“I have been working with and mentoring young people all of my adult life. Our youth are most important priority in life. Over a decade and a half ago I transitioned from coaching travel soccer to becoming ingrained into the technical education fabric of the Midwest and around the country. This was the start of what became CHAMPION Now!®. Many distractions tried to pull me away from this concept, fortunately it became a focus that wouldn’t go away. The marketing of good paying manufacturing careers and their opportunities they offer is essential for so many reasons. Our country’s economy, manufacturers and young people all have much to gain in the process of understanding today’s reality. Help us discover tomorrow’s CHAMPIONS and become a CHAMPION Now!®”

Terry M. Iverson

President
Iverson & Company

Roy Sweatman, President – Southern Manufacturing Technologies (SMT), a precision custom manufacturer in Tampa producing high precision components for the Aircraft, Aerospace, Medical and Defense Industries. Roy has spent his entire career in manufacturing and is a past National Chairman of NTMA. He serves on the Boards of NIMS, NTMA, BAMA, AmSkills, CSTB and Florida Makes where he also is Chair of the AMWLC. Roy serves on Advisory Councils for East Lake, Middleton, Armwood, River Ridge High Schools and Pinellas Technical College where he is Chair of the Tampa Bay Machining Apprenticeship.

Roy Sweatman

President Southern Manufacturing Technologies, Inc.

Tampa, Florida

“In an effort to ensure the continued prosperity of individuals, families and communities throughout this country, the manufacturing industry must do a better job in marketing itself to this generation and generations to come. With millions of positions in the industry going unfilled, a skills gap that is widening by the day and unemployment at record lows, the manufacturing industry may only be one recession away, from going away. The days of complaining about the difficulties of finding skilled talent should be behind us. Its time industry leaders, companies, educational institutions and trade associations work together through a common platform to find our next Champions. Champions who are sitting right in front of us at the dinner table and inside of our classrooms.”

Rodney Grover

Mr. J. Paul Wahnish, is a long-standing member of the SAE, SME, ASME and is the President and Founder of several Engineering companies including Wahnish Consulting, Inc, and Metro Automotive Marine Accessories, Inc.  While traveling the globe as an entrepreneurial owner of these businesses it became apparent to Mr. Wahnish that the structure of education in the United States was not preparing today’s students to fill the workforce needs for tomorrow.

In 2001, he sold one of the engineering companies and began a new career as a professional educator.  Mr. Wahnish founded the East Lake High School Academy of Engineering and CTEF (Career Technical Education Foundation) in 2003 and served as the lead technical instructor, engineering mentor, and the Academy of Engineering Department Chair.  Several years later Mr. Wahnish and his wife moved from Pinellas County to Seminole County to accept a position as a Career Technical Education (CTE) Administrator with Seminole County Public Schools (SCPS).  After successfully completing the launch of several CTE programs in Seminole County, Mr. Wahnish accepted an Administrator position with Valencia College’s, Advanced Manufacturing facility as its Assistant Director.

Mr. Wahnish retired recently and has been very active in his company Wahnish Consulting, Inc., providing expertise and services to others interested in advancing educational opportunities for students.

Paul Wahnish