Apprentice programs at A-1 Roof Trusses offer employees path to success
Summit seeks solutions to skilled worker shortage in Florida
www.TCMAmfg.com
FALL 2022
A shortage of workers, especially skilled
workers, is one of the biggest issues affecting
12 the manufacturing sector in Florida.
As a result, FloridaMakes, along with its
other host partners, Associated Industries
of Florida, Enterprise Florida, Career-
Source Florida and the Florida Chamber
of Commerce, has announced the 2022
MakeMore Manufacturing Summit
scheduled for Oct. 12 and 13 that will
focus on solutions to produce more talent
in manufacturing.
According to a 2021 report published by
the National Association of Manufacturers,
authored by Deloitte and the Manufacturing
Institute, “The manufacturing skills
gap in the U.S. could result in 2.1 million
unfilled jobs by 2030.”
This is especially true in Florida, where
some manufacturers are having trouble
keeping production lines open. The
Treasure Coast region is home to approximately
600 manufacturers.
Since 2018, the summit has been celebrated
as an annual platform to share best
practices and exchange ideas about how
our state resources are addressing the
impact of market dynamics, economic
trends and policies, and new technologies
available for the manufacturing sector.
The organizations supporting the 2022
Summit include AbleTrust, Advanced Manufacturing
International, Coastal Cloud,
Cyber Security Solutions, Florida Department
of Education, Florida Small Business
Development Center Network, Florida
TaxWatch, Kaufman Rossin, National
Institute of Standards & Technology NIST,
North Florida Economic Development
Partnership, TriNet, Veryable, Withum and
many others.
Celebrate Manufacturing Month this
October by joining thought leaders and
stakeholders from all segments of Florida’s
manufacturing sector at the MakeMore
Manufacturing Summit. Visit www.Florida-
MakeMore.com to learn more and register.
Beginning a path of self-improvement is
a big step as it takes people out of their
comfort zone and challenges them with
new experiences, failures and successes.
At 32, Ariel Perez was living on food stamp
assistance with his wife and three children
when he took a position at A-1 Roof
Trusses with the help of CareerSource
Research Coast.
Not knowing what a truss was, Perez
started as a stacker, earning $12 per hour.
His goal was to learn more, earn more and
advance himself through the apprenticeship
program.
With a few months of experience under his
belt, Perez enrolled in an On-the-Job Training
program that advanced him to truss
designer, which came with a salary bump
adding nearly $400 per month.
The path to advance broadened for Perez.
Following the OJT completion, Perez enrolled
in the Industrial Manufacturing Technician
Apprenticeship program through
CareerSource Research Coast. While in the
program, the need of food stamps became
a distant memory as his salary jumped to
$17.50 per hour, increasing his salary an
additional $500 per month.
The successful completion of the program
brought pride to Perez knowing he can
support his wife and children the way he
had always wanted to. Perez was promoted
to quality control supervisor, a position
that pays $24 per hour.
“Now I am in a position to encourage and
train others at A-1 Trusses and assist them
to take a similar path that was successful
for me,” Perez said.
As the apprenticeship program can serve
as model for financial stability, it also
provides for responsibility, leadership and,
most importantly, dignity. Perez can hold
his head high knowing he made the most
of himself by challenging his mind and
stepping out of his comfort zone.
/www.Florida-
/www.TCMAmfg.com
/www.floridamakemore.com
/MakeMore.com
