Flyin’ High: First Global Aerospace Summit held, leaving behind indelible regional impact, planned return
By RANDY PIERCE
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Designed to focus upon the strength of the St. Louis area as it relates to the aerospace and aviation industries, the first-ever Global Aerospace Summit was presented by the Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois in partnership with the counties of Madison and St. Clair and Bi-State Development’s St. Louis Regional Freightway in mid-August at the Regency Conference Center in O’Fallon, Ill.
Attracting over 400 industry leaders/representatives, educators, elected officials, including Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, area workforce development directors and those with an interest in pursuing careers in aerospace and/or aviation, this event put the spotlight on our region’s pertinent assets, potential for applicable continued growth plus innovative examples and initiatives to grow a qualified, trained and skilled workforce for meeting current and future needs.
St. Clair County Chairman Mark Kern highlighted the remarkable growth of the aerospace and aviation sector in St. Clair County in recent years and the importance of Scott Air Force Base: “We cannot overstate the vital role Scott Air Force Base plays in the nation and as the largest employer in Southwestern Illinois and one of the largest in the region,” said Kern.
Tony Fuhrmann, director of employment and training for Madison County, who was part of a series of presenters responsible for closing out the two-day program on Thursday, Aug. 14, commented: “I think it’s become very clear that the aerospace and aviation industries are thriving in counties throughout southwestern Illinois and across the bi-state area. This summit has really helped to underscore the impressive strengths of this ecosystem in the St. Louis region.”
“I hope you’ve all had a wonderful two days with us,” Fuhrmann told the attendees at the summit’s conclusion, “And learned a lot that you can take away to advance your own organizations.”
Sharing his own upbeat reaction to the summit, Leadership Council Executive Director Kyle Anderson said, “We’re thrilled with the attendance and with the positive feedback received from so many of those who joined us.”
“The summit is firmly established as a premier event in the aviation industry,” he continued, “and we look forward to hosting our second annual conference in mid-August 2026.”
Among the specific topics focused upon during six different panel discussions was one in which Fuhrmann was included, addressing workforce development efforts that includes innovative recruitment strategies to connect talented individuals with opportunities in aerospace and aviation.
Anderson was part of another group discussion with representatives from Scott Air Force Base, the Naval Air Systems Command and the United States Small Business Administration, which saw its members talk about government contracting opportunities including tips for successfully procuring such type of work.
About two weeks prior to this event, it was previewed by Anderson for the Madison County Board Grants Committee, at which time he remarked, “We have been working very, very hard on it.” As a further part of his justification for his organization’s hosting of the summit, Anderson explained companies like Boeing, West Star and Gulfstream — aviation leaders — feel like “no one knows that we’re here, locally and nationally,” so one goal was to increase the awareness that this part of Illinois “has a very robust aerospace industry.”
What makes this so, Anderson continued, is the existence of three airports and three aircraft manufacturers. Anderson further noted there were four or five manufacturers from Quebec in Canada participating along with companies which make aircraft parts from 12 different states.
This event was additionally intended to attract those types of suppliers to this region, therefore creating more jobs and economic growth, according to Anderson. Another significant component, he said, through partnership with Scott Air Force Base, was a career fair for transitioning military service personnel, veterans and their spouses.
The other panel topics explored key themes like sustainable aviation, public-private partnerships, education-industry collaboration and regional expansion strategies. Panelists shared insights on training initiatives, recruitment efforts by leading aerospace companies expanding in the region, bioeconomy innovations and best practices for engaging with government agencies and original equipment manufacturers.
Governor Pritzker was one of several state and local officials who spoke at the summit, saying its “being here in the Metro East is fitting because of all of what already exists here. Giants like Boeing and Gulfstream and West Star Aviation have made a home here. Scott Air Force Base, my goodness, just down the road, it’s a pillar of the community.”
“The aerospace industry is one of the most important for the state,” Pritzker added. “We’re putting our shoulder to the wheel to make sure that that’s beneficial to you. Everything we’re doing is beneficial to the industry and I just want to assure you that it (the industry) is on the rise across the state of Illinois.”
Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski also remarked, “From the manufacturing floor to the airfields, aviation touches communities across my district, creating jobs, driving investment and growing the next generation of aviation workforce right here at home. The aviation sector isn’t just about moving people and goods—it’s about moving our economy across our state.”
Christy George, president of Intersect Illinois, a statewide economic development agency, provided additional insight: “The aerospace and defense sector is evolving at unprecedented speed and Illinois stands ready to be the place where that future takes shape.”
George also asked, “So why Illinois for aerospace and defense? The short answer is that Illinois offers one of the nation’s most competitive and connected aerospace ecosystems.”
Opening the two-day summit programming schedule were tours of the West Star Aviation facility in East Alton and the newly opened Southwestern Illinois College Advanced Center for Manufacturing in Belleville, where summit participants could get a first-hand view of operations and skilled workforce personnel performing their duties.
The Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center, based in Peoria, successfully hosted its supplier matchmaking program as part of the summit as well. The program facilitated specific targeted, one-on-one networking opportunities connecting Illinois manufacturers with original equipment manufacturers actively seeking new suppliers. The event fostered high-value business connections with pre-scheduled, private meetings enabling participants to address immediate sourcing needs while building the foundation for long-term partnerships.
Several firms and local airports also took advantage of the opportunity to exhibit at the summit.
“We’re very excited about the opportunity to be a part of this first Global Aerospace Summit,” said John Goldsmith, marketing coordinator at Korte & Luitjohan Contractors Inc. of Highland. “Obviously, aerospace is a huge part of our economy in the metro area, and we certainly would like to be a part of that conversation as a general contractor. You figure there’s a lot of opportunities for us to partner with either the airports or some of the other players in the aviation industry – if there’s some construction opportunities there for us, that’s great. We’ve made some fantastic connections here today. It’s been an awesome summit for us and a wonderful event.”
“Beyond highlighting the entire region’s robust aerospace and defense ecosystem and nationally recognized public-private partnerships, this summit also opened new doors for collaboration and growth,” said Mary Lamie, executive vice president of Multimodal Enterprises for Bi-State Development. “It was a powerful platform for companies, educators and workforce leaders who want to be part of the future of this vibrant industry sector.”
[Editor’s note: Some information for this story was provided by The Hauser Group of St. Louis]
Randy Pierce is a reporter for the Herald Publications group, part of the Better Newspapers Inc. media family which includes the Illinois Business Journal.
