member of the Naples Airport Authority safety commit- tee for two years. “I had no idea there even was such an award until I was called into the office and my bosses told me I’d been nominated and that I had won,” Seber said. “I really couldn’t believe it. To me it’s like the equivalent of a life- time achievement award, because I’ve been in the indus- try so long without any major accidents or injuries, 20 years here in Naples and another 10 before that, a pretty much spotless safety record. It’s very humbling. To me, this award represents a kind of proof that if you’re care- ful and aware of what’s going on around you, and you take the safety practices seriously, then this industry can be very, very safe. You’ve got to take your time and put safety above everything else, especially when things are getting out of control.” As a kid, Seber dreamed of working as a forest ranger or game warden, then shifted his interest to the travel industry when he was in high school. “I feel like the aviation career chose me,” Seber explained. “After I got out of high school I went to a trade school, the Southeast Academy of Travel and Tourism. I was there for a short time, studying everything about the travel industry, and shortly after I graduated I got hired on with the airlines, beginning with US Air in 1989 at Cleveland Hopkins Airport. I transferred over to US Air Express in Youngstown, Ohio, where I’m originally from. A friend in Youngstown ended up moving to Naples, and shortly afterwards he called me saying, ‘It’s paradise down here. Do you want a job?’ I ended up working for US Air Express at Naples for about six years, then moved over to work in the general aviation sector. I’ve been here for 20 years now! It just kind of fell in my lap.” Naples Aviation FBO Manager Michael Hushek, win- ner of the inaugural Future Leader Award, was the one who nominated Seber. “He seeks out ways to improve the ramp to ensure everyone’s safety,” Hushek wrote. “When it comes to new aircraft and new equipment, Scott constantly takes it upon himself to research and coach everyone on it before completing any tasks to ensure quality work. Scott seeks out training seminars and requests to attend aviation Aviation Business Journal | Summer 2019 classes and events to expand his vast aviation knowledge and yearns to always learn more. When Naples Aviation hires a new Line Service Technician, Scott is always our first choice to assist in the training process. We know that once Scott has given his seal of approval, that employee is trained to the top-notch standards a Line Service Technician should display.” Seber says his passion for workplace safety has been a constant throughout his career: “In this industry, you come to have a healthy respect for the fact that it can be a dangerous environment. You are constantly around heavy equipment and you have aircraft moving around, so safety is very important. I’ve heard horror stories, so I’m especially grateful to not be the star of any of them, knock on wood. This is a business where it’s very impor- tant to be aware of your surroundings at all times. You have to be careful. You have to watch what’s going on around you, you have to have respect for protocols and policies, and you have to have very clear communication with your customers and co-workers.” He thinks the NATA Safety 1st certification program has transformed the industry. “For one, it’s a great baseline training to get everyone on the same page, especially as you bring in new hires,” Seber said. “But even for someone like me with 20 years of experience on the line—scratch that, especially for someone with 20 years of experience on the line –it’s always good to have a refresher on the old stuff and to make sure you’re current on the new stuff.” And he considers himself fortunate to have made a life and career in Naples. “I think I’m in the best FBO there is,” he exclaimed. “Great people, hardworking honest people that I have a lot of respect for. And then, of course, the weather is nice. It’s beautiful here. Naples is a nice, clean, upscale city. A lot of money is generated here. We get a lot of ‘snowbirds’ here, people who live here six months out of the year during the winter and somewhere else six months out of the year. A lot of them have aircraft that they fly in and out with. It’s just a great place to live and a great place to work.” Continued on page 21 19
