Age: 34
Years in Aviation: 18
As a child Keri Lorano was always interested in all aspects of airplanes, flying, and how they worked. That childhood dream evolved into a passion and a professional career. She took the opportunity to participate in a high school internship program, and was given the opportunity to work in the aviation industry at the age of 16 for Hatfield Aviation Inc., a Houston-based Part 145 component repair facility.
Lorano started as a parts inspector, then components maintenance repairman and earned her Repairman’s certificate through training and mentoring. Now, as manager of Houston operations at SyngineeringNDT, she deals with all aspects of FAA oversight. She is also responsible for all aspects of operations for a fully functioning Part 145 repair station including all technical operations, business development, revenue growth, employee management and training, as well as facility safety. Lozano is responsible for the quality program and co-manages the program directly with the chief inspector.
“Throughout my career I have had the privilege to work with a few mentors; however, the one person who was the most influential in my career development was Joe Wotipka, a well-known and respected aviation repair station manager and senior A&P mechanic.”
Besides her Repairman’s certificate, she has achieved Nondestructive Testing (NDT) Level I – Visual and GE Inspection Technologies Rhythm Software Certificate. She is a member of NBAA, Airborne Law Enforcement Association, Women in Aviation, and American Society for Quality.
“Seeing the benefits of having a solid teacher and mentor in the development of a person’s professional development, I try to mentor other women and students in careers – particularly in aviation,” Lozano says. “The aviation industry, specifically aviation support is largely devoid of women filling roles in maintenance, support operations, and management. When I have the opportunity, I speak to groups of students and young adults and discuss women in aviation maintenance; and I am working with teens to teach basic aviation and business principals.”
Lozano’s career goals are to foster an accepting environment for more women to be trained in the aviation maintenance and support industry, fulfill her professional responsibilities and help the expansion of her company in both technology and revenue growth, and to grow personally and professionally so that she can become the president or CEO of a well-established aviation company.
