Rochester, MI - October 27, 2017 – The newly formed Aerospace Industry Association of Michigan (AIAM) officially launched with the organization’s inaugural Board of Director’s meeting in August of this year. AIAM serves to be the voice of the 600+ aerospace companies and organizations that already call Michigan home. Michigan’s heritage in the aerospace industry spans more than 100 years with the University of Michigan’s aerospace engineering program, the oldest in the nation, that began not long after the historic Wright Brothers’ flight at Kitty Hawk. The aerospace and automotive industry joined forces in 1941 during WWII when the Ford Motor Company’s Willow Run plant was converted into an aircraft assembly line where 42,000 workers produced one (1) B-24 Liberator aircraft per hour. The rest is history as some would say and the aerospace industry continued to quietly grow in Michigan in the shadows of the automotive industry for over 75 years.
Tony Vernaci, President of AIAM, commented “With PwC naming Michigan #2 in the nation 2 out of the last 3 years for aerospace manufacturing attractiveness, it put our state on the map globally in this industry.” Vernaci continues, “The density of the aerospace industry in Michigan along with our availability of talent for the industry are some of the main drivers that contributed to such an impressive ranking. Other factors such as Michigan’s effective tax rate and overall cost of operations heavily influenced PwC’s decision.” Vernaci also stated, “The crossover benefits from Michigan’s dominance in the automotive industry places us in a very unique position unlike anywhere in the world.”
From Engineering & Design, to Rapid Prototyping, and Simulation to mass production, Michigan is recognized globally as a manufacturing powerhouse and known for “making things”. Vernaci stated, “As Michigan progresses in the light-weighting, connected/autonomous technology and cybersecurity, the global aerospace industry will be a natural beneficiary of these technological advances.” “The other asset is our workforce. Michigan continues to graduate more engineers per capita than anywhere else in the United States, so we have the talent ecosystem advantage for decades to come.” AIAM believes the supply chain, the skilled workforce and the competitive business environment is why Michigan has already proven to be a competitive advantage to the aerospace industry located in the state.
AIAM’s Board of Directors are influential leaders in the global Aerospace Industry and its supply chain in Michigan.
Matt Eurich, President, Wineman Technology Inc.
Daniel Inman, University of Michigan Aerospace Engineering
Clarence “Kelly” Johnson, Collegiate Prof & Chair, University of Michigan Aerospace Engineering
George Kiefer, VP/GM, Avionics – Computer & Networking, GE Aviation
Kevin Michaels, Managing Director, AeroDynamic Advisory
Mark Schmidt, Vice President Aftermarket Business, Eaton
Jeff Simek, General Manager of Operations, RCO Aerospace and RCO Engineering
Glen Simula, President and Founder, GS Engineering, Inc.
Mike Stratton, Product Line Manager, Combustion, Woodward
Alex Vlielander, President, Liebherr
Conor Tracy, General Manager – AutoAir, Pratt & Whitney
Top priorities for AIAM include: Talent Attraction and Development, Legislative Advocacy in Lansing, Representation at key aerospace events around the world, and numerous Business Networking opportunities. We treat every member and sponsor as an investor in the organization and are dedicated to providing maximum value for their time and money.
Membership in AIAM is open to companies in the aerospace industry plus non-aerospace companies considering an expansion of their products and service into the industry. Membership information and to sign up is on the website at: http://aiamnow.com
About AIAM
The Aerospace Industry Association of Michigan is a non-profit, member driven industry organization. It is a platform for aerospace leaders in the state to work together on a common set of priorities to strengthen and support the continued growth in the industry through talent attraction and new investment in Michigan.
