The South Florida Manufacturers Association (SFMA) honored the region’s manufacturing powerhouses and top talent at its 45th Recognition of Excellence Ceremony.
The South Florida Manufacturers Association (SFMA), founded in 1961, is a non-profit trade association supporting and promoting manufacturers in South Florida. Representing companies in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach counties, and the Treasure Coast, SFMA fosters collaboration, education, and advocacy within the manufacturing community. Since 2016, SFMA has provided a $2.5 billion operational impact to manufacturers.
SFMA has held the distinction of being the #1 resource for South Florida manufacturers, saving its members time and money through advocacy, networking, and resources.
Held on June 20th, SFMA’s Recognition of Excellence Ceremony was held at the Charles F. Dodge City Center in Pembroke Pines with over 600 manufacturing professionals and business leaders in attendance. The event’s highlight was the prestigious 2024 Manufacturer-of-the-Year and Employee of the Year awards. Twenty-five finalists vied for Manufacturer of the Year, while 109 nominees competed for Employee of the Year, representing Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach counties, and the Treasure Coast.
Manufacturer of the Year winners, selected through a rigorous judging process based on the Malcolm Baldrige Performance Excellence Award criteria:
- Category 1: Micro Giants (1-20 Employees): Fortress Marine Anchors (Fort Lauderdale)
- Category 2: The Breakthroughs (21-75 Employees): CMN Steel Fabricators (Miami)
- Category 3: The Maverick (76-130 Employees): Slate Solutions (Davie)
- Category 4: The Trailblazers (131-199 Employees): Hog Technologies (Stuart)
- Category 5: The Titans (200+ Employees): HOERBIGER Corp of America (Pompano Beach)
Seven SV Microwave team members nominated; Daylin Pena and Patricia LaCroix (center) took home wins for the team.
Employee of the Year winners, recognized for their extraordinary contributions:
- Administrative: Patricia LaCroix (SV Microwave)
- Engineering: Grant Elgin (Stryker)
- Information Technology: Carl von Werder (Southeastern Printing)
- Production: Alexis Sardinas (Kohtler Elevator Industries)
- Production Support: Wilson Portero America (Kohtler Elevator Industries)
- Service Provider: Daniella Mattheus (Randstad USA)
- Supervisory: Daylin Pena (SV Microwave)
Patricia LaCroix, Marketing & Communications Manager at SV Microwave
South Florida Tech Hub corporate member, SV Mircowave had two employees win in the ‘Employee of the Year’ category and a total of sevon nimonated! Marketing & Communications Manager , Patricia LaCroix, shared, “It was a complete shock and honor to be recognized by the SFMA.”
The company posted on their social media, “We were so proud to have seven of our team recognized in categories ranging from Administrative to IT, Production, and Supervisory. Congratulations to Patricia LaCroix and Daylin Pena, who won Employee of the Year in their respective categories, and to Yaquelin Ereira and Lady Caceres who were awarded Runner-up in Production. We are very proud of all of our nominees!”
Matthew Rocco, SFMA Presiden
The manufacturing sector plays a vital role in Florida‘s economy. In 2023, Florida‘s manufacturing GDP reached $72.9 billion, with South Florida contributing $9.33 billion. The region boasts over 7,000 manufacturers and over 100,000 jobs, demonstrating the sector’s significant impact on the state’s economic landscape.
“Our Recognition of Excellence Ceremony is a tribute to the dedication, innovation, and talent driving our industry forward,” said Matthew Rocco, SFMA President. “With Florida now ranking as the 10th largest manufacturing state, South Florida took center stage, showcasing our region’s manufacturing powerhouses and their crucial role in our economy.”
For more information about South Florida Manufacturers Association, visit sfma.org.