Three Conferences Held In Different Locations Across The
State
The Upper Michigan Green Aviation
Coalition has announced the dates for its Green Aviation Conference
Series. The events will be May 12th at Northern Michigan University
in Marquette; June 15th at the Terrace Bay Inn in Escanaba and July
12th in Houghton (location to be determined). All conferences begin
at 1300 EDT and are followed by a networking reception from
1630-1830.
The Upper Michigan Green Aviation Coalition is a group of
private and public sector members and stakeholders who are
participating in the creation of an industry cluster surrounding
the concept of green aviation. The membership is comprised of
companies and industry experts from around the world including
Switzerland, France, Canada and the U.S. The mission is to join
private and public sector partners across the Upper Peninsula of
Michigan and bordering regions, with experts from throughout the
world, to develop new business opportunities; create jobs; develop
new employee categories; promote investment; develop and
commercialize advanced technologies; promote collaboration among
cluster partners; and expand existing third-party business and
financing services within the field of green aviation.
The group recently received a huge vote of confidence from the
federal government by way of a contract award for $600,000 from
SBA. "The award is part of an SBA initiative known as Innovative
Economies," said Bob Eslinger, MichiganWorks and member of the
Coalition's management team. "The concept is that funding should be
distributed to clusters that promote a specific industry activity
rather than to a geographical location. Our cluster was one of ten
to receive a contract and we were thrilled to have this type of
support to advance our mission, specifically by providing support
for this conference series."
The May 12th event features industry experts in aircraft
dismantling and recycling:
William Carberry: Carberry is a member of Boeing Commercial
Airplanes' Environmental Performance Team and Program Manager for
Aircraft and Composite Recycling. In this position, Mr. Carberry
initiated a study of retired aircraft management, which in 2006,
evolved into an industry initiative called the Aircraft Fleet
Recycling Association (AFRA) and he has served as the deputy
director of AFRA since its inception. Additionally, he is the
Technology Leader for Commercial Airplanes Product Development's
Sustainable Materials Focus Group.
Gavin Brown: Since 2007, Brown has served as the Executive
Director of Michigan Aerospace Manufacturers Association, (MAMA).
Mr. Brown was the creator of the association that was designed to
take Michigan's manufacturing capabilities and capacity and develop
it into an integrated supply chain to the aerospace and defense
industry.
The success of MAMA is both in the terms of awarded contracts
and the ongoing recognition of Michigan as a growing diversified
manufacturing base that is being utilized by the US government,
primes and OEMs domestically and throughout the world. Part of the
mission of MAMA is to help Michigan companies looking to diversify
into the aerospace and defense industry understand the complexities
of entering into and growing their business within these two
industries.
Mr. Brown has been in the aerospace and defense industry for
over 11 years and advises the state of Michigan on aerospace and
defense procurement issues. He is recognized by the national media,
both broadcast and print, as an expert in these areas and speaks at
aerospace and defense conferences.
Mr. Brown has worked with major aerospace and defense companies
like General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Boeing, EADS, GE,
Rolls Royce, Northrop Grumman as well as Tier 1, 2's and other sub
suppliers.
Other presenters include: Tim Zemonvic CEO Aircraft Demolition
LLC; Steve Burns President Aircraft Deconstructors Inc. and Joel
Schultz, SBDTC.