Pasco County Chairman, District 3, Kathryn Starkey was honored with the Upper Tampa Bay Manufacturers Association’s Distinguished Manufacturing Service Award.  She received the honor on October 6, 2016, at the Fourth Annual Manufacturers Dinner in Oldsmar.

“Our Distinguished Manufacturing Service Award goes to someone who has shown a lot of grit, passion and perseverance in improving manufacturing training in the region,” said Jerry Custin, Director BME of the Upper Tampa Bay Manufacturers Association.  “Chairman Starkey was convinced of the need, saw the gaps and looked for a model to emulate.”

Chairman Starkey, in her effort to learn more about the manufacturing process, visited numerous places to investigate effective manufacturing models.  She learned about practical and theoretical manufacturing practices, seeking examples with trips to Germany; Charleston, S.C.; Tallahassee and Washington, D.C. where she sought support and validation for the American Manufacturing Skills Initiative (AMskills).

“Starkey is a considerable local advocate for manufacturing and is the champion of the American Skills Initiative in Tampa Bay,” said Custin.  “Those efforts are now starting to bear fruit and that is why we have honored her with the 2016 Distinguished Manufacturing Service Award.”

“I am honored to be recognized by the Upper Tampa Bay Manufacturers Association,” said Chairman Kathryn Starkey.  “Not only have we looked at some of the best practices involved in manufacturing, but we’ve been successful in bringing additional manufacturing to Pasco County.”

AMskills delivers a world class, high tech and company-sponsored apprenticeship program. Tampa Bay students train under the guidance of today’s precision engineering companies — learning technical skills that propel them into advanced manufacturing careers. Thanks to a technologically cutting-edge, industry-led training program, AMskills graduates meet business needs and are highly sought after by regional, national and international employers.

For more information about AMskills click on the following link: http://www.amskills.org

For more information about Chairman Starkey, click on the following link: http://fl-pascocounty.civicplus.com/directory.aspx?EID=351