Moving Ahead…The Importance of FCMA Membership

Mark Wood

It has been my privilege to chair the membership committee for the past 2 years and I want to thank my co-chair, Jeff Nelson with CB Richard Ellis, for his hard work on this committee and for the efforts of our entire committee and the FCMA staff toward recruiting new members to our association. I am proud to share with you that we have added 50 new members into our association during this period of time.

I am proud of this accomplishment because our organization, founded in 1989 by 11 manufacturing companies now includes 152 manufacturing companies and 150 other companies who service or work with our manufacturing members. Our founding members recognized the need to have a collective voice when addressing local issues. Manufacturing is the largest segment of the First Coast economy and FCMA is the only organization dedicated to exclusively representing manufacturers’ interest on local and state issues. The work performed by FCMA is so vital to all manufacturing companies and the companies that service them that. I believe it is each FCMA member’s obligation to invite prospective member companies to join. This duty is especially true during the difficult economic conditions of today because the benefits of membership are so critical to each company’s survival. The benefits of membership in FCMA I refer to include:

  • United voice on local legislation, environmental issues, taxes, zoning
  • Fellowship with others with common interest and problems
  • Continuing education seminars
  • Opportunity to market your product or services to major local buyers
  • Workshops on current topics
  • Opportunity to recognize your key employees for their accomplishments
  • Involvement in local elections

If you know of a manufacturing company or a company that services manufacturing companies, please invite them to become a member of our association. You will be doing a favor to them and yourself because together we are stronger than one of us is individually.

Welcome to…

Aflac
Contact: Wanda Fort
Phone: (904) 307-7421
6817 Southpoint Parkway, Suite 1602, Jacksonville, FL 32216

Aflac is a Fortune 200 company that provides a variety of value-added services and products to businesses. Several of Aflac’s value-added services include section 125 cafeteria plans, employee benefit statements, core benefits plus Aflac enrollments, and much more.

Sponsor: Mark Wood, Milton J. Wood Fire Protection Co.

Atlantic Logistics Inc.
Contact: Robert Hooper, Jr.
Phone: (904) 886-1110
12058 San Jose Blvd. Suite 1001, Jacksonville, FL 32223

Atlantic Logistics is a full service logistics provider for all your shipping needs. They provide truckload and partial service on flatbeds, stepdecks, lowbeds, and vans throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Sponsor: Jane Bachtell, Clements Publishing

Science First
Contact: Aaron Bell
Phone: (904) 225-5558
86475 Gen Lasserre Blvd., Yulee, FL 32097

Science First is a manufacturer and distributor of science teaching aids and water sampling and testing equipment.

Sponsor: Joe Oller, Florida Machine Works

Ennis, Pellum & Associates, CPAs
Contact: Ron R. Pellum
Phone: (904) 396-5965
5150 Belfort Road, Bldg 600, Jacksonville, FL 32256

Ennis, Pellum specializes in auditing, accounting, tax planning & preparation, accounting software consulting, business & management consulting, cost segregation studies, estates & trust.

Sponsor: Annmare Nemeth, Milton J. Wood Company

Suddath
Contact: Tom Ruede
Phone: (904) 256-5540
8743 Western Way, Jacksonville, FL 32256

Suddath is a multifaceted, group of companies that specialize in worldwide corporate employee relocations, household moving, warehouse and logistics management and specialized transportation services.

Sponsor: FCMA

EHS Workshop on Emerging Environmental Issues

When: 7:30 (Registration/Breakfast) – 10:30 AM
Wednesday, November 4
Where: Northeast Florida Regional Council
6850 Belfort Oaks Place, 2nd Floor Board Room
Jacksonville, FL 32216
Cost: $25 (FCMA members only, due to high demand)
Seating is limited to 75 attendees (max of 3 per company only)
RSVP: FCMA Reservation Line (904-343-9372)
or e-mail Debbie no later than Friday, October 30

Trends & Benefits Workshop

Attend FCMA’s Trends & Benefits workshop and learn about ERISA along with HIPPA and all new changes to the health care coverage/benefits. Our speaker will be Laura Andrew of Smith Gambrell & Russell.

When: Wednesday, November 18, 7:30AM-9:30AM
Where: Location is TBA
Cost: $35 for FCMA members, $50 for non-members
RSVP: FCMA Reservation Line (904-343-9372) or e-mail Sherri

Holiday Social

FCMA’s annual Holiday Social will be held on Tuesday, December 8 from 6:00-8:00PM at The Haskell Building, located 111 Riverside Avenue. Tickets are $25.00 per person if purchased by November 23, and $30.00 per person after November 23. This is a members only event. Tickets are non-transferable/non-refundable. E-mail Maria to order tickets.

Manufacturing on the First Coast Magazine

The 4th edition of the magazine will be published in February 2010 and distributed over the next two years. We are currently looking for advertisers for the issue. If you are interested or would like more information, please contact Jane Bachtell of Clements Publishing.

2009 Wage & Benefit Survey

The 2009 Wage & Benefit Survey has been released Member companies can receive a copy of the survey for only $75. To order your copy or for more information call the FCMA office or e-mail Sherri Mitchell.

Many thanks to our survey sponsors!

2009 Manufacturing Summit

The Manufacturers Association of Florida’s Annual Summit for manufacturers and associated businesses will be held on November 5-6, 2009 at the Hyatt Orlando Airport Hotel, Orlando. The theme this year is “Manufacturing Today and Tomorrow.” Plant tours to Lockheed Martin and Mitsubishi Power Systems will be included. Links: Summit announcement, Registration form, More information.

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 NOVEMBER 16!

Kaman

Our next General Meeting will be held at Kaman Aerospace on November 16 from 4:00 to 6:00PM. Kaman produces and/or markets widely used proprietary aircraft bearings and components; complex metallic and composite aerostructures for commercial, military and general aviation fixed and rotary wing aircraft. Kaman’s facility is located at 227 Gun Club Road in Jacksonville. For a map to the location, click here.

AWC

AWC

Allstates WorldCargo (AWC) welcomed FCMA on October 26th! AWC is one of the nation’s most experienced and respected transportation companies. They specialize in airfreight and expedited services. There were over 120 people in attendance, including many guests and new members. Our special guest speakers were Rick Ferrin, CEO, and Deborah Lofberg, Director of Marketing Support Services, at the Jacksonville Port Authority. They discussed the upcoming issues revolving around the deepening of the port, and, as a founding member, also gave FCMA’s founder’s spotlight for the month.

Following are pictures from the event:


Bridging the Gap Between Business and Government

Erica Courtney did a great job on this complex topic – Attendees left armed with viable information. There is indeed a right way and a wrong way to do business with the government, and Erica can show you the ropes! A few of the many services Courtney Consulting offers are: Federal Marketplace Registration, Full Outsourced Package, and Government Specific Business Plan Creation. If you have any questions on the process please feel free to contact Erica at (904) 371-1938 or e-mail her.

Below are pictures from the event:

I-9’s and Audits

Yes….the long dreaded I-9 form. Why does something that “seems” so short, simple and harmless make you want to pull your hair out? This workshop even went into overtime with the great Q&A from our members. Lori stuck it out till the very end…on the elevator….down in the lobby…this was no doubt another hot topic. FCMA has been fortunate in getting great presenters that are very knowledgeable, and their willingness to help FCMA members is awesome. Thanks Pat Hill for all that you do. And a special THANK YOU to Golder Associates for the use of their training room. Lori Patterson with Rogers Towers can be reached at: (904) 346-5569 or email her.

Below are pictures from the event:


Alternate Energy Technologies (AET) and Courtney Consulting Solutions… were featured in an articled in the Florida Times-Union about how Courtney has been enlisted by AET to help expand their market by doing business with the government. Click here to read the article.

Auld & White… is proud to announce that the new and green Animal Care and Protective Services facility opened on August 8, 2009. This facility has become the City’s first building to achieve LEED Gold certification. Auld & White and design partner Ebert Norman Brady Architects completed work on the new facility in June, bringing it in on time and on budget in spite of rising material and labor costs.

Cintas… is sponsoring a FREE NFPA 70E workshop on November 11, 2009. Click here for more information.

CSX… Vice President - Emerging Market Derrick Smith has been attending classes at Harvard Business School in the Advanced Management Program for the past several months. This program provides the latest management concepts and tools to transform senior executives into indispensable leaders. Participants leave with a broader vision of success—equipped to make the tough decisions required to manage through the downturn and position their organizations for growth and profitability.

Harris Lighting… was featured in a story about their new contract with NAS JAX for a new lighting system in Jax Advantage Magazine. Click here to read the story.

Fleet Readiness Center Southeast… Capt. Tim Matthews has advanced to the rank of Rear Admiral and replaced Rear Adm. Paul Grosklags as Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers. The ceremony was held on September 10.

Jacksonville Regional Political Leadership Institute (PLI)… FCMA members Nick Howland of BAE Systems and Blair Wygle of Great Atlantic Outfitters have been selected to be part of the inaugural class of the PLI. The PLI is a non-partisan program that encourages and equips prospective public leaders with business-related experience.

  • U.S. Manufacturing Productivity Jumps - “The U.S. enjoyed one of the largest increases in manufacturing productivity among 17 countries last year despite also posting the biggest drop in employment, as companies got more output from fewer workers.”
  • The Future of Manufacturing 2009 - “Manufacturing leaders chart the impact of the recession and identify the opportunities and risks facing the U.S. manufacturing sector in the years ahead.”
  • Pickup in Hiring Expected - “The National Association of Business Economics (NABE) said on Oct. 26 that job losses appear to be slowly abating with the percentage of firms cutting payrolls falling to 31% from 36%. The percentage for firms adding jobs doubled from an all-time low of 6% in July to 12% in October.”
  • Drywall Lesson: Caveat Emptor - “U.S. homeowners suffering skin irritation, headaches and breathing difficulties they blame on Chinese-made drywall might have been expecting more from a visit to China by Inez Tenenbaum, the head of the U.S. agency in charge of product safety.”
  • Beige Book Sees Signs That Growth Is Stirring - “Regional economies in most parts of the country are on the mend, largely because home sales are rebounding and factories and manufacturers are stirring back to life, according to the Federal Reserve.”

The business outlook for manufacturers improved in the third quarter of 2009, marking the second consecutive quarterly improvement.

“When the economy entered recession in the fourth quarter of 2007, 70% of respondents to the NAM/IndustryWeek Manufacturing Index had a positive business outlook. This level of optimism bottomed out at 28% in the first quarter of this year. After increasing to a level of 42% in the second quarter, the share of survey respondents with a positive business outlook increased again to 55% in the third quarter, the highest level in six quarters.”

“While the recent improvement in manufacturers’ business outlook is positive news, results of the third quarter survey suggest that manufacturers expect business conditions to improve gradually over the next year, based on third quarter results on the outlook of sales, pricing power, investment, inventories, employment and wage growth, all of which improved for a second consecutive quarter in the third quarter of 2009.”

“Still, nearly identical to the second quarter survey roughly two-thirds (65%) of survey respondents do not expect an upturn in their company’s production until sometime in 2010.”

Click here to read the entire article.

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