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2021 - 2022 BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
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Bios
Jeff Cole is a master instructor at AmSkills located in Holiday, FL. AmSkills is a vocational training center dedicated to providing workforce training. Formerly Vice President with Electro Mechanical Solutions, a contract manufacturing specialist in Odessa, FL. While business expansion and mechanical engineering take the forefront of his many responsibilities at EMS, he also oversees Quality Assurance, and contributes greatly to Information Technology. He enjoys working directly with customers to help solve complex problems. Previously, Jeff spent ten years as COO/owner of a semiconductor robotics manufacturer. Jeff’s primary responsibility was software engineering and contributed to the day to day operations.
Jeff brings over 40 years of manufacturing experience to BAMA. His career has included taking his expertise working with flight simulators, robotics,and super computers across the globe.
Roy Sweatman is President and owner of Southern Manufacturing Technologies, Inc (SMT).
SMT is a precision custom manufacturer located in Tampa. SMT’s 100 employees utilize 22 CNC machine tools to produce high precision components for the Aircraft, Aerospace and Defense Industries.
Roy has spent his entire career in manufacturing starting as an Apprentice Machinist at GE and, after 13 years at GE he then spent 5 years as General Manager of a precision machining company in the Cleveland area. In 1983 Roy moved to Tampa and bought a small machining company with 5 employees and has grown it to what it is today.
Roy is a past National Chairman of the National Tooling and Machining Association. Roy currently serves on the Boards of NIMS, Florida West Coast Chapter of NTMA, BAMA, Career Source Tampa Bay, and Florida Makes where he also chairs the Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Leadership Council.
Roy also serves on numerous Advisory Councils such as The Manufacturing Alliance of Hillsborough County, East Lake High School, Middleton High School, River Ridge High School, and Pinellas Technical College where he chairs the Tampa Bay Machining Apprenticeship.
Bobby likes to be on the water with his jetski just about every weekend around Florida. He loves to travel and spend time with family and friends.
After graduating high school in Tampa, Pete Cirak enlisted into the Marine Corps where he served in varying capacities for six years. Pete started at Hillsborough Community College after an honorable discharge from the Marines, and was one of the first Honors students in the program’s inaugural year. Pete founded the Honors student organization, Arete, at HCC, which is still an active student organization at the school. From HCC, Pete was one of four transfer students in the nation to receive Boston University’s Trustee Scholarship, a full academic scholarship, where he pursued a degree in aerospace engineering. After graduating BU in 2001 with his B.S., Pete accepted an offer into GE Aviation’s Edison Engineering Leadership Program where he started his aerospace manufacturing career. Since then, Pete has earned his M.S. in aerospace engineering, and has worked on a multitude of aerospace platforms and applications in different capacities, quality being the primary. Currently, Pete is the Vice President of Quality at Seal Dynamics in Tampa, FL, a commercial aerospace company that provides aftermarket solutions to large commercial aircraft operators and MROs. Since graduating from HCC, Pete has provided his support to his alma maters and community with his time and financial resources. Pete received the HCC Outstanding Alumni award in 2008, a Boston University Engineering Distinguished Alumni Award for service in 2009, BAMA’s Emerging Leader Award in 2018, and FLATE’s Distinguished Manufacturing Service Award in 2021. Pete serves on the academic advising councils for SPC’s Engineering Technology program, HCC’s Engineering Technology program, HCC’s Honors Program, the HCC Brandon Campus President’s advisory council, and the HCC Foundation Board of Directors as the HCC alumni chair. |
Kevin Gerrish is the Vice President of Operations for Beckwith Electric and has responsibility for manufacturing, quality, planning, purchasing, receiving, assembly, test, shipping, and facilities management. Mr. Gerrish has over 25 years of experience in engineering, operations, and general management. His experience includes embedded control systems, systems engineering, communications, operational management and excellence, and Lean Six Sigma process management. Mr. Gerrish received his Masters in Business Administration from Pepperdine University in Malibu, CA, and his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY. He has authored 17 U.S. patents.
Bob Kinney has a been a member of BAMA for three years and heads up the RoundTable Committee. He is also active on the Membership Committee. Bob has spent his entire career in manufacturing working his way up through engineering and management positions to GM roles with full P&L responsibility. Bob has a passion for innovation and continuous improvement and enjoys helping manufacturer’s in these areas, including as a FLMakes 3rd Party Provider. Bob is a lifelong learner and plays this forward by helping people reach their individual peak performance, aligning their talents to their role. Bob is a Certified Mentor, Certified Manager, Certified Innermetrix Consultant and has a Lean Management Certificate. He earned his MBA (Kellogg/Wharton) overseas.
Christina Davenport is the President at JMI Professional Services Inc., a new division of JMI Resource offering contract and direct placements for: Healthcare, Technology, Accounting/Finance and Business Operations. She holds an Associates Degree from the College of Lake County. She was the President of BAMA from June 2018 until July 2022. She says, "I am an ambitious, compassionate business owner growing a successful business. My goal is to continue to build a successful business that will enable me to serve our community in a greater capacity as well as leave a legacy for my children. "
Grant Peterson represents and counsels employers regarding a broad range of U.S and international labor and employment law issues, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and other anti-corruption law issues, and data privacy and data protection law issues. He represents clients in a wide variety of industries, including manufacturing, service, healthcare, financial, retail, and food processing, as well as multinational companies and trade associations. Grant recieved the Life Member Award in 2014.
Cristine is a senior manager in the Audit & Assurance Services practice of Saltmarsh, Cleaveland & Gund. Cristine has over 10 years of experience and provides audit and assurance services for the firm’s manufacturing and distribution and construction clients. Prior to joining Saltmarsh, Cristine served as a director at a national firm where she managed engagement teams and gained audit experience working with privately held businesses.
Cristine is passionate about serving her clients, building her team, volunteering in her community, and collaborating and networking with industry partners. She is dedicated to providing solutions for and supporting the growth of manufacturing in Tampa Bay by reviewing financial statements and offering deep technical accounting knowledge. She is crucial to the firms added-value resources as she helps produce webinars, white papers and network-building events.
Suzanne Chambers has been a BAMA member for 3 year and currently represents Roebuck Technologies, A Managed Services/IT Consulting firm located here in Tampa Florida. Roebuck Technologies works with all businesses and has had a special relationships with construction materials and related manufacturing companies. Roebuck Technologies helps businesses enhance internal technical resources and increase employee productivity. They offer a flexible monitoring platform customized for the needs of each client. Our team proactively supports infrastructure and optimizes technology, while defending against cyberattack.
Suzanne graduated from Bridgewater State University in Massachusetts with a BA in Communications Arts and Sciences. Communication has always been key to any relationship both business and personal. Communication is not always about talking but about listening to understand the other person. With over 30 years of customer relationship management experience throughout Florida, Suzanne has provided personalized service to businesses seeking technology solutions as well as currently volunteering as an ambassador with The Tampa Bay Chamber and the Westshore Alliance.
Troy Underwood is the owner of Urban Metals LLC, which does business in the Tampa Bay Area under the name of Tampa Steel & Supply (TSS). TSS is a full line metal service center located in Ybor City that also produces decorative metal products. Troy purchased TSS in 2018 having served as President since 2014. The business was recognized by the Business Observer as one of the top 500 largest companies on the Gulf Coast in 2020.
Troy has an extensive record in management and sales of consumer and industrial building products. Prior to his positions at TSS, Troy oversaw the stone veneer manufacturing facility for Environmental Stoneworks in Atlanta where he learned and implemented LEAN manufacturing principals.
In addition to being on the Board of Directors for the Bay Area Manufacturers Association (BAMA), Troy is on the National Small Business Association’s (NSBA) Leadership Council and he volunteers as an Advisor to both Hillsborough Community College’s Office Administration Program and Welding Program.
Troy is a Veteran, having served honorably for nine years as an Officer in the Army Reserve. His company is Certified by the State of Florida’s Office of Supplier Diversity as a Veteran Owned Business.
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Photography by Carver Mostardi. Carver captures bold, striking images of business and industry on location throughout the Tampa Bay Area. Specializing in commercial, industrial, and manufacturing photography from head-shots to aerial photography.
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