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AIAM grows the michigan aerospace community

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Why we're here

mission

To further strengthen Michigan’s aerospace ecosystem by expanding talent, research and market access.

vision

For Michigan to be ranked the number one aerospace industry cluster in the nation.

values

DEDICATION
We are passionate, driven, focused, and committed to delivering value.

RELATIONSHIPS
We interact, communicate, and collaborate effectively within our board and with our constituents.

RESPONSIVENESS
We respond quickly and effectively to requests, questions, and concerns.

INDUSTRY KNOWLEDGE
We leverage our collective aerospace knowledge and expertise for the benefit of our stakeholders.

member services

Directory

Quickly locate the resources you need within our fully searchable membership directory.

Training

Get the right training for your employees when you need it.

industry data

Be a part of something bigger and help propel Michigan into the future of aerospace.

Recognition

Our members receive national and international recognition.

Networking

AIAM is a collective of aerospace professionals working together.

Over 900 companies and organizations are conducting business in the global aerospace industry from their Michigan-based operations.

testimonials

Joseph Gustavus

Miller Canfield, Paddock and Stone, P.L.C.
Miller Canfield has found AIAM to be vital to galvanizing Michigan aerospace businesses and projecting their national presence to the key actors in the aerospace industry, governments, and the rest of the world.

James Gorman

Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center
We appreciate AIAM’s leadership and support with navigating Michigan’s growth in the aerospace sector. Together, we’re assisting manufacturers as they pivot into aerospace, as well as continuing our work helping established aerospace companies to grow and thrive.

Lisa Barron

Barron Industries
As a manufacturer of investment castings for the aerospace industry, Barron Industries has greatly benefited from its AIAM membership. By attending the organization’s numerous networking events, we have connected with new customers and suppliers.

Association board of directors

Matt Eurich

Chairman

Chief Operations Officers, Genuen

geororge kiefer

George Kiefer

Chairman Emeritus

Retired - VP/GM, Avonics-Computing & Networking, GE Aviation

Mike Stratton

Secretary

Product Line Manager - Combustion, Woodward

Jeff Simek

Treasurer

General Manager of Operations, RCO Aerospace & Engineering

Andy Brown

Board Member

Executive Plant Leader, GE Aerospace

Rob Cooke

Board Member

Director of Engineering Services, Calumet Electronics

Will Dew

Board Member

Managing Director Commercial, Liebherr

Tyler Ford

Board Member

General Manager, Eaton

Mirko Gamba

Board Member

Associate Professor - College of Aerospace Engineering

Stacy Paul

Board Member

CEO and Aerospace Engineer, Array of Engineers

Mike Stengel

Board Member

Principal, AeroDynamic Advisory

Trent-Urban

Trent Urban

Board Member

General Manager - AutoAir, Pratt & Whitney

Liz Ward

Board Member

Director of Sales and Business Development, Moeller Aerospace

Sara McMurray

Board Member

Director of Sales and Marketing at DornerWorks

Pete Gibson

Board Member

President, TRIUMPH Geared Solutions

AIAM Foundation Board

AIAM Board Member

TOM ALONGI

Partner, Audit, Advisory, Tax, Consulting

UHY

read bio >

WAIAM Co-Chair

Lissa Barron

LISSA BARRON

Director of Communications-

WAIAM Co-Chair

barron

read bio >

Board Member

MICHAEL DAVENPORT

 President and CEO of Jireh Metal Products, Inc.

read bio >

AIAM Board Member

Katie Frye

Vice President of Development and Marketing, Cherry Street Mission Ministries

read bio >

AIAM Board Member

Angela Kimber

ANGELA KIMBER​

Senior Mechanical Engineer in Product Design at Woodward Inc.

read bio >

AIAM Board Member

Stacy Paul

CEO and Aerospace Engineer, Array of Engineers

Array of engineers logo

read bio >

AIAM Co-Chair

Karen Arondoski

KAREN ARONDOSKI​

President/Owner, 
I. F. Metalworks
I.F. Metalworks logo

read bio >

Aiam staff

Tony Vernaci

Founder / CEO

Aaron Johnson

President

Brittany Telander

Executive Director, AIAM Foundation

Morgan Herzog

Event Manager

Dawn Fraylick

Marketing Manager

Taylor Apker

Administrative Specialist

AIAM Board Member

tom Alongi

Partner

UHY

Tom is a leader of the audit and assurance department, where he has been advising both public and private clients in regard to their finances and operations for over 25 years. His extensive background in costing separates him from the typical auditor. Tom is the leader of the firm’s national manufacturing practice. He is also a member of the national transaction services group, where he performs financial and operational due diligence, and has led a significant number of transactions over the past several years.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

•Primary focus on companies looking to maximize shareholder value through acquisitions, profit enhancement, restructuring, and ultimately exiting or passing investment on to the next generation
•Lead partner overseeing audits of public and private companies
•Experience extending from deal negotiation to implementation of post transaction strategic planning
•Provides consultation, evaluation and implementation of part and product line costing models
•Developed and implemented computer costing models that enable companies to better understand their cost structure and price their products for profitability
•Responsibilities include all stages of the costing process starting with an in depth understanding of operational and financial issues followed by a recommendations report and business model for improving the bottom line
•Special interests include strategic cost management  and special consulting engagements; product and part profitability, business profitability modeling, and cash flow forecasting
 

BACKGROUND:

•Licensed CPA in the state of Michigan
•Licensed CMA (Certified Management Accountant)
•Provisional Lead Assessor Certification from EXCEL Partnership
•Joined the firm in 1995
•B.S. in Accounting, Walsh College
 

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP:

•Host and Chairperson, UHY LLP Annual Manufacturing Outlook
•Host and Chairperson, UHY LLP Annual Automotive Outlook
•Co-Chairperson, UHY LLP Annual Accounting and Business Conference
•Executive Editor and Contributor, UHY LLP Manufacturing Insider Quarterly Newsletter
•“Restart Michigan: The Latest on Financial Relief Programs: PPP, ERC, and More”, Detroit Regional Chamber, 2021
•“Economic Forecast”, Macomb County Chamber of Commerce, 2021, 2020
•“Commercial Lending in a Turbulent Market”, Aerospace Industry Association of Michigan, 2020
•“The State of Mergers & Acquisitions”, The Pure Michigan Business Connect 2020 Aerospace Supply Chain Roundtable
Lissa Barron

Co-Chair

Lissa Barron

Director of Communications

Linkedin

WAIAM Co-Chair | Lissa Barron is Director of Communications for Barron Industries – a family-owned manufacturer of cast and machined engineered metal components and assembled systems. With its beginnings in 1923, Barron is celebrating 100 years in the metal casting industry. The company started as a Detroit foundry, mostly serving the exploding automotive industry. Fast forward to today – Barron Industries is now a global turnkey manufacturer offering everything from design for manufacturing to complete supply chain management. Lissa joined the family business after a 30-year career in journalism working as a news reporter and producer for print and broadcast media outlets in the United States and Canada, her native land. She earned a BA in Journalism at Ryerson University in Toronto. The daughter of Italian immigrants, Lissa became a U.S. citizen and resides with her husband Bruce Barron, the 3rd generation owner of the family business. They have four children and one grandchild. Lissa is a Co-Chair of the Women of the Aerospace Industry Association of Michigan (WAIAM) and a founding member of the women’s water basketball team at the Detroit Athletic Club. She enjoys travelling, especially to visit her extended family in northern Italy.

Board Member

Michael Davenport

President/CEO

Michael Davenport was born in Grand Rapids and attended Ottawa Hills High School. He graduated from Xavier University, where he is a member of the Athletic Hall of Fame (Men’s Basketball 1987- 1991), and the University of Cincinnati College of Law. Michael is married and has 2 sons.

Michael is currently the President and CEO of Jireh Metal Products, Inc. Jireh Metal Products, Inc. is anISO9001 certified manufacturer of progressive metal stampings and assemblies. Jireh partners with leadingcompanies in the Office Furniture, Commercial Hardware and Automotive industries. A perennial winner ofSupplier Excellence Awards, Jireh focuses on satisfying the needs of customers through quality, continuous improvement, competitive pricing and on- time delivery. Additionally, Michael serves on the Board of Directors for The Right Place, Mercantile Bank of Michigan, Xavier University President’s Advisory Council, Xavier University Athletic Leadership Advisory Council, Grand   Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce and TheRight Place Manufacturing Council.

Davenport brings his proven track record of leadership, team building and strategy implementation to JirehMetal. Michael formerly served as the Director of Community Development for First Financial Bank in Cincinnati, OH where he led the Bank’s Community Development strategy. Prior to that, Davenport served as a Regulatory Attorney for First Financial, Fifth Third and U.S. Bank where he managed the implementationand review of consumer  lending legislation.

Board Member

Katie Frye

Vice President of Development and Marketing,
Cherry Street Mission Ministries

Katie Frye is a dedicated and driven fundraising professional with 25+ years of strategic and tactical fundraising experiences and leadership with a demonstrated ability to identify, cultivate, secure, and steward major gifts while maintaining strong relationships with donors, businesses, foundations, government officials, and board members.

Katie is currently the Vice President of Development and Marketing for Cherry Street Mission Ministries located in Toledo, OH. Her fundraising background includes work in healthcare, the arts, youth services, education at both the K-12 level and higher education, and social determinants of health. One of her more recent, notable projects that she led fundraising efforts for was an $18M capital campaign (for a $143M project) in Adrian, MI that resulted in a new hospital, YMCA, and barrier free playground facility. Health and wellness has always been a personal and professional passion for Katie.

Her qualifications include, but are not limited to, donor and community relations, foundation and corporate relations, government relations, marketing, social media, public relations, media relations, grant writing, special event coordination, copy writing, donor database management, strategic planning, and board development.

Angela Kimber

Co-Chair

Angela Kimber

Senior Mechanical Engineer

Linkedin

Angela Kimber Ehlich is a Senior Mechanical Engineer in Product Design at Woodward Inc., where she focuses on design of fuel nozzles for gas turbine engines, with a passion for novel materials engineering, sustainable aviation fuels, and advanced combustion technologies. Outside of her multidisciplinary approach to engineering, she enjoys influencing public policy by active participation in local, state, and federal government advocacy. Mentorship and outreach are cornerstones of her career in science and engineering, and she is passionate about supporting and mentoring students in STEM fields across the country as an active, professional member of the Society of Women Engineers. As a board member for the non-profit Aerospace Industry Association of Michigan (AIAM) Foundation, she is able to further develop supportive networks and pipelines for younger generations interested in STEM and aerospace careers locally within Michigan state. Long-term career goals include corporate leadership and service in legislative positions, bridging science and public policy through industry, academia, and advocacy. When at home, she can be found reading (science or historical fiction), riding her bike, or enjoying the beautiful West Michigan outdoors with her husband and their three daughters.

AIAM Board Member

Stacy Paul

CEO and Aerospace Engineer, Array of Engineers

Array of engineers logo
Linkedin

Stacy Paul is an aerospace engineer and the CEO of Array of Engineers. Since 2000, Stacy has worked in the aerospace industry supporting various projects ranging from the manned space program at NASA to modern commercial aircraft to planetary exploration programs. Stacy grew up in a small town in Northern Michigan where she found her love of exploring, creativity and the night sky. She graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 1999 with a degree in Aerospace Engineering. After graduating she worked on the Space Shuttle and Space Station program for the United Space Alliance at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Stacy supported technical Day of Launch activities in the Mission Control Room and worked on Space Shuttle enhancements outside of launch operations. Missing Michigan, Stacy moved back in 2005 and supported numerous commercial aircraft projects which included software development, verification activities, and project management. Following a long held personal dream, Stacy sought to create a company to help bring more high technology and creative engineering jobs to Michigan. A company that would promote innovation, personal and professional growth, and STEM for younger generations. In early 2018, Stacy helped form Array of Engineers, a company dedicated to advancing these core values. Array of Engineers specializes in automated testing, embedded software, and custom hardware design. In addition to its core values, the company differentiates itself by empowering their customers and partners with self-sustaining automation capabilities and maximum design flexibility. Array of Engineers has supported a variety of satellite, space vehicle, and planetary exploration programs at NASA, numerous commercial aerospace projects, and multiple defense programs. Outside of work, you can likely find Stacy enjoying outdoor activities with her family and many pets, reading a good book, or supporting STEM activities for younger generations.

Karen Arondoski

Karen Arondoski

President/Owner

I.F. Metalworks logo
Linkedin

Karen Arondoski is the founder of I. F. Metalworks, a design and fabrication company that was started in April 2002. The company started in an 8,000 square foot facility and is now in a 40,000 square foot facility. It was started due to a need for paint tool parts for General Motors and has grown to include automotive, industrial, architectural, aerospace and signs for all industries. The company started with 3 employees and currently has 25 employees and still adding. Before opening I.F.Metalworks, Karen worked in the medical field for 25 years and also worked in Public Relations for a school district where she was asked to be involved and sit on the Board of a non-profit organization called Cruisin’ Gratiot in Eastpointe, MI where she later was asked to serve as the President until her husband became ill where she stepped down to devote time to taking care of him. Karen also served on the committee of USA Cares, another non-profit assisting military families. Karen and her late husband Mike have two children, Michael, and Michela and all four of them devoted a lot of their time as volunteers in the community. Karen and Mike felt it was important to teach their children to give back. I.F. Metalworks also became a sponsor of an organization called CSI, an organization to advance building information management and education of project teams to improve facility performance. Karen also sits on the Manufacturing Growth Alliance Board as well as the St. Clair/Macomb County Workforce Development Board. Karen started the company with the need for welding and fabrication and has increased the companies’ capabilities through the years adding CNC Machining, Waterjet, flat and tube laser, Hexagon Metrology for Dimensional Measurements, Inspection room and full CAD capabilities. A few of their clients and projects they worked on include: Edsel and Eleanor Ford House Detroit Train Station Brookside Condominiums Detroit Institute of Arts Detroit Science Center Cranbrook Schools (tennis courts and Museum) St. Paul’s Church in Grosse Pointe Macomb County Library Ivy Farms in Bloomfield Hills, MI National Park in Alaska Detroit Recreational Facilities Several School District remodels/additions Oakland University (several items as well as work for Meadowbrook) DTE DTE VIP Lounge railings Wayne State University Karen and I F Metalworks received several awards/recognitions as well. They include: 2004 Best Small Business of the Year Award from the Small Business Administration, 2006 Woman of Distinction from the Girl Scouts, 2009 Michigan 50 Companies to Watch and 2011 WID Business Development Team I.F.Metalworks has several certifications including: AS-9100 Certified ISO 9001:2015 Certified ITAR Compliant WBENC Certified Woman-Owned Small Business AWS Certified Welding Inspector on staff AWS Certified Welding Educator on staff Karen enjoys family, traveling, photography and business development.

Board Member

Jessica Sullivan

Founder & President

Jessica is the Founder and President of Legado Family Office Management which offers family office management services that grow, protects and preserves a family’s wealth.

Jessica has over 20 years of financial services experience, 10 of which she served as the director of a single-family office. She is passionate about the Grand Traverse Region to ensure it is a thriving economy to live, work and play for future generations. She served as a six-year member of the Grand Traverse Economic Development Corporation, serving as board Chair. She is the current board Chair of The Children’s House an Independent Montessori School, is a board director for the Regional Economic Development Organization, TraverseConnect and is the Executive Director of Boundless Futures Foundation, a non-profit that provides financial and leadership resources for aspiring female entrepreneurs building businesses to solve today’s biggest social issues.     

Jessica is a graduate of Michigan State University holding a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Finance. In addition, she has her Master’s in Business Administration in Strategic Management and she is a four-time recipient of Traverse City’s 40 Under 40 award. Jessica, with her husband Ryan and children Shamus, Padraig, Kathryn and Siobhan, live in Traverse City, Michigan. In her free time, she loves to run, spend time with her family and watch NCAA football and basketball.

Brittany Telander

Executive Director

Brittany Telander serves as the Executive Director of the AIAM Foundation, bringing with her a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success in senior fundraising roles across higher education, healthcare, and the nonprofit sector.

In her previous role as Director of Donor Relations at Lourdes University in Sylvania, OH, Brittany led a dedicated team in achieving remarkable results. Under her leadership, annual charitable revenue increased by an impressive 29% over three years. Additionally, she initiated a leadership speaking series featuring prominent business figures from the Northwest Ohio region, including individuals such as Pat Bowe, CEO of The Andersons.

Throughout her career, Brittany has demonstrated her adeptness at managing substantial revenue pipelines, having overseen an annual revenue pipeline of $1.7 million in corporate and foundation giving. She notably catalyzed significant growth in foundation giving, increasing it from $30,000 to over $400,000 in just three years.

With a master’s degree in special education from Lourdes University, a master’s degree of fine arts in creative writing from Roosevelt University, and dual bachelor’s degrees in finance and international business, and English from Loyola University Chicago, Brittany possesses a diverse educational background that enriches her professional endeavors.

Driven by her resourcefulness, creativity, and unwavering commitment to relationship building, Brittany is dedicated to making a positive impact and driving transformative change in the nonprofit sector and beyond.

Angela Kimber

Board Member

Angela Kimber

Senior Mechanical Engineer

Linkedin

Angela Kimber Ehlich is a Senior Mechanical Engineer in Product Design at Woodward Inc., where she focuses on design of fuel nozzles for gas turbine engines, with a passion for novel materials engineering, sustainable aviation fuels, and advanced combustion technologies. Outside of her multidisciplinary approach to engineering, she enjoys influencing public policy by active participation in local, state, and federal government advocacy. Mentorship and outreach are cornerstones of her career in science and engineering, and she is passionate about supporting and mentoring students in STEM fields across the country as an active, professional member of the Society of Women Engineers. As a board member for the non-profit Aerospace Industry Association of Michigan (AIAM) Foundation, she is able to further develop supportive networks and pipelines for younger generations interested in STEM and aerospace careers locally within Michigan state. Long-term career goals include corporate leadership and service in legislative positions, bridging science and public policy through industry, academia, and advocacy. When at home, she can be found reading (science or historical fiction), riding her bike, or enjoying the beautiful West Michigan outdoors with her husband and their three daughters.

Lissa Barron

Board Member

Lissa Barron

Director of Communications

Linkedin

WAIAM Co-Chair | Lissa Barron is Director of Communications for Barron Industries – a family-owned manufacturer of cast and machined engineered metal components and assembled systems. With its beginnings in 1923, Barron is celebrating 100 years in the metal casting industry. The company started as a Detroit foundry, mostly serving the exploding automotive industry. Fast forward to today – Barron Industries is now a global turnkey manufacturer offering everything from design for manufacturing to complete supply chain management. Lissa joined the family business after a 30-year career in journalism working as a news reporter and producer for print and broadcast media outlets in the United States and Canada, her native land. She earned a BA in Journalism at Ryerson University in Toronto. The daughter of Italian immigrants, Lissa became a U.S. citizen and resides with her husband Bruce Barron, the 3rd generation owner of the family business. They have four children and one grandchild. Lissa is a Co-Chair of the Women of the Aerospace Industry Association of Michigan (WAIAM) and a founding member of the women’s water basketball team at the Detroit Athletic Club. She enjoys travelling, especially to visit her extended family in northern Italy.

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