David Yocum wins 2024 FLATE Distinguished Manufacturing Secondary Educator-of-the-Year Award Winner

David Yocum has been a teacher for Anclote High School and AmSkills for the past 5 years. He created the Advanced Manufacturing program for Anclote High School in Pasco County, starting in 2020 with 35 students and growing to 155 students in 2023-2024. Before starting the program at Anclote High School, David worked for years in the manufacturing industry. He started his career as a mechanic at a flight school and then began working with a company that built military hardware for deployment, where he helped fabricate Humvee and helicopter simulators. He later worked at Aeronautical Systems Engineering, where he visited Afghanistan building military and commercial simulators for the U.S. military to provide training.  He is currently working for Clearwater Motor Coach building mobile stem training, medical, and luxury RV solutions and manufacturing custom buses nationwide.

 

Since David has continued to work in the industry while teaching, he was able to provide his students with additional opportunities.  He placed 15 students in on-the-job training over the last 4 years doing special events, working with other CTE programs in the school and with local businesses. He also hired two full-time students that still work at the facility learning the trade and moving up in the industry.

Driven to make a difference, David has also provided mobile manufacturing boot camps in Tampa Bay.  He built a space bus to promote stem education and share cutting edge technology in advanced manufacturing.  The bus has a complete multi crew training simulation system with laser cutters and 3D printers. It is taken to events in the Tampa Bay area, across Florida and beyond. At Synapse Summit Tampa, Space Bus was in the top five things to see in Tampa Bay.  It provides the ability to build any training center around the World. Click here for more information on SpaceBusTours.

David believes that manufacturing is important because it's how we build a great future.  He states that it's important to 'Find that spark inside others that needs to be seen.  Through education you're not guaranteed experience, but through experience you're guaranteed an education." 

For 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. 

Gil Burlew wins 2024 FLATE Distinguished Manufacturing Post-Secondary Educator-of-the-Year Award

Gilbert (Gil) Burlew, Advanced Manufacturing and Production Technology instructor at Manatee Technical College (MTC) in Bradenton, Florida, is celebrating his 45th year of a rewarding teaching career – 30 years teaching in Florida schools. Gil started his Florida teaching career in Brevard County, Florida at the Cocoa High School Aerospace Academy in 1994 before moving to Palm Bay High School in 2001. During his four years in Palm Bay, his alternative energy Alternate Fuel Automotive Team (AFA) was recognized by the US Department of Education; his US FIRST Robotics Teams competed at the state, national and international levels; and his programs were recognized by the CEO of Harris Corporation. He was named Florida Technology Student Association (TSA) Advisor of the Year, and his students won State Championships and the Outstanding Chapter Award.

In 2005, Gil moved to Manatee County to continue inspiring his Engineering Technology students, and winning TSA state and national championships year after year. During his 11 years at Braden River High School, Mr. Burlew became Department Chair and Engineering Academy Lead, served as Chair of the FL-TSA Board of Directors, and president and executive director of the Florida Technology Engineering & Educators Association (FTEEA). His awards include TSA National Advisor of the Year (2014), International Technology Engineering & Educators Association (ITEEA) Teacher of Excellence, ITEEA Program of Excellence, and Sterling Award for Best Practices (2024-15).

In his current career setting which started in 2016, Gil started the Advanced Manufacturing program at Manatee Technical College (MTC) from the ground up with a Florida Workforce Education Job Growth Grant—the first in the state to be awarded. He has continued to grow the program in size, scope, and quality. According to Doug Wagner, Director, MTC: “It's been exciting to watch Mr. Burlew take students into this program, train them, educate them, and through his vast network of business and industry connections, help them become employed in some of the very best high-wage, high-skill manufacturing positions I have ever seen.”

Gil believes manufacturing education is important because “Every day we open a giant window of opportunity for students to look out into their futures and help them to see the careers that could possibly be a game changer for them and in many cases a life-changing experience for them and their families.”

For 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. 

Congratulations to the 2024 FLATE Award Winners!

FLATE (Florida Advanced Technological Education Center), FloridaMakes and FAITE (Florida Association for Industrial and Technical Educators) are pleased to announce winners of the 2024 FLATE Manufacturing Awards. This year’s Awardees include:

• David Yocum, Advanced Manufacturing Teacher, Anclote High School, Clearwater, FL will receive the 2024 Distinguished Manufacturing Secondary Educator-of-the-Year Award.

• Gil Burlew, Advanced Manufacturing & Production Instructor, Manatee Technical College, Bradenton, FL will receive the 2024 Distinguished Manufacturing Post-Secondary Educator-of-the-Year Award

• Pauline Sevigny, President & Owner, GRACE Aerospace, LLC will receive the 2024 Distinguished Manufacturing Partner Service Award

• Most Innovative Manufacturing Month Student Event Award Winners (tie for 1st):
• St. Petersburg College: 2023 Manufacturing, Engineering, Construction, and Architecture Expo (MECCA) Discovery Day, Clearwater, FL. Partners for this event included Pinellas County Schools, Urban League, and Homeless Empowerment Group.
• Bausch + Lomb Pharmaceuticals: Manufacturing Month Student Industry Tours, Tampa FL

This is the 17th year FLATE has recognized educators at the secondary and postsecondary level and industry partners for their outstanding contributions to promote manufacturing related technical education in Florida.

"The FLATE Awards shine a spotlight on the dedicated educators and industry partners shaping the future of manufacturing. Their unwavering commitment to advanced technical education empowers the next generation of skilled workers, driving innovation and prosperity within Florida's manufacturing landscape," said Ernie Friend, Executive Director of FLATE. "Congratulations to all the applicants and winners of this year's prestigious awards."

The Most Innovative Manufacturing Month Student Event Awards recognize outstanding and innovative ways to promote manufacturing career awareness and technology education through innovative student outreach events. In-person or virtual events include student tours of manufacturing facilities or other events that engage students in innovative ways directly with manufacturers.

Awardees were selected from a distinguished pool of nominations submitted from across the state and were judged by an awards committee comprised of industry representatives, FAITE board members, past awardees, and members of the FloridaMakes Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Leadership Committee (AMWLC)

"FloridaMakes is proud of the 2024 FLATE Awardees for their work in manufacturing education in Florida," said Kevin Carr, FloridaMakes CEO. "It is important to continuously build our pipeline of youth entering the manufacturing industry and recognizing excellence in manufacturing education is one way we can do this.”

The recently released 2023 Florida Manufacturing Report by FloridaCommerce with support from FloridaMakes highlights Florida manufacturing GDP of $72.9 billion. This GDP outpaces many key sectors in Florida. Find the report here.

Awardees will be recognized at the 2024 Florida Association for Career and Technical Education (FACTE) Annual Conference & Trade Show that will be held July 15-17, 2024 at the Sawgrass Marriott in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. The winners will also serve as panelists for the Best Practice Award Winners Panel at the conference.

About FloridaMakes

FloridaMakes is a statewide, industry-led, public-private partnership operated by an alliance of Florida's regional manufacturers associations with the sole mission of strengthening and advancing Florida’s economy by improving the competitiveness, productivity and technological performance of its manufacturing sector, with an emphasis on small- and medium-sized firms. FloridaMakes is the official representative of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) National Network in the state of Florida, a program of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce. For more information visit FloridaMakes.com.

About the Florida Advanced Technological Education (FLATE) Center

FLATE is a Center of Excellence for advanced technological education and is committed to ensuring that Florida has a well-prepared workforce for advanced and emerging technologies in manufacturing by providing educational resources and strategies for curriculum, professional development and student recruitment in secondary and post-secondary education. FLATE was created in 2004 through a grant from the National Science Foundation Advanced Technological Education Program which is focused on improving STEM education to meet the needs of American advanced technology industries. In 2020, FLATE became a part of the FloridaMakes network. For more information visit www.fl-ate.org.

2024 Spring Forum on Engineering Technology

The 52nd state-wide Forum on Engineering Technology was held on April 4-5, 2024.  Thank you to the State College of Florida (SCF) in Bradenton, FL for hosting! The forum was well attended with 66 participants, including 36 from 17 Florida state and community colleges and two universities as well as representatives from Florida manufacturers and other partner organizations.

The Forum on Engineering Technology (ET Forum) has served 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 (FDOE), 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 Forum meets twice a year and has convened fifty-two times, at 25 different Florida colleges. The ET Forum, with FLATE guidance and leadership, continues to grow strong by recruiting interested colleges, hosting industry professionals from companies near the host institution, providing professional development for emerging and relevant technologies, participating in FDOE statewide curriculum frameworks reform and change related to ET disciplines, and providing extensive networking and opportunities for sharing and collaboration amongst colleges.

The Spring ET Forum included two days filled with key topics, discussions, and updates. At SCF, the participants were greeted by  Pepper, the SCF Coding Robot.  On the first day, topics included:

• Roundtable discussion on recruiting faculty, adjuncts, and students, best practices for advisory committees, and faculty loads
• Update on SETIAB – the State Engineering Technology Industry Advisory Board
• Education vendor Roundtable discussion on current technical education trends
• Engineering Technology college program updates
• Industry/Economic/Workforce Panel on work-based learning, industry certification and connecting with educators
• 
  Tour of the SCF Engineering Technology facilities and labs
• Update on FloridaMakes and the State of Manufacturing in Florida
• FDOE reported on new program developments including the updated CPalms.org site - the State of Florida's official online toolbox source for standards information, curriculum modules, and course descriptions
• Associate of Science in Engineering Technology core standards - suggestions and potential revisions were reviewed/discussed.

The SETIAB (Statewide Engineering Technology Industry Advisory Board) met following the ET Forum.  Attendance included 15 industry voting members and 16 educational partner non-voting members. The Board discussed and approved the new ASET "Advanced Automation" Specialization standards.  A full report will be included in the May FLATE Focus.

The 2nd day of the forum continued with the discussion of classroom technology, followed by NSF Grant updates (including a discussion on updating Florida’s ET pathways), and college program updates.  Also on day 2, distinguished guest speakers and key relevant topics included:

• Operation K-12 Cyber Florida, University of South Florida
• University of North Florida’s BS in Advanced Manufacturing
• AmSkills Articulations

The Florida Engineering Technology Forum serves as a model organization for other disciplines and career clusters in Florida as well as technical disciplines in other states. Presentation and recordings are available at ET Forum Google Drive and FLATE.PBWorks/Presentations.

Of the 16 evaluation survey responses received (13 in-person and 3 virtual attendees), nearly 80% (13) of respondents agreed that the Forum offered excellent overall professional development and networking value and 100% of the survey responders (16) would recommend the Forum to others.

Special thanks to our Sponsors!  The ET Forum could not happen without our educational vendors: 

• Technical Training Aids
• SMC International Training
• Bluegrass Educational Technologies, LLC
• FESTO
• D.C. Jaeger Corporation
• Southern Educational Systems
• Learning Labs

For more information on the Forum and/or ASET degree visit https://fl-ate.org/programs/e-t-forum/

The Fall 2024 ET Forum will be held September 26-27, 2024 at Palm Beach State College.