Our History
Elevate, a subsidiary of The Boeing Company, has grown quickly and purposefully since its founding in 2018. Backed by the strength of Boeing, we’ve accomplished a remarkable amount in a short time.
Adient Aerospace is officially launched with a strong team of Aircraft Interiors and Automotive Experts
Acquisition of LIFT by EnCore
Ascent, our first business class seat, is fully tested and certified
First production deliveries of Ascent business class seat to our launch customer followed by Ascent entering service
Won first Airbus programs and launched two new single-aisle lie-flat business class seats while expanding Kaiserslautern facility footprint
Further expanded facility footprints in California and reached 10 customer programs
Achieved Airbus linefit approval and Part 145
Adient Aerospace becomes Elevate Aircraft Seating and grows to 1,000 employees
Summit, a new forward facing business class suite, is launched
Deliver Our Commitments
Elevate Aircraft Seating is committed to delivering high-quality products on time.
A defining quality of Elevate’s organization is delivering products to our customers not only on-time, but with our high-standard of craftsmanship achieved through operational excellence.
Our robust and certified Occupational Health and Safety Management System (ISO 45001) reduces risk to both our employees and customers across all our manufacturing sites.
Passenger Comfort
Relying on our internal team of experts and precise German design, Elevate has a unique approach to comfort.
Comfort is fundamental to our products and to airline passengers, from the comfort of the seat cushions to the features we offer. Our seats undergo testing and a focus on ergonomics to provide comfort no matter the seat position. We know that passenger comfort extends far beyond the seat, and our thoughtfully designed suites provide the ultimate passenger experience.
Craftsmanship
When it comes to detail and quality, Elevate’s commitment to craftsmanship is present through all the stages of our design and development process.
Craftsmanship is the process we employ to improve the quality and value of the product. From early engagement of the design team to interdisciplinary craftsmanship reviews, our Craftsmanship Process is essential to delivering a quality seating product to our customers that not only looks good but performs exceptionally well in service.
- Working with Design Studio
- Design studio output
- Craftsmanship review
- Master sections
- Engineering modelling
- Prototyping
- Ongoing craftsmanship reviews
Innovation
While our products have earned design awards for innovation across our industry and in the broader design community, we engineer every suite with real-world performance in mind.
From streamlined installation to simplified maintenance that keeps seats in service longer, we build innovation into every stage of the product lifecycle. By partnering with suppliers and exploring emerging materials and technologies, we ensure our products are designed for tomorrow’s passengers too.
Sustainability
Our path to sustainability is not only about delivering innovative seating design, but considering the impact we have to create a better environment for everyone.
We are collaborating with organizations and engaging in networks, such as the Green Cabin Alliance, a collective approach to driving more sustainable practices for the interior’s industry.
In addition, our manufacturing sites are AS9100 and EASA certified. Our ISO14001 Environmental Management System certification at our manufacturing sites is part of our commitment to our communities, customers and organization to conserve natural resources and reduce pollution in the areas we operate in.
Values We Live By
Our Values represent our company culture, it's the way we work and what guides our behavior. From the way we work together as a team, to our interactions with customers, suppliers and partners.
At Elevate, we care about our team's character as much as their qualifications.
We Are Easy To Work With
We build genuine, trusting relationships with our team, customers and partners through respectful, courteous, and honest communication.
We are highly proficient
We attract, develop and reward the best talent. We support professional growth through training and opportunities for innovation.
We are safe
We never compromise the safety of our people or products, adhering to procedures and addressing risks. We ensure a physically and emotionally safe workplace for our team.
We are one team
We go out of our way to make everyone feel welcomed, supported and included. We value creativity and collaboration while acting ethically, with integrity and humility.
Senior Leadership Team
Alan Wittman
Alan serves as Chief Executive Officer of Elevate, having first led the company as its founding CEO from its launch in 2018 through 2020 before returning to the role in 2024.
Bringing a wealth of experience from over 35 years of leadership roles at The Boeing Company, Alan has worked across engineering, program management, manufacturing, and supply chain. His expansive technical background stems from his early work on projects for Interiors, Payloads and Structures across several Boeing programs. He is deeply passionate about innovation and developing high performance teams.
Alan earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Lehigh University and an Executive MBA from Seattle University. He is also active in his community serving in board positions for both the local community association and Little League Baseball.
Ken Kummerow
Ken Kummerow serves as Elevate’s Chief Operations Officer (COO), joining the company in 2024.
Ken, a US Navy Veteran, started his career in aerospace with McDonnell-Douglas in 1989. He subsequently held several Director level positions with Gulfstream, Bombardier, Raytheon, and Roche. Prior to joining Elevate, he was the Executive Vice President of Programs and Contracts for Safran Cabin.
Ken possesses a BS and MBA from the University of Phoenix. He also completed Advanced Management and Executive Leadership Certification at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Ben Richey
Ben Richey joined Elevate in 2024 as Chief Financial Officer (CFO).
With nearly 20 years’ experience in finance and supply chain, Ben has worked in many divisions of The Boeing Company, including Boeing Defense & Space, Boeing Global Services and Boeing Commercial Airplanes. During his time at Boeing, Ben served in many capacities including financial analysis, financial planning, estimating & pricing, accounting, procurement, and supply chain finance. He is a Boeing Leadership Development Excellence (LDE) Program alumni as well as a Boeing Business Leadership Rotation Program (BLRP) alumni. His diverse background has given him extensive knowledge in financial management, forecasting and strategy.
Ben earned a Bachelors in Business Administration from the University of Washington, a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from Seattle University, and a Lean Systems Certification from the University of Kentucky.
Trystan Parry
Trystan Parry is a founding member of Elevate joining the Sales team in 2017, he serves today as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO).
He helped develop the entire business class product range, and customer order book from a clean sheet into a successful customer portfolio of multiple high-end seating products and focuses today on the entire customer relationship. Prior to joining Elevate, Trystan held various senior positions at Zodiac Aerospace for nearly twenty years, from engineering roles to the Vice President of Business Development for the seats division.
Trystan holds an Aeronautical Engineering Bachelor's degree from the University of Wales.
Karen Van Dyke
Karen Van Dyke leads Elevate's global human resources as VP of Human Resources.
In this role, she has led the company in creating an internal Human Resources organization including the onboarding of new talent during a period of increased growth. Karen joined Elevate in 2020 with more than 25 years of human resources experience. She started her career in Human Resources with 10 years at Continental Airlines, she has also worked for ARCO and has lead Human Resources teams in other various industries.
Karen earned a bachelor's degree in Sociology from California State University, Long Beach. She has served as a member on the California State University, Long Beach Human Resources Advisory Board, the Brandman University Advisory Board and the Mexican American Opportunity Foundation (MAOF) Advisory Board. She serves as the Board President of the SeaGate Association.
Mark Vornholt
Mark Vornholt leads the company's supply chain for Elevate as the Vice President of Supply Chain.
With over 35 years of experience in the aerospace supply chain industry, Mark has held various roles leading operations, materials management, and supplier performance across major aerospace organizations including The Boeing Company. Mark led Supply Chain and Operations for Gulfstream Aerospace for two decades, supporting both production and aftermarket programs to drive supply chain efficiency and supplier partnerships.
Mark holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix and Masters of Business Administration from Brandman University. He is a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt and a long-standing member of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.
Jonny Mahendran
Jonny Mahendran has served as Elevate’s Vice President of Program Management since 2024.
As the global leader for program managers across all sites, he leads innovative program management methodologies to ensure optimal project execution for our customers. Jonny began his career at C&D Aerospace as a Stress Engineer, advancing through several management positions in engineering and program management. With over 25 years of experience in the industry, Jonny has held previous positions as VP of Program Management and General Manager, where he focused on transforming manufacturing operations through LEAN/Six Sigma operational improvements.
Jonny earned a degree in Civil Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Chris Hartman
Chris Hartman serves as Elevate’s Vice President of Engineering & Certification, joining the company in 2026.
With more than 30 years of aerospace and commercial aviation experience, Chris leads the company’s engineering and certification organizations, regulatory compliance and the execution of long-term engineering strategies across the business. Prior to joining Elevate, Chris served as Managing Director of Customer Experience Engineering at United Airlines, where he led teams responsible for new aircraft development, certification, interiors engineering, and cabin systems. He also held several senior leadership roles at United Airlines and Continental Airlines, overseeing fleet engineering, aircraft interiors, and major aircraft modification programs.
Chris earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh. His extensive experience in engineering leadership, certification, and program execution positions him to support Elevate’s continued growth and delivery of business class seating products.