The Center of Excellence for Aerospace & Advanced Manufacturing is pleased to announce the addition of three new Advisory Committee members:
- Herman Calzadillas, Director of Regional Operations, Machinists Institute
- Dean Cameron, CEO, Top Drawer Media
- Jennie Bullard, Account Manager, Sigma Design
“Their mix of experience in education and industry, along with insight into how the Center of Excellence leads will be invaluable,” says Executive Director Jill Thornton. “State-wide knowledge, industry leadership and connections to union training programs all add to an Advisory Committee focused on the future of aerospace and manufacturing in Washington.”
The Center of Excellence’s Advisory Committee works towards shared goals, focusing on maintaining and growing a highly skilled aerospace and advanced manufacturing workforce. Committee members bring industry insight, knowledge and expertise, examining the challenges and opportunities in education and training related to aerospace and advanced manufacturing.
Long-time member Jay Schmidt says, “The Centers of Excellence provide an integrated conduit between advanced manufacturing firms and regional education partners. This close connectivity is vital to sustain and grow aerospace, uncrewed systems, and advanced manufacturing in the Pacific Northwest.”
At the Machinists Institute, Herman Calzadillas oversees programs in pre-apprenticeship, apprenticeship and incumbent worker training, making him an ideal connection to union-linked training at Boeing and around Snohomish County.
“The Machinists Institute is proud to be part of this collaborative effort—and as a member of the Center of Excellence Advisory Board, we are deeply invested in shaping and supporting a gold standard in workforce development that empowers individuals and strengthens our industry,” he says. Calzadillas, a former Dean at Everett Community College, brings special insight into the Center of Excellence, having acted as the college liason and oversight lead at the Center’s host institution.
Dean Cameron brings over 35 years of experience in commercial aerospace manufacturing and media content creation related to aerospace, now as the CEO of Top Drawer Media. Northwest Aerospace News, his flagship publication, writes about the makers in the aerospace industry, becoming a networking hub for the industry. His Let’s Go Aerospace magazine highlights aerospace careers and innovations in a fun way, inspiring junior high and high school students.
“Our mission at Top Drawer Media is to support the Aerospace Supplier ecosystem through our Networking and Marketing resources and to be a bridge between education and industry for our future generation of industry workforce,” says Cameron.
Jennie Bullard brings aerospace and manufacturing recruitment and hiring insight to the Advisory Committee. She’s passionate about helping businesses solve hiring challenges by understanding each client’s culture and long-term needs, making hiring feel less transactional and more like a true partnership.
The Center of Excellence thanks outgoing Advisory Board members Robin Toth, Shana Peschek, Steve Kidd, Wade Larson, Ben Hempstead, and Andrew Crouse for their expertise, commitment and partnership. We wish them the best.
Are you interested in serving as an Advisory Board member? Whether it’s understanding the aerospace and manufacturing ecosystem, Get in touch at coe@everettcc.edu.