Welcome to the Aerospace Futures Alliance of Washington

Space is filling up!
Register Today for the
2nd Annual Aerospace Day

• Hear Directly from Key Lawmakers
• Opportunity to lobby your legislators on priority issues affecting your company
• Network with other companies
• Lunch Provided
• Followed by a reception a short walk off campus at the Boeing House

Directions and Agenda to follow! Please RSVP to Trent House at trent@trentmhouse.com to be a part of this critical day!

AFA secured, with the help of key lawmakers, $1 million in new student loan funding specifically for the aerospace training programs currently offered at the Washington Aerospace Training and Research (WATR) Center and Renton Technical College and the Spokane Aerospace Technology Center.

AFA strongly encouraged lawmakers to include this funding in the final hours of the "special session" to help students access the short term customizable training programs offered at the three statewide training centers. This money is in addition to the $500 thousand used to start this program earlier this year.

For more information about the student loan program, the WATR Center and their partnership with Renton Technical College, please contact Larry Cluphf at (425) 347- 8928. You can also visit the WATR Center's website at: www.washingtonaerospace.com

At AFA's Annual Winter Retreat the Board of Directors elected the 2012-13 officers.

New AFA Officers:

Bill McSherry - AFA Chair
Director, State and Local Government Operations
The Boeing Company

Matt Yerbic - AFA Vice-Chair
President & CEO Aviation Technical Services

Larry Houk - AFA Secretary Treasure
Principal, Legacy Group Past President of Bank of Washington

Linda Lanham - AFA President & Executive Director
Aerospace Futures Alliance

The Board of Directors extends their sincerest gratitude to Todd Woodard and Rosemary Brester who capably served the organization in their respective roles. Each will continue to play a vital role on AFA's Board. AFA is very fortunate to have such a highly qualified group of leaders guide the industry's top trade group and looks forward to a productive 2012.

AFA Board members held their annual retreat and set the goals and agenda for 2012. Items on the agenda for 2012 include strategies for improving the marketing of industry training programs, hosting leadership meetings across the state, setting membership growth goals and strategies for updating the AFA Website. AFA welcomes your input on the issues the organization will tackle. Please feel free to contact either Linda Lanham at lindal@afa-wa.com or Trent House at trent@trentmhouse.com if you have suggestions for 2012.

The Washington Aerospace Training and Research Center continues to exceed everyone's expectations. A large part of our success has been AFA's insistence that the curriculum at the WATR Center remain Industry driven. To accomplish this, we established an Industry Advisory Council. The purpose of the Advisory Council is to make sure students are trained with skills at a level needed by the Industry. If you are interested in participating on the Industry Advisory Council, please contact Linda Lanham at lindal@afa-wa.com. A few industry slots remain.

Don't forget to compare AFA's member benefits at your next open enrollment. AFA has developed health, property/casualty and liability insurance programs just for AFA members. Contact us today for a quote.