Florida Students Shine at NSF ATE PI Conference

The annual NSF ATE Principal Investigator Conference, hosted by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) was held in Washington, D.C. the last week of October.  Two Engineering Technology students from Polk State College participated in the conference and wowed many attendees with their poster presentation “Industry 4.0 Integration”. The Polk State team collaborated with a team from the Instituto Tecnológico de Mérida, Mexico. The project connected real-time OT and IT data systems to enhance cross-cultural learning and develop smart manufacturing competencies across international teams. 

Click on their poster to learn more. Over fifty student posters from advanced technology programs across the country filled the Regency Ballroom at the Omni Shoreham Hotel the afternoon of October 28.

The students, sponsored by the NSF ATE grants at their colleges and supported by the annual conference, are an integral part of the conference program, showcasing the highly skilled technician graduates from these programs. In addition to their poster presentation, the students meet with attending industry representatives, attend plenary sessions, visit D.C. museums, and are recognized by the conference organizers and faculty during an awards breakfast. It’s a proud moment for the student and their mentors alike as we anticipate them taking their roles in today’s advanced technology workplaces and moving into leadership positions.

Dr. DeRionne Pollard, President & CEO, AACC, also presented Jasmine Brown, with an AACC award for excellence at the conference. Jasmine stated that for her, the highlight of the conference was presenting their Global Industry 4.0 Skills Development project and sharing the impact of their cross-border collaboration. 

"It was inspiring to engage with educators, researchers, and industry professionals who each offered different perspectives on Industry 4.0. Some described their institutions as still transitioning through Industry 3.0, while others felt they were on the evolving edge of technological transformation. Hearing these diverse experiences helped me see how the adoption of smart manufacturing and digital integration varies widely across regions, yet we all share the same goal of preparing the next generation of skilled technicians and engineers". 

- Jasmine Brown

In addition to hosting a booth display at the ATE Connects showcase session, the FLATE team attending the conference presented an Innovation Demonstration, “Preparing Operation Technicians for Process Control in Industry 4.0 Workspace”. This fast-paced session focused on using a hands-on simulated antenna system to enforce PID (proportional, integral, differential) control models in Industry 4.0 environments. 

 This activity, including a component list, video, and instructions, will be available on the FLATE website in the coming months and will be announced in the monthly FLATE Focus newsletter.

Reducing Student Barriers to Manufacturing Careers

In October 2025, Mechanism (formerly the Urban Manufacturing Alliance) and The Century Foundation hosted the Industry & Inclusion (I&I) South Fall Gathering in Tampa at Hillsborough Community College (HCC). This was the second in-person meeting for this group, which includes workforce leaders, educators, and changemakers from across the American South. The cohort meetings provide the opportunity to reaffirm their dedication to addressing barriers in manufacturing workforce development at their institutions, focusing on fairness, access, and opportunity.

The intimate gathering was hosted by the Engineering Technology program at Hillsborough College (Thank you Shirley Dobbins!) and featured breakout sessions, coaching, and peer-led discussions that sparked honest conversations about the realities of implementing programs in a rapidly changing political and economic environment. Participants explored practical strategies, from overcoming transportation and enrollment barriers to building partnerships with K-12 schools and engaging parents more meaningfully. 

Dr. Barger, Senior Educational Advisor at FLATE (Florida Advanced Technological Education Center), presented on how colleges can better engage in regional economic development activities, based on work supported by the National Science Foundation in collaboration with Rutgers University’s Education and Employment Research Center (EERC).

During the meeting, participants emphasized the need to “push through the pause,” keep momentum even when external conditions change, and design systems that adapt without losing sight of the core mission: expanding opportunity for all students.

The cohort team from St. Petersburg College (SPC) is working on a project to expand opportunities for students who are not comfortable or confident with their math skills which can make engagement and ultimately success in manufacturing programs challenging.  The cohort is developing manufacturing-relevant materials to make math more meaningful and accessible for all incoming students.  Andres Valencia-Cardenas and Brian Bell from SPC will offer short student workshops sharing the materials that will ultimately become available online for others.

As the I&I South cohort nears its conclusion, the sense of possibility remains strong. Participants left the gathering motivated to carry this work forward not just within their own institutions, but through a broader, sustained community of practice. There is real momentum to build on the foundation laid at this event. One attendee reflected, “This is more than a program, it’s a calling. We’re not just building pathways, we’re building belief.”

 

Fall 2025 ET Forum

The statewide Forum on Engineering Technology (ET) was held on September 11–12, 2025, hosted by Northwest Florida State College (NWFSC) in Niceville, FL. The fifty-sixth forum was well attended, with 64 participants (including 12 virtual) representing 18 Florida state, community, and technical colleges, four universities as well as participation from Polk and Santa Rosa County Schools.

This year’s forum welcomed new faculty from St. Petersburg College, Tallahassee State College, Northwest Florida State College, and Santa Fe College (which is in its first year of implementing the Engineering Technology A.S. program), making this one of the largest gatherings of new faculty in the forum’s history.

The Spring ET Forum energized ASET program faculty with two days of learning, collaboration, and hands-on experiences. Participants engaged in mentoring roundtables, explored a vendor showcase, and toured NWFSC ET labs to see cutting-edge facilities and resources in action. The forum also included updates from the Florida Department of Education (FDOE), providing important guidance for ET programs. Guest speakers, including WonderFL, EMAC, FSI, Skills Gapp FL, FSU Inspire, FloridaMakes, and the University of North Florida, shared insights on building talent pipelines, advancing technical education, and applying AI in manufacturing. The forum offered valuable guidance and resources to support both new and experienced faculty while helping prepare for Manufacturing Month outreach activities.

A.S. Engineering Technology (ET) Degree addressing Florida’s Technician’s Industry 4.0 skills Gap

The Advanced Manufacturing Specialization under the A.S. Engineering Technology (ASET) degree, along with its College Credit Certificates (CCCs), has been daggered for deletion, with final student enrollment taking place in 2026–27. The specialization will be formally removed from the program inventory in 2029–30.

As confirmed at the recent ET Forum by Robert (Bob) Blevins, Florida Department of Education (FDOE) Assistant Director, the Advanced Manufacturing Specialization will be replaced in 2026-27 by the new Automation and Manufacturing Specialization. Click here to view the ET Framework with the new specialization.

The Automation and Manufacturing Specialization has been developed to address Florida’s Industry 4.0 skills gap and strengthen alignment between education and industry needs. The revised CCCs are currently under review and will move forward in the approval process once finalized.

 

Stay tuned for more details in upcoming forums and newsletters.

ET Forum Evaluation Impact

The 2025 Fall ET Forum was a hit—earning top marks for learning, networking, and professional growth! Survey feedback from the 2025 Fall ET Forum at NWFSC shows:

• 63% (17) rated presentations as excellent
• 67% (18) called networking opportunities excellent
• 70% (19) said the forum delivered excellent overall professional development
• 89% (24) of respondents plan to share what they learned and apply new strategies or resources from the forum.
• 100% (27) of participants said they would recommend the forum to others.

Participants left inspired with the latest manufacturing trends, industry connections, and classroom-ready strategies!

Top Takeaways from the 2025 Fall ET Forum include:

• New student pathways and strategies for preparing K–14 students for high-demand careers
• Advanced manufacturing resources from FSU InSPIRE and college updates
• Emerging technologies and trends in manufacturing
• Importance of industry connections and advisory boards
• Semiconductor curriculum insights and internship opportunities
• Ideas for recruitment, program growth, and hands-on learning initiatives for MFG Month

The ET Forum has long served as a vital platform for connecting Florida’s diverse and geographically dispersed ET community around shared challenges and priorities. With the support of the Florida Department of Education (FDOE), FLATE collaborates with the ET Forum network to strengthen the consortium, share administrative activities and projects, provide professional development, foster collaboration between industry and academia, and engage in statewide FDOE curriculum framework review and reform. Over the years, the forum has evolved into a true community of practice.

Special thanks to Northwest Florida State College for hosting the ET Forum (for the first time) and the educational vendors for sponsoring the Forum.

Bluegrass Educational Technologies, D.C. Jaeger Corporation, Electronics Manufacturing & Assembly Collaborative (EMAC), LLI-Learning Labs, Inc., Southern Educational Systems (SES), and Technical Training Aids 

_______________________________________________________________________________

Mark your calendar for the Spring 2026 ET Forum.

April 16-17 at Palm Beach State College, FL

The ET Forum serves as a model for other disciplines and career clusters in Florida, as well as for technical programs in other states. For more information about the forum or the ASET degree, visit our FLATE ET Forum web site.

HI-TEC: Process Control Workshop for Operations Technicians

At the annual HI-TEC (High Impact Technology Exchange Conference) last month in Minneapolis, MN, FLATE’s NSF ET Pathways Grant presented a half-day, hands-on workshop focused on the fundamentals of process control. Process Control is typically a feedback control loop that consistently calculates the "offset" value and applies a correction to bring the system being controlled closer to its setpoint (temperature, flow rate, voltage, etc.). The workshop instructors were Dr. Andres Cardenas-Valencia, Sam Ajlani and Dr. Richard Gilbert.

These models are extremely important for Industry 4.0 implementations, including implementations that look like straightforward updates to Industry 3.0 systems.

Eight engineering technology faculty from around the country dug into the details of Proportional, Integral, Differential, and various combinations of these control models and were given ideas on how to explain differentiation and integration to their 2-year AS Engineering Technology students. Typically, calculus is not a required course for A.S. Engineering Technology; however, students in 2-year technician preparation programs can acquire the needed knowledge of how PID models work without a calculus explanation. However, more to their technical skills, they learn how to troubleshoot a system that has a PID (proportional-integral-differential) controller.

In addition to receiving a classroom-appropriate hands-on platform that they used to explore the tuning process for an antenna's position with a PID controller, the workshop attendees were introduced to a TinkerCad (a microcontroller-based simulator) that illustrated the same controls as the workshop platform. Attendees agreed that the workshop was extremely beneficial and that they would be using the materials, the simulations, and the hands-on platform in their classrooms in the coming year.

We are considering offering a 1-day version of this Process Control workshop in Florida this fall. The workshop would be free to faculty and teachers. Please contact Marilyn.Barger@flate.org if you are interested.

FACTE Annual Conference & Trade Show: Continuous Excellence Supporting CTE Professional Development

The 59th FACTE annual conference and trade show, held July 20-23, in Orlando, Florida, hosted 650+ participants, 40 vendors, and over 100 professional development sessions, representing all areas of CTE education. Each year FLATE collaborates with The Florida Association for Career and Technical Education (FACTE), and the Florida Association of Industrial Technical Education (FAITE), to continue supporting Career and Technical Education professional opportunities in Florida.

The pre-conference FAITE Division activities included tours of the most innovative education and industry hobs: Exolith Lab, part of the Florida Space Institute, and the emerging technology labs at the Valencia College-Osceola Campus.

Sessions coordinated by FLATE-FAITE featured:

• Leveraging Summer Camps to Boost CTE Program Engagement
• FLATE Award Winners Best Practices Panel
• Flip the Classroom: Allowing AI and PBL to Reshape the Classroom, and 
• Building Effective Advisory Committees for your Tech Programs.

Best Practices Award Winner Panel:

Judith Deeley, 2025 Manufacturing Secondary Educator-of-the-Year

Dale Toney, 2013 Manufacturing Secondary Educator-of-the-Year

Sophia Watson, 2025 Distinguished Manufacturing Partner Service Award

FLATE Awards Recognition at FACTE

The 2025 FLATE Education Award winners were proudly honored during the Annual FACTE Awards Brunch on Wednesday, July 23, in Orlando, recognizing their outstanding contributions to technical education and workforce development.

From left to right:
Mark Gaudio, DC Jaeger

Judith Deeley

Rod Jaeger, DC Jaeger

Ernie Friend - Executive Director, FLATE

Sophia Watson

Danielly Orozco-Cole - CTE Program Manager, FLATE

Thank you to the FACTE team for hosting such a wonderful event and for recognizing the FLATE Awards. FLATE remains committed to partnering with FACTE and FAITE to provide professional development and to support CTE education for Florida’s students, educators, and business partners.

Special thanks to the awards sponsors Bluegrass Educational Technologies, LLC & Connected Engineering, and DC Jaeger for their generous contributions.

 

A.S.ET Advanced Manufacturing Updated! Now it’s “Automation and Manufacturing”

FLATE’s current NSF grant funding has been used to gather industry input on Florida's Advanced Manufacturing associate in science engineering technology (A.S.ET) specialization. We’d like to thank all the industry partners and all the ET program managers and faculty who responded to surveys to update the Florida Frameworks (Standards and Benchmarks) to meet manufacturing industry needs in the changing technological landscape. 

The task is now complete, and the document will be posted soon on the FLDOE site for the 2026-2027 academic year.  Since the changes are considered an “update” to the existing specialization, the "old" Advanced Manufacturing Framework will be in a “teach-out” period for the next two academic years, and the specialization with updated skills will be called Automation and Manufacturing going forward.

The standards of the new frameworks are shown in the figure below. Industry partners across the state told us that their emerging needs include (1) networking skills, as more equipment and machines become digitally connected, and (2) data skills like collecting, cleaning, interpreting, and visualizing data. These are the two major additions to the old Advanced Manufacturing Frameworks. 

Although we received plenty of input and discussion about cybersecurity skills, ultimately, the industry decided that technicians should focus on practicing good cyber hygiene and knowing who to contact in the company if something suspicious is observed. There is a reference to cyber skills in the Engineering Technology Technical Core standards and benchmarks, where it is mentioned as “…work in a safe and secure…”. This provides flexibility for faculty and programs to incorporate cyber hygiene into the curriculum. 

Please review the new Frameworks for Automation and Manufacturing below. If you have any questions or would like a copy of the new Framework, please contact FLATE at events@flate.org. 

Florida Education & Training Placement Information Program’s in Education System and Workforce Development

Florida Education and Training Placement Information Program (FETPIP) is a data collection and reporting system, established by Florida Statutes Section 1008.39,  that tracks the employment and earnings of students who have graduated, exited or completed a public education or training program within the State of Florida.

FETPIP conducts quarterly, staged follow-ups using unemployment compensation wage records for all workforce development program participants including those with an Engineering Technology (ET) associate degree (AS) and related manufacturing programs. Originally, through a state law - The Workforce Florida Act of 1996 - Florida has established a consistent set of core performance measures for all workforce education and training program areas. The data is collected through the FETPIP quarterly match process and supplemented through the annual comprehensive effort.

FETPIP has the statutory responsibility to provide to the State quarterly and annual performance reports to measure employment, job retention and earnings for participants in the WIA, Wagner-Peyser and Welfare Transition workforce development programs, reported at the workforce region and statewide levels. Florida law mandates the use of unemployment compensation wage records for these measures.

The 2022-2023 FETPIP data revealed a continued trend of success in the ET AS Degree programs across Florida with a total of 200 individuals, (total population reported for follow-up to FETPIP), completing the ET AS Degree program. This number represents 6.4% increase compared to 188 reported in 2021-2022. Of these total individuals 151 (76%) were found employed. The same percentage of employed participants was found on 2021-2022 with 139 (76%).  Regarding the annual income, the full quarter average annualized earnings for the ET AS Degree employed participants reported $60,608 representing a decrease of 1% ($61,236 ) when compared with the 2021-2022 reporting period. When comparing with other competitive related technologies like Aerospace ($62,504) and Electronics Engineering Technologies ($60,832), the ET AS degree program is still well positioned. Industrial management technology continues showing higher Average Annual Earnings ($65,248).

The data collected from year 2022-2023, which includes information regarding student graduates, completers or exiters from the Florida colleges offering ET A.S. degree with information resources available to FETPIP.

The FETPIP data is used to analyze employment and earnings outcomes, helping to assess the effectiveness of educational programs and inform future curriculum development. For the ET AS degree and related manufacturing programs, this data helps understand the job placement rates, salaries, and career paths of graduates. In addition, this data can be used for various purposes, including:

·        Assessing the effectiveness of public education and training programs

·        Providing information to students and parents to guide their career choices

·        Supporting accountability within the K-20 education system

·        Informing workforce development initiatives

·        Basis for a statewide outreach campaign for economically disadvantaged residents/students.

One of the key aspects to ensuring Florida’s economic success is the ability to educate for the future of work. This, in turn, requires the strengthening of the state’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs and pathways in view of developing a robust ecosystem of innovation, entrepreneurship, and cross-sector partnerships.

Program data from the Florida College System is provided at different levels. Data is displayed statewide by program level and by college by program level and can be found at “Florida College System Workforce Data”.

For more information about FLATE visit FLATE.org and https://www.fldoe.org/accountability/fl-edu-training-placement-info-program/.

Sophia Watson of the Florida Semiconductor Institute Wins 2025 FLATE Distinguished Manufacturing Partner Service Award

Congratulations to Sophia Watson, a seasoned leader in workforce development, currently driving statewide efforts at the Florida Semiconductor Institute (FSI)! At FSI, she has implemented a comprehensive strategy to enhance semiconductor workforce readiness, from early education awareness to the creation of new industry certifications. She also facilitates collaboration across industry and education to align efforts and meet the growing demand for skilled workers in advanced manufacturing.

In 2013, as then Supervisor of Technical and Adult Education, Sophia introduced the Certified Production Technician (CPT) course to Hernando Adult Postsecondary Education, providing adult students for the first time with essential skills to enter the manufacturing workforce. In 2015 she and her team collaborated with the Iron Workers Union and local businesses to establish a thriving welding program that served both secondary and postsecondary students, addressing industry needs and expanding career opportunities for students.

She went on to establish Hernando County's first technical college, Wilton Simpson Technical College, with strong support from local businesses, legislators, and the community, launching over 20 new programs and securing over $19 million in external funding. In 2024, a CNC program was added to the newly constructed Wilton Simpson Technical College, equipping students with precision machining skills highly sought after in advanced manufacturing. To maximize resources and expand educational offerings, she negotiated a facility-sharing agreement with the state college, enabling the addition of its Engineering Technology program in the same classroom. This innovative collaboration created a seamless pathway for students pursuing careers in engineering and manufacturing technology.

Sharing How Chips are Made with H.S. Students

In her current role at the Florida Semiconductor Institute (FSI), Mrs. Watson plays a pivotal role in coordinating Florida’s manufacturing ecosystem. FSI’s efforts focus on aligning industry, education, and workforce development initiatives to strengthen the state’s readiness for emerging technologies, particularly in the semiconductor sector. The strength of Sophia Watson’s leadership has been in fostering collaboration across institutions, businesses, and organizations, paving the way for a robust, future-ready workforce and a stronger manufacturing sector in Florida and beyond.

Sophia’s professional memberships and awards include:

• ACE of Florida, Board member 2021-present
• South Brooksville Tax Redevelopment Advisory Committee, founding member, 2021 - present
• Hernando Economic Development and Aviation Technical Advisory Committee, 2020 – 2024
• Region 16 Workforce Development Board, 2022-2024
• ACE of Florida, President’s Award, 2023
• Greater Hernando Chamber of Commerce, Training Committee member, 2013 - 2021

Other contributions to manufacturing education and career awareness include:

• SACA Industry Certification Development, 2024
• FSI Professional Development Day for Educators, 2024
• Hernando Grown (educational event), 2020 -2023
• Hernando Workforce Summit, 2014

Watson has developed innovative partnerships with local governments and colleges to create training complexes and improve alignment with workforce needs. Her efforts included the successful management of state appropriations and federal funding initiatives, advancing organizational growth and impact. A proven collaborator and strategic thinker, Watson has expanded industry certifications, enhanced marketing efforts to raise program visibility, and contributed to economic development through key leadership roles on advisory boards. Watson continues to champion efforts that strengthen workforce pipelines, foster economic growth, prepare communities for the future and position Florida as a leader in advanced technologies.

Manufacturing education plays a huge role in building strong communities and keeping industries competitive. It gives people the hands-on skills needed to succeed in well paying, in demand jobs. For areas with thriving manufacturing sectors these programs create a steady flow of qualified workers, helping local businesses grow and boosting the economy. Manufacturing programs also open doors for students to jump straight into rewarding careers or move up the ladder in their fields. As manufacturing keeps evolving with cutting-edge technologies like automation and semiconductors, education programs ensure workers stay ahead of the curve. It's all about keeping our workforce prepared, our communities thriving, and our industries at the forefront of innovation. – Sophia Watson

Congratulations again to Sophia for her support of manufacturing education and career awareness! For more information on the FLATE Awards visit http://fl-ate.org/programs/flate-awards, or contact Ernie Friend, Executive Director of FLATE, at ernie.friend@flate.org.

Judith Deeley wins 2025 FLATE Distinguished Manufacturing Secondary Educator of the Year Award

Congratulations to Judith Deeley, Ed.D. for being a champion for all matters related to manufacturing and engineering technology education! Science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STE(A)M) education is a direct contributor to effective manufacturing education of today. For almost two decades, Dr. Deeley has made contributions to STE(A)M education that include:

• Leading high school (grades 9-12) programs in robotics and engineering achieving numerous industry certifications.
• Implementation and organization of engineering design, build and compete in a variety of categories land, air and sea.
• Coaching underwater robotics, drone Part 107, VEX and FIRST robotics with several teams and individuals winning regional, state and national awards as well as world competitions.
• Implementing the SkillsUSA workplace essentials and technical standards competitions.
• Inspiring students to continue in the engineering fields that are geared towards manufacturing whether they head to college, technical school, military or direct to career. 
• Leading a private k-8 school to become a fully accredited STREAM (includes religion) school.

Dr. Deeley obtained her masters in STEM education and a doctoral degree in Innovative Educational Program Development, both from the University of South Florida. She participated in a collaborative relationship with St. Petersburg Engineering and Technology division, serving on the board, taking coursework and participating in FLATE Summer Institutes to bring resources to students. Judith has presented at local, state and national conferences in mathematics and STEM, sharing ideas about the importance of STEM education and how to set up programs. She has written and received numerous grants to self-fund resources in technology for students.

Judith was honored as a 2025 Top Ten Teacher of the Year for Pinellas County Schools where she teaches engineering and robotics courses including:

• Foundations of Robotics: students learn fundamentals of a variety of areas of engineering fields, engineering design process and mechanical and electrical engineering, begin programming, build robots and underwater ROVs for competitions
• Robotic Design Essentials: students learn how to design and print using 3D modeling software and printers and continue with the engineering design process, continue programming, and competitions
• Robotic Systems: students learn programming and aeronautical engineering and part 107 and continue with prior content including competitions
• Robotic Applications Capstone: students utilize all education to participate in engineering design competitions and other robotics, and begin program logic controller

Judith believes that manufacturing education is important for increasing the number of employees with the necessary technological skill level, teaching workplace essentials and expectations, and providing awareness of career opportunities.

The manufacturers of today utilize more complex levels of technology, leading to the need for employees with knowledge of advanced technologies such as computer programming (to include AI), data analysis, electronics and robotics. There are not enough qualified people to fill the positions they already have open let alone those that will be needed in the near future.  In order to have a prepared workforce for the growing number of manufacturers and the diversification of the types of industries, it will be critical to ensure there are educational programs to teach these future employees the technical skills they need to function and be successful. -Dr. Judith A. Deeley

Dr. Deeley states that training cannot stop at the technical, that preparing future employees needs to include how to effectively communicate, solve problems and work in teams. She also stresses that it’s important to share with students the types of careers available in manufacturing since many may avoid manufacturing career paths because of a belief that these types of jobs are dirty and mostly manual labor. To this end, Judith has forged relationships with local manufacturers, setting up field trips for students to see what they learn in the classroom in action in the career field. She also recommended the creation of the career exploration summer camps at the high school level in Pinellas County, established a student-led aviation and aerospace club, and mentored students after school in robotics and engineering.

Watch these videos to learn more about how Dr. Deeley is supporting manufacturing education in Florida:

• Meet Teacher of the Year Finalist Judith Deeley
• The IT Factor - Inspiring Teachers - Dr. Judith Deeley
• Dunedin High School Robotics in the News

Congratulations again to Judith for her support of manufacturing education!  For more information on the FLATE Awards visit http://fl-ate.org/programs/flate-awards, or contact Ernie Friend, Executive Director of FLATE, at ernie.friend@flate.org. 

Brian Bell wins 2025 FLATE Distinguished Manufacturing Post-Secondary Educator of the Year Award

Congratulations to Brian Bell Ph.D., Lead Faculty for Biomedical Engineering at St. Petersburg College, for his contributions to promote manufacturing education! Dr. Bell teaches courses in engineering technology with a focus on biomedical engineering technology (also known as healthcare technology management). Brian is a Florida native who is working to advance his local community through education and innovation. He earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering at the University of South Florida and his B.S. in Physics at Stetson University. During his education, his research focused on optimizing the functional properties of polymer microfibers and nanofibers for smart filters, sensors, and flexible electronics.

Dr. Bell has worked with biomeds, educators, and technicians to create content and resources for the biomedical engineering technology learning community. He developed a cutting-edge biomedical engineering technology program, including a new medical device design and prototyping certificate, through a National Science Foundation grant. In 2024 he authored two books, Essentials of Biomedical Engineering Technology and Healthcare Technology Management and Medical Device Networking and Cybersecurity: A Technician’s Guide to Networking and Protecting Interconnected Healthcare Devices, to assist students in the field. Over the past 7 years, he created a YouTube channel offering free educational resources in electronics, medical technology, and engineering, which has garnered 4.8 million viewers and over 20,000 subscribers. Bell has also delivered presentations on interactive resources such as VR in technician education, medical device STEM kits, and building biomedical programs, sharing his work at multiple conferences and online platforms. In 2023, he served as a DOD STEM Ambassador, engaging with high school and college students locally.

“Manufacturing education is essential for transforming economic and societal systems, driving innovation and addressing complex challenges. It equips individuals with the skills to develop cutting-edge technologies, including medical devices, that improve lives. In the medical sector, local manufacturing enables faster access to advanced, affordable healthcare solutions, breaking down barriers to essential treatments and empowering communities. By fostering creativity and critical thinking, manufacturing education sparks the development of new technologies that streamline production processes, reduce waste, and lower costs. This ultimately leads to healthier, more sustainable communities, strengthens supply chains, and drives local job growth. Through a skilled workforce, manufacturing can tackle global issues and support equitable, inclusive economic growth.  - Dr. Brian Bell

At St. Petersburg College, Dr. Bell’s focus has been on guiding students through the intricacies of biomedical engineering technology, leveraging a PhD in Mechanical Engineering and a robust background in research. With the AMBIR Laboratory Research Group, his team has advanced the field of functional nanofibers, developing cutting-edge applications for smart filters and flexible electronics, underpinned by expertise in Matlab, research, and scanning electron microscopy. The team's dedication to innovation is shaping the future of medical device manufacturing, networking, and cybersecurity.

You can read more about Dr. Bell's work with students through these previous FLATE articles:

• Building Bridges to Healthcare with Hands-on Electronics Kits for Biomed 
• New Biomedical Engineering Technology program at St. Petersburg College

And learn more about the content and resources he has developed through his educational YouTube channel and website htm-workshop.com.

Congratulations again to Brian for his support of manufacturing education!  For more information on the FLATE Awards visit http://fl-ate.org/programs/flate-awards, or contact Ernie Friend, Executive Director of FLATE, at ernie.friend@flate.org. 

Using Artificial Intelligence, Machine and Transfer Learning in Manufacturing

FLATE’s NSF Industry 4.0 Engineering Pathways grant sponsored a two-part webinar series delving into using AI, Machine learning, and transfer learning in industrial processes in March and April.

Dr. Purvee Bhatia, from the Mechanical Engineering Department at the University of South Florida, presented the sessions. The first webinar covered the evolution of AI and the distinctions between Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, and Generative AI, as illustrated in the graphic below. Although many of us now use Generative AI for various research questions and writing documents, the industrial manufacturing world uses all these new tools to improve production and system efficiency. Artificial intelligence can be used in continuous operations, predictive maintenance, quality inspections, and eliminating repetitive tasks.

The devil is in the details of developing the emerging AI agents to do various tasks or make decisions without human intervention. AI Agents have three components: input (from sensors, etc.); brains (profiling, memory, knowledge, planning modules), and action (data analytic tools, Information search).

Deep Learning adds the complexity of Neural Networks (multiple layers of interconnected neurons) to model complex patterns in data. They can learn automatically from data features and handle large and complex data sets.

The webinar provided an example of how a simple system could be implemented with existing simple Python programs that use freely available models and test data sets to get started. It also explains how computer vision works with artificial intelligence. The second webinar works through machine learning using transfer learning. 

Click here to watch these recordings on the Made in Florida YouTube Channel.

2025 Spring Forum on Engineering Technology

The state-wide Forum on Engineering Technology (ET) held on April 3-4, 2025 was hosted by Pasco Hernando State College (PHSC) West Campus in New Port Richey, Florida. As of Spring 2025, the ET Forum has met fifty-four times since 1996 at 25 colleges around the state. The Forum on Engineering Technology (ET Forum) serves as an important vehicle for bringing together Florida’s diverse and geographically dispersed community with common issues and challenges. With the support of the Florida Department of Education, FLATE works with the ET Forum network to strengthen the consortium, share its administrative activities and projects, provide professional development, bring industry and academia together, and engage in statewide FDOE curriculum frameworks review and reform. Over the years, it has become a true community of practice.

The 54th forum was well attended, with 78 (13 virtual) participants from 17 Florida state and community colleges and 3 universities.  This two-day spring ET Forum included a roundtable discussion on the ET common core and database, Florida Department of Education comments about the proposed new Advanced Automation specialization, college program updates, an industrial workforce round table about emerging technologies, educational training-sponsors roundtable updates, and a tour of Pasco Hernando State College's ET Labs. Presentations included:

• Manufacturing USA Institute
• Building the workforce ecosystem with the Florida Semiconductor Institute
• Tools and Resources for Smart Manufacturing Transformation of Manufacturers with CESMII
• Terry Iverson’s ChampionNow program
• AI Ethics and Policy for K-12 and higher education, and
• Space Florida's Expansive Careers in Space program. 

The NSF ET Grant updates included the creation of a series of videos to promote the AS ET Degree program in Florida, including short videos for Polk State College, College of Central Florida, Daytona State College, and St. Petersburg College, and an additional video is in progress to promote the SETIAB mission and goals. All Individual Videos are available for download at Google Drive Folder - Individual College Short Videos and are also posted on the Made In Florida YouTube channel ET Forum Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2oRqW47E-TtlsXkWgTPzLH-vZbSDhQE3. Scroll down to 2025.

Honoring Dr. Marilyn Barger Legacy at the ET Forum

What is the best opportunity to honor and celebrate Dr. Marilyn Barger’s legacy of achievements in the ET Community and manufacturing Education? The ET Forum is the only answer.  Dr. Barger is a recognized leader in manufacturing education and training both nationally and internationally, well-known for inspiring the next generation of manufacturers, adjusting FL curriculum & Benchmarks that address emerging technologies, and helping manufacturers build a steady pipeline of qualified talent to help build and support local economies for decades to come.

 The Spring 2025 Statewide Engineering Technology Industry Advisory Board (SETIAB) meeting took place on Thursday, April 3rd as part of the ET Forum. Attendance included 10 industry voting members and 9 educational partner non-voting members. The Board reviewed the new AS ET "Advanced Automation" Specialization standards and the Curriculum Process Flowchart.  The discussion and approval of the name change, as well as the flowchart, are still under review and will be voted on in the coming months. The SETIAB will collect feedback from colleges for naming the new Advanced Automation Specialization. Discussion and action items include activities for engaging and recruiting the industry. Click here to learn more about the SETIAB.

Special thanks to Pasco Hernando State College for hosting the ET Forum (for the first time) and the educational vendors for sponsoring the Forum. 

AmSkills, Bluegrass Educational Technologies-FESTO Didactic, D.C. Jaeger Corporation, SES-Southern Educational Systems & SME Sat Training, Technical Training Aids, and Ultimate 3D Printing.

 Mark your calendar for the Fall 2025 ET Forum September 11-12, 2025 at Northwest Florida State College in Niceville, FL.

 The ET Forum serves as a model organization for other disciplines and career clusters in Florida as well as technical disciplines in other states. Presentations and recordings are available on the ET Forum Google Drive and FLATE.PBWorks/Presentations. For more information on the Forum and/or A.S.E.T degree visit http://fl-ate.org/projects/et-forum.html

Want to develop an NSF ATE Proposal?

Apply for the Successful Mentor Up Mentoring Program!

Special Feature: Pre-mentoring help. Mentor Up is offering for the second time Pre-Mentor Up. Each accepted college can receive up to ten hours of mentoring help from an experienced mentor to brainstorm possible proposal ideas and develop them into a one-page proposal that can be submitted for the full Mentor Up program. 

Pre-mentoring will take place from January 1, 2025-March 14, 2025 and two faculty will be eligible to receive $250 stipends upon submittal of their application to the full Mentor Up program. Pre-Mentor Up participants can apply to Mentor Up in March one month ahead of the regular April application deadline. Apply at atementorup.org.

Mentor Up Full Mentoring Program Focus: This mentoring program includes a three-day workshop for participants to learn about the NSF Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program and how to most effectively apply for grant funding. Faculty must propose a specific project to improve an ATE-eligible technical program in a one-page proposal. One-page proposals will be reviewed until April 1 and proposals will be either accepted or sent back for corrections and the website will remain open until the workshop and a waiting list are full. Workshop activities will include presentations; planning and writing sessions with mentors who have had extensive experience with ATE and NSF; and networking with colleagues from similar institutions around the country. Two faculty from each college will receive stipend support.

 When: June 4-6, 2025 virtual workshop plus individual mentoring by an experienced mentor and summer webinar series.

Location: Virtual 

Eligibility:  The team should be led by a full-time STEM discipline faculty involved in technician education programs from a two-year college. Two faculty per college are eligible for stipends and colleges may also include a grant writer and other team members for the workshop and webinar series. Teams of two or more are strongly encouraged.

Stipends and Support: Each participant will be eligible for a $500 stipend upon the completion of the workshop. An additional stipend of $250 to each of two faculty will be available upon submission of an ATE proposal in the October 2025 competition.

Ongoing Support: The mentor assigned to each college team will continue throughout the summer to support each college’s efforts to write a complete proposal. This will include creating pre- and post-workshop milestones, webinars, suggesting resources, and providing feedback both for proposal writing and in the award process.

To register for the workshop, visit the Mentor Up website at: www.atementorup.org or if you have any questions about activities, please contact Dr. Kathleen Alfano at kalfano37@gmail.com (co-PI of CREATE and Mentor Up).                                       

NSF ATE Grant # 2032835

2025 FCPN Symposium Focused on Navigating Career Pathways supporting Florida's Talent Pipeline

The 2025 Florida Career Pathways Network Conference (FCPN) Symposium was held January 8-10 in Jensen Beach.  FCPN is an effective venue for providing career and technical educators, employers and workforce development partners across Florida with resources and best practices to foster professional leadership and partnership. This year’s symposium included a pre-conference workshop to learn about Indian River State College Workforce Education Programs.  The symposium itself offered 47 sessions as well as an educational vendor showcase. More than 200 career and technical education (CTE) attendees had the

opportunity to learn about the latest best practices and strategies for developing a talent pipeline.

FLATE’s interactive presentation focused on “Making and Keeping Strong Industry Partners.” The presentation shared best practices, valuable resources and facilitated discussion on how to find and keep industry partners engaged.

The Florida Career Pathways Network is a membership organization for educators, employer, and workforce development partners involved in the advancement of Career Pathways, Career & Technical Education, and other related education reform initiatives. FCPN assists its members in the planning, implementing, evaluating, and improving of secondary, post-secondary, and adult transition programs by pooling the resources of the state’s leading practitioners to provide a network of communication and resources for new and existing programs. FLATE participates on the board of directors and facilitates professional development workshops at FCPN venues. To learn more about FCPN visit https://facte.wildapricot.org/FCPN.