Made In Florida

Congratulations to Carrie Meyers, recipient of the 2026 FLATE Distinguished Manufacturing Partner Service Award.

As the Director of Education and Workforce Talent for Florida State University's InSPIRE program, Meyers is doing vital work to shape the future of manufacturing education. Through ongoing, workforce-connected professional learning, she is empowering K-12 educators as “workforce multipliers”, equipping teachers with the confidence, credentials, and curriculum needed to bring real-world advanced manufacturing to K–12 classrooms. She is also a visible advanced manufacturing champion who builds bridges among schools, industry partners, and statewide manufacturing networks to expand career awareness.

The FLATE Awards recognize educators and partners whose leadership, dedication, and industry alignment are helping shape the future of manufacturing education across Florida.

Read more about this year’s award winners in the June FLATE Focus newsletter: https://conta.cc/4o4JuhW

Please join us in congratulating Mayra Socarras, recipient of the FLATE 2026 Distinguished Manufacturing Post-Secondary Educator of the Year Award.

Mayra, Assistant Professor of Semiconductor Engineering Technology at Valencia College, leads the state's only Associate of Science (A.S.) program in Semiconductor Engineering Technology, This forward-looking program equips students with essential skills in semiconductor manufacturing, directly addressing the manufacturing sector’s significant talent shortage.

Mayra gained real-world engineering expertise as a Senior Design Engineer at The Boeing Company, in NASA’s Space Shuttle Program. As an educator and robotics mentor, she is dedicated to sharing her knowledge and fostering the next generation of engineers and technologists.

The FLATE Awards recognize educators and partners whose leadership, dedication, and industry alignment are helping shape the future of manufacturing education across Florida.

Read more about this year’s award winners in the June FLATE Focus newsletter: https://conta.cc/4o4JuhW

Congratulations to Theresa Waller, recipient of the FLATE 2026 Distinguished Manufacturing Secondary Educator of the Year Award.

Theresa serves as the Program Planner and High School Electrical Instructor at Charlotte Technical College, where she helps prepare students with the technical knowledge, hands-on skills, and confidence needed for careers in advanced manufacturing and electrical fields.

With more than two decades of experience in the electrical trade, Theresa brings real-world expertise into the classroom and plays an important role in strengthening Florida’s future workforce.

The FLATE Awards recognize educators and partners whose leadership, dedication, and industry alignment are helping shape the future of manufacturing education across Florida.

Read more about this year’s award winners in the June FLATE Focus newsletter: https://conta.cc/4o4JuhW.

Please join us in congratulating Theresa on this well-deserved recognition.

Congratulations to our 2026 FLATE Manufacturing Award Winners!

FLATE is proud to recognize three outstanding leaders who are helping strengthen Florida’s manufacturing education and workforce pipeline:

Theresa Waller, Charlotte Technical College
Distinguished Manufacturing Secondary Educator of the Year

Mayra Socarras, Valencia College
Distinguished Manufacturing Post Secondary Educator of the Year

Carrie Meyers, Florida State University InSPIRE
Distinguished Manufacturing Partner Service Award

Read more about each winner in the June FLATE Focus newsletter:
https://conta.cc/4o4JuhW