A Cornerstone to the Future

Lake Ray

Manufacturers in the State of Florida have worked tirelessly for years to find support on key issues facing our industry. The backbone and widely recognized spokesperson and leader representing our regional concerns has been Lad Daniels. The numerous accomplishments achieved by FCMA under his leadership include industrial land perseveration zoning, sound policy for TMDL, regulatory reform initiatives, tax incentive programs and working toward energy cost reduction. Lad has had the vision and foresight for almost two decades to understand issues facing the industry well in advance of regulatory implementation. FCMA has become a well respected association having now grown to almost 300 members.

As the economy of the state has turned, elected officials at all levels are seeking opportunities to broaden the economic base of the state. Finally, we find our citizens asking what can be done to get people back to work and create jobs. The state has actively been engaged in trying to reduce regulations, control tax burdens and provide certainty to all business sectors. The state is endeavoring to provide a much friendly business environment. The outlook currently being created by the Federal government is far less friendly with waves of new and increased regulations on businesses. The Federal is planning to increase jobs by spending more money on projects.

This year in the Legislature we will build on the previous progress of reducing regulations and finding incentives to manufacturers, shippers and other businesses. The policy of allowing the free markets to operate and provide wise incentives will create permanent jobs rather than short term work for government funded projects. Manufacturers will be a part of the discussion at the state level as we look for ways to improve the economy and get people back to work.

The cornerstone to our future has been laid by the fine work that Lad and our many members have strived to achieve. The public is becoming more aware of the importance of a broad based economy which includes manufacturing. I am deeply honored and pleased to build on the cornerstone established and believe we have a great future, which will require effort to achieve, but worthy of the effort.

I will be looking forward to working with you to learn more about your individual businesses and ways in which we can improve FCMA to better serve you and the region.

Welcome to…

DKB Strategic Solutions
Contact: Mike Harper, Marketing Manager
Phone: (904) 217-3859
717 Grand Park Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32259

…a transportation provider that gives the customer choices with carriers, delivery and the ability to shop the price they want to pay.

Sponsor: Wanda Fort, Aflac

Global Infonet, Inc.
Contact: Darcy Miller, Director of Sales & Marketing
Phone: (904) 724-8880 x113
9485 Regency Square Blvd, Suite 330, Jacksonville, FL 32225

…provides consultations on Business Process, Business Intelligence, a Custom Software Application to help drive productivity or to enhance current offerings.

Sponsor: FCMA

Krystal Co.
Contact: Jeremiah Morgan
Phone: (904) 838-8003
13679 Atlantic Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32225

…Northeast Florida’s largest window cleaning, painting and pressure washing company.

Sponsor: Scott Arant, Cascade Water Services

Southeastern Metal
Contact: Phil Renda, President
Phone: (904) 696-4659
11801 Industry Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32218

…one of the region’s leading manufacturers of metal building products.

Sponsor: FCMA

StaffTime
Contact: Kelley Moore, Chief Operating Officer
Phone: (904) 215-1313
1855 Wells Road, Suite 7, Orange Park, FL 32073

…provides temporary staffing solutions; including temp, temp-to-direct, direct placement, special projects, payrolling.

Sponsor: FCMA

The Supply Source
Contact: Autumn Morris, Vice President Operations
Phone: (904) 826-5008
7076 Davis Creek Road, Jacksonville, FL 32256

…manufactures Stretch Wrap, Tape, Poly Bags, Cushioning, Shrink, Strapping, Boxes, Packaging Papers, and Safety Supplies.

Sponsor: FCMA

M.O.N.E.Y.


Our last Members Only Networking Event for You for 2011 will be held at Mudville Grille (3105 Beach Boulevard) on October 20 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm. Entry cost is $5 and all money collected will be put into a special drawing. You could WIN BIG!

Sponsorship Opportunity - We are still looking for sponsors for the event. This will be your last chance of the year to advertise for your company! Click here for more information.

Supervisory Training Workshop

Companies know that frontline supervisors are the key to their success, yet many struggle with the skills needed to be effective leaders. This challenge is often met with offering some type of supervisory training – yet getting great results from the training can be very difficult. If you are thinking about conducting supervisory training within your company or would like to improve the effectiveness of a current one, then you need to attend this workshop. Joanna Scarboro has been conducting supervisory training programs throughout area companies for the last 10 years and has strategies, tips and ideas to conduct an impactful, measurable offering. Her real world experience, successes and lessons learned, can help your efforts be much more effective!

  • Presenter: Joanna Scarboro, Manager Learning and Development. Corporate Coach, Vistakon
  • Where: Northeast Florida Regional Council (6850 Belfort Oaks Place)
  • When: Wednesday, October 26, 2011, 7:30 – 9:30AM
  • Cost: $35 Members / $50 Non-Members (Includes continental breakfast)
  • RSVP: E-mail Sherri

Sustainability Workshop


How ‘‘Going Green’’ Can Green Up Your Image While Adding Green to Your Bottom Line! - presented by the EHS Committee.

  • When: Thursday, October 27, 2011
    7:30 AM – Registration/Breakfast, 7:45-11:00 AM – Program, 11:30 - Plant Tour
  • Where: Anheuser Busch InBev, Inc. (111 Busch Drive)
  • Cost: $45.00 –Members / $75.00 – Non-Members (Includes continental breakfast)
  • RSVP: Email Debbie

2011 Holiday Social

Save the date! FCMA’s annual Holiday Social will be held on Tuesday, December 6. Stay tuned to VOICE and the FCMA website for more details.

Support Our Port Rally


Join us in supporting JAXPORT with Bring the Noise at the Jacksonville Landing on October 6 at 5:30PM. Come enjoy food, live entertainment, Jaxson DeVille, Miss Jacksonville, and special messages from Governor Scott and Mayor Brown.

Manufacturers Summit and Marketplace


Did you know that Florida’s manufacturing sector demonstrates the largest multiplier effect of any Florida industry? According to a recent study by Florida TaxWatch, for each $1.00 of manufactured goods created by our manufacturers, $1.43 worth of activity is generated in other industry sectors! Don’t miss the upcoming Florida Manufacturers Summit and Marketplace.

The event will be November 30 - December 1 at the Hyatt Regency Orlando Airport is a key gathering to set the course for manufacturing in Florida for the upcoming year. A skilled workforce, new markets, state incentives, ways to improve your business, and much more are a part of the educational/conversational forums. The nation is counting on manufacturing to turn the economy around. Armed with new information and contacts, you will be better prepared for the upcoming year.

Contact Nancy Stephens at (850) 402-2954, or visit the website for more information.

October 24 at JEA


Join us from 4:00-6:00 PM at JEA, located at 6772 Commonwealth Ave in Jacksonville (Take I-10 west to 295, exit on Commonwealth and go east. JEA will be on your right). Attendees will be touring the electrical meter cleaning room, where JEA cleans meters that are going to be refurbished and redeployed or sent back to the manufacturer. Also, there will be a tour of the electrical meter lab, where JEA tests the meters. The presentation is going to be on conservation, energy efficiency, and incentives available from JEA for manufacturers who use energy efficient equipment.


A special thanks to Alternate Energy Technologies for hosting our September 26 meeting. AET has supplied solar water heating systems for both residential and commercial applications since 1975. We had a great turnout with lots or guests and new members!

2011 Crane Awards - Outstanding Employee Recognition


With over 300 in attendance, 78 award winners, and 32 participating companies, the night was a huge success! On September 16, these companies got together to honor their outstanding employees by to publicly announcing them as true winners. FCMA thanks the companies who either sponsored the event or who honored their outstanding employees and for some…who did both.

Thank you to the Crane Awards Committee for their time and dedication to this very special event (pictured below, top right). A special thank you to Julie Radigan of Waste Management for her role as event chairperson.

The winners will also be recognized on October 2 in the TU insert (pictured right) – thanks to our partnership with the Florida Times-Union!

Click here to view the entire list of winners.

Class of 2011 Graduation

The class of 2012 held its graduation dinner on September 20 at The River Club. This celebration wraps up 15 years of the program and it is still going strong. If you are interested in providing your up-and-comer or young professional with additional leadership and networking skills, make sure to sign up early for the 2012 class. Class size is limited! Click here for 2012 Nomination Form.

CAP Back to School Project

Picket, Brentwood, and Ramona Elementary were the schools the CAP donated bags full of supplies to this year. It was hard to tell who was more excited, the CAP Group, who consist of Roger Chubin (IFF), Leane Merriweather & Mark Mullis (CSX), Nate Walters (Reichhold), or the students. We got to hand deliver to all students and that was a real treat seeing their smiling faces!

We can’t wait until next year. Let us know if your company wants to be a part of this very rewarding venture.

WFD Workshop

The September 28 workshop on Social Media and the NLRB was an eye-opener! If you don’t have specific company guidelines in place on using the internet, Facebook, or Twitter, you could be heading for a lawsuit. Pat Hill (pictured below, right) with Smith Gambrell & Russell was able to shed light on the emerging issues companies are dealing with today on social media and rulings of the National Labor Relations Board. Since this issue is here to stay, you will be hearing more and more–expect another workshop in 2012.


City Council Vice President Bill Bishop was our special guest at the September meeting at International Flavors and Fragrances. He gave an update on the budget process and his goals and objectives. Special thanks to our lunch sponsor, Akerman Senterfitt.


The September meeting completes the EHS Committee’s off-site meetings sharing industry safety best management practices at IFF. Roger Chubin shared information on the SafeStart safety training program. After his presentation the committee toured the plant. We will continue these quarterly off-site meetings in 2012.

Wage & Benefit Survey

Reserve your copy of FCMA’s 2011 Wage & Benefit Survey by contacting Sherri Mitchell. This survey is available only to FCMA members for $75. Participating members receive a complimentary copy.

A Special Thank You to Our Sponsors

Akerman, Alexander DeGance Barnett P.A., Ford & Harrison LLP,
Fowler White Boggs, Holland & Knight, McGuireWoods, Rogers Towers,
Smith Gambrell & Russell LLP


Bank of America/Merrill Lynch… branches donated more than 400 pounds of school supplies to Duval County Schools through Communities in Schools of Jacksonville

CSX Transportation… Senior vice president of law and public affairs Ellen Fitzsimmons was featured in an article in the Jacksonville Business Journal.
CSX was one of 15 recipients of the 2011 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award this week for supporting National Guard employees . Click here for more information.

Industrial Power Systems… was acquired by Industrial Electric Manufacturing Inc. Click here for more information.

Jacksonville Aviation Authority… is planing a study on Cecil air cargo facility. Click here for more information.

The Jacksonville Bank… has promoted Scott Hall to president of the bank. Click here for more information.

Jacksonville Economic Development Commission… executive director Ron Barton resigned last week.

Jacksonville Port Authority… Chief financial officer Michael Poole was featured in an article in the Jacksonville Business Journal.

Jax Chamber… is renovating its building to match its new name. Click here for more information.

Peak 10… was ranked 12th among large companies in Florida Trend’s Best Companies to Work For in Florida.

Rayonier… has signed an agreement to buy 250,000 acres of timberland in Mississippi, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Alabama.

Saft America… was featured in an article in the Florida Times-Union about their official grand opening last month.

Smith Gambrell & Russell LLP… 11 attorneys were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2012. The attorneys selected are: Thomas H. Asselin, Andrew J. Fawbush, Stephen M. Forte, Patricia J. Hill, J. Rodgers Lunsford III, James H. Morgan, Jr., Stephen E. O’Day, Thomas W. Rhodes, Douglas G. Stanford, Douglas W. Stein, and Kathryn M. Zickert

TD Bank… was recognized by Money magazine as one of the Best Banks 2011. TD was cited as the Best Regional Bank East for convenience.
TD hired Dennis Bougie as portfolio manager.

U.S. Security Associates… has been chosen to be the new security officer provider for fellow FCMA member Adcom Wire Company.

Jacksonville Business Journal lists… Congratulations to our members recognized in recent JBJ lists…

  • Top Women-Owned Businesses
    • (3) Aerostar Environmental Services Inc., (10) Safe-Lite Optical, (16) Health Designs Inc.

  • Is Manufacturing Falling Off the Radar? - “Manufacturing is not simply a market activity, especially not in the 21st century: manufacturers rely increasingly on governments, here and abroad, to prosper and expand…”

Small Manufacturers Rethink ‘Made In China’

“Like scads of other small American companies, Simple Wishes, a Sacramento-based maker of breast-pump bras, has been having its products manufactured in China. But lately, co-owner Joy Kosak has had second thoughts. The company’s shipping costs went up 15 percent last year, and the wage gap between China and the U.S., though still large, has been narrowing. “We would love a made in the usa label,” muses Kosak, who founded Simple Wishes with her three sisters in 2009.

“We’re witnessing a sea change in the way entrepreneurs think about manufacturing. Increasingly, China isn’t the bargain it once was, and making things in the U.S. seems less over-the-top expensive now. Like Simple Wishes, many small businesses that sell goods in the U.S. are rethinking whether manufacturing on the other side of the planet is worth it.”

Click here to read the entire article.

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