Heather Blokzyl: Continually Strives for More
Manager
Bradford County Airport
Age: 35
Years in Aviation: 13
Memberships: AAAE, AAAE Northeast Chapter, Pennsylvania Aviation Council, Towanda Area Pilots Association
Did you know?
Blokzyl grew up on a dairy farm, Fox Chase Farm, near the airport she now manages.
In January of 2002, Heather Blokzyl started working at the Bradford County Airport as an administrative assistant. With the encouragement of Retired Pennsylvania State Trooper Kenneth Martin, Blokzyl continued her education and obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Aviation Management and is a few months shy of graduating with an MBAA from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Blokzyl became the manager of the airport in 2010 when her predecessor retired.
As the manager of the airport, Blokzyl says she truly feels that the future of aviation lies in the heart of the community and the children that grow up there. When asked what the sign of a healthy airport is, she answers “positive active community support.” By hosting family-friendly activities such as “fly-in theaters,” tours, breakfasts and partnering with the local YMCA and Big Brother/Big Sisters, Blokzyl says the airport is exposing children to their potential future career. These seemingly minor events create future financially stability as flight school students, aircraft renters, hangar renters and fuel sales, which she says bleeds into the community with boosts in tourism, businesses and economic growth. Blokzyl is also curriculum developer with Deanna Stoddard from the Binghamton, NY area. Together they created an Aviation Management Associates Degree for Lackawanna College in Scranton, Penn. By steadily expanding and developing the airport with the help of the County Commissioners, engineering firm McFarland Johnson, a fantastic staff, board members and volunteer base, Blokzyl is able oversee and provide local and transit aircraft a go to destination for affordable flight training, friendly accommodating services, and the lowest fuel prices in the area for both jet and avgas traffic.
