ABOUT UAMMI
How was the UAMMI logo designed?
Interesting question. One of the early purposes of UAMMI was to be the connector between all the parts of the ecosystem. That means companies, large and small, university research buried in the colleges, the outside entities too like the national labs and the military. UAMMI is the connecting tissue that makes it work in a way that will grow the whole thing, which is good for everyone. Even competitors are willing to come into UAMMI because they know their data will be protected but at the same time they can help by taking part and making the whole thing better. A greater purpose than just one company success, its everyone as it helps everyone if everyone succeeds.
UAMMI is the connecting point for Utah’s Advanced Materials & Manufacturing Industry!
Vision Statement
To ensure that Utah is a global leader in advanced materials advanced manufacturing.
Mission Statement
We promote collaboration, identify business opportunities, share knowledge resulting from research, accelerate success of small businesses, establish a skilled and trained workforce, and are a thought leader in advanced materials and advanced manufacturing.
Guiding Principles
•Innovate Advanced Material: Our focus is on expanding the innovation and use of all advanced materials with a primary emphasis on carbon composites, along with other materials including ceramics, biomaterials and materials yet to be developed.
Small Business Cluster Member
Associated Industry Cluster Member
Small Business Cluster Member
Associated Industry Cluster Members
Utah’s History in Aerospace & Advanced Materials
Advanced manufacturing and materials began in Utah during the space race of the 1950’s when two Utah based explosives companies, Hercules and Thiokol, developed expertise to improve missiles with carbon fiber. Orbital ATK, which resulted from the merger of Hercules and Thiokol along with Hexcel continued the carbon fiber business. Today, many of the materials and processes used in advanced manufacturing around the world have been developed here in Utah.
This early beginning has expanded to include well over 350 Utah businesses ranging from startups to large companies developing advanced materials for a wide variety of aerospace components, medical devices, industrial products, recreational equipment and more.
In addition, Utah’s supply chain has significantly diversified to include manufacturing, material suppliers, and service-based companies performing sophisticated design and analysis. Through all this, Utah has developed a worldwide reputation as a leader in advanced manufacturing.
UAMMI Partners
SAMPE - Society for Advanced Materials and Process Engineering
Dept of Workforce Services
Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity
Is UAMMI’s partner to help grow the advanced materials industry cluster in Utah.
EDCU - Economic Development Corporation of Utah
UMA - Utah Manufacturing Association
University of Utah - SCI Institute
The SCI Institute is leading the Supply Chain Mapping project and other initiatives in association with UAMMI.
IACMI - Institute for Advanced Composites Innovation
NAM - National Association of Manufacturing
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA)
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA)
America Makes
Vertical Flight Society
The Graphene Council
The Graphene Council is the leading source for graphene research, commercial application, news and intelligence. UAMMI and the Graphene Council have partnered to help strengthen each others outreach efforts and missions.
Utah Industry Resource Alliance
UIRA is Utah’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Representative, part of a national network of MEP centers in every State of the Union. The UIRA’s all-star team of coaches, practitioners, and industry experts provide services to all 29 Utah counties with one purpose: Help Utah Manufactures Grow and Thrive.
Women's Tech Council
Founded in 2007, WTC focuses on the economic impact of women in driving growth for the technology sector. WTC builds programs that amplify and create tech talent to support more women in technology careers from high school to the board room.
UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
The University of Utah is a public research university in Salt Lake City, Utah. It is the flagship institution of the Utah System of Higher Education. According to the Center for World University Rankings, the University of Utah is ranked the 66th top university in the entire world (2016).
AMPLEO
Accounting
Ampleo (formerly Advanced CFO) provides financial management services to UAMMI. Ampleo manages the entire financial funnel – from basic bookkeeping, financial reporting, and assistance in raising multiple rounds of funding, to guiding financial decisions that support your long-term growth objectives. Ampleo handles all of the financial aspects of a business, including everything from accounting and tracking of finances, all the way up to making financial decisions for the future and providing funding for growth www.Ampleo.com
Grow Utah
UAMMI Team
Tulinda Larsen
President
Dr. Tulinda Larsen is President, Utah Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Initiative (UAMMI), a public-private partnership to elevate the advanced materials and advanced manufacturing industry in Utah.
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She began her career in Washington, D.C. as an economist at the US Department of Transportation, where she gained experience in the air transport industry. For more than 40 years, she has been a practicing economist studying various aspects of the aerospace industry.
Dr. Larsen is also an Adjunct Professor in the School of Business, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Worldwide Campus. She holds a Doctorate of Management from University of Maryland Global Campus, BA and MA in economics from The George Washington University.
See more about her at: https://www.tulindalarsen.com/ or https://www.linkedin.com/in/tulinda-larsen-40aa3a10/
Guy Letendre
Vice President
Before starting as Vice President at UAMMI, Guy held several key leadership positions, including Chief Operations Officer for a high-tech power electronics startup, Vice President of a solar energy company, Managing Director of automotive parts manufacturing facility in the Netherlands, and Vice-President of Engineering for a Fortune 500 automotive tier one supplier.
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Guy has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Washington State University and an M.B.A. from Utah State University.
Cathy Blomquist
Corporate Secretary
Cathy’s priority is providing excellent communication and service to UAMMI Cluster Members. She is focused on helping UAMMI members access all UAMMI’s services as provided under the Small Business Administration’s Regional Innovative Cluster (SBA RIC) contract to help Utah advanced materials & manufacturing companies achieve growth and success. The Utah Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Initiative (UAMMI) brings together public and private
community, industry and education partners to assure growth and sustainability of Utah’s advanced material and manufacturing industry.
Brent Strong
Chief Technology Officer
Brent Strong, Ph.D., is the Chief Technology Officer for UAMMI and is a critical piece of connecting Utah companies within the industry. Brent is an emeritus professor of Manufacturing Engineering Technology (Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering and Technology) at Brigham Young University.
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David Beckerman
Director Grant Programs
David Beckerman is the lead analyst for UAMMI. In this position, David evaluates economic factors affecting the advanced manufacturing and materials industry in Utah. Among recent studies he has conducted are the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the industry and the potential for Utah to attract companies reshoring to Utah from China and other countries.
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David also assists the industry with financial and strategic assessments in support of Small Business Technology Transfer programs.
KC Sanders
Director Community Outreach and Workforce Solutions –
KC Sanders brings his passion and expertise as the new Marketing and Community Outreach Director to the UAMMI team. His love of communication extends into everything he does.
KC’s experience and clients include Weber State University, The Walt Disney Company, Universal Studios, DreamWorks Animation, Nasa, United States Olympics, FedEx, and more.
Melissa Larsen
Director of Marketing and Community Outreach
Melissa joined UAMMI in 2021 to support the planning of meetings, conferences, and events. Her responsibilities have expanded to include Social Media and relationships with other industry organizations, including IACMI, America Makes, SAMPE, and the American Manufacturing Community Collaborative (AMCC).
Prior to joining UAMMI, she supported the launching of Dessert UAS, a Utah non-profit to attract drone companies to locate in Utah. Melissa planned the spectacular grand opening, exhibit at Consumer Electronics Show, and other major events.
Her other positions included logistics and business development for global conferences managed by the international event management company, WorldTek. Melissa spent a decade as an Account Manager providing product placement and marketing for fashion companies and national retailers including; Donna Karan, Macy’s, and Bed Bath and Beyond.
She holds an AA in Fashion Merchandise Management and a BA in Fashion Buying and Merchandising from the Fashion Institute of Technology, New York City.
DR. ANGELA TREGO, PMP, PE, FHEA
Director of Science & Engineering -
DIVERSITY, INCLUSION, & BELONGING SPECIALIST
Angela is the Director of Science & Engineering for UAMMI. She has held technical & senior leadership roles in major aerospace and industrial companies with special expertise in composite materials. She is involved in engineering education programs where she is part of global accreditation programs for engineering degree programs. She also serves on several technical society boards and non-profit executive boards. Applying a strong technical background with leadership experiences across multiple industries gives Angela a unique perspective on project management, leadership and women in business. She holds a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Brigham Young University. For more information see angelatrego.com
Angela has been working with UAMMI since 2019, providing engineering consulting. Central to her career has been supporting diversity in STEM programs. She was an executive board member with the Women’s Tech Council, is one of the founders of SheTech, and a founding member of ABET’s Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity Advisory Council. In 2019 she pivoted her practice to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and has been advising and training organizations ever since. Dr. Trego has been supporting the Utah Defense Manufacturing Community STEM and Women & Girls programs.
Her Recruitment and Retention programs provide hands-on training to faculty members addressing unconscious bias, micro messaging and engaged learning techniques to increase the number of females and underrepresented populations in STEM classes. As a result of the trainings so far, over 5200 students have been indirectly influenced.
UAMMI Board Members
UAMMI BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Marshall Hagen, Janicki Industries CHAIRMAN
David Ferro, Weber State University VICE CHAIRMAN
Jerome Berg, Northrop Grumman Corporation
Steve Black, Utah – MEP
Kori Ann Edwards, Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity GOEO
Marshall Wright, Utah Black Chamber
Andrew Buffmire, University of Utah
UAMMI BOARD OF DIRECTORS NON-VOTING OFFICERS
Tulinda Larsen, PRESIDENT, UAMMI
Guy Letendre, VICE PRESIDENT, UAMMI
Catherine Blomquist, CORPORATE SECRETARY, UAMMI
Donna Yost, TREASURER, Ampleo
UAMMI INSTITUTE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jeff Edwards, PRESIDENT, UAMMI
Andrew Buffmire, DIRECTOR, University of Utah
Donna Yost, TREASURER, Ampleo
James Taylor, SECRETARY, LSI
UAMMI EX-OFFICIO BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jeffery Wandrey, Ogden Air Logistics Complex