We would like to welcome Kelso Pickett to the Tool Gauge leadership team. Kelso has been with Tool Gauge since 2017 as a Quality Assurance (QA) Inspector and recently moved into the role of QA Manager.

Kelso graduated from Tacoma Community College (TCC) with an Associate of Arts and Sciences (AAS) degree, focusing on math, English and computer science. After graduating and being accepted into the University of Washington, he focused his studies with every intent to land a career within the tech industry. It wasn’t until a previous employer offered him a full-time position as a Process Improvement Manager that he switched his focus from a career in the tech world to the aerospace industry.

His first foray into the aerospace industry was as an IT help desk tech. During his three years he was promoted twice serving as a junior systems administrator then to a systems administrator. After completing his AAS, Kelso spent a year dual functioning as a Process Improvement Manager and Project Manager. During this time, Kelso lead cross-company teams responsible for developing Boeing 777X ceiling supports and retention system from the concept stage through initial qualification testing and the conceptualization, prototyping, and testing of several latch designs for aircraft interiors.

Enter Tool Gauge. A family member had shared an article from the Tacoma News Tribune highlighting an up-and-coming Tacoma based aerospace manufacturer that was poised for growth and expansion. With the notion of a promising future and the allure of a ten-minute commute, motivated Kelso to join the Tool Gauge family as a Quality Assurance (QA) Inspector in 2017. After a few short months, he was promoted to QA Supervisor and then QA Manager at the end of July.

As QA Manager, Kelso is most eager for the opportunity to help his team and other teams lean out workflows and improve their processes. With a belief and approach that couples systems analysis with quantification, measurement, and better utilization of the Tool Gauge ERP system, will allow the leadership team to make more informed decision and reach new heights.

In his free time (or what little is left of it), Kelso enjoys playing videogames and dedicates a fair amount of time to motorsports, specifically stage rally. He’s worked as a volunteer for Olympus Rally for about six years and have served on the planning committee for three. Earlier this year, he switched his routine and branched out as a competitor and purchased a 1999 Subaru Impresa that he’s built into a rallycross car. Catch him on the track at his next event in November or volunteer to be on his team!