Published August 2001

Boeing exec Quinlivan
to manage Everett facility

By Bryan Corliss
Herald Economy Writer

EVERETT — He has been with the Boeing Co. 33 years, and he just recently got to ride a big crane for the first time.

“It’s amazing,” said John Quinlivan, the new Everett Site Manager, as he watched one of the huge overhead cranes creep by, suspended from the ceiling of the world’s largest building by volume, 90 feet above the floor. “I was impressed.”

Quinlivan was named Site Manager in June, replacing Ron Ostrowski, who retired. Quinlivan already was a Boeing Commercial Airplanes Vice President and General Manager in charge of the 767 program, two titles he will retain.

Site manager is about the only top executive post Quinlivan hasn’t held in his 12 years at Everett. He has been a manager or top engineer involved with all three Boeing wide-body planes.

Boeing picks managers for each of its major sites. In Everett, the job goes to a manager of one of the three airplane programs. The job is part ambassador and part umpire.

Site managers are supposed to be among the most visible of Boeing’s local executives. Quinlivan’s schedule includes meetings with unions and Snohomish County elected officials.

He’s also the liaison between Boeing’s fire and security people and the local police and fire departments.

Near the top of his list is meeting with Community Transit officials to talk about what it will take to reinstate some bus routes to the Everett factory — essential for workers if the proposed Sonic Cruiser is to be built here, Quinlivan said.

Internally, the site manager coordinates activities between the different Boeing groups operating at Everett, referees any disputes and settles them. The goal is to have everyone working together to grow the organization, “so we can be a real world-class competitor,” he said.

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