Orion Industries named Aerospace Company of the Year

Gov. Jay Inslee presented Orion Industries CEO John Theisen with the 2013 Aerospace Futures Alliance Company of the Year award Oct. 2 at the eighth annual AFA Washington Governor’s Summit.

Mirror staff reports:

Gov. Jay Inslee presented Orion Industries CEO John Theisen with the 2013 Aerospace Futures Alliance Company of the Year award Oct. 2 at the eighth annual AFA Washington Governor’s Summit.

“Each year, AFA evaluates and assesses all Washington State aerospace companies in the areas of growth, technology, leadership, achievement, and hiring,” said Linda Lanham, AFA president, in a news release. “Orion is a very successful organization that is moving forward with great momentum. Not only do they meet the highest standards in quality, on-time delivery and customer support, but they also provide a great service to the community by providing training to people with disabilities and helping them find community jobs.”

Based in Federal Way, Orion is also the recipient of Boeing’s 2011 Supplier of the Year award, and numerous Boeing quality awards. In February 2014, the non-profit company and its 225 employees will relocate to a new facility in Auburn.

Since 1957, Orion has trained people struggling with barriers to employment, helping them land good jobs in the community. In 2012, the company provided more than 350 people with services, placing more than 110 of them in jobs in King and Pierce counties.

“Orion is honored to receive this award. Our intense focus on performance and customer support has made us one of the most competitive aerospace suppliers and parts manufacturers in the world,” said Theisen in a news release.

“Our secret weapon is our social mission. We train people with disabilities and other barriers to employment in both our aerospace division and our contact center division, providing one-on-one mentoring and training. Orion’s business success is due as much to our commitment to our mission as it is to our commitment to running successful business enterprises.”