Governor’s Business Ambassador Awards

While Historic City News was reporting on Founder’s Day, Tuesday, September 8, 2015, Governor Rick Scott was in town to recognized several local individuals with the Governor’s Business Ambassador Award.

The Ambassador Award is given to individuals and businesses in recognition of their efforts to create jobs and opportunities for Florida families.

Governor Scott told local Historic City News reporters, “St. Augustine is home to many great Florida companies who are creating more jobs for families in our state. I am proud to highlight their success in northeast Florida and congratulate each business for their hard work and dedication to growing Florida’s economy.”

Chacy Smith is the Director of Operations for Carlisle Interconnect Technologies (CIT). CIT has done business in St. Augustine since 1987 and manufactures wire, cable, fiber optics and high performance grounding systems for the commercial aerospace industry.

St Augustine Mayor, Nancy Shaver, met Scott at the plant which currently employs nearly 600 people in the St. Augustine area. Shaver praised the company who also supports the community through education programs at local schools and has established a Manufacturing Academy at the St. Johns Technical High School to encourage students to learn technical skills in manufacturing.

“On behalf of my colleagues and our entire team, I thank Governor Scott for recognizing Carlisle Interconnect with the Business Ambassador Award,” Smith said. “We have provided hundreds of jobs in the St. Augustine community for nearly 30 years and thank Governor Scott for helping us continue to grow in Florida.”

In addition to Smith and Carlisle Interconnect Technologies, three other local businesses were also recipients of the Award:

• Wayne Robison, CEO of Rulon International
• Virginia Whetstone, President of Whetstone Chocolates
• Bruno Silva, CEO of IlluminEarth Lighting and Controls