How to boost aerospace in 2024 was the focus of the Tulsa Regional Chamber’s Aerospace Council meeting May 3 at the Riverside campus of Tulsa Technology Center.

Joel Dougherty, vice president of human resources and environmental, health and safety for NORDAM Group, led the facilitated discussion. 

He split the attendees into three groups that conducted brainstorming sessions on the subject. 

Ideas for advancing the sector included promoting advanced air mobility, reducing barriers for entry, investing in infrastructure, providing incentives for workforce growth, and bridging the gap between companies and students. 

Thomas Illner, president and CEO of BizJet International, said it is important for the industry to dial into the metaverse, which is a set of shared digital spaces in which participants can socialize, work, learn and play. 

“When you want to access the young kids at an early age, we can do that in school, which is successful,” Illner said. “But if you want to get to that next generation and you want to get that attraction to industry, you need to get on their screen. We need to be in the metaverse in some kind of environment. 

“You can build a digital hangar. You can build a digital Tulsa. You can look at downtown. You can do a NORDAM virtual tour. This is the idea to have a pipeline to the next generation of students.” 

Some in attendance felt the key to growing aerospace is leveraging industry voices. 

“From the standpoint of the Chamber and other service provider-type companies, we’re paid professionals in a lot of ways, and by that I mean our organizations are,” said Brien Thorstenberg, vice president of economic development at the Tulsa Regional Chamber. “The industry voice is so much more powerful than we are. So, the more of your voices that we can get in the conversation, the better chances we have of doing something.” 

Atlas School, a software engineering school, sponsored the meeting, whose audience also heard a workforce update from Mandy Monahan, director of corporate responsibility and communication for NORDAM.

The Tulsa Regional Chamber launched the Aerospace Council in 2020 to provide a forum to share best practices within the aerospace and defense industry, and to provide networking opportunities for industry professionals.

The Council meets quarterly at local aerospace companies and educational facilities, and aerospace employers in the Tulsa region are invited to attend.

For more information about the Aerospace Council contact the Chamber's Brien Thorstenberg at 918-560-0231.