Human Resources Administrator Kristie Miles spends her springs mingling with the family of Braves team members and welcoming fans to Turner Field.

In 2010, Kristie decided that with two teenagers, she wanted a little extra income. She thought about what type of job would have the most benefits with it and decided to accept a position at Turner Field checking tickets and welcoming fans to Braves Country.

“I wanted to do something fun that also brought in some extra money,” said Kristie. “I get the best of both world – I get to watch my Braves play and make a little extra while doing it!”

Kristie works in guest relations at the Braves’ home field which gives her the opportunity to watch the game, meet new people and have fun cheering along with the fans. She says she wasn’t much of a baseball fan when she began, but now you can catch her “chopping” the Braves to victory every home game. Her favorite players are catcher Brian McCann, closing pitcher Craig Kimbrel and outfielder Jason Heyward who is from her hometown of McDonough, Ga.

“One of the coolest experiences is meeting the players’ families,” she said. “Not every fan can say they know McCann’s mom and Heyward’s dad!”

Kristie loves talking with the fans and sharing her insider tips, especially when it’s their first time attending a game. She advises to come early and watch batting practice and all the pre-game activities. Sunday, bring the kids out for “Kids Run the Bases” and the new Taco Mac Family Zone, and don’t forget every Friday there are fireworks after the game!

She always recommends that fans take the VIP tour to really get to know Turner Field. On the tour, you get to see the broadcast booth, walk in the dugout, tour the locker rooms and more. One of the best perks of the job, she says, is knowing the best places to eat:

“When you are there, come to the Club level to get a steak crepe or delicious made-to-order pasta from the Pasta Bar. If you are craving more traditional ballpark foods, try the Georgia Dog from Taste of Majors or McCann’s Burgers located in the Plaza.”

Kathy Hardie’s  Airport Customer Service (ACS) training proved invaluable when she used the skills she learned as an agent in Wilmington, N.C., to help safely evacuate her daughter and her classmates when their school bus caught on fire.

“I was chaperoning a field trip for my daughter’s class, and fifteen minutes into our bus ride we noticed smoke, then a loud explosion out of the rear of the bus. We quickly pulled over onto the side of the road. I was the first person off and saw that there was fire on the pine needles underneath the bus,” Kathy recalls. “Immediately, I yelled back to the bus driver that we had a fire and that the kids needed to get off quickly.”

Kathy’s training kicked in automatically. She began a quick, but calm, evacuation of all the students and the other chaperones. In a coordinated effort between Kathy, the bus driver and the teacher, all passengers were evacuated from the bus before it began to fill with smoke and then catch fire.

“I knew I had to get the kids away from the bus to a safe distance. My ACS training taught me to assess the threat, calm the passengers, and direct an immediate evacuation.”

The emergency training our front-line people receive is a valuable asset and can be life-saving, as in Kathy’s case. Kathy credits her supervisors and instructors for providing the training so she knew what to do in an emergency situation. She says that teamwork and quick thinking saved her daughter’s life and lives of the 43 people onboard that bus.

“The evacuation was a team effort and that’s something I’ve been taught in my training at ExpressJet. Here at ILM, we work together as a great team to support each other and our passengers.”

The training at her station and the constant recurrent training taught Kathy what to do in an emergency – to stay composed, immediately start the evacuation, work quickly with others, and calm people enough to get them safely out of a dangerous situation.

“Working in aviation, especially on the ramp, teaches us valuable skills we can translate to our lives. All that training helped me in this emergency situation.”

The bus 15 minutes after everyone had evacuated.

“Look, can you see it?”  I say to the small boy standing right beside me. 

“Where?”  he asks.

“Right there,” I reply as I point my finger to the east towards Cleveland Hopkins Airport. 

What started as a little dot on the horizon became the biggest Jet the boy had ever seen, landing gracefully on runway 25 at the Lorain County Regional Airport.  That was the first WOW of hundreds heard on Saturday, May 19 at International Learn to Fly Day. 

“Can I go in the Cockpit?” he says excitedly.

 “You bet you can!” I tell him and the small smile on his face grew wider as we walked up the steps to the welcoming faces of the Pilots that flew it in.

“Climb aboard, Captain,” says First Officer Brent Leonard as the young aviator assumes a comfortable and commanding position in the left seat of an ExpressJet EMB-145 Jet Aircraft.   His eyes scan all the buttons, knobs and instruments blinking in front of his eyes, and another “WOW” is heard.

“Where would you like to fly to today?” Brent asks.

That’s when the magic happens.  Our 10 year old Captain was already far away from the annual event.  His flight started as he was climbing up the stairs.  The imagination of a child is something precious.  We have no way of knowing what he will be when he grows up, but right now he is the Captain on an ExpressJet EMB-145 on his way to somewhere only he can see.  Together, we created a memory that will last a lifetime.

I would often see a face I recognize as I walked around the event.  Many of our ExpressJet family members were lingering around the ERJ aircraft.  It is nice to see them out of uniform, their husbands or wives and children by their side, showing off their airplane.  Pilots and Flight attendants, mechanics, CSAs and rampers all gathered around, up close and personal and proud of what they do.  We all know how special it is to have a job with airplanes – even on the occasional bad day.

Several ExpressJet people volunteered at the event: handing out programs, boarding Young Eagles Flights, picking up garbage and hanging out on our Jet talking with attendees about their jobs at ExpressJet.  I cannot thank them enough.  Another International Learn to Fly Day is in the record books.  Thanks go out to our management for believing that a small town outside of Cleveland, Ohio, CAN make a difference.

The Goodyear Blimp “high speed” fly by was pretty awesome, too!  Thanks for everything!  See you next year!

Hello! My name is David Brown, and I am a first officer for ExpressJet Airlines on the Embraer 145 regional jet. I graduated from Southern Illinois University (SIU) in the spring of 2011, went straight to work for ExpressJet, and have felt like I am one of the luckiest people in the world every day since!

I love my job because I get to fly an awesome aircraft, work with great crewmembers, and travel all over North America. While I was attending college, I was constantly working as a student, a member of the SIU Flight Team, and as a flight instructor. In addition, I tried to make time to be with friends and family and stay involved with extracurricular activities. Now that I am an airline pilot, I have a job that gives me a flexible schedule and I do not have to bring much work home with me. I have more free time for playing basketball with friends, sailing, and just enjoying life. I know from talking with flight attendants and other pilots that many of them are able to continue their education while working, or even accomplish other career goals such as owning their own businesses.

But don’t get me wrong, being an airline pilot is a lot of work and responsibility. The aviation program at SIU prepared me for the basics of being an airline pilot: stick and rudder skills and the Federal Aviation Regulations. While I was in training at ExpressJet, I had to study constantly to learn the specifics relating to flying the Embraer jet as well as learn the company’s Operations Manual. After training is finally complete, it still takes months more to learn about flying the line, which is like nothing I ever dreamed. No amount of training can prepare you for flying multiple flights in a day with 30 minutes on the ground between each flight to get our passengers to their destinations safely and on time. It’s very challenging at first, but very exciting!

One of my favorite things about my ExpressJet is the diverse workforce. In college, most of my classmates and colleagues were from the same region as me with similar backgrounds. At ExpressJet, I have worked with crewmembers from all over the world. Working as an airline pilot is a lot like being on a four-day road trip with two people you’ve never met before – especially at an airline that employs thousands of pilots. Interpersonal skills are not something taught in college, but if you’re friendly and a good listener, this job will be enjoyable for you and the people you fly with.

Just as every business needs a plan, all college students should have a plan for their career. The tactics I used to get my job can help current college students prepare to meet FAA requirements. Just like I did, students should always keep their logbooks current, have a specific plan to get the hours they need by the time they need them, and stick by that plan. When building my career plan, I calculated how many hours I would build as a student based on each course’s requirements and estimated the flight time I would build as an instructor and member of the flying team. I realized that I would come short of the current minimums at the jobs I wanted, so I did extracurricular flying including SIUC’s charter program and earning my tail wheel rating to build flight time while improving my resume.

As a final note, I want to reiterate how rewarding a career at ExpressJet Airlines has been for me and can be for you. ExpressJet gives their pilots the opportunity to gain a lot out of working here. From travel privileges that allow our pilots to go almost anywhere on the globe, to schedules that can give us plenty of days off per month, flying for ExpressJet is a great career. Everybody has the ability to make the best out of their career after college and my advice for soon-to-be or recent graduates is to stay positive and be flexible because you are entering a constantly changing, but rewarding industry.

On July 24, ExpressJet had the pleasure of hosting Centennial Aviation Academy students for a tour of our A-Tech hangar and workshops in several of our operating divisions.

“Centennial Aviation Academy’s goals are to expose young aviators to the commercial airlines, and to give them an opportunity to learn to fly in an environment catered to them,” explained 22-year-old founder and full-time director of the Academy, Captain Rohan Bhatia.

Capt. Bhatia established a relationship with ExpressJet four years ago and has been bringing student groups back ever since. He wanted to learn more about all of the elements of a commercial airline and how the different groups work together, and he wanted to share that experience with other aspiring aviators.

“Although he is a young aviator himself, Rohan has created a fantastic grounds school for young and aspiring aviators,” said Employee Relations Coordinator Sharon Robinson who organizes ExpressJet hangar tours. “Each year, our tour division volunteers are quite impressed with the level of knowledge and experience that each Centennial Aviation Academy student already has.”

During their tour, the students sat down with dispatchers in our Operations Control Center where daily flights are managed; toured the shop where ground equipment maintenance is completed; learned about the process of inspecting and repairing airplane tires in the tire shop; participated in a flight training simulator; discovered how aircraft engines are built; and reviewed the parts of a CRJ200 aircraft in our maintenance hangar.

Technical Support Specialist Terrence Bowen assisted the group as they toured the maintenance hangar to see our Bombardier jet up close, quizzing the students on aviation terms, airplane models and the functions of each aircraft part along the way.

“Growing up in Jamaica, opportunities like this were pretty much nonexistent for a young aviator,” said Terrence. “Doing tours like this allows me to give others the opportunity I didn’t have as a youngster. It gives me joy to open up the minds of these future aviation professionals, showing them that with hard work and determination they can achieve their dreams.”

The Centennial Aviation Academy tour is different than the normal student group tours we have at A-Tech. Centennial students are knowledgeable about the industry and hope to obtain careers as pilots, dispatchers and aviation engineers. The students asked insightful questions and excitedly used the real-life scenarios they encountered in our Operations Control Center as learning opportunities. ExpressJet Assistant Chief Pilot Brian Harris came down to talk to the kids about his career and offer advice as they begin their own.

“The ExpressJet tour gives the kids a chance to talk to the people who are in the jobs they hope to have one day. Since they already have a strong base knowledge of aviation, they can learn from the professionals to enhance their education,” said Rohan.

The students were also part of a summer flight course at the Centennial Aviation Academy where students range from 10 to 22 years old. While many of the students are still too young to start their aviation careers, they are still learning the basics of flight, how the industry works and what future careers are available in aviation. The Centennial model focuses on giving kids the self-confidence and drive needed to pursue a career in aviation, along with the necessary hours. Eight students, ranging from 12 to 17 years old, attended yesterday’s tour.

“Of all the programs we do throughout the summer courses, the kids love visiting ExpressJet the most,” said Rohan. “The quality of the people, the excellent customer service and the willingness to go above and beyond for our students makes ExpressJet stand out. Thank you for letting us visit!”

Thank you to all our team members who show students how great a career with ExpressJet can be: Simone Palmer, specialist – Inventory Control; Stew Johnson, mechanic – Ground Service Equipment; John Rose, instructor – CRJ training; Scot Cagle, manager – Maintenance and Engineering; Bonita Patton, A&P mechanic; and Jack Engberg, general manager – Operations Control Center.

Would you like to bring your group on an ExpressJet hangar tour?

We invite groups who are learning about aviation through their school, civic organization, camp or technical/college program to tour our facilities and get to know more about the aviation industry. If you’re interested in scheduling a tour, contact Sharon Robinson at Sharon.Robinson@expressjet.com.

When I pushed “submit” on my application to become an ExpressJet flight attendant, visions of the “Pam Am” television show ran through my head as I wondered what a day in the life of a flight attendant would be like. At my first day of training, I was relieved to learn that I was not required to look like the Barbie Doll flight attendant, complete with the hat, that you see on tv and in movies. (Although, I do like hats- but not at work!)

The training for my new role as a flight attendant was conducted over four weeks by a team of enthusiastic, knowledgeable instructors.  All I had to do was pay attention, do the required study of materials and enjoy the new friendships! The teammates I met in training and working on the line are caring and supportive. We have a great camaraderie here at ExpressJet – not only with other flight attendants but also with the captains and first officers we are privileged to work with.

After ventures as a business owner, I knew becoming a flight attendant would be a great fit for me. As a business owner, I learned the importance of service, not only to my customers, but also to my employees, vendors and anyone else I had the pleasure of interacting with. For my new career, I was looking for a solid company whose mission statement embodied that same level of dedication to service with a vision for growth. I wanted a company that was not afraid of implementing positive change. I found all of that in ExpressJet.

Every day as a flight attendant, I have the opportunity to:

• Explore new locales;
• Enrich my life;
• Encounter fascinating and engaging passengers;
• Learn from the stories my passengers share with me;
• Make a difference in passengers’ lives in meaningful, and hopefully memorable, ways;
• Have fun;
• Be innovative and creative;
• Deliver service not only to passengers, but also to my crew and other flight attendants and airline personnel, and so much more!

My life at ExpressJet continues to change my life every day. My career as a flight attendant has shaped how I view the world and all the people we in the company serve. Thanks, ExpressJet!

Chicago-based Captain Noel Harvey and his wife Joanna know that fulfilling a lifelong dream is one of the best feelings it the world. When their after-school art classes outgrew their basement, they found themselves diving headfirst into a growing small business.

“It’s always been our dream to own a business,” said Noel. “Joanna teaches the classes and I do the behind-the-scenes work. We are very proud to be able to give back to our community and to share the power of art.”

Two years ago when Noel and Joanna moved to Atlanta with their growing family, Joanna decided to put her art education to good use. They planned on teaching a few small art classes to local students, but what started as a hobby quickly blossomed into a thriving business.

“It wasn’t long before our basement studio proved to be too small to accommodate our growing clientele. Luckily, we were able to move into a retail space a few blocks away.”

Bubbles and Brushes Art Studio officially opened in September 2011 in Newnan, Ga. The studio teaches art classes catered to all ages and skill levels, and hosts birthday parties, school groups, an open studio, mommy and me classes, and private lessons.

Joanna is the lead teacher, but they have several other artists who teach lessons, including some that specialize in art for special needs children. They offer before- and after-school classes for kids and three days a week they host a homeschool art program.

“The kids really enjoy the lessons. With all the cutbacks in the school systems, art classes have suffered. We’re happy to provide a way for kids to discover and enjoy art.”

Joanna worked as an elementary school art teacher for years before beginning the studio. Joanna’s father is a children’s author and illustrator, and her mom is a teacher, so “she put the two together.” While Joanna is the artist in the Harvey family, Noel appreciates the artwork and has started dabbling in the trade himself. He’s not ready for his own gallery showing yet, but he’s been known to sit in on a few classes and try his hand at creating a masterpiece, something he says anyone can do with the way the classes are taught.

“We both have a passion to teach, but she is the artistic one. She is teaching me!”

Building a small business with two kids under three and the schedule of a newly-upgraded captain isn’t always easy, but there is no better feeling than seeing your dream come to life

“It’s been challenging, but rewarding to pursue this dream,” said Noel. “The best part for me is overhearing people saying what a great time they had at the studio even before they know I am one of the owners.”

Hi my name is Branden Dungy and I’m a first officer on the CRJ 200 for ExpressJet. I came to ExpressJet from the University of North Dakota where I graduated in 2009 and was a flight instructor until 2011.

At UND, I was fortunate enough to play football for the university as well as realize my dream of becoming a pilot. I’m very lucky to have been able to work with a great teaching staff and an advisor who helped me plan my courses to manage the demanding schedule of being a student athlete and the equally demanding curriculum it takes to graduate from the UND aviation program. I spent my spring semester and summers catching up on my flight courses while I took a lighter load in the fall. A semester before graduation, I was selected to become a flight instructor for the university which I began in 2009.

Today, I’m happy to fly here at ExpressJet. It’s comforting to be at a company with stability. So far I have enjoyed the lifestyle of a reserve pilot [New-hire pilots typically begin as reserve pilots, which means they do not have a set schedule for the month and instead fulfill an on-call role]. I get to be out on the road and watch my surroundings change. Sometimes the days get long, but it doesn’t happen often. Being on reserve is inevitable, but it is a great experience if you keep a positive attitude.

The biggest transition I’ve encountered is how fast things happen here at ExpressJet. Obviously, things happen faster in a jet than a piston airplane. Though the control wheel and rudder work the same way, mentally you have to be way ahead and ready for plans to change. The training at ExpressJet before you begin flying prepares you really well.

And remember, as an airline pilot you’re not alone. It’s really easy to just ask the guy next to you for a little help. Captains respect the person who can come out and ask for help, so always ask! They have been there and have experienced more than you. I’ve tried to be a sponge and learn from every captain I fly with. Some things I incorporate in my flying, others aren’t my style, but you can learn from every captain.

My advice to future pilots is to have a goal and develop a plan to reach that goal. Put yourself in a position where you can achieve your goal, and use any tool at your disposal. Ask your professors for advice and stay in contact with your flight instructors. Chances are, they’ve been down the road you’re on and can offer their advice. And finally, work hard and don’t let any adversity discourage you.

I began my career here with friends I knew from UND and I’ve made many good, new friends since I started. I work with great crewmembers, fly leading aircraft, travel to interesting cities and meet new people on a daily basis. ExpressJet has been an awesome place to continue my career as a pilot.

An ExpressJet pilot for 24 years, Captain David Dowd says flying was always in the back of his mind growing up, but he never expected his daughter to share his childhood dream and follow in his footsteps.

“It was Ashley’s younger brother who always talked about flying,” David said. “But he suffered a near-fatal head injury and his life turned down a different path. He would have died 11 days before his 13th birthday but his sister’s timely intervention, while the adults in charge sat idly by, saved his life.”

Even though David wanted Ashley to be a nurse like her mother, especially after she demonstrated her life-saving skills, he says he should’ve known she would share his passion for flying. She had been a world traveler for as long as he can remember.

“I thought for the longest time that the only interest she had in flying was traveling overseas,” David joked.

Thanks to their ExpressJet flight privileges Ashley was able to join her father on many flights when she was younger. She loved flying with him.

“I remember getting to pass out peanuts on a Brasilia,” she said. “On another trip with him I got on the wrong plane but realized it just in time! I didn’t confess this mistake to my dad until years later.”

After a flight from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Maui, Hawaii, David pointed out to Ashley their short, blonde, female pilot. The striking resemblance between the pilot and Ashley made David look at his daughter and say, “You know, that could be you one day,” and sure enough, it would be.

Ashley took a few flying lessons during her sophomore year at the University of North Texas where she earned her bachelor’s degree in history. After considering a master’s degree, Ashley decided to pursue her long-awaited dream of flying.

Ashley finished flight school with an abundance of knowledge, and immediately began looking for her dream job. Luckily, her father knew just the place.

“I’ve seen a lot of changes over the years, but this company has always provided me with the best training and the most up-to-date information to do my job well,” David said. “ExpressJet has great leadership, and everyone is always focused on safety, yet still manages to have fun.”

Ashley sent out multiple applications and interviews filled her calendar. Other airlines wanted her, but from the first time she walked through the door at ExpressJet, she knew where she wanted to be. Needless to say, her father approved.

“Ashley has always been an achiever. She’s a leader, she has a great sense of humor and she’s brutally honest,” David said. “ExpressJet is lucky to have her.”

Ashley was hired in the midst of big changes at ExpressJet. These changes sent her to Houston where she is now going on three years as a first officer.

“I love being a pilot,” she said. “The office view is amazing and it feels awesome knowing you are doing something only a few people will ever have the opportunity to do.”

The father-daughter team dreams of one day flying together, but they currently work on different aircraft types. While they aren’t able to fly together yet, soon they will both be based in Texas, as David will be joining our new Dallas base in February. Ashley says she admires her father and would love to have the opportunity to work with him directly.

“The only time you want to do exactly what someone else does is when they are really good at it,” Ashley said. “And my dad is really good at what he does.”

I’ve always wanted to be a flight attendant. When I was little, I would fly with my family. The flight attendants were always really friendly, and that sparked my interest. The job was so glamorous – flight attendants get to dress nicely, travel all over and meet lots of interesting people. I wanted to travel the world and get paid for it.

Fast forward a few years and I was working the front desk at one of the hotels that ExpressJet flight crews would stay at in Destin. I would see the crews come in and I’d hear all about their travels. I loved getting to meet these pilots and flight attendants. I decided it was the right time in my life and I applied to join them.

I interviewed and was selected to become an ExpressJet flight attendant. My training class began Feb. 4, 2013.

I went through weeks of training: the anxiety of test days, hours of studying potentially life-saving information, memorizing airport codes and making some great friends in the process. Every Friday night, we would relax together and study for the next week.

On the last Friday, we had finished all our classes and everyone had passed the final. We went out to celebrate together for the last time before graduation. After a nice dinner at a nearby restaurant, we were walking back to the training hotel when my life changed.

I was walking ahead of the group and was crossing the street at the crosswalk. I didn’t see the car coming. I don’t remember much of the accident, but luckily I was with a group of friends and their emergency training went into good use. One called the ambulance, one called my mom and the rest were collecting jackets to keep me warm and keep me from going into shock.

Luckily, we had just finished training for this type of situation. They were talking to me to keep me stable and awake; one friend was holding my head. Rose Branda and Erin Botti, now ExpressJet flight attendants and friends, rode in the ambulance with me and stayed at the hospital all night, keeping my spirits up and my mother updated (she was at home in Florida).

ExpressJet flew my mom out to stay with me. I was in the hospital for five days. I had some great doctors and they let me out the night before my class’s flight attendant graduation. My accident wasn’t going to stop me from attending graduation. I knew I would never forgive myself if I didn’t get to support my friends as much as they had supported me. I went to graduation in a wheelchair to congratulate them – they all deserved it!

The recovery process took about five months and ExpressJet asked if I was ready to come back to training. I talked with my doctor about my goal of returning to training in August and I worked really hard to achieve it. I was able to go back to training in August 2013 to finally become a flight attendant.

The second time through training, I wasn’t as nervous as the first time around. I helped the others in my class study, calmed them when they were anxious and promised them that they’d get through it. I graduated valedictorian and my classmates gave me the superlative award for “most supportive.”

On graduation day, I was proud to finally walk across the stage as an official flight attendant. ExpressJet’s vice president of People Resources attended personally and gave me a huge hug and congratulations. My instructor Enrique Oriol had the honor of pinning on my wings, and my other original instructors Valetta Wright and Ernesto Ros came to support me as well – everyone was very happy.

I’ve been on the job now for almost three months, based in Dulles, Va. It’s been a huge culture shock to move to such a big city, but I love it. I’ve met some great people and have worked with amazing crews. It’s fun to be in a different city every night and get to see things that not everyone gets to experience.

The airline industry is very different than how I thought when I was younger, and I’m different after my experience, but it’s still glamorous. I look forward to every day that I go to work.

-Chelsea Green, flight attendant – IAD

ExpressJet is hiring! Learn more about becoming a flight attendant and apply at www.expressjet.com/careers. 

Captain Brian Harris is the chief pilot of ExpressJet’s crew base in Atlanta, which is our largest domicile with nearly 1,300 pilots. Operating out of the world’s busiest airport as Delta Connection, our Atlanta-based pilots fly CRJ200s, CRJ700s and CRJ900s all over the U.S., and to destinations like Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

I was in sixth grade when I decided I wanted to be a pilot.

From that moment on, I looked for every opportunity to learn about aviation. I joined the Boy Scouts where I participated in the National Aviation Explorers Program. The first time I sat in the cockpit, I knew that aviation would be my career.

After graduating from high school, I went to Tennessee State University where I studied hard and cultivated my leadership skills by serving the school community in numerous capacities: SGA president, Speaker of the House, member of the varsity baseball team, TSU Tiger mascot, peer counselor, and president of the Beta Omicron chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. I graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering with a concentration in Aeronautical Technology.

After college, I enrolled at Comair Aviation Academy where I received my private pilot’s license and instrument rating. After marrying the love of my life, I completed my flight training at Airline Transport Professionals and served as a flight instructor there. While instructing, I was awarded a training scholarship with Atlantic Southeast Airlines sponsored by the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP). On July 8, 2002, I was offered a position as a first officer with the company, now ExpressJet.

In the last 12 years, I have served as the manager of pilot recruiting, upgraded to captain, was selected as assistant chief pilot and now serve as the ATL base chief pilot. I am also a member of the OBAP and work with students to foster education and careers in aviation and the sciences. If you’re looking to begin your career as a commercial pilot, there’s no better place than ExpressJet. I’d love to welcome you to our Atlanta Home Base.

Captain Brian Harris

I remember at the age of seven walking down an impoverished street in Karachi, Pakistan looking up at a Boeing triple seven in the sky and imagining having the freedom of living in the United States and being that triple seven’s captain one day. ExpressJet has brought me one step closer to my dream of becoming an airline professional.

My name is Abdul Khan and I am a student at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) serving my last semester interning at ExpressJet Airlines in the pilot recruiting department. What better way to end my college career than work behind-the-scenes at one of the largest airlines in the world. The opportunity to network, rub shoulders, and gain insight from highly trained aviation professionals has been an incredible, priceless experience.

For me, the love of aviation and flying started in 1998 when I was eight. I can still remember that day when my father brought home Microsoft Flight Simulator ‘98 (MSFS) when it was newly released. From that moment through the high school, I was a nerd staying at home during summers to do flight after flight using MSFS. It was my father’s dream for me to become a professional pilot, because that was my dream.

During my internship with ExpressJet, I had the opportunity to train on the CRJ with one of the new hire classes. It was an incredible experience because now I know what to expect when I start my actual training. I completed daily recruiting assignments every morning. Some of my projects included researching flight schools that met ExpressJet’s hiring standards, updating documents like the CRJ applicant simulation evaluation packet, and inviting and scheduling ExpressJet’s Airline Pilot Pathway Program (AP3) students for off-site interviews. Everything I did during the internship was a learning experience for me, which has helped me grow into a more professional individual.

During the internship I had jumpseat privileges on ExpressJet aircraft. I took full advantage of that privilege and basically flew to a different city every weekend. Jumpseating has made me even more excited about my career of becoming a professional pilot. On some of the flights I got the chance to see how pilots solve day-to-day problems. Some of the things I experienced while jumpseating were FMS and ACARS INOP, flight spoilers fault, and anti-icing procedures. I learned a tremendous amount from being able to observe ExpressJet pilots during their daily duties.

To be honest, being an intern wasn’t what I thought it would be. In the movies you see interns making coffee and photo copies. My experience was nothing like that. I gained an incredible amount of knowledge from this internship and hope to come back to ExpressJet soon to fly the line as a pilot.

Last weekend, ExpressJet brought an ERJ aircraft and more than a dozen volunteers to the annual Discover Aviation Days event in Ohio which promotes aviation careers to the thousands of aviation enthusiasts who attend.

Discover Aviation Days is presented by Discover Aviation Center, a nonprofit created to help introduce local residents, especially kids, to aviation and aerospace related careers through fun, educational, hands-on activities.

The theme of this year’s event was “Aviation, A Little Something for Everyone!”  The weekend certainly did offer something for everyone, including several aerobatic stunt demonstrations, drone and radio controlled aircraft demos, a parachute team, vintage World War 2 aircraft, B-25 rides, and static displays ranging from gliders to corporate jets, to our majestic EMB-145 (which had a steady stream of patrons touring the cabin and cockpit throughout the day)!

The event is coordinated by our very own Captain Paul Koziol. Captain Koziol’s dedication to introducing and promoting aviation and aviation careers to youth is truly amazing, and the continued success of Discover Aviation Days is a testament to Paul’s hard work.

We would also like to thank CA Eric Silski, CA Ray Blaha, CA Mike Emmerich, CA Tim Bennett, CA Doug McElroy, CA Craig Maternowski , CA Len Dzamba, FO Mike Herrmann, FO Leah Hetzel, FA Jamie Maternowski, FA Paulette Duboski, FA Tori Webster, FA Andrea Bozigar, CLE Maintenance Manager Mike Traster and Lead Mechanic Rob Antolik for helping to make this event a success. We appreciate all you do to inspire aviation careers!

Dulles-based ExpressJet First Officer Byron Hernandez has always been passionate about traveling and volunteering. From his first trip to volunteer in Mexico with his family, to his work as a translator with Faith in Practice in South America, he’s found plenty of ways to combine his two passions.

On his most recent volunteer adventure, Byron went to Haiti for six days with a group from the Macy’s Heart of Haiti program. Heart of Haiti is a partnership that gives local Haitian artisans the opportunity to sell their hand-made pieces through Macy’s.

“Haiti is a poor country, but they’re so rich in creativity because they have to work with what they have,” Byron said. “It’s amazing to see them take a scrap sheet of metal or piece of an oil rig, do this and do that, and come up with a final product.”

Before he left for Haiti, Byron created a wish list on Amazon to collect donations to take to orphanages, churches and daycares. By the time he packed up all the donations, he had five huge, overweight suitcases full of toys, clothes and books for the kids.

While in Haiti, Byron and his group sat down with Haitian dignitaries to discuss Macy’s buying partnership with the artisans, helped sick mothers take care of their children at a daycare and spent time with the families and artisans.

Byron’s favorite part of the trip was spending Mother’s Day at a local church hanging out with the kids.

“I can’t even explain it, how great it was to see these kids laughing and playing and so happy with what they have,” Byron said.

The group also spent time with an American woman who moved to Haiti and started a daycare for women who aren’t able to financially support their families.

“This woman gave up everything to be there,” Byron said “She’s been through malaria, disease, everything, and she’s still there. It’s very inspiring.”

Byron is very grateful to all of his friends and family who helped him get to Haiti.

“So many people helped me out along the way, from our chief pilot Mike Ellis and my friends here at Dulles taking over my trips, to Delta waiving the fees for my overweight bags,” Byron said.

Byron is very excited to return to Haiti next year, and would love to have more of the ExpressJet team join him. Don’t hesitate to reach out to him if you’re interested!

As the hub coordinator and base administrator at ExpressJet’s Cleveland base, Erin Daniels has a busy schedule. From managing relations with ground handling operations to working with United leadership to address concerns, she does it all. Erin also works hard outside of the office. In May, she ran the Cleveland Half Marathon to raise money for the Organization for Autism Research (OAR). This organization holds a personal meaning for her because her eight-year-old nephew Nicholas has autism.

Erin ran the half-marathon as a member of OAR’s Run for Autism team. Through Run for Autism, participants do not have to pay the race registration fees if they raise at least $600.

Erin raised $2,440 this year, mostly by fundraising over social media. When she started fundraising in January, she would post the link to her fundraising page on Facebook once or twice a month. Her posts became more and more frequent the closer she got to the race.

“During Autism Awareness month, I posted every single day,” Erin said. “I had to warn people that they should unfollow me if they didn’t want to see my posts all over their newsfeeds.”

Erin also sold bracelets to help raise money.  The bracelets are turquoise and lime green, and say #CLEStrong on one side and 2014 on the other.  Erin raised $300 selling the bracelets.

“When I asked if people would buy #CLEStrong bracelets, an outrageous number of people said yes,” Erin said “They really wanted to support my cause and support Cleveland.”

Erin ran the race on May 18, 2014 with her Run for Autism teammate, Greg.

“It was tough,” she said. “But it was definitely good to have someone there to encourage you.”

It was a long race, but Erin made it to the finish line and came out on top as the number one fundraiser for the second year in a row.

“When I crossed the finish line, there were tears of many kinds. I couldn’t believe I ran 13 miles.”

Erin is very grateful to everyone who helped her raise money for OAR, especially her co-workers at ExpressJet.

“My colleagues and friends from this company did so much more than I could ever imagine, “she said. “I love that they know how much my nephew means to me.”

The Cleveland Run for Autism team raised $10,741.  The money that they raised this year will provide a college scholarship to an autistic child. Next year, Erin hopes to raise even more money and run the full marathon.

Erin with her nephew Nicholas

Captain Mike Ellis is the chief pilot of ExpressJet’s crew base in Dulles, Va., which serves the metro DC area. IAD is our only crew base with both ERJ and CRJ aircraft.

I first realized I wanted to fly when I looked at all the artwork I had done in elementary through high school – it was all planes!

After high school I went Iowa State University and graduated with an Aerospace Engineering degree.  After that, I spent a few years as an engineer and worked in finance.  I always found time to fly in my free time, whether I was instructing, flying skydivers, or commuting to my engineering job in a Cessna 150 with a rear view mirror.  I also flew engineers to job sites while working for the engineering firms.

After moving to Atlanta, I switched to aviation full time, flying charter and pilot service in a multitude of different airplanes, some brand new, and some twice as old as me.  I started with Expressjet in 2001 on the ATR for a few months, then switched to the CRJ700 when they first arrived.  I have been at Dulles for more than a year now, and have enjoyed the experience tremendously.

We hope you’ll come visit us soon at our Dulles Home Base!

Captain Mike Ellis

Shreveport-based Quality Control inspector Gil Montoya and his wife Hope have moved around a lot. They’ve lived in big cities and small, but one thing is constant: there are always people in need, and there’s always a way to help.

“In aviation you move around. I’ve been to different places with ExpressJet all over the country. When we moved to Shreveport, my wife and I noticed there was a lot of homelessness here as there aren’t a lot of well-paying opportunities,” said Gil. “We felt like we needed to do something to give back to the community.”

The husband and wife team started small. They made a couple hundred sandwiches each weekend and handed them out downtown. Soon they began seeing lines of people, 80-100 at a time, waiting for a simple meal. They realized how much of a need there was and looked at ways they could help more.

“The first time we went out, I was a bit apprehensive. I’ve never done anything like this before. It opened me up; it changed me greatly. There’s always something to complain about, but I realize every day that I am blessed.”

In 2010, with the help of fellow SHV-based A&P Technician Charles Robin, they created their foundation, Streets of Charity, as a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. In the years since, Streets of Charity has expanded its services to collect and distribute diapers, jackets, shoes, clothing and other basic necessities in addition to providing meals.

“Homelessness can happen to anyone. I’ve seen a lot of smart people who are homeless because of accidents, life changes, etc. Many of the guys we help are veterans. They served our country and now they are on hard times. They’re good people and they are people, too. Just like you and me. I’m proud to help them.”

Gil has received a lot of support in this endeavor from his co-workers at our Shreveport Maintenance base. He’d like to thank all those who have supported Streets of Charity by volunteering or donating to the cause.

“You don’t need to have a lot of money to help. If you have love in your heart, you can do great things for others. Streets of Charity is not about giving money, it’s about sharing what we have. Share your time, your experience, your heart.”

Gil encourages everyone to participate in something, whether it’s donating to a local food bank, working for a cause you’re passionate about, volunteering your time to help others or starting your own non-profit. If you have questions, contact him through the Streets of Charity Facebook page. Gil and Hope are happy to answer questions about Streets of Charity or how you can be more involved in your community.

“Anybody can make a change in their community and in the world. We are lucky to have flight privileges which can help us make change globally. When my wife and I travel, we pack bags full of clothes and shoes to donate in our destination. It’s all about remembering people and appreciating all that you have.”

If you would like to support Streets of Charity, you can send donations, clothing or other goods to Streets of Charity, P.O. Box 18494, Shreveport, LA 71138.

“Working with Streets of Charity has helped me change my attitude. We tend to be selfish, thinking about our own problems. But when we listen to the stories of the people on really hard times, it reminds me to be grateful for all that we have. It’s a great feeling to know that I contribute, even in a small way, to better humanity. I challenge each of you to do something today to make a difference.”

Captain Jim Campbell is the chief pilot of ExpressJet’s second-largest crew base in Houston, Texas.

When I was in the second grade, my first book report I ever did was on the Time-Life book series edition on Aerospace and Aviation. Clearly, I was interested in flying and books, so I took those interests with me to the U.S. Naval Academy where I was an English major.

After graduation, I went to Navy flight school. I spent ten years as a Navy pilot, flying and teaching. I mainly flew reconnaissance missions in the Mediterranean and the Adriatic Seas. I spent a lot of time over Bosnia and could probably bore you to tears talking about the Balkan region and the geopolitical repercussions of the breakup of the former Yugoslavia.

It was occasionally exciting: one time we saw some of our footage of an airstrike show up on CNN a few days later, and another time I got to fly a Navy brain surgeon into Skopje, Macedonia to operate on the president of the country, who had just been car bombed. True story.

After leaving the Navy, I got hired by Continental Express, which later became ExpressJet. I flew the ATR and the ERJ, held positions as first officer, captain, line check airman and now I’m the Chief Pilot in Houston, which is one of the best jobs I have ever had. I can honestly say that some days in the Houston domicile are every bit as exciting as flying Navy recon missions. Come visit us and see for yourself.

Captain Jim Campbell

Kevin Roberts, Shreveport Maintenance base manager, has been in the aviation industry since he was 15. Kevin says he owes much of his success to the mentors he had in high school and throughout his career, so he was happy accept to the opportunity to lead the Shreveport Maintenance Mentorship Program at ExpressJet.

“The Mentorship program allows our senior mechanics to work closely with those new to ExpressJet. This creates a family atmosphere and gives newbies a person to look to with questions, but most importantly it ensures that our new mechanics are successful,” said Kevin.

Kevin attended pilot ground school in high school and received his solo pilot’s license before he received his driver’s license. After graduation, he landed a corporate job in the aviation industry where he worked for many years. During this time, Kevin also received his Aircraft and Powerplant License (A&P) which allowed him to accept a position as an aircraft mechanic at ExpressJet in 1990.

“In my 24 years with ExpressJet, I’ve had several opportunities to further my career,” he said. “Overseeing the Shreveport Mentorship program has been one of my most meaningful projects.”

The Mentorship program in SHV was initiated in 2012 to help facilitate the high new-hire rate. Knowing the program was going to need a leader, Kevin, who was a Maintenance supervisor at the time, was assigned to be in charge. Kevin took the project by the horns and has dedicated much of his time to coaching mentors and working to improve the program.

“My goal with the Mentorship program is to expand it to our other Maintenance bases and have it tailor-made to meet the individual needs of each base,” said Kevin.

Since being promoted to Base Manager in SHV, Kevin has had to delegate a lot of responsibility when it comes to the Mentorship program, but he still remains very active in developing the structure and schedule. Kevin and his core team of mentors are the reason the Mentorship program has been so successful and continues to advance toward a positive future.

“Kevin has a great work ethic and truly dedicates himself to every project,” said Bill Hartwell – general manager, Maintenance. “The Mentorship program has thrived under his leadership.”

Outside of work, Kevin enjoys rebuilding antique vehicles, running, cycling, working out at the gym, triathlons, motorcycles and traveling with his family. He also regularly participates in Tough Mudder events sponsored by the Wounded Warrior Project, and he always encourages others to participate with him.

“By being a part of a company that has seen its share of highs and lows, I continue to have the drive and commitment to keep ExpressJet moving forward,” Kevin said. “This company has been good to me and I am looking forward to more great years at ExpressJet.“