The 2009 Crane Awards are Fast Approaching

September 18, 2009, will mark the thirteenth annual Crane Awards. This special employee recognition celebration has not been duplicated anywhere. Of course there are a number of awards banquets and recognition events, but nothing compares to the Crane Awards. Last year we had over 390 in attendance, 131 award winners, and over 33 companies represented. The Crane Award is presented to outstanding employees of FCMA member firms based upon criteria established by the company. The award is to honor the contributions made by our employees to the betterment of our workplaces and Florida’s First Coast community.

This extraordinary award ceremony is very important to us at CSX Transportation, Inc. The Crane Awards were named after A. Crane Jones, Jr., retired Senior Vice President – Executive Department of CSX Transportation, Inc., and founder of the First Coast Manufacturers Association. Crane was widely recognized for his outstanding leadership and his commitment to improving his community and its citizens. His life was a testament to the commitment of excellence, integrity, and love for family that serves as a foundation of our nation’s greatness. CSX is so committed to the cause of the Crane Awards that we became a major sponsor in 2008 and will be a sponsor again this year.

Even in these difficult economic times, it is important for employers to recognize those workers who stand out among their peers. Retaining your foremost employees is very important for when the economy begins to pick back up over the next several months.

For the first time in our history, FCMA is partnering with The Florida Times-Union, a longtime member, to create the Crane Awards supplement and to run ads in their paper. We want our entire community to recognize the accomplishments of their neighbors that work each and every day in manufacturing and in numerous other organizations on the First Coast.

As a reminder, the deadline is fast approaching. We must have your commitment to participate by July 31. The uniqueness of the event requires us to adhere to the deadline to insure that your employees receive the very special recognition that each deserves. We are also looking for several sponsors, so please consider sponsoring this event.

FCMA Welcomes Our New Members!

Con-way Freight
Contact: Betty Garrard, Account Executive
Phone: (904) 472-3743
500 Ellis Road
Jacksonville, FL 32254

Con-way Inc. is a freight transportation and logistics services company headquartered in San Mateo, Calif. Con-way is an industry leader in the transportation and logistics industry and delivers industry-leading services.

Sponsor: Mike Templeton, LyondellBasell Industries

Daryl Bunn Studios
Contact: Daryl Bunn, Owner
Phone: (904) 356-6699
643 Edison Avenue
Jacksonville, FL 32204

Daryl Bunn Studios specializes in commercial photography. Primarily known as a “tabletop” photographer, shooting products and food for manufacturers directly as well as through advertising agencies.

Sponsor: FCMA

Johnson Controls, Inc.
Contact: Stephen Telo, Metro Branch Manager
Phone: (904) 732-5447
8245 Bayberry Road
Jacksonville, FL 32256

The company provides innovative automotive interiors that help make driving more comfortable, safe and enjoyable. For buildings, it offers products and services that optimize energy use and improve comfort and security.

Sponsor: Edward Eng, Eng Engineering

FCMA’s Annual Wage Survey

The deadline for the survey has been extended to July 8. Please send your responses promptly.

If you are a manufacturer and would like to participate in this year’s survey, click here to download the form. Email all responses no later than July 8 to information@fcmaweb.com.

Survey results should be available by August and will be furnished to all survey participants free of charge. If you prefer, you may print out only those pages completed and return by mailing or faxing to the FCMA office.

Remember–the information you report will be treated with the strictest of confidence. Results will be published in summary only and no individual company information will be divulged. Please give us your comments on how we may improve this survey.

Wage and Hour Update Workshop - July 29

The First Coast Manufacturers Association is pleased to announce that our monthly Workforce Development workshop is specially designed to help you understand how to comply with one of the most complex areas for HR and employers. For more information click here

2009 Crane Awards

Announcing the Crane Awards

Outstanding Employee Award Banquet

UNF University Center, Jacksonville, Florida

September 18, 2009 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM

Click here for more information about the Crane Awards and how you can get involved. Please contact Maria Corby the FCMA office for more information.

Sponsorship Opportunities

FCMA is looking for sponsors for the 2009 Crane Awards. Click here to find out about sponsorships opportunities. If you are interested please contact Maria Corby at the FCMA office

FREE LUNCH from the EHS Committee

Attention Associate Members of the EHS Committee! You will receive your lunch for free and your Manufacturing member guest’s lunch, when you bring an FCMA Manufacturer who has not previously attended an EHS Committee meeting or has not attended within the past year. In addition, your name will go into a drawing for a door prize for all Associates helping to increase manufacturing’s participation. For a schedule of EHS Committee Meetings, click here.

Next Meeting Will Be MONDAY JULY 27th!

Our next General Meeting will be held at Owens Corning from 4:00-6:00 PM on Monday, July 27th. The Owens Corning Jacksonville Plant manufactures residential roofing and asphalt products. It is one of 14 plants across the country, which services regional customers with roofing shingles for homes and business. Owens Corning’s facility is located at: 1035 Talleyrand Avenue. For a map to the location, click here.

Ring Power Welcomed FCMA!

Ring Power hosted FCMA’s General Meeting on June 29th. Ring Power Corporation has served the First Coast community for over 30 years. Ring Power sales and rents Caterpillar and Gradall work products. There were over 130 present at the meeting, with a record number of guests. Special guests were Representatives Jennifer Carroll and Lake Ray, who gave a 2009 session update.

Following are a few photos from the event…

Members Only Networking Event

FCMA’s Summer Members Only Networking Event, held at the Mudville Grille, was a major success. More than 80 members from 45 different member companies came out to spend some social time together on June 18.

Admission was only $5 and most of that money went into awarding cash prizes to those attending. The remainder, 25% to be exact, is being held in a pot and will be awarded at the year’s final networking event. In order to be eligible to win the big jackpot, you must attend ALL THREE of this year’s scheduled networking events. Our next Members Only Networking Event will be held on September 24.

(L to R: Event Chair Stephanie Denz with Gallagher Benefit, Limbo winner Chris Thompkins from ENCO Labs, and Best Costume winner Debbie Mahanay from Unishippers)

Many Thanks to Our Event Sponsors!

Duval Delegation Reception

On June 30, The Government Relations Committee hosted a reception for Duval County’s business friendly legislators to thank them for their help during the 2009 legislative session. Legislators in attendance were: Rep. Lake Ray, Rep. Audrey Gibson, Rep. Mia Jones, Rep. Mike Weinstein, and Rep. Charles McBurney.

Following are a few pictures from the event…

Chem Camp

ChemCamp is an annual camp that is put on by the North Jacksonville Community Advisory Panel (NJ CAP) and the companies involved are LyondellBasell Industries, International Flavor Fragrances (IFF), Reichhold Inc. and CSX. The companies demonstrate real world applications of science, mathematics and technology and show the relevance of academic work to the real world. These are middle school students experience what goes on in these facilities from day to day. This year FCCJ North Campus provided a Career Day on the last day and the students we able to cool off in their Olympic size pool.

Gov’t Relations In Putnam County

Government Relations with Putnam County Commission – pictured L-R Dave Cobb, FP&L (lunch sponsor); Commissioner Ed Taylor, Commission Chairwoman Nancy Harris; Commissioner Brad Purcell; FCMA Committee Chair Blair Wygle; Commissioner Chip Laibl and Commissioner Kenny Eubanks.

TWI Workshop

A special thank you to our sponsors VacCon, Jaxon Ind. and Miller Electric for sponsoring this workshop that included four modules of training that teach basic skills to help supervisors and other employees to make the transition from hierarchical “command & control” organizations to flatter, team oriented organizations. The two presenters Hank Czarnecki and David Hicks were brought in from Auburn University and are considered experts in their field. The attendees are forming a special interest group in result of this workshop that was held at the Jacksonville Lean Consortium Training room.

Many Thanks to Our Workshop Sponsors!

ADA Workshop

Mark Alexander (Holland & Knight) presented the latest findings on the American Disability Act. The attendees discussed the impact of the new law and litigations how it affects their business. The attendees shared some of the current issues going on in their companies and received suggestions from fellow FCMA members. Just another reason to take advantage of the FCMA workshops; sharing of information goes a long way!

Stormwater Workshop

EHS Committee sponsored the Stormwater Fee workshop and alerted members to ways to identify credits and adjustments on their stormwater fee bills. If you were unable to attend this workshop and need further information, please contact the FCMA office.

Professional Progress Class received Jacksonville history lesson from Emily Lisska from the Jacksonville Historical Society at City Hall.
For more information about Professional Progress, including a list of the new class members and a course schedule for this year’s program, click here!

June EHS Speaker

On June 18, the EHS Committee’s special guest Ray Moreau, Associate Director of Southern Waste Information Exchange, Inc., spoke to the group about their program. Waste generators and recyclers are matched up to help companies save money.

Pictured (L to R): Ray Moreau, Asst. Director of the Southeast Waste Exchange program of the Dept. of Environmental Protection, Jennifer Sweeney of Waste Management (Subcommittee Chair for Programs) with Phil Norman of Colomer (Asst. Chair of EHS).

Johns Manville… reached the milestone of working six years without a Lost Time or Restricted Day injury on May 15, 2009. The plant attributes its success to strong Safety Management System. Last June the facility celebrated becoming an OSHA VPP Star Site. To become a Star facility the plant underwent a thorough audit from a team of OSHA auditors. Out of seven million work facilities in the United States, this important recognition has only been awarded to 1,786 sites since the program’s inception 25 years ago. The Jacksonville facility is only the second roofing industrial plant in the U.S. to achieve this honor.

Allstates WorldCargo… hosted an open house at their new location in the Westside Industrial Park on June 23, 2009. Allstates gave a great preview of their new facility, as well as having a fun party filled with food, drinks, door prizes, and music.

Waste Management… won the Large Business Best Practice Award in the 11th Annual Sustainable Florida Best Practice Awards. The award winners represent the best in sustainability practices throughout the state of Florida.

Tatum LLC…. is pleased to announce that Rick McCook has joined their Jacksonville office. Rick was the Chief Financial Officer of Winn Dixie in Jacksonville for 20 years to 2003, then left to manage the finances of large public firms in the automotive and healthcare industries. He joins the other local Partners of Tatum to help bring experienced CFO help to middle-market companies in the region.

Talagy… After more than 30 years in business, staffing and employment services company ATS Services and Dunhill Staffing has a new owner and a new name — Talagy. Derek Mercer, the nephew of ATS founder Delores Kesler, acquired the company and will serve as chair. Kesler will retain the title of chairman emeritus. Amy McGeorge will assume the role of president and CEO.

Shaw’s Southern Belle Frozen Foods… is expanding their seafood business to the QVC television market. Bubba Shaw was featured on the station on June 24th. He presented their ready to cook Pacific Salmon Burger.

Golder Associates Inc… Richard Keenan, principal, and Jesse Brown, senior project engineer and associate, were named to the Jacksonville Business Journal’s “People on the Move.” Kennan, who started out as a groundwater hydrology technician, has been with Golder for 15 years, and Brown has been with Golder since 2000.

Rayonier… Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush was elected to the Rayonier Inc. board of directors at the company’s annual shareholder meeting. Bush had previously been appointed to the board after his term as governor ended in 2007. He will serve a term expiring in 2010.

EverBank… The parent company of EverBank is hiring about 100 employees in addition to about 200 positions that were filled recently to bolster the bank’s mortgage operations. The increase in staffing is largely due to a jump in mortgage lending, in particular refinancing.

Clements Publishing… recently awarded five students scholarships and prizes sponsored by Regions Bank. Grand prize winner Yanis Cicneros of Kernan Middle School was awarded a $2,000 scholarship from Regions Bank and will also be featured on the front cover of the 2009-10 Northeast Florida Education Guide.

Moran Environmental Recovery… President Steve Jenkins has been appointed to the Environmental Protection Board. The board is an established enforcement body for environmental matters in Duval County. The nine members of the board are appointed by the Mayor and City Council.

Auld & White Constructors… Director of Business Development Brian Franco has been appointed as the Vice Chairman for the Players Championship Tournament. Brian has been volunteering for the tournament for the past 12 years, serving in a leadership capacity on various committees over the years. In addition to chairing several committees, he will be assisting the PGA Tour and tournament management in selling sponsorship and individual tickets with the benefit of increasing the charity dollars into our community, and increasing exposure for the event throughout the year.

Enduris LLC…president and CEO, John Polidan, has been elected as a chief executive member of Vistage Florida in Jacksonville.

The 2009 Jacksonville’s Healthiest 100 Worksite Wellness Awards… FCMA Members who received awards are:

Gold Award winners:
CSX
JEA
Vistakon
St. Vincent’s

Silver Award winners:
The Haskell Company
FCCJ

Bronze Award winners:
UNF
The Stellar Group

• Export University 101: Introduction to Exporting - “Export University is a training program developed by the Florida District Export Council in cooperation with the Florida Trade Alliance Partners to help companies begin an export initiative and to gain skills and innovation in their international sales. Delivered by the U.S. Commercial Service, Export 101 is designed for new-to-export firms that would like expert advice on the export basics.”

• Apple Plans North Carolina Data Site - “Apple Inc. said it would build a data center in North Carolina, two days after the state’s legislature agreed to special tax breaks designed for the technology giant to invest $1 billion in the project…The data center will employ at least 50 people full time as the billion-dollar investment is made over nine years.”

• Sweating the Big Stuff — and It’s All Big Stuff - “In his Feb. 24 address to Congress, President Barack Obama rightfully observed that neither Americans nor their government have shown much appetite for tackling the big stuff…Add U.S. manufacturing to that list of big stuff — a problem evident to all but not effectively addressed.”

• The 2009 IW U.S. 500: Breaking Down The 500 - “The IndustryWeek U.S. 500 list of the nation’s largest manufacturers indicates that 2008 was not a complete disaster. Total IW 500 revenue in 2008 rose to $5.8 trillion from $5.4 trillion the previous year, showing that U.S.-based manufacturers are still growing.”

• Lean Gurus - “The basic principles of lean - waste reduction, customer centricity and flow optimization — are fairly simple in theory. But when it comes to putting lean principles into practice, even the most well-intentioned manufacturers can run up against some roadblocks.”

• Get hip to social media or lose customers - “Social media are changing the way people are marketing because its by word-of-mouth and that has more power than traditional advertising.”

• Shippers: What recession? - “The Port of Jacksonville’s newest terminal operator and another operator expected to open shop in 2012 are making bold moves to expand internationally and ready themselves for a pick-up in trade.”

• Port road improvement may get stimulus funding boost - “Road improvements needed to handle the increase in traffic expected from the port’s growth could receive a funding boost from the federal stimulus package.”

The White House is seeking to boost manufacturing

“The Obama administration is working to revive the U.S. manufacturing industry in the form of an executive order creating a new cabinet-level Council on Automotive Communities and Workers.”

“In his executive order, Obama noted that over 400,000 jobs have been lost in the past year alone in the auto industry, which could face further difficulties as the Big Three continue to deal with financial problems and an eroded market share.”

“The newly created automotive council will consist largely of current senior government officials and is expected to advise the president on policy matters involving the industry.”

Click here to read the entire article.