Successful manufacturing growth doesn’t happen by chance. It’s driven by clear strategy, strong operations, and the right partners.
Since launching operations in Pensacola, Florida, BlueWind has quickly established itself as a trusted supplier in the renewable energy supply chain, producing composite nacelle covers for wind turbines used by a global energy leader. These critical components protect key systems such as generators, gearboxes, and controllers—making quality, precision, and durability essential.
BlueWind’s manufacturing process relies on advanced composite infusion techniques, a highly skilled workforce, and a commitment to continuous improvement. As customer demand increased, company leadership recognized the need to strengthen internal systems to support growth while maintaining their high standards.
The Challenge: Preparing for Growth Without Sacrificing Quality
As operations expanded, BlueWind faced several common—but critical—manufacturing challenges:
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Improving material flow and inventory management
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Upskilling existing team members while onboarding new hires
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Shortening training timelines without compromising safety or quality
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Preparing the organization for future growth and increased visibility
Leadership knew that scaling production while maintaining their core values—Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost—required outside perspective and proven support.
The Solution: Engaging the FloridaMakes Network
To address these challenges, BlueWind partnered with FloridaMakes Business Advisors to assess operations and identify targeted solutions aligned with the company’s goals.
Through the FloridaMakes Network, BlueWind:
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Participated in the Jobs for the Future Virtual Reality (VR) Pilot for Small Businesses, exploring VR as an innovative way to train employees on core soft skills and reinforce a strong workplace culture
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Leveraged immersive training methods to improve onboarding efficiency and reduce the time required for traditional on-the-job training
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Enrolled apprentices into online apprenticeship programs, strengthening skill development while building a sustainable talent pipeline
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Received operational support to improve manufacturer visibility and eligibility for additional programs and resources
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Gained industry recognition through nomination for a prestigious manufacturing award
As part of this engagement, BlueWind apprentice Jermaine Tart was recognized as an Apprentice of the Year, highlighting both individual achievement and the company’s commitment to workforce development. This recognition brought increased visibility to BlueWind’s operations and reinforced the value of investing in structured training and career pathways.
This holistic approach allowed leadership to invest intentionally in their people, processes, and long-term readiness.
The Results: Growth with Purpose
As a result of working with FloridaMakes, BlueWind experienced:
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Significant workforce growth over a relatively short period, supported by structured training and leadership development
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Expanded training opportunities for both apprentices and leadership
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Operational improvements that increased productivity and scalability
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Greater visibility within Florida’s manufacturing ecosystem
Most importantly, these results helped BlueWind grow faster than anticipated—without losing focus on quality, safety, or company culture.
Manufacturer Feedback
According to Henry Kelley, Blue Wind Co-Founder, the partnership delivered meaningful and measurable value:
This partnership with FloridaMakes results in a very good return to our company. Being able to learn and use the virtual reality to train our employees made our training process much more efficient, both in onboarding and internal training.
All of this helped us grow faster than planned. We went from 90 to 150 employees in a year—not an easy thing, especially when you must keep up with Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost, some of our main values at BlueWind. FloridaMakes really helped, and continues to help, with all of this.
Why Business Assessments Matter
BlueWind’s experience reflects what many manufacturers discover through FloridaMakes’ business assessment process:
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An external perspective helps uncover risks and opportunities that can be difficult to identify internally
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Workforce development—including apprenticeships—strengthens both culture and long-term talent pipelines
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Strategic guidance allows manufacturers to scale intentionally rather than reactively
The real value isn’t just growth—it’s sustainable, well-planned growth.
Ready to Strengthen Your Manufacturing Operation?
FloridaMakes Business Advisors work alongside manufacturers across Florida to assess operations, identify opportunities, and connect companies to workforce and operational resources that support long-term success.
Contact FloridaMakes today to learn how a business assessment can help your organization plan, scale, and succeed.
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