In this episode of the Launchpad Innovators Podcast, Bill Kalivas sits down with Mark Norton, Executive Director of the Northwest I-90 Manufacturing Alliance (NIMA)—an organization helping connect and strengthen one of the most important manufacturing and innovation corridors in the Northwest.

Mark shares how the region spanning Eastern Washington, North Idaho, and into Montana has quietly become a hub for advanced manufacturing, aerospace, and medical device innovation. The conversation dives into workforce development, the role of universities and community colleges, and why collaboration across industries is critical to the region’s continued growth.

If you’re interested in the future of manufacturing and innovation in the Inland Northwest, this is one to tune into.

📍 The I-90 Aerospace Corridor Conference returns May 26–27, 2026 at the Coeur d’Alene Resort.