For over 50 years, the need to increase the number of students who pursue STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) has been acknowledged. Yet the US continues to fall behind in student performance in STEM fields and pursuit of STEM degrees (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2009; Galloway, 2008; Rothwell, 2014; National Research Council Committee on Science, Engineering Education Reform, 2006;). The STEM talent pool impacts not only the industries that drive the US economy but also those that comprise the US defense industrial base. Now more than ever, STEM underpins the Department of Defense's (DoD's) ability to defend the Nation. While there are many factors that impact STEM education, a key element of increasing the STEM workforce is stronger local and regional partnerships among industry, academia, government, and nonprofits (Achieve, 2010). The Central Florida STEM Education Council (CFSEC) is a model of such a regional partnership with a long term objective of encouraging and preparing pre-college students to enter STEM fields of study and to pursue employment in the Central Florida workforce. The CFSEC targets primarily three audiences– parents, students and teachers – through communications and events. The CFSEC's goals are to 1) advocate for and raise awareness of the importance of STEM, 2) connect individuals and organizations with resources and each other, and 3) coordinate activities and partnerships that increase the awareness and availability of STEM education opportunities. This paper will provide an overview of the future outlook for the STEM workforce that highlights the compelling need for STEM initiatives to address the projected shortages (Bayer Corporation, 2014; Morones, 2013). The paper will describe the vision and governing model of the CFSEC and how it can serve as a model that other regions and states can adopt and tailor to implement a collaborative STEM community. Finally, the paper will conclude with the challenges encountered in establishing a CFSEC-like organization as well as best practices and lessons learned.