Manufacturers share their love for manufacturing with students

(Bradenton, FL—October 5, 2018) On October 5, local manufacturers came to Manatee Technical College hoping to inspire the next generation of manufacturers.  The event was one of many across the country celebrating National Manufacturing Day.

Kicking off the event was Ariel Bollero from Feld Entertainment.  The director of Body Shop Operations and the Monster Truck Fleet told the winding story of his career and how he came to join Feld.  He also talked about manufacturing and the Industrial Revolution. “What they had in common was they all wanted to make things better.”

Gretchen Bauer, founder and CEO of BSwanky, got everyone’s attention when she started her presentation by draping the podium with a scarf of embossed leather used in the production of her handbags, which are manufactured in Sarasota. She was joined by Dave Szczepaniuk, managing director of product development, who showed the students the molds used in the process.  They spoke of the importance of their partnership—form and function—and the necessity for marketing and operations to work together to be successful.

John McCarthy, executive director of Historic Spanish Point wrapped up the event with a riveting presentation on the history of manufacturing in Sarasota and Manatee counties.

What came across from all the speakers was their love for manufacturing.

Manatee is home to over 300 manufacturers, which provide some of the highest paying jobs in the county.

Manatee Technical College provides workforce training for career certificates and industry certifications in Advanced Manufacturing, Machining, Welding Technologies, and over 45 other programs to address the workforce demands of the community.