Aerospace Company located in the Pacific NW that has exhibited exceptional organizational and managerial and management characteristics while continually maintaining a strong competitive posture, thus raising the industry standard for the Pacific NW.

AeroTEC was founded by Lee Human in 2003 to provide flight test services to STC companies like Aviation Partners Boeing, a joint venture with The Boeing Company. It wasn’t long after the company’s founding that the company quickly grew and expanded its capabilities to include certification and engineering services. In 2011, AeroTEC was awarded a contract with Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation of America to test and certify the Mitsubishi Regional Jet (SpaceJet). This contract aided in the company’s rapid growth and facilities expansion.

Today, under Lee’s leadership, AeroTEC has grown to 250 employees in four locations with engineering offices, manufacturing facilities and an MRO/aircraft modification center – all designed to support customer test programs. Headquartered in Seattle, AeroTEC’s three additional campuses include its Flight Test Center in Moses Lake, Manufacturing Center in Arlington, and Engineering Center in Wichita, Kansas. AeroTEC’s Flight Test Center in Moses Lake now boasts 200,000 square feet of hangar space.

Lee’s forward thinking has led AeroTEC to focus on the product development and certification of emerging aerospace technologies, supporting customers who are developing electric, supersonic and eVTOL aircraft, all in line with AeroTEC’s mission of accelerating the evolution of aerospace. AeroTEC has supported well over 100 aircraft modification programs ranging from radar and Wi-Fi STC’s to widebody cargo conversions, winglets, and three clean sheet aircraft TC projects. AeroTEC is currently deploying its expertise in designing, manufacturing, flight test and certification to its third, fourth and fifth electric aircraft programs – the Universal Hydrogen fuel cell electric Dash-8, the NASA/magniX Electric Propulsion Flight Demonstrator (EPFD) Hybrid Dash-8, and the Surf Air hybrid electric Caravan, an all-electric Cessna 208B, in partnership with magniX.

A graduate of the University of Massachusetts Amherst College of Engineering, Lee has earned credentials as an FAA DER, as well as his private multi-engine instrument pilot’s license. Prior to starting AeroTEC in 2003, Lee was instrumental in the success and growth of other aerospace companies. He was a lead engineer at Aircraft Engineering Specialists (AES), and subsequently held the position of flight test manager at Aviation Partners Boeing.

Lee’s extensive experience in the aircraft development and certification industry brings direction and a competitive edge to AeroTEC. He has been personally involved in the testing, engineering, and certification of over 50 major aerospace projects, including Aviation Partners’ Blended Winglets on numerous Boeing aircraft, as well as the Gulfstream GII, Hawker 800, Falcon 50/900/2000, Lockheed Martin Cooperative Avionics Test Bed (CATB) 737-300 with F35 (JSF) systems, the Hawker Beechcraft King Air 250, and the Mitsubishi MRJ type certificate.

Nikki Malcom, PNAA’s Executive Director and CEO, praises AeroTEC’s innovation stating “The people at AeroTEC are always looking for ways to push the industry forward. They've been involved in many sustainable aviation projects throughout the PNW, helping move this growing field of innovation into new frontiers with their testing, engineering, and certification expertise.”

PNAA’s Executive of the Year Award is presented to an executive of an aerospace company located within the Pacific Northwest who has made a significant contribution to the advancement of the Pacific Norwest Aerospace Industry.

Mark Behrends has been at the center of Pioneer Human Services for nine years. As a nonprofit social enterprise that provides individuals involved in the criminal legal system with the opportunity to lead healthy, productive lives, Pioneer Human Services also assists people who are overcoming substance use disorders and mental health issues. Founded in 1963 as a single halfway house for individuals released from prison, Pioneer Human Services has expanded to a robust organization operating a broad range of over 50 programs across Washington. In addition to addressing societal challenges, it helps give justice-involved individuals a place to live, access to behavioral health care, job-readiness training, and stable employment.

Pioneer Human Services operates a diverse line of aerospace manufacturing, distribution, and commercial food businesses to provide on-the-job training and work experience, while generating revenue to help fund its social mission. One of the enterprises, Pioneer Industries, is a full-service CNC machining and sheet metal fabrication business that produces high-quality aerospace parts. As a key Tier 1 supplier with over 100,000 square feet of manufacturing space, it employs hundreds of professional men and women.

After earning a BA from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from the University of Pittsburg, Mark worked at Alcoa, Inc. as the Aerospace Sales Manager. He was eventually promoted to Vice President of Alcoa Powder. In 2013, after 31 years at Alcoa, Mark joined Pioneer. As Chief Operations Officer, Mark oversees operational standards at Pioneer Human Services and Pioneer Industries, as well as Pioneer’s two other enterprises: Pioneer Food Services and Pioneer Distribution Center. He also serves as executive sponsor for all major projects related to client training, enterprises, and infrastructure development.

During Mark’s tenure, Pioneer Industries has adopted a performance-driven culture that includes meaningful metrics from top to bottom. In addition to all but eliminating recordable injuries, he revised operational performance practices which resulted in receiving Boeing’s Performance Excellence Award (2018), Premier Bidder supplier (2020), a nomination for Supplier of the Year (2021), and a Supply Chain Performance Achievement (2021 – only 183 Boeing suppliers out of 12,000 worldwide receive it), while navigating the pandemic and MAX challenges.

PNAA Board Member Orlando Tantico states, “It takes a very talented leader to achieve such prestigious operational results in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. Mark has consistently gone beyond the call of duty – his passion, initiative and care for others encapsulates the true definition of what it means to be a servant leader. He possesses people-centric qualities. He respects the individuals, treats people with dignity, and understands their experiences. No one is more deserving of this award.”

Mark is optimistic about the organization’s growth noting, “The aerospace market has been challenged to grow in the traditional sense during the pandemic and Pioneer is no different in that regard. However, Pioneer has grown in other ways. The leadership team has cross-trained the entire work force. Investments have been implemented. Products flows have been reprogrammed to be produced more efficiently. We have created excess footprint in the plant to allow for growth. We have taken full advantage of these last three years to create a strong production and financial model that resulted in a robust 2022. I couldn’t be more excited for the future.”

Outside of work, Mark participates with PNAC in Workforce Development and Supply Chain mapping, is an active PNAA member, serves on the leadership team for the Eastside area Young Life organization, and enjoys travel with his wife and family.

Moss Adams

PNAA’s Chairman’s Award is presented to an individual, company or organization to honor their outstanding accomplishments which have significantly contributed to the support, growth and future of the aerospace industry, throughout the greater Pacific Northwest.

Moss Adams has been serving the Pacific Northwest since 1913, starting as a small Seattle accounting practice catering to the booming timber industry. Over the years, it has expanded its reach – first regionally, then nationally – to serve a wide range of businesses and industries. In 1996, Moss Adams became a Washington limited liability partnership and today is one of the largest accounting, consulting, and wealth management firms in the nation, boasting more than 3,800 professionals across more than 30 locations in the West and beyond.

Moss Adams was among the first major accounting firms in the nation to organize its practice by industry. Moss Adams currently provides a full complement of services to 30 distinct industries, including a team of professionals in the Aerospace and Defense sector. Its aerospace practice traces its beginnings to the Everett office in the early 2000s with six employees, approximately 50 clients, and fewer than $2 million in revenue. Over the years, the Aerospace and Defense practice has expanded to Southern California as well as the Central Region. Today, Moss Adams’ Aerospace and Defense sector now serves more than 350 clients with 40-plus employees and an annual revenue of more than $14 million.

The Aerospace and Defense practice now services many subsectors – commercial and civil aviation, space and satellite, and government and defense. These sectors allow Moss Adams to position and stay at the forefront of industry challenges. Its team of specialists have expertise in all aspects of the aerospace industry from a startup company to a mature aerospace company. These professionals are trained not just in technical audit and tax matters, but also in issues specific to its clients’ organization. By diving deep into industry-specific matters, Moss Adams brings more contextual understanding to each engagement. Moss Adams understands the operations and nuances within the aerospace industry and strives to be a partner throughout the life cycle of a business.

Tan Le, PNAA Board Member and Partner at Moss Adams, serves as a Pacific Northwest Regional leader for the firm’s Aerospace and Defense practice. His lengthy history with the aerospace industry extends beyond work with Moss Adams: his grandmother, mother, and wife have all had long careers at Boeing. It was his grandmother’s work at Boeing that provided the opportunity for Tan and his mother to immigrate to the United States in the early 1990s.

Tan describes the growth he has seen for the Moss Adams aerospace division and its resulting impact as “Vibrant and constantly changing. At Moss Adams, we are inspired by change as it allows us to help and partner with our clients to explore and embrace the complex ecosystem the industry offers.” Tan has also served on PNAA’s Board of Directors for over four years. He admits that when the position came up, it was an easy choice. He notes, “It has been a privilege to be on the PNAA Board and work with other Board members in furthering PNAA’s mission and vision.”

Jim Lee, PNAA’s Board Chairman, praises Moss Adams’ involvement in the Pacific Northwest aerospace industry stating, “Moss Adams has been a longtime supporter of PNAA as well as the broader aerospace community. Over the years they have held key positions on PNAA’s board of directors as well as provided key insights on PNAA strategy. Moss Adams also serves a large number of the PNAA membership with accounting services and tax strategies. They have been an essential member of the aerospace community and have helped us all move forward.”

PNAA’s Inspire Award honors businesses and individuals in the aerospace community that have shown exceptional creativity in working with young people and diverse populations in an effort to promote diversity and inclusion in the aerospace industry and cultivate interest and skills leading to aerospace careers.

Nikki Wegner has been devoted to helping others for almost two decades. After earning her bachelor’s degree from Seattle University in Criminal Justice in 2004, she began her career as a paraeducator working in a variety of non-profit and school district programs for youth with intellectual disabilities in the Seattle area. In 2006, she took a position as an Employment Consultant at Trillium Employment Services helping businesses recruit, train, and advance employees with developmental disabilities.  Following her passion to help individuals with disabilities, she pursued an Employment Professional Certification from Highline College and transitioned to an ACHIEVE Instructor at the college, working to help students with intellectual disabilities obtain a post-secondary certificate.

She received her master’s in public administration from The Evergreen State College in 2014 and subsequently became Vice President of Employment Services and Chief Operating Officer at Morningside, a public benefit corporation providing employment services to individuals with disabilities that operates in five counties in Washington. She later returned to Trillium Employment Services as Associate Director.

In December 2020, Nikki joined Chinook Enterprises in Mount Vernon as the new CEO. Founded in Skagit County in 1980, Chinook is a not-for-profit, social enterprise with a mission to support full participation in community life for people with disabilities or other barriers. Chinook operates three divisions that not only provide employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities, but also generate revenue to fund its mission.

Chinook's Aerospace Manufacturing Division manufactures and assembles goods - primarily aerospace parts - and provides them to Boeing and other sub-tier suppliers at competitive rates. Chinook holds Premier Bidder status and Silver status in quality with Boeing, as well as on time delivery. The Grounds Maintenance/Landscaping Division holds contracts with local businesses and large-scale entities to maintain their grounds and landscaping. These landscaping jobs afford individuals with disabilities to work alongside individuals without disabilities. Chinook’s Community Employment Division partners with government agencies to provide job placement, training, and retention services along with community inclusion services to qualified job seekers. Additionally, Chinook assists job seekers in finding employment opportunities and assists employers in finding great employees while tapping into strategies to secure more diverse talent, utilizing an equity lens. Chinook currently has 50 employees and over 3 million dollars in revenue generated in 2022 to fund its mission. It projects growth to 4.2 million dollars in revenue in 2023.

Nikki is passionate about collaborating with partners to extend quality employment services to people with disabilities and loves meeting and empowering new leaders in the field of disability rights and inclusive employment. PNAA Member Shawn Hosford states “Nikki Wegner takes the words collaborate and inclusion to a new and extraordinary level. When I heard Nikki speak at the PNAA Women in Aerospace event this last spring I was taken aback. I heard her talk through a reimagined level of aerospace collaboration and inclusion that was new and improved. Nikki's remarks were notable and refreshing, and she gives me hope for future generations. I trust Nikki will continue to be a worthy and wonderful example and inspiration to us all as she shines light in admirable places and spaces in our work towards collaboration and inclusion.”

In addition to her position at Chinook Enterprises, Nikki serves on the Board of Directors of both the Economic Development Council of Skagit County and the Community Employment Alliance (CEA).  She is also a member of the Mount Vernon Rotary Club. Nikki adds that her most important job is being a mom to her twin first graders!

PNAA's WIA Rising Star Award recognizes a woman who has demonstrated a drive for excellence that has inspired change and innovation. The nominee is not afraid to break molds. She understands the importance of sharing new ideas and fostering a thought process that has a positive influence in the workplace and community. The nominee is a creative forward thinker who puts ideas into action.

Deidra is a rising star in the aerospace community and has exhibited focus and drive throughout her career.  With a B.S. from Purdue University in Aeronautical Engineering Technology, Deidra quickly applied her expertise as a Mechanical Engineer at The Boeing Company.  Assigned to design and production of the Boeing 787-9, Deidra was part of a cross-functional team charged with bringing the conceptional design to a physical manifestation within budget constraints. With a desire for continuous growth and development, Deidra completed her Masters of Aeronautical Sciences from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University while simultaneously performing her duties as a Mechanical Engineer.  She was subsequently considered as a prime candidate for the employee training and development team at Boeing. In this role, Deidra participated in the improvement of corporate wide training programs, as well as held the position of team lead for Diversity & Inclusion. Ever striving to improve, Deidra enrolled at Brandman University where she obtained a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in accounting.  Shortly after receiving her MBA, Deidra began at Crane Aerospace and Electronics as a Manufacturing Project Engineer. She is currently engaged in all new product introduction programs for Sensing and Power Systems, as well as partnering with Program Managers to design products that will power the future of electric aircraft and provide real time data for aircraft systems and components. Her co-worker, Denise Millard, describes Deidra as “a self-starter, a self-made success, and a model for positive leadership. She brings positivity, innovative thinking and a desire to drive excellence.”

PNAA’s WIA Woman of the Year Award recognizes a woman who has demonstrated exceptional leadership and success over several years. The nominee will have a track record of long-term achievements, professional growth, and community involvement and has distinguished herself in her organization, her profession, and her community. This woman is known for her positive influence and competent abilities. The Nominee epitomizes the values for which PNAA stands and represents the best of who we are as women and as leaders.

Marcie Simpson exemplifies what it means to be an influential leader. As President and COO of Nycote Laboratories Corporation and CEO of Lloyd Surface Technologies, her reputation and exceptional business practices have driven the company to record business growth while maintaining the highest manufacturing standards. Nycote is an aerospace coating manufacturing company that uses advanced surface protection technology to provide corrosion-resistant coatings.  Over the last two decades, Marcie has built strong partnerships with OEMs, MROs, and suppliers across the globe.

Today under her leadership, the company is thriving, entering into major partnerships, forging new product innovations, expanding, outgrowing the current facility, and getting ready to open a new location. Amid the pandemic, Marcie led Nycote Laboratories’ Research and Development team in creating a line of performance coating products that would keep people and

surfaces safe and at the same time ensured that all employees kept their jobs and full pay.

As one of only a handful of top women executives in aerospace, aviation, chemical, and industrial manufacturing, Marcie is a multiple award recipient, sought-after public speaker, and is deeply committed to championing and developing other women leaders through mentorship, inclusion, and scholarships. She was selected as the first woman President of the Aerochemicals, a dynamic alliance of international industrial chemical specialists for the aerospace industry.  Marcie gives back to the community by mentoring other women in aerospace, supporting girls in STEM, and serving on the Board of Directors of Mid-Mountain Materials, a manufacturer of engineered thermal insulation barriers and seals that serves a wide variety of global industries.

Pennie Burnham, Vice-President, Sales & Market Research of Nycote Laboratories states “Over the past 6 years working with Marcie I have seen her overcome immense challenges one-by-one, becoming stronger with every experience. She is a natural born leader and someone people naturally gravitate toward.”  PNAA is proud to award Marcie its 2022 Woman of the Year Award.

PNAA’s Aerospace Technical Advancement Award honors a business in the aerospace community that have shown leadership in helping other companies in the industry overcome technical challenges.

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