January 2026

Welcome New Members!

Upcoming Events with BAMA

BAMA Leadership Conference 2026 - Live to Lead

February 06, 2026 8:00 AM

Virtual via EZ Webinar

Theory of Constraints 2-Day Certificate Workshop (session 2 of 2)

February 11, 2026

Pinellas Technical College, 6100 154th Ave N, Clearwater

Brews with BAMA at Mastry's Brewing Co.

February 18, 2026 5:00 PM

7701 Blind Pass Rd, St Pete Beach

The Polk Correctional Institution Facility Tour

February 26, 2026 8:45 AM

10800 Evans Road, Polk City,

BAMA General Meeting and Tour of TouchPoint Medical

March 05, 2026 9:00 AM

2200 TouchPoint Drive Odessa

Succession Blueprint Conference

March 06, 2026 9:00 AM

Chris Sprowls Workforce Innovation Hub, 600 E. Klosterman Rd, Tarpon Springs

Clay Shoot Fundraiser 2026

March 13, 2026 8:00 AM

Tampa Bay, Sporting Clays, 10514 Ehren Cutoff, Land O Lakes

Leadership Conference 2026

Live2Lead, hosted by the Maxwell Leadership Certified Team, has equipped over 300,000 leaders globally with practical tools, powerful insights, and renewed vision.

You’ll hear directly from world-class speakers - including John C. Maxwell and other influential voices - who understand your challenges and are ready to help you overcome them.

Date: Friday, February 6, 2026

Time: 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Location: Virtual via EZ Webinar

Featured Property: Industrial Flex Opportunity- Largo, FL

Currently available: A high-quality industrial flex end unit that has been home to an advanced engineering design and manufacturing company since it was built in 2007. Plug-and-play opportunity for a similar owner-user with R&D, lab, and light manufacturing needs.

8222 118th Ave, Suite #600, Largo, FL (Unincorporated Pinellas County) | 4,609 SF | $1.25M | Zoning: E-1 (Employment Center - Light Industrial)

Built with tilt-wall construction, this facility offers 24’ clear height, 100% HVAC, ESFR fire sprinklers, and 3-phase power, along with a high-end office buildout that includes research and development and lab space. The layout allows for the warehouse footprint to be expanded to approximately 3,000 SF through office reduction and includes one loading dock.

Previously occupied by SmartSAT since 2007. SmartSAT specializes in developing satellite communications test equipment and advanced electronics for the U.S. Department of Defense, the prime defense industrial base, and coalition nations.

Listed by Jeff Clapacs | (813) 833-0788 | jeff@cprteam.com

This is a paid sponsorship in collaboration with Commercial Partners Realty.

View the Full Listing Here!

BAMA Highlights & Insights

Welcome BAMA's New Staff Member

Please offer a warm welcome to Sarah Galic, our newly hired Communications and Membership Coordinator. Sarah has been a long-time volunteer with BAMA and is thrilled to be a part of the team!

BAMA'S BEST

Expert Advice

Industrial Vending in Action: How Point-of-Use Inventory Control Cuts Costs and Downtime

Across manufacturing, utilities, aerospace, and process industries, one recurring problem drags performance down: supplies and tools are hard to track, easy to over-consume, and often unavailable when production needs them. Recent case studies highlight how industrial vending and automated tool control are helping teams regain visibility, reduce waste, and keep operations moving.

Unlike traditional vending, industrial vending is purpose-built for harsh shop environments and designed for controlled, auditable transactions. Employees log in with an ID badge (or even fingerprint), issue or return items, and the system records usage automatically functioning like a 24/7 tool crib attendant that can also trigger reorders.

The results in the case studies are consistent: lower spending, fewer stock-outs, and higher productivity. A production shop avoided wasted trips to the tool crib, saving $100K+ while improving throughput. An international airline reduced tool and inventory usage by 30–40% and eliminated FOD risk tied to missing tools. Other examples show rapid payback and major gains from better tool accountability, regrind utilization, and automated reordering.

The takeaway is simple: when critical supplies are controlled at the point of use—and replenished based on real consumption—organizations can cut unnecessary spend, prevent downtime, and improve compliance without adding headcount.

John Diaz

VP of Strategic Accounts

813-781-2330

jdiaz@stellarindustrial.com

Stellar Industrial | Home

65 Years of BAMA-

Celebrate with a Sponsorship!

Show your support for the Bay Area Manufacturers Association by becoming one of our 65 companies helping us celebrate our 65 years!

For $65.00, your logo and website link will be featured on our event page, newsletters, emails, press releases, events and at our annual awards banquet.

BAMA Member Awards

Nominations are now open for the BAMA Member Awards! Help us celebrate our lifelong supporters, devoted members, and young volunteers by nominating those who support the industry and local workforce!

BAMA Proudly Supports SPC Students Through Annual Scholarships

BAMA is proud to support the next generation of manufacturing talent by awarding scholarships to St. Petersburg College (SPC) students each year.

These scholarships help students pursue education and training that lead directly to in-demand careers within our local manufacturing community.

This fall semester alone, the St. Petersburg College Foundation awarded more than $1.3 million in scholarships, making a meaningful impact on students across a wide range of programs.

We’re excited to recognize Ethan Griffith, the recipient of the Bay Area Manufacturers Association Scholarship for the Fall 2025 term. Ethan’s achievement reflects both his dedication and the importance of continued investment in workforce education.

Supporting students like Ethan is one of the ways BAMA strengthens the future of manufacturing in our region by helping students gain the skills, education, and opportunities needed to succeed.

Learn about Ethan's achievements and goals here:

Meet Ethan!

Events Recap

Tour of Lithionics Battery

BAMA toured Lithionics Battery, a leading manufacturer of durable and safe lithium battery systems. We're grateful to have Lithionics Battery as a member, and applaud their commitment to excellence in the local manufacturing industry.

Theory of Constraints Workshop

BAMA was joined by Brightfish Label, Molex, and Tri-Tronics at our exclusive Theory of Constraints workshop with the Goldratt team! Participating manufacturers gained practical tools and strategies to help their teams work smarter and achieve measurable results.

Leto High School Tours Southern Manufacturing Technologies

28 students from Leto High School were given the opportunity to visit and tour Southern Manufacturing Technologies, a local leader in manufacturing parts for aerospace, aircraft, and defense industries. These students were introduced to the career opportunities in manufacturing.

Industry Insights with Educators

BAMA, in partnership with FLATE, ran Industry Insights with Educators, a collaborative event connecting local manufacturers with local educators, ensuring today's students get the opportunity to stay educated on opportunities in the manufacturing industry.

ASHRAE Round Table

BAMA was given the opportunity to share our mission for Tampa Bay manufacturing and workforce development at the ASHRAE Florida West Coast Chapter Round Table. We appreciate the opportunity to explore meaningful collaboration and education opportunities for our shared manufacturing and engineering community!

The Point Distillery Tour

BAMA members enjoyed a unique behind-the-scenes experience at The Point Distillery during an exclusive Tour & Tasting event in New Port Richey. The visit wrapped up with a guided tasting of select, on-site–produced spirits, followed by sandwiches and refreshments generously provided by Roebuck Technologies.

Pinellas Park Gateway Chamber of Commerce 2026 Annual Gala

The Bay Area Manufacturers Association was honored to attend the 2026 Annual Gala: Legends & Rising Stars - A Journey Through the Decades, hosted by the Pinellas Park Gateway Chamber of Commerce. We were grateful to have been nominated for Non-Profit of the Year! Congratulations to all of the incredible award winners!