Floor Statements

Mr. President, today I recognize Laura Wykoff, the Alachua County teacher of the year from Fort Clarke Middle School in Gainesville, FL.

Laura keeps letters from her students to remind her of the importance of her job. After receiving this award, she shared many of these letters with those in attendance at the award ceremony. The letters consist of humorous ones on learning about integers, algebra, and other math subjects to serious ones about how, if it was not for Laura, they would not have been successful in school. She considers these examples as an important reason for why she does her job.

Laura considers teaching her students and realizing that they understand something and that makes a student feel good about themselves as the best part of the job. At the award ceremony, one of her former students credited Laura with his success and noted that she has always been there for him.

Laura has taught for more than 10 years and is currently a seventh and eighth grade mathematics teacher at Fort Clarke Middle School, where she has been since 2015. Her family consists of a long line of academics, and Laura believes teaching is in their blood.

I offer my sincere thanks and gratitude to Laura for her dedication to her students throughout her career. I look forward to hearing of her continued success in the years ahead.

Mr. President, as chairman of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize a small business that exemplifies the unique American entrepreneurial spirit. It is my privilege to honor a Florida small business that not only produces an amazing product, but also tirelessly serves their community. Today, I recognize Southern Craft Creamery, of Marianna, FL, as the Senate Small Business of the Week.

Founded in 2012, Southern Craft Creamery is owned and operated by Dale and Cindy Eade, with the help of their children. After selling their handcrafted ice cream wholesale for 6 years, the Eade family opened its first brick-and-mortar location last February.

Southern Craft Creamery is a true family-run business. While Dale and Cindy's daughter, Megan Austin, along with her husband Brad, currently manage Cindale Farms, a local dairy farm where Southern Craft Creamery sources its milk, Lauren and Zach O'Bryan, Dale and Cindy's daughter and son-in-law, initially launched the ice cream brand. Having been involved in the Florida dairy business since 1980, it is no surprise that the Eade family's ice cream is crafted to showcase the quality milk they produce and the delicious southern ingredients they grew up with.

Today, Southern Craft Creamery sells a wide variety of signature ice cream flavors including tupelo honey, salty caramel, and candied bacon, as well as seasonal flavors such as raspberry basil, bourbon butter pecan, and blackberry buttermilk.

Southern Craft Creamery has been repeatedly recognized for these delicious flavors, being named the overall food winner in the 2013 Made in the South Awards by ``Garden & Gun'' magazine and by ``Southern Living'' magazine in the Best Sweets category for the magazine's 2015 food awards.

Southern Craft Creamery creates these remarkable ice cream flavors by sourcing many of their ingredients from other local, family-owned small businesses. Working with local farmers and producers has allowed Southern Craft Creamery to give back to their community while also receiving the freshest and most flavorful ingredients available. They also work with regional, family-owned retailers to sell their ice cream throughout Florida.

Southern Craft Creamery and the Eade family seek to give back to their community in any way possible. After Hurricane Michael devastated their community, they gathered supplies for victims, opened their doors to allow residents to cool off, and offered free coffee and ice cream to first responders. Prior to December 2018, Southern Craft donated all of their tips to Partners for Pets, a nonprofit animal shelter in Marianna. Since December 2018, however, all of their tips have been donated to Friends of the Florida Caverns State Park in an effort to assist in replanting trees and repair damages caused by Hurricane Michael.

The Eade family's work to grow Southern Craft Creamery, support local farmers, and aid members of their community is an excellent example of civic dedication. Companies like Southern Craft Creamery are the heartbeat of local, small-town communities across Florida. I would like to congratulate Southern Craft Creamery on their 1-year anniversary of opening their storefront and for being named the Senate Small Business of the Week. I wish them good luck and look forward to watching their continued growth and success.

Mr. President, today I recognize Brandy Bunkley, the Union County Teacher of the Year from Union County High School in Lake Butler, FL.

Brandy has taught for 21 years and is the career specialist at Union County High School. Her dedication and support for students has been credited for the increasing graduation rate at the school.

Brandy believes that every voice has value and that every student matters. As a teacher, she works to ensure her students are developing clear and positive career paths for themselves and provides a caring and enthusiastic support system.

Throughout her time at Union County High School, she has put a high importance on the value of students' voices and as individuals by forming strong teaching relationships with her students. She has continuously proven that being an educator is deeply rooted in her core.

I extend my sincere thanks and gratitude to Brandy for her dedication to her students and look forward to hearing of her continued success in the years to come.

Mr. President, today I am pleased to honor Kamille Chapman, the Lake County Teacher of the Year from Mount Dora Middle School in Mount Dora, FL.

After receiving this award, Kamille credited the relationships she builds with her students as one of the reasons for her success. She works with her students to improve their lives and considers improved academic results a byproduct. When some students have behavioral issues, she invites them to have lunch with her instead of writing a referral, believing this to be an investment in their well-being.

Kamille's eighth grade geometry students score 21 percent higher than any other school in her district and they outperform their ninth and 10th grade peers. Ninety-three percent of her algebra students pass their end of course exam, an increase from the previous 50 percent passage rate 2 years ago. She originally returned to Mount Dora Middle School with the intention to retire in 2016 after first leaving in 1996. Instead, her students inspired her to continue teaching after being surrounded by positive influences that reminded her why she became a teacher.

Kamille earned her bachelor's degree in health education from the State University of New York Cortland and her master's degree in education from Florida State University. She has taught over a 32-year span in Houston, TX, and several schools throughout Lake County. She also worked as a curriculum specialist for math and science for middle and high schools in the county.

I express my sincere thanks and appreciation to Kamille for all the fine work she has done throughout her career for her students and offer my best wishes on her future endeavors.

Mr. President, today I honor Justen Early, the Hernando County Teacher of the Year from Nature Coast Technical High School in Brooksville, FL.

Justen's desire to become a teacher began when he first volunteered as a football coach at Central High School. He became invested in the success of his players, both on the football field and in the classroom. From this experience, he decided his next step would be to enter the classroom.

As a teacher, Justen seeks to build a camaraderie to make students feel they are a part of a community. He focuses on his students learning differences and encourages them to make teaching suggestions.

Justen attended Florida A&M University and currently teaches technology support classes. He serves as the co-offensive coordinator of the high school's football team. He has been with the school since 2014 and is grateful for his school's administration for providing him the opportunity to teach. Justen credits his success to his mother, grandmother, aunt, Mrs. Rosemarie Poluchowicz of the language arts department, and Coach Rudolph Story for their mentorship.

I extend my sincere thanks and gratitude to Justen for his dedication in helping his students succeed in life and offer my best wishes for his continued success in the coming years.

Mr. President, today I recognize Donelle Evensen, the Flagler County Teacher of the Year from Rymfire Elementary School in Palm Coast, Fl.

After receiving this award, Donelle said, ``It makes me feel like I may have accomplished what I've set out to do and that's increase student achievement and increase support for our teachers and make them feel like they' re valued and are appreciated for what they do every day.'' She tries each day to plan different ways to inspire and excite students and teachers at her school.

Donelle previously spent 10 weeks backpacking through nine European countries with her husband. This experience served as a reminder of life back home and how we treat those around us and the true value of all lives. She has brought this reflection to her classroom to share with her students.

Donelle has been an educator for 13 years and currently is the literacy coach for kindergarten through sixth grade at her school. She earned her master's degree in elementary reading and literacy from Walden University in 2008 and her master's certification in educational leadership from Stetson University in 2017.

I express my sincere thanks and appreciation to Donelle for her devotion to her students and look forward to hearing of her continued success in her future endeavors.

Mr. President, today I am pleased to recognize Elisa Hall, the Suwannee County Teacher of the Year from Suwannee County High School in Live Oak, FL.

Elisa is a Florida High Impact Teacher and was honored to receive this important recognition. In her classroom, she implemented the House System, which encourages friendly competitions, school spirit, and a comradery built by students who strive to help each other succeed. She collaborated with her fellow teachers, Emily Blackmon and Vanessa Menhennett, to create this system.

The House System consists of four houses named Diligence, Optimism, Generosity, and Sincerity, to spell out DOGS, in honor of the school's mascot, the Suwannee Bulldogs. The houses are mixed with students from ninth through twelfth grade and compete with one another to win the House Championship. Elisa's work with the House System is credited with increasing students' motivation to earn prizes through improved attendance, completion of assignments, positive behaviors, and teamwork.

A ninth grade English teacher at Suwannee County High School, Elisa has taught at the school since 2015. Through her positive experiences within the school district, she is dedicated

to giving back to others and working hard for her students.

I extend my best wishes to Elisa on receiving this award and look forward to hearing of her continued success in her future endeavors.

Mr. President, today I am honored to recognize Heather Rawlins, the Levy County Teacher of the Year from Chiefland Elementary School in Chiefland, FL.

Heather works closely with her colleagues in order to solve problems and coach them in the best teaching practices for students. She strives to continue her professional growth through instructional and educational leadership and earned several recognitions for her teaching abilities throughout her career.

Heather has taught for 10 years at various elementary schools throughout Florida and currently is a reading coach at Chiefland Elementary School, focusing on the iReady curriculum for her students. She also coaches teachers on the best practices for professional development in English Language Arts blocks.

Heather graduated summa-cum laude from Flagler College with two bachelor of arts degrees, elementary education--K-6--with ESOL endorsement and deaf education--K-12--in 2009. She also graduated summa-cum laude from Saint Leo University with her master of education degree, educational leadership in 2015.

I am thankful for the commitment Heather has given to her students and teachers throughout her career. I convey my best wishes to her on receiving this award and wish her continued success in the coming years.

Mr. President, today I recognize Julie Wade, the Columbia County Teacher of the Year from Eastside Elementary School in Lake City, FL.

Julie dedicates her time as a teacher to building relationships and trust with all of her students, even those considered the most difficult. She uses chess as an opportunity to reward and motivate her students and involves herself in various events throughout her school.

Julie's work with her students is credited to their scoring the second highest Florida Standards Assessments English Language Arts scores in the school district and the highest Florida Standards Assessments for fourth grade math scores in the county last school year.

Julie has been a teacher for 8 years and currently teaches fourth grade at Eastside Elementary School. She has taught at the school for 3 years and sponsors the math bee. She is currently enrolled in a masters of education program.

I extend my sincere thanks and gratitude to Julie for her dedication to her students and look forward to hearing of her continued success in the years to come.

Mr. President, today I recognize Jessica Watkins, the Nassau County Teacher of the Year from Yulee Elementary School in Yulee, FL.

Jessica builds relationships with her students and enjoys seeing them thrive in the classroom and after graduation. She cares for her students and believes they can rise to any challenge set before them.

Outside of her classroom, Jessica has dedicated her time to mentoring new teachers and interns. She also has served on her school district's reading curriculum building team, the writing professional development team, and the language arts/grammar building team, all in efforts to improve student outcomes in classrooms beyond her own.

Jessica is a fourth grade teacher at Yulee Elementary School, where she serves as the fourth grade chairperson, is on the school leadership team, and on the positive behavioral interventions and support team. She has spent 4 years teaching in Nassau County and 8 years overall in education.

I extend my best wishes and gratitude to Jessica for her dedication to her students and colleagues. I look forward to hearing of her continued success in the years to come.

Mr. President, as chairman of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize a small business that exemplifies the unique American entrepreneurial spirit. Today, it is my distinct pleasure to name Miami Tour Company as the Senate Small Business of the Week.

Founded in 2002, Miami Tour Company has quickly become a premier provider of tours and activities in south Florida. Husband and wife, Gus and Michelle Moore, founded the company based on the principle of providing the best customer experience possible. Gus and Michelle met while working at a restaurant and bonded over a shared passion for making sure that visitors to their home State have a great experience. After serving thousands of hungry patrons and learning how to make visitors to Miami as happy as possible, Gus and Michelle decided to start a business. With their combined knowledge of the area and a knack for anticipating their customer's needs, a tour company was the perfect fit. With their savings from working at the restaurant, the couple

bought a tour bus, and the Miami Tour Company was born.

Seventeen years later, Miami Tour Company has grown to transport 35,000 passengers annually and have served more than 600,000 clientele. Their fleet now includes motorcoaches, mini-buses, vans, SUVs, shuttle buses, and boat tours. The company's local guides run day tours through Key West, Orlando, the Everglades, and Miami Beach. They have also instituted a GPS-guided system in their tour buses that triggers high- quality digital voice recordings at locations of interest, making them the only tour company in Florida to offer this technology. To expand their customer base, the company has begun offering the recordings in Spanish, Portuguese, Mandarin, French, Italian, German, and Russian, allowing visitors from around the world to enjoy the attractions that Florida has to offer.

On top of providing enjoyable and informative tours, Miami Tour Company gives back to their community. They guide local elementary students on free historical bus tours throughout Miami and offer students free eco-tourism trips to the Everglades. They also give back to their community by providing complimentary travel charters for activities for the children and families of Sophia's Hope. In addition, they donate portions of their proceeds to the Miami Beach Holocaust Memorial and the Miami Beach Botanical Gardens. Miami Tour Company has been a true small business success story. Their dedication to hospitality has been recognized with an A-plus rating from the Better Business Bureau and a Certificate of Excellence from online reviewers.

Gus and Michelle's commitment to an exceptional customer experience represents the standard of hospitality with which Florida small businesses are known for. Companies like Miami Tour Company are one of the many reasons that visitors enjoy south Florida and keep coming back. I would like to congratulate Gus, Michelle, and all of the employees at Miami Tour Company for being named the Senate Small Business of the Week. I wish them good luck and look forward to watching their continued growth and success.

Mr. President, as chairman of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize a small business that exemplifies the value of hard work and the storied American entrepreneurial spirit. It is my privilege to honor a Florida small business that exemplifies what it means to overcome adversity and to succeed as both a company and as a community leader. Today, I recognize Hog Technologies, of Stuart, FL, as the Senate Small Business of the Week.

Previously known as Waterblasting Technologies until a rebranding effort last year, Hog Technologies has grown significantly since its founding in 1988. Founder and chief executive officer, James P. Crocker, bought a single pressure washer from a friend and began knocking on doors to find work. Since then, Hog Technologies has been a one-of-a-kind entrepreneurial success story that has revolutionized an entire industry.

After discovering the niche industry of paint removal, James took a leap of faith and bought a 10,000-psi water-blasting machine. Soon, Hog Technologies was being awarded major contracts for their services. After years of success in this field, Hog Technologies expanded to create fully functioning models of a makeshift water-blasting vehicle. In 1997, the Original Stripe Hog was developed, effectively changing the landscape of the hydroblasting industry.

Today, Hog Technologies holds more than 20 patents, has products operating in 56 countries worldwide, and is a world leader in marking removal and pavement maintenance. Through strong investments in research and development, Hog has a diverse line of products, ranging from rubber and paint removal, to pavement marking equipment and machines, to industrial vacuums and hydro-excavators. In 2012, the team at Hog Technologies calculated that, over a period of 13 years, they have placed more units worldwide than their five largest competitors combined. With international success, they continue to expand by looking to hire 130 new employees over the next 3 years. Hog Technologies is an incredible American industrial success story. Having remained local, Hog Technologies constructs their machines in the United States and continues to support Florida's economy.

In addition to supporting the local Stuart community, Hog Technologies has financed a large portion of the construction of a home for underprivileged children in India. In 2017, James was awarded the Stuart/Martin County Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year. Mr. Crocker has also recently followed his creative passion and began authoring children's books that aim to teach children leadership skills. Hog Technologies and their employees are very involved in their community and pride themselves on charitable endeavors. Annually, they participate in the Toys for Tots holiday gift drive and in local parades where they drive their machines through the streets of Stuart.

Hog Technologies is an outstanding example of a Florida manufacturing success story. In true American fashion, James and the team at Hog saw a problem and created a solution. They have seen incredible success, while remaining committed to supporting Stuart and its surrounding communities. I would like to congratulate Mr. James Crocker and the entire team at Hog Technologies on being named the Senate Small Business of the Week. I wish them good luck and look forward to watching their continued growth and success.

Madam President, today I recognize Oliver Diez, the Miami-Dade County Teacher of the Year from Palmetto Elementary School in Pinecrest, FL.

Oliver received this award in recognition for his dedication to teaching children a passion for music before they leave elementary school. He begins teaching students how to play an introductory instrument, the recorder, at an early age. From there, they can join one of his school's before and afterschool offerings of chorus, concert band, jazz combo, orchestra, and drum-line. Once they join a music program, his lessons focus on teaching them not only how to play instruments, but also its history. He believes this builds an appreciation for music in his young students.

Throughout his two-decade long teaching career at Palmetto Elementary School, he has built a successful music program at south Florida's largest elementary school. His fourth and fifth grade student were invited to play at Carnegie Hall in New York City this March, the only elementary school students to play. While he believes teaching is messy at times, he knows it unites students to work together for the final performance.

Oliver graduated from Florida International University with his bachelor's degree in 1999 and returned for his master's degree in 2016, both majoring in music education. He also helped launch a booster club at his school that is a registered nonprofit for travel expenses for performances.

I express my sincere appreciation to Oliver for all of the accomplished work with his students and wish him continued success in the years to come.

Madam President, today I honor Ian Jackson, the Volusia County Teacher of the Year from T. Dewitt Taylor Middle-High School in Pierson, FL.

Ian is an Advancement Via Individual Determination teacher, working

with students from 8th to 12th grade and considers it his job to change the trajectories of his students for the better. After receiving this award, Ian noted that it was not just him being recognized, but also his students for their success.

Ian urges his students to strive for greatness in their middle school and high school coursework in preparation for the college workload. He focuses on ensuring his classroom feels like a second home to his students when they struggle and are in need of support.

Many of Ian's students come from difficult circumstances, so he works to establish strong relationships and create a positive environment for them. He dedicates his time to listening to the needs of his students and conveying to them that he cares about their well-being. Eighty percent of his students are accepted into 4-year universities and many stay in contact with him through college and beyond.

Ian has taught at T. Dewitt Taylor Middle-High School since 2005. He previously taught English as a second language classes in Georgia. He earned his bachelor's degree from Tocca Falls College.

I extend my sincere thanks and gratitude to Ian for his dedication to helping his students succeed in life. I look forward to learning of his continued success in the coming years.

Mr. President, I wish to honor and commend one of the dedicated and hard-working small businesses that does so much for the State of Florida. As chairman of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize a small business that exemplifies the unique American entrepreneurial spirit. Today, it is my distinct pleasure to name Magellan Transport Logistics, of Jacksonville, FL, as the Senate Small Business of the Week.

Founded in 2006, Magellan Transport Logistics is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business dedicated to providing its customers with a wide range of transportation needs. Tom Piatak founded Magellan Transport Logistics based on many of the same qualities that he learned while serving in the U.S. Army. A graduate of the U.S. Military Academy, Tom instills into the company the values he learned from West Point, as well as from his service as a combat engineer during Operation Desert Storm.

Today, Tom serves as chief executive officer and chairman of Magellan. Under his guidance, the company has quickly become a leader in supporting the vast transportation needs of its clients. Tom and his team have gained much of their success by recruiting some of the most talented leaders and logistics professionals in the industry. By instituting four core values of entrepreneurship, ownership mentality, innovation, and transparency within the company, Magellan has created a positive culture that has translated into rapid growth and success. In March of 2018, Magellan announced the acquisition of a 47,000-square- foot warehouse and the hiring of 100 employees over the next 5 years, furthering its investment in the Jacksonville community.

Magellan is known for its dedication to its employees and as a pillar of the Jacksonville community. The company offers complete logistics and transportation services, both local and international, by truck or airplane, while also providing warehousing services and supply chain management. Magellan has built strong relationships with its clients by embracing the ``no man left behind'' principle that Tom learned during his time serving our country in the U.S. Army.

As a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business, Magellan is committed to hiring veterans and participating in community service events to benefit America's veterans. This past December, Magellan sponsored 20 wreaths for National Wreaths Across America Day, as well as assisted with unloading and placing the memorial wreaths on the graves of fallen servicemembers. Magellan actively supports the Wounded Warrior Project, and their commitment to veterans in their community is a testament to the company's values.

In addition to their continued service to our Nation's veterans, Magellan has also aided the community in disaster relief efforts. Following Hurricane Michael in the fall of 2018, Magellan

worked directly with FEMA, providing 40 trucks and three staff members as part of the disaster recovery effort. They also partnered with Operation BBQ Relief, a nonprofit organization, to deliver meals and supplies to families throughout impacted areas.

Tom Piatak and Magellan are regularly honored for their success and dedication to the Jacksonville community. During the 2017-2018 NFL football season, the Jacksonville Jaguars honored Magellan as their Veteran Business Owner of the Week. The Jacksonville Business Journal recognized Tom and the team at Magellan for their efforts to hire veterans, and the Wounded Warrior Project awarded the company with the Wounded Warrior Certificate of Recognition in 2017.

Tom Piatak's work to grow Magellan Transport Logistics while staying committed to his community and veterans represents the dedication to service for which Florida entrepreneurs are well known. Through hard work, Tom and his team at Magellan Transport Logistics have built a successful business grounded in strong values, while serving as an example of superior corporate citizenship. I would like to congratulate Tom and the entire team at Magellan Transport Logistics for being named the Senate Small Business of the Week. I wish them good luck and look forward to watching their continued growth and success.