Jobs Cuts & Clean Roads

July 08, 2024

Happy Monday, Orlando. Welcome back to another week of the newsletter.

🌦️ Today’s forecast: Expect a partly cloudy morning, leading into some evening thunderstorms. Highs will hit about 96 degrees. Here’s what’s on deck:

  • Autonomous Tech is Keeping Central Florida Roads Clean

  • Westgate Resorts Cuts 357 Jobs in Orlando

Let’s dive in.

TECHNOLOGY

Autonomous Tech is Keeping Central Florida Roads Clean

Image: CFX

The big picture: The Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX) is leveraging new autonomous tech from British software company Route Reports to keep 125 miles of expressways clean and safe across Central Florida.

By the numbers:

  • Autonomous monitoring: The newly integrated system comprises four cameras that take photos every 32 feet from patrol vehicles. This technology, first in the U.S., alerts the agency to road damage and debris in real-time.

  • Enhanced efficiency: Costing $24,600 annually, the system significantly reduces the need for on-site inspections, making identifying road issues quicker and easier.

  • Heavy investment: In total, CFX spends over $130 million annually on road maintenance, including daily patrols, debris removal, and repairs.

Even more tech: In addition to the autonomous cameras, the agency is also utilizing impact-detection sensors, which notify the agency when guardrails are damaged post-collision.

Future expansion: Don Budnovich, director of maintenance at CFX, says he plans to expand the use of the impact sensors across the network, pending positive evaluation results from the agency’s engineering consultant. If given the green light, CFX will purchase an unknown number of additional sensors at $850 a pop.

ON THE DOCKET

What’s Happening this Week?

Image: Camping World Stadium / X

First, a quick recap of the weekend’s sporting events:

  1. The Pride left KC with a huge W on Saturday, solidifying their spot as the only undefeated team in the NWSL.

  2. Orlando City also dominated on Saturday, defeating DC United 5-0.

  3. The Orlando Predators lost to Nashville on Friday, eliminating them from the AFL Playoffs.

Coming up this week: Def Leppard, Journey, & Cheap Trick perform Wednesday at Camping World Stadium. The show starts at 6 PM.

BUSINESS

Westgate Resorts Cuts 357 Jobs in Orlando

Image: Westgate Resorts

What’s happening: Westgate Resorts Inc., a major Orlando-based timeshare company, plans to cut 357 jobs by August 30th, according to a notice filed with the Florida Department of Commerce on June 28th.

The big picture: The layoffs are part of a strategic move to merge marketing and operational support teams to streamline operations and enhance guest experiences.

Context:

  • Company background: Founded in 1982 by David Siegel, Westgate operates 18 resorts worldwide, boasting 13,400 luxury villas and hotel rooms. The company reported $1.47 billion in revenue in 2023 and employs over 4,760 people in Central Florida.

  • New CEO: Westgate exec Jim Gissy took over the CEO role in March after Siegel stepped down. However, Siegel remains chairman and president of the company.

Zooming out: Nationwide, job cuts are slightly down from last year, with U.S. companies announcing 434,645 job cuts through June, a 5.1% decrease from the same period in 2023, according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc.

QUICK HITS

In Other News…

Arthur App. Image: Ryan Lynch / Orlando Business Journal

  1. A South Orlando apartment complex recently sold for $100.6 million, according to a June 27th deed.

  2. Winter Park installed a new lightning detection system that monitors static energy to predict when strikes will happen.

  3. Check out Orlando Health’s Arthur App, which allows patients with speech impairments to communicate more effectively.

Thanks for tuning in to today’s edition of the newsletter. See you back here tomorrow.

Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up here.

Interested in sponsoring O-Town Daily? Let us know here.