ATEC Annual Conference Recap: Momentum and a Tipping Point

​The energy at this year’s ATEC Annual Conference in Portland was something special. 

Whether it was the setting, the time of year, or simply a room full of aviation maintenance educators coming together to learn, connect, and recharge, the atmosphere felt both productive and genuinely welcoming. It was the kind of environment where important work gets done—and where relationships are strengthened. 

Choose Aerospace had a strong presence throughout the conference, sponsoring three breakout sessions that highlighted building high school aviation pathways. 

We kicked things off with Discover Choose Aerospace, our foundational session outlining the industry’s workforce demand, the current shortage, and the critical role high school programs play in closing that gap. 

From there, the conversation moved into real-world application with Building High School Pathways, featuring Union High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and regional airline Horizon Air. Attendees heard how community partnerships and intentional program design can create a seamless pipeline from high school to Part 147 schools and into aviation careers—solving real workforce challenges along the way. 

Our third session, AMTS Leveraging Choose Aerospace, brought together Part 147 leaders to discuss how they are already responding—offering credit and financial incentives to Choose Aerospace completers. That conversation naturally carried into one of the most exciting developments from the conference. 

Over the years, we’ve seen attitudes toward Choose Aerospace evolve—from appropriate skepticism, to cautious optimism, to acceptance. This year, it felt like we crossed into something new: a genuine tipping point. 

Part 147 schools are not only recognizing the value of high school pipelines—they are actively seeking to build them. Conversations that once required explanation are now focused on implementation. In fact, I’m now fielding multiple calls each month from schools asking how to get involved. It’s an exciting shift—and one that signals real progress for the future of aviation maintenance. 

The conference also gave us the opportunity to honor something deeply meaningful to our community. We presented the first-ever Tammera Holmes Youth Educator of the Year Award to Brandi Peace of Tri-County Tech. 

Tammera Homes, a founding Choose Aerospace board member, dedicated her life to bringing young people—especially those from high-risk environments—into the aviation family. Her passion left a lasting impression on everyone who knew her. Being able to recognize an outstanding educator in her name was a powerful moment for our team and for the audience. 

As I reflect on the conference, one takeaway stands above the rest: 

Not even the sky is the limit for Choose Aerospace—and for our students. 

The momentum we’ve built this year is significant. And while we know there are challenges ahead—shifts in funding, constraints on resources—we also know we’re not facing them alone. 

The strength of this program is in its people; the teachers, the students, and the partners. 

The work you’re doing is changing lives, and it continues to push us forward. 

We’re excited for what comes next.