This week I was invited to an executive meeting at the Endeavor Air headquarters at MSP to participate in the company’s recognition of their two AMT Magazine 40 under 40 Next Gen Award winners. Stef Collazos and Jon Lincoln were flown into MSP for the event where John Huntoon, the Endeavor director of maintenance, introduced the two to a packed room of company officers and directors.

Stef came to the U.S. from her native Columbia in 1999, graduated from Aviation High School in Queens, NY, and went on to get her bachelor’s degree from Vaughn College in Electrical Engineering Technology. All the while she also participated in the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps program and in 2015 became a U.S. citizen. She was hired by Endeavor in 2014, and is based at LGA, and the amazing part is she is just 25 years old.

Jon is considered a real problem-solver by everyone including Amy Kienast, career development from MIAT College of Technology, where he attended aviation maintenance school years earlier. No stranger to recognition, he recently received the Endeavor Air Lead 17 award from his company. Jon also was one of the first MIAT College of Technology alumni to volunteer his time with special events to get youngsters interested in aircraft maintenance as a career.

Both Stef and Jon exhibit the characteristics of young professionals in our field. Soon this year’s 40 under 40 Next Generation Maintenance Professionals nomination period will open. This year’s program will be earlier than years past and the winners will be profiled in the August/September 2018 issue of AMT Magazine. Start thinking about the young people you work with who fit the criteria of a young maintenance professional and our future replacements.

Thanks Endeavor for allowing me the honor of meeting these two winners, presenting them with the awards, and participating in your celebration. Ron