The ���׶���Ƶ Surface Technologies brand stands for our collective commitment to exceeding customer expectations and being the best in class, coast to coast network of metal finishing businesses. Providing regular communication and protecting that brand helps to ensure that our employees, our customers, and our communities understand the values and mission of the ���׶���Ƶ business.

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Julie Sims to a full-time role as ���׶���Ƶ Director of Marketing and Communications (MarComm). This role will be responsible for the VST commitment to regular communication and for burnishing the “Flying V” brand in the marketplace. She will be report to Patrick O’Connor, the VST Chief Commercial Officer and will be based in Fort Worth, TEXAS. Julie will be responsible for all ���׶���Ƶ marketing, branding and industry events, in addition to managing internal and external communications. Julie has served as a contract employee working Marketing and Communications for ���׶���Ƶ over the last few months. She has successfully managed the VST face to market at the Farnborough Air Show, NBAA Conference and worked to build a plan for upgrade of our marketing materials and website.

She brings over 20 years of experience in aerospace program management, marketing, and promotional experience to support her vision of VST Branding and Marcomm. Most recently, she served as co-founder and leader of her own company, a small business defense contractor working DARPA, Air Force Research Laboratory and Lockheed Martin Skunkworks contracts for flight testing and airworthiness. Julie is an Airworthiness Evaluator certified by the United States Air Force Test Center.

Ms. Sims is recognized as an airworthiness subject matter expert and has worked extensively as a Program Manager for the development of aerospace technology and the evaluation of experimental aircraft configurations. She has flown over 25 distinct types of experimental, military, and civilian aircraft, including current fighter aircraft and legacy warbirds.

She serves on the Board of Directors of the Southern California Aerospace Club as the Director of Scholarships and is on the executive board as a committee chair. She has also recently been appointed to the Board of Directors of Women in Defense Greater Los Angeles, serving as the Director of Communications.

She devotes her free time to her two children, passion for big game hunting and love of outdoor spaces. Julie is excited to be a part of the VST team and work directly with our Business Development and General Management leaders, as well as engage across all our operating locations. She will be working to upgrade our brand management, trade show engagement, website, internal and external communications and drive global awareness of the ���׶���Ƶ brand. Please join me in welcoming Julie to the ���׶���Ƶ team!

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David Camilleri, Chairman of the ���׶���Ƶ Board of Directors, shared, “We greatly appreciate the contributions that Tracy Glende has made toward the development of ���׶���Ƶ and wish him the very best going forward. As the commercial market returns, we have an opportunity to strengthen our position as the leading provider of surface treatment to the aerospace industry.”

Mr. Celtruda is an accomplished aerospace and defense executive, most recently serving as the CEO of Kellstrom Defense from 2013 to 2020. While at Kellstrom Defense, Mr. Celtruda helped build the business into a global leader for defense aircraft sustainment for the US Military and over 60 partnering nations, culminating in the sale of the business to AeroPrecision in 2020. Prior to that, Mr. Celtruda was the President of the Industrial Products Group at Gardner Denver from 2011 to 2021 and was the Group Executive for the Aerospace and Defense business of CIRCOR International from 2006 to 2011. He also held prior leadership roles with Honeywell, AlliedSignal, and General Dynamics.

Mr. Celtruda commented, “The core capabilities and talented workforce across ���׶���Ƶ have allowed the business to navigate challenging aerospace market dynamics. I look forward to building upon a strong foundation to drive future growth and to continue best-in-class service for our customers”

“We are confident that Chris will bring the right mix of leadership experience, energy, and drive as we work to capitalize on our numerous growth opportunities and continue to deliver best-in-class service to our customers.” – David Camilleri, Chairman of the ���׶���Ƶ Board of Directors

About ���׶���Ƶ
���׶���Ƶ Surface Technologies is the world’s largest independent provider of Aerospace product finishing services. With 11 locations and over 2,500 unique industry approvals, ���׶���Ƶ processes more than 1 million parts per month. In addition to being Nadcap accredited, all ���׶���Ƶ sites provide specialized metal processing and finishing services to a diversified set of fast-growing commercial aerospace, defense, and space/satellite markets. ���׶���Ƶ partners with its customers to deliver best-in-class quality, turn times, and full-service supply chain solutions.

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