Senior Aerospace, former PUD exec honored

TULALIP — The CEO and president of Arlington’s Senior Aerospace won recognition Thursday for his success in business and community involvement in Snohomish County.

Jerry Goodwin received the John M. Fluke Sr. Community Leader award at the Economic Alliance Snohomish County’s annual meeting at the Tulalip Resort Casino.

“We’re all leaders here in Snohomish County and I truly believe that it is important that we all lead by example,” Goodwin told the crowd of several hundred. “And ensure our county and region thrives during good times and also during very difficult times.”

Steve Klein, who retired earlier this month as the general manager and CEO of Snohomish County PUD, was given the Henry M. Jackson Citizen of the Year Award.

Also honored at the luncheon were Phil Bannan Sr., the owner of Scuttlebutt Brewing, and David Beyer, president of Everett Community College.

Bannan received The Herald Business Journal’s Entrepreneur of the Year award and Beyer won the paper’s Executive of the Year award.

Goodwin was praised for his entrepreneural approach to bringing together Aerospace Manufacturing Technologies, Damar Aerosystems and Absolute Manufacturing under the umbrella of Senior Aerospace.

He also served as United Way of Snohomish County’s campaign chair. More than 600 employees for his companies volunteer hundreds of hours of service each year. After the Oso disaster, employees were deployed to gather and deliver supplies and helped open an emergency family resource center.

During his speech, Goodwin said other parts of the world want the work that is being done in Snohomish County. He said that means that leaders at the luncheon need to make sure they do everything they can to keep the area competitive into the future.

“I’m born and raised here and I want to make sure this area thrives into the future …” Goodwin said. “Let’s make sure we’re naturally competitive in this area and we can prosper together.”

Klein was at his daughter’s graduation from college and could not attend the luncheon on Thursday. He delivered a recorded video message after receiving the Jackson award, which is named after the long-time U.S. senator from Everett.

“When I came into the energy industry, Sen. Jackson was chair of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources,” Klein said. “Firsthand I saw the great accomplishments he brought about for the Northwest and the country. Also some of my most dearest friends in the industry are people who who worked on the staff for Sen. Jackson. It’s very meaningful to be associated with him and this award.”

Ealier this spring, a PUD worker accused Klein and others of steering lucrative contracts to a private consulting firm owned by a former utility employee. That is being looked into by an independent investigator.

Bannan won the Entrepreneur of the Year award for his role in creating and expanding Scuttlebutt, one of the first microbreweries in Snohomish County. The brand is sold in more than 18 states and also in Canada, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea.

Scuttlebutt is undergoing a major renovation that will double the size of its downtown Everett brewery, allowing allow the business to produce up to 24,000 barrels of beer. Bannan was at a family reunion and also could not attend.

Beyer was chosen this year for his role in leading EvCC, which opened the new Advanced Manufacturing Training &Education Center last year and for his work with Washington State University in its transition taking over the University Center.

Beyer thanked his wife Janelle: “When you get in positions like this, to have a partner like her is pretty amazing,” Beyer said.

He also praised partnerships between the college and the people in the room.

“With partnerships with all of you, with a talented faculty and staff, we make a difference and we touch a lot of lives,” Beyer said. “I’m very honored to receive this, but I’m even more pleased to say it’s about Evertt Community College and the faculty, staff and students there.”