Research & Sponsored Programs Report ResearchAnnual201819-electronic | Page 6

Business Advisor Daniel Krug
gets a tour at Vertex Aerospace
in Crestview, Florida.
FloridaMakes partnership supports
manufacturers throughout Northwest Florida
The University of West Florida Office of
Workforce and Industrial Innovation is partnering
with FloridaMakes to support manufacturers in
the 10 westernmost counties in the state through
consulting, workshops and networking services.
The UWF FloridaMakes team primarily targets
the 225 manufacturing companies in the region
with at least 15 employees, said Nicole Gislason,
director of the Office of Workforce and Industrial
Innovation.
me resolve an issue?” said Daniel Krug, senior
business advisor with the Office of Workforce
and Industrial Innovation. “With our networked
resources throughout the state through
FloridaMakes, we have vetted third-party pro-
viders that we know we can contact and they’ve
been used before. And they come recommended
from other business advisors.”
Krug is one of three business advisors who are
part of the UWF FloridaMakes team.
“While we will serve manufacturers with fewer
than 15 employees, by targeting those with over
15, we know there will be potential projects and
impacts related to services we provide,” she said. “The three business advisors are the boots
on the ground helping to convey the oppor-
tunities available to (manufacturers) through
FloridaMakes,” Gislason said.
UWF FloridaMakes specifically serves members
of the Northwest Florida Manufacturers Council
and the Technology Coast Manufacturing
Engineering Network. It provides access to
experts and scientists in manufacturing, engi-
neering, cybersecurity and business develop-
ment. The partnership connects manufacturers
to an extensive network of resources. UWF FloridaMakes offers manufacturers a series
of technology awareness workshops. Among
those workshops is an internal auditing course
for aerospace facilities.
“Most of these small businesses, they don’t have
time to pick up the phone and call a bunch of
people and figure out, Who can I get to help Manufacturers are also able to use of the state-
of-the-art UWF Sea3D Additive Manufacturing
Laboratory located in the Museum of Commerce
in downtown Pensacola to create 3D products.
“We bring in a world-class consultant for that,”
Gislason said. “The actual auditors who are con-
ducting the audits of aerospace facilities in the
region, they’re the ones leading these workshops.”
“One of the most unique aspects of our program
is the Sea3D Lab and how we are able to work
with companies to prototype different compo-
nents of their work,” Gislason said.
Universities need to play a key role in the future
of manufacturing because many jobs, like those
in automation, design, and management will re-
quire a bachelor’s degree, Gislason said.
Steve Borchert with FloridaMakes teaches employees during a
session at Vertex Aerospace in Crestview.
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“We need to be actively engaged in developing
the people power that will power the facilities of
the future,” she said.
2018-2019 Research Annual Report