Northwest Aerospace News Issue No. 25 February | March 2022 | Page 109

CONFERENCE SPEAKERS

JAY SCHMIDT
EXECUTIVE VICE-PRESIDENT , GENERAL MANAGER / Silicon Forest Electronics
Jay leads the Business Development , Program Management and Operations functions of the Silicon Forest Electronics organization . He has been in Aerospace , Defense & Medical electronics manufacturing since 1984 . Currently , he is co-Chair of the Career Connected Learning Network of SW Washington and Board Chair of High-Tech Council of SW Washington , as well as an adjunct Instructor at WSU- Vancouver .
AMANDA SIMPSON
VICE PRESIDENT FOR RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY / Airbus Americas , Inc .
With over 40 years of aerospace experience , Ms . Simpson joined Airbus in 2018 following several government assignments in the U . S . Department of Defense . She is responsible for coordinating research activities for Airbus in the Americas , establishing strategic direction , and pursuing funding opportunities . She is also the lead for sustainability for Airbus Americas .
DAVE SOMERS
EXECUTIVE / Snohomish County
Dave Somers took office as Snohomish County Executive on January 1 , 2016 , after serving for 14 years on the County Council . Dave is focused on developing safer and more prosperous communities . Dave oversees twelve county departments , including Paine Field Airport . Prior to his public service , Dave was a fisheries biologist .
JOANNA SPEED
CHIEF GROWTH OFFICER / AeroMed Group
Ms . Speed drives strategic growth initiatives to elevate awareness of AeroMed Group ’ s innovative vision , service capabilities , and performance execution . Most recently , she served as Managing Director , A & D for the Aviation Week Network – which included the SpeedNews Legacy - where she notably led the launch and execution of multiple marketing strategies and audience engagement pla�orms .

" Tool Gauge has attended the annual conference for a number of years and each year it gets better and better . We get inside information on industry trends , meet with customers and suppliers , and do extensive networking . The conference is our single biggest event each year and it helps keep us at the forefront of aerospace manufacturing ."

- Jim Lee , Tool Gauge
PNAA ADVANCE / 2022
FEBRUARY | MARCH 2022 ISSUE NO . 25 109