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Dr. Marilyn Barger is the Principal Investigator and Executive Director of FLATE, the Florida Regional Center of Advanced Technological Education, funded by the National Science Foundation and housed at Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, Florida since 2004. FLATE serves the state of Florida as its region and is involved in outreach and recruitment of students into technical career pathway; has produced award winning curriculum design and reform for secondary and post-secondary Career and Technical Education programs; and provides a variety of professional development for STEM and technical educators focused on advanced technologies. She earned a B.A. in Chemistry at Agnes Scott College and both a B.S. in Engineering Science and a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering (Environmental) from the University of South Florida, where her research focused on membrane separation science and technologies for water purification. She has over 20 years of experience in developing curricula for engineering and engineering technology for elementary, middle, high school, and post secondary institutions, including colleges of engineering. Dr. Barger serves on several national panels and advisory boards for technical programs, curriculum and workforce initiatives, including the National Association of Manufacturers Educators‘Council. She is a Fellow of the American Society of Engineering Education, a member of Tau Beta Pi and Epsilon Pi Tau honor societies. She is a charter member of both the National Academy and the University of South Florida‘s Academy of Inventors. Dr. Barger holds a licensed patent and is a licensed Professional Engineer in Florida.

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Michael Ennis is a Manufacturing Engineer for Harris Government Communications Division and an Adjunct Professor at Brevard Community College in Palm Bay, Florida.
Harris is an international communications and information technology company serving government and commercial markets in more than 150 countries. Headquartered in Melbourne, Florida, the company has approximately $5 billion of annual revenue and 15,000 employees-including nearly 7,000 engineers and scientists. Harris is dedicated to developing best-in-class assured communication products, systems and services.
Ennis is currently an engineer in the Facilities Engineering department.
Ennis received the Harris “President’s Award for Personal Growth and Fulfillment” in 2006 for his work in establishing an Applied Associates of Science degree program for Harris employees. In 2009, Michael received the “Industry Distinguished Service Award” from the Florida Advanced Technological Education Center for his work with the local high schools and community college.
Ennis teaches engineering courses at Brevard Community College. He is a credentialed Instructor for Applied Mechanics with Lab, Industrial Safety, and Introduction to Quality Assurance, as well as IPC Certified to instruct Soldering Rework and Repair.
Ennis has a Master’s of Science degree in the Management of Technology from the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida.
Michael’s professional career began at Kennedy Space Center, Florida. He started as a Technician for McDonnell-Douglas in 1982 working on Space Shuttle Payloads. He progressed to a Senior Facility Systems Engineer by his departure in 2000. From KSC, Ennis moved to Washington DC for a position as Project Manager for Total Resource Management implementing Maximo Enterprise Computerized Maintenance Management Software. Ennis moved back to Florida in 2004, where he went to work for Harris.

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