WORKFORCE
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said Jerry Jacques, TCMA president. “We
will build strong partnerships and create
awareness of the challenges facing our
diverse industry, with the ultimate goal
of educating leaders and lawmakers
about the value and economic impetus
that manufacturing brings. As awareness
grows, partnerships will empower stakeholders
and help build business-friendly
climates and policies that support manufacturers
and sustain economic growth.”
A 2017 Treasure Coast Skills Gap Study,
conducted by the St. Lucie County EDC,
indicated that regional manufacturing
was transitioning from heavily manual
jobs to an integration of technology with
employers seeking a more skilled workforce.
Blueprint reading, industry math,
critical thinking and problem-solving skills
topped the list of desired skill sets.
Armed with information from the skills
gap study, the TCMA built a two-part
strategy. The organization’s plan included
an advocacy campaign to heighten awareness
within the marketplace regarding the
advanced manufacturing community and
the creation of a recruitment and training
program for the region’s new advanced
manufacturing workforce.
The advocacy portion of the plan began
by launching an innovative promotional
program to update high school counselors
on Treasure Coast manufacturing careers.
High school guidance counselors from
around the region were provided tours
of regional manufacturing facilities. The
tours, along with presentations provided
by manufacturing owners and managers,
updated counselors about increases in
starting salaries, training and career path
development, and expanding career opportunities.
PARTNERING
“One of the greatest achievements of
TCMA has been developing a partnership
with the school system, allowing
our industry to reach younger students,”
said Bill Wilcox, vice president of TCMA.
“This innovative tour program provided
students with a hands-on introduction to
local manufacturing organizations and the
types of careers available.”
Partnering with CareerSource Research
Coast (CSRC), the Corporate and Community
Training Institute (CCTI) at Indian
River State College and the EDC of St.
Lucie County, the TCMA developed the >>
The board of directors for the TCMA gather at CenterState Bank. In the front row, from left, are Tammy Roncaglione, Dana Apfelbaum and Candy Marlow; in the
back row, from left, are Jarrod Trefelner, Jerry Jacques, Bill Wilcox, Brooks Price, Pete Tesch and Jim Turner.
/TCBusiness.com