About Us

Mission

The mission of the Northwest Florida Manufacturers Council is to strengthen the economic competitiveness of the region’s manufacturers by acting as a single voice to address common interests.

Region

The Council represents manufacturers and partners in the Northwest Florida region to include Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Bay, Holmes, Washington, Jackson, Calhoun, and Liberty Counties.

Membership

Membership in the Council is open to manufacturers of all sizes and sub-clusters who are located or have a presence in the Northwest Florida region. Membership is also open to affiliate members who have an interest in the economic success of the manufacturing industry in Northwest Florida, as well as to public partners who support the efforts of the Council. Membership can be achieved by application, approval of the Board, and payment of annual dues.

Operations

The business of the Northwest Florida Manufacturers Council is carried out by a 7 – 15 member Board of Directors. Board seats are held by Council members, and at all times, at least 75% of the Board seats are held by manufacturers from the region. The Council will seek to ensure the Board is comprised of representatives of various sub-clusters of the manufacturing industry as well as representative of the entire region geographically and of various sizes of manufacturers. The Board of Directors will meet monthly, and the full membership will meet quarterly.

Leadership

The Board of Directors of the Northwest Florida Manufacturers Council is led by an Executive Committee comprised of a Chair, Vice-Chairs, Secretary, and Treasurer. Board members are elected into these positions for a set term by the Board of Directors. In addition, members of the Board of Directors have responsibilities associated with chairing and participating in the work of committees that engage with partners to carry out the strategic priorities of the Council.

Measure of Success

The program of work of the Council will be developed through input from members, but will at least initially serve to deepen the manufacturing talent pool, shore up talent support for our existing manufacturers and make the region ripe for future industry investment and job creation in the manufacturing industry. Members can expect to see a greater awareness of manufacturing careers in the region, a reduction in costs associated with recruiting, hiring, and training entry-level employees, higher skills among entry-level workers, and reduced turnover rates. These and other metrics will be used to determine Return on Investment for all members. The Northwest Florida Manufacturers Council advocates on important business climate issues to manufacturers in the region.