LEARN. GROW. CONNECT.
TCMA VOICE A newsletter presented by the Treasure Coast Manufacturers Association
SPRING 2022
IRSC PRESIDENT OUTLINES NEW
WORKFORCE CENTER AT ANNUAL MEETING
IRSC President Tim Moore addresses TCMA members at the association’s annual meeting.
www.TCMAmfg.com
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After two years of pandemic-related
delays, more than 70 members and guests
recently attended the Treasure Coast
Manufacturers Association’s annual
meeting.
Board member and committee chairman
Jack Chadam emceed a diverse program
highlighting small- and medium-sized
manufacturers held at the Boys & Girls
Clubs of St. Lucie County’s Westside Campus
last month.
Jerry Jacques, association president,
reviewed the benefits of membership in
the organization and past year’s activities,
including its workforce readiness initiatives,
social media outreach and partnership
with the South Florida Manufacturers
Association. He also previewed upcoming
programs with Project LIFT, business tours
and lunch-and-learn sessions.
Robert Plazola, SFMA president, shared
information about the regional organization’s
events and recognition opportunities.
Freshco/Indian River Select was a
2021 runner-up for the SFMA Manufacturer
of the Year Award. Katie Sterling, the
company’s human resources and quality
assurance manager, was named the SFMA
2021 Supervisory Employee of the Year.
In 2020, Expert Shutter Services won the
Manufacturer of the Year Award with
Aquaco Farms, A-1 Roof Trusses and
Freshco named as finalists.
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Indian River State College president, Dr.
Tim Moore, encouraged members to partner
with the college to help develop the
workforce their companies need.
IRSC is building an Advanced Workforce
Training Center, which has an anticipated
opening for the next academic year.
Moore said IRSC was the only college in
Florida with this type of facility. It will link
advanced technology and leading-edge
industry training in specialized technical
career fields such as advanced manufacturing;
automotive, aviation and marine
technology; welding; heating, ventilation
and air conditioning systems; and more.
Moore said that 78.5% of IRSC graduates
stay in the community.
“If we change them, we change the community,”
he said. “We have $182 million
sitting in the bank to deploy for areas of
need, but I need to know what you need.
Please call, we work for you. We are excited
to work with you. I work for you. We are no
longer a secret garden, but we’ve got to
know what you need.”
Visit https://irsc.edu/news/articles/advanced
workforce-training-groundbreaking.
html to learn more about the center
and what it can offer.
SMALL BUSINESS
DEVELOPMENT CENTER
“Florida just surpassed Germany in GDP
and 11,000-plus new businesses registered
on the Treasure Coast in 2021,” Duane Reiff
said in his opening remarks, noting that
huge opportunities are available to area
manufacturers.
>>
Florida just surpassed
Germany in GDP and
11,000-plus new
businesses registered
on the Treasure Coast
in 2021.
— Duane Reiff
“
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