When the COVID-19 pandemic sent shockwaves through the aerospace industry, Kelly Thomas didn’t panic. As the President and CEO of Vista Metals, the world’s largest independent producer of specialty aluminum for aerospace and defense, she knew that weathering the storm would require a long-term perspective — something she’s made a cornerstone of her leadership style.
“We’re not managing for the quarter, we’re not managing for the year, we’re managing for the long haul,” Thomas explained on a recent episode of the Manufacturing Executive podcast. “And that means that we make decisions very differently. We’re not just focused on the bottom line; we’re focused on our people and our capabilities and our ability to continue to serve our customers for the long term.”
It’s a mindset that has served Thomas well over her more than 20 years in the metals and manufacturing industry. From her early days at Alcoa to her current role at the helm of Vista Metals, she’s learned that building for the long term isn’t just good for business — it’s essential for fostering a resilient, adaptable organization that can thrive in the face of adversity.
It became really clear walking around and talking to folks that there was a lot of nervousness. They see when the volumes are low, they know exactly what’s going on, and they want to be busy. They know what it means.
So when the pandemic hit and demand for aluminum plummeted, Thomas didn’t resort to layoffs or cost-cutting measures. Instead, she doubled down on communication and transparency, holding quarterly town halls at each of Vista Metals’ plants to address employees’ concerns head-on.
“I found that being authentic and telling them, ‘I don’t know’ — I’m not going to sit here in front of you and tell you that we think that things are going to pick up in the next 12 to 18 months, but we don’t know,” she recounted. “But understand this is going to pick up, and here’s why.”
Thomas and her team spoke candidly about the challenges facing the business, from the backlog of orders at Boeing to the need to maintain Vista Metals’ reputation for quality. But they also emphasized the pride that employees should feel in the products they make every day — products that end up in everything from airplanes to rocket ships to satellite systems.
Every single airplane that’s up there, nearly every airplane has Vista Metals. So you guys should be proud of that. Every rocket ship, every satellite system, defense programs, you name it — we’re on that. That’s your metal.
By creating a space for open dialogue and acknowledging the uncertainty that everyone was feeling, Thomas built trust and engagement among her team. And by focusing on fixing mistakes and improving processes during the slower period, she positioned Vista Metals to come out of the downturn stronger than ever.
Of course, leading with a long-term view isn’t always easy. It requires a willingness to make tough decisions and invest in people and capabilities, even when the short-term payoff may not be immediately clear. But for Thomas, it’s the only way to build a truly sustainable and successful business.
“Sometimes it’s hard for us because we’re always in meetings and this, that, and the other thing, but you know what? Just put your safety shoes on and get out and walk around,” she advised other manufacturing leaders. “Have meaningful conversations, ask people how they’re doing, ask what they’re doing. Don’t make it like an ‘aha’ moment where you’re trying to catch them doing something wrong.”
It’s a simple piece of wisdom, but one that encapsulates so much of what has made Thomas an effective leader. By staying connected to her people, communicating with transparency, and always keeping one eye on the horizon, she’s not just steering Vista Metals through the challenges of today — she’s setting the course for a brighter tomorrow.
“We’re going to get through this,” she said with quiet confidence. “It’s going to take some time and some deliberate connection with our folks. But we are going to get through this.”
Spoken like a true leader who measures success not in quarters, but in decades.
To learn more about Vista Metals and its long-term approach to leadership, visit www.vistametals.com. Kelly Thomas and her team welcome visitors to their plants in Fontana, California and Adairsville, Georgia — come see for yourself what a culture of resilience and continuous improvement looks like in action.
