EVOLVE Business and Professional Magazine August 2019 | Page 9

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR EVOLVE Business and Professional Magazine is published by TouchPoint Innovative Solutions on behalf of the Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce and Team Volusia Economic Development Corporation. PUBLISHER Howard M. Holley EDITOR John Guthrie MANAGING EDITOR Elesha Mavrommatis CREATIVE DESIGN & LAYOUT Ashlee Harrell CIRCULATION Teldra Jones ADVERTISING SALES Jeanne Coates Charlene “Charlie” Savidge EDITORIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE Richard Cooper • Halifax Insurance Partners Lisa Habermehl • Duvall Homes Michael Jiloty • Team Volusia Kerry Karl • Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce Piros Pazaurek • Marketing X-Rays Chris Thomes • Daytona State College Deana C. Williams • Team Volusia Interested in Advertising? If you would like to advertise in EVOLVE, please call 386.283.5906 or email us at [email protected]. Write For Us! If you’re interested in contributing to EVOLVE, please email links to current writing samples and a little bit about yourself to [email protected]. M anufacturing - it’s one of Volusia County’s leading industries, with more than 400 manufacturers employing over 11,000 workers. This issue of Evolve takes a broad look at the industry - how it’s changing, some of its challenges, and how some local manufacturers are preparing to grow and sustain themselves for a future here, in Volusia County. As we approached the issue, we started with a question: “Does automation eliminate jobs?” We turned to Jayne Fifer, our local manufacturing champion and President of the Volusia Manufacturing Association, to provide her perspective. She takes on the sensitive subject of “automation vs jobs” in her thought leadership piece for The Road Ahead. One big take-away from the article– automation has and will continue to displace some workers, while providing opportunity to others. The future of manufacturing will be marked by a need for higher skilled workers. To that end, Daytona State College is doing its part to meet some of that demand. Our article on their manufacturing-related programming highlights their efforts to prepare students to assume those positions. Meanwhile, our article Tackling the Talent Challenge in Manufacturing shines a light on the difficulties of an already tight labor market and some of the ways in which companies are responding. In our article Modern Manufacturing, we explore what manufacturing is today–taking a closer look at some of our area manufacturers who have embraced cutting-edge technology to meet the demands of their customers in a faster more efficient manner. Lessons Learned highlights knowledge and experience gained in manufacturing that is relevant to almost any industry. And in our profile on B. Braun Medical, we take a look at how one of the area’s largest manufacturers came to call Volusia County home. So where does this leave us? We must find more opportunities to provide individuals with the education and skills they’ll need in a new market. We must open our arms to companies looking to take root here; and we must embrace the new technology that will allow our manufacturers to continue to not just compete, but thrive. CONTACT US EVOLVE is published four times per year. EvolveDaytona.com [email protected] JOHN GUTHRIE Editor, EVOLVE Scan the QR code to access EVOLVE digital or visit EvolveDaytona.com TouchPoint Innovative Solutions - formerly The Holley Group All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced without the express written consent of the publisher. TouchPoint Innovative Solutions assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions. © 2019 TouchPoint Innovative Solutions. All rights reserved. AUGUST 2019 | 9 |