Talon Talks

**Janet Grondin (’89), Chief Executive Officer of Stellar Solutions, Inc** Apr 15, 2022

Janet is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Stellar Solutions Inc., a leading provider of high-impact engineering services to significant intelligence, defense, civil, commercial, and international customers. She is responsible for strategic management of the global aerospace portfolio for this small, woman-owned business entering its 27th year. Grondin has also served as Vice President for Intelligence Programs, overseeing numerous mission domains including satellite space and ground systems acquisition, systems engineering and integration, and operations support.

Prior to these roles, Grondin was VP for Defense Programs, responsible for efforts in space superiority, launch enterprise integration, and web services; major programs like the Global Positioning System (GPS) and Space-Based Infrared System; and capabilities in missile warning, weather, precision navigation and timing, and communications. She graduated from Embry-Riddle’s Prescott campus in 1989 with a bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering. She also has several master’s degrees from the Air Force Institute of Technology and the Air War College and the Air Command and Staff College.

Ron Fielding (’86) – Boeing weapons systems, composites, aircraft standards Jan 28, 2022

Ron has been an engineer at Boeing for 30 years. He has worked on testing weapons systems for unmanned aerial vehicles and was involved in the early years of using carbon fiber composites in aircraft construction. He now collaborates with other manufacturers in setting international standards for aircraft components. He also is an early member of the Prescott Campus chapter of Alpha Eta Rho, and studied engineering at both the Daytona Beach and Prescott campuses.

**Evacuating Kabul – Doug Mayo (’11), Matt Steele (’09, ’18), and Adam Cooper (’13)** Dec 17, 2021

We interviewed three alumni who supported Operation Allies Refuge, the international airlift that evacuated 120,000 people from Kabul, Afghanistan in August 2021, for “Providing Refuge,” a story in the Fall/Winter 2021 issue of Lift Magazine. This episode of Talon Talks is an edited version of the interviews recorded for that story, and includes details that wouldn’t fit in the print piece. The nature of its purpose means the audio is also a bit rougher than usual.

Our guests were Adam Cooper (’13), Doug Mayo (’11), and Matt Steele (’09, ’18), who all commissioned out of Embry-Riddle’s Air Force ROTC Detachment 157 and are active in the United States Air Force.

Find the story at lift.erau.edu/providing-refuge

**Hina Kazmi (’93) – An engineer’s vision of humanity in space** Nov 19, 2021

Hina Kazmi has led an impressive career since earning her aerospace engineering degree from Embry-Riddle in 1993: from spacecraft engineer at Boeing to program manager for NASA’s SOFIA airborne telescope. She is now working in Northrop Grumman’s Tactical Space Systems Division and teaches public policy at George Mason University.

We discussed how space exploration can unite humanity; her thoughts on the intersection of engineering and public policy; and the relationship between public and private interests in space. We also talked about how the classic novel *Moby Dick* weaves technical aspects of whaling with commentary on the human condition.

**Kathy Wood (’93, ’18) – From Engineer to Embry-Riddle Faculty** Oct 27, 2021

Kathy Wood (’93, ’18) spent most of her career in aerospace engineering, working for 12 years as director of nacelle programs at Collins Aerospace and at United Technologies. She is now a visiting associate professor at the Prescott Campus College of Engineering. Embry-Riddle has multiple open faculty positions and is encouraging experienced alumni to apply. We talked with Kathy about her career, the transition to academia, and her love of horseback riding and polo.

**Nishigandha Kelkar (’17, ’21) – Aircraft touchscreens; student mental health** Aug 30, 2021

As Integrated Product Lead at Collins Aerospace, Nishi is working to integrate the first-ever touch screen cockpit displays on commercial Boeing aircraft. She is also the founder of Project LaunchPad, an organization that focuses on student mental health awareness as well as democratizing knowledge for pursuing higher education.

We discussed her work at Collins, why she chose to move around the world to attend Embry-Riddle, and how that experience of culture shock combined with her own high standards for academic achievement led her to create a support program for students facing difficulty with transition to college, attaining mental health support and academic success.

**Lisa Anderson ('99, '03) - United Nations Air Travel Safety** Jul 26, 2021

Lisa Anderson (’99, ’03) is one of our Distinguished Alumni Award winners for 2021. She is chief of the commercial air travel safety unit at the United Nations, a program she developed. She has a long history working in aviation and in industry groups, and volunteering with a variety of organizations doing good around the world.

We talked about the reasons that UN program exists; what triggered her career change away from flying; how vocal coaching affected her job prospects; why volunteering and mentoring is important to her; and much more.

*The views that Lisa shares are her own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations.*

**Jared Testa ('01) and Kurt Estorez ('09) - Aerial Firefighting** Jun 17, 2021

Jared and Kurt are both involved in aerial firefighting — Jared as pilot of an Avro RJ85 jet for Aeroflite Aerial Firefighting, and Kurt at the Prescott air tanker base. In 2020, during the raging wildfire season on the U.S. west coast, Kurt also took time off from his day job as assistant director of admissions at Embry-Riddle, to fight wildfires on the ground.

We talked the ins and outs of aerial firefighting; their history with Embry-Riddle’s flight program and legendary instructor Dick Samuels; and the competitive success of Prescott’s Golden Eagles Flight Team, where Jared served as head coach for 7 years.

Find more episodes and subscribe to Talon Talks wherever you get your podcasts.

Matt Savoca (’94) May 20, 2021

Matt Savoca is co-founder of Kutta Technologies, which is a manufacturer and supplier of command-control-communications software applications and components, with a focus on government and defense applications. He is now the company’s executive vice president, since its acquisition by Sierra Nevada Corporation in 2015.

He graduated from Embry-Riddle’s Prescott Campus in 1994 with a degree in Aerospace Engineering and served as SGA President at the time, advocating to the Board of Trustees against moving the Prescott Campus to a new location.

We talked about his choice to attend college in his mid-20s, why he chose to run for SGA president, and where his career led him, as well as technical details of Kutta Technologies’ drones and components.

**Special Episode: FedEx Aviation Maintenance and the Purple Runway Scholarship** May 11, 2021

In this special episode of Talon Talks, we speak with three representatives from FedEx Aircraft Maintenance who were visiting the Daytona Beach campus to talk about their Purple Runway Scholarship, and meet with this year’s scholarship recipients.

Our guests were: Scott Ogden, vice president of FedEx Aircraft Maintenance; Tony Castro (’91), who is senior manager of manpower planning and business analysis; and Doug Johnson (’91), manager of apprentice aviation maintenance technicians program.

**Jenna Welton ('06)** Apr 26, 2021

Jenna is a senior vice president and financial crimes director for Wells Fargo bank. She manages a team that investigates everything from fraud to terrorist financing. She graduated from Embry-Riddle’s Global Security and Intelligence Studies program, and has a masters on international policy and terrorism from the Monterey Institute of International Studies. We discussed how she got into the work of investigating global financial crimes, and the things that keep her going in her work.

**Nolan Coulter (’18)** Mar 15, 2021

Modularity Space is developing low-cost modular satellites that can be repaired, refueled, and upgraded in space, in an effort to make the satellite industry more sustainable. Nolan Coulter is their co-founder and Chief Technology Officer.

We talked about satellite manufacturing standards, what it takes to put satellites into space, satellite maintenance and refueling needs, and the future of commercial space in an era of growing amounts of space junk.

**John Maris (’82, ’83, ’17)** Feb 12, 2021

John Maris is the rare Embry-Riddle triple alumnus: He has two masters degrees, from 1982 and 1983, and was an early recipient of an Embry-Riddle doctorate in 2017. He’s an experimental test pilot, an expert on aerodynamics, and chair of the Royal Aeronautical Society of Montreal. He also serves on the Industry Advisory Board at Embry-Riddle’s College of Engineering in Daytona Beach.

We talked about how he started his company, Marinvent, what it’s like to be an experimental test pilot, and a glimpse into the interactive discussion he’s giving on aerodynamics. To sign up for the talk, “Perspectives on Aerodynamic Drag,” happening on Feb. 18, visit the RAES Montreal website.

**Stephanie Miller ('18)** Jan 15, 2021

Stephanie Miller is executive director of technology transfer and research park initiatives at Embry-Riddle, which means she manages operations at our research park, including the Micaplex Business Incubator. She has a Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular genetics from University of Virginia; she received an MBA from Embry-Riddle in 2018.

She’s also into fast cars and vintage sewing machines. We talked about her doctoral research, the pitfalls of starting a business from an invention, and what the Micaplex does for startup businesses that incubate there.

**Stacy Sheard ('10, '14)** Dec 16, 2020

Stacy is chair of the Helicopter Association International’s board of directors and is a helicopter captain for Executive Jet Management. She was previously a Huey and Black Hawk pilot for the US Army, then a test pilot for Sikorsky. She has flown tours, air ambulance, and done movie flying with the Screen Actors Guild.

We talked about transitioning one’s career from the military to civilian world, what networking means, and how going to Embry-Riddle for two degrees later in life helped advance her career.

**Mark L. Berry ('83)** Nov 16, 2020

Mark has been a pilot for more than 3 decades, starting with TWA. He’s still flying, now for American Airlines, and is also an author of several fiction and nonfiction books. We spoke about his early career flying 19-passenger Twin Otters in the Caribbean, to his wild checkride flying into Berlin during the Cold War. We also discussed his experience following the crash of TWA Flight 800 — his fiancée and one of his mentors were both on board — and his struggle with grief afterward, which eventually led him to write “13,760 Feet: My Personal Hole in the Sky.”

**Dana Delane-Williams (’98)** Oct 22, 2020

Dana is the founder and Chief Academic Officer of American High School, an accredited, entirely online high school. She is responsible for curriculum, growth strategy, culture, operations, R&D, sales, product development and launch, marketing, and overseas expansion. We discussed why she decided to start an online school in the early 2000s and how her business has been affected by the Coronavirus pandemic.

**Korry Franke (’03)** Sep 15, 2020

In addition to flying 737s for United Airlines, Korry Franke is an author and inspirational speaker. His book, 3 Feet to the Left: A New Captain’s Journey from Pursuit to Perspective, is a memoir which chronicles the year in his life when he faced many professional and personal struggles as United’s then-youngest captain.

We discussed his education at Embry-Riddle during and after 9/11, why he chose to stay in aviation, the nature of leadership, what happens when two airlines merge, as well as the tough times faced in that year as he and his wife were expecting a baby.

*The views expressed by Korry Franke on this podcast are his and his alone, completely independent of any United Airlines affiliation.*

**Tim Perry (’86)** Aug 16, 2020

Tim Perry came to Embry-Riddle while he was serving in the Air Force. He graduated in 1986 from our Prescott Campus with a degree in professional aeronautics and continued to serve in the Air Force during the first Gulf War. He was one of the pilots who flew the EC-135 for Operation Looking Glass.

We discussed his time in the Air Force, but also how his work in the private sector and his spiritual path led him to form Nationwide Chaplain Services and 10-41 Incorporated, two organizations which provide counseling and psychiatric services geared toward first responders.

**Programming note:** This episode includes some discussion of incidents that police officers and other first-responders face, and may not be suitable for younger listeners.

**Danielle Rosales (’18)** Jul 17, 2020
Danielle Rosales holding one of Space Tango’s Cube Labs.

Danielle Rosales (’18) published articles with Air & Space Magazine even while pursuing her bachelor’s degree in communications. She now works as a Marketing and Sales associate at Space Tango, which builds research and manufacturing systems into compact containers that go to the International Space Station. They streamline the process of running experiments in microgravity to develop new products for use on Earth.

Ever since she was editor-in-chief at her high school newspaper, she’s been passionate about telling people’s stories. We talked about what it’s like to write interesting features in the highly technical world of aerospace; her volunteerism streak; attending high school in Japan; and why it’s important to lift up people of color in the industry.

**Mike (’81) and Joyce (’86) Pepin** Jun 15, 2020

Mike (’81) and Joyce (’86) Pepin, the husband-and-wife owners of Pepin Realty in Ormond Beach, Florida, are also leaders of our Daytona Beach alumni network. They coordinate events and activities for alumni, students, faculty and staff in the area. They also volunteer at many other organizations in the community.

They were already married and working at GE when they began their masters degrees in business administration. We talked about how they transitioned from working at a corporation to working for themselves and managing the home-work balance with that. Plus: How they as realtors weathered the financial and housing crisis that began in 2008; why they participate in their community; Joyce’s appearance on the hit TV show *House Hunters*, and what it takes to keep a marriage strong for 40 years.

**Anthony Brickhouse (’01, ’02)** May 25, 2020

This episode was recorded in February 2020.

Anthony Brickhouse has been on our faculty since he graduated, and is now an Associate Professor of Aerospace and Occupational Safety and Director of the Aerospace Forensic Lab. He’s also a member of several professional organizations focused on aviation safety and investigation.

We discussed the aircraft crash lab, his textbook on human factors in air transport, and research he’s conducted on mental health of air safety investigators.

**“What’s in your Toolkit?” Part 1, with Career Services** May 19, 2020

This special episode of Talon Talks is a collaboration between Career Services and the Office of Alumni Engagement, and focuses on the options available in this changing job market. Listen in as staff from the Daytona Beach, Prescott and Worldwide campuses discuss how to navigate your career amid the pandemic.

Part 2 of this webinar series will take place on May 27. Sign up at alumni.erau.edu/events.

**Ken Byrnes (’01, ’05)** Apr 15, 2020

Ken is chair of the flight department and assistant dean for the College of Aviation on our Daytona Beach Campus. He also fosters dogs and coaches the Embry-Riddle Eagles hockey team. He started working at Embry-Riddle immediately after completing his bachelor’s aeronautical science in 2001, and was pursuing his master’s in business administration, which he completed in 2005.

We talked about how things work on the flight line, the status of the pilot shortage (at least at the time we were recording, in February 2020), and what it takes to run an ice hockey team in a subtropical climate.

John Phillips (’90, ’92) Mar 15, 2020

John Phillips (’90, ’92), Embry-Riddle’s Director of Athletics for our Daytona Beach teams, worked in flight operations for an F-15 squadron in the US Air Force before he enrolled in distance learning through Embry-Riddle at Langley Air Force Base. He graduated in 1990 with a degree in professional aeronautics, and finished a masters in aeronautical science in 1992. He also played baseball for the Eagles. He returned to Embry-Riddle in 1997 to be our first Director of Sports Marketing and Promotions, and has seen the Athletics department grow and succeed, including overseeing its transition from NAIA to NCAA Div. II competition.

Mike Geldart (’18) Feb 15, 2020

Mike Geldart is founder and CEO of GRD Biomechanics. When he suffered an injury after crashing a race car, he came up with an idea for an improved knee brace to help people recovering from similar injuries. He polished the design, won entrepreneurship competitions, and founded his company to manufacture the advanced knee brace.

We talked about the technical details of the design and how he was able to take it from concept to viable product with the help of his mechanical engineering degree.

Steve Altemus (’87) Jan 23, 2020

We invite you to listen to our conversation about a new era of lunar exploration with Steve Altemus (’87), president and CEO of Intuitive Machines. His company is positioned to be the first private business to land on the Moon as part of a $77.2 million payload delivery contract with NASA.

Alain Aguayo (’11, ’16) Dec 16, 2019

Alain Aguayo (’11, ’16) came to Embry-Riddle in 2006 from the Dominican Republic, itching to be a commercial pilot. He came back for a second bachelor’s degree in Aerospace & Occupational Safety, but not before learning to fly upside-down and becoming an aerobatics enthusiast. He won his first competition and the thrill of aerobatics gripped him ever since. We talked about how to get involved in aerobatics, his seemingly contradictory passion for safety, and even a little bit of Mario Kart.

Michelle Lucas (‘00) Nov 15, 2019

Michelle Lucas (’00) is the founder and president of Higher Orbits, a nonprofit that promotes STEM education and student success, and co-founder of UniPhi, a management agency that creates public opportunities for retired astronauts to share their experiences with others. She was honored with the Eagle Entrepreneur Award in 2019.

Dennis Jones (’80) Oct 18, 2019

Dennis Jones (’80) retired earlier this year from his post as Managing Director at the National Transportation Safety Board, where he investigated some 1,300 aircraft accidents over his 4-decade career. He studied aviation maintenance, avionics and aviation technology at Embry-Riddle, and was one of the founding members of Brothers of the Wind, our first club for African-American students.

Ed Onwe (’12) Sep 15, 2019

Ed Onwe (’12) started his career hands-on in aviation maintenance and worked his way up to Vice President and General Manager of VT San Antonio Aerospace, the world’s largest aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul organization. We spoke about balancing home and work, getting an education while raising a family, the status of the aircraft mechanic shortage, and how he satisfies his need for hands-on projects now that he’s a high-level executive.

**Douglas Muir (’84)** Aug 15, 2019

As founder and CEO of the private equity firm Muir & Associates, Douglas Muir has built several multi-million dollar companies from the ground up. He has also hosted a radio show, and taught entrepreneurship at University of Virginia.

We talked with Douglas about key factors in starting a business, how to reduce employee turnover, and how he kept his firm afloat during the Great Recession.

Wes Oleszewski (’87) Jul 10, 2019

Fans of Klyde Morris, the so-called “Aviator Ant,” will recognize Wes Oleszewski’s name immediately. The comic strip has been published in The Avion for more than 40 years, but Wes is also a bestselling author of more than two dozen non-fiction books — covering topics from Great Lakes shipwrecks, to World War II, to space flight. He just published his first fiction novel, a spy thriller called Invisible Evil, and regularly writes for the Aero News Network.

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