Volusia Manufacturers Association Impact Report 2017 | Page 2

From the
President & CEO
e are in search of a workforce.
Finding skilled labor keeps our local
manufacturers up at night. The reason
we have such a skilled labor shortage
is because people do not know we still
manufacture in America, let alone Volusia and Flagler
counties. This is an awareness problem. The Volusia
Manufacturers Association (VMA) has made solving this
problem one of its top priorities. It is working to build
awareness of manufacturing’s substantial and
lucrative careers.
In addition to its already robust member programming
and benefits, VMA, whose members are the makers and
the doers, have rolled up their sleeves and gone to work.
This IMPACT Report tells their story of determination,
creativity, and sheer volunteer power to build the
strongest manufacturing talent pipeline in the State
of Florida.
Through the VMA “We Make It Here” Movement, we have
interacted with thousands of people as our members
work with the schools – elementary through college. The
manufacturers are adopting the manufacturing-related
Career Academies and programs in the high schools,
inviting students, teachers and school counselors on
tours, sending speakers into the classrooms, sponsoring
and judging robotics competitions, conducting mock job
interviews, working with interns and co-op students at all
of the area high schools and colleges. We have added an
Education Hub to our website so our students, parents,
teachers and business can go to one spot to be immersed
in the world of careers in manufacturing and to learn how
to be or to hire an intern.
2 V o l u s i a M a n u f a c t u r e r s A s s o c i at i o n
In 2011, VMA held its first Lou Fifer Education Scholarship
Golf Tournament at the LPGA Golf Course in Daytona
Beach to raise funds to help shape our future workforce in
Flagler and Volusia counties. Since then it has distributed
over $115,000 to our schools from 3D printers, CNC
machines, materials and supplies, sponsorships for
robotics and electric car competitions, and start-up funds
for robotics clubs in the elementary and middle schools.
We believe we are making an impact, but we cannot
do it alone. Will you join our movement and become a
Manufacturing Champion? After you have read our IMPACT
Report, please go to #VMArocks or Jayne.fifer@VMAonline.
com and tell us, “Yes, I am now a Manufacturing
Champion! And I will tell my friends, family, colleagues
about the career opportunities in manufacturing.”
President/CEO, VMA
About VMA:
Volusia Manufacturers Association, Inc., serves the
Volusia, Flagler and surrounding counties. It is the
region’s #1 resource for manufacturers connecting
them to each other and the community. Founded in
1980 by manufacturers for manufacturers, its purpose
then and now is to provide information, education
and networking opportunities that help its members
grow and succeed. Go to www.VMAonline.com to
learn more.