Topic Highlight: Aerospace Update with Keynote Speaker Tom Gentile
Transportation equipment, which is predominantly aerospace, was the largest Kansas global export commodity in 2018 with $2.7 billion worth of goods. The second largest commodity was food & kindred products at $2.5 billion. Although aerospace is predominately concentrated within southcentral Kansas, the supply chain and subsequent economic ripple effect is felt across the entire state, as this sector injects new global dollars into the state economy. This industry grew by 8.5% annual since 2009, as measured by GDP, despite tight labor market and trade tensions. One of the keynote speakers for this year’s conference is Tom Gentile, the President and CEO of Sprit Aerosystems, Wichita’s largest employer.