The unveiling of ‘Maggie’ the magnetically levitating sculpture
The magnetically levitating sculpture “Maggie” is revealed during the 2025 Motor, Drive Systems and Magnetics Conference at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. The artwork was made possible through a collaboration between FSU, City of Tallahassee and the National Maglab.
- The conference attracted representatives from major companies like Apple, Google, and Toyota, interested in the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory.
- Post-conference efforts will focus on connecting with attendees, understanding their needs, and showcasing Tallahassee’s resources.
- The goal is to leverage the conference’s momentum to attract businesses and further develop the magnetics industry in Tallahassee.
The 2025 Motor, Drive Systems & Magnetics Conference kicked off in Tallahassee for the first time and may strengthen the city’s emerging magnetic technology ecosystem.
This year, the 22nd annual conference spans Feb. 18 through Feb. 20. It’s historically taken place in Orlando but local efforts to designate Tallahassee as the “Magnetic Capital of the World” prompted a push to bring the conference here.
Conference attendees represent industries that include automotive, renewable energy, electronics, healthcare, and manufacturing. Examples of companies represented include Apple, Google, Toyota, Samsung and Amazon.
The three-day conference included tracks geared toward motor systems and magnetic technologies. For many, the biggest draw was seeing the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory up close, said Robert Schaudt, program and sales director for the conference.
“I would say a lot of folks here, the majority of people, are aware and they know of the National Magnetic Lab, but this was the first time that many of them have been able to actually visit it,” he said, adding tours of MagLab were given to participants.
“There’re definitely other places that make sense to host this conference,” he continued. “The National Magnetic Lab is the foundation, really, of why we’re here today.”
Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey: Conference has put Tallahassee ‘on the map’
The conference opened with a lively performance from members of Florida A&M University’s Marching 100 band and remarks from Interim President Timothy Beard.
The event, he said, brings together the “brightest minds and industry when it gets to shaping the future of transportation, energy and technology.”
“Through your technology innovation, you’re changing the world,” Beard said. “Our students, faculty and researchers actively engage in areas that align with your industries.”
Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey said the conference was putting Tallahassee “on the map,” adding to the combination of the event’s assembly of industry innovators and Tallahassee’s distinction of being home to three institutions of higher learning that are all nationally ranked.
“Florida A&M University, the No. 1 public HBCU in the nation … Florida State University, internationally recognized as one of the top research institutions in the United States of America,” Dailey said. “Tallahassee State College consistently ranked in the top 10 nationally. Year after year after year for workforce development. Find me another community that has that type of firepower right here in our backyard.”
Officials, community leaders talk about approach for maximizing conference
The conference concludes on Feb. 20 and will include remarks from Florida State University President Richard McCullough and industry leaders.
While the conference is designed for on-site networking, several officials and community leaders said more work follows the event.
Keith Bowers, who heads the Tallahassee-Leon County Office of Economic Vitality, said the conference marks a “very momentous moment right now in our community.”
He outlined economic opportunities and how the conference is a first-time event for Tallahassee that spotlights industry decision makers who represent cutting-edge research and advanced materials and magnetics, adding the conference comes at “the perfect timing,”
“We have proven time and time again that we have the technology. We have the intellectual capital that could easily translate into commercialization of research,” Bowers said.
When asked how Tallahassee can maximize momentum following the conference, Bowers likened the post-conference playbook to a first date. He and his team will be reaching out to conference attendees to get familiar with companies, learn their needs and understand their goals and direction.
“Then you really want to be honest with them and let them know if this is the right community for them to accomplish all the things they want,” Bowers said. “I believe with our strong workforce and the growing pipeline of skill talent here in our community, I think that makes us a very good candidate for these companies to consider.”
Leon County Commissioner Rick Minor was in attendance and said “the brightest version of Leon County’s future” can be rooted in developing a magnetics industry.
He said the conference is Tallahassee’s chance to show industry leaders the range of resources and connections available to achieve their goals.
“In the coming months, we should reach out to each of the conference attendees, ask them what they specifically need to grow and then explain how Leon County/Tallahassee is uniquely positioned to help them,” Minor said. “OEV is leading this effort but the entire community can and should be involved.”
Private sector leaders, for example, have talked for years about the need for land that would be suitable for potential new businesses. OEV is currently working on an inventory of about two dozen properties that will be publicly available in the coming months. The idea is create a catalogue of options that companies, including those at the conference, may want to consider.
The conference was also attended by local members of the business community, such as retired IBM executive Steve Evans, a frequent advocate for business growth and development in Tallahassee.
He said that a year from now, he hopes to see more progress in Tallahassee’s appeal for more industries.
“We’ve got a lot of companies looking at us right now that have never looked at us before,” Evans said. “When you have a conference like this … you’re hitting the sweet spot of your community. You’re really drawing on the advanced technologies that this community has worked so hard to develop through Florida State University and our research capabilities, like the MagLab.”
Contact Economic Development Reporter TaMaryn Waters at tlwaters@tallahassee.com and follow @TaMarynWaters on X.
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