Published July 2001

Mulally: Boeing’s community ties strong

By Bryan Corliss
Herald Economy Writer

EVERETT — The Boeing Co. remains “absolutely” committed to maintaining its community involvement, Commercial Airplanes Chief Executive Officer Alan Mulally said recently.

But the community also needs to get involved to help Boeing solve some of the problems it faces doing business around Puget Sound, Mulally told some 500 community members at the United Way’s fifth annual Spirit of Snohomish County awards breakfast June 4.

“We, the people of Puget Sound, we’ll decide our future, and we have some really big issues,” he said. “We’re going to decide not only the future of Boeing, but our future.”

The tone of the breakfast was light, with Drewel presenting Mulally a mock proclamation giving him his “official okey-dokey” to build a tree house in the county — or a new factory for construction of Boeing’s proposed new Sonic Cruiser.

“Some permitting regulations may apply,” Drewel deadpanned.

Mulally laughed along with the rest. But he used the jokes as an opening to repeat what’s becoming the new company line for the Commercial Airplane Group: If Boeing’s going to maintain its manufacturing plants here long-term, the state’s going to do more to improve the region’s transportation, education and regulatory systems.

“We have a really exciting future together, but we really have to work together,” Mulally said, putting an arm over Drewel’s shoulder. “And I mean we.”

Boeing remains committed to groups such as United Way, Mulally said. His attendance at the United Way breakfast in Everett — home to the company’s single-largest manufacturing center — was intended to underscore that, he said after his address.

This year’s United Way campaign co-chairman is Tim Nowlis, Boeing’s Community Relations Manager for Snohomish County. In 2000, Boeing workers gave $3.6 million to Snohomish County United Way through the Boeing Employees Community Fund, Nowlis said. The company itself gave another $803,000.

Related: Boeing officials say Renton plant
will keep making 757s

Back to the top/July 2001 Main Menu