Excellence Awards
Each year, Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance recognizes individuals and companies that rise above their peers to take the aerospace industry to new heights. PNAA’s Industry Award Winners are visionaries that challenge the status quo and demand the best from themselves and the people around them. They are CEOs, engineers, inventors and others. They have a passion that drives them to excel and without them our industry would languish.
Our award recipients are chosen by PNAA’s Board of Directors with input from the membership. PNAA presents Industry Excellence Awards for four categories: Aerospace Executive of the Year, Company of the Year, Chairman’s Award and Inspire Award.
Thank You to our 2026 Aerospace Industry Excellence Awards Lead Sponsor:
PNAA's Company of the Year Award
2026 Winner Zenix Aerospace AMT
Read more: Company of the Year Award presented to Zenix Aerospace AMT
The Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance is proud to present the 2026 Company of the Year Award to Zenix Aerospace AMT. This resilient aerospace manufacturer has helped establish a forward-thinking mindset in the Pacific northwest aerospace industry.
One of Zenix Aerospace AMT’s most significant accomplishments has been its early entry into the commercial space industry. The strategic decision to diversify beyond traditional commercial aerospace proved particularly valuable when the COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented disruption to the aerospace industry.
As commercial aircraft production declined, Zenix’s presence in the space market provided an important source of stability. Rather than simply weathering the downturn, the company was able to continue investing in its people, capabilities, and customer relationships.
Growth at Zenix is not limited to equipment and facilities. The company’s people-first culture is a central part of its approach to long-term success. Just as important is Zenix’s commitment to developing talent from within. The company actively promotes employees into positions of increasing responsibility, creating opportunities for professional growth.
Leading that growth effort is Kevin McKay, Director of Business Development for Zenix Aerospace AMT. With his decades of experience in the aerospace industry, Kevin brings a deep understanding of the Pacific Northwest manufacturing sector and longstanding relationships with OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, and other industry stakeholders.
Kevin’s more than 40 years in aerospace business development have reinforced a simple principle: sustainable growth begins with strong customer relationships.
His responsibilities at Zenix include strategic sales leadership, customer acquisition and retention, contract negotiations, supply chain collaboration, program development, and market expansion. That broad perspective allows him to work across the aerospace supply chain and understand not only what customers need today, but where their programs and businesses are heading.
Zenix enters its next phase of growth with momentum across both the commercial aerospace and space markets. Its early diversification into space helped strengthen the company during one of the most difficult periods in modern aerospace, while the recovery of commercial aircraft production has created a new wave of opportunity.
In a region with a long history of aerospace innovation, Zenix is demonstrating that resilience is not simply about surviving industry cycles. It is about using those challenges to identify new opportunities, investing in the future, and building an organization capable of growing alongside its customers.
On behalf of PNAA and our members, we are honored to recognize Zenix Aerospace AMT as the 2026 Company of the Year.
Past Company of the Year Award Honorees
PNAA's Executive of the Year Award
2026 Winner Andrea Duffield
Read more: Executive of the Year Award presented to Andrea Duffield
The Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance is proud to present the 2026 Executive of the Year Award to Andrea Duffield, CEO of Bridgeways, in recognition of her transformative leadership, strategic investment, operational excellence, and commitment to creating meaningful impact both within the aerospace industry and throughout the community.
As CEO of Bridgeways, Andrea has helped lead the organization through a period of significant operational improvement, strategic investment, and growth while maintaining the mission that has defined the organization for more than four decades.
Bridgeways, founded in 1981, is a nonprofit employment social enterprise headquartered in Everett, Washington. Its unique model pairs a competitive aerospace manufacturing business with community programs serving individuals including but not limited to: experiencing mental-health challenges, homelessness, and unemployment.
Over the past year, Andrea and her team have strengthened Bridgeways’ position as a capable and competitive aerospace supplier while investing in the infrastructure needed for its next chapter. The company is completing its ITAR registration and advancing its CMMC compliance, strengthening its ability to serve customers with demanding cybersecurity and export-control requirements. Along with expanding its manufacturing capabilities through investments in wire-harness assembly processes, tooling, and employee training. These investments have diversified the company’s capabilities and positioned Bridgeways to pursue additional opportunities in the growing space sector.
At the same time, Bridgeways completed implementation of a new ERP system, creating a stronger foundation for operations, quality, scheduling, and future growth. The organization achieved these improvements while maintaining premier bidder status with Boeing and continuing to deliver stellar quality and strong customer relationships.
Andrea holds an MBA, a master’s degree in speech-language pathology, and a bachelor’s degree in education. She began her career as a clinician, an experience that continues to shape her leadership philosophy: meeting people where they are and build the supports around them.
That philosophy is reflected throughout Bridgeways. The organization’s 2025 Impact Report shows that its programs positively affected more than 1,736 lives, including individuals through supported employment, supported housing, the Jail Transition Program, Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness, the Mental Health Alternatives Program.
For Andrea, the organization’s culture is among her most meaningful accomplishments. She credits the Bridgeways team for remaining relentlessly focused on mission, living its values every day, and serving the whole person. In her view, every result belongs to the people who bring that mission to life.
A longtime member of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization, Andrea currently serves as President of EO Seattle. Her leadership reflects the intersection of entrepreneurship, manufacturing, community impact, and people-centered management.
The PNAA Executive of the Year Award honors leaders whose vision and influence leave a lasting mark on the aerospace industry. Andrea’s leadership exemplifies a model of success that combines operational excellence with measurable community impact.
Under her leadership, Bridgeways has strengthened its aerospace capabilities, invested in technology and people, expanded its readiness for emerging opportunities in space, and continued delivering high-quality results for customers—all while using the strength of its commercial enterprise to create life-changing opportunities for people in the community.
On behalf of PNAA and our members, we are honored to recognize Andrea Duffield as the 2026 Executive of the Year, celebrating her leadership of Bridgeways, her commitment to aerospace excellence, and her belief that a successful business can—and should—help build a stronger community.
Past Executive of the Year Award Honorees
PNAA's Chair Award
2026 Winner Dan Kocer
PNAA’s Chair Award is presented to the individual, company or organization that has in PNAA’s discretion, made the greatest contribution through innovation or growth, thus raising the industry standard of the Aerospace Industry in the Pacific Northwest.
Read more: Chair Award presented to Dan Kocer
The Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance is proud to present the 2026 Chair Award to Dan Kocer, President and Managing Director of Kocer Consulting & Engineering, for his outstanding leadership, commitment to collaboration, and dedication to helping manufacturers and the people who make them successful.
For 25 years, PNAA has celebrated individuals and organizations that embody our mission to support the growth and global competitiveness of the Pacific Northwest aerospace cluster. The Chair Award recognizes those who go beyond their own organizations to strengthen the industry through partnership, innovation, and a genuine commitment to the success of others. Dan Kocer exemplifies these qualities through a career defined by service, practical leadership, and a relentless focus on creating value for his customers.
Since founding Kocer Consulting & Engineering, Dan has helped more than 400 companies identify opportunities to streamline and expand their operations and successfully navigate periods of change. His work spans capacity expansion, quality improvement, cost reduction, workforce development, information systems, supply chain, facility planning, customer service, and interim management.
At the heart of Dan’s approach is a simple belief: when a company’s operations and systems become stale or fall out of alignment with its business, there is an opportunity to make things better.
Kocer Consulting & Engineering helps manufacturers upgrade and align those systems for improved performance, while fostering collaboration throughout the process. Just as importantly, Dan believes challenging projects should be enjoyable and rewarding for everyone involved.
Dan’s approach to leadership was forged through experience. He launched his company shortly after the September 11 attacks, at a time when the economy had effectively frozen and he was supporting a family of six. With determination and creativity, he developed a unique approach to earning the trust of prospective customers: offering to spend a short time reviewing their operations, provide ideas for significant improvements, and ask for payment only if they found the work valuable.
Those early engagements taught Dan some of the lessons that continue to shape Kocer Consulting & Engineering today: listen carefully, understand what matters to the customer, identify the issues that will have the greatest impact, and deliver results.
More than two decades later, those principles remain central to the company’s culture. Dan’s long list of satisfied customers and referrals stands as a testament to the relationships he has built and the value his team provides.
Dan believes his role as a leader is to hire talented people who share these values, provide clear goals and purpose, allow for room to learn from mistakes, recognize achievements, and give people the autonomy to accomplish great things.
That philosophy has created what Dan considers his greatest professional accomplishment: the phenomenal culture and collaboration of the Kocer team, and the care they bring to every customer.
Beyond his professional achievements, Dan’s greatest pride is his family. He and his wife, Diane, raised four daughters, and Dan now enjoys being Grandpa to four grandchildren.
On behalf of PNAA and our members, we extend our deepest appreciation to Dan Kocer. His leadership, generosity, and commitment to helping others succeed have strengthened the manufacturing community and contributed to a more capable and resilient aerospace supply chain. We are honored to celebrate his contributions with the 2026 Chair Award.
Past Chair Award Honorees
PNAA's Inspire Award
2026 Winner Alvin Elbert
Read more: Inspire Award presented to Alvin Elbert
The Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance is proud to recognize Alvin Elbert, owner of A.R.E. Manufacturing, with the 2026 Inspire Award. Alvin has made a unique difference in his community and the aerospace industry.
Started in 1980 and established in a garage, A.R.E. Manufacturing has grown to be a proud, prominent Oregon manufacturer. This family-run contract machine shop creates precision components, but more importantly prioritizes its employees and has heavy involvement in the local community. From blood drives to diaper drives and things in between, the involvement goes beyond jobs and revenue.
A.R.E. has adopted a model of employee growth with no threshold. In 2005, while working with OMEP, A.R.E. adopted both Lean Manufacturing and a “paint-by-numbers” machining method. This standardized method streamlines both production and training. At A.R.E. today, an individual with zero experience can become a trained machinist in only 18 months. Not only does A.R.E. produce high-precision parts with fast turnarounds and consistent quality, but they do it while creating opportunity in their community.
Alvin has also notably spearheaded a space for the next generation to participate in machining through the creation of Tiger Manufacturing. This for-profit machine shop run by the students of Newberg High is currently in its 10th year. Starting out with just a used Hardinge GT lathe, this program has grown exponentially in parts created, equipment purchased, and students served. This one-of-a-kind experience equips students with business, machining, and management skills that are so versatile they can be applied to a foundation in machining or any other future career path. Through Alvin’s passion for community, he has gifted countless students with the tools and skills they need to be the talented next generation in aerospace.
Alvin’s passion for opportunities for youth in his community is rooted in his first machining job, which lasted only 30 minutes. Fresh out of high school, Alvin narrowed down his options – and chose machining as his future. Zero experience under his belt, but excited to learn and be a part of this industry– his employer decided he wasn’t worth the time to train and let him go. This inspired him to give young people who may have dreams like his a chance to flourish.
The impacts of Alvin’s time, energy, and determination will be felt in his community for generations to come. From community involvement that goes above and beyond, to the quality products A.R.E. proudly manufactures, to ensuring that youth have an opportunity in aerospace and beyond. For his vision, impact, and ability to inspire, Alvin is a truly deserving recipient of the PNAA Inspire Award.
Thank you to our 2026 Women of Excellence Awards Sponsors:
PNAA's Women in Aerospace Woman of the Year Award
2026 Winner Kimberly Chaussee
Read more: Women of the Year Award presented to Kimberly Chaussee
PNAA is proud to award Kimberly Chaussee its 2026 Woman of the Year Award.
Kimberly Chaussee is the General Manager of Stack Metallurgical Services’ Portland facility, where she leads operations supporting the aerospace, space, energy, and advanced manufacturing industries. Known for her grounded leadership and commitment to excellence, Kimberly has cultivated a culture centered on accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
Since joining Stack in 2012, Kimberly has advanced from customer service to production control and into senior leadership, developing deep expertise in heat treating and its critical role in aerospace manufacturing. Since becoming General Manager in 2021, she has strengthened operational performance while championing initiatives that drive both business success and environmental responsibility.
Under her leadership, the Portland facility has made significant strides in sustainability through its Strategic Energy Management partnership with Energy Trust of Oregon, reducing energy consumption by more than 1.1 million kilowatt-hours since 2022, cutting nearly one million pounds of CO₂ emissions. Her approach reflects a belief that operational excellence and environmental stewardship go hand in hand.
Kimberly is also deeply committed to workforce development, regularly welcoming students into the facility and promoting pathways into manufacturing careers. Her leadership is shaped by a 15-year background in martial arts; as a fourth-degree black belt in Taekwondo and instructor in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, she mentors youth and women and has been recognized with the Police Chief’s Award for her community impact.
A dedicated advocate for inclusion and opportunity in aerospace manufacturing, Kimberly leads with integrity and purpose, embodying the spirit of PNAA’s Woman of the Year.
Past Woman of the Year Award Honorees
PNAA's Women in Aerospace Rising Star Award
2026 Winner Lori Robertson
Read more: Rising Star Award presented to Lori Robertson
PNAA is proud to recognize Lori Robertson with its 2026 Rising Star Award.
Lori Robertson is the Founder and President of Cutting Edge Metals, a McMinnville, Oregon based precision CNC machining company serving the aerospace, defense, and medical industries. Driven by a commitment to advancing manufacturing excellence, she launched Cutting Edge Metals in 2022 with a vision to build a high-performing, future-ready supplier in highly regulated markets.
With more than 30 years of experience, Lori has built a dynamic career across plastic injection molding, gasket manufacturing, and precision optics, ultimately rising to executive leadership roles, including President of Usher Precision Manufacturing. Her depth of expertise and hands-on leadership have shaped her reputation as both a strategic thinker and an operator who delivers results.
Under her leadership, Cutting Edge Metals has experienced rapid growth, achieving critical certifications such as ITAR and AS9100/ISO9001, positioning the company as a trusted partner in the aerospace and defense supply chains. Her entrepreneurial success has been recognized with the Startup of the Year Award at the McMinnville Economic Development Partnership’s McMinnovation Awards in 2023, as well as McMinnville Chamber Member of the Quarter in 2024.
Beyond her company, Lori is a passionate advocate for regional economic vitality and workforce development. She serves on the board of the McMinnville Economic Development Partnership and co-chairs the McMinnville Economic Vitality Leadership Council, helping guide long-term strategies aligned with the MAC-Town 2032 vision. Through programs like Career Bound and the McMinnville WORKS Internship Program, she actively mentors students and champions pathways into advanced manufacturing.
Lori’s leadership reflects the spirit of a Rising Star, combining innovation, action, and a deep commitment to building a stronger, more connected aerospace ecosystem.
Past Rising Star Award Honorees
PNAA's Women in Aerospace Woman of Impact Award
2026 Winner Michelle Wilmot
The PNAA Woman of Impact honors a woman whose sustained leadership and contributions have made a lasting and measurable difference in the aerospace industry.
Read more: Woman of Impact Award presented to Michelle Wilmot
PNAA is proud to recognize Michelle Wilmot with its 2026 Woman of Impact Award.
Michelle Wilmot leads government and business relations for the City of Kent’s Economic Development Department, where she has spent more than two decades advancing one of the nation’s most dynamic aerospace and advanced manufacturing corridors. With over 30 years in public affairs and economic development, she is known for building powerful connections between industry, education, and government to drive lasting regional impact.
Michelle convenes and leads the Kent Valley Air & Space Manufacturing Roundtable, a multi-jurisdictional partnership uniting manufacturers, educators, and policymakers to address shared workforce and industry challenges. The model has earned national recognition from the U.S. Conference of Mayors and helped secure $2.65 million in federal funding to expand advanced manufacturing and robotics training, as well as youth workforce initiatives across South King County.
Her influence extends beyond workforce systems into community engagement and aerospace heritage. Michelle led the effort to designate the Boeing-built Lunar Rovers from the Apollo 15, 16, and 17 missions as historic landmarks and helped launch initiatives like the Lunar Rover STEM Festival and Kherson Park, a space-themed community destination that blends education, access, and innovation. She has also spearheaded large-scale events like the Space for All STEM Festival and the Future in Flight Expo, connecting hundreds of students to aerospace career pathways.
A Puget Sound native, whose grandmother hitchhiked from Texas to Washington during the Depression to work at Boeing, Michelle is driven by a commitment to ensuring the next generation can see themselves in this industry. Her leadership reflects a sustained and measurable impact, strengthening communities, expanding opportunity, and helping shape the future of aerospace in the region.
