[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 35 (Friday, February 21, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E147]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING BEN LARRY AS A DISTINGUISED LEADER IN CENTRAL FLORIDA FOR 
                          BLACK HISTORY MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DARREN SOTO

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 21, 2025

  Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, Ben Larry is the director of human resources 
for SkyWater Technology in Florida. Ben has been a human resources 
professional for 34 years. Born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi, Ben 
earned a Master of Health Services Administration from the University 
of Kansas. Ben also earned a Bachelor of Arts in economics from 
Tougaloo College. Ben is a Veteran of the United States Navy.
  In addition to his role in human resources, Mr Larry is recognized as 
a dedicated advocate for workforce development and community relations/
involvement in Osceola County, especially for underserved students and 
communities He has given several SkyWater career opportunity 
presentations to the faculty, staff, students, and parents at a STEM 
elementary school, a STEM middle school, a STEM high school, and other 
middle and high schools across Kissimmee to get kids interested and 
excited about careers as engineers and technicians in the semiconductor 
manufacturing industry.
  In 2022, Ben partnered with NeoCity Academy to create an internship 
program for NeoCity Academy students. The idea is to give students 
exposure to working at SkyWater and in the semiconductor industry as 
engineers. SkyWater continues to hire three to four NeoCity Academy 
students each summer to work on meaningful and impactful projects.
  Beginning in 2021, Mr Larry and other SkyWater leaders partnered with 
Valencia College to help enhance Valencia's mechatronics and robotics 
curriculum and helped them create their Associate of Arts program in 
semiconductor engineering. Ben and the SkyWater leaders also helped 
Valencia create their mock clean room. Mr. Larry also partners with 
Valencia College to offer internships for Valencia's mechatronics and 
robotics student graduates. This has resulted in SkyWater hiring three 
graduates to date from Valencia's programs as full-time technicians. In 
addition to Valencia College, Mr. Larry partners with the University of 
Florida, the University of Central Florida, the University of South 
Florida, and Florida Polytechnic University to hire students for 
internship opportunities. These internships have allowed SkyWater to 
hire five graduates from these institutions as full-time engineers and 
technicians.
  From a community relations and involvement perspective, Mr. Larry and 
other Skywater employees have participated in over 15 Osceola County 
community events over the past four years. Three Kings Day, Viva 
Osceola, and Juneteenth, to name a few. Mr. Larry serves on the board 
of Career Source Central Florida, representing Osceola County. He is 
also a 2023 graduate of Leadership Osceola. Lastly, Mr Larry is a 
member of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.

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