The board of directors of the Minnesota Aviation Trades Association (MATA) would like to recognize the following members:
- Schweiss Bifold Doors: https://www.bifold.com/
- Scott’s Helicopter Services: http://www.scottshelicopter.com/
- SEH Aviation: https://www.sehinc.com/service/airports
- Shackelford, Bowen, McKinley & Norton LLP: https://shackelford.law/
- Signature Flight Support – MSP & RST & STP: https://www.signatureaviation.com/
- Sky Media, LLC: https://theskymedia.org/
MATA officers and board members include Joe LaRue of Prairie Air, Elbow Lake, Minn., President; Mark Schwichtenberg of St. Cloud Aviation, St. Cloud, Minn., Vice President; Kreg Anderson of Alexandria Aviation, Alexandria, Minn., Secretary; Nancy Grazzini-Olson of Thunderbird Aviation, Eden Prairie and Crystal, Minn., and Academy College, Bloomington, Minn., Treasurer.
Other directors include Mark Nelson of Hawk Aviation, Rush City, Minn.; Tracie Walter of Bemidji Aviation, Bemidji, Minn.; Tyler Brimmer of Klick Brimmer PLLC, Excelsior, Minn.; and Dave Weiman of Midwest Flyer Magazine, Oregon, Wis. Gene DePalma is Executive Director.
MATA represents the interests of aviation businesses before government in Minnesota and throughout the Midwest. The organization holds an annual meeting in conjunction with the Minnesota Airports Conference, and board members meet quarterly and as needed to address issues. Scholarships are provided to those who aspire to become professional pilots or aircraft technicians. Details on how to apply are posted on the MATA website: https://www.mnaviationtrades.org and Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MinnesotaAviationTradesAssociation/
For additional scholarship information, email Mark Schwichtenberg at mschwichtenberg@stcloudaviation.com or Kreg Anderson at kanderson@alexandriamn.city. Only MATA-member flight schools are eligible to provide flight training. Aircraft technician scholarship recipients may attend any accredited maintenance school, or participate in an MATA-member apprenticeship program.
Fixed base operators and other aviation businesses are encouraged to join MATA. Visit the MATA website https://www.mnaviationtrades.org or call or email Gene DePalma at 651-343-5986, genedepalmaga@gmail.com.