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44 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2017 AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE TECHNOLOGY JOHNNY GOMEZ Crew Leader, 35, Banyan Air Services, Fort Lauderdale, FL J ohnny Gomez got into aviation because he wanted to know what really makes an aircraft function. As a kid, he would look at the sky and see aircraft flying and say, "Someday I'm going to fix those." He was always great working with his hands and enjoyed working on cars, but being an auto mechanic wasn't in his heart, aviation was his true passion. In 1993, when Johnny was 10, his parents moved the family from Ecuador to the United States. Gomez says, "The hardest time for me during this transi- tion was in middle school speaking, reading, and writing the English language." As is his nature, Gomez persevered and attended the Institute of Business and Entrepreneurship at North East High School and graduated in 2000. Then he earned an AS degree in aircraft maintenance management from Broward College in 2002. With his new A&P; license, he joined Banyan as an apprentice in 2003. Since then, he has completed three FlightSafety courses, earned a FAA Aviation Maintenance Technician Ruby Award for com- pleting additional training, and was promoted to maintenance crew lead in July of 2013. And he was also helped in his career through mentor Terry Schuler, Banyan's crew lead. He has received advanced training at Challenger 604, Bombardier Arizona, Piaggio West Palm, and King Air Wichita. Nominated by Nancy Bouvier, Banyan Air Services: "Gomez describes himself as being dedicated. He leaves his house in Loxahatchee, FL, by 6:10 a.m. and drives 55 miles each morning to Banyan. He is the first one in, last one to leave at 6:30 at night. He is described by his coworkers as being the go-to person, someone that is always willing to help others and completes the job right and on time. He has excellent project management skills, is very organized, and always reliable. He thrives on challenges and will keep at it until the customer's problem is solved. His biggest job satisfaction comes when he knows he has made the customer happy." When asked what he attributes his success to, he says, "The mentoring I received from other technicians is a value I can't ever repay. Now it's my turn to do the same thing for new techni- cians and I'm proud to do that." He likes to share information so everyone is on the same page and that there are no surprises. He also takes pride in the fact that if someone on the team is out, the work flow continues because other technicians have been well trained and can take over. His career goal is to become a director of an MRO one day. M att Neisler was in the automotive industry and had a friend who was in AMT school and he inspired Neisler to get into aviation. He viewed aviation as more of a career then a job. Neisler went to AMT school at South Georgia Technical College in Americus, GA, where he earned his Airframe and Powerplant rating. Advanced training includes Boeing 757 General Familiarization, Hawker 800XP, 850XP, 900XP including Pro- line 21 Maintenance Initial with Run and Taxi, Honeywell APU 36-150 Maintenance Initial, and Phenom 100 Maintenance Initial with Run and Taxi. While in A&P; school he was in a co-op program at Timco Aviation, and went to school during the day and worked second shift. After graduating he went to work for West Star Aviation. He started as a mechanic, and was in this role for two years. After learning what it takes, he was promoted to a team lead. He is currently responsible for a crew of three or more and participates in customer debrief meetings, identifying aircraft work scopes, and assigning work tasks. He ensures the aircraft stays on schedule for delivery, performs general work tasks, and performs advanced level troubleshooting. Nominated by Thomas Patrick Hilboldt, general manager, West Star Aviation: "Matt's energy and good nature keep him focused if things are going good or bad. Matt may have situations come up, but you would never know it and you never see him get upset. Matt works through every issue by staying focused and he seeks the correct technical data or information required. Even with all that is going on Matt still takes the time to mentor less experienced technicians and is always determined to utilize aviation interns so they are benefited as is WSA. Matt brings many ideas to the table to include ways to streamline processes for better efficiency and ways to improve safety. Matt's ability to multi-task is amazing and he handles everything with a smile on his face." Neisler is currently working with West Start Aviation's human resources department to start a co-op program for potential future AMT mechanics to come to work half way through their AMT training to gain more experience and be more prepared for the job once they start in their AMT career. "Any knowledge that I have learned and continue to learn since I started in this career," Neisler says, "I give back to anyone willing to learn." As for the future, he would like to continue to learn and advance with West Star Aviation, and move into a management position once he has the required experience and continue to develop himself and others in this unique business. MAT T NEISLER Team Lead, 27, West Star Aviation, Chattanooga, TN