Panel discussion: Exploring Arizona’s Advanced Manufacturing Initiatives + Partnerships

It’s an all-hands–and robotic arms–on deck period in history with advanced manufacturers across the country leveraging technology to combat the COVID-19 pandemic that has permeated all aspects of society.

The Arizona Technology Council’s recently held a virtual panel discussion on Arizona’s innovative advanced manufacturing sector featuring Allison Gilbreath, Executive Director, Arizona Manufacturers Council at the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Mark Gaspers, Manager Southwest Region at The Boeing Company.

This speaker series event explored the current initiatives and efforts in Arizona’s advanced manufacturing sector and what leaders from Boeing and the Arizona Manufacturers Council are doing to address the industry’s needs. Advanced manufacturing experts Allison Gilbreath and Mark Gaspers discussed products and services advanced manufacturing companies are providing in response to COVID-19, including Boeing’s COVID-19 resources, and covered issues facing the industry that affect us all.

Attendees gained valuable insight into how supply-chain deficiencies were exposed as as a result of COVID-19 and the efforts needed to bring supply chains closer to home, as well as the opportunity for state leaders, associations and manufacturers to come together post-COVID to create a repository of Arizona’s existing supply chain assets that includes raw materials, processing facilities, machinery and technology.

Moderated by Arizona Technology Council CEO Steve Zylstra, it was a fantastic discussion and well worth a listen.

Speakers:

ALLISON GILBREATH
Executive Director, Arizona Manufacturers Council at Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry

As executive director of the Arizona Manufacturing Council (AMC), Allison Gilbreath leads the organization’s advocacy efforts and serves as the voice of the manufacturing industry in the state. She and her team work to advance policy issues and reforms positively impacting Arizona manufacturers. Before joining the Chamber, Gilbreath spent more than a decade working in the economic development arena. She previously served as vice president of business development for the Greater Phoenix Economic Council and vice president of business attraction for the Arizona Commerce Authority.

MARK GASPERS
Manager Southwest Region, The Boeing Company

Mark Gaspers serves as Manager for State and Local Government Operations at The Boeing Company. Prior to his current position with Boeing, Gaspers was a Trade Control Specialist in support of Boeing’s Space Exploration division. Before coming to Boeing, Gaspers was a policy analyst for defense, homeland security, veterans and NASA issues for the Senate Republican Policy Committee (RPC) under the chairmanship of Senator Jon Kyl. Gaspers also served as a senior legislative assistant for Representative Lincoln Diaz-Balart and as Senator Kyl’s health care legislative correspondent. 

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