Northwest Aerospace News PNAA 2021 ADVANCE | Page 67

PNAA EXECUTIVE WELCOME

On behalf of our Board of Directors , welcome to PNAA Advance 2021 , our 20th Annual Aerospace Conference . The theme this year is : Changing Our Flight Plan – Engineering the Road to Recovery .
This year has been a year unlike any other in aerospace and in life as we know it . 2020 has shaken not only aerospace manufacturing , but also so many of us in our everyday lives . It is a year that has redefined who we are , how we work and what is needed for our companies to remain competitive in the future . So , now what ? How do we make it through this near-term turbulence ?
We change our flight plan . The aerospace industry has a rich history , and over the years it has experienced ups and downs . And although more significant than recent past instabilities , one thing is certain : this industry can and will succeed in engineering the road to recovery and will come back strong . This year ’ s conference will explore the different elements in play that are helping to improve the industry ’ s health , which is so much more than manufacturing , and will require multi-pronged approaches .
Brian Canfield CEO / Executive Director
As much as we wanted to mark our 20th anniversary in person , we pivoted with the rest of the world to a virtual experience . PNAA Advance 2021 has become an opportunity to celebrate PNAA ’ s two decades in more and different ways than we could have imagined . Under these unique circumstances , we sought out the best partners to create an immersive virtual experience which we hope you find best in class . Our goal was to create an environment that feels like you are at the PNAA conference in person with a variety of ways to network with industry peers , learn about latest technologies and services , and participate in a more flexible B2B Fair .
Similar to past conferences , we will feature a captivating array of main-stage speakers and topics from OEMs , Tier 1s and other aerospace companies , as well as a parallel SME technical track . The popular networking receptions and local aerospace company tours will also be hosted on the virtual platform . Further opportunities to network with industry peers will be a click away in a variety of virtual lounges . We marvel at how far we have come in 20 years , from a gathering of a few dozen aerospace professionals , to a complete virtual environment with attendees from around the world .
This year , PNAA has shifted in a variety of ways to help local aerospace businesses through the collective challenges facing our industry . Early in the year , we opened our monthly member webinars to all in the industry and increased frequency to once per week . PNAA ’ s Weekly Webinars shared pertinent information about the COVID response , including adaptation of workspaces to support response efforts and options for financial support . We also launched a weekly program called Factory Fridays , where PNAA members showcase their capabilities through virtual tours of their facilities , allowing aerospace companies to learn whether they may be a good business fit . These were complemented by special virtual events like our Mid-Year Aerospace Update , where we brought in top analysts to provide the latest commercial and defense aerospace market intelligence to help businesses most effectively plan for the remainder of the year .
We held our seventh annual Women in Aerospace , an Evening of Inspiration virtually , providing an evening of connection and encouragement . Pivoting Your Aerospace Business provided training on how to shift marketing and business strategies . We also held a New and Expanding Technologies ( NExT ) event on UAV systems as a growth segment for manufacturers to learn about . With a goal of providing as much support for the industry as possible during these uncertain times , we ended up holding nearly 50 % more events this year than last year .
PNAA continues to support workforce development , STEM Education and inspirational activities to encourage our next generation of young aerospace manufacturing professionals . This year , we once again supported activities such as the LEAF STEM Challenge ( by Starfish Education and The Lindbergh Foundation ) and the SME Regional Annual Conference . And the industry has continued to support our PNAA Scholarship Program , which over the past 10 years has raised over $ 300,000 for college students aspiring toward careers in the aerospace industry . Although this has been a challenging year for many , PNAA continues its commitment to help the industry on its road to recovery .
As we enter 2021 , we ’ re prepared to face continued challenges within the industry , as well as glimmers of hope on the horizon . We will continue to focus on providing programs and content to help you change your flight plan , pull through the turbulence and set course for better tomorrows .
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AT FUTURE EVENTS , HOPEFULLY IN PERSON THIS YEAR !
PNAA ADVANCE / 2021
FEBRUARY | MARCH 2021 ISSUE NO . 19 67