Tech, defense business leaders join Florida Poly Foundation Board

LAKELAND, Fla. – Johnnie Curls, Jr., owner and CEO of Barney’s Pumps, and Alen Tomczak, a national director for digital intelligence company Cellebrite, have been named to the Florida Polytechnic University Foundation Board of Directors.

The Foundation’s mission is to “partner with Florida Poly to engage the community, inspire investment, and steward resources to build a world-class university.” The two business leaders bring to the board keen insight into the engineering and tech needs of business on the local and national level.

“Welcoming such notable business leaders to the Foundation Board will allow us to utilize their unique backgrounds to build an even stronger pathway for members of industry to support and connect with Florida Poly,” said Jack Harrell III, the board’s chairman.

Johnnie Curls, Jr., (left), and Alen Tomczak have been selected to join Florida Polytechnic University’s Foundation Board of Directors.

Johnnie Curls, Jr.

As the third-generation leader of Barney’s Pumps, Johnnie Curls, Jr. said he is determined to do all he can to support and improve the city of Lakeland and Polk County.

Barney’s Pumps was established in Lakeland in 1950 as a provider of pump solutions and technical services for the water, wastewater, industrial, municipal, and food industries. The business has expanded to locations in Jacksonville and Coral Springs, Florida.

Curls said he is looking forward to contributing to the Foundation Board and ultimately making a difference to businesses like his own.

“I think Florida Poly is great and can do so much for the city of Lakeland, and I’ll do anything I can to support that,” said Curls, who has hired three University alumni as engineers. “I love growing young people, and so I support anything that’s geared toward that.”

Alen Tomczak

With a long career assisting national security and the intelligence community, Alen Tomczak is no stranger to spotting talented individuals who can lead technology innovation and advancement. He said this type of student is everywhere at Florida Poly.

“I’m very excited to be part of the board,” he said. “It’s very exciting to see what the University is doing, and I want to be part of showing that Florida Poly is and will be the leading school for graduate and undergraduate STEM education.”

Tomczak is Cellebrite’s director for the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community. Cellebrite is a leader in digital intelligence and investigative analytics for public and private organizations.

“The world is changing whether we like it or not, and Florida Poly is helping students prepare for this rapidly changing environment as they enter the workforce,” said Tomczak, who works from Tampa, Florida. “I want to help the University develop partnerships with governmental organizations and companies in the industry that support national security initiatives.”

Kathy Bowman, the Foundation’s CEO and Florida Poly’s vice president for advancement, said she was eager to see the ideas and contributions Curls and Tomczak would have for the Board.

Their deep experience in technology and innovation will bring an important perspective to the board and help shape the future of the University,” she said.

For the most recent University news, visit Florida Poly News.

About Florida Polytechnic University: Florida Polytechnic University is ranked the number one public college in the Southern Region for two years in a row, accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, and a member of the State University System of Florida. Nationally ranked in engineering education, Florida Poly is the only state university dedicated exclusively to STEM and offers ABET-accredited degrees. Florida Poly is a powerful economic engine within the state of Florida, blending applied research with industry partnerships to give students an academically rigorous education with real-world relevance. Florida Poly’s iconic Innovation, Science, and Technology Building, designed by world-renowned architect Dr. Santiago Calatrava, has won more than 20 global awards and was named one of the 16 most breathtaking buildings in the world. Connect with Florida Poly.