Northwest Aerospace News April | May 2019 Issue No. 8 | Page 66

Member Benefits IDAA and INWAC are also working together to investigate benefits for member companies. These include 401(k) and group insurance plans that could be particularly beneficial for small-to-medium sized businesses. According to Mark Norton, INWAC board chair, “Employee benefits are a big concern among our members as they seek to stay cost competitive and attract and retain skilled workers. Small shops often struggle to provide benefits even though they want to do so. If we can find a solution through pooling INWAC and IDAA member companies together, it will be a major win for our members.” Shared Expertise Staff and volunteer leaders among the Pacific Northwest Aerospace Cluster groups are a treasure trove of industry knowledge. From an understanding of cluster capabilities and industry trends to contacts with government and higher education, there is a wealth of experience and relationships within the region. Entities rely on one another to best share this information with those they serve. The Joint Center for Aerospace Tech- nology Innovation (JCATI) regularly calls on AUVSI to supply reviewers for project proposals and, in April, the Cascade Chapter of AUVSI’s “Drones, Droids: Unmanned Systems at Work” conference will include a panel with representatives from JCATI, PNDC, PNAA, and the Gorge Technology Alliance. 66 NORTHWEST AEROSPACE NEWS