Kent mayor: Future in Flight Expo connected nearly 800 students with local aerospace and manufacturing employers

Mayor Dana Ralph said the first annual Future in Flight Expo at ShowWare Center connected nearly 800 high school students with local aerospace and advanced-manufacturing employers and training partners.

"This was an opportunity for nearly 800 high school students, 25 of our advanced manufacturing, aerospace, and space companies, and 15 training partners to come together at ShowWare Center to help our students realize all the opportunity that exists in the valley for career paths," Mayor Dana Ralph said.

The mayor credited the event with helping students learn about training options ranging from high-school certificates to four-year degrees and with creating direct connections to employers. She thanked Amazon and Boeing as prime sponsors and singled out the city’s economic and community development staff, specifically Michelle Wilmot, for organizing the event.

City officials framed the Expo as part of an effort to strengthen the local workforce pipeline. No new funding commitments or formal council actions were announced during the update.

Details provided by the mayor: nearly 800 student attendees, participation from 25 companies and 15 training partners, and corporate sponsorship by Amazon and Boeing. The mayor said the event was intended to link students to local jobs and training but did not specify follow-up programs or measurable placement targets.