Our Blog
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Celebrating Mary Riddle
As we honor National Native American Heritage Month, we turn to the skies and remember Mary Riddle. Born in 1902, Riddle earned her pilot certificate in 1930. A member of the Satsop and Clatsop tribes, Riddle participated in airshows across the northwest and was featured on the cover of the June 1934 issue of The…
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What We’re Reading
At the Center of Excellence, we closely follow aerospace and manufacturing news to understand what’s happening in our sector from across the globe to across the street. Our reading encompasses data, opinions and insight into the present and future of manufacturing. Here are a few of our favorite recent articles: Snohomish County-based battery maker awarded…
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Snohomish Aerospace Job Fair in Partnership With PNAA
After a successful Untapped Talent Pool event in the morning, the Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance teamed up with the Center of Excellence to offer an aerospace job fair. Held in the heart of Snohomish County’s aerospace corridor near Paine Field, the job fair saw more than a dozen employers in attendance and dozens more job…
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Center of Excellence Welcomes New Advisory Chair Wes Allen
The Center of Excellence is pleased to announce our new Advisory Board Chair, Wes Allen. As a long-time Board member and current Director of the Sno-Isle TECH Skills Center, Wes’s background in education as an instructor and administrator aligns with the Center’s goals to better connect K-12 and community college manufacturing programs to employment. Wes…
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Machinists Institute Kick Off National Apprenticeship Week
On Monday, the Machinists Institute (MI) hosted elected officials, workforce and college partners and apprentices as they kicked off National Apprenticeship Week at their new facility in Tukwila. Surrounded by CNC machines, robotic arms, welding booths and state-of-the-art equipment, attendees heard more about Machinists Institute’s programs over appetizers and drinks. The day’s program highlighted how…
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Celebrating National Apprenticeship Week
Monday, November 14th, marks the start of the 8th annual National Apprenticeship Week, a time to highlight programs and pathways that advance apprenticeship across the USA. Leaders in industry, labor, equity, workforce and education will come together throughout the week to highlight how registered apprenticeship provides a critical talent pipeline that addresses our nation’s most…
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Honoring Veterans in Aviation
Today marks Veterans Day, an opportunity to honor the men and women who have served our country, past and present. Recognized in 1938 as a legal holiday, Veterans Day was originally named Armistice Day, commemorating the signing of the agreement that ended World War I. Communities across Washington State are hosting events today to honor…
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Aerospace Futures Alliance Summit
On Tuesday, Center of Excellence staff attended the 17th annual Aerospace Futures Alliance summit, bringing together leaders in aviation, space, government and education to engage in the industry’s most pressing challenges. Held at the Museum of Flight, the morning led off with Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell presenting the opening keynote. Mayor Harrell focused on how…
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Celebrating National STEM Day
November 8th marks National STEM Day, an opportunity to highlight the growing and well-paid careers in science, technology, engineering and math. Federal agencies play an important role in creating interest in STEM, from funding STEM programs to providing data and resources. A few of their best initiatives for National STEM Day: See STEM occupational growth…
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Felts Field Photos
Last Friday Center of Excellence staff facilitated the quarterly meeting of the Fighting 147s, bringing together schools that offer aircraft maintenance technician training. Spokane Community College was kind enough to host the meeting at their AMT facility at Felts Field.
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Encouraging Girls to Enter Into Aviation Careers
A flight nurse from Airlift NW poses with attendees at this year’s Girls in Aviation Day at Harvey Field For Laina Reeves, a career in aviation just made sense. College was expensive and “airplanes are way more interesting than cars.” Reeves, Washington State Chapter Secretary for Women in Aviation International, graduated from South Seattle College’s…