September  2016
Welcome to Upper Tampa Bay Manufacturers Association
Your One Source Newsletter For All Things Manufacturing...Current and Future!!!
 
2016 Manufacturers Dinner
  Our 2016 Manufacturers Dinner will kick off Manufacturing Month on Thursday October 6, 6-9pm at Nielsen, 501 Brooker Creek Parkway, Oldsmar.  Our theme this year is Perseverance and Passion.  Dr. Dean Bartles, Chief Manufacturing Officer and Executive Director of the Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute.  Dr. Bartles is internationally recognized as a leader and speaker in the manufacturing industry and has served in senior positions with firms including General Dynamics and Fairchild Republic.  He is also the 2016 President of the International Board of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers and the 2016 - 2017 President of the North American Manufacturing Research Institute.  You don't want to miss this opportunity to hear from one of the most distinguished and innovative manufacturing leaders on the planet.  Register now!  Sponsorships are available. 
 
Leadership!!!!
Coach The Man And The Player Will Come
Join us September 15, 8-9:30 am at the Upper Tampa Bay Chamber 101 State Street W, Oldsmar as Gill Byrd, former NFL Pro-Bowler and Bucs coach will lead an interactive session on the topic of leadership in the workforce.  You can learn a TON about the discipline, commitment and teamwork it takes to succeed and how you can transfer that to your business.  Read more about Gill and what he brings to the table.  This is a don't miss session. 
 
Manufacturing Day 2016
Florida led the nation last year in tours and turnout for manufacturing month! Let's do it again. Here's a  handy set of links telling you all you need to know on how to get involved, who's here to help and most  importantly WHY you need to get involved. Read on..
 
Is There Really A Skills Gap? 
What the blanket-blank kind of question is that?  That was my initial reaction to a recent study that indicated that a skills gap largely does not exist.  Once I dug a little deeper I found they had a point and that is, 'what we have here is a matter of communication' as Cool Hand Luke might say.  The implication is that industry and education are not effectively communicating in relation to their education and training needs.  This creates the 'silos' we keep mentioning.  Communications is one gap and legislation and the funding formula for public education (what gets rewarded and thus emphasized and what does not) is a another.  This article explores (using hyperlinks to other sources) multiple faces of this issue and how you can get involved in the game.  Read more.... 
 
We Do Round Tuits 
Have anything that nags you routinely in your operation but doesn't q uite get up the priority scale to make it go away  permanently?   Stuff that may cross some management lines and isn't quite worth the battle?  These are irritants you never get around to.  No more excuses, we're here to take them on.  Read on...
Technology Driven Market Intelligence

September 27  FloridaMakes Webinar
9-10 am
Stuff You Can Use Now! 
Workers Comp Update
NOTE:  This is personal testimony given by Mark Wilson, President of the Florida Chamber on August 16 in Tallahassee to advance our concerns about the negative economic impact as a result of the Florida Supreme Court's recent decisions that will drive up workers' compensation costs and make Florida less competitive. As a reminder, the court effectively decided that a personal injury trial lawyer should receive $38,000 in attorney's fees while the injured worker received $800 in benefits. That is NOT a misprint and we learned this morning that, as predicted, trial lawyers are increasing their lawsuits and fees as a result of the ruling. You can read my comments  by clicking here.  Got your attention?   There's more here...
AMSkills Gaining Momentum
Currently have 25 pre-apprentice students enrolled and 13 placed in the four county area. See where...
Employed Worker Training (EWT) funds through CareerSource Tampa Bay are now available!  
Need to upgrade your existing workforce.  Like to use up to $50,000 of grant money to do that.  Read on, act quickly these grants are very competitive . Also check out their paid work experience program, a way to integrate new workers into your system on Career Source's dime for 30 days.  Check it out? 

Things That Make You Go Hmmm????
Literally a ton of stuff in here this month. Robot farmers, robot, cowboys, armed robot Marines, 3-D printed rocket parts, FAA clears flights to the moon, autonomous planes, trains and automobiles that are better than you and, of course, the government trying to find ways to penalize everyone and everything they can...  read on  

 
White Papers
Saw some good ones worth passing on..
Time Savers
Here are links to additional information on various important topics 

 
Jobs and Training Corner
Below is a variety of information on job seekers and employment opportunities:

Seeking
Opportunities
 
Florida TRADE Grant Ends

Funding for the Florida TRADE grant consortium ends September 30 2106.  Read about the formation of the

 

Another way to broaden the search pool is Career Source's Intern website.  Here you can post opportunities and draw from a regional pool of interns in a variety of career fields...and sometimes offset the cost of hiring too.  Click here. 

 
 
Association Update

 

We appreciate those of you that have joined either the Upper Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce or the Upper Tampa Bay Manufacturers Association.  We request that you consider formal membership at this point.  We are attaching a brochure outlining the service activities we provide as well as an application form.  We appreciate your consideration and support and look forward to advancing the cause of manufacturing in the Upper Tampa Bay in 2015 and beyond!
 

Manufacturers Association Resource Guide 

At the roundtable we heard many comments along the lines of 'I didn't know that', 'I wish I would have know that' and how do find out about that'.  So we have developed a resource guide which will have a permanent spot on this newsletter to try and help out.  This is a 'work in progress' so any suggestions on making it more robust and useful are welcome.  Access the guide by  clicking here.
Issue: 9
Half Logo
In This Issue
2016 Dinner
Leadership
Manufacturing Day 2016
What Skills Gap?
Round Tuit's
Webinars
Stuff To Use
WC Update
AMSkills
EWT
Things That Make You Go Hmmm????
White Papers
Time Savers
Job Corner
Florida TRADE
Association Update
Resource Guide
Why An

Association ?

  • We host nearly 20% of Florida Manufacturers
  • Build and sustain a world class workforce  
  • Develop new markets, products and services 
  • Leverage state and federal grants and incentives
  • Improve business practices  
  • We can be stronger together with a common voice

 

Who Is Involved?

  • Manufacturers
  • Manufacturers 
  • Manufacturers
  •  Key Elected Officials  
  • Florida Makes
  • Regional Economic Development Agencies 
  • Regional Workforce Agencies
  • Regional Colleges and Schools 
  • UTB Chamber

 

TRADE Partners Needed

 

Our TRADE partner colleges need your help as in several capacities:

  • Share your expertise
  • Hire qualified employees and interns
  • Encourage prospective students to explore a manufacturing career

You can make a difference!  

 

Thanks To Our Sponsors

 

Manufacturing Consultants 

 

Here are some links to local business consultants you may find useful.

 

Gil Pinney 

Huttlin Associates 

Synapse-Sync

 

Jerry Custin

Upper Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce
(813) 855-4233