31 guests joined us November 16 to hear about Aerospace on Maui from a panel of space industry leaders based in LĪPOA, formerly known as the Maui Research & Tech Park.
The panel talked story as they shared their vision, their technology and the opportunities for Maui with the growth of the Aerospace industry. Daron Nishimoto, MEDB Business Development Director and EO Solutions moderated the panel that included Lisa Thompson, KBR; Dr. Channing Chow, Cloudstone Innovations; Dr. Shadi Naderi, Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL); and Dr. Bogdan Udrea, VisSidus Technologies, Inc.
“This panel of experts represented a good sample of tech innovation in a growing industry on Maui,” said Annette Lynch, MEDB Director of Communications who led the coordination of the event. “In addition to sharing their space projects they talked story about their career pathway and the benefits to being able to pursue their chosen field living on Maui.”
Nishimoto began the lively and engaging discussion with an introduction explaining how much we rely on space systems for our everyday needs such as phones, banking, internet, and navigation. He added, “Aerospace depends on many kinds of expertise that helps to diversify the economy offering pathways relative to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM.)”
LĪPOA, Maui’s Innovation Community, is a hub for science and technology with a host of companies and programs engaged in research and development. Space domain awareness, astronomy, sensor development, disaster mitigation, artificial intelligence, supercomputing, software development and creative arts are all part of the existing and emerging fields at LĪPOA.
Supported by the County of Maui, MEDB’s TechOhana provide an informal networking opportunity open to anyone interested in Maui County’s innovation and business industry. Events typically include a short presentation on a relevant topic in business or technology, followed by the opportunity to talk with others with similar professional interests.