NEXT GENERATION AVIATION WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT Hahn’s passion for developing aviation careers isn’t just about EVV’s operations.As president of Indiana’s state aviation association, he spearheads efforts to introduce aviation education at the high school and middle school levels across the state. “One of our goals is to try to figure out how best to grow aviation because it’s a wonderful job,” he says. “We need mechanics, and we need pilots.” The workforce challenge requires broad thinking about aviation careers. “The line I always use is: I don’t care what you want to do in the world, we need it in the aviation world,” Hahn explains.“If you love numbers and finance, I need a finance director. If you love planning or you like building things, we need engineers and we need construction.” He describes airports as microcosms requiring diverse skills from fire and law enforcement to utilities and roads management. Locally, Hahn collaborates with Evansville’s school corporation to launch an aviation program focused on aircraft repair and maintenance. The initiative builds on Indiana’s existing aviation education infrastructure, which includes programs at Purdue University, Indiana State University, the University of Southern Indiana, and Ivy Tech Community College. Excel Aviation operates a flight school at EVV, adding to the state’s pilot training capacity. Hahn’s personal professional development exemplifies his philosophy. He recently earned his MBA and achieved A.A.E. accreditation from the American Association of Airport Executives, the industry’s highest credential. “I love looking at how we develop the next generation of aviation leaders,” he says. “How do we get people to look at their careers? I want them to be ready, and I want them to be better than me.” TOURISM AND COMMUNITY CONNECTION EVV’s tourism strategy focuses on enhancing quality of life for residents while attracting visitors through unique historical assets and convenient travel options. “If you’ve got little kids and you want to grow up in a small city or a big town, Evansville is perfect for that,” Hahn says. “We have good schools and all those types of things.And if you want to grow a family and you still want to go to Disney, we make that a one-stop shop.” The airport partners with Visit Evansville to support regional tourism initiatives, though Hahn notes their approaches vary depending on target markets. “At times they’re seeking more regional based conferences and events. That’s a different approach than if you’re looking at pure tourism,” he explains. EVV’s direct flights to Orlando through both Breeze 188 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 12, ISSUE 09
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