After earning an MBA , a fantastic opportunity with The Boeing Company brought me to Seattle . My roles included supporting the R & D planning process and directing the corporate strategy function . Later , I was appointed to lead an initiative to build an aerospace software and data business by combining internal capabilities with external partnerships , acquisitions and joint ventures .
As the Seattle area became an epicenter of the software tech boom , I left Boeing to join the fast-paced world of entrepreneurial startups . Throughout a “ second career ” negotiating and managing alliances for software , data and analytics companies , I kept my eyes on space .
Over the past decade , space commercialization has really taken off , including right here in the Puget Sound . Five years ago , I left my job as an executive at a rapidly-growing software company and relaunched my space career .
After first taking a bit of time off to visit historical space facilities and witness several launches , I became an advisor to a variety of space and software companies . Helping clients evaluate space-industry opportunities , accelerate growth , and build powerful partnerships is very rewarding .
The emergence of the Seattle-area space economy has been phenomenal . Recently , it has been expanding by at least 25 percent per year . More than one-third of all operational satellites in space have been built in Washington State , with many more on the way . In early 2022 , the number of open jobs in Washington State space companies was about three times the number of openings at Boeing . Yet , our local space industry remains significantly underappreciated . Promoting the Washington State space economy has become my pet project .
To this end , I ’ ve collaborated with the excellent aerospace trade organizations in our state . I ’ ve spoken at events for the Aerospace Futures Alliance , the Pacific Northwest Defense Coalition , the Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance and the Inland Northwest Aerospace Coalition . In late 2020 , the Aerospace Futures Alliance contracted me to survey Washington State space companies to identify opportunities for aerospace suppliers . I also volunteer my time to support The Space Entrepreneurs group , the Seattle Startup Weekend Space events , and partner with the University of Washington on their important space initiatives . Talking to journalists and publishing information on social media and on my website is another way I try to raise awareness for our space cluster .
APRIL | MAY 2021 ISSUE NO . 26 53