The Florida Chamber has provided us with some interesting news bytes about the importance of growing Florida’s role in international trade:

• Bloomberg: Mexico’s growth will slow, and Brazil’s growth will increase at a slower rate than predicted
• Miami Herald: Florida real estate transactions by foreign nationals increased 3.8%, with Canada leading the pack, and China entering the group.
• Global Trade Magazine: Export values from the 174 Free Trade Zones (FTZ) operating in the U.S. increased 147.9% from 2009 to 2012.
• The Economist:“The pace of global growth increased during the second quarter of 2013 – only the third quarterly acceleration in three years. But the world is dangerously dependent on China, which continues to grow at a clip. Since the beginning of 2010 it alone has contributed over one-third of global GDP growth, with another 40 percent coming from the rest of the emerging world.”

The newly released Florida Trade and Logistics Study 2.0, identifies the potential to create 150,000 new trade and logistics jobs over the next 5 years. This study, commissioned by the Florida Chamber Foundation, recommends developing a trade, logistics and manufacturing talent pipeline, creating Centers of Excellence and the Southeast’s first merchant marine training institute. MAF partnered with the Florida Chamber Foundation on the report by providing review and editing time.

To see the entire report visit: http://www.flchamber.com/wp-content/uploads/MadeForTrade-FINAL-Single-1.pdf

Hear more about the content of the study at the 10th Annual Manufacturers Summit.

Last week, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam opened the Florida Energy Summit by outlining a series of legislative proposals to reduce the energy tax burden on Florida businesses and consumers and support innovation in energy research and development.
He is recommending:
- Cutting the commercial business energy sales tax in half for 2014 – saving businesses $250 million a year (manufacturing facilities already enjoy an electricity sales tax exemption, but it may not extend to their entire facility). The remainder of the tax paid would be redirected to public capital outlay for schools.

- A proposal for a forecast of natural gas supplies and future prices, infrastructure and opportunities for storage and use in transportation.

To read his presentation and vision for Florida’s energy policy, visit http://www.floridaenergysummit.com/index.html

Florida companies in select industries that have influenced the state's economic growth and diversification are asked to submit nominations to Enterprise Florida. Awards will be given in three categories for activity in 2012:

• Expansion: for companies that expanded their operations in 2012, investing capital and creating jobs in Florida.
• Newcomer: For new-to-Florida companies that began business operations in 2012.
• Export Excellence: For companies with new or significant increases in documented export sales.
• Innovation/Entrepreneurship: For start-up companies or innovative companies that have set a standard for entrepreneurship and creativity in the past three years.

Nominations Due October 24th
For more information about the awards and to submit a nomination, follow this link.

Throughout Florida, National Manufacturing Day was observed at more than 200 middle and high schools. At Middleton High School in Tampa, Hillsborough County officials issued a proclamation declaring Oct. 4 as Florida Manufacturing Day. Members of BAMA were on hand to show their support.

Left to right: Kim Moore, Middleton High School; Steve Meitzen, BAMA; Hillsborough County Commissioner Mark Sharp; Mike Ramsey, Hillsborough County Schools; Marilyn Barger, FLATE; Larry Plank, Hillsborough County schools; Shannon Sweatman, Southern Manufacturing Technologies; James Moore, Cardio Command; Middleton HS Principal Owen Young; Ken Jurgensmeyer, Heat Pipe Technologies

Students from Meadownlawn Middle School in St. Petersburg toured Jabil Circuit in
observation of National Manufacturing Day, October 4, 2013.

The Bay Area Manufacturers Association (BAMA) and Upper Tampa Bay Manufacturers Association (UTBMA) are joining forces for the Dream It Do It initiative. Partnering with Hillsborough County Public Schools and Pinellas County Schools on the Adopt-A-School program, the manufacturing associations are working together to make the program a reality. Cliff Csulik, President of the Bay Area Manufacturers Association and Jerry Custin, Secretary/Treasurer of the Upper Tampa Bay Manufacturers Association, have announced an agreement to join association forces.

Csulik explains, “Adopt-A-School is a program managed by the Manufacturers Association of Florida to engage manufacturers as mentors in area high schools. The goal is to expose students and parents to the rewarding and challenging opportunities of a career path in advanced manufacturing. The program involves mentorship with area school clubs and engineering programs, plant tours and possible internships and scholarship opportunities. We need to get that word out and what better way than to engage our area manufacturers directly in the process.”

Custin continued, “Folks generally also do not realize the strength of manufacturing in our region and the level of education in some of our area schools. Nearly 25% of Florida’s 17,000 manufacturers are in the Tampa / Clearwater / St. Petersburg area employing over 57,000 workers at an average pay up to 20% greater than service industries. Our schools are focusing on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) at some level and numerous have Engineering Academies that are well equipped. We have established working relationships with the Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas school districts to get our manufacturers involved in the development of these programs and to engage students in the exciting world of advanced manufacturing.”

The Adopt-A-School program will establish a countywide model with four schools; Gaither and Middleton high schools in Hillsborough County and Eastlake and Gibbs high schools in Pinellas County. These schools use state of the art equipment including 3-D printers and miniature wind tunnels that are providing their students with advantages. Whether their near term goal is higher education or the start of a solid career that will involve continuous learning. Many in our community do not realize that high school students can gain basic certifications in various disciplines including cyber-security, Solid Works and others that could land them positions in advanced manufacturing with a high school diploma.

“Joining forces between BAMA and UTBMA will allow us to leverage the membership and community connections needed to make an impact as well as develop a cohesive regional model for building a sustainable world class workforce right in our own community”, Csulik concluded, “ this is a win-win-win for everyone especially for our students looking for a great career.”

If you’d like to make a difference contact BAMA at 727.536.5809 or the UTBMA at 813.855.4233.

Michael Keating is doing a brief write up for ThomasNet's Industry Market Trends, an e-newsletter that goes to 375,000 manufacturing executives, on how manufacturers can work together after a disaster to keep production humming. Are there any Florida success stories he can mention? He hopes to include at least a few sentences from our group.
Contact: Michael Keating, 770-618-0193, www.mikekeat.net

Here is a link to his first in a series of disaster planning items.
What Manufacturers Need to Do About Data Recovery After a Disaster

At a recent visit to the Pinellas Board of County Commissioners, Pinellas County Commissioner Karen Seals presented a Proclamation to BAMA Board members proclaiming October 4, 2013 as National Manufacturing Day. Working together with several other organizations, BAMA was able to receive the proclamation recognizing the 75,471 jobs that are provided by the manufacturing industry in Pinellas County.

From left: BAMA President Cliff Csulik, BAMA Board Member Steve Meitzen, Pinellas County Commissioner Karen Seals, BAMA Board Treasurer Ann Paxton and FLATE Curriculum Coordinator Danielly Orozco-Cole.

Richard and Claire Knowles, currently of St. Petersburg FL and Youngstown NY, have made distinct literary news.  Richard is the author of “The Leadership Dance”, a Classic in Transformational Leadership, which became an Amazon #1 Best Seller on August 8, 2013.  Claire is the author of “Lights On! A Reflective Journey” which provides positive motivation for women to move forward in their personal and professional lives.  Lights On! became an Amazon Best Seller in December, 2012. 

Each has penned another book as well.  Claire’s newest, “Can You See Them Now? (Elephants in Our Midst)” is a business relationship book, valued by Human Resource Managers, Supervisors and Team-Leaders.  It will be available on Amazon September 1^st.  Dick’s second book, “Partnering for Safety and Business Excellence” is already available on Amazon, and is intended for Plant Managers, Supervisors and Leaders in industrial safety.

Claire and Dick Knowles both are highly credentialed and experienced in the fields in which they write. Dick was a DuPont Plant Manager at several locations, including the Niagara Falls NY Plant and Belle WV plant; he currently consults worldwide in Safety and Leadership. Claire retired from DuPont’s Buffalo Plant as Human Resources and Labor Relations Manager in 2000 and now speaks and consults on Leadership and Success.

Contacts:  Claire Knowles  716-622-7753;   Richard Knowles 716-622-6467

Email: Cefk1@aol.com   or   RNKnowles@aol.com

Websites:      www.LightsOnBook.com

                   www.LightsOnLeadershipSuccess4Women.com

                   www.SafetyExcellenceForBusiness.com