St. Petersburg College Opens the New Collaborative Center for Emerging Technologies - CCET.

The Florida Advanced Technological Education Center (FLATE) congratulates St. Petersburg College (SPC) for its latest addition. The Collaborative Center for Emerging Technologies (CCET) is the area’s first center for emerging technologies created to reinforce hi-tech education training of tomorrow’s engineering technology, and manufacturing employees.

Brand Jenkins, Dean of Engineering Technology 

at SPC and co-PI of FLATE and 

Danielly Orozco, Curriculum Coordinator of FLATE.

“The college developed the center in partnership with local employers and industry to re-create a manufacturing factory work environment where students will be able to simulate skills needed in emerging technologies. The Center will specialize in rapid prototyping, additive manufacturing, advanced testing and measurement, nanotechnology and advanced manufacturing processes,” says Brad Jenkins, Director of Engineering Technology at SPC and co-PI of FLATE. In addition, CCET will offer industry recognized certifications including the Manufacturing Skills Standard Council’s (MSSC) Production Technician Certification, Rapid Prototyping and Design Certification, Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Six Sigma Black Belt, and the Computer-Aided Drafting and Design certificate.

From left to right: Brand Jenkins, 
Dean of Engineering Technology at SPC,

Randy Hanna Florida College Chancellor,

 Dr. Bill  Law president of SPC,
and Florida House of Representatives Ed Hooper. 

Mr. Jenkins together with SPC team worked exhaustively to have the Collaborative Center for Emerging Technologies ready for its grand opening on August 17 at the Clearwater Campus of St. Petersburg College. Guests from all over Florida were present in this great event including the Florida Colleges Chancellor Randy Hanna, and Florida House of Representatives: Larry Ahern, Florida and Ed Hopper.

Special acknowledgement to local employers and Industry business partners for helping transform this dream in reality: Bovie Medical, Cavaform, ConMed Linvatec, Draper Laboratory, GE Aviation, Honeywell, Johnson Controls, Motion South, Raytheon, TSE Industries.  Florida's manufacturers are a powerful engine for the state's economy making a huge impact on supporting education and creating more jobs. With a significant number of manufacturers in the Pinellas area, St. Petersburg College will help grow this local employers and industry sector by making sure that people have the right skills to fill the jobs that are open in manufacturing and therefore helping our state economy changing the lives of all Floridians. For more information, contact Brad Jenkins (jenkins.bradely@Spcollege.edu).