Jump Head Continued from page x WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IN ACTION AT NAPLES AIRPORT AUTHORITY Naples Airport Authority was the first NATA member to sponsor a student’s attendance at the Aviation Business Conference to speak on the Workforce Development panel, so the Aviation Business Journal followed up to see what other workforce development initiatives are underway at the airport and FBO, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary year in 2019. “We have four goals outlined in our strategic plan,” said Chris Rozansky, Executive Director of Naples Airport Authority. “The first is to provide a safe, modern, and efficient airport and FBO. The second is to be an engaged, responsive partner in service to our commu- nity. The third is to strengthen the airport’s economic vitality. Finally, the fourth is to equip employees and leaders to excel today while preparing for tomorrow. A big part of that fourth goal is to inspire the next genera- tion of aviation professionals.” One key aspect of their workforce development efforts is a partnership with nearby Lorenzo Walker Technical High School. The school offers an Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) certificate program. “Lorenzo Walker Technical High is essentially across the street from the airport, and it’s been a longtime partner- ship, since well before my arrival here three and a half years ago,” Rozansky stated. “We partner with them on a number of initiatives in addition to the A&P program, including hosting a day where students involved with student government can come and shadow our depart- ment heads and then go and create a mock board agenda. Some serve as airport staff; and some serve as board members; and we run an actual meeting to give them a sense of what it is like to govern an actual airport. We also host a Fly-In Cruise-In fundraiser every year—the eighth annual event will be held in February 2020—to fund scholarships for students to attend the A&P program at the high school, essentially helping students earn their license to launch a career as soon as they graduate from high school. This year, we raised about $30,000 for those scholarships. Over the years, we’ve had a number of Lorenzo Walker graduates come work for us at the FBO and for some of the other busi- nesses on the airfield who do charter and aircraft main- tenance and repair, so we see the direct result of those workforce development efforts almost immediately.” Another long-term partnership is with EAA Young Eagles and the Naples Youth Aviation Project, which invites students between the ages of 10 and 18 to participate in building experimental kit aircraft under the guidance of the Naples-based EAA Chapter 1067. The airport authority provides a hangar and restroom at significantly reduced rent for the project. There are currently 25 stu- dents participating in a NYAP build. “When you talk to people in our industry, just about everyone has a story about how they first fell in love with aviation from an early age, so when we speak of ‘workforce development,’ in my mind, it’s a mistake to focus all of that effort at the college level,” Rozansky explained. “We’ve got to find ways to inspire much younger people to dream of careers in aviation and careers with us. Even high school is late in the game – I first got into aviation through a Civil Air Patrol cadet program when I was still in middle school! We really need to be reaching students in the elementary school, middle school, or high school time frame. These kids in the Naples Youth Aviation Project, for example, they’re working alongside EAA chapter members, including pilots, mechanics, and aircraft builders and restorers. And, they’re building actual aircraft, learning all the introductory stuff about aerodynamics and mechanics, all of it. I absolutely think we’ll see a bunch of these kids pursuing pilot’s licenses, A&P certificates, and careers in our industry. And, it’s not even just the pilot shortage or the mechanic shortage that we’re talking about. These are kids raised on technology, and there are so many opportunities on the technology side in our industry right now. There are going to be lots of great careers in aviation that don’t require ever learning to fly or turn a wrench.” Aviation Business Journal | Fall 2019 23
