Hello, AIAM Business Community,
AIAM events this summer and fall have continued to be rich with opportunities for connections across our industry. Through our popular industry luncheons, golf outing, and conference formats, we have prioritized gathering in person with members to share our connections, experiences, and perspectives in aerospace. Additionally, the Women of AIAM (WAIAM) developed a unique competition specifically for 4th-8th grade girls challenging them to create a sustainable flight solution for a problem. 92 students from 27 cities across the entire state worked in 33 teams. Their results were extremely creative and the experience they gained was simply amazing! AIAM is hard at work to inspire students at all levels in order to invest in our talent pipeline.
Last month, AIAM debuted our AeroOne conference in downtown Grand Rapids, which was in many ways a culmination of everything we strive to offer to our members. From the top-level thought leaders who were on hand for 2 days to shared their perspectives, to every new conversation and relationship that formed between businesses to the premium event space that elevated the attendee experience, we could not have imagined a better place for the global aerospace industry to meet than in Michigan.
This makes me pause to think how 5 years ago people did not realize the aerospace industry existed in Michigan. I am excited to look at how far we have come in a relatively short amount of time and encouraged to keep working on behalf of the aerospace industry in our state – and for Michigan to be recognized as a valuable asset for the industry globally. Innovation is in our DNA – from Calumet to Jackson, and Roseville to Holland, AIAM members are on the forefront of our industry’s advancements. At AIAM, we are here to provide resources for members by connecting companies to opportunities where they can expand their business or find solutions.
This event would not have been possible without the generosity of Weldaloy Specialty Forgings, Michigan Economic Development Corporation, and Airbus. Furthermore, based on the overwhelming feedback from attendees, it’s clear that the AeroOne conference reinforced our passion for branding the aerospace industry in Michigan. We are excited to announce next year’s dates for AeroOne is set for September 6-7, 2023. We look forward to seeing what the balance of the year holds for the aerospace industry and AIAM.
In closing, be sure to keep an eye out for our final newsletter of the year in December. We will be making an exciting announcement on some plans AIAM has in the works to further enrich the aerospace business community!
Sincerely,
Tony
