PREFERRED VENDOR/PARTNER n Visit Farmington www.farmingtonnm.org Farmington, New Mexico is an inviting hub in the Four Corners region, blending small town warmth with big city amenities. With approximately 45,000 residents—and serving a regional population of 300,000—it’s a dynamic center of retail, healthcare, recreation, and vibrant community collaboration. n Roadrunner Flight School www.roadrunnerflightschool.com Roadrunner Flight School helps the community achieve their goals through flight. With four airplanes and multiple flight instructors we help students achieve their goals from Private Pilot to Certified Flight Instructor. At Roadrunner, these goals are achieved through genuine care, humor, and helping students achieve their goals on their timeline. The workforce shortage within the aviation industry is real, and looking ahead, Lewis has seen a way to tap into local talent to try to take a regional bite out of the labor shortage. “The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has understood that there is a massive shortage in all areas of aviation careers and has put together a four-year program for high schools. It is an aviationrelated STEM program that they offer to schools for free. “I was able to match our local school system with the AOPA team, and now in September, the high school will start an AOPA aviation STEM program.” Not satisfied with just starting the program in the local schools, Lewis went a step further, and through a grant from the state of New Mexico, was able to buy a flight simulator for the STEM program, which has led to palpable excitement within the Farmington Public School system. As to what other items on the agenda will take up the bulk of Lewis’s time over the next little while, he points to infrastructure work that is slated for 2026. “Next year, as a matter of routine maintenance, we will be overhauling one of our runways, and we have other ongoing work that isn’t necessarily directly related to our new airline coming in.” With the pent-up demand for commercial service, international destinations now accessible through Denver for its residents, and a distinct economic development focus for the airport, Lewis sees a clear flight path forward for Four Corners Regional Airport. Lewis concludes,“I think I would like to let everybody know that this community is forward-thinking and does whatever they can do to provide opportunities for business and people to relocate here.” 186 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 12, ISSUE 08
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