December 7, 2022 –
The Valence 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 Valence business.
We are pleased to announce the appointment of Julie Sims to a full-time role as Valence 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 Valence 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 Valence 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 Valence brand. Please join me in welcoming Julie to the Valence team!