Aerospace Company located in the Pacific NW that has exhibited exceptional organizational and managerial and management characteristics while continually maintaining a strong competitive posture, thus raising the industry standard for the Pacific NW.

SEKISUI Aerospace has been manufacturing and engineering products for the commercial aerospace and defense markets for over 32 years. It is a leading designer and producer of advanced composite structures, systems, and engine components using thermoset and thermoplastic technology for the global aerospace industry. Headquartered in Renton, Washington, SEKISUI Aerospace has additional locations in Sumner, Washington and Orange City, Iowa with a total of 570 employees across all its facilities.  SEKISUI Aerospace is spearheading the way to intelligent automation insertion and rapid prototype to manufacturing processing and design optimization, to be more than a manufacturer of products and instead also provide solutions for our customers.

SEKISUI Aerospace is currently guided by President and CEO, Daniele Cagnatel, who holds an M.A. in Mechanical Engineering with Management and German Language from the University of Nottingham, U.K. Mr. Cagnatel joined SEKISUI Aerospace in August 2017, after serving over 20 years at GKN Aerospace. While at GKN Aerospace, Mr. Cagnatel served in many operational roles including Head of Strategic Planning and Business Development and President and CEO of Aerostructures North America. Mr. Cagnatel describes SEKISUI Aerospace’s impact on customers and the environment: “The ability to develop solutions for customers in commercial aerospace and other industries such as automotive, Urban Air Mobility, and military applications, allows us to differentiate ourselves through technology and serve our customers with innovative solutions to current and future projects. Investing in automated thermoplastic capability is another great step toward our commitments to eco sustainability by minimizing our impact to the environment as well as improving the quality of jobs and skill-sets of our employees.”

Throughout the global pandemic, SEKISUI Aerospace worked to protect its employees while continuing to improve its business model. In addition to implementing a tiered cost structure to keep benefits affordable and SEKISUI University for its team members’ learning benefit, it has invested in leadership development. With a global focus, the company diversified its target markets and invested in new equipment in order to move it closer to eco sustainability to minimize its impact on the environment and to create peace of mind.

PNAA Board Member Mateo Osojnik praises SEKISUI as "one of the rare aerospace organizations that looks beyond the present part production and focuses on sustainability, innovation and most of all its people. The companies’ vision of “Innovation for the Earth” embodies the strong desire to support life and create “peace of mind that continues into the future”. When making business decisions SEKISUI leadership talks beyond the challenges of today – they consider potential challenges of future generations. SEKISUI strives to improve, streamline, and continuously challenge the status quo, while supporting the community and its employees. This shift is quite unique and being part of the team that does approach things in this way has been an incredible privilege.”

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 Norwest Aerospace Industry.

Orion was founded in 1957 as a vocational school for students with disabilities to prepare them for competitive employment. The founders envisioned a job training program in an industrial setting that allowed trainees to learn the skills necessary to support themselves. Since 1959, Orion, a non-profit social enterprise, has been focused on providing vocational training and services for individuals with barriers to employment, as well as providing precision metal products to the aerospace market.

 As Vice-President and General Manager, Tom Brosius is in top leadership at Orion. He has managed their Aerospace Manufacturing division since 2007. During his time with the company, Tom has led the growth of the aerospace division from four million dollars per year and 45 employees to over 40 million dollars per year and 380 employees.

He has focused on creating a competitive mindset for the company and increasing core competencies. Along with the VP of Services at Orion, Tom created and provided the training and employment services model that moved over 2,400 unemployed people from a life on subsistence to a career-based job and an independent lifestyle. With the onset of the pandemic, Tom used every available resource to support Orion’s employees and retain the team during the most challenging time in the history of the northwest aviation industry.

Headquartered in Auburn, Washington, with an additional facility in Mukilteo, Orion believes that everyone should have the opportunity to work and that it has a responsibility to serve its community. Orion Aerospace, the manufacturing business, supplies funding for Orion Industries to advance its social mission and is one of the leading aerospace manufacturers in the Pacific Northwest. It provides a full suite of manufacturing services, including machined and fabricated aerospace components, assemblies, structures, wire harnesses and electrical panels specializing in vertical integration of products using complimentary core processes. Orion Aerospace is an eight-time winner of the Boeing Performance Excellence Award and is a three-time recipient of the Boeing Supplier of the Year Award.

PNAA Board Member Paul Michaels compliments Tom’s commitment to the aerospace industry and describes Tom as “a beacon of leadership and positive change.” He continues, “Tom’s leadership has been nothing short of inspiring on every level. His dedicated focus on the personal and professional development of his team has created a culture of true growth and customer engagement. The great work being done at Orion is a testament in large part to that focus. He has inspired me both personally and professionally and I’m honored to call him an industry colleague.”

Tom holds a master’s degree in Industrial and Management Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and an MBA from the University of Washington. He began his aerospace career in the US Air Force and managed aircraft flight line maintenance organizations. Upon retirement from the military, Tom managed manufacturing operations as the Plant Manager at Flow International in Kent, Washington pushing the leading edge of manufacturing water jet cutting systems.

In addition to his responsibilities at Orion Industries, Tom finds time to serve as a Board Member for the Aerospace Futures Alliance, a non-profit organization advocating on behalf of all aviation, space and unmanned aircraft systems businesses. Tom has previously served on the Boards of the Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance and the Center for Advanced Manufacturing – Puget Sound. When not involved in aerospace endeavors, Tom, an avid boater, can be found cruising the waters of Puget Sound and the coast of British Columbia with his wife of 43 years, Sandy.

Dean Cameron

PNAA’s Chairman’s Award is presented to an individual, company or organization to honor their outstanding accomplishments which have significantly contributed to the support, growth and future of the aerospace industry, throughout the greater Pacific Northwest.

Dean Cameron has always been a serial entrepreneur. At age 19, Dean began Camtex, a sporting goods manufacturing company, which grew to 88 employees in nine short years. Dean eventually merged the business with Spokane Valley-based aerospace manufacturer, Multifab Inc. where he enjoyed a 28-year career as a national sales manager growing their business into the aerospace sector and working with numerous Tier 1 commercial interiors companies.

Dean’s aerospace work involved early design direction and concept to manufacturing consultation. He described his projects as “Cradle to Grave;” from napkin sketch to delivered product. Often his projects involved partnerships with other suppliers to develop a finished assembly. Recognizing that there were challenges to getting the information about what his company provided to potential partners, Dean came up with the concept of Northwest Aerospace News.

After retiring from Multifab Inc., Dean started Top Drawer Media in 2016 and began publishing an arts and entertainment magazine called Art Chowder. He then spent a year developing the idea for Northwest Aerospace News Magazine and conducting market research. He sought to provide unique information that is generally not covered in other industry trade magazines.

In 2017, Dean launched Northwest Aerospace News Magazine with the goal of being the voice of the manufacturer to the aerospace industry. The magazine’s focus and content centers on Tier Two, Three, and Four suppliers. When asked about the success of the magazine, Dean reflects, “Our growth has been amazing. We have become a kept resource for supply chain to find new partners as well as integrating AFA’s Lift Magazine and Aerospace Vendors’ website. We strive to offer multiple resources for suppliers to be seen by industry partners.”

Dean describes his work in aerospace manufacturing as “one of the most demanding industries I have ever worked in. The ability to be flexible as well as on-time with superior quality is what sets suppliers in this industry apart from others. Sharing the exceptional manufacturers and their passion to support their clients has been, and is, a very rewarding effort.”

Nikki Malcolm, PNAA Interim CEO and Executive Director, applauds the work of Northwest Aerospace News Magazine saying “Dean Cameron is a great friend and colleague to the PNW Aerospace Cluster. His magazine is full of positivity and showcases the local aerospace region, and he is consistently finding new ways to give back to the industry.”

PNAA’s Inspire Award honors businesses and individuals in the aerospace community that have shown exceptional creativity in working with young people and diverse populations in an effort to promote diversity and inclusion in the aerospace industry and cultivate interest and skills leading to aerospace careers.

In 2021, The Museum of Flight celebrated its 56^th year of bringing the incredible history of flight to life. It is one of the largest air and space museums in the world, serving 600,000 visitors annually pre-Covid-19. Encompassing 23 acres adjacent to Boeing Field and a Restoration Center near Paine Field, the Museum’s collection includes over 175 aircraft and spacecraft, tens of thousands of artifacts, millions of rare photographs, dozens of exhibits and experiences, and a world-class library.

Matt Hayes, President and CEO of The Museum of Flight has been involved in aviation since he was a teenager. At age 16, he soloed in a small two-seat airplane before he drove a car alone. In 1995, he moved to the Pacific Northwest and immediately became a member of The Museum of Flight, so he could indulge his passion for aviation. Matt recalls “my first ‘job’ at the Museum was as a volunteer, working on the restoration team for the B-17. For me, it was a 9-year labor of love where I learned a lot more about life than about airplanes from the veterans, Rosie the Riveters, and other volunteers I worked with.” In 2006, Matt was hired as the Museum’s Controller and has since held various leadership positions. In his current role, Matt is responsible for directing the Museum’s long-term strategic planning process and ensuring that the Museum reaches its vision of becoming the foremost educational air and space museum in the world.

The Museum was deeply impacted by the pandemic. Overnight, it lost 90% of its earned revenue and closed its doors to the public for the longest time in its history. Since education has long been at the heart of the Museum’s mission, it opted to leverage its strengths and pivot to delivering education programs online and through other remote means. As a result, it expanded its programming and outreach to diverse communities with critical needs around the country and worldwide. Consequently, new and existing community partnerships are stronger than ever and the Museum plans to leverage these relationships in continued service to youth-centered community groups, educators, schools, families and individuals. It is committed to using the lens of flight to inspire and prepare the next generation of dreamers, pilots, and engineers—and to ensure that these opportunities are available to those currently underrepresented in STEM careers: women, students of color and those from low-income and rural communities.

In discussing the pandemic, Matt says, “I am truly humbled to be leading The Museum of Flight through what has been a challenging time for so many. Early in the pandemic, our decision to pivot and focus on what we could do as opposed to talking about what we couldn’t do helped us to be of service to our community in ways we never imagined. We know how inspiring the story of humankind’s quest to reach the skies and the stars can be. Our goal is to turn inspiration into aspiration and to help support the next generation of diverse pilots, astronauts, engineers and scientists in discovering and pursuing their educational and career dreams.”

Nikki Malcolm, PNAA Interim CEO and Executive Director, notes “The Museum of Flight has many programs to help youth and especially those in underserved communities have access to aerospace and aviation. They serve as a beacon, pointing a light toward all the opportunities there are to work in this field. They are a precise match to what the Inspire Award is all about and we are pleased to present it to them.”

 PNAA's WIA Rising Star Award recognizes a woman who has demonstrated a drive for excellence that has inspired change and innovation. The nominee is not afraid to break molds. She understands the importance of sharing new ideas and fostering a thought process that has a positive influence in the workplace and community. The nominee is a creative forward thinker who puts ideas into action.

PNAA’s WIA Woman of the Year Award recognizes a woman who has demonstrated exceptional leadership and success over several years. The nominee will have a track record of long-term achievements, professional growth, and community involvement and has distinguished herself in her organization, her profession, and her community. This woman is known for her positive influence and competent abilities. The Nominee epitomizes the values for which PNAA stands and represents the best of who we are as women and as leaders.

Nancy White was nominated for the 2021 PNAA Woman of the Year award because this manager, business leader, co-owner and CEO gives back as much as she gains from the aerospace community. For almost 30 years Nancy has volunteered for think tanks, technical advisory committees, and community and economic development councils. Here are some personal examples. As a CEO Nancy provided oversight to ensure that as a customer, program needs are met and her team exceeded expectations. Even her first customer, is still a customer! As a manager, one team member reports Nancy was open to allowing him to explore a variety of roles and a chance to grow his capabilities. As a colleague, Nancy has provides intimate feedback and ensures she nurtures mentor relationships. Nancy has amassed a talented and diverse team that supports the industry worldwide. Her employees are dedicated because they know they matter to Nancy. She offers the employees the opportunity to co-own the business through an Employee Stock Option Plan. Nancy is committed to treat customers, employees, vendors and colleagues with respect and integrity. She walks the talk and creates an environment where her team knows they are in it for the long game. No shortcuts. From the very small town of Bingen, Washington population 800, on the beautiful Columbia River, in a beautiful LEED compliant facility in the heart of the Cascades, Nancy and the team have a saying, “We try really hard to say Yes.” Today PNAA says Yes, to honoring Nancy White as the 2021 PNAA Woman of the Year.

PNAA’s Aerospace Technical Advancement Award honors a business in the aerospace community that have shown leadership in helping other companies in the industry overcome technical challenges.

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