Ascend is launching an advanced training and support program to help small- and mid-sized companies play a significant role in the critical supply chain of the nation’s aerospace industry.
Led by the Consulting and Business Development Center at the University of Washington Foster School of Business and supported by JPMorganChase and Boeing, this phase of the Ascend program will have a significant emphasis on Alabama-based companies.
Ascend will support business growth for suppliers critical to national security and economic resiliency, particularly those with revenue between $2 million and $10 million. Previous Ascend aerospace supplier participants from Washington State and beyond have included businesses in advanced manufacturing, precision components, avionics and electronics, engineering services, maintenance and repair, safety supplies, hand and machine tools, and other critical manufacturing systems.
The program is supported through philanthropic funding from JPMorganChase, building on long-standing support for Ascend by the firm. Over three years, JPMorganChase is providing $4.5 million to the Foster School of Business for Ascend to support a total of three business cohorts with coaching, education and connections to capital providers.
“Ascend has always been about helping small and mid-sized businesses scale,” said Mo Malakoutian, Executive Director of the Consulting and Business Development Center at the Foster School of Business. “We have seen how the right mix of education, industry partnership, hands-on support, and access to capital can help companies grow. Ascend will help aerospace suppliers strengthen cybersecurity readiness, operational scale, and investment readiness so they can reach their growth goals.”
Andre McFadden (right), CEO of Cornerstone Supply, and Carmen Nazario (left), CEO of Elyon International, work together during a recent Ascend session, discussing ideas and applying key concepts from the program.
As part of this national effort, Ascend will focus on suppliers based in Alabama, one of the fastest-growing aerospace manufacturing hubs in the country – and a priority for JPMorganChase’s recently announced American Dream Initiative. The Huntsville region is home to NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center and a growing network of aerospace and space technology companies, while Mobile serves as a hub for modern shipbuilding. Boeing has had a presence in Alabama for more than 60 years and is currently one of the largest aerospace companies in the state, employing around 3,000 people.
Since 2017, over 850 companies participating in Ascend programs have generated more than $4.4 billion in new revenue through sustained improvements in how they lead, operate, and access markets.
This new Ascend cohort is tailored to the unique requirements of aerospace suppliers and is expected to support 10-15 businesses, including 5-7 in Alabama. Today’s aerospace suppliers face rising expectations to deliver at higher quality and speed, demonstrate stronger cybersecurity readiness, and support next-generation capabilities, while maintaining the capacity and scalability needed to meet industry demands.
Program participants will convene in Seattle, a center of aerospace innovation and manufacturing. Through the six-month program, businesses will work with business coaches, MBA students, and global consulting firms through both in-person and virtual educational sessions. Virtual sessions will also be an important access point for businesses.
“This initiative reflects what the Foster School does well: connecting education, research, and industry to solve real economic challenges,” said Frank Hodge, Orin & Janet Smith Dean, Foster School of Business. “Programs like Ascend also create powerful experiential learning opportunities for our MBA and undergraduate business students. They work directly with real companies facing growth challenges, applying what they learn in the classroom while helping strengthen businesses and communities.”
The Ascend program aligns with JPMorganChase’s new American Dream Initiative (ADI), a multi-year effort to help expand opportunity by advancing local solutions. Through ADI, the firm is deepening its efforts in Alabama, where it serves about 30,000 businesses today. JPMorganChase intends to support 10 million small businesses nationwide – up from seven million served today – over the next several years by providing further access to capital alongside coaching, advice, training or tools that help entrepreneurs overcome obstacles and pursue growth.
The Ascend cohort members also represent industries that JPMorganChase will focus on through its Security and Resiliency Initiative, its plan to help strengthen supply chains in sectors critical to national economic security and resiliency.
“A resilient aerospace supply chain depends on strong small and mid-sized suppliers, and many need support to build the cybersecurity and operational capabilities required to compete,” said Brian Lamb, Head of Specialized Industries and Co-Head of Impact Banking & Advisory at JPMorganChase, who also leads the firm’s work in Alabama. “Ascend will help Alabama companies strengthen those fundamentals – connecting them to expertise and capital so they can grow sustainably and create high-quality jobs.”
Boeing and the University of Washington have partnered for over 100 years on a wide range of initiatives, including a decades-long collaboration focused on developing small business suppliers into globally competitive partners. With this new cohort, Boeing will lend its expertise to help suppliers improve quality, increase production capacity, and navigate complex regulatory environments by offering hands-on technical assistance, leadership training and access to capital and strategic partnerships.
“Small and mid-sized suppliers play an important role in the aerospace ecosystem,” said David Canada, director of Strategic Sourcing & Partnerships at Boeing and Ascend board member. “Supporting supplier growth, development, and innovation through this cohort will help ensure our industry has a resilient, robust and agile supply chain.”
“For a decade, JPMorganChase has supported Ascend’s work nationwide to help small businesses grow and scale as suppliers to large corporations and anchor institutions,” said Shaolee Sen, Head of Small Business for Corporate Responsibility at JPMorganChase. “We are proud to build on those successes by expanding this work to Alabama, working alongside Boeing and leaders in the aerospace industry to help local suppliers access the resources and expertise they need to grow and strengthen our nation’s supply chains.”
The 2026 cohort of Ascend participants celebrate completion of the program at the Foster School of Business in Seattle.
About Ascend
Ascend is a business growth program developed and run by the Consulting and Business Development Center (CBDC) at the University of Washington Foster School of Business. Since 2017, Ascend has helped small and mid-sized businesses strengthen leadership, operations, and financial readiness so they can scale into stronger middle-market companies. Through executive education, coaching, consulting, and access to industry networks, Ascend supports businesses across the United States in demanding sectors and competitive supply chains. Learn more at www.ascenduwfoster.com.
About JPMorganChase
JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) is a leading financial services firm based in the United States of America (“U.S.”), with operations worldwide. JPMorganChase had $4.9 trillion in assets and $364 billion in stockholders’ equity as of March 31, 2026. The Firm is a leader in investment banking, financial services for consumers and small businesses, commercial banking, financial transaction processing and asset management. Under the J.P. Morgan and Chase brands, the Firm serves millions of customers in the U.S., and many of the world’s most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients globally. Information about JPMorgan Chase & Co. is available at www.jpmorganchase.com.
About Boeing
A leading global aerospace company and top U.S. exporter, Boeing develops, manufactures and services commercial airplanes, defense products and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries. Our U.S. and global workforce and supplier base drive innovation, economic opportunity, sustainability and community impact. Boeing is committed to fostering a culture based on our core values of safety, quality and integrity.
Media Contacts
- Ascend, Consulting and Business Development Center, Foster School of Business: University of Washington: [email protected]
- JPMorganChase, Greg Hassell: [email protected]
- Boeing Media Relations: [email protected]