Boeing Long Beach Leadership Association Nominees for the 2009-2010 Board of Directors Thomas Tom Cossio has been employed by Boeing (and formerly McDonnell Douglas) for 24 years and is currently the Director of Quality Integration for Global Mobility Systems. Tom has been an active member of the Boeing Long Beach Leadership Association for several years, dating back to when it was McDonnell Douglas. His leadership experiences include management positions in Engineering, the C-17 Program Office and Quality. Tom also serves as an executive focal for a focus school under the Boeing University Relations Board and is an executive sponsor for the Boeing Hispanic Network association. Appointment to the board would increase his ability to pass along his experiences and knowledge to other new leaders and managers at Boeing. Frank Croes has been with Douglas Aircraft/McDonnell Douglas/Boeing for 23 years. He is currently the manager of Cost Accounting for CAS Long Beach and has vast experience in the areas of budgeting and forecasting. Frank wishes to take a more active role in the BLBLA and feels that his prior work experiences would make him a good match for the Budgeting or Finance Director position. In addition, he also hopes that serving on the Board will to help further develop his leadership skills.
Maureen Greenwood-Hamilton is a 24-year veteran of Boeing having started as a Systems Analyst for Douglas Aircraft Company in 1985. Since then, she has held a variety of staff analyst and management positions. Most recently she has been supporting the Boeing IDS Tanker Programs, serving as Chief of Staff to the Program s VP/GM. Maureen has been an active member of both the Amelia Earhart Society and the Boeing Long Beach Leadership Association for a number of years and has held Board positions for both organizations. She has been on the BLBLA Board of Directors for the past four years, most recently as Director of Information and Records. She also led the team responsible for planning and executing a very successful 60 th Anniversary Event to celebrate the heritage and accomplishments of the Association. Maureen hopes to continue serving on the Board and envisions reenergizing the BLBLA through the planning and execution of creative, innovative and value-added events for the membership at large. Michael Gygi has been working in the IT industry for 31 years; 23 have been with Boeing/McDonnell Douglas. He has a BS in Communications and an MS in Information Systems Technology. In his tenure with McDonnell Douglas/Boeing, Michael started as a Systems Analyst in the CAD/CAM Engineering group and has since held a variety of positions within the IT organization. Michael has currently been serving as the Long Beach IDS First Line Manager of the Engineering Systems group for IT and is also the acting Site Business Partner for IT Engineering in Long Beach. Michael has served in several volunteer organizations outside of Boeing including Jordan High School PTA President, Lakewood Gardens Civic Association Vice President and Treasurer and Boy Scout Leader. I would like to be a member of the BOD for BLBLA because I feel I have something to offer. I chose a management career path three years ago to do just that. I enjoy the challenge that leaderships offers and the opportunity to move forward and grow. Not just personal growth, but the growth of my employees through their successes which benefit the company. Boeing is a company of leaders. I look forward to the opportunities to learn and grow from being involved with the BLBLA BOD as well as getting closer to my peers in the BLBLA. I want to be a part of the decision making process and feel my many diverse experiences and successes during my career make me a viable candidate for the BLBLA BOD. As I continue to follow the Boeing Management Model and Live the Boeing values, I am confident that there will not only be earned value for me personally but for Boeing.
Dewanna Huschka has 25 Years of service with McDonnell / The Boeing Company (three years as a Capacity Planner, five years as a Fabrication Manager, 12 years as a Human Resources Generalist and five years as an HR Business Analyst). Dewanna has had experience serving on Boards, noteably as Director of a Preschool and as Women of the Moose Lodge Secretary. Dewanna has aspirations of serving on the BLBLA Board of Directors as she enjoys providing opportunities for others and has passion, time, and energy to devote to making the Board and the Association better for all its members. Diana Johnson has been employed by Boeing for 43 years and is currently the Executive Staff Support to the Director of Long Beach Site Services. Diana has been an active member of the Boeing Long Beach Leadership Association for several years and has also served as a member of the Executive Board of Directors for the past eight years. She has held a variety of positions on the Board but is most versed as Director of Operations where she is responsible for planning and executing monthly dinner events, working with the Director of Programs and external focals to ensure a quality event for the membership. Most recently, Diana co-led the activities for the BLBLA 60 th Anniversary Event which proved to be one of the most successful events held by the association and garnered several exemplary reviews by attendees. Having been a veteran on the Board for several years, Diana hopes that her experience in working in various capacities will serve a catalyst to collaboration among all Board functions, leading to improved events and providing a quality experience for members, Executive Coaches, retirees, and Supplier members. Her strategic focus is on ensuring the continued improvement of event themes, locations, logistics, and networking.
Mark Linquist: During my 30 years with Boeing, I have enjoyed many opportunities to work on a variety of military programs and systems. Along the way, I realized that my passion is for Program Management and that leads me to where I am today as Director of PE/PI and Production Contract Management for the C-17 program. I have been a member of the Long Beach Management Association for the past ten years or so. I have held Board of Director positions for Member Events, Operations, Vice President, President and most recently Chairman for the 2008-9 term. I am interested in being a Board member to show my appreciation for the benefits that the Association has provided me. I enjoy the opportunity to learn from co-workers and network with others from the Boeing Company. Branson Nicholson: I ve worked for the Boeing Company for 23 years. I started my career in Fabrication and I m currently working in Commercial Airplane Services. I m currently working on my Master degree from La Verne University in Leadership and Management. If I m given the opportunity to serve on the BLBLA board, I will bring a positive attitude, dedication and the desire to become a better leader. I feel the BLBLA board is a great organization and will be very helpful for me in attaining the necessary skills in leadership and organization skills. Linda Olds has over 22 years of service with Boeing, beginning in 1985 when she started at McDonnell Douglas in Long Beach. Linda has worked on both the commercial side and on the C-17 Program, with almost all of her assignments in Quality. Linda is currently in the Quality organization at the Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems in El Segundo. She has been actively involved over the years with Project Love and Amelia Earhart Society (AES), recently
serving as AES Secretary for 06-08 and working on the Banquet Committee for the 2007 and 2008 AES Banquets. Linda joined BLBLA in 1995 and has attended numerous BLBLA dinner meetings over the years. Linda worked on the BLBLA 60th Anniversary Event Committee and would very much like to be more actively involved with BLBLA by serving on the Board. Matiel Payton: My name is Matiel Payton and I would like to continue to serve on the Boeing Long Beach Leadership Association Board of Directors. In 1989, I joined the McDonnell Douglas Corporation in Long Beach, as a Production Administration manager responsible for the interface with military customers and the formation and support of corrective Action boards. In my current position as Senior Manager of Quality Assurance, I am responsible for the oversight of all structural and system inspections in the wing section of the C-17 Transport Aircraft. In past years I have served on the Amelia Earhart Society Long Beach Chapter Board of directors. I was the Director of Outreach where we took on projects to give back to the community, President, and was the 2005-2006 Advisor. During my tenure our membership grew significantly, and we are now AES Southern California. I have held the Director of Membership as well as the director of Procurement positions. I am highly motivated, love working with teams to achieve common goals and have a can do attitude that is infectious and is demonstrated in my continuing increase in responsibility year after year. Scott Swaim: Manager, Global Services & Support, Long Beach Supply Chain Operations (16 years). I believe that serving on the board of the BLBLA provides the opportunity to work with a fantastic group of people. Having participated on several BLBLA teams, I believe I understand the goals of the organization and can provide both leadership and hard work to make those goals happen.
Thai Vu is a Manager of the Design Engineering Department, Technical Customer Support (TCS), Commercial Aviation Services, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Long Beach California. Thai is a strong believer of Lean principles and has championed his team to design and develop one of the first Kanban/Pull-systems in an engineering environment geared to increase effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity of the team. He was also a team leader of the TCS Employee Involvement/People Council initiatives, where he and a diverse team of employees developed mentoring, rotation, and cross-training programs for the organization. Currently, he is a sponsor/leader of a key TCS Employees Service Culture team. Thai also served on the So-Cal Intern Expansion/Development team, as well as on the board of the Amelia Earhart Society (AES) Mentoring Committee. He was also a Board Director of the Boeing Asian American Professional Association (BAAPA) and received the 2006 Volunteer of The Year Award. In March of 2009, Thai was nominated and received the Diversity Champion Award of the month. Finally, Thai has been an active booster for The Boeing Company s Employee Community Fund (ECF) for the past 7 years. Thai is interested in serving on the BLBLA Board as he would like to contribute in promoting and advancing the Association as a whole. He wishes to find ways to help our members improve leadership skills, expand networking opportunities and enhance careers advancement with mentoring initiative and other means as well as maintain BLBLA as an association that our members are very proud of and everyone else wants to be a part of. Bob Yazdi: During my 9 years with Boeing, I have enjoyed many opportunities to work on a variety of Engineering and Quality disciplines. My passion as a Six Sigma Master Black Belt and the desire for improvement lead me to where I am today as IDS Engineering Products Standard operation, Regional Manager, managing employees at multiple IDS sites. I have been a member of the Long Beach Leadership Association for the past 5 years or so. I have held Board of Director positions for Association Events, and Boosters. I am interested in continue being a Board member of the association to show my appreciation for the benefits that the Association has provided me. I enjoy the opportunity to network with others from the Boeing Company and outside Boeing. I am also a Board Member/Secretary of an organization assembly in Mission Viejo, and the event coordinator of the Orange County Persian cultural events.
Marie von Zabern is a project manager for Shared Services (SSG), Communication & Business Services/Creative Services representing photo and video for the Southwest Region, and has been an employee of the Boeing Company since 1998. Most of this time has been spent on the C-17 program (in the Engineering Program Management Office); and working as an Integration Lead, Airframe/Mission Systems and Aircraft Systems Product Rep, PMO Lead and Project Manager on the C-17 GSP Program. Marie has her BSABA from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, and her MBA from University of Sarasota/Argosy; both with honors. Volunteering is very much a part of Marie s daily activities. She has worked on various events for the Amelia Earhart Society from 1998 to present, including coordinating and leading the annual Awards Banquet, and Career Day many times. She has served on the AES Board of Directors as the Director of Special Events, and won a volunteer award along with a runner-up spot as a Woman of High Potential. Marie is a Leadership Development Alumni, has worked in lead positions for ethics recommitments and the C-17 Family Day for the previous 10 years. I ve been a member of the BLBLA for 11 years and believe that its time to give back. I ve always respected what the club stands for, and believe that my experience, drive, and positive attitude will lend itself well with the existing team. I look forward to the opportunity to step up from a regular member to a board member of this prestigious organization.