Spokane Airports chief Lawrence Krauter appointed to Governor’s NMA Executive Council

Governor Inslee’s Choose Washington New Middle-Market Airplane (NMA) Executive Council bolsters statewide aerospace development efforts with addition of Spokane Airports Chief Executive Officer Lawrence Krauter

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Gov. Jay Inslee’s Choose Washington New Middle-Market Airplane (NMA) Council today announced Lawrence Krauter will serve on the executive council of the statewide effort to solidify Washington as the preferred location for design, production and final assembly of an all-new aircraft under study by the Boeing Company.

Krauter, who currently serves as chief executive officer of Spokane International Airport, Felts Field and Airport Business Park, brings strong regional perspective, technical and leadership experience to the executive council. The Spokane area is America’s fifth-largest aerospace cluster, with over 120 companies in the Spokane supporting industry employers throughout the world, including Boeing.

Before joining Spokane Airports, Krauter served in several executive leadership roles for Lehigh Northampton Airport Authority in Pennsylvania. A graduate of Ohio State University, Krauter served as Airport Planner for the city of Columbus, Ohio, after starting his career in engineering with the Ohio Department of Transportation. He is a past president of the Aviation Council of Pennsylvania and was appointed by Gov. Ed Rendell to serve two terms on the Governor’s Aviation Advisory Committee. Krauter is an elected Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and has held several leadership roles for the American Association of Airport Executives.

Krauter is a single-engine land (SEL) and single-engine sea (SES) rated pilot. In his community, Larry serves on multiple boards, including chairman of the Spokane Regional Transportation Council and West Plains/Airport Area Public Development Authority. He is an emeritus member of Gonzaga University School of Business Dean’s Business Forum.

Two independent reports released last year rank Washington the #1 state in the global aerospace industry. The Teal Group report released in June gave the state top 10 finishes for education and labor. PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) aerospace manufacturing attractiveness ranking gave Washington the top spot for its industry, infrastructure, economy, and workforce.

“We intend to keep aiming higher by building on our strengths and addressing opportunities identified in this and other independent rankings,” said Gov. Jay Inslee after release of the PwC report last fall.

In November, the Council released an innovative and comprehensive strategy to strengthen the state’s talent pool in aerospace and related high-demand industries. The council’s work centers on the essential role of Washington’s numerous and diverse aerospace supply clusters in the state’s overall competitive position.

“I want to thank Governor Inslee for the opportunity to serve on the NMA Executive Council,” Krauter said. “It is an honor to join a group of dedicated professionals who are focused on maximizing our strengths to ensure that Washington state is selected as the best place to build Boeing’s NMA.”

Chris Green, assistant director for the Washington Department of Commerce, said, “Larry’s expertise in the aviation industry and his experience developing and managing airport economic development portfolios will be a great addition to the work of the Council. “

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Media contact:

Penny Thomas, Commerce Communications, (206) 256-6106