Northwest Aerospace News February | March Issue No. 13 | Page 64

WELCOME LETTERS
Welcome to PNAA’s 19th
Annual Aerospace Conference.
I’m very thankful that you
chose to spend your time with
us this week.
Nikki Malcom
PNAA Chairwoman
Element Materials
Technology
2019 was a monumental
year for new technologies in
aviation. We saw the flight of
the first commercial electric
aircraft, the largest aircraft
(Stratolaunch) to ever take
flight, multiple milestone
launches for space programs,
and an all-female spacewalk.
It was also a year for big
anniversaries, such as 50 years
from the first moon landing,
the first flight of the Boeing 747 and the first flight of
the Concorde.
Looking back on the 116 years since the Wright
Brothers’ first aircraft flight, it’s clear that the
aerospace industry is defined by constant movement
and technological growth. Keeping up with those new
technologies will be vital in maintaining of our rich
aerospace history in the Pacific NW. Where do you
think we’ll be in the next 50 years?
It is our mission to promote the growth and global
competitiveness of the Pacific Northwest Aerospace
cluster and our staff has been working tirelessly to
bring you an agenda for the next few days that will
help you and your businesses stay up to date on new
technologies and best practices to help ADVANCE your
company into the next 50 years of growth.
We hope to provide you with information as well as
opportunity to network with current customers as well
as find new ones. Please take this time to share ideas
and best practices that have helped you succeed as
well. Collaboration is the best way for us all to reach
our highest potential.
I am looking forward to meeting you and learning more
about how we can support you moving forward.
Nikki Malcom
PNAA Chairwoman
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NORTHWEST AEROSPACE NEWS
NORTHWEST AEROSPACE NEWS
PNAA Advance 2020 is PNAA’s
19th Annual Aerospace
Conference and is set to be our
best yet. After surviving Seattle
Snowmaggedon in 2019 and
putting on our most successful
and well-attended conference
to date, we knew that our 2020
Conference was the perfect
opportunity to take it to the
next level. This year you will
see that we have expanded
the conference to include
Fiona McKay-Ready
a second conference track,
Deputy Executive
additional exhibit halls and
Director
mezzanines, expanded dining
and networking areas, and a
host of new speakers.
From the very start of the planning process it has all
been designed with the audience in mind. Many of our
chosen topics came direct from member feedback, and
our content has been reviewed with leading industry
analysts to ensure we have our eyes on the most
relevant issues. In an era where remaining stagnant
can be detrimental for manufacturers, our conference
theme Plug Into Potential ultimately boils down to
what suppliers must do to stay relevant for future
platforms. At the heart of this is innovation. While this
is a word traditionally associated with products, we
must recognize that innovation takes many shapes. The
transformation of culture, operations and processes in
addition to technology is key to longevity and cannot
be ignored. Nowhere is this better demonstrated
than our “SME track,” a program specifically designed
for small and medium enterprises. Developed in
partnership with Impact Washington, the program will
provide a series of in-depth and actionable sessions
on the challenges and opportunities facing these
enterprises.
My advice to you? Divide and conquer! There is so
much to learn and so many people to meet here these
next few days, you’ll be spoiled with options for what
to do next. So, take some time, get acquainted with the
agenda, check out our conference app PNAA Connect
to find out who’s here and get with your colleagues
to optimize your company’s exposure. Fasten your
seatbelts and enjoy the ride.
Fiona McKay-Ready
Deputy Executive Director & Conference Architect
PNAA ADVANCE / 2020