National summit tackles aerospace competitiveness
Published on Mon, Jul 27, 2009 by Christopher SchwarzenRead More County & State
Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon and the Aerospace Futures Alliance (AFA) on Monday, Aug. 3, will engage key aerospace leaders from across the state and country to develop strategies toward a new competitive platform.
Saving Washington Aerospace is the third in a series of competitiveness summits presented by Reardon to increase the county and region’s ability to compete for business and industry in an increasingly competitive national and global economy. The primary goal of the aerospace summit is to grow and retain the state’s largest industry. Specifically, the objectives are to:
· Provide a national and global perspective of the future of aerospace;
· Better understand what aerospace businesses need to compete and win;
· Develop strategies to strengthen the competitiveness of the state’s existing aerospace industry and businesses.
“This most recent global recession is a game changer,.” Reardon said. “Our most prized industries and businesses are now on the wish lists of other states and countries looking for more stable economic futures. Our top priority is to retain the 86,000 jobs and $36 billion in economic value that our state’s aerospace industry represents.”
”Keeping our businesses here means finding new ways to partner, not only for our state’s economic success but for theirs as well,” said Linda Lanham, executive director, Aerospace Futures Alliance. “This summit is about making the commitment and changes we all know are needed now to keep our aerospace industry strong and competitive.”
During the first half, keynote speaker Congressman Norm Dicks will provide a high-level perspective on the value to Washington state and the United States of having a world-class aerospace industry.
State and national business and labor leaders including Tom Wroblewski, president of IAM 751; Michael Zubovic, senior vice president, Advanced Technology Services;Fred Kiga, vice president of state and local government relations, The Boeing Co.; and aerospace economist Adam Pilarski, Ph.D., senior vice president, Avitas, Inc., Va. will speak about the state of the global aerospace industry and its impact on our businesses while providing clarity on the industry’s future in a new world economy where fierce competition rules.
Second half, Glenn Farley, KING 5 TV, will engage nine key aerospace CEOs, presidents and leaders from around the state in a discussion and debate about the readiness of our aerospace industry’s competitiveness, and the partnerships, resources and support it will take for our aerospace businesses and industry to successfully compete and win market share. Among the panelists are: Glenn Johnson, CFO and executive vice president of finance, Alaska Air Group and Alaska Airlines; Stan Sorscher, legislative director, SPEEA; Randall Julin, general manager, Absolute Aviation Services; and Rosemary Brester, president and CEO, Hobart Machined Products.
The third in a series of business summits being offered during 2009, the aerospace summit follows July’s announcement of a combined effort between Snohomish County, the AFA and regional colleges and aerospace companies to improve aerospace workforce training development across the state.
More than 300 participants are expected during the free, one-day event from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. including business representatives from the Boeing Co., Alaska Air and ATS as well as labor leaders from International Aerospace Machinists and the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace.
For more information on the aerospace summit, to RSVP or help sponsor the event, contact Donna Ambrose, manager of the county’s Economic Development Division, at 425.388.3219 or donna.ambrose@snoco.org.
Saving Washington Aerospace is the third in a series of competitiveness summits presented by Reardon to increase the county and region’s ability to compete for business and industry in an increasingly competitive national and global economy. The primary goal of the aerospace summit is to grow and retain the state’s largest industry. Specifically, the objectives are to:
· Provide a national and global perspective of the future of aerospace;
· Better understand what aerospace businesses need to compete and win;
· Develop strategies to strengthen the competitiveness of the state’s existing aerospace industry and businesses.
“This most recent global recession is a game changer,.” Reardon said. “Our most prized industries and businesses are now on the wish lists of other states and countries looking for more stable economic futures. Our top priority is to retain the 86,000 jobs and $36 billion in economic value that our state’s aerospace industry represents.”
”Keeping our businesses here means finding new ways to partner, not only for our state’s economic success but for theirs as well,” said Linda Lanham, executive director, Aerospace Futures Alliance. “This summit is about making the commitment and changes we all know are needed now to keep our aerospace industry strong and competitive.”
During the first half, keynote speaker Congressman Norm Dicks will provide a high-level perspective on the value to Washington state and the United States of having a world-class aerospace industry.
State and national business and labor leaders including Tom Wroblewski, president of IAM 751; Michael Zubovic, senior vice president, Advanced Technology Services;Fred Kiga, vice president of state and local government relations, The Boeing Co.; and aerospace economist Adam Pilarski, Ph.D., senior vice president, Avitas, Inc., Va. will speak about the state of the global aerospace industry and its impact on our businesses while providing clarity on the industry’s future in a new world economy where fierce competition rules.
Second half, Glenn Farley, KING 5 TV, will engage nine key aerospace CEOs, presidents and leaders from around the state in a discussion and debate about the readiness of our aerospace industry’s competitiveness, and the partnerships, resources and support it will take for our aerospace businesses and industry to successfully compete and win market share. Among the panelists are: Glenn Johnson, CFO and executive vice president of finance, Alaska Air Group and Alaska Airlines; Stan Sorscher, legislative director, SPEEA; Randall Julin, general manager, Absolute Aviation Services; and Rosemary Brester, president and CEO, Hobart Machined Products.
The third in a series of business summits being offered during 2009, the aerospace summit follows July’s announcement of a combined effort between Snohomish County, the AFA and regional colleges and aerospace companies to improve aerospace workforce training development across the state.
More than 300 participants are expected during the free, one-day event from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. including business representatives from the Boeing Co., Alaska Air and ATS as well as labor leaders from International Aerospace Machinists and the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace.
For more information on the aerospace summit, to RSVP or help sponsor the event, contact Donna Ambrose, manager of the county’s Economic Development Division, at 425.388.3219 or donna.ambrose@snoco.org.
