VMA’s slate of officers and directors for 2024 were installed at the organization’s 43rd Annual Awards Banquet last night, as well as presentations to several manufacturing industry award winners. Each year, the Volusia Manufacturers Association recognizes its members for their achievements in the manufacturing industry. The night also marked the retirement of Jayne Fifer, who has been involved in the organization for 25 years, serving as president/CEO until last year when her daughter, Jessica Lovatt assumed the role. The event was held at Daytona Grande Oceanfront Resort in Daytona Beach.
The 2024 officers and directors are as follows:
Officers
Chairman, Cory McAndrew, By Light Professional IT Services
Vice Chairman, Dan Snellback, Pentair
President/CEO, Jessica Lovatt, VMA
Directors
Accountant/FAD – Michael Grice – James Moore
Awards Selection – Paul McAllistar -AquaComfort Water Group
Human Resources Division – Kathi MacLeod – Command Medical
Education Division – Amy Monahan – Volusia County Schools
Executive Leadership – Cory Hall – Technetics
Legal Advisor Government – John Ferguson – CobbCole
Lou Fifer Golf Tournament – Theresa Peterson – Hylant
Membership – Jacquie Yantis – Intracoastal Bank
OpEx Division – Joe Hasson – ABB
Following the installation of the officers and directors, the following manufacturing industry awards were presented. The award criteria has been developed by its members to identify leaders in the association to act as role models and showcase best practices that will inspire local manufacturers.
Business and industrial leaders in the area nominate the companies and individuals for the awards. The nominee’s credentials are reviewed by a manufacturing-related committee including Kathy Crews, ERAU, Cory McAndrew, By Light Professional IT Services; Mark Willman, Cadence Bank; Theresa Peterson, Hylant; Amy Monahan, Volusia County Schools.
This year’s award winners are:
1) Friend of Industry Award
Presented to the Service Partner member who has done the most to further the interests of manufacturing and the VMA.
Erik Kraby
SouthState Bank
Reason for Selection: Consistent commitment to the success of the Robot Brawl and the Lou Fifer Golf Tournament.
2) Karl Schiller Member of the Year Award
Presented to the VMA Manufacturer member who has made the most significant contribution to the success of VMA
Cory McAndrew
By Light Professional IT Services
Reason for Selection: His commitment, leadership and dedication to all things VMA.
3) Best Practice Award
Recognizes the manufacturer with exceptional practices.
Sparton
Maker of sonobuoys.
Reason for Selection: The Production Training Team conducted a training process improvement that reduced annual training hours by 25%.
4) Social Responsibility Award
Presented to the VMA company engaged in balancing profit-making activities with activities that benefit the society in which they operate.
Command Medical
Provides disposable medical device contract manufacturing services.
Reason for Selection: Command Medical believes in being good corporate citizens. It devotes much time, money, and resources to being socially responsible to our communities and our employees who live and work here.
5) Emerging Leader Award
New in 2023! Presented to the under 35 person who has shown extraordinary leadership qualities.
Taylor Miller, Germfree
Reason for the Selection: Taylor’s career, marked by dedication and a commitment to excellence. Her journey from a Human Resources Generalist to the Chief of Staff highlights the opportunities achievable through determination in this field. Taylor’s impact on the industry is both remarkable and noteworthy.
6) We Make It Here! Education Champion Award
Recognizes the individual who contributed most to building awareness of the career opportunities in manufacturing with the 16-26-year-old age group.
Kevin Kyle
Germfree
Reason for Selection: Commitment to the success of the FAME Advanced Manufacturing Technician training program, building future skilled manufacturing employees.
7) Jayne Fifer Women In Manufacturing Award
Presented to individual women in manufacturing who have demonstrated excellence and leadership in their careers and represent all levels of manufacturing from the factory floor to the C-suite.
Enid Ojeda-Gonzalez
Sparton
Michelle Warner
By Light Professional IT Services
8) Innovation Award
This award will recognize the Volusia and Flagler counties and Central Florida organizations and people who bring new ideas to life. Whether that idea is big or small, these ideas change the way we experience the world.
Teledyne Marine
Reason for Selection: Teledyne has developed the fiber optic connection system that can withstand the extreme pressure, temperature and harsh fluid exposure of the subsea well, mate reliably at the bottom of the ocean where there can be up to 3000 meters of water above the connection and survive in the challenging environment for 25 years without failure. This is a very difficult problem that NO OTHER connector manufacturer in the world has been able to successfully solve.
9) Exporter of the Year Award
This award will be presented to a Volusia County firm that has demonstrated outstanding export performance.
Teledyne Marine
The world leader in underwater electrical and fiber optic interconnect systems for
the harshest environments and at any ocean depth.
Reason for Selection: 80% of Teledyne’s locally manufactured products are shipped to every corner of the globe, such as, Norway, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Angola, Guyana, Canada and Indonesia.
10) Hall of Fame “Manny” Award
Presented to an individual for life-long achievement in manufacturing in Volusia County. The person is inducted into the MANUFACTURERS HALL OF FAME.
Rick Hall
ABB Installation Products
11) Lou Fifer Manufacturer of the Year >50 Employees
This Award recognizes the area’s top manufacturing companies. It was named after the founding Executive Director in 2009. Lou Fifer lived his life as a champion of Americanism, capitalism and free enterprise. He was a vigorous, positive thinker. He believed in the power of manufacturing. The winners of this award embody his beliefs.
ABB Installation Products
ABB Installation Products is powering and protecting your world through reliable electrical products in sustainable ways.
Reason for Selection: With over 50 years of operating in Ormond Beach, FL and celebrating its 60th anniversary in business in 2023, they are proud to have been a part of both the past and the future of Ormond Beach and Volusia County. As one of the early members of VMA and a leading manufacturer in the industry, they continue to contribute locally, nationally and globally to a better place to live and work.
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.
