From Monday through Wednesday, industry representatives, officials from state and municipal governments, economic development agencies and educational institutions will gather in Tulsa at the 10th Annual Aerospace Summit & Expo.
Gov. Mary Fallin, who will be one of the summit’s keynote speakers, at 1 p.m. Tuesday, started the aerospace summit 10 years ago as lieutenant governor because she realized aerospace was becoming the state’s most significant industry.
“These (aerospace) jobs are higher paying than the average job in Oklahoma,” Fallin said Thursday. “They pay twice as much as the average job in Oklahoma.”
A study, “Oklahoma’s Aerospace Industry Workforce: 2007 Report,” found Oklahoma aerospace jobs pay an average of $54,719 a year compared with the average Oklahoma wage of $29,000. The study was prepared by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and the Governor’s Council for Workforce and Economic Development.
Although the study presented a positive view of the aerospace industry’s impact on the state’s economy, educational institutions and quality of life, it found troubling trends.
The future of the aerospace companies supplying the well-paying jobs is troubled by trained work force shortages, the loss of university and vo-tech school graduates to higher-wage states and impending retirements of many skilled workers, the study found.
Fallin said more needs to be done to assist and retain companies that are in the state, recruit companies that aren’t and to improve the business and educational climate.
The aerospace summit is a means to do all three, the governor said.
“The aerospace summit is one of the most important events we hold in our state,” Fallin said, “and these companies understand how committed we are and how important the industry is to our state.”
In April, Fallin signed a bill into law that she hopes will attract aerospace industry jobs and retain skilled workers who are here.
The bill, House Bill 1008, restores aerospace engineer tax credits that were placed on moratorium two years ago during the state’s budget crisis. The bill was authored by Rep. Skye McNiel, R-Bristow, and Sen. Mike Mazzei, R-Tulsa.
“The aerospace engineer tax credits have demonstrated their value as an important tool for job creation and economic growth in Oklahoma,” Fallin said when she signed the bill. “Aerospace is one of the state’s most important, cutting-edge industries, and I’m proud to be able to sign a measure into law that will support our employers and help to bring in quality jobs to the state.”
In addition to Fallin, speakers at the aerospace summit will include:
Hal Chrisman, an aerospace industry analyst and principal, AeroStrategy LLC.
Donald J. Wetekam, senior vice president for government and business development, AAR.
Maj. Gen. Bruce Litchfield, special assistant to the commander, Air Force Materiel Command.
Hally Cole, KC-135 program director, the Boeing Co.
Michael Sutherland, director, supply chain management, Spirit AeroSystems Inc., Tulsa.
Cathy Stukel, managing director of inventory management and distribution, American Airlines.
W.W. Boisture Jr., chairman and CEO, Hawker Beechcraft Corp.
Pete Bunce, president and CEO, General Aviation Manufacturers Association.
Craig Fuller, president and CEO, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.
Gary Hensley, president, Veracity Technology Solutions, LLC.
James Grimsley, president and CEO, Design Intelligence Inc., LLC.
Tim Reynolds, executive vice president and chief operations officer, Triton Scientific, LLC.