Empowering Women
in Manufacturing And Business

Successful women sharing their experiences and life stories that contribute to the greater good of all, improving products, making things better and safer, and fulfilling lives.

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#155 Drones, Composites, and Leadership – A Conversation with Dr. Tulinda Larsen

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After working as an economist in the aerospace industry for 40+ years, Dr. Tulinda Deegan Larsen transitioned to a startup that helped commercial airlines improve on their time performance through use of a cloud database. From there, she was recruited to join her current company, Utah Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Initiative (UAMMI), where she sits as Executive Director.

Her comprehensive skillset taps into drones, composites, and leadership — all of which she employs in her daily role at UAMMI and her efforts to support women in manufacturing. Today, Tulinda helps numerous women, from stay-at-home moms to young girls, grow their expertise in advanced manufacturing and carve out a space for themselves in the industry. Some of Tulinda’s most notable accomplishments include her role as Membership and Employment Board Advisor for Women and Drones and her collaboration with the Girl Scouts of America to implement an Advanced Manufacturing badge that focuses on 3D printing.

Although she has only been in manufacturing for one year, Tulinda has already made a name for herself at UAMMI and is committed to elevating Utah as the key center for advanced manufacturing on a national and international scale.

To watch the video recording, click here: https://youtu.be/I5prOzL-uSo

MEET YOUR HOST

Rosemary Coates

Ms. Coates is the Executive Director of the Reshoring Institute and the President of Blue Silk Consulting, a Global Supply Chain consulting firm. She is a best-selling author of: 42 Rules for Sourcing and Manufacturing in China and 42 Rules for Superior Field Service and The Reshoring Guidebook. 

Ms. Coates lives in Silicon Valley and has worked with over 80 clients worldwide. She is also an Expert Witness for legal cases involving global supply chain matters.  She is passionate about Reshoring.


SPECIAL GUEST

Dr. Tulinda Larsen

Dr. Larsen is currently executive director, Utah Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Initiative (UAMMI), promoting Utah’s advanced materials industry nationally.

She is also serving as UAM Editor for Airinsight and she is a principal with the UAM aerospace investment banking firm, NEXA Capital Partners. Additionally, she is an adjunct professor with Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. She volunteers with Women and Drones as Membership and Employment Board Advisor.

Founded in 2009, her company Skylark Services, LLC, was certified as a Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) by the Women Presidents’ Educational Organization, a regional partner organization of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).

From 2012 through 2015, she applied her dissertation research into improving airline operational performance to the start-up company masFlight, the cloud-based aviation data warehouse and big data analytic platform. masFlight was acquired by Global Eagle Entertainment in August 2015. Dr. Larsen worked on the transition of masFlight to Global Eagle and on the development of connected aircraft products and services. Prior to joining masFlight, Dr, Larsen directed analytical, consulting, economic analysis, and research services for several transportation companies, including SH&E, PIERS, and OAG/BACK Aviation.

Dr. Larsen began her career in 1975 as a staff economist for the U.S .Department of Transportation (DOT), Office of the Secretary.  Dr. Larsen was Vice President of the Regional Airline Association (RAA), representing U.S. regional airlines. She was responsible for government relations and was a key industry spokesperson presenting and providing testimony to Congress, federal agencies and industry organizations.  She took a two-year leave of absence from RAA from 1980 to 1982 and served as the President of Alaska Air Carriers Association and Executive Director of the Alaskan Aviation Safety Foundation.

Dr. Larsen is a private pilot, a Part 107 Remote Pilot in Command, Membership and Employment Board advisor, Women and Drones, Advisory Board, Utah Valley University, School of Aviation Sciences, active members Association of Unmanned Vehicles Systems International (AUVSI), former president, International Aviation Club, past-President (2001) of the Aero Club of Washington D.C, former member board of directors Royal Aeronautical Society, member International Aviation Woman’s Association,  has served as Chairman, Regional Aviation Subcommittee (1995-2005), Transportation Research Board, National Academies. Dr. Larsen holds a doctorate in management, with a focus on airline operations, from the Management and Technology School of the University of Maryland University College, master’s degree in economics and a bachelor’s degree in political science from The George Washington University.

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