As a social enterprise, Skills Inc. is constantly weaving and linking our non-profit mission with our business enterprise.

For the past 40+ years we have been successfully carrying out our mission to train and employ persons with disabilities: 70% of our employees have an identified disability. Over the years we have also developed manufacturing processes which have enabled Skills to become recognized as a leading aerospace supplier.

With 300+ employees, we are one of the largest aerospace suppliers in Washington State, meeting stringent quality and governmental standards. In recent years, we have found new ways to expand our impact by joining forces with partners in the community who also have a goal of providing services to persons with disabilities.

In this newsletter, you will read about this expanded relationship and the internal structure and activities at Skills that make this possible. As a designated Community Rehabilitation Program, we are working with the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation to assess and place individuals who have turned to the state for employment assistance. We also train and teach high school interns from Federal Way and Enumclaw School Districts. These, and other initiatives, are allowing us to expand our social enterprise model. Linking the social and enterprise missions at Skills Inc. is a win-win for all involved.

This is my last column for the Skills Newsletter. This month I retired as CEO, leaving the organization in the capable hands of Todd Dunnington, who has served Skills as Chief Operating Officer for the past three years. The board conducted an extensive search for my replacement and selected Todd as the most capable to carry on the mission of Skills.

My eight-plus years at Skills give me a good vantage point to view our progress. In 2000 we were at a quarter of our current revenue. We could provide employment for fewer than 110 persons with disabilities, and could not train people the way we can today. Skills has faced its share of challenging times: two Boeing strikes, the 9/11 recession in the aerospace industry, and having to become certified to meet numerous industry standards. I’m proud of the fact that together, we’ve not only met all of these challenges, but we have consistently grown in our capacity to serve and employ persons with disabilities, faster than anyone could have imagined.

We have training programs for our employees that help them gain marketable and practical skills, that can be applied here at Skills or in the community. Our management team and supervisors are in tune with the mission of Skills. We are positioned for further growth in the aerospace industry as well as in other commercial endeavors. Skills Technical Services has grown to include engineers, and this makes us more competitive in the technology sector. Our Aerospace Internship Program is in its eighth year and provides education completion, job training and a new career track for at-risk special education students. Our sales staff is finding new opportunities for our people so Skills can continue to grow.

I will miss the many fine people I have had the pleasure to work with and get to know through my involvement with Skills. But I am happy knowing that Skills, Inc. is in good hands, and I look forward to watching it continue to change lives and achieve its
mission for many years to come.