NASA Hallmark Success Story NASA honors Paragon for Innovative Research
TUCSON, Arizona, April 21 – Paragon Space Development Corporation has been highlighted by NASA as a Hallmark Success Story for successful technology development under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. The video was developed by NASA's Langley Research Center's SBIR STTR Office and highlights Paragon’s work on a number of NASA funded projects.
“We greatly appreciate NASA’s recognition of the contributions and capabilities that small and medium businesses bring to Constellation and the Vision for Space Exploration,” said Taber MacCallum, CEO of Paragon Space Development Corporation of Tucson, Arizona.
In recent years, Paragon has worked on several projects that benefit NASA and the space community. Through a NASA-funded SBIR grant, Paragon used its unique thermal analysis and structural design capabilities to develop a new, reduced-weight radiator system for use on America’s next-generation spacecraft, the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle as well as commercial vehicles. NASA is likely to rely on such commercial space services during the interval between the retirement of the space shuttle and the initial flight of Orion and its Ares I launch vehicle. The innovation promises to potentially save the vehicle 30-60% of the mass of the structure and radiator that it would replace on a vehicle.
Paragon Space Development Corporation, founded in 1993, is a full-service aerospace engineering and technology development firm. Paragon is a major supplier of environmental control and life support system and sub-system design for the aerospace industry with expertise in thermal control for orbiting and re-entering spacecraft and hyper-velocity aircraft. For more information, see: www.paragonsdc.com
Paragon at National Space Symposium
Paragon and Wyle continue their marketing partnership at the National Space Symposium
TUCSON, Arizona, April 2 – Paragon Space Development Corporation and Wyle will partner again in their participation at the 24th National Space Symposium on April 7-10, 2008, in Colorado Springs at The Broadmoor Hotel.
The National Space Symposium is the premier U.S. space policy and program forum, a "must attend" opportunity for information and interaction on all sectors of space -- civil, commercial, and national security. The push for space continues in all sectors, and "Our Expanding Universe...50 Years of Space Exploration" sets the tone for the event. As we push forward, we'll also look back at the many accomplishments in space as 2007 marks the 50th anniversary of space exploration.
Paragon has a strong history of working with spacecraft and aircraft teams to solve the most challenging problems, specializing in complex thermal analysis and thermal control system designs. This allows for a more customized solution for each specific need along with practical Environmental Control and Life Support systems, human factors and crew systems solutions optimized for specific applications in extreme environments.
Wyle’s expertise is in space medicine and human performance in space which means they can ensure space flight customers are prepared for flight. Through its life sciences services contracts with NASA, Wyle has supported more than two-thirds of all people who have traveled into space.
Taken together, this combined approach to passenger health and life support can help reduce the overall risk of spaceflight, and potentially reduce the liability costs incurred by the commercial spaceflight companies.
Paragon Space Development Corporation founded in 1993, is a full-service aerospace engineering and technology development firm. Paragon is a major supplier of Environmental Control and Life Support System and sub-system design for the aerospace industry with expertise in thermal control for orbiting and re-entering spacecraft and hyper-velocity aircraft. For more information, see: www.paragonsdc.com
Wyle Laboratories, Inc., a privately held company headquartered in El Segundo, Calif., is a leader in providing high tech aerospace engineering, testing and research services to commercial, industrial, and government customers. The company also provides life sciences services, special test systems and other technical support services to the aerospace, defense, nuclear power, communications, and transportation industries. For more information, see: www.wylelabs.com
Paragon published in "InsideNASA" Deputy Administrator's Shana Dale’s corner
Paragon Space Development Corporation Dec 28, 200706:30:54 PM | Shana Dale
NASA drives innovation, which creates new jobs, new markets and new
technologies through a modest investment of less than six-tenths of one
percent of the overall federal budget.
Paragon Space Development Corporation in Tucson, Ariz., is one example.
Paragon is a woman-owned small business specializing in aerospace
engineering and technology development. Paragon is an innovative
company in its own right, and also is an example of the creative ways
NASA works with local governments and small businesses to create better
opportunities for all.
As a recipient of a NASA Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR)
grant, Paragon developed a new, reduced weight radiator system for use
on America's next-generation spacecraft, the Orion Crew Exploration
Vehicle. Orion, and Ares I, the rocket that will carry it, are
progressively moving from contracts to equipment tests. All major
contracts for the Ares I were awarded in 2007, and component testing has
already begun.
Paragon credits the Arizona Department of Commerce and the Arizona
governor's FAST Grant Award (Federal And State Technology partnership
program) for the seed funds that led to the NASA SBIR grant. Paragon
used its $5,000 FAST grant award to write its initial proposal to NASA.
The U.S. Small Business Administration and the Arizona Department of
Commerce fund the FAST Grant program. It focuses on returning federal
>grants for Arizona-based companies, and creating new jobs and new
jobs in America.
Paragon's success shows how industry teamed with government at the local
and federal levels can spur innovation and create the jobs that build
stronger communities. "We've received, over the last three years, $1.4
million in grants that we can attribute to that $5,000 worth of
assistance from the state. That's a pretty good rate of return for the
state," said Taber McCallum, chief executive officer and co-founder of
Paragon.
Paragon Space Development Corporation shows how NASA-driven innovations
are benefiting commercial concerns across the country. They prove that
the nation's modest investment in NASA produces powerful returns.
The story has the by line of Shana Dale (the NASA Deputy Administrator) herself, and is distributed on an internal NASA website, some people may not have access so here is. (The on line story includes pictures of our CEO and President.)
Paragon receives Innovator of the Year award
Southern Arizonans win big at state Innovation Awards Inside Tucson Business
Southern Arizonans won big at the annual Governor’s Celebration of Innovation Awards. Indeed, only three business finalists from this part of the state did not win awards – and one of those went to another finalist from here in the same category.
More that 1,200 people attended the gala called the state’s Academy Awards of Technology. It was held Dec 7 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale and put on by the Arizona Techology Counsil and the Arizona Department of Commerce.
Award winners from Southern Arizona were:
Innovator of the Year Award – Startup
MSDx, 9040 S. Rita Road in the University of Arizona Science & Technology Park, is a biosciences firm developing a first-of-its-kind blood test to diagnose multiple sclerosis.
Innovator of the Year Award – Small Company Paragon Space Development Corp., 3481 E. Michigan St., an aerospace engineering and technology firm providing highly-specialized and innovative space and underwater life support products.
Innovator of the Year Award – Academia
University of Arizona Phoenix Mars Mission.
William F. McWhortor Community Service Leader of the Year Award
Bob Horn, president of Horn Business Consulting, for his community work in developing Southern Arizona small high-tech businesses.
Ed Denison Business Leader of the Year Award
Vicki L. Chandler, director of the UA’s Bio5 Institute, for her work bringing together the disciplines of agriculture, medicine, pharmacy, science and engineering at the UA.
Teacher of the Year Award
Timothy J. Barry, a science teacher at Salpointe Catholic High School. 1545 E. Copper St.
Future Innovators
(each student wins $1,000)
William Guarino, now a college freshman, for his engineering project while at Salpointe titled “A Lighter Metal: High Cycle Fatigue Strength of a new AZ91D-F Magnesium/7075-T651 Aluminum Composite.”
Niles Frazier, now a college freshman, for his cellular and molecular biology project while at Tucson High School titled ”Optimization of Sense-RNAi Efficiency.”
The other finalists from Southern Arizona were:
Global Solar Energy, a producer of thin-film photovoltaic solar cells that can be made into a variety of products to capture solar energy, in the category, for the Pioneering Innovation Award that went to Iridium Satellite, in Tempe.
Raytheon Missile Systems for the Innovator of the Year Award among large companies, which went to Intel Corp’s facility in Chandler.
Bio5 Institute at the UA for Innovator of the Year in academia, which, as noted earlier, went to the UA’s Phoenix Mars Mission.
The Governor’s Celebration of Innovation was established in 2003 to recognize local business for their contributions technology.
Paragon receives WELLS FARGO COPPER CACTUS AWARDS
Copper Cactus Winner Profiles Arizona Daily Star
TUCSON METROPOLITAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SMALL BUSINESS LEADER OF THE YEAR
Recipients must have high standards of business conduct, demonstrate productivity and leadership by responding to business challenges and be involved with community organizations.
Sally Fernandez
President, Safety Dynamics Inc.
Business address: 9030 S. Rita Road, Suite 100
Employees: 8
Business: Develops, designs and manufactures acoustic recognition systems. Core product is focused around gunshot technology. Affiliated with the University of Southern California neurobiology lab.
“Sally is incredibly energetic and extremely popular, very well-known and more importantly has the ability to assemble the right team of players to put together these companies that really do incredible things,” said Wayne Lundeberg, chief operating officer.
BUSINESS GROWTH
Winners must show they are unique and successful in handling growth or change in the marketplace.
1-30 employees Nextrio LLC 5225 N. Sabino Canyon Road
Employees: 27
Business: Professional IT services firm, takes care of everything related to computers and networking for small and midsize businesses in Southern Arizona.
“We’re either the whole enchilada or we’re the SWAT team when it comes to IT,” said Cristie Street, managing partner.
31-75 employees Paragon Space Development Corp.
3481 E. Michigan St.
Employees: 46
Business: Aerospace-technology development firm that is a leader in environmental controls and life-support systems intended for extreme environments.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for Tucson to get to know who we are as a company. It’s a wonderful feeling. We are very pleased to be in this category.” Said Leslie Melton, marketing coordinator.
76-250 employees Engineering and Environmental Consultants Inc.
4625 E. Fort Lowell Road
Employees: 130
Business: Civil-engineering and environmental-consulting firm in areas of transportation and residential and commercial land development. (2004 winner for Best Place to Work.)
“It instills a sense of pride in our company and of course it is a great way to describe ourselves to clients and candidates so they know how we’re perceived by our community.” said Susan LeClair, human-resources manage
COMMUNITY SERVICE
These businesses showed they have invested in the community through volunteerism and contributions to non-profit organizations.
1-30 employees Elastek
3700 S. Palo Verde Road
Employees: 20
Business: Manufacturer of environmentally sound and energy-saving roof coating products.
“The company is a good corporate citizen. They’re always giving back to the community that’s supported them. They give 10-15 percent of renue back to the community. It’s kind of like tithing. For a small company, our employees are very active, too, in the community themselves.” Said Bonnie Lewis, marketing director.
31-75 employees Breault Research Organization
6400 E. Grant Road, Suite 350
Employees: 50
Business: Optics firm that does software and consulting for the optics industry aznd lighting for the auto industry. (1998 and 2001 winner for the Best Place to Work.)
Chairman of the Board and founder Bob Breault “is very big on community service and will even pay his employees during working time to do community service.” said Phyllis McClure, Breault’s assistant.
BEST PLACE TO WORK
These companies were found to encourage growth, education and development for their employees via the work environment or employee benefits.
1-30 employees Simpleview Inc.
7430 N. La Cholla Blvd.
Employees: 40
Business: Multimedia marketing and communications company that builds Web sites and offers software solutions to help businesses manage their accounts and contacts.
We’re really excited because we have such a diverse group of people here… Our company is really attractive for potential employees because we are so diverse and offer the right opportunity. We’ve got the right people.” Said Gretchen Clarke, marketing director.
31-75 employees Heinfeld, Meech & Co. PC
10120 N. Oracle Road
Employees: 35 in Tucson, 75 statewide.
Business: Certified public accounting firm that does audits and consulting for mainly governmental entities and non-profits.
“It’s just kind of a reinforcement of what we know. Everybody that we work with, everybody that’s in office, we have a good time. We work hard, we play hard… You spend a lot of time at work and if you create an environment where people want to come to work, obviously that’s a lot better.” said Scott Kies, partner.
76-250 employees Beach, Fleishman & Co. PC
1985 E. River Road, Suite 201
Employees: 115
Business: Business advisory-services firm and Southern Arizona’s largest locally-owned accounting firm, specializing in tax planning and preparation, accounting and auditing, comprehensive business management and advising services.
“It acknowledges the founding partners’ commitment to their employees and the entrepreneurial culture that hey have created over the last 17 years.” said Lori Niederlehner, firm administrator.
SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS
Recipients are Tucson or Southern Arizona residents who are also freshman or returning sophomores at the University of Arizona. They are interested in a degree in business administration. These recipients will receive $2,000 scholarships toward business-related degrees.
Jonathan Garcia
Victoria Gonzalez
Jeffrey Marvin Napier
Paragon Space Development Corporation to be Honored as Tibbetts Award Winner
Washington, D.C. — Paragon Space Development Corporation of Tucson, Arizona has been selected as one of the winners of the 2007 Tibbetts Awards. Paragon Space Development Corporation will receive the award on Oct. 10 at the Westin Washington City Center, located at 1400 M Street NW in Washington, D.C.
Named for Roland Tibbetts—the person acknowledged as the father of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program—these prestigious national awards are made annually to those small firms, projects, organizations and individuals judged to exemplify the best in SBIR achievement. Paragon Space Development Corporation is one of 55 U.S. companies to receive this award. This year Paragon was selected from more than 4,000 companies to receive contracts and grants under the SBIR Program.
SBIR provides Paragon with a unique vehicle for innovative technology, positioning Paragon as a key provider of Environmental Control & Life Support Systems. SBIR enables Paragon to significantly contribute to otherwise cost-prohibitive endeavors such as those pursued by NASA. SBIR provides Paragon with funding not generally available in small business budgets to research, develop, and test the Navy contaminated water diving system, spacecraft hardware, an expensive and complex enterprise. SBIR also provides the opportunities to coordinate with NASA to ensure the research is meaningful, guaranteeing a more commercially attractive product. Finally, SBIR supports internal R&D resources, enabling Paragon’s dedication to advanced technology development. Given the cost and time commitments required for spacecraft hardware development, SBIR support has been, and remains, critical to the success of Paragon’s pioneering technology development and commercialization.
The combination of funding, customer coordination by the Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative, and relationship building makes SBIR valuable. Through SBIR, Paragon was able to create a fully tested integral radiator design, demonstrate its skill set in radiator technology development while gaining visibility within the aerospace industry. This also strengthened its relationship with NASA. Paragon’s significant role of providing mission critical subsystems, such as the heat rejecting radiators for the Orion Spacecraft, the Space Shuttle replacement (the vehicle that will carry American astronauts back to the Moon and on to Mars) is the Phase III SBIR. SBIR support has allowed Paragon to become a leader in spacecraft radiator technology development, a difficult task considering the financial constraints and limited opportunities within a small commercial sector.
Paragon Space Development Corporation is a woman-owned small business and full-service aerospace engineering and technology development firm. We are a major supplier of Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) and subsystem design for the aerospace industry. We are also experts in thermal control, both for spacecraft on orbit and during re-entry, and hyper-velocity aircraft. We are a leader in the integration of systems engineering with human factors, risk management, and business processes for high technology endeavors in water, on land, and in space.
Southern Arizonans won big at the annual Governor’s Celebration of Innovation Awards. Indeed, only three business finalists from this part of the state did not win awards – and one of those went to another finalist from here in the same category.
Washington, D.C. — Paragon Space Development Corporation of Tucson, Arizona has been selected as one of the winners of the 2007 Tibbetts Awards. Paragon Space Development Corporation will receive the award on Oct. 10 at the Westin Washington City Center, located at 1400 M Street NW in Washington, D.C.