March 2023

Okaloosa County Schools hosted a Career Fair for high school students on March 4. More than 150 students and 50 employers representing industries including manufacturing, military, colleges, law enforcement, banks, food industry and others. Students learned about jobs in the tri-county area, how to apply and much more.

Beast Code, a leading defense technology company located in Fort Walton Beach, has been awarded a $500M- ceiling Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase 3 contract by the General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Systems Integration and Management Center (FEDSIM) in support of the Department of the Navy. The contract will be used to further develop and deploy advanced digital twin and data aggregation technologies enhancing the Department of Defense's ability to manage and execute lifecycle activities. READ MORE ON LINKED IN

TeCMEN Industry Day

Wednesday, May 17, 2023

The Gulf Coast’s leading one-day Technology, Manufacturing, and Engineering expo, TeCMEN Industry Day combines robust and relevant content with meaningful networking opportunities.

How to Implement Productive Conflict Management Strategies

Over 70% of employees in the workplace are exposed to some kind of workplace conflict every day. Ideally, conflict is resolved with minimal productivity loss and intact relationships, but mastering the skills to manage uncomfortable situations can be tricky. In this session, you will learn:

1. How to use constructive strategies to manage workplace conflict successfully

2. Ways to enable your workforce to become more confident and collaborative

REGISTER

Allison Grealis created a national manufacturing association dedicated to supporting women in the industry, Women in Manufacturing or WiM. Traditionally a male-dominated industry, this article published by Omnia explains why women in the industry is important. READ ARTICLE

Manufacturing in a Box

Recently, the FloridaMakes Network announced a partnership with Rosie Riveters and Girl Scouts of Citrus Council that create awareness and confidence in young girls to pursue careers in manufacturing.

According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, American manufacturers are facing a looming shortage of 2.4 million workers by 2028, so now is the perfect time to encourage girls to pursue careers in manufacturing and all the jobs associated with it.

Last week the FloridaMakes management team kicked-off the program by packing 88 boxes that will be delivered to Brownie Girl Scout troops in April.

Packing parties will be hosted across Central Florida in preparation for the Girl Scouts of the USA Phenom by Girls Triennial Convention this summer.

The program has already reached 30 percent of it's sponsorship goal. Your contribution helps the manufacturing industry by inspiring, cultivating the talent, and supporting the overall success of the next generation of manufacturing workers.

Through guided Rosie Riveters kits, girls will explore careers in manufacturing by building a balloon powered car, an art bot, a slingshot rocket, and a binary wearable. These pre-built, hand-on and interactive lessons are based on providing a productive struggle to build participants' critical thinking, problem solving skills and overall confidence in the TEM skills needed to pursue careers in manufacturing.

Business Advisor available for NWFMC members

Jolee Martin, FloridaMakes Business Adviser

FloridaMakes is your partner in the community. Whether it is supply chain challenges, training and upleveling the team, driving improvement and/or sustainability, or just plain brainstorming, you can reach FloridaMakes' Business Advisor, Jolee Martin at 636-288-8756 or via email at jolee.martin@floridamakes.com. You can also schedule some time on her calendar for a quick chat by clicking here.