Northwest Aerospace News February | March Issue No. 13 | Page 80

INSPIRE AWARD
PIONEER HUMAN SERVICES
PIONEER ENTERPRISES VP
Since 1963, Pioneer Human Services has endeavored to
be a loud, unified voice for people with criminal histories,
ensuring that every person served has an opportunity
to transcend their past and be embraced as a valuable
member of society; an inspiring message which can be
heard and felt across the state. The organization has
expanded from a single halfway house to a robust non-
profit, operating a broad range of programs in nearly 60
locations across Washington State. Their mission is to
provide individuals with criminal histories the opportunity
to lead healthy, productive lives.
Over the last 56 years, Pioneer has made many notable
accomplishments, including sustained growth in both
their service and business lines. Within the manufacturing
division specifically they serve as a model for inclusive
hiring practices with 67% of the workforce having
experience in the criminal justice system and/or being in
recovery from substance abuse.
“We are dedicated to building a world-class aerospace
manufacturing company that provides living wage jobs for
our employees while consistently exceeding our customers’
expectations on quality, delivery and customer service,”
said Mark Behrends, VP Pioneer Enterprises. “Over the
last few years, we have invested in cutting edge machinery
that has allowed us to almost double our production of
machined parts. We produced more than 2 million total
parts last year – our most productive year ever – and we
are committed to continuing to expand our capabilities and
hone our expertise moving forward.”
Committed to providing
career paths that lead to
economic stability, Pioneer
supports their employees
in pursuing these paths
through a range of
education opportunities
from apprenticeship tracks
to 100% college tuition
Mark Behrends,
payment. “Over the past
Pioneer Enterprises VP
year, I have learned a lot –
including how to love myself.
I have really stayed on the right track this time and I can say
that I am proud of my accomplishments. Every direction
I turn Pioneer has supported and helped me with what I
need,” said Lynette, an employee.
In recent years, Pioneer has left lasting impressions across
the state, receiving the Regence Employer Value Award for
HOPE from Regence BlueShield of Washington, the Economic
Opportunity Award from Puget Sound Business, the Achieve
Award from the Association of Washington Business (AWB)
and the Large Nonprofit Employer of the Year through
Washington State Governor’s Employee Award.
At the organizational level, Pioneer believes it has a
responsibility to help shape a more just society in which
people truly have an opportunity to overcome their
pasts and be welcomed as valuable members of our
community. As such, they have played a key leadership
role in advancing legislation at the local and state level to
decrease discrimination in both housing and employment.
Today, Pioneer Human Services has grown to be a leading
organization in Washington State offering an integrated
array of services that provides more than 10,000 people a
year with the tools they need to build better lives.
PNAA’s Inspire Award honors businesses and individuals in the aerospace community that have shown exceptional
creativity in working with young people and diverse populations in an effort to promote diversity and inclusion in the
aerospace industry and cultivate interest and skills leading to aerospace careers.
80
80
NORTHWEST AEROSPACE NEWS
NORTHWEST AEROSPACE NEWS
PNAA ADVANCE / 2020