Nassau County Economic Development Board launches STEMM Week to coincide with National Manufacturing Day

Submitted by Karen Shexnayder 
Nassau County Economic Development Board
October 19, 2015 11:18 a.m.

STEM jobs comprise the second-fastest growing job sector over the next decade and it is estimated that by 2020, 2.6 million new STEM jobs will be created, contributing to a total of 8 million STEM jobs. To ensure Nassau County meets the challenges of advancing a first-class workforce, the Nassau County Economic Development Board (NCEDB) launched STEMM Week. STEMM Week, which took place September 28 – October 2, 2015, was a week-long initiative to bring the business community to the classroom, raising awareness of STEM jobs in Nassau County and emphasizing the importance of science, technology/trades, engineering and math to our students. The event culminated on National Manufacturing Day. An open house was held at Rayonier Advanced Materials with participation from Florida Public Utilities and CR Meyer.

“We chose to do a variation on STEM by using STEMM to include medical and manufacturing. Registered nurses were the most advertised jobs in 2014 in Florida and as our population continues to grow and age, we need to prepare our students for careers in a wide range of medical fields,” said Laura DiBella, executive director of the NCEDB. “In Nassau County, manufacturing offers the highest average wage at $69,739 per year. It is important for us to engage our local manufacturers with our students, in hopes of demystifying the stereotypes of manufacturing jobs, educating the students to the opportunities in manufacturing and informing students as to the various educational paths that can lead to a career in manufacturing.”

STEMM Week participants included teams from Rayonier Advanced Materials, St. Johns River Water Management District and Rayonier/TerraPointe. Providing insight into various careers in the medical industry were representatives from Baptist Medical Center Nassau, Osprey Village and Nassau County Fire and Rescue. Angela TenBroeck, of Traders Hill Farm in Hilliard, brought to light the science and technology behind aquaponics farming. Students were able to learn and see how current technology is being deployed in various fields throughout our community. Presentations were held at Fernandina Beach High School, Yulee High School, West Nassau High School, Hilliard Middle-Senior High School and Bryceville Elementary.

“STEMM Week was a wonderful opportunity for us to meet the medical professionals of our future,” said Dana Sargent, executive director of Osprey Village. “We believe it is our responsibility to mentor and guide the students of our community. There are many avenues in which the students can follow to pursue their career goals and, as an employer, we enjoy being a part of their journey.”

Since 2010, Florida’s labor demand in STEM fields has increased by more than 63 percent and recent online data shows over 60,000 STEM-related job openings, a 14% increase over 2014. Healthcare practitioners, technical, computer and mathematical occupations, including financial operations and architecture and engineering, are the most in-demand.

“Prospects look at what we, as a community, are doing to prepare our future workforce pipeline. Securing Nassau County’s future prosperity is tied to our ability to fill high-wage jobs. It is our goal to be the catalyst for educators and the business community to work in alignment to support our students,” added Karen Schexnayder, director of marketing for the NCEDB. “We want to be facilitators between the business community, educators and the students. Children will follow career paths of what they know, so we hope to open their eyes to as many possibilities as we can.”