For many manufacturers, the hardest part of solving a business challenge is knowing where to start.
That is where FloridaMakes Business Advisors come in.
Across the state, FloridaMakes Business Advisors work directly with manufacturers to better understand their goals, challenges, and opportunities. They help companies identify practical next steps, connect with trusted resources, and stay focused on what they do best: making products, serving customers, and growing their business.
In Northwest Florida, that work is led by Jolee Martin, Northwest Florida Regional Director for FloridaMakes.
Jolee brings more than 20 years of operational and leadership experience to the FloridaMakes team. Her background includes corporate leadership and strategy, quality management, change management, training, product management, operations, and continuous improvement. She has worked across a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, distribution, logistics, mining, medical services, and call centers.
Her experience helps her ask the right questions, identify opportunities, and support second-stage companies as they work to grow to the next level. Jolee holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Master of Business Administration with focuses in international business and financial analysis.
For Jolee, the most rewarding part of the work is helping manufacturers move forward with intention.
“It makes me happy when I can assist a manufacturer in growing, solving a challenge, acting with intention, or planning some upskilling to meet a goal,” she said.
Helping Manufacturers Know Where to Start
Manufacturers often know they need support, but they may not know which challenge to address first or which resource is the right fit.
Jolee’s work starts by helping companies make sense of what they are facing and identify a practical path forward. That could mean workforce support, operational improvement, supplier connections, facility planning, leadership discussions, training needs, or a connection to a subject matter expert.
The goal is not to overwhelm manufacturers with options. The goal is to help them understand where they are today, what needs attention, and what next step will create the most value.
Listening First, Then Prioritizing the Right Next Step
When Jolee begins working with a manufacturer, she is not looking for a perfect operation. She is looking for honesty, clarity, and a real understanding of where the company needs support.
“I am looking for the company to share with me where their pain points are,” Jolee said. “To be open and honest in what their current state really looks like. No judgement on what is or isn’t, because frankly our only goal is to help you move forward.”
That approach reflects a core part of the FloridaMakes model. The work starts with listening. From there, a Business Advisor can help identify what needs attention first, what resources may be available, and which partners or subject matter experts may be the right fit.
What Northwest Florida Manufacturers Are Facing
In Jolee’s region, workforce continues to be one of the most common challenges manufacturers are discussing.
Companies are working to find talent, keep talent, and upskill existing employees to meet business goals. Many are also looking for suppliers, vendors, and stronger connections within the manufacturing network.
“All of the manufacturers are speaking about finding and maintaining their workforce,” Jolee said. “Upskilling is of course a topic. Another is finding suppliers and vendors.”
These challenges are not isolated. Many manufacturers are managing growth, workforce pressure, production demands, and supply chain needs at the same time. FloridaMakes helps companies sort through those priorities and connect with resources that fit their specific situation.
A Recent Example of Regional Impact
One recent project that stood out to Jolee involved a rural manufacturer facing both workforce and operational planning needs.
The company needed to find an engineering manager in a community where there was not an obvious candidate pool. At the same time, the company was planning its facility and looking for ways to apply lean methodologies to improve capacity and throughput across the operation.
FloridaMakes helped support both priorities.
For Jolee, the best projects are the ones where the manufacturer understands that the work is collaborative.
“The best projects are projects where the manufacturer really wants us there, understands this is a collaboration, and sees the benefit of working with FloridaMakes so the manufacturer can stay focused on what they do best,” she said.
That is the value of having a trusted partner in the process. The manufacturer does not have to step away from running the business to figure everything out alone.
What Manufacturers May Not Realize About FloridaMakes
One of the biggest opportunities Jolee sees is that many manufacturers do not yet understand the full depth of support available through FloridaMakes and the national Manufacturing Extension Partnership network.
“Most companies believe they are out there, alone, trying to figure things out. This is not the case,” she said. “There is a whole tribe of subject matter experts ready to assist with whatever the next steps might be.”
Jolee describes FloridaMakes as a manufacturer’s “personal Swiss Army knife.”
“We are their trusted advisors to help with all types of challenges, training, strategic discussion, and facilitation,” she said.
That support can include workforce development, operational improvement, supplier connections, facility planning, leadership conversations, training needs, grant opportunities, strategic facilitation, and referrals to subject matter experts.
The goal is not to push a one-size-fits-all solution. The goal is to understand the manufacturer’s needs and connect the company with the right support.
Start With a No-Cost Assessment
For manufacturers who know they need support but are not sure where to begin, Jolee’s advice is direct:
“Start with FloridaMakes and the free assessment we provide every manufacturer,” she said. “This will help identify areas where support is needed and assist with prioritization of what bubbles up to the surface.”
The no-cost assessment gives manufacturers an opportunity to step back, look at the current state of the business, and identify the areas where support could make the biggest difference.
A Business Advisor may discuss workforce needs, operational efficiency, technology adoption, supplier connections, growth plans, training needs, and other priorities depending on the company’s goals.
From there, FloridaMakes can help connect the manufacturer to resources, partners, and subject matter experts through its statewide network.
A Practical Partner for Manufacturers
Jolee sees her role as more than a single assessment or referral.
“I am in the trenches with the manufacturer,” she said.
That perspective is what makes the Business Advisor relationship valuable. Manufacturers gain access to someone who understands their business challenges, can help them think through options, and can connect them with the right resources without adding another full-time salary or internal burden.
“FloridaMakes, and the MEP system nationally, is more than just an assessment or finding a grant,” Jolee said. “Your local FloridaMakes representative is like having a subject matter expert on staff without the staff salary or expense.”
For manufacturers in Northwest Florida and across the state, the first step can be simple: start the conversation.
Connect with a FloridaMakes Business Advisor to schedule a no-cost assessment and identify the right next step for your business.
Connect with a Business Advisor
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