APRIL / MAY 2024 ISSUE NO . 38
CONTRIBUTORS
Jennifer Ferrero writes for Northwest Aerospace News Magazine and other aerospace and manufacturing trade publications . She operates Ferrero Agency ( www . ferreroagency . com ), a content marketing company , and conducts work for aerospace , manufacturing , space , and AI companies . She is also the host of “ Northwest Aerospace News Live ,” a 15-minute interview-style vlog that features three new episodes each month . Please look for the playlist on YouTube under Top Drawer Media .
Dr . Ralph K . Coppola is currently President & CEO of the Aerospace Education Program Alliance and Founder & Executive Director of the Real World Design Challenge . He was nominated by the Secretary of Transportation to be on the Youth Access to American Jobs In Aviation Task Force . The Task Force was mandated by Congress to develop a report with recommendations on how to address the aerospace workforce issue that was submitted to Congress in September 2022 . Dr . Coppola served on the Task Force Steering Committee and is chair of the Funding Subcommittee . He worked in the Executive Office of the President of the United States at the White House , as chief educator for the GLOBE Program . He helped translate Vice President Gore ’ s education vision into an operational plan for 50 states and 100 countries .
Joanna Boatwright is the new aerospace international trade specialist with the Small Business Export Assistance Team for the Washington State Department of Commerce . Joanna joins the team with over 10 years of experience working in the aerospace industry , cultivating extensive connections and nurturing strong relationships within the aerospace supply chain community . With expertise in business development , project management , planning , and marketing Joanna will be focusing on supporting small and medium-sized Washington aerospace businesses on entering or expanding into foreign markets .
Daniel Tappana For Washington State Department of Commerce , Aerospace Business Development Manager Daniel crafts and deploys the agency ’ s aerospace business development strategy to increase and enhance business recruitment , investment , expansion and retention in the state ’ s aerospace cluster . Prior to joining the team , Daniel served as a regional engagement project manager for the State of Missouri ’ s Department of Economic Development where he covered the greater St . Louis metropolitan area and facilitated business expansion , retention and attraction activities across a variety of sectors . He also guided community development projects and was the regional team ’ s workforce development liaison . Daniel graduated from the University of Missouri ( Mizzou ) in 2014 with an undergraduate degree in marketing and completed his MBA from the University of Missouri – St . Louis in the summer of 2022 . In his free time , Daniel enjoys sports ( especially baseball ), live music , and going on adventures with his rescue dog Billie .
Dean Cameron is CEO of Top Drawer Media , publishers of Northwest Aerospace News . He has been an aerospace marketing professional for the past 32 years with experience in engineering and design , as well as numerous manufacturing disciplines .
Nikki Malcom has a tremendous passion for the aerospace and defense industry . She enjoys looking up into the sky and seeing the incredible machines that this industry produces ; it gives her immense pride .
She has spent the entire 21 years of her professional aerospace career in dynamic sales roles — supporting organizations with materials , testing and manufacturing . She established NFM Enterprises , born out of passion for connecting others within the industry . NFM connects buyers with fast , quality manufacturing services and offers effective sales coaching and strategy .
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