportunities forengagement at their new exhibit,
which will be in 2026.
(44:53):
So we're still working on allthe details, oh but that'll be
exciting.
Kristina Hebert (44:56):
But I'm super excited.
I look forward to that event.
Katherine O'Fallon (44:58):
Yeah, that's going to be so much fun because
that's going to now incorporateK through 12.
Kristina Hebert (45:04):
I was just going to say you just got even
the youngest ones.
Yeah, but they should bethinking about that.
It is in their backyard, it isin their neighborhood.
Katherine O'Fallon (45:21):
And if their backyard, it is in their
neighborhood and if it startshere, it goes global.
It has such a globalopportunity and I, I will always
have a heart for um educationand getting more of our, you
know, young people to seethemselves in these career
pathways and that's why ourpartnerships are so important.
Um, even guy harvey foundationpartnering, because I love the
education side.
I, I do, but I know I can't doit all, and so, but that's where
you know Mods and Guy HarveyFoundation and the counties and
the municipalities.
And you know the businesses yes, the universities, the
(45:44):
investors, the family offices.
Everyone is an important pieceto this whole ecosystem, but we
just have to elevate ourresources and not reinvent the
wheel.
Work together and we're goingto create some really positive
change that's going to be goodfor the environment ultimately,
(46:05):
but good for our community andgood for business, and we want
to live here for the next 50years, so we have to find some
solutions.
Kristina Hebert (46:13):
Well, we appreciate all that you're doing
and thank you for all your hardwork, katie.
Katherine O'Fallon (46:16):
Thank you and marineresearchhuborg.
Yes, marineresearchhuborg, Igot that one.
Kristina Hebert (46:21):
The social media.
Katherine O'Fallon (46:22):
And hashtag blue economy.
Kristina Hebert (46:23):
And hashtag blue economy.
Well thank you for coming today, Katie.
Thank you, it was a pleasuregetting to about this Marine
Research Hub.
I look forward to it and we'regoing to be working together now
.
Katherine O'Fallon (46:33):
Oh, we are.
Kristina Hebert (46:34):
I'm so excited we're going to have this event
and I look forward to maybejoining your podcast to hear all
about the new things thathappened in 2025.
And we'll tune in.
Yes, Thank you so much.
Katherine O'Fallon (46:44):
Christy, I really appreciate it.
Yeah, we love it.
This is so much fun it doesn'teven feel.
I hope you'll be back again.
I hope to come back and havemore news to share.
Okay, share on some of thecompanies that are building up
in this space.
Okay, well, you heard it here.
Kristina Hebert (46:58):
Thank you, thank you, thank you for joining
us this season on season threeof the Ward's Way podcast.
Be sure you subscribe, becausethere's much more to come.
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