About the Aerospace Joint Apprenticeship Committee

Aerospace Joint Apprenticeship Committee Staff

	Laura Hopkins - Executive Director Laura was raised in Japan and came to the US to attend college where she received a degree in Sociology. She went on to get her Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) license and also received her helicopter private pilot’s license. Laura worked in the aerospace industry first as a mechanic then transitioned into a Customer Quality Support representative working primarily with Japanese airlines. During this time, she received her Master’s degree in Applied Behavioral Science and went on to become Dean of the Part 147 Aviation Maintenance program at South Seattle Community College. She later transitioned to Dean of Transportation programs. In September of 2008, Laura began working as Training Director of AJAC.
	Andrea Anderson - Program Manager Andrea has strong managerial skills and nationally recognized experience in the design of recruitment and retention programs and strategies for apprenticeship programs. Andrea has worked as an instructor at the community college level and has over 10 years of health care experience that qualify her to identify strong connections for apprenticeship preparation opportunities.
	Megan Fiess - Administrative Services Manager Megan has an educational background in organization systems, business cultures and management, leadership, psychology, intercultural communications, community building, and the use of business and nonprofit organizations as tools for more sustainable communities. She has 16 years of combined experience in management and leadership, human resources, contracting, budgeting and accounting, marketing, and general office management.
	Kevin Quinn - Lead Program Developer (Employer Outreach) Kevin Quinn has 20 years of leadership experience working in both manufacturing environments and with not for profit educational associations focused on industry best practice training and career development. A native of eastern Washington with a degree in Organizational Management, Kevin launched the opening of the eastern Washington office at the Spokane Apprenticeship Training Center in September 2009.
	Rikel Getty - Program Developer (Employer Outreach) Rikel has 17 years of aerospace experience, including over 15 years of experience in training, management and sales. He has managed, written, and produced training content for Corporate Executive Leadership Training, Flight Training, Maintenance Training and Manufacturing Training. Rikel has won numerous awards for innovative training solutions regarding online learning communities and incorporating cutting-edge technology intranet solutions. Rikel is a graduate of Iowa State University with continuing education in Organizational Design from Antioch University in Seattle.
	Roger Peters - Program Specialist (Apprentice Outreach) Roger is a retired veteran of the United States Air Force, where he served as an Air Traffic Controller. He worked his way through on-the-job training from apprentice to facility manager, spending the last three years as the Training Program Manager. Along the way he managed his numerous entrepreneurial ventures and partnered in others. He brings exceptional interpersonal communication skills, with a strong ability to effectively organize, prioritize and manage multiple tasks. He is motivated towards achieving team goals and dedicated to helping others realize their full potential through apprenticeship.
	Lisa Van Dyke - Communications Specialist Lisa has an educational background in marketing, communications, advertising and graphic design. She has 10+ years of combined experience developing marketing programs and collateral; implementing market research projects from survey conception to reporting and analysis; creating web content; writing and distributing news, planning and promoting events and designing direct marketing programs. Lisa is a graduate of Marquette University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications.