EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR
FRANK NICHOLS
Frank Nichols has been at the center of Silicon Forest Electronics ( SFE ) since founding it over 20 years ago . Founded in 1999 as a “ green field ” start-up bringing quickturn and rapid-response operations to the Pacific Northwest , SFE ’ s marketplace has expanded to both national and international reach . With 86 full-time employees , including a highly-experienced management team , skilled engineers , and business development executives , SFE has a current revenue of approximately $ 22 million .
Despite the onset of the global pandemic in March and the slowdown of the aerospace industry , SFE ’ s revenue growth has not slowed . Their highly diverse customer base and product mix helped reduce market risks and balance demand cyclicality across uncertain markets . Nikki Malcom ,
Frank Nichols , Silicon Forest Electronics CEO , President & Founder
PNAA Chairwoman , describes Mr . Nichols as a true visionary . “ Through his leadership , vision , and discipline to stay with that vision , he has helped Silicon Forest Electronics to thrive during the pandemic . His generosity in sharing his knowledge and purpose into the industry helps drive collaboration and connection at a time when it is needed the most .”
Headquartered in Vancouver , Washington , Silicon Forest Electronics is a full-service electronics manufacturing company providing prototype and full turnkey production services for leading-edge electronic manufacturing from aerospace , defense , unmanned systems , medical , industrial , and instrumentation sectors . Its customers range from the US Department of Defense to aerospace Tier 1 contractors and small start-up entrepreneurs .
Mr . Nichols brings 48 years of complex manufacturing history to these markets . With a degree in Mechanical Engineering from California State University , Fresno , and an MBA from the University of Phoenix , Mr . Nichols worked for over a decade as a quality engineer and systems engineer for the Navy and Air Force air-to-air and air-to-ground missile systems . He then transitioned to Government Systems Program Manager for Eaton Corporation , working on automated storage and retrieval systems focused on military applications .
In 1987 , Mr . Nichols began his consulting company , Orion Services , which provided long-term marketing , management , and engineering support to Department of Defense and Department of Energy prime contractors . He served in numerous management positions working on a variety of projects for the next decade until founding Silicon Forest Electronics in 1999 .
Mr . Nichols provides insight into SFE ’ s growth and success . “ SFE embraces two critical principles that contribute to the success that SFE enjoys . First , there is a focus on people in 360 degrees : that is , our employees , customers , suppliers , and community partners . If you take care of the people , growth and profits will follow . Second , eliminate single points of failure and concentration of resources on a single mission . Train many skills into many people , have back-up equipment and processes , and don ’ t rely on a few large customers .”
In addition to his responsibilities at SFE , Mr . Nichols finds time to serve on numerous boards . For the past six years , he has provided untold hours and immeasurable wisdom as a highly-valued member of PNAA ’ s board of directors . And as an accomplished professional photographer with a master ’ s degree from the Professional Photographers of America , Mr . Nichols travels extensively in search of unique and wild and endangered animals . He is noted for his photographs of grizzly bears from Alaska , Canada , Montana , and Wyoming .
PNAA ’ s Executive of the Year Award is presented to an executive of an aerospace company located within the Pacific Northwest who has made a significant contribution to the advancement of the Pacific Northwest Aerospace industry .
90 NORTHWEST AEROSPACE NEWS
PNAA ADVANCE / 2021