Kelley Sowards Named President of Impact Washington

Monday, Jan. 8, 2024

Kelley Sowards Named Impact Washington’s New President

BOTHELL, Wash. — Kelley Sowards, an experienced manufacturing professional and longtime Impact Washington board member, has been named the new President and Center Director of Impact Washington. She began her new role on Jan. 2 alongside outgoing President Deloit R. Wolfe Jr., who has held positions at Impact Washington since 2013, most recently as President and Center Director, and recently announced plans to retire later this year.

“I am extremely excited and grateful for the opportunity to lead the incredibly talented Impact Washington team,” Sowards said. “In 2023 Impact Washington had a tremendous year serving more Washington manufacturers than ever before in its 27-year history. We intend to build on this success in 2024.”

Sowards began her 14-year relationship with Impact Washington as a client, then later became the nonprofit’s first female Board Chair. In June, she began serving as an Account Executive for Impact’s North Puget Sound region. Sowards previously served in leadership roles at Eviation Aircraft in Arlington and METER Group in Pullman and has degrees in mechanical engineering, education, and additional certifications. She also serves on various boards.

“We welcome Kelley to the role of Center Director, knowing that her proven track record in leadership within manufacturing companies will serve the organization well,” said Steve Wittenberg, Impact Washington's Board Chair. “With her history of excellence, we’re excited about the fresh perspectives and achievements she will bring to Impact Washington and the manufacturers of our state.”

Wittenberg also praised Wolfe for his decade of leadership and for building a great team that will continue when he retires. “In his 10 years of leading Impact Washington, Deloit built an exceptional team that experienced great success and growth,” Wittenberg said. “His legacy is not just in numbers, but in the vibrant and supportive community he has built within the organization and with manufacturers across the state. Deloit’s work leaves the organization in a position for continuing success as the next Center Director takes over.”

Wolfe and his team helped assist some 2,500 Washington state manufacturers, resulting in the creation of 8,500 new jobs, and helped boost the revenues of those manufacturers by $1.1 billion, “which is a testament to the effectiveness of our programs and service,” Wolfe noted. Impact Washington also attracted $315 million in new investments, showcasing the trust and confidence businesses and stakeholders have in Impact Washington’s ability to drive growth and innovation, he added.

Wolfe is confident that Impact Washington will continue its legacy of great service to small and medium-sized manufacturers in the state with Sowards at the helm.

“I am confident that Impact Washington will steadfastly uphold its commitment to cultivating a flourishing and resilient manufacturing community across the entire state of Washington,” he said. “This dedication will be upheld through the continued provision of consulting, educational, and technical advisory services aimed at enhancing manufacturing excellence. The organization's unwavering commitment will persist in nurturing a manufacturing ecosystem that stimulates economic growth and enhances the overall quality of life in Washington state.”

About Impact Washington-NIST MEP

As a NIST MEP–approved Center, Impact Washington is the official representative of the MEP National Network in Washington State. Impact Washington is a statewide nonprofit organization that provides competitive, value-driven consulting and training services. With access to public and private resources, we enhance growth, improve productivity, reduce costs, and expand manufacturing capacity in Washington. Our solutions, consulting, and educational opportunities focus on small and medium-sized manufacturers throughout the state. Since 1997, Impact Washington has delivered measurable, validated business results/impacts to more than 1,500 Washington state manufacturers. Learn more at impactwashington.org.

About MEP National Network and NIST

The MEP National Network is a unique public-private partnership that delivers comprehensive, proven solutions to U.S. manufacturers, fueling growth and advancing U.S. manufacturing.

Focused on helping small and medium-sized manufacturers generate business results and thrive in today's technology-driven economy, the MEP National Network comprises the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NIST MEP), the 51 MEP Centers located in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, the MEP Advisory Board, MEP Center boards, and the Foundation for Manufacturing Excellence, as well as over 1,450 trusted advisors

and experts at approximately 430 MEP service locations, providing any U.S. manufacturer with access to resources they need to succeed.

NIST promotes U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, and technology to enhance economic security and improve our quality of life. NIST is a nonregulatory agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce. To learn more visit nist.gov.