The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) is planning to hold its next jobs rally on April 6 in Olathe, Kansas, to highlight the contributions of the general aviation industry to the Kansas and U.S. economies. The rally, to be held at Garmin International's Warehouse and Distribution Center, will feature a slate of government and industry leaders, who will discuss the industry’s economic contributions; commitment to investment in products, the future workforce, and community; and promotion of science, technology, engineering, and math education.
Along with GAMA president and CEO Pete Bunce, participants include Kansas Republican Senators Pat Roberts and Jerry Moran, Rep. Ron Estes (R-Kansas), Kansas Lieutenant Gov. Tracey Mann, and Olathe Mayor Michael Copeland. Both Garmin International president and CEO Cliff Pemble and Garmin Aviation managing director and executive v-p Phil Straub are scheduled to speak, as are Bombardier Business Aircraft president David Coleal, Textron Aviation executive Doug May, and Yingling Aviation CEO Lynn Nichols.
The event will be the 16th rally that GAMA has hosted over the past decade. GAMA held the first jobs rally during the height of the industry downturn in 2009 in Arkansas. Since then, thousands have attended the rallies across the U.S., as industry leaders have tried to foster local and government support for general aviation manufacturing and the larger industry. The most recent rally was held in June 2016 in Battle Creek, Michigan.
