Serving Midwest Aviation Since 1960
Serving Midwest Aviation Since 1960
Dr. Sandra Magnus, Executive Director, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics addresses the audience during the panel discussion in the Jeanne D'Arc Auditorium at St. Catherine University.
Back (all from St. Catherine University), Ruby Bayliss, Emily Anderson, Brittany Craig. Front: Courtney Swanson University of Minnesota, Elizabeth Bierman, Honeywell Aerospace Marilyn McNamara, St. Catherine University.
Inés Sira, 3M at the podium. Seated , Dr. John Olson, Sierra Nevada Corporation, Mark Skarohlid, UTC Aerospace Systems, Dr. Robert Haddon, Mayo Clinic, Kevin McKinnon, MN DEED, Mark Wrightsman, PaR Systems, Susan Lavrakas, AIA.
Chip Laingen, Defense Alliance at the podium. Seated Dr. John Olson, Sierra Nevada Corporation, Dr. Bill Garrard, University of Minnesota,, Elizabeth Bierman, Honeywell, Bernie Gruber, Orbital ATK, Dr. Kaye Smith, St. Catherine University, Professor Erick Agrimson, St. Catherine University.
Power exuded from the Jeanne D'Arc Auditorium at St. Catherine University the afternoon of September 25 in the form of presentations and panel discussions on aerospace. The high-end team of experts was brought together by AirSpace Minnesota.
"We organized this leadership dialogue to showcase the breadth of opportunities happening right now in the aerospace industry," said Kristi Rollag Wangstad, AirSpace Minnesota president. "Historically Minnesota has an established base in this field. Each member of this panel focused on encouraging young people to continue Minnesota's legacy of involvement, innovation, and action."
Dr. Sandra Magnus, Executive Director, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), the world's largest technical society dedicated to the global aerospace profession presented the Keynote address.
Dr. Magnus said aerospace involves entities beyond engineers. It encompasses the fields of science, physics, biomedical, industrial, environmental, business, quality control, and more.
"In short," said Dr. Magnus, "everybody!"
Dr. John Olson of Sierra Nevada Corporation, a woman owned business, agreed, adding that opportunities are rising at an accelerated rate.
"Aerospace is many things," said Olson. "The lines are beginning to blur between industries. It is a bright and rosy future."
Though each panel member represented a specific business, common themes arose, including the importance of inspiring and nurturing the future work force, beginning as early as kindergarten, particularly with hands-on technology and projects. Setting goals, working hard, and gathering a support network were other concepts repeated by many panel members.
Honeywell Engineer, Elizabeth Bierman advised changing the negative connotation associated with the concept of failure.
"A lot of young people fail once, then give up," said Bierman. "We tell young people failure is just that you tried it one way. It didn't go the way you thought it would, so let's try again a different way."
With so many demands to fill the work force now and into the future, the Keynote speaker encouraged those who attended the panel discussion to become more aware of the opportunities in aerospace and to press fearlessly into them.
"You can't put limits on yourself, said Dr. Magnus, "or let other people put limits on you."
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