As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, AJAC is governed by an all-volunteer board of directors that oversees AJAC’s overall strategic vision, organizational sustainability and long-term financial health.
Board members represent AJAC’s many stakeholders, including small and medium-sized advanced manufacturing employers, colleges, and local workforce development boards from across Washington State.
Janet Schmidlkofer is CEO of K&N; a family owned and operated industrial repair and remanufacturing business that provides new product and repair services to regional industrial customers. She has been with K&N since 2007. Prior to her current position, she was the Director of Cardiac Services for Empire Health Services in Spokane.
Raised in Spokane, Washington, Janet lived in the Seattle area for 23 years working in cardiac services at both Swedish Medical Center and University of Washington Medical Center. Janet received her bachelor’s in healthcare administration in 2005 and has training in Six Sigma and Lean manufacturing.
Janet is a board member for Community-Minded Enterprises (2021-current), Board Member for AMJTC (Aerospace Machinist Joint Training Committee) (2013 to current) and Chairperson (2021-current) and Chairperson of the Electric Apparatus Service Association Management Committee (2013 – current). Past board memberships include Spokane County United Way, Greater Spokane Inc., and the International Trade Association.
Janet was awarded Woman of Achievement in Business & Industry by the YWCA in 2015 and United Way Advocate of the Year in 2018.
Amy Martinez holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in the Social Services from Central Washington University and possesses over 20 years of workforce training experience. Ms. Martinez’s early career started as a case manager and she has successfully transitioned to higher level positions currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the South Central Workforce Council.
As the CEO, Ms. Martinez directs all program operations, oversees local area strategic planning, leads the local area business development efforts, and is responsible for the oversight of an annual operating budget in excess of $12 million. Throughout her tenure with the South Central Workforce Council, she has successfully performed key functions that include development of grant proposals, procurement of service providers, administrative policies and procedures, monitoring, and development and implementation of discretionary programs.
Ms. Martinez is well respected by her colleagues and peers from other local areas. She has developed close professional relationships with state administrative and policy staff and is often consulted by state staff when considering new pilot or project programs. She has excelled in working with business, labor and community partners as evidenced by the growth of youth and adult apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs, development and establishment of the Columbia Gorge learning center for drop-out youth and adults, and the bi-state workforce collaborative to develop a seamless workforce programs between Washington and Oregon for business and worker customers.
Throughout her tenure, Ms. Martinez has provided primary support to the South Central Workforce Council and the local elected officials regarding workforce, education and training issues in the four county region of Kittitas, Klickitat, Skamania and Yakima counties. She has played a key role in providing program performance information to state and federal legislators on impacts of federal/state legislation.
Ms. Martinez is respected by her staff. She leads by example encouraging and promoting professional growth and development, but at the same time sets high expectations for work performance. She serves on numerous local and state workforce committees and boards that include the Aerospace Machinist Joint Training Committee, Career and Technical Education General Advisory Council, Workforce Education Advisory Committee, Southwest Washington Career Connect Governance Board, and the Oregon-Washington Mid-Columbia Economic Resiliency Team.
Amy was selected to AJAC Executive Board in September 2020.
As chief executive officer of American Structures & Design, Mike Hagen is responsible for overall company operations.
Before being named CEO in January 2020, Mike spent 16 years running a variety of small businesses that included corporate consulting, media production and international travel. Prior to that, Mike worked in the semiconductor industry for ten years as an engineer and manager of manufacturing operations. Mike has a mechanical engineering degree from Washington State University and a lean manufacturing degree from Arizona State University.
Outside of AS&D, Mike serves on several boards that are focused on community service, missions work, and apprenticeships. He is happily married, has two adult children, and loves adventuring in the great outdoors.
Mike joined the AJAC board in December 2021.
Kathleen Harvey serves as the Director of Community, Reentry and Parole for Juvenile Rehabilitation in the Department of Children, Youth and Families. With over 30 years of professional experience dedicated to the field of human services and juvenile justice, her leadership is grounded in proven programs, effective practices and targeted outcomes.
The foundation of her professional work is anchored in public and private partnerships, evidence-based and landmark programs. It is her commitment and belief in building meaningful service through civic engagement, partner connections, and human-centered design to support the success of young people in life and contributions to healthy communities.
Over the course of the last ten years, Kathleen has had the honor to champion change and effect equity and social justice reform by creating guided pathways in education, vocation and employment.
Kathleen holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Washington State University and a Master’s Degree in Psychology with an emphasis in children and families from Chapman University. In 2017, she received the Governor’s Award for Leadership and Management for Youth Reentry. Kathleen enjoys the Pacific Northwest through trail running and cycling.
Kelly is CEO of OLI Communications (olicomms.com), a firm she founded during the height of the pandemic. OLI represents a cadre of elite executives from multi-national organizations under the OLI Global banner. OLI Global members offer exceptional contracting, consulting, and advisory in the areas of strategic communications, brand development, marketing, social media strategies, media relations, government relations, logistics, operations, diversity, and inclusion, and much more.
As VP of Strategic Communications and Relationships at AeroTEC, an aerospace engineering firm located in Seattle, Kelly oversaw strategic marketing communications; branding; state, federal and international government affairs; media relations; business development; human resources; and administration.
As the former President and CEO of the Aerospace Futures Alliance and the Washington State Space Coalition, Kelly has worked globally to grow and strengthen the aerospace and space industries in Washington. At AFA and WSSC, she worked closely with multi-national OEMs—including Boeing, Blue Origin, SpaceX, Toray Composites, and Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation—and aerospace and space suppliers to advance the aerospace industry in the Pacific Northwest. She was responsible for advocacy representing more than 1450 aerospace and related businesses, driving successful outcomes for high-impact legislative agendas including year-over-year retention of $8.7 billion in tax savings for the industry and policy to enhance the business climate in WA.
Kelly has her Master’s in Communication and Leadership Studies from Gonzaga University. She joined the AJAC Board of Directors in 2020.
Gina got her start in Aerospace working at her Dad’s shop in High School. After graduation, she started working full time at New Tech in deburr, assembly, shipping/receiving and purchasing, giving her 25+ years in manufacturing. Gina and her two sisters later became owners after their fathers sudden passing and have been successfully running it since 2008.
Gina first got involved with AJAC in 2015 when New Tech brought on their first apprentice and joined the board in late 2021. When Gina isn’t at work or advocating for apprenticeships she enjoys running, hiking, and spending time with her husband and 4 children.
Murry is President, CEO, and Board Member at Trans-Ocean Products, located in Bellingham, Washington. Trans-Ocean Products is a member of the Maruha Nichiro North American group. Maruha Nichiro is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, and is one of the world’s largest seafood companies.
Born and raised on the family farm in Whatcom County, Murry joined the US Army after graduating from Mount Baker High School. After completing his military service, he earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Western Washington University.
Murry began his professional career in the Spokane Valley working for Key Tronic Corporation, an engineering and manufacturing company primarily focused on producing computer keyboards. His next job was at Wagstaff, Inc. also in the Spokane Valley – a capital equipment manufacturer serving the worldwide aluminum industry. In 2004, he created MRPONE Consulting, a consulting company aiming to help small to medium sized manufacturers to improve their bottom line. After helping several Western Washington manufacturers, MRPONE later led him to Western Alaska Fisheries, a Maruha Nichiro owned seafood processing plant on Kodiak Island in Alaska.
After overseeing the plant’s return to profitability, Murry returned back to Washington State. It turned out Maruha Nichiro also owned Trans-Ocean Products. Upon his return home Murry was asked if he could help the leadership team improve results at Trans-Ocean Products. He became President on 1 April 2014 and has overseen tremendous growth at the company since.
Murry joined the AJAC Executive Board in Fall of 2021.
Dr. Lin Zhou is the president of Bates Technical College. Since her hire at Bates as the dean of continuing education, apprenticeship and child studies in 2013, Dr. Zhou served as dean of instruction and executive dean before becoming the vice president of institutional effectiveness and student success in 2016. Previously, she held the positions of associate dean of extended learning, and director of branch campus and continuing education at Lake Washington Institute of Technology between 2001 and 2012.
While serving as dean of instruction, one of the many instructional programs under her supervision was the machinist program. Because of the partnership between AJAC and the program, Dr. Zhou’s working experience with AJAC began in 2014 on curriculum development, student support, faculty professional development, etc. Dr. Zhou always believed AJAC’s mission and its contributions to the industries it serves. She continued to be an advocate for AJAC even after leaving her instructional role. It’s why, when she was asked to join the AJAC board in 2021, Dr. Zhou was honored to return to this great organization.
Currently, Dr. Zhou serves on several national and state boards, including American Technical Education Association, National Asian Pacific Islander Council, WA State Adult Education Advisory Council, Commission on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion of American Association of Community Colleges, College Sparks Foundation, Workforce Central, and City Club of Tacoma.
Dr. Zhou holds a Ph.D. in education, with an emphasis in community college leadership, from Oregon State University, a master’s degree in business administration from City University in Seattle, an Associate Degree in computer science and networking technology from Lake Washington Institute of Technology, and an Associate Degree in accounting from Renmin University of China. In 2017, Dr. Zhou participated in the Harvard University’s Institute for Educational Management, administered by the university’s Graduate School of Education.
Dr. Zhou is the college’s first female president, and the first female Chinese immigrant to serve as president at a public two-year college in Washington State.