Maria is the Chief Operating Officer and one of the founders of FloridaMakes, a state-wide consultancy with the mission of improving the productivity and technological performance of Florida’s manufacturers. In that role, Maria is focused on the management and oversight of all client-facing, operational activities including the development and implementation of assessments, training, consulting, and business networking for manufacturers to increase their top-line growth, bottom-line savings and long-term sustainability.
Maria has extensive management and operational experience in both manufacturing and professional consulting. She joined the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) National Network in 1995 as a project manager, and evolved to occupy management positions in product development and marketing, eventually directing operations in both the Massachusetts and an earlier Florida center. The MEP is operated nationally by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Maria has extensive experience working as an advisor to both domestic and international manufacturing companies on issues ranging from product development and marketing to strategic and operational planning. Prior to these advisory roles, Maria helped establish a manufacturing facility for producing photovoltaic solar panels, and managed two manufacturing companies based in Italy.
Maria serves as a board member for GrowFL and the Foundation for Manufacturing Excellence. Additionally, she has been appointed by the U.S Secretary of Commerce to serve on the Central-North Florida District Export Council.