Features
Top 20 Under 40, powering the direction of Canadian aviation and aerospace

The annual Top 20 Under 40 program recognizes inspiring young leaders under the age of 40 at the time of publishing, presented here alphabetically. These leaders were put forward through an online submission process lasting over several months. Wings then determined this year’s 20 honourees based on their demonstration of leadership, innovation, influence, achievement and dedication to their organizations and Canadian aviation and aerospace.

Pamela Beckitt, Skyservice

Pamela Beckitt
Director, Client Solutions & Experience, Skyservice Business Aviation, Mississauga, Ont.
Pamela Beckitt, age 39, joined Skyservice in 2016 as a Sales Coordinator, before becoming Shuttle Program Manager as she simultaneously worked toward an associate degree in Aviation Business Administration, which was followed by a Bachelor of Science in Technical Management at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. After two years as an Account Executive, Beckitt took on her current role in January 2022 as Skyservice began a major expansion across North America. 

Skyservice in 2022 opened Toronto South, its second FBO – a tier-one business aviation facility – at Pearson International Airport. Skyservice also built a private jet centre in Redmond, Oregon, and doubled its footprint in Montréal. In 2023, Skyservice expanded to Napa, California, and added two facilities in Vancouver. In February 2024, the company completed its second investment in Fontainebleau Aviation’s FBO development project at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International – expected to be complete by early 2025 – after a late-2023 investment with Fontainebleau at Miami Opa-Locka Executive. Skyservice has more U.S. facilities in Bend, Oregon, Helena, Montana, and Seattle, Washington.

Beckitt oversaw the development of Skyservice’s global 24/7 Flight Support Department and has put new practices in place to bring the flight, client support and maintenance teams together. She has served both on the Georgian College Program Advisory Committee and the College of Aviation Industry Advisory Board at Embry-Riddle. In 2023, Beckitt was selected by the National Business Aviation Association as a Business Aviation Top 40 Under 40 Award recipient.

What excites you most about aviation?
I am passionate about aviation. It challenges me every day to be the best version of myself. Given we’re on the cutting edge of technology and innovation, there is a new opportunity every day to learn and improve. I am a firm believer in continuous improvement and aviation changes so quickly that the learning never ends.

Doug Carlson
Chief Operating Officer, AirSuite, Thunder Bay, Ont.

Doug Carlson, AirSuite

Doug Carlson, age 34, was only four years old when he boarded a bush plane in Northwestern Ontario with his dad. His passion for flying accelerated through high school with Air Cadets. Today, he is a contract helicopter pilot with 17 years of experience and more than 10,000 hours of violation-free flight time. In addition to helicopters, he holds active licenses to fly gliders and fixed-wing aircraft.

With an Electrical Engineering Technologist Diploma from Lakehead University and 10 years of operations management and safety officer experience in Northwestern Ontario, Carlson has been with AirSuite since its earliest days. For the past nine years, he and the AirSuite team have been working to transform the operational approach to aviation through digital tools, helping to design systems like Cirro by AirSuite to not only boost the business of air operators, but to also make flying safer.

As a project manager at AirSuite, he helped secure a coveted federal contract within Transport Canada’s Aircraft Services Directorate. Carlson and CEO Michael Kleywegt have been at the helm of AirSuite since 2015. The company has doubled in subscribers and staff over the last three years. In 2024, Carlson was named an associate member of the board of the Helicopter Association of Canada.

Why is your company unique?
We’re at the leading edge of technology and it’s moving at the speed of light right now. Our in-house developers are young and at the top of their game. They have an in-depth understanding of the tech and the ability to build software efficiently. Another differentiator is that we have in-house pilots on the support team who understand aviation safety; and we’ve managed to keep that critical connection with clients.

Nathan Catte
Base Engineer, Rise Air, Prince Albert, Sask.

Nathan Catte, Rise Air

Nathan Catte, 37, has worked in the Rise Air legacy group since 2005, becoming a leader in the company’s 704 heavy maintenance effort. He is currently in charge of the operation’s maintenance base at Prince Albert Glass Field Airport, CYPA. With a father who is an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer, Catte grew up around and working on aircraft. They started working together full time in Catte’s teenage years. 

Headquartered in Saskatoon, Rise Air is a scheduled and charter airline primarily serving the province of Saskatchewan as an Indigenous-owned airline, formed in 2021 by the merger of Transwest Airlines and West Wind Aviation. Rise Air employs more than 280 personnel and holds a diverse fixed-wing fleet operating on wheels, floats and skis, in addition to larger scheduled aircraft to reach most any location in the province and beyond.

Catte’s knowledge on the company 704 fleet types make him a go-to source for the airline and its employees. Catte is also heavily involved in helping to develop the next generation of Rise Air Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (AME), as evident in the apprentices who have successfully transitioned to certified AMEs under his direction. He has led many extensive retrofits and upgrades to various fleet types requiring heavy maintenance. Catte is instrumental in the development of the Rise Air Maintenance System.

What work memory stands out?
Aircraft do not always go mechanical in convenient places, especially float planes. There have been a few remote engine changes on small lakes that went much better and faster than I thought. This is a major achievement in my opinion when something as small as a missing wrench can ruin your rescue mission.

Dominic Cayouette
PRM & Project Manager, WAAS Aerospace, Quebec City, Que.

Dominic Cayouette, WAAS Aerospace

Dominic Cayouette, 38, after graduating from École nationale d’aérotechnique (ÉNA) with a focus on avionics, began his Aircraft Maintenance Engineer career in 2007 and for the past nine years has been with WAAS Aerospace, which began operations in 2014 as Avionics WAAS at Jean Lesage International Airport. 

WAAS Aerospace now holds around 80 employees at two bases in St-Hubert and Quebec City, following a decade of significant growth along with its sister companies, charter airline Chrono Aviation and Fixed Base Operator LUX FBO. Chrono Aviation, founded earlier in 2012, now runs a fleet of 15 aircraft with a team of 315 employees and is noted as the only airline in Quebec offering access to nine- to 186-passenger planes dedicated to charter services.

WAAS provides line and scheduled maintenance, avionics modifications, structural repair and engineering, among a full spectrum of services, on aircraft from single-engine Cessnas up to Boeing 737s. It is an authorized Cirrus Service Center and Garmin dealer. 

Cayouette is described as a positive problem solver who is customer oriented, in addition to holding team spirit and being focused on improving the operation’s processes.

What work achievement stands out?
In terms of technical achievement, our first major project was the in-house retrofit of a Beech 1900D’s glass cockpit. A small team of just two, we completed the task in less than six weeks, notably quicker than the advertised ground time… This project marked a significant milestone in our capabilities. In terms of personal growth, building a full AMO structure. Over the past five years, I’ve learned a tremendous amount about company structure and process, thanks in large part to my mentor. 

Bianca Colatruglio
Director, Aviation Security and Regulatory Compliance, Air Canada, Montréal, Que.

Bianca Colatruglio, Air Canada

Bianca Colatruglio, 39, moved to Ottawa to attend Carleton University and secured a job in the Transport Canada Situation Centre, where she was exposed to safety and security issues involving all modes of transportation. She immediately became interested in aviation and shifted her career focus to become one of the country’s leading experts on aviation security and regulatory compliance.

Colatruglio spent 12 years with the federal government taking on a series of challenging roles tied to the development of aviation and national policy, such as Intelligence Analyst for Aviation Security Operations, Security Standards and Procedures Officer, Senior Analyst for International Relations, and, ultimately, Chief, Security Intelligence Assessment Branch for Aviation and National Security.

In April 2019, Colatruglio joined Air Canada as Manager, Security and Regulatory Compliance, and progressed to her current role as Director with the country’s flag carrier. She is responsible for the implementation and continuous improvement of the Security Management System; provides direction on aviation security, regulatory compliance, threat assessments and risk management; and manages the Global Security Operations Centre. Colatruglio also serves as Vice Chair of the International Air Transport Association’s Security Advisory Council, since October 2023, and as Chair of the National Airlines Council Canada’s Security and Facilitation Committee, since August 2021.

What excites you most about aviation?
The passion and motivation I am constantly surrounded by, especially in aviation security. My colleagues at Air Canada, at other airlines, associations, in working groups and committees, demonstrate an above-and-beyond work ethic as a minimum standard. There are incredible minds who are willing to challenge, question, innovate, and constantly push to be better. Even in, or especially in, the most difficult scenarios, this community becomes a genuine village of support. We say all the time that there is no competition in security and we live and breathe this motto without fail. While this industry is unpredictable and inherently fluid in nature, when you can consistently rely on your colleagues it makes even the insurmountable seem achievable.

Britton Coulson
President and Chief Operating Officer, Coulson Aviation, Port Alberni, B.C.

Britton Coulson, Coulson Aviation

Britton Coulson, 37, helped to propel his family’s business to unprecedented success while significantly enhancing global firefighting efforts. He began his career in 2004 gaining foundational knowledge in Coulson Aircrane’s stores department. After serving 10 years as Vice President of the Aviation division, in 2019, Britt became President and COO of the Coulson Group. Leading a team of more than 650 employees located in Port Alberni, B.C., the U.S. and Australia, he has positioned Coulson as a worldwide aerial firefighting power operating a fleet of 38 aircraft, including both fixed-wing and rotary-wing assets.

Britt’s focus is on creating a next-generation, multi-mission fleet with sustainable, in-production aircraft through OEM partnerships and advanced technology. Under Britt’s direction, Coulson advanced the Retardant Aerial Delivery System for the C-130, B737 and CH-47 platforms, making it the highest-volume tanking system for large air tankers and helitankers, globally. He also led efforts to develop safer nighttime firefighting protocols to leverage cooler temperatures, higher humidity and fewer aircraft during nighttime flights.

Coulson recently earned approval from Transport Canada as an Approved Training Organization, allowing the company to train technician candidates for their Canada Aircraft Maintenance Engineer-Structures (AME-S) certification. As a result, the company offers free training to qualified maintenance students on its payroll, allowing them to earn while they learn and work after school hours. 

Britt navigates the complexities of compliance and safety across numerous international regulatory agencies and still guides all departments with firsthand knowledge, inspiring his team daily. His advocacy has shaped policies and practices emphasizing sustainability, safety and technological advancement, driving positive change for the industry and communities.

What work achievement stands out?
The team we have built is amazing and being excited to come to work every day, knowing that we can overcome any challenge thrown at us, is very empowering and a great achievement in of itself. Specific achievements I am proud of would be when the 737 FIRELINER took off for the first time, as it is the largest modification ever done to the 737 series of aircraft; and after over 70,000 hours of work it brought a tear to my eye. Also watching the news and hearing our team’s stories about houses they have saved, or people they have hoisted off the roof of a house that was flooded, or receiving pictures that kids have drawn of our aircraft saving their home, brings a sense of pride that is hard to match.

Raymond Franczuk
Director of Customer Service, Helicopter Programs, StandardAero, Winnipeg, Man.

Raymond Franczuk, StandardAero

Raymond Franczuk, 33, joined the Engineer in Training program at StandardAero in 2013 focusing on configuration control, gas turbine repair and overhaul, production and process engineering, after finishing his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Manitoba. He became a Process Engineer in 2015 supporting StandardAero’s key Winnipeg facility and other international locations. In 2019, Franczuk was named as a Production Engineering Manager supporting the Helicopter Business Unit.

Franczuk, while completing his MBA from the University of Manitoba, became Director of Engineering at the Winnipeg facility in 2021 and, in 2023, was named Director of Customer Service, a role blending his technical experience and business education. During his time in the Helicopter Business Unit, Franczuk has been a part of an award-winning continuous improvement team and has been selected to participate in StandardAero’s Senior Leadership development program.

Why is your company unique?
Gas turbine maintenance repair and overhaul is a unique segment of aerospace and also differs significantly from general manufacturing. There is an incredible amount of variation between engines that is driven by differences in operating conditions, environments, OEM requirements and more. Over the past 100-plus years of operation, StandardAero has developed unique expertise, systems and processes that truly position it as world leader in MRO. The foundation of the company’s success has been through continual investment in its people. I’ve personally had the opportunity to work in diverse roles in the company. These roles have spanned multiple functions, products and facilities worldwide.

Bailey Gackstetter
703 Manager, Great Lakes Helicopter, Cambridge, Ont.

Bailey Gackstetter, Great Lakes Helicopter

Bailey Gackstetter, 30, four years ago joined Great Lakes Helicopter, which supports a range of commercial missions from transport and filming to surveying and agricultural spraying applications across Ontario and parts of Quebec. Great Lakes Helicopter (GL Heli) is also a flight school and partners with Conestoga College to provide helicopter pilot training under its diploma program. Gackstetter began focusing on her flight instructor course last winter. 

Gackstetter was hired by as Great Lakes Helicopter CEO, Dwayne Henderson, just three months into her own CPL-H training, recognizing what he describes as her self-starter and people skills. She is now an equity partner in the business, which operates 23 helicopters. She manages GL Heli’s busy 703 operations and coordinates with maintenance to keep the full fleet running. She is currently in James Bay kicking off one of the largest projects GL Heli has undertaken.

Gackstetter is a member of The Nintey-Nines, an international organization of women pilots, to promote diversity in aviation. She is rated on the Robinson R22, R44 and R66; and is currently working on her B206 rating.

What excites you most about aviation?
Within the aviation community, we have the privilege to share stories and learn from each other. It is always an exciting day at the office, or  in the air, because there is such a variety to the operations and planning that encompasses what we do. It excites me to introduce the profession to others; and to bring the joy and thrill of the aviation experience to those who have not been in the air before.

Timothy Harden
ATR Fleet Chief Pilot, Ledcor Resources and Transportation, Summit Air, Yellowknife, N.W.T.

Timothy Harden, Summit Air

Timothy Harden, age 38, has been with Summit Air for the past 13 years, helping to lead one of the country’s most critical air operations connect to the north. Harden credits his father, a retired pilot, for inspiring and supporting his flying career.

Summit Air holds one of Canada’s most diverse fleets of commercial aircraft, including the workhorse turboprop ATR72-F for hauling freight and ATR72-P configured as a 68-seat, medium-range regional airliner. Both aircraft are capable of operations on paved and unpaved strips, critical for flying in the north and often transport oversized mining equipment, goods for infrastructure development, and other unique cargo needing to reach Canada’s north. Summit Air is a company of The Ledcor Group of Companies, one of Canada’s largest and most diversified construction companies.

Amid its total fixed-wing fleet of 25 aircraft, which also includes the Avro RJ 100, Avro RJ85, Dash 8-300, Dash 8-100, Skyvan and Dornier 228, Summit Air holds six ATRs – five in freighter configuration and one passenger plane. Harden, explains the company’s Director of Flight Operations, is an extremely capable individual who is highly organized and keen to tackle any element related to the ATR fleet or Summit Air as a whole; with the skills of an experienced northern pilot, able to foresee and tackle issues as they arise.

What work memory stands out?
My current role mostly involves training, checking and supporting our ATR pilot group and ensuring that they can be successful in their careers, but I’ll never forget as a young pilot myself landing a Cessna 206 on a gravel bar in the middle of the Rocky Mountains for the first time. Definitely one of my best memories.

Heather Hills
First Officer, Porter Airlines, Toronto, Ont.

Heather Hills, Porter Airlines

Heather Hills, age 26, is a First Officer with Porter Airlines, since October 2022. After earning a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the Schulich School of Business, she then graduated from the Integrated Transport Airline License program at the Brampton Flight Centre in 2021, where she would work as a Class III instructor for a year before taking up her current position. She is currently pursuing a Master of Science in human factors. 

Hills, who was born in England and raised in Hong Kong and Canada, is heavily involved with several organizations promoting women in aviation, including the Northern Lights Aero Foundation where she has been on the Junior Board for the past three years, serving on its Mentorship Committee. She is also Vice President on the board of the Upper Canada Chapter of Women in Aviation International. In 2024, Hills was Co-chair of the Canadian Women in Aviation (CWIA) Conference in Montreal, Quebec, which garnered close to 300 attendees. She remains involved with CWIA and plans to co-chair its 2026 conference. Hills has also helped to organize many local events to inspire diversity in aviation, including Girls Take Flight in Oshawa in 2021 and Girls in Aviation Day in 2022 and 2023. 

What excites you most about aviation?
With a Business Administration undergraduate degree and my current pursuit of a Master of Science in human factors, I’m eager to apply my education to the evolving world of aviation. This field offers stimulating challenges and exciting opportunities, particularly in understanding the intricate relationships between new technologies and humans. The integration of human factors and technological advancements is crucial for enhancing safety, efficiency and the overall experience in aviation.

Lauren Jamieson
Associate Lawyer, Emond Harnden LLP, Ottawa, Ont.

Lauren Jamieson, Emond Harnden LLP

Lauren Jamieson, 34, has swiftly become a prominent figure in the field of labour and employment law over the past nine years, specializing in the aviation sector. Her expertise is a cornerstone of Emond Harnden’s Aviation Practice Group, where she represents approximately 40 aviation clients across the country, including fixed- and rotary-wing operators, airports and a spectrum of industry organizations.

Jamieson’s approach to legal practice is both pragmatic and comprehensive, explains a Emond Harnden partner, delivering practical advice on employee and labour relations matters. Her experience includes expertise gained through immersive secondments, providing her with invaluable insights into the day-to-day operations of two major players within Canadian aviation, allowing her to address challenges amid operational realities. Jamieson regularly conducts workshops and presentations, including sessions at conferences hosted by the likes of the Helicopter Association of Canada, Northern Air Transport Association and the Air Transport Association of Canada. 

Jamieson co-authored a white paper published by Emond Harnden called Flying High addressing the legal landscape and operational considerations around cannabis legalization. Her commitment extends to government relations work, including advocacy efforts relating to flight and duty time regulations and exemptions to the Canada Labour Code’s hours of work provisions. 

What drew you into aviation?
I was fortunate to have exposure to the complex issues facing our aviation-sector clients early in my career at Emond Harnden and I was immediately drawn in by how unique the operating landscape was. Between the intricate regulatory environment and the unpredictable nature of so much of the work done in aviation, there has never been a dull moment. Not to mention how the people in this industry are some of the best around; and it’s really great to bear witness to the level of cooperation and collegiality in the industry.

Mike MacDougall
Director, Supply Chain, StandardAero, Slemon Park, P.E.I.

Mike MacDougall, StandardAero

Mike MacDougall, 38, began his aviation journey in 2005, after earning a diploma in Precision Machining from Holland College. He joined StandardAero in Summerside (Atlantic Turbines at the time) as a Coordinate Measuring Machine Programmer/Operator and Final Inspector, where he performed dimensional and detailed inspections of engine parts.

Three years later, MacDougall was selected to help establish a P&WC PW300 line in the U.K. as an Inspection Technician. Over three years, he contributed to the shop layout, set up workstations, arranged tooling, configured engine bays, and eventually performed engine MRO, including on-wing line maintenance across Europe as part of the Mobile Repair Team. Returning to Summerside in 2012, MacDougall worked as an Engine Shop Technician, performing disassembly and inspection of P&WC PT6A, JT15D and PW100 engines.

In 2015, MacDougall was promoted to Customer Service Manager as the primary liaison for customers with engines undergoing maintenance. In 2019, he advanced to Engine Trading Manager, driving revenue growth in over-the-counter parts distribution and managing activities related to engines reduced to spares, engine trades and lease engine maintenance. By 2021, MacDougall was appointed Supply Chain Manager for Purchasing & Distribution, overseeing a team of 10 professionals and managing supplier relationships to optimize pricing and procurement. MacDougall now oversees all supply chain activities at StandardAero.

What work memory stands out?
Late in 2008, I was part of a small group chosen to relocate to the U.K. to help set up a new aircraft engine overhaul facility, where I spent over three years. This remains the highlight of my career for many reasons: the invaluable industry exposure and learning, the opportunity to travel throughout Europe and beyond, and the lasting friendships that were formed. 

Colin Pelton
President, Contour Helicopters, Fort Langley, B.C.

Colin Pelton, Contour Helicopters

Colin Pelton, 38, established Contour Helicopters in 2019 by leveraging more than 20 years of flying as a helicopter pilot and 17 years as an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME). Pelton spent more than three years with Sierra Helicopters, eventually taking on the role of Director of Maintenance and continuing to fly, before becoming a base pilot and AME with Talon Helicopters.

Contour Helicopters today provides a range of tour and charter services for both personal and commercial use, as well as helicopter maintenance and management services. The operation specializes in precision longline, construction, filming, class D rescue and firefighting missions. 

Contour holds a diverse fleet of seven aircraft, including two Bell 206s, four Airbus AS350 B3s and British Columbia’s first UH60 Black Hawk, brought into the country under a restricted type rating as the SK70 Firehawk. With the AS350 serving as the workhorses of the fleet, the Firehawk is recognized as one of the world’s most-advanced platforms for wildfire suppression. Contour’s second Firehawk is in production. Only three commercial restricted category Black Hawks are currently operating in Canada. Contour’s attention toward more aerial firefighting missions is also seen its 2024 agreement to become the launch customer for Voxelis Canada’s AI-enabled VoxVision system.

What work achievement stands out?
There have been many great memories from my flying career, flying wildfire and search-and-rescue operations, but the greatest achievement by far has been building the company to where it is today with an exceptional crew – most of whom I’ve known for 20 years in the industry.

Maxime Robert
Associate Director, ESP Global Sales Strategy, Pratt & Whitney Canada, Longueuil, Que.

Maxime Robert, Pratt & Whitney Canada

Maxime Robert, 34, holds a key position at Pratt & Whitney Canada by leading the  commercial sales strategy of its Eagle Service Plan (ESP), a pay-per-hour program guaranteeing long-term engine maintenance costs in a scheduled approach. He joined Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) in 2011 as a Sales Intern and progressed through a range of roles, including Product Manager for the PT6A and senior management roles in business development.

Robert drove development of the ESP Platinum program for the PT6E-67XP engine leveraged by the Pilatus PC-12 NGX. He helped define a new maintenance standard for the new engine and the general aviation sector by working with operators, sales centres and the OEM. Traditionally, ESP capture in the general aviation sector is lower than 15 per cent, but ESP Platinum, which includes services tailored to an operator’s ownership team, has led to the enrollment so far of more than 65 per cent of all PC-12 NGX aircraft flying. 

Robert previously led Governmental & Corporate Affairs for P&WC, establishing lasting relationships with Aéro Montréal and key aerospace stakeholders. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering, Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, from Polytechnique Montréal and a master’s in Business Intelligence, Business Administration and Management from HEC Montréal. Robert, since 2022, is a board member of the Chambre de commerce et d’industrie de la Rive-Sud.

What is your company unique?
When you think about Pratt & Whitney Canada’s legacy of the PT6 engine and the evolution of product lines, you know that you are part of something incredible. P&WC offers great career development and it’s not rare to come across employees who have accumulated more than 25 years of service. The wealth of knowledge and the passion for aviation here is unique and engaging.

Hannah Roque
Country Sales Manager, Canada, and Key Account Manager, Americas, United Cargo, Mississauga, Ont.

Hannah Roque, United Cargo

Hannah Roque, 36, is the driving force behind the growth of United Cargo in the Canadian air freight market, since late 2023. Roque joined Air Canada Cargo in mid-2015 and over the next eight years progressed from a Customer Service Manager to the airline’s Manager of Global Partnerships, a role she held for more than two years. Her move to United Airlines in September 2023 came with the goal of establishing a premium name for the U.S. flag carrier’s cargo division in the minds of Canadian forwarders. United notes the “incredible growth rates” with Canadian forwarders since Roque’s arrival. She holds Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees from the University of Toronto.

United has made a series of investments to boost its cargo operations over the past several months. This includes the April 2024 opening of an additional 165,000-square foot facility at United’s cargo hub within Newark Liberty International (EWR), featuring 40 loading dock doors and a range of temperature-controlled installations. EWR already held a 154,000-square-foot United Cargo facility. A month earlier, United, having transported 800,000 pounds of relief cargo over the year, was the inaugural recipient of the Humanitarian Force for Good Award presented by Air Transport World. In April, United Cargo – active at three Canadian airports, Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal – unveiled UAPremium for high-priority shipments exceeding 100 pounds.

What work achievement stands out?
One standout memory is witnessing our first dedicated truck departing YYZ for our EWR hub. Our RFS network is a vital part of our global operations and plays a key role in our expansion in Canada. It was a top priority to establish trucking lanes and I worked closely with my operations, regulatory and logistics colleagues to swiftly deliver on this initiative. Seeing the collaborative efforts of many individuals come to fruition was truly rewarding.

Orrin Sjodin
Production Manager, Fast Air, Winnipeg, Man.

Orrin Sjodin, Fast Air

Orrin Sjodin, 34, has been with Fast Air for the past 15 years as an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer, where he progressed from working on various M1 and M2 aircraft to Crew Chief. In his current position as Production Manager, Sjodin is responsible for assigning work to approximately 35 people on a fast paced weekly basis to meet Fast Air’s operational needs. He is typically the first point of contact with the flight crews whenever they have an issue.

Leveraging management development training, Sjodin is known for his professional demeanor and strong desire for the crew members to understand how their aircraft operate, making time to review an aircraft system with anyone who asks. This helps to maintain a strong working relationship between the maintenance and operations. 

Based in a private terminal at Winnipeg Richardson International since 1995, Fast Air holds 20 aircraft and Manitoba’s largest charter fleet of turboprops, helicopters and business jets. Its sister company, Vanguard Air Care, has provided critical care for the province since 2003. 

A Transport Canada certified AMO and Garmin approved avionics shop, Fast Air is authorized to service Gulfstream, Hawker, Challenger, King Air, Westwind, Piper and Cessna aircraft, as well as Bell 206 helicopters. Fast Air is recognized as one of North America’s most experienced King Air service centres with more than two decades of experience.

What work achievement stands out?
Honestly there’s lots of memories from tons of engine changes to northern rescues. But one of the biggest memories was putting a King Air B200 back together after it had a partial belly landing and spending a couple months reskinning the lower section of the aircraft, learning new sheet-metal skills that helped grow my maintenance abilities. 

Cheryl Stone
Director, Strategic Priorities & Public Affairs, Nieuport Aviation, Toronto, Ont.

Cheryl Stone, Nieuport Aviation

Cheryl Stone, age 38, has spent nearly three years with Nieuport, a private sector investor in airports which owns and operates the passenger terminal at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. Prior to joining Nieuport, Stone spent six years with the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, operator of Canada’s largest airport, managing public affairs activities. This included leading a regional initiative called the Southern Ontario Airport Network (SOAN), which brought together 11 regional airports from Windsor to Kingston to better understand the long-term air service needs of Canada’s fastest growing communities and articulate a vision for how they could work together to meet demand. SOAN eventually led to the formation of a mayor’s coalition supporting local aviation and aerospace called the Southern Ontario Municipal Aerospace Council.

Driven by her belief in the untapped value that private sector investment can bring to airports and their communities, Stone works closely with Nieuport’s executive team to execute strategies to build partnerships; leads government, stakeholder and community relations; and is developing a sustainability strategy. She was a key member of a small team that brought an end to the decade-long question of how-to bring preclearance to Billy Bishop. These efforts helped attract $30 million in capital investment by the federal government. 

Stone became the first Young Professional Liaison to the ACI-NA World Business Partner Board in 2023, a role she continues to hold. She earned a master’s degree from Sir Wilfrid Laurier University and an bachelor’s degree from King’s University College.

What drew you into aviation?
Everyone has a travel story, and the opportunity to make those experiences better, even in the smallest of ways, felt deeply fulfilling. The role of aviation in people’s lives, maybe unlike any other time in history, is almost ubiquitous. Having the chance to leverage my understanding of government, policy development and public affairs strategy felt like a meaningful way to spend my days, contributing to something that touches so many lives.

Dana Washington
Accountable Executive, Select Helicopter Services, Kelowna, B.C.

Dana Washington, Select Helicopter Services

Dana Washington, 39, in 2024 assumed the role of Accountable Executive for Select Helicopter Services, a family owned and operated business that specializes in repairing and overhauling helicopter hydraulic components and cargo hooks, primarily for Bell and Airbus operators. Washington has been at the forefront of the company’s accountability for years, leading its quality assurance programs and developing relationships with both customers and vendors. 

Washington has been with the company, founded by her father in 2000, for 15 years. With her deep understanding of the business, Washington trains a majority of new employees from administration and account representatives to technical staff. Washington also focuses on continuous improvement in Select Helicopter’s workflow, inventory control and customer communications. 

In August 2022, the company relocated its shop to a new facility, featuring dedicated space for each of its core business activities, as well as a staff lunch room with a huge kitchen island where staff gather in this employee-centric operation.

Why is your company unique?
We are a family owned and operated business and I love the dynamic that comes with it. It’s very personal – from being involved with the day-to-day with our staff to ensuring our customers are well-supported to the amount of pride we all take in what we do.

Kerianne Wilson
Director, Customer Accessibility, Air Canada, Montréal, Que.

Kerianne Wilson, Air Canada

Kerianne Wilson, 39, has been an advocate of accessible air travel at Air Canada for more than eight years, previously as Senior Legal Counsel, Customer Regulatory & Resolution, and since 2023 as its first Director of Customer Accessibility. Air Canada in 2023 received around 1.3 million requests for assistance from travellers with disabilities, illustrating the need for consistent accessibility services and working with a range of stakeholders to go beyond legal requirements. 

Wilson’s leadership of Air Canada’s accessibility transformation is seen most notably in the establishment of the flag carrier’s first Accessibility Advisory Committee in late 2023. In June 2023, Air Canada published its 2023–26 Accessibility Plan and Feedback Process, an important step in identifying, removing and preventing barriers to travel and employment for persons with disabilities. Statistics Canada, according to a report by the Canadian Press, found that 63 per cent of the 2.2 million people with disabilities who used federally regulated transportation in 2019 and 2020 faced a barrier.

Wilson is committed to working with customers, regulators, members of the public and industry, and persons with disabilities to make air travel more accessible for all Canadians. She is an active member of International Air Transport Association accessibility committees and is recognized as an industry expert on accessible air travel, speaking at numerous public and industry events.

What drew you into aviation?
I come from an aviation family – three aerospace engineers, a radio operator, a flight attendant, a pilot, and now me. I grew up close to Montréal-Trudeau International Airport and my father would stop soccer practice to quiz all the little kids on what kind of aircraft was flying over us. When I first discovered aviation law as a field of practice, it was as though a light bulb went off – I knew this is where I needed to be.  

Taylor Wylie
Group Chief Operating Officer, Anodyne Electronics Manufacturing, Kelowna, B.C.

Taylor Wylie, Anodyne Electronics Manufacturing

Taylor Wylie, 37, earned his Electrical Engineering Technology diploma from Okanagan College and began his career at Northern Airborne Technology. He then joined Anodyne Electronics Manufacturing (AEM) at its 2009 inception. AEM was named the 2023 Large Business of the Year at the 36th Annual Kelowna Chamber Business Excellence Awards.

AEM now has more than 100 employees within its 40,000-square-foot facility. The company is best known for its design, development and manufacture of aircraft communication systems, loudspeaker systems, caution/warning panels and special mission radios. In April 2024, AEM earned North American certifications for its new MTP136D forest service radio, a modern panel-mount radio for special- and multi-mission platforms.

Wylie has diversified his knowledge at AEM by holding a range of roles, including Repair Technician, QA Inspector, Production Control Technologist, Materials Supervisor, Management Trainee, Operations Manager and General Manager. Since taking over the controls of AEM in 2022, Wylie has put the company on a course for significant growth with its lineup of special-mission avionics, structural health monitoring sensor solutions, and a strong people culture.

Why is your company unique?
AEM is a vertically integrated company that designs, develops and manufactures airframe crack detection compliance sensors, communications systems, loudspeaker systems, mission radios, avionics consoles, and caution/warning panels. Everyday holds a new challenge and an opportunity for improving over yesterday. | W