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.

FMI: Conference Agenda