Brewster Shaw, Vice President and General Manager - Space Exploration, The Boeing Company, was the guest speaker for our June Top Management meeting.  He had the honor of presenting the Silver Knight Award to Kevin Hoshstrasser, Director of Engineering-Florida Operations.

Janey Diogo, BSCLA President welcomed the members and guests, cited an invocation, and led us in the pledge of allegiance.  While dinner was being served Linda Harris, BSCLA Meetings Director, and Janey surprised the membership and guests by giving out door prizes for this event. This was done to award the attendees for their support to the chapter for Top Management Night. Eight lucky attendees received a restaurant gift card valued at $25 each.

Dan Lacey, Site Director-Florida Space Shuttle Operations, introduced the guest speaker, Brewster Shaw.  Previous to Brewster starting his speech, he presented the Silver Knight Award.  The Silver Knight Award is the highest award an NMA chapter can bestow upon an outstanding executive once a year. When Brewster went through the nomination letter that was written up for the recipient, he said it was hard not to reveal the winner, so he asked Bruce Melnick, Vice President & Senior Site Executive-Florida Operations to join him on stage, and everyone thought Bruce was the receiver of the award.  Bruce said a few words, and Brewster went back to reading the nomination form where the credentials and achievements of the winner were revealed in great detail. Brewster announced that Kevin Hoshstrasser was the recipient of the Silver Knight Award.  Brewster and Bruce both presented Kevin with the award. Kevin thanked them, and during a short acceptance speech, also thanked NMA and everyone that has had any contribution on assisting him on his voyage that has gotten him to this point in his career. Congratulations Kevin!!!

Brewster went on to brief the attendees on the phase-out of the Shuttle, and how several potential contracts will exist at the time of the phase-out.  These potential contracts, if awarded to The Boeing Company, will create jobs for the workforce once the Shuttle is placed in retirement.  He talked about how communication is an important attribute for leaders to encompass, and that without it, businesses may possibly face casualties that might have otherwise been prevented if the proper communication was present.  He provided some relevant examples from his career experience.  Bruce ended by opening the floor to Q&A.