KEVIN CARR

CEO, FLORIDAMAKES, ORLANDO

Carr has been leading FloridaMakes since its founding in 2015. It’s a statewide public-private partnership aimed at strengthening and advancing Florida’s manufacturing economy and providing high-wage, high-skill employment opportunities for Florida manufacturing workers. Carr was a principal architect of the national Manufacturing Extension Partnership at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. He’s led the establishment of centers similar to FloridaMakes in all 50 states plus Puerto Rico.

EDUCATION: Widener University (BS)

FIRST JOB: An electronics and tactical data systems test engineer at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard.

DREAM ALTERNATE CAREER: Most likely, woodworking and finish carpentry, both residential and commercial.

MENTEE IMPACT: Probably the most impactful yet subtle effect that I’ve made has been in identifying raw and underdeveloped talent in many instances in lower-skilled and support occupations, where I both encouraged and supported the training and education that led many into advanced professional positions.

INDUSTRY TREND: In Florida, manufacturing is going through rapid growth in both employment and in gross state output. This growth rate far outpaces nearly all traditional manufacturing states. Florida will be a leading manufacturing state (top five) in 10 years.

FAVORITE NONPROFIT: I mainly support organizations like Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida and Habitat for Humanity, mainly because everyone needs food and shelter, even at the most basic level. Without it, everything else is even harder to achieve.

HOBBY
“I enjoy playing and composing music, mainly on the acoustic guitar.”