Latest news with #AeriumSummit
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Aerium's Breaking Barriers panel explores aviation hurdles, talks solutions
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Panelists at the Aerium Summit's Breaking Barriers and Building Futures event Thursday held candid conversations about the hurdles many women, people of color and students face when entering or exploring the aviation field. The event, held in the lower hangar at Nulton Aviation Services, featured topics such as expanding aviation education and workforce programs to underserved rural and urban communities and creating pathways for students of color and women. 'I continue to do what I do – I show up so young girls of color can see me,' panelist La'Quata Sumter said. 'I stand in that place to tell that young girl that she can do it.' Sumter is a professor of computer and electrical engineering and the CEO and founder of Focusing On Me Inc. and STEAM Thru Drones. Being on stage and conversing with fellow women in the industry was a rewarding experience for her, she said. 'It was definitely an amazing opportunity to be on a panel with women who have some common goals,' Sumter said. She was joined by Roxanne Ober, director of admissions and outreach for the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics; Elizabeth Tennyson, senior vice president of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Foundation; and Talia Chippie, a Nulton Aviation Flight Academy student. Heather Tomasko, Aerium Women in Aviation Committee chair and John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport assistant manager, and Aviation Foundation of Pennsylvania President Sydney Harris served as moderators. They spoke about a variety of hurdles to education and technology that keep young, interested people from entering the aviation field; changing training techniques that once aimed for high drop-out rates; mentorship; and financial assistance. Tennyson said that even now, there's 'still some bias out there' for women and people of color in aviation, such as the idea of 'appropriate roles' for boys and girls. Aviation is a male-dominated field, Tennyson said, and Sumter said people of color and women obviously have a harder time entering these careers. But the entire panel encouraged everyone to pursue their passions for flight, aircraft maintenance or any related field. 'You are where you're supposed to be, and don't let anyone tell you you shouldn't be there,' Sumter said. Tennyson agreed, adding that one good aspect is that a lot of the barriers are being broken down. She said there is a significant number of financial aid opportunities for students to explore on the local, state and national level to leverage access to aviation careers. There are also expanding opportunities through career and technical education and some airlines offering tuition matches to help open doors. Ober touched on the success of student visits to hangars, and shared the example of Piedmont Airlines' aircraft maintenance technician tuition payment program that helps students enter, train and gain employment in the industry. Other topics the group covered included public and private partnerships, community outreach and diversity. Tennyson said many employers have found that diversity on the flight deck can be a great benefit to an organization. Women and people of color can provide varied opinions and share their experiences, which strengthens the overall team, she said. 'Everything is moving in the right direction, and that's fantastic,' Tennyson said. The Breaking Barriers panel was the last of the two-day Aerium Summit. The conversation was immediately followed by the closing event that featured Nulton Aviation President Larry Nulton, state Department of Education Bureau of Career and Technical Education Director Judd Pittman, Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry President and CEO Luke Bernstein, and state Reps. Jim Rigby and Judy Ward. Additional sessions Thursday ranged from innovations in aviation maintenance to bridging the gap between education and aviation. It was also announced that the 45th Annual Pennsylvania Aviation Conference will take place Oct. 6 through Oct. 8 in Johnstown. The gathering will be hosted by the Aviation Council of Pennsylvania in collaboration with Aerium and feature panels, student tours, and opportunities for exhibits. For more information, visit
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Aerium Summit looks to bridge workforce gap in aviation industry
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (WTAJ) — The 2025 Aerium Summit in Johnstown is bringing aviation and government leaders together to bridge the gap in the aviation workforce. 'PennDOT, FAA personnel, leaders in aerospace and aviation, leaders in education. This actually is a world-class group of people right here in Johnstown,' John Eberhardt, Managing Director of ATA Aviation, said. The summit is taking place at the John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport. Leon Haynes, III, is a Board Member for Aerium and the Founding CEO of Hosanna House. He spoke with WTAJ about the state of workforce development. 'When I think about workforce development, I think about all the areas, whether there's a shortage of pilots or whether it's a shortage of traffic control, maintenance, all of the things that we're saying, what are the things that are going to keep the industry moving. And so people who are aging out of that industry, too, as well,' Haynes said. Cambria County celebrates success of mental health treatment court That's where programs like the one the AOPA Foundation has come in. AOPA stands for Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. They give students the tools they need to succeed in the industry. 'Two rural communities, in fact, rural communities, have really embraced this program. We wanted to create it to make sure that there were opportunities for folks who might not otherwise have them. And so we made the program completely free, and that has made it really appealing to schools and smaller districts,' Elizabeth Tennyson, Senior Vice President at AOPA Foundation and Programs, said. The Summit includes information about new initiatives like the one launching in Cambria County next week. 'We're actually right on schedule. So next week, the week of June 2nd, we're going to be conducting test flights in Westmont and Southmont. So if you see a drone with medical supplies, don't panic. It's us. And then we're going to use that information to finalize any procedures to get the rest of the sensors installed and be up and flying in July and August,' Eberhardt said. The Aerium Summit ends on Thursday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
