CareerEdge Case Study featured in “Chutes and Ladders: The New Rules of the Game for Upscaling Workers”
CareerEdge Case Study featured in “Chutes and Ladders: The New Rules of the Game for Upscaling Workers”, prepared by the International Economic Development Council.
CareerEdge Funders Collaborative “Pathway to Prosperity”
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2016 Manufacturing Skills Gap Study
2016 Manufacturing Skills Gap Study
CareerEdge recently commissioned Kempton Research to conduct an updated 2016 Manufacturing Skills Gap Study. This qualitative analysis represents a follow up to a 2012 study, which led to the development of the Precision Machining program at Suncoast Technical College, the manufacturing Community-Wide Plan and other programs which have raised awareness about the manufacturing sector in the Sarasota/Manatee region.
Researcher Stephanie Kempton, who conducted in-depth interviews with 20 local employers, updated the reports results in order to capture current workforce needs of this industry. Key findings of the study include the following skills gaps identified by local manufacturing organizations:
Foundational Skills, such as:
• Basic math and understanding of business concepts
• Reading tape measures, blueprints, etc.
• Use of tools
• Financial Literacy
Soft Skills, such as:
• Communication
• Time Management
• Resume Writing
• Interviewing
• Work Ethic
Technical Skills, such as:
• CNC/Machining specialties in areas like brake press and wood
• Fabricating (solid, metal, wood)
• Welding – especially aluminum
• Industrial Maintenance
Employers offered suggestions on how to close these skills gaps, and a team of community partners will be assembled to develop a plan of action for addressing these recommendations.
Free Plumbing Classes Launching to fill Worker Needs
Free Plumbing Classes Launching to fill Worker Needs
To help meet the construction industry’s demand for skilled workers and to help young people find good-paying jobs, CareerEdge Funders Collaborative and Suncoast Technical College will offer a tuition-free plumbing technology certification program beginning in September.
The eight-month class will include classroom and on-the-job training.
Graduates will be able to enter apprenticeships with local employers, likely leading to full-time jobs, given the shortage of workers in this trade, organizers said.
The college is using a mass mailing to target high school graduates from the last six years who have not entered a traditional college program.
“Our goal is to increase the number of 18- to 25-year-olds receiving an industryrecognized college credential in high-demand occupations within our region in order to meet employer workforce needs and close skills gaps,” said Mireya Eavey, executive director of Career Edge, a private workforce-development nonprofit.
While the focus is on young adults, the program is open to older students.
Plumbing jobs have average wages of $54,000 per year, according to the National Association of Home Builders, and demand is expected to increase.
“The specialty trades, such as plumbing, will experience the biggest shortfalls due to specialized training needs and required schooling,” said Jaime DiDomenico, president of Cool Today, Plumbing Today and Energy Today. “While the needs are keen in the construction side of the business, the service side will steadily show double-digit percentage increases due to more homeowner occupancy.”
CareerEdge will fund the internships for program graduates through its Internship Reimbursement Program, which provides employers with up to $1,500.
Suncoast Technical College is scheduled to hold a job fair from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Aug. 8 in the main atrium of its Sarasota campus, 4748 S. Beneva Road. Employers and college representatives will be available to speak with prospective students about the Plumbing Technology program and other construction trade offerings at the school.
The course will begin Sept. 8 and will be held Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.
Prospective students and employers interested in participating in the job fair should contact Chuck Drake at Suncoast Technical College: 941-924-1365, extension 62429.
For more information about CareerEdge and its partners, go to careeredgefunders. org or call 328-6985.
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First HTEC Manufacturing Educators Conference a Big Success
First HTEC Manufacturing Educators Conference a Big Success
The HTEC Conference that was held, for the first time, in Florida was deemed a big success with over 72 attendees from education, manufacturing associations, education vendors, career counselors and invited guests attending the conference in March. Panelists of speakers and presenters included Mireya Eavey from the United Way and CareerEdge collaborative, Jennifer Behrens Schmidt, President of Sarasota-Manatee Manufacturers Association who provided a 360 degree perspective of manufacturing in the region. Dr. Todd Bowden, Director of Sarasota County CTE and Suncoast Technical College narrated first-hand accounts of his experiences at Suncoast Technical College and how the machining program at Suncoast Technical College was revived after almost eight years.
Jeremy Bout from EDU Factor provided an invigorating keynote address showcasing the integration of technology and media to promote manufacturing awareness and interest especially among young
students who naturally gravitate to technology. The two hour breakout sessions, Tooling U, Cam Instructor, MasterCam educational, Immerse2learn, Verisurf, NCSimul Machine, Highland DNC, Autodesk Inventor HSM, Sandvik, Florida Dept of Education, EDU factor, Southwestern TrakMill, NIMS and many more provided attendees a closer look at each of these topics and discuss them with industry experts and colleagues. Dr. Marilyn Barger, Executive Director of FLATE provided an overview of the engineering technology programs being offered in state and community colleges across Florida, and its role in technician education and training across the state.
James McCann from the Pinellas County school district was the winner of the drawing for a HAAS table top control simulator for lathe and mill. Conference attendees also toured the STC Precision Machining program labs & CNC Automation shop. “The day was a great success and I have been getting personal talks and emails thanking STC and HTEC for creating this event” said Ed Doherty, precision machining and CNC instructor at STC who played a leading role in organizing and hosting the HTEC conference. “We hope the word will spread so we can share more ideas for next year” Doherty said.
For more information on the HTEC conference and upcoming events read Ed Doherty’s bloghttps://suncoastcncprecisionmachine.wordpress.com, and contact him at Edward.Doherty@sarasotacountyschools.net, or visit www.htecnetwork.org/conferences.cfm. For information on FLATE and its state-of-the art programs visit www.fl-ate.org andwww.madeinflorida.org.
Governor Scott Visits Sarasota Region to Discuss Future of Manufacturing
Message from Bayne Beecher, SAMA President and PGT Industries Production Control Leader, on Governor Scott’s visit:
Good Afternoon All,
Thank you for joining us earlier with Governor Scott. His vision for building a sustainable economy in Florida is very clear… build a solid manufacturing base and help to do so by pressing our elected officials in Tallahassee to support and vote for tax relief for businesses, especially manufacturers.
We also learned a few things more about how our tax dollars are not being spent on the things that really matter to us, like overpriced school buildings and Psychology degrees. However, we can effect change in this area by first understanding the various budgeting and legislative processes, and get involved to drive a different outcome.
Below is a contact list for your state officials and what you need to tell them. The bills we are interested in for permanent manufacturing equipment sales tax exemption are Senate Bill 98/House Bill 115, and for corporate income tax exemption Proposed Senate Bill 7064.
- Rep. Jim Boyd – (941) 708-4968 – jim.boyd@myfloridahouse.gov
- Sen. Nancy Detert – (941) 480-3547 – detert.nancy@flsenate.gov
- Rep. Greg Steube – (941) 341-3117 – greg.steube@myfloridahouse.gov
Tell your local official:
- Please support Governor Rick Scott’s push to eliminate STATE taxes on manufacturers.
- Manufacturing companies are the backbone of the state’s economy because they create jobs for generations to come by making major investments in our state.
- Please support the eliminatation of the sales tax on manufactruing equipment and the state tax on manufacturing business outcome.
- Please help Governor Scott grow manufacturing jobs in Florida by investing in Enterprise Florida
Governor Scott’s Southwest Florida Regional Representative: Ashley Cook – (401) 440-8032
Please pass this along and see if we can’t bombard our officials with requests over the coming days/weeks. Since they are in session you will just get your name added to the “I support Bill..list.” Please keep calling periodically until you can talk to them personally and close that Sale (Press Release). If needed we will even write the press release for them to make it easier.
Best Regards,
Bayne Beecher
100/0 Member
PGT Industries
Sarasota Manatee Manufacturing Association(SAMA)
(W) – (941) 480-1600, ext 21174
CareerEdge Funders Collaborative moves its operation to United Way Suncoast
Mireya Eavey to lead United Way Suncoast as Sarasota Area President
United Way Suncoast CEO Suzanne McCormick announced today that Mireya Eavey has joined United Way Suncoast as Sarasota Area President. Eavey replaces past president Katie Knight, who left the organization in June 2015.
Effective December 2015, Eavey will provide strategic and operational direction for all Sarasota and DeSoto area United Way community programs. First-year priorities are to:
- Advance the progress of the new United Way/Booker Middle School partnership, which offers multi-generation support to increase student success and family financial stability.
- Further develop the United Way SAIL (Summer Arts Integrated Learning) program launched in 2014, which provides enriched summer care and specialized tutoring for children in need in order to combat summer learning loss.
- Continue to manage the direction of CareerEdge Funders Collaborative programs, as well as lead the expansion into Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Charlotte counties.
In her previous role as Executive Director of CareerEdge, Eavey led the organization’s mission of providing an exceptional labor force to the region’s growing industries by leveraging community assets and forming high-performing workforce partnerships.
“Mireya is an exceptional leader in our community,” said Suzanne McCormick, CEO and President of United Way Suncoast. “Her track record of building innovative partnerships and programs in workforce development made her a standout candidate. Mireya’s vision and her innate desire to seek partnerships that deliver the best outcomes for our community, county, and region drew us together from the beginning of the process.”
Eavey shared, “I am very excited to join United Way Suncoast and have the opportunity to help all members of our community reach their full potential. I am also pleased with the unique opportunity my new role provides for CareerEdge and the United Way – a partnership that secures a permanent operational home for CareerEdge and an expanded geographic service area.”
The CareerEdge Funders Collaborative investor board will remain at the helm of the collaborative and has approved transitioning operational leadership from State College of Florida to the United Way Suncoast. Gulf Coast Community Foundation will remain the fiscal lead under the direction of CEO Mark Pritchett
“CareerEdge will continue to provide its award-winning workforce training services in the Sarasota region while expanding into Hillsborough and Pinellas counties,” said Pritchett. “The alliance with the United Way will make this expansion easier and more effective for employers in the new service area.”
Prior to her work with CareerEdge, Eavey was the Workforce and Project Manager for the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) of Sarasota County and Board Records Manager for the Clerk of Circuit Court in Sarasota. She holds an MBA from Argosy University with a concentration in Sustainable Systems, and a BA in Business Administration from the University of South Florida with an International Business Certificate. Additionally, Eavey has a Certificate in Human Resource Management from the University of Florida in St. Petersburg, and she completed the Gulf Coast Leadership Institute program.
Eavey currently serves on the Manatee Community Federal Credit Union and Florida Policy Institute boards. She has served on the Suncoast Workforce Career Center Advisory Council , Florida High Tech Corridor Workforce Development Committee, Workforce Innovation and Talent Development Council for The Greater Sarasota Chamber, Bi-County Healthcare Committee, Venice Area Chamber of Commerce Education Committee, Sarasota EDC Business Climate Committee, Tampa Bay Regional Workforce Group, United Way Financial Stability Leadership Council, CareerSTAT Committee, and the National Fund for Workforce Solutions Transition Advisory Committee.
About United Way Suncoast
United Way Suncoast staff, volunteers and trusted community partners connect people, create change, and impact lives in DeSoto, Hillsborough, Pinellas and Sarasota counties by developing, enhancing and implementing services and programs to help create a stronger, more vibrant community. United Way Suncoast is changing the community’s story by helping to break the cycle of generational poverty through educational programs that give children the skills to succeed and help adults achieve long-term financial stability, as well as provide support services to those who need it most. For more information, please call 941.366.2686 (Sarasota office) or 813.274.0933 (Tampa office), or visit www.unitedwaysuncoast.org. To find Suncoast-area volunteer opportunities, visit www.volunteersuncoast.org. To stay up to date with all activities, please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter and join the conversation to #LiveUnited!
About CareerEdge
CareerEdge is an innovative partnership of business, government, and philanthropic organizations that leverages public and private dollars to provide opportunities for better jobs and wages in Manatee, Sarasota, Pinellas, Hillsborough, and Charlotte counties. The first regional collaborative of workforce investors in the southeastern United States to be designated as a site of the National Fund for Workforce Solutions, CareerEdge was created with funding from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, City of Bradenton Central Community Redevelopment Agency, Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Bank of America, Bradenton 14th Street Community Redevelopment Agency, Bradenton Downtown Development Authority, and Manatee Community Action Agency. It is also supported by contributions from Microsoft, Sarasota County Government, Jane’s Trust, JP Morgan Chase, United Way Suncoast, Jobs for the Future and Charles and Margery Barancik Foundation. For more information about CareerEdge and its partners, please visit www.careeredgefunders.org or call 941.363.7231.
MISSION STATEMENT
Our mission is to provide an exceptional labor force to a region’s growing industries by leveraging community assets and forming high-performing workforce partnerships.
