HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, GRADUATES GET A GLIMPSE
OF JOB OPPORTUNITIES AT LOCAL BOOT CAMPS
Working with the students,
businesses and our school
partners on these boot
camps is a lot of fun, of
course, but, most importantly,
the program helps build
the local talent pipeline for
today’s in-demand careers.
www.TCMAmfg.com
FALL 2021
11
It’s an exciting time to be entering the
workforce on the Treasure Coast. And in
June, a number of high school students
and recent graduates went behind the
scenes to learn about the numerous
manufacturing, logistics and skilled trades
opportunities open to them.
In Indian River County, 11 sophomores
and juniors attended a weeklong manufacturing
boot camp. The group visited
Dragonfly Boatworks, Sun Aviation, Float-
On Boat Trailers, M.A. Ford, Nylacarb,
Aluma Tower, Girard Equipment, United
Juice, Pusher Intake and Piper Aircraft.
They learned about welding at Treasure
Coast Technical College and about technical
training courses available through
Indian River State College. Courses on
financial literacy, career planning and
employment soft skills were also part of
the program.
Boot camp partners included Indian River
Chamber of Commerce Economic Development,
CareerSource Research Coast,
Treasure Coast Technical College and the
county school district. The Treasure Coast
Manufacturers Association underwrote a
portion of the program costs.
In St. Lucie County, 13 recent high school
graduates completed Ready to Work Boot
Camp with most finishing out the week
with employment offers in hand. The
18- and 19-year-olds also learned about
finances, soft skills, resume preparation
and more.
Expert Shutter Services, Indian River Select,
Total Truck Parts, Southeast Elevator,
Maverick Boat Group, Walmart Distribution
Center, Pursuit Boats, Southern Eagle
Distributing, A-1 Roof Trusses, Phoenix
Metal Products, Derecktor Shipyard and
California Closets hosted tours.
Dashawn Johnson and three other attendees
went to work at California Closets
after the camp. Johnson said he learned a
lot, met cool people and would “work at all
those places if I could.”
St. Lucie County’s program was a partnership
between the TCMA, Economic Development
Council of St. Lucie County and St.
Lucie Public Schools.
The Treasure Coast Builders Association
hosted a skilled trades boot camp in
partnership with nonprofit Project LIFT for
22 young adults from Martin and St. Lucie
counties. The camp provided hands-on
training in 16 of the region’s most in-demand
trades, including many skills which
cross over into manufacturing fields.
The attendees engaged in five days of
high-touch skill acquisition in carpentry,
masonry, roofing, electrical, automotive,
welding, plumbing, HVAC and screening
at Project LIFT’s Palm City campus and
nearby RDI Kitchens.
“This project was fueled by local TCBA
member businesses lending their time
and talent to inspire and mentor the next
generation of skilled workers,” Project LIFT
CEO Bob Zaccheo said.
The Porch Factory, Guaranteed Garage
Repair, RDI Kitchens, Elite Electric and Air,
Larry Neese Roofing & Construction, U.S.
Paverscape, R.K. Hansen Construction
Co., AAPEX Electric, J.H. Custom Painting,
the Gutter Factory, Aqua Dimensions, AC
Care Heat & Air, Florida Coast Equipment,
CSCI, Team IP, and Samuel Construction all
participated with the program. At the end
of the week, all of the participants were offered
employment with local businesses at
a minimum starting wage of $15 per hour.
“Working with the students, businesses
and our school partners on these boot
camps is a lot of fun, of course, but, most
importantly, the program helps build the
local talent pipeline for today’s in-demand
careers,” said Jill Marasa, EDC vice president
of business retention and expansion.
“We love to participate in the boot camp
readiness program for a variety of reasons,
mostly because we want to ensure that the
youth of our county have options after high
school and opportunities for a meaningful
career path — one that aligns with their
personal goals and skill potential,” said
Maria Brown, director of human resources
at A-1 Roof Trusses. “The boot camp offers
employers in the area an opportunity to
recruit from the high school students who
will not be seeking secondary education
but are interested in career pathways.”
All three boot camps were offered freeof
charge to the participants. For information
about 2022 boot camps, contact the
EDC at 772.336.6250, Indian River County
Economic Development at 772.567.3491,
or the TCBA at 772.336.8222.
A TCBA boot camper learning from a Guaranteed
Garage Repair technician.
Indian River County boot campers explore the high
performance cutting tools made at M.A. Ford.
— Jill Marasa, EDC vice president of
business retention and expansion
“
“
St. Lucie County boot campers don PPE prior to touring
Expert Shutter Services’ manufacturing facility.
/www.TCMAmfg.com