Waves of Impact
Waves of Impact is a dynamic podcast that brings together hosts from the University of West Florida's Hospitality and Tourism Management program and Visit Pensacola to explore leadership, innovation, and the transformative power of travel. Taking a global view, the show uncovers how tourism fuels economies, fosters cultural exchange, and shapes the development of future industry leaders. While rooted in a region known for its sugary white sand beaches along the Gulf, Waves of Impact extends its conversations beyond local boundaries.
Waves of Impact
Dr. Paul Hsu | Spot the Opportunity
Dr. Paul S. Hsu serves as Founder and Chairman of HSU Educational Foundation.
An engineer, entrepreneur, business leader, author, public servant and University of West Florida trustee, Dr. Hsu is a first-generation immigrant who came to America in 1976 and achieved his American dream.
Dr. Hsu founded Manufacturing Technology, Inc. in 1984, serving the Department of Defense in avionics and battlefield electronics. Following MTI, Dr. Hsu built three successful businesses—Total Parts Plus, Inc., an internet-based data content company; ActiGraph, LLC, an electronic medical device manufacturer of a product that collects biometric data; and Crestview Technology Air Park, an airport development providing infrastructure for aerospace and technology-driven solutions in Northwest Florida.
Currently serving a 2-year appointment as chairman of the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, Dr. Hsu has previously served numerous presidential appointments and public service roles. He was recently selected by the USDoT Secretary to serve on the Federal Aviation Administration’s Drone Advisory Committee.
Dr. Hsu's establishment of the HSU Educational Foundation Inc. led to the development of HSU Innovation Institutes of learning, hosting business to student initiatives that inspire and prepare tomorrow’s workforce with high-demand STEM skills.
Earning an M.S. degree from the University of Central Missouri in industrial management and system engineering in 1978, Dr. Hsu earned his Ph.D. in engineering management from LaSalle University in 1992 and in 1995, completed a three-year executive educational program at Harvard Business School. Since 2014, Dr. Hsu has held a senior research fellow position in the Harvard University Asia Center.
In 2014, Dr. Hsu authored and published Guardians of the Dream: The Enduring Legacy of America’s Immigrants.
Joining Dr. Hsu on the podcast is Amanda Negron, executive director of the HSU Educational Foundation. Negron manages and directors the foundation, leading and developing innovative projects to bring about increased educational performance and interest in S.T.E.M. among k-20 students. Through the development and support of educational initiatives, Negron focuses on identifying, facilitating and meeting the needs for preparing students for careers of greatest global demand.