Northwest Aerospace News — Issue No. 37 February | March 2024 — PNAA Conference Edition | Page 100

WHAT ’ S HAPPENING IN YOUR REGION ?

SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON USA

– CORNERSTONES OF COLLABORATION

JAY SCHMIDT Vice-President / General Manager , Silicon Forest Electronics dba Impact Electronic Solutions Board Chair – SW Washington High-Tech Council
The Southwest corner of Washington State is a region with rich history , excellent education partnerships , natural beauty and a high degree of industry collaboration .
Vancouver , Washington , USA was the landing spot for the first airplane flight from the Soviet Union to the United States across the North Pole in 1937 , and since that time , the aviation / aerospace , uncrewed systems and high technology manufacturing sectors of the region have continued to grow .
The diverse blend of technology firms in Southwest Washington provide new product development as well as advanced manufacturing , including those with AS9100 certifications , ITAR registration and NADCAP accreditation . Some of these firms are active members of the Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance ( PNAA ), including Silicon Forest Electronics , Vexos / ControlTek , Sigma Design , and Indicate Technologies . The region is also home to major semiconductor manufacturing firms such as SEH America , WaferTech , Kyocera and Analog Devices . Products developed and / or manufactured by these companies are used in high technology applications around the world .
This cross-section of high-tech firms has established a strong level of collaboration as part of the Southwest Washington High-Tech Council ( swwahtc . org ) where common areas of focus and regional partnerships are developed , including workforce development and advocacy , striving to make Southwest Washington a great place to work and live .
100 NORTHWEST AEROSPACE NEWS
PNAA ADVANCE / 2024