First HTEC Manufacturing Educators Conference a Big Success

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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 younghtec 2
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.

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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

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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.

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

Sarasota Manufacturing Governor Rick Scott PGT CareerEdge 1

Sarasota Manufacturing Governor Rick Scott PGT CareerEdge 2

 

1st Annual Florida HAAS Technical Education Center (HTEC) Conference!

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CareerEdge Funders Collaborative moves its operation to United Way Suncoast

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UWS

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.

 

Urge Your Senators and Representatives to Support the JOBS Act of 2015

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Urge your senators and representatives to support the JOBS Act of 2015

At this very moment, members of Business Leaders United (BLU) together with leaders from community colleges from across the country are making their way to Capitol Hill to talk to members of Congress about how they can make Pell Grants more job-driven. Will you help reinforce their message by telling your senators and representatives to co-sponsor the JOBS Act?

CLICK HERE TO EMAIL

The Jumpstart our Businesses by Supporting Students (JOBS) Act of 2015 would authorize Pell Grants for job training programs at community colleges and other institutions of higher education and would ensure that qualifying programs are aligned with the needs of local employers and lead to a recognized postsecondary credential. The bill would also encourage eligible institutions to connect short-term credential programs to career pathways and provide basic skills instruction to support student success.

The JOBS Act is an important step towards expanding access to postsecondary skills and credentials for America’s workers. Please send a letter to your senators and representative urging them to sign on as co-sponsors of this critical legislation.

CLICK HERE TO EMAIL

The bill has been introduced in the Senate by Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), and in the House of Representatives by Representative Cedric Richmond (D-LA).

Resources:

  • Improving access to improvement – an op/ed by BLU employer Scott Christman in support of the JOBS Act – CLICK HERE
  • The JOBS Act: press release from Senator Tim Kaine – CLICK HERE
  • The Senate Bill – CLICK HERE
  • The House Bill – CLICK HERE
  • Fact Sheet: Congress should make Pell Grants job driven – CLICK HERE
  • Making Pell work: How America’s $30 billion investment in need-based college aid can be more job driven – CLICK HERE

Connect with the National Skills Coalition 

National Skills Coalition is a not-for-profit, non-partisan 501-c-3 tax-exempt organization.

Contributions are fully tax-deductible as allowed by law.

All content © 2014 National Skills Coalition, All Rights Reserved
1730 Rhode Island Avenue NW, Suite 712, Washington DC 20036
Phone: 202.223.8991 · Fax: 202.318.2609

Privacy Policy: http://www.nationalskillscoalition.org/privacy

Sun Hydraulics Robotics Challenge

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SAMA has a long history of supporting workforce education. Initiatives encompass a wide range of activities; all intended to help create a viable workforce for manufacturing.

One of the many ways we do this is to provide mentoring, promotional, technical, and financial support to projects such as the Jungle Robotics Team.

This year the team will design a robot to meet specific functional requirements from scratch – with virtually no instructions! These students have successfully represented our community in national robotics competitions. They deserve your support.

Sun Hydraulics has issued a fund raising challenge

  • Every dollar donated to Jungle Robotics thru SAMA will be matched by Sun!
  • Your contribution will have twice the impact. Every dollar you contribute will immediately be doubled!

Here’show it works:

  • Issue your check to SAMA
  • Indicate “Sun Robotics Challenge” on the notation line
  • SAMA is a duly registered 501-C6 not for profit

 

Mail to
S A M A
PO BOX 22228
Sarasota, Fl 34276

If your prefer to donate using credit card of electronic transfer contact SAMA Executive Director, Peter D. Straw at:
941.302.2685 or pstraw@sama-fl.com

Sarasota Manatee Area Manufacturers Association greatly appreciates your support in helping build a workforce for the future!

Blake Medical Awarding Medical Scholarships

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Blake Medical Center Auxiliary Inc., awards scholarships to students who are pursuing a career in the field of medicine. These scholarships are awarded once an academic year. The number and amount of awards is based on the yearly budget set by the Executive Board of the Auxiliary.

PLEASE NOTE: Students applying for our scholarship must be currently enrolled in or accepted in a post secondary medical or medically related program at an accredited school, college, or university. The LPN, EMT, and Paramedic programs at MTC are acceptable.

RESTRICTIONS

  • Applicants must be Manatee County Residents and U.S. citizens.
  • Course of study must be in a medical or medically related profession.
  • Applicants must be currently enrolled in, or accepted by, a medical or medically related program at an accredited school, college, or university.
  • Scholarships may not exceed 4 calendar years.

In order to be eligible for an Auxiliary Scholarship, the following must be submitted:

  • A completed scholarship application
  • A letter of acceptance from the school, college, or university in which you are currently enrolled or have been accepted.
  • A certified copy of cumulative transcript (3.0 GPA or higher)
  • A letter of request or need
  • Three (3) letters of reference (Professional- Academic- Personal) No Relatives
  • A recent photo

* All 1st time applicants, meeting the above requirements, will be interviewed by the Scholarship Committee.

* The Scholarship Committee is authorized to determine, in its absolute discretion, whether or not a scholarship recipient shall have the right to challenge or otherwise take issue with any determination made by the Scholarship committee in this regard.

Applications may be downloaded from our web site – www.blakemedicalcenter.com in PDF format. They are also available at Blake Medical Center’s information desk and the Volunteer Office on the 1st floor.

OR- DOWNLOAD HERE

Applications must be mailed to:
Blake Medical Center Auxiliary, Inc.
Scholarship Committee
P.O. Box 14611
Bradenton, Fl. 34280

IMPORTANT DATES

  • Feb. 12, 2016 DEADLINE for NEW APPLICANTS & THOSE REAPPLYING for 2015 – 2016 academic year
  • March, 2016 Interviews – NEW APPLICANTS ONLY
    Applicants will be notified as to Interview date, time and location via e-mail

*NOTE: IF YOU WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE TO BE INTERVIEWED ON THE ASSIGNED DATE, PLEASE CONTACT Cindy Wonnacott AT 941-713-0354 OR VIA E-MAIL –cwonn@hotmail.com

  • April, 2016 Notification of Scholarship Awards via e-mail.
  • July, 2016 Checks will be disbursed to the school, college, or university recipients will be attending. The amount awarded will be deposited in each student’s account.

Detach and keep this document for your information before submitting your application.

IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO REAPPLY EVERY YEAR YOU ARE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE BLAKE’S SCHOLARSHIP BY SENDING US A LETTER OF REQUEST AND A CUMULATIVE TRANSCRIPT BY THE SET DEADLINE, OR YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE A SCHOLARSHIP

Please notify us if you make any changes in (school, college, university, address, phone #, field of study, etc.)

Mark Pritchett Named GCCF President and CEO

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Mark Pritchett

GULF COAST COMMUNITY FOUNDATION NAMES MARK PRITCHETT NEW PRESIDENT AND CEO

The Board of Directors of Gulf Coast Community Foundation has named Mark Pritchett as Gulf Coast’s new president and CEO. Pritchett, who was the foundation’s senior vice president for community investment, begins his new role immediately.

“After a comprehensive, nationwide search, the Board identified Mark Pritchett as the best leader to advance Gulf Coast’s mission of transforming our region, together with our donors, through bold and proactive philanthropy,” said Ben Hanan, Board Chair of Gulf Coast Community Foundation.

Pritchett succeeds former president and CEO Teri A Hansen, who resigned in June after 13 years at Gulf Coast to become CEO of a private family foundation. Pritchett served on the four-person management team that has been overseeing Gulf Coast’s day-to-day work since July.

In his previous role leading the foundation’s community investment work, Pritchett was responsible for creating and implementing Gulf Coast’s strategies for grant making and initiatives. He successfully developed community coalitions to address priorities such as diversifying the regional economy, ensuring a competitive workforce, and improving systems for providing social services.

Pritchett also focused on leveraging Gulf Coast’s funding with other philanthropic resources and partnering with the Gulf Coast Board and staff to create innovative ways to connect donors with community needs. For example, while Gulf Coast originally committed $2.5 million to its five-year STEMsmart science and math education initiative, the cumulative investment in area schools through this initiative topped $11 million this year, including contributions from donors, business partners, and local school districts. Similarly, Pritchett has helped to attract millions of dollars to the national-award-winning CareerEdge Funders Collaborative, which has transformed workforce development in Sarasota and Manatee counties.

Prior to selecting Pritchett, Gulf Coast’s Board conducted a five-month national candidate search facilitated by executive-search consulting firm Spencer Stuart. A search committee of Board members that was headed by Gulf Coast Vice Chair Phil Humann led the search process.

“We had a responsibility to our community and to those whose philanthropic resources we steward to look nationwide for Gulf Coast’s next leader,” said Humann. “After a thorough search, Mark proved to be that leader. He knows this region well, and he is already leading the way in redefining the role philanthropy can play in transforming it.”

Pritchett joined the Gulf Coast staff in 2008 as vice president for community investment. He was named senior vice president in 2011. His previous experience includes 13 years as executive vice president of a statewide public policy research and consulting nonprofit, and vice president positions with Enterprise Florida and the Florida Chamber of Commerce.

“At the time Mark joined our staff, Gulf Coast had invested just over $75 million in grants and community initiatives since our inception,” noted Board Chair Hanan. “This year, we surpassed $200 million in cumulative funding. Clearly, Mark has played a vital role in guiding how Gulf Coast employs the resources entrusted to us to improve lives in our region.”

Pritchett graduated with distinction from the University of Kentucky, where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. He received his PhD from Florida State University, where his research focused on strategic planning best practices in higher education. He has lived in Venice since 2008.

About Gulf Coast Community Foundation

Together with our donors, Gulf Coast Community Foundation transforms our region through bold and proactive philanthropy. Gulf Coast is a public charity that was created in 1995 through the sale of the Venice Hospital. Since then, we have become the philanthropic home of more than 600 families who have established charitable funds here, and we have invested over $200 million in grants in the areas of health and human services, civic and economic development, education, arts and culture, and the environment. Learn more at GulfCoastCF.org.

Contact Information:
Greg Luberecki
Director of Marketing and Communications
Tel 941.486.4608 | Cell 301.466.9594
gluberecki@gulfcoastcf.org

JPMorgan Chase Releases Statewide Study on Homelessness in Florida

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Dear Friends,

A year ago our firm partnered with the Central Florida Commission on Homelessness to lead the development of a comprehensive report that would serve as a roadmap to end homelessness across our state.

I am pleased to inform you that the report “The Path Forward: Rethinking Solutions for Homelessness in Florida” written by renowned homelessness expert, Barbara Poppe was released today during a press conference in Orlando with Mayor Buddy Dyer and Mayor Teresa Jacobs in attendance.

The report results are based on research and input from community dialogues conducted in Tampa Bay, Central Florida, Jacksonville and Miami.  As you will see, the primary recommendation from this report is to support Housing First models.  The following six key shifts and actions are also outlined in the report:

  1. Build the capacity for improved state and local response
  2. Accelerate Rental Housing Production and Access to Affordable Rental Homes for ELI (extremely low income) households
  3. Finish Ending Veteran Homelessness
  4. Fast-track Adoption and Implementation of Rapid Re-Housing
  5. Scale Production of Permanent Supportive Housing

To help drive this strategy forward, JPMorgan Chase announced a new grant today for $600,000 to Ability Housing to support the development of new permanent supportive housing units in Orlando and Jacksonville.  ($500,000 in Orlando and $100,000 in Jacksonville).

Through public private partnerships such as this, we can help reduce homelessness in our local community and across the state.  This partnership with Ability Housing is the first step in the journey.  Our Corporate Responsibility team will be working diligently to develop long-term plans to respond to the findings and recommendations identified in the report.

Please feel free to reach out to me should you like to discuss the report findings in greater detail.

 

Best regards,

Ann Reinert

Ann Reinert | Vice President| Corporate Responsibility

Global Philanthropy | JPMorgan Chase & Co.

450 S. Orange Ave., Floor 10 Orlando, FL 32801

407.236.7034 | ann.reinert@jpmchase.com

This communication is for informational purposes only. It is not intended as an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any financial instrument or as an official confirmation of any transaction. All market prices, data and other information are not warranted as to completeness or accuracy and are subject to change without notice. Any comments or statements made herein do not necessarily reflect those of JPMorgan Chase & Co., its subsidiaries and affiliates (collectively, “JPMC”). This transmission may contain information that is proprietary, privileged, confidential and/or exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of the information contained herein (including any reliance thereon) is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. If you received this transmission in error, please immediately contact the sender and destroy the material in its entirety, whether in electronic or hard copy format. Although this transmission and any attachments are believed to be free of any virus or other defect that might affect any computer system into which it is received and opened, it is the responsibility of the recipient to ensure that it is virus free and no responsibility is accepted by JPMC for any loss or damage arising in any way from its use. Please note that any electronic communication that is conducted within or through JPMC’s systems is subject to interception, monitoring, review, retention and external production in accordance with JPMC’s policy and local laws, rules and regulations; may be stored or otherwise processed in countries other than the country in which you are located; and will be treated in accordance with JPMC policies and applicable laws and regulations. Please refer to http://www.jpmorgan.com/pages/disclosures for disclosures relating to European legal entities.

Barancik Funds CareerEdge Training Program

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CareerEdge Funders announced a new $250,000 effort to fund training for targeted career fields. The Barancik Foundation provided a grant to fund the program, the first major move from the foundation under new President and CEO Teri A. Hansen.

“CareerEdge’s innovative approach to workforce development will fuel the mending economy and lead to greater economic growth and expansion,” said Hansen, who previously led the Gulf Coast Community Foundation for 13 years. The Gulf Coast Community Foundation right now is conducting a national search for a new CEO. Hansen announced in March she would take on the new role at Barancik so she would have the opportunity to grow a new philanthropic force in the region from the ground level. “The opportunity to work for the Barancik Foundation to help create their legacy during their lifetime is something special,” she told SRQ at the time. CareerEdge announced the partnership with Barancik on Hansen’s first day on the job.

Mireya Eavey, CareerEdge executive director, characterized the new relationship as capable of realigning the local workforce’s skill level with the needs of regional employers. The money specifically will fund training and paid internships for health care, manufacturing, information technology, transportation and logistics workers, all industries targeted by CareerEdge based on research on needed training within the local job market. “We want to improve the quality of living for the working poor, so that they are able to sustain a family lifestyle without having to work two jobs with minimal pay,” said Eavey.

Article Written by Jacob Ogles of SRQ Media – Please CLICK HERE for the original article