The spotlight this month is back on FLATE Awardees. Back in
2015 we started an effort to bring updates on past FLATE awardees and highlight
some of the work that they continue to do to impact technician education and
training regionally and on a statewide level. As FLATE’s Awards program, the Distinguished
Manufacturing Service and Recognition program has transitioned and FLATE has
moved to a new system for nominating awardees, this month we are highlighting
another FLATE awardee who was named the Manufacturing Secondary Educator of the
Year in 2011.
Back in 2011, Greg McGrew stood as “A Testament to Florida’s
High-Tech Future” with more
than 25 years of experience teaching engineering
technology related courses. “It’s a win, win in education” said McGrew who
believes “if we train our students to go out, be productive in our community,
and prepare them as the future workforce of our county, the student, the
community and the economy everyone stands to benefit from it.” Back in 2011,
McGrew was a teacher at Lakewood Ranch High School in Bradenton, FL, and had
been teaching at the school since it opened in 1998. Under his leadership and
direction, Lakewood Ranch High School was among the leading schools in Florida with
one of the highest rate of students taking and passing the Manufacturing Skill
Standards Council (MSSC) certification.
After approximately 18 years at Lakewood Ranch High School, McGrew
transitioned and has now moved into a new role that is more administrative in
nature. He is currently the program supervisor at Manatee Technical College
(MTC) in Bradenton, FL, and has served in that capacity since summer of 2015. “With
my background in vocational, and career and technical education, it was a
stepping stone for me to take on this position” said McGrew. From dealing with
students, faculty, or classes, his responsibilities include overseeing the
entire operations at MTC.
McGrew works closely with MTC’s Assistant Director, Dr.
Vines, and Director, Doug Wagner to offer several manufacturing related courses
at MTC. “Anyone be at an educator, or an industry professional would tell you
that the MSSC is highly valued in various aspects” said McGrew. As a strong
advocate for hands-on education and training he firmly believes an industry
certification like the MSSC gives students a competitive edge. McGrew believes
ability to read blue print, use SolidWorks, CAD and drafting, and implementing
safety standards, all of which are part of the MSSC certification “affords
students with additional skillset that are important in manufacturing
operations.”
In addition to professional changes, McGrew has secured
additional accolades. “I was really excited to be involved with FLATE’s
initiatives, and to be recognized on a statewide level” said McGrew of his
Award in 2011. Since then he has continued to be involved in Career and
Technical education on a broader level. In 2012 he invited one of his students
from Lakewood Ranch to serve as a panelist to give a first-hand account about
the MSSC certification at the National Career Pathways Network conference in
Orlando. He was and continues to be highly involved with the Technology Student
Association (TSA). In 2013 he was named “Advisor of the Year for Florida.” He
received the award at the 36th Annual TSA National Conference in
Washington, DC. “It was a great honor to be recognized at that level for
something that teachers all across Florida are already doing in their schools
and classrooms” McGrew said.
Looking to the future, retirement is certainly not in the
forecast as McGrew is aiming high in
continuing to affect positive changes in
manufacturing education. He says manufacturers across the country are looking
for workers with the right skills set, and for technicians who have hands-on
experience combined with at least two year degree and industry certifications.
McGrew views this as an area where FLATE and the local/statewide manufacturers
can work together. “FLATE is headed in the right direction in leading key
manufacturing initiatives across the state.” He pointed to FLATE’s stakeholders’
dinner that he recently attended as an example of an opportunity that helped
him reconnect and network with professionals. These industry connections and
partnerships are the kind of opportunities that McGrew states are valuable to
his students at MTC to tap into to network with industry professionals. “Only
time will tell what the future holds” says McGrew as he looks to explore his
entrepreneurial side to open a manufacturing business that is focused on 3D
printing, or laser technology.
(MCE) as monthly conference calls for a few mechatronics focused faculty across
the country. Growing out of the FLATE sponsored annual HI-TEC conference
“Mechatronics Moments” reception the regular exchange is becoming a real
Community of Practice with participants sharing questions about curriculum,
equipment, applications, certification, alignment with Fab Lab activities and
many other related topics. The MCE can potentially help new programs in their
start-up phases, existing programs upgrade equipment and curriculum as well
share tips about how best to help students meet their learning objectives.
