Florida Manufacturer Apprentice of the Year

Florida Manufacturer Apprentice of the Year
Sponsored by Toolingu SME

Florida Manufacturer
Apprentice of the Year

Celebrating Florida's rising manufacturing talent — one apprentice at a time.

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About the Program

Florida Manufacturer Apprentice of the Year recognizes outstanding apprentices and the manufacturers who invest in developing skilled talent through registered apprenticeship programs.

The program highlights companies that are:

Building a culture of recognition and continuous learning

Developing highly skilled manufacturing professionals

Strengthening retention through career pathways and advancement

Demonstrating leadership in workforce development

By nominating an apprentice, manufacturers showcase their commitment to investing in people while celebrating the individuals who are helping drive innovation, productivity, and growth in Florida's manufacturing sector.

Eligibility Criteria

✓
Enrolled in a registered manufacturing apprenticeship at the time of nomination
✓
Actively engaged or completed the program during that timeframe
✓
Recognized for outstanding commitment to learning, teamwork, or leadership

Ready to Nominate?

Deadline: September 15, 2026

Recognition drives retention. Celebrate the apprentices building your future workforce.

Nominate your apprentice for Florida Manufacturer Apprentice of the Year and showcase your company's commitment to developing skilled manufacturing talent.

Submit a Nomination →

No cost to participate · Open to all Florida manufacturers

Apprentice Group Photo 1
Apprentice Group Photo 2
Apprentice Group Photo 3

Join Us at the 2026
Awards Ceremony

Date & Location Coming Soon  ·  Orlando, FL

Spotlight
This year's winners will be honored at our annual awards ceremony in front of Florida's manufacturing community.
Spotlight
Award recipients will be featured across the FloridaMakes network — including our website, social media, marketing materials, and videos.

2025 Apprentices of the Year

Lilia Soria

Lilia Soria

Wrico Stamping Co of Florida

LeAnna Ritchie

LeAnna Ritchie

Ameritech Die & Mold South Inc

Jermaine Tart

Jermaine Tart

Blue Wind Technology

Brandon Baker

Brandon Baker

A-1 Industries

Dyshaun Herron

Dyshaun Herron

Knight's Armament Company

Avery Ervin

Avery Ervin

Knight's Armament Company

Gavin Roberson

Gavin Roberson

Vaya Space

Linda Willard

Linda Willard

Mack Technologies Florida, Inc

Melissa Perry

Melissa Perry

Mack Technologies Florida, Inc

Bennie Norwood

Bennie Norwood

Mack Technologies Florida, Inc

Larry Keys

Larry Keys

Bausch & Lomb Pharmaceuticals

Hear from our apprentices

"It meant a lot to me, as it validated the hard work and growth I've put into not only my career in manufacturing, but also into continuously improving myself day to day. It's given me more confidence in my abilities and motivated me to keep pushing myself and growing."

LeAnna Ritchie
Quality Assurance Manager  ·  Ameritech Die & Mold South Inc

2025 Participating Companies

Meet the Florida manufacturers who invested in their people — and helped shape the future of manufacturing.

Knight's Armament Company   ⌄
Knight's Armament group photo
Knight's Armament Company

Knight's Armament Company invested in two outstanding apprentices, demonstrating exceptional commitment to workforce development and precision manufacturing.

Dyshaun HerronAvery Ervin
Visit Website →
Mack Technologies Florida, Inc   ⌄
Mack Technologies group photo
Mack Technologies Florida, Inc

Mack Technologies Florida sponsored three Apprentices of the Year, showcasing a deep commitment to growing skilled talent from within their team.

Linda WillardMelissa PerryBennie Norwood
Visit Website →
Wrico Stamping Co of Florida   ⌄
Wrico group photo
Wrico Stamping Co of Florida

Wrico Stamping recognized Lilia Soria for her dedication to quality, precision, and continuous improvement throughout her apprenticeship program.

Lilia Soria
Visit Website →
Ameritech Die & Mold South Inc   ⌄
Ameritech group photo
Ameritech Die & Mold South Inc

Ameritech Die & Mold South Inc nominated LeAnna Ritchie for her outstanding growth, teamwork, and technical skill development during her apprenticeship.

LeAnna Ritchie
Visit Website →
Blue Wind Technology   ⌄
Blue Wind group photo
Blue Wind Technology

Blue Wind Technology championed Jermaine Tart, whose leadership potential and commitment to excellence exemplify the spirit of Florida's manufacturing future.

Jermaine Tart
Visit Website →
A-1 Industries   ⌄
A-1 Industries group photo
A-1 Industries

A-1 Industries recognized Brandon Baker for his work ethic, reliability, and impressive growth demonstrated across all stages of his apprenticeship.

Brandon Baker
Visit Website →
Vaya Space   ⌄
Vaya Space group photo
Vaya Space

Vaya Space nominated Gavin Roberson, who stood out for his innovative thinking and dedication to cutting-edge manufacturing processes during his apprenticeship.

Gavin Roberson
Visit Website →
Bausch & Lomb Pharmaceuticals   ⌄
Bausch & Lomb group photo
Bausch & Lomb Pharmaceuticals

Bausch & Lomb Pharmaceuticals recognized Larry Keys for exceptional performance in a highly regulated manufacturing environment and commitment to quality standards.

Larry Keys
Visit Website →

Ready to Nominate?

Deadline: September 15, 2026

Submit a Nomination →


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