MFG DAY and Month Happenings in Tampa Bay

The month of October saw over 30 student tours in Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties, but many other events celebrating Manufacturing in Florida also took place.  Here are a few highlights!

October 4- Upper Tampa Bay-Florida SunCoast Manufacturing Association (UTBMA) Sixth Annual Advanced Manufacturing Awards Ceremony at Nielsen Global Technology, Oldsmar.

The UTBMA is dedicated to serving the unique business and networking needs of the approximately 400 manufacturers located in the region. The 2018 awards ceremony recognized regional manufacturers for their exemplary labor in manufacturing innovation and for the first time outstanding students and alumni were also recognized. During this event, FLATE’s dear friend Roy Sweatman from Southern Manufacturing Technologies received the distinguished 2018 Service Award. The 2018 Student Excellence award was presented to Michelle Puentes from Hillsborough Community College and Ryder Fizpatrick from St. Petersburg. Michelle and Ryder were recognized for their outstanding perseverance, leadership and academic achievement in pursuit of a career in advanced technology and manufacturing. 

October 9- Manufacturing Alliance of Hillsborough County M-Pact Meeting hosted by Southern Manufacturing Technologies (SMT), Tampa. 
The Manufacturing Alliance of Hillsborough County is working to build a better future for our region's manufacturing industry. Through M-Pact meeting series, manufacturers connect to address the latest trends and challenges facing our industry. This M-Pact meeting, hosted by SMT, focused on improving the talent pipeline and provided an provided an overview of National and State apprenticeship opportunities for manufacturers by Richard (Ted) Norman, Florida Department of Education’s State Director of Apprenticeship, Division of Career and Adult Education in Hillsborough County. In addition, a local apprenticeship model was presented by Steve Cona III, President/CEO of Associated Builders and Contractors Florida Gulf Coast Chapter, and a SMT machinist apprentice Robert Falor spoke to manufacturers and educators about his apprenticeship program and life experience.

As the manufacturing sector’s most passionate advocates, Manufacturing Alliance of Hillsborough County are committed to changing the perception of modern manufacturing in Tampa Bay, simplifying the path to a successful manufacturing career, fostering critical connections across the manufacturing community, and guiding individuals and our community towards enduring prosperity. For more information about Hillsborough Alliance, visit http://madeinhillsborough.org/

October 18- BAMA to Tour BELAC LLC, a Chromalloy Company, Oldsmar. BELAC, in conjunction with other Chromalloy resources, reverse engineers aircraft engine components, also manufactures components on a build to print basis for several OEM customers. BELAC's facility houses several unique manufacturing processes, such as dual-wheel grinding, EDM drilling, NDT, heat treat, and shot peen. 

October 17- Hillsborough County Manufacturing Month proclamation, Tampa. The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners presented proclamations to declare October 5, 2018 as Florida Manufacturing Day and October 2018 as Florida Manufacturing Month in Hillsborough County.

  


October 28- Fourth Annual Manufacturing 5K Run or Walk for Education, Safety Harbor. All proceeds from the event will benefit deserving future manufacturing workforce students. This includes degree-seeking students, as well as accredited technical school students. Thank you for helping surpass last’s year’s donation of $24,102.30.